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THE GUILFORDIAN
Published Semi-Monthly by the Students of Guilford College
Eilitor-in-Chief Ernest White
Managing Editor i Frances Alexander
Assistant Managing Editor Mary Edith Woody
Business Manager Marvin Sykes
SPECIAL EDITORS
Feature Editors R. Poole, Charlotte Parker, Anna Jean Bonhani
Sports Editor Clyde liedding
Alumni Editor Miss Era Lasley
Assistant Alumni Editor Mary Bryant
Society Editor Marguerite Neave
Typing Editor I'utli Fuquay
REPORTERS
John McNairy Billy Anderson Earl Maloney
Howard Wooiey William Collier Merman Trivette
Louise Ward L. T. New Gladys Melville
Winston Davis Claude Ilepler Ida Mae Iliggins
Jim Parsons Esther Stilson Gladys Bryan
SECRETARIAL STAFF
Elizabeth Gilleara Mary Weber Millie Gilsson
Ruth Anderson Edith -Moore Geraldine McLean
Circulation Manager Earl Kuykendall
Asistant Circulation Manager Mack Ray Robinson
Assistant Business Manager John Bradshaw
Aduress all communication to TIIE GUILFORDIAN,
Guilford College, N. C.
Subscription price $1.50 per year
Entered at the post office in Guilford College as second class matter
Can We Kill It?
Like a many-headed hydra, the problem of broadening the social
life on the Guilford College campus hisses at the leaders of the student
body.
Each head represents a group of people who must be removed from
the group in which they, through various circumstances, find them
selves, and amalgamated into the whole, if the satisfactory solution
to the whole is to be reached.
The biggest head and the one that breathes fire constantly is "Man's
injustice to man," the eternal Selfishness. People there are, about one
in five 011 the Guilford campus, according to data collected, who con
sider that self is the common denominator of society. "I will look
out for myself, and you can look out for yourself." "I am not my
brother's keeper." Not so large in numbers, this group is the most
heard from, for they thrust themselves forward.
Elusive, yet not so offensive, the bead of Timidity is more easily
downed, yet left to itself it is practically immortal.
There is a windmill nearby, not at all connected with the hydra of
social expansion. Most of those who have so far said, "I will slay the
monster," have shivered their lances against the windmill and gone
home saying, "Unless the windmill is killed the monster cannot be."
The windmill is Insurmountable Rules.
A group of leaders has been selected by the people to attack the
problem. A fortnight ago the GUILFORDIAN pointed out one phase
of it, supposing in all innocence that the social committee, our leaders,
would at least admit that it was their problem to consider.
Flinging the challenge of the GUILFORDIAN back into the teeth of the
people that chose them for leadership, the social committee lias said
that if the people who elected them will kill the monster, the social
committee will hold the coats.
Is a badge of rank a mere bauble for show, or does it involve sacred
trusts of leadership and responsibility? We won't say that our leaders
have betrayed us. We will say that their conception of their duty is
different from the conception held by a considerable number of the
student body, some of whom must have voted for the present bel
ligerents.
It is their duty at least to attempt to solve the problem of a broad
ened social life for the whole student body of Guilford. They have
been given the honor of being named leaders; if they are actually lead
ers they will accept the problem. It is their duty to consider the whole
student body, for the whole student body makes up their problem, and
insofar as they fail to perform their duty with one individual, thus far
they have failed in their problem.
We do not say that the social committee can completely solve the
situation. If they are not willing 1o take the responsibility of leading
us, to try to solve our problems, wherefore shall we honor them with
the sacred trust, to lie worn as one more decoration ?
Our Solution
The GUILFORDIAN lias decried the present social life on the campus.
We believe it can be vastly improved, made to take in most of the
students.
There is 011 the campus a large group of those who would like to
dance, but cannot dance well enough to do so in public with self-con
fidence. If the social committee would honestly set about seeing that
they learn, social life here would be broadened that much.
Mrs. Elizabeth Anderson has expressed herself as willing to help
those those who wish to improve their proficiency. There are at least
two men on the campus who have taught ballroom dancing. That
should be enough.
There are a number who do not dance and do not wish to learn. If
THE GUILFORDIAN
\ !)
As stealthily and quietly as the
ghosts and goblins that traditionally
pervaded the occasion, reports from the
longest nocturnal stroll taken by Guil
ford co-eds have crept into this column.
