A Message of Hope Through a New Lens

They were all dressed alike; they swayed from side to side, and sang like angels to Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror”. The crowd gave a standing ovation, some in tears, some feeling inspired, and others in awe at the awesome talent just displayed. Ron Clark makes his way back onto the stage and gives his final remarks, “The only way to end discrimination is to lift up our kids. If you don’t learn anything else from today, I hope you take that”. As the keynote speaker for the 25th Annual Holmes/ Hunter Lecture on Friday at the Hugh Hodgson Concert Hall, Ron Clark followed in the ranks of people like Jesse L. Jackson, Vernon Jordan, and Nikki Giovanni, who have been selected to give this lecture in honor of Hamilton E. Holmes and Charlayne Hunter-Gault, the first two African American students to enroll at the University of Georgia. The Holmes/Hunter Lecture series is given by a distinguished scholar or public figure and focuses on race relations, aspects of higher education with implications for race relations or black history. For Ron Clark, being chosen to give the lecture was a humbling experience, “I don’t feel like I’m worthy of being here” he said to an audience of about 200 people who filled the bottom level of the hall and overflowed into the balcony. During the lecture, Clark focused more on his students than himself and his own accomplishments. As he spoke, he jumped and ran about the stage as audience members laughed and shouted “yes” at points he made throughout his speech. In the front rows were a group of his students, dressed in khaki pants, blue button down shirts with ties, and blue sweaters. Often during the lecture he would acknowledge them by name to tell of their accomplishments to the audience.
To the center of the stage he brought out two projects, one a blue tri-fold board with few pictures and writing. He asked the audience, “What grade would you give this?” Audience yelled out answers that ranged from 50 to 100. “I gave this a 27” he responded.”We are not being realistic with our kids. We can’t accept trash”. He then brings to center stage a pyramid heavily decorated with Egyptian designs. Then he pulled down the flaps of the pyramid and the audience gasped in amazement at the detailed artifacts that were displayed inside. The project that was designed to follow a timeline of Egyptian history was made by one of his students who put together each artifact from objects within her house. “When you have high expectations, you get high results”. Clark said as he brought the young girl to the stage and proudly stood behind her as the crowd applauded. It was this intense passion and intense energy that spilled all from one fair-skinned, tall, lanky man from the Deep South.
“I never thought I would be a teacher” Clark said. It was there that he began telling the audience of his journey to the Ron Clark Academy. Clark, known as “America’s Educator”, is the 2000 Disney American Teacher of the Year, a New York Times bestselling author, the subject of a television movie and the founder of The Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, Georgia. Clark first caught America’s eye as the teacher in Harlem who helped turn low achieving students into high excelling students by the end of the year. As Clark spoke of why he packed up and moved from North Carolina to Harlem, he said, “If you feel something in your heart, just go for it”. It was in Harlem that other teachers laughed at him and his methods, and he was told that he would never change the students. But it was to this Clark said, “In life people are always trying to tell you, you can’t do it.” He fought these negative notions when he came to Atlanta and turned a 100 year old factory into a school that is protected by the community. The rest is history. “I don’t wanna be old and look back and have regrets” Clark said. And it is with this notion Clark has changed the hearts and minds of those he comes in contact with.
Lines of students, teachers, and parents lined up after the lecture to take pictures and have Clark sign his autograph in books or pieces of paper. One eager student in line, Jenna Causey beamed from ear to ear, “I’m pretty sure I want to be an educator after being here”. For twenty five years there have been speakers who have sparked hope in others through their lectures and it was on Friday, Ron Clark, took a deserving place in this list.

President Adams Becomes Slide Certified.

by Melanie Turner 

At the University of Georgia’s Twenty-Fifth Annual Holmes/Hunter Lecture held in Hodgson Hall, President Michael Adams’ Assistant Matthew Winston announced during the closing that the University’s President decided on February 25 to create a longstanding partnership with The Ron Clark Academy by founding a renewable scholarship available each academic year to one student.

