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FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 1975
BENNETT COLLEGE, GREENSBORO, N. 0.
VOL XXXXI, NO. 6
Kittrell To Work As
Hostess for GGO Week
Rhonda Kittrell, a freshman,
has been selected as Bennett’s
representative on the roster of
hostesses for the Greater Greens
boro Open, the annual spring tour
nament which attracts such stars
of golfdom as Arnold Palmer, Lee
Trevino, and Charley Sifford and
briefly turns Greensboro into a
city with nothing but golf on its
mind.
From 123 girls, representing all
local colleges, who competed for
the honor, 19 were chosen. One of
these girls will be crowned Miss
GGO.
Rhonda’s new duties began in
late November with a Kick-Off
Banquet at the Plantation Supper
Club. There the newly-chosen
hostesses were formally presented
to the full membership of the
Greensboro Jaycees, the sponsor
ing organization. While the girls
are usually required to wear
identical clothing, furnished by
the sponsors, on this occasion
they were asked to express their
individuality and come in evening
gowns of their own choice. Rhonda
wore green.
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CHAVIS CROWNED SHRINE QUEEN
Bonita Chavis, a senior, was
crowned Miss Khalif Temple 1975
recently after taking first place in
the Sixth Annual Talent Scholar
ship Pageant sponsored by Khalif
Temple No. 144, Ancient Egyptian
Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic
Shrine.
In the pageant, which was held
Bonita Chavis
in Richard B. Harrison Auditorium
at A&T State University, Miss
Chavis competed with nine other
young women from Bennett and
A&T. She sang “Csardas” from
Johann Strauss’ opera “Die Fleid-
ermaus.” As winner of the com
petition, she received a $100
scholarship toward completion of
her education and a chance to
participate in the state contest.
Runners-up, who also received
cash awards, in order of their se
lection, were, Diane Inez Brooks,
Bennett; Coretta Nanette Kelly,
A&T; Sherrie Ann Hill, Bennett;
and Joanne Ardella Scales, A&T.
SENIOR EXPELLED
Deborah McIntyre, a senior from
Chicago, Illinois, was expelled
from the college, for the remain
der of the academic year, effective
January 24. The expulsion re
sulted from her violation of a
previous suspension by the Col
lege Judicial Council.
McIntyre’s first suspension came
after the discovery of a male
guest in her dormitory room a-
bout 2:00 a.m. December 12, 1974.
Student Government President
“Hopeful” To End Dormancy
by Cheryl E. Johnson
Student Government President,
Paulette Wicks, described the SGA
in one word: “hopeful.” “I am
hopeful,” she said “for a greater
amount of student involvement,
because a student government is
only as good as its student body.”
Wicks feels that Student Gov
ernment Association “dormancy”
is largely due to “student dor
mancy” or “apathy.” “Suggestions
have been requested for activi
ties, but only a precious few have
been returned,” she said. “Every
one complains that there is nothing
to do,” she went on but, “when ac
tivities arc held on campus there
is not a largo amount of student
support.” She also said that if she
knew the reason student support
was so low she would know what
to do.
According to Wicks, the student
government is presently planning
for this semester. When asked why
plans for this semester were not
completed last semester she said,
“Last semester plans were made
but it has since become necessary
for some revisions.” Therefore
the SGA is now in the rovisinji
stage.
Among its objectives in the
plaiming stage are a Negro His
tory Week observance as well as
some plans for improving campus
life. She also plans to discuss the
possibility of chartering a bus for
students so that they may attetid
some out of town games the bas
ketball team has scheduled.
In improving campus life top ef
forts arc towards, “the things stu
dents complain about, such as the
dining hall," Wicks said.
Wicks finds her job a frustrat
ing task at times, “sometimes be
cause of the hassel and attitudes
you must deal with from both stu
dents and faculty,” she said. “Stu
dents say they want this change
and that change but when its time
to implement, nobody has tunc to
do the work. It sometimes appears
that students only have time to
raise h and leave it at that,”
she added.
In concluding she said, “if you
are not willing to energize then
please do not be so willing to criti
cize!”
