Volume XXVII, Number 22
Montreat-Anderson College
April 29,1994
Muiti-Cultural Committee Proposes Significant Changes...
Difficult Discussions by Faculty and Staff Raise Important Issues
By Joyce Downs
The multi-cultural committee is
seeking to make M-AC a more ethni
cally diverse college by proposing
changes which will affect several ar
eas of the college.
This ad hoc committee was com
missioned last year by Vice President
for Academic Affairs Dr, Don King.
Much time and hard work has gone
into discussions on how the college
could better expose its students to the
contrasting cultures of American so
ciety.
Professor of Teacher Education
and member of the committee Dr.
John Chesky explained that there were
three good reasons why the commit
tee felt the need for the change.
The first is to mirror the King
dom of God that the Bible describes as
being made up of diverse tribes, na
tions, and tongues. Secondly, is to
properly reflect the title of a liberal arts
institution; and finally to prepare stu
dents when they go out into the world
and interact with the ever increasing
multi-cultural society.
This year, the committee has
managed to write up a document listing
the target areas in need of improve
ment.
First, they want to look at how the
school would be able to recruit more
women and minorities to be a part of
the faculty, staff, and administration.
Secondly, it wants to look into how
admissions could make the college
more appealing to African Americans
and other minorities, as well as to
women.
The committee also wishes to
enhance student life by presenting more
cultural programs during Chapels as
well as during other special functions.
Furthermore, it wishes to add to
the curriculum more courses which
would expose the students to a greater
number of varied cultures.
Finally, the committee would like
the college to reach out beyond the
campus to other communities and cul
tures.
No action will be taken yet in
putting these proposals into effect until
the faculty votes in favor of them. Sev
eral faculty members feel threatened
by opening the doors to these kinds of
changes.
’Tm for people being treated
fairly. I'm for people's education being
as broad as possible, but I'm against the
proposals," admitted professor of Biol
ogy and Botany Mike Sonnenberg. He
argued that he shouldn't be compelled
to change his curriculum of teaching in
order to encompass a diversity of cul
tures.
When asked if prejudice might
with the New...
have played a part in some of the nega
tive feedback, Chesky offered, "We all
have hidden biases, and that’s what
multi-culturalism gets at. I think hid
den biases, hidden even to the person
him or herself, may influence one's
thinking. However, biases are a given,
and each of us has them."
Chesky explained further that al
though there were differences of opin
ion during the discussion, he expressed
that the cautions were honest and sin
cere on both sides.
So far, no students are currently
involved with the committee, however
Chesky informed that student partici
pation is invited, and encouraged, and
that anyone may join the committee at
any time to give input into the issue.
Chesky added that with time, and
frequent discussion of the issue, he
hopes that faculty members opposed
will see into the importance of it all.
Out with the Old Commander-in-Chief, in
SGA President Reardon Passes Torch to Upcoming President Wright
By Daniell Hartness
Student Government Association
President Jeff Reardon will be stepping
down from his jxsition after a strenuous
year of fighting for the rights of students.
Reardon worked hard to strengthen
the entity of SGA. "It’s reputation", Rear
don explained, "went fiom being a club to
becoming fire highest outpost for student
life on a student level. It's credibility erv
abled SGA to be an association ap>art from
the administratioa"
The additions and imprrovements this
year achieved by the SGA were numerous.
They now have an SGA Award that re
wards a student who shows outstanding
involvement and academic achievement
A 10am legislative timeslothas been added
Blown Off Meetings Bring Financial Loss
By Chad Smith
A mandatory financial aid meeting was scheduled by Lisa Lankford on
Wednesday, April 13, at 3pm in Gaither Chapel. The meeting was for all students who
have received loans at M-AC.
Posters were placed all over campus informing students of the time and place
of the meeting, and also stated that the meeting was mandatory. The posters further
read that attendance would be taken.
Only 22 students out of 187 actually attended the meeting. Lankford sent out
notices to all those students who failed to show up for the meeting, informing them that
they had just lost their financial aid. This notice was written to capture the attention
of those financial aid recipients to show them how important these scheduled meetings
arc. No one actually lost their financial aid, this time.
However, in the future, in order to keep up with federal regulations, whenever
there are notices announcing a mandatory financial aid meeting, students who are
required to attend but choose not to, will lose their financial aid award. No grace
periods will be given.
when no chapel or convocation has been
scheduled, so that some meetings can be
held during this time.
