How to Regulate Kisses
These articles describe President John Messick's edict regarding kissing. The story was picked up by newspapers across the country. This and other articles may be found in the Chancellor's Scrapbook File and Subject File in the University Archives.
A Good-Night Kiss -- How Long?
Citation for this article is: "A Good-Night Kiss -- How Long?," Greensboro, NC Daily News, January 30, 1959. Collegians will be collegians -- especially in Eastern Carolina.
Thus the campaign launched by President J.D. Messick of East Carolina against weekend parties, public necking and booze wil be sympathetically viewed in some circles but shrugged off in others.
President Messick's chastising of the student body followed a raid by college officials and campus and town cops on a large house off-campus near the Greenville business district called "The Big Yellow." There, on a Saturday night, officials found a boisterous student party in progress, complete with jazz band, co-eds and accessories, liquid and otherwise.
The raid resulted in expulsion of four students and 10-day suspensions for 47 others. This may have been justified, but student resentment smoldered and officials later called a mass meeting to let everybody blow off steam.
This could have been a mistake, for it trapped President Messick into trying to explain the difference between a proper good-night kiss and the other kind ("this close association, this clinging kiss of such a long nature will cause people to begin talking").
President Messick has a hard row to hoe if he expects to set exacting prescriptions for good-night kisses.The younger generation has its own ideas, and a college president is on dangerous grounds when he attempts to define limitations.
At any rate, Eastern Carolinians are known for their gregariousness and conviviality. If the administration expects to be effective in any sort of crackdown, it should aim at something more tangible than the length of a good-night kiss.
Stop Watch Urged on College Kiss
Citation for this article is: "Stop Watch Urged on College Kiss," Philadelphia, PA Inquirer, January 30, 1959.GREENVILLE, N.C., Jan. 29.
HOW long should college students hold a kiss?
Dr. John D. Messick, president of East Carolina College, says if students must kiss it should be an "instantaneous kiss -- rather than longevity."
He conceded it is all right for a student to kiss his girl good night, but he said "this close association, this clinging kiss of a long nature will cause people to begin talking."
Dr. Messick made his observations on kissing at a meeting attended by 400 East Carolina's 3600 students. He called the meeting to go over rules and regulations after police broke up a rollicking student party at an off-campus house. Forty-seven suspensions resulted from the party.
How to Regulate Kisses
Citation for this article is: "How to Regulate Kisses," Columbus, Ohio Evening Dispatch, February 4, 1959.
WE FEAR the academic authorities at East Carolina State, Greenville N.C, are in for a lot of trouble.
Dr. John D. Messick, the institution’s president, thinks campus kisses should be shorter. From now on, he says, if students must kiss (and he seems to think a lot the smooching is unnecessary) the salutes must be "instantaneous."
He added darkly in a student meeting called to discuss campus regulations, "this close association, this clinging kiss of a long nature will cause people to begin talking."
We wonder how he proposes to enforce his edict. Using monitors with stop watches? Listening for "people to begin talking?"
How fast is "instantaneous?" And is it reasonable to expect a guy, kissing a girl goodnight, to restrict himself entirely to the kind of fleeting, perfunctory peck the office-bound husband gives his spouse at the front door?
Has the good Dr. Messick ever read Robert Burns, who wrote, "One fond kiss and aye we sever," or Juliet’s immortal line about how "parting is such sweet sorrow"?
These and a thousand other precedents in the literature of romance indicate about how much chance the newest rule in East Carolina College’s book of regulations has of being made to stick.
