Newspapers / Bennett College Student Newspaper / Sept. 17, 1982, edition 1 / Page 4
Part of Bennett College Student Newspaper / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
PAGE FOUR THE BENNETT BANNER SEPTEMBER 17, 1982 Wallington loses Weighty a sketch by Tanya Mills In one of the most luxurious townhouses in Boston’s Beacon Hill section lived that incompara ble slob, Wallington Davenport. He wasn’t your basic ordinary slob; he was a terribly wealthy individual whose tacky appear ance and sagging bulges repre sented his good qualities. Yes, Wallington was an incompetent, bumbling idiot who just happened to be president of a huge New England computer company, Dav enport Electronics Incorporated (DEI). No, Wallington did not deserve the dubious title of president, but fortunately for him his father had died and left everything to him. Wallington was not like his business associate, Alexander Powers, whose business skill superceded his sophistication and good looks. Mr. Powers was vice president of DEI, and he practi cally owned and operated the company. In Alex’s cleverness, he tricked Wallington into selling 90 percent of the company’s shares. Walling ton, in his eagerness and greed, gave what he thought to be a modest price of $2,000,000,000. Alex gladly accepted this price since the company was worth ten times the amount. Wallington and Alex loved one thing and one thing only, money. They’d stop at nothing to g,ain more wealth. Wallington, unlike his counter part, relied on luck rather than brainpower. For example,, once the number one computer X512 shut down. The engineers couldn’t find anything wrong. Everything seemed hopeless when all of a sudden Wallington shouted, “What’s the problem?” He picked up a wrench and threw it at the machine. Like magic, the com puter came on. Wallington, in his rage, was considered a genius. Alex, of course, didn’t need luck. He relied on trickery, his keen business sense and his ulti mate tool of persuasion. The com petition between these two asso ciates did not stop in the office. It went into their intimate lives as well. Although Wallington’s appear ance may have turned the ladies off, his money turned them on. He tried to project the playboy image to boost his character. Women were always using Wall ington in the most indiscreet ways. He always took them out, wined and dined them. Later, he insisted on taking them back to his town- house for a little romance. But the women he dated were very clever. They knew Wallington was an old softie and that he couldn’t refuse them anything. The ladies constantly com plained about the rags they wore and the junky cars they drove, and Wallington ended up buying all his dates new wardrobes and cars. In the area of love, Walling ton could never compete with Alex. Alex was as debonair as Ronald Coleman and as suave as Paul Newman. This combination made women attack him relentlessly. Some women even asked if they could take him out, but he always refused, saying, “Thank you, dar ling, but the pleasure’s all mine.” He took them out to fancy res taurants and gave them modest gifts like roses, perfumes or jewelry. His dates accepted the gifts and pleaded with him to return to his Beacon Hill penthouse. Women and business weren’t Wallington’s idea of good activ ities for competition. He felt that sport was a man’s only challenge. To Wallington, the athlete was the ultimate human being. In his college days, Wallington was a quarterback for Harvard. fortune Until he injured his right kneecap, he was a very good player. He was a sophomore when his foot ball career ended, and he was never to be the same again. He went into a state of manic depression. The muscles he had once developed turned into flab, and his ambition of playing pro football was dissolved. He still remembered his college days, so he challenged Alex to a weight lifting contest. The winner would receive $100,000. Alex was also a Harvard athlete —^an oarsman for the crew team. His arms were pretty strong. Wallington had been practicing for two months, and he expected the outcome to be in his favor. The event took place on March 15, 1974. They stalked into Wall ington’s private weight room to begin their stretching exercises. Then Wallington bench-pressed a mild 250 pounds. To his amaze ment, Alex pressed 250 with ease. Wallington pressed 300 and once again Alex matched his feat. Wallington was getting a bit nervous, and he was losing con centration. Alex decided to lead off this time and pressed 375, a lift which Wallington matched and then topped, hoisting 420. They were both completely ex hausted, but they continued. Wall ington would not give up. His pride depended on winning. Alex saw the pressure getting to Wall ington and told him to lead the next set of presses. They both lifted 450. Wallington became so nervous that he needed a shot of whiskey. After the drink, he went to the bench and looked at the bars with great intensity. Gripping the bars, he wrinkled his face into an ugly expression and pushed with all his might. He raised 500 pounds and knew the contest was over. Alex, how ever, didn’t give up. He knew this meant everything to Wallington, and he knew what would happen if Wallington lost the competition —manic depression all over again. Alex proceeded to the bars, and he pushed as hard as he could. It was a tough struggle. He got up to 495 and was breathing very heavily. BXit the last five pounds were never to be pressed. Sud denly, the weights slammed down, the impact making a crackling sound. Alex had lost, and Wallington became heartless. He criticized Alex, calling him a “weakling.” This so-called victory went to Wallington’s fat head. He now felt superior to Alex, and, for the first time in ten years, he regained his confidence. Wallington went upstairs to make some business phone calls, but, before he left the room, he told Alex not to return to work: “Alex your services aren’t needed in the company. So do yourself a favor and resign.” Alex, of course, was shocked to hear this news, but his sophistica tion prevented him from getting upset. After Wallington left, Alex looked at the bench-pressing bars. He set the weight for 550 and let out a terrible scream as he lifted the weight in one quick thrust. Wallington quickly returned to see what had happened. Alex said nothing; he just looked at the weights and laughed. He said; “My resignation will be on your desk Monday morning. I’m resig^i- ing, but I’m taking the company with me since I own 90 percent of its shares. You may own the