The Salemite
Communication A Key To
Effective Student Government
September 1984, Page 3
By: Leigh Rippin
SGA President
As President of the Student
Government Association, one of
my main objectives for the 1984-85
year is to improve the communi
cation around campus. From here
on out, a microphone will be set up
in the Refectory at every sit-down
meal in the hope of doing just that.
For everyone's benefit,.we want to
make sure that all announcements
may be heard. (Also, according to
Wayne, the plates and glasses are
getting a little worn from the
previous method of "clanking"!)
'This Week at Salem" is another
form of communication improve
ment. Dotty Sayers instigated this
weekly calendar at the end of last
year and it has proven to be an
excellent means of centralizing
events of the week. Also, the
Legislative Board, Student Activ
ities Board, and Executive Board
are encouraging everyone to
remember the Day Students and
the Continuing Education Degree
Students when announcing meet
ings and important events.
These are some ideas that
Executive Board has come up with
to improve communication; how
ever, any suggestions are indeed
welcome. Where and when can you
make all of your suggestions? Glad
you asked ... the official "Gripe
Night" will be re-instigated at the
end of this month.
For those of you who were not
here in 1982-83, this is a time for
anyone interested to voice their
opinions and concerns. After all,
how many times have you had a
brilliant idea, gotten all psyched up
about it, yet told no one? How
many times have you disagreed
with the way an issue was handled
yet complained only to your
roommate or close friends? Well
now is your chance to properly
channel those opinions. Thursday,
September 27th is the date of the
first Gripe Night. Executive Board
will stick around in the Refectory
after dinner to talk with anyone
interested. No agenda will be
planned; in fact, we will be the
listeners of the group.
Remember, the Executive
Board of your Student Govern
ment Association is made up of
only six members who depend on
your voiced opinions. Without
knowing what you want, we
cannot work effectively for you.
Keep this in mind.
The Thread That Runs So True
By: Angie Bostrom
Honor Council Chairman
"Honor is not divisible. It is not
something one puts on and off as
one does a garment or a show. It
applies equally in academic and
social life."
-Dr. Dale H. Gramley
As Chairman of Honor Council,
1 have been asked to write a series
of articles for The Salemite. 1
like to take this opportunity to
clarify a few misconceptions about
your Honor Council. First of all,
the Honor Council is not a police
force. We are a group of nine
students who act as a neutral body
to assure that all students who
have violated the Honor Tradition
are fairly heard. We do not go in
search of honor violations, in fact
our job is to do just the opposite -
to promote honorable living on
Salem's campus. We realize that
no one can enforce honor, for
honor should come from within
■each Salem student. We promote
the Honor Tradition by hearing
those students who have failed to
live up to it.
Second, when a student contacts
me with a potential problem, I
agree to meet at her earliest
convenience. From that point on,
every effort is made to accommo
date each student who appears
before Honor Council. .Surprising
ly, the members of Honor Council
become the student's most ardent
We do not go in search of honor
violations, in fact our job is to do
just the opposite - to promote
honorable living on Salem's
campus.
support group. We are acutely
aware that the student is under a
tremendous strain. It is a difficult
task to admit one's mistakes,
especially to a group of one's peers.
Our purpose is to hear the student
fairly, providing her with every
opportunity to express herself,
rather than grill her with ques
tions. We do not judge the person,
but rather the action. It is the
violation of our Honor Tradition
that is the issue in an Honor
Council hearing - not evaluating
the student's character.
Social Responsibility
By: Vicki Gaines
Interdorm Chairman
Should ten students be held responsible for upholding the rules set
forth by an entire student body? A student body that sleeps, studies...lives
in seven resident halls, should be able to independently support and
respect the guidelines set down by her temporary home.
As chairman of Interdorm, I believe students should accept a more
responsible role in their dorm life. Our 1984-85 Council consists of a
group of students interested in improving, updating, and supporting the
life style that Salem students demand. Yet we believe that the real
responsibility lies in the hands of every student - not just a council of ten.
