Newspaper Page Text
Page 4
The SPELMAN SPOTLIGHT
Friday, Nov. 17, 1961
Phyllis (third from right) and friends from Elmira.
Students Can Govern
There were many impressive
phases of life at Elmira College,
where we spent one semester as
exchange students. Perhaps the
one phase of campus life that left
the deepest imprint upon us was
the method of government used.
We were actually elated to find
that the students at Elmira Col
lege really governed themselves
through a very effective Student
Government Association. The
students who held the official po
sitions were girls of integrity, re
spected by their fellow students.
The Student Government has only
recently instituted the college hon
or system, but as a result of such
superb leadership, it seemed as
if it had been in use for several
years. The success of Elmira’s
honor system was due to the fact
that the administration had conf-
dence in the quality of its students
and believed them to be capable of
producing an effective type of
leadership. The most impressive
segment of the Student Govern
ment Association was the Judici
ary Board, which was composed of
a small group of students under
the head of a Chief Justice who
was also a student. The Judiciary
Board reviewed all cases connect-
An Open Letter To
The Morehouse Men
Men of Morehouse:
We, your Spelman sisters have been concerned about
you men who are the “Pride of the South” (?) for a long
time now; and having a great deal of devotion towards you,
we think that it’s only fair for us to call your attention
to a few events and the circumstances surrounding each.
If we didn’t have a genuine interest in you, then we would
not have bothered to write this letter.
Movies
We are moved to comment about the conduct of More
house men in the movies on your campus. Is it that you
think it shows your manhood to clown at a love scene, or do
you just crave attention? If the answer is “yes” to the first
question then let us assure you that your conduct shows
just the opposite; and if it is “yes” to the latter we feel
sorry for you. At any rate, this type of behavior is definite
ly not our idea of how a Morehouse man should act.
Dances
We regret very much that our policy of a blanket invita
tion for Morehouse men to our dances had to be changed,
but we hope that this policy will cause you men to meet
more Spelmanites and escort them to dances. We hope that
the old custom of Morehouse men loitering in front of the
gym door waiting for a girl to come along will be replaced
by a more socially acceptable one. We also hope that you
men will escort us to your dances. It is so nice to have an
arm to lean on when we sprain ankles and break legs on
the Morehouse sidewalks.
Homecoming
We are proud to be your queens. But please, we think
you could be more business-like conducting your interviews.
Why lead one girl on when you have already chosen another?
girl?
Then too, after you make your selection, who is the last
person to find out about banquets, and your other plans?
Have you paid Miss Maroon and White the homage which
you owe her as your queen, or is she just “queen for a day ?”
Have you ever escorted her to a dance, movie, football game,
or any other activity? It seems to us that you show very little
appreciation, or even awareness of the fact that the Maroon
and White court has to bear heavy expenses without your
help.
In conclusion, we hope that you are not offended by these
facts, and we know that you appreciate our concern. Ques
tion yourselves about the items mentioned in this letter;
and if you think that we have been harsh, unfair, or wrong
in any way, show us wherein we are wrong. We are big
enough to acknowledge our mistakes. Are you?
Affectionately yours,
Those who care
(Names withheld upon request.)
ed with any violation of the aca- ’
demic or social honor code, and
passed the final judgment on
cases whenever it was found nec
essary. The president of the Stu
dent Government Association and
the chairman of the Judiciary
Board are the intermediaries be
tween the student body and the
administration.
Tlie honor system, among other
privileges, included an unlimited
cut system which allowed students
voluntary class attendance, non-
compulsory religious activities, &
unsupervised examination periods.
During examinations, students are
permitted to leave the examina
tion room anytime during the per
iod for a coffee break, or for any
other reasons.
The most important feature of
the honor system was individual
responsibility. Each student was
responsible for turning in viola
tions of others, as well as those
committed by himself. In all cases
violations of the honor system are
brought before and tried by the
Judiciary Board.
The honor system, covering
both the social and academic seg
ments of college life, is a means
of attaining what is deemed a
high degree of integrity. In order
for an honor system to exist effi
ciently and effectively, it contains
certain rules and regulations,
guideposts by which to live. As
each of us is a part of the student
body and the entire college com
munity, it is our responsibility to
ourselves and to each other to up
hold the honor system and con
duct ourselves accordingly. There
fore, group responsibility as well
as an individual responsibility is
involved in the upholding of an
honor system.
