North Carolina Newspapers

- Editorial Opinions - YOUR HOME NEWSPAPER’S editorials are the opinions of staff members. As such they may be wrong. Whether you agree or disagree our columns, under “The People Write” heading, are open for you to express your own opinion. ECC Idea Right, But Way Wrong Tar Heel Baby Dr, Leo Jenkins, East Carolina Col lege’s energetic, ambitious president, set off a higher educational bombshell recently with his proposal that ECC be raised to university status outside the established single university concept. Dr, Jenkins asks that the single uni versity idea which has been in develop ment within the state for 30 years be ignored. In not taking account of the es tablished single university system, Dr, Jenkins has taken on two sacred cows of the educational system at the same time. Most likely he has bit off more than either he or ECC can chew—and more than it should chew, much less be given the opportunity of digesting. The trouble with Dr, Jenkins’ pro posal is not its purposes or its objective. It’s the timing and method of achieving the goal that is going to come under the most fire—and, we think, largely rightly so. The state has just finished an emotion al two years as far as higher education is concerned. During this period the State College name change and the Speaker Ban Law have occupied far too much of the public attention in this field, A continuation of this emotional struggle between the egg-head and the practical —the intellectual and the anti-intel lectual—the scientific and the funda mentalist—or however one chooses to re fer to this basic division in approach, can only result in damage to all higher education in this state. By raising the idea of regional universities outside the Consolidated University, Dr. Jenkins is giving the forces opposed to all higher education another horse to ride within days after ; the second of two extremely tough ones ; has been compromised out from under { them. The timing is just atrocious. But beyond the timing is the method suggested- We have read and reread Dr. Jenkins’ speech in which he advances the idea of university status for ECC. He makes a good case—a convincing one. We think he is right that it is time for ECC to be raised to university status and have enhanced its already considerable role as the focal point in development of the state’s most backward region. But it ought to be done within the frame work of the existing higher educational setup. Dr. Jenkins says he would substitute for the Consolidated University—or rather have in addition to it—what he calls “a regional university.” This would be a Pandora’s box if ever we heard of one in terms of how to divide up an already too small higher education budg et pie in North Carolina. Perhaps the Piedmont does not need a regional university since the present Consolidated University campuses are located in it. But in all fairness it could be expected to ask for one. And certainly the moun tains would have to be accorded one. We think a whole lot of ECC and realize its tremendous potential in bring ing the east out of two centuries of back wardness. And we’re mighty proud o^ Dr. Jenkins and the progress he is bri^^- ing to his institution. It is for these rei^ sons that we would hate to see the present development rate slowed. \yitl^ legislative redistricting coming shortly, which will reduce eastern influence in' Raleigh and a challenge to the 30 year program of centralized direction of high er education thrown in, we think Dr. Jenkins will lose the whole bundle un less willing to compromise on the means of achieving university status. This proposal needs to be rethought in terms of what is best for the whole state—and how to most quickly achieve what is best for the east. This can only be done by joining the Consolidated University—not by bucking it. Carlton Morris Writes- What Will They Think Of Next? The Mouth Faster Than The Ear Some of the social science research projects over the years have been hilar ious, if not ridiculous, but every so often someone decides to investigate some peculiar human trait that illuminates the strange behavior of the two legged species. It seems that Rutgers University has been studying how people listen and ^ their first-j-resuits have been upsetting ‘J^icjitionar concepts that teachers hav« treasured. According to the study, a person listens to about five or six words and then decides what the person is going to say. At this point he is na longer listening, but is deciding what he will say in reply. If the teacher (or even a salesman) has made a point it will have been given consideration. If it takes more than six words, the idea will be lost in a preconceived pattern before it is developed. This does not seem as far fetched as it might seem. We had the opportunity to listen to an airing of civil rights mat ters the other night and it seemed to us that this was indeed the way it went. Instinctive poses were struck, auto