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Page Two ®I|C JUrst (Georgian Edltor-in-Chlef Grace Wing DuiiineHH Munager Glenn Hogan Assistant Business Manager.—Holman Wood Associate Editor Lucile l’ortwood Assistant Editor Aubrey Jones Managing Editor Edwin Rogers Club Editor Elizabeth Burnham Sports Editor. Jack Smith Exchange Editor Martha I riinblo Faculty Adviser Mr. Strozier Student Adviser Lanier Spence Published every three weeks by the students of Wost Georgia College. School Spirit This is one of those editorials on school spirit. In student newspapers they are in evitable and the students are always being dosed with pep talks telling them to do or die for dear old Alma Mater. These pep talks are usually administered when its time to cheer for an extra annual athletic team or a intercollegiate debating team or some such representative group acting for the school. The idea that these are the only occasions calling for school spirit is as out moded and high-schoolish as the type of pep talk which inspires it. Today the student of high school and college age realizes the fallacy of the idea that school spirit Is something to be manifest ed with a resounding of rah-rah’s whenever a team needs encouragement. They know that living and becoming a part of a school calls for school spirit in everything the stu dent does. With the proper attitude the stu dent feels that he is the part of the school, it is his achievements that will make or break its reputation. In contrast to this idea is the average jun ior college student. He has outgrown high school ideals, or so he would have one believe, and has exchanged his youthful enthusiasm for Sophomoric cynicism. He derides the idea that he owes anything to his school and its ideals and considers himself a martyr to its rules and requirements. Student exchange complaints and sympathize with each other in having to live up to such seemingly naive and utterly uncalled-for regulations. The rea son for this sudden change from a cooperative and idealistic student to an unreasonable and chronic fault-finder is unknown. To others of the kind it is a mutual feeling and he finds no lack of fellow members of the student body to agree with him. To those who have passed both these stages of pre-adult thought the ul tra-cynical attitude is just as juvenile in its expression as the preceding high school en thusiasm which the junior college student denys with such scorn. It is recognized for what it is—an attempt to present to others an appearance of nonchalance and, above all, experience. The attitude which usually follows these stages of development is one of logic and tolerance. When a student can weigh the things which he approves and disapproves and can base his opinion on ultimate value instead of merely on the effect which they have on him he has finally reached an adult state of reasoning. He is willing once more to accept the ideals of an institution and work for them as his own. He feels their value to himself. He has developed a school spirit again. It is this school spirit that we would urge the students of this Institution to develop. It is a school spirit which involves faith in the administration; cooperation with its regu lations, with or without approving of them, in at least a tolerant and cheerful manner; and a respect and love for its ideals. Automobile Accidents During the past year the press in America has emphasized statistics, predictions and warnings concerning automobile accidents. Public opinion and individual interests have been called to task. Articles in almost every magazine attest the importance of the facts about the increasing toll of deaths: “ and Sudden Death” (Literary Digest, January 18, 1936), ‘‘Getting Away With Murder” (Ameri can Mercury, September, 1935); “I Will Drive Safely” (diagrams in Ladies Home Journal, July-August 1935); ‘‘Asleep at the Wheel” (Harper, February, 1936), and ‘‘Trouble Afoot” (American Mercury, February, 1936) are some that should interest us. College students, here is a war that we can fight. Shall we enlist? Honesty Or An Honor System? When the faculty and students decided last fall some corrective measure should be taken to abolish the tendency toward dishonesty that was influencing the work of a small percent age of our students, various plans were con sidered by both teachers and students. Due to the fact that this problem was kept con stantly before the students and they were sev eral times appealed to for help in controlling it, it became a favorite issue on the campus and several definite results materialized from it. Among these were debates, editorials, and a ballot which obtained the opinion of each student on the question of cheating and the advisability of an honor system. These activ ities are all very commendable; they show the student’s