Page Two—Smoke Signals, Wednesday, Oct. 27, 1971
EDITORIALS
Is It Rebellion ?
Recently, there have been given a great number of
tickets for parking behind Columns. I feel this is not fair
to the students who drive their cars from South. These
students have a long walk if they do so and in the winter
months it is ridiculous.
Last year when I came to this college, we could park
behind Columns. It was even brought out that it was
O.K. to park behind Columns, so we did. This year, we
tried to do the same thing but we were hit with parking
tickets. Some people have paid these tickets, being told
that if you park to the left of the service road in Columns
lot it would be fine. This was done and tickets were still
given out. It has also been told to me, so I may con
tradict statements given by the Administration, that the
lot was completely full and had no empty spaces. The
first chance you get, look behind Columns and see how
many cars have a number 3 parking permit on them. If
the Administration has on their records three spaces
provided for the Chowan bus I will pay my ticket.
Trying to see the Dean about our complaints on the
tickets is another problem. The Dean is either too busy
to see us or either he is on his way out. Some people,
while waiting to see the Dean, were smart mouthed by
the puppies we have on campus. One of the students
addressed himself to one of the puppies and told him his
complaint. He told him he got a ticket behind Columns
and lived over in South. The puppy replied, “What are
your two feet for?” Our security force is slipping in
courtesy to its’ public.
The Administration is trying to get the science and
engineering building up, before they dig the foundation.
If the students cannot work out the parking problem
behind Columns and we are forced to pay the tickets, we
would appreciate a plaque in the hall of the science and
engineering building with our names.
I will probably be persecuted by the Administration
and called a Rebel for writing this article, but I am
American and have freedom of speech and the press. We
are now voting citizens of the United States and have the
right to voice our opinion.
Terry Elliott
The Right to Choose
According to the New Testament, Jesus Christ never
once in his life forced his opinions or beliefs on anyone.
To the contrary. He always spoke his mind and then left
it up to the individuals as whether or not to follow Him.
What a great example He has set for 20th Century
Christians. It is tragic that even men who profess to be
ministers and scholars of the Bible can not follow this
simple example.
Here at Chowan a person can’t help but feel that
religion is being forced upon him. Repeatedly,
throughout chapel services this semester Chaplain
Taylor has implied that unlpss you are, “Baptist,” you
are a religious misfit. He has called us immature in our
religious principles. Furthermore, Chaplain Taylor has
asserted that being a student at Chowan and being
Baptist should be synonymous. In the 20th Century, in a
nation founded on religious freedom and individuality,
this type of action is almost unbelieveable. We, as young
adults, should certainly have the freedom of making up
our own mind about God.
We should not be harrassed because of religious
beliefs that we have maintained since childhood. I am
not, however, saying that Chapel services should be
stopped. Quite to the contrary. Chapel services can be
very beneficial when the facts are presented and the
decision making is left up to the individual.
This college must recognize that we, as individuals,
have the right to choose our own form of worshipping.
Instead of trying to convert us to the Baptist
denomination, Chowan should try to show us the life,
truth and peace that can be found in Jesus Christ.
—Richard Jackson
ND
Capitalism or
Capitulation ?
Americans in their 20th Century sophistication,
believe that they have successfully passed through the
tunnel of materialism and have now emerged at the
other end where the road leads only upward and they
can finally see the light. If their vision was ever clear it
certainly lacked something in the way of depth per
ception.
Young people look at their parents today and wonder
why they have this driving need to accumulate things.
Your father sits in the middle of his conglomoration of
possessions waving a dollar bill in one hand and the
mortgage to a bigger and better house in the other. He
feels good because he owns things. This is the law of
(human) nature—possession equals security.
If one was to probe deeper into this possession—
security phenomenon—he might find at the foot: the
depression, an era of economic sterilization, and a
generation which stressed the monetary value of things,
in which it is assumed many of our parents grew up. It is
often said that this generation’s parents are too in
terested in material matters and should convert to a
more spiritual way of thinking and living. It seems that
many young people are disgusted with attempts on the
part of their parents to provide for their children’s
material well-being, while neglecting their mental and
emotional well-being, as though the answer to the
question “Who Am I?” were the gift of a 1971 Jaguar.