matic responses returned. Preconceived ideas were obvious and lack of good faith and motive assumed. It was almost like a ping pong match with the scoring of points more important than the ex change of information. And yet, at a certain point it became obvious to everyone that some of the re plies were out of date and that some of the emotional feelings were not based on any knowledge of the situation or the facts. It helped to convince everyone on both sides that many of our dearest be liefs are based on ungrounded supposi tions. We don’t know if anyone had any change of views, but those who partici pated did learn that communication of any sort is difficult and that we must in crease our tolerance to the point where listen‘for'a few minutes with an icepts that teiichers hav«,nropen mindjif. we.are.:to.-start with a com mon understanding of what others be lieve and want. We like to pride ourselves on our understanding and sympathy, but there is more pride than justification in this attitude. The recent power failure in the Northeast showed us that machines can not entirely solve our problems for us and we are thereby warned that the care and understanding of the human machine is still a much more fascinating study. There’s the story ofthetelevi- horse sense andarenowusingthe pure hogwash, sion repairman, who put the last horse and I mean the back end of About time I've grown to ac- tube in place and turned to the the horse at that. cept talking and singing animals man of the house and remarked; No one admits being a farmer and don’t revolt at the sight of “There she is sir, all fixed up nowadays. Instead we’re all try- speaking inanimate objects, they and ready to start insulting your ing to be smart urbanites or at have come up with another one. intelligence again.’’ the very least, suburbanites with People now talk back to inanimate Of course there’s a fine point ^ station wagon status symbol, objects. The lady talks to skin of discrimination there, which Which is all right for most peo- softener. Just before she steps many people fall to see. You can- P^®* nothing in my back- into her bath she gurgles, “Hel- Christmas Ahead Christmas is only about four weeks away. This year it falls on Saturday and those who are lucky enough to have Christmas Eve as a holiday—that will make for a nice weekend for millions. Too many Americans—especially hou.sewives—are so worn to a frazzle when Christmas finally arrives, that it becomes an ordeal for them. In this way. we are missing the real spirit, and if you are among those who have some times experienced this, begin your preparation now, well ahead of time and enjoy Christmas in 1965. not blame TV for insulting your ground makes me prouder than intelligence for it is better than a having grown up with the good wife in some respects. You can ®arth. It has been my strength push a little buttorj. .shut ^e time of great stress, television off., T,. -Back in the dayswhichwodon’t However, it’s thos^tiriiis-when when some of us followed you don’t shut It off which gives south end of a north bound you the uree to be sick at the "‘‘f P'p- "t stomach, and n newspapers used domestic animals, nut such nauseating tactics in their ^^id hogs were the rule, and advertising as does TV, I’m carrying feed to them, Igotpret- afraid the presses of the world well acquainted with them. And would cease to roll within a or all the animals on earth, I con- month. sider the hog the most stupid for he can find a hole in the fence to Can you imagine a newspaper get outside the pasture, but would running an ad with a white ghost stay outside and starve to death on a white horse, pointing a me- before he could find the same hole dieval spear at a lot of innocent to bet back in again, bystanders, while with varying Yet due to my youthful ac- degrees of fright and astonish- quaintance with hogs, I have to merit on their collective faces, take exception to the TV com- they turn whiter than the drfted mercial about him. In all his ig- snow? Yet they say the white norance and stupidity, noone will knight is the most successful ever make me believe any hog commercial that ever came down sings and prays to grow up to be the pike, ^ made into a specific type of ham In my opinion they’ve runout of or bacon. I have to brand that as So, Why Have Editorial Pages? Capitol Comments ECC University Proposal Seen As Explosive Issue By MILES H. WOLFF In the Newspaper Public Information Bulletin Why have editorial pages? As simple as the question sounds, 1 have had a great deal of difficulty answering it. The first reasonlsthatwehaveeditorlalsin or der to let people know what the newspaper itself thinks about current affairs. Back in the good old days when the news pages were full of editorial expression and news was written lo present the newspaper’s policies, there really wasn't a very good reason for letting the public know from edi torials how it stood on the Issues. The reader could find out from the