No Punishment Planned forSGA Head After 'Raid’
i
I
ML
Chowan College, Murfreesboro, NC
i-eoruary o. I'fou
That's Not Snow on Burke's Jacket (Photo by Randy Murphy)
Musical Group Blasts SGA
4
Dr. Whitaker deposits a check for $500,000 for the new gymnasium. He is from left, Business Manager Ben Sutton, Bob Hill, Sr., member of the
assisted by Chowan alumna, Mrs. Shirley Dickens of NCNB. Also present Board of Trustees, and Bobby Cross, director of development.
$2.5 Million Goal for Gymnasium Reached;
Whitaker Thanks Many for Aid in 'Victory'
Body Held
'Selfish'
By HARRY PICKETT
Editor
Michael Burke, Student Government
Association president, will not be im
peached or suspended from office as
rumors had it in early December after
his actions following an “attempted”
toothbrush raid at Belk Hall.
It seems that Burke, who was one of
the instigators in a panty raid in Oc
tober, squirted shaving cream on girls
who were chasing him outside of East
Hall after the raid.
After being summoned to SGA ad
visor and Residence Life Director Mrs.
Alice Vann after the incident, Burke
denied his frivolous shaving cicam
“She said I had better
lock my door or they were
going to get me.”
escapade. But later had to own up to it,
as Smoke Signals photographer Randy
“Rock” Murphy unveiled photos of the
incident.
Asked if he denied telling Mrs. Vann
that he was not involved in the melee.
II IH hi
Volume 11 Number?
Block
Energy
Cutdown
Requested
By GREG BASSETT
Soaring energy costs are prompting
school officials to request that students
be mindful of their energy use in the
dormitories.
“The best measure for conserving
energy is for people to leam to think,”
said Jack Hassdl, superintendent ct
buildings and grounds. “We all have a
habit of wasting energy. Cost is the only
thing teaching us to save energy.”
Since 1972, the cost of heating oil has
increased six times, while the cost
of electricity has increased four times.
In January 1972 the college was able to
purchase fuel oil at 14 cents per gallon
and is currently up to 89 cents per
gallon. According to Hassell, con
servation is more important now than
ever before.
“The student eventually has to pay,”
Hassell observed. “When the utility
bills go up , so does the tuition.”
All the buildings on campus with the
exception of Parker Hall, are heated
with oil, according to Hassel. Although
Whitaker Library is the most costly of
all buildings on campus to operate,
Parker Hall is a close second. Hassell
explained that since Parker is com
pletely electrk;, it is not as efficient to
operate. He also pointed out that
Parker residents have control of room
thermostats, unlike other dormitory
residents.
Hassell said he expects an electric
bill in January comparable to the
September bill of $20,074. He explained
that September’s bill is usually about
the same as January’s since the
amount of power necessary in the
generation of heat and air conditioning
are about the same.
Dormitory temperatures are
currently controlled by time clocks in
all buildings except Parker Hall. Over
Christmas break, the individual
thermostats were adjusted in Parker so
that a temperature of 70 degrees could
be maintained. Also Hassel said, dorms
operating on a time clock are set so that
everyone should be fairly comfortable.
He noted that temperatures are set tc
around 71 degrees in the mornings and
evenings when students are most likely
to be in the rooms and are lower late at
night and during the day, but never go
below 65 degrees.
Warning labels have been placed on
l^atinB units in Parker Hall. Hassell
flk there is a need to keep the tem-
^iutures down in Parker this year,
'••vte found some rooms in Parker to be
as hot as 77 to 81 degrees last year.” He
added that he does want people to be
comfortable, but said, “I want them to
be comfortable with clothes on, not
sitting around in shorts.” Hassell
remarked, “It’s not right for everyone
dse to sacrifice and then let Parker
have thermostat control.”
Hassell said he is serious that room
occupants in Parker Hall could be fined
if the temperature controls are tam
pered with. He said if several ther
mostats were found to have been
tampered with, he may have to start
the fining process.
College energy costs are paid out of
the budget for the department of
buildings and grounds. According to
(See Energy, Page 4)
Burke, said, “I don’t know if I told her
that or not. I could have. I don’t recall.”
Clayton Lewis, dean of students,
said he disapproved of Burke’s
motives. He said he did not know the
president was involved until late the
next morning. He was informed by a
member of the Student Development
Staff.
The night of the spoof toothbrush
raid, Burke said he was in his room
when he received a phone call from a
girl. The girl was probably from
Columns Hall, he noted, because he has
received threats and nasty letters from
them all year.
“She said I had better lock
nrty door or they were going to
get me,” Burke explained. “They
thought I was in the last raid.
