Page Two
THE HILLTOP. MARS HILL COLLEGE. MARS HILL N. C.
November 18. 1961 Novemb
Why Not?
LITTLE M^ON CAMPUS
Delinquent reports — several students would
like to forget about these reports and turn to a
more cheerful subject. It may be hard to realize,
but there are students who did not appear on
this list. To those lucky, or should I say am
bitious students, I would like to address the fol
lowing.
Many parents have received delinquent reports
in the last few days, but why shouldn’t all parents
receive a report? Why should not the college
send home good news as well as bad?
Recently, several students have complained, “If
we work hard enough to stay off the delinquent
list, then why can’t the college send home a form
letter telling them that our work is satisfactory?”
I understand that several years ago the college did
send out such letters, but it was abandoned. 1
realize that sending these letters would involve
money and labor, but it would certainly be worth
it. These letters could generate many pleasant
feelings and this would also be an added incen
tive to work harder.
r
o;
m
Perhaps we are mature enough not to have
notices or letters sent home informing our par
ents about our progress, but I am still convinced
it would help our morale.
Any comments from the faculty or students
would be appreciated. Please send comments to
Box 486-T.
—Richard Ergenbright
7^
Why Not Also ? Courage And Grit
Should we award letters to our outstanding
students? This is the question some high schools
are trying to answer today. Top athletes in our
schools receive letters for their athletic ability.
Why should not top scholars then be given letters
for their high academic rating? Students should
be given some prestige so that they will have an
incentive to make good grades and be proud
of it.
Distinguish O’Bryan
By RICHARD ERGENBRIGHT
Letters would give students a goal to work to
ward. Those who have a chance for letters would
start early in the year to vie for them. Letters
would be given out among the four major fields
of study—English, math, science, and social sci
ence — and among the three class levels — sopho
more, junior, and senior.
Winners would be selected on three factors.
First they must have an overall scholastic average
of 90, and they must rate higher than 90 in citi
zenship. Their grade in the subject counts 50
per cent of their final rating. Finally, they are
given a standardized achievement test which
counts for the other half.
More than 100 high school systems have adopted
this program.
What do you think about awarding letters to
top students?
—Mary Sue Mclntire
Published by the Students of Mars Hill College
CThe Hilltop
Box 486-T, Mars HilL N. C.
Second-Class postage paid at Mars
Hill, N. C. Published semi-monthly
during the college year.
Volume XXXVI November 18. 1961 Number 5
STAFF
Editor ’N Chief Walt Whittaker
Advertising Gary Murdock, Franklin Calhoun
Circulation Ken Hunneycut, Roy Bower
News Editor John Grier
Editorial Page Dick Ergenbright
Feature Editor Thelma Taylor
Sports Editor John Baskin
Reporters Marietta Atkins, Dicky Glenn,
Janice Eiland, Bob Johnston, Don Andrews,
Roy Bower, Mimi Jones, Pat Prelps,
Mary Sue McIntyre, Allan Clark
Cynthia Vann, Jerry Grant
Proofreader Pat Phelps
Typists Jo Wells, Joyce Craft
Exchange Jerry Lotz, Carolyn Riley
Faculty Advisor Walter Smith
“Jack of all trades and master
of some,” is a paraphrase that
aptly describes Roy L. O’Bryan,
a sophomore who has overcome
several serious handicaps by
“prayer and determination.”
Roy was bom at Floyd, Va. in
1936. At the age of 5 he had an
acute gangrenous appendectomy
which left him in poor health. In
fact, doctors thought he would be
a weakling for life. Roy had
other ideas and he firmly believes
that only through prayer and de
termination was he able to make
a comeback. His parents felt that
Roy should not be babied and that
he should be out doing things he
wanted to do. At the age of 12
he received his first rifle. There
after, rain or shine, Roy and a
friend would walk in the woods
each weekend and shoot. Roy
would have to stop and rest sev
eral times, but he was determined
to regain his strength.
By the time Roy had become a
junior at Washington and Lee
High School he had overcome his
weakness and was interested in
mechanics and auto racing. Dur
ing a scorching, championship race
on July 4, 1954, at Nazareth,
Pa., Roy had to make a life or
death decision. The throttle
jammed open on his Indianapolis-
type racer and he knew it would
be certain death if his car went
into the on-rushing curve at 120
miles per hour; he took to the
infield and crashed. Roy received
head injuries and a dislocated hip.
