Two copies.1946 Bulletin, includes illustrations and unique style/format. Introduction on front cover by M.C.R (MC RIchards?) declares that this bulletin represents a desire for a change from bulletins of the past. Yellow paper cover, off-white paper mimeograph pages.
At BLACK MT. COLLEGE Nov.1 1946
Everybody reads- THE BULLETIN
This issue of the bulletin represents something of a change from the past. A majority of the present staff believe it desirable to extend the scope of the bulletin from news coverage to feature material of all kinds. It wishes to provide for the community an opportunity for public speech and is prepared to relax the conventional “editorial” discipline in order to encourage participation in its pages. All work will be signed so that credit may be given where credit is due. It has sacrificed the advantage of “bulletin policy” for the delights of individual responsibility. Have, then, no fear of the irascible editor: these pages are open to your news reports, articles, exhortations, illustrations, creative writing, and what have you. That’s the question: what have you? …M.C.R.
Page 2
STAFF
Reporting and Editorial Jean Markoff, Henry Adams, Carol Serling, Dave Resnik, Dick Roberts
Features Jimmy Tite, Alice Jackson, Sylvia Girsch
Art Bill Brown
Make-up Alice Jackson, Sylvia Girsch
At large M.C. Richards
College Year 14. November 1, 1946. Issue No. 2
EDITORIAL
Political Action, Please.
There exists at present a condition that seemingly rests upon tradition, tradition in a place that certainly resent and rejects traditions of worthless and outmoded character. We are faced with the unusual situation of having almost half our student body consisting of new students. These new students when they came here were given rather moderate indoctrination program. They were told what classes might be expected to be like, what the work program scheme consisted of, and then the ideology of Black Mountain was explained as well as it might be. They were led to believe that there would be no discriminatory practices as there are in the administrative practices of other school governments. They believed that, instead, there would be a high level of democratic procedure. They find that they are disenfranchised, while they constitute almost 50% of the student body. Voting is certainly one of the highest privileges of any citizen or participant in any type of democratic group, and must be included in a constitution that advocates extensions of liberty.
We are brushing aside and taking for granted the acceptance of the new students for the new slate of officers. We have no doubt of the sincerity, or really of the capability of the present student officers to represent entire student opinion, but we must face the fact that they were chosen by a majority of a minority. It this reasonable? It looks as if the old students were running the whole show. A most blatant example of railroading was exhibited at the meeting that was to pass upon three student agreements. I’m sure that the old students noticed the fact that the new students were asking the questions that they had asked a year, or even a quarter age when they were confronted with the choice of accepting or rejecting or even notifying these agreements. Mostly they, however, the new students, wanted to discuss them. There was no chance given and the agreements were run through. The attitude of old students appears to be a paternalistic one. Our present constitution seems to lead to a government that is used as a time saving device merely to “keep things running” instead of an expression of the majority’s wishes.
A student meeting will soon be called to discuss the matter. I should like to reprint a copy of the petition that is circulating in its connection.
AS A RESULT OF THE RECENT ELECTIONS OF STUDENT OFFICERS WHEREBY ALL STUDENTS WHO WERE NOT PRESENT AT BMC THE PRECEDING SEMESTER WERE DENIED THE RIGHT TO NOMINATE AND ELECT, WE, THE UNDERSIGNED STUDENTS, RECOMMEND THAT A STUDENT MEETING BE CALLED FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE FOLLOWING AMENDMENTS TO THE STUDENT CONSTITUTION.
Section III Election Procedures Article D) The student Officers shall be elected six (6) weeks after the beginning of each academic semester.
Article E) Vacancies in student offices shall be filled by a general student election within ten (10) days of their occurrence. Article II) All students who have attended the college for six (6) weeks preceeding any student election are eligible to take part in all student elections as voters and candidates.
I Hope that at this same meeting the matter of records and minutes will be brought to attention and some action taken on them. The constitution states that the records and files of the student government will be open to all students. As far as I can ascertain, there is a great deal of uncertainty as to the whereabouts and condition of these records. I believe that they should be put into presentable condition and their location made public. Also there are no minutes of student or community meetings that are being taken or kept. We make much of parliamentary procedure, yet we neglect this! Action, Please. ..Markoff
***’
In a word, no editorial published in the paper necessarily represents the sentiment of the staff. This space is open to all.
*** (ed.)
Herb Cable and Squeeky Atkinson, nominated by the community to serve as Fire Chiefs, were officially assigned just in time to be initiated into the real thing: a good sized forest fire raged through the dead leaves and up the dry tree trunks on the knoll a few days ago. The whole community fought the blaze with everything from teeth to Indian pumps. A providential rainstorm soaked the area the next night, relieving night watchers of their vigil. Rumor has it that certain ill-fated visitors were starting on a tour of the studies building just as the siren sounded and were stunned to see….. (Con’t. Page 8.)
Reverand Grady Hardin, pastor of the Black Mountain Methodist Church, spoke before the Psychology of Social Issues class on October 23rd. he came not with any set speech but to answer questions of the students about the community in which the college is located.
