Vol. 39 No. XIX Serving the CLAYTON STATE UNIVERSITY Community September 28, 2007 Clayton State Student Body Named “Most Diverse” for the Fifth Time by John Shiffert, University Relations or the fifth time since 2001, the stu- the only factor. As the magazine notes, “to remained a major dent body at Clayton State identify colleges where students are most portion of the FUniversity has topped the Racial likely to encounter undergraduates from student body,” Diversity rankings in U.S. News & World racial or ethnic groups different from their notes Clayton Report’s America’s Best Colleges edition. own, U.S. News factors in the proportion State President of minority students – leaving out interna- Dr. Thomas K. Although Clayton State currently has four tional students – and the overall mix of Harden. “This active master’s programs, the 2008 edi- groups in each institution’s 2006-2007 diversity through- tion of America’s Best Colleges, which is student body.” out the entire based upon the 2006/2007 academic year, University helps ranks the University’s student population “As Clayton State University has moved ensure the rich- as the most racially diverse among bac- toward becoming a comprehensive, met- ness and breadth Dr. Thomas K. Harden calaureate colleges in the southern United ropolitan university, there has been a of the educational States. steady increase in the diversity of the pop- experience at Clayton State, for all of our ulation, including students, faculty, and students, faculty and staff.” Clayton State’s 53 percent African- staff. Students are enrolled from more American student body was a significant than 50 countries at Clayton State and the factor in the U.S. News ranking, but not number of non-traditional students has Clayton State Bringing Inside MBA to Fayette County Departments: eginning in January 2008, the The Clayton State University School of Clayton State University School of Business also held an open house for indi- Arts Page . .5 B Business will be offering Master of viduals interested in its on-campus MBA Across the Campus . .6 Business Administration (MBA) classes program on Thursday, Sept. 27. Life’s Transitions . .9 in Peachtree City. Trivia Time . .11 Clayton’s State’s School of Business fac- Sports . .12 The MBA is already on the fast track. The ulty, with a blend of academic and real- School designed the MBA for working world experience, will teach the 11-course professionals who will be able to com- curriculum, which will be offered on In This Issue: plete the rigorous curriculum in 20 alternate Saturdays. The classes are Web- Constitution Week . .2 months. Although the program was enhanced so that the student’s total visits Anna Cox Named Clayton expected to begin this semester with 20 to the classroom will be approximately 45 County Teacher of the Year . .3 students, an overwhelming response of days in a 20-month period. Standing Room Only for Nursing competitive applicants for the program Information Sessions . .3 led to admitting 35 students as the first “It’s a great value for the money. Any Clayton State Mourns on-campus cohort ion Morrow. New comparable part-time working profession- Dr. Elizabeth Marshall . .4 cohorts will be offered on campus and in al MBA in our market place is at least Women’s Forum Online Peachtree City beginning with the spring double the cost of what we are charging,” Auction . .7 2008 semester in January 2008. Those pro- says Dr. Jacob M. Chacko, associate dean Notary Publics . .9 fessionals choosing the Fayette County Hot Dog Rally Photos . .10 cohort will experience first class confer- MBA, cont’d., p. 4 ence center amenities at Aberdeen Woods. Campus Review Page 2 September 28, 2007 Constitution Week Lovely Issues a Challenge to Come Together To Clayton State Students for Constitution Day by John Shiffert, University Relations Sylvia Lovely, president, NewCities American Revolution and the signing of InstituteTM and CEO of the Kentucky the Constitution, another new age is League of Cities, issued a challenge to a dawning, she said, pointing out that her roomful of Clayton State University stu- audience, most of whom were students dents as the kick off the University’s week- between the ages of 18 and 21, were the long celebration of Constitution Day. ones who would define and create the coming era. Speaking before a full house in the University’s Arts & Sciences Theater on Lovely also predicted that this coming age Sept. 17, Lovely pulled no punches in open- would place, “more emphasis on the ing her remarks on “How ‘We the People’ human element… and a satisfaction that Can Become Community Patriots,” chal- only comes when we touch other people.” lenging her audience to “turn Democracy around… to restore the idea that Americans “What America has been able to do until can come together to solve our problems, to recent times is come together to solve restore our greatness.” problems,” she noted from an historical perspective. “(This) is