Page two
THE TWIG
March 19, 1954
THIS IS LIFE
This 19th day of March in the year 1954, as well as all the other days
and months of the four years of college, is life—not a disconnected in-
te^al set aside for the preparation we need to live, nor a holiday set
aside for one last fling before we settle down to the serious business of
living. Each day at Meredith is as much a total part of our life as a
day picked at random from those we might live as Mrs. Ned Jenks in
the Happily Married People’s Town, U.S.A. Each activity we participate
in is one of the total number of activities that compose life. True, each
is a learning device, but so are the experiences we have after college.
Why must we consider those in college any less a part of real life than
those out of college?
Most of us start as freshmen already thinking, “When I graduate.”
That far-away, golden day becomes an end. It, not the present-day ex
periences and opportunities, occupies our minds. If and when that day
comes, we tell ourselves, life will begin, and will it be fun! No classes,
no assignments, no lectures, no pressure from authorities about anything!
But by the time March arives in one’s senior year, she begins to
realize that graduation is not the end she has made it. The life she has
expected to step into after the finish of this “interval” becomes vague
and uncertain. The only life she really knows well is that of a college
person, and she finds herself reluctant to leave—wishing she had spent
more of herself in those four years instead of saving for what now ap
pears uncertain.
It’s an odd and well-nigh universal trait—this setting up ends (college
graduation and marriage are common ones) and being very stingy, per
haps unconsciously, of ourselves till then. Life goes on, both before and
after the greatest events of our life. Live!
EDUCATION FOR PRIVACY
(From the Mission House Mirror, Mission House College,
Plymouth, Wis.)
A philosopher of some note remarked in a recent article that one of
the pressing needs of our time was the need to educate for privacy. This
suggestion has a ring of freshness for it would seem to be evident that
our society has, in the half-century, stressed the importance of the group.
... To merit a place in society, to be accepted, to belong, is a prime
factor in the good life. Said a high school sophomore, with some exag
geration, but with clear intent, “I’d rather be dead than be different.”
... If it be true that we have over-stressed the group life, the antidote
does not lie in rebellion, for such direct fight indicates that the individual
still is directed, albeit negatively, by group standards. Rather than an
egocentric effort to swim against the stream the individual concerned
for his own identity can move at a different rate, or along other lines
not necessarily in frontal opposition.
Surely it is well to remember that decision is always an individaul
concern, even when the decision is made to yield to group directions. . . .
To go it alone, to have some capacity for privacy is to add, in many
cases, a new dimension to life. . . .
Words To Live By
1. Refrain from a tendency to impose our ideas or way of life on other
people.
2. Evince as much willingness to learn from them as help them.
3. Acquire a knowledge of their needs, aspirations and accomplish
ments.
4. Recognize that the success or failure of one people increasingly
affects all and is the responsibility of all.
—John D. Rockefeller, III
P^sockaled GoOe6iai0 FV«»
EDITORIAL STAFF
Editor Lorette Oglesby
Assistant Editor Vivian Byrd
Feature Editor_ Kirksey Sink
Managing Editors Nancy Brown, Barbe White
Art Editor Sally Drake
Music Editor Leah Scarborough
Sports Editor - .Nancy Hall
Photo Editors Bobbye Rice, Janis Witherington
Columnists Margaret Ann English, Shirley West
Reporters—Nancy Reece, Nancy Drake, Mary Frances Colston, Mary Jo
Pinner, Lynette Haislip, Trudy Fitzgerald, Ann Parr, Nancy Carpenter,
Dorothy Smith, Jean Grealish, Joyce Herndon, Pat Dowell, Bess Peeler
Typists—Betty Hunter, Chief; Theresa Raynor, Mary Lib Delbridge, Jane
Condrey, Annette Caudle
Faculty Sponsor Dr. Norma Rose
BUSINESS STAFF
Business Manager Barbara Propst
Advertising Manager Peggy Bennett
Advertising Staff—Betty Smith, June Vann, Frances Moncrief, Lucy
MacDonald, Mary Louise Cornwell, Ann Jane Barbrey, Jo Ann Selley,
Sara Martin, Judy Baker, Joyce Ballard.
Circulation Managers Kitty Holt, Kay McCosley
Entered as second-class mateer October 11, 1923, at postoffice at Raleigh,
N. C„ under Act of March 8, 1879. Published semi-monthly during the
months of October, November, February, March, April, and May; monthly
during the months of September, December, and January.
Th* Twig Is the college newspaper of Meredith College. Raleigh, North
CaroUna, and as such is one of the three major publications of the institu
tion—the other two being The Acorn, the Uterary magazine, and The Ook
Leaves, the coUege annual.
