University of South Carolina Libraries
First: Thin The administration of the University of t South Carolina has, for the past several i years, been in an unfortunate position. It s has been caught between two fires. In the first place, year after year Presi- e dent Smith has asked the legislature for I funds necessary to make Carolina a great e little university. Recently the requests have i been desperate, because the funds are be- t coming more and more necessary to keep Q Carolina on the accredited list-to keep its t head just above water. e Year after year the necessary funds have I not been granted. The administration's hands f are securely tied. Make-shift facilities have had to be produced. It would be fortunate if t these make-shift facilities could be in any i way permanent or even satisfactory for the i present, but they are not. They aren't ex- 1 pected to be. These things are necessarily temporary, and the end of their usefulness f is in sight. Such methods cause dissatisfac- i tion. And that is the other fire which the ad- t ministration must endure. There is much I dissatisfaction among those who attend the I university and among those who instruct the students when they find their facilities for I instruction crippled. An atmosphere of semi-dissatisfaction is healthy. It leads to action, which should cul minate in progress. But when dissatisfac- I Break Thl! Dean Crow of the School of Education, in his talk at a special meeting of graduating 1 seniors Tuesday, said that the university turns out more trifling alumni than any ' other state university. Carolina has some records of which its students and supporters are proud. Sometimes they are even valued too highly. We shout about having more of this and better that, or rather having had at one time, as is usually the case. We forget some of our other records-records which cause us to hang our heads a little w%hen we think about them. A shining example of this is that men tioned above-the work of our alumni as sociation. Alumni are former students. That's what the word means. Just as our present alumni were students in the past, you LEONARD DUCKFTT Four Years Un THE GAMECOCK for the last The only incent few semesters has been gripped needs for a gripe ii by a chronic case of the 'gripes.' b goo o d I have heard gripes about the administration of administrators, i soyc o gripes about the doubtful faculties imdaeyeh of faculty members, gripes con- adsmtmsd cerning the honesty of the honorcounonpg1 system, gripes about the limitedcue-ybdyr fraternization of fraternities, i rbbytew gripes about the coaching ofHelthiwosi coaches, playing of players, gripesthexmlan about parts of anatomy of certain l,ms ftetn domestic animals served in Stew-imgntoorn ard's Hall, and trees. Tetidtp I have yet to read a gripe aboutwathinmei gripers. On the campus there aredosnthvth several definite types of gripers.sutie wekf First you have the chronic griper.Thsite"et This state could have come aboutfin.Hiswli by the griper's mother being scared pc hi ujc in the pre-natal period by a Peglerprvthoign column or the long childhood as-isahplsylo sociation with a staunch Democrathicoce durng he ooerdmiisraton. LTe nly in ormbe situAsnte Dstrtntor trivia oudedJanary30190. wth obet Eliot onzales for t Theopnios xDrssd y clunisscndlumnrris pae no atiut enoremnt ltouh te igThtoedi you reseve NEWS DITORrobaby Rivew< SPOTSEDTOt e mlo ndy OlgaEdwads, ns Openhime, mostaof hern ti Elinr Kels,Jeane Trner Nomagination, oori Frace.Tutle Pul'Foter Crolnsusieeeka Al Mogull, Sa Sorta, le provne the Ru orn gs First ion is sustained too long without progri t is bad. That situation leads to deep nd retrogression. The students can only do so much. Th fforts can only serve to make those with I iower to produce progress dissatisfied. Th< fforts have been directed through the i ninistration mostly, and partly directly he State House. The administration is c atisfied with present conditions. Thus he students' efforts have been fruitful. I dministration has the power to prodi >rogress. But in order to do so, it must hi unds. But year after year as the legislature fa o act favorably toward its state univers t becomes apparent that student and i ninistrative efforts are in vain. They Ike pebbles