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4 ii * The BluePrint %• 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 ' 350 Spelman Ln SW, Atlanta, GA 30314 Email: spehnanpaper@gmail.com Gather ’Round l or A Cun Of joy Cameroon Boyo™ Arabica CoJPee www .a m a racoff ee.ee > m • > • rr* rl», mi lit (Jr K jwhtO.hwfl MmIL t Wllua «!ll 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.