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My “Special” Valentine
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Amiri Lampley forum'Writer
With Valentine’s Day right around
the corner, the anxiety coupled with wish
ful thinking can be sensed within the air. A
new year has come with new resolutions that
have most likely already fallen through the
cracks, and yet, many singles still hold on to
the hope of finally finding that perfect Val
entine mate this year. It is true, no one wants
to be alone. But the idea of having a Val
entine for one day of the year and nothing
more, leaves a lot of open ended questions.
What happens after Valentines Day? Where
do we go from here? And most importantly,
what exchange comes from getting that cute
cuddly teddy bear? Is it worth it for a mo
ment of companionship?
Valentine’s Day comes and goes,
and as a nation we give it more credit than
need be. Hundreds of dollars spent on candy
and stuffed furry woodland creatures, gift
cards and over priced Hallmark sentiments.
Facebook showcases a mass of Valentine’s
Day statuses as friends anticipate who could
be potential “one-date mates” for such an
important day. For stable relationships,
Valentine’s should only reaffirm the love that
is already there, but even still, simple acts
of love should be shown all throughout the
year. Figuratively speaking, it seems that we
singles are the ones who get our panties all
in a bunch for one love hurling weekend.
Literally speaking, some of us ladies seem to
completely forget those same much needed
undergarments in return of a candlelit meal.
In our younger years we worried
about our “boyfriends” breaking up with
us the week before Valentine’s because they
hadn’t saved up enough of their allowance
to purchase a gift. Now, the price of a dozen
roses, if that, often comes with us putting a
price tag on our virtue that should be in
valuable. Sometimes we even start to ques
tion our own identity, and ask the all too
popular question “Is something wrong with
me?” Valentine’s Day can be very significant
to some and even warp us in a tragic state
where we wallow in our lonesome and soli
tary depression.
I think it is safe to say that all the
commotion over “xoxo’s” is slightly over
rated. If only we could come up with some
thing comforting to do on “single-awareness
day” that doesn’t involve men bashing and
eating ice cream, singing classic love songs
or living vicariously through the heart
wrenching romance between Ryan Gosling
and Rachel McAdams in the tear jerker, The
Notebook. We should be looking for more
than an exchange of gifts for Valentine’s.
Crime Never Sleeps, Neither Should Safety | The Awkward
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If you were ever to browse the Spelman’s Health & Safety page
on the College Prowler website, you would notice that the general
consensus, of those students who commented on the website, was that
they felt safe while on campus. Spelman’s health and safety averaged an
“A” grade. The only crimes committed on campus, according to College
Prowler, were 20 burglaries. This may seem like a lot, but with over
2,000 students attending Spelman, it is actually quite the feat. How
ever, how many students live on campus?
I live off campus, and I remember one situation when I had to
arrive on campus before the AUC began operating for the day. I had to
walk from the Marta station to campus, by myself. All I kept thinking
was that I was going to get robbed or worse. I clutched onto my bag
and made what seemed like the longest trek known to woman. And of
course, there was a person following me, almost the whole entire way.
Is it enough just to guard and gate Spelman’s campus? Is send
ing out patrol cars enough? It doesn’t seem to be. Not when we still re
ceive weekly emails of off campus crimes. While drug arrests, burglar
ies, vehicle larceny, and robberies have gone down in the 30314 area
since last year, aggravated assaults have increased more than 17%, auto
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theft increased more than 81%, and larceny 60 %.
My question is this: Are Spelman police doing absolutely ev
erything that can be done to protect us? The Library shuttle comes on
campus, and has stops throughout the West End, that can take you to
the Library and MARTA station (West End and Vine City). Brawley
Escorts are also available, in which a Public Safety Office will escort
you to and from the library. Shuttle On Request has the Spelman
Shuttle drop or pick you up at the West End MARTA, Robert Wood
ruff Library, and Spelman Parking Deck. There are procedures created
to keep Spelmanites safe. Sometimes it’s about utilizing those options
and planning accordingly.
At the same time, many students go out past midnight, when
most of the travel options end. What about their protection? They are
left vulnerable. Although they choose to go out, that does not mean
they deserve to be any less protected.
Crime is a fact of life. Where there are rules, there are people who will
follow and others who will break them. So talk to Public Safety more
about your travel options and some helpful travel tips to guarantee the
protection you need.
Thi
Mit
ten
r l. Dont quote me on
r did it become acceptable to wear bon
nets and scarves in the Cafe?
' 2. Don’t quote me on this, but does anybody
really know where our tuition money is going?
3. Don’t quote me on this, but do they HAVE to
'mow the lawn every day??
1 4. Don’t quote me on this, but when did we get hawks on
this campus??
r 5.1 do not understand why laundry prices have increased in the
' dorms from a dollar to a dollar and ten cents.
r 6. Don’t quote me on this, but were they really not allowed to cross
through the promenade?
^7. Don’t quote me on this, but can we really not walk on the
rrass?
Don’t quote me on this, but too many Spelmanites can
relate to the “Things that Spelmanites Say” video
). Don’t quote me on this, but everyone has definite
ly tried to get their roommate to swipe their I.D
kcard for convocation.
^10. Don’t quote me on this, but did she re
gally run through the arch while playing
lanhunt?
Don’t
Quote Me
on This
“Don’t quote me on this but...” is
the Spelman Spotlight’s premiere
section of expression. With short
statements, questions or comments
conveying how students at Spel
man College truly feel, there is no
doubt that freedom of speech is the
prevalent. Of course confidentiality
is key, so feel free to add you very
own opinion by emailing one of the
Spelman Spotlight Staff Members or
the editor-in-chief via: kevansl4@
scmail.spelman.edu.
Kamron Taylor
YouTube sensations, The Awkward Black
Girl and Sh** White Girls say to Black
Girls have gained an increased amount
of attention amount the YouTube culture.
The videos and portrayals speak to the
overwhelming masses of black women
who tend to test the stereotypical bound
aries lain out by society. The messages
outlined by each series speak to their
audiences about the type of black female,
customarily overlooked by the media, but
still prove themselves prevalent in today’s
culture.
The Awkward Black Girl follows “J” a
girl in her early 20s. Through the course of
her daily schedule, she runs into situations
that would make anyone uncomfortable
but viewers wonder why she get’s so sin
gled out so frequently. Simply, looking for
someone who understands her, she falls in
like when a guy at her job who only likes
her lighter complexioned boss. We see her
deal with situations like these in a manner
most difficult, but also in a fashion that
the media tends not to highlight or recog
nize. However, many African-American
women have been able to identify with
J’s struggle and appreciate the alternative
form of the black female being portrayed.
That is to say, an African-American
female with a job, goals and morals who
has to deal with her predominantly white
counterparts is refreshing to see on televi
sion.
With respect to Sh** White Girls say to
Black Girls, the series illustrates many of
the awkward and uncomfortable situa
tions experienced by black females who
don’t fit the customary stereotypes. With
questions like “can I touch you hair?” the
series shows many of the difficult situa
tions African-American women deal with
amongst the Caucasian majority, many of
whom are their friends and close associ
ates.
These videos have gained both a pow
erful and positive response amongst the
African-American community and have
a tendency to correspond with African-
American male struggle. I find it both
positive and encouraging to see videos
like these upheld by social media because
there is more to African-American’s than
chains and gold teeth.