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VOL. X.
ELIZABETH CITY, N. C., DECEMBER, 1949
No. 2
State’s Homecoming Welcomes Alumni
The atmosphere, created by the
Alumni and friends at the annual
Homecoming here at. State was
both gay and festive. The whole
!ollege family participated in
making the Homecoming a spec
tacular event .both on the campus
and through the streets. Friends
from far and near were here to
make this day one of the most
successful in the history of State
Teachers College.
The day began with preparations
for the gay parade. Alumni were
busily decorating their cars in
the memorial colors, blue and
white; paying humble allegiance
to their school. Upon the faces of
the students were determination
and interest in a cause great and
dear to all of them. Teachers and
friends gave endlessly of their
help and knowledge.
Early in the day buses and cars
brought Alumni and friends,
among whom were representa
tives of the New York City and
Brooklyn Alumni Chapters. Visi
tors were received by the occu
pants of Symera Hall. Here they
were refreshed and assigned pla
ces to live during their stay in
the city. Hardly any one was
aware of the time of arrival of
the Halifax Chapter, but everyone
was impressed by their friendli
ness and jovial ’“Hellos.” The Gates
County Chapter brought the spir
it of S.T.C.; New Bern, coopera
tion; and Duplin, loyalty. Also
noted were the faithful members
of the Norfolk Chapter. Response
was shown by the hearty partiri-
pation of these and other gradu
ates in the events of the day. It
is needless to say that all Chap
ters gave their best to_ the College.
As the memorable hour ap
proached, the gay parade was led
through the streets of Elizabeth
City by the Elks, P. W. Moore,
and College Bands. The attrac
tive costumes of the majorettes
gave the audience a sample of
what was to come. As the bands
played the spirited marches, the
floats came into view. The Queen
of the Alumni, Mrs. Evelyn Dix-
son, and her attendants were tru
ly representative of beauty and
poise that can only belong to
Alumni. The appearance of the
undergraduate choice for “Miss
Homecoming” was rewarding.
Miss Frances Powell with her
smile reached and warmed the
hearts of all that had helped to
make her “Miss Homecoming”.
Along the streets the parade mov
ed, welcomed by all and applauded
by all. Other floats of interest
were “The Egyptian Scene” creat
ed by the artistic efforts of the
(See HOMECOMING Page four)
Celebrated Artist \
In Concert Here \
Muriel Rahn, original “Carmen”
in the opera “Carmen Jones”, was
deligbtfully received by an enthu
siastic audience on I^cember 7.
The celebrated soprano gave ons
of the most dynamic presentations
ever heard at the College.
For a very effective opening
she sang "Caressing Mine Idol’s
Pillow” by Cesti. Other selections
were “Se Florindo e’fedele” by
Scarlatti and “Gods, All Powerful”
by Handel-Bibb.
The second part of the program
was introduced by “Im Herbst”
by Franz and “Meine tiiebe ist
grun” by Brahms. Other selections
were by Severac, Hue and Foulenc.
Miss Rahn’s rendition of Riterna
Vincitor” from the opera “Aida”
by Verdi was magnificent and
breathtaking.
In her interpretations of Negro
compositions, she was superb.
These selections included works
by Margaret Bonds, William Grant
Still, and arrangements by Hall
lohnson, Emmanuel Middleton and
Nathaniel Dett.
Miss Rahn’s version of “Dat’s
Love” from “Carmen Jones” by
Bizet-Hammerstein clearly por
trayed her emotional vivacious
ness ard dramatic power. There
was little doubt left as to the rea
son for her great success in “Car
men Jones”.
Planned Parenthood Consultant
Lectures at State Teachers College
Drama Students Visit
Regional NIDA
On November 11, Mrs. J. M.
Hoffler, director of Dramatic
Club; Mrs. Annie Grant, represen
tative at large; and R. W. Under
wood, president, attended the Cen
tral Regional meeting of the In
tercollegiate Dramatic Association
held at Virginia State College.
Representatives from four Col
leges were present: Hampton In
stitute, Virginia Union, Virginia
State CoUege and Elizabeth City
State Teachers College.
The meetings, held in the Lit
tle Theatre, were stimulating and
inspiring. Beginning at one o’clock
in the afternoon, the discussions
continued until four-thirty.
