since 1960 of, by, and for the Wesleyan community”
December 8, 2006
N O R T H C A R O L1 N A W E S L E YA N C O L L E G E, ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA 27804
Photo by MoliyWoise
Photo by Motly Weise
Students and Dr. and Mrs.
Newbould were among members
of the NC Wesleyan community
who participated in the third
annual "Mix It Up at Lunch
Day" activities at the college's
cafeteria. The program is part of
a national effort to "break down
social barriers" by encouraging
students, faculty and staff to
enjoy lunch-time conversation
with a member of a different
social group, according to Dr.
Amy Karnehm Willis of the
Sociology Department, which
sponsored the event.
Retired History Professor Scheduled
To Give Commencement Address
Dr, Allen Johnson, professor
emeritus of history and geography, will
deliver the commencement address at
the December 9 graduation ceremonies,
with 170 students set to graduate.
“1 am happy to announce that
Dr. Johnson has accepted an invitation
to be our speaker at the December
graduation,” said college President Ian
Newbould in announcing the speaker.
This being the 50th anniversary of
our founding, it is appropriate that our
emeritus professor of history—author
of a "Brief History' of North Carolina
Wesleyan College” in the Wesleyan
Magazine—address Commencement.
I know that you will join with me in
looking forward to his address.”
Dr. Johnson began his NC
Wesleyan career in 1964 and taught
courses here until 2004. He is the
author of numerous articles and
reviews. He has published two books,
one a biography of George Grenville, a
Revolutionary War-era figure; the other
on the maps of Noith Carolina from
1595 to 1995. He has been awarded
aFulbright Fellowship to India, a
Carnegie Fellowship to England, and a
Malone Fellowship to Egypt.
A Kentucky native. Dr. Johnson
earned his bachelors degree from Wake
Forest and his masters and doctorate
from Duke University. A Rocky Mount
resident, he has continued to be active
in his-church as well as the Kiwanis.
December’s graduating class
includes 38 students from the traditional
day program and 132 from the three
ADP sites. Ten graduates come from
out of state; Florida (2); New' Jersey (2);
New York (2); Connecticut (1); Georgia
(1); Mary'land (1); and Virginia (1).
(Wesleyan Magazine contributed
to this report.)
Best-Selling Novelist Kaye Gibbons Entertains Audience
As NC Wesleyan’s 50th Anniversary Celebration Continues
By Jessica Autumne Smith
Decree Staff Writer
The arrival of novelist Kaye
Gibbons for the celebration of
Wesleyan’s Fiftieth Anniversaiy was
highly anticipated, not only by students
and faculty, but also by fans from
Rocky Mount and the surrounding
area. Reared right here in Nash County,
Gibbons usually draws a huge crowd
whenever she makes an appearance.
Many of her relatives were pres
ent; her nephew even gave the formal
introduction, although I don’t think
formal is the best word to describe
such a humorous preamble. John David
told of how once, Gibbons bought a
first class plane ticket for a manuscript
that was due the next morning, and
how when on a book tour they would
often have to share a hotel room, “in
South Carolina, where some people
had a problem w'ith it, and in Missis
sippi, where nobody had a problem
"'ith it. These and other anecdotes J.
D. shared kept the audience laughing
long and hard.
When Gibbons finally took
the stage, she repaid her nephew’s
introduction with a few stories of her
own. ‘The replica hotel room” was my
personal favorite.
Gibbons chose to read the first
chapter of her newest novel, “The Life
All Around Me by Ellen Foster”, the se
quel to her debut novel “Ellen Foster.”
The plot of the first chapter was hard to
follow, not because it was not expertly
written, but because Gibbons talked
about her life in between sentences and
her inspiration in between paragraphs.
The question-and-answer session that
is traditionally expected to come after
the reading was intermingled with
coninients from the characters and
explanations from the author.
When she finished reading.
Gibbons encouraged her audience to
“find something you’re good at and
just go for it” and to never let anyone,
especially yourself, hold you back.
All in all, (as confusing as it was)
it was a very enjoyable night. After the
reading, refreshments were ser\'ed and
Gibbons signed copies of her new book
for her legions of loyal fans. You can
find more information on Kaye gibbons
and her work at kayegibbons.com.
Clothing Drive
A Success
By Decree Staff
NCWC Greek Council collected 40
winter coats and other articles of clothing
for a local community organization as
part of its “We Care Coat Drive.”
Though the group fell short of its
stated goal of 100 coats, organizei^ were
pleased with drive, reported one of the
organizers, Shanisha Bames, a member
of Alpha Kappa Alpha.
“We look forw'ard to future drives
that we know will benefit others less
fortunate,” Bames said.
See DRIVE on page 2
Older Students Find
Niche at NC Wesleyan
By Jessica Bowen
Decree Managing Editor
For NC Wesleyan’s older students,
working multiple jobs, raising children,
and doing class work until early morning
hours are part of their daily routine. These
students have dealt w'ith classrooms full
of younger, traditional students; pressure
from life outside of school; and, in many
cases, years of waiting to obtain their
degree. For the most part, these students
are satisfied with their experience here at
NC Wesleyan.
