TTiursday, April 9,1992 No. 11
GARDNER-WEBB COLLEGE
TTte OjficiaC Campus 9{ezuspapcr
Boiling Springs, North Carolina
Alpha Chi Convention
By Amy Sharpe
Staff Writer
Five members of Gardner-Webb’s
North Carolina Zeta Chapter of the Alpha
Chi (AX) National Honor Society
attended the region three convention in
Atlanta last weekend. William Johnson,
Dawn E. Camp, Melanie Ward, Brian
Miller and Marty White, along with
advisor Dr. Bob Morgan, represented the
college at the bi-annual meeting. The
convention involves AX chapters from
colleges and universities in eight states,
the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
Johnson, Camp, Miller, and White
presented academic papers to the
convention on topics ranging from
insectivorous plants to the Cuban Missile
Crisis.
During the final session of the
three-day event. White was elected by the
convention to represent District 3 at the
National Council of AX. He will attend
this year’s national business meeting in
Chicago in two weeks as one of seven
student representatives elected across the
nation. Besides being a voting member of
the council, White will be able to take the
floor of the national convention to speak
on behalf of students and will sit on a
variety of committees.
'Tt’s a great thrill to be able to
represent so many students from such a
wide area," White said. "Hopefully by my
involvement on a national scale,
Gardner-Webb will become even more
well-known."
Celebrate Earth Day: April 22,1992
By Dawn E. Camp
Editor
Nearly every American has seen those
trendy little posters with the earth in the
background and a catchy saying like, "Do
something nice for your mother.
RECYCLE!" or "If you’re not recycling
you’re just throwing it aU away."
Well, there’s a group on campus who
knows that there is more to caring for the
earth than recycling. And they want you
to know, too.
To heighten awareness of how to care
for the earth, a small group of students
and faculty advisor, Tom English, are
planning a celebration for Earth Day 1992.
The second-annual GWC Earth Day
Shindig-on-the-Green will be held
Wednesday, April 22, beginning around 3
p.m. Scheduled events include displays on
environmental issues, the popular Can-
Slam contest, and musical entertainment.
The group has even arranged to have the
evening meal moved outside.
If you would like to be involved with
the Earth Day celebration, contact English
or come to the meetings, which are held
on Thursdays at 3:15 in the small
conference room of the DCC.
Watch for Yearbooks!
Coming at the End of April
ASL: New Foreign
Language
By Mike Tansey
Stiff Writer
Gardner-Webb is undergoing a change
in the curriculum as of Fall 1992. One of
the changes is American Sign Language
has been accepted as a foreign language.
In the past, it did not offer foreign
language credit. Students enrolled for
interpreting degrees, interest, and elective
credits.
Barbara Selph, sign language
instructor, said that ASL should count
because it is not grammatically related to
English. In addition, deaf students face an
unfair burden if they need a track that
requires a foreign language, she added.
Starting in the fall, deaf students who sign
ASL fluently can claim ASL as their native
language and use English to meet the
second language requirement. Deaf
students who sign English or who are oral
may use ASL to fulfill the requirement.
ASL has absolutely no relation to
English; it has its own grammar, structure
and syntax. Also, deaf culture is part of
ASL.
What do GWC deaf students think of
ASL as a foreign language? Junior Joe
Johnson said, "I think it is good because
ASL is the third hardest language in the
U.S., and it is fair to the deaf students.
Also, it will be important for jobs because
hearing people will meet deaf students
quite often. This way they can
communicate."
Hearing students agree. Lori Harrison,
student interpreter, feels that this is an
appropriate thing to do. Having a
language like ASL should be like any
other foreign language, she said.
ASL is a good opportunity for hearing
people here at GWC. It gives them more
options than just Spanish and French.
Please remember, however, that ASL will
not be considered a foreign language until
the fall, and then, only for students coming
in under the new core.
Last year’s popular Can-Slam contest is on
this year’s schedule as well.
First Earth Day Facts:
-Held on April 22, 1970.
—20,000,000 Americans united to show
their concern for the environment.
—The mayor of New York City closed
Fifth Avenue to all automobiles for the
day.
—100,000 people filled Washington D.C.’s
Union Station for an eco-fair.
-Public concern led to the passing of
several major pieces of environmental
legislation, including the formation of the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Gospel Choir
Sponsors Play
By Erik Cummings
Stiff Writer
On Saturday, March 28, the GWC
Gospel Choir sponsored the dramatic
gospel musical, "A Struggle to be Free," in
the Lutz Yelton Convocation Center. The
play was well received throughout the
community and was attended by
approximately 1,000 people.
The play addressed the issue of how
cocaine abuse can tear a family apart.
Many members of the Gospel Choir made
their stage debuts, as they provided music
for the church scenes. A few even had
speaking parts.
The experience was enjoyable for the
members of the choir. They felt that the
opportunity to participate in something
that could be the driving force of someone
turning to Christ is what the choir is all
about.
The play not only touched the
audience, but it touched each and every
member in a special way," said Dorethia
Miller, Gospel Choir advisor. The choir
would like to thank those who helped in
the production of the play.