Newspapers / Meredith College Student Newspaper / March 8, 1946, edition 1 / Page 2
Part of Meredith College Student Newspaper / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
Page Two THE TWIG March 8, 1946 Students Voice Opinion on Present Set-Up Newspaper of Students, Meredith College Member Plssocided GoUe6iale Press EDITORIAL STAFF Jewell Eatman Editor Florine Olive Managing Editor Elizabeth Davis Associate Editor Mable Summers Associate Editor Ruth Franklin Associate Editor Marilynn Ferrell Feature Editor Frances Wallace Photo Editor Elizabeth Sawyer Columnist Betsy Jean Holt Music Editor Ruth Martin Sports Editor Reporters—Ruth Hall, Ann Hood Hughes, Norma Cartwright, Hilda Austin, Barbara Shellsmith, Stella Lassiter, Mary Alice Turner. Typists—Myra Teague, Jerry Miller, Olema Olive, Jean Trentman, and Bette Linney. BUSINESS STAFF Martha Hamrick Business Manager Mary Martin Advertising Manager Alice Delbridge Circulation Manager Frances Watkins.-Ass’t Circulation Manager Members of Business Staff—Margaret Wil son, Emily Hine, and Doris Moore. Entered as second-class matter October 11, 1923, at postolHce at Raleigh, N. C., under Act of March I, 1879. Published Semi-monthly during the months of October, November, February, March, April and May; monthly during the months of September, December and January. Subscription rate, $2.00 per year to students. Alumnae membership associational fee $2.00, of which $1.00 covers a year’s subscription. Thought for the day . . . “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.”—Luke 9:23. Editor’s Note: Reprinted here are excerpts from the three speeches made at the Thurs day night student meeting, February 28. The motions contained in two of the speeches were passed. Representatives have been selected to fill the positions mentioned and work is now under way by these committees. WAYS AYD MEAI\S . . . By EMILY LASSITER All of you realize there has been a wave of discontent among the students. We’ve done a great deal of complaining about the conditions we don’t like. But we haven’t as yet worked to correct those conditions. Most of us want our Student Government to be genuinely a government by the stu dents, but we haven’t known what we can do to make it a good government. We want a greater voice in student affairs and more power in regulating ourselves, but we haven’t realized the power we already have, and we have not taken advantage of that power. We want our Student Council to have more than punishing function, but we haven’t given the Council any organized stu dent backing to do more than punish. In this way, not only the faculty and adminis tration, but we ourselves, the students, have, through the years, forced the Council into being little more than a punishing body. The majority of students do not know how to get what they want in the field of student government. We have the right at any time to suggest changes in rules or in organization to the Council. The Council must then discuss those changes. It has neglected to present changes it thinks wise to the student body or to the Faculty Com mittee on Student Government. Students have neglected to present changes to the Student Council. Each one of us is to blame for existing conditions in so far as we have not earnestly tried to change these condi tions. Our reasons for inaction are igno rance of our power and some vague fears we can hardly explain to express our opin ions and wants. It is your right as a student to express your opinion. We want to do something NOW, so let us decide first of all exactly what we want. I don’t think that any of us will want rash and foolish action, but we must be thought ful and intelligent in deciding what we want and should have. We must have action and it must come from the student body as a whole. Once we decide what we want, the machinery for trying to get it is already set up. A majority of the student body can sug gest any changes it desires to the Student Council. If the Council approves the changes, it sends them to the Faculty Com mittee on Student Government. After this Let’s Talk About The Twig We are printing a recent article re printed in the Associated Collegiate Press Review from the Minnesota Daily setting forth the editorial policy of that paper for we try to carry out a similar policy in The Twig. Where the name The Daily is used, we hope that The Twig might be substituted for we of The Twig staff endeavor, too, to carry out many of the ideas and meet with much of the same criticism that this editor does.—Editor’s Note. 1. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR These letters, presented as “Campus Opinion,” appear occasionally on the editorial page so that both faculty and students may express their viewpoint in print on various issues. Where anyone got the idea that The Daily “sanctions” all opinions that ap pear in print is difficult to imagine, but the accusation sometimes is made. The Daily welcomes contributions to the col umn with the following reservations: (1) Maximum length—250 words. (2) Letters must be signed by the author (and not someone else’s name signed by a coy practical joker). (3) Letters must be coherent. (4) Letters must deal with issues and not be merely gems from publicity-seeking campus cuties. The Daily does not give two whoops on what issue the author writes. (2) EDITORIALS AND ETHICS A few persons believe that The Daily’s only interest editorially is “raising cain and giving the administration a black eye.” It is true that The Daily levels its sights on University officials at times, but does so for what it feels are ample reasons. “And,” critics say, “you merely de stroy and offer nothing better.” This statement is far from true. Construc tive suggestions. The Daily thinks. Sometimes The Daily does attack situations for which it frankly knows no solution. And why not? Students who spend but four years in a university don’t know all the answers. But The Daily feels certain that someone can solve each particular problem. Criticism is justified when reform is hoped for; if there is a possibility of the Professor: The examinations are now in the hands of the printer. Are there any questions to be asked? Meek voice from the rear: Who is the printer? Committee’s approval, the changes go