State Teachers College News Letter
Volume 14
Elizabeth City, N. C., October, 1953
Sixty-first Freshman
Class Orientated
A new era in the life of 131 young
men and women began on September
11, 1953, as they began registration at
Elizabeth City State Teachers College.
This educational and recreational
program included placement tests,
dormitory adjustments periods, intro
duction to curriculum, a recreation
hour, supper in the college grove, and
the annual Candlelighting Services.
William Bowser, president of the
Student Council, welcomed the fresh
men and new students at the first
freshman assembly. A message of in
spiration was given by President S. D.
Williams. The program was designed
to inspire and introduce the new
students to the many activities avail
able on the college campus, and to
give them the feeling that they are
welcomed to all of the opportunities
offered them, with hopes that they
will not regret their choice to advance
their education.
The wearing of green caps which
distinguished all freshmen was an
interesting phase of the program.
Community Leaders at
First Formal Assembly
The first formal assembly at Eliz
abeth City State Teachers College for
the school year 1953-54 was held Sep
tember 28. The entire program was
centered around welcoming remarks
from citizens of Elizabeth City, N. C.
Rev. J. A. Babbington-Johnson, re
presenting the Ministerial Alliance,
brought greetings to us from the min-
isters o£ the city.
Words of greeting from the Negro
ublic Schools and the Elizabeth City
State Teachers College Alumni Assoc
iation were given by Mr. J. E. Nor
man, principal of Bank Street Ele
mentary School.
Mrs. E. M. Spellman, a represent
ative of the citizens of Elizabeth City,
Ktended greetings to us by compar
ing conscience with a traffic signal.
From the Junior Chamber of Com
merce, represented by Mr. Ray Jones,
came timely words acknowledging
le institution as an asset to the bus
iness men of Elizabeth City.
Greetings from the Student Council
j^ere given by Mr. William Charles
owser, president. He challenged the
stu ents to accept their responsi
bilities.
Dr. E. L. Hoffler, a former college
P ysician and a member of the Board
° Trustees, gave very timely greet
ings. As always, he left for thought
a very challenging statement. “It is
either success or failure.”
STUDENT COUNCIL
Left to Right; Front Row: Ada Martin, William Bowser, Elaine Welch.
Second Row; Earl Thomas, Repsie Warren, Dolhe Best, Mary Gatling,
Adele Dickerson, Darius Brown. Third Row: Alfred Marbley, Lois King,
Minnie Sheppard, Melvin White.
GREETINGS
It is with a sincere feeling of plea
sure that I extend to all members of
the college family words of greetings
as we begin this new academic year.
For many of you, you are entering the
final phase of your stay here and are
eagerly looking forward to the time
when you will have completed the
requirements for graduation and the
degree will be conferred upon you.
Others see a few more years of strug
gling to reach the goal toward which
you are striving. For freshmen, you are
beginning a series of new experiences
which will eventually mark you as
educated persons. We, therefore, wel
come you to the institution and sin
cerely hope that you will make good
use of all opportujjities- for growth
which you find here in the environ
ment of the Elizabeth City State Tea
chers College.
Since the close of the last academic
year, we have striven to provide new
facilities, a better trained staff and a
more workable program which will en
able you to secure a better education.
The college staff to a man is dedicat
ed to the task of helping you to make
use of all the facilities to be found
here in search for growth and devel
opment.
However, you cannot depend up
on others entirely for your success.
What you can accomplish, must in a
large measure be through your own
efforts. There must be an inner urge
to succeed in spite of all the obstacles
which you will encounter from day
to day. There must be a burning de
sire on your part to cooperate with all
the forces here which tend to make
you a successful student.
It is my hope that you will early
in this school year establish many
goals which you desire to attain dur
ing the next nine months. The degree
to which this may be accomplished,
however, depends upon your willing
ness to work unceasingly, putting in
long hours, making the necessary sacri
fice to be the kind of person you de
sire to be. The best and most import
ant part of every man’s education is
that which he gives himself.
Your real reason for being here is
to become educated; to make worth
while changes in growth, develop
ment and thinking. It was Sidney
Smith who said that the real object
of education is to secure resources
that will endure as long as life en
dures; habits that time will ameliorate,
not destroy; occupations that will
render sickness tolerable, solitude
pleasant, age venerable, life more dig
nified and useful, and death less terri
ble.
May we all join hand in hand to
make this the best year in the history
of the college.
President S. D. Williams
Number 1
Plans for Two New
Dormitories Proposed
College architects after having sub
mitted preliminary sketches to the
Board of Trustees have been authoriz
ed to complete plans for two new dor
mitories to be erected on the college
campus—one for young women stu
dent and one for faculty women.
These dormitories will be located
directly south of the physical edu
cation building in the area that is now
known as the grove. According to pre
liminary plans, these buildings will be
uniciue in architectural designs. Each
building will contain approximately
thiry-six bedrooms, each two being
connected by semi-private baths, a
laundry and hair dressing parlor will
be on each floor. Disassociated from
the living quarters will be the service
area which will include a reception
room, game room, kitchenette and
storage space for trunks and other
materials.
The dorm for the young women
will have a wide patio leading from
the reception room. There will also
be a lounge on each floor. It is ex
pected that these buildings will form
one of the most attractive groups on
the campus. They are expected to be
completed late in 1954.
Freshman Talent
Displayed
MRS. HOFFLER CONSULTANT
AX DRAMATIC CLINIC
On Wednesday, October 14, Mrs.
J. M. Hoffler, instructor of EngHsh,
was consultant at the Dramatic Clinic
sponsored by the Northeastern Dra
matic Association at P. W. Moore
High School.
Topics discussed were play select
ion, casting, training the actors, re
hearsals, stage settings, lighting, make
up and sound effects.
Participating schools were Edenton,
Perquimans County, T. S. Cooper,
Buckland, Sawyers Creek, Currituc
Union and P. W. Moore.
CAMPUS MEDITATION HOUR
Each day for ten minutes, students
and others who so desire, assemble in
the Auditorium to meditate. An organ
prelude is played by Miss Ramona
Ausby, and the scripture reading is
by a selected person.
This is a new religious program
conducted by Rev. Banks of the
college faculty.
It is hoped that this meditation hour
will be beneficial to the students, who
are confronted with daily problems
and those who want to give hvimble
thanks for the many wonderful bless
ings and opportunities that have been
bestowed upon them.
—Johnnie Halloway
One of the most spectacular events
of our school year was the talent show
on the night of September 23, when
the Freshman Class unveiled their
many and varied talents.
As the curtain opened, the audience
was given a warm welcome by the
Emcee, Shirley Uzzell who kept the
audience in a gay and rather delight
ful mood all evening.
The program was well balanced by
a variety of activities from baton twirl
ing to music and interpretative dance.
In dancing and music-vocal and piano,
Dee Dabney exhibited remarkable tal
ents.
Ruth Overton did a marvelous job
singing “Stormy Weather”, while Jan
ice Scott gave her interpretation of
the song.
Some others outstanding in music
were Albert Horne who sang, “Danny
Boy”; Willie Jenkins, “I Love You
Truly” and Ephriam Green who gave
an impersonation of Al Jolson and the
Ink Spots.
Carlese Hardy, Connie Powell, and
Doretha Hall Gave the Dramatic
Club a grand performance.
The climax of the program came
with a lovely scene from Louise Mel
ton and William Copeland singing,
“I Believe.”
—Ruth Privott '