Newspaper Page Text
www.spelmanspotlight.com
March 20, 2007
lyanla Vanzant inspires crowd
lyanla Vanzant visited Spelman College on March 14 to speak to
students on remaining true to themselves and overcoming obstacles.
Volume XLV No. 9
Toni Cade confer
ence comes to
campus
On March 23-24, Spelman College
will host the 7th annual Toni Cade
Bambara Conference.
P 2
Interested in
Journalism?
Curing the week of March 26-30,
Spelman College will host
Journalism Week for those stu
dents interested in learning more
about careers in the media field.
Q
Jr 3
International
Spring Fest hits
campus
PULSE Programming Board hosts
International Spring Fest to honor
the diversity of Spelman women.
T1 K
IT D
Black fashion
makes comeback
With the continued popularity of
Baby Phat and Sean John, black
fashion is set to be on the scene
for a while.
P6
Nation gears up
for March
Madness
Its that time of the year when the
country goes wild for March
Madness.
P7
Kibby Araya
Features Editor
“My greatest desire is for
people to know who they are
from the inside out and use
that knowledge to create the
life they desire and deserve. I
believe my purpose in life is to
facilitate the evolution of
human consciousness, how we
think, through the under
standing of spiritual princi
ples,” said Rev. Dr. lyanla
Vanzant.
Vanzant's inspiring assem
bly last Wednesday night in
Sisters Chapel attracted many
seeking her advice, her
thoughts, and her perspectives
about living life to the fullest.
The powerful lecture
opened with honorable intro
ductions for Dr. Vanzant.
During the introduction, the
background on Women's
History Month was discussed
for the event was held in that
honor. As soon as she walked
onto the stage, she captured
the audience's attention.
She spoke openly about her
past experiences in effort to
Janelle Richardson
News Writer
Over the past year, Spelman
Student Government
Association has joined with
other schools to create the
10,000 girls program. The
program is aimed to collabo
rate with Morehouse students
to generate resources that will
educate Senegalese youth. The
girls that are taking part in the
program are failing school or
abandoning school. Some of
the girls have never attended
school at all. The plans of
action SGA created consisted
of commitment, implementa
tion, presentation and a finale.
The journey began March
3, 2007 and ended March 11,
2007 when 20 students trav
eled to Senegal for spring
break. The students traveled
throughout Kaolack, Senegal
to visit rural schools within
various villages. At each
school, Spelman and
Morehouse students held
open dialogue with Senegalese
show the common experience
of pain is part of the journey
of life. This definitely helped
others ask questions and
receive answers about what it
is important in life. Her
charismatic and comforting
nature triggered outpour of g
emotion from some. f-
CD
She smartly blended seri-
O
ousness with jokes to express S'
her message of discovering |
spirituality in order to live a —
positive life. Dr. Vanzant ^
hopes her self-empowerment
speeches help people, especial
ly women, overcome the
obstacles in searching for self-
fulfillment.
She wants to inspire women
to be more than they expected
to be. She believes the world is
waiting for a stronger woman
spiritually, emotionally, and
mentally.
“I think that now the
world is preparing itself in
every major arena [for
stronger women]. We have to
be prepared,” she said.
Her books, poetically writ
ten, are filled with passages of
students about what resources
they were lacking and what
Spelman/Morehouse students
could do to help.
“Too often we think very
domestically and don't realize sT
what is going on outside out =
of realm. Global issues like >,
poverty really do affect us,” g
stated Sophomore Francesca o
Gibson. |
“This adventure has taught g
me to be extremely grateful for S
the things that I have and £L
whenever I have an opportu
nity to gain knowledge or to
assist in someone's journey of
knowledge to do so with an
open heart and mind,” stated
sophomore Paige Simpson.
After their experience in
Senegal, SGA will continue
their efforts.
“Right now we are putting
together our experiences and
trying to pinpoint what they
realistic/action is to help
youth in Senegal. Our efforts
are continuing now, these
youth need basic necessities,
improving oneself by finding
oneself. One of her most well
known books, Everyday I
Pray, was the title of her
assembly since throughout she
read excerpts from the book.
After concentrating on a
career involving law, Dr.
Vanzant veered into a path of
teaching self-empowerment
through spirituality in the
1990s. She soon gained popu
larity nationwide as an inspi
such as shoes and clothing to
wear to school, says Gibson.
“I realize that Africa needs
to be more of a focal point.
After graduation my pursuit
will be to gain knowledge and
readings on issues that pertain
to the continent of Africa. 1
want to know the issues are
going on throughout Africa,”
says Morehouse senior John
White.
For those who did not trav
el to Senegal, but want to join
in the action with SGA,
Gibson says that the best way
rational speaker with five of
her influential books being
New York Times bestsellers.
She had her own talk show,
and after its cancellation, she
became a life coach on the
reality television show Starting
Over, which concentrated on
improving women's lives.
Vanzant has changed many
lives over the years, and her
visit to Spelman continued
with that mission.
to help is “to support initia
tives and draw awareness so
other people understand. Join
efforts that are going on
throughout the campus.”
The trip overall inspired
each person who took part in
it, as well as Spelman students
who continue to learn about
the initiatives.
“You don't realize what you
have until you live with those
who have not, and need not.
They are happier than those
who have everything”, stated
junior Victoria Beeks.
10,000 Girls supporters travel to Senegal