THE ROTUNDA VOL. LII
LONG WOOD COLLEGE, FARMVILLE, VIRGINIA, TUESDAY, APRIL19, 1977
Residence Proposals Discussed At Press Conference ByTWINKIEPLANT and D.J. LINDSEY The last press conference held Tuesday, April 12, in the Gold Room touched upon various student interest topics. Beginning with an introduction of Administration present. Student Government President. Linda Crovatt, made a few general announcements concerning the Bloodmobile, the Alma Mater, the Dabney Lancaster Scholarship, and projects that the Student Government has been working on. Students were asked to 'Stay off the grass" during Pitch-In Week in order to beautify the campus. Dr. Willett then took the floor by giving information regarding the summer session. On the question of housing Dr. Willett stated "The obligation is to those students who are here first." If the problem of student housing is not alleviated by the start of the next semester, then the number of in-coming freshmen will be reduced until everyone who has signed up for a room is placed. The next subject concerned the major changes proposed and passed by both Residence and Legislative Boards. These include allowing students to leave the dorm once they are secured and the newly proposed open house hours. Dr. Willett felt that the proposal of leaving the dormitory had details to be worked out but "basically that has been approved and will go into effect." On the proposed open house hours there are some major changes: Monday through Thursday during strict quiet hour (7:00 p.m.—10:00 p.m.), Friday opening at 2:00 p.m. and closing at 1:30 a.m., Saturday starting at 11:00 a.m. and ending at 1:30 a.m., and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. straight through to 11:00 p.m. These will give students an additional twenty-one hours per week of visitation. Dr. Willett then opened the topic of open house to the students present for their reaction and comment. Patricia K. Chapman, Secretary of Residence Board, asked if members of the board could be present at the staff meeting held Thursday in order that a more adequate student input is provided. Dr. Willett will present the new hours to the Board of Visitors. If there is general agreement among the board and the staff, "fine." And if not? "They may say they won't look at them." The Board of Visitors has the legal authority to have these changes presented to them and the final decision as to whether or not these changes will go into effect. If the Board of Visitors has any questions concerning the proposed changes, representatives from both Residence and Legislative
Boards will be allowed to explain them. Dr. Willett suggested to the students that if they wanted to see some changes to go through ihe two student boards. "Go through the channels and there's a very good chance of getting almost anything within reason done." He also commented," . . . when people start talking about demonstrations and this sort of business, number one you're convincing me and number two you are convincing the board, that you're not really interested in looking for solutions, you're just trying to raise a ruckus. I have never seen anything solved by a demonstration." He then remarked that he had seen many things solved by having proposals come through the boards.
A question was raised concerning kegs in the Residence Halls next semester. Dr. Willett felt that 'hey would still be banned. However alternate arrangements such as winterizing the cabin, opening up the lower dining hall, and using the ABC rooms in I.ankford are being looked into. Questions were raised concerning Student Identification Cards. Status of Theraputic Recreation Majors, Sign-in-Signout procedures, and scheduling of exams. Handbooks and catalogs were also discussed at some length. The Press Conference was the answer to many questions and offered suggestions for both Administration and Student Government to look into.
