Page two
THE TWIG
November 17, 1950
ISO REQUIEM FOR PALIO
Now that the tumult and the shouting,
as well as the pounding of the rain, have
all passed over, the effects of the mo
mentous night of Palio may be more
accurately analyzed. What most of those
who have developed, to use a good
phrase, “emotionalized attitudes” about
the never-tQ-be-forgotten occasion forget
is that the Athletic Board and others
responsible cannot justly be blamed for
a downpour of rain and the indisputable
fact that there is only one Palio banner
to be strived for by four classes. Even in
this age of science the Town Crier could
not order perfect weather to show off the
intriguing costumes present.
That competition for a goal requires
hard work by many people should not
be used as a logical basis for an argument
to do away with the inconvenience of
that work. If the present hue and cry by
the enterprising few among us to wipe
the slate of Meredith traditions clean
because of the efforts called for to make
such occasions as Palio enjoyable by
those who participate and attend should
continue at its present rate, perhaps in a
few years Meredith will be able to call
itself a boarding school and will arrange
as its annual celebration a march, with
the students lined up by classes perhaps,
down the drive to Roy’s and back. And
if there remains an objection that ar
ranging for the event may require a
half-hour of a committee’s time, an out
side worker may be hired so that
students may conserve their time for
more “valuable” pursuits.
Not until such a time as the Athletic
Board, which so far has done an
amazingly good job with its sponsored
events and which lined up a remarka
ble processional in Palio until “the
rains came,” should see fit to recom
mend that Palio should cease will we
be justified in paying close attention to
the request. Only those class vice-
presidents, who with their faithful few
do such a good job with their huge and
unwieldy classes who refuse to pivot
on the corners as they march, are
qualified to speak with authority to the
Board in scheduling and arranging for
future PaUos. The experiment is over;
from last week’s experiences valuable
lessons will be learned in the struggle
to win the banner next year—for Palio
will remain with us, a part of Meredith.
-N.W.
STUDENT GOVERNMENT
ECHOES . . .
If the Twig will allow collegiate slang
to be overtly displayed in this hallowed
column, it would be very a propo to say
that the current behavior in chapel “has
got it,” “is out of this world,” or “is
really on the beam.”
Before any more bouquets are thrown
to the Student Government Council,
some of the least wilted orchids should
be presented to the entire student
body. Not only has the chapel behavior
improved, but the prevalent responsive
attitude towards regulations has
amazed everyone. The Council has been
swamped with suggestions, questions,
and gripes, too—a good indication of
widespread student participation.
Open meetings of the Council have
let in student opinions from both left
and right wings of the campus—with
more understanding than ever before.
For several years the typical vision
of student government has been a snarl
ing villain ready to stab any poor victim
who strayed from the straight and
narrow pathway. This year another
emphasis has been stressed. We as
students in a democratic community
have the right and privilege of govern
ing ourselves under the leadership of
students that we select. If the leaders
are not carrying out their duties in the
manner which we like—it is our duty
to tell them.
J^etter^ to the Cditor DoinS
By DOTTIE
TOPIC: CHAPERONES
BEWILDERED CHAPERON’S DATE
To the Meredith student body:
I wonder how many useless steps
have been exerted climbing the steps
of upperclassmen dormitories in search
of a chaperon, only to find the upper
classmen with a full night planned
(that’s what the freshman was told.) It
boils down that not too many upper
classmen consider chaperoning some
thing to look forward to. Certainly, on
the other hand, the freshman doesn’t
relish being forced to drag an unwilling
upperclassman along with her when
ever her “joy-maker” comes to town.
Anyway, all of this I gather from what
my “Miss Meredith” and her friends
have said.
Apparently I have not had the
chaperon training that I need, since I
felt way out of place on several
occasions when I dated “the chaperon.”
It was quite clear that the poor fresh
man and her date were uneasy. The
chaperon, bless her heart, was on the
spot because the responsibility of nearly
everybody’s behavior rested on her. So
here we go down Hillsboro Street,
everybody feeling out of place. By the
time we reached Fayetteville Street
somebody got up enough nerve to bring
up the fact that it had turned a little
cooler. It is my opinion that a lot of
freshmen do not object so much to being
chaperoned, but rather they feel out
of place when they are in the company
of upperclassmen. Chaperoning has its
merits and they cannot be overlooked,
but why not try to satisfy the interest
of both the chaperon and the chap
eroned?
When a person encounters a situation
such as this, of course, he tries to reason
out some logical solution. I would like
to suggest that the girls be put on their
honor and that the freshmen chaperon
themselves instead of having to, as they
probably put it, impose upon an upper
classman. It is my honest opinion that a
freshman could chaperon another fresh
man much better than can an upperclass
man. This would certainly be the ideal
system at work, and theoretically invoke
self-confidence. This system would seem
to get freshmen merely double dating in
stead of, as the book reads, having to
be chaperoned. Of course, some might
say that the one to be chaperoned would
then pick someone who would uphold
her in her infraction of the rules if that
be her desire. However, I believe this
is possible as the rules now stand.
Dating is welcome recreation to any
college student, so why not have it so
that they could enjoy it once they get
an opportunity? Bill Allen.
UNHAPPY FRESHMAN
The responsibility of government
rests upon each of our shoulders; each
of us has a part. The new vision of
student government is that of ALL
students finding a way of life in which
each can aid another in becoming better
students, better citizens, and better
followers of the greatest leader—Christ.
—Marjorie Joyner.
Well, it was just the other day as I
came to school on the bus that I just
happened to run into a fellow D.S. As
a matter of fact, let us say that I sensed
her presence long before I saw her,
for she carried with her a pot of fish
glue. Opening a window, I asked her
what plans she had made for that
particular day. It seems that she is past
ing something to something else in the
auditorium — some extra-curricular
activity, I presume.
