COURTBOUILLON 8 April 2010
A DILLARD UNIVERSITY student production
www.ducourtbouillon.com
Spring Fest concert guest to be ‘surprise’
NEWS
Charley Steward Editor-in-chief
Will W. Alexander Library offers books for sale in 2nd annual fundraiser
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A “mystery” concert guest. A Player’s Ball. Free tickets for a Tyler Perry movie. A pool party. And community service. These are some of the weeklong activities scheduled by the
Student Government Association for this year’s Spring Fest at Dillard starting Sunday. According to SGA President Chavalier Sharps, all plans, times and events had been finalized Wednesday night as the Courtbouillon went to press. The event’s theme is “Season
Finale: Spring Fest 2010.” Dillard students Rantz Davis and Sheena Sampson, among others, will perform at the annual concert, scheduled for Thursday night. However, the SGA did not release the name of the headliner. Last year’s guest was R&B
Grandson of Zena Ezeb, administrative assistant, makes acting debut
Oakland’s Sabrina Bland to lead SGA in 2010-11
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EDITORIAL Degree may get the job, but skills to match are needed to keep the job
OP-EDITORIAL
See Fest on Page 2
DU royals both from St. Louis
Amiri Baraka appearance
ETOUFEE
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recording artist Chrisette Michele. Current scheduled plans include: Sunday: “Saturday Night Live” at 6 p.m., Lawless Memorial Chapel.
Stephawn Spears | Courtbouillon Amiri Baraka, author, poet and political activist, greets audience members during a book signing after his appearance in Lawless Memorial Chapel on March 25. Baraka, the founder of the Black Arts Movement in Harlem in the 1960s, is the author of more than 40 works. His lecture was presented here by the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation and included a special guest performance by Kidd Jordan. Baraka’s latest book is “Digging: The AfroAmerican Soul of American Classical Music.”
Two St. Louis residents have become Dillard’s king and queen for the next academic school year in an election in which four out of 10 students voted. Meanwhile, nominations for class councils are scheduled for April 20, with the primary elections set for April 28 and the runoff, if necessary, on April 29, according to the Office of Student Affairs. Shaunessy Carr, a junior political science major from St. Louis, defeated Lawntai Hudson, a junior business management major from Baltimore,
See Winners on Page 2
DU offer to bring in Haitians remains up in air Guest columnist labels self as unlikely Obama supporter, bashes critics
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INDEX Campus news ............................................ 2-3 Etoufee ............................................ 4-5 Opinion ..................................6 Op-editorial....................... 7-8
President can’t say how many would come or who would pay No decision has been made yet regarding President Marvalene Hughes’ offer to have Haitian university students and faculty members displaced by the catastrophic Jan. 12 earthquake come to Dillard although discussions are continuing. Hughes said she could not say how many students or faculty Dillard administrators believe can be accommodated nor who would foot the bill. She also could not say when a decision could be expected nor when the Haitian group might be expected. But she added: “I feel strongly about the interconnecting of the people of the universe, and I strongly believe that those
of us who are more fortunate should give a hand in the uplifting of other people.” If it happens, Hughes said, it will be the result of a great deal of negotiation. Hughes made the offer to accept students and faculty in a letter dated Jan. 20 to former President Bill Clinton, whose William J. Clinton Foundation is an integral part of the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund effort along with the Communities Foundation of Texas, led by former President George W. Bush. Clinton responded on Feb. 10, thanking the university for its offer and asking that a member of the DU team contact Laura Graham, his chief of staff, who is coordinating these efforts. Dr. David Taylor, provost, visited New York on March 3 to discuss DU’s proposal. Graham did not respond to a Court-
bouillon request for an interview. According to the Edmonton Journal, a Canadian newspaper, at least three major universities were destroyed during the earthquake in the poverty-stricken country where the education system already bore the strain of a lack of learning materials and buildings with infrastructural damage. The three are the University of Haiti, Quisqueya University and the Universite des Caraibes. An estimated 1,500 primary schools and 1,500 secondary schools were destroyed or seriously damaged, the newspaper said. A benefit concert at Dillard raised $2,500 for the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, where 100 percent of donations are used
See Haitians on Page 3
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COURTBOUILLON
DILLARD UNIVERSITY
COURTBOUILLON Volume 74, Issue 5
EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-chief .................. Charley L. Steward Managing editor ...................................Traci Ray Photo editor .................... Stephawn Spears Online editor ...........................Angela Harris Faculty adviser ..................Cleo Joffrion Allen, Ph.D., APR
BUSINESS STAFF Advertising manager ...................................... Vacant
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ABOUT US The Dillard University Courtbouillon is produced by mass communication students at Dillard University. The Courtbouillon publishes six issues per semester. Publication dates for spring 2010 are Jan. 28, Feb. 11, March 4 and 18, and April 8 and 22. If you have a story idea, news tip or calendar event, contact us at the numbers or e-mail addresses provided above. To advertise, contact our adveritsing manager.
