NO. 2 VOLUME XXXIX MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2008

THEBennett BANNER The Newspaper Produced by and Published for the Phenomenal Women of Bennett College, Greensboro, North Carolina

Campus Happenings

Bennett College SGA is sponsor-

ing a day of “Civic Engagement”

Nov. 4. The day will begin with

“Marching to the Polls“ where

students will meet on the Chapel

steps at 9 a.m. and proceed to

Reid Memorial AME Church. The

rest of the day will be followed

by community service.

Bennett looks to expand sports program

Bennett administration plans to incorporate soccer, volleyball, softball, and golf into the College’s athletic program due to a survey con-ducted by Student Affairs. There has been much anticipation on Bennett’s campus for other recreational sports in addition to basket-ball. According to Associate Provost of Student Affairs, Dr. Stanley Viltz, obstacles in-clude finding coaches, meet-ing league requirements, and finding local courts for teams to practice, such as a track for track and field. “We want the best for Bennett and sports are a

By Myeisha EssexBanner Staff

REFORM continued on Page 8

Students unhappy with fi-nancial aid -- its availability, ap-plication process and eligibility requirements -- have yet another factor to consider on Election Day. Sens. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) both plan to reform the financial aid system but have different priorities. Both presidential candidates want to simplify the system and lower the financial burden on families, but they differ on the specifics. Obama has focused on new plans, including the introduction of a refundable tax credit toward higher education and the elimination of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Meanwhile, McCain is pushing to eliminate the reliance on federal loans and consolidate existing aid programs and ap-plications. A key feature of Obama’s plan is creating a fully refundable tax credit that will ensure the first $4,000 of a college education is “completely free for most Americans,” according to his Web site. The credit would be contingent upon the comple-tion of 100 hours of community service per year. Some students say this require-ment would not deter them from participating in the program.“No money is free money,” Uni-versity of Maryland senior kine-siology major Sarah Easterwood said. “There’s always fine print in everything, but if there really was a chance to do community service to help fund college - I did 100 hours to graduate high school - I would definitely do it. With something like that, you’re giving back to the community. It’s a win-win.”

By Marissa LangU-WIRE

Bennett Belles make their way to Morehouse College

Miss Bennett College 2008-09, Janine Quarles, and Mr. 1873, Johnny McKethan, wave at the crowd during Morehouse College’s Homecoming halftime show. Belles made an annual trip to Morehouse College in Atlanta, Ga. Oct. 24 to support Miss Bennett College and her Royal Court during Morehouse’s Homecoming weekend.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SIERRA MORTON

high priority because of the need for physical activity and recreation for students,” said Viltz. Potential sports teams will start as clubs so administra-tion can see if students are se-rious about the commitment and practices. If dedication is shown, Student Affairs will take the necessary steps to include Bennett in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). “Sports are very important because they give students confidence and motivation that they can use not only on the court, but also in the classroom,” said basketball team captain Nicole Miller, a sophomore business admin-istration major. Basketball is currently the

only sport on campus. The Lady Belles basketball team’s first game is a home game against Roanoke College on Nov. 4 at 6 p.m.

“I am very excited for the upcoming session and ready to beat Spelman for the fourth time,” Keley Smith said. Smith is a junior, elementary educa-tion major, and has played for Bennett since her fresh-woman year. The team is lead by Head Coach John Williams and As-sistant Coach Toya Davis. “Basketball season is my fa-vorite time of the school year, because it brings school spir-it,” former Bennett basketball player Chenique Bonds said.The Lady Belles basketball season is scheduled to end in February 2009. “We have new players with potential and dedication, and I am confident Bennett will end on top this season,” Miller said.

Candidates proposefinancialreforms

“We want the best for Bennett and sports are a high priority because of the need for physi-cal activity and recreation for students.” -Dr. Stanley Viltz

International Education Week

is Nov. 17--21. The week’s activities will include a Study

Abroad panel, Phi Beta Delta

International Honor Society

inductions, and an international

film screening.The Southern Association of

Colleges and Schools will visit

Bennett College’s campus Nov. 11--13 for a reaffirmation as-sessment of accreditation.

