September 12, 2006 www.spelmanspotlight.com Hurricane Katrina: Where are we now? Nicole Barden Both students News Editor received financial One year later rebuilding in aid last year to Volume XLV No. 2 the aftermath of Hurricane assist them with Katrina is still a demanding their transition to task for ‘Survivor’s dispersed Spelman throughout the nation. Some Through the students from Dillard and United Negro Xavier Universities found College Fund themselves at Spelman. Many ( U N C F ) , o if'1 1 of these students stayed at Edwards o >» Spelman after their home received a grant à Spelman ranked institutions reopened. from the “stone cold”. “My roommate and I came Mellon In Princeton’s Review’s list of here to visit her family. My Foundation, Most Consumed Colleges, uncle said to see what the local which covered Spelman finds itself ranked one of Hurricane Katrina unleasheaits damage on the guifcoast and New Orleans a year ago the driest campuses. black schools were doing for her room and Many students are still recovering emotionally and financially from the devastation. black students. We went to board. P2 the admissions office and they Spelman, Morehouse, and nalia. During the spring felt that the friends and sup­ asked if we were interested in Clark Atlanta also received semester, student activities port they received here played FEATURES applying. We hadn’t thought $2.8 million from the Mellon gave students a Visa gift card a major role in their decision about applying but they let us Foundation through the to purchase necessities. Now to stay, but they both admit ‘Survivor’ sepa­ join the class,” said junior, Southern Education that the following year is that it was an adjustment. underway these students have “I like it, its just adjusting rates by race Brittany Edwards, who previ­ Foundation, to assist in their New season of ‘Survivor’ causes ously attended Xavier efforts to accommodate guest received little to no special to the differences. I was at my stir because of decision to sepa­ University. students and current students attention. Financial assistance other school for two years and rate teams by race. Other students chose from the New Orleans area. is minimal and hard to find. I had my friends and I was Spelman because it was the Brooks received money “They are treating us like into my major and minor. I P3 best of their limited choices. from the UNCF as well, but normal students now,” said wouldn’t say its better, but I “My other option was to because she is from New Edwards. do like what they are offering attend a rural school in north­ Orleans she was able to receive “I haven’t really gotten any­ here,” said Brooks, “I really Many music ern Louisiana. I didn’t want additional funds. thing yet but they said to felt led to stay here. It was “They said since I was from come back September 5th. I destiny for me to come here.” artists set to to do it. Spelman came to mind and a friend of mine New Orleans it was automati­ was told they have a fund for “I think I was led here for a release this fall cally free for the semester,” she students from the devastated reason. It took awhile to get Arts and Entertainment Editor said she was going to do it, so Deanna Jenkins previews the lat­ we applied,” said junior, said. areas,” said Brooks. used to it, but I found so est music set to hit the stores this Shiquita Brooks, who decided After being accepted, stu­ Despite the challenge of many awesome friends here, fall. not to return to Dillard dents were given a mini orien­ trying to find money to attend see Katrina on Pg 2 »> P5 University. tation and Spelman parapher­ Spelman, Edwards and Brooks LIFE AND STYLE SSGA hosts first State of Fall fashion for­ the Campus Address ward Brandie Crump Morehouse Student Preview upcoming fashions and News Writer Government Association styles for the fall season. The evening of August 31, President, Marcus Edwards, 2006, marked the first State of Clark Atlanta Student P6 the Campus Address. Inspired Government Association by the new Spelman Student President, Phillip Anderson, WELLNESS Government Association and AUC Council President, Understanding structure, President Ouleye Jennifer Reid, the realization Spelman insur­ Ndoye. The event informed of the goal was apparent. the student body of what was “It is the vision of all stu­ ance dent leaders of the entire AUC Ever wonder where the $420 you in store for the upcoming year. pay in health insurance goes? The SSGA spent countless to be unified. By bringing the Sports and Wellness Editor is on a hours revising the constitution three campuses together, we mission to find out. so that it would more appro­ will create a bond that is so priately mirror the structure of strong that one cannot fall the Spelman make-up. The without the other,” stated