Page two
THE TWIG
March 4, 1955 -f
WHAT ABOUT STUDENT OPINION AND MORALE?
This is a question that never^
seems to be answered. It is a prob
lem that never gets solved. Com
plaints are heard every day about
homework, rules, and food; and yet
it seems that the things we ought to
be thinking about and expressing an
opinion on are ignored. It is too
much trouble to think out a real
problem and do something to solve
it. We take the easy way of drifting
and getting along somehow. As a
result, our student morale hits a low
ebb.
Meredith is not the only school
that suffers because of a lack of
school spirit and intelligent thought.
Several selections from other col
lege papers have been printed on
this page in the hope that we will
all take notice of this problem and
seek a solution to it.
CAMPUS OPINION
We have freedom of speech. Let’s
use it constructively.
And how would you like to see
your Student Government Council
run? Do you have some definite
ideas? Well, now is the time to do
something about it, for elections are
here. So get to know nominees and
be sure you’re voting in line with
your convictions as well as for an
outstanding personality.
Not One Complaint
(From the Collegian,
Greensboro College)
Recent headlines recording inci
dents of debates on Red China
being stopped, the teaching of evo
lution in church-affiliated colleges
being condemned, and courses on
Communism being cut from college
curriculums have prompted consid
erable discussion and apprehension.
The question has been raised, “Is
academic freedom being threat
ened?’’
Your Collegian has added the
opinions of G. C. students on this
current question and reports that 64
per cent of those questioned believe
that academic freedom is being
threatened.
Interviews revealed extreme
opinions on the subject, with the
freshmen and sophomore students
accounting for the largest number of
affirmative answers. Upperclassmen
in general, felt that academic free-
(Continued on page four)
HUSH’S
ESSIN’
The
Ungrateful
Student
(From the Daily Tar Heel
University of N. C.)
The new complaints board,
which had its first meeting yes
terday afternoon in the Woodhouse
Lounge of Graham Memorial, had
no student complaints brought be
fore it, according to Bob Harring
ton, chairman of the board.
“I would like to see all students
with complaints come to see us and
air them,” said Harrington concern
ing future meetings of the board.
The group, which was set up by
the student Legislature, will meet
every two weeks.
MEREDITH TALENT
(Continued from page one)
by Dr. Campbell to plan this pro
gram is composed of Mr. Dorsett,
Dr. Rose, and Dr. Cooper.
(From the Journal,
Shaw University)
How many students do you sup
pose actually appreciate college
WHILE DOING UNDERGRAD
UATE WORK? My guess is that
perhaps three or four out of ten do.
In the past couple of decades the
college graduate has become almost
a commoner in our American so
ciety; and we can foresee the day
when perhaps a degree from an un
dergraduate college will be the
equivalent of a present-day high
school diploma.
One reason for the decrease of
appreciation for a college educa
tion, WHILE IN SCHOOL, is the
easiness with which we achieve it.
Today there are many scholarships
available to an aspirant. One can
obtain a scholarship for academic
superiority, athletic supremacy, or
outstanding achievement in a tech
nical area, to name a few channels.
Another attribute to the student’s
“matter-of-fact” attitude is that the
serious-minded student is all but
dead. To study long and hard for
courses is as antiquated as a 1900
(Continued on page four)
ifxiifciii
Mcitwr
Pbsocidled Gollefiicrte Pfojs
EDITORIAL STAFF
Editor Bess Peeler
Assistant Editor - Pat Dowell
Managing Editor Barbara Sellers
Feature Editor. Barbara Snipes
Art Editor - Sally Drake
Music Editor Leah Scarborough
Sports Editor - Maiy Jon Gerald
Photo Editor -...Virginia Morris
Columnists Pat Allen, Margaret Ann English
Reporters — Joyce Herndon, Barbara Stanley, Anne Tunstall, Janette
Honeycutt, Marjorie Jackson, Deloris Blanton, Julia Abernathy, Patsy
Barrett, Jo Anne Selley.
Typists — Mary Lib Delbfidge, chief; Frances Carr, Anne Middleton,
Joyce Jones, Mimi Royster, Myra Bristol, Ophelia McLean.
