THE TWIG
Newspaper of the SUidents of Meredith College
GO PHI
Volume XXIX
MEREDITH COLLEGE, RALEIGH, N. C., FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1954
No. 1
Astros and Phis Smoking Victory On Decision Day
New Faculty and Staff Welcomed
Meredith opened the fall semes
ter with ten new faculty members
and seven new staff members.
Dr. William V. Badger, who has
been professor of history of Win-
throp. New Mexico Western, and
Memphis State Teachers’ College
comes to us as head of the education
department. A native of Parkers
burg, West Virginia, he earned his
B.S. and A.M. at George Peabody
College for Teachers, did graduate
work at Harvard and the University
of Missouri, and received his Ph.D.
from Florida State University.
Associate professor of health and
physical education is Dr. Claire
Weigt, from Flushing, N. C. The
holder of degrees from Teachers’
College, Columbia University, she
has also studied with the dancers,
Hannya Holm and Martha Graham.
Dr. Weigt has taught at the Uni
versity of Georgia, the University
of Illinois, and Bard College.
Our new assistant professor of
English, Miss Sally Willis Holland,
received her A.B. from Westhamp-
ton, her A.M. from Columbia, and
did graduate work at the University
of North Carolina. She has pre
viously taught at Coker College and
Hood College.
Dr. Robert Howell, assistant pro
fessor of economics, taught at Okla-
Registrar Releases
Spring Dean's List
The dean’s list, released by Mrs.
Vera Tart Marsh, Registrar of the
College, on June 9, 1954, includes
the names of all students registered
for at least twelve hours, who com
pleted and passed all courses with
a number of quality points equal to
twice the number of semester hours
taken plus three. The following girls
met these requirements last semes
ter; Julia Abemethy, Joan Allen,
Doris Allen, Ruth Jeanne Allen,
Betty Ball, Nellie Ruth Barnes,
Phoebe Barnhardt, Patricia Bland,
Kathryn Bright, Nancy Brown,
Margaret Brunson, Patricia Byrd,
Vivian Byrd, Mary Lois Cadle,
Nancy Carpenter, Joyce Causey,
Mary Ann Chandler, Jane Collins,
Mary Frances Colston, Jane Con-
drey, Carol Cooke, Ernestine Cot
trell, Sarah Jeanette Crawford, Eliza
Culberson, Peggy Jo Dalrymple, Bet-
tie Jean Davis, Janice Anne Daw
kins, Barbara Jean Deans, Barbara
Jean Dickens, Patricia Dowell, Mar
garet Anne English, Alyce Epley,
Kitty Flowers, Jean Forbes, Lou El
len Gardner, Mary Jon Gerald, Jean
Grealish, Mary Jodie Griffin,
Nancy Carolynne Harsell, Rebecca
Haynes, Mildred Holland, Patricia
House, Elizabeth Hunter, Ann
Ipock, Mary Frances Kerley, Milli-
centXimbrell, Virginia Kime, Doro-
thy Kinkead, Dorothy Knott, Sara
Langdon, Margaret Layne, Annette
Lee, Helene Lee, Patricia Loftin,
Marilyn McArthur, Louise McCall.
Shirley McLean, Catherine Mc-
Rackan, Rebecca McRackan, Edna
Gwendolyn Maddrey, Cynthia
Mahler, Sarah Mangum, Mary Gor
don Maxwell, Annie Lee Maye,
Daphine Mayton, Patty Melvin,
Rebekah Miles, Joyee Ann Mitch-
iner, Anne Carol Moore, Mary
Dare Moore, Dorothy Taylor Mor
gan, Elizabeth Morgan, Delores
Diane Morris, Sarah Outlaw, Wilma
Grace Owens, Jean Paee, Anne
Parr, Dorothy Paschal, Bess Peeler,
Sandra Peterson, Mary Jo Pinner,
Dorothy Lucille Prickett, Barbara
Jones Redden, Marlene Reep, Sarah
Elizabeth Robertson, Martha Ann
(Continued on page four)
homa A. & M. and North Carolina
State before coming to Meredith. He
received his B.F.A. from Oklahoma
A. & M. and also his B.S. in Per-
sonel and his M.S. in Economics.
His Ph.D. is from the University of
North Carolina. Dr. Howell has also
worked as tax researcher for North
Carolina.
Assistant professor of biology.
Dr. Edward M. Lowry, received his
A.B. from Ripon, did graduate
work at the University of North
Carolina and the University of
Michigan, and completed work for
his Ph.D. at the University of Mis
souri. Since 1947, he was fisheries
biologist for the Missouri Conserva
tion Commission.
