205 10 9515 https://exhibits.lib.ku.edu/files/original/756d3f5edf753f9c52c10211ca5b1997.pdf 22c81165f8bab95b6e691268454ec6c4 PDF Text Text ��ACKNOWLEDGEMETS: I am gratefully in-debted t ~ : Messrs James A. Arimah, Producer of ''Community Social Register", N. E. Nkanu, a Typist, and Simeon 0. Beckley, (RecordingEngineer) all in the E.N.B.C. Enugu. Also my acknowledgements go to all my inforinants. �ALL INQUIRIES ARE TO BE DIRECTED TO:I. Mr. M. U. E. Nkwoh, University of Nigeria, NSUKKA. EASTERN NIGERIA. . 3 Mr. V. C. J. Mbah, National Achieves, ENUGU. 3. G. A. IBE District Supri~endent'sOffice, Nigeria Railway Corporation. ENUGU. 4. Mr. Luke C. Metu, No. 13 lbadan Strcer. Fegge-Layout, ONITSHA. ALL HIGM7S RESERVEI) Price:= Twc) Shillings. ( 2/6d BY POST �"Cocktail Ladies" is a compedium of onc in the many series of-broaCcasts made by Mr. M. U. E. Nkwoh over the Eastern Nigcria Broadcasting Corporation network in t h c pragramme "Community Social Kcgister". The progcunme became so captivating, the ideas expressed so controversial and the author's rendering of them so academic and scholarly that there hss been a nwcr ending stream or%quests for the repeti1i.n of these talks. To satisfy the onc and the many, the author considers a booklet form of these. talks desirable - hence this booklet. Mr. ~ a r i u sU. E. Eu'kwoh is an undergraduate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where t o t a s teen registered fcr a Degree Course leading to Honours English. This is the crowning mark of his brilliant a c a d e m i c career. He did his Ekmentary School Studies at St. Matthew's R.C.M. Umuchu and St. Charles' R.C.M. Achina. From there hc proceeded to St. Patrick's College, Calabar for his Secondary School Education. There he passed out with an encouraging class and started to do private studies for more. advanced courses. He passcd his G.C.E. Advanccd Level Pa ers with all the nwks and all the characteristics o fJ' a scholar. One thing that has been very characteristic of him throughout his academic history is his wonderful f 1 a i r for languages. To this can be added his eternal propensity 10 write and to publish. Ever before he wcnt into the University of Nigeria, he had written much about much, and those who had the rare opporlunity to read those scripts could not but see the mark of genius on every page of those writings. �But some of them "were 'born to blush unseen' and did "waste their sweetness on the desert air", remaining unpublished till today. Here I have in mind his poems. Mr. M. U. E. Nkwoh is also noted for his rather philosophical analysis and interpretation 'of things of life. He is always interested in writing on contemporary topics, sometimes too domestic, and sometimes too common to merit the attention of any but the philosopher or the academician. These common topics are often-times very old to us but very new to him, very common to us but very strange to him; and finally on the pages of his writings, these common experiences become exciting. and captivating. You simply can't help, but admire genius. These qualities of his writings can be well seen in the present volume. As the sub titles show, the booklet deals.with things around us. After reading it, one cannot help but sit up and imagine what society is, as it is now, and what it should have been in a contemporary Utopia. But w h e r e lies the difference between what is and what should have been? It lies in these social cancers which gnaw decp into the very entrails of society. It is these cancers that the author wants to bring to the lime light. His success or failure should be judged from the abovementioned angle. . Many of the talks rnay cause a high voltage of concern and may be disapprobation to many. Man) will sit complacently on their chairs raining anathema on the author of "all these evils". But the paradox of it all is that the popularity of the author lics rooted in the disapprobation of the FEW that fcel insulted or slighted. His honour, as it were, srands rootcd in thcir dishonour. �INTRODUCTION Mr. M.U.E.Nkwoh was an Associate Editor of the I 'niversity . Magazine (The Pioneer) and Internal n Bulletin (The Arrow). He is a r e m b e r of the Creative Writing Club of the University of Nig-ria. H e was the Publicity. Secretary of the Pax Romana, U.NX Branch, and the Publicity Secretary cf the N.C.N.C. Youth Vanguard University Branch. On lastvacation hewas Assisting t t c E.N.B.S. Ncws Editcr Beforeentering the University he was popularly known as a free lar.ce journalist. Many of his articles had been published in the National and Local Press. I now rccornmend his "Cocktail Ladies" to all readers. V. C J. MBAH B. A. Horis. (Londo~t) National Archives. Enugu. �EXTRACTS OF LEmERS OF REQUEST FOR THE Series OF TALKS (FACING THE FACTS AROUND US) TO BE REPEATED C. S. NWOSU. Principal Accountants Ol%ce, Nigeria Railway Corporation. ZARIA 13th September 1961 The General Manager, Eastern Nigeria Broadcasting Service, P. 0.BOX 350, Enugu. Dear Sir, COMMUNITY SOCIAL REGISTER BY MR. NKWOH OF UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA. I have listened with great interest and rofound admiration the radio broadcast of Mr. N woh of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, on the above subject, and request you to send me copies of the series of his commentary on the social life of our men and women. 2. It is the desire of all those who are in the same school of thought with me to possess copies of this master piece which covers all the day-to-day activities of our youths. It is indescribable to explain how the youths in this part of the federation welcome Mr. Nkwoh's observations and thought provoking facts. 3. Should this not be available with you, may I request you to direct my request to Mr. Nkwoh and urge him to meet my humble request which will help to educate most of the uniformed scattered here and there. I enclose herewith self addressed stamped envelope for your early reply. Y u s faithfully, or (Sgd.) C.S. NWOSU R �h u m : Mr. E. A. Morka, Vivian, Younger & Bond Ltd., Ringim Station. The Manager, E. N. B. S.. Enugu. Dear Sir, Your programme of 9:30-9:45 p.m on Sunday the 20th has inspired me so highly, that I am moved to writing and requesting you mainly on two points:1. That those who heard the programme will surely be interested if you help your listeners to get it in book or pamphlet for exactly as it was read that day. Then the rush of the sale will prove to you and the composer how valued it is. 2. That 1 personally request you to repeat the programme twice more at least before letting it off. If you kindly accept my request of later, I prefer it on Saturday the 26th and Monday the 28th August, 1961., at the hours of 7:15-8:00 p.m. each of the days. My aim is mostly on its being published in any form for sale, and I trust whatever amount you or the "author" may fix for its sale, may not d e b a r its urgent clearance. For your prompt response to this, 1 herein enclose a three pence stamp. I very much regret of not quoting the tittle or heading of the programme owing to meeting it midway. Yet, the subject dealt with the "CARE-FREE" lives which our girls are indulging, and the real effect of it at last. Thanking you immensely for the careful arrangements to introduce such a touching programme. Sincerely yours, (Sgd.) E. A. Morka. �St. Matthias' NDD. Mba., c/o OW/NTA P.A., Via ~ b a . 26th August 1961. The Gen. Manager, E.N.B.S., ENUGU. I humbly ask that a copy of the last night's speech, entitled- "THE COCK-TAIL LADIES9'.may be sent to me at any cost. I am very sorry that I could not get the name and theaddressof the person who presented the programme. I think I heard something about the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Please, if you cannot give the copy to me, you c n a let me know more of the producer of the programme so that I may not fail to have a .copy of the speech. Your help and your advice are needed. Yours faithfully, (Sgd.)' Sidney E. Amanze. �FACING THE FACTS AROUND US (SERIAL TALKS) Chapter One NIGHT MARAUDERS: THEY CONSTITUTE A DANGER IN OUR MIDST so insecure; What is left to aallman when his life isfundamental his property removed and his right to live his own life, possess his own property, is so badly threatened? The sacred duty of any government and in fact any society for that matter is to ensure this fundamental protection of human life and property. Life is not to live merely but to live well, happily and peacefully; yet there are some among us who live without any designs at all or witbout any visible means of livelihood, and still live the most luxurious lives in our best hotels or our most popular pubs. How do they manage? For some years now, Nigeria has been under the influence of night marauders. The P r e s s had reported of their depredations; the radio had punctuated their atrocities. It remains now for the television to dramatise their heart-breaking activities. Every day, we hear the news of these infernal people. Cars are stopped and the drivers brought out and beaten almost to death; while the keys of their cars are removed and the cars driven away. Many have surrendered all their bodily belongings at gun-points and half-deadly, half-nakedlystagger away in pants. Mouths have been forced to close, hands tied with ropes, while pockets are carefully searched tor gold, Faces have been slapped red when nothing or an insufficient amount is got. Some have been castigated and go away with swollen kuttocks. One becomes so unfortunate to encounter these heartless souls! pray, become not a victim. �12 COCKTAIL LADIES Nowadays, strange letters are written by anonymous people commanding a surrender of itemised property or articles on appointed days, at an appointed place and at a stipulated time. Failure t o comply with such unjust instructions disposes the affected to serious consequences. And the consequences, what are they? Your house or store can be broken into by force and the occupants forced out to make room for a thorough clean up of removal of all your valuable property. Motor tyres can be removed from parked cars in the garage; valuable furrriture; clothings and what not, are duly packed away. Treasuries had been broken into, lorries stopped on tb.e way and the passengers searched at gun-points. Many a time it is reported that thousands of pounds were removed from this or that treasury or that merchant's firm. Everybody hears of these havocs everyday. What is to be done? Where d o we go from here? We a.re living in a state of fear and our life and property are so unsafe. May God save us from the hands of these wicked people. Recently an English lady (I think a Mrs. Urogbo at Surulere, Lagos) wrote a very pathetic letter, through the Editor of the 'Sunday Times', to these night (and nowadays day) marauders. In that letter she rcq~~estea thieves to return her only belongings the which they had so unkindly removed The worst aspect of the story was that after despatching t h e letter, the thieves visited her house again for a final shake up. Poor lady! She went back to England a s :I result. Many Nigerians felt insulted by her letter since it was published. They might be right and they might be wrong. One thing we must not forget is what was her mind's disposition at the material time of writing. Nothing was left for her from all her cherished property. What would you have done in a similar situation? I agree that banditry is not pecu1i:ir to Nigeria and highway men orerate in England too, RLII i s t h a t a sulkient o r y u IT) e 11 t to �THE NIGHT MARAUDERS. 13 condone evil? Nigeria can't afford the expensive joke of marauders' atrocities s i m p l y because high-way robbery is a world-wide cancer. Why must we Imitate a bad thing because it is done everywhere? How then do we make our unique mark as a new force in the world? We must face facts and view things objectively and realistically, from the background of contemporary events. We must resist, immediately, this newest threat to human life and property with all forces a t our command. In Eastern Nigeria today, people are alert all night. It is life or death. "Traders and Tenants Associations" arc formed to drive out all thieves from all the big towns in the Region. The Police Authorities are well informed of these associations. They even attend some of their meetings. Acccrding to these associations, anybody found comporting himself in a manner likely to arouse suspicion, either at odd places or times, are arrested by the people. Sometimes, the suspects are handed over to the police and sometimes the law of the jungle is applied. In Onitsha, Aba and Enugu night vigils are kept. Other towns do the same because this wave of terrorism is passing on from town to town. It is just like the trade winds and could blow to another town tomorrow. This is a serious matter and the position requires an immediate handling by our governments, by the police and by the people themselves. It is not a matter to play politics with; nor one to make headlines in our newspapers. Anybody that pretends that this or that Region of Nigeria is holier and freer from the havocs of these night marauders then the other one is dishonest and a cheat. He is a brazen hyprocrite. This position has become deplorable and like a canker worm is fastly eating the body fabric of our society What is to be done? Who are the night marauders? How do they operate? What implements do they use? What time of t h e night do they operate most? Who can tell us? �To say exactly who are these night marauders is to tread on a dangerous ground. It is to go to that place where angels avoid. It is to challenge the devil and in fact to invite trouble. However, my guess in this talk will be as good as yours. "Nobody i; more like an honest man than a thief". During the day, all that suit up are not gentlemen. Their politeness, good grammar, excellent poise (personality), superb gait, fashion of dress and cheerfulness, are but dressed falsehoods. They are all hollow and are just whited sepulchre. When you are iii the pubs, those very liberal offers of drinks with "get him four to six bottles" are to be looked at twice. Mind those latest fashion of hair-shave, short shorts, tough knots of tie, chimney smoke of cigarette, especially