8 Bl VolUME XIX, NUMbER : DECREE L ErrovERS “Founders Day” from p.1 recipients today, because a college is founded for many reasons, not the least of which is that it has students in it.” Continuing, Newbold said, “The jurist Oliver Wendell Holmes once said, that a mind, once it is stretched with a new idea, never regains its original dimensions.” “The idea of a college grew in the hearts and minds of the Rocky Mount citizens and the United Methodist Church, has never regained it’s original dimensions, it has grown in a way that the founders would have hoped but never would have imagined.” With these comments President Newbold introduced Student Government President Tony White, II, who addressed the audience. On behalf of the student body, Mr. and deals that led to the building of North Carolina Wesleyan College. Following Dr. Johnson’s address, several awards were presented to staff members, faculty and students. The ceremony was concluded and everyone was invited to join together for a reception in the lobby of the Dunn Center. During the reception, this reporter had the opportunity to speak with some of the award recipients and faculty members; Distinguished Staff Member Award recipient Brad Wingo told The Decree that he was, “Honored” to have received this award, continuing that, “being a graduate, I have a lot invested y . . . . ; ..ilt t' 4 - . .;. ...MOXS'-''''-' ' S" ■■ V . X X ♦ * I Students, Faculty and Guest gather in the loby of the Dunn Center White thanked the Board of Trustees, for their “constant contribution of time and energy" and the faculty and staff for their “selfless approach to helping students in achieving their goals, academically and in life.” President White spoke of the sacrifices made by others who came before the current student body and of how the students should “pick up that torch of setting goals and achieving them.” Concluding, President White said, “I think we owe it to ourselves, the students, and to the tradition of the college, to leave our mark here at Wesleyan, and I suggest we leave our mark in achievement.” Following President White’s address. President Newbold then introduced Dr. Allen Johnson, Professor Emeritus of History and Geography, who delivered this year’s convocation address. Dr. Johnson’s elegant yet plain spoken manner captured the attention of each person in attendance. Entertaining and educating the assembled crowd, he spoke of himself and his life at North Carolina Wesleyan, by paraphrasing the former North Carolina Secretary of State Thaddeus Eure, and proudly announced, with a gleam in his eye and a wry smile, that he “was the oldest rat in the Wesleyan barn.” In introducing the topic of this year’s address Dr. Johnson told the crowd that he would be telling a story and asking, “What else would you expect from a historian, but a story?” Full of enthusiasm and humor. Dr. Johnson guided the assemblage from the Presbyterians announcement in the mid 1950’s, to merge three junior colleges in the eastern part of the state into a four year liberal arts college, in a city yet to be named, and on through the many twists, turns, negotiations in this school.” “1 believe in this school and of the good students it can turn out and I hope I am an example of one of those.” Asked how he felt about the fact that many students looked to him as a role model, Mr. Wingo commented that, “being a role model I think is important to always keep in the back of your head, to always live your life and display actions that are indicative of the way you think you should live your life. I think that you may not realize that folks are looking, that folks are listening all the time in every circumstance, but they are. So being a role model carries a lot of responsibility, I think all the staff members and faculty members at Wesleyan are role models and do a superb job in living there lives and in portraying activities that are appropriate to that role.” 2003 Exemplary Teacher Award recipient Dr. Amy Karnehm-Willis, when asked what receiving this award Dr. Amy Karnehm-Willis meant to her said, “First of all, I was very surprised but very honored. This is a wonderful honor to have from the college, in knowing that those who decided came from both students and faculty that’s really special to me. I do work hard and strive to be a good teacher so it was really nice to be recognized.” Asked if it made it more special knowing that students had a part in choosing her for the award. Dr. Willis said, “absolutely, I feel that a lot of what I do everyday is for them. I am trying to be a better teacher and I feel that through my community involvement, that I take very seriously, I can bring more to the classroom.” Before the end of the reception I was able to speak with Wesleyan President Dr. Ian Newbold. Asked to comment on the days activities Dr. Newbold told me, “I thought it was a terrific way to honor the- founders, to honor the scholarship winners, to honor our faculty and our staff many of whom received awards. I thought it went very, very well.” I asked Dr. Newbold, if there were one thing he could do to try and encourage students to come out and participate in next years ceremonies, what would it be? He said, “I think we have to look at ways to get students to come to this because its worthwhile to the students to learn about the college, its background, its past, what many, many people did. Tony White talked about that very issue, the SGA Pesident, how students are here today because of the work and sacrifices and dedication of many, many people, and I think we need to sit down, I don’t know how, but we need to think of ways we can get students to come to founders day.” RF osing The other day a fellow student said to me, “Man, I am so tired of not being able to hear what’s going on in my class because of people running their mouths while the professor is talking.” I know what he means. As I talk to other students, I hear of this same problem over and over again, You have to wonder what’s going on with this. Really there are only three possibilities: 1. The class has an abundance of rude people who don’t want to learn and don’t care if you can or not, 2. The professor has no control over his or her class, or 3. A combination of both. I’m bothered by this, because it seems to be ok for some to disrupt classes because your bored or don’t care about the subject. If you are a “class room socializer”, give us all a break and stop during class. If you’re a professor who let’s this happen take a look at the students who are not talking, THEY ARE NOT HAPPY! If we all exercise a little mutual respect, we can make the learning process here at good old Wesleyan a much more productive and enriching experience for us all. The comments contained in “Parting Shot” are those of Ron Fitzwater and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the faculty or staff of North Carolina Wesleyan College or The Decree's faculty advisor. Rebuttals should be directed to; ncwcdecree@journalist.com if full use ncwcdecree2@journalist.com Pearsall Library Hours for Finals Week are announced Source: Katherine Winslow For EXAMS, we have extended Library hours as follows: Mon, Dec. 1 -Thur, Dec.4 8:00 am - 2:00 ann Friday, December 5 8:00 am - 8:00 pm Saturday, December 6 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Sunday, December/ 1:00 pm - 1:00 am Monday, Dec. 8 8:00 am - 2:00 am Tuesday, Dec. 9 8:00 am - 1:00 am Wednesday, Dec. 10 8:00 am - midnight Thursday, December 11 8:00 am - 6:30 pm Friday, December 10 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Sat.- Sun., December 11- 12....CLOSED NoRih Carolina WesIfvan CollEqE Rocky Mount, NortM CaroUna 27804

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