interest in the problems of his own campus, particularly a moral issue such as this one, and they are a good example of his ability to form his own opinions and coop erate with his fellow students in an organized move. Although at the time a great deal was being said about honor system and the advisability of introducing one on this campus, there was much discussion on both sides. Students who advocated such a system and cited instances where it had solved similar situation were met with data proving that strongholds of the honor system as such was being abandoned due to inefficiency. Finally, however, when the poll came as a climax to the discussions, the student voted by a small majority in favor of such a system for our campus. Honor systems, when backed up by a group of ideals whose support has become a tradi tion on the campus where they were formed, are an excellent means of winning the best from a student in honesty, loyalty, and worthi ness. When a Freshman enters a school whose ideals and traditions he has long admired and wished to adopt as his own, and as he is pledged to such a tradition as a well-organized and cherished system of government the effect is naturally inspiring, and he is quite willing to give his support. The lack of possibility for such an establish ed tradition and situation in an institution such as ours is easily seen. In a large and long-founded university the student realizes that he is pledging his loyalty to the ideals of an institution that will be his Alma Mater, forever after the school from which he must proudly say he has come. Contrast to this the typical Freshman’s situation as he enters a junior college. He realizes that he will be there for two years only; if he has already selected the university in which he is to com plete his education, he already looks upon that as his school, and considers his present en vironment only a necessary step in his prog ress toward becoming a member of that school. If he were asked to pledge his support to an honor system he would undoubtedly do so, but he would never feel that the system was his own ideal, and the keeping of his responsibil ity. Furthermore, a group of students does not stay in a junior college long enough to form a system so well-organized that it could command the respect and obedience of possi bility disinterested students. Another hindrance to the efficiency of such a system is the inevitable clan spirit of stu dents just out of high sohoo 1 . Without the power and backgroudn of a well-established university honor system, this tendency to pro tect the fellow student at the cost of the school’s reputation would far outweigh loyalty to a system which demanded his exposure. These preceding factors are those which would prevent the naturally honest student from supporting such a system in the proper manner. There is always the problem of the dishonest student who actually violates such systems even when he is pledged to support them. Many large universities are being forc ed to abandon their systems because of bands of organized cheaters who make it a business to cheat and protect others who do. Though the majority of our students seem to think that an honor system would solve any problems we might have regarding the ques tion, a great many feel that such a system is impossible for our school. However, the pres ent answer to the problem seems to rest with in the minds and consciences of the individuals themselves. While we have no definite means of enforcing honesty on our campus, it seems only more necessary that each student should form for himself a system of morals and ideals by which he would in his own way be loyal to his school and its ideals, without the influence of an outside institution forcing him to do so. If honesty were the individual policy of every student, would we need an honor system? The West Georgian Open Forum Learn To Croon Jut k Stephens “T’was the night before exams And all thru the dorm Not a cerature was stirring Except crooners ” Not until I hit West Georgia did I realize that the talent for crooning was so widespread. I had always, before now, thought that croon ers were very extraordinary and I had always looked upon them as an ideal. After the students had arrived and were shown their rooms, I began to hear funny noises, as if the back gate needed oil on its hinges. I investigated and to my amazement 1 discovered that next door roomed another “Crosby”. Down the hall I could hear Morton Downy and Rudy Vallee practicing. About a year ago we read in our daily papers that Russ Columbo was dead, but don’t let ’em fool you ’cause he rooms right below me. It has got to the place now, that if a stu dent can’t croon he can’t master his studies as he should (at least that’s the general be lief). When one walks down the hall, occa sionally