Newspapers / Chowan University Student Newspaper / Feb. 25, 1980, edition 1 / Page 2
Part of Chowan University Student Newspaper / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
Page 2 — Smoke Signals, Monday, February 25, 1980 ■^.PlSERS. WHff g|\(E§?/ BE NICE ToTHEWP WORLt>,VOU SAiP-SoThEY BURN OUR ENIW381ES' CANCEL NE\N WEAPONS PROSRAMB, YOU SA1&-S0 THE Soviets mm TE£rri/ pursue peteote, mx the hi ws, vsu §«t> -so THEY RAPE AF6HAN18TAN.' WEll- SOHlEBODirSi^MS TO fWfbl? THESE HllSTAKES// College Press Service REfilSIEli DRtft k HERE Student Forum EDITORIAL OPINION Every Vote Counts Students here at Chowan should take more interest in the Stu dent Government Association, and the best way to start, is by voting in the March 5 election. It is the vote of you, the student, that will decide the type of government SGA will have for the 1980-81 school year. In past elections at Chowan, student interest has been low, but because of the overwhelming chatter on campus thus far, the up coming election should prove to be very interesting. One race which should prove most interesting will be the one for president, with Steve Laney of Charlotte and Sharee Atkinson of Dinwiddie, Va. Both candidates have proven that they are knowledgeable and very intelligent students; in fact, many see this race as a toss up. Laney is perhaps the most qualified because of his present par ticipation in SGA. He has been a representative since September, and is more familiar with the procedures of the organization. Also, Laney is on about a half a dozen school committees, and his relationship with the faculty and administration has grown rather close, making him the logical choice. Atkinson, however, could possibly be a great president. She is very personable and astute, qualities which would undoubtably make her a top executive; but right now, she lacks the experience and background Laney has already encompassed. Remember, it’s your vote, take advantage of this privilege. -HARRY PICKETT h'lOt -.vt Job Well Done Phil Royce. The name is unfamiliar to most. But to the ad ministration, athletes on campus. Smoke Signals and the news media abroad, his name is very common, and his presence is always a welcomed one. Royce’s official title at Chowan College is director of college relations, which means he coordinates news releases and distributes them to the news media. His job is a tireless one — one which doesn’t encompass much glamor — but one which has helped the college gain needed exposure. Royce is a man respected by his peers. His job is a hard one, but it is one which the smallish man loves incessantly. Whether it’s covering a Board of Trustees meeting and snapping the countless photo exposures of President Whitaker; or standing atop the pressbox at the football field during 30-degree weather and rain, keeping statistics for Coach Garrison; or maybe setting up the sound systems at assemblies, concerts, ball games or movies, Phil Royce does his job, and does it well. It’s just a shame that his work goes unnoticed by most — and it just taken for granted by others. It would be hard for many to wear a smile from 8 to 5 each day when a desk is filled with work to be done and another pile is to come — and perhaps a trip has to be taken as a means of gather ing a story on events pertaining to the college — and work just piles up more. Phil Royce is probably the hardest-working staffer at Chowan, and there’s probably no group of people who appreciate his ser vices more than we do. Smoke Signals salutes this industrious young man. — HARRY PICKETT. Edited, printed and published by students at Chowan College for students, faculty and staff of CHOWAN COLLEGE. Harry Pickett — Editor Belinda Elmore — Associate Editor Dean Lowman — News Editor Greg Bassett Jane Bridgeforth Kathy Fisher Janet Herzing J. P. Leong NEWS STAFF Menford Grisewould Penelope Jones Nancy Keen Barbara Parker Shelly Jankosky PHOTO STAFF Randy Murphy Nancy Thierry Bill Williamson Bite The Bullet By KATHY FISHER Any time during the week trying to find a parking space in front of the dorms can be next to impossible, but on the weekends a person would be sur prised to see much more than a dozen cars in each parking lot. Yes, Chowan is known as being a “suitcase college.” Every weekend the students pack up to go home or anywhere that there is something going on. The only way to rid the college of this reputation is to provide the students with some kind of entertainment on or close by the campus. This year I can honestly say that there has been an effort on the part of the college to provide more campus activities. By activities I mean the dorm-sponsored events such as the square dance and numerous disco dances and jams, and the SGA movies and concert-dances. There was also an attempt to involve all the students in the selection of activities by asking them to suggest things that they would like to do. But still this is not enough to keep the students here. There is just not enough variety and selection. Chowan is limited in the kinds of entertainment it can provide. In the surrounding area there is almost nothing at all to do. Of course there’s the Pub, but most students can’t afford to go there very often or they don’t care for that type of place. A twin movie theater and drive-in are located in