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t f 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