4A NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2009
BLACK STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Alumnus finds conference inspiring and empowering
BY DAVID UGARTE
dugarte@kansan.com
Once every decade, the Big 12 Conference on Black Student Government comes to the University.
For her eighth year in a row, Royce Jackson, 2005 graduate, attended the conference. This year was different from any previous conference for Jackson because she brought her company, Sable Dame, to the vendor fair to sell personally designed merchandise with slogans meant to empower women.
"I'm happy it's at my alma mater. I could not miss it," Jackson said. "It's very inspirational. I feel empowered."
At last year's conference Jackson presented a workshop called "Exploring Black Female Sexuality," which analyzed the representation of black women in the media. Jackson said getting involved in the conference was a good opportunity for minorities to learn, socialize and have fun. It gives people a chance to hone their public speaking and presentation skills, Jackson said.
The University hosted the 32nd annual conference from Feb. 26 to 28 at the Kansas Union. Topics addressed included career exploration and networking, retention, academic success, recruitment programs, male and female relationships, student apathy, financial management and black greek letter organizations.
"For your development as a person, the Big 12 is integral," Jackson said.
The speakers and students attending the workshops and events at the conference look and act professional, Jackson said. She said one reason she wanted to go again next year was that she liked seeing the positive black images.
Amanda Muhammad, Overland Park sophomore, is a parliamentarian for the Black Student Union and worked as a student volunteer. She answered questions, made sure people were having a good time and helped the directors. Last year she attended the conference at Oklahoma State University as a guest. Muhammad said she enjoyed listening to the speakers
KANSAN.COM
Check out video of the Big 12 Conference on Black Student Government at Kansan.com/videos.
and attending the workshops. As a student volunteer, she could not go to all the events, but she said it was a good experience helping with the organization.
"I met one of my best friends at the Big 12 conference," Muhammad said.
Eric theme, Wichita senior, is a member of the Black Student Union and also worked at the conference as a student volunteer. Theme said he had also attended the conference last year at Oklahoma State University. Theme said he felt the conference was going great and that he was meeting a lot of people.
"You learn a lot about yourself": Theme said. "It helps you grow as a student as well as an individual."
Avienne Derrick laughs with friends while attending a workshop called "How Good is Sex?" presented by Devin T. Robinson X. Derrick traveled from the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond to attend the 32nd Annual Conference on Black Student Government. The workshop, one of several dozen offered over the course of the conference, focused on prioritizing values in personal relationships and the consequences of sexual activity
Edited by Liz Schubauer
Ryan McGeeney/KANSAN
WEATHER
Southerners 'freak out' as they get 4 inches of snow
Associated Press
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — A potent March snowstorm blanketed much of Alabama with up to 4 inches of snow Sunday, covering Civil War statues and forcing the cancellation of hundreds of church services.
A heavy snowstorm pounds Valley, Ala., at the state line on Sunday after blanketing much of the state before moving into Georgia and threatening the east coast.
The storm headed toward the Northeast and threatened to drop up to a foot of snow in the Philadelphia area,13 inches in New York and 15 inches across southern New England late Sunday.
In Georgia, the snowfall made roads treacherous and delayed flights, while in Alabama, more than 210 churches in the central part of the Bible Belt state had to cancel morning services.
Vonda Braswell was throwing
ASSOCIATED PRESS
snowballs in her front vard instead of putting on her Sunday best. "I think you can worship in this it's so rare," she said.
Bloomberg announced more than 1,300 sanitation workers would spread salt and plow city streets to prepare for the snowfall.
"It's the first of March, which as you know is the month that we say comes in like a lion and out like a
Up to 7 inches of snow was expected through Monday
"This is nothing to me, but I'm worried about the other people who think they know what they're doing."
lano, he said. "It's pretty clear that the lions are getting ready to roar" As Wayne Letson drove through Alabama toward Florida on Sunday, the Michigan resident fretted about sharing the roads with Southernners unacustomed to win
In New York, Mayor Michael
WAYNE LETSON Michigan resident
"You know us Southerners, we all freak out when it snows," said Prahl, 26.
morning in areas of Maryland, northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., where Mayor Adrian Fenty declared a snow emergency.
er prompted Jessi Prahl and Max DiPace to take their dog, Cooper, on a walk through snow-covered Piedmont Park in Atlanta.
"I think you can worship in this it's so rare."
VONDA BRASWELL Alabama resident
ter weather. The last time it snowed in Alabama was more than a year ago, in January 2008.
Some flights were canceled at Hartstield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, where the average delay was nearly two hours, according to a Federal Aviation Administration Web site.
Despite above-freezing temperatures in downtown Atlanta, a heavy curtain of snow fell on cars and caused traffic accidents on slushy streets. The unusual weath-
"This is nothing to me, but I'm worried about the other people who think they know what they're doing," said Letson, filling up his car with gas south of Birmingham.
AirTran Airways spokesman Tad Hutcheson said
flights out of Atlanta into the Northeast might also be canceled Sunday night.
"I expect the Northeast will be hit pretty hard tonight so our expectations is that people flying into Washington, D.C., and Boston will need to call or check our Web site for possible cancellations," Hutcheson told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Georgia transportation officials warned of potential icy buildup on roadways in middle and northern counties through Monday morning, especially as temperatures plummet overnight.
The late Southern snowfall revived memories of a large storm in 1993 that forecasters nicknamed the "Snowfall of the Century," affecting the region from Alabama to north of Washington, D.C., said Laura Griffith of the National
Weather Service in Peachtree City, Ga. In that storm, Atlanta received 4.2 inches of snow and 13 inches fell on Birmingham.
Outside the CNN Center in downtown Atlanta, Flori Kwon of Claremont, Calif., took pictures of
her son Jake, 5, cavorting in the snow.
"He wants to make a snowman but I don't think there's enough," Kwon said while large snowflakes landed in her hair. "We're kind of surprised it's snowing."
MILITARY Woman drives in snow with kids to report for duty
DAVIDSON, N.C. — A North Carolina woman who was recalled to the Army four years after being honorably discharged was driving nearly 400 miles and braving a Southeastern winter storm to report for duty Sunday, with her children by her side.
Lisa Pagan was en route to Fort Benning and said in a phone interview she hoped to reach the Georgia post by early evening.
"I know I'm on my way doing what I need to do," Pagan said. "But I'm a little nervous."
Pagan said she wasn't expected at Fort Benning at a specific time, other than to get there by the end of the day. She said road conditions weren't too bad, but the weather had slowed her down.
Pagan is among thousands of former service members who have left active duty since the Sept. 11 attacks, only to be recalled to service. She filed several appeals, arguing that because her husband travels for business, no one else can take care of her kids. All were rejected, leaving Pagan to choose between deploying to Iraq, or refusing her orders and potentially facing charges.
Associated Press
matinee monday--all tix--¥6.00
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