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Page 4 THE SFELMAN SPOTLIGHT February 28, 1969 EXCHANGE con't. from page 1 Community Action Croup Organized But Invisible Did You Know There Is A Community Action Committee At Spelman The C.A.C. was organized in September 1968 and in February, 1969, it is begin ning to function. What was going on during this time? Why is it that C.A.C. is an invisible element attempting to sprinkle little particles of black relevancy around the campus? If the committee is com posed of representatives from each organization and a chair man appointed by the S.G.A. president there would seem to be an adequate network of communication with the stu dents on campus. Perhaps, one of the problems can be found in the uncertainty of the C.A.C.’s direction. The responsibility of the Commu nity Action Committee is to attempt to better the condi tions and to aid in the lib eration of African people throughout this country and specifically in the Atlanta area. The goal is quite large and beautiful to repeat but how can one implement pro grams that will help us to achieve those goals? If at any time there is to be community work it seems it could be divided into intra and inter action. Believing that before the college can attempt to relate itself to the neglected community there are those Spelman women who would and do work exclusively with in the college and center. Their job is with intra action. But, you say you haven’t seen any C.A. angels gliding around doing their job? One of our intra action projects is the establishment of a Com munity Action Library com prised of books written from a Black prospective, books that tell us “how the world really is,” our job in the strug gle, and other relevant ideas. It is hoped that this library can be of use to the men, women and children that the Spelman women work with in the community. As well as for campus enjoyment. Now, I can hear a few voices echo ing the thought of who is to decide what is relevant and what is not. Well, there is a designated group of 5 women to plan the lib, collect sugges tions from teachers and ad ministration, and to order and solicit the books. If you have some suggestions why not contact C.A.C.? Actually, we need assistance. After the library has been formed volunteers shall be needed to work daily but cer tainly the library should not be the only focus of intra-ac tion. On February 27, David Moore, an African poet from Chicago, will be on campus as the guest of the CAC. The Committee would like to in vite other brothers and sisters who describe the African ex perience and at the same time can relate to Spelman with all its peculiarities. But, how do we get “1969 relators” on campus if we have no voice on the committee which se lects guests and artists to ap pear? The CAC must submit lists and lists of names, ad dress the people on the speak er committee, and if necessary have a member in that august group. For too long we have only been interested in big names and those accepted by middle class standards and values — ignoring the brother or sister who has not per formed abroad, appeared on national TV, or done the big publicity thing. In fact, these people are often out of touch with the needs of the com munity. Therefore, the CAC must be prepared to submit suggestions to the established committee; however, if, as with the case of the David Moore case, there is no money because a bigger and more ex pensive “name” was invited, we must find funds elsewhere. It would seem that those who worked in any commu nity action project would be quite capable of suggesting changes in the curriculum. If a sociology major found that her courses excluded one area which she feels is necessary to effectively in the community she should express her find ings to the CAC, sociology department, and administra tion. In class it is the duty of all women to question from which prospective the class material is “coming from.” Only from trial and error plus community experience can the CAC be a force in curriculum change and decision. After suggesting those things which could improve classroom and curriculum relevancy can we correctly say, “We tried but they did not listen.” Inter-community action be gan in September when 15 Spelman women and a More house man joined the CAC of Clark to participate in a tutorial program at Archer High School. Though the tu tors decreased only from Spel man every Tuesday from 5:30 to 8 p.m. some students feel a little less hostile towards the A.U. Center and some women even more the old ideas we hear about “those people.” There are approximately 20 women working in the Vine City area with Rev. Johnson of the Army Church. Thanks to the Urban League we have been able to contact the Phil lis Wheatley YWCA and E.O.A. Other Spelman have felt the need to gain experience from originally organized groups from the student view. The Student Non-Violent Co ordinating Committee now has several volunteers who are in the process of writing a pamphlet for political educa tion. From the volunteers the CAC was sent a request that Phil Hutchins of SNCC speak on campus in March. It should be “crystal clear” at this time that the CAC has no plans to limit itself to any one direction in liberating Black people in this country. Anything