The Campus Chat (Denton, Tex.), Vol. 41, No. 28, Ed. 1 Wednesday, February 5, 1958 Page: 2 of 4
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EDITORIALS
The Campus Chat
W*dn«sd«y, F«b. S, 1958
President of Society Says . .
Lazy People Lose Riches of Poetry
by JOHNNIE JETTON
"'Tli* beat way to learn to read poem* i* to
read poetr.s "
Thu* advi «- Dr. Martin Shockley poet,
scholar, and profeasor of Knglish And a*
president of the Poetry Society of Texas and
a member of the Texan Council for the Pro-
nx<:!of. of }' try, Dr. Shi-* ley is well quali-
fied to speak on the subject of potsts.
His |K m< have appeared in such publica-
tions a* College Knglish, the '"ritic, the South-
weft Review, the Colorado Quarterly, the Ari-
xona Quarterly, Kaleidograph. and Quicksilver.
A>iked why most student* do not like poetry,
Dr. Shockley said, "The basin fur such a ques-
tion lies in the popular prejudice against
poets and poetry, which on it* lower level is
merely the inferior individual's dislike of any
intellectual or artistic effort. Like all that ia
worthwhile in life, p> tr> demand* an effort:
the best thing* in life are not free. The best
thirif- in life are •</teri expensive in terms of
individual effort.
Requires Intellectual Effort
"Understanding a sonnet or a sonata re
quires an intellectual effort which some people
are too lazy to make; but la/.y people do riot
deserve and certainly do not get the best
things in life anyway. The things that lazy
people get are always inferior, and they mark
people as inferior people."
At thi* point Dr. .Shockley smiled, "Of
course, this does not apply to North Texas
State college student none of whom are in-
ferior people.
are superior people iri several #ays,"
he continued, "t'mally they are intellectually
superior. They are smarter than most people.
They are trained to look at. what everybody
else looks a., and to iu e what nobody else can
see, They not only have k< «ner minds, but
keener emotions. They are usually more sensi-
tive than ordinary people, more keenly moved,
more deeply Impressed, by both the M-auty and
the sadness of life
"I'oets are usually morally superior people.
Most poets are concerned for wisdom and vir-
tue, for truth and justice, in a world where
these are often hard to find."
Characteristics of I'oeta
Asked to explain how poets feel about "ordi-
nary people," Dr. Shockley noted that the most
prominent characteristic of poet* in general
is "empathy and compaction for people, com-
mon people, for what Mark Twain called the
'poor damn human race.' " That, Dr. Shockley
pointed out., is what makes them poets,
"I.ike any other artist, the poet put* him-
self in another person's place and tries to
understand the joy and sorrow of life through
various individual lives," he continued. "What
the artist doe* is to turn the concrete of life
into the abstract of art. This abstract, often
clarifies, intensifies, and illuminates human
experience."
In commenting on the aloofness of poet*,
Dr Shockley said jioet.* are often "personally
aloof." He fee| that a priet needs "to acquire
a sense of perspective He is the contempla-
tive rather than the active type, the thinker
rather than the doer. Hi* value to society lie*
not in hi>, active participation in the immediate
concern* of society, but in the perceptions, the
intuitions, the perspective*, which his poetic
nature and the practice of his meticulous and
exhausting craft give him. The truest measure
of the quality of any civilization is it* attitude
toward its poets. Ours does not rank high,"
Fault of Teachers
I r Shockley declared that, everybody is in-
terested in poetry until he goes to school and
has poetry inflicted upon him by his teachers,
who rapidly and thoroughly spoil his natural
liking for poetry.
"Children delight in nursery rhymes, in
versified riddles, in all sort* of poetic use* of
language," Dr. Shockley thinks. "The first
poem that most poets write is usually some-
thing like, 'Jimmy, Jimmy, dirty coat, Stinks
like a billy goat.' It takes what we call 'educa-
tion' to destroy this natural and wholesome
joy in language. That is what schools do.
"A poet," lir. Shock ley remarked, "is an indi-
vidual who, despite the efforts of his school
teachers, has retained his natural love for
poetry."
