Archive for May, 2010
And the race begins…
Posted by: | May 28, 2010 | CommentsOglethorpe University encourages its students to think outside the box, solve problems, get involved in their communities and become movers and shakers.
So it’s no wonder that the university has three alumni running for local political offices and one alumnus who has served 18 years in office.
Dar’shun Kendrick ’04 is running for State Representative from House District 94 representing Lithonia and Conyers, Ga. She’s focused on education, transportation, economic development and ethics. After Dar’shun graduated from Oglethorpe University, she obtained a law degree from the University of Georgia. She owns Kendrick Law Practice in Lithonia, Ga. Voting day for this race is July 20.
Christopher McFadden ’80 is a candidate for Judge, Court of Appeals of Georgia. Some interesting facts about Chris: he was the first author of Georgia Appellate Practice, the leading reference book on Georgia appeals; he was an appellate lawyer with more than 20 years experience handling a wide variety of cases in the Georgia Supreme Court and the Georgia Court of Appeals; he was a defender of the ideal of a fair and impartial judiciary; he was the founder of the Appellate Practice Section of the State Bar of Georgia; and he authored part of the Appellate Practice Act. The nonpartisan Court of Appeals election is November 2.
Alex Johnson ’07 is running for the State Senate District 41 seat in Georgia. Alex graduated from Oglethorpe University with a BA in politics, and he is a graduate of Georgia State University College of Law.
With three running for office, one Oglethorpe University alumnus is leaving a political office he’s had since 1993.
Robert “Bobby” Baker ’79 – the longest serving member of the state Public Service Commission – and the commission’s best known advocate for utility consumers – will not run for re-election this year. He has been recognized on numerous occasions by both Georgia Trend magazine and the Atlanta Business Chronicle as one of the city and state’s most influential leaders. He has served on the board of directors for the Georgia Center for Advanced Telecommunications Technology (GCATT) and also as Vice-Chairman of the Gwinnett County Planning Commission. Read the AJC article about Bobby’s decision to not run again after 18 years on the PSC.
“and…Action!”
Posted by: | May 26, 2010 | Comments
Hollywood was here! For the last two days, film crews were on campus filming 96 Minutes, a movie set to premiere early next year. About 20 Oglethorpe students worked as extras in the film, and they and the crew could be seen shooting in Lupton Auditorium, in front of the library, and near the faculty parking lot. “It was definitely interesting to see everything that goes into shooting a movie,” said Chelsea Reed, a rising sophomore who was an extra on set. “I had a glamorous perception of the movies in my head….when I think of the movies I think of lights, stars, and just a lot of action. But there’s a lot more to it. There are a lot of different jobs and they shoot the same scene over and over again. People are always shouting ‘cut!’ and ‘rolling!’”
Chelsea meets Brittany Snow!
The film stars Brittany Snow, best known for her roles in the movies Hairspray and Prom Night, and also as a as a regular in the TV show American Dreams. This will be Snow’s first lead role. The movie also features Evan Ross (ATL) and Christian Serratos (Twilight).
“What surprised me most was just how casual everybody was,” said Chelsea. “Even Brittany Snow was really humble—you could tell that she was just someone who came to work that day and was doing her job. Meeting her was really cool, especially since she approached me and asked if I wanted to take a picture. It gave me insight into celebrities… they may be idolized in the media and live their lives under scrutiny, but when it comes down to it, they are people, too. They like to meet new people and experience places.” Read More→
Room for improvement
Posted by: | May 25, 2010 | Comments
The restored former office fo the late President Thornwell Jacobs
Anybody remember Room 101 in Hearst? Didn’t think so. It was a kind of hybrid, not really a classroom, sort of a seminar room, sometimes used for food spreads for things like Parents’ Weekend and OU Passport. It was also the former office of the late OU President Thornwell Jacobs.
It was Thornwell Jacob’s vision that returned the campus to the Atlanta area. Carrie Lee Henderson, Jacobs’ granddaughter, provided the initial inspiration for reconnecting to her father’s tenure as president at Oglethorpe University (1915-1943). But leave it to those folks in the library to grab a nugget of history and spin a vision around it.
