FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 1984 THE BENNETT BANNER PAGE THREE Annual performance Dancers succeed a review by Leslie Barr Bright lights, butterflies, nervous smiles and sweaty palms in addition to soulful rhythm, strong leaps, grace ful execution and acute pre cision were a successful com bination at the Dance Com pany’s annual performance April 6-7. The nine-member company consists of sophomores Donna Athias, Allyson Berry, Nicole Clayburn, Dee Evans, Char lene Simmons and Khadija Ward; freshmen T r a c y e Faulkner and DeJaniera Lit tle; and senior Cheryl Wil liams. All of these performers displayed a variety of talents. The first part “Cultural Suite” contained dances per formed to Negro spirituals and folk music. Clayburn and Simmons did the choreogra phy. The final act in the suite “Samba” was very lively and energetic. The second part “Modern Suite” contained music from contemporary recording art ists Angela Bofill, Kraftwork and Lionel Richie. It was in this suite that senior Cheryl Williams exhibited her train ing and participation with the Dance Company for four years. Williams’ original choreography to Angela Bo- fill’s “Daydreams” had a som- bering effect on the audience. It is also in this suite that Miss Susan King, director of the Dance Company and in structor of physical educa tion, performed a solo dance to “Can’t Slow Down” by Lionel Richie. Sarah Brodie, freshman from Rocky Mount, states that “I was impressed to see the instructor taking nart in the production.” Brodie also states that on the whole the entire performance was electrifying. Karen Taylor, sophomore, states, “I felt that the per formance was beautiful and I was proud of them, I also commend Miss King for a job well done.” The third performance “Jazz Suite” contained music by Jeffrey Osborne, Luther Vandross, Shandi and Orbit. Yeshiva Colbert, Miss Fresh man, felt that the solo per formance by Allyson Berry to Luther Vandross’ “Love Poems” was very good. She states that “you could really get into the music and the dance.” The finale was done to “Let the Music Play,” and it brought the house down. The audience was extreme- Iv enthusiastic during the entire performance. Dee Evans, one of the perform ers, felt that “the perform ance went well because the audience’s response made us feel good so we wanted to give them an excellent performance.” Charlese Klutz, a freshman from Kannanolis, states that “I thought it was good and you could tell that there was a lot of hard work put into the performance, I thought that it was the best ACS program we ever had.” Saturday night’s perform ance was less than perfection ; however, it still was a success. Gaye’s impact is remembered an essay by Chandra Austin and Tricia Hairston He was a troubled man. Trag edy followed him and tragedy killed him. Marvin Gaye, one of Motown’s superstars, was a legend who could not shake fate or death. I first became aware of this satin-voiced singer at the age of eight. I was at a family cookout when I heard “What’s Going On” on the stereo. Suddenly, I noticed people young and old singing along, snapping fingers and danc ing to the beat. Immediately, I fell in love with Marvin Gaye! I was too young to understand the message but I liked the rhy thm, and he sent chills through my body. My brother laughed and said, “She’ll be over it as soon as the Jackson Five cut another record.” He was wrong, Marvin stayed with me musically and I guess he always will. I found myself trying to get my hands on all of his cuts with Tammi Terrell or solo cuts. I would discuss the messages he sang with my mother and she helped me see. Marvin was sing ing of love and unity. His smooth voice made the message much better to grasp. A former gpspel singer who played the organ in his father’s church, Marvin made me feel the spirit he put into his songs. He amazed America with “What’s Going On,” in 1971. The song made people stop and think, and it still does today. That’s all Marvin wanted to accomplish, to reach a listener. In 1973, Marvin seemed to change from unity to sexual love. With the “Let’s Get It On” hit, he sang of loving and how beautiful it could be. Some people could not relate to him, but I loved his work even more. As I grew older, I discovered that Marvin Gaye was human, not the star I was into, but a man who had troubles just like anyone else. The deaths of Tammi Terrell and Florence Ballard (one of the original Supremes), two divorces and bankruptcy took him through depression and attempted suicide. When we think of Marvin Gaye, we also think of the melodic har monies of the Temptations, the velvety-voiced love songs of “Smokey” Robinson and the Mir- (See page 4) Vincent has motivation The vibrant Mrs. Vincent: The new director of career services has brought plenty of energy to the office. (photo by Theresa Roy) by Jacqueline Williams “I hate to leave here at night. There’s never a dull moment,” says Mrs. Doris D. Vincent, the new director of career services. “I really love Bennett. I love this position here. I am familiar with Bennett to the point that I have been here all my life, and I have always envied Bennett Belles.” Vincent was born and reared in Greensboro. She is a ’72 graduate of A&T where she majored in speech communications. She later returned to A&T, and received her master’s in guidance and counseling education. She worked in counseling for four years at A&T and Rutledge College, where she was nominated for “Outstanding Young Woman” in 1983. Vincent has been busy with plans since taking on her position here. She has even acquired a new secretary, Suryyah Muham mad. Her plans include improving the lines of communication be tween the career services office Strong freshman scholars explain secrets of success by Vonda Long Two freshmen from Colum bia, S. C., were honored on Recognition Day for attain ing straight “A” averages. Terri Abel, an architectur al engineering major, and Vera Walker, an account ing major, were winners of the President’s Excellence Award. “I was shocked. After