PAGE TWO
(XlMPUS ECHO
M A Y — 1 9 4 S
A Noble Example
It is not how long, but how well a person serves, Avhieh deter
mines the value of that person to any institution. This saying has
become a reality, for Dean Ruth G. Rush has labored and toiled
for our institution frtom the dark days of its beginning to the
present time. Her continuous service has meant much for the
progress and expansion of North Carolina College.
Upon her arrival here 33 years ago she found several frame
structures dotting the one-time trash pile of Durham. Like a
pioneer exjjlorer seeking new territory, she came to help shoulder
the responsibility for the progress and expansion of our institution.
With faith, hope a!nd love, she followed the advice of her lead
er the late Dr. James E. Shepard. No problem was too hard for
her, and no problem too tedious to solve. With faith in God, she
overcame trials and tribulations which tried to block her path in
those “dark days” of the National Religious Training School and
Chautauqua. She hoped that this small institution of several
frame structures would someday be the turning point for higher
education for her people. Her love for humanity was shown by
her unceasing efforts and continous service toAvard those goals of
achievements which we now' enjoy\ These characteristics followed
and guided her all through the years. To the many students who
came to this institution she became a mother and friend. Ijike the
character who admired the Great Stone Face so much that he be
came like it, many students looked to her smiles that banished
teers.,
‘‘Together we stand, divided w'e fall,” must have been the
philosophy, of this educational builder. She stood bj* the founder
and shared his buri( ns. And yet I would not hajve you believe
that she did not have her sorrows. She had her heartaehek, biit no
grief ever made her bitter; no sorrow ever made her imkind. She
carried sunshine with her everywhere. No daj*KS were too gloomy,
no nights too dai'k. 'She always looked forward to sunshine and
the coming of the dawn. The dream of a new day for Dean Rush
meant the fulfillment of her dream — An institution which serves
for the uplift of humanity and the betterment of her people.
Today, we are proud of iMiss Rush. She has won state and
national honor and distinction. The peojile of North Carolina are
proud of her. She was recently reelected as president of the North
Carolina Federation of Negro Women’s Clubs and is noAV entering
her third year in this capacity. She was the lone I'aee member
from North Carolina who recently represented the state at the Na
tional Youth Planning Conference in Washington.
She not only helped to build the institution, but she
lasting monument in the hearts of yotuig men .and wom'^r.. -ind
stamped her pei'sonality upon their consciousness.
Dean Rush, thy name I ’11 alwaj's hear,
Whether I be far or near.
Thou helped to build dear N. 0. C.
That has meant so much to me.
Thy ideas will linger always in our gates
For your efforts and toils made our college great.
Dean Rusli, Dtean Rush, Stay with us yet.
Unless we see thy face and hear thy voice we may forget.
(
May peace and happiness be yours forever
And we shall help you in all endeaVors.
—R. Nathaniel Niles
I Serve-
A Challenge To The Graduates
In a few days college graduates all over the country will leave
their respective instiutions with degrees. Receiving these degrees
means that these persons have completed the required work and
are now ready for service.
At this particular time, the idea of service should be on the
minds of the graduates of North Carolina College, for upon the
idea of service our institution was founded.
I Few mottos offer more humanitarian import than our, “I
Serve,” Such a motto might well have been the keynote to the
noble lives of Carver, Lincoln, Shepard, Ghandi and Roosevelt.
That motto must be considered seriously bj’ all students of our
College and especially our seniors whom we shall bid farewell in
a few days. Service lends itself to many quetetions but especially
three to whom, for what, and how long? Taking the last inter
rogation first, service should be the aim of the young graduates of
color if for no other reason than to pay tthe d^t of gratitude to
those who so nobly fought that we might enjoy the freedom and.
opportunities that are now ours.
For how long must one serve ? Until he becomes rich ? Until
he has the acclaim of those who matter? If service is to stop when
personal ambitions are at an end, then men’s souls and bodies must
wither and fade into a stage far worse than that in which prehis
toric man lived.
What must we serve and whom? The causie that needs assist
ance. We must serve every person regardless of race, creed, or
color, for every man is our brother, and we should be our brother’s
keeper. The world is made better by personal contacts for the good
of all.
