Page two
THE TWIG
January 18, 1957
ARE WE OVER-ORGANIZED?
One glance at the college calendar is enough to cause one to wonder
at the number of meetings which fill nearly every week night during the
school year, often with three and^four club meetings per night. What
purpose can such a number of meetings serve for a student body com
posed of some five hundred girls? Are the numerous clubs on campus
a response to the need of each of us to feel important or to belong? Are
they there to serve a vacancy in the school curriculum? Are they the
result of an effort on the part of students to keep themselves occupied
in social or academic pursuits outside of the classroom or the library?
■Most likely they are all of these things; but could they not also be a net
work of independent growths which, to function more efficiently, need
a purposeful and intelligent weeding?
Granted that clubs are a vital part of any campus life: that they serve
for work and play contacts among students and thus create a better school
atmosphere; that good club programs often are informative in areas be
yond those of class discussions, lectures, and reading assignments; that
they give each interested student a chance to grow in responsibility and"
initiative in fields of her own greatest aptitude—could not the same part
be played by a reduced number of integrated organizations?
One example of the overlapping interests of many of the departmental
clubs is the number of small clubs here dedicated to the aim of promoting
better reladons with foreign peoples and for understanding the inter-play
of world affairs. Is it not reasonable to suggest that the enthusiasms of
each of these clubs be channeled into a single organization? The same
principle could be applied to many of the other clubs at Meredith—and
• perhaps if it were applied we would hear less complaints about the often
terrifying number of obligations in the extracurricular field that many
girls find thrust upon them within a single week.
Jo Ann Selley.
IS MEREDITH READY FOR DANCING?
The time has come to begin planning again for the Junior-Senior Bam
quet, and again we think how nice it would be if we could have a dance.
Those of us who have been to the Junior-Senior remember the program
that we could hardly see or hear, the lack of fellowship with anyone be
sides the three couples at our own table, and the let-down feeling when,
about 8:30, the party was over'and we had nothing to do.
We ask what is wrong with sponsoring a dance, when we may go to
dances on other campuses. What’s more, we say. Wake Forest (our
fellow Baptist institution) gives dances.
The answers to these queries take the form of two main arguments.
First, a major part of Meredith’s financial support comes from the
Southern Baptist people, through the Co-operative Program, and many
of these people frown on dancing. As for this, we wonder if the majority
of Southern Baptist people today really do disapprove of dancing.
The second argument is that there is a likelihood that Meredith’s
whole social life would become centered on dancing, and this would be
unfortunate for girls who do not dance. (In a cynical mood, we might ask
“What social life?’’) Certainly, no one would want to give up our “Mere
dith family get-togethers”—Huskin’ Bee, Christmas Caroling or Play
Day. But except for such occasions as these, it seems that our social life
is already centered on other campuses. We would like to have some events
at Meredith in which we could include dates.
We are not certain that a recommendation in favor of dancing will ever
reach the trustees. We have less hope that the recommendation would be
accepted. But we feel that in an institution where changes become im
possible, deterioration will result.
Pbsockied Gb0^5icd» PNks
EDITORIAL STAFF
Editor Julia Abernethy
Assistant Editor Bette Nock
Managing Editors—Clara Hudson, Mary Fran Oliver, Bobbie Conley, Jane
Stembridge
Feature Editor Nancy McGlamery
Columnists Nancy Joyner, Kay E. Johnson
Art Editor Mary Jane Sumner
Music Editor Pat Greene
Drama Editor Donnie Simons
Sports Editor Juaruta Swindler
Photo Editor Corfnne Lowery
Day Student Editor Becky Surles
Correspondence Editor Pat Kerley
Reporters—Jancey Wellons, Pat Corbett, Ann House, Lela Cagle, Pat
Johnson, Annabel Ray, Jimmie Rucker, Harriet Seals, Jane Manning,
Carolyn Johnson, Belinda Foy
Faculty Sponsor Dr. Norma Rose
BUSINESS STAFF
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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 National Association of Schools of Music.
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SheNANigans
By NANCY JOYNER
(SheNANigans is proud to pre
sent this week a guest writer, Betty
Bennett. Betty has previously writ
ten on such distinguished papers as
the Baylor “Lariat” and the Emory
“Wheel.” She is a junior transfer
and hails from Asheville—the best
town in the State.)
