Newspaper Page Text
November 21, 1994
Congressman, Civil Rights Leader John Lewis
Encouraged Students To Vote
By Nikki Roberts
Asst. News Editor
Congressman John Lewis recent
ly gave the analogy, “I used to
preach to the chickens, and I found
that they were more attentive than
some of my colleagues are today,”
to a crowded room of students,
media representatives and faculty
Nov. 3, in the Science Research
Center of Clark Atlanta University.
President Thomas Cole Jr. credit
ed much of Clark Atlanta’s growth
to the efforts of Lewis.
“We have been able to receive
more federal grants than any other
black college in the last five years.
The university’s enrollment has
grown from 3,000 to 5,000, and I
attribute this growth to people like
John Lewis,” Cole said.
Dr. William Boone, chairman of
the Department of Political
Science, introduced Lewis as “one
of the most courageous people in
the civil rights era.”
Lewis began his speech with a
chronicle of his life.
“1 usually start off my speech by
where he “saw the signs saying
‘white area only.’”
In 1958, he wrote a letter to Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr. about his
interest in Selma University.
King returned his letter with a
drove him to the First Baptist
Church, where he met King and
Ralph Abernathy.
“It was the beginning of a
wonderful relationship between
me and Dr. King,” said Lewis.
The year was 1960, a political year, an election
year. The relationship with Martin Luther King Jr.
included John Lewis being jailed 40 times
and beaten unconsciously in the name of
civil rights.
telling a story,” said Lewis.
Beginning his story in 1944
when he was four years old, Lewis
the son of a sharecropper, was
raised in a rural town in Alabama
Greyhound ticket, destination 50
miles away, to Montgomery, Ala.
At the bus station, he was
received by Fred Grey, a lawyer
for Rosa Parks and King. Grey
Lewis, along with other civil
rights activists, endured many
hardships for the privilege and
right of blacks registering to
vote.
The year was 1960, a “political
year, an election year.” The nela-
tionship with King included
Lewis being jailed 40 times and
beaten unconsciously in the name
of civil rights. He participated in
a peaceful march in Selma, Ala.,
that was violently interrupted by
white officers.
“When we were in ear shot of
the officers, I heard (them) say,
‘you have three minutes’to dis
perse and go back to your
church.’ We kept on walking, and
(in less than two minutes) they
attacked us with night sticks, tear
gas and trampled us with horses.
That Sunday was known as
‘Bloody Sunday.”'
Due to the events that took
place on “Bloody Sunday,” 80
cities across the country protested
what they heard happened in
Selma, Ala.
Council Member Urged
Students To Use Voting
Power
By Ytasha L. Womack
Staff Writer
Atlanta University Center stu
dents must become politically
active in order to make changes on
their campuses, Atlanta City
Council Member Jared Samples
told Clark Atlanta University polit
ical science majors.
“The college vote is the most
underestimated, underdeveloped
vote there is,” he said. Speaking on
black politics in McPheeters-
Dennis Hall, Samples said that
AUC institutions and surrounding
communities have settled for the
poor conditions of their neighbor
hoods. “This campus can elect a
council person. The average coun
cil person is voted in with 2,500
votes,” said Samples.
“Students don’t vote,” said Bob
Holmes, director for the Southern
Center for Studies in Public Policy
and forum host. “The Morehouse
gym has one of the single lowest
voting precincts in the city at less
than 10 percent and a 15 percent
turnout at Vivian Wilson
Henderson Gym,” he said.
“Elected officials are most con
cerned about numbers,” said
Samples said, adding that the apa
thy and low voter turn out in the
AUC community is due to unfa
miliarity with politics. “People
don’t understand what government
does for them. The resources are
there, but it is up to students them
selves to step up,” he said.
Samples stated that blacks have a
tendency to rally against legisla
ture instead of creating programs.
“If we can re-channel that and get
2,000 people to support something
positive, we’ll see more changes in
our communities,” he concluded.
The city’s failure to designate
money for black inner-city neigh
borhoods, including the West End
area, is a major concern to
Samples. “Most of the money
(approved) for black areas are
years behind in being allocated.
The money is just sitting there,” he
said.
“It’s frustrating when I see docu
ments and no implementation.
The plan is there, the money is
there, but no implementation.
Those areas got issued $7 million
over the last five years for projects
in those communities and I can
guarantee that 10 percent has not
been spent yet,” said Samples.
“Plans from 1975 that have not
been implemented,” he added.
Samples, 24, is the city’s
youngest council member, and was
born in Perry Homes, Atlanta’s
largest housing project. A gradu
ate of Georgia State University, his
political career began at age 19 as
vice-chair of the Perry Homes
Tenant Association. He now rep
resents the 9th district.
ART GALLERY
Continued From PI -
Dunkley, “but they (exhibits)
are not housed in the right envi
ronment.”
Although housing is the direc
tor’s major concern, she said
insufficient funding has also cre
ated other restrictions. For
example, Dunkley’s definition
of “adequate housing” would
require a full administrative
staff, to perform all the functions
of a museum. However, she
said that maintaining a system of
this size can be very demanding
and time-consuming. “One indi
vidual cannot do everything,”
she said.
In addition to securing finan
cial support, Dunkley recognizes
the importance of “increasing
people’s awareness for art
appreciation.” Therefore, fund
ing for the gallery is essential for
preserving its existence as an
historic chapter in the black
community.
“Art is difficult to handle,”
commented the 1980 Atlanta
University graduate, “and we are
seriously looking for other
financial support.”
When asked how would these
new changes be beneficial to
Clark Atlanta University stu
dents, Dunkley replied, “The
students stand to gain the most.”
Dunkley said that not only
will the institution’s students
benefit, but the Atlanta
University Center as a whole
will also benefit. The advan
tages of the relocation also
include educational programs,
workshops and tour guides.
“There will be a sense of history
on display,” she concluded.
is moving to E.L. Simon Courts in
Student Center.