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Volume
LV
Salem College, Winston-Salem, N. C., Monday, April 30, 1973
Number 3
Learn
Creatively
_ by Cindy Greever
Assistant Feature Editor
What is the ideal learning en
vironment? Who has the respon
sibility for what is learned in the
classroom - the student or the
professor? How can enthusiasm
for intellectual endeavor be pro
moted at Salem? These questions
are a sample of the topics dis
cussed on the last two Thursdays
in Lehman Hall by faculty and
students.
The impetus for this discus
sion came from Dianne High of
the Lifespan Center. By her invi
tation four faculty members
from both the sciences and hu
manities and eight students rep
resenting all four classes met to
gether to discuss “the definition
of an ‘ideal’ learning environ
ment, how Salem meets or does
not meet the criteria, and sug
gestions for improving any prob
lem areas discovered.”
Two of the more controversi
al issues concerned responsibility
and structure in the classroom
and the general intellectual at
mosphere on campus qutside of
the classroom. Although some
courses seem to lend themselves
to unstructured experimentation
in discussion groups, etc., others,
for example some sciences, re
quire the use of the traditional
lecture method. The professor is
assumed to be qualified in his or
her field but learning is a func
tion of both his or her ability to
guide the student and the stu
dent’s receptivity and desire to
work toward knowledge. Enthu
siasm on both sides is a prime
ingredient. The apparently great
er concern with social regulations
than academic concern on the
part of the students was brought
up by a faculty member. One
student in the group responded
that the social environment can
have a major, distracting effect
on studies if the student is un
comfortable within it. A prob
lem certainly exists for some
students in this area. Although
the student in the group had a
valid point, the argument that
not enough energy is devoted to
promoting things intellectual at
Salem also has validity.
This workshop was designed
as a pilot study to measure stu
dent and faculty interest in the
subject. Hopefully a more exten
sive series of workshops will be
arranged in the fall. Involving
students, faculty and adminis-
strators, these discussions will en
deayor to solve Salem’s problems
and expand her capabilities to
meet her potential as an academ
ic institution of excellence.
These two meetings have served
primarily to explore ideas and
stimulate interest and dialogue
in creating the learning environ
ment at Salem.
Students gather at the Lily Pond to discuss the Visitation proposal.
Students Protest Decision
We, the students standing be
fore you are here to express our
displeasure and disappointment
with the proposal you read con
cerning the procedure to be fol
lowed for visitation. The propos
al, as it now stands, makes male
visitors in the dorms a special oc
casion, an open house, rather
than the natural environment
for which we were all striving
in the original proposal made by
the student body.
The original student petition
was sent to Faculty Advisory
Board where certain modifica
tions were made and this new
proposal was passed by this_
board. From here the proposal
was studied by a specid com
mitted of students, fac®y, ad
ministration, and trustee mem
bers, and received a favorable
recommendation from this com
mittee. The proposal read to us
yesterday was entirely different
from any previous proposal stu
died concerning this issue.
We emphasize that our pre
sence here is indicative of our
concern that your proposal to
be made to the joint committee
of faculty, students, and admin
istration be revised so that visita
tion does not become a privilege
granted for eight designated pre
planned weekends, but a policy
which adheres to the wishes of
a majority of the student body.
: After the long hours of dis
cussion, questionaires and ex
pression of student views, we
feel that our time has been
wasted and it is now time for
real action in order to reflect the
student feeling concerning visita
tion.
Petition Presented
-by Lynne Mappus
Tuesday night, April 17, a
group of students bewildered by
Dr. Chandler’s proposal on visita
tion to be presented to the com
mittee, gathered to discuss what
action could be taken to voice
their discontent. A few students
feeling that all alternatives for
action had been exhausted sug
gested a student organized “Vi
sitation Day” on Thursday,
April 15. This idea was rejected
in favor of what was considered
a more effective alternative.
In the discussion of the pro
posal, the primary concern of
these students was a matter of
principle: students in requesting
visitation were seeking a more
natural environment, not an o-
pen house party atmosphere. A
statement expressing the major
concerns of the students was
composed to be read before Dr.
Chandler on the following day.
Shortly after noon on
Wednesday, April 18, approxi
mately 150 students gathered.
The statement was then presen
ted to the concerned group.