Gee whiz! It’s almost time for
ye old bridge tournament (pardon
me, profs, 1 mean exams). Every
one is practicing like crazy and
studying like mad (on Goren and
pointing systems of various types
and Blackwood systems). This year,
however, there is a small difficulty.
The glare from the “diamond set”
has caused an undue amount of
eye-strain and some of the Merey
Women of Bridge will be incapaci
tated for the tournament. This is
indeed a sad blow. However, the
lest of us will bravely attempt to
carry on with the true Merey spirit.
We will bid high, fiance (I mean
finesse — this after Christmas spirit
has got me down) and do our best.
It would be awful to loose our rating
to the girls of St. Merry’s.
It’s really too bad that dating,
TV, movies and such (the “such”
is referring, of course, to those “Dix
Deluxe” papers required during the
week) will keep the Merey Women
of Bridge from their labors part of
the time, but some of that is neces-
^Ma^tc ^Momenls
By KAY JOHNSON
Dancing is the loftiest, the most
moving, the most beautiful of arts,
because it is not mere translation
or abstraction from life; it is life
itself.
The Dance of Life
Havelock Ellis
The Dance is a form of art
through which a person may ex
press himself. The Dance as re
ferred to here is the form of dance
primarily at the “entertainment
end.” Ted Shawn in his Dance We
Must sets forth some good ideas for
the layman to read. His book was
originally a series of extemporane
ous lectures which were transcribed
and edited. The book, illustrated
richly with many photographs of
eminent dancers, is of interest not
only with emphasis on the Dance,
but also in other ideas it embodies.
Some of the topics covered by
Mr. Shawn are “The History of the
Dance,” “The Dance as Magic,”
“The Dance and Religion,” “The
Relation of Dance to Drama and
the Theatre,” “The Use of the
Human Body for Emotional Ex
pression,” “The Relationship of
Music to the Dance,” “The Dance
as a Language,” “The Creation of
Dances,” and “ ‘Constants’ — What
Constitutes a Work of Art in the
Dance.”
In discussing these topics, Shawn
brings in the foremost dancers. This
book will be helpful for an under
standing of the dance and will be
quite enjoyable.
Nietzsche gives an interesting
idea about dancing in his The Twi
light,of the Idols. He says:
“Dancing in all its forms cannot
be excluded from the curriculum
of all noble education; dancing with
the feet, with ideas, with words,
and need I add that one must also
be able to dance wit$ the pen?”
sary lest we should become what
the unlearned call “fiends.”
So that ends that subject. What
shall we talk about now . . . the
price of bannana skins in Lower
Slip-over-u? They are at present,
so I understand from the Raleigh
“Views and Unobservant,” at an all
time high because in the Middle
Eastern question everyone is try
ing to slip something over on some
body. (It may seem peculiar but
nobody seems to care who they slip
something over on, or what the
“something” is.) Uncle Sam at this
point has paid the highest price (or
so it seems) in the bitters’ race
with our Red brethren. World
opinion seems still to be that our
“rose colored” fiends (ahem —
friends) will eventually slip on their
own skins and end up “bottoms
up.”
Other world events are shaping
up to what should prove a good
improvement. Elvis Pressley is A-1.
(Which reminds me of a quotation
I heard the other day: “There
should be fewer unsung heros and
more unsung songs.”)
In closing, I am forced (Nancy
is standing behind me with an axe)
to say “KEEP SMILING.”
Musical Notes
By PAT GREENE
Well, the “Musical Notes” sort
of got lost in the Christmas rush,
you might say, but since one of
my New Year’s resolutions is to
periodically and promptly convey
to the outside world happenings in
the music department from hence
time forth, here are a few odds and
ends gathered from here and there.
(Mostly there!)
First of all, Annette Lee Kahn
is practicing away (like “mad,”
really) on her recital, which is to
be given on February 9. She says,
and I quote, that “it is going to be
quite a something-or-other,” and
that “you must all come!” Annette’s
piano recital will be the first of a
long series of junior and senior re
citals which will be given almost
every week during the months of
February, March, and April.
