Newspapers / North Carolina Wesleyan University … / April 11, 1972, edition 1 / Page 2
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PAGE 2 THE DECREE TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 1972 . . . With One Foot In The Stirrup It is difficult to explain the feelings that I have as my Ufe at Wesleyan comes to an end. The awareness that time is short makes us realize that, indeed, all time is precious. And in the , final hours, those of us who take pleasure in nostalgia can generally be foand sitting quitely, somewhat in daze, just think ing. I remember clearly my arrival as a freshman and meeting a blonde-haired lad from New Hampshire, who has come to be my closest friend, I recall my nervousness when I first met w!i.h Mr. Sturgill, who Is definitely one of Wesleyan’s finest professors, and who assumed at the be ginning that my control of the Spanish language was far greater that it was. I remember my first con-- cert with the Wesleyan Singers and the many that were to follow, and the friendship I developed with Dr. and Mrs, Sasser. I recall the death of my father and the warmth and understanding shown by so many kind people when I returned, I remember so many rich and meaningful events that the pages of this newspaper would not begin to hold my recollections. But for every earthly beginning, there is also an end. And so I recall my feelings of sadness as I attended my last fraternity meeting, my last convocation, and even now, as I write my final editorial. Nostalgia, however, is invariably personal, and we editors are supposed to avoid personal reference which is a journalistic right generally reserved for columnists. And so, in keeping with this unwrit ten law, I would like to make some final remarks concerning Wesleyan College, trying to appear as impersonal as possible. North Carolina Wesleyan College is not simply a cluster of colonial structures. It is neither a cor porate enterprise nor merely an institution of higher education. This college Is, rather, a total way of life for its students, especially those who live in its dormitories, eat in its cafeteria, play on its tennis courts, stroll through its pines, or gaze Into its fountain. And for those who choose to live and study here the choices are many. The best or the worst of all possible lives can be had at Wesleyan College, and the individual student must decide which path he chooses to follow, and which goals he wants to pursue. Unfortunately, the great majority of our students lead a day-to-day existence, displaying the minimum daily requirements in initiative and ambition. Perhaps no feeling could be any worse for the graduating senior than the feeling of having accomplished nothing during four years of college life. Let me hasten to add th^t many students are under the false impression that a college education is a passport to future success. No longer are employers waiting in line for the college graduate. We must strive for success and happiness, whatever we conceive them to be. And we must try not to be disillusioned in times of failure, for there is much to be learned even In defeat. For Wesleyan College, we can only hope that the future will be bright and that academic excellence will once again become the foremost goal. We have watched our academic program undergo consider able and questionable renovation, much of which has been done with one underlying purpose—survival. We must come to realize that even the most progressive curriculum will not insure this survival as much as a winning athletic program, an exciting social calendar, and an expanded professional recruit ment program. We are grateful for the openness and free exchange of the id!.is which is one of Wesleyan’s greatest assets. We are grateful for the freedom of expression which we, the editors, have enjoyed throughout our collegiate careers. And finally we are grateful for the multitude of sincere and dedicated people, especially those professors who have inspired us in our striving for the ability to think. And so, with “one foot in the stirrup,” and our finest wishes for the future, I bid you all a fond farewell, Bruce F. Wright Surpassing Understanding K you are a member of the Class of 1972 and attended the Orientation Beanie Dance, you will remember this scene, Charlie Kemp, Class of ’69, presides in his role as Orientation Chairman over the Capping Ceremony marking the entrance of the Class of ’72 into Wesleyan College, Now four years later, that Class prepares to leave. Dear Chief . . . After a year of prOiJ icing weekly editorials, it would seem to be a simple task to prod ice the final one; one might summarize the year’s experiences, toss in a measure of nostalgia, praise those people who have rendered support, slap others Who have criticized our editorial policies, and tell Wesleyan farewell. It isn’t quite that simple because like many people over-indulged in a world of sensationalism and