The announcement, made after about 30 of Clark’s students performed their song “Man in the Mirror”, received a standing ovation from the crowd that filled the bottom level and some of the top level of the hall. The crowd composed of about 30 educators along with students from the university and surrounding public schools whooped and cheered for the 5^th through 8^th graders, who’s test scores on average ranked higher than that of students four years older. This energy only mirrored Ron Clark’s as he waved his arms and bounced around the stage giddy from excitement of describing how he had taught his students to overcome adversity.

The 2000 Disney Teacher of the Year recipient followed in step with the theme of the day, which was created 25 years ago to honor Dr. Hamilton Holmes and Charlayne Hunter-Gault for their determination to receive an education at the newly integrated University of Georgia in 1961. Clark described with his southern proper accent how he has pushed his minority students to break racial barriers put on them and their education.

The blonde haired, fair skinned man in a pink tie recounted how he did not let being the only male teacher or person of his race deter him from seeking the job at a school in Harlem and pushing his students there to succeed. The lack of hope the students had for education’s impact on their futures inspired him to raise funds to take the students from Harlem to South Africa in order that they might gain a more global perspective on poverty and racism.

Before the students left, Clark assigned them to read Nelson Mandela’s book “Long Walk to Freedom” so that they might more deeply understanding the race struggle not only in America but also around the world. While touring a small museum one of their last days in South Africa, several black cars pulled up outside the building. When the students glanced outside through the windows and realized that the tall, stately, man in his 80’s walking towards the entrance was the civil rights leader they had grown to respect, many started crying and shaking from the immense honor they felt towards him.

Clark also broke down barriers when renovation on the old factory designated for becoming The Ron Clark Academy began in the South Atlanta neighborhood. After a series of break-ins, Clark decided to get the neighborhood on his side by walking to every door meeting the people in four months, armed only with a backpack, his book “The 55 Essentials” and his energy for students. The response, the neighborhood is now a fortress around the school and the school has not been vandalized since.

With 22 percent of the students at The Ron Clark Academy coming from minority backgrounds, Clark celebrates these differences. He has constantly stressed to students to be proud of their heritage. As Oprah’s “Phenomenal Man”, Clark once a year has the new students perform DNA tests to locate what tribe or clan they are originally descended from. Then, the school holds an assembly, calling each up on stage to announce and praise their heritage. “You must understand your race and other races to become a global leader,” Clark said about the school’s intentional approach towards not just focusing on American history but deeply exploring other cultures.

This attitude towards racial differences can be seen in how the students and faculty recently handled the racism that appeared when a video of their song “You Can Vote However You Like” appeared on Youtube. Coupled with thousands of encouraging comments about the video were thousands of others containing derogatory and cutting remarks about the students. When the students began to report that they had read some of these remarks, the school held an assembly to not only counsel the students through the situation but to decide whether to have Youtube remove the video or not. When given the power to make the decision, students turned to Dr. Martin Luther King’s strength for inspiration, citing that even when people cursed at and threw things at him during marches, he still held his head high and marched on. They decided to leave the video up because they were proud of the work they had done to learn the material and wanted the world to see what they could do.

And did the world see. After the video, the school received numerous visits from the media and celebrities including CNN, rapper T.I., UGA’s president Adams and World News Tonight named the students their Persons of the Week. Somewhere between witnessing the passion the Academy’s teachers have for the students and becoming according to Winston “Slide Certified” by zipping down the giant blue slide into the lobby with students, President Adams and Matthew Winston decided that UGA and The Ron Clark Academy needed to unite under their common ideals for education. During the drive back, past the farms along rural GA-316 to Athens, Adams and Winston discussed how to make this a reality. That one day, one of the students from the Academy would also drive past the same pastures on the way to the University and call it their own. 

