Page Two
TH£
SAL«MIT«
December4
Students should develop
the capacity for critical
judgment and engage in
a search for truth...
editorial
There has been much student unrest at Salem this year and con
cerned students, administrative officials, and faculty members have
endeavoied to resolve difficulties in the community. Yet, the unrest
lingers and increasingly threatens to develop into waves of irrational
violence. What has caused feelings of discontent among students?No
body can know exactly what triggers reactions and emotions that
reach a point of instability, but one factor contributing mightily to
the cause at Salem has been that this is a year of change in the com
munity. We are entering our second year under a young, new ad
ministration, which inevitably will cause people to question motives
and priorities, and to feel threatened by a new approach to matters
previously handled in a traditional manner. Students and faculty are
always profoundly affected by the threat of change, and sometimes
fail to understand their own motives for unease.
Moreover, our college is fully entering into a new era, in which
the student body caliber and contributions are changing. The stu
dents are evolving into a more worldly wise and less home-oriented
group of girls. This affects our environment, which must adapt to
our needs and our goals in order to remain an institution which pre
sents us with a quality “education.” Such a student evolution in
evitably causes a readjustment of institutional priorities so that the
community can remain fused in goals and satisfaction. Of course, a
new administration often slows the evolutionary process temporarily
because of obvious adaptations that must be made by the adminis
trative powers to the students, etc., and because of the initial caution
with which students approach new administrations.
If this process comes to a halt, however, certain trends develop.
Students not only fail to trust the new administration, they become
passive in their approach to campus matters that they feel are be
yond their jurisdiction. This engenders further distrust and dissatis
faction with the administration, which cannot understand the in
creasing hostility of students. This creates a wider breech of com
munication. The process is terrifying because of the rapidity of its
unmaking of an administration.
Something similar to this communication gap seems to be occur
ring at Salem. Dr. Chandler offers his presence at meetings with stu
dents to answer questions and take and give suggestions for campus
reform. Students attend or they don’t attend, depending on their
degree of dissatisfaction with events on campus. Rumors are wide
spread on campus and many people - instead of taking action to
quell untruths - have helped them to grow by their passivity.
Students blame different branches of the community - such as
the president, the Student Government Association, the Deans of
Students — for failures to establish widespread campus reforms which
are not even possible through these offices. The SGA cannot change
things for the students; under our present grant of student power we
merely suggest many changes and the Faculty Advisory Board
strongly urges the Administration to enact these suggestions. If we
want more student power, why do we not propose to amend our
student constitution? Dr. Chandler can only propose and urge so
many changes, as in the academics of the campus, without the sup
port of the faculty. Here again, if students want academic innova
tions, why do we not bombard the curriculum committee and de
partment heads with formalized suggestions for changes?
At this time the administration is attempting to rectify the ad
ministrative breech which has arisen among students and some fac
ulty during this academic year. Unfortunately, the breech has
occured so gradually and as a result of so many misconceptions of
activity on the part of the administration, faculty, and the students,
that the damage appears to be somewhat fatal. So what if Chandler
visits dormitories to get suggestions from students and to dispell
untruths that have arisen in the community? By this time, students
attending such meetings are hesitant - no, outright unwilling ~ to be
honest and open with him because they feel that he is not being
open and honest with them. Are the administration’s attempts at
communication part of a game being played by students, faculty and
the Administration? If so, let us not waste any more of our time.
Some of us prefer to believe, however, that we do not waste time
in trying to overcome distrust, anger and suspicion in order to start
again the process of evolution on this campus. Seemingly, at this
stage, everyone and everything is against the process, but those of
us who cherish ideals of what education means and what we should
like Salem to become in future years will continue to work for our
ideals. This includes Dr. Chandler and it includes members of the
faculty, as well as members of the student body. Hopefully, an in
creasing number of students can rally to the cause of educational
evolution and help our Administration with decisions that change
Salem. Hopefully, the Administration will remember that students
enmasse have an amount of power which they do not like to see
withheld from them by the administration. If students fail to accept
their collective responsibility for future Salemites and the adminis
tration fails to concede proper power to the people, students be
wary; Administration, beware! —LD
Dear Salemites:
It has been my understanding
that Salem students are supposed
to stand behind their seats be
fore the blessing and remain
standing until the blessing has
been completed. Lately this has
seemed to be more like an ex
ception to the mle than the rule
itself, and I for one am bothered
by this. Even if the policy is not
satisfactorily justified to individ
ual students, it shouldn’t take
too much effort to simply stand
and be courteous to fellow stu
dents. Not only do some of the
already seated students look apa
thetic, but also the ones who in
sist on wasting little time in serv
ing themselves and digging in are
even more offensive. If it is ne
cessary to stretch eating time,
at least stand up, because more
calories are burned while stand
ing than while sitting on our al
ready large enough bottoms!
A Still-Standing Student
Dear Editor,
Yesterday as I stood in line
at registration - where Salem
ladies become wild savages - I
could not help thinking:
“There’s got to be a better way.”
A prospective student happened
to pass and inquired “was this a
student riot? ” 1 must admit
that it certainly looked like one.
