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Page 2 Spelman Spotlight November, 1985
Sisterhood R-E-S-P-E-C-T
by Elise Williams
On this campus we often say
with our mouths that we are
sisters, but our behavior does not
exemplify just what sisterhood is.
In essence, we contradict what
our tradition is all about.
Granted, this does not apply to
the student body as a whole, but
if the shoe fits, wear it or better
yet buy another pair.
In asking some of the alumnae
that work here on campus their
definition of sisterhood, the
general consensus was that
sisterhood is the love and respect
you have for a fellow Spelmanite.
It is also being able to share your
victories and defeats, the good
times as well as the bad and your
dreams as well as the
achievements with one another.
As Black women, being a double
minority, it would only seem
natural for us to possess this
quality. Sad as it may sound, this
is not always the case.
Spelmanites basically are goal
oriented and very determined
young ladies, but in spite of this
fact there are still some wrinkles
that need to be ironed out.
Empathy is a quality we should
inherit as students in order to
make sisterhood work. We aren’t
concerned enough about each
other. We are so busyl Either we
are trying to get to class on time,
completing assignments or mak
ing it to the cafeteria before the
doors lock. How many of us who
live on campus can honestly say
that we know the people we live
next door to? Not just their
names, but something about
them, for example their favorite
food or better yet their
hometown. How many of us can
honestly say we know the people
in our classes? I am not talking
about those you run to just to get
the assignment you missed, but
the young lady who sits behind
you or next to you that you only
recognize when in class. We
must also learn to speak to one
another and make an attempt to
get to know your fellow
Spelmanites. Try itl You can
actually say “Hi" and still livel
just because a person doesn’t
dress, look, or wear the same
perfume as you make them an
alien. There are some people
who are very shy or impersonal
and they keep to themselves, but
we must take that extra step to let
them know that we are sisters.
We will not be able to make it
through four years of Spelman
without the help of our sisters.
We need each other and the
quicker we realize it the better.
Animosity is another trait we
can trash. At times we resent
each other but we really don’t
know why. We might take this
type of attitude because we feel
as though we have been treated
wrong or some of us act in this
manner because the “green
eyed monster” healousy has
taken over us. Personally, I feel if
someone has mistreated you it is
best to pull them aside and let
them know. Often we are not
aware of our errors unless it is
brought to our attention.
Last but not least, we as
Spelmanites are too apathetic.
Support your school! Why
should our parents have to pay
the activity fee when we are
running to other schools to
support their events?
Remember, charity starts at
home. We might not have a
football or basketball team but
we do have a tennis and
Continued on page 12
by Rhonda Matier
Respect, as it relates to male
and female relationships on the
campuses of Spelman and
Morehouse College, is an issue
of great concern these days.
Many Spelmanites are question
ing the issue of respect regrding
their male counterparts at
Morehouse College. I believe
this particular concern is a result
of an accumulation of incidents
which occurred during
Morehouse’s homecoming
celebration. Respect is a feeling
of high regard, honor, or esteem
and courteous regard. It may be
awarded in a variety of ways.
One may be “delegated" respect
in an unconditional way. An
by Stephanie Mathier
Social-Chair, Jr. Class
It has come to my attention
that the students of the AUC
have begun to de-emphasize
pertinent social and political
issues in favor of emphasis on
personal financial and career
objectives. Four months ago, as I
was reading the July issue of
Essence Magazine, I realized that
not only have I noticed the
apathy, but sociologist and
political activists have noticed it
also. There seems to be a nation
wide trend toward social and
political ignorance while finan
cial and occupational needs
remain continually nurtured.
Perhaps American students find
political awareness unnecessary
individual may quality for
respectability because of merits
or outstanding accomplishments
or on a more person level,
respect may be earned by in
dividuals who prove themselves
capable.
