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CAMPUS
NEWS
MOREHOUSE SGA
ARD AT WORK
JORDAN DEJESUS
STAFF WRITER
DUFIJESUS@GMAIL.COM
Morehouse Student Government As
sociation (SGA) is a student driven organization
fully dedicated to improving the functionality
of campus activities and improving the quality
of student life. Every day measures are taken
to ensure that Morehouse is tending to the
needs of its biggest resource; its students.
Members of the SGA Chief of Staff cor
respond with each department of the college.
This student perspective allows for new initia
tives to be effectively established while cater
ing to the concerns and goals of the school’s
faculty, students, and community.
SGA’s senate plays an equally important role
in determining structured policies and institut
ing initiatives directly impacting campus life.
During weekly meetings continued efforts are
made to determine both political and practi
cal areas of improvement, and are document
ed through the presentation of pending bills.
Although SGA has such an enormous
campus presence, its scope is limited as
many students are unaware of the behind the
scenes work put forth to maintain the struc
tured environment students often take for
granted. Currently, the SGA is working to
facilitate several programs and tasks to pro
mote a more enthusiastic approach to scho
lastic and social student life.
Objectives discussed by the SGA
include: reforming the hours of The Frederick
Douglass Learning Resource Center (LRC),
mitigating the cost of attendance through
fundraiser based scholarships, and the incor
poration of an accessible data system allow
ing students to better manage their degree
requirements. Informative events are designed
to simplify the student enrollment process and
charitable events are designated to solidify
Morehouse's dedication to community activ
ism while raising awareness.
In regards to the senate there are sev
eral promising bills, which may receive a pass
ing motion. One of the most pertinent includes
amendments to the SGA Senate Scholarship.
If this bill is passed, it will provide students at
tending Morehouse College with a 2.7 GPA
or higher who exemplify both leadership, and
academic diligence, to be awarded a sub
stantial scholarship.
Student input seems to be at the helm
of SGA’s importance. Constant discussion of
student polls and surveys to leverage more
productive campus activities affirm this. The
more aware the general student body is about
the topics directly influencing their college
experience, the more they will get out of it.
LECTURE SERIES BRINGS
LOBAL LEADERS
KEVIN COLCLOUGH
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
KEVINCOLCLOUGH6@GMAIL.COM
On a rainy night on Feb. 4, 2014, a
powerful panel of the brightest and most influ
ential people of the world were on campus to
speak to students about achieving greatness
and overcoming adversity.
The event was part of the Andrew
Young Legacy Lecture Series sponsored by the
National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame
(NBCAHOF). According to its website, the
NBCAHOF is “dedicated to the growth and
development of HBCUs through scholarships,
internships, training and technical assistance,
alumni recognition, and programs to encour
age humanitarian involvement.”
The panel included; famed Judge
Glenda Hatchett; Former US Ambassador to
Ihe United Nations Andrew Young; Young’s
daughter, Andrea Young; MSNBC Political
Commentator and author Jeff Johnson; chair
man and CEO of TWD, Inc. consulting firm,
Thomas W. Dortch Jr.; Miss America 2011 Tracy
Broughton; Regional President of Wells Fargo
Bank Darryl Harmon; and Virginia Union Univer
sity student, Cayla Cowherd.
The panelist discussed how students at
Historically Black Colleges and Universities are
some of the brightest minds in this country and
should give back to their respective campuses
more often. At the beginning of the panel,
Morehouse College President John Wilson told
current students to “imagine yourselves as
IIBCU graduates ten to fifteen years from now
and you're wealthy; give back to your alma
mater.”
Panelist Jeff Johnson repeatedly said
that students should not prepare for the known
but rather for the unknown because they
are never aware of what is going to happen
to them or get in the way of their ability to
achieve their goals.
When the panel discussion was over,
students had the opportunity to ask questions,
and one student asked about the ability to
relate to corporate America as a black man
and the things that he should do to prepare
himself for dealing with other cultures. The un
named Morehouse senior said he had already
been offered a post-graduation job in corpo
rate America. In response, Johnson who said,
“I went to a predominately white institution
and building relationships with people of an
other race or ethnicity should not be a prob
lem, as we can all learn something about one
another."
Students left the event inspired. Many
of the students in the room recorded notes as
each panelist spoke and some began to net
work and mingle with the panelist following the
discussion.
“This event is really an example of why
I decided to come to Morehouse,” fresh
man DaJuan Johnson said. “This is the type of
school that people look to come to instead
of one that they [only] get paid to come to.”
