Newspapers / Wilkes Community College Student … / Nov. 1, 1977, edition 1 / Page 2
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PAGE 2 — THE COUGAR CRY, NOVEMBER 1, 1977 I Tljc Soap Box | Registgation Is One Big Hassle! In my opinion, registration day at W.C.C. is really a hassle. Unless you are a sophomore or returning student, you may be completely lost in the turmoil and confusion of registration day. Being a somewhat naive freshman, 1 found registration a totally disillusioning process. Unnecessary waiting, unknow- ledgable people, bordering on ignorance and inconsiderate ad visors awaited me every step of the way. I was told to report to my advisor to complete my schedule. Not knowing who my advisor was or where he/she/it would be, I found myself wandering around hopelessly bewildered. After some time, I took it upon myself to ask for more assistance, only to find Traffic A Problem At W.C.C. Big city, Wilkesboro is not. But traffic problems in the College Park area have grown to big city proportions, especially around the hours of 8, 12, and 3 o’clock. It is exasperating to have driven miles to make an 8 o’clock class, only to arrive within sight of the college and have to inch along through slow traffic while those last precious minutes tick away. It is almost as frustrating to have to sacrifice a big chunk of that 12 o’clock lunch hour trying to get from Collegiate Drive onto Highway 268. And it’s maddening, after finishing classes in the afternoon, to try to rush by to pick up the kids after school, to hurry to a second-shift job, or just to try to get home while bumper-to bumper traffic from the up-river industries forbids entrance into the highway. One sits impatiently, trying to make eye contact with a sympathetic motorist who will yield him a place in line. Together, then, they wait for the next light, and the next. Even the traffic lights at roads feeding into Highway 268 contri bute to, rather than alleviate the congestion. Another light at the entrance to Collegiate Drive, as some have proposed, would permit entering and leaving that area, but would further slow down traffic. The ideal solution would be to four-lane Highway 268 West to the Wilkes Airport. If North Carolina voters approve the proposed road bonds, this construction will likely result. few people had time to stop and answer my questions, and those few who did seemed to be just as confused and ignorant of the registration procedure as myself. After continuous attempts and several long hours, I succeeded in registering. This is something I would never want to live through again. 1 think this situation is a result of non-exposure of college freshmen to college rules, regu lations and registration proce dures. This could be altered by preparation of students by the high school and college coun selors. As a result, freshmen would be more familiar with registration procedures and there fore, better able to survive the process. But that solution is, at best, months away. In the meantime, what can be done? Human control seems to be the answer. A traffic officer, sta tioned at each of the afore mentioned lights and at Collegiate Drive, could direct the movement of vehicles, speeding up the flow of traffic and alleviating con gestion. Now that W.C.C. has a Police Science Course, what better way to give the students practical experience in the art of traffic control? Not only would students be gaining knowledge that would be helpful to them as they pursue careers in police work, but they would also be rendering a great service to the people of the College Park area. Should this solution not prove feasible, another option might be that such a traffic control project could be sponsored by the Student Government or another student organization. One thing is certain: the traffic problem in the College Park Area warrants immediate attention. -Commie E. Hayes Did You Know? That a group of monkeys is called a troop or tribe; That a group of toads is called a knot; That a group of frogs is called an army; That a group of pigs is called a herd. 3TyyoTTrrfyrryoTrriTiryoiroTTinrinnrinni~(ra~(nnnfj i flje Cougar Ciy Student Newspaper Of Wilkes Community College EDITORS Cindy Gamble, Commie Hayes, David Hayes, Ken Holmes, Brenda McMillian, Bobby Sawyer, Neal Thomas, Becky Warren, Ray Warren. ° Letters to the editors are welcomed. Address to: Editors, Cougar Cry. W.C.C., Wilkesboro, N. C. 28697. Copy deadline 20th of month. o' '3UULIUJULmJUULiLOJULiL)Lft-Lg-UJ>JXB^ » » g g PHVSlc's Lftt> A 2JiOTIMftT T320JO M At DO V\/llkKS CouijIj ftiblic Schools W.C.C. And The School Bond Issue The school bond, to be voted on this November 8th does not directly affect us here at Wilkes Community College. Indirectly, the College is registering the affects of an inadequate public school system through some new programs initiated this year. These programs are the High School Diploma Program which is offered in addition to the already existing GED program, and the Developmental