The program included:
Greetings—Virginia State.
Introduction of Directors and
Representatives.
Echoes from the meeting of
I.D.R. at Lincoln University.
Organization Procedures:
The meaning of the Intercollegi
ate Dramatic Association and Its
(See DRAMA page four)
Dean*s List
Eighty-seven students earned
places on the Dean’s List for the
Fall Quarter. In order to be placed
on the Dean’s List, a student must
maintain an average of "B” for the
work of the quarter. Heading the
list of honor students are eight
who made straight “A” grades:
Their names follow:
Seniors: Mattie Baker, Emma
Gaskins, Celestine Raney, Elsie
Tillery, Mary B. Washington.
Juniors: Olivia Gardner, Rosa
B. Spellmaji.
Sophomore: William L. Jeffer
son.
Other students who made the
Dean’s List have averages of “B”
and above, but did not achieve the
co.veted straight “A” average.
They are as follows:
Seniors: (21 Willie Mae Baker,
Thomas E. Basnight, Katie Buie,
Sylvania Cheek, Lois Cooper, Ver-
niece E\’ans, Doris Griswell, Eliza
beth S. Hardy, Alice P. Harris,
Beulah Henderson, Herbert Henry,
Lottie E. Hinton, Marporie Howell,
Marjorie P. Holley, James Mc-
Cowan, Wilhelmina Pearsall,
Spencer L. Scott, Vanders Swain,
Ora Lee Thomas, Laura B. Vinson,
Walter T. White.
Juniors: (16) Helen E. Beas
ley, Blonnie O. Boykin, William A.
Branch, Nellie Ruth Drew, Iris
Francis, Edith N. George, Annie
Coley Grant, Ida Virginia Gray,
Gwendolyn Johnson, Mamie D.
(See DEAN’S LIST page four)
Mrs, Paige Speaks
On Mass X-Ray
On December 7, Mrs. Mildred
Paige of the North Carolina Divi
sion of Tuberculosis Control ad
dressed the students of the Col
lege.
In a very interesting manner,
Mrs. Paige spoke of the organi
zation for the X-Ray service soon
to be made possible for the Ne
groes of this area. She described
the facilities to be used and em
phasized the need of a chest X-
ray for every person, not only in
this community but throughout
North Carolina.
Mrs. Paige’s speech was the
third in a series of presentations
on Tuberculosis given by the Col
lege Health Department during
the week.
On November 13 and 14, Miss
Grace Hale, consultant of the
Planned Parenthood Federation m
America, conducted a series of
conferences on the campus. These
meetings on problems of family
life were largely attended by stu
dents, staff, and interested com
munity leaders.
Prior to her conferences, Miss
Hale gave a clear picture of her
organization through a stirring as
sembly speech. “The Planned Par
enthood Federation of America
was established twenty-five years
ago for reasons of public safety”,
said Miss Hale, "and to cure some
of the ills of family life. Every
one bom in the world needs some
of the things which you should be
prepared to give him—healthy
parents, a happy home, good food,
sunshine, and outdoor play. That
is why it is important that you
plan your children. More babies
have been born in the United
States in the past few years than
at any other time in our history^
The country needs and wants ba
bies. of course. Unfortunately,,
many of these being born are not
healthy babies. Many of them
could have been healthy if they
had been properly planned."
“To be specific”, continued Misa
Hale, “there are direct reasons re
lated to public health for plan
ning the family.” They include:
1. To reduce the number of un
necessary maternal deaths.
2. To reduce the spread of com
municable diseases.
3. To prevent childbirth in fam
ilies where economic conditions do
not favor it.
In the group discissions consid
erable attention was given child
spacing, barren families in need of
help, counsel to engaged and new-
Ivwed couples, and research in the
field of reproduction.
Many interesting questions were
asked by the students and valu
able information was given
through the intelligent answers
by Miss Hale.
In concluding the program. Miss
Hale reemphasized the importance
of family planning, not only as a
means of postponing the family
until one is economically able, but
as a means of having children
when families are emotionally,
physically and psychologically
ready for them. ITiroughout her
two-day discussion periods, Miss
Hale stressed the fact that Plan
ned Parenthood simply means
“good family planning.”