BELLES OF ST. MARY’S
November 5, ^
\
FOCUS
By Hettie Johnson
EDITORIAL
Although most of us are aware of
the changes in the academic stand
ards which have been made at St.
Mary’s this year, the full significance
of these changes may not have been
realized by all. This week in “Focus”
I would like to actually do what the
title of this article implies—focus the
student body’s attention on an issue,
the issue in this case being the
changes that have been made, the
importance that they have, and the
intelligent and considerate way in
which certain difficulties which arose
from the changes have been resolved
by the faculty and administration.
The changes which have been
made have altered the grading sys
tem, the quality point system, and
the qualifications for graduation. The
grading system has been changed
from the system based on 90-100=
A, below 60=F, to the system based
on 94-100 =A, below ’70=F. The
quality point system graded from
A=3 has been changed to the sys
tem graded from A=4. In keeping
with the quality point system
change, the quality point require
ment for graduation has been chang
ed from 60 to 120.
Many students who will, no doubt,
realize that earning good grades is
going to be difficult, may not realize
the greater import of these changes.
By innovating the four point system
here at St. Mary’s, the administra
tion and faculty are helping the
school to raise its standards to the
level of most colleges and universities
to which St. Mary’s students will
transfer. Since applications from
schools on the four point system are
received more favorably by most four
year institutions, present St. Mary’s
students will have a great advantage
which students of previous years did
not have. The student who is on a
four point system here at St. Mary’s
will also have a better idea of how
she will do in another college on a
four point system, and will thus be
able to make better choices when de
ciding where she will transfer.
In the preparation for changing the
academic standards the faculty and
administration evidentally overlooked
the difficulties which the changes
would present for students who had
spent a year at St. Mary’s on the old
system. These difficulties included
the necessity of having to use the old
three point quality point system
while using the grading system de
signed for the four point system, the
problem of having grades perhaps a
letter grade lower this year while
studying as much as last year, and
the problem of determining the stu
dent’s overall numerical average earn
ed during her years at St. Mary’s.
When these problems, and the
fact that second year students enter
ed St. Mary’s when the old grading
system was stated in the handbook,
were pointed out by various students
and were discussed with a faculty
member in a senior class meeting, the
situation was brought to the atten
tion of the administration and facul
ty, who, showing the same concern
for the best interests of the student
body that was seen when they first
changed the system, decided that the
UNUSUAL SPIRIT ON CAMPUS
An unfamiliar spirit has appeared lately on the St. Mary’s campus. This
new spirit is one of lack of co-operation and lack of interest in the school
and its activities.
This feeling has manifested itself on the speedball field, at the Senior
Open House, and in chapel.
At the Sigma Mu games, often the only voices raised in cheers are those
of the cheerleaders, who are there to lead the other girls, not yell by them
selves.
Some girls have complained about having to go to the games and have
retaliated by ignoring the game and only recording the score on their little
white cards.
Again, at the Senior Open House, this same expression of “Do I have to
go?” popped up. Admittedly, many had tests the next day and it did take
valuable time away from studying to go to the Open House, but the seniors
also worked quite hard to prepare the fun for the juniors.
In chapel, the lack of consideration is almost appalling. While one side of
the church is still finishing a psalm, the other side is busy throwing their
prayer books into the racks with as much noise as possible.
In answer to the often repeated question “Do I have to go?”, the answer
is “no.” Although certain rules bind one to obey, the individual student must
be guided by her own rule of manners and common consideration for others.
Now is the time for each girl here to re-evaluate her own code of behavior
and to think seriously about why she is here. The school owes no obligation
to her for gracing the campus with her presence. If anything, she should
seriously think about how she can best serve the school.
NEWS IN BRIEF
UNICEF DRIVE
The CCUN of St. Mary’s col
lected $24 Monday night in their
“Trick-or-Treat-for-UNICEF.” The
money will be sent to the United
Nations to provide food and cloth
ing for impoverished children all
over the world.
Melt To Be In ‘T
Rememlter Mama**
HONOR WEEK
The week of November 8-14 has
been designated by the Student Gov
ernment as Flonor Week.
old system would remain in effect
this year for sophomores and seniors.
I hope that after having focused
her attention on the changes that
have been made, their significance,
and the way in which these changes
were handled by the faculty and ad
ministration, every student will have
a better understanding and apprecia
tion of the changes, and especially,
an appreciation of the efforts of the
people who made these changes pos
sible.
The Dramatic Club’s forthcoming
production of “I Remember Mama”
will have seven men from the Ra
leigh area as guest players.
The part of Uncle Chris will be
played by Irving Kaye, Raleigh Little
Theatre “Oscar” winner.
Papa will be played by Craig
Givens, who is a student in design at
North Carolina State University.
Two members of the St. Alary’s
faculty will be in the cast also. Air.
Robert Connelly, head of the foreign
language department, will play the
part of Air. Hyde. Air. Joseph Glo
ver, mathematics teacher, will portray
Mr. Thorkleson.
Mark Ramsey, who has studied
drama at The Governor’s School in
Winston-Salem and acted with the
Raleigh Little Theatre, will be Nels.
