FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 1985
THE BENNETT BANNER
PAGE THREE
wtmp
Davis is a professional
On break: Media specialist Myra Davis In favorite environment.
(photo by P. Johnson)
by Vicelia Howard
You may know her as that
petite woman with the friend
ly smile and flashing camera,
rushing about as if she had
a million things to do in one
day.
For the past 12 years,
Myra Davis has devoted her
time and efforts to the con
cerns of Bennett College.
Davis is head of the public
relations office. She is also a
Bennett graduate, with a
bachelor of arts degree in his
tory and a master’s in adult
education. Myra is a native
of Charlotte and has been
employed here since her
graduation.
Her job is demanding and
exciting. Myra is responsible
for having full contact with
all areas of the media. She
has to make sure that Ben
nett gets all the publicity it
needs. Her work allows her
to have freedom, which she
feels is one of the strongest
points of the job.
“I’m not behind the desk
Counselor is devoted
by Karen K. Exum
She came a long way from
being a public school teacher
and librarian, and the campus
is glad she undertook the
j ourney.
The calm, soft-spoken
woman has found her niche
as coordinator of the counsel
ing center where she has
helped many Belles with their
problems.
Mrs. Julia Anderson has
logged many miles and done
many jobs. Although her
roots lie in North Carolina,
having grown up in Rocky
Mount and attended Living
stone College in Salisbury,
Anderson has been involved
in education in many states,
including New York, Wiscon
sin, Illinois, Ohio and Arkan
sas. She moved often because
her husband was a Methodist
minister.
The turning point in her
career came when she listened
to her students’ problems
after class and derived satis
faction from helping them.
She knew she wanted to be
a counselor.
She came to Greensboro
when her husband became
the minister of St. Matthew’s
Methodist Church, in whose
basement Bennett College was
founded long ago. She alreadv
thought highly of the school.
“As a young person grow
ing up in the state, I always
had great respect for Bennett
College and what it stood
for,” she says.
Taking a master’s in guid
ance and counseling, she be
gan at Bennett in 1967 in the
co-curricular office and then
became a counselor.
What’s the secret to success
in her field? First, she
doesn’t tell people what to do.
She helps them see they have
the capacity to solve their
own problems.
“I try to help you realize
that things are not as bad as
they seem,” she explains.
Second, she believes suc
cessful counseling depends on
a student’s seeking help vol
untarily. She can’t force her
assistance on the student.
Students’ problems haven’t
changed much since she en
tered the counseling field, but
Anderson feels that students
are better able to work out
solutions due to an increase
in financial aid and support
from the community.
Her biggest difficulty is
changing the image of the
counseling center, which
some people see as an op
tion for only those students
afflicted with psychological
emergencies.
Anderson believes in the
importance of talking. When
she has a problem, she con
sults another counselor or
depends on friends.
Anderson may have come
a long way, but she’s not
resting. Recently, she met
the standards set by the
National Board for Certified
Counselors.
She will continue to make
the campus a healthier, hap
pier environment.
Making much of time . . .
Mason gets tlie maximum
by Valarie Reid
As hard as Mr. Fred Mason
works, you’d think his slim
leisure time would be spent
winding an alarm clock or
buying gasoline instead of
driving a vintage car.
The college organist goes
the extra mile in more ways
than one. Every weekday, he
consumes nearly two hours in
commuting from Durham
where he lives with his wife
and two children. He teaches
four courses, accompanies the
choir during all performances
and studies at UNC-G on
Mondays, preparing for his
doctorate.
Often his days start early
and, after evening choir re
hearsal, end late. Does he
convalesce on the weekends?
Hardly. On Saturdays, he
plays at his Seventh Day Ad
ventist Church and on Sun
days at St. Joseph’s.
Why doesn’t he ever look
tired? Maybe his hobbies re
juvenate him. He loves an
tique cars, deep-sea fishing
and card playing.
The stylish Mason’s appre
ciation of style is reflected in
his 1956 Oldsmobile, which
he drives only on Sunday
afternoons. This summer, he
will take the prized convey
ance to Washington, D. C. for
a meeting of the National
Antique Oldsmobile Club to
which he belongs.
“I want to own a 1950 or
’51 Packard,” Mason says,
energetically pulling out the
Car Spotters’ Encijclopedia
from the music texts on his
desk.
Mason also finds harmony
at the ocean and the card
table.
“I love deep-sea fishing,
and I go to Morehead City or
Carolina Beach when I find
the time, or I fish at lakes
near Durham. I love to play
cards but only Rook . . . Dur
ing the summer, I will play
all day or all night,” he said.
It would seem the present-
tense demands of his schedule
and his attempts to work in
his hobbies would fully occu
py the organist, but, like most
strong achievers, he’s acutely
conscious of the past and
future.
He reached Bennett a long
time before he was ever em
ployed here, attending a hu
manities summer school pro
gram in 1967 and living in
the now-departed Kent Hall.
Back then, he imagined him
self teaching here. The col
lege became a part of his
plan. He’s taught and played
here for four years.
Mason is presently on a
trip to England, France, Ger
many and Switzerland where
he is seeing the organs in the
great cathedrals. Mason also
plans to enter a full-time doc
toral program soon, possibly
this fall.