THE BENNETT BANNER - SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2007 - PAGE 2

BelleSPEAK

THE BENNETT BANNER - MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2008- PAGE 2

With the November election around the corner, it was only right for me to focus this editorial on both Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain’s race for president of the Unites States of America. Yes, we youngsters have been encouraged to vote, vote, and vote. The urge for us to go to the voting polls has been heard on the radio, television, the Internet, and in newspapers. However, what is not being emphasized is your civic duty to your communities after Election Day Nov. 4 has come and gone. If you expect your vote to solely speak for you as a political activist, then you are sadly mistaken. It is up to us to continue the fight for racial equality, to ask thought-provoking questions, and to demand that our government take us seriously, because we are the future of America, and we should be treated as such. A Black presidential candidate is closer to the White House than ever imagined. But don’t think for one second that racism and prejudice does not exist in this country. Far too often your skin color determines your character before you even open your mouth. We must continue to push for racial equality and continue the fight for our communities. We must persevere as a people. This election has motivated people to believe in America, and all that it represents. We are witnesses to history in the making. We have lived through the terrorist attacks of 9/11, the devastation of natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, and the greatest economic recession since the Great Depression. We are currently living in times that we will tell our children and grandchildren about. We must remain conscious in a society that desensitizes us to what is going on in our country and around the world. As the push for change continues, we must push with it and not just be along for the ride. Stay involved and don’t let up. Demand that your elected officials fulfill their promises to their communities. Young people are the new faces and new leaders of America. We must educate ourselves in the areas of economics, politics, and environmental solutions that will enable us to save our planet and its natural resources. The next president of America is an answer but not the only answer. It is up to us to continue the fight for our communities, the fight for America, and the fight for our future. See you at the polls.

By Aziza JacksonBanner Editor

LETTER POLICY: The Banner welcomes brief letters to the editor and guest columns but does not guarantee their publication. The Banner retains the right to edit or reject any material submitted for publication. All submissions become the property of the Banner and will not be returned. Anonymous submissions will not be published. All letters must contain the name of the writer, classification, major or group affili-ation, phone number and campus address. The Banner does not accept facsimiles, or e-mails. Address letters to: Aziza Jackson, Editor, The Bennett Banner, Campus Box 25, Shell Hall C-2 Greensboro, NC, 27401

-MISSION STATEMENT-The Bennett Banner is the official student newspaper of Bennett Col-lege. The Banner is produced in conjunction with a laboratory class in the Journalism & Media Studies Department. Any full-time Bennett College student is eligible to become a member of the newspaper staff and earn one credit. The Banner is published at least three times each semester during the 2007-08 academic year. Editorials are the opinion of the Banner editor and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the entire Banner staff. Signed columns and letters to the editor reflect the opinion of the writer and serve as an open forum for the expression of facts or opinions. The newspaper is distributed throughout the campus on a weekday, Monday through Friday, during the fall and spring semesters, except during holidays and college breaks. Publication and distribution dates are subject to change without advance notice.

The Fall 2008 Bennett Banner Staff

OPINION ‘Talk is Cheap. Free Speech Isn’t’

How will the presidential candidates’ campaign styles affect your vote?

“John McCain’s campaign claims Obama associates himself with ter-rorists and that he is a Muslim;

although he has repeatedly said he is a Christian. This gives a negative message to young Muslim Americans who would like go into politics. Bessie Green//Freshwoman //Cleveland, Ohio//Biology major//

“The candidates’ negative cam-paign styles do not affect my vote, because I

realize that it is a part of politics. I chose my candidate based on how well they handle criticism and their ability to answer questions straight out.”Jessica Aytch//Junior//Durham, N.C.//Social Work major//

“Both campaign styles have been less than honest and sometimes hostile. However,

Barack Obama has been less negative, showed more maturity, and he has spoke more about substantive issues, oppose to John McCain who seems to just run negative ads on Barack’s character.”Simone Thomas//Sophomore//Waldorf, Md.Journalism and Media Studies major//

“The negative campaign Mc-Cain and Palin have been run-ning motivates

me to vote for Obama even more. They are constantly making false accusations, while Obama has run a noble campaign and presented the American people with new and clear economic and healthcare plans.”Alexis Reese//Senior//Glenn Dale, Md.//Psychology major//

Aziza JacksonEditor-in-Chiefajackson@bennett.eduChristina Berkleychrisie10988@yahoo.comSatoya Boldensbolden@bennett.edu Ci’Ara Boydcdboyd@bennett.edu Myeisha Essexmessex@bennett.eduNezile Mthembu nmthembu@bennett.eduAngeline Pearsonapearson@bennett.eduCarmen Smith carmen112@earthlink.net

