University of Virginia Library

Editor Views
Current Issues

Following are two editorials which appeared in the November 27 issue
of "The Pine Needle," the student newspaper of St. Christopher's School
in Richmond, a boys' day-boarding school run by the Episcopal diocese of
Virginia. We reprint them here because they are concerned with two issues
which are especially pertinent to the University today. —ed.

Obscenity and Vandalism

The actions around St. Christopher's have shown how our spirit has
taken a very serious downhill course.

First we were faced with the fact that the students were not supporting
their own team, now we are faced with a more serious problem. Some
irresponsible students are defacing the walls in the bathrooms and are
trying their best to ruin the vending machines around the school. This
defacing of school and private property shows a great lack of school spirit
and responsibility.

These actions around our school show how the puritan ethics that made
our country great are being thrown down. We must wipe out this evil
graffiti and fifth that is poisoning our school and country. This despicable
vandalism is an example of the alien and destructive philosophy which the
bureaucrats in Washington have stuffed down the throats of American
patriots since the New Deal.

This year, a few men, remnants of Patriotic America, have arisen to alert
our country at the eleventh hour of the need for law, order, and
responsible action. This country has become ill and needs a strong purge to
cleanse its populace.

This country has grown soft and decadent through the codding of
minorities at the expense of the vast majority of the American people. It is
time for these forgotten people to rise and assert their power, to restore
the American way of life in our society.

The American people must use their power to end the sort of sick
philosophy which manifests itself in irresponsible vandalism and obscenity.

Co-Education for St. C.

For the past year, a number of private institutions around the country
have expressed their interest in establishing a co-educational system on
their campuses. In the Old Dominion, two prep schools seem assured of a
merger in the near future. St. Christopher's must deal with this question,
and it is hoped that the administration will take a close look at the pros
and cons at such an idea.

The Editors of the Pine Needle believe that such a merger of the sexes
would hinder the advancement of higher learning and the quest for greater
knowledge. How can an ambitious young man get into college while an
equally young female, whose only ambition in life is to marry, is out to get
him. The time for co-education comes after one leaves the classroom and
goes into the world.

This Publication wished to imply that an institution of such high
standards as St. Christopher's should not be led astray by the actions of
other schools in which social life takes precedence over the mental life.