Page 2 — Smoke Signals, Wednesday, May 7, 1975
Smoke Signals Editor
Visualizes Final Edition
By BECKIE WORKMAN
Deat Students, Faculty, and
Stae?:
It is my deepest pleasure to
visualize the edition twelve of
volume six “Smoke Signals"
finalized. Thus, looking back I
feel as if my goals have in some
way been completed. At times the
editorship of this student
newspaper has brought me my
share of griefe. I knew that I must
continue. I am not a weak person,
therefore I had to follow my
convictions. No one can please
everyone at all times. Realizing
this fact along with admitting I
make mistakes was one of my
greatest accomplishments,
which placed me one step ahead
of many others.
A legion of thanks and ap
preciation I wish to extend to
Dean Clayton Lewis, whom has
offered suggestions and help to
me uncountable times during my
two years at Chowan. This man
should be appreciated for his
active life with the students. He is
observed attending student ac
tivities. He supports the students,
and is not only seen when the
students are causing a distur
bance.
Also a multitude of thanks to
Miss Marianne Pugh, my ad
visor. Helpful is the word indeed.
I also wish to congratulate her
and wish her a world of hap
piness, as she will be married this
siunmer.
Not enough could be said for
Mr. Robert Mulder. He has
supjMrted this student newspaper
many years with his column
“Literary Musings”.
Thanks to Phil Royce and his
articles, which made publicity of
Chowan in this paper successful.
He ii>o wrote various articles. He
gave me a light to my goals. This
year 1 found numerous persons to
be very cooperative. Through
this I was able to maintain
stories.
May thanks be extended to my
staff this year, especially to Mike
Patterson, whom has ran many
an errand. Also among my staff
were Carol l/ong. Nelson Nichols,
Teresa Pike and Hector Cuellar. I
commend Hector for his
photography. There were
numerous students who con
tributed from time to time.
Thanks so much for the articles
and editorials. Students are the
elements which constitute a
newspaper. The more varied, the
higher the quality.
I wish to concur a suggestion
which I think will be an aid to the
student newspaper next year. All
clubs and organizations should
have their elected reporter
submit his reports to the “Smoke
Signals”. This should be a vital
part of his job. Also in sports, a
person, who is knowledgeable of
sport terminology, should be
asked to record games for the
paper. I feel that this step will
fulfill a need of conununication,
which is for the purpose of suc
cess in any organization, school,
or sport. The lack of com
munication is a major problem
which holds back compromises at
Chowan College.
There is a desperate need for
some of the people at Chowan to
think seriously about the hap
piness of the students — instead
of guests of the college and a few
faculty members. The students
are the whole purpose of this
institution. Sure the faculty and
staff have their jobs, jobs which
are to benefit the students. As I
heard a Baptist minister in
Murfreesboro state “Change is
inevitable."
Take a look at an editorial I
wrote concerning the cafeteria
food. My fiance gave that dish of
green beans to Bill Clark. What
was his reaction? He took the
beans, not offering another —
nothing! Had this student been a
faculty member, or an older
visiting adult, what would the
response have been? Probably:
“Sorry, sir. I’ll have you another
dish of green beans as soon as
possible.” There are heaps of
other incidents, not involving the
cafeteria. Why can’t the students
be respected, as much as any
other person? We are all equal
created by God. Everyone should
be respected whether he is twelve
or thirty-one, no matter what
position he holds.
I also want to mention how I
feel on another incident. How an
innocent embrace or kiss can
bring evil thoughts to a few in
dividuals is beyond my
knowledge. One should not care
what “such” people think about
him. For “such” opinions are not
worth a drop in a “bottomless”
bucket to one’s eternal life. A
person knows who he is. He
cannot please everyone, and it is
needless to try. One knows who is
imoortant to him. These people
will not make preconceived
misconceptions. A sensible
person will procede to find out for
himself and will not judge.
Remember you and God are
important.
If any of my editorials have
stepped on a few toes — If the
shoe fits wear it, otherwise ignore
it, as I would.
