Page two
THE TWIG
October 28, 1955 ^ |
I
THE INDIVIDUAL SCHOLAR
AND ACADEMIC FREEDOM
(AGP)—(With the new college year under way, we reprint an editorial
on academic freedom found in the Coe College Cosmos.)
“A great fallacy in education is the student who accepts as factual and
unquestionable that which he reads in a textbook or that which is told
him by his instructors. True education must be the result of evaluated
information . . . checked and counter-checked before a decision is
finally made. , . . u
“Many questions arising out of classrooms are those which have two
or more answers . . . each on a sound foundation and each with ex
tensive backing. Religion, philosophy, political science and the arts
are fields of study which demand evaluation and concentrated thought.
“If an individual allows himself to be guided toward one answer and
does not give other philosophies equal hearing then he has denied himself
of the right of academic freedom. An answer based on such a formula
is incomplete and borders on indoctrination.
“Because an individual’s pre-conceived opinion does not jibe with
that of his instructors or his textbook does not necessarily mean the
original opinion is unfounded and false. An honest opinion can with
stand criticism and attack. It may even gain stature by absorbing new
datum supplied by its attackers.
“Intelligent questions deserve intelligent answers. Beware of half-
truths, bias and ‘unquestionable fact.’ The thin line between education
and indoctrination has often been stepped across under the guise of
authority.
“Only the individual scholar can preserve his academic freedom. In
the long run he will be a better educated person.”
THE PRESIDENT ON EDUCATION
(ACP)—Should we spend more time in school? An editorial in the
Baylor University Lariat had this to say about the President’s recent five-
year plan:
“Recently President Eisenhower proposed a program consisting of a
five-year high school career and a five-year period to procure a college
degree.
“Advantages and disadvantages to this idea can readily be discerned.
Those entering college after a five-year high school program would be
more mature and more apt to be able to decide on their major in college
and the type of work in which they want to invest their lives. Less time
would thus be wasted on unnecessary courses in college.
“Students with financial or scholastic difficulties might possibly be
discouraged from attending college. After a while the number of col
lege graduates might register a decrease.
“However, more important than the quantity of college graduates is
the quality of the graduates. An increased number of years of college
life would give students more time to absorb much needed knowledge and
experience in setting their minds to work.
“How many times has a college student been heard to say, ‘I just wish
I had enough time to take those certain extra courses for which I’ve
been unable to find time’? An extra year of college work would allow
time for a wider range of courses; thus causing college graduates to
emerge with more diversified educations.
“An added year of high school work might discourage some from
pursuing higher education, but might show some the importance of gain
ing more knowledge.
“Whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, or the disad
vantages outweigh the advantages, the program could well be studied.
Perhaps a happy'medium could be reached by four years of high school
and five of college or five of high school and four of college. Only an
experiment of this type could determine the results.”
F^ssocbled GoBertCicte fVw
EDITORIAL STAFF
Editor ; Margaret Anne English
Assistant Editor Barbara Sellers
Managing Editors Mary Fran Oliver, Millie Harvey, Jane Maynard
Feature Editor Pam Hartsell
Art Editor Rachel Turnage
Assistant Art Editor Mary Jane Sumner
Music Editor Adair Whisenhunt
Sports Editor Cathy Yates
Photo Editor - Corinne Lowery
Columnists Nancy Joyner, Margaret Tucker
Day Student Editor Bette Nock
Reporters—Ruth Sperling, Eunice DuRant, Sally Crook, Barbara Snipes,
Rovilla Myers, Betty Esther Smith, Pat Corbett, Page Sink, Kay Johnson,
Clara Hudson, Ann Griffin, Ann House, Ann Woodside, Polly Ann
McLamb
Faculty Sponsor Dr- Norma Rose
BUSINESS STAFF
Business Manager Harriett Andrews
Advertising Manager Becky Miles
Circulation Manager Margaret Jo Jernigan
Asst. Circulation Managers Betty Lou Walters, Mary Frances Fulp
Advertising Staff—Lois Pond, Joyce Foster, Julene Barlow, Patsy Ann
Dixon, Pat Kerley, Annie Ransom
Typists—Maxine McRoy, Gertrude Bissette, Doris Daughtry, Polly Rich
ardson, Marlene Reep, Ruby Britt, Beverly Rowand, Marilyn McArthur
Chief Typist Frances Clark
Circulation Manager in Charge of Mail Kitty Holt
Faculty Sponsor Miss Lois Frazier
Entered as second-class matter October 11, 1923, at post office at Haleigh,
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 National Association of Schools of Music.
