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Xernona Clayton Of WTBS
SPOTLIGHT On Black Achievements
by Janice Coutain
Karen M. Burroughs
"Economic withdrawal or
boycott is the best way to get
white America’s attention,” says
Xernona Clayton, Director of
Public Affairs for WTBS. Ms.
Clayton, who is actively concern
ed with civil rights, has also done
public relations work for the
Southern Christian Leadership
Conference.
Ms. Clayton, the first black
person in the South to have her
own television show, has been
honored worldwide for her
contributions to humanity and
has won a host of media awards.
She received the National Con
ference of Mayors’ 1983
“President’s Award,” in recogni
tion of her “untiring commit
ment to promoting blacks in the
communications field” and the
SCLC's 1983 “Drum Major for
Justice Award” for paving the
way for minorities in com
munications. She also has receiv
ed the Bronze Woman of the
Year in Human Relations Award
for “Superior Television
Programming.”
Ms. Clayton is still a fighter
who believes thattheCivil Rights
Movement has slowed down
considerably. “Back then Blacks
were being denied equal oppor
tunity,” she say. “Now that it is
becoming a reality, where do we
go from here? Once you have
your foot in the door, what do
you do next?
During 60's, she worked with
King, and travelled with his wife
Coretta on tours to raise funds
for SCLC. She was greatly in
spired by their dedication. “At
that time we did not realize what
direction history would take,
“she says.” “The thing that I liked
most about Dr. King was that he
always knew what he wanted to
do. Obviously, he was a smart
man, but he was never too big to
call in advisors and counselors.”
Ms. Clayton says that her most
memorable moment during the
1960’s movement came when
Julian Bond was denied his seat
in the Georgia Legislature, “Dr.
King gave up a much needed rest
to help a black man who was
organizations, Ms. Clayton, in
1963, helped start the Children's
Crusade, which recruited
elementary and high school
students for civil rights marches.
“That crusade did something
for poor people,” she says. “It
started when I suggested to Dr.
King that the children should be
involved, because they were the
victims. Since they would be the
ones directly affected by his
work, I thought they should be
given the chance to know him on
a personal basis and to par
ticipate.”
At WTBS, Ms. Clayton has also
served as Coordinator of Minori
ty Affairs. She fills in for Ted
Turner, makes speeches, meets
executives, deals with national
issues, and is the link between
the corporation an the com
munity.
Spelman’s Communications Minor
by Kimberly Collins
Well, it seems like Spelman has
a new minor and along with it a
new instructor. Mr. Chris
Muscello, a graduate from Tufts
University, has been given the
job of organizing the new com
munications minor at Spelman.
He has organized the curriculum
so that it will be helpful to
everyone regardless of what
their major may be.
Unlike Clark, Spelman’s intent
is to teach students to analyze
and interpret the media as well as
interpersonal relations. The
ability to analyze people and
how they relate to others and
oneself can be helpful in many
careers. An example given by
Mr. Muscello is that someone
who plans a future in education
may find it easier to analyze and
interact with one’s students.
Thus, the minor in com
munications will help to develop
the skills one needs in that
position. Mr. Muscello explains
that rather than training students
in the technical aspect of com
munications, Spelman’s courses
will put emphasis on the theory
of mass communications.
"Women will know something
about the economical and
political part of the mass media
and the analysis of the hidden
agenda,” he says.
Theminor will indeed proveto
be profitable to everyone. Mr.
Muscello has gone to all the
different departments to see
how he can “connect” the
departments with this minor. He
remarks that the faculty has been
“really cooperative.” New
equipment has been purchased
so that students can view
assignments on their own time in
the library. Surely, this program
was also developed because of
the growing interest in this field
at Spelman. Students have ex
pressed much appreciation for
this addition to the academic
curriculum.
Cox Bans Que’s
by Karen M. Burroughs
Editor-in-Chief
Dr. Carmen-Jordan Cox, Dean
of Student Life at Spelman
College, recently declared that
the members of Omega Psi Phi
Fraternity, Psi Chapter
(Morehouse College) would not
be allowed to participate in
Greek-related activities on
Spelman’s campus. This includes
Greek Week displays and other
Greek Week activities, stepping
and having their pledgees on
campus.
Dean Cox emphatically ex
plains her reason for this deci
sion. "They have been rude and
impolite and I'm not going to
tolerate this behavior,” she says.
She cited cases of the Que’s
"fondling themselves” and using
obscene language during step
shows as part of the reason for
her decision.
Dean Cox emphasized that
“this kind of behavior cannot
continue” and she urges
Spelmanites to “stop accepting
some of the behavior from the
gentlemen at Morehouse.”
Editor-In-Chief
Karen M. Burroughs
Advertising Managers
Dawn Ison
Thomasina Toles
Art Editor
Debra Johnson
News Editors
Circulation Manager
Feature Editor Stephanie Wilks
Carolyn Grant
Literary Editor
Nancy Travis
Political Columnist
Khadija Cabey
Fine Arts Editor
Kimberly Harding
Reporters
Margaret Cochron
Kimberly Collins
Gary Foster
William Mitchell
Janice Coutain
Melanie Cook
Triphenya Zachery
Thomasina Toles
Angela McCormick
Deborah A. Newsom
Lovette Love
Deanne Price
Shelly Jones
Lynn Lawson
Jasmine Williams
Advisor
Judy Gebre-Hiwet
Photo Editors
Production Editor R. Melvin Jones
Sadie Allen Nelson Valentine
The Spelman Spotlight is a bi-monthly publication produced
by and for the students of Spelman College. The Spotlight
office is located in the Manley College Center, lower
concourse, of Spelman College. Mail should be addressed to
Box 1339, Spelman College, Atlanta, Georgia 30314. Telephone
numbers are 525-1743.