Wednesday, September 16, 2009
News Clark-AU students irked with Borders
Posted by Scott Henry @ScottTheHenry on Wed, Sep 16, 2009 at 8:13 PM
In a move that represents an astounding gift to Lisa Borders' mayoral opponents, a group calling itself the Coalition of Concerned Clark Atlanta University Students has petitioned for the Council president's removal from the school's board of trustees.
The open letter, which was e-mailed to press this morning, effectively blames her for not doing enough to protect students there in the wake of the Sept. 3 shooting death of Spelman student Jasmine Lynn, 19, who was hit in the chest by a stray bullet while walking across campus.
Why didn't I post something about the letter this morning? Because I didn't know who'd sent it or if the "coalition" represented a legitimate student interest group. I sent an e-mail asking for contact information, but received no reply.
But Borders took the letter seriously enough to hold a press conference refuting its charges this afternoon, so now it's fair game. Says she:
Today, individuals claiming to represent students at the Atlanta University Center and at Clark Atlanta University called for my resignation from the board of trustees at CAU. They assert that I have not done enough to respond to the tragic shooting or to speak up for the safety of our colleges.They are misinformed.
Borders then launches into a litany of actions she's taken on behalf of campus safety, such as developing an "Intercollegiate Public Safety Plan" and inviting Atlanta University Center student leaders to meet with her.
I must admit the coalition's letter seems a little suspicious, not the least of which because it's essentially anonymous. It's well written, but I have a hard time swallowing the authenticity of its grievances with Borders, such as:
Explain why she did not mention holding a position on the CAU board in her Thursday, September 3 statement on the tragedy. In the release, it talks at length about her campaign staff’s educational connection to the AUC. Yet, a disclosure of her being a trustee at institution where the shooting took place is conspicuous in its absence. We need to be convinced that Ms. Borders was not attempting to distance herself from CAU during a politically problematic moment.
Really? Kids are getting killed by random gunfire and this group is pissed off that Borders' same-day response to the shooting didn't include a mention of her board membership?
Hmm, is that astroturf I smell?
(Photo by Joeff Davis)
Comments (20)
Showing 1-20 of 20
Unbelievable. When I left the Reed campaign after they pulled the flyer stunt exploiting the homeless I thought their dirty tactics would slow down. But Kasim Reed, Tracy Reed, and Vincent Fort will do anything for political gain.
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Thank you Creative Loafing! This "Coalition of Concerned Clark-Atlanta Students" is so transparently recockulous I don't even know what to say. What does this coalition expect Borders to do, bring the child back to life? Jesus, Mary and Joseph. What bearing does this even have on her as a board of trustees member? Another idiotic, half-cocked, bird-brained idea that unfortunately has Clark-Atlanta University attached to it.
It's crazy how people jump to such conclusions. Don't simply discount these students' concerns.
This is a very strange letter, folks. As a former AUC student, I find it hard to believe that in the wake of tragic shootings like this any student would want a board member to resign (as opposed to let's say the Chief of Campus Security). That simply wouldn't be the first place I'd look. It indeed smells like astroturf.
Jen, if these students existed, they'd cast off this "coalition" mask and reveal themselves. If it's one thing AUC students do, it's tell you their names so you know who they are. ESPECIALLY if they go to Clark.
"Anonymous" wrote; "When I left the Reed campaign after they pulled the flyer stunt exploiting the homeless I thought their dirty tactics would slow down. But Kasim Reed, Tracy Reed, and Vincent Fort will do anything for political gain." So, here we have an anonymous internet post laying the "homeless flyer stunt" at the feet of "Kasim Reed, Tracy Reed, and Vincent Fort." If this is true, we obviously don't want Kasim and his cronies running the city. So.... how/where do we find out whether your accusation is true, "Anonymous?" If it is, it will bum me out because, while I still consider myself "undecided" in the Mayoral race, I HAVE concluded that Mary Norwood is an idiot and that Lisa Borders is an empty suit. Now you're telling me that Kasim Reed is a snake in the grass? As they say in the Big Town, "Oy!"
Lisa shouldn't be sending her people to fight this battle over blogs, she should be answering the students' questions. It's clear her staff is very worried about this story getting out.
This story isn't about anyone, but Lisa Borders. If she answers the questions to the students' liking there will be no story at all. You guys need to stop with all the baseless conspiracy theories.
As a black female, I'm concerned that every time something happens regarding Ms. Borders' campaign she's always trying to play the victim and blame it on someone else. Find a solution...that's what strong women and especially leaders do.
@Anonymous no one is gullible enough to believe that you were part of the Kasim Reed Campaign. Let's focus on the issues instead of trying to persuade people with silly accusations. This city is in shambles so all these candidates have a lot of work to do to earn votes. The matters addressed in the letter are of the utmost seriousness. The AUC is unsafe and that's nothing to laugh at. Let do better people.
Lisa Borders has supposedly taken a leave of absence from her position on the Grady Foundation. Why shouldn't she resign her position on the Board of CAU? She is spending all of her time campaigning and has no time to contribute to the betterment of CAU. Plus, if Lisa wins the Mayor's race--and she says she will--she will need to resign from the CAU Board in any event. Other candidates have resigned their positions in order to run in the 2009 election. Why not Lisa?
I think Lewis and that see-you-next-Tuesday ex-Creative Loafing hack Stephanie Ramage are the same person. Paranoid personality disorder must be a bitch to live with. Plenty, if the students had questions, they could ask Borders. She said in the press conference yesterday that she's on Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Her website has her e-mail address AND telephone number on it. Hell, I might just call right now.
I wonder when the women who found out that Lisa was sleeping with their husbands are going to come out and hold her accountable as well.
I'm seeing an ongoing theme with the Borders camp: The 1st time her house was supposedly broken into ----> Media coverage portraying Borders as a victim. The 2nd time her house was supposedly broken into ----> Media coverage portraying Borders as a victim. The 3rd time her house was supposedly broken into ----> Media coverage portraying Borders as a victim. (No one was arrested or questioned in any of the three circumstances) Flyer supposedly handed out to the homeless ----> Media coverage portraying Borders as a victim. Turpeau Memo ----> Media coverage portraying Borders as a victim. CAU Letter ----> Media coverage portraying Borders as a victim. Interesting.
WOW! Mr. T, thanks for posting the video. It is being taken seriously as if it is real, so I assume it must be. I guess the Obama election really has gotten young people BOLD about voicing their beliefs and (in this case) demands. Truly fascinating...
@I despise homewrecker... So you want to really get to the truth. Mary was the secretary of her now husband years ago when he was married and she was his little energizer bunny in the office. She is the original homewrecker and actually got lucky with a proposal. Mary has been lucky all her life it appears. I guess I should just go advocate for other people's project, claim it as my own and then run for office. Give me a break Mary is a HOMEWRECKER!!!
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