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4 . ,x a -v My “Special” Valentine 6 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 Alysha Phanord IniliK I Sh** the Black PPPPp! mm Crime Statistics Abpwtited tommA Auto That! Drug itemA. Lm emy iuritory WtMeh Uratny MMm Girl Said... 48 ▲ *1 t,m% 80 ▲ *§tM2 % i V *%»m% m ▲ # tf js % 11 W «n4*% 81 W %M % U ▼ %M % 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 MI 'motmmtmt m 2M2 City of Atlanta, GAMtfanta Polim Dop*f1m«nt 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.