[We must not serve for the money that comes as a meager re
ward for work done, but for the good that we can do.
May God grant to each of you W'ho shall soon leajve tJiis insti
tution for service a new determination to serve for the uplift of
humanity. May the ideas of service exemplified nobly and cour
ageously by our founder serve as a challenge to each of you.
Today, NORTH CAROLINA COLLEGE AT DURHAM, a
living monument to its founder, the eminent James E, Shepard,
is an example of the unselfish ser^ace rendered for the uplift of
humanity. “I Serve,” should sertve as a challenge to us and
especially to our graduates,
R, N. N.
here Is It?
Where if it? This love that used to
be? ^
What is I this mad, rasping, deter-
iorat|jg thing,
That desf^ys beauty, pride and self
eontr»
And dares] push society around?
What's t|.; name of it? What’s it
calledj^ .
Is it greedTlust, desire or love?
If it be lov then deliver me from its
grasp V
Don’t let i|strip me of the things I
hold dr
For my prie ai id more are ray Noth
ing;
Must I npea
world?
r naked before the
Where.is it?Th|s love that used to be
This love tliu Vore a hat of respect
That carried inf* its pocket more pride
than moie^f
And a -ivallixfc caoe called under
standing ! F I
Tliat guided 3'vlry s^»p of the ivay •
With a torch iii the; other hand blaz-
ig with kijges held high?
jSTcvcr once *
did the
or for evervone.
lowered, nor
Torch bum in |ablij/' (
. ih/''
Where is it? it love?
Why do bird^ siig of it?
Why are books'viitten of it?
Why do gol,
anniversaries arise
from it?jW. .
And childre^ ^re wanted, are
,,urtl»ey If
'N'-:.; uorn-|J^^aus( of it?
Sij quistions, then tell mo
F^ing :.>f!i.imiali
these things.
be we to defv
keeping
UP...
Wo don’t wish to be political mind
ed this month, but we do want to say
that we agree with A. Philip Ean-
dolph’s proposal of Civil Disobedi
ence, not as a means to an immediate
end, but as a definite step toward
that end.
First, Mr. Randolph’s proposal, and
its widespread acceptance, shows the
world that the Negro isn’t content
with his status. There has been much
complaint that Negroes have settled
into a state of passive obedience and
people have wondered where the Ne
gro leaders were. Now that several
Negroes have dared to speak up and
make such a proposal, rather than
support them, those who are in posi
tion to help, critize. "Uncle Tom-
ism ’ ’ still flourishes.
Secondly, there are too many Ne
groes who believe that “All things
come to those who wait.” The adage
may be true but surely it doesn’t
imply that we sit with folded arms
waiting for things to be dumped in
our laps. But rather it could carry
vrith it the idea of “working” for
those things you want to come. Such
is the proposal of Mr. Randolph a
“working” step toward an Ameri
can Democracy which will include the
Negro.
Tliere is only one drawback to
this proposal. .The army is no placc
to introduce social reforms. There
%vould bo disunity and non-coopera
tion which would endanger the safe
ty of American “Democracy.” The
reforms should start on the domestic
front and spread. Yes we do have race
spokesmen.
We sometimes wonder whether
sponsors listen to their own
commercials.
The Poor Ballerina
Oh! tis sad to think, tlie ballerina is out of step. Tlie producer
will sureh’ draw the curtain. Will she step off on the right foot
soon? Doesn’t she know she wrong? Can she‘not hear tke un
even beat of her own feet ? Has siie forgotten so soon ? Does she
not know the next step ?
/ These are the questions on the lips of thousands of people who
are watching the ballerina dance.
Who is this ballerina? What’s her name? Where'is her
home? We know the answers to those questions. We know that
we are the ballerina, we, the students of North Carolina College.'
Hailing from South Carolina, North Carolina, Texas, Kansas,
Maryland, Virginia, Georgia and otheT states.
Why is the ballerina confused?. The step is easy enougli. It’s
been rehearsed centuries and centuries. It Avas rehearsed by
women who carried themselves in such a way t^iat respect from
men didn’t have to be demanded but was certain. It w^as rehearsed
by women who could hold a conversation as well as a kiss. Yes, it
was even rehearsed by ballerinas who Avent backstage to be em
braced, knowing there was an audience out front.