SGA alsochangedtiiesmddngpolicy
which allows for smoking in designated
areas. SGA initiated the increased lighting
on campus and raised concern about the
locks on doors of M-A Hall and McGregor
donns.
The new plan for the campus tele
phone installations were begun because of
a survey taken by SGA. Hans are in effect
tochangetheopendormpx)licy. Therehave
also been adjustments made to the Consti-
tutionandtotheHonorOxle. Students now
wUl have better representation when in
volved in a charge. These proposals have
been ^proved by the Body, but still await
the approval of the Cabinet
Reardon mentioned that there is now
a working budget at the end of this year,
prep>anedfornextyear. Also, therehas been
a new purchase of a Macintosh compwter,
espiecially designated for use by the SGA
President NowthePresidentwiUrxtlonger
be forced to use the computer designated
for student publications, as has been in the
past
Junior and McGregor resident Mark
Wright win be replacing Reardon's posi
tion, and commented that he appreciated
Reardon's accomplishments: "He did the
job extremely well. HI be using him a lot
next year."
Reardon expressed with a smUe the
way SGA became so much a p>art ofhis life,
"It was one of the best atxl most tiring
exp>erieixesofmylife. Ididmybestihopre
I did things right by the students; that was
my goal."
Thespians Inducted into Alpha Psi Omega
By Joyce Downs
Last Tuesday ni^ at the Drama
Banquet, acharterofthe AlphaPsi Omega
was officially estaUished with the irxluc-
tion of its first thirteen members.
JulianaLassiter,in
conjunction with En
glish, Speech, and
Drama professor Brian
FuUer,conceivedfheidea
of establishing a ch^r
of the honorary drama
fraternity at M-AC
Fuller explained
that this represents are of the first steps in
making the drama program at M-AC into
sanething more re^xctable.
Members of the fraternity will ccxi-
sist of students involved in some type of
Alpha Psi Omega Members
Naj Alicea
Larry Furry
Kat Ballou
Jennifer Hardman
Mark Bolick
M. Janie King
Emilia Cabrera
Denise Oblander
Karen Campbell
Jeff Reardon
Miriam Chapen
Rod Steward
Brian Fuller, M.F.A. Mark Wright
dramatic productioa The ccxistitution of
Alpha Psi Omega has set ip a point system
by which a student earns points for prartici-
pating in certain dramatic activities. Once a
student has earned a certain amount of
points, he will be eligible
to join the fraternity.
Senior Naj Alicea
passionately offered,
"Thepointsystem isgood
because it rewards those
who have pot in the time
and the effort that it takes
to put together a produc-
tioa"
AsideftompromotingtheartofDrdma,
the fraternity will seek to perfonn service
projects. Fuller explained, "Alpha Psi
Omega's intent is to combine artislry on the
Finals Week Instills Fear Throughout Community
By Daniell Hartness
Exam time will arrive Thursday of next week, and students will sprend many a
lonely night with their books to prepare for their final exams.
Sophomore Jodie Carriker will be cramming with classmates in the Belk
Campus Center, while freshman James Jessup prefers studying in the library over
spx;nding time with his friends.
However, M-A Hall resident Kat Ballou enjoys studying with her friends.
Ballou stated, "When you need to study late and your hungry. Huddle House is the
place to go."
Some students are not concerned about their exams, nor do they feel the immense
pressure of exam time.
Basketball player Jason Baker expressed that his grades were good and that his
exams were not something he was extremely concerned about.
The hectic exam week begins with Reading Day on Thursday, May 4. The actual
testing begins on Friday, May 5, at Sam, and will end on Tuesday, May 9, at 3:30pm.
Stage with a sense of service to the oromu-
nity."
Prestige and recognition will come to
the members ofthe fraternity as well as to the
college itself.
Acconding to Fuller, still photogr^iis
of dramatic productions at M-AC will ap>-
p>ear in Alpiia Psi Omega's annual National
Magazine.
Off-campxis resident Miriam Ch^xm
stated bluntly, "Maybe ix)w the school will
give us money for a real theater now that we
will be getting outside recognition for our
hard work."
Just the fact that M-ACs productiois
willbeseenandrecognizedbyothercolleges
will"tieusintoanetwoikofcOTventionsand
competition", proudly expressed Fuller.
SGA President Jeff Reaidcai who's
beenvery involved withM-ACtheatereexn-
mented, "It means that the whole dramatic
movement at M-AC is growing."