NO. 22
AWARDS ASSEMBLY 12:45 TODAY JARMAU
Teacher Quits Post Over Religion Thompson said he knew Miss Reprinted from The Roanoke Jones conducted daily devotions Times and World News in her classroom for the last 2H> By JACK CHAMBERLAIN years, but it was all right with Staff Writer him as long as no one Terri Jones taught in Roanoke complained. County schools for nearly four Last month someone did. years, a firm believer that The mother of a child in Miss children should know that God is Jones' combination 3rd and 4th good and Satan is bad. grade class, said Thompson, She said she believes very "said she didn't want her child strongly in the good of God and talked to about religion in any Jesus and the evils of Satan, way. She said she took her child witches, goblins and ghosts. to church and that was enough." After consulting with Vaughan, And that's why Terri Jones doesn't teach in the Roanoke Thompson told Miss Jones of the County schools any more. She complaint and advised her of the quit two weeks ago rather than law. "I knew she was having a little leave her religious convictions at devotion every morning," home. "I had the feeling all along that Thompson said. "I had to call the if I was ever challenged on the law at least to her attention. I just subject of religion, I, as a let her make her own Christian, would have to leave," judgement." Miss Jones said in an interview. So Miss Jones quit. She said she could not continue "I just didn't feel I should change my convictions just to if she had to give up her daily devotions in her classroom and suit what two or three parents promote satanism, witchcraft wants," she said. "I wasn't going to compromise in any way and and goblins at Halloween. Donald Thompson, her stay where I haven't the freedom principal at Catawba of speech." Miss Jones, 26, said she Elementary, and Aubrey Vaughan, director of elementary believes her problem also education, said she is a great developed from her refusal to teacher and they are sorry to see observe Halloween last fall when other teachers were having her go. But the U. S. Supreme Court, Halloween parties. Thompson agreed that this had deciding a suit brought by a something to do with complaint Maryland atheist, ruled in 1963 that prayer, Bible readings and, last month. The same mother had in general, advocating religious complained about Halloween. in public schools is Instead of a Halloween party, in which Miss Jones felt she unconstitutional. The exact interpretations of would have had to promote that landmark decision are still witches, goblins and ghosts, the being debated 14 years later, but class had an autumn party with it is generally thought that it is refreshments, and the children illegal for teachers to conduct talked about nature. "I feel like (Halloween), in an prayers and devotions in public innocent way, teaches children schools.
there is nothing wrong with witches. I try to teach children there are witches," Miss Jones said. Halloween, said the soft-spoken teacher, introduces children to witchcraft, satanism, ghosts, and goblins in a subtle way. "Later on, when the children grow up, they don't take it seriously and it is a serious thing," she said. Miss Jones said she expected the Halloween hassle would crop up again next fall, adding to the problem of the daily devotions and other religious teachings she didn't want to give up. Miss Jones said a couple of parents — including the one who five months later complained to the principal about her devotions — had asked her in October why she didn't have a Halloween party, but no one complained about it at that time. "I feel like trouble would have come," she said. "I knew I couldn't change my convictions about Halloween any more than I could about devotions. Miss Jones, a 1973 graduate of Ixmgwood College, taught at Hardy Road Elementary for a year before transferring to Catawba. She is a native of rural Pries in Grayson County and preferred a small, rural school with self-contained classrooms. Hardy Road, an open-space school, has 900 pupils, Catawba has 52. At Catawba, Miss Jones said, she conducted devotions two or three minutes each morning "right after taking up the money" for milk, ice cream and such. Sometimes she would tell a story, sometimes she would read from the Bible. She said she
would ask the children if anyone wanted to add to ihe prayer, but they didn't have to. "I had some parents say they were glad I had devotions," Miss Jones said. Miss Jones said she was reared as a Southern Baptist, but dropped out a few years ago after inding what she wants in a fellowship of 11 persons in a private home. "I felt like, as I grew to see exactly what the teaching of Jesus is all about, I no longer could find it in an organized church I've been to," she said. "Jesus really wasn't there. It didn't suit my needs." Miss Jones said she had n« plans for another j"b right now, but she's not worried. I'm glad 1 can trust in the fact that God will take care of me," she said. Vaughan said Miss Jones was "one of our very good teachers, an excellent classroom teacher — 1 personally would have loved to have my children in her classroom." Prayers and all? "Prayers and all," he said.
Additional Clinic Sihrtluli'ri During the Panhellenic sponsored pap smear clinic and breast examination clinic, 76 pap smear tests were administered. There were 66 girls who were turned down for the pap smear tests. An additional clinic will be held Thursday evening at 6:45 for those 66 girls. 106 girls attended the breast examination clinic.