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4f* The BluePrint
SpelmanPaper@gmail.com October 2013
For a complete listing
of events taking place at
Spelman College, check
the Student Life and
Engagement section ol
Spelman.edu
Dales, times and locations
may change without advance
notice.
CAMPUS LIFE & Events
The Griot:
A Look Inside Past Homecomings
By: Dedra Mitchell C’20i4
There is no denying that
Homecoming presents the
glorious opportunity to indulge
in a myriad of festivities, but it is
also a time of reflection. Each year
alumnae from around the nation
re-enter the gates of Spelman
College to celebrate the present
and future, while honoring and
cherishing a remarkable past. This
edition of the Griot is focusing on
past homecomings.
Homecoming 1999’s theme,
Timeless, exemplified the essence
of the SpelHouse family. The 1999
homecoming package reads,
“This year’s theme, Timeless,
serves as the perfect underscore
for the ageless traditions of
connectedness, fellowship, friendly
competitiveness, and unwavering
support that is unique to Spelman
alumnae and Morehouse alumni.”
Class of 1971 ’s Miss Maroon
and White, Janet Lane, was
stunning when she graced the field
with Howard University’s Miss
Gridiron to be presented with the
game ball. In the class of 1971 ’s
yearbook, Reflections 1971:
Dignity Femininity Pride, a lovely
quote lends some insight on Lane.
“The coronation of a queen, a
Black queen. Here is the essence of
Black pride, dignity and femininity.
Here is a Black woman.”
A 1993 homecoming magazine dedicated to
Miss Spelman and her Court titled Black Butterfly
shared uplifting words from the original 1984 song
by Deniece Williams. “Tell your sons and daughters
what the struggle brings. Black Butterfly set the
skies on fire. Rise up even higher so the ancient
winds of time can catch your wings... Write your
1993 Miss Spelman, Marla Faye Fredrick
timeless message clear across
the sky. So that all of us can
read it and remember when
we need it, a dream conceived
in truth can never die.” 1993’s
Miss Spelman, Marla Faye
Fredrick, looked marvelous in an
intricately beaded gown shown
in the photograph. In a letter
to the Spelman community
Fredrick stated:
“Spelman queenship is a
reflection of a people with hope,
promise and commitment. It is
all of us working together for
the betterment of ourselves
and our community. Spelman
sisters, continue to strive for the
excellence that lies within you
allowing the queen that is within
all of us to radiate.”
Thecountlesshomecomings
that have paved the path for this
year’s homecoming are worthy
of our acknowledgment and
appreciation. The rambunctious
spirit of homecoming is an
ingrained entity of the Spelman
experience that will remain
present long after we have
parted ways with Spelman Lane.
Thus, it is imperative for us to
leave our future Spelman sisters
with something amazing to
reflect on, as our alumnae have
done for us.
Additional informationaboutpasthomecomings
are conveniently located at the Spelman College
Archives in the Camille Olivia Hanks Cosby, Ed. D.
Academic Center on the second floor.
1971 Miss Maroon & White, Janet Lane with
Howard’s Miss Gridiron
Clark Atlanta University Homecoming Review
By: Jillian Wade, C2015 and. Briar Davis, C’2016, Clark Atlanta University
Clark Atlanta University’s count down to
homecoming began right after the homecoming
tickets went on sale Tuesday Oct. 1.
During the homecoming reveal on Sept.
26, CAU uncovered the It Was All Dream theme,
inspired by legendary hip hop artist the Notorious
B.I.G. CAU prepares a week full of events for the
students starting Sunday Oct. 20 with the “Black
Out” at the freshmen quad.
“The Black Out activity is suppose to boost up
the first year students’ spirits about homecoming”
said Armani Martin, Homecoming Media Relations
Director. “We want the students to have a sense
of what to anticipate throughout the week of
homecoming.
“The theme is suppose to describe everyone’s
feeling after the week is over with. We want the
students to share many unbelievable memories
after homecoming is over.”
Questions are going up in the air, about what is
going to happen with the hip- hop concert on Oct.
21 at the Forbes arena. Before the performers were
announced, students discussed who they expected
to perform.
“I’m looking forward to the hip hop show
because I would like to know who’s going to be
there,” First-year Kadizja White said. “I’ve never
been to a college homecoming.”
Homecoming weekleadsupto the homecoming
football game. This year the CAU Panthers gear
up to play the Albany State University Rams. The
Rams are also apart of the SIAC (the Southern
Intercollegiate Athletic Conference). Rams and
the Panthers both share a 1-4 season record. The
Panthers have hope that they will defeat the Rams.
“We have a very good chance in beating them
[the Rams],” Running Back, Antonio Ford said.