hurled against a steel wall. From all evidences the legislature is sai ied. It is blind to the plight of this insti ion-to its desperate need of the whe vithal. The General Assembly cannot hat if money is not shortly forthcoming 1 ife of the university will be squeezed out ime, with its decay and obsoleteness. In planning any budget first things m )e placed first. In consideration of tate's budget the university must be plai Lt or near the top of the list. If this i, lone, the day will soon come when it need >e placed at all, for it will no longer exist ; Record vho are at Carolina now will be alumni he near future. The future of the alumni association ongs to you, and to your fellow students. eally energetic alumni group is a valua isset to an institution. Without it, a gr ,art of a school's life is missing. Carolina's alumni association needs a I -er understanding of the student's view ,arglina's problems today, and you, as raduate and join the association, can g it to them and help them to help the t versity. This year's senior class has set a preced in organizing an alumni gioup before gr iation. If this example is followed foi rew years it can mean a whole new life the group composed of those who call Ci Lina "alma mater." der The Blast ive this species student who has a legitimate i for a condition and writes sincerely, knowing :ist. It need not true facts behind the situation 'ight or wrong, course, in any institution the I. If it is there. of Carolina, or any size, all he blast and is not be as it should and could rted, exploited, Some changes are needed and storted in two be brought about if they corn our. the attention of the students the "I-gripe-be- administration. This griper h; pes" type. This place on any newspaper. H >rst kind of all. no stargazer beset by utopian it of a friend set but he has both feet on the gr< e follows blind- and recognizes a fault wher e without either sees it. ginality. If it is inevitable that Cart is the guy who has faults, then by the lav the paper and averages, it should also have sa energy for a thing good about it. I have icr-week effort. many columns, editorials, and c er-to-the-editor" forms of opinions. If I be ig to let anyone them this institution is the big and side, then misfit in the educational world, bor of the idea all its students are damned to ignoramus for years of mental darkness, with sonal wrongs and mismanage, t rare species of the prevailing characteristics. A GREATER DUTH CAROLINA ri Collegiate Press llegiate Digest first editor. "The Gamecockc" Is published by and for the ng the college year except on holidays and examinations. necessarily those of "The Gamecock." P'ublishing does not . Jean 1 FEATURE EDITOR Jane I COPY EDITOR Ruthe Klei EXCHANGE EDITOR Marguerite i .CIRCULATION MANAGER . Bobby Gi Kenneth W. Baldwin, L STAFF tsy Knowlton, Marjorie McCorkle, W. H. McCa Wall, Barbara Fowler, Lloyd Huntington, Leori ers, Frank Fayssoux, Mary Denny, Lily Groo * . . .George W. Shelor, Jack Wall B STAFF an, Carol Ferris, Paul Field, Kathleen Phil eir ;he ?sef to 18s- -C 'ar 'he ice t Lve t ied ire~ Jis tu re- nAGra .r 3ee by (fst Tht bhe ,,ed bl Reprinted ro Wy 19 Sme of ESQUIh Copydhe r by Esqulc% pm. *nPt "W masr kdsad esQid.s tor e hatd thnsifstis In A Great, Large File in By J. N. HooK (This poem was brought back from a registrars' convention in b- "Columbus, Ohio, by Miss Miriam Holland, assistant registrar, and A ble presented to The Gamecock with her compliments.) eat "We've a splendid testing system. If you'd like I shall list 'em." Said the city superintendent with a holy little snile. "We measure kids and test kids to see what things infest kids, et- And then repeat the process every little while. on 7OU "We give grammar tests and hammer tests and also Katzenjammner tests, Nve And German tests and vermin tests, the best we can compile, ini- Appreciation, co,ndensation, information, lucubration, To say nothing of vocation-Oh, a tall, tall, pile.4 ent ad- "Our tests are often mental, but they may be merely dental Or sometimes environmental (about the domicile). a Versatility and ability, then utility, then debility for With indefatigability we choose the latest style. ro "Constitution, restitution, home pollution, destitution, - Go-to-college, moral