Blackburn College - Beaver Tales Yearbook (Carlinville, IL)

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ricular activities must be shouldered ‘on top of full class and work loads. This also is as- sumed quite willingly. A large part of the Blackburn character is the realization of our interdependence and pride in our accomplishments. As we take part in Blackburn life, we be- come aware of a spirit of genuine concern for others as well as ourselves. This spirit is manifested in a general willingness to help one another when problems arise. There is always someone near to offer financial or academic help. Does someone need a sub for work or a ride home? There is always an offer of aid. If one is ill or just in need of moral support, someone is there, This cohesiveness knows no distinctions such as class rank or social or monetary standing. Being of assist- ance is not considered a sacrifice, although it often does entail at the least loss of pre-

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The Blackburn character is a composite of the individual actions and beliefs of all stu- dents. This character is important to all of us because we must be able to function within it to meet all the personal and academic de- mands imposed upon us. We are all respon- sible for its creation and change. Some of the self-discipline necessary to our character is acquired through the usual pro- cess of accustoming ourselves to the demands of the academic schedule and those imposed by the social regulations, a process common to all students at all colleges. At Blackburn, however, the discipline goes farther in that we are participating in a work program which is vital to the functioning of the college. As the year progresses, we gain an understanding of the interrelation of our work and well- being. The work program which thus has such a large effect on the experience of Blackburn promotes a quiet kind of responsibility which, although assumed as a matter of course, re- quires an extra modicum of effort from all students. The responsibilities inherent in extra-cur-

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oe ROR acre lS, cious time. Although we must be responsible for our work assignments, we voluntarily con- tribute this concern. The Blackburn “hi” is a verbal recognition of our basic unity in re- sponsibility for the whole of Blackburn life— a unity we created and we perpetuate. It is possible that our basic unity is that which makes us tolerant of our diversity as expressed in our personal relationships, extra- curricular activities, and most importantly, the informal groups of which we are a part. This diversity is the component of our char- acter which makes it vital and responsive to change. The source, means and end of this vitality is within the student body. The source is the individual student; the means, his as- sociations in informal groups; and the end, the Blackburn character, a fluid, changing and growing entity, Although there are many informal associations on campus, both well- defined and rather amorphous, Blackburn students tend to reject the process of labelling others. An individual can become the type of person he wishes to become. Because Blackburn is comparatively small, the chances for a broad system of relation- ships are present. There are numerous re- quired and extra-curricular activities in which we have a chance to meet others. Acquaint- ances can be made through proximity in