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mm® w mtoms i ; : Student Film Showcase Spelman students tackle controversial topics in independently produced student films ■ i 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 m 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.