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Volume XVIII
LOUISBURG COLLEGE, N. C., MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1959
Number 4
Louisbuit Students Submit
Plans For Judiciary Board
The Case For Reform
(EDITORIAL)
Tonight the Men’s Student Council will have in its hands a proposal to
completely change and revamp the men’s SGA. Before the council comes
a proposed change so sweeping, so new, that its adoption would stream
line the present student government system into a totally different creation.
This proposal has first been submitted to members of the administra
tion and faculty and has met with their approval. It is an uncomplicated
method of bi-cameral legislature similar to that being used successfully
by other schools throughout the country.
It is simply a plan to add a judiciary branch of five students and five
faculty members to the present single legislative branch system of student
government.
The principal function of this new branch will be to hand down de
cisions on judiciary cases, mostly involving more serious offenses. These
cases would include those dealing with expulsion.
By the present system the Student Council not only draws up the
constitution, but hands down rulings on every type case. This proposed
change would separate the functions, leaving to the Student Council rul
ings on the relatively minor infractions of the constitution.
Ihe principal outlines of this plan were mapped out by a group of
individual men students with no greater interest in mind other than the
future of the college, a future that will see within three years the school
enrollment increased to over 600.
With many more students the occurrences of code infractions will
increase, and it is believed that a one branch system of government will
not be able to handle adequately and fairly the number and diversity of
cases before them.
Now in its embryo stage the plan will ask that the voting of the judiciary
board be final, and that the faculty members be allowed one less vote
than the student members. It has yet to be decided whether the final de
cisions would be by unanimous vote or by two-thirds vote.
In any case, the significance of the judicial board’s power would lie in
the finality of its decisions. A unanimous ruling, made by a board holding
the strength of a firm balance between student and faculty interests, made
with confidence that their decisions would be as sound and plausible as
possible, and carried to the president with the strongest and most sensible
recommendation^ could completely erase uncomfortable delays that have
been experienced in the past.
The student members of the judiciary board would be selected for
candidacy according to proven superior responsibility and then elected
by popular vote of the student body. This way it is hoped that the better
qualified students will be those making rulings on the more serious cases.
The faculty members of the judiciary board would be chosen, partially
or entirely, by the vote of the students, who should know better than
anyone which teachers they would want if they had to face a judiciary
board.
But it should be understood that the plan you see below is merely
something to build on, a rough outline. It’s got a long way to go before it
attains any success at all.
And the Student Council has to start it on its way.
(More Editorials on page 2)
Present Government Organization
Change Before Council Tonight
IS»IPS
In Homecoming Parade, the “Columns” displayed the above float, “Little But
Loud.”
Homecoming Day
Hectic Affair
By PETER MAUPIN
Homecoming day at Louisburg
was a hectic day in many ways.
Early in the morning, shouts and
running feet could be heard in the
dormitories. “Did you get that crepe
paper?” and “Where did I put the
Scotch tape?” were heard every
where.
Later in the day, things were
slowly reaching a fevered frenzy.
People were running everywhere
trying to find out who the few con
vertibles on campus belonged to, and
finding out if they could be used in
the parade. As it turned out, the
cars ranged from a 1950 Plymouth
to a 1959 Pontiac Bonneville con
vertible.
Louisburg’s dime stores were
practically sold out of crepe paper
by noon. Much of the crepe paper
was being put to use decorating sev
eral cars in front of the college gym
nasium. Among these was the small
English-made M.G. sponsored by
the Columns staff, gaily decorated
in purple with several signs stating
“Little But Loud—Columns,” “Pro
gressive College—Louisburg: Pro
gressive Paper—Columns.” and “All
the News — Read your College
Newspaper—The Columns.” This
car carried the co-editors Bill Spivey
and Audrey Allen, and a member
of the staff. Miss Faye Mahler.
Many people missed their lunch
on this day as the 2:00 deadline grew
steadily nearer. Tempers grew short
and shouts of “You’d better hurry
up with that tape or we will never
make it.” were heard. Finally, every
thing was in readiness and the trek
to the parade formation point was
begun.
At the assembly point, everything
was utter chaos. Tommy Patter
son was frantically trying to keep
up with all the cars that arrived and
to assign them passengers. Others
stood, looking quite bewildered by
it all, right in the middle of the
street. Traffic was completely
blocked and many irritable words
were heard from irate motorists.
Finally, at 2:15, the parade start
ed. Although somewhat short, it ap
parently was a complete success.
By BILL GRIFFIN SPIVEY
Independent men students, counseled by faculty and administration
members, will see their proposed plan for a change in student government
organization go before the Student Council tonight. The plan for a
Judiciary Board is regarded by many as an improvement with the interest
in Louisburg College as a growing institution. With the hope that the
plan will be adopted, this explanation is submitted to explain and make
clearer the inter-working of such a judicial body.
This is the proposed plan for the Judiciary Board. It is not final but
is subject to alteration once passed by the Student Council. There are to
be ten members on the Judiciary Board. There will be five students. The
first two are automatic members, the president of the Student Council and
a male president or oflficer of the honor fraternity. The remaining three
members from the student body are to be selected from a list of six
candidates by popular vote from the male students. A list of faculty
members will then be submitted and five members will be selected by
vote of the student body. One of the five members picked will be a non
voting chairman and will preside over the meetings and maintain parli-
mentary procedure. This will give a voting ratio of five student votes and
four faculty votes, with the non-voting chairman presiding. This five-four
ratio of students and faculty will comprise the members of the Judiciary
Board. This ratio will aid in getting the tWo-thirds vote needed to decide
a case.
Now to discuss the manner in which cases reach the Judiciary Board.
' *
The Student Council will act as a grand jury. It will try cases of a more
trivial nature, unless it decides that the case is deeper than it appeared,
or it couldn’t reath a decision. In such cases the Student Council will
refer action to the Judiciary Board. The following is a list of cases that
will automatically go before the Judiciary Board:
1—Third offenders of any Student Government law.
2—Drinking.
3—Un-gentleman-like conduct at games or events repre
senting the school.
4—Dishonesty.
5—Gambling.
6—Improper social relations.
The Judiciary Board is definitely not to take any power away from the
Student Government, but to aid it in reaching a just decision. Decisions
reached by the Judiciary Board are hoped to be automatically upheld by
the administration. Practically every school^in the country has such a
body already in operation. Reportedly, it has worked out quite well in
all instances.
This plan was presented to Mr. York and Mr. McDonald in a private
meeting. After due liberation and discussion, both^^j^eed that the plan
was an improvement and that much constructive thinking had gone into
the plan by the drafting members. Several other members of the faculty
have discussed the plan and have found it acceptable.
The decision now rests on the shoulders of the Student Council. It will
be their decision that will mold the future of student government at
Louisburg College.