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Student Film Showcase
Spelman students tackle controversial topics in
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Founders Day Senior Profiles
Spelman celebrates 129 years of cultivating educated women since its The Spotlight highlighted 9 seniors who have made a lasting impression
during their undergraduate years
May 15,2010
founding in 1881
page 4
page 10
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The Spelman
SPOTLIGHT
The Voice of African-American Womanhood Since 1957
Volume 43, Issue 3
Ambassador Susan E. Rice Selected as Commencement Speaker
By Cherise Lesesne
News Editor
As the senior class anxiously prepares for the
bittersweet moment when they walk across
the stage with their caps and gowns, they will
also be awaiting a charge, a lasting message
that they can take with them as they begin a
new phase of their lives after Spelman. This
year Ambassador Susan E. Rice will give the
commencement message.
The Senior Class Council, faculty and SSGA
have been organizing the commencement
celebration since the beginning of the fall
semester. From selecting a place for the
commencement ceremony to take place to
printing the program, the commencement
committee has worked diligently all year long
to make commencement weekend a success.
One major aspect of the commencement
planning is selecting a commencement speaker.
After several reviews and nominations,' the
Class of 2010 selected Ambassador Susan E.
Rice to impart words of wisdom to the class as
they prepare to begin their post-undergraduate
journey.
In choosing the commencement speaker,
the Spelman community works arduously,
reviewing biographies and appointing
prospective candidates. Starting early in
September, faculty, the SSGA and the
Senior Class Council begin the process of
receiving recommendations from the Spelman
community, including members of the Class
of 2010, in order to find the best suited
candidate. For several members of the class,
First Lady Michelle Obama was the obvious
choice for the commencement speaker.
However, with the high demand from other
universities and colleges to have Obama as
their commencement speaker, Obama was
unable to grant Spelmans request.
The recommendation for Ambassador
Rice did not come from within the Spelman
community, but from Obama herself. When
she declined Spelman’s offer, she suggested
Spelman College
Spelman seniors wear Spelman blue tassels to commemorate their Seplor Legacy Gift to the College on Founders Day.
Ambassador Rice as the commencement
speaker. Rice currently serves as the United
States Ambassador to the United Nations and
is a member of President Obama’s cabinet.
The Senior Class Council and
commencement committee voted on Rice and
other qualified candidates. Ultimately, Rice
received the nomination and her candidacy
was forwarded to the Board of Trustees for
official approval and recommendation.
Rice is well suited to be the commencement
speaker, primarily because of her life
long commitment to global peace and her
impressive academic background.
“As Spelman becomes more involved
globally, Ambassador Rice seemed to be a
wonderful choice because of her involvement
with the United Nations and her efforts toward
global development,” states Topaz Sampson,
senior class president.
Rice started her involvement in government
and global affairs as a foreign policy aide to
Michael Dukakis during the 1988 Presidential
Continued on page 12
Spelman’s Board of Trustees Enact New Policies for Spelman
By Kelly Harper
News Editor
This semester the Spelman College Board of
Trustees convened to address recurring issues,
such as fundraising and air conditioning, in
addition to developing policies to respond to
recent events such as campus security after the
death ofjasmine Lynn and to confirm honorary
de gree recipients for commencement.
“The board’s major focus was to discuss
the College’s Capital Campaign, a campaign
created in an effort to raise $150 million for
the College,” said Christina A. Whatley,
student trustee. “Thus far the campaign has
raised $84 million, a little over 50 percent of
the ultimate goal.”
The board has a 100 percent participation
rate for the giving to Spelman College,
including both the faculty and student trustee.
In response to College giving, the board has
noticed a significant increase in alumnae
giving, a problem the College has faced in the
past.
In light of recent tragic acts of violence
within the Atlanta University Center,
the board advocated for increased safety
measures for Spelman’s campus. The board
supported plans to expand bus service for
Spelman students to reduce the amount of
walking around the surrounding community,
especially at night. This includes continuing
to improve the services offered by the Brawley
bus to the library. New safety measures were
also discussed, including the approval of a
Sunday bus service to the Kroger grocery
store. The board also emphasized the need to
increase safety patrol around the College and
surrounding areas.
Air conditioning the dorms on Spelman’s
campus has been a priority of the board for
over the past decade and is an issue of high
student interest. With mounting pressure
from students, the board has been working
on the issue for a substancial amount of time
and the issue has been included as part of the
college’s strategic plan. To address the issue
the board has established a comprehensive
calendar for completion of the project.
