Page Two
THE SALEMITE
u Mif ^in4i... Springtimo At Scil^iii
This is my first. I am new and I am green.
I am not quite accustomed to my new mast,
and the new ruler on my make-up doesn’t
move quite as assuredly as the old one did . . .
Doesn’t move quite as assuredly, but I can
still tell that it has a sharp edge.
That’s the way with all my new staff. I
think they have a sharp new edge, but they’re
a little dubious about using it. They’re nat
quite sure what to do with me, because they’re
afraid you might not like what they do.
Yesterday, I heard them talking about what
they would like me to be. Some of the ideas
sounded pretty good. So good, in fact, that
I wanted to get up off the table and say “Do
it!” I tried, but it’s like I said—I’m a little
weak right now.
My doctors said that I would be all right
as soon as their new staff gets settled. But
they also said that the staff won’t be settled
until you, my readers, help them. They said
that I belong to you—not to them. That I
only belong to them in that they represent
you, and that they can’t always represent you
when they don’t know what you think and
feel about my condition.
They want you to express these feelings
and thoughts, I do too, because that’s the only
thing that will make me better. If you only
knew what hopes of improvement I got when
I received some mail this week, I think you
too would write me or come to see me with
your ideas.
I was so encouraged by the interest taken
in my improvement that I published the
letter for you to read on this very page.
I wish you would tell me what you think
about the suggestions made in this letter. I
think some of them are pretty good. What
do you say? My doctors say that they would
like to use some of these ideas in my future
treatment, but they want your advice, because
they say that’s what matters.
I say that’s what matters, too. I want to
belong to you. I want to be a spokesman for
you, but I can only do that through your in
terest in me.
To be a spokesman for you. That is my
purpose.
I want you to observe the campus for me,
and then I want you to tell me about it. Tell
me not just about the lecturer who spoke on
campus and the recital that was given last
Monday night. But about the little things
that really matter to people—like what Rus
sell said when you went back to the kitchen
the other night to snitch another brownie, or
like what several of you were talking about
when you sat up until three o’clock this morn
ing. I am interested in these things, and only
you can tell me.
I want you to write letters to me; I want
you to draw pictures for me; I want you to
tell me your thoughts—even the ones that are
so skillfully nudged in the very back of your
head for fear someone may not like them. I
want to know all these things. I will under
stand them.
Tell me these things and I will be your
paper. If you will, I am assured that I can
be a better person, and more worthy of be
longing to you.
This is my first. I am new and I am green.
I am .appealing to you, my owner. Please
help me.
By Nancy Gilchrist
It’s springtime at Salem and. all through the air:
“Let’s go to the May Dell, I’ll see you down there!
Each girl puts on the least possible clothes
And takes some sun cream to cover her nose;
She carries a blanket or an old bed spread
And also a pillow to prop up her head.
They all take cokes and mucho cigarettes,
But it’s always the books that each, girl forgets I
Now some are ambitious, at least seem to be,
And load themselves down with two books or three;
Or take a typewriter and term paper notes
Stuffed down in the pockets of their old raincoats.
But once in the May Dell with sun so hot
You find your concentration shot!
The portable’s playing “Penthouse Serenade,”
While those who freckle talk in the shade;
There’s a bridge game going, and a bull session too.
And lots of “marabunta” there to bite you!
It’s a great old life here, when you can play.
But the term paper’s due in one more day.
So goodbye to the May Dell, goodbye to the sun, ^
We’ll wait ’till Easter to have our fun!
Letters To The Editor
Dear Editor:
Since the Salemite is undergoing
a change in editorship this week,
perhaps the new staff would appre
ciate criticisms of past issues of
the paper and suggestions for
future issues.
Others on campus have made
su.ggestions which I have incor
porated in this letter, and although
this does not represent the opinions
of everyone, perhaps it will give a
few ideas which can be used in
future issues of the Salemite.
First of all, I do not think there
is enough variety in the types of
articles which appear on the fea
ture page. A paper has to appeal
to the interest of its readers. Last
year the paper published crossword
puzzles occasionally. What has
happened to that feature? The
cartoons which have appeared this
year have been good, and I think
they should be continued weekly.