Norwood Alassey will be the Doc
tor. Air. Alassey was also seen as the
Doctor in the St. Alary’s production
of “The Aliracle Worker.”
Responsiljility of A.mericans
At this moment a war is being waged somewhere on the other side of the
world. It is a war that may prove to be more important to us of this generation
than anything else in our lifetimes.
Many attitudes—some commendatory, some disappointing—have come
about in modern day America as a result of this war in Viet Nam.
Many of our contemporaries around the country have reacted quite ju
venile, in burning their draft cards and other such immature acts to denounce
the role the United States is playing in the war-torn Asiatic country.
In contrast, the Associated Press carried a story last week that told of stu
dent leaders on college campuses who were planning demonstrations country
wide in support of the American forces in Viet Nam.
We, as members of a generation who will inherit the full brunt of the
outcome of this war should carefully consider our individual feelings in this
matter.
Our country is committed to helping the Viet Namese government. Of
that, there can be no doubt as the toll of lives aptly signifies.
The major issue facing us is how arc we as young Americans going to
act? Are we going to burn our draft cards, stage marches on the capitol, and
in general let our government know that we care to have nothing to do with
the entire war at all?
A much better alternative would be to participate in parades and such on
Veterans Day on November 11 or help in any of the volunteer groups that are
continually sending aid to the American soldiers.
Let us come out in full force behind our government. It matters little
whether one hates President Johnson and his Viet Nam policies or feels that
Congress is a nest of “war mongers.” America is our country and her todav is
our tomorrow. Let’s not throw it all away through provincial isolationism.
THE BELLES
OF ST. MART
Published in thirteen issues dJ
the school year, September to
Monthly for December, January.^
April; Semimonthly for October,
vember, February, March and J
by the Student body of St.
Junior Coliege. 1
Second Class Postage Paid at
N. C. 27602. Subscription $1.00 per'r
BELLES STAEE 'J
Editor in Chief Lesley
Assistant Editor Nancy JoW
News Editor Margaret And^I'
Eeature Editor Molly RicHAT^
Exchange Editor Theresa St*
Photographer Susan Sr®ta
Plead Typist Anne Si>*M
Circulation Manager Mary MEt.j
NEWS STAEE 1
Bobbie Bell, Christina Block, T
Bittle, Hannah Craven, Chris Cr8 i
Kathleen Dale, Ann Dixon,
Duffy, Susan Gilbert, Peggy Anne BP*
Martha Harrelson, Linda Howell, tr
garet Isley, Louise Jennings,
Jordan, Trish LaMotte, Nancy Jor
Julie AicCollum, Alice Purdie, Lucy
ner, Lisbot Robinson, Juliet Smith, jj
FEATURE STAFF pi
Betsy Bittle, Cindy Bullard, Chrfic
Block, Susan Crabtree, Chris
Donna Crisp, Sally Cruikshank, n
Duff, Mathilde Duffy, Debbie Elffi’A ■
Howell, Margaret Isley, Hetti Jofpi
Susan Johnson, Lucile McKee, '.o
Soper, Bagley Waddill, Jackie
Lamar Sparkman, Lilibet Freeman,
Tomlinson. ^
ART STAFF h
Lee Aveiy-, Sally CruikshaiA.
Daniels, Debbie Ellis, Merrie E^,
Linda Howell, Ann Lashley,
Strange.
TYPISTS d,
P
Margie Bates, Christine Block, n
Bittle, Alabel Broadhurst, Gayle
Donna Crisp, Zan Deas, Merrie Er'*.
Susan Hutaff, Donna Jacks, NancV
son, Susan Johnson, Katherine Jldi
Julie McCollum, Martha Harrelson,Re
Ravenel, Lisa Rowland, Joanne
Martha Vaughan, Gina Root.
PROOFREADERS ^
Nancy Hammond, Heather KilpL^
Cheryl Koenig.
CIRCULATION
Hetti Johnson, Francy Lewis, ;
McCollum, Sally hleans, Betty WiF P
Carolyn Finch, Peggy Anne Hawcs.^o
tha Crawley, NIargaret Highsmith, pa
Hutaff, Claudia Davis, Betty ^ ^.j
Sharonne Hobbs, Joanne Ruark, p.
Grant, Susie Soper, Susan Davis, ^
Clark Whittle, Patsy Slater, Bobbi^jp
Sandy Hamer, Livvy Ravenel, ^
Vaughan. -Jj
ADVISOR t
Mr. John U. Tate, ^^ds
Letter To The E^^Kt
To Jean Muchmore and the nc
Senior Class:
We just want to let you kno''^^ ^
much we enjoyed your I lafid
Open House.
“The only bad thing is
don't have it to look forward t^Fl
more.” “The most fun I’ve hae j:oi
and “Sure will be hard to follo''’jjirc
year” are only a few of the >tl
ments that we heard.
The refreshments on the fif!’’^ Tli
the second lloor entertainrnciib FI
the third floor horrors all rdd
originality and imagination,
the fortune-teller under the
Thank you again for help''^^^,
new juniors to feel like a real 1’
St. Mar\’’s.
Sincerely, i
2nd West