Page Two
THE TWIG
October 1,1970
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r^ertditK. College.
October 1,1970
The Case of Vanishing Volumes
As the late afternoon sun stretches itself across the library floor, students
pack up books and go hungrily to dinner and, after a skirmish of footsteps
and voices, all is quiet. Stealthily a lone straggler creeps among the shelves,
making no noise but disrupting the sunlight and casting an ominous
shadow over the volumes before her. She is alone and now is her chance
to strike. With a glint of evil in her eyes, she ‘‘cases the joint” and surveys
the “loot”—books of all shapes and sizes, covering every subject imagi
nable. Her mind, though, is set on one particular book assigned to her
class for a special report. Suddenly the object of her search comes into
view, and with pick-pocket grace and speed, she snatches the book from
the shelf and tucks it under her arm. Then, assuming the nonchalant de
meanor of a regular library visitor, she descends the stairs, smiles at the
librarian, and slips out the door. Another library caper has been pulled.
The preceding scene and the cartoon are perhaps a bit over-dramatized.
We believe Meredith does not have such criminal types as this culprit. Yet,
the fact remains that books are continually disappearing from the library,
and, luiless books become animate after hours, these books are being car
ried out by library visitors.
This problem has grown over the years. Last year alone, several dozen
books with cards still in them were found stashed away in dorm rooms in
trash cans, closets, under beds, or simply left lying on desks, In comparison
with other schools, this number of missing books is relatively small, but
one missing book is one too many when it is needed by a student and
searched for by librarians for months.
With student enrollment on the rise, this problem is likely to worsen
unless we take a little time to forget ourselves and to acknowledge the re
moval of a book from the library. That is the least we can do for others and
for a library staff that is working doggedly to build up the number of
volumes.
If those among us who see no need to follow library regulations persist
in letting books slip out of the library, the inevitable solution will be closed
stacks. No one wants this as it will mean additional labor by library work
ers and additional waiting time for students. The closing of the reserve stacks
is already being discussed because of the many books that are pilfered
each week. Upperclassmen who experienced the disadvantages of closed
reserves will testify that such an arrangement consumes both time and
patience.
Closed slacks would not be designed to punish us but to protect us from
ourselves. In a sophisticated college environment, such a measure would
be an insult for which we would have only ourselves to blame.
The solution of the problem thus lies with us. If, for example, a student
becomes so wrapped up in her studies that she accidentally carries a book
out of the library, she is urged to return it immediately. She will not be
penalized for her mistake. Whenever a book is taken from the slielf for
study in the library, it should be returned to the desk or left on a shelf des
ignated for book pick-up. The library workers had much rather put books
back on the shelf than search for a misplaced book.
And, those few of us who with premeditation pick up books without
signing for them are urged to think of their fellow students or of their
own possible dilemma if they were to need a book that is missing because
of someone else’s theft.
A few minutes of consideration are all It takes to keep our stacks open
and to spare ourselves much added inconvenience.
The year is still young, people. Let us work hard to maintain a clean rec
ord. We are the ones to benefit.
—NBA
EDITORIAL STAFF
Editor Helen Wilkie
Associate Editors Nancy Ausbon, Abigail Warren
Managing Editors Gcni Tull, Anna Vaughan
News Editors Emory Farris, Susan Van Wageningen
Feature Editor Percy Beane
Copy Editor. Susan Shipp
Assistant Copy Reader Lynne Bogguss
Columnist Phyllis Willets
Reporters-.-Patsy Brake, Susan Coleman, Beth Credie, Cindy Giorgis, Doris
Heustess, Teresa Holt, Carolyn Lewis, Carol Lindley, Lura McCain, Pam
Odell, Suzanne Pomeranz
Cartoonist Sue Sherlock
Photographer Tina Vaughn
Faculty Sponsor Dr. Norma Rose
BUSINESS STAFF
Business Manager Joyce Little
Advertising Chief June White
Mailing Editors Nancy Barnhill, Elaine Dawkins
Circulations Managers Linda Ehrlich, Penny Gallins
Typists Marie Braxton, Martha Jane Leg^et
Faculty Sponsor Dr. Lois Frazier
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Letters to the Editor
ENDOWMENT OF
PROFESSORSHIPS
Dear Editor,
In three years at Meredith, we
have seen the progress made by the
Advancement Program in the form
of new physical facilities. This ad
vancement should not stop with the
culmination of this five-year pro
gram.
In the midst of this growth, we
have also witnessed innovations in
and evaluations of our curriculum.
Meredith has traditionally main
tained high academic standards;
however, to survive as a private lib
eral arts college, she must continu
ally raise her standard of education.
To achieve this end requires not only
fine physical facilities and a flexible
curriculum, but also increased sup
port of our faculty. If we are to
sustain our emphasis on individual
instruction, the student-faculty ratio
will have to remain small. Our facul
ty members need more time and en
couragement for professional re
search. If we are to retain the fine
faculty we have and attract profes
sors of the same high standards,
initiatives must be taken to insure
their employment.
It seems to us that the endowment
of professorships would be one ex
cellent way to reach this goal.
Friends of Meredith have given gen
erously for physical improvement.
If people are properly informed of
the need, it seems certain that funds
would be made available for aca
demic enrichment also.
Positive steps should be taken
now in the anticipation of these
needs. A plan similar in design,
scope, and support to the Meredith
Advancement Program should be
initiated. Any program of smaller
stature would betray Meredith’s
heritage and promise.
