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Spelman’s
Need For Black History...
Personal View
A Farewell To
Doris Zelner
by Jasmine Williams
In the last issue of the
SPOTLIGHT, the photo opinion
question was, “Do You Feel That
Enough Emphasis Is Placed On
Black Studies At Your Institu
tion?” All five of the students
answered “no.” As black
students, attending
predominately black colleges,
this should raise grave concern;
after all, isn’t black emphasis and
awareness one of the primary
reasons why we choose black
institutions?
To bring this issue closer to
home, Spelman College does
not require students to take
mandatory black history courses,
nor does the music department
have an expansive black music
content in the introductory
course, Music History and Ap
preciation. Over at Morehouse,
outside of the "Morehouse
College Jazz Ensemble,” there is
nothing in the Music Depart
ment that deals with concentra
tion in black music; the Glee
Club sings a variety of music,
among them choral and spiritual
authors, symbolizing black ex
periences; including The Wiz,
Raisin, and The Lion and the
Jewel.
It is understood that most
black institutions have liberal
arts curriculums with the primary
concern being that the in
stitutions produce well-
rounded, educated graduates,
but how can we be well-rounded
in every area except black
history? If one counters this
argument with the fact that
positive black role models are
bought in to speak, one tends to
wonder at this validity because
just recently Jesse Jackson could
not pack Sister’s Chapel and he is
the first black ever to seriously
dominate a role in the quest for
the highest office in the United
States.
Unfortunately, few students
realize that the power lies within
us. We have a right to demand
not only competent instructors
and administrators, but a compe
tent curriculum as well. It is
necessary to stress that without
the student body, SpeJman
Collegecannotand will not exist.
Our minds and futures are at
stake here and we need to be
concerned.
We need to demand and
illustrate the importance of
being aware of our culture; how
can we justify our black sisters
not knowing the contribution
Madame C.J. Walker and others
made? How can we justify the “I
got mine, now you get yours,”
attitude that is so prevalent in the
black community when every
aspect of learning in Africa deals
with the importance of the
family and the community? All of
this stems from a certain degree
of ignorance — ignorance of not
realizing that black people are a
survival race; how else could we
still exist today after being torn
away from our country, literally
stripped of our identity and
thought to think in European
fashion!
Spelman College needs to and
has an obligation to insure not
only that we have pride and
appreciation for our people but
that black history in every aspect
is taught in an ongoing and
continuing fashion. However, if
the administrators of this college
fail to produce this type of
academic atmosphere, then the
responsibility is ours to
shoulder!
by Kimberly Collins
On March 29, 1984 Spelman
College was stunned by the loss
of one of its dearest sisters. Doris
Zelner, while working at a Majik
Market Store was held up by an
unknown assailant who, after
robbing the store of a hundred
dollars and change, tragically
ended her short lived life.
Doris, who was a junior at our
institution, was born November
5,1963 in Atlanta Georgia to Ms.
Lottie M. Perry. She was raised by
her foster parents, the late Mr.
and Mrs. Thomas J. Davis, and is
described by her friends as a
loyal, kindhearted and
hardworking person. She is also
characterized as having a
positive attitude about herself
and life.
In high school, Doris was a
member of the National Honor
Society, Distinguished American
High School Students, band,
J.R.O.T.C., church and various
community activities. She was a
lady with many interests and also
graduated Valedictorian of her
class.
When Doris entered Spelman
she had planned to pursue a
degree in Chemistry. However,
she later changed her major to
math with a minor in computer
science. During the summer and
spring break, she served an
internship with a geological
survey company. By doing this
she could further her knowledge
and experience in her chosen
field of interest.
Doris was definitely a part of
that talented tenth to which
Dubois was known to refer.
Unfortunately, she has been
taken from this life to enter into
another. Spelman College has
been deeply saddened by her
sudden departure. Not only
because she was our Spelman
sister, but because she was a
shining person who had plenty
to offer but was unable to share
her gifts because of another
senseless and cruel individual.
Doris can be likened to a rose
about to blossom, but wasn’t
allowed because someone
snipped its stem too soon. Doris,
all of your Spelman sisters hope
that you may find the peace we
all seek in this life, in the one you
dwell in now. Rest well Doris.
Bernice King 1984-85 S.S.G.A.,Vice President...
“I would Like To See Improvement In The Relationship
With Students And Administration”
by Nancy Travis
Recently elected Spelman
SGA Vice President for the 1984-
85 school term, junior Bernice
King hopes to contribute her
skills toward improving thecom-
munication between the
Spelman student body and ad
ministration, and toward helping
Spelman gain visibility.
Describing her role as a "Mason
between the SGA President and
the rest of the SGA,” Bernice says
that "being SGA President is a
tough job and the SGA Vice
■ President isthere to relieve some
of the pressure. I see my position
as one in which I will work hand-
in-hand with Pam to carry out
the SGA’s programs.”
A student who transfered to
Spelman after the first semester
of her freshman year at a
predominantly white institution,
Bernice has some specific issues
she would like to see addressed
at Spelman.
"I would like to see improve
ment made in the relationship
between the students and the
administration,” she says.
“Students are kept in the dark
about some decisions affecting
their academic or social lives.
Students don’t know how the
administration operates.”
Clothing some students’ com
plaints about some discrepancy
which occured concerning
receipts at the Mother/Daughter
Banquet, Bernice states that the
Student Government Associa
tion is needed to communicate
to students what the administra
tion is doing, and to com
municate to the administration
what the students are doing.
Another cause at Spelman
Bernice plans to contribute to is
the establishment of a debate
team. "There’s a lot of talent at
Spelman that needs to be dis
played beyond Spelman’s gates,
on the local level and perhaps
the national level. A debate team
would help students interested
in politics, and in general help to
strengthen all students’
thoughts.”
Though she describes herself
as “laid back,” Bernice has some
very ambitious goals. A psy
chology major with a pre-law
concentration, she plans to at
tend law school and seminary in
order to obtain a dual degree.
Among her goals in law she
would like to see are a reinstate
ment of the policy of using the
Bible to swear in witnesses, and
she would also like to see and
end to the use of the death
penalty because: “the Bible says
‘Thou shalt not kill’ with no
exceptions.” Her primary career
interest centers on criminal
justice, with an emphasis on
aiding juvenile delinquents.
A bowler and member of the
tennis team, Bernice enjoys
meeting new people and accep
ting speaking engagements. In
fluenced by her politically active
parents, civil rights leader Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. and
Coretta Scott King, Bernice states
that they have had a tremendous
impact on her life. “My father
stood for justice, freedom, and
equality and these things are a
part of me also. My mother has
instilled me with certain values;
she has always encouraged me to
be my best self.”
A third major influence in her
life was the guidance of
Ebenezer’s former assistant
minister, Rev. Timothy Mc
Donald. “I met him at a point in
my life when I was between peer
pressure and standing on my
own two feet" says Bernice. That
is a time when one needs to be
strong internally, spiritually. He
taught me that it is always better
to be alone and by yourself, than
to be in a crowd and someone
else.”
An active young woman with
high goals and sound guidelines
to follow, Bernice King promises
to be an innovative Vice Presi
dent and a positive force at
Spelman.
Bernice King
Photo by: R. Melvin Jones
Next Issue
An interview with S.G.A. President-Elect Pam Cook