news columns. Today, when every respectablenewspaper care fully edits Its news pages for errant editorializ ing, we need a page where opinions are aired. But just to let tlie reader know how the news paper feels is not enough. It is the duty of the newspaper to Instruct the reader and to help him make up his mind. If the editor can convince the reader along the lines of what the editor conceives as right and Just, that Is fine. On the other hand, if the editor causes Ids reader to reason for him self, to come to a conclusion of his own, to dis cover the path he should take, that Is better, even If the reader does not agree with the editor. In a democracy, each person ought to decide for himself what Is best, and the editor can help lilm in this decision. Again, in a democracy, a newspaper through the news pages as well as the editorial page can act as the conscience of the community when evil forces threaten. The news pages can call atten tion to the danger; the editorial page can suggest action that should be taken. This Is most impor tant, because there always are those who would take advantage of situations for their own profit. The newspaper must be on guard and be bold In its comment and its criticism. The editorial page can alsoprevent apathyfrom eating away at the democratic institutions. I heard recently of a mid-west town where there was a vital need for improved schools. A public meeting was held and attended by a slim crowd of 44. .A bond Issue was called for and an election date set. No one seemed interested until the local newspaper took a hand, set forth the issues and called for action. The last few days found the community roused, lively discussions the order of the day, and differ ences of opinion aired on the streets. Wlien the election was lielU, there were almost 900 votes cast ajid where the former apathy might well have defeated the bond issue, the new - found spirit brought victory to those who wanted tlieir chil dren to have a better education. Taking a broad viewpoint, newspaper editorial pages that are alert, that do their job as it should be done, can keep their city ortownfrom becom ing self-centered, self-righteous, ajid self - sat isfied. In other words, the community will act as it should in a democracy such as ours. (Editor’s Note: Mr. Wolff Is a former execu tive editor oftheGreensboroDallyNewsandpres- ident of the American Society of Newspaper Edi tors.) "Du (jirls who go to college have be coming engaged uppermost in their minds?" asks a columnist. Yes. Girls who go anywhere have this goal uppermost in their minds. Nature note: The wart isti’t a wart, and he isn't much of a hog. By SIDNEY STAPLETON ISSUE - What could become one of the most explosive polit ical issues in the State was brought up last week when East Carolina College President Leo Jenkins suggested that his school should become a university in name as well as in fact. 'Here already stands a uni versity,” Jenkins told the annual Farm - City Week luncheon at N. C. State recently, "Why not declare it so?” What Jenkins has In mind is a university independent from the Consolidated University which now includes branches at Ra leigh, Chapel Hill, Greensboro and Charlotte. Jenkins’ two main arguments in favor of the creation of a sep arate university in the East are (1) that the school has develop ed so rapidly in the past decade that it in fact Is already a uni versity, only the name is needed to make It official, and (2) a uni versity would be a rallying point for the hopes and aspirations of all of Eastern North Carolina. SIDES - Already the forces pro and con on the idea are beginning to take sides. The Idea has already been en dorsed by one of the candidates in the up-coming First District Congressional primary. State Sen. Walter Jones. Jenkins says he plans to take the matter to the State Board of Higher Education which would be the logical agency to take the re quest to the General Assembly. He is not likely to find a warm reception. The Board of Higher Education stands strongly behind the concept of a Consolidated University and will probably try to discourage any talk of a sepa rate university, least of all at East Carolina. Some friends of the Board feel East Carolina had as much to do with torpedoing the previous Board as any other force. But a “no” from the BHE would not be the end of the road for the Jenkins proposal. ECC showed in the controversy over the medical school that it would not mind to go straight to the legislators over the objection of the Board if necessary. MOORE — Governor Moore, while admitting that the idea ' should receive careful consid eration,’' has already lined him self up against the notion by strongly reaffirming his belief in the Consolidated University concept. But that is not a dead-end road either. Moore also opposed the idea of creating a two-year medical school at East Carolina but the school still went to the General Assembly and won pre liminary approval. REASON — One reason the school has been successful In get ting its way in the General As sembly in spite of the opposition of Moore and the Board of Higher Education is Sen. Robert Morgan of Harnett, Chairman of the ECC Board of Trustees. Morgan is the untitled leader of a sizeable block of legislators from smaller counties in the East that frequently ban togeth er to oppose administration wish es. Morgan and ECC may have several things going for them if the issue comes to the General Assembly for debate. The approval of a separa'te university would be attractive to some of the small county legisla tors who feel they were ganged- up against in the Speaker Ban controversy. Further, their feathers are likely to be even more ruffled when the heated matter of reap portionment is acted upon. The representatives of the smaller counties are likely totakeabeat- ing on the re-apportionment Issue and a favorable vote on the ECC motion might be a way to vent their anger. HELP - And help might be forthcoming from another and rather unexpected quarter. Some dissident elements in the alumni of N. C. State in Raleigh would like to see ECC set up as a university outside the Consoli dated University in order to set a precedent for State itself to break away. NORIHAMPTON TIMES-NEWS THURSDAY. DECEMBER 2. 1965 Sincerely, Di-El Parking is Dangerous Dear Di-Efj,.. ' Pieasq ^ye your opinion on a teen-ag^-and boy parking in some lonely spot, instead of plan ning an,-actlvity that would throw them with other people. I have been told my teen-age daughter was seen at a favorite “parking spot” for the youngpeo- ple around town. When I ap- LOOKING BACKWARD interesting items reprinted from old files of The Roanoke-Chowan Times By MISS ESTHER CONNER Editor Emeritus December 6, I9l7 A Thought For The Week - Love is the light of Heaven and the source of peace, happiness, joy, and all that is good on earth. -Zeb B. Pyatt. The Baugham & Weaver Com pany are moving into their mag nificent new building on the cor ner of Main and Jackson Street just completed by contractor R. H. Stanford. Mr. Stanford was the architect who planned the building. It is modern in every department. It has attracted the attention ofallvlsitorstothetown of late and much favorable com ment is heard from visitors who say it would be a credit to a city. Last Sunday a Thanksgiving of fering was taken up at the Rich Square Methodist Church for the benefit of the Raleigh Orphanage. The collection amounted to$l9l,- lo Sardo.” So far sardo has never answered back, and I wouldn’t mind her asinine remarks to a skin softetTer, but they stop right thi^re. Thej'only give yoU a tan talizing- glimpse. I have dry skin too', and I’d like to see if it really works before I buy it.'!! The TV commercial that real ly takes the cake, or in this case, the bread, is the loaf that. lays quietly on the counter untilfriend hubby comes along to do his wife’s shopping. He doesn’t kndw what sort of bread to buy, so the loaf of bread puts on a big smile and urges him to "buy me.” My wife does most of the shop ping at our house, and I’ve given her strict warning. If I ever wake up in the middle of the night and hear a couple of loaves of our bread carrying on a conversa tion with her living bra, I will have figured the whole thing has gone far enough. I’m going to grab my shotgun and shoot the television set. There will be a box party at Margarettsville Graded School Friday night, December 14, under the auspices of the Betterment Association. All the ladies are requested to bring boxes. You are cordially invited to come and spend the evening with us. Sallie Conner, principal.. Miss Clara Lassiter returned to her school at Macclesfield Sunday after spendlngThanksglv- ing at her home here. „ The Lasker Betterment'AsSG-' elation wilTgive a -‘.‘pie party” at' the schooLaU'dlto pium'Friday evening, December 7, the pro ceeds of which will go towards the school. Remember the Red Cross ba zaar, supper, and “old folks con cert” Friday, December 7. The bazaar and supper will be held at Baugham and Weaver’s old stand. Concert at school audito rium at 7:45. Work on the Seaboard Baptist Church is progressing rapidly and with good weather the brick walls will be up before the winter freezes begin. December 16, 1937 Now that so much is being done by government agencies for the relief of human distress, we are inclined perhaps to overlook the continuing necessity for vol untary help on the part of us as individuals. That need is not like ly to disappear for a long time, and Chrlstmastide is an especial ly appropriate season at which to remember It. There will be a Christmas en tertainment given at Pinners Methodist Church on Thursday night, December 23, at 7:30 o’clock. The public is invited. The Young People’s Union of Northampton County will hold its regular meeting Tuesday eve ning, December 21, at Rehoboth Methodist Church. The father and son banquet was held at Woodland School Decem ber lO. After