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P‘A
Page Two
THE BENNETT BANNER
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24. 1975
Is There Intellectual Life Here?
Founder’s Day Eve my presence was requested at a small
gathering where the latest issue of the BANNER was to receive
some sort of tongue lashing for airing so nian,\- student griev
ances. The central figure in this discussion was a graduate who
emoted over and over again of her love for this institution. After
I explained that the students’ newspaper was merely covei'ing
the points of interest to the student body, a somewhat calmer
atmosphere prevailed.
However the conversation that ensued, before I excused my
self, and as the number of participants grew, was purely with
out taste, couth or any of those components that make for a
constructive discussion of campus issues. What did occur, though,
was the going up in smoke of the reputation, credibility and mo
tives of at least three of our five top campus officials.
For weeks I have been contemplating ways to creatively in
corporate one of the concerns of this editorial into an editorial.
The scene described in the second paragraph was such an avenue.
The purpose of our college is being defeated when the above
sort of malicious intercourse can take place in an open meeting.
Doing such makes it apparent that we are determined to destroy
Bennett. Some of us have forgotten that as a college Bennett’s
primary purpose is to provide education. The reason that each
and every one of us should be here is to immerse ourselves in
the pursuits of academia. I would be willing to guess that if we
concentrated even twenty-five percent of our energies on cor
rectly enunciating the King’s English, alone, we would not have
time to sit around belittling ourselves, nor would we have time
to notice those ridiculous gates, or useless meal tickets or any
thing but our college work. We might also be too busy to have
the dormitories vaguely reminiscent of a roller derby.
Last year one of the students who is a part of the Experi
ment on International Living remarked that there was no in
tellectual life on this campus. Some of us became indignant at
the verbalization of this thought although it was, and is, true
w'hether we want to face it or not.
Most students are unsatisfied with some aspect of residence
life. And since we are unhappy with campus life why don’t we
try sitting down and discussing alternatives and then seeing
these proposals through. We live on this campus, the faculty does
not, so if w'e are dissatisfied after five o’clock let’s make rec
ommendations to improve our habitat.
But I assure you that if the professors would begin an all
out campaign to prepare us for the sort of things we will en
counter in graduate school we would not have time to be idle.
Our alma mater is very small. Therefore, we should make
every effort to see to it that our faculty has more difficulty
earning their pay. Few, if any, of our faculty members are really
challenged because we are not attempting to capitalize on ALL
they have to give academically. When we begin placing emphasis
on learning, the president’s desire to ‘interrupt ignorance’ will
be fulfilled and we will be well about the business of a rewarding
collegiate experience.
H
m
We're not trying to harrass the administration but wlien you've got to go you've
got to go!!
photo by Cheryl E. Johnson
Bn
Editor-In-Chief
Cheryl E. Johnson
Adviser
Dr. Virginia Tucker
Associate Editor
Lay-Out-Editor
Joyce Bass
Esther Canty
Advertising Manager
Circulation Manager
Robyn-Denise Berryliil
Reporters
Cleo Branch
Elizabetli Adams
Rose Marie Hudson
Marcia Blacltwell
Bianca E- Hurley
Mellisandre Breathett
Debbra Lowrance
Jamelle Felder
Donna Meacham
Muriel Fenner
Thomasina Stallings
Frances Gaines
Diane Stevens
Gloria Glisson
Sheila Stewart
Lennet Hill
Cartoonist
Bobbie Durden
Debra Tillman
Sorry prof, but I think she’s
gone into a deep sleep. . .when
you live in a dorm you catch
20 winks whenever you can.
From
Another
Perspective
by Diane Stevens
Point of order, but whose point should be made first? Mine! I’m
Bennett College, the students, the faculty and the administration. I don’t
know how but anyway some things must be cleared up if I’m to go on
and really I do have some tendencies toward self-preservation, no matter
what everybody else keeps saying. It is time I had my say so!
