IglTOW^
EDiiS?ivf
A final word
When asked if Iwould like to write one last article for
the Smoke Signals, I didn’t exactly Know what to say but I
just couldn’t pass up my last chance to speak my mind.
With the initiation of this paper has come much
criticism. I couldn’t really say if most of it has been good
or bad, but I think there is a good race going.
The faculty and administration nas voicea their opinion
to those on the staff, but for some reason failed to tell it
to the whole student body. I do not know why, and wish
they would have.
I guess that their biggest complaint was about the nature
or taste of the rash of “Letters to the Editor.” I have to say
that I do not agree with the administration when they
say these editorials should be censored to some extent.
As everyone has reaa, the siuaents nave aone a lairiy
good job in repremanding their fellow students for poorly
opinionated editorials.
The students, I think, listen to this type of back lash
more than they do that which comes from higher up. I
hope that in the future the paper will be allowed to run
free criticism and insure the student safety from any
type of official repremand, as long as the writer signs his
correct name and it is his work.
The Smoke Signals seemed to gain interest at a rather
slow pace this year until the very end. I hope that next
year all of the retuning students will lend a hand in sup
porting the paper and show the new students that this is
their voice on campus.
The paper can become one of the biggest assets to the
student if he would just use it. Maybe nothing was achieved
with the paper this year, but it takes time for things to
grow into something of value.
Every student wants a paper he can look forward to
reading every week, but a handful of students can not
give you a paper of this type. Support and co-operation is
all the paper and it’s staff ask for.
I would be the first to answer if asked what I thought of
Chowan. Chowan may be an old school but it is young
in so many ways. There are so many changes that need
to be made in so many areas I couldn’t begin to list all
the changes I would like to see.
I can say that many, many changes have already been
made in the two years I have been a student at Chowan, If
the freshmen here now or those who arrive in the fall
think some of the rules are bad, just ask someone in the
class of 1969 what their freshman year was like!
We couldn’t bring cars on campus on special week-ends
and we couldn’t enjoy ourselves in the local taverns without
fear of being raided or having our breath smelled as we
entered the dorm.
In the fall of ’67, girls of either class could not single
date, and just this past week ^{fshmen girls were given
forms to send hOrrt^to aftt)^’'them to single date along
with the privileges already held by the sophomores.
I could go on and on, but there is no sense in it, all
the changes are in black and white (somewhere!).
One final thing. I would like to thank all of those who
helped the staff of this paper in any way at all. Every little
bit of news and every letter helped us to give you a paper.
Those in the Graphic Arts Department helped beyond
thanks. They extended their skill and knowledge beyond
demand and receive aU the thanks and appreciation they
can get.
I have enjoyed this year although it has been hard work
and I may not have been the best editor.
—Nancy Mohr, Editor
Liquid “Gold*^ for Tax Collectors
Federal and state motor fuel taxes are generating revenue
at the rate of one million dollars an hour during 1969. This
will total close to $9 billion, more than the revenue derived f»'om
any other commodity.
During the past half-century federal and state taxes from
this source totaled more than $120 billion—about the same as
the total expenditures of the federal government from its estab
lishment in 1789 through 1936.
People called the gasoline tax a “painless penny” when it
was first levied 50 years ago in Oregon for highway construc
tion, but today it is neither painless nor a penny.
WHAT A MAN CAN DREAM, MAN CAN DQ!
AN AIRPLANE—31 MEN—AND-
^^[fPPORTINC
To the Editor:
This last issue of “Smoke Sig
nals” brings to a close this pub
lication of our student newspap
er for this school year.
Dufing recent issues I have
stuck my neck out on several
occasions, and though my neck
has been threatened on several
occasions, my head is still at
tached. Or, to use the words of
Henley: “My head is bloody but
unbowed.”
It has been interesting to ob
serve student and faculty re.-
action to my letters. I am aware
that my writing has displeased
some; however, I take pride in
knowing that I have exercised
my right as a free American.
Fewer than 12 different stu
dents out of 1,300 have exercised
this right on this campus. Yet,
from every table in the cafeteria
to every chapel seat in the audit
orium, from every corridor in
Marks Hall to every stool in the
snack. ^p.hav^-fi^m&,tti«.-prys
of the habitual complainers who
make up the Chowan College
student body.