He told the group that Black Mountain was not a typical Southern community in the sense that his home town in South Carolina would be. He said that there were some people in Black Mountain who would be interested in the college and the things it is trying to do. He urged members of the college to take an active interest in the social life of Black Mountain.
When asked about the conditions of organized labor and Negroes in Black Mountain he gave frank, informative answers. He said that Black Mountain has no important industries, save for one small hosiery mill, but that other industries in the immediate area had hired large labor forces. He mentioned the Grove Stone and Sand Co. and said that its manager had allowed a union to establish itself with no opposition whatever. He said a few words about Negroes in Black Mountain and the steps he and many other people had taken in the area to improve race relations. As a Methodist minister he had a great deal to say about the efforts of the Methodist Church in the South in this field.
One of the most interesting things told to the class was Rev. Hardin’s own account in the way in which he had, over a period of many years, lost the prejudices among which he was reared; he had developed a tolerance based on the brotherhood of all men of all races. Many in the class later declared their surprise at the liberality and enlightenment of Rev. Hardin’s views. One student remarked, “I was surprised to see that Rev. Hardin had arrived at the same conclusions through religion as I had through the study of psychology.”
In conclusion, Reverend Hardin invited members of the class to come into his church and use the facilities there for recreational purposes. He urged the community members to make the college a part of the local community through such things as concerts, plays and other things in which BMC is outstanding. ……..Henry Adams
(Oh, Shuwah)
ART NEWS….
Joseph and Anni Albers are vacationing. They went first to New York, where Anni and Alex Reed are showing their jewelry in an exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art. Joseph Alber’s paintings an prints are exhibited at the Nierendorf and J.B. Neumann galleries…….. Ati Gropius, majoring in art, was graduated from BMC this month. Her examiner was Thomas Felds from Northwestern University. Ati has an exhibition of four year’s art work in the art room. There were paintings, drawings, matieres, advertising lay-outs and “ideas”. She is now at home in South Lincoln, Mass., and plans to work on advertising in New York………The community met in the dining hall one evening to see a black and white non-objective art movie, made in Germany in 1930, which Illya Bolotowsky borrowed from the Museum of Non-Objective Art. The college does not own a movie projector, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO BORROW ONE for this occasion. Kendall Cox operated the machine. The movie showed shapes were active in response to jazz music and more flowing to Mozart. After the movie, many people wanted it explained. Bolotowsky promised a future discussion about non-objective art and also another movie…..Francisca Mayer, incidentally born not in Sweden as stated in the last bulletin, but in Hamburg, Germany, is teaching weaving in Anni Alber’s absence. All the looms are in use. The beginning class is making primitive hand looms. Willi Joseph, Joan Sihvenen and Don Wight are working on large looms. Willi has designed a tapestry and Don has done experimental weaving using Christmas tinsel and cellophane thread…..Ray Johnson had an exhibition of paintings in his study. The paintings were composed from sketches done in the Jean Varda painting class in the summer Art Institute. After this exhibition, Don Wight planned record concerts and art showings for Sunday evenings in the art room. On the first Sunday evening, Elaine Schmitt’s drawings were shown and music played.
THE WORK PROGRAM Page 4
The work program this year is trying to solve two problems. First, and most important, is the idea that the work program is just as much a part of the college course as are any of the regular courses offered. With this in mind it is necessary to see that all members of the community got an opportunity to obtain a working knowledge of the many jobs that are important in maintaining a community. The answer to this problem is rotation of jobs and adequate supervision. The second problem is that there must be a certain amount of coordinated efficiency and organization along with the educational theory to enable the work program to function properly.
Faced with these problems THE WORK PROGRAM PLANNING COMMITTEE, under the leadership of John Wallen and Jack Bailey, worked out the scheme we are using this year. The first thing that the committee had to do was set up a system whereby all routing jobs connected with meals would be shred by all members of the community. There was accomplished by dividing the community into four-man teams, each team to work at one of the various dining hall jobs for three days in a row every two weeks. This system, to date, has proved very successful. The other job that the committee faced was that of establishing work crews so that the work around the campus could be regulated to a better degree than in the past. This was done by dividing the community into six equal groups, or crews as they are now called, with the idea that, except in case of emergency, each crew would work one afternoon a week. This constitutes a good answer to the problem, and by having each crew chief it has opened the way to educational opportunities through mere integrated and subdivided program.
The crews have been doing a remarkable job all along. Their efforts in getting in the corn and hay were particularly outstanding. The remodeling of the farm house has progressed rapidly as a result of the regular assigning of people from the crews to work with Molly Gregory and Lucy Swift on the site. The old drudgery or coal hauling has been lessoned by the rotation of the groups that take on the job. Peggy Brown’s house, the old Strauss cottage, was entirely repainted inside. A new group has been formed which, under the direct ion of Neil Albright and Ed Adamy, will try to keep up with the minor electrical, plumbing and carpentry repairs that occur from day to day. This group is made up of a nucleus of men supposedly in-the-know, and they will rotate the people who work with them in an effort to pass along their valuable information and skill. The group was formed at Ted Rondthaler’s suggestion and should prove valuable.
