Newspaper Page Text
November, 1985
Spelman Spotlight
Page 8
Blessed Be The NO
Ties That Bind SUPPORT
by Glenda M. Meldrum
Do you remember the first
time you ever heard of “Spelman
College?" If so, take a little time
now to reflect on that moment.
Well, was the name “Morehouse
College” mentioned in that
same breath? You may not want
to admit it, but I’m sure that for
90 percent of Spelman College’s
population this is true. Oh, don't
go getting an attitude now, I’m
just as confident that the same is
true for Morehouse College,
that it can’t be mentioned
without some attention being
focused on Spelman.
When I think back to my
freshman week at Spelman, I
remember being overwhelmed
with stories concerning “The
House” and whispers sweeping
through the dormitory announ
cing the presence of a
Morehouse man. I was even
entangled in conversation with
Spelmanites who dedicated their
free-time, sleep-time, study
time, and you-name-it-time to
finding fault with the
Morehouse man. But, somehow
they only lead me to .think that
they had either been misued by
their once beloved Morehouse
man or that they choose to
condemn the entire student
body because the Morehouse
man of their dreams had yet to
notice their Gucci and ‘oh so
fine’ presence.
Morehouse promptly
responded with refrains of,
“man she goes to Spelman,” and
“you know all the beautiful
women go to Spelman.” I’ll
never forget the clouds of
Aramus, Polo, Ralph Lauren, and
yes even Brut that hung over
every Morehouse freshmen
hoping to catch that Spelman
woman.
My purpose in reflecting on
freshman week is to raise the
question, “what happens to the
ties or even traditions between
these institutions once we
proceed into the curriculum?” I
have found that it is clearly
evident to people outside
Spelman and Morehouse that
there is a traditional in
terdependence between these
two institutions, whether it be
social, emotional, or just for the
sake of having a friend. After
reading that last sentence, the
majority of you will grunt, shake
your head, and say, “huh, we
don’t need them,” whoever
“them” may be. Perhaps this is
why we can’t see for ourselves
the ties that bond our institution.
We have become and in most
instances have been taught to
love OUR college, to support
OUR affairs, to do’ or say
anything that will up lift OUR
institution and relevent
traditions and degrade
another’s. Selfishness, greed,
envy, and mistrust has replaced
the values that our antecendents
had originally intended for our
institutions to share. One would
have to agree that our
antecedents intended for our
black colleges to unite under
grounds of respect, love, and
loyalty. As for me, with both
colleges being mounted on the
struggles, goals, and
achievements of Blacks, the
element of sister/brotherhood
already exists and I can’t unders
tand why a board of directors has
to pass it through it’s lawmaking
process for us to accept it.
In my quest for revealing what
happens to the ties or traditions
between Spelman and
Morehouse, I questioned
members of Spelman and
Morehouse's faculty and student
body for some answers. I asked
these individuals such as Ms.
Marcia Hanks-Brooks, a
graduate of Spelman and now
residential director of the Quad,
whether or not a tradition exist
between Spelman and
Morehouse and, if so what was
their view on it.
Ms. Brooks reflected on the
old traditions of Spelman es
pecially sisterhood. She feels
that, “if Spelman could contain
the concept of sisterhood as it
were when she was a student we
could then branch out and
secure relationships with
Morehouse.”- She firmly stated,
"Morehouse and Spelman
although not brother and sister
schools should have more unity
... They would have a much
better relationship if they knew
how to listen to one another.
Unity between Morehouse and
Spelman would set the criteria
for unity throughout the entire
A.U.C.” Morehouse's President
Hugh Gloster expressed tradi
tion between our institutions
has, “a concept that makes
Morehouse and Spelman the
oldest most closely associated
institutions since 1881. We share
classes, teachers, and extra
curricular activities. Our colleges
need each other and have much
to gain by working together.”
When I venture into the
student body for responses to my
question concerning the ties or
traditions between Spelman and
Morehouse I was often blasted
w ; th, “What traditions?” Oh but
of course that was before they
were told that I was writing an
article for the Spelman Spotlight.
It’s amazing how the media helps
us discover our true feelings.
Many students praised the
"traditional ties" between
Morehouse and Spelman
seconds after confusingly asking,
"What Traditions?” Harry James
Watts, Jr., a sophomore at
Morehouse, says, “Frankly, I
believe in my Spelman Sisters 100
percent and I wish that they
would continue to participate in
the different Morehouse-
Spelman traditions.” You may
question why Morehouse-
Spelman traditions and not the
vice-verse,” but let’s have some
gratitude for Harry’s positive
attitude. I also questioned two
other Morehouse men Charles
Smoot and Charles Jackson. Mr.
Smooth hasn’t “really noticed a
tradition too much,” and admits,
"It’s not as much of a
brother/sisterhood as you’re
told about.” Mr. Jackson basical
ly expressed the same attitude
but concluded with, "a small
portion of the tradition is ex
pressed through the social af
fairs. I’d like to see a closer
relationship between
Morehouse and Spelman.”
