PAGE 2 — Smoke Signals, Wednesday, Februan/ 16, 1W7
Smoke Signals Needs Your Help
I
By NANCY SULLIVAN
Dear Students,
As you may or may not have noticed,
some of the article are reprints. This is
because these articles had so many
mistakes in the last issue. Most of the
mistakes were overlooked before
stripping and plating and some were
lust never reset. This only goes to prove
that the people who put together the
newspaper are only human. We are not
machines and we are subject to
mistakes just like everyone else.
But of course the newspaper only
comes out when there is enough news to
put in it. Again the staff members and
my associate and I are not machines.
We need help from all interested
people. Any one can submit articles to
the newspaper. Those articles do not
neccessarily have to be news stories.
Poems, comics, feature stories,
complaints, or things that might in
terest the student body are welcome.
I would like to thank Mrs. Jackson’s
Wednesday’s lab members for caring
enough to help with this issue. They
offered to carry this issue as a lab
project. They get a grade for this but
they could have done something else
instead. As it has been stated in back
issues and is proven now, this is a
student newspaper. Students do most of
Iranians Add
New Dimension
By ELLEN TEMPLETON
In view of the fact that I have at
tended Chowan College for a full
semester, I feel compelled to write this
article.
When first arriving on campus at the
end of August 1976, I observed this
unique conglomeration of people. Not
like that in high school, but that of a
higher class. Here were international
students. I agree with the ad
ministration, they do add a great deal
of cultural background to Chowan;
however, I feel they add more than
that. International students have given
me a better insight of people.
Of all of these students, I suppose the
largest group, comprising of Iranians,
fascinates me the most. They have
unwittingly outdone themselves. They
unite as one — a philosophy that should
be adopted by all people of all nations.
Due to our own ignorance, we have
mocked Iranians. This truly is an in
justice. A classic example would be
when the Persians were handing out
newsletters in Thomas Cafeteria. The
newsletters concerned some wrong
doings to Iranians in France. Many
American students felt this was
ridiculous since they weren’t in France,
why should they care. To me, this
showed the strength to unite even that
far away. I found it refreshing to see
people caring about people for a
change. This is something that seems to
becoming rapidly obsolete among other
nationalities. I have also noticed,
whether it is out of lack of anything else
to do or simply pure stupidity, that
certain groups of people seem to delight
in “ganging up” on one lone Persian.
I’m not saying that the Persians are
perfect because perfect people just
don’t exist. What I am saying is that
people are people regardless of race,
color, or creed. And if any of these
factors do have a bearing in the way
you treat someone, perhaps you should
review your thinking. Take the time to
listen to everyone, understand, and
compare people. It’s really a
fascinating learning experience.
Timetable Set
For SGA Elections
The Committee on Elections has
established the following timetable for
the election of SGA officers for 1977-78:
February 28-
March 4,1977
Candidates register by completing
the proper f^ms which may be secured
from the Office of Dean Lewis located
on the third floor of historic McDowell
Cblumns.
March *, 1977
Campaigning begins.
April 6,1977
Election Day
April 13,1977
Runoff Election Day
the work dealing with the paper. I know
some of the articles are from staff
members and -or faculty members, but
also most of these stories are of great
interest to the students. This paper is
for every student and faculty member
on campus.
This paper is not exclusive. Anyone
who has the desire to write and submit
articles may do so. The paper has not
been on schedule lately because of the
lack of interest shown for support. So
stop complaining. It is not by any fault,
or entirely the fault of, the staff. We try
hard, but we cannot please everyone.
Live Life
To The
Fullest
ByLINDA STEECE
The birds are singing softly and if I
die today,
I want you to live your life fully each
and every day.
Do the things you want to do
The things you leave undone
And wear a smile on your face
And never wear a frown.
I used to be afraid of deaths dark
doors and now I have to say
I must accept it, we all must, for we
know not where it may.
Come knocking when we least expect
it, take us or someone close
So live your life to the fullest it’s the
only dose
So it really doesn’t matter wether we
live or die
For we are as puppets on a string or
actors on a stage.
And when the play is over and when
they close the page.
Will we be remembered or was life
lived in vain?
Instead of complaining stop and think
what you have done to help support it.
Then maybe when you can answer
yourself, fix it. Until then be satisified
with what you do have. If you still want
to complain, put it down on paper and
turn it in to Mrs. Marks in the Graphic
Arts building, I promise you it will be
read.
I cannot make any firm promises on
the content of the paper. With yoi^ help
and participation it can and will get
better. Until then, we are doing the best
we can. That is one promise I can and
will stand on.
Literary
Musings
t'
In Dedication
And Memory
By ELLEN TEMPLETON
On Tuesday, January 25, 1977 at
approximately midnight, Steve Callis
and Bill Presslar were involved in a
devastating collision with a truck. Bill
was critically injured and all hopes are
that he will survive this. Steve died.
