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The Panther
January, February, 194?
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CLARK COLLEGE
PANTHER
A Journal of Negro College Life
Published from October to June
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VOICE OF THE
STUDENTS
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MOUTHPIECE OF
THE COLLEGE
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A promoter of school spirit by encowraging projects and efforts
among student groups and individual students.
A medium through which an opportunity is provided for students
to obtain experience in newsgathering, revolting, book-reviewing, edi
torial, and creative writing. _ . .
An instrument for fostering friendly and constructive criticism
of campus activities.
H. McCAREY KENDALL ’48
JEditor-in-Chief
GUYLON SMALL ’48 ROLAND HAYNES ’49
Associate Editor News Editor
JAMES E. McCALLUM
Associate Editor
Maurice Downs ’47 and E. Simpson ’50 Society
June Blanchard ’49 and Lona Brown 50, Emery Wimbish ’48 Literary
Agatha Daniel ’49 and E. L. Parker ’48 Feature
Walter Jarnigan ’49 and H. D. Gates ’49 Art
Cecil A. Blye, Helen Nelson ’50 and D. E. Collington Sports
Carriedelle Kynds ’48 and George Waters ’50 Exchange
Edward W. Symth and H. Royal ’50 Business Managers
Charles Price '50 ...Advertising Manager
Walter Crawford ’47
D. Wahington ’48, E. Haynes ’50
Barbara Lowery ’49..
..Circulation Manager
Photographers
..JStaff Secretary
Brady Jones 50, Xanthene Sayles ’50, Elizabeth Brown ’50,
Alfonso Levy ’50, Ruth Woodward ’50 Reporters
Bertha Tarver ’48, Bessie Brown ’47, Katheryn Jones ’47,
Thelma Alman ’49, Louise Harris ’48..
..Typists
C. C. Posey and J. F. Summersette Faculty Advisors
We Greet A New Year
1947 is here. How did it find you? Are you able to look back
over the past year and feel satisfied and gratified at your accom
plishments? Did you work as hard as you should have? Were
your endeavors fruitful? Do you anticipate a better year with
more than the lukewarm enthusiasm that you had last year?
Are you remorseful for the things that you did that wouJd be
better have left undone, or for things that should have been done,
neglected ?
We face a new day, a new year.. This is the challenge of the
dawn. Look to this day for it is life. The very life of life. In its
brief course lie all the verities and realties of our existence. The
bliss of growth, the glory of action and the splendor of beauty.
For yesterday is but a dream and tomorrow only a vision, but
today well lived makes yesterday a dream of happiness, and every
tomorrow a vision of hope. We greet a new year!
Kendall
ARE YOU A SCHOLAR?
Are you a scholar, or are you just in school? There is, to be
sure, a difference. A consideration of the attributes of the real
scholar may help you to be a better scholar this semester than
you were last semester. It is impossible to single out any one
thing that constitutes a scholar. For indeed, what makes one in
dividual a scholar may be as inadequate for another as your
physician’s prescription is for your friend. It becomes then a
matter of individual differences as to what you can do to approach
real scholarship—accurate and systematic learning.
Burning the midnight oil and self-denial of personal pleasures
make some good scholars, whereas indulgence in these same activ
ities makes others candidates for a mental institution. Viewing
the problem from this point, it is difficult to overlook native
ability, application, and opportunities of each and every individ
ual. Unfortunately there are so many among us who have chanted
"All men are created equal” without weighing the limited possi
bilities of its application that we have failed to recognize the fact
that native abilities, talents, and opportunities are by no means
equal. This unwillingness to face scientific reality can lead to
nothing more than grave disappointment. It leads Suzanne, for
instance, to accept Henry’s invitation to the movie Tuesday after
noon when she knows that Henry can prepare his work in one
third the time that it requires for her. It leads Jessica or Jessie
into the bridge game down the hall when work cries out to be
done. But it is even more tragic than this. It leads to disappoint
ment and heartache (let us disregard Suzanne, Jessica and Jessie)
for those guardians at home who make great personal sacrifices
for these very real characters on our own campus who refuse to
heed the cry of Socrates—“Know thyself”.
Although we have observed the importance of individual dif
ferences in determining what makes a good scholar, it is not im
possible to list the traits which all scholars, past and present,
have in common that place them in that class of distinction. With
out these criteria, they could not be scholars and without them
you can never be one in spite of ability, gift of gab or what
have you.
