Page 2, THE PILOT
Becker’s
Column
This year’s GWC freshmen made it through another Orientation Week. Here (left to
right) Mary Ellen Burch, freshman from Charlotte; Selina Speaks, freshman from
Kernersville, and Randy Vickers, Jr. from Maryland discuss their first week back at
school. (Photo by Pete Decker}
For Freshmen And
Transfers Only
by Debbie Drayer
QUESTION FOR THE DAY; What do 48 Big Brothers
and Big Sisters do with 30,000 screaming munchkin-types
(otherwise known as freshmen and transfers)?
Well... if sadism is yovir thing, you submit them to eight
rigorous days of orientation! They’ll love you for it; they
really will! After all, who among us cannot appreciate the
finer experiences of opening week — like crawling out of bed
at unholy hours just to scribble all over a “Personal Experi
ences Chart”? and what poor, lonesome, homesick freshman
would be willing to trade the ra-ra Sunday night serendipity
session? Ask any of those eight worn-out subjects who sang
“Three Blind Mice” till they were hoarse. They’ll tell you
they loved it; they really will!
If you want to be benevolent to incoming students and
sadistic to the real orientation heroes, subject “Uncle Mel
vin” Lutz to the vigor of a skating party. Or better yet, ask
Beth Brittain for her “techniques”. After all, she got two
upper classmen to ‘help’ her!
Okay, so when is this article going to get serious about
the real orientation activities—the campus tours, the get-
acquainted sessions, the faculty desserts (a BIG thanks to
all ya’ll prof-types), the talent show (congratulations you
winner types) —well, on the serious side, when asked for his
reaction to the events of the week, Don Spargo said, “Tough
nuggies!”
An Editorial Comment
‘The Man Who Would Be King’
By Debbie Drayer
In an age and an institution which stresses equality, it
seems that some are still more equal than others. Case in
point; in an event as innocuous as Homecoming, as many
females as can gather 100 signatures can become queen. Yet
a male who has met all the requirements including having
an adequate QPR, obtaining 100 plus signatures, being of
senior status, and not being on disciplinary probation, has
not been placed on the voting ballot.
“The Man Who Would Be King” is Jim Duncan. He asks
not to replace the tradition of having a Homecoming Queen,
but to balance it by having both Queen and King — the
separate but equed principle re-enacted. He says, “This is
not an attempt to destroy or disrupt the Gardner-Webb
community. This is, however, an attempt to make clear to
the community of the necessity for moving with the future
in mind. I think Gardner-Webb, because of its foundation
and leadership, is an institution that can move with the
future in mind and not be corrupted by the practices of the
world”.
Granted, the campus constitution makes provisions only
for a queen. Technically Jim Duncan is not qualified to run
for a Homecoming position because a provision does not ex
ist for King, and that’s a barrier on the basis of sex.
Why, then, does the 1980-81 catalog say: “Gardner-Webb
College is committed to equality of opportunity in all areas
of education and employment, and does not practice or con
done discrimination in any form against applicants,
students or employees on the basis of race, color, national
origin, religion, sex, age or handicap”?
An allowance has previously been made during the game,
not only for Homecoming Queen and attendants, but for
escorts (not formally provided for in the constitution). Seem
ingly, the balance of equality would be best preserved by
having Queen, King, attendants and escorts. After all, what
is a court without a King?
By Lynn Becker
Here I am with a column
all my own! (How proud my
mother would be!) Problem
is, with a column all my own,
I have to think of some
thing to write about.
You know what I’ve come
up with? I’ve discovered the
best “vice” I have is Ralph
Smith. This guy is a real
trip, literally. Many of you
witnessed that when he took
the plunge in the cafeteria
one night. He wound up
with everything on his tray
all over him, including egg
on his face. That’s forgiv
able, though, because he’s
worked hard so far, especial
ly when the Bloodmobile
was here. Ralph is also
a good source if you are
looking for children’s songs.
I think my favorites are
“Junior Birdman” or the
“Birdies” song. You’ll have
to get Ralph to sing them for
you.
Oh, but bonafide columns
are supposed to be much
more serious than this. OK.
On a more serious note. I’m
really glad I’ve been able to
get so many students to vol
unteer to serve on commit
tees. Actually, I thrive on
dreaming up committees
and seeking students to
serve on them. Lots of folks
can testify to that; ask
Willie Rash or Julie Jones.
