PAGE TWO
THE BENNETT BANNER
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1986
Be there for Terry Sanford
“I hope the speech doesn’t last too long,” said one student waiting outside
Annie Merner Preiffer Chapel on Founders’ Day.
“Sure hope he’s not going to use little ole Bennett to make a long political
speech,” said another.
The object of this speculation was Democratic senatorial candidate Terry
Sanford who had to compete with the heat and the fatigue following a weekend
crowded with events.
As the breeze rose outside, Sanford brought his own kind of cool to the cere
mony inside. It was a cool inspired by reason, taste and long devotion to public
service. It took the wary by surprise.
The former governor of North Carolina didn’t speak too long nor did he give
a self-serving address. He had too much savvy to impose politics on a religious
atmosphere and to neglect the honor due the founders of this institution.
In fact, he didn’t even mention his candidacy. Instead, Sanford praised the
pioneers of Bennett, stressed the importance of private institutions and urged
the audience to vote for tax-free bonds to support new buildings at private
schools. He left it to President Isaac H. Miller, Jr. to refer to his campaign.
It may be hard for students to overcome their cynicism about politicians and
to feel passionate about a political battle that doesn’t feature a glamorous
candidate. But the truth is that Terry Sanford may well be the finest, most dis
tinguished public figure that North Carolina has ever produced. He deserves our
massive, unswerving support against Reaganite Republican Jim Broyhill.
As former president of Duke University and a roving ambassador for the life
of the mind, Sanford has been a vital force on behalf of higher education in
America. He has also been a lifelong friend to the needs and interests of black
people. As governor, he guided this state smoothly through the turmoil of the
early 60b and became a leader of national renown.
Throughout his career, Sanford, unlike so many leaders, has never played
himself or his constituents cheap. He has been a model of probity and decency.
There are indications that this good man is running behind Broyhill. He needs
our help. Terry Sanford remembered Bennett on Founders’ Day. On election day,
it is incumbent on us to remember him.
Color-blind collaborations make good music
In the real world, blacks and whites may be as distant as ever, but in the
music business, blacks and whites seem to be “walking this way with sound
results.
The collaboration between Run-DMC and the English heavy-metal band
Aerosmith is one of the most recent examples of black and white artists shak
ing hands to the benefit of both. Aerosmith, incidentally, hadn t had a hit in
years until the rap masters decided to record the Brits’ song.
Another surprising collaboration unites the Queen of Soul with one of the
all-time greatest bad-boys of rock-and-roll. Aretha Franklin and Rolling Stones’
lead guitarist Keith Richard have made a new recording of the Stones’ classic
“Jumpin’ Jack Flash.” Then, too, there are duets by Patti LaBelle and Michael
McDonald, Tina Turner and Bryan Adams.
Perhaps the brotherhood and sisterhood that characterized the “We Are
the World” production have continued. Or did the fad begin with Paul McCart
ney’s connections with Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder? At any rate, musi
cians have often been color-blind.
Check out the latest Paul Simon album in which the former member of
Simon and Garfunkel uses the popular music of black South Africans as his
source of inspiration.
We continue tackling tlie tough issues
This college may be small, and it may have its problems, but one of its dif
ficulties is not irrelevancy.
As the recent colloquium on hunger, sponsored by the Bennett Scholars and
their energetic adviser Dr. Marshena Baird, attests, this institution is deeply in
volved in the urgent issues of our time. Experts of national and international im
portance came here to propose ways to relieve what is easily the world’s most
vexing and intolerable dilemma.
Two years ago, the Scholars’ Colloquium focused on the landmark contribu
tions of black women to American culture, a subject long neglected or under
played by the authors of history and sociology texts.
As further proof of our relevance, it might be well for us to give a partial
list of the distinguished guests who have appeared here in recent years. In this
way, we can burst the illusion sometimes held by students that nothing impor
tant happens on this campus. We can also show the college’s ongoing relation
ship with the cultural urgencies of our day.
In the same way that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once spoke in Ajinie Memer
Pfeiffer Chapel, James Baldwin and Jesse Jackson have inspired audiences there.
Some of the leading black female authors of the day have offered illumina
tion to the Bennett family. The roster of distinction includes Margaret Walker
Alexander, Angela Davis, Paula Giddings and Ntozake Shange. In addition, one of
the most promising new novelists of our time, David Bradley, author of “The
Chaneysville Incident,” had his say here a few years back. And long before
nuclear disarmament became a faddish issue in the suburbs, the college hosted
Dr. Ronald E. Santoni, a prime mover in this arena.
This is not to mention the scores of other luminaries in the arts and sciences
who have graced this campus in recent years.
Far from being isolated, Bennett is engaged in a lively dialogue with the world.
Letters critical about teachers, washers, false Belles
To the Editor:
What constitutes a true
teacher? It seems somewhat hy-
procritical how Bennett students
are constantly reminded by teach
ers to be mature, open-minded
and diligent workers. Yet, some
instructors who liberally proclaim
this seem to become amnesiac
when applying these traits to
themselves.
Any person can be a teacher,
but what constitutes a true teach
er? A true teacher is the person
who is humble yet strong in char
acter. A true teacher is that person
who cares whether the slow one
in class is learning and excelling.
A true teacher is like a bridge
constructed of knowledge who
leads her students across her back
to the land of wisdom. A true
teacher is that person who is will
ing to crumple beneath the feet of
her students, allowing them to
form new bridges of knowledge.
Students are not seeking for
“instructors” who complain about
teaching class because they are
tired. We do not want to be chas
tized because our grammar is not
up to par. Be a better teacher and
help our grammar to improve.