about striving to Lovely’s message of civic engagement, find a way to make that ideal live on.” coming together and “making things bet- ter” was focused on bringing people NewCities Institute is a national nonprof- Sylvia Lovely makes a point during her address together through re-inventing our it organization that encourages citizens to at Monday’s Constitution Day keynote event at Democracy under the heading of citizen- Clayton State University. (Gid Rowell photo) ship. As has been the case since the Lovely, cont’d., p. 7 Women’s Forum Hears About Protecting The Nation Without Infringing on Civil Liberties It’s one of the Forum heard a well thought-out, reasoned then proceeded to give a history of the hottest, most con- approach to looking at the Patriot Act and Patriot Act, including the key “sunset” troversial topics Constitutional freedoms as part of the provisions that were renewed with such of the past six University’s annual celebration of controversy in March 2006. years. Ever since Constitution Day. Speaking to the first the October 2001 Women’s Forum Luncheon of the Stephens explained that the two most con- passage of the 2007/2008 academic year, Lieutenant troversial provisions of the act were #206, original Patriot Colonel Stephanie L. Stephens, executive dealing with roving surveillance authori- Act in response to officer for the Office of the Staff Judge ty, and #215, access to records and other the attacks of Advocate, U.S. Army Forces Command, personal information and modifying Lieutenant Colonel Sept. 11, 2001, Ft. McPherson, Ga., gave her audience a records searches. In presenting both sides Stephanie L. Stephens politicians, securi- balanced overview and history of the of the argument, Stephens noted, “that’s a ty experts, the Patriot Act. bit broad,” regarding 215’s provision for media and the public have debated the record searches based solely on stating balance of security vs. the personal free- Noting that the essential question was said search is to counter terrorism. On the doms guaranteed by the Constitution and whether “we can protect our nation with- other hand, Stephens also pointed out that the Bill of Rights. out infringing on civil liberties,” Stephens there is no specific amendment to the admitted that “we’ll never all agree on Constitution that mandates against the Although the debate will continue to rage how much personal liberty we are willing on, the Clayton State University Women’s to sacrifice to ensure our safety.” Stephens Stephens, cont’d., p. 4 Campus Review September 28, 2007 Page 3 Clayton State Graduate Student Named Clayton County Teacher of the Year A graduate student at Clayton State bring new material to my reading of that University has been named Clayton text.” County’s “Teacher of the Year.” “We’re all on cloud nine at the moment,” Anna Cox, a student in Clayton State’s says Cox’ father, Clayton State communi- first graduate program, the Master’s of cations instructor Larry Wiley. Like his Liberal Arts Studies (MALS), is a Latin daughter, Wiley worked for the Clayton instructor at Jonesboro High School, and County School System for many years the local teacher of the year. Cox, who before retiring. He has taught at Clayton expects to be awarded Clayton State’s State part-time for more than 25 years. first-ever master’s degree in December 2007, has previously noted that she plans “Although anyone who enters graduate to use the MALS degree to round out the studies will find it intimidating,” says knowledge that she gained from college MALS Director Dr. Tom Barnett. “Anna and add a greater base of knowledge to was able to do graduate level work and her students. found joy in that.” “I love showing the students how impor- “I enjoy the high level discussions and Anna Cox tant classical studies are in their other readings that I don’t get every day as a classes and in courses they will see in col- high school teacher,” says Cox. “The lege,” says Cox, who also resides in enthusiasm of the students and professors college graduates, professionals in the Jonesboro. “While we were reading is refreshing.” public and private sectors, current and ‘Romeo and Juliet’ in my Shakespeare prospective teachers, lawyers, state work- class, I was reading and translating Clayton State unveiled its first graduate ers, non-profit arts administrators and pri- ‘Pyramus and Thisbe,’ the ancient version program in fall 2006. MALS is an inter- vate business owners. of the story, with my high school students. disciplinary, evening program designed I truly enjoyed being able to offer and for a wide spectrum of individuals: recent Cox, cont’d., p. 4 Standing Room Only at Into Nursing Information Sessions The School of Nursing held two pre-nurs- “Partnering to Increase the Nursing institutional, administrative and educa- ing information sessions, Into Nursing Workforce Diversity” by the Department tional processes to maximize retention (IN!) last Wednesday, Sept.