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THE WESLEYAN DECREE
Sept. 19, 1962
Editorials
College Is Many Things
As you drove along the pine-fringed campus drive,
little did you realize the meaning of becoming a col
lege freshman. You will come to think of it, we feel,
as one of the most fruitful years you will experience,
for your first year will supply the keys necessary for
you to open the doors leading to wisdom and know
ledge.
College is many things, as you will soon discover—
empty fountain pens. . . tons of clean, white paper . . .
exasperating: professors . . . gallons of stiff, black cof
fee . . . red eyes and late hours . . . rules and house
mothers . . . spaghetti on Tuesday . . . mad scrambles
to the post office . . . tired hands, sore feet, call downs
. . . dorm pranks . . . books to read, read, read . . .
questions without answers . . . serious talks . .. sharing
thoughts . . . writing themes . . . voting . . . singing
.. . worship . . . baseball . . . confusion and touches of
rebellion . . . unexpected praise, and defeat . . . de
cisions . . . term papers . . . Moby Dick . . . laughter
. .. friendship . . . newspapers . . . dances • • • fellow
ship . . .
And as the year moves on out of this kaliedoscope
there emerges a pattern, a sense of belonging, new
insights, the discovery of truths, and the secure know
ledge that in four years the same doors you once stood
before, in awe and expectation, will have been opened
wide by your own efforts and progress, and you will
stand ready to greet the future.
Newspaper Is Important
A new year begins, and the presses roll, and out
comes our first issue of The Wesleyan Decree. We are
proud of our newspaper, for it plays a vital role in our
college community. For the past two years we have
watched our paper grow from mimeographed sheets
to the issue you now have before you.
What is The Decree other than four pages of news
print and printer’s ink? What does it stand for, and
what is its purpose in the community? Posted over our
desk in answer are these succinct commands:
With honesty and accuracy cover the news.
Name the names, keep the reader mformed, whatever the issue.
Entertain vigorous, constructive ideas.
Seek always the truth.
Let the paper be the voice of tlie students and faculty.
Energetically separate the worthwhile from the worthless.
Adhere to the cannons of journalism.
This is our stated policy, this is our job. This is our
newspaper!
Traditions Have Meaning
You have been introduced to your college and your
newspaper. Now we’d like for you to say hello to
Wesleyan traditions, namely the “Freshman Beanie”
and the “Salty Dog Rag.”
First of all take the Beanie, for the moment your
most ])vized possession. There is a certain distinction
and dignity associated with the blue and gold hat
sitting casually on your head. It symbolizes your place
in the College Community. It is the envy of upperclass
men because it represents the beginning of four years
of opportunity—the opportunity that only a Freshman
has, a fresh start, and a chance to make every minute
of it count. It is also symbolic of adulthood and the
responsibilities involved, to yourself and your college.
And most important, it shows you that you are a new
comer, that there is a place for you.
Wearer of Beanie: COURAGE!
Our other tradition, the “Salty Dog Rag,” represents
e fun-loving nature of our college. What could be
ore fun than dancing this folk dance, made all the
ore lively by the Wesleyan Touch, or seeing faculty
id students racing around the parking lot in gay
vtaposition? Easy to learn, and exciting, it provides
reak from the hours of concentration and hard
•k. In its excitement, liveliness and channel of
wship, it lives as a tradition,
eaking of traditions, reminds us too that because
yan is young, every year of growth will add new
ons and reflect the individual personality of
its classes.
;ng Stones?
President Welcomes Students^
Says College Can Shape Goals
Welcome to Wesleyan! These
are not casual words carelessly
written. The dreams and prayers
of many persons prepared you
and the CoUege for one another.
During your days at college
most of you will make one or
more of these vital decisions:
your life’s work, your life’s
companions (or companion), and
your life’s goals.
The choice of a philosophy of
life, a religious motive and af
filiation, and abiding sense of
values is likely to be made by
a person during college days.
These choices will be influenced
by many persons and many fac
tors. Among these factors are
three considerations. Life is too
brief to be wasted. For some,
life may be tragically short, but
for all, life is transitory and
brief. Recall that Christ lived
only thirty years but His appeal
was enhanced by the quality of
those years. “Jesus went about
doing good; too often we are
content just to go about!”
Life, as well as its brevity,
has an aspect of finality. We
treat the moments of life as the
sand in an hour glass which can
be turned over and over again
when the sand reaches the bot
tom. Christ went to many vil
lages never to return, ministered
to needs He never again encoun
tered, sf>oke words never again
heard by his audience. A popular
song a decade ago supposed “If
I Had My Life To Live Over!”
