Campus News
New SGA president brings
experience and ideas to job
Rich Gray is a man with a
mission. The newly elected Student
Government Association president
says there is work to be done at
Chowan and, listening to his plans
for the coming year, you have to
believe he is the one to do it.
A wrestling scholarship recipient
who won the SGA election this past
semester in a landslide vote, Rich had
been at Chowan for one year. From
Douglasville, Georgia, he served in
the Marines for four years, including
time as a presidential guard at the
White House. That's not the only
thing impressive about this young
man who has wrestled competitively
all over the world in such places as
Russia and Japan.
In 1989, he placed 6th in the
World Cup wrestling competition in
Tokyo. That same year he placed 4th
in Sambo (a Russian style of wres
tling) in the National Pan Am games.
In 1990, he won that event in the Pan
Am games. Rich was the Amateur
Athletic Union's Athlete of the Year
in 1989. He was one of the five All-
Americans out of the 15 members of
the Chowan wrestling team this past
season, and helped the team gamer
many of their wins.
Now turning his attention to
student government. Rich is serving
an internship this summer in Chowan
administration working in various
offices to see how things operate at
the coUege.
"We need to change the overall
student atmosphere at
Chowan," he declares. "The
student-college
relationship has dissipated
for a number of reasons.
Not enough has been done
for students while they arc
on campus during the week.
With the four-year transi
tion, a lot of this will
change."
"Having juniors on campus will
be a big change. I met with 53 of the
juniors returning to Chowan this fall
and they are a motivated group of
people. We will see a lot of
particitation from them this year."
Rich is already making plans to
appeal to the college administration
to grant these juniors some of their
requests, including front-row parking
and special parking stickers designat
ing them as juniors.
One proposal developed by Rich
and being instigated this summer is
for a Chowan beach to be built on
Lake Vann behind the football field.
This "beach" will have real sand,
BBQ pits, picnic tables and be a
place where students can lay out in
the sun through the spring and
summer months.
"The beach will probably be
ready by mid-summer school and
will provide a place for students to go
on campus," says the new SGA pres.
It's iK)t surprising that when
talking to Rich Gray you begin to
feel he could have higher political
aspirations than the presi
dent of Chowan's SGA.
Students on campus are
quick to tell you he is well-
knovra, because of athletics
and he is an impressive
student leader. But he also
foUows through with what
Rich Gray he's going to do and
that's important to them.
So, what are we to look forward
to in the coming year?
"It will be a year of experience
and one of learning, probably some
confusion," he laughs. "As a whole,
we'll see things beginning to change
with the junior class. Academics is
on the rise on this campus, becoming
more dominant over athletics because
of the Division III decision. "Well
see a different kind of student body."
"If I'm still on top next year, I can
get some things done."
From guarding the White House
to leading the students of Chowan,
this is an SGA president who is likely
to get a iQi of things done.
On Campus in Brief
Pianist Peter Cairoff performed
in concert in Daniel Recital Hall in
February. The free concert was
sponsored by the department of fine
arts. Dr. Robert F. Byrnes, Jr.,
distinguished professor of history,
Indiana University, addressed stu
dent groups twice on campus in
March. As a Forum-Lyceum
speaker, he spoke to the issue of
"Why the Russians are Different".
As part of the Visiting Scholars Pro
gram, Dr. Byrnes spoke to students
on "The Reasons for the Soviet and
Community Collapse."
During the month of April,
Chowanians heard singer Rick
Kelly and listened to comedian Bob
Garner.
Voices of Inspiration, an on-
campus spiritual singing group, di
rected by Dr. Car! Garrott, per
formed in concert for Religious
Emphasis Week April 13-19. A
sunrise service was conducted by
Campus Minister Kelly Brame on
April 16 at Lake Vann.
A faculty/staff Bible Study/De
votional started on campus this
spring and is held weekly in Harden
Chapel.
Spring Festival was held each
day for students including mud vol
leyball, an outdoor concert, a 5K
run, games, movie "in the park", and
a dance featuring the band, the Jani
tors."
