North Carolina Newspapers

Page Two THE TWIG February 12, 1988 THE TWIG r STAFF Frances Tatum Editor Maby J.vse Lindlky Rnslncss Manager Caholyn CiitTciiKii AssJstaiiJ Business ilanager Business Staff VlROIKrA Sl’KKU Sabaii Popf- RutiiMcLran MisnibAnnbFobnby Hrlp.n Oahvey Evbi.yn Lkvink DOBOTUY Lowoisbmilk iisocJote Editor Maiit Martis Associate Editor Betty Pabkeb Managing Editor Kathleen Miuoett Managing Editor JEseiE CuBiiiN Managing Editor Sadib Ma88ev - Cartoonist Dobotuy Greknb - - - J'ealure Editor Evelyn LiasiTER — Tvpist ArrxiE Lee Tarlton Typist Reporters Mauy Stewart Carolyn Anobbws CobaBubkb VtBOiMA Council Nora Binder Maby Foster iBia Rose Cidson Jean Liohtfoot Ernestine Hoboood Bede Dickenson Geilvldike Tuttle Saba Hudson TueresaWall Entered ns accond-claas mnCtcr October II, 1023. at Post Offlcc at Ralelffh. N. C.. under Act of March 3, 1870. Acceptance for malllnir at apoelal rate oe poatiise provided tot tn Section 1103. Act of October 3. 1911, authurlied October 11, 1923. SUBSCRIPTION PRICE 11.60 The Wrong Attitude The letter entitled “Have We an Honor System?” which appears in the column “The Student Speaks ..will not be a shock to those who read it, because the problem of academic honor is one of which we have long been cognizant on our own campus and in other colleges, as well as in high schools. But the attitude of “do it if you can get by with it,” is not met in academic matters alone here but seems to be the prevailing attitude in regard to our social life- We do what we do and go where we go because we think it is all right; it is no more than what we do at home, what is wrong with it? It is wrong because you are not complying with the pledge you made when you entered this college; you are being dishonorable although it may have been a minor rule which you violated. We are asked to make an accurate record of our activities, end if it is convenient, we do so, but if we have to walk too far to comply with this request, we just don’t. We seem to have lost our perspective; we seem to have forgotten that the conduct of the individual is the conduct of the group. We have no sense of responsibility, no sense of loyalty to the ideals and purposes of the college. There is no spirit of cooperation. Just as in ball playing, you exercise your own free will when you decide you will “go out” for practice, perhaps with a little coaxing by someone who thinks it will be good for you or that you will enjoy playing, so it is when you come here to school. You are not forced to come; there are other schools to go to. You may not agree to the I'ules which you have to follow in playing ball, but you follow them or you are put out of the game. Here at Meredith we have certain regulations, rules for group living, with which we need ti comply in oi’der to live together harmoniously and in a way which will be beneficial to all. These rules may not be the same as those you have at home; but they seem to those making them the best .suited to the group. Numerous complaints have been made by the student body that there were too many rules to obey. In response to this complaint changes have been made and the number of regu lations been reduced for next year. A new plan is to be in augurated whereby social privileges will be granted on a basis of academic standing and evidenced ability of the student to obey I’egulations. It is the sincere hope of all those concerned with this new plan that it will be found workable, and that under it a new attitude towards the carrying out of the ideals and the standards of the college will be developed. The Student Speaks Have We An Honor System? Z] Docs Meredith have an lionor system? Perhaps you will say thnf ntter havins lieon hero for nearly tour school yenrs that it s unneccBsnry tor ono to nsk such a nueation. However, we mlgltt Cake time to sec Just what we mean by an honor systetn. Webster gives as one deflnttion o( system, “The whole scheme o( created things; the tinlverse." For honor his definition Is, "inanKesta* tlona of respect or revcrence; that which rightfully attracts esteem or respect.” If so, just what should the words, Meredith's Honor Sys tem, mean? First o( all I think each of ua will have to make a self-analysla since the system includos every girl at Meredith. Let us begin this analysis by asking ourselves this question; Can I rightfully say that I am doing my part to make this system an Honor System or would It really be more correctly called a Dishonor