Wednesday, October
PAGE 2
West Dorm
Follies
“Puritanism - The haunting
fear that someone, somewhere
may be happy.” ..H.L. Menken
Back in the days when Grover
Cleveland was president, back
when T*ars still ruled the Russi-
as, back before the Great War and
the Spanish American War, and
back before our parents were
born, in the days when our grand
parents were young, Elon College
was founded at Mill Point, N.C.
Even today it still can be said
that most of the students, faculty,
and administration have been
more or less inclined to keep the
institution in its original setting. -
an archaic model of Southern ci
vility, Victorian propriety.
Of course, I suppose something
can be said for the fact that we
are residing in the midst of a
Twentieth Century anachronism,
that our History Department can
boast to other schools that among
other curiosities we have, in ma
ny respects, a living exhibition of
nineteenth century Americana,
and that we have yet to advance
into the scary darkness of this
century. However, discountingthe
tourist value of such attractions,
I hardly feel that we should con.
tinue to foster the spirit of reac
tion at Elon.
For example, look at the regu-
lations governing the conduct of
women at Elon, They are enough
to make a nun feel that she is being
persecuted. Indeed, a nun must
only obey three commandments
--“poverty, chastity, and obedi
ence”. As if these are not hard
enough, the Elon co-ed must also
accept a vast number of written
and unwritten commandments,
many of which are quaint but
hardly logical.
For example, the girls must
submit to an arbitrary system of
room inspection, as if it were
someone’s business as to the ap
pearance of their cells. The "call
down” system appears to be in
need of definite revision and in
many cases it can be taken ad
vantage of and can be singularly
inequitable. The bermuda shorts
ruling is questionable, the hours
are based on a high school cri-
teria, and the whole series of con-
fusing and seemingly unwritten
rules should be reexamined.
Lastly, the definition of “unlady
like conduct” is surely worth
exploring.
It should be fairly obvious that
many of these commandments are
totally antiquated, and although
Martha Washington might ap
prove, this is no reason to assume
that they are practical or logical.
It can only be hoped that Elon’s
“scarlet daughters” will demand
some kind of revision of rules.
However, until they decide to do
this I susiject they will be compel
led to remain in their same, quiet,
cloistered environment, as Elon’s
unwilling Victorians. B.C.S.
Past I’residenls
('on fere lice
One of the lesser publicized
• but nevertheless important, ev
ents of the HomecomingWeekend
was a Saturday meeting of the
Past Presidents of the Student
Government Association. Noel Al
len called the meeting in an at
tempt to gain more understanding
in the proper role of the Presi
dent.
Those in attendance were: Lar
ry Barnes, 1956-57; Ed Boelte,
1960-61; C.V. May, 1966-67; and
Furman Mosley, 1955- 56.
Distance from Elon or military
service made the attandance of
others at the conference impos
sible.
VERITAS
30, 1%8
Lette/ts try tke- Editor
Editors of Veritas;
First of all, let me extend a
hale and hearty welcome to a news
media that has for so long been
lacking at Elon College, Need
less to say, this will be the stu
dents’ chance to get things ac
complished through action. Your
paper, with its liberated press, is
an immense improvement over
the other well- known school pub
lication which seems to have fal
len into a pool of stagnation.
It clearly takes an independent-
minded staff to have the guts to
call to the attention of the Ad
ministration some of the absur
dities of the great, all new 1969
chapel system. I, too, fail to see
why the Administration refuses
chapel credit for such events as
the Liberal Arts Forum. Contem
porary Affairs Symposium and
Fine Arts Festival with a com
bined total expenditure of over
$11,000.00, 1 cannot possibly see
the reason for absolute blindness
of an Administration which re
fuses to recognize such a great
expenditure for the cultural up
lifting of Elon students. This pro-
gram represents an expenditure
of virtually 1/3 of the S.G.A, bud
get. One. third, can you imagine
that being ignored? I can’t!
Secondly, I wish to go on rec
ord supporting the official state
ment of the S.G.A. Religious Life
Committee regarding the matter
of on campus drinking of alcoholic
beverages. Three clonks of a beer
stein for the intestinal fortitude
(culture again) to coqje forth with
a liberated viewpoint such as this,
I support this action as a basic
human, moralistic right with re
serve. It should be noted that Da
vidson College has since adopted
the policy allowing on-campus
drinking. It, too, is a church-
supported school. However, there
is one, great, vast difference be
tween Elon and Davidson students.
