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Page 4 THE SPELMAN SPOTLIGHT February 29, 1964 Atlanta's Image (Continued from Page 1) and paved the way for serious con templation and re-examination. The recent article in the Atlanta Constitution on SNCC’s supposed af filiation with the Communist party was held up for ridicule. According to Rev. Bevell and other SNCC observers, Atlanta’s problem of segregation is maintained and therefore condoned by the com placency of Negro college students and businessmen who are tragically disillusioned concerning their status in the city at large. The general feel ing seems to be one of “. . . I want freedom right now, but I don’t have time to participate,” as expressed by one Spelmanite. This same 1 a c k a daisical attitude is shared by many of her classmates who offer this and even better excuses. Yet, these same persons are overly-willing to share in the fruits of liberty won, for them, by their Black and White sisters and brothers. Perhaps the students of this col lege were most aroused when some of their sisters were beaten unmerci fully by patrons of the Marietta St. branch of the Krystal’s restaurant chain. The following days found many noble Spelmanites, predomi nantly sophomores, picketing Krys tal’s. On January 18th and 19th, Leb’s Restaurant was the scene of orderly protest by Negroes and sympathetic whites. The group was greeted by members of the Klu Klux Klan dress ed in full regalia. These robed white supremacists paraded throughout the incoming streets and even through the crowd of demonstrators who were fervently singing and chanting popu lar freedom songs. Those who were protesting, refuting the constitu tionality of the anti-trespassing laws were jailed while clown-like entities paraded and agitated throughout the city. Attorneys Moore and Holloway have been brilliantly defending those involved in the 116 civil rights cases brought before the court. However, the judge only smiles and passes ver dicts ranging from 30 days and $33 upward. It is interesting to note that the heaviest penalties are placed upon “outside agitators.” Trials are still going on. It is high ly recommended that every college student see at least one example of “the Atlanta Courtroom in Session.” Wanda Waples Student encounters police bru tality in recent demonstration. Support your Spelman Spotlight Support the Spotlight Advertisers The Time Is Now (Continued from Page 1) the submissive, passive Negro is dead. Or is he? It is interesting to note how suc cessfully we, as Spelman students, have divorced ourselves from a move ment that is clearly our own. There are students who have no interest whatsoever in what is being done on behalf of every American citizen —more directly, the Negro. We live in a self-centered community of fan tasy in which all is well unless we miss a game or a dance, or if a More house man is unfaithful to us. On the other hand, there are stu dents who have escaped the call of duty by the use of a defense mech anism-rationalization. These students have devised plausible explanations for their beliefs and actions without being aware that these are not the real motives. What have our ra tionalizations blanketed? What ac counts for the apathy that exists on our campus? One of the real motives is com placency. “I am content”, says one. “I am satisfied”, says another. Some even say, “I am happy.” The students here live, study, and socialize in a pseudo-intellectual atmosphere. Noth ing exists beyond our little “world”. Everything is lovely and “together”. Others of us rationalize to cover just plain fear. We feel that there is too much to sacrifice for freedom. Our grades might fall. We could even be physically harmed. Anyone would have to be crazy to risk these. Any way, we do not have time. Others, believe it or not, spend a great deal of time and effort criticiz ing those who are participating. This in reality is an attempt to exempt our selves from the matter at hand. There has been recently on our campus an out-and-out campaign to discredit the Student Non-Violent Coordinat ing Committee. This committee has been referred to as “an amazing bluejean army that fights Jim Crow honestly behind enemy lines.” We mainly object to their bluejeans. Most Snickers are college students or former students, aged twenty or so. Alright! They wear bluejeans and the girls let their hair go natural. Disgusting! The girls of Spelman are blindly following outsiders. First this is an insult to the intelligence of our sisters. Secondly, I would like to know what we mean by outsiders. Outside what? Could it possibly be that we feel guilty because of our non-participation. Anyone with half an eye and a fair share of intelligence and honesty can see that none of these reasons are adequate to explain the apathy toward, disinterest in, and with drawal from a movement that is so necessarily our own. If we read the newspapers objectively and go out side our own little paradise, we will see that all is not well and conse quently abandon our complacency. Fear, however, can only be con quered by the individual himself. We must re-evaluate our value system. If our whole school is for Christ, why not have a little more faith in Him. We must admit too that if we can find time for everything else we want to do, we can certainly find time for our movement. Let’s face it, criticism, no mat ter how well founded, can not be a substitute for direct action. We must remember that SNCC is not the only organization in existence. If we wish, we can have a very effective channel of expression if we all work to make it so. If we want a dignified, refined, planned, “safe” demonstra tion, we must get together and im plement our techniques and strategy. We must abandon the use of our defense mechanisms and free our selves of the guilt of non-participa tion and apathy. This is as much our fight as it is that of the millions of others in the United States who have taken the challenge. There is but one decision. The time is NOW! Spelman students, are you willing? Annette Jones Spotlight Editor Interviews Mrs. Esther Peterson at Press Conference. ASSISTANT LABOR SECRETARY SEES NEED FOR INDUSTRY IN EDUCATION TO COMBAT POVERTY Esther Peterson is a dynamic, hypnotizingly frank individual. In her first press conference with college students here on January 21, Mrs. Peterson exemplified the qualities of a woman success ful in her field and remarkably suited for her job. As Assistant Secretary of