PAGE 2
THE VOICE
AUGUST, 1978
EDITOR’S VIEW
by Lillie Booth
Wouldn’t it be fantastic if all of our names became hoiKehold
words? Wouldn’t it be equally as great if this gave rise to instant
fame and fortune? Realistically, the oods are against it and for
some of us the only exposure we will get will be in the form of our
death announcement in the obituary column.
It isn’t fair, is it? Afterall, we’ve constantly declared, “When
I grow up I’m going to be rich and famous.” And if we didn’t
acquire the famous status, we would settle for comfortably well
off. Despite the compromise, we’ve still insisted, “I’m going to
make it.”
However, years later when our goals aren’t reached and our
dreams haven’t materialized, we ponder and ask of ourselves,
“What am I? Who am I? Am I doomed to be a failure?”
It takes one of those depressing hectic days when nothing
seems to work or go right for you to take the time to assess
yourself, negatively, of course. But if you’re a positive thinker,
you immediately cut with the self-pizysand pull the curtains on
putting yourself down. From there you push on until you get
something better for yourself.
I have always wanted to be a writer. I’ve had the recurring
dream of having several best-selling novels on the market. But
what if I never make it? What if I never get to discuss one of my
books on BOOK BEAT, THE JOHNNY CARSON SHOW, or
whatever? Am I going to become bitter at the world just because I
failed at having the mass majority know my name? Am I goi:^ to
stop there because the contributions I expected to make didn’t
occur? I have no such intentions. Lille Booth may never join the
ranks of Martin Luther King, Jr., Barbara Jordan or Julian Bond,
but I assure you, I will be making my share of contributions that
help to make this world a better place.
The world revolves around hardly noteworthy contributions.
Usually they are the ones that ask nothing more than the sacrifice
of time and effort. Yet, in these days that yield reluctancy to get
involved, especially other people’s affairs, the need to have
someone around to listen, to smile, to lend a shoulder, to lend or
hold a hand, often goes begging.
It’s true that these tasks can be time consuming. But does
rationalizing, “I’m busy, I don’t have the time to get involved
with other people’s problems,” become enough to justify no
committment or involvement at all? Perhaps because showing
someone that you care and are concerned about their welfare
doesn’t rate enough praise and glory, a lot of us are turned off.
The proper thing in this case, however is not to be so quick to
demand credit where credit is due. Believe me, nothing can
replace the contentment arrived from sharing, from caring, and
from just being there when you’re needed.
There will be a variety of times when my name doesn’t really
matter but they’ll be the most important in my life. How I per
form then will inadvertently expose me, supplying you with a
valid ID. You’ll have a complete picture of who I am, what I am,
where I’m going - and you need not know my name.
SHOULD THE VOICE HA1%G IT VP?
In retrospect, many are
probably considering the
numerous problems that THE
VOICE encountered last year
and are wondering if the
pattern is destined to repeat
itself.
Hopefully, the answer will
be “No.” Perhaps this year
we will convince and recruit
enou^ people that are willing
to contribute their time and
effort towards making THE
VOICE a productive outlet for
the student body.
We are incorporating this
year a motto: “Speaking For
Ourselves.” It is imperative
that each of you realize the
significance of this idea and
after doing so will capitalize
on it.
I pose a question. Instead
of toying with the idea of THE
VOICE hanging it up, why not
take a moment and share your
ideas with us? We welcome all
comments, poetry, creative
writings and any suggestions
that you have to offer. Here’s
your chance to speak for
yourself.
Lillie Booth, Editor
OCCUPATIONAL HAZARD
National On-Campus Report
College students lead a
“sedentary lifestyle with
unhealthy habits such as
smoking, drinking too much
caffeins and being under
excess stress,” according to a
U. of Florida psychologist.
And that lifestyle is giving
many of them high blood
pressure.
In a recent study there,
196 of 2,000 students screened
had hi^ blood pressure, a
condition that may not bother
them now but could result in
one third of them suffering
weakened hearts, kidneys and
brain blood vessels, according
to UF Infirmary Blood
Pressure Clinic Director
Denis Geary.
Students with high blood
pressure should immediately
begin treatment, through
medication, exercise, diet or
relaxation techniques, before
permanent damage can oc
cur, say Geary.
THE CASE AGAEVST
FRESHIflABi ORIENTATION
by Lillie Booth
(Reprinted from THE VOICE,
October, 1977)
Before I actually got into
the swing of things on campus,
I discovered a fool-proof
method for getting an instant
feedback, even from a
relative stranger. The trick is
to mention the secret words:
Freshmen Orientation. These
two words are guaranteed to
provoke a smile, a look of pity.
