the
SPECIAL See Pages Two and Three!
April 7,1977
Asheville, N.C. 28804
Volume XII, No. 16
Photo by Tim Barnwell.
Bell Irwin Wiley Speaks
to Phi Alpha Theta
By ALISON PHILLIPS
Bell Irvin Wiley, professor emeritus of
history and nationally-known Civil War
scholar, was recently on the UNC-A cam
pus to address the Humanities sections and
to attend the North Carolina regional con
ference of Phi Alpha Theta. Dr. Wiley re
ceived his B.A. from Asbury College,
1928; his M.A. from the University of
Kentucky, 1929; and his Ph.D. from Yale
University, 1933. Additionally, Professor
Wiley has taught at numerous institutions
including Louisiana State University,
Emory University, and Oxford University.
In 1955, he served as president of the
Southern Historical Society and as a his
torical consultant, 1954-1960, for the
Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, D.C.
Along with numerous other awards and
recognitions, he was an American Special
ist Lecturer for the U.S. Department of
States in the British Isles, Denmark, Nor
way, France, Austria, Germany, Yugo
slavia, and Italy.
Professor Wiley’s lengthy career also
included the publication of 24 books; arti
cles and reviews in scholarly journals; and
works in various newspapers, periodicals,
and historical magazines. Some of his
more noted books are: Southern Negroes,
1861-65; The Life of Johnny Reh: The
Common Soldier of the Confederacy; The
Life of Billy Yank: The Common Soldier
of the Union; and Confederate Women.
On Friday, April 1, Professor Wiley
addressed the Humanities sections on
“The Memorable War.” He provided the
group in the Humanities Lecture Hall with
a very educational and entertaining ac
count of aspects concerning the Civil War.
Dealing with the uniqueness of the Civil
War, he mentioned that ‘ ‘the heroes of this
war were Americans and that they occupy
a hall in our memories.” He cited General
Robert E. Lee as being the “purest and
nobilist of military leaders of all time” and
Stonewall Jackson as being a remarkably
able and competent leader. He also in
cluded such Southern heroes as Jeb Stuart,
Jefferson Davis, D.H. Hill, and Nathen B.
Forrest.
Mentioned on the Northern side were
such great men as Abraham Lincoln,
General Ulyssess S. Grant, and General
William Sherman. Additionally, such im
portant black leaders as Fredrick Doug
lass, Robert Small, and Harriet Tubman
were noted.
Professor Wiley discussed some of the
reasons why the Civil War was memorable
by saying that it was a transitional war—
the last of the old-fashioned traditional
wars with the mass formation and the lead-
continued on p. 4
MARY BETH PENLAND
CHOSEN SUMMIT EDITOR
Mary Beth Penland, a junior Spanish
and management major, was selected as
editor for the 1977-78 Summit by the Pub
lications Board on April 1.
Ms. Penland, a commuter student from
Asheville, is presently serving as Junior
Senator in the Student Senate, is president
of the Spanish Club, and a member of the
Management Club. She was chosen as
UNC-A’s candidate for the state-wide se
lection for the Harry S. Truman Scholar
ship Award, and is one of the humanities’
nominees for the Vice Chancellor Search
Committee.
A 1975 graduate of Erwin High School,
Ms. Penland worked with the yearbook
there for two years, and was editor during
the second year. Her plans for next year’s
annual include a “greater cross-section of
the campus to be represented.” She also
stated that she plans to include “some
thing for everyone, something that each
student will be interested in.”
The selection process was an involved
event, taking place over a period of two
days. The interviews were held on March
31, but the vote was not taken until Friday.
The other applicant was the present editor
of the Summit, Jean Hutchison.
Ms. Penland may be contacted in the
psychology department, ext. 336, and in
vites all students to talk with her about
ideas for the book, or if they are interested
in working with her next year. All staff
positions are open, and scholarships are
available.
General Assembly
Reviews Tuition
A bill has been introduced into the State
Legislature which will have the effect of
tuition increases for public institutions of
higher education, according to President
Friday’s statement in a meeting of student
government presidents on March 25.
The bill calls for the formation of a
commission composed of five members of
the House of Representatives and five
members of the Senate. The commission
shall “investigate and determine the true
cost of tuition in each public institution,”;
“develop long-range plans for tuition
funding”; “consider methods for direct
State grants to North Carolina students in
public and private institutions of higher
education with the tuition charge at public
institutions to reflect the true cost of said
tuition”; and “consider other alternative
methods and levels for tuition support at
public and private institutions of higher
education.”
In the Nov. 12, 1976 meeting of the
Board of Governors for the University of
North Carolina, a budget was approved
which allocated $11.5 million to private
schools, to be applied to the tuition of
N.C. students. This was a $2.3 increase,
and significantly contributed to the $3.5
deficit. UNC-A student Tom Zumberge
stated at that time that the deficit could be
covered by not increasing salaries for per
sonnel, or by increasing tuition for all
schools.
According to President Friday, the ef
fect of the bill being introduced would be
to lower state aid to public institutions, and
have the tuition reflect the cost of the edu
cation. The chancellors of all the public
institutions are organizing to fight the bill.
President Friday urged the student govern
ment presidents to meet with their chan
cellors as soon as possible, and to meet
with their state representatives.
Private schools are presently receiving
$100 per N.C., which will be increased to
$200. The grants are supposedly going to
deflect the tuition costs of the students;
however, with no accountability process,
the tuitions of the private schools are being
increased at the same rate as the state aid,
which means the students are paying the
same amount as before.
The presidents of the private schools
stated to the Board of Governors last No
vember that the additional money was
needed in order to attract more in-state
students to the colleges. However, accord
ing to Zumberge, Dr. Spencer of Davidson
stated that although the college is not oper
ating at peak enrollment, N.C. students
are being turned down.
The bill as written appears to speak to
grants for N.C. students in both private
and public institutions. These grants
would be given directly to the students,
which would improve the accountability
of the private schools. However, the sec
tion which refers to consideration of alter
native methods of tuition support appears
to necessitate tuition increases, particular
ly for public schools.
LESLIE STEFAN ON
PUBLICATIONS BOARD
By STEVE ELLER
Leslie Stefan, a freshman dorm student
from Statesville, N.C., was recently ap
proved by the Student Senate to serve as
“student at large” on the Publications
Board.
Ms. Stefan was a June graduate of North
Iredell High School in 1976 and has not yet
declared a major at UNC-A. Her major
fields of interest are: radio and balloons.
Ms. Stefan has a radio show on WUNF-
FM every Tuesday and Thursday nights
from 4:00-6:00 p.m. She is also presently
working toward a “Balloon License”
from the FA A.
The suggestion that she become a mem
ber of the Publications Board came from
Anne Sales who is Chairman of this com
mittee and she was approved without dis
sent by the Student Senate on March 17,
1977. She stated that she was glad to be on
the Board and would do the job expected
of her to the best of her ability.
The purpose of the Publications Board
is to select editors for the three publica
tions: the Ridgerunner, the Summit, and
Images. They also have the responsibility
of approving the budgets of these organi
zations.