Meredith College is an accredited senior liberal arts college for women
located in the capital city of North Carolina. It confers the Bachelor of Arts
and the Bachelor of Music degrees. The coUege offers majors in twenty-one
fields Including music, art, business and home economics.
Since 1921 the institution has been a member of the Southern Association
of Colleges and Secondary Schools. The college holds membership in the
Association of American Colleges and the North Carolina College Conference.
Graduates of Meredith College are eligible for membership in the American
Association of University Women. The institution is a liberal arts member
of the National Association of Schools of Music.
Subscription Rates: 82.45 per year
These days are what you might
call the lull before the storm—storm
meaning all the rush of the last days
of school. What a whirl it’s going
to be! I am both looking forward to
and dreading the last couple of
months. One thing’s for sure—all
of us will be doing something more
than mere school work, if it’s noth
ing but acquiring a nice shade of
red or brown, as the case may be.
The Folk Dance Concert tomorrow
night might be termed the starting
point for various activities, with
Stunt next Saturday night! If you
can possibly do so, go to the Folk
Dance Concert. I know you will en
joy it, and the people who have
worked so hard preparing the
dances deserve everybody’s support.
I overheard this one in lunch line
the other day. Seems as if some
lucky girl had triumphantly passed
by displaying a diamond, and her
friends were remarking about such
interesting subjects as love and mar
riage. One said, “You mustn’t be
discouraged. In this world there’s a
man for every girl and a girl for
every man. You can’t improve on
an arrangement like that.”
Back came this reply, “I don’t
want to improve on it. I just want
to get in on it!”
Well, what did you think of the
elections? All the winners are to be
congratulated! The nominating com
mittee had a hard job and deserves
much credit for its work. The inter
est shown was especially rewarding
to them. I think we all should be
proud of the high vote and have
as our goal the plan of topping it
next year. Wouldn’t it be wonder
ful if ALL of the student body
would register and vote? After all,
these elections are not be taken
lightly, and we are all responsible
for those who are elected.
Harvard Man: I’ve a friend I’d
like you girls to meet.
Bryn Mawr Girl: What can he
do?
Wellesley Girl: How much has
he?
Radcliffe Girl: What does he
read?
Vassar Girl: Who are his family?
Holyoke Girl: What church does
he belong to?
Meredith Girl: Where is he?
Last week end, as you probably
realized, we had quite a few visi
tors on campus. I am referring to
the people who came for the music
contest. Seems like every time I
stepped out the door, I saw stran
gers wandering around looking lost.
They probably were, too! Anyway,
it was nice to have them.
One result of Religious Focus
Week has been the establishment of
a morning worship service. Morn
ing Perspective. It is held from 8:10
until 8:25 Monday through Fri
day.
THE CAIHPBELLS
ENTERTAIN SENIORS
Continuing a practice they began
five years ago. Dr. and Mrs. Camp
bell are entertaining the members
of the Senior Class at a series of
suppers.
Special guests attending these in
formal suppers include Dr. Sarah
Lemmon, senior sponsor; Miss Lou
ise Fleming; Miss Edith Zinn; Miss
Mary Bland Josey; Mrs. Margaret
Martin; Mrs. Lois Renfrow; Mrs.
Vera Tart Marsh; Dean and Mrs.
L. A. Peacock; Mr and Mrs. B. Y.
Tyner; Mr. and Mrs. Howard Belch
er; Becky Calloway, incoming presi
dent of the Student Government
sociation; Ruth Jeanne Allen, new
ly-elected president of the Athletic
Association; Ruth Jeanne Allen,
newly-elected president of the Ath
letic Association; and Shirley Mc
Lean, BSU president for the coming
year.
letters to the Editor
L i
Dear Editor:
I am sure that the student body, and especially the members of the
nominating committee, are grateful for the election procedure used this
year when it is compared with that followed four years ago. Just imagine
-—six weeks of nominating and electing! Even though elections are a very
irnportant event in our campus life, the records of those past elections
with four and six slates have proved that interest dwindles during the
closing weeks. This is the second year that the two-slate run has been
used at Meredith, but our voting statistics this year show improvement
over last year’s record. Last year 77 per cent of the student body reg
istered; this year, 84 per cent. Eighty-two per cent of the registered
voters voted in ’53, the same percentage participated this year. The
juniors take the lead with the highest percentage in this year’s election;
76 per cent of their class voted. Sophomores are second with 74 per cent;
seniors come in third with 67 per cent; and the freshmen record was 65
per cent. The figure representing the total number of Meredith ^rls who
voted last year was 65 per cent; this year it is 70 per cent! And I’m
bragging—but really with no right to do so. There is no reason why this
student body of only 566 students cannot reach a,percentage mark in
the 90’s in its own campus elections. If every girl who will be here next
year would resolve to take part in next year’s elections, and to be re
sponsible not only for herself but also for an incoming freshman, we could
reach that high mark!