St/stem because oC the part I am taking? After analyzing the system, will we And it worthy of esteem and respect or will we find that it is something to be con cealed, something that would iiu> miUate us should It be exposed? Some of our girls liave been known to take advantage of a teacher's leaving tlie classi'oom to refer to a notebook or textbook while on a test or examinations. According to the law of averages this should not be so surprising alnce one usually finds in a group the size of our student body, aome- one who has no sense of honor. However, It is surprising to know that girls witii high ideals and ap parently honest ao far as tiiey as iDdivlduals are concerned let Utings like the. above go by with out doing anything about It except perhaps discuss the matter with a friend. Girla taking books and note books to tests and examinations is not an uncommon sight. In taking tests some do not even bother to take the paper out of their note books, making it "too" convenient to turn back to find answers to quastlons. Perhaps we might very advantageously heed tlie plea liere that Paul made of the Thesaa* lonians whicli was to "abstain from all appcarance ot evil," Now you may answer the quea- tlon at the beginning of this ar ticle for yourself. Dare I say that it we have an honor system, it Is as "sounding brass and a tinkling symbol." Students, our faculty has en trusted us with the responsibility o( keeping an honor system on Meredith campus. Apparently we have practically crucified that trust. We liave been sleeping too long and I say, "Let’s wake up and have an Honor System that is an Honor Sj/stem, not in name only, but in reality. Our student Government president has on her desk a cartoon underneath wltlch are these words, “We use the hotior systetn around here." Perhaps It would not be a bad idea to go by her room occasionally and look at the cartoon, "Lest We Forget." A Student. POOR FRESHMEN Bj/ Sadie Massey Hindus Speaks On ^^Russia and the World .. IN OUR LIBRARY. . ===== By Iris Rose Gibson - Side Issues Dormitorios - - . A very good suggestion has been made re cently and it is that we begin calling the dormitories by their name.s instead of designating them by letters as has been done heretofore. I dare say there are few of us who know the names which have been given to these halls. They are: Stringficld, “D”; Jones, “A”; Vann, “C”; and Faircloth, “B." Chapel Programs ... It is a matter of courtesy if nothing more to give an invited speaker the full time allotted for a chapel program, which is around twenty-five minutes. The Silver Shield is sponsoring a course in modern etiquette, taught by Mr.s. Edgar Henderson at the regular assembly period; at the last class she was given very little more than time enough to introduce her subject, almost ten minutes of the hour was taken up with announcements which could be better made on the bulletin boards which are for that pur pose. And I am sure that the .students are willing that she should be given all the time, judging from their enthusiastic reception of her talks. And while we are on the subject of chapel, it might be men tioned that the time could be spent a great deal more com fortably if the windows were I’aised to let in a little fresh air. Much embarrassment would also be avoided if the bell which interrupts many of the speakers was disconnected during the chapel hour. Bus Facilities ... There has been a great deal of inconven ience caused lately by the crowded buses which leave town late in the afternoons. Many of the pas.sengers get off the bus before reaching State College, and.it seems it would be possible for them to catch either a State College bus, or if they are not going that far either, a Saint Mary’s Street bus or an Oberlin Road bus. Several times Meredith girls have been left in town for lack of room on the bus, causing them to miss meals at the college or be late coming in- Among the new books which have been recently added to tiie library is a complete set ot the TTorfes oj CharJes Dickens In twenty-two vol umes. These books were put out temporarily on show In celebration of DIcken's birthday on February Stli. Ot Interest to the bird lovers is John J, Audubon's Birds of Amer ica. John J. Audubon was prob ably the greatest of American naturallats and undoubtedly the greatest of all bird painters. Dur ing the major part of hla life he traveled through the frontier coun try of America, painting birds in their native habitat. His great work The Birds oJ America, was engraved and printed in England in an edition of fewer than two lumdred. The price at that time of one ot these sets was one thou sand doUars and today the Ele phant Folio o! .