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BENNETT BANNER
FROM OUR PRESIDENT
Any school year ends on a very positive note vk'hen with pride
and satisfaction to so many significant accomphshments in every
area of the college community. The Six Institutions Invitational,
the Fine Arts Festival, the Theatre Guild’s “Amen Corner” and
Raisin in the Sun, the Choir Tour, the Co-op Education Clinic,
the televised Showing of Fashions by the Clothing Majors, the
Science Emphasis Week, the Symposium on the Black
Inteellectual, each in its own special way gives eloquent
expression of wliat Bennett College is about. Each in its own
special way attests to the fact that Bennett College possesses
unbeatable qualities-talent, initiative, and energy. I extend hearty
thanks to all who lent theirs to the fulfillment of institutional
purpose.
C'on^adulations are due (he staff on the Bennett Banner, the
IJellf Ringer,,^and t|ie Yearbook, who against many odds gained
instant expertise ; wjth their craft and’ have demonstrated
outstanding journalistic acumen.
I congradulate the Choir, not only for its many stellar
performances in scores of communities, but for its readiness to
perform whenever called upon and for its splendid spirit of
dedication and commitment.
The basketball team, together with its mentors, is due a special
round of applause for becoming instant professionals and
providing us a season of good sport, a winning team, and a focus
for insitutional loyalty, enthusiasm and pride.
I congradulate the new officers of the Student Government for
the zest and maturity which they bring to their new positions of
campus leadership. Their example and creative initiative are
certain to strengthen and promote our sense of community.
I congradulate the Senior Class for reaching the threshold of
new venture. Their future, indeed the future of a troubled
society, is up to them, and as they join this awesome venture, I
wish them Godspeed with deep sincerity.
I feel deep concern for each young woman who carries the
diploma of Bennett College, for in each there resides a piece of
each of us who in any way is part of the Bennett Experience. The
successes of these young women will be ours; we shall share their
dissappointments.
Bennett College is more than the sum of its parts, a
conglomerate, an assortment of students, teachers, and
non-teaching staff. It is more than residence halls, programs,
classrooms and term papers. It is a ferment where ideas are born.
It is a potentiation where the power of each citizen of the
community is irreversibly increased through the intramural
encounter; it is an abrasion where the friction polishes and
refines; it is creative unrest where dissatisfaction with, self
generates new thoughts, new perception, and new models, and
the revelation of truth and meaning give living full dimensions.
Bennett College is its alumnae. If the young graduates are
effective as parents, teachers, physicians, politicians, social
workers, lawyers, business executives, if they show competence,
creativity, initiative, confidence, and integrity, wherever they go,
Bennett college will live and be blessed. No constrasting parallel is
needed. We look to the graduates to be change agents and leaders
in a society which gropes for new direction. We look to them to
bring order where there is chaos, peace where there is conflict,
purpose where there is aimlessness, illumination where there is
darkness, knowledge where there is ignorance, love where there is
hate, and hope where there is despair.
For this Bennett!! We close the year with just pride. Best
wishes to all for a pleasant summer.-lsaac H. Miller, Jr. President
Co-Editors
Myra Davis Dianne Dawson
Managing Editor Janee Blue
Feature Editor Sandra Neely
Literary Editor Jennie Jones
Phot»graphers Rose Jewell, Myni Davis
Reporters McCoy, Elizabeth Hemignway,
Cynthia McCaskill. and Kay Francis
CLASS of
from the Banner Staff
Vice President Spiro T.
Agnevy is, the; tool o^f:;an
administration plan' to
discredit the American
people’s belief in their news
media, according to a
television revelation by
Washington columnist Frank
Mankiewicz. The charge comes
as part of the first program
prepared for a nationwide
video cassette network now
being instituted on college
campuses by this country’s
largest lecture agency, the
American Program Bureau.
“I really do believe that the
Vice-President was the
instrument, the mouth piece,
for a concerted plan by this
administration to make people
distrust the news media. I
don’t think he was in on the
planning of it, because I don’t
think he was smart enough,”
claims Mankiewicz, who was
press secretary for the late
Sen. Robert Kennedy.
Mankiewicz contends on
th e cassette TV program
“Waiting for the Change” that
administration wanted the new
media “softened up in
advance” to create disbelief in
stories about failures in the
Vifitnan) war and an economic
reqessipn. He lists Attorney
General John Mitchell’s efforts
to subpoena newsmen’s files as
part of the “calculated plan.”
DISGUSTED
For weeks students
anticipated seeing Bennett
clothing students on television.
Well, the event finally came.
And what did we get? Twenty
minutes of Streat monopoly
and five minutes of viewing
the outfits which took many
hours to work and lost of
sleep. Then to add to the
situation the girls were all
jumbled up together and
between blinks the television
audiences might have seen
what they wore. Some of the
comments received after the
progam were:
“I thought the girls were
going to be the center of the
program. Mrs. Streat could
have talked while they
modeled.”
“I did not enjoy the
program.”
A CHALLENGE TO
BLACK WOMEN
“The Black Woman must help to give new direction to the
efforts in the Civil Rights area. None of us can sit idle or be
apathetic during these crucial times. There must be individual
commitment, for everyone will benefit from the eradication of
discrimination. There are many fronts in this fight and there is a
place for you to use your special skills.”
Recently Mrs. Isaac H. Miller, Jr. addressed members of the
Delta Sigman Theta Sorority while it celebrated Founders’ Day.
She left a message that all Black Women should consider and
especially those who are about to enter into the realities of our
society.
She emphasized that there be greater involvement in the
various communities in civic and social areas. She stated that the
Black woman must “develop the potential for leadership and
service to the fullest extent. She must take a stand for justice and
equality, for freedom and dignity, for today and tomorrow her
values will sustain such efforts.”
Some members of the Class of 71’ have taken the initiative to
involve themselves in the community and college affairs. These
young ladies have examplified leadership ability and concern. But
there are so many more who have fail to participate in any
civic-social concerns. They have generated no concern for our
“black brothers and sisters in the ghetto.”
Her challenge must be met by all Black women. As she said,
“It falls to our lot to reassert the priority values.. .It falls to us to
demand new forms of social planning.”
Agnew Policies Criticized
Leadership
Conference
Held in Washington
Two^ Bennett*'Students,
Connie Hammond and Sandra
Neely with eight other black
students from nine of the
United Methodist related
colleges were in Washington,
D. C. from April 5-9
participating in the
Washington Study Program
sponsored by the Board of
Christian Social Concern of
the United Methodist Church.
The black student seminar
participants felt the need to
express some of their pressing
concerns and aspirations in
regard to our school and
communities, the nation, and
the world. In reference to the
schools these following'
resolutions were submitted.
. . .that our schools remain
predominately black
institutions.
. . .That the Board of
Education of the United
Methodist Church give more
and immediate aid and
attention to the critical
financial needs of our schools.
. . .that our schools prepare
us with an education equipped
to meet the reality of a
RACIST American society and
that the schools be geared
more to the needs and desires
of the black
community. The seminar
was focused on “Current
Issued in Black Perspectives”,
meeting with black
congressmen, attending
congressional organizations,
and developers. The Seminar
related to the legative process
and discussions on welfare
reform, repression and
genocide, the crisis in black
education, black involvement
in mass media, there was also
time for paricipation in Black
theater and the arts. One topic
of great concern was that of
“Repressions and Genocide as
a Myth or Reality”. On this
issue Mr. Sammuel Yette, who
works with the Washington
Bureau and Newsweek. Also
the author of TChoice, this
book concerns the black
survival in America. Every
Black person is ui^ed to read
this book. *