Questions
Answered
Continued
significant accomplishments has
l)een accreditation. All Baptist
colleges are fully accredited
except two, and these are in the
process of meeting the standards
of the regional accrediting
agencies.
During thtr past 20 years
Baptist colleges have greatly
improved their curriculum of
ferings and their library
holdings. Curriculum develop
ment has l)een characterized in
many cases by innovation, ex
periment, and student concern.
One of the myths which was
exposed, and we hope destroyed
during the 60’s, was that only a
few elite public and private
universities offer superior
academic training. The
threadbare assertion, often made
by the uninformed, that Baptists
are operating second-rate in
stitutions, is without foundation.
As a matter of fact, we think it
can be demonstrated that not
only are we not operating second-
rate institutions, but we are
performing within the
framework of our stated pur
poses an invaluable service to our
denomination and to the com
munities and regions which these
institutions serve. A well-known
educator recently stated that in
his judgment the often un
derrated small college may be
doing the best teaching job
largely because it is small
enough to permit a personal
relationship between teacher and
student. One of the underlying
factors of the student revolt
during the 60’s, particularly in
the large universities, was the
constant complaint about poor
teaching. Baptist colleges have
good teachers and are small
enough for the kind of teacher-
student relationship which is
impossible in larger institutions.
Have Baptist Colleges
Become Permissive?
Baptist colleges have not
succumbed nor are they likely to
succumb to the rampant per
missiveness which has been
nearly the undoing of American
higher education. As a matter of
fact. Baptist and other church-
related institutions, while
making no pretense to perfection,
have been a steadying and
redemptive force in American
higher education.
Many public as well as private
educators feel that we are
already moving away from the
unbridled and undisciplined
individuahsm which has been
characteristic of so much con
temporary student life. The
pendulum is swinging. More
and more students are finding
that violence, promiscuity, and
drugs are not the answer. Per
missiveness has robbed the in
dividual of privacy, self-respect,
and self-control—all primary
ingredients of human dignity.
Baptist colleges are still
committed to the idea that an
educational institution does have
an obligation to guide and in
fluence student conduct. For that
reason Baptist colleges have not
let the bars down. Moreover,
rules of conduct in keeping with
the purposes of a Christian in
stitution are made known to
students when they come to the
campus. There is good reason to
believe that this position has been
a very vital factor in enrollment.
More and more parents and
student.s are avoiding those in-
stituion.s where dormitories have
become ghettos for promiscuity
o( Cl(ettuu('» HomecoHUMg
AcUvUieA
Chowan coeds, Karen
Humberstone of Virginia
Beach (green dress) and
Judy Bullock of Jacksonville
are given a guided tour of the
Copy Cat by Captain Arthur
Small.
One of the most colorful floats in Chowan’s
homecoming parade was the international
float with Chowan’s international students
dressed in the costumes of their own
countries.
“Registration Day, 1848,” was the theme of
Jenkins Hall’s float. The 11 coeds represent
Chowan’s first class. James Moore, Chowan
freshman and great-great-great grandson
of the founder of Chowan, Dr. Godwin
Cotton Moore, serves as Dr. Archibald
McDowell, first president of Chowan
College.
Susan Arnold, left, and Cindy Mulhern
inform parade watchers of Chowan’s name
change from the Chowan Female Collegiate
Institute to its present name in 1910.
Boy Scouts from Windsor, members of the
Order of the Arrow, entertained with Indian
dances as the float progressed the parade
route. Ted Shaw of Windsor assisted in
lining up the float and several other units
from the Bertie County town.
and drugs, and where the in
stitution by policy assumes a
completely amoral stance.
In summary. Baptist colleges
have enjoyed two decades of
remarkable progress, have
remained distinctive in their
Christian commitment, are
training large numbers of
Christian vocational workers, are
academically sound, and offer a
live option to those students who
want to live and learn in an at
mosphere of Christian
discipline. —Ben C. Fisher,
Executive Secrefary-Treasurer,
Education Commission of ttie
Southern Baptist Convention.
The
Chowanian
Chowan College. Murfreesboro. North Carolina, a standard
lunior college controlled by the North Carolina Baptist State Con
vention and founded m 1848. Printed, designed and edited by
the students and faculty of the School of Graphic Arts at Chowan
College. Send changes of address notices to the Chowanian, Chowan
College. Murfreesboro. North Carolina 27855. Published six times
year m July. ScpttMnber* October. December. February, and in
Apnl-Mny.
Second Cla^s Postaf*e Paid at
Miirfrt*t*sboro. North Carolina 27855
PAGK FOUR
THE CHOWANIAN