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St. Andrews 2004 Political Forum
Speak Out! Hosts Forum
Mica Nguyen
Various state representatives participated in a Political
Forum on Wednesday, Oct. 27, through the efforts of Speak Out!
and the Student Activities Union. During the first session at 11:00
am Senator Bill Purcell and Representative Doug Yongue repre
sented the North Carolina Senate and House, while Rachel Lea
Hunter gave a unique judicial perspective on political issues as a
candidate for North Carolina State Supreme Court.
Hunter spoke first and outlined the issues that are most
important to her campaign: She is for Judicial Restraint, against
the funding of campaigns by taxpayer, and for the protection of
First Amendment rights. “Colleges were meant to be places where
students can learn,” she said in reference to First Amendment
rights of students. She entertained questions fi-om students and
defined Judicial Activism as the imposition of someone’s personal
opinions on court cases, which she is against. She also explained
the nature of the Judicial relationship with the Legislative Branch.
Senator Purcell focused on the economy, especially in
rural areas and towns such as Laurinburg, and commented that
St. Andrews has benefited the community in more ways than one.
He shared his experiences in the Senate and answered students
questions about medications coming from Canada. He felt that
if there are safe and inexpensive drugs that can be imported from
Canada than people should not be denied access. Purcell called
the denial of these drugs one of the “biggest mistakes” President
Bush made in his first term.
Representative Yongue shared family stories and concen
trated on the importance of education. “I spend 99% of my time
dealing with education,” Yongue asserted. He talked about how
public hands are distributed through the public education system
and answered questions about the “No Child Left Behind” policy.
Yongue pointed out that many teachers in Nonh Carolina leave
the field after only five years. There need to be incentives to keep
good teachers in the field.
The second session at 2:00 pm included Congressman
Robin Hayes’ campaign manager Richard Hudson and the Demo
cratic candidate for Congress Beth Troutman. They both took
about 10 minutes to discuss the major political issues that were
important to their campaign and answered students questions on
a variety of topics including a constitutional ban on gay marriage,
outsourcing of jobs, and the No Child Left Behind policy.
Richard Hudson, speaking on behalf of Robin Hayes,
talked about different initiatives Hayes has been promoting that
would increase capital in North Carolina. Hudson also talked
about the textile industry and job security. He found it hard to ad
dress specifics on topics such as social security for disabilities, but
stayed afterwards to further discuss the issues with students and get
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Page 12
Fortner Awards Highlight Publishing,
Programming
For the nineteenth time, St. Andrews Presbyterian College hon
ored individuals who have contributed to the writing community with the
presentation of the Ethel N. Fortner Writer and Community Award on
Thursday, Nov. 11 in the Carol Grotnes Belk Main Room of the Henry
William Belk Center.
“It is often asked what distinguishes human beings at their very
best,” said College President John Deegan Jr. “This evening, there is a
clear answer: the noble tapestry of the human creative expression. This is
the 19th time our institution is recognizing that noble tapestry with these
awards.”
Fortner Awards committee chair Ron Bayes said, “These awards
recognize persons who have been outstanding contributors to the writing
community that creates a very real, positive community dynamic. Our
trio of recipients this year could not be more deserving for their work in
bringing artistic greatness to the larger community.”
This year’s recipients were Executive Director of the North Carolina Arts
Council Mary Regan, New Directions Publishing Vice President Bar
bara Epler and Barton College’s literary magazine editor Dr. Terrence L.
Grimes.
“When I heard I was getting this award, I thought they had made
a mistake,” Grimes said. “I felt undeserving.”
(Continued on page 2)
L-R: recipient Mary Regan, President John Deegan Jr., recipient Barbara
Epler, Fortner Committee chair Ron Bayes, and recipient Dr. Terrence
L. Grimes.