FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1979
THE BENNETT BANNER
PAGE THREE
One-acts start season
Photo by Myra Davis
Authors of “Spoonbread and Strawberry Wine,” Carole and Norma Jean Daraen,
presented a seminar on writing tips and career planning as it related
to their careers in education, theatre and modeling during their recent visit.
Lao offers light
by Linda Anderson
Many of us are searching for
substance in our lives. Our days
are spent in an idle stupor about
ourselves and the world around us.
“The Way of Life According to
Lao Tzu,” translated by Witter
Bynner, is a collection of 81 say
ings for the Tao religion. Accord
ing to Chinese philosopher Lao
Tzu, this book constitutes observa
tions about “poise, assurance, and
the ways of serenity.”
Legend has it that Lao was “im
maculately conceived by a shoot
ing star, carried in his mother’s
womb for sixty-two years and
born, it is said, white-haired, in
604 B.C. . . .” During his lifetime,
Lao looked around the world and
decided that “man can be a doer
without being an actor” and that
“the way to do is to be.”
In contrast, 18th Century Amer
ican Puritan Jonathan Edwards
believed that only through passiv
ity would man receive God’s
grace. Although many thinkers
sharing beliefs like Edwards’ con
sider Lao Tzu’s vision as bor
dering on “vacant inaction or
passive contemplation,” Lao actu
ally promoted a kind of “creative
quietivism.”
Curiously enough, many of the
same ideals espoused by Lao Tzu
bear strong resemblance to the
convictions of American Roman
tics Henry David Thoreau and
Walt Whitman, who felt that
through the inward journey and
the contemplation of the self, man
acquired an understanding of God
and the universe. Hard-line Puri
tans like Edwards subscribed to
the rejection of the self.
The crux of Lao’s philosophy
lies in his certainty that “men’s
conduct should depend on instinct
and conscience.” Lao’s principles
advocate the quest for inner faith
and simplicity.
Dr. I. W. Heysinger describes
Lao’s basic premise as “the inte
grating principle of the whole—
the spirit, as if it were the uni
verse—instinct with contrivance,
which flows with purpose.”
One of the most impressive as
pects of the book is its simplicity.
Lao writes with the intention of
exposing the frailties of human
natue. He offers his idealism as
a means of overcoming mortal
weakness.
Lao says: “It is better not to
make merit a matter of reward
lest people conspire and contend,
not to pile up rich belongings lest
they rob, not to excite by display
lest they covet. A sound leader’s
aim is to open people’s hearts, fill
their stomachs, calm their wills,
brace their bones and so to clarify
their thoughts and cleanse their
needs that no coming meddler
could touch them; without being
forced, without strain of con
straint, good government comes of
itself.”
Such wisdom might not be the
answer to your problems, but at
least you will find some direction
in the tnoughts of Lao Tzu.
This book is available in the
campus bookstore.
by Josie Hudley
Bennett College’s Little
Theatre has undergone some
changes for the productions,
“The Sirens” by Richard
Wesley and “The Owl Killer”
by Phillip Hayes Dean, which
started Wednesday, Novem
ber 14 and will run until Sun
day, November 18.
“The stage of the theatre
was too small for the produc
tions I had in mind,” stated
Elliot Moffitt, the head of the
drama department and direc
tor of both plays. With the
assistance of some students,
Moffitt replaced several rows
of seats with an extension to
the stage. There was also in
sufficient lighting for the
newly built and old stage, so
new lighting cables were in
stalled on each side of the
theatre walls. These changes
came about just in time for
the season’s opening of two
one-act plays.
“The Sirens” deals with the
different aspects of street-life
and certain people’s dreams
of getting out. Mavis, played
by sophomore Josie Hudley, is
a young woman who has an
opportunity to emerge from
the street-life but is not sure
she is able. Sophomore Monica
Motley portrays Pepper, a
hooker desperately trying to
find a better way of life. Bet
ty, played by sophomore Ra
mona Rousseau, is a teenager
who just wants to be loved.
Two males were recruited
from A&T State University to
participate in this production.
Stephen Lipscombe plays
Bobby, a high school boy
struggling to better himself.
Portraying Duane is Anthony
Johnson. Duane left his wife
years ago to fulfill his ambi
tions and is now returning to
take his wife with him. Cameo
appearances are made by Mr.
Moffitt.
