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THE WESLEYAN DECREE
Oct. 24. 1962
Editorials
Community Trust--A Reality?
In our last issue, we mentioned the Wesleyan Cam-
munity and the Bill of Rights. We said that they must
be realistically achieved by faculty, staff, and ad
ministration working directly with students to create
a community where men of good will exercise wise
self-government.
Many of us believe that this dream can become
true. But we sense that it will come only when mutual
trust becomes a reality—when the adults really apply
the faith in us that they profess. There will be those
who will say, “Wait a minute; this will never be real;
it is impossible.” And we are forced to agree—unless
something is done now!
There are many things that could be done to make
this a real community, a mutually respecting com
munity. Because they are older and more experi
enced, perhaps the adult members should take the
longer step. What is that step? It is simply the recog
nition that most students are young adults, striving
for maturity and good will among themselves. Now,
admittedly, this is a lot to accept. Past incidents and
dealings with students have tended to show that
many are not responsible, mature young adults. At
this very point the older members of our community
must be willing to hold steadv, to maintain confidence
in most of the younger members. For don’t responsi
bility and maturity and judgment come when stu
dents are given a chance to exercise them?
This brings to mind several incidents on campus
which suggest that Wesleyan students are often treat
ed like grammar school children instead of voung
adults. Take the abrupt removal of a sensational cam
paign poster. Was this hasty action taken in the tnie
spirit of the community? Or take the incident of the
broken ping-pong ball: Several students found to
their surprise that their word was NOT taken with
out question—despite the Bill of Rights. Though
these boys knew (and stated) that the ball was crack
ed when they received it, the adults in charge refused
to accept their simnle assertation—and demanded
another ouarter or no ball. Is this a helpful attitude
to take? No, it is a direct violation of the campus Bill
of Rights. Incidents such as these prove to students
that they are not yet respected as adults, whatever
words may claim.
LITTLE MAN ON CAMPUS
Without pointing an accusing finger at anyone, we
wonder if the adult members of our community really
accept this dream of establishing the community “con
science” and the Bill of Rights. And at the same time,
let it be said that students must, when given this
chance, prove they deserve it!
Students Need More Activities
Sometimes we feel that our campus lacks the defi
nite college bustle and excitement of other colleges.
Perhaps it is because we are still small and in the
“experimental stage.” But on the other hand, this
could be an advantage. Now is the perfect time for
us to begin thinking about how we can make Wesley
an more lively and desirable from all levels.
The Special Events Facu'tv Committee has recog
nised this as a problem and is sponsoring movies on
campus twice a month, in addition to the excellent
college Arts program of concerts and lectures.
In an effort to keep students on campus week ends,
the Senate is sponsoring an Anti Suit'^ase-rollege
Campaign, and will throue-h its various Commissions
try to plan activities for both Friday and Saturday
nights.
But is this enough? We think not. There are a few
suggestions of things which might be done to make
our campus a more desirable place. A campus Book
shop, well filled with a varietv of paperbacks, would
be an excellent place to start. Not only would it be
a place where students could make individual pur
chases. but it would also be a place where manv a
student would spend hours browsing and looking find
enjoying the warm atmosphere one cannot help but
feel when surrounded by books.
A swimming pool, a necessitv on most campuses,
would be a welcome additioTi. A Totting green would
please manv student (and facult-'-) golf enthuiasts.
while additional ennipment such as archery sets, a
tennis practice wall, and hurdles on the football
field, would appeal to our sports minded students.
While trying to '^^ain a more collegiate atmosphere
on campus we need to “Think Bi",” and rrmember
that future activities depend largely on whrt we do
now to make them a reality.
Let’s get to work!
I f?£ALLY /%'JTeiO IN, Wc^rti-AL — I CUfZ.
HCLii'SMCTV.C'K. GOT
SLA Is Judicial Body
Of Student Government
Needles
By MONA COZART
The Decree’s editor submitted
this poignant verse:
I.
Frothy waves somersault into
the shore
And then retire for an instant
Amid the repetition—
Leaving behind a ci-umbllng
sand castle
Unaware of any hitrusion.
II.
Blue, yellow, green, white skim
lightly over the channel in
gay competition.
Careful hands hold tight a rope,
loosen the hold, and tighten
again.
A rudder bears hard to the left
as a sun-bleached head peers
’round the jib, happy to have
missed a buoy.
The hot sun beats down on the
brown young body.
The sailboats go.
III.