Interdorm has a social responsibility to Salem as a whole; in turn, all
Salem students have a personal responsibility to themselves in supporting
Salem's roles - or making a genuine effort to change them as she sees fit.
Simply sitting in a hallway complaining about rules and regulations
will get nowhere because these ideas usually become stagnant and remain
in the dorms. Are we really too apathetic and lazy to help push the idea
out the door? Let someone hear the idea!
The Interdorm Council wants to make some definite changes, yet
contrary to popular belief, we are not omni present. If a student does not
approach a member of Interdorm Council with a creative idea to solve a
problem or a suggestion to improve life in the dorms - her idea will
probably go unnoticed.
If Interdorm could make any definite steps this year, I believe it can
only be done through the help of all her students. 1 want to make this a
great year for Salem women, but we cannot do it alone. Uphold your
Salem responsibilities in some way on campus - get involved! It is better
to try and make that effort than "kicking back" and wasting all that time
complaining to your white dorm walls.
Finally, Honor Council is well
aware of it's reputation. Hopeful
ly, through this series of articles we
will be able to better acquaint the
student body with the true nature
of the Honor Council. We are
We are responsible for supporting
and maintaining the Honor
Tradition • the most important
thread in the Salem tapestiy.
responsible for supporting and
maintaining the Honor Tradition -
the most important thread in the
Salem tapestry. Our job is vital to
life at Salem, for without the
Honor Tradition, we would be a
very ordinary college. We want the
student body to understand and
support our endeavors, and
therefore we will be presenting
readers of the Salemite with a
clearer picture of how we operate,
current issues we are facing, and
the opportunity to respond with
suggestions and feedback. Anyone
who wishes to respond may always
do so by way of the Salemite, or by
contacting me in 202 Strong.
'^etiers ^httor
continued from page 2
To the Editors;
As women, as students of Salem
College, everyone on this campus
should be concerned and involved
in the political system which
governs the state of North
Carolina and the country. This
pertains to those of you who are
majoring in arts management,
economics, foreign languages, or
are undecided. The College
Democrats will provide an outlet
for your concerns and interests in
the current trends in American
politics. If you are a registered
Democrat, if you are a registered
Republican with plans of changing
party affiliation, or if you are not
currently registered but would like
to be, please contact me in 301
Strong or look for notices of
upcoming meetings. The next few
months will provide an unending
source of excitement, frustration,
and intrigue in the political arena
of this country. Be a member of an
organization which can and will
help to determine the outcome on
November 6th.
Debbie Drylie
To The Editors:
The College Republicans at
Salem have gotten off to a great
start this year. A Republican
booth was set up at the beginning
of the year providing students with
information on local as well as
national candidates in the Repub
lican Party. Sandee Smith,
President of College Republicans,
has already held a meeting for
students interested in working with
the College Republicans. Sandee
had students conduct a poll among
the students on each hall concern
ing party choice, registration, and
choice of candidates. Several
students took part in attending a
luncheon held for Stewart Epper
son-Republican Congressional
Candidate in the fifth district.
Also, several students attended the
Bush Rally held at Wake Forest
University on September 10th.
With the November election
drawing closer and closer, your
support is greatly needed. Look for
signs concerning the next College
Republican meeting!
Anne Roberson
Salem Today
by Lee Sears
Opinions on a Co-ed Washington & Lee
Photos by Lacy Buck
"Hell yeah! I think it would be
good for me to go there."
Mary Dixon Presby
junior
"Holding on to tradition for
tradition's sake is not good if it
keeps the university from being
progressive and up to date."
Tricia Moss
'They are the oldest boys college
and I think they are breaking
tradition. That would be like boys
coming to Salem."
Kim Rider
junior
"If they aren't strong enough to
uphold the tradition, then I think
that says something about their
character."
Vicki Gaines
senior
"I wish they'd do it here! No, 1
don't think W & L should do it."
Lucy Davis
senior