“The Owl Killer” is a drama
depicting how a family han
dles the fact that one of its
members—Lamar, the son—
has killed someone. Another
recruit from A&T State Uni
versity is Avery Verdell, who
portrays the father (Noah).
Noah disowns his son for hav
ing committed the murder
and wants nothing to do with
him. Emma, the mother,
played by Freshman Cynthia
Mitchell, is torn between obey
ing her husband’s commands
and helping her son escape
town. Sophomore Areatha
Tharrington plays Stella Mae,
the disowned daughter who is
determined to help her bro
ther skip town.
Curtain time is 8:00' p.m.
General Admission is $2.00.
Bennett College students get
in free with I.D.
Prof talks to congress
by Libby Malloy
Dr. Nellouise Watkins, di
rector of the Bennett College
computer center, testified as
an expert at a Congressional
hearing of the Committee on
Science and Technology Oct. 9.
Watkins appeared in order
to support a bill providing for
the U.S. to maintain research
in information technology
comparable to programs in
other countries and encourag
ing the use of computer-based
techniques applied to the
learning process at all levels.
Watkins expressed surprise
at the invitation, but she de
cided that two factors influ
enced her selection—her work
on the board of the National
Science Organization in Mi
nority Institutions and her in
volvement with an Advanced
Institutional Development
Program (AIDP) grant which
allowed her to gather statis
tics relevant to computer
Spouses share detective profession
in charming t.v. series ‘Hart to Hart’
by Shelia Purnell
Can a husband and wife
work together in the same
profession? “Hart to Hart”
proves this statement to be
true. Jonathan and Jennifer
Hart are a husband and wife
detective team. Max, their
Pacino challenges the law
by Joanne Joyner
. . And Justice for All”
portrays the injustices of the
criminal court system. It was
produced by Norman Jewison
and Patrick Palmer. Norman
Jewison is also the director.
Arthur Kirkland, played by
A1 Pacino, was an energetic
defense attorney. He cared
about the welfare of his
clients. All he asks is that
they tell him the truth. As the
movie opened, Kirkland was
being released from jail for
striking Judge Henry T.
Fleming, played by John For
sythe. Kirkland felt his ac
tions were justifiable in lieu
of the fact that the judge
refused to hear one of his
cases.
Jeff McCullaugh, one of
Kirkland’s clients, had been
in jail for a year and a half
because one of his tail-lights
was out. The police had stop
ped to warn him about the
light and they did a routine
check. They received informa
tion that a Jeff McCullaugh
was wanted in another state.
The police felt Jeff fit the
description although it turned
out to be a case of mistaken
identity. While Jeff waited in
jail, a guard was stabbed and
the weapon was placed in
Jeff’s cell, and this “crime”
resulted in a charge of mur
der. There was substantial
evidence that proved Jeff’s
innocence, but Kirkland could
not get Judge Fleming to hear
the information because, ac
cording to a statute, the evi
dence was three days late.
Meanwhile, Judge Fleming
was arrested and jailed for
rape. He wanted Arthur Kirk
land to represent him for po
litical reasons. Fleming felt
that everyone would think he
was innocent if his most
despised adversary defended
him. Kirkland, although hes
itant, was not given the op
portunity to decline the offer.
An ethics committee was
established to filter out the
corrupt and unstable lawyers
and judges. Kirkland felt the
committee members were par
tial toward certain people.
Judge Rayford, played by
Jack Warden, had not been
investigated even though he
spent his lunch hour on the
ledge outside of his fourth
floor office and he constantly
tried to commit suicide.
I found this movie to be a
fast-moving, exciting adven
ture picture about the intrica
cies of the courts. I would not
mind seeing it again. “. . . And
Justice for All” is well worth
your time and effort.
butler, helps his employers to
solve their cases.
Jonathan is a hard-working
man who puts his life on the
line to help other people. Jen
nifer is a beautiful, intelli
gent, ambitious woman who
devotes her life to the welfare
of other people. Max serves
as a humorous butler who
adds a special touch to the
family.
Roiaert Wagner plays the
part of Jonathan Hart. Ste
phanie Powers is Jennifer
Hart, and Lionel Stander por
trays Max. After watching all
the other detective stories I
feel that “Hart to Hart” is
different and it shows great
potential. If you want ro
mance and drama at the same
time, tune in to “Hart to
Hart.”
research.