Allow me, in closing, to say a few words about the one drawback
in elections with only two slates. This handicap is, in many people’s
opinion, that too many good leaders are eliminated. In answer to this,
1 urge those of this opinion to consider the fact that we must have good
leaders to keep the wheels rolling in places other than campus-elected
offices.
Mary Ann Chandler,
Chairman, Nominating Committee
Dear Editor:
Let me take this,opportunity to express my gratitude to the student .
body for the confidence shown in me in the recent elections. It is im
possible to put into words exactly how I feel. Indeed, it is a great honor!
It is not, however, for my personal honor and prestige that I accept the
position, but rather, it is for the opportunity to serve you and the school
to the best of my ability.
As you know, I have never before served on the Student Government
Council, but student government has always meant a great deal to me.
Each Meredith girl is a member of our organization, and it is up to ali
of us to co-operate and make our campus life the very best.
I am looking forward to next year and all that it holds for us in the
Meredith community. It will be a pleasure working with the wonderful '
council which you elected—and with you. One person, alone, cannot
run the organization. Instead it takes full co-operation of everyone, and
I’m sure that each girl enrolled here is sincerely interested in Meredith
and what it stands for. With everybody working together, I’m certain “
that next year will be a most successful one. ’;fte officers whom you
have elected are counting on you to back them up. Support does not
end when your ballot is in the box.
Becky Calloway
Dear Editor:
On March 3 the seniors entertained their “little sisters,” the sopho-.
mores, at a tea in the blue parlor. This has not been an annual event
and was all the more enjoyable because it was unexpected. The con
genial, informal atmosphere was conducive to a fellowship between the
two classes which we need more opportunities to enjoy.
I am sure that I express the feelings of the entire Sophomore Class in ’
saying sincerely to the seniors, “Thank you.”
Lynette Haislip
REPORT ON RUSSIA
(Editor’s Note: This is second
in a series of articles by Dean
Schoelkoff, editor of Minnesota Dai
ly. He was one of the seven editors
who visited Russia recently.)
The talk in Russia today is of
peace. We heard it everywhere we
went. This is the line: The Rus
sian people suffered great losses in
the last war. Their homes and their
factories were leveled. Their friends
and relatives were killed and crip
pled. And so they want peace, they
say. They think the American peo
ple want peace, too. But they be
lieve that “war mongers” control
the government. They say Presi
dent Eisenhower does not really set
iroUcy but is “a tool of the monopo
lies.” Anatoly Krasilevich, 25, an
engineering student at Moscow Uni
versity, told me he doesn’t think
there will be a war between the
United States and Russia for five
or six years. “It will take America
that long to get ready after your
losses in the Korean war,” he said.
“But there will never be a war un
less the United States attacks Rus
sia.” We were repeatedly asked why
the United States is building a net
work of air bases around the Soviet
Union. The Russian people think
the bases will be used to launch an
“aggressive war.” When we asked
students why Russia keeps the larg
est standing army in the world, we
were told it is for defense purposes
only. One interpreter told us that
Russia does not have any long-
range bombers—only fighters for
defense. Our other interpreter
smiled at that obvious untruth.
Along with the words about
peace, Soviet leaders have been car
rying on an extensive program of
anti-American propaganda. We
could see evidence of it everywhere.
Posters in the factories and schools
depicted Uncle Sam as a villain
carrying caimons under his arms,
dollar signs in his eyes, committing
some mayhem on John Bull and
characters representing other na
tions. Cartoons in magazines and
newspapers follow the same thing:
doUar-hungry American militarists,
pohticians or businessmen looking
for war or money, or both. We asked
often why there should be aU these
hate-America posters if Russia real
ly was interested in friendship
among nations. We always were told
that these posters were not directed
against the American people, but
against the military men and mo
nopolies who want war. Russians
think the United States already has
started one war — in Korea. We
were told that Secretary of State
Acheson and President Truman
planned the war with Sygman Rhee,
and that South Korean troops in
vaded North Korea.
®tit the political consciousness of
me Russinas we met extended
beyond mtemational affairs They
were much interested in intemd
problems of the United States. We
were asked often about Senator Mc
Carthy. Usually the question was,
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