That covers the organized part of the work program by it by no means covers the whole work program. Many members of the community have volunteered to take on extra jobs that require a certain amount of continuity. Vera Baker and Ann Banks have been cooling our milk and incidentally have done a nice job of painting the milk room. Our supply of butter and cottage cheese has been due to the efforts of Ruth Asawa. Bobby Rondthaler has been running the store with the help of Hank Bergman. The furnaces in the lodges and the kitchen have been cutting the cold under the guiding hand of Faff Foster and his substitute, Carol Serling. Harry Weitzer, Sue Schauffler and Howard Rondthaler have kept the college trucks on the road in running order. The music library has been functioning under the volunteer work of Julie Scheir, Dorothy Cole and Patsy Lynch; and Lor Kadden has been taking care of the record library. In the art room Don Wight is handling the art store. Al Brody and Sylvia Girsch have worked with Nell Rice in the library, while Charlie Droyfus has been keeping the reading room in good order. Willie Joseph is up every morning at six to help with the preparations for breakfast. The plumbing has been kept in running order through the efforts of Howard Rondthaler, and Ralph Becherer has done some fine work in wiring the farm house. Dorothy and Verna Ractama are making cabinets for the kitchen, and Wartha Hult is building a bookcase for Peggy Brown. …..Hanvel Schauffler
BOARD OF FELLOWS
At the Annual Meeting of the Faculty, October 1, elections were held to the Board of Fellows, the group of faculty representatives plus student moderator which makes all financial and legal decisions of the Corporation of Black Mountain College. Theodore Dreier was re-elected Rector. Officers were elected at a subsequent meeting of the board. The membership of the Board for this year is as follows: Theodore Dreier, Rector Albert William Levi, Sec’y. Theodore Rondthaler, Treas. John Wallen Mary Gregory Fritz Hansgirg Josef Albers Henry Bergman
In addition, the Faculty has met regularly to elect those committees which come under its jurisdiction and to discuss individually the programs of study registered by the students. These meetings are held Monday evenings. The following committees will serve this year:
STUDENT FEES COMMITTEE: Theodore Rondtaler Mary Gregory
Discipline Committee (Invoked only in extremity) David Corkran Annette Stone Herbert Miller Theodore Rondthaler Student Officers: Henry Bergman Jose Yglesias Henry Weitzer Olavi Sihvenen
ADMISSIONS COMMITTEE Herbert Miller, Registrar M.C. Richards Mary Gregory Marian Corkran John Urbain Lucy Swift Larry Fox
SENIOR DIVISION COMMITTEE: Fritz Hansgirg Mari Hiebyl M.C. Richards Theodore Dreier Albert William Levi Edward Lowinsky Ilya Bolotowsky Francis Foster
ACADEMIC PUBLICITY COMMITTEE Alice Rondthaler M.C. Richards Henry Adams John Urbain David Corkran
ROOMING COMMITTEE Mary Gregory Suzie Teasdale Lucy Swift Annette Stone
COMMUNITY BULLETIN M.C. Richards Alice Jackson Sylvia Girsh Henry Adams Jene Markoff Jimmy Tite Carol Serling Dave Resnik Dick Roberts Bill Brown
Theodore Dreier and Theodore Rondthaler were elected to be faculty representatives at the North Carolina College conference to be held at Greensboro, November 13 and 14.
COMMUNITY COUNCIL
The Community Council, a body to which authority was delegated by the Faculty last spring to handle problems of a primarily community character, has found itself busier than every trying to make BMC’s growing population function smoothly. All its members (listed below) invite suggestions from constituents. Faculty representation: John Wallen, Chairman, Mary Gregory; Johanna Jalowetz. Student Officers: Jose Iglesias, Sec’y; Olavi Sihvonen; Harry Weitzer. Staff: Alice Rondthaler. Member-at-large: Suzie Teasdale. The council began the term with a short orientation program for the new students. In addition, it recommended the organization of duty teams for work in the kitchen and dining hall, and of regular work crews with elected crew chiefs which, with the work coordinator, would constitute the Work Program Planning Committee.
Noise in the Studies Building continues to preoccupy attention: the council has petitioned the Board for materials to soundproof the corridors. Flu injections should be administered Sunday.
The following committees, under Council authorization, are now in existence to serve you:
RECREATION COMMITTEE: Willie Joseph Vera Baker Illya Bolotowski Sally Maurice Paul Williams Kendall Cox Joan Sihvonen
CONCERT AND ELCTURES: Albert William Levi Edward Lowinsky
WORK PROGRAM PLANNING COMMITTEE Manvel Schauffler, Work Coordinator
LIBRARY Nell Rice, Librarian Earline Wight Eva Schlein Charles Dreyfus David Corkran Karl Niebyl
Crew Chiefs: 1/ Dorothy Cole 2/ Charlotte Robinson 3/ Albert Brody 4/ David Resnik 5/ Joan Sihvonen 6/ Sue Schauffler
……M.C. Richards & Dick Roberts
Page 6
CLASSLESS GROUP MEETINGS
The title above does not imply the coming revolution, and it also does not mean a Socialistic ascendency to power. No, although we have a communal set-up at Black Mountain College, it has not reached the proportion of a classless society or one, according to the dogma of the communist, of equality. But we do have a sense of personal freedom here, even if it is not exploited to its full value; and we can see its manifestations in many ways. It is to the use of this personal freedom in relation to extra-curricular group activities that I wish to bring attention.