The Homecoming Commit
tee, though, is the one that
amazes me. Brad Riddle and
Robin Crumpton are co-
chairmen, and they work
their committee members to
death. Homecoming should
really be spectacular.
Another good thing I’ve
discovered about this job is
keeping in touch with so
many different organiza
tions. You wouldn’t believe
how much my knowledge
about Cross Country
running has improved. I’ve
actually discovered they
don’t really run all the way
across the country. (I admit
it—I’m ignorant!) You
know, the more I think
about it, the more I discov
er there are a lot of specific
things I could write a col
umn on. Hey, Editor! Here’s
my column!
Randy Reviews
By Randy Waters
HOW TO BEAT THE HIGH COST OF LIVING
Well ... it sounded like a nice little irreverent comedy.
Besides, I happen to like Jane Curtin, Jessica Lange, and
Susan St. James. With the combined talent of these three
and the possibly successful venture into ciurent comedy via
the current dreadful economy, I thought I’d be spending my
three dollars wisely.
Oh, was I wrong! The problem? The jokes fall absolutely
flat; no, even worse, they fall into a total vacuum! No one is
responding in the movie, so what am I supposed to do? This
is comedy without the essentials; delivery, timing, ma
terials, and so on. But how do you beat the high cost of
living? Simple . . .stay at home with a friend or your TV if
this clunker is the only film in town!
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND
I really liked this fibn three years ago, and after seeing
this modified “Specisd Edition”, I can still say that I like
this film. However, the changes made are not that signifi
cant. They do not detract, but they do not necessarily add
either. The largest change comes in the final sequence
involving the visit of the huge alien mothership. The camera
moves into the ship itself, giving science fiction technology
buffs a chance to enjoy the elaborate interior. If you missed
it the first time, go see it. If you’ve seen it before but won t
mind seeing it again, you probably won’t be disappointed at
all.
SCHIZOID
This fihn raises three issues and/or problems with the
current state of Hollywood. First (and certainly the most
minor issue), how did Klaus Kinski ever get involved in such
a low-budgeted, poorly written film? Kinski is one of
Europe’s best and best-known talents and he is thoroughly
wasted in “Schizooid.”
Second, what did Hitchcock unleash when he made
“Psycho”? “Schizoid” is just another psychopath-gets-
revenge-gets-hia-just-desserts film, raising no new issues or
insights, and offering little in the way of character develop
ment for this particular genre.
Third, “Schizoid” is yet another Hollywood-produced
thriller depicting the brutalization of women. This trend,
even more disturbing in the wildly successful “Dressed to
KiU,” is as unhealthy as it is disgusting. O.K., so the typical
movie psycopath preys on the helpless, but why only
women? The killer in “Schizoid” is systematically killing
the women of a therapy group, yet this group was composed
of men as well. In fact as far as the killer’s motive goes, it
would have made moe sense to rub out the men instead of
the women. However, the audience is subjected to three
pointless (in terms of plot) and very violent murders. The
psycho-sexual elements involving the doctor and his
patients, the doctor and his daughter, and among the
members of the therapy group are merely thrown out, never
carefully worked into the structure of the plot. The murders
are mostly an excuse to depict a little blood and gore for the
audience.
HollyTvood’s assumption that the American audience
wants cheap thrills is probably correct; America certainly
pursues this area with gusto. However, when a particular
group (women in this instance) are constantly portrayed as
weak prey, seemingly asking for the violence afflicted upon
them, it goes well beyond the rather harmless category
known as “cheap thrill”. It faUs into the category of bigotry
and chauvinism.
One final note, I am for low budget films. How else will
new film makers ever get into the market? The sets and
camera techniques used in “Schizoid” were not always
successful, but they were bold and indicated healthy experi
mentation. Yet all of the atmospheric sets and hand-held
camera work cannot cover up a weak story, but neither can
an extravagant fihn such as “Dressed to Kill”. Both seek to
capitalize on a ready-made audience, already inducted into
the genre by Hitchcock 8uid others, but take the very worst
elements of the genre (blood, violence) and use them to
attempt to titilate, and ultimately insult, the audience. If
you care, Hollywood will listen to the public, especially
when the public hits them where it really hurts: the box
office.
The Pilot
Debbie Drayer, Editor
John Mark Adams Julie Jones Lori Petit
Edward Williams Ruth Ann Poston Donna Harvey
Randy Waters Jonathan Scott Lori Mickey
Lynne Becker Kay Cooper
Mrs. Sharon Garfield, advisor
Published by students of Gardner-Webb College, Boiling Springs,
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