Page Two
THE TWIG
May 12, 1966
"Come Weal or Come Woe..."
In a chapel talk earlier this year, a speaker jokingly threw out the
phrase, “Come weal or come woe, my status is quo,” At the time, stu
dents laughed at this statement and then, for the most part, disregarded its
implications. Status quo is nice; it connotes stability, security, and tran
quility. Yet who can feel stable, secure, or, least of all, tranquil, within
the revolutionary nature of society today? This revolutionary character of
society requires a great deal of the individual—adaptability, understand
ing of and concern for ideas and events, and an interest in the goals of
change.
To bring the idea of revolution or change down to a personal level,
radical alterations are occurring in almost all aspects of life at Meredith
College, Raleigh, North Carolina. New attitudes toward education are
evident as course requirements become stricter. A proposed symposium
here next year shows individuals’ concern for intellectual expansion.
Plans for future construction of campus facilities reveal a desire to better
the tangible assets of the college. These and other changes are good, yet
there are always voices of complaint and dissent. Students become infuri
ated at changes in course requirements which require more work and a
little more effort. The reality of a successful symposium can only be
achieved if students and faculty have the interest and desire to prepare for
topics of discussion and are willing to attend the sessions. Finally, the step
from blueprint to bricks for such facilities as the proposed library can only
be made if members of the Meredith community are willing to sacrifice
some of their own time and money to show that they want better facilities.
A dismal reminder of what appears to be lack of enthusiasm for such sac
rifice was the talent show held a few weeks ago. Did poor attendance then
indicate lack of concern on the part of both faculty and students? If so,
perhaps we had better forget about trying to build a library because if we,
the Meredith community, aren’t really concerned about such things, then
how can we expect others to he?
Next year will be a crucial one in the development of Meredith College.
Wi* major changes in administrative personnel, there will be an even
greater need for concern and interest on the part of every person associated
with Meredith. It will be especially important for students to voice their
concern about policies and decisions. We, as members of the college com
munity, can look to new administrative officials for leadership, but will
not those officials be looking back to us for a response that will make their
leadership effective? MIH
Climb Every Mountain
“Climb Every Mountain”—these three words have become familiar
ones since the Sound of Music became a part of Raleigh. These words offer
a special message for those of us who have not yet encountered many
“mountains.” Probably, most of us are eager to meet those mountains and
to begin the climb. But it is important also that we do not overlook the
“hills” around us now. The graduating seniors are almost ready to tackle
the heights, and by each girl some private mountain has probably been
sighted and surveyed with excitement and, undoubtedly, a tinge of fear.
But the equipment for conquering that mountain has been collected during
the past years, and the success of the ascent will depend in a large degree
on &e quality of that equipment. Experience in conquering smaller hills
will also be valuable to the climber.
Opportunities abound for all who have the privilege of being introduced
to the world’s, vast store of knowledge and of being exposed to people who
have conquered mountains. It seems to me that one mistake we often make
as students is underestimating our own brains. We can too easily convince
ourselves that we are not capable of some particular assignment or task.
For that reason we often look for the easy way out—of courses, of a cur
riculum, of college itself. We forget that “I shall not pass this way again,”
and we pass up opportunities that may be ours for the last time. The hills
we accept as challenges and as opportunities to learn about life now may
prepare us to face the mountains of tomorrow. PAL
Cil
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Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor,
The attitudes and practices of
Meredith students concerning the
present drinking policy at Meredith
have been a contraversial subject
since I have been here. On Febru
ary 24, 1966, a poll was submitted
to the student body in an effort to
study these attitudes and practices.
The results showed the following
implications as indicated by those
who participated:
1. About half of the students
drink socially when not under the
jurisdiction of the college and are
permitted to do so by their parents.
2. Students drink while under the
jurisdiction of the college.
3. More than half of the students
disapprove of the present penalty
for violation of the drinking policy.
4. More than half of the students
have seen other students violate the
present drinking policy and very
few have either confronted or re
ported the violators.
Judging by these implications it
is obvious that the behavior is not
in keeping with the present drinking
policy or with the honor code. Need
less to say, a change is in order.
It is true that when students come
to Meredith College they sign a
pledge of honor and judging from
the poll, this honor is frequently
violated. But I do not think that we
can simply say that a third or more
of the student body has no self-
respect or integrity because of this.
Rather, I think that we should ex
amine the reasons behind the stu
dents’ actions and ask ourselves if
the present policy is a good policy
and in keeping with the times.
The attitude of society has be
come somewhat liberalized toward
social drinking in the past few years.
As indicated by the poll, many girls
are permitted by their parents to
drink at home. Therefore, how can
they be expected to think that social
drinking is evil when they come to
Meredith?
Many students are also opposed
to the present policy because they
are being denied the responsibility
of making their own decisions con
cerning drinking.'Why are we ma
ture and responsible enough to de
cide on a future career, to choose
the men whom we will marry and
who will father our children, but not
mature and responsible enough to
make decisions about social drink
ing? And is it not better to be able
to make this decision while guidance
is available than when we are, all
at once, on our own with not only
decisions to make concerning social
drinking, but other things as well;
for sooner or later, most of us will
be confronted with this matter.
