Newspapers / The Guilfordian (Greensboro, N.C.) / March 30, 1927, edition 1 / Page 2
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Page Two THE GUILFORDIAN Published weekly by the Zatasian, Henry Clay, Philomathean, and Web- Bterian Literary Societies. Editorial Staff •Joseph J. Cox Editor-in-Chief Ira Guthry Newlin . . . Managing Editor Frances Osborne Associate Editor Robert Atkinson Associate Editor Miss N. Era Lasley .... Alumni Editor George P. Wilson .... Faculty Adviser Miss Dorothy Gilbert .. Faculty Adviser Reporters Marie Barnes Elizabeth Braswell Sarah Edgerton Edwin Rozell Gurney Collins Robert Atkinson Reginald Marshall Alma Hassel Sudie Cox Paul Reynolds Sallie Wilkins Turner Moon Business Staff Scott Benton Business Manager Alice Hazard Secretary Thelma King Circulation Mgr. Address all communications to THE GUILFORDIAN, Guilford College, N. C. Subscription price $1.50 per year Entered at the post office in Guilford College, N. C., as second class mail matter. Member of North Carolina Collegiate Press Association. The Editor The editor, he sits around • And wonders what to write; He's got to think up something good, But must not start a fight. The editor, he wants the dope, He wants the news and stuff; 'Most any little jokes will do, Though it mustn't be too rough. The editor, he wants to know When folks go for a frolic; 'Bout marriages (or even dates!) Or a cure for baby's colic; Promotions, transfers and the like, And what's become of Jimmie," And for anything original, Why, say, his name is "Gim me." The editor, he sits around And wonders what to write; He looks for news the whole day long And prays for it at night. Well, let's all help the editor, Let's deluge him with newsy news Until he cries "Enough!" —Elkin Tribune. ►+* LITERARY SOCIETIES A Suggestion About a Form of Program That Might Be An Improvement Literary societies at Guilford are either on the decline or are already dead —just according to what one considers the work of such an or ganization. As a mild form of fraternity and sorority organization and the spon sors of practically the only aesthetic social functions of the college year, the societies have their place and have filled it well; but as far as the literary accomplishments and benefits to the average member, that is the question of dispute among the men. The present type of pro gram that these organizations arc rendering in the minds of at least three-fourths of the members is not worth the time involved. Others consider that the experience re ceived from debating and the pa tience developed by having to lis ten to these debates is beneficial. The average attendance at the two men's societies is from one third to lialf of tlie membership. After asking members of both so cieties why they did not attend reg ularly, we have arrived at the fol lowing explanation of the lack of interest. Monotonous Programs A question is selected for debate. Four men are drafted to debate. Pour men wait until Thursday or Friday and then collect a little ma terial. Four men stand up and argue in a mechanical, uninformed way some stock query. Four men sit down and their audience sighs and hopes that the traditional "second number" will be more en tertaining. There are exceptions, we will grant, when a creditable de hate is conducted, hut this is the exception rather than the rule. Why should a group of students be expected to attend society every Friday night and act as an audi ence for four men to practice upon ? No one would expect this same group to attend a debate at Mem Hall every Friday. If listening to the speeches was educational it would he different, but even the regular attenders admit that only once in a long period occurs a cred itable debate that is in the least in-1 formational. A Suggestion What we want to suggest for consideration is that both of the men's societies should change the type of program to one similar to the Di Senate at Chapel Hill. In this organization a question or bill is brought up before the body and a form of general discussion fol lows as in a legislative assembly. Anyone interested or informed on the question can speak. The advantages that we see in this plan are numerous, but we will limit ourselves to the following points: Advantages of Change It would increase attendance by arousing interest through allow ing anyone to speak. Questions of campus interest could be discussed and the meetings would be an in terest-arousing melting pot for campus squabbles; the need is easily seen. With something of in terest to everybody, there would be an incentive to participate, where as under the present condition a meeting is expected to be more or less a bore and usually is due to lack of interest and preparation on the part of the debaters. It would better accomplish the aims of the present system. As we understand it, the aim is to adapt a man better for thinking on his feet and speaking in public. But one of the most important aims, ac cording to the constitutions of both societies, is to teach parliamentary procedure. We venture that not a single president of either society during this year knows more than that a motion requires a second un der ordinary circumstances and that if another motion is being con sidered a second motion would be out of order. In fact, that seems to be firmly set; a privileged mo tion for adjournment is out of or der if a question is being consid ered, according to current opinion of presiders. As for speaking in public and thinking on your feet, we contend that the new system would require more originality and the ability to think, not recite, on your feet would be absolutely nec- THE GUILFORDIAN OPEN FORUM Editor's Note —The GITII.KOHDIAN through the Open Forum column invites the student body to submit articles for publication. Realizing the need of a melting pot of campus squabbles, special attention will be given to future con tributions. All articles must be signed by their author or authors and should be in the hands of the editor before ( o'clock Sunday evening. SOME SUGGESTIONS for More Interesting and Beneficial Literary Societies At the beginning of each school year the students think there is nothing so great or wonderful as being a member of