Newspapers / Brevard College Student Newspaper / Nov. 16, 1962, edition 1 / Page 2
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PAGE TWO THE CLARION NOVEMBER 16, 1962 Mercy Killing On Trial Should one human have the right to take the life of another with the protection and consent of the government? In the recent mercy-killing trial of Mrs. Suzanne Vandeput in Belgium, the validity of such action was brought before the government in a court of law. Mrs. Vandeput, a 24-year old mother, confessed killing her eight-day old daughter who had been born without arms. This deformity resulted from effects that thalidomide, a drug recently introduced on the market, had on the mother before the child’s birth. ~ Man seeks the answer to the question: should a deformed child be killed? Women who have experienced the pangs of childbirth have asked, “Is it not my right to take the life of the child that was conceived in me when I see him born with a de formity such as no hands, no feet, or no ears? Will God not for give me for taking that life? If my baby Uves, what can he be? How can he live? Am I to stand idly by and watch him decay, knowing that there is nothing that either I or medicine can do? Women ask these questions — who has the authority to an swer? Can a federal judge or a minister of God give a family their consent to exterminate a living form created in the image of Gk)d? On the other hand, can any man take the responsibility of per mitting a deformed human to continue to exist without the facil ities to grow and mature as a relatively competent individual in this complex world? These questions are answered with every reply conceivable to man — some affirmative and some negative. Those who confirm mercy-kiUing believe that it is their re sponsibility to prevent the suffering of an individual who cannot help himself. Mothers who have killed their children say, “I could not bear to see ‘him’ exist — never being able to speak or walk or think” or “My child was not going to suffer because of the drug I took” or “My child is not going to start life with three strikes against him.” They were convinced of their duty and many infants have been destroyed by poisoned milk, sleeping pills or some other method. Those w!ho accept the negative approach respond with, “What God has created let God destroy. Man cannot taike the power to create or to destroy into his own hands. Mercy kUlmg is not the solution. Let us have institutions and hospitals to care for these deformed children. They have committed no crime — done no evil — they deserve life as much as you or I.” A controversial issue? What would have been your decision if you had been one of the jury members who had to decide whether or not Mrs. Vandeput, or any individual in a similar situation, deserved the full penalty of the law — death? OH I’LL PUT IT OFF Till after thanksgiving Social Clubs In Danger Of Being ^^Dissolved’’ Do the students of Brevard College want or need the social organizations that now exist on campus? Do they satisfy the purpose for which they were originated, or have they merely disintegrated into units with a specific name and no worthwhile activities? Unless some drastic action is taken by the students, the tradition of the Clios - Euterps, Delphians - Nemos will be killed and replaced by a new organization, the Student Union, or merely discontinued altogether. This action will not be sponsored solely by the administration but will be backed by foresighted students. If the societies are to remain, there will have to be a new fervor and enthusiasm instilled in them. It is the opinion of sev- eral members of the administration and a few students, that an ' organization whose main purpose is to sponsor an annual dance and whose initiation program is the scope of its activity diould not exist. They believe that there should be a specified, worth while goal of that group. Neither the administration nor the SGA is trying to disband or destroy anything; they are merely trying to determine what the majority of the students want. You will have the chance to give your opinions to the pres ident of either of the clubs or to express your views in the Clarion. The point is, don’t be nonchalant atoout the issue. As the old saying goes, “Speak now or forever hold your peace!” Pilgrims Instilled True Spirit Of Thanksgiving By BETSY McLEAN It was October 3, 1863; the war raged on throughout the North and South, bitterly defy ing all those who dared attempt to extinguish it. Yet, Abraham Lincoln, heavily burdened .with weary responsibility, expressed his deep sense of thankfulness to Almighty God. He proclaimed the fourth Thursday of that No vember as a day of thanksgiving and thus crystallized the nation al observance of Thanksgivmg as an American custom. Americans had observed occa sional days of thanksgiving ever since 1621 when Governor Wil liam Bradford had set aside the initial one for the PUgrims at Plymouth Colony. For them it had been not only a day of giv ing thanks but also a day of shar ing all that they had with the friendly Indians. Indeed, they emptied their larders that they might feed their numerous In dian guests. As a result, the pil grims faced a severe vnnter of extreme starvation, and toward its close each person received on ly five kernels of com a day. Do, as we gaily approach the festive day and eagerly anticipate the table heavily laden with food, let us pause not only to give thanks for our bountiful blessings, but also to share what we have with those less fortu nate than we. For it is only in this way that the true “spirit of thanksgiving” will be made man ifest in our hearts, and we will