With all respect I wish to dedicate
this poem to him — a friend who will
always be painfully missed.
“FareweU”
As the cool wind whispers through the
sleeping tree tops,
I hear it.
As the leaves turn brown and fall to the
ground,
I see it.
As the rain gently hits against my
forehead,
I feel it.
As the day comes to an end and the
night begins,
I know it.
As you have died and I will live,
I accept it.
There seems to be no end to the
variety of printings to come from
MU PUBLICATIONS of Dahlgren,
Virginia. During the past few
months we have read with interest
the personal quips of Mu’s founder-
director, G. Dunbar Moomaw,
cards honoring our country’s birth
(a worthy Bicentennial mini
meditation), and now a worthwhile
addition to books of poetry, A
COLLECTION OF POEMS,
published also in 1976.
Mr. Moomaw brings together
eighteen of his best poems to form
an attractive and thought-
provoking collection of free-form
poetry. The lover of free verse will
find much to his liking among these
poems covering a variety of sub
jects, each with a fresh approach
which makes for delightful reading
— and heavy thinking.
Without some preparation or
knowledge of the contents of this
book, a casual reader may feel that
there is not much here. There are
only twenty-two printed pages;
however, the serious reader will
quickly discover value and will
forgive the quantity praising the
quality of the poems included.
By PROF. ROBERT G MULDER
!
treats much the same question
posed in the Bible: can good and
evil come from the same sourt^p?
Ambition seems to hold together
“The Great Vision” and “Oh; If
Life.” Some of the same thoi^t
prevails in “Our Present PatlTto
the Future” in which he also t^s
with the term: controlled freed^.
The strongest, if not the best,
poem in the entire collection is One
Moomaw calls “Purpose.” In t^is
the author’s purpose is to stimulate
the reader’s purpose in Hvmg.
Again the scriptural “What shalp it
profit a man...” idea comes to ljhe
front in this poem and seems tcjbe
the underlying current which h^s
the framework for his idea. \^at
have we accomplished, he seeni^to
ask, if we have lived in vain. Ac
complishment is that which ^y
take the sting out of death. \
This small but significant
collection is a valuable one. "rtie
size of the book (you may easily
carry this in your pocket) in no way
indicates its worth. The author for
a brief period takes possession ‘of
your thoughts and you walk away
feeling glad that he did.
(Copies of this collection maybe
obtained from the author at 8bx
612, Dahlgren, Virginia 22448.)
The poet deals with space in his
first two poems. In “Universe” he
ponders the beginning and the
ending of time along with the
gigantic expanse of limitless
being: “As I look up, deeply
searching- The star filled sky-1 feel
as though I’m floating- Endlessly
through infinite space.”
He seems to draw from nature
the answers to questions which
have concerned him. “What’s your
Secret?” is the title of one poem,
and here the author admonishes a
bird to give him life-secrets in
much the same spirit of Percy
Shelley in “To A Skylark.” But,
like Shelley’s bird, Moomaw’s
simply hears the poet’s question,
says nothing, and continues his
song. Neither Shelley’s nor
Moomaw’s was so cooperative as
Poe’s Raven.
A paradoxical presentation is
beautifully displayed in
“Darkness.” The poet finds that in
darkness, even with its
nothingness, its stillness, and its
endlessness, there is to be found
“the door leading to light.”
There are in A COLLECTION OF
POEMS pieces for the theologian,
for the thinker, and for the
carefree. “The Pacifist Nature”
How To Write A Correct Job Application
By DEAN LEWIS
Last spring an executive in one of
North Carolina’s largest towns told me
he had recently employed a two-year
secretarial graduate of CJiowan College
in a position for which there had been
more than 100 applicants. In con
versation I learned there were other
applicants who, in the opinion of the
employer, had the ability, personality,
and interest to perform efficiently.
What, then, was the reason for the
CJiowan graduate’s being employed?
The position was offered the Chowan
Thomas's
Promises
By MICHAEL C. ROBINSON
niomas’ promises to serve the best,
three square meals a day
“Get it now while it’s hot”
is what the workers say.
“What’s it taste Uke” someone asks,
starting to begin
“I don’t know I guess like nothing”
So let’s just all dig in”
“It’s not so bad I must insist”
“it’s really very fine.”
Because it’s cheap and tastes so bad
the Braves just love to die.
Murfree Drugs sells the most,
Rolaids that spell relief
they calm and sooth your battered
stomach
after Thomas’ Mystery Beef.
Day to Day and week to week
we eat our hearty meals
with knife fork and spoon in hand
we think“what a sorry deal”
Early breakfast, early dinner,
early supper too,
early death and funeral
are the things in store for you.