These many group activities are diverse in their nature, ranging from dramatics to meetings in economic theories. And the prime requisite seems to be only to have a great interest, with the okaying of the people in the group concerned, to take part in them. Listed below are some of these groups, the persons engaged in them, and the time they meet.
The Play Reading Group
This group meets to further dramatic ability in the reading of plays. So far it has read “Major Barbara” by Bernard Shaw and expects to read many other plays, assuming many roles. The people so far concerned with this group are Larry Fox, Jose Iglesias, Alice Jackson, Ruth Asawa, Bea Myers, Joan Markoff, Dick Amero, and Sylvia Girsh. The established time up to now has been 8:30 on Friday evenings.
Creative Writing Group:
A nucleus of aspiring writers, serious and critical of each other’s work, meets Friday nights after supper in M.C. Richard’s flat to discuss the week’s writing. The discretion as to what to write, the way to write, is left up to the writer himself. But since a great interest is taken by the people concerned, an average of high grade prose and poetry is handed in. as to the critical end of it, all prose and poetry is handed in. as to the critical end of it, all members participate not primarily to show faults, but to help the writer in improving his work. In relation to this, the Bulletin will try to print a piece of creative work every issue that people may want to hand in. it will give some idea of the work being done, although it may not necessarily be the best, primarily because some of the deeper, more profound work is not available for publication. Members who participate in this group are M.C. Richards, Dick Sherman, Jimmy Tite, Mervin Lane, Dave Resnik, Joan Couch, Hank Yaeger, Irv Kremen, Dawes Green, and Liz Collhorn.
Haunting, pathetic, the sweet breath
In a smoke of blue
Wanders timidly at first,
Afraid to interrupt the swift tempo of life.
Then, slowly it revolts,
And with a thunderous crash,
Breaks down the barriers,
Submerging the boisterous noise.
The walls are no more.
The room is hushed.
Only the soul remains
Clinging to the last four notes.
A.J.
“Help me conquer my aggressions.”
Said the boy, he seemed upset.
“Help me cure my dark depressions”,
He had just misplaced a bet.
“Rid me of my guilty feelings,
“I should die if you should fall.”
“Can’t you stop my little stealings
“For they ship me off to Jail?”
Now the doctor sat and wondered.
Then he asked, “Is all this true?
“Then get out of here”, he thundered,
“I’ve a boy who’s just like you!”
A.W.J.
Economic Theory Group
Karl and Elizabeth Niebyl hold open house Friday evening, ranging from seven-thirty to the late hours of the night, depending on the heatedness of the discourse. On the first evening, art work was discussed, besides other questions that were bandied. Different points of view were expressed in relation to the “objectiveness” of art in different countries. Coupled with the fact that refreshments were served it was an intellectual and consuming evening. If the discussions keep on this high piano, Friday night at the Neibyl’s will be a promising adventure. In relation to economic discussions, a small group meets Monday nights at seven-thirty to discuss the
(Cont’d Page 7)
CHARLOTTE SCHLESINGER
Most of us read in the last number of the “Bulletin”, among the notes on new faculty, a brief account of Charlotte Schlesinger’s academic background. It was pretty dull stuff- schools, prizes, etc.- and we felt that Miss Schlesinger had more to tell. She did. After leaving Germany in 1935, she went to Vienna. After being there only a short time, during which she taught at the Montessori School and The Social Democratic Workers’ School (which last, she commented, was far superior to similar institutions in Germany), she was obliged to leave the country since the Austrians were becoming a little leary of harboring refugees from Nazism. At that time, fortunately, the Russians were anxious to import all the foreign specialists they could, so – Miss Schlesinger went to Russia. Her three years there she describes as one of the most thrilling things she has experienced. She arrived there in 1935 armed with a Russian vocabulary of one word- the Russian for “nothing”- in that language, fortunately, a very versatile expression. Most of her stay was spent teaching at the state conservatory at Kiev where, she says, she gave “musical injections” to the community. Though the students with whom she worked were a hand-picked group, they had been selected because of their talent rather than their background and she found herself working with more people of peasant and working class stock than are commonly found in such institutions elsewhere. Although some of her students were barely literate and many completely lacking in any musical discipline, they displayed without exception an enormous enthusiasm and vitality and were in general much more gifted than groups with whom she had worked before. Besides teaching in the conservatory proper, she was associated with the State Opera and a new school for talented children which prepared them for the conservatory. Miss Schlesinger remained in Russia until 1939 when, under pressure of what she called “pre-war psychosis”, nearly all foreigners were obliged to leave the country. She went then to Prague where “a series of miracles” and a benign Czech government made it possible for her to fly to England and subsequently to the United States. Commenting on certain types of “progressive” education, Miss Schlesinger criticized tendencies (not unknown at BMC) to undisciplined freedom and democracy for democracy’s sake and quoted a story she first heard at the Montessori School in Vienna. It concerns a young pupil there who, on arriving at school one morning, asked his teacher, “Do we have again to do all day long what we want to do?” Direction and authority, she felt, became objectionable only when they ceased to be self-imposed, and freedom useless when they were lacking.
