VOLUME 15 Numbers
SMOKE SIGNALS
STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF CHOWAN COLLEGE
March 26, 1987
Attractive Rooms
Win Prizes
By Carole Williams
The most attractive room contest has been going on for years.
This year it took place Feb. 12, 1987. Members of the Housing
Committee and Resident Staff served as judges, with two
representatives from each residence hall. The criteria for the
judging was:
Neatness
Use of Space
Creativity/Originality
Color Coordination
There were 10 winners who were awarded a $10.00 meal at
either Fred’s Pizza or the College Inn. They also received a cer
tificate signed by President Bruce E. Whitaker and Dean Lewis.
Below is a list of the winners in the competition:
Jenkins Hall Terry Ambrose West Hall Stanley Artis
Cheryl Graham
Parker Hall Lee Wood
Belk Hall Tammy Threatt Tyrance Leamon
Tracy Whitley
Simons Hall David Beamon
Mixon Hall James Davis Sidney Ruff
Your Library
Can Help You!
By Sarah Davis
...Short of cash? ...Don’t want a loan to repay? ...Want money to
keep for yourself? ...Well, want money to spend yourself?
...Where to find it? ...
Musing over the above thoughts, you begin thinking there must
be some place to find some extra money. You try to remember if
anyone owes you any. “Ha” you think, “I never have enough for
me, much less something to loan.”
BUT—wait a minute. What about the government? Many
students who work part-time are entitled to income tax refunds.
During the year they have—whether intentionally or not—been
making loans, and it is time to collect.
How do you collect?
File.
BUT—in order to file, you must have the necessary forms. What
if you don’t have them or know how to file?
As always, your trusty library can help you. Whitaker Library
has numerous federal and state tax forms and instructions that
are yours just for the asking. You may request them at the Cir
culation Desk.
Remember that the sooner you file, the sooner your loan will be
repaid.
South Pacific
“How it got to Broadway”
When director Joshua Logan sug
gested the idea of doing a musical bas
ed on James Michener’s collection of
short stories, “Tales of the South
Pacific,” to producer Leland
Hayward, Hayward immediately saw
its possibilities, Logan was particular
ly interested in the story called, “Fo’
DoUa”, which dealt with a South Seas
native, Bloody Mary, whose sixteen-
year-old dau^ter, liat, has a brief
but intense affair with Joe Cable, an
American naval officer.
Logan discussed the idea with
composer Richard Rodgers, who read
the entire collection of stories then
asked his lyricist partner, Oscar
Hammerstein 2nd, to read the book.
Rodgers then told Logan that they were
both interested ii working on the
project. When Rodgers and Ham
merstein began discussing the plot for
the musical they realized that the story
called “Our Heroine” seemed a better
choice for the main plot and one that
could run parallel to the love story of
Liat and Joe. It dealt with a romance
between a middle-aged French planter,
Emile de Becque, and Nellie Forbush, a
young American nurse from Little
Rock, Arkansas.
The venture became a joint
production between Rodgers and
Hammerstein, Leland Hayward and
Joshua Logan. Casting the starring
roles was comparatively simple. Ezio
Pinza, the famed Metropolitan Opera
Basso, was anxious to appear in the
part of Emile De Becque. Mary Martin
agreed to play the young, pretty nurse
from Arkansas.
When Rodgers first began working on
the score he was afraid he would have
to write “South Seas music” with lots of
steel guitars and a xylophone or
perhaps a marimba. However, he was
delighted to learn from James
Michener that in the particular area of
the South Pacific in which his “Tales”
were set, there was no instrumental
music of any kind. This was welcome
news and he realized that he could what
is known as a “Legitimate” orchestra
and give each character the sort of
music that seemed right for their
personality and situation.
SOUTH PACIFIC enjoyed a com
paratively smooth sail to Broadway via
out of town tryouts in New Haven and
Boston.
The night was April 7, 1949, at the
Majestic Theatre. The next morning
there were not only rave notices in the
papers but also ticket lines around the
block.
