TITLE NINE - EQUALITY? STRANGE...MAYBE by Judi Dean Title IX of the Civil Rights Amendment to the Constitution is the equal education opportunity act. Needless to say it is a highly controversial issue. It is a step which prohibits sexual discrimination. In which direction, no one seems sure. The crux of the problem is that no one understands what the article means. In an interview with Dr. Baxter, Vice-Presi dent of Elon, some aspects of Title IX were-explained. These are the seven major areas: ATHLETICS—sexual equality in athletics is the most contro versial due to the income arrived from spectators. EMPLOYMENT—sexual discrimination is not only prohibited for faculty, but also for nonfaculty in hiring. ADMISSIONS—the acceptance of students must be com parable with the number of each sex which applied . . . the exception is in all male or female schools. PROGRAMS—must be open to both sexes. CLASSES—can no longer be sexually segregated. This affects high schools more than colleges where hygiene courses have always been segregated. HOUSING—is the largest concern at Elon. Comparable con ditions and rules are called for under the provisions of Title IX. STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS — the result may be sorority brothers and fraternity sisters; yet, this applies to every other student organization as well. FINANCIAL AID—cannot deny awards for sexual discrimina tory reasoning, which would be difficult to prove anyway. The Department of Health, Education and Welfare has set a deadline at October 15 for complaints, suggestions, and comments on Title IX. If it is ratified by the proper number of states, as it stands, it will go into effect on January 1, 1975. What does it mean for Elon? Dr. Baxter explained, using Housing as the major example and only if the bill is passed as it stands, the alternatives are: 1) Men’s rules could be made more restrictive, and parallel those women’s rules: curfew, sign in and out. House Fathers, etc. 2) Women’s rules could be more liberalized. 3) The third alternative would be to “Strike some middle ground.” Whatever the case. Dr. Baxter assured us that “The Col lege will obey the law as soon as we find out what it is.” by Al Mann Whenever and whatever, these are not the questions. But the answers may possibly be you and now. Why settle for an indefinite goal, or an indifferent goal, when the time for making ties with self and others is now? Strange . . . maybe. But what are questions? A vehicle to provide answers? Sometimes maybe, but many times the starting point; a point from which to branch out and develop roots. There are some students at Elon who have a common starting point; a point from which hypocrisy rises that others will surely see. More about this later. There’s a lot of hypocrisy around, right? Example: The church. The church is seen by many as a great social insti tution with a little religion on the side. But . . . have you ever stopped to think that roads can’t be straightened by making a detour? Separation cannot and will not help to change, right? So, hypocrisy abounds on the other foot, too. The church acts, bystanders don’t. There have to be working parts, visible parts, and commitment ... by you and me. Anyway, about the previously undeclared subject, hypoc risy will exist until the person(s) or system(s) are made per fect. How many of us are perfect, none. An excuse, never, just a claim to humanity. There are students here who are striving to make themselves better thru Christian commit ment and growth experiences. These groups are varied and I’d like to introduce them to you. The Elon College Fellowship is a good starting point (since I’m a fellow fellowshipper in it). We can’t be definite since I’m writing this before school starts, but I can try. It’s a group of all kinds who have many differences and common points. Activities include contempo rary worship, Bible studies, and retreats, and out-reach teams who go to area churches. If you’re interested in a lot of fun as well, check the chapel door for times (the chapel is a room on 2nd floor Alamance at the end of the left side). The Mathatians is a school sponsored organization. It maintains a Big-Brother program with the Elon Home for Children and primarily consists of students entering a full-time Christian profession. But Everyone is welcome to participate. Another group is the Baptist Student Union (Interde nominational) which is just establishing itself on this campus. It offers a great variety of programs including speakers, movies, etc. All three groups have out-reach teams, participate in the Tuesday morning deals and claim a common bond in Christ’s church . . . We invite you all to become a part of the ministry on this campus, however you may feel, or how discreet, or dynamic you may be. We’re all different, but we’re all here. That’s it for now, but far from all there is. You’ll hear from us and we’d sure like some feedback, participation, and any thing else you have to offer. The end, or the start, whichever. S.G.A. President, Mark Mancini Views The Upcoming Year The main objectives of the administration and student government are to make cam pus life better than it has been in the past; to take a look at what the students want instead of just keeping the status quo; to go beyond the classroom and make life outside the classroom a learn ing experience; to improve living conditions in the dormi tories; and eliminate our suit case college label. The coffee house was torn down this summer. It was originally built as a temporary building, only a small ‘click’ of students have used it, and now, the building itself is fall ing down. Movies can be shown in Whitley, the union, or outside when the weather permits us. Possibly, the same atmosphere could be ob tained in the basement of Mooney, if enough students are interested. Storage may be picked up in Mooney 111. Another reason for this is that we would like to get more use out of the student union. We are changing the rooms around and in the process of acquiring more games and equipment for relaxation. To cut down on the vandalism, students have been hired to supervise the new materials. We want to keep these things there and in working order so they can be used. Communications has been a problem in the past. With the radio station and the newspaper we hope to fill this gap. Professionally, the stu dent radio station should be in working order by the end of this fall, at the earliest. Some equipment has been ob tained and a frequency search is now being conducted. From now on, everyone should be just as informed as the S.G.A. on activities. It is a major necessity on campus to keep everyone informed. To see what the students want and for them to be more involved in their government, there will be a General As sembly. The administration has come to us and wants suggestions, with this assem bly in coordination with the Senate should be able to give developed ideas and plans for improvements. The purpose behind the small, private dining hall built this summer in McEwen, is to have students dine with ad ministrators as well as for ad ministrative business. This is another effort being made by the officials for better lines of communication. Instead of spending two thirds of the S.G.A. funds on entertainment for Homecom ing and Spring Weekend, there will be more of a spread ing of these funds. We will be trying to please more of the student body. After this budget is set in the fall. I’d like to have a public hearing in order to get the reactions of the students on the hand ling of their money. It is important to get the students here to do more than go to class. The abolishment of apathy is possible with in terest, and work. More than ever before, the S.G.A. and administration are listening and taking action on the prob lems which have caused such an apathetic campus. On visitation we need a pooling of ideas. The initial ideals and thoughts of the col lege is on supervision and the cost of it. We would have to come up with an economically suitable way of having visita tion in the men’s dorms. There is a need for a committee formed of people interested in this problem; however, open visitation is out, this be ing a Christian school, it is against the moral limitations that go wth our status. During the years I’ve been involved with the student gov ernment, the administration has just been worried about the administration and really didn’t give a damn about the students. This year it seems to have changed and the ad- ministrtaion is interested with how the student feels and what he thinks. I’m opttimistic- ally looking forward to this year because the administra tion is on the side of the stu dents and anything they do will be to enhance, not ham per student life. They are get ting away from impressing (Continued on Back Page)

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