…Jack Bailey
Classless Group Meetings, Con’t.
Week’s work in their Economic History class. This group is concerned with clearing up the hazy spots in the work that has been covered. Participating in this are Sally Maurice, Ed Adamy, Charlie Boyce, Hanvel Schauffler and Dave Rosnik.
The World Today
Although this is a class group, the discussion on national and world events is open to all people who are interested. Dr. Miller conducts the discussion and presents the news of the world. Three students participate in the class by analyzing present day topics assigned to them by Dr. Miller. They in turn present their point of view to those gathered to listen to the news and leave it open for discussion. Sometimes they are asked to give a slant other than their own so that it may be presented objectively. The three students participating in this are Charles Dreyfus, Henry Adams, and Al Brady. Some of the subjects covered so far include the Wurnberf Trials; the conflict between labor and management; the trend of U.S. labor since the end of the war; domestic policy; the Wallace, Byrnos, Truman disagreement; and the French constitution. This group meets Tuesday evenings in the lobby of south lodge.
Page 8.
MUSIC HATH…..
The first concert of the fall season was presented Saturday evening, October 12, to a very responsive audience, comprising the entire community and guests from Asheville and vicinity. Notable were the first appearances in concert here of Charlotte Schlesinger, newly appointed member of the music faculty, and Julius Scheir, one of our new students. Miss Schlesinger and Dr. Edward Lowinsky, at one piano, gave brilliant performances of two sparkling Mozart piano sonatas for four-hands. Julius Scheir was heard first in the flowing Handel sonata in D major for violin and piano, with Dr. Lowinsky, and later in the exciting Bach Sonata in C major for two violins and piano with Gretel Lowinsky playing the second violin and Eddie again at the piano. Throughout the whole program, a fine sense of ensemble was exhibited, and the meaning of the music itself emphasized. The artists were rewarded by an ovation. Concerts will be given every three weeks at least; the next is scheduled for Saturday evening, November 2, and, though the program is not yet complete, we know it will include the Bach concerto in C major for two pianos and a Schubert sonatina for violin and piano.
Plans are being made to invite guest artists to appear at the concerts, one of whom is Professor Kurt Appelbaum, pianist, of Converse College in Spartanburg, S.C. Professor Appelbaum is a former pupil of Artur Schnabel.
Music at BMC is not confined to students majoring in music; on the contrary, everyone is encouraged, regardless of training or background, to participate in Chorus, A Capella, and Ensemble. More than half the student body and a good number of faculty members participate in Chorus, under Charlotte Schlesinger’s direction, and are at present singing Bach chorales and excerpts from “The Messiah” of Handel. A smaller, and equally enthusiastic, group make up Eddie Lowinsky’s A Capella chorus; they are working on a Palestrina Mass, and plan to sing Psalms of Heinrich Schutz.
(Con’t Page 10.)
FIRE, CON’T.
Suddenly every door open and wild-eyed Mountaineers rush at them toward the call; they have not been heard of since. Gretel Lowinsky was reported to have found a bright side to the holocaust since it forced Eddie to get some badly-needed fresh air.
…M.C. Richards
Haystacks, haystacks everywhere, Hov’ring through fog and filthy air.
Burning eggs and rolling fences, the scene is set- my plot commences.
It was a dark and stormy night Outside the gates of Rome.
A little Fool was talking In a circle to his home.
“O why”, cried the blind man, who chanced along the way, “Do ye walk in a circle if ye want to hit the hay?”
“You think you’re pretty clever!” the little Fool said, “But you ain’t heard of Einstein, or else you’re just mis-led.”
“I want to tell you something, though it’s not what you deserve.
No matter what its length is, every straight line curves.
“And if I walked a straight line, what a fool I’d be! Of course I’d never get there. You’ve got nothing, kid, on me!”
“I see”, said the blind me, “But tell me- if you dare: why do ye walk in circles? That won’t get ye there.”
“I got my own conclusions”, said the Fool, “You’re out of date. If straight lines go in circles, surely circles must go straight.”
With that he started off again, marching ‘round and ‘round. The blind man turned a frantic green, and wriggled on the ground.
‘round and ‘round the prickly pear, we shriek, we howl, we shout and swear. The haystacks laugh, the ill-winds blow, we’re having fun, you’ll never know! A.W.J.