SOUTH PACIFIC was awarded a
Pulitzer Prize for drama and for the
first time the committee included a
composer (Richard Rodgers) in the
drama prize. The show ran for almost
five years on Broadway and for a while
was second only to OKLAHOMA! as the
longest-running musical.
The Chowan Players production of
SOUTH PACIFIC features veteran Scot
Tanner in the role of Emile de Becque.
Mr. Tanner, a sophomore from Rich
mond, VA, has played several roles
during his tenure at Chowan College.
He was delightful as Pseudolus in the
musical A FUNNY THING HAP
PENED ON THE WAY TO THE
FORUM. He portrayed the dying Ben
Gant in LOOK HOMEWARD, ANGEL
and the prosecuting attorney Gilmer in
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. He held
the title role in the players production
of LIL’ABNER.
Nellie Forbush in this production is
portrayed by Jennifer Mekovsky. Miss
Mekovsky made her Chowan Players
debut last fall when she appeared as the
young girl. Scout, in TO KILL A
MOCKINGBIRD. She is a freshman
from Raleigh majoring in art.
The comic Luther Billis is being
played by veteran performer Greg
Granger. Mr. Granger is a sophomore
from Williamsburg, VA, majoring in
Business Administration. He has ap
peared on the Chowan stage as Pappy
Yokum in UL’ ABNEK, as the sheriff
in TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, as
Hugh Barton in LOOK HOMEWARD,
ANGEL and in A FUNNY THING
HAPPENED ON THE WA^ TO THE
FORUM.
Lt. Joe Cable is played by Tim
Johnson. Mr. Johnson is a freshman
from Waynesville, NC, majoring in Art.
Connie Harris from Cary, NC, is
protraying the island girl, Liat. Miss
Harris is a freshman majoring in
journalism. She is a member of the
college stage band and touring choir.
The role of Bloody Mary is played by
Tanya Skelton. Miss Skelton is a
freshman from Wilson, NC, majoring in
business administration.
The Chowan Players production of
SOUTH PACIFIC will be performed on
the Chowan campus April 8-11, 1987. A
matinee performance is scheduled for
April 8 at 1 pm. Evening performances
at 8 pm are scheduled for April 9-11.
Chowan Students will be admitted free,
if they obtain an advance ticket with the
presentation of their LD. cards.
Semi-Annual Trustee Meeting Held
Chowan College trustees elected
Robert B. Spivey of Windsor as chair
man and honored outgoing trustee
chairman, the Rev. J. Felix Arnold of
Enfield, during their semi-annual
meeting earlier this month.
E. L. HoUowell of Edenton and Ver
non E. White were elected chairman
and vice chairman respectively of the
Executive Committee. J. Guy Revelle,
Jr., of Murfreesboro, presided in the
absence of Dr. H. M. Kunkle of Port
smouth, Va., chairman of the Board of
Advisors, who met jointly with the
trustees.
Arnold, who has served as a member
of the Board of Trustees for 2 years in
cluding ten as chairman, was presented
a plaque extolling his service to the col
lege by Dr. Bruce E. Whitaker. Resolu
tions of appreciation to him were read
by Dr. R. Hargus Taylor, chaplain.
Praised for Service
He was cited for his contribution of
“praiseworthy service to the cause of
Christian higher education at Chowan
College.” The resolutions noted that
“his studied consideration of issues
before us, his wise counsel within the
course of our deliberations, and his gift
for enlisting others in the support of this
institution and her mission of higher
education have been characteristics of
the attention he has given to the role of
trustee and advisor.”
Whitaker emphasized the importance
of the “financial support and en
couragement” given by North Carolina
Baptists and the Baptist State Conven
tion of North Carolina. He said the col
lege is scheduled to receive more than
$900,000 under the budget of the Baptist
State Convention in 1987, subject to the
Convention meeting its budget.
Dr. Whitaker reported that as of
January, 1987, the college had effective
ly completed paying in full the outstan
ding indebtedness on the physical plant.