Renown Sound Artist Visits Alma Mater

By Rebecca Gentry

A red carpet lined with gold markings lead to the stage. There were two chairs, a stool, and a podium in front of a gigantic painting of a cathedral. The audience mumbled quietly with excitement and curiosity while waiting for the speaker to take the stage in a filled room at the University of Georgia Chapel at 4 p.m. on Thursday. The track lights unexpectedly glared onto the stage and the audience was silenced.

Dr. Hugh Ruppersberg, the Senior Associate Dean of Franklin College of Arts and Sciences walked to the podium to introduce the speaker. Fred Newman, a well-known sound artist and University of Georgia alum, then took the stage after great anticipation. He immediately began his presentation using sound effects and body movements which brought an uproar of laughter and applause from the crowd. “Do you believe a grown man does this for a living,” Newman asked the audience as he finished his last sound effect and began his speech.

Fred Newman, a LaGrange native, graduated from the University of Georgia in 1974 with a bachelor’s degree in economics and later earned an MBA at Harvard. As he recalled his years at the University of Georgia, he explained the vast differences of the atmosphere from then to now. Newman remembered the university as “tight fixed”. However on his visit to the university from February 22-25 as a Willson Center for Humanities and Arts Visiting Artist, he realized how much has changed. “It is back to being a child, there’s a sense of wonder and play,” said Newman as he described the sense of a new-found creativity. The audience then applauded as Newman asked them to honor this university and its faculty and students.

Newman is known for his work on the NPR radio show “Prairie Home Companion” as well as shows such as “Doug” and “Between the Lions”, for which he won two Emmys. As he related personal stories, he punctuated them with sounds such as a gargling water, barking dogs, and helicopter noises that caused the crowd to laugh hysterically. He continued to delight the audience as he used the voice of a small baby to explain how he loves to collect voices.

He learned to listen and imitate sounds as he sat under an oak tree with his uncle. His uncle sat him on his lap and told him to be quiet and just listen. Newman noticed that the winds and the whistling of the trees were all different. He then learned that “everyday you gotta listen, gotta stop.”

When it came time for questions, several audience members raised their hands, eager to request a sound effect. One lady asked for a demonstration of a helicopter. Newman laughed and explained, “you do this by inhaling, pucker lips, and then flutter behind it.” Another audience member requested a steam engine which Newman was pleased to exhibit but added that the best way to create these sounds was to shake a box of cans to get the extra metal effect. He then placed his hand over his mouth, moved close to the microphone and began to blow in and out. He then whistled to represent the steam blowing from the engine. Again, the crowd clapped in amazement at his artistic gift.

After many demonstrations of sound effects, Newman moved to a more serious note. He explained that the best corporations in America are investing 20 percent of profits in research and development. “They are willing to take a walk without knowing the destination.” He said that everyday he does something without knowing the results and that is crucial to discovering news ways of creating sound effects.

While he explained the various influences in his life, Newman mentioned a former professor, Dr. Bill Hale. Newman recounted that Hale said “the greatest gift you can give someone is your presence.” He explained how much of an impact those few simple words had on his career. Suddenly, emotions soared as Newman realized that Dr. Bill Hale was sitting in the audience.

Newman received roaring applause at the end of his speech. There was a rush to be the first person to shake Newman’s hand, take pictures and speak with him, hopeful to learn more of his secrets.