the "taxi high society" or those long pipes. And look out for those loudest speakers, braggarts, classical dancers of "cha-cha" and sometimes "ro-po-pow, or the latest heat of a "high life" music. Then don't over-look those that bring out their walletswhich are full of "red notes" (pound notes) and just carelessly single out one to order a roast chicken and bottles of beer. This, they often do to impress the bar-maids around! You see, I am only trying to suggest that thieves are the people you can't suspect as being anything but honourable gentlemen. Have you ever been told by an apparent well dressed youngman to "excuse me", and then to give him just five shillings to complete his money to collect an article just around the corner? well, try Lagos or Aba. It is the fashion now for some thorough-bred loafers to stop gentlemen at Aba and ask for some money. "for God's sake", just to go and eat. And these people are so hale and sound! My God! What is wrong nowadays? Who are the night marauders? Some people often suspect some taxi-drivers as being thieves because msny a time their cars are used by these marauders. �rn~ NIOBT MARAUDERS 15 The argument is that if they are not, then they are accomplices. Well! I don't share this opinion as I know many honest taxi drivers. Nevertheless, there could be a Judas in every group of twelve. Some people say that "Passenger Collectors" ('ocho passenger') are the real thieves. How can they, when so many of them are responsible men with big families and have children in colleges and even nowadays, in Universities? But there could be Judases in their fold all the same. There is the assertion that the night marauders are jobless men among us. This suspicion appears teneable in the light of bitter facts of reality. Yet, if they are, from where do they get the dynamite with which to explode treasury safes? Who buys guns for them or the cars with which thefts ace committed? Who teaches them how to remove plate numbers or tyres of motor cars? Who provides the money for all the necessary equipment for their thieving adventures? Some people suspect some lorry owners and mechanics are thieves. I think these people are too big to be thieves. This accusation would be an insult to their class, seeing that they have enough money and to spare. Who are then the night marauders? Once more, your guess is as good as mine. Personally, I think they are a combination. They can be drawn from taxi drivers, passenger collectors, apprentice mechanics, jobless folk and from big men in offices or even at home. Some big men employ these thugs to loot and bring back booty. These are the people who provide the night marauders witha leadershipand all that they would need. Already they have got the money, but yet want more and more money. Humad greed! It can know no end. What is to be done? And by the way, have you ever had the misfortune t o see a night marauder? If you have not, then have an idea. My informant told me that the real experts dress in black all over, imitating the "mark of Zoro". Those that do not dress in this full regalia, cover their eyes with a handkerchief which eyes, and paint their faces dark, �bear holes for the possibl with charcoal. They carry about jack-knives, torch ight, a short-gun and at times a matchet or a club for dealing heavy blows to resistant objects like windows or doors. They have also some carpenter's tools to lift stores, remove hinges of doors or draw out nails. Some of them carry dynamite to explode safes of treasuries or firms or offices while others carry about with them some quantity of chloroform with which to keep occupants of a visited house sleepy. Some carry long and hooked sticks to remove clothes hung inside from the .windows. Before these tough boys set out for their 'depredations, they often smoke the Indian hemp (from where they get it, I don't know) or drink to a point of intoxication. !' Where do, t h e y live? Who are their friends? Generally it is believed their friends are hotel girls. Their home is ever here and nowhere. But my information was got rom one of them who was caring for himself in a pub. The pub is definitely the place to look for news. Down at one corner, all alone, was a fine and well d r e s s e d gentleman. He was carving for himself a chicken, wlth four bottles of beer standing on his table. Two had been drained by him while two remained undrained. I dec7ed to keep him c o m p a n y with my friend. He was all welcoming. More beer was ordered for my friend and I. Four bottles. It appeared my informant goes by four. The drink continued and discussions progressed too. A time came when he had to boast of his various activities and this time often comes with people who drink without control. At such a time, the most humble can reveal the w h o 1e of his life. What more for a die-hard rogue? -This was how I got all my information. Don't ask for more, please. Something must be done about these night marauders. Can house to house campaign do to comb them out? This is already being pract~sedin Onitsha and Aba. Can the Police (and they are over-worked, being so few now, with hundreds of them in the Congo) do? fY" �NIGHT MARAUDERS: 17 They can, especialy by patrolling along the street as they used to do. 1 wonder why nowadays they have ceased. You cannot see a single Policeman on duty along our streets nowadays. When there is any shout of "thieves, thieves, thieves" nobody comes to your rescuse. No whistles are blown by the Police. The chese is your. own risk. Sometimes, in the chase, m'any have lost parts of their bodies or become killed even. Let the Police Authorities revert to the old good practice of stationing Policemen on beat along our streets. The Reservation Area (if any such area still exist in these independence days) are not the only places that inhabit honest c i t i z e n s who pay their taxes regularly to enjoy the security of life and of their property. The Magistrates can be.empowered to give thieves life imprisonment. Parliaments can empower them with neccessary weapons of the law. We can not continue to live our lives at the pleasure of thieves who sleep during the day and convert the night to their own days. Alternatively, the people can choose to employ the law of the jungle. The practice now at Aba is to search every-house for suspects and comb them out. As a matter of fact, every street in every township knows its own loafers. Thcse people should be made to realise that their power is not invincible. Some public denunciation of these powers of darkness is necessary. When a thief is caught, he can be brought out to be tried and then punished in public before he is imprisoned. He can be spat upon: his face can be slapped and anything that will disgrace should not be spared. This will be a lcsson to those not discovered yet. �Chapter Two COCKTAIL LADIES n my first talk in this series, I spoke to you about I t h e dangcrsof night marauders in our midst. ~ o d a ~ , I want to direct your attcntion to ailother group in our society whose existence is becoming disgraceful. I have chosen to call them "cocktail" ladies. Let us therefore considcr them tonight. The mistake of fcminisni nowadays is that women want to do cvery thing that men do. Womcn want to go to the moon or to sound the deepest oceans. They want to out-smoke and out-drink men. They think t h e y can easily be soldiers, pilots, enginedrivers and other odd jobs that men do. Why do they think and want these things? Well, just to rival mcn and to be cqual with them. Already they are succccding and will soon morc than succccd. Today you see women in almost every fcild of life, in thc Policc Force, in Civil Service Ofices, in Parliamcnts, in Hospitals, driving about their own cars, hcing rcputable contractors or wealthy traders, broadcasters, tax-collectors and tar-payees too. Soon we shall liavc women taxi-drivers. But the fun is that womcn forget thatbeing different bcings, they have nlmlutcly special and difkrcnt characteristics. Thcy forget that the hocd docs not make the monk. It is therefore not i n wcnring "tough pants and shorts" which men wear that thcp b e c o m c automatically men or men-like. �19 COCKTAIL LADIES Take a look at our society ladies! Their motto is "let your life be as happy and sunshiny as you can make it. the men are always around to foot the bill". With this motto, these cocktail ladies, these human parasites, these lazy .drones and good-fornothings, go about living in a manner not altogether respectable or desirable. They know all the "big guns" in town. They have been to all parties held at the Governor's or Premier's lodge. They have been driven a b o u t. by big men in their big and long American cars. They are sure to be at the next Minister's Cocktail party or at the marriage of a big personality in town. They will be at all places at all .times. How d o these self-elected society elitie come about? What are their qualifications? Have youever thought of their undersirable existence or have you never felt :their presence?. Take a look around you. Visit some big men; attend some parties: -watch your television sets (if you are lucky to have any). These ladies exist in every big township and know all the big men of the town. They can be working-class or nurses or Women Police or bank clercks or typists or sales-clercks of firms or telephone operators They can also be school teachers or some clever housewives, disgusted with their husbands or those glamorous seekers of ostentatious jobs. You can always know these people hy their ways. If they had been "Miss Any Townships" or mere " r u n n e r u p s" or even "attempteds". then they m u s t let all the world know this by how they dress and talk with a borrowed accent (even though they did not pass .the standard six nor ever crossed the River Niger). They paint their lips, finger and toe-nails and retouch their eye brows with a blue pencil. - �20 COCKTAIL LADIES They use scent, different ohtments and assorted cosmetics and these, only to advertise their painted beauty. To augment, they sew dresses that are kneetight ("cross no gutter" I think they call it) and mount on shoes that are a foot high. On those "knockabouts" they skate around, false living and false feeling. This is the time when they attract attention and consequently win introductions. In' the offices, t e l e p h o n e attendants (or do you call them telephone receptionists or "operators?) are wonderful people. They t e 1e p h o n e anybody that matters Sometimes they apologise and say that they thought it was "so-so and so" they met at a party held last night at Mr. X's residence. But the fun of .it all is that the person telephoning simply wants to be there. "Don't mention" is often the reply and "you are cordially invited, if you please". With this weapon of a previous telephone introduction, everything else is smooth sailing. The day b e c o m e s crowded moments- for the turkey-cock. Her work is no more properly done. The party becomes the talk of the day. She telephones o t h e r cocktail ladies, asking whether they will be attending. If they would, the dresses to be vorn are discussed; the make-up to be pasted on the face not left out ofcourse. Suitable men to match are intimated to foot the bill of transport and other incidentals of the occasion. This does not provide any difficulty because these cock-tail girls have a thousand odd and different boyfriends. The only qualification of those boy-friends of course is the possession of a car and a disposition to spend freely. The boys must belive in buying roast chickens, sausage rolls, drinks (shorts of ginger or brandy) and must take them out regularly to the films. What these girls want is a busy life of vanity. Nothing more, nothing less. �COCKTAIL LADIES 21 There is another group of cocktail ladies. These are "carnival boats". (By the way, have you ever .attended' the "Alpha Carnival" show?). Their skates a r e very s h o r t and wide,. infact rather too wide in .circumference, (umbrella skates.) Around the waists of the wearers appear to contain some soft materials,. perhaps p a d s of a type. These materials raise the ladies' buttocks to fit with the umbrella skates which will swing low, high and a r o u n d , at the slightest movement. The hair-do is any thing of your guess, provided you guess the unusual. Some of them $0 about with such shampoo'd, plaited or stretched ham It is a good curiosity to watch the novelties of our women's latest. hair-do. From styles they call "rats and rabbits,' "hill-top", "samba", ayakata", ajakaaja", .to plateau", "basket" "double weave" and "society emblems". With these they are simply on ,top of the world. Nobody is regarded again except one who can 'richly pay to help them live luxyriously and smartly. When fully dressed, how these ladies -carry about themselves! The neck is kept stiff and &rect; eyes are down cast or at times half-closed and -the p a i n t.e d lips kept tight and ready for the slightest necessity to advertise the teeth. The hoppinggiat is carefully p r a c t i s e d and some smarting ways of speaking the English language is memorised. Everything is simply put into the show. The fun of these cocktail ladies is that because .they are "birds of passage or changelings to every big man*', they go about swell-headed. In officesan ordinary typist or telephone operator who is friendly .with the boss does not regard anybody again. What can you do? Can you give her a query? Will you report her? To whom, to the boss? Whichever you do, you can be surc to enter into trouble with.the big man, and that if you are not careful. If you give her a query, �22 COCKTAIL LADIES she wilt tear it to pie&, even to your face, and curse: you with such abusive language. What can you do? You are rendered powerless because she is a cocktaitj lady, and besides, a friend of the big man in chargelor , your office. Take a look at a young Police woman who:is in the: good books of the A.S.P.! Every constable, even an Inspector, is cheap to her. She will novtake instructions. from any except from the A.S.P. But she forgets she is in the Force. This situation is the same in all walks of life where women infest. But who is a woman? A certain English poet defines a woman thus:Woman, doubtful theme, I