Newspapers / North Carolina Wesleyan University … / May 15, 1974, edition 1 / Page 2
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PAGE 2 THE DECREE WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 1974 “Goodbye And Good Luck . . . For The Last Time” Well this is it, the last one. The entire paper has gone to press except for a few articles and this is my last editorial. There is no one in the office but me and an FM radio playing oldie-goldies. How does one reflect four years of Wesleyan in just a couple of pages of print. It isn’t easy. My old pal Tom is in Durham working now and we put this, what we hope will be the best Decree ever, together via countless phone calls and mail packages. It has been a lot of hard work, but a lot of memories and good times too. Many times last year Tom and I would complain or just get really frustrated because there was no one but the two of us to put together a major campus publication that had previously been published weekly. We looked for a staff, even advertised a half-page in the newspaper once asking for one, but only a handful came in the two years that we have been Editors. It used to be really hard, but we were talking the other day and finally came to the realiaation that we probably could have never worked with a staff. We were both to egotistical and proud and this paper was our baby, anyone else working on it was like a threat. So off we went. We probably won’t be remembered as the best set of Editors that this paper has ever had, but I’ll wager it’ll be a long time before anyone else trys to put one out with just two people. So here it is. A twenty-four pager. Look at it, read it, critize it. I can remember the first time I ever wanted to work on a newspaper. I was fimshing up my junior year in high school and thought that it would be interesting to work a paper. I went and talked to the teacher, but in high school you had to be chosen by the teacher ^d that was the only way you could get on the staff. The problem was, there was one opening and two applicants. The other guy got it, but I got the speech about how it was nice that I (Continued on Page 15) A Few Good People The Last Choice Jim Smith, the new Wesleyan Ck)llege SGA President, will have his hands fuU when he returns in the fall. He will be beset by the fact that Tom Hardison, the outgoing President, was unable to fimsh proposed changes in the consititution of the school s student government. The fact that there was no real constitution helped Hardison, as he juggled student money from one commission to another trying to give the students the most for their money. The lack of a viable constitution helped Hardison as he disbanded the student senate and it helped him when he purposly failed to nominate Supreem ^urt Justices smce they reaUy had no power. But the lack of a constitution and an established procedure to run activities will hamper Smith because the student body will soon tire of such a system. For one year it was novel to have a type of dictator running the show, just as long as everything was done. But last year the students were in a state of transition and at a sort of crossroads. The fact that Hardison s candidate, Mac Buhrman, was defeated even by a slight margin shows that the average student wants to return to basic sound government with the basic three systems—president, senate and court. No doubt Watergate and the general displeasure with all goverment has something to do with this new trend in college politics. Because of this Smith should set as his first goal getting a new system before the students and before he can do that the old constitution should be put back in full force. In a school the size of Wesleyan a few people are the only ones willing to work and that handfull of students should be allowed to take on as much as time and desire allows. Smith would do well to remember this as he plans the concept of his new constitution and as he plans appointments for the coming year. All the power in one person s hands does no good, but power so spread out that one must scoop the bottom of the barrel for appointments is just as bad if not worse. Because of this it would seem wise for Smith or any future leader to surround himself with “a few good men” (and women!) and construct his committees, his senate, and the Supreem Court around them rather than vice-versa, the power structure would then be an “elite group” perhaps, but that would certainly be more healthy than a monster government so diverse that commission heads are never thought of, but rather forgotten and really have no power. Smith, with the help of his vice-president Greg Williams and with the help of Buhram (who will again head the important Social Commission) has the triangle needed to begin his “elite group”. It would not seem outlandish for Smith to give control of the Senate and the Supreem Court to his vice-president and for him to give control of all commissions to Buhrman, who would appoint assistants to edch. That way all the work load would not fall