A
Page 2Llhe Salemite, November 5,1982
Open Doors
Anchored to the sand
inexorably -- as the ships,
tied by iron-link hands,
are captive in their slips —
the child, a silhouette
against the diamond sky,
runs on the silver sand, and yet
escapes her bonds to fly.
No longer tied to earthly things,
airborne by joy, a spirit free,
she soars, unchained, with gulls and wings ■
a moment in eternity.
Brief golden moment in the sun
that warms when legs no longer run.
Nancy Stephens
Salemite
Printed by Lindsay Publishing Co.
Editor: Teri Capshaw King, N. C.
Associate Editor: Stephanie Vance
Business Manager: Pameia Sawers
Assistant Business Manager: Anna Shell
Reporters: Carla Blakely, Ellen Brown, Alice Crawford, Robin
Elmore, Sandra Freuler, Laura Hester, Amanda Mays, Melinda
McAfee, Susan Miller, Chandra Stallworth, Robin Wiley.
Proofreaders: Ferebee Brown, Susan Butler, Melinda McAfee,
Sarah Robinette. -
Lay-out Staff: Alice Crawford, Laura Hester
Cartoonist: Nina Anderson, Kathy Schulze
Photographer: Kathy Schulze
Circulation: Carla Blakely, Sandra Freuler, Robin Wiley.
Advisor: Laura Edwards
ilettersi to ttje Ctiitor
Since Nancy Stephens’ death, the worst part for many of us
to bear has been passing her office in Main Hall and seeing her
door closed—a closed door is the antithesis of everything
Nancy strived for. Nancy literally and figuratively opened
doors for Salem students.
Nancy exceeded her duties as an administrator. She was a
teacher, role model, and willing advisor to me and others. Her
door was always open to students seeking advice or in
formation. Nancy took an interest in individual students and
their personal development. As advisor to The Salemite Nancy
was always available to members of the staff-whether we
need a faculty photo for “The Oracle,” advice on layout, or a
shoulder to cry on. We knew we could always coimt on Nancy.
Nancy was a very strong supporter of student publications
and the communications program. She gave a guest lecture in
journalism and advanced composition each year. Nancy also
sponsored student interns and workers in her office. Under her
wing, one was sure to learn almost all there was to know
concerning public relations, writing skills, graphics and
photography.
I first realized the extent of Nancy’s interest in student
activities last spring when I became editor of The Salemite. It
was Nancy who suggested that I might want to consider trying
to relocate the newspaper’s office for the betterment of the
paper and campus communications. Nancy suggested 1
consider moving it to the Back Door. This fall when I returned
to Salem, I was convinced that the move was necessary and I
was ready and eager to make it happen. Nancy was very
helpful to Ellen Brown and me in formulating the proposal.
She was an author of it as much as Ellen and I. I will never
forget the elation and excitement Nancy and 1 shared after
Publications Board imanimously voted to recommend the
proposal-three days later Nancy entered the hospital. Nancy
was to have gone with Ellen and me before Administrative
Council to make the proposal. She of course wasn’t able to, but
Ellen and I didn’t have to either. Dean Sullivan presented the
proposal and Administrative Coimcil approved it.
Getting Back Door was a triumphant victory for me, EUen
and The Salemite-it was an empty victory though because we
could not share it with Nancy. The Back Door is a fitting
tribute or memorial to Nancy because she worked and strived
so hard to open doors for Salem students.
, Teri L. Capshaw
Fhght
Fall Fcst
Dear Editor,
In response to the editorial
of the October 1, 1982 issue of
the Salemite, we beg to differ.
The behavior exhibited by the
Freshman class did indeed
leave us with the impression
that some of them are not
prepared for the freedom of
college. However, we felt the
sophomore class showed true
Fall Fest spirit. Had the Fall
Fest competition included a
Spirit award, the sophomore
class would have beaten all
the other classes, including
the seniors.
throwing beer at Holyfield’s
(even after repeated war
nings by the management),
has us worried about the
future of Fall Fest at Salem.
The day is supposedly
designed to show our Saleni
Spirit. Let’s keep it that way.
Sincerely,
Ellen Hennings
Jo Stephenson
The Freshmen’s behavior,
shown through their booing at
the volleyball game and
Dear Editor,
I was very upset when I
read the editorial on Fall Fest
in the Oct. 1 issue of the
Salemite. Ms. Capshaw’s
opinion of what Fall Fest is
supposed to be distressed me.
