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STATE TEACHERS COLLEGE NEWS LETTER
October, 1957
WHY COME TO COLLEGE.'*
BEFORE I GO
AT THE CROSSROAD
AND BEYOND
NEWS LETTER
Published by
STATE TEACHERS COLLEGE
NEWS PRESS CLUB
Elizabeth City, N. C.
Member:
Columbia Scholastic Press Association
Editor-in-Chief James E. Leathers
Associate Editors Richard Branch,
Janice Rogers
Feature Editors Sara Heckstall,
Naomi Cousin
Literature Editor Katrina Johnson
Sports Editors Richard Branch,
Giando Hill, Sterling Lennon
Exchange Editors Dennis Askew,
Lillian Hollowell
Art Editor Sylvester Mattocks
Typists Louise Hotfler, Celestine Skinner
Reporters Linwood Edwards,
Evelyn Leathers, Dorothy Jenkins,
Georgianno Barnes, Corlinda Biggs,
Annie Ruth Martin
Adviser — Edna Mitchell
WELCOME
The members of the Newsletter
Staff extend a cordial welcome to you.
As you read our Issues, offer criticisms
and suggestions. A closer relationship
between us, we feel, should enable
us to publish a better paper.
As all other organizations, the News
letter has aims and objectives for the
school year of 57-58. They are; (1)
to inform on campus activities, (2) to
foster a wholesome school spirit, (3)
to help to develop critical thinking
and expression on controversial issues,
and (4) to relate the Newsletter to our
school program.
Since writing is oae of the outgoing
aspects of language, we not only be
lieve that being able to express ideas
on pajjer aids one in gaining the re
spect of his immediate associates, but
also makes him a personality to live
with. Our Staff is interested in better
personalities and better papers.
We appreciate leters to the editor.
The Newsletter Staff
James E. Leathers,
Editor
CULTURE IN OUR
STUDENT SOCIETY
Any intelligent inquiring person
coming to our campus is sure to form
opinions. Once he has fomied them,
he wants to transmit them to others.
When such a thing is done, in many
instances, a stigma is cast upon our
students as a whole.
The refined voice, good diction and
personal attire go into the making of
individuals of high standards. In our
local society, from all indications the
individuals who have vocabularies of
the least refinement or the blatant
voices seem to be our most popular
people. Inasmuch as this holds true in
our locale, we are often obliged to
ostracize our-selves when discussing
certain topics. This should not have to
be since we are all supposed to be on
the same level intellectually.
To improve in general conversation
there should be no limitation. Contro
versial political issues, drama, and the
sports world can be discussed intelli
gently by many modest individuals.
Altliough much is gained through
actual experience and observation, we
cannot limit ourselves to these vipon
which many of us have become insis-
If you were to ask college students
the question: Why did you come to
college?, a large number of them
would no doubt respond, “To get a
regular salary when I begin to teach.”
But, even if one never teaches, he
still needs a college education to live
effectively in a modern world.
The main purpose for coming to
college is to expand our education.
While expanding it, we learn to adjust
ourselves to new customs, new ways
of solving our own problems, new
ways of dressing, new ways of meet
ing friends. We also learn to appreci
ate various types of programs, which
in turn, will aid in developing our
culture.
As you have once heard, America
is called the Melting Pot, but this
does not mean that students can melt
through their classes without studying
and be justified in criticizing the
teachers if they fail to get all A’s.
While expanding our education, we
become familiar with different prob
lems concerning every nation. An
understanding of these will not only
put us at ease when we hear such
temis as Communism, Republicanism,
Fascism, Democracy, National and
International, but will give us an
awareness of our roles in the society
of the world.
We as college students should think
more seriously about our work.
To the incoming Freshman Class,
let there be as many graduating in
“61” as came in “57”.
—Georgianna Barnes
tent.
It would hardly be fair not to men
tion that some organizations on our
campus, as will lyceum programs and
even class activities, help us in an
unlimited way to develop our culture,
if we only take advantage of them.
—Harold Melton
Only a speck of humanity am I,
Trying to do my part
In a great worldly task before I die.
With a weakened body and heart.
I’d like to see each break of day
And hear the rooster crow.
And before my life span melts away,
Around the world to go.
But before my body is laid below.
I’d like to live a while;
To see the beauties God did bestow
And to see my own child smile.
I’ll build a structure beneath the sun
Beside the road of man
A place for inquisitive children to run.
And help them if I can.
And when I’ve reached the end of the
line.
I’d like the world to know
I did my best to help mandkind—
Before I had to go.
—Joseph D. Purvis
MALAYA MAKES PROGRESS
When Independence Day came on
August of this year, Malaya had made
a tremendous climb. She had become
a member of the British Common
wealth of Nations — independent at
home, but having Britain’s support in
military and international affairs. Her
recently-elected leader was Sir Abdul
Rohman.
Malaya is a small penninsula located
southward from the continent of Asia.
It is very hot and humid and is char
acterized by a heavy rainfall and
many annoying insects. As far as
natural resources are concerned, Ma
laya is known for her vast amount of
rubber and tin. In fact, by 1895 Ma
laya’s tin mines had become so im
portant to world markets that the
British found it desirable to get a
voice in her local politics.
In 1956, and about this time of the
year, people of America were ostraciz
ing Russia because of the Hungarian
Revolt.
Now a similar situation exists in Little
Rock, Arkansas. The people of Little
Rock are defying the Supreme law of
our beloved America and are getting
away with it. This law as was decided
by the Supreme Court in 1954 stated
that segregation in public schools is
unlawful. Governor Faubus of Arkan
sas called the National Guard of Litde
Rock to keep nine Negro children from
entering Central High School of that
city, and thus created one of the hot
test racial issues in the South since the
reconstruction days of the Civil War.
To counter the action of Faubus,
President Eisenhower sent in war-pre
pared paratroopers and federalized the
National Guard of Little Rock. This
quieted the mob rule, but created ten
sion in other Southern States and
caused other countries to wonder
about this thing called Democracy.
This was an event strange in this gen
eration, but it did exist and it has
caused America to lose its prestige in
the Far East.
Was the President wrong in sending
troops to Little Rock to stop obstruc
tion to the supreme law of our land?
Definitely not. If he had not, the Su
preme Court might as well not existed.
There are those who talk about im
peaching the President because they
say it was an act of Hitlerism to send
troops to Little Rock, but it was an
act of justice to humanity, based on
the constitution of the United States.
Certainly, the President did not want
to take the action he did, but he used
every device at his command to avoid
doing so. His action came as a last
resort.
However, what happened in Little
Rock did not stop there. In Europe,
radios and newspapers have blasted
the United States harder than in over
a century. Paris had this to say; “Rac
ist Feeling Unleashed in Litde Rock;
School Encircled by Hysterical Mob”.
Rome printed a cartoon showing the
Statue of Liberty garbed in the robes
of the Ku Klux Klan and holding a
burning Negro child in place of its
torch. London said, “There’s some
thing rotten in Little Rock”. Commun
ist Peking headlined this; “Blood-shed
in United States”. But most impressive
was this poem sent to tlie President
by a Negro child.
Sorry to disturb your pleasuring
time;
But now, Mr. Eisenliower, its
measuring time.
Take my little black hand into your
big white hand,
And next to Abe Lincoln, Mr.
Eisenhower, how tall do you
stand?
I say we are indeed at a time for
measuring, with Russia having a man-
made moon sailing around the earlh
at a velocity of 18,000 m.p.h. I also
say Little Rock is not a Budapest; Ar
kansas is not a Hungary; but we are
at the crossroad . . . and beyond that,
who knows what will happen, except
God?