Newspapers / North Carolina Central University … / Sept. 25, 1954, edition 1 / Page 2
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PAGE TWO / THE CAMPUS ECHO SATURDAY, SEPT. 25, 1954 7 Cajnp***® Echo / "TU^ aX Vu’Uiam ^ NOWTH CAROLINA COLLEGE AT DURHAM Mem bet Pissocioted GoHe6icrte FVess E€€k CEVIEH': • • by W. Sherman Perry “UNTO A GOOD LAND” Simon and Schnster New York, 1954 they labored under and the any tucks and frills for embel- By VILHELM MOBERG The Quest For Security J istified For the past few years it has been an acc epted fact that the present generation is concerned deeply with security. Lately, however, many well recommendeii observations seem to coincide with that of Judge Charles E. Wyzanski, president of the Board of Overseers at Harv.'strd University, who believes that this quest for security is b^ng conducted at the sacrifice of what he calls the “essential zest of life.” Dr. Wyzanski, speaking to the University of Pennsylvania’s 1954 graduating class, further stated that |hose who sub ordinate everything else in life to securit|r are courting ■“frustration and ighominy.” Dr. Wyzanski stands not alone in his reasoning. Many graduating classes throughout the United States listened to messages similar in content last June. Dorothy Thompson, while comparing the preselfit gen eration with her own, found that “considering their years, they are too concerned with security.” The youth oi today lacks the “Sturn und Strang” that past generations have boasted. It cannot be denied that all of this is true. But it «an be denied that there is anything strangely irregular in this behavior pattern. It is the natural result of many diversified causes. To be specific, the present generation includes those born from 1929 to the present. 1929—the end of the roaring twenties and the beginning of the great depression, of un employment, of soup lines. This is the unstable era into which the present generation was born. It was a world—an experience—-that they would not like their children—the next generation—to ever know. Just as America was recovering from this economic, social, and psychological disaster, the clouds of war gather ed rapidly and culminated in World War II. By the end of the war in 1945, an official report listed 201,367 Americans dead, about 6,000,000 wounded, and 57,000 missing. The net result of this devastating record was the ma|^ resolution for security through preparedness ana the accel^Wltion of atomic bomb, research. And as the A-bomb grew into manhood, the mightier Hydrogen Bomb was born^—a greater promise of future “security.” By this time, many of those who make up the present generation were teen-agers. The Cold War with Russia became front page material and the world divided into two camps, pro-communist and anti-communist. The Korean War ensued and its ending proved nothing and ended nothing. It was a war in which many of this generation fought and perished. Many returned confused, realizing that since nothing had :^eally been solved, security was yet out of reach. Nor have national affairs of late been of the kind to in still a feeling of security in young America. Senator Joseph McCarthy, while having admirable objectives, used methods not compatible with our way of life. His investigations have, to an alarming degree, had a tendency to stifle individual ism, to make one either conform or be labeled a “security risk.” The past quarter of a century has been years in which this generation has seen more than enough of both national and international “Sturn und Drang.” Is it to be wbndered that peace and security is so greatly desired? Can any one blame the generation for striving for the security which they feel is their birthright but which has been denied them since birth? Tperry Vilhelm Moberg, in his na tive Sweden, has attained the exalted position that Heming way and Faulkner enjoy in A- Vilhelm Moberg, in his native Swden, has attained the exalted position that Hemingway and Faulkner enjoy in America. Al though he is the author of four teen novels and fifteen plays that have been translated int o seventeen languages, it has been relatively recent that the| American public has been intro duced to the works of Moberg. When The Emigrants, a late novel by Moberg, was released in the United States, it created quite a sensation in literary circles and was hailed by critics as “one of the finest long novels in a year of Sundays.” Mabergs’ followers on this side of the Atlantic will not be disappointed with Unto A New Land. It is one of the most pow erful novels to appear on the American scene this year. Oil the giant tapestry of mid-19th century America, Moberg tells the story of sixteen Swedish im migrants who came to the United States in search of a new and better way of life. The sixteen Scandinavians are earthy and lusty people void of any sophistry. Weary, poor, and unable to speak Eng lish, they arrived in New York Harbor in June 1850, afu,er be ing on\»he wate.rs for ten^veeks. They ijiust keet> on ihoif^h, for it has been decided that they 'O^ill settle in the sparsely popu lated territory of Minnesota. Even In Manhattan, a city of half a million people, the Swedes realize that they have come “unto a good land and a large land, unto a land flow ing with milk and honey.” As they travel inland, by rail and ship, seeing the richness of America-the thousands of acres of fertile land, the virgin for ests, the great lakes, the wild game-they are increasingly awed and thankful and come to believe that America is the greatest land upOn the face of the earth. These Scandinavian farmers a segment of our forefathers— are of a type that we never seem to meet today in America. There is something so basic-so fundamental-about them that it would not be difficult for a 20th century man to envy them in spite of the great handicaps many adversities, both natural and human, that were en countered, even after they settled in Minnesota. The great faith they have in the Almighty God, their keen joy in the simple things of life, the unfaltering hope they pos sess, are all movingly _ and simply related in this overwhel mingly powerful novel of Ma- berg’s. Unto A Good Land draws much of its power from its very simplicity. Vilhelm Moberg has a story to tell. He does so sin cerely and earnestly without lishment. Unfortunately, Unto A Good Land is the type of novel that rarely makes the best sellers list in American. In the search for escapist literature, solid books, such as this one, are slighted. However, Moberg can rest assured that he has an ap preciative audience in Ameri ca that eagerly awaits his novels, novels. Acknowledgements must be made of Gustof Tannestock, who did