“We have prepared ourselves for this game all
season, hopefully we can bring in another ‘W’ for
our homecoming game.
If all goes well, the week of Oct. 20 through
the 27 will really be a dream-like experience.
Miss Maroon-and-White in the Spotlight
By: Christiauna Draper c’2015
Soon to be crowned Miss Maroon-and-White,
Jasmine Walker is an Atlanta native and a senior
Psychology major. Her platform, At my Best, focuses on
managing healthy lifestyles, making healthy decisions,
and maintaining healthy relationships. In support of
the health initiative, she
will host an event entitled
#NoFilter in spring 2014.
This event will serve to
examine the impact that
behaviors and decisions
have on peoples’ lives.
Every decision a person
makes, including dietary
consumption and choosing
friends—impacts the individual as a whole. This event will
raise awareness on STDS, efficient exercising, suitable
eating habits, favorable relationships, and effective ways
to relieve stress.
But what is Miss Maroon-and-White without her
court? Serving as Second Attendant to Miss Maroon-and-
White is Taphaphene Young. She is a senior, Psychology/
Pre-Dental major from Richmond, Va. Her platform,
Smiles For the Future, is an initiative that serves to help
children with cleft lip and palate. She plans to host an
AUC talent show entitled Talent Voyage in order to raise
money for Operation Smile.
Serving as First Attendant
to Miss Maroon-and-White
is Timme Mackie, a senior
International Studies major
from Detroit. Her platform,
Violence Prevention and Gun
Awareness, will be used to
organize a community uplift
event.
With homecoming right
around the corner, Miss Maroon-and-White and her court
are ecstatic about Coronation.
“We are most excited about Coronation and getting
crowned on Oct. 25th,” Walker said. “We are earning more
than just a title. We are receiving more opportunities to
serve our community and we love to showcase our love
for Morehouse College and the AUC as a whole!”
Organization Watch
Afrekete
formerly founded as the Lesbian/
Bisexual Alliance in the mid 90s was
formed to provide a foundation
of support for Spelman women
who expressed interest in lesbian/
bisexual alliance. Our mission is to foster understanding
and denounce the perpetuation of stereotypes associated
with being lesbian or bisexual in and around the Spelman
community. In 1998-99, Afrekete experienced constant
opposition by the Spelman Community. This included
ridicule from the students and the administration refused
to support or sponsor any alliance that would foster
a haven for those practicing same-sex or bi-sexual
preferences. That year, we chose to no longer identify
the group as Lesbian and Bisexual Alliance due to the
safety of students and because many did not feel safe
participating on campus. As of now, we are rebuilding
and re-branding to let students know that we are here for
them and have resources to help them if need be.
Students interested in joining Afrekete should attend
general body meetings every other Thursday. Meeting
dates for this month include Oct. 24th at 7pm in Cosby
in the Women’s Research Center. For more information
please contact us at scafrekete@gmail.com.
Afrekete is presenting the Coming Out Monologues
on Nov. 14 at 7pm in the Science Center Auditorium. It
is a production for LGBTQA students to share, perform,
and tell their coming out stories or stories about their
identity and experiences as a queer person or an ally
of the LGBTQ community. This will be Afrekete’s and
Spelman’s first coming out monologues. As Afrekete is
striving to make Spelman a more inclusive campus, the
Coming Out Monologues will be one of the many steps
it takes to do so.
A group of about 30 Spelman and Morehouse
students including members from S.K.I.R.T.S., Air-Force
ROTC, and Army ROTC volunteered at a “Duathalon”
called Route 2 Change on Oct 12. Volunteers woke up at
6 a.m. to station around bike route, which went through
inner-city Atlanta. Participants in the “duathalon”
completed a 5k run followed by a 15-mile bike ride and
then another 5k. It raised money for prevention of sex
trafficking.
WOW Priceless is in the process of forming an
e-board. Next month they plan to do social media
campaigns as well as a candle light vigil.
“Long term, my main goal is to get a mentorship set
up with a safe house,” said Gillette, one of the directors
of WOW Priceless. “We want to go out and teach them
how to become independent while having fun."
To get involved contact the directors at:
wowpriceless@gmail.com.
Girls Going Global
is an organization
and social enterprise that
promotes travel to inner-
city girls by exposing
join 0,0
WOW Priceless
“Strengthening the fight to end
child sex trafficking”
Atlanta is in the top 14 cities
in the United States to have a
problem with sex trafficking.
Atlanta also has the highest sex
trafficking rate in Georgia.