nearby Ahoskie, but to go to one of these a student needs transportation and money for gas and a ticket. I the town of Mufreesboro there aren’t any places for students to go and socialize except for bars. What this town needs is some type of wholesome entertainment like a bowling alley or roller rink. Not only would this give the students something different to do, but it would also benefit the whole community. U would give the high school students a nice place to go on dates, provide family entertainment and cut down on travel expenses of church groups that now have to travel to other towns for this type of activity. To the best of my knowledge (and I have asked around), Murfreesboro has no zoning law that would prevent this kind of operation. The problem seems to be with the people. Most of the townspeople do not like the idea of investing in such a place probably because of fear that it will become a hangout for delinquents or that the building would become damaged by the conduct of its patrons. And this could very well be true, but ways can be found to prevent and or slow down the wear and tear process. Hopefully this column will cause many people to think about this situation and cause them to see just how beneficial such a place would be. I’m not just writing from the viewpoint of a bored college student. As a matter of f ^t if one of these facilities were to be built, I would probably not be around to enjoy it because I will graduate in May. 1 am writing this because I think that such a place would benefit this community, and I would still think so even if Chowan weren’t located in this area. I just believe that no matter where one lives, there should be some type of entertainment close by for the people - especially the youth - that can provide good, clean fun. VOTE STEVE LANEY PRES/DENT SGA SGA Coverage, Cafeteria Operation,Censorship, Absence of Wrestling News Draw Criticism Editor: I wish to reply in response to the front page article in the February 8th edition of Smoke Signals. First I would like to express my disappointment in Mr. Harry Pickett and his articles that appear on the front page. I, among other students found the article on “Black Musical Group Blasts SGA” very distasteful and unprofessional. It has appeared that Harry Pickett takes every available opportunity to criticize SGA and especially President Mike Burke. If Chowan did not have SGA, there would be no dances, movies, Spring Festival Activities or other activities. I am a SGA representative and was present during the said SGA meeting of which the band members of “New Breeze” attended. To say no one was interested is rather strong statement. I among others offered to attend a rehearsal of “New Breeze.” Racial prejudice had nor has anything whatsoever to do with SGA’s choice of bands. I admit that a wider variety of bands is needed but SGA does its best with what it has. Greg Kaserman checks into the bands under a particular agency. The information he is given is the type of music the band plays, the price, the number of band members and their availability to play on a given date. Unless there is a photograph included in brochures we are sent, SGA has no idea whether the band is black, wfiite or purple! The color does not matter as long as they sound good! SGA hesitated about booking “New Breeze” because of their lack of Equipment! The question was why should we spend $400 of the students’ money for an equipmentless band when SGA can book a professional band for $500 or $600. The orginal plan for on- campus bands was a band competition or “Battle of the Bands.” This would give bands on campus a chance to show their abilities. If we found one who had the right equipment and sound we may have booked them on a separate oc casion. These racial debates are becoming very old and show a lack of maturity. People are getting tired of hearing a constant cry of discrimination. If I Uamed every personal defeat on my sex or color, I would be writing a lot of editorials. As far as SGA members are con cerned, the student body chooses and votes on their representatives, not one person. SGA certainly does not turn black students away. We, want anyone who is qualified and willing to work hard for this school. The student body is quite welcome to attend any SGA meeting they wish. In fact, if more people were interested and involved, maybe SGA could do more for you, the Student Body. Also, next time you have a complaint about SGA or the school in general; first know all the facts before you jump to conclusions and second, before you criticize ask yourself if you have done anything lately to improve this school. Thank You, Michele D. Newbern SGA Representative Editor: In past issues of Smoke Signals, the campus newspaper, many comments have been made concerning the con troversy that plagues the 1979-80 ver sion of Chowan’s Student Government Association. Although most of these comments have been directed toward the entire organization, one member in particular — President Mike Burke — has apparently been attacked the hardest, primarily by Smoke Signals Editor Harry Pickett. The question is why? Mike has been accused of being “compelled to bend a law” or two, criticized for supporting the purchase of canoes which were frequently used until the paddles were broken, and