tahh tm "InfercoLie^i^^ Phone-a-thon nets $50,000 in pledges Q^t5bQlA -*0* X BY LASHAINNNA CAMPBELL Co-Editor The annual phone-a-thon, which took place Feb. 11 through 14 raised $50,000 in pledges from alumnae. This year's bad press and nega tivity about Bermett inspired the ahimnae to wotk even harder by sponsoring a phone-a-thon two m(Miths earlier than the usual ^nil schedule. A local fund-raiser, the phone-a-th«i targeted alumnae liv ing in Nath Carolina. “We knew that Bennett had a financial need,” said Sandra Walker, director of Alumnae Af fairs. "Local alumnae pushed for a phrai-a-thon for N.C. alumnae and we wanted to increase the cash flow for operational expenses." The phon-a-thon pledges will go towi^ the national alumnae goal of $500,000, more than double the annual phone-at-thon usual $200,000. Local alumnae gave support for the phon-athon. Gladys S. Robinson class of 71 and director of The Sickle Cell Anemia Foun dation allowed the volunteers to use office space to make die phone calls. INSIDE Tins ISSUE Bellespeak Page 2.... Belles talk about inter collegiate sports at Bennett. News & Features Page 3 Yearbook dilemma? Take both! Critic's Comer Page 4.... Banner reviewer gives three bells for Brandy's Full Moon CD. THE Bennett Banner VOL. XXIII MO. 9 APRIL S, 2002 B«nn«tt CoiUfls Or»»ii»boro, NO 27401 Jjntmducing^ the £hn^ Smi Stephanie Brown Miss Ebony Soul 02-03 Stephanie Brown, a sophomore mass communications majcff was named Miss Ebony Soul during the first Ebony Soul pageant Thepageantandtitle.formCTly calledNubian Nuance, took place April 2. Stephanie Brown, a native of the Virgin Islands, is first Belle to hold the new title. As the new Miss Ebony Soul, StejAanie Brown will assume the duties of Latonya Brown, the Miss Nubian Nuance 2001-02. Latonya Brown, a senior from Fayetteville, N.C. is also a mass communications majw. Stephanie Brown competed against Carmel Smith, a junior Arts Management major from Elizabethtown, N.C. Smith sang during the talent porticm of the competitiwi, and Brown danced. Photo by Takesha Briggins, Banner Photographer and Reporter. ' Board approves 6 percent tuition hike BY LASHAINNNA CAMPBELL Co-Editor It's going to cost more to attend Bennett. Beginning next frill students will pay 6 percent more for tuition and fees, making $15,669 the cost for a full-time student The increase was unamionously approved during the Board of Trustee’s October meeting. "I proposed a possible 5,6, or 7 percent increase to the P.oard of Trustees finance committee," said Louise Farmer, Vice President for Fiscal Affairs. "After taking into consideration the rising cost of living and the ecoiomic situations of students we [finance committee] decided thata 6 pCTcent increase was sufficient" Farmer said that the 6 percent increase is modest The real costto attend Bennett is :q>proximately $27,000. This includes tuition, room and board, and oth^ fees. "There are approximately 30 colleges and universities in the Nwth Carolina's private school system, and of them Bennett still remains a good buy, ranking about 25 on the scale as far as reasonable prices," Farmer said. Bennett is a private institution; therefore, it does not receive sub sidies as do state schools in the UNC system. While next year's tuition has increased, the comprehensive fee has decreased. "One canplaint that I heard about was that the COTiprehensive fee had been in creasing steadily," Farmer said of complaints from students and par ents. The comprdiensive fee covered expenditures that wh^ outside of the classroom. "Students were paying fees such as building use, academic fees and library fees, so we decided to in clude all things dealing with aca- Senior Day: A time for tears, smiles BY NATAUE JORDAN Banner Reporter As they sang the popular IndiaArie song "Strength, Cour age, and Wisdom" 112 members of2002 graduating class held their heads high through the mist of h^jpy tears and smiles during Se nior Day Convocation, March21. During the traditional cer emony "Little Sisters," members of the sc5>homore class and first- year students robe their Big Sis ters, the graduating seniors. Interim President Charles Fuget presided. Shawntee Anderson, a mass communications major from Mi ami, Florida and member of the class of 2002 read a poem written by herself in ^>preciation to all her graduating sisters. Anderson's poem discussed her feelings and experiences during her four-year matriculation at Bennett During his address to the audi ence, Dr. Fuget said he felt like a person running for a meeting and missed the train. "I missed the train that Ivought the senior class to Bennett. I didn't see them ma ture during their sophomore and junior years, and I was just getting on board as they prepare to leave." After telling the senior class that it is time to lo(^ toward the future. Dr. Fuget talked about three keys to success. Hike Continued on Page 3 Seniors Continued on Page 3