Newspaper Page Text
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THE PANTHER
DECEMBER, 1948
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CLARK COLLEGE |
PANTHER |
A Journal of Negro College Life
Published from October to June
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MOUTHPIECE OF
THE COLLEGE
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A promoter of school spirit by encouraging projects ami efforts
among studeyit groups and individual students.
A medium through which an opportunity is provided for students
to obtain experience in newsgathering, reporting, book-reviewing, edi
torial, and creative writing.
An instrument for fostering friendly and constructive criticism
of campus activities.
THOMAS H. PENDLETON
Editor-in-Chief
JOHN C. JACKSON, JR. PAUL SWEENEY
Associate Editor News Editor
June Blanchard
Ethel Watkins
James Woodard
Society
Literary
Feature
Art
Sports
George Waters
Exchange
Huley Dotson
Julius Conway
Mildred Brawner
Business Manager
Photographer
Staff Secretary
Lois Richardson
Annie Mae Burts
Typist
Typist
Miss C. C. Posey
Mr. M. C. Holman
Faculty Advisor
Faculty Advisor
»;♦"
ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA LEADS THE WAY
On Thursday morning, December 2, 194?8, the Alpha Kappa
Alpha Sorority gave in Davage Auditorium a /lelightfully different,
and exceedingly instructive program. The»Sorors presented in
pantomime the biography of an Alpha Kapim Alpha. The drama
tization demonstrated how the sorority exerts a beneficial influ
ence upon campus life by helping to guide, direct, and mould the
crude freshman girl into the cluturred and gracious college young
woman.
The manner in which the play was presented was a unique
one here at Clark and is an example of the type of originality
that we should strive for more often in our student presentations
during the College Hour.
The programs which are presented by student organizations
are in majority, directed toward enlightment—a good. purpose.
However, much that is presented in lengthy lectures is lost to
the average student who is genuinely averse to the orations of
stilted speakers, and the meaningless formality which usually
sun/junds their presentation. It should then be the combined
effort of the student body to draw away from meaningless con
ventionalism, particularly the traditional one, two, three, hymn,
scripture, prrayer routine which has become a reflex procedure
when we give our College Hour programs.
The appropriateness of religion in assemblies is not to be
misunderstood. Certainly we should give religious observance in
those programs that are of such a nature. However, we must be
cautious that we do not find ourselves in the midst of vain repeti
tions which depreciate our religion and at times become absolute
blasphemy.
The state that we have reached is not without cause. In our
pre-college training in the public schools we received no religious
education. The separation of church and state in America makes
it unconstitutional for religion to be taught in the public schools.
Thus in our elementary and high schools the only religious em
phasis was the daily ritualistic reading of scripture and hymn
singing that preceded every asssembly program. This practice has
become ingrown within us that regardless of the nature of the
program we present, be it science lecture or a pep rally, we are
prone to open with an unconscious mockery of that which should
be most sacred to us all.
Fortunately there are those among us who have recognized
the situation and are attempting to improve it. We are slowly
breaking away from an undesirable tradition. We are beginning to
see our daily assemblies as College Hour programs rather than
daily devotions. Dr. McPheeters pointed the way for this last
semester in one of his talks with the students.
There have been in the past two semesters programs which
have broken away sharply from the type of thing heretofore too
frequently given. These programs shine out for their originality
and planning. Such a program was that given by the Alpha Kappa
Alpha Sorority, outstanding because it is a great step toward the
type of student program that we desire. Bombast and pomp and
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VOICE OF THE
STUDENTS
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A LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Editor of the Panther,
I was giancing through my Clark College Bulletin and under
the heading of Government I read again the following sentences:
“The discipline of this school is designed to encourage self-
government. Every influence is thrown around the students to
develop culture and character.” I can not think of a better way to
encourage self-government and to develop culture and character
than to give the students some voice in their government in the
true fashion of democracy.
