VOL. X. ELIZABETH CITY, N. C., JANUARY, 1950
Fine Arts and Physical Education Building Completed
Alumnus of The Month
MRS. MAMIE L. TURNER
Mrs. Mamie L. Turner
Alumnus of The Month
To Mrs. Mamie L. Turner, hon
or alumnus, goes a bouquet of
roses. At a recent celebration held
at the Magnolia School in Duplin
County, North Carolina, she was
honored by citizens and educa
tors, white and colored, repre
senting every section of North
Carolina. Not only were there
words spoken for her, but she was
presented a gift of $1,000 in War
Bonds for her faithful service as
a teacher and supervisor.
Superintendent Clyde A. Erwin
and President S. D. Williams were
principal speakers.
This occasion is significant to
the Elizabeth City State Teachers
College, for it was to this insti
tution that Mrs. Turner came in
1899. After a period of two years,
she completed the prescribed
course, and was recommended by
the principal as a teacher in one
of the schools of Pasquotank
County. At the Little River School,
she taught successfully for two
years.
In 1903 she was married to Mr.
W. T. Turner of South Mills, North
Carolina. However, she did not
give up her chosen profession, for
in 1903 she began work in the pub
lic school at Powellsville in Ber
tie County. Here she remained un
til 1907 when she decided to go to
Philadelphia.
In 1916, moved by the urge to
teach, she returned to her former
position at Powellsville. During
this time she sent to the Elizabeth
City State Normal School two
children, Lois and Bertrand. In a
comparatively short time, she was
offered a position as Supervisor in
Duplin County.
To this new task Mrs. Turner
devoted herself. She continued her
studies at Hampton Institute, but
the old love for her Alma Mater
was so strong that she returned
here in 1938 for residential work
and was graduated with a Bache-
(Continued on page two)
Primary Sunday School
Organized
After a survey of the immedi
ate College Community under the
direction of Dean W. L. Craine, a
Sunday School program was
launched. A number of children
not enrolled in any Sunday School
were invited to join the Campus
Sunday School.
Since the beginning, consider
able progress has been made. The
number attending has increased
from five on the first Sunday to
twenty-five.
Teachers of the primary depart
ment are; Mrs. Mary B. Washing
ton, Misses Mattie Baker, Emma
Gaskins, Beulah Henderson, Un
dine Harrison, Edith George, and
Alberta James.
This is only one of the several
types of community service now
being sponsored by the College.
Dramatic Club Rehearses
For ^^Our Town”
The Dramatic Club is now in
rehearsal for a three-act play en
titled “Our Town” which will be
presented the first week in March.
Written by Thornton Wilder
and produced on Broadway sever
al years ago, ‘‘Our Town” is a
play full of audience appeal.
In the first act the author gen
ially outlines the history of the
town, v/hich is Grovers Corners,
N. H., and something of the char
acter of its citizens. Then he in
troduces the Gibbs and Webb fam
ilies at breakfast time and carries
them through one entire day m
Grovers Corners.
The second act concerns the
love affair between young George
Gibbs and little Emily Webb which
culminates in a moving weddmg
scene.
In the third act the audience is
led to the cemetery on the hill
where many of the townspeople
are buried. Here the play becomes
very serious, and the author sug
gests in his portrayal of death
that “living people, occupied with
their petty occupations and small
thoughts, know little of true joy
(Continued on page four
Rabbi H. Straus Challenges
Students During Assembly
In the auditorium o f Moore
Hall on Monday, January 9, Rabbi
H. Cerf Straus, formerly of Cin
cinnati, but now of Norfolk, Vir
ginia, spoke on the most interest
ing subject: What Can the Modern
Youth Believe?
The Rabbi began by saying that
he would prefer having five hun
dred young men who are agnos
tics, yet v/ho ask questions and are
alert, than a group of the “yes”
type who never ask questions or
inquire. “The modern youth takes
too much for granted,” continued
the speaker. He can believe in
God, in himself, and in his fellow-
man. Although one cannot prove
the existence of God, he can see
his works. “Can scientists prove
their assumptions, such as the
splitting of the atom?”
“Some say that the atomic bomb
and politics are strength, and
that Christianity is weak, but if
the atomic bomb is strength, give
me weakness,” stated the Rabbi.
He gave as an illustration two
pictures. One showed a table
around which were seated the
greatest diplomats of the world,
representing strength, yet on their
(Continued on page two)
An imposing structure with
massive, white, towering pillars
dominating its front, the Fine Arts
and Physical Education Building
now occupies a most conspicious
place on the campus. Visitors to
the campus, as well as the stu
dents, praise its beauty.
Upon entering, one is immedi
ately attracted by its halls, finish
ed in cool, refreshing colors, and
the floors of asphalt tile in strik
ing contrast. A huge glass trophy
case faces the main entrance, and
to the right and left are beautiful,
spacious rooms to be used by class
es in Fine Arts.
On the second floor front is the
division of Homemaking. This,
when fully equipped, will include
four model unit kitchens, model
bedrooms, a dining room, kitchen
and both. With these advantages,
students will receive superior
ing. tv-a shrdletaoinshrdluetaoindl
trainging in the art of hame man
agement.
Extending from the main hall
front to the back of the building
is the Gymnasium which is per
fect in form and detail. It is ade
quate for any type of indoor ath
letic activity and is modern in
every respect. Among the main
features are folding bleachers, an
electric score board, dressing
rooms, a stage and gymnasium
office.
The Fine Arts and Physical
Education Building is the pride of
the campus, for it represents defin
ite progress in the education of
young men and women of North
Carolina.
Elks of North Carolina
Offer Scholarship
The Improved Benevolent Or
der of Protective Elks of North
Carolina will offer to students of
Negro Colleges in North Carolina
who are interested in Nursing as
a profession, a scholarship. To be
eligible, the student must be in
the Senior Class. She must also
write and deliver an oration for
the final contest which will be held
at some designated place. If she
is successful in winning first
place, she will receive a three-year
scholarship which will admit her
to any school of Nursing she de
sires to attend.
ANNUAL HIGH SCHOOL \
DRAMA FESTIVAL
SCHEDULED
On February 3 the high schools
of Northeastern North Carolina
will hold their Annual Drama Fes
tival in the College Auditorium.
Though definite information has
not been received from all of the
schools, there is reason to believe
that the experiences of the day will
be profitable for all who can at
tend.
Some of the schools already
scheduled for performances are;
T. S. Cooper, Sunbury; Hertford,
Hertford; P. W. Moore, Elizabeth
City; Tyrrell County, Columbia;
and C. G. White. Powellsville.