Current Opinion
•
Glancing through a magazine,
scanning a newspaper, or entering
a private discussion, one invariably
encounters the topic of integration
these days. Following the decision
of the Supreme Court, national
and state leaders, citizens and students have formed definite opinions.
Mary Pugh replied, 'I do not
think integration can be brought
about immediately. I think the
dividual states because, as was
matter should be left up to the in-
shown by the recent action in Delaware, some states are more ready
for it than others. The South as a
whole is not ready. I believe any
plan for putting it into practice
relates to the degree of prejudice
in the state as well as the com-
parision of Negroes to whites in
population of various sections.
Many believe that reorganization
of the Klu Klux Klan and similar
groups will result; I feel that the
majority realize that the decision
has been reached and will try to
adapt themselves to the situation."
Barbara Stalvey emphatically
said "no" to immediate integration, adding that it should not be
attempted in less than five years.
If a time limit is necessary, she
feels that it should be flexible so
that each community can work out
its own problems in its own way.
She does not think that integration
can be implemented entirely by
law because human emotions cannot be directed. She concluded by
declaring that the situation as a
whole has been presented in the
wrong light, because the public
has not been fully educated, and
many are jumping at false conclusions.
Barbara Merritt remarked, "You
can't expect the §9Uth§rB©rs who
have heard the Civil War all their
ife to accept integration willingly
a the immediate future. The Ne-
jroes would have no opportunity
to develop leadership if integration were forced, as the whites
WfflUtf sSil1 be prejudiced against
thme. I believe that there will be
three or four more generations before the eastern agricultural section of the state will became
adapted to the situation, whereas
the western industrial section can
probably accomplish the movement faster."
Agreeing with the students, Dr.
Millar would not prescribe any set
period of time for integration in
either the state or the nation. He
feels that each section and each
state has its own peculiar problem; due to our culture, the Southern states will take longer to solve
the matter than will the northern
ones. He emphasized, however,
that the southern states may surprise the nation as this generation
is more broadminded on the subject than its parents.
Carol Marshburn advocated,
"The sooner integration is accomplished, the better. I do not, however, think that it can be forced;
but that it must occur willingly
and naturally. Those who are willing to associate with Negroes as
their equals should do so immediately, but they should not try to
make others of their own opinion
in a forceful manner. We need
leadership in the right direction;
through Christian education in its
most inclusive meaning can it be
brought about quicker."
Helen Turlington asserted that
the Negro must be educated to
the white man's level before integration can take place, because
putting them together now would
bring the white man's standards
down. She feels that it is good for
students to take stands on such important issues, but that, having
lived a comparatively protected
life, they are prone to be radical
and don't realize how the situation actually effects the outside
world. She stated that she thinks
the Supreme Court should have
stayed out of the matter; the states
themselves are the only c
Dressin' For The Dance
decide when they are ready for
such an important movement.
The persons questioned
seemed to be in agreement that no
definite period of time can be set
for the Negroes to integrate into
the public and private schools.
From there on out the opinions
vary. One fact is apparent: integration is inevitable; therefore, regardless of personal ideas, each
and everyone must exert all effort to make the best of the situation.
Letter to Editor
Dear Editor:
Did you ever dream; did you
ever dream of traveling; did you
ever dream of traveling to Europe? If you dared dream you probably awoke and said, "impossible."
We say, "not so." We of the NSA
travel committee have the answers
to your questions, doubts, and
fears of going to "far away places."
Even if you have not seriously
considered going abroad, or if you
would like to have help in alleviating some of those doubts lurking in the back of your mind, we
would like to help you. Just to
help you explore the possibilities
of travel, we have designated the
week of December 4-11 to be
Travel Week. Keep your eyes and
ears open. There will be posters,
library displays, and special programs to be announced later. In
addition, the "board of experts"
has consented to make up a Travel
Bureau. These people will be glad
to give you first-hand information
on the actual mechanics of travel.
The experts want to help answer
any of your questions whenever
possible. They are: Dr. Stinson,
Dr. Boyd, Dr. Heironimus, Lael
Corzine, Doris Starnes, Jane Connelly, Mary Lou Gunter, and Betty
Harris, who have recently returned
from a summer of travel.
In addition to the week in December, the travel committee
plans to follow up with a week in
February after all the latest materials have come in for the 1955
programs. If you would like help
any time from the travel committee, they are: Sarah Varner, chairman, Pat Wilmoth, Mallie Harmon, and Betty Harris. Don't forget the week of December 4-11
is Travel Week.
Betty Harris
Dear Editor:
The Budget and Finance Committee of the N.S.A. has been
working in co-operation with the
business manager, trying to find
out the specific destination of our
fees toward literary tuition, student activities, and special courses.
One of the questions brought
up was: "Why do resident students
pay a larger activities fee than the
day students when both are entitled to participate in the same
activities?"
There are many other questions
which have been discussed also.
Why can't we do something t
equalize these situations?
Beverly Hardin
Anita Betts
Congrats to Virginia Swaim and
her crew for the successful Parliamentary Procedure Month.
V\
