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Our '^Well Protected" Campus
In the fall of 1964 some person or persons of the campus
administration deemed it necessary to add a security offi
cer to the staff at Wesleyan and to add a few more dollars
to the rising tuition of the student.
With this new addition came new problems. One of the
most apparent concerns the “arsenal” that is at present in
the pos.session of our campus officer.
There are two major categories in which criticism of
this system fall. First, is such artillery needed on campus?
Second, if it is needed, is our campus policeman using this
privilege in a responsible manner?
In response to the first query we must say that a .38
pistol, a high-powered rifle and a 12 gauge sawed-off shot
gun seem more appropriate for Viet Nam than for our
community. It does seem entirely out-of-place to have a
heavy-armed p>oliceman on a small church-supp>orted col
lege campus. In answer to the retort that Mr. Downing
also acts as a constable both for the campus and the local
community we must hasten to point out that he is paid by
the college to ge our security officer.
It is interesting to note that at North Carolina Statr
and East Carolina the campus officers do not wear guns.
Since these two colleges have enrollments many times
larger than that of Wesleyan then it would certainly seem
that they require more control. Yet, the heads of these
institutions do not find it necessary to have pistols hang
ing from the hips of their police. The only thing that can
be deduced from this evidence is that the Wesleyan stu
dent must be a pretty bad character. Since, in actuality,
there had been little trouble on campus one can only
consider the “weaponry” an unjust slur on the student
body.
The second question that much be considered con
cerns the attitude that our policeman apparently takes
toward his responsibility as an armed individual. First, it
is a fact that last year during a water fight our policeman
took out one of his double-barreled shotguns when some
one dumped water on the “little red wagon.” The Decree
commented at that time that this gesture seemed both
unnecessary and dangerous. Second, our security officer
has carried on target practice behind our campus, a cam
pus where several hundred individuals must walk each
day. Again, this seems both unnecessary and dangerous.
Are these responsible actions?
The above argument seems to lead to only one conclu
sion. The present policy must be changed and it must be
changed quickly. Not only is it completely unnecessary,
but also, and more important, it is a danger to the citizens
of the Wesleyan community.—RCK
— - ■ ■■■
THE DECREE
LITTLE MAN ON CAMPUS
’60AAeriME5 iN
euCH AvWa6;ID SHCXX
Letters To
Dear Editor;
I would like to commend the
writers of the two editorials
appearing in the Decree’s last
Issue. They showed goodreason-
ing In their statements.
The writer of the first edi
torial showed some of the great
gift of writing that he possesses.
His topic on the “cashing of
checks” needs much considera
tion on the part of the students
in order tfti come up with abetter
workable plan, especially one for
cashing checks when the business
office Is closed(i.e. Saturday af
ternoon and Sundays). Maybe
checks aji a set amount could
be. .accepted by college business
places at these times for a small
amount, say between $1 and $5.
The second editorial definitely
showed Improvement over some
written last year. This editorial
stated a problem and gave good
alternates for working out. the
problem In' the future* These al
ternates, I am sure, will be con
sidered. Unfortunately, another
The Editor
article in the paper destroyed
any constructive objective, that
the Decree might have been try
ing to create—or is the objec
tive really meant to be destruc
tive?
“Wesleyan As I See It”
(through my tinted glasses) Is
the article in question. It is
written by Duffle Monroe, who Is
supposed to be a co-editor? The
question is, co-editor for what-
the United Gripers of America?
The article is, as was stated
In the first issue of the Dfecree,
informal and one Does find any-
thing and everything in it. But,
what purpose does it serve?
The article begins by attack
ing our non-existent library—
the pile of bricks. I am sure
that If Miss Monroe would do
nate $100,000 the college would
be glad to start construction on
the library. Another attack is
the fountain that beautifies our
campus. This fountain was do
nated by a very good friend of
Wesleyan, Mr. Frank E. Brown,
for the beauty it would add to the
college campus. Many students
have enjoyed the beauty It ren
ders, especially at night-- Miss
Monroe has also or has she?
Further In her article, Miss
Monroe mentions “...walls spat
tered permanently with shaving
cream...” and “...those room
doors, charred to the core...”
Then the article states, “I often
wondered why the sponsors of
Wesleyan had discontinued giving
money.” By reading this view
of Wesleyan, which is not fac
tual, I can see why many do
nators might have been reluctant
to donate more money to the col
lege, Luckly for the students at
Wesleyan this support has con
tinued.
In the September 1965 issue of
the College Bulletin, pages 2 and
3, one can see the lack of in
formation used in Miss Monroe’s
article. Last year, according to
the College Bulletin, the college
donators donated “...support of
almost a half million dollars...”
And, by talking with Wesleyan’s
President, one can find that the
college donators give $400.00 per
student for educational programs
and plus that amount for build
ings. Without this support none
of us would be at Wesleyan. i
challenge Miss Monroe to sup
port her statements with facts.
What about the charred doors
and shaving cream;?
This Is my third year at
Wesleyan and I ,ca' say that I
have never seen a wal 1th shav
ing cream permanently on it
(shaving cream does evaporate,
or It does when I have used
it) or a door charred to the
core. If they are here, who is
to be blamed for it —the
students. Can Miss Monroe give
us some definite facts on this
damage? But, what is the article
about? It seems like a poorly
written gripe section and it cer
tainly doesn’t do any good.