Page 9
ENTERTAINMENT COMMITTEE REPORT
The Entertainment Committee has just been elected and so has had little time in which to function…..in the committee-les interim there have been two parties, one concert, one moving picture showing and several evenings of informal dancing….the second party was a much clamored for beer party. The festivities were created by sufficient (but not too much) beer, bread and cheese, table cloth, candles, music for dancing (by jimmy tite and assorted drummers) and flessie Fogelson singing. There was a surprise performance by the “Barber Shop Quartet” (h. and j. burgman, boyce, schauffler and schauffler, Albright, adamy and rendy) all equipped with different colored moustaches which couldn’t be seen because of the dark). And general good spirits…..the first party followed the first community meeting of the year. It was an introduction party, introduction being facilitated by square dancing (called by rondy), hot punch and social dancing….the entertainment committee has plans for a thanksgiving party and a christmas party. We will also try to continue the film performances started last week with three non objective films, from the museum of non-objective art……all the entertainment is financed by the contributions of the community ($1.25 per person, per semester) which amounted in total to $117.50…. the committee would appreciate any suggestions for parties, performances or special events. Anyone who at any time wishes to help arrange these will be welcome.
Vera Baker
Some men when they dance with me like to sing
Theirs are necks that I’ll cheerfully wring.
And some glue a clammy cheek to mine
Those I’ll gladly to hell consign.
For some who casually step on my feet
Asphyxiation’s a fate too sweet.
But what is the awfullest death to die?
Some can’t rhumba, but like to try.
NEWS OF FORMER STUDENTS
Duncan and Barbara Beatty
Dwight visited Black Mountain College recently. They were both students from 1935 to 1939. Duncan is now associated with the Church and Dwight Co., baking soda manufacturers. They live at Summit, N.J. Barbara contrasted the college today with what it was when still located at Blue Ridge. “My!” she exclaimed, “how different it is! How much the place has
NEWS FROM FORMER STUDENTS, CON’T.
GROWN! It seems almost incredible that this is still Black Mountain College.”
Ginger Osbourne is now in Paris where she is writing feature stories for the Toronto Star. Her sister, B.J. Osbourne, is assistant art director for the New York advertising agency, Spaded, Inc. Her duties include the arrangements of layouts for ads and supervision of photography. In her spare time B.J. does some modelling. She has appeared in recent issues of Mademeiselle and Harper’s Junior Bazaar.
John Gifford is back in New York after having made several shorts for Paramount in Hollywood.
Alice McCanna is now making displays for Staple Smith of Brooklyn.
Cynthia Sargeant and Laurie mattlin are sharing an apartment in New York where Cynthia is taking courses at the New School and Laurie is dabbling in ceramics.
The Dick Lockwoods (noo Anna Schauffler) are studying music with Eva Heinitz in New York. Dick is also studying at Columbia and working with Rudolf Godofsky.
Herbert Oppenheimer’s picture appeared in a recent issue o PM. He is working as an organizer for youth groups in the PAC.
Barbara Anderson is married to F.W. Dupree, who is Professor of English at Bard and a contributor to the Partisan Review.
LETTERS FROM FORMER STUDENTS
From Alice McNeil Weag:
“This is a note of appreciation to whomever is responsible for my still receiving the Bulletin. My copy is very eagerly read, I assure you. Alan and I are not living in a trailer in a housing project for veterans and are both still going to the U. of Idaho. The new address is 341 Redford Way, Moscow, Idaho.”
From Janie Stone:
“…NEW YORK IS A MADHOUSE! It has literally been so long ago that I can’t remember the last time we had meat. Also had one quart of milk in about 4 days… by the way, Amino invited us to the opening of his new exhibition…I am now taking a course at the New School (of Social Research) given by W.H. Auden. Have only had one class so far, so don’t yet know how he is, lecturing on William S…..Elly (Smith Leon) and Fernando (Leon) have been to see us…Elly is taking Spanish lessons at Columbia, also Harmony…DON”T THINK WE DON”T WISH WE WERE DOWN
(Con’t. Page 10)
Page 10.
HOUSING
A recent visit to the construction shack yielded interesting information for all of us who are eagerly awaiting the completion of the army housing. Robert Holden, who is in charge of the entire project, subscribed the difficulties that he is encountering. The most serious of all the problems is, at the moment, siding, which is used on the extreme exterior of a building. At present the only material available is imitation brick which not only would be out of keeping with BMC architecture, but is not too attractive a material. Roofing may be had at Bryson, N.C., 120 miles away. Labor is the next problem. Not the unskilled labor, of which we have plenty, but the skilled variety such as carpenters, plumbers, etc.
The most important question that everyone is asking- the completion of the barracks- still remains a moot question as far as Mr. Holden and Rondy are concerned. Rondy says that the official completion date is approximately a month hence. Mr. Holden promises to be through by the first of the year. The first building that will be through will be the one next to south lodge. That does not mean that it will be ready for occupancy as it will then have to be used for storage space. This week the foundations were poured for the two buildings that will be next to the Mac Wood cottage.
Mr. Holden commented upon student labor and said that he thought that the students had contributed at least half of the labor. Now that all the buildings are in construction, work will be more plentiful an there will be a greater opportunity for more money to be earned. There is a possible $2,000-$3,000 that the students may earn, as part of the Work Program, for the College.
