Newspaper Page Text
P7 The Panther
March 6, 1995
It’s Spring: Give Me A Break!
By Kendra Story
Contributing Writer
Atlanta University Center stu
dents are ready to break free
from class and head to a coast.
“I’m headed to Miami with a
friend of mine,” said CAU
sophomore William Salter from
Nashville, Tenn.
Among AUC students, the
popular spot is mainly Florida
because of the summer like
temperatures at this time of the
year and its closeness to
Atlanta. Several students are
going elsewhere instead of
home, because they have been
home since Christmas break, or
would simply like a change of
scenery.
For other students, a big fac
tor is coming up with more
money to pay for their tickets.
According to Gail Hopkins of
Dunwoody Travel Agency, they
don’t have student rates. “An
average flight from Atlanta to
L.A. with breaks is $318 com
pared to $208 to fly to New
York City with a 14-day
advance,” said Hopkins.
Competition between travel
markets account for an increase
or decrease of rates.
Some students, like Charysse
Handy of Stamford, Conn.,
spend their spring break in
competition. Handy will travel
to New York to attend the
Jackie Robinson Foundation
Conference as an annual
requirement for a $20,000 four-
year academic college scholar
ship she won while in high
school.
“It’ll be a business, network
ing-like weekend. I’ll meet
with corporate sponsors so that
I can keep in touch with them,”
said Handy, a sophomore public
relations major. She also plans
to visit the Dance Theatre of
Harlem and other attractions
during her stay in New York.
Those students who live in
West Coast states such as
California tend to either stay in
Atlanta or go home with
friends. “I live all the way
across the country and I don’t
want to be stuck here,” said
Tiffany Farr, a sophomore who
will either visit Florida or New
York.
Most students bought dis
count tickets which allow
longer stays, according to an
agent from Northwest Airlines.
"The best time to get tickets is
during fare wars, when airlines
compete with each other,
begin,” said Susan Crackel of
United Airlines.
According to travel agents,
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and
Saturdays rates can be better,
but there are overall no restric
tions on sales.
Les Brown Dares
Readers To Live
Dreams
By Ytasha L. Womack
Staff Writer
Renowned motivational
speaker, Les Brown, both chal
lenges and shows readers how
to act on their ideas in the
newly released book, “Live
Your Dreams. ”
Filled with positive anecdotes
and reinforcing tales, this book
uses Brown’s climb to success
as a step-by-step planner for
readers to reach their goals.
Brown’s positive thinking,
beliefs and humorous insights,
make the book both fun and
easy to read. He states, “Go
after what you want as if your
life depended on it. Because it
does.”
In the first chapter, Brown
writes of the major turning
points in his life. He begins
with his adoption at birth, being
labeled “educationally mentally
retarded” in his childhood and
then going on to his success as
a Miami disc jockey, Ohio State
Representative and later, a
motivational speaker.
However, several chapters
incorporate incidents from
Brown’s life with lessons that
readers can learn from.
Chapters such as 'You Gotta Be
Hungry” and ‘‘Wake Up and
Work on Your Dreams.” writ
ten in an Aesop’s Fables style,
are both entertaining and educa
tional.
Patton Continued
From P6
Metropolitan Opera,” stated
Patton.He taught black music
history, which he has appeared
to lived, at Mills College in
Oakland and Macalester
College in Minnesota. He con
tinued to groom his “intellectu
al warriors” at U.C. Berkely
and finally at Clark Atlanta
University.
Patton is registered at CAU as
an artist-in-residence, which
entitles him to lecture, perform
and teach. “Originally I sent a
resume to Dr. Cole to give a
concert. He contacted me and
offered a semester in resi
dence.” He jokingly contin
ued,’’That was three years ago
and I’m still here and want to
stay.”
Patton now teaches two voice
classes and cross-cultural
humanities. He will also partic
ipate in the April 28-29, 1995
Spring Arts Festival. “I think
my presence contributes to the
history of the school and stu
dent well-being,” he said. This
world-renowned tenor humbly
eats and socializes freely with
students, proving his sincerity.
When asked how does opera
fit into the black experience,
Patton immediately answered,
Uniquely, readers are encour
aged to pause after each chap
ter, and to put the lessons
learned into action. Each chap
ter is accompanied by an action
planner in which readers can
organize their focus and goals
in life.
‘‘Live Your Dreams ” is more
than a pleasant book to read
that is then quietly set aside.
This book was designed to
motivate readers to go after
their dreams and change their
attitudes about their limitations.
Brown’s theme, “No matter
what life hands you, you can
live your dreams,” resounds
powerfully throughout the
book. And by the time you’ve
finished reading you’ll not only
believe it. but will on your way
to living it too.
“The minstrel tradition began
narrative singing which com
bined literature and song. This
continued into soul ballads that
expressed similar issues of joy,
hope, death and sorrow like the
opera.”
Patton traveled extensively in
Europe noting,”1 was better
received in Europe. It seemed
less racist and they appreciated
me for my talent.” He said,
“Blacks are underappreciated in
this country. In Europe, art is
the centerpiece of their culture.”
He also experienced more
mobility and respect. He mar
veled, “I needed several months
to re-adjust to the States.”
COLUMN
Backstage
Pass
By Nikki Roberts
Entertainment Columnist
Ah, the high life.
The glitzy world of entertainment is surrounded by
Hollywood’s definition of success: stretch limos, shop
ping sprees and fancy foods I can’t pronounce, much less
spell. Yet, as I network and mingle with various artists,
the old adage still prevails: Everything that glitters ain’t
gold.
It’s no great revelation, but stars are people too. Most
attend movies and have dreams beyond the stage and
fame. But I’ll bet any amount of money, if someone was
to meet the star of his or her dreams, chatting about the
latest movie would be the furthest thing from the mind. In
fact, he or she may scream, point and basically lose mad
cool points. And how do I know? I was that someone.
A day doesn’t pass that I don’t listen to, sing with and
read about Mary J. Blige. I often say. “That's my girl!” as
I dance to ‘‘Be Happy” or quietly reminisce with ‘‘Can't
Live Without You." (And my leather applejack cap is not
a coincidence. I wanted a hat like Mary’s.) So imagine
how I felt when she waltzed into the room at an event I
recently attended.
Garbed in a phat leather jacket, black leggings and sig
nature riding boots, Blige was meticulously polished. I
was. flushed with excitement as I rushed over and told the
queen of hip-hop soul about my daily routine. And just as
my cool points dwindled in the negative range, she asked
if I were in school. Her bright, glossy eyes turned dark
and despondent when I answered, “Yes, I’m a junior at
Clark Atlanta University.”
In a low, gravelly voice the multi-platinum artist whis
pered, “I would have liked to go to school. Especially a
black college.” But before I could probe further, Sean
‘‘Puffy” Combs, one of Blige’s managers, interrupted
with talk of photo shoots, sound checks and reservations.
My excitement was replaced with curiosity. In my state
of awe, I didn’t realize that I possessed something that the
entertainment world can’t give: a college education.
Before she was whisked away by cameras and anxious
reporters, Mary turned and said, “Good luck to you in
school. It’s really a blessing.” Yes Mary, it is.
Ah, the college life.
(File Photo)
The Queen of Hip-Hop, Mary J. Blige,
takes time out for a "Backstage" pose
with one of her biggest fans, Nikki
Roberts.