ALETHEIA
Volume XXVII, Number 11
Montreat-Anderson College
January 28,1994
Dr. M. L. K., Jr.
Forgotten?
By Chad Smith
"How can this college give us
S.A.L.T.(Servant and Leadership
Training) and yet neglect to give at
tention to one of the most prominent
servant leaders this nation has ever
seen?" remarked freshman Henry
Logan, after the nation observed Mar
tin Luther King, Jr. Day, Monday,
January 17.
Schools and businesses across
the nation paid special tribute and
respect to a man that has forever
changed this nation, Martin Luther
King, Jr. However, that was not the
case at M-AC.
Many students expressed their
feelings and opinions on the matter
and wondered why there was not even
mention of his name or how lie has
affected the lives of not just the minor
ity, but people of all races and all
cultures. "I feel somewhat disap
pointed that M-AC does not attempt
to recognize Dr. King, Jr.’s Holiday.
I do not say this because I am an
African-American, but because this
man is a significant individual in his
tory. He stood for equal rights for all
individuals, not just blacks. Failure to
recognize his importance, to me,
means that somebody does not care to
realize his importance to all our lives
today," commented concerned student
Shon Snipes.
Suspected Students Busted By Authorities
Action Taken Against Illegal Drug Use
By Daniell Hartness and Kathryn Letterman
Four students were suspended last
week after a police investigation, in coop
eration with M-AC. The parties involved
were chaiged with all or some of the follow
ing: contributing to the dilenquency of a
minor, hosting parties where illegal dregs
were possesed or consumed; possession,
consumption, and distribution of illegal
dregs.
Vice-President forStudent Develop
ment Charlie Lance explained that origi
nally,the rumors aboutstudentsusingdregs
began last semester. Then, the situation
became more serious as other students and
staff membersexpressedconcemandeven-
tually, specific names were disclosed.
Lance contacted the Metropolitan
Enforcement Group (MEG) and compared
notes. Lance assumed the MEG, based on
their reaction, had an investigation already
inprogress. Infact,LanceandtheMEGhad
in common the names of the students that
were allegedly involved.
Lance heard direct eyewitnesses,
police testimony, and saw hard police evi
dence against the suspects. He was, how
ever, asked to refrain from taking any action
on the students. ThepoliceinfonnedLance
that there was another student in question,
and cxplair>ed that taking action against the
others atthistimemaytipthe other one off.
The investigation continued through
out last semester, and police finally moved
on the Wednesday following registratioa
One suspect’s room was searched, how
ever, the police chose not to bring charges
against the items that were found. The
MEG gave jurisdiction of the matter to
Lance and the situation was handled ad
ministratively.
The four students involved admitted
guilt to all or part of the charges given, and
all were suspended with atwenty-four hour
time period in which they had to be off
campus. All charged withdrew officially
from the college, and this discrepancy vrill
not be on their acedemic record. The four
students will technically be eligible to reap
ply in the fall.
Some students were angry about the
action taken by the administratioa "I think
the school is more concerned about its name
thanaboutthe people involved Iftheyareso
convinced that these peqple are ’dmggies’,
then why didn't the school offer them scane
help?" exclaimed student Cindy Willis.
Willis’ roommate, Julie Giegerich added
"What’s a ’Christ-centered’ image anyway?' ’
Senior Eric Bush offered a different
approach, "I think it’s very sad that this had
to hafpen, but I also find it wrongheaded to
expect the college, or any other institution,
to be Christian on our behalf. If people
really care about those who were caught,
they should caU them or go see them and
offer whatever suRX)rt is needed."
Snipes was not alone in her state
ment, many students commented that
it did seem odd that nothing was done
to honor the respectable Dr. King, Jr.
"It's a shame that we can't support
America-what made America, and
what changed America. Why was there
no reflection made on the man that was
the essence of a servant leader?" noted
junior Shalimar Kinsey.
In talking witii President Hurt, he
stated that nothing was intentionally
done to neglect students from celebrat
ing this holiday, and that he will look to
be better prepared for next year's holi
day commemorating the late Dr. King,
Jr.
"When I first came here, it used
to really bother me that nothing was
done for Dr. King, Jr.’s Holiday, but 1
have learned that it is not intentional
and meant to offend students.
Last year I read a part of one of
Dr. King, Jr.’s speeches, but with such
aheavy workload this semester, I wasn’t
able to prepare anything. One person
can’t do it by themselves. It takes
everybody pulling and working to
gether," shared senior Donna Buggs.
Buggs continued to comment that stu
dents need to get involved and change
things they have compassion about,
adding that if students are offended or
hurt by what goes on at this college
then they need work with one other to
share the dreams that they have.
Temperatures Plunge Below Freezing...