In addition to his duties as president of the
Poetry > <s'iety of Texas and a member of the
Texa Council for the Promotion of Poetry,
Dr Shockley serve* as the representative for
American literature on the executive council
of the South ' entrai Modern Language asso-
eiatj n, arid as president of the Council of Col-
bye Teachers of Knglish of Texas. When it
met at NTSC in December, the American
Studies Association of Texas elected him presi-
dent.
Qoll&qsi YLwdA Tbuv SyAJtsm
Of facbutiinq in ftcuJudball
foll&qianA Jail bo TYlcdnhun
fojnm£ndabl& Study HabiiA
With each new semester, th<- average
collegian resolves to form new study
habits as he set s tip a new schedule and
buys new textbooks.
Good resolutions arc fine in them-
selves; the drawback lies in the failure
of the vast majority of students to
carry through their commendable in-
tentions. Two weeks of classes usually
dull the edge of the typical student's
fervor.
In the near future, however, high
scholastic standing is almost certain to
become a prerequisite fur college en-
The most logical solution to the prob-
lem facing college administrators is to
weed out the less promising students,
thus providing a better educational op-
portunity for those youths with a great-
er learning potential.
Vet, day by day, a college education
is becoming more important in the pro- Fpric ^^h©e
fessional world. With the advent of
stricter entrance requirements and the
resulting culling of less capable stu-
dents, a college education will doubtless
become a symbol of more desirable
W
DR. MARTIN S. SHOCKLEY
poet, scholar, and prolossor of English
Two of Texas' larger institutions of
learning are traveling contrasting paths
in their initial year of competition in
major collegiate conferences.
Texas Tech's sudden rise to basketball
prominence in the Southwest confer-
ence is anything but a fluke.
In their first year of competing for
the SWC hoop title, the Red Raiders
have given fair warning to their oppo-
nents that they will be threatening to
capture the championship for many
years to come.
The Tech story is a well-planned ma-
neuver which is beginning to show its
potent effects.
From the time that the Lubbock
school received its membership in the
conference, the institution's athletic
leaders have launched a vigorous
recruiting campaign that is the equal of
With the Alumni . . .
Two Ex-Students
Appear in Third
Of Organ Series
Two ex-students were presented in a third
of a series of studies in the history of organ
literature Jan. 12 in the NTSC main auditori-
um.
Kx-students returning to perform were
BOtiCS RYAN, music staff member at East
Texas State college, Commerce, and HUGH
THOMPSON, Beaumont. For a school of its size and reputation,
An original composition by a 1041 graduate, the current hardwood situation is not
DON (ill.1.IS, who is now program director of only embarrassing, bus unwarranted,
the National Broadcasting company in New North Texas has lagged seriously in
York, was featured by the North Texas Con- recruiting, and a complete about-face is
cert band recently. necessary at once to pull the Eagles out
The GILI,IS composition, "Tulsa," is a of its deep win-lost well.
symphonic poem in four sections, moving from Now is the time to start—not next
a pastoral movement depicting the land be- year or the year after.
fore the settling of the white man, to a final y^e signing of some top-notch junior
celebration of a gusher by townspeople. college performers and several prep
ALEX LESUKHR, band director at Forney, school stars would be a good start,
appeared as a flute soloist for The Six Sonatas If smaller schools can draw outstand-
for Flute ami Piano in the music hall auditor- ing players, there is no reason why
any other in the Southwest conference.
And with this year's Tech varsity
opening the eyes of all conference obser-
vers, the program continues to gain
momentum. With many tall and talented
ex-high school stars in the fold, fresh-
man performers at Tech are enjoying
a great season and anticipate even finer
rewards as varsity performers in the
next three seasons.
On the other hand, observe the pre-
sent basketball situation at our own
alma mater.
Last season the Eagle cagers posted
a dismal.'J won 20 lost record for the full
season, but stayed out of the weak Gulf
Coast conference cellar by defeating
Trinity twice by 84-80 and 81-76 counts.
Their remaining victory came at the
expense of Howard Payne 72-71 after
the Flock had lost 12 in a row.
Included were losses to Texas, Lamar
Tech, Southwest Texas State, Baylor,
Emporia, West Texan State, Pittsburg,
Texas Western, and Northwest Louis-
iana.
