Newspapers / Wilkes Community College Student … / March 23, 1976, edition 1 / Page 3
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Page 3, The Cougar Cry, March 23, 1976 (Letters to the Editor - cont.) and may try to resume the broad casting program next winter, depen ding on how I feel about it at the time. Meanwhile, I hope to be able to visit Wilkes occasionally. “Time is a jet plane - it moves too fast”, as Dylan says, and that is how I feel about the few months I have spent at this wonderful com munity college. The students, facul ty and staff of W.C.C. are indeed a community of friends who care about each other, and it’s too bad that all communities can’t be like that. I wish everyone had the warmth, kindness, friendliness, con geniality, and compassion of W.C.C. people. I have been in larger cities where many of these good things are absent. In closing, let me say a special thank you to my friends, Lorrie Parker, Sharon Cannon, Vic kie Reins, Cindy Brown, and Mrs. Hayes. The saddest words are words of farewell, but I hope you will understand why I must say good-bye to you now. Sincerely, your friend, Ron Wishon Dear Editor: In regard to the rock festival - “Fine, if you want to help spread Commu nism.” Comment: To the two indignant adolescents concerning the ticket issue with the Deputy, “All animals are equal, except others; therefore, Richard, don’t cast your pearls be fore the Swine.” Ed Nelson Dear Editor; What is happening to the people in America? Many are repaying good with evil. Even here on campus I see many examples. And I have to say that one example is “Deputy Dawg. ” I know that nobody is perfect, but I don’t know many other people who walk around tliis campus with a bright smile on his face as Richard does. Who is here early every mor ning (in fog, rain, and shine) to make sure the students turn their lights off so when they get ready to go home their car will start. And who even uses jumper cables for anyone who has a run-down battery? I feel the students here at Wilkes sometimes forget just how much Richard does for this school. Many believe that Richard is unfair. But just ask yourself, has he ever given you a ticket without warning you first? If you did something out of “ignorance,” wasn’t your ticket tom up? Students, this is our school, but it still doesn’t give us the right to break the rules. When we do some thing just to “get back at” someone, we should pay! So don’t blame Richard with your childish ways. Karen E. McGee PRESIDENT FORD’S VISIT (Continued from page 1) President Ford is the first of the United States’thirty-eight Presidents to visit Wilkes Clounty, and the denizens of Wilkes, regardless of tlieir party affiliations, prepared for the occasion in highly controlled excitement. The citizens of Wilkes, especially the faculty and students of West Wilkes High School, should be congratulated on the speed and thoroughness, at such short notice, that preparations were made in readiness for the arrival of the Presidential helicopter, Marine 1, which carried President Ford to the cheering crowds. West Wilkes High School Band was on hand to give President Ford a musical salute, and other local bands presented a program of enter tainment prior to the President’s arrival. In the gymnasium, John Cashion was Master of Ceremonies and helped provide some most enjoyable entertainment, which in cluded Central High School Band and two musical ensembles from Wilkes Community College. When the President entered the West High gy mnasium, he was greeted by ap proximately 2,500 people, and a shower of balloons. After the official introductions, IVt^fe>it}oii t F'orii rriucio u sliori praising the American farmer and private enterprise. The speech was followed by an open Question and Answer period. Sheriff Anderson said, “This Question and Answer period in the town meeting style provided citizens an opportunity to ask the Chief Executive about the issues confronting tlie Nation today.” Governor James E. Holshouser trav(;led with the President on his swing through North Carolina. There were several dignitaries on hand to greet President Ford upon his arrival at West Wilkes High School, and after the official greetings were made, Mr. Jerry Pardue presented the President with a Bicentennial Rifle. Wilkesboro was the last stop the President made during his swing through North Carolina before he returned to his presidential duties at the W'hite House. —Elaine Lowe WCC OPEN DOOR - OPENS WIDER Higher education is generally tliought to be restricted to the “halls of ivy”; not so is the case of Wilkes (Community College. Wilkes Community Clollege has widened the “open door” by pro viding many off-campus courses. (Consistent with the concept of being community oriented (respon ding to the needs of the community it serves), the College has risen to