on Smith although he would have to take all blame for any wrongdoings. This system would allow Smith to oversee all phases of the government and be a troubleshooter. Also he would have the time for special projects of interest to the entire College community. Without some revision Smith’s administration will find itself snarled, not knowing who is in charge of what . . . and that is what stalemated Hardison in his efforts. TOME. HARDISON Associate Editor Dear Chief: Dear Chief: The public revelations of the past year have stripped America naked. This country is in crisis, and people are asking the question: What does America stand for? Ironically, this comes at a time when we Americans are observing the 3 year celebration (1974-76) of the founding of this nation. During the Bicentennial Era, more attention will be focused on what America should stand for than at any other period in our history. This present combination of social forces presents us with an opportunity to monumental historical importance. For the first time in this century we can marshal a majority campaign that replaces blind allegiance to crooked politicians and ava ricious corporations with a renewed commitment to the democratic principles of the Declaration of Independence. History has given us this chance. If we fail to seize it, then the advantage will fall back into the hands of the Wall Street crowd. The corporate giants and their political pals are also well aware of the crisis in values that faces America and of the potential that the Bicentennial offers for provid ing answers. They are mobDiz- ing their resources for the greatest advertising and public relations orgy this country has ever seen. There wiU be revolution toothpaste, red, white and blue fords, Sara Lee birthday cakes, and a “Stand Up and Cheer” media blitz designed to drown out any reference to our revolutionary heritage. The lines are clearly drawn. Either our democratic princi ples redefine what America should stand for, or we allow Wall Street full reign to mold the attitudes of the nation to suit the needs of the corpo- cracy. The Peoples Bicentennial Commission has already acted decisively on this challenge. We are involved in a massive campaign to revive the demo cratic principles and ideals that sparked the American Revo lution. The PBC has been reaching back to the beginning of the Republic to help clarify and define what America should stand for in the years ahead. The PBC campaign is already reaching millions of Americans. Hundreds of radio and tele vision stations are currently programming our public ser vice education prog^rams on a daily basis. We have a feature film, and a multi-media per formance currently touring the U. S. The PBC is developing Bicentennial programming, conducting workshops and providing speakers and mater ials for organizations ranging from the National Council of Churches to local YMCA’s. We have produced a wide range of commercial books that are being published and distributed by major publishing houses to bookstores, drugstores and supermarkets. Our educational feature service is currently being sent to over 15,000 mass media, trade and specialized journals and publications. Our commission is made up of citizens like yourself who are dedicated to making this country live up to its revolu tionary promise. We would like you to take part in the peoples campaign for the Bicentennial by joining the PBC Committee of Correspondence. The Bicentennial materials can help you spread the mes sage of ’76 in your community. The $7.00 will also allow us to continue to reach millions of Americans with the democratic principles and ideals that inspired the American Revo lution. The PBC Committee of Cor respondence can play an his toric role during the Bicenten nial years in turning the pre sent national cynicism into a positive statement of what America should stand for. Join us in making July 4, 1976 a birthday this country will never forget. In the Spirit of ’76, Sheila Robbins “Berserk?” Before an attack the Vikings sometimes ate a tyi>e of poisonous mushroom that produced hallu cinations and drove a man tem porarily mad. These warriors thought themselves invulnerable, and they were known by the name “berserk,” meaning “bear shirt.” OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF NORTH CAROLINA WESLEYAN COLLEGE Advertising Manager Charlie Rogers Anna Galiano Sports Writers Carlyle Taylor Mike Filiettaz Typist Peggy Verkler Photographers Herb Henney Mosby West JayVanHoose Charlie Kilibrew Office Assistants Robin Rider Anna Galfano Sterling Bodenhamer Peggy Verkler Advisor Mr. Bruce VanBlarcom Business Address; Box 3056, Wesleyan College Rocky Mount, North Carolina 27801 PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY WESLEYAN STUDENTS Opinions Published Do Not Necessarily Represent Those Of Wesleyan CoU«((e
North Carolina Wesleyan University Student Newspaper
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May 15, 1974, edition 1
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