Considering the opposition, North
Texas was not prepared for the rugged
road ahead against some of the nation's
finest quintets in the Missouri Valley
circuit.
Hut why not?
Cincinnati, in its first year of MVC
competition, is at the top of the heap
and has a number three ranking among
the nation's college outfits.
Yet the Eagles are far in another sea-
son with little hope for vast improve-
ment in sight.
-Chat Photo by IIANKINS
North Texas can't.
-Roy Busby
trance, for the nation's institutions of <l"aliti.«s in a potential employee
higher learning are rapidly becoming With todays emphasis on financial
overpopulated. security as the goal of business life, a
The situation is bound to worsen, for college education will become the key
soon the postwar generation will enter to that sought-after security.
college —a generation which will greatly In preparation for the highly competi-
outnumber the present collegians born tive professional and business world,
in the depression and postdepression the youth of America are dependent on
eras. colleges and universities. The wise
Within the next few years the doors youth will protect his investment by
of our college will lie assailed by twice working to maintain the highest jhis-
the number of potential students for sible scholastic standard.
whom there are available places. —Margaret Faulkner
Senior Tries to Classify Registrants
by CHARLINE FERIS
As I took my place in the long line
outside the library building last week,
I realized that at last 1 had reached my
final registration.
I was preparing to hand in my yellow
card for the last time.
This called for a bit of reflection. We
"old-timers" always tend to look back
at the days when we were eager, bright-
eyed. unsuspecting freshmen.
Jargon
'Adult'
4s TV
Westerns
Revamps
Popularity Increases
Sagebrush Cinemas
by JIM (ARNBY
Hooray for TV!
Hooray for the "adult" westerns! Hooray
for Matt Dillon, Jack Paladin, Cheyenne Bodie,
Sugar-foot, Bret Maverick, Wyatt Enrp, Ches-
ter, and all the rest of the gang!
Hooray for these hearty, hardy, fast-on-the
dad-burne.J-draw men of the Old West who
have made television, one-time asylum for
heart-rending quiz shows and Queen for a
Day, a more enjoyable medium for escaping
our own problems of everyday living. In fact,
it is rumored that the TV westerns have ar-
rived at such prominence that even a few col-
lege professors sneak a look at them once in
a while when no one is looking, of course.
What has caused these short, dramatic west-
erns to shoot to such astounding popularity?
Anyone could make a number of personal
guesses, but so far no one has mentioned mine.
Cause for Popularity
A long time ago the rnovie moguls of Holly-
wood made sagebrush cinema strictly for the
small fry. The producers stuffed their thous-
ands of feet of celluloid with Plain Janes, run-
away, horse-drawn vehicles, beautiful white
horses, a hero who could ride, rope, shoot
straight, sing, play a OIT-tar, drink sarsapa-
rilla, not ki^>- girls, and go to bed early every
night.
For the "heavy" role, they added a real,
dyed-in-the-wool villain, complete with black
hat, string tie, dude clothes, ugly horse, thin
black cigars, and rustled cattle (rustled, nat-
urally, from Plain Jane's dad).
Just for a little spice, the movie makers
occasionally threw in an abandoned gold mine,
the gold of which was always being exploited
by our Ill-natured badman. Anyway, the kid-
dim were anvays confronted with some awk-
ward situation which required a fair-haired
hero on a white, or palomio, horse for solu-
tion.
So?
So the adult westerns have the same old
worn-out themes. Admittedly, we find the
same plot elements in each new story. But
what makes these modern versions so interest-
ing is that each plot is given just the right
amount of twist. Like putting just the right
amount of lemon in a whiskey sour.
Bad (tirls with Cood Looks
Sure, the adult westerns still have their
women. But they're not all nice girls like the
cowboy shows. And they certainly are not
plain by any means. Why, they're lovely, very
feminine creatures, even in buckskin riding
pants.
Does the hero in the adult western sing?
Heck no! He ain't got time to be a-pickin' and
a-grinnin' because he spends the biggest part
of his time trying to stay alive.
Now, does our hero in the new-style barn-
yard drama smoke or drink? We have to ad-
mit that he indulges, sometimes quite fre-
quently. He has to he's nervous, and someone
is constantly beating around on him or trying
to bump him off.
