PAGE TWO
THE BENNETT BANNER
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1983
Helms needs medical attention
While we are happy that Congress has finally authorized a national holiday
to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, we are appalled by Senator Jesse Helms’
attempts to smear a national hero.
Helms (R-N.C.) took it upon himself to destroy the chance for King to be
recognized for his contribution and efforts in bringing equality to our land.
Helms’ actions can be viewed as a vengeful and racist campaign to destroy
the acknowledgement that many Americans of all races feel King deserves.
The senator claimed King was an “action-oriented Marxist,” but did Helms
justify these accusations? Although King accepted insignificant funds from vari
ous Communist organizations in order to cover expenses, his actions and beliefs
cannot be considered anything other than courageous, American and Christian.
Helms’ charge did not apply to King because the head of SCLC fought to
bring changes for blacks and other minorities who were being deprived of their
civil rights; therefore, how can he be branded Marxist?
Helms’ persistence in this matter caused senators and representatives to
denounce his remarks and speak on the behalf of King.
Helms even petitioned courts to make the FBI open the files on King in order
to scan his wrong-doings with a microscopic eye and he may have dug up some
dirt on King such as his extra-marital affairs. But King caiMot be condemned
for his activities because he was human as are other men in high positioM who
have indulged in such acts, including John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Barnes
Johnson.
Helms’ disgusting inquisition tells us a great deal about the senator and
nothing about King.
What we observed (and not for the first time) is that Jesse Helms is a sad
and sick man still stoking the fires of racial antagonism.
(Deborah Lewis)
How to spell relief-“Fall Break”
The students are in need of a great many things. One of these things is a fall
break. Our fellow institutions, A&T and UNC-G, both have fall breaks. Why
do we not have one?
Our students experience what some call “burn-out” because of overwork just
as students at A&T and UNC-G do. Some of the women here also have very
heavy class loads. The fact that we are a small institution does not alleviate
the pressures that students experience in college life.
A fall break would also be beneficial to the faculty. They are entitled to a
break from the routine work. A break could also help them catch up on any
overdue grading.
With a fall break which would also be a time of relaxation, grades would
probably undergo a vast improvement. This short two-day break would give stu
dents the opportunity to get ahead in their work or either to catch up on their
work.
Even if grades do not improve drastically or if a phenomenal amount of work
is not accomplished, a fall break would still be instrumental to the students
mental as well as physical well-being. Many tensions would be relieved and, as
a result, many short tempers would be improved.
A fall break should be seriously considered so that students can have some
sort of escape from their day-to-day aggravations even if it is only a brief escape.
(Yolanda DuRant)
Who oppresses whom?
opinion
by Joan Davis
Whenever I discover that
the youth motivators will be
attending classes, I am filled
with mixed emotions.
On one hand, I look for
ward to hearing about what
it’s like in the “real” world
and, on the other hand, I al
most dread it when they come
because they often cause me
to feel a sense of hopelessness.
Believe me, I don’t live in
a fantasy world. I realize that
it’s tough out there and that
life will be even more diffi
cult for me because I’m in
two minorities. Yet, I can’t
help feeling that perhaps the
motivators paint too gloomy
a picture.
Must I always assume that
“white” America is always
going to be against me be
cause of my race and sex?
Why can’t I look at it from
a more positive view and as
sume that by hiring me, em
ployers will be “killing two
birds with one stone” by hir
ing a black and a woman at
the same time? At least that
will give me the confidence
to try to get the job.
Must I always assume that
“white” America is always
out to get me? Is it really
always the “white” society
that keeps a black woman
from getting jobs?
A lot of the motivators
seemed to think that this is
the main reason for our lack
of high-paying jobs. Perhaps
if they could come upstairs in
the dorms and see how many
of our “struggling” Black
women are asleep at two in
the afternoon instead of at
tending classes, they might be
a little reluctant to blame
others.
Perhaps if they could see
how many of our “struggling”
Black women are playing
cards and blasting the stereo
until three in the morning,
they might change their
minds about who our real
oppressor is.
Perhaps if they could see
how many of our “struggling”
Black women really care
about receiving a decent ed
ucation, they might not be so
quick to blame the “oppres
sive white society.”
I really wonder if any of
the youth motivators ever
stop to think for one second
that they might be wrong
about who really is at fault.
Is it really all of the
“white” society’s fault for
our unemployment troubles?
Or could it be that we’re hid
ing behind that excuse to
keep from seeing the truth?
