Ware: 'Will we lead or will we follow?'
By: Iris Pickett
Issue date: 4/7/09 Section: News
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Lifetime financial donor of Clark Atlanta University and sponsor of the newest campus education building, Carl Ware, asked the audience, "Will we lead or will we follow?"
From his observations of the economical situation, and CAU's recent circumstances, Ware found opportunity in the negativity.
"Within every challenge, within every crisis, lies an opportunity to lead and to embrace an urgent call to action," Ware said. The "crisis" he referred to was the latest termination of faculty and staff that the administration felt would help the school's financial standing long-term.
Ware reiterated that CAU was a leadership school and everyone connected to it had to be pioneers of change. He said, "Administration, faculty, staff, students, alumni…the entire CAU family must lead."
Ware recognized that although members of the CAU family were gone, what remained was strong enough to persevere, "We had to do what was necessary to move our institution forward."
Much time was spent on promoting the benefits of being a donor. Ware used his life story as an example: he was a successful, world-traveled businessman, a financial donor to the school for life, and he gave back to the community.
Part of his goal was to be an example for students and persuade them to do the same, if not more than he. "Giving back to this institution is not a choice, it is a self-imposed mandate," Ware said.
The audience was bare during this convocation; part of the reason was the lower enrollment and dismissed faculty and staff usually in attendance.
But those who were there appreciated the message. Danielle Saizan, a senior and public relations major, said she was happy to be graduating.
"This is a great time for reflection on what contributions this institution has made for me as well as others."
