Page four
Scot dana professor speaks;
Looks forward to work
By SUSAN SHUFORD
"I suffer," says James McNab
forthrightly, "from cultural
schizophrenia.''
And he has his reasons.
Born on the coast of Scotland and
educated in Edinburgh, he has lived
three years in France and 10 in
Virginia, getting his Ph.D. at Duke
University meanwhile. Now, as
Dana Professor of French at Guil
ford College, he is a Tar Heel.
To the above, add a strong
ancestral influence a long line of
seamen.
"Two of my brothers earn their
livelihood from the sea, a course I
nearly chose for myself," he said.
"I feel that my ancestry contributes
to my own love of travel and my
insatiable curiosity concerning
other peoples, their cultures and
unique accomplishments.''
When the young Scotsman had
both his undergraduate and
graduate degrees from the University
of Edinburgh, the lure of living and
teaching in France won out over
the call of the sea.
While teaching at the University
of Nice, James met Elizabeth, who
became his wife, since he is a
British subject and she is French,
their two children are claimed by
both nations.
The mention of his family
obviously stirs him. "That's where
my values lie," he declared with
feeling. "We are a close-knit
quartet especially addicted to nature,
the outdoors and, of course, travel."
Each summer the bilingual four
some travels to Europe, seeing
various countries and visiting their
relatives, most of whom are still
living on the Continent. All four of
them are having a hard time develop
ing any sort of nationalism.
America got its chance to become
part of the potpourri of nationalities
because of a spur of the moment
decision.
"It was purely by chance,"
James explained, a delightful trace
of Scottish accent dominating his
English. "I was at a French sky
diving center when a friend mention
ed an opening in the foreign
language department at Virginia
Tech."
He talked over the possibility
with friends, who encouraged him
to apply, and he decided to come.
After 10 years at VPI, it
was Guilford's unique atmosphere,
its warmth and friendliness which
brought McNab to Greensboro,
one more addition to his personal
"paradise."
James stresses that he is "skep
tical of finding paradise in any one
place." For him, "Paradise is a
composite of many places Scot
land, France, Virginia, Greens
boro. ''
The latest addition to that
composite has him overwhelmed.
"I can't overstress the warmth in
every "facet of life here," he declared.
"It's incredible, yet unobtrusive.
Students, colleagues, neighbors.
Everyone is so friendly and willing
to help.''
At Guilford College, the dynamic
teacher with an intense personality
has found a receptive outlet for his
creative energies.
"Right now I'm in a period of
adjustment," he explained. "It's
not that I don't have enough to do,
but too much. I'm discovering!
Discovering! Discovering all the
time, and I'm having a ball!"
James could have gone to some
sleepy college where he could in
effect be retired at 30, but he's
eager to "scoop up lots of life"
and feels that right now Guilford is
the place to do it.
There is no doubt but that
Guilford is glad McNab feels that,
way. He signed on at the Quaker
institution as a "Dana Professor,"
a designation bestowed along
with financial consideration upon
outstanding teachers whom the
college wishes to attract or to keep.
There also is no doubt that he is
well qualified. He is fluent in
French, English and German and
is well versed in Latin. His doctorate
from Duke is in French literature.
Romantic notions are
continued from page three/
Plastic swans are relatively expen
sive (as far as plastic birds go);
50t apiece. For special effects,
put the swans in the sink and give
them a push. Don't worry about
anything happening to them,
this set-up won't fool the average
cat about the house.
For those who don't mind break
ing a few laws, try swanknapping
at the local zoo. To keep the SPCA
from getting angry, buy $20.00
worth of food and put the swans in
metal pools in the back yard. Of
. course living near the Rubber Rose
Ranch would be even cheaper.
They could just stay there.
The geese will not be without a
lake for more than a day, as one is
needed for the seven swans a
swimming. Cost of a man-made,
one acre lake is roughly $10,000.00.
Swans are not easy to get in
Greensboro, but they can be bought
through the zoo at $350.00 a pair.
Food, the least of the worries,
will be around $5.00 per month.
A small shelter for seven swans will
run in the neighborhood of $ 100.00.
?ight .maids a -milk -ing,
I I
Guilfordian
and his 10 years at VPI were as
foreign language chairman.
A key to bringing the McNab-
Guilford courtship to a happy
conclusion was "Guilford's desire
to achieve excellence in its highest
degree.''
"I would like to see our foreign
language department become the
best in the Southeast, in terms of
course range, instructional quality,
curriculum and facilities," he said
with fervor.
Not that McNab is by any means
putting down the school or his
fellows. "I like and above all respect
my colleagues," he quickly added.
"I couldn't imagine a more cons
cientious group.''
Still, in accord with Guilford's
constant striving to achieve excell
ence, he does feel that there is room
for improvement.
And he wants to help achieve
that exellence in a field whose
international possibilities
excite him.
That, of course, is languages, one
avenue for developing an awareness
of other peoples.
"Languages let you come out of
yourself and become more aware of
others," he commented. "There
is a certain hyperacusia common to
those who know languages, and I
The barn set bought for these
geese can be used for cows and
barns. Nine tenths of the cost of
the set comes to $5.40. With this
set comes two maids a-milking, so
six more have to be bought. Rubber
milk maids cost 10t each for a
grand total of $6.00.
If there is more money in the
family, try hiring eight women from
Guilford College to fetch milk from
the steel cows in the cafeteria.
Wages are a low $3.00 an hour -
total cost is $ 192.00.
On the eight day, the instructions
are ambiguous. There are many
things that maid can milk, cats,
dogs, elephants, even snakes.
They could also be new mothers,
but since cows have been used
traditionally, they will be used again
HUCKS ,:2p
DELI
GREAT SANDWICHES I
NIGHTLY ENTERTAINMENT / . )
CATERING / /A Jty
1 lam to lam \
Quaker Village ✓ \
852-0796
Dana professor James McNab, chairman of the language depart
ment, works in office.
believe it is to some extent very
French. I'm convinced of it.''
In a time when the United
States is becoming more and more
dependent on other countries,
McNab finds American provincial
ism its relative unawareness of
other countries dismal.
"Languages have not been made
into any sort of priority in schools,
and consequently students remain
unaware," he said.
Such an attitude is particularly
prevalent in America, he feels, partly
because of its geographic location.
Another contributing factor, he
believes, is American modernism
its lack of awareness of the past in
the present.
To McNab, intense communica
tion by persons with the world
expensive
here. This is why the 120 acre
farm was bought two days ago.
These cows take up a lot of space.
Each beast will cost $1,000.00
(Holsteins of course). A barn for
eight will run about $10,000.00.
Maids a-milking will cost $35.00
each day, plus all the milk they
can take home (7 gallons per day
per cow for 7 years equals 67,694,73
liters). The food will be $5.85
per cow, per day or $46.00.
nine la -dies danc - ing,
t
i i
continued on page five
December 12,1978
around them is one of life's most
important aspects.
"Seeing the viewpoints of others
is one way of enriching our own
lives," he said. "A lot of people
continued on page five
Special
Christmas
Feature:
"Christmas
ih New
Zealand"
On Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 8 p.m.
and
Sunday, Dec. 17, 8 p.m.
WQFS
will present
a special 30 minute
program
Imagine:
95 degree temperatures at
Christmastime..
summer vacation during New
Years.