Volume 64
February 9,1995
Issue 4
EditorinIs....page 2
Mid-Semester Production....5
Crossword Puzzel....page 4
Campus Spotlight....page 3
Horoscopes...,page 6
Winds Of Change Blow Through BC
Sarah Rogers
Staff Writer
Over the years, many students have
learned the art of acting in Brevard
College’s humble Barn Theater. Few,
however, have taken the time to
appreciate its colorful history.
Long ago, the Barn Theater was
actually a livestock dwelling where many
former students milked cows to pay for
their college education. After World War
II, most students were attending Brevard
College on their G.I. bills, and the work
program in the barn became unnecessary.
The original purpose for which the barn
was built was phased out, and the barn
was used for other reasons by various
departments. First, the Physical
Education Department used the barn, and
then the music department held their
rehearsals there.
Afterwards, Rhue Miller utilized the
bam while she taught theater classes. At
that point, the need for serious
renovations was recognized. The ceiling
was raised up to the rafters and a new
lighting system was installed. Most
recently, in the spring of 1993, additional
space was added for a lobby and
restrooms.
It is hard to believe that a building
originally used as a dairy barn now
houses Brevard College’s theater
productions and acting classes. The Barn
Theater is another example of how
tradition is still important at Brevard
College.
However, the winds of change
are rapidly moving through Brevard
College as the groundbreaking for a new
Performing Arts Center is planned for
this Spring. While the initial concept for
this center has been circulating for ten
years, it has taken a great deal of time to
tie all of the loose ends together. Sam
Cope, the professor of Theater Arts at
Brevard College for 27 years, states,
“This is a vision that 1 have had for many
years because I believe it will be a
wonderful addition to both the school and
the community.”
The Paul Porter Performing Arts
Center will house the entire theater
department and vocal music program. It
will be located between the Sims Art
Building and the Pizza Hut on the soccer
practice field. Once the building is
constructed, space will no longer be a
concern for the College faculty in the
theater and music departments. The
center will have a 250 seat black box
theater and a 750 seat music hall.
Bob White, an Instructor of Theater
Arts at Brevard College for 5 years, says,
“I’m certainly looking forward to this
opportunity for the simple reason that I’m
very excited about theater-in-the-round.”
SACS Team Will Soon Visit B.C. Campus
Students who have attended Brevard
College over the past two years probably
have not noticed the significant work
which has been done by the faculty and
administration in the Institutional Self
Study. The primary accrediting agency
for Brevard College is The Southern
Association of Colleges and Schools
(SACS). Every ten years, institutions
which are accredited by SACS undergo
M intensive investigation of every aspect
of the College by all constituents
associated with the College. Since the
1994 Spring semester, students, faulty,
administrators have been quietly at
Work collecting and assessing data which
has been used to write our Compliance
I^eport document. In this document,
approximately 350 “must” statements
have been investigated. The College
must be “in compliance” with each one in
order to be reaccredited by SACS. This
study has recently culminated in a 190
page document called the Compliance
Report. The compilation of the Report is
phase one of the reaffirmation process.
Phase two unfolds on February 26-28
when a team of persons selected by SACS
will visit the campus to hold interviews
with various personnel on campus. This
Consultation team will review our report
and check our documentation to ensure
that we are in compliance with SACS
standards. This Team, composed of
peers from other SACS accredited
institutions, will cite any areas in which
we are not in compliance. If deficiencies
are identified, the College will then have
two years to come into compliance with
the SACS standards.
A significant dimension of our
forthcoming Compliance Visit is a review
of the majors in Art and Music as we
seek to become a baccalaureate
institution. The College cannot add other
majors until we have received SACS
approval as a baccalaureate instimtion.
This process is neither easy nor
automatic.
However, College officials are
confident that these majors fulfill all
SACS requirements and that our
transition to baccalaureate stams will be
approved in the near future.
On February 27 - March 1, a
Consultation Team of peers from other
SACS accredited institutions will be on
campus to help us plan our transition to
baccalaureate status. The College is
preparing a Strategic Report focusmg on
two areas: the transformation of the
College into a four-year institution and
the potential of our geographical location.
This Team will serve as consultants to
help the College address significant issues
related to our fumre including those
majors which will be offered in the
fumre.
The fumre of Brevard College rests
on the accreditation process. Smdents,
faculty, staff, trustees, and administrators
must be knowledgeable of the
accreditation process and supportive of
the College as it moves into the 21st
cenmry as a baccalaureate institution.