meet the needs of individuals, groups, and now industry and business. College Goes to Industry An innovative approach to edu cation is underway in the academic community of our nation. Major industries are turning to educational institutions as inexpensive methods of employee training and staff de velopment. Colleges are responding to corporate needs by supplying instruction “on site.” General Mo tors, Exxon, Westinghouse and ma ny other giants are moving steadily toward this “company college” con cept. Locally, the Northwestern Bank, Holly Farms Industries, and Sprague Electric are sponsoring “un college” instruction. Dr. Howard Thompson, President of Wilkes (x)mmunity College, said, “We are nourishing an idea whose time has come, and we are doing it right. We have taken our campus to the busi ness community to work as partners in a unique educational experience.” Sprague’s “Company College” Experience Sprague Electric Company, which has its home base in North Adams, Massachusetts, is one of the nation’s largrat manufacturers of electronic components. A branch of the corporation, in Lansing, N.C., is well into the computer age and plans more exten sive computer utilization in the near future. Sprague Electric, an excep tionally progressive company in this regard, realized that the value of computers is in direct proportion to the ability of employees to under stand and take advantage of the various applications possible. Conse quently, Sprague and Wilkes Com munity College have united in a common objective “to educate em ployees” in the uses of this twentieth-century electronic phe nomenon. The impractical aspect of sending 22 employees 40 miles to the cam pus twice a week could have been a deterrent to the program. Dr. Phillip Lewis, Director of the Business and Commerce Division at the College, foresaw the problems and expenses involved in doing this so he decided to move (Allege to the employees. View From the Top After a short discussion with Urcle Sheets, Plant Manager at the Lansing Sprague Plant, it was easy to understand the positive philoso phy that seems to abound in the company. Quietly outspoken, quick, jovial ly blunt, tough, gentle, busy and very erudite are only a few adjec tives that may describe Urcle Sheets. Another big word that will describe him is PROGRESSIVE. “It is neces sary to know what we are doing here,” he said. “We make electronic components for everything from radios to rocket shops and every item has a schedule. We can utilize computers to the maximum just in that area, plus all the other plans we have for computers.” He continued, “But, our job now is introducing our employees to computer-age ver nacular. If it is to be really efficient, we must all talk the same language. Positive feedback depends on it.” Enthusiasm was evident in his eyes and facial expressions as he went on to explain, “We have 700 employees in this plant, and our customers deserve the best servicc we can give. Now, unless we all understand how the computer af fects each of us, our customers may suffer, and that is what these classes are all about. Each of us separately, but in unison responding to our customers’ needs.” The Qass All 22 members of the class are generous in their praise of their in structor, Mr. Rex Williams. One employee/pupil said, “This guy knows what he is doing, and builds my confidence. He really brings it home.” Another remarked, “I can see the company’s interest in the computer class, but it is helping me as much as it is them, and they are paying for it. Makes me feel more a part of the over-all picture.” Anoth er student comment was, “I bet no other company has this kind of benefits.” Dr. Phil Lewis, confident about this concept in education, said, “There is really nothing new in this idea. It is logical that education and industry work hand-in-hand. It is happening all over the country.” He continued, “I am excited with the prospect of the growth potential of an industry - education program. Tliere are enough forward-thinking businessmen in this area to keep us busy for quite a while. And, of course, we will do our best to con tinue providing a real and meaning ful service to our community.” Sprague Electric Company has seen enough tangible evidence of the project’s effectiveness to plan more classes. “Sprague is impressed with the “Open College” learning process,” explains Mr. Sheets, as he continued to talk about the pro gram. “We are aware that knowledge isn’t dispensed solely in the tradi tional classroom. The College has tailored its instruction to meet our needs, making it both meaningful and useful. I am surprised more companies don’t take advantage of it!”
Wilkes Community College Student Newspaper
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March 23, 1976, edition 1
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