Against All Odds: The Man
Against the Mountain
TODD COST
There are many bright and creative
individuals on our campus. One of them
IS Ian McAlexander. Ian is a sophomore
this year, and plans on graduating in
May. At this point in time, the greatestj^
challenge in Ian's life is rockcTirnbing.
Ian was an avid rockclimber until
December 24, 1987 when he injured his
foot while climbing. His foot is healing
and he should be oi; iiii, crutches in a
few weeks. When asked what the
greatest thing about climbing was, Ian
said, "It was the thrilling challenge
experienced when faced with an
impossible climb." He also enjoys the
beautiful views taken in once he
reaches the mountain's summit. To Ian,
this IS the chance to be face-to-face
with blue skies and cool, cnsp air.
What an adventure!
Another great aspect of hiking and
rockclimbing that Ian enjoys is the
many different people that he meets
"While hiking", Ian says, "it is
interesting who you meet. A good
number of women are hiking these days,
and this intimidated me It is hard to
see women who are rougher and
stronger than you." When asked if he
would like to continue hiking later on in
life, Ian said he would like to hike as
long as his body stays healthy.
Rockclimbing is not Ian's only
interest. He also enjoys good
literature, jazz music, aod art. He
especially enjoys art that is
meaningful, creative, and "a little more
than meets the eye." After,Montreat,
Ian plans to major in chemistry and
eventually obtain a Masters in teaching
from Appalacian State Universitv
Firiallv, the one thing that keeps Ian
going day to day is his belief in the
Lord Jesus Christ. Ian reads his Bible
daily and believes in the fact that "I am
a Christian, and God gives deliverance."
His favorite Bible verse is Psalms
34:17: "The righteous cry, and the Lord
heareth, and delivereth them out of all
their troubles."
Mew Students: Making Them Feel A Part of Us
RENEE JENKINS
After a hard and tiring semester and
a rejuvenating Christmas break, most
of the M-AC students returned to school
with refreshed and positive thoughts.
As these continuing students arrived
back on campus January 12, they found
a couple of new sights. For one, snow
and best of all, new faces.
Many of Montreat's new students
came in on Tuesday and I must commend
them on fitting right in immediately
without any orientation due to the
snow. One of M-AC's new students is
Lori Boggess from New Jersey. She
heard about M-AC from a close friend,
Diane Jeffries, who attended school
here last year. Lori admitted, "At first
Montreat didn't win me over but the
more I prayed about it the more I
wanted to come." ■
Along with the new students, many
old faces are back again. Many of the
"re-admits" stated that Montreat
seemed to have changed for the better
and they wanted to return. Such
students as Paula Johnson, who
returned back to Montreat to become a
Resident Assistant in MA-Hall, stated,
"There's advantages to being at
Appalachian State University and at
Montreat. At Appalachian, I got to do
things I couldn't do here at Montreat
because Montreat is so small but the
closeness of Montreat is important and
it's something that I've missed at
Appalachian."
Let's give these new and readmitted
students that Montreat welcome that
M-AC is known for. Making them feel
like a part of us is what Montreat is all
about. Pray for these students as they
try to adjust and remember also, those
who have'icM us for various reasons.
Why Did the
Seniors Stay?
PEGGY LEIS
On May 7, 1988 Montreat Anderson
College will celebrate a great moment
in history. That moment will be
graduation. For some, this may not
seem very exciting. Yet for those of us
who have been here for what seems like
10 years, May 7, will mark the first
graduating class with a 4 year degree.
The seniors will graduate with degrees
in Christian Ministries, Human Services
and Liberal Arts,
But why did these Seniors choose
to stay here at Montreat instead of
transferring? VYas it the sheer need
to be bombarded by quizzes and term
papers? To stay up endless nights
reading novels, textbooks, etc.? The
addiction to cafeteria food? As I
talked with some people, I find that
none of the above were any reason. Nan
Weitzel says she stayed because the
college offered a degree that she
wanted, also the student/teacher ratio
was excellent and the co-ed dorm was
also Influential. John Hayes stayed
because "I feit at home and have met so
many good friends." Todd Cost says, "At
the time that I made my decision, I felt
like Montreat best suited my needs—
between Steve Williams and Tisa
Lewis, there may not be two more
qualified teachers in my field."
Overall, many seniors feel very
fullfilled academically. The student
teacher ratio is a plus, and teacher's
are very approachable in terms of
assignments, homework, etc.
Whatever the reason the Seniors
stayed, they'll receive their big pay off
on May 7 and be the first Senior
graduating class in the history of
Montreat Anderson College.
To Leave or Not to Leave?:
The Sophomore Question
KIM THOMPSON
Here it is second semester, four
months until graduation. Across the
campus, questions echo such as: "Are
you coming back next year?" and "What
college are you transfering to?". Why
so much emphasis on who's leaving and
who's going to stay?" Because now
Montreat-Anderson College has many
new four-year programs, so now
Sophomores have a greater choice of
leaving or staying. What will the
majority choose to do? That's what I
decided to find out.
After talking with several
sophomores it seemed that more were
leaving than staying but that doesn't
mean that very few are staying, just
not as many as are leaving. When asked
why they were leaving, many said that
Montreat couldn't offer them the
degree they needed for their projected
career. Others complained about the
cost and are choosing to live at home
and attend a local college. A majority,
of those leaving , however, agreed that
they would rather go to an established
college or university rather than be
another set of "guinea pigs" for the
slow transition of Montreat to a
four-year school. I guess these people
know what is best for them and their
future, but what if we all thought this
way? How could Montreat ever build up
to a four year college?
Luckily, there are some who would
love to give the four year programs a
chance. Though not everyone staying is
staying for this reason, a good many
are. These are the ones who feel good
about the change over and want to help
make it happen. There are also those
who are staying because their major is
being offered. Maybe this is one of the
few schools that does offer their
major. Such majors as, Christian
Ministries, Child Care Administration
and especially Recreation. Other
reasons ranged from parents making the
student stay to not being able to
transfer some of their credits to the
institution os their choice.
Whatever the reason, the
administration can be assured that
there will be juniors and seniors here
next year to continue what those
graduating this year started. Then of
course there are those who haven't
decided yet. Maybe they'.; need another
year or semester to dec: "to leave ot
not to leave."