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The Editor’s Desk |
I
Jennifer
Woodward
A collegc newspaper’s purpose is to publicize the voice of the
students, faculty and staff. As editor, I felt this was the perfect opportu-
nity to really push the concerns of the campus community. Each member
of the Board of Trustees receives every issue of the Lance. Therefore, I
felt that this particular issue came at an appropriate time, considering the
trustees will be visiting the campus next weekend for their annual fall
^ meeting. My main goal is not to complain about St. Andrews and point
fingers at the administration. What I asked, and what I received, are
^ legitimate concerns - concerns that we see daily and feel can be handled
efficiendy.
The biggest concern, as seen by the students and even some faculty,
is the lack of communication with the administration. The students feel
that their concerns are not respectfully handled. This is a serious
, problem, a problem I must agree with. Why do I so firmly believe this?
,Simply because I experienced this sad tale for myself.
, A little background history: For the past two years, I worked as a live-
in student aide for a handicapped student. Through my work, I was able
to leam first hand the many problems that were generated at the Burris
Rehabilitation Center. Such problems as the lack of attendant care, lack
of staff, overcrowding, etc. These problems were largely due to the lack
of direction by the Burris Center administration.
As a member of the St. Andrews admissions staff and a former student
aide, I honestly felt we had been misrepresenting our rehabilitation
program to the many handicapped students. I felt the time was now to
approach the administration with the many problems. A new year was
beginning and a new director was soon to arrive on campus. I felt it was
important that the administration be aware of the problems, so that they
may have some positive influence.
I first met with Dean Greer and Wayne Johnson. In meeting with the
.two, I spoke of my own experiences and that of others who had lived or
worked in the Burris Center. All in all, I felt the meeting was quite
productive and was rather positive. Each of us were open and honest to
the other. So honest were we, that I was even taken off guard by a
comment that Dean Greer had said to me, “If you had come to me last
Spring with this, I probably would not have believed you -1 would have
thought you were overexaggerating. But after what we discovered over
the summer, I must agree.”
Granted I appreciate the honesty Dean Greer had displayed but, I must
admit I was somewhat disappointed with this comment. Before, I had
ijcen told by many of the handicapped students that they had approached
Student Life with their concerns, but were treated in this manner. I
understand now - You’ve got to see it, to believe it.
Soon afterwards I had a meeting with President Reuschling. The
meeting was concerning the Lance and the upcoming year. However,
due to my involvement with the Burris Center, I decided to take the
opportunity and tell him basically what I had discussed previously with
Dean Greer and Wayne Johnson.
This was a very different story!
Unlike my previous meeting that was filled with honesty and open
ness, all I managed to receive from President Reuschling was the run
around. When I spoke of the problems in regard to the lack of personal
care of the students who lived in Burris, President Reuschling basically
dismissed my concerns. Like a true politician, all he could say was the
fact that St. Andrews was probably the best school in the entire country
for handicapped students. He pointed out the painted hallways, the new
roof on Burris, and the new ADL Units that were recently built. On the
contrary, he dismissed the fact that the students’ needs were not being
met.
I tried in vain to pwint this out to him. That it was the human level that
mattered most. It was the inside of Burris, not the outside, that makes the
program what it is. I wanted to him to be honest and tell me that we were
misrepresenting the program and change was definitely needed and he
was going to at least try and oversee it with the new director.
But it was absoluetly hopeless with this man. I finally left his office
belittled and dismayed.
I understand that as president of this college he has much to worry
about and can not deal with every single problem that may arise. I know
that he is a busy man and I do not expect him to be perfect. However, I
do feel that it is vital for him to look at a very important program within
the collegc and realize the problems. I came into both my meetings with
a list of problems and a list of solutions.I was hoping that just maybe,
something productive could come out of our conversations.
As a student, I must say this to our administration. Listen to the
students! Don’t wait till it’s too late and you have to find out for yourself.
As in this case. Dean Greer admitted I was correct simply because they,
too, had come to realize on their own the problems at the Burris Center.
To President Reuschling, you must remember the little guy. It is
because of the littie guy that this school still exists. It’s not the paint on
the walls and the new lights or paved roads that keeps a school going
strong.
I feel that we have a great student body filled with students who are
genuinely concerned for the good of the school. Take advantage of that
and let’s work together. Because if we can work together as one, maybe
then, we could progress and reach the goals we all desire.
"Senioritis"
By Bill Cox
Student Government President
There comes a time in the life of a
senior, when the reality of graduation
slams him or her in the face. When the
prospects of facing the real world
suddenly come crashing in and one is
forced to ask “What is the point?”
Life for a senior in this situation be
comes a series of swings from high to
low, from love to hate, from serious
ness to frivolity and seldom if ever is
there a middle ground to be found.
When an individual reaches this state
let it be know to all around that a
classic case of Senioritis has devel
oped and all those who are not seniors
should keep their distance and not
pretend to understand, because you
cannot.
I was recently discussing this
phenomena with a distinguished
member of the faculty and learned to
my relief that this is not an abnormal
condition. Further, I was informed
that the symptoms are even more far-
reaching. There are in fact several
stages in the classic case of Senioritis.
These I will attempt to describe to the
best of my ability.
