“THEY” Cripple Society Volume 1: Who are “THEY” and how do they do it? An Expose in True to Life Narrative Exploring Stories of Discrimination. Cleon E. Spencer
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a good institution, not world renowned, but domestically respected, and generally considered to be a good place to go. Many successful careers would be fashioned here - careers that would do much good in a sometimes erratic world. Such a world seemed to be symbolized in the routine activity of students as they poured out over the campus on their way to classes, criss-crossing this way and that, to one building or another, many hundreds of them all at once. Most of them are exuberant and lively, some smiling, others serious looking, many chatting, others deep in thought; altogether giving the campus the sensation of being fully alive. As students enter the lecture rooms and classes begin, then for an hour or so on the grounds outside, all is quiet, except for only an occasional person criss-crossing here and there. There is a quiet, a lull, until it is time to go to another class in another building. Then, on the outside, in outward appearance, all is alive again.
Of course, the meaningful activity takes place in the quiet of the lecture rooms. This is where the work is done that eventually makes the whole world blossom out into vivid aliveness. For graduates it is as though the world becomes a huge campus with people going happily, meaningfully hither and yon, after work well done in the classrooms. The world will be a better place because of Quilibet. Many careers indeed will be fashioned here to help make a better world. Some careers will be lost here too -lost because of irresponsibility or incompetence, in one way or another, on the part of the loser.
But there are some good students who will lose their careers through no reasonable fault of their own. These will be victims of an underestimated evil, sinister and subtle, at work all around them. They will fall by the way unnoticed by most people. They will receive token gestures of friendship and encouragement from those who did understand to a degree. Rarely however, would anyone be willing to step in and take up their cause, because to do so would be very difficult and dangerous. It would be dealing with intangibles. The facts, although not altogether elusive would be difficult to pin down in concrete terms. In the clearest cases of injustice it is often difficult to find someone willing to champion a cause. More so, in cases like these, it is virtually impossible to find anyone willing to ripple the waters or churn up the waves on such intangible issues. So the victims fall largely unnoticed by the wayside, and the culprits continue on in their own domains, their brutal deeds also largely unnoticed, or if noticed, brushed aside.
This problem is relevant not only to educational institutions. It is an affliction in every walk of life. Yet it is in educational institutions that it can probably best be noticed and brought into the open. Collin Seldon was fully aware of this, and he hoped and prayed that this support group which he was attending, could somehow come up with some answers.
As for the psychology class he was attending, Collin was playing very low profile there. Except for routinely attending classes and doing the prescribed work, he would lay low and refrain from activity in question periods and class discussion. He also avoided personal contact with the professor. Professor Yates seemed satisfied with this. Except for drawing his eyes and his face to himself and pulling his lips together all in a snobbish manner whenever he accidently met Collin at close range, there was no further problem. Both Collin and Professor Yates were avoiding close confrontation of any sort. Maybe they could get through the whole course this way. Collin Seldon would aim in that direction. The course wasn’t crucial to his career in any way, as it would be for some, but his continuation with it would qualify him to stay in the support group.
So Collin had attended his class on Tuesday evening. Now on Wednesday evening he was heading again for Room 405 and the support group. He was very anxious to learn how Gilda Emerson was finding her way successfully through university, when for all intents and purposes she should have been among those who fall by the wayside, unnoticed, and through no fault of her own.
The members were all present in good time that evening, including Brett Culver. Dr. Eldren remarked that he thought that was indicative of the interest building up in the group. He himself was enthusiastic about it. Although still looking pale in appearance, he was not lacking in vitality. Success seemed to be the order of things concerning this particular assignment of his. That was a welcome and inspiring situation in the world of psychiatry, where so often measurable progress is so slow in coming, or is utterly elusive. It was evident this evening, that Dr. Eldren was pleased.
The group members stood around chatting for a while, moving about, exchanging greetings and information as to the week’s activities. Albin Anders, although still plenty shy, was doing much better. He seemed to relax more with Owen Winslow than with anyone else. Owen paid him friendly attention, and carried on a conversation with him. Collin joined the two of them in their small talk.
“Things going well so far this year, Albin?” asked Collin, as he boxed Albin on the shoulder in a friendly gesture.
“Not too bad,” said Albin in reply. “I somehow think I’ll have a better year this year than last.”
“Great,” remarked Collin, “keep up the good work, and remember, you have friends behind you!”
“Right,” added Owen assuringly.
Leo Aidan was well dressed as he had been the previous week. Apparently he and Donna Coyne had been heading towards a close relationship ever since they had met at the University. Now he was taking her out evenings following the group sessions as well as at other times. This explained Donna’s well dressed appearance also, although she was a person who would look lovely in almost any clothing.
Donna Coyne, a young lady of average height and build, had about her an air of gracious modesty which was reflected in her general being. Her light black hair was as though a shingle cut had grown too long, yet it was intentionally kept that way, with the front, unparted, over an average size forehead, swept upwards some before it swept back over her head, slightly and irregularly waved on the way and trimmed neatly at the bottom. Her complexion was tinted only slightly dark and helped to highlight the slight natural rosiness of her high cheek bones. Her face, a little long, was pleasant and soft looking, beset with a little larger than petite, slightly upturned nose, moderately thick lips and average width mouth. She wore a deep red lipstick in a modest proportion. Her clothes were in good taste. This evening she wore a charcoal dress, with subdued floral patterns throughout the top, covering her moderate busts. Stylishly it tapered in to show a well proportioned waistline, then flared out again in the same stylish manner to complement her well figured lower body. Her jewelry was a small silver necklace and matching earrings. Her shoes were black patent leather.
Donna Coyne, at age twenty eight or so was an unassuming lady who unintentionally stood out among others under any circumstances. The way she kept herself, her choice of clothes, her jewelry - and more especially so, her character and general manner of behavior showed her to be a truly fine person. Yet Donna was always just herself; likable, by many at least, pleasant to know and eager to be friends with friendly people.
There was a sharp contrast between Donna Coyne and Gilda Emerson. If ever anyone thought that to be two fine ladies was to be two alike, they would have to think again when in the company of both Donna and Gilda together.
Gilda Emerson could best be described as a lady in her naturalness - sophisticated, yet totally unpretentious. She stood out in tasteful decorum at all times; lovely to look at with the bright light complexion of an overall rounded average size face. This was complemented by hair, deep golden through and through, and which set her facial features in an air of dignity. Her facial expression was one of determination - a slightly protruding chin below the somewhat thin lips of an only moderately wide mouth. Her straight bridged and little larger than usual nose added poise to her profile. There were lovely average size blue eyes under trim eyebrows of a little lighter color than her hair. She wore only a modest hair style of medium length an inch or two of permanent around the ends. The curl feathered out as it extended up the sides of her face. Her golden hair, parted on the right side, showed on the crown of her head its true color, sheen and beauty. Her only visible make-up, just a trace of light red lipstick contrasted remarkably with her complexion and her very unpretentious hairdo.
Her clothes were equally plain and simple, though it was evident she had an eye for quality. An all beige sweater with a pattern of raised same color flower petal stripes lengthwise, although worn loosely revealed a little more than moderate bust size. Her adequate slimming