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PAGE TWO
THE CAMPUS ECHO
SATURDAY, MARCH 30, 1957
Welcome, Advisers And Colleagues
The ECHO and North Carolina College staff extend a
hearty welcome to the participants in its second annual Pub
lications Conference. Weeks of labor have gone into the plan
ning of this affair so that each person participating may be
able to derive some concrete benefit from his experience
here. Because of the struggle that it had to go through to be
come established as a respectable publication, the ECHO
feels a close afinity to editors, reporters and advisors who
are facing, at the high school level, the demanding responsi
bility of student publication.
During the past several years, the Campus Echo has
progressed from a struggling, insecure organ to what a na
tional rating agency now calls an “All-American paper.” We
are naturally proud of this progress; but we are equally
aware of the struggles out of which it has come.
It was the desire to share these experiences with others
who may be similarly situated that led to the founding of
the Campus Echo Publication -Conference. To further this
aim, the Echo hopes to organize at the Conference a tri-state
publications project.
Again the members of the Echo staff wish to greet the
Conference participants as their guests. The Confererice
was planned so that the participants may become familiar
with the entire college community during their stay here.
Letters To The Editor
The Direction Of Self-Direction
(by ANDRESS TAYLOR, Guest Editorialist)
At present there is a crisis in the Student Government.
The decisions of the various administrative committees dur
ing the next few weeks on the student business now before
them may settle—^perhaps forever—the question of what the
future relationship between these bodies and the Student
Government shall be. These coming decisions may well set
tle, also, the question as to whether our system of “Student
Self-Direction” allows for vigorous, energetic student lead
ership. _
In a large sense, howe’^er, the action for which the stu
dents aye waiting and upon which so much depends will
affect every subsequent generation of students that en
rolls here. “But what,” one may ask, “makes the present
business of the Student Government so important?” It is
an interesting story.
On February 14 the Student Welfare Committee held a
meeting with representatives from all student organizations
to discuss a petition of] greviances submitted to that body in
tiieir behalf by Mr. LejVonne Chambers, vice-president of the
Student Government. Repeatedly in the past student lead
ers have chosen to express themselves by more overt means,
but this group decided to test the channels that the school has
set up for democratic action. And what have been the results?
Well, first of all, many of the more conservative members
of the faculty took it upon themselves to denounce Mr.
Chambers and the group that he led as “rabble-rousers” and
“trouble-makers and charged them with being “unco
operative” (whatever that means), “challenging” and “ag
gressive.” It seems that in some quarters the petition that
the organization heads drew up and the vice-president’s
speech in support of it are considered to be no less incendiary
than Lenin’s famous “Summons to Insurrection” of 1917.
This opposition, however, is not the thing that so fre
quently hamstrings the Student Government. Neither
is the problem which the Student Government has in
presenting proposals that of gaining access to the President
of the college—far from it. The problem is the route one
must take in order to get to the President. A proposal has to
go through any number of channels before he sees it and in
route it is usually mangled past recognition by each group
that looks at it. In fact, when the Student Government sub
mits a proposal it is like beginning round one of a prize fight.
If there is anything—relevant or irrevelant—that can be
used to discredit a really strong proposal, it is brought forth
in the discussion of it. Not only that, but the Student Gov
ernment is confronted with every case of student misbe
havior in the history of the institution each time it makes a
proposal. Every trouble-maker that has ever enrolled here
is put before the students each time they propose anything.
True, one must go through channels, but they have a
habit of getting terribly clogged up sometimes—especially
when an important student proposal is submitted. As for
the theoretical right of appeal, let us take a parallel; in the
South a Negro who is tried and convicted by a “Jim Crow
jury also has the right of appeal—to be re-tried by the same
“Jim Crow” jury. , • •
The crux of the whole matter is this; will the adminis
trative committees allow the student-proposals now before
them to reach the President in the form that they were sub
mitted?
Dear Sir,
I read a newspaper article re
cently concerning an uprising
of the student body over the
glorification of athleticism and
the neglect of scholarship. It
seems that there was a great
misunderstanding on the part of
the student body concerning the
article.
As I interpreted it, the young
man/ (Andress Taylor) was not
denouncing athletics, but to
more or'less trying to open the
students’ eyes to the fact that
accomplishments are made with
brains as well as brawn; also
that scholarship merits the same
degree of celebration as athletic
accomplishments.
As far as using the “Calhoun
Day” celebration as an example,
I don’t think the editor in any
way insulted Cal. for his ac
complishments. I am sure the
editor feels highly toward the
first Olympic Champion NCC
has produced. He was just using
it as an example. If I know Lee,
and I am sure I know him bet
ter than anyone there, he was
not the least bit perturbed by
the incident. Am I right?
What has happened to the
NCC student body? Have they
forgotten freedom of the press
and freedom of speech? It
would seem that the only thing,
they have learned is mob de
monstration in school. I hope I
am wrong.
Sincerely,
Henry Davis
Fort McClellan, Ala.
a bill to make heads of dormi
tory governments ex-officio
members of the Student Go
vernment; and a bill governing
student conduct at student acti
vities. The other two proposals
in the Eight-Point Program are
now under consireration by the
Student Congress.
In looking over the present
position of the S.G., Mr. Cham
bers pointed a “strong blast” at
some of the members of the
faculty who insist upon inter-,
ferring in the program and ac
tivities of this organization. He
said “Their advice is un-asked
for, un-wanted, and un-appreci-
ated.” Some of his remarks
were also directed at the per
sonnel deans for exerting what
he thought to be autocratic
practices. In this instance, Mr.
Chambers clearly expressed the
opinion of most of the students
on campus. He spoke fearlessly
with vigor and experience
which exemplified wise,. strong-
hearted leadership.