Faculty Sponsor Dr. Norma Rose
BUSINESS STAFF
Business Manager Peggy Smith
Advertising Manager Kathleen Clemmons
Advertising Staff—Joan Allen, Mamie Alice Shutt, Nancy Corzine, Anne
Ranson, Betty Ann Smith, Becky Miles, Alma Lou Pierce, Lois Pond.
Circulation Managers...- - Kitty Holt, Maxine Grant
Entered as second-class matter October 11, 1923, at post office at Raleigh,
N. C.. under Act of March 8. 1879. Published semi-monthly during the
months of October. November, February, March, April, and May; monthly
during the months of September, December, and January.
The Twig Is the college newspaper of Meredith College, Raleigh, North
Carolina, and as such Is one of the three major publications of the institu
tion—the other two being The Acom, the literary magazine, and The Oak
Leaves, the college annual.
Meredith College is an accredited senior liberal arts college for women
located In the capital city of North Carolina. It confers the Bachelor of Arts
and the Bachelor of Music degrees. The college offers majors in twenty-one
fields Including music, art, business and home economics.
Since 1921 the institution has been a member of the Southern Association
of Colleges and Secondary Schools. The college holds membership in the
Association of American Colleges and the North Carolina College Conference.
Graduates of Meredith College are eligible for membership in the American
Association of University Women. The institution is a liberal arts member
of the Nhtipnal Association of Schools of Music.
Subscription Rates: $2.45 per year
Well, what with elections going on
and the dance concert and the senior
recitals and everything else being
given, this place is really getting to
be a “mad house,” isn’t it? Yet
somehow we all find time to get out
and enjoy the nice weather we’ve
been having. The warm days seem
to be a prelude to spring; if they
really are any warning, you might
say, then we are going to have a
beautiful spring. It won’t be long
now ’till we’ll be entering the “last
lap” of the semester! Three cheers
for the coming spring!!!
Student support of Arsenic and
Old Lace was very good, but, na
turally, it could have been better.
The Playmakers are very capable
actors and certainly deserve our
support every time they come.
You know, whether you realize it
or not, these elections we are hav
ing are very important. People who
deliberate seriously about the merits
of the various candidates before they
vote are those who are the most
thoughtful people, in my opinion, on
this campus. Really, these elctions
are no laughing matter. As usual,
the Nominating Committee has done
a fine job. They are entitled to our
thanks for the work they have done.
(Continued on page four)
Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor:
To the Editor:
Registering for the 1955 election
of campus-elected officers were 77
per cent of the student body. Sev
enty-two per cent of the Senior
Class members registered; 60 per
cent of the Junior Class; 81 per
cent of the Sophomore Class; and
84 per cent of the Freshman Class.
When one considers that not more
than three-fourths of the student
body is participating in the election
of next year’s leaders, she is im
pressed not with the number actively
concerned, but rather with number
seemingly indifferent to the respons
ibility of members in a community.
The percentage of registered vot
ers who actually voted on the first
slate has not yet been computed.
However, the election for the sec
ond slate of officers will be held
Thursday, March 10. There should
be a ballot in the box for every
student who signed her name in the
registration book.
Sandra Peterson
There are many people, other
than State College students, who
think Meredith girls are just won
derful. I am one of these many peo
ple and I suppose you are, too. Yet
there are times when I have my
doubts.
Last week when Miss LaMonte
said a few words to us before din
ner, I’d bet that million I have not
made yet that it was her first ex
perience in trying to be heard above
the clanking of dishes. With the
gripes that circulate around here
about the food, you’d think we’d
be happy to postpone the terrible
task of eating for just a few mo
ments because of dislike, if not for
courtesy. j
We are all big girls now and wr
all know the proper things to do)"
You know this, and I know it. But
for gosh sakes, let’s be more polite
in the dining hall so our guests
will know it too.
Frances Patterson
TODAY’S TASK
Lowering Student
Morale
(From the Technician,
State College)
Someone raised a question to the
Editor this past week asking why
editorials concerning student gripes
and other negative aspects of college
life were not abandoned in favor of
editorials on the better features of
State College. The question was
raised specifically in regard to the
editorial on “Research or Educa
tional Center?” but was spread to
include others, also. It was felt that
student ihorale at State College was
already low and that the Technician
was not helping any by calling to
the students’ attention the short
comings of the college and things
related to it. Furthermore, it was
felt that most of the editorials of the
past had just given students topics
to argue and gripe about.
