PAGE TWO THE CLARION
February 5, 1971
Oo
^lie Editor
Cutbacks In Space Program
Are Needed Despite Its Assets
Last Sunday afternoon saw the U. S. launch its
first Apollo flight since the near tragic Apollo 13
fiasco close to nine months ago. It has been a diffi-
cillt period for the space program, with de-emphasiza-
tion, cutbacks, layoffs of thousands pf _workers, and
the like. One reason for some of this is the division
which was brought about in NASA through^ disagree
ment as to where the blame in Apollo 13 lies.
However, even more important in causing a
de-emphasization of the program is the growing sen
timent of the general public and the nation’s^ leaders
3n favor of these and even more cutbacks, in order
that and more pressing problems be dealt with fi
nancially. Despite the many valuable things that we
have received from the space program, there seems
to be a crying need for our capital in other areas, not
the least of which is attempting to better our efforts
in motivating the poor to improve themselves.
Despite being called by many an affluent so
ciety, the fact is that a startling percentage of Amer
icans live under conditions and in dwellings that most
of us would abhor. And many, many more live in
inadequate and unattractive, although more livable,
surroundings. Many of these people are unable to
find steady, halfway rewarding work which allows
them to reach anywhere near their capacity.
One who sticks close to his comfortable, pleas
ant surroundings and sees the world through dis
torted eyes, often forgets how badly off so many
Americans are. However, all it takes is a simple auto
trip through a vast, crumbling slum, or down a junk-
littered, poorly-zoned, and ugly highway to reveal
how bad the problem is in this country. In many
places it is as bad or worse than it has ever been._
It seems evident that it is here, in the building
up of our own country, not the exploration of another
planet or in fighting a war for someone else, that
our focus should lie through the coming years. It’s
strange to think that while man has reached the
moon, many Americans are still dwelling in shacks.
Strange and haunting! While space exploration and
military assistance may have merit, it is not here
that our main effort should rest in 1971.
An Artistic Production
The movie shown at Brevard College one week
ago tonight, “The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter, ’ star
ring Alan Arkin, left the persons who attended with
deep feelings of personal involvement. The touch
ing, intricate plot, set in the “quaint” Alabama town
of Selma, reached each and every one in the audience.
The realization of the problems and handi
caps other people have, and their determination to
carry on were artistically illustrated, making it a
worthwhile evening for all who attended.
Dear Editor;
Since the opening of the new
Sims Student Union Building,
I have only one complaint. The
building, to a great extent, is
not available to the students on
the week-ends. I realize and ap
preciate the fantastic job that
Mr. Alderman, Mr. Ives, and
their staff have done in organ
izing the Student Union. Every
student is thankful for the many
hours of work that they have
all exerted. Therefore, I do not
want this staff to work any more
than they do at the present.
I am aware that th€ building
cannot function properly with
out authorized supervision in
some parts of the building. How
ever, I do not understand why
the T.V. room and lobbies are
not opened for the students ac
cess. At the present, students
have no way of utilizing the fa
cilities until 12 noon on Sat
urdays and 3 p. m. on Sundays.
Recently, President Davis
stated that
Union
room”
the
new Student
was to be the “living
of the college comniuni.
ty. In the present student gov-
ernment constitution, one of
the purposes of the S.G.A. is to
continue the idea of responsible
student freedom. As students
of Brevard College, we urge
those involved to give us this
responsible student freedom by
alowing us reasonable access
to our new Student Union Build-
ing. Sincerely, Frank Owen
Student Apathy
Hinders SGA
By Frank Owen
As the spring semester con
tinues, it is extremenly import
ant that the students turn their
attention towards their Student
Government Association. The
attitude that the SGA is a pup
pet organization has unfortun
ately afflicted the Brevard
campus. Everyone really wants
this or that, but no one wants
to work for what he wants.
This year seems to reflect
last year’s disaster; no one
voices any interest in the fu
ture or the ideals of the SGA.
More than likely, there are
some who do not even know the
purpose or ideals of this or
ganization. Let me try and help
these students by stating these
ideals now.
“We, the student body of
Brevard College, do establish
the Student Government Asso
ciation in order to promote the
general welfare of the students;
to provide a link between facul
ty, administration, and stud
ents; to insure representation
of student voice in college af
fairs, and to perpetuate the
concept of responsible student
freedom.”
