Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

%• The BluePrint SpelmanPaper@gmail.com Nov/Dec 2013 For a complete listing ot events taking place at Spelman College, check the Student Life and Engagement section of Spelman.edu Oates, times and locations may change without advance notice. CAMPUS LIFE & Events Who Let The Dogs Out?: Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Probate By: Erin Gloster C2015 Students, alumni, friends, and family joined outside of Morehouse College’s Kilgore Campus Center to watch as 14 men of Morehouse participated in arguably the one of the most important moments of their lives thus far. Dressed in army fatigue and gold painted boots, the F.A.T.A.L. 14 stomped out of the U-Haul truck (usually called “Q-Haul” during probates) and into the center of the circle of the eager audience. That night, the fourteen men pubiically introduced themselves as the newest members of the Bloody Psi Chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated. The chilly night air filled with a putrid smell and constant barking meant only one thing: the Atlanta University Center needs to prepare for a new addition to the yard. The F.A.T.A.L. 14, in true Omega Psi Phi fashion, put on an amazing show. With a combination of hopping and reciting of the history, the Omega neos showcased their dedication to the fraternity. Ending the probate by gathering in a circle and singing their fraternity hymn, “Omega Dear”, the F.A.T.A.L. 14 depicted a brotherhood like no other. Spotlight on Spelman Professors Novel in Honor of Novel Month By: Dedra Mitchell C2014 In honor of National Novel Writing Month, The BluePrint would like to pay homage to one of Spelman College’s very own novelists, Dr. Tarshia Stanley. In August, Stanley, who uses Carolina Knight as her pen name, published her first novel, The Book of Ephesus. The following interview provides a little insight about Dr. Stanley’s process and what she hopes readers will take from her premier novel. Tell us about your novel and where your inspiration to write it came from I teach a Sunday school class and I really like the literature and the references that are in the Bible. One of my strategies for teaching, because I teach adults, is to get them to think about how would those stories look today. The novel is inspired by the Bible’s book of Hosea, where a priest marries a prostitute and it’s a demonstration of God’s love for Israel. I just started thinking about what would that look like today. Then of course, I started thinking about what would it look like if the priest were a woman, and how would that play out if this woman who had dedicated her life in a particular way, all of a sudden is responsible to her community, people had great expectations for her and then she met someone whom those people didn’t agree with. Which would she choose? In many ways I think it might be reflective to many women of color who sometimes have more education than a lot of their partners might, and thinking about how much of a difference that might make. Even though, for my protagonists Cornelius and Ephesus it’s not about a difference in education. It is about the difference in their lifestyles. I was teaching Representations of Women in Literature, and one of my students asked me did Black women write books that had happy endings? And I looked at my syllabus and I thought ‘I certainly don’t have anything on here that has a happy ending.’ I really started thinking about that and I accepted it as a challenge to really think about how can you tell a deep story that has many lessons and nuances, but may also have the opportunity to make you feel good. How was your writing process? [I write] whenever I’m not working so it took me seven years. I love to write when it rains, so I used to only write on Friday nights if I was home and it was raining. That’s why it took me so long. Then I realized I had to develop a new strategy. I couldn’t just write when I was in the mood. I had to create the mood at all times. I couldn’t just wait for the optimal writing mood to hit. What would you like readers to take from your book? “ just hope they have a good time. I hope they fall in love with the characters. As Cornelius and Ephesus fall in love I hope they do too and go on that journey with them. I hope it brings back memories. It very much has many of the memories I have as a child growing up in a very small town in North Carolina and having people be all in your business, and really be invested in who it is you’re going to be. I also hope that for people who haven’t had that kind of experience that it might provide some possibilities in terms of the kind of communities they want to build and the ways they want to interact with other people. Dr. Stanley hails from Four Oaks, North Carolina and is an associate professor and chair of Spelman’s English department. The Book of Ephesus is available online via Amazon, Kindle, Nook and Ibooks. In addition to making sure you get your copy of The Book of Ephesus, also check out some of these other great novels. Holiday Reads Sister Souljah The Coldest Winter Ever Paule Marshall The Chosen Place, The Timeless People James McBride The Color of Water William Faulkner Light in August Ayn Rand Atlas Shrugged Suzanne Collins The Hunger Games Bapsi Sidwha Cracking India Ralph Ellison Invisible Man Maryse Conde I, Tituba Black Witch of Salem Joseph Conrad Heart of Darkness Sharon G. Flake The Skin I’m In F. Scott Fitzgerald The Great Gatsby Earl Lovelace The Dragon Can’t Dance Alice Walker The Third Life of Grange Copeland Purebred