No man would die under in
dictment if he could live those
hours anew; no unkind word
would be spoken if we could re
call them; high ambition would
not lack achievement if we could
begin again. Guard each day
carefully for study, fellowship,
growth, enrichment, for we may
not recall it once past. i
Life, as well as brief and final, |
is sacred. The catechism asks,
“What is the chief end of man?” i
and replies, “To glorify Gk)d and
to enjoy fellowship with Him |
forever.” Our objective should
be to enjoy the fellowship He
has made possible in the act
of creation and the act of recon
ciliation through Christ Jesus
our Lord.
In some respects the status
symbol of our present day may
be the chamber of commerce
and its emphasis on bigness,
growth, and power. Such an
emphasis does not take quality
into consideration. Two million
average persons may not make
a city a place of renown. One
St. Francis or Albert Schweitzer
can make a village immortal.
When one dedicated student
comes into intimate contact with
a dedicated teacher, truly sig
nificant results are likely. When
a group of interested students
work closely with dedicated
Christian teachers, the ratio of
significant graduates is likely
to be high.
You can become one of those
inspired individuals for whom
we have been preparing for so
many months. Challenge your
self to your best effort.
THOMAS A. COLLINS
THOMAS A. COLLINS
Senate Appoints Gary Garlow
President SGA 1962-63 Term
To fiU the vacancy of Presi
dent of the Student Government
Association left by John Alden,
the Senate unanimously voted
that Gary Garlow, Vice-Presi
dent of the SGA be moved into
the vacancy. A new Vice-Presi-
dent will be elected at a later
date, by the Student Body.
A day student, and resident
of Rocky Mount, Gary is ori
ginally from Union, Pennsyl
vania. He attended High School
at Point Marion, where he was
active in Student Government
affairs and the Band.
A junior, Gary has been ac
tive for the past two years at
Wesleyan. During his Sophomore
year he served on the Annual
Staff, Chairman of the Communi
ty Council, a member of the
Senate, and served on many
special committees. He was also
a member of the Wesleyan base
ball team, the Bishops.
He plans to major in Civil En
gineering, and will eventually
transfer to Duke University
where he will do Graduate work.
When asked to comment on
the new appointment, outgoing
President Vann Massey had this
to say. “I’m sure the Student
Body will give Gary their full
support as he assumes this posi
tion of great responsibility. I am
confident that Gary will do a
good job as President of the SGA
as he has many fine qualities of
leadership.”
4:1
GARY GARLOW
stepping stones, but looking around us we
iles of bright red bricks that decorate our
"lese bricks will some day be part of new
gymnasium, library, two new dormitories,
•mary. Right now, they are the stepping
ipus growth,
see the need for more dormitory space,
hool continues to grow, a building in
the library will be a necessity, as well
as an infirmary.
But most of all, students see a need for a gymna
sium. Because two years of Physical Education is re
quired before graduation, every student will utilize
this building almost every day. Also, many students
have an avid interest in sports and more would par
ticipate in intramural activities if a gymnasium were
available.
One of the most attractive things to students would
be a swimming pool. Summer school students especial
ly would be more likely to come to Wesleyan if a pool
were provided—connected to a shiny new gym.
So the piles of bricks are very symbolic—they re
present a portion of the reality of the dreams of the
community in its continual growth.
Needles
By MONA COZART
This being the initial “Needles”
column, we deemed it expedient
to ruminate on some of the my
riad significances of this am
bitious and dynamic journalistic
venture.
The exhilarating title itself was
obviously conceived in a burst of
affection for the local members
of the evergreen family. It is
just a touch of local color for
the benefit of those poetic souls
who are lured to Wesleyan by
the murmur and sway of its
stately Eastern Carolina Colonial
pine trees.
But for the unromantic soul,
“Needles” is eager to connote
the tiny, sharp metal Instru
ment used for stitching. This
opens more possibilities, all of
which are scintillating and ex
citing. The debastating clever
ness of this column may occa
sionally bring to mind the bril
liance of a knitting needle flash
ing in the sunlight. And even the
casual reader (not to mention
the avid fans) may at times find
his intellect or emotions pricked
by some profound probing here,
but rarely will he find his con
science being needled.
These delightful possibilities
exist because the space in this
column is reserved not only for
the proUffic literary output of its
perpetrator, but also for any
creative little needle—or pen, as
the case may be—wielders in
the coUege community.
“Needles” is not a subversive
column, but it does intend to
penetrate beneath the busy sur
face of life on the piney-woods
campus and cncourage thinking
and creativity.
Official Student Newspaper of
North Carolina Wesleyan College
MEMBER
EDITOR
Mary C. Hodgin
ADVERTISING MANAGER
Vann Massey
BUSINESS MANAGER
Susie Black
NEWS EDITOR
Alice Kovarco
LAYOUT EDITOR
Winni Stine
TYPIST
Carol Johnson
CIRCULATION MANAGER
Cherry Gorham
REPORTERS
Grace Markham, Cathy Shaw,
Shere Leslie