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E. C NEWS - LIBERATED PRESS vol. 1 ELON COLLEGE February 28,4969 No. 13 Prom The President Chapel: What's Happening The S.G.A. President must be concerned with what is of concern to the students in general. There can be little doubt that the required Chapel point system is of concern and it takes little intuition to figure that most students are opposed to this system. Therefore, the ques tion is not: “Whether or not to stand opposed to required chapel?”; but “Whether or not to try and change the situation?” and if so, “How?” In keeping with an old promise, to do things, my fellow officers and I know we had no choice but to try and change the present situation. We felt, however, that it was very important to deal with this issue in a judicious and diplomatic manner. The course of action we mapped out was quite simple and based on the following information given to us by the administration and sources of our own. For quite a while I operated under the assumption that a special joint committee would be appointed during the winter term to discuss the present required system. This had been proposed by the presi- dent of the college at an administration-student conference at Blowing Rock last October, but it never materialized. When this assumption fell through, I decided that a general poll would be useful in gauging the seriousness of the matter and in de- termining what changes were needed. From past experience, the S.G.A. officers knew that any poll could be easily discredited by the administration as was the Food Plan Poll of last spring. (It was deemed “unobjective”.) Thus, 1 met with Dr. Danieley to draw up a poll which he could fully agree to-thus validating its results. After some discussion, a compromise poll was finally composed and agreed upon. The “Chapel Poll” was taken at registration to insure the greatest number of voters. Of the 829 voters, 87.3% felt that there should be "no required attendance for any type of program.” This seems to me to be a fairly clear mandate tor change. With the rapid turnover in the college administration, the College President became relatively out of touch, and 1 was told that any change must come from the Board of Trustees. I had no alternative but to do exactly that. We knew that the change to the present point system was not done by the Trustees, but that the (ate of a large number of students who are desperately deficient in points (including many seniors hoping to graduate) rests apparently m the Board’s hands. While there seems to be reluctance in releasing the actual figures on how many students are behind in their points, the figure of about 1000, (for the first semester) slipped out. Of these, a great many are in very serious trouble, having less than 5 points. We do know that the new system was not listed in the 1968-69 Elon College Catalogue, nor in the new Student Handbook. (Perhaps that old saying of “If you don’t like it, why did you come here?” does not hold much water in this case.) We also know that at least the old system allowed for spe cial cases by saying: “A student who is absent over the above limit will be required to show cause why he should be permitted to remain to school.” Under the new system, we seem to have thrown out our small-college identity as well as a few Christian principles by elim- inating any understanding in the matter and saying: “Those not having 30 points at the end of the year will not be permitted to return in the fall. Seniors will not be allowed to graduate. No exceptions will be made to this rule.” I have always been able to “show cause for re maining in school,” but I find the prospect of completing four years of satisfactory college work and not being able to graduate, or return in the fall, a little repulsive. (Apparently, 1 am not alone.) Further, we have been informed that the faculty must vote on all matters that affect graduation. This has not been done. We know, too, that the rationale for distributing points has been somewhat inconsis tent; leaving out any student sponsored events (which might be just s important as the college programs and many times, more interesting.) To be quite honest, we have learned from the numerous unfortunate experiences in Chapels, Lyceums, and outstanding visiting scholar programs that we do not want any points for our programs. As a gen eral rule, we would rather have fifty interested people than five hun dred noisy, disinterested, and rude, point-seekers. (However, the college feels so obligated to abide by an arbitrary rule that will do such harm to 2/3 of its students as the President has indicated, then I am not sure what we will do.) . , With the above information in mind, we are pursuing a relatively logical course of action. A booklet on Required Chapel is being compiled to be given to each member of the Board of Trustees. It ’flu include the results of the chapel poll; a copy of the resolution on Chapel which was passed by the Student Senate; position papers from two ministers of the United Church of Christ, from three faculty “embers, from the co-editors of “Veritas”, andtheS.G.A. officers. On March 4, I will meet with the Board of Trustees’ Educational Committee and urge their consideration of this issue and pus or change. Next, if tradition is kept, the student leaders (Senators, oi- Hcers, etc.) will have lunch with the board. At this time the prob em be discussed on an individual basis. (1 am afraid we may ^ wvited this year!) From there it is up to the Board. This group proven in the past to be. at times, very concerned with the students I am confident of their judgment. I have to be! For if they s an the present system-Elon’s future and the future of a large par (See NUMBER 4, Page 3) Grading; System .MacCreary Gets Senate Report We, the tomorrow of America, need a change. This is not 1930, when your father was paddled for a low grade. We should not be treated the same; therefore, study your grading system.