The Stetson Reporter

,«e»«p».,**w|' i,"K~~ t,tS J" W$t teteon ;,■?-?..':"• "Florida's Oldest College Newspaper 72nd Year No. 12 DeLand, Florida Friday Decemberl9, 1958 Happy ti ti ti ti ti Stetson Strikes By Brinly S. Carter Hypocrisy: The act or practice of pretending to be what one is not. Conformity: The act of one who brings his thoughts or cqnduct into agreement with general standards. Mediocre: Ordinary, average. Hypocrisy, we know, is a main cause of mental breakdown and crime; yet it is found all around here on campus as well as as our individual towns, states, and country. Conformity is found hand in hand with this hypocrisy. This, in itself, would not be unbearable but for the fact that this hypocritical conformity, in the United States, is made to be mediocre. We the citizens and future citizens of the United States, seem to be reconstructing our entire social structure around these three words. And, think it is right. We can look at the progress and prosperity of our country and say it is all just talk. But we can also remember that this prosperity and progress is due to individual effort of an unrestricted mind. Individual minds have made us rich, but a mass mind can de stroy us. The initiative shown by these various individuals can be laid to the end result, that if having prestige, power, and a better life, mainly for themselves and their families; secondly, for humanity. No welfare state entered into their life. To approach a more immediate problem, we should ask ourselves if it is necessary for a institution of higher learning to preach this doctrine of hypocritical and mediocre conformity. We should also ask ourselves if this college or university should only hire those professors who will preach this doctrine laid down by, oftentimes, mediocre lay churchmen. Is it good not to put temptation in front of forming minds? Temptation in the form of dancing, drinking, the doctrine of the atheist, or, perhaps, the free and unrestricted expression of ideas. Should we let ourselves be changed into small bigots with weak voices? ' And later, perhaps into mature bigots with loud conspicuous bellows? Some would have us do this. You can bet your loud conspicuous bellows that this country was not founded on that idea; much less the great churches which call this great powerful nation their home. A dictatorship of an individual is preferable to a. dictatorship imposed by a gror.n ' of mediocre conformists who would snuff out individual incentive by taking- away the goal in every man's life — that goal of STOVER TO PRESENT "THE MENAECHM'P Stover Theatre has announced the cast for its January production "The Menaechmi," an hilarious Roman farce by Plautus. The play is scheduled for three performances at Stover Theatre, January 15-17. "The Menaechmi" concerns a young man who for six years has been searching for his long-lost twin brother, who disappeared as a child. When he finally comes upon the city where the missing brother lives, he finds himself in the midst of a complicated and amusing situation, as he is mistaken for his brother by the brother's wife, servants and friends. "The Menaechmi" was the basis for Shakespeare's "A Comedy of Errors," and later for the musical- comedy, "The Boys from Syracuse." Appearing in the cast of the Stover Theatre production are Ken Cassell and Rod Armstrong as the twin brothers Menaechmus, Bob Walker as the Prologue and Medicus, Grant Cole as Penicu- lus, Danny Allen as Cylindrus, Dan Denman as Messenio, Ramon Delgado as Senex, Walt Hunt as Decio, Bill Scott as a slave, Patsy Foster as Erotium, Bonnie O'Dell as Matrona, and Carole Moore as a slave girl. . The production will be under the direction of Byrne Blackwood. Martha Maguire will serve as stage manager. Drive Safely Over Holidays Seven out of ten motoring casualties are innocent victims of traffic violations. A Kemper Insurance study of countrywide traffic accidents over the 1958 Memorial Day weekend confirmed our findings that there were seven innocent persons killed or injured for every two drivers who killed themselves while violating a tra/fic law. And 88 percent of fatal accidents involved a traffic law violar tion. Certainly, here is a personal incentive for strict and impartial traffic law enforcement and compliance, since it obviously is NOT true that accidents always happen to the other fellow. being a unique individual. But then again, there are those who enjoy te illegitimate pleasure of being conscious hypocrites. Hypocrisy is strike one for Stetson. Christmas Eve All night long the pine-trees wait, Dark heads bowed in solemn state, Wondering what may be the fate Of little Norway Spruce. Little Norway Spruce who stood Only lately in the wood Did they take him for his good— They who bore him off? Little Norway Spruce so trim, Lithe, and free, and strong of limb All the trees were proud of him! Now his place is bare! A.11 that night the little tree In the dark stood patiently, Far away from forest free, Laden, for the morn. " Chained and laden, but intent, On the pines his thoughts were bent; They might teli him what it meant, If he could but go! Oh, our glorious Christhas-tree!" Morning came - the children. "See! Gifts for everyone had he; Then he understood. Mary Mapes Dodge it- ti ti ti ti Xmas Festivities Keep Campus Busy Christmas festivities have kept