PAGE FOUR
THE BENNETT BANNER
FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 1984
Alumna to publish novel
by Yolanda DuRant
Soft-spoken, articulate and
firm in her convictions are
terms which characterize Dr.
Linda Bragg, a former Belle
who teaches English at
UNC-G and has a first novel
that will appear this summer.
Bennett gave Bragg confi
dence and direction.
“Bennett was a major in
fluence on my life. Academ
ically, I felt really prepared
for graduate school, and I
didn’t have any trouble
competing.
“Bennett gave me a sense
of direction and purpose, and
I had the experience of people
other than my immediate
family caring about me,” ex
plains the class of ’61 alumna,
who took a master’s at Case
Western Reserve and a doc
torate in Afro-American lit
erature and creative writing
from The Union Graduate
School.
This college was a tradition
in her family. Bragg’s aunt
was former Bennett President
Willa B. Player, and two of
Bragg’s sisters had been
Belles.
Bennett fulfilled another
important need for Bragg. As
a child in Akron, Ohio, she
lacked black role models be
yond the figures in her im
mediate family. The college
provided a surplus of models.
The forthcoming novel,
“Rainbow ’Round My Shoul
der” is Bragg’s first maior
work of fiction. She is the
author of a book of poems,
“A Love Song to Black Men”
as well as various poems pub
lished in periodicals.
Bragg’s novel is a partially
true story about a psvchic
and healer who lived in
Greensboro during the early
part of this century. The
novel dramatizes the turmoil
the protagonist undergoes
because of her gift.
In writing the book, Bragg
developed a new interest.
“I became intrigued with
healing, metaphysics and psy
chic phenomena while writ
ing this book. Black women
have always been healers and
peacemakers. People assume
that if a person is strong, she
doesn’t have turmoil. So I
told the story from her inner
conflicts,” she says.
Bragg has no ideas for a
new novel, but she is “sure it
[inspiration] will come.”
She’s busy giving lectures
and doing freelance writing
and book reviews.
Mother of two teenagers,
Bragg finds it difficult to
combine parenthood with her
career. “It’s a very delicate
balancing act,” she says.
As advice to aspiring writ
ers, Bragg says a strong spir
ituality and belief in God are
necessary. Writing must be
come an obsession in order
for a young writer to develop
her talent.
Bragg encourages people to
write because the world needs
poets.
The writer’s life is arduous
but fulfilling, according to
Bragg: “It’s a dream. It
doesn’t happen that often. We
can’t all be Alex Haley.”
Defining Mr. Right
More letters:
Nigeria defended; unity demanded
by Pamela Gary
Who needs tough guys like
Charles Bronson when you can
have a hunk like Tom Selleck?
Today women are looking for
the man behind the macho myth.
The emphasis has shifted from
the “He-Man” qualities popular
during the “Me Decade" to the
more abstract attributes like sen
sitivity, warmth and compassion.
Susan Smith, a senior, says that
to capture the status of being a
perfect 10 a man must have in
tegrity: “He should have pride
within himself.”
Adrienne Burch, a junior, wants
a man that stands out in the
crowd: “He has to have a mind
of his own, be very clean-cut and
relatively handsome.”
Looks are still important to
women. Ulonda Beaty, a sopho
more, says the eyes and mouth
are what attract her attention
first: “If he doesn’t have clean
teeth then I don’t want to have
anything to do with him.”
Yvonne Ashley, a rising senior,
agrees with Beaty. “If he doesn’t
take good care of his teeth, then
he probably has poor personal
hygiene. I love to see a guy with
a pretty smile,” Ashley observes.
Good grooming is another key
Bonds
by Jacqueline Williams
Wendy Bonds, a junior
computer science major, from
Georgetown, S. C., has been
elected the 1984 Cherry
Blossom Princess for South
Carolina.
Bonds was selected her
state’s princess by the South
Carolina State Society of
Washington, D. C. She repre
sented her state in the Cherry
Blossom Festival held in the
nation’s capital April 1-7.
Says Bonds, “The Cherry
Blossom Festival is the be
ginning of Spring. The cher
ry blossom tree was given to
the United States as a gift
from the Japanese.” The
Cherry Blossom Festival is
SDonsored annually by the
National Conference of State
Societies to coincide with the
blooming of the cherry blos
soms along the Potomac
River.
