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Paf* Four
Lotler To The Editor
So pentonal offenne or »arc»5m is intended in thi*
article, nor ijt it an attempt to criticize or condemn the
opinion! of otherx. If I have implied such motives, please
accept my apoloKifs. I am merely attempting to state my
own pentonal opinion conceminK the school spirit of this
campus — an opinion which I am sure is held in esteen
by many other students of the collejre.
Ijuit month’s insue of COIJ-F'GIATK carried an article
entitled, "A Winnintf Team Helpa, But—As far as 1
can M?e the entire article was a condemnation of school
Hpirit with that of Flora MacDonald wa.n rather an unfor-
rampus for three years and also nx a student w ho has come
to lovr Atlantic Christian College, the article rather of
fended me!
RfginninK with the first paragraph the article “rub
bed me the wrong way.” The comparison of our campus
spirit with that of Flora Macdonald was rather an unfor
tunate and an unfair comparLion. Any attempt to compare
a girl’s school with a co-educational institution is futile.
One doesn’t expect the spirit in the two types of schools
to be one and the same. And besides, it’s possible that the
transfer from Hora MacDonald hasn’t been on this campus
a sufficient length of time to attempt to either condemn or
praise the school spirit here.
It .Heems that the author’s "p«-t gripe” centers around
the "gangs” or cliijues that supposedly exist on this camp
us Now. I’d be the last one to deny that these cliques
exi.Ht — that they do is very evident — but I am not one
to condemn them.
A .ttatement made by one of the students interviewed
by the author rather amused me! When asked the ques
tion, ‘‘How do you feel about the campus spirit at
7”, the answer was this — "I think there is more
gang .spirit than school .■tpirit. Some groups seem to feel
illfferent Momehow from the rest of us, but I can’t figure
out why!” You know, it never ceases to amaze me how
people will "group” themselves without realizing that
they are doing so. Ky making the statement that . . .some
irrouii- s«-em to feel different somehow from the re»t of
u* . . the cf)ntributor automatically places her>»*'lf in a
group consisting of "the rest of us.”
CiTtamly there are small, individual groups on thi.*!
umpus as there are on every other campus. But I chal
lenge any person on this campus to name for me one group
>r rli(|Ue here that cannot be penetrated or that does not
■oopcrate with every other group for the betterment of
-ampus life!!!
If the author is having difficulty with the groups, I
would suggest as a solution to the problem that she break
away from Her group consi.sting of "the left out” and par
ticipate in the activities of some of the other cliques.
Moving along now to another .statement in the article
— thia time concerning the effect that the expansion of the
■«-hool is having on the .school spirit — again, 1 would
heartedly disagree with the oi>inion expressed by the au
thor. Another of the individuals interviewed by the writer
has this to say: "The .school has changed since it is grow
ing larger. A person must feel proud of his school, and
vet, when it begins to expand, one revolts and feels that
the .school isn’t concerned with him, or that he is being
gypped or cheated.” Now, I know, that I’m just a little
“dense” but for the life of me I cannot recall one instance
of revolt or any type of insurrection as a result of the ex
pansion of this college, f>eryone with whom I’ve talked
■leems to be proud of the school and delighted that the ex
pansion program is underway. As a result of the achieve
ments of the college, the institution has literally “made
the headlines” and 1 don’t believe that there is a student
on this campus who isn't proud to be an integral part of
this growth! If anything, the program of expansion and
growth has served to RKV’ITALIZE the school spirit!
The final complaint made by the author hit me hanl-
est. She asks the ((uestion, "Why don’t students attend
vespers, dances, and parties if they are so eager for acti-
vitie.s?” The answein given were unfair to the members
Ilf the S. C. A, and the Social Committee. First, concerning
dances and parties, this was the answer given. "The dan
ces or parties are not successes because there is a division
among groups. A formal dance will never prove to be a
mixer for groups who will not .socialize on campus.” Might
1 suggest to the thor that she personally attend some
i>f the dances and parties and then formulate some opin
ions. 1 have mi.ssed very few myself and for the life of me
I can’t remember ever having .seen her. Neither can I
remember a .social affair on this campus that hasn’t been
.1 success!
This was said concerning vespers. "Who wants to go
to vespers to hear just two or three people who always
are in charge? Yes, they are smart, but I know of others
■vho have offered to participate and are never called
upon.”