At this point, we are beginning
an independent life: It is assum
ed that a college student is ma
ture enough to cope with all her
responsibilities. The opportunity
for self growth is offered; it is up
to each student to develop that
opportunity to her fullest capa
bilities.
Priscilla Rowe
Phyllis TJmstead
Grady Students boarding bus.
Future Nurses !
Last year, because of limited
transportation, Spelman instruc
tors went to Grady to conduct
classes, but now that Grady has
a school bus, the students come
to Spelman for their classes.
Even though these Grady stu
dents are inconvenienced by hav
ing to attend clases here, we wish
to extend a welcome to them to
join with us in our academic
grind.
Have you been wondering why
the lunch lines are so-o-o long?
Well, the answer is that Grady
students are now adding to our
campus scene.
The Grady School of Nursing
has been affiliated with Spelman
since 1959. In order to fulfill
state requirements, Grady stu
dents are required to take cer
tain courses - such as biology,
chemistry, and psychology
which are not offered at Grady.
Priscilla Rowe
A Night in the Orient
^i]on- 'lA/ejtern
oCecturer
Last week Prof. Derk Bodde
of the University of Pennsylvania
was on our campus as the second
in a series of guest lecturers
brought here by the Non- Western
Studies Program. Prof. Bodde,
the author of several books on
China, was in Atlanta for two
days during which he spoke to
the class on “China Past and Pres
ent,” and to the faculty of Non-
Western Studies Seminar. He also
appeared on television and deliv
ered a public lecture in Dean Sage
Hall.
The title of his public lecture
was “Old Society and the New
Forces in China.” During his pres
entation Prof. Bodde gave a brief
survey of some of the cultural tra
ditions of ancient China which
perhaps made Chinese society
better able to assimulate com
munistic institutions than West
ern societies. He cited many
traditions to illustrate this point
the most outstanding of which
seemed to be the place given to
merchants in the society which
was not conducive to the develop
ment of capitalism and other
Western institutions.
I am sure that everyone who
attended this lecture came away
with a better understanding of
why Communists were able to
take over China, and perhaps, a
different outlook on Communist
China.
Lana Taylor
Wednesday night, October 25.
I decided to embark for the bi
zarre and oriental country of
China. I had given much fore
thought to the trip, particularly
to the mode of transportation
that I would use. I could not
picture myself with a spade in
my hands tunneling my way to
China, nor, could I see myself on
an ocean-liner, because I have a
very nervous stomach. An air
plane would never do, consider
ing that I suffer from aeropho
bia. Suddenly I decided how I
would reach China!
Minutes after leaving Abby, I
found myself half-way to China.
I experienced no fatigue from
digging, nor, a nervous stomach
from the rhythmic swaying of the
ocean liner. My aerophobia did
not even bother me. (The steps
of Giles really aren’t that high,
you know.)
As I approached China, I was
not greeted by a little old man
in silken trousers with a long
braid extended down his back.
Instead, I was greeted by several
of my classmates who were qui
etly seated around a room in
Giles.
So, this is China! Students anx
iously awaiting the arrival of their
professors; a large room with
blackboards and chalk. Nothing
within the immediate environ
ment gave me a hint that this was
China. Perhaps, I thought, when
the class actually begins I will
feel as though I am in China.
However, when the class and the
actual speaking of the language
did begin, I felt as though I were
in Outer Mongolia. The conversa
tion went as follows:
“Nin hau ma?” — How are you?
“Wo hen hau, sye sye?” — I’m
well, thank you.
“Wo yau mai dungsyi?” I
want to buy something.
“Ni yau mai shemma dungsyi?”
—What do you want to buy?
“Wo yau mai jeige.” — I want
to buy this.
Look strange, You should hear
our classmates speak it! In room
107 of Giles Hall on Spelman’s
campus, history is in the making.
After many hundreds of years,
the Chinese language is undergo
ing a phonetic change.
Seriously, I really found the
class very enjoyable. The class
meets only one night aweek, Wed
nesday, at eight o’clock in Giles.
Come on over and let us laugh at
each other this Wednesday.
Angela G. Owen
XSVOJL 6N !Jtai- -3&W A3HJ.
HX’aW® S
>#NIHA X