ARCHIVES
Bf'nnett Collega
^•n&boro, N.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1974
BENNETT COLLEGE, GREENSBORO, N. C.
VOL. XXXVII, NO 2
Dormitory Break-Ins Rouse Student Anger
Early Morning Incident Sparks All-Day Protest
by Esther Canty
On Thursday, September 12, at
approximately 5:00 a.m. the peace
ful, warm, and comfortable at
mosphere at Bennett College
changed into one of hostility and
malcontent. Students went up in
arms against a worried adminis
tration after a break-in and threat
to a student’s life occurred earlier
on Thursday morning.
Denise Cooke had just closed
her eyes when she was overcome
by a feeling of being watched.
When she opened her eyes she
saw a man standing over her. He
told her that if she screamed he
would harm her. Fortunately,
Miss Cooke was able to escape.
A similar incident had happen
ed earlier during the week. Shelia
McDowell, a senior housed in
Player Hall, was awakened by her
alarm clock and a noise at her
window. She saw a figure in her
window and later discovered that
her handbag was missing. Despite
the incident, few steps had been
taken to see that attempted break-
ins of this nature were checked.
The Thursday morning break-
in prompted much of the student
body to verbally protest the “in
efficiency” and “nonchalance” of
the campus security. About 200
or more concerned, frightened and
enraged students marched over to
the president’s house around 5:30
a.m. Thursday to bring to his at
tention the incident that had oc
curred. However, they were dis
appointed when Mrs. Miller in
formed them that the president
was out of town on business.
Alter being informed of the
president’s absence, the students
left and assembled in front of
Cone Hall where Zack Browning,
superintendent for grounds, and
later Dean of Student Affairs
Harold Bragg came over to talk
with them. Some were emotion
ally upset, others were enraged,
and still other could not believe
the incident had occurred. The ses
sion with Dean Bragg and part of
the student body continued for an
hour. Then it was suggested that
they meet with leading adminis
trative officials at 8;Oo a.m.
A meeting was then scheduled
with the Executive Committee
consisting of J. J. Scarlette, Mrs.
Mary Eady, Marvin Watkins, Dean
Harold Brag and Dean Chelsea
Tipton.
Although the 8:00 a.m. meeting
initially served as an informative
session with each of the involved
students recounting their experi
ences with break-ins and at
tempted break-ins, it ended up
as a grievance session in which
students voiced their opinions on
such matters as the lack of se
curity, the lack of medical facili
ties, insufficient library ma
terials, the defect in the gymnas
ium floor, the lack of room keys,
water fountains, and locks on the
side doors and others.
The meeting lasted for approxi
mately 2V2 hours with students
questioning the adequacy and
competency of administrative of
ficials. Then it was decided that
the session should end so that the
committee could take some im
mediate action on all those com
plaints that were within their
power. A progress report was then
delivered by Dean Bragg. He an
nounced that 1) As of Thursday,
September 12, there would be four
additional security guards from
8 p.m. to 6 a.m.; 2) no time is
there to be less than five security
guards on continuous patrol; 3)
on Monday, September 16, a meet
ing would be held with the fire
marshal to determine the type of
screens to put on the first floor
windows in the residence halls;
4) a two-way radio system would
be put into effective use; 5) a re
lief director would be placed in
Pfeiffer Hall until a permanent
director was assigned; 6) the tele
phone system would be updated;
7) and the architectural plans for
the gymnasium would be com
pleted within the following week.
Other grievances are still be
ing worked on by the administra
tion as well as the Student Gov
ernment Cabinet.
Security Force
Discussed by
Grounds Super
by Tsedale Mulugetta
In an interview recently, Zack
Browning admitted that the se
curity force on campus was not as
“efficient as we would like.”
Browning contends, however,
that there is a misunderstanding
between students and the security
guards. He also blamed the diffi
culty in obtaining qualified per
sonnel, low salaries, the budget
allotment for campus police and
the equipment furnished by the
college for part of the problem.
The eight security guards al
ready employed are certified
campus police. They fulfill the
standards for campus police set by
the State Bureau of Investigation
no criminal records, a minimum
of a high school degree or equiva
lent, a written test and employ
ment by the company for at least
60 days.
In addition to this, four other
guards were hired to “beef-up”
the regular force. They were hired
under an open contract working
10 hours per day, seven days a
week from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
Asked the duration of the con-
(Continued on Page 4)
Bragg Briefs Bennett Belles
On the evenings of September
23 and 24, Dean of Student Af
fairs, Harold E. Bragg held meet
ings in all the dormitories to brief
students on progress being made
in relation to the recently empha
sized grievances.
Since that day at least five new
Security Guards have been hired.
Between the hours of 8:00 p.m.
and 6:00 a.m. there are supposed
to be no less than seven guards on
duty, and no less than five from
6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The Dorm Directors have been
advised to check the Walkie-
Talkies every day and more wal-
kie-talkies will have to be ordered.