Pemiit me to ask a question of the author. Did you
sign up for the worship commission of the S. C. A. at the
beginning of the year? If so, my apologies, please! It
really breaks my heart to know that there are students on
this campus who would like to participate in Vesper serv
ices but that are left out. You’d never know it from the
attendance. The average attendance at vespers (and here
I'm being dangerously optimistic) is probably around
fifteen. I am bold enough to defy the statement that stu
dents have offered to participate and have never been
called upon. I’owibly it would help, if the appeal were
directed to the proper individual. Is the chairman of the
Worship Commission to be a ‘bloodhound” in search of
fresh talent? When a vesper service is planned, she must
use the resources on hand. Have you thought of the
(toftsibility of approaching her concerning your participa
tion in a service? I am sure that she would be delighted
to use your talents.
The authi>r's concluding remarks are rather interest-
(Continued on Page Six)
THE COLLBG LA IE
Bf JIM.MY HOWARD
WiUon ju*t ain't no theater
town." How many dme* have you
lieaixl Uui proverb "excuse the
citizens" and wham they break a
new record for low attendance at
some production. By now, those in
terested ID dramaUcs have become
immune to the line of chatter, when
few If any show up at their play.
Instead they continue along dif
ferent lines, rxperlmenung with all
types of drama—old forms, new
forms, classic form.s—anything.
Just say the word and they are
ranni to go! The innocent by
standers say, "why? What, if there
are few <it anyi regular (heater
goers, is the satisfaction to be
gained by giving a play if nobody
is there lo see it?" TVaditionally
speaking, audience approval may
have l>een the goal of the thea
trical group But things have pro
gressed to the point that this ii
not so often the case—much to the
distress of the business managers
who realize that the audiences are
the ones who make the production
possible Nowadays, the reward
must be personal satisfaction of a
Job well done—or the escape from
the distress of present day reali
ties, becoming a part of ■< make
believe world in which selfishness;
and hypocracy have no place, ex
cept when held up for ridicule or
scorn.
■Now romes the Irony. If a census
were made here In WIlMin the re-
' suits would show that the ranks
i of the play-fivers has been swrllini
steadily over a period of the past
five yean, while the number of
; theater-foers has done iast the op
posite, with fewer and fewer people
lattendinc each prodartion. Maybe
^ the reason for thLs is that the mob
{that would come to see litUe Johnny
hopplni across the state at Kaster
■ time or Mary l^u looking so pre-
rrlous In her new white dress, have
turned their lUnces back toward
I their old habitatu—bridge table Eos-
Uip parties or dime a doien hlll-
(billy shows which are becomlnjc
] more numerous and more trite
everyday. Don't be mistaken. In
the latter case the radio and TV
stations depend on the sponsors for
their existence too. .And when busi
ness firms decide to advertise by
•tponsoring a program, they want
lo appeal to the masses. Well. U
you Judge Kastcrn Carolina Intel
ligence by that standard, whoever
named 301 “tobacco trail" was
closer to the truth than he realiied.
However strange it may seem,
no one can truthfully say that the
reason why Wilson turns its back
on its stage Is because the produc-
tifuu are not good enough to be
worthwhile. Thi- talent, especially
m Wilson and also in surrounding
areas, is tremendous as was shown
at the recent Eastern Carolina Dra
ma Festival. Of course, that state
ment would be hard to verify, for
you would have to search a long
way throui^ the local haystack in
order to find those precious few
old stand-bys who could tear them
selves away from their ACSWBA
meetings or dances long enough to
enjoy the pleasures their FIVE
theatrical groups offer them. And
to those few who do find Iheir bless
ings worthwhile—they, also, de
serve the applause which they give
the players when U>e curtain goes
down.
In that respect Wilson is unique.
There Is not aitolher city in the
state which can boast of two com
munity theaters, a college theater,
a high school theater and a chil
drens’ theater, not to mention the
carrying of plays to the surround
ing rttral areas and the produc.
tlon of radio shows. However, with
all this, the Kaleigh LItUe Theatre
alone has a larger attendance at
an average production than any one
of Hllsoa's groups has in an en
tire season. W> here In .AUanUc
,< hr1sUan are extremely fortunate
In that respect. Protected from the
financial dilemmas possessed by
. the outside groups, we can and
should concentrate all our efforts
I towards perfecting technical and
acting techniques and producing
I expertmenlal plays, as well as en-
itertalning Uiose who pay their ac
tivity fee.