It seems that with the blessing of
nature in the cloak of darkness, this
jaunt was "simply heavenly" for those
who craved some rather amorous at
tention. Were you one of the lassies
that was thrilled by the attention of
an R-M lad? (The R-M was interpreted
as meaning "really marvelous" by one
fair co-ed, although meaning Randolph-
Macon here.)
Then thjere was one adventurous soul
who would a-blackberry picking go, but
nature and the decorum of his lovely
companion served to frustrate his
noblest of plans. But even more
astounding than this was the mode of
travel selected by one group. It seems
that these fair sons and daughters of
Guilford, being tired of the common
method of locomotion, thus resorted to
traveling by "airway." Imagine the
surprise of one of our tillers of the
soil from "up thar" when he discovered
that the occupants of his flivver were
not oniy college "dudes" hut acted very
undignified in his presence.
Can it be that our Mary Hobbs' de- j
tective can dish it out but just can't i
take it? Familiar to everyone is her
graveyard episode which made her the ■
ace sleuth of the campus. Then there I
was the memorable time when, called
upon for wit, she responded with a I
"harveht" joke that isn't usually told
at Sunday school picnics. However,
reports say that she has definitely
weakened in the pinches when she
failed to get that very important tele
phone call from her heart throb. As
a result, the thermometer felt itself
soaring to new heights. Alleviation
came only after the arrival of a spe
cial delivery letter. Love must be
grander!
The first of the inevitable tales con
cerning Guilford lads and the Wom
an's College dames has just reached
this column. This swain, evidently
taking the hint, "Come up and see me
some time," actually took possession of
one fair lassie's keys to her room. Evi
dently repenting or either being moved
by his "Quaker spirits," this young lad
subsequently returned them. The moral,
Which was the human thing to do?
From the professorial realm comes
the following enlightenment and in
quisition : Dr. Ljung renders a modern
version of "pushing little biddies in
the water" to his classes. He says
that shoving cute pigeons off of the
fire escape is even more obnoxious,
while Mr. Newlin propounds,his classes
with the query as to what are kiss
curls? If you feel that you can en
lighten him on this matter, take him
your explanation and receive an A.
Father to Son who has just returned
from college—Well, my son, have you
debts?
A. F. Nichols —No, father, no debts
which you will not be able to pay with
diligence, economy and stern self-de
nial.
the social committee would label the affair "card party with dance
attached" and see that the card and checker players received as much
attention as the dancers, the college socials would he more of a success
than the college dances have been heretofore, at least for the greater
number.
As for the dances themselves: a number of people have expressed
the opinion that card dances might help with some of the problems
that arise.
The real change must be worked by the student body, 110 doubt. As
tilings are, however, any change, almost, would be for the better, and
the social committee can win half the battle in the planning of the
activities, leaving only half for the student body.
From the Social
Committee
On November 10, 1933, the students
of Guilford College declared their in
tention of dancing by staging an im
promptu dance in the college dining
room. They were rewarded by the
trustees of the college with the privi
lege of dancing at college socials, with
the idea in mind that it should be
strictly intramural. Certain rules were
drawn up by the trustees, above which
the social committee is not permitted
to step. However, the social commit
tee, sensing the need for certain
changes which aro fundamental, are
attempting to have some of these rules
changed. It must be remembered that
dancing was secured for the students
of Guilford College after five years of
tireless student activity. To attempt
| to ride through many reforms at this
j time is dangerous to the safety of
| dancing at Guilford. It was not won
' without opposition, some of which is
' still alive.
The soeial committee is accused of
sitting atop a pedestal watching 20 per
cent of the student body enjoy itself
at these functions, while the other 80
per cent is invited to remain away. On
the contrary, the social committee has
been tirelessly laboring to present
wholesome entertainment for the en
tiro student body. It has provided
games as well as dancing at the so
cials. It cannot, due to limited facili
ties and finances, provide miniature
lakes, sailboats, and sailor suits for one
group, unless this group is in the ma
jority.
Paced with the problem of furnish
ing music for the college socials, the
social committee, with the co-operation
of the student body, has been able to
solve this problem. We appreciate the
co-operation of the students, and shall
continue to serve them as best we can
under the regulations set down for col
lege socials.