Social Media conference in Charlotte

Susan G. Komen for the Cure speaks at PRSSA

Sarah Colgrove

Katie Hart’s eyes well up with tears as she looks around the Miller Learning Center room 150, almost completely filled with students wearing pink. She is at the Public Relations Student Society of America meeting at 6:30 p.m. awaiting a speaker from Susan G. Komen for the Cure when she announces that her mother has passed away from breast cancer.
The lecture style room was almost at capacity with PRSSA members and other students to hear Ashley Skiles speak about the public relations strategy for the 2009 Race for the Cure in Atlanta. Hart, the historian for PRSSA and a Grady student, was not the only student in the room who has been touched by breast cancer. One student mentioned her grandmother is in remission. Another student remembered a grandmother who has died. One more told of a high school mentor affected by the disease.
Susan G. Komen for the Cure was founded by Nancy G. Brinker in honor of her sister who passed away of breast cancer. Nearly $1.5 billion has been invested in the foundation since its inception in 1982. The Greater Atlanta Affiliate covers the ten-count metro Atlanta area and has raised $2.3 million in local grants.
Ashley Skiles is the marketing and development manager for Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The foundation is the leader in nonprofit funds for fighting breast cancer. Susan G. Komen for the Cure is also the global leader for the breast cancer movement and a grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists.
This is Skiles first position out of college and she has worked with Susan G. Komen for the Cure for the past two years. Skiles chose to work for Susan G. Komen for the Cure after interning with the foundation the summer before her senior year of college, feeling like it was “run well”. Skiles and her team helped win the Phoenix Award for Best Nonprofit Event from Public Relations Society of America this year for their work promoting the 2009 Race for the Cure in Atlanta.
Skiles has five people on her team working specifically on the Race for the Cure along with a 15 member committee of volunteers. As she shares her winning PR strategy, Skiles said she turned the downturn in the economy into a selling point for participating in the race. One of the main projects of the Greater Atlanta Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure is to screen women for breast cancer who cannot afford it or do not have insurance, and with the recession, more people are losing their company insurance.
“One in three Georgians were without health insurance at some point in the past two years. If people participate in the race, they can help give mammograms to people who need it,” said Skiles.
The Race for the Cure is held on Mother’s Day weekend annually. This year Skiles and her team had a goal of 15,000 race participants and had an outcome of 14,972 participants. The team used social media for the first time this year and saw an increase in participation as well as funds raised. One aspect of the PR campaign was the use of a facebook application to encourage race participants to fundraise for themselves. The Atlanta affiliate was only the second in the country to use a facebook application to help with fundraising for the race, following the Austin, Texas affiliate. The team used a company named Charity Dynamics to create the application and they ended up raising almost $20,000.
At the beginning of the presentation, everyone was asked to look under their chair and pick up a Post-it note. Most people had yellow, but a few had blue. The people holding blue where asked to stand, representing the one in eight women diagnosed with breast cancer every year. There was a small gasp in the room as the prevalence of the disease was revealed. By the end of the speech, the group of students was informed of the disease and the way public relations can help raise awareness for a cure.
When asked about how she felt about the speech, Hart said, “I think it’s great when a college can pull together and not let this happen, to try and find a cure. It is super special to see people in my major, my college, Grady, taking a stand. I just wish my mom could see it.”

Live Blogging: Blogger Sakura Speaks to 3410 Lab

Sara Caldwell

Graybeal

Jour 3410 Lab

Speech Article for Religion Beat-Blog

Abortion Rights in America

Abortion: a single, three syllable word packed with enough punch to rile individuals all over the country. Simply mention the 1973 decision from the monumental case Roe v. Wade regarding the legal termination of an unborn fetus and watch people heave and feel the blood of the atmosphere surge. It’s a touchy subject, but two prestigious men amongst the American political community boldly tackled opposing sides at the “Abortion Rights in America” debate last night in the Tate Student Center’s Grand Hall at the University of Georgia.

FOX News Channel Legal Analyst and former New Jersey State Judge, Andrew Napolitano, went back and forth with nationally prominent Interest lawyer and former aide to the Bill Clinton Administration, Michael Waldman.

Napolitano and Waldman both offered their specific, somewhat differing views on this particular matter and how if affects the American nation. Ultimately, after just over an hour of tense, but respectful discussion, both men calmly summed up their arguments by returning to their stances discussed in their opening statements.