8 April 2010
Winners FROM PAGE 1 with 60.8 percent of the votes in a runoff election for Miss Dillard on March 19. Carr and Alan Carmel, a junior business management major from St. Louis who was unopposed, will reign during the 2010-11 school year. Carr, who is this year’s SGA on-campus representative, is Dillard’s 55th queen. Meanwhile, Sabrina Bland, a junior urban studies major from Oakland, Calif., became Dillard’s new Student Government Association president in the runoff with 179 votes (63.4 percent), defeating Ebony Wooderts, a junior sociology major from Dallas, who had 108 votes (37.6 percent). Of 988 registered students, 367 voted in the election, according to results provided by Student Affairs. Other results included: • Vice president: Charlie Coleman III of Atlanta, a freshman political science major, garnered 56.9 percent to defeat Jasmi Brown of Houston, a junior accounting major, with 42.2 percent. • Treasurer: Christopher Neal of Mobile, Ala., a freshman biology major, who defeated Jamie Elliott of New Orleans, a freshman sociology major, with 64.8 percent compared with 38.1 percent. • Secretary: Rubila Smith of Chicago, a junior political science major, who ran unopposed. • Parliamentarian: Mikcal Todd of Mobile, Ala., a freshman political science and sociology major, who ran unopposed.
Stephawn Spears | Courtbouillon Shaunessy Carr and Alan Carmel, the newly elected Mr. and Miss Dillard, pose after a showcase in Lawless Memorial Chapel on March 19. Carmel, a junior business management major, and Carr, a junior political science major, are both St. Louis natives. • Chaplain: Bridget Sisney of Jackson, Miss., a freshman music industry major, who ran against Charles Battles of Baton Rouge, a freshman music industry major. Sisney won with 54.8 percent of the vote. • On-Campus repre-
sentative: Rachel Williams of Jackson, Miss., a freshman psychology major, who ran unopposed. The installation ceremony was held Tuesday in Lawless Memorial Chapel. For the class council race,
campaigning will take place from April 21-27. Campaign speeches and debates will be held April 26. The induction ceremony for class council winners is planned for next fall. (Jeannine Cannon and Traci Ray contributed to this report.)
attend, he or she must ride the shuttle. “What we did was rent an entire theater…and we had to pay for each individual seat,” said Sharps. “The only way that they’re going to know that you’re with Dillard University is that you have to ride the shuttle, so you can’t have your transportation.” Wednesday: A field day from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in both Kearny Lounge and Kabacoff. The Player’s Ball is set for Wednesday night. “The Player’s Ball is something that was started last year, and we want to continue that
on as an SGA tradition,” said Sharps. “People can come out and dress up in their best player’s attire.” The event will feature a question-and-answer game, during which judges will rate participant responses and their attire. The winner of the ball will then be crowned by the current winner Michael McField. Thursday: Plans for a morning event Thursday were being finalized. However, that night, Café du Monde will be on Kabacoff. “We’re going to have the actual company come to Ka-
bacoff, and they’re going to be making beignets and hot chocolate,” said Sharps. “We’re going to decorate it to make it look nice and inviting, and then we have a party immediately afterwards,” said Sharps. Friday: A midnight breakfast will be held in Kearny Lounge from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday: Spring Fest will end with a day of community service, which will be decided by McField and Miss Dillard Carmelita Foster. Sharps said the annual fashion show will not be held this year because of budget issues.
