Opinion
page 3
Letters to the Editors
Dear Editors,
As W6 swept the streets of Old Salem Saturday after the tragic tornado,
every Salem student felt a terrible loss. While this was an emotional time
for us, the gawking tourist seemed to find perverted pleasure in the
destruction. Not even the road blocks stopped them from venturing in and
taking souvenir photos. It was especially frustrating when they trampled
through freshly piled leaves. Occassionally, one would even stop to ask a
ridiculous question, such as "Was it bad here on Friday night? One man even
exclaimed that our efforts were a lost cause. But were they? The tornado
almost "drained Salem for all she's worth." But as we all worked together
and the streets began to clear, we saw a glimpse of Salem’s beauty that we all
know and love. It was then that we realized that our loss is only temporary.
Signed,
Mary Alston Glenn
Rennie Rosenthal
The Positive Gesture
by Bridget Matey
I think I speak for all my
classmates when I say Salem has
been a home to us for four years.
Now, as we prepare to leave and
secure a place away from here, we
find ourselves leaving at a time
when most of us would love to stay
and help Salem. I Sannot explain
fhe sense of loss that the senior
class shares. This place, that is so
beautiful to each of us in a different
way, will never be the same.
But I feel that we must not end our
years at Salem on a negative note.
This would be atypical of the class
of 1989. Many have expressed to me
that our senior gifts should be
rebudgeted to include the purchase
of some new trees for our bare
campus. I can not think of a more
positive gesture, at this time, to
share our love for Salem. We have
cried together and consoled each
other. Now we must pull together,
get our work finished, and prepare
for our commencement.
Dear Editors,
All spring I have heard
exclamations about the beauty of
Salem’s campus. Friday night
those exclamations changed to ones
of panic and dismay. In the coiu'se
of twenty minutes Salem’s beauty
was irrevocably changed.
However, as I helped the
clean-up committee I saw Salem’s
beauty shining through the
wreckage. I saw it in the faces of
the young women risking life and
limb (no pun intended) to remove
the smaller branches from the
destroyed trees so the maintenance
crews could tackle larger matters
like the square and Main Hall. I
saw it in the faces of the residents
of Gramley as we patiently spent
Saturday afternoon in the basement
waiting out another tornado
warning. I saw it in the face of
every person who loved Salem
enough to put aside his or her
personal grief to help save Salem.
I realize now that the trees were
indeed a beautiful part of Salem
but the true beauty of Salem rests
within those who love her.
Sincerely,
Amy Williamson
Dear Editors,
The last few days have been
traumatic for us all. We have
suffered a great loss in losing so
many great trees which were a part
of our college’s heritage. The
catastrophe has brought us closer
together and uncovered the
strength in our individual
characters. We all need to be
commmended on how well we
handled the situation. Public
Safety and the administration
have kept us well-informed, while
housekeeping, maintenance, and
the grounds crew have done a
fantastic job of cleaning up the area
and of ensuring our safety. The
Refectory staff has done a great job
with feeding those of us who
remain on campus, despite many
difficulties. The faculty has been
very considerate to modify our
exams. Finally, the students. We
have all done our part on the
clean-up effort. We have shared
our food and flashlights, and have
supported one another throughout
the weekend. We have helped to
maintain a "spirit" on campus. 1
hope that through this natural
disaster we will learn to
appreciate our campus’ beauty
more, and not take so many people
and things for granted. 1 hope we
will be able to maintain this
"spirit" in the coming years.
An Appreciative Student,
Tara Newton
The President Expresses Concern
' ^ •
by President Thomas V. Litzenburg
In little more than twenty minutes last
Friday evening the face of Salem was
changed - and hardly in ways we would
have wished. Over almost before it began,
a violent storm made all too clear just how
fragile are the tangilbe treasures that the
Academy and College share with Old
Salem. When the skies cleared the dawn
came, much that we long have taken for
granted had been rent asunder.
Salem Square stripped of its towering
trees. Main Hall without part of its roof
and porches. Strong Residence Hall
wrapped about by menacing limbs, the
grounds denuded of many of their familiar
landmarks - on every side we are
surrounded by reminders of just how
whimsical and indiscrimate are the forces
of nature. It is little wonder that we are
stunned by the storm for it has left us with
more than a few unwanted scars and scores
of recollections that are bittersweet at best.
Still, for all that, we have much for
which to be thankful. No one in the
village was injured and most of the
property damage can be set aright.
Admittedly, it will be a long time before
Salem has quite the feel about it of a week
ago - but have that feeling it once again
surely will.
The affection that we and others have
for this place is the certain promise that
what has been damaged will be repaired
and what has been lost will be replaced.
We know full well who will make all this
happen. None other than the very folks
who have despaired and cried, who have
pitched in and helped, who have called to
express their concern, and who have begun
to lend us financial support. Whatever else
Salem may be, it is a community of good and
caring people who ever are willing to be
the stewards of all that we hold in
common
Valuable as they clearly are, the
tangible treasures of Salem are never other
than transitory. What truly counts the
most about this community is the generous
and courageous spirit that has informed it
these past few days. That is what endures
and its worth is inestimable.