Page Two
THE BENNETT BANNER
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1977
Sisterhood Is Bennett Experience
A small light bulb lit up the other day when, as I was going
through my mail, I opened a letter concerning the Bennett tra
dition we call the campus “Big Sister and Little Sister” policy.
Ah . . . the memories. What is it really like? What do you
say to someone who seems to be six-feet-two and flatly states
“I’m your big sister.” To a freshman, this becomes an unfor
gettable experience.
Once introductions are over, the conversation closes with
the “Big Sister” saying “Come by and see me.” Well, one might
think this is the end of what began as an intriguing relation
ship; but on the contrary, it is just the beginning, or it should
be.
The purposes of the Big Sister-Little Sister program are
beautiful, if they are fulfilled. Unlike some schools which foster
“unity and sisterhood” for a week during the beginning of the
semester, the policy at Bennett is a lifelong experience.
It’s an experience filled with birthday cards, congratulation
cards on making honors convocation, get-well cards, advice on
how to trap that special guy and hints on how to get around
certain aspects of student life (if you know what I mean). Yes,
“Big Sisters” and “Little Sisters” can be and are beautiful. How
ever, it seems as though the “thought” behind the program has
become lax.
Four years of college can never be taken away from us, nor
can our “Little Sisters,” and vice versa. It’s time we took pride
in our college heritage and traditions. One act of concern goes a
long way.
For many of our campus sisters, this policy makes the dif
ference between their success as a student and as a person. It
means a lot to know that there is someone you can go to when
your roommate could care less or when you don’t have enough
money to call home with.
Sisters, let’s take each other seriously. Many of us will never
see each other again once we leave these ivory colored walls;
but isn’t it nice to know that no matter where you might be, you
have another special sister ?
"Glamour" Magazine Holds Contest
To Select Top Ten College Women
m
m
Bennett College students are in
vited to participate in GLAMOUR
Magazine’s 1978 Top Ten College
Women Contest. Young women
colleges and universities through
out the country will compcte in
GLAMOUR’S search for ten out
standing students.
A panel of GLAMOUR editors
will select the winners on the
basis of their solid records of
achievements in academic studies
and/or in extracurricular activi
ties on campus or in the commu
nity.
The 1978 Top Ten College Wom
en will be featured in GLAM
OUR’S August College Issue. Dur
ing April, May or June, the ten
winners will be invited to New
York to meet the GLAMOUR staff
and will receive a $500 cash prize.
Anyone who is interested in en
tering the search should contact
Myra Davis, director of Public
Relations for more information.
The deadline for submitting an
application to GLAMOUR is De-
Fashion Show
To Highlight
“Unity Week”
The Pre-Alumnae Council is
sponsoring a Fashion Show as part
of the NAACP’s “Unity Week,” on
Sunday, Dec. 4, at 4:30 p.m.
Fashions will be from S. Ed
wards in the Forum VI Friendly
Shopping Center. Models are be
ing selected from Bennett’s stu
dent body. A donation of $3 for
adults and $1 for students with
college identification is being
asked.
cember 15. There are a limited
number of applications, so don’t
wait.
Oeller CL "pof of ^old d-^-
■flie e/nj op-j-fie. tainlDou/l
Letters to tke Editor: Need for Orientation to SGA St
resse(
How do students at Bennett
perceive their student govern
ment? On the surface, it appears
that they have no idea of what it
is and what it does. And whose
fault is this'.' Well, that might
take a while to explain. But to get
things moving toward improving
this situation, let’s place the blame
on poor advising and lack of
leadership role models.
A young woman does not enter
Bennett College knowing what the
student government tradition is.
She must be oriented. If she is
allowed to drift through several
years of not knowing its nature,
she will not know the responsi
bilities of student leaders when
she assumes such a position.
On matters of student govern
ance, power is scattered tradition
ally among several groups. Stu
dent government is generally the
all-purpose organization, though
students commonly refer to it as
“the no-purpose organization.” It
can “dabble” in all facets of
campus life. The Administration
should recognize it as the official
channel to express student con
cerns on student life matters. Ad
ministrators can also use student
government as a sounding board
and sanction for various pro
posals. But this has not been the
case in recent Bennett affairs.
Students who thoroughly under
stand that the administration
needs student government can
use leverage in obtaining justified
changes. But first, Student Affairs
must make sure that at least some
students understand the institu
tional system and the role of the
student body within the system.
This can be done through student
leadership workshops throughout
the year. Outside resource persons
should be brought in to help stu
dents understand the role of the
student government and the of
ficers; to make and implement
worthwhile objectives; and to gen
erate student involvement.
It would be nice to say that at
Bennett when student leaders
speak, administrators listen. In
stead, it appears that administra
tors are listening, but student
leaders are not speaking.
