P Hie Lance Volume 46 Issue 2
“There is a difference between writing
and writing well.” stated acclaimed
novelist, Kaye Gibbons, when she gave
her keynote speech on September 21** in
the Avinger Auditorium. Gibbons spent
the day in Laurinburg, visiting Scotland
High School, Scotland County Memorial
Library and St. Andrews discussing her
debut book, “Ellen Foster. ” Within
its first year, the “One Book, One
Community”, not only allowed the
freshmen Quest classes to read, "Ellen
Foster" but the entire Laurinburg
community, helping alleviate the issue
of illiteracy throughout the county. Four
hundred free copies were passed out to
those that wanted to be a part of the new
program.
Kaye Gibbons was bom in 1960 in
Nash County, North Carolina. She
studied American Literature at the
University of North Carolina in Chapel
Hill. At the age of 26, her debut novel,
"Ellen Foster” was written. In 1987,
“Ellen Foster” was published and
captured the hearts of many individuals;
it has sold over 4 million copies and
has been translated in several different
languages. Critics across the globe have
been astonished at the obstacles that
Mrs. Gibbons has overcome throughout
her life. The New Republic states, “The
voice of this resourceful child [Ellen
Foster] is mesmerizing because we
One Book, One Community
By; Danielle Heider
are right inside her head. The words
are always flowing right... Thus does
Gibbons persuade us, as few writers can,
that even a terrible childhood can be a
state of grace.”
Throughout the years, Kaye Gibbons has
published eight novels and various short
stories. In 1997, “Ellen Foster" and “A
Virtuous Woman" were selected to be
a part of the Oprah Winfrey book club.
This exposure allowed both books to be
spotlighted on the best sellers list and
launched Mrs. Gibbons into the public
eye. In an interview with Bob Summers
for Publishers Weekly, she stated,
“Nobody ever told me it was going to
(Author, Kaye Gibbons talking with Students. Picture
courtesy of Rooney Coffman )
be easy. If 1 weren’t a writer. I’d probably be
a lawyer or an architect. I wouldn’t want to
do anything easy, and 1 choose to be a writer
As a writer, it’s my job to come up with three
hundred pages or so every two years. Each
time 1 begm, I know it’s going to happen, but
I’m scared it won’t. It’s working with that
element of fear that keeps a book going.”
People throughout Scotland County came
to see the acclaimed author when she began
her day visiting with high school students
at Scotland High and then at Scotland
Memorial Library. She finished her day on
the St. Andrews campus, first visiting with the
freshmen Quest classes and lastly having an
open keynote speech in the evening. Gibbons
discussed different aspects of her book, "Ellen
Foster”, however, she did not limit herself to
her debut book. After her speech, she opened
the floor to questions that the audience had.
When asked where she gets her ideas, she
proclaimed, “I get my ideas from anywhere
and everywhere.” While intriguing. Gibbons
described the writing process as a “ journey
into something” rather than writing being a
escape.
Through the program, “One Book,
One Community” the challenge of fighting
illiteracy was distinguished and precisely
defined. The presence of the acclaimed
novelist served as a reminder that even a
small community has the power to fight.
“This Fall’s enrollment at St.
Andrews Presbyterian College
has been exceeded only once
in the past 35 years,” College
President Dr. John Deegan, Jr.,
announced Monday. He reported
808 students are enrolled this Fall
at St. Andrews, a figure exceeded
only by the 1987 enrollment of 833
students.
Since the Fall of 2002,
enrollment at the college has
grown by a remarkable 32 percent
along with a significant increase
in the academic quality of the
students who have enrolled.
“We are pleased and excited
that our student retention and
recruitment efforts have taken us
over the 800 students mark,” said
Deegan. “Our faculty and staff
have collectively worked hard
to serve our present students and
have worked diligently to recruit
more outstanding students to our
fine college.”
The St. Andrews student
population breaks down into
703 students at the Laurinburg
campus and 105 in the college’s
baccalaureate program at Sandhills
(In Courtesy of Rooney Coffnun)
ST. ANDREWS REPORTS SECOND HIGHEST
ENROLLMENT IN 35 YEARS
Community College in Pinehurst.
This year’s enrollment marks only
the third time since 1972 that the
school’s enrollment exceeded 800
students. The number of students
enrolled in 1988 was 801.
“We continue to enhance the
quality of education for our students
here at St. Andrews,” said Deegan.
“This year, we recruited additional
faculty members to expand our
offerings in sport studies, biology,
education, business, and other areas.
We have been highly successful
m bringing additional top-flight
professors onto our campus and we
fully expect to continue to attract
high quality students here as we
advance to our targeted enrollment
of 1,100 students by the year 2011.”
Sport and Recreation Management
is the newest major being offered
by St. Andrews. This follows
other recent new majors such as
Forensic Science, Southern Studies,
and Public History. The college
also continues to grow its music
program; this year’s choir now has
45 members as compared to twelve
members just three years ago. The
college’s newest intercollegiate
(Continued on page 2)
ANDREWS
SBYTERl
Table of Contents:
Lance News
2
Student Life:
3
Editorials:
.8
Entertainment:....
11
Announcements:..
.12