be prepared for the blessed ob servance of another holiday, the birthday of our Lord who said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” \\ Judicial Board Seeks Sponsors In reply to the Clarion chal lenge to eradicate demerits in the November 2 issue, Oscar Smith has submitted to the Stu dent Government Association a system employing a Judicial Board composed of elected rep resentatives from each floor of the residence halls with discipli nary action being employed by the decision of that Board. The system is explained by Mr. Smith his outline which is posted the Dunham Hall bulletin board but cannot be printed here because of lack of space. Stu dents are asked to read and eval uate the Judicial Board system and to give their opinions to their class representatives Gail Pilar- ski or Judy Barnes before the next SGA meeting on November 26. Study? In Taylor Hall? By TED LEE Students residing in Taylor Hall are extremely disturbed about the inefficiency of the furnace to furnish heat to their rooms. Perhaps the problem- lies in the furnace, or in the boiler, or maybe the thermostat, or possibly the coal supply is scare. Whatever the problem, the situation is becoming serious as stu dents find it almost impossible to study on cold nights. Strangely enough, the furnace throws out an abundance of heat when it isn’t needed, but as soon as the temperature drops — the furnace freezes up. This situation could be detrimental to student health. Is anything being done to correct the problem or must we condition ourselves to live like Eskimos? Somebody, please, let’s get on the jo>b and get some steam in the radiators before all of the Florida students go home! Wits Of West By JOYCE WEST Me conform? Never! I’m go ing to be an individual. How? Well, I’m going to keep on eating toothpaste, popping my knuckles, wearing my skirts an “inch” too long, not carying an umbrella in the rain, sliding down banisters, banging on the piano, singing in the shower, throwing salt over my shoulder, and eating ice cream with a fork; and if soci ety doesn’t like, well. I’ll develop some new idiosyncrasies. I’ll dance when there’s no music. I’ll study when there’s no test. I’ll talk to myself. I’ll renounce the worldly practices of eating and sleeping and well, if by then I haven’t made my mark on the world as an “individual”, I’ll get drastic; I’ll study for the fun of it; I’ll pretend that I’m lead ing a dog by a chain or that there’s a bird on my shoulder —but as hundreds of others have said, “I’m going to be an indi vidual.” The only “greats” in the world have been the wacky characters who stood apart from society as radicals. Benjamin Franklin tin kered with his kite, and people thought he was in his second childhood. Roger Bacon experi mented with his metaphysical phenomenons, and he was exiled for practicing witchcraft. But where does necessary con formity end and individualism begin? Society dictates behav- orism! Man wears clothes; he eats with a spoon and a fork, and he is, in essence, conform ing by merely living. Yet if you ever want to explain your psy chological “frustrations” and want to be different, individual ism is a good excuse! The end . . . and they lived happily ever after — but the author of that fairy tale hadn’t heard about mid-semester exams! Oh, well, tomorrow may be an other day, and as ‘T)ear Abby” says, “if life hands you a lemon — make lemonade.” JULIE’S JARGON By JULIE HAYNIE BLT To Present (Continued from Page One) roles as the Japanese houseboy in BLT’s presentation of “Major ity of One” last year in the Campus Center Auditorium. The American Legion Build ing is within walking distance of the college. It is located at the corner of Johnson and Jordan Streets and may be reached by going two blocks south on John son Street, which originates in front of the college heating plant. Mel Everingham, BLT presi dent, extends an invitation to all college students to attend the special performance Friday night and to give well-deserved plaudits to their fellow students who are taking part in the per formance. Well, it’s just four more days until the Thanksgiving Holidays begin and everyone will scatter to distant lands. The Mountaineer’s Club had quite a few tales to teU when they returned from their over night stay at Camp High Rock. . . . Ken Nash and James Ruiz were all wet! And Gail Lance and Vicki Caldwell witnessed the accident as they turned over their canoe . . . Who was that beautiful champagne blond who crashed the party? No one knew ... No one but Mr. Tau- scher, that is . . . And who needs Arthur Murray when you can have Mr. Howe and Mr. Fisher? the gentlemen gave dancing lessons aU night. Despite the bitterly cold weather the Clios carried on and held their picnic at Camp Deer- woode, Novmeber 3. From the reports the picnic was definitely a success! ... As was the WAA’s Hayride. The Hayride consisted of three trucks complete with hay and people. On the way back two members of the party were almost left. It’s a good thing they can run fast! That’ll about do it for this is sue. Have a happy holiday and a gobble, gobble to you! The Clarion Staff PRESS EDITOR Joyce West [ , BUSINESS MANAGER Charles GibboM | j ASSISTANT BUSINESS MANAGER Ted Lee j I SPORTS EDITORS Freddie McMalian, | = Jim Ferguson | E CARTOONIST Gene Ingram \ i PHOTOGRAPHER I Gil Coao j i ASSISTANT IN PHOTOGtRAPm Randy McKnl^ | I STAPT WRITERS — Gene Beasley, Lorraine Martin, Carol | \ Hunt, Martha Curto, Julie Haynie, Cheryl Greene j
Brevard College Student Newspaper
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Nov. 16, 1962, edition 1
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