Fest FROM PAGE 1 Monday: Student Appreciation Day, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Kearny Lounge. Cold Stone Creamery will conduct demonstrations and provide ice cream. The day will end with a pool party at 9 p.m. in Dent Hall. Tuesday: Pep Rally/Sprit Day, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Kabacoff. That night, a movie outing at Elmwood AMC Theater, in which students will have the opportunity to see Tyler Perry’s film sequel “Why Did I Get Married Too?” Sharps said shuttles will be provided for all students to the free event; if a student wants to
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COURTBOUILLON
8 April 2010
Library seeks friends on Facebook, offers news through Twitter Thelisia Davis
Three months into the spring semester, the library’s new Facebook account has attracted more interest than its Twitter account. Malik Bartholomew, Access Services assistant, said the social networking tools were created for the Will W. Alexander Library and became operational at the start of the spring semester. A Twitter account was created in December and a Facebook account in January. A library Facebook
group created by student workers in fall 2006 is still operational as well. Bartholomew said the library currently has 184 friends on Facebook, 225 members in its Facebook group and 17 followers on Twitter. Bartholomew said the Facebook and Twitter accounts are intended to update Dillard students on library resources, hours of operation, the current book of the month, events, discussions, activities, blogs and pictures of library events.
Haitians
More importantly, he said, the accounts provide a friendly place were students can ask and get answers to questions concerning the library. He said he created the sites because “many students are unaware of the many resources that are available to them. Instead of waiting for them to ask about the resources, we are bringing the information they need directly to them by them.” To access all of the library social networking sites, go to books.dillard.edu.
Library holds second book sale
FROM PAGE 1
Traci Ray
for Haitian earthquake relief efforts. Dillard’s donation is one of more than 200,000 donations collected totaling more than $31 million, according to the fund Web site. To donate to the fund, text the work “QUAKE” to 20222, and $10 wikll be charged to your cell phone bill. You also may send your donation to the fund c/o William J. Clinton Foundation, Donations Department, 610 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock, AR 72201. (Deri’Andra Tucker contributed to this report.)
Managing editor
Andela Harris | Courtbouillon Senior Anastacia Scott, a sociology major from New Orleans, browses through selections available for sale.
Roughly 1,600 books are for sale through the end of May as part of the Will Alexander Library’s second annual fundraiser for library supplies, according to Melissa Dellihoue, cataloging assistant. Some 20 days into the sale (March 22), the library had sold 50 books, Dellihoue said. The sale began March 3 and runs each weekday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. near the library entrance next to the information desk. Books/CD series are $3;
hardcover books are $2 and paperbacks are $1. The books are donations from the general public, mostly history-related. Other subjects include American literature and international relations. Dellihoue said that if every student would “come and by one book, that would help the library a lot.” She said the money will help purchase library supplies, including paper and writing utensils. The library’s first sale last year collected $425 for 576 books, she said.
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Etouffee
8 April 2010
COURTBOUILLON
Novel ‘The Parade Goes On Without You’ generates positive buzz for DU professor
Stephawn Spears | Courtbouillon From left are Chris Robinson as Gooper, Arianna Holmes as Trixie, Kari Cojoe as Mae and Jerrime McAfee as Dixie.
Second-grader eager to act again The 7-year-old grandson of the Humanities’ administrative assistant, one of two child actors in Dillard’s recent performances of “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” says his first role on-stage may not be his last. Jerrime McAfee, the grandson of Zena Ezeb and a second-grader at the New Orleans Montesssori School, says he hopes to come across more roles. He says he would have “no problem acting again in the future.” Jerrime and Arianna Holmes, also a second-grader, played siblings, two of the six children of Gooper and Mae. Jerrime had to learn two roles, those of Buster and Dixie. With his role as Dixie, he argues with Mother and sister Trixie, and he also sings a song for Big Daddy’s birthday. To prepare for his eight performances the weekends of March 19 and 26, Jerrime had to practice twice a week for about two hours, adding to his already cramped schedule of school and sports. Jerrime says he loved playing the roles, and the only problem he had was to remember not to smile. Of school, Jerrime says that if his school had grades, he would have all A’s. His favorite subject is spelling. In his free time, he says likes to sing and play basketball, football and baseball. McAfee is the son of India McDougle and Jerrime McAfee Sr. He has six stepbrothers and stepsisters and says he enjoys spending time with them when he can. Ezeb, who told Jerrime of the search for child actors for the play, called her first grandchild “the light of my life.” (Devan Lee contributed to this report.)
