Newspaper Page Text
Page 2
THE SPELMAN SPOTLIGHT
April 11, 1963
SPOTLIGHT STAFF
Editor-in-Chief
Associate Editor
Dorothy M. Myers
Georgianne Thomas
Bronwen Unthank, Wanda Waples
Gwendolyn lies
Assistant Editors —
Business Manager
News Department — Jean Berrien, Editor, Patricia Smith,
Marie Thomas, Clara Prioleau, La Joyce Henderson,
Anne Carroll, Joyce Irvin
Feature Department — Lucia Holloway, Editor; Betty Lane,
Jessie Stith, Ann Ashmore, LeJune Hickson,
Gwendolyn lies, JoAnne Merry
Fashion Editor — Billie Joyce Mack
Typists — Jean Berrien, Kercenna McChriston, Hazel
Flowers, Sonya Mixon, Patricia Smith, Katy Cole
man, Jean Waymer
Circulation Managers Bronwen Unthank,
Amy Holley
Photographer Camille Smith
Cartoonists Mary Gaither, Joanne G. Merry
Adviser : Mrs. Naomi Chivers
The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily
those of the staff. All articles must be signed. Names will be with
held upon request.
cjCetterd to the dddib
FROM
THE
EDITOR'S
DESK
Editor’s Note: All letters to
'the editor must not exceed 200
words. Failure to comply with
this limit will forfeit printing.
Dear Editor,
In answer to a letter published
in the last issue of the SPOT
LIGHT, I’d like to say that it is
certainly a pity for us to use the
newspaper as a sounding board for
personal grievances and bitter
ness. The newspaper is for news.
though I
or
knew the
instructors
might not be as understanding.
I pictured the beautiful campus
and the famed Sisters’ Chapel.
In a vision could be seen that
it would be wonderful to be a
Spelman young lady and that it
would be even more wonderful
to be an alumna of Spelman.
Oh yes, I could truly see why
Spelman was considered one of
the best schools in the United
States for the education of Negro
women. All of these things I
Certainly we should include pub- had pictured in my mind con _
lie opinion, but public opinion it cerning Spelman .
anc^e
o med
3nJt unde
should be—not private.
We should try to build up the
paper through good journalism;
otherwise, it will, rather than
command the respect it deserves,
become no more than a platform
for radical harangue.
Sincerely,
Evelyn A. Carroll
Dear Editor,
Much to my dismay the rever
ent atmosphere that existed in
Vesper services during my earlier
years at Spelman has slowly
diminished. No longer do I see
the respect which should be
shown at these services.
Quite often one encounters
friendly chit chat and other fri
volous fraternizing. I feel that
this is unbecoming and mis
placed.
In the very near future, I
sincerely hope that Vesper ser
vices will once again become a
place of manifested respect.
Sincerely,
Bronwen Unthank
ance
Many of you, both students and faculty, have remarked to me and
to other members of the SPOTLIGHT staff that you were pleasantly
surprised with the last edition of our college newspaper. Comments
such as these are always appreciated, for it makes the staff feel that
we are accomplishing what we set out to achieve, namely to publish
a newspaper representative of ourselves. Conversely, we have gotten
comments of unfavorable criticism. This, of course, keeps us on our
toes and prevents the ever-lurking apathy,from seeping into our blood.
Therefore, my conclusion is that we need both favorable and unfavor
able criticism.
Since our December edition, the SPOTLIGHT has undergone signifi
cant changes. If you will look at the staff line-up on the editorial
page, you will see that we have changed our editor-in-chief, associate
editor, added assistant editors, dropped the lay-out department, and
added, as well as dropped, reporters.
Other obvious changes in the format of the paper need no explana
tion. However, the change in the newspaper staff which I consider
most significant is the establishing of an editorial board composed
of all the editors on our staff. This board decides what is to be pub
lished and what is not to be published. Any and all policy is either
made by this board or must be presented to this board before it can
be accepted. Our faculty advisor, Mrs. Naomi Chivers, is, of course,
always present to give us the benefit of her experience through her
well thought out advice. The final decision rests in the hands of this
newly established editorial board.
