What Has Happened to
Us in Four Years?
By Abe Vanwingerden
President Perkinson,
Dean of Students Loftus,
Director of Sludent Activi
ties Glenn Harrison, Col
lege Pastor Bob Martin,
Director of Admissions
Peggy Crawford, and Resi
dential Life Director Patsy
Webb. If these names ring
a bell, then you must be a
graduating senior because
these are the people whom
we encountered when we
came in as a fresher, four
long years ago. We have
witnessed a great deal of
change in our four years at
St. Andrews, but even
more important, we have
seen a great amount of
change in ourselves and
. our classmates. We have
suffered together through
the tragic passing of some
great friends including
Jonathan Barger, Chris
McConville, Roger Cole,
and Wendy Phillips. We
have colobrated together
during four Ganzas, the
Senior P^rty in January,
the success of the Class of
’91 Campaign, and the
numerous smaller but
important events that have
shaped our lives. And later
this week, we will suffer
and celebrate together as
we finish the four greatest
years of our Hves and move
on to new opportunities
and challenges.
Our world has seen a
great deal of change dur
ing the last four years. Our
government has suffered
through numerous scan
dals, invasions, and a war
that made us all stop and
rethink what is important
to us in life. Iran-Contra,
the Keating Five, dirty
campaigns, Panama, nu
merous terroist actions, a
made-for-tv war in the
Middle East, homeless
ness, poverty, tragic natu
ral disasters, and a mount
ing defecit have all made
us realize that our world
perpetually suffers. But,
the longevity of Nolan
Ryan, increasing social
awareness, the advances of
civil rights in the last thirty
years, the end of the yup
pie eighties, and the begin
ning of a new decade, give
us hope for the future as
we try to imagine a world
in the year 2000.
But as we attempt to
imagine this world, we will
remember the stories as
sociated with this smaller
community in which we
now reside and have come
to love. Who can forget
when Dean Greer was
thrown in the lake during
Ganza ’90 and the subse
quent fear that she might
press charges? How about
the party in Albemarle
when the platforms be
came a source of wood for
the bonfire? Who can for
get the first home rugby
match at Ganza ’90 when
the RHINOS were able to
win their only game of the
year in front of hundreds
of alumni, students, fac
ulty, and administrators.
Who will ever forget the
fire in Granville on that
fateful December ’89
morning and the subse
quent fear before we knew
everyone was alright. For
those who attended Con
vocation in the Spring of
’89, the picture of Todd
Tyner in his birthday suit
will also be difficult to
erase. I could mention
many more stories, but this
is a public paper.
But beyond the stories
and memories, what we
must do as seniors is re
member the ideas that we
have developed over the
past four (or five) years.
We must continue to ap
preciate and defend diver
sity in a world that has
become so stereotypical
and judgemental. We must
continue to ask questions
until we are satisfied that
our confusions are clearly
answered. We mustrespect
those with physical chal
lenges and we must con
tinue to appreciative of
what we have. We must
continue to search for our
own personal happiness
outside of the material
pursuits. We mustcontinue
to be honest with ourselves
and others and we should
continue to take responsi
bility for our individual
actions. We must continue
to celebrate with those who
succeed and support htose
who are in need. Lastly,
we must continue to move
away from strict individu
alism which fosters an
“each one for themselves”
mentality, and continue to
strive for a better sense of
community. These are the
beliefs I have acquired in
my four years here at St.
Andrews, and I believe that
others who are truly sin
cere about learning have
also acquired and devel
oped these beliefs at St.
Andrews.
St. Andrews is truly an
institution of higher learn
ing that will thrive in the
next decade and beyond
with the proper mission,
direction, and dedication.
We, the Class of ’91, leave
this home with a much
larger bag than when we
came, and that bag is full
of memories, friendships,
and beliefs that will never
be taken away. This party
is over, but a new one is
just beginning. Good luck
my fellow classmates and
St. Andrews, thanks for all
the wonderful memories
and friendships.