Newspaper Page Text
May, 1981
Spelman Spotlight
Page 3
Spotlight Woman of the Year: Tanya Trippett
By Kiron Skinner
Associate Editor
Tanya Trippett has career goals that
are unique to her, but at the same time
there is something uniquely Spelman
about her ambitions ; In fact, there is
something uniquely wholesome about the
product of the black college that is
evident in Tanya — she has beauty, brains
and most of all, she has God.
Four years ago as a senior in high
school, Tanya decided that she wanted to
be a medical doctor. After receiving
guidance and assistance from her loving
family who knew that she could and
would do it, she decided to attend
Spelman College as a fifth generation
Spelman student.
Of her decision to attend Spelman
Tanya said, “My mother was one of the
main reasons that 1 came to Spelman. She
is not push. She did not force me to come
here. I chose to come to Spelman. One
reason is that I saw what type of woman
my mother became as a result of
Spelman. She is very articulate, well-
rounded and competent in her field,
education. She has always been a role
model for me. She gives more than one
hundred percent to her students. People
see that she is more than an instructor, she
is a teacher. Her love for Spelman made
me want to come here more than anything
else.”
Also, Tanya explained that she grew up
in a white community and she felt that
attending a black college such as Spelman
would help to make her a more well-
rounded person.
Since Tanya’s decision to attend
Spelman, she has soared in all aspects of
her life. Especially, as she openly shared
with the Spotlight, in her relationship
with God. When asked, “Why are you
able to do all of the things you have done
here at Spelman?” Tanya replied, “It is
just one Person, and it is the Lord. He has
been my mainstay throughout the years.
God is more capable to help me reach my
fullest potential than anyone else.”
From all indications, the Lord has truly
aided Tanya in doing everything that she
has done at Spelman. She has maintained
honor roll status every semster at
Spelman. She is Valedictorian of the
senior class. She is president of the new
senior honor society, Mortar Board. She
is a member of the Air Force ROTC, and
has attended classes at Georgia Institute
of Technology, since her freshman year as
pah of Air Force ROTC.
In addition to all of this, Tanya has
served as a member of Spelman’s French
Club, many other campus organizations
and she is a member of many academic
honor societies.
Tanya’s deep faith in God seems to be
the key to her success at Spelman, and in
her whole life. And she feels that
attending a black college has enhanced
her religious growth. Tanya is president
of Spelman’s chapter of Campus Crusade
for Christ.
Tanya has decided to enter the medical
profession. Her reasons are both evidence
Tanya, a fifth generation Spelmanite, is seated here with other members of her family
who attended Spelman. Back row: Deidre Yarbrough (cousin, C77), Sherri
Yarbrough (cousin, C83), Muriel Ruth Yarbrough (aunt, C’49), Gail Trippett (sister.
C78). Front row: Gertrude Foster (grandmother, C75), Gertrude Yvonne Trippett
(mother, C’52), and Tanya Trippett (C81).
of a religious committment and a credit to
. Spelman College for helping to produce
students w'ho are interested in entering
the professions for reasons other than
economic gain:
“1 don’t want to be the type of medical
practitioner who returns to the
metropolitan area. Many physicians say
they are interested in helping others, but
they lose interest in helping people to pay
their debts. 1 want to be in an
environment where I can help people. I
am not concerned with money but rather
w'ith helping people. As long as I have a
place to live that is comfortable, I will be
fine. Many of the material things that
people are concerned with, I am not. I
think my attitude will free me up to enjoy
my profession.”
Helping people is what Tanya is all
about, forasthe Spelman Woman Of The
Year explained to the Spotlight with
unsurpassed conviction, “The most
important thing is to add life to other
people’s lives.”
Housing System Provokes Outcry
By Karen Burroughs
Spotlight Reporter of the Year
The housing selections for the 1981-82
school year were issued on April 14 and
15. Spelman College was rocked by the
wave of outrage put forth by its students.
There are sophomores in the senior-only
dorm,. 160 students who did not receive
rooms, and rumor of Spelmanites
planning to transfer from the college.
Despite numerous complaints from
both students and parents, Mrs.
Cummings, director of housing, feels that
the computer system selection was a
success?