Stunning. Brief and intense and episodic. An interesting new voice. These are some of the comments being made by literary critics about author Andrea Boll and her debut novel, “The Parade Goes On Without You.” Boll, an assistant professor here at Dillard, read from her novel at the Will W. Alexander Library on March 11. Boll, who has taught at Dillard for the past six years, said the 145-page book about the New Orleans second-line culture and an interracial love story took her seven years to complete. Some 400 copies have been published by NOLAFugees Press; Boll also is a regular contributor to NOLAFugees.com. Author Joseph Boyden called Boll’s book “stunning. It’s poetic and alive with the heart and exuberance of a second line.” Nola.com reviewer Susan Larson’s blog called the novel “brief and intense and episodic, filled with duriously driven poetry.” Kevin Allman, at GambitWeekly.com, said, “Some might find it slight, balanced somewhere between poetry and a novella, but Boll’s is an interesting new voice.” Of trying to find time to write while teaching, Boll said, “Of course, I wish I had the resources to write and not have to work, but I don’t. “With that in mind, teaching isn’t a bad way to support my family and make a living. I get summers off, have reasonable hours. It doesn’t suck the life out of my soul, it doesn’t exploit anybody for profit, it’s creative and fun, and it keeps me in touch with the younger generation.” Boll said some of her favorite authors are Langston Hughes, Shakespeare and Tupac Shakur. A native of San Diego, Boll
Stephawn Spears | Courtbouillon Andrea Boll, assistant English professor and instructor of Women’s Studies, discusses her first published novel in her office recently. About 400 copies have been printed to date of “The Parade Goes On Without You.” earned her undergraduate degree from the University of California at Berkeley and her master’s of fine arts from the University of New Orleans. She said she first considered the possibility of being good enough to write a book during her second year in graduate school. “That was when I began to really figure out the basics of storytelling in a way that seemed to be my own.” said Boll. She added that she’s already started trying to rework a book of short stories, “Whipping Girl,” that she began before her new book. Boll said New Orleans has much to recommend: “Its free-
dom, its chaos, second lines. Mardi Gras, listening to music on the floor of church while watching the glass windows ablaze with the new day, its dirtiness and Third World charm, my neighbors. The ‘how you doing’s’ and ‘hey, baby’s,’ to-go cups, communal celebrations, the river, the lake, my house, my friends, bounce, Juvenile, Lil Wayne, brass bands, springtime and all the crazy people.” The novel is $15 and may be purchased at Boll’s office, local bookstores (Borders, Beth’s Books, Garden District Bookstore), on Amazon.com and nolafugeespress.com. (Mario Martin contributed to this report.)
25 Harvard graduates help CDC renovate area resource center Nearly 25 Harvard graduates helped Dillard’s Community Development Corp. build a resource center for Pilotland area residents in March. Kimic Clay, administrative assistant, said 23 alumni volunteered at the project March 14-22 to convert a home into the center for the Pilotland Neighborhood Association. The Harvard group
painted the interior and exterior and made flooring repairs at the building, which is adjacent to the St. Bernard housing development and next to the Pentecostal church on Paris Avenue. The center will serve as an information and service center to assist with housing, life skills, job training and neighborhood security, among other
activities, said Clay. Clay said the group got involved after a TimesPicayune article about non-profit organizations in New Orleans mentioned the Dillard’s CDC and the work they do in the community. (Tess Williams contributed to this article.)
Etouffee
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8 April 2010
COURTBOUILLON
Phi Beta Sigma offers first Elite Awards to 13
Courtbouillon Editor-in-Chief Charley Steward was among four students and four faculty members who were honored by the Phi Beta Sigma chapter here March 18 as the first Elite Awards recipients. Steward, a mass communication senior from New Orleans, was cited for her work with the student newspaper and for owning her own business, Charley’s Sweet Shop, according to Eric Wright, chapter president. Wright said other honorees of the Elite Epsilon Alpha Chapter included: • Freshman Kanitria Mason, a mass communication major from Jackson, Miss., for earning a 4.0. • Sophomore Dewayne Ross, a music major from Rochester, N.Y., for his work with environmental justice and his clothing store. Wright said Ross has “a pleasant spirit sometimes overlooked by the students.” • Senior basketball player Autrail Manning, a criminal justice major from New Orleans, for “caring for a son and playing college basketball… Manning does it and never complains,” said Wright. • Dr. Alain Durocher, assistant dean of Humanities and chair/assistant professor of religion and philosophy. “No one loves their job more than Dr. D. He has been here for years and continues to tutor, educate and mentor his students and community,” said Wright. • Diane Woods, administrative assistant in Student Services, for her “value of character,” according to Nathan Dailey, event coordinator. • Michael Wilson, a professor of African World Studies and adviser to the Freshman Council. Wright said Wilson has been a great asset to the Class
Pledge idea slow to take off PR requests posting, but no pledges found Martin Bradford
of 2013 and other students. • The Rev. Gail Bowman, Dillard University’s chaplain and assistant professor of religion, for her work with VisionQuest. • Ray Vrazel, assistant professor of speech, for showing “how talent is expressed at Dillard” and in New Orleans. Vrazel directed the recent per-
formances of “Miss Evers’ Boys.” The chapter also recognized Collegiate 100 Black Men of Dillard, the Freshman Class Council, the cast of “Miss Evers’ Boys” in the Theatre Department and the Office of Public Safety. Wright said while the choices might seem random, “We want-
ed to show our appreciation to them for all they have done for this campus. “The point we want to make is that in order for us to expect our campus to grow and be better – It’s to show appreciation to those who are already trying.” (Larry Williams contributed to this article.)
