Page Four
THE BENNETT BANNER
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1976
Vi., ■
M
Dr. Moss visits Africa,
becomes part of culture
»♦ . ^ V A li * ‘. ■ .
f
Profiled freshman, Pam Reid, strolls to class.
Photo by Pam Paschall
Profiles
Pam Reid new face on campus
by Hattie Purnell
Upon us this semester are at
least two-hundred new faces
whose names and personalities
must be instilled in the minds of
upper classmen.
The freshman class of 1978-79
has arrived, and all of us upper
classmen should do our special
part in sharing with them some of
the Bennett charm and tradition
which we have acquired during
our stay here at Bennett. This in
turn will insure that the Bennett
tradition and the many fine quali
ties of the irrepressible “Bennett
Belle” will be passed on in years
to follow our departure from
“dear” Bennett.
Slim, dark-haired, bright eyed,
Pam Reid, a freshman from Char
lotte, North Carolina, is one of
those many new faces which has
come to Bennett for various rea
sons. As a newcomer, Bennett’s
many traditions are all very new
and different to Pam and not al
ways easy for her to comprehend
without further elaboration from
someone who is familiar with it
all. But her hope is to become
more acquainted with Bennett and
its many facets, for this would
enable her to be a part of the
Bennett family.
Eighteen year old Pam, is a
business administration major,
with hopes of being successful in
her studies to accomplish her main
goal: to be on the Dean’s list.
With two sisters already in col
lege and both of them seniors, one
at U.N.C. at Charlotte, and the
other at Winston-Salem State,
Pam is well aware of the sacri
fices, trials and benefits to be
reaped from a “college experi
ence.”
“I chose Bennett College be
cause it was small. I felt if I
needed special attention in my
studies, I would be able to receive
the help needed. Being a number
at a large university was certainly
not an appealing thought,” said
the Belle smiling and giving the
matter some more thought. “I feel
that I will grow from my experi
ence here at Bennett. Learning to
live with my peers, as well as
others, will definitely be a chal
lenge. We are all here for one rea
son, let us pursue this goal and
learn to live together.” This is a
philosophy which Pam really be
lieves in whole-heartedly.
In high school Pam was an ac
tive member of the N.A.A.C.P. and
served on her sophomore class
executive committee. Graduating
from Independence High School in
Charlotte, Pam was a part of the
Cooperative Office Program.
Participating in this program, she
was allowed to attend school on a
half-a-day basis and work the rest
of the day in a business atmos
phere. This, in a sense, served as
a prerequisite for preparing her
for some of the courses she en
rolled in this semester.
Pam is a new face, with new
ideas and goals; and it is up to
Bennett and all the Belles to help
Pam achieve her goals and to pro
vide her with a learning experi
ence that will always be retained.
But it is also up to Pam to con
tribute to Bennett College some
of her innovative ideas and crea
tive abilities. This would definite
ly be a positive contribution to the
preservation of “the” Bennett
Belle.
Dt. Mattie E. Moss was rather
apprehensive about participating
in an African study experience.
Although she wanted to tour the
countries, she questioned studying
West African cultures. After all,
she is a professor of college mathe
matics.
Realizing the opportunity being
offered to her by the dean of the
college, she accepted. Dr. Moss,
chairman of the Mathematics De
partment at Bennett College, was
one of 20 college professors in the
Phelps-'Stokes Fund West African
Ethnic Heritage Summer Semi
nar. The Fund provides college
students and professors of minor
ity institutions the experience to
broaden their knowledge of Afri
can and Caribbean cultures.
“Our group visited the Ivory
Coast, Upper Volta and Sierre
Leone,” she said. “Our living ar
rangements allowed us to become
part of the cultures during the
seven weeks.”
She noted that prior to de
parting from the United States,
the entire group underwent a two-
week comprehensive briefing.
“However, it was the actual
tour that allowed me to verify old
notions and to discard miscon
ceptions about African cultures,”
she said.
The Phelps-Stokes organization
sponsored lectures on traditional
West African cultures, health
problems, education systems, the
arts, governments, economic de
velopment and religious practices.
Dr. Moss said, “I was quite im
pressed by the skilled craftsman
ship of people who have passed
these skills down generation after
generation. One can only marvel
at the weaving, tie-dyeing, wax
printing and wood carving. We
see these things on exhibit in the
States and through the African
students around our colleges, but
to actually witness the work in
its proper setting has great im
pact on the viewer.”
When Dr. Moss returned to
Greensboro, she had quite a few
souvenirs for close friends and
relatives. In fact, she is still
amused at the system of barter
ing used to acquire them.
“Few Americans, if any, know
this traditional form of purchas
ing items. In the marketplaces of
West Africa it is a way of life. It’s
interesting to hear people attempt
to barter in high school French,”
she said.
Dr. Moss, a native North Caro
linian, noted the continuing influ
ences of the former colonial
powers on the two French speak
ing countries. The Ivory Coast and
Upper Volta, as well as on Eng
lish si>eaking Sierre Leone.
“There is also a marked differ
ence in the economic development
of these countries. The Ivory
Coast is one of the most prosper
ous countries in Africa, while Up
per Volta is certainly one of the
poorest,” she said.
She also was feted at some very
different meals. The African
dishes often generated a great deal
of uneasiness for the tour party,
she pointed out.
