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PERSPECTIVES
The
Clark Atlanta University
Panther
Tara C. Gunter/Editor-In-Chief
K.A. White/Business Manager
Commentary
Being Real Gets
Real Votes
Is anybody else tired of
phony people trying to get a
vote. SGA elections are the only
time, besides Christmas, when so
many people are sickeningly
nice.
Get real, you can't buy
someone's ballot with a sudden "I
like you" personality change—
with some food maybe, but not
with fake smiles. Besides, it
doesn't work.
Students are well aware of
phoniness. We've all heard the
talk: "So and so doesn't ever
speak to me. Now because he or
she is running for office they
sweating me." Or, "I'm tired of
people asking me to vote for
'em."
A lot of time, energy and
money is invested in campaign
ing. However, candidates should
remember that they do not have
to compromise ethical values to
win a position.
Candidates need to realize
that students are not fooled by
pretentiousness. Being real gets
real votes and staying real keeps
real supporters.
Staff
News: 880-8077
News Assistant: Lisa Flanagan
Features Editor: Chandra Thomas
Features Assistants: Stacy Adams,
Tarsha Burton
Entertainment Photographer: Rondre
Summerville
Personals Editor: Kimathi Lewis
Photography Editor: Rondre
Summerville
Graphics Editor: Jamal Caliste
Adviser: Sabbaye McGriff
Business
Business Manager: K.A. White
Advertising
Advertising Manager: Franchella
Slater
National Advertising Rep.:
Redelia Shaw
Local Advertising Rep.: Alex
Waldron
Opinions expressed in The Panther
are the opinions of the writers and
do not reflect the ideas or opinions
of The Panther staff. All rights
reserved. Reprints by permission of
the editor and adviser.
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deadline for all letters is Monday of
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ial. All submissions once received,
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Atlanta, GA 30314
Freaknic: An Example of
Selective Apathy
A U C
By Ed Blakemore
Editorial Editor
Once again Atlanta is
preparing for its annual
Freaknic festivities. Having
the advantage of hindsight
due to last year's event, I
feel this party reflects a
very interesting phenome
na. It provides plenty of
insight about how black
people prioritize their
actions.
If anyone was to organize
some type of action to cor
rect any one of the many
ills of Black America, never
could they get over 100,000
black people to even think
about their cause. They
certainly could not get one-
fourth of those persons to
come for a meeting, orga
nized demonstration, or
rally to support any cause.
But all of these supposedly
poor individuals suddenly
find money and time
enough to bring their hypo
critical selves to Atlanta.
It is interesting that we
continue to allow selective
apathy to rule our commu
nity. It’s every difficult to
find anyone black who is of
college age, who has not
heard or plans to attend
Freaknic.
Many of us are truly lost.
Our priorities are shot.
When any of the varied
organizations which assist
our people from unlocking
the manacles of oppression
call, we suddenly are too
poor to donate money or
even empathize. But let
anyone even passively men
tion Freaknic and not only
does much conversation
begin, but enough money
suddenly forms in the pock
ets of these “poor” AUC
students to rent a car, drive
to Atlanta, spend a weekend
at a hotel, buy enough
liquor and marijuana to
intoxicate millions, and eat
at several food establish
ments.
Freaknic is an event all
students should attend at
least once. It is always
great to see so many black
people in one place where
nothing negative happens.
Unfortunately, nothing truly
positive happens either.
I have had an entire year
to think about last year’s
experience. Freaknic truly
represents how young black
adults have prioritized their
actions today. What does it
say about us if the only time
we can organize our ranks
in mass assembly is for a
huge party?
Off-Campus Student Woes
By Chandra R. Thomas
Features Editor
Off-campus students
have it hard.
We sometimes wander
around aimlessly like
orphans searching for a
place to live. We
meander through build
ings, hunting for a
place to lay our heads.
We are essentially
“homeless people with
homes”-- away from
campus, that is.
The troubles of fresh
men and transfer stu
dents are often
acknowledged, but
rarely do we explore
the hardships of tran
sient students. Yes, we
are the “mavericks of
MARTA,” the “Thayer
Hall travelers,” and the
“refugees of the recre
ation room.” Whatever
the title, we all share a
very unique collegiate
experience.
Several of us start our
day with a wild ride on
public transportation.
As we await the num
ber 13 Techwood/Fair
St. bus, our senses are
bombarded with what
is referred to as “The
Five Points Ministry.”
These screaming
lunatics, stand in front
of the MARTA station,
reminding us of the
evils of “the white
man” and just how
soon we’re all going to
burn in hell. We are
also constantly
harassed by street ven
dors pushing their
wares. And no morn
ing is complete without
an overly friendly
motorist honking his
horn at the lovely
female students.
When the bus arrives,
we crowd its stairwell,
like a herd of sheep,
hoping to get a seat.
The ride is frightening
ly reminiscent of the
Middle Passage-
African-Americans
piled atop one another.
We desperately attempt
to maintain our balance
as the bus approaches
its various stops.
However, before you
can spell Metropolitan
Atlanta Rapid Transit
Authority (MARTA),
the bus has reached the
Atlanta University
Center stop. Students
disperse in many dif
ferent directions to
classes, appointments,
and work-study jobs.
But this arrival poses
another problem: What
to do in between class
es. Not having the lux
ury of returning to a
dorm room, we rove
the campus like
nomads searching for a
place to study, sleep, or
just relax. We can
usually be found
watching television in
Thayer Hall, sleeping
in the library, socializ
ing on the steps of
McPheeters Dennis, or
just wandering about.
If a book is left at
home, we don’t have
the luxury of running
back to a dorm room to
get it. If the tempera
ture suddenly drops 35
degrees we can’t just
grab a sweater in the
middle of the day. We
are forced to plan for
each and every possi
ble occurrence.
Finally, as the day
ends, we board
MARTA once again
and prepare to repeat
the same crazy process
the next day.
So next time you see a
transient student roam
ing around, be nice.
Remember, all we want
is a little shelter.