page 2
Dr. L. R. Hankins
BENNETT BANNER
Saturday, October 17, 1970
Presidential Message:
Bennett Professor Writes First Book Cheap?
"Students are losing interest
in school and a new s^proachhas
to be used in teaching for this
reason,” says Dr. Lela R. Han
kins, Professor of Education and
Director of Teacher Education
at Bennett College, to justify
writing her new book; Biology:
A Problem Solving Approach.
Dr. Hankins explains, “Be-
cause of my backgrounc^ I can
see the problem more so in the
sciraces. Students* interest in
general, on the national level, is
swltcliing from the natural sci.
ences to the social' sciences.”
She attributed the reason for this
to the students' failure to under
stand the fact that "many of the
social problems can only be sol.
ved through the application of
biological knowledge,”
The course of study present
in Dr. Hankins’ book. In her
words, “makes Biology relevant
to human affairs*-wtaidi should
be the primary objective of a
course for the non-science ma
jor. Since the studies have shown
that students are largely inter
ested in themselves, the course
of study recommended is stu
dent - centered around a pro
blem - solving approach.”
Biology: A Problem Solving
Approach can l>e used as a sou.
rcebook or text. It is “a course
of study including laboratory ex-
exercises, special projects and
collateral readings that can be
used for a college freshman Bio-
logy course.”
Dr. Lela R. Hankins
Though this is the first book
for the member of Phi Sigma
National Honorary Society (bio
logical science) and Sigma XI
(honorary in science research),
she has written a number of ar
ticles for technical journals.
Dr. Hankins is aBolivia, North
Carolina native and graduate of
Shaw University, Ralei^, North
Carolina (B.S.) and Oregon State
University, C o r^v a 111 s, Oregon
(M.S. andPhJ3),i
Dr. Hankins, former Professor
of Biology and Chairman of the
Biology Department at Bennett
College, has taught for some 11
years.
Her book, published by Carlton
Press, Inc., 84 Fifth Avenue, New
York, New York 10011, CHelsea
3-8800. is now on sale.
Bennett Gets Physical Upgrading
By JENNIE JONES
A central air-conditioning sys
tem has been installed in the Ad
ministration Building since last
school year. Not only that, but in
the President’s Office, there is
complete floor carpeting and pa
neling,
Mr, J. J. ’Scarlette, in com
menting on the reaovations on
campus, stated that Merner HaU
has been painted inside and out
and new window screens were
bought. The floors are sche
duled to be reflnlshed soon.
In the past, ihere have been
many complaints about cold water
and no heat. This year the Board
of education of Methodist Chur
ches has give a $35,000.00 grant
to renovate the boiler plant. This
Involves the transformation from
coal to gas and oil for heat gen
erating purposes.
A discussion was held with Dr.
Breathett concerning the con
struction work in the Ethel
Black Hall, He stated that paint
ing and relisting will be in
stalled throughout the building.
The Business Education Depart
ment has moved to the south
wing of the building. The Teacher
education office will be divided,
with the secretary having her
separate office. Sociology and
Psychology classes will be held
in the building and store rooms
will be built. The ground level
will become the Program Learn
ing and Audio Visual Center, with
a suite of offices constructed on
Oie second floor. The whole build,
ing wiU be retiled except for the
areas of hardwood and marble.
New chairs will be purchased as
to make the rooms more flexi.
ble.
There will be a complete new
color scheme; all rooms will be
different colors. Some of the
colors to be used are golden rod,
Apache Gold, forum gray, lemon
twist, lemon pulp, Minuet blue,
blue butterfly, melon sand, even
ing orchid, French Violet, ice
lettuce, shocking green, minuet
green and bananiu Dr. Breathett
also stated that the new color
scheme was designed to make
students feel that they have
changed environment when they
exchange classes. The whole plan
of renovation is aimed at help
ing students to achieve, and in
fledged leaning center.”
In projecting some future plans
for Bennett, Mr. Scarlette stated
that changes will occur In the
playroom and the dormitories. He
also stated that there would be
further renovations of the admin
istration building.
It is a truism ofthe human experience that things which come without
too much effort are seldom fully appreciated. The boy \(1io delivers
ne^A^apers all summer to earn the moiiey with which to purchase a
bicycle places a different value on that item than does the boy \(^0Ee
parents simply purchase the bicycle for him. The young woman who
works a 40-lmr weekly shift in order to pay her tuition, buy a few
clothes and suj^rt herself here at Bennett College frequently places
a hi^er valuation (m her college opportunity than does the one who
neecfe concern herseLfwithnothingmorebaslctbanto talk her parents
out of more money for some trivia.