Miss Jean Swanson, our new as
sistant professor of music from Los
Angeles, has taught in high schools,
colleges in Washington, and Mills
College. She has also been organist
at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in
Berkeley, California. Miss Swanson
received her A.B. from Macalester
College and her M.M. from North
western University, and has had two
additional years of graduate study
at the University of Southern Cali
fornia.
Acting assistant professor of
sociology Dr. Luke M. Smith, re
ceived his A.B. from the University
of California and his A.M. and
Ph.D. from Harvard. Dr. Smith had
a teaching fellowship at Harvard,
was an instructor at the University,
and was visiting assistant professor
at Boston University, Sweet Briar,
and Mary Washington.
Miss Lois Frazier, instructor and
acting head of the business depart
ment, comes from Leaksville, N. C.
She has taught at Brevard, Wom
an’s College, and Flora Macdonald,
and received her B.S. from Wom
an’s College.
Miss Loyce White, our new art
instructor, received her A.B. from
Mary Washington, and her B.F.A.
and M.F. from the Art Institute of
Chicago. Miss White, who is from
Norfolk, Virginia, taught in the city
schools there before coming to
Meredith.
Mrs. Robert Howell, part-time
instructor in geography, received
her B.S. in education and her M.S.
in geography at Oklahoma A. & M.
She has completed her course for
the doctorate in geography at the
University of N. C. Mrs. Howell has
taught in high school, and at Okla
homa A. & M.
(Continued on page two)
Proudly their mascots are the society presidents, Susie Rucker, with
Billy Astro, and Ernestine Cottrell with Milton, Phi mascot.
CAMPUS WIDE
ELECTION HELD
Elections were held on Septem
ber 23 to replace officers not re
turning to Meredith this year. Anne
Jane Barbrey was chosen Playhouse
President and Margaret (“Mutt”)
Layne, Secretary of Student Gov
ernment.
Anne Jane, a five foot tall history
major, has worked with the Play
house since her freshman year,
mostly in publicity and ticket sales.
Her junior year she served as secre
tary of the • organization and dis
played her talent for acting in the
Play Production Class’ “Two Slat
terns and a King,” in which she
was the comical character. Slut. She
has had a part in Stunt Night each
year also.
Mutt,” a S'lVi" junior, has
been a counselor, sophomore vice-
president, and a Kappa Nu Sigma
associate member. She has served
on the Oak Leaves staff and won the
Philaretian literary award her soph
omore year.
Receptidn Given
For New Students
Freshmen and transfer students
were entertained at a formal recep
tion climaxing orientation week
September 18 at 8:00 p.m. Phoebe
Barnhardt introduced the guests to a
receiving line made up of Dr. and
Mrs. Campbell, members of the
faculty, and campus leaders. After
being greeted by the members of
the receiving line the guests were
served refreshments.
MR. MARTIN DIES
Both Meredith students and
faculty were recently saddened by
the death of Mr. Martin, our night
watchman. He has been an integral
part of the Meredith scene for many
years. Mr. Martin had a special in
terest in Meredith girls and was
always concerned about their wel
fare. He liked and enjoyed his work
and did much more than was
quired of him. We will miss his
familiar figure on our campus.
ENROLLMENT
The total enrollment at Meredith
to date is 618 students, including
51 transfers, 190 freshmen, and
350 returning students, and 27 are
special students. Dormitory students
number 516 and non-resident stu
dents, 75. )
These figures were released by
Mrs. Vera T. Marsh, registrar.
Dean's Father Dies
The Rev. Joseph Leishman Pea
cock, D.D., father of Dean L. A.
Peacock, died Friday morning, Sep
tember 24. A native of Scotland,
Dr. Peacock studied at Worchester
Academy, Brown University, and
Harvard University in this country,
after which he served as a Baptist
minister in New Hampshire and
Rhode Island. He was also active
in the religious and educational life
of North Carolina, serving as presi
dent of Shaw University.
SEARCH FOR TRUTH, SAYS DR. REEVES
By A^E TUNSTALL
Dr. Marjorie Reeves, guest and
speaker on our campus last week,
is just the person to explode the
aged stereotype of the history pro
fessor with the drawn, anxious ex
pression and prim mannerisms.
Even a very brief and surface ac
quaintance with this remarkable
woman would make one conscious
of her warmth and vitality, her sin
cerity and perception.
During her stay on our campus
Dr. Reeves spoke to a group of
fifty students on Wednesday night,
the entire student body and faculty
on Friday morning, and to a group
of interested faculty members and
students from Meredith and sur
rounding colleges on Friday night.
The meaning of the vocation of a
Christian student was one of the
primary notes of concern that kept
reappearing in the lectures and con
versations of Dr. Reeves. In re
sponse to the question, “What is the
vocation of a Christian student?”