“We were served one-dish
meals in many places,” she ex
plained. “This implies all of the
people in attendance at the meal
eating from the same bowl with
their right hands.”
Dr. Moss explained that in most
areas toilet paper is a luxury
item; therefore the use of the left
hand is reserved for this personal
task. She noted that these are the
kinds of customs one must fa
miliarize herself with. “You
should not extend your left hand
for most things, although in many
cases it is a custom left over from
old days.”
She has interesting, humorous
stories to tell of Americans in
West Africa. One of the significant
points of the orientation was to
explain certain rules and folk
ways of the countries to be vis
ited. “However, some one is al
ways going to do the wrong thing.
One of the men in our group was
chased by an elephant after be
ing warned not to get too close to
them. The same person was
chased by an irate husband with
a machete after he took a picture
Eight added to faculty
by Barbara E. Jones
For the 1978-1979 academic
year, Bennett College has received
eight new additions to the faculty.
In the Health, Physical Educa
tion and Recreation Department,
new faculty are Vivian Fuller,
Germaine McAuley and Judith
Cole. Ms. Fuller is an instructor
in the department. She received
the B.S. degree from Fayetteville
State University and the master’s
degree from the University of
Idaho. Ms. Fuller is the adviser
to the Women’s Recreation Asso
ciation.
Ms. McAuley holds the new
position of activities assistant. She
received the B.A. degree from
High Point College and is present
ly enrolled in the master’s pro
gram at A&T. Mrs. McAuley
plans to coach a winning volley
ball team this year.
Ms. Cole, an instructor in the
department, received both her
bachelor’s and master’s degrees
from Ohio University. Ms. Cole is
currently enrolled at UNC-G.
In the Humanities Division, new
faculty are Anne Gillespie,
Michael Gaspeny and Norman
Barbee.
Mrs. Gillespie, a part-time in
structor in English, received her
B.A. from Shaw University and
her M.S. from Columbia Univer
sity.
Gaspeny, also an English in
structor, received his B.A. from
Randolph-Macon College, the M.A.
from the University of Richmond
and the M.F.A. from the Univer
sity of Arkansas.
Barbee, who is replacing Alma
Adams, who is on study leave, as
instructor of art, is a graduate of
North Carolina Central University
and received his M.F.A. from
Howard.
In the Department of Educa
tion, new faculty are Carolina A.
Coston and Marshena Gist. Mrs.
Gist, assistant professor of read
ing, received the M. Ed. degree
from the University of Massa
chusetts in reading. She has
studied at Boston University and
at Amherst University. Ms. Cos
ton, instructor of special educa
tion, received her bachelor’s de
gree from A&T and the master’s
degree from the University of
Wisconsin at LaCrosse.
/
New Physical Education Instructor, Judith Cole, demonstrates the improper
position for holding the tennis racket.
Photo by Pam Paschall
of the African’s wife,” she said.
One of the first things most
American blacks do when visiting
in Africa is to purchase a native
costume. “One of the program
participants decided that she
would wear her costume to a wor
ship service and when we arrived
at the church, she was the only
person dressed in native costume,”
she said.
During the trips to the back
country. Dr. Moss best remembers
“lost shoes in water falls, scraped
knees fromi climbing, mosquito
bites and the heat.” However, she
hopes to share her experience with
the students at Bennett in spite
of these minor discomforts.
“I ate African dishes, witnessed
tribal dances and learned some
African folkways. I want the
young women at Bennett to gain
a better appreciation of their
African heritage and to seek op
portunities for such international
travel-study.”
Career Center has
two staff clianges
Thelma T. Miller has been
named coordinator of the
Career Services Center and
Elaine Ivery is now secretary-
assistant for placement in the
CGXit-Gr
Mrs. Miller, who was acting
coordinator of Career Ser
vices, and Mrs. Ivery, who
was in Word-Processing, were
appointed to their new posi
tions during the summer.
Mrs. Miller invites all stu
dents, especially seniors, to
come in and pick up their reg
istration packets as soon _ as
possible. This is information
that is needed to enable sen
iors to be interviewed by com
pany representatives, school
systems and graduate schools.
Schedules will be passed out
to each senior notifying her of
different recruiters that will
be available.
All seniors are urged to
watch their mailboxes for
notices announcing seminar
dates for October. Some of
the seminars to be presented
are Interviewing Techniques,
Resume and Application Let
ter Writing, Graduate School
Requirements and Processing
Information, Pre-Law, Edu
cation, and What Can You Do
with a Liberal Arts Degree?
There will also be Coopera
tive Education seminars for
freshmen and interested
upperclassmen.
Fuller, Gaspeny
discuss objectives
by Betty Brown
Vivian Fuller and Michael
Gaspeny are two new addi
tions to the college faculty.
Ms. Fuller, of Cedar Grove,
N. O., is the new gym instruc
tor and director of the in
tramural program. She taught
previously at the university
of Idaho. Ms. Fuller stated,
“I enjoy my work at Bennett
building the WRA.” Her main
goal is to encourage the girls
to have endurance.
“The faculty is friendly and
the facilities here are great,”
Fuller said. She urged every
one to attend the flag foot-
b a 11 championship game
Thursday, Oct. 12, at 5:00
p.m., on the field behind the
gym.
Gaspeny, who is from Nor
folk, Va., is an English in
structor. His objectives in
clude trying to get the stu
dents to be able to write in a
(Continued on Page 6)