Page Four
THE UNIVERSITY STUDENT
November, 1928.
The finiversity Student
(Lux et Veritas.)
Published Monthly by the Students of
Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte, N.
C.
Printed at The University Press.
Subscription price: $1.00 per school year.
Editorial Staff:
V. II. CHAVIS .. - Editor-in-Chief*
B. E. LOWE, ’29, Associate Editor and Pub
lisher.
M. .1. WHITEHEAD, ’30 .. Secretary.
PROF. T. S. JACKSON, Treasurer.
C. II. WHITE, Theology, ’29, Circulation
Manager.
E. A. McDOW'ELL, ’31, Business Manager.
REPORTOKIAL STAFF:
R. E. Jones, ’30 News Editor
T. I). Jeffers, ’31 News Editor
C. C. Devane, ’30 . News Editor
A. .1. Clement, ’30 Feature Editor
J. A. Ancrum, ’31 . Sport Editor
Entered as second class matter, December
22, 1926, at the post office at Charlotte,
North Carolina, under the Act of March
3, 1879.
1
THANKSGIVING.
As I think of the history of our institution,
so unique in its formation, I inevitably
think of those who were instrumental in its
evolution. When I recall just a few years
when we could not accommodate our stu
dents; when we had only three brick struc
tures, one of which was the sole dormitory,
I invariably think of Mrs. Johnson C.
Smith by whose munificence we emerged
from obscurity into prominence. When I
visualize the future when Smith shall spread
herself like a big bav tree in the field of
education, I indubitably recollect that epoch’
making day when that magnificent charac
ter, the late J. B. Duke, announced his co
lossal Trust Funds. But in view of all the
aforementioned, I am not oblivious of that
venerable and hoary haired personage, Dr.
H. L. McCrorey, our President, who, we
must admit, was the underlying current
from which flowed this much needed gen
erosity.
Students, Alumni and friends, in our
hurry-scurry and panorama of life, do not
forget our struggle for existence which
was the same as the Pilgrim Fathers’. In
our great interest in the foot ball classic,
do not forget to pause in appreciation to
our benefactors, and, above all, be grateful
to that One who ha.s made us and not we
ourselves.
“God of our Fathers, known of old—
Lord of our far-flung battle line—
Beneath whose awful hand we hold
Dominion over palm and pine—
Lord God of Hosts be with us yet.
Lest we forget—lest we forget!”
A PAN HELLENIC COUNCIL.
There is a greater possibility of improv
ing our conduct as fraternity men through
an organization composed of I'epresenta-
tives of each fraternity than through any
individual frat. Surely every real Greek
at .Johnson C. Smith University has ob
served the irregularities and discrepancies
in the execution of rush week, in require
ments for membership, in social entertain
ments, and in relationship to the' Univer
sity on the part of the Greek letter frater
nities on the hill.
These functions do not touch the secret
ceremonies of our great class, but they do
open, for the most part, to the observation
and criticism of the University officials and
the public. Remember that the activities
named above are what we as different frats
have in common. We believe that the
members of these secret societies on the
campus can solve their own problems. And
a Pan Hellenic Council is the instrument
which should be selected for the necessary
work.
Our ideals are similar in nature. We are
striving each day for efficient men and
more pleasing personalities. We are as
one in the protection of the principles and
ideals of college fraternities. Our aims
point toward a development of a better
understanding and an appreciation of fra
ternities on the part of school authorities
and non frat men. The good will of the
non frat man can not do us harm. We
need to open the soul of college frats and
show that tendency toward the reception of
criticism which makes liberal and effective
organizations.
Man can not live alone. We make pro
gress through contact with others. Sure
ly, one fraternity can observe faults in an
other more readily and more successfully
than any one fraternity can find defects in
its own ranks. A clannishness that develops
to the point of pure egotism will destroy
any college fraternity.
An All-Greek Council is the most certain
method of meeting the difficulties which
are increasing rapidly on the hill. Can’t
we get together on common ground under
the shadow of the Mount of Olympus, ye
noble men of Omega Psi Phi, Alpha Phi
Alpha and Kappa Alpha Psi ? The Council
can regulate the non-secret activities and
promote clean and friendly competition
among the fraternities on the campus. The
Council will present a program which will
bring about a better relationship between
the University and fj-atrenities. Here is
an opportunity for a phase of student gov
ernment which will end in achievement for
the frats and the school. Will thinking
college men catch the image offered by the
gods of mystic days? Will open-minded
students prove that Negro secret societies
at Smith University can co-.operate with
each other?
