THE COMPASS
THE COMPASS
For Students and Alumni
Published by
STATE COLLEGE NEWS PRESS CLUB
ELEABETH CITY, N. C.
Coliunbia Scholastic Press Association
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ulywes
ASSOCIATE EOnOR George Skinner
SECRETARY louTellia Johnson
TREASURER Clara Perkins
SPORTS EDITOR Ie&K> Williams
REPORTERS Charlie Jeflries, LouveUia Johnson, Clara Perfcins,
Gloria Forbes, Jethro Williams, Izola Young, Betty DctIs
PRODUCTION Janie Johnson, Jethro Williams
George Skinner, Callie Joyner
CIRCULATION Barbara Fearing, Vivian Thornton,
...Lorraine Walker
Ethel Gregory, Phyllis Wright, Jethro Williams
CARTOONIST
PHOTOGRAPHER
ADVISORS Mr. L. R. Ballou, Mrs. A. M. Blulord, Mrs. D. J. Lee
Alumni Prexy Praises Us
Dear Mr. Bell;
I received the Compass this week
and I am writing to congratulate you
on behalf of the Alumni Association
for your accomplishments in the field
of Journalism. These remarks are ad
dressed to the remainder of the staff
and advisor as well for their diligence
in publishing a first class paper.
I look forward to saying these
things to you personally on May 23
when Alumni from all over the c
try will be gathering there for Annual
Alumni Day.
Very truly yours,
Isaac A. Battle, President
General Ahimni Association
WANTED!!
Old Issues of the Student Newspaper
And the Yearbook
We are trying to acquire as
complete a collection as possible
of issues of the student newspaper
and the yearbooks, as well as other
memorabilia of Elizabeth City State
College.
Any and all issues of the news
paper prior to 1950 and of the
yearbook prior to 1960 will be
welcomed.
ALUMNI! we’ll gladly take all
you care to (or can bear to) part
with.
Student Council Prexy
Bids Farewell
It has been a wonderful experience
being your chosen leader this past
year. I must admit that we had periods
the past year that determined
whether the unity or oneness of our
students would endure.
Yes, you have supported men in
all aspects. The faith that we had in
each other helped us to overcome
many problems. I hope that I have
been the type of leader you desired
and that I stood when you wanted
too, to protect your rights and
concern myself with your welfare.
We did not accjomplish all the
things we set out to accomplish this
year but as you know, Rome wasn’
built in a day. You aren’t Romans,
but rather “Statesmen”; therefore, you
must continue to build by seeking
maximum development in all phases
of your educational pursuit and by
failing to yield to the denial of
dividual rights.
On behalf of the Student Council
for the year 1963 - 64, we would like
to say that we cared every moment
that we represented you (fellow stu
dents). We wish we would have done
more, but time did not permit. If any
one of you are grateful for any at
tempts, I would like for you to show
your gratitude by giving my successor,
Otha Sydnor, the support and coopera
tion needed to perform the ardous
task which leadership brings.
I would like to thank personally the
administration, faculty, and staff for
working diligently with and tolerating
us.
As one of your leaders, I might
have made many mistakes, but they
were all in an honest and earnest effort
to rid the college, student body, and
the community from the stigma of
intellectual and social poverty.
—Norris Francis
Obituary
The Compass extends sympathy to
Mr. William H. Ryder, College Band
master, on the loss of his uncle, the
noted, prize winning composer, Noah
Francis Ryder who died April 16,
in Virginia.
A former Music Department chair
man at Norfolk (Va.) State College,
the late Mr. Ryder was also a church
musician and choir director with more
than three dozen widely used, pub
lished, choral and piano works to his
credit. The College Family heard the
late composer’s piano “Rhapsodie”
performed by Geraldine Vaughan
’67 on February 13.
The family of B'andmaster Ryder in
particular, and the music world in
general, sustain a loss in the passing
of Noah Ryder.
Mrs. Naomi G. Hoffler, 79, wife
of the late Dr. Ernest Linwood Hof
fler, mother of Dr. William W. Hoffler
(both former College Physicians) and
mother-in-law of Mrs. Julia Moore
Hoffler, associate professor of English,
died at home on April 6, 1964. In
behalf of the College Family, the
Compass expresses deep sympathy
the family.
Condolences are expressed to Sarah
Jordan ’65, of Pollocksville, in the
recent loss of her father, Mr. Julious
Jordan.
Spring Fever
That was springtime I heard calling
In the raindrops gently falling.
Tis only my heart longing.
Nothing more.
That was springtime I heard talking
In the woods as I was walking
Twas only breezes stirring.
Nothing more.
That is springtime I see walking.
