2 • BENNETT BANNER • DECEMBER 10, 1999
OPINION • OPINION • OPINION • OPINION • OPINION
Monya Tomlinson
Editor
Former professors'
comments unfair
In a letter published in the Carolina Peacemaker in November,
two former Bennett professors, Drs. Millicent Brown and Shirley
Washington, asked “Where were the students?”
They were referring to the low student turnout during a program
in the Pfieffer Chapel commemorating of the 1979 Klan-Nazi
shootings in Greensboro. The program included the panel discus
sion and a banquet in the Jones Student Union.
During that shooting, Sandy
Smith, a Bennett alumna and
former SGA president was killed
in the shootings along with other
members of the Greensboro
community in the "Momingside Massacre."
In the letter. Brown and Washington said the absence of Belles
at the events showed we [Belles] have “little commitment to true
scholarship.”
Brown and Washington, if you are worried about our scholar
ship, why aren’t you here to ensure we make the “commitment?"
Why write a diatribe in a public forum, when you have access to us
through your ties with the College?
While 1 do agree my sister Belles and I do not always take the
opportunities given to us, I don’t think a personal attack was an
effective means for inspiring students to do what they think is
right.
Instead, those two should have contacted us through the SGA
or come to one of our numerous events including ACES, programs
in the dormitories, or club meetings. By using an indirect channel
like the Peacemaker, Brown and Washington have proved that
they don’t care about Bennett or its students.
The opinion expressed in this column is that of the author and does not necessarily
reflect the opinion of ihe entire Bennett Banner staff. ,
STUDENT OPINION POLL;
What is your response to the accusations
made by the former Bennett professors that
were published in the Carolina Peacemaker?
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AYESHA SHAAF
CLASS: JUNIOR
MAJOR: BIOLOGY
HOME STATE: ILLINOIS
/ don't think that the professors
that made these accusations
should blame the student body.
Most of us are not from Greens
boro; therefore, I don't think we
know the detailts of the Greens
boro Massacre. We shouldn't be
looked down upon for not
participating.
APRIL HARGROVE
CLASS: JUNIOR
MAJOR: BIOLOGY
HOME STATE: MARYLAND
Many of us did not know about
the panel discussion until that
day. Most ACES are planned
ahead of time. If we had
something else to do. the
notification would have come too
late. It wasn't a lack of scholar
ship on our part. It was a lack of
planning ahead.
CORENTHIA SARTIN
CLASS: SOPHOMORE
MAJOR: PSYCHOLOGY
HOME STATE: WASH D.C.
Dr. Brown and Dr. Washington
should check their facts b^ore
bashing the students at Bennett
College. Most Bennett students
were not aware of the commemo
rative events taking place that
day. We cannot attend anything
if we do not know it is happen
ing.
KAREN WYNNE
CLASS: SOPHOMORE
MAJOR: SOCIAL WORK
HOME STATE: NEW YORK
I didn't read the article, but if
they I the two former professors]
did have these opinions about
the students, they should address
us directly and not "aired our
dirty laundry." The only thing
they are going to achieve is
resentment from the students
because it seems as if they are
trying to embarass us instead of
correct us.
VIVIAN BYNOE
CLASS: FRESHWOMAN
MAJOR: ELEM. ED.
HOME STATE: NORTH CAROLINA
KAREN SUMMERVILE
CLASS: FRESHWOMAN
MAJOR: COMP.SCI.
HOME STATE: MARYLAND
I did not know about the lun- If Bennett students are expected
cheon or the panel discussion.
No one was informed about these
events. I also think that the
former employees just wanted
attention.
to attend programs like the
Greensboro Massacre, the
announcement has to be followed
up by notices and plenty of
publicity that encourages us to
actually attend.