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Friday, November 5, 2004 The piiSr Campu^Je# QBDDDBDDISBCID ■■■■■■■■■□□□ A century of education: Part 3 Junior college affected by war War brings change in wonnen’s role Amanda Wood Pilot copy editor In 1944, Luci Causby Hamrick, Betty Jenkins Washburn and Harry Eugene Washburn spent their spare time writing letters, “There was a lot of corre spondence between the sol diers and the girls,” said Hamrick, who was then a sophomore business major at the newly named Gardner- Webb Junior College. “Mail was very important at the time.” But even with regular mail, life on campus during World War II was uncertain, accord ing to Hamrick, whose brother and future husband were sta tioned overseas. “They were in war,” Hamrick said. “You never knew if you would see them again, so that was a cloud hanging over your head.” Betty Washburn, daughter of Boiling Springs Junior College President J.L. Jenkins, met her future hus band at GWJC in 1942. “I went to Gardner-Webb to get an education, and I got Gene Washburn,” Washburn said. A two were engaged by as 1943 - just before Gene Washburn and two of his friends were drafted. War-time uncertainty • GWJC students, the s always in the back ground, according to Hamrick. “The worst thing about it - being in school when your country’s at war - is the uncer tainty of it all,” Hamrick said. But according to Gene Washburn, the threat of war really hit home when he was drafted. “We didn’t even think too much about it,” Washburn said. “At least I didn’t - till I u V % 1^3 A photo from the 1944 GWJC got drafted.” After they were drafted, Washburn and his two friends and fellow GWJC students, Joe Lattimore and William B. Beam, went together to report to Camp Croft in Spartanburg, S.C. Washburn was inducted into the navy where he served as an aviation ordinanceman on the island of Saipan in the Pacific, “And we were in war hot and heavy with Japan at that time,” Washburn said. For Betty Washburn, the war was a time of waiting, “I stayed at home and waited,” Washburn said. “I wrote him every day.” And Gene Washburn saved every letter throughout the entire war. “I’d just write her and tell her I loved her,” Washburn said. “And, of course, she would always tell me she loved me.” Shortages As a result of the war, male students were in short supply at GWJC. “When I went, many of the boys were gone in the service, so there were not many of them,” Hamrick said. photo courtesy of Noel Manning yearbook shows a class practicing archery. cars, a trip outside Boiling Springs was something spe cial, according to Hamrick. “You can imagine, the ones that were there were very pop ular.” War-time editions of GWJC’s yearbook, including the 1944 edition, show the changing role of women on campus while most college- age men were overseas. The sophomore class president was a man, but the vice president, secretary and treasurer were women. Hamrick, herself, sophomore class re^Rnt^^ tive and was awarded the superlative of most influential student. In af^B|rn to a shortage of men, oWFshortages during the war included foods like sugar and mayonnaise, according to Betty Waslbum. “And I missed mayon naise m(^|||fhan anything,” WashbunMnd. “People used honey for the pies and their sweets.” But a lack of mayonnais and sugar was a sm: fice, according to Was' “We were just more than willing to do without things for the boys overseas,” Washburn said. Because the war also pro duced a shortage of gas and ayonnaise ■•n# News in brief Blood drive organizers disappointed by turnout At this year’s Red Cross Blood Drive, organ izers hoped for 110 donations, but received only 90 units of blood. “We had a lot of people deferred because of overseas travel,” said Student Coordinator Kyle Loughran. “People who had been on missions trips or on military duty were disqualified from giving blood.” Despite not reaching the goal, GWU’s blood drive turnout is slightly less than the national donating average. According to the Red Cross fact sheet, only five percent of the nation gives blood. The SGA sponsored blood drive ran from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 27. Josh Stroup from Information Services was one of the first to give blood. “It’s a small sacri fice, but it benefits a lot of people,” Stroup said. Freshman Megan Price also showed up to contribute. “I give blood because it helps people, and who knows, I may need it one day,” Price said. For almost 26 years the Red Cross has brought the bloodmobile to Gardner-Webb University to take donations. There will be another chance for students to give blood when the Red Cross returns in April. —Abbie Crago As for Boiling Springs in the war ear - it was small. “About three buildings on the campus and a soda shop, and that was it,” Hamrick said. Coping with the war The soda shop was an affordable staple for GWJC students. Hamrick and her room mate could split a soda-shop pack of doughnuts and a large Coke for only five cents each. “And we could afford to go almost weekly,” Hamrick said. According to Hamrick, students coped with the war by keeping things in perspec tive. “Taking these deadly serious things in your stride,” Hamrick said. “We did what we had to do,” Betty Washburn said. According to the Betty and Gene Washburn, all GWJC students who went to the war returned. “All that went came back,” said Gene Washburn, who returned to Boiling Springs in 1946, the same year he and Betty were married. Facts from GWlJ’s World War II era • On June 15, 1942, Boiling Springs Junior College changed its name to Gardner-Webb Junior College in honor of the families of North Carolina Governor O. Max Gardner and his wife, Fay Webb Gardner. The decision to make the name change