The social committee is attempting
to broaden the social life of the col
lege, but for it to force the men to
date the women students at all college
socials is impossible—first, because we
are not cast in the role of Cupid, and
second, because it would be assuming
dictatorial powers which only a demi
god who does not know the situation
would deem possible. Rather, we pre
fer to act as the servants of the stu
dent body.
We accept the problem of improving
the social life on the campus, but we
do not accept the uncalled-for and un
fair tactics of one or a small group of
dissatisfied students who have not at
tended and know nothing of the true
status of the college socials. Frankly,
we do not believe that one hundred
students are dissatisfied with the in
exhaustible work that is being done by
the student body and its servant, the
social committee. We cannot think of
the men and women on this campus as
children, even though such is intimated
through the columns of our college
paper. It is their right to learn to
dance if they care to. The floor is
open, and the Guilford College student
body is a tolerant one.
We arc willing at any time to dis
cuss the subject before the student
body, and at the same time to give all
biased critics a chance to air their
views. We feel that this is the only
sane way to arrive at a solution, since
wo have talked to a number of the
hundred and have found that they had
been influenced to vote one way when
(Continued on Page Four)
November 3, 1934
CONCERNING DOOR ETIQUETTE
To me one of the most perplexing
problems that one has to face in the
modern world is the problem of the
etiquette of the revolving door. When
a man accompanied by a woman Is
about to be revolved in it, which should
go first? Some think that the man
should precede the woman, furnishiig
the motive power, v.i jle she follows
idly in the next compartment. Others
hold the rule "ladies first" can have no
exception; therefore, the man must
stand aside and let the female of the
species do the rough work of starting
: the door's revolution, while the man,
coming after, keeps it going and stops
I it at the right moment.
By all means let the lady go first;
I by so doing we pay the homage that is
I due to her sex, and even though there
j are no cave women in these days—
j there may be burglars! Only in tho
| case of a door that must be opened
J inwards would I suggest an amend-
I ment. What more lamentable sight
I Ihan that of a gentle lady squeezing
J precariously through a half-opened
j door while her escort, determined that
.though they both perish in the at
tempt, she shall go first, reaches awk
wardly past her shoulder in the frantic
endeavor to push back the heavy self
| closing door while at the same time
I contorting the rest of his body into
i tho smallest possible compass that she
may have room to pass without disas
ter to her S9O hat, not to speak of her
elbows and shins.
How much happier—and happiness is
the purpose of etiquette—they would
be, this same pair, if (with a possible
"allow me" to calm her fears) the
escort should push boldly the door to
its widest openness and holding it
thus, with one hand behind his back,
with the other press his already re
moved hat against his heart as the lady
grateful and unruffled sweeps majes
tically by. ROBERT POOLE.
HIS IMAGINATION
As my mind became clearer, I seemed
to hear voices speaking in a language
that was not English. Finally, I real
ized that it was French, and a queer
French at that. Over my head I no
ticed an embroidered white silk canopy,
in the room were fragile gold chains
and odd little seats; tapestries covered
the walls.
But look: on the other side of my
bed are two men dressed in 17th or
18th century costumes, I do not know
which. They must be of high posi
tions; I can tell from their attitude to
the servants who hover about. These
two noblemen offer to help me dress.
In a daze I don the accoutrements of
a courtesan of the glorious days of
the Grand Monarch. There is gold
embroidery on everything, and a pow
dered pen rogue to complete my cos
tume.
One of the lackeys apparently at
tending me gives me a book contain
ing my engagements for the day.
Entering into the spirit of things, I
learn as much as I can by watching
the others' actions, and conduct my
self in as dictatorial a manner as I
can assume. It is only with difficulty
that I can understand tho strange
tongue, so I hardly dare speak it. I
manage this by seeming indolent—pre
sumably after a grand ball the evening
before. T can't seem to remember this
great occasion, but as it forms a largo
part of the conversation between the
nobles, it must have been a big affair.
Two lackeys precede me through tho
halls, and everywhere I am attended
with great courtesy. The whole in
terior of tho mansion is in keeping
with the furnishings and style of my
bedroom.
Someone is approaching me—a huge
bunch of keys in his hand. It must be
the keeper. Tears come to my eyes,
lie always spoils everything.
ANNA JEAN BONIIAM.