North Carolina Newspapers

fAGE TWC JIAROON AND GOLD Friday, November 19, 1965 Maroon And Gold Dedicated to the best interest of Elon t'olltsK and it; students and fnculty, the I Maroon and Gold is published | during the college year at Elon College, N.C. | (Zip Code 27244), publication being in co operation with the journalism departnDcnt. KUITORIAL BO.VKU MiliL- Wynfiarden Kithard ilulchens William Br.ulham Jack IWili, Can ii’ I’oi/i,'A ki H. i'.w.J Luitii r N Byril Jimm) Pollack E(Iitiir-in-Cliief Ass >nt Editor As i Umt Kditnr Scorts Ijiiloi' iiirl Sport.*- Alumni Editor Faculty Advi-^'i: Staff Photii;!r:ii)her £ M NEW F’OK ORDER OE P'E OAK 1 K( IIMCAI, ST,UT Lhii!, JdiRs Linotype Operator Perry William.s Pn-s Operator i:m*()ktokivl staff Jerry B..ruetle Howard Ll.mchard Martha Lnvl 1 Martin ( handler Kileen ('ohh \lex Cook John CrooK Hoi;er Crooks Grover ( rul'-hfield Jane D.. i",. Jeanne Fiorito Virginia I'o^leinaa . Raymond Harris .. Dianr Hrndrix Judith Hilieri Thomas Jeffery Louis Johnsoa Tim Kempson Charles Kernodle Arthur Klaff William Macey Kachil Mcintyre Pamela McLauchlin . Thomas McLean Italph Mizelle William Moore Philip Pagliarulo Judy Quinlin Owen Cnields Stephen Sink Wayne Smith David Speight Thomas St. Clair William Stiles George Weber ilay Wilson Dianne Wyrick Helen Yoho iir, ZH'lll . I'- • • ' '■') it i te;;: .n qu:-:. . whit h FRTOAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1965 MANY DIFFICULT PKOBLEMS Comments worthy of thought concern ing the trends and problems in today’s world were addressed by President J. E, Danieley to members of the recent sum mer graduating class, and it is quite fit ting that most of his comments be pre served for everyone in the Maroon and Gold's editorial columns. His comments follow: When the Board of Trustees of Elon College adopted the aims and objectives of this institution, it declared that one of the alms of Elon College is to help each student to acquire "an understanding of his responsibilities and rights as a citizen in the democratic culture; a recognition of the Intrinsic worth of other individuals and an Intelligent awareness of world cultures, conditions, events and issues.” This would have been an extremely dif ficult objective to attain at any time in the history of this country, but it becomes Increasingly difficult to achieve an under standing of conditions and events and is sues which we face at home and abroad. In moments of nostalgia one almost wishes that it were possible to “return to norm alcy,” but this seems impossible. There seems to be no such condition as normalcy. As Thomas Wolfe said, "You can't go home again.” Our world is torn with numerous vex ing issues. We face many difficult prob lems. One wonders when there can be peace on either the domestic or the in ternational scene. Running through the rev olutions which beset us is the constant cry for freedom. There are peoples who seek political fricdom, wishing to be free from the restrains and the rule of outside powers. There are those who seek personal freedom, trying to throw off the shackles of bondaijc which have been their raiment throughout their lives. There f.re those who seek to be free from want; their hungry boJii-.; cry out to be fed; in a world of plenty tliey daily go to bed hungry. Then, amid all this striving for freedom, we in the .academic community speak, sometimes lin'.ldly. sometimes with high emotion, about acaiii mic freedom. Much of the struggle involved in the aiti’nipi to achieve each of the.se freedoms i ciiu.sed by our failure to understand what II If freedom means, what it involves, what it demands. Those who are in a position to provide or withhold freedom frequently fail to understand its essential nature and its importance. Frequently, those who are seeking freedom, having never known it equates freedom with license and are shocked to learn that there is no such thing as freedom apart from responsibility, that they go together and. that although one may be an heir to freedom, he cannot long pos=;f s-s it unless he assumes his share of the responsibility for the protection of that freedom. In the academic in.stitution, in the col lege or university, freedom means the right the opportunity to study, to learn, to seek for the truth wherever that search leads and then to communicate the results of that endeavor without regard to personal or institutional prejudice. This, like every other freedom which mankind enjoys, sometimes leads to trouble, dissension, misunderstanding, and resistance, but an ^ucational institution