Library Director Anne Salter proposed taking the room back to its former glory, to the days in the first half of the 20th Century when Jacobs sat behind a big desk and ran Oglethorpe University with great aplomb.
The goal was to complete the work and outfit the room as an archival museum filled with photos, memorabilia and historic timelines before Alumni Weekend in April. All systems were go: demolish a fake wall that covered the beautiful leaded glass doors from the inside; repair and replace broken crown mould along the ceiling; pull up the carpet squares that had been glued to the original hardwood floors; replace broken panes in the windows; repair the transom over the door and remove glue from the fireplace hearth and add a final touch – a fresh coat of warm, buttery paint.
Thornwell Jacobs
Much of the electrical was rewired in the process, too; an old air conditioning unit was removed and granite blocks seamlessly filled the gap. The restoration is complete. The room is a warm treasure trove to explore and enjoy. Please make a point to visit!
The room is now open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for visitors to immerse themselves in Oglethorpe’s history since its founding in 1835.
Petrel Student/Athlete Featured in NCAA Video
Posted by: | May 21, 2010 | Comments
Archer is met by teammates in the dugout during a game.
Oglethorpe alum Stephen Archer ’10 is featured in a new marketing video by the NCAA as part of their “Identity Initiative” campaign. The NCAA has released several videos to communicate the values and attributes of its Division III program.
Archer, an honors graduate and a member of the All-conference baseball team, is spotlighted in their latest video to showcase his accomplishments both on and off the field.
View Video: Stephen Archer Exemplifies Attributes of NCAA’s Division III
Summer Break the OU Way: Malika Whitley
Posted by: | May 20, 2010 | CommentsWhile the stereotypical college student may spend their summer days sleeping, surfing the net, and watching re-runs, OU summer breakers are making the most of their vacation—while learning at the same time.
Malika hard at work
That’s exactly what Malika Whitley, a rising senior at Oglethorpe is doing. She tells us about her experiences working at the National Black Arts Festival, a non-profit arts education program that focuses on the work of artists throughout the African diaspora.
Q: What do you do at the Arts Festival?
Malika: I am a production assistant. The NBAF is a special events company basically, and I mostly work online doing marketing and development work…pretty much everything that is needed. I do a lot of editing for the videos that we put up on the website, and I schedule and screen artists for the bi-weekly podcast. I am also responsible for marketing our projects online using social media.
Q: You seem like a very busy intern. What is the best part of your job?
Malika: I get to meet some very engaging people. They are all artists! So you never know who you will meet and what kind of insight they can give you.
Q: Have you met anyone of note?
I have worked with Jasmine Guy, (star of the 1990′s sitcom, “A Different World”) who is our stage production consultant. I was also able to meet the actor Malcolm Jamaal Warner, and Jason Oor, the founder of FrontJazzKafe’. It’s a concert series event in Atlanta at the Tabernacle. He pretty much originated the concept of having different performances at the same time; like singers, dancers, speed painting, and poetry all on one stage.
Q: How did you hear about this internship?
Malika: I got this internship through a program that former Mayor Shirley Franklin started, and it was for people in Atlanta Public Schools. It allowed you to get internships and scholarships for college. I was connected to NBAF the summer after I graduated high school and never left.
Q: What’ s the best part of the internship?
I get paid to listen to music and network. I am also getting the opportunity to learn about my field, which is something I think is really important because experience in my opinion is just as important as the degree. Even on “slow” days or during times when I just don’t have a lot of work, I am learning just by being in the environment and watching others.
Q: You know I have to ask about the worst part…
Malika: Of course! Not having enough money to get things done. You know, as an intern you are not paid a whole lot so you often struggle to make ends meet. Just paying for transportation and food, even. But I still think it is the best opportunity because I am gaining so much real work-place experience and building relationships for a well-connected professional future. You can tell that everyone wants you to suceeed.
Entering her senior year, Malika is now ready to take her intern experience to the next level. She will be traveling to South Africa to spend the rest of her summer working for the City of Cape Town as a special events intern. She looks forward to working independently where she doesn’t know the main conversational language (Afrikaans) and attending World Cup events.
Now that’s what we call a summer vacation!