Howard University Digital Howard @ Howard University The iH lltop: 1990-2000 The iH lltop Digital Archive 11-14-1997 The iH lltop 11-14-1997 Hilltop Staff Follow this and additional works at: https://dh.howard.edu/hilltop_902000 Recommended Citation Staff, Hilltop, "The iH lltop 11-14-1997" (1997). The Hilltop: 1990-2000. 201. https://dh.howard.edu/hilltop_902000/201 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the The iH lltop Digital Archive at Digital Howard @ Howard University. It has been accepted for inclusion in The iH lltop: 1990-2000 by an authorized administrator of Digital Howard @ Howard University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. News You Can Use Since 1924 VOLUME 81, No. 12 THE NATION'S LARGEST BLACK COLLEGIATE NEWSPAPER NOVEMBER 14, 1997 • a1ses By KENYATTA MATTHEWS $20,000. assembly. "We can't spend money "They had debts that had to be it to be nice. I did tell her about "By making this motion, it will that doesn't go to HUSA. We cau't cleared in order for us to function. exceeding the budget, but I thought Hilltop Staff Writer change the allotment to equal what spend GAEC programs money. They owed $3,000 dollars to The in this instance it was okay." we have to spend," Collymore said. Even if I tried to take that money, it Hilltop and that had to be paid Some assembly members dis­ After two hours of discussions "We don't want you to have to take wouldn't make it past the dean. It's before we could use them," Pryor agreed with Pryor. concerning the Howard University money from one place for another." not going to happen." said. "What's the purpose of the budget Student Association's expenditure HUSA was allocat- But members if you're going to exceed it," said PltOORAMS FOR pointed out dis- Delano Hinson, an assembly mem­ report, the General Student Assem­ ed $78,067 this year, . bly voted to accept it, provided fur­ and the meeting was The General Student Assembly voted to accept crepanc1es 1n ber from the School of Business. STUDENTS Shawn Harvey, HUSA vice pres­ ther expenditures are paid by held to discuss and the HUSA expenditure report in a vote 18 to 2. money allotted for A2 sources that generate money for the reach a quorum on planned expenses ident, said flexibility is important organization. the remaining money. and the money with a budget. The quorum was reached with an But HUSA Finan­ Schools not in attendance were the Graduate actually used. "A budget is something that's pro­ 18 to 2 vote in favor, with 2 abstain- cial Adviser Yvette School of Business; School of Social Work; School Assembly mem­ posed, it's something that you plan. 1ng. Pryor explained to of Dentistry; School of Divinity; College of Fine bers agreed on a But sometimes things come up," $200 budget for the she said. Schools not in attendance were assembly members Arts and the School of Law. the Graduate School of Business; that Collymore's Halloween activity Pryor assured the assembly that School of Social Work; School of motion was already in but HUSA spent HUSA has prepared ways to secure Dentistry; School of Divinity; Col­ effect. See Editorial, A 10 $600. funds for its budget. The Bison lege of Fine Arts and the School of HUSA is restricted '------------------------' Again, Pryor Ball, The Source magazine fashion Law. from using the other $28,080 set The total expenditures for HUSA explained. show and talent show are three rev­ Cylton Collymore, Graduate Stu­ aside for the General Assembly thus far are $29,906. It spent $6,000 "The program director felt that enue- generating activities planned dent Assembly coordinator, ques­ Elections Committee and school covering bills left over from last $200 wasn't enough," she said. for the year. HUSA is also explor­ tioned the budget after concerns organizations without a budget. year's HUSA administration. Pryor "The haunted house was for the ing other avenues for money. were raised about HUSA:s capabil­ "You're voting on something that said it was an unexpected expense neighborhood kids and it was in "Some of the money we're trying ity to function with little more than is already done," Pryor said to the that had to be paid. conjunction with BET. She wanted STREET MUSICIANS Please See HUSA, A4 PBRFORM FOR THE LOVE OF MUSIC Senator A7 Tells Of Brazilian Problems By KENNETH RUSSELL Hilltop Staff Writer Benedita daSilva, the frrst female Afro-Brazilian senator, said Brazil­ ians of African descent live in deplorable conditions with little hope for social advancement. "People live in conditions similar Photos by Aida Muluneh to those that existed during slavery," The National Center for Women In Prison recently opened in the District. The open house displayed art from women formerly incar­ said daSilva, on Wednesday at a cerated. Above: Shari Thomas, right, a volunteer, chats with a visitor. Below: Center Executive