pre-packaged emotionalism, we want a dramatic flourish before we go. If as Shakespeare said, we are all merely actors on a stage, we each demand the final role in which we may present the epilo gue. For this final speech Is the one which makes sense of the enlire drama. We might ask ourselves, then, what has been the sense i>ehlnd this year; what truth may we derive from our experiences? Tie understanding of such truths varies with the emotion with which we use to view it. If we attempt to laugh our way out from under the burden of this year’s problems, we con clude that all is chaos and that four years have been wasted in a meaningless contradiction between persons and their private educational philosophies. If we become bitter and assail our enemies (those whom we consider to have gone out of their way to personally intimidate us), W6 conclude that we are defeated, for the people who have opposed us will again be here next year. Bitterness saps us of our potential and blinds us to the possibilities of compromise, ff we remalrt alert to the challenges of understanding and tolerance, we have not been defeated; in fact, if we recognize these imperatives, our enemies may become allies in a joint quest for education. Therefore, without laughter or bitter ness, we must search for another means with which to view this past year. That means is accep tance. There is a reason for our suggestion that acceptance is the best way in wliich to cope with the chaos that is ours at Wesleyan; acceptance is rational, and it allows one to view the college’s successes as well as its failures wi'.hoit losing one’s mind. Acceptance and intepretation of the varied :;hades of truth is the subject of a poem by Dylan Thomas; he wrote, “and the wicked wish/ ... Is ca:;t before you move,/ And all yoi’.>; leeds and words,/ Each truth, each lie,/ Die in unjudging love.” Mr. Thomas may well have a point because for all of our rabble-rousing this year, for all of our invesfigatlng the ‘facts’—all of that work will die. The only saving grace in the eyes of this editor is that this death takes place in ‘unjudging love.’ This love, as we define it, is the goodness, the sound education, the memory of friends, the realization that life isn’t always sweet—or sour, And all of these truths last beyond the tears of the present troubles into the fond memories of the future. , , , and so, my friends (and also those of you that don’t fit that moW)^ I join Bruce in extending a very personal farewell to you. To each of you — students, staff, faculty, trustees, administrators, and (most especially) my Brothers: my deeds and my words are dying. Ironically after this final tempestous year as associate editor, we conclude with a sense of calm, H you forget all else, remember the concept of “unjudging love.” Auf wiedersehen. Marshall R. Old, Dear Chief, There is a paying job in Eu rope available to any college student willing to work. Most of the jobs are in resorts, ho tels, restaurants, factories, of fices and shops in Switzerland, France, Germany, England, I- taly and Spain, Standard wages are always paid and free room and board are usually provided. Student Overseas Services, a Luxembourg student organiza tion, will obtain the job, work permit, visa, and any other nec essary working papers for any college student who applies. SOS also provides a brief European and job orientation in the organ ization’s 100-room castle before you go to your job. All of this means that a few weeks at a paying job in Europe will more than cover the cost of the new $270 Youth Fare flight ticket from the U. S. to Eu rope and return. Interested students may ob tain the SOS Handbook on earn ing a trip to Europe which in cludes the initial job applica tion form, job listings and de- ocriptions, and a breakdown of the brief job orientation in Eu rope by sending their name, address, educational institution and $1 (for addressing, hand ling and postage) to Placement Officer, SOS-Student Overseas Service, 22 Ave. de la Liberte, Luxembourg, Europe, Applica tions should be submitted early enough to allow SOS ample time to obtain the work permits and other necessary papers. Sincerely, Fred Schultz OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF NORTH CAROLINA WESLEYAN COLLEGE EDITOR Bruce Wright ASSISTANT EDITOR Marshall Old BUSINESS & ADVERTISING MGR Chuck MarUn CTRCULATTON MANAGER Gail Mabe PHOTOGRAPHER Jay Vffli Hoose COLUMNISTS: Will Thomson Tom Hardison Charlie Rogers REPORTERS: Liz Reece, Betty Anne Lee, Jane Gravely Ralph Rose, Business Address: Box 3056, Wesleyan College Rocky Mount, North Carolina 27801 PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY WESLEYAN STUDENTS Opinions Publislted Do Not Necessarily RejH-esent Those Of Wesleyan College
North Carolina Wesleyan University Student Newspaper
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April 11, 1972, edition 1
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