This is not abnormal and such
should be expected; however,
school spirit has suffered this
year because too few have been
those who were willing to do
anything about their groans.
There can be no school spirit
in a student body which is filled
with fear, and there is really no
need for fear of expression. Ris
ing sophomores are urged to
express themselves next year
in an effort to create a better
student body than we have had
this year.
While I realize that letter writ
ing of this nature is only a small
part in ascertaining student op
inion, it is helpful. Such opinions
can only be learned when in
dividuals have the intestinal
fortitude to “stick their neck
out” and let fellow student and
faculty know how they feel.
This has been my intention
this year. I have not attempted
to polish apples, pass the buck,
or glorify my position. I have not
been interested in being elected
Mr. Chowan College. My grin
has not been as wide as our
leader or smile so bright as
some people’s have as they have
gone about their daily tasks.
After much meditation and
consideration I have tried to
think of something good to say
about my old friend, Father
Lewis of the hanging ree. Not
being able to do so, I simply bid
our readers farewell.
Repsectfully,
John Algeo
by Appalachian State Univer
sity. With this program students
could eat their meals on cam
pus or off, but without losing
money! |
Students can continue to voice
their complaints, but will this
college really consider their
opinions on a realistic, level.
There is a need for a complete
change in our present food ser
vice. Should we complain or
demoonstrate?
Respectfully,
Jerry Newton
MAY BIRTHDAYS
May 1, 1908—The first fleet
of taximeter cabs, imported
from-.Paris,, arrived in -New
York.'’’
May 7, 1915—The steam
ship Lusitania, queen of the
Cunard fleet, was sunk without
warning oflf Ireland by a Ger
man submarine. Of the 1924
aboard, 1,198 were drowned,
including 63 infants.
May 10, 1926—A detach
ment of U. S. marines landed
at Bluefields, Nicaragua, fol
lowing outbreak of insurrec
tion there. The force, under
Rear Adm. Julian L, Latimer,
was withdrawn June 5.
May 17, 1930—Earle Sande
rode, his 3rd Kentucky Derby
winner, the great Gallant Fox,
who went on to win the Triple
Crown. The prize was $50,725.
May 21, 1881—The Ameri
can Red Cross was organized
by Clara Barton at Washing
ton, D.C.
May 24,1883—The Brooklyn
Bridge was opened for traffic.
May 27,1933—The Century
of Progress Exposition opened
in Chicago.
Industry Holds
Meeting on
Housing Needs
A conference on “Business
Opportunities in Low-Income
Housing,” sponsored by the
National Association of Manu
facturers, was recently held in
Louisville, Ky.
Cyrus L. MacKinnon, Vice
President and General Man
ager of the Louisville Times
and Courier Journal, gave the
keynote address. NAM direc
tor Henry Heuser, President,
Henry Vogt Machine Co., Inc.,
Louisville, presided at the
morning session. Dr. Cleo
Blackburn, Executive Direc
tor of the Board for Funda
mental Education, Indianapo
lis, gave the luncheon address
on “Housing for My Neigh
bor,” describing his organiza
tion’s approach in providing
homes for low income groups.
The morning panelists in
cluded Robert E. Tracy Aa-
sistant to the President, E^st
ern Gas and Fuel A.«sociates,
and John W. Humphre/; Chair
man, Philip Carey Manufac
turing Co.
The afternoon panel session
was moderated by NAM Direc
tor L. L. Browning, Jr., Execu
tive Vice President, Browning
Manufacturing Division, Em
erson Electric Co., with panel
ists E. F. Walsh, Vice Presi
dent, Center for Independent
Action, Howard R. Moskof,
Vice President and Treasurer,
National Corporation for
Housing Partnerships. Barlow
W. Brooks, President, Roll
Forming Corp., and President,
Associated Industries of Ken
tucky, presented the summary.
There are over 103 million
drivers in the country, in 97
million vehicles, rolling up
nearly one trillion driver-miles
a year.
IN VAIN?
BY MARY LEE
Don’t bother to put Johnny’s
toys back in his playroom. Just
perch them on your coffee table
as a decorative touch. At least,
that’s what architects and de
signers seem to be doing these
days.
