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Editorials
JXeb anb IBlacfe
Opinions
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A Need Filled
npllK sidewalk on the north side of Stege-
man Ilall has been widened.
The University’s limited permanent construc
tion crew has Hpent most of this week in com
pleting this much needed addition to the eam-
pus.
It is indeed encouraging to see such a worth
while project as this undertaken and completed
at this great University. Someone has estimated
that at least five persons walk on this sidewalk
each year, and as many as two (40 percent) of
them are believed to have complained about the
sidewalk being too narrow. Formerly only three
feet wide, the sidewalk has now been increased
to five feet, which may be a new record for
sidewalk width on the campus of the oldest
chartered state university.
We congratulate the officials responsible for
this action, but we would like to make just one
small suggestion. Now that this most urgent
and important work has been completed, we be
lieve that a few of the minor construction jobs
like paving parking lots that are continuously
packed with cars and paving for the first time
sidewalks that are used by hundreds of stu
dents daily should now be attempted.
Prayerfully
CUNDAY marks another World Day of Pray-
^er, sponsored by the World Student Cliris-
tion Federation. The University students are in
vited nnd urged to participate in the program.
No matter which religion you follow, it is
your duty and privilege and constitutional free
dom to pray. Many people in the world are re
fused religious freedoms.
With the foreign situation as it is now, in
definite and very uncertain, perhaps this prayer
day will be a step toward peace and happiness
throughout the world.
But peace on earth is not our only need.
Peace of mind and confidence in the life that
each of us lives is just as vital.
The ability to fulfill the ideals set by us for
ourselves can be obtained through prayer.
Conflicts between nations, among individuals
and within our own hearts need smoothing
over.
Man has tried to straighten things out and
failed. We should give Someone else a chance.
Rumor Squelched
D UMOR has it that prefabs on Ag Hill are
*^being occupied by persons not affiliated
with the University.
The Veterans Club and housing office com
pleted recently an investigation of prefab occu
pants. The investigation determined that every
person living in a prefab is either directly or in
directly connected with the University.
Anyone who is still dubious of the fact may
investigate the prefab list and records at the
University housing office.
Roan Rrasch
Editor
SOME C. I.EWI8
Rsiinrij Manager
Bnx Morris
Managing Editor
Joann Brans
.Vevi Editor
Carrot Danisuan
Attoctaft Editor
Ban Walker
. -Sports Editor
Robert W\nn
Associat* Sports Editor
Bill Mabrey
Atiittosl Vwj Editor
Kemke Trson
iititliisl Vfiri Editor
Bvrt McBr*nRT
Feature Editor
InoiA Dtan
Women’* Editor
Elea*os Gilmer
Co-Society Editor
Joky Sawathlx
Co-Society Editor
Harry Stathos
Photographer
Rat Mitchell
- Photographer
Retortor Jules Arbose, Billy Dllworth. Mlguon
Franklin, Gene Harper. Elisabeth Marshall.
Peggy Maxwell. Marvene Mtxell. Murrow Mor
ris. Gene Owens. Mildred Sparks. Anne Sulli
van. James Wynn. Lee Wynn Jr.
Roger Branch
Ride the White Horse
In a vision this 1 saw—myself upon a wild, white charger that bore
me along a steeply ascending, spiral track at a reckless gait. Each
spiral we completed in the same length of time so that the speed be
came unbearable and perplexing. I lost my hold and tumbled to the
bottom of the track.
The steed was named Ambition.
The track represented responsibili
ties, obligations and work that stead
ily increased. The time element was
a day. I have not reached the fall and
cannot know its nature.
Julius Caesar and Napoleon Bona
parte became victims of the ambi
tions that made
them great. How-
many Skid - row-
bums. alcoholics,
suicides and de
ranged people
could trace their
low state to in
ability to control
the forces that
once motivated
them?
Too often the tragic fall results
from worthy ambition become dis
torted. narrowed or mis-dlrected. Be
hold about you the scholars who see
life only in terms of grades and mas
tered texts. There are athletes who
regard sports as the only thing worth
while. When they fall in these realms,
their world Is snatched from under
them.
On either side are students who
have lost sight of their purpose in
attending the University because
they place too much emphasis on
social life or extra-curricular activi
ties.
Great men are such because they
can control and properly direct am
bition. Thus armed, they conquer
fears, inhibitions, recklessness and
shallow- thought. Therein lies spiri
tual and mental strength.
Although the fallen have never ac
complished what they might have for
themselves and society, others make
no contribution because they do noth
ing. They have no horse, not even a
burro. It is better to have tried and
failed, especially if one will try again.
1 have reached a point where I
must pause to re-evaluate my goals
nnd slow the tempo—to get myself
firmly in hand. My hold sometimes
slips and the long fall looms near.
Ahead I see a small plateau along
the track. There I hope I can seixe
the reins and guide my mount at a
moderate canter up the long road
toward my Holy Grail.