Events like these are intended for students to
be both inspired, intrigued, and to have them
leave the lecture hall with a sense of urgency
because now is the time to start making their
goals a reality.
Application packets for the General
Hall of Fame Scholarship Award are available
at the NVCAHOF website and must be submit
ted by June 30. The next stop on the lecture
series’ tour will be Dillard University in New
Orleans on April 2.
KEEPIN’ THEM
IN LOVE
ANNICK LAURENT
STAFF WRITER
ALAURENT@SCMAIL.SPELMAN.EDU
With Valentine's Day around
the corner, AUG students are most likely
scrambling to make plans and find gifts
for their significant other. Whether making
reservations at a fancy restaurant or buy
ing romance-themed baubles to distrib
ute to loved ones, the holiday certainly
promotes consumerism and egotism.
Could V-day’s chocolate and roses just
be a part of a materialistic frenzy, con
tributing little to no sincere expression of
love?
Junior Philosophy major Aidid
Brayboy agrees, “I just feel like it’s anoth
er day to make money in terms of capi
talism for this country.” He believes the
holiday is solely about showing gratitude
towards one person for a day. Brayboy
believes love should be directed towards
everyone daily, especially during the
tough times or while striving to accom
plish one’s goals.
Valentine's Day strongly em
phasizes the importance of romance.
Some people may use it as an excuse
to hook-up. The prevalence of casual
sex in college makes it hard to decipher
how single people should participate.
“I definitely feel like there is a little bit of
pressure on people,” Jazmine Miller said.
Miller, a Spelman alumna, thinks there is
a “keeping-up-with-the-Joneses” mental
ity in the way people view the holiday.
“You hear of all your friends going out on
dates with people they like and you feel
this pressure to say...Oh, I’m doing that
too because I found this guy or that guy.
I feel like it is more of making sure you are
not left out.” Miller also believes students
don’t want to miss out on the culturally ■
instilled framework of guys taking girls out.
“That can be one of the pressures, the
ways insinuated to make use of the day.”
Jabari Ashe, AUC Capoeira instructor
and Miller’s boyfriend of 3 years said.
Ashe adds that one’s expectation of how
to celebrate the day can be confusing.
Senior Economics major Denzell Caldwell
agrees, but states that the inclusion of
sexual activity may also add the “icing
on the cake” for couples. “It depends on
the people in the relationship to de
termine what to do on a day like this,”
Caldwell said.
Caldwell believes starting as
friends leads to successful relationships.
“It is important to have a relationship
built on friendship.” Caldwell said. “If you
cannot be friends with your significant
other then it is a relationship built solely
on amorous feelings and nothing more.”
He also thinks dating people who are not
exactly like you will offer new perspective
and growth.
“Love is caring for someone so
deeply that you put their needs before
your own,” Sophomore Sonya Session
an Early Childhood Development major
at Spelman, said. “Rather than actually
being loved or in love.” Session thinks
Valentine's Day causes a meaningless
uproar for one day of the year.
Can students be immune to the
V-day madness to remain focused on
Black History Month? “I think we could,
but we don’t have that focus yet,” Bray
boy answers. However, Brayboy doesn't
believe Valentine’s Day will deter stu
dents from participating in the college's
Founders Day activities. “We still love our
institution. The people that are aware of
its importance are doing what they can
do to make sure that it is celebrated in
the right way.”
ft Discover Your World!
*tT
Celebrate Peace Corps Week with currently serving Volunteers.
The best way to learn about Peace Corps is to
chat LIVE with those who are serving.
You are invited to attend this special Peace
Corps event to video-chat with Morehouse
alumnus Christian Perry who is currently
serving overseas in Lesotho.
Help celebrate Peace Corps Week during February 23rd -
March 1st. The Peace Corps community will honor all the
ways Volunteers makes a difference at home and abroad
and renews its commitment to service.
You could be making a difference overseas by this time next year.
Submit an online application by March 1st to be considered for programs
departing before March 2015! www.peacecorps.gov/apply
Contact Leslie Jean-Pierre at LJeanPierre@cau.edu j 404.880.6302 Like Us of facebook: Peace Corps at AUC
February 26. 2014 [ 6:00 p.m.
Andrew Young Center for Global Leadership
Auditorium
830 Westview Drive, SW
Atlanta, GA 30314
FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM AND TWITTER:
(alTHEMAROONTIGER