Newspapers / Crossroads (Belmont, N.C.) / June 1, 1979, edition 1 / Page 7
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Commencement Address (Cont. From Page 6.) antecedents older than the public institutions themselves. Richard Hofstadter described the col onial coUege as “church-related, smaU, not clustered in centers of learning.” Too often we forget that Har vard and Yale were congregational colleges; William and Mary, Episcopalian. Each received state support. It is one of the ironies of history that the Dartmouth College case preserving the freedom of private col leges from state control also served as a launching pad for the notion that there is a necessary dichotomy between government financial support and private institutional autonomy. It was not until 1870, however, that a wedge was effectively driven between the private college and public support. Presi dent Charles W. Elliott of Harvard, in opposing the proposal for the establishment of a national universi ty, urged that the American system provide for public education in the elementary schools and that higher grades of instruction be in the hands of private schools governed by boards of trustees administering permanent endowments. Elliott’s opposition to state conducted higher education and his concept of a private university rejected the then more traditional idea of mixed support and the 18th and 19th century theory of a bond of faith between private college and state. At the time there was concern that it might be unwise to permit a university to be completely in dependent in that there was no assurance that a private university would fulfill its duty to the state and to the world. Fortunately, the history of a cen tury has proved that these fears were groundless. It is equally fortunate that Elliott’s notion that there was no real role for a public university proved to be false. The land grant legislation was already on the books and the fledging public institutions that were in ex istence have since flourished, and others have been created, broadening access to higher education to the great good fortune of the nation. The tragedy is that the notion became imbedded that there was something inconsistent about public support for private schools and their inherently private character. But even if such an argument is accepted, it becomes irrelevant if state aid is not given to a private institution, but to a student. Thus,^ the spurious problem is easily solved by providing aid to students and not aid to institutions. If the problem is viewed in terms of freedom of choice for the citizenry in which a citizen has a right to obtain a subsidy if he chooses to attend a private college and double that subsidy if he chooses to attend a state institution, we have provided the best of both worlds. The student has a real choice and, if he exercises it, the taxpayer saves substantially. The problem facing private colleges and students who wish to attend them is not only a problem of state support, however. More and more students re quire federal grants and federal loans in order to finance their education in the public and private in stitutions. To the degree that private colleges cost more, the need for funds is that much greater. A year ago the middle-income student aid legislation was enacted, and assurances were given that a significant number of middle-income students would be able to receive federal grants for the first time. On the basis of such assurances, many withdrew demands for tuition-tax credits. We are now faced with the immi nent possibility that Confess will not appropriate the money required to justify these assurances, deny ing aid to the exact people who were promised assistance a year ago. At the same time there is con siderable concern that student loan programs may be consolidated, with the effect of incre^ed interest costs to many students. The combination of fewer grants and higher cost loans pose a formidable threat to freedom of choice for many. The combination of rapidly increasing costs oyer which colleges have little control and an increasing tuition gap with the public sector, unaccompanied by June 1979 - CROSSROADS - Pago 7 state and federal financial aid programs which can make up the difference, means that an increasing percentage of students are simply unable to attend private colleges, and that the welfare, and even the existence, of many private colleges are threatened as a result. Devoted alumni are unable to solve the pro blem with gifts. Indeed, the charitable deduction upon which these colleges depend for endowment and buildings must now be defended almost every year in the Congress. Unless the tide is turned, the future of many private colleges is bleak, and their loss or diminished quality will be experienced not only by dedicated teachers, students, administrators and alumni, but by the public at targe. The variety which has been the Hallmark of the mosaic we call American higher education will be sacrificed. The role of religion in higher education, already banished from the public sector, will cease to exist altogether. The spirit of competition and rivalry which has strengthened both public and private institutions will disappear. Central control of a higher education system in which religion has no place wilt be the order of the day. Such a catasfrophe need not occur. An enlightened citizenry, appreciative of the advantages of our dual private-public system, is capable of voicing its con cerns to legislators who have the power to avert calamity and reverse the trend. This is where you, as graduates of the Class of 1979, can play a part. You know from experience the advantages of the education which you have receiv ed, advantages that should be preserved for your neighbors