Second Brown Bag forum set in Alexander Library next Thursday Angela Harris “Toxic Lyrics,” a discussion of songs and their content, will be held at 12:15 p.m. next Thursday on the second floor of the Will Alexander Library. The forum, the final of two Brown Bag activities held this semester, is being sponsored by the Library Committee, according to forum coordinator Beverly Harris, who is collection development librarian. Harris will lead the discussion. Harris said the forum will take an inter-
generational look at contemporary and past songs and analyze the lyrical content. “It all started with the song ‘It Kills Me’ by Melanie Fiona. She is in this unhealthy relationship with this guy, and all they do is fight, but she won’t leave him. It’s not very pro-social,” said Harris. Harris said three Brown Bag events had been planned for spring. The first, a forum about the changes in taxes, was canceled. The second, a forum about the safety of the soil in New Orleans for produce, was held in March by Dr. Lovell Agwaramgbo
from the Division of Natural Sciences. Other members of the Library Committee include Dr. Linda Lewis, Division of Natural Science, committee chair; Cynthia Charles, library dean; Dr. Anthony Aramburo, Division of Education; Kem Washington, Division of Business; Denise Mitchell, Division of Nursing; Dr. Lucian Zidaru, Division of Humanities; Dr. Mtangulizi Sanyika, Division of Social Sciences; and two student representatives, Tyrone Johnson of New Orleans and Corrine Mauricio of Baltimore.
A speech by Dillard University President Marvalene Hughes has inspired the creation of the Dillard University Pledge. The idea may be slow to take off, however. While the public relations office sent out the pledge to faculty members last month suggesting it be posted on office doors, a sweep of campus buildings found none. Hughes said the pledge is derived from her closing remarks to faculty on Feb. 22 in which she discussed the university’s promise to students to “exceed all expectations.” Hughes said the comments were recast as a pledge after several attendees asked her to copy the statement for use in interacting with students. The pledge, as sent to faculty by Mona DuffelJones, senior director of communications and marketing, says: Dillard is all about students. We will strive to reach the point with each and every student where we exceed her/ his expectations in: • Quality education • Outstanding and responsive service delivery to students • Total human care to assure that Dillard is the best place for all students. Hughes said, “It is my firm belief that we are all here to serve our students, facilitate their learning and project how deeply we care about their well-being. “I hope the pledge is a genuine indication of our support and appreciation for students.”
