The Electoral College and JSU Savs 'Amen' To
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m:i)e Volume 50 November 15, 2000 Issue 7 Controversy over The Utans break T « r.. "Bamboozled" winning streak with eter keeps film out of a one-point loss to Nashville theaters the Ravens Ttennessee iState University Page 14 Page 19 THe IVteasure o>f Student Opinion and Sentiment The electoral college and JSU SaVS 'Amen' tO your vote in the election on-site• - churchi i services By Cristalynne V.W. Dupree Community View Writer H In the last few months, independent public opinion surveys have shown that the 2000 race to the White House would be a "photo finish." The twomajorpolitical party candidates played tag team leading in surveys of likely voters, sometimes separated by only a small percent age. But, can a marathon go intoovertime? A1 Gore No one could have foreseen this political sudden death. Normally, Super Tuesday, November 7th would have been the monumental close to the presidential campaign trail, and the victor would have rightfully prepared to take his place in the White House in January. However, things went quitedifferently. After an unofficial count of ballots in Florida, , Aubbei a ground slate. Vice President Gore telephoned Governor Bush toconcede the election. Possibly, quite difficult because at the George W. Bush beginning of the night TV media called the 25 possible electoral votes for Gore. After, retract ing that call, they later called Rorida for Bush. It begins to get compli cated when that call was also retracted At this point, Bill Daley, Gore's campaign chairman, with only moments to spare Daley succeed in contacting the vice-president moments before he was to take the podium at the War Memorial, in PHOTO BY JOHN J. CARROLL Nashville, to greet his loyal supporters in the rain and publicly concede Bishop Joseph W. Walker III leads the worship service on behalf of Mt Zion Baptist the election. Church, which meets weekly in TSU's Gentry Center. A week after the election, America continues to hold its breath and keeps its eye on Florida. In last weeks ofcampaigning political analysts By Raynata Y. Reed like the "Amen" at the end of a preacher's ser have contended that Florida holds the key to the election outcome, and mon. Campus ministries andspiritual organiza News Writer ithas come topass. State law inFlorida allows a recount inclose races, tions at Tennessee State University are an and two have already been completed. At press time the Associated important aspect of student life. Theirflyers are posted in the dorms, in the Press shows the results of the Florida 67 county recount giving Bush a A plethora of ministries is available, cater studentcenter and in various placesaround the narrow 288-vote lead over Gore. However, it that will not be official ing to the diverse spiritual needs of the student until overseas ballots marked by theElection Day deadline arereceived yard. Students say their presence is necessary, See ^Churches" on Page 3 fipp "Electoral" on Page 2 Smiley speaks on election,voting issues to overflowing standing room at TSU community who came to hear Smiley If the Black turnout would have for reaching Black voters. "We stepped up our effort to get out By Henderson Hill HI speak. been minimal. Gore would not still be in Because of the news surrounding the play," Smiley said. Smiley continued to our vote," Smiley said. Community View Writer recent presidential election. Smiley bad a remind the listeners that this is a critical When Smiley was asked in a post- junction in America's history. speech interview about the possible apa National talk show host Tavis Smiley lot of fuel for his speech. His main dis cussion was that Black people need to "Black folks have determined who thetic attitudes young Black Democrats spoke in the Thomas E. Poag Auditorium realize that this election was historical the next leader of the free world will be," may develop if Bush takes office, he said in the Humanities bldg.. onNov. 