tu clarion Brevard College, Brevard, N.C. Volume 55 Number 2 Wednesday, September 23,1987 New Resident Assistants and Student Government Association leaders gather for an orientation dinner prior to the opening of school. They are, left to right, first row: Eileen Spaulding, Biar Orrell, Jill Robinson, Kel ly Williams, Kim Norman, Julie Combs, Leigh Hegge, Natalie White, Opening goes smoothly by Bill Meiners The beginning of Brevard College’s fall semester was “the smoothest opening in my years of opening schools,” says Presi dent Billy Greer. Some 300 incoming freshmen underwent a beefed-up orientation program that in cluded residence hall meetings, larger general sessions, and discussions on various problems and challenges of col lege life. Dean of the College Dr. Harry Langley says, “Orientation went extremely well. Much of that success goes to Dean of Stu dent Affairs Witek and the work of the new Resident Directors and Resident Advisors.” The highlight of the first week of orienta tion was the Freshman Outing to Camp Greenville (see story and pictures inside). Dean Witek says, “We wound up having a great experience. The purpose of the challenge course was to get kids to assume responsibility for their own problems.” RD Marty Humphrey and Student Government Association President Allen Brooks also came in for praise from Beam Administration Building for running a highly-successful Derby Day on Aug. 29 (see pictures inside). Brevard College hosted the first annual BC Kick-Off Soccer Tournament Sept. 4-6 in which highly-touted Miami-Dade South came away the winner, followed by Ander son College in second, BC in third, and Camden Community College of New Jersey in fourth (see sports page for story). The fall semester official opened with fwmp and circumstance at Fall Convoca tion (see story inside) on Wednesday, Sept. 9 when Wofford President Joab Lesesne told students to take advantage of the In formation Age. A handful of returning sophomores responded to changes in Brevard. Sophomores spoke both positively and negatively to changes in the uniform guidelines. Kelly Williams of Houston, Texas, said, “All rules have remained the same, and that’s good because the rules are good. The thing that has changed is the way that they are enforced. The new approach is much better because they give people another chance.” Jennifer Howren of Pineville, N.C., responded positively saying the new system “is a step up because it gives the opportunity to work off points.” On the other side of the coin, David Bun dy of Spartanburg, S.C., and Shelly Ivey of Breman, Ga., agreed that the new resident directors are “too militant.” John Nesterok of Clifton, N.J., said, “The rules are too strict. They treat students like young children and the punishments are too severe. I think students will start dropping out. I know I’m not coming back next semester. It’s not because of the teachers or the classes or the students. It’s simply because of this prison-like atmosphere.” Sean Jennings of Yardley, Pa., feels cheated. “Last year we were told that we would have more responsibility. In truth, we have less. The only students with more responsibility are the resident assistants. I don’t think that one student should have power over another student.” Stephane Paul-Hus of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., said, "If everybody actually took the time to read the handbook, they would understand that Dean Witek’s policy is ac tually more lenient than last year.” Cameron Parker and Cynthia Allen; back row: Chuck Putnam, Stephane Paul-Hus, Robert Brooks, Jeffrey Breen. Nick Embrey, Allen Brooks, John Hoback, Tom DeLucia, Don Rett, Robert Rice, Brian Calaway and Charles Sherrill. The editor’s opinion Welcome back... Biar Orrell Hello, Brevard College. I feel great being back in the mountains. The altitude clears my head, making room for all the knowledge and wisdom that' I shall obtain this year. I would like to extend enthusiastic hellos to all of my previous instruc tors, who, through the course of last year, became personal friends; and to the BC staff and administration, who make up an eclectic spread of good people. Most important, hello, fellow BC students. We are the core of each other’s existence for the next nine months. We will grow and change, learning from our achievements as well as our mistakes. We will make friends for life and enemies for a day; we will forgive ourselves and others. Through the course of this year, we may laugh our happiest moments, cry our most painful tears, experience a cultural growth beyond ex planation to our family and friends, or drown in our rainy Sunday boredom. But we will survive and we will exit this year with a sense of ac complishment and self-satisfaction. We will have sampled an entree of life, a meal our parents have been trying to explain to us for years. Pass the pepper, please. I remember my brother coming home from boot camp and stepping off that plane a changed individual. It wasn’t his “high and tight” adven- tureous hair style or the fact that he was shaving a whiskerless, baby- smooth face. It was his personal growth, his self-assurance. The next years of our education is the “boot camp” of our careers, of our future. We may sweat English, cry math, hurdle history and barf biology. But people, we’re going to step off that “plane,” our heads held high, as changed individuals. As your editor for the Clarion, I’m excited about being your tool of in formation and communication. My volume’s on 10, my cameras are loaded, and I’m going to do my best not to miss. I entend a high-five to all of you with encouragement for an adven turous year. I shall leave you with a thought: Spear an opportunity with double-hooked hands and run with it.