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PAGE 2 THE PANTHER DECEMBER, 1948 /■ * — — —■ 1 r. >!< CLARK COLLEGE | PANTHER | A Journal of Negro College Life Published from October to June MAAAnAMVVWWUUVV MOUTHPIECE OF THE COLLEGE IWWMVUWUWWWAAm I A promoter of school spirit by encouraging projects ami efforts among studeyit groups and individual students. A medium through which an opportunity is provided for students to obtain experience in newsgathering, reporting, book-reviewing, edi torial, and creative writing. An instrument for fostering friendly and constructive criticism of campus activities. THOMAS H. PENDLETON Editor-in-Chief JOHN C. JACKSON, JR. PAUL SWEENEY Associate Editor News Editor June Blanchard Ethel Watkins James Woodard Society Literary Feature Art Sports George Waters Exchange Huley Dotson Julius Conway Mildred Brawner Business Manager Photographer Staff Secretary Lois Richardson Annie Mae Burts Typist Typist Miss C. C. Posey Mr. M. C. Holman Faculty Advisor Faculty Advisor »;♦" ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA LEADS THE WAY On Thursday morning, December 2, 194?8, the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority gave in Davage Auditorium a /lelightfully different, and exceedingly instructive program. The»Sorors presented in pantomime the biography of an Alpha Kapim Alpha. The drama tization demonstrated how the sorority exerts a beneficial influ ence upon campus life by helping to guide, direct, and mould the crude freshman girl into the cluturred and gracious college young woman. The manner in which the play was presented was a unique one here at Clark and is an example of the type of originality that we should strive for more often in our student presentations during the College Hour. The programs which are presented by student organizations are in majority, directed toward enlightment—a good. purpose. However, much that is presented in lengthy lectures is lost to the average student who is genuinely averse to the orations of stilted speakers, and the meaningless formality which usually sun/junds their presentation. It should then be the combined effort of the student body to draw away from meaningless con ventionalism, particularly the traditional one, two, three, hymn, scripture, prrayer routine which has become a reflex procedure when we give our College Hour programs. The appropriateness of religion in assemblies is not to be misunderstood. Certainly we should give religious observance in those programs that are of such a nature. However, we must be cautious that we do not find ourselves in the midst of vain repeti tions which depreciate our religion and at times become absolute blasphemy. The state that we have reached is not without cause. In our pre-college training in the public schools we received no religious education. The separation of church and state in America makes it unconstitutional for religion to be taught in the public schools. Thus in our elementary and high schools the only religious em phasis was the daily ritualistic reading of scripture and hymn singing that preceded every asssembly program. This practice has become ingrown within us that regardless of the nature of the program we present, be it science lecture or a pep rally, we are prone to open with an unconscious mockery of that which should be most sacred to us all. Fortunately there are those among us who have recognized the situation and are attempting to improve it. We are slowly breaking away from an undesirable tradition. We are beginning to see our daily assemblies as College Hour programs rather than daily devotions. Dr. McPheeters pointed the way for this last semester in one of his talks with the students. There have been in the past two semesters programs which have broken away sharply from the type of thing heretofore too frequently given. These programs shine out for their originality and planning. Such a program was that given by the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, outstanding because it is a great step toward the type of student program that we desire. Bombast and pomp and 1WMVWVUWWWWWA VOICE OF THE STUDENTS WAAAn/WVWUVUVU A LETTER TO THE EDITOR Editor of the Panther, I was giancing through my Clark College Bulletin and under the heading of Government I read again the following sentences: “The discipline of this school is designed to encourage self- government. Every influence is thrown around the students to develop culture and character.” I can not think of a better way to encourage self-government and to develop culture and character than to give the students some voice in their government in the true fashion of democracy. I have always felt student government to be an integral part of progressive college programs, beneficial not only to the stu dents themselves but to the institution as a whole. It is a sign that the college has arrived, has reached that level of maturity at which it can practice the democracy so long held as an ideal. I understand that in previous years there has been some action at Clark directed toward the formation of a student govern ment; However, as yet no such organization has materialized. I recall, in one of the first College Hour programs of this year it was asked that the students would not attempt to form a stu dent government but that they wait, “let me do it my way first” -—Well the students waited, and they are still waiting. Where is this student government? A Freshman Editors Note: The above letter, while not necessarily representing the attitude of the Panther, was considered pertinent enough to be given attention inasmuch as it is expressive of a question which has repeatedly come to the editor’s desk. Christmas Recollection I guess we all like Christmas whether we come from the north, the south, or the far west. Whether we are used to digging our way out of the drifts on Christmas morning or strolling in warm sunshine it is Christmas all the same, a time of peace and good will. I remember Christmas in years before. I remember the toys, the candy, and the great tree that stood in the corner, its branches laden with the fragile frosted ornaments that my grandfather had used when he had won prizes for having the most beautifully decorated tree in the town. I recall too the unhappy years and that lowest year when they took away my Santa Claus. My mother was ill and money was scarce. I remember how my sister and I stood by the bed and learned that Dad was Santa Claus, and all of his savings had gone for medical bills and we should not be able to get all of the things that we had hoped for, but he would get us something and we were not to be too disappointed. My sister asked if there were an Easter Rabbit and mother told her that there was none and then I, trying desperately to keep from crying, asked if there had been any Pilgrims and she said that there had been Pilgrims and that they had been brave people and not afraid of hardship and I felt slightly compensated that all of my three most anticipated holidays had not been stripped of their glory. In the years that followed, Christmas for me was bare and hollow. The rooms were again filled with toys and the kitchen gave forth aromas of roasting turkey and the spices of pies and baking cakes. There too was the huge tree with its glimmering tinsel and lights. Yet something was missing, something that had been taken from me that dark evening in my mother’s room. In my own futile way I had tried to fight against it. I went to bed early on Christmas before they began to trim the tree. I did not wish to see the presents before Christmas morning. I tried to make myself believe that Santa Claus still came and filled the stockings and brought the heaps of presents but it was a poor attempt for I knew in my heart that he really did not come. There came a Christmas Eve when I was no longer a little boy and I felt that I had outgrown the spirit of Christmas so I stayed up to help with the preparations, and so found what I had been missing all of the years. Mother made cookies in the kitchen which we ate as fast as they came from the oven. Dad came home and took off his coat and helped with the tree. I remember how I ran through the streets to a little store that stayed open late to get a bit more tinsel. There was a moon and there was snow and as I hastened back with the last of the late shoppers who hurried along to other homes like mine where families gathered and there was warmth and laughter and a feeling of belonging, it came to me, a joy greater than I had known before. I had mourned my loss because in my childishness I had seen Christina's only in terms of what it brought to me. But in the years that were to follow my spirit grew richer and deeper. I had found again my Santa Claus. I found him in the light that came into my Mother’s eye when she saw the present that I had saved so long to give her. I found it in the pressure of my Father’s hand as he thanked me for the shirt, the ties. I found it in the Christmas exclamation of my baby sister who believed, as I had once and now did again, in Santa Claus. Yes, I found again my Santa Claus and this time he could not be taken from me. He was a spirit now that ever grew stronger. It was with me those three grim Christmases of war when I could not even see the tree. It came to me when I shared with my fellows a letter, a box, and a sprig of evergreen. (Continued on Page Three) show are not necessary but rather sincerity, directness, and sim plicity are better able to create within us a lasting impression and inspiration. T. PENDLETON.