into effect except for a few matters of college policy—smoking, and dancing with men on the campus. These must go to the trustees. The trustees are to carry out the desires of the Baptists of North Carolina. If a majority of the student body decides it wants trustee approval of smoking and dancing, you must let them and the Baptists throughout the state know what you want and logical rea sons why you want it. Trustees would no doubt appreciate a personal letter from girls telling them what the students really want. After all, they have hardly any per sonal and individual contact with Meredith students. They can’t learn our desires from a semi-annual dinner in our dining hall. Therefore if it is the rules concerning danc ing and smoking which have been bothering you, it’s the trustees you should contact. Let them know how you feel. Two motions are to be presented for your vote. Many members of the student body have carefully discussed conditions on the campus, and have thought that the first step towards student government can be found in these motions. Nothing can be done un less the students are united. Your vote for either one of these motions must mean that you firmly back the action necessary for carrying it out, and that YOU will stick to your desires. The DECISION is up to you. latter, there is good excuse for the former. And why must The Daily offer a sure fire solution to every problem it dis cusses? Hercules didn’t put anything back in the Augean stables. Sometimes The Daily finds it impos sible to get cooperation from news sources. 'These sources fear that if a certain story “breaks,” they will be sub ject to embarrassment. In many in stances, the fear is entirely justified. The Daily is a student newspaper, free from University control as much as it can be. It asks to be treated as such, and not as a publicity mouthpiece or a sunshine-spreader for the administra tion. By no means has The Daily “got it in” for the administration; the paper tries to be fair. The Daily is not a Hearstian sensation-loving newspaper; neither is it a deodorant for University policy. The Daily recognizes its responsibili ties, but insists on freedom on news cov erage, freedom of editorial comment, freedom to be, as nearly as possible, a professional newspaper. Collegiate Press Review, Associated Collegiate Press. “EXCHANGING” There had been a train wreck, and one of the two English teachers found himself slipping from this life. “Good bye, Tom,” said he, “I’m done for.” “Don’t say that, old friend,” sputtered the other. “For heaven’s sake, don’t say that. Don’t end your last sentence with a preposition.” —The Lantern. Coed: Stop that man! He tried to kiss me. Campus cop: Forget it—there will be another along in a minute. “GIAATS lY THE LAND” By MARY JO CLAYTON Last Friday night a speech was given in this auditorium on the subject of GIANTS IN THE LAND. You all remember the incident in the his tory of the Hebrew children, when in their flight from Egypt, they came to the borders of Canaan. The spies they sent into the land came back burdened down with fruits of the land and intriguing reports of its plenty and beauty. However, eight of the ten spies also mentioned the extreme size of the in habitants of Canaan. Finally, because of fear of these giants, the Hebrews decided not to try to conquer the land which God had promised Abraham, but chose rather to wander for forty additional years in the dry and barren desert. . . outside Canaan. By their fear of the giants, the Israelites delayed their attainment of the Promised Land by forty years. And their fear was not an admirable thing. God grew angry with them for their doubt and spinelessness. For them, it was right that they should enter the Land, but through fear they lost the happiness they deserved. It is interesting to note that the so-called GIANTS were greatly exaggerated. When, forty years later, the Hebrews entered Canaan, they with God’s help took the land with little trouble. Here on this campus we have feared sev eral exaggerated GIANTS. Do you fear public opinion, do you fear ridicule, do you fear disapproval or disfavor from the au thorities? Fear is a very degrading thing in the character of an individual. We should de termine what is right, and fight for it, as the Jews should have fought for Canaan. If we feel it right that the Student Govern ment here should be, like Christianity, up lifting and not condemning, we should work earnestly to make it so. Wishing WON’T make it so. Griping won’t make it so. But fighting can make it so. If we feel that the rules under which we live are silly non sense, remnants of the 19th century, we should say so—we should fight to have them changed. It has been very degrading to our characters that we have not battled for our wants all these years. If anyone can show us the reasons for our rules, I think we will be willing to retain those which we under stand. But those for which no reason can be found should be discarded. Not only should we be willing to fight for what we are convinced is right. We should be willing to work for what we think is right. We should study our handbooks to acquaint ourselves with the system and workings of student government. We should attend meetings of the student council to see how the system works in practice. We should attend the Thursday night discussion groups and study the forms given us there, because they are for the purpose of in structing us concerning the system of stu dent government at Meredith. If we think any changes are needed, we should study and think earnestly to reach a right decision about those changes. We should reach a firm conviction of what we think is right for the student body. Then we should say what we think, and stick to what we have said. When the majority of the student body votes a change, every stu dent should fight for that change, unless she is convinced reasonably that the change is wrong. We must banish our fear of the giants— they aren’t so tough once you tackle them —and we must get rid of our own indiffer ence and laziness concerning our lives here at Meredith. In order to determine what the students really want, I move that a Committee of Seven girls be elected from and by the stu dent body. Four members of this committee shall