the samford
rimson
to inform the mind, to voice the unheard
WQRLD
WAR ANNIVERSARY
■Vietnam put on a tri¬
umphant display of commu¬
nist pageantry Sunday to cel¬
ebrate the 25th anniversary of
the end of the war.
Officials paid tribute to
the three million Vietnamese
soldiers and civilians who
died during the war.
As floats bearing the late
leader, Ho Chi Minh, took to
the streets, communist offi¬
cials looked on from the ele¬
vated palace driveway and
applauded.
Police kept ordinary
Vietnamese away from the
palace, as attendance was by
invitation only. Vietnam
denies the fact that the loca¬
tion of the parade, was out of
fear that anti-communist
overseas Vietnamese might
try to disrupt the event.
NATION
RALLY AT THE U.S.
CAPITOL
■A huge turnout of gay
rights supporters rallied out¬
side the Capitol Sunday to
press for equal rights antf-
kick off a voter registration,
drive designed to boost their •
political clout in November.
This Millinium March for
Equality’s goals were to lake
a stand against intolerance, to
support anti-hate crimes leg¬
islation and make their voices
heard by voting. President
Clinton and Vice President A1
Gore both appeared via taped
message to the crowd of over
300,000.
LOCAL -
EXECUTION DATE
SET
■Monday, the Alabama
Supreme Court set June 2 to
be the execution date for
death row inmate Pernell
Ford. Ford, 35, was convict¬
ed of stabbing a Jacksonville
-woman and her daughter to
death during the burglary of
their home in 1983.
The new execution date is
almost a year after the date
set initially. The delay
revolved around questions
competency.
CUMBEI
ARRESTED
■Cumberland
Richard ‘Scott ’
' mers was
charged with four mi_
one attempted murder, one
aggravated assault, seven
counts of ethnic intimidation,
two counts of institutional
vandalism, two counts of
arson, one firearms violation
and two counts of criminal
mischief.
News Briefs is compiled
through information found
on yahoo.com.
Baroness Caroline Cox speaks at SU
by Jamie Gibson
Staff Writer
Students can expect something
a little different as they file into
Reid Chapel for Convocation on
Thursday, May 4, 2000.
In lieu of the usual offerings,
attendees will have the opportuni¬
ty to listen to the words of the
United Kingdom's Baroness
Caroline Cox of Queensbury.
Cox serves as Deputy Speaker
of the House of Lords and as
President of Christian Solidarity
Worldwide (CSW).
She will arrive in Birmingham
on the evening of May 3 and will
stay on campus in the rotunda's
guestroom.
The next day will be a busy one
for the Baroness, with a multitude
of activities planned for her.
First, she will speak at convo¬
cation at 10 a.m. as the year's final
installment of the Samford
Speaker’s Series, which is an
activity administered by the
SGA's Student Activities Council.
Next, Samford President and
Mrs. Thomas Corts will host a
luncheon for her.
At 2 p.m., the Baroness will
lead a forum for the Beeson
Divinity School, followed by a
private reception at 3:30 p.m. with
alumni of the Spring 1999 London
Program.
Then, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. the
London Programs Office and
Davis Library will co-sponsor a
reception and book signing on the
second floor of the Library.
The Baroness will sign copies
of Andrew Boyd's Baroness
Caroline Cox, A Voice for the
Voiceless.
Her day will conclude with a
dinner that evening hosted by the
school of business.
The convocation speech, the
Divinity School forum, and the
book signing are all open to the
public.
Several individuals and organi¬
zations cooperated to make the
journey to Birmingham for the
Baroness possible.
The visit was a joint effort of
sorts by the Student Activities
Council (SAC), London Programs
Office and Director of Academic
Internship Programs Carrie Anne
Hild.
ThelSAC provided some of the
financial backing for the trip.
Dr. Jim Barnette agreed to have
the Baroness speak at convoca¬
tion.
Marta Corts, wife of President
Corts, has long been an admirer of
Cox and enthusiastically support¬
ed her visit to Samford.
The London Programs Office,
headed by Dr. Marlene Rikard
was also involved in the prepara¬
tions.
She remarks, "The London
Programs Office is very excited to
be a part of a ieam effort to bring
Baroness ''Caroline Cox Jto
Samford University's campus.