Sincerely yours,
Beckie Workman
English Department Hosts
Ffoeti William E. Taylor
By PHILROYCE
The Chowan College English
department sponsored a day with
the • poet, William E. Taylor,
FrHay, April 18. The purpose of
(he,; program was to expose
students to a living poet whose
poi-y and personality both are
live^ and genuine, according to
Keii Wolfskin, chairman of the
Eri^ish department.
“ithe department also hopes
that, the public will take ad-
vaiJLage of this opportunity,”
Wo&skill said. “Teachers and
students from area high schools
ai^the public are invited to sit in
on. more casual readings during
the day, at hourly intervals from
9 to 12 noon, as Bill Taylor reads
his poetry and discusses
questions concerning the nature
of poetry. They are also invited to
attend the more formal evening
reading at 8 o’clock. All readings
will be held in the comfort of
Marks Hall amphitheatre,” he
explained.
Dr. Taylor, who earned his
doctorate at Vanderbilt and who
now teaches at Stetson Univer
sity in Florida, is published in
three volumes and dozens of
periodicals. James Dickey, the
poet and author of Deliverance,
says, “Bill Taylor is not only one
of the best poets writing today, he
is the best reader of poems I have
heard.”
"Love/y Afternoon
ff
Lovely Afternoon, a one-act
play by Howard Delman, will be
presented by the Chowan Players
in Room 102 of Daniel Hall May 6-
7 at 8 p.m.
The story centers on the heated
arguments of two teenagers on
sex, respect, quiz shows, etc.
They are played by Lini Knight of
Chapel Hill and Nelson Nichols of
Roxboro. Also in the play is Andy
Grimes of Coats.
The play is spiced with “some
delightful gag lines,” reports
Mrs. Nancy Truesdale, director,
who heads Chowan’s drama
program. “But there’s more than
laughter involved,” she adds.
Admission is free. Tickets
assuring a seat may be picked up
in the Fine Arts Office beginning
Thursday, May 1.
Lewis recognizes Students
For a Successful 1974-75
By DEAN LEWIS
Chowan College is different
thijigs to different people. The
difference often depends upon the
various reasons why students
choose to attend Chowan and the
ways they seek to identify with
the college.
To recognize all students who
have contributed to the success of
1974-75 is impossible. To name
only a few may be dangerous
because many who make out
standing contributions are often
inrthe background and are never
puWicly rewarded. To the masses
they are unknown. Members of
the faculty and administration
often know only the elected
leadership. Those leaders at the
grassroot level are sometimes
more influential than the elected
leadership and are seldom
properly recognized.
Realizing the dangers of failing
to recognize many who have
made positive contributions to
the Chowan College community
this year, I want to use this op
portunity to thank the executive
officers of the Student Govern
ment Association, members of
the Student Legislature and the
faculty sponsors for the way they
have served citizens of the
college community this year.
m
Musmgs
By PROF. ROBERT G. MULDER
DR. CLYDE H. FARNSWORTH
Vice-President
Reserve Bank of Richmond
I
Spring Fun
By RICHARD LAYMAN
Winter is only in the wind
Spring is now and here
Many fine days to send
Skies so blue and clear
An afternoon outdoors to spend.
This day I need miss
A day with bright sun
Three more hours at loss
Will labs ever be fun
A spring afternoon it must cost.
sssaassss
Phantom of Parker
The part of the world I know is not
yet ready for Forth Into Night, a
spellbinding novel by Gordon Merrick.
Nor was our side of the globe ready for
his first two novels, The Lord Won’t
Mind and One for the Gods, yet these
seemed to have done all right for
Merrick, who writes exclusively for
Avon Books.
Choosing 1%0 as the time of his most
recent novel, Merrick uses a small
tranquil Greek island as his setting.
Other than a few mentioned natives, he
stocks the island with an array of
perhaps strange but interesting
people: painters, writers, sculptors,
alcholics, and dope enthusiasts.
As most good novels do, this one
catches the reader’s interest in the
first few pages (This one has no part-
chapter divisions.) and forces him
along until the 348 pages have been
read. An unheard-of occurrence hits
the village when George Leighton is
robbed of two thousand dollars. Much
of the action of this novel hangs upon
the robbery framework, and the in-
volvments of other inhabitants of the
island are effected by Leighton’s lost
money, yet this novel is far more than
a mystery.