With the world becoming
more and more leisure-minded,
decorative playthings are pro
viding a gay accessory note as
well as amusing entertain
ment. After all, who wouldn’t
rather play a mind-boggling
game of Instant Insanity than
talk about the weather.
And Instant Insanity is the
name of last year’s biggest sell
ing item in the toy industry.
It’s a game made of four plas
tic cubes in various colors, that
are an absolute panic to try to
fit together.
So, this year the cubes are
translated into pillows that
you can inflate for the den,
playroom, or patio.
★ ★ ★
Another best seller, believe
it or not, is the Ouija board.
After years of being regarded
by many people as a joke, the
“talking” board is back in
style. For some reason the oc
cult seems to have captured
everyone’s fancy. So, acces
sory firms have taken up these
playful items and brought forth
astrological Zodiac signs in
lucite cubes, wall hangings,
and ash trays.
There’s even a witchcraft set
for freaking out cocktail
guests, area rugs you can play
tic-tac-toe on, wooden puzzles,
and all sorts of paper toy items.
One plastic cube puzzle from
Denmark forms a million dif
ferent forms. Another plastic
construction set in flower
shapes forms dozens of strik
ing patterns.
★ ★ ★
Although toys haven’t quite
made it to the kitchen yet,
their color and decorative
qualities certainly have. One
set of pots and pans (by United
States Stamping) is positively
swinging. It features a splash-
ed-on abstract design in bril
liant orange, blue and yellow.
Cookware with colorful bot
toms pretty enough to hang
on thf wall are particular fa
vorites. Most are made with
designs that won’t burn off
even with hard use.
Two popular patterns ar^
the traditional blue Meissen,
and a Fiesta pattern of red
and brown on gleaming white.
In a heavy gauge steel, they
have a satin-smooth ceramic
covering.
M; Neighbors
Literary
Musings
By PROF. ROBERT MULDER
“l/ncross your fingers!
To the Editor:
I wish to make a few com
ments on the present atmosp
here of Chowan College.
On the campus of Choowan
College nothing seems to be ac
complished. Students complain
to no ends about the food ser
vice in Thomas Cafeteria, yet
there has been no change in the
foods served.
At present each boarding stu
dent pays $175 per semester for
three meals a day, seven days
a week. Next semester this
price increases to $200 per se
mester. There are no rebates on
meals not eaten in the cafeteria.
This means if a student does not
eat every meal in the cafeteria,
he is losing money.
Why should students be served
only one variety of a main dish
at most meals?
Chowan College should seri
ously consider a meal ticKct
program such as now being used
A Visit lo Mark Twain
Country
Last summer’s study at the
University of Mississippi afford
ed me many fringe benefits. At
the insistence of one of my ole
Miss, professors, I took a three-
day jaunt to Hannibal, Missouri,
the town of great American nov
elist Mark Twain (Samuel Lan-
ghorne Clemens). Reflections of
that visit will always be out
standing in my mind, and since
my students are beginning his
jmasterpiece of “ Huckleberry
finn” (THE great Ameriacn no
vel) this week I must share with
them and my other readers some
highlights from that visit.
As the tourist approaches this
now-famous town, he is made
increasingly aware of its signi-
finance to American literay his
tory. He may reach the city by
crossing the Mark Twain Mem
orial Highway and Bridge.
Greeting immeddately are the
Tom Sawyer Lodge, the Injun
Joe Restaurant, and the Huck
Finn Motel, all signs of commer
cial monopoly; yet, the names
and pictures, leap from the pages
of the familiar stories in a plea
sant manner.
Literary markers clearly lead
the individual to hours of plea
surable roaming. The little vil
lage, that small part which Twain
knew, carefully and completely
maintains its authentic touch.
The tourist must park his car
and stroll through the town on
foot, as Sam Clemens did as a
boy from 1838-1853.
Of course, the town has ks
Historic Commission which lias
seen to its preservation, but
strangely enough the best things
dn Hamnibal are free, and this
would have pleased Twain, as
those who make this possible
luiow.