A person may claim the right
to demand a certain degree of
respect in several ways. A person
who is chosen (by election or
otherwise) to be a representative
for an organization or mass body
of people, supports the idea of
unconditional respect. This
chosen person is no longer
viewed as a symbol of that
particular group instead. The
example just cited parallels with
for material gain. Can it be that
American students have become
so one-dimentional? I have yet
to comprehend the
phenomenon which has left
today’s students genuinely un
interested in the affairs of the
world (pretending to be in
terested for Freshman Orienta
tion credit does not count). Do
students fail to realize the affects
of world politics and culture on
their lives? And what can we do
to boost interest?
As the Social Chiarperson for
the Junior class of Spelman
College, I have found that what
would be beneficial to the
student body would be a forum
on international awareness. For
three davs during the month of
the circumstances of the in
cidents that took place during
Morehouse’s homecoming
festivities. The Morehouse stu
dent body selected a Spelman
student as their homecoming
queen. However, during the
homecoming festivities there
were several incidents that not
only disrespected Miss Maroon
and White (their homecoming
queen), but Spelman students in
general as well. I believe there
are several individuals that at
tend Morehouse College who
need to re-examine definitions
for respect or implement prin
ciples that allow them to exercise
proper respect towards others.
November the Junior class will
be sponsoring speakers
representing different areas of
the world in an attempt to
increase international political
and social awareness in the
students of the AUC. The
locations which will be
emphasized will be the Middle
East (Afghanistan), South
America (Argentina), and the Far
East (Japan). We hope that this
will not be the only International
Education Week. It is my wish for
all that the quest for knowledge
and understanding of people
from around the world will
continue, and that it will begin
here at Spelman during the
International Education Week,
November 18-22, 1985.
Political Awareness
Editor-in-Chief
Art Editor
Lynette Glover
Photo Editor
Kirsten Ray
Associate Editor
Jennifer Satterfield
Public Relations
Debbie Marable
Rhonda Matier
Sports Editor
Feature Editors
Advertizing
Marie Roberts
Temelle Wilds
Karen Green
Terri Lee
Literary Editor
Entertainment
Melanie White
Anna Ponder
Health Editor
Phyllis Paul
News Editors
Jasmine Williams
Angela Hubbard
Layout Editor
Natalie Heard
Copy Editor
Circulation Manager
Chavda Polk
Triphenya Zachery
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 number is 525-1743.
Letter To The Editor
Dear Editor,
I was a little surprised at the
letter I read in the last Spelman
Spotlight about Dr. Stewart’s
son. It made me wonder what
freedom was. From my un
derstanding, freedom means
having the right to make a
choice, whether it is about what
you want to eat, where you want
to live, who you want to go out
with, or what school you wish to
attend.
In all honesty I do not see how
the school he has chosen to
attend is going to make him any
less black. Harvard is one of the
best colleges in the country and
it is no better for blacks to tell
him he should not go there than
it is for whites to tell him he
cannot go there.
At a dedication for the
Spelman Art Building on April
12, 1964, John Rockefeller 3rd
said, “The Negro protest, mili
tant and determined, is not just a
struggle for a wrong. Rather it is a
struggle for a right. Its real roots
are in the spirit — and the letter
— of our democratic heritage. It
seeks not an empty symbol nor a
mere emblem of status. It seeks
instead what is real and basic to
the Negro and to every
American; his personal dignity,
his education, his job, his i
home.”
Rockefeller went on to say,
“Only a totally free America,
meeting the ideals, rights, and
aspirations of all, regardless of
race, can maintain ideological
leadership."
My point is this, black colleges
were not established to keep
blacks out of white colleges.
They were established to give us
the educational opportunities
which we had been denied. Now
that we have the ability to attend
the colleges which will open the
most doors for us we should take
advantage of that. It is wrong for
anyone to discourage you from
the path which you feel will be
most beneficial to you even if it
means not going to college at all.
That is the reason for choice; that
is freedom.
Coming to Spelman was a
choice I made and am happy
with, I was not forced and I hope
the person that wrote the letter
was not forced. How, I wish.
If he is lucky, Dr. Stewart’s son
will be happy with his CHOICE
and if he is not happy he can
CHOOSE to do something else.
Sincerely,
Marie Roberts
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