be elected from and by the four classes; the other three members shall be elected by the entire student body, from any class whatsoever. This Committee of Seven shall meet to discuss the changes in the student rules and regulations which it feels wise. Suggested changes will be presented to the student body for discussion. Those changes accepted by a majority vote of the student body shall be presented to the Student Council for action. The Committee of Seven is to make a full report to the student body of its discussions and meetings. EXAMIAIAG STUDEXT GOVERXMEXT By MARILYNN FERRELL You’ve already heard just how our stu dent government is set up at present. The student body makes suggestions or votes on changes in the rules or governmental or ganization. These changes are sent to the student council for approval, and if ap proved they are sent to the faculty commit tee on student government for the final ap proval. If this faculty committee approves, the changes then go into effect. Thus, ac cording to our present system of student government, the faculty committee or the board of trustees has the last word in effect ing changes in student regulations. There are many of us who have talked over our system of student government and believe that it is not wise or fair to the student body for any one faculty commit tee to overrule the changes which a majority of the students have expressed to be their desire. However, we also do not believe it to be entirely wise to allow students to change rules without any check whatever on their decisions, for this might lead to steps which would be regretted later. The final say-so on whether or not changes are to be made should not rest, we believe, with the faculty alone, with the student council alone, or with the student body alone. There should be some system of student govern ment set up whereby a fair and just deci sion can be made on suggested changes by student and faculty working together. This is going to take constructive thinking and planning and a great deal of work, for we want a student government system that works well, is fair, and gives the students a full share in the government. Therefore, we would like to suggest that a committee consisting of four council mem bers, preferably the president and vice president of this year’s Council and the in coming president and vice president for next year’s council, and of four members from the study body at large, should meet and consider carefully the system of student government which we have and draw up suggested changes. This committee should seek the advice of faculty members who are experienced in government, and if necessary, consult persons from other schools who know and understand student government. Any changes recommended by the committee would be presented to the student body to be voted on and then sent, as the suggested changes in the rules are to be sent, to the council and faculty com mittee. However, the fact that we vote to con sider changes in the present student govern ment set-up should not keep us from realiz ing our responsibility as members of the student body in our present system. I know that a lot of us have not realized the power that the student body does have—that each year we DO have the right to stay what we think and to suggest changes to the council. But why haven’t we known it? It’s in the handbook in the S.G. constitution for any one to see. And even if we have known it, we’ve been either afraid or just not inter ested enough to see that anything is done. We gripe at what the faculty or council does and then sit back and do absolutely nothing to change things. We have no spirit in our student body. For example, there are 556 students at Meredith. Of these, 456 registered to vote. And of these, only 389— of 556 students—voted for Student Govern ment president—the most important job on the whole campus. Again, two Thursday nights ago there was an informal discussion of the student body which we voted for. Yet only about one-third of the student body came. Why? We say we aren’t allowed to say what we think. Why not? No one can prevent us or condemn us for expressing our opinions and trying to make our stu dent government work. I don’t care how much we change our system of student gov ernment, if we as students don’t sit up and take some interest, express our opinions, and exercise our privileges, which we do have now, no changed system will be any better. We have the power of asking the Student Government president to call a meeting any time we have anything to discuss. How many times since we’ve been in school has this been done? We have the privilege of going to student council meeting, but how often does the student council have visitors? We have to realize that our government is and should be student government, and all we have to do to make it go is to bring up whatever bothers us in student body meet ings. Any one of us has the right to make a motion anytime on any phase of student regulations. This doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t think intelligently before we do say something, but at least we shouldn’t be afraid to say it. With real student body in terest and participation, we can make any system of student government work. However, we do want to have the best possible system, and for that reason we are making this motion tonight. I move that a Committee be appointed for the purpose of examining the present system of Student Government. This Committee shall consist of four members of the Stu dent Executive Council elected by the coun cil and four members of the student body. The four members of the student body are to be elected by the entire student body. This Committee shall consult any authori ties on government and student government who can offer valuable advice. Changes in Student Government organization which this Committee will suggest are to be pre sented to the student body for discussion and approval. Such changes as are desired by the student body and accepted by a ma jority vote are to be presented to the Stu dent Executive Council for action.
Meredith College Student Newspaper
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
March 8, 1946, edition 1
2
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75