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Ed ft or- in- Chief - Rolonda G. Watts Associate Editor - Pamela Denise Moore Editors Advertising Manager - Phyllis Sawyer Art Editor - Ellen Robinson Arts Editor - Claire Henry Business Managers - Trevonia Brown Angela Nickerson Circulation Manager - Lavita J ohnson Copy Editor - Adele Sheron Newson Literary Editor - Michelle Dacus Photography Editors - Ruth Cauthen Pamela Scott Public Relations Manager - Sheron Covington Religion Editor - Angela Benson Photographer Kirby Ayres Reporters Debra Benton Kimberly L. Browne Angela Cumberlander Chris Hamlin Susan Hart Carolita B. Jones Phillip M. Jones Victoria McMillan Sam Matchett Melony Matthews J osie Pearson Sheila Reid Kiron Kanina Skinner Lorenzo A. Taylor Letter from the Editor Dear Readers: The year has already begun ' buzzing with excitement and with that excitement I extend an of ficial hearty welcome to the new and old members of this Atlanta University Center family. The Spotlight is already in full- gear and ready to start the year off with an “organized bang.” I have a marvelous staff of highly dedicated workers who aim to give you quality in your newspaper. Because the Spotlight is the only communication outlet that Spelman has, we’d like this year to be a learning experience for everyone involved. Our first workshop was September 15 whereby our publisher, D. L. In man, discussed newspaper layout. We invite you to in vestigate our monthly workshops which will encompass everything from photography to bettering your writing skills. The Spotlight will be distributed every third Monday. We strongly urge any and everyone interested in newspaper production to stop by our office in the lower concourse of the student center to fill out an ap plication. Our aim is to inform you, en tertain you and represent you with a paper you can be proud of! Happy Reading! Rolonda G. Watts Editor-in-Chief Letter to the Freshmen By Sheila Reid Dear Freshmen, In the future you will discover Spelman has many advantages as well as disadvantages. However, we seem to recall the short comings a little more often. These are the times when you have to muster up all of your patience and not let your frustrations get the best of you. At some time in your career here you may even hate Spelman. This feeling comes and goes for all of us, so don’t think they’re just tormenting you—it’s nothing personal. To illustrate my point, here are a few examples of when, why and Who Hates Spelman! The girl fighting the guard to get a key. The guy they won’t let in without an I.D. The teacher with students that can’t stay awake. The student with too many finals to take. The cook in the kitchen making up new names for food. The dorm mother that is always in a bad mood. The Greeks that Spelman will never let step. The folks at Mo Brown with such a bad rep. The girl who has lost her meal card at lunch. The commuter that suffers the daily gas crunch. The men at the house that can get no play. The poor thing being forced to eat in our cafe. See! Everyone feels these frustrations from time to time. But there is one thing I left out—Spelman must be doing something right if after all this, we’re still here!! Spelman Spotlight Septjember 24 L9J9,--Page 3 Letters to You: Dear Ladies of Spelman, It is both a pleasure and a privilege to be able to extend to the class of 1983 sincere words of welcome and to express to the ladies returning a joyful welcome. From my heart, I must say that I am looking forward to working with Spelman College because you, as a student body, have a leader in Donna Dunlap who is dedicated and depen dable, serious and sincere. As a leader, I realize that Morehouse and Spelman produce the black leaders of tomorrow. But more important is the fact that we are the Black learners of today. Therefore, we, as young people, must continue to have the determination to ex ceed and the desire to excel. As a concerned student, let me say that none of us are sure about the length of time we will attend these institutions. Therefore, we must learn to dedicate our desires, to our destinations and we must do whatever we can, when we can, while we can, the best we can. As a friend, I wish to say that, we, the men of morehouse, are determined to create a family type atmosphere all over the A.U. Center. For in times like these, we need to come together and realize that we are family. Let us work together as brothers and sisters. Let us work together and prepare to lead this nation. Let us wor, together to build the bridges tht will bring our people closer. Finally, across the way from ’Spelman there are some young men, Black men, learning to live and give, learning to care and share. At Spelman there are some young women, Black women, learning to live and give, learning to care and share. We must all come together and join hands and sing-our song. We are