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The Clarion
May 2. 2014
Pressure
From page 2
This mindset involves embracing what is
unique and special about Brevard: a natural
playground that can be accessed within
minutes, a long time association with music
and the arts, convenience to the popular city
of Asheville, but enough asphalt in between to
remain distinctly independent.
Brevard and the surrounding area have
tracked away from the quiet retirement
community it used to cling to and has embraced
the younger, more vibrant culture that has
started to converge on this quiet mountain
town.
Maybe it’s the small town feel, maybe it’s
the mountain biking, and maybe it’s the craft
beer. Whatever it is, we are now learning that
the growing prominence of these things in our
area brings us more attention and markets our
school with the right brands. It has forced us
to renovate old trucker motels so that we can
fit all of our students.
This is a great problem to have.
This spring, SACS sent a Liaison Committee
of four college administrators to reassess BC’s
probation. The committee was planning to stay
for three days. However they cut their trip short
after two, which Deborah Hall describes as a
“rarity,” even suggesting that Dr. Cathy Cox,
one of the members of the Liaison Committee
and President of Young Harris College,
referred to her experience here as “positive.”
It could’ve been Jordan Street or the Sunrise
Cafe, which had been recommended to them,
or it could’ve been the unseasonably warm
weather for February that followed them into
town. But it’s more than likely that they saw all
they needed to see: concrete proof that BC rose
Clarion crew at it again
to the occasion and then exceeded all of SACS’
expectations. Not only was it evident that our
financial standing had a positive outlook, but
it’s much harder to walk around the campus
today and perceive BC as the same institution
that was placed on probation.
This June, a commission of SACS members
and the Board of Trustees will meet to review
the reports of the Liaison Committee that
visited this spring. Hopefully, we will have our
accreditation status fully restored.
Looking back on the past few years, however,
it’s almost bittersweet to see our days of
probation possibly behind us for the fear that
we will lose our ability to fight.
It’s tough times that really create a strong
sense of community, and it’s during tough
times that the true character of everyone is
exposed.
Some people just perform best under
pressure.
by Andrew Gunnin