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THE TWIG
October 4, 1957
WELCOME TO NEW STUDENTS
A new arrival is ever an exciting event in the experience of any family
group, regardless of the frequency of its occurrence or the nature of the
group. After the inevitable period of anxious, eager anticipation comes
the fateful moment of recognition and announcement; “This is it.” The
significance of the event, yet to be determined, is not in the fact that some
thing new has been added; rather, that something new is in the process of
being formed and that, in this process, the character of the family is
being re-formed—of possibly incalculable benefit to all concerned.
So, here at Meredith. Our family, anticipating your arrival, has pre
pared—adequately, we hope—both itself and “the farm” for your recep
tion. We have given you a sincere smile of welcome, have introduced
you to the family as presently constituted, and have shown you the
estate on which you are to live and work as a responsible member of
the family.
Although this orientation, identification, and commitment must con
tinue throughout our life as a family together, we believe that we can
now get on with the serious business of living and working as a unit.
To you we pledge the tolerance, the confidence, the co-operation which
we, in turn, must expect from you.
Let’s go. Carlyle Campbell,
President
shallwITance?
The big issue at Meredith this year is the question of dancing on
campus. The decision of the trustees last spring allowing dancing on a
limited basis, and their vote to continue it this fall has caused a reaction
throughout the state that the administration was wise enough to antici
pate, but one that the students did not expect.
We are confused that such protests have been made because we, the
majority of us Baptists, have come from homes that have allowed danc
ing ever since we have been old enough. It doesn’t seem logical to
us that Meredith allows its students to attend dances off campus without
being criticized, when a dance chaperoned by Meredith faculty and
administrators causes a verbal attack by opposing Baptists. The poll
taken this summer of the feelings of alumnae and patrons was over
whelmingly in favor of dancing on campus. While we feel certain that
those Baptists—evidently a small percentage—who so strongly disap
prove sincerely believe that dancing is morally degrading, we do not
understand.
We are disgusted that some of the letters written to our state Baptist
papers have shown thoughtlessness and have spoken of the “evils” of
dancing in an almost yulgar manner.
We are afraid that we will be denied the privilege of dancing, and
because we are, we have become indignant. We resent the fact that
the State Baptist Convention assumes the power to transcend the decisions
of those whom it has appointed and should have confidence in to make
the policies of the school. The trustees are a representative group of
Baptists, coming from all parts of the state. Surely they are better able
to decide what should and should not be than is the entire Conventioil.
We realize the debt we owe to the Convention, but we who are vitally
connected with the school must be the ones to insist on social as well
as academic freedom.
More than anything, however, some of us are appalled that such a
stir can be caused over the situation. The problem of dancing can be
important in that we are fighting for a principle. Unfortunately, it is
the immediacy of the question—the actuality of dancing—that concerns
us most. Our generation, not to mention our parents’ generation of
Baptists, has other, more important issues to consider. How can we,
as intelligent students, let so insignificant a thing as “shall we dance?”
claim our energies and attention when there is in our nation Little Rock
and Oak Ridge?
MEMBER
Associated Collegiate Press
EDITORIAL STAFF
Editor Nancy Joyner
Associate Editor Nancy McGlamery
Managing Editor Ann Finley
Assistant Editors Marcia Allen, Lillian Brandon,
Bobbie Conley, Bob Early
Eeature Editor Mary Ann Brown
Music Editor Joyce Skillman
Drama Editor Susan Moss
Sports Editor Stuart James
Photographer Nancy Craig
Columnists Margaret Paris, Juanita Swindler, Louise White
Reports Lela Cagle, Lelia Davenport, Cynthia Denny, Lynda Evans,
Joy Goldsmith, Sue Matzner, Janice Morgan, Sally Newton, Annabel Ray
Eaculty Sponsor Dr. Norma Rose
BUSINESS STAFF
Business Manager Barbara Hazelwood
Advertising Manager Joyce Ann Foster
Circulation Manager Eleanore Foulds
Assistant Circulation Manager Carole Kerley
Mailing Editors .Diane Stokes
Chief Typist Emily Gilbert
Advertising Staff Alice Allsbrook, Betsy Moore, Liz Millikin,
Eden Bowen, Shirla Griffin, Babs Howard, Rose Daniels
Typists Harriet Hill, Tennie Huskie, Mona Fay Horton, Doris
Dixon, Virgina Byrne, Linda Smith
Faculty Sponsor Miss Lois Frazier
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 Octoper. 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 Caro
lina, and as such is one of the three major publications of the institution—the
other two being The Acorn, 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 Associa
tion of American Colieges and the North Carolina College Conference. Gradu
ates of Meredith Coliege are eligible for membership in the American
Association of University Women. The institution is a liberal arts member of
the National Assciation of Schools of Music.
