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THE WESLEYAN DECREE
Wednesday, Jan. 16, 1963
Editorials
Do We Dare Criticize
And Be Responsible?
As first semester ends and the new one opens up
innumerable possibilities, the time for a careful scru
tiny or re-evaluation of our past actions and future
plans in appropriate.
Probably with the arrival of the new year, all of
us made resolutions—maybe to study diligently for
examinations or to begin studying next semester
(dodging the issue a little longer), or possibly to
try to improve personal traits and characteristics.
As a rule these proposed resolutions are neglected
and forgotten — we procrastinate about fulfilling
them. (Recall any resolutions that have been made
and forgotten.)
Yet we are quick to criticize others who do not ful
fill their promises such as our school officers, pro
fessors, or classmates. We readily condemn them as
lazy, i)rocrastinators, et cetera. We forget to look
inwardly at ourselves—scrutinizing our own defective
resolutions and faults in general.
We might ask ourselves if we always willingly
accept the responsibility that we have assumed such
as doing our school work to the extent of our capa
bilities. Do we try to help constructively (besides
only creating antagonism by pointed criticism) such
as willingly helping on committees, or in any other
facet of the community?
Of course criticism is not wrong if we render it
with the right attitude and have facts to warrant it.
But should we not also be ready to admit our own
shortcomings and to offer our help to remedy faulty
areas of the community? Should we not be ready to
praise the good aspects also?
The time is opportune for the re-evaluation of the
whole structure of our college community—the ex
cellence of the academic rating (individually and
collectively), the relationship of the various adminis
trative areas, and the fulfilling of assumed responsi
bility. Why do we not all join in some constructive
work and accept our part in the total life of our
college?
—S. E. B.
Office Of President
Democratic procedure is a basic tenet for any group
of people with elected or appointed officers. Officers
only represent; in smaller organizations they do not
make decisions or establish policy.
It is certainly true that a president’s or a chair
man’s vote is influential, and can at times be a tie-
breaking factor, but we must remember that all presi
dents, from Kennedy to social club presidents, are
initially given their powers by the vote of the group
involved.
This vote represents the group’s confidence in their
candidate, and it is the new president’s job to show
himself worthy of the office. Whether his duties be
voluminous or practically non-existent, fairness and
consistency are always expected of him. Not only
expected, but demanded.
Organization presidents at Wesleyan were not
elected by popularity contests (or at least we like
to think so) and it is their duty to remember this
fact at all times. Not only are they expected to show
outstanding qualities of character, but their records
of parliamentary procedure must remain spotless if
they are to fulfill their obligations to Wesleyan stu
dents.
As the editors of th Decree commend Wesleyan’s
outstanding presidents, we also enter a plea that they
always remember their obligation of fair, consistent
government.
—J. G.
uHtr inrslfyan 0rrrrp
Official Student Newspaper of
North Carolina Wesleyan Ck)llege
MEMBER
EDITOR
Susan Black
ASSISTANT EDITOR
John Gillis
BUSINESS MANAGER
Vann Massey
ADVERTISING MANAGER
Walter White
LAYOUT EDITOR
Winni Stine
REPORTERS
Bill Ilarltey, Melvin Dowdy,
Susan Burkle, Sharon Nichols,
Sherri Leslie Ginny Eason,
Gordon Stone
SPORTS
David James, David Reaves
LITTLE MAN ON CAMPUS
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Letters To The Editor
(The editor reserves the right to accept or refuse to print
any material submitted. Letters printed represent opinions
of the individuals and not those of The Decree staff.)
To the Editor:
Asinine indeed are the indi
viduals who, dui’ing the evening
meal in the cafeteria, insist on
throwing, rolls at one another.
Of course if you take into
consideration who the individual
“kiddies” are, then perhaps it
doesn’t seem so asinine, because
that type of conduct is typical of
them.
In the first place they are
quite ignorant of manners and
they possess the mentality of
eight-year-olds (that’s stretch
ing the point because few eight-
year-olds throw food at one ano
ther).
I believe that that type of con
duct has no place in college
circles or anywhere for that
matter. I appeal to the class
mates and friends of these im
mature people to try and help
them. We, as responsible citi
zens of the college community
are just as guilty as the “kid
dies” if we condone this type of
conduct.
It’s our job to tell them to
GROW UP, or GET OUT!