Appreciation dinner honors faculty, staff
Chowan College held its armual
Recognition and Appreciation Dinner
for faculty and staff April 20 in
Thomas Cafeteria.
In recognition of employees,
Robert B. Spivey, of Windsor,
chairman of the board of trustees, and
President Jerry F. Jackson presented
pins and gifts to employees for their
years of service to the college.
Six employees were inducted
into the prestigious Order of Lux et
Veritas for twenty-five years of
distinguished service.
Victoria Bazemore (who re
ceived a box of homemade cookies
from President Jackson for all the
cookies she has baked for students,
faculty, and staff through the years)
was horwred as a member of the
cafeteria staff for 25 years.
James B. Dewar, who has been
with the science department at
Chowan since 1967, was honored by
Department Chairman Garth Faile as
an asset to the department. Dewar
teaches biology and has directed a
summer Science Enrichment Week
for youth at Chowan for 10 years.
Also inducted into Lux et Veritas
was Head Librarian Geraldine Harris,
who came to Chowan in 1966.
Honored by Dr. B. Franklin
Lowe, vice president for academic
affairs, as a dedicated professional
who developed the library at Chowan
into "the very best library of any
two-year institution in the state of
North Carolina." Dr. Lowe added
that the Chowan library for years has
rivaled that of many four-year
institutions and is one of the reasons
Chowan is so prepared to return to
four-year status.
Edward Holloman, chief me
chanic for the college, was recog
nized by Director of the Physical
Plant Jack Hassell who said, "In 25
years, I can't recall a day Holloman
came to work late."
Gilbert Tripp, professor of
science, was recognized for 25 years
of service in the science department
of Chowan. Dr. Garth Faile noted
that Professor Tripp, along with
being a favorite among students and
an asset to the department, is also the
owner of 13 dogs and enjoys hunting
and fishing, two pastimes he shares
with his students often.
Tripp is the only one in the
department who has taught all of the
sciences, including physics, through
the years.
PAGE 2 — Chowan Today — Summer, 1992
He was influential in starting the
local cub scouts and Boy Scouts
programs, which he continues to
support.
N. Edward Wooten, math
professor, was also honored for his
years of service by department chair
Calvin Owens who recalled pictures
of Ed from the yearbook in which he
wore dark-rimmed glasses. Wooten
received the bachelor’s and master’s
degrees from Wake Forest University
and, according to Owens, has "spent
all of his adult life in higher educa
tion".
"He has helped to influence
many lives through personal contact.
We thank you, Ed, for services
rendered to Chowan."Wooten is
listed in the Who's Who in American
Educators and received the Excel
lence in Teaching Award at Chowan
in 1972. He currently serves as
chairman of the Hertford County
Board of Education.
His wife, Bobbi, is employed at
Chowan in the department of aca
demic support. They have four
children, John, a graduate of Chowan
and Wake Forest University; Ashley,
a '92 graduate of Chowan; Matt, a
senior at Hertford County High; and
Emily, a fourth grader at Ridgecroft
School.
Thomas E. Ruffin, Jr. in the
department of business, was recog
nized for 35 years of service to the
college. Dr. James M. Chamblee,
chairman of the department of fine
arts, was honored for 30 years of
service.
Dr. Garth D. Faile, chairman of
the department of science, was
honored for 20 years of service to the
college. Stanley A. Mitchell, profes
sor of music, and Eva M. Williams
on the housekeeping staff, were
honored for 15 years of service.
For ten years of service, Mary B.
Porter, E. Vincent Tilson, and Jerry
L. Vinson received recognition.
Sherry D. Duncan, Susan Fecho,
Edgar N. Harrell, Jr., Nancy A.
Johnson, Larry K. Meeks, Nathaniel
Tann, John S. Virkler, and Bobbi B.
Wooten were recognized for five
years of service.
The dinner was attended by
approximately 200 college employ
ees and trustees. Dr. Jerry E. Harper,
Sr., trustee from Durham, and pastor
of Mount Hermon Baptist Church,
delivered the invocation; Dr. George
L. Balentine, trustee from Raleigh,
and pastor of Hayes Barton Baptist
Church delivered the benediction.