Sincerely,
Jane Alligood
Anne Bryan
come to the dedication.
All this is quite ironic after the
excellent movie by the United Fund
encouraging us to be involved with
our community and have the re
sponsibility of others who share the
human experience with us. If Mere
dith (and we are Meredith) does
not trust us with the responsibility of
ourselves and our actions, how can
we expect to respond to the respon
sibility of life????
I think we should individually be
entrusted with knowing our personal
limitations and having the respect
for our friends and the self-respect
to be able to judge for ourselves
what is acceptable. I resented the
inference that attending the dedica
tion was an unpleasant task — the
Weatherspoons should be hugged.
They have trusted us with their gift,
why can’t we trust them with our
appreciation? Must we be railroaded
and cajoled? Are there really peo
ple at Meredith who cannot accept
these simple responsibilities or are
these rules and insipid pleas really
necessary? Why do we have these
rules in the first place? Rules are
only a reflection of the people to
whom they apply. It is easy to criti
cize the administration, but where
are H'E?????
Barbara Curtis
CHAPEL PROGRAM
To the Students,
On the morning of Sept. 25, we
were exposed to a plot to under
mine our spontaneity and involve
ment by a subjective utilization of
reverse psychology. Our chapel pro
gram literally stank and it was OUR
program, for us to be informed on
our activities. And now we know
what our activities are—
1. A kindergarten recitation of
what to wear and when.
2. A plea to please “wear nice
dresses” for the trustees so they will
get a good impression and a plea to
SEX EDUCATION SYMPOSIUM
Dear Editor,
In response to the letter in the
last issue of the Twio concerning
the distribution of the sex informa
tion booklet on our campus, we
would like to agree that this type of
information should be available to
Meredith students. Although we live
in an atmosphere of Christian re
ligious emphasis, we cannot ignore
the problems that do exist within
our community at the present time.
It is time to face these problems
with a mature and responsible ap
proach giving thought to both the
practical and ethical issues. We can
not generalize by saying that all of
us on the Meredith campus have
made our decisions concerning the
current moral questions. Therefore
m light of the fact that we are a
Christian college, we feel that it is
necessary to offer not only the
factual information presented in this
booklet but also religious and ethical
opinions which may influence those
of us who have not had the oppor
tunity to explore this area,
Because of our concern that im
mediate steps be taken to inform
our student body, the forum com
mittee is presently planning a sex
educaUon symposium to be held on
Inquiry
By Phyllis Willets
As was stated in the preceding
column, political activism on college' ■
campuses seems to be a major issue
this year. Pessimistic prophets fore
see a year of even greater student,,
unrest. And the recent bombing at
the University of Wisconsin, which
took the life of a young researcher,
hardly gives grounds for optimism ■
However, it is hoped that such an
act will not set the tone of student
dissent.
Senator George McGovern, in'
concern over violent protest, par
ticularly the bombing at the Uni
versity of Wisconsin, recently wrote
a letter to congressional student in
terns with an attached statement
called “The Folly of Undisciplined
Radicalism.” In the letter and the.
attached statement, Senator McGov
ern stressed his opinion that action
through the political system—for all
its inadequacies—was far preferable ■
to violence. He pointed out that such
action most often does not ac
complish its objectives, but provokes
a counter-reaction that leads only to
more conflict and repression. He al
so noted several weaknesses of radi
cal doctrine: 1) They see only the
weaknesses of our American pollti-
cal and legal system. They use the'
freedom that system affords to con
demn it. 2) They naively imagine
that their revolutionary society will-
live up to its lofty ideals, never
realizing their idealism is possible
because of the affluence and relative
security of the present system. Thd •
senator contends that antics such as
displaying Viet Cong flags, disrupt
ing classrooms, and shouting ob- ,
scenities at political leaders provoke'
a so-called “hard hat” reaction to
peace efforts. It may be well to note
that Senator McGovern was one of ,..
the backers of the amendment to end
the war—which did not pass—^yet he
still advocates reform within and i
through our political system.
It is rather far-fetched to think
that violent protest would occur at
Meredith, but loss of faith in the y
American legal and political system
is hardly so rare. It results in a feel
ing of apathy and lack of ability to.
do anything constructive when we
feel the need for social or political ,
reform. This is 1970, and student
dissent is an accepted phenomena.
But we owe it to ourselves and the
general good of humanity to try and
accomplish our objectives — be it
ending the war in Vietnam, demand
ing tnore student voice in school
policy-making or whatever—througli
peaceful channels with the accepted
framework.
our campus this fall. We are very
excited at the prospects of bringing .
together both doctors and clergymen
to inform us of the physical, psycho
logical, and moral aspects of this
issue. We feel that this effort will be
of great benefit to all of us and hope
that it will be supported by each «
member of the Meredith communi
ty- «
Cathy Anderson,
Diane Robinson,
Chairmen-M.C.A.
Forum Committee
PRESIDENT’S DINNER
This evening, (he students of
Meredith College are invited to
attend (he first Presidenl’s Diooer,
which hopefully will bccome a
mon(hly alfair. The dinner is (o be
held in Hclk Dining Hall.
There will be no program or
speeches in Belk Hull. After din
ner, however, a program will be
presented in Jones Auditorium by
President Heilman concerning his
summer trip (o the Orient. Slides
will be shown, and all Interested
students, faculty, stulf, and trustees
are invited.
Attendance at this program will
count toward a free chapel absence.
J