October 3, 2018

Page 1

Since 1919

The Emory Wheel

Emory University’s Independent Student Newspaper

Volume 100, Issue 4 DIVERSITY

POLITICS

RACE Seeks New Director After Abrupt Departures By RiChARd Chess Executive Editor

Campus Life is scrambling to replace senior administrators in the Office for Racial and Cultural Engagement (RACE) after Director Jade Turner and Associate Director Tiffany Del Valle quit their positions. Turner, who came to Emory in January from the University of California, Irvine, after an extensive search process, left in June for “personal and family reasons,” she wrote in a Sept. 29 email to the Wheel. Turner was selected as the first director of RACE, which was established in Fall 2017 to engage students in issues of race, culture and social justice, according to a December 2017 Campus Life press release. “[My departure] might have seemed abrupt, but that is simply because folks weren’t aware of everything I had going on and was dealing with at the time,” Turner wrote. “I don’t regret moving to Atlanta and trying something new that was definitely out of my comfort zone, but unfortunately it just didn’t work out.” After Turner left, Campus Life decided to wait before conducting the search process for a new director, according to Assistant Vice President for Community Suzanne Onorato. “There won’t be as many candidates at this time of year,” Onorato said. Finding qualified candidates is difficult outside of spring, which is when higher education employees typically search and travel for new jobs, according to Onorato.

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Onorato said Campus Life declined to appoint Del Valle as interim RACE director in wake of Turner’s departure. “[Del Valle] had only been in her role as associate director for a year,” Onorato said. “From an HR perspective, she didn’t quite have the experience that we’re looking for in a director role.” To compensate for Turner’s departure, Campus Life hired Jason Wallace, a doctoral student at the University of Georgia, to work in the RACE office for 20 hours a week. Wallace did not respond to request for comment. Campus Life also increased the pay of Del Valle and RACE Program Coordinator Malcolm Robinson to compensate them for their increased workloads, Onorato said. Director of the Center for Women Chanel Craft Tanner supervised Del Valle and is representing the RACE office in Campus Life meetings, according to Onorato. In September, Del Valle accepted a position as the director of diversity programs at Agnes Scott College (Ga.)’s Center for Global Diversity and Inclusion. After Del Valle’s departure, Campus Life initiated plans to find a new director with the search process beginning by around mid-October, Onorato said. “It’s just going to mean that we’re going to have to really use our networks and connect with colleagues across different institutions to see who might be interested, particularly ... at smaller schools.”

See Turner, Page 3

Michelle lou/editor-in-chief

Singer-songwriter John Legend discusses Georgia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams and voter turnout on Tuesday in Harland Cinema.

Legend Urges Students to Turn Ga. Blue By AlishA Compton Managing Editor Singer-songwriter John Legend campaigned for Georgia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams in Harland Cinema on Tuesday. Legend addressed about 160 students and community members, some of whom waited hours to attend the event, which was hosted by student group Young Democrats of Emory and the Democratic Party of Georgia. The award-winning artist, who has ramped up his political activism since President Donald J. Trump’s election,

spoke about Abrams’ background from humble beginnings to obtaining a Yale University (Conn.) education and influential positions in Georgia state government. He said Georgia has the opportunity to elect the first black female governor in the nation. Legend emphasized the importance of strong voter turnout in November and explained that Abrams strongly aligns with his beliefs on criminal justice reform and access to affordable health care, adding that Abrams hopes to “decriminalize poverty in this country.” Legend, who became the first African American to win an Emmy,

Int’l, Black Clubs Could Become EA’s

See LeGenD, Page 2

CRIME

STUDENT GOVERNMENT

EXECUTIVE AGENCIES

Grammy, Oscar and Tony (EGOT) this year, said in an interview with the Wheel that artists have a connection to their audience that gives them an ability to engender meaningful influence. “We have a choice whether or not we want to use that platform to get involved in things outside of just selling records and concert tickets,” Legend said. “I’ve chosen to speak out about issues that I care about, try to mobilize my fans and supporters to get out and vote and take part in our democracy.” Legend added that U.S. senators

Burglary, Drug Reports Rise in 2017

By BeliCiA RodRiguez Senior Staff Writer

By ConnoR CleRkin Staff Writer nasseM Yousef/contributing

Student Government Association (SGA) President Dwight Ma (17Ox, 19C) and Executive Vice President John Priddy (19C) are planning to charter international student groups and black student groups as SGA executive agencies. The clubs would be reorganized under two umbrella groups, one for international student clubs and another for black student clubs. Ma said the executive agency charters would provide more support for “underprivileged clubs” who do not receive sufficient funding.

See PriDDy’S, Page 5

NEWS President of AtL

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The 52nd legislature of the Student Government Association (SGA) began proceedings on Monday to amend the SGA Constitution to create a permanent deputy vice president of communications position for the executive

board. SGA also rejected proposed amendments to the club participation audit bill that passed last week. SGA Vice President of Communications Tiffany Haas (19C) proposed Bill 52sl33, which would amend the Constitution to create a permanent SGA deputy vice president of communications position. According to the bill, the position

would help “continue [SGA’s] progress toward full transparency and effective communication.” For this legislation to amend the Constitution, legislators must pass the bill in two legislative sessions with twothirds majority, notify undergraduate students of the legislation, host a

The annual Clery report, released in a Sept. 30 University-wide email, revealed an increase in reported burglaries and drug law violation referrals at Emory’s main campus in 2017. The document counts reports of crimes reported to Emory Police Department (EPD) or other University employees in 2017, even if the crimes were reported anonymously or determined to be unfounded. Universities that receive federal financial aid are required to release annual reports in accordance with the

See SGA, Page 1

See rePOrTeD, Page 2

OP-ED eMory Must

A&E LAdy GAGA, BrAdLey

EMORY LIFE CArLos

College Council Chief of Staff Jacob Hicks (18Ox, 20C) presents amendments to last week’s club audit bill at Monday night’s SGA meeting.

SGA Looks to Create New Exec Position By AlBeRt zhAng CARson gReene Contributing Writers And

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