We realize that the college, through the voice of Dr. Manley, has a
pre-established policiy regarding our college newspaper. It is
our sincere wish that the SPOLIGHT staff and the editorial
board, especially, will prove ourselves so responsible as students and
as journalists that we will be given an entirely free hand in putting
out our newspaper. I am confident that we have the ability, maturity,
and integrity needed in such an endeavor. Our next and most impor
tant step comes in getting this point across to the college community.
For the remainder of the year, we plan to put out two isssues a
month. This means that we have three more editions besides this
one. Yes, we have hilgh ideas as well as high ideals. However, they
will be futile without your spiritual and your physical support. Many
of you have given us spiritual support through encouraging words,
but more of you need to give us physical support by writing articles,
informing us of activities, and giving us additional information and
service.
We need reporters especially now that we will have exchange ar
ticles with other colleges in the University Center. The staff feels that
one of the reasons that a close relationship among the colleges in the
Center is virtually nil is because of the poor communications with
them. Typists always have been and always will be in demand. We
even have a different atmosphere with new equipment in the pub
lications office.
As you have perhaps guessed, this article is not only to inform
you of our intentions as journalists, but to plead our Case to you
in one grand sweep so that we can save just a little on shoe leather
and useful energy.
Thus, you see unveiled before you a whole new horizon, an un
censored (except by the editorial board, of course) outlet of express
ion. My advice to you is—USE IT. We all love Spelman. Let’s make
the SPELMAN SPOTLIGHT one of the outstanding facets of our
beloved school.
Dorothy M. Myers
Dear Editor,
It seems that spring is here
to stay and from here on we’re
going to have nothing but beau
tiful weather. As a result of'this,
we, as students must sharpen our
wits if we want to enjoy it. We’re
all restless this time of year and
eager to take part in spring acti
vities. However, we must sup
press our restlessness and con
tent ourselves with evening
strolls around the campus. True,
this is good for physical fitness
but we should be physically fit
with all the walking (not riding)
we do.
We admit that Spelman is a
good school and a beautiful cam
pus, especially during this time
of year. But. . .why shouldn’t we
be able to enjoy scenery other
than that of Spelman College? I
understand that there are some
beautiful parks, zoos, land sites,
and other areas of interest that
provide for intellectual and so
cial entertainment. Why can’t we
venture outside of “our world”
into the “big world?” How do
the people live in Atlanta? Are
all the areas like this area? When
I’m at home people ask. . .“Tell
me something about Atlanta,
Georgia?”. . .1 can only tell them
about Spelman, Georgia.
We sit and watch the birds and
the squirrels as they seemingly
enjoy life, while we, the most in
tellectual specie, must sit con
fined behind the Spelman Wall!
HAVE WE SOLD OUR SOULS
TO THE BARBED WIRE?
Sincerely,
Edith
Dear Editor,
Last summer I was eagerly
making preparations to attend
Spelman. I could picture in my
mind how I would like Spelman
and how I would enjoy college.
There was even a picture of the
rules and regulations that I would
soon have to get used to. There
was a picture of how understand
ing the house-mothers would be,
However, after spending several
months at Spelman, my visions
have been shattered with some
incidents that to many may seem
incredible. The physical portion
of the campus is still beautiful
but at this point I can’t say
whether or not I am enjoying
college life, for there are too
many unnecessary rules that
should be abolished. One of the
main rules in two of the dormi
tories is that, if a young lady
has a late class and wishes to
sleep late, she still has to get
up, clean her room and lie on
top of her made-up bed until
after the house mother checks
the room. This is utterly ridi
culous. If a young lady wishes to
sleep late, she should be able to
do so. This harsh rule seems as
though one has to get “special
permission” to sleep after ail
these years.
Another problem which con
cerns most of us is the dining
hall. Most of the time, the meals
are unfit to serve to. . .though
they may be well-balanced. If
we get a decent meal, there is
only enough to get a taste. As
a result most of us suffer from
the same disease day after weary
day, better known as hungryitis.