Campaign Report
In other financial matters. Director
of Development Bobby Cross reported
that Chowan has received more than $2
million in pledges and gifts to pass the
half-way mark in its campaign to raise
$4 million. The campaign will fund ad
ditional student aid scholarships, en
dowment for teaching and administra
tion, program development, and the
renovation of facilities.
Robert B. Spivey, who is campaign
chairman, thanked advisor Mrs.
Robert (Texie Camp) Marks of
Boykins, Va., who is the honorary
chairman, and the other members of
the campaign committee for their
leadership. Spivey said the campaign
workers had made “remarkable pro
gress” and would continue their efforts
until the goal was reached. Cross said
that some $86,000 has been received
toward the $125,000 Annual Giving Fund
goal.
After hearing a report frwn Business
Manager Ben Sutton, the trustees ap
proved a $250 increase in tuition, room
and board and fees, for the 1988-89 year.
Report on Self-Study
Dean of the College B. Franklin
Lowe, Jr., reported on the progress of
the institutional self-study which each
accredited college must undergo every
ten years leading to the reaffirmation
of its accreditation.
Lowe said Chowan’s accreditation
was last reaffirmed in 1978. He said the
self- study is on schedule with all com
mittee meetings, research and
deliberations virtually completed. He
said the next step is cnnpleting the first
draft of the report. He explained the
reaffirmation committee of the
Southern Association of Colleges and
Universities will visit the campus in a
year leading toward the reaffirmation
of the college’s accreditation in
December, 1988.
Lowe reported that 26 of the 56 full
time faculty have served Chowan for 20
or more years. Eight staff members
are in the same category for a total of 34
faculty and staff members who have
served from 20 to 32 years.
“Order of Lux et Veritas”
Lowe led the discussion of the
establishment of the Order of Lux et
Veritas (“light and truth”, from
Chowan’s official seal) to honor all per
sonnel who have served the college for
at least 25 years. The trustees gave
their approval.
Lowe also reported that the ad hoc
committee on admissions recommend
ed to the president that the college pro
vide special grants to students who are
members of a church affiliated with the
Baptist State Convention of North
Carolina.
Special Grant to Baptists
The committee requested a $100
grant per semester to freshmen and
$200 per semester during the
sophomore to those students who have a
“C” or better academic average. The
committee recommended that the
grants be funded from the financial
support the college receives from the
budget of the Baptist State Convention
of North Carolina. Trustees approved
the recommendations.
Resolutions of appreciation were
presented to the late James Guy
Revelle, Sr., of Conway, who died on
Dec. 14, 1986. The resolutions called
Revelle “one of the most loyal and
devoted champions of Christian higher
education through Chowan College. ”
They stated “numerous services on
behalf of this institution and her mis
sion were expressed through his
membership on the Board of Advisors
(1975-1986), through his attention of
higher educational concerns confronted
during his tenure as a member of the
House of Representatives, North
Carolina General Assembly (1973-74
and 1977-78), and through his personal
contributions to and solicitations for the
development of the college and her
educational programs.
^^South Pacific”
Tickets
“There Is Nothin’ Like A Dame” will be ringing through Turner
Auditorium April 8-11 when the Chowan Players present the
memorable Rodgers & Hammerstein musical, South Pacific.
Familiar show tunes also include “Some Enchanted Evening”,
“A Cockeyed Optimist”, and “Younger Than Springtime.” The
navy nurse Nellie, played by Jennifer Mekovsky, falls in love
with the French planter Emile de Becque, played by Scot Tan
ner. Other prominent roles will be filled by Tim Johnson, Greg
Granger, and Tanya Skelton.
The artistic direction is under Mrs. Sandra Boyce with Dr.
James Chamblee conducting the music. Rehearsals have been
in progress since mid February.
Chowan College students may obtain a free ticket with pres
entation of a valid LD. card in Daniel Hall Room 206 on
Monday-Friday between 9-12 and 2-6. Student Tickets at the
door will be $3.00. Plan ahead to see this romantic musical by
getting your advance FREE TICKET,
They continued “his interest in pro
viding for the education of youth among
us has been typified and symbolized by
his establishment of the J. Guy Revelle,
Sr., and Pearla Futrell Revelle Scholar
ship — an endowed award which is
presented, annually, by the Scholarship
Committee of the College.”