During the current fall semester, 801
students were enrolled in the traditional
day program. Of that total, most students
are 25 and younger. But there ai'e 32
students age 30 and older, including 20
in the 30-39 age bracket; six, 40-49; five,
50-59; and one student who is 60. Many
faculty and students agree that the older
students provide an interesting perspec
tive in classroom discussions, as well as a
strong role model for the younger students
still trying to find themselves.
Jayne Lawing
At 5 a.m., 60-year-old Jayne Lawing
wakes in her home in Williamston to
prepare for class. A rehgious studies
major, Lawing does her daily devotion
and “hits the road.” Her one-hour drive
from home puts her at the NCWC Chapel
around 7:45 a.m.
Lawing does an internship in the
chapel where she sotnetimes spends ten
hours a day to meet the hours require
ment. Lawing hopes to get her masters in
Christian counseling and work for the VA
hospital in her hometown, Asheville.
After graduating high school,
Lawing wanted to go to school to be an
anesthesiologist, but her step-dad did
not see the need to spend money for
education. “He said you just need to know
how to get married and have kids, but
there was so much more that 1 wanted
to do,” said Lawing who is married with
five children whom she raised w'hile her
husband obtained his bachelor’s degree in
business administration and accounting.
It was after her husband finished his
education that Lawing decided to go
back to school. She first went to Martin
Community College in Williamston, but
later transferred to NC Wesleyan.
Jayne Lawing
Before deciding on NC Wesleyan,
Lawing looked into Appalachian State
and Barton College; however, she wasn’t
in the position to move to Boone and said
that when she visited Wesleyan she “just
knew this was the place [she] needed to
be,” noting that this is her third year here
and she has enjoyed every minute of it.
Lawing said she does not have
many complaints about her time here,
which she attributes to her age, saying “1
guess it’s because I’m older and I can see
both the students’ and administration’s
points of view.” In general Lawing enjoys
her classes; however, she does find the
students’ language offensive at times.
Lawing spends most of her time in the
chapel and she doesn’t visit the library
because of the noise.
She feels equal to the students in
most of her classes but history is a littie
different because historic events are often
taught differently than she remembers.
“Some profes.sors say that I’ll remember
a certain event and I usually do,” said
Lawing, adding that “we all have our
personal agenda in our subconscious that
makes us different.”
Lawing's husband has been support
ive with her decision to go back to school.
“There have been a couple of times that
I’ve been so tired I didn’t think I could
make it and he gave me a pep talk,’’ said
Lawing. He doesn’t put any “obstacles”
in her way and takes care of cleaning and
housework while she attends classes.
Lawing is scheduled to graduate in
December but knows she’s going to miss
her college experience. “I really enjoy
being here and I told my husband that I’m
not going to miss the drive, but I’ll miss
stopping and talking to people on campus.”
Lawing tries to keep her personal
life from interfering with her school
work. “Home life is home life, school
is school” said Lawing. She tries to do
school work during the week and then
spends time with her husband, children,
and some of the twelve grandchildren on
the weekends.
With the help of her husband and
support of her family, Lawing has been
able to make it through her college years
with good grades. She said her family
thinks it’s “neat that a 60 year old is on
the Dean’s List.”
Walt Whitaker
Senior Walt Whitaker wakes around
6;00 a.m. and gets ready to come to
Wesleyan while his wife gets their three
kids up and ready for school. The English
major takes his youngest daughter to the
Rocky Mount Preparatoiy School and
picks her up after his classes are finished.
He stays home and watches the kids until
his wife gets home.
Along with taking classes and
raising children, Whitaker serves as a
minister and associate pastor at Jerusalem
Missionar)' Baptist in Whitakers, as
well as working with the disabled
veterans representative at the Rocky
Mount Employment Security Com
mission. He often does his homework
between 10:00 p.m. and 5 a.m. during
the week and sometimes even devoting
weekends to finishing assignments. His
wife and kids are very supportive because
“they know' how important education is
to me,” said Whitaker.
After retiring from the Air Force in
1995, Whitaker decided on NC Wesleyan
after the military endorsed its English
program. Whitaker had attempted to finish
school during the Air Force but found
it difficult because of his job. “It’s been
challenging and hasn’t been all pleasant,”
said Whitaker of his experience at NC
Wesleyan. Whitaker says he is “satisfied
with everytiiing except the Business office
because they seem to be overwhelmed.”
Whitaker believes the professors and
the rest of the staff “are great” although
sometimes he feels like some professors
appear to “require older students to give
extra or appear not to take us as serious as
younger students.”
Fellow English majors make Whita
ker feel accepted and often he feels that he
has the “upper edge” because he worked in
Air Force Intelligence and his job involved
a lot of reading and writing. However, he
disagrees with the way history is being
taught, which he sees as personal
knowledge vs. written knowledge. “I find
it hard to digest errors in segregation and
racism because 1 was raised during the 60’s
and 70’s,” said Whitaker, adding “I often
feel like I have to hold back my views
because of the atinosphere.” However, he
did say that his childhood gave him the
opportunity to “live things that young kids
just hear about.”
continued on page 4