the invocation by Rev. W. V. Tarlton, 4C sons and their dads enjoyed the three course dinner at the local lunch room. Besides fathers and sons, there were a number of visitors present, a total of 107 persons to partake of the delicious repast. V. R. Brantley, principal of the Woodland School, delivered the address of welcome. Clyde Er win, state superintendent of pub lic instruction, was the speaker. He was introduced by T, E. Browne, state director of voca tional education. Mrs. H. W. Elljott, worthy ma tron of Rich Square chapter, Or der Eastern Star, was hostess at dinner at her home on Tuesday evening, Deoember 7, honoring members of the^chapter and oth er guests. A three course dinner was served by Misses Bernice Elliott and Virginia Cunningham. The choir of the Rich Square Methodist Church will present a Christmas cantata in the church Sunday evening at 7:30. The children in the primary grades of Woodland Schoolare giving an operetta, “The Toys That Had to Wait ” on Thursday night, December 16, preached her with this informa tion, her reply was, “Alltheoth- er girls and boys go there, all the crowd do it and there is no dan ger,” I do not feel this is a good reason for doing anything, but I can’t seem to get her to under stand that parking is dangerous in so many ways. If she was to hear another teen’s ideas on the sub ject, alongwithher parents,may be she would change her mind about parking and all of the dan gers that follow. A worried mother Dear Worried: If you have reared your daugh ter to be fully aware of all the dangers in such an act, her com mon sense and hertraining should guide her In this matter, but I’ll address my opinion on parking to your daughter and other teens. Parking in a lonely spot can be dangerous in several ways. It can be very damaging to a girl’s character as well as to her repu tation, Parking may lead to ser ious trouble for the boy or girl. If you are dating acertainper- son a lot, plan some activities that include other couples. The less time that you are alone to gether, the smaller the possibil ity that you will do something you will regret later and you will re gret it: Sincerely, Di-El DearDl-El, Can you help me? I like this boy and I think he likes me. He acts like he did until recently, he walked with me at school and also we dated several times, the last time I saw him for a date he left me with the impression that he liked me very much and would be back for another date. But 1 have not seen him since or heard from him, I like this boy lots and would like to continue to date and see him. He tells people he likes me and thinks I am a very nice girl. So what can I do to find out if he is interested in me? Or should I try to forget him? Other boys are asking me for dates but I just can’t seem to get him out of my mind. Miserable Dear Miserable: The best thing that you can do is to try to forget this boy since it looks as if he has already for gotten you. If the other boys that are asking you for dates are nice,' Igo-•outi-wit'h'‘some of‘t*em. B'O friendly tb: this- boy-tiiat you likej'i- •but.-ddn’tixrtidseffii^’.owif^ he s^soJ that you are having dates and that you are not sitting at home being miserable over him, if he likes you at all, he may ask you for a date. Sincerelv, Dl-El Dear Di-El, How much responsibility should a teen-ager take in the home when they are carrying a heavy schedule at school? How much of their leisuretime should be spent entirelyforthemselves? Sincerely, Wondering Mother Dear Wondering: A teen-ager should help at home as much as possible. Both boys and girls should have cer tain jobs that are required of them, such as keeping their room clean. They need this responsi bility to prepare them for their,, future homes. The amount of work that is required of them at home should not be enough to bother them in their school work. The parents and the teen-ager should discuss the matter togeth er and decide what will be re quired and when it should be done. Sincerely, Di-El Dl-El will be glad to help you with your problems. Send them to her In care of Northampton County High School, Route2, Con way. Sincerely, Di-El Beads 'n Deeds | The U. S. should have agreed ' to accept Cubans who want to leave the dictatorship of Castro only on condition that he accept deportation of Vietniks from the U. S. to Cuba. No doubt if the unborn could know about the unfavorable and worsening condition of the world these days, they would be almost 100 per cent in favor ofbirth con-' trol. As one extreme usually follows another, some fear that in the not distant future skirt lengths will be shifted from above the knee to below the ankle. “It is difficult for a parent to communicate with a teen-age daughter or son,” says a psy chologist. Of course. It is always difficult for people to communi cate when they don’t speak the same language. Here’s a brand - new alibi for whom it may concern; A biolog ist says parthenogenesis is pos sible in the human species.