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Phone-a-thon nets $50,000 in pledges
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BY LASHAINNNA CAMPBELL
Co-Editor
The annual phone-a-thon,
which took place Feb. 11 through
14 raised $50,000 in pledges from
alumnae.
This year's bad press and nega
tivity about Bermett inspired the
ahimnae to wotk even harder by
sponsoring a phone-a-thon two
m(Miths earlier than the usual ^nil
schedule. A local fund-raiser, the
phone-a-th«i targeted alumnae liv
ing in Nath Carolina.
“We knew that Bennett had a
financial need,” said Sandra
Walker, director of Alumnae Af
fairs.
"Local alumnae pushed for a
phrai-a-thon for N.C. alumnae and
we wanted to increase the cash
flow for operational expenses."
The phon-a-thon pledges will
go towi^ the national alumnae
goal of $500,000, more than
double the annual phone-at-thon
usual $200,000.
Local alumnae gave support
for the phon-athon. Gladys S.
Robinson class of 71 and director
of The Sickle Cell Anemia Foun
dation allowed the volunteers to
use office space to make die phone
calls.
INSIDE
Tins
ISSUE
Bellespeak
Page 2....
Belles talk about inter
collegiate sports at
Bennett.
News & Features
Page 3
Yearbook dilemma?
Take both!
Critic's Comer
Page 4....
Banner reviewer gives
three bells for Brandy's
Full Moon CD.
THE
Bennett Banner
VOL. XXIII MO. 9 APRIL S, 2002 B«nn«tt CoiUfls Or»»ii»boro, NO 27401
Jjntmducing^ the
£hn^ Smi
Stephanie Brown
Miss Ebony Soul 02-03
Stephanie Brown, a sophomore mass communications
majcff was named Miss Ebony Soul during the first Ebony
Soul pageant Thepageantandtitle.formCTly calledNubian
Nuance, took place April 2.
Stephanie Brown, a native of the Virgin Islands, is first
Belle to hold the new title.
As the new Miss Ebony Soul, StejAanie Brown will
assume the duties of Latonya Brown, the Miss Nubian
Nuance 2001-02. Latonya Brown, a senior from
Fayetteville, N.C. is also a mass communications majw.
Stephanie Brown competed against Carmel Smith, a
junior Arts Management major from Elizabethtown, N.C.
Smith sang during the talent porticm of the competitiwi,
and Brown danced. Photo by Takesha Briggins, Banner
Photographer and Reporter. '
Board approves
6 percent tuition hike
BY LASHAINNNA CAMPBELL
Co-Editor
It's going to cost more to attend
Bennett.
Beginning next frill students will
pay 6 percent more for tuition and
fees, making $15,669 the cost for
a full-time student
The increase was unamionously
approved during the Board of
Trustee’s October meeting.
"I proposed a possible 5,6, or 7
percent increase to the P.oard of
Trustees finance committee," said
Louise Farmer, Vice President for
Fiscal Affairs.
"After taking into consideration
the rising cost of living and the
ecoiomic situations of students we
[finance committee] decided thata
6 pCTcent increase was sufficient"
Farmer said that the 6 percent
increase is modest The real costto
attend Bennett is :q>proximately
$27,000. This includes tuition,
room and board, and oth^ fees.
"There are approximately 30
colleges and universities in the
Nwth Carolina's private school
system, and of them Bennett still
remains a good buy, ranking about
25 on the scale as far as reasonable
prices," Farmer said.
Bennett is a private institution;
therefore, it does not receive sub
sidies as do state schools in the
UNC system.
While next year's tuition has
increased, the comprehensive fee
has decreased. "One canplaint
that I heard about was that the
COTiprehensive fee had been in
creasing steadily," Farmer said of
complaints from students and par
ents.
The comprdiensive fee covered
expenditures that wh^ outside of
the classroom.
"Students were paying fees such
as building use, academic fees and
library fees, so we decided to in
clude all things dealing with aca-
Senior Day:
A time for
tears, smiles
BY NATAUE JORDAN
Banner Reporter
As they sang the popular
IndiaArie song "Strength, Cour
age, and Wisdom" 112 members
of2002 graduating class held their
heads high through the mist of
h^jpy tears and smiles during Se
nior Day Convocation, March21.
During the traditional cer
emony "Little Sisters," members
of the sc5>homore class and first-
year students robe their Big Sis
ters, the graduating seniors.
Interim President Charles Fuget
presided.
Shawntee Anderson, a mass
communications major from Mi
ami, Florida and member of the
class of 2002 read a poem written
by herself in ^>preciation to all her
graduating sisters. Anderson's
poem discussed her feelings and
experiences during her four-year
matriculation at Bennett
During his address to the audi
ence, Dr. Fuget said he felt like a
person running for a meeting and
missed the train. "I missed the
train that Ivought the senior class
to Bennett. I didn't see them ma
ture during their sophomore and
junior years, and I was just getting
on board as they prepare to leave."
After telling the senior class
that it is time to lo(^ toward the
future. Dr. Fuget talked about three
keys to success.
Hike Continued on Page 3
Seniors Continued on Page 3