sing; Dear, delightful, dangeraus thing! Magic source of all our joy, Tempting, trifling, tinselled toy. Every faculty possessing: That constitutes a curse or a blessing: witty, empty, fond, capricious. Pious sometimes, often, vicious, As Angels handsome, devils proud; Modest, pert, submissive, loud; T a cheer 'and to torment us, given. Without them, what, ye gods, is life? And with them, what but care' and strife? According to a certain woman writer, Marie Coreli: "a \\;oman considered in the rough abstract, is only the pack-mule of man; his goods, his chattles, created specially to be the vessel of his passion and humour. Without his favour and support, she is by a universal consent, set down as a lonely and wandering mistake". �COCKTAIL LADIES 23 A woman, despite her false airs, still says to a man: '1 want m o n e y, buy me a . bangle-watch, a .fancy bag, a pair of shoes, dresses, a fancy hat, eggs, fish, pork meat, beverages and what not she may desire. A woman does not know it is hard to get money or . if she knows, she pretends not to bother. Our women, including the society ladiesandgirls, are too money-indeed. House-wives find clever reasons to 'leave their husbands simply to live. smart lives, to be driven about in cars and to attend big parties. Young girls take to. the streets merely to be glamorous society ladies. Marriage and child-bearing are yet things absent from their vocabulary of thought. They want to be on the move with the society elite all the time. The greatest surprise is that they have what they call cogent reasons .for all their way-ward behaviours. . I recently encountered one cocktail lady and simply pitied h-r plight. She.had upsuccessful1y;contested the "Miss Nigeria" competition on provincial basis for three years ,now running. She can't now. walk a yard because slie has been used to be driven about by big men. Her cslours are fastly fading away, indeed they hnv: faded out. She is now a "wash out"- aild yct does not. know. She will'be dying and yet' wili: not believe she is so doing. She ktill goes abo,ut'looking for jobs from one office to. another. Whcrevei s ! ~ goes, people fight to have a glance, a talk, a touch (starting with a haiid shake..first of ,all) an'd finally a "can I drive.you'home"' courtesy? And yet this lady is so stupid. She cannot .add up.ten blus.ten. She can't read correctly' nor understand .'simple English. . Beauty is her .only qulification. Today women hat2 .wonlen's duties. They hate to manage the homes, cook meals and rear up children. Sometimes the men ofthe house go hungry because the wives are 'on s t r i k e . :Some of them are women and some "Mi s s N i g e r i a..' maniacs �24 COCKTAIL LADIES As a matter of fact, the introducticn ofbeauty competition into this country has turned so many girls' h e a d s to directions not altogether praise-worthy. Women are made to help and not to nag, s a p or impoverish men. They should not be a burden, nor parasites, nor nuisance, nor articles of commerce. There is still plenty of time for our women to think twice. Mad rush for gold and fast living all the time will definitely not do. "Gold, gold, for ever! What will it not do? It will bring the proud, to their knees; it will force the obstinate to servile compliance, it will conquer aversion and prejudice. The world is a slave to its yellow glitter and the l o v e of women, that perishable article of commerce, is for ever at its command." I often think of what is to be the fate of some of our cocktail ladies in years ahead. Most of them are definitely deceiving themselves now. Do they ever remember that the greatest beauties h a v e withered and died? Rose flowers bloom only once and then fade away. The morning is surely to give way to the afternoon, and the noon to the evening. Health has no duplicate nor an alternative. How many society ladies have ended i n ignominous deaths, sickness, leprosy, epilepsy, tuberclosis or veneral diseases? Here is a story of a girl who got a sack from her job. Lucy is a cocktail lady, smashing and glamorous. In comportment, she is elegant and in feeling, very soft and delicate. She is a typical woman or what a woman should be. She knows all the 'rules of high society behaviours. Her boy-friend is a young man with a *great f u t u r e ahead. His post is even now enviable. He simply makes Lucy crazy because he keeps a date with her every day. Life therefore has no worries for Lucy. What does she need? The boy friend provides her with enough. Is it dresses? Even �COCKTAIL LADIS 25 those are abundant. Is it a fine car? Ope1 Capitan is just sufficient for two people who have determined to make life run smooth but very fast. Lucy's boy-friend has a wife who has for him three fine children, two boys and one girl. The wife is even now expecting a child, may be a female, to balance. the equation'of creation. Lucy knows of this, but is determined to get the "awufu money" or do you call it "chawuta"? Recently Lucy's services 'in her department were terminated. Every big man came to sympathise with her, except the boy friend. The reason is obvious. Lucy had been an expensive girl to maintain. He therefore feels relieved now. Previously, Lucy had been sacked from different posts she had held. The reason had always been the same. She is not serious in her job. She is always absent. She is always abusive and insulting when ever she is corrected. Now Lucy is terminated and she has. fallen sick. The nature of her sickness is dubious and' serious. I know that people are not allowed to go to see her. When ! interviewed her Doctor, I was told in confidence thaf: her trouble was a terrible misuse of her life. I wish her a speedy recovery, if she is lucky to recover. Our cocktail ladies are not sufficiently facing the true facts of their lives. Youth and beauty are not to last for ever. Make-ups will never be adequate substitues for the prime of life. Cars will not be always around to collect them. Old age will surely creep in and the realities of life will stand stark-naked before them. It will be too late to learn how to use the.lefi hand when the right hand had long been in use al: their lives. Servants may not be around to minister unto them. The free-money-allowance will cease one day. The worst will be that some day they will not even be welcomed to those parties that had spoilt their heacs �26 COCKTAIL LADIES in ,youfh. Now is the time for a second thqught and this.,is:their only time. Continued .false living is d8n gerous and has its own serious ~epeycussions.Nobody .can ever cheat nature, but i'f the cocktail ladies think that tlj.ey can, well, let them do. They should .boyever remember' that their betters, had, trieB ,and failed. . A word is now enough for the. w ~ i e . a 05 Finally 1 .am a d v i s i rig' those them that are youthful enough and still marriageabki:to go now and marry. They should now. in the words of a poet:: Gather ye rose-buds wfiile ye may Old time is still a-flying And this same flower that smiles today, Tomorrow will be dying. The glorious lamp of Heaven, the sun, The higher he's a-getting: The sooner will his race be run And nearer he's to setting That age is best, which is the first, When youth and blood are warmer; But being spent, the worse, and worst Times still succeed the former. Then b e not coy, but use your ti&; And while you may. go marry; For having lost but once your prime You may for ever tarry. I can add nothing to thc above quotntion. It on!y remains for the cocktail ladies around us to re-esamine their lives. They should now face the facts around them and consider their life past, now and to come. May God give them the understanding and the grace t o change their vain ways. �Chapter Three L a s t week, I spoke to you about c&tqil ,ladies; tfiose wc$ii:en who have betbnie so s o p h i s t ic a t e d .with v c i t y that their presence is becomiirg,disgraceful to all of us. Today 1 am directing, your attention ,t6-'another group, ''those hypocrites arounij .us." 'live. in a world of realities .and unrealities. This life, which is a very g r e a t gift from God, is such ti curious business. N o doubt, many of us walk through it like ghosts as if we were in it .but not of it. We. look but d o not see: listen but do not hear, start but do not feel. Indeed "all the world's a stage and all men and women merely players". Have you -ever watched, from a vantage ground, the .hypocrisy of men, the vanity of women, the boundless ambition of youths o r the presunipt~o:lor claim to wisdom of the aged'? As we reach years of discretion, we naturally ask ourselves what should be the m a i n object of our existence. Some of us are therefore fascinated by an attempt to forcast something of the conditions of lifc a s they will be in centuries ahead. Some indulge in s p e c u 1 a t i o n and some in dreaming: For this reason. life has for us many troubles wh~ch are o!' many kinds. Our own problenx therefore are just like these troubles of life. Take a look at the faces thet kave a church on a Suliday, those that comc? out from a big rally or a foot-+all match held at z certain stadium o r the sayings or happenings of this world! How v a r i o u s the faces and how vario~z indeed the i n t e n t i o n s and natures they purport! �28 COCKTAIL LADIES To some extent, there is no honesty or reason for some of the things we do. Many of us say many things in this life that we never meant or believed t o be true. We act, speak, walk and behave at timos because it is the fashiori.of some peopre to-do so. Let us begin with our modern ladies. Some of them have become more sophisticated than those they imitate. They now Paint red their lips, finger and toe nails and retouch theii eye brows blue. In time, they will begin to paint their ears and all other parts of their body. Already the face has got its own layers of make-up. Why do they do these things? A red paint on a black lip! Your guess is as good as mine. But I think they want to be smart, elegant and charming: otherwise they want to impress all beholders. A woman is-a.vcty':good example of a human masquerade. Say what you may, I am of that o p i n io n. Tell her she is the most beautiful lady in town; then watch the turkey cock as she be&s to swell! She smiles d e e p l y and loses her head. Inform her "you are my love" and watch the airs. graces, elegance and satisfaction with which she reacts. But let her. turn the next corner .and meet another man (more "braining and eloquent") who can call her "h o n e y", "sweety" and what not romantic terms. She soon forgets the first man, with all the joys she ever had with him. Why do women do this? The truth is that women are by nature very cunning and full of falsehoods and pretences. They cherish flattery and appear to live well with it. The question is: can they live without equivocations? When a woman says she hates you, then know that she secretly admires you. When' she is stern in looks, of course she is s e c r e t l y darting amorous glences. Her q u a r r el is just the begining of her agreement and love. �THOSE HYPOCRITES IN OUR MIDST 29 If she scolds you, then know that she loves you. But if she says that she loves you, you can be sure she does not but is only interested in the things that she can get out of you. The trouble with our modem women is that they can never say what they mean and mean what they say. Love to them is a m a g i c word with which to trade. No wonder some of them have now become articles of commerce! Marriage is no more contracted because of real love but because of security and position. A man's person does not matter any more in love affairs except his prospect, his car, his building (if any) or his social standing. Is he a lawyer, a doctor, a Minister or a Parliamentary Secretary? Is he "senior service," or a g r a d u a t e ? Why do they do these things? Why all these masquerading and counter-feiting of life? This stitution has led so many men to resort to a deceitful living. How many men have hired a taxi cab for a day (with the word taxi wiped off) just to pose that they are car owners before certain "tough ladies"? How many have feigned to be lawyers, doctors degree holders or "senior service", simply to impress? How many men have suddenly changed their manner of speaking simply to appear "I have been to" or walk with what gait the "been tosWcali "Univerthe sity Hunchback"? How many men haveindeed shed tears at the feet of the girls they want to convice they love and would die for? We've got to be honest with ourselves and face the facts around us. Why should we live false lives? Watch some of our ladies nowadays when the appear in some television programmes. They simply out-do their parts and b e c o m e such strangers to their true selves. Equivelent to these "show girls" are some "tough boys" who go by b o g u s names and under false �30 COCKTAIL LADIES pretences. These boys make it a fashion to telephone every lady telephone-operator on duty in o r d e.r t o conduct a telephone c o u r t s h i p They start .with introducing t h e m s e 1 v e s as a "sci-so and so" Honourable Member from Lagos o r a Barrister just a r r i v'e d from the United Kingdom. They disclose there names as one Mr. Obl~k, Gaby o r Mike. They are l o o k i n g for l o d g i n g and they are inquiring if the lady te1ephone;operatqr-. can help. "H-m-m, can I come to drive you-out td' the Catering Rest House for the evening?' they oftemask politely. If he lady i s cheap, of course the outing takes place and the rest can besettled then. If the lady. refuses, to be dc ceived, these tough boys threaten to report then1 to their managers o r who-ever ishcharge or at the highest post in the department. Of course they don't d o this. They. only want to intimidate the ladies. Sometimes these "tough guys" .demand the names of the ladie's they. are speaking lo. This t h'ey.: do with such assuining Su'peyi~rity air$.of.importance. and ' And. these, useless .talks g o on for t e n s ~ f ininutes,. a t times up to an'.hour: (For full confii'gation..of t h b information, intewiew any respxtable 1ad.y'telephorie. operator.) Sometimes. you can. take' up youChand'Lt,. .and unfoituli~tdy hear these uselkb talks going ~ri;''.