Visit www.TheMaroonTiger.com Daily! The Organ of Student Expression Since 1925 www.themaroontiger.com Morehouse College . Atlanta, GA TIGER April 8-14, 2009 HBCU Graduation Rates Low; sga candidates Begin Morehouse Has Third Highest Rating 'Soft'Campaigning being sanctioned. icolas ziz N A Randol Davis "And don't mess around Staff Writer World & Local Editor with someone else's campaign nicolasbrierreaziz@yahoo com RandolDavis@gmail. com material," said Reginald Cleaver, n 2009, the phrase "I am a he 2009 SGA campaign has Chair of the 2009 Elections GRADUATING senior" means officially begun. Student Committee. "Please don't be Imore than ever. A recent TServices released the names of alldisrespectful." Associated Press article reports candidates on Tuesday, revealing The 2009 SGA Debates are that only 37 percent of HBCU that numerous students will face scheduled to take place on students earn a bachelors off against each other in various April 14 and 15 with the actual degree within six years. The categories. election taking place the next figures are even worse for Black The SGA presidential week. Organizers plan to provide candidates are Jason Lukose, electronic voting machines. males, with reportedly just David Malcolm McGruder, Adam Aside from election rules 29 percent of them earning a McFarland, and Kawasi Weston. and bylines, administration also degree within six years. Vice presidential candidates are wanted to share advice with the A graduation rate is defined Melvin Colbert, Darell Comer students about how to plan a as "the percentage of students Jr., Dominic Jones and Tyrone campaign and what to promise, in a cohort who graduate McGowan. or not promise to voting within 150% of normal time to Prior to the announcement, students. graduate."This definition points prospective SGA officials "It doesn't take a whole lot to out that while the percentage attended the last of two have a winning administration," of Black males earning a degree mandatory training sessions. Dr. Moffett said. "If something in six years is 29 percent, the There, current SGA officials, doesn't seem measurable, then percentage of Black males along with representatives you shouldn't do it. Do not earning a degree in four years from administration, went over commit to something that you know you can't do." is even lower. campaign guidelines and gave advice for the upcoming season. Current SGA officials also Morehouse College, an SGA officials and used the training session as an institution that prides itself administration also shared their opportunity to give advice to the on educating the Black male, best and worst experiences. candidates. shows a 61 percent graduation The soft campaigning When Moffett asked rate as of 2007 according to period, which began Tuesday, current officials what they know the Department of Education. lasts through April 13. During now that they wish they had Morehouse falls third on the list this period, candidates running known before taking the job, of prominent Black institution for office may perform dorm Christopher Copeland, current graduation , rates behind walk-throughs, as well as other Corresponding Secretary, replied, Spelman College (81 percent) forms of verbal campaigning, but "Always prepare for failure." and Howard University (69 are not allowed to do anything When asked the same percent). tangible. Students who do not question, Chad Mance, current Black males attending follow soft campaigning rules SGA President, replied in part, During President Massey’s last year in office, Morehouse’s graduation rate stood at 61%. Image: Courtesy are subject to be sanctioned. "Sometimes, administration HBCUs graduate at a lower rate Beginning on April 14, doesn't even have your best than women since 43 percent of candidates will be allowed interest at heart." Black women earn a bachelor's Spelman and the Morehouse Brennan Hawkins, a Khagesh Pathak, director of to participate in what the During the training sessions, degree within six years. School of Medicine. freshman economics major at the Office of Assessment and elections committee called "hard Mance focused heavily on the The Associated Press In response to the HBCU Morehouse, said, "Many Black Institutional Research, says, "I campaigning." Until April 19, concept of "student advocacy." statistics, which are based on gender gap, Sydney Starke, a men regard education as a have evaluated about 10 factors candidates will be permitted to "Always keep students first, government data about 83 freshman psychology major burden, and believe they can that affect the graduation rate use T-shirts, buttons, flyers and and be transparent," Mance federally designated HBCUs, at Spelman College, said, "I succeed without receiving a [of Black males]. Some of these other tangible campaign items concluded at the end of the report that women