SIGNAL
Volume 62 Number 12
Inside this issue
Georgia State University
Tuesday, January 17, 1995
I Nikki Giovanni highlights King Week
By Vickie Suggs
Special to Signal
Following student Johnathan
Gaines' electrifying introduction
to the backdrop of Bimbe drums
and her poem, "Ego-Tripping,"
America's most widely read liv­
ing poet, Nikki Giovanni, deliv­
ered a powerful, yet sometimes
comical keynote address at Geor­
gia State University's 1995 Mar­
tin Luther King, Jr. Convocation
last Thursday.
The annual event represents
the vision of John Day, assistant
dean of students. Spearheaded by
Student Chair Craig Duncan, the
program was an impressive suc­
cess as Recital Hall was filled to
capacity.
In attendance were many of
GSU's distinguished administra­
tors, including President Carl V.
Patton, who delivered the
program's welcome, Dr. Ron
Henry, and Dr. Jim Scott.
Directed by Dr. John
Haberlen, the University Singers
and soloist Keith Wilson lent their
harmonious voices for the
program's musical entertainment.
This Year's King Week Con­
vocation kicks off the theme,
'Transcending Trends-Transcend­
ing Time," which will continue
throughout next month's Black
History celebration. That theme,
and many other timely topics,
were touched on by Giovanni.
Giovanni spoke of crime,
welfare, religion, parenting, the
Lady Panthers
softbali team gets
championship
rings.
Page 17
"Queen Margot"
star talks shop.
Page 25
Rockers Testament
play locally and
talk with Signal.
Page 26
Tennyson Mesquitte - Signal
"Princess of Poety" Nikki Giovanni enthralls audience.
elderly, and abortion — using
common sense ideology com­
bined with quick-witted humor.
Giovanni posed the question,
"What ever happened to loving
one another?" and expressed her
desire for people to commit to
"making life something better and
to give of yourself — even if all
you can give is a smile or hand
shake."
As she discussed the legacy
of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,
Giovanni paralled his eternal spirit
to that of Jesus Christ and attrib­
uted King's celebrated memory to
the positive change he struggled
for while alive.
Giovanni urged the audience
to work for positive change and
advised young people not to spend
time dealing with the "foolishness
of the 18th and 19th centuries."
The poet went on to remind
students that education is a
priviledge, of which students
should take full advantage.
Throughout her keynote
speech, the 51-year-old "Princess
of Poetry" spoke simply as a
women, a mother, and an educaSee Giovanni, page 8
Courtland Street bridge to reopen Friday
By Jessie Daniels
Staff Writer
INDEX
Campus briefs
2
Plaza poll
4
Crime reports
6
Editorials
13
Bulletin board
16
Sports
17
On point
24
Poetry Exchange 29
Comics
30
Classifieds
31
Construction is in the final
stages on Courtland Street allow­
ing the bridge, which passes over
Decatur and Collins streets, to re­
open Friday.
The bridge, which has been
under construction since February
1994, will return to students of
Georgia State University the en­
trance into parking deck G on
Courtland, a route which has not
been accessible since construction
began.
The project, which was con­
tracted by the state to the
Comanche Construction Com­
pany for a total amount of
$607,652, involved the removing
of the existing structure of the
bridge and replacing it with new
spans. Since the beginning of the
construction, drivers have been
rerouted to other streets, causing
confusion and incidents of mis­
take. One such incident occurred
in July when an intoxicated
woman drove pass the displaced
barricades and off the end of the
bridge. The woman was not hurt
but was charged with driving un­
der the influence.
The reopening of the com­
pleted bridge has been scheduled
by the Georgia Department of
Transportation and the City of
See Courtland, page 10
NCAA accepts appeal; GSU eligible to play
By Bud L. Ellis
Staff Writer
After wondering for over
two months if its teams would be
eligible to compete for NCAA
championships, Georgia State
University's restricted-member­
ship status was stripped at the
NCAA Convention in San Diego
last week.
"I
'I would like to publicly
thank you for the support we've
received, and thank President Carl
Patton, Provost Ron Henry, and
Faculty Athletic Representative
Jim Maxey," Athletic Director
Orby Moss announced at halftime
of the GSU/Central Florida bas­
ketball game Thursday night.
The overturning of the re­
stricted-membership status, in ef­
fect
feet since October 1994, is the first
time an appeal against NCAA
staff has been passed on the floor
of the convention.
Moss added Friday, "Patton,
Henry, and Maxey, along with
Blaine (Hughes) and myself, spent
three days lobbying, networking,
and explaining our predicament.
It paid off."
"It's great news," said men's
basketball coach Carter Wil;
Wilson,
summing up the feelings of ev­
erybody associated with GSU
athletics.
Four representatives from
each of the over 300 NCAA
schools (including Divisions I,
IA, IAA, and IAAA), as well as
representatives from conference
offices attended the convention.