If we are the ballerinas, if we must perform, why not give a
good performance ? Why do Ave do things that mar this perform
ance? Things such as whistling and yelling at dance recitals. The
■“Footlights of 1948” was the first dance recital eiver presented by
students on this campus. It wasn’t an easy task; girls practiced
hour and liours; and the least, we as fellow students could have
done to show our appreciatioii avouUI have been to act as an in
telligent audience. If a dance recital was being given by pro
fessional dancers, would the same sort of thing have happened?.
I wonder. Isn’t the same amount of respect due to those we know?
I wonder about this ballerina auA’Avay. Does she drop paper
bags, orange peelings, eandy-paper and cups on the stage ? If she
does, then no wonder .she’s out of step. Isn’t our campus just as
important to us as the stage is to the ballerina? Is not our stage?
At least, it’s the place where Ave perform,
I Avonder docs the ballerina think that because the “new loolv”
coA’ers her legs, it also covers her faulty performance. It is her
teet or the costume the audience is Avatching? Is it not true that
pretty is as pretty does?
IMaybe, the curtain Avill stay open long enough for the ball
erina to remember her step, I do hope she Avill fill it in someplace.
l>ut AvilJ. it be too late ? W ill she keep turning round" and round in
too fast a whirl ? I Avonder ?
Just a Ballerina trying to get ia step.
Wake Up - Grow Up
“All The WorJil’s A Sta^^e And All The Men And Wonwii
:\Ierely IMayers . . .” YOU, stxidents of North Carolina College are
not playing your parts AvelL You are the Avinesses of a Wew
Regime here at your College; Avhy not take the proper adtvantage
of it? N\hy do you ab|use and rebuke it? Why will you not play
your parts Avell in this neAV regime?—^WHY?— The answer is
simple ! You liaA-e not yet reached the state of maturity and your
condition is PATHETIC. You have aged physically and materially
more rapidly than mentally and you have not yet learned to ac
cept and master your respectiA’e responsibilities. Very Avell. IF
YOU WILL ACT LIKE CHILDREN, — THEN BE TREATED
AS CHILDREN. '
1. Continue to throw your trash on the campus.
2. Continue to Avalk across the lawns.
3. Continue to pet in the bowls.
4. Continue to make unnecessary noise in the dining hall.
5. Continue to disgrace your school. Continue to act like
“naughty children”; but remember naughty children must be
punished. And there are more ways than ONE. If you Avish to be
clamped down by strict rules as regulations then you CAN
HAVE IT, The matter is left completely Avith YOU.
Wake Up 1 felloAV-students. Your president and your faculty
are with you 100 percent. Why not give them the" cooperation they
need ? Why not realize that you liaA'e grown-up ? W’’hy not assume
your responsibilities? Let us each rehearse our part that we may
play a better role in the major production. Do not take improper
advantage of the president’s graciousness but rather help him in
his attempt of a Ncav Regime. The success of such a regime de
pends upon YOU!—YOU!—AND YOU! Every “Tom,” “Dick”
and “Hariy”—“Tomasena,” “Dixie” and “Harrietta.”
‘ ‘ When I Avas a child I thought as a child; I spoke as a child;
I understood as a child, but when I became a man I put away
childish thing ...”
FELLOW STUDENTS, WAKE-UP AND GROW-UP,
THE CAMPUS ECHO
Published monthly during the school year by ths students of tke
North Carolina College at Durham.
CliATHAM Koss AND PKEEY Gn.T.TABD
ASSOCIATE KDITOBS
lioniSE Jackson, fbattok ewtor Ma2qaeet Best, typist
Hbsmenia Fms, sxchanqx sditob Swannie Moobe, business Man.
Elane Moore, sports editor Mart Eason, repoeter
Waiter Brown, spoets weiteb James B, James, Jr,, ed, writer
Mildred Thornton, typist Lisbon Berry, ed. avritek
It. Nathaniel Niles, circulation manager
James Anderson, advertising MANAOiEai
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