Page 2 — Smoke Signals, Wednesday, February 15,1978
I EDITORIAL
About Student's Rights
Smokers May End Movies
Does Chowan College have the right to
violate what should be the student’s basic
right to privacy?
If the recent search of rooms in Parker
Hall was legal, then Chowan College does
indeed have that right.
On Sunday afternoon, December 6,
Parker residents were interrupted by
dorm authorities who were searching the
different rooms. The search was authoriz
ed by Ronald Reams, former chief of
security.
Rooms were searched because of a
larceny of some stereo equipment on the
third floor the previous weekend. The
thieves entered the room by drilling a hole
above the lock on the door. An electrical
outlet is located near the door.
The theft should not have caused all
Parker residents to become suspects,
therefore subjecting them to search. A
Murfreesboro Police Department member
told a student that he did not think the
crime was committed by a student.
The Chowan College Handbook’s policy
on room search says: “A room will never
be searched without reasonalble cause to
beUeve that (1) activity is taking place in a
room which is detrimental to the health,
safety, and welfare of students or (2)
substances are contained in the room
which would be in violation of Chowan Col-
Summer Study
In Spain Offered
How would you like to spend five weeks
this summer in Spain?
The 14th Summer School Program in
Spain 1978, offered by Augustana College
of Rock Island, 111., gives students that op
portunity, along with a chance to earn nine
quarter college credits.
Dr. Arjibay Doreste is the director of the
tour, and interested students should con
tact him at Agustana as soon as possible.
The ZIP code is 61201. Dr. Doreste noted
that space is very limited.
Last year, 93 students from 25 states,
Canada and Puerto Rico made the trip, Dr.
Doreste said. The group lived and attended
classes at Ciudad Universitaria in Madrid.
Each student had his own room.
The students took a break from classes
for a tour of La Mancha, and other places
related to Cervantes and Don Quixote.
Other cities visited included Valle de los
Caidos, Toledo, Cordoba and Sevilla. Two
days were spent in beautiful Torremolinos
Beach, according to Dr. Doreste.
lege policies. Reasonable cause to believe
is determined by a professional member of
the Student Development staff.”
The policy is vague because of the
“reasonable cause to beUeve.” According
to the handbook’s policy, any member of
the Student Development staff can
authorize a room search as long as he
believes that one of the two regulations
have been violated.
That should not, however, give
authorities the right to search all rooms
because of a theft in one room. One student
reported that his desk drawer was opened.
That seems like a weird place to hide a
stereo receiver and two speakers.
I hope that all steps are taken to insure
student’s rights in the future. Although Mr.
Reams was only trying to recover some
stereo equipment, his decision was an un
necessary violation of student’s rights.
— Mike Bamhardt
Flagrant Waste
Of Food Cited
To the Editor:
I cannot understand the flagrant waste
of food. On Thursday, December 15, apples
were served for lunch in the college
cafeteria. Presumably, apples were
selected by persons who like apples and
normally eat them. As I walked down the
stairway in Marks Hall just past noon, I
observed two partially eaten apples lying
on the stairs. Outside the building on the
ground lay a huge red apple with one bite
taken.
After hearing students complain about
the quality of food served to them, I read
that impoverished millions around the
world are lucky to have a thin porridge to
eat once a day. I also read that Americans,
who constitute 6 percent of the world’s
population, consume 50 percent of the
world’s food supply. At the grocery store
apples are priced at 39 cents a pound.
When I reflect upon all of these things, I
am first embarrassed, then ashamed, and
finally angry. All of us need to be more
thankful for our blessings and less
wasteful.
Mrs. Dorothy A. Wallace
Richard Barkley
Daniel Bender
Jane Bridgforth
Allen Davis
Edited, printed and published
by students at Chowan College
for students, faculty and staff
of Chowan College
Mike Barnhardt — Editor
Susan Pate — Associate Editor
News Staff
Kelly Finch
Kenneth Hardee
Charles Hitchcock
Kathleen Thompson
Deborah Sawyer
Donna Swicegood
Joseph Swift
By SAM CLARK
SGA President
There have been some problems with
smoking during the showing of movies in
Columns. If there are any more signs or
reports of this the SGA will not be permit
ted to show movies there. This is your
privilege, please do not abuse it.