Ratasha Smithratasha_s@yahoo.comSutana Thompson thejrnalist@aol.comDominique Vinson dvinson@bennett.edu Iymaani Walker iwalker@bennett.edu Dr. Yvonne Welbon Faculty Advisor(336) 517-2306ywelbon@bennett.eduThe Bennett Banner Office

900 E. Washington St., Box 25Greensboro, NC 27401 (336) 517-2305 / Shell Hall C-2, banner@bennett.edu

International Perspective:

I can’t vote. I’m a citizen of the Republic of South Africa. There is a parallel that exists between the then segregated America and the apartheid gov-ernment that cracked down on black South Africans between the 1950s and 60s. Thousands of black people died fighting for freedom, fighting to get South Africa back from “white supremist rule.” In 1994, black South Africans cast their ballot for the first time, declaring Nelson Mande-la as president of South Africa. Fifteen years later, I turned 18 years old in the United States. I am now twenty-one. I’ve never had a chance to vote. In May 2009, South Africans will vote for their third president from the African National Congress (ANC). I won’t vote. I will be at Bennett College. South Africa is stringent about South African citizens voting abroad, and I do not meet the criteria guided by the Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa for voters abroad. When the democratic pri-maries were in full swing, I de-

cided to join the North Carolina A&T student volunteers, and we encouraged students to vote. With only less than five hours before the polls closed, Barack Obama momentum swept through the state of North Carolina May 7. An Obama representative came to the church I currently attend, Providence Baptist Church, in an effort to encour-age the youth to volunteer. We went door to door getting people registered to vote. On Oct. 8, the day after the presidential debates, Barack Obama came to Greensboro with Vice Presidential can-didate, Joe Biden for a rally. I was among thousands of people waiting for Obama. My mind sorted through images of people who fought the fight for freedom, for the right to vote. The apartheid laws, and striking color line that was used to segregate South Africans have dissipated with time, yet its ardent past still grips my mind. I was eager to hear the bira-cial man’s message of hope, his vision for students in America,

By Nezile MthembuBanner Staff

VOTE continued on Page 8

Longing to VoteI am America

FEATURED PHOTO STORY THE BENNETT BANNER - SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2007 - PAGE 2

THE BENNETT BANNER - MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2008- PAGE 3

Legacy of VOTING

Belles are known for active involvement in social jus-tice movements. The most common are the 1937 boycotts of local theatres for Hollywood’s editing out scenes that illustrated positive, intelligent African-Americans, and the 1960 responses to racial inequalities. These activities helped develop the voter registration campaigns that began in the 1960 election and have continued through today. “Bennett Belles are Voting Belles” is a motto that Rep. Alma Adams

and Professor of Visual Arts has implemented. As Bennett College students continue to grow as citizens, this empower-ing past encourages involvement in the upcoming election. Belles’ most famous display of civic duty was when Dr. Willa B. Player was president. She gave leadership to students in talking to faculty and press about the voter reg-istration campaign. She was reported saying “Field studies, community activities, and co-curricular performances provide avenues for (self-development)… Self expression is the emergence of leadership abilities.” Player placed emphases on the Homemaking Institute,

By Carmen SmithBanner Staff

THE BENNETT BANNER - MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2008- PAGE 4

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BENNETT ARCHIVES

ON PREVIOUS PAGE: Students sign up to participate in the voter registration campaign of 1960 in the David Jones Student Union.

ABOVE: Belles along with faculty carpooled to register voters in the 1960 ‘Operation Doorknock.’

a Home Economics sponsored program that educated Belles on how to be a holistic woman, chaired by Louis Streat. Every year, beginning with the Player presidency the Homemaking Institute had a certain theme. Faculty decided to make the topic in 1960 Voter Registration, which spearheaded “Opera-tion Doorknock.” This was an effort to get Belles involved in the Greensboro community by registering blacks to vote who lived near the College from April 1-22, 1960. It was the larg-est percentage of voters registered by a single campaign in Greensboro. Students registered 1,478 citizens out of 5,720 of Greensboro’s Black registered voters. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall and Dr. Benjamin Mays, President of Morehouse College at the time, helped initiate the event as keynote speakers for the Home-making Institute. Prominent civic leaders assisted with the experience along with the NAACP and AFL-CIO Committee. Faculty drove Bennett students in groups of three and four to knock on doors and educate Greensboro citizens on voter registration. Bennett’s faculty and students carpooled voters to the polls during the registration drive, boycotted local theatres