Everyday I look around and see what is going on. I know all. I’m
everywhere. After all. I’m Bennett; the dining hall food, the books, the
curriculum, the dormitories, the traditions, all of these things are me. Be
lieve me, I am aware of all of the talk. What am I referring to you may
wonder
Well let’s see, for instance, I hear my young ladies talking about
“Bennett ain’t this and Bennett ain’t that.” “Bennett doesn’t prepare one
to meet the world.” “Bennett is a prison and how we hate Bennett.” What
hurts me to my heart, though, is that these statements are uttered so often
by so many girls.
On a brighter side, however, sometimes I see my Bennett Belles happy,
going to class, doing their work, helping each other, making the best of
their college years.
I see teachers approaching their courses half-heartedly at times,
bothered by the inattentive dispositions of their students. But I also see
them teaching their material well, even if they only reach a few students.
I see them giving out poor grades and good grades.
I see them when they’re on their toes covering the subject material.
I see them cramming to finish course outlines after they have dragged
all semester.
I hear them when they say to my ladies, “It’s up to you to get it if
I don’t cover it.” I see them leaving out information, at times, which they
haven’t covered.
I see them both encouraging their students and developing prejudiced
attitudes toward their students.
I see it all.
I see the administration making more rules; gates, curfews, ACES,
drop-fail, drop-pass for missing class, don’t walk on the grass, don’t wear
curlers on campus after 8;00 a.m., which are all of the betterment of my
ladies so they say.
I see the administration dissenting among themselves, bucking for
power.
I see them working together trying to organize a more sound ad
ministration.
I know, better than anyone perhaps, that there are many things
wrong with me, Bennett College, but the constant bickering back and
forth is not going to change things. Students drawing their battle lines,
administrators establishing counter-defenses and teachers lining up their
own warfare tactics will serve no purpose.
All three should and desperately need to come together for my sake.
A house divided against itself can not stand. Energies exerted in con
frontation merely negate each other, whereas diplomacy and compro
mise would put everyone concerned ahead.
I am not about who is right, but about preserving an institution. I
am not about rules and regulations, but about the development of finer
women, I am not about becoming in any way similar to other institutions;
I am a unique experience dedicated to fulfilling the needs of young black
women. I am not about what was, but about what is and how I can serve
to prepare an individual for the onslaught of life. I am not about being
only for a chosen few; I am for all. I am to see that every young lady that
crosses my threshold realizes and meets her potential.
So I say to the whole Bennett family, now is the time for us to come
together, forgetting our differences in order that an institution which is
over one-hundred-years-old may long endure. What I can be, the type
of institution that I will be, lies solely in the hearts and minds of the
entire Bennett family.
Letters
To Ue
EJitor
Dear Editor:
There are several basic types of
Belles who attend the average
Sunday Vesper. Take a few mo
ments to glance over the audience
and I’m sure you’ll agree. Then
maybe you will arrive at a gen
eral conclusion as I’ve done for
five years.
Over there is Muriel the Music
Lover. She comes to Vesper to
hear a fantastic choir, but then
falls asleep during the main ad
dress.
In the center is Sarah Scholar
who finds that she can do her
shorthand better during the ser
vice.
Then up in the balcony is Rosie
Reluctance who didn’t really want
to come, but who did, and then
leaves only after the first half of
the program is over. To make mat
ters worse, she wears loud plat
form shoes.
Yet, I admit, there are Belles
who come for that extra missed
during the week — inspiration,
solitude, and fellowship.
Whatever the reason, maybe it’s
time to evaluate Sunday Vespers.
We realize that we are restricted
by a small program budget. But
this is often a cover-up for lack
of creativity.
The challenge to the student
body is to get involved. There are
enough organizations on campus
to be responsible for planning
some of the Sunday Vespers dur
ing the school year. This can be
a worthwhile learning exeprience.
It might cause a change in the at
titudes of Muriel, Rosie, and
Sarah.
Myra Davis
Faculty Briefs
Dr. Hortensia Sanchez Boudy
read a paper, “La poesia negra en
Colombia” on October 11 at a for
eign language conference held at
the Center for Continuing Educa
tion on the campus of Appalachian
State College in Boone.