After his recuperation he found
he still had racing in his blood so
he turned to building racing en-
with the idea that his training
might save his life, so he did his
very best. This paid an unexpected
dividend when he was chosen as
the outstanding trainee at Fort
Jackson, S. C. The Army sent
him to Fort Huachua, Ariz.,
where he became a senior auto
matic data processing machine re-
gines.
Roy became interested in fly
ing, joined the Civil Air Patrol,
and was chosen as the outstanding
cadet. Later he became interested
in boxing. Here again Roy dis
played his determination. Start
ing in October, he trained so well
that in January he competed for
the Golden Gloves championship,
losing the title by a split decision.
In July, 1958, the Army inter
rupted Roy’s busy life for a tour
of duty. He entered the service
pairman.
Another example of the deter
mination with which Roy tackles
a challenging problem may be
seen in his attempts to get into
college. In 1957, before he en
tered the Army, he applied for
admission to Mars Hill and was
turned down twice because of a
poor academic record in high
school. After some maturing mili
tary experience he tried again and
was accepted for electrical en
gineering.
When he graduates in June
Roy will have taken the engineer
ing subjects offered by the college,
making the honor roll in the pro
cess.
Looking back over his varied
experiences, Roy says “through
prayer and determination I have
been able to overcome some severe
obstacles.”
SYMPATHY
The HILLTOP withes to ex
press its sympathy to Miss
Edna Eaves, librarian, in the
death of her mother, Mrs. G. W.
Eaves, earlier this week.
Jlette/il
There seems to be a group of boys on campi’*
who do not fit in with the traditions of
Hill. They rebel against all things decent and
crave the cheap and common things of life.
These boys complain about not having anj'
thing to do on the week-end and yet, when the
college plans a movie or has a lyceum entertain'
ment on campus, they won’t go because they
think it is silly. They would rather go into Ashe
ville and get drunk; then when somebody turnj
them in for being drunk on campus, they ea
him a “pimp” and try to get back at him in some
"They criticize the literary societies and yet, the;
don’t have the courage to visit them and see wha
they are really like. But, of course, the literal
societies are made up of men, and not over-gro^''
babies and “ne’-do-wells.” ,
They think the girls should flock to them, hd
they are afraid to date because their friends
make some remark about the fact that they hai/
a date. When a girl dates a boy with a purpo*^
in life, these punks sit on the cafeteria steps ad
id
call her names.
I believe many people will agree with me
I say that these boys can leave at any time. Td
army will do you good. And you will do m
army good, too — the Russian Army that is-
—John Reagan
Less Fortunate
Deserve Thanksgiving
Thanks to the faculty committee which ma
up the school year calendar as published
catalogue, we have an added item for which
be grateful this year. Thanksgiving holidays-^
For some, however, the temporary suspeds*
of classes may be merely that and little
Because they live so far away and/or because^.^
limited funds many of our students face the
couraging prospect of having to remain on ca
pus
gw
For those of us who live close enough td bj
home for the holiday the misfortune of soidC
our fellow students can be our golden opportdd^^^
to share. IVhy don’t we undertake a caidp^j
wide project to see that every student either g .
to his own home or is invited to someone’s bp
for the holiday. Surely it would add to the edj
ment of us all.
Next Issue
December
Normally the Hilltop is published twic^^ji
month, except in December and January
Christmas holidays and first semester exad^'^f^
tions take precedence. This year, because
having Thanksgiving holidays for the first ti
the December issue will be delayed a week, ^
ing out on Dec. 16.
Th
On Friday, Nov. 3, at 10 a.m. approximately
60 students boarded the bus headed for Raleigh
and the B. S. U. Convention. We had a most
enjoyable trip and arrived in Raleigh earlier than
expected. Everyone was excited as they made
their way up to the Forest Hill Baptist Church-
Students could be seen embracing old friends and
getting acquainted with new ones.
The theme of the convention was, “A living
Church in a Revolutionary World.” We had very
fine speakers throughout the convention who em
phasized the needs of Africa. We, the students,
voted during the convention to focus our atten
tion on Africa during 1961-62. Two students
will be sent to Crossroads, Africa, this summer,
with the B. S. U. paying half the expenses.
We left Sunday morning after a brief service
and many could be seen with tear filled eyes as
they said good-by. We had all made new friends
and had new experiences.
Each one who attended the convention had
a wonderful time, but also gained a lasting mes
sage which they would long remember.
—Cynthia Vann
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