I got over the shock, I was pleased,” stated Abel. “I was amazed and proud of myself. I felt very hon ored, and I felt like I had ac complished something,” said Walker. Abel recalled her mother’s reaction when her grades came home: “Upon getting my first semester grades she was glad. She realized I was serious about going to school. I mean she knew it, but I had never been in college before. I finally got a chance to dem onstrate my capabilities. She was as pleased as I was.” Walker remembered her father’s response: “I talked to my father, and he was very proud, but he wasn’t very surprised because he has con fidence in me. I think a lot of other people could do as well as I did or almost as well if they just concentrated on their studies.” Both Terri and Vera feel that a major part of their inspiration was given to them by their families. Terri said her family was a major rea son that she set high goals and attempted to realize them. The family taught her “the need to be in position to make a difference, and I think education has the ability to put you in that position.” Vera stressed that her par ents, relatives and her in structors insoired her. She said that when thev praise her. she feels inspired. “I just think about what I want out of my education and I know if I get it, I have to do as well as I can,” stated Vera. Both students are eager for knowledge. Both feel that without it, their roads to the future will be more difficult to travel upon. Abel said, “I don’t want to be among the anonymous. There are very few people who make things happen. There are a lot who watch and wonder. If you aren’t among those who make things happen, then you aren’t serv ing any real purpose.” Vera added, “I don’t want to disappoint people like mv parents. I think of the reason why I’m here. I think of all the people who are watchin? me. People expect certain thino's of me so I try to do well.” “There is a reward in the end,” state"! Terri. “The re ward is going to be success in what you intended to do and what you planned to do, realizing your goals.” Vera concluded, “My ac complishments don’t come easv. I have to work for them. I’m not some kind of a brain like some people think.” and the student body, about the job opportunities that are availa ble. She would like to enlighten incoming freshmen “to get them aware of careers in their major.” She also wants to do follow-ups on graduates. Plans are also being made for another Career Awareness Day similar to the one hosted in the fall. Vincent would like to have weekly or monthly seminars on career awareness: “Like maybe resume month, or interview month, different times where you can always come to the center and be influenced by how you need to get ready for the world.” Vincent has led a very interest ing life. She attended A&T during the riots, in the late 60s. During, those times, the mayor of Greens boro declared a seven o’clock curfew. Her most memorable ex perience came May 22, 1969, when some students burned a truck. “We were on our way from classes, and they (the administra tion) were getting ready to shut down the campus. A white .guy came through in a white panel truck, looking around, and they just jumped on it, rocked it and set it on fire.” In fear of the chaos, Vincent fled: “All I could remember was running, trying to get in my car, to get off campus, get back out to White Oak Grove where I would be safe.” Vincent was married during the last two years of college. Later, she and her husband purchased a men’s clothing store, the Slack Shop, where she worked for three years. They have been in business for 12 years. Her husband who is in com missioned sales with Montgomery Ward, is also an A&T graduate. The Vincents have a 10-year-old daughter. “I love being married. I believe in the family. I believe in relationships, and I think that if we could strengthen the initial unit of family life, the world would be much better,” Vincent, who has taught a course in marriage, says. She feels that: “So many peo ple have a problem loving other people, I think everybody should be aware of how great it is to be loved,” Vincent is a member of White Oak B'aptist Church while her husband belongs to Laughlin United Methodist Church, “I at tend both, I never move my mem bership, because they are family churches,” she says, “My husband and I believe in God, We believe in worshipping together. Most of our activities go around our church.” Both she and her hus band sing in the Laughlin inspira tional choir of which she is president. Vincent enjoys public speaking. In April, she will be conducting a workshop with the English classes at A&T, and hopes one day to conduct similar workshops here. Vincent has also done work shops with the Pre-release and After Care Program with the State Department of Corrections. These workshops were for prisoners at Sandy Ridge and McLeansville. “I would go out and speak with the prisoners and inform them of what they need to do in order to get back into the world and find a job,” she says. She would prepare the prisoners for, “rejec tion and/or acceptance, due to the fact that they have been incarcerated.” Vincent is active with the Hayes-Taylor YMCA, where she has been honorary emcee for their Kiddie College graduation, and Spring May Day, for the past 10 years. Away from her busy life, Vin cent has many dreams. If she was given the choice to live any place else, she would choose the South west: “I love the Southwest. I love the heat, but I think if I had a state to choose being that I love North Carolina so much, I would take North Carolina.” Vincent would also love to live in Washington, D. C. “I’d love to live in the capitol, the White House, in fact. I would love to be adviser to the President,” says Vincent, “because I feel I could help him out as much as the other people. I just want to live in the White House.” Vincent strongly advocates helping others. She believes in, “students first, and whatever their desires are, they are my desires to lift them higher, to be number one with themselves.”