PAGE TWO
THE BENNETT BANNER
FRIDAY, JANUARY 28, 1983
A.C.S.’s threats
The David D. Jones Service of Remembrance was the most successful event
held in many months. The attendance of the students was outstanding.
In the past, a lethargic attitude has been shown towards almost all ACES
programs. There have been many changes in the program including its name.
The name of the program is now the Academic Cultural Series with the En
riched dropped from the title. The program has also become stricter with a
new set of rules.
A list of rules and regulations was sent to each student to explain the
changes in the program. Are these changes really just changes or threats in dis
guise? Whatever they are, the purpose of increasing attendance has been
accomplished by them.
A student whose attendance is unsatisfactory may suffer these penalties:
1. Academic honors may not be received; 2. Campus based scholarships will be
denied for the remaining semesters a student attends Bennett; 3. Parents will
receive letters informing them of their child’s lack of participation; 4. Students
will not be able to join a sorority; 5. Students will not be able to represent the
college in any way.
ThesQ restrictions are leaving students with the choice of either attending
cultural programs or giving up all the major privileges of college. Out of 18
functions held, 75% must be attended. Attendance is being recorded by the col
lection of IBM cards with each student’s name printed at the top along with the
name of the function.
The sluggish participation in the past has led members of the faculty and
administration to use “threat” tactics to improve attendance. It is a pity that
a college with such an extensive background in tradition has to stoop to force
to get students interested in culture. Does using these methods reflect on the
breed of women here now? These methods do not reflect on the types of pro
grams offered because most of the programs would stimulate interest if given
a chance.
Complaints of boredom are heard everyday, and ACS programs are a def
inite alternative to sitting in residence halls. Activities should be utilized and
enjoyed instead of ignored. With the new rules for attending ACS programs,
the activities will be utilized but probably not enjoyed that much because of the
resentment shown in following these rules. Regardless of this resentment, there
will probably be someone who will find a way to avoid participating ii the
slightest slip-up is made by the faculty in enforcing the rules.
The Belles would be advised to make the best of an irreversible situation. A
positive attitude will only make the surrender a little more pleasant!
(Yolanda T. DuRant)
Bury gossip now
In March 1976, the senior class buried a young woman who was strickened
with a very sickening and contagious disease. This disease caused deception and
hatred. Many Belles worshipped her; some did not. Nevertheless, her spirit is
not at rest.
She is still here haunting her familiar surroundings. She has visited and is
still visiting each and every dormitory, leaving tears humiliation and broken
friendships. She has even caused many of our Belles to depart. When the senior
class closed her casket for the last time, they felt we were rid of her. Little
did they know that she would come back more evil and powerful than she had
ever been.
She continues to possess our souls with lies and deception. She has even
gone as far as to having our Belles sit down and think of evil rumors to start
on fellow sisters. This evil, demoralizing spirit should be promptly sent back
to her proper place—the grave.
We, the Belles, should exorcise “Miss Vicious Gossip” and remand her to
her resting place beside the bell where she can rest in peace throughout eternity.
(Lisa Murray)
Letters to tlie editor:
" Tl«r ALSO seRvf Who oNlY sit AMd
wait in VAIM Foft {AOKEM APPe/HTMtKTS. ^
King event lauded, morals, cuts questioned
Editor:
I would like to commend the
students who presented the beau
tiful and affecting program in
memory of Dr. Martin Luther
King in the chapel on Jan. 13.
From the opening words
through Miss Witherspoon’s solo
and Miss Johnson’s memorable
speech to the singing, of “We Shall
Overcome,” the program involved
the audience completely.
It should also be noted that this
was accomplished in under 40
minutes. These students seem to
have learned what the poets have
always known, that maximum
emotional impact is achieved by
brevity and concentration.
Virginia A. Tucker
Professor of English
T7le Fennell nnet
Editor-in-chief Yolanda DuRant
Associate editor Leslie Barr
Adviser Michael Gaspeny
Cartoonist Norman Barbee
Photographers Theresa Roy, Lisa Harris
Reporters
Sharon Allen
Victoria Douglas
Dee Evans
Sheila Foxworth
Leslie Hendricks
Deborah Lewis
Theresa Lipscomb
Melinda Lowery
Kimberly McKnight
Lisa Murray
Tracye Payne
Valarie Reid
Cynthia Spruill
Rhonda Whitted
Connie Williams
Editor:
As stated in the 1981-83 Ben
nett College catalog, “If students
are to realize their full potential
as educated persons and contrib
ute to society to their maximum
capacities, their training at the
undergraduate level must be thor
ough and must provide the oppor
tunity to develop a value system
and philosophy around which they
can organize their lives.”
I happen to agree with this
statement and also feel that Ben
nett is committed to this plan.
As a member of the Bennett
family, I have observed some
rather disturbing actions of my
peers, such as the unstable male-
female relationships, and the use
and abuse of drugs.
Ladies, please realize that the
habits you form here now will
follow you for life. The freedom
you’ve gained by attending college
is to be used constructively. If you
must indulge in the use of drugs,
then indulge discreetly. If drugs
hinder your productivity as a stu
dent and or individual, then evi
dently they (drugs) are doing you
more harm than good.
If you feel you must have rela
tionships with men, let those re
lationships be respectful and
worth your while. Let there be a
future in everything you do. The
“one-night stand” is just that, a
“one-night stand.” Is there any
future in that?
For those of you who do not fit
into these categories, I’ll give
credit where credit is due. But for
the majority of those who don’t,
please take heed to my advice.
I am a married adult and
mother, which may or may not
mean anything to you, but my
present lifestyle affords me much
of the insight that yours does not.
I don’t condone your actions, but
I’m not pleased with you as my
peers. What you do affects me too.
How? I’m a member of this col
lege, and what goes on here affects
me too.
Perhaps you feel I’m old-fash
ioned; maybe I am, but the old-
fashioned way of living/thinking
is much better for your character
than this “fly by night” way of
living some of you have chosen.
Life is a slow process; a process
that takes a lot of hard work, wis
dom and a commitment to being
the best that you can possibly be.
All I ask is that you think about
what I’ve said.
A Bennett Sister
who cares,
Fannie Eleby
Editor:
Many students, who are fortu
nate enough to go home for
Thanksgiving and spring breaks,
are not so fortunate when they
return and are faced with the
possibility of being dropped from
a class because of over-cuts.
The administration should be
aware of the rising cost of plane
fare and even bus fare has risen
preposterously. Therefore, the
double-cut system should be non
existent. Students are getting
home the best way they can and
leaving at a time convenient for
whomever they are riding home
with. Because the students do not
have the alternative of staying on
campus during these breaks, it is
a must that some of us g,o home.
The only way that a student is
excused from her classes, for
leaving early, is when her parents
phone to verify this excuse. Many
students say when their parents
do phone Bennett, they are put
on hold for several minutes.
Of course, I am aware that are
some students who will take ad
vantage of the opportunity to
leave early if double cuts were
voided, but we pay for our edu
cation, and if we want to short
change ourselves, then as respon
sible adults we should be given
the opportunity to learn self-
discipline. I am not arguing
against the cut system, only dou
ble cuts before vacations.
I am sure that if the adminis
tration were to put their heads
together they could come up with
an alternative to the distressing
double cuts.
Deborah Lewis