Newspapers / Louisburg College Student Newspaper / Sept. 1, 1983, edition 1 / Page 2
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Page 2 COLUMNS September, 19iB3 Editorials The Columns introduces a series of articles on Public Awareness designed to bring to the attention of the readers the problems in the community and possible solutions. The Columns encourages its readers to respond to the articles. Ad dress comments to William Warren, Box 947. Poverty: the Elderly By WILLIAM WARREN In this country there are more than twenty two million people over the age of 65. This is ten percent of the popula tion. Around four thousand people turn 65 every day. In economic terms one out of five of our nation’s elderly live below the line of poverty. This situation is even more frequent among black elderly. In their case two out of five live at the minimum income level. The statistics are even worse in urban areas. The cost of all aging pro grams equals about five per cent of the GNP. Even with medicate our elderly pay out more for health care than do younger people. The nation’s income-tested program, SSI, discurages family care of disabled elderly by reducing benefits when the elderly live with the family. Doctors and social workers say that malnutrition and its devastating effects on the aged are a growing problem. They blame this problem on social security inadequacy, deceptiveness of pension, and unexpected retirement pover ty. “Meals On Wheels” is a shining light for some of our starving elderly. Another such program that has at tempted to help out, but in stead has been greatly abused, is the food stamp pro gram. Housing for some of the elderly is sickening. There are just no other words to describe it. Their homes are old and usually very run down. Many have their life savings tied up in them. Sometimes these poor and in nocent people are trapped by having a home located in the older part of a city around the central core of the “SLUMS”. Home accidents are frequent. Poor electrical wiring, out dated plumbing and other fac tors contribute to poor health conditions. Picture this: You’re walking down a dark and dank hallway of a decrepit hotel, a boarded-up jalousie door creaks open slowly. Lovingly, faded blue eyes peer out from an old woman’s tiny “L” shaped world. Found in just one room is: A single bed, a 1950’s type kitchennette pushed under the only window, a humming Frigidare refrigerator, (which is seen arm’s length from the bed), a stove, a dripping sink, and a dresser. These are landmarks found in an 8’ by 10’ room known as her existence.” Poverty is a major con tribution to mental and physical deterioration. To me, the one word that sums this up is “why?” Why and how can we let this type of living hell happen to our elderly? There is no group of people in America today that has suf fered more from the problems of inflation than these, our elderly. They have seen their small checks and meager sav ings buy less and less. They have trodded about in cold and wet weather because public transits have failed and because their cars have become too costly to maintain and too difficult to handle. Can you only imagine the humiliating dependency they feel as the doors of progress have been slammed in their faces? They have been pro mised less costly housing only to see their dreams go up in the smog and smoke. They have waited at a depot for a train that hasn’t come or might not run at all. You’re probably saying to yourself, “what about their checks?” Those checks are too small to help with anything except their loss of pride. These peo ple deserve more. teK By CARLA A. JOYNER Phi Theta Kappa is a na tional character^scholarship fraternity that holds the same rank in the junior college that Phi Beta Kappa holds in the four-year college. The Gamma Upsilon Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa was chartered and organized at Louisburg Col lege in 1939. To be eligible for membership in Phi Theta Kappa, a student must be enrolled in a two-year college, have earned the proper number of quality points to designat full-time status, and have achieved a grade-point average equivalent to no less than a “B”. In addition, the I student must have establish ed academic excellence as judged by the faculty, be of good moral character, and Senate } Meeting j September 8, 1983 A 7:30 p.m. ! The meeting was called to f order by President, Jennifer A Kirschner. Since this was the ! first meeting and all of the of-1 ficers had not been elected, ! ithis meeting was informal,* however, it was voted thatf there will be a dress code. The | men will wear dress pants J and dress shirts, but do not | have to wear jackets or ties. I The women must wear dress | j pants or dresses. | Jennifer Kirschner | (reported that the Entertain-! iment Committee under the | i leadership of William Warren I is already at work. Dwight * Dixon said that Freshman and | Sophomore class officers will | !be elected on September 22 !, land the last day to file for of-1 ifice would be September 15. | I Jennifer Kirschner said the ! SGA meetings would pro-| bably be held in the Con-| ference Room but the timej has not been set. It is tradi-| tional that the head of the| disciplinary committee isj Parlamentarian. Therefore, | Jennifer Kirschner appointed | Brad Johnson Palamentarian. J Sam Suggs made a motion | that this meeting be adjourn-1 ed. Jennifer Kirschner* seconded this motion. The| meeting was adjourned. |p Phi Theta Kappa possess qualities of citizen ship. Phi Theta Kappa was found ed due to the need to recognize and encourage scholarships among students in community and junior colleges. The fraternity seeks to provide opportunity for the develop ment of leadership, an in tellectual atmosphere for academic stimulation, and personal enrichment of the student through educational experiences and fellowship with other scholars. Like most clubs. Phi Theta Kappa has certain symbols. The emblem of Phi Theta Kappa is a golden key. On this key is a black band, which houses the Greek letters “Phi,” “Theta”, and “Kappa” Behind the band is a wreath of laurel and oak leaves, representing leadership and strength; above it is the head of Athena, a Greek goddess, denoting wisdom. Beneath the band are three letters symbolizing the Greek words “phronimon,” “theumos”, and “katharotes”, which mean wisdom, aspiration and puri ty. In years past, the involve ment of Phi Theta Kappa at Louisburg College has been to some extent nonexistent. Therefore, present members of Phi Theta Kappa, under the direction of advisor Grady K. Synder, hope to change the tradition and become one of the most active organizations on campus. Tentative plans are now underway for a facul ty reception and sponsorship of a guest speaker to the stu dent body. Columns Louisburg College, Box 947, Louisburg, N.C. 27549 September, 1983 COLUMNS STAFF Editor Kelli Swinson Advisor Lane Harris Contributors to this issue: Carla Joyner Scott Myers David Read Chuck Waters William Warren Elizabeth Wright Photographer Chuck Waters Published monthly Copyright © 1983 by “The Columns” All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means without the express permission of the publishers. Type Set by The Wake Weekly Printed by Henderson Daily Dispatch Readers are encouraged to respond to articles and editorials. Address your letters to: Columns Editor, Box 947. 4
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