-iKtiHion’s iiirrfs is ao rare that a line set would prob ably bring around fifteen thousand dollars. "Now tor the llrst time, over a hundred years ofter the original publication, these superb Illustra tions are reproduced in a simple volume. This is a complete Audii- bon containing not only the 435 illustrations which Audubon did at a later date when he had an upportunity to acqiiiro and paint birds of the Rocky Mountains and Par West, but the introduction and the concise and useful deacriptive text tor each plate ore by William Vngt, editor ot Bird fjore, the offl- clul publication ot ten national as sociations ot Audubon Societies. One ot the l)est new biograpiiles is Jane Addams, by James Weber Linn. This is the definite, author ized life of Jane Addams. When she died, her nephew, .lames W. Linn had largely completed his blogs'aphy ot the humanitarian and settlement worker, regarded al most universally as the foremost American woman ot lier age. In this work, Professor Linn has been especially fortunate in having the full cooperation of Mlaa Addams. She not only turned over to him ull Hies of her munuacripts. lettera, records, clippings and papers, but personally annotated a number ot cliaptera, discussed others vflth him, and agreed upon Die rest. “Professor Linn's book la inieud- od not so much as an interpreta tion ot June Addams as the story of her life. And wliat a story it lal Surely few women, or men tor that matter, have had such a full and Inspiring career aa she. In- aoparablc with her name has been Hull Hnuae, the llrat and most fumoua Kettlement liouse In the United Slates: and since thla liaa been the peak and crown oC her variegated career, it is natural that the story ot Hull House and its de- veioiiment should bo ono ot the moat Interesting portiona of the volume. Included also is the ac count of Mlaa Addams' part in In- allgating the Investigation ot the Chicago slums and the formula- tlona ot a model tenement code, her founding of the Woman's Interna- jtlonal League tor Peace and Free- IdoM), her brief excursion .into na tional politics, etc. "A writer ot established reputa tion, Proteaaor Linn has produced a biography ot deep perceptiveneas Into its subject’s personality, which was at once brave, idealistic, tre mendously alive. Surely tlie thou sands ot people who cherish the memory of June Addams will be eternally grateful to him for this inspiring book." The collection ot southern stories by Sara Haarot in Southern Album is very good. "Widely varied in plot and character, there is a unity ot tlieme and background running through tliese seventeen stories, picturing as they do the passing ot the old South, the conflict ot a new generation with the lingering traditions ot an old and decaying culture, tlie vain efforts ot the young to lay the ghosts ot the past. In one group, which Include Little White Girl, Baby Chile, and Young Misery, Mias Haarot writes with keen observation and humor and a profound understanding ot the tragedies ot the very young; while such stories as It'ldotu Wovtan nnd a Mendellan Domh\ant are dls- tlnguislied by a sharp view ot Irony," Interesting to the paychologlats Is A’cic frontiers of the Mind by J. B. Rhine. In this book he tells the story of the Duke experiments to find out it there is such a tiling tia a "sixth sense." Another ot tlie new books well worth mentioning is Augustus by John Buchan. "Two thousand years ago was .i>orn one of the moat remarkable cliaracters ot all his tory — Octaviua Augustus, who wrested power from Mark Antony, created the Roman Empire, and inspired the Golden Age of Rome. In this book John Buchan—gover nor-general, novelist, historian, biographer—brings to life an ex traordinary period ot history which closely resembles our own. "The marching style o£ wlilch Buchan is master gives tlio nnrra live a feeling ot Roman power and austerity. In Augustus' one flnal book the excitement ot a partici pant and the lucid appraisal ot a great hiatorlan." Otiier books well worth mention ing are: Deulsch, Mentally III in Amerlca; Van Deuaen, Life of Henry Olay; Washington, Booker T., Up From Slavery; Johnson, G. Q., Ante- ballum Jforih Carolina; Johnson, R, B-, Jane Austin; Bruce, Inler- national History of Virginia; Chen- owotli. School