Really, I wonder how many of
us recognize this statement. In
case you did not know; it is the
preamble of our Student Gov
ernment Constitution. This is
our purpose; Our ideals are
basic; all we really want to do is
to make student government
the voice as well as the arm
of the students. But without a
voice we can have no strength,
no sense of accomplishment,
no purpose.
UTLOOK
& WU DJJ
EDITOR
The CLARION
The VOICE of Brevard College
Mark Todd Editor-in-Chief
Mik. Jones Associate Etoor
Susan Moss^ Jim Carroll Advertising
Frank Owen, Laurie Pearson, David Arledge, Susan Har
rell, Betsy Goebel, Lynn Ryder, Dennis Avery
News Reporters
Mike E. Thorpe, Rowe Haden, John Pepper, Rod Jones
Sports Reporters
Diane Smith, Adele Dickieson, Barbara Snider —- Typists
Kent Deardorff Photographer
Mrs. Ena K. Sigmon Advisor
Published weekly during the college session, with the
exception of holidays and examination periods, by stud
ents of Brevard College. The opinions expressed in this
periodical are those of the editorial board and not neces-
sarUy those of the College. Printed by The Transylvania
Times, North Broad Street. Brevard, North Carolina.
This year has been a year of
frustration and disgust. Frus
trating because the harder I
tried, the more disgusted it be
came. Observing it all from
whore I sit, I saw students
shrug off responsibility placed
before them; I saw students
make excuses to get out of
work, ar:d some went so far as
to avoid the issues completely.
Yet, everyone always had a com
plaint. They pointed a finger
at that lazy faculty, that idealis
tic administration, and that
rinky - dinky Student Govern
ment Association. When actual
ly they should have realized that
the fault was within themselves
and their apathetic ways. They
seemed to forget that it requires
less character to discover the
faults of others than to tolerate
them.
The academic year, 1970-1971,
is well over half gone. Many
people feel as if the 1970-1971
student government failed. That
is your own personal opinion.
When I accepted the office of
—^Tnrn to Page Three
It seems that the past two weeks have been
quite productive ones as far as opportunities for stud
ents to participate in group discussions with Presi
dent Davis on various issues are concerned. This type
of thing can only be healthy.
The latest chance for students to talk with the
President came Monday night at the first Dialogue
Dinner of the Spring Semester. After telling stud
ents about some of his varied background, Dr. Davis
enlightened students as to why the school takes many
positions, what the school’s plans for the future are,
and various other things. The discussion was quite
satisfying to many students w'ho left feeling a better
sense of awareness about the College.
When asked about the school’s rank as a two-
year institution, he stated that Brevard is standin?
pat as one of the very best in the nation, perhaps in
the top five, and that this is one factor that Brevard
may eventually take into consideration if talk of go
ing to a four-year school recurs. If Brevard should
go into the four-year bracket, ft would immediately
become just another school in its new classification^
having to establish itself in the same league as a col
lege like Davidson, for example. However, he did
not rule out the possibility of a future change.
On the question of the re'placement of Green
and Taylor Dorms, he stated tha:t this was his nert
priority as far as buildings are concerned, with tM
building of a new dorm connected with a refurbish
ed Green Dorm planned in the future. This woula
mean that Taylor would eventually be demolishea.
Also on the subject of future developments, he spoKe
of the future plans of alumni to construct a Bell low
er on the ground now occupied by the old classroom
building, which is also to be demolished.
President Davis also replied to a question on
the reasons behind the rejection to open doms o
Saturdays. He stated that with the -
Beam Dormitory, which has private shower faciliti >
this would cause a great problem in the ™ ^
privacy, and that the new Sims Building
ed for the purpo.se of visitation. Many of the st •
ents present tended to agree that this was ^ '
son for not having open dorms. They also felt tn
majority of Brevard’s resident students were no
favor of open dorms.
On a question directed to him about
ship in the Clarion, he referred the student .
writer, who replied that only two or three
had been rejected all year, and that this was
because the articles were either so poorly wn
that their inclusion would not be worthwhile o
cause they were critical of, or atacked a single
vidual. This writer added that articles stating
problem and offering a reasonable solution are
ferable, since they are the only type of ®
will do any good. Also, it was stated that the m
reason there is not more variance of to
Clarion is because most students are too apatnet
contribute anjrthing.
In all, the discussion proved to be informative
and worthwhile to all who attended, once again p
ing the value of the Dialogue Dinner program.