Page 102 - TheGoldBug1969-70

page 6 the gold bug Lettersto theeditor--- To Mr. Editor: I would like to thank my anonymous benefactor for The only non-social issue which invol ves a Iar-ge num- This edition of the Gold Bug was put out by the returning the Check I had lost. It would have been so easy ber of students is the cafeteria. This issue was created ior staff members. The old men needed a rest. for anybody finding that check to have tried to cash it or by the students that they might have something to com- just plain forgotten It. I had despaired of people existing plain about. Granted, some of the gripes are valld, but in Chief was Susan Baker. News Editor was like my nameless friend. It wasn't really much money, they are magnified many times out of proportion. The (Hiroshima) Bothe assisted by Greg (Gerg but the check's return made my day. Thankyou, whoever, improvement of food and service of the past three years, Barnes. wherever. even the past year, has been tremendous--yet it was stili We thought that we would throw the whole thing Greg Barnes a major issue in last week's elections, Food is an easy them and go to th e Junior-Senior party--half expect- scapegoat because It can ne-ver be good enough to beat ing to spend all of Saturday morning doing what they To tne-zottor: home-cooking and the source of complaint cannot be totat- left undone. That was last Monday when we first Now that the Earth Day "Plant-In" has been success- lyerased. ceived of the idea. By Tuesday it was apparent tuUy concluded, on behalf of Trl Beta, which sponsored tne As long as the students andSGA officers try to force were wrong. Susan Baker was a tyrant, after project, I should like to thank all the Individuals whose the SGA Into an involvement that students are unwilling to ers ellery minute to get copy in. and i generous donation of time, effort, and tools made pos stble accept, it will continue to fail. A gover'nmentwhich works one-man layout, copy editor, typist and the planting of 7500 trees during the day's activities. towards goals which are not supported by its constituency man. By Wednesday there were rumors of It was a truly cooperative venture, involvIng the State is doomed at the outset. If the SGA limits itself to those overthrow of the old regime. By Friday the Department of Forest and Parks which provided the trees goals which the students support, It can be successful and paper was in good shape and all ready to go to and planting directions; the state Roads Commlssionwhich won't spend so much time In wasted effort. The incoming They did a wonderful job. lent tools; trustees, one of whom sent a check, another of SGA officers are determined that next year's campaign whom attended; and conservation-minded townspeople, in- speeches will have something to say besides criticism cluding some high school students from the area, who for the present student government. This can be accomp- transported planters, lent tools, and planted. Faculty lished by giving the students what they really want-s-a members helped by driving students to the site, lending glorified social committee. tools. and baking cookies, as well as planting. other fac- ulty supported the project by visiting the site and en- Barbie Payne couraging the planters. The dinIng hall director and per- Recording Secretary of sonnel cooperated by making lemonade and providing the Student Government Association The Strawberry Revolution is attacking one of empty cans that were used for keeping seedlings moist major problems - campus environment. prior to planting. Tri Beta members and friends cut out it is a revolt against the sterile utilitarianism of cardboard tree mementos that most planters received pus plant. It is a needed revolt. as they left the site. (Any planter who did not get one may Hanging pictures on the cafeteria walls is only do so In the Biology Office, Room 205 Lewis Hall.) Most Strawberry revalt-phase two of all we are Indebted to the student and faculty volunteers ginning of this revolution. Other areas, as who worked diligently, some for long hours, others for in last issue's editorial about the grille railing, as long as they could. at the actual labor of digging and against aesthetic depravity be attacked as well . new railings, bushes to planting. We are also Indebted to THE GOLD BUG for grass-worn paths, music in the cafeteria. publicizing the project. To paraphrase the college catalogue, this campus is of the grille, and enhancement of some Mr. Robert Hunter, on whose property the Plant-In supposed to provide an atmosphere favorable to academic buildings on campus, such as Whiteford and took place, was warm in his praise of the industry and and personal development. We feel the college ideals Art exhibits, as Strawberry suggests, need conduct of our students. He said he has seldom seen a have not been upheld, and we Intend to establish the en- limited to the Art Building. Occasionally there group of such thoroughly fine young people. vironment which could exist. been exhibits in Whiteford lobby. There's no To all who helped In anywaya war m thank you. We are One hop-skip-and-go naked jump around the W.M.C. why exhibits can't be continually and I proud of the tremendous job you did in the Western Mary- campus easily reveals to the eye that this campus suffers Iy displayed in the cafeteria or in the lobbies of land Earth Day errort. from an ae sthettc blight, a general lack of artistic exist- three women's dorms. Sincerely, ence. For the most part, the studentslead thefr lives In a Confining art displays to special times and Jean Kerschner sterile, utilitarian atmosphere whUe traveling the usual places is indicative of the confining atmosphere route of dorm to Memorial to grille to library to dorm, campus, but it is not necessarily a deliberate Dear Editor: where the white sheets are pulled above theeyes, a sym- faculty have ever requested anything of this A favorite pasttime on this campus is criticizing and bolIc continuation of the blankness the students have suff- fore. Strawberry, reflecting student