Friday, November 20, 1992 No. 4
GARDNER-WEBB COLLEGE
‘Ihe OfficiaC Campus 9{ezvspaper
Boiling Springs, North Carolina
Gardner-Webb University!
by Greg Carpenter
Staff Writer
On Tuesday, November 10, the Baptist
State Convention voted to approve of the
change of Gardner-Webb to university sta
tus. Beginning January 1, all documents
from the school will identify us as Gardner-
Webb University.
The proposal to change to university
status was made known last January. The
General Board of the Convention, consisting
of 150 pastors and lay people, approved last
June that the Board of Trustees of Gardner-
Webb had the authority to make the decision
to move towards university status. The vote
by the entire Convention Tuesday, Novem
ber 10, was important because it shows that
Gardner-Webb has the support of the Con
vention in this matter.
GW President, Dr. Chris White, in an
interview following the Convention, was ec
static over the reception of the proposed
change. Dr. White commented on the atmo
sphere of the Convention and said the vote
was unanimous and "with enthusiasm."
When asked about any immediate
changes which may occur, Dr. White cau
tioned against expecting too much too quickly.
What we will see are subtle changes over a
period of years.
Dr. White went on to say that one of, and
probably the most significant, goals of the
Where’s
by Kevin Walter
Staff Writer
If you’ve been near THE boiling
springs recently, you have probably noticed
the lack of trees. As many of you know, this
is where the new lake is going to be.
Even though there is still a long way to
go, the lake has come far. The school has
applied for three different governmental
permits.
The first allows the school and city to
move the Boiling Springs septic line which
runs directly through the middle of the pro
posed lake.
The second permit is for erosion con
trol. When wooded areas are disturbed, pro
vision must be made to control the erosion;
remaining vegetation will no longer hold the
soil.
The third permit is for construction of
the dam, which will allow the lake itself to
be created.
David Webb, Assistant to the President,
mentioned that the only obstacle keeping the
lake from final construction is that “...bu
reaucracy is really slow.” He feels Gardner-
Webb should have no problems getting the
change is to "heighten respect for the school
as an academic institution." White assured
The Pilot that there will be a focus on
academics.
He was quick to cite recent additions in
the last year which are related to building a
good academic structure for Gardner-Webb
University. The revision of the core, which
With the change to a uni
versity we hope to heighten
respect for the school as an
academic institution.
-Dr. Christopher White
was instated this year, is one of the elements.
Another element is the new Divinity School
which will offer graduate studies in religion.
Also, there are plans for an MBA program
which will be voted on this winter by the
Board of Trustees. This means that Gardner-
Webb University will offer two, and possibly
three, graduate programs, including the al
ready existing program, along with improved
undergraduate studies.
Another motivation for the change, ac
cording to White, is seeking prestige for the
school, and he explained that in a meeting
with the faculty last January. "People get
the Lake
permits for construction but that staffing cuts
have slowed the process.
No date has been set for construction to
begin, but the school is currently accepting
bids from companies and will deliberate over
the bids until Ae permits are approved.
Safety has become a concern of many
students/staff since the origin of the lake
discussions. Some steps have already been
taken. Safety and Security will include the
lake in its routine inspection.
Present school insurance coverage will
be expanded to include the lake area, with no
additional costs. Warnings and restrictions
will be posted to reduce the possibility of
accidents.
Upkeep and landscaping of the new
lake will be handled by the GW Physical
Plant. To offset the costs of landscaping, the
school will eventually reduce the use of city
water. Instead, water will be pumped directly
from the lake.
Lake Hollifield, named for the family
responsible for its construction, will not only
add to the beauty of the campus, but will
attract people to college with its bell tower,
walking trails and open water.
confused over what is a college and what is
not," he said. One way to distinguish Gardner-
Webb in the present market is to adopt the
title of University.
Melissa Lee, a senior, agrees. She states,
"It [the name change] will give the school
more prominence and should help me find a
job once I graduate." While she was encour
aged by the new graduate program and a
focus on academics, she goes on to say,
"Some departments have been overlooked."
She cites the fact that the science and math
departments share a building which "is fall
ing apart and has limited classroom space."
She hopes that becoming a university will
help get further grants for areas in need.
Overall, she feels good about the change.
When asked about her views on the
subject, Dina Helderman, a freshman, also
agrees that the word university "sounds more
esteemed." She expressed some concerns
and asks, "Does this [transition to university]
mean that my tuition will go up? Will 1 have
to take more hours to graduate, and will the
atmosphere change?"
When asked if the atmosphere will
change. Dr. White replied that there will be
no change in the "people who care" attitude
of the school.
White maintains that "the best defense
is a good offense" when it comes to insuring
See UNIVERSITY, page 2...
Academic
Reform?
by Abdul Asgbar
Staff Writer
On the 27th of October the Student
Government Senate passed its first bill. Stu
dent Senate Bill #1 has received reaction
ranging from absolute awe to deep disgust;
from heads of departments to freshman. The
bill relates to the academic standards of the
college. It outlines a new and higher GPA for
graduation (2.5 rather the current 2.0), and
also requires that students make a 2.5 or
better if their GPA falls below a 2.0 in their
first semester. Should they fail to do this, they
would be dismissed from school. Further
more, students once put on academic proba
tion would automatically be dismissed if their
GPA ever fell below a 2.0. The bill also calls
for a change in testing methods to only essay
type and identification formats in order to
comprehensively test the students knowl
edge of the material.
The Pilot talked to four students about
the whole affair. Two were junior senators,
one who voted for and one against the bill,
see REFORM, page 2...