Burke, who stays in Parker Hall, said
the girl said she and her friends were
coming to raid the whole dorm. Burke
said the girls “were going to make sure
they were going to get me.”
Burke said he then immediately went
to Scott Colclough, head resident at
Parker, to tell him of the girls’ in
tentions, but he was out. He then went
to Greg Kaserman, resident assistant
on second floor, and Kaserman locked
the doors to Parker Hall.
■a
Chowan College has restched its goal
of $2.5 million in its campaign for a new
gymnasium-physical education center.
Chowan President Bruce E. Whitaker
said the amount includes a $500,000
challenge grant made in August by an
anonymous donor. The donor stipulated
that the college raise an additional
$400,000 to complete and equip the
By PENELOPE JONES
Jenkins-Columns is ahead in the
rankings for the President’s Cup
Competition as Belk and Parker hold
the places for second and third. The cup
is awarded to the Residence Hall — or
the Day Student Organization — that
excels in the six established areas of
college life.
In the area of academics, Jenkins-
Columns ranked first with a quality
point average of 2.1992. Parker is
second with an average of 2.0967, and
Belk third with an average of 2.0432.
The quality point average for the
college is 1.9893.
Mixon ranks first for attendance at
college sponsored events with Jenkins-
Columns and West running a close
second and third.
The rankings for participation in
intramural sports is as foUows (in
consecutive order): Mixon, Parker,
Belk, Jenkins-Columns, East, West and
The student executive said he then
called Mrs. Marcella Buffaloe, head
resident at Belk Hall, to warn her that
some Parker men were on their way
over to the girls’ dorm. But he insisted
“Mike Burke has got to
learn a lesson that
Richard Nixon had to
leam.”
he never went to Belk Hall to start the
raid. “I only wanted to stop the raid.”
According to bystanders, the at
tempted raid was broken up by
members of the administration. Then
Burke emerged on the scene with
shaving cream in hand at East Hall,
squirting his rivals with the white foam.
“Certainly I don’t approve of this
(Burke’s actions) or the young ladies
going into residence halls to raid for
toothbrushes,,” Lewis said after the
incident. “There is competition or
conflict between Mike Burke and the
girls in Columns.”
Burke and Lewis had a conference
two days later. “I didn’t tell him he
facility at a total project cost of $2.5
million.
Whitaker said Cliowan qualified for
the 500,000 challenge grant when it
completed its drive for the additional
$400,000 on Dec. 31. Whitaker said the
college expects to receive the challenge
grant this month.
At the request of the donor of the
Day Students.
For Residence Hall Programs-
Activities, Belk and Jenkins-Columns
are tied for first place, followed by
Parker with West in third place.
Belk, Jenkins-Columns, and the Day
Student Organization are tied for first
place in the area of proration, having no
amount of proration. Mixon is second
with $1 proration. West with $2.50;
Parker, $5.22; and East, $6.
The Day Students rank number one
for citizenship, Belk and Jenkins-
Columns ranking second and third.
The President’s Cup is an award that
stands for all-around achievement
among the students at Chowan. It was
given by Dr. Bruce Whitaker to
promote student development and is
awarded each year at Honor’s Day this
year on May 2. Competition continues
through mid-term in the area of
academics and until Honor’s Day in the
other five areas.
would be suspended,” Lewis offered. “I
told him of the prospect of an officer
being relieved of his duties, but I wasn’t
specifically talking about him.
“I told him we couldn’t have it,”
Lewis continued. “As an officer he
couldn’t behave in such a manner,
particularly since he was SGA
president.”
Burke said he didn’t know why he was
called to Dean Lewis’ office at the time.
“I don’t know for sure, but I think it was
because of a news reporter.”
The SGA president claims the photos
taken of him by Smoke Sisal’s Murphy
were fake prints. “This is a school (rf
Graphic Arts and this is a good school
for photography. I think they could do
trick photography if they wanted.
“I told Dean Lewis that Harry
Pickett (Smoke Signals editor) was out
to get me.”
Lewis said Burke is capable of being
an effective SGA president but noted,
however, that past presidents have been
suspended at Clhowan for improper
behavior.
“Mike Burke has got to leam a lesson
that Richard Nixon had to leam,”
Lewis said. “Nixon had to leam that he
was not above the law.”
“If you play, you pay.”
$500,000 challenge grant, die facility
will be named in honor of Jesse A.
Helms, Baptist layman and United
States senator from North Carolina.
Whitaker thanked the many different
individuals and groups who assisted the
college in reaching the $2.5 goal, which
he called a “victory.”