Opinion&Editorial
6
COURTBOUILLON
Where’s work ethic? We must shoot for degree AND skills One unfortunate saying goes, “If you want to hide something from a black person, put it in a book.” For at least some students at Dillard, that seems to be true. People go to college for different reasons – the most common being to earn a degree to find a good-paying job. What some of us apparently fail to realize is that the degree can get you the job, but it will not keep the job. A degree is just a piece of paper, and if you want to pay thousands of dollars for just a piece of paper, be our guest. It’s the information you are expected to retain that you should be paying for. Some Dillard students can probably name all of the parties held last month or who used to date whom last semester, but how many can recall the information taught in class two days ago? And actually expecting these students to read outside of class time – ha! That’s like trying to pull chicken teeth. Some students expect to be treated like adults when they enter college but display the work ethic of a fifth-grader, and that might even be too much credit for some. College instructors are here to help facilitate learning. They are not here to drill the information into your brain for you, but rather to introduce you to the tools you need to be successful in that discipline. Teachers can only take so much blame for students who perform poorly, especially when the teacher
has given ample opportunity to earn a decent grade. For example, in one class, a teacher was willing to grade a test on a curve, thinking the material might be a little tough for the students; even though a few students passed the test with no problem, the majority did not do as well. The teacher then gave another opportunity to replace the test grade by retaking the exact same test (which had already been returned and could be utilized as a study guide). When the day came to retake the test, not one student was prepared for the retest. Yet not two minutes later students were asking how they could bring up their grades. Um, hello?! That ship just sailed. Then that develops into an attitude with the teacher. How do you think the teacher feels? A class that performs poorly often does not equal a bad professor; more often, it equals lazy students. Being an adult involves being responsible and accountable for the consequences of your actions and decisions. You pay to go to college, so if you want to throw your money away, that’s fine. But trust and believe that employers are not as eager to throw their money away on employees who have the credentials but no relevant knowledge to go with it. As the second half of the semester winds down, we must all come to grips with the fact that each of us controls our own destiny.
Letters to the editor
Questions, comments or concerns? Voice them!! Letters to the editor should be no longer than 250 words. Send your letter along with your name/title, address, e-mail address, phone number and classification/major if you are a student to: duopinions@gmail.com or mail to: Dillard University, 2601 Gentilly Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70122 Room 146 Cook Center. Deadlines for spring issues are Feb. 4 and 25; March 11 and 25; and April 15. Letters must be signed and will not be returned.
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The Courtbouillon is published by the students of Dillard University. Views expressed on the opinion pages are those of the individual writers, and not those of the administration, faculty or student body. The Courtbouillon reserves the right to edit all writings for space and libel.
8 April 2010
Rabble-rousers still fighting health care
Charley Steward Editor-n-chief The passage of U.S. healthcare reform should mean the year-long fight is officially over, but the lawsuit Louisiana and other states are waging about the constitutionality of the law means we now are entering another phase. And the debate over why we should or shouldn’t have universal health care is nowhere near coming to a close. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, signed into law by President Obama on March 23, signifies a win for tens of millions of uninsured Americans. Before and after the vote, people rallied against the bill, displaying disturbing and ridiculous behavior – behavior I’m not shocked to hear and see, but rather surprised about how candid the protesters were. Immediately after passage, protesters, specifically members of the Tea Party, shouted racial slurs and other disrespectful insults to black congressmen. One of them was actually spat on by a protester. Other Democrats received death threats and experienced vandalism to their properties. Critics want to “take out” those responsible. What happened to “majority rule” and respectful disagreement? Although many of us are not exactly sure how the bill will affect us individually, one would think that reform
Charley Steward
that will provide affordable health-care for all Americans and, thus, save millions of lives would bring a positive response. However, just the opposite has occurred. This bill is monumental, for President Obama promised to “make available a new national health plan to all Americans, including the self-employed and small businesses, to buy affordable health coverage similar to the plan available to members of Congress.” Democrat Harry Truman realized the need for such a plan and was the first U.S. president to advocate healthcare coverage for all Americans during his term 1945 to 1953, but President Obama is the first to bring the idea to fruition – 35 years later. The bill focuses on provisions to expand overall coverage, control health-care costs and improve the U.S. healthcare system. Proponents say the plan has significant benefits: • Millions of Americans
who never had health-care will be able to receive immediate access to insurance. • Health-care insurance companies no longer will be able to reject someone for a pre-existing condition or charge them extensive and overpriced rates. • Medicare spending will become more efficient. • Parents will be able to keep adult dependent children on their policy through age 26. • Insurance companies no longer can withdraw policies after people become sick, even if they lose their jobs, or cap coverage. In the long run, Democrats say the new law will reduce medical costs significantly. And the federal budget deficit is expected to decrease. On the other hand, critics say the disadvantages are: • The bill is estimated to cost $940 billion. • It might increase the cost of health insurance and result in a tax increase. • Individuals without coverage will be penalized. Despite all the negativityand politics, all the tactics used to prevent us from seeing the greater good, despite the fact that not a single Republican was willing to vote for the bill, the United States has a moral obligation to give Americans quality health care. We were the only advanced nation that did not guarantee or provide health-care coverage for its citizens.