company, but I control it.” He walked out the door. Wallington looked over at the weights, seeing the peg marked un ’?r 550. He realized that he had been defeated. His pride was dam aged, and his company was stripped from him by his one-time good friend and worthy competitor. Newsmakers Bennett has acquired three new faculty members—Mr. Jimmy Guess, social welfare; Rev. Wilbur Hines, mathematics and Dr. Alma Adebo, sociology-political science. Teaching is a new experience for Guess, who recently received his master’s degree in social work from Atlanta University, and did undergraduate work at Voorhees College in Denmark, S. C. “I feel that I’ll have a good year,” Guess said. “I’m going to work very hard to make this a good year.” According to Guess, “the students are friendly and very cooperative.” Hines previously taught general mathematics at Wilson High School in Flor ence, S. C. He is a supply minister for Florence’s New Bethel Presbyterian Church. He likes the atmosphere on campus: “The students seem sincere and faculty members are very cooperative.” He added, “Teaching at Bennett College is the zenith of a teacher’s dream.” Dr. Adebo could not be reached for comment. (Deborah Lewis, reporter) * * * Announcements from the library: The hours Monday-Thursday are 8:00 a.m.-9:30 p.m., Friday 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Saturday 9:00 a.m.-l :00 p.m. and Sunday 3:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. Instruction Materials Center hours Monday, Wednesday and Friday are 9:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Archives hours Monday-Friday are 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Special Collections hours Monday, Wednesday and Friday are 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. Appointments for using the special collections can be arranged during other library hours. Students can use the Guilford and Greensboro College libraries by presenting college i.d.’s. Book loans from A&T and UNC-G are possible through the inter-library loan reader’s services. A “Listening and Viewing Session for Non-print Material” will be held Sept. 23-24, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. A photo exhibition, “Hope and Dignity: Older Black Women in North Car olina,” will run Oct. 1-15. The show will involve Mrs. Susie Jones, wife of former president David D. Jones and Mrs. Nell Coley, alumna on the trustee board. Head Librarian Ednita Bullock hopes that the students vdll use the library for studying as well as recreational reading. Funds previously allocated for the student selection of books have been terminated. (Cynthia Spruill, reporter) * * * If you are not a Special Services (SS) student and you need help in basic freshman courses, then the SS Office is the place to go. “Those students seeking assistance should join a regular SS tutoring session,” according to Margaret Williamson, acting director of Special Services. Last year approximately 25 non-SS students received tutoring in addition to the 69 students enrolled in the program. Assistance is offered in seven basic courses headed b.v instructors and peer advisers. Math is tutored by Mr. Ray Treadway, Ms. Melissa Valentine and Ms. Tripti Sen; English by Ms. Marcella Whidbee, Mrs. Wendy Green and Ms. Gwen Walker; Reading by Mr. Reginald Treadwell, Green and Walker; History by Mrs. Burma Wilkins and Ms. Charlotte Breen; Biological Science by Dr. Perry Mack and Ms. Elizabeth Clark; Physical Science by Ms. Sharron Henry; Biology by Clark. When you feel the need for tutoring, the process for signing up is simple. 1. Consult Sign-Up Sheets available in the SS office. 2. Obtain schedule and sign up for a convenient time. 3. Wait to be consulted by a member of the tutoring program. (Valerie Reid, reporter) ♦ ♦ * Dr. Alma Adams and instructor Norman Barbee are representing Bennett at an invitational exhibition of art at the Sawtooth Center in Winston-Salem. The show, which began on Sept. 9, will extend through Oct. 5. It also presents artists from A&T and Winston-Salem State. Adams and Barbee feel the exhibition is a great opportunity to get to meet other artists, share their ideas and try to develop something similar from three historically black institutions. Adams is using this experience to showcase her talents and to interest students in Afro-American art. Barbee is excited about the show because it says something about what is going on here at Bennett and what is being taught. (Sheila Foxworth, reporter) * * * The Administrative Council has placed freshmen in Player Hall in order to enhance cohesion. “I felt it would help develop a close relationship within the class,” said Ouida R. Scarborough, residence life director. By allowing the younger Belles to reside at Player Hall, the Administrative Council is stressing the importance of sisterhood. Scarborough says, “This step of advancement would help retention. It would speak to the needs of parents, and, in general, it was good for college.” (Sharon Allen, reporter) * ♦ * A brown-bag lunch for faculty with artist Varnette P. Honeywood will launch the newest project of the Mellon Committee, Oct. 26 at noon in the Fine Arts studio. The session, the first in a series, will bring together teachers and visiting lecturers for purposes of sharing ideas. Subsequent lunches will also focus on faculty research. Honeywood, whose work has been the subject of an acclaimed film, says her paintings represent “a merging of experiences and spirituality as the underlying force that helped a people to survive: a reflection on a poem, a song, unemploy ment, picking cotton . . .” A lunch later in the year will center on writing and speaking. Dr. Ruth Lucier, chairperson of the Mellon Committee, says: “I’m hopeful that this year we will be able to work closely with the English department in bringing at least one visiting scholar to campus in the effort to help in communication skills.” (Kim McKnight, reporter) * * * The Student Interfaith Center is now open. Its services include counseling, ecumenical worship, a resource center, Bible and theological study, a faculty minister, community service personal grovs^th groups, “Adopt a Family” options and retreats. The Center will serve as a cat alyst to involve the college, church and community in dialogue about significant social-theological issues. (Connie Williams, reporter)
Bennett College Student Newspaper
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Sept. 17, 1982, edition 1
4
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75