Noted Chowan’s president, “We were
successful because many, many people
worked, prayed and gave. Those who
served as volunteer leaders and
workers and contributed to the cam
paign include alumni, trustees,
advisors, parents, faculty and staff,
and other friends and groups. To all of
these and others our victory is due.”
He expressed “special gratitude” to
General Chairman E. L. Hollowell of
E^lenton; Honorary Chairnuui Mrs.
Texie Camp Marks of Boykins, Va.;
State Sen. J. J. Harrington of Lewiston
and Mrs. Mary Matthews Holt of Nash
ville, co-chairpersons, and other
members of the leadership gifts
committee, members of the Executive
Committee of the Board of Trustees, to
include C!!hairman H. D. White of Rocky
Mount of the Board of Trustees; and
Dr. Melvin Kunkle of Portsmouth, Va.,
chairman of the Board of Advisors. Dr.
Whitaker said “numerous student
generations and the area will be the
beneficiaries.”
The new facility is expected to be
completed in mid-April. It will be used
both for Chowan’s intramural program
for men and women and for varsity
sports in men’s and women’s basket
ball, women’s volleyball, and
wrestling. Chowan’s students will also
have access to the facility for
recreational activities including
swimming, handball, paddle tennis,
and basketball. Space will also be
provided for a wei^t room, mini-gym,
foculty offices, and two classrooms.
Chowan’s president said the pool will
be named for the late Ruth C^amp
Campbell of Franklin, Va. He said she
“devoted a lifetime of service to her
church, community and region.”
Whitaker said “plans are being
formulated to provide an endowment
for the maintenance and operation of
the gymnasium-physical education
facility.”
He said ttie new facility will
strengthen the entire program of the
college. “On the last day ot the decade
of the seventies, we have become
successful in our drive to provide the
last major facility envisioned on our
campus. This culminates over two
decades of intensive physical growth
and assures that future generations of
Chowan students will have the benefit
of studying and learning on one of the
most beautiful and well equipped
campuses in the nation.
“Now we face the exciting challenges
ot the eighties optimistically. We do so
by recommitting our energies to
strengthening our service to students
and the entire area.”
'Wasteful'
By HARRY PICKETT
Black members of the campus band
“New Breeze” blasted the Student
Government Association after the
organization’s January 21 meeting,
calling the SGA “one-sided” and
“selfish” and charging members with
using the money allocated to them
“wastefuUy.”
Two bandsmen, both of whom are
active students on campus, wished to
remain anonymous after they
requested the right to play at an SGA-
sponsored dance March 21 The SGA
listened to their request and their
asking price of $400, but according to
the musicians, “did not seem in
terested.”
The legislature voted to listen to an
audition before approving a “New
Breeze” concert. The two musicians
said Steve Laney, an SGA represen
tative, listened to the band a week
before.
“Laney went to a practice, heard us
and loved us,” one band member ex
plained. “Laney said SGA President
Mike Burke drew up a contract but
couldn’t give us more than $400.
“The question is, why didn’t he
(Laney) bring it up at the meeting?”
The musicians feel they are being
discriminated against because the SGA
voting majority is white, and the bands
the SGA plan to book this spring are
predominantly white.
According to SGA social chairperson
for men, Greg Kaserman, the SGA will
pay $600 for Sand Castle February 14,
and another $600 March 6 for Tracks.
Catilina will cost $1,600 for an April 26
concert.
“We feel 1,600 for a band to play for
four hours is too long and too much,”
the musicians agreed. “We have many
bands on campus who love to entertain.
With $400, the money would be kept in
the school.
“How can this be done if SGA gets
bands no one has heard of.”
Kaserman and Burke are both
reluctant about the acquisition of the
group and both say the band does not
have the proper equipment to perform
adequately. “They want to put on the
show, but they don’t have the equip
ment,” Kaserman asserted. “In other
words, we’ll t)e sponsoring it.”
The blacks say SGA does not have
programs that interest a wide variety
of students on campus, and because of
it, students aren’t as interested in the
SGA functions as they should be.
They said they realize black par
ticipation in the SGA wasn’t good, but
the “whites want you there because
you’re a token. They want it leveled off
so it looks good.”
SGA, according to the two
sophomores, wasted money on canoes,
which they say are used sparingly
during the year; spends too much on
the film budget, most notably the
proposed $5,500 bill for second semester
movies; and of course, spending money
for “outside” bands.
Items which they say could benifit the
campus communty include:
microphones and cords, locks for doors
and overall improvement on weekend
functions.
“They supposed to do all things
pertaining to all students.”
Jenkins-Columns in Cup Lead