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HL_WesternCarolinian_1974-08-01_Vol40_No07_02

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  • PAGE 2 THE WESTERN CAROLINIAN- THURSDAY AUGUST 1, 1974 Feminist's nightmare One of the more tasteless realities of summertime living in Cullowhee is the trauma all women experience daily while walking down the street. If you are female and find it necessary to walk to the Post Office or general store, you must expect to be whistled at, shouted at, ogled, or barked at, by at least every other male who drives by. Going to Sylva or passing the University engineer's office can be especially exasperating and can best be described as a feminist's nightmare. The males in our geographical locale seem overly fond of demonstrating their uncouth talents and are extremely adept at composing new animalistic noises to unleash from the windows of their pickups. The more literate types are capable of flowery phrases such as, "shore would like tun have that thar' swing in my back yard," but such elegance of style is rare. Surely there can be no other spot on earth where women are regarded in a comparably demeaning and absurd maimer. Without attempting to question the Cullowhee tenet that politically and socially oriented movements must keep away until they are at least 10 light years old, may we suggest that the existence of ERA be at least recognized before too many more wolf whistles echo through the Cullowhee valley.— MLY. THE: VVESTEI^I CAI^LlMlAN Published twice weekly through the academic year and weekly during the summer by the students of Western Carolina University. Member: Collegiate Press Serviee. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF.....DWIGHT A. SPARKS BUSINESS MANAGER MIKE KILLAM Offices, first floor Joyner, phone 293-7267. Mailing address, Box 66, Cullowhee, NC 28723. Subscription rates, $4.00 per year. Library's riposte Dear Editor: This letter is in response to the complaint and observation recently aired by Mr. Bridges. (July 25 edition of The Western Carolinian). The librarians at Hunter Library are glad, even elated, to see your (not our) books used, and they labor mightily to reduce the barriers between the readers and their books. One barrier over which the librarians have little direct control is presented by inconsiderate individuals who, after reading a book, neglect to return it so that another student may use it. A book may be renewed if more time is needed, and if another student has not put in a request for it. It is difficult to encourage wide use of library materials if they are checked out and then sat on for four months. The librarians would like to be able to inform the patron when a book has become overdue, so that the patron could avoid a fine, and the book could circulate to another reader. However, the present library budget does not allow for the staff, materials, and postage to perform this service. Thus, the library must depend on the good will and intelligence of the patrons to return the books to the library for renewal or recirculation. Concerning noise in the library, does Mr. Bridges suggest that the librarians spend their days shushing garrulous students? Or that they employ members of the campus security force to patrol the library with billies and cotton batting to gag the loud mouths? Again the library has to depend on the good will, consideration, and intelligence of the patrons to keep the noise at an acceptable roar. I suppose that there is also the hope that someone who is disturbed would have the fortitude to make this known to the sources of annoyance and request thatthey be quieter. Willfully yours, E. Olson Cullowhee I" , ■ The Western Carolinian welcomes letters to the editor concerning all topics. To be printed, the editor asks that all letters be under 300 words in length, typewritten and double-spaced. All letters must be signed by the author with his address or telephone number included. Letters will be printed with the author's name ommitted if the letter is embarrassingly personal in nature, does not unduly call the credibility of other persons into question, or is of importance to the readers. Letters are subject to editing in order to delete any libelous or unfactual material or to shorten the letter. However, the message of the letter will remain the same. Armpit triggers thought by J. Sanders I met an armpit Monday morning in the U. C. After a vexing eight o'clock class, a stimulating game of "which door is locked" at the second floor entrance to the U. C, and a Muffin Delight that delighted in squirting semi-liquid egg yolk in my coffee; it was a refreshing experience to meet this armpit. It kept peeping out at me from under a talkative arm. It was a well-kept armpit, obviously under the Ultra-Ban dome of protection. In fact, one might say this particular armpit was bland. It somehow lacked the old Pepsi Generation vitality. My eyes began to function better as the onslaught of drip- coffee performed its biological miracle. Natural curiosity led me to discreetly observe the creature on which the armpit was attached. She was a goddess of sorts. A bra strap draped across the Sea & Ski- tanned arm that waved above the armpit. She stood up at this point, gathered a flashy purse and some books under one arm, and departed. The white polyester pants stretched over post=graduate buttocks jolted me from a summer session stupor. How could I have been bored with summer at WCU? That lowly armpit triggered a series of fresh observations and new perspectives. WCU is essentially two institutions: an academic year institution and a summer institution. The academic year is generally identified by hair, denim, traffic jams, and controversy. Summer, however, has a new face. Traffic is lighter, denim gives way to double-knits, hair is representative of respectable barber shops and beauty shops, and the "new" student body isn't overly concerned that WCU's administration is a mouth containing considerable tooth decay. Summer seems to be a time of respite in Cullowhee. A lull hangs low over the campus like August fog. As a matter of fact, only a sea of sandals slapping on sidewalk shores at 7:55 a.m. interrupts this weird tranquility. Even the daily sounds of a mechanized society seem to fade into a background drone. Oh, you might ask the purpose of this article. Is it a simple reflection on the summer mood of this campus? Could it be a soft insult directed toward -the teacher-dominated summer session student body? The armpit is to blame.
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