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October 2013 SpelmanPaper@gmail.com
PRESIDENTIAL Corner
The State of Spelman College:
Standing Strong in the Storm
By: Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum, President
On Oct. 3, following the unexpected resignation
of Howard University president, Dr. Sidney Ribeau,
the Wall Street Journal featured an article about
the financial struggles of many HBCUs following
the Parent Plus Loan debacle entitled Loan Curbs
Leave Black Schools in Peril. To the uninformed
reader, it would seem that every Historically Black
College and University (HBCU) is on the verge
of financial ruin. While it is true that as more
families have been denied access to loans through
the U.S. Department of Education’s Parent Plus
Program because of the government’s use of more
stringent credit criteria and many HBCUs have
seen a dramatic drop in enrollment as a result,
some institutions have been able to weather this
storm and remain strong, moving forward with
confidence and optimism for the future. Spelman
College is one of them.
Why am I so optimistic about the future
of Spelman? A primary reason is because the
demand for a Spelman education remains strong.
Talented women from across the United States and
around the globe are applying in record numbers,
and our classrooms and residence halls are full.
They recognize that dedicated Spelman faculty and
staff provide a uniquely empowering environment
that places women of African descent at the center
of the learning experience, not on the margins -
an education without barriers for a future without
limits!
While I know that financial aid is a concern
for many of our current and future students, we are
committed to helping as many students as we can
find the resources needed to successfully graduate
from Spelman. Through vigorous fundraising,
we have been able to provide some additional
assistance to students who have been caught
in the Parent Plus loan credit crunch. Indeed,
since 2002, we have been
able to more than triple our
scholarship support from
less than $5 million each
year to now more than $15
million annually, and we
have expanded the staff of
our scholarship office to
help students in their search
for outside scholarships as
well.
Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum
Another cause for optimism is the
commitment and loyal support of our accomplished
alumnae. Soon hundreds will be back on campus
for Homecoming festivities, not only celebrating
with their AUC friends, but also joining with
their classmates to make contributions to the
College. Spelman women are helping us set a new
fundraising record as we get closer and closer to
our campaign goal of $150 million!
Even in the face of the worst economy in
our lifetimes, our alumnae and friends continue
to invest in Spelman College. It is the success
of the Spelman Campaign that has helped our
scholarships to grow, provided opportunities for
more than 275 Spelmanites to travel internationally
last year, supported new faculty positions and
strengthened academic programs, allowed for
renovations of Laura Spelman Hall and the 24-hour
academic resource center it houses, and soon a
new and improved Read Hall.
Are there challenges facing higher
education? Absolutely, but in the tradition of
our founders Sophia Packard and Harriet Giles,
Spelman College is rising to meet them with
confidence in the present and faith in the future,
always striving to be “nothing less than the best”!
ABOUT
Chief Editors
Ko Bragg, Editor-in-Chief
Ayanna Runcie, Managing Editor
Jasmine Ellis, Associate Editor
Raquel Rainey, Copy Editor
Business Team
Marti Crowe, Advertising Manager
Danyelle Carter, Public Relations Manager
Section Editors
Houston Scott, Fashion & Beauty
Analisa Wade, Arts & Entertainment
Alexis Dulan, Domestic & International News
Courtney King, Campus Life
Erin Gloster, Campus Life
Tyler Lee, Business & Finance
Taylor Curry, Food & Drink
Adrian Thomas, Opinions
Jordan Daniels, Religion & Spiritual Life
Thanks to all of our contributing, staff, and
How to Reach Us featured wnters '
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PERSPECTIVE
Without Consent:
International & Domestic Rape Culture
By. Ayanna Runcie C’2015
Rape has become socially acceptable in
American culture and the culture of the Atlanta
University Center (AUC). Both classify as rape-
prone cultures, or cultures where instances of
rape recur. American culture, in addition to other
patriarchal cultures throughout the globe, allow
men to punish or threaten women through acts
of sexual violence without severe punishment or
societal disparagement.
Tanisha Jarvis, a junior Anthropology and
Sociology major who is currently conducting
research on the Normalization of Rape Culture
throughout the AUC, explains that in collectivistic
communities, a woman’s sexuality often brings
pride or shame to the entire community.
“If you look at our patriarchal society, when a
woman steps out of a submissive role or a man
wants to exert his power over a woman, he will
rape her,” Jarvis said.
Many scholars believe that rape is also used
as a way to maintain patriarchal power. University
of Pennsylvania Anthropology professor, Peggy
Reeves Sanday, argues that rape is even often
encouraged and perpetuated throughout American
society.
“Watching their buddies have sex is
another favorite activity in rape-prone campus
environments,” Sanday says in her article entitled
Rape-Prone Versus Rape-Free Campus Cultures.
“A woman is targeted at a party and [fraternity]
brothers are informed...they certainly don’t seek
her consent to being watched. It is assumed that
if she came to the house party she is prepared for
anything that might happen, especially if she gets
drunk.”