and picketed lunch counters to end segregation. Faculty and students earned the Lane Bryant award for promoting “Opera-tion Doorknock.” “Chapels,” currently known as Academic Cultural Enrich-ment Series (ACES), brought powerful individuals like Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, poet and author Langston Hughes, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, and civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., to the Bennett College community. In the light of these movements, the College felt it was important for these distinguished guests to speak to the campus because their appearance exhorted social engagement. The College also held workshops to support the effort. In 1960 North Carolina voted 52.1 percent for President John F. Kennedy to 47.9 percent for Richard Nixon. “The election was similar to this one [Obama.] It was the first time that a liberal and catholic was running for office… African-Americans saw this man as someone who was in their corner,” said Dr. Linda Brown ‘61. Brown is Player’s niece and author of “A Long Walk: The story of the presidency of Willa B. Player at Bennett College.” She is also the Willa B. Player

THE BENNETT BANNER - MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2008- PAGE 5

College leaders and students address a crowd of over 500 at the 1998 Belle reen-actment of 1937 and 1960 about the legacy Bennett has had on the commitment to social justice.

The Guilford County community and Belles “Celebrate 60 years of Student Activism in Pursuit of Social Justice” outside of the Carolina Theatre were the boycotts first began.

Distinguished Profes-sor of Humanities. Player’s efforts and the students’ in-volvement in the voting campaign garnered respect from those out-side of the College. According to “A Long Walk” a graduate of ’63 said, “We went from being a Bennett girl to a Bennett woman. We were no longer a ‘finishing school’… but became contributors to society in our own right.” Even after the voter registration cam-paign, boycotts and sit-ins continued until a change was made in 1964. Over half of the student body was arrested in protests, including the current Mayor of Greensboro Yvonne Johnson ’64. Bennett and the Guilford County com-munity reenacted the marches of 1937 and 1960, on Oct. 10, 1997. Over 500 students, faculty, staff and com-munity leaders gath-ered in front of the Annie Merner Pfeiffer Chapel and walked to the National Theatre, Woolworth’s and Kress where the boycotts originally took place, to celebrate the history of Belles demanding an end to racial discrimi-nation and segrega-tion at movie theatres, lunch counters, and in the general public. “This was done to show Bennett’s role in shaping the com-munity,” Adams said. “Belles were the mas-terminds behind these movements, but men

were the ones who got credit for the sit-ins be-cause they said it wasn’t safe for them [women] to go in. If we don’t record our history then people will try to steal your thun-der.” A year later Ben-nett hosted a program examining the role of Belles in the sit-in dem-onstrat ions and the impact King’s Feb. 11, 1958 visit had on the campus. It was co-spon-sored by The Division of Humanities and the Lyceum Committee. Dr. Daniel B. Smith, civ-il-rights historian and scriptwriter of “February One” was a guest pan-elist along with Adams, Brown, Dr. Millicent E. Brown former professor of history and civil rights historian, and Dr. Ruth Lucier, chair of Lyceum in 1998. The College has effectively contributed to another election season 48 years after the 1960 voter registration cam-paign. Members of the Bennett community have practiced similar voting efforts. Mesha White, Student Government Association president pushed for 100 percent Belle voter registration. With the help of Adams and various organiza-tions in the Greensboro community, 94 percent of the campus are Guil-ford County registered voters. “I am extremely proud of my sisters for the large numbers of voter registration,” White said. “It is imperative that Bennett College votes because of our

past, present, and more importantly our future as women of the 21st century.” Student organi-zations assisted SGA and Adams’ “Women in Politics” class on voter registration in the Stu-dent Union at lunch for a month while SGA also conducted door knocks in each residence hall to register students. Belles also actively completed community service at the Obama for America campaign in downtown Greensboro and can-vassed the city to regis-ter citizens. The faculty voted on the suspension of classes for the Nov. 4 election date and will use the day as “Civic Engagement.” Assis-tant Professor of Politi-cal Science and Social Work and Sociology, Robert Williams was in full support of the vote.

“It is a very im-portant election as a whole in historic aspects of Obama and Palin. Citizens should use this day to reflect and do their civic duty,” Williams said. The Faculty Sen-ate sponsored an ACES program Oct. 28 about election 2008 to educate students about voting.

Oct. 30 SGA held a candidates forum that featured eleven local and state candidates, along with a “College Vote” rally that unified all Greensboro col-lege students a day before the election and a March to the Polls to make a stance on the legacy of Bennett stu-dents voting.