Subscripton Rates: $2.45 per year
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SheNANigans
l^EWS FROM THE
DAY STEDEYTS
By BETTE NOCK
The day students are very proud
to be represented among nominees,
for May Queen this year. Our hard
working president, Jean Puckett,
was nominated for the honor.
Seen: One day student slipping
down back stairs in Johnson Hall
in gym suit. Although we know
there are good reasons for rules
which prohibit shorts in Johnson
Hall, we see no harm in day stu
dents dressing in the first D. S. room
and walking down the back stairs
and out through the breezeway, so
long as we are careful to avoid being
seen by visitors on the campus. At
any rate, until we are provided with
a better dressing room than that in
the basement of Faircloth, we feel
we should be allowed to dress in our
rooms.
(Editor’s Note: Becky Miles, the advertising manager of the Twig,
has called a very important meeting of the staff for Monday night, Octo
ber 31, in Room 3, Brewer. Anyone interested in working on the ad
vertising staff is urgently requested to come.)
By NANCY JOYNER
There has been much talk re
cently about our lack of school
spirit. We have been encouraged
to learn pep songs, and sing them,
so “we will have school spirit—like
other schools have!” Just what is
it with us that makes us feel that
that is the kind of spirit we need?
Must We yell our heads off as though
we were cheering an imaginary foot
ball team?
My contention is that Meredith
does have school spirit, and that it
is just different from the kind that
other schools have. Meredith’s
spirit is exhibited quietly, when we
stand to sing a hymn in chapel, or
speak to both Dr. Campbell and
Lillie as we pass through Johnson
Hall, or even spend an evening in
the library. Sometimes the spirit
becomes more noisy as we sing
congratulations in the dining hall,
or jostle through the four o’clock
rush in the post office, or compete
with the other society.
The spirit of Meredith is seen
and heard as surely as though it
were emblazoned upon the front
gate. It is seen in the view from
Vann at sunset, when crimson radio
lights bounce oddly upon a canopy
of fuchsia. It is seen in the “Study
to show thyself” of the library and
the swarm of cars out front just be
fore curfew. It is heard in the
splash of the fountain, the cacoph
ony of music emitting from Jones,
the twin jangle of both phones ring
ing at once.
Meredith, the whole of Meredith,
has incorporated within it a spirit
that is definite and unique. It can
not be encouraged or improved
upon by learning pep songs, because
superficialites are foreign to it. Its
spirit lies in the underlying meaning
of the school, the common bond to
which the students, the faculty, the
administration are dedicated. Be
lieve in Meredith, and its spirit will
be propagated.
LOOSE ENDS
By PAM HARTSELL
An article of this nature could
indeed include contents of my
previous articles, for I shall try to
‘dope you in all the ‘Did you loiow
that’ ” around (“Here and There”)
the campus.
My intelligent (?) suite has
‘come forth” with some humorous
puns which are related to the sopho
more English study. For example,
one Meredith angel told her boy
friend from State to “Be-a-wolf.”
(Yea, Anglo-Saxons!) Or one could
say to one’s gentleman friend while
dining out, “Chaw, sir.” Another
angel was driving (?) down Hills
boro when she saw the rather shock
ing billboard advertisement —
Vitamin — Be one!
What an excuse for humor!!
