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Spelman Spotlight, Atlanta, GA
March 4,1993
PEROGAT1VE
‘Sorority Syndrome’
Plagues SSGA Elections
By Elisa Smith
Editor-in-Chief
I remember four years ago sitting in
Sisters Chapel listening to the Spelman
Student Government Association
officers introduce themselves. I
remember feeling that such a goal of
being a member of the SGA - though
attainable in high school - was really
out of my league in college.
I had great respect and admiration
for the officers and I wanted to be a
part of the campus leadership, but I did
not think the SSGA was for "plain,
ordinary" students. Not once during
my freshman year did I attend an
SSGA meeting, for I thought they were
not for "mere" freshmen.
When I became a sophomore, I was
still in awe (literally) of the SSGA
officers. I was hoping that Spelman
would prepare me to be a student
government officer (giving me at least
the potential) before graduation, but I
was wondering when this great
transformation would occur. (One year
had already past.)
Then I decided to get involved with
the student newspaper. I was even a
little timid when I went to the meeting.
These feelings were very odd to me
because 1 had been very active in high
school. I could not understand why I
had this "untouchable" image of the
SSGA.
I soon became the layout editor of
the Spotlight and 1 developed a
friendship with the then-editor-in-chief,
Jocelyn Coleman. I began feeling
more and more comfortable about the
SSGA, and I even attended a meeting
once or twice. At the meeting, I was
not made to feel like an outsider by the
officers. I even considered
campaigning for the position of editor.
It was not too long after I had
begun to erase my image of the SSGA
as somewhat elitist that I discussed
with some friends my interest in
becoming a member of Alpha Kappa
Alpha Sorority, Inc.
And it was not too long after that
discussion that my friends and 1
realized that most (if not, all) of the
officers of the SSGA were members of
sororities.
I had heard from my older sister that
sorority and fraternity affiliations
clouded the qualifications of SGA
candidates at Hampton University. My
cousin and some friends affirmed that
this happened at Tuskegee University,
also. Surely, this could not be
happening at Spelman!
Did that mean that in order to be a
part of the SSGA, one had to be a part
of a sorority; and to be a part of a
sorority, one had to be elitist and
untouchable? Was the SSGA another
"sorority" in disguise?
Well, since I wasn’t elitist, I could
never become an AKA, and if I’d never
become an AKA, I’d surely never be on
the SGA. So, now what?
I decided to test my luck. I
campaigned for the position of Spotlight
editor. Perhaps I was comforted by my
unopposed campaign. Perhaps I was
comforted by my family’s
encouragement. Perhaps I was
comforted by my experience working on
the Spotlight staff. Surely, I was most
comforted by Jocelyn’s prodding - after
all, I would be assuming her position.
(And, by the way, she is a member of
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.)
Reflecting on my experiences as an
SSGA officer before becoming an AKA
and after, I am appalled to hear that a
very qualified student who is
campaigning for an SSGA position has
been asked to abandon her campaign
because her opponent is a member of a
sorority. I am discouraged to hear that
a very qualified student has refused to
seek a position because the "sorority
syndrome" has infected the SSGA so
much that the organization appears
ineffective.
It is not surprising to me that
historically members of sororities have
held positions of leadership; part of the
sororities’ aim is to inscribe and
enhance leadership skills. What has
shocked me is that members of
Spelman’s student body - seasoned with
high school valedictorians, SGA
presidents and class officers - have
empowered undeserving members of
sororities by relinquishing their own
goals due to fear and intimidation.
If you cannot seek to fulfill your
goals, then perhaps you are not
leadership material. And if you cannot
vote based on qualifications, then
perhaps your ballot should go unmarked.
1 do not know what the outcome of
this election will be. 1 will not be here
next year to witness the success of the
SSGA. But I feel confident that you,
the students, will not allow yourselves
to be shortchanged by electing
lackadaisical, self-serving, ineffective,
unapproachable students to the SSGA.
I challenge you to observe the board
in upper Manley, to read the flyers. I
challenge you to attend the speeches and
the debates. Listen to the candidates!
I dare you to challenge them! I dare
you to ask substantive questions! I
dare you to question the candidates’
motives, realizing that, more
importantly, they need a plan of action.
They will be "in charge" if elected.
They will be your leaders, your
planners, your organizers - your voice to
the administration.
1 dare you to challenge yourself and
question who is allowing the SSGA to
be dominated by members of sororities
who are not always the most qualified
candidates. Surely the 130 members of
sororities on Spelman’s campus are not
the only students interested in campus
life.
Contrary to popular belief, it is not
necessary to compromise your integrity
for the sake of sorority or SSGA
membership. Surely, you elected me
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Prerogative
because of my qualifications, for I did
not campaign for Spotlight editor
because I was interested in becoming an
an AKA. The AKAs did not "force" me
to run for the position. The Deltas did
not threaten me or attempt to make me
abandon my campaign. Clearly, I could
not have won solely based on the
support of AKAs and others interested
in becoming AKAs. My position on the
SSGA was not a prerequisite for my
membership in Alpha Kappa Alpha.
If I had not become an AKA, I
would still be editor of the Spotlight.
Perhaps I was lucky to escape the
supposed "sorority syndrome." Surely,
I was just qualified.
Sabrina Hawkins
Kanika Williams
Felice Winston
Donnica Gordon
Marisa DeSallcs
Vanessa Raye
Stefanie Dunning
Sonya Daniels
LaNae Dora
Kelli Moore
SSGA Elections
March 19
Sister to Sister
Afua Abdullah’
Riche Daniel
COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS
Advertising Channagne Helton
Distribution Angele Harrison
Maleka Ingram
Pamela Jones
artwork and submissions to Expressions. Editorial opinions
III!
editorial position ol the Spotlight. All submissions wil!
be considered for publication as spec permits. Submissions
should be sent through Campus Mail via P.O. Box 1234.
The Sjxjtlight is published bimonthly and has a circulation
of 3,(XX). The Spotlight staff meets on Mondays at 6:00 p.m.
1 he office is located in Lower Manley, room 104.
Deadline for next issue: March 22, 1993
Next meeting: March 16, 1993
Editor-in-Chief
Associate Editor
Staff Advisor
Elisa Smith
Jamellah Braddoek
Leisha Stewart
SECTION EDITORS