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Tuesday, September 12, 2006
www.spelmanspotlight.com
2006-2007
EDITORIAL BOARD
Kristilyn Whigham
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News
Katrina
»> continued from Pg 1
It’s great. We encourage each
other. I’ve always prayed for
good friends, and I found
them here,” said Edwards.
Edwards and Brooks are not
alone in their decision to pur
sue education elsewhere. In a
report prepared by the
Democratic Staff of the House
Committee on Education and
the Workforce, Dillard’s esti
mated fall enrollment
decreased 50% from 2,000 to
1,000 students. In the same
year, Xavier’s enrollment is
estimated to decrease 25%
from 4,000 to 3,000 students.
The dismal state of New
Orleans, and its surrounding
areas also contributed to stu
dents opting to continue their
education elsewhere.
“The school is back up but
the surrounding neighbor
hood is horrible,” said
Edwards.
Also, a number of professors
SSGA
»> continued from Pg 1
and awareness.
“As a student, “ Ndoye
begins, “you should feel
empowered. You must assume
the mantle of leadership on
campus so that your experi
ence is what you want and
need.”
Her primary goal is already
being executed. First-year stu
dents Ella Washington and
Alia Saws both agree.
“As freshmen, orientation
week emphasized participa
tion and involvement. SGA is
the beginning point because
the genuine passion that these
young women have is evident.
They work so well together
and that is very inspiring.”
With many plans for the
upcoming school year, SSGA
is directing everyone’s atten
tion to a groundbreaking
community service project. In
November, Spelman will be
hosting “A Party with a
Purpose,” with all proceeds
going directly toward the
“10,000 Girls Collaboration”
in Senegal. Spelman College is
and staff did not come back.
Of Xavier’s 250 faculty mem
bers and 650 staff positions
only 176 faculty and 240 staff
members returned. Many of
those who did are dealing with
their own problems caused by
the hurricane and cannot
completely focus on teaching.
“A lot of the teachers’
homes were destroyed. They
are trying to recover as well.
It’s just really hard. They say
they have better equipment
and better technology than
before but the surrounding
area of the city is still depress
ing,” said Brooks.
In an effort to lure students
and ease fears, Dillard’s web
site features a letter from the
President, Dr. Marvalene
Hughes, which acknowledges
that the university spent over
$100 million dollars to repair
facilities and make the campus
ready for students to begin the
fall semester.
Xavier’s website provides a
collaborating with the stu
dents of Morehouse College,
Clark Atlanta University and
Howard University to raise
money. Spelman’s mission
statement is “Collaboration,
Generation, Education:
Raising $10,000 for 10,000
girls. There will also be a
fundraising march September
20, 2006, with more informa
tion to follow at a later date.
It is a new year with new
officers, new plans, and new
enthusiasm. The address
served as an excellent way to
reach the student body. They
urged communication is
imperative among the student
government, the students, and
Spelman College. It appears
that SSGA is obtaining the
support from all classifica
tions, all schools, and all peo
ple. With an exciting year
planned ahead and executives
working to get the job done,
there is no doubt that
Spelman College and all its
students will be ablaze in the
2006-2007 school year.
positive outlook for the future
of the institution, but also rec
ognizes that the recovery and
repair effort took a devastating
toll on the university’s
finances. The school used
money from its “meager
endowment” and took out
loans to finance the revitaliza
tion.
The United States
Department of Education
reported that an additional
$50 million is now available
for schools severely impacted
by the hurricane to use for
repairs to replace funds that
have already been spent.
Another $60 million in for
eign aid was recently dis
persed, which was split equally
between the K-12 and higher
education systems.
A press release from the
Committee on Education and
the Workforce from the
Democratic Staff chastises the
government for its slow
response to the substantial
Janelle Richards
News Writer
Spelman along with Agnes
Scott College and Wesleyan
University was ranked as one
of the “Stone-Cold Sober
Schools” by the Princeton
Review, while the University
of Georgia received the num
ber one ranking on the “Most
Alcohol Consumed” list.
Spelman administration
takes the necessary steps to
prevent dangerous activity
involving students and alco
hol. First year student Jillian
Macklin states that during ori
entation week at a forum on
safety she was told to take spe
cial precautions.
“Administration stressed to
never put your cup down at a
party and to always beware of
what people can do to your
drink,” she said.
Sophomore Tyneisha
Harden remembers during her
first-year, her resident director
specifically cautioned her
dorm. "Coming into the dorm
drunk was completely unac
ceptable and would not be tol
erated,” she said.
That speech has been con
tinued for incoming students
through the years, as Krystal
Butler, a resident assistant in
Manley Hall, reiterates.
“The same precautions are
being taken. We let the girls
know verbally and visually.
Our staff strictly explains to
the girls that they cannot
come on campus under the
financial needs of the schools
and students affected by the
hurricane. The release esti
mates that hundreds of mil
lions of dollars if not billions
will be needed to rectify the
situation. The total damage to
colleges and universities in the
New Orleans area alone is over
$1 billion dollars.
All of the challenges that
students like Brooks and
Edwards bring up as well as
the issues that universities like
Dillard and Xavier face are
acknowledged in the press
release as well. The lower
operating budgets, reduced
programs and course offerings,
decrease in jobs, and lower
enrollment all take a toll on
colleges and universities and
their students.
The battle for money is far
from over. However, students
are continuing to make the
best of their opportunities,
even if it leads them on paths
different from what they
influence. Afterward, we hang
up signs as a daily reminder to
be safe,” she said.
Although the campus is
considered "dry," students do
take part in alcohol consump
tion during off campus events.
“You see people at house
parties and clubs sipping on
alcoholic beverages. Some are
of the right age, and others are
not. It is not always right, but
some people are going to do
what they want to do when
they want to do it. Hopefully,
they make the safest decision
for themselves and the people
around them,” said sopho
more Majidah Muhammad.
“If people were allowed to
drink on campus it would
change the environment of
Spelman College. We would
also be considered a party
school along with UGA. As a
student, I do not want nega
tive connotations associated
with Spelman. Spelman is
about education and learn
ing,” said Butler.
Students have started mak
ing the right decisions by
abiding to Spelman rules and
keeping alcohol off campus
and out of the dorms. When
students get beyond the pearly
gates, all responsibility falls on
them.
“It solely depends on the
person. You must be safe and
responsible in whatever deci
sions you decide to make,”
said Harden.
Spelman ranked ‘Stone-Cold School’