It has been said that social drink
ing is evil. If abused, I agree that
it can be very tragic indeed. But
when most things are abused, such
as driving a car, the end result can
be very sad. But being able to limit
oneself in social drinking, eating, or
whatever, is part of the responsi
bility that goes along with the de
cision made.
I am not advocating that Mere
dith College serve cocktails in the
dining hall before dinner or set up
bars in the dormitories. I am only
asking that it be realistic and ex
amine the facts. Mature ideals are
essential, but often times they be
come too unrealistic. Policies regu
lating individual conduct should be
based on a valid analysis of society
today and its implications for per
sonal development rather than on
an idealistic proposition.
Barbara Watson
Dear Editor,
On April 2 and 3, the 1966 Caro
lina’s Conference was held at the
Betsy-Jeff Penn 4-H Center near
Reidsville, N. C. This conference,
sponsored by Student YMCA’s,
YWCA’s, and SAC’s in North and
South Carolina, invited representa
tives from colleges all over the
Carolinas. Colleges represented were
North Carolina State University,
Guilford, Queens, University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill,
A and T College, Shaw, St. Augus
tine, Johnson C. Smith, and Mere
dith.
The scheduled topic for discus
sion was “A Reappraisal: Student
Values in the Age of the Multiver
sity.” Students and faculty mem
bers who attended examined the
multitude of ideals and goals which
are presented to those involved in
college life. The first session dealt
with working for grades or knowl
edge or both. The second, and fur
ther discussions, centered about
bases for decision-making in the life
of the student.
Graduate students from Chapel
Hill gave the seminar presentation,
“Resources for Making Ethical De
cisions,” which was a lead-off for
further considerations. Reid Hunt-
ley presented a theological point of
view; George van Glohn, a philo
sophical viewpoint; and Jim Smith,
a sociological view. Before sessions
had ended, such subjects as “the
new ethics and campus realities,”
“what’s wrong with the church to
day,” and “the use of a college
education,” had been covered.
Students from A and T College
produced a very stimulating and
entertaining play for the conference.
“The Public Eye” was the title of
the drama which evoked laughter
and tears before its conclusion.
Attendance at the conference was
low, as only about 40 students and
20 adults attended, but participa-
*‘Iota Subscript”
By BETH PEACOCK
The entrance to this garden was
impressive. On either side of the
drive leading to this utopia were
two plaques on which the name was
engraved. I was anxious to walk
these fields which at first glance I
mistook for wild flowers, for there
was so great a variety in color and
shape. I spied a lovely lake couched
in rolling hills and was informed by
a passerby that although the area
had once been pleasing after sun
down, I must now hurry if I would
enjoy its beauty, for the path which
had once been lit was now dark.
Such a shame, I murmured, until
the stranger informed me that in
the evening people who lived
nearby stole down to pluck the flow
ers. All well and good, I thought,
but must I be penalized for their
misdoings; I shan’t pluck the flow
ers. My dismay heightened as I
chanced upon a sign which read:
“In accordance with the high ideals
of this garden, no flower shall be
permitted to drink of contaminated
water, nor shall a flower be al
lowed to bend beyond thirty-five
degrees, for in such case, although
it be growing, it is neither conform
ing to, nor striving toward the pre
scribed pattern.” Evening was draw
ing nigh as I departed. I might add
that I took with me a feeling of un
easiness. Weeks passed. I resolved
once again to venture into that gar
den which, although only a short
distance from the teeming city, was
like a world unto itself. That day,
to my surprise, I found the flowers,
whose colors now seemed deeper
and richer, freely swaying with an
abandon which made me think that
I had heretofore been deceived. I
was free from my image of
dimestore counters piled high with
artificial flowers. But alas, my joy
was short-lived, for suddenly the
sky darkened and . . .
The rain to the wind said,
‘You push and I’ll pelt.’
They so smote the garden bed
That the flowers actually knelt,
And lay lodged—though not dead.
I know how the flowers felt.
—Robert Frost
tion was excellent. Sandy Flynt
and I represented Meredith.
The interaction of the conference
group was the most exciting aspect
of the trip. The majority of dele
gates were Negro. This fact seems
to indicate the desire of the edu
cated Negro to be involved with the
development of his generation in
American society, not just as a
Negro, but as a Christian citizen.
The racial issue was not a topic, nor
did it receive any more than brief
mention, at the conference. The dis
cussions dealt with man’s strife for
human dignity and true Christian
witness in our world. What matters
to a student? Does one “let him
self go” in Christian love? Well, how
far?
Sandy and I enjoyed the mo-
ments-in-between scheduled events
on the program. We had a chance to
meet and converse with students
who shared their problems with de
nominational bias influencing their
campus life, with apathy on cam
pus for religious focus weeks, with
the social conflict of school rules
and present accepted social con
duct.
It is certainly hoped that Mere
dith will have more representatives
at this conference next year. It is
sad to think that Meredith girls are
so “conferenced-out” by the spring
time that they miss worthwhile meet
ings like the Carolina’s Conference.
Yet, the sparse attendance Mere
dith had indicates that this situation
prevails. Meredith students, wake
up! Do not “tune out” when an
initial statement in Thursday chapel
does not strike your fancy. You may
be missing an opportunity which
will prove far more profitable than
it appears to be.
Macki Rudisill