PAGE TWO
THE BENNETT BANNER
FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 1979
Bennett makes difference in lives
What a difference you’ve made in our lives Bennett College.
As we, the graduating class of 1979, reflect on four of the most
important years of our lives, we cannot help but imagine how
our lives would be today if we had not entered this institution
of higher education.
Would we have the life-long friendships that we have now?
Would we have made such fond acquaintances with various fac
ulty and staff? Would we be the same persons that we are
today? The answer would probably be “no” to all of the three
questions.
Often we complained about Bennett’s everlasting traditions
and rules and regulations, but nothing is understood until you
are in the situation that we are in and are able to look back
with appreciation. Now we see why and how the “Bennett Belle”
is such a great lady of distinction.
THANK YOU BENNETT COLLEGE for your nurturings,
scoldings, praises and advice. We, the class of 1979, have grown
into adventurous and independent young women. We truly appre
ciate all that you have done in molding us for society.
WATCH THAT WORD!
Many problems in communication come about when we
are not careful to choose the exact word to express our
meaning. In the following sentences, choose the word which
is the better of the two in parentheses.
1. I saw only a small (amount, number) of people at the
dance last night.
2. There were actually (fewer, less) than twelve there.
3. There was much disagreement (between, among) those
who were there about the reason for the poor attendance.
4. Some people argued that (being that, because) it was a
stormy night, many were afraid to go out.
5. Others thought the reason was (because, that) not
enough publicity had been given to the dance.
(Solutions on Page 5)
MY FfLLOW CLASSWflTPS , WE Have comb
A LOM& WAV FROM oup fVAlVE DA'XS AS
FfiESH/V^EN TOCjAX Afi& WBLL-
LeARfNED YOUN& WOMeN. rHAMKs TO
BeNMETT . we ARE INOv^J PREPARED TD
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IF NOT PS'fCMOLO&l^Al-L'Y *
LET US GO FORTH
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Letters to tke eJitor
oave our campus
Dear Editor:
I am truly sorry to find that
the students at Bennett College
no longer hold a ruling hand in
trees; Miller salutes student workers
For Belles Onl
y
Graduation only tke first of many mountains
by Dorothy J. Brown
I climbed the highest mountain
that my once fetal mind could
conjure up. And when I finally
reached the top of my enormous
mountain (and feeling quite proud
of myself, too) I saw that there
were a great many more moun
tains, even higher than mine. But
I felt no remorse at having
climbed only a small mountain
because I knew that the climb to
the top of the mountain on which
I stood had prepared me to climb
even higher mountains.
Class of ’79, we have reached
the top of a great mountain. But
don’t stop here because your
climbing has just begun. Let’s
look at our four years of strug
gling and climbing as preparation
for the many mountainous tasks
that lay ahead.
If you have not already done
so, now is the time to set new and
greater goals. Our work here is
complete and we must go on to
something else. Life is like one
huge cycle; we set goals, reach
goals and set more goals.
There’s more to my story.
When I reached the top of the
mountain on which I once stood,
I decided to go on to a greater
mountain. But before I started
my new journey I remembered
those people who did not make it
to my mountain but still they
pushed me on. I remembered
those people who have gone on to
greater mountains and reached
down to pull me up.
This, my sisters, is to say that
we cannot reach our goals with
out the help of others. I know
that you have your pride and in
dependence but there’s a limit to
everything and we must not be
ashamed to accept the help of
others. And as we move on, we
must never forget those people
who aided us in our times of need.
There’s an old saying: “The people
you meet on your way up are the
same people you meet on your
way down.” Believe it.
Back to my story.
When I got to the top of my
mountain I decided to reach down
and help a sister who was at the
very bottom of the mountain, try
ing to decide whether or not to
begin the climb. I let her know
that the road up was long and
hard but very rewarding. I ex
tended my hand to her.
Self-satisfaction not only comes
when you have accomplished a
Continued on Page 5
the events that take place upon
this campus. Even though it was
a while back in the history of the
college, I am truly proud of the
tradition of planting trees in re
membrance of various outstanding
people who have contributed to
make Bennett what it is today.
I am quite sure that people
would find it an honor to have
been remembered in such a last
ing manner, for trees tell many
stories, and carry a very innocent,
but meaningful history to all those
that gaze upon their beauty, and
lie in their shade. I only hope
that there will be some trees left
for someone to admire years from
now.
I have always admired the trees
here upon this campus; for it is
the trees, along with the old dis
tinguished buildings, which give
Bennett College much of its char
acter. In my freshman year I was
always so proud to observe our
campus as opposed to the bleak
asphalt, concrete exterior of A&T
State University. But just take a
look at what is happening to the
trees. One by one they are all
slowly disappearing; and maybe
it is just a little hint letting us
know that much of the pride, tra
dition and a few other important
Senior reflects on college career
by Donna Meacham
As I prepare to graduate from Bennett College, I find
myself reflecting upon my undergraduate experiences and
wishing to share with my fellow students, especially the
underclassmen, some of the things I’ve learned, and a little
of what I feel about Bennett.
