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Page 4 - Spelman Spotlight
The Feel of Feeling
New Teachers at Spelman
“I want to make people
aware of things they take for
granted-aware of things they
see every day but don’t see -
most of all, aware of self and
surroundings to bring an
awareness of each other.”
So says Dave Matthews who
has been described as one of
the most prolific
poet/speakers in the literary
field. He describes himself as
“The New Exposure” (to
poetry).
“In my work, in performing,
I recreate a new element,
exposure to life.”
Matthews has been writing
poetry for over ten years and
has written over 1000 poems.
His first poem to be accepted
by many journals was
“America Ain’t You. Got No
Shame” for which he received
Horrible
isn’t it?
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the poem of the year award of
1973 from the Los Angeles
National Poetry Society.
“There’s been some heavy
talk about poets becoming
commercial. I believe that I
have a lot to say and I just
can’t stop to tell my neighbor, I
have to tell the world.”
To see Matthews perform is
a unique experience to say the
least. It is a concrecence of
sounds, of African drums and
chants, the harmonica,
blasting guns and electronic
music which finally blossoms
into the smooth almost
hypnotic voice of Dave
Matthews who is yet to be seen
after the acostical gymnastics.
By the time the introduction
ends and Matthews moves
smoothly into the presentation
of his poetry there appears to
be an air of acumen among
those present in the audience.
Why does Matthews present
his poetry in this manner?
“The atmosphere that I
create while presenting my
poetry is such that when you
see or read my poem again you
will remember it.”
The two-hour-long show is
called simply “David
Matthews and Production.
“Production” consists of
lighting and sound
technicians and Karlamita
Ellmore who does interpretive
dance to the accompaniment
of jazz.
“We don’t do quick shows.”
Matthews said, “We never
know when we’ll be back so we
give of ourselves totally.”
Matthews said that he
enjoys the feeling he gets when
people walk up to him after
reading and say, “you said
exactly what I wanted to say
only I didn’t have the words.”
“I think that what makes my
poetry good is that I am able to
capture, at certain times, what
you like to say but never had
the words to say...”
Matthews believes that his
poetry has messags and are
not just something that he is
saying.
“I consider myself a very
very versatile poet.”
New York’s Vantage Press
will soon be releasing
Matthews, first book, The F of
Feeling and soon after, his
second book entitled,
Touching is the True
Revolution.
Smile
Today
it can’t be
that bad
By Novice Johnson
In a continuing effort to keep
you abreast of the happenings
at Spelman, the Spotlight is
continuing its series on the
recent additions to our faculty
and staff. The Psychology
department’s newest addition
is Mr. Woodrow Smith. Mr.
Smith is divorced, and the
father of two daughters and
one son. He is a Bishop in the
Shrine of the Black Madonna
of the Black Christian
Nationalist Movement, herein
Atlanta.
Mr. Smith was born in
Mississippi and was raised in
Pritchard and Mobile,
Alabama. He attended Xavier
University in New Orleans
where he received a degree in
Physical Education and a
minor in Social Studies with a
concentration on Psychology.
He received a degree in
Corrective Therapy from
Tuskeegee Institute, and
worked six years in the V.A.
Hospital in the division of
Corrective Therapy as a
Therapist in Dearborne,
Michigan. While he was doing
therapy work, he was also
doing post-graduate work at
Wayne State University in
Psychology and Special
Education. He received his
Masters from Wayne State,
and in 1972, he received a
degree in Divinity from the
yale Divinity School. He is
prsently in the final stages of
work toward receiving a Ph.D.
in Rehabilitation Counseling
Psychology from the
University of Wisconsin.
Mr. Smith is presently
teaching; Introduction to
Community Psychology,
Abnormal Psychology and
Chicago-born poet and
recent graduate of
Spelman College, Debbie
Newton, was listed in the
1976 edition of Who’s Who
in Poetry in American
Colleges and Universities.