occurred after a unanimous vote by the board of trustees at the Hotel Charles in Shelby. • In July 1943, Dr. P.L. Elliott left Western Carolina University, where he was head of the English department, to become president of GWJC. He was 51 years old. Because few students had cars, leaving campus for dates was rare. Women could date off-campus only three nights a week - Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Curfew on Saturday was 11 p.m. Plays were important to the students during the war. One student actor, Sam Greene, Jr., became an actor on Broadway after he graduated GWJC. • On May 8, 1945, students rang the bell at Boiling Springs Baptist Church, which was located where Dover Chapel now stands, in celebration Germany’s surrender. Source: "Daring, Dreaming, Doing... ’ by Lansford Jolley\ Vote: students, faculty and staff react to Bush victory From page I out” when she heard Bush had won. However, she said she is not too worried. “I don’t like all of George Bush’s political views, but with a system of checks and bal ances, if we don’t like what he puts into law, it won’t happen,” McNelis said. McNelis still has faith in the political machine despite the fact that this election gave Republican control to two major branches of government. With the Bush victory, McNelis said her major con cern is the draft. McNelis, who has family in the military, feels that even though Bush prom ised no draft during his elec tion, he may not keep his promise. Other election news In State House District 111, Tim Moore defeated Democrat Kathryn Hamrick, who has several ties with GWU. Hamrick, a resident of Boiling Springs, is currently on the board for the Noel Program. Her husband and son are alum ni of the college. Hamrick worked years ago for the insti tution as director of public information for a couple of years. Other House winners were Republican Debbie Ann Clary and Democrat Bob England. The state senate seat went to Democrat Walter Dalton. Incumbent North Carolina Governor Mike Easley defeat ed Republican opponent Patrick Ballantine, while the Senate house seat went to Republican Richard 'Burr over Erskine Bowles. Out of the 13 seats open for House, seven went to Republicans. From page I “Kerry changed his mind depending on who he was talking to,” the freshman said. “Despite what he says, I don’t think Kerry would bring troops home.” Other Bush voters support ed Bush for reasons including health care, tax breaks and rriorality. “I voted for Bush because of his morals and his stand on values,” said G’WU Nursing Student Peter Lamison. “I also liked the fact that I got two $400 refund checks for having a daughter while Bush was in office.” Some felt that Kerry’s character and opinions would make a better president. “Even though I am pnHife and support the fedcr^^f. riage amendment, I vo^Pbj- John Kerry because I feel that there are more important issues at stake,” said Kenny Queen, freshman. It wasn’t just GWU stu dents casting votes. GWU fac ulty and staff had just as many reasons to vote during the 2004 election. Tony Eastman, professor of history, said he voted for Bush based on the war in Iraq and Bush’s conservative val ues. Not all agreed with Eastman. Residence Life Office Manager Annette Simmons had quite different feelings about Bush and voted for Kerry. “I voted for John Kerry because of the economy and the war,” Simmons said. “The ^^omy is .in bad shape, ^^e lost jobs, and we should not be in Iraq.” photo by Kaylin Bowers Carla Sinclair, freshman donates blood during the biood drive iocated at GWU. SpulKiinaii lur GWU takes new job Matt Webber, public relations representative for Gardner-Webb University, left his position Thursday. Webber, who was in his 12 year with GWU, left to take a job at Rutherford Hospital. There, Webber will perform jobs for the hospital dealing with customer service, management and training and human resources. ■While at GWU, Webber was responsible for public relations, as well as the radio and televi sion stations. He said his replacement has not been named. Webber has two children and a stay-at-home wife, which is one reason he decided to take the job. “Leaving GWU is bittersweet, but my responsibility is to my family, and I am trying to be faithful to them,” Webber said. “I’ll continue to pray for GWU and for the many successes I’m sure it will enjoy.” — Jennifer Menster President, trustees in tight situation Gardner-Webb University board of trustees met Oct. 28 to discuss new officers for the upcoming year. They were also informed that there is nothing new with the presidential search, said GWU President Frank Campbell. Campbell, along with several trustees, had an interesting time with the stadium’s elevator dur ing Oct. 23’s home football game. During half time of the game, the stadium dedication was supposed to take place; however, the elevator carrying Campbell and trastees got stuck delay ing the dedication. Campbell said the dedication will take place during the final home game, Nov. 20. “I will be taking the stairs from now on,” Campbell said. — Jennifer Menster Break ins still under investigation Currently, no arrests have been made in the car break-ins that occurred across Gardner-Webb University campus before fall break. University Police Chief Barry Johnson said the station is working with Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office on a lead. Last week, the Sheriff’s Office arrested a m ale driving a white van, similar to the suspected one in the GWU break-ins. The suspect and another male were caught robbing several stores in the Mooresboro area. Johnson said the suspects are not related to the university. — Jennifer Menster
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