cor.demning the Student Government. WIthout defending ered all day. the SGA or rehashing the old theme of student apathy, I Not unless the students have had cause to go to Alumni campus, does so now. Let's hope their would like to present some ideas explaining why the pre- Hall or one of the Chapels or the Art Building, have they doesn't stop with art but carries over into other sent situation exists. experienced, in anyway, artistic exposure. The situation terns of campus environment. Each year candidates for office say that they want the should not be thus, an aesthetic envIronment should be an , The time is ripe for Strawberry. SGA to become more than a social committee, to really integral part of the life of anyone, and es~claUy on a become Involved. Each year, this faUs. I submit that this college campus. But oddly enough, the campus seems to Is because the students, whether they wish to admit It or try Its best to defeat any such exposure. Primarlly, the much a part of the times as the student not, actuatty want a student government of this type. The majority of the buildings on campus hold no artistic merit Students don't seem as willing to commit present SGA has accomplished other things but the students tn their basic design. The walls are cinder blocks, color- Peace Corp type involvement as they were during are largely unaware ot them, simply because they are not ed pale green, brown, or yellow, the lighting in most places concerned with these Issues. An example is the tutoring is direct, overhead - creating disturbing, ando!tenfrust- early and middle sixties. Students aren't willing to service which the SGA and the Argonauts establishedthis rating glare. Generally the whole atmosphere Is stereo- without a summer's wages or they aren't willipg year. Most students are unaware of this service and few typed Institutional, and although this is an institution, donate time to an organization like S.O.S. or have taken advantage of this opportunity. there is no excuse for the maintaining of an institutional They are more interested in spending time Only a small portion of time at meetings Is devoted to atmosphere, especially when one travels to other cam- about what everyone else should or shouldn't SOCial activities, but this is what the students hear about puses the same size as W.M.C. and sees how un-tnsntu- Students are no longer able to stand idlely by and discuss because this is the issue which concerns them. tionalized an InsUtution can be. It Is d1!flcult for the SGA to function because no one Well, O.K., so the basic structure is here and it would really knows what the students want. Last fall a refer- be a major renovation problem toelimlnatethesefactors, endum was taken to determine how students want the but this school manages to do more to alienate the student activity fees spent 3J;Idthe students voted to spend it for from any aesthetic experience, In the case of art exhibits, a variety of things, rather than nnle ly "big-name enter- there is first of all a problem In the physical situation tainment." Yet now, as elections have come again, the of the exhibit hall, in that it is placed in a relatively un- rallying cry is big concerts--how can the SqA determine traveled area of the campus. But to change bad to worse, what the students want If the students don't know them- the accessability of exhibits is limited by stringent, some- selves? times eratic, viewing hours, which create a hesitation on the student's behalf to go to the art building for fear that THE GOLD BUG it wUi all be locked up, This, and other examples, exemp- and from morally committing ourselves to lify th~ general disassociation of the students from efforts to get to know one another. If we aestneusm. sincerely interested in improving our condition, Publjshed by and Ior the students of Western Maryland College. Howei er-, the physical campus does hold some possi- he opinions in this paper do not necessarily renccr those or the blIlties for aesthetic exhlbiUon,1! it can be worked in be- should be more inclined to involve ourselves with dministration. tween, or over, the existing systematic uttutartanstm. But so that we can help build love and understanding. , STAfF once again the organization of the school presents a road Whether we be members of S.O.S. or members of the a tasteful, campus at large, we need to take a long look at ourselves Editor In Chief Michael Shultz block. For example, on the cafeteria well done exhibit of paint- to see if we are as committed to social char.ga as we say walls would do a great ings/photographs Associate Editor Richard Anderson deal to enhance the atmosphere. But the cafeteria dogma we are. Many of us will probably find that our actions states' that nothing may be displayed on the.walls, so it don't quite live up to our verbal assertaticns, and there Tim Smith CluisBothe would seem there would be nothing hung on the walls. is really no way to measure a person's social conscience Greg Barnes Lynn Tarbutton This is the point where the Strawberry Revolution comes than through his actions. Susan Baker SardyKearrs in. We are done griping.lncaseswhere there is poSSibility Keithlhurlow Jim Sollers for asemeuc achtevernent, and the only ractor blocking it Possibly we should all ask ourselves the question, "If I Entered as second class matter at the 'Post Office. is bureaucratic gobbly-goop, we Intend to estabnsn the genuinely believe we strive for a better society, am I Westminster. Maryland. 2U57. a.tmosphere ourselves. We intend to harmno-one,weonly making a serious effort to help bring that better Second class postage paid at Westminster. wish to make \V.M.C. a more desirable environment in into existence?" The survival and success of SUBSCRIPTION--$4.00 PER YEAR which to nve, If this effort is suppressed, It will be our Patrons _..__••_ _ $5.00 per year lInal defeat; Uthisfalls, wewUi be leaving Western Mary- land because we love tt, and how long can you endure an un- Angel ... _ .. ............ _.Any amount or over $5.00 reetprocated love? Please give us your support.