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Spelman Spotlight February 25. 1980 Welcome Back Brenda By LaRonda Morris Page 8 Mardi Gras — A Masquerade of Fun By Sheron Covington Mardi Gras, the annual highlight of New Orleans, is an unforgettable celebration. The word “Mardi Gras” actually means ‘Fat Tuesday’ and is orien ted with the season of Lent. It is specifically the last day before the religious observation begins and marks a time for masquerades, parties, balls and parades of all types prior to the start of the fasting and penitence. The Mardi Gras is a part of a long and glorious history including the first parade held as early as 1838. New Orleans is a beautiful city which springs to life during this festive season of Mardi Gras to embrace all of it’s visitors. In ad dition to the Mardi Gras, New Orleans offers numerous city at tractions such as the French Quarter, Dueling Places, Bour bon Street and an abundance of jazz musicians. Often considered to be the stronghold of Southern By Sheron Covington The 1980 Spelman College Blue and White Coronation marked the official crowning of their ideal man as Mr. Blue and White. The ideal man, selected above all the rest is none other than Mr. Mark D. Ford. Mark, a junior accounting major at Morehouse College, hails from Chicago, Illinois. Mark is a very versatile young man, he’s a member of the Morehouse Glee Club, the AUC Fashion Troup and he is able to do all this and remain an honor student. His philosphy in life is that, “one should never live one’s life to please others, one should always strive for self satisfaction at all times.” Mark is a dream. Com plimenting his five foot ten inch, 148 pound frame, are a pair of soft brown eyes and when coupled with his boy-like smile and his magnetic personality, they all add up to an unbeatable combination. Mark is also somewhat modest, as he kept his nomination for the court quiet and refrained from campaigning. Mark felt the decisive factor which enabled him to win the crown was that, Hospitality, the feelings of brotherhood are clearly demon strated during this time, as thousands of people pour into the streets by the hour in frenzies of festivity, donned in costumes of every description. New Orleans also provides an exciting night life for the disco side of you featuring exotic clubs like La Masision Chic, Boudini’s and the Rainforest. Sister Spelmanite Sheryl Sut ton, a native of New Orleans, can practically be considered an ex pert on the Mardi Gras since she has attended about 17 of them. When consulted on this topic she excitedly rattled off a multitude of exciting visions of home. “To begin with”, she said, “the population doubles to about 2 million”. “There are people everywhere and the streets are filled with venders, clowns and all else imagineable,” she added. “It is a wild event,” she said, “I can remember the time I once “the ladies really enjoyed my presentation and I probably an swered the questions just right,” he said with a smile. When asked how it feels to be Mr. Blue and White, Mark replied, “It’s a great honor and pleasure to have been selected, and it’s nice to know that people think that much of you,” Mark Ford Sheron Covington saw a whole family walk down the street dressed like different brands of toothpaste!” “It is a thing that has to be seen to be believed”, she concluded. The Mardi Gras celebration is scheduled from February 15 to the 21st, so now is the time to begin making your plans and make the mid semester... Getaway!! “However,” he added “it’s been somewhat of a dissappointment also.” “After seeing all those Ms. Maroon and White’s of the past and noting the large differences between the two schools’ (Spelman and Morehouse) celebration of their chosen kings and queens, it’s just not exciting enough.” Additionally, Mark’s main criticism on the Blue and White title is its lack of meaning and ac tivity. “I feel that more respon sibility should be appropraited to Mr. Blue and White. The ladies of Spelman College should not just elect someone, they should have a role for him to follow to make him feel really honored and important,,” he said. Mark feels that Spelman women are an entirely different breed of women, “they are ever progressive and totally goal oriented,” he commented. And to him the title of Mr. Blue and White has not only been an honor, “it has really inspired and encouraged me,” he said “to go on to higher goals in the future. It’s a once in a life time ex perience that only a very lucky few will ever know.” Two weeks ago Brenda Smith returned to Spelman from her study abroad last semester. She was located in Nants, France, west of Paris. Brenda was enrolled in the University of Nants and the Institute of Euro pean Studies. The later program in which she was enrolled offered a wide