knowledge-just wait a little while; Aptitudes and attitudes but seldom the beatitudes For measurement of platitudes serves only to beguile. "Physiology, sociology, entomoiogy, and geology, For nreqPnt-dv nsychology says these things we 'should compile; Metaphorical and clerical, historical, hysterical, the Our tests are quite numerical, and very much worthwhile. Of size "Spelling tests and yelling tests-no, I'm not selling tests, will But schools that seldom use them are very, very vile. be. We give our tests, record our tests (I wish we could afford more tests) may And I keep them-keep thaem-in a great, large file." e to -Reprinted by permission of "The Clearing House," Vol. 22, and u5 a No. 7, March 1948, P. 437. leas, lund SQL ABRAMS SI May Be Wrong But... read ther There Is Criticism copan.Toe-h r uk ieve M\uch misdirected criticism has ol aet pn oryasa gest been unduly given to the adminis- tesho.Sm ev fe and tration of the University. Muchmuhsotrta,ndoefw four of it is due to students who arefaoson-emrbcmeit per- bitter and disillusioned with condi-tuininhesls.Btpyte nent tions at South Carolina. Thesepemntprsnl,wo ut students do not stop to think as sfe eratrya,srgln -the administration would havetokethyuhflsdntfm them think,.setn i niiult n At the moment, students are veryspaighsmntofrey perturbed by the announcement Soefthsuparsavte that room fees for all male stu- adct osgetteeaewy dents next semester will be raised o mrvn h alwdisiu to the highest fees now paid. to.Tebnso 6 ebr Students who oppose this in-ofte arinnaScty atl crease fail to take into considera-athehog. tion the tremendous expense incur- Narwsl-omtn mebs red by insurance alone. Insurance o h tdn oywudgi au- rates are necessarily high, and any-cotlofshfutin ast one who has lived in one of thedetaivis,vhhuneti older tenements will wonder whyabysolbewtith usdc 0l they are not higher as walls aretinoth ad nsrto.Al ___liable to collapse at any time,. huhms ftesuet h [l Other students are complaining aeshmn hsi lnetn __about the disregard for the se'nior suetmeig r rdaig class proposal of having graduation te lnt oto h ciiiso )owe exercises on the horseshoe. Theirthsudnshrghwelltes ~kley opposition to having graduationtoudrigsilateinsco. Vebb ceremonies in the field house is ThrAeDilylSunt without thought as this allows Teeaeohrdsoa esn rines every person who attends a fullwhwilntpyhesgtyhg -- dress turkish bath without addi- e rcscagda h ate Ir. tional cost. Besides who are the s htbn nfrscnb -- seniors to think they have a say buh vr 0yas hs n in how their graduation will be gae aeterbsns opi ,hw,, conduc' d.vtecnenjutosaem ey ard Students Are Not Adulta ihu hnig htte r e ver, It Is about time that college stu- piigsm uuesueto dents learn that they are- not full-baduiom Ths ayncs _._ grown adults who can make do- tt orwn nfrsfo h Jr. cisions for themselves, but are onlySavtoArygin -_ youthful juvenile delinquents who Ys h diitainhst .her must b( kept under strict discip-sufrmc unstricsm o line, If not martial law. (See your tepr fucnrlal tdns state legislator for confirmation.)Iti foune tht hy ar onlySudnt haveogonsfrcpbe o senn ost year It ARROLL GILLIAM. Carolina May Become Rich Man's University Major gripe on the campus is the raising of room rents or the fall term. Various deans and administrative officers re being given the treatment in the rumor factories, but tudents looking for the evil ogre responsible for this further ig into the pocketbook can go beyond the campus and eyond Senate street to the State House. 'More cautious souls have been complaining that we are oo quick to criticize the sins of omission by our lawmakers, ;nd for three years have advocated a kidtglove policy. In hree years, the pair of kid-gloves should have worn thin .nd Carolina's situation of receiving the half-loaf and no raf is becoming a permanent phenomenon. 