T. S. J.
MUSIC AND ART
By Henri Louis Marshall,
’29.
In Biddle Memorial Hall Wednesday
evening, October 17, 1928, 8:30 o’clock,
Johnson C. Smith University presented the
Goodfellows’ Quarttete. Among the most
enjoyable selections were: “Birdsong
Eventide,” Coates; “H est Doux—II est
Bon” (Herodiade), Massanet; and ex
cerpts from “Serenade,” Victor Herbert.
A large and enthusiastic audience greeted
Florence Cole Talbert, dram.atic soprano,
on the evening of October 31, 1928, as she
appeared in recital. Lasting impressions
were made upon the audience when her
euphonic voice stole away into a kind of
cataleptic trance as she sang “Into the
Light” by Frank La Forge. “Spring Song
of the Robin Woman,” by Cadman, in which
she appeared in costume (from the opera
Shanweis) was very good. Cleo Dickerson
Holloway demonstrated a wonderful piece
of art as she accompanied her singer, es
pecially when she sang “Aria Suicidio”—La
Giocanda—, Poncielli.
In that magnificent structure known as
Biddle Memorial Hall, many interesting
phases of art are demonstrated daily by
efficient individuals, a few of whom I shall
mention. They are as follows: Dr. T. A.
Long, instructor in music, harmony, history
of music, musical appreciation, instrument
al music, including organ and piano; Prof.
W. S. Peyton, Violin, and director of the
Glee Club; and Mr. J. T. Young, University
pianist.
History tells us that we are naturally
artists, for about five thousand years B. C.
a certain African "tribe was known to pos
sess great artistic ability. Since we are
naturally artists, then why do we not de
velop our talents? The question is before
us; what answer shall we give?
Prof. Geo. W. Brown, head of the depart
ment of English, is an artist; he loves it
and is interested in its development; hence
he is offering a course in the study of dra
matic art in our “Little Theater” of today.
The course is in two parts: the theory and
art of the theater; stage craft and produc
tion of plays.
THREE TYPES OF STUDENTS
Three types of students attend college.
A small group works for the grades alone.
A larger number work for—well, they don’t
work at all. They give all their attention
to social affairs and extra-curricula ac
tivities. A middle group divides the time
between work for mere grades and work
in extra-curricula activities. Those in the
first group will usually succeed because, al
though they can “rehash” the subject mat
ter, they cannot put it across. They lack
that immeasurable something known as
character. Those in the second group are
doomed to failure for obvious reasons.
Those in the last group are usually suc
cessful because they gather the necessary
information and then learn how to apply
it in the laboratory of outside activities.
There is an all too prevalent opinion that
college is an etiquette school. Students
who think college is a finishing school
should be finished as soon as possible.—
Normal Advocate.
ARE FRATERNITIES AND SORORITIES
GOOD?
Are fraternities and sororities worth
while ? That question arises in the mind
of every thoughtful person affiliated with
a college. TTie splendid co-operation within
organizations and the respect which mem
bers hold for one another argue that or
ganizations are worth while. The discour
aging side of the question is this: fraterni
ties are jealous of their rivals; sororities
display selfishness in matters concerning
other sororities; organizations form polit
ical machines and manipulate elections
with boldness and crookedness which are
seldom equaled in public politics; there is
too often a clamor for the chance of filling
all appointive offices with “the brothers”
or “the sisters.”
Quantitatively, the arguments show fra
ternal organizations harmful. Qualitatively,
the good overbalances the evil. The frater
nal spirit of college organizations is per
manent. Its permanence gives its superi
ority over the evanescence of jealousies
scandals and bickerings. This alone saves
fraternities and sororities from a just con
demnation.
The question arises as to how the
evils of fraternal organizations may be re
duced. This task rests entirely upon the
individual. The organized student should
realize that his group does not contain all
the best students in school. If students
would get out of the habit of associating
persons with their organizations, a great
deal of the evil would vanish. Some per
sons when introduced to a stranger, uncon
sciously proceed to formulate an opinion
of him by making an inquiry into his fra
ternal affiliations. This habit is bad be
cause the opininos formed are usually false
and are colored by jealousy, or, at least, a
spirit of rivalry.
