PAGE TWO
THE BENNETT BANNER
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1981
Council election: a race for races
November 3, 1981 is a day that will stand out in the minds of Greensboro
residents for some time. That date marked the second year anniversary of the
Communist Workers Party’s confrontation with the Ku Klux Klan—a meeting
that left five dead. And it marked the election of an all-white city council.
What began as a contest between 23 people seeking city council seats ended
up as a power struggle dividing the 12 post-primary candidates. What happened
between the CWP and KKK is history.
Two influential Black groups, the NAACP and Progressive Committee en
dorsed Dorothy Bardolph, Katie Dorsett, Prince Graves, James Kirkpatrick, Lon
nie Revels and Joseph Wood. The opposing and conservative group. Stand Up
For Greensboro, endorsed Joanne Bowie, Ralph Cambron, Cameron Cooke, Doug
las Galyon, Lois McManus and one lone Black, Alexander Parker.
The result was a “lily white” city council; all three Blacks—Dorsett, Graves
and Parker—were defeated. Something unexplained went wrong.
Perhaps the problem was within the Black candidates. While Graves got
various endorsements, he hurt his campaign by making statements concerning
minority hiring. Also, Graves was appointed and not elected to a seat in the
first place. Dorsett, an A&T business professor, was also one to apply (unsuc
cessfully) for the seat, vacated by Jimmie I. Barber, which Graves was ap
pointed to. Her list of civic involvements is impressive, but she seemed to pin
her hopes too much on the minority vote. Parker also applied for Barber’s seat.
His campaign was damaged when he failed to get the Black endorsement. This
made him an easy pawn for the opposing group and also took votes away from
the other two Black candidates.
Graves probably had the bset chance of winning of them all. He had earned
the respect of both Blacks and whites through his work for the city and for St.
James Baptist Church. But his statements, which made front page on the City/
State sections of the local papers, caused his ruination and on election night, he
didn’t even show up at the courthouse to see the results. Both Dorsett and Parker
were “losers.” If they didn’t get the council seat before, what makes us think
they deserve one now"^ Parker was a double loser because he didn t get the en
dorsement of the Black group either. The three were a depressing lot as election
day approached.
Sex was also a factor. Three women, Bardolph, Bowie and McManus, were
elected. All are incumbents. Bardolph, the only one supported by the Black group,
is a retired history professor from Bennett. She is completing her first term on
the council and has proven that she is informed and outspoken on the issues. She
will likely prove more effective than either of the Black candidates ever could
have been.
Yes the council is all white; that is fact. Nothing can be done about it. Many
of us complain, but for the wrong reasons. Do we want an integrated council
or do we want a council that is both integrated and effective? The Blacks in
Atlanta who voted Andrew Young in as mayor proved that Blacks vote when
they have someone worthwhile to vote for.
A white man at the courthouse summed up popular sentiments. When the
final votes came in he shouted, “Blacks don t count in this city. What would
be more correct is to say that Blacks don t count as much in this city as whites
do It’s time we took off our blinders and concentrated on people and issues
rather than colors. Obviously, we can’t center a campaign around racial lines
when we re working with these kinds of candidates in a 38 percent minority
setting.
Unfortunately, race seems to have been so much of a factor in the election
that other issues were avoided, even forgotten. Districting and toxic waste were
put on a bottom shelf. Many Blacks view the results as a sign of white supremacy
in this city while others see them as proof that residents vote for the candidates,
not the endorsing groups.
All of us would have liked at least one Black on the council, but we would
like someone who will get the job done and look out for our interests. It s pretty
hard to find someone like that in a field of leftovers. (Myra Jewel George)
COOLI> iiJ0C9€.
op -rHe ‘5>ou(er
Letters to tlie editor:
Belles: don’t let “soror” precede “sister
To The Editor:
It has come to my attention
that the formation of a Pan-
Hellenic Council is in the making.
It is true that this will provide
an opportunity for the Greek or
ganizations to join together and
discuss Greek issues and problems
and, consequently, bring about a
more unified atmosphere. The
Greeks are truly powerful on Ben
nett’s campus and, as a result, they
do have a tremendous effect on
the entire student body.
Bennett College has presented
its students with a history of unity
and sisterhood. In an effort to
continue this history, I feel it is
also time to formulate a council
whereby Greeks and Non-Greeks
can sit down together and discuss
the things needed to create a more
7Xe Fennell
Editor-in-chief Myra George
Associate editor Wanda Edwards
Adviser Michael Gaspeny
Circulation manager Tina Johnson
Business manager Wanda Dicl
Cartoonists Norman Barbee
Venus McDowell
Photographers Shelly Coston
Reporters
Andrea Burch Melinda Lowery
Theresa Coleman Bonita McClain
Mary Cook Arlene McNeil
Shelly Coston Karen Shields
Diane Ewings Lynn Stevenson
Evelyn Glenn Alice F. Taylor
Karen Heck _ ,,, .
Tina Johnson Tywanna Watkins
Jennifer Jones Denise Wilder
harmonious environment in which
all students will be able to grow
and develop into the traditional
women that Bennett College prides
itself on. It should be so that
whether a student chooses to
pledge Greek or not, she will not
be put in a position where she
feels alienated. We cannot afford
to let “Soror” take precedence over
“sisterhood.” The education of
women and the sister relationship
have been the binding forces hold
ing, our small community together.
It is my hope that Bennett College
will continue to educate and pro
mote love among all Black women.
M. L. Cook
I would like to take this oppor
tunity to explain the Job Location
and Development program that
has been established among the
Greensboro Regional Consortium.
As director of this program, I ac
tively seek off-campus part-time
employment opportunities for stu
dents regardless of their financial
need.
Job Notices are posted on each
campus regularly. Students are
encouraged to check the “Part-
Time Employment Opportunities”
bulletin board daily for new list
ings. Job Notices do not contain
the name of the employer. It is
essential for all students to com
plete a Student Registration form
and have a short interview with
me in order to receive further
information about a specific job
opening.
Brochures explaining the JLD
program and how to participate
have been placed in all student
mailboxes. However, I am sure
many students are still unaware
of JLD. If you should come in con
tact with a student in need of a
job, please refer them to me. My
base office is on the Greensboro
College campus, however, I will
be on each campus to meet with
students at the following desig
nated times.
Bennett College 1st Floor,
Administration Building
Wednesday 2:30-4:30
I want to stress my availability
to any student not being able to
meet with me at their specific
time. An appointment can be made
by calling my office at 272-7102;
I will be more than happy to set
up a mutually convenient time for
us to meet.
I would also like to mention that
the serviceability of JLD is two
fold. Employers have access to a
pool of qualified applicants from
three colleges, immediate adver
tising of jobs, and referral of only
those qualified applicants. This
FREE service to employers (as
well as to students) enables a
saving of advertising and place
ment costs. If the opportunity
arises to mention my program to
an employer, I would be most
appreciative.
I am most eager to help students
and invite any suggestions you
might have as I continue to
develop JLD.
Denise L. Nugent
Lay-Out Seminar
Will Be Held
Monday, Nov. 16
at 6:30 p.m.,
Banner Office