Recently, Chambers led a
group of students on campus
who presented a list of grievan
ces to the Student Welfare Com
mittee for consideration. Seve
ral of the grievances dealt with
the position which the Dean of
Women took on some issues-a
position with which students
disagreed.
Truly, Mr. Chambers has pro
ved himself to be a tower of
strength to the Student Govern
ment this year. This address de
serves unreserved approval, for
it shows that the S. G. is enter
ing a new era under a new type
of student leadership. In addi
tion, it shows that the prize pro
gram which Dr. Elder has
championed for so long now has
an opportunity to be tested
thoroughly in a real Student
Government.
Certainly in accepting any re
sponsibility that this type of
program affords, a great deal of
it must be assumed by the Stu
dent Government. This being
the case, we must have wise,
strong-hearted leaders like Mr.
J. Levonne Chambers.
Jerome Dudley
COPING WITH THE TIMES
By SAMUEL C. FLOYD
In meeting and talking withthe game. I feel that they play-
Campus® Echo
Member
ASSOCIATED COLLEGIATE PRESS
Member
ASSOCIATED COLLEGIATE PRESS
The CAMPUS ECHO, official student publication at North
Carolina College at Durham, is nublished monthly during the
regular school year. Subscription rates: $1.50 per school year.
Second class mail privileges authorized at Durham, N. C.
Dear Editor,
“It was a wonderful speech!”,
a student leader truly working
in the interest of the student
body!”, “Just what we needed a
staunch, firm stand taken by
one of our student leaders!”
These were only a few of the
many comments and compli
ments following the address;
given by Mr. J. Levonne Cham
bers in the B. N. Duke Audi
torium on February 26, before
the student assembly. This oc
casion marked a big step for
ward toward a better and more
efficient Student Government
under qualified student leader
ship. Mr. Chambers, Vice-Pre
sident of the Student Govern
ment, addressed the assembly,
in a true statesman-like manner
as he sternly denounced some
of the school’s practices in ad
dition to stating the past activi
ties, present position, and pro
posed future status of the Stu
dent Government.
Pointing to some of the high
lights of his address, he men
tioned the fact that this is the
first year that the Student
Government has operated under
its newly adopted constitution,
and because of this fact, many
accomplishments have been pos
sible. One of the most recent
ones was the petition which ask
ed for an extension of the li
brary hours during the final
exam period. The request was
granted, Mr. Chambers feels,
because of the fine cooperation
which S. G. received from the
students.
Another highlight of his:
speech was the discussion of the
five proposals and three bills
which were recently introduced
into the Student Congress in the
form of an Eight-Point Pro
gram. This program includes a
proposal to increase student
wages; a bill to improve food
and service in the dining hall; a
proposal to reduce the number
of class meetings for one-hour
courses; a proposal to change
present administrative policy
regarding student debtors here;
people around Durham about
college life, some surprising
ideas or beliefs about the stu-,
dent body here at NCC come to
light. Not very long ago I was
told that students at NCC
“didn’t have no opinions about
nothing.” To refute that un
reasonable &ssxxmption, I asked
several students to give me their
opinions on any subject, and
these are my findings:
Gladys Chavis, Senior—“Greek.
Letter organizations”; “They’re
an integral part of college life
in that they are influential in
binding the student body toge
ther in true brotherhood and
sisterhood.”
Vernelle Thompson, Sopho
more—“Basketball”: “I think
that we have a group of good
basketball boys. But I believe
that the outcome of the season’s
play would have been much
more fruitful had not the team
played for the crowd instead of
ed wonderfully for the crowd
and well for the game. I under
stand basketball perfectly but
I don’t understand why or how
a team composed of such fine
players could come so close to
the tournament championship
and yet so far.”
Samuel Gibson, Jr., Sopho
more—“Food Service”: “I
would like to congratulate the
cafeteria staff on their efforts
to serve good food, although
they have so far failed miser
ably. Let’s have a little var^
ation in foods.”
Marshall Redding, Junior—
“Life”: “Life is a pleasure for
those who think and a sorrow
for those who feel.”
Shirley Williams, Senior—
“Men are nice things to have
around!!! It’s hard to find a
good one, but once you find
him, around here it’s even har
der to hold him.”
Book Review
New Novel Tells Story Of Courage
By BARBARA LUMPKIN
Gabrielle is the story of a
long legged little girl, full of
lively irrepressible spirits”
whose life was slowly snuffed
out by an incurable cancer. It
is a true story written by a
mother who watched her child,
who loved life, slowly die. Sim
ply and expertly written, Gabri
elle will leave a deep impression
in the reader’s mind and heart.
Author Gabrielson describes
her daughter’s suffering care-i
fully from the first stomach
ache to the last painful day. She
leaves out no symptoms which
caused her little girl so much
physical pain and herself so
much mental anguish. Through
out the story, there is the thread
of hope, and perhaps even re
covery.
Perhaps imconsciously author
Gabrielson has paid an enor
mous and well deserved tribute
to the doctors who fought so
hard to save her daughter and
also to the many doctors who
are still fighting to control the
ruthless killer—cancer. The
Story of Gabrielle is not mainly
concerned with the fact that the
child had cancer, but rather
serves to point out the great
amount of courage instilled in
a small child. It is a warm and
beautiful story, even with its
tragedy.
Aside from being the story of
a little girl who suffered for
three long months, G’abrielle is
also the story of a mother who
found that“...life, every minute
of it, is beautiful and precious
and exciting always, no matter
what the condition of the body.”
The Story of Gabrielle may
serve to bring relief to other
people, parents or patients, who
have become acquainted with
cancer in some way, or with any
other illnesses, for that matter.
It is a story for all readers who
need a bulwark of strength and
courage. It re-affirms the be
lief that “life is worth living,
even against great odds, and
that life, even in death, is won
derful.”
J