“We're delighted to have her in
Birmingham so that the students
can have to opportunity to hear
her speak of her work in bringing
the plight of persecuted Christians
to the attention of the world."
Carrie Anne Hild, Director of
Academic Internship Programs for
the School of Business, is serving
as Campus Coordinator for this
event, having been previously
acquainted with Baroness Cox.
While in London recently, Hild
was able to have tea with, Cox at
the House of Lords.
The two were able to establish
an internship for Samford students
with Cox's CSW program.
Cox then visited the London
Program students at Daniel
House, and therein the seeds were
planted for the Baroness's upcom¬
ing visit.
Hild comments, "I met her in
the House of Lords and
approached her about possibility
of an internship for London stu¬
dents.
“It's a tremendous opportunity
for students to have someone of
this notoriety in Birmingham and
on this campus."
The Baroness is expected to
speak of her work with the CSW,
which works for religious freedom
of persecuted Christians, and of
her international human rights
Photo Special to the Crimson
Baroness Caroline Cox of Queensbury, Deputy Speaker in
the House of Lords in London, England, will speak at
convo Thursday as part of Samford's Speaker Series.
crusades.
She has brought to light human
rights abuses in such areas as
Sudan, Burma, Nahomo Karabakh
and Russia.
Former British Prime Minister
Margaret Thatcher appointed her a
Life Peer in 1982 in recognition of
her outstanding achievements.
In addition to serving in the
House of Lords and as President
of CSW, Cox is also Chancellor of
Bournemouth University, a vice
president of the Royal College of
Nursing and president of the
Institute of Administrative
Management.
The Baroness has been hon¬
ored with the Commander Cross
of the Order of Merit of the
Republic of Poland, with the
Wilberforce Award, and with
numerous honorary doctorates
from universities in four nations.
Astonishingly, she has also
found the time to pen quite a few
publications on both education
and health care.
Many have worked to make it
possible to bring this extraordi¬
nary woman to Samford
University, and it will be truly be a
day to remember for all involved.
SGA offices move into the new year
New officers will take the oath at transition dinner on May 11
by Jamie Gibson
Staff Writer
That last paper is being pol¬
ished up, those final tests before
exams are being studied for, regis¬
tration for next semester is in
progress, and plans for the sum¬
mer are being made.
While the year may be winding
down fore most, the Student
Government Association still has
a little while yet before it can take
a few months off.
On May II, this year's SGA
will step aside in favor of their
successors.
The new officers were chosen
by the student body on April 10.
The transition will take place
during the annual SGA Inaugural
Banquet, which is to be held at
The Club, a local Birmingham
restaurant.
Organized by Taylor Hanson,
the incumbent executive assistant,
the banquet is both an end-of-the-
year celebration and an inaugural
ceremony.
During the banquet, the Chief
Justice will administer the oaths of
office of the new Executive
Board, which is comprised of the
new SGA officers and appointees.
This ceremony will be repeated
in front of the student body at
University Convocation next year.
At the inaugural banquet, 1999-
2000 SGA officers Jamian
Coleman, Ben Harding, Lauren
Woodlief and Adam Blair will be
turning their offices over to
Scarlett Stewart, Shamik Vakil,
Ginger McCarthy, and Jason
Jefferys.
Also, Stewart has appointed
Robin Young Executive Assistant
and Selena Florence Chief of Staff
for the 2000-01 term.
Also during the banquet,
awards will be conferred, and
appreciation gifts will be given
out to people who served in SGA
this year.
Additionally, Outgoing
President Coleman and President-
Elect Stewart will give speeches.
Expectations are great for the
new Student Government
Association.
Coleman commented, "I'm very
excited about the new officers that
have been elected, I’m sure they'll
do a fantastic job next year in their
new positions."
Meanwhile, the President¬
elect, Scarlett Stewart, remarked
"This years' student government
officers have done an excellent
job and have laid a sturdy founda¬
tion that our team can build on.
“I am a big dreamer and expect
to do many things, but will be
happy with any positive improve¬
ments we can make for the student
body.
“We have a great team of offi¬
cers that feel privileged to serve
and are ready to take action in
improving our student govern¬
ment."*
See interview with Stewart on
page ?.
Samford University Library
Ш
:
- ЩйЯщ
