INSIDE
GRADUATION ACTIVITIES
• Concert Choir
Annie Merner Pfieffer Chapel
7 PM Friday, May 17
• Baccalaureate
Annie Merner Pfieffer Chapel,
7 PM Saturday, May 18
• Graduation Ceremony
Quadrangle,
11 AM Sunday, May 19
OP-ED: Miss Royal Blue AWhite slighted..,— Page 3
SPORTS: Belles diving into new program Page 6
NEWS & FEATURES: ‘95-96 Bennett events pictured. Page 4
CRITIC'S CORNER: 'Blues' not recommended. Page 8
TIliKB
TT BANN
The Newspaper Produced by the Phenomenal Women of Bennett College
VOL. XVIII NO. 12
May 10,1996
Bennett College Greensboro, NC 27401
Gloved stu
dents use their
hands to a dig
hole in front of
Merner Hall for
a tree as they
participate in
the first
campus-wide
"Project Green
Thumb ‘96"
May 4.
Photo by
Bennett
College Public
Affairs/
Marketing
26 students 'dig in'
to beautify campus
Twenty-six students, along with
members of the Bennett College staff,
became charter members of the annual
Project Green Thumb ‘96, when they
came out to help beautify the campus
May 4.
From 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. the students
showed off their gardening skills, by dig
ging holes, planting, and watering trees and
flowers in front of every dorm.
“At first I thought that it would be some
what boring, but it turned out better than any
of us could possibly imagine,” said Adrienne
Cooper, senior, interdisciplinary studies
major from D.C.
The first tree, a Pin Oak planted in front
of Merner Hall, was dedicated to the memory
of John T. McDonald, the “Carolyn Marshall
Distinguished Professor of Education,” who
died in April.
Project Green Thumb was initiated by
Shirley Spears, chair of the Bennett College
Board of Visitors, and Dorothy White, di
rector of organizational development, with
the assistance of the Student Government
Association, who was responsible for or
ganizing the students.
“You are the pioneers of this project and
you should take pride in what you do,”
Spears said. Spears also donated watering
cans which will remain in each dorm.
Michelle Taylor, SGA president, ex
pressed high hopes for the project and
was satisfied with the outcome.
“It was a beautiful beginning, and I hope
that it continues,” Taylor said. “It will
truly beautify the campus.”
Taylor said that she hopes that the project
will continue with planting at least five
trees a year.
The students were given gardening in
structions from certified arborists from
Bartlette Trees Expert Co. “We extend
many tbanks to Bartlette for the use of
tools, expertise and time,” White said.
White and Mary Stuart, director of
Management Information Services,
worked along side the students. Report
contributed to by Toshanique Paulley
Banner Reporter.
O'Leary, Noble slated as graduation speakers
Vuatte Burton
Banner Editor
The wait is over and graduation is
here.
Graduating seniors have just two re
maining important dates May 18 and 19.
Sunday, May 19, Hazel O’Leary, U.S.
Secretary of State will speak before more
than 100 graduating BeUes and their fami
lies and friends during the 123rd com
mencement exercises.
The program is scheduled to begin at
at 11 ajn. on the campus quadrangle.
O’Leary is an inspiring leader dedi-
catedtofast-forwardpublicpolicy. Under
her leadership, she developed the world’s
first large scale voluntary program to con
trol emissions of greenhouse gases which
contribute to global warming.
She was a primary advisor when Presi
dent Clinton decided to halt nuclear test
ing and under her direction many new
programs to secure nuclear materials have
been initiated.
Immediately following commencement
exercises, a reception for family, friends,
and graduates will be held at the President’s
House, located on Gorrell Street.
Baccalaureate Ceremony
Saturday, May 18 at 7 p.m. graduating
seniors will be inducted into the Bennett
CollegeNational Alumnae Association dur
ing the traditional baccalaureate ceremony
in the Annie Merner Pfieffer Chapel.
Jeanne Noble is the baccalaureate
speaker. She is educator, writer and au
thor of several books about education. A
former national vice-president of the Na
tional Council of Negro Women, Noble is
currently professor of guidance and coun
seling at the graduate school of Brooklyn
College of the City University of New
York.