Dr. Reeves stated that it is obedi
ence to a call to think freely
and fearlessly, to be willing to risk
one’s security in search for truth.
When asked to compare the vitality
of the English student’s faith with
that of the American student’s, she
said that while Christianity was now
obvious among the students of
America, few are required to ex
amine and analize their beliefs. In
sharp contrast to this situation is
the now demanding one in which
the British Christian student, a
member of a minority group, finds
himself. He is challenged to ex
amine the roots of his faith, to ask
“Why am I a Christian?” and he is
required to “justify his right to be
intellectually respectable.”
From her statement that “the
most exciting, part of my job is to
lead students to the frontier of
knowledge,” it is evident that Miss
Reeves has a deep reverence for
truth. In speaking to students she
urged that each person seek a rela
tionship between his faith and his
intellectual quest which would not
be one of conflict but would assimu-
late both elements, Warning against
allowing “faith to close the door to
our intellectual quest,” she stated
that one might be requested to “al
ter his faith.” She asserts that the
Christian student by “maintaining
a fundamental commitment to
Christ” will have the basis for a
“fearless approach to study.”
A Baptist and one of Britain’s
leading woman educators. Dr. Mar
jorie Reeves received her B.A. and
M.A. from Oxford University and
her Ph.D. at London. At the pres
ent time she is vice principal of St.
Anne’s College in Oxford and is
lecturer of modern history at Ox
ford. Much of her philosophy has
been reflected in the thoughts she
has given us. Many of our minds
have been sharpened and will con
tinue to grow as a result of her
stimulation, and all will remember
her as an exceptionally pleasant
person whose quick smile is a sym
bol of her out-reaching Christian
personality.
Decision day looms as rush week
comes to an end. What will the out
come be? The Astros and the Phis
have planned such good times the
freshmen feel they can never de
cide between the two societies. The
fun started Friday night with the
Astro picnic at Allen’s Pond followed
by the Phi Square Dance in the
court. Saturday brought the Phi
Fashion Show and the Astro Party
in Society Hall. The dorm students
had time to catch their breath be
fore Tuesday, but the Day Students
were given a luncheon on Monday
by both Societies.
Tuesday morning the freshmen
were awakened by the singing of
the Phis, and — wonder of wonders
— some of the girls came to make
up their beds! The Phi juice stand
really kept busy giving Phi juice to
thirsty freshmen returning from
classes. Tuesday night the Phi bon
fire was held at the chimney.
The sun shone on the Astro
singers beneath freshmen windows
on Wednesday morning. Favors were
given out, and a rousing Astro pep
rally was held on the library steps
that night.
The last two days have been
highlighted by the Phi supper club
on Thursday night, and by the
Astro masquerade ball on Friday
night. There was also the visitation
and the serenading of both Soci
eties.
Shall I wear yellow or purple?
This question faces freshmen and
transfers tomorrow on Decision
Day. No matter what color they
choose, they can’t go wrong.
Dr. Whitaker
Assumes Duties
At the opening B. S. U. chapel
period of the year, Shirley MeLean,
B. S. U. president, presented Dr.
Bruce Whitaker, state B. S. U.
director, to the Meredith com
munity. Dr. Whitaker, a native of
Shelby, is a graduate of Wake Forest
College and of the Southern Baptist
Theological Seminary, Louisville,
Ky. He has been associated with
Belmont College in Tennessee and
Shorter College in Georgia and
comes to North Carolina from the
Druid Hills Baptist Church, At
lanta, Ga., where he was associate
pastor. Mrs. Whitaker also has had
considerable experience in student
work. Miss Miriam Hollis con
tinues as associate state director in
the Hargett Street office, and Mrs.
Eileen Hough is office secretary.
FRESHMEN ELECT
CLASS OFFICERS
The freshmen held elections re
cently for their class officers. Mar
garet Creech was selected for
president; Betty Kellum, vice-
president; Anne Howard, secretary;
Louise Moore, treasurer; and Mar
tha Bramlett, student government
representative.
Margaret expects to major in
primary education. The girls she
lives with say she enjoys talking and
laughing, and she herself admits a
liking for basketball. State College,
and picnics. In high school, she was
secretary of the Student Govern
ment and received many awards,
among them, the “best all round”
superlative of the senior class.
A cheerleader, class officer, and
president of her high school Tri-
Hi-Y, Betty plans to be a business
major. Among her favorites are
steak and french fries, football
games, and Carolina.
Anne, who was voted the friend
liest in her high school class, says
she likes Meredith girls and the
surrounding “male colleges.” Vol-
(Continued on page three)