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THE GRYPHON
SEPTEMBER 30, 1974
m
irflMp
ISophomore Tradition
Bewildered and confused juniors and seniors are wondering
whatever happened to RMSH’s favorite traditim, sophomore putr
downs. When, on the first day of school, our SRA President did
not lampoon them once, we assumed she was being kind to young,
naive sophomores. But then the first pep rally came and went
without class competition, presumably to prevent humiliating the
Class of ’77, and we began to realize that not (mly had the
sophomores not been dealt the usual sarcastic remarks by their
upperclassmen, but we were not to be allowed to make up for lost
time.
Those of us who have survived a year full (rf criticisms and
sarcasms fully realize that we gained from the experience. While
occasionally we suffered from deflated egos, in the end it made us
more a part of RMSH. When we finally became juniors, we knew
we had earned it.
So remember, s^hom(M'es, one day you will be fighting for
the right to carry on the sophomore tradition. In the meantime,
let’s get going, junin^ and seniors!
Traffic -Trouble
If you told someone that the hardest part of RMSH is parking
your car and getting out of the parking lot, they’d probably laugh
in your face. But the problem is very real, and instead of getting
better, the problem is getting worse.
'With the making of Nash Street one way, Nash and
Edgecombe County students must completely revise their arrival
and departure from school. The rush of students trying to get on
W. Thomas St has caused several minor accidents, also.
'What is accomplished by total confusion in the morning when
everyone’s half awake or at the end of the day when all the
students can think of is leaving? Think about the total disorder
after the Gryphon basketball games or concerts? We should take
it to the Student Adviswy Council, via the School Board, and next
to the City Council. Let’s do something befwe the minw ac
cidents become major ones.
RMSH Fans Are No. 1
There’s something we should be learning by going to Gryphon
football games other than just how to play Oie game...and that’s
sportsmanship. A footbaU player receives penalties if he shows
poor sportsmanship. But a fan can only restrict himself. It seems
that a fan could pretty much do and say when he pleases without
any kind of penalty.
Don’t be silly. The reputation a school can gain during one
game because of unfriendly fans is wwse than any penalty. A
yardage penalty is remembered for only a short while. But the
reputation penalty can last for years. It’s the followers who insist
on yelling at the referees, picking fights, and acting just plain
rude, thus giving the team a bad name.
Let’s take a minute to look at our attitude toward our op
ponents. RMSH has a great reputation, and most of that is due to
the fans. It’s bad enough to show unsportsmanlike conduct when
a team loses, but when we win and still show bad sportsmanship,
that’s even worse. Putting down the ^ponents might feel good
for awhile, but itdoesn’t last. Try being a good sport and get the
feeling of victory, no matter what the scwe.
“Maybe you could think better
if you loosened your head-
band, Reginald.”
I
Wouldn
Sophomore
Letter
to the
With his granting of a
general pardon to former
President Richard Nixon,
President Gerald R. Ford has
created a furor which is not
likely to die down overnight.
Giving as his reason that
Nixon and family have suf
fered enough, he has un
wittingly brought criticism
upon himself from all corners.
For the first time since taking
office, Ford is not being
smiled upon by the American
public.
While Nixon may still be
tried and convicted in a court
of law, he can never be made
to serve any prison sentence
or to pay any fine, regardless
of the nature of the offense of
which he is convicted. How
does aU this affect the average
working man’s conception of
equality before the law? Why
is it, they ask, that a former
president may go free while
they, the average citizen,
must pay the piper?
What of the other
Watergate defendents, some
of whom have not yet been
brought to trial? The question
has been raised of a general
pardon for them, but
President Ford has issued a
statement to the effect that he
would consider these pardons
only on an individual basis.
And what of the many draft
evaders of the Vietnam War,
many of whom are now living
in Canada because they are
considered outlaws in their
own country? Shouldn’t they,
too, be given the chance for
amnesty?
Not only will Ford have to
face these issues now, but he
must also face the effect it will
have on his political
£ispirations for 1976.
Tcho
by Cathy Allen
m
At the beginning of school
all homerooms, clubs, com
mittees and the SRA pr^are
for the new school year.
