Newspaper Page Text
SPELMAN
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THE VOICE
OF BLACK WOMANHOOD
SPO TLIGHT
VOL XUII, NO. 3
ATLANTA, GEORGIA
FEBRUARY/MARCH, 1976
From the Editor
Debbi Newton
What Is The
Future Of Spelman?
Where should the priorities of Spelman lie and what steps must be
taken in order that those priorities become implemented?
One basic concern is that the college begin to acknowledge the
commitment to college development within the student community.
And that both the college and the students begin now providing
public forums to facilitate the ideological exchange of those com
mitments. Forums such as town meetings where concerns from all
levels of the college community are given the opportunity of voice.
Needless to say, there are a few “bad seeds” with regard to student
leadership on the campus. That is, there are student government
leaders who are not leading. The student leaders who aren’t leading
possess one of two, in some instances both, of the following
characteristics-They are either incompetent, or they simply have no
concern whatsoever with developing a significant student voice with
regard to the formulation of school policy.
But there are also faculty members here who are not committed to
their roles as educators, or so it appears; just as there are ad
ministrators who apparently are either confused about, or are fun
damentally compromised in regard to their administrative functions.
One of the college’s priorities must be directed toward defeating the
obstacle represented by this three-fold faction. I say faction because
to a large extent, their attitudes form a block in this community. A
block that is not, however, insurmountable.
In some areas, classroom curriculum is not being adequately
developed. Primarily, this problem arises out of the need to attract
grants from the various foundations by the creation of new curriculum
designs and academic programs. It is important to remember that
faculty members are not only teaching, they are developing academic
programs also. Oftentimes, the faculty member who is committed to
directing the quality of education the student receives has his or her
own hands tied because curriculum development, which appears to
be prevailing on this campus, is vital also to the direction of positive
education.
Of course Spelman needs the money she is able to attract thru new
academic program designs. On the other hand, however, what can
those programs provide the student if no time is allowed the teacher
to prepare a carefully designed course presentation? In addition, the
quality of education the student receives as a result of the teacher’s
divided commitment, becomes reflected in the posture, or lack of
posture, the campus student leaders begin to assume. It becomes
reflected in both the academic and social performance of the general
student body. And presently, the students are becoming
lackadaisical, unconcerned, and alarmingly uninvolved.
In spite of the fact that the majority of the grants coming into the
college presently are supporting programs in the natural sciences,
there is no reason a humanistic approach to these studies-such as
medicine, chemistry, mathematics, and engineering-should be
excluded from the course content. On the contrary, because our lives
are being dehumanized by technology, and because the manipulation
of the material environment is prevalent in America today, it is
becoming more and more vital that we return to a basically
humanistic approach to all academic studies.
Dr. Vivian W. Henderson, the late president of Clark College, in
sisted in his last address to the Clark College community, that “our
dilemma has become a culture that places human value below in
dustry.” Unfortunately, we need not look far beyond ourselves tc
discover the value of Dr. Henderson’s insight.
We must strengthen our communications. We must communicate.
In spite of the classifications. For the situations that exist compel us
to communicate. And though we may not work in the same manner,
we must work in the same direction. For not only the immediate
future of this community, but presently the very life of Spelman
College is dependent upon it.
Finally, to the student community, I urge you to move. Move in the
direction that you yourself choose. But move, for no matter how awk
ward you may feel at times, no matter how you may feel about your
inadequacies-you are a vital part of the Spelman College community.
And to a very large extent, her future is your future.
Block Higher Education
By Diana Axelsen
Editor’s Note: Diana Axelsen came to Spelman in 1969, and now
serves as Chairperson of the Department of Philosophy. She grew up
on a farm in Idaho, and attended a three-room country school. After
high school in Idaho and two years at a small Lutheran college in
Minnesota, she transferred to Stanford University. She received her
B.A. and Ph.D. degrees in philosophy at Standord, taught for one
year at San Jose State College, and lived in England for one year
before coming to Spelman. She has had articles, “A White Per
spective on Black Philosophy,” and “With All Deliberate Delay:
Justifying Preferential Policies in Education and Employment”,
accepted by Metaphilosophy and Philosophical Forum. Currently she
is finishing a text in introductory ethics, and working with a physician
on developing moral guidelines for human experimentation in drug
studies. She also helps edit a newsletter for her local food
cooperative.
One of the most important elements in Black higher education is the
preservation and encouragement of Black leadership. In particular,
at Spelman College, I hope for ever-broadening roles for Black
women in all areas of college life. One of the most important tasks for
any educational institution is the setting of broad priorities and goals.
When we speak of the future of Spelman College, I assume that a
paramount concern is the determination of such general directions. I
hope that Black women will have both the power and the desire to
make ultimate decisions on these questions, as the institution
responds to societal changes. So, although I shall express some of my
own hopes for Spelman, I must emphasize that to me they are
suggestions offered in a context where I feel the leadership role of
Black women should predominate. Continued on page 4
SPOTLIGHT
Editor:
Debbi Newton
Associate Editor:
Sylvia Wofford
Business Manager:
Sylvia Washington
News Editor:
Rita Ford
Political Editor:
Margret Lee
Science Editor:
Miesa Patterson
Feature Editor:
Nancy Hite
Literary Editor:
Sherrie Marshall
Transcriber:
Carroll Chappell
Graphics:
Tandra Dawson
Rocita Diggs
Reporters:
Mary Conklin
Paula Spencer
Debra Gilmore
Jann Williams
Angela Halfide
Pam Spruill
Lei Charlton
Stephanie Nelson
Michelle McCullough
Roxie Hughes
Nelwyn McDuffy
Rayminay Mays
Diane Proctor
Advisors:
Ms. Judy Gebre-Hiwet
Ms. Helen Brooks
Speak Out
QUESTION: What is the future
at Spelman College?
By Roxie F. Hughes
Interviewer
Photography: Debbi Newton
MARY “SLDVT’McNAIR
“Spelman’s future is very
concrete...because Spelman
does just enough to keep
everybody on the brink of
satisfaction.”
Joyce Winten
"I believe...the future of
Spelman is unpredictable
because it is dependent on so
many unknown variables. For
example, there is the question
of Spelman’s next president.
Will the next president be man
or woman? And will he(she)
continue to support Spelman’s
somewhat conservative
reputation or...be more liberal?
However, I feel the future of
Spelman also depends...on its
students.. .Observing (par
ticipation in) the (full em
ployment) march. Spelman is
rapidly becoming a con
sciousness-raising experience
for young black women.”
Continued on Page 12