“It was awesome but at the
same time educational,” Wat
kins stated about her work in
Washington.
She was particularly im
pressed by a speech from an
IBM expert forecasting fu
ture innovations in computer
technology. Watkins com
pared the computer revolution
to science fiction that is very
close to being a reality in
America.
One of the inventions pre
dicted by experts is the mer
gence of the computer and
the home television set so
that customers can pay bills
within the confines of their
own houses and shoppers can
order necessities from the
grocery store. All that is
required for these break
throughs in convenience is a
new gadget that would be
connected to the TV.
Watkins maintained that
the great advantage of an ad
vanced computer system is
the eradication of expenses
for paper. “With the new
computer you don’t use
cards—only terminals,” she
observed.
The visit to Congres only
further confirmed Watkins’
faith in the importance of
computers to the nation. The
progress of science may cause
some difficulties, but Watkins
believes that “America solves
the problems that technology
creates.”
Eubie Blake gets toe-tapping tribute
Hair deserves salubrious treatment
by Monica Motley
Get a headstart on your hair
this season by getting to the root
of the problem. Your hair is def
initely one of the most important
parts of your body, so treat it with
kindness.
If you have scraggly, flyaway
hair, do something about this
problem by investing in a pro
fessional haircut. A haircut can
do so much for you. It can make
you look more alive and give you
a different image. Once you get
a cut, don’t let it go down the
drain because of negligence and
laziness. Your hair can only look
good as long as you let it. Get the
ends trimmed about every four
to six weeks or as often as your
hair requires trimming.
A tip to keep your hairstyle
looking nice is to wash your hair
frequently to relieve it of dirt
and oils that can cause hair to
look dull and spiritless. Invest
in quality shampoos that are de
signed specifically to treat your
type of hair. Shampoos usually
come in three different types—
dry, normal, and oily. Choose the
type that you think will treat your
hair best. Incidentally, washing
hair too often can cause it to look
lifeless because the hair is being
stripped of some of the natural
oils that coat the hair.
Conditioning the hair is also
another major factor in hair
grooming. Conditioners also come
in different types according to dif
ferent types of hair. Conditioners
give hair that added extra body
it needs to bounce, to hold that
extra curl and to shine just that
much more without the help of
heavy oils, which only weigh the
hair down and attract dirt.
Conditioners coat and smooth
the split ends of hair, but they
don’t get rid of them. A condition
er should always be used after
washing your hair to give it back
what has been taken away during
the washing.
If you take these words of ad
vice, your hair will give you long
years of healthy vitality. Keep this
in mind: if you are good to your
hair, it will be good to you.
by Joanne Joyner
“EUBIE!” is a musical
created in recognition of the
world-famous composer/pian
ist Eubie Blake. The residents
of Greensboro were given the
opportunity to behold this
outstanding display of talent
on October 22 at the Greens
boro Coliseum.
For those of us that are too
young to remember, Eubie
Blake was born in Baltimore,
Md. in 1883. At 17 he became
a professional pianist, and in
1915 he and Noble Sissle
formed a partnership as lyri
cist and composer, later be
coming the well-known vaude
ville team—Sissle and Blake.
Their first show was “Shuffle
Along” which opened in New
York in 1921. Since that open
ing blacks have not been
barred from the Broadway
stage.
During World War II,
Blake toured five years with
the USO. In his more than
75 years as a composer he has
written hundreds of songs
and for the past few years he
has been making frequent ap
pearances on television and
and radio, as well as in movies
and personal appearances at
universities. He now resides
with his wife Marion in Bed
ford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn,
N. Y.
The seven-woman, six-man
cast presented a variety of
music, including jazz, gospel,
ragtime and blues. They per
formed some of his famous
numbers such as “Shuffle
Along,” “I’m Just Wild About
Harry,” and “Low Down
Blues.” They wore very color
ful costumes that were rem
iniscent of the early 20th
century.
The members of the cast
were Susan Beaubian, Chris
Calloway, Tony Franklin,
Jackee Harry, Marva Hicks,
Donna Patrice Ingram, Ber
nard Manners, Robert Melvin,
Francine Claudine Moore,
Keith Rozie, Deborah Lynn
Sharpe, Roderick Spencer Si-
bert, and Vernon Spencer.
The show was a fitting,
dynamic tribute to Eubie
Blake’s rich contribution to
American music.