THE BENNETT BANNER
Student Publication of Bennett College
VOLUME XV
M .MUKH «
BUSINESS WOMEN HAILED AT BENNETT
Robeson, Shaw and
Smith Principles
for Commencement
Paul Robeson, the celebrated
Negi’o baritone, will open the series
of commencement events when he
ap,pears in recital at the college, Fii-
day evening, May 17. The noted sing
er will also be the guest of the
Juniors and Seniors at their annual
prom in Thirkield Gymnasium from
10 to 2.
Other commencement principles
will be the Bishop Alexander P. Shaw
of Baltimore, Maryland who will give
the baccalaureate address, Sunday,
May 2 6, and Dr. Horace Greeley
Smith, President of Garrett Biblical
Institute who will deliver the
seventy-third commencement ad
dress, Monday, May 27, 10 a. m. in
the Annie Merner Pfeiffer Chapel.
For a complete schedule of com
mencement events, see page two.
The final vesper service of the
school year will be held Sunday,
May 19, at 4 p. m. in the chapel.
Rev. R. D. Crockett, director of re
ligious activities at the college, will
give the address
Mrs. Bertha Diggs,
1). Jones, exirenie leit;
Strcator, writer, N. Y.
engaging young secretary ot laboi' ol ihe Stale ol N. , (liais \\illi I lesiclent Diivid
fames .Stamps, branch manager, Social Security Oilice, Chicago; and George \V.
Times, extreme right, following a session ol the Jiistitiitc,
Dr. Dodge Condems
South's Illiberal Waqs
“Southern conditions are due to
the kind of government we have in
Washington and to the kind of legis
lators we have sent there as repre
sentatives,” was the forceful state
ment made by Dr. Witherspoon
Dodge, field representative of the
Southern Conference for Human
Welfare, as he addressed the Ben
nett College student body last week.
“These men do not represent the
best type of southern individuals,”
continued the speaker, ‘ nor do
they represent the growing spirt in
ihe South; they are individuals who
have special interests and are using
this means to further their interests.
Outlining the splendid work of
this organization. Dr. Dodge defined
its purpose and cited its endeavors
in educational, legislative, and other
constructive activities.
“Liberalism as an end within Itself
means little,” he declared, “there
must be action to assert that liberal
ism. It is our aim to try to get to
gether people who think liberally
and will act. A good many ideas and
beliefs have become deeply rooted
prejudices and need to be changed.”
He stressed the importance of vot
ing in the coming election so that
the best men representing the best
issues for the interest of all human
beings will be elected. Of special
interest was his first hand account
of the recent uprising in Columbia,
Tenn.
In concluding the speaker ad
monished, “If we are people of good
will, w'hose mind will accept the
differences in opinions and ideas of
others, this spirit will unite us in
the human endeavor for good-will.
We must together fight to change
the backward, prejudiced and illiber
al ways of the South.”
"We Have Not Achieved
Democraci]/' Says Tate
“We have not achieved democracy ;
niuuki..J la more fri^litoned 'oday
than ever l)efore in history,” Dr.
Merze Tate of Howard University
told Bennett students during her re
cent address in the chapel.
“People are disillusioned,” she
continued, “l>ecause they know that
only a partial victory was achieved.
The outlook would be more promis
ing if the white world realized, and
(on.sidered, that the colored world
wants its rights as citizens.”
Referring to the struggle of the
European countries. Dr. Tate said,
“It is not for the mother country
to decide whether their colonies are
ready for self-government. World
War II is a continuation of the im
perialistic empires’ struggles for
power. The i-ndomina’ble spirit of the
Russians and the British saved the
(Continued On Page Four)
Eva Heinitz, Cellist To
Play Here May 10th
The appearance of Eva Heinitz rn
Annie Merner Pfeiffpr Chapel. Fri
day evening. May 10, will bring to
the campus one of the most brilliant
t:ellists in the musical world. The
artist’s remarkal)le musical abilities
and exceptional techniques have won
acclaim throughout tlie world.
Miss Heinitz’s career has l)een an
interesting one. She l)egan playing
the cello when only 9 years old. Six-
years later found her at the State
Academy of Music in Berlin, where
she studied under Professor Hugo
Becker. At 17 she was hailed in Ber
lin at her debut recital.
Although she has given recitals
throughout Europe, she did not make
her American debut until 19 39 when
she appeared as soloist with the
I'riends of Music. Since then, Miss
Heinitz has given numerous concerts
and won distinction for her magnifi
cent artistry.
Graham Concludes
Twentieth Institute
Bertha Diggs, Labor Secretary
Attributes Success To Hard Work
By NANCY PINKARD
“I believe success comes from
within,” said Mrs. Bertha Diggs, Sec
retary of Labor of the state of New
York, in Interview during her re
cent visit to the campus.
Her dark eyes sparkled with en
thusiasm as she told about the inter
esting work of her staff which sets
policies for the Labor Department
and some seven million working peo
ple throughout the state.
Admiring her captivating person
ally, the congenial manner In v^hlch
she conversed and the genuine con
cern she showed for her work, it
was easy to understand why Bertha
Diggs has achieved such outstanding
recognition.
