PAGE. 2
THE DECREE
MONDAY, OCTOBER 5. 1970
mm
“Yes, I’ve been through freshman orientation. I know where
the “Retreat” is!”
Editorial
This Is Orientation
According to Webster, orientation is defined as the process
of familiarization and adaptation to a situation or environ
ment. We assume that this definition should lend itself to the
purpose of the orientation committee. However, many students
of the class of 1974 feel that they have hardly been oriented
or introduced to Wesleyan College in the period designated
for this. Instead, they feel and we tend to agree, that the
committee chose to entertain them rather than to acquaint
them with the functions of this academic community.
There was no scheduled tour of the library; doubtless
a pool;party was more important than an introduction to the
literary facilities available here.
There was no explanation of the economic social and economic
conditions that exist in Rocky Mount. The closest they got
to that was busing the students to Rocky Mount churches.
Religion is only one part of the community that Wesleyan
students ought to be aware of. The committee has failed to
realize , that the lack of information on the city has widened
the breach between the college and Rocky Mount. Few of us
have had explained to us the significance of tobacco or the
Burlington Mills Industries, and therefore are unable to under
stand the socio-economic situation within the community. The
information might be superflous to a North Carolina resident,
but it would prove enlightening to a student from a different
region of the country. We all fail to realize at time that Wes
leyan cannot ,}je. a totally separate entity; indeed the Decree
depends;upon the merchants for monetary support.
Hazing. It is"ndw a dirty word in all but the most conserva
tive and backward'of schools, and yet we were still indulging
in it for’ one day‘ttUS year, on the recommendation of our or
ientation .cemmittee.
We cannot agree that reducing students to the level of
“lowly frosh” can either improve the students' attitude or the
“esprit de corps.” As one member of the administration
said, it is a pretty unfortunate situation wherein the class
unity has to be provoked by abuse. It would seem that concern
from the members of the committee would be more valuable
in creating loyalty than harassment.
We suggest, since hazing has been recently abolished by the
Student Life and Services Committee, that the Orientation Com
mittee next year dedicate its efforts to an academic and pract
ical calendar of events rather than providing entertainment that
is somehow wasted on a class of freshmen.
Over Troubled Water
By BRUCE WRIGHT
Let’s quit playing our little
game of token morality and get
down to the business at hand.
Wesleyan’s rules and regula
tions regarding student conduct
are not only an obstacle bar
ring our stride toward maturity
they are an insult to our inte
grity as well. It is indeed
ironic that a school which is so
progressive in academic mat
ters can be so conservative in
social matters. This is espec
ially truQ concerning the wo
men’s dormitory residents, to
whom this article is humbly de
dicated.
Question: Are Wesleyan’s
women best prepared for the
out-side world through enfor
cement of the present regula
tions? The college that does
not prepare its students in the
best way possible is falling
short of its responsibility to
the student. The college should
indeed feel some measure of re
sponsibility to the parents, but
few would argue that the growth
and maturity of the students
should be the foremost consi
deration in the establishment
of rules and regulations. The
college should not, and cannot
be expected to assume the role
of mother now that Junior and
Sissie aren’t at home anymore.
The Admissions Catalog stat
es very clearly that "the gen
eral rule at Wesleyan concern
ing student behavior is simple:
all students are assumed to be
ladies and gentlemen and are
expected to act accordingly,”
Having established this general
rule the student might expect to
encounter the minimum in re
striction. This is hardly the
case, especially as far as wo
men are concerned.
I ask that every member
of the college community, fa
culty, administration, and stu
dents alike, read those pages
in the Bishops’ Law designated
for women’s dormitory regula
tions. Study especially the
sections concerning sign-
out procedure and the policy
for overnight trips. Then ask
yourself if these rules are jus
tifiable in an institution whose
basic goals are the free per-
suit of learning and the total
growth of the individual.
The Administration of the
college has, for several years,
followed the concept of “free
dom with responsibility,” that
a student is free to do as he
or she chooses if that student
is willing and able to accept
the responsibility for the ac
tion.
There has been little de
bate as to the virtue of this phi-
Letters To The Editor
ORIENTATION???
Dear Editor,
Usually I would decline from
embarking on a scathing de
nouncement of Bob O’Keef yet
I feel a few words should be
said.
