TheLoop21.com's Speaks out on the Murder of a Spelman Student
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Posted By: Nsenga Burton on September 04, 2009 TheLoop21.com is dedicated to bringing relevant information from a Black perspective to the Black community. Check out an excerpt from the article, "Why is Spelman Still in the West End," by Crystal Smith, who attended Spelman College. EXCERPT Many people have criticized Spelman College for building a fence around its entire campus, but after the senseless death of a 19-year-old Spelman student, Jasmine Lynn, perhaps the Atlanta University Center will beef up security and build even more gates. Like most historically Black colleges and universities, the AUC — Morehouse College, Spelman College, Clark Atlanta University and Morris Brown College — is in a very underserved and depressed neighborhood of Atlanta. We can talk about how as black people we're not supposed to be scared of one another, but that's not even the point. If we deal in reality for a moment, we know that we're still in a recession. People are desperate. People who had little to begin with have even less. Lynn was shot while walking with friends to Clark Atlanta University at about 12:30 a.m. — something I myself and all my Spelman sisters have done countless times. No one can prevent someone else from shooting, but for as much money as Spelman College costs, its students and other students in the AUC need more protection. Black colleges and universities can't afford to lose their students over something like security. Economists say we're nearing the end of the recession, but that end is going to come a lot later for Blacks who are still dealing with insurmountable unemployment and little access to education. This puts kids who are in school in danger for obvious reasons. People in the West End, the area where the AUC is situated, are defeated and poor. While I hate to say it, why do Black schools have to be in Black neighborhoods as if the people who actually live in the area attend those schools? (read the article in its entirety at Many people have criticized Spelman College for building a fence around its entire campus, but after the senseless death of a 19-year-old Spelman student, Jasmine Lynn, perhaps the Atlanta University Center will beef up security and build even more gates. Like most historically Black colleges and universities, the AUC — Morehouse College, Spelman College, Clark Atlanta University and Morris Brown College — is in a very underserved and depressed neighborhood of Atlanta. We can talk about how as black people we're not supposed to be scared of one another, but that's not even the point. If we deal in reality for a moment, we know that we're still in a recession. People are desperate. People who had little to begin with have even less. Lynn was shot while walking with friends to Clark Atlanta University at about 12:30 a.m. — something I myself and all my Spelman sisters have done countless times. No one can prevent someone else from shooting, but for as much money as Spelman College costs, its students and other students in the AUC need more protection. Black colleges and universities can't afford to lose their students over something like security. Economists say we're nearing the end of the recession, but that end is going to come a lot later for Blacks who are still dealing with insurmountable unemployment and little access to education. This puts kids who are in school in danger for obvious reasons. People in the West End, the area where the AUC is situated, are defeated and poor. While I hate to say it, why do Black schools have to be in Black neighborhoods as if the people who actually live in the area attend those schools? Read the entire article at http://theloop21.com/news/why-spelman-stil... If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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Nsenga Burton
Managing Editor, TheLoop21.com Member Since September 2009 |
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