Newspaper Page Text
Spelman Spotlight
Don’t Forget Your Little Sisters
By Raye John Belcher
Associate Editor
Black higher education owes much
gratitude to philanthropy, the act of
unselfishly supplying capital in order,
ideally, to enhance the general
advancement of others.
Here at Spelman College, alumnae,
individuals, and distinguished families,
such as the Rockefellers and the
Cosbys, have donated large sums of
money to ensure this institution’s
growth and to support or encourage
Spelmanites to live up to Spelman’s
notion of developing strong, well-
rounded, and independent women who
achieve.
These contributions are wonderful;
however, we must remember that to
give is just as important as to receive.
As we leave fair Spelman behind, we
must remember to give back to the
place that has given us so much.
Even better, as "poor" as most of
us college students are, it is possible
to start giving back NOW as students.
According to Pat Johnson, Director
of Alumnae Affairs at Spelman
College, enrolled Spelmanites have
historically participated in giving
money back to this institution in
mainly three ways: classes have
competed through raising funds, this
year two organizations, Granddaughter’s
Club and Pre-Alumnae Council,
participated in the Founders Day Rally
for Spelman Spirit Day, and the
Spelman Student Government
Association will donate money to
Spelman on behalf of the student body.
Ms. Johnson believes, however, that
a new way of students giving back
needs to be cultivated.
"Every year each student should
give at least one to five dollars to
Spelman College," she said. "This
amount is not much, but considering
that the student body consists of almost
1700 students, collectively it is a whole
lot."
She said that the name of every
student who donates to the college
appears in the Spelman Messenger and
the amount received is not revealed.
She sincerely believes that every
student can and should donate every
year because Alumnae Affairs will
accept any amount that Spelmanites can
give.
No, one does not need to be a
Rockefeller or a Cosby to be a
philanthropist.
In fact, the November 1990 issue
of Emerge suggests that the wave of
the future is for philanthropic
contributions to be made and
foundations to be started by people of
modest circumstances.
Emerge says that, "Overall, the
number of black philanthropists is
rising, and the indicators seem to point
to more increases in the next century."
An encouraging fact.
The above quote from Emerge is
particularly encouraging because of a
statement Emmett D. Carson, former
director of the Joint Center for Political
Studies’ Project on Black Philanthropy
and currently a program officer with
the Ford Foundation, makes in the
same magazine. He says, "black
philanthropy is self-help."
Black people, including black
women, have a history of hating
themselves.
In the spirit of Emerge’s predictions
and Carson’s statement, let us start to
stop self-hatred by perpetrating self-
help.
Spelmanites, let us help ourselves
and our future little sisters. Do not
wait until you are an alumna; start
now.
Give back. Give back. Give
back!
No Money! No Money! ... No Money?
By Marva Tanner
We are aware of the sentiments that
students have expressed about the
Office of Student Financial Services.
Therefore, I want to share with you
how I feel the year has evolved.
It all began in mid July-and look at
now how time did fl -
It was then that we realized that FAO
was three persons shy.
While we were completing freshman
awards and trying to lay them
aside,
Inquisitive, returning students began to
call who could not be denied.
The many calls and requests gathered
like the dust
While the input of data became a must.
The heavy load increased by walk-ins,
and visits to the South and the city
We’d yet to call the meeting of the
scholarship committee.
Families came to the college for
students "yet unborn"
Inquiring about dollars that were not
yet our own.
Existing staff began to vacation,
As Feds began quests for input on
REALLOCATION!
In came the temporary team
To enter data and put out full steam!
Calculators were supplied to assure
that packaging be clean.
We’d work until late hours with the
"logged on" computer
To insure that we had loaded the on-
time returning students.
But, to our amazement, those who
would call
Would be the ones with no data at all.
Feds, Lenders, Guarantors were
changing rules of the game
That had to be applied when October
1 came.
We assisted by complying with near-
completed. applications
Only to learn later of outdated, refiled
information (some state loans).
Perhaps you gave vent by calls or a
letter
Neither of which made us feel better.
All through the year we don’t think we
brought cheer
But we are grateful for the end of this
tortuous year.
How wonderful it is to say the right
thing
And look forward to what the next year
will bring.
Forgetting the gamemanship, we’re
looking ahead for better results from
all we plan with the new system of
packaging, MICROFAIDS. Following
is the planned financial aid procedure
for the 1991-92 academic year:
♦ Notification of aid will run on a
first come first serve basis.
* Students who file the required
forms with the processing agencies,
CSS or ACT, will receive comments
from the services indicating what other
information Spelman requires in order
to process their financial aid request.
♦The Office of Student Financial
Services will send a follow-up letter to
each student who has completed the
College Scholarship Services or ACT
form and the Spelman College
application. This letter will stipulate
what information is needed by the
Office of Student Financial Seryices to
begin processing their request for
financial aid.
♦Students who have aid that does
not require verification will have their
aid awarded and will be moved to the
Office of Student Accounts for
disbursement.
♦Once student information is
received in the Office of Student
Financial Services, an aid verification
letter along with any documents
requiring the student’s signature will be
sent to the student, further stressing the
importance of signatures on documents
that they must submit to the office.
♦If a student meets verification, the
Office of Student Financial Services
Continued on page 12
Editor-in-Chief
Associate Editor
Co-Photo Editors
Jocelyn Coleman
Raye John Belcher
Altana Conley
Diana Mamas
Camille Saunders
Renee Rosa
Geroada Carter
Donates Gordon
Daphne Walker
Joi Bostic
Office Manager
Staff Advisor
Ladonya Massie
Aurellia James
Allcgia Lawrence
Angela Fry
Rich£ Richardson
Shana Tyred
Nicole Williams
Elisa Smith
Art Director
Am and Entertainment Editor
Sports Editor
Campus News Editor
Expressions Editor
Local News Editor
Layout Editor
artwork and
sed on these
ition of the
via P.O, Box 1234,