PAGE 2
THE TWIG
SEPTEMBER 24, 1984
EDITORIALS
G6t nie to th© churuiiuu
7A\
Going to church is a pleasant ex-
ertence for me. Asachlld I was led hand in
hand into the church by my parents. At
home and at church I ieamed the im-
ortance of prayer, the value of the Bibie
and i found pleasure in singing hymns.
Being a part of the church was one
childhood activity i never outgrew.
My parents no longer take my hand in
theirs and lead me to chun:h. That is
something i take into my own hands and
do. Unfortunately, many college students
find It difficult to get up on Sunday
mornings and attend ttw worship service
of their choice.
When the erection of the church on
campus began, I automatically assumed it
was being built to cater to the religious
needs of the Meredith students. I assumed
worship services would be held on Sun-
ays and eventually, if tftere \mre enough
students Interested, Sunday School
classes would be held.
I envisioned students being Involved
in the sen/ices - reading scripture, leading
prayers, making announcements, singing,
and playing instnjments. I hoped that the
sennons would t>e on a college level so
that students could relate to wfiat was
Ijeing said. I thought it would be nice if a
casual dress code was accepted. This way
if a student woke up late, she could throw
on jeans and a sweatshirt.
What a let down.
it seems that more off campus ac-
ivities, such as weddings, t^ place there
than student related activities. Of couree,
worship is held eveiy Wednesday at 10:00,
but what else? You would think a church
would open its doors on Sunday for
worship, not shut them.
Many students dislike the Idea of
Dear Editor:
It is common knowledge that some
colleges are called “sult-case colleges”.
Meredith does not have this reputation,
txit many students do go home on the
weekends. More students might stay on
campus If Meredith offered more of wtwrt is
sought. Stxne students may go home to
work, see a boyfriend, or even get a decent
meal. Many students, however, go home
in order to go toafamllivchurch and be In
a comfortable church fellowship.
I think that if Meredith offered a
church sen/ice on Sundays, many more
students might st^ on campus. A service
could be held at ten o'clock and vrauld give
students enough time to get dressed and
eat bread(fast before going to the'Chapef. It
would give students a good chance to get
involved in more on-campus activities and
possibly get involved with MCA. It seems
such a shame to have a beautiful, new
chapel and only use it officially on
Wednesday mornings. It would also give
the students a chance to hear the pastor
going to church alone. An unfamiliar place
filled with strangers doesn't go over well
with some, even though a common in-
erest is shared by all who worship, if,
however, services were held In our chapel,
I believe students would be more inclined
j^o go by themselves because familiar faces
would be in view.
Being a Baptist school, Meredith
should make total use of her religious
facilities. Religion is the bacl^ne of this
school and v^n it should be
strengthening that aspect. It tends to push
girls off campus.
The fact that students attend and
support local churches is a possible
reason that no services are held on
carr^us. ^me students jntght decide to
worship on campHjs inistead of elsewhere.
Shouldn't students be given that choice, or
is Meredith going - to dictate over that
decision, too?
If neight)oring churches get upset
over a drop In Meredith attendance and
disco\«r them worshiping on campus, I
don't think they would mind. Students
attending services Should be their m^n
concern, not where.
A full'time preacher could be another
reason our chapel is not open for Sunday
worship.Sam Carothers can only do so
much and it is not in his job description to
hold Sunday worship services.
My suggestion is not to have a full
time preacher. We don’t need one. What
would be nice is if we had different
“preachers" from different derKxnlnations
and religions every week. One week we'd
have a Baptist, the next an Episcopal, a
Methodist, a Jewi^ Rat>bl, a Catholic
priest, etc. This way students' knowledge
of religion vtfouki gn?w. Every sen/ice
speak, instead of a student. Meredith has
the facilities and the staff needed to fulfill
the need. It is a shame that they have never
be^ utilized and are going to waste.
Sincerely,
Shelley Smith
Student
Deer Editxs:
Three weeks ago on a hot August day,
the freshmen began following an
echausting and hectic orientation
schedule. All the freshnren were over-
hdmed by the pace set for us during the
ne>ct six days. The four two-hour long
seminars were emotionally draining as
were the many other required meetings we
had to sit through. We were in meetings all
day every day from eight o'clod in the
rroming until after eleven at night. It was
as though we were being forced to grow up
in just a short anvunt of time • a process
that should not be enforced upon anyone.
I would like for you to consider
entering the freshmen orientation program.
Having such a demanding schedule thrust
would be a worship and learning ex-
erlence.
It does disturb me that Meredith's
facilities are not being used to their
fullest. Why even have a church If it’s not
going to be used? Why te^e a cake If you
aren’t going to eat it - just for the sake of
THE EDITOR
upon you your first day here Is almost
frightening. I would like to suggest that
the program be more relaxing so that one
could be eased into college life... not
thrown Into it.
Sincerely,
Kathryn Oakley
Deer Editor
I would like to make you aware of the
problems faced during Freshman
Orientation. Althc^ht this was an ex
iting ar>d memorable ecperience, there
weredefinitely too many activitlee planned
in such a limited amount of time. Being a
non-resident student, I was required to
arrive at the scheduled time of 11:00 on
Thursday morning, although there were no
activities scheduled until 1:00. From 1:00
onwanj, I found myself constantly rushing
around trying to decipher wfiich activity I
had to attend next. Although these ac-
ivities were extremely useful and helped
acquaint me with the campus, I had very
little time to acqu^nt myself with my new
classmates.
baking It?
I urge all students to write a letter to
the editor expressing your feelings on this
topic.
C^thla LChurch
113 Heilman, 7881
I would very much like to see next
year's incoming freshmen enjoy Orien
tation W^,so I hope the administration
will conskler these possible suggestions.
Although It Is important for students to
familiarize themselves with the campus
facilities, It Is equally important for them
to get acquainted with their roommates
and suitemates; therefore, the evening
hours should be set askle for this purpose.
The time for all of the orientation definitely
needs to be minimized: odentatlon should
take fewer da^s, It should contain fewer
required meetings, ^ the meetings
should be shorter. Another helpful factor
would be placing more emphasis upon
getting to know one another, putting more
social activities Into the schedule for nect
year. Please consider these possible
suggestions for an improved Freshmen
Orientation We^.
Sincerely,
Laura Marino
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