Volume XXVni, NO. 6
Methodist College, Fayetteville, N.C. 28311
March 11,1991
1991-92 Budget Proposed For MC
by Rhonda Hall
For the past several months, the
Methodist College Administrative Com
mittee has been hard at work on the
1991-92 proposed school budget. With
an expected decrease in enrollment, and
an expected decline in support from both
the state and the church, this was a chal
lenging budget year.
"We hope our enrollment is going to
be larger,” President Elton Hendricks
stated. "We want to grow and we hope
to grow. However, we know that the
number of high school graduates is going
to continue to decline over the next five
years and we expect twenty students less
for next year than we had this year."
This is the first time in eight years the
Administrative Committee has had to
plan for a reduction in enrollment. In
fact, over the past six years the Metho
dist College enrollment has almost dou
bled.
Mr. Gene Clayton, Vice President
for Business Affairs, explained that the
enrollment for each year must be predict
ed. This prediction is based on the num
ber of students who are currently en
rolled, minus the number of students
who will graduate and the number of stu
dents who are not projected to return to
Methodist College for other reasons.
This prediction provides the returning ac
count number. The returning account is
then added to the projected number of
entering freshmen for both semesters.
The final total is multiplied by the
amount of tuition charged, and the prod
uct tells how much money the Adminis
trative Committee has to budget. Ac
cording to Mr. Clayton, "About 80% of
the money we have to operate comes
from tuition and fees from our students."
Students Show
Support
For Troops
by Caroline F. Kcams
Two Methodist College students
who have spouses who took part in Oper
ation Desert Storm held a Tribute to
American Troops last month. The patri
otic rally was organized by Colleen Witt
and Rhonda Hall and was held on Valen
tine's Day in the bell tower courtyard.
Speakers at the rally included Fay
etteville Mayor J. L. Dawkins, College
President Ellon Hendricks, Army veteran
and Director of Financial Aid John Keso,
and Student Government Association
President Dawn Thompson. The rally
was attended by approximately 100 stu
dents and faculty members.
Organizer Colleen Witt opened the
rally and set the overall mood. "We are
not gathered here today to show that we
are in support of the war," she said, "nor
are we here today to protest the war." In
stead, she said the purpose of the rally
was to show support for the men and
women serving in the Middle East.
Mayor Dawkins expressed the im
portance of letting the troops know they
have public support, and he said he was
pleased with how the Fayetteville com
Other sources of revenue for the school
come from contributions from the Meth
odist church and from the community,
the Legislative Tuition Grant, and from
Auxiliary Income produced by the book
store, cafeteria, vending machines, ath
letic gate receipts, and the snack bar.
The Methodist College budget for
the 1991-92 school year is approximately
$10 million. According to President
Hendricks about $3 miUion will be bud
geted for academic salaries and expens
es, approximately $400,000 will go to
ward athletic salaries and expenses,
while the remaining funds will be spent
on utilities, renovations, insurance, trav
el, and general operations. "The budget
is a planning document," said Mr. Clay
ton. "We really don't know what our full
budget is going to be until school opens."
The students of Methodist College
will be affected by next year’s budget
when their tuition increases. According
to the President, the increase is primarily
a response to inflation and reflects the
need to provide a staff salary increase.
Some faculty members maintain that the
President's remarks may be misleading.
One faculty member, who asked not to
be identified, explained that faculty sala
ries had not historically kept pace with
inflation or tuition increases and that next
year's tuition increases would not raise
faculty salaries at a rate commensurate
with either the rate of inflation or the tui
tion increase.
"This is my twentieth year to work
as an administrator, and tuition has gone
up in each of the twenty years," said
President Hendricks. He adds that as
long as there is inflation tuition will in
crease. According to Mr. Clayton, rais-
See BUDGET page 2
munity has been brought closer together
in support of soldiers in the Middle East.
President Hendricks spoke of the ef
fect that the war has had on the college
community itself. He reminded the audi
ence that scores of students and at least
10 staff members have family members
in the Persian Gulf. "Our loved ones are
away because they are at war," he said.
Mr. Keso, a 22-year veteran who
served in Vietnam, said that soldiers are
very special people hjcause of the fact
that they have been selected to serve.
"Only the best are selected," he said,
"and only the ungrateful would forget
their sacrifices."
SGA President Dawn Thompson
said she didn't know anyone who is serv
ing in the Persian Gulf. "But I know
people here who need to open their eyes
and see what is really happening," she
said. She said that the troops and their
friends and families need our support.
During the rally, Methodist student
Stephanie Davisson performed the Na
tional Anthem and a number of other so
los showing support for the troops.
Stephanie's husband is also in the Middle
East and took part in Operation Desert
Storm.
Rally organizers Colleeii Witt (left) and Rhonda Hall (right) look on as SGA
President Dawn Thompson addresses the crowd at the troop support rally on Feb.
14.