Page two
THE TWIG
October 2, 1959
THE ESSENCE OF ORIENTATION
We arc the student body of Meredith College once again. As we
mature, the composition of this student body changes. Or does it? Do
we not find here on our campus people with the same needs that Mere
dith students of the last generation had? Familiar objects and faces are
here for many of us, but we must remember that they may not be so
familiar to the new students. As we go about our own affairs, each of us
may pass up an opportunity to help someone see Meredith as \ye know
her.
During the week of orientation, we made an effort to acquaint the
new members of our student body not only with our grounds and build
ings, but also with the purpose under which wc live here. If we are
unable to uphold that purpose each day, orientation programs arc useless.
Within the next two weeks both Phis and Astros will be made acutely
aware of their responsibilities. However, it cannot end there.
Graduates of Meredith are often known for their good relations with
those with whom they work. This ability should be traced back to our
relations here on campus, for it is here that we learn through the vital
experiences of these years. Together we study, we work, and we play.
Some day we shall find to our surprise that for too many of us together-
ness was miles apart.
L. E. H.
Rush ... a time for reflection
Societies have long been a part and a significant part of life at Mere
dith. During their early years the societies were so important, perhaps,
because girls had little and infrequent contact, relatively speaking, with
the outside world. Yet today, with more trips to town and more visitors
than girls of the past could have imagined, societies are still important.
Why?
Perhaps in a school like ours—a school with, for instance, no football
team—societies give the student something to be /or—society spirit
instead of school spirit, in a sense. This is true, at least in part, at Mere
dith. Here there is class spirit, certainly, in intramural competitions, a
Comhuskin’, at Stunt. But there seems to be no Meredith spirit of the
sort most of us experienced in high schools: the thrills of just belonging,
the joy when any aspect of school life went well or was praised, the intense
sorrow when a team lost or a project failed.
No, Meredith spirit is a spirit apart, examined rather seldom and then
most often in private, brought to light usually only at times like Com
mencement and when one meets a prospective Meredith freshman who
is a bit leery of this whole college experience. Meredith spirit is seldom
discussed; but it is always present, surprising us when we do examine
it with its depth and mtensity.
So society spirit is, in a way, a substitute for the enthusiasm and ex
citement which we often think of as school spirit; but it is also much
more. Society spirit can be a wonderful experience—a group of girls
drawn together by a binding but intangible bond, a group working happily
together toward common goals, girls who have chosen their society and
who are eager to share it with others.
The activities of rush week begin this afternoon. For six days mem
bers of each society will be trying to represent their society at its best.
We must all remember that society membership carries with it other
responsibilities beside making posters and paying dues. Astrotekton and
Philaretian are what we make them. Their ideals are set up and the
ideals of both societies are outstanding. How well these ideals are ful
filled depends on each and every one of us. For, after all, the society
is its members.
M. A. B.
MEMBER
Associated Collegiate Press
EDITORIAL STAFF
Editor Mary Ann Brown
Associate Edilor Lois Haigh
Managing Editors Peggy Ratley, Faye I^e
Feature Editors Amy Bell, Carol Park
Music Editor Aone Sharpe
Sports Editor. Anne Britton
Columnists Cynthia Denny, Nancy Shearin, Naocy Whcdbee
Reporters—Toula Bellios. LaDhii Gillespie, Joy Goldsmith, Libby Green,
Donna Hollamon, Mary Carolyn Hawkins. Sally Holbrook, Suzanne Leath,
Norma l.ockaby, Ellen Macdonald. Marilyn Maner, Janet Moore, Ann
Trnvis. Beth Wood
Faculty Sponsor Dr. Norma Rose
BUSINESS STAFF
Business Manager Corinne Caudle
Advertising Manager .Carolyn Jones
Circulation Manager Linda Jenkins
Mailing Editor. Mary Jo McDonald
Chief Typist .....Barbara Booth
Advertising Staff... Betty Orr, Nan Owen, Betty Stanford, Larnette White
Typists—Jeanelle Baker. Fay Corbett, Mary Louise Hudson, Stephanie Leslie,
Louise Parrish, Elizabeth Webster
Faculty Sponsor Miss Lois Frazier
Entered as second-class matter October 11, 1923, at post office at Halelgh,
N. C., under Act of March B. 1879. Published semi-monthly during the months
of October. November, and April; monthly during the months'of December.
