THE TWIG
IVewspaper of the Students of Meredith College
VOL. LVm, NO. 17
MEREDITH COLLEGE, RALEIGH, N.C.
FEBRUARY 28, 1980
Founders’ Day observed
Atlanta group to perform
by Marlene Debo
The Theatrical Outfit of
Atlanta will present Red
Composition 1 in Carswell
Concert Hall, Wainwright
Music Building on Thursday,
February 28 at 8 p.m.
Red Composition 1 is a
non-traditional theatre piece
about the lives of three
women. The work blends song
and dance, film, realistic
storytelling, dialogue and
poetry. This material is drawn
from autobiographical,
historical, literary, and
imaginary sources.
Written and conceived by
the actresses. Red Com
position 1 rings true to our
common experience. How
many times have you heard a
female friend (or yourself)
jokingly say, “I’d kill myself,
but I’d be afraid I was missing
something.’’ Or “Don’t look
back. Just keep a photo
album.’’ And the artist inside
each of us had felt this urge,
“I want to sing one note so
long and so loud and so clear
that the entire universe is
suspended.”
In addition to the per
formance, the three actresses
will hold a free theatre
workshop from 10 a.m. - noon
on Thursday in the Studio
Theatre under Jones
Auditorium. Students can join
the workshop at 10 or 11 and
can leave at any time.
Marianne Fraulo, Sharon
Levy, and Elise Witt makeup
the cast of Red. Ms. Witt is a
Triangle Area native.
Asked about the nature of
Red Composition 1, Ms. Witt
replied, “Although the
composition avoids any overt
political statements, it is
informed and developed with
a feminist sensibility. About
the company’s intention in,
performing,” Witt added, “we
see ourselves as a catalyst for
those who have forgotten their
talents or had them denied.
For those who find it difficult
to articulate their opinions.”
Tickets for the per
formance are $2 for adults and
$1 for students and senior
citizens. The group is being
brought to our campus by the
Mer^ith College Playhouse.
Amid pageantry and
nostalgia, Meredith College
last week celebrated Foun
ders’ Day, commemorating
the eighty-ninth charter year
of the institution.
Celebration began Friday
morning with a wreath-laying
ceremony at the Thomas
Meredith Memorial.
Meredith, who was in
strumental in founding of the
Baptist State Convention and
the founding of Wake Forest
University, is most important
to this college because of his
key role in winning a place for
higher education for women.
As a result of Meredith’s
diligence, this college
received its charter from the
BSC in 1891, and opened in
1899, as the Baptist Female
University. In 1909, this title
was changed to Meredith
College, in tribute to its
founder.
The Founders’ Day
program began shortly after
the wreath-laying. Jones
Auditorium filled quickly with
students and observers. The
procession of faculty and
administration, in a full array
of robes and honors, was led
by the senior class, dressed
also in graduation robes.
Meredith Alumna of 1957,
Jeanne Grealish sang Franz
Schubert’s “Staendchen” with
the Meredith Chorale
following the greeting by
President John Weems.
Tribute was paid to Dr.
Elizabeth Delia Dixon Carroll,
as an early founder of the
college by Dr. Elizabeth
James Dotterer, Meredith
class of 1930. Dr. Carroll, for
whom Carroll Infirmary is
named, was a member of the
original college staff and
served as the resident
physician.
Following the recognition
of this early founder, tribute
was paid to a contemporary
founder by Dr. Weems. Dr.
Dotterer was, in turn, chosen
for this honor.
Dotterer began as a
trustee of the college in the
1950’s. She served as a past
president of the alumnae
assiciation and was the first
female chairman of the board
of Merdith College.
The Founders’ address
was given by Dr. William J.
Bennett, director of the
National Humanities Center.
Bennett, originally from
Brooklyn, New York, received
his B.A. from Williams
College, Ph.D. in philosophy
from the University of Texas,
and degree in law from
Harvard Law School. He also
currently serves as adjacent
associate professor of
philosophy at North Carolina
State University.
“Fairytales’’was the topic
of Bennett’s address, or
“reflections on the relations of
men and women and their
future,” he said.
Bennett said he has
“recognized the equality, at
least, of men and women.
Sometimes women are
superior, in such things as
sobriety, realism, good and
common sense, a less fragile
egp,. and the ability to
recognize dreams for what
they are. For survival men
need myths, to protect
themselves from frustration
and disappointment.”
“When illusion occurs in
women it seems pathological;
in men, it seems normal.
