THE BLUEPRINT:
A S p e l m a n S p o t l i g h t P u b l i c at i o n Vol. 2, No. 5
Intellectual Framework for the Freethinker
April/May 2015
Recap: 2015 Black Girls Rock! Awards Show – p.B2 Women Have #NoCeilings – p.B3 An Open Letter To Spelman College – p.B4 Gender and Professionalism – p.B6 Girl Code: The Locker Room – p.B7 Walk A Mile In Her Shoes – p.B8
A Look at What’s on the Commencement side: Dr. Tatum Photo Collage – p.A3 Letter from the 73rd SSGA President – p.A3 Spotlight: Valedictorian and Salutatorian of the Class of 2015 – p.A4 Letters from the Editors – p.A5-A6 Spelman College Appoints 10th President – p.A7 Interview With Dr. Schmidt Campbell – p.A7 What Will Spelmanites Be Doing This Summer? – p.A8 Notes From Your Little Sisters – p.A8
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ARTS &
Entertainment
Recap: 2015 Black Girls Rock! Awards Show By: Danyelle R. Carter, C’2016, Integrated Marketing and Communications Manager
BET Networks and BLACK GIRLS The event occurred in conjunction ROCK! Inc. welcomed First Lady Michelle with Women’s History Month and was coObama to her first BLACK GIRLS ROCK! hosted by actresses Tracee Ellis Ross and awards show on Easter Sunday, April 5, Regina King, who helped celebrate the 2015. The star-studded event took place accomplishments of women of color in at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. education, social justice, music, literature BLACK GIRLS ROCK! is a multifaceted and film. movement dedicated to shifting the More special than having the culture of media images and empowering most prominent “Black girl that rocks” women and girls. BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Inc. take center stage, First Lady Michelle builds the self-esteem and self-worth of Obama also spoke at the event. Obama young women of color by changing their celebrated the beauty, power and tenacity Recap: 2015 Black Girls Rock!while Awards Show outlook on life, broadening their horizons of Black women spreading her own and providing tools for By: Danyelle R. Carter C’2016, Integrated Marketing and Communications Manager self-empowerment and efficacy, according to blackgirlsrock.com. As part of the First Lady’s “Reach Higher” initiative, she delivered remarks about the value of education. The televised Via: ronemycolumbusmagic.files.wordpress.com special celebrated its fifth Networks and BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Inc. welcomed First Lady Michelle Obama to her first year honoring the triumphs of BET inspirational of education for girlseventattookBLACK BLACK GIRLS ROCK! awards message show on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2015. The star-studded place at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. African-American women who are GIRLS ROCK!, an annual event honoring BLACK GIRLS ROCK! is a multifaceted movement dedicated to shifting the culture of media images and empowering women and girls. BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Inc. the self-esteem and walks trailblazers in the areas of art, philanthropy, trailblazing women ofbuilds color from all self-worth of young women of color by changing their outlook on life, broadening their horizons sports and community service.and providing tools for self-empowerment of life. and efficacy, according to blackgirlsrock.com. part of the First Lady’s “Reach Higher” she delivered the value Honorees included NewAseducation. York City “Noinitiative, matter whoremarks youaboutare, noof matter The televised special celebrated its fifth year honoring the triumphs of inspirational African-American women who are trailblazers in the areas of art, philanthropy, sports and educator Nadia Lopez, principal of Mott where you come from, you are beautiful,” community service. Hall Bridges Academy inHonorees Brooklyn; Obama told the crowd. “I am so proud of included New York City educator Nadia Lopez, principal of Mott Hall Bridges Academy in Brooklyn; actresses Cicely Tyson and Jada Pinkett-Smith; singer Erykah Badu; and film director actresses Cicely Tyson and Jada PinkettMy Image husband, your Motion president, Ava DuVernay, whose Selma you. won the NAACP Award for Outstanding Picture; and is so D. Gayle, M.D., president and CEO of CARE USA, a humanitarian organization. Smith; singer Erykah Badu;Heleneand film proud of you. We have so much hope and The event occurred in conjunction with Women’s History Month and was co-hosted by actresses director Ava DuVernay, whose Selma won forcelebrate you.” Tracee Ellis Ross and Regina dreams King, who helped the accomplishments of women of color in education, social justice, music, literature and film. the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Sisterhood was the spirit of the More special than having the most prominent “Black girl that rocks” take center stage, First Lady also spoke atevening, the event. Obamaevident celebrated the beauty, power and tenacity of came Motion Picture; and HeleneMichelle D.Obama Gayle, when Obama Black women while spreading her own message of education for girls at BLACK GIRLS ROCK!, an annual event honoring trailblazing women of color from all walks of life. M.D., president and CEO of CARE USA, a on stage to close the show with all humanitarian organization. the honorees.