~f you interfere ,to' a&' i h e young 'man t o alloy th'e lady' d o her job. h~ insults'you; Th? sGrprise is t h a t sonie qs'. mes i ~ c ~ ~ dha~vsno-shame at' all. Leaving men and womeo a 1o n e ,. let, mz delve. further into the hypocrisies of liiost of us. H&ve,you ever noticed how some people feign'to be..consta~le~ or messengers from some magistrates? The aim, is always to win money through false pretences. How 'many quack-doctors have we, around?. These .are. responsible for so many u n t i m e 1 y deaths. . Those ' �THOSE HYPOCRITES IN OUR MIDST 31 seeming friends around us, who are they? Ninetynine pertent of them are worse than distant enemies. According to the way of this world: they are summer friends who often come with the season of prosperity and depart with the anti-trade winds of adversity. Many are they that laugh with us today and at our littlest turn of our backs tomorrcw, scorn and mock, back-bite and slander us. What is then the need for friends? A cheerful friend should have been a sunny day that sheds brightness on all around: a beautiful flower of nature that should expand and make its colours grow more brighter by the warmth of the sunshine that stimulates it. Happiness indeed depends much more on what is within rather lhan what is with-out There is no need for our counterfeiting and God's Earth is wide enough for a forthright and honest living. This world is moved by the I o w e s t and pettiest motives. It works for the most trivial, ridiculous and perishable aims. Hollow things often appeal to our sentiments. The wicked appear to succeed more in life and their success and masked kindness make us forget awhile their wicked nature. We tolerate and even praise or be-friend them because we arc in need of their assistance. A recalcitrant criminal that can argue well his case in court, baptising his defence with lies that are seeming truths, often wins the day whilc the innocent suffer and often-times are imprisoned. The gloom within often reflects in the shadows without and the face becomes the index of the soul; yet human beings are so clever that they can counterfeir conscience and feign brightest when they are indeed darkest within. "No harm" or "don't menlion" they readilly ejaculate where there is every harm and a need to mention it. �32 COCKTAIL LADIES Do you know that people buy certificates nowadays? It could be the G. C. E. or the Cambridge. Do you know that people of about forty years of age now declare before Magistrates that they are only twenty, just half their true age? This they do to win an end; it could be a post or a scholarship. Do you know that every lady that competes for "Miss Nigeria" (no Mr. Nigeria yet) must be nineteen. Even my mother (and she is at least sixty now) can qualify for this competition if only she declares eighteen. You see, we are succeeding with our hypocrisies, but for how long can this counterfeit of life do? The Government of Eastern Nigeria passed a law that fixed bride price at £35; but how many parents today obey this law? Daughters are still sold away for upwards of £200 to £250, and a receipt of £35 officially and ostentatiously given in .manycases? Where do we go from here? In big offices, do you know that nobody should demand or receive bribery? Perhaps you do not know of the boss's satellites. These people do the yeoman's job and yet those big men in those big seats in the offices pretend they are incorruptible. Promotions are still with-held until palms are duly greased, sometimes strong drinks, a turkey or a sheep are offered through agents to appease the angry, and very often, a hungry boss. "Eye service" is the first lesson of any "Police R e c r u i t". " Condo" is a word every police man knows. There is an ulterior motive for most of the things we do. Students befriend their teachers and lap about their feet with a hope to pass their exaninations with distinctions, whether they study diligently or not. The things you buy in the market nowadays are somctimcs adultrated. Europeans are charged more thm thc usuel ccst of the articles in our markels or in trsi Pares. In the Ci~urchc;. thc �THOSE HYPOCRlTES I OUR MIDST N 33 best places are still reserved for those with costly clothes and commanding personality. Foundation members of many of our big Churches are still those who have.big money and not necessarily holy life which is expected by some Churches' Commandments and Laws. Let us look at the things around us very critically. Take the case of a man on a salary of E300 p.a. who has so many storey-buildin s in town. Did he win any football pools? If so; ow much? If he did not, where did he get the thousands of money to erect suchmagnificientbuildings? Some Civil Servants, politicians and parliamentarians are living beyond their income. They do things that are not commensurate with their salaries..Some. parliamentarians spend more - time in erecting buildings than in facing the duty of the state. And yet theseaare the people who, speak loudest about honesty in public life! What is more, they speak of economy measures which will cancel car advances and basic allowances. They talk of cutting down the salaries of some. people and support every measurc that will tighten up the benefits that can go to some workers. Are these people honest? 1 have my doubts.. You see, I am speaking about haman masquerade. Human hypocrisy is a world-wide cancer. Take a look around you nowadays. Human strivings and uprisings which bring about the crises of human history are nothing but the echoes of personalities who seek more and more freedom to express their innate longings. Just look at what is going on in Kuwait, Algeria, Tunisia, South Africa, Angola, Congo, Loas, Tibet. Germany, to count a few! Recall to mind some past p r o n o u n c e m e n t s of some world powers and then try to reconcile them with their a c t i o n s. f �34 COCKTAIL LADIPS Great Britain condemns South Africa's apartheid policy but always abstains from voting against it in n international conferences. Portugal's l a s s a c r e of Africans in Angola is equally condemned by Britain but yet the same Britain sold her air-crafts to Portugal and promised her more military equipments and training. In ihe meantime, she (Britain) is doing a yeoman's job in maintaining peace and order in Kuwait; The same Britain pleaded foi' the retention of South Africa in the Commonwealth when every Commonwealth c o u n t r y (except Australia) wanted South African to quit the Organisation. Look at the almighty Russia! Their scientific prowess and i n v e n t i o n s not withstanding,.they are a people with a double face. Their cry, as far as Africa is concerned, is against imperialism. At the last session of the United Nations Assembly, Russia moved for an end of colonialism in Africa and Asia. This was a laudable note struck by Nikita Kruschev as far as the Afro-Asian block was concerned. Nevertkeless, Russia should let her c h a r i t y begin at home by liberating her Communist colony of Eastern Europe. We still remember the incidents of Hungary. How do we then reconcile Europzan imperialism or American r x e prejudice or Russian ruthless and goodless dictatorship or French high- haudedness and brutality or Portugal's atrocities in Angola or South Africn's inhuman policy of apartheid with their leaders' mere pronouncements,and vociferous utterences of equalitj, liberty and the brotherhood of nations? Don't you see that it is all a sham? There is no sincerity and honesty in the things we do nowadays. We simply play to the gallery and become i n our particular ways mere Pharisees and S c r i b s Is there any wonder .;herefore the unrest that now blows across the world? ,The trouble in' the world t o d a y is double-faced dealings. The powtr blocks are the money magnets. �THOSE HYPOCRITIES IN OUR MIDST 35 Quite liberally, they deal out largess to the beggar countries in the hope of buying over their affiliation. To this end, they will go any lenght in assisting the gigantic projects of under-developed countries. We should not be imposed by appearances and mere utterances. We should always check our impulses and moderate our desires. Let us keep reason in her own power and be not satisfied with superficial view of things. We should penetrate into the matter, form and end of everything. A little analysis will always show us the true nature of things or the perosons we eacounter. In Nigeria today, the posts we hold should not make us feel that the world is in our hands. We should be honest with ourselves. False-living cannot help. �Chapter Four ACCIDENTS ON OUR ROADS. oday I a m all taxi lorry Tpedestrains. appealing ttoall these andboys,todrivers, car owners, truck pushers, cattle cyclists I wan people please and lend me their ears. Every day our hospitals are full of cases of serious accidents. In. many cases limbs are maimed, legs fractured, heads broken, faces defaced. Besides, many are the unidentified bodies that lie in our mortuaries. The frequency of untimely deaths on our roads today is alarming. Who are responsible? Negligent and reckless drivers, self-styled expert taxi-drivers and bogus death-proof lorry-drivers. What a blessing it is to travel! What joy to leave our little comers, our smiling fields and rich woods, our hills and mountains that abound with sweet valleys, rivers, lakes and the peace of such places, just for a change of sight! What a happiness to leave our islands. heaths, churches, cathedrals, work places, friends and many a spot that has become immortalised in the history of our country, just for 2 travel to other places like these! But yet. what an uncertain venture this can prove nowadays? Many indeed have left their houses so happily for a little travel but never returned. They were trapped by death on account of the so many accidents on our roads nowadays. Many a time, a whole family is affected. Sometimes, a school team becomes the victim. Death waits for us everywhere on our roads today. Our taxi and lorry drilers have no feeling for other users of thz road. They have no manners a n d obey no �ACCIDENTS ON OUR ROADS 37 . traffic and high-way codes. "I can drive myself and my wife can drive too" they shout wherever they see one driving one's own car. With this nonsensical e'aculation they make it impossible for the car owner* driver to use the road peacefully with them For this reason they occupy the centre of the road some of which are very narrow) and expect the "I can drive myself" to enter the bush simply to overtake them or to be overtaken. As the edges of our roads are in many cases rugged, death is just around tho corner. i Much has been written about a c e i d e n t s on Nigerian roads. Much too has been spoken, but the position is still the same. No amount of writing or speaking can do without a change of heart on the part of the taxi and lorry drivers. Nothing can be achieved without a fellow-feeling for other use= of the road like us and the passengers in those "Gwongworo Buses" or Ranch wagon taxi cabs. How can a driver of a mammy wagon or a 403 Peugeot taxi cab ( a ranch wagcln of a type ) with three quarters ( 2 ) of his body outside the window and at a speed of 60 to 70 m.p.h. c o n t r.o 1 his car when. another one is just around the corner? The speed of our drivers is terrible. What are they after? To get rich quick? I wonder, because sometimes more haste is less speed. Make a trip from Enugu to Onitsha or to Aba, or to Port-Harcourt or to Oron. Alternatively cross the River Niger to Asaba and embark for Lagos or travel from the ninth mile corner at Enu u to Jos. After that trip, if you are lucky to return, o m your own opinion. Imagine a driver of a five ton mammy wagon from Jos to Onitsha, sitting above the wheels, with the wagon's body some eight to ten feet high and open, racing like a sputnik: B �38 ACCIDENT ON OUR ROADS Under full load, the speed is anything between 60 and 70 m.p.h. and to show how hardy, tough and deathproof these drivers are, they control steering with one of their body to hand and remove three quarters the window. With this train load and tens of human beings perched on top of the loads, t h e s e drivers speed day and night.-under rain and sun. At night there is nothing like dimming of light nor a lessening of speed for any other approaching vehicles. And yet in the event of any accident some of these calous beings escape unhurt. Good God! (a) Recently a gentleman went home for the week-end in his own car. As he was returning to Enugu, ~ f t e r Udi, anddescendinga hill, he met his fate. An oncoming mammy wagon with its light- undimmed was coming with such a terrific speed. To avoid the danger, the gentleman tried to slow down and negotiate an overtaking by the side. Unfortunately there was a ditch near by. The light had dazzled his eyes. He therefore could not see a foot ahead and down he went in a crash. The gentleman is still in the hospital. The sorrowful aspect of it was that the driver of that nlammy wagon steamed past like a train engine. He did not stop. He did not even care to know if. the young man died or lived. It might be that he had insured his life from God and will not die again. Yet one day presents us with a book of all our records and we-must give account of our s t e w a r d ~ h i ~ here on earth. If you go to Lagos by road, it is a hair-raising adveature. Timber lorries are just the counter-parts of mammy wagons from Jos to Onitsha. Thcsc timber lorries carry such loads that w o u 1 d m$ke a good cargo for any ship. Yet with these loads, the drivers speed to pass any small cars. There is never a journey �from Lagos to Asaba or vice versa in which you can fail to see these monstrous human beings at their worst speed. If you escape them, then you are lucky, indeed very lucky. Every day on our roads there is such a fantastic watage of human lives. The amount of human blood that has been shed on the altar of Nizerian roads should have by now been sufficient to appease the god of calousness which our lorry and taxi drivers worship. What is to be done? My suggestions are as follows:The issuing of licences should now be reviewed. Driving tests should now be made very strict. Age (say between 22-30 years) should count very much, not declared age but real or apparent. The senses of the body should be all correct. A school of driving should be immediately established like many other