Page Two
THE BENNETT BANNER
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1977
Solving Problems
by Diane Stevens
Every once in a while everybody has a gripe, something that
is just bugging them to no end, a situation that is totally un
bearable.
For example maybe your car was in the gate and it was
locked, the temperature was about 20 degrees, the night was
black, and there were no security guards to be found and you
had to go to the library on another campus to do some home
work for tomorrow, but you could not get your car out of the
gate!
Or perhaps, one day you were so hungry that your stomach
was gnawing at your throat and you sat in line and watched a
hundred people cut line and once it was your turn to be served
there weren’t any plates, forks, glasses, or maybe there wasn’t
any more food prepared.
You may have decided to wash clothes one fine Saturday,
only to find one dryer working or one washing machine working
on the entire campus and to top it off there were about 30
other sisters with the same idea.
Or maybe you went to the doctor, had him write you an
excuse for your absence, turned it in to the appropriate office
and were advised to use your cuts first (even though you are
allowed one cut for every semester hour to use at your discre
tion) .
On another occasion you may have decided to go to the li
brary to do some research only to find to your dismay that they
stopped taking that magazine or it’s one of the ones that is
missing.
There are probably many other things but they are not the
true issue here. The issue is what did you do when confronted
with these hassels. Did you curse to yourself ? Did you complain
to your friends? Did you get mad, then say oh bump it, it won t
change things if I get upset?
The truth here is that we at Bennett are quite fond of com
plaining or just letting things go. We find no situation worth
taking a stand over and seeing that a change is made. (Except
Labor Day, but they took both Reading Days so the score is
over even.)
Everybody here knows the Bennett cliche “Remember so
and so. She tried to organize the students and make some changes
and she didn’t graduate. I’m not going to get involved cause I
plan on leaving this place.” Maybe all that is true. There are
right ways and wrong ways to do everything. Then quite often
in the fury of demands administrators are prone to counter
attack when backed into corners.
However, I think students are entitled to rights and some
degree of respect and, yes, maybe even a particular caliber of
student services even though we only pay one-third of our tui
tion. Granted, colleges are run by rules and regulations and
more often than not policies are formed based on what is the
expedient thing to do. At the same time, I think students need
to be assertive enough to see that their rights and needs are met
and considered when rules, regulations and policies are drawn
up.
When problems arise, I believe students should stand up and
try to find solutions to them. Everybody has got to learn to
fight his battles sooner or later. Why not begin in college? (It
is supposed to be a learning situation.) We all go to school here.
Our problems and concerns are mutual. It would more than pay
to get together and try to work toward a reasonable means of
solving them. The student government association would be the
logical way to do this, but ours isn’t quite functional because
we are far from functional. Think about it.
(Yeah, I know, I know. All we do as students is belly-ache
and complain; but bear in mind, it is easy to overlook a gripe
and call it just that—a gripe when the problem is not yours!)
What’s Happening?
Here are a few items that may be of benefit to you if you were not
aware of them already.
The American College and University Service Bureau is willing to
help students obtain financial aid. The service is supplying names of
foundations and guidance as to how to go about obtaining funds from
them. For more details on this service, interested students may write:
American College and University Service Bureau, Dept. S., 1728-5050
Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN 28157.
As of January 29, 1977, Greensboro Public Libraries will be operating
on this schedule because of the energy shortage: Branch Schedule: Sunday
and Monday closed; Tuesday through Thursday open 9:00-9:00, Friday
and Saturday open 9:00-6:00. Central Library: Open Monday through
Wednesday 9:00-9:00, Saturday 9:00-6:00 and Sunday 2:00-6:00, it is closed
Thursday and Friday.
(Continued on Page 6)
Edi+or-in-Chief . .
Diane Stevens
Associate Editor
Joyce Bass
Adviser
Dr. Virginia Tucker
Layout Editor
Deborah Tillman
Circulation Manager
Cleo Branch
Feature Editor
Robyn Denise Berryhill
Business Managers
Deborah Luttery and Terry Lewis
Advertising Managers
Sandy Monroe and Kelly Gardner
Cartoonist
Bobbi Durdin
Photographers .
Joyce Bass, Gena Haskett
Reporters
"Kool-Aid" Bartley
Faye Howard
Cleo Branch
Blanca Hurley
Kelly Gardner
Marcelle Miranda
Gena Haskett
Sandra Monroe
Lennet Hill
Rochelle Moody
Debra Hodges
Cathy Young
Traditions Have Tlieir Place, Too!