Through extensive research, Sanday has found
that men often attempt to get women drunk so that
it is easier to have sex with them. Subsequently
men use the woman’s drunken state to justify the
rape and declare that it was her fault that she was
so drunk.
Rape against women has proven to be
exceptionally prevalent on college campuses. The
National Center for Injury and Prevention has
recorded that 37.4 percent of female rape victims
were first raped between ages 18-24, college age.
19 percent of undergraduate women experience
attempted or completed sexual assault since
entering college.
Statistics from the National Center for
Injury Prevention and Control for the year of 2012
show that nearly 1 in 5 (18.3%) of women and 1 in
71 men (1.4%) have experienced rape at sometime
during their lives. Six percent of men and 13
percent of women reported that they experienced
sexual coercion at some time in their lives.
Many times students blame the victim who
survived sexual assault and give the male the
benefit of the doubt. When discussing recent
instances of rape in the AUC students have said, “it
was her fault that she put her self in that situation”
and “she probably wanted it” and “what if she is
lying?”
The stigma and social
backlash that victim-
survivors of rape often
experience, discourage
many women from seeking
justice and cause many
women to feel shameful,
incomplete, and helpless.
“After I was sexually Tanisha Jarvis c’2015
abused as a child, I was
completely confused and angry” Jarvis said. “I
didn’t have an outlet and didn’t think I could speak
out about it.
“However, when I came to Spelman, I would
see other women speak about their experiences
during Denim Day and began to share my own.
When I started to speak about my experiences,
many people would come up to me and say, ‘I’ve
been through this too.’ This helped me realize the
magnitude of sexual violence and gave me the idea
to create a peer group.”
Jarvis recently started a peer group for
survivors of sexual violence in the AUC, called The
Survivors Network. It is a safe space where girls
can heal, talk about their experiences, and reclaim
their power.
Through The Survivors Network, Jarvis
wants to help victim-survivors build positive
self-consciousness, promote self -love, and help
young women discover who they are without being
influenced by external factors throughout society.
The Survivors Network also focuses on bringing
about awareness of sexual violence throughout the
AUC.
Rape is something that has become normative
in the AUC, and in the greater international
community. Rape can be used as a means to bring
shame to a targeted group of people in instances
of war.
According to President Obama, the use of
chemical weapons in Syria “crossed a red line.”
America almost declared war on Syria to prevent
the Syrian government from using chemical
weapons on its civilians. Aside from the inexcusable
use of chemical weapons to kill innocent people,
thousands of women and children are being raped
in Syria as a weapon of war.
“Where do we draw the red line with rape
warfare?” said CNN correspondent Lauren Wolfe in
response to the recent prevalence of rape warfare
in Syria.
Rape has been used as a weapon in countless
wars and battles as a mechanism to exert power and
control over people and communities. More people
need to be educated about violence against women
and take personal accountability in combating the
prevalence of violence against women. As Jarvis
eloquently states, “rape is not just a women’s
issue, it’s a human rights issue.”
Note: Email pjarvis1@scmail.spelman.edu to
join The Survivors Network. Anyone can join.
Safety During Homecoming
By: Jordan Daniels C’2016
Homecoming is an exciting time on campus
when students are able to relax, have fun, and
participate in events, such as the Homecoming Step
Show and the Coronation Ball. With all of the fun,
sometimes the concept of “safety first” is forgotten.
With alumni, friends, and families on campus,
safety is extremely important.
According to National Public Radio (NPR), at
least 1 out of 5 women will be sexually assaulted
during their college years.To determine how students
from Spelman and Morehouse College felt about
sexual harassment during Homecoming, I posed
the following question: “Do you think Homecoming
provides the chance for female students to be taken
advantage of?”
“Yes. With the presence of alcohol and drugs,
females’ defenses are lowered,” said Jahbril
Armstead, junior at Morehouse College.
“Most definitely,” Sabrina Rodgers C’2016 said.
“If a woman is intoxicated, some men will use it as
an excuse to try to take advantage of her.”
Ebony Worrlest C’2014 and Eddie Bradley III,
junior at Morehouse College disagreed.
“Women make their own decisions,” Worrlest
explained. “The way a woman may dress invites
advances. This is not an excuse for men but
be cautious and aware of how you are carrying
yourself.”
Bradley believes that only the students who put
themselves in those types of situations, are the ones
who get taken advantage of during Homecoming.
“[It’s] not most students,” he said.
Sexual harassment is a problem that remains
prevalent among colleges across the nation. No
matter the motive behind the crime, it is never a
woman’s fault if she is targeted and victimized.
Homecoming is the time to have fun, but it is also
important to remain safe and aware.
Follow the tips below to increase your safety:
• Always travel in groups.
• Drink responsibly (and legally).
• Be around people you know you can trust.
• Remain aware of your surroundings.
• If you feel uncomfortable try to remove
yourself from the situation.
To report a crime or incident, call local
authorities at 911 then contact Spelman Public
Safety at (404) 525-6401.