We, the people, have made a twofold mistake. Why did
we not stop to consider the reason for this preoccupation
with money? Our parents were a product of the times
just as we today exemplify the times we live in. The
intention of most parents is probably to provide comfort,
ease and security, which in itself is not happiness, but
which leads to the pursuit of happiness. How many of us
would have the time or would care to think about
philosophical concepts and world problems if we were
jobless and the landlady was screaming for rent? The
Concerning Justice
and Environment
by JOHN N. MITCHELL
Attorney General of the United States
Young people have played a primary role in focusing
the attention of the Nation on the quality of our en
vironment and the importance of insuring that clean air
and water are available for future generations.
During the past two and one-half years the Depart
ment of Justice has recognized the urgency of their
concern and has given top priority to the enforcement of
federal laws relating to environmental protection.
Our original approach was to give new emphasis to a
72-year-old law-the 1899 Refuse Act-and to use it as one
of our most effective weapons agaipst polluters,,yti-
der the Refuse Act all industries which ^scharge any
waste into navigable waters or their tributaries must
apply for a permit to do so from the Corps of Engineers,
stating that the waste does not pollute the water. If a
company discharges without a permit, it is in violation
of the law and may be fined as much as $2,500 a day upon
conviction.
Criminal actions and civil penalty actions are brought
against sporadic or accidental polluters, as in the case
erf oil spills from ships or from shore installations. We
found, however, that the penalties carried by these
statutes are ineffective against major industries with
continuous discharges.
In mid-1970 the Justice Department filed 10 civil in
junction cases to halt mercury pollution. Some of the
companies sued were dumping as much as 300 pounds of
mercury a day into rivers. One of the plants sued closed
down and the other nine immediately reduced their
mercury discharge to less than half a pound a day.
Forty other plants discharging mercury voluntarily cut
back their emissions to a fraction of a pound.
Thus, in a period of about six months, we virtually
eliminated the hazard that faced the country from the
continual dumping of mercury into bodies of water. We
have not eliminated the problem caused by the mercury
already in the water, but we have brought to a virtual
halt any additional pollution.
We have achieved a similar solution to the discharge
of sulfite wastes in Washington State with the
agreement of the large ITT-Rayonier complex to install
upwards of $20 million of pollution control equipment.
We have also vigorously enforced the Refuse Act
against companies that discharge toxic and hazardous
substances such as cyanide, phenol, chromes and lead
into rivers and streams. The first case to go to trial
involving such discharges was against the Armco Steel
Corporation on the Houston Ship Channel in Texas. In
that case the District Court held, in September, 1971,
that the Company’s toxic discharges should be stopped
forthwith.
Literary
M usings
By PROF. ROBERT G. MULDER
What the
World Needs
Now . . .
“One year ago life had no
meaning for me. The world
turned upside down, everything
happened. My parents, friends,
and everyone seemed upset,
nothing seemed to go right. So,
as many people do when li^e has
no meaning is to find an ea-y way
out. Yet, at the same time, I was
afraid to kill myself by walking in
front of a train or car, so I
decided to find an easier way out,
which would be to take an
overdose of aspirins. I had
everything planned, so that no
one would find me till I was dead.
I decided that I would do it
Thursday night as soon as my
mother and father went to choir
practice. I decided I would get
ready for bed, then take the pills
and go to sleep. My parents
would not suspect anything, for
many time they come home and I
am asleep. Everything was
planned to the exact day, and I
was glad at leaving that kind of
hfe.
When Thursday night came, I
was all set. I was just about ready
to take the aspirins when the
phone rang. It was a friend, who
invited me over. So I put it off
until the next Thursday, and you
know when the next Thursday
came, it was put off again.
As I look back to this day, I get
cold chills everytime I think
about what happened and how
foolish I was to do it, yet at that
time, I really felt that way, and
because someone cared, I am
alive today, happy and in
college.”
ANONYMOUS-
When I heard this story I
thought about the song “What
The World Needs Now Is Love
Sweet Love.” and I agree, love is
the WORD.