By Myra Davis
Tradition is defined by Webster
as “cultural continuity in social
attitudes and institutions.”
The legacy of Bennett College
is steeped in traditions. Granted,
outmoded traditions might become
obstacles to progress. However, in
time of disorder, all traditions are
attacked and generally become the
first victims. Rarely is much
thought given to their reasons for
being or how they might be
modified.
During the decade of the Fifties
an article on Bennett stated:
“Bennett has a good stock of
traditions and customs that help
give the school a personality.”
Benjamin Fine, one-time jour
nalist with the New York Times,
stated, “Bennett College can well
become a model for other institu
tions. The emphasis on campus
beauty can be carried over to all
colleges and universities ... If
you instill your students with
pride of ownership, with the love
of beauty, with the joy of good
living, they will help you keep the
campus lovely and beautiful.”
Our traditions were instituted
for the very reasons expressed in
Fine’s comments. The formal af
fairs, teas and dinners gave Ben
nett Women opportunities to prac
tice the “Bennett B’s,” the col
lege’s unique social code. They
included:
Be a good conversationalist
Be courteous
B'e neat
Be friendly
Be socially appropriate
This code formed the founda
tion of campus life. It was tied
into all aspects of campus life. It
gave Bennett its reputation.
Bennett’s traditions also united
the campus. They helped stu
dents, faculty, and staff to feel
a part of the college community.
The INSTITUTION beame larger
than the person.
The fervor for planning and
implementing college programs
needs to be revived. We must not
lose such beautiful traditions as
“The Living Madonnas,” “Senior
Day,” or our strong lyceum tradi
tion because of the person. The
needs of the INSTITUTION must
prevail. Lack of interest and time
are the most prominent killers of
tradition.
Yes, it does take time and more
energy to plan effective programs.
The members of the dance group
demonstrated that last semester.
And they did not get paid for the
extra hours spent rehearsing. Nor
will the basketball team. Their
compensation is much deeper than
that.
Most students are willing to get
involved. Some need encourage
ment or a hard push. But just
think: A student with enough
class work and extra-curricular
involvement will not have time to
intimidate her neighbors or make
noise in the residence halls. Ironi
cally, the young women who seem
to be the happiest are those who
participate in campus activities
and also perform well academic
ally.
The Office of Student Affairs
and student leaders must come up
with a viable program of involve
ment geared to the varied inter
ests of the students. At this point
the utility of existing traditions
must be studied for modification
or replacement. Traditions are
those forces which give meaning
and continuity to the Bennett Ex
perience. We must prove that
Bennett College is moie than an
occasional disco or pledge round.
Our legacy is so much more than
frivolity.
UNC-G Marks
Black History
With Activities
by Debbie Hodges
The Neo-Black Society
of UNC-G is celebrating
Black History Week with
eight days of speakers, ex
hibits, and presentations.
A different event was
scheduled for each night
from Feb. 13 to Feb. 20 to
take place on UNC-G’s
campus. Each event will
highlight a different aspect
of the black experience. The
public is invited to attend
the remaining events. Ad
mission is free.
Letter
To Tke
Editor
Dear Editor:
My name is Isaac Durham, I am
presently incarcerated in Marion
Correctional Facility, in Marion,
Ohio. I am a musician, and my
profession is entertaining and I
would graciously like to corre
spond with the students there at
Bennett College.
Even though I’m incarcerated I
still share partial freedom by bet
tering my musical education. I am
seriously thinking of relocating;
therefore I would deeply appreci
ate any help that you may be able
to give concerning this letter.
Please print this in your campus
paper:
Inmate at Marion Correctional
in Marion, Ohio requests corre
spondence from all the student
body at Bennett College. I am
studying news music and I am
seriously thinking of relocation.
I am lonely in these walls of im
prisonment. Please write to:
Isaac Durham #146 028
P. O. Box 56
Marion, Ohio 43302
BANNER
STAFF
iVIEETING
Wed., Feb. 23,1977
6:30 p.m.
STUDENT RECITALS—
1976-77
February 20
Miss Sandra Johnson, Voice
February 27
Miss Lisa Anderson, Piano
April 3
Miss Donna Brown, Piano
April 17
Miss Sherrie Hill, Voice
All Recitals Will Be Held In
The Annie Merner Pfeiffer
Chapel At 7:00 P.M.