Forth into Night is basically a story
of people trying to find and hold their
own happiness. When the book ends,
they seem to have succeeded to a great
degree, even the possible exception
who chooses to end his life and to join
the gods.
George and Sarah Leighton, himself
a distinguished American writer, and
their 17-year old son Jeff find their tiny
Greek island a paradise. There are
enough of their kind of people to make
life exciting, servants are cheap, and
sun and sand are plentiful. Their many
summers here have made them feel
secure and respect for the Leightons is
abundant.
Their only rivals in permanence anJt'
ownership are the Mills-Martins, a
unique arrangement of two men, one
woman, and two children. Charlie and
Peter share one woman, Martin, each
having had a child by her. Their
situation is seemingly perfect and
happiness abounds at every turn — no
questions about the relationship are
asked by islanders or visitors. Each
child knows his separate father and
they happily share the same mother.
Joe Peterson, a young student of
theology and connoisseur of strong
drink, also loses some money which he
suspects has been stolen. He and
George never blame any of their
friends but places the finger of
suspicion toward an islander named
Costa. During the time justice as
making may with Costa, George’s son
Jeff is seeking to insure his friendship
with Dimitri, local bar owner and
semi-mystery to the law. As it turns
out, Jeff had stolen his father’s money,
gave it to Dimitri to make a big dope
purchase, and failed to replace the
money before it was discovered
missing.
Before the money can be replaced,
Jeff has placed himself in a com
promising position with Dimitri, a
situation which expands also to Mike
Thornton, a successful author visiting
the Leightons, and to Charlie and
Peter, who seriously try to help the boy
understand himself. Not being able to
accept what he learns about himself,
Jeff seeks other avenues of escape.
When the mystery of the missing
money is solved, Jeff establishes a
right relationship with his father, says
his good-byes to Charlie Mills-Martin,
and chooses to join the Greek gods he
adores by jumping from a high cliff.
His death shocks the village, but the
reader is left to speculate upon his
parents’ and closest friends’ reaction.
His bloody torn body is found on a rock
above the sea, “his upturned eyes
staring at the sky, a terrible smile on
his face.” The village does survive the
tragedy just as it weathers the ear
thquakes which occur periodi
cally,..c’est live!
'Mernck is a powerful writer, dealing
with many subjects which may be
taboo in Good Housekeeping circles but
treating them with tenderness and
understanding. Those who have read
his trilogy of novels will surely want to
read the fourth — whenever he writes
this one.
By RICHARD LAYMAN
Strange things have been happening at Parker Hall
these past few weeks. Strange but not unusual because
most of the residents have become accustomed to them.
To what these things can be attributed is not known.
Many rumors are floating around the dorm. Speaking of
floating, the idea of a ghost is quite evident in the hushed
discussions of the suject in the dorms.
Most of the evidences of an outside force would alarm
a visitor to Parker Hall but those of us that live there
take certain things for granted. Some of these things are
the alarm bells in the elevators ringing at intervals all
through the night, not to mention the occassional
darkness of the elevators. The strange markings on the
wall that appear to be in a foreign language are a puzzle
also. Certainly we cannot miss the liquids that have
been spilled or placed on the floors of the elevators or
halls. The numerous drink cans of various natures and
content that appear on the floors of the hall and the
elevators are further proof of a careless visitor.
Perhaps we should search and remove the visitor or
visitors from the school before it disturbs anyone next
year. I am firmly convinced that there must be a
supernatural reason for these occurences because
surely there is no one here at Chowan College that wants
to make life hard for everyone else in a large dorm like
Parker Hall.
Letters to the Editor
Believer Looses Faith
In "Gripe Committee"
Of CMOWAta fOlttfJ
Editor Beckie Workman
Associate Editors Teresa Pike
Mike Patterson
student Government Legislature
Donna Jenkins, Robin Lewis,
Lynn Gray, Tim Davis, Stuart
Hall, Jeff Meo, Jim Dale, Mary
(Lini) Knight, Barbara Leonard,
Stuart Dixon, Harry Walker,
Robert White, Gary D’Oria, Chet
Hill, Kelly Bates, Sue Wells,
Steve Carroll, Brian Tonnacliff,
Brian Pfleger, Marty Twiford,
Debi Berry, Jane Spry, Steve
Wilson, Marc Wright, Jack
Quinn, and DeLeon Turnage.