Think about it the next
time you’re trying to study
and the “struggling” Black
woman next door is blasting
her stereo the night before a
big exam.
Letters to tKe editor:
Confessor is brave
To Dear Claire, in care of the
editor:
I want to congratulate “Des
perate” for being courageous
enough to openly confess that she
has been stealing.
It takes a woman of conviction
and leadership to admit her fault.
She needs as much support and
courage as she tries to let go of
her anti-social behavior.
We need more women who are
honest about their faults. I pray
that many more readers will rise
up, help her and change their
lives, too. May honesty continue
to be our standard! I’m proud of
her!
Ms. M. Chabaku
To the Editor:
Reading the first issue of our
college paper was challenging as
well as interesting. Perhaps you,
too, have thought that Nedra Mc
Gee, our Miss Bennett for the
1983-84 school year, did not re
ceive the honor she deserved. No
doubt you felt it appropriate that
she be recognized on page three.
Since Bennett, a college for
women, acknowledges and empha
sizes our importance and achieve
ments in society, many of us feel
that our Miss Bennett should have
front-page coverage. Why should
our paper feature two men on the
cover when we are a women’s
college?
Miss McGee, we feel, represents
what Bennett stands for. She is
a True Belle. She reflects and
represents our college in events
throughout the community and
whenever her presence is sought.
In previous issues of the Banner,
since the first crowning of the first
Miss Bennett in 1978, her picture,
with a feature article, has always
been on the front cover.
Isn’t it best to feature Miss B'en-
nett, our image, on the cover?
Sincerely,
Jacqueline Williams
Class of 1985
T7le3^ nne tlJia
Editor-in-Chief Deborah Lewis
Associate Editors Leslie Monique Barr
Yolanda DuRant
Dee Evans
Photographer Theresa Roy
Adviser Michael Gaspeny
Send letters to the Banner to Box 2, campus post office. All letters
must bear handwritten signatures.
Jackson appeal
Mayor Richard G. Hatcher
of Gary, Ind., chairman of
the Jackson Presidential Ad
visory Committee, has begun
a drive to raise funds for a
possible 1984 Democratic
Presidential bid by the Rev.
Jesse L. Jackson, head of
Operation PUSH (People
United to Serve Humanity).
The initial exploratory
fund raising effort is a cam
paign centered around the
theme: “Give A Jackson For
Jackson” ($20). President
Andrew Jackson’s picture is
on a $20 bill.
However, Mayor Hatcher
made it clear that contribu
tions from $1 to $1,000 are
welcome. Checks or money
orders should be made pay
able and sent to: Jackson
Presidential Advisory Com
mittee, Gainer National Bank,
504 Broadway, Gary, Ind.
46402.
Mayor Hatcher explained,
“Jesse Jackson is exploring
the possibility of seeking
the Democratic nomination
for President in the 1984
primaries.”
He has said that three
things are necessary before
he will say ‘Yes, I am a Dem
ocratic presidential candidate’
—masses (national and Black
opinion polls show strong
support for Jackson) ; ma
chinery (a national group of
supporters that reflects the
rainbow coalition and will or
ganize and sponsor his can
didacy) ; and money (one
cannot run a credible cam
paign without money).
“The polls and the crowds
are saying ‘Run, Jesse, Run,’
but unless the people put their
money where their mouth is
‘Run, Jesse, Run’ could turn
into ‘See Jesse Run.’
“In order to keep that from
happening, people all across
America need to support
Jesse Jackson’s exploratory
efforts now to demonstrate to
him that if he decides to run
it is clear that the people will
financially support his can
didacy,” Hatcher said.
Mayor Hatcher said that
should Jesse Jackson become
a candidate all monies raised
in the name of exploring
would automatically be ap
plied to a “Jackson For Pres
ident Committee.” In addi
tion, all funds contributed to
the exploratory committee
would count toward federal
matching funds. To qualify
for federal matching funds,
a candidate is required to
raise $5,000 in 20 states in
contributions no larger than
$250.
Chairman Hatcher made it
clear that if Jesse Jackson
does not become a candidate,
monies left over from the ex
ploratory process will be re
turn proportionately to the
contributors. Inquiries can be
made by writing: Jackson
Presidential Advisory Com
mittee, 465 Broadway, Gary,
Indiana 46402, or by calling
219/882-3388 or 882-3280.
Be sure to hear the
Hampton Institute
Concert Choir
Wednesday, Nov. 9
at 7:30 p.m.
in Pfeiffer Chapel