Thursday night open house seems to be
running smoothly. This is on a trial basis
only. Hopefully if everything continues to
run smoothly open house will be adopted
after spring vacation.
If you have any questions you’d like to
direct to the SGA please put them in the
SGA mailbox located in Columns next to
the business office. Of you have any com
plaints or would like the SGA to look into a
matter drop them off in the SGA mailbox.
10th Avenue will be the band for the
Valentine’s dance. The dance will be in
Thomas Cafeteria from 9 p.m.-l a.m. on
Thursday, February 15th. This will be a
“jeans” dance. Admission is 50 cents per
person.
Student Legislative (SGA floor represen
tative) meetings are held in Marks Hall
Auditorium Monday mornings at 10:00
a.m. Our next meeting will be January
30th. Meetings are held every other Mon
day. If you are a freshman representative
and have not changed your chapel seat
please contact Ken Dobler. Attendance
has been low and with Spring Festival
plans being prepared we need to have a
good attendance.
Movies have been cut back to one every
two weeks due to low attendance. The less
money we lose the more of a budget we will
have to work with for Spring Festival.
JACK BRITT
Chief Security Officer
New Security
Officer Named
Jack Britt, a native of Murfreesboro and
former member of the local police force,
has been named Chief Security Officer at
Chowan College, according to an an
nouncement released earlier this week by
R. Clayton Lewis, Dean of Students. Britt
has assumed his duties and is presently on
duty at night, and within several weeks
will be on campus full time.
Dean Lewis stated that Britt wiU be
responsible for the safety of all citizens of
the college community and will protect the
property of students and the college.
Britt is held in high regard by members
cf the local police department and the
Hertford County Sheriff’s Department
During his tenure as a Murfreesboro
policeman, Britt cooperated with college
officials on number of occasions.
Britt was among quite a number of ap
plicants for the position and was appointed
to the position in light of his “experience,
background, and reputation,” according
to Lewis.
RANDOM
THOUGHTS
- By Richard Barkley -
When was the last time you signed away
your inalienable rights granted through
the Constitution of the United States of
America?
Never?
How soon we forget! If you signed the
white slip of paper required before you
registered for classes, you did just that.
This piece of paper states that you will
abide by College Policy.
What is College Policy?
That is a candy-coated expression which
means relinquishing many of your con
stitutional rights.
The College Handbook is the student’s
interpretation of College PoUcy. It
establishes quite a few “legal” invasions
of students’ rights.
A) Your room can be searched at
anytime without a search warrant.
B) “Individual residents are not allowed
to sell anything on campus without permis
sion.”
C) Sun bathing is not allowed on Sunday
mornings.
D) Sun lamps are not permitted.
However, the Administration fails to
realize that College PoUcy is in direct con
tradiction with itself.
Page 98 of the Handbook states “In
dividual rights of all citizens within the
College conununity are recognized and
honored. Those who intentionally violate
another’s rights shall be subject to
disciplinary action.”
Maybe the College should take a look at
itself and possibly even take disciplinary
action.
IMPROVEMENTS?
Improvements in the cafeteria come in
the vein of good news and bad news.
Good news: The new partition will pre
vent the horrible sin of breaking in Une.
Bad news: We still must circle the
cafeteria for five minutes before we can
find a table.
NOTICE
It’s amazing how many notices the col
lege hands out. Most threaten the students.
The latest states “Any student who is
reported or seen to leave his tray on the
table will be subject to disciplinary action
involving work assignments in the
cafeteria.”
Sound familiar?
WHAT’S THE USE?
Five will get you ten that the petition
signed by Parker Hall residents and
presented to Dean Lewis found its way to
the waste paper basket. The petition asked
that the mail boxes remain in Parker until
the end of the spring semester. Students’
wishes are respected here — until they
enroll.
HIGH COST OF EDUCATION
The Faculty Judiciary Board spent two
days reaching a decision involving five
students. This not only took up two days
during examination week but required the
time of eight professors and ten students.
The decision was made, but, with the flip
of a pen. Dean Lewis overturned the deci
sion. A waste of time for all concerned.