cannot maintain its integrity if restrictions are imposed upon it which make it impo.ssible for the schol ars in that institution to pursue the truth glorious feast aj iMCIIAKI) HITCIIF'.NS (!n Education university is the most en;;ine in modern civili- I monitor which controls o! all levels of education, for : . ; the preparation of our The teacher has determined the itir schools, and the school til ’ . - cl in which our culture is ^ ! i'opi one generation to the next, deti iMii;u-, character and intellectual content of 0 ;r civilization." These words were spoketi by Dr. Richard Bardolph at a lunchton ;iddress on this campus. Though his es:-;ential purpose was to discuss pert inent faLiT concerning the possibilities of colitje teaching and graduate school. Dr. Uardolph also impressed upon those present the importance of obtaining a col lege education in our present age. The Doctor’s "raceful wit and ease of expres sion combined with his adductive sub ject produced a most pleasant and in formative meeting. The purpose here, however, is not to chide the student of Elon College or to er- emphasize the moment of graduating from this institution. Another problem has reared its ugly head and needs to be brought before the inquisition of public opinion. The problem is that of the in trinsic values found on the college cam pus today. After viewing a co-ed run around the parking lot at the rear of Ala mance screaming “I love my sacred sis ter,” one has to pause in consternation and wonder whether he is in under-graduate school or Mrs. Pigglewiggles’ nursery. Perhaps it is time for fraternities and sororities to justify their usefulness on the college campus today. Not only do these organizations have a tendency to be detrimental to a student’s scholarly pur suits but they also have a tendency to intensify uniformity. Members of such organizations do cling to a tried and true defense, however. The defense being the idea that man needs to belong and that "birds of feather flock together.” This concept has proven itself to be not entirely false but it certainly is far from any sort of ideal. By this uniformity or “togetherness” a student is deprived of any contact with values and ideas different from his own. This is tragic in that a col lege campus should thrive on diversity. Society, of course, must accept partial re sponsibility for this attitude of conformity lor our society has become so narrow and automatic ihat one feels uncomfort able in the presence of those who are dif ferent. This is evident when one observes a con.;regation of students or a group of executives who give the appearance of being an ivy-league safety patrol, both physically and mentally. The quarrel, therefore is not only with fraternal units but also with society. Fra ternities must cease their abominable habit of perpetuating this conformity, however, or the quality of diversity will perish and without this quality an undergraduate institution will become merely a prep school for the business world instead of the seat of enlightened and mature eval uation. Another tragic state of affairs in the fraternity system is the fact that the forms of entertainment are quite limited. The students are being drastically short changed. While fraternities and sororities are engaged in "rat courts" and “Combo parties” they are usually missing nation ally known speakers, concerts, plays and a multiple variety of other activities. Re member that every facet of an academic community needs to be justified as to its first purpose. This purpose should be the search for knowledge while we, the editors, do not want to eliminate festive occasions, we are opposed to any form of recre ation at the expense of scholarships; and this is why fraternities, you must justify yourselves not as birds but as organiza tions necessary to existence of a college community. The following is a letter addressed to this column: Dissenting opinion is again invited. Box 1339. are of Charles b’ei::.;;..r. of :\U;non, Co-'.n. Kuvv James rarreii sauiiutis, ui Edward Mixon, of Ja^'ksonville, Fla.; and William Donald Richardson, of Hillsborough. Aot present for the picture was Jo Ann Braxton, of Graham. to the limit of their resources and their abilities. Much of the strength of this na tion has derived from the strength of its education institutions. Those institutions can remain strong, dynamic, and fully useful only if that same society determines to continue to provide them an environ ment in which academic pursuits can flourish. JUST AVERAGE If a man stands with his right