Newspaper Page Text
Thursday, October 15, 1998
THE MAROON TIGER
PAGE 4
CAMPUS
Morehouse students call Biodome home for semester
By Katrina Shindledecker
For The Maroon Tiger
This semester, Randy
Chambers and Antonio
McGaha are learning that
college courses can entail
much more than just sitting in
lectures and cracking the
books.
The Morehouse College
sophomores are studying in a
"semester abroad" program -
right here in the United States,
taking a progressive and
interactive course known as
Earth Semester at Columbia
University's Biosphere 2
Center.
As students and
beginning researchers at the
center, along with almost fifty
other students, Chambers and
McGaha engage in hands-on
research and field exploration.
They also participate in team-
taught, cross-disciplinary
classes led by
scientists
specializing
in fields from
biology to
geology to
s o c i o -
economics.
"The
classes here
have given
me practical
field
experience
and the
differing
opinions and
responses to the research,"
said McGaha, a biology major.
"Biosphere 2 is a unique
experience for anyone
interested in global
management and the
environment," said Dr.
William
Harris,
president and
executive
director of the
center. "By
simulating
conditions
that scientists
expect to see
on Earth
within the
next century,
students get to
be a part of
ground
breaking
research," The goal of the
center is to learn how to better
manage the planet, especially
its atmosphere, Harris said.
Nestled in the foothills of
the Catalina Mountains, the
Randy Chambers
250-acre Biosphere campus is
located in Oracle, Arizona.
Biosphere 2 — a 204,000 cubic
meter enclosed glass and
space frame structure that
houses several of Earth's
ecosystems in miniature —
is the centerpiece of the
campus.
Among the seven
ecosystems housed in the
research facility are a
rainforest, a desert, and a
900,000-gallon ocean — the
largest research ocean of its
kind in the world.
When not engaged in
research or coursework,
students participate in a
number of recreational
activities on campus and in
the surrounding area,
including hiking trails and
swimming.
Photos courtesy of
Columbia University
Antonio McGaha
Joesph is
changing lives
through
challenges
Continued from page 1
says. "Ultimately we hope to
change the stereotypes that
society has about Black males
today."
To show the youths there
is life outside their seemingly
hopeless environments, Joseph
and his small but dedicated
group of volunteer staff take
them hiking and water-rafting.
"By climbing for hours on
end or treading water down a
vigorous river, the kids are
able to see the power of their
own individual inner strength
to survive," Joseph says.
And it works.
"I remember a kid we had
who had dropped out of
school at 13," says Joseph,
citing one of many examples of
how Inner Strength turned
lives around. "He had been in
and out of jail two times and
also had a baby girl. He didn't
care much about himself or his
immediate family, but he did
care about his little girl.
"We counseled him, and
made sure that he was on the
right track both in school and
outside school. And I'm proud
to say that he is one of the
many students we have
helped to graduate from high
school."
The success of the
program, which started as a
one-man effort in Joseph's
sophomore year as a political
science major, has garnered
numerous awards for the
organization, including two
grants totaling $17,000.
The program has also been
featured in various
publications, and will be
highlighted in the December
issue of Essence.
"Publicity is good, but it is
not enough," Joseph says,
visibly worried. "We want to
do so much more but we're in
dire need of funding.
Hopefully, the alums
returning for homecoming
will read this, and help out."
Between running the
program full-time, raising
funds, and preparing for law
school, Joseph has little time to
himself.
" Starting an organization
means I've had to sacrifice a lot
of my personal needs," he
says. "I like to go hiking and
camping by myself, but I
hardly get a chance to do it."
Joseph pauses for a brief
moment and says, "The
biggest joy is knowing I am
changing lives!"
"It's almost like a domino
effect," he continues, with
eyes closed, as if replaying
every experience he has ever
had. "If I help them to be their
best, they'll help their
ye well...
Dr. William Garfield
Pickens, professor of
English and illustrious
Morehouse alumnus,
passed away early Monday
morning. He was seventy
years old.
Pickens, who entered
Morehouse as a 16-year-
old, celebrated the 50th
anniversary of his
graduation earlier this year.
He was a friend and
contemporary of Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr. and
graduated with him and
the distinguished Class of
1948, which produced
other notables, such as
Samuel Dubois Cook, and
Charles V. Willie. Pickens
was also a proud member
of the Kappa Alpha Psi
Fraternity, Inc.
Among his many
credentials, Pickens served
as chair of the English
department and sat on
several boards and
committees at Morehouse.
His death has
brothers, friends, uncles,
fathers and society as a whole
to do their best."
And it is from this that
Valdimir Joseph draws his
inner strength.
Editor's Note: Inner
Strength is having its first
saddened many faculty,
students and alumni who
knew him.
"He did a lot to organize
the department and was
instrumental in making very
significant changes at
Morehouse. We will miss
Atlanta based fund-raiser soon.
Everyone is invited to come out
and support the organization. For
more information on the fund
raiser or to volunteer, call (404)
335-0461.
him," said Dr. Delores
Stephens, the current head of
the English Department.
Dr. Pickens is survived
by his wife and three
children. His presence on
campus will be missed.
— Faraji Whalen
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