inside the spotlight ; Spelman Sisterhood The DMV’s Owns Wale Black Monsters The Spotlight takes a closer look at Spelman Wale’s importance to his hometown fans, Do blacks have any chance of succeeding in enter­ sisterhood. page 7 tainment without being misrepresented? page 4 page 8 IT I AT A P A rp y IVIy y->, A yj rp Vol. 46, No. 2 Friday, February 12, 2010 The Voice of African-American Womanhood Students Respond to Fatal Haitian Earthquake By Rebecca Clayton various events on campus. Many of their initiatives hoodies, t-shirts, and hats. The company added a lim­ Editor-in-Chief were successfully executed only a few days after the ited edition “I Helped Haiti” t-shirt to the 2010 spring earthquake. With the support of the larger student collection on Jan. 20. The t-shirt design was inspired Gripping accounts of survival have emerged from body, faculty, and staff, AUC students were able to by Sean Comb’s “Vote or Die” campaign t-shirts. Haiti as the poverty-stricken nation endures the af­ raise awareness and support for Haiti. The Spelman Crushed Pearls hopes to encourage activism and termath of a magnitude 7.0 earthquake. The massive Spotlight highlighted three individuals and groups promote awareness through fashion. The shirts cost earthquake that ravaged the small Caribbean country- who brought together their talents and abilities in a $25 and 100 percent of the proceeds will be donated on Jan. 12 uncovered the tales of resilient survivors special feature, “How I’ve Helped Haiti.” to Yele Haiti. To place an order, please contact Suli- that stirred a sense of urgency in the heart of the At­ man Chillis at [email protected]. lanta University Center. As a result, the community Crushed Pearls quickly responded to the Haiti relief efforts. Crushed Pearls, a fashion company founded by Continued on page 2 Students played a prominent role in spearheading Morehouse student Malcom Mitchell, specializes in Bonner Office Hosts “You Are What You Do” By Alexis Carter ton B. Pollard, III, dean and pro­ ties in the areas of health and well­ and Toni Cannady fessor of religion and culture at ness, environmental stability and Staff Writers Howard University School of Di­ education. vinity gave the sermon. Pollard, The event, which took place In commemoration of Martin known for his essay in such notable in Upper Manley Concourse, at­ Luther King Jr.’s legacy for ser­ publications as The US News and tracted over 600 volunteers. The vice, the Bonner Office of Com­ World Report, reminded the con­ youngest volunteers, from local munity Service led a celebratory gregation of King’s compassion area elementary schools, tried three days of service at Spelman for civil rights and equal oppor­ their best to stay within the lines College from Jan. 17 to Jan. 19. tunity for all. He spoke candidly as they painted artwork for poor Spelman students and community of the importance of community Costa Rican hospitals. Volunteers members welcomed the challenge service to sustain interconnected also made “no-sew” blankets for to be more like King, even if it communities. “Interconnected the homeless and Valentine’s Day was just for a few days. communities will build a better gift baskets for homebound se­ “This year’s theme ‘You Are world for all of our people,” he niors. Many of the young girls What You Do,’ challenged indi­ said. Pollard charged the attend­ who attended also received tours viduals to change themselves and ees to emulate Martin Luther King of Spelman’s campus. Addition­ their communities through acts Jr.’s compassion for humanity. ally, Spelman provided free tours of service,” commented Stacie “MLK Service Plunge” held of the historical West End for visi­ Bruce, community service coordi­ on Monday morning and after­ tors. nator for the Bonner Office. noon, engaged volunteers from the “My husband and I feel like it is The week’s events began in Spelman community and Atlanta important to begin to expose our PHOTO COURTESY OF BONNER OFFICE Sisters Chapel on Sunday. Dr. Al­ area in an array of service activi­ children at a young age to the A young girl paints a star as part of the arts and crafts activities during the Martin Luther King, Jr. Service Plunge. experience as the youngest member of Little Rock the “Little Rock Nine.” The book de­ India Arie Visits Spelman College tails LaNier’s perspective on some of By Kirstin Evans Arie spoke about learn­ self and others. “It was the most pivotal historical and private News Editor ing to understand herself always my intention and Nine Member moments of her life while at Central, and Alexis Carter and coping with her ex­ my prayer to make music and the faith and courage she required Staff Writer periences from a past that that would actually be a Book to survive it all. brought her sadness and