Via: ronemycolumbusmagic.files. wordpress.com
A Look at What’s Inside:
The BluePrint
Women Have #NoCeilings Jasmine M. Ellis C’2015, Co EditorInChief
CAMPUS LIFE &
Current Events
Women Have #NoCeilings L-R: Kempson, Wells, Dorsey and Clinton speaking on women’s entrepreneurship.
By: Jasmine M. Ellis, C’2015, Co Editor-In-Chief
Clinton Foundation Vice Chair, to imagine what we can’t see,” Clinton in downtown San Francisco. “We—for the past two years—go out Chelsea Clinton, and CEO of Square and said. “I think one of the challenges for all Chairman of Twitter, Jack Dorsey, hosted a women and for women of color has been every Friday and for 30 minutes around conversation on women’s empowerment at an imagination gap, that we haven’t had our neighborhood and we pick up trash,” Spelman College on April 6th. In addition, enough role models who have started Dorsey said. “We have about 200-300 CEO of Buzz Marketing, Tina Wells, and businesses and have blazed trails… for people participate on the weekly basis. We pick up about 200-300 lbs of trash Co-Founder of Endulge Cupcakes, Cherita the rest of us.” Spelman students across academic ...We need to make sure that we’re not Kempson joined Clinton and Dorsey in LR: Kempson, Wells, Dorsey and Clinton speaking on women’s entrepreneurship. disciplines, career interests and only providing tools for the community, the dialogue. The event titled, No Ceilings, focused classifications attended the event. but we have to actually be a part of our Clinton Foundation Vice Chair, Chelsea Clinton, and CEO of Square and Chairman of on the importance of women being Jasmine Payne, C’2015, aspires to work community as well.” India Hester, C’2015, aspires to work involved in entrepreneurship, innovation in public policy specifically focusing Twitter, Jack Dorsey, hosted a conversation on women’s empowerment at Spelman College on for the U.N. in foreign policy with economic on economic development for and technology. Clinton addressed the th April 6 . In addition, CEO of Buzz Marketing, Tina Wells, and CoFounder of Endulge development in underdeveloped countries. reasons why women and girls should have impoverished communities. Cupcakes, Cherita Kempson joined Clinton and Dorsey in the dialogue. “The conversation between Chelsea “I appreciated that the event access to technology. was tailored for Spelman as they Clinton, Jack Dorsey and other panelists “We know that, when women have The event titled, No Ceilings, focused on the importance of women being involved in the same access to technology as men, specifically visited Spelman to encourage stirred up the Spelman College community they entrepreneurship, innovation and technology. Clinton addressed the reasons why women and are 30 percent more likely to start entrepreneurship and inform us, as change as a whole to break the barrier of women, girls should have access to technology. a business,” Clinton said. “And they are agents, of some opportunities that need especially Black women in corporate America, Science Technology Engineering 90 percent more likely to look for and find leaders,” Payne, an English major said. “We know that, when women have the same access to technology as men, they are 30 Dorsey shared how important it is and Math (STEM) fields, and journalism a job.” percent more likely to start a business,” Clinton said. “And they are 90 percent more likely to Clinton continues to explain why even for entrepreneurs to have a heart of field,” Hester said, an International morelook for and find a job.” women of color are needed in the service. As the CEO of Square, Dorsey Studies major. arenas of business and entrepreneurship. makes sure that his company stays Clinton continues to explain why even more women of color are needed in the arenas of “I think it’s really hard for all of us committed to helping its local community
business and entrepreneurship.