Studies Program which is aimed at bringing WCC student’s reading skills up to an acceptable level for college work. Wilkes Community College has awarded an average of 124 GED certificates annually in the past four years rivaling each of the Wilkes County high schools with the exception of Wilkes Central. The new High School Diploma Program presently enrolls stu dents. The developmental Studies program enrolls 300 students, all of which already have high school diplomas. Is it the College’s role to offer high school equivalency certifi cates and diplomas and a Developmental Studies Program? Yes, especially if the county schools are not equipped to do an adequate job preparing students. These new college programs do duplicate the high school’s function, however, and the taxpayers are paying twice for one service. Poor facilities, in the county schools, though not the only factor involved, accounts for much of the problem. The Board of Education has printed a list of necessary improvements which the bond would make, if passed. To take the worst of many examples, Wilkes Central is a disaster. The school was built in 1951 to serve 900 students. This year about 1400 students are enrolled. Classes are held in trailers, boiler rooms, and even janitor’s closets. If 1 was a student at Wilkes Central I would seriously consider dropping out of school and finishing my education at W.C.C. in a more personable atmosphere. Better facilities for our public schools will affect the community in a number of ways. First, better facilities for our public schools will create an atmosphere more conductive to educational acti vities. Students and teachers alike will be subjected to less tension and stress from the confusions of overcrowding and uncomfortable surroundings. Also better facilities will attract better teachers. Like Mr. Watson pointed out in his letters to the editor of the Journal Patriot, better facilities do not necessarily mean better teaching, but if a teacher has a choice between two schools, one with good facilities and one with antiquated and overcrowded facilities, the teacher will certainly pick the school with better facilities. Here at the College we would expect to see a gradual decrease in the enrollment in the high school certificate and diploma programs, and in the Developmental Studies program as the quality of our public schools increased. 1 certainly don’t advocate abolish ing these programs at the College. The alternatives to the public school system are necessary for people who perform better in self-initiated programs. However, those students who dropped out of high school because of oppressive and confusing con ditions would now remain in school as a result of better public school facilities and learning conditions. On November 8th the students at WCC can make a difference if we vote YES for the school bond. Take pride in vour county. VOTE YES, NOV. 8TH. President’s Column Recently W.C.C. was granted $130,000 to implement a special project in Adult Basic Education. From eighteen proposals sub mitted the W.C.C. application was rated first. During the next twelve months the college will seek out individuals in our three county service area who have deficiencies in basic skills, particularly reading and writing. In North Carolina some 1.8 million adults have not completed high school studies. Of that number some 800,000 adults are functionally incompetent with reference to the basic skills mentioned above. Governor Hunt has placed a high priority on eliminating illiteracy in the state. It was through his influence that funds were made available to implement five model ABE programs during the next twelve months. The institutions selected in addition to Wilkes were: Caldwell Community College, Forsyth Technical Institute, Mar tin Community College, and Robison Technical Institute. If the results of these model programs are successful, much more money will be made available for programs in all fifty-seven technical institutes and community colleges. Several per sons will be added to our staff for this program. We expect dramatic results in Ashe, Alleghany, and Wilkes Counties as hundreds of people are better trained to cope with an increasingly complex world. As this is being read recruiters are already at work spreading the word about Adult Basic Education. It is gratifying to see funds made available for this good purpose. So often our tax dollars are drained off in unproductive programs. Here is a clear example of an investment in people where the needs are greatest. Governor Hunt and the North Carolina Board of Edu cation are to be commended for their recognition of and com mitment to ABE. We at W.C.C. accept the challenge to bring literacy to all our citizens. We appreciate having this oppor tunity! "Forget your locker key again, Paul?"
Wilkes Community College Student Newspaper
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Nov. 1, 1977, edition 1
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