Davidson has mature students who
think and accomplish things. They
are not the same immature, bel
ter- skelter students that inhabit
Elon’s hallowed walls. I don’t
think we are ready.
A case in point, let us take a
look at the matur^?) Elong stu
dents’ behavior atthe recital giv
en under the auspices of the Ly
ceum Series by Mr, Robert Guth-
erie. Classical Guitarist, I am
ashamed to say that I sat through
the same torture as Mr, Gutherie,
To Mr, Gutherie I extend my
deepest apologies for the infantile
behavior of the student body,
I thou^t that after the last re
cital program SOME of the stu
dents mi^t have learned to be
have, Unfortunately, it is quite
the contrary, I had the unfortunate
honor of arriving at Whitley Audi
torium only to be ushered up.
stairs into “Peanut Heaven,”
Among the topics coming up DUR
ING the performance were (1)
Who’s shacking up with whom at:
a) Holiday Inn, b) Fleetwood, c)
Kirk’s for homecoming, (2) Coach
Wilson’s crackdown on the foot-
Publicus
By EARLE WHITE
As in the Presidential campaign the N.C. gubernatorial campaign
offers the voters a mediocre choice for governor.
It is distressing to know that neither Bob Scott nor Jim Gardner
have effectively brought the issues to voters. Gardner refers to the
current administration as “the Moore-Scott Whitewash administra-
tion”. Scott declares that “North Carolina does not want a ready
made, a public relations-made governor”. Certainly these state
ments can not be pictured as a constructive discussion of the issues
in this campaign. Both Gardner and Scott have resorted to personal
attacks in order to get votes. Whoever can sling the most mud can get
the most votes.
Although the campaign and candidates are mediocre, Scott and Gard-
ner seem at least passively concerned with the educational establish
ment in North Carolina. Mr, Gardner emphasizes the need to bring the
teacher’s salaries up to the national level. Mr, Scott also seems some
what concerned about education when he advocates a program of vo
cational training in high school. Better education, which both candi
dates support, is the only salient issue of the campaign which both
candidates discuss at any length,
Mr. Gardner emphasizes, at length, the great need for a progres
sive, dynamic administration for North Carolina, Of course, Mr, Gard
ner chose not to reveal to whom his progressive, dynamic administra
tion will be directed. Who will benefit from a Gardner Administra.
tion? Will it be the numerous financiers ofhis campaign or will it be
the white backlash vote? It can be concluded from Gardner’s Congres
sional voting record that his will not be the progressive administra
tion that he so ardently proclaims. For instance, Gardner has consis
tently voted against any civil rights legislation, including the Open
Housing section of last year’s Civil Rights Act.
There seems no chance for the poor, underprivileged citizen to
better his predicament under a Gardner or Scott administration. The
minority group most affected by the candidates’ whitewashing of this
critical issue will be the uneducated Negro. The black minority,
especially, has no choice in this campaign. With Reginald Hawkins out
of the race to whom will the black people of North Carolina turn? Both
Scott and Gardner are against any state or Federal open-housing law
which North Carolina sorely needs. Both candidates, especially
Gardner, would cut off anti-poverty funds which seek to aid the poor,
Gardner, like George Wallace, seeks to return the school boards
back to local control.
It also is interesting to note that Mr, Gardner’s campaign is being
directed to the supporters of George Wallace. Gardner has given Wal
lace tacit support by stating that he (Gardner) disagrees with nothing
Wallace says. Like Wallace, Gardner plays on the fears of the disaf
fected white vote by emphasizing his campaign to restore “law and
order” and voting against any legislation that seeks to aid the black
citizens of North Carolina,
With the emphasis on personal attacks instead of a sane discussion
of the issues, neither candidate offers a reasonable choice for gover
nor of North Carolina in 1968. Instead of uniting the state both candi
dates encourage divisiveness. Instead of relieving the plight of North
Carolina’s black population both candidates give lip. service to this
issue.
ball team. (3) Whether Wallace
will take Alamance County.