As the Fall begins seniors return
with a sense of purpose and drive to
make the final year of college the best
ever, in fact to make their senior class
the most memorable and recognized
to have ever existed in the history of
the college. Some students never lose
this underlying drive. Most, however,
lose this initial mission and become
impatient with being here. We are
ready to graduate and get on with our
lives. Yet there is is a barrier in the
form of time and work. During this
phase of Senioritis, an individual may
come to hate being here, to hate living
on campus, and in fact, to hate being
around some of his or her closest
friends. This sympton usually passes
quickly, or is manifest in the form of
radical mood swings. Toward the end
of the fall term the senior will become
reflective and quite serious about
working because there is only one se
mester left. Thus the contempt and
impatience slowly give way to a brief
retum to normality.
The Spring represents another
renewed period of energy, and the
cycle begins again. Usually, seniors
will try to paty at every given oppor
tunity and only do what work is nec
essary to get by, I realize of course,
that some students spend their entire
college career in this fashion. The
phenomena which I am describing,
however, is something which would,
ordinarily unexpected from a particu
lar student. This is something which
continues classically until after
GANZA weekend.
At this time seniors become quite
nostalgic and even enter a mild state
of depression because they realize
that there is no turning back. Mood
swings become hourly things and life
long goals are changed within a mat
ter of hours or days. Anticipation and
anxiety build to a momentus propor
tion which finally explodes on the
night before the graduation ceremony,
as was typified by the spontaneous
celebration at Granville last year. It
all ends after the walk across the stage
on Sunday morning in the presence of
family and friends. There and only
there can the spell of Senioritis be
broken once and for all.
Now you know when one of your
senior suite mates gets the “wander
lust” or yells at you for no reason in
particular or simply Wanl5> to have a
mid-week party just to do it. You are
seeing the outward signs of Seniori
tis. My advice to those of you who are
not seniors is to be tolerant and under
standing, this as all things will even
tually pass; you will have your turn all
too soon. For my comrades who are
sitniors - just remember >S^ are 5not
alone. Enjoy y&iir se^oi^year and
keep it in mind that a reality check is
often a good thing.
Letters to the Editor
To the editor:
It is an occurrence happening far
too much in our institutions of higher
learning. What may seem to be a
change for the future, an attempt to
disrobe a college or university of an
image problem, is actually a tell-tale
sign of the humanistic deterioration
of this society we're now living in.
Rather than inferring that institutions
are harmed and don't deserve the label
of a "church school," we should call a
spade a spade and state the fact that
colleges stuck in an identity crisis
should not bring defamation on the
ideals to which they are affiliated.
We now find, at last, that the stu
dents and faculty of our esteemed St.
Andrews have embarked on a debate
long overdue. The question of whether
the word "Presbyterian" should re
main in the school's name is a valid
one. After reading the early responses,
I must admit that I was appalled at the
notion of shedding the only external
evidence of St. Andrews even being
related in any way with the Christian
religion. But upon examining the "big
picture," I have come to the conclu
sion that the incorporation of a reli
gious affilitation in this college's name
is both misleading and an injustice.
Let's examine the controversy from
a view not voiced. When St. Andrews
was founded in the late 1950's the col
lege was not what it is today. Anyone
glancing at the early Lamp and Shields
would no doubt find that St. Andrews
was a true "church school." This is
evident by the number of Presbytery
candidates, church music directors,
and other Christian graduates leaving
this campus. But over the years, the
Presbyterian church has become lib
eralized and the students entering St.
Andrews less interested in the Chris
tian faith. It is only reasonable that
now when the true Christian is a mi
nority at this campus that any relation
to the Christian faith should also be
put in its proper place. The word
Christian simply stated means "Christ-
like." If St. Andrews College is not
reflective of this assertion, then by all
means there needs to be a change
either in the students and faculty or
the college's name.
To answer those who would state
that the idea of a church related school
is an injustice to St. Andrews, may be
corrected by reversing their reason
ing and concluding that this college
does not deserve to be held in the
same breath as Christ. It is a shame
that we have become so hardened and
self-serving that we refuse to be thank
ful to Him for giving us the tools with
which we survive daily. In this same
light, one swooping policy should
rain down and erase any mention of
the Christian faith in our college's
name. At the same time we erase
"Presbyterian" why not replace
"Excellence for Christ" with "One
Man One Keg."
The further assertion that St.
Andrews' recruiting efforts are en
tirely to blame on the school's name
are not only shallow, but underbred.
These individuals would be better
informed to know that the pool of
qualified high school seniors has
decreased substantially. Also, one
should remember that removing
"Presbyterian" might also reduce the
funding of St. Andrews, thereby in
creasing costs, and lowering the
number of admitted students.
Are there advantages in changing
this college's name? Well the time
spent pronouncing St. Andrews Col
lege would be less than if Presbyte
rian remained, and possibly enroll
ment may increase. But, the principle
gain would be a true representation of
the environment and social atmos
phere of this college. If a true major
ity of students and faculty can not
adhere to the conditions of the one
real "calling" then we should not have
the honor of being called by His name.
"Let the redeemed of the Lord say
so.
Scott A. Blue
• \ ;■ ■ ■ -
To the editor:
Congratulations on two good is
sues of The Lance. You are off to a
great start.
I do wish to cortect an assumption
that showed up in both your editorial
and in the letter from Mr. Kevin
Gullette. The Laurinburg police were
never called to a rugby match. I did
notice them at the match and pre
sumed they were there for a few
minutes to watch the game.
We do use off duty Laurinburg
police to spell our own security for
some weekend shifts. Thus, it is not
unusual to see a security person in a
Laurinburg City uniform on the
campus.
I did notice a Laurinburg police
car at the game for a brief period. I
presume they were there out of curi
osity about the rugby match.
Thanks for letting me make this
clarification.
Sincerely,
Thomas L. Reuschling
President