By Amanda Schindler
Staff Reporter
After 350,000 miles on the road,
most people would begin to tire.
Not George C. Fraser.
The speaker, author and entrepre
neur doesn’t let anything get in the way
of delivering his message to college
students across the country. He visits
about 60 universities every year, speak
ing at nearly 200 events, he said.
“It’s important to reach students,
wherever they are,” he said from
Washington, D.C., in a phone interview
Tuesday.
Fraser will visit the University of
Nebraska-Lincoln on Friday as part of
the Big 12 Conference on Black
Student Government, and will give a
presentation entitled “Rebuilding
Extended Family; the Power and
Importance of Effective Networking.”
He will stress “the moral and spiri
tual principles needed to be an effective
networker, to build solid relationships
with people for one’s upward mobility,”
he said.
Fraser firmly believes in the neces
sity of a large extended “family” of
support.
“One cannot succeed on his own, in
a vacuum” he said. “It all depends on
the kindness and forgiveness of peo
ple.”
Fraser would know, having founded
the multimillion dollar company
SuccessSource nine years ago.
The company publishes
SuccessGuide, a directory of business
professionals and community leaders
designed to help blacks achieve profes
sional success.
He has written two books, one
which was released just last month enti
tied “Race for Success; The Ten Best
Business Opportunities for Blacks in
America.”
His first book, “Success Runs in
Our Race; The Complete Guide to
Effective Networking in the African
American Community,” was a best
seller. Fraser, a recipient of the United
Negro Fund’s National Volunteer of the
Year Award, said his success was based
on strong roots and good role models.
“I was fortunate enough to have
good parents, a solid family and
extended family,” he said. “They pro
vided me with opportunities to observe
the many skills I would have to have to
succeed in life.”
Reynaldo Anderson, a graduate
communication studies major and
chairman of the speaker’s committee
for the conference, decided to have
Fraser speak at the conference after
reading one of his books.
“One thing a lot of undergrad stu
dents don’t develop is networking
skills,” he said. “I thought it would be a
valuable resource for (students) to use.”
Along with speaking, Fraser will
practice networking skills with stu
dents in a workshop at the conference.
Fraser will speak at noon on Friday
in the Grand Ballroom of the
Cornhusker Hotel, 333 S. 13th St.
Fraser was excited to visit the
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, a
campus he has yet to see.
“I love meeting new people and vis
iting new places,” he said.
He hopes the presentation will
touch at least one participant, he said.
“I want to walk away with the sense
that perhaps there may be one person in
the audience that my words reached,”
he said.
“If it reaches more than one, it’s the
icing on the cake.”
Poet looks at relationship between
humans and their surroundings
By Joss Funk
Senior Reporter
If people treated the critters of the
world better, maybe people would treat
each other better.
Poet Nikki
Giovanni uses the
example of the
world’s little crit
ters to expand peo
ple’s views and
promote under
standing.
Giovanni, an
internationally
, known poet and
author, will address the Big 12
Conference on Black Student
Government as part of the opening ses
sion tonight 8.
“I am fascinated by human beings,”
Giovanni said.
In her poetry Giovanni explores the
human condition and its effects on the
world.
“Humans can’t look at themselves
without looking at the effects (on the
world).”
In her speech Giovanni will read some
of her poetry and address how human
beings fit into ihe world around them.
“I hope students will look at things
closer (after my speech),” she said.
Giovanni uses her public appear
ances to see the country and gain a
wider perspective, she said.
She tries to accept every invitation
to speak that her schedule will allow.
When interviewed Tuesday
Giovanni had just returned from
California where she had won an
NAACP Image Award for achievement
in her field. During the past 25 years
Giovanni’s work has brought her promi
nence and notoriety.
She is one of die most widely read
living poets, Giovanni’s agent, Flip
Porte, said.
Giovanni emerged from the crowd
with her poetry during the black arts
movement of the 1960s.
She has inspired readers and critics
alike with her heartfelt verses, found in
her nearly 20 books. She has been
named woman of the year in three dif
ferent magazines, and she has received
numerous awards for her work
But throughout Giovanni’s career
two things have remained unchanged
for her ---
“Racism is still America’s national
shame, and I am still fiercely committed
to fight for civil rights and equality in
education.”
Leading scholar, professor
stresses importance of race
By Josh Funk
Senior Reporter
Race matters.
That’s what Harvard Professor
Cornel West, a featured speaker at
the Big 12 Conference on Black
Student Government said in one of
his best-selling books.
West is a professor of religion
and Afro-American Studies at
Harvard University and a renowned
speaker.
“Cornel is the best speaker alive
today,” West’s agent, Flip Porter,
said.
West will speak at the conference
during a 5:30 p.m. dinner Saturday
where he will address race, hope and
the importance of family.
West has made great achieve
ments since his blue-collar begin
nings among the tumbleweeds of
Tulsa, Okla.
West was bom in 1953, the sec
ond of four children, to a civilian Air
Force administrator and an elemen
tary school teacher.
WhenComel was 4 years old, the
Wests moved to Sacramento, Calif.,
where he lived through high school
He graduated magna cum laude
from Harvard University in 1973
before attending Princeton
University for his master’s and doc
toral degrees.
' In the seven years between com
pleting his doctorate and his return
to Princeton to teach, West wrote
many articles and books about race
related issues.
In 1987, West accepted a position
at Princeton as a professor of reli
gion and director of the Afro
American studies department.
He was instrumental in develop
ing Princeton’s Afro-American stud
ies program before returning to
Harvard as a professor of Afro
American studies and the philosophy
of religion.
West is respected among his
peers as one of the United States’
leading scholars, Porter said
West was just awarded an
NAACP Image Award last week for
his achievements.
As a speaker, West has visited
many diverse organizations and
made several television appearances.
In addition to his academic work,
he is involved in community-based
political action groups and has
worked with many notable leaders
such as American civil rights leaders
Jesse Jackson and A1 Sharpton.
He also is part of the president’s
National Conversation on Race, and
he was co-chairman of the National
Parenting Association’s Task Force
on Parental Empowerment. •
Famed author
promotes black
empowerment
ByAnneHeitz
Staff Reporter
The Big 12 Conference on Black Student
Government is designed to connect with black stu
dents, but Julianne Malveaux hopes all students will
benefit from the experience. — •
The famed syndicated columnist is scheduled to
addresses die conference at 8 a.m. Friday.
“I hope the students that attend this conference
will walk away with a sense of empowerment and
dents understand the economic
America, she said.
“I think African Americans are facing more chal
lenges now than any other time,” Malveaux said.
“The economy is expanding, but it is not necessarily
including the African-American community.”
Malveaux has written for publications including
USA TODAY, Essence and Emerge. She also served
as editor-in-chief of the book “Voices of Vision:
African American Women on Issues.”
Malveaux has never given a speech in Lincoln,
but she chose to address the conference because
blacks in the Midwest may feel isolated because of
their relatively low numbers.
By attending this conference, students should
realize they are not alone and should be aware of
ways they can improve their campuses, Malveaux
said.
Such experiences at conferences can provide
critical elements of a well-rounded education.
“Education does not just come from the class
room, but also in the involvement of extra activities,”
die said. “You can realty see die students connecting.
They leam from the speakers and eachother. When
Through her writing and public speaking,
Malveaux advocates interests in public policy,
poverty in America, and die labor market and its
effecTon women and minorities.
She has served as a Center of Policy and
Alternatives board member, and is now president of
the National Association of Negro Business and
Professional Womenfe Chibs.
Malveaux is also the president and chief execu
tive officer of Washington-based Last Word
Productions. The company specializes in making
documentaries. *
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