Women deal more often in the
Black Emphasis Week activities held
by Beth Giles
Black Emphasis Week
began on Monday, February
18 with a convocation address
by Dr. Patsy Perry, chair
woman of the English
Department at North Carolina
Central University in
Durham. Dr. Perry spoke on
“Double Jeopardy”, relating
the difficulties that arise in
the career world when one is
black and a woman. She
mentioned various black
women writers and described
their experiences in dealing
with racial, as well as sexual
prejudice in their career
pursuits. Dr. Perry’s talk was
covered by local television
and radio station, WRAL.
A special Ash Wednesday
worship service was held with
Rev. Yvonne Beasley serving
as worship leader. Rev.
Beasley is director of United
The only faculty
production of “Alice in
Wonderland” to be presented
this college generation hap
pens tonight, Wednesday,
February 27, at 8:00 p.m. in
Jones Auditorium. Helena
Allen, director, highlights the
unique characteristics of this
Campus Ministry at N.C.
Central University in Durham
and a graduate of Duke
Divinity School. Following
Adrianne Thomas’ scripture
reading from Isaiah, Vanessa
Gay’s solo of “One Day at a
Time,” and Ella Branch’s
introduction. Rev. Beasley
called for self-evaluation
during the Lenten season and
stressed that too often we
believe that the world’s
problems are the result of
other’s faults, and we are
blind to our own.
Thursday’s program
included the performance of
St. Augustine’s Performing
Dance Group in Jones
Auditorium Rehearsal
Hall. The group presented
diverse arrangements
ranging from African folk,
spiritual, modern, and a jazz
top hat and cane finale.
Yvonne Beasley of NCCU speaks at convocation. (Photoby Peggy
Williford and Lorri Whittemore)
Alice in Wonderland
production. She says, “There
are approximately 63 faculty
and staff participating this
year. New faculty and ad
ministrative members having
roles this year include Ann
Kurtz and Jerry McGee. Belle
Haeseler and Jim Briscoe are
ih charge of the music, and
Phyllis Thompson is helping
with the costumes and
makeup. Charlie Krebs is in
charge of the set and lights.
The sophomore class gave the
cast a reception following our
dress rehearsal on Tuesday
evening; we really ap
preciated that. Tonight,
following the production,
everyone is invited to Belk
Dining Hall for a Mad Hatter’s
Tea Party!”
Mrs. Allen encourages
everyone to support this
special tradition.
“It’s going to be fun -
ya’ll come!”
actual textures and details of
life - not so much of the stuff
that dreams are made of, but
of the stuff,” he explain^.
However, Bennett did not
offer an unrealistic picture of
the women’s world or of the
relationships of men and
women. “Although the future
of relations of men and women
is pregnant with possibilities,
it is not a promised land.”
Because of this, Bennett
offered advice to not only
Meredith women, but to all
men and women. “I urge us
all to reject any vision of the
future that promises a neat,
perfect, seamless world. That
is a lie. That life has its joys,
that is true; but that the future
will be one long, uninterrupted
joy, that is a lie.”
“My remarks are not
intended to depress either you
or me,” he said. “But we
should not ask for a future free
from pain.” The sooner men
and women accept that the
future will have harshness,
severity, and disappointment,
Bennett explained, the sooner
they wilt be able to recognize
the joys.
“The future is a lot like
the present - only later. Each
of us wilt get to the future at
the same rate. That is one
step, one choice, one decision
at a time,” he concluded.
News and
announcements
Theatre In The Park
Theatre In The Park
announces auditions for a
children’s show, SIR SLOB
AND THE PRINCESS, Feb.
27th and 28th at 5:00 p.m. Ages
8 to 15 only. For information
call 755-6058 or 755-6936.
Theatre In The Park
announces Beginning
Children’s Acting Classes
taught by Petra Chambers
Allen starting Feb. 18th. Six-
week course fee $25.00. To
register call 755-6058.
Theatre In The Park
announces Mime Workshop
taught by Dominic Fisher
beginning March 1. Eight-
week course - it^ hours
weekly - $50.00. Two sessions
offered - Saturdays at l ;30 and
Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. To
register call 755-6058.
Financial Aid Anhmncement
College Foundation, Inc.
will hold their annual
borrower conference on
Meredith Campus Thursday,
March 13, 1980 at 7:00 p.m. in
room 103 Joyner.
Upcoming Recitais
Jeanne Grealish and Jane
Snow, Guest Voice Recital,
8:00 p.m. Thursday, February
28, Carswell Hall.
The New Amsterdam Trio,
Guest Piano, Clarinet and
Cello Recital, 8:00 p.m.
Tuesday, March 4, Carswell
Hall.
Neill to Lead Program
Meredith Neill, Associate
Campus Minister, will lead a
dorm program on “Priorities
and Decision Making”, March
11 in 1st Brewer parlor.