THE BENNETT BANNER - MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2008- PAGE 7

FEATURES

By Myeisha EssexBanner Staff

The new staff hired in Ben-nett’s Information Technolo-gy Department handles tech-nological needs of students, faculty and staff, due to the high demand for computer assistance on campus. During the summer of 2008, DeQuan Jones and Steve Kimbourgh joined the Bennett staff as Interim Di-rector of Information Tech-nology and Help Desk Man-ager, respectively. As the newest addition to Bennett’s staff, they run the IT depart-ment located in Catchings Hall from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and provide student free PC repair and anti-virus services. Jones is a native of Charlotte, N.C. and currently resides in Winston-Salem.

Jones studied music at the North Carolina School of Arts and received his Cisco Certification for Network Administration from Forsyth Technical Community College in Winston-Salem. He runs his own computer consult-ing and web design business entitled QJ Solutions, which is where Bennett originally contacted him for the position of webmaster in December. As Director of IT, Jones is responsible for overseeing the network infrastructure and providing technical support to the campus. When asked what he likes most about Bennett, Jones said, “It is very exciting to see the sisterhood, because it is often said that our African-American women can’t get along.” Kimbourgh is from Win-ston-Salem. He attended

SPOTLIGHT ON NEW FACULTY: THE NEW IT GUYSJohnson C. Smith University where he studied communica-tions and music. Kimbourgh was contacted through Jones about the open position at Bennett. As Help Desk Man-ager, Kimbourgh is respon-sible for managing student services and computer con-cerns. “I have always had a love for computers, so I enjoy my work here at Bennett,” Kim-bourgh said. Currently, the IT depart-ment also includes: Web-master Precious McKoy and Academic Computer Lab Manager John Harrington. They are working on rede-signing the network infra-structure and campus-wide wireless solutions. “I am looking forward to making this a more green and self-sufficient campus,”

Jones said. Both men agree that the lack of resources and comput-er training for students makes it difficult to meet students’ technological needs. “I am currently working with SGA to set up a date when students can learn ba-

sic computer knowledge and receive help with e-mail ac-counts. Difficulties with e-mail accounts seem to be the number one problem among students,” said Jones. The IT department can be contacted at techsupport@bennett.edu.

DeQuan Jones (left) and Steve Kimbourgh (right)

ENTERTAINMENT THE BENNETT BANNER - SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2007 - PAGE 2 30, 2007 THE BENNETT BANNER - MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2008- PAGE 8

Bourbon and Bus Travels for Belles

The Bennett Players are keeping the campus enter-tained with an upcoming double production of “Laun-dry and Bourbon” and “Bus Travels” Nov. 6-9. The first play features three characters who en-gage in small-town gossip. Tania Christopher, a theatre major, plays the character Hattie and describes this character who is a mother

of three as a “comedian who doesn’t take any mess” She protects and loves her best friend Elizabeth, played by theatre major, Caridad Ro-man. Beth Ritson, assistant professor of Theater and Speech, will direct the play. Ritson directed Mason Dixon Lines last semester and is hopeful that her second play is fun and the hard work her small cast has put into it will pay off. Ritson said the play shows the curses and blessings of being in a small town.

“Bus Travels” tells the story of two women who converse as they wait on the arrival of their bus. Instruc-tor of Theatre and Speech, Tennille Foust plays Bess, an elderly woman who unexpect-edly meets Melanie, a young poet played by theater major Tarshai Peterson. Assistant Professor of Theatre, Steve Willis wrote the play in 1982 while in graduate school at UNCG. His inspiration came from women he knew growing up in his church. Bus Travels was chosen to go on the bill because it was short and complemented Laundry and Bourbon which lasts about an hour. The Theatre department

produced “Endless Pos-sibilities” in September, a montage of original spoken word poetry, music, dance as well as Readers Theatre performances. Faculty from the theater department welcome student input, in their search for plays to produce. “We look for plays that have many roles for women and consider issues that speak to women,” Willis said. The Bennett Players will produce three plays this semester. Laundry and Bourbon and Bus Travels will premiere Nov. 6 at 7 p.m., Nov. 7-8 at 8 p.m., and Nov. 9 at 3 p.m. in the Little Theatre.

