Newspaper Page Text
Student parent forms collegiate
parent awareness society
By LaRell Lee
Contributing Writer
Nikia Lawson, a mother and Clark
Atlanta University student, recently
organized the Collegiate Parent Awareness
Society ,CPAS, whose primary goal is to
acquire a board certified nursery on
campus.
Currently there are no day care services
provided by CAU for its students.
University administrators suggested
students with children apply for the
federally funded Head Start program.
But for some it’s not that easy.
“One problem with Head Start is that
eligibility begins for children age four,”
said Lawson, whose daughter is just over
a year old.
Many student parents pay between $65
and $ 100 per week for child care services.
“For a lot of parents in school that is very
expensive and, if the facility is located far
from campus, it can be inconvenient,”
Lawson said.
She said sometimes she and other student
have to take their children to meetings and
classes.
“I know that my daughter can be
distracting,” Lawson said, “but sometimes
I can't avoid bringing her to classes with
me.”
Stacy Bell, vice-president of CPAS, is
the single mother of a two year old son and
can empathize with Lawson.
“So far I’ve only had to bring my son to
class twice, because of emergency situations
and both times the professor and students
were supportive,” Bell said.
Life for students with children can be
hectic at times.
Lawson, who has been married for three
years, goes to school in the morning while
her husband cares for their daughter.
Lawson’s school day must end by 2 p.m.
so that she can be at home to take care of her
daughter while her husband goes to work at
night. Lawson does not have a job because
she doesn’t have time, but she said she does
nail part time.
Lawson feels that students who are parents
have gone unrecognized.
“We want students, teachers and
administrators to know that we do exist and
our numbers will continue to grow.” she
said.
Her efforts to find out the total number of
students with children have so far been
unsuccessful.
“Our goal for membership is to reach
every student parent raising a child while in
school and that includes fathers,” Lawson
said.
Notices will be going up soon on campus
buildings and bulletin boards for the CPAS
meetings.
VOLUNTEER CAU ENCOURAGES
STUDENT PARTICIPATION
By Felicia R. Jones
Contributing Writer
Serving as a network that links students
with volunteer agencies of their choice,
Volunteer Clark Atlanta University aids
students with their search for an
organization that fits their needs and
interests.
However, many students are unaware
of the program, which was reestablished
three years ago on CAU’s campus but
was originally started at Clark College.
“Maybe if we knew the process we’d
become more involved,” CAU senior
Kelly Walton said.
Headed by Peggy B. Hampton, assi stant
dean of Student Affairs, Volunteer CAU
is completely staffed by students.
Their goal is to enhance positive
community relations through student
volunteering and other outreach related
activities, focusing primarily on
community needs in areas such as health,
recreation and cultural affairs.
Hampton said students don’t know about
the program because there isn’t enough
publicity given to the group.
“We are aware that the service has gone
unknown and we are working to improve
the area of PR. Hopefully by sponsoring
and emphasizing projects such as the
“Volunteer Leader Luncheon” the service
will become well known.”
She said this project is planned to be held
once a month, and will allow volunteer
CAU student staff to invite chairpersons
or project coordinators of college
associations or organizations, (i.e., Student
Govt. Association) to become involved in
better promoting the service.
Eddie Hughes, a staff member and
graduate student at CAU, feels the Office
of Student Affairs should focus more on
promoting the service and recruiting
students.
“It helps that [work-study students] are
involved, but the organization needs more
people who have the skills and the drive to
make it successful.”
Volunteer CAU targets college students
who are required to complete 30 hours of
Continued on P5
Nyema Taylor, a CAU sophomore
said, "No, I do not honor the holiday,
but I doeat!" and she adds, "Yes I am
going home!"
Tutu Durant, a CAU senior said,
"No, but I eat a whole lot of
turkey!"
photos by Melvin Jackson
Thanksgiving doesn’t necessarily mean home for the holidays
By Tarsha Burton
Staff Writer
Family and friends plan to get together
to celebrate the holiday season and share
cranberry sauce and dressing, roasted
turkey and pumpkin pie. These are all
symbolic of Thanksgiving.
For many students, this is their first
time being away from home for an
extended period of time.
The Thanksgiving holiday will not only
give them a two day break from classes,
but will provide them with an opportunity
to reunite with family and friends.
First year student Stacey Boozer plans
to return to his Baltimore, MD home
claiming, ‘This is my first time being
away this long. I miss it.”
Eighteen-year-old Meesha Harris
agreed saying, “I miss my mom and my
little brother and sister.” Harris will
spend the holiday season at home in
Philadelphia.
International students like Dentra
Dixon of Bermuda is not going home.
Dixon, a freshman, will spend the holiday
visiting relatives in Mississippi.
However, there are also students who
will not be reunited with family this
November. After paying tuition, many
students said they are unable to afford
transportation cost to return home for both
Thanksgiving and Christmas. Many
simply stay in Atlanta for the two day
break, opting to spend the three week
Christmas break at home.
Freshman Tamar Gant of Los Angeles
will spend his first Thanksgiving holiday
away from home this year. “I may visit my
auntie in Gwinette,” Gant said.
In fact, many students will be spending
the Thanksgiving holiday in Atlanta. Gant,
however, is one of the few students at
Clark Atlanta University who is fortunate
enough to have family in the Atlanta area.
Second year MBA student Carlotta
Swain, a native of Alabama, turned the
tables. She has invited her parents to
Atlanta this year for Thanksgiving. “My
mother is going to help me cook.”
Forpeople like junior Danyella Rucker,
flying home for the holidays is an ordinary
occurrence. “I always go home for every
break, but I do miss it [home].” Rucker
Thanksgiving Picture Poll
s
Akosua Imara, a Spelman senior, j
says she does not celebrate
Thanksgiving, but she plans to go to j
her fiance's house.
| Jermaine Archer, a CAU junior,
does not celebrate Thanksgiving but
he said he plans to go to New Orleans
during the holiday.