Page 3 - Spelman Spotlight
Let’s Carefully Examine ‘Freshmen Style’
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article
does not reflect the opinion of the
Spotlight staff
by Pamela D. Moore
In recent years much concern
has arisen over the rising number
of American students who do
poorly on tests involving reading
comprehension and the tools of
analysis. Below is a test that you
may take as a matter of fun to test
your abilities in reading and
analysis.
Exercise 1. Read the article
“Freshmen Have Style Of Their
Own” which appeared in the first
issue of Spotlight.
Exercise 2. Read responses to
this article written in second issue
of Spotlight.
Exercise 3. Answer the follow
ing questions.
1. Refer to the article “We Are
Not Here To Impress” and note the
second paragraph in which the wri
ter regards Ms. Moore'as being
contradictory. According to the
writer Ms. Moore labeled fresh
men as wild and was then shown
being “wild” by dancing at a party.
Isn’t this writer’s point based on
faulty comprehension of the origi
nal article? Refer to the original
article at the bottom of the first
column. Is it not false to say Ms.
Moore labels the class wild when in
essence Ms. Moore doubts that
wild is a valid description of fresh
men? Also, what can we infer
about the writer’s concept of party
ing if she considers dancing as
“wild?”
2. Refer to “Waste of Talents and
Energy.” In the second paragraph,
it states, “articles were of little
importance to majority of student
body and faculty.” On the basis of
this comment, does one assume
that unimportant things bother
people the least? If this is the case,
then should this writer be respond
ing to the article? Does this also
mean that the president of the
freshmen class should not have
responded? Shall we say that it Was
a “waste of talents and energy” for
them to respond to such an “unim
portant” article?
3. Refer to all articles and pick
out those places that refer to the
original article as being too general
and not the result of a survey.
Don’t these comments imply that
the writer attempted to present
opinion as fact? Or do they imply
that others who read the article
were able to see for themselves that
part of the article was not based on
a scientific survey? Doesn’t the
original writer, herself, clarify in
her first sentence that she is dealing
with a general concept, not specif
ics? Doesn’t her use of the term
grapevine make it clear what her
conclusions are based on? If so,
wasn’t it pointless for other writers
to devote so much time to discuss
ing the scientific basis of the
article?
It seems that instead of dealing
with the essence of the orginal arti
cle, mos t persons devoted most of
their time examining the author’s
position or the type of article writ
ten. These are irrelevant issues, for
the author’s position shifts con
stantly in the article. For example,
while one could say that more
space was given to negative com
ments, another could say that the
facts and figures were presented in
the positive side of the article.
The type of article written was
an analysis article, which is neither
a factual account of events nor an
editorial. An analysis is a story that
seeks to examine the meaning
behind certain situations. It is the
fault of the paper, in my opinion,
that the article was not properly
labeled.
Also, many, especially the
upperclassman in “We Are Not
Here To Impress” felt the article
was very unpleasant, fortunately,
however, the pleasantness or un
pleasantness of ideas in an arti
cle are not prerequisites of good
journalism and thus, should not
determine whether or not the arti
cle is to be printed.
The purpose of the article was to
present enough ideas to provoke
others not only to delve deeper into
the nature of the freshman class,
but to also look at the nature of the
upperclasses and the relationship
between the two.
However, with the exception of
what Ms. Melba Renfro said about
the idea behind Spelman sister
hood and what Ms. Dianne Givens
said about the reasons for the
freshman class being here, most of
the criticism seemed misdirected
and based on faulty analysis, thus
functioning only as an outlet for
emotionlism.
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace,
goodwill toward men.”
St. Luke 2:14
What Brings Out The
Scrooge in You?
by Rolonda G. Watts
“Tis the season to be jolly” but
sometimes it’s hard to be jolly
when certain things really tick you
off. Ebenezer Scrooge had a mil
lion things that ticked him off,
especially during the Christmas
season. Here are some things that a
few pople has to say about what
brings out the “Scrooge” in them.
If any of these things pertain to
you, why not become aware of
them and try and make someone
else’s Christmas more pleasant by
keeping them undercover.
“Unnecessary Lying!”
Elayne Walker
Sophomore
“Laziness”
Harold E. Moore. Jr.
Senior
“People who are not real and who
can not accept others for being
real!”
Brenda V. Smith
Junior
“People who feel they’re better
than others as in looks, body, or
brains!”
Tommy Blasingame
Sophomore
“People who don’t say what they
mean, or play games to confuse
others!”
Ava Patterson
Freshmen
“People who can not accept real
ity! We’re black and oppressed-
build on it and love it”
Michael F. Bowie
Sophomore
“Ignorance!”
Pam D. Moore
Sophomore
“Dorm meetings at 12:00!”
Enid Campbell
r lunar.
“People who have a high position
in life and look down on others as
if they’re nothing, and never will be
and never could achieve at what
they have!”
Rochelle Daniel
Sophomore
“People who are disillusioned
about the welfare of others because
their situation appears to be a
utopia!”
Wanda J. Turner
Sophomore
“People who are so much into fad
and fashion that they are not wil
ling to accept another person’s
individuality!”
Natalie Nelson
Junior
“Paper torn out of composition
notebooks with ragged edges!”
Dr.J. Jones
Faculty and Assistant Dean
“Those people who carry gossip
and those who make it a point to
get in one’s business!”
Patty Fuller
Junior
“When people do not give a realis
tic or true presentation of
themselves!”
Jerome Menifer
Junior
“Revolutionary, conservative,
close-minded, patriotic niggers!
and people who believe in Santa
Claus!”
Anonymous
“Phoney people and Shake
speare!”
Paula Smith
Senior
“People who prejudge!”
Cathy Henry
Junior
Anyway, whether you’re a
“Scrooge” or not....HAVE A
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