I came to Bennett for a variety of reasons, the principal
one being its smallness. I’ve never wanted to attend a large
university where it would be inevitable that the majority
of the thousands of strange faces that met me on my arrival
would still be strange upon my departure.
I have friends who have had that experience at large,
predominately white universities, and, despite their finan
cial prosperity and the fancy facilities they have access to,
I don’t envy them for a moment.
There are not enough new buildings in the world to
Bui
1978-79
Editor-In-Chief
Deborah Tillman
Associate Editor
Debbie Hodges
Adviser
Layout Editors
.Guila Cooper, Beverly Rumley
Circulation Manager
Janis Badson
Cartoonist
S. Marie Brown
Photographers
Staff
Myra Davis, Terrence Marable
Dorothy Brown
Hattie Purnell
Guila Cooper
Romona Reid
Bernetta Hamilton
Beverly Rumley
Marion Johnson
Racquel Stewart
Debbie Little
Debra Perkins
Joan Walker
replace the feeling that someone cares about you. I’ve
known that feeling every time an instructor has missed
lunch to administer an exam to me after I’ve been ill or
taken me aside to let me know that I’m slipping and ex
pressed confidence that I could do better. That kind of thing
has been characteristic of my Bennett experience, and it
has been invaluable.
I must admit that it took a while for me to become so
philosophical about my experiences here. For a long time,
I took them for granted; and, sad to say, I can see that
some of the underclassmen are doing the same. For you,
underclassmen, some advice: keep your perspective. Always
remember who you are and where you are in time.
All the recent developments concerning desegregation in
the UNC system and in colleges across the entire United
States involves you directly. It is essentially the same forces
that are attempting to merge A&T with UNOG that will
someday undermine the existence of colleges like ours if
we show no interest in doing anything about it. Apathy is
our worst enemy.
Above all, don’t be a party to idle criticism of your col
lege. If you feel strongly enough that some changes should
be made, make suggestions for improvements and follow
them up. This college would not exist without students; and
if enough of them are dissatisfied and vocal about it to the
right people, changes will be made.
Finally, draw all that you can from your Bennett ex
perience. Resist the urge to take courses that you think
you can “slide” through. Partake liberally of the offerings
in the arts. Take a course that’s not in your pattern simply
because it’s interesting.
You are in the process of molding the “you” that you
will go forth and announce as a Bennett graduate. Make
Bennett proud of you. Make yourself proud. If you take
advantage of all that is here for you, you will be prepared
to take your place in the world as the vital and well-rounded
women that Bennett has traditionally graduated.
I’ll see you around, sisters; I’m sure of that.
traits of Bennett College are also
disappearing.
A lot of people have asked me
why I am so concerned about the
“dumb” trees. That just goes to
show what is happening to Ben
nett. There are a very few people
that really care about anyihing
that happens here on this campus,
but they have never been I. When
ever I feel there is an important
point to be made, or an issue
worth discussing, I make a point
to see the right people and discuss
it. I am concerned. Shouldn’t you
care about something in your
lifetime?
I would truly hate to return to
Bennett in five years and find it
bare with only the buildings and
a sparse lawn. It would be then
that I would feel disgusted and
truly ashamed of what Bennett
had become. All its purpose would
simply seem to have been useless,
if we can destroy what has taken
years to cultivate.
Many people may not under
stand. Well, the only thing I can
say is that these are the people
who will never be able to appre
ciate true beauty at its best. I
truly feel that this is a reflection
upon the attitude and the age in
which we now live, an age where
man feels that old things are ob
solete, and block the way for new
technological and scientific ad
vancements. This is the age which
I am truly afraid of and choose
to stay as far away from as
possible.
Tell me, if you can, what ex
actly would Bennett College look
like without the beauty cast upon
it by the trees?
Hattie Purnell
To the Editor;
Because I will feel a great loss
after May 13, 1979, I thought I
would like to write this letter of
appreciation to all the student
workers on campus. To me there
are no words adequate enough to
say how much I have enjoyed my
two departing workers and how
much I appreciate all that they
have done to help this office func
tion. I can say that they did not
work solely for the financial bene
fits but for their own professional
growth and the growth of the col
lege. Whenever I needed some
extra help or was in a tight
squeeze I could always call on
these two young ladies and they
would never turn me down.
On behalf of Bennett College,
the Career Services Center, and
myself, I would like to say “Thank
You” and “God Speed” from the
bottom of my heart to Kosa Faulk
and Franzine Franklin. This seems
so small but I will miss you.
Always,
Thelma T. Miller
Coordinator, Career
Services Center