The week-long festival be-
criterion. Dana Rutledge, a soph
omore, says that a well-groomed
man captures her attention: “His
appearance has to be neat.” Burch
adds that “if his appearance
doesn’t appeal to me, my immedi
ate interest fades quickly.” Phyllis
Wilson, a junior, says that a neat
appearance makes a good impres
sion: “A man’s appearance makes
a definite statement about his
personality. If he isn’t well
groomed, then he probably has a
very poor self-image.”
What comes out of man’s mouth
may be more significant than his
appearance. Lisa Jackson, a jun
ior, says that if a guy is making
a great first impression, the
easiest way for him to ruin it is
if he talks like a thug: “I get sick
of hearing men approach me with
slang like ‘Yo, baby, yo.’ It really
turns me off.” Burch adds that
good diction is a must. If he
doesn’t speak well grammatically
she loses interest. Ashley says
that gjuys that frequently use
slang are usually trying to im
press you: “Speaking properly to
me impresses me more than using
the current slang. It lets me know
that he is talking to me, not at
me.”
Belles are very articulate on the
gan on Sunday when repre
sentatives received gifts from
each of the states. On Mon
day, they went to the White
House where they met Pres
ident Reagan in the Rose
Garden. Later that afternoon,
they met the Washington
Redskins.
A Congressional reception
was held in their honor on
Tuesda.y evening. Bonds was
escorted by Senator Strom
Thurmond, the oldest member
of the senate. Thurmond of
fered Bonds an opportunity
to work as an intern.
Some of the other events
which occurrpd during the
we°k included an Elizabeth
Arden fashion show, the
Cherrv Blossom Ball and the
narade. B'^nds also visited the
Japanese Embassv for a re
ception. The South Carolina
State Society also sponsored
a reception in her honor.
Bonds explained her selec-
subject of which famous men at
tract them and why. Marcy Davis,
a junior, admires Quincy Jones:
“He is so multi-talented. He uses
both his talent and ability in un
limited ways.” Smith admires Nat
King Cole because of his talent:
“He was an outstanding perform
er, and during his time period,
he never received the recognition
that he deserved.”
Wilson likes actor Tom Selleck:
“He has definite sex appeal and
he is good at what he does.” Effie
Hayes, a senior, says that she
really admires James Earl Jones:
“He is an outstanding actor that
never compromises himself.”
There is no such thing as the
perfect man. But if there were,
he would be an unlikely combina
tion of today’s superstars. Rut
ledge says, “He would be a com
bination of Muhammad Ali be
cause of his athletic ability, he
would have to have Billy Dee
Williams’ looks, Richard Pryor’s
sense of humor and Michael
Warren’s body.”
Although individual tastes do
differ, Eddie Murphy’s sense of
humor is in demand along with
either Michael Jackson’s or Luther
Vandross’ voice and Tom Selleck’s
body.
tion this way: “Each Con
gressman out of the six dis
tricts that are in South Car
olina, submitted a name to
the South Carolina State So
ciety.” Bonds worked as a
summer intern for Congress
man Robin Tallon last sum
mer. The only requirement to
become a princess was that
the aspirant be between the
ages of 18 and 23.
Of the 56 princesses who
attended the festival, only
two were black. The other
black princess was a repre
sentative of the District of
Columbia. Says Bonds, “I was
the first black princess of
South Carolina.”
Says Bonds, “The most
memorable experience was
having the opportunity to
share with 55 other members
in the celebration of the
Cherry Blossom Festival. It
was a great honor to repre
sent the state of South
Carolina.”
This letter is written in response
to quotations attributed to Omo-
tayo Otoki in a feature written
by Vonda Long.
To the Editor:
As a full Nigerian, I have to
straighten up so many things you
did not say right; either because
you are a half-Nigerian or be
cause you are ignorant of the
things you ought to know.
Before I talk about your mis
representations on Nigeria — my
beloved country, I would like to
bring you up to date about Ben
nett College. You said “I am not
impressed with Bennett College;
it does not have the techniques
I am looking for.” What tech
niques? I do not need to tell
you when Bennett College was
founded. The school has produced
very many educators.
There are 13 Departments which
offer sound and well balanced
programs. Bennett College is an
accredited and approved institu
tion of higher learning. Many for
eign students have graduated from
Bennett College and are now
reputable administrators and
among the policy makers of their
countries.
Although B'ennett College is not
designated “Bennett University,”
it has all the potentials of a uni
versity which offers only first
degree. I like Bennett College for
what it is and will recommend it
for any person who wants to fur
ther her education beyond the
high school level. I dream of the
day when I will graduate from
Bennett College and call her my
alma mater.
