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Page 4 — The Mercer Ctnater, Febnuwy 7, WP~
(,reek ISeur*
Kappa Alpha Psi
The unrelenting brothers of the TheU Pi Chapter of Kappe Alpha
Psi. along with their elegant Kappa Kittens, would like to convey
their.esteemed gratitude to the students of Mercer University. This
appreciation is expressed alter the completion of a very successful
Christmas drive which aim mated in the giving of a joyous holiday
season to a destitute- family. The brothers of Kappa Alpha Psi
would also like to announce that as part of their new^ears endeavor
they have contributed a considerable sum to the Black Student
Alliance (BSA) Preschool Program. The contribution was presented
by Mr. Larry Wildgooee to the director of the Preschool program.
Miss Pamela Brown.
Again the brothers would like to acknowledge their sincere
appreciation to the campus members and especially to those
graceful, asaiadous members of the Kappa Kitten Klub.
M.I.K. Club
January 19. 1977 eras the debut of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity's
founding of the M.I.K. Club. The Mercer Chapter officially
accepted seven very respected men into the campus' first dub
which is a subsidiary interest organisation of the fraternity. The
Founding Fathers are: Tony L. Broughton. Charlie Hicks. Jr., A1
Oglesby. Dennis Simon. Charles Spencer. Clarence Thomas, all
freshmeh, and Reginald Davis, a junior.
Its first gathering was Thursday. January 20, at which time
officers were elected and plana were made for an exciting
membership period. .A get-acquainted party was given in the
Chib's honor on the.following evening. *
The Club looks forward to carrying onward the fraternity idealv
and anticipates a fruitful experience.
Kappa Sigma
The brother* and little niters of Alpha BtU recently initiated 14
new little sister, into the Starduaten Chapter. The brother wish to
congratulate and welcome the following ladies into our chapter: Jan
Polaalu. Suzanne DeBoer. Vicki McHelenney. Janet Lilly, Cathy
Cary. Jane Sorrells, Jan Wallace, Jane Poaten, Carolyn Baker.
Mary Kay Salem. Stay Snyder, Melissa Mouchet. Lisa Lewis, and
Karen Auat. This boosts the Starduatera to 23 active little sisters.
At a recent meeting, the following officers were elected: lss»
Newell, Sweetheart and President; Jody McKee. Vice-President,
Jean Kenlan. See.; sad Mary Kay Salem, Treasurer
The Brother* also would Site to announce the recent initiation of
John Perry into the Brotherhood. “Trip" makes the 27th brother
active in the Chapter.
Ghi Omega
Chi Omega’s new officer* for 1977 were recently chosen. They
an Kim Suellau. President, Paulette May. Vice-President. Laura
Fanning. Secretary, Laura West, Treasurer. Cariyn Hoskins.
Pledge Trainer, and Claofha Slade, Personnel Chairman. Paulette
May will also serve aa President of the PanheUsoie Council this
year.
Chi Omega s pledgee showed their spirit at the Bean' game on
January 31. and ware rewarded for it. They were presented with a
forty doBar Spirit Award for then attendance and support at the
Bean - Florida State game, which will go toward funds far the
upcoming Pledge-Sister dance.
This month. Chi Omega' $ Social sad Cnc Service project will be
to virit elderly persona at the Nunersra Nursing Center. This will
taka place on Valentine’s Day, February 14. Chi Omagaa have also
served aa hoeteasae far the "Bear Backers’” hospitality room at
sack Bean' .borne game this season. Ucdsr the direction of Slater
Sharon Setpie. the girls have given refreshment, at halftime of the
games to the group of Mercer alumni and Bear* 1 supporter*.
Congratulation* to Sister Pat OiB on her acceptance at Emory
and Georgia State University graduate achooia. Beat wishes to Chi
Omega's Toby and Tot nominees, Pat GiB and Bill Maratt, and to
Beauty nod the Beast nominees Ksthie Sharhaugh and John
Mm
Unknown Actor Cast As Star of
Few unknown young actors
get the chance even to appear in
an epic production, let alone to
star in one, and if you happen to
be black the chances are
slimmer still.
Yet this is exactly Fh*t
happened to LeVar Burton. The
19>year-old University of South
ern California student is aware
of his good luck and readily
iHmila that 1977 so far promises
it's
The
leap into na
Sunday, January 23.
In the mini-series, LeVar is
cast as the lead character.
Kunta Kinte, an African youth
kidnapped from his village in
the mid-1700s and sold into
slavery in the United States.
The role was one of the most
highly sought-after parts among
young black actors in TV
history. And LeVar — who a
year ago was known as ah actor
only to his college professors —
was selected from among the
for Ike
in ABC-TV’s epic
OB the air for
later, they called to tell me that
the role was mine, and two
weeks after that, I was down in
Georgia filming the movie. ”
“Roota” is based on Alex
Haley’s best-selling book about
the evolution of a black family in
early America. Although LeVar
portrays the lead character in
the TV presentation, he is
supported by a strong cast that
includes Cicely Tyson, Lou
Gossett, John Amos, Itan
Vereen, Leslie Uggams, Ricifc
ard Roundtree, Edward Asner
and Lome Greene.
That’s quite impressive com
pany for a young man who just a
few short years ago only
fantasized about acting.
When LeVar was growing up
in Sacramento, his overriding
goal was to enter the Catholic
priesthood. But after getting his
first taste of acting in high
plays, he decided to
study theater arts in college.
Although LeVar la a consci
entious and hard-working stu
dent at USC, none of his
academic work prepared him for
the physical and emotional
strain that “Roota” demanded.
The production approach was
Delta Sigma Theta
t after a
shooting in
the interior of a slave ship, the
young actor left the set
trembling. In that scene, 140
black men, women and children
were shackled and squeezed
into quarters so tight that each
of them had just 18 inches of
space in whid} to move!
“The scene touched me
deeply,"- says LeVar. "I just
kept thinking back to the black
people a couple centuries ago
who went through the real
experience of trying to survive
aboard slave ships. 1 endured
some physical pain during the
shooting, but it could never
compare with what those people
lived through back then. ’'
In another scene in " Roots/'
LeVar attempts to escape from
his^slave owner while shackled
with chains around his wrists,
legs and neck. By the time the
scene had been filmed in its
entirety, LeVar's ankles had
swollen up so much that it took
several days for them to return
to their normal size.
LeVar is impressed with the
power of “Roots,’' believing it
to be a story with which both
blacks and whites can identify.
“To me, it'a a story of man's
determination to be free." be
’ says. “And that crosses color
lines.”
LeVar is now beck al USC,
attending claaeet in hie junior
year. And while be is eagerly
awaiting the reaction lo
''Roots" froin within the
Hollywood community, he Mill
plans lo continue his education
until he earns hie degree, no
matter what profeeaional acting
parts may come his way in the
r Patricia Roberta Harris,
of Housing and Urban
The Tower of Your’Dreams’’ will be the theme of tbs Spring
ball to be held on April 28th in the Grand Ballroom of the Macon
Hilton. Tickets may be obtained bom all Deltas
And does he feel out of pla
now, having returned on
again to school play* >A
starring in a (6 million TV epk
"Not at an," says LeVar.
feel very hicky to have gotfc
the opportunity to be
‘Roots.’ I learned a tremendo
amount about acting But
know there’s a lot more fo lear
And for me, school is the be
place to do it."
Copyright, 1977, United Fe
turn Syndicate, lac.
“Roots 99