FEATIRE HIGHLIGHTS
AVliitonian in “Lucasta” pg. 1
Streatoi' witli “Times” i>5>'. 1
Faculty ('lose-l’ixs pg. 4
THE BENNETT BANNER
Student Publication of Bennett Oollege
archives
Bennett College
?»reensbciro, N. c.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
AND A
HAPPY NEW YEAR
VOLUME XV
GHEKXSHOHO, (\, l)E(’E>lBEIt, 1!)45
'Living Madonnas'
Present Tableaux
The traditional presentation of
“The Living Madonnas” December 9
in Annie Merner Pfeiffer Cliapel
featured tableaux from some of the
more important allied nations.
Under the direction of Miss Nancy
E. McDowell, the production was an
appropriate opening to the events of
the Christmas season. Beautifully
staged and directed, a feeling of
warmth and reverence pervaded the
chapel where a capacity audience
viewed with serenity the production
depicting the birth of Christ.
Tableaux portrayed were The An
nunciation by Fra Angelico; The Na
tivity by Bernadino Fungai; Madon- j
na in A Rose Hedge by Schongauer; ]
The Adoration of the Shepherds l3y
El Greco; The Adoration of the Magi j
l)y Quentin Massay; St. Anne, Ma
donna and Child by Leonardo de
Vinci; The Flight into Egypt by
William Blake; and Madonna and
Child with Doners by DeMarville and
Sluter.
The tableaux were presented with
scripture I'eading and music. Solo
ists were Helen Dozier, Marie Holly,
Hortense Kelly, and Irma Robinson.
Music was furnished by the junior
choir, with Mr. Holland at the or
gan and Cpl. Nicholas Gerren, vio
linist. Narration was done by Nancy
Pinkard. Elinor Bishop and Mildred
Anderson were the pages.
dtuilbiiLb Hemuiib irate
Art of Folk Dancing
An evening of folk art with demon
strations by students of Mr. Malinow
ski’s folk dancing class was presented
rn the Little. Theatre Friday, Novem
ber 30 by the Music Club.
Movies showing the folk dance of
European countries were shown fol
lowing a very interesting talk on
The Art of Dancing Value in Liber
al Education by Mr. Malinowski. |
These films showed “Hula Honey
moon,” of picturesque Hawaii and
its famous honeymoon ceremoni’a]
dances; the Russian Ballet, the folk
dance of different nations of Russia;
and those dances performed at the
International Dance Festival in Lon
don.
At the close of each group of
films, students, attired in the native
costumes of these countries, demon
strated the dances they have learned
in their classes.
Colleges Unite In
Protest Campaign
A united effort to fight peacetime
military conscription i’s being launch
ed by YWCA students of Guilford,
Bennett, A. and T., and Woman’s
Colleges.
Stated Miss Marion Able, presi
dent of Bennett’s “Y”, “Consider
able thought has been given to the
problem of peacetime conscription
and as future citizens of this nation
we realize that our country, i'n years
to come will be determined by the
ideals and decisions we form today.”
Through a city wide campaign,
the students are contacting churches
and schools, and distributing leaf
lets to the public tO' show that “con
scription” is not the answer to a
lietter w'orld. They feel that in till's
way passage of the bill can be pre
vented when it goes Ijefore Congress
in .January.
EDITH WHITEM.VX
Bennett Graduate Plays
"Katie" In “Anna Lncasta"
Edith Whiteman, former Bennett
student, landed the role of “Katie”
in “Anna Lueasta” after havi'ng been
in New York nine months. Miss
Whiteman is a graduate of the class
of ’43.
At the early age of seven Edith
was inspired to become an actress
when allowed to sit in on the re
hearsals and attend performances of
an exclusive dramatic grovip in New
Haven, Conn. This desi're to become
an actress has been nursed through
out her school years which she feit
essential to the furthering of her
hopes and dreams.
Born and reared in Danville, Va.,
Edith ventured to New York after
graduation to stuay at the American
Negro Theater. She appeared in two
plays produced last season by the
group, “Garden of Time” and Henri
Christophe”. It was after her per
formance in “Henri Christophe” that
she received her big break to appear
i'n the role of “Katie.”
Edith hopes to study and develop,
along with many other interests, the
all embrasive subject of Negro Cre
ative Art: and to see a school estab
lished in order that young Negroes
may have the opportunity to develop
the artistic trends of their own
origin under teachers who have de
voted their life to the study of the
cultural background of the Negro.
Her interest in music i's equal to
her interest in drama. While at Ben
nett she composed several musical
compositions under the direction of
the late Dr. R. Nathaniel Dett. At
present she is still composing and
hopes that some of her works will be
published.
