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Page 4 • SPELMAN SPOTLIGHT October, 1987
Photo Opinion A Search For Identity
Does the sisterhood really exist here at Spelman?
Freshman: Valerie Tatum
“Yes, being a freshman the
warm welcome I received
from my older sisters was
overwhelming. It gave my
other freshman sisters the
motivation to think and act
as a true sister, A Spelman
sister.”
Sophomore: Brigitte
Bailey
“Yes we’re from different
parts of the country with the
same aspirations. We depend
on each other for inspiration
so that we can achieve in
society.
Junior: Sue Alston
“I think it exists but I don’t
think it spreads throughout.
I’ve found it personally but
I’ve also found the opposite,
some tension among the
women here. But there are
more women networking
than those working against
each other. There was more
emphasis on it this year and
I think that’s positive
because it begins with the
freshmen, they will carry the
spirit of sisterhood on.”
Senior: Margo Perkins
“Yes I think I have made
lasting bonds with many
beautiful sisters over these
past three years. This has
been a rare experience which
I’m sure I will treasure even
more in the years following
graduation.”
by Kimberly Walker
When I first began my
research into the different
schools at which I could
spend my college years, I was
faced with the dilemma of
deciding whether or not I
would spend those four years
at a predominently white
college or a predominently
Black college. In considering
this choice, there were
several’key factors that influ
enced my decision. One of the
most important elements of
that decision, was that I had
attended a predominently
white institution during my
elementary and secondary
school years. For the most
part, the quality of education
was excellent, but, as a
minority, I felt that some
aspects of my education had
been neglected.
For example, in my English
and Social Studies courses, I
came in contact with little or
no work created by or about
Black Americans. Most of my
research into the realms of
Black American society, both
it’s past and present, was due
to my own initiative. Another
reason which greatly influ
enced my decision, was that
throughout my years of
elementary and secondary
schooling, I had never had a
Black teacher. Therefore, my
parents were the only posi
tive Black role models that
had any significant influence
on my life. I yearned to learn
more about my people, what
it means to be Black, and to
meet and study with other
Black students with values
and goals similar to mine.
Consequently, for these
reasons, I decided to attend
a predominently Black
institution.
As I read my letter of
acceptance from Spelman
College, I was immediately
filled with feelings of pride,
joy, accomplishment, and
excitement but I was also
worried. Most of my experi
ences with the Black
students that I came in
contact with in secondary
school were negative ones.
For this reason, I was unsure
whether or not I would fit in
at Spelman. Most of the
Black girls I encountered in
secondary school were a
misguided group who felt
that their main objective in
life was to live out the stero-
types that currently exist
about Black Americans
today. For example, one in
every three of these students
dropped out of school during
the year because of teenage
pregnancy. There was also, a
great deal of turmoil amidst
that small group of minority
students. Fights often broke
out due to jealousy, dishon
esty, or gossip. These experi
ences caused me to be
apprehensive of what I might
find at Spelman.
On the day that I finally
arrived at Spelman College,
my feelings were a melting
pot of emotions. Overall, I
was overcome by the sensa
tion of sisterhood that
already existed amongst the
incoming freshmen. I was
delighted to find that, as I
moved into my room, several
of the students in the
surrounding rooms came
over to introduce themselves.
I was also excited, as I began
to talk to each one individ
ually, to find that many of the
young women had high aspi
rations for themselves.
During that freshman week,
I attended a medley of
programs designed to make
the adjustment into college
life an easy one. At each
program, I learned some
thing new about myself. By
the end of the week, I knew
more about the importance of
being an intelligent Black
woman and the significance
of the cultivation of Black
womanhood, than I had ever
known before.
Registration ’87
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by Cheri L. Roberts
Registration. After that
first, harrowing experience
with registration at Spelman
College, the word strikes fear
and loathing into the hearts
of many students. Last year,
after my first registration
experience, although I was
tired, hungry, and resem
bling a wounded animal, I
realized that I was one of the
lucky ones. I came to this
realization upon seeing
sisters limping, hunched
over, delirious, and com
pletely disoriented after five
to six hours of long lines,
schedule changes, and inter
minable delays. This year,
however, was different. With
the exception of the financial
aid station, practically all of
the students I informally
polled found registration this
year a quicker and less
painful experience.
The financial aid line was
by far the longest and
slowest, and once students
had endured that wait, often
the proper file or information
could not readily be located.
Much of the confusion this
year surrounded the Guar
anteed Student Loan (GSL)
applications. Even students
who had applied early had
yet to receive approval from
their banks because the
financial aid office had not
been able to process all of the
applications during the
summer. Apparently, this not
only created problems for
students, but confusion
within the student accounts
and cashier offices. Although
students were permitted to
register without their GSL
checks, it was nevertheless
disturbing for many stu
dents, to know that some
forms had yet to be
processed.
There was also disorder
regarding work-study
assignments. Previously,
students signed up for work-
study during registration.
This year, however, they had
to sign up after Labor Day,
when classes had already
resumed. Some students
were unprepared for this
change, and others resented
having to wait once again in
long lines and suffer count
less other delays. The general
consensus was that this new
procedure served only to
further complicate the
process. In fact, the overall
feeling among students who
must rely on the financial aid
office is that the procedures
are too time consuming, not
thoroughly explained, and
often repetitive.
Nevertheless, on the whole,
registration went rather well.
We may never know whether
the seemingly more expe
dient procedure was a
merciful reprieve or actual
procedural changes, but we
all hope it becomes a perma
nent addition to Spelman’s
new perspective. While we
must not raise our hopes too
high, I for one am quite
pleased to say that Registra
tion ’87 was a moderate
success. ' ■ i ■
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