-are chan ges needed? and ask? Veritas’ readers have recently read the article “Do We Need Grades?” Yes, but Professor Phil Owens, Bill Swartz, Todd Bridgeford, Earle White, and my self think there is a tremendous amount of room for improve ment, We are investigating the grading systems at other colleges and universities; such as Pfeif fer, St. Mary’s, Yale, Princeton, and Duke. Questions which may interest the intellectual readers of Veri tas are: Will graduate school accept a Bass-Fail grading sys tem? How will an Honor Student be noted? What is theprofessor -student ratio in this newsystem? Mark D. Stephens New Draft Law Last year the new draft law provision made most graduate student deferments obsolete. Ma ny graduate school administra tors criticize this provision be cause their programs would be severely disadvantaged. The number of graduate students en rolled is approximately the same as last year. This may be be cause local draft boards are not fully geared to the new systems. It appears likely that many grad uate students will be draftet while in the middle of their studies. Dance On Friday, March 7, the Sopho more class will sponsor a dance fn McEwen Dining Hall. The music will be provided by a group from Charlotte, the “Poor Souls”, with Neil “Captain” Henning serving as Master of Ceremonies. Miss Sheri McGirt, Vice-Pre- sident of the Sophomore Class, is heading the Sophomore Class Dance Committee. She has been aiding in making preparations for the dance by the other class officers, the class senators, and a committee of sophomores. Although the Sophomore Class will be the guests of honor at the dance, all Elon students and their dates ’ will be admitted free of charge, and refreshments will be served, Chaperonage for the dance wiU be provided by Miss Ruth Doyle (who R.S.S. wants a date with), Mr. Robert Baxter, and Mr. Tyrone Rowell. Mr. Lee Roy, President of the Sophomore Class, urges all students to come out to’the dance, March 7. New Post Mr. R. Craig MacCreary, a sophomore from White Plaim , N.Y., has been appointed by the president of the S.G.A. to head the newly established post of “Student Services Officer.” The “Student Services Officer” posi tion was founded recently by Pre- sident Allen specifically to fur ther this year’s S.G.A. pledge to be responsive to the Students’ needs and problems. According to Allen, the new position is designed to stream line the responsive machinery of the S.G.A. office, short cutting the need of taking complaints, questions, and special problems directly to the President. Mr. MacCreary will be authorized to hear complaints, question, etc. and respond and/or answer on the basis of the special information available to him and his contact with the S.G.A. executive. Allen stated that: “With our efforts regarding Chapel, drinking regu- lations, the Radio, collection of S.G.A. fees, in-class-discrimi nation because of appearance, and the countless other student is sues, the S.G.A. could easily fall out. of. touch with the student or lose valuable time before assis ting in important concerns. The new Student Services Officer will leave the executive more free dom to deal with the major prob lems at hand, preventing a gen. eral bog-down due to an over- load or over-extension.” For Mr. MacCreary’s office to become effective and meaning ful, students need to understand what relation and responsibilities lie has to the S.G.A. executive. While many students with special question will be referred direct ly to him, the S.G.A. officers will remain at all times willing to hear any student. Craig will, however, have up-to-date files on what is being done bytheS.G.A. on all fronts. In his new capacity he will be able to guarantee much faster response to the individual student either in consultation with the executive or in special nego- tiation for the President. MacCreary is leaving his pre vious post as Special Aide to the S.G.A. President, whereheserv- ed as a ranking member since last May. Although his main con cern will be with his new post, he will still remain as an asso ciate aide. The new Student Ser vices Officer has in the past chaired the Special President’s Commission on Local Police and Community Relations, the Joint Religious Life Committee, ana worked with the Joint Honor Sys tem Revisions Committee, Notice The Episcopal Church Campus Center on NorthO’- Kelly Avenue, which receiv ed feature coverage in Ver itas has decided to extend serving free refreshments through the first week of March. It is hoped that stu dents and faculty will take advantage of this service. The Campus Center or “All Saints Coffee House” is lo cated directly behind Mr. Danieley*s padL Tuesday evening the Senate became the scene of a crisp de bate between the Speaker, Mr. Paul Bleiberg and Sophomore Senator, Mr. Lee Loy. This de bate arose because several of Mr. Loy*s bills were not ready to be introduced. Mr. Loy con tended that the bills should be presented since he had submitted ^hem in time. He insisted that it was not his responsibility to see that the bills were prepared for the meeting. Mr. Bleiberg con tended that the bills were not of major importance and did not have to be presented. After much debate the Senate, ruled in favor of Mr. Loy, Besides the debate, the senate acted upon several ofter impor- tant matters. TheSenatepasseda bill setting up a committee to in vestigate the action taken by the administration on resolutions passed by the Senate. The Senate then defeated a resolution seeking to retire Burgin Beale’s jersey. The Senate then passed all new bills before them in their appro priate committees. Then after several announcements they ad journed. Several of the Senate Committees met after the meet ing to make arrangements to dis cuss some of the new bills. Notes From The Shrink Dr. Ben Williams, of the Coun seling Center, announces that a new Chronicle Guidance Occupa tional Library is available in the Counseling Center (R. 113 Ala- mance) for the use of students and others interested. The Occupational Library pro vides current information about specific jobs, scholarships, and college expenses. It also adds a large number of pamphlets, oc cupational briefs, reprints, and poster materials, to the material already available in the college. Additional accurate and useful information about jobs and edu cational opportunities will be re ceived each month from Chron icle Guidance Publications, the publishers of the Occupational Library, to keep the material current and up-to-date. The Counseling Center invites interested parties to make use of the Chronicle Occupational Li brary to help answer their voca tional and educational questions. Commission On Drinking S.G.A. President Noel Allen has appointed a special commission to investigate student attitudes on the consumption of alcoholic bev erages. The commission will be under the chairmanship of Dennis Kopec. As a part of their inves- tigation a poU of students was held on Feb. 26,1969. The results will be made public, andpresent- ed to the board of trustees along with certain suggestions for pos sible changes in drinking regu lations at the Spring meeting in March.
Elon University Student Newspaper
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Feb. 28, 1969, edition 1
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