Debaters From Britain
Contrast Two Nations

Students Touring US Give Impressions
Of Americans, Politics, WF;
Relate Events Of Trip

By Wilfred Winstead

"American college students take things more seriously than do British students, such as football and debating," agreed Ronald George Evans and Kenneth Dibben, the Britishers who debated here October 17.

According to Evans, from Llangollen, North Wales, and Dibben, from Southampton, England, Americans have a different scale of values from people "at home." "Everyone here is striving to win in whatever activity he is engaged in," said Evans, while in Britain we do not have -judged debates, for instance." Thus the main difference between American and British attitudes was summed up.

The British team, which met Joe Mauney and Virgil Moorefield, was selected to represent Britain in a debating trip to America through nominations from colleges, with final action being taken by an interview board in London. They were sponsored in England by the British Speaking Union and in the United States by the International Institute of Education.

Ellis Island Question

They docked at New York on October 8 after a five-day trip on he Queen Elizabeth. They will be in this country until Christmas and will meet 45 teams during this time. Dibben and Evans have already met Brooklyn Polytechnical Institute, Georgetown University and Yale University.

Their experience at Ellis Island, the importation center, was the worst of their visit thus far. While there, a customs official dubiously questioned Evans, a socialist, about literature he carried concerning the Fabin Society, a socialist organization. After carefully reading the material, he muttered, "Your politics are your own damn business" and passed the two men.

"The first thing that impressed I the Britishers about the United States was the docking of the Queen Elizabeth. The liner came right up to the roadway, instead of docking some distance out as it did in England. Immediately they were confronted with a "stream of traffic" and were amazed by the "smartly-dressed " people, especially the women. "The skyline of New York, "stupendous" and gigantic in scale compared to London," and the Statue of Liberty impressed them, as they, do all people entering the United States for the first time.

Opposing Politics

While in New York they visited the 21 Club, the Gay Nineties Club and had dinner at the New York Yatch Club, as well as going to the top of the Empire State Building, where they saw an "incredible view, covering several miles de- spite the fact that it was not too clear a day."

Speaking of their being chosen to make the trip (they had never met each other prior to their selection, Dibben said "I am glad Ronald was not a conservative also. Since we are representing Great Britain, we should present both sides."

Concerning British politics, the consensus was that the British welfare state needs more efficiency, but in general it works well, and not even the conservatives have taken any thing away; instead they have increased benefits. Dibben, however, said, "Thinking conservatives are beginning to think of drawing a line." Both agreed that Prime Minister Winston Churchill's popularity had declined since the war.

Bayonet Practice?

On American politics, Evans said that the "British attitude is that whoever is elected president will present about the same foreign policy. Corruption in government seems to be thought of as inherent in politics over here, despite an almost reverent attitude for political offices." Dibben said, "At home we would respect their integrity despite their competence. You criticize them severely here; we would be quiet."

They did not believe that there was too much difference between the emphasis placed on material things and that put on culture in this country, though there is such a mass of material goods in United States. "In Britain, for instance, few students have automobiles, and those are very old," emphasized Evans. In Dibben's opinion, "People here are very ready to tell you what their house cost, how much they make or in what income group they are."

Friday . afternoon they watched the football team workout and were very much interested in this American counterpart of the British game, rugby. Upon seeing the football dummy used in practice, Evans asked if bayonet practice is held here. Ire was quickly told of the purpose of the dummy.

The two Britishers were interested in the radio station and inquired as to the coverage and operation of the station. "No British college would have a radio station on its campus," said Evans.

"Most Impressive thing"

They both agreed as Dibben said that "Americans, especially in the South, have been very pleasant, probably more so than Britishers would be. Here at Wake Forest everyone speaks to every- one else."

Seeing the majorettes as they posed for a picture was one of the highlights of their visit. Their joint comment was "What do they do?" The majorettes held their pose long enough for Evans to take a snapshot, and his tribute to them was "one of the most impressive things about Wake Forest."

While here they met two of the Japanese students on the campus and later Evans observed, "You admit Japanese here, Canadians and other foreigners, and yet you don't admit Negroes, who are Americans." Even after a lengthy explanation of racial condition in the South, they had difficulty in understanding this situation.

On the way to the train station to begin the next part of their tour, they were left open-mouthed by a freight train longer than any train they had seen before. As they departed, they expressed their thanks for a fine visit with a merry "cheerio," and they were on their way.