With Napolitano advocating the anti-abortion stance of how abortion, the most common medical practice in America, is murder, he squared off against Waldman’s argument of abortion rights, and how Waldman believes it’s the woman’s right to make the decision instead of the government’s.

Crossing the stage, moments after brief introductions of the two debaters and their moderator, both men civilly approached their podiums in wait for the debate to initiate.

Current Director of Debate and Associate Professor out of the Department of Speech Communication with the University of Georgia, Edward Panetta, acted as the debate moderator between Napolitano and Waldman. After leaving the University of Pittsburg as an Instructor and Assistant Director of Debate, Panetta started at the University of Georgia in 1987, and because of his distinguished accomplishments and professional awards through the collegiate debate realm, his successfulness shined brightly next to the much acclaimed men with whom he shared the stage.

While the Grand Hall did not reach anywhere near capacity, only resulting in close to forty seats occupied for the event, the debate hosted by the Ideas and Issues Division of the University Student Programming Board still proved successful by equally covering both sides of the issue at hand.

Regardless of poor attendance, the debate began shortly after 7:30 p.m. in the large hall, and Panetta clearly outlined the structure of the event. Breaking the discussion down into elements, each speaker was allowed 10 minutes for a statement describing their stance on abortion. The second element of the evening included a 20 minute question session where both men were able to directly address specific questions prepared for their arguments. Included among these, was an array of student questions handed in via note cards only moments before a University student affiliated with the group hosting the event started the proceedings.

After winning a coin toss, to insure a fair chance for each contender to woo the audience, Napolitano approached the issue first.

“Some men say that the earth is round and some men say that it’s flat. If its round, could the parliament by enacting a statute make it flat? And if it’s flat, could the King’s command make it round? These words were used by Sir Thomas Moore defending himself in his trial for treason,” said Napolitano. “He was appealing to his jurors common sense, [but was] also appealing to their understanding of the natural law.”

Natural law, according to Napolitano, relates to the order of things described in humanity, which he believes no government majority can change.

“Our rights come from our humanity, and our humanity is a gift from God. If you accept that there is a Creator, and you accept we are His creatures, the natural law makes perfect sense,” said Napolitano. “Your right to think as you wish, to say what you think, to publish what you say, your right to protect yourself, your right to worship or not to worship, your right to travel, your right to privacy, your right to be left alone: these do not come from the government. They come from your humanity. And as we were created by a perfect God, who is perfect and free, and in His image and likeness, we are free.”

Waldman did not immediately dive into the discussion of the issue. Instead, the former speech writer for President Bill Clinton took a more homely route. Starting off by acknowledging the seriousness of the topic at hand, Waldman understands there are significant moral and ethical issues with the decision of not having, or having, an abortion.

“Choosing to have an abortion is not the same as choosing to have your tonsils taken out,” said Waldman. “I do believe in a woman’s right to choose an abortion. I believe this right flows from the same Constitutional and Declaration of Independence based values that we hold as our center in the United States.”

Being the father of three teenagers, Waldman offered understanding of the severity behind these controversial decisions by sharing about his family and his personal beliefs.

“I have seen the miracle of childbirth. I have seen the miracle of their ultrasounds,” said Waldman. “These issues are not simple and they do not dissolve easily into a category as easy, to me, as saying ‘this can’t happen! This is murder, and this is the wrong thing to do.’”

Ever since the legalizing of abortion in the United States of America, anti-abortion and abortion rights activists have battled, often times to points of violence, about the morality and acceptance of the issues. With one side of the fence believing abortion as the unjustified killing of innocent lives, and the other side arguing the unknown timescale of when human life begins, no new revelations appeared during Thursday’s debate. All the discussion was the same as found previously across America, and no new arguments were made. Yet, despite the absence of any new found approaches to truly resolving the issue, abortion is still a very serious matter. With students actively involved in debates close to 40 years after the legalizing of Abortion, the matter only strengthens in its severity. However, a time of true reconciliation is unknown.