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Volume XXVI, Number 1 Montreal-Anderson CoUege
Septembers, 1992
ANDREW HITS CLOSE TO HOME
Emi Cabrera Left Homeless By Storm
By Eric Bush
In spite of all the warnings, noth
ing could have prepared Judith
Cabrera and her family for what
happened in the early morning of
August 24th. Judith, South Flor
ida resident and mother of M-AC
Junior Emilia Cabrera, spent that
morning with her family, “huddled
together on the floor of the living
room praying only that God would
spare our lives if it were His will.”
Hurricanes have acquired an
almost mythical quality. They are
curious, exciting, even fascinat
ing, because, after all, they never
do any real damage. Not this
time.
Hurricane Andrew, with its
devastating winds reaching over
160 m.p.h., stiped the roof com-
oletelv off the Cabrera house,
smothered it with uprooted trees, and
transform the front yard into a deci
mated pile of rubble. Like 250,000
other residents of South Florida, the
Cabrera’s became homeless over
night. The family suffered no major
injuries, but virtually all of their
furniture and carpeting, as well as
many personal belongings, have been
destroyed. For the Cabreras home is
superficial - it’s total. Entire cities,
like Goulds, Homestead, Florida
The Cabrera Home after Andrew
a Fort Lauderdale hotel, as they try to
withstand the trauma of what is being
called the worst hurricane in Modem
American history.
Sadly, the fate of the Cabrera’s is
widespread. From Biscayne Bay to
the Everglades, spanning about 165
square miles, the damage is far from
City, and Petrine, are gone. Left in
Andrew’s wake are thousands of
people wandering through the wreck
age, a mixture of shock confusion,
fear, and frustration.
In response this catastrophe, M-
AC faculty member Darwin
Glassford, a Miami native, has or
ganized a group of 16 students who
will travel to South Florida on Sep
tember 10 to aid in the
relief effort. Dr.
Glassford has already
been to South Florida
once since the hurricane
struck, he describes it as
a “War Zone".
Glassford has
planned for the relief
team to help the Cabrera
family rebuild their
home. He also hopes to
assist another family, Mr.
and Mrs. Corrigan, and
possibly give some aid to
a neighborhood Christian
school which was also hit
hard by the storm.
While the upcoming trip
has no more spaces available,
another relief trip has been planned
for the Fall Break of October 16th to
21st. This trip will likely carry more
than the 16 students of next week’s
trip, however the cost per student is
unknown at this point. Interested
students should see Ed Bonner for
details.
NEW TOBACCO RULES
- Howerton Smokers Frustrated
By Paul Shockley
One the biggest changes of the
new school year is a stricter tobacco
policy in the dormitories. Davis Hall
and Montreat-Anderson Hall have
only the top floors as designated area
for the use of tobacco, with Hower
ton Hall becoming completely to
bacco-free. This change has not
been received warmly by all. Some
students have become inconven
ienced by the new tobacco ban, espe
cially those living in Howerton.
Coach Idstrom, Howerton RD,
stated, “I agree with it [the tobacco
policy] forhealth reasons only. Being
a new staff member. I'm not sure
why it was put into place; I also
believe in free-choice, however ciga
rette - smoking, in general can be
harmful to others." Howerton Resi
dent Lionel Wilson said: “In the pri
vacy of your own room you should
have the right to use tobacco. We’re
old enough to buy it, so we should be
allowed to choose to use it or not. I
think, in the long run it’s going to
hurt the college, more so than help
it.”
The conflict that arose from this
issue seems to be coming more from
the tobacco-users of Howerton than
from anyone else. While those who
do not use tobacco products are sym
pathetic with those who do, the non
users are also more understanding
and open to the new policy. Jon
athan Woody, another resident of
Howerton explains: “I sympathize
with the tobacco-users, but the ban
has helped keep the dorm a lot cleaner
and nicer looking.” Jeff Lang, Resi
dent Assistant on the third floor in
Howerton, expresses his opinion,
saying: “While non-smokers have a
privacy
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j||he right^%^ use
tobaccdljiii:.:.,,
right to smoke-free air (in their pur
suit of happiness), smokers have a
right to pursue happiness by smok
ing. The college needs to provide
several convenient smoking areas,
both indoors and outdoors.”
This issue is not one that is just
confined to the campus of Montreat-
Anderson. All across the country
private colleges and universities are
becoming more aware of the health
risks taken by cigarette smoking and
other uses of tobacco.
The Montreat-Anderson College
Administration has taken the posi
tion that the new tobacco policy is
for the benefit of the school and a
better environment for the students.
Yet tobacco consumers still feel their
rights are being infringed upon.
Despite the differences of opinions
however, it seems Howerton Hall
will remain a tobacco-free resident
hall.
Look for your next Issue of the
Aletheia on Tuesday the 15th.