Page Two
THE BENNETT BANNER
DECEMBER, 1946
THE BENNETT BANNER
^^Anything Worth Reading, We Write”
$1.00 PKH SLBSCRIPTIOX
TK.\ CKNTS A COl'V
Editor
EDITORIAL BOARD
ThkltvIa T. Thomas, ’47 Feature Editor Lucille Brown, ’47
Associate Editor—
Gwendolyn Alexandek, ’47
News Editor Gwen Cann, ’49
Copy Editor Betty Powers, ’47
Business Manager—
Barbara Sanford, ’47
Assistant Business Managers—
Jean McCord, ’47—Sylvia Rock, ’49
Exchange Editor—
Louise Armstrong, ’47
Assistant Circulation Manager—
Martha Morley, ’50
STAFF ASSISTANTS
Secretary Natalie Peebles, ’47
Circulation Manager—
Lucille Headen, ’48
Assistant Exchange Editors—
Dorothy Arnold, ’48
Virginia Jeffries, '48
Viola Holland, ’47
PROOF READERS
Lillian Murphy, '48
Ethel Johnson, ’47
REPORTERS
Satia Sorreals, ’50
Julia Kersey, ’50
Wilma Vestal, ’50
Virginia Jefferies, ’48
Theda Johnson, ’50
Rose Hogans, ’47
Willie Ruth Coles. ’47
Dorothy Arnold, ’48
Ann Merritt. ’50
Miriam McTeer. ’47
ADVISOR
NANCY L. PINKARD
A Plea For Liberalism
Jii our country today, there is a trend toward conservatism so strong
that it threatens to usurp even the traditional liberalism ot college
youth. Educational institutions, as strong-holds of liberal thought,
have long been regarded as a source ot progressive leadership. The
reactionary and conservative inlluences in our nation at the present
are frightening enough, but how dark must our outlook be if we can
not look to a future free of their menace! We can not hope for such a
future unless we college students keep the spirit of liberalism alive.
Here at Bennett there is a need for a re-awakening, tor new enthusi
asm. I'he International Relations Club is being allowed to die a slow
death. Is all this discussion about the importance of know'ing the
peoples of other nations just a farce, or is our good-will being under
mined by conservatism? Whatever the answer, the I. R. C. should be
revived. We have the leadership. We have the initiative. Why don’t
we use it?
How many students belong to the Southern Conference of Human
Welfare? For that matter, how many students know that there is a
chaptcr cm the campus? It is every girl’s business to know! More of
us should belong to this social action group, find out what is going on,
and join forces with liberalism! If the group is doing something, and
perhaps it is, get in there with some new ideas, with some fresh en
thusiasm; get in there and keep it going!
There are not many students taking part in the activities of the
Inter-Collegiate Commission either. This group, however, is making
some real accomplishments. Because of the efforts of tlie inter-racial
organization, Negro students may now rent books from the Book Shop.
yVtternpts are being made to persuade the other book stores in town to
adopt this new policy.
I'he Commission is also conducting a workshop in which the students
work on projects according to their special interests. These projects
have been chosen because the students believe that, through them,
they may make some concrete contributions to the improvement of
society. The current projects are concerned with recreation for under
privileged children, and the improvement of inter-collegiate activities.
1 have mentioned only a few of the organizations which might
stimulate and help to maintain liberal thinking on this campus. You
can find more. Let’s join some of them and help to stem the tide ot
conservatism which threatens to engulf us!
Gwen Alexander.
To Fill The Gap
Tieader s Ti^reat
MRS PALMERS HOXEY
By Fannie Cook
Lately the American public has
been flooded wllh books attempting
to give an intelligent treatment to
the Xegro problem in this country.
Most of them, such as ‘‘Strange
Fi'iiit’" by Lilliun Smith, and “The
Street” by Ann Petry, have been a
bit morbid and depressing. At last we
have a novel suggesting a practical
solution to a difficult problem.
Mrs. Palmer’s Honey is the story
of a young Negro girl in a Southern
town who leaves her job as a maid tO'
work in a war plant. It is in the plant
that slie comes in contact with the
C. I- O. and its attempts to unionize
ill the South. Its efforts to bring
about the cooperation of the various
workers of both races begins to have
a definite effect on Honey. She finds
that she can no longer live from day
to day in her own little world, shut
ting out from her sphere of interest,
all that does not concern her imme
diate existence. Gradually she real
izes that she must thhik not merely
in terms of her race as a whole, but
also the relation of her race to other
races.
The stoty moves swiftly and
smoothly. The interest is sustained
not so much because of the rapidity
of the action, but because of the,
depth and clarity of the character
portrayals- Not only are they well
defined, but they are completely
natural — so natural that you may
recogni'ze people you see every day.
