Newspaper Page Text
S TERMEMI 24, 1008 L AMARUSTA VOCLS
6A
Josey letter not a factor, officials say
From page one
—m
Richmond County school super
intendent Dr. Charles Larke men
tioned the letter on Thursday,
September 17, during a hostile
confrontation between angry stu
dents and parents and members
of the board of education.
Josey has an all female admin
istrative staff. The most com
monly mentioned reason for
switching the principals was be
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Tommy Hilfiger, Nautica, Claiborne for Men, Hart Schaffner & Marx, Fine Jewelry and Easy. Spirit shoes. Also excludes furniture and mattresses.
<cause Josey needed a ltroxg‘male
role medel and that A.R. Johnson
needed a stronger academic
leader. i
School board trultoé‘lflgnley
Riley said she was not bothered
that the letter writers did not sign
the letter.
“I didn't have a problem with
them not signing their name. I get
anonymous phone calls all the
time. You can’t always express
yourself freely,” Ms. Riley said.
Although the letter was not the
key factor in Ms, Riley’s decision
to support switehing the princi
pals on the second vote about 30
days after the first, she does sug
gest that Josey could benefit from
astrict dli‘sciplinnrinn such as Mr.
ack.
“I think_they had a valid con
cern — a role model,” Ms.
Riley said. She ited statis
tics which confi that A.R.
Johnson has never had a severe
discipline problem. “No A.R.
Johnson students ever wind up in
the alternative school,” Ms. Riley
said. Ms. Riley and five other
school board members show no
signs of supporting the move for
the principals to be returned to
their respective schools. The
switch occurred on September 17.
Student leaders are making
plans for a march on the board of
education during the next regu
larly scheduled meeting.
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O |
The Sixth
Annual CSRA
Classic is
coming
Oct. 24, 1998.
Griffith-Joyner:
a true American
sports legend
™ ‘
8
Timeout
with Tony (!
Millions of track and field fans
across the globe remain in a state
of shock after the untimely death
of Florence Griffith-Joyner. The
three-time Olympic gold medal
list reportedly died in her sleep
Monday morning in her Mission
Viejo, California home, from an
apparent heart seizure, accord
ing to her husband (and former
coach) Al Joyner. At 38 years
young, the woman who was la
beled the “world's fastest woman"
was gone.
News of her passing sent shock
waves through every sector of
the national landscape. Politi
cians praised her commitment to
youth and passion for service.
President Clinton referred to
Griffith-Joyner as “one of our
greatest Olympians. She never
forgot where she came from, de
voting time and resources to help
ing children.”
“Flo Jo,” as she was affection
ately called, brought style and
fashion to the world of track. Her
glamoroustrack bodysuits set the
sports world on fire, and her infa
mous six-inch fingernails
(painted in red, white, and blue)
made her memorable, different,
and one of the most photographed
athletes in the world.
~ But. “Flo Jo” was more than all
flash and no substance. At the
1988 Seoul Olympics, Griffith-
Joyner won her first gold medal
inthe 100 meter dashin an Olym
pic record setting time of 10.54
seconds. This was merely two
months after setting a new world
record in the event, during the
U.S. Olympic trials, when she
ranitin 10.49 seconds—arecord
that still stands unbroken.
During her dazzling career,
Griffith-Joyner also won gold
medals in the 200 meter and 400
meter relays, a silver medal in
the 1,600, along with two NCAA
Championships. Her life cen
tered around track and field and
introducing the sport to thou
sands of youngsters throughout
the country. The Florence
Griffith-Joyner Youth Founda
tion for disadvantaged children
will remain a shining example of
everything positive “FloJo” tried
to accomplish.
Despite the allegations of ste
roid use after her spectacular per
formance in 'BB, Griffith-Joyner
continued to strive for success.
Although “Flo Jo” continued to
tell all who would listen that she
was, and had always been, drug
free. Despite her claims, the ru
mors of steroid use persisted even
though she never failed a single
drug test.
In a time when a majority of
society’s superstar professional
athletes try their very best to
avoid the role model spotlight,
Florence Griffith-Joyner aé¢-
cepted the role with vigor, class,
and humility. She used her busi
ness skills to help her sport rise
abovetherest. Mostimportantly,
she helped aspiring female ath
letes understand that there was
indeed a place for them on the
growing sports horizon.
In a world where the word
“great”is often thrust upon many
who are inadequate, Florence
Griffith-Joyner deserves tobere
membered as one of the greatest
athletes and role models of the
modern era. “Flo Jo’s” smile, dy
namic personality, and that un
forgettable twinkle in her eye
will forever be emblazoned upon
hearts.
Tony Cornish Jr. is a freelance
sports columnist and host of
Sports Talk Live with Tony C!,
aired weeknights at 7:30 p.m.,
exclusively on WBEK-TV.