Is this an example of future
articles in the Decree? If it is,
the Onliwon Tissue Company will
go out of business for the Decree
will take the place of this much
used commodity.
It is my sincere hope that
the Decree will continue to
improve arid be used to rally
students around problems after
getting all the facts on these
problems and instead of having
a destructive air about it, have
a constructive air for the better
ment of our college community.
Sincerely,
Billy Norton
HMMM
I guess It’s just me--
Never The Decree.
Paper with prudence.
Published by the students,
perhaps;
perhaps!
Didactic to inspire—
Complaints never tire.
Opinions, notable act,
News brief with facts,
Surely;
“potpourri.”
Editorials of sorts.
Coverage of sports.
Drink on the team.
The axe—like a beam,
no smoking;
you’re joking.
To cash a check--
Frustrating as heck.
Too much expense!
Logical cents.
My, My;
goodness, goodness.
It’s Thursday morning,
In Chapel we’re joining.
No winning of friends or influ
encing of people.
By shouting against this com
pulsory steeple".
There, feel better?
No, to The Decree a letter!
The food is po’
My buddy said so.
No opinion of mine,
Will make it fine,
criticism;
idiocism.
Gratitude? Don’t pipe;
For the future--! promise gripe.
Problems are nice.
Life they spice,
without ’em;
no poem.
George Watson
SLEPT_ YOU ILL AT EASE!?
by king Fim Ho
Dews sparkle in the prairie;
birds twitter from within.
Tranquility in Nature—
forecasts the peace of man.
Slept you ill at ease!?
And awaken’d with a-shudder!?
No fear, my child! No need!
For no sooner sets the curtain-
dark;
then blooms the earth again.
In its fullest splendor.
Oft have you wondered,—
over man, perhaps over self!?
Then fear overcomes you
you shiver—you cry—you
lament;
and work yourself into despair.
“Mm!! This won’t do, ” you
mutter out loud.
Then gathering up yourself;
you open your arms to Nature,
and start anew again.
October 29. 1965
Potpourri
What is your reaction to the
recent student riots all around
the nation? What do you think
about the so-called “intellec
tuals” who are protesting every
thing that the administration has
done? Do you condone those stu
dents who have reportedly burn
ed their draft cards? I certain-
' ly hope no one in the Wesleyan
community agrees with these ac
tions!
I agree, of course, that every
one does have the right to pro
test. I do not think that anyone
has the right to misuse this
privilege in the way it is now
being abused by the people of
the United States, especially the
college students.
Since this column Is personal
opinion, it is my opinion that
the student riots show ignor
ance on the part of those parti
cipating. These pseudo-intel
lectuals do not really even kn*w
what they are protesting. Are
they against the United States
being in Viet Nam, or are they
against being sent themselves?
I do not hesitate to say that I
think they are protesting the
possibility that they might be
^sent to fight, not the general
foreign policy of the nation.
I am not trying to appear as a
super-patriot, but maybe we are
in need of a few semi-patriots,
instead of a group of anti-pa
triots! These students are gen
uinely scared of the prospect
of being sent to Viet Nam. I
am scared too, but if the need
arises I don’t think I would shirk
what I consider to be my duty
and privilege.
I sincerely hope that the re
ports of the demonstrations and
riots in the United States do not
have an adverse effect on the
morale of our troops which are
now in Viet Nam.
The need to defend Viet Nam
is the paramount issue now fac
ing this nation. These riots and
protests, while they are a part
of the privileges we have by
being born in 20th century Am
erica, are exactly what the com
munist agitators have been hop
ing for. The right to protest
is an intrinsic part of Ameri
can life, but the abuse of this
privilege will weaken rather than
strengthen it, A few students
marching on Fort Bragg or even
10,000 scared intellectuals or,
most of all, the statement of a
minority group of college pro
fessors speaking as if for the
majority, will NOT change the
policies of the administration.
These incidents will only en
gender strife in the United States
and misconceptions about gen
eral public opinion throughout
the rest of the world.
“This is the revolution we
can, we should, we must offer
to the people of Viet Nam--not
as charity, not as a business
proposition, not as a political
maneuver, nor simply to en
list them as soldiers against
Communism or as chattels of
American foreign policy--but a
revolution of their own making,
for their own welfare, and for
the security of freedom eVery-
where. The Communists offer
them another kind of revolution,
glittering and s,eductive in its
superficial 'dppeal. The choice
between the two can only be made
by the Vietnamese people them
selves.”
^___^ohn_^^_j^enngd^,J[uneJjj_^^
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The Editor
THE DECREE
Official Student Newspaper of
North Carolina Wesleyan College
Printed bi-weekly in
Tarboro. N. C.
Circulation: 1,000
M K M • C R
Bu.siness Address:
Box 3146
N. C. Wesleyan College
Rocky Mount, N. C.
NEWS STAFF
Tom Inscoe
Duffie Monroe
Bob Kirkman
Tom Davis
Anne Van Wagoner
Larry Boothe
BUSINESS STAFF
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Supervising Editor
Co-editors
Sports Editor
Layout Eklitor
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