You may even recognize yourself.
I'here is the tight-mouthed, narrow
minded Southern woman; the some
what rare liberal well-to-do Southern
gentleman; the hypoeritically sweet
blundering, but well-meaning mid-
dle-class white woman; and the en
ergetic, perseveriTig northern liberal
or radical. The Negro characters are
just as interesting. There are the
docile, untroubIed;*old Negro people
resigned to unfair treatment; the
fiery, bitter, confused, younger men
and women, fighting thei'r destiny
with intensity and bitterness, with
out organization or forethought; and
those who are ashamed of their
race, grasping for consolation
at such superficial signs of superior
ity as “white man’s hair,” and paler
skins.
Altogether, an excellent cross-sec
tion of characters is represented—
characters whose lighter moments
will make you laugh, and whose fre
quent moments of unhappiness will
make you want to cry.
I’he American student stands in a peculiarly aloof position. He has
little contact with his fellow students on American campuses and he
has little contact with students in Europe. His horizons are drawn on
narrow lines, both at home and abroad. With otheis, the intellectual
exchange is slight and cooperative action negligible.
We have a chance now to rectify this deficient position. The gap in
student life in this country has the opportunity to be filled by the birth
of a national student union, which would strive for the very qualities
and activities lacking today.
Colleges from the forty-eight states are being asked to send delegates
to a conference in Chicago where plans will be made for such organiza
tion. The delegates will consider the type of body which they think
students want and will then hand over the mandate to a constitutional
committee.
When a national student union is established, it will fill the double
role of a cohesive force in the American university community and the
American link in the international union of students.
It should be understood that participation at Chicago does not com
niit a college to join any national student union which subsequently
might be established. Our role now is only aid in the formation of the
organization. In the light, however, of the democratic basis of the con
ference and the mandate which will be laid down for the constitutional
comniittee-a mandate which will be wrought by all delegates.
The validity and necessity of goals, as foreseen at present, cannot be
denied. As students remain now, they are a nonentity as a group in
this country; they can become an important entity by virtue of a nation
al organization. The country needs the force and aid of students, and
students themselves need other students.
Excerpts reprinted from the Smith College Associated News.
(Friday, Nov. 15, 194&).
What! When!
Where!
The Soulhern Couference for Hu
man Welfare: A large Bennett
chapter joins with the chapter from
Woman’s College, University of
North Carolina, to form the Greens
boro Student group. What are they
doing? Protest letters are to be writ
ten against Columbians, Inc., the
new hate group- Petitions are being
circulated to oust Bilbo from the
United States Senate—why don’t you
sign? Thi’s organization is also sell
ing “Oust Bilbo” pins. As you sign a
petition, purchase one. The minimum
is ten cent—you set the maximum!
Iiiteti>retlve Dance (jroup: Inter
pretive dance class meets Monday
nights at 7:00; Wednesday nights at
9:00, and Saturday miornings at 11.
Develop your assets—the class proves
to be both interesting and beneficial
to physical development.
French Koom; To be in the base
ment of Kent Hall, so keep your eyes
open! Good ‘‘Parlez vous” experi
ence for French students — record
ings by Jon SabliTi.
Sociology Club: Has some very
interesting speakers at intervals.
Wonder if you are interested in at
tending any of these programs? Well,
if you are—watch the bulletin boards
for the “who, what, when, and
where! ’’
Organization Basketball Teams:
Each organization on the campus is
to have a basketball team. The pur
pose of this plan is to prolong the
fall Inter-mural basketball tourna
ment sponsored by the W. A. A.
Home Koomomics Club: Plans to
carry skits to the dormitories on the
campus. Purpose: To increase stu
dent awareness of the correct table
manners- How about a hundred per
cent on student cooperation!
Bennett Biinner: If you can write,
type, or any of the other millions of
things you do on a college paper
staff—come on out to Bennett Ban
ner meetings on Wednesdays at 7:45,
Bennett Banner Room, Jones Hall.
Congratulations to
Miss Barbara Ware
and
Mr. David Holland
Student of tlie Alontk
As Interviewetl By
Gwen Alexander
Miss Sylvia Rock, a sophomore
from MontclaiT, New Jersey, has been
chosen student of the month because
of her poetic ability. Miss Rock has
the distinction of being the first
Benentt student to have an original
poem accepted for publication by the
National Association of College An
thology. Her poem, “Beloved Dead,’’
will be published in the third annual
edition of College Anthology.
A friendly, carefree person. Miss
Rock answered my question readily.