called the instigator of an October panty raid in recent issues of the campus newspaper. All the articles mentioned above have been penned by one man — Mr. Harry Pickett, editor. The question again is why? Is Pickett trying to personally purify the American judicial system as it exists at Chowan? Perhaps Mr. Pickett believes that one automatically becomes perfect as soon as he-she is elected to a public position. Or is it that Pickett has a personal grudge against Burke which he has chosen to exploit through the most convenient method available to him — namely, the campus newspaper. It seems as if the third proposal might be the closest to the truth. I say this after reading the article by Mr. Pickett in the February 9 edition of Smoke Signals entitled “No Punish ment Planned for SGA Head after Raid.” Pickett libels Burke by calling him “one of the instigators in a panty raid in October.” This allegation has not been officially proven and therefore should not have been hsted as if it were fact unless the author offers concrete evidence which would stand up under legal duress to support his claim. One can only assume that these comments reflect the personal prejudices of Mr. Pickett and are not vital to the ac curacy of the story. Other misleading comments also appear throughout the story. It is im plied that Burke was one of the leaders in the panty raid of Belk Hall yet nowhere does Pickett provide any proof. The only claim which Pickett actually provides evidence for is the case of Burke’s participation in a shaving cream fight outside of East Hall which occurred nearly two hours later. Incidentally, the SGA Constitution, Student Handbook, or school catalogue contain no guidelines or recom mendations which bar the SGA officers or members from participation in either panty raids or shaving cream fights on school property. Judging from that, one must assume that Dean Clayton Lewis’ comments reflect his personal beliefs. The personal ideas of any administrative official should not infringe on the rights of any students as long as they are not doing anything illegal or contrary to (in writing, rather than thought) school policy. Pickett's comments surrounding the locking of doors in Parker Hall to prevent a “raid” are misleading. The author implies the securing of the dorm was improper even though he seemingly opposes raids of other dorms. Nothing could be more con tradictory. One must take in consideration that Mike Burke is a student who came to college supposedly to help himself mature. Surely until this maturation process is complete, Mike will still be allowed to have occasional fun before being “sentenced” to the boring, dreamless world called adulthood. Finally, if the purpose of Mr. Pickett’s article was to defame SGA President Mike Burke, it obviously succeeded; if it was intended to bring out some hidden truth or revelation, the article failed due to personal prejudices and misleading allegations. Sincerely, Marie Gaver Cecilia Yau To the Editor: Dear Sir, I believe that SGA has done a fairly decent job this year. I don’t know where you get your information from, but it certainly cannot be direct. Are your direct quotes really direct? About Mike Burke and the Panty Raid that happened so long ago, couldn’t you take your ai^er and ac cusations elsewhere'besides the school newspaper? Is this a way to “get even” with the president for some personal grudge maybe? Why use the newspaper? Why turn Chowan into a battleground forcing people to take sides. You show mainly one side to the story, where are the other views? other views? I can see your point as an editor to get nice juicy stories about officals or organizations but please give us good fresh news for a change. By the way, why hasn’t there been any articles on the undefeated wrestling team? Bored with old news, Elaine Chapman Dear Editor, Once again it is time for me to take pen in hand and voice my opinion for all to hear. In the last issue of the paper there were many things that disturbed me. First, why was there no news about the nationally ranked wrestling team? It seems to me that anythinbg nationally ranked at Chowan would be news worthy. I realize that the basketball team has done very well. My congratulations to the team. It seems a strange though that no space could be found for the undefeated wrestling team. Well maybe there wasn’t room in this past issue. So I checked. Guess What? There hasn’t been room for the wrestling team in any issue to date! Is the team not news worthy; or is the editor too busy elsewhere to care. Anyway, CONGRATULATIONS to the wrestling team. It might be the only time you read it in the paper! That brings me to the next point. Since when do “rumors” deserve front page status? I’m refering to the flagrant name calling article on Mike Burke. Does the Editor have a personal grudge against the President of the SGA? Do you expect us to take the article seriously? The inaccuracies were great, and in contradiction with what was reported earlier. Which do we believe? Can we believe either article? When you write stories about other people here on campus, especially my fellow SGA members, you must remember that we never have claimed to be professionals. We are students above anything else. It seems to me that the space wasted on the Burke