Ray Hawthorne says if there were more principals and teachers like Joe Clark, the Arkansas school shootings may not have happened.

We do need more people like him, said Hawthorne, a junior in administration of justice from Carbondale. Look at the youth today, the people in Arkansas. They have no guidance.

Hawthorne was referring to a shooting Tuesday at Jonesboro’s Westside Middle School. Two students, 13 and 11-years-old, killed four students and a teacher.

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Clark, the former principal of Eastside High School in New Jersey, suspended 300 students in one day while fighting drug use, violence and vandalism in his school. His approach to improving the school was the basis of the 1989 movie Lean On Me.

During his speech Wednesday night in the Student Center Auditorium, Clark said looking in a mirror can reflect the happiness and self-fulfillment a person has accomplished within their lifetime.

You must give the world the best that you have, Clark said. And I guarantee the best will come back to you. In life, you make sure that you live life so well that when it comes time for you to die, even the undertaker will be unhappy.

Before the speech, a crowd of more than 315 people harmonized the Bill Withers song, Lean On Me, as they awaited the entrance of the man many know as Batman.

Throughout the speech, Clark encouraged self-love and togetherness. He said having a positive and optimistic outlook on life will secure a healthy lifestyle.

I’m convinced that when the Lord of life comes, he’s not going to ask what college you graduated from. He’s going to ask, Did you feed the hungry? Did you give water to the thirsty?’ It’s time for us, as Americans, to come together as one.

Uniting as one also means instilling values in today’s children. Clark said children are sometimes overlooked by parents who are preoccupied with making a living instead of living their lives. He also said today’s youth are capable of doing anything they set their minds to.

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Hawthorne said it was satisfying to see Clark as he had seen him on the news several times. He said school systems would improve if there were more teachers and principals like Clark.

I like his ideas and philosophies dealing with students and education his caring in a strict manner, promoting self-improvement, Hawthorne said. He makes students feel they have a place in this world.

Erica Williams, a junior in psychology from Chicago Heights, said Clark is an inspiring man for both young and old people. Clark’s speech informed Williams that he is someone who really cares.

He was just letting you know that no matter what you do, you should never give up, Williams said. Even though you may not be a famous, big star, you’re still somebody.

I think the education system will be a lot better with more people like him because then there’s actually people who care instead of those who are just there for a paycheck.

By the end of his speech, Clark brought out the famous baseball bat. He said people have constantly asked him how many times he used the bat on students.

He has never used the bat. The bat was just a prop to cater to media hype. But the bat has significance, he said.

I’d say, They used to call me Crazy Joe,’ but now they call me Batman,’ he said. That was my way of getting attention from the media.

The baseball bat simply means it’s your turn up to bat. Now what are you going to do with it?