Newspaper Page Text
PELMAN
spelmanspotlight@gmail.com April 2009 Voice of African-American Womanhood
EXTRA!EXTRA!
The Spelman Spotlight Returns to Campus!
H"his Issue-
Opinion
“America’s educational system
is one of many examples of this
hidden and institutionalized
racial prejudice. ” pg 3
Service
during
Spring
Break
PgS
Features
Chris
and
Rihanna
Pg7
A& E
Rashid
Amir: A
Music
Review
PgH
Health & Wellness
MRSA is a harmful staph
bacteria that is resistant to
commonly used antibiotics
and may cause skin and
other infections, pg 12
Feza Kikaya
Managing Editor
Greetings my beloved
Spelman community! The
Spelman Spotlight has once
again been resurrected from
the dark pits of structural de
spair and is back in business!
While some of you may be
relieved to hear this, others
of you may be surprised that
Spelman College actually has
its own newspaper. Whatever
your reaction, we assure you
that the Spelman Spotlight
is here to stay. The Spelman
Spotlight has served as a voice
for the Spelman community
for decades, and we intend to
keep the Spelman Spotlight
around for generations to
come.
Contrary to rumors, the
Spelman Spotlight has in
fact been active over recent
semesters. Since its shift in
management three years ago,
the newspaper has undergone
inconsistent leadership, which
ultimately resulted in the loss
of foundational aspects es
sential to the progress of the
newspaper. While we were
successful in producing an
issue last spring, we found it
necessary to cease production
and solve structural issues
before proceeding with the
construction of the Spelman
Spotlight.
Nevertheless, we are hap
py to announce that after meet
ing with Spelman faculty and
staff, the Spelman Spotlight is
back in action. Furthermore,
the Spelman Spotlight staff is
eager to ensure that the voice
of the Spelman student is
heard. With all of our technical
issues behind us, we are happy
to bring forth this April issue
to the Spelman community.
While we have received
numerous applications and
expressions of interest from
Spelman and Morehouse
students alike in joining the
newspaper, we, want to inform
you that all positions have
not been filled. Thus, if you
have always been interested
in joining the newspaper staff,
or if you simply have an in
terest, we encourage you to
apply. We do not require our
applicants to have any prior
journalism experience, as we
are willing to train our fellow
Spelman sisters that have the
desire to continue the Spelman
Spotlight’s legacy. We have
committed individuals, such
as Spelman Spotlight alumnae,
that are eager to assist students
in establishing the skills nec
essary for them to be effective
membersof the staff.
Our vision is that the
Spelman Spotlight will once
again serve as the tool in
which students may express
their thoughts and concerns
regarding whatever matters
are pertinent to them and the
broader AUC community. We
welcome artists, writers, copy
editors, photographers, and
layout specialists, as well as
those interested in the business
side of producing a publica
tion, such as publicity, distri
bution, and advertisements.
While we are delighted
that the Spelman Spotlight is
up and running, we cannot
stress enough that without a
committed staff, the newspa
per will inevitably fall apart.
During our hiatus, there were
many that questioned the
whereabouts of the newspaper,
and some even attributed the
Spelman Spotlight’s absence
to be the fault of the editors.
However, during our time of
difficulty, few inquired as to
what she could do to assist.
If you would like the Spelman
Spotlight to serve as a means
of communication and expres
sion on the Spelman College
campus, then it is imperative
that you involve yourself. It
is because of the passion and
dedication of certain individu
als that we are able to put forth
this issue.
To those of you that are
weary about how much auton
omy you will have to truly ex
press your content or discon
tent with Spelman, we assure
you that the Spelman Spotlight
will not and is not required to
censor its submissions. After
all, we are a newspaper, and
freedom of expression is our
constitutional right.
Students who would like
to join the Spelman Spotlight
should express their interest
by contacting the staff at spel
manspotlight@gmail.com.
Additional contributions made
by Editor-in-Chief Demetria
Patton.
SSGA Hosts ( A Dream (Not) Deferred’ Campaign
WHITNEY SKIPPINGS-DUPREE
Spelman students draft letters for the campaign.
Spelman Sister,
In early February, Dr. Tatum
delivered a presentation regarding the
financial future of Spelman College.
During the presentation, it became
clear that the economy would have
a severe and extended impact on our
institution. In light of a projected $4.8
million shortfall, we were informed
that some programs and activities will
be discontinued. However, Dr. Tatum
stressed that any resulting cuts would
not reduce the quality or integrity *of
our beloved college. For the 2009-
2010 academic year, we will no longer
have the OSETC office, the freshman
success program, the children’s dance
program, the continuing education
office, the Education Department, and
supplementary funding for the Marian
Wright Edelman Center.
Your Spelman Student Government
Association (SSGA) is very committed
to serving you and will continue its
track record of providing financial
assistance. Last semester we
collaborated with Aramark to offer 16
full semester Meal Plan scholarships.
We have also given away eight True
Blue Book Awards. As a result of our
collaboration with Aramark and our
increase in the number of True Blue
scholarship recipients, we are pleased to
announce that we will be giving away a
total of 24 scholarships- totaling more
than $25,000. In addition, we recently
launched “My Sisters’ Closet,” which
provides free business attire to eligible
Spelman students.
In addition, SSGA has decided to
take a large percentage of its budget
and place it into an emergency fund
entitled, “A Dream Not Deferred.” The
concept for this fund is similar to Dr.
Tatum’s Starfish Initiative. However,
the monies from this fund will prioritize
first years, sophomores and juniors.
While we think it is important to ensure
that students who make it to senior
year receive the financial assistance
necessary to graduate, we also think it
is important to ensure that the dreams
of underclassmen are not deferred.
It is our hope that by redirecting the
funds of the SSGA back into Spelman
College through providing financial
assistance to its students, we will
combat our economic shortfall and
keep our sisters in school.
The current economy poses
difficulties for all institutions of higher
education. For example, Rosemont
College, an institution for women,
will become co-ed next year as a direct
result of the economy. Dr. Tatum has
ensured us that Spelman’s
future as an institution for
women is secure. She is
working to raise more
money for her Starfish
Initiative, which reduces
the college’s debt. But,
our work does not stop
there.
On March 25, SSGA
hosted “A Dream Not
Deferred” letter-writing
campaign, which allowed
the students of Spelman
to tell their stories and
to send those stories to
potential donors. It is
our hope that we will be
able to reach the hearts of
alumnae and others and
inspire them to donate
to Spelman College. By
working together, the
Spelman community will emerge from
this difficult period stronger than ever.
Yours in Service,
Miriam Archibong,
President, SSGA