A good scholar has —
1. A conscious desire to learn.
2. The initiative to place himself in learning situations at
every opportunity.
3. The ability to retain and adhere to what is learned.
4. The ability to apply what is learned.
5. An ever alert consciousness of his needs and a desire
to want to meet them.
Forum Question: “Are rigid rules
and regulations on a college level
justifiable?” t
Conditions today warrant the rigid
regulations for college students. Mor
als are at their lowest, history has
proved, in post-war times. In order
to stress the importance of morality
it is necessary to impress it primarily
in the minds of our “future best
minds”. The world will not voluntari
ly return to morality; it must be
taught and led.
A Morehouse Junior
I do not think rigid rules and reg
ulations are justifiable for boarding
students on a college level. When a
student reaches college age, he should
be able to conduct himself in a man
ner which would make rigid regula
tions unnecessary. Even if the indi
vidual is not chronologically mature,
he should be emotionally mature, if
he is in college, able to think for him
self, to make decisions, and to con
form to desirable patterns of beha
vior. Indeed a certain amount of guid
ance for students would bring more
desirable results than a list of unend
ing items labeled “Do Not” and “Do”.
This only results in creating in stu
dents a feeling of suppression and
dissatisfaction.
A Clark Senior
Rigid regulations serve only to
make students more bold and daring
and determined to defy regulations. A
student who is given the privilege of
using his own discretion assumes a
sense of responsibility to himself and
his follow schoolmates.
A Clark Senior
Rigid regulations on an advanced
level — above the Sophomore year
would seem unnecessary inasmuch as
undesirable students should have been
guided into desirable channels or dis
missed from the institution before
they reach the senior level. If these
supposedly desirable young men and
women do not begin to assume indi
vidual responsibility in school, how
much less fit will they be to meet life
on the job when there will be no one
to tell him what to do?
A Junior
Since rules for boarding students
in colleges are planned according to
the needs of the society in a particu
lar community, the rigidity of regu
lations must necessarily vary. In
some situations what is justifiable
might be considered unjustifiable in
others. Much depends on the individ
uals governed and the situation and
environment.
A Senior
As much as -we like to think of in
dividuality and individual differences,
we must recognize the fact that in
dormitories with large numbers of
young men and women some amount
of regimentation is necessary. Regu
lations must be made for the group,
not for individuals. As long as there
are individuals within the group who
are socially immature, regulations
must be made on the basis of social
maturity or immaturity of the entire
group. A Morehouse Senior
Religion and the
College Students
We have been taught that religion
is man’s consciousness of a greater
power than his own, and he finds him
self constantly striving to become
more like that power.
Aren’t we all religious ? Maybe
some of us possess a little more re
ligion than others, but all of us have
been exposed to it at some time or
other prior to our entering the doors
of this great Methodist institution
known throughout the world as Clark
College, having five ministers includ
ing our own President. We have a
great advantage over some college
students because we are fortunate
enough to be enveloped always by a
religious atmosphere.
If any individuals need to be taught
the true meaning of religion and
Christianity and what it means to be
Christ-like, they should be college stu
dents, because they are the ones upon
whose shoulders the responsibility
rests of helping to teach others to love
better and more wholesome living.
The very reason that we are con
stantly meeting people who can’t
seem to realize that religion is nec
essary and a part of our daily lives
is that they do not understand it and
are not trying to do so. People dis
trust and are not in accord with
phases of life that they do not under
stand.
May it never be said of us that
“We have a little education now, we
have completely forgotten about God,
and the prayers you breathed when
your way was dark. Rather, remem-■
ber that religion has never caused
anyone to fall, but it has certainly
helped the fallen to regain their
strength and sent them on their way.
Be strong! We are not here to play,
to dream, to drift
Thoughts In a
Psychology
Classroom
Psychologists say that emotion is a
stirred up state of the organism, but
there must be another meaning .
something deeper . . . that will ex
plain this tortuous and uncertain feel
ing that so frequently consumes me
Is it love? No it couldn’t be, not me
. . . true I don’t know what love is
but I know I would know if it were
The professor talks about normal and
abnormal reactions. ... I wonder i
my reactions to her warm yet pene
trating eyes, the smile on her lips,
the touch of her, are normal. Every
time I see her something happens to
me. What is it psychology calls it?