When I’m gone and looking down
I’ll simply have to say,
to all my friends at (ihowan College,
“I wonder what Thomas Cafeteria is
having today!
Nancy Sullivan — Editor
Mike Barnhardt — Associate Editor
Joe Higginbothan
Kenneth Preston
Chris Gallagher
Vera Lannbert
Eddie Moore
Pam (Dwens
Linda Steece
Ellen Templeton
graduate because her letter of ap
plication was accompanied by a per
sonal data sheet. The resume made the
difference.
Returning to the campus I asked
Professor Thomas E. Ruffin, Jr.,
CJiairperson of the Department of
Business who was responsible for our
graduates knowing about the personal
data sheet. From Professor Ruffin I
learned that members of the Alpha Pi
Chapter of Alpha Pi Epsilon, an
honorary business fraternity, had
prepared a series of guidelines for
applicants. Prepared as a service
project the guidelines include the
following topics: How to Write an Ef
fective Letter of Application, Guide for
Completing a Personal Data Sheet,
Questions Frequently Asked During the
Employment Interview, Reasons Why
Applicants are Frequently Rejected,
and Why Prospective Employees Fail
to Sell Themselves in an Interview.
These materials were shared with me
by Professor Patricia B. Edwards. I
filed and forgot them untU recently
when Joe Higginbothan, a sophomore
in graphic arts asked me to help him
prepare a resume. As Joe and I
discussed the contents of a resume, I
wondered how many Chowan students
could use this kind of information. With
permission from Professor Patricia
Edwards and through the courtesy of
the staff of Smoke Signals these
guidelines are being made available to
all citizens of the college community.
(Remaining guidelines will appear in
the next issue of Smoke Signals which
should be released during the first week
of March.)
Information you may wish to keep
for future reference.
When you write a letter of ap
plication, you are selling yourself-your
background, your training, your per
sonality, your ability to do the work
required in the position for which you
are making application.
Like any other effective sales letter,
your personal sales letter must (1)
attract attention at the beginning, (2)
create interest in your possibilities, (3)
convince the prospective employer that
the services you have to seU are what
he needs and wants, and (4) persuade
him to do what you want him to do-ask
you to call for an interview.
WHEN YOU WRITE
A LETTER OF APPUICATION
1. Make an analysis of yourself-your
personal characteristics, training, and
experience.
2. Get all the information you can
about the position for which you are
applying
1 Write your letter so that it
progresses from Attention to Action.
4. Compose the first sentence or
paragraph in a way to attract attention.
As a general rule, refer to the source of
your information about the position.
5. State the facts about yourself to
create interest in you and conviction
that you have the qualifications
required for the position.
6. Give exact information about your
training and experience.
7. As a general rule, give references.
Include the addresses of the people
whose names you give as references.
By a title or in some other way indicate
the standing of each reference. Give the
telephone number of each.
8. Make it easy for the prospective
employer to take the action you want
him to take. You may enclose a
stamped, self-addressed envelope for
his convenience in replying.
9. Type the letter.
10. Show how your education fits the
requirements of the position you are
seeking.
11. Show how your experiences fit
these requirements.
The above information was taken
from the following sources:
Charles G. Reigner, College Business
Correspondence (Baltimore: The H.M.
Rowe Company, 1971).
Robert R. Aurner, Effective Com
munication in Business (Cincinnati:
South-Western Publishing Company,
1967).
FIFTEEN DON'TS
FOR APPLICATES
1. DON’T brag.
2. DON’T use superlatives.
3. DON’T use flowery words.
4. DON’T use old-fashioned cliches.
5. DON’T sound stiff and insincere
and artificial.
6. DON’T play on sympathy. “I
support my family.”
7. DON’T assume a know-it-all at
titude.
8. DON’T use your company let
terhead, if employed.
9. DON’T use social, club, hotel,
fraternity, or fancy stationery. Use
plain, fine, white bond.
10. DON’T use a postcard. (It has
been done!)
11. DON’T let your application sound
like a wholesale broadcast. Sharpshoot
for one job.
12. DON’T be dull. Use a flash of
“human interest.”
13. DON’T generalize. Be specific
with spike-sharp facts.
14. DON’T make a statement you
can’t back up in an interview.
15. DON’T copy an application from a
“model book” unless you want to take a
short cut to failure.
EFFECTIVE OPENING SENTENCES
1. Everyone wants to enter a field in
which he can render his best service. I
believe I can give my l)est service as a
secretary in an office such as yours.
2. Through your ad in the NEW
YORK TIMES, I have learned that you
are looking for a reliable young man to
work in your office.