JonuaTy, February. March, and May.
The Twir. is the college newspaper of Merelith CoUcgQ, Raleigh, North Caro
lina. and as such is one of the three major publications of the institution the
othtr two being The Acorn, the literary magazine, and Tfie Oak Leaves, tiie
coUcge annual.
Meredith College is an accredited senior liberal arts college for women located
in the capliul city of North Carolina. It confers the Bachelor of Artg and the
Bachclor of Music degrees. The college offers majors In twenty-one flelds
including rau&lc. art, business and home economics,
Stnce 1921 the institution has been a member of the Southern Association of
Colleiieii and Secondary Schools. The college holds membership in the Assocla*
tion of American Colleges and the North Carolina College Conference. Gradu*
ates ot Meredith College are eligible for membership in the American
Association of University Women. The institution is a liberal arts member of
the National Assciation of Schools of Music.
Subscription Rates: S2.9S per year
The Twtc is served by National Advertising Service. Inc., 420 Madison Ave..
New York 17. New York.
Music Notes
By ANNE SHARPE
Music notes are in the air again
this month singing out a welcome to
the sixteen new girls who have
joined us as freshmen in the music
department. We wish them much
success as they begin hours o( prac
tice and the five daily theory classes.
While we have been away this
summer, others have been busy
lining up some excellent musical
opportunities for us. The Chamber
Music series, which is held here on
our campus, offers us four programs
as does the Civic Music program.
We are indeed fortunate to have so
much good music accessible. Take
advantage of the opportunity.
Overheard in the music depart
ment: Mr. Pratt exclaiming over
the wonderful Civic Music program
that is scheduled for this season—
Joan Cope trying to get the music
oRice straighten^ out—strains of
newly begun organ and piano works
—the “kaw-kaw’s” of voice students
—Miss Swanson telling about her
summer job as a camp cook—re
hearsals of the new chorus.
Denny's Doings
By CYNTHIA DENNY
What to share with you in this
lirst column of the year? Thoughts
on study? Or leisure time? Or art?
Or literature? No, none of these,
for with the sounds of the court
reaching through the cahn air of
night, memories come, and resolu
tions, and hopes.
Now the past three years inter
mingle and become one with the
present in the soft splashings of the
fountain, the hearty sound of laugh
ter, the jangling of the phone.
Only yesterday I studied in the
history alcove where the penny-
bright freshmen now sit. Only
yesterday I diagrammed that same
sentence that has been left on the
board. Only yesterday I wandered
to art and biology on paths that will
soon be overgrown and unused save
in the dream walks of those who
can remember.
Pardon so much of self, but with
these pictures of the past so vivid,
the realization comes that this is
the beginning of the last, the final
year. It is the last^ but now is the
beginning. Perhaps you, whatever
your class, make at a beginning,
resolutions. For college, such reso
lutions as, to enlarge horizons by
study, to fulfill duties well, to use
leisure time wisely.
As many and varied as we are,
so are the hopes that rise. We hope
for the blessings of true friendships.
We desire scholastic ability. We
wish positions of leadership. What
ever our highest hopes, may our
reachings upward enrich us, and
through us, others. May this year,
first, middle, or final, send us out
bearing light, Meredith’s heart.
Eyes In The Back of My Head
By NANCY SHEARIN
You remember her. Though her
names arc legion, she is usually
prefixed by “Miss” and identified
with the word “battleax.” Some
where back in the pigtail days of
some forgotten September, she stood
before you and me and thirty-nine
other reluctant little scholars and
boomed these immortal words in a
voice admirably suited to hog-cail-
Ing:
“Well, children, summer Is overt”
Remember the effect? Remember
how quickly that first day of school
excitement changed to dread? As
Miss Teacher boomed on about “the
wondeiful and grand adventures in
learning we will have in third grade
this year,” we withered and wigled
and entirely missed what the great
adventure was to be. Our young
bodies fresh out of faded bathing-
suits and flip-flop sandals revolted
at the threat o^ those lingering
words: “Summer is over.”
