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Special Edition
www.spelmanspotlight.com
Volume XLV No. 3
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‘NO COMMENT.
Campus community reacts to rape allegations
DOES RAPE HAPPEN HERE?
Nicole Barden
News Editor
On Wednesday the 20th,
roughly 150 students partici
pated in a walk out at
11:35am and proceeded to
march throughout the AUC
handing out fliers to raise
awareness about rape. The
demonstration was spearhead
ed by the Feminist Majority
Leadership Alliance (FMLA),
a progressive student organiza
tion on Spelman’s campus.
Students began organizing
the night before, in response
to two separate alleged cases of
rape involving Spelman and
Morehouse students that were
reported to the Women’s
Center.
Students wearing white
shirts with anti-rape slogans
handwritten in red and black
marker chanted “No means
no” and “Its not ok it happens
everyday.” Many Spelman
students used the march to
show solidarity with their
classmates and support for vic
timized women.
“I’m out here because it’s
ridiculous that this happens to
Spelman women. Rape
should not be kept silent,”
said senior, Brittny Ray.
“I feel it’s the responsibility
of all of us to support our
Spelman sisters. I think it’s
not really addressed on our
campus because it goes against
the Spelman and Morehouse
ideal,” said sophomore, Aryele
Maye.
The march gained momen
tum and participants as classes
let out during the procession
through the AUC. Some stu
dents missed afternoon classes
to join the march. Ginelle
Pennycooke, a sophomore,
knew nothing about the event
until she saw the march in
progress and immediately
took part.
“This is important. It’s a
good cause. I didn’t know this
was still happening,” said
Pennycooke.
Students were not the only
participants. Dr. Sherry
Turner, Vice President for
Student Development, and
Dr. Geneva Baxter, Associate
Dean, were some of the facul
ty members who walked to
show their support of the stu
dents and their cause.
“I think that sexual assault
is a matter that requires our
attention. I support the stu
dents raising awareness about
the situation. They demon
strate their capacity to change
the world,” said Turner.
A handful of Morehouse
students also marched with
the Spelmanites.
“I’m participating because
it’s not a matter of who it is.
This is a big issue in the Black
community. If we are to
progress we need to do this,”
said Isaac Ricard, a senior at
Morehouse.
“It’s especially crucial for
men to be involved in the
march because we are the
peers of the people who are
perpetuating the problem.
Women have to do their part
and men have to do their
part,” said Dr. Mark King, a
sociology professor at
Morehouse. He also acknowl
edged that changing men’s
perspectives is a challenge.
“It’s about privilege when
you talk about men, and let
ting go of our own privilege.
You have certain privileges
because you have a penis. If
you harass someone of the
opposite sex your repercus
sions are likely to be nil,” said
King.
The march halted in front
of Kilgore where the crowd
began to chant “Stop the
rape.” Spontaneous speakers
stood on the steps and
addressed the crowd and
asked for solidarity from their
Morehouse brothers. Leana
Cabral, the FMLA president
and Taryn Crenshaw, presi
dent of Afrekete, the gay, les
bian, bisexual, straight alliance
on Spelman’s campus stressed
the necessity of students to act
on their outrage.
“This is not a personal
thing. It’s about changing the
culture here. It’s about unity
and stopping it,” said junior
Jetaun Moore, a member of
FMLA, when she spoke to the
marchers.
A crowd of Morehouse stu
dents formed around the
demonstrators. Many of the
men were visibly angry and
upset by the event.
“They want us to leave
their campus. We are their
Spelman sisters. How dare
they not stand with us. It’s
time to change the atmos
phere of the AUC,” said
Starlette Tolerson, a sopho
more.
Turner and Dr. Kevin
Rome, Vice President of
Student Services at
Morehouse, also addressed the
students as well as Tatum who
unveiled the new presidential
initiative that that she and
Morehouse President Dr.
Walter Massey worked on. It
involves creating a joint task
force of faculty, staff, and stu
dents to deal with tolerance,
civility, and gender issues.
“The real goal of the initia
tive is to really try to address
the culture that we are in,”
said Tatum.
Marcus Edwards, president
of the Morehouse Student
Government Association, was
urged to speak after he was
spotted in the crowd. He
encouraged dialogue between
the three schools, and felt that
more information about the
alleged incidents was needed.
Many Morehouse students
were offended because they
believe the march was not the
best approach and at the cur
rent time, the two alleged
cases of rape were not substan
tiated enough to warrant such
measures.
“I totally agree with the
movement that Spelman is
presenting, but my only hesi
tation is Spelman says they
want to link with us but they
storm the campus,” said soph
omore James Howard, “Let’s
do a forum. Let’s discuss the
issue not yell back and forth.”
“I don’t mind a protest or
talking about the issue. We
don’t know who did what. I
just want intelligence on the
issue before we start protest-
see Rape on Pg 3 »>