Davidson College - Quips and Cranks Yearbook (Davidson, NC)

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But attcf the ball is o L ' rancl the game is won, yes, the football game was won, the realization strikes like Gardol ' s magic shield that t he call of scholastics is upon us. Studying, of course, is a sacred institution in any academic com- munity, and the Q. C. does not intend to despoil any sacred cows. Yet we feel obligated to recollect the scenes of naps ill the stacks, the jammed reserve read- ing desk, the all-nighters in the dorms and fraternity houses, and the good in tentions that fell beneath the grasp of the sandman. Tragedy fell on us once again, though not as much of a national sort. The fatal accident which two of our juniors were in brought the stark realization that life doesn ' t go on forever. But per- haps there is something that is eternal, and for this we continued our search with renewed interest. There was an election this year. Some liberals (referring to those who take a stand as opposed to those who do not take a stand at all) actually chose sides, necessitating the establishment of the first Young Republicans Club on cam- pus. This group traded ' erbal punches with the long-established Young Demo erats Club, and though its cause won the preference of the student body, the faculty support rode with the LB| brand of politics. It ' s all over now, but we know in our hearts that even the Great Society isn ' t the answer to all our prob- lems. No sooner was the election over than did some new issues break on campus. Old Johnwater stickers, which had re- placed Ban-The-Bomb badges, were now covered with Pow-Vow-Nov ' signs, this vow occasionally called Davidson ' s own faculty ban law. The question was raised by the proposal of a new faculty oath which would require not only full professors, but anyone else— instructor to associate professor— teaching here to profess full belief in the e angelical teachings of Jesus Christ. Many of the college family feel that such a kuv would promote a form of inbreeding Page Seven

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Reaction follows challenge as assured ly as an effect follows a cause. And they are all unique, unmistakably stamped with the mark of the individual. Re- actions give birth to forced decisions- failure to react is as revealing as full scale reaction. Da idson students have been challenged this year, and to say the least, the reactions have been felt down to the very foundations of this institution. A little over eight months ago the annual pilgrimage back to this bastion of higher learning ground into high gear. Greek wheels, sporting idealistic soiled rush insignia, took the irgin crop in hand and began to play the big brother role. In the freshman dorms, Pop warned Junior to watch out for card sharks and loose ladies, and Mom wouldn ' t lea e until she rechecked the name tags on her poor dear ' s underwear and had the bed covers turned down. Roommates gawked at each other, find- ing nothing in common except mem- bcrsiiip in the Beta Club, and wonder ing how Mrs. Nicholis could possibly have paired them unless she drew the lefto ers from a hat. At any rate, the partnership would do well to sur i e si.x weeks. Group meetings of the freshmen and of the football team monopolized early campus activity, the former learning the true meaning of the slogan on tiie rug in the Davidsoniana room in the library, Alenda Lux LIbiOrta Llbertas, the latter wishing they had never heard of Alenda Lux in any form. The pur pose of Davidson was somewhat con fused as rush parties preceded classroom acti itics. You remember rush. Riisii is the time ol WAV when e ervono m.ikcs up his face, and the basements become unusualK crowded. Each fraternity has a different system: some just circulate, others divide and conquer; one grmip has hand signals, and one just sings gross fraternity songs. (Funniest thing, that last one hasn ' t lost a boy in years.) Rush is o er, and the brothers wipe o(f the smile and get back to the business at hand. It ' s time for that soiihislicated, social endeavor, the first fraternity party. Now, contrary id po]iular mis conceptions (especially among the fac ulty since they aren ' t allowed to recog nize such things and therefore can ' t attend), Davidson ' s fraternity parties arc actually quite ci iii ed. I hcse par ties see Da idson ginijcmen escorted by all sorts of female accompaniment, Queenies, townies. Briars, Conversies, Scottkins, Salemites, home-townies, and, alas, nursies. Nursies are the perennial nemesis of the fraternity system, running back home to mommy with wild tales of nocturnal naughtiness, which they explain in the most elaborate medical terms. Ihere ought to be a law against nursies, or at least against their mothcfS ' . Page Si.x

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wliicli tends to gradually sap the strength oF indi iduality and expression In ' returning only nglo-Saxon Presby- terian hoys to the professorships. In addition, it ' s felt that because of the often limited and narrow upbringing and experience of these very boys, they need a school that challenges the way ol life to which they are accustomed, and because of their mental brightness, they deser e it. This challenge needs to face all students. Fortunately, the trustees (itcd lo change the oath so that now a prospec- ti e professor is eligible for professor- ship providing his qualifications are ac- ceptable to the faculty and administra- tion. Other issues faced the campus. In ad- dition to the nationally known speakers brought to campus by the Y and I red Sackett under the heading. Great Is sues ' 64. new moral awareness erupted through the spring forum entitled Sex anti Hthics, under the direction of Jay Federman and the YMCA. Fortunately, most of the speakers were capable of arousing Davidson students, whether by the use of those good ole Anglo-Saxon words or some other method, to in- estigate on levels practical and meta physical their own social and intellectual (if existent) li es. One of the most ouistaiuling of these was Paul Goodman, noted writer and social critic. His advocation of free love .nul his identification oi iiui ' systcin ol national elections as corrupt were met with eager questioning and discussion by students who found something other that note-taking and sleeping in chapel to occupy their lime. Some ol the inembers of the faculty picked u]-) the banners to fight the State ' s Speaker Ban Law on University cam|iuscs. Following the fantastic pro- Puge Tig ii