My suite isn’t the only clever
group around campus. The faculty
frequently “slip” and say some
rather “cute” things. “Par example,”
the other day Dr. McLain was ex
plaining the etymology of a word
which was derived from Latin.
“Where are you Latin sharks?” he
questioned. After several moments
of silence he added, “Ah-hah, the
sharks aren’t biting today!” (That
wasn’t very funny, was it now?) Try
this one from another department
— “Captain John Smith was saved
by Poca who?” That didn’t hit you?
Well, perhaps this will. Last week
Betty ’Vance walked into Mrs. Byrd’s
office to find (to her complete sur
prise) a man dressing. “Come on
in,” he said, “if you would have
come a little earlier, you would have
been in time for the floor show.”
(Don’t ask me who told me about
this, Betty!)
Didn’t we have a “ball” at the
Fair? Well, anyway we spent a lot of
money! (I’m sorry, Harry, I was
saving those pennies for your
Christmas present.)
Incidentally, girls, it wouldn’t be
a bad idea to start “fattening the
pig” for his Christmas present. He’ll
probably be very tactful and only
expect a Rolls-Royce. Seriously
now, there are many things your one
and only would appreciate. A cash-
mere sweater is always a luxury —
baby blue to go with his eyes. (Oh,
what dreamers angels are!)
In conclusion, I wish to leave you
with this thought:
The bulletin board in our first
room has been greatly enhanced by
new posters every week or so. Mar
lene Reep, our third vice-president,
has made several reminding us to
keep our rooms neat and clean.
Other little words of wisdom, such
as “Mistakes will happen, but why
must you give them so much help?”-
which appear from nowhere on the
bulletin board or sometimes on the
doors, could be contributed by none
other than Becky Murray.
CLUB NOTES
Psychology Club
The Psi Chi Psychology Club
held a combined business meeting
and tea Monday, October 17, 1955.
New officers for this year were
elected: Betsy Tippett, president;
Jane Lambert, vice-president; Sally
Thompson, secretary; and Elladine
Johnson, treasurer.
German Club
On Wednesday night, October 12,
the German Club held its first meet
ing of the year. The club met in
the dining hall and had supper to
gether, during which time the old
and new members became acquaint
ed. After supper, the members dis
cussed the types of programs which
they would like to have during the
course of the year. After the busi
ness session, Mrs. Freund read
Mark Twain’s delightful essay en
titled “That Awful German Lan
guage.”
Education Club
On October 4 the Tyner Educa
tion Club held its first meeting.
Miss Lois Wells from the North
Carolina State Education Depart
ment spoke to the members about
becoming members of the Future
Teachers of America organization.
The club voted to organize a chapter
of Future Teachers of America at
Meredith.
Lenora Nye was elected vice-
president of the club. Other officers
are: Yvonne Fowler, president; Ger
trude Bissette, secretary; Iris Mer
ritt, treasurer; and Ruth Sperling,
social chairman.
At the next meeting on November
8, the new F.T.A. Chapter will be
organized.
Science Club
The thin gold leaf
Glides to the earth
And lingers there—
But only for a moment.
A cooling breeze comes quietly by
And carries it across the grass
Until it finds a refuge
Beside a fallen tree.
The fall is sweet, yet sad.
I close my window.
Draw the shade.
And go to sleep. . . .
Yesterday during the regular stu
dent government chapel the May
Queen and Maid of Honor for the
year 1955-56 were elected.
Soon, too representatives to the
May Court will be elected by each
class.
On October 11, the Barber
Science Club met for the first time
this year. After the meeting was
called to order, the new members
were welcomed by the president.
She then announced that the pro
grams for the year were to con
tribute to the members’ general
knowledge of the basic sciences
which are not included in our curric
ulum. Two programs on astronomy
are planned, one of which will con
sist of reports by students with the
added attraction of Dr. Mary Yar
brough’s telescope. The other topic
planned for discussion is geol
ogy. Late in the semester, we hope
to have Dr. Clifford Beck, professor
of nuclear physics at State College,
(Continued on page three)