story could have been put to better use. As it reads now, the only use for it would be at the bottom of a bird cage. Additionally, the Editor shouuld remember his own recent run in with Dean Winslow on a far more serious matter. Isn’t it odd that I don’t recall reading about in the paper! And now for the final point of my letter and the one that upsets me the most. My fellow SGA members and I have been called “selfish, wasteful, one-sided, and predjudiced.” It seems pecuUar that the ones leveling the Siarges don’t have the stomach to lend their names to their accusations. Even so. I’m glad the Editor aired the Band’s claims. We are a strong SGA and can take criticism. What we cannot tolerate is a one-sided story. The Editor takes great liberty with his Quotes, I never was asked the reason for “New Breeze“not being allowed to play. But look at those quotes around my words. When was I interviewed? Once on the subject of what movies we were trying to bring to the students. The Editor only compounded the problem of co^- munications by not checking into^^ facts. Definently poor reporting.^jp truth of the matter is though, the band stinks!! I will not see my fellow student’s money spent on such a waste. Pat Csigi and I have also done some work on the movie budget price which now stands at $4200; $1300 under budget with top name movies. We hope to in vest some to improve our inadequate sound system. The money spent on the Bands is money well spent. How many of you didn’t think “Sand Castle” wasn’t worth the money? “Tracks”is one of the hottest rock’n’roll groups around. And the “Catilina’s”, the group no one has heard of, has got a record that has been played at the Pub recently. But when was the last time you read a review in the paper on how the dance went, a review type article. Again poor reporting. The SGA is not supposed to do “all things pertaining to the students,” we are merely volunteers, non professional, frying to make college a little better for you, the student. I guess I shouldn’t be so hard on the Editor. After all, he is just an amateur! Correction, an Amateur that gets $600 of the students’ money a year, and for what; THERE'S a good question. The stench of his foul work certainly doesn’t have a place in a paper worth reading. It was hoped that the “80’s” would bring new faith, truth, and meaning to the paper. Apparently this is not going to be so, unless you the student want it. You pay for the paper. DEMAND A GOOD PAPER! Replace the Editor if he can’t do his job, Let’s have a paper that will inform us, not spread rumors; a paper that reports all the news; a paper that puts a meaning of respect to a journalist. FIRE Harry Pickett!!! Awaiting action, Greg Kaserman SGA Social Co-Chairman For Men RA 2nd Floor Parker To the Editor: I am writing to voice my opinion towards the attitude in the cafeteria. I feel the cafeteria personnel have a negative attitude towards quite a few of the students here at Chowan. In this, I mean the people who check the I.D.’s and serve the food. I do realize that there are some people who are not particularly kind to them, but does that mean they sho uld act negatively towards the rest? I would also like to say that the back line, as I know it, is supposed to stay open until the top of the hour. Why is it that when I go to eat at 5:50 p.m., the back line is closed and sometimes the doors are locked? Why does the lady at the back line close 10 to 15 minutes early and go over to the front hne and sit and do nothing until closing? Locking the back doors while there are a lot of people in the cafeteria is a fire hazard. I would also like to know why the back line is not open on Sunday nights ? I realize that quite a few people go home on the weekends, but most of these people are back in time for supper. This creates long lines out in the cold air and makes a lot of students eat elsewhere. The cafeteria is there to serve us, not run us off because of long lines. We pay for these meals, why should we have to wait 30 minutes to receive our food. I say open the back line and feed us without a long wait. - Gary G. Joyce 111* Letter to the Editor: Does censorship exist in our newspaper, the Smoke Signals? The Smoke Signals is a good newspaper as far as college newspapers go as reporting on the campus events: but are we censored in the area of in vestigative reporting? Censorsh^ would prevent student newspap* from reporting on delicate event.s happen on the campus, but this woulci also interfere with the student's right to know. This would really be slanting the news the way that the paper wanted the story to go without hearing both sides, only the offical version and nothing else. Students should have more of a say in their paper and voice a bit more on what they had to say instead of getting it from an Official. That in itself is slanting the news the way the paper or the writer wants it to go. Censorship exists in student papers unlike the professional papers. Without going into the details, sometimes dciicate items don’t get in; sensitivity is one thing that might be involved. In summary, what are we so afraid of? Ronald E. Wood
Chowan University Student Newspaper
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Feb. 25, 1980, edition 1
2
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75