such an admirable job in translating Unto A Good Land into “American.” Peering Through The Bir(Ts Eye “BONNIE” By entree I suppose that by this time, many people have spread the proverbial welcome mat for the freshmen and new students, and have also offered a few words of encouragement and inspira tion as a pre-ifi lude to t h 1 year’s work. My sentiments of' reception a r t I much the same as those which ^, you have al-S; ready hear d.f However, ir reception are addition. I would like to, say that you, as new members of the N. C. Col- iegi commurfity, are being ac cepted into the shadow of the Eagle’s wings with clean slates. Whatever are your objectives, as far as academic and social achievement are concerned, can be obtained through perserver- ence and conscientiousness. Your years at NCC will always remain the most fertile of your lives if you avail yourselves of the op portunities when, and as they present themselves. Your col lege career is what you make it, and here’s hoping that you make it, nothing but the best. Cheer! Cheer For Ole NCC The football season will begin with St. Augustine vs. NCC, on September 25, at O’Kelly Field. Coach Riddick and the grid-iron squad realize that we are not all pigskin material, but they expect from us, as good Eagles, a type of support for which there is no substitute—the mo ral support yelled from the bleachers. Cheering is not un dignified nor is it something to BONNIE” be discarded after high school. So let’s learn our cheers, follow our cheer-leadeers and give the mighty Eagles a shove toward Victory. Beanies Of Distinction I understand that the Student Government Prexy, Pete Ward, has announced to the freshmen the tradition concerning the green beanies, and has posted notices saying that they must be worn at all times. The upper classmen expect to see these marks of distinction adding color to the NCC population, and they have been asked to enforce this 3G ruling when necessary. After all, beanies are a part of the freshmen attire, and we were all freshmen once. So let’s show the right spirit and co-operate Frosh. Orchids To Our Gentlemen The senior counselors and the freshmen women would like to extend many thanks to the men who were on the cam pus before September 15, for their brilliant display of good manners and chivalry. It was indeed gratifying to note how respectful they were to our Annie Day Shepard residents. Orchids to you, fellows. It was a vast improvement over last year. Thanks Friends One of the most satisfying experiences which I have had was to be welcomed back home by the cleanliness and gleam of the building at NCC. Our main- tanance staff has worked long and hard On the face of our Alma Mater and the dividends are glorious to behold, A bou quet of Orchids to our friends who slaved through many sweltering days. The By-Word At N. C. College Is 'Student Sell Direction’ BY YVONNE SCRUGGS In almost every college or xiniversity, regardless of the size or the academii inhibitions, there exists at least one tradi tion which the students consis- tantly identify with their in stitution, At North Carolina College, that tradition is the program of Student Self Direc tion. To say that Student Self Di rection would be more readily ■understood if a concise defini tion were used as a point of de- -parture, would be confusing, if not just short of frustrating. For nowhere in the records of the Student Congress, nor of stu- dent-faculty advisory boards does there exist a definition up on which all parties concerned, both students, and faculty and staff members, can fully agree. Therefore, the only accepted truth..,the only established fact, is that each and every member of the NCC community is work ing toward his own interpreta tion of the common goal.. During a re-thinking pro gram initiated by the combined interests of President Alfonso Elder, the Student Welfare Committee and the Student Government, for the purpose of defining the areas of SG juris diction as opposed to executive jurisdiction, a group of stu dents defined Student Self direc tion. in the following manner; “The opportunity for students to live and govern themselves, free from external pressure, accord ing to rules and regulations, established by a duly elected student government org^anization and stipulated in an instrument of government such as a con stitution, is Student Self Direc tion.” Another definitioi), though slightly opposite and along a dis similar vein is: “The Program of Student Self Direction is de signed to foster the ability of all people within the college com munity to develop to the maxi mum degree those traits bene ficial to themselves and to the majority of their constituents and surpress to the greatest pos sible degree all traits not com plimentary to group living and group progress,” Both interpretations are suf- ficent r;S working defintions of Student Self Direction but cannot exist side by side without ultimately causing vio lent conflicts between the sup porters of each definition. Therefore, it becomes increas ingly apparent that an under standing must be reached in the very immediate future be tween the two opposing forces or the militance which de- velopes in the attempts to ac complish one aim from two different directions will de stroy both the past and the po tential, substituting nothing for a program which has manifest ed before, and can again mani fest, leadership and accomplish ment at North Carolina College. The key to success of a pro gram of Student Seif Direction lies in active participation on the part of the student body in all activities which concern us. Whether development or self- government are concerned, nei ther can be accomplished through inertia. There will nev er exist any type of program beneficial to the student body as long as the student body re mains oblivious to its own needs and opportunities, and express es only a passive interest in the surrounding life. Being active does not necessarily mean be ing bellig’erent, for although all privileges must not be fought for, all overtures must be made by those who will profit most. The importance of ascribing to the necessities in student government such as voting or attending meetings cannot be over emphasized. Within these apparently minor requirements are the roots of all unity and progress. There can only be leaders as long as there are followers, and the extent to which the obligations of the followers, minor or major, are regarded seriously precipates success or failure, (Continued on Page 3)
North Carolina Central University Student Newspaper
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Sept. 25, 1954, edition 1
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