In the shadows gently breaking.
Always has been, always will be,
Forevermore.
National Science
Foundation Grants
Awarded
Two grants which assure purchase
of $11,600 in equipment have been
awarded to the Department of Physi
cal Sciences and Mathematics at Eliz
abeth City State College.
These grants solely for instructional
equipment on the undergraduate level,
will be available for the 1964-66 aca
demic years. They are to be matched
by one-half the total amount by the
college.
The grants were proposed by Dr.
Louise N. Sutton, chairman of the
department and professor of mathe
matics and Mrs. Maryann W. Frank-
assistant professor of science,
who will direct the spending in their
respective areas for more than $5,500
each.
Play Production
Workshop to Begin
A Play Production Workshop under
the direction of Bernard L. Peterson,
Jr., will be a feature of the 1964
Summer Session at Elizabeth City
State College. It will cover every phase
of amateur dramatics—directing, act
ing, make-up, costumes, scenery, prop
erties, lighting and sound effects,
during its six week period beginning
June 15.
The Workshop is especially designed
I give teachers and prospective teach-
•s, workers in schools, churches,
club and community organizations the
guidance they seek from the selection
of the play to the finished perform-
There will be discussions, demon
strations, and practical applications
of the problems faced by the amateur
staging a play.
The Workshop will be operated
the Little Theatre at the College and
will offer six semester hours of credit.
Persons who are unable to register
for the six week session may arrange
three week session and receive
credit for three semester hours.
Other offerings of the 1964 Summer
Session are, Workshops in Art in the
Public School, Machine Reporting,
and Church Music; a full complement
of courses for regular students, and
In-Service Summer Institute. In
terested persons may contact the di
rector of the Summer Session at the
College for further information.
Election Results
“Great talkers are like a leaky
pitcher: All runs out of them.”
Numerous verbal blasts were heard
resounding over the campus during
the campaign week. Cassius “I an
greatest” Clay would have taken a
back seat to the campaign speeches
on campus. When the smoke cleared,
the following candidates were elected
as members of the student council
for the year of 1964-65. They
PRESIDENT—Otha Sydnor, VICE-
PRESIDENT—Isaac Askew; SECRE
TARY—Faye SaUey; TREASURER
—Elsie Jones, and MEMBERS-AT-
LARGE—Evelyn Dixon, Earl Brown,
Barbara Fearing and George Skinner
To the losers we leave this thought:
“Patience is a tree whose root is little,
but its fruit is very sweet.” and like
wise to the winners remember: “Prom
ises get the friends, but nor
formance will turn them into enemies.”
—George Skinner
taken from “Provertw For
Deltas Induct
Six Neophytes
Six lovely and talented young
women crossed the “burning sands”
into Deltaland on Saturday, May 2.
These young women during the week
of April 27—May 2, impressed the
college family with their lovely dress
and talent shows.
Delta Chi Chapter of Delta Sigma
Theta Sorority was very happy
welcome these neophytes with their
various college careers. The members
of Delta Chi greeted the following
women into the sorority: Piccola
Etchison, Shelby, N.C., English major;
Juniustine Gee, Brooklyn, N.Y., Socio
logy major; LouveUia Johnson, En
field, N.C., General Science major;
Mary Slade, Conway, N.C., Business
Education major; Pearl Spaulding,
Scotland Neck, N.C., Elementary Edu
cation major; and Barbara Via, Dan
ville, Va., Business Education major.
After the induction ceremonies the
Neophytes, Deltas Omegas, Lamps,
Pyramids and Kappas had a festive
celebration in Williams Hall.
^acuit^ l^oies
President WaUer N. Ridley, recently
returned from his educational study
tour of Pakistan and with Mrs.
Ridley honored at two campus “Wel
come Home” affairs, was one of six
panelists discussing “The Independent
School—Purposeful Pioneer or Res
olute Reactionary” when Westminis
ter School in Connecticut observed its
seventy-fifth Convocation ceremonies,
May 8-10.
Dr. Ridley now faces a full calen
dar of activities beyond those nor
mally associated with the hectic month
of May. He is scheduled as Com
mencement speaker for Coneto High
School (Edgecomb County), May 26;
Speight High School (Wilson), May
27; Swift Creek School (Whittakers),
June 2; and Central High School (Sus
sex), June 7.
In addition, the President will be
Cap and Gown Day speaker on May
29, at Fayetteville State College.
Dr. Herman G. Cooke, professor
of Biology, read his paper, “Life His
tories Ecology of the Tendipededae”
at the annual meeting of the Academy
of Natural Science, held May 9 at
Davidson College. Dr. Cooke’s paper
was among those selected to be pub
lished and our scholarly professor
was invited to return to subsequent
Academy sessions.
