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Friday, October 13, 1989
BENNETT COLLEGE, GREENSBORO, N. 0.
VoL XLXI, No. 1
*‘When I go in^ I go in to work”
Prof seeks win
by Yvette N. Freeman
Dr. Alma Adams is once
again on the campaign trail.
This time, she’s running for
re-election to the Greensboro
City Council.
Adams was elected to the
council in 1987, and says, “I
feel good about the election,
and I feel good about the
service I rendered this first
term.”
Over the past two years,
she has learned much about
how the city government
operates.
“Overall, I think the pro
cess is basically designed to
solicit the input from the
citizens to help the elected
officials make the appropriate
decisions for the community,”
she stated.
Adams feels that Greens
boro has “an unusually high
rate of citizen participation
in city government” and says
that “citizens should become
more involved” in the jwlitical
process. She explains that
citizens often do not inform
their elected officials of any
problems they feel should be
handled, yet expect them to
make decisions to solve the
problems.
Adams says, “I don’t think
you should totally rely on
those persons (elected offi
cials) to make the decisions.”
During Adams’ first term,
the council passed several
bond referendums. A referen
dum was passed to refurbish
the neighborhoods on Greens
boro’s east side, which include
Best Street, Bingham Street,
Phillips Avenue, Julian Street
and other areas considered
to be high in crime and drug
trafficking.
Adams says the council also
passed a bond referendum for
low and moderate housing, yet
she doesn’t feel that it is
enough.
“We have done some things
in housing but we haven’t
done as much as we would
have liked,” she said.
Adams also stated that
“I’ve tried to pay particular
attention to happenings in
District 2,” which she repre
sents. However, she adds that
council members are often cri
ticized for wanting to up
grade and improve their
particular districts. Adams
argues that, “when certain
areas of our city are streng
thened and brought up to par
with other areas of the city,
that strengthens the entire
city.”
One success story that
Adams is very proud of is
that of the new library on
Phillips Ave. According to
Adams, the citizens in that
area had been trying to get
the city to open a library in
their neighborhood for several
years but were never success
ful. As a result of the citizens’
persistence, they now have
the “largest library in the
city,” says Adams.
Although her first term
seems to be marked vdth suc
cess, the problem of public
transportation still brothers
Adams. She says, “We have
not made adequate provisions
for the public transportation
system.” What she would like
to see are better buses, ex
tended hours and an improved
routing system. The council
has continually discussed im
proving the public transpor
tation system, but it has yet
to implement a plan, accord
ing to Adams. “I think
that they (citizens) deserve
better,” she remarked.
In addition to trying to
solve the housing, neighbor
hood refurbishment, and
transportation problems, the
city council has also been
working to improve business
and economic opportunities
for minorities. Adams states
that the group has been striv
ing to “guarantee some equity
of distribution of funds” to
minority businesses. This
would consist of business con
tracts and federal money, ac
cording to Adams. She adds
that “some districts have
never received equitable a-
mounts of money.”
“The primary issue with
me is that city government is
accountable to all citizens re
gardless of their income, re
gardless of their race, regard
less of where they live,”
states Adams.
Beyond the Greensboro
City Council, Adams admits
that she has other political
aspirations. She says, “I
would like to eventually serve
on the state level. North
Carohna does not have a
black congressperson. I think
there’s something wrong with
that.”
Adams also says that she
sometimes “jokingly” talks of
being mayor. “I don’t see why
this city could not have a
black mayor,” she stated, add
ing that she’s not saying it
should be she.
However, whatever position
Adams is in, she says, “When
I go in, I go in to work.”
The election for the Greens
boro City Council will take
place Nov. 7.
Reelection campaign: Dr. Alma
Adams, chairperson of the visual
arts and humane studies depart
ment, is striving to return to Greens
boro City Council, (photo by Yvette
N. Freeman)
Writer to receive degree
Phenomenal woman visits
by Rehan Overton
The celebrated author and
Pulitzer Prize nominee, Maya
Angelou, will be the recipient
of a honorary doctoral degree
at this year’s Founders’ Day
Convocation Oct. 15.
Angelou, one of the most
acclaimed African-American
women in the literary field,
will be the special guest at
the ceremony to be held in
Annie Merner Pfeiffer Chapel.
By receiving an honorary
doctorate, Angelou will be
come an official Bennett Belle
and alumna.
President Gloria Scott had
this to say about Angelou’s
visit and induction into
the Bennett sisterhood: “I
would hope that they (stu
dents) will retain this as a
very important moment in the
life of Bennett, where Ms.