VOTE continued from Page 2

direct access to needed income information,” the report states.Vice President of the institute, Lauren Asher, said if the Internal Revenue Service is allowed to di-rectly forward data to the Educa-tion Department, more students would likely apply for federal aid and it would reduce processing costs paid by colleges. Students, however, remain skeptical of candidates’ propos-als. Many students who are forced to take on multiple jobs and loans in both the federal and private sector in order to pay for school are hesitant about the proposed shift in emphasis and think instead, the next president should look at the root of the problem: rising college tuition rates. “The government should do whatever they can to find a way to lower the interest rates on these loans that exist, but also just make college affordable,” said Kevin Mawyer II, a sopho-more criminology and criminal justice major. “College students are going to come out thousands of dollars in debt ... that they only have to pay because it’s so expensive to begin with. I honestly don’t un-derstand why the same classes at different institutions cost more just because of the name that gets put on your degree.”

By Carmen SmithBanner Staff

REFORM continued from Page 1McCain, on the other hand, looks to reform the federal stu-dent loan system, making it a last resort for students and shifting more accountability to the pri-vate sector. A spokesman for the Republi-can National Committee point-ed to the platform outlined on McCain’s website, which states a “more effective program” will result from increasing the avail-ability of private sector loans and holding lenders to the “highest standard of integrity.” Edie Irons, a spokeswom-an for The Project on Student Debt, an independent think tank that studies financial aid, said that while, ideally, the govern-ment should look at expanding programs that do not require students to pay back money, student loans continue to be a reality for more than two-thirds of college students and should be an issue that candidates

consider. “[Private sector loans] are riskier, more expensive loans, and should be used as a last resort,” Irons said. “We don’t anticipate a problem being able to get federal loans, but there needs to be a combination of better advice and counseling, so that as students are making those decisions so they don’t borrow too much and they are able to choose the safest, most affordable options.” Both candidates identify a need to simplify the application process students and families must undergo to obtain financial assistance. Obama’s call to eliminate the FAFSA is a step the Democratic National Committee officials said will simplify the process and encourage more people to apply for aid. McCain does not explicitly mention the overhaul of FAFSA

in any of his proposals, but he emphasizes the need for a simpler process, so students aren’t deterred from applying for aid. He aims to consolidate grant and award programs to reduce confusion and the need to fill out multiple, complicated applications. The FAFSA asks 127 questions across five pages, which is more than many federal tax returns.“I’ve always thought the FAFSA was kind of B.S.,” Easterwood said. “My father was a pastor for 20 years, and we have three kids in our family that need to be put through college, and he doesn’t get paid a lot. [My parents have] made a lot of sacrifices so that we could have a childhood and [the FAFSA] bases everything off of numbers that just aren’t accurate.” According to a report pub-lished by the Institute for College Access and Success, an esti-mated 1.5 million low-income students who were likely eligible for Pell Grants did not apply for aid in 2004, an increase of 76 percent from 2000. “Instead of digging through piles of papers, doing calcu-lations with various lines of data, and transferring numbers by hand from a tax form to a worksheet to an application, students and parents could give the Department of Education

and global citizens. I was a but-terfly in a clear jar, caught and captured by the charismatic leader. It is not the sound of freedom songs, nor the chanting of stu-dents standing at the Obama rally, that reminds me of the fight fought to gain the right to vote in South Africa. My grand-mother does that. My grandmother sits up all night to catch Obama on CNN. I am told she only gets two hours of sleep just before she has to open her tuck shop at 6 a.m. She lives in a shanty town-ship in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa and she’s never hesitated to share her overt opinions to anyone who listens. “uObama, this is written in the scriptures somewhere. Some-one needs to find it, ngangu uObama bo!” My grandmother sees Obama’s works as a Divine intervention; it’s more than just a presidential election she feels. I’m not an American citizen, I don’t hold the right to vote, but I won’t hold back whilst I’m in the midst of history. I will follow, support and assist in every way possible. These elections are not only important for Americans, but for the world. We need America to take its “rightful” role in the world again. “This is our time, our time to turn the page,” Barack Obama said. I believe that when Obama speaks Abraham Lincoln echoes. J. F. Kennedy stands up. Martin Luther King smiles. Nelson Mandela hums. Ghandi aligns the stars. Dubois in-scribes. Ida B. Wells whispers “now.” I still remember, and imag-ine the pictures of black men lynched, children being hosed by police, a man noosed and burnt to death in the township. There are too many images of this kind in telling the history of our people, black people. I can’t imagine being halted by status as a foreign student or a government issued visa to determine how I will play my part.