The suggestion following the dis
cussion was that through editorial
concentration on the better things of
State College, student morale would
be raised and students would have a
better opinion of the school and this
in turn would give them more con
fidence in themselves and their
education after graduation. Psycho
logically this would turn out better
men.
The man raising the question was
sincere and obviously he had some
very sound points. However, the
Technician is the mouthpiece of the
student body and if it doesn’t bring
things that need correcting to the
front, where else can students find
something that will voice their com
plaints? Department heads, the ad
ministration, the trustees, and the
Governor, all receive the paper and
this affords the student body repre
sentation as well as offering those
men in responsible positions an in
side knowledge of the campus, stu
dent affairs, and opinions.
Certainly the Technician influ
ences student opinion and what
newspaper doesn’t? The editorials
aren’t the absolute. Students and
faculty members have the right to
disagree. The right to disagree is our
greatest heritage. The editorials are
written in the hopes of answering
question students have, of calling
matters to their attention and speak
ing in a manner which reflects the
majority opinion of the student
body. . . .
(From the Journal,
Shaw University)
Americans today face numerous
problems on the social, political, and
economic level. Socially this nation
has to reckon with the problem of
equality for all of its citizens. Poli
ticians of both major parties are wor
ried about America’s foreign policy
towards the Communist world. In
terms of economics, we face the task
of reducing unemployment and fed
eral spending.
As the average citizen looks at
these varied problems, one wonders
how they infiltrated into the Amer
ican way of life. In probing into the
past, we are prone to believe that
to some extent problems from the
past confront us now in the form of
unconquered problems before a
newly-developed social order. Thus
America’s inability to cope with
these issues in years gone by ulti
mately left to this present genera
tion the task of presenting the cor
rect panacea for the existing prob
lems.
Each generation, it seems, adds a
new leaf to vast history book of hu
manity. In our effort to contribute
to humanity, one unanswered
question blocks the path momen
tarily. This may best be described
by those immortal words written
by William Shakespeare, who
wrote: “To be or not to be, that
is the question.” Here we stand at
Shaw University, potential educa
tional representatives of this insti
tution about to make the fatal choice
between belief and practice or to
associate the two harmoniously.
Education acquired here can be used
egotistically or altruistically. This is
the question to be decided today.
As citizens of America, we must
approach today’s task realistically
by seeking ways and means that are
profitable for all in reaching this
goal. The prerequisites, as basic
tools to work- with, are faith and
reason. Facts compiled without ex
planation are useless; therefore
reason is necessary to interpret truth
from error. When factual knowl
edge reaches the level of the in
tangibles, then faith, which de
mands “trusting when one caimot
prove,” comes forth to guide.
Today’s task will not be solved
adequately by applying one of
these tools. To combine the two as
a working unit would make today’s
task our immediate gain and the
future a glorious mom.
CURTAIN CALLS
For those who saw Arsenic and
Old Lace, I’m sure that you’ll agree
with me that it was a very pro
fessional performance, superbly
acted, which gave you a full evening
of grand entertainment.
Although Jones Auditorium
wasn’t filled to capacity, a large
number of enthusiastic play-goers
turned out for the show and the
Playmakers found before them a
most appreciative audience. Hats off
to the Tyner Education Club for
making this excellent performance
possible!
NEWS FLASH!!! The Raleigh
Little Theatre is now in rehearsal of
Climate of Fear, an original script
by Charles Aycock Poe, an attorney
here in Raleigh. An interesting note
on the author is that he was once
an agent with the FB.I. The play
takes place in the near future and
deals with politics in regard to
the anti-Communist investigations.
Sounds like SUSPENSE, doesn’t it?
This is the first original script that
has been done in the Raleigh Little
Theatre in six years, and it is the
first local, original script done in
the Little Theatre in nineteen years.
The play is full-length — three acts,
and it will run from the 18th through
the 24th of March excepting Mon
day night. Curtain is at eight
each evening. Tickets will be on sale
at the door. Angels, here is your
chance to see some of the best
dramatic talent that North Caro
lina has to offer.