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www.spelmanblueprint.com April/May 2015
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An Open Letter To Spelman College
Spelman Sisters
By: Synclaire Butler, C’2017
Dear Spelman Community, support from both Spelman and Morehouse with patriarchal, misogynistic, and phallus I will begin with a disclaimer: this as institutions. based characteristics. is not my letter of attack or my way of I have not remained silent in the least For years, Spelman has allowed bashing Spelman College. I have found bit, but perhaps I have not been vocal Morehouse’s male Title IX investigator to Dear Spelman Community, amazing sisterhood and my roots of my enough. Therefore, this letter is demanding decide whether or not Spelman students own feminism belong here. This is my my voice to be heard. letter of concern, exhaustion, and disdain The letter I received I will begin with a disclaimer: this is not my letter of attack or my way of bashing for my institution’s way of so readily from Morehouse Spelman College. I have found amazing sisterhood and my roots of my own feminism conforming to policies that do not have its is egregious in the daughters in mind. least bit. It is a prime belong here. This is my letter of concern, exhaustion, and disdain for my institution’s My motivation to finally compose example of victim way of so readily conforming to policies that do not have its daughters in mind. this letter comes from recently receiving blaming that many a formal My motivation to finally compose this letter comes from recently receiving a “request to rescind” my criminal victims of sexual formal “request to rescind” my criminal trespassing order that was sent to the police chief trespassing order that was sent to assault experience the police chief of Morehouse College in this society. of Morehouse College from their office of student conduct. I received the criminal from their office of student conduct. Although I attend an trespassing order as a consequence of reporting an instance of sexual assault I I received the criminal trespassing all black women’s experienced on Morehouse’s campus. Once any victim comes forward about her attack order as a consequence of reporting college, where we an instance of sexual assault I experienced continuously study she is immediately given a criminal trespassing order. on Morehouse’s campus. Once any the oppressions victim comes Criminalization of victims is a very prevalent feature of rape culture, a culture that forward about her attack that aim to maim blatantly festers in the Atlanta University Center (AUC). Starting from the day I reported she is immediately given a criminal the progression of trespassing order. women and strive my assault I have experienced victim blaming, excuses for the perpetrator, and a lack of Criminalization of victims is a to eradicate the support from both Spelman and Morehouse as institutions. very prevalent feature of rape culture, idea of black women a cultureI have not remained silent in the least bit, but perhaps I have not been vocal that blatantly festers in the being absent in Atlanta University Center (AUC). Starting times of resistance, enough. Therefore, this letter is demanding my voice to be heard. The letter I received from the day I reported my assault I I still find myself from Morehouse is egregious in the least bit. It is a prime example of victim blaming that have experienced victim blaming, suffocating in an many victims of sexual assault experience in this society. Although I attend an all black excuses for the perpetrator, and a lack of environment filled
women’s college, where we continuously study the oppressions that aim to maim the progression of women and strive to eradicate the idea of black women being absent in
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who experienced sexual assault will get to go to trial, and if granted a trial, the victim is still forced to go up against a jury board made up of Morehouse students. Although Spelman has claimed that these policies will be changed, until this “changed” information is available to the public, I will still speak out about the archaic ways Spelman and Morehouse handle sexual assault cases. Several of my sisters have confided in me about the ways in which their cases have too been handled, one sister who was given a trial in which her rapist was found guilty, also shared how her attacker was only assigned a small number of community service hours. Another sister, who reported being raped in Nov., did not have her first meeting with Morehouse’s Title IX coordinator until midMarch. Yet, another sister, who was raped by someone who is Greek, was told by Morehouse’s Title IX coordinator that she should “be careful before going up against a Greek organization,” as if she was accusing the whole fraternity for raping her instead of an individual. The rape culture in the AUC discourages victims from coming forward and permanently alters the healing process of transitioning from a victim to a survivor. You all may be wondering why I wrote this letter. What do I want? How do I think the process should be like moving forward? My response to these questions is that I want to encourage other survivors to share their stories. I also want support from the Spelman community, and a change in the investigative process, because it is my belief that Morehouse is
About Title IX: - Title IX a landmark federal civil right that prohibits sex discrimination in education. - Title IX does not apply to female students only. - Your school must be proactive in ensuring that your campus is free of sex discrimination. - Your school must have an established procedure for handling complaints of sex discrimination, sexual harassment
operating in a way that is directly in violation of Title IX because of Spelman’s choice to conform to their policies. I have attached my letter from Morehouse so that you too can get a glimpse of the way in which the AUC handles rape culture. In my opinion, the ways in which my case and my sisters’ cases of sexual assault were handled shows the limited effort of the administrations in the AUC to combat rape culture. I refuse to be silent, I refuse to be meek, I refuse to sit back and watch my sisters become victims and I refuse to be a part of any injustices. I will continue to march, write, and speak out against sexual violence. I find it very necessary to remember that we were all Spelman sisters before we had Morehouse brothers. The day we accepted our acceptance into Spelman College is the day we gained thousands of sisters, and we are our support and our strength. Sisterly, Synclaire Butler C’2017 Comparative Women’s Studies
and Sociology / Anthropology Double Major Note: The thoughts and opinions expressed in this piece are the author’s own. They are not necessarily those of The BluePrint staff. We support the development of freethinkers in the collegiate atmosphere.
