Volume XXIX, No. 3
Methodist College, Fayetteville, N.C. 28311
November 22, 1991
President Addresses Student Concerns
by Ann Morris and Pamela Phillips
President Hendricks opened the
1991 President's Forum on Monday, No
vember 4 saying, "the purpose of this for
um is to give anybody a chance to ask
questions." The forum panel consisted of
Mr. John Keso, Director of Financial
Aid, Ms. Rita Wiggs, Athletic Director,
Dr. Erik Bitterbaum, Vice-President for
Academic Affairs, Dr. Kenneth Collins,
Associate Professor of Religion and Phi
losophy, President Hendricks, Mr. Gene
Clayton, Vice-President for Business Af
fairs, Mr. Tom Williams, Outgoing Vice-
President for Development, Dr. William
Lowdermilk, Vice-President for Church
and Community Relations, and Mr. Mike
Safely, Vice-President for/Dean of Stu
dent Affairs.
Approximately 125 students attend
ed the forum and many had questions for
the panel. A Biology major was the first
student to speak. She voiced concern
that despite an increase in the number of
biology majors there are only two full
time faculty members in the department.
President Hendricks replied that he was
also concerned about this matter and
hoped that more biology faculty could be
hired in the future.
Next, the President of the Veterans
Club asked why the position of Head of
Veterans Affairs was eliminated even
though enrollment of veterans had in
creased from last year. Mr. Clayton ad
dressed this question. "When we looked
at the total college enrollment, we were
down down 20 students from last semes
ter which is about $150,000 in revenue."
He went on to explain that the college
has added about 75 new positions since
1983. "We're now at about 175 employ
ees which we think is right for our 1300
head count for both day and evening.
The eleven positions eliminated last
spring were across the board. They were
not in any one area.”
"Mr. Keso assured me that this re
duction in staff [from five employees to
four] in the financial aid office would not
significantly impact the effectiveness of
this office," Mr. Clayton added. "This
was a decision made by the Administra
tion Committee and not by Mr. Keso."
Mr. Clayton said that he had not received
any complaints from students. President
Hendricks added that the financial aid of
fice has added computer support that sig
nificantly reduced the amount of clerical
work for the office, and that this was one
of the factors in the decision to reduce
staff in that office.
The next issue addressed was the
new 12-point grading system. Dr. Col
lins began by saying that the faculty has
taken the issue of the new grading sys
tem very seriously. He said that the fa
culty was not unanimously in favor of
the new grading policy and that he him-
See FORUM Page 2
Pres. Hendricks answers students'
questions.
Administration And Faculty Face
Student Opposition To New Grading Scale
by Diana Pressley
Students demonstrated in the court
yard by the fountain on Monday, Nov. 4,
at 10:00 a.m. to show their disapproval of
the new 12-point grading scale and the
methods used to implement that scale.
The students heard speeches by Stu
dent Government Association President
Kim Ratliff and other members of the
SGA.
Kim Ratliff stated that the faculty
met on Friday and voted against includ
ing a grandfather clause in the new grad
ing scale. This clause was proposed by
the SGA as a compromise between stu
dents and faculty. This clause would al
low returning students to remain in the
previous grading system. Only new stu
dents would be subject to the new grad
ing scale.
Ratliff also stated that this clause
would not create more work for the pro
fessors. All necessary steps would be
handled by the computers in the Regis
trar's Office.
Ratliff stated, "I was appalled that
our vote did not count."
After hearing several speakers, the
students proceeded to the Administration
Building and confronted Dr. Hendricks
outside his office. He agreed to answer
whatever questions they had about the
grading scale.
Dr. Hendricks explained that Dr.
Bitterbaum had called an emergency fa
culty meeting on Friday, Nov. 1. There
were enough faculty members for a quo
rum. The faculty discussed the matter at
length. He said that the faculty was ulti
mately responsible for the welfare of the
students and their academic progress,
and they made their decision based on
their wisdom and judgment. The faculty
felt they took the appropriate action.
Allison Collier, a Methodist student
said, "If it's not in the best interest of stu
dents, then it's not in the best interest of
the school."
See PROTEST Page 2
Kim Ratliff speaks to students during the protest.