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Letter to the Editor....
Dear Editor,
We have found, in our rather
meager experience, that life seems
to be composed of minutiae—tiny
“rare moments,” glimpses of truth,
fleeting visions and momentary in
sights . . . these are the essences,
crammed in unexpected hours and
minutes . . . these are the essences
which, fully perceived, have the
capacity to reveal the Essence. . . .
And such a “rare moment,” such,
an insight was given us—Friday
chapel service. There comes a time
when we are stymied, we cease
growing because we cease thinking,
examining, and questioning the
validity of the “accepted idea.” A
man like the Rev. Mr. Finlator is
sent—with an insight—a prophet to
his time. We owe very, very much
to this man of God, to this man of
new courage—for he speaks what
he, through commitment and re
sponse and thought, believes.
And he is not afraid to buck those
who would make of Meredith Col
lege a cloistered, flawless, holy
thing in itself and would segregate
“the Meredith girl” from Reality!
There is grave danger that the
“Protestant” uniqueness be lost and
swallowed up in the very thing
against which the original “protest”
was made—a hierarchy of “holy”
men, a segregated, segmented life.
Rev. Mr. Finlator . . . and a tiny
moment of truth, a tiny moment—
but such a vital, awakening insight.
Thank you. Sir.
Jane Stembridge ’58
P.S. As for the stand on the dancing
question—a 21 gun salute!
IN
APPRECIATION
“Dum spiro, spero” — while I
breathe, I hope. These words, the
motto of her children’s Latin class,
were frequently recalled by one of
Meredith’s faculty members, but on
September 29, 1957, the life of Dr.
Elizabeth H. Vaughan came to an
end. To those who knew her, her
passing was a sorrowful experience,
although not an unexpected one, as
it was the climax of a long illness.
Dr. Vaughan came to Meredith
in the fall of 1950 as the head of the
Sociology department, which posi
tion she held until her resignation
last February. While she was study
ing in Switzerland on a leave of ab
sence from Meredith, a medical ex
amination disclosed the illness from
which she was never to recover.
To her students she was more
than a teacher—she took a personal
friendly interest in each one of us.
We shall remember her not only for
this, but also for her cheerfulness,
for her benevolence, and for the
indomitable courage with which she
faced the world.
In behalf of her students, may I
express our most sincere apprecia
tion to a woman who gave so much
of herself to Meredith College.
Barbara Nesbitt.
Lou’s Remarks
By LOUISE WHITE
Most Meredith girls go through
a weekly metamorphosis—a cycle
which goes from Sunday night until
Friday night. From bedtime on
Sunday until Monday morning the
Meredith moths are in the cocoon
stage, drugged by sheer exhaustion.
Still, the brutal fact remains that
social life and its aftermath must
be interrupted by classes. So the
moths crawl wearily from their
dormitory cocoons and stagger out
to breakfast and class. They are
indeed an unsightly group with
barely washed faces, half-combed
hair, dangling shirttails, and vacant
expressions. Such appearance is
probably due to their newly-hatched
state and their inability to co-ordi
nate well. The bad thing is that day
after day they remain in this imma
ture stage. They absorb little from
life around them unless it comes
from other baby moths. They wan
der around the dining hall, the class
rooms, and the library in their Mon
day morning oblivion and sloppiness.