Opinion&Editorial
8 April 2010
COURTBOUILLON
WORD ON THE AVE
If you could change one thing about Dillard, what would it be?
Phyllis Campbell Freshman Music Industry Gautier, Miss.
Farah Akbar Senior English Atlanta
Courtney Hill Freshman Biology Pre-Med Mobile, Ala.
“The registration process. My experience was absolutely horrible. I wasn’t able to get registered until the third week of school.”
“Making the amenities more studentfriendly (i.e. library hours, hours in Kearney, accessibility to grocery stores.)”
“It’s boring on campus. We should have more activities on the weekend.”
18 QUESTIONS Editor’s note: The column “18 Questions” is a popular one with many Dillard students, who may ask questions serious or facetious, insightful or inane. It is named after the year the university was founded,1869. The following questions were compiled by writer Traci Ray from the offerings of various students recently. If you have a question, send it to ducourtbouillon@gmail.com . 1. Why do we have to fill out FAFSA forms every year? 2. Why do the security guards hold up traffic at the gate? Why don’t they let the cars with decals go around? 3. When are the on-campus spring events going to happen? Crawfish boil, please? 4. Why are the freshmen so bad? Like, how old are you all? This is college, not pre-K. 5. Why do we have to pay so much for the meal plan? The food only makes us fat and sick. 6. Can one of the organizations have a bake sale?
7. Does Dillard have paying summer jobs? 8. Is the 2010 Census really going to benefit us or hurt us? 9. This school has been around for 140 years so why, thanks to the sometimes-disorganized administration, does it seem like it’s only been around for a few? How long will it take for DU to get it together? 10. Why is the pool just opening with only a couple weeks left? 11. Why is America in a state of anarchy over health care? 12. Why doesn’t Dillard have more parties? 13. When we do have a party, why do only, like, four people dance? 14. Why do you always see janitors standing around, but they are never around when you need them? 15. Why was everyone so nervous about the Writing Proficiency Exam? 16. Has Dillard ever considered having a “Movie Night on the Oaks”? 17. Where are the sports? Why don’t we have a football team? 18. Can we get a city map for out-of-town students so we can stop walking around aimlessly?
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Opinion&Editorial
8 April 2010
COURTBOUILLON
Unlikely Obama supporter says president will triumph By Frank Schaeffer
Reprinted with author’s permission Before he’d served even one year, President Obama lost the support of the easily distracted left and engendered the whitehot rage of the hate-filled right. But some of us, from all walks of life and ideological backgrounds – including this white, straight, 57-year-old, former religious right-wing agitator, now progressive writer and (given my background as the son of a famous evangelical leader) this unlikely Obama supporter – are sticking with our president. Why? – Because he is succeeding. We faithful Obama supporters still trust our initial impression of him as a great, good and uniquely qualified man to lead us. Obama’s steady supporters will be proved right. Obama’s critics will be remembered as easily panicked and prematurely discouraged at best and shriveled hate mongers at worst.
Presidency in context
Not since the days of the rise of fascism in Europe, the Second World War and the Depression has any president faced more adversity. Not since the Civil War has any president led a more bitterly divided country. Not since the introduction of racial integration has any president faced a more consistently short-sighted and willfully ignorant opposition – right and left. As the president’s poll numbers have fallen, so has his support from some on the left who were hailing him as a Messiah not long ago; all those lefty Web sites and commentators who were falling all over themselves on behalf of our first black president during the 2008 election. Here is what Obama faced when he took office – none of which was his fault: -- An ideologically divided country to the point that America was really two countries. -- Two wars; one that was mishandled from the start, the other that was unnecessary and immoral. -- The worst economic crisis since the depression -- America’s standing in the world at the lowest point in history. -- A country that had been misled into accepting the use of torture of prisoners of war. -- Health-care and educa-
Associated Press photo President Barack Obama takes the stage to speak about health-care reform at the University of Iowa in Iowa City recently. Obama signed the new health-care bill March 23. tional systems in free fall. -- A global environmental crisis of history-altering proportions (about which the Bush administration and the Republicans had done nothing). -- An impasse between culture warriors. -- A huge financial deficit inherited from the terminally irresponsible Bush administration.
“Help” from the Right?