family, all together and our love will keep us strong. Sincerely yours, Liton Tyrone Crider President S.G.A Morehouse College A Letter from SSGA President As a new year begins tne Spelman Student Government Association hopes to portray a positive image that would generate an interest among the students in all aspects of Spelman life. Many feel as though the suc cess of the New Student Orien tation Week has set a precedent for the 1979-1980 academic year. The Spelman Student Govern ment Association desires to meet more than the social needs of the student body. We hope to provide more cultural and educational programs for stu dents through a newly established Cultural and Educational Affairs Board. The Student Government will also be working with the department chairpersons to co sponsor programs which will be of genuine interest to the studen ts. ■ The members of the S.S.G.A. cabinet are a dedicated group of students who are anxious to ac cept the challenges and to achieve the goals set before them. The Spelman student body appears to be moving away from a catatonic state of apathy and are directing their energies toward • becoming actively in volved in the S.S.G.A. Hopefully, student involvement will strengthen and grow, because it can bring forth changes and im provements. We hope that the students will not hesitate to come to the Student Government office with questions as well as ideas. The first student body meeting has been scheduled for Sept. 27, at 11:00 a.m. in Sisters Chapel. Your attendance would be much appreciated and it would signify your concern. We are looking forward to having a successful year together. Sincerely Yours, Donna Dunlap S.S.G.A. President Did You Vote? By Sam Matchett “The biggest stumbling block to increased voter registration is still voter apathy. If we are to elect black officials, it is up to every black citizen to decide what is being done to us and what is being done for us. One way to take control of our lives is through the ballot box.” —Julian Bond, 1969 Last year Atlanta University Center students paid a very poor tribute to the much fought for privilege to register and vote free from harassment and ridicule. To illustrate by taking a look at the resulting percentages of the 1978 general election; less than 30 pen cent of Georgia’s registered voters actually voted. Less than 35 percent of the Atlanta registered public voted. Less than 5 percent of the registered student population voted and less than 10 percent of the registered Atlanta student population voted. There appears to be various reasons for why students do not vote. Primarily, and as alluded to in the introductory quote, APATH Y reigns unrestricted amongst us. Though the first to defame and complain about the burdensome plight of our black race, we as collegiates are the last to turn constructive criticism into positive action. The proverbial phrase “...more bark than bite” certainly applies to us in this situation. There are three notable problems concerning voter tur nout in the Atlanta University Center. First, some students register and then fail to vote on election day, (such as in the 1978 general election). Secondly, registration of students when held on campus has had in the past the misfortune of not getting all the names of registered voters on the campus downtown. Though this latter problem is significant, it is not a true hin- derance to the prospective voter on election day. And thirdly, many students do not realize that one need be a resident of Georgia for only 30 days before being eligible to register and vote. Without knowledge of the fact, many students have simply pushed the thought of voting out of their minds. After presenting the problems it is only fair to offer an answer and according to Mr. Carey Wynn, professor of history at Morehouse College and Chair man of Election Procedures for the Democratic Party of Fulton County, a solution to the problem is easily disclosed. There is at the present time a dire need for student volunteers to assist in the registration of potential voters. For students interested in an swering this call for assistance, contac t Wynn at 681-2800, ex tension 249 before November 1, 1979. Participants will be asked to attend a three hour learning session to acquaint them with correct procedures and regula tions concerning registration; this session may be arranged and con ducted in the Atlanta University Center. Thereafter, participants will have been prepared to go through out the Center to solicit potential voters. At this point, a. special in vitation is extended to all serious- minded sororities and fraternities to take part in the three hour in struction session and also render badly-needed assistance to the very worthwhile voter-registra tion endeavors. As a parting note, there has most definitely been a downward trend in voting since the 1973 (See VOTING, pg. 5)