Newspapers / Bennett College Student Newspaper / Nov. 16, 1990, edition 1 / Page 3
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Friday, November 16, 1990 THE BENNETT BANNER PAGE THREE Art exhibition delineates our past Choir’s future is bright a review by Olivia M. Rowe The portion of Barnett- Aden African-American Art Collection displayed in Hol- gate Library during October recaptures the history, cul ture and lifestyle of black women, from decades gone but not forgotten. Bennett showed 30 paint ings from the collection for a special exhibit to comme morate Founders’ Day. The presentation contained works by William Johnson, John Biggers, Elizabeth Catlett, Ellis Wilson and Laura Wheel ing Waring. The pencil on board by John Biggers titled “Share croppers” depicts a couple who appear to be returning from a hard day of work. The woman is holding a basket in her arm; she is pointing at the man’s shoe which has the front half cut out; he is walking with a stick: his back is slightly bent with a bag thrown over his shoulder. Their bags probably contain some of the crops they have been working in the field. Their conversation appears to be about his foot. Perhaps she is warning him that he should take care of his foot, but one gets the feeling that he will continue to go about his way regardless of the pain the foot causes. Both figures exude strength and dedication to their roles they have to play as well as a feeling of contentment. Candra Ruffin, a senior, said, “I hate to be negative, but none of these women are happy. They are all com placent.” There were true strength by Kimberly Harper The banning of the 2-Live- Crew’s “As Nasty As They Wanna Be” album has caused controversy throughout the nation. A recent survey of 50 Belles showed they had plenty to say about 2-Live-Crew. The group was given na tional attention when one member was arrested on ob scenity charges and the album was banned in several locali ties. The group was accused of making explicit references to sex and using abundant profanity. When the 50 Belles were asked how they felt about the media’s handling of the album, 93 percent said the media helped to promote the album. Pam McCoy, a senior, said, “the first time I ever heard anything from the album was on The Donahue Show.” Shawn Mussington, a sop homore, stated, “No one knew about the explicit lyrics ex cept the few that bought the album. The media blew the situation out of proportion and people rushed to buy the album — It’s like forbidden fruit: if you tell people they can’t have something, they run out and buy it.” However, Belles did not rush to buy the “forbidden fruit.” Only 17 percent of the students polled boug'ht the album. Most of the buyers refused to be quoted in this story. One student requesting anony mity said she bought the album because she wanted, “to see what all the hype was about.” Sophomore Jennifer Ran- sone, whose 15-year-old broth- and stature in the portrait by Laura Wheeling Waring of Naomi Barnett Aden. Aden’s pose allowed one to see that she was a woman who was held in high esteem. She was a member of the upper class of blacks. Her face reflects pride in her identity as a black woman. Lisa Moore, a freshman, said, “The show was enlight ening and I loved the brightly colored painting of the New Orleans street scene which made me feel happy seeing the women happy on the painting.” Dr. Amy Reynolds, a pro fessor of education, said, “The show captured the rea lity of the black experience and as I looked at the exhibit, it brought to mind what many black writers have written.” Jones’ candid tale has strong ending (from page 2) read it but have no doubt it too is powerful. The tone of this book is frank and candid about everything — not for the sensitive or soft-hearted. Don’t get me wrong. There is nothing trashy about this novel; it is just very real and explicit in its descriptive narration. The climax or aentral point of this book stems from one main act. Jones incorporates suspense so as not to reveal the facts too easily; so read carefully. Don’t pass this one up and find out how Eva gets her MAN!! er owns the album, said, “I feel most of the songs are degrading to the image of the black woman. I feel the black community should boy cott the album, but it should not be banned.” Alima Easier Bey, a junior, said, “Some of the lyrics are just too nasty for me although I would buy the single, ‘Me So Homy.’ ” Forty-seven percent of the respondents had never heard the album. Fifty-three per cent had heard at least one song off of the album. Does freedom of speech give an American limitless power? Do musicians have a certain moral code to uphold? Who is qualified to say what is and is not morally correct? One Belle who requested anonymity answered, “The government is obligated to uphold certain moral stand ards and that’s why the album should be banned.” Ernestine Scott, a sopho more, disagreed, saying; “No one is in the position to in flict their moral standards on the whole nation. I don’t like 2-Live-Crew’s music, but I’ll fight for their right to sing it.” The Belles did feel the banning was racially moti vated. Eighty-seven percent believe the banning was a direct attack on black music, especially rap. One student said that she felt “Rap never became a problem until white children started listening to it.” Undoubtedly this issue is one we will hear of again. Kim Urquhart, a junior, said, “The album should be named ‘As Stupid As They Want To Be.’ But being stupid is an American right.” by Brooke Walker The Bennett College Choir has a brand new face and is looking forward to a very productive year. For starters, the BCC is under the tutelage of new director Mr. John W. McLean Jr. McLean is a North Caro lina native who received his undergraduate degree in trumpet and voice at Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa. He went on to receive his master’s in voice and conduct ing at the University of Texas at Austin. Before coming to Bennett, he served as the director of the Young Musicians Program Conservatory for gifted underprivileged minorities at the University of California at Berkeley. He then worked in Washington D.C. and that was when he heard of a job at Bennett. Fashion by Jacqueline Davis Fashions of the ’90s are descended from the three previous decades. They re peat earlier styles, but their prices have escalated. Some of the duplicate fashions are the mini-skirt, bell-bottom pants and ankle-high, knee- high, and thigh-high Iwots. Students realize fashions are recycled. “As I look at old photo graphs of my