Salemites arise!! We have got
to change registration! For those
of you who were lucky enough
not to be there, let me recap
yesterday’s “riot”. Salem regis
tration for underclassmen was
from 1:00 to 5:00. The first
person arrived at 9:00 to be as
sured of getting her classes. By
12:00 the line was up the stairs
of Main Hall. This would be un
derstandable if we had over 2000
students, but at last count we
had some 600 students.
I am not here to concemn the
present system but to offer a
suggestion: registration by classes
(juniors, sophomores, freshmen).
I asked why we didn’t register
by classes. 1 was informed that
the freshmen and sophomores
would feel discriminated against.
Well, how about the junior who
has tried for two and a half years
to get a certain course and has
ended up with Basketweaving
101 or worse.
For the most part freshmen
are fulfilling their basic require
ments and should feel no threat
from upper classmen. Let them
fight it out among themselves
as to who has Ms. Edwards at
9:00 and who has Dr. Gossett
at 10:00.
The Sophomores have two
more years to get their desired
courses whereas, the Juniors on
ly have one more year.
With the exception of Senior
of People..
SSC is having a ticket and ride
clearing house in hopes that it
will help those students interes
ted in various cultural events in
Winston-Salem. If you wish to
purchase a ticket, sell a ticket
that you can’t use, or find a ride,
please contact Pam Langston.
Pam is in charge of this project
sponsored by SSC. Her room
number is 203 Bitting and her
phone number is 727-1417.
Please make use of the ticket
and ride clearing house because
this is for your benefit.
parking places and the few re
strictions placed on first semes
ter freshmen there are no class
privileges. Aren’t we entitled to
some seniority rights in selec
ting our classes?
I strongly urge students to
offer suggestions to Ms. Simpson
and/or the Salemite. It is up to
us to change registration. After
all we are the ones who suffer.
Sincerely,
Pat Terry
To the Editor:
At this time of the
should remember to L™*'
selves the question- WflS
WOULD BE THE NEEh^*^
ALL THIS LEARNiNr
DIDN’T HAVE
TIONS?
EXAMiNjt,;
Don McLtjj
of cabbages
and kings
by Sarah Dorrier
Having an early deadline can really do strange things to 04
system. For instance, my brain is concentrating on a
column while my stomach is still busily digesting a lumpofkt
over Thanksgiving turkey!
My first inkling that Christmas was almost upon us came
I heard a Christmas carol on the radio as I was driving home [«
Thanksgiving vacation! Here it is, barely December, and
lutely guilty because I’m not overwhelmed by the Christmas
Do you suppose being overwhelmed by books to read andexaiisit
take has anything to do with my lack of yuletide cheer? But tliii
another whole story, isn’t it, gang?
At any rate, exams notwithstanding, the jolly, holly season
fast approaching. Even my hometown is managing a modei;
(very moderate) flurry of Christmas preparation. Back in the 0
days (last year?), we only had strands of multi-colored lightsacK
Main Street. But now, with the advent of modernism (and an eat
getic city manager), Winnsboro boasts not only oodles oflightsli
also a community Christmas tree right in the middle of town AS
red, white and green striped parking meters decorated with
and big red bows. Madison Avenue would probably deem al
progress, but I think “tacky” is a more precise term.
I suppose I’m just hopelessly old-fashioned to even ask, butwli
ever happened to things like candles and strings of popcorn andie
live greenery? Which reminds me . . . there is something horribly
romantic about picking a Christmas tree from the A & P parkinglo
I’m not complaining, however. . . even the scraggliest little A4
spruce is better than a tin-foil Belk’s special!
But, even with all the distracting external things like tinseli'
shopping and swapping and wining and dining and hustle andbusi
I still get a really special feeling inside at Christmas time. It’sa^
that’s impossible to analyse; I think it has a lot to do with war
and family tradition and pease fulness. Unfortunately it’s not the
and family and tradition and peacefulness. Unfortunately it’s not
kind of peace I can bottle and take to a summit conference, ra
it’s a fleeting glimmer of hope that perhaps. . .just maybe.,
can get it all together. . . someday ...
And so. May the roads rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face.
The rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again
May God hold you in the hollow of his hand.
GOOD LUCK ON EXAMS,
DRIVE SAFELY,
MERRY CHRISTMAS, AND
happy new year
Editor-in-Chief Laurie Daltroff
editorial staff
Associate Editor Chris Moran
News Editor Laura Turnage
Feature Editor . Dee Wllsort
Layout Editor corl Pasquier
Copy Editor Kathy Bacon
Fine Arts Editors. . . .Barbie Pfileger
Marcia Garrett
Photographer AnneTiliett
Contributing This Week
Cyndy Parker, Karen McCotter,
Juiie Bartan, Mary Ann Campbell,
Chris Minter, Sally Gilliam, Sarah
Dorrier, Allison Towne, Jeanie
Dorsey, Lee Booth, Carol Perrin,
Shirley Brobst.
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Nancy
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tion Intercollegiate Press
Alternative Features Service
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Advisor lyi
rs. J. w. Edwards
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