Volume XXVni, NO. 5
Methodist College, Fayetteville, N.C. 28311
January 30,1991
Students Protest
by Caroline F. Kearns
Last Thursday, a handful of Methodist
College students verbally bombarded
President Hendricks with questions and
comments concerning his decision to
eliminate the position of full-time cam
pus minister. The position is to be termi
nated in June at the end of this academic
year. About 20 students attended the
demonstration on Jan. 24 which was held
inside the Student Union due to the rain.
Protest organizer Pam Johnson began by
reading an editorial (see p. 3) in which
she said that the campus ministry pro
gram would suffer without the guidance
of a full-time campus minister. She said
that by eliminating the full-time position
of campus minister. President Hendricks
had symbolically suggested that religious
life is no longer a priority for Methodist
College.
President Hendricks responded by say
ing that bccause of Ms. Johnson’s organi
zational efforts, more interest had been
shown in the campus ministry program in
the last few days than in all the years he
has been associated with Methodist Col
lege. He also said that he did not agree
that religious life programs on campus
would be weakened by the termination of
the minister's position. "We will find a
way to have an effective campus ministty
program," he said. "This action was mo
tivated by the realization that our econo
my is going into a recessionary period.
Resources to operate the college will not
be as great over the next few years as
they have been in the past."
Student Government Association
member Jason Fink said he was upset
that the SGA was not consulted on an is
sue this important to the campus commu
nity, and he said that although tuition
continues to rise, he has not seen any
benefits from the increases.
Another student, Dan Covell, asked
President Hendricks why the proposed
budget cut could not have come from
programs other than the campus ministry.
In response, President Hendricks said,
"We could not do all the things we want
ed to do," and he said there are items
such as faculty salary increases and dorm
roof repairs which must be taken care of
next year.
President Hendricks said in a separate
interview that funding to the campus
ministry other than the minister's salary
(approximately $5,000 to $10,000) is not
being cut. He also said that a number of
other colleges affiliated with the Metho
dist church do not have full-time campus
ministers. He said that campus ministry
would continue and that the minister's
duties would be performed either by lo
cal ministers or by ordained ministers on
the faculty.
Ms. Johnson said prior to the demon
stration that its purpose was to show the
by Caroline F. Kearns
About 30 students and staff members
gathered in front of Hensdale Chapel on
the eve of Jan. 15 to pray for peace. The
vigil organized by Jason Fink began with
the lighting of candles around 10 p.m.
Monday night.
"1 think it is obvious that we stand
here tonight on the brink of what could
be a terrible disaster," began Dean of
Student Affairs, Michael Safley. He
continued to express concern for the wel
fare of American soldiers in the Middle
East and their families and for the wel
fare of Iraqi soldiers and their families.
"It is our hope that no one will lose their
life no matter what side they're on," he
said.
Beth Seymour, whose husband is in
Saudi Arabia with the 82nd Airborne Di
vision, appeared as guest speaker. "We
support the military presence," she said.
"No matter what, we will support the
troops. We don't want a war. We don't
want them to die." She also stated that
American troops should not be asked to
die for oil and that President Bush has
not given one good reason why her hus
band should have to risk his life. "Blood
and oil don't mix," she said.
"We want peace or we want war," said
Jason Fink, a junior at Methodist.
"There is no other way of looking at it."
Fink also said that such protests were not
anti-military but anti-war and that he be
lieved economic sanctions should be giv
en more time to work before lives are
lost.
Other students and military spouses
also stepped up to the microphone.
Some said we should support President
Bush's policies and others said we should
oppose them, but every speaker voiced
his or her hopes for peace. "I ask you to
night to pray for miracles," said Pam
Johnson. "It seems that's the only thing
that's going to spare lives." The vigil
ended in a prayer led by Dean Safley in
which he asked God to be with the mili
tary families of all countries and prayed
for peace on Earth.
Pam Johnson reads editorial at demonstration.
Students Pray For Peace
Students pray for peace at candelight vigil on the night of Jan. 15.