Two Types of Bad Guys
And every one of these rearranged plots
retains the heavy element. But now there are
approximately two types of bad guys. One is
simply ignorant. He is so ignorant that he
gets into trouble, and all he has needed all along
is a hero to teach him better. The other type
is bad through and through. He couldn't be
a good guy if his life depended on it (most
times it does), so he usually dies by being out-
drawn.
Which brings us to another Important aspect
of westerns. In the TV version of the Old West
when somebody gets a .45 slug in the belly he
bleeds and gets knocked off his feet. The pistol
sounds like a cannon. In the movie of bygone
days the wounded merely fell gingerly from
their horses anil died with their eyes closed.
It's really quite simple to classify a
student as he waits in the registration
line. The entering freshman is more
easily recognized than most. When he
isn't peering anxiously around the per-
son in front of him to see what is hold-
ing up the line, he is shifting his weight
nervously from one foot to the other
and trying to appear as unconcerned as
possible.
The sophomore is usually the one who
glances frequently at the back of his
yellow card to make sure it has been
stamped. He probably had an unpleas-
ant experience last semester with the
man at the first door who insisted that
he could not take the student's word for
it that he was not a Communist, but
must have his loyalty oath notarized.
The sophomore can also be recognized
by that I-can't-possibly-sign-up-for-a
Katurday-English-class-I-work look.
Lost Vaccination Record
The junior is a little more difficult to
recognize. He is the one who has prob-
Did You Know . . . ?
ably lost his vaccination record and is are counting on the instructors to be
trying to brush hurriedly, yet noncha- generous in their grading of a "gradu-
lantly, by the lady in white. But the ating" senior. This is a well-known fact
vigilant lady is on to the tricks of hold- around the campus. Instructors just
ers of delinquent vaccination cards and don't flunk seniors in their final semes-
checrfullv directs the student on to the ter.
next room where another lady in white
waits with a needle.
It is always a simple matter to pin-
point the senior in the registration lline.
He's the only one sitting down.
Aware of Pitfalls
By the time this poor soul has weath-
ered his way through six or seven reg-
istration days during his college career,
he is aware of all the various pitfalls.
Arnold Air Society Organizes
Angels' Flight for Top Coeds
The Campus Chat
Kt*>m 104 Journalism building
PACEMAKBR 4 TIMES
Al.l.-AMKKCAN 14 TIMES
JIM CARNEY
HeWa
Telephone: HO 2-41711, extension SS4
SiHithweatern Journalism congreaa
ciiari.inf. fer18
editor
ASSOCIATE EDITORS
JERRY MrC ARTY MAHCARET FAUI.KNKR
editorial* armiftementa-actlvltlea
ROY BUSHY
•ports
llll.l.Y HANKINS
photographer
MAPEI.INF. WARD
circulation
The Campu* Chat, dmlml newspaper of Nfirth
Tflu Stat# college, I* pnbllshed eem I weekly
levery Wedneaday ami Fridajn during the long
terms September through Mar sn<l weekly
levery Fridayl during the summer aaaelnn. June
through Auguat. earept during review and e*.
amination* pari*"la and achnol vacation*
Editorial atatetnenu of the Campus Chat iwrtert
the opinion of student writer* and not necea-
aarily that of the North Telaa State college
admlniat ration.
-I:
BUSINESS OFFICE
CUM.F.N HOUOHTAL.INO
circulation
CHARME RBYNOLOB
manager
I.KTTF.RS FROM REAPERS; The Ctiat w«t-
cornea let! cm from reader*, hut reaeryea the
right to edit when neceaaary letters ahould be
• Igned. hut the writer'* initial* will be used If
re t'j«t«(L
Entered aa aeeond-rlaaa matter April IS, l 4 .
at the poat olBce at Denton. Texaa. under the
art of March S. ISTV.
Represented by National Ad*erti lng unlMa.
Inc. Subscription rataa, delivered by mall — 12
Did you know that the North Texas Angels'
Flight was established in the fall of 11>55?