In various court cases involving
control of student activity fees, the
argument has been on who con
trols fees paid by students used to
finance student services. In every
court case, the administrators and
trustees have won. The deciding
factor has been legal responsibil
ity, If something goes wrong the
institution is liable, not the stu
dents. Therefore, courts have ruled
that the institution must have
final control of student fees to
protect itself from legal hassles.
At each college the amount of
control varies. At Bennett, stu
dents don’t seem to care who con
trols student life programs. No
one seems to care where the
money for the student newspaper
or yearbook comes from as long
as the show goes on. Local prob-
For Belles Only: P
ersona
1 H
ygiene
by Dotty Brown
Like most beauty, health, and
fashion conscious women we take
extra care and pride in making
ourselves look as attractive and
presentable as possible. And that’s
good.
B'ut what about that annoying
1977-78
Editor-In-Chief
Joyce A. Bass
Associate Editor
Deborah Tillman
Adviser
Dr. Virginia Tucker
Layout Editor
Debbie Hodges
Circulation Manager
Janis Badson
Business Manager
Terry Lewis
Cartoonists
“Twinkle” Richmond, Karen Evans
Photographers
Reporters
. . . .Joyce Bass, Myra Davis
Linda Anderson
Jacqueline Roberts
Vanessa Baitley
Beverly Rumley
Dorothy Brown
Sharon Sanders
Sandra Brown
Yvette Shelton
Patricia Crawford
Sabrina Sturgis
Renee Hall
Yolanda White
Becki Holder
Jackie Williams
Marion Johnson
Dionna Woods
Sheila Purnell
Wendy Woods
little itch you may have, or the
unpleasant odor, or maybe you
are experiencing discomfort dur
ing intercourse? Chances are that
you could have a vaginal infection
and not even know it. Don’t worry,
you are not alone. Gynecologists
estimate that one in every three
women has vaginitis.
Vaginitis is a catch-all term
used to describe several infections
that attack the vaginal tissues.
Vaginitis does not include the hard
core venereal diseases such as
gonorrhea and syphilis. Actually,
vaginal infections can be more
annoying than serious. But this
does not mean that they can go
overlooked. Like any other ill
nesses, vaginal infections, should
be treated to avoid further com
plications.
Although some forms of vagi
nitis can be transmitted during
sexual intercourse, vaginitis germs
are present in soil, vegetables,
milk products, and the air. Doc
tors say that there are always a
few of these germs in our body
and that the slightest change to
our vaginal chemistry can cause
them to multiply.
Taking the Pill or antibiotics,
pregnancy, obesity, diabetes, or
poor eating habits are conditions
that may upset our chemical bal
ance, leaving us more susceptible
to infection. Some doctors hold
the Pill and antibiotics as the
major causes of the current vagi
nitis epidemic. Some evidence in
dicates that tight nylon panties,
panty hose and slacks promote
vaginitis by limiting the circula
tion of air and raising body tem
perature around the vagina.
The form of vaginitis that is
most common is Candidiasis (also
called Candida, monilia, vaginal
thrush or vulvovaginitis). It is
caused by the yeast like fungus
Candida albicans. Common symp
toms are burning, swelling,, and
Intense itching in the pelvic area.
Candida is usually treated with a
fungicidal cream applied locally or
with a fungicidal tablet inserted
into the vagina. Although the
symptoms may disappear within a
few hours after treatment, it is
important that the medication is
(Continued on Page 3)
lems seem to generate on “who
has what date for this” or “where
it’s going to be held.” Here again,
Student Affairs must get into the
business of explaining the bud
getary process and the policies
governing student services. How
does an organization receive
funds? How is it financed? Each
year, SGA leaders should submit
a budget report as is required of
college offices. Students should
know how much they have to
spend and how it is being spent.
Power is also traditionally given
to the student newspaper because
it parallels the SGA in function
and scope. But at Bennett, during
the last several years, it has lost
its impact. It should address itself
to issues and act as a channel for
student views. It should not com
pete with student government, but
should augment it. Often good,
constructive investigative articles
have revealed things which served
to generate change. The Banner
must adopt a more sophisticated,
challenging tone. Inferior writers
must be weeded out to make room
for more effective reporting.
Much of the responsibility for
upgrading student affairs and its
related components will depend on
organization advisers. Students
must be challenged to seek “ex
cellence” in whatever they under
take. They must gain skills in ef
fective planning and management.
Once the tradition is re-establish-
ed, new students will have role
models to build on.
The challenge is for this year’s
student government to recruit po
tential student leaders into com
mittee involvement or other areas
of responsibility. Workshops
should be held quarterly to intro
duce them to the Bennett College
system and administration. One
writer put it so aptly, “When they
‘know’ you well enough, you can
disagree and not worry.” Another
said, “The idea is to play the game
according to the rules of those in
power, but to beat the powerful
at their own game.” But the strat
egy at Bennett, is not winning any
games, but developing responsible
student government which com
bines “assertiveness with respect
ability.”
Concerned