2 • BENNETT BANNER • FEBRUARY 24, 1994
The opinions expressed in this column are
the author’s and do not necessarily represent
the staff of the Banner.
Editorial
Confederate flag;
Take it down
Recently in the news or maybe in your local
newspapers you may have he£ird the debate that is
going on in Atlanta, concerning whether the Georgia
state flag, which includes the Confederate emblem,
should be displayed when the Olympic games of 1996
arrive.
White Southerners view the flag as a cherished
emblem of the old Civil War days. For some, this is an
old tradition that reminds them of their great-grand
fathers who fought and gave their life for the war.
But for African Americans, the feeling is not
mutual. Most view the flag with contempt because
it continues to be a steady reminder of where we were
as a race and the price we had to pay for it.
On Feb. 22, the Greensboro News & Record
conducted an imscientific telephone poll, and posed
this question, “Should the Georgia state flag, which
includes the Confederate battle emblem, be changed
before the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta?”
The results were startling.
Seven percent of the callers voted “yes” and 93
percent of the callers voted “no.” I remember reading
this question prior to the day when the results would
be shown. Automatically, I presimied the response
would be an emphatic yes. Boy, was I wrong, dead
wrong. I still don’t believe the ignorance of some
people. Again, like always, we’re back to square one.
One would like to think that this coimtry was
based on principles of humanity, justice and equality.
But since it is not, we as African Americans continu
ously have to fight for a position to be heard. Govern
ment leaders in Atlanta wouldn’t dare flaunt Holo
caust flags arotmd their city. The Jewish commimity
would be an a uproar. I don’t vmderstand why this is
an issue at all because it shouldn’t be. The flag
bothers us, so take it down. Plain and simple.
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Reader says: “Cease inactivity”
NO EXIT
Andy Singer
OLYMPIC FIGURE SKATING
('//V THE YEAR
tA
National Student News Service. 1994
Dear Editor,
She-say, he-say and
hearsay that constantly
plagues our campus at Ben
nett College among our Afri
can American sisters is not
always positive. Injuring a
person’s good name or repu
tation by stating false and
malicious statements about
the person to cause suspicion
brings into question the reli
ability, responsibility and re
spect of the class officers.
In December it was
stated by a member of the
senior class that if we had to
do elections all over again,
some of the officers would not
be reelected. This statement
truly perturbed me because
it is one of many comments
made since May 1993 by stu
dents who are uninformed as
to the duties required of its
officers.
Such negative talk is
being made by students who
are not active within the se
nior class and other respec
tive organizations, therefore,
having the least bit of author
ity to undermine its opera
tion.
Last year during Stu
dent Government elections, I
do not recall any student seek
ing to hold a position vnthin
the senior class, nor do I re
call more than three students
in attendance at the speeches
held for LaTonya Davis (my
self) and AmmaBrovm. (The
only two students seeking of
fices.) Other positions re
mained null and void until
they were vmtten by few of
their peers. This lack of im
portance for leadership had
been displayed by the laxity
and same unconcerned atti
tude held since 1990. Yet,
when graduation time roUs
around oxu- services wlU be
greatly appreciated.
Being the president
and having a poUtical per
sonality, I always encourage
the idea that individuals be
willing to make a just stand
regarding issues of concern.
Do not be a hypocrite. State
what the problem is to the
party involved and not
disbecause such remarks are
either personal, trivial, or
petty issues that are not re
lated to the job and work we
do as officers.
Senior class officers
for the 1993 semester did a
tremendous job of initiating
and executing activities that
are in accordance with the
goals established in August.
We ^e about the business of
trjdng to progress as an orga
nization without the benefit
of negative criticism. How
can you speak if you are not
doing anything to help out
the organization?
I have one request,
that inactive students on this
campus cease the daily com
plaining and begin to take a
role as an active participant
in respective classes and or
ganizations.
LaTonya Davis,
Senior Class President
The Bennett Banner
staff
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