While on the other side of the
fence, Spelman’s Sophomore
class vice-president, Maria
Brewster firmly stated her views,
"I don’t feel a tradition exists,
we’re constantly used over and
over by Morehouse men, and
until we stand together as
Spelman women a tradition
won't exist. When we stand
together a real tradition will exist
... one of respect; From that
respect all other traditions will
root.” Right on Maria but as
previously mentioned, in order
to get respect you have to be
willing to give it. Another
Spelmanite stood her ground
saying, "Morehouse pimps
Spelman.” I don't know about
you but I feel pimps are given
their authority by weak, self
destructive and simple-minded
women. Let’s consider actions
on both sides of the street before
we start accusing one another of
derogatory actions.
It is clear that the student
bodies of Spelman and
Morehouse are lost and con
fused when confronted with the
institutions’ traditional ties. The
majority feel there are no evi
dent traditions that tie our
colleges however, they’d like to
see some in the near future.
There are still those who hold to
there ‘take care of home’ at
titudes and, I'm no one to judge
there opinions. However, I per
sonally believe the institutionsof
Spelman and Morehouse have
much to gain by working
together and with other in
stitutions in the A.U.C. If each
college is strong in it’s own
traditions there identify won’t be
lost through random expressions
of sister or brotherly love. “Bless
ed be the ties that bind.”
The school band, majorettes
and cheerleaders have mixed
emotions when it comes to
performing for Morehouse. The
cause: lack of student and alum
ni support.
All monies that the band
receive are requisited from the
Business manager and President,
Dr. Hugh Gloster of Morehouse
and alumni The alumni also
contributes to the bands funds.
The band is not financially
dependant on the SGA so they
are not affected by the loss of the
concert. Band director, Roderick
Smith and band members feel
that there is not enough ad
ministration support. A member
of the band uses this example,
eleven students wanted to play
bass horns, but there were only
three out of five horns in good
condition. They fell that the
administration and alumni
should put more money into the
band and support them as they
do the Glee Club. The Glee club
has traveled to Los Angelos,
California, Africa, and New York
through the school’s support.
However, the band feels that
they have not been given a
chance to prove themselves due
to lack of funds.
Here is where the lack of
alumni support comes in. The
band is lacking in instruments
and uniforms. The Drummer’s
uniforms are twenty years old.
For years now, the alumni
association has been promising
to send the band money for
necessities. Unfortunately, the
band hardly ever receives the
money. The alumni insist that
—Whitney Houston the new
and upcoming performing artist
was here on October 21, 1985
and gave a fabulous concert in
Archer Hall. But now she is gone
and not only does the thrill linger
on, but so does the debt due to
many unsold concert tickets.
—According to Mr. Wiley
Perdue, Vice-President of
Business Affairs at Morehouse
College, funds are allocated
from his office to the Student
Government Association based
on student enrollment. Once the
funds are depleted from that set
budget, it is up to Morehouse’s
SGA to raise any more necessary
funds.
—It is estimated that the
Whitney Houston concert was
$20,000 and the result was a
they sent the money but ap
parently it gets channeled
elsewhere after reaching
Morehouse.
Unlike the cheerleaders who
get financial help from the
alumni, the Tigerettes and Ma
jorettes are completely on their
own for uniforms. Each year the
uniform changes and each year
the girls spend up to $80.00 of
their own money for a complete
uniform. The alumni expressed
their discontent with the un
iforms, yet they come up with no
funds for better ones.
It was because of the alumni,
who promised to meet the
Although bands are in finan
cial trouble at most private
schools, the marching band feels
like they have lack of support not
only from the alumni and ad
ministration, but also the
students. They want the students
to realize that the band has no
scholarship or fellowship fun
ding so all they have to play on is
pride. The situation of no up-to-
date uniforms and instruments is
dicouraging so without that
pride there would probably be
no band. Freshmen have already
been impressioned thatthe band
is not good due to the students’
apathetic attitude.
Four year band member, Jesse
Kearse says, "put Florida A&M
students in Morehouse band
uniforms and you will get the
same unenthusiastic response no
matter how good they play.’’The
band encourages the students to
really listen to them for a change
and let go of that impression,
using all energies for total sup
port.
$15,000 deficit. Although this
deficit was a big one, Mr. Perdue
says, “We have never broken
even after Homecoming
season.” The SGA tried to charge
more than planned for certain
activities during Homecoming
week, such as the "Body Lingo”
Fashion Show. However, the
majority of the Student Gov’t.
Association felt that Homecom
ing wasn’t intended to make
money. But a lost of $11,000 or
more just doesn’t go ignored.
Thus far, there is no evidence
that the students will be directly
affected since they do pay a
student activity fee in their tui
tion.
We as Spelmanites should be
on the lookout for signs saying,
"Spelmanites, $1.00!
Spelmanites Pay
Through The Pocket