Several other students who had
informed Dr. Chandler of stu
dent plans then reported the re
sults of their discussion to the
crowd. If accepted, his proposal
would be reviewed in January
1974 for possible extensions of
weekends, hours, etc. A rejection
would necessitate a repetitioning
by students and its retrial before
the Board of Trustees - in effect,
annulling the policy change just
adopted. The question was asked
as to how the new visitation po
licy gave the students any more
than what they already had --
for example, visitation via peti
tioning as on IRS weekends. The
response was that some board
members were not aware that
male visitors had been permitted
in the dorm prior to the policy
change and were shocked.
After discussion was conclud
ed, the group proceeded to Dr.
Chandler’s office where the
written statement of grievances
was read. In response Dr. Chand
ler said that he appreciated our
concern and would consider the
statement.
Qiandler Explains
Visitation Proposal
The following is an announcement from the office of Dr. Chand
ler concerning the recent change in policy approved hy the Board of
Trustees. It was initiated hy Dr. Chandler to help show the evolve-
ment of the original petition into the change of policy approved hy
the Board of Trustees.
In an effort to answer questions concerning the recent visitation
announcement, I want you to know the steps which were followed:
1. Petition came from students for week-end visitation privileges.
2. Legislative Board passed it and sent it to Faculty Advisory
Board.
3. Faculty Advisory Board met during the fall - altered the ori
ginal petition to include:
“Salem College might provide options in living accomodations
for students as follows:
a. Students may elect to live in dorms where gentlemen are
not permitted to visit in student rooms.
b. Students may elect with parental permission to live in'visi-
tation dorms wherein student rooms may be used for infor
mal social activities and study dates in which gentlemen
may be entertained by residents on week-ends (members
in the dorm will decide the specific hours within the limits
of 12:00 noon to closing on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.)
House Councils are responsible for carrying out procedures
which are decided upon.
The College guarantees the right of students to live in dorms
without visitation and makes every attempt to provide space
in visitation dorms for those electing this option; however,
it is not possible to guarantee space in visitation dorms be
cause of the limited number of dorms on campus.”
Faculty Advisory Board sent it to the President with the recom
mendation that a Student-Faculty-Trustee Committee be set up
to study it.
4. The joint committee met during January and February. This
committee had the original student petition and the altered
petition from Faculty Advisory Board. After careful consi
deration the ad hoc committee recommended to the Board
that limited visitation be permitted on the campus.
5. The Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees was in
formed of the process by which the recommendation reached
their committee. Mrs. E. Sue Shore, chairman of the ad hoc
committee, presented the recommendation. One student,
Sarah Dorrier, met with the Executive Committee. It was at
this point that the recommendation was altered severely and
then sent to the full Board of Trustees. The Board passed what
is now in effect for next year after a discussion of how the
policy would be implemented. The privilege granted reads as
follows:
acuity Approves Interdisciplinary Course
■ vratn/ TTllirh UO 1
The Faculty has recently ac-
)ted a proposal made by the
rriculum Committee to con-
er the possibility of offering
2 Freshman Interdisciplinary
urse for Salem College fresh-
ai, rather than having the pres-
1 system of four courses per
“Male visitors are permitted in dormitory rooms only on cer
tain specified occasions in accordance with standing rules and
procetoes as determined by the college administration.
(Standing rules and procedures are already m effect for Open
Houses held this year.)
The procedures which they also passed are:
That not more than sk campus-wide open house week-ends be
scheduled each year in connection with all-campus social events
and in addition that each dormitory be allowed to have its own
open house once a term without its having to be tied to a campus
wide social event.
A joint meeting of Faculty Advisory Board, Interdorm Council,
Chairman of Honor Council, President of Student Government and
students she will name will meet this week if possible to discuss the
implementation of the new policy. Please give your ideas to the
members of the committee.
In January a student, faculty, trustee committee will be set up to
evaluate the fall activities.
semester. A committee is pre^ wty faculty are
ently being formed to study and study this
the various possibilities of setting ^ significant, since
up the Freshman mterdiscipli- change from
nary Course. When asked about traditional Freshman
this proposal. Miss Sommerville Salem s traditional
responded enthusiastically. She Curnculum.
pointed out that things are still
Register
For January
NOTICE
Don’t forget the optional Pre-
Registration for 1974 Januaty
Programs on Tuesday, May 1 in
Main Hall from 9:00-4:30. All
students planning to participate
in Salem’s off-campus programs
are particularly urged to pre
register.