These evils can be overcome only by a
realization that all organizations have the
same ultimate goal in view and that the
faults of one organization are usually ap
plicable to the other fraternal groups.—Ex.
‘AIR-MINDED” STUDENTS.
A fellow doesn’t mind being called a kid,
but just try to make him the goat, and—
—Normal Advocate.
New Haven, Conn. (By New Student
Service). That the wheezing and cough
ing “collegiate” Ford must not have its
sister conveyance in the air, is the warn
ing of Mr. Edward P. Warner, Assistant
Secretary of the Navy in charge of Avia
tion. Mr. Warner in an address before the
Third Intercollegiate Aviation Conference
at Yale, pointed out the danger of flying
with any but trustworthy planes.
College men are beginning to take to
the air in appreciable numbers. The Har
vard Flying Club and that at the Universi
ty of Southern California are two of the
most advanced student groups. The latter
already owns several planes. European
students, however, surpass the Americans
in flying. One of the speakers at the
Conference cited a meeting in the Rhone
River section last August where 400 planes
were entered. Eight hundred pilots took
part, ninty per cent of which were college
men. College men won all the prizes.
The popularity of flying has added a new
prohibition to the list of “thou shalt nots”
of the Wellesley College Handbook. The
dean’s office issued the edict that “no stu
dent while under the jurisdiction of the
college may ride in au aeroplane unless per
mission has been granted from the dean’s
office and the written consent of her par
ents has been secured.”
The problem of chaperonage has not yet
been settled, and is without doubt taxing
the ingenuity of many a dean of women.
VISUAL EDUCATION
It is very probable that the grade school
teacher’s load will soon be lightened by
the use of films in teaching. The Eastman
Kodak Company, acting with the Nation
al Educational Association, has just com
pleted an experiment that seems to demon
strate conclusively the- superiority of the
new method over the old. In geography a
thirty-five per cent gain was registered by
the pupils taught by means of films, and a
fifteen per cent gain in general science.
Approximately 5500 children were taught
with films and 5500 more were taught the
same material without the aid of motion
pictures, in public schools scattered over
twelve cities.
A 500 word report has just been com
pleted by Dr. Ben D. Wood of Columbia
and Dr. Frvnk Freeman, of the University
of Chicago, directors of the experiment.
“In this experiment,” the report said,
“we have studied the films not as a pana
cea to be substituted for present instru
mentalities of the schools, nor as a means
to revolutionize the aims of education, but
as an addition to the present pedagogical
devices of the schools which may help in
the attainment of currently accepted jgoals.
As one might expect a majority of the
teachers and school officials reported that
the use of class room films had been “more
effective in arousing and sustaining the
children’s interest, in improving the quanti
ty and quality of their reading, and in aid
ing our conduct as fraternity men through
sons with personal experiences and com
munity conditions.”—Ex.
1 WONDER
By Try N. Findout
I wonder where is the French “prof.”
I wonder if Sparky won his suit with the
Chinese.
I wonder if “Chris” House is serious with
his Charlotte lady love.
I wonder where are the five missing fra
ternity pins from the campus.
I wonder will Vick ask Lucy to the for-
mals” again this year.
I wonder where is Cannady’s “Struggle
Buggy.”
I wonder if Harris will finally give
Whitehead a “break.”
I wonder who is the most passionate
Junior.
I wonder why Count had added to his
name “Luigi.”
I wonder who calls himself “The Doc
tor.”
I wonder when Byrd will grow up.
I wonder from what part of Africa did
our Fx-eshmen come.
I wonder who will keep the home-fires
burning on Boundary Street this year.
I wonder who calls girls “plugs.”
I wonder why “R. H. L.” is so intimate
with “Frosh” Fitch.
I wonder who will fill “Baby Brains”
shoes.
I wonder what new maidens has Chavis
now.
I wonder what Senior sat and waited on
the steps in Shelby.
I wonder what has become of the “Lone
Wolf.”
Students will do almost anything to make
a fraternity and girls will do almost any
thing to make a fraternity banquet.