Miss Mamie Bedell, Supervisor of
Food Services, was honored by the
Womens Government Association,
April 26, as the person making a great
contribution to the College family.
WGA honorees are selected annually.
Choir Honors
Senior Members
The Elizabeth City State College
Choir presented its annual banquet.
May 13, honoring members who are
graduating seniors. These were B'onita
E. Carr, Celeste A. Carr, Ruth Brown,
Mamie Scott, Ernest Holley, Norman
King, Colin Minga, Colbert Minga
and Carlton Melton^
At the banquet, the choirs were
very happy to have as guests mem
bers of the Fine Arts Department and
members of the administration.
During the magnificent banquet,
the choirs and guests were enlightened
by words of the Dean of the college.
The choir director—Miss E. A. John
son, presented gifts and words o(
remembrance to the honorees.
Carlton Melton, one of the most
enthusiastic honorees, conducted a
favorite choral number, “A Mighty
Fortress.”
The banquet was a success, but we
will miss our graduating choir mem
bers. —Althea D. Blackwell
President Receives
Fellowship Reception
President Walter N. Ridley, com
memorating his recent trip to Pakis
tan, was honored at a fellowship re
ception, Sunday, May- 3 in Bias Hall
lounge and foyer.
The reception was one of the final
projects of the year for the freshman
dormitories, John C. Bias Hall and
West Lodge. The directresses and
director are Mrs. Bertie L. Derrick,
Mrs. Rosa S. Oden, and Mr. Roy
Knight.
Acknowledgements and introductory
remarks were given by Directress
Derrick and Bias dormitory president,
Betty Boone. Dr. Ridley received
musical tribute from Dorothy Sherrod
with her solo, “When You Walk
Through A Storm.
A period of formal and informal
introduction followed. The receiving
line included Lonnie Tumage, Presi
dent and Mrs. Ridley, Dean and Mrs.
William Anderson, Mr. Reuben Brax
ton, Dean Rae Williams, Dr. T.
Abraham Wei, Reverend and Mrs.
John Heath of the Presbyterian
Church, Dr. E. Bayliss Shanks, visiting
math professor, Kenneth McLaurin,
and Betty Boone.
In the garden like decor,
bulletin board featured President Rid
ley’s portrait accepting a bouquet of
flowers on a black and gold stage
created by Junior Counselor, Ruby L.
Perkins.
Other faculty members present were
Mrs. Mary A. Franklin, Mrs. Lillian
E. Duers, Mrs. Ruth Carr, Miss Ar
lene Pierce, Mrs. Hattie Walker, Har
vey L. Thomas and Leo Rochon.
Friends of the community present
were Father Anderson of St. Cathe
rine’s Catholic Church and members
of Rev. Heath’s church. Dr, Ridley’s
daughter, Yolanda, was also present.
I felt compelled to burn the oil.
To live with book and pen.
To learn the meaning of mental toil
If I could hope to win.
Must failure my compensatioh be.
The only thing I gain? v
Four years of weariness glare at me;
Have they been spent in vain?
Must I forget the urge to stroll
Down avenues of success,
Or should I dream of my prime goal
As nought but emptimess?
To laugh in the face of Defeat
Is what some folks would do.
But surely it would be my treat
To kick its buttocks blue.
Theresa H. HaD, ’64
Defeat
Salute to
Shalkespeare
A symposium on “The Merchant
of Venice” and a reading of the
court scene, was held in the College
Lighthouse Center, at 3:00 P.M.
Sunday, April 19. Participants in the
symposium were English Majors:
Louise Pierce, Joyce Watford, Joyce
Wilson, and Brenda Jenkins. Readers
of the court scence were: Duke—
Melvin Powell, Antonio—G e o r g e
Skinner, Bassanio—Robert Thomas,
Gratiano, Wallace Riggins, Shylock—
Elbert Moors, Solanio—Jethro Wil
liams, Portia—Janice Harrison, and
Nerissa--Gwendolyi! Sutton.
On "Thursday, April 23, at 3:30
P. M. a listening hour was held in
a salute to William Shakespeare. A
recording of “Romeo and Juliet” with
Keith Michell anti Virginia McKenna
was also present.ed at the Lighthouse
in honor of William Shakespeare’s
birth, 1564- 1616.
Education of the
Character
It is important that the teachers of
common schools be fitted and en
joined 'to give to their pupils in
struction in the details and duties of
daily living. Much can be done to
popularize right hygienic ideas and
sourid ideas generally, but only by
the greatest patience and perseverance.