outnumber to publicize their campaign. session. think the media has a lot to formal education. Whereas, factors include [the student's] men at HBCUs 61 to 39 percent. However, candidates must As campaigning goes on, stay do with it. You always see a lot women appear to be, on the high school GPA, withdrawal The Atlanta University Center follow the rules of hot and cold tuned to www.themaroontiger. of men making it without an whole, more appreciative of from [college] classes, the website reported that in the spots, which designate where com and look for our Annual education, but you never really education and its intrinsic [student's] frequency of fall of 2006, the AUC ratio of their items can and cannot be. Elections Issue. If you would like see successful women without value." changing their major, and Any candidate not following to advertise your candidacy in the women to men was 57 to 43 educations.... I feel that women One Morehouse whether or not the student is in such guidelines is also subject to issue, visit the website for ad rates. percent, including Clark-Atlanta are raised differently to believe administration member claims the honors program." University (undergraduate and that in order to make it you that the graduation rates are Pathak's research has grad students), Morehouse, must receive an education." due to students' decisions. HBCU Graduation Rates Cont." 2k Activities Ban Lifted on Fri Sat Sun Inside Case-By-Case Basis the campus," Mason wrote. "It Edward Mitchell Editor- in-Chief is still my expectation that SGA o Emitchell1986@gnatt. com will continue to take the lead Track to provide to the student body 47°F I 31°F 54°F I 32°F 49°F I 27°F tudent Services will lift the with the college's expectations ban on outdoor activities on of conduct and decorum at all Sa case-by-case basis, announcedcampus events." Interim Vice President Herman As of Monday, the Student Pres. Mance's Last Stand "Skip" Mason. Government Association was "I have asked Raphael still working on its planned Chad Mance's SGA has been dogged by critisism for its seeming Moffett to inform each group "manifesto/'adocument outlining lack of campus presence. Ever wonder how we got there? As who has requested an event to student leaders' opposition to provide this office with a plan of campus fighting and their plan 71 SGA elections roll into full swing, Managing Editor Donovan X. action that includes: Run of Show, to curb the violence. Ramsey puts the Mance Administration in context. Advisors who will be present, The ban on outdoor Campus security support, start activities and the manifesto on page 4k and end time," said Mason in an came after weeks of fighting on email to student leaders, Campus campus between various Men of Police, and other school officials. Morehouse, including students Five hours later, Kappa Alpha Our Rabin-King Initiative: A Path to Peace or Politics? Fraternity Probates Back On Schedule from the football team and Psi held their probate in front of Graves Hall. the Kilgore Student Center. The Last Thursday, Dean Mason probate was allowed to occur called a meeting of student with the understanding that leaders to address the issue of » advisors Raphael Moffett and campus violence. Next Tuesday, Duane Cooper would oversee President Franklin plans to hold the event. a town hall meeting on a similar "It is my desire to see the subject. The meeting is billed as return of a vibrant and trusted "The Soul of Morehouse and the student life and activities on Future of the Mystique." Read on page 4^ See photos on page 7k Recycle The Maroon Tiger The Maroon Tiger April 8-14, 2009 _________, ¿ffet Quiz Bowl Team Sparks Buzz was imperative, as the team was The Maroon Tiger tested early on in their round- robin play. Vol. LXXX111, No. 24 - 8 pages Its division of eight teams had some serious competitors, Management and while Morehouse finished Edward Mitchell, '09 Editor-in-Chief their Day 1 play at 4-0, it wasn't without some close finishes: a Donovan X. Ramsey, '09 Managing Editor double overtime victory over Tyren C. Holmes, 4 0 Chief Layout Editor Sojourner-Douglass College. Krista DeSouza, SC, 4 0 Chief Copy Editor On the second day of tourney Wendell Marsh,'09 New Media Director play, Morehouse maintained its Carl Ringgold, 4 1 Production Manager good fortune, as Jackson led his team to a 6-1 record, with the Editors only loss coming to Howard in George W. Williams IV, 4 0 Campus News Editor their final game. Randol Davis,'09 World & Local News Editor Morehouse faced Howard again in a Sweet 16 grudge match Kevin Mallory, 4 0 Assoc. Campus News Editor and was victorious, allowing the Fredrick Salyers,'09 Arts & Entertainment Editor Maroon Tigers to play on the Ashley Precia, CAU, '09 Features Editor big stage on Sunday in the Elite Khadijah Robinson, SC, 40 Opinions Editor Eight.