I have always felt student government to be an integral part
of progressive college programs, beneficial not only to the stu
dents themselves but to the institution as a whole. It is a sign that
the college has arrived, has reached that level of maturity at
which it can practice the democracy so long held as an ideal.
I understand that in previous years there has been some
action at Clark directed toward the formation of a student govern
ment; However, as yet no such organization has materialized.
I recall, in one of the first College Hour programs of this year
it was asked that the students would not attempt to form a stu
dent government but that they wait, “let me do it my way first”
-—Well the students waited, and they are still waiting. Where
is this student government?
A Freshman
Editors Note:
The above letter, while not necessarily representing the
attitude of the Panther, was considered pertinent enough to be
given attention inasmuch as it is expressive of a question which
has repeatedly come to the editor’s desk.
Christmas Recollection
I guess we all like Christmas whether we come from the
north, the south, or the far west. Whether we are used to digging
our way out of the drifts on Christmas morning or strolling in
warm sunshine it is Christmas all the same, a time of peace and
good will.
I remember Christmas in years before. I remember the toys,
the candy, and the great tree that stood in the corner, its branches
laden with the fragile frosted ornaments that my grandfather
had used when he had won prizes for having the most beautifully
decorated tree in the town. I recall too the unhappy years and
that lowest year when they took away my Santa Claus. My mother
was ill and money was scarce. I remember how my sister and I
stood by the bed and learned that Dad was Santa Claus, and all
of his savings had gone for medical bills and we should not be
able to get all of the things that we had hoped for, but he would
get us something and we were not to be too disappointed. My sister
asked if there were an Easter Rabbit and mother told her that
there was none and then I, trying desperately to keep from crying,
asked if there had been any Pilgrims and she said that there had
been Pilgrims and that they had been brave people and not afraid
of hardship and I felt slightly compensated that all of my three
most anticipated holidays had not been stripped of their glory.
In the years that followed, Christmas for me was bare and
hollow. The rooms were again filled with toys and the kitchen
gave forth aromas of roasting turkey and the spices of pies and
baking cakes. There too was the huge tree with its glimmering
tinsel and lights. Yet something was missing, something that had
been taken from me that dark evening in my mother’s room. In
my own futile way I had tried to fight against it. I went to bed
early on Christmas before they began to trim the tree. I did not
wish to see the presents before Christmas morning. I tried to
make myself believe that Santa Claus still came and filled the
stockings and brought the heaps of presents but it was a poor
attempt for I knew in my heart that he really did not come.
There came a Christmas Eve when I was no longer a little
boy and I felt that I had outgrown the spirit of Christmas so
I stayed up to help with the preparations, and so found what I had
been missing all of the years. Mother made cookies in the kitchen
which we ate as fast as they came from the oven. Dad came home
and took off his coat and helped with the tree. I remember how
I ran through the streets to a little store that stayed open late
to get a bit more tinsel. There was a moon and there was snow
and as I hastened back with the last of the late shoppers who
hurried along to other homes like mine where families gathered
and there was warmth and laughter and a feeling of belonging,
it came to me, a joy greater than I had known before. I had
mourned my loss because in my childishness I had seen Christina's
only in terms of what it brought to me. But in the years that were
to follow my spirit grew richer and deeper. I had found again my
Santa Claus. I found him in the light that came into my Mother’s
eye when she saw the present that I had saved so long to give her.
I found it in the pressure of my Father’s hand as he thanked me
for the shirt, the ties. I found it in the Christmas exclamation
of my baby sister who believed, as I had once and now did again,
in Santa Claus.
Yes, I found again my Santa Claus and this time he could not
be taken from me. He was a spirit now that ever grew stronger.
It was with me those three grim Christmases of war when I could
not even see the tree. It came to me when I shared with my fellows
a letter, a box, and a sprig of evergreen.
(Continued on Page Three)
show are not necessary but rather sincerity, directness, and sim
plicity are better able to create within us a lasting impression
and inspiration.
T. PENDLETON.