Student Government Executive
Officers
Kathy Challenor, President;
Jack Quinn, Vice-President;
Cathy Hemmila, Secretary; Bill
Roseman, Treasurer; Gary
Carter, Auditor; Vicki Knight,
Historian; and Andy Grimes,
Social Co^hairman.
Student Government
Association Faculty Sponsors
Dr. Bruce C. Fryer and Mer-
ville W. Sessoms, Jr.
Autumn Leaves
By RICHARD LAYMAN
Crisp and bright with color of gold
Many forgotten leaves growing old.
Soft and warm autumn breeze
Rustling softly through the trees.
A quiet path through the park
So cool and shady, even dark.
Wooden benches made for rest
Enjoying nature at its best.
Two people walking down the path
Wondering why must they live in the past.
Wishing they could do what they please
Just like the golden leaves.
Dear Editor:
I regret having to write this
letter, since the last month or so
things here at Chowan have
started to look better with ex
tended curfew and the seemingly
concern of the school staff with
their open “Gripe Committee’s.”
My gripe is directed at the
cafeteria, which is subject to
complaints by many students. I
attended the “Gripe Committee”
with the cafeteria staff earlier
this semester and for a while it
seemed some good may have
come from it. But after my ex
periences in the cafeteria today, I
lost all faith and trust in the so
called “Gripe Committee.”
Well, at lunch today we had
hamburgers and maybe I am
strange but I like mustard and
relish on my hamburgers. I found
the mustard with no problem but
the relish container was empty. I
remembered the gripe com
mittee and took the cafeteria
staff’s advice and asked the
young man working, “Excuse
me, but could we have some
relish out please?” He turned to
me and told me in not too kind of
a voice, “No!”
Now, I let that slide after I had
looked at it rationally. I mean
really, why should I expect to
have relish on my hamburger? I
should have known better than to
ask. I realize now that I was out
of line. BS!
The ultimate kick was at
supper tonight because I did not
get to eat. The reason I did not get
to eat was because I got to the
cafeteria at five minutes to six
and the line was closed. It was
stupidity on my part because I
should have known that if the
cafeteria is scheduled to close at
six then it means it will close
earlier. Doesn’t that make sense?
If I remember correctly, at the
Cafeteria Gripe Committee
meeting, this particular issue
was brought up and we were
assured that it would be taken
care of.
I again confronted the same
efficient and most courteous
cafeteria staff member as I had
at lunch. I asked him, “Since
when does the cafeteria close
before six?” He in return replied,
“I locked the door precisely at
six.” I then showed him the clock
m the wall which showed the
time being three minutes to six. I
also had to wait outside for
someone to walk out the door in
order for me to get in. No telling
how long it had been locked. Here
I go again. I’m being most
unreasonable. The young man
probably had something better to
do. Really, students shouldn’t be
concerned.
After today, I am sorry to say
that I have given up on any trust
and sincerity of Chowan’s
cafeteria staff. It is a shame to,
because the “Gripe Com
mittee’s” had great potential.
Sincerely,
JIM OWEN
New 5GA President
Expresses Gratitudes
I should like to express my
deepest gratitude to those who
supported me in my race for
president of the Student
Government Association. Yoiu"
interest in the election indicated
that the student body of 75-76 has
potential. I personally feel that
the new year will produce a great
deal for the betterment of the
students at Chowan. The catch is
that each student must keep
involved, for without student
backing, the S.G.A. will be
greatly hindered in its efforts for
you. This was, and still is, my
main stand as president. I want
to see one hundred percent
student involvement so WE can
get something done. This calls for
ideas, complaints, and opinions
from the student body. The
S.G.A. cannot function for the
students unless they themselves
demonstrate a continued in
terest.
There is one thing that I should
like to see changed somewhat —
the open-dorm policy. I feel that
this should be looked over and
reconsidered, so that we can have
open-dorms more often. I feel
that the students at Chowan are
mature enough to enjoy this
experience in human relationship
more often. If you have an idea
you would like to express, give
this to your S.G.A. representative
and we promise you that it will lie
discussed in our meeting.
Thank you,
Jim Dale