Patrol by the city police has
also been increased in the Ben
nett Community. According to
Bragg, Bennett now has more se
curity coverage than any other
college in the city.
(Continued on Page 4)
The Banner is now in Black Hall. Slide scoops and
news under the door or call extension 54.
Bennett Marks 101 Years
At Founder’s Day Celebration
During the weekend of October
11-13, Bennett College will cele
brate Founder’s Day. This will
mark the lOlst anniversary of the
college.
The festivities planned for the
weekend will begin Friday, Oct.
11, with a dance concert in the
Student Union Foyer. A live band
will be appearing, known as Wild
Fire. This band has consented to
perform for Bennett at no com
mission. The dance will begin at
9 p.m.
Owners of Bennett
Will Participate in
101st Birthday
The legal owners of Bennett
College will be on campus this
weekend to participate in Found
ers’ Day activities and find out
how their property has fared since
their last visit.
Members of the Board of Trus
tees, the body which legally owns
the college, will meet on October
11 and 12 to discuss a variety of
topics involving all aspects of the
operation of the college.
On the 11th, committees on fi
nance and budget, buildings and
grounds, student affairs, nomina
tions, and the academic program
will convene.
Among other topics of discus
sion, the committee discussing the
academic program will take up
the question of expanding op
portunities for career education
and of adding new majors.
The Buildings and Grounds
Committee will make long range
plans for the campus and discuss
securing funds for new buildings
and campus beautification.
On Saturday, October 12, the re
sults of the various committee
meetings will be presented in the
form of reports. President Miller
will also make a report on the pro
gress of the new infirmary and
the acquisition of more land for
expansion.
$10,000 AWARDED
President Isaac H. Miller le-
cently announced the establish
ment of a Revolving Emergency
Loan Fund by Drifters, Inc., a na
tional social organization of 235
members.
Miller accepted the fund of
$10,000 to be used over a three
year period of time. The presen
tation was made by Mrs. Alice
Barbee, president of the Greens
boro Chapter of Drifters, and Miss
Gwendolyn Sneed, corresponding
secretary for the organization,
and Bennett College faculty mem
ber.
According to Miller, the fund
will aid students who might find
themselves in tight financial situ
ations at some point in their edu
cational career.
Saturday, October 12, the gue.st
speaker for Founder’.s Day is
scheduled to arrive. The speaker
for the occasion is M. Khir .loliari
!\1. r.. Ambassador Extraordinary
and rienipotentiary to the I’nitrd
Stales from Malaysia. The ambas
sador has been in the forefront of
Malaysian political life for almost
three decades. He has served as
the Minister of Education, Min
ister of Agriculture and Co-op
eratives and, until his relocation
to Washington, Minister of Trade
and Industry. His Excellency was
born in the Northern Malaysuin
State of Kedah on Jan. 2!l, 1923.
.Aml)assador Khir .lohari had his
education at the Sultan Abdul
Hamid College in Alor Star. Aflt'r
a brief teaching career he rose in
politics soon after the last World
War and in 194(i was Secretary-
General of Saberkas, a Malay
political body of which he was a
founding menil)er.
In all of his political earen,
Ambassador Khir .lohari repie-
sented his K«iah Tengah consti
tuency which has leturned him in
ever.v election since I!I55 with
comfortable majoi'ities. He re
mains a Member of I’arlianieiit
during his mission here. Ambassa
dor Khir .lohari's lifelong inteicst
in social and civic causes is re
flected in the many voluntary or
ganizations he heads in Malaysia.
He is chairman of the National
Zoo, the National Societ,y for the
Deaf and the Tunku Abdul Hall
man Foundation.
A sports enthusiast, the Ambas
sador is active in many athletic
organizations in Malaysia.
In addition to other foreign hon
ors, he had conferred ujjon him
the honorary title of Doctor of
Laws by the University of Ma
laya in June of 19fifi, the honorary
title of Doctor of Education and
Science by the De la Salle College,
Manila, Philippines in May of
1967. His Excellency is married
and has seven children, two sons
and five daughters.
There will be a brief press in
terview when the ambassador ar
rives at the airport, at 5:10 p.m.
on the 12th. Later that evening, at
6 p.m. Mrs. Burma Wilkins, a
geography instructor, and several
members of her class will have
a Malaysian exhibition. Posters
for this occasion are being pre
pared by the Art Department. A
documentary on Malaysia is to be
shown at 8 p.m. that evening.
Sunday, Oct. 13th, at 11 a.m.,
Convocation Services will be held.
Immediately following this will
be a gala reception in the faculty
lounge of the Student Union for
all visitors, parents, students and
faculty.
Tentatively planned for 2 p.m.
is a formal luncheon, given in
honor of the Ambassador by
President and Mrs. Miller at their
home.
The Ambassador will leave Sun
day evening at fi p.m.