Health Problems; Dodd, The Old South; Young, (lames ajid Stunts lor All Occa sions; Fishbine, Your Diet and your Health; Jane Addams, Forty Years at Hull House; Jones, Gram mar of Ornunient; Jones. F. N., Boccaccio and His Imitators; Wal lis, P., Sociological Stnd-y of the Bible; Quekett, H. 3., Eight Prize Winning One-Act Plays; Jamea, Henry. Portrait of a Lady; Fields. ■ To Sac Ourselves; ISarhart, Last Flight. M I ./ On Tuesday morning, February 22, Maurice Hindus lectured in the Meredith auditorium on "Russia and the World." Mr. Hindua is a native Russian and thougli he now lives in America, he has often re turned to Russia. Mr. Hindua spoke ot the Russian Revolution and its efl'ects upon the country. First ot all, he said the revolution should not be looked on in terms ot blood only. Any revolution in the world (he mentioned the Amer ican Revolution led by Oeorge Waahington) might be considered solely from the viewpoint of Us violence and bloodshed. Tliei'e are two arnia ot the revolution, lie said; the ai-m that deatroya and the arm that l>uilds. The arm that destroys is a very powerful, relentless arm, and the world has long been tamlllar with its achievements. But the arm that builds, the constructive arm, is not nearly so well-known. Its sti'ength and Us great activity In the field ot national Improvement must not be overlooked. This Is the arm on which the Russian revolution should be Judged. One ot the great achievements ot this constructive arm, Mr. Hindus explained, is the discovery of natui'ul resources, and the use of them. Minerals have been found in the Ural Mountains. Mining is becoming exti’emely importuut in Russia. The rich, dry land of cen tral Asia Is being irrigated to grow cotton. Already the decline In Russian purcliases ot American cotton shows that she is rapidly becoming self-auRlcient in tlie pro duction ot the commodity. These reaources, said Mr. Hindus, have given Russia such great powei- that though Russia with her vast stretches ot Asiatic territory has exactly what Japan needs and must have. Japan attacked China. Even now the difllculties in the way of the constructive arm ai'e great. Russia had one hundi-ed years ot backwardness to overcome and she has now had only a tew years ot progress. It takes toui- men to do the work which one can do in the United Slates. The work is not done so well. For example, their bricks ai-e not good, Mr. Hindus said. Russia hos concen trated on the big things, and lias not yet had time tor the tittle things. The country is marked by the absence ot conveniences. Mr. Hindus said that auch thinga as ny swatters and safety pins could not be obtained in the country. The standard ot living is still low; moat families live in one-room apartments. Russia Is a land ot many peoples. These different subject nationali ties, oppressed by the Czarlat regime, are being treated fairly In pi-eaent-day Russia. The Jews in Russia were a nation of small shop helpers. They were returned to the land, which had been for bidden to them tor 2,000 years. It was an immense struggle toi' them to change their habits and manner ot living, but now they are ot the host farmers in Russia. Russia has not neglected to build schools. In 1914 there were 8,000,000 Russian scliool children;- today 34,000,000 Russian children attend schools. Colleges and uni versities are growing. Today there are 6,000,000 college students, 2,- 000,000 ot them girls, many of whom are medical or agricultural students. The greatest change in Russia Mr. Hindus said, has been in methods ot farming. The great majority ot the people were peas ants, using the same backward farming methods used a hundred or more years ago. Today they are still farming, but on a great community farm, planned in a scientific modern way, with the use ot new machinery and modern methods. Mr. Hindus spoke of tho many dillicuitles in the way ot Russian progress. Thei'e was so much to be done before Russia could make up for her long years ot backward ness. Even yet, she has only be gun the task but in the few years since the revolution occurred great advances liave been made. The arm that builds has begun its work; now it must carry on Us task ot rebuilding Russia. This constructive arni can go on build ing as long as Russia is allowed to work out her problems in a peace ful world. In concluding, Mr. Hindus said tliat It Russia is lett to herselt and does not have to (Ight, she will emerge a great, pro gressive nation. THE DIVISIONAL PLAN The tost ot good manners la being able to put up pleasantly with bad ones.