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www.spelmanspotlight.com September 12, 2006 Volume XLV No. 2 ■m m Spelman ranked “stone cold”. In Princeton’s Review’s list of Most Consumed Colleges, Spelman finds itself ranked one of the driest campuses. P2 ‘Survivor’ sepa rates by race New season of ‘Survivor’ causes stir because of decision to sepa rate teams by race. P3 Many music artists set to release this fall Arts and Entertainment Editor Deanna Jenkins previews the lat est music set to hit the stores this fall. P5 Fall fashion for ward Preview upcoming fashions and styles for the fall season. Understanding Spelman insur ance Ever wonder where the $420 you pay in health insurance goes? Sports and Wellness Editor is on a mission to find out. Hurricane Katrina: Where are we now? Nicole Barden News Editor One year later rebuilding in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina is still a demanding task for ‘Survivor’s dispersed throughout the nation. Some students from Dillard and Xavier Universities found themselves at Spelman. Many of these students stayed at Spelman after their home institutions reopened. “My roommate and I came here to visit her family. My uncle said to see what the local black schools were doing for black students. We went to the admissions office and they asked if we were interested in applying. We hadn’t thought about applying but they let us join the class,” said junior, Brittany Edwards, who previ ously attended Xavier University. Other students chose Spelman because it was the best of their limited choices. “My other option was to attend a rural school in north ern Louisiana. I didn’t want to do it. Spelman came to mind and a friend of mine said she was going to do it, so we applied,” said junior, Shiquita Brooks, who decided not to return to Dillard University. Both students received financial aid last year to assist them with their transition to Spelman. Through the United Negro College Fund ( U N C F ) , Edwards received a grant from the Mellon Foundation, which covered her room and board. Spelman, Morehouse, and Clark Atlanta also received $2.8 million from the Mellon Foundation through the Southern Education Foundation, to assist in their efforts to accommodate guest students and current students from the New Orleans area. Brooks received money from the UNCF as well, but because she is from New Orleans she was able to receive additional funds. “They said since I was from New Orleans it was automati cally free for the semester,” she said. After being accepted, stu dents were given a mini orien tation and Spelman parapher 'iWBHHRRL—...- Hurricane Katrina unleashed its damage on the gulf coast and New Orleans a year ago. Many students are still recovering emotionally and financially from the devastation. nalia. During the spring semester, student activities gave students a Visa gift card to purchase necessities. Now that the following year is underway these students have received little to no special attention. Financial assistance is minimal and hard to find. “They are treating us like normal students now,” said Edwards. “I haven’t really gotten any thing yet but they said to come back September 5th. I was told they have a fund for students from the devastated areas,” said Brooks. Despite the challenge of trying to find money to attend Spelman, Edwards and Brooks felt that the friends and sup port they received here played a major role in their decision to stay, but they both admit that it was an adjustment. “I like it, its just adjusting to the differences. I was at my other school for two years and I had my friends and I was into my major and minor. I wouldn’t say its better, but I do like what they are offering here,” said Brooks, “I really felt led to stay here. It was destiny for me to come here.” “I think I was led here for a reason. It took awhile to get used to it, but I found so many awesome friends here, see Katrina on Pg 2 »> SSGA hosts first State of the Campus Address Brandie Crump News Writer The evening of August 31, 2006, marked the first State of the Campus Address. Inspired by the new Spelman Student Government Association structure, President Ouleye Ndoye. The event informed the student body of what was in store for the upcoming year. The SSGA spent countless hours revising the constitution so that it would more appro priately mirror the structure of the Spelman make-up. The goal of the SSGA is to keep everyone informed and involved, and to increase the unity among the entire Atlanta University Center. With appearances from Morehouse Student Government Association President, Marcus Edwards, Clark Atlanta Student Government Association President, Phillip Anderson, and AUC Council President, Jennifer Reid, the realization of the goal was apparent. “It is the vision of all stu dent leaders of the entire AUC to be unified. By bringing the three campuses together, we will create a bond that is so strong that one cannot fall without the other,” stated Jennifer Reid. However, every progression first starts at home and Ndoye is making every effort to increase student involvement see SSGA on Pg 2 »>