To such a talented young star
nothing but the top can be the ul
timate end. Success shall be hers.
Seniors Win Scholarship
Cup With 4.840 Average
An appropriate end to a week of
Fenior activities w'as the awarding
of the scholarship cup, for the sec
ond semester ’44-’4 5 to the senior
class with an average of 4.840.
I’resident Jones presented the cup
to Miss Dori's Newland, class presi
dent.
Second place honors went to the
•Juniors with an average of 4.368.
The sophomores averaged 4.57 4 and
the freshman 4.304.
The week of Nov. 26-Dec. 2. the
seniors presented “That Modern
Touch” a style show' demonstrating
I he correct things in dress; “The
Right and Wrong of Etiquette”;
‘ Spice and Variety” a talent pro
gram; and a quiz show, “Take It or
Leav
^ ^
(!ll|ristma5 J]i'lu'r
—An Editorial—
Whenever a fever takes possession
of one it affects his entire being. It’s
like a burning flame consuming
one's veiy life. I know' — I've had
one.
However, the fever I’m talking
aliout won’t hurt you in the least;
in fact, it might make you a lietter
person. It’s the Christmas fever.
Never heard of him? Well, allow me
to make the introductions.
He’s a l)ig fellow, although hi's
name only requires nine typewritten
spaces. He’s the most lovable and
considei-ate person it’s been my good
t'oi tune to meet. Full of goodwi'U,
gi'acious, humorous, understanding
—the most unselfish soul I know'.
You never have to ask him to do any
thing for you, he’s much too thought
ful. He sort of gets next to you and
spotlights the I>righter side of life.
There isn’t a quality of goodness he
jacks. Folks call him “the Saint”
and he well deserves the name.
As you can see he’s certainly a
friend to treasure. Unfortunately too
few people have sought his friend-
sh;)), l)ut I leel now that “Thanks
giving” is back in our hearts and
peace has calmed the minds of men,
it’s not too soon for Mr. “Christmas
fever” to start his spiritual cam
paign. And then, THIS will REALLY
be a Merry Christmas and a Happy
New Year.
NANCY L. PINKARD,
The Editor.
A A A A A A A
''Messiah” To Highlight
Annual Choir Concert
Handel’s immortal oratorio “The
Messiah” will highlight the annual
choir concert, December 16, in Annie
Merner Pfeiffer Chapel. Soloists
will be Misses: Carrie W. Kellogg,
Orial Banks, Constance Collier, and
Edith Taylor, sopranos; Joyce Picot
and Allethia Walker contraltos; and
Sgt. Henry Grant, basso.
The college quartet will sing “At
The Cradle” by Franck and “Three
Kings Have Journeyed” — Joyce
Picot, soloist.
Selections by the choir will be,
“Rock de Cradle”; “Go, Tell It On
The Mountain”; “Christmas Night
ingale”; “Sleep of the Child Jesus”;
“Wassail! Wassail!” and “Carol of
the Russian Ohildren.”
The choir will be directed by D.avi'd
W. Holland, director of music. Ac
companists will l)e Misses Betty Ann
Artis at the organ and Camille Dun
ham at the piano.
elail’oo
SBMHOa)#
SANTA GOES TO COLLINS
GROVE WITH TOYS
There will be a pageant, toys, and
fun for all when Santa arrives in
fJollins Grove December 16. A Christ
mas pageant, with a cast that w'ill in
clude people from the Community,
is l)eing .nrepared by the students of
Rui'al Sociology. Toys for the child
ren are being secured by Mrs. Mc
Clellan, the medical social worker
of the Community Chest.
Some of the important events that
have taken place in the past month
at Mount Tabor as well as Collins
Gi'ove are: a health unit on milk
pi'esented by the students of Rural
Sociology, a quiz show under the di
rection of Miss Barljara A. Ware, and
ja news summary by Mr. Robert L.
Jack.
Controversy In Congress Debates
Unification of U. S. Armed Forces
m
;e()H(;i{; sntE.ATOK
Streator Appointed
To New York Times
The recent appointment of George
Walter Streator to the New York
T imes marked another “first” in
Negro achievement.
A native of Nashville, Tenn., he
holds the A. B. degree from Fisk
University and the M. A. from Wes
tern Reserve.
Says Mr. St*\ at.c r, “My early years
have been varied. I think I was
setting type at the age of 12. About
1917 my father secured a job for
me in a firm of jewelers and opticians
where he had worked for over 30
years as a skilled worker. The op
tical trade appealed to me and I
followed it througn high school and
college, earning- a living as a me
chanic.