positive contribution to Debuts Carlotta Walls LaNier began her Musician, India Arie, lack of self confidence. the world,” Arie said. By Kelly Harper journey into history as a freshman in shared words of inspira­ Music became her outlet According to Arie, high school. She was a part of nine stu­ News Editor tion and the importance and she believed it was song writing allows us to dents chosen to integrate Little Rock of her music with the indeed her destiny in life. evolve and see ourselves Central High School in Little Rock, Ar­ A living legend visited Spelman Col­ Spelman community dur­ Arie soon realized that it as beautiful. Arie’s hits kansas in 1957. When she began high ing convocation on Jan. 21 was not her job to define such as, “I Am Not My lege last semester to have an open dia­ school at Central, she had no idea that logue and book-signing with students in Sisters Chapel. After her destiny. Instead, she Hair” and “Brown Skin,” her simple desire for a quality education and members of the community. Car- a powerful introduction, allowed God to guide her both written by Arie, con­ would have such a significant effect on Ariè took the stage and path and define her des­ tain powerful words that ollta Walls LaNier recently finished American history and education. her memoir, “A Mighty Long Way: My began to share her jour­ tiny through his eyes. So are inspirational for Af­ On Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009 the Ladies Journey to Justice at Little Rock Cen­ ney from feeling insecure far, God has kept music a rican American females. of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incoro- tral High School,” co-authored with to completely accepting prominent part of India These singles address the prated, Eta Kappa Chapter welcomed Lisa Frazier Page, which chronicles her herself through the help Arie’s path and she uses dogmatic views of who Continued on page 2 of God, poetry and music. her talents to uplift her­ Continued on page 2 ------------ Pnnp 0------------------------------------------- ----------------"— Students Organize Haitian Relief Efforts WAYS TO HELP HAITI Action Against Hunger actionagainsthunger.org American Red Cross redcross.org Doctors Without Borders doctorswithoutborders.org UNICEF unicef.org Yele Haiti yele.org For more organizations, please visit http://www.google.com/relief/haitiearthquake A US Navy helicopter lands in front of the damaged presidential palace in Haiti's capital of Port-au-Prince. Continued from front page discussion about Haiti’s history and current events. decided to respond independently. After soliciting the Audience members also enjoyed the sounds of Hai­ support of some of her fellow Spelman sisters and His and Her Friday Night Chats, Courtney King & tian music. Throughout the evening, many listeners receiving approval from Dr. Lumpkin, Turk began to Ethan Brisby called in to share their sentiments on air. In addition, implement her fund raising initiatives. Turk set up a Spelman student Courtney King and her co-host the show also encouraged listeners to bring dona­ table in Upper Manley and used handmade signs to Ethan Brisby, a Morehouse student, dedicated their tions, such as food, clothes and toiletries. “His and Her advertise her relief efforts. Over a four-day period and Jan. 15 radio show, “His and Her Friday Night Chats, Friday Night Chats” is streamed through www.blog- spending a total of 15 hours in Upper Manley Turk to Haiti coverage. The show, which was broadcasted talkradio.com every Friday from 9 to 10 pm. raised over $1000. “I was amazed by the amount of in front of a live student audience from Kilgore Stu­ Nakaiya Turk money I raised, considering many of us are struggling dent Center on Morehouse’s campus, featured appear­ Nakaiya Turk, a mathematics major at Spelman, was to pay tuition and rent,” Turk said. The donation will ances from Jacques Pape, a Haitian Morehouse student deeply saddened by the tragic events that occurred in be sent to Yele Haiti. If you would like more informa­ and Roosevelt Ducelus, a Haitian Morehouse alumni. Haiti. Though Turk is a member of various organiza­ tion on how to get involved with Turk’s efforts, please During the show King and Brisby led an informative tions on campus, she was inspired to act quickly and contact her at [email protected]. India Arie Uplifts Students ’ ' .... ■ India Arie shares her inspirational life story with Spelman students for Convocation in Sisters Chapel Continuedfrom frontpage business.” She charged, strong black women to move munities need not talk about it, but be about, said Arie. we are and how we falsely define ourselves based on to the forefront and make a difference in their com­ Arie concluded her discussion by empowering women skin color and hair styles.