Running Bulldogs fall to Wofford in season opener see page 4
Gardner-Webb University
THE PILOT
Barking
Bulldog
see page 3
No. 1 September 12,1994
The Official Campus Newspaper
Boiling Springs, NC
Students discover new year brings many changes
^ • "
by Jason Farr
editor
With the beaches empty, the camps
closed, and the weather changing, only one
thought comes to mind; back to school. As
always, students new and old make their way
back to campus for the start of a brand new
year, a new beginning.
“It's exciting to be here,” said Kristen
Bayles. “This year God has given me a new
start to glorify Him.”
One of the things most evident when
returning to campus was the many changes
that had taken place over the summer.
Students learned fast that there was a
new sheriff in town, Chief of Security Charles
Cochran, former Police Chief for the City of
/. Many athletes were ticketed for driv-
Shelby.
Cindy Burress helps a freshman move in.
ing to the cafeteria even before school started.
A major change was the addition of sev
eral new members to the faculty and
staff.Thirteen new professors were hired over
the summer.
One of the changes for many of the ath
letes was the addition of lights on the practice
field. Word has it these lights were put to use
early as the football team had some practices at
12 am.
A change that benefited freshman was
the formation of the Campus Ministries United
Crew. This crew, a joint effort of BSU, FCA,
and Gospel Choir, helped freshmen move into
the residence halls.
“I liked working on the CMU crew be
cause it was a great chance to meet the new
freshman,” said James Julian.
There is one thing that we need to keep in
mind: this is still Gardner-Webb University.
This is our school and our home. Nothing can
change that.
Religion professor finally arrives
by Telesa Wilson
staff writer
A recent vacancy in the Religious Edu
cation Department opened the door for a new
professor to enter the Gardner-Webb family.
Dr. Sophia Steibel, a graduate of GWU, has
come armed with a vision and a purpose for
herself and for the students of Gardner-Webb.
Dr. Steibel is a former director of a
theological school in Brazil. She sees the
opportunity to share her knowledge as a chal
lenge.
“It was a difficult decision,” she said.
“But when a more challenging door is opened
for you in your life, you have the responsibil
ity to enter. God allows doors to open at
different stages in life so you can grow and
fully develop your potential as a mature per
son.”
The process by which Dr. Steibel arrived
at Gardner-Webb was, she believes, quite
arduous.
“It was a long process,” she said. “We
finally arrived in Miami on July 2 around 6
am. We were supposed to catch a later flight,
but we requested an earlier one.”
That evening. Dr. Steibel learned of the
tragic plane crash of US Air Flight 1016, the
flight for which she had originally been sched
uled.
‘This confirmed,” she said, “that I came
here for a purpose. My time has not yet come.
God has a plan for me here.”
Dr. Steibel came to Gardner-Webb
twenty years ago as a student from Rio de
Janeiro.
“Back then, Gardner-Webb was like a
big family. It wasn't as 'fancy' as it is now, but
it still has a friendly atmosphere. Even then,
you weren't known as a number. You were
known a an individual,” Steibel comments.
Dr. Steibel said that, even though she
enjoyed everything about the campus, the
thing she enjoyed the least was the food. Some
things never change.
She is the fourth of six children and is
here with her husband, Eduardo, who cur
rently manages the Gardner-Webb bookstore.
Dr. Steibel enjoys walking, painting and
playing the piano. She also likes studying the
work of impressionistic artists and listening to
music.
Steibel said, “I like Bach. His music is so
detailed and rich. For me, it has so much
meaning.”
Most importantly, Steibel says she en
joys relating to students.
“I like getting to know them and relating
to each student as a person. I also like to see
people discovering new truths for themselves
and using what they have learned to make a
difference in their lives.”
Dr. Steibel has a vision of helping stu
dents become lifelong learners. She says she
wants to be co-learners with the students.
She said, “I want learners to have a re
sponsibility in their learning. My mission, my
calling on this earth is to teach. I want students
to use what God has given them, to see and
catch the vision.”
Honors Program
stimulates students
by Brandy F aught
staff writer
Gardner-Webb has always prided itself
on quality education and the attitude that its
students are the best and can compete with the
best. The Honors Program is a way that G-W
faculty and students promote that competitive
edge.
Approximately twenty institutes of
higher learning in North Carolina sponsor
programs for students that better prepare them
for challenges in the working world by pro
viding a more challenging classroom envi
ronment. The Honors Program was instituted
in the fall of 1989 when a need was seen by the
faculty.
‘There were already classes available
for students who were less prepared with
tutoring programs and developmental classes,”
said Dr. Tom Jones, present sponsor of the
Honors Program. “We were putting an em
phasis on maintaining students and weren't
doing much to stimulate gifted students.”
Fifty percent of honors students from
other schools showed on surveys that they got
more out of honors classes because the stu
dents were open to new ideas and came to
class better prepared.
There were five graduates in the first
Honors Program. Since that time, however,
the program has not been very obvious on
campus. Still, this year alone, 58 freshman
have been added to the program,
please see Honor's Program page 3
Inside Stuff
Forum ■■■■■■■
Faculty Spotlight
page 2 Campus Calendar
page 3 New Nutty Stuff ■
page 2 Sports ......
page 3 Have a nice day!
page 4