Dan Jacobs
Needles
By MONA COZART
The following poem was writ
ten and sent to us by a very
■;ood friend in New York, CJeof-
[rey Fitzgerald. Geoffrey iis one
)f Greenwich Village’s poets.
“Wings of the Beast”
Ck)me into this quiet place, come
in to candlelight.
L e down with that poor black
beast, the beast with angel’s
wings.
There’s a bit of the dawn in your
teacup; it’s been a long, long
night.
The wings of the beast are fold
ed; he dreams of indifferent
things.
Look at the thing that lies in
your ivory arms.
Look at the leaf as it falls as
time stands still;
All others are lost and found in
the wild alarms that flash from
your eyes—
O eyes that slowly fill with
the wreck of the years
For I am all of the others who
weep in your blood’s first doom,
And though I be good or bad or
sad or glad, or mad
I am that black beast breathing
in this room.
—Geoffrey Fitzgerald
Danforth Lecturer
MIT Prof Visits Here
Dr. Huston Smith, distinguiisTi-
ed philosopher and authority on
world religions, visited. Wesley
an Wednesday and Thursday,
January 10-11, as a Danforth
Visiting Lecturer.
While he was on the Wesleyan
campus. Dr. Smith gave a public
lecture entitled “The CJod Seek
ers,” in which he reported on
techniques of spiritual training
as employed in various sections
of the world.
At a convocation he spoke on
“The Accents of Cultures,” in
which he examined the discover-
ie, of enduring worth made by
China, India and the West in
their respective approaches to
the problems of man’s relation
to others, to himself, and to
nature.
He also held informal meet-
ingis with several classes in
which his topics were “World
Report” and “The Post-Modern
Mind.”
In 1956 Dr. Smith was appoint
ed the first professor of philo
sophy at Masisachusetts Insti
tute of Technology since the
early days of the Institute.
A graduate of Central College
in Missouri, Dr. Smith received
the Ph.D. degree from the Uni
versity of Chicago in 1945. He
lectured at the University of
Denver and the University of
Colorado before joining the fac
ulty of Washington University in
1947.
Along with his many degrees,
he has memberships in Phi Beta
Kappa, the American Philoso
phical Ass.oeiation, and the Na
tional Council on Religion in
Higher Education. In 1958 Cen
tral Ck>Uege awarded him an
Housemother
in Hospital
Two incidents occurred during
the Christmas vacation that up
set North Carolina Wesleyan.
Mrs. Francis MacFarland,
housemiother of Nash dorm, was
rushed to the hospital for an
emergency operation. She is now
recuperating nicely in the Wil
son Hospital.
Mrs. J. R. Faulks and Mrs.
MacFarland’s sister. Miss Helen
Smithwicks, have been substi
tuting for Mrs. Mac as resident
head of Nash Dorm during her
absence.
On January 1, Gwen Pittenger
was hurt in an automobile acci
dent. She spent approximately
a week in Park View Hospital
recovering from brain concus
sion and shock. Then she was
taken to her home in Norfolk to
recuperate.
Gwen will return to college
honorary Doctor of Humanities next semester to resume her
degree. 1 studies.
Freshman Of The Month
(This column appears month
ly, sponsored by the Executive
Committee of the Freshman
Class—Eds.)
Nelda Holder has been chosen
as tlie January “Freshman of
the Month” because of her de
pendable work as Devotions
Chairman of Nash.
Since her appointment to her
chairmanship, Nelda has pre
pared and presented the weekly
devotional program or appointed
someone else to do the job. Many
of the devotioiials have shown
such originality in work and
meaning underlying their pre
sentation that they have become
meaningful intervals in the
weoks of study and play for the
girls.
Nelda’s background empha
sizes other reasons for her being
choisen for tliis honor. She was
graduated from Garner High
School in Garner, North Caro-
lii;a. In high school Nelda held
membership in the Beta Club,
the presidency of the Ff.ture
Homemakers of America, a posi
tion in the Senior Choir, and
membership and presidency of
the Methodist Youth Fellowship
'in her church—aU while aehiev-
NELDA HOLDER
ing sufficiently high academic
excellence to be rated third in
her graduating class. She was
elected to the Gamer High
School Hall of Fame, and elect
ed as Most Likely to Succeed.
The human heart pumps about
four quarts of blood per minute
through the body’s 12,000 mile
I network of arteries, veins and
i capillaries.
i