2 The Pen Sept/Oct, 1995
Editorials
■Etiitortal
The loss of St. Aug alumna Denise Holden, Bessie
Delany, and most recently, Dr. Paul Vandergrift, has left a void
in the hearts of everyone in the St. Aug family.
The fact that these deaths all happened so suddenly
and were so unpredictable is also surprising. It not only makes
us appreciate their lives even more, but it should also make us
thankful for our own lives, and begin to live every day to the
fullest
At St Aug, it is upsetting when students not only take
their education for granted, they also take their lives for granted.
Some students waste money and take out loans to ^nd
St Aug, just to sit around and do nothing.
Life is too short for students to waste time and money
and to become stressed out just because, **Mom and Dad wanted
me to attend college.”
If Mom and Dad do not want you to be miserable,
explain your situation, withdraw from St Aug and go out and
enjoy life. College is definitely not for everyone.
This is not to say that every one should just withdraw
from school because of stress or for any other reason, but you
have to be happy in order to live a fulfilling and productive Ufe.
Don’t waste your time saying, “I wish I could have
done that,*’ and realize that it is too late.
This is quite relative to the recently departed. Each
one of them lived their lives to the fullest, which helps the
St. Aug family and their families deal with their loss a
little easier.
So, “seize the day,” and don’t wait until tomorrow,
because tomorrow may never come!
New beginnings
Generation OC
It’s called the “blank
generation”, the “lost
generation”, or simply
"Generation X", It supposedly
refers to the age group of 18-29.
Who "devised the term
"Generation X"? The media.
When most people think of
Generation X, they stigmatize
the X as relating to the X in
MalcolmX. Ironically, tl»Xhas
no relation to the powerful
leadership of MalcolmX. Most
of Generation X does not want
to associate themselves with that
name. The question that will be
answered in this article is why
doesn’t anyone want to be called
Generation X?
Unfortunately our age group
is described as slackers, unable
to c(^, and even not knowing
where we’re going. According
to the baby boom generation, we
never had to go through the civil
rights movement our parents
went through. So is the media’s
depiction of Generation X true?
Let’s see what Professor
Keith Powell, Assistant to the
Dean of Students had to say. "Yes
it’s tme as far as racial identity
and cultural awareness. Today
identity is not an issue.
Afrocentricity is not an issue and
that’s a problem.” But major
by
Angelique Smith
problems that plague X’ers are
the war on drugs, the war on
increased STD’s, AIDS killing
our loved ones, and the lack of
self-esteem amongst our age
group. Professor Powell's
comments on these issues are,
"Your war is a war of choice and
decisions, decisions more
personal than previous
problems. It’s your choice. >^11
I do dmgs? Will I have sex?”
But beyond these decisions
there are decisions that are
affecting our well-being—the
case of the recent affirmative
action ruling, for exan^le.
“One of the problems is
unemployment, unemployment
that has taken place because of
the taking out of affirmative
action,” says Elroy Bethell, a
junior at Saint Aug.
But beyond the media’s
depiction, a lot of us are proving
ourselves to be successful. Not
just financially; but mentally.
Damiko Hill, a sophomore
says, "If you want something it
takes woric to get it I want to be
a public relations specialist and
I realize it’s hard to get a job in
communications, so I’m at
WAUG learning with them. I’m
doing this with an internship
with public relations.
Internships are important.” And
they are. Success takes sacrifices
and teamwork. Teamwork that’s
essential to us since we’re a small
black college that has to
eventually compete in working
America.
Erica Lytle, a sophomore
says, "Since I go to Saint Aug
and these are the people I
associate with, I feel they’re
successful at what they do,”
Saint Aug stu^nts have
what it takes to make it! Our
students are achieving success to
the max and they’re doing this
by helping someone in need
when there comes a time for
motivation. Our students are
achieving success to the max
when we see someone who jSts
the description of “slakers, or the
lost generation” by guiding them
in the right directiMi. At Saint
Aug we’re being guided towards
a strong sense of individuality,
identity, and ethnicity.
