die plue fanner
Volume XVI, Number 13
Striving for Excellence
May 3,1990
Row, row, row, your boat
Jennifer Watson and Alessa Edwards enjoy a canoe ride at Rockmont XVII.
Arboretum attracts
Freshman SAT
scores increase
By Jackie Gasperson
Staff Writer
Once again, the UNCA
administrative council expects next
year’s entering freshman to break
the school’s average SAT scores
record.
Enrollment Director Caroline
Miller said the projected SAT
average of UNCA’s 1990-91
freshman class is 1003, up 12
points over last year’s record
average of 991.
UNC-Chapel Hill currently leads
the 16-campus system with a
freshman SAT average of 1111,
while N.C. State’s average is 1055.
UNCA has logged the fastest
growth in SAT scores in the UNC
system over the past three years.
In 1987, the average SAT score for
entering freshman at UNCA was
928.
However, according to Miller,
SAT scores are just one of the
many variables in the admission
process.
"We look at the curriculum the
students have taken in high school
and make sure that they meet the
minimum admission
requirements," said Miller.
"We can not make an admission
decision unless the student has
met those basic requirements,
regardless of how good liis (Ji'A
(grade point average) or SAT is.
However, SAT scores and class
rank are convenient statistical
measures, that’s why they get cited
so much," said Miller.
Miller also said she thinks the
added attention to SAT scores is
in response to a drop in SAT
scores three years ago.
"Three years ago we had a five
point drop which is basically
insignificant, but none-the-less we
had a drop, and the faculty and
the University Planning Council
got real concerned that we, as an
institution, were not paying enough
attention to quality measures," said
Miller.
As a result of this added
pressure, admissions started
looking at SAT scores more
carefully. "We did purposely set
goals, and we became more
aggressive in terms of marketing
the institution," said Miller.
Also, Miller said she feels that
UNCA is getting more "quality"
students due to the national
attention that the university has
received.
North Carolina has had a ten
percent decrease in high school
graduates. Miller said.
"We’re able to live with this
decrease of high school graduates,
by virtue of an increase in out-of
state students," said Miller. Out of
state applicants are up by eleven
percent. Miller said.
Current projections also show
that approjdmately 62 percent of
UNCA’s 1990-91 freshman class
will fmish in the top fifth of their
high school class, a 10 percent
increase in freshman class rank,
said Miller.
The reasons why more quality
students are choosing UNCA over
larger universities can also be
attributed to the personal attention
that students will receive and the
fact that UNCA, as a liberal arts
college, is less expensive, she said.
"We certainly have an advantage
over most liberal arts colleges,
given that most liberal arts
colleges are private in the area of
costs," said Miller. '
"Our size is also a benefit for
those students who are wanting
the added attention," said Miller.
One entering freshman "had his
road completely paved to UNC-
Chapel Hill," but when he went
down there and saw that he would
be in a class of 200 to 300
students, he decided on UNCA,
added Miller.
Meanwhile, applications for fall
admission are holding at 1989’s
record pace. "We are dead even
with last years applicants," said
Miller.
By Linda Greene
Staff Writer
More than 1,000 people attended
the dedication ceremony Monday
afternoon for The North Carolina
Arboretum in the Bent Creek
section of the Pisgah National
Forest.
The dedication of the 25,500
square foot Visitor Education
Center, the first building
completed, marks the cornerstone
for the development of the 424
acre site.
Though no gardens are complete
at this time, Monday’s ceremony
included the ground-breaking of
the first garden area. U. S.
Congressman Jamie Clarke
remarked, "The arboretum will
provide many opportunities for our
community ranging from the study
of plants and trees to a showcase
for these in the future."
As an inter-institutional facility
of the University of North
Carolina, the mission of the
Arboretum encompasses
education, research, display,
landscape architecture,
conservation and economic
development.
SpeaWs at the dedication
ceremony reflected the diversity of
the Arboretum’s missions as well
as its projected plant life.
Rev. Robert Bushyhead of
Cherokee delivered the closing
prayer in English and Cherokee,
and the Lady Anne Palmer from
England represented the
International Dendrology Society.
Other dignitaries at thi
ceremony included mayors, count
commissioners, representative
from the UNC system, legislator
and senators, but the crowd
included school children, member
of garden clubs, horticulturists,
nurserymen and scientists.
Director George Briggs
described the future of the
Arboretum.
"First of all, the arboretum was
designed for plant life, but will be
a people place, providing present
and future generations with the
opportunity for learning, scientific
inquiry, service and enjoyment," he
said.
General Manager Wayne
McDevitt said, "Yes, I see ten
Please see Arboretum, page 5
iM.
*
The new Arlx)retum will provide many learning experiences for Asheville
area residences to enjoy.
Food fight breaks out
By Kim Cooley
Asst. News Editor
Students engaged in many
activities this past Rockmont
weekend, especially the students
dining in the cafeteria in the
Highsmith Center Saturday night.
A food fight which started with
rolls and spaghetti turned into a
throwing match of food as well as
plates and glasses, according to
Aubrey Wooten, dining services
manager.
Wooten said it started when
students who had been drinking
came into the cafeteria for dinner.
"It was more group against group
than students against students." He
said he thought it was pre
meditated.
The food fight required the
assistance of the Asheville Police
Department. Two UNCA students
were arrested by the APD and two
were cut by the broken glass, yet,
there were many other students
involved in the actual fight,
according to Wooten.
"About 150 students were in the
cafeteria at the time," Wooten
said. Wooten has put together a
list of names of people who he
saw were actively invo’ved in the
fight and turned them over to
UNCA Security.
Wooten said they are taking
measures to make sure nothing
like this will happen again. He has
turned it over to Security and
student court, he said.
UNCA security would not
release the names of the people
involved or the ones arrested since
the investigation of the incident is
still being continued.
"About three-fourths of the
students in the cafeteria were
involved in the incident," said
Wooten.
Cissy Petty, Director of Student
Development said she will "talk to
people involved individually. They
will have to make a formal
apology, verbal or written , to
Aubrey and do community service
before the end of the year."
The students will not be going
through student court to receive
their punishment. Petty said there
just isn’t enough time left in the
school year to give each student
the necessary time to prepare their
case.
"People who admit their guilt that
they participated can answer to an
administrative person. They will
work in the cafeteria or at
graduation or in a shelter
downtown. They will work
significant hours," Petty said.
Petty said she didn’t want this to
keep dragging on into next year,
yet she wants to send the message
out that this was not acceptable
behavior.
I
n
Asheville Tourists
Baseball
4
- Cry Baby reviewed
8
s
Aesthetics course offered
s
Getting to know
9
i
d
e
.Tiananmen Square
6
Life in Hell
10
Doucette looks ahead
7
Health beat
12
1
E^oio by Miranda Wyatt
Moving on up
Construction work continues on Ramsey Library.
Civic leader
receives
Chancellor’s
Medallion
By Vicki McCoy
Newts Editor
An Asheville business man and
former member of the board of
trustees received UNCA’s highest
service award, the Chancellor’s
Medallion, during a dinner
ceremony last Wednesday.
J. Alfred Miller, the founder of
Miller Printing Co., served on the
board of trustees of Asheville-
Blltmore College from 1958 to
1%3. He was also chairman of the
Asheville Redevelopment
Commission from 1961 to 1970.
I NCA has been a dream come
irue," Miller said. "It now
surpasses anything that we could
have hoped for then."
Miller is only the sixth person to
receive the Chancellor’s
Medallion.
"The Chancellor’s Medallion is
given to individuals who have
made important contributions to
UNCA of work, wisdom and
Please see Award, page 6.