3.1 believe I can prove to you that I
meet the requirements for the position
of receptionist, described in your ad
vertisement in the TIMES for Sunday,
May 11.
4. Mr. Paul Rigdon, Manager of your
Sales Department, has told me that you
are in need of a thoroughly qualified
business correspondent.
WHAT PERSONNELOFFICERS
PREFER ON DATA SHEETS
The letter may be less than a page in
length, but the data sheet should be
complete in every detail. This second
sheet conserves time because its
carefully prepared outlines of
qualifications can be quickly scanned.
To include a data sheet outlines
makes it much easier for a pereonnel
man to review a candidate’s
qualifications.
All employers prefer a brief letter
with a following data sheet.
PERSONAL DATA
(Applicant's Name)
(Address)
(Telephone Number)
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Age Height
Birthplace Weight
Date of Birth Physical Condition
Marital Status Nationality
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
(affiliations, lodges, clubs, special
interests, hobbies, sports, etc.)
HONORS
EDUCATION List the names of
schools, degrees, and dates (most
recent first)
schools, degrees, and dates (most
recent first)
University or College
Junior College
Business College
Institute
High School
Major field of study
Courses taken in major field
Courses allied to major field
Books read on major field and allied
subjects; magazines read
Theoretical training, laboratory
training, field training.
EFFECTIVE CLOSING SENTENCES
1.1 am eager to be considered as an
applicant for this position. A stamped
and addressed envelope is enclosed for
your convenience in writing me about
an interview.
2. May I come in for an interview? My
telephone number is WEst 3487.
3. Please give me an opportunity to
answer any questions you may have in
mind about my qualifications for the
opening.
4. Please suggest a time and place for
me to call on you on the occasion of your
next trip to fte New York market.
MILITARY RECORD (if any)
EXPERIENCE AND PRACTICAL
TRAINING
Positions held with dates of tewre
(most recent first) and exact naiies
and addresses of employers.
Any special training gained ftBm
practice: *-
Knowledge of any skill (typewrifl
shorthand, etc.) List of office mach'
used and ability to use them.
REFERENCES (by permission) U^at
least three names with exact ad
dresses. 
WHAT PERSONNEL OFFICER^
SAY ABOUT APPLICATIONS.
Any deficiencies or careless eipors
tend to cause an employer to judg# the
applicant accordingly.
A well set-up application with good
grammar and spelling, as well as jpod
presentation, gives the applican|. an
immense advantage. ,
We try not to be too greatly in
fluenced by these factors, but -sub
consciously we are swayed by tiiem,far
more than we realize. *
Often these factors determine
whether an applicant will receiv# the
consideration of an interview.
If an applicant were appealing
personally for his interview, he wild
naturally shine his shoes, brusl^,his
hair, put on well-pressed clothes, fhat
application of his is going in his i4l^e.
Its appearance is just as import^ as
his appearance would be.
«
Bibliography of the
above information: ^
Aurner, Robert R. Effective G»m-
munication in Business (Cincinptti:
South-Western Publishing Comjsiny,
1967), p. 239. ,
Reigner, Cliarles G. College Business
Correspondence (Baltimore: The
H.M. Rowe Company, 1971), pp. 217 and
222.
Student Remembers
Trip To Rest Home
By LINDASTEECE
As I glance back over the Valentines
Days of my life one sticks out above all
others. I was an everyday 11 year old in
the fourth grade who happened to be in
an organization everyone belonged to.
Girl Scouts..
One afternoon our beloved leader
Mrs. Copley informed us that we would
be traveling to an old folks home. At
first I didn’t like the idea at all. Ac
cording to everyone I knew these people
were quite melancholy. After a few
minutes Mrs. Copley made the idea
better when she said we could get our
community action badge from going.. I
remember thinking how neat it would
look on my sash.
So I made a few valentines for the
people Mrs. Copley referred to
residents of the home.. As I was
creating the valentines I found it to be
rather enjoyable.
The nert week we were to meet in the
hall after school to go to the home. I
must say I wasn’t at all looking forward
to it. The moment finally came to leave.
I remember wanting to say I was sick
or something, but when I thought of the
badge I would get, I just put on the fake
smile and left.
After I was there a while I founrffcut
the exact opposite to be true. TlRse
people seemed happy. In fact ihe
stories of the wicked old people ^re
wrong. They offered us candy cocoes
and everything they had. In a wA it
seemed like they wanted to pay ufoff
for coming to see them. ,
The one person I will never f|feet
was the old man in the bed who (&d
with tears of joy because I had gyn
him a valentine. I guess he discov«(ed
that someone really cared. ’!
So on every Valentines Day I go^d
try to make someone happy and si^w
that I care. Isn’t that what ValenH(tes
Day is all about.
Advisor-Advisee
Day
Friday
February 25, 1977