Perhaps a short comic strip de
picting things which happen around
Salem could be tried.
Flow about trying a weekly col
umn commenting /on events which
are happening around us, as seen
through one person’s eyes? Maybe
this could be applied to “Campus
Shots.” Everyone is interested in
knowing about things which hap
pen to the students and I thiri^k
that a certain amount of elaborat
ing on these events would effect
additional interest.
A feature which would be better
eliminated than continued in the
manner in which it has been writ
ten in the past is “Of All Things.”
The column is rarely “of all things”
but is usually about Sally Salemite
and her “trials and tribulations.”
Let’s have more “Pogo” and “Won
der Bitty,” and articles which have
more variety and originality than
Sally Salemite!
Is it necessary to have quite so
many interviews as the paper has
been having? It seems that every-
time I open the Salemite I see an
interview with somebody. Inter
views are getting to be a common
occurrence instead of an honor. If
there are that many important
people to be interviewed, why not
do “thumbnail sketches” and only
occasionally use the longer write
ups ?
I think that the paper has been
greatly improved by features suck
as “Letters to the Editor” and
“Here and There.”
It also seems to me that the
Salemite rarely takes an emphatic
’stand on anything. It is almost as
if it is afraid to state an opinion
on any issue. The editorials, I
chiefly criticize for this fault. Tak
ing a point of view does not nec
essarily mean being radical but
means simply not being wishy-
washy about important issues.
These criticisms are meant to be
constructive—not destrictive.
Mary Ann Raines
Here And There
(Editor s note: The mast below will serve as
announcement of the new major staff appoint
ments.)
Salemite
\
Oc.Ui> f™. « I I ftmti
Published every Friday of the College year by the
Student Body of Salem College
Subscription Price—$3.50 a year
OFFICES Lower floor Main Hall
Downtown Office 304-306 South Main Street
Printed by the Sun Printing Company
Editor-in-Chief ..Sally Reiland
Associate Editors .Betty Lynn Wilson, Anne Edwards
Managing Editor Bebe Boyd
Feature Editor : Donald Caldwell
Assistant Feature Editor Louise Barron
Copy Editor Jo Smitherman
Make-up Editor —........ Nancy Gilchrist
Headline Editor Nancy Cockfleld
Pictorial Editor Jean Currin
Music Editors — Ella Ann lee, Martha Thornburg
Sports Editor Lou Fike
Business Manager 1 .: Maggi Blakeney
Advertising Managers Marguerite Blanton, Lizanne Ellis
Circulation Manager Ann Crenshaw
Faculty Advisor Miss Jess Byrd
By Freda Siler
Last week, the big battle at
Dienbienphu, in Indo-China still
raged, France continued delaying
setting a date for the debate on
EDC, Egypt’s government had an
other turn-over, and the whole
v/orld had the jitters from the
hydrogen bomb reports.
The 15,000 French Union Forces
at Dienbienphu, surrounded by
Communist troops, seemed to be
fighting a losing battle. A French
man at headquarters in Hanoe said,
“Before the battle I gave Giap
(Communist commander) a 20%
chance to take the place. Now I
give him 40%.”
There were three big problems
for the French. The first was
Giap’s artillery, which was much
more effective than the French had
anticipated. The big guns com
manded not only the six French
strong points but also their two
air strips, making evacuation of
the wounded virtually -impossible.
The second big problem was the
Communist “man-made” army.
Each night they dug up to the
French wire, loosening the ground
to , dig assault trenches. Even a
French counter-attack which
claimed 1,000 casualties did not
stop the “moles.”
The third big problem was sup
plies. The Communist anti-aircraft
fire was- working very effectively
a.gainst the French airlift. Giap’s
supply line was bringing in rein
forcements and ammunition in 200
new Molotov trucks.