Whitaker Presented Plaque
Spivey presented a plaque to Dr.
Whitaker expressing appreciation from
the trustees for his being recognized as
one of the top 18 college presidents in
the nation in a study funded by the Exx
on Education Foundation.
Trustees who have completed their
four- year terms of service received
certificates of appreciation. They in
clude: Mrs. Kate Allen, Weldon; the
Rev. J. Felix Arnold, Enfield; L.M.
Brinkley, Ahoekie; Bob F. Hill, Sr.,
Murfreesboro; Mrs. Libby Maddrey,
Eden; Mrs. Ethel K. Smith, Benson;
Thomas Sneeden, Wilmington; Jenn
ings B. Teal, Tarboro; and M. E. Valen
tine, Sr., Raleigh.
Welcomed were new trustees:
James L. Briley, Henderson; Mrs.
Frances Farthing, Durham; J. E.
Ferebee, Camden; Senator J. J. Harr
ington, Lewiston/Woodville; Mike H.
Johnson, Hamilton; Thomas M. Mc
Crary, Raleigh; Mrs. J. Grady
Bridgers, Jackson; Mrs. Etta Stokes,
Winston-Salem; and the Rev. Bennie E.
Pledger, New Bern.
New Advisors Join Board
J. Guy Revelle, Jr., recognized the
new advisors: Ronald H. Grove of
Raleigh; J. D. Chamberlain,
Mooresville; and W. F. Wardwell, Tar
boro. In addition, all of the outgoing
trustees and Randy V. Britton, Delhi,
La., were elected to the Board of Ad
visors.
Chairman Spivey called attention to
important spring semester events in
cluding Spring Break, March 6-16;
Religious Emphasis Week, March
16-20; Math/Science Day, March 20;
Spring Festival, April 25; and Com
mencement Exercises, May 17.
A Letter to tlie Editor
Dear Editor; March 18,1987
The current generation of young people has often been accused
of being the “me” generation. They want what they want when
they want it, no matter what the consequences are fw someone
else. They do not want anyone telling them what they can or can
not do. They are selfish, inconsiderate and egotistic.
K there is any validity to these charges we should not be too sur
prised at the young people when adults show the same kind of self-
centered disregard for others.
At a recent meeting the Chowan faculty voted down a recom
mendation to limit smoking to areas where non-smokers would
not be forced to breathe tobacco fumes. The Surgeon General of
the U.S.A. says that such fumes cause five thousand deaths an
nually in non-smokers. Over the average life span that is 350,000
unnecessary deaths.
The main concern of meeting was the freedom of people to
smoke rather than the rights of non-smokers. The prevailing at
titude was to ridicule and laugh at the concern for the non-
smokers.
If educators are not concerned about matters of health, when
smoking costs society eighty billion dollars annually in medical
cost, fires and lost wages, what can we eqiect of the public? If
adults are unconcerned about the comfort and weU being of others
what can we expect of the next generation?
If anyone had watched a friend or relative die of cancer, as I
have, I believe that he/she would think that limiting smoking to
specUic areas would be justified if it might prevent even one death
from cancer.
Concerned,
John W. Gosnell
Thank You
The Social Science Club expresses its sincerest ap
preciation to tiiose members of the faculty, staff and
student body who purchased doughnuts on Friday,
March 20th. The proceeds from this fund raising effort
will go to charity.
Smoke Signals Staff
Adviser: Miss Betsy Paffe
Reporters:
Wendy Jo Basden
Warren Breniman
Martin Clemons
Vic Hall
Kevin Huffstetler
Carolyn Schaefer
BobbiShehan
Francine Smith
Vic Tedder
Wayne Whaley
Carole Williams
Rhonda Yates
Special Contributing Writer:
Waldo Tuttle
Typesetting and Layout:
Wendy Jo Basden
Bobbi Lynn Shehan
Donna Francine Smith
Wayne Whaley