“In terms of kinds of things requested
by students, such as being able to house
students according to roommate
preferences, I think the system was fairly
successful,” Mrs. Cummings said.
According to Mrs. Cummings, there
are a small number of sophomores in
Me Alpin. Me Alpin was not designated as
a senior-only dorm, but students with
senior status were given priority, she said.
All seniors, according to Mrs.
Cummings, did not want to stay in
McAlpin Hall.
Contrary to this statement, however,
some students who chose roommate
preference on their applications either did
not get the roommate requested or did
not get a room at all.
This poses a serious problem for
students, especially freshmen, who wish
to return to Spelman. but cannot because
of the difficulties involved in living off-
campus.
“If I don’t get a room, I can’t come
back, not just because of expenses and
transportation, but because of the
dangers of living in Atlanta,” says Dawn
Dickerson, a rising sophomore.
Despite the complaints that brought
the “squatters rights” system to an end,
many Spelmanites wish the former
system would be reinstated.
“With the old system, one had the
option of deciding whether or not she
wanted to sleep outside in order to secure
the room she wanted,” said Melba
Dothard, a rising junior.
“The squatters rights system was fairer.
1 think it was quite idiotic to suggest
computer selection just because the
administration felt the old one was too
much trouble.” said one junior, who
wished to remain anonymous. “They’re
just trying to escape some extra work.
We’re paying the money, so they should
do what’s reasonable and fair.”
According to Mrs. Cummings,
“Spelman had to find a better system than
the former one. In previous years, when
housing was awarded on “first come, first
serve” basis, students with on-campus
housing were allowed to apply first, this
being unfair to off-campus students,” she
said. “We could not continue to allow
students to sleep out all night in order to
pay for a room.” Even if Spelmanites
show that they want to return to the
squatters rights system, Mrs. Cummings
feels that it is “doubtful” that the current
system will be changed.
A major outrage of Spelman’s seniors
is the fact that rising sophomores have
rooms in McAlpin.” says Melba
Dothard.
“I feel there is no sufficient reason for
the big mess that rising seniors have to be
put on the waiting list,” says one junior.
It was originally said that the
sophomores in McAlpin would have to
switch with seniors in other dorms.
However, Dr. Carmen Jordan-Cox.dean
of students, says that no sophomore has
to give up her room to a senior unless she
wishes to do so.
Another complaint from the students
concerns Atlanta students getting on-
campus housing. Atlanta residents were
allowed 25 on-campus slots, and despite
rumors that more than 25 received
housing, Mrs. Cummings maintains that
only, the alloted number of Atlanta
residents received a room.
“I think it’s totally wrong for Atlanta
residents to get rooms when people who
live clear across the country do not have
rooms,” says Stephanie Poole, rising
sophomore.
Several major problems face those
students on the waiting list. Forexample,
they may not find out if they have
received housing until July. At that time it
is too late to apply to most colleges, and
little time remains to look for an
apartment.
“They should have conducted the
selection earlier in the year in order to
allow time for application to other
schools,” one rising junior said.
“Spelman knows exactly what it’s
doing,” another bitter student added.
“They have the selection near the end of
the year to prevent us from leaving.”
There are several other reasons for the
common anger that Spelman students are
experiencing. First of all. Dean Cox left
the campus on the second day that
housing selections were issued, and did
not return until the following Monday.
Secondly, it is believed that students
who paid their deposits late were still fed
into the computer, despite the statement
on the housing letter sent to parents and
students that “students who pay late will
be immediately placed on the waiting
list.”
“1 feel that if we paid $100 to have our
housing selection done in a specific way,
then it should be conducted in the way we
were told it would be," says Monique
Somerville, a rising sophomore.
Even many students who received a
room or requested roommates are
dissatisfied. '..s
“Even though I got a room and the
roommate I wanted, it doesn’t mean
anything when I see all my close friends
without housing," another rising
sophomore. Princess Cooper, said.
“1 got a room on campus, in fact my
first choice, but I opted for the roommate
preference, and the girl I requested for my
roommate did not get a room at all,”
another freshman added. “What was the
purpose of having the roommate or dorm
preference if requests were going to be
ignored?”