THE VOICE
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Editor: Lillie Booth
or some other facial ex
pression. And if you aren’t
careful, you’ll find yourself
engaged in an advisory
session or wanting to head a
complaint department.
The consensus seems to
favor that the ritual is a waste
of time, especially since there
is no credit given for the now
eight weeks invested in it. Not
only this, many complain that
it’s boring, there are too many
people involved and perhaps
the most thought of sentiment
is, “I’m not going to get
anything out of it anyway.”
Even though the debate rages
on, the question remains, “Is
Freshmen Orientation a waste
of time?” and if so “Whose?”
If you know everything
about your educational plans
and goals and can answer
outright any questions that
may arise, you may have a
valid case against Freshmen
Orientation. Still, I’m of the
opinion that it’s not a waste of
anyone’s time and that the
supplementary material
gained is beneficial now and in
the future.
I’m thinking that those
who adamantly disagree with
my opinion are of the old
school (so to speak) that never
experienced the chance to
work with Doctor Willis Ham,
the director of the program.
The interest express^ by
Doctor Willis Ham leads me to
believe that Freshmen
Orientation will get its much
needed face lift and will be
responsible for destroying
associated with the program.
Under normal cir
cumstances, I would never
attempt to pilot an airplane
If You Can*t Pay
COLLEGE LOANS-
Is Banhruptcy Justified?
Do you have a student
loan? Are you thinking of
getting one? GLAMOUR
Magazine’s More For Your
Money columnist, Barbara
Gilder Quint, has some im
portant facts you should know
regarding loan payments and
bankruptcy.
In 1975, Ann graduated
from her state university with
a master’s degree in
education, lots of coitf idence ~
and $7,500 in debts she had
accumulated during her last
five years of schooling. She
quickly discovered that there
were no jobs for high school
French teachers, and that she
was either overqualified or
unskilled for any other
available jobs. Her best op
portunity, it seemed, we as a
$5,500-a-year clerk in an in
surance office - a far cry from
the $9,000 she had counted on
as a teacher. To top it off, she
received the first monthly bill
of $91 for repayment of her
college loans.
Unwilling to face ten
years of repaying a loan with
only meager earning
prospects, Ann declared
bankruptcy - that is, she went
to court, told the judge she
was unable to pay her debts,
and asked to have them
legally canceled. Under
bankruptcy law, which varies
somewhat from state to state,
a person declaring
bankruptcy must turn over
most of her assets to be
distributed to her creditors -
in Ann’s case, this was the $65
in her savings account. She
handed over the $65 and left
the courthouse legally free
and clear of her $7,500 debt
(Continued on Page 3)
without any prior experience
or orientation. Nor would I
consider entering one of the
laboratories to start an ex
periment without knowing the
procedures involved. Would
you? Since this is true, I’m
sure you can see how I can
correlate this with an
educational plan.
One of the main reasons
for being here is to grow
educationally and to develop
into the best person possible.
If you are how to start, how to
find out what’s best for you,
and what will help you to
develop into the best person
that you can be, then in
vestigate and invest in your
Freshmen Orientation
program. It’s all there:
guidelines, road maps,
alternatives, and some free
and professional advice.
I suspect the case against
Freshmen Orientation will
never make it to court. The
evidence appears to be mostly
hear-say and based on bias
opinions furnished by wit
nesses that preferred not to
get thoroughly involved.
Because of the lack of suf
ficient evidence, I think the
only alternative would be to
completely dismiss the case.
Remember, you are the judge.
And with that closing remark,
I rest my case.
And with closing remark, I
rest my case.
(This article is the first in a
series of articles concerning
Freshmen Orientation. New
changes are expected in the
program this year and THE
VOICE will present follow-up
reports on the changes and
reactions that occur.)
NEW
GRADIl^G
SYSTEin
SURVEYED
During the summer, a
survey was conducted by a
marketing class at Fayet
teville State University to
determine the feelings of the
university community
towards the new grading
system. In addition, Fayet
teville area residents were
surveyed concerning the new
grading system.
A random sample (10
percent) was taken of the
institutional population and
selected areas in the city of
Fayetteville. The results
revealed that the majority (77
percent) of the respondents
felt that the new grading
system should have been put
into practice before now. The
results also revealed that
fifty-nine percent (59 percent)
of ^e students do not wish to
go back to the old grading
system, A majority (57 per
cent) of the respondents felt
that the new grading systmm
will be a success.
What is your opinion
concerning the new grading
system? Please submit your
opinion to THE VOICE.
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