THE PILOT, Page 2
Across the
Editor’s
Desk
Roberta L. Borden
Let’s assume for a moment that
students are the heart and soul of
Gardner-Webb College. In this situ
ation, students pay the college thus
providing the institution with a viable
means for continuation and inturn the
college gives them an education. Stu
dents are to a college what a major ac
count is to a bank or advertising firm.
The only difference in this analogy is
that the customers involved with such
businesses are treated with the highest
degree of respect and the relationship
nurtured. This is not true, however, of
the students and the faculty and staff
of Gardner-Webb College. Granted there
is a large majority of these people who
do cultivate a rich relationship with
the students, making them feel welcome
and important. There is, however, that
undeniable minority that does its best
to be uncooperative, disrespectful and
blatantly nasty.
Recently, Dr. Chris White issued a
memo to the staff and faculty reminding
them why and for whom they are here.
Hopefully this will modify the behavior
of some, but if you’ve recently en
countered, as a student or student-
employee, certain individuals in the
library, business office or almost any
adminstrative office on campus, you’ll
find yourself doubting that the entire
campus will ever recognize the impor
tance of the student body. I guess the
most simplistic way to phrase my sen
timents and those of a large majority
of students is "you would not have a
job if we were not here." Now, do not
get me wrong, I do not condone disres
pect on the behalf of the student body.
However, I do feel that many times stu
dents are the unsolicited victims of
staff malice and also that this occur
rence is not merely coincidental. In
fact, what I (and many, many others)
have found to be true is that generally
the individuals who are nasty are that
way all or most of the time. (You know
who you are.) My question is why? Do we
inconvience you too much? Do we ask too
continued on page 6
THE PILOT
Editor-in-chief Roberta L. Borden
Sports Editor Jeff Melton
Features Editor Shawn “Flouder” Lewis
Advertising Staff Pam Sharts & Shellie Hamrick
Photographer Janet Curry
Staff Henry Doo, Brett Bridges,
Clint Wiles, David Hall,
Burt Wilson, John McNeil,
David Keim, Danny Reece
The Pilot staff meets every Monday at 3:15 and Thurs
day at 9:30 a.m. in the Publications room, 112 C.LD.
Pilot Advertising Policy
We reserve the right to refuse advertising which is
detrimental to the Christian nature and spirit of the in
stitution. The rates are $2.50 per column-inch.
Student
Editorial
Victims of Snow
White
by Henry Doo
Although we did
not have a White
Christmas this past
year, we certainly
had our share of
frozen precipita
tion. The Shelby-
Boiling Springs
area was carpeted
by "Snow White"
making travel to
Gardner-Webb dif
ficult for commut
ing students and
professors. Some
areas claimed up to
fourteen inches of
snow, evidenced by
myriads of children
throwing snowbal1s,
building snowmen
and sledding.
Most schools in
this area were
closed but regard
less of this fact,
Gardner-Webb stu
dents were required
to attend classes.
That is the classes
which were being
held (few at best.)
On the whole, most
students were an
noyed that classes
were held at all.
Says boarding stu
dent Melissa Rich-
hardson, "I think
the policy of 'no
policy’ regarding
class cancellations
due to snow
stinks." Ms. Rich
ardson’s attitude
was reiterated by
commuting students
who felt that the
school endangered
their safety by not
The commuting stu
dents who did make
it to campus were
greeted by no plow
ed parking lots and
ice-covered roads
and sidewalks.
Elizabeth Johnson,
a commuting student
from Shelby said,
"I didn’t worry
about missing class
because I just
couldn’t get out."
Unfortunately, it
seems that G-W’s
un-snow policy, in
directly penalizes
commuting students
as one professor
may hold a class
which the student
can not attend due
to road conditions.
Is it fair that a
student be knowing
ly put behind his
peers merely be
cause of the wea
ther? Most would
say "No". What does
the G-W administra
tion have to say?
Another View:
Guest Editorial
by Dr. Jim Taylor
Ever had a bandage over your eye?
A scratched cornea? Ever felt stupid?
I have. And it was all so unnecessary.
For years I played the odds, fore
going the obivious protection afforded
by racquetball eyeguards because I con
sidered them a bother and didn’t like
the way they felt. When my opponent
returned the Z-ball serve and I glanced
back to track the shot, it happened--a
stinging, sickening impact against my
left eye. My first response was not a
howl of pain but an inward tongue-
lashing. The tournament entry form had
clearly stated; "Eyeguards recommend
ed. Required for juniors."
In 1985, 70,000 eye injuries oc
curred in racquetball, a number of
these resulting in lost vision. Ask
the victims why they weren’t protecting
themselves and you would get the usual
excuses: We don’t hit the ball that
hard. We have been playing for a long
time and know how to avoid injuries.
The glasses impair my vision and bother
me.
I have heard several Gardner-Webb
players use the first excuse. Yet a
racquetball, regardless of its veloci
ty, can easily damage the eyes of
people who play socially and who have
lulled themselves into a false sense of
security. In fact, it is such players
who need eyeguards most of all. I have
seen such persons hurt, largely because
they have not mastered the skills of
moving in a small room with a blue ball
whizzing around their heads.
More experienced players may in
deed move well on the court, but even
they are subject to chance and circum
stance. It is when the person least
expects to be hurt that accidents often
happen. No one is immune. Marty Ho
gan, many times a national champion,
always wears his specs, even when
practicing by himself.
The third excuse was my undoing.
Actually, I had tried eyeguards pre
viously but decided that they weren't
worth the trouble. So, it was out of
the tournament and into an ophthalomo-
logist’s office. A monstrous bandage
and eyedrops then kept me company on a
perilous, one-eyed drive home to Shelby
The worst part was the ques-
"What on earth happened to
down 85.
tions:
you?"
The
difference
between
the
racquetball player who won’t wear
eyeguards and the driver who resists
seatbelts is minimal. The belts I have
worn religiously since a 1962 wreck.
Now the eyeguards are standard equip
ment. With two lousy ears, all I need
is a black eyepatch.
Eyeguards are made for everyone.
Sports fans have doubtless noticed the
continued on page 6
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The Pilot’s policy for letters to the Editor remains
that the letter must be signed by the student in order for
it to be published. The name may be withheld upon re
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Please feel free to express your opinions to the Pilot
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in the C.LD. building.