CLARION
Brevard College, Brevard, N.C.
Volume 54 Number 11
Wednesday April 1, 1987
Forest parties: a long tradition at BC
by Chris Peterson
For years the Pisgah National forest has
been a recreational area for the students
who attended Brevard College.
Forest parties have been a tradition at
BC for a long time. Dean Don Scarborough
has talked with alumni who had forest par
ties about 30 years ago.
Years ago, it was legal to drink if you
were 18 years of age, but over the past few
years the legal drinking age in most states
has steadily been increased. It now stands
at 21 in N.C. after the law was passed last
fall. This was done because of the increase
in accidents involving drunk drivers.
The present law has posed many hin
drances for BC students in holding forest
parties. First of all, the majority of
students attending BC are not of legal
drinking age. And those students who are
underage and still attend the parties run
the risk of getting busted for drinking
underage or driving while impaired.
Secondly, the issues of driving while im
paired and littering the forest are the main
problems concerning officials. There have
been many incidents in which students
have been arrested for DUI, given tickets
for drinking underage, or fined for litter
ing.
Geoffrey Shepherd, a former student at
BC and present member of the Brevard
sheriff’s department said, “Driving under
the influence and littering are the biggest
problems.”
Forest parties have been and still are the
target of a lot of criticism, both good and
bad. BC President Billy Greer says, “I
don’t have any problem with forest parties
that are conducted within the framework
of the law, and within the framework of,
what 1 call, responsible living.”
But despite the obvious risks the
students run due to littering or drunk driv
ing, students still continue to attend the
week night parties.
Dean Don Scarborough says that he feels
that the students are far more mature in
handling drinking and driving as com
pared to more recent years. Evidence of
this is seen in the fact that students do
clean up after parties and have designated
—Turn To Page 2
BC costs up $460
The cost of going to Brevard next year
will be $6,670, an increase of $460.
The general trend over the last few
years for general fees, tuition, room and
board has been a 5 to 9 percent increase.
Next year’s increase will be a 7 percent
raise.
To balance that out, administration
sources say the financial aid office has
plenty of funds for students in need. For
help and more information, see Ed Cunn
ingham.
According to President Billy Greer, all
colleges and universities are raising prices
and “we’re not out of line at all. We con
sider our pricing very, very carefully,’ he
says. “On the bright side,” he adds, “our
financial aid people are on ready.”
The campfire...triends...Uie forest...fellowhip-call it what you wlU, but for^t iMrties have long been a tradi-
tional way for Brevard College students to get away from it all. (BC photo by B.R. Orrell)
SGA elections set for this week at BC
by Bonnie Davis
It’s election time of year for BC
students, and all returning freshmen and
fifth semester students should plan to cast
their ballots for the SGA executive board
candidates. Voting will be held tomorrow
and Friday, April 2 and 3 in the cafeteria
during dining hours.
Candidates running for the SGA
presidency are Allen Brooks, Robert
Brooks, Jr., Mark Higginbotham, and Reg
Williams. Students vying for the vice
presidency of social board are Nick Em-
brey, Kevin Cooper, and Leigh Hege.
Judicial vice-president candidates are
John Hoback and Donald Rett.
3
PanHiHfltes for the Student Government Association offci^ include,
( nnt row left to right for SGA president; Theo Reginal Williams, Jr.,
?nh^rt Brooks Jr Allen Brooks and Mark Higginbotham. Back row;
dS S for judldal vice-president; John Hoback. for judicial v.ce-
nresident- and Nick Embrey for social board vice-president Absent at
Sme of picture was social board vice-president candidate Leigh
Michelle Hege. (BC photo by Jock Lauterer)
In order to be eligible for candidacy,
students must have a cumulative GPA of a
2.3 or better and must not be on social pro
bation (10 points). After filing for election,
students then went through an interview
ing process concerning their grades and
guidelines. Current SGA members were
given the opportunity to ask candidates
questions about why they wanted to run for
office.
SGA presidential candidate Reg
Williams said," I will involve the whole
student body and their ideas in planning
events for the campus. I feel that SGA can
work closer with the administration and
have a louder voice in decision making.
Allen Brooks, candidate for SGA presi
dent, feels that “the biggest problem (this
year) was the lack of communication bet
ween the students and the administration.
I want to take on the challenge of being the
mediator...” r. ,
The third presidential candidate, Robert
Brooks, in reference to the lack of com
munication said, “I will be the voice
through whom they can be heard.”
When the candidates first filed for elec
tion it was strange to note that the ballots
were all dominated by men—not a single
woman’s name appeared. SGA Advisor
Steve D’Adamo said, “I was surprised and
worried.” However, the recent addition of
Leigh Hege’s name now gives the women
of BC a voice. ,
As far as changes for next year s SOA
goes, their main concern will be to revise
the student constitution and to clarify u.
According to D’Adamo, as it stands now.
“no part of it deals with the impeachment
of the president or about grades falling
below 2.3 for officers.”