trade schools. The basic qualification should be Standard Six pass, so that every driver should know how to read and write and also know the parts of the devil (the machine) which he is manipulating. The penalty for reckless driving should be severe. Licences can be withdrawn indefinitely. The police should be more on their alert in their sacred duties to check recalcitrant drivers and bring them to the warm embrace of the law. Their Accident Prevention Vans should be more. The taxi drivers that prove so rude and insolent could be taught good m a n n e r s and fellow-feeling in the "cell" for at least a day. It is no c r i me to have a car and to drive it by oneself. It is a point to be proud of and emulated so as to practise economy and humility. There used to be too much bigmanism in the past. We can't now afford the luxury of a class d i s t i n c t i o n by employing a dtiver, a .car washer, a mechanic, a car packer and what not: simply to maintain a car that will take us to our offices. From where will all that money �came to pay the legicn of servants or. do you call them employees? The time of senior eervice false living is far past. Let taxi and lorry drivers understand this once and for all and stop the nonsense of those cat-calls "I can drive myself and my. wife can drive too". Another cause of frequent accidents on our roads are truck pushers. "Ugbarugba"1 These people declare themselves outlaws and occupy the centre of road with all their ears deaf to car horns., T h e slightest admonition you give them. they leave their trucks for you, making sure that you must- have damaged your car on then). These people are so unfeeling and to some extent very stupid. They appear disgruntled with everybody and yet nobody forced them to that brand of occupation. For how long must our government tolerate this danger on our roads? Can't the police go out now and remove those saucy fellows that appear incapablq of any good reasoning.? The p e d e s t r i a n s ' path is too wide for their trltcks. The plea that they have licence, like anybody else, is sheer nonsense. Surely they have not licenses to threaten the lives of other users of the road. Will the police look into this menace and bundle all of them to the normal pit in their. charge office for questioning and prosecution? here is yet another group. There are cow boys. I don't. mean American Cow boys or t h o s e who imitate them here in Nigerie. I mean those Hausa boys or men who drive around Nama Cows. Many a time, traffic c o m e s to a standstill because the animals have secured the right of the way, and that, the whole road. What can you do? Can you fight the cows? Can you collide them with your car? If you try the collision you will for ever regret your folly and that may .be in another .world. Have you ever seen the sight where a Nama Cow capsizes a car? It is .in awful sight. Many a time the animal goes �ACCIDEXTS ON OUR ROADS 4 1 unhurt. The'mischief or damage which the horns of that devil can do is shocking. Something should be done about these careless and carefree Hausa chaps who tend these cows. By all means these cows should not share the same road with man. Many a tinle one runs away from the fold and constitutes a danger to lives, especially children. Many people have run against a vehicle in an attempt to run away from the animals. It is like flying from the frying pan into the fire. Sheep can be such a menace too. But been sheep they remain and act like sheep. People should keep their sheep at home. Recently I had the misfortune to to wrestle with one while I was riding. I had reached the ground before I realised what had happened. To continue with my suggestions to limit the number of accidents on our roads, I suggest that taxi and lorry drivers should no more be fined in courts for reckless driving but imprisoned at least for upwards of three months, and with hard labour. In addition their licences should be withdrawn. They might become sober thereafter. Strict measures should be taken by our governments to chcck this newest threat to human life in Nigeria today. The roads should be widened and tarred too. Control posts should be established at every fifteen miles distance. I mean leaving police men on duty at these posts to check the speed of the lorries that pass. We are to face facts if we are to exist as an independent people. Threats to human life and property cannot do. We must eschew such impression that our lives are so unsafe on our roads. 'There is also the menace of tipper lorries that b carry sand. To this group can : added those foolish people who carry planks or wood acrcss roads without l~okingboth ways. �42 COCKTAIL LAblES In the passing, let me call attention to another way of checking accidents. Mothers should take care of their children and warn them from playing, walking, singing and dancing on the roads. 'I'hz worst practice of these kids nowadays is to stand at the side of the roads and throw stones at passing cars. Sometimes they gibber and mimic thedrivers of passing cars. School teachers can help too. Pastors can even use the pulpit to sound notes of warning. We have to help ourselves. The police cannot do all things for us. All possible avenues should be' explored to lower the rate of mortality on our roads. As for old people who find the main roads the best place to discuss their personal problems, I have no sympathy. Personally, I should suggest a little lowering of speed by drivers and then a registering of sound strokes of the cane and then push along. Old pcople shoud know better. . It was one of such foolish men that cost the llfe of a .Nigerian Barrister at Ogbaku, in Owerri Division. Some people may frown at this suggestion but we can't continue to suffer because of stupid people who turn the main roads into picnic grounds. There are sitll other road users I want to address. They are the gentlemen cyclists and pedestrians. Pedestrians shoukd keep to their paths, look both ways before crossing roads whether in big towns or in rural areas. Cyclists should not claim to be out-laws because they have no cars. All of us can't ride cars no matter our individual ambitions. As for the "1 can drive myself", 1 suggest that they continue to show good examples. They s h o u 1d give lifts liberally but not with any ulterior i.lotives as is the case with most of them when they see ladies. As a matter or fact our private car owner-drivers appear to give more lifts to girls, ladies afid women t.han to their fellow men. �Funny enough, 1 have not seen an owner-driven car (a woman) give a lift to a man. Why? Finally, I believe that the best.. suggestion is to appeal to our sense o f fellow-feeling, .respect and love. Afterwards, all of us are capable of death. Let us therefore be honest, fellow-feeling and respectful to one another. O r independence can mean more u that way. �V E ARE VERY SUPERSTI'IIOUS V INthis series of talks, attempts have been made to spotlight existing shortcomings in our community. The target has not been any partict?ly individual nor a group or class of people, but the society in which we live. The series are given in good faith, in the spirit of "if the cap fits you, then wear it". I make this explanatory note because many of us listen but do not hear; read but do not uilderstand. Some of us talk of decency when we don't even understand the true connotation of that word. Many a time, many of us rush to destructive criticisms because our sex or relations are concerned. We therefore fail to consider the matter at issue with unbiased minds. In the end, we succeed to make big fools of ourselves because truth, no matter how many times frowned upon, will 'nevertheless remain truth. Why therefore complain? The facts around us must be faced no matter how bitter or disagreeable to some people. If we fail to face these facts, we shall be deceiving ourselves. But time for deceit is past. We are now faced with the responsibility of nation building. How can we do that in the spirit of hypocrisy? My series of talks are therefore out to cater for how best to correct and amend those bad ways of living of our society. Today I direct your attention to some superstitious practices in our lives. "Fear is the bogy of the African. Fear causes the African to become superstitious. Fear causes the African to believe in ghosts, in witches, in wizards, in fairies, in evil spirits!! As a �result we live in a state of fear. 'Ti~is, the author of "Renascent Africa" thought made the African petty and small minded. But that was his opinion ~n 1937 and backwards. Whether, t h i s is still his opinion today is another question. Nevertheless, look around you for your own opinion. Evidences still abound. - What is superstition? It is a godless religion or a very devout impiety. To understand what superstition clearly means, a close study of a superstitious person is necessary. The person is always fond of observation. He is very servile in fear, worships God as he likes, giving Him what He asks not, or at times, more than God ever commands. Such a person does not move an inch further in his journey whenever a stump strikes against his left toe. That is a bad omen! ~f he continues his journzy, he will meet with bad luck. And that "bad luck", what is it? Superstition of its own class, no doubt. If he sneezes, he crosses his breast with the sign of the Cross and thinks that some loved one or relation has just remembered him. Already his mind is clicking that way. He listens to all sorts of cries of birds and knows those that mean imminent dreadful events. If his eye-lids begin to shiver continously, then he thinks someone to dear to him will die. Every dream consequently has a significance and he has r e a d y interpretation for all of t h e m. In his own, he believes himself a Joseph of the Old Testament. His life is so ruled by phenomena. A Yogi such as he is, he lives in constant fear of the unknown. Superstition portrays a man i g n o r a n t, timid, gullible, prude and stupid. In Nigeria today, superstition has become in many parts, a canker-worm that is eating far deep into the f a b r i c s of our people's way of life and beliefs. A c e r t a i n bird, �46 COCKTAIL LADIES black throughout, ("fairy bird") that cries at midnight is throught to bc a witch. If a person is sick and an owl cries on top of his housc. then the sick man must die. A boil on the eye-lid is supposed to be a sign of mis~rliness on the part ~f th: suffcrcr. If y o u have a slip w h i l e eating. then y o u r ancestors have required that morscl focd that fe!l off. But we :zIl know "therc is many a siip betweerr the cup and the mouth." Why therefore must oar ancestors interfere? Can they t e so hungry, bcing incorporeal? Ignor.~ncc i:, ihe father of mischief for when people do not know. inischief makers find thenl easy prey. There arz instances of healing by magic. People prefer dark mixtures and incantations to hospital treatment. There are still cases of dctermining truth by drinking from "a certain bowl". Caszs of "juju mei!accP arc still frequent. Nowadays they even reai their ugly heads in courts of law and interfere in the administration of justice. Baren women travel long d i s t a n c c s to drink from "certain waters" in certain dark woods.. These dark waters are capable of giving them children. At least that is their hope. Where that fails, a zertain religion that operates at midnight causes the baren women to be locked up (possibly with certain men members of that religious body) and prayers said for lheir productivity. Even now, in every big township, this religious body operates. The fun is that many educated people are staunch members and they b:lieve they see visions and dream dreams. God help us. That is all wc can say when our. govern~nentshave not thought of the advisability of looking irlto how all these late-conier religious bodies operate. May be that is freedoll1 of worship! are warned In some partsof the lbo-land, not to v~!listlc 3t night. Why? For ofcvil spirits. 1.f rear �WE ARE VERY SUPERSTmOUS 47 Why? For the fear of evil spirits. A snake is never called by its name at night because it will hear. It is rather called a string. If you are bitten by a snake at night you dare not say a snake has bitten you; rather, a string has stung you. If you dare say a snake has bitten you, then you become so ill with the bite that you cannot move an inch before falling down, and perhaps dead. In either case, whether you fall down dead or alive or walk away with the pain of the snake bite, the snake is sure to follow you that night to whereever you go: even if you climb a house-top or fly to the sky if possible. Why does the snake track your trails and dog your heels? Is it a Nemesis? Well, t o get a hair from your head. If it fails to get this hair, it dies. And this is a belief. Believe it or not, it is still some people's ardent belief. If you have not heard of "Ogbanje" (re-incarnation) then know now that there are people who will argue with you throughout a day, convinced that there is "Ogbanje". But what is "Ogbanje"? It is a belief that some wicked children are born; they die and enter their mothers' wombs to be born again, and continue this ever-lasting circle of birth and death. Some believe ihat thunder can be sent from one place to another by human beings to 'commit havoc.. Even "rain-m. kers" are said to have thepower tomake lightningor thunder during the process of rain making. They have only to strike something (perhaps a banana stump) on the face of the "rain-stone ' and the devil goes up to the sky as"Amadiora"-the god of thunder-ready for any mission of mischief. The belief that people change to a leopard or any olhq animal for that niatter is not new. You have Only to deny this belief .n Ib~bio land of Eastern Nigeria and stand your ground, if you cdn? ' �48 COC~CTAIL LADIES' There was indeed a time when this belief CEkpe Awo' or 'Man Lcopard 'Society') was such a menace. Many lives wcrc lost through the. fear of this Society's atroc7ties. But thanks to the Government's timely i n t e r v e n t i o n into that Society's devilish machinations. Superstition includes exorcism, witch-craft; the power of ghosts, spirits and fairies. If a s o u 1 departed begin; to wander in the like~ess a man of or woman by night, tormenting people; then someone must go to his tomb and stop him from coming out again. Some people even go to the length of exhuming the body and burning it. This is to make sure it will not disturb again. 