What did the Republicans and the religious right, libertarians and half-baked conspiracy theorists – that is what the Republicans were reduced to by the time Obama took office – do to “help” our new president (and our country) succeed? They claimed he wasn’t a real American, didn’t have an American birth certificate, wasn’t born here, was secretly a Muslim, was a white-hating “racist”, was secretly a communist, was actually the Anti-Christ(!) and was a reincarnation of Hitler and wanted “death panels” to kill the elderly. They not-so-subtly called for his assassination through the not-so-subtle use of vile signs held at their rallies and even a bumper sticker quoting Psalm 109:8. They organized “tea parties” to sound off against imagined insults and all government in general and gathered to howl at the moon. They were led by insurance industry lobbyists and deranged (but well-financed) “commentators” from Glenn Beck to Rush Limbaugh. The utterly discredited Roman Catholic bishops teamed up with the utterly discredited
evangelical leaders to denounce a president who was trying to actually do something about the poor, the environment, to diminish the number of abortions through compassionate programs to help women and to care for the sick. And in Congress, Republican leadership only knew one word: “No!” In other words, the reactionary white, rube, uneducated, crazy American far right combined with the educated-butobtuse neoconservative warmongers, religious-right shills for big business, libertarian Fed Reserve-hating gold-bug, gunloving crazies, child-molestingacquiescent “bishops”, frontier loons and evangelical gay-hating flakes found one thing to briefly unite them: their desire to stop an uppity black man from succeeding at all costs.
“Help” from the Left?
What did the left do to help their newly elected president? Some of them excoriated the president because they disagreed with the bad choices he was being forced to make regarding a war in Afghanistan he’d inherited from the worst president in modern history. Others stood up and bravely proclaimed that the president’s economic policies had “failed” before the president even instituted them. Others said since all gay-rights battles had not been fully won within virtually minutes of the president taking office, they’d been “betrayed.” (Never mind that Obama’s vocal support to the gay community is stronger than any other
president’s has been. Never mind that he signed a new hate crimes law.) Those who had stood in transfixed legions weeping with beatific emotion on election night turned into an angry mob saying how “disappointed” they were that they’d not all immediately been translated to heaven the moment Obama stepped into the White House. And the legion of young new supporters was too busy texting to pay attention for longer than a nanosecond. The president’s critics left and right all had one thing in common: impatience laced with little-to-no sense of history (let alone reality) thrown in for good measure. Then, of course, there were the white, snide know-itall commentators/talking heads who just couldn’t imagine that maybe, just maybe they weren’t as smart as they thought they were and certainly not as smart as their president. He hadn’t consulted them, had he? So he must be wrong. Meanwhile, in just 12 short months, President Obama: -- Continued to draw down the misbegotten war in Iraq . -- Thoughtfully and decisively picked the best of several bad choices regarding the war in Afghanistan. -- Gave a major precedentsetting speech supporting gay rights. -- Restored America’s image. -- Banned torture of American prisoners. -- Stopped the free fall of the American economy. -- Put the USA squarely back
in the bilateral international community. -- Put the USA squarely into the middle of the international effort to halt global warming. -- Stood up for educational reform. -- Won a Nobel peace prize. -- Moved the trial of terrorists back into the American judicial system of checks and balances. -- Did what had to be done to start the slow, torturous and almost impossible process of health care reform that seven presidents had failed to even begin. -- Responded to hatred from the right and left with measured good humor and patience. -- Stopped the free fall of job losses. -- Showed immense personal courage in the face of an armed and dangerous far-right opposition that included the sort of disgusting people who show up at public meetings carrying loaded weapons and carrying Timothy McVeigh-inspired signs about the “blood of tyrants” needing to “water the tree of liberty.” -- Showed he could not only make the tough military choices but explain and defend them brilliantly. None of these was good enough for his critics. Other than those “disappointing” accomplishments – in one year – President Obama “failed”! Who actually has failed are the Americans who can’t see the beginning of a national rebirth right under their jaded noses.
The future looks good
After Obama has served two full terms (and he will), after his wisdom in moving deliberately and cautiously with great subtlety on all fronts – with a canny and calculating eye to the possible succeeds (it will), after the economy is booming and new industries are burgeoning (they will be), after the doomsayers are all proved not just wrong but silly: Let the record show that not all Americans were panicked into thinking the sky was falling. Frank Schaeffer, a long-time Republican and McCain supporter in the primaries, is a writer and author of several books, including “Patience With God – Faith For People Who Don’t Like Religion (Or Atheism).” For more about Schaeffer, go to www. frankschaeffer.com.