Riding the bus can be an enlightening
experience. For instance, just this
morning I have learned that everyone
should start the day right with a fresh
bale of cotton, that all Raleigh speaks
when somebody named Jessie-some-
thing-or-other listens, and that the
I.R.(5. requires all passengers to stand
behind the bus when they are in motion.
I learned, too, that Joanna Wilson
and Mary Whisnant went to the I.F.C.
pledge dance, Ruth Champion is coach
ing a Cathedral Latin High School
basket ball team, and that Verna Wil
letts attended the State-Davidson game.
I found out that Betsy Goldston,
Martha Stough, Bunny Walker, and
Martha Hare are having their respec
tive “great times” student teaching this
semester.
It came to my attention, also, that to
bring boiled eggs, baked potatoes, and
oranges to school for lunch, is not wise,
particularly if they are in a bag that’s
too small, and you are on a bus that
lurches. So /amusing to watch your
lunch roll out the back door of a bus,
course by course.
It would seem, also that the rather
stout old gentleman who hangs sway-
ingly by the rack above me with a pick
axe, crow bar, shovel, hammer, and two-
by-four is not adverse to clouting me
over the head with his maddock or drop
ping his hammer on my toe. He is really
very thoughtful, however, for he always
places his two-by-four right where I
can cut my wisdom teeth on it, as a
means of passing the time away con
sumed by the bus ride.
Yes, as we D.S.’s all know, bus riding
is grand, so grand that I suggest we buy
an old Stanley steamer I saw advertised
at a nominal fee. Dottie.
only six weeks. While I will not benefit
by it, I hope this rule is changed so that
future freshmen will have a happier
first semester. Lyn Belton.
‘OUT-OF-PLACE” CHAPERON
Dear Editor:
Dear Editor,
This is the first time I’ve written you
and as first impressions are often lasting
ones, I should be very careful to make
a good one. However, I’m going to begin
by complaining, and griping. What I’m
all ‘het up” about is this chaperon busi
ness. It’s the curse of a freshman’s life!
“Why, a chaperon is only dating
with an uppercassman,” someone said.
Yes, its dating with an upperclassman;
an upperclassman for whom you’ve had
to search for hours and then had to
plead with to accompany you. After get
ting a chaperon, you can’t say where
you want to go for fear she doesn’t want
to go there. So you spar about fifteen
minutes trying to pick a place she might
like. This experience isn’t fun and the
whole night is ruined before it’s even
started.
Many of the girls have gone “steady”
for one, two, or three years before
coming to Meredith. Yet these girls
have to have chaperones. Their dates
don’t like it; the girls don’t like it, and
I don’t think that even the chaperons
like it.
Nothing is all bad, however. There
are even, believe it or not, some good
aspects to chaperonage. At the first of
the year the freshmen as a whole know
nothing about Raleigh. We didn’t know
about the buses, movies, eating places,
or anything. We really need someone
to help us along. However, it doesn’t
take the average freshman a whole
semester to learn these things. There
has been some talk of the rule being
changed next year to chaperonage for
“I thought I was chaperoning one
couple, but when I got downstairs there
were six couples to go with me and
my date in his car.” .... “She didn’t
even bother to thank me for chaperon
ing her, even after I changed the plans
I made a week ago when she asked me
tonight at 7:00 to chaperone.” .... “He
was a shrimp with a typically freshman
personality and sense of humor—some
body the girl’s date picked up to date
the ‘chaperon’Such are the remarks
that can be heard among any upper
class group in school on the subject of
chaperoning. And, having lived on a
freshman hall last year, I know that
the same general attitude prevails
among the freshmen. If so many people
are dissatisfied with the system of chap
eronage, or dating, something must be
wrong with the whole set-up.
Let’s analyze this business of chap
eroning. It seems that the only good
reason that can be given for chaper
onage of freshmen is that they are new
in Raleigh and not familiar with the
town. Then why not have a six weeks
period of chaperoning or double-dating
with the class (or outside) for the re
mainder of the year?
After all, when you get down to the
bottom of the whole business, it’s
purely double-dating anyway. And I’m
sure the freshmen boys aren’t pleased
with the idea of dating the senior
chaperones any more than the chaper
ones are. It seems to me that an
improvement in this area would mean
an improvement in the general attitude
of the whole campus and especially in
the feeling between freshmen and up
per classmen. We have to remember
that this is Meredith College in the
year 1950, not Meredith College in the
year 1889!
Fran Altman.
Palio is really over. The glitter has
finally been swept away; the costumes
and props have been put away, and V
closeted with them are the excuses for
tradiness to class, for sleeping through
classes, and for complete absences
both of mind and body. The down-pour
seemed to put more spirit into the '
freshmen rather than wash it out. Such
enthusiasm promises bigger and bright
er Palio in the years when the Arabian
Knights and Voices for Freedom are
respected alumnae and the “buds of the
future generations” are full-blown.
Perhaps Palio will be grand enough
for even the wife of the governor to
condescend to be a judge. Dot Fisher
says that she won’t, but I’ll bet in
twenty years that she’ll want to return
to her “schoolgirl” days.
Why remenisce though? Thanksgiv
ing is here! I don’t care if it’s half a
week off; most of the freshmen have
been packed for a week. The sopho
mores have to pretend to be sophisti
cated and wait—they only have one
toothbrush.
So you’re planning to sleep, sleep,
sleep. Ha! It will take from the time
you get back from Thanksgiving till the
day before Christmas holidays to get
into shape for the all night vigil. Not to
speak of the extra inches that have to
come off the waistline plus the suitcases
from under the eyes.
I leave with one suggestion. Classes
wouldn’t be so hard if the seats were
softer!
Ptoocidted €b0e6ici»
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