I’ve forgotten. Anyway that must be
applicable to other people, not me
’cause it’s altogether different. He
spoke about the power of emotional
maturity . . . what a great help it is
All the girls admire men who have it
Y’know, Mr. Ruch is a very smart
man to try to analyze and delve into
the complexity of the nature of a hu
man being. His conclusions are from
tests of average people, but somehow
they don’t fit me in many instances
Am I above average or is it that you
can’t judge one person by the others ?
I hope it’s the latter. Oh me tomor
row is a busy day, I got things to do,
but I guess today is too since it’s
only 8:45. I wish the bell would
hurry up and ring so I can go. I’m
tired. When is the next basket ball
game? I do hope we win, like we
did over Tuskegee. Gee! It’s a lovely
(Continued on Page Four)
Shun not the struggle, face it
’Tis God’s gift.
Be strong! Be strong!
Florence Mae Wheeler
6. An open mind.
7. The ability to fit himself into the world about him.
8. A socially, religiously, and educationally acceptable atti
tude.
9. Mastery cf subject matter that is superior to that of
the average person.
10. Common sense.
On the Bookshelf
June Marie Blanchard
Well, here we are again, eh? These
visits to our bookshelves are becom
ing rather habitual and I hope en
joyable.
This month’s reading is dynamic
and interesting—each book in its own
way. From the trumpet blast for
freedom of Howard Fast’s Freedom
Road to the promises in the smoulder
ing eyes of the gorgeous Percy in
Rosamond Marshall’s Duchess Hot
spur.
Freedom Road is a stirring tale,
passionately told which will leave few
readers unmoved. Perhaps those curi
ous among us will want to read it just
to see if Howard Fast is trying to
present things in a light which will
be profitable to communistic inter
ests, as one of our most recent vesper
speakers tried to convince us.
If we turn to the turbulent 18th
century through the eyes of Rosa
mond Marshall, there is colorful Lon
don with refuse-strewn streets and
costly balls, scheming noblemen and
desperate thugs. Here the saucy serv
ants and their beautiful mistresses are
figures in intrigue and “amour”. Rosa
mond Marshall’s Duchess Hotspur is a
highly colored romance full of in
trigue and hot-blooded action.
Striking a different vein, let’s look
at another tale of China through the
eyes of one who knows it—Pearl
Buck. Her latest work is Pavillion of
Women. I am sure you’ll find it differ
ent from most of her novels, although
a few of the characters are familiar.
It is the story of a beautiful middle
aged wife who has begun to hate her
life as head of a great Chinese fam
ily. She tries to gain freedom by mar
rying off the oldest children and put
ting the younger son with a tutor.
She tries to satisfy her husband with
a concubine. Yet in the end it was her
love of the western world which set
her free.
Then there is Frank Yerby’s Foxes
of Harrow and a must on your list of
readings if you haven’t already read
it. It is a story of wicked New Or
leans and has done much to reveal
the possibilities of Negro authors on
themes of American life—not just Ne
gro American life.
Are there poetry lovers among us?
Yes??? I thought so. Well, here’s
something special for you—Renais
sance by Edna St. Vincent Millay.
Some will class it as escapist mate
rial—perhaps it is, but it will give
you the needed escape and some of
its magic will remain even after your
return to this prosaic life of ours.
It’s time to leave already—
Goodbye now and GOOD READING
J. M. B.
Book Review
THREE O’CLOCK DINNER—
JOSEPHINE PINCKNEY
Josephine Pinkney in this novel of
manners treats a theme familiar to
all in fact and fiction—the conflict be
tween classes. Three O’Clock Dinner
is set in present-day Charleston,
South Carolina, a city long noted for
its sharp distinctions among social
classes. The author brings together
two groups of perfectly respectable
people—the Redcliffes, a Southern
family descended from the original
colonists; and the Hessenwinkles,
whose immediate forbears were immi
grants.
Tat Redcliffe, scion of a distin
guished Charleston clan, unwisely
marries Lorena Hessenwinkle, daugh
ter of one of the newer families. At
three o’clock dinner, undertaken by
Tat’s mother to welcome Lorena and
her relatives into the clan, the ten
sion between these two families of
contrasting backgrounds mounts
steadily until the screen of good man
ners and reserve crumbles. A long
hidden relationship between Lorena
and the deceased Fen Redcliffe, broth
er of Tat and husband of Judith Red
cliffe, chief protagonist, bursts to
light. The solution to the inevitable
clash follows rapidly and might have
been considered realistic save exceg-
sive sentimentalism. Such is the plot.
The plot, however, is not the im-
(Continued on Page Four)