M-A Hall Not Equipped to Handle Merciless Winter Weather
By Joyce Downs
AfuriousArticairmass from Canada
that swept across tlie Mid and Eastern parts
of the U.S. was reqx)nsible for last week’s
bitter cold weather that hit M-AC ard its
neighboring towas. On Sunday, January
16, Asheville hit a record low of-1F aid
Black Mountain went down to a chilling
negative three degress.
Professors and students alike have
been forced to cope with this fiercely cold
weather. Due to freezing rain, on Monday
January 17,variousM-ACprofessorswere
not aMe to leave their Ixxnesbecauseofthe
very hazardous road conditiais. This re
sulted in the cancellation of many classes.
English and French professor Dale Britton
who lives in Hendersonville, located an
hour drive from the college, was forced to
stayhomethatday. "Tlierewasalayerofice
on everything," exclaimed Brittoa
Student’s concern was to try to keep
warm, espredally residents of M-A Hall,
because of the problems with the radiators
ardwirdows. M-AHaU’s Resident Direc
tor Paula Johnson states that there have been
many canpiainls about the radiators not
generating enou^ heat to warm up the
roans aid that the chilling air penetrating
through the wirdows added to their discon
tent The maintenance crew was helpful as
to atteid to the dorm's problems by cleaning
out the radiators ard moving furniture away
from them so tliat the heat could easily
circulate. As far as the proMems with the
windows, "I gave them duct tape," re
marked Paula Johnson.
Off-campus students as well as on
campus residents fell victims to the grim cold
spell that this part of the country was expe
riencing. SGA Vice President Janie King
who resides off-campus was without run-
ningwalerforfourdays because theextreme
cold temperatures violently raptured a water
pipe in the laurdry roan, forcing the build
ing to shut off its running water. 'Tve had
to go up to school to shower...etc„" replied
King when she asked how she was ceping
with this situatioL
Deq)itethe biting weather however,
exchange student from South Africa Queen
Musengwaexpiessesaliking towardiL She
claimed, "Ifsaftinexperiaice." ChrisCauley,
a senior, ard Katherine McDwain, a junior,
agreed except that they "wished it would
srx)w". Onthecontrary,StephanieHairison
from Hickory, North Carolina expressed,
"I’m ready forsummer." She may have the
right idea as temperatures are predicted to
wami back up into the 50's ard 60s for the
next few days.
6.6 California Earthquake Damages Kramer's House
Friends and Relatives of Oblander, Shoemate, Wright Affected
By Danieil Hartness
Southern California received their
wake up call by an earthquake about 4:30
Mondaymomingon January 17. Theearth-
quake reached a 6.6 c*i the Richther scale.
The earthquake effected residents up aid
down the eastern coastline fton San Diego
to Seattle, Washingtoa ThLswasthelaigcst
earthquake in California since the 7.1
tremWor in San Francisco in 1990.
This earthquake seemed more trau
matizing than most because earthquakes
usually arise deep within the earth, aid
when it does nsach tire surface, the impact
is not as intense. This one, however, was
shallow ard started near the surface of tlie
earth. Therefore, tlx; initial blow aid the
aftershocks were intensified.
The actualquakelastedforaboutthirty
secords, which is more lengthy than most,
ard after ^xx:ks were still occuiing a week
after the earthquake. There have been over
one thousand aftershocks siixethe irxidenL
Students Jennifer Kramer, Denise
Oblaidcr, Kleigli Shoemate, and Mark
Wright werediiectlyaffected by the disaster.
Kramer, a fresiiman, lives in Chatsw'orth,
California. Chatsworth is near the Epicen
ter, which was the center of the earthquake.
Kramer’shousewasseverelydamageffhow-
ever, ix) one in Kramer's residency was
seriously injured.
Shoemate, new student aid sopho
more, is from Bakersfield, located an tour
from Los Angeles. Shoemate's family sur
vived unscathed. OMaider, a freshman
from Visalia, received no damage. Her
graidparcnts, however, live in Los Angeles
but were not hurt
Wrighfs graixlpaients live in Vista,
which is csie tour away from Los Angeles
however, they, too reported IX) injuries. In
tense damage occured ixrnethcless. Tliere
were tdek walls ard chimneys down, water
pipes were broken, buildings were levelled-
-in some cases destroyed, also there were
freeways and airports tom down and out of '
electricity and water.
Some say that this earthquake shows
the wrath of God. Kramer expressed that
"God was definitely there because through
all the damage, there were rx)t a lot of
casualties.’’ Although this may show the
grace of God, OWander offered another
peipective, "I feel God has to create natural '
disasters for us to wake up aid realize what '
Ls important-our lives, ix)t material items."