CLABJQN Brevard College, Brevard, NC Volume 54 Number 1 Sunday, August 24, 1986 Greer: We’re talking about a new place Dr. Billy Greer heaves both feet on this desk, rares back in his chair, and throws his big hands into the air like a basketball guard as he talks about his favorite sub ject. When Dr. Greer talks about Brevard College, the air about him seems positively charged with energy. “I am really looking forward to this year —1 don’t know when I’ve ever been so excited about anything,” he speaks as if he’s proselytizing. The new president, who came to Brevard a year ago from the presidency of Andrew College, has recruited an ad ministrative staff of which he is unabashedly proud. “We’ve got people who know to run the race; the team is in place,” he says with a grin. “At last we have the kind of ad ministrative team that the faculty deserves and needs — there’s never been any question about the Brevard College faculty. Now we’ve got the kind of team that will provide the kind of optimum en vironment in which the faculty can best function. “When I talk to people about the college, I’m almost inclined to call it the “new” Brevard College, not that there was anything wrong with the way it was — but we’ve turned another corner...we’re talk ing about a new place,” Dr. Greer says. “My chief personal objective for this year is to devote the entire year to building human relationshiops. I want for us to really allow a warmth and a humaness to flow through this place. And in itself this will be rejuvinating. If anybody is in the people business — we are. I want to enable, encourage and to facilitate the building of positive relationships between faculty and staff, administration and staff, and faculty and administration, in the hopes that that will spill over in a fine way to the students. “You know, students are like children in a home environment; they can tell when things are not going well. And I don’t want .jm Brevard College President Dr. Billy Greer looks to an exciting new year. to be talking about this in a Pollyanna or drippy way - of saying everything’s all right when it’s not. I’m just saying we can make this a fun place to work. I know when I’m happy in my work I produce better. “If we’re getting kids ready for the world outside our gates, then it seems to me we ought to be a model for what that would should be like. This ought to be a creative, fun place to be and work. “We are limited by only our ability to dream it, to think it, or conceptualize it. Golly! If people don’t start believing that...” Dr. Greer says with an enthusiasm that students, faculty, steff and ad ministration have all found infectious. Brevard College studying four-year conversion Brevard College has initiated a feasibili ty study to evaluate the pros and cons of conversion to four-year status. “We need this study,” said Brevard Col lege President Dr. William T. Greer, “in order to establish our long range goals and plans for the remainder of the ’80s and ’90s. Brevard College, it seems to me, is at a critical crossroads in its history. The days ahead in higher education are too volatile to be approached haphazardly.” Throughout June, Dave Skillen of Diver sified Consultant Associates, Inc. of Atlan ta interviewed about 80 community leaders as well as college faculty and ad ministration members. .. -n “What we’re trying to do,” said Skillen, “is to see what the perceptions are about the college, and what is the emotional degree to which people will or won’t sup- An Editor’s welcome I’m sitting here at my typewriter wondering where the summer has slipped away to. Back in May, the summer seemed endless with four glorious months to enjoy, and now it’s the end of August already. This is supposed to be an Editor’s Welcome, aimed at you people who are new arrivals. I guess a cheery “Hello” will do for starters. Good luck on your first couple of days — you’re going to need it. At any rate, this year is promising to be a good one. A lot of changes are being made by the new administration headed by Dr. Billy Greer, president of Brevard College. He’s a great guy; you’ll like him. We students are being given more responsibility and hopefully we’ll handle this new-found responsibility with maturity. BC may seem small, but there is always something to do. There are different clubs and organizations on campus looking for new talent, athletics, coffee house entertainments, lectures, concerts, and even study groups if nothing else catches your attention. Whether you’re an active, passive, or apathetic member of this college community is en tirely up to you. Well, enough of the commercial plug for the college and its many fine attributes. I’d like to say something about the Clarion, the voice of the students here at BC. Through this twice-monthly student newspaper, your views, ideas, and comments can be heard and expressed. This is a privilege, so don’t let it go to waste — use it! I guess I did find something to say to you after all, though it was hard Dort what will happen either way. _ The result of skiUen’s questionnaire will to get motivated after four months of being a waste case. I’d like to per- be statistically summarized in the report gonaliy welcome you all here to Brevard College; I’m looking forward to getting to know you all. May I wish you a very successful year and believe me, it gets better. Honest! Bonnie Davis Clarion Editor he will deUver to Dr. Greer this The College’s Board of Trustees initiated the feasibility study at their spring meeting. The, will dings at their fall meeUng, Oct. 23-24. . ..u-

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