Only on Friday morning is there any
rustling of wings or uncurbing of
antennae. Until night the move
ment is almost imperceptible, but
by seven o’clock 'the rustling be
comes a roar. Doors slam, lungs
expand, brains turn over, and the
Meredith moths at last enter their
brief period of beauty. In an hour’s
time they flit off into the night,
groomed to perfection in glowing
colors with antennae tuned to the
slightest vibration. But alas, the
adult stage lasts only two days and
Sunday night the lovely moths climb
into their cocoons to begin another
Musical Notes
By JOYCE SKILLMAN
The coming of a new school year
always brings changes, and the
music department is not to be left
out. Most of the observant people
on campus have probably noticed
that this year, for the first time, the
chorus will be under the direction
of Mr. Blanchard. Speaking for all
the members of the chorus, we wel
come you, Mr. Blanchard, and are
looking forward to working with
you throughout the year.
The new year also brings new
students to our campus, and I am
wondering if all of these new mem
bers of our community are aware
of the many advantages offered by
the music department. There may
be even a few old students who do
not realize that we have a record
library, located on the first floor of
the music building and open to
everyone on the campus.
This library contains many fine
recordings which students will find
useful for both enjoyment and study.
Recently redecorated by the Mac-
Dowell Music Club, the library is
quite attractive as well as spacious.
I hope that everyone will take ad
vantage of this collection. I also
hope that everyone will take care of
the materials. Carelessness, such as
stacking L P records which are
scratched easily, and leaving the
phonograph turned on, cause much
damage to the equipment. This year
let’s all use the record library, but
in addition, let’s all take extra pre
cautions to be certain that we are
using it correctly.
FROM THE
Contemporary Scene
It is only fair to any reader to
give him an idea of what he may
expect from a piece of writing. In
this issue of the Twig this column
takes the form of a preface or intro
duction to what will be discussed
here for this year. As the heading
implies, this column will be devoted
to brief discussions of contemporary
trends in prose, poetry, and drama.
To establish a foundation from
which to discuss ideas, I have chosen
a short selection from Lord David
Cecil’s The Fine Art of Reading.
This author suggests an approach to
literature, both classical and con
temporary, in the quoted passage:
“We have to learn to understand
and accept the language of the au
thor’s temperament—to school our
selves to look at the world from his
point of view while we are reading
his books. This is much the hardest
part of our training, for our own
personal feelings are so much in
volved in it. Have we not tempera
ments of our own which may well
be different from his and possibly
antipathetic? Are we to treat these
disrespectfully? Pride, the sin of
Lucifer and literafy critics, rises to
outraged protests against so humili
ating a proposal.”
One might answer Lord Cecil’s
questions and thereby agree with his
point by saying that to accept an
author’s point of view or scope of
vision is the responsibility of the
reader. The reader may not agree
with or even like the point of view,
but if he is to understand and to
grasp a writer’s thought, he must
project beyond the self and see the
world through the author’s eyes.
M. Paris
MEREDITH HAS AIR OF LEISURE
DURING SUMMER SESSION
Summer school was morning
classes, hot afternoons spent at the
pool, and supper in the dining hall
devoid of its throngs of girls. It was.
the library, empty much of the time,
vacant dorms, and picnics in the
court. It was Spanish to translate,
algebra problems to solve, themes
to write, and books to read. It was
singing to the accompaniment of
ukuleles in a suite down the hall,
and a bridge game in another suite.
It was study and fun. It was a time
for making new, and re-establishing
old friendships. For some, it was
the beginning of college days; for
others, the end. For all it was a
challenge. In truth, summer school
was the combination of many things.
cycle. Since the whole world does
not adhere to this schedule, it is
feared that Meredith moths miss
much that can be gained from other
creatures' from Monday through
Friday.
iECONB BRCUtfi
111
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