Gift presented
In recognizing his 25 years of
service to the college. Dr.
Whitaker was presented a silver
tea service at the conclusion of
the Anniversary Convocation.
Shown with the president, from
left, is Gary Whitaker, Mrs.
Esther Whitaker. To Dr.
Whitaker's right Is Barry
Whitaker, and the Rev. J. Felix
Arnold, chairman of the Board
of Trustees.
February,
1982
(Ultmiraniatt
Whitaker cited
for 25 years
as President
By DEBBIE MESSINA — Virglnian-PUot Staff Writer
Dressed in black ceremonial cap and gown, Dr. Bruce E.
Whitaker stood behind the lecturn, looked around the
spacious Chowan College gymnasium and said, “In true
Chowan tradition, it’s been done up right.”
The gymnasium floor had a blue- and-white covering,
the podium was adorned with flowers, the faculty and
distinguished guests marched about with black caps and
gowns, and the Chowan College Choir sang out Christian
spirituals.
All this pomp and circumstance took place Feb. 22 in
honor of ^^taker’s 25th year as Chowan College presi
dent. “I want to express my genuine appreciation and
sincere gratitude to everyone here today,” Whitaker said.
About 2,500 students and area residents filled the gym
nasium to honor the man who con-
Cuts in aid concern Board
Chowan College ^trustees were
told the college is headed toward
operating in the black for the 24th
straight year during their semi
annual meeting Feb. 22 in the of
fice of President Bruce E.
Whitaker.
Dr. Whitaker expressed the im
portance of a successful Annual
Giving program to enable the col
lege to meintain its long record of
fiscal soundness.
Concern Over Cuts
At the same time, Dr. Whitaker
expressed concern over the pro
posed cuts in federal student finan
cial assistance in the 1982-83
budget recommended by President
Reagan’s administration.
He said that if the budget is
adopted by Congress, both private
and state supported colleges can
expect a drop in the number of
students who will be able to afford
a higher education.
He said that while he supports
cutbacks in the budget across the
board, he feels that the reduction
in student financial aid is too
“severe and out of proportion to
other budget item reductions.”
He said the projected budget
calls for a 50 percent reduction in
federal student aid funds for the
fall of 1983 compared to the fall of
1980.
Enrollment Drop Possible
“If the proposed budget is
adopted, Chowan will be affected
adversely,” he noted. “It’s possi
ble that Chowan could have 100-200
fewer students in 1982-83.”
He asked the trustees to caU the
White House to express their opi
nion for the continuing resolution
level of funding for 1982-83. He said
a phone number had been
established for that purpose and
that the number is 1-202456-7639.
Trustees elected J. Guy Revelle,
Jr. of Murfreesboro as chairman
and Miss Emma Gay Stephenson
of Durham as vice chairman. Ran
dy Britton of Ahoskie was elected
the Executive Conmiittee chair
man.
New Facility Planned
Bobby Cross, director of
development, reported the college
is preparing to build a new graphic
communications facility. He said
the present building is inadequate
and does not have enough space to
meet the needs of the students.
Cross said the new building will
have 18,000 square feet and be
located behind Camp Hall on Union
St. He said the projected cost is in
excess of $500,000.
Trustees thanked Dr. Whitaker
for his 25 years of leadership as
Chowan’s president. With their
spouses, they attended a special
convocation in Whitaker’s honor
held earlier in the day in the Helms
Center.
New Members
Welcomed were new trustees:
James L. Briley of Henderson;
Mrs. Frances Farthing, Durham;
J.E. Ferebee, Camden; Sen. J.J.
Harrington, Lewiston; Mike H.
Johnson, Hamilton; Thomas W.
McCrary, Raleigh; the Rev. Ben
nie Pledger, Colerain; Charles L.
Revelle, Sr., Murfreesboro; and
Mrs. Henry Stokes, Winston-
Salem.
Trustees who have completed
their four-year terms of service
received certificates of apprecia
tion. They include: Mrs. Kate M.
Allen, Weldon; the Rev. J. Felix
Arnold, Enfield; Norman S. Beeks,
Greensboro; L.M. Brinkley,
Ahoskie; James H. Ferebee,
Shawboro; Alvis Poe Fleming, Lit
tleton; Bob F. Hill, Sr., Mur
freesboro; Mrs. Ethel K. Smith,
Benson; and Jennings B. Teal,
Tarboro.
President's
response . .
EDITOR’S NOTE — These remarks
were made by Dr. Bruce E. Whitaker,
during the Anniversary Convocation
which honored the president for his 25
years of service to the college.
I am grateful for the motiva
tion wfiich prompted this Con
vocation, Anniversary for
Mrs. Whitaker and me. Of
course, I am aware of the fact
that many, many people have
had a hand in the preparations
for this event, steered by a
committee co-chaired by
trustee J. Guy Revelle, Jr. and
Dr. B. Franklin Lowe, Jr.,
Dean of the College. From
where I sit, it would appear
that, in true Chowan tradition,
it has been “done up right!” I
deeply appreciate the'
presence of all in attendance.
We are delighted to have you
here.
During my tenure of office,
there have been numerous
causes/sources/ for satisfac
tion on my part:
—Continued on Next Page
tributed so much to the two-year
Baptist college’s progress.
The featured speaker at the con
vocation was Robert Mullinax, the
executive secretary of the Council
on Christian Higher Education of
the North Carolina Baptist State
Convention.
Mullinax noted the changes at
Chowan College since Whitaker
became president in 1957. ‘Dr.
Whitaker has brought Chowan Col
lege from a school with regional in
fluence to national recognition.
Chowan College is one of the
strongest and best two-year in
stitutions in the nation,” Mullinax
said.
During Whitaker’s 25 years with
the college, enrollment has in
creased from 293 students to more
than 1,100, and total assets have
grown from $750,000 to more than
$18 million.
“You have dreamed worthy
dreams and labored to make them
come true,” Mullinax said,
“Thank you for your dreams and
toils at Chowan College.”
Mullinax also cited Whitaker’s
many positions on state; regional
and national educational and civic
organizations. “He has generously
given his time to these organiza
tions while giving steady leader
ship to the college,” Mullinax said.
Other speakers at the convoca
tion included Frank Campbell, the
president of the North Carolina
Baptist State Convention; Peggy
Chestnutt, the president of the
Council on Christian Higher
Education of the Baptist State Con
other speakers at the convoca
tion included Frank Campbell, the
president of the North Carolina
Baptist State Convention; Peggy
Chestnutt, the president of the
Council on Christian Higher
Education of the Baptist State Con
vention; the Rev. Patrick Neal of
Bacon’s Castle, Va., the president
of the Chowan College Alumni
Association; B. Franklin Lowe Jr.,
—Continued on Next Page
The Chowanian, February, 1982—Page 1