Before any of these
organizations can work ef
fectively, there has to be
active student involvement.
Usually any comment on
student apathy or lack of
student involvement is made
later on in the school year. By
that time though, it is often too
late to change the situation.
Students often say “That
person wins everything” or
“The same people hold all the
offices.” Probably it is true
that the same people always
seem to be in charge of school
activities. Yet isn’t it true
that these people put forth
more effort than their fellow
students? I suggest that
before a student complains
about the job someone else is
doing, he or she be willing to
give constructive advice or to
offer to help.
Clubs always need
members who are willing to
Man Vs. Pip - Squeak
He knew not where to stand
So he shifted: now here, then
there.The pressures were
brought upon him decided his
here or there. And he was of
little value either here or
there.
Another knew his mind and
stood his ground. Those who
pressured him could not move
his mind. And after complete
investigation, he was valued
for his stand.
work. If someone wants to
join a club, he or she can
check with a member of that
club on the procedure for
joining that particular club.
It is not necessary to be a
SRA representative to be
active with the student
organization. Any student’s
voice, opinion, or suggestion
can be made through his or
her homeroom represen
tative. Ask homeroom
representatives about the
various standing committees
and any new committees that
Editor
Dear Editor,
“Do you want to buy a
ribbon? Please buy a ribbon!
ni sell you my last ribbon!”
Familiar sounds on a Friday
morning, huh? To some, these
may be dreaded questions.
Each time you see a girl
coming down the hall holding
a manila envelope and
wearing a big smile, you
probably dodge into the
nearest room or behind the
nearest trash can. But really
now, is fifteen cents a week
going to break you?
Most of the students at
RMSH probably don’t even
know why the Good Sports
Club sellf ribbons. Of course,
our most important reason is
to promote school spirit. You
just seem to say, “I’ve got
that spirit! ”when a pep ribbon
is showing on your lapel, or
pant’s leg, or wherever you
prefer to wear it. Other
reasons for the sale of ribbons
is to help the Good Sports Club
to buy crepe paper to wrap-
those drab-looking goal posts,
to do special favors for our
teams, and to give the big
Athletic Picnic at the end of
the year. So you see, it’s not
just the Good Sports Club that
benefits when you buy a
ribbon—it’s you and your
school, too!
Whetheryou participate in
sports or not, we’re all
Gryphons, so come on now,
RMSH Gryphons, show your
school spirit“BUY A RIB
BON!!
Editor’s note: This is the
start of a new column
featuring a student’s opinion
on some political news event.
This is a personal viewpoint
and it may contrast with a
reader’s viewpoint. Readers
are urged to voice their ow
viewpoint, whether in
agreement or disagreement
with the column, by writing a
Letter to the Editor. We will
do our best to publish all
Letters to the Editor that are
written in good taste. Thank
you.
are being formed. It a
committee is of interest to a
student, he or she can contact
the chairman and ask to join
the committee.
Not all students should be
involved in some
organization, just the in
terested students should.
Apathetic members are not
needed by any organization.
THE GRYPHON
Member of Columbia Press Association
Member of Quill and Scroll
PUBLISHED
Editor
Advertising Manager
Business Manager
Circulation Manager
Senior Staff Writers
MONTHLY
Cathy Allen
Sara Jane Collier
Kim Nelson
Phyllis Goffney
Nancy Davis, Bill Matthews,
Terre Kilpatrick, Isabel Williams
Junior Staff Writers Billy Odom, Boon McGee
Terri Gardner, Mitchell Landen, Jan Forsythe,
Thomasina PoUard, Debbie Cook, Dolly Clark,
Biff White, Robin Bass, Gail Phillips
Natalie Knight, Teresa Mosley, Ben Currin
Virginia Culpeper, Wade Bryant, Corbi Bullock,
Karen BuUer, Dona Edwards
Advisor
Principal
Assistant Principal
Assistant Principal
Mrs. Henrietta Barbour
Mr. Elton Newbem
Mr. Richard Hicks
Mr. Robert Miller