or sexual violence. - Your school must take immediate action to ensure a victim can continue their education free of ongoing sex discrimination, sexual harassment or sexual violence. - Your school may not retaliate against someone filing a complaint and must keep a victim safe from other retaliatory harassment or behavior. - Your school can issue a no contact directive under Title IX to prevent the accused student from approaching or interacting with you.
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- In cases of sexual violence, your college is prohibited from encouraging or allowing mediation (rather than a formal hearing) of the complaint. - Your college should not make you pay the costs of certain accommodations that you require in order to continue your education after experiencing violence. For more information on Title IX visit knowyourix.org and www.spelman.edu/title-ix
www.spelmanblueprint.com April/May 2015
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Opinions Gender and Professionalism
Gender and Professionalism By: Sofia By: Sofia Walton C’2018, Fashion and Beauty Section Editor
Walton, C’2018, Fashion and Beauty Section Editor
via Getty Images
With the strides made in gender equality over the last century, a professional setting like the office is supposed to be gender blind. However, there are inherent double standards that are always going to exist in the workplace, so there a few precautions that a young career woman should take: 1. Stay in your comfort zone. If your boss invites you out T:11” for dinner with a few guys from theS:10.5” office, go. But don’t
force yourself into conversation that you are not interested in. If you don’t feel comfortable talking politics with your work buddies, there’s nothing wrong with listening politely. 2. Act appropriately. When at the office, behave like your grandma is shadowing you at every moment. When having a private meeting with your male boss, don’t close the door.
continued on page B7...
via Getty Images
With the strides made in gender equality over the last century, a professional g like the office is supposed to be gender blind. However, there are inherent le standards that are always going to exist in the workplace, so there a few utions that a young career woman should take: 1. Stay in your comfort zone. If your boss invites you out for dinner with a few guys from the office, go. But don’t force yourself into conversation that you are not interested in. If you don’t feel comfortable talking politics with your work buddies, there’s nothing wrong with listening politely. 2. Act appropriately. When at the office, behave like your grandma is shadowing you at every moment. When having a private meeting with your male boss, don’t close the door. Also, keep in mind the Stretch out and relax in our wide, comfortable dress code of the office, and try to dress more conservatively than not to avoid unwanted attention. Even though, theoretically, your seats, plug in your laptop and get some work dress should be no reflection on your professionalism, not all the done, or just enjoy the scenery. Amtrak makes knuckleheads at the office are guaranteed to have gotten the memo, getting there a breeze, so you can arrive ready so dress conservatively. 3. Be confident. Your speech, posture, and body language are all for fun and adventure. And with the Student subconscious indicators of how in charge you are. Remember: if you Advantage Card, you get 10% off on most believe, they’ll believe, so even if you’re not naturally a more Amtrak fares all year round. Learn about this dominant person, there’s no shame in faking it until you make it.
YOU’RE GOING PLACES – GET THERE THE SMARTER WAY!
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T:8.5”
and other great discounts at Amtrak.com. Amtrak — Enjoy the journey.
HEALTH & Wellness
Girl Code: The Locker Room By: Jordan Watters, C’2015, Sports Section Editor
Girl Code: The Locker Room By: Jordan Watters, C’2015, Sports Section Editor
“I just established that I was not a lesbian and had no curiosity or intentions of experimenting,” Mitchell said. “All of my teammates respected my choice.” Both Banks and Mitchell agreed that there was a universal girl code in the locker room: respect. “My only thing was mutual respect: if you respect me, then I’ll respect you,” Banks said. There is indeed a culture in women’s basketball that embodies sisterhood and passion for the game, which are both fueled in the locker room. It is one that if often overlooked and misunderstood. “If you have good teammates and a fun team, then being in the locker room is fun,” Mitchell said. “That’s your time to bond and act any way you want to. But definitely what happens in the locker room, stays in the locker room.” The time has come where respect should not only be the girl code, but the world code.