She said that she had been writing
poetry since she was in the third
grade. Until the present time most
of it has been published only in
school papers.
Miss Rock gave an interesting ac
count of the way in which she writes
poetry. It just “comes out of the clear
blue sky,” she said. She explained
that she feels an inner urge to write,
a sort of signal that a poem is to be
born, about three days before she
actually writes it. She cannot tell
just when the' vague shapes m her
mind will crystallize into actual
thoughts; therefore, she carries a
pencil and paper about all the time.
Finally, the idea takes shape and she
begins to write. About three-fourths
of the poem will come to her in ex
actly the right way. The last part
usually needs to be improved.
When questioned. Miss Rock ad
mitted that she can write poetry at
will, but that “forced” poetry re
quires a great deal of time and ef
fort.
Strangely enough, Miss Rock does
not especially like to read poetry.
She enjoys the works of only two
poets, Carl Sandburg and Langston
Hughes. She admires their free, easy
style.
Majoring in English and History,
Miss Rock is active in the following
organi’zations: Y. W- C. A., W. S.
C. S., Sociology Club, Senior Choir,
Little Theater Guild, and French
Club. Her hobbies are writing poetry
and reading. Thorne Smith's books
are her favorites, rbut she also enjoys
historical novels.
Her ambition is, first, to be an
author of poetry and short stories,
and second, to be a housewife- When
pressed for an explanation, she said
that marriage is a long way off. She
iwants to “enjoy life first.”
FACULTY CLOSEUP
Inquiring Reporter
If you had your choice of any of
the fine character traits by which
human beings are judged, which
would you choose as the most im
portant?
Ruth Bradley: I prefer honesty,
because then I would naturally pos
sess all the other fine qualities.
Velana liove: Kindness—because I
think that by being kind, others will
be kind to me, and through this
kindness they would help me to de
velop the other traits that make for
good character.
Bernice Campbell: Intelligence. If
I have intelligence I will be able to
apply it to my concepts of right and
wrong. Possessing this intelligence
and applying it to my daily life, the
other traits would be mine.
Velma Hayes: All of the traits that
make for fine character are extreme
ly important. Sincerity, however,
strikes me most—wherever this qual
ity Is prevalent, there is marked evi
dence of kindness, honesty, and many
of the other qualities linked with it-
liOuise Bonner; My preference
would be perseverence because with
this quality of “stick-to-it-tiveness’ I
would be more capable of developing
all the other traits.
Mr. Chauncey Winston comes to
Bennett College havhig just com
pleted a year of study at Indiana
University. He was formerly a teach
er of science and civics at Atkins
high school, in Winston-Salem, N. C.
A native of Tappahannock, Va.,
Mr. Winston is the son of a former
Baptist minister and the brother of
Mrs. Naomi Jeter, a former home
economics teacher at Bennett. He
spent the initial thirteen years of his
life at home and commenced hrs high
school studies in the high school de-
partement of Virginia State College.
Partly because he disliked Latin so
much, Mr. Wiston chose agriculture
as hl’s special field at Virginia State.
Later, however, he found that tie
would be required to study Latin
when he entered Fisk University. He
entered Fisk with the hope of be
coming a doctor, but because of fi
nancial conditions and i'll health,
he again changed his major—this
time to education. He later entered
the State University in Columbus,
Ohio, where he received his M, S.
degree in Education. Since then, he
has further studied at Indiana Uni
versity and the State University,
where he has completed all of the
residence requirements for the doc
torate degree.
Hi'S teaching interest procured for
him the position of teacher’s assist
ant for five years in the Educational
department of the Indiana Univer
sity.
He is a member of the Alpha chap
ter of the Phi Delta Kappa fratern
ity, National Honorary Education
Society at Indiana University, and
was Basileus to the Omega Psi Phi
fraternity for the Winston - Salem
chapter.
Debating is one of Mr. Winston’s
avacations, having won several prizes
;from contests on temperance sub
jects. He is interested in dramatics,
also, having directed several adult
community plays in a dramatic tour
nament in Winston-Salem. For one
year, he served as chairman of the
Public Relations committee for the
Winston - Salem Teachers Asoscla-
tion.
Commenting on our campus life,
Mr. Winston says he is very much
impressed by the clean and well kept
conditions of the campus as well as
the cultural atmosphere. In his
opinion, Bennett’s attempt to get
away from the old educational meth
ods to the more functional type of
education is evidenced in the Fresh
men social science studies, the ad
visory system, contemporary affairs,
program emphasis on student parti
cipation and the general democratic
spirit here. He appreciates, veryi
much, the cooperative spirit of his
co-workers and also the various ac
commodations for teachers.
I