An honorary society organized by the Ar-
nold Air society, the group is sponsored by
Mrs. Gladys Crawford of the biology depart-
ment. Although the organization is not con-
nected with the Air Force, the Angels partici-
pate in such military activities as special ma-
neuvers and drills.
Officers of the organization, which is com-
posed of '25 outstanding coeds, are Beverly
Harrison, Sulphur Springs, commander; San-
dra McDermott, Weatherford, adjutant record-
er; Margaret Pope, Clarksville, operations of-
ficer; Jean Marshall, Temple, comptroller;
Helen DeWitt, Dallas, public relations officer,
and Virginia Wilmsen, Fort Worth, publica-
tions officer.
Qualification!! of
Several qualifications must be met by coeds
before they can be nominated for membership
in Angels' Flight. A 1.7 grade average must
be maintained and coeds must be active in var-
ious campus organizations.
An open house is held during the spring se-
mester to enable prospects to become ac-
quainted with the member Angels. After this
informal party, girls are selected for member-
ship, Fach then begins her pledges.hip, which
lasts until the fall semester, when she receives
her wings.
Objectives of the organization are to ad-
vance and promote interest in the Air Force,
to obtain information concerning military
Do they?
3<acuJhf Qouuwl Seii
StandcUufa to diooAt
SchoLaiiic (phoqhsAA
More students than ever before will
And he's generally unconcerned about not be back at North Texas State for
the whole situation. the spring semester.
Unconcerned as he may be about his The reason is that the students have
final registration, the "graduating" not met the standards set up by the col-
senior probably found himself reminis- lege. An increase in failures was natu-
cing about previous registrations, un- rally expected because of the new regu-
pleasant though they may have been. lations passed by the Faculty council
Of course, all this talk about final re- last fall. Under the new regulations, a
gist ration is merely an assumption. We student who is not on scholastic pro-
bation must pass at least 6 hours or
more, depending on his classification.
A leaflet giving valuable information
concerning minimum academic stand-
ards and rules on scholastic probation is
available to students.
According to the leaflet, the admin-
istration believes that every student
should make reasonable scholastic pro-
service, and to aid progress of the Arnold Air gress and should indicate by his work
society at North Texas. that he is on campus with a serious pur-
Value of Objectives pose.
By promoting these objectives, the Angels One important factor in scholastic
participate in many activities. They help probation is the student's responsibility,
register the ROTC cadets and march at pe- He must not be ignorant of his academic
riodic times. At the Youngstown-North Texas status, for the administration will give
football game last year, the North Texas band no special consideration if such a plea
gave a special salute to the Angels. The or- is given. Each student is held responsi-
ganization is also honored at a dance each ble for knowing whether he has passed
year by the junior and senior Air Force ca- the required minimum work for his
dets. classification, according to the leaflet.
The Angels drilled last year at the presi- The vice president will withdraw any
dent's review of the ROTC on President J. c. student who enrolls when he is ineligi-
Matthews' birthday. ble.
During the reception before the military Failures in college are often caused
ball, the Angels serve as hostesses. During the from emotional upsets and youthful im-
dance each Angel is presented individually. maturity, too many dates, too many
Recoirnition on Honors Day class absences, and poor high school
On Honors day the Angels' Flight drills preparation.
and the Angel of the Year is presented. This The best remedies for all difficulties
recognition is based on outstanding service to in college are punctual class attendance
the Flight. and two hours of preparation for each
Recently more recognition has been given to class recitation. Frequently too much
the Angels through the selection of an Angel time is wasted.
of the Week. Her picture and a resume of her Often students fail to realize how
activities are posted in the union building. In much is invested in their success in col-
thi. manner all cadets become acquainted with lege—by the students themselves and
the Angels. foy their parents.
Future activities include plans for each An- Every semester students decide to
gel to sponsor an individual ROTC group, turn over a new leaf, but many never do.
There is a possibility that the Angels' Flight And it pays to keep that particular
may become a national organisation. leaf turned. —Jerry McCarty
1;
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Feris, Charline. The Campus Chat (Denton, Tex.), Vol. 41, No. 28, Ed. 1 Wednesday, February 5, 1958, newspaper, February 5, 1958; Denton, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth307003/m1/2/?q=%22%22~1: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.