subconscious indicators of how in charge you are. Remember: if you believe, they’ll believe, so even if you’re not naturally a more dominant person, there’s no shame in faking it until you make it. 4. Set boundaries. There’s nothing wrong with keeping things professional. Often times, women feel the need to accommodate everyone, like running out to lunch with coworkers, when you’d rather sit at your desk and watch cat videos on YouTube, or meeting your boss for after work drinks,
when you honestly don’t feel that comfortable doing so. Set boundaries, your coworkers will respect you for it at the end of the day because it shows that you are comfortable enough with yourself to not allow yourself to be taken advantage of.
via http://sait.usc.edu/
associated with athletes, especially female athletes. The most common one being the assumption that girls who play sports are members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ) community. Spelman senior Amber Banks has played basketball since the age of 4, playing one year for the College, and identifies as bisexual. Growing up, Banks played multiple sports including soccer, softball, and flag football. “I was judged a lot when I was For most athletes, the locker room younger and was called a tomboy,” Banks via http://sait.usc.edu/ is a safe haven to convene in privacy, said. “There were also times when people retreating from the outside world. It questioned my sexual orientation.” t athletes, the locker room is a safe haven to convene in privacy, retreating from the However, the sexual orientation is a place of peace in preparation for world. It is a place of peace in preparation for competition, celebration in victory, and in defeat. amongst athletes is no different than noncompetition, celebration in victory, and athletes. It is simply diverse. nd closed doors, outsiders never really know what takes place inside. Why? Because isolation in defeat. ppens in the locker room, stays in the locker room. Georgia State junior Morgan Mitchell But behind closed doors, outsiders has also played basketball for many never really know what takes place inside. years, and identifies as heterosexual. She Why? Because what happens in the locker never felt the need to create boundaries room, stays in the locker room. Oftentimes there are stereotypes among her teammates who differed in sexual orientation.
...continued from page B6 Also, keep in mind the dress code of the office, and try to dress more conservatively than not to avoid unwanted attention. Even though, theoretically, your dress should be no reflection on your professionalism, not all the knuckleheads at the office are guaranteed to have gotten the memo, so dress conservatively. 3. Be confident. Your speech, posture, and body language are all
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Keep it simple at work because at the end of the day, you want to be respected and admired for your work ethic and confidence, not for how much gossip you bring to lunch.
www.spelmanblueprint.com April/May 2015
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Opinions Walk A Mile In Her Shoes
via flickr creative commons
By: Jasmine Payne, C’2015, Contributing Writer
Down the hill and beyond the pearly gates [of Spelman College] we find the begotten, but forgotten West End. The West End has been the home of strife and incubator of grief for decades and the struggle persists today. When we walk outside of the gates we see people holding signs for donations, people sleeping in sleeping bags, people asking for someone to buy them a plate of food. Though we may be afraid to approach them, the constant theme is people. Those who are asking you for help are people just like you. It is easy to pass homelessness off as something that is distant from us. After all, in a sense most of us have multiple homes as we move from our dorms to our family’s homes and keep our belongings in both spaces. However, to others, their room at Spelman or for some commuters the car that they live in is the only space they have
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via flickr creative commons
to lay their heads in between classes. Taking the time to look passed the veils of our comfort we may notice that we have struggling people all over this campus, inside this sisterhood, under the same covering of Spelman as us. There are people here that go ‘home’ to their cars or to a shelter. It is hard to accept, but it is true that people at Spelman are struggling. Though our situations may not be the same, these people share the same classifications as us. In light of how close these issues are, how do we walk by the disenfranchised every day? The gates have holes that can be interpreted as bars from the outside. Keys could be shaped by the iron we sharpen each other with, but instead we walk by and accept it. We nurture apathy. We breed contempt. We must not normalize people sleeping on streets or starving from
hunger. No one volunteers to be a pothole, yet these people get ignored like they are the fowl part of the street that people go out of their way to avoid. When did people get reduced to holes as if they lack something? We must remember the trials that produce our precious pearls; the spit of a clam. Beauty comes from something we consider loathsome. A small grain of sand irritates the clam and after a period of time the pearl is formed. The once passed over clam is valued because of the expensive treasure it holds. The next time you hear about a trial among you, see a hungry person, or even see your Spelman sisters struggling, just think, maybe that shell is holding a pearl in them that you must be human enough to see. Do not refuse to see it because of her/his shell.
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