I understood that Fall Fest
was supposed to bring each
class closer and to bring the
Clje (Oracle
by Dr. Dudley D. Shearbum,
director of Center for Special
Education and associate
professor of education
The purpose of “The Oracle" is to involve faculty and administration in
expressing their views about pertinent issues concerning students and today's
world, around or beyond the square. This week. Dr. Dudley Shearbum addresses
the issue of women and education.
WOMEN and EDUCATION - That’s a favorite subject of
mine. In fact it’s probably my most favorite subject. So it
seems a good point of departure for this article.
Let’s prognosticate about the future of the present Salem
student. In years to come a Salem student will surely work.
She may - and in all probability will - marry and work. She will
most likely have children (and believe me that’s super work!).
Some, for various reasons, may become the sole breadwinners
for their families. Some, through divorce or widowhood may
enter the marketplace at mid-life. Whatever the hap
penstance, in each case a Liberal Arts education will provide
the understructure for an enriched life as well as better job
choice.
So how does Art 121 or Religion 125 or any of the basic
distribution requirements fit into this prognostication? Since
this is an opinion column, let me state mine from my own
experience.
Having graduated from Birmingham-Southern College, I
worked one year, got married and promptly had the first of
seven children, all about two years apart! There seemed little
time for philosophy and music appreciation among the diapers
and laundry, but looking back I can remember that my
Bachelor’s degree lent an enriching dimension. When I was
tied pretty close to home, reading good books was a God-send.
My liberal education dictated my choice of entertainment. The
American Association of University Women, an organization
for women college graduates, opened a door to interesting
programs. My choice of furnishings was influenced by an
esthetic taste awakened in college. My delight in history
brightened and heightened an interest in family tradition and
southern folklore. Then when the children were of traveling
age, I stacked them in a VW van and we visited “museums and
confederate cemeteries” - at least that’s how they describe it!
After a number of years of creative motherhood, life turned
an unexpected corner and work was part of my life style. My
BA degree, plus some added certification courses, led me into
a marvelous career - teaching. Indeed Birmingham-Southern
College and my liberal arts education shaped and colored my
whole life.
Salem College will shape and color your whole life - invest
your time and get all you can from it. It’s truly like an annuity,
like money in the bank, like an inheritance. But you can spend
it and spent it and it’s never depleted.
It’s a marvelous gift to be a young woman in a splendid place
at a splendid time, blessed indeed by your opportunity to be
liberally educated at Salem,_Make the most of this pristine
opportunity!
whole school closer together.
I never knew that it was only
for the Senior Class to
“shine.” 1 can’t believe that
the school would actually set
aside an entire day for lust
the Seniors to shine (not that I
have anything against the
Seniors).
Claiming that both the
Freshmen and Sophomore
classes acted like “ob-
noxious, callow
highschoolers” angered me
not only because I am a
sophomore, but because I did
not push, shove, or throw beer
on people. And not all fresh
men and sophomores
exhibited this behavior.
Maybe Ms. Capshaw did not
act like this when she was an
underclassman but how does
she explain the ‘mature’
senior class of ’82 gatoring
and throwing beer at last
year’s Fall Fest after party?
All of the pushing, shoving
and beer throwing was done
at Hollyfields which was the
after party and not an official
part of Fall Fest. Nowhere on
the Fall Fest schedule that
students received is
Hollyfields mentioned - so
any actions that took place
there should not be con
sidered when examining Fall
Fest ’82 behavior.
The last sentence of Ms.
Capshaw’s editorial warns
the underclassmen not to step
on their peers’ toes, for it
won’t get us very far - it
seems to me that Ms. Cap
shaw stepped on many toes
with her editorial.
Sincerely,
Madeline Gilbert
Professors’ attitudes
Dear Editor,
I’d like to respond to a
letter in the October 15 issue
of The Salemite which ad
dressed the perceived con
descending attitude of
professors. Perhaps a
professor’s actions have been
less than praiseworthy, but
complaints don’t always
bring about change.
1 propose that a positive
measure be taken when a
“Yes Dear” attitude is ob
served. Be assertive and
confront the professor with
the incident that is annoying'
you. Don’t just brush it off,
but make certain your ap
proach to the professor is not
sarcastic. Most professors
are probably unaware when
their actions are insulting,
and will respond positively to
constructive criticism.
See Letters, page 3
The Salemite welcomes all Letters to
the Editor. Names may be withheld
from publication at the request of the
author(s) if cause to do so is evident,
but will he disclosed upon individual
inquiry. Letters must not exceed 300
tvords in length. The Salemite reserves
the right to edit any letters for length,
clarity, or those which are libelous or
clearly in poor taste. Letters may be
left in the ‘Letter to the Editor’ boxes
in Main Hall or the Refectory, or they
may be submitted to Teri Capshaw,
305 Bitting.