Anyone can criticize you, but not
everyone is capable of helping
you. We are not attending class to
have our opinions struck down and
labeled “nonsense.” Let us debate
intelligently and maturely so that
every person can learn. We are
here to receive the knowledge
that teachers possess.
Knowledge is a precious thing.
Those who have it must pass it
on wisely. For what you have to
offer is priceless, but was acquired
only by the grace of God. There
fore, what was hard to obtain,
remember, is easily taken away.
Valencia Lee
To the Editor:
As a student at B'ennett College
and away from home, I am glad
that Bennett does sponsor a
Parents Weekend. The only thing
I did not appreciate is that most
of the weekend I had to spend
most of my time at a laundromat
trying to wash all the clothes I
had in my room. My mother was
not very pleased that she had just
come to Greensboro to wash
clothes all day.
The students understood we
were supposed to have new wash
ing machines this year. They have
not been installed yet. It is already
October and we have been here
almost three months and there are
nn^
Editor Carla Bannister
Associate Editors Shonna Luten, Laura Nelson, Bernice Scott
Columnists Vicky Dunn, Tricia Hairston, Elfrida Mensah
Reporters Tamia Bell, Dee Little, Fredericka Turner
Faculty Advisers Mr. Michael Gaspeny, Dr. Martha Gleaton
With special thanks to Ms. Sallie A. Hayes
Opinions expressed in columns and letters to the editor belong to
their authors, not to the staff of the Banner, whose ideas appear in the
editorials at the top of this page.
Send letters to the editor to Box 2, campus post office. All corres
pondence must bear a handwritten signature and must be acknowledged
by the author. Letters are subject to editing according to newspaper
style and demands of space. No anonymous letters will be published.
only about four working washers
and dryers on this campus for the
whole student body living on
campus.
Also, the price has gone up on
the washers and the clothes come
out dirtier than last year. I have
had a couple articles of clothing
ruined this year in those machines.
It’s time for the students to see
those new washers or we just
might be knee-deep in dirty
clothes by fall break, and there
will really be a “big stink.”
Shonna Luten
To the Editor:
There are true Belles and in
sincere Belles. Which one are you?
There are Belles who ring leader
ship qualities and there are Belles
who ring disaster. These are the
attributes that we see throughout
each day on our campus.
I have noticed, while waiting in
line in the cafeteria or sitting on
the porch of my dorm, and on my
way to class conversations like,
“Look at her, she thinks she’s
cute,” or “I wonder if those are
her real nails?” and “She’s con
ceited.” We should ask ourselves
are the ladies who constantly talk
about each other true Belles? I
say, no. A true Belle is a woman
who doesn’t worry about her
fellow Bennett sister in terms of
what she is wearing on the out
side. A true Belle should concern
herself about what is inside of
her fellow sister. She should be
attentive to whether or not her
sister is learning and practicing
leadership skills. The difference
between a true Belle and insin
cere Belle is that an insincere
Belle cracks without a sound and
the true Belle rings forever.
We as Belles should share close
ness, togetherness and sisterhood.
Let’s start now to become true
Belles.
Yvette Jones
Vote Nov. 4
To troubled teenagers
Show the way
opinion
by Tricia Hairston
As a 21-year-old senior, I
find myself feeling very old
and doubtful about teenagers
today. When I try to explain
myself, I realize that I have
been tuned out and Run-DMC
tuned in. The truth of the
matter is that teens scare me
because I understand that
they think of me as “not
knowing the deal.”
At first I laughed the feel
ing off and just “chilled.” My
next move was to let teen
agers know that I had been
in their shoes and almost wore
the shoes out. This was to
say I knew where they were
coming from. The more I
thought about this, I sensed
a question — did I really know
where they were coming
from?
The average teenager has
been offered marijuana, co
caine, speed and alcohol by
the age of 13. She knows of
someone or has a friend who’s
a mother. Her parents are
divorced, and parental guid
ance is not a 24-hour ritual.
So these are some things I
have to think about before
I offer advice or comment.
The next thought is how it
was when I was a teenager.
At 13, I was a tomboy. If a
boy liked me, I would fight
him. I did not know about
cocaine or speed; I thought
marijuana was a “hippie
thing”; and there was no such
thing as a pregnant friend.
As a matter of fact, my girl
friends and I talked about our
first kiss and giggled for
days. Now the talk is about
who will lose her virginity
first. When I discovered the
opposite sex, boys had to pass
certain requirements such as
having the same music likes
as I and a willingness to dis
cuss “what are you wearing
to school tomorrow?” Now
the popular guys have Adid-
ases, tight Levis and a kid
or one on the way. They must
sport an earring; this is cool.
I have just recently left my
teen years and I was not a
“square.” My friends and I
were into more mischief than
anything. So how do I deal
with these miniature grown
ups ? Lecturing is out. So I try
to divert their attention from
drugs, sex and music to poli
tics, magazines, museums and
manners. This may or may
not work, but I do appeal to
all to help the teenagers.
Let the males know that
manhood is not located below
the navel and the same goes
for females. Inform them of
the positive aspects of ac
quiring good grades and col
lege life. Take them out to see
good movies and take them to
church. Tune them in to “Meet
The Press,” “60 Minutes” and
“20/20.” Discuss the unrea
listic actions of “Miami Vice
and “Dynasty.” Stick to the
basics, though, because teen
agers will only cooperate so
much. I am sure we all re
member the rebellious streak.
If we read between the lines,
they are really crying out for
help because life is moving
too fast for them. They are
going from kids to adults
with no in-between. We need
to become that in-between —
a yield or stop sign. Think
about it. If they grow up too
fast, what will become of
them once they are growm?