Page six The Ram's Horn February, 1969 Strickland Views WALTER STRICKLAND Our complex society today continues to leave the red importance of religion in the dark. Instead, many people use our religion for their own material gains. It is clearly apparent that religion has failed in our contemporary society, for one reason or another. This reporter asked students and members of the faculty on campus why they thought religion has failed in the United States. The following statements are their direct quotes. Elizabeth Edwards... “People have put their thoughts on too many worldly goods.” Rick Maxwell... “The church has failed in some areas to update itself with present day society, but I am encouraged by the fact that the church today is trying to update itself.” Jean Hammond ... “Because Christians have failed to set an example and man has become too self sufficient to depend on God.” Alice Davis... “Society has turned to a materialization world and society feels that religion is no longer needed because it no longer offers anything.” Bill Turner... “Too many people are too concerned with themselves and have been too busy to recognize the need of God.” Keith Thompson... “Not enough people go to church.” Mickey Holland ... “Scientist have proved that the existence of God is doubtful.” Robert Fuller ... “Too many chances to do evil.” Armelda Bracey ... “Society and its changes have caused people to lose the real sense of value of religion and people have become too involved in material things.” Sue MacPhatter... “There are not any Christians in the United States today.” Roy Gray . .. “There are entirely too many hypocrites in the United States for religion to work.” Professor Knute Rockne . . . “Since religions compete against one another in this vast society of today, people have a tendency to overlook religion, which in my opinion is the one objective and sole purpose of the average person that is in the debating society. People should look toward the existence of religion instead of overlooking it by debatit^ about a few religious beliefs.” Harry Foley ... “People think we don’t need God anymore.” Richard Hayes... “I don’t think it is losing influence. Disillusionment and diverse elements characterize progress as well as degeneration. Some sort of metamorphosis is occuring, emphasizing a more individualistic and responsible morality as exemplified by Christ and shedding the old mysticisms, antropromorphisms, absolutes, and dogmatic cocoons.” Miss Sasser... “People have decided that they are so well off that they don’t need anything to depend on.” Mayo Kissam ... “Because it has nothing to offer.” Coach Nance... “There are more appealing things.” The above quotations are some reasons why religion has failed in the United States. It would be simple if we could take these responses and plug them into a formula that would revive religion. Unfortunately it will not work because people simply do not want to worship God. The solution then is to throw all bigots out who control the churches and have a complete reformation of religion as Martin Luther did in the sbcteenth century. The worshipping of God then would be an act of sincerity and not a false frolic of hypocrisy as many of our religious members of today engage in. New Comseling Service Under Experimentation NEWARK, Del.-(I.P)-Stu- dent Counseling Service at the University of Delaware plans to offer two new activities to students as a way of making the service more meaningful and more accessible. The counselor-at-large idea, currently being used on a number of other campuses around the country, involves making a counselor available in a public place so students can stop by and talk about any topic they wish. Such an approach makes the counseling facility available to those students who would prefer not to make a formal appointment or would like to talk with a counselor only briefly or on the spur of the moment. It is not necessary to make an appointment with the counselor-at-large, the discussions do not take place behind closed doors, and no records are kept. The counselor-at-large is located in the Student Center lounge, identified by a sign reading, “Representative, Student Counseling Service.” The counselor is available to talk with students from 1 to 4 p.m., every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. One of the questions a numbar of students have raised with the Student Counseling Service staff is whether it would be possible to join together with other students in a counseling group to discuss areas of common concern. Although the nature of such groups would be largely determined by the student members’ preference, such an experience has been very meaningful and exciting for the many students who have joined such sessions on this campus and elsewhere in the past. Students Set Own Pace Under AIM Program Southeast*™ Alumiii Meet The first meeting of the Southeastern Community College Alumni Association was held December 17, 1968. The group was welcomed by President Comer and he recognized the members of the original class. Dean Howard reported to the group on additional vocational and technical programs, now offered at Southeastern. Betty Harris was introduced as acting chairman for the meeting. Mrs. Harris chaired the meeting for the election of the first officers who would serve the reminder of this academic year and all of the 1969-70 academic year. The following were elected: President, Larry Rooks; I MISENHEIMER, N.C.