Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 10 May 2002 — Page 2

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THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2002

Sharpton says Democrats and Republicans both neglecting minorities

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Rev. A1 Sharpton said he hasn’t decided yet whether to run for president. But last week he made what has become a traditional pit stop for those venturing out onto the campaign trail with a speech at the National Press Club. Sharpton blasted the Republican and Democratic parties for neglecting the needs of minorities. “We have been basically taken for granted by one party and ignored by the other party,” Sharpton said. “We must, I think, in 2004 renegotiate those relation-

iti]

ships.”

The fiery New York City preacher, who burst upon the scene in the 1980s as a vocal advocate for Tawana Brawley, is contemplating run for the Democratic nomination for the presi-

dency in 2004. Sharpton has already run

for New York City mayor and U.S. Senate. He has drawn strong support in the Black community but is viewed by many whites as a polarizing figure. During his speech, Sharpton decried the political system and media empires which he said have drawn all main-

stream candidates to the political center and focus more on style that substance. “We have reduced the presidential contests to who can say the same thing best rather than who can say the best thing,” he said. Sharpton had harsh words for the Bush administration. He accused Bush of “trying to finish his father’s term” by contemplating military action in Iraq. He also said the U.S. should have become engaged earlier in stemming violence in the Middle East. And he complained about provisions

pushed by the Justice Department in the Patriot Act passed by Congress which he said curtail civil liberties. “The Democrats who should be fighting this have come down with a bad case of political laryngitis,” he said. Sharpton joked that be had a known bias against Attorney General John Ashcroft, calling Ashcroft his “landlord for three months.” Sharpton served a sentence at a jail in Brooklyn for trespassing on the Puerto Rican island of Vieques in demonstrations to end U.S. bombing exercises there.

Sharpton said after making some advances Blacks were seeing a regression. There are no Black U.S. senators or governors, he noted. Sharpton also touted his National Action Network’s voter registration drive in 22 states targeted at getting more minorities and women to the polls. “It’s time that we hear from all of America, not just the America of some,” Sharpton said.

HBCUs search for new presidents

By YANELA GORDON Special to the NNPA From the Capital Outlook TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — For more than a year, Florida A&M University has been searching for a president to fill the position left open after Frederick S. Humphries announced his resignation in February 2001. But FAMU, Florida’s only public historically Black university, is not alone among Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in its search for a new leader. Currently, at least 10 others are either conducting searches or preparing to search for a leader. There are more than 100 HBCUs in 21 states. “I think it is an unusual number to hit at the same time,” said Henry Ponder, interim president for Talledega College in Alabama. “Our institutions will be OK, however.” HBCUs seeking new presidents include: Greensboro, N.C.; Coppin State College, Baltimore: Delaware State University, Dover; University of Maryland, Eastern Shore; Morris Brown College, Atlanta; South Carolina State University, Orangeburg; Tougaloo College, Tougaloo, Miss, and University of the District of Columbia. Southern University System is searching for chancellors for both its New Orleans campus-and law center. While Gftotfbling is not looking for a president, Neari Warner has been acting

president for approximately three years. Clark Atlanta University and nearby Morehouse College recently named presidents, as did Bennett College, which recently hirea as its president Johnetta B. Cole, former president of Spelman College. Wilma Roscoe, vice president of the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education, says she is confident there is enough talent to meet the demand for university leadership. “The feeder system is in process,” Roscoe said. “Remember, in each one of t ■ *• these institutions you have provosts, vice presidents and chancellors. These same qualified individuals exist at institutions across the country.” Genevieve Knight, chairwoman of the Coppin State search committee, said the number of institutions seeking presidents does pose a special challenge to the small college whose enrollment is

4,000.

“That’s going to be a dilemma with our being a small institution competing with these larger institutions,” Knight said. “We have been careful not to say we have to have a female or male and are making sure to consider a diverse

pool of applicants.”

Coppin’s chancellor, Calvin Burnette, announced his retirement after 32 years, and officials began their search in February. Burnette is scheduled to leave in August. r v v i i ' “Dr. Burnette said explicitly he will not participate beyond his set time,” , ,

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Knight said. “Our goal is to fill the vacancy in six months. We have gotten quite a few applications.” The majority of vacancies are the result of retirement. However, Maryland Eastern Shore president, Delores Spikes, stepped down because of health prob-

lems.

Joseph Bouey, former president at Southern University at New Orleans, was fired and Marguerite ArchieHudson’s Talladega contract was not renewed. Ralph Slaughter, vice president for the Southern University System in Louisiana, said while the number of vacancies is unusual, no panic is neces-

sary.

“So far in all of our searches over the past few years we have had an adequate response,” Slaughter said. “There are people from different parts of the country, different backgrounds and experiences and a number of community college presidents to draw from.” Slaughter said each search is unique and driven by several factors, including pay, mission and size of the institution. The institutions are taking this challenge in stride. “There is adequate personnel available who are qualified to do this job, all we have to do is look for them,” said Ponder, who came out of retirement to serve as interim for Talladega. “Our ci^Jeges.^ave withstood a lot w<ys$ „ , things than what we-are going through’ now.”, *3*^ (

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Cynthia Diamond and Bill Sears, former executive director of Planner House, attend a board of directors’ reception at the Planner House facility on April 23rd. The center is located at 2424 Martin Luther King Jr. St. (Photo/J. Buntin) Planner House leader honored

Cynthia Diamond was honored at the reception and is the first African-American woman to serve as executive director of Ranner House. Diamond has 25 years of experience in human services. She is no stranger to Ranner House, having begun her career as lead counselor in 1977. Diamond has also served as acting director and director of the Ranner House Multi-Service Center and as a member of the Ranner House Board of D&ttkbcs. V .' >• •

Planner House is a 103-year-old educational and child development center originally established as a settlement house to serve AfricanAmerican families migrating to Indiana from the South. Its largest component is Ranner House Academy, a preschool through grade 3 private school. Planner House Elementary, one of four Indianapolis charter schools sponsored under Indiana legislation by Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson, will open in September serving kindergarten through grade 4. $

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Andrea Morehead & John Stehr Late news in central Indiana has a new face: Andrea Morehead joins John Stehr for the Nightbeat, Weeknightsatllpm on Channel 13.

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