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THE TWIG
THE
MEREVJTH
TWIG
COLLEGE
Students cut their own
throats with judi bill
In sending the recent judicial board reform measure to the
Student Life Committee for passage, students at Meredith have
hurt their own cause. Rather than asserting our right for in
creased self-government, we have actually deprived ourselves of
student involvement that we now have in the judicial process.
The measure which passed S.G.A. last Friday would change
the appeals system to the effect that all inter-dorm board and
judicial board appeals will be channeled directly to Dr. Weems
and the Board of Trustees. Present judicial board appeals are
first handled by the executive committee, comprised entirely of
students.
Why do students seek this decrease of their own role in the
appeals system? According to Suzanne Martin, chairman of tile
judicial board, who presented the proposal to the student body on
behalf of the executive committee, there are several logical
reasons. Close examination of these reasons and alternative
courses of action, however, reveals that they are not sufficient
justification for the implementation of this measure.
The first of these reasons is that we need to be consistent:
since inter-dorm board appeals now go to Dr. Weems, then
likewise should judi board appeals be directed to him. Con
sistency is fine, but might it not be just as well served if inter
dorm board appeals were directed to the executive committee as
judi board appeals presently are?
One then aks if the executive committee has time to handle
these appeals and, indeed, whether the executive committee has
other pressing duties that it might not better attend to. This is a
question of some merit. The students on the executive committee
are already swamped with business, and perhaps it is unfair to
ask them to take on the additional load of inter-dorm board ap
peals.
There is another alternative to Dr. Weems, however, which
will maintain student involvement at more levels of the judicial
process. Why not create a special appeals court composed in
part, at least of students?
Martin, as chairman, feels that the judicial board conducts
thorough investigations and provides a fair trial to offenders
through a process in which students participate. She un
derstandably anticipates and fears that an appeals court would
undermine the worth of original judicial board decisions.
This undercutting need not necessarily happen. I would
certainly agree that judicial board does a good and fair job; oc
casionally, however, there may be a case where there is cause for
a “mistrial,” new evidence is found, or valid justification fw
appeal of the judi board verdict arises. But such cases would be
rare, and if standards are set which clearly define what con
stitutes an appeal, then I can foresee nor run on an appeals
w-n. fUmrm verv few are Ukehr to oaaUfv. there b no need to
worry that the judicial board
will be undermined.
On the other hand, those
few girls who do merit recon
sideration of their case deserve
to be heard out before someone
other than Dr. Weems. Indeed,
they deserve no less than a
retrial by their own peers. For
students to deprive themselves
of this right makes no sense at
all!
How can we in good con
science ever again gripe to the
administration for increased
privileges to run our own affairs
when we rob ourselves of a
power that we already have? I
cannot urge too strmgly that
the students on the Student Life
Committee work to defeat tlris
bill and send it into oblivion
where it belongs.
G.R.
Thanks to
registrar!
Our sincere thanks are
extended to Mr. Hiott and the
registrar’s office. For the first
time since this Meredith co-ed
has been here, fall pre
registration will not be held on a
Saturday (more specifically, on
the afternoon of the Duke-
Carolina football game).
We will follow the same
procedure that was used last
spring in which students pick up
cards at conferences with their
advisors and then check by the
registrar’s office for con
firmation. This means no loss
of precious Saturday morning
sleep, no hassle and pushing
while waiting in line, and no
missing the football game and
settling for the radio. Thanks
for letting us keep our priorities
in order, Mr. Hiott!
OCTOBER 10, 1974
YDC will aid in voting
by Ann Wall privileges.
Voting absentee is not
So you live in Glenwood or difficult. The majority of
Elizabeth City. That’s just too Meredith students will find the
far to drive on election day, now most appropriate method will
isn’t it? Besides, politics is be to do everything by mail,
crooked and they’ll just stuff The Meredith Young
the ballot boxes, and you don’t Democrats Club will provide
want to sully your pretty little you with an “absentee ballot
uncorrupted hands by voting for request form” which you will
someone that’s made a fill out and return. YDC will
mistake. Never mind that stamp and mail it for you.
you’ve made mistakes, too; A week or so later you will
we’re talking about politicians receive your ballot in the mail
now, and you know that if you’d (but you must have been
had a parking ticket you would registered to get it). Follow the
have been charged twice as instructions given for filling it
much as that politician had to out; then don’t forget to take it
pay- by Johnson Hall and get it
Balderdash! If you can’t notarized. Watch for signs
get home on election day then, designating notary publics,
by all means, VOTE AB- Stick it in the mail and you’re
SENTEE. T’ain’t hard ’tall. done.
But, if you do live within a The completed notarized
reasonable driving distance of ballot must be received by your
Raleigh, plan to go home that county Board of Elections by
day and vote. The YDC will be Monday, November 4, 1974 at 6
setting up a special electicMi day p.m.
ride board to help you out. There are other ways to
Election Day is not a Play vote absentee; a relative may
Day. Election Day Recess is a pick up an application for the
chance for the Meredith Student absentee ballot for you; you
Body to prove to faculty, ad- may go to your Board of
ministration and ourselves, that Elections in person and vote
we are indeed ready to take on while you’re there. The last day
some of the responsibilities that to get your ballot is October 30
come with our increasing 1974 - 6 pm ’
Who,
cares?
Who cares about smoggy skies l%rlMW
About empty and polluted lakes,
cans and trash littering our
country side. About plants and
trees dying in our forests.
And animals too. Who cares?
Woodsy Owl, the Nation’s new
battler for a clean environment
cares. And so should you.
Join Woodsy in the fight against k>m Wxxisyjjwfcjjghtagamst pollutlon.iixlav
pollution.
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G. R.
A TYPICAL NIGHT IN JOHNSON HALL
FINAU.S...
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