The Federal Government, private philanthropy and colleges, their,
selves, have done so much to enable today's student to pursue a
carefree post-secondary education ttiat many individuals never come
to the realization that going to college is s^ a privilege. Too many
refuse to apply themselves sufficiently to drive full benefit from the
opportunities which are Inherent In this privilege. Consequently,
many young people are graduating from colleges today “aware”
perhaps, but still functionally illiterate, unlearned, and just not
quite ready.
The College Work-Study Program, the Bennett College Schol
arship and Work-Study Programs, the Naticaial Defense Student
Loans, the Economic Opportunity Grants have enabled hundreds of
young women to attend Bennett College without too much care of
concern. One wonders, however, if the ease with which this kind of
assistance is obtained has not destroyed personal initiative and
somehow devaluated the very experience \rtdch it makes possible.
Students and too many parents frequently overlook the fact
that a Bennett student pays throu^ tuition and fees only 46%
of the cost of her education. The remainder must be som^ow
provided the College, Althou^ there are certain well-defined
sources for additional fimds, the United Negro College Fund, the
United Methodist Church, and the oidowmait, there remains 10^-
12%wliich must be secured sinq)ly by passing the hat. It is
therefore most distressing to discover that many of our students
choose to be mediocre rather than ^ga^ in disciplined and schol
arly effort; tc» many fail to care for the college facilities and evrai
encourage their boy friends to litter, deface and destroy; too many
participate in premeditated efforts to scuttle the hi^ purposes of the
institution and resort to a variety of practices which nullify our ef.
forts to build here an outstanding center of learning.
This is not ^Siat Bennett College is about. Our efforts are ex
pended for the purpose of putting sound minds in sound bodies, and
for the creation of more options for each student ^slio enrolls, V e
operate in the belief that each young woman viix) enrolls here wishes
to be a serious student wtiile preparii^ for responsible citizenship
in the post-college world. We are an institutional entity with a
personality to which all contribute, but )s4uch will not be distorted
by aberrant behavior, personal whim, or caprice.
The opportunity for personal development which Bennett College
r^resents is a privilege and not a right but, unfortunately, too
many students seem incapable of distinguishing between the two.
But then - perhaps it comes too cheap,
Isaac H. Miller, Jr.
President
From S. S. President
A State Of Affairs Address
I can no longer share at this
time any optimism regarding this
coming year because it has be
come quite evident that for the
Student Government nothing has
changed. In spite ofthe appearnce
of a few ‘new* faces on campus,
it is clearly apparent to us that
we are still dealing with the same
individuals we dealt with last
year and that over the summer
these persons have become more
rathem than leas, ego-centric.
Last spring the S.S. embarked
New Bookstore Management
“You negroes may get learn
ing, you may get property, you
may have churches and religion.,
but this is your limit. This is a
white man’s government.”
—-Alex^der Crummell, 1888
Everyone has probably noticed
the new face in the bookstore.
For all those that have not been
introduced yet that is the face of
Charles T. Byrd, Sr., the new
manager of the Bennett College
Bookstore. Mr. Byrd, a resident
of Greensboro, is hoping to make
quite a few improvements. He
wants to order more items with
the Bennett College shield on
them. He is also trying to make
it easier for the students by or
dering Items they need so they
wouldn’t have to go all the way
uptown for them.
Some improvements can easily
be seen silready. Most of the
prices are posted, the place is
orderly, and is much better
stocked. Best of all some of the
prices are cheapter, especially
the souvenirs. For example, Ben
nett salt and pepper shakers
which were sold for $2.00 are
now $.90, bookends were $1.50
now they are $1,35 and car
stickers which were $.50 are
$.35.
upon the beginning of an inten
sive campaign to save black in
stitutions and particularly Ben
nett. Last year we saw the ma
jor threats as being external-
inadequate finances, low keyed
recruiting programs, etc, , .,
tangible areas which could be
dealt with througji tangible pro
posals; but this year we realize
that the major threat to Bennett’s
existence is not external but
rather internal, and that this
threat is far from tangible but
rather abstract. We see this
threat as being a negative attl-
tude on the part of the student
body and an overwhelmingfeeling
of frustration which has led in
evitably to a low student morale.
We have defined problems for
the school in the past and when
they saw fit the administration
acted on these problem.
Today I would like to say that
once again we have defined a
problem and once again we are
asking the administration to
act on it — not in the near
future but nowll You can no
longer expect us to give re
spect when we receive none;
nor can you expect us to be
‘happy* when we are placed in
an unhappy situation, To the ad.
ministration, I would say take
vil
■i
w
Carla Friend,
President Student Senate
heed and read the writing on
the wall; to the seniors 1 say
that in spite of vfcit seems to
be the gravest of insults, let us
continue to raise our heads high
and walk with the dignity,
strength and unity which has
distinguished us as women among
women. And finally to the student
body I would make a plea for a
unity which is now, even more
than ever, necessary and also
offer the advice that we must
all be wary of strangers and old
friends bearing gifts.