'Yet a spirit has no body nor substance! It can therefore not be burnt. I t is just like taking arms against a ravaging flood; shooting guns at it, nlatcheting it and as a last resort, slapping it with both hands. Of-course the flood flows on and. if care is not taken, it will do worse damage. "Juju doctors", magicians, charmers, exorcists etc. help to promote superstition in our midst. This position has made the ground very fertile for ''rnmeydoublers", "wonder-men", "sevcn-sevens", "once a year" etc. to carry around their wares of cheat and fraud. The trouble is that we are too gullible. How many civil servants today still be:ieve that promotions can't be got without charms? How many students today still believe that examinations can't be passed without charms? Did you not hear recently of a school b o y a t Onitsha whose head was set on fire by a magician. The poor boy simply wanted to pass his examination the easy way. How many christians today still bclicve in 660do" or 'Ogbanje" and gird the waists of their children with supposcd antidotes? You have only to examine so many children, . �What is that small parccLaround their waists, necks or arms? What are those marks on their boZys fcr? Pcrhaps tribal 1r.m ks! Civilization and educaticn 51-ould by now havc endcwcd us with the power to makc thc dark places of our minds bright. Why must we remain so gullible? Why must a certain dye ("Uri") be uscd round the ankles, knees, elbows, necks, etc. to curc us from the attack of measles when we can go to the hospital to be treated? Wc have to fight and wage a lifelong battle against thc hrces of darkness. Anything that turns thc edge of our reason blunts thc surest and most pot:nt of our weapons. Simple psy&ology t( 1 s us 1I1;1.1 most of our stlpers1 tition is a direct resultof our fears. There are many certain events in life which must come to pass. Thes.: changes and events are ice~litoble. It is hopeless to fight against thtm or try lo avert them. Why must libatiiolls be liovrcd, drums tcaten and dances staged only to win a Coo:-ball ' match? Why must certain foot-ball playcrs eliter a stadiun~ with their backs or climb in over thc stadium walls? Why must innocent spectators be searched because they were suspectcri to be "charm-men"? Why nlust a case in court be adjourned bewusc of "'juju's" interference? Why must readers first look up what the stars say i n llic Newsplper? Why ~ u s t cvery death bc ascribcd to witch-cral't, poison or "Ogbanje"? Why do pcoplc still go lo -'juju dortors" for their future determination? Why must effciency not deteiminc pron:otions rather than charms? Why must 'girls nct love boys without the intervention of "pins of love" or low pnwders and mirrors'? Let us think on these things and slop fooling ourselves. Superstition is the biggest weakness of any man. It makes. us look so little, pdty, suspicious and fearful. �50 COCKTAIL LADIES Recently I had an argument with a certain "power." He claimed to know everything. I asked him toconsult his "powers" so that I would win £75,000 in the football pools. He did and said that his "power" showed him all the teams that would play "draw" but forbade him.from using them because they would be discovered in England when his coupon reached there. Poor ignorant man! He has not realised his folly yet. He still believes in his powers..It always needs knowledge and courege when you are faced with some of these obnoxious superstitions. Remember always that superstition, like lawyers' houses, is built on f m l s heads. Are you superstitious? Well, look around yourscll' in self examination. We all or nearly of us all :;\kt fair number of chances in life. Often we,do not know enough to be able to take them. We even some times pass them by, unconscious that they exist at all. But '"opportunity comes only once. If it is not utilised, no amount of superstitions will bring it back. 'Trying to bring back passed chances is like taking arms against the sea and trying to stop it from flowing. But the hand of time writers and passes on. In conclusion, let me draw your attention to possible things that often exaggerate the possibility of truth in superstition. Many people, through melancholy. imagine that they see visions, spirits, ghosts or hear strznge voices. Why mtist a widow not imagine that sl-c saw her beloved husband when she is left all alone in this world of woe and tears? After-words her minds is all wrapped in and consumed with thoughts of the drpnrted loved one. But then can her imagination be i reality? "Between the ideal and the reality lies i t.42 shadow." It is all a shadow and never once a stibstilnce of her loved husband. Some people too. �through some imperfection of sight, see doubles in everything. They are even afraid of their own shadows, Some people, again, through the weakness of their bodys have such imperfect imaginations. Take the case of a drunken man. He sees trees moving and men walking upside down. The world is a merry-goround in his brain. His images are circles for ever going round and round. How can such a man not see devils and swear that they were a legion? Once again, it is his imagination under that unkind treatment of Mr. "Bachus." Superstition however is not peculiar to Africa. It is a world wide malady. It dominated England of Shakespeare's time. This can be seen in some of that immortal's works like the witches in "Macbeth' ghosts in "Hamlet" and "Julius Caeser" and fairies in Mid summer Night's Dream. The Indians are heavily addicted too. They have charms and rings for every thing. Every irregular movement of the elements has a meaning. All phenomena have meanings. America is not even free "D Lawrence" affair and other Red Indians' wrong beliefs are still existing. The Irish had their "leprechons" (fairies). France, Spain, Portugal and Russia are not free. Superstition is inherent in mankind but appears more pronounced in Afrcia. This should not be. The African should not be petty and small minded because of his fear and gullibility. This is 20th Century; an age of science and outer space explorations. This is an age that cuts across aU barriers of superstition. �� Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Onitsha Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Cocktail ladies Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Nkwoh, Marius Type The nature or genre of the resource Onitsha market literature Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Nsukka, Nigeria ; Enugu ; Onitsha : M.U.E. Nkwoh Language A language of the resource English Subject The topic of the resource Nigerian literature (English) Women Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context ksrl.c3299 Description An account of the resource This pamphlet is compiled from broadcasts made by Nkwoh over the Eastern Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation network. According to the introduction written by V. C. J. Mbah, these broadcasts, a combination of an editorial and a talk show, were deemed fairly controversial. Nkwoh's positions on these issues, however, were considered to be well informed. <br /><br />Each chapter is a separate broadcast and the pamphlet's title comes from the second chapter about "<em>cocktail ladies</em>." This broadcast discusses a group of women known as cocktail ladies, a class that Nkwoh purports to be career women who have abandoned the idea of marriage and live off of sugar daddies and big men. Nkwoh describes them as " human parasites, lazy drones, and good for nothings," (pg.19). Deceived by feminism and the promises of a fleeting beauty,these women "infest" every walk of life they now occupy, (pg.22). Nkwoh points to feminism as the main culprit, for it misleads "cocktail ladies" into thinking that women can and want to do everything that men do, (pg.18). As a result, these women have become "birds of passage or changelings to every big man,"according to the author, (pg.21).&nbsp;<br /><br />In pursuing their "radical" lifestyle, cocktail ladies contract diseases, lose husbands, serious boyfriends and jobs, and fail to play their true and proper role in society as dutiful assistants. Nkwoh explains, "Women are made to help and not to nag, sap or impoverish men. They should not be a burden, nor nuisance, nor articles of commerce. There is still plenty of time for our women to think twice," (pg.24). However, he continues "<em>they should now face the facts around them and consider their life past, now and to come [...] Nobody can ever cheat nature . . . I am advising those of them that are youthful enough and still marriageable to go now and marry,</em>" (pg.26). Other chapters include broadcasts about night marauders, hypocrites "in our midst," road accidents and superstitions. Originally presented in a series of talks called "Facing the facts around us" that were broadcast over the Eastern Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource [1961] Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. However, for this Item, either (a) no rights-holder(s) have been identified or (b) one or more rights-holder(s) have been identified but none have been located. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-RUU/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-RUU/1.0/</a> https://exhibits.lib.ku.edu/files/original/32c146e6a96445401123ef53a28834ba.pdf eed6f99b3afe55672e91b8a9dcc7c0e6 PDF Text Text Title: Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities Introduction The Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities was originally adopted by the Student Senate, approved by the Chancellor in 1970, revised in 1986 and revised at a minimum biannually thereafter for the University of Kansas, Lawrence campus. The Code, presented here in its entirety, is subject to amendment by the Student Senate with the approval of the Chancellor. Any activity, policy, rule or regulation for the implementation of this code is subject to the approval of the Chancellor and the Board of Regents as provided by law and the University Senate Code. Section I: Philosophy of Student Rights and Responsibilities The University of Kansas is committed to fostering a campus environment that is conducive to academic inquiry, a productive campus life and thoughtful study and discourse. The University, through the Student Conduct program, is committed to an educational and developmental process that balances the interests of individual students with the interests of the University community. Students are guaranteed written notification of an alleged violation of this Code; a fair hearing, which shall include confrontation of information against the student or organization and the assistance of persons of the student’s or organization’s own choosing, and appeal as outlined in Non- academic Conduct Procedures: http://policy.ku.edu/student-affairs/non-academic-student- conduct At the University of Kansas, student members of the community are expected to uphold and abide by certain standards of conduct that form the basis of the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities. These standards are embodied by a set of core values that include Respect, Community, Integrity, and Responsibility. All members of the campus community bear responsibility for their conduct. As members of the University community, students are expected to adhere to all published rules, regulations and policies. Additionally, residents of Student Housing should be familiar with Student Housing regulations (http://housing.ku.edu/media/handbook). Students also are obligated to the laws of the city, county, state and nation. Registered organizations are expected to adhere to the same standards of conduct as students. The student conduct process is not intended to punish students; rather, it exists to protect the rights of the community. The rights and privileges of the individual are also components of a community. These rights are protected with vigilance equal to the enforcement of rules and procedures. When a student is unable to conform their behavior to community expectations and the underlying values that establish those community expectations, the resulting student conduct process may determine the student should no longer share in the privilege of participating in this community. Section II: Definitions As Used in this Code The term “University” means the University of Kansas, Lawrence campus, and all its educational operations (including the Edwards Campus and those outside of Kansas) except for the operations of the KU Medical Center. A. The term “student” includes all persons enrolled at the University, as defined above. This also includes individuals who confirm their intent to enroll in programs or attend orientation sessions, regardless of whether the individual is actually enrolled, and those who were enrolled at the date of an alleged incident. In addition, persons who withdraw after allegedly violating the Student Code or �who are not officially enrolled for a particular term but who have a continuing relationship with the university are considered “students.” B. The term “instructor” means any person hired by the institution to conduct educational activities. In certain situations, a person may be both student and instructor. Determination of student status in a particular situation shall be by the attendant facts. C. The term “organization” means any registered group of University of Kansas. D. The term “student press” means either an organization whose primary purpose is to publish and distribute any publication on campus or a regular publication of an organization. E. The term weapon is defined in the University’s Weapons policy. http://policy.ku.edu/provost/weapons-on-campus F. The term “jurisdiction” applies to behavior (1) on University premises; (2) at University sponsored activities; (3) off-campus when the behavior affects the on-campus safety of a member of the University community or University operations; or (4) when the University is required by law to address the behavior. G. The term “University Community” shall refer to Students, Faculty, Staff, and affiliates of the University of Kansas as defined per the University of Kansas Human Resources Affiliates policy: http://humanresources.ku.edu/affiliates Section III: Rights The following enumeration of rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage other rights retained by students in their capacity as members of the student body or as citizens of the community at large: A. Free inquiry, expression, and assembly are guaranteed to all students. This includes the right of student press to be free of censorship. Its editors, managers and contributors must be protected from arbitrary sanctions. A student, group, or organization may hand out written material on campus without prior approval. �1. Campus Expression: Discussion and expression of all views are permitted within the University, subject only to the Board of Regents and University Policy requirements for the maintenance of order. Support of any cause by orderly and peaceful means that does not disrupt the operation of the institution is permitted. This Article shall be construed in conjunction with Articles Section III (I) and Section VI (B)(5). This article shall include discussion and expression of all views that are communicated through, but not limited to, oral, written, and/or electronic means of communication. 