Angelou has chosen to bond
with Bennett and be identified
with Bennett and be suppor
tive of Bennett, so that she
can represent ... all the Ben
nett Belles.”
Students are eagerly anti
cipating Angelou’s visit
“This is the first time that
I can really say that I look
forward to attending Found
ers’ Convocation,” says senior
Iris Becton. “Maya Angelou
is someone we all can relate
to simply because she is a
black woman who has over
come many of life’s traged
ies. She is someone to be res
pected.”
Although Angelou will not
be speaking at any scheduled
events or lectures during
Founders’ Weekend, Dr. Scott
stated that students should
expect a return visit from
Angelou during which she
will instruct classes as a visit
ing professor.
Volleyballers have zip
by Erica Salter
The Belles are back once
again for the 1989 volleyball
season.
The new season brings with
it some major changes. The
team now plays in the NCAA
Division III, which means
more competitive opponents,
such as A&T, UNCG and
Winston-Salem State Univer
sity. The Belles have won
only once, but they are im
proving.
Each member had to pass
a drug test issued by the
NCAA to play this year.
Veteran players include:
senior Kim Howard and
juniors Yvette Williams and
Candra Ruffin. These players
are vital because they know
one another’s moves.
The newcomers to the team
are Karen Weaver, Catrena
Jordan, Marj Scarborough,
Kemyatta Vincent, Zandra
Allen, Lynette Perry, Shawn
Griffith, Inez Ttiplin and
Karen Warren.
Ms. Joyce Spruill has re
turned as coach this year.
Spruill was the coach of the
girls’ volleyball and basket
ball teams at A&T before ac
cepting the position at Ben
nett last year. Spruill has also
assumed the role of physical
education teacher.
“She is a motivator,” said
Catrena Jordan. “There is no
way you can play a sport for
Coach Spruill and not be en
thused.”
Zandra Allen agrees,
stating, “Coach Spruill is
thorough. She wants the
team to be good whether they
win or lose.”
According to Marj Scar
borough, “She helps each
player realize the importance
God plays in the advancement
of athletes.”
Zandra Allen and Catrena
Jordan feel that contributing
all they can to the team is
vital to their success. Scar
borough adds that, “com
munication is the key.”
Kim Howard says, “The
potential is there; time is im
portant.” (]^trena Jordan
states that, “the team is
strong, bui: young. People
have high expectations, but
must understand that teams
such as A&T and UNCG are
more organized. Next year
we’ll be boomin’.”
Reacting to the criticism
of the team’s record by some
students, Howard says, “My
fellow Bennett sisters, you
knew when tryouts were. If
you can’t help us, don’t hurt
us.”
Overall, the team has a
vdnning spirit and great atti
tude.
Students develop interest
about African heritage
by Erica Salter
The Bennett (College Afri
can Awareness Assembly is
now an active organization on
campus.
The new organization
(AAA) intends to increase
students’ awareness of Afri
can and African-American
history, thoughts, culture and
ideas. According to the
group’s constitution, its pur
pose is to assemble students
who want to “remember the
humanity, glory and suffering
of our ancestors” and also
“provide new direction for
our people” and “to promote
the element of change and
new ideas inherent to Afri-
centrism.”
“Developing an understand
ing and appreciation of the
cultural heritage of African-
Americans and instilling
within students a sense of
pride in their heritage, serve
as purposes, also, as stated in
the constitution.
Sophomore Ureka Wash
ington, president, and author
of the group’s constitution
said she wants the assembly
to become an effectual and
positive force on and off cam
pus.
She states, that this goal
will be implemented through
participation in activities such
as an African Fashion show,
the Anti-Columbus rally,
Kwanza (African Christmas)
and a naming ceremony where
each member is given her
own African name.
Members of AAA show an
interest in African history
and the impact it has on the
present and future.
They also pledged “to cul
tivate self-reliance, have dis
cipline, patience, devotion,
courage and to be free and
self-determining.”
The group meets every
other Thursday and will be
working vdth A&T’s History
Ch’b. It will use the book
“Black Students Guide To
Positive Education.” Dr.
Jacqui Wade is the advisor.
Focus on Africa: Sophomore Ureka
Washington Is heading a new group
whose purpose is to foster a con
cern for Africa. Known as an ex
ceptional poet, Washington, presi
dent of the AAA, Is also author
of the organization's constitution,
(photo by Yvette N. Freeman)