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Friday, April 29, 1988
BENNETT COLLEGE, GREENSBORO, N. C.
Vol. XLIX, No. 5
President’s Ball enjoyed
y
Gala event: Freshman LaVie Totten
operates a game of chance at the
President’s Ball, (photo by Waller)
by Shavaughn Neal
About 200 students attended the
President’s Ball, a festive £ind en
joyable evening at the Blandwood
Carriage House on April 15.
The members of the Kappa
Alpha Psi Fraternity at A&T
State University played host at
a make-believe casino in the base
ment of the Carriage House. The
casino was complete with make-
believe money and almost every
form of gambling for those who
wanted to try their luck.
At the end of the night the
money the gamblers made was
exchanged for lOU’s, which were
used as cash to buy different
articles that were being auctioned
off.
The student pairticipatvon at the
ball was excellent.
Dr. Dorothy Harris, vice presi
dent of student affairs, said, “I
believe at least 70 percent of the
student body participated and
that says to me that the students
were looking forward to an oc
casion to show off their after-5
attire.”
Dr. Harris added, “It was a
very elegant event. The students
were beautiful and their whole
demeanor was that of elegance.
The entertainment, decorations
and casino were excellent. I think
the faculty, staff and students en
joyed it.”
Dr. Charlotte Alston, chairper
son of the humanities division,
said, “There was a real sense of
community there even though it
was a dance. The general demea
nor of the students was excellent.
I think it’s important for stu
dents, faculty and staff to com-
municate on a level other than
academic because it fosters a
wholesome relations'hip.”
Mrs. Elaine M. Harrigan, hos
tess of the President’s Ball, said,
“It is said that ‘Joy comes in the
morning.’ I believe that Joy
comes whenever we open our eyes
and we make an effort to focus
on God’s beauty. I saw so much
beauty Friday at the Bennett
College President’s Ball. Every
one seemed happy! Everyone
looked elegant! Plus, everyone
shared their wealth of joy!” Mrs.
Harrigan adds, “Dr. Gloria Scott
was her usual happy and profes
sional self . . . Her husband like
wise helped to set the tone of
the evening. The atmosphere al
lowed everyone to feel free. The
food and the music also added
to the night out on the town with
our new president.
Students were pleased by the
ball.
Ronita Frieson, a freshman,
said, “It was enjoyable. The music
was nice and the singer was good.
I throughly enjoyed myself.”
Sophomore Kimberly Waller
said, “I was supr-ised about how
many students attended the ball.
It really showed that Dr. Scott
must have some kind of influence
on us.”
Relecia Foushee Martin, a
junior, said, “The President’s Ball
was an enchanting night of ele
gance, fun and games. It was
filled with non-stop music and
action throughout the night.”
Martin adds, “The event was a
remarkable improvement from
the other balls held since I’ve
been here.”
Mia. Wanda WlOliams, head
teacher at the Children’s House,
said, “The President’s Ball was
quite remarkable, I throughly en
joyed the entertainment and
games. Overall, the evening was
delightful.”
Dr. Perry Mack said, “The af
fair was well attended by stu
dents and faculty members. Judg
ing from the active involvement
of all persons in attendance, it
was apparent that the evening
was throughly enjoyed by all. It
was indeed a very colorful and
gala affair.”
Mrs. Naomi Dupree, director of
the Children’s House, summed up
the night by saying, “The Presi
dent’s Ball was a very relaxing
occasion after a hard day’s work.
It is so nice to be a part of such
a lovely family.”
English professor reflects on her career
by Charlcie Pettway
Her long crusade on behalf
of good writing is ending.
Dr. Virginia A. Tucker,
chairperson of the communi
cations department, is leav
ing after 19 years of instruct
ing English classes partly be
cause she is “burned out!”
Her teaching load increased
a great deal the last two
semesters, and her chairper
son’s duties multiplied.
Tucker noted that her temper
has been getting short lately.
“I am not as patient with
my students as I used to be.
When this happens it’s time
to go,” she explains
As always, the welfare of
her students is her top con
sideration.
She first arrived in Greens
boro in 1959. She was the
first person to receive a doc
toral degree in English from
the University of North Caro
lina at Greensboro. Employed
at Bennett in 1964, she left
four years later to gain her
doctorate and returned in
1973.
The emotional professor
flashes back to her early Ben
nett experiences. “When Dr.
Willa B. Player was still pre
sident here, you couldn’t go
into the administration build
ing without heels and hose,”
states Tucker. She adds, “Cur
fews were a whole lot stricter
than now. But times were
changing.” When Tucker re
turned, students were more
active and outspoken.
“Every other day it seemed
as if the students were either
marching on the president’s
lawn or protesting about some
rules,” says Tucker.
Tucker spoke of the changes
that have taken place in her
department. “When I came to
Bennett, we had a strong
department. Then it declined.