In Europe, East Germany cried
for a peace treaty that will give
them their own government and
for French ratification of EDC
(European Army.) The French,
however, continued to stall. Premier
Laniel again refused to set a date
for debate on EDC, which meant
that his government will not agree
to German sovereignty before the
Geneva Conference. It seems likely
that the U. S. will soon press for
German self-government and an
end to occupation, even if it is
without EDC,
The government of Egypt greatly
resembled a see-saw last week. At
the first of the week, President
Naguib announced that on July 24
the revolution would end and par
liament would take over again. The
people preferred the revolution to
corrupt politicians—or so the cry
in the streets said. By the end of
the week Naguib reversed his de
cision the crowds had been quieted
and Colonel N^ssar had complete
(Continued On Page Thtee)
By Sandy Whitlock
Spring came to Salem and I came, too.
am I ? I’m Sambo, or at least that’s \yhat tie
girls at Salem have named me. (I’^
and I guess that’s why they (failed me Sambo)
I have large brown eyes and a soft fluff,
tail. I’m quite friendly with everyone (but
Casey loves me best). I guess by now you>.;,g
guessed that I’m the little black dog you’yg
seen running here, there, and everywhere
I have seen a lot of what goes on behind
the scenes at Salem in the few days I’ve been
here. For instance, one day as I was wander
ing around in the date room of South, I sn
a sophomore tearing her hair, beating her
head on the floor, and screaming at the top
of her lungs. I cocked my head aside and
tried to figure out if she wms playing or be
longed in Dix Hill. (I’ve roamed around there
too, but left in a hurry.)
Another girl standing nearby said, “That’s
all right. Your English lit term paper will
be 0. K.” I don’t know what an English lit
term paper is, but I’ve decided I’d rather be
a dog than find out.
Strong basement is about as bad as South,
There the girls are either cutting out figures
for a flannel board (whatever that is), or
typing pages and pages of nursery rhymes.
If this is educational, I’d still rather be a dog.
Clewell is in an uproar every night. I’ve
decided. The girls there are usually sitting
in Davy, speaking some unintelligible lang
uage, such as “cosine, sine, tangent, etc.,” and
they won’t even take time out to say “hello"
to me.
Bitting is quiet, hut for a yery good reason.
Most of the girls there have all their text
books and notebooks, dating back to their
freshman year, and are beginning to study for
something called “comprehensives.” The way
they are concentrating makes me realize that
this is no easy task, and again I thank my
stars that I’m just a dog.
I have found out, however, that Salem is
not all work and no play. For example, I
visited the 10:20 tennis class last Tuesday and
had a wonderful time chasing after the balls.
I did get my feelings hurt, though, when they
yelled at me to leave, so I left. (I do think
it was rude of them not to let me play, too.)
Tuesday night I decided to follow everyone
to Stunt Night. (I didn’t have a quarter so
I had to sneak in—but don’t tell anyone be
cause the Y will be “hounding” me for the
money.) At any rate I got in, and although
they wouldn’t let me get on the stage, (I tried
hard enough), I did have a good time hearing
everybody laugh for a change.
There is one thing, though, that does puz
zle me. Every afternoon around five o’clock,
a lot of the Salem girls go down to the May
Dell, and I must say they do the strangest
things—like kicking up their feet or swinging
their arms around. I think it may have some
thing to do with Tyler’s- May Day program,
but^ I can’t see the relationship yet. Maybe
if I’m still here May' Day, I’ll understand it-
Something else has been happening most
every afternoon at five — that is an exciting
softball game. I’ve been watching the tourna
ment, and I’ll sure place my money on the
freshman team to win.
I have poked my nose into about everything
that is going on around Salem this spring"
and there sure is plenty of excitement. The
next big event for me, now, is to squirm my
Way into the IRC talent show next Tuesda)
so I can be on TV. Wish me luck!
Oh,_ by the way, if I leave during spring
vacation, it’s not because I don’t love you
It s just because I need a home and must loo
lor one. If you see me around campus be
tween now and then, please just pat me on
e head. (I don’t know how to growl
bite) and I’ll sympathize with you—whether
your problem this spring is term papers, c®
cation, cociprehensives, Mr. Cur lee, stum
nigit, sports, or May Day. . .
You can tell me all about it, and I’H
cock my head on one side and listen ver)
sympathetically.