“Funding has already been secured for two
Continued on page 2
Interest Spikes in Student Affairs Position
By Toni Cannady
Staff Writer
The Spelman Student Government
Association held interviews for its primary
appointed positions for the 2010-2011
academic year shortly after elections.
However, there was one position that was a
new to the list - Secretary of Student Affairs.
This position is traditionally an elected
position; a position that students campaign
for, creating elaborate posters, slogans and
speeches to persuade the student body to elect
them. However, this year no one choose to
run for the position, an indication that gives
light to a growing concern amongst many
current students. Fewer and fewer students
are showing interest in pursuing leadership
positions on campus, especially in SSGA.
The opening of this position left many
students wondering why no one had chose
to run and the absence of a candidate made
the SSGA elections less dynamic and in some
ways incomplete. The lack of overall interest
during the election season has many students
wondering about the future of SSGA in the
coming years. This is not only a concern
for SSGA as a lack of interest was evident
among the class councils. Only three first-
year students ran for positions on Sophomore
Class Council, which has 13 positions
available. Lizze McGowan, the Sophomore
Class Council President 2010-2011 ran
unopposed.
Interestingly, while no one ran for the
Spelman College
The Elections Commission created an election display in Upper Manley.
position of Secretary of Student Affairs, many
students applied, including students who ran
for SSGA positions and were defeated. The
SSGA ultimately selected Stacy Mason, a
junior, English major from St. Louis, Missouri^
Mason did not run for a previous position.
Mason previously served as co-publicity chair
for Miss Spelman Advisory Board, and in her
position she worked to enhance the Court’s
visibility on campus.
“Stacey is a dynamic
leader, someone who
inspires people by her
example; we chose
her because she was
the candidate who we
felt would be the most
personable, inspiring,
and efficient,”
said Kelly Harper,
Secretary of Academic
Affairs 2010-2011.
Yet, the question
still remains, if
so many students
were interested in
applying for the
position, why were
they so uninterested
in running in the
election? Is the feat
of running a campus
wide campaign too
stressful for some
students?
Many of the
candidates who applied for the position found
the campaigning process to be daunting and
nerve-wracking. Running for an* elected
position isn’t easy and takes a great deal of
courage. In addition to the great expense of
a student’s time and finances, student's are
constantly under scrutiny by their peers. The
debates are arguably the most intimidating
aspect of campaigning as students are probed
207 Seniors leave
their legacy
By Briyyah McClain
Staff Writer
The Class of 2010 raised the largest
monetary gift made by any class of
matriculating students in recent years at
Spelman College. Through their innovative
“Senior Legacy Gift campaign, the
Senior Class Council asked each senior to
donate twenty dollars and ten cents to the
College. While they did not expect 100%
participation from the entire class, they did
expect for those who could give to make the
much needed investment.
“I do understand that some seniors
may not be able to make such a financial
contribution to the College at this time.
Thus, it is my hope that this program
inspires all seniors to carry with them the
idea of how important it is to give back to
Spelman as we transition into alumnae who
will soon be in a position to give back,” says
Morgan Williams member of the senior
class and president of The Power of Ten, an
initiative under the Office of Institutional
Advancement, the wing of the College
aimed toward increasing alumnae giving.
Continued on page 2
with questions from current SSGA members
and the student body. While the debates are
meant to be professional, the lines between
personal and professional are often blurred.
Regardless of the qualms one might have
about running, it is important to keep in mind
that every position on the SSGA Executive
Board requires its members to work
closely with administration and students.
Assertiveness and courage are required to
deal with challenges and pitfalls that may
occur throughout the year and confidence
is needed to approach students about SSGA
initiatives.
The Secretary of Student Affairs position
is vital to the fluidity of Spelman’s student
body as it is the position that handles student
complaints and suggestions, in addition
to coordinating activities that enhance the
Spelman experience, primarily socially. Iva
Stewart-Barre, Secretary of Student Affairs
2009- 2010, provided a thorough platform and
set of initiatives when she ran for her position
last year, and it was her interpersonal acumen
that led to her to victory as SSGA President
2010- 2011. One of Stewart-Barre’s major
initiatives as Secretary of Academic Affairs
was her SSGA sponsored trip to Six Flags
in fall 2009. This trip allowed almost 100
students to attend the amusement park for
free, as well as have a free meal. Nevertheless,
Stewart-Barre’s enthusiasm and work in the
position did not encourage students to run.
The SSGA Executive Board rather than the
students body chose who they felt would best
fulfill the position; and it is the hope of many
students that she is the right choice.