Bennett exceeds goal;
keeps national title
By Paquita Herring
B^ner Editor
Bennett College and the College Fund/
UNCF exceeded tbeir goal by more that
$53,000and raised$163,138 during local
"Lou Rawls Parade of Stars" telethon on
Jan. 11
Approximately 150 students, faculty,
and conununity members participated as
volunteers, answering the phone and
collecting money during the telethon which
was in the Embassy Suites Hotel.
Kellie Cole, the reigning National Miss
UNCF and Jasmine Canady, Miss Bennett
College participated as tot board
changers.
Cole, a junior business administration
major from Maryland, won the national
UNCF title, which is based on the total
money raised per capita.
According to Dorothy Colston, vice
p^identof fundraising, this is the second
consecutive year that Bennett College has
coveted this title. In the past four years
Bennett has won three national Miss UNCF
titles, and in 1994-5 Bennett was first
ruimer up.
EDITORIAL: 0. J. versus the State of the Union
Page 2
LETTER TO EDITOR: Visitation rules discussed.
Page 3
HEALTH & FITNESS: New drug forsicMe cell.
Pa^ 6
CRITIC’S CORNER: Ice Cube's best
Page 8
THE BENNETT BANNER
The Newspaper Produced by the Phenomenal Women of Bennett College
VOL. XIX NO. 8
February 14,1997
Bennett College
Greensboro, NC 27401
Spring sing
The Bennett College Choir [above] will be spending spring vacation performing across North Carolina
and in some northern states including New York and Maryland. The names of the 22 members and
the Choir Spring Tour schedule is on Page 3. See Spring sing. Photo courtesy of and the Public Affairs and
Marketing Office.
Speech class ACES receives praises
By Brandy Jones
Banner Reporter and Banner Staff
ACES on Jan. 30 was a little different.
The scenery looked very similar to other
ACES program that have taken place in the
gym. The "Star Spangled Banner " was
played, which is the usual musical opening
at an ACES program.
The uniqueness of the program entitled,
"A Prelude to Black History Month" was
due to its presenters and their presentations:
students from two fall speech classes
taught by Charmaine McKissick-Melton
presented their best speeches about black
people, places, and ideas.
According to "Ms. Mac," the nickname
that the students use to refer to McKissick-
Melton, students last semester had
complained to her in class that the topics in
ACES were often boring.
"I suggested that we, as a class, present
some interesting topics," McKissick-Melton
said. At the end of the fall semester, the 28
students voted for the top 10 speeches to be
presented in the upcoming ACES during the
spring semester. They also decided that
two additional speeches would be included
in tiie program.
Eleven speeches, including one by
McKissick-Melton, were presented during
the program. The speech topics included
how African Americans should feel about
themselves as African Americans, Ella
Fitzgerald, and Sandy Smith, the Bennett
Belle graduate who was slain Nov. 3 1979
during a union protest
"During her speech "Historically Black
Colleges and Unversity in the New
Millennium," McKissick-Melton spoke
about the negativity that she has observed
on Bennett's campus.
Instead of walking around witii a negative
attitude, take on a more proactive one in
order to solve any issues that surface on
campus," McKissick-Melton told the
audience.
McKissick-Melton also spoke about how
students, staff, and faculty could improve
Bennett the during Uie millenium. She said
that the campus should "become more user-
friendly" and a there should be a "push-
and-pull relationship" between teachers and
students.
The majority of the comments following
the program from the Bennett community
were positive.
"I tiiought it [ACES] was going to be
another boring ACES," said Donna
Satterfield, an education major from Atlanta.
"It was tiiily a call for the community and
very well done," President Gloria Randle
Scott said.
23 Belles, 12 staff
involved in new
mentoring program
By Shamilah Harris
Banner Reporter
“Show me a successful person, and I’ll
show you someone who has been
mentoring,” is the slogan of the National
Mentor Alliance and tiie charging force
behind Bennett’s new mentoring program.
The new program was started fliis
semester. It was initiated by Patricia
Stewart, director of Student Support
Services, and Lillie Rooks, coordinator
of tiie program.
Mentoring involves a student mentee
connecting with faculty andadministrator
mentors to help with the student
tiiroughout her college years.
All tiie mentees are affiliated witii tiie
Student Support Service Program.
Mentees are first generation college
students, and stiidents who may require
extra acadenuc help. A total of 23 mentees
and 12mentors are enlisted in the program
thus far.
“I feel it will provide an open opportunity
for interaction with administrators on a
personal level and not just a professional
level,” Stewart said.
The mentor and mentee relationship is
indefinite because tiie time spent between
tiie mentor and mentee depends on tiie
compatibility with one another, and can
last until tiie student’s sophomore year,
until the student graduates, or throughout
the student’s lifetime.
“I am hopeful tiiat the program wUl be a
success,” Rooks said.
She said that she believes an
improvement in academics for students
will prevail.
TURN TO Mentoring on Page 3