foot on a hot stove and his left foot in a freezer, some statisticians would assert that, on the aver age, he’s comfortable. A SSeeveless Errand By WII.LIAM BRADIIAM Saturday afternoon, October 30th was a scene of disaster during the Homecoming football game. The disaster, however, was not on the field as it would appear, but rath er in the bleachers. .Vever has the author seen such a poor display of support and enthusiasm. I grant you that the Elon College lootball team is not the same Conference chan.p,' of the ’64 sea son, yet I ask yoj: Is tliis a valid reason for desertion? One caii go io Chapel Hill on any Saturday afternoon, during either a winning or losing season and witness an inspiring sight. Whether Carolina is winning or losing, one can see, hear, and feel complete whole-hearted support of the team. Throughout the game the students, alumni and support ers follow the lead of the Carolina cheerleaders, who are of no better quality than those found at Elon. There is, however, one differ ence—that being the presence of males on the cheerleading squad, which may not be a bad idea for Elon to adopt. It’s done at many schools. The Carolina students not only follow the lead and direction of the cheerleaders; but they take this into their own hands and voices. The tumult of praise, please and bantering of the op position is truly a spectacle to be hold. This support lasts until the very last second and beyond, for after the game each and every Carolina student and alumnus stands to praise his team and school with "Hark the Sound.” Elon College’; band plays the school song, bu :ew bo.her to sing, all all too few :iow the words. In witnessing the i:ig of "Hark the Sound” at Caro lina I have never failed to be impressed. At this point, I might add, that five years ago I was a freshman at Carolina; but due to an inabil ity to see the reason for my being there I “lasted” for only one year Yet, it was a year I'll never for get, for I learned and still main lain respect for the University ind her students. I learned a good bit about human nature in regard ■0 tradition and loyalty. However, I digress. Let me say that I attended every football game in Kenan Stadium; I yelled and cheered and sang with so much vigor that by Saturday night I was in great ne^ of liquid sustenance. I, like all students, was joyously happy when we won and naturally disappointed and critical if we lost, yet always stayed behind the team. Elon and Carolina are two schools separated by only 25 miles or so. yet are worlds apart in school feeling and tradition. Both schools have enrolled young men and women of the same age group with similar ideas about life, yet why do Carolina students out h'ne those at Elon? Is it that Carolina students are proud of '.heir school and we at Elon are not? Are we ashamed because we do not attend a “big name” school? Maybe so! Having at- tentlod bo‘h schools, this differ ence has bothered me. I do not understand the reasoning. Many of you picked Elon as the school you wanted to attend, for what reason I can't say; but the point is that you did so, so why not be proud of it and give Elon your support, rather than act as if is degrading to you personally. The general Elon College student body, as I have previously men tioned in a former column, is too apathetic and when not apa thetic, it is highly critical as was seen on Saturday. The students at the game either sat there lifeless or began to criticize the mistakes being made on the field. Is this any way to help a team? I believe that the people in the stands can, to a great extent, make or break a team. I have seen in 1961, the Carolina football team hold off Duke four times on the one-foot line. To me, it seemed the reason was that the Carolina students outdid the Duke side. The difference was six points. Elon would have given any school those six points. If I seem overly patri otic concerning Carolina, well I am, as I am about Elon, but I cannot help feeling concerned about the Elon spirit. (Continued On Page Four) II(>I)K1NS0N IS GIVEN W.E. FUND SCHOLARSHIP I Ronald Hodkinson, Elon College senior from Taftville, Conn., has just been awarrfew * Electric Fund Scholarship at Elon College for the second straight year havins rece15^^tho the first time last year. Hodkinson. who is a social science major. k pictu^S® ceX^JlvP ceives the 1965-66 award from S. C. Donnellv. We.stpm FWtrir. above as he re right. Dr. J. E ^ award from S. C. .