SORTH CAROUNA
ESLEYAN
COLLEGE
The Decree
Rocky Mount, N.C
VOL. 15, NO. 8
^^Wesleyan^s Student Voice Since 1984’’
FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2000
President White resigns
Robert R. Mauldin, chairman
oflhc Board of Trustees at North
Carolina Wesleyan College, April
25 announced the resignation of
Dr. John B. White as president of
ihc independent, four-year col
lege. effective May 31.
"Under the five years of John
White’s guidance, the College has
enjoyed success on a number of
levels. Enrollment has increased,
and there have been enonnous
strides in the improvement of fa
cilities and technology available
to students.” said Mauldin.
Dr. White said, “This was a
difficult personal decision on my
part, but it is in the best interest
of myself and my family at this
time.”
White thanked the Board and
members of the College commu
nity for their support of his lead
ership, and added, “as the Old
Testament suggests, however, all
things have ‘a time and season.’
There is a time to go on to pursue
different paths, and for me that
time has come.”
Dr. White added, “Wesleyan
College continues to play an im
portant role in higher education
through the traditional program
in Rocky Mount, and its Adult
Degree Program in Durham.
Goldsboro, Raleigh, and here in
Rocky Mount. There’s a strong
foundation upon which to build.”
Mauldin cited the many sig
nificant accomplishments by Dr.
White since his tenure began in
the summer of 1995 as the
College’s fourth president.
Among those many achievements
are completion of the fundraising
for the Dunn Center for the Per
forming Arts and its opening in
January 1996. The newly land
scaped College Common now
connects the Dunn Center with
the remainder of the campus.
The College also has raised
over S7 million towards the SIO
million five-year Quality of Lilc
Campaign launched in order to
make improvements throughout
the College and to build a pro
posed fitness/recreation facility.
The Hartness Student Center
and the Thomas J. Pearsall, Jr.
buildings were renovated for new
use; the latter includes the Four
Sisters’ Gallery.
Boddie and Centura Residence
Suites were built to accommo
date the College’s highest enroll-
(Continued on Back Page)
*1
DR. JOHN WHITE
Convocation honors
student achievement
NEW MEMBERS RECOGNIZED FOR PI ETA SIGMA NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY.
The annual Honors Ciiii\nca-
tion was held at Nonh Carolina
Wesleyan College on Sunday.
April 30.
History Professor Karin Zipt
was'the speaker.
The two highest awards went
to seniors, the Algernon Sydney
Sullivan award to Ca.scy Eliza
beth Smith and the President's
Cup to Laci Lynn Powell.
Smith is a senior from Wall.
N.J. Her father is Kenneth Smith
from Toms River. N.J.; her
mother is Pastor Linda Applegate,
from Wall. She is an elementary
cducaln'n in.ijor ii.insk'iriiiL’ ii>
N.C. W'eslcvan in I’-HJS. She has
worked in iho College's sccurii\
and student life ollices. has hcen
a math tutor, and currently works
in the College bookstore.
She IS also a nicnibcr of Tri
.Si>:iiia. and was awarilei! this
year's Sisler of ihc 'I’ear award.
Powell is a senior niajoring in
sociology/psychology and a mi
nor in business adniini.stration.
She is from Einjioria. Va„ and
her parents are Lc(^nard aiul
(Continued on Back Page)
Popular professor retires after 27 years
DR. LEVERETT SMITH
By SHANNON ST. GEORGE
News Editor
After 27 years of dedication to
his students, teaching, and the bet
terment of the N.C. Wesleyan
campus. Dr. Leverett Smith is re
tiring.
Aside from being a prominent
figure in Wesleyan academics. Dr.
Smith also played a pivotal role
in other areas of the college. He
has been involved with the Visit
ing Writers Series, spent two
years as head of the freshman pro
gram and helped establish
Wesleyan’s College Press. Fur
thermore, he played a direct role
in bringing the Lynch Collection
of Arts on campus and was cura
tor of the Black Mountain Col
lection.
Dr. Smith began his college
education at Middlebury College
in Vermont. After completing his
years of schooling at this small
liberal arts college, he then headed
west to gain his Doctorate in
American Studies at the Univer
sity of Minnesota.
It was during these years in
Vermont and Minnesota that this
once aspiring accountant traded
the numbers and equations for the
letters and words. He found lit
erature and discussions of his
readings to be far more interest
ing. Smith arrived at Wesleyan
after beginning his teaching ca
reer at Alliance College in Penn
sylvania.
Dr. Smith sees his time at
Wesleyan and the decision to re
tire as preparation for the rest ol
his life. As a parent he was proud
to have three children graduate
from North Carolina Wesleyan.
He now looks forward to spend
ing time with them and his grand
children.
Even though his presence in
the classroom will be missed. Dr.
Smith will be around campus
working on the Black Mountain
Collection or perhaps in the li
brary researching on ol his favor
ite topics, baseball history.
"As a freshman. I had the plea
sure to be one ol Dr. Smith s
classes — English III. With a
gentle, sol'l-spoken \oice and a
subtle humor, he helped his stu
dents through transitions from
high school to college. His
friendly and patient manner have
always made him an easily ap
proachable professor.” one former
student said.