Volume A 4 No. 2
1315 Oakwoo
Hi'
aleiuh NC 27610
No vein her 1995
Many students attend opening convocation
by LaTonya James
This year’s convocation, held October 12, had the largest
attendance from the student body seen here at Saint Augustine’s
College in a while.
Among the many distinguished guests were Mrs. Carolyn
Coleman, special assistant to the governor, the chairman of the
college's board of trustees, Mr. James Wade, the SGA president,
Ms. Stepheca Sawyer, and Miss Saint Augustine’s College,
Rashima Brooks,
The theme of the convocation’s theme was “Preparing
yourself for the 21st century.” SGA President Sawyer stressed
that administrators, faculty, and students should strengthen their
focal and mental vision, “working collectively," because "that’s
the Falcon Way.”
Brooks stressed that having the right attitude would help
everyone to succeed in life.
A brief part of the ceremony was dedicated to the late Senior
Vice-President and Provost, Dr. Paul Vandergrift, Jr. Dr.
Bernard Franklin presented the Vandergrift family with a plaque
for the services Dr. Vandergrift rendered to the college.
After the tribute, the college concert band, directed by Dr.
Harold Jeffreys, gave an outstanding rendition of "Pageants of
Light".
Then President Bernard Franklin introduced the chairman
of the board of trustees, Mr. James Wade, who gave an
informative and inspiring but brief convocatum address.
Chairman Wade stressed the obligations and responsibilities of
the school, the students, and parents in preparing “morally
grounded and spiritually based” graduates for the 21st century.
After the completion of his speech, Mr. Wade, on behalf of
the board of trustees, presented a check of $45,000 to the school.
In addition, Mr. Wade gave a gift of $100,000 to the college.
The college choir, gospel choir, and the concert band
performed a joint arrangement of "America The Beautiful".
After the convocation, there was a ceremony for the naming
of the new men’s residence hall as the James A. Boyer Hall.
President Bernard Franklin accepts a check for $45,000from the chairman of
the Board of Trustees, Mr, James Wade, at the convocation.
New administration, new policies
Dr. Graham Watt, the executive assistant to the president, recently spoke to LaTonya
Janies on some of the aims and goals of the Franklin administration in preparing Saint
Augustine’s College for the 21st Century.
On revitalizing the organizational structure. Dr. Watt said, "One thrust was to evaluate the
intricate components of operation and institute changes that would greatly improve the
effectiveness and efficiency. Our approach was to restructure the organization of hierarchy that
would empower leadership positions to carry out what we intended.”
He said that the new organizational structure included a senior vice-
president and provost position, to which Student and Academic Affairs
would report. In addition, the provost would have responsibility for
running the institution in the president's absence.
"The structure put into place September 1, 1995, was short-lived
with the death of the newly appointed Senior Vice-President and Provost,
Dr. Paul F. Vandergrift Jr. Despite this setback, the institution continues
to move forward and the search foi a new Senior Vice-President and
Provost is ongoing," Watt noted.
"We (administration) want to implement changes to make this
institution what we feel it should be in the 21st Century,” he said.
Dr. Watt observed that one of the first things the president has in mind is to set up a committee
to conduct a program review with a view to revising the curriculum. "It is important for this
review to be made in order to ascertain that our graduates are competitive in an ever changing
technological workplace," he said.
On working together. Dr. Watt said, “We cannot afford to make our decisions in a vacuum.
We must solicit ideas from faculty, staff, and students in order to ensure that we’re doing the
best we can.”
The College Concert and Gospel Choirs as they
get ready to perform at the convocation.
The Million Man March
pp. 2 & 3
New residence named
Boyer Hall
p. 4
Saint Aug's 100 year-old
Chapel
p. 5
Editorials 2
Perspectives 3
News 4-5
A&E 6
Coming Events 7
Ads 8