David D. Jones: Campus Builder and Shaper of Bennett Tradition
by Joyce Bass
This month on January 26, the
Bennett College Family honored
one of its early Presidents, Dr.
David D. Jones. It was during the
Presidency of Dr. Jones that a new
Bennett College took shape.
Dr. Jones served as president of
Bennett College from 1926 to
1955. When he and Mrs. Jones
came to the campus in 1926, the
campus had “ten students, four
buildings, and about 35 acres of
‘campus’ planted in corn and tur
nips.” A former Methodist co
educational institution founded in
1873, Bennett had run downhill.
But under the careful planning
and leadership of Dr. Jones, the
campus was built into one of the
most attractive 40 acre institutions
in the country with 30 buildings
and a physical plant that was
worth 2.5' million dollars. Bennett
College became known as the
"Negro Vassar.”
The first few years were tough
for Jones and Bennett. Then in
1932 the doctor got the General
Education Board to give $250,000
of Rockefeller money, which was
matched by Mrs. Henry Pfeiffer, a
chemical heiress.
Over the years, contributions
from both have totaled over a
million dollars to the coUege.
Through their worthy contribu
tions, the erection of many campus
buildings were made possible,
such as the Pfeiffer Residence
Hall, Merner Residence Hall,
Pfeiffer Memorial Chapel, the
Heating Plant, the David D. Jones
Student Union, Black Hall and the
Little Theatre. Dr. Jones got his
money, some said, by showing off
his tidy campus and his gracious-
mannered girls.
Under the direction of Dr. Jones,
the College accumulated many of
the traditions which gave the
school a unique atmosphere. Some
of them, like the ringing of the
bell, are holdovers from the days
when the school was co-educa-
tional. The traditional ringing of
the bell sets the time for classes
and meals. During the Jones’
years, the girls had to be in their
seats when the bell stopped ring
ing. It was an honor to be ap
pointed bell-ringer.
Among the other traditions
were those which involved dress.
Whenever a “Bennett Belle” went
downtown, she dressed and with
hats and gloves. Slacks and shorts
were only worn on hikes or on
recreational activities, to work
and breakfast. This was true of
the campus until the mid 1960’s
when students went through a
period of protest.
One of the earliest features,
which is still observed today, was
“the class sisters” policy. As fresh
men students were introduced to
Bennett academic and traditional
activities during Freshman Orien
tation, they were also assigned to
junior students who sought to as
sist them in campus adjustment.
One of the most beautiful events
that took place on campus was
the Campus Illumination Cere
mony, which symbolized the mov
ing up of each class.
Among the most significant and
lasting traditions of the college is
Senior Day which is a day set
aside to recognize seniors. During
the Jones’ era, it symbolized the
obtaining of special senior privi
leges.
Seniors are excused from their
classes on this day and in the
afternoon, at the designated hour.
they line up for the processional
march through the ceremonial
gates with their sophomore sisters.
The sophomores carry the robes
and caps of the seniors. After the
students, who all were dressed in
white and proceed after the choir,
pass Merner Hall, the administra
tion and faculty follow the pro
cession into the Chapel. After the
presentation of the class to the
president by the dean of instruc
tion, the main address is delivered
by the president of the college.
President Jones instituted the
Senior Breakfast which was held
at the home of the president. This
was a way of honoring the sen
iors. The students were given the
opportunity to exchange ideas and
discuss the development of the
college.
Under the administrations that
followed, this same tradition still
held and holds true.
President Jones maintained that
each student became a working
part of the institution. The Ben
nett student has traditionally had
the responsibility of involving
herself in the maintenance, as well
as the social and academic de
velopment of the college. All stu
dents were required to do “Beau
ty Work” in the dormitories which
meant performing chores such as
cleaning their rooms, bathrooms,
and parlors. Polishing the brass
ornaments and serving tables in
the cafeteria were not unusual
tasks. The students complained
about the beauty work, but the
general overall feeling was sum
med up by one student, years ago,
who said, “After all, we do this
work to make our dorms and
campus more beautiful.”
President Jones set the tone for
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