Generation X is paving the
way for our approach to the 21st
century. We’re finding cures for
diseases, campaigning for peace,
trying to break the barriers of
racism, sexism, and much more.
As Brian Staton, a senior at
Saint Aug says, "Generation
Xer’s are taking their rightful
place within the world.”
by
Je'Ronica Goodwin
and staff, to sit back and evaluate
our fiiture which lies in our own
hands. To me, these four years
are the perfect opportunity to
grow mentally, physically, and
spiritually.
School, work, and play
can all be stres^l times in our
lives. These are the moments we
should take to love ourselves the
most All of us experience a bad
hair day, a poor test score, or even
relationship problems. But de
spite all of these things we should
have the courage to face tomor
row with joy and gladness. En
gage in an exercise that allows
- 9MS ^ejf-
Editor*in-Qiief:NatoshaKainedy Deputy Editor-in-Chief: Dawn Randolph News Efliton La Tonya James Advertising
Managen Kathy Chapman Arts & Entertainment Editor: Jackie Yates Sports Editor: Rukel Faulcon Public
RelationsOfllcer: Maria Arvelo ly pist; Michelle Fox Photographer: Tamika Johnson Advisor: Dr. Frederick Jones.
The Pen is a student publication of Saint Augustine’s College and is published monthly throughout the academic year from
September to May. Mailing address is: The Pen, Saint Augustine’s College, 1315 Oakwood Avenue, Raleigh, North Carolina
27610. Entire contents Copyright 1995/6. All rights reserved.
Unless otherwise indicated, the opinions expressed in editorials, cartoons, and columns in these pages are those of the
contributors and do not necessarily reflect an editorial perspective of The Pen. The Pen reserves the right to edit all
submisssions for taste, style and clarity. The unsigned editorial that appears on the left is the responsibility of the Editor-
In-Chiefs
For those of you who
have just begun your college
career, welcome to the Falcons
Nest! And for the many students
who have retumed to continue
on their journey towards
academic excellence, welcome.
Whatever your classification or
reason for choosing and
attending St. Augustine’s
College, it truly marks a new
beginning. You are no longer
comforted by the wise parables
of your parents, but by the ever
conq)lex conscience of your own
minds. This is the time for us
as students, professors, faculty
you to evaluate yourself five
years ago, presenUy, and where
you will be five years from now.
If you see little or no change in
behavior, the way you handle
situations, or the way you love
yourself it is not only time for a
mental checkup but a new be
ginning!
Everyone at one time
or another has said, “I wish my
hair was longer”, “She has nicer
legs than I do”, or “Thin is in.”
TV., radio, books, magazines,
and even our peers have defined
what is beautiful and acceptable
in today’s society. Well, start
this year off fresh; start with an
exercise progam that will allow
you to stay physically attractive
and healthy.
But let’s not forget that
beauty comes in many shapes,
sizes and colors and that’s what
makes us unique. Compliment
your uniqueness by treating
yourself to the beautiful things
that look so well on you. Take
at least three hours out of every
week to do some form of exercise
or physical activity, and give
yourself at least one compliment
daily. These are just a few things
that will help to develop a
physically attractive you.
“For God so loved the world
that he gave his only begotten
son...” Can you imagine a man
whom you’ve never seen or met
dying for your sins and
transgressions? It is these words
that repeatedly remind me that I
must give thanks unto the Lord!
As students we must realize that
we are blessed to have the
opportunity to continue our
education.
Furthermore, many of
us have cars and even apartments
that are not accessible to many
people. All of these things did
not come through magic or pure
luck, but by blessings given to
us daily by God, and for that we
should say Thank You! Just
remember that there is no better
time to grow spiritually. Being
closer to God doesn’t make you
a punk, nor does it mean that you
can’t have fun. But it does help
you to have a happier and more
complete life, knowing that no
matter what trials and
tribulations you face, there is
Jesus who loves you and will
never leave you!
Today is a day for fresh
starts, and new resolutions.
Make this day a time for a
renewed mind and spirit. Let’s
cleanse our minds and hearts of
fears, hurts, and resentments.
The past is behind us; let’s leam
from it and then release it.