The sun is almost gone. Swim
mers reluctantly leave the surf
and gather buckets, coolers
and blankets. Nothing remains
now but empty Sea and SM
bottles, soggy sandwiches, a
discarded beer can, a forgot
ten beach towel, and echoes
of laughter and fun: Rem
nants of the season.
The Student life Association
is the judicial body of the Stu
dent Government Association. It
is composed of an elected chair
man, the presidents of the Men’s
and Women’s Dormitory Coun
cils and of the Day Students’
Council, and the Director of
Student Life or his appointed
representative.
The present members of the
S. L. A. are: Joan Lamberth,
chairman; Kay Hobbs, Women’s
Dormitory president; Richard
Tripp, Men’s Dormitory presi
dent; Dan Jacobs, president of
the Day Students’ Council, and
Dr. James R. Hailey, Director
of Student Council.
At present the S.L.A. meets
only for called meetings but
L,te on in the year regular
meetings may be held.
The S.L.A., working through
the three Councils, cooperates
in providing effective penalties
involving disciplinary problems
and major infractions of the
campus regulations. Appeals
from the student councils are
reviewed by the S.L.A. The
function of the S.L.A. is to main
tain and enforce the rules and
regulations of the Campus Code
and to co-ordinate the various
disciplinary councils it repre
sents.
The S.L.A. may interpret rules
which appear in the handbook
or in any official supplements
to it. These interpretations are
then signed by the Dh'ector of
Student Life unless he sees fit
to refer them to the Adminis
tration. The S.L.A. may also re
commend to the Administration
changes to the Handbook rules
at the request of first the Coun
cils and then the Senate.
Halloween Dance
A Halloween dance will be
held Saturday night in the
Student Union, sponsored by
the Social Commission.
Admission is 50 cents for
costume and $1.00 for those
without costume.
Prizes will be given for the
best costume.
Russian Visitors Spark Interest
Yuri Vasukueu and Valentin Shorin’s visit, the
second and third secretary to the Russian embassy in
Washington, D. C., to our campus proved interesting
to all concerned. Their lecture, “Economics in Rus
sia,” actually told us no more than (1) that before
1917 Russia was poor and underdeveloped (2) the
;wo world wars left her almost devastated, crippling
any atternpts at redevelopment (3) that communism
is_ the ultimate goal of Russia’s present socialistic re
gime, and (4) that any failures to live up to Marx’s
theory by this regime were merely the personal mis
takes of various leaders.
At the conclusion of this lecture, we noticed two
attitudes developing among the student-faculty audi
ence. There were those that shrugged their shoulders
and remarked in not nearly such a casual way that
“Vasukueu and Shorin really gave us the old party
propaganda,” or “surely you don’t believe anything
they said—they’re communists.”
And then there were those of us who realized that
the two men had been so thoroughly indoctrinated
with socialistic theory that they were very sincere
and believed every word of what they said, even as
absurd as it may have appeared to the audience.
It is hard for us to realize the sincerity with which
they spoke. But it shouldn’t be. For would we not be
equally as convincing and evasive if the situation
were reversed?
At any rate, it was an educating experience, and
one we’ll remember for a long time.
MR. X SAYS
Rumor has it that the class
ring committee is considering
contracting with the same com
pany that designs and makes
rings for State, Duke, Carolina,
and Atlantic Claristian. How
about posting a report on your
progress, committee?
Some studcaits are worried
about certain teachers only giv
ing mid-term and final exams.
It’s a bad situation when a low
grade on one test could possibly
make a student fail a course.
After all, even the brightest
people mess up sometimes . . .
I wonder if the opposition of
Catholics being required to at
tend Chapel has been smoothed
over? Rules are rules, you
know . . .
Casting and rehearsals for
Wesleyan’s first theatre produc
tion have started. Mr. Johnson
has an extremely difficult job
ahead of him since we have no
props, no costumes, no play
house. Please don’t let Mr. J.
down students. He wiU need
people for acting, staging, pub
licity, and a hundred other
things.
Don’t forget the piano con
cert by Dr. and Mrs. Sasser
tomorrow night. It wlU be well
worth your time.
©Iff Jiffilegan iwm
Official Student Newspaper of
North CaroUna Wesleyan CoUege
EDITOR
Mary 0. Hodgin
ADVERTISING MANAGER
Walter White
BUSINESS MANAGER
Susie Black
SECRETARY
Louise Kepley
LAYOUT EDITOR
Winni Stine
TYPIST
Carol Johnson
CIRCULATION MANAGER
Cherry Gorham, Charlotte Smith
REPORTERS
Grace Markham, Cathy Shaw,
Shere Leslie, Sandy Shipley
SPORTS EDITOR
David Janies