Meter

Issue date: 11/19/07 Section: Arts & Culture

(Oprah Winfrey)

By
Staff Reporter

In 2002, Oprah Winfrey announced her plans to build a leadership academy for the girls of South Africa, but students at TSU, Oprah's Alma Matter, want to know why she did not open a school in America.

The school, named Building a Dream-The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy, is located in Johannesburg, South Africa. Winfrey started the academy to help encourage and provide strength to young women in South America.

"I understand that she wants to help young girls," said Tiffani Johnson, a sophomore English major from Detroit. "But what about helping the girls of America? Don't we need help here?"
The $40 million academy has been dogged by controversy since it opened in January.

Winfrey selected the first class of 152 poor, mostly black pupils. The school boasts state-of-the-art facilities including laboratories, a yoga studio and beauty salon.

"I understand that there are very poor girls living in different parts of this world," said Monique Adams, a freshman biology major from Nashville. "But I was always taught that when giving back, the work starts at home, then spreads abroad, but here we are watching(Winfrey) do everything but start at home."
Recently, police arrested a former dormitory employee at Winfrey's academy on charges of abuse, including indecent acts.

Winfrey was very upset and hurt about the unfortunate situation. According to CNN.com, she sends great remorse to the families of the victims.

"I am grateful for their compassion and sensitivity to the girls during this difficult time. It means the world to me," Winfrey said in a statement. "It is my deepest hope that the accused is brought to justice and that this serves as a reminder that any time a child has the courage to step forward, it is our duty as adults to listen and take immediate action."

While she is giving back in Africa, she also runs three different charities, two of which are designed mainly to contribute in South Africa.

The one charity that helps in America is the Oprah Winfrey Foundation. In 2005, The Angel Network, her second charity, distributed more than $4 million to 40 organizations with a vast amount of emphasis on Africa, Winfrey's chief interest, according to FOXNews.com. They also sent $2 million to disaster relief for victims of Hurricane Katrina and the Indian Ocean tsunami.

"I understand clearly that TSU is going to need a lot of help from every angle," said Joseph Wishborne, a junior engineering major from Memphis. "And I believe that it's going to take more than Oprah giving money to do so, although it would greatly help."

According to Foxlive.com, Winfrey gives much to African causes and groups, but also gives millions domestically.

Jackson State University is one of her largest recipients, as is Morehouse College.

"I have (been) attending TSU for five years," said Shatonya Young, a senior engineering major from St. Louis. "And unfortunately, I have not heard of Oprah contributing much time or money with this institution, but I do believe that we cannot blame much on her, we still have to continue to become the best students we can, with or without her support."•

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