family, I see the hairstyles, the mini-dres ses and skirts, the multi colors, the bell-bottoms, then called elephant legs and shoes. I notice that designers just add color or change the name, but everything is stOl the same. So when my children become teenagers, the fads of my day will be what is in then,” said Tracy Sheard, a sophomore majoring in poli tical science. by Elizabeth Richardson The basketball team is getting off to a slow start this year vnth only a few obligated players. In early November prac tices, one could find anywhere from three to 13 participants. “We are trying to get enough players that are com- jnitted to the team,” said Coach Joyce Spruill as she stressed the word “com mitted.” Since 1982, the Belles have continually improved in every aspect of their game and are now preparing for their tough est schedule ever. They will He felt the job was “a major opportunity to work at a major black institution.” McLean’s ambition for the year is “to establish the choir as an outstanding musical en semble and to build the choir in size and sound.” McLean also stresses the development of the voice and the exposure of the choir to musical reper toires of all kinds, including classical, jazz, and, of course, gospel. One of the main things McLean wants to do this year is to reestablish the Bennett College Quartet. McLean com ments, “The Quartet is a tradition comprised of out standing students who re present the college on special occasions and is very essen tial to the exposure of Bennett College.” Also this year, the choir is going on a tour during As in clothes, so in hair styles, according to Kimberly Harper, a sophomore broad cast communications major. “In 1960, my mom had a ‘mushroom,’ which is quite similar to the present day Chinese bob. We even see a resurgence of the natural hairdo on women, for exam ple, the fade. There is also traces of an Afro coming back. Like somebody famous once said, ‘There’s nothing new under the sun.’ I guess they were right,” she said. AlbreanWordsworth, who is studying fashion merchandis ing, feels some fads never go too far away. “Some fads can have rebirth and become classics. A re birth means that it has come bac,k to the fashion scene after its past cycle and has been redesigned in a more moderate form. A perfect be playing their first game of the season Nov. 27 against Methodist College whom they have lost to twice in the past When asked to describe the team so far this year, second- year player Celena Edwards said, “Even though we are few, we are very dedicated and willing to go that extra mile.” Going that extra mile is something that the team agrees on. Hard work is not foreign to these young lad ies, according to first-year players Karen Tillery and April Rhodes. “Even though we work real hard in practice, running two hours straight nonstop, sweaty and tongue spring break which will take them to Charleston, S.C., Savannah, Ga., Atlanta, Huntsville, Ala., Birmingham, Ala. and New Orleans. McLean says the purpose of the BCC is “to represent one of the outstanding black schools in the nation.” Equally important, McLean added, is the opportunity for stu dents to express themselves through music. The choir recently elected officers and they are: Sonja Horne, president; Constance Grady, vice-president; Vero nica Holt, secretary; Pam K i 11 r e 11, parliamentarian; Macea White, chaplain ; Patrice Holt and Kelly Knif- fley, librarians and Kim Urquhart, wardrobe mistress. It’s not too late to join, though. Auditions will be held at the end of the first semester. example would be the bell- bottom pants. The bell-bottom pants in the 1970s were con sidered radical, outlandish, and non-conservative. In the latter 1980s and early 1990s, they are most appropriate for the corporate sector, for evening wear or for your everyday sportswear,” Wordsworth explains. We pay dearly for such rebirths, according to Mrs. Queen H. Bell, associate pro fessor of home economics and family life education. “We have fashions that re peat themselves. The straight skirt with the four dots in the front and back; the skirts are five times as expensive, $78. Twenty years ago, they were $10. TTie cost of clothing is exceptionally high now. Anyone who has skills in sew ing should be grateful. If you have skills in sewing, you can go into business,” Bell said. hanging out, it doesn’t bother us because that is where our heart is,” said the newcom ers, who are sophomores. As of Nov. 7, the squad also included veterans Artlisa Alston, Hyler Jones, Erica Salter and Pam Warner and first-year players Endora Johnson, Lavonne Reddick, Kisheena Wanzer. Lynette Perry will serve as manager while Karen Weaver wiU work as statistician. As Coach Spruill looks for more commitment, the team is looking for more wins and hopefully this season will pro vide both. Album defended Volleyballers show verve by Lacy Pugh Team unity and pride brought on more success for this year’s volleyball team than ever before. Compared to last season’s team, the Belles this season practiced even harder and worked together consistently, which allowed them to reach a remarkable record of 13-14. “Overall, the team did ex cellent this year although we only had three returning players from last year’s team,” explains Coach Joyce Spruill. “Our team was ^so young as far as experience goes. Team unity and spirit played an even bigger role than the last two years.” Two major triumphs that the Belles accomplished this year were winning a game over their arch-rival team A&T as well as a match against Winston-Salem State. Next year’s team will miss the efforts of captain Yvette Williams, a senior from Indianapolis, Ind. and co captain Candra Ruffin, a senior from Kansas City, Mo. Returning players include freshmen Zaria Davis and Sharon Bronson from Cincin nati ; Gay Morris from Houston; Kisheena Wanzer from Gaithersburg, Md.; sophomore Shawn Mussington from Greensboro; juniors Michelle Dumay from Ingle wood, Calif.; Bronetta Walker from Nassau, Bahamas and co-captain Karen Weaver from Durham. Due to the Belles’ record this year, Coach Spruill has a very optimistic outlook on next year’s team. “We should improve even more than before based on the playing experience this year,” says Spruill. If team unity and positivity continue to play a major role for the Belle’s ’91 volleyball team, success will once again be underway. Net team needs numbers offers deja vu
Bennett College Student Newspaper
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Nov. 16, 1990, edition 1
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