Moved by those statistics, LaDarrien Gillette
C’2016 and Camille Henderson C’2015 are working on
a sex-trafficking awareness campaign to emphasize the
overwhelming amount of child sex trafficking that occurs
in Atlanta. Both are interns at a non-profit called Youth
Spark located in the Juvenile Justice Center in Atlanta,
which deals with prevention for child sex-trafficking.
them to the cultures of the world. It was founded in 2012
by a Spelman alumna, Martice Sutton, who graduated
from Spelman in 2011 with her B.A. in International
Studies and a concentration in International Business.
Having traveled extensively throughout the world,
Sutton wanted to give back to her community of West
Philadelphia, P.A. in a way that would better position
African-Americans to be more active in international
affairs and foreign policies. She wanted to make girls go
global.
Through her Passport to the World Summer
Program, a month-long weekend program that exposes
African-American girls to world culture through food,
language, religion, and daily life, and the Girls Going
Global Travel camp which had its first stop in Canada
this summer and Summer 2014 will be held in Costa
Rica, Sutton is certainly on her way to increasing global
awareness in the African-American community.
The Girls Going Global Spelman Chapter was
formed in May to uphold Sutton’s vision. It is working
in conjunction with The BluePrint until it can operate as
an RSO. The Spelman chapter has 3 initiatives for this
semester:
• Modeled after Sutton’s GGG Passport Scholarships,
we aim to raise enough money to support a Passport
Scholarship for 3 Spelman students. In order for anyone
to “go global,” she or he has to have a passport.
• “Champions Rally”
• Establish Relationship with local girls school to
continue exposing youth to travel.
If you want to get involved please contact us at
gggspelman@gmail.com. For more information visit
girlsgoingglobal.org.
Journey to the Crown
Miss Spelman & Her Court
By: Ayanna Runcie, C’2015
Joi Crenshaw, Marissa Robinson, and Anita Salley,
who will be crowned Miss Spelman, 1 st attendant, and
2 nd attendant respectively, let their vibrant personalities
shine in the 2013-2014 Miss Spelman pageant this past
spring.
Ever since they witnessed When and Where I Enter
at Spel-bound 2010, the members of the 2013-2014
Miss Spelman Court aspired to represent the Spelman
community.
“At When and Where
I Enter, I said ‘yes, look
at this royalty, they are
beautiful,”’ Robinson
said. “They exemplified
everything from beauty,
class, poise and they
were student leaders. It
just made me say ‘wow,
I really want to be on the
Miss Spelman court.’”
Now since that
dream has come into
fruition, all three women
are very enthusiastic
about everything the
crown entails.
“The thing I look
forward to the most is being called upon to represent
Spelman,” Crenshaw said. “That is one of the major
things that called me to the job because I love Spelman
so much.
“One of the things I admire most about Spelman is
that it gives young black women a chance to be the center
of attention. [Spelman] gives us a great foundation to be
a great competitor in the larger context. [Spelmanites]
will be ready for any career because Spelman breeds
wonderful leaders- the world better watch out!”
In addition to being the faces of the Spelman College,
Miss Spelman & Court will execute three major platforms
to enhance the Spelman and greater Atlanta community.
Although most of the events will be executed in the
spring, the three women have already started executing
their platforms through community service initiatives in
collaboration with Mr. Blue & White and his court.
Crenshaw’s platform is entitled Let’s Save the
Children. Through this platform, she will work with
different agencies to educate the community about
children who have been mentally, physically, or sexually
abused. For one of her platform events, she plans to
have experts come and talk to the Spelman students and
faculty.
“I specifically chose children because they cannot
necessarily advocate for themselves,” Crenshaw said.
“But that isn’t to say that
I don’t recognize that
these things also occur
on our campuses, so I
think it will be good for
our school community
as well.”
Robinson’s platform
is entitled Dare to Be
You: The Fight Against
Medical Stigmas. As
someone who has
experienced medical
hardship, Robinson
wants to be an inspiration
to her Spelman sisters
who have dealt with
health disparities.
Salley’s platform is
entitled Becoming Your Best Self: Total Wellness, Mind,
Body, and Spirit. She wants to use this platform to add
support to Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum’s Spelman Wellness
Revolution. Salley is the embodiment of her platform and
will be able to talk about health and wellness from her
personal experience.
By the end of their reign, Miss Spelman and her
court hope that they will have motivated, inspired, and
left a positive impact on their Spelman sisters.
As Miss Spelman, Crenshaw’s message to her peers
is that you do not have to come into Spelman knowing
everything and you do not have to be in every organization
to be successful.
“Who would have thought that with the path I chose
at Spelman, I’d even be a competitor for the crown, yet,
it greatly worked out in my favor,” Crenshaw said. “Even
if you don’t have all of the pieces, sometimes you have to
reach for things anyway.”