Unfortunately the Stage and
Script Oub was forced to close
iU I9S3-54 season wiUi the two en
tries in the eastern drama festival
However, much was gained as far
as furnishing AC with prospective
Ulent. Special note is only fair
to Miss Shirley Parker, who taking
on the heavy bunlen of accepting
the feature role in Heat Lixhtnlng
the night before it was to be pres
ented lo the festival, joined the
ranks of the troopers when she
(Continued on Page Six i
APRIL 6, 1954
Spring’s Bursting Out
Even In The Dining Hall
Spring invaded the campus after everyone had vacat
ed the buildings and scattered for home and spnng holi
days Yellow jonquils had begun to spring forth here and
there among the green foliage. Excitement and a general
buzz could be heard all over campus and in the dorms.
One building, however, had a new tone and a new
note. Everyone knew the dining hall had been renovated,
but few were prepared for the final effect. After being
halted in my tracks, I took a side se^t to observe others
as they came in one at a time or in pairs. The bright yellow
walls on each side were reflecting the sun light back and
forth. The deep cool shade of green in back and front not
only blended with the dancing yellow but seemed to
temper it with a calmness of tone.
The new accoustical ceiling was absorbing such bits
of conversation as this: ‘Oh, I like those colors, they look
like spring — Doesn’t it look better?” “Why did every
one stop talking when I entered? I’m not a stranger
here!” Bobbet walked in, paused, looked amazed andk
exclaimed, "Every one must be tired out like I am,” and
dismissed the thought.
Most people do agree that the quieter atmosphere
affords a pleascre and aids digestion. It is even possible
now to discuss the matter across the table without
shouting.
When the fan went off, there was such a hush across
the room that everyone bowed his head expecting the
blessing. The timing seemed appropriate and in order.
There is a whisper that those red engraved tables will
soon be replaced by new ones.
The rebirth of spring and the blossoming and the
growth of .AC’s campus seem to be in one accord.
—Doris Tyndall
It Happened On An April Day
It happened on an April day,
Hounded by skies .so blue and .still,
.And olive trees all hushed and gray.
They led One up a skull-shaped hill
Followed by a crowd whose piercing cry
Was, ‘‘Crucify!’
It happened on an April morn,
They nailed a Man upon a tree
Whose head was circled with sharp thorn,
Lifted Him high that all might see
His agony. His heaving breath,
His awful death.
It ha))pened on an April day
They tombed a Man (the crowd had fled),
Sealed it; and set a watch that way
To flout His words; to prove Him dead;
And show Himself He could not save
From the dark grave.
It happened on an April day . . .
A tremor shook the paling gloom,
-A white flame tore the door away,
Life came a victor from the tomb.
Ix)ve cannot die, nor truth betray . . .
Christ rose upon an April day!
—John Richard Moreland
]\ot ‘^Just Another Meeting’'
A few weeks ago a delegation of
students from this campus attend
ed a National Student Association
meeting in Greensboro. The meet
ing was one of great success in the
eycj of those who attended. Dele
gates from all over this region of
the nation were present for this
regional-type meeting, and all of
them enjoyed learning and sharing
with others the practices of their
respective colleges and universi
ties, as they attempted to learn a
means by which they might better
their situations.
Various workshops were conduct-
^ as the main portion of the meet
ing. These workshops involved var
ious phases of the campus leader .s
responsibilities and possibilities,
through sharing, how they might
obtain better results in their re-
Continued on Page Six
C^oiie^iate
WILSON, N. C.
VOL. XXIV~ -
p... . . EDITORIAL BOARD
Ciditor-in-ChiGfxjavmKv
News Editor w
t'j * Richard Ziglar
Snorts irfif Betty Jane Lamm, George Davis
-f-A- :_.Jim Peebles
Jo Ann Moore, Mildred Blackmon
Keportere .Gloria Etheridge, Jack Hamilton,
Dot Sm'ith Muldrow, Georgia Tuck,
Staff Artists ^raughn, Tommy Williamson
« business BOARD
AdvS^^S*"— Therese Rabil
Adverting Steff Mildred Blackmon, Dot Smith,
Albritton ®’ Thomas, Rachel
Circ^ation Manager Barbara Tilghman
FacultrAdvi^7"”.V"_V^^^^^^