THE
PILOT
WAYS TO STAY ACTIVE
PAGE TWO
Gardner-WfebbCdkge
INTRAMURAL SPOTLIGHT
PAGE FOUR
APRIL 2, 1980
GARDNER-WEBB COLLEGE, BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.
Iranian Lifestyle Different PoliafVi Pnmpcs Tn frWC
Whenever one travels from one citv to another or from one * w
Whenever one travels from one city to another or from one
state to another, there are always minor or major adjust
ments to make, or points to consider. Questions such as,
“What am I doing and where am I going from here?” are
quite prevalent. If the traveler between cities or states must
consider many things then it almost goes without saying
that anyone traveling from one country to another must de
finitely make many adjustments and considerations.
Imagine yourself traveling from Iran to the United States
to attend college. In general, it is conceded that the average
college student must make many adjustments, such as mov
ing from home to campus. Moreover, for the foreign stu
dent, these adjustments can be multiplied and magnified,
traveling from one culture to another. The three Iranian stu
dents at G-W, Mohammad, Hamid, and Shahrohk had to
face many new social situations and cultural problems.
All three will quickly point out that American dormitory
life is unsettling for an Iranian. The lack of privacy in bath
rooms is quite astonishing and frustrating to anyone from
Iran—a country where nudity is not a light matter, but is
governed by strict cultural guidelines of privacy. And then
there is the adjustment to American food, means of trans
portation, means of communication, and such. Iran is
Western in many ways, but significant basic differences be
tween Iran and the U.S. obviously exist.
Getting into a university in Iran is very difficult, one rea
son why so many students come to the U.S. The lack of
space and the strict entrance requirements force many to
study in a foreign country such as the United States. Many
decide on the U.S. because English is the second language of
Iran, with Arabic being the third.
The Iranian student arriving in America finds many
familiar things, however. Donna Summer, Robert Redford,
and Elvis Presley are as big in Iran as in the U.S. The
streets of Tehran are filled with Detroit autos as well as the
familiar Japanese and German makes. The men and women
of Tehran dress (for the most part) in the typical Western
fashions found anywhere in the U.S.
One cultural gap between Iran and America, growing
larger all the time, exists in the status of women and ideas
about the family unit. The male is considered to be superior
to the female in Iran, a fact of Iranian homelife, politics, and
rehgion. The woman is expected to be a virgin for marriage,
but this is not necessarily true for the man. In the U.S., the
average eighteen year old goes off to college or gets a job,
usually leaving home in one way or another, whereas in Iran,
the family is closer. The son or daughter maintains close ties
(living in the same house for example) throughout his or her
life. Also, Iranian elders are given the utmost in respect and
privilege by all.
Mohammad, Hamid, and Sharohk met in Charlotte at the
English Language School prior to their arrival at G-W. All
three were interested in going to a small town college and a
friend recommended G-W to them. Basically, all three have
found G-W to be a friendly, liveable place. One thing has
very much surprised and disappointed them; The average
Iranian learns an enormous amount about the U.S.—its
customs, history, geography, etc. However, the average
American knows very Uttle about Iran. How or why such a
discrepancy came to be is a subject that deserves attention,
but the most important step in correcting such an embar
rassing fact is to first recognize that it exists. One of the
very best means of alleviating our knowledge currently re
sides here. So why not take a few minutes soon to speak to
Hamid, Mohammad, or Sharohk.
Man, Oh Man!
Every semester, Gardner-
Webb (like all other colleges)
receives its share of new
faces. Unfortunately, all too
often, they fade into the
blend of those already pre
sent. However, occasionally
one or two unique characters
stand out in the crowd.
If ' you have happened
across what you may think
is “The Hulk of Gardner-
Webb” don’t be scared be
cause he doesn’t turn green.
It’s only Dennis Thurman
and he is one such character
that stands out—WAY
OUT. It’s not just his size
(suit size 50 extra long) that
has brought him fame. For
the past two seasons Dennis
has played professional foot
ball in the Canadian Foot
ball League (the CFL.) The
6’5”—261 pound defensive
and signed with the Hamil
ton Tiger-Cats (which is the
Eastern Division of the
CFL) in May 1978. Dennis
has played football practi
cally all of his life; since he
was 11 years old (he is now
24 years old.)