that Spelman wom en feel is relevant to the com munity and where this college can be of service the CAC is willing to assist. There are or ganizations attempting to be gin a program with Carrie S. Pitts home and the Day Care Center while another group is in the process of decorating an African owned shop on Hunter Street. It should be known that if there are those who would like to obtain in formation and possibly es tablish a program with the N.A.A.C.P., Black Panthers, S.C.L.C., Girl Scouts, or any other affiliation the CAC is here to help. Because commitment to CA work has only become strong since December we do not ex pect large scale results this se mester but after this period there no longer be an excuse. There was no established line to follow in developing our work and the direction of our energies has often proven to be a misallocation of re sources. Certain members of the CAC and members of other club members have alienated and in some cases been unable to communicate with established authorities. If the CAC is to work these problems must be solved. Though some clubs have been responsive and initiated their project, others have presented planned programs and later thrown them in the trash. Others have solely been in terested in the money that will be depleted from the budget of those clubs which have no project. Who is to blame? It is the president who swears she will discuss a project with her club or the advisor who strongly promises an answer in 5 days but forgets? I have a suspicion that it is a mix ture of many elements on this campus which allows for such superficial dedication. To find the reason for the above dilemma one of our future projects is a question naire addressed to the stu dents, faculty, and the ad ministration concerning com munity involvement. During the summer some students are planning to participate in a freedom school program while some will continue work in Vine City. How do you feel about an experiment in real living in which an exchange program between Spelman and a local “ghetto” for a specified number of weeks? It would be opened to those who complain that they have had no contact with problems of African people but who would like to know how the majority of the minority live. For those Spelman women who admit that they know very little about the Blacks in the more affluent ghetto areas, such Collier Heights or Pey ton Forest, we would like to establish a project that would permit direct experience. The scope of community action is limitless and the job could be beautifully done; however, we need suggestions and plans for this is new to all of us. Will you help to get Spelman community action plans together? Will you tell your club CA representative what is needed for efficient work? If you do not belong to an organization then join the CAC. An official plea: TO AF RICANS, AMERICANS, BLACKS, BLACK AMERI CANS, COLORED FOLKS, AND NEGROES ON THIS CAMPUS HELP THE com munity action committee BY GIVING SUGGESTIONS AND CRITICISMS. COME TO THE, C.A.A. MEETINGS Jacqueline Howard, Chairman and a few other selected stu dents. Most of the people who were there feel that this was not a good representation of feelings. No one seemed to listen and everyone argued for his point to be heard. It was concluded that the meeting was more for the two admin istrations’ benefits than for the students’. But the students are the ones who are actually in volved. After interviewing sev eral Spelman women, they all agreed that it is a good pro gram, but for different rea sons. One says that it is good because we “now have some people to let our frustrations out upon. For so long we’ve felt it but didn’t have anyone to let it out upon. Now they’re here.” his is not the view of all, however. Some feel that it is good because they can bring experiences from their “white world into our world that are valuable since this will never be a totally all black or all white world. “The quicker we see common factors and dif ferences bewteen the two, the better human relations will become.” Most feel, however, that the present program has run into problems because of the number of students in it. Many feel as if we’ve been invaded. Yet, some say that they don’t even know they are here; their influence is not felt. One stated, “This pro gram makes some of us feel guilty. Heretofore we have been going along in the maze of things, but now that seven teen whites descend, we de cide to “fro” our hair, get “black” and want to run them off campus. This makes no sense.” When asked if the program should be continued, blacks and whites agreed that it should only be continued with student consent. But, was this really a fair exchange? It should have had an equal flow of advantages. “The Spelman woman at St. Teresa left a mixed society for an all white one. All new experiences there are being outweighed by old prejudices. All they have to see i$> snow, snow, snow. We’re definitely benefiting more.” Was it initiated be cause of integration? Did St. Teresa want more blacks? We cannot help but think about our sisters there who are unhappy and would like to return here but cannot. Then, too, we know how Eliza beth O’Mara left here and went back and is registered again at St. Teresa. Are all things really fair in this ex change?