—Reader's Digeat. Some of tile best colleges in the United States have changed during the last tew years from the rigid departmentalisation into which col- legea were cut as they began to add numei'otis courses In science and the practical arts lltty years ago. The introduction ot the elec tive system at Harvard, under the leadership of Dr. Charles W. Eliot, set an example to be followed by liundrcda of coUeges In multiply ing courses in pure and applied science. One college in tho South had twenty-aix departments and a sulHcicnt number ot courses to en able a student to remain In col lege for seventy-two years, pass every course and not I’epeat a single course. Such addition of departments aud multiplication of courses fol lowed tlie specialties of professors chosen for the tacultiea. Methods dinered widely from department to department in the same colleges making it advisable, as some execu tives thought, to create new de partments in which novelty ot methods would not meet with dis approval by staff membera who con stitutionally objected to Innova tions. When a committee ot edu cational surveyors In tho decade between 1020-1030 began to make intelligible graps to show to col lege presidents and deans the re sults of the addition and multi plication which had been taking ploce. there was consternation enough. "What? Was this crazy picture you have made ot my college?” ono president asked. "Yes, but don't be alarmed," the specialist said quickly, "you should see some ot the others." The educutioDal map ot tho United States is not attractive. Tlie part ot it which shows the South is not by any means what Southern educators themselves wish. But tho whole educational map is not tlie concern, primarUy, ot Southern Baptists. It is of pri mary importance that the Baptist colleges and schools be what they should be and do what they should do. As sensible professional men en gaged in educatlou there should be as much wisdom as is expected ot the physician in the fleld ot medi cine. Betoi'e the physician writes a prescription he makes a diag nosis. That has not been the method used always tn education. Just now a good deal ot education al diagnosing is takhig place. This Is the part ot wisdom. Scholars should be chosen tor the faculty. Excellent teaching ability should be 0 pi'erequlslte to selection as well as scholarship. Leaves ot absence should bo arranged so that faculty members may add fresh stores of knowledge. Exchange protessorshipa ahould be arranged aa a stimulation to breadtli as well as depth ot learn ing. Budgets ahould be adjusted in such manner as to provide the maximum educational exercise on the part of faculty and students. Materials and methods used throughout the college should bo of sucy type as to attract and hold the kind of student who will make a contribution to society. Only those courses should bo oRerod in college which have value. It is not ot any aigniflcanco to find that some courses are dinicuU and some others easy. Mathematics is dimcult tor some and easy tor others, Some students should be per mitted to earn degrees in three years; others ahould take the usual four years. Grading systems; pro mo 11 o n metlioda; comprehensive examinations instead of tlie out moded written test are in need ot careful study and in many ot the best colleges serious study is be ing done. Now, it the divisional plan helps in achieving a majority ot the re sults suggested: if the college by adopting tho divisional plan can make a gi-eater conlrlbution to society the change should be made. Tho purpose of this editorial will be served only it tlie suggestions —or some of them—are tho occa sion tor tlie roevaluatlon ot our own Baptist colleges with a view to making them serve more effl- clently as tliey turn into the surg ing stream of civilization approxi mately five thousand graduates each year.—From College News and Views, A Chemical Analysis of the Human Body “Sulphur—Enough to rid a talr sized dog ot one dose ot fleas. Lime—Enough for six bars of aoap. Iron—Qnougli to make a six penny nail. Phosphorus — Enough to make twenty boxes of matches. Sugar—Enough tor ten cups ot coffee. Potassium—Enough to explode a toy cannon. Total value—$0.87. That's all you are worth." A merchant stated in bis will: "I want six ot my creditors for pallbearers—they have carried me so long Ihoy may ns well finish tbs Job.”—N. Y. Post.