Newspapers / Crossroads (Belmont, N.C.) / Nov. 1, 1972, edition 1 / Page 5
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MADTTi -f.iA n.\T r trr>T'TA»t Monday, November 20,1972 - CROSSROADS - Page 5 Ecology, now a household term, is also very much a part of Belmont Abbey’s approach to the formation, rather than information, of young men and often seems to the general public beset by confusion, con tradiction, and stridently con flicting views. Moreover, ecological matters have become political, which increases the apprehension of the public towards the credibility of the problems and solutions thrust upon it. But despite its presently precarious position, ecology has been in the mind and action of scientists, statesmen, and concerned citizens well before the current fadism, bumper stickers and public controversy. Man’s relationship with Nature started with the beginnings of Environmental Education In Belmont Abbey by Dr. Juan Celecia humanity. The progression from gatherer to hunter, to shepherd, to agriculturist, and finally to technological man was due to our increasing understanding of Nature. The ensuing deterioration of the environment entrusted to man, resulted from his progressive misun derstanding of Nature and the role of mankind in its steward ship responsibility. It is thus that the liberal arts college can provide the necessary background for the inquisitive and willing-to-learn student, due to its capacity to offer a curriculum where all of the disciplines can contribute towards a common goal. The environmental question tran scends the purely scientific approach: it also involves the humanities and the -social sciences. It implies ethical and moral issues, together with an understanding of man’s societal organization and political structures. The ecological reality is inescapable because it is all inclusive. The versatility of the en vironmental courses taught at the Abbey is matched by the variety of backgrounds and personalities of the professors conducting these courses. The Science Division certainly does not have a monopoly, since the economics curriculum includes a course on “Conservation of Natural Resources’’ (Mr. Hanahan, Geology and Geography Dept.) and the Sociology Department offers “Demography and Human Ecology’’ (Mr. Tomazic, Sociology Dept.) The non science major has an increased option in his choice of science courses with the introduction of a two-semester course on “Man and the Environment’’ (Dr. Hartford, Chemistry Dept.) which presents contemporary problems and solutions at an understandable level. A realistic approach to the environmental question is sought, exemplified by field trips to power plants, industries, state and national parks, and other places where the citizen is directly or in directly involved. The Biology Department makes ecology a very dynamic part of the majority of its courses. It also offers for majors an advanced ecology course. i(Dr. Celecia, Biology Dept.) in which all of their previous background in the life and physical sciences is utilized. In ;the lecture room, the laboratory and the field, the student learns to understand the complexities of nature, mostly as it should be rather than as it is altered by man. The impact of man’s ac tivities on the ecosystems becomes more pertinent when the student realizes the scope of the complexities involved, and the delicate balance in a mesh- work of relationships between the non-living and living worlds built up over eons. For an institution of its size. The Abbey is exceptional in what it has to offer in the en vironmental field. Furthermore, the materials are presented without the prevailing emotionalism or stridency. All of the courses involved require hard work by both students and faculty. In spite of the varied approaches employed in the different fields, there is a general atmosphere of working towards a common goal which implies a better understanding of the natural world as the ex pression of God’s love for man and man’s love for the Creator. WHO’S WHO From Page 1 Muro of New Brunswick, New Jersey, an economics and business major; Eduardo X. DeTorres of Newton, North Carolina, a political science major; J. Christen Rasmussen of Mt. Holly, North Carolina, an accounting major; Benjamin H. Bowling of Bethesda, Maryland, a political science major; William P. Hatfield of Florence, South Carolina, a political science major; Christopher M. Givens of Hill Air Force Base, Utah, a political science major;- Robert W. Schellenberg of Jacksonville, Florida, a political science major; and Mark J. Schulte of Pittsburgh, Penn sylvania, a biology major. The two juniors elected are David A. Bowers of Roanoke, Virginia, an English major; and Timothy P. Lehan of Schnectady, New York, a psychology major. Science Building Open House Belmont Abbey College held an open house in its science building on Thursday, October 19, from noon until 5:30 p.m. High school science teachers and students, especially seniors, from Mecklenburg and Gaston counties were invited to inspect the astronomy, biology, chemistry, geology, and physics laboratories and to attend lab sessions in Analytical Chemistry, Principles of Biology, and Histology. At half-hour intervals from 1:30 through 4:00 p.m. talks on “Science in College’’ were held in the Pharr Auditorium on the first floor of the science building. Belmont Abbey college offers courses leading to the B.S. degree in biology, chemistry, pre-medicine, pre-dentistry, medical technology, pre- veterinary and pre- pharmaceutical medicine, and the A.B. degree in biology, chemistry, and physical science. Richmond, Qiarlotte Elects Officers In September, both the Rich mond and Charlotte alumni chapters elected new officers. The College would like to thank the outgoing officers and welcome the newly elected. They are: CHARLOTTE President Mr. Robert D. McDonnell AB’67 5341 E. Quail Hollow Road Charlotte, North Carolina (home 364-7184 business 376- 070D Vice President Joseph V. Sheldon AB’60 2907 Hinsdale Rd. Charlotte, North Carolina 28210 Secretary-Treasurer Mr. Joseph V. Maher AB’66 2251-4 Selwyn Avenue Charlotte, North Carolina 28207 RICHMOND President Mr. Thomas J. O’Neil AB’65 612 Gainsborough Court Midlothian, Virginia 23113 Vice-President Mr. R. Burton Jarvis AB’65 1005 N. Hamilton Street Apartment 1005-1 Richmond. Virginia 23231 Secretary Mr. Anthony Giordano AB’69 Treasurer Mr. James M. Melvin AB’57 404 Henri Road Richmond , Virginia 23226 Immediate Past President Mr. Frank G. Creery, Jr. 9721 Staples Mill Road Glen Allen, Virginia 23060 Division Chairmen Elected New division chairmen for the 1972-73 academic year were elected by the faculty in October. Father Anthony will chair the Natural Science Division, Father Anselm, the Social Science Division; and Father John, the Humanities Division. The Natural Science Division as usual has reaffirmed its interest in Crossroads by contributing an article entitled “Environment Education in Belmont Abbey’’ detailing some of the efforts of the division in the field of ecology education. FR.ANTHONY Natural Science Div. FR.ANSELM, Social Science Div. FR. JOHN Humanities Div.
Crossroads (Belmont, N.C.)
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Nov. 1, 1972, edition 1
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