one of the literary societies. There is a great deal of enthusiasm on the part of the old men to secure new mem bers from the freshman class. This great pep seems to be short-lived, for it soon dies out. Today I'm safe in saying that the hoys have little or no interest in so ciety work. Each Friday night we find only a meager handful of members present. There is some excuse for a few of the absentees, but not for the most. The great majority lack inter est. They have no desire to learn to express themselves in public, but figure that their superfluous supply will carry them through life. If this crowd of non-attendants were asked why they did not attend society they would say: "Society work does not interest me, there is nothing to the society, or I don't enjoy it myself." It its doubtful whether these fellows mean what they say. Everyone knows that the more one participates in so ciety work the better speaker he will become. The trouble is that these fel lows don't know just what they want. They expect something from the so ciety that it can not give them. They would like the society to be a place for fun and also to have il to turn into a playhouse. To a certain extent the society should be interesting entertaining to all. It ought to be a pla'ce where folk could derive some benefit from being there. Then comes the question, how can we carry on society work and interest all? llow can we make the society really worth while? A solution lies in the program, I think, and it is this part of the society which needs a shak ing up. We don't need a debate week after week. It grows tiresome. The boys want variety. As some sugges tions would say, turn the program into an open forum discussion, introduce a short dialogue of some sort, put on humorous numbers, music goes good in the society. If we want to debate on a good, live issue, all well and good. In connection with debates especially the speakers should not wait until time for society to get up a speech. A mock trial is interesting as well as' instruc tive. I think we ought to have more of them. These are suggestions I would say to follow. These can be made interest ing if the right person is put on the right task. If we make our programs more appealing to the boys our at tendance is sure to increase. If we create an interest the boys will hate to miss rather than as now hate to go. and don't. WILMEK L. STEELE. essary. It would give more expe rience to the average member lie cause everyone interested could participate. Why Not Try It? The system has worked at Chapel Hill and even in preparatory schools, so why can't it be utilized at Guilford to restore two organiza tions to former importance? We say that it can be accomplished gradually by introducing more par liamentary procedure into the so ciety meetings until the member ship is possed of rudimentary knowledge of "Roberts' Rules of Order." There has been a marked decline in attendance and amount of interest shown in the literary societies this year. In years past the literary socie ties have weilded a powerful influence over the social and intellectual life of the undergraduate students at Guil ford, but this is largely a thing of the past. Attendance at society is spas modic and irregular, many society members attending just often enough to fulfill the requirements for member ship while many other students have ceased to be affiliated with any society. When such conditions confront us it is time to ask the question, "What is the matter with our literary societies?" The easiest answer, the answer requir ing the least thought is: There are other things more interesting than so ciety. This is the answer most of us give and we act according to it. The real answer is that the societies are not fulfilling their objective. Each so ciety has as its object: to arouse in terest in current questions, to improve the social, moral and intellectual facul ties of its members and to give its mem bers a thorough acquaintance with par -1 iamenta ry procedure. llow are the societies attempting to do this? They present a series of mo notonous cut and dried programs, in which four speakers with little or 110 preparation discuss the same old ques tions over and over and the rest of those present sit and suffer in silence. This gives little chance for intellec tual development and the way the order of business is conducted gives no chance to learn the intricate process of parliamentary procedure. There are probably several days to remedy the situation. I would like to suggest one that has been tried and found successful by the Di Senate at Carolina. Here, instead of a cut and dried debate and a minor second "lill in" number, a bill, relating to some important state, national or interna tional policy is introduced as it would be in our State Assembly. This system has many advantages over the present one. For one tiling, there is a free discussion in which all may take part. This alone is an in centive for everyone to prepare himself on the subject. It gives those who are best informed a chance to express their views and a much better general knowl edge of the subject is conveyed to every member present than by the present system. Then, too, it gives much bet ter practice in quick thinking, organi zation of thought and clear, coherent expression of thought than a formal debate. Finally, it does give true training in parliamentary procedure from every possible angle. In the discussion of a bill so introduced questions of parlia mentary law are bound to arise, and to see these principles in operation im presses them clearly 011 the individual's mind. Then as (lie discussion ends and the bill is voted on, it gives one an un derstanding of our governmental sys tem that cannot be obtained by our present type of program. The present system is admittedly a failure. The proposed plan has possi bilities of making the literary societies a vital factor in our college life. It lias worked at Carolina and I believe is worthy of a trial. EDWIN H. IIOZELL. 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The Guilfordian (Greensboro, N.C.)
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March 30, 1927, edition 1
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