I started my tour with the
Clemens home, usually called
the Mark Twain home. Flanked
by a memorial museum and a
flower garden, the home Sam
knew as a boy faces the Becky
Thatcher house across the Hill
Street. To visit both places with
the unforgettable voice of imita
tor Hal Holbrook as a guide is
indeed to experience Twain’s pre
sence. A dozen or more Huck
Finns, Tom Sawyers, and Becky
Thatchers are always on hand to
enhance the visit, running eagerly
from bouse to store to garden.
At the foot of Cardiff Hill, de
scribed in "Tom Sawyer”
stands that famous bronze sta
tue of Tom and Huck, a creation
of Frederick Hibbard. Behind
neath the same light house as he
watches the lazy Mississippi be
low mark its chosen course south
just 1>egging for a log raft filled
wifn adventuresome youth. To
bf seen in the brownish water
are logs adrift from some mill
up-river waiting to be fished out
and sold by some modem Pap.
Squinting the eye will bring
into view that famous and al
most notorious Jackson's Is
land, a perfect place even today
for young boys to play pirate.
The tourist is hardly aware of
the dangers involved as young
boys cross the protective waters
to escape the modem world. I
could almost picture a campfire
dying out as a Huck and a Jim
were about to set out on a never-
to-be forgotten journey down
stream to the accompaniment
of distant steam boat sounds.
Old Twain himself stands
bronzed with book in hand in
his own Memorial Park just a
few yards from the Ughthouse.
The inscription reads “His re
ligion was humanity and a
whole world moumed for him
when he died.” ’This may seem
paradoxical to the critic of to
day who would dismiss religicm
fom the author entirely. The
statue was erected for their fa
vorite son by the State or Miss
ouri in 1913 three years after
Twain’s death.
No visit to Hannibal would be
complete without a tour of the
Mark Twadn Cave, just a mile
or so from downtown. The best
desdriptioos of the cave lare
found in “Tom Sawyer,” and as
I was directed by the guide I
remembered the money the
boys found there and recalled
the hideouts made famous in
story. Today the cave is lighted;
I would have hated to visit there
when Twain did with only can
dles for illumination.
What could be more appro
priate than seeing the play
"Huck Finn” in Hannibal. My
Saturday afternoon was thus
spent in the Ice House Theatre
where a group of local people
plus drama students from Mis
souri State College presented
two delightful hours of adopta-
tions from Twain’s novel.
Any tourist will be impressed
with the store of Twainarama
known by Hannibal residents. I
talked to a number of people in
the town and was impress^ by
their familiarity with Twain’s
works. To Hannibal, Twain is
not an attraction; moreover, he
is the Great American author
and even more important, a pro
duct of their proud town.
“Punctuality is the art of
guessing how late the other
fellow is going to be.”
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
April 24, Thursday
SGA Concert, Showmen and Burt Massengale; $2 per
person.
April 25, Friday
Dance, Boykins Fire House, “The Rhj'tftmn Masters,”
$2 per couple.
April 26, Saturday
Parents’ Day - Queen of Spring Crowning ■- Spring
Festival Dance in the Thomas Cafeteria, free, “The
Royal Seven” - 1929 and 1954 Class Reunions.
April 27, Sunday
Lecture - Charles Quinn, NBC news correspondent.
Columns at 8:15 p. m. Free.
April 2‘, Tuesday
Advisor-Advisee meeting, 4:00 p.m.
May 1, Thursday
Sophomore Banquet - Thomas Cafeteria, 6:30 p.m.
May 5, Monday
Graduation Practice, 4:45 p.m.
May 7, Wednesday
Graduation Practice - 4:00 p.m.
May 8, Thursday
Awards Day - Special student will be recognized and
scholarships announced.
May 9, Friday
Final Exams begin at 8:00 a.m.
May 15, Thursday
Last Day of Finals
May 18, Sunday
Final graduation practice 9:00 a.m. - Baccalaureate
11:00 a.m.. Graduation Exercises, 3:00 p.m.
The SMOKE SIGNALS Staff
Co-Editor
Nancy Mohr
Co-Editor
Tom Garner
Managing Editor ....
Francine Sawyer
Sports Editor
George Skinner
Society Editor
Pauline Robinson
Photographers
Larry Matthews,
Frank Granger, Gary Whitley
Faculty Advisor
Production Advisors Charles Stevens,
William Sowell, Herman Gatewood