Director Margaret Owens, left, and lecture in the School of Business Kemba Smith, right, a college student who gained notoriety for her imprisonment without parole for her involvement with a drug auditorium. "Blacks are seen as the dealer with her 3-year-old son Armani. ignorant, used by those who can manipulate them." During the program, "The Myth Center Unlocks Issues Of Women In Prison of Racial Democracy in Brazil," daSilva dismissed the popular belief that there is racial equality in By LOLLY BOWEAN of women in prison. Center officials have listed 10 priorities and goals they plan to work toward. The goals include improving the quality of Brazil. Racial democracy in Brazil "is a Nation Editor physical and mental health care, alcohol and substance abuse treatment programs in prison. They also want to see the overall incarceration rate myth,'' daSilva said. Blank faces stare from the painting "Women in Waiting," hanging in of women decrease and more alternative programs offered for women "Blacks are the ones who form the the National Center for Women in Prison. The incarcerated women with children. "There are so, so many issues that prison officials just lower sector of the work force, have no access to education and have no wearing gray prison uniforms stand behind bars, side by side. Their feet don't care about," said Shari Thomas, a volunteer at the center. ' are shackled. Thomas was released from prison in July after serving seven years political representation," she said, "They are waiting for time to change," said local artist Dollner, who for killing a man who molested, raped and abused her as a child. adding that the problems Blacks in t donated the painting to the center. "The bars represent their bondage. Thomas left behind a husband and three children when she went to Brazil face are not solely social, but But the white represents hope. They are hoping to walk .into a better prison. While in prison, Thomas earned two bachelor's degrees with also racial. time and a better life." the help of a program funded by Pell Grants. The program has since When asked about the color cod­ ing in Brazil, which categorizes Hope is what the National Center for Women in Prison is all about, Please See PRISON, A4 said Margaret Owens, the center's executive director. Afro Brazilians as Creoles, The center opened its doors last week after three months of morenos and coffee beans, daSilva intense planning and years of hard work. said this is used to create divisions "This center is the realization of a dream that many women among the people. had and hoped for," Owens said. "It's a lot for three months. The event, which was sponsored It's the beginning of an increasing awareness for women's by the Ralph Bunche International issues and incarcerated women's issues." Center and the Committee on The center comes at a time when the number of incarcerat­ Africa and the Americas, sought to ed women is at its highest. educate the Howard community According to a report on American prisons issued by the U.S. about the degrading social and eco­ Justice Department this summer, the number of women in .nomic conditions that Afro-Brazil­ prison is twice that of men. In addition, the number of women ians deal with everyday. in prison has continued to grow at a faster rate. Explaining the situation, daSilva "We incarcerate more than 1,000 people a week," Owens said. said Afro-Brazilians continue to "That's a crisis. This country has to ask itself, 'What is the live in shanty towns, perform threshold for tolerance?' We cannot incarcerate ourselves out menial jobs and are marginalized of providing jobs, health care and programs for women." because of the color of their skin. The center was formed to make the public aware of the issues "The most important issue is whether Afro-Brazilians feel like citizens of the country, so the strug­ was how it had to go." "I understood the executive body gle is to raise consciousness that Archibald, along with public rela­ to be a democracy, not the dictato­ they can feel as if they belong," CSA Finds Focus tions officer Roxanne Hilton­ rial chaos I encountered," said daSilva said. Clarke, resigned before the semes­ Samuels, a junior international More than 70 percent of Brazil's 1;,usiness major. Despite Rough Start ter started. 165 million people are of African "I can't be a part of something I According to Samuels, the presi­ , descent. The country has the sec­ can't influence," said Archibald, a dent does not take into considera­ By KENNETH RUSSELL first meeting in September, two of ond largest population of people of junior information systems major tion the views of other members of the five executive board members African descent in the world, sur­ who said he is no longer a part of the board and has repeatedly acted Hilltop Staff Writer had already resigned.