As for me, I have steadily been
loosing weight ever since I have
been here.
The infirmary is the most ridi
culous and incredible situation on
Spelman’s campus. If a young
lady feels ill, she has to get sick
between 6:30 and 7r00 in the
morning, 11:30 to 12:30 in the
afternoon, or between 6:45 and
7:30 in the evening. If you be
came sick before or after these
clinic hours, you are told its all
in the mind. You have to suffer.
Even if a young lady has
cramps and can hardly bear the
pain, she is told this is a psycho
logical problem, she doesn’t really
have cramps. No one, doctor or
nurse, can tell me that cramps are
a psychological problem; I have
experienced them too often and
I have received a gray pill that
is supposed to help me; or if
they are out of those, then a red
or white, pink or green pill is
used instead. In the meantime, a
young lady could be dying.
Of most importance to any
college campus is its library.
There are several general prin
ciples or rules to be observed in
the library regardless of its lo
cation. The librarian is duty-
bound to see that the library is
quiet for those who wish to study.
As to the case of Spelman’s li
brary, the library most of the
time is too noisy to do any ef
fective studying; persons talk on
the phone loud enough for the
people in the hall to hear them.
Yet, the library is supposed to
be quiet. How can one study with
such excessive noise, unless she
is deaf?
Whenever there is a scheduled
activity on campus, every Spel
man young lady is compelled to
go or at least she might as well
be, for if there is another pro
gram on another college campus
that seems more interesting to
the Spelman young lady, she
can’t go because of the program
scheduled on Spelman’s campus.
If a young lady should go, she is
subject to possible punishment.
(Continued on page 10)
Letter From A Junior
Dear Editor,
I want to express a wholehearted thank you and round of applause
to the Social Science Department for presenting the enlightening dis
cussion, “Liberty at Spelman College”, March 11. The serious unrest
that is bubbling on this campus must eventually come to a head, and
I think it was high time for just such a discussion.
I went to the meeting not at all innocent. For the grievances ex
pressed are common to virtually all enrolled at Spelman, and those
expressed which I had not heard before did not surprise me. Despite
this knowledge, I left the discussion disgusted, sickened and revolted.
Disgusted, sickened and revolted by the hypocrisy, the underhanded
dealings, the evasive answers and lies, the deceit, the glaring discrep
ancies, the treachery—in short, disgusted, sickened and revolted by
the corrupt state of this school, Spelman College, as exposed by the
victims under its intimidation and threats that various persons are
now enduring as a result of their forthrightness in exercising their
freedom of speech in discussing liberty at Spelman.
It is a shame that college students, who go to college for academic
advancement, should have first to devote their time and energy
towards creating an atmosphere making such advancement feasible
or possible at all. I was recently speaking with two students from a
northern college who mentioned that the “great revolt” taking place
on their campus over the two assemblies they are required to attend
each week now seems significant in comparison with the basic issues
for which we at Spelman are fighting. The thing is that these griev
ances we hold are so very basic that we cannot wait ten or twenty
years for change that is already long overdue. We want change to
morrow in hope that somehow we may catch up with other colleges
throughout the nation.
I feel that more discussions of the same nature are very much in
order. There are very many more questions for which we want
answers and very many more grievances we want to air.
It has been noted: They’re mowing the lawns; the trustees are
coming. Therefore, since so many in the power structure here have
the tendency to pass the buck, so to speak, where responsibility is
concerned, I suggest that a discussion, such as took place in the Abby
gameroom, be arranged with the trustees when they arrive this month.
Although I do not know the trustees at all I have hope that at least
they would not turn a deaf ear and would be sympathetic to our plight
(Surely someone in a position to change things is.) This is the express
reason why I expect this suggestion to fall like water from a duck’s
back. I offer it, nontheless.
Once again, cheers to the Social Science Department for helping
to bring our cause to the open. The fight promises to be long and
difficult, but, to close with a dear, familiar phrase, “We shall over
come!”.
Sincerely,
Anna Jo Weaver