ORIENTATION '84
THE TWIG
PAGE 3
World’s largest
Small women’s college
The first view of Mereditfi 1$ the administrative building. Johnson Hall - or as better known, the place
where your date plcifS you up.
The budding trees lining
the driveway wave gently at
those entering the campus. Thie
well groomed, too green grass
is theenvyof manyvisitors. The
rainbow like azaleas add more
color to the setting. Everything
seems tranquil. Very proper.
But appearances can tie
deceiving.
Since the doors opened to
19 faculty members and 125
students in 1899, Meredith
College has been gaining pro
gress. The traditional woman's
college has clung to its reputa
tion and is still attracting
women from all over. Some
1700 wromen attend Meredith
annually and the numt>er of
applicants is increasing.
Yet although the number Is
increasing, new housing facili
ties are not a vision for the new
future.
“We’re not planning to
grow,” said President John E.
Weems, "we're not planning to
be the world’s largest small
wornen’s college.”
Last year the nunnber of
students attending Meredith
was miscalculated, facing the
school to house many students
elsewhere. Many freshmen were
booked at the Ramada Inn until
Carol Anne was built to handle
the overflow.
What Attracts The Women?
The fact that Meredith is a
Baptist woman's college at
tracts many students. "Because
the school focuses on the in
dividual as a total person, many
women are drawn to the
school," said Dean Sizemore.
Another plus is the fact that
Meredith encourages diversity
in the students and faculty and
attempts to create a balance be
tween the Christian faith and
free inquiry. The reputation of
being a challenging academic
school also interests many stu
dents.
When comparing Meredith
to other woman's colleges in
the South, Meredith is "among
the leaders.”
“We’re the largest In the
Southeast. Maybe the largest
around. We're not as expensive
as some. At least not in
this part of the country,” said
Allen Burris, academic dean.
The cost of tuition In
cluding room and board for one
year at Meredith is $4,800;
however, it will increase to
S5,200 during the 1984-85
academic school year.
"The presidents at David
son,Duke and Wake Forest in
clude Meredith as one of the
better institutions in North
Carolina. They group us with
them,” said F^ident Weems.
The atmosphere felt at
Meredith is different than that
at other woman’s colleges. Old
traditions such as the Daisy
Chain at graduation, Corn-
huskin’ and ‘Alice in Wonder
land’ involve both students and
faculty, thus creating a unique
bond in the Meredith com
munity.
It’s All in the Mind '
Receiving a broader know
ledge in nriany different fields
interests many college bound
females. A liberal arts educa
tion attracts rr«ny women to
Meredith College, along with
the vocational education they
can get. Meredith “invites”
every student to learn and be
educated. Some accept this in
vitation, whereas others can’t or
don’t.
"Therels no magic formula
to a successful academic pro
gram," said Burris. "I can't put
my finger on things we're not
[Continued, on page 5]
John Weems; More than just a president
by Cynthia L Church
John Weems
The oversized desk
would make most men look
small, yet it fits him perfectly.
From the volumes of The
Workl'a ^ogress on a shelf to
Ihepiittersandg'dlf balls'inthe
corner, one can sense his per
sonality. Its setting is formal
but a casual atntosphere is
nestled in his office among ttie
comfortable highback chairs,
the conference table and the
paintings, signed Weems.
The graduate of George
Peabody College, in his home-
state of Tennessee, has been
president of Meredith College
since January of 1972. John E.
Weems has held important
positions at Atlantic Christian
College, Kentucky Wesiyn Col
lege and Midde Tennessee
' University before an'iving ' at
Meredith.
“Meredith is almost the
by Jill Hensdale
In the recent first slate
elections held at Meredith, Joan
Bunting became the new SGA
President for the 1984-85 school
year. The rising senior has
many new and exciting ideas
planned for Meredith in the up
coming year.
Joan first became involved
in student government her
freshman year when she sen/ed
as class secretary. She con
tinued hCT interest in school
government acitivities by ser
ving as Sophomore class secre
tary and Junior class president.
Joan credits much of her
interest in student affairs to her
involvement with the 4-H club
throughout high school. It was
through this club that she
learned much of \A^iat it takes to
make ideas and projects wcdt.
During the past year,
several changes have been
made to Meredith’s SGA Con
stitution and By-Laws. Joan
hopes that through her position
as SGA President ^e can set
these changes into motion.
With the addition of the
Senate and Student Activities to
tie offered next year to Meredith
students it means perhaps a
fewer selection of activities and
events but ones in whic^ the
majority of tl>e students will
want to participate in.
Meredith plays an impor
tant role in Joan’s life. She is
not only involved in student
government but Is also a mem
ber of the F^i society and the
Barber Science Club. She en
ideal school,” said Weems.
However, “I dcJi’l anticipate
staying here until I'm 65."
Hail to the Chief
During the past 12 years
Weems has been at Meredith,
much has been accomoiished.
“We’re not planning to t>e the
world’s largest small, women’s
college," said Weems.
TTiis may be true; however,
he has been the instigator of
many campus-oriented
changes. The library’s re
sources have increased, pro
grams t>ave been developed to
sen^e the community, the
physical beauty of the campus
has improved and a new church
has t>een built. Financially,
Meredith has become extremely
stable.
“What he's done in the last
10 years is tremendous. He’s
put the college on its financial
feet,” said Eve Dulaney.
Weem’s secretary.
Weems has also been suc
cessful as an administrator.
There is "total freedom
under his administration. I’m
able to do my job in a way that's
comfortable to me. He’s good
for the school and I’m sure all
the other vice presidents would
say essentially the same thing,”
said Vice President Joe Baker.
“He gives out responsibility
and gives you the space to do
the job," said Dulaney.
As tt\e “chief administrator
and chief academic office” of
Meredith, Weems is president
“24 hours a day, 7 days a M«ek.
It takes a lot of energy. It really
does. I’m always President of
Meredith no matter where I am.”
[Continued on page 5]
Joan Bunting: New SGA president
joys getting involved in student
activities and served as a Stu-
dfflit Life Sub-committee chair
person this past year. She is a
strong supporter of the Honor
Code and feeJs that it is an im
portant part of Meredith. To her,
the Honor Code goes t«yond
the campus by _ helping girls
build their own honor codes in
their personal lives.
The 1984-85 school year
plans to be a busy one for Joan.
She hopes to increase the en
thusiasm on campus and to get
more students involved in cam
pus affairs. Joan wants all stu
dents to know that she is avail
able to them and will listen to
any complaints or suggestions
th^ may have. She wants to
make the coming year an ex
iting and eventful one.
Joan Bunting [faf rlgh(\ is seen here with Becky Evans, [center]
and Tmcy Thompson [far left].