Page 34 - 1983 VES Meteor

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gram aired by public television in a two part series on November 2nd and 9th, was viewed by millions including the VES com- munity. The show was hosted by
Nancy Reagan, Bill Bixby, Mich- aei'Landon, Rita Moreno, Bruce Weitz and Willie Stargill.
The first part of the series, "A Chemical Society" focused on the magnitude of the chemical prob-
lem in the United States youth and the series urged parents to confront the situation. The sec- ond part of the series dealt ~th
one's "chemical" problems and steps to take to get help.
After tlie program concluded on November 9th, the student _body met in the VES chapel to talk ~th Dr. Stuart Harris. Dr. Harris, a VES graduate, is a well known surgeon in Lynch- burg and throughout Virginia. While at VES, Dr. Harris was a very successful counselor, stu- dent, and athlete. Dr. Harris
talked ~th the students about many things ranging from drug- related car accidents to the affects of drugs on a fetus. He was very successful in talking to the students at VES because he
spoke as a friend instead of a lecturer.
that the committee should knit them closer together.
The.seniors were very pleased ~th the way things were being run. They seemed to be able to get all of their work done but said that they had little time for sleep. They found themselves studying one to three hours a night ~th a lot of procrastina- tion in between. The last week of every trimester was noted to be "red eye week" for most every- one.
The overall attitude of the committee was a positive one. They feel that the meetings are n~eded to understand the prob- lems of the students and the
teachers. They will continue to work on the Faculty A wareness project throughout the course of
the year to help the teachers and the students relate to one another.
Calendar
Dec. 11 - Christmas lessons and carols with Seven Hills at St. Paul's 7:30
1 6 - Christmas Vacation begins
Jan. 2 - Return to school
7 - Saturday class
Last spring, I walked down El Calle De General Ruiz towards my Spantep Apartment after a rough day at school, and for some reason, I began to ponder in- tensely over my senior year to come. I thought about various aspects of my school life; my academics, my athletics, my dorm, my roommate, my friends, but I neglected one very impor-
.tant aspect that I was at that point unaware of.
After that tedious trip home, I was greeted by a letter from Dill Battle informing me that I had been one of the twenty seniors
chosen to join the counselor body, and one of the seven honor committee members for the 1983- 84 session.
I was somewhat shocked, per- haps surprised, but ~thout a doubt happy and joyful. I had reached that hierarchy. I was above the rules. I was essentially part of the ruling body of the school and I had power. So I thought, I was so psyched for this year. I was going to be
"cool." The last three years, my counselors had been the object of my scorn. "Luke, that's three. Y ou're late to bed." "Back to
2
THE METEOR
COMMITI'EE:
CONTINUED FROM P AGE I
The juniors spent more time ~tudying t h a n a n y o n e e l s e ; o n the average, three t1> five hours a might. They were given an as-
,signment sheet in most every
lcourse, but felt that there was a
December 16, 1983 From
•tor's
Desk
Needless to say, my attitude has taken a complete one eighty. I, for some reason, failed to realize that people actwilly depending on me. My parents, teachers, dorm masters, peera, and other faculty membera all expected and still do expect a respectable job as a counselor. With this in mind, rve bad to change a few of my ideas of eliminating rules and living in a hierachal state. I would like to present a few thoughts on why counselors do what they do and why they may perhaps seem at times two-faced.
The most important job as a counselor is consistency. VES is a community of very tightly knit friends at all grade levels. This is perhaps what makes this duty so difficult. People must
there is a friend side and a more authoritative side to us as well. It
would hardly be fair to put a junior, who I may not know well, to bed at 11:00, and let my sophomore friend stay up until all hours of the night. A common instance is putting a whole dorm to bed early. If half the dorm is screwing around in the hall after study hall and this has been a consistent activity that week by
much of the dorm, it is impoui- ble to pick 35 students of 40 and saygotobedandlet5stayup because they say they haven't don~ anything.
The basic point is that Ita- dents must understand that en- forcing rules upon them bas nothing to do ~th their penonal character, rather, it is a duty that must be carried out
each person.
On the other hand, if a per.m
does feel he is th rectp· nt ol a raw deal, by all m ana ucl talk to your counaelor about it. 1 know the last month bas hellform andI'm urel'v ~ som very d.iareputable 8CtiaM. A proper b•l•nN
selor, friend,
figure; eJuamate and put Ill heirarehy u n be aell .,.. throu1h both the -....a.·a _. the •1 .trana.
are DO mcwe ,..-t.et
other atudut uc1 ...._.. ..a
thou1ht u - h LM'a atudenta. ..a
work
t
ud
e
By Hal Rollins
The Chemical People, a pro-
ke Debut
io the other. However, the four most frequent responses were: grinking is more of a problem than drugs; teachers seem to be unaware of the frequency and depth of the problems students have; objection to the double
standard between day students and boarders; and,that Dr. Har-
,ris was better than the two tele- visi