Poodles: Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Probate By: Courtney King C2015 On the chilly night of October 17, 2013, five glamorous poodles—decked in black dresses and heels, blue scarves, and gold hats—introduced themselves as the newest addition to the “Exceptional” Epsilon Eta Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated. These glamorous poodles are Lashon Blackwell, Elizabeth Jenkins, Lisa Carter, Briana Hill, and Brandy Edmondson. The Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. probate was full of cheers, balloons, and posters as friends, family members, and fellow AUC Greek fraternities and sororities showed their enthusiasm and love for the five ladies. All five women were in synch as they recited the sorority’s history from memory and stepped out to introduce themselves before receiving a line jacket. Their movements and precision showed the crowd why the Epsilon Eta Chapter is exceptional. The neos impressed the members of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. with mesmerizing shimmy dedication. The Kappa men better watch out because these women gave them a run for their money. Based upon their performance at the probate, it looks as if the newest sorority members of SGRho are a force to Kq \A/i+h Maroon Tiger Body Issu By: Jasmine M Stripping away the layers of uncertainty, Morehouse and Spelman students brought a transparent perspective on body image in The Maroon Tiger. The issue titled, MT Body Issue included both Morehouse and Spelman students who shared their stories of how they overcame obstacles and learned to love themselves regardless of the opinions that the media and society portray. Receiving both national and local attention from various media outlets such as EPSN, which originated the idea of the Body Issue, and Black Entertainment Television. While ESPN’s publication of the Body Issue served as inspiration behind the MT Body Image issue, The Maroon Tiger’s edition took a different angle for the Atlanta University Center (AUC) community, was a difference in the angle that was presented to the AUC Community. “It was great to see an issue that focused on body image and healthy self-image, as this has been a personal peeve of mine that the ESPN Body Issue does not cover,” said Tiffany Solomon, senior English major. It also sparked conversation about African-Americans on body image that had been absent from dialogues. A topic of conversation that the African-American community refrains from speaking on has influenced dialogue amongst students in the AUC such as Educational Studies Major, Alicia Cole-Quinlan C’2016. “This conversation is important to discuss because of the relevance it bears, particularly in the AUC Community,” Cole-Quinlan said. “So many college students in this community have body images and do not care to share them. “Those brave individuals that shared their stories are trailblazers and catalysts for social change in this community of college students. This issue has helped to spark conversation about body image and issues concerning body image, which is a good thing. Hopefully this issue has helped to address these issues, and create a sense of community around the topic of body image, and allow students to feel more comfortable about themselves. I learned that this issue is extremely prevalent in the AUC.” As Cole-Quinlan points out, this topic is very relevant among students in the AUC. Review i. Ellis C'2015 However it is still not usually talked about amongst the male population. In this issue, Morehouse students decided to be honest about sensitive topics including eating disorders and self-acceptance. Biology major, Delanie Jones C’2016, took notice of this fact when reading the issue. “This conversation is important because at an early age, most of us were constantly reminded that we were different because of our skin color,” Jones said. “Before I came to college, I thought that coming to an environment like Spelman and the AUC was a gateway to acceptance. “I soon realized that as people of African descent, we continue to find things that separate rather than unite us. Before reading the Body Issue, I knew that men struggled with body image, but not nearly to the degree in which it was expressed in this paper. I know that body image is important to everyone. But it is more important to focus on health as a way to gain self-satisfaction as opposed to seeking the approval of society.” Psychology major, Emma Jackson C’2015, was featured in the issue. She shared her personal story of questioning her own image as it relates to her career path. Reflecting on sharing her truth and the stories that were told in the Body Issue, a specific segment of the publication spoke volumes to Jackson. “I loved the fact that it gave people an opportunity to move outside of their comfort zone,” Jackson said. “Students were able to tell their stories about their own bodies which can help others in the AUC about their own view of body images. My favorite piece of the issue was the two pages that show how molly and alcohol can affect the body.” While the issue has gained popularity throughout the AUC, there have been critiques on the issue. Throughout the years, hair has become a prevalent subject of debate in the African-American community, but the Body Issue did not include much about it. “There is nothing that I disliked. However, it would have been nice to see more about hair,” Jones said. “There were students who spoke about locks and being bald, but straight hair, natural hair, relaxed hair, and weave are definitely things that we factor in to our perceptions of beauty, too.”