Since applied music exams are
coming up pretty soon now, there
has been a decided increase in
the amount of practicing and num
ber of performances for student re
cital. Wonder why??
We are very proud of our
“Jeanne,” who was among the 200
chosen to go to New York and
audition for the Fulbright Scholar
ship. Someday we can say, “We
knew her when. . . .”
The S.A.I.’s are busily preparing
for a very important night coming
soon, now: the initiation of the
three new pledges into Sigma Alpha
Iota. The pledges have passed the
second milestone now; they took the
National S.A.I. Pledge test last
week. (The worst is over now,
“neophytes!”) ,
It is my opinion that all the peo
ple in the music department had
an enjoyable and profitable holi
day . . . especially the faculty.
We’re glad! (Oh, for two more
weeks of “rest”!!)
Enough of this small talk; I’m
sure I’ll really have some news of
importance next time . . . maybe.
Anyway . . .
The Green Room
By DONNIE SIMONS
All is quiet on the Meredith dra
matics front. Plans for the spring
production have not yet developed,
but Miss Gorsage is considering The
Cradle Song as a possible play for
the Meredith Playhouse. About five
hundred miles north of Raleigh,
however, drama is far from being
quiet. Playwrights, actors and ac
tresses, production people, well-
known, rising, or beginning — these
are all having a part in the ex
tensive Broadway season which
ranges from Macbeth to Merman
and includes something for nearly
everyone. In addition to the more
than twenty-five plays and musi
cals currently being produced are
several openings scheduled for
dates in the near future.
It is significant that during the
season which opened in the cen
tennial year of his birth, Shaw is
the best represented playwright
on Broadway. Plays include The
Apple Cart, Major Barbara, Saint
Joan, and a musical version of Pyg
malion, retitled My Fair Lady.
Maurice Evans has the leading role
in The Apple Cart, which is, ac
cording to reviewers, a minor Shaw
play. Major Barbara has perhaps
more familiar players than most
productions in quite some time.
Our own Playhouse president saw
it, and thought the play quite well
done, with Charles Laughton giving
a particularly fine performance.
Other well-knowns in the cast are
Cornelia Otis Skinner, Burgess
Meredith, Glynis Johns and Eli
Wallach (also in Baby Doll, now
showing in Raleigh). Siobhan ,
McKenna, “the brilliant young ac
tress from Dublin . . . offers a glow
ing portrait of the Maid of Orleans.”
Of My Fair Lady, one reviewer says,
“Shaw’s great and funny Pygmalion
has been made into a great, funny,
beautiful musical by Alan Jay Ler-
ner and Frederick Loewe. Rex
Harrison and Julie Andrews are
magnificent as the London Pygma
lion and the flower girl he turns
from drab to belle of the ball. . . .
It’s a delight to the eye, ear, and *
mind, and all hands deserve deepest
felicitations.” In addition to these
words of praise. My Fair Lady re
ceived the 1955-56 Drama Critics’
Circle Award. Meredith’s bit of
Shavian wit for the season was
Androcles and the Lion.
Mac Hyman says this is No Time
for Sergeants, but the opinion of
this columnist is it’s truly a wonder
ful time for theatre goers.
From the Biblical Recorder
Custodian Retires
Not many people can boast that
they have stayed on one job for 35
years, and especially if that is only
the second job they have ever had,
but such an achievement is part of
the record of Will Nichols, Mere
dith College custodian, who recently
retired after more than a quarter of
a century’s service to the school.
Nichols came to Meredith in
1921 after having worked at the
Salvation Army in Raleigh over a
period of 18 years.
“I’ve spent more than half of my
life at Meredith,” the 65-year-old
Raleigh native says. The three
things he remembers most about his
years at Meredith are the mud in
’26, the class of ’36, and an in
firmary fire.
In 1926 when the school moved
from its down-town location to its
present site. Will helped move the
furniture.
“I’ve never been stuck in the
mud so many times in my whole
life as then, but the most excite
ment of my stay at Meredith oc
curred around 1923 when the in
firmary at the old location caught
fire. I helped six or seven girls down
from the top floor and out of the
building. It was a mighty big fire
and so bad it ruined the inside of
the building. Nobody was hurt
though.” ’