Labor for Labor Standards and Director of the Women’s Bureau, she has continually fought for equal oppor tunities for women in fields other than those to which they have been shunted in the past. Mrs. Peterson came to Atlanta for a meeting with labor and communi ty leaders concerning her recent ap pointment as Special Assistant to President Johnson for Consumer Af fairs and Chairman of the President’s Committee on Consumer Interests. In regard to this assignment, Mrs. Peterson as head of this committee will report to the President the pos sibilities of federal action on con sumer interests and necessary steps for protection of consumer rights, involving criticism of the function of existing consumer organizations and proposals of means for establish ing better communications between the public and the appropriate Fed eral departments and agencies. Aside from the responsibilities en tailed in her new task, Mrs. Peterson commented on several issues facing labor in this country. When asked about the methods for solving the unemployment problem here, she re plied that education of the popula tion is the underlying step which must be taken in solving this prob lem. She further stated that in our attack on poverty and unemploy ment we should “make an industry out of education” in order to suppress the spread of the “pockets of pover ty” made up of unskilled and semi skilled workers who are out of work because of automation. Since continued automation is in evitable, Mrs. Peterson stressed, there is less need for the “operatives” in our society and greater demand for persons in the arts, culture, recrea tion, counseling and guidance, and social welfare. She particularly ad vised that a liberal arts foundation is becoming more important in order to satisfy the demands for persons in these fields. Specifically, in connection with the present unemployment problem in the United States, Mrs. Peterson re jected the widely accepted view that three per cent unemployment is tol erable in this country and should be set as the goal. She further em phasized that unemployment at any percentage is totally intolerable for “no one is unemployable.” This shows in addition the great need for education of the masses and for the immediate development of full-scale retraining programs. Concerning women workers, with whom Mrs. Peterson has been par ticularly involved, she reiterated the fact that women are becoming more and more able to take on the re sponsibilities of jobs in industry and in the professions. However, al though many barriers have been broken down, it remains for the wom en to increase their demands for posi tions in these areas. In fact, as she pointed out, since women of today have thirty years added to their lives because of automatic facilities in the home, there is no excuse for these women to be denied full participation in the jobs which they are qualified to hold. This should be an incentive to each of us as college women. The barriers are being eliminated and we must be prepared to take advantage of these new opportunities. John Lewis, SNCC Chairman — Face to Face with Local Klansmen. State Republicans On The Move James W. Dorsey, Republican State Chairman, recently announced that the official “Call” for the 1964 Re publican Conventions in Georgia has been sent to all GOP County and District party chairmen. The Georgia “Call” was approved by the Republi can State Central Committee after Georgia GOP leaders had received the official “Call” from the Republi can National Committee. A formal document, the “Call” provides ex plicit instructions for holding Coun ty, District and State conventions. “All county conventions in the state must be held at 1:00 P.M., Sat urday, February 22,” Mr. Dorsey said. “Our instructions to counties tell what must be done at county conventions and also designate the number of delegates each county is authorized to send to our District and State Conventions.” “The Republican State Central Committee has called for Congres sional District conventions to be held on March 21st, and designated where these conventions will be held. Our State Republican convention will be held in Atlanta on May 1 and 2.” Mr. Dorsey explained that dele gates to the National Republican Convention, to be held in San Fran cisco on July 13, will be elected at District and State conventions. “Each of Georgia’s 10 Congressional Dis trict conventions may elect 2 dele gates and 2 alternates to the National Convention. In addition, the State Convention will elect 4 delegates and 4 alternates from the State at large, a total of 24 delegates which Georgia will send to San Francisco.” Most of Georgia’s counties have responded to the “Call”, Mr. Dorsey reported. “We are assured of con ventions in virtually every county in the State, which should assure a good strong statewide GOP organiza tion for the 1964 local, state and na tional election.” Welcome Exchange Students (Continued from Page 1) dancing, sewing and bicycling. She was impressed with the layout of our campus and the “green” leaves during winter months. She says she loves it here although she can’t get used to our early morning breakfast hour (not many of us can); Lucia McClintock, a junior from Western College, is a Sociology major and minoring in Psychology and Religion. She was impressed with the friend liness of the girls; Pamela Parker, a junior from Carleton College, North- field, Minnesota, is majoring in Re ligion and minoring in Sociology. Pamela likes field hockey and bas ketball. Kathryn Pierce, a sophomore from Wells College, Aurora, New York comes to us this semester with a major in Religion. Kathy enjoys music and needlework and she was impressed with the wonderful selec tion of courses available here in the A.U. Center. Kim English, a junior from Elmira College, Elmira, New York, is majoring in Sociology and minoring in history. Kim thinks it’s “just great” being here. Ronda Or- wig, a sophomore from North Cen tral College, Naperville, Illinois, is a Biology major. Her favorite activi ties include swimming, tennis, bowl ing and dancing. Ronda feels that being here is not so different from being at home. Beverly Zich, also a sophomore from North Central is a French major and a Spanish minor. Beverly likes to read, bowl, and has begun recently, to enjoy writing let ters. Elizabeth Shultz (Betsy), a junior from Elmira College, Elmira, New York, is a Philosophy and Re ligion major and a History minor. Betsy likes to read, talk and knit.