It was in college that my interest
switched to mathematics. I came to
Bennett determined to teach for the
rest of my days! In Greensboro life
gave iiie work on the Bennett Ban
ner; I used to do a lot of platform
work, which I enjoyed greatly. In
19 3 3 I left Bennett to work for The
Crisis, as managing editor.
In New York, first one labor group
and another got my interest and in
1934 I became General Organizer for
the Amalgamated Clothing Workers
of America. The years 19 37-19 41
found me a free lance writer and
lectui'er. During ’41 I became Labor
Relations Representative for 0PM,
WMC, WPB, and U. S. government.
Then in 1945 the N. Y. Times came
my way, and I like it. My advice to
young people — please break away
trom some of the hoity-toity stuff
that stacks up on the Negro college
campus and try to get a view' oi this
very confused and difficult world, a
view not found in text books. AI)ove
all, don’t put all youi- eggs in one
basket.”
I5y EIU'u E. >Ic(’U'stcr ’+(»
Thei'o )ias Iteen unending contro
versy in Congress I'ecently as Army
and Navy “l)rass hat” officials fight
uver tlie question of merging the
.\jmy. Navy and Marine Corps. At
present, the commanders of the Army
and Navy are still l>usy in an effoit
;o strengthen pulilic suppoit for or
against unification of the armed
forces. The majority of these com-
mandei's seem to favor the govern
ment’s pi'Oigram for universal mili-
taiy training—among whom is even
leet Admiral King of the Navy.
■Ai’my Ofl'icial.s l)isa>riM‘
Ceneral Jacob L. Devers charges
that lack of Arniy-Navy cooperation
caused a serious waste of time and
effort during the war. Tough, ser-
:ous-minded Air General Carl Spaatz,
a prospect for the new Chief of Army
Air Forces, I'ecently stressed the im
portance of air powei' in the “air
power age.” He feels that in order
io act sw'iftly and efficiently in case
of unex])ected attack, all of our
armed foi’ces must lie under unified
command.
Ceneral Omar N. Bradley has ex-
pi-essed his opinion as also l)eing in
favor of unification. He has remind
ed us of tragedies like the shooting
down of Army transport planes by
Navy gunners during the Sicilian in
vasion. Such accidents might have
I)een avoided if the forces had been
trained as a single fighting unit.
General of the Army Dwi.ght D.
Eisenhower is also amonig the af-
fiimative debaters on this question
of unification. Eisenhower strongly
believes that failui-e to unify all the
nation’s armed forces might well
mean the loss of the peace for w'hich
we have so dearly I)ought. He added,
“I know that the Allies would have
lost the war in Northwest Europe
and tlie Mediterranean w'ithout a
single ovei'-all comnmnd.”
.N’imitz Chaii}>(‘s Viewpoint
The negative debaters from the
Navy have Admiral Chester C.
Niniitz as tlieir chief proponent.
(Continued On Page Three)
M:(;1{() DItAM \ (iROl P K)
Al’fE.VH HEKI: JAM .ARV 5
The celebrated Negro Drama Group
will be presented here January a it
has been announced l)y Mi’ss Con-
■tance Johnson, instructor in dra
matics. The group recently coni-
pl‘;tcd a successful tour of “Night
Must Fall,” throughout the South.
“The Little Foxes” w'ill be pre
sented at Virginia State CJollege the
ueek-end of January li)th. The
traveling cast, chosen by secret bal
lot, includes Misses Constance Collier,
Inez Cannon, Elaine Mitchel, and
Queen Esther Barber.
Student Assemhlg Favors
Inviting Negroes 110-48
Despite the opposition of Secretary
of State Thad I'iure, the 160 delegates
attending the ninth annual student
legislative assembly firmly stood
theii' ground and ])assed a resolu
tion, 110-4 8 to invite Negro dele
gates to thelT 1946 session, stated
an Associated Pi’ess release dated
Raleigh, Deceml)er 1, in the Greens
boro Daily News December 2.
Of significant interest was the fact
that immediately following adjourn
ment of the joint session, the entire
body was reconvened to hear Secre
tary Eure.
Advising caution and pointing out
that racial progress in N. C. “is do
ing splendidly,” the Seci-etary said
“I have no objection (to the motion)
if that is the way you w’ant it. but
I have a feeling that the issue which
you have raised here may not be ad-
\-antageous to them (the Negrfjesi
n- to you”.
After hearing Eure’s remarks the
legislatui'e extended its thanks for
the time the Secretary had devoted
to the matter, but did not alter its
pi'evious decision.
Bol)])y Olenn. University of N. C.,
Chapel Hill, iniated the proposal,
which was seconded by John l,ine-
weaver also of U. N. C.