…Jena Markoff
Student News, Con’t.
Ruth Asawa exhibited drawings and collages on the second Sunday evening; Joseph Fiori on the third…. Former students John Reiss, BJ Osbourne and Jean Stack are doing advertising work in New York. Alex Chuck Forberg, Claude Stuller and Don Page are all at the Harvard Architecture School. Bob is at M.I.T…..Paul William is reparing a Gropius architectural model of a proposed study-dormitory-classroom building. The small-scale model has been stored under the south lodge porch for six years and needed repair. The model will be used for an exhibit that Ted Dreier and Paul are planning that will show a history of building at BMC. There will be other models and blueprints, proposals and photographs.
…..Ray Johnson
Letters from former Students, Con’t
THERE;;; AT LEAST IS REGARDS WEATHER…..
Nancy Smith has gone home to Milwaukee. Don’t know if she will stay. Saw Else and Fritz (Cohen) the very rainy day not long ago. They are both teaching a course in opera at Juliard and also have charge of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” for Hunter College…Saw Margaret Strauss at the Museum of Modern Art a while back. She is doing work for Roosevelt Hospital, likes it very much and may be considering medicine as a not impossible idea.”
Lynn Hatcher, now Mrs. Floyd W. Bales, was married on October 6 in Los Angeles, Cal. Her address is: 2416 Arlington Avenue, Los Angeles.
Janet Rees married Leo Jones in New Orleans where they are now living.
…..Henry Adams
Page 11.
TWICE TOLD TALES MADE DARK OF.
Pouring through the forest she felt like Kipling’s wild cat walking by its wild self, leashing its wild tale. Someone else was doing the same thing and asked her why. “Go away!” she snarled. “There are enough in my world already, namely myself.”
“What is that?” he asked. She followed the direction indicated by his moist, troll-like eyes. “A haystack”, she replied, sharpening her claws, “it symbolizes confusion. Now go away, I want to pretend something.” “What.” Said he. “Nothing.” Said she.
CONFERENCE
IN A MEETING OF THE STUDENT BODY OF BLACK MOUNTAIN COLELGE, HELD TO CONSIDER THE RECOMMENDATIONS BY THEIR DELEGATION TO THE NATIONAL CONVENTION OF THE SOUTHERN NEGRO YOUTH CONGRESS, THE INTER-RACIAL POLICY OF THE COLLEGE WAS STRONGLY RE-AFFIRMED. THE STUDENTS APPROVED THE FOLLOWING MEASURES TO MAKE THAT POLICY MORE EFFECTIVE:
Announce room for negro veterans to be admitted under the GI Bill of Rights;
Explore possibility of extending financial aid to non-veteran Negro students;
Obtain applications by means of direct publicity.
A COMMITTEE WAS SELECTED TO INVESTIGATE THE POSSIBILITY OF THE STUDENT BODY AS AN ORGANIZATION JOINING SYNC, TO PARTICIPATE MORE DIRECTLY IN ITS FIGHT FOR FREEDOM AND EQUALITY FOR THE NEGRO, AND AS WELL, FOR ALL OPRESSED PEOPLE.
Dawes Green
As I was tripping down the street, I looked and saw a hundred feet approaching on the other side, six yards long and several wide.
“What is that?” I screamed in fright.
My hair was drawn, my teeth were white.
My father snapped, “What’s wrong with you?
“A measuring tape is nothing new.”
A.W.J.
Music Hath, Con’t.
In Ensemble, various groups and individual students are active. Fanny Hobart is studying the two piano version of Bach’s “The Art of the Fugue” with Lowinsky. Julius Scheir is working with him on Bach, Handel and Mozart Sonatas, and with Gretel on the Mozart Duos for violin and viola. The ensemble group under Charlotte Schlesinger, which includes Dorothy Cole, Dorothy Trayer and Earlene Wight, has been doing music of Veracini and Mozart.
At the end of the term, a few of the advanced piano students will give a joint recital, and Chorus and A Capella will present works they have studied. Several voice students under the tutelage of Johanna Jalowetz plan to participate in coming musical events.
Music is a vital part of community life at Black Mountain College, and this year certainly promises to be richly rewarding to musicians and music-lovers alike.
The piano situation is critical. The college owns but one grand piano, in the Round House for practicing, because it is not good enough for concerts. The two concert grands in the dining hall are privately owned and are not always available. The practice uprights are falling apart. We are really in desperate need of two grand pianos and two uprights. We would be DELIGHTED to pay the shipping costs on any that might be given into our loving care. We hope to buy a spinet this year, but we hardy can spin all our music on it.
…….Joe Fiori
Page 12.
An editorial by Henry Adams
One of the aims of Black Mountain College is to have within its community a cross-section of intelligent opinion. B.M.C. has succeeded, (to a much greater extent than most colleges) in bringing together a small community individuals representing many racial groups. The diversity of background among us should help every person in the community to increase tolerance and respect for the ideas of others. These attitudes are essential to any democracy.