I asked several students to give
me one word to what love is to
them;
LOVE IS
forgiving
understanding
caring
respect
unselfish
BY: Mary Townsend
A WORTHWHILE CHALLENGE:
BALAAM’S ASS AND MY CAT
Some months ago I introduced in this
column a very special figure who had
come to live with me. Earl J.
Waggerdorn, just about the most in
telligent cat I know, now resides
permanently at my house and rules it
with his yellow paw.
Earl sleeps whenever and wherever
he chooses — even with the guests if he
so desires. He eats only the very best
foods. (I have often wondered how a
sandwich would taste with his chicken
parts and liver.) And Earl can almost
talk!
In fact, he can talk. I don’t intend to
press the issue but many pet lovers will
tell you that their animals talk. Even
though I don’t always understand Earl,
he usually gets his message across.
Talking animals have a long history.
I remember two such creatures in the
Old Testament. Every biblical student
here knows about the talking serpent
who got Sister Eve into so much
trouble. She lost her claim to paradise
and at the same time found out that one
never can trust a snake, particularly if
he has a selfish motive.
The other animal to which I refer is
Balaam’s ass. To refresh the reader’s
memory, the Children of Israel, after
forty years in the wilderness, were
camping on the plains of Moab. They
had been victorious over two
Palestinian kings, and the King of
Moab, a man named Balak, com
manded Balaam to put a curse on the
Israelites because he didn’t want to be
the third defeat.
At first Balaam declined the com
mand for the Lord had warned him in a
dream against fulfilling Balak’s
wishes. He did, however, reconsider
and saddled his ass and took off on the
mission.
Now this ass had insight and was
mystical. He saw standing in the road
an angel not visible to Balaam. Tur
ning off the road to avoid the angel, the
old mule was struck with a hard blow
from his rider. When this had hap
pened three times, each time with
more force and feeling, the ass turned
and said to Balaam, “What have I done
to thee, that thou hast struck me three
times?” Well, Balaam was beside
himself as talking asses were unheard
of them.
“You’re making sport of me,”
Balaam replied, ’’and if this stick were
a sword, I should slay you right here on
the spot.”
The Bible doesn’t record any rebutal
from the ass, but it goes on to say that
Balaam finally saw the angel, so he
probably thanked the animal and went
on.
Now my contention is this: if that
mule could say all those words, why
can’t I teach Earl a few? He’s per
fectly willing to speak and his master
an extensive
wouldn’t require
vocabulary.
The truth is that he must have seen
an angel or a devil the other night. I
was suddenly awakened by his
sprightly spring onto my bed; he was
trying to tell me something for he was
really upset. My chance was missed,
however.
Next time Earl does that I intend ^
frail him three times and ask: “Whit
did you see? What did you see?” Wh^
knows what the formality migfit
provoke. Anyway I hope Earl learns a
few words before he goes to Brazil.
Last week Friar Clemente de Jesus
announced he would bless pets, and
animal owners in Rio de Janeiro lined
up for the rites with dogs, cats,
monkeys, birds, opossums, and even a
bobcat. I’m convinced that this is the
thrust Earl needs.
From time to time I shall give a
progress report. There is only a little
doubt in my mind that he will even
tually say something, particularly
when he returns from Rio de Janeiro.
DEATH SILENCES WOOLFOLK PEN
What a sad state of affairs when a
man dies leaving no one -- friend or
family - to claim his body. Recently at
Eastern State Hospital in William
sburg Josiah Pitts Woolfolk died. The
seventy-seven year old writer’s body
was unclaimed and, therefore, turned
over to the state for burial.
Woolfolk published hundreds of short
stories and a dozen or more novels
during his lifetime.
According to “Who’s Who’s” he was
born in Chicago in 1894 and educated at
Northwestern University. A former
telegrapher, he typed a machine-gun
speed. He claimed he could turn out a
1,200-word story in less than an hour
without errors.
In the 1930’s he wrote pornographic
novels for the circulating libraries
under such titles as “Sin and Such,”
“White Meat,” and “Love in Virginia.”
Although he lived in Hollywood,
Texas, and elsewhere; he spent much
of his adult life in Richmond.