Perhaps he’ll roll up to the
graduate school in the glim
mering Olds. No matter how
he arrives, he’ll bring dedica
tion and style with him.
all the time. I get a chance to
meet and truly get to know
how the students, faculty and
staff feel about this institu
tion,” said Davis.
Myra spends her work days
meeting deadlines and mak
ing sure that all events on
campus are covered by the
media.
Myra also deals with the
recruiting of new students.
What she finds most frus
trating about her job is that
there just isn’t enough money
to attract the students needed.
“Recruiting students is
very competitive. We don’t
have the budget needed to go
across the country to recruit
students. It’s like comparing
a pencil to a computer; you
are expected to get the same
results,” said Davis.
She got her job by volun
teering. When she was a sen
ior, she would always run
errands for the man in
charge of the publications of
fice. It so happened that he
retired and she was asked to
take the job. Myra feels that
anyone that is going into the
communications field should
prepare herself.
“I think that students
should broaden their knowl
edge by developing their com
munications skills, such as
speaking and writing. One
thing I would like to see is
more journalism classes
taught on campus. The stu
dents need to gain experience
in their field of study. Try to
write for the campus news
paper. Get internships. Take
advantage of the audio-
lingual lab and increase those
typing skills. Learn to work
with deadlines and under
pressure. Because that is
what you deal with in the real
working world,” said Davis.
Davis has faith in her in
stitution and her mission.
“I have enjoyed my experi
ences at Bennett. There is a
lot of talent here and I believe
in this institution. I hope that
others get involved and start
believing, too,” she said.
Seniors compose final testaments
by Kim L. Romeo
The waiting period is becoming
unbearable. Now that the seniors
have received their caps and
gowns, the thought of graduating
is becoming a reality, not a dis
tant goal. While preparing for
finals and confirming appoint
ments for job interviews, a few
seniors found time to pass on
their last wills and testaments to
the sisters they are leaving behind.
“I have two mottoes,” writes
Jackie Williams. “One which I
have changed a little to suit my
needs is taken from a song by
McFaddin and Whitehead called
“Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now.” The
second one is, “Where there’s a
will there’s a way.” With these
thoughts instilled in my mind, I
have been determined to come
this far. Good Luck, Bennett
sisters.”
G. Kathy Brown says: “Being
of sound body and semi-sound
mind I will to Valia, Tanya, Su
zanne and Lynn my love and
dream for Bennett’s future, and
the realization of the education
obtained at a black institution.
To my little sister Sharon I will
my wit, charm, and unfailing
ability to sleep in anyone’s room.”
Senior Alaina Cloud comments,
“Bennett has made me appreciate
being a young black woman. To
the sophomore class, I would like
to leave this personal quote, ‘Be
ambitious and don’t settle for less.’
Don’t just go to class and go to
your room. Be active, participate
in campus activities, and stay on
top of your class. Good luck, little
sisters, for being a wonderful
class.”
Renaissance Man: Fred Mason
has a variety of interests, including
cathedrals and cars.
Be sure to see
Dance Company
Tonya Lynette Horton, graduat
ing with honors, leaves these
words behind: “I, Tonya Lynette
Horton, being of sound mind and
body bequeath to my Bennett sis
ters a sincere wish that each and
every one of you will find the
motivation, zeal, desire, drive and
perseverance to drain every ounce
of knowledge from the Bennett
faculty who strive so hatd to in
still it in us. To my very special
little sisters, Pamela R. Singletary,
Latosaka C. Stevens and Vera L.
Walker, a prayer for success and
happiness in both your endeavors
at Bennett College and in the
world. You are the little sisters I
never had and are three of the
most important reasons why I
will always consider Bennett Col
lege home. I love you. To my
sorors of the Omicron Delta Chap
ter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority,
Inc. a heartfelt desire that you
will keep the ideals of our nation
al founders alive through your
words and deeds.”
Teresa Ann Lipscomb gives ad
vice to the underclasswomen and
her sorors: “All my Bennett sis
ters strive to reach your goal and
don’t stop until you reach the
rainbow. To my sorors of Omicron
Delta, keep the faith and always
remain as one. I love you all!”
Belinda Drayton writes: “For
a word of advice from a woman
who knows what achievement is—
when the roads get long and the
hills are hard to climb, remember
the class of ’85’s motto, ‘We create
our tomorrow by what we dream
today.’ To my Bennett sisters, I
leave behind my wittiness, charm
and loveable personality.”
Art of the dance
is communication
(From page 1)
cles. My time has to be
budgeted because dancing is
hard work.”
Dancing is a form of
communication and a con
firmation of sisterhood for
Roberson.
“I joined the dance com
pany because I needed some
thing to do,” she says. “I en
joy dancing a lot. I have been
dancing since the age of five.
It’s a good way to keep up
and become closer with some
of my fellow Bennett sisters.”
Evans emphasizes the in
terior advantage of dancing.
“Dancing helps to discover
new ways to express your
self,” she says.
The company will tune up
for its campus appearance
with an April 12 performance
for alumnae in Reidsville.