2. Students, groups, and organizations may invite and hear any persons of their own choosing, subject only to the requirements for use of University facilities. B. Students are free to pursue their educational goals; appropriate opportunities for learning in the classroom and on the campus shall be provided by the University. C. The right of students to be free from harassment or discrimination, as outlined in University policies. Sexual Harassment Policy: http://policy.ku.edu/IOA/sexual-harassment Racial and Ethnic Harassment Policy: http://policy.ku.edu/IOA/racial-ethnic- harassment-policy Discrimination Complaint Resolution Process http://policy.ku.edu/IOA/discrimination-complaint-resolution D. Students have the same rights of privacy as any other person and surrender none of these rights by becoming members of the academic community. This includes the right to be secure in their persons, living quarters, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches, and seizures. Electronic communication has privacy protection subject to the KU Acceptable Use of Electronic Information Resources. http://policy.ku.edu/IT/AcceptableUse 1. Nothing in the institutional relationship or University housing contract shall expressly or by implication give the institution or University officials authority to consent to a search of a student's room by police or other governmental officials. 2. When the institution seeks access to a student's living quarters in any facility operated by Student Housing to determine compliance with provisions of applicable multiple dwelling unit laws or for improvement or repairs, or during academic breaks, the occupant shall be notified of such �action not less than twenty-four hours in advance. 3. The notice of entry shall be delivered in both physical and email form. 4. The notice of entry must explicitly state the following: “There is a potential for criminal prosecution in the event that items are found if the possession of said items would be in violation of federal, state, or local law, or University policies.” 5. There may be entry without notice in emergencies when imminent danger to life, safety, health, or property is reasonably feared. E. Students are held to the same level of academic, research, and publication integrity as are faculty and other University affiliated researchers. F. Students may not be required to take examinations and tests, including final examinations, which occur in conflict with religious observances, provided the students notify their instructors at the beginning of the semester, as specified in University Senate Rules and Regulations; so, alternate dates may be arranged. G. Academic evaluation of student performance shall not be prejudicial, capricious, arbitrary, or be based, in whole or in part, upon a student’s race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression and genetic information. H. Discussion and expression of all views relevant to the subject matter are permitted in the classroom, subject to the responsibility of the instructor to maintain an efficacious learning environment. Information about a student's views, beliefs, and political associations acquired in the course of instruction, advising, and counseling, by the University, is confidential and is not to be disclosed to others unless permitted by law or by written consent of the student. I. The right of orderly and peaceful protest within the University community must be preserved. The University retains the right to assure the safety of individuals, the protection of property, and the continuity of the educational process including the maintenance of entrance to and egress from all University buildings and offices, conduct of regular class meetings and other University functions. 1. Orderly picketing and other forms of peaceful protest are protected activities on University premises in the absence of interference with free passage through areas where members of the University community have a right to be or with the orderly conduct of University business. �2. Peaceful picketing and other orderly demonstrations are permitted in public areas of University buildings, including corridors, outside auditoriums and other places set aside for public meetings. 3. Every student enrolled in the University has the right to be interviewed on campus by any organization, employer, government agency, or educational entity that desires to recruit at the campus. Any student or group of students has the right to protest against the appearance on campus of any organization, employer, government agency, or educational entity provided that the protest does not interfere with any other student's right or opportunity to have such an interview or the University’s operations. For the purposes of this section, the term “organization” is not defined as stated in the definitions section. J. The University of Kansas provides for the protection of the educational records as required by law, Regents' regulations and University policies, rules and regulations as outlined by the University’s Student Records Policy. http://policy.ku.edu/registrar/student-record-policy K. The University of Kansas is committed to the success of all students, including those who experience a mental health crisis and/or disorder of any kind. Students are held accountable for their behavior. Students are protected from disciplinary action based solely upon a mental health condition. Students’ mental health conditions must be taken into consideration if disciplinary action is deemed necessary. Section IV: Senate Activity Fee The Student Senate has the authority to allocate University funds designated as the Student Senate Activity Fee subject to the approval of the Chancellor or the Chancellor's designee and the Kansas Board of Regents. Only registered student organizations, campus organizations, or University sponsored or contracted activities may receive an allocation from the Student Senate Activity Fee. Approval of requests for such funds shall be conditioned upon submission of budgets to, and approval by, the Student Senate. Where such funds are allocated, financial accountability shall be required. Section V: Violation of Law and University Discipline If a violation of federal, state or local law or ordinance occurs and is also a violation of a published university regulation, the university may initiate its own proceedings against an offender who may be subjected to criminal prosecution. Proceedings under the Code may be carried out prior to, simultaneously with or following civil or criminal proceedings without regard to the pendency of civil or criminal litigation in court or criminal arrest and prosecution. Section VI: Non-Academic Misconduct Students and organizations are expected to conduct themselves as responsible members of the University community. Students and organizations are subject to disciplinary action for violations of laws, published policies, rules and regulations of the University and Kansas �Board of Regents, and for the following rules related to the values of the University where the university has jurisdiction: A. Students are expected to show positive regard for each other and for the community. Behavior that violates the core value of Respect includes, but is not limited to: 1. Sexual Misconduct that includes sexual harassment and sexual violence as defined by http://policy.ku.edu/IOA/sexual-harassment 2. Retaliation as defined as any behavior, direct or indirect, taken to or attempt to harass, intimidate, or improperly influence any individual associated with the student conduct process or any other University grievance or complaint process. 3. Discrimination as defined by http://policy.ku.edu/IOA/discriminationcomplaint-resolution 4. Harm to Persons: causing physical harm or endangering the health or safety of any person. 5. Threatening Behaviors: A. Written or verbal conduct that causes a reasonable expectation of injury to the health or safety of any person or damage to property. B. Intimidation defined as implied threats or acts that cause a reasonable person fear of harm of any person. 6. Bullying and Cyberbullying: repeated and/or severe aggressive behaviors that intimidate or harm or control another person physically or emotionally, and are not protected by freedom of expression. 7. Stalking as defined as a course of conduct directed at a specific person that is unwelcome and would cause a reasonable person to feel fear. 8. Intimate Partner/Relationship Violence: violence or abuse by a person in an intimate relationship with another. The term “intimate partner violence” is defined to mean any physical, sexual, or psychological harm against an individual by a current or former partner or spouse of the individual. It would include stalking, dating violence, sexual violence, or domestic violence. 9. Hazing: engaging in hazing of another person for the purpose of initiation or admission into, affiliation with, or continuation of membership in any organization operating under the sanction of the University. Hazing includes, but is not limited to, any action, activity or situation which recklessly, negligently or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health, welfare or safety of a person, creates excessive fatigue, sleep deprivation, mental or physical discomfort, exposes a person to extreme embarrassment or ridicule, �involves personal servitude, destroys or removes public or private property, or implicitly or explicitly interferes with the academic requirements or responsibilities of a student. It is presumed that hazing is a forced activity regardless of the apparent willingness of an individual to participate in the activity. Apathy or acquiescence in the presence of hazing is not neutral; both are violations of this rule. B. Students are expected to build and enhance the University Community. Behavior that violates the core value of Community includes, but is not limited to: 1. Weapons: possession or immediate control over a firearm, explosive, or weapon, in violation of the University’s weapons policy or federal or state weapons laws. Full list of weapons is defined in http://policy.ku.edu/provost/weapons-on-campus 2. Unauthorized Entry: entering the facilities or uses the facilities of another person or the University without proper consent or authorization. 3. Fire Safety: misuses, damages or alters any firefighting or other safety equipment, causes a false alarm by the misuse of firefighting or other safety equipment, failing to evacuate a University facility during a fire alarm, and causing a fire which damages University or personal property and/or causes injury. 4. Damage and Destruction: damage to or destruction of property of the University or personal property of another. 5. Disruption: a student causes or attempts to cause disruption or obstruction of teaching, research, administration, disciplinary proceedings, or other University activities, or other authorized, permitted, or constitutionally protected activities on University premises, including employment, recruitment, and public service functions. 6. Abuse of Conduct Process: a student interferes with, attempts to or improperly influences the established student discipline procedures or process of the University. C. Students are expected to exemplify honesty, honor and respect for the truth in all their dealings. Academic misconduct is addressed under the University Senate Code and University Senate Rules and Regulations. However, behavior that violates the core value of Integrity, includes, but is not limited to: 1. Taking of Property: intentionally and knowingly attempts to take or has in their possession the property of the University or personal property of another, including goods, services and other valuables. �2. Use of Taken Property: intentionally and knowingly uses, misappropriates, or sells the property of another person or the University, including goods, services and other valuables. 3. Falsification: a student, applicant or former student intentionally and knowingly furnishes false or misleading information or records to the University, including the omission of relevant information or is in possession of forged, altered, misrepresentative documents, records, or instruments of identification. 4. Fraud: intentionally and knowingly attempts to obtain or obtains the property or information about the University or of another person by misrepresentation or fraudulent means. 