goal of the SSGA is to keep Jennifer Reid. everyone informed and However, every progression involved, and to increase the first starts at home and Ndoye unity among the entire is making every effort to Atlanta University Center. increase student involvement With appearances from see SSGA on Pg 2 »> Tuesday, September 12, 2006 2 www.spelmanspotlight.com News 2006-2007 Katrina financial needs of the schools EDITORIAL BOARD and staff did not come back. positive outlook for the future >» continued from Pg 1 Of Xavier’s 250 faculty mem­ of the institution, but also rec­ and students affected by the It’s great. We encourage each bers and 650 staff positions ognizes that the recovery and hurricane. The release esti­ Kristilyn Whigham other. I’ve always prayed for only 176 faculty and 240 staff repair effort took a devastating mates that hundreds of mil­ Editor-in-Chief good friends, and I found members returned. Many of toll on the university’s lions of dollars if not billions them here,” said Edwards. those who did are dealing with finances. The school used will be needed to rectify the Shayla Ball Edwards and Brooks are not their own problems caused by money from its “meager situation. The total damage to Editor-at-Large alone in their decision to pur­ the hurricane and cannot endowment” and took out colleges and universities in the sue education elsewhere. In a completely focus on teaching. loans to finance the revitaliza­ New Orleans area alone is over Nenne Akpan report prepared by the “A lot of the teachers’ tion. $1 billion dollars. Layout Editor Democratic Staff of the House homes were destroyed. They The United States All of the challenges that Committee on Education and are trying to recover as well. Department of Education students like Brooks and Courtney Petty the Workforce, Dillard’s esti­ It’s just really hard. They say reported that an additional Edwards bring up as well as Chief Copy Editor mated fall enrollment they have better equipment $50 million is now available the issues that universities like decreased 50% from 2,000 to Dillard and Xavier face are Kera Street and better technology than for schools severely impacted Managing Editor 1,000 students. In the same before but the surrounding by the hurricane to use for acknowledged in the press year, Xavier’s enrollment is area of the city is still depress­ repairs to replace funds that release as well. The lower Tamika Yador estimated to decrease 25% ing,” said Brooks. have already been spent. operating budgets, reduced Director of Campus Involvement from 4,000 to 3,000 students. In an effort to lure students Another $60 million in for­ programs and course offerings, The dismal state of New and ease fears, Dillard’s web­ eign aid was recently dis­ decrease in jobs, and lower Nicole Barden Orleans, and its surrounding site features a letter from the persed, which was split equally enrollment all take a toll on News Editor areas also contributed to stu­ President, Dr. Marvalene between the K-12 and higher colleges and universities and dents opting to continue their Hughes, which acknowledges education systems. their students. Kibkabe Araya education elsewhere. that the university spent over A press release from the The battle for money is far Features Editor “The school is back up but $100 million dollars to repair Committee on Education and from over. However, students the surrounding neighbor­ facilities and make the campus the Workforce from the are continuing to make the Deanna Jenkins hood is horrible,” said ready for students to begin the Democratic Staff chastises the best of their opportunities, Arts & Entertainment Editor Edwards. fall semester. government for its slow even if it leads them on paths Christian Mitchell Also, a number of professors Xavier’s website provides a response to the substantial different from what they Life and Style Editor SSGA collaborating with the stu­ Spelman ranked ‘Stone-Cold School’ Danielle Jackson »> continued from Pg 1 Janelle Richards dents of Morehouse College, j influence. Afterward, we hang Sports & Wellness Editor News Writer and awareness. Clark Atlanta University and Spelman along with Agnes up signs as a daily reminder to “As a student, “ Ndoye Howard University to raise j Tiffany Tellis Scott College and Wesleyan be safe,” she said. begins, “you should feel money. Spelman’s mission Business Manager University was ranked as one Although the campus is empowered. You must assume statement is “Collaboration, i of the “Stone-Cold Sober considered "dry," students do Alaina Todd the mantle of leadership on Generation, Education: Schools” by the Princeton take part in alcohol consump­ Assistant Business Manager campus so that your experi­ Raising $10,000 for 10,000 Review, while the University tion during off campus events.