Ms. Newton, former editor
of the SPOTLIGHT, is
presently a first-year
graduate student in the
Creative Writing Program
at Brown University,
Providence, Rhode Island.
Works in progress: an
original manuscript of
poetry and a novel.
Ecological Environment and
Ecological Issues. Mr. Smith
said he knew a little about
Spelman prior to coming here,
and has come to understand
the seriousness of the students
toward their academics. He
finds that this, among other
reasons has caused him to like
it here. He is optimistic about
our curriculum and student
inter-action with faculty. He
also feels that because of
Spelman concept, that despite
any financial problems that
might arise, Spelman will still
go on. He feels that we are at
an advantage being a single
sex school, (because we have
the opportunity to share our
skills with others with the
same purpose) as long as we
don’t completely isolate
ourselves from other
institutions.
By India Burton
The students offer a mixed
variety of challenges. She
says, “It’s a pleasure to teach
questioning, hard-working
students who know what they
are here for. They continually
challenge me and that makes
my job interesting.” However,
she feels let down by many
students who take an
apathetic attitude. These
students don’t seem to
appreciate other courses
outside their major. They seem
indifferent and fail to realize
that the required courses are
intended to make the students
well-rounded individuals.
When Miss Mapp has spare
time, she enjoys attending
plays, reading, fashion
reviews, and movies.
Although, her job
responsibilities keep her busy
By Stephanie Nelson
A spokesman from the
Fulton County Health
Department emphasized the
importance of inoculation
against Swine Flu. The turn
out at the 14 locations in
Fulton County has not been as
good as it was hoped it would
be.
The two types of Swine Flu
shots are being administered
as a protection agent against a
possible epidemic of this new
strain of flu during the flu
season.
Previously, the shots had
been given to persons 18 years
of age or older, but are
available in a milder
concentration to chronically ill
children. One type.
Monovalent or B, is a serum
containing only Swine Flu
vaccine. This vaccine is
recommended for persons 18-
64 who are in good health.
Type two, Bivalent, contains
Swine Flu and A-Victoria
most of the time.
On December 18, 1976, a big
change will take place in her
life. She will become Mrs.
George Moore. Her finance is
from El Paso, Texas and is
currently working toward his
doctorate in Material Science
(Chemistry-Physics) at the
University of Wisconsin.
To the future couple, and to
Miss Mapp’s future at
Spelman, the Spotlight
wishes to confer a resounding
plea for your continued good
luck, Ole’.
Spelman’s latest Spanish
acquisition is Miss Alexis
Mapp. She teaches
Elementary Spanish during
both semesters and teaches
Intermediate Spanish during
the first semester.
Miss Mapp received her
undergraduate degree from
Spelman and earned her
Master’s degree from the
University of Wisconsin. She
has spent several years in the
Atlanta School System as an
instructor of elementary,
junior high, and high school
students.
Her interest in Spanish is
mainly geared toward
analyzing the phoenetic
aspect of the language. She
stresses grammar and feels
that understanding the culture
of a language is an integral as
the language itself.
Miss Mapp is pleased with
what she has found at
Spelman. “It is a well-known
school with top-quality
education and attracts people
from all over the country.” Her
satisfaction is expressed when
she states, “I’m proud to be a
part of it.”
vaccines and is recommended
for persons 18 and older who
have chronic disease (heart,
kidney, etc.).
Possible causes of the poor
turn-out for the inoculation
were many. One guess is that
people are simply afraid to
come out because of deaths
that occurred in Pennsylvania
of older people who received
the shot. The spokesman
stated that there is not
indication that the deaths
were caused by the Swine Flu
shots. Anxiety or old age may
have been the cause since the
persons were over 65 years of
age. The Health Department
spokesman also cited the
media as a determent because
of the publicity given the
deaths early in the program.
Many people think that the
vaccine is not necessary. To
lessen the chances of an
epidemic in this country
persons must build antibodies
to ward off the disease by
receiving the shots.
Swine Flu