After the “tumult and the shout
ing dies” at Meredith—when all the
diamonds are envied; when the af
fected accents have worn off; when
all our clothes are either dirty or too
little; when State fails to come
through on Saturday night; when
we are dazed with half a dozen col
lateral lists and quizzes—that “sum
mer is over” feeling gets us. We
droop our little heads like that cele>
brated “last rt)se” and bccome re
signed.
What to do?
We could call mama (collect), or
throw something or scream or eat.
Any of these would IJro^'^de tem
porary comfort. But if we really
want a cure—there is only one
prescription. That is a dose of hind
sight.
I wonder why it should be unfor
givable to look back in September;
why autumn has an air of New
Years resolutions wafting through
it. Is there any harm in recollecting
a long rugged beach, a cheery smile,
a snatch of song, a glint of sun-gold
occasionally? Are wc not “throw
ing jewels to the swine” when we
blithely let summer go?
Whether we worked or played;
whether we went to Russia or Sleepy
Hollow this summer—^we found or
learned or created something that
we will need before nine months
bring summer back to us again. It
is something (dare I say it?) that wc
won’t find in calculus or ancient his
tory this year. Call it contentment,
or adventure or solitude or peace—
or a hundred different names. Sum
mer will answer to them all.
True, September is a month of
challenge—a month of beginnings.
It is “forward into battle” now, but
there ate times when those naughty
eyes in the back of my head are
caught in a wicked wink and the
occurence somehow ' manages to
coincide exactly with my off-key,
inappropriate rendition of SUM
MER-TIME,
ed. notes
The Twig regrets to learn of the
illness of Miss Sally Wills Holland,
a member of the English faculty
for the past four years. Wc miss
seeing her in the classroom and
around the campus. Miss Holland’s
address is 2205 Staples Mill Road,
Richmond, Virginia. We feel sure
that she would enjoy hearing from
Meredith.
Dr. Campbell, both in his speech
to the new students and in his chapel
talk on the opening day of classes,
clarified for many of Meredith’s stu
dents— new and returning—just
what Meredith’s purpose is as a col
lege and where we as students fit
into the plan. To appreciate the
best that is Meredith makes one
realize how valuable are our oppor
tunities here.
counselors and group guides putting
in some extra study time. This
year’s freshmen are really alert and
inquisitive. Remarked one group
guide; “Life is moving faster than
it did when I was a freshman.”
Wanted:
The extra five minutes between
9:30 classes and chapel make it
easier to get to the auditorium with-,
out puffing for breath. What will!
they do when the proposed dorm:
goes up beyond Faircloth? It’s a'
long way to Joyner and Hunter from
there.
Seen Around Campus
Children’s lit students carefully
and hilariously doing collateral—
Horton Hatches the Egg.
Seniors already in a stew about
“next year I’ll have to get a job!”
Pigeons taking a sun bath behind
Johnson Hall.
Biology students “appreciating”
Meredith’s trees.
Girls marking off on calendars the
number of months, weeks, and
even days until they will be walk
ing down the aisle.
A new and smiling face behind the
Bee Hive counter—Mrs. Ruth
Gower.
Trees beginning to turn, already!
Stunt committees hopefully assuring
themselves that November is a
long way off.
Seniors who are making it their
responsibility to see that motion
plcturc studios make a profit this
year. Five in one week is the
present record.
Many people at breakfast.
Mrs. Dorothy P. Greenwood of
Raleigh has been added to the Eng
lish faculty. Mrs. Greenwood has
been with us before, and we wel
come her back.
Orientation Week found many
The Twig is in need of a photog
rapher and a cartoonist. Anyone
interested in either of these positions
is asked to leave her name at the
Twig room on first Brewer. If the
door is locked, just drop the note
through the slit in the glass. Experi
ence is welcomed, but not nccessary.
LETTERS TO
THE EDITOR
It has long been Twig policy to
invite the members of the student
body to contribute their opinions
on various matters through letters
to the editor. Letters must be signed,
though in certain cases names might
not be published. Letters may be
given to any member of the editorial
staff or may be left at The Twig
room on first Brewer. The Twig
docs not guarantee publication, but
all letters will be given careful con
sideration. The Twig is “the news
paper of the students of Meredith
College.” As such we have a place
for student opinions. We invite you
to contribute.
'■^CAftE TO BE A FOURTH M ^ UTTie
ACROSS THE HALL?"