^nnelly, Western Electric official of BurUi5^n^ who t sLto V Dameley, Elon president, shown left, looks on with approval asX awart fs Sa™ a few blasts and bravos By MIKE WTNGARDEN THE PROFESSOR BASIC PRINCIPLES OF THE TOTALITARIAN STATE The totalitarian state is a very closed society. Within its brick walls is a ruling party of minority elite that has complete control over all functions of the mind, all facets of communication. Because of its basic philosophy, from which there is digression at the convenience of the rulinj few, the totalitarian state presents the Utopian conception of heaven on earth. After luring people into its clutches with promises and exhaltations, this monster- state then does an about face and exploits the individual to a point at which he loses his very identity, becoming little more than a tool used by the ruling party to further its own mystical ends. Once enmeshed within the throes of this rigid social-political structure, the individual must without question adhere to each and every moral dictum erected by the rulers. To question is to be heretical; to be de sirous of improvement is to be a glory seeker. At the very apex of the totalitarian sys tem, which hides under the guise of a free, classless—even communistic—society, sits the minority ruling elite, at the head of which is usually one man. Supposedly re presentatives of an historical process of dialectical regeneration, the ruling few are in themselves victims of their ovm philosophy. That is, they are the policy makers and they must therefore adhere to their own ethical systems. If they de part from such systems they stand chance of losing face. To lose face is to fall to the level of what the consider the incoherent masses. Once in power the ruling oligarchy ex pands its policy in such a way as to appear the savior of mankind. The leaders never miss a chance to ingratiate themselves, giving great and generous promises of improvement and progress. Their inten tions are for the most part materialistic; they give not one nod towards individual expression or creation. They will not tol erate any idea or emotion which deviates from the rigid norm of the stereotype, and any expressions of liberalism or divine ex periences are merely regarded as destruc tive of order and progress. The very personnel composing the in ternal structure of the party in power is never subject to new, external ideas or personalities. The subordinates to the dic tator, although collectively powerful and influential, are kept in a constant state of semi-subserviance, while all the time being groomed in such a way as to be able to assume command of the party upon the “retirement” of the dictator. In this way, then, the ruling few are an in-bred lot, self-perpetuating in dogma and phil osophy, personalities and ideas. This is the day that the principles of the party, supposedly representing the state but which in fact are the state, become hardened and crystalized, unalterable and infallible to unorganized opposition. In such a state there is also the concept of totalitarian democracy. Just as those people in a democracy must adhere to certain legalistic standards, so too must the people in the totalitarian system ad here to similar standards. But the major difference is of course found in the fact that in a democracy one adheres to the standards for the betterment and the com patibility of his very self. In a totalitarian state one adheres to various standards for the betterment of the realm, of which he is simply a part of the collective whole. In other words, the individual must under all conditions assimilate his identity into the cosmic authority of the state. Also, the individual must adjust himself to the moral code demanded by the state. All patterns of right-behavior are invented and enforced by the slate. Thus the totali tarian moral ideology is a thorough going re-alignment of all pre-existing moral sys tems to which the individual may have subscribed. The totalitarians replace ortho dox morality with a stereotype affair, which is neither flexible nor comprehend- ible. It is a devilish proposal which de stroys the normitive in the existential realm. Finally, the totalitarian state controls all avenues of communication. Nothing undesirable leaves the realm; in a sim- ilf,r fashion nothing undesirable enters the realm. All newspapers and pamphlets are controlled with great care, so that any news allowed to leave the walls of that society is rendered useless. After all, noth ing derogatory may be communicated to outside areas which in any way tends to undermine the jeweled throne on which the dictator squats. (Contlnin-d on Page Four)