The Griffin: volume 66, issue 05 - Oct. 20, 1995

              $1,049,983 grant to Northeastern University's Center for the Study of Sport in Society to launch Athletes in Service to America. This program was established to prevent violence and promote scholastic success. Athletes in Service is a combination of two existing programs, project TEAMWORK and Mentors in Violence Prevention, MVP. It involves the training of college graduate athletes to go into urban schools and community centers to talk about conflict resolution, cultural diversity and gender violence prevention. This will rep- Canisius project director, Jeffrey O'Brien, (left), stands with national directors Dexter Jenkins, Bob McCabe, Sarah Sokol and Don McPhearson at a training meeting last Wednesday. Robert McCabe, also a director of the program, hopes that the national training, which consists of 68 Corps members, will "promote the team and let them know they are part of a larger picture." McPhearson added,"Athletes in Service is the only one specifically using student athletes." Jeffrey O'Brien, project director at Canisius College, looked forgraduates "who had a desire to help." The pre-requisite was having to have played two years on a college level varsity sport. There are twenty Canisius Corps members which hail from cities across New York state as well as New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The members have had a strong "background in youth services and community involvement," said O'Brien. The Corps members had to fulfill training, which began in September and will continue throughout the year. licate the nationally acclaimed programs of TEAMWORK and MVP. Don McPhearson, a director of the program, believes Athletes in Service has "two main goals—violence prevention for kids and school success." President Clinton, who actively supports AmeriCorps, calls the Corps "the American way to change America..." The Canisius version of Athletes in Service will administer a violence prevention program and an academic service program in the community. Photo by CHR1STIN TANK Dexter Jenkins, associate director, stated that upon completion, the former collegiate school athletes receive $4,725 educational allowance and a living allowance of $7,945, to be distributed over the year. Dana White, also a Canisius Corps member, feels that "as athletes, we are given a lot, and Athletes in Service gives us the opportunity to return the favor." Photo by CHftlSTIN TANK Corps member of Athletes in Service, believes "national service is a daily gratifying experience, one that can not help but be beneficial to our community and ourselves."McPhearson adds "this Corps of student athletes will also provide intensive academic tutoring in schools and at community youth centers, providing additional educational resources to communities starved of academic support." Christopher Ray,' a Canisius The Corps members will visit multiple sites, totalling 100 sites per week by the Canisius members. O'Brien hopes the "program will have a consistent presence in the Buffalo public and parochial schools, youth detention halls, community centers and YMCA and YWCA programs." Candidate's vision promises change in Masten District College, neighborhood stand to benefit from Common Council election by Steven Seegel Griffin News Reporter Byron Brown is dedicated to the community's growth and cooperation, to fashion what he calls "win-win relationships." In assessing his overall plan for working with Canisius and the neighborhood, Brown said, "Canisius College can be an asset to the community's stability, and the community can be an asset to Canisius' stability." Safety and parking have always been problems for Canisius commuters and residents alike. "I realize that safety is not only an issue, but a priority," Brown said. "By improving the Hamlin Park area economically, the area will become safer." In regards to the parking difficulties and the large student population, Brown stated, "I support the building of dorms across Main Street, and the use of vacant lots for parking, keeping in mind that it must be aesthetically pleasing and fiscally responsible to the community as a whole." Acknowledging the problems for resident students at Canisius, Brown stated that, as a city councilman, he would "provide better service through economic development and job creation." He added, "I am working to attract new companies to the district, and negotiating to enable those companies to hire people from the surrounding community." As part of this plan, Brown is trying to entice a movie theater and a 24-hour convenience store to move into the area. Both would provide potential employment opportunities for Canisius students. He would also like to improve local youth centers. Byron Brown, a candidate for the Masten District Common Council seat, seeks to foster the relationship between Canisius and the community through innovative planning. Photo courtesy of BYRON BROWN Byron Brown, a candidate for the Masten District Common Council seat, seeks to foster the relationship between Canisius and the community through innovative planning. On his campaign to obtain a City of Buffalo Common Council in November, Byron Brown stated, "My ultimate desire is that by establishing a coordinated planning process among public and private entities in the Masten District, includingCanisius College, the quality of life services will be improved." Brown won the Democratic endorsement in the Sept. 12 primary election. He will face opposition from David Collins, whom he defeated in the September Democratic primary, in the Nov. 7 election. Brown offers to Canisius College several innovative strategies to facilitate this improvement. Following his reception of bachelor's degrees from Buffalo State in political science and journalism, Brown went on to serve for two years in the city government, two years in the county legislature and two years in the state assembly. Brown has been the director and chief administrator of the Erie County Division of Equal Employment Opportunity (E.E.O.) since 1988, implementing and monitoring such programs as affirmative action, job announcements, statistical investigations of the county and state governments and private employment referrals for residents. Saluting soccer (see page 10) Marvelous music (see page 3) Chillin' column comeback (see page 8) VOLUME LXVI, NUMBER 5 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1995 Canisius selected for national AmeriCorps program by Ellen Mogavero Griffin Asst. News Editor Canisius College was recently selected by AmeriCorps, anational government service program, to host Athletes in Service to America, a violence prevention program and academic service program. Canisius was chosen along with Northeastern and the Universities of Nevada, Texas and Kentucky to administer this program of violence prevention and academic service. AmeriCorps awarded a The Griffin Serving the Canisius Community Since 1933