tl19580117-000 "TOWER LIGHT Vol. X Number 9 What Is STATE TEACHERS COLLEGE, TOWSON, MARYLAND The Block? I3Y BILL FALLOWFIELD I am an underclassman and I am unaware of all the aspects of the life on the Towson campus. There are terms used here that I have included in my vocaoulary Which are unknown on other cam-uses. These are ""tunnel,"" ""mo-tivation,"" and ""firecracker."" But I have been dismayed by a term Which I can not find a definition for. The term is ""block."" Realizing my limited knowledge, I looked in the dictionary. Since the word block can be either a noun or a verb, I looked to see how the word was used. I found that the upperclassmen are in, or take, or are subjected to the block. Webster's first definition is, ""a solid piece of wood or stone."" This Wasn't satisfactory, because I have never seen the persons who take the block, carrying one. They do carry puppets, boards with electrical apparatus on them, or flannel boards. The second definition which Webster gives is, ""a block on Which condemned persons are be-headed."" Though I know that this isn't the definition, I can't help feeling that there is some rela-tionship between this type of block and the one we have here at Towson. Those who take it seem dejected, downhearted, and disgusted. Though they do not Show signs of physical torture, it May be a type of mental torture Ruch as ""brainwashing."" Another definition which Web-ster gives is, ""a mold or form upon Which articles are shaped or dis- Played."" This definition I feel might come close to what the Towson block really is. It seems that the students go into this block with intellectual curiosity, With definite ideas on education, and with enthusiasm for teaching. They come out as teachers. There-fore, I would imagine the block is a machine which shapes the students and displays them as the definition said. It is like the auto- Mobile industry; the autos are Shaped in the factory by mass pro-duction machines and displayed by the dealers and the used car sales- M en. I really do not know the real definition of block, but the latter one seems logical. I did ask some students who are in it, or take it, or are subjected to it, but their replies were all the same. ""You'll never know until you take it!"" I am looking forward with a little fear and anxiety to meeting this block. If anyone can answer Illy questions, please see me as soon as possible; I would like to know all about the block. Jazz Duo Appears Here America's only original art form, jazz, probably won some new devotees to its ranks of ap-preciative listeners when the Mit-chell- Ruff Duo appeared on the Towson scene on Monday, January 13, 1958. Dwike Mitchell, a native of J acksonville, Florida received his music education at the Philadel-phia Music Academy and the Jul-hard Music School. Mr. Mitchell has made concert tours of United States colleges and universities and was a featured soloist with the Lionel Hampton Band on world tour. He has been a soloist with Eugene Ormandy and the Phila-delphia Orchestra. He performed with the Air Force Hour for two years. Willie Ruff, of Sheffield, Ala-bama, is a Yale graduate, where he received his Bachelor of Music and Masters degrees. Ruff played bass with Benny Goodman, and French horn with the Connecticut Symphony Orchestra for five years. After Yale, Mr. Ruff joined Lionel Hampton's Band. After :eaving Hampton, he and Mitchell re-formed the Duo which was started while the two were in the Air Force together. The performance was enthusias-tically received by the students. The program was sponsored by the Special Events Committee in conjunction with the Music De-partment. Kappa Delta Pi Initiates New Members Kappa Delta Pi, the Nationai Honor Society in Education, held a formal initiation for its new members on January 15, 1958 at 8 p.m. The event took place at the Maryland State Teachers Associa-tion headquarters in downtown Baltimore. Following the initia-tion refreshments were served, and Dr. Gifford, outside advisor to the group, conducted a tour of the building. Congratulations are in order to the new members. Following is a list of the twelve seniors and eight juniors initiated: William Beck-with, Amy Benham, James Binko, Vivian Bold, Lenora Carr, Kath-leen Clagett, Kathryn DeVilbiss, Kenneth Frushour. Also Gerry Hall, Norma Hoibro-ten, Carole Holmes, Louisa Jones, David King, Patricia Lastowski, Barbara Myers, and Helen Nelson. Completing the list are Eliza-beth Perkins, Carol Rogers, Beni- La Shapiro, Barbara Weaver, and Joyce Wright. For this group of twenty out-standing students, as well as the fourteen old members, and the Plans Set For Sweetheart Dance The brightest spot on the STC social calendar is the annual Sweetheart Dance. The 1958 ver-sion of the dance will be held on Saturday, February 15 in the Fifth Regiment Armory from 9 to 1. Music will be provided by the 14 