'The University's case is summed up by the President. "Each year I have submitted to the General Assembly in ny estimates requests for amounts I believed should be ap >ropriated for the maintenance and operation of the Univer ity of South Carolina. Each year my request has been dras-, ically cut. "The reduction in appropriations below my estimated ieeds each year has been severe, and the accumulative ffect over a period of a few years is startling. In these lifficult times of high costs and shortages of supplies and ersonnel we have maintained and operated the University ts best we could with the funds appropriated, but only t a sacrifice of high standards that should be maintained Lt the University." The startling figures referred to by the President include he fact that the state appropriated less for maintenance of the University in 1947-48 for 4,497 students than in 1924 or 909 students. The state also contributed less per capita .o the University for maintenance last year than at any time vithin the past 30 years. Now if you wonder why your rent is going up while the )laster is falling down, remember that the dollar in 1949 ias to spread over more buildings and more students than n 1924. When your wardrobe collapses or you have to wait n line for a shower, thank your legislature. From 1918 to 1948, the percentage which the student has )aid for maintenance of the University has increased from L0 per cent to 83 per cent! Correspondingly, the state's .ontribution has declined frum 90 per cent to 17 per cent. This_part of the game has not been too harsh on South ,arolin' while Uncle Sam was the party being soaked, but -hose days are ending and Mr. and ivirs. Parent will be paying hruug1 Lwe nuse. The General Assembly has evaded the responsibility of 'he state for maintaining an adequate state university. The mtire system of stste colleges is set up on the basis that -he state will contribute to such a degree that higher educa ion will be within the grasp of the average man. At the rate South Carolina is "progressing" in the field of state aupport, the University of South Carolina will not be a public institution 20 years from now and will be supported by Ma and Pa back home in Edgefield, Charleston, York, etc. At this current rate of "progress," attendance at the state iniversity will be a privilege for the wealthy and nothing more than a dream for the poor man's son. This, of course, is future supposition, but at present, the General Assembly is legislating the poor man's son in South Carolina out of the state university and out of higher education. Everyone is familiar with the dilemma faced (or the ex euse given) by the legislature with prison wardens and in sane keepers wveeping around the State House, but, un fortunately, someone must decide which is of more imme diate importance to the future of the state-its convicts, its insane, or the education of its youth. The General Assembly will have to answer that question to the poor man and the poor man's son when university education becomes too expensive for the average income. The rent is going up, but the legislature is still in session. The Raving As I lie with heavy eyes, in my mind I visualize, Chunks of plaster of great size, Joining me in bed. As I toss on sweat-soaked sheet, My mind turns to that civic leech, Who in his legislative speech, Said we were all bar-flies. Plastered yes, that is true, From the ceilings falling through, Not each one, .just a few, He did not mention that. Icould blame no man for drinking, When he knowvs that death is slinking. For lack of legislative thinking, Through his dear fire trap. Which kind of death more filled with splendor, To be burned into a cinder-or to alcohol surrender? It doesn't matter much. Here a choice that appeals to few, Have the plaster bury you, Nay rather death from drinking brew. You have a choice, you see. Inside of me a voice is calling, (Heard above the paster's falling,) Senators, quit your stalling, The sand is ne'r run out. Spend some money on these slums, That we may be normal chums, Instead of alcoholic bums, To quote you, more or less. If we had a place to meet, Where wve could dance or take a seat, Or maybe buy our girls a treat, Our morals might improve. Wake up, good men, see the light, Flames flicking skyward in the night, Charred young bodies, a dreadful sight, Could you ever sleep again? Could your conscience bear the weight, You to blame for this fate, You'd better act, it's not too late, Your son may be a corpse. Do not forget the words I speak, It may be a year, a week, The time will come when death shall reap, TH E HARVEST OF YOUR NEGLEC't.