His 1933 book, “Trial and Error,”
was one of the most widely read how-
to-write-fiction books ever published.
The edition was reprinted many times.
He believed that commercial fiction
writing was a racket and took his
theme from Samuel Johnson: “No
man but a blockhead ever wrote except
for money.”
In his later years he fell on hard
times. He was convicted of mail fraud
and served a term in a federal
penitentiary, but Woolfolk used this
experience to an advantage. He wrote
a book titled “A Home Away From
Home.”
Some hundred years from now,
Woolfolk, like so many writers, may
become famous and unless someone
sees to it, he may not even have an
appropriate marker to honor his name.
Youth Is Time To Make Dreams
By HAL BOYLE
NEW YORK AP - Youth is the
time for man to go on
golden argosies and make his true
dreams come true.
Otherwise, middle age becomes a
kind of prison for the would-be
adventurer. His argosies turn
into armchair travels and his
visions into tired daydreams that
thrill him less each passing year.
His fantasies may even harden
into a ritual as routine and
commonplace as his other habits.
So if you're under 40, now is the
basic necessities of life have been provided for us—in
most cases, given to us with no questions asked. With the
basic necessities of life taken care of we have the
freedom to pursue our myriad dreams.
Secondly, why do we condemn materialism?
Materialism as expression of competition or social
status is not to be condoned. Materialism as an ex
pression of the aesthetic side of life can contributed to
the spirituality this generation seems to be craving.
Money is not always the root of evil, it is also the root of
learning and the finer things in life. If you believe that
money does not matter, ask yourself when the last time
was that you met a man of uncomfortable means who
had crawled out of the flesh and become a part of the
spirit. He may be the same man who said, “the world is
too much with us.”
—Dee Freida
SMOKE SIGNALS
Published Bi-Weekly. Chowan College,
Murfreesboro, North Carolina 27855
EDITOR Teresa Shoulders
ASSOCIATE EDITOR Carol Denton
SPORTS EDITOR Richard Jackson
STAFF MEMBERS
Mary Tow-nshend
Arthur Riddle
Joseph Stinson
Nancy Long
Cheryl Whitehead
Melody Matthews
Jay Sidner
Janet Griffin
Eddie Beach
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Greg Kenan
Frank Dunton
time to win those dream goals.
For example, you might-
Catch a pickled herring.
Lay a rumor to rest.
Humble a pride of lions.
Sweep up a sweepstakes prize.
Find out where your bread is
buttered.
Go surfboarding with Helen
Hayes.
Bring home not only the bacon
but a little caviar, too.
Acquire the world’s largest
collection of box tops you can
send away and get nothing back
for.
Break up a dice game by
throwing eight sevens in a row.
Write a wrong.
Throw a monkey wrench into
the machinery.
Sing a song of 12 pence. It takes
12 pence today to buy what six
pence used to.
Imagine something no one else
has imagined.
Promise a politician anything
and give him nothing-not even
your vote.
Fight the good fight.
Soften your arteries by
unhardening your heart.
Invent a rubber ruler so
everything will measure tne
exact size you want it to be.
Buy your dog a doghouse with
plumbing and an automatic dish
washer.
Seek a cure for tree surgeions
who can’t stand the sight of sap
and get nosebleed if they do.
Develop a heating appliance
Muaiiintood to dry and child
behind the ears by the age of 15.
Yes, any dream can be
achieved, but you have to start
young. If you don’t, dust will
gather on your destiny.
Nearly 1.6 billion piaaz pies
were sold last year for $4 billion
Letter To
The Editor
Dear Editor,
This letter is in reference lo
student support. Ever since I
have been attending Chowan
College I have heard nothing but
complaints from students con
cerning the policies of the school
and the duties of Mr. Graham.
Conversation among the students
will not change a thing.
The representatives of the
Student Government are con
stantly working to have the
wishes of a few students become
reality, but without support of the
entire student body their efforts
will be in vain.
If the students are ever going to
walk this campus in harmony
with the administration and have
some outdated policies changed,
we must stand up together for our
rights.
Sincerely,
Lloyd G. Whitehurst