he hears something like this from a student’s room: “The battle of Adrianopel was fought— ‘When the blue of the night meets the gold of the day’—in 378 A. D. —‘800 Hoo Hoo’ ”, or something on this order: “Parallelism should be used —‘My time is your time’, etc. Little does Mr. Watson realize what he has done for the stnudents in the boys dorm by teaching the glee club boys to sing. One can tell when he has taught them anew song without asking. Gradually, I think the voices of our crooners are improving and I sincerely believe that by June, 1936, we can all pawn our radios. Crooning is a great thing and even if* you are the only one that is satisfied with it, it still developes healthy boys, so more power to you crooners. Campus Improvements By Frank Kelly On the initiative of President I. S. Ingram, the campus has been considerably improved in the last few weeks. In connection with the paving of the Bow don road, on which West Georgia College is situated, arrangements were made by Presi dent Ingram for paving a road across the campus. The paving was completed last week and the road will be opened to the public in a short while. Chancellor Sanford of the University Sys tem will visit West Georgia this week, and no doubt he will make some statement con cerning the construction of the new road. President Ingram has worked untiringly for two years to have this project completed, and it will be one of the greatest improvements possible on the campus. The students are all very appreciative of this great work of our president and they feel that the campus atmos phere will be considerably altered by this vast improvement. There will be no more dreary, dusty days to be spent by the students and faculty as summer and dry, dusty weather ap proach, the students look forward with a keen spark of enthusiasm at the happy days they shall spend lolling around the campus without being troubled by the dust of visiting automobiles. In addition to this great improvement, benches have been built around the campus for the students who wish to take afternoon strolls. This is also an appreciated improve ment. Other improvements are being plan ned and the students are enthusiastically look ing forward to the improvements which will make West Georgia even a better place in which to reside. What are the most desirable characteristics of a college student? “The Baptist Student” says: “Integrity, dependability, and purpose fulness.” Another article refused to restrict desirbale traits to less than eight—namely: “sincerity, naturalness, earnestness, prompt ness, preparedness, resourcefulness, the pos session of a sympathetic attitude and the ac quisition of a tolerant mind?’ Friday, March 27, 1936 SCREAMLINES IT MAKES US FEEL SO Important “That issue of the West Georgian looks like the real thing.”—ln gram. * * * The news column of this paper are full ol the editorial staff.— Strozier. * * * The editors are very modest in suggesting that they only run a picture of themselves for several issues.—Strozier. * * * “Their mistakes are very em barrassing.”—Everybody. * * * “Why can’t you run several sophisticated editorials.” —Hart. * * * “We want more dirt.” —Students. * * * “The paper is just a student po litical organ.”—Roberts. * * * “This paper is one sided.” —In- gram. * * * “It’s alright—l didn’t like the last issue as good as the one be fore.” —Ewel Holloman. * * * “It’s the best paper anywhere.” —Somebody dropped that one. SLIPS THAT PASS IN THE DAYLIGHT Dot Holmes, announcing her part on Ciceronian program—l shall play “To the Evening Snar” by Wagner. ** * * Warner Morgan to Va. Webb in Physical Science class —“Please dont go to sleep, I’ll get so lone some.” ** * * Mary Cole and Ed Rogers quar relling:: Ed—“l’ll do you wrong!” Mary—“ That’s what you think!” ** * * Strozier—“l never worry over anything.” ** * * Weems Boyd to Brown Dickson —(in the store.) “Come on, let’s go to the gym.” Brown—“Aw! You go; I’d rather stay and talk to the girls!” DIRT Eternal Triangle Stars —It was Geer, Brisendine, and Newman then instead of Zill, Portwood, and Jackson. * * * Doug Bishop w’as even then messing around in the Physical Ed. Department. * * * Mildred Lovvorn was watching Billy wrassle then—now she has to be content with letters from Montgomery, Ala. * * * Virginia Webb hitch-hiked on her between-classes trips then in stead of riding in her own car as now. * * * Typical joke in a Spence publi cation:: Mr. Hart: “The progeny of a single fly may number millions.” Nely: “Lordy! What do you reckon the progeny of a married fly is?” ** * * Spring cleaning in the dormi tories a few days ago liked to have meant more than just clean ing out the buildings. * * * Girls who like to hold “open house” in their rooms in the dorm have learned that there are regulations concerning both hours and guests.