9 as part especially for the Black community. Smiley said. that Blacks should not feel that their votes of the Distinguished Lecture Seriesspon Smiley also said that young people, who Smiley also commended radio and were in vain. Instead, he said, they should soredby the PublicRelations Department voted in this election, will have people a TV shows such as "Choose or Lose" on realize how great it is that the number of at Tennessee State University. The audi hundred years from now talking about MTV; Smiley's own talk show, "Late Blacks voting has greatly increased. torium was standing roomonly to a large how the Black vote kept the Democratic Night With Tavis Smiley;" and die 'Tom mass of students and people from the Party in the race. Joyner Morning Show" for being outlets See "Smiley" on Page 2 Smiley congratulates and motivates mpha fhi Alpha bratemity, -j voting public after historic vote Inc. holds "Why Not Continued from Page 1 the winner appears on his talk show is, "What is your agenda for Black Republican?" seminar "You've got to be an idiot not to America?" believe your vote did not make a differ If the Democratic Party wins the with no Republicans ence," he said. "You can't disenfranchise election, "We have to remind Gore how people. It's not about Gore, it's about hegotto the White House," Smiley said. your vote." He also said that if Gore does win he By Dywuan Brown This is not a personal attack on needs to understand that it was the '^ews Writer young Blacks, Smiley assured the audi increase in Black votes that allowed him ence of mostly TSU students. Instead, he to win. "It will be compared to Lazarus 'h Tennessee State university's Beta Omicron chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha said, "There are some fights that you and how he was brought out," Smiley ?J^ratemity, Inc. presented a "Why Not Republican?" seminar Oct. 1in campus cento" have to fight even if you don't win." said. "If A1 Gore wins this election he ["^oom 210. The guest speaker for the evening was Harold M. Love Jr., a Democrat Smiley told the predominantly better not everfold his lips to say no to r'^d a candidate for state representative of die 54th district in Tennessee. Black crowd that Blacks have to tum Black America," Smiley said. Voting for ^ Love served as a-ssistant to the chairman of the state and local government ojm- their pain and frustration into power. Gore is the first phase, we have to ^ittee for the Tennessee State House of Representatives in 1990. He is mi alumnus "1used to want to go back in time to demand and agitate," he said. "We need ^fTSU and graduated in 1994. receiving a degree in economics and fmance. live particular moments, but 1 realized to make sureBlackscreate a Black agen •j The seminar was based on the decision to vote Republican or Democratic and that there is history to make here in the da first." ^hat Love could do for colleges, particularly TSU. and the educational funding that present," he said. Smiley reminded peo Some TSU faculty and studentshad is passed toTSU yearly byAlumni Relations. ple that they need to register, have voter positivethings to say aboutSmiley'slec f' One issue that was brought to Love was alumni giving enough money to education, and voter mobilization. ture. make college more affordable for the current students at TennesseeState University. "It's okay to register, but you need "I think what he did was very '"Students at HBCUs need to treat their schools as their homes," he said. "Maybe to vote," he said. "We need to leverage enlightening as well as inspiring," said ;;.^umni would donate their money to worthy causes for their alma mater." of a our vote and create our own version Donald Gamer, a graduating senior He saidthere is no reason whyTSU alumni don't donate enough money. He also contract with Black America," he said. Englishmajor." It shouldinspire the stu said that TSU has enough people out in the world who make plenty of money that Brandy Tate, a junior mass commu dent body to do better things." could make Tennessee State a better environment. nications major and member of the Dr. H. R. Houston, a TSU English Loveknows that financial aid is not enough at TSU, and when you deal with sit Student Government Association, said, instructor, said, "I thought it was very uations such as money, Love .says it's just like being In the real world. "If you can heWevie that Tavxs's commg \\e.\ps to good. He stated tilings we have been say survive Tinane'ia) aid at TSU, )l i+7» make you a stronger perspn witn fne ^ous'iness re-enforce what SGA and Generation of ing in the classroom." wor/d," he said. Educated Men tried to assure students of Smiley told the audience to think Jamal Hutchinson. a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, asked Love Lf he believed the —that we have to get out and vote.We about the idea of taking Black out of confederate flag should be removed. Love's response to this question was "all hor need to stop being swing-voters, and get America. "What would America be if rific things in the pa.st should not be displayed." out and vote," Tate said. you extracted Black from America?" he He spoke about the presidency and government positions. Love feels that the Smiley said Black people should asked. 'There would be no jazz, no hip govemment should choose someone who is fair.