piece Claude Thornhill orches-tra. A singer will also be on the program to offer vocal renditions for your dancing and listening pleasu re. The naming of the Sweetheart Couple will be the main attrac-tion at the dance. The student body nominates the couples in the contest. Those couples who re-ceive the most nominations and who conform to the standards of the contest committee are judged at the dance by a panel of faculty members. Help is needed to make the '58 Sweetheart dance a success. There are committee sheets dis-played on the SGA bulletin board in Stephens Hall. Select your com-mittee and sign up now. If you have any inquiries, contact Shir-ley Hellwig, P.O. box 160, or see your committee chairman. The committee chairmen are: Decorations -- Parker Koons-Box 191 Invitations & Chaperones -- Carol Clarke-Box 49 Decorations -- Nancy Morningstar Box-263 Publicity � - Bev Fedock-Box 114 Sweetheart Contest -- Sue Protzman-Box 567 Sweetheart Elections -- Dudley Davis-Box 6 Tables & Chairs -- Margie Gross-Box 140 Programs -- Alumni Outside Cleanup Pat Hinton-Box 166 Letters -- - Arline Kates-Box 229 Winnie Balzer-Box 18 Invitations -i-- Fran McKenna-Box 282 EVERYONE WHO WILL LEND A HELPING HAND! Founder's Day Convocation Held On Wednesday, January 15, the annual mid-winter convocation was held in the auditorium of Stephens Hall. The event marked the commemorations of the found-ing of the college. President Hawkins addressed the gathered student and faculty body. His topic was ""Education in an Age of Suprises."" James Binko gave a message from the student body on the oc-casion. Dean Kenneth Browne presided over the entire Program faculty advisor, Dr. Eunice Crab-tree, thenight will long be re-membered. ...�??���?����1?1k It's Triplets Dean Murphy ponders part in ""Triplets."" Bruce Johnson, directs and acts in ""A Phoenix Too Frequent."" Dean Kenneth Browne to be seen In Saturday night's production. Alcohol -Topic For Oratory The Tower Light, on referral of a recent letter to President Haw-kins, announces a state inter-col-legiate oratorical contest sponsor-ed by the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. The purpose of the contest is to encourage youth to study the problem of the � manufacture and consumption of alcoholic bever-ages as related to health, home welfare, safety, crime, and nation-al economic security. Following are the contest rules: 1. Any regularly enrolled col-lege student in this state is eligi-ble. 2. The oration must be original, not under 1000 words and not to exceed 1200 words, and concern alcohol and related problems. First prize will be $50, second prize, $30, third prize, $20. The contest will be held after March 1 at a later announced time and place. January 17, 1958 Students, Faculty, Alumni Act On Towson Stage The college honorary dramatic fraternity, Alpha Psi Omega, will present Triplets, a series of three one-act plays on January 18 at 8:15 in the college auditorium. The plays to be presented are Eugene O'Neill's The Rope, Christopher Fry's A Phoenix Too Frequent, and the second act of Kaufman and Hart's You Can't Take it With You. Admission will be by ticket only. Tickets are on sale for $.75; activity cards will not be used. Faculty Talents in. Comedy A definite added feature of the evening will be the inclusion of faculty in the roster of actors. You Can't Take it With You will be directed by Mr. William C. Kra-mer and the cast includes Dr. Hut-son, Miss Economou, Mrs. Wage-man, Dean Murphy, Dr. Hawkins, Miss Weyforth, Dr. Tansil, Mr. Volpel, Mr. Von Schwerdtner and many other members of the tal-ented Towson faculty. The play, one of the funniest to come from the pen of the celebrated writing team of Kaufman and Hart, con-cerns the efforts of a young girl to introduce her boy friend and his parents to her very eccentric family. The result is only short of mayhem. Students and Alumni Star The other two plays listed for the evening are by two of the foremost contemporary drama-tists. Christopher Fry's A Phoenix Too Frequent will be directed by John Bruce Johnson an Kathryn McIntyre and will feature Patti Griffin, Margaret Sakers and Bruce Johnson. Eugene O'Neill's The Rope will be directed by a former Towson student, Ginger Beaman But-ler, and will feature veteran Glen Player Jim Thomas as well as Towson alumni Jay Butler, Emmy Lee Butler. and Jim Glass. Exams Come! On Wednesday, January 22, the final examinations for the first semester of the 1957-1958 school year will begin. For a week the tests will continue after which a four day semester break will be given for recuperation, regroup-ing, and relaxation. The Tower Light will not be Published throughout the exam period to Allow the staff and re-porters to devote their time to study. Nevertheless, the editors and staff wish everyone the best of luck and we hope to see all of you at our next edition in February. "