)
Bill Mabrey
For Self or Country
If you think Labor is bad about asking for raises (and getting them .
just take a look at what Congress did yesterday. Our poor underpaid
congressmen have voted to give themselves a $10,000 a year raise
A bill to increase congressional cl
aries from $15,000 to $25,000 a year
was passed In the House yesterday
by a 283 to 118 vote.
I suppose Representative Victor
Wickersham. Oklahoma Democrat, is
quite happy today. The poor fellow
said that he not only has been work
ing for nothing as a congressman,
but that the ]ob ac
tually has been cost
ing him $409 a month
out of his own pocket.
While working to get
the bill passed, he was
looking for "outside
jobs on weekends and
evenings” so that he
might make ends meet.
District of Columbia postal work
ers sent him a money order for 40
cents. They said they sympathiied
with his announced inability to get
by on a congressman's pay of $15,-
000a year, and that they knew how
he felt since their average pay was
closer to $4,000 than $15,000.
I commend Representative James
C. Davis of Georgia's Fifth Congres
sional District for vigorously oppos
ing the salary increase.
He advocated that congressmen
should not increaw? their own pay
while operations of the federal gov
ernment continue to show a deficit.
And he pointed out that the contin
ual upward trend in federal spending
and federal taxing will never stop if
congressmen continue to pass such
legislation. He said every increase in
federal spending is a "tendency to
ward inflation.”
Davis said, and I agree, that some
increase is justified, but $10,000 is
simply unreasonable.
During yesterday’s session a pro
posal was made to reduce the salary
Increase in half, but it was quickly
downed.
I have great respect for our con
gressmen. but I think they fell short
yesterday in their roles as “public
servants."
Bill Morris
We Often Overlook
Why would a man take his own life?
I asked myself this question as did many other
University students, last week. There were no ap
parent motives, and no one was able to explain the
recent suicide of a student. I tried to figure the
student’s thoughts the afternoon before he went to
his room and shot himself. Since no one bad a con
crete answer for his death, I like everyone else,
was left to guess.
I tried to speculate as to the happenings which
led to the final decision, and the possible part each
one played. Was there some great disappointment,
or a series of little agitations which gradually be
came unbearable? Did he feel that he was not ap
preciated or wanted; or did he feel that he could
not meet life with a chance to win?
I think next of the final decision itself—to live
in a world as things now stood, or to shuffle off
the mortal coil. What a wretch
ed question to have to ask one
self. It immediately brings to
mind Shakespeare’s immortal
“To be or not to be.”
Why, again, for no outward
reason does a man decide to
throw away life itself? And af-
ter the final decision was made,
what thoughts run through a
man's mind when he is making
preparations to end it all? Last
ly, the trigger. Would a man pause for a last mo
ment at this time, or would he remain steadfast
with his intentions and waste no more time In
thoughts?
Dwelling in suppositions, I wondered what ac
tions could have possibly stopped an act such as
this. What effect would a friendly greeting have
had as a person walks from work to his room con
templating suicide? A pleasant discussion with a
complete stranger might have made him realize his
worth and changed his thinking. That little bit of
encouragement, which human beings are so reluc
tant sometimes to give, could have made the big
difference on that dark day for that perplexed boy.
The fact that he is gone is important, but of more
importance, is the fact that we human beings over
look so many of the little things in life which could
brighten it so. The pleasant words like hello, good
morning, it's a pretty day, or you're doing well,
which scattered about through the day, will add a
little more sunshine to anyone’s life.
Joann Bums
Did You Know?
Do you know the name of any of Oscar Wilde’s
poems?
I didn't until the other day when a professor
embarrassed me in class by saying "everyone knew
what Wilde wrote” and then asking for examples
to prove the statement.
The feeling of inferiority swept over me and I
felt just plain dumb until I saw that no one else
knew anything that the poet had written.
I'm afraid this little incident is too typical of
nearly all us students. We can recite the words
quickly to “Count Your Bless
ings” or some popular song, but
when people start quoting poetry
we begin to get a little panicky
and want to change the subject.
We know the answer immed
iately to "Who wrote 'Gone with
the Wind'?” But how many can
also name the authors of “The
Divine Comedy.” “Macbeth,”
"The Odyssey.” or other less fa
miliar works?
There's nothing wrong with
keeping up with popular things, but why not know
both? Are we learning only the topics of today and
leaving empty the part of our personality reserved
for the classics or the "finer things?"
One visit to a University Theater's production or
the performance of the Atlanta Symphony Orches
tra is a clear example of the fact that we stay away
from the things that may make us think a little
or give us the opportunity to soak in that which
would make us well-rounded individuals.
The University is doing many things to help us
correct this big vacancy in our development. Art
exhibits, music appreciation, dramatic perform
ances and philosophy discussions are aimed at mak
ing us understand and enjoy not only the light and
entertaining happenings of today but the beautiful
and meaningful classics of years past.
The attitude that things like this are sissy is
an idiotic grade school opinion. What famous man
isn't reasonably well-versed on history, literature,
music, or art? Yet they aren't “old fogies" but in
telligent men with an understanding of the current
events as well as the cultural things.
It takes both to be really educated, whether you
have a college diploma in your hand or not. It is
our duty to society and to ourselves.