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Ladies of Distinction Turn Distinct Women into Legends
By Porsha lackey
Ladies of Distinction and Guest Speakers
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The second annual Legends Ball hosted by the Ladies of Distinction was held
at Mars Hill College on Thursday March 29th.
The Legends Ball is a banquet designed to honor legendary and virtuous women
at Mars Hill. Oprah Winfrey developed the concept when she desired to
honor legendary black women of America.
Redway dining room was filled with a diverse group of women representing most
of the women's organizations on campus. The event began with guest speaker
Laura Collins, a 1998 Mars Hill College graduate. “We’re here tonight
to discuss what it means to be virtuous women," she said. "And to
be virtuous, we have to know what that means. I would like to suggest
that it just might mean something different now than it has in the past.”
She went on to discuss how in the 18th and 19th centuries, white western cultures
valued four qualities in women. “Piety, purity, submissiveness,
and domesticity…these qualities were thought to symbolize the highest
state of womanhood.” said Collins.
“A virtuous woman was chaste and demure; she did not flout her
wealth or her beauty- and definitely not her sexuality. She was a helper
to her husband and an attentive mother to her children.”
Then Collins asked, “So, in 2007, should we look to that which is good
from the past and hold it up as a light to guide our path?. Should we
sit here tonight and agree as a room full of women that we are most virtuous
when we are pious, pure, submissive, and domestic?”
With a bold voice she declared, “I am here to tell you tonight
that I believe we cannot agree to that list anymore. The world is counting
on us to do better than that.”
"…Let's be outspoken about injustice," she said, "committed
to improving the lives of our own families and the family of humankind. Bold,
loving, creative, humble, but submissive only to that which deserves respect.
Spiritual, tolerant, good humored, and let's heal this ailing world. Then we
will be virtuous women."
Legendary Women:
Tamara Washington, Lucy Adkins, Ashley Harber, Rachell Banks, Rebecca
Dellinger |
The next part of the ball was dedicated to each female organization on campus
that voted for someone in their group whom they thought to be a virtuous and
legendary woman. Each group was called, and a representative came up
to the podium and announced whom they chose and why. They then described
their reasons for inducting their friend or “sister” as a legend.
The second speaker was Oralene Simmons, who in 1962 became the first black
student at Mars Hill College. Mrs. Simmons spoke of her days as a student at
Mars Hill.
"Now I'm not one for bashing men, because I love men! However,
I like to follow a man who is going somewhere.” The room filled with
the roar of laughter. She went on to tell a story.
“When word reached Asheville that I was going to be the first African American
student to attend Mars Hill College, a journalist came to my house one morning,
and he said, 'I would love to interview you and take your picture.' And I said,
'well sure!' He said, 'I want to do this right now!'
Legendary Women,
'07 |
Danielle Francis, Women's Basketball: "She's
one of the people who lights up a room whenever she walks into it.
She's loyal and demands respect from all of us. She's a great friend."
Lucy Adkins, Women's Soccer: "She exemplifies
everything our team strives for. She's hard-working and determined.
She has good ethics and represents what Mars Hill College is."
Rachell Banks, Delta Phi Zeta: "A
great student…"
Caty Carpenter, Delta Zeta: "She's
beautiful, intelligent, and represents everything a Delta Zeta should
be -- an excellent example of what all women should be. She graduated
from Mars Hill in 2006. She was a Delta Zeta, Bailey Mountain Clogger,
and a Bonner Scholar.
Lesley Ladd, Gamma Chi Epsilon: "An
inspiration to us all."
Rebecca Dellinger, Sigma Alpha Iota: "We
hit a lot of rough spots this year. She held her head up high,
kept a level head, and kept us all together."
Ashley Harber, Women's Softball Team: "She
shows courage, determination, and leadership. She makes me want to
push myself harder. She always looks out for the team. She's
the prime example of a respected athlete and woman. Thank you, Ashley,
for giving us someone to look up to."
Tamara Washington, Ladies of Distinc-tion: "We
are proud to honor a legendary woman!" |
"I looked down, and I had on this psychedelic pant suit -- now
this was in the sixties --I had a psychedelic pant suit, and I had been busy
cleaning house, and my hair was full of those pink rollers that we used to
wear. And I said, 'you want to take my picture just like this?' He said
yes. 'Just like that. You look cute. '
"And I know not to follow a man when he says you look cute in a psychedelic
pant suit and your hair rolled up. I said, 'Oh no. I'm a lady. You have to
treat me with dignity and respect.'"
She told him to come back around twelve and that he could interview her then.
The room again filled with laughter and “amen’s” as Mrs.
Simmons continued. "A 12 o'clock I was sitting on my front steps
with my white graduation dress on and all my curls clustered about my head.
I was dignified. I was respected."
After Mrs. Simmons finished her speech, the Ladies of Distinction awarded
her and Laura Collins with their very own Legendary Women plaques and
gift bags.
The “Thank You” and “Goodbyes” were made, and the
second annual Legend’s Ball came to an end.
For more information on Ladies of Distinction, please contact the president,
Jasmine Young.
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