A majority of the individuals in the community sincerely practice tolerance. Their minds are open and they are ready to listen respectfully to any idea, whether they agree with it or not.
There is, however, a small doctrinaire minority who believe in the idea of tolerance only so long as it applies to themselves. These people have strong, fixed ideas on certain subjects, and it is impossible to discuss these subjects with them with any pretense of impartiality. If you agree with them, you are, in their view, fine; if you don’t, you are worse than bad; you are fit only to be the victim of one of their smear campaigns.
It is rather depressing to admit that even at Black Mountain there are some people who resort to the same tactics of demagoguery as Senator Bilbo or James Curley. I think they do this all too frequently. When they do they confuse issues. I think it is therefore important that I discuss these issues. I think it is therefore important that I discuss these essentially anti-democratic methods of confusion so that all members of the community can recognize them for what they are. There are a few obvious methods. There are:
Name calling… This is nothing more than pinning labels on somebody with whom you disagree. These labels are usually pinned on with little regard for the actual opinions of the person which they are suppose to describe.
Linking persons holding opposite opinions with “bad” groups…. This is a modified form of name-calling. Fanatics using this device say such things are “Jones is using the same argument as such and such group.” This group referred is always supposed to be “bad”.
Deliberate misquotation…Persons who try to confuse issues quite often deliberately garble what has been said by a person with whom they disagree.
False assumptions…this is another type of misrepresentation used by the fanatic. He says such things as, “I think X is assuming so and so…His very attitude shows it..He doesn’t even attempt to accept my ideas.”
Either-or thinking…This is a fundamental attitude of the fanatic. He assumes that anyone who disagrees with him can only disagree with him completely. Therefore he says that the person dissenting with him has extreme conservative or radical opinions and no other.
Blind acceptance of someone else’s doctrines…Here is the margin of inflexible views of the fanatic. He has hit on a particular idea of someone else that strikes his fancy; he borrows it completely; and he no longer has to do any independent thinking because the ideas he has borrowed explain everything well enough for him. If they don’t do the same for you, the the fanatic sees you as unenlightened in not having accepted his own true faith.
Refusal to admit facts…This trait in a fanatic makes him easy to recognize. If he is biased against, he refuses to listen to any defense of it. Occasionally a fanatic will concede a minor point other then make himself totally ridiculous, but this overall views on the things about which he is a fanatic are fixed and immitable.
Since my arrival at Black Mountain College I have come into contact with all of these methods of confusion and distortion. In conversations many other members of our community have said that they, too, were disturbed over the way in which discussions take place where there are differences of opinion. A few have even gone so far as to say that BMC is not a cross-section of opinion at all’ that community members hold views that are almost as standardized in their own way as those of Hollywood.
Page 13.
Strongly that any individual will admit that it applies to him, too. Yet the types of demagogic thinking and speaking which I have described are psychological pitfalls to which we are all attracted because they are such easy ways to avoid thinking.
I believe that everybody is entitled to have his own opinion. I believe that everybody who has an opinion should be able to tell other logically the reasons why he holds that opinion. He should be able to present his opinions in a persuasive manner. If he is not able to do either of these things then the chances are that he has not, by his own thinking, arrived at his opinion logically but by indoctrination. And when people are indoctrinated, then they become fanatics.
I therefore urge that each of us look into himself and his opinions and ask himself how he came to have them. It may be that he, just like the very bigots he concerns, has arrived at his own opinions through the same potentially dangerous process of indoctrination.
Black Mountain College community members have many outstanding virtues and many faults. Of all their faults I consider this one the worst, the most dangerous, and the one of which they are least conscious. I have therefor presented it for everyone’s most serious consideration.
Classless group meetings, Con’t.
Modern Dance Group
This group meets Sunday mornings and the time is ten o’clock. Three people attend this regularly; Jeanne Belcher, Sheila Oline, and Bernice Bernstein. If you are interested in this group or any of the above three mentioned can give you details. But, the aims as stated by one of the girls are here in a nutshell: “The group was formed to give an opportunity for creative expression, and the development of physical coordination and grace. At present the group is concerned with exercises and patterns designed to familiarize the participants with the fundamentals of modern dance.”
Parlez-vous Francais
A group of student enthusiastic about conquering le Francais are assembling Monday nights in Neil A!s study. Charlie Dreyfus supplies the inspiration for Squeeky Atkinson, Sylvia Girsh, Virginia Kitzmiller, Jack Bailey, Rose Yglesias, and Nick Museick. The “linguistics” arousing Vervor’s La Marche a L’eotiole as a text.
…Dave Resnik
Little hay-colored moth on fragile wing, flipping through the turning spring,
Shining, twisting, gliding by, expanding, contracting, chasing the sky,
Brushing the flowers- up and over! Grains of powder, still…on the clover,
Yellow mist, sifted new, lightly decks the honey dew,
Restless breeze, Narcissus clad, hovers gaily, sunfilled, plaid,
Electric energy, painted red, short-circuits hot by the rose bed,
O Lepidoptera, where can you fly? Why so happy? As life, you die.
..A.W.J.