In additioii to the above I ob
served (1) one ambitious fellow
using his tie muoh as one would
use a towel in a vowel fi^t. (2)
one dainty? young lady who smo-
ked three cigarettes during the
intermission INSIDE the auditor
ium. (3) After intermission one
fellow who very casually brought
his drink in and munched on the
ice. Not only those above cited
instances but the whispering and
coughing became so intense in the
second half that you could not
even hear the performance. And
last, but not least, my guillotine
blade strikes a blow to those who
rushed (ran) out of the balcony
without extending the common
courtesy at one encore (This
group is not to be confused with
imbecilic clods that got up and
started to walk out before the
program was finished.)
Indeed, I support drinking on
campus, but until there Is a def
inite improvement in the conduct
of the student body, which hope
fully would indicate a maturing
student; until that time I feel that
the only bottle outside of those for
carbonated drinks should be a
baby bottle to encourage the stu
dent body to grow up.
Apologetically yours,
Dan L. Livingston
Dear Editor,
I offer the following questions
to the Administration;
1. Why does the Administration
ignore student pleas iirtien the vast
majority of students want a change
in the food system?
2. When is the Administration
going ta realise its policies on no
drinking do not make any sense
in this day and age?
3. Why are Elon students re
quired to take six hours of relig.
ion in a school which is “church,
related” in name only?
4. When is the chapel program
either going to apply fairly to all
programs or be abolished?
5. Why won’t the Administra
tion at least listen to the students’
opinions and suggestions in refer
ence to some of the various “pro
fessors” here?
6. Why does every building
contractor, which Elon hires, fall
behind schedule?
7. Wliy does the Administration
continually praise Elon’s growth
yet does not make any movement
to adapt to this growth?
Although some of these ques
tions may not seem relative i«*en
taken atone, I believe, as a whole,
they form the basis of the discon
tent that is prevalent at Elon Col.
lege. What I want to know is:
when is the Administration going
to attempt to answer these ques.
tions?
David O. Bowden
Box 4232
Dear Editor:
Certain students, being incap
able of using the opportunities
for education and enjoyment af
forded them at Elon, refuse to let
others make the most of these
privileges.
Witness the last two Lyceum
programs. In times past the ar
tist sponsored by the Lyceum has
had fairly large and appreciative
audiences comprised mainly of
students and local townspeople
who enjoy the performing arts.
Recently, however, due to a
regretable change in t^e chapel
system these two Lyceum artists
have been mistreated, during
their performances by a large
number of ill mannered, unap
preciative students who could
not enjoy the programs and would
Veritas
editioria! staff
CO-editors
barton c. shav/
randall s. spencer
sports editor
charles t. butler
lay-out editor
raymond y. sorrel I
associate editors
david' spicer
earl white
advertising manager
linda 1. long
reportorial staff
glenda baird
richard beam
joy fisher
tom harris
cheryl hopkins
kathy mangum
margie mcclung
denny mcquire
edv\/ard mcginnis
john mcconnell
carrol mckinney
morrov/ miller
ann patterson
nancy reger
bee skipsey
bruce v/ashburn
barbara waugh
linsey wyatt
publisher
noel alien
not allow others to do so.
Such fine artists as Charles
Lynam and Robert Guthrie ought
not to be subjected to the humi
liation of such students whose
acts undermine the reputation ol
the schooL
I propose that Elon try some
other method of increasing the
school spirit and culture of
her uncivilized few. Those stu.
dents who enjoy the Lyceum
programs (there are some)
should not have to be embar
rassed by the conduct of their |
fellows as many of us have been j
at the last two Lyceum programs, j
Ellen Rose Barnes ,
To the Editors:
The much talked-about ana
long- awaited Veritas finally rol
led off the presses, and ator
reading every word, this reaoer
was very much pleased. It’s^
to know that there is now fin
ally a newspaper on campus
is my voice and the voice of every
student at Elon. , ,
The articles were varied ana
interesting; the writing was
cellent; the statements oi »■
tent and editorials were tirin“
explicit. It appears to me tw
this is truly a newspaper y
and for the students.
I want to personally thank
entire staff for
berated press at Elon Itbe^j
snap me out of Lg
I’m sure it did many stude^
Students can now \>e umted W
and heard through the
This is definitely an
and great step forwar j
a better college
hope all students will
utilize the Varitas, j,
they all take as much pn^
this accomplishment “
You have my gratitude an
Steve Piy«