The line I’m sure Mr. O’
Keef is most proud of reads
“Following intermission, the
Bishops seemed simply to be
on the field and not in the
game,” if this were true I
wonder why Pfeiffer couldn’t
score more than two goals the
second half as there seemed
only eleven bystanders between
them and the goal. If Wes
leyan limits the opposing team
to two goals while “not in the
game” I really don’t think Mr.
O’Keef should open his mouth
about Wesleyan’s playing abil
ity unless it is to praise.
Though I was disappointed
in his article, I must credit
Mr. O’Keef with talent, the
talent of being tactless and wist
ful in his writing. This may
or may not be derived from
lack of experience; it may
just be an inherent trait.
I’d also like to mention Mr.
O’Keef’s grading scale. He
' gave A’s to Dave Smith and
Tom Henderson for their per
formances, and that’s as a wri
ter grading a soccer player.
I really wonder what kind of
of grade they could give him as
a student and representative
of Wesleyan College? If Mr. O’
Keef can live with that answer
then it is really a waste of time
talking to him ... of listen-
ing.
Mike Pierce
Dear Editor,
Several times in the recent
past someone has neglected to
turn on the front campus lights.
This may be purely accidental
or an attempt to conserve elec
tricity. If the latter be the
case, the intentions of those in
power should be directed else
where. The use of a few volts
can dispel the uncomfortable
feeling one gets while walking
in the dark.
The chances of getting mug
ged on campus are hopefully
slim. The lights would deter
not only would-be assassins but
would-be accidents. The casual
stroller . could be forewarned
of cans, bottles, and drunks
lying on the sidewalk.
Of course there are those who,
prefer the dark. Couples will
be forced to retreat further:
into the pines but this is only a
slight disadvantage far out
weighed by the advantages.
Lets have some light shed on
the subject and brighten up the
campus atmosphere.
Sincerely,
Stan Grey
losophy. It follows, then, that
our end goal is a state of total
freedom, coupled with total re
sponsibility.
To deny the freedom before
the lack of responsibility has
been demonstrated is, as I have
stated, an insult to our inte
grity. If we prove oursel
ves irresponsible, then slap
our hands, but don’t chain them
in the name of protectiveness.
It is indeed true that some
restrictions are necessary for
the common good. We may wear
a scarf to protect us from the
cold. It is good to remember,
though, that the same scarf,
if drawn too tightly, can choke
us to death.
Who will be there to protect
us when we leave these clois
tered walls? It’s a different
world on the outside. God for
bid that our life here at Wes
leyan should not prepare us
for that world in which we must
take our place. The S.G.A.
plans an intensified effort this
year toward the re-evaluation of
dormitory regulations, many of
which are useless and antiqua
ted. We ask for the coopera
tion of all segments of the
college community in consider
ation of these changes. Let us
practice our concept of “free
dom with responsibility,” and
buiW upon it.
Supreme Court
(Continued from Page 1)
To critize our court system for
being unnecessarily defined by
our Constitution is a much need
ed criticism. The action to
be taken now is to those pro
posals of last year’s senate that
the student body feels necessary
to IMPROVE our courts. And
the proposals that may come to
the front now must be pre
sented to this year’s senate.
Today is October 5. Today
the Senate met for the first
time. Today action will pro
bably not be taken on the court
system. Will you force that
action at the next Senate meet
ing on October 12?
More Under Water
Geologists believe there are
many more volcanoes hidden be
neath the sea than the 500 or 600
volcanoes—active and dormant—
known on land.
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OFFIOAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF
NORTH CAROLINA WESLEYAN COLLEGE
EDITOR Julia Robinson
ASSISTANT EDITOR Marshall Old
BUSINESS MANAGER Chuck Martin
ADVERTISING MANAGER Chuck Martin
PHOTOGRAPHER Gary Christopher
PRODUCTION MANAGER Gail Mabe
ARTIST Will Thomson
SPORTS WRITER Bob O’Keef
CIRCULATION MANAGER Barbara Hughes
Business Address: Box 3056. Wesleyan College
Rocky Mount, North Carolina 27801
PUBUSHED WEEKLY BY WESLEYAN STUDENTS
Ot^nions Published Do Not Necessarily
Represent Those of Wesleyan College