variety of liberal arts courses. Brenda felt that her study abroad was a cultural experience as well as an educational one. In comparing the two cultures of study, Spelman vs. University of Nants, she found that the stu dents in the university were im personal and had no desire to communicate with one another. Also they were rude in terms of giving respect to the instructor while he/she was teaching. There was no fonn of student govern ment or student participation in extracurricular activities. Comparing the University to the Institute, she said she liked the Institute better. It was a lot more personal and the classes were smaller. Brenda says she had to make adjustments. She was just unable to speak the language fluently for the first two weeks. “I seemed to stick out, being stripped, being on display...it took some getting used to.” Brenda was the only Black American in her field of study abroad. She said there were African students, but they distinguished themselves from Black Americans. When asked whether or not she was subjected to any form of prejudice she replied “It’s dif ferent, not as blatant. It’s like the French always want to take things that are good and in corporate them into their society...they think Blacks are exotic.” Being an American student in a foreign country during the time of the Iranian crisis, Brenda said she felt the pressure and it af fected her personally. “I was negatives ones. Incorporated with his superb presentation, were the unique talents of some Spelmanites. There was singing by Anita Taylor, Pamela George, and Sherry Williams. A well per formed dance was done by Paige Johnson. Also, Galen Grayson is complimented for his per formance. While awaiting the presen tation of the Blue and White court, it became evident that the attendents would not appear in the program this year. Questions about their absence then began to arise. In talking with Donna Dunlap, President, S.G.A., and Avis Bynum, Vice-President, S.G.A., they interpreted the mat ter as a “mix-up of com munication.”- When asking David Flowers, 2nd attendant on court, about his absence he also com mented that it was “poor corn- scared, I felt isolated, felt vulnerable, felt threatened.” She says being in a foreign country made her more politically orien ted and aware of what was hap pening nationally and in ternationally. She says the French people’s attitude was one of ‘everybody’s day has to come... so your day has come.’ Brenda says studying abroad made her appreciate Spelman more. She used to say how she couldn’t wait to get away, but found once gone, the sisterhood at Spelman was unique. Brenda says she gained a wide variety of future attributes from the program. They stem from a broader view of Black peoples’ relations to the international world, a wider perspective of dif ferent educational systems, a sen se of patriotism and a fluency of the language written and oral. Brenda was not scheduled to return to the states until May of 1980. However, she returned for various reasons, when asked she replied...“My decision to return was a totally selfish decision. If nothing else my study abroad ex perience taught me to make choices logically and with my best interests at heart. This decision was made by and for Brenda. I considered what was best for me. I felt as if I had gained as much as possible from the program and that my talent and expertise could be put to bet ter us at Spelman. I missed being understood when I wanted to be understood. I also missed the companionship of my people, friends, and classmembers. All of these factors influenced my decision to return.” In giving advice to students who wish to study abroad, Bren da says, “When you go, go with your mind as a clean slate, try to put aside your preconceptions and your ideas of what should and shouldn’t be, try to absorb the culture, also don’t take too much luggage.” munication and confusion of un derstanding.” Victor Thomas, 1st attendant on court replied, “It came about at a hectic time...I had things to do to prepare for the upcoming semester,” He concluded, “I don’t feel slighted, I know it was my fault.” It was quite unfortunate that the court did not participate in this years’ production. However, with the time allotted for putting the show together it turned out a success. After the program, both Donna and Avis commented; “I was disappointed they (David and Victor) were not in it (coro nation), but I’m proud of the outcome of the coronation. In essence, the men this year dazzled the ladies with their words and moves, captivating and containing their attention, which made this years’ coronation a SUCCESS!!! "Little minds are interested in the extraordinary; great minds in the commonplace." Elbert Hubbard Mr. Blue and White Mark Ford — The Idea Man Selected CORONATION