Nigeria is not the only nation
where communication is neces
sary. You need a form of good
communication in any societies
all over the world in order to get
along nicely with the environ
ment. Nigerians do not pull any
one “back down” because she is
unable to communicate. In fact,
good communicators are the group
that may be likely to cheat others
through their communication
process.
Tayo must have come from an
other part of the world and not
even a half-Nigerian. Today edu
cation has reached all parts of
Nigeria. Parents who are educated
want their children to go as high
as they can in education. Unedu
cated parents know the disadvan
tages of lack of education and
would not let such disadvantages
befall their children.
They want their children to be
educated so that their families
will see the light and join in the
policy-making of the nation. Ni
geria is one of the countries of
the world that believes in educat
ing her people. There are educa
tional programs carried out since
Nigeria’s independence as the
Universal Primary Education and
the Free Primary Education. The
government subsidizes the uni
versity education for its students.
“My dad thinks like an Afri
can,” said Tayo. Africans are
great thinkers and philosophers.
Most young women in Nigeria
today are more interested in get
ting education prior to getting
married. Some may not get uni
versity education because of lack
of adequate funds and not because
they want to get married and be
taken care of by their husbands.
It is known that African (Ni
gerian) women are very indus
trious and resourceful. They do
the work at home and in the farm,
and are good entrepreneurs, in
some cases carrying on trade from
one city to the other. The men
are the family planners and ad
ministrators with the support of
women. I believe that your dad
would not think that women did
not need education; hence he
married a nurse many years ago.
However, he may think that girls
who are poor or failing students
should not waste their time going,
to the college; it may be better
for them to get married and start
a family.
“In Nigeria you undergo a col
lege training period, something
like a technical school for two
years,” said Tayo.
The qualification for entry into
the Nigerian universities is a suc
cessful completion of not less than
five courses including English and
mathematics passed with Credit
at Ordinary Level General Certif
icate of Education for entry by
entrance examination, or the five
passes with additional three
courses passed at Advanced Level
General Certificate of Education
for direct enti^ (entry without
examination) into Nigerian uni
versities. You do not have to go
to a two-year college before you
are accepted into a University in
Nigeria.
Tayo also said that “In Nigeria,
bribery is often used.” Bribery is
not often used; however, people
use it and others give tips. Tayo
must have misunderstood what is
bribery and what are tips. Bribery
is against the law in every nation
including Nigieria.
According to Tayo, “I would
like to get my degree and return
home. . . “I would rather stay
here than return and kiss the U.S.
goodbye.” She apparently is con
fused and infatuated with the U.S.
at the first sight. She may refute
her statements after she joins the
system.
U.S. is a great nation, a super
power, one of the best nations of
the world and my second place of
permanent residence.
“Nigeria, we hail thee. . .” Tayo,
you do not bite the fingers that
feed you! !
Veronica Ezekegbu
To the Editor:
Since my freshman year at
Bennett College motivation on
campus seems to have been swept
up by a very powerful tornado.
We need to get ourselves to
gether and motivate one another.
We sit around and complain day
by day about how boring campus
life is, the food and we even have
gotten to the point where we are
bored with ourselves.
Lack of motivation cannot be
blamed on the college as some
individuals seem to think. You
see, it is we who are not moti
vated. We can only make Bennett
College what we want it to be.
We should bring back a lot of
activities we once had. For in
stance, Fun Night was an exciting
part of the Bennett College at
mosphere. We have parties on
campus, but most of us would
rather go to Side Effects or the
Trevi Fountain instead of sup
porting our own Belle sisters.
What is wrong with the moti
vation? It may be because of our
pessimistic view of Bennett,
Hopefully, one day we can all
have some kind of inspiration
that will pursue us to motivation
on our own campus instead of
someone else’s.
Sincerely,
Ms. Darlene Smallwood
Concerned Bennett
Sister
Gaye: from page 3
acles, and the unmistakable grace
of Diana Ross and the Supremes.
We never thought Marvin would
leave so suddenly, so tragically.
Who would’ve ever imagined that
he too, would fall victim to such
an early and untimely death?
The grim reality is that Marvin
seemed to have a rather pessimis
tic outlook on life. “Once you
reach the top, there’s no place
to go but down,” the singer stated
in a television interview. This
statement gives one the feeling of
immense predestination.
On the day of Marvin’s death,
he received no elaborate fanfare,
no in-depth newspaper writeups
and very few of the musical trib
utes that former Beatle John
Lennon got.
IS princess