the Stetson campus busy for the past week. Friday night the Stu- with people as the Christmas tree dent Union Lounge was filled was decorated. Sunday night was the annual Yule Log Lighting ceremony. This is an ancient ceremony based on old superstitions. Each guest was given a sprig of holly, symbolizing the woes of the past year. As the yule log was brought in, everyone touched it with his holly, thus warding off evil spirits, and when the yule log was lit, the holly was thrown on the fire to burn last year's woes. Reverend Douglas Charles, temporary pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of De- Land, gave an inspiring Christmas message. Christmas carols were sung by all and refreshments served. Last night was the lovely candle- lighting ceremony. The band and oi-chestra gave a concert from 7:30 to 8:30, followed by carols played on Hulley Tower chimes. By 9:30 candles were lit in every window of Stetson and Chaudoin and the glee clug was leading in the singing of Christmas carols. Refreshments were served in the Student Union. Lighted Christmas trees in the dorm lobbies and in front of N'M-ih Hall added to the atmosphere that put everyone in a gay holiday mood. The Reporter would like to wish the student body a happy vacation and a truly joyous Christmas. LINDA KELLEY CROWNED MISS HATTER FOR '59 Miss Hatter for the 1959 edition is Linda Kelley, who was chosen Saturday evening prior to the Dorsey dance. First runner-up was Marilyn White and second was Ginny Shol- lar. Judges voted on the basis of poise, over-all beauty, and facial beauty. Mr. and Mrs. Cliff Davenport, connected with the advertising department at Florida's Silver Springs and Mr. David Kapral of. Town and Country beauty salon in DeLand, served as judges. To relieve the suhpense while the judges were reaching their decision, Jim Whitmire and Joyce MacBride sang a duet. j The 23 contestants modeled for- | mal gowns. Contestants were Me- linda Freeman, Gerry Moretz, Molly Sanderburg, Liz Frix, Connie Clark, and Susan Green. The three winners, Linda Marilyn, and Ginny. Others were Martha Hamilton, Carol Herrin, Unique Underwood, Judy Strickland, Amy Ried, and Martha .Gormly. Also competing were Carolyn McCullers, Anna Hueber, Betsy Nicola?, Marion Ezell, Sally Jo Custer, Sandra Lowe, and Bunny Ogletree. Prizes Awarded To Students Last weekend in Jacksonville, the Florida Academy of Science met and included a collegiate section. Three students presented papers in this section for the judgement of the senior faculty members of the academy. First place for all Florida was won by Al Guenther; second place was won by Bill White; third place was won by Bill Carr. Later it was decided that since Mr. Guenther is a graduate student, first place should go to White and second place to Carr; but all of us at Stetson can be proud that with three students competing, three prizes were awarded to Stetson University. Mr. Guenther's paper reported his research on the parasites of the squirrel. Mr. White reported research on the blood count of the squirrel under different conditions. Mr. Carr presented biological applications of the information theory. Congratulations to them all. FINAL TRYOUTS FOR "A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM Final tryouts for the Stover Theatre February production, Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream," will be held on January 5 and 6, the Monday and Tuesday immediately following the Christmas holiday. The readings will take place at the theatre at 3:30 and 7:00 on Monday, and 7:00 on Tuesday. " A Midsummer Night's Dream" h one of Shakespeare's most famous and popular plays. It concerns the misadventures of a pair of lovers, a group of common tradesmen, and some fair folk, in an enchanted woods during a midsummer's night. Copies of the play are available for reading at the library. The play, which is scheduled for performances on February 19-21, has roles for thirteen :-nen and ten women. The production will bo directed by Charles C. Ritter, and will be staged at Stover Theatre Russian Film Is Success The crowd that filled the Stetson Room on Monday, December 8, was treated to some educational entertainment in the form of the film of the Russian opera, "Boris Godunov". Dr. Zenkovsky presented the film on behalf of the Tolstoi Club and explained its importance as the work of the great Russian poet Pushkin and the Russian composer, Moussorgsky. Dr. Lycan set forth the historical background of the film: At the death of Ivan the Terrible, a descendant of the princes of Mos- com who drove out the Tartars in the 1400's, the throne was seized Joy Boris Godunov. To gain .power, Boris had slain Demetri, the illegitimate son of Ivan, and his pangs of conscience made his rule harsh. A young monk, posing as Demetri, led a revolution and finally seized the throne. The work of the Russian composer Moussorgsky was outlined by Mr. Perdue of the music school. The music for the opera was first composed in 1869, and since then it has become the most popular Russian opera. As for the film itself, the music was enjoyable and the drama of the plot reached the audience despite the dry English subscripts. A. Pirogov as Boris displayed convincing emotion. The film was made in the actual historical settings of Russia and the poor conditions endured by the masses.