5. Information Technology and Acceptable Use: intentionally and knowingly commits a theft of electronic information, attempts to gain unauthorized access to computer and other electronic resources or misuses University electronic resources. See policy at http://policy.ku.edu/IT/AcceptableUse D. In relation to student rights, students are given and accept a high level of responsibility to self, to others and the community. Behavior that violates the core value of Responsibility includes, but is not limited to: 1. Alcohol and Drugs: students using, possessing, manufacturing, or distributing controlled substances or alcohol, or whose behavior evidences being under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances. See http://policy.ku.edu/human-resources/alcohol-and- drug 2. Violations of Policy: violating other published University policies or rules. E. Registered Organization Organizations through their officers, and/or individual members may be held responsible and sanctioned for conduct in accordance with guidelines established for individual students. In addition, the University may impose educational measures. Section VII: Sanctions and Limitations Listed in order of increasing severity are the sanctions that may be applied to NonAcademic Misconduct offenses. When appropriate, more than one sanction and/or educational measure may be imposed. �1. Warning: Notice in writing that continuation or repetition of conduct found wrongful, within a period of time stated in the warning, may be cause for more severe action. 2. Restitution: Reimbursement for damage to or misappropriation of property. This may take the form of appropriate service or other compensation. 3. Fine: A money payment to a designated University fund. 4. Disciplinary Probation: Disciplinary probation shall have as its purpose the rehabilitation of the student or organization and may include suspension of specified privileges for a definite period not to exceed two years. Disciplinary probation may also require the student or organization to participate in specified activities, including one counseling information session, or may prescribe any program which is deemed just and fair under the circumstances of the incident. The authority imposing this sanction may assign any qualified person within the University community, other than an undergraduate student, to act as a probation supervisor. The probation supervisor shall report periodically to the appointing authority. If the probation supervisor reports the student is not fulfilling probation requirements, the case will be reviewed by the appointing authority and remaining members of the original hearing panel, who may recommend additional sanctions. 5. Campus/Community Service: Students or organizations may be required to complete a specified number of service hours to an identified campus or community agency. The authority imposing this sanction may assign any qualified person to serve as the service supervisor. If the service supervisor reports the student or organization has not fulfilled the service requirements, the case will be reviewed. 6. Interim Suspension: A student or organization may be immediately excluded from classes and/or other University privileges or activities when the student's continued presence on the campus constitutes a danger, or threat of danger, to property, the student, or others. The student will receive a written notice stating the reasons for the interim suspension and the time and place of a hearing to be held within five (5) days at which time the student has an opportunity to show why their continued presence on campus is not a danger. This hearing may also serve as the policy violation hearing. 7. Student Suspension: Exclusion from classes and other University privileges and activities as set out in the order after a hearing, for a definite period not to exceed two years. The conditions of re-admission shall be stated in the order of the suspension. �8. Organization Suspension: Exclusion from University privileges and activities as set out after a hearing, for a definite period not to exceed two years. The conditions of reinstatement shall be stated in the order of suspension. 9. Student Expulsion: Termination of student status for a minimum of two years. The conditions of re-admission, if any, shall be stated in the order of expulsion. 10. Removal of Organization Registration: Termination of registered organization status for a minimum of two years. The conditions of renewal or admission, if any, shall be stated in the order of removal of registration. E. Limitations 1. Any appeal of a hearing shall be directed to the University Judicial Board. 2. All complaints should be filed in accordance with University Senate Rules and Regulations 6.3.1.3. In general, the complaint must be made within six months of the date of the incident. 3. Students or applicants who gain admission to the University through false information may have their admission revoked by Director of Admissions, or by the Dean of the applicable School or College, or their designees. Section VIII: Authority A. The Student Affairs Office has the authority to administer this Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities. B. Subject to the approval of the Chancellor, authority for the development of rules concerning student non-academic conduct resides in the Student Senate pursuant to Article III, Section 5, of the University of Kansas Senate Code. Nothing in this Code shall be construed to be inconsistent with the intent or purpose of the University of Kansas Senate Code or any other published University or Kansas Board of Regents. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 1970: The Year that Rocked KU Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1970 https://exhibits.lib.ku.edu/files/original/48f4f7cab3a3ffcd04b0378794ccadcf.jpg d499e6de2b95a3470b66b9b9307f2a05 Omeka Image File The metadata element set that was included in the `files_images` table in previous versions of Omeka. These elements are common to all image files. Width 980 Height 1306 Bit Depth 8 Channels 3 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Nobel Laureates In Literature Around The Globe Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Coetzee, John M Description An account of the resource African Pens: New writing from Southern Africa. Claremont [South Africa]: Spearhead, 2007. Youth. New York: Penguin Putnam Inc., 2002. Gordimer, Nadine. Crimes of Conscience. London: Heinemann, 1991. Some Monday for Sure. London: Heinemann, 1952. Nobel https://exhibits.lib.ku.edu/files/original/d7749c8ede0d8d96766d132894c5265d.png 95c1cd04c2436446487c77c4f10e8926 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Coffee Subject The topic of the resource LibArt 2024 Description An account of the resource Coffee is part of a series of sketchbook-inspired collages that are meant to express the importance of freely transferring thoughts into material. Coffee is a glorified page of my sketchbook that expresses how important coffee is in my life - “Dear Sketchbook, I think that coffee might be my religion.” Coffee helps me to get that extra boost of energy and focus that I need to start my day and keep going. This routine is sacred to me - it impacts my entire body and mind, and it is something I do every single day. My style is inspired by cartoons. This dog character is directly inspired by Jake the Dog on Adventure Time. Contemporary cartoons are an ongoing pillar of my life - they have changed my outlook on what art can be as well as what life can be. The cartoons I consume have changed me existentially and have shaped my humor. Laughing in order to process trauma is my primary mode of healing other than therapy. The various forms of coffee represented throughout the piece are coffees that I usually drink such as nitro, shaken espresso, and espresso shots. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Barbara Tharas Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2024 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Held by creator Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Mixed Media LibArt Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Coffeyville United States Montgomery County Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sanborn Map Company Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1885 Description An account of the resource sheet number: 1 from a single-sheet set Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource 1 sheet : color ; 64 x 56 cm. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context http://luna.ku.edu:8180/luna/servlet/detail/kuluna01kui~12~12~2228150~248418 ksrl.kc.sm_coffey_1885_001 Language A language of the resource English Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available New York, New York Sanborn Map Company Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource &lt;a href=&quot;http://spencer.lib.ku.edu/services/photo.shtml&quot;&gt;Acceptable Use Policy&lt;/a&gt; Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Kansas Collection, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas Subject The topic of the resource Coffeyville, Kansas -- Maps Title A name given to the resource Coffeyville, Kansas : 1885 Type The nature or genre of the resource maps Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Coffeyville United States Montgomery County Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sanborn Map Company Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1890 Description An account of the resource sheet number: 1 from a set of 2 sheets Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource 1 sheet : color ; 64 x 56 cm. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context http://luna.ku.edu:8180/luna/servlet/detail/kuluna01kui~12~12~2228164~248419 ksrl.kc.sm_coffey_1890_001 Language A language of the resource English Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available New York, New York Sanborn Map Company Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource &lt;a href=&quot;http://spencer.lib.ku.edu/services/photo.shtml&quot;&gt;Acceptable Use Policy&lt;/a&gt; Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Kansas Collection, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas Subject The topic of the resource Coffeyville, Kansas -- Maps Title A name given to the resource Coffeyville, Kansas : 1890 Type The nature or genre of the resource maps Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Coffeyville United States Montgomery County Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sanborn Map Company Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1890 Description An account of the resource sheet number: 2 from a set of 2 sheets Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource 1 sheet : color ; 64 x 56 cm. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context http://luna.ku.edu:8180/luna/servlet/detail/kuluna01kui~12~12~2228178~248420 ksrl.kc.sm_coffey_1890_002 Language A language of the resource English Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available New York, New York Sanborn Map Company Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource &lt;a href=&quot;http://spencer.lib.ku.edu/services/photo.shtml&quot;&gt;Acceptable Use Policy&lt;/a&gt; Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Kansas Collection, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas Subject The topic of the resource Coffeyville, Kansas -- Maps Title A name given to the resource Coffeyville, Kansas : 1890 Type The nature or genre of the resource maps Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Coffeyville United States Montgomery County Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sanborn Map Company Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1896 Description An account of the resource sheet number: 1 from a set of 5 sheets Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource 1 sheet : color ; 64 x 56 cm. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context http://luna.ku.edu:8180/luna/servlet/detail/kuluna01kui~12~12~2228192~248421 ksrl.kc.sm_coffey_1896_001 Language A language of the resource English Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available New York, New York Sanborn Map Company Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource &lt;a href=&quot;http://spencer.lib.ku.edu/services/photo.shtml&quot;&gt;Acceptable Use Policy&lt;/a&gt; Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Kansas Collection, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas Subject The topic of the resource Coffeyville, Kansas -- Maps Title A name given to the resource Coffeyville, Kansas : 1896 Type The nature or genre of the resource maps Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. 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Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context http://luna.ku.edu:8180/luna/servlet/detail/kuluna01kui~12~12~2228206~248422 ksrl.kc.sm_coffey_1896_002 Language A language of the resource English Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available New York, New York Sanborn Map Company Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource &lt;a href=&quot;http://spencer.lib.ku.edu/services/photo.shtml&quot;&gt;Acceptable Use Policy&lt;/a&gt; Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Kansas Collection, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas Subject The topic of the resource Coffeyville, Kansas -- Maps Title A name given to the resource Coffeyville, Kansas : 1896 Type The nature or genre of the resource maps Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Coffeyville United States Montgomery County Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sanborn Map Company Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1896 Description An account of the resource sheet number: 3 from a set of 5 sheets Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource 1 sheet : color ; 64 x 56 cm. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context http://luna.ku.edu:8180/luna/servlet/detail/kuluna01kui~12~12~2228220~248423 ksrl.kc.sm_coffey_1896_003 Language A language of the resource English Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available New York, New York Sanborn Map Company Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource &lt;a href=&quot;http://spencer.lib.ku.edu/services/photo.shtml&quot;&gt;Acceptable Use Policy&lt;/a&gt; Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Kansas Collection, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas Subject The topic of the resource Coffeyville, Kansas -- Maps Title A name given to the resource Coffeyville, Kansas : 1896 Type The nature or genre of the resource maps