and children. You leave this college with an understanding that civic responsibility is a fun damental obligation of an educated citizen. You can exercise this responsibility by informing your fellow citizens of the problem and your legislators of the solutions. I urge you to do so. In doing so you will serve your alma mater, the state, and the nation. I wish you well. BAG President Names New VP For Student Affairs Father Neil W. Tobin, president of Belmont Abbey College, promoted Rose M. Horman to the position of vice president for student af fairs at the college, effective June 1, 1979. “She has served our com munity generously this year as director of counseling ser vices,” stated Father Tobin in making the announcement. “I made this appointment know ing the quality of her person, her administrative ability, her professional training, and her dedication to serving others in growth and development,” he continued. “Her many talents will be utilized in this challenging position. l&i.i • Rose M. Horman - Miss Horman has served Belmont Abbey Cc^ege since August 1978 as director of counseling services, living in one of the dormitcaies and working closely with the Laderoute Deceased Joseph Victor Laderoute, Belmont Abbey College artist- in-residence and nationally successful opera singer, died Thursday, May 17, at 535 ajn. at Charlotte’s Mercy Hospital. He was 65. Laderoute, who came to Belmont Abbey College four years ago, celebrated his six tieth year of song on March 24, 1979 in a Diamond Jubilee Song Recital in the Abbey Church. Less than two weeks prior to his death, he led the Abbey Chorus, which he founded and directed, in their annual Spring Concert. Master of forty operatic roles, he sang in some of the most prestigious opera houses of North America and Europe. He served on the musical faculties of seven universities and performed with many of the finest sym phonies on the continent. At Belmont Abbey Colley, Laderoute taught courses in muse, directed the Abbey Chorus, and gave private vocal instruction. He per formed frequently in chur ches in the Charlotte serving as minister of music at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and sedoing at more than a dozen local Protestant churches. A memorial service was held for him at 1130 ajn., Saturday, May 19, in the Ab bey Church. The body was shipped to Canada for burial. students, and as lecturer in the department of psychology. Her entire life has been dedicated to educating and counseling students, as a classroom teacher (1951-79), as a principal (1964-68, 1969-71, 1973-76), as the ex ecutive director of the Institu tion for Dependent and Disturbed Boys, Washington, D.C. (1965-68), and as a counselor or director of counseling in various institu tions for over fifteen years. In her new position. Miss Horman will alOT serve as the dean of students at the college and suf)ervise the directors in campus ministry, residence hulls, intramurals, health ser vices, counseling services, career counseling and place ment, as well as student ac tivities. The position includes both student services and stu dent discipline. She holds both the BA. degree in education from i^unbarton College, Washington, D.C., and the •M A. degree in guidance from Catht^c University, also in Washington. Miss Horman will succeed Fr. Richard Burton who resigned from the position, ef fective May 31, 1979. Fr. Burton will continue at the college as the acting chairman of the Department of Therrfogy. Hussey Recruits Back Court Man Crusader head basketball coach Bobby Hussey has sign ed yet another highly recruited back court man in the form of 5’10”, 160-pound Ricky Rickman. Rickman, who attended Enka High School of Enka, N.C., led the greater Asheville area in scoring with a 24.6 point per game scoring average and is noted for his heads-up defensive play and his ball-handling ability. Rick has been singled out as one of the top guards in the state and has played in the post-season Blue and White Game. Rickman is also set to play in the North Carolina East/West All-Star Game to be held in Greensboro, N.C in August. Coach Hussey’s reactions to Rickman’s choice of Bel mont Abbey College as his school are filled with great ex pectations. “We are extremely happy to have Ricky in our program. He will certainly fit into our game and hopefully become an asset to the Crusaders,” Hussey com mented. Rickman is the son of Mr, [and Mrs. Jimmy Rickman of I Asheville, N.C. Religion and Education. Religious Kennedy To Coach At Wake Forest Who would ever have believed it would have begun years ago in a genuine log cabin near the town of Forks in the state of Washington? For it was in this rustic setting that George Ken nedy, former Belmont Abbey College soccer coach and soon-to- be head coach of the newly formed Wake Forest University soc cer team, was born to live a life which was to revolve around a soccer ball. . • . . Kennedy, who once played professional soccer with the Jacksonville Spiders of Jacksonville, Fla., came to Belmont Ab bey College from Bishop Kenney High School of Jacksonville, where he served as head soccer coach. While at Kenney High School, Kennedy took five of his teams to state play-offs and won three Florida State High School Soccer Championships. Kennedy’s Kenney teams also won their division title seven straight years which included a five-year period in which the team was unscored upon. Kennedy came to Belmont Abbey College in 1977 and pro ceeded to uphold the fine tradition of soccer which the Abbey had established. When asked who he feels was the finest Crusader soccer (Cent On Pag® 8.)
Crossroads (Belmont, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
June 1, 1979, edition 1
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