Septem6er27,1991 page tHru
U
O
by Mary Ann Monk
ATTENTION: Next Wednes
day, October 2,1991, in honor of
Abbie Hoffman’s birthday, there
will be a sit-in in Jones Auditorium
protesting Meredith College’s
Baptist affiliation. Be sure to wear
your Birkinstocks and any item of
Guatemalen origin. Grateful Dead
bootleg tapes will be played while
Dr. John Saunders recites from
the Upanishads. A love offering
for Greenpeace will be collected.
Don’t wear make-up or bras. Go
for that “I-must-be-a-hippie”
hairstyle and emanate a natural
odor. Ted O’Briant informed the
Herald staff that vegetarian lasa-
gna will be “supplied a’plenty” at
the sit-in. If this event attracts a
good turn-out, it will be incorpo
rated into the annual Meredith
calendar of multi-cultural, earth-
fiiendly events, according to Dr.
Tandra Somas.
No, fellow angels, this is not
going to occur, the above mate
rial is fictitious. If you are a bit
confused at this point in my article,
please read on.
There tends to be a recent trend
to acknowledge, if not pledge al
legiance to, certain ideas and con
cerns that were once - and still are
- genuine in the hearts of many.
The idolization of the sixties and
its heroes has gone way too far.
Please tell me, girls whose cars
are covered with dancing bears,
did you know who the Grateful
Dead was three years ago? (Oh-
or were you tangled up in the
pursuit of wearing “Don’t Worry,
Be Happy T-shirts?) Yes, 1 am
equating your current fascination
with “the Dead” with the fleeting
popularity of Bobby McFerrin’s
infamous 1988 tune. Sadly
enough, appreciation of the
Grateful Dwd seems to go hand
in hand with certain attitudes and
behavior. Owning three pairs of
Birkinstocks, displaying a
Greenpeace bumpersticker, and
wearing a “No Apartheid” button
are easily-obtained, visible labels
that associate people with an im
age. Unfortunately, many of those
who present this image are so in
sincere that genuine causes ap
pear to be just as artificial as their
phony converts.
Please, stop and take a look at
who you are. Do you support the
Greenpeace movement mon
etarily while continuing to pollute
the air with cigarette smoke? do
you bask in the role of the bohe
mian, with your second-hand at
tire and worn-out shoes while
overlooking those who have no
choice but to wear tattered clothes?
do you glorify philosophies and
movements about which you have
no knowledge or familiarity? Do
you stand for a cause because you
care, or because everyone else
seems to care? Do you disagree
with general political principles
like apartheid, ya segr^ale within
your own life?
I am appalled at the insincerity
that I observe because so many of
the issues of popular concern are
worthy of devotion. Continue to
recycle and plant trees; to protest
the depletion of the rain forests,
the existence of oppressive re
gimes, the experimentations with
animals, and the censorship of the
arts; to provide homes for the
homeless; to explore the romantic
philosophies and ideas of other
cultures - IF THESE ARE OF
GENUINE CONCERN TO YOU.
If these don’t appeal to your inter
est (may I be the first to admit that
not all of the aforementioned
topics are important to me), stop
dressing the part of the noncon
formist and singing the songs of
political and social correctness,
and discover within yourself your
own uniqueness. Perhaps if ev
eryone addresses the issues that
are of particular concern to her or
him, the fervor of the reactionary
measures will more effectively
eliminate our problems.
Hey, I’ve heard that
Birkinstocks are really good shoes,
and I know that at least some of
the Grateful Dead songs are good.
Please distinguish between those
things that are good for you and
those things that are good for pro
moting an image. ATTENTION:
In lieu of the cancellation of the
Abbie Hoffman/anti-Baptist sit-
in, a Guatemalen-bracelet burning
bonfire and pig-pickin’ will be
held in the softball field at 9:30
pm, October 2. Be there or be
square.
Meredith College
Academic Success Seminar Series
Registration Form
Please complete ail information on the form, sign, anc
return to The Office of Student Activities auc
Leadership Development in the Cate Center b;
Thursday, October 3,1991.
Student Activities
To Sponsor Academic
Success Seminars
by Madalyn Gaito
The Office of Student Activi
ties and Leadership Development
is sponsoring an Academic Suc
cess Seminar Series on Mondays
from October 7 through Novem
ber 18 (excluding October 14)
from 4:00-5:30 in 214 Harris. TTie
series is designed to improve your
academic skills for a more
succssful semester, as well as
benefit your entire academic ca
reer. This series offers something
for every student - whether you
are negotiating your first research
paper, learning to manage your
time, or studying for a final exam.
Topics include Writing Skills,
Stress Management, and Taking
Notes. You may attend all or any
part of the series. If you choose to
attend all six seminars you will
receive a certificate of participa
tion upon completion of the series.
Interested students should pick up
a brochure in the box office in
Cate Center or fill out the regis
tration form and return it to the
Office of Student Activities and
Leadership Development. If you
have any questions, please call
Cheryl Smith, X8660.
Name:
Local Address;
Local Phone:
Please check:
I will attend all six seminars
I will attend the following seminars:
October?
October 21
Octobcr 28
November 4
November 11
November 18
(it is recommended that you attend all sessions)
Signature:
Date:
ClassiTication (circle):
Freshman Sophomore Junior
Senior Re-entry
Return by Thursday, October 3,1991
Office of Student Activities and Leadersftip
Development, Caie Center, 1st Floor