Prior to his professional
career, Dennis played for our
own “Running Bulldogs”
two years under the direc
tion of former head coach
Oval Jaynes. Jaynes re
cruited Dennis while he was
playing high school football
in Washington, D.C. Dennis
also played two years at Fer-
Spring Jubilee this year
will certainly be different!
The semi-formal dance will
be held on Friday, April 25,
from 9:00-1:00. The band
“Hotcakes” plays a variety
of music including floor
show. The cafeteria is cater
ing the refreshments while
the Social Committee is
working on decorations.
Then, on Saturday, the So-
Spring Jubilee To Be Held
cial Committee in conjunc
tion with the cafeteria is
sponsoring a pig pickin’ on
the intramural grounds.
Field day activities such as
three legged relay, sack hop,
water balloon throw, greas
ed pole, and a possible mud
pit will highlight the day.
The weekend promises
something for everyone. If
you like dreamy romantic
by Margaret Rabon
rum Junior College where he
and other teammates claim
ed a National Championship
Title. Dennis left Gardner-
Webb in December 1977
and by Mary 1978 found
himself in Hamilton, On
tario. He started with a
rough summer of training.
Dennis’ most memorable in
cident of that first summer
took place the first day.
Upon arrival at the airport
in Toronto, Dennis was to
meet a representative from
the team who would in turn
transport him to St. Cathe
rine’s (training camp for the
Hamilton Tiger-Cats.) After
a long three hour wait, Den
nis decided to call a cab. Lit
tle did he know St. Cathe
rine’s was over 125 miles
away! He ran up an $85.00
cab fare, charged it to the
team, and in turn received
his first team fine. Well, to
say the least, Dennis made it
to camp and began his first
season with the Tiger-Cats.
Dennis says he is just the
average size of most lineman
in the league if you can im
agine that! Both of Dennis’
seasons with the Tiger-Cats
yielded a 5-9-1 record, but he
was overjoyed to have
played in the league. While
living in Ontario, Dennis
stated that he most enjoyed
“being on my own and play
ing pro-ball.”
With that ending of his
contract in October 1979,
Dennis decided to re-apply
and come back to Gardner-
Webb to finish up and grad
uate. Dennis is majoring in
Business and plans on
Handsome Dennis Thurman
finishing in July 1980. How
ever, being back in school
has not rid Dennis of foot
ball. Dennis trains five days
a week for approximately
2V2 hours a day. He lifts
weights, runs lightly, and
stays on a special diet to
maintain his present weight.
Hopes for the future? Well,
Dennis plans on “coming
home” and signing with an
NFL team next spring.
When asked his thoughts
pertaining to school and a
football career, Dennis
doesn’t regret what he did
but his advice to others is,
“You can’t play football all
your life, and the percentage
of people playing pro-ball is
so minute that you can’t
bank on it. Stick with school
and get your degree and the
rest will come later! ”
moments, be sure to attend
the dance. And if you like
down home country style
fun and games, don’t miss
the activities on Saturday
afternoon. Oh, and if you are
still full of energy by Satur
day night, there will be a
concert in the gym at 8:00.
It sounds like one of the big
gest weekends ever, so don’t
miss any of it!!
Spring: Things Are Growing
(Including Your Tutition)
Tuition and Price Increases
1. Tuition ($80 per semester hour if less than 12 hours)
($80 per semester hour if over 18 hours)
$1325
2. Room: HAPY, Stroup, Decker, Lutz-Yelton,
Mauney, Campus House, Community, 285
Portable Housing/Mobile Unit. 325
Nanney, Myers, Spangler, Royster Hall 355
3. Board: 5 Day Plan 420
7 Day Plan 460
4. Data Processing Fee, per programming course 25
5. Art Fee (Art Students Only) 40
6. AppHed Music:
Piano, Voice, Brass:
One Lesson per week, private 95
Two Lessons per week, private 165
Organ:
One Lesson per week, private 100
Two Lessons per week, private 175