Recalling her childhood days in
Buffalo, where she grew up in a
conglomerated community of Ital
ians, Greeks, Poles, Jews, Irish and
Negroes, Mrs. Diggs’ early interest
in peoples’ welfare inspired her to
specialize in business administration,
following graduation from high
school.
Prior to her appointment by Gov
ernor Dewey in 1944, at an annual
salary of $5,300.00, she had gained
valuable experience in the field of
public relations, counseling in adult
education centers, working with var
ious educational, political and civic
groups, and serving as secretary in
the Erie County Clerk’s office. It
w'as in this capacity that Mrs. Diggs
made numerous wortliwhile contacts,
secureid a working knowledge of
radio and newspaper woi'k, and re
ceived an opportunity to attend many
labor meetings.
Her countenance reflected serious
thought as she said; “Regardless of
what one does though, religion must
play an important part in his life. It
(Continued On Page Four)
“If atomic energy is to bri'up; world
security and guarantee to all peo
ples freedom and peace, America
must take the lead in amending the
t'nited Nation’s Charter so that
atomic power can be put under con
trol and not be the secret of any na
tion.” declared Dr. P’rank Porter
Graham, president of the University
of North Carolina, as he addressd
the closing session of the twentieth
annual Home-making Institute, Sun
day, March 24.
Speaking on the topic, “Scientific
Inventions for Production, Freedom
and Peace,” Dr. Graham described
the great revolutions of history
which have been caused by the dis
covery of small mechanisms. Trac
ing the invention of the compass,
the speaker admonished, “Although
this small object made possible the
discovery of America and opened a
gateway of communication and trade
lietween nations, it also brought the
evils of colonialism, impei'ialism, and
human slavery.”
“The pow'er engine,” he continued,
“gave rise to the industrial revolu
tion with its lalior movement and a
fuller recognition of women. Also
with it came the four great hopes of
economic security, freedom, democ
racy and peace.”
“Instead of the realizatiott of these
hopes, we have experienced the great
est depression and two of the most
destructive wars in history,” assert
ed Dr. Graham. “Human society
seems unable to master its own in
ventions. We are quick to make
scientific inventions but slow to make
social inventions. It is not impossible
that the earth will return to an
animal species that cannot invent
machines that it cannot control.”
A plea for peace arose from his
lips as he said, “America is at the
crossroads of human destiny . . .
may she not fail mankind in this
tragic hour . . . may she rise to the
resi)onsibilities and opportunities of
her greatness and give fresh hope to
the hungry peoples of the earth.”
Institute Speakers
Stress Preparation
Tl:e busy week of addresses, panel
(’.iscussvons, meetings and interviews
that highlighted sessions of the 20th
Home-making Institute left Ben
nett students with greater knowledge
(oncerning the numerous possibilities
in the business world.
The men and women who descend
ed on the campus to direct the week’s
thinking toward the theme, “Open
ing Doorways to Economic Security”
were ably prepared to give them
fu'st hand information. The sessions
were inspiring, meaniii^gful, enlight
ening and resourceful.
Enumerating the available op
portunities in business, the speakers
urged students to prepare them
selves to meet the increasing de
mands and to develop integrity,
i liaracter and personality.
.\s in the past years the institute
programs were taken to two near-by
communilies, -Mt. Tabor and Collins
Grove, which are a part of the
college’s program of extended health.
The same stories that had enriched
he lives of Bennett students l)road-
ened the vision of these men and
women.
The stories of such men and wo
men as 7ohn R. Pinkett, realtor and
insurance broker of Washington, 1).
(;.; ,1. 1!. lilayton, certified public
accountant, Atlanta, Ga.; J. S.
s^tewai't, secretary-mauager, iviuiuai
Building and Loan Association, Dur
ham, N. C.; H. C. W’oodland, Board
( hairman,_ Safe Bus Co., Winston-
Salem, N. C.: Dr. C. C. Spaulding,
president, N. C. Mutual Life Insur
ance (U)., Durham; George Weaver,
CIO repi'esentative, Washington, D.
C'.; D. G. Garland, High Point, organ
izer of A. F. of L.; A. E. Brow'n,
oi'ganizer, N. (;. Federation of Labor;
J. E. Stamps, branch managei', So
cial Security Office, Chicago; George
Streator, writer. New York
Times; Mrs. Bertha J. Diggs, sec
retary of lal)or, state of New Yorkj
and Dr. Frank Porter Graham, presi
dent of the University of N. C. who
delivered the closing address Sun
day, March 24.
Powers Elected N. C.
Representative at
Student Conference
Miss Pjetty Powers, junior, Bloom
field, Conn., was eleeted as the North
Carolina representaive to the Con
ference of Southern Students which
convened at Hampton Institute
Api'il 2 0.
During this second annual meet
ing, the group set up a program for
the ensuing year and elected officers.
Plans were also formulated for an
executive meeting to 'be held at Ben
nett in the near future, to make pre
parations for two delegates to repre
sent the conference at the World
Wide Student Conference in Prague.
Colleges represented were: Roll
ins; Bethune-Cookman; Tusculuma;
Plack Mountain; Woman’s College
of the University of N. C.; Duke
University; University of North Caro
lina; Berea; Virginia Union Univers
ity; and Hampton. Miss Joyce Edley
junior, Lynchburg, Va., was our
uLher student representative.
^^1100 W0uuag
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