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February, 1988 SPELMAN SPOTLIGHT • Page 3
Faculty Spotlight
by Cami Walker
Dr. Marilyn Davis has
been teaching political
science at Spelman College
for seven years. She gradu
ated from Hampton Institute
in 1973 with a major in polit
ical science. Later she
attended Atlanta University
where she “received intense
instruction and was exposed
to everything in the political
science department.” After
graduation from Atlanta
University in 1979 Dr. Davis
decided to teach at Spelman
and we are glad she did. In
the past seven years, Dr.
Davis has become an invalu
able asset to Spelman
College and an inspiration to
the students that she has
come in contact with.
Recently, I had the opportu
nity to speak with Dr. Davis
about issues concerning
student attitudes and trends,
growth in the Spelman
community and her goals and
objectives.
Cami: When and how did you
decide to become a professor
of political science?
Dr. Davis: Actually, I had no
interest in teaching after I
graduated from college. I was
a housewife and I became
bored with it. So, I started
working for the President of
An Interview with
Mrs. Aline Rivers
seminars and actual courses
specifically designed to
produce student leaders.
Mrs. Rivers feels that
Spelman has consistently
graduated positive role-
models, however, there is still
a need for curriculum
designed for that specific
purpose. She hopes that
seminars will begin as soon
as next semester.
As far as long term goals
for Spelman, Mrs. Rivers
envisions our school as one of
the top five to ten colleges in
the nation that Black women
choose to attend.
Mrs. Aline Rivers is truly
an exceptional Black woman
and we are honored to have
her at Spelman College. As
Mrs. Rivers stated; “As Black
women, we have an obliga
tion to share ourselves.”
In noting the contributions
of Mrs. Rivers to Spelman
College, she is doing just
that, sharing herself. Thank
you Mrs. Rivers for you
sincere concern.
by Kendra B. Corr
As Spelman students, we
should all be familiar with
the name Mr. Aline Rivers,
but who is she? Recently, I
had the opportunity to speak
with Mrs. Rivers in hopes of
letting you know just that.
Mrs. Rivers has served as
director of the admissions
office for the last three years.
Thus, it is partly because of
her that we are all here.
Currently, Mrs. Rivers is
serving as Acting Dean of
Student Life providing lead
ership and supervision to the
entire student life division.
Her goal for the student life
division is to facilitate a part
nership with the student
affairs division and the
academic affairs division.
She believes that there has
always been a “we-they”
relationship between
students and the administra
tion and in order to create an
effective learning environ
ment, this barrier must be
erased.
Among the many changes
that Mrs. Rivers has imple
mented at Spelman College,
is the publication of the
monthly Student Life
calendar which for some
Spelman students, is their
only means of becoming
aware of events on campus.
Another project that Mrs.
Rivers is working diligently
to provide groundwork for, is
a program which sponsors
Mrs. Aline Rivers
Dr. Marilyn Davis
Fayetteville State University
I enjoyed my work and I
decided to continue working
in education.
Cami: What drew and kept
you at Spelman?
Dr. Davis: When I came to
Spelman I had an affinity
with it personally and profes
sionally. It is the type of envi
ronment I have always
wanted to work in.
Cami: What do you like most
about Spelman?
Dr. Davis: Our learning
together. When a student
comes and tells me about an
internship or an educational
experience, I receive satisfac
tion from that.
Cami: I imagine after seven
years you have seen stages
that Spelman has undergone.
Is there anything about
Spelman you think needs
improving?
Dr. Davis: Well, Spelman
could use more space. More
teaching facilities, another
computer lab, and a student-
faculty lounge. Other than
that, no.
Cami: What about the
students? Have you seen
changes in students atti
tudes over the years?
Dr. Davis: It’s interesting
because when I first came
here there was a professor
who had been in the political
science department since
1936. When I asked him that
same question he told me
that the students had not
changed even since then. I
share the same feeling that
basically the students have
stayed the same. For
example, a student that
recently graduated from
Spelman as a political
science and english major is
presently at Duke Law
School. So, the goals and
ambitions are the same.
Cami: Do your observe
student apathy?
Dr. Davis: No, I do not see
student apathy. Many of the
political science students are
members of the Young Demo
crats of Georgia and partici
pate in voter registration.
Students are becoming more
concerned with policy and
ask the question “How can I
work in the public sector to
make it better?”
Cami: Do you see higher
levels of stress in students
today than in previous years?
Dr. Davis: Students are
pressured into thinking they
must go straight from college
into graduate school. It was a
blessing for me that my
parents allowed me to make
my own decision as to
whether or not to continue
school. And it was also a good
breather to work and meet
new people and then come to
some conclusions about my
future.
Cami: Is it your opinion that
this stress is harmful?
Dr. Davis: Well, of course, it
is healthy to be ambitious
and aspire to a law school
such as Harvard Law; but
there is is the possibility of
not being accepted. This is
the unhealthy aspect of
(con’t on pg. 8)
Academic
Enrichment
by Jacqueline M. Jenkins
At Spelman College the
Honors Program is the posi
tive educational statement,
centered around the high
lighting of students that have
excelled in the area of
academics. The Honors
Program cultivates achieve
ment through classes that
are structured at a chal
lenging pace and programs
such as; seminars on
academic support mecha
nisms and career planning.
These activities are geared to
enhance the intellectual
ability that they displayed in
high school.
This program of academic
enrichment was started in
1980, under the Donald
Stewart administration. In
keeping with the excellence
produced at Spelman
College, both of the Honors
Program directors were
alumnae of Spelman College;
Kathryn Brisbane and Dr.
Ethel Githii.
Although the members of
the Honors Program repre
sent a small percentage of the
Spelman student body there
is a joining of individuals on
the common level of interac
tion in classes and the
campus organizational activ
ities such as clubs for the
various majors. There is also
an interaction based on a
tutorial relationship devel
oped between the student
body and members of the
Honors Program. The tuto
rial program is formally
incorporated into a program
for math majors and non
science majors.
The key motivating factor
for the Honors Program is
incentive. In 1983 the Donald
and Isabel Stewart Living
and Learning Center was
built to house honors
freshmen as a reward for
academic achievement. This
dorm was built to encourage
students in the Honors
Program to continue to excel.
Although many benefits
are reaped from participa
tion in the Honors Program,
financial assistance plays a
major role in the program.
Students who participate in
the Honors Program receive
payment in the form of schol
arships. In addition to Spel-
man’s portion of the
scholarship, Honor students
can also rely upon outside
assistance. Suzanne Diggs,
Pres, of the Honors Program,
feels that “Spelman should
not pay for everything, that
is why I have gained finan
cial assistance through
obtaining scholarships
funded by the Honors Under
graduate. Minority Access to
Research Careers Training
Program (Honors UMARC)
and Los Angeles chapter of
Delta Sigma Thelta.” The
incentive of financial assist
ance allows honor students to
see the value which is placed
on academic achievement.
The uniqueness of the
Honors Program is captured
by the professors who provide
support in the classroom and
a personal level. Adrianne
Keepler, Vice-pres. of the
Honors Program, makes a
special mention of Dr. E.
Githii, “After having Dr.
Githii for four semesters as
an English professor, a close
relationship has developed.
Dr. Githii became by confi
dante with whom to discuss
various matters both school
related and personally.
The goals of the honors
program are; to intensify
educational experiences, to
rewarding and encouraging
academic excellence, and to
encourage advanced study
and research. In accom
plishing these goals the
Honors Program has
enhanced the academic envi
ronment of Spelman College
in the respect that students
are seeing the value placed
upon a quality education.