—(I.P.)—Pfeiffer College’s newly-instituted AIM program is centered around an a ca d e m i c - i n centive-motivation approach which emphasizes such positive features as will: 1. Let students set their own pace. AIM encourages students to set their own pace toward graduation. Highly motivated, intellectually alert students may complete studies for a bachelor of arts degree in as little as two and a half years (without summer school). 2. Offer a new measuring system. Instead of grades and credit hours, AIM measures progress under a unit system which recognizes quantity as well as quality of work done. AIM deliberately replaces the conventional “lock-step” movement of all students in a class however unequally gifted and motivated. 3. Encourages independent creative thinking. Through AIM the student develops independent and creative thought patterns by dramatically increasing individual study and research projects while drastically reducing the number and length of lectures. AIM specifically calls for seminars, tutorials, independent reading and experimentation. 4. Provide maximum course choices. AIM gives the student maximum choice in developing his program of study, in contrast with a philosophy of general education which assumes that “a little dab (of many different courses) will do you.” The only course in the entire curriculum which all students will be expected to take is Logic. AIM dispenses with so-called “general requirements” frequently prescribed for all students under other curriculum patterns. 5. Guard against narrowness. AIM guards against narrow specialization by insisting that each student, in addition to his primary subject area, elect an “opposite” or complementary area of work. 6. Make examinations an experience of meaning. AIM defines scholarship as the acquirement of skills which enable the student to make accurate discriminations, to draw Ic^ical conclusions, and to make proper evaluations. The College repudiates examinations which largely involve responses calling for memorization of facts, figures, places, and names through objective tests (true-false, multiple choice, completion, matching, etc.). The philosophy of AIM is that essay and oral examinations, open book and library-centered quizzes, as well as special projects, better enable students to demonstrate creativity, originality, judgment, and organizational ability. 7. Replace old classifications. Inasmuch as students will be setting their own pace tovrard a baccalaureate degree, classifications (freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior) will, as in graduate schools, lose any real meaning. Any such designation on campus will be solely for the sake of the convenience of students who may wish to maintain some form of organizational unity. Members of the college adminiftration enjoy atnfwsphere of Southeastern College Alumni meeting. Vice-President, Sue Davis; Secretary from the entering class of 1967-68, David Parker. Dr. Gustafson spoke briefly on the need for an Alumni Association. He spoke of the service of the Alumni as ambassadors from the college, communicating the college to the public. As a further service to the college an Alumni Association usually engages in projects designed to aid the college and thus express the loyalty felt by its members. Three projects have been suet'ested by the Steering Council; hospitality gift, a tower for mounting the college bell, equipment for sports. The group voted to accept $100 to be used to purchase a hospitality gift (a plated silver punch bowl and ladle) as a first project. Dr. Vargas, Dean of Student Personnel Services, thanked everyone for coming. He closed with the following prediction: “I predict that Southeastarn Community College is on the brink of greatness and that within ten years Southeastern Community College will be known for its teaching effectiveness. With Alunrini help, this prediction will be reality. Carol MuUinix works on metal soilpture. 6M Welder Art Major The ordinary is not good enough for Carol Mullinbc. She is the first and only girl to take Welding at Southeastern. Carol stated that upon entering the welding class, the boys were aghast, “Welding-for a girl? but further added, “they soon became accustomed snd accepted me as a fellow welder. When asked about the welding class Carol answered, “Welding offers a varied field in art especially metal sculpt^ing. I am interested in all phases of creative art. . Carol is presently doing a figure of a sitting man and an arifi with hands. When questioned as to how art would fit into her future jians, she replied, “I * stewardess with Piedmont Airlines. I would like to study European art and this would be my one way ticket to all of the art galleries in Europe. I want to travel and learn all I can about the world while I am young enough to enjoy it.” Carol also has some definite plans concerning marriage, “I would like to do and see as much as I can before I settle down; so if my kids ask me ‘Mommie have you been to Hong Kong or the Louvre Art Gallery in Paris’, I can say ‘yes’.” Carol, a first year student at Southeastern is from Wilmington. She plans to leave see In March for the Airline Training School In Winston-Salem. When asked if she liked Southeastern, Carol replied, “Southeastern is areat and I love U!”