However, now English is one
of the biggest majors of
fered,” she says and smiles.
With tears in her eyes, she
speaks about Bennett’s pur
pose.
“Bennett services a real
need. Women’s colleges are
necessary for women to find
themselves. They tend not to
want to contend with males.
With all women, there seems
to be more competition.”
Although Tucker will not
teach full-time again, she will
be far from bored. She plans
to travel the first part of the
summer and get her house
in order.
“I have been working on
several books. I’ll get a
chance to finish and help my
husband with his antique
business,” states Tucker.
What image would she like
to leave with the Bennett
family? Tucker softly states,
“I would hke to be remem
bered as a teacher that made
a difference in somebody’s
life. Everything else is tem
porary. God forbid: Bennett
could fall today or tomorow,
but lives and generations go
on forever.”
Tucker will be missed by
students in all her classes.
“I am glad she waited until
after I graduated to leave,”
says Robin Howell, senior
from W ashington, D.C.
Howell added, “Without her
I don’t think I would have
made it.”
“It’s going to be a great
loss,” responds sophomore
Glen Smith from Fort Lau
derdale, Fla. She continues,
“She puts a lot of time in
helping her students. She
is the type of teacher that
really helps. Not many teach
ers on campus do this.”
Her colleagues also regret
Tucker’s departure.
Dr. Martha Gleaton, as
sistant professor of English,
states, “In the three years
that Dr. Tucker has chaired
our department, we have
asked her to be not only our
able leader, but also our
mother, magician, sage and
friend. She has never once
disappointed us. No wonder
she’s tired.”
Mr. Michael Gaspeny, as
sistant professor of English,
says, “I’ve taught at five dif
ferent schools over a period
of 15 years, and Dr. Tucker
is the best teacher and the
finest human being I’ve met.”
Gladly did she teach: Dr. Virginia
A. Tucker, chairperson o( the com
munications department, is retiring
alter 19 years of energetic instruc
tion. Former adviser to this paper,
she has helped thousands of Belles,
(photo by Waller)
Marshall elected SGA president
by Crystal Sadler
A rising junior has won the
position of SGA President for
the second time in four years.
On April 7, Kathryn Lynne
Marshall of Charlotte was
elected over rising seniors
Tracy Caldwell from Colum
bia, S.C. and Tracy Lett from
Indianapolis, Ind. The last
junior to be the SGA Presi
dent was Karen Renee “Pop
corn” Taylor who held office
in 1985-86.
Emily Rogers of Riyadh,
Saudi Arabia captured the
SGA Vice President position
over rising seniors Dejureia
Walker of Charleston, S.C.
and Vicki Wilkins of Cincin
nati, Ohio.
Two Greensboro natives ran
unopposed in the races for re
cording secretary and cor
responding secretary. Sha-
vaughn Neal, a rising junior
is the next recording secre
tary, and Taundra Woodard,
also a rising junior is the
corresponding secretary for
next year.
Also running unopposed for
the position of Miss Bennett
was Sonja Hendrix, a rising
senior from Cincinnati, Ohio.
Since there was no runner-up
to Miss Bennett, a special
election will be held to select
a Miss Royal Blue and White,
first attendant to Miss Ben
nett.
Kelly Holland, a rising
senior from Columbus, Ohio,
will hold the SGA treasurer’s
position after winning over
Sabrina Williams, a rising
junior from Orange, N.J.
The Student Union Board
(SUB) elections were also
held and TuJuan Wood, a ris
ing junior from Washington,
D.C., was chosen president,
beating two rising sophomores
—Kimberly Grant of Sum-
mersville, N.J., and Cynthia
Washington of Washington,
D.C. Beverly James, a rising
sophomore from Brooklyn,
N.Y., won SUB vice president
over Angela Samuel, a rising
junior from Winston-Salem.
Tauye Simmons, a rising
junior from Washington,
D.C., ran unopposed for secre
tary of the SUB. Rising soph
omore Melissa Rivers of
Rochester, N.Y., won trea
surer over Liane Bennett of
New Haven, Conn.
Students selected rising
junior Sonja Foster from
Reidsville as president of the
Inter-Residence Council. The
treasurer seat was the only
other Inter-Residence council
position with a candidate.
Lynette Perry, a rising soph
omore from Durham, ran un
opposed.
The elections were not
without controversy. Many
students petitioned for a re
count of votes or a new elec
tion. Some students felt that
the ballots may have been
tampered with during the
counting. Others felt that
people voted twice and that
the candidatas acted in an
unsportsmanlike manner dur
ing the speeches. Many of the
offices did not have candi
dates; others only had one.
Dr. Dorothy J. Harris,
dean of student affairs, said
that there would not be an
other election.
A touch of class: (left to right)
Freshmen Terry Vincent, Michelle
Cheney and Terrilynne Jenkins
brought elegance to the President’s
Ball, an occasion deemed a grand
success, (photo by Waller)