PAGE 4
THE DEGREE
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19. 1976
Hey Folks, I'm Down Here In That Big House
Many people do not realize
that a woman can have a big
influence on a college campus
whether she has a professional
title or not, if she is concerned
and interested enough. This
article is an attempt to make
the student body aware that
Mrs. Petteway is one of these
concerned and interested wo
men, and is willing to work with
us to improve the quality of life
here at Wesleyan. She is also
quite aware of all the things we
have here at Wesleyan and
often fail to be thankful for.
Mrs. Petteway loves the
campus itself, the architecture,
the trees, and all the space. “I
know sometimes we’d like to
pick it up and put it somewhere
in all the action, yet we must
realize that often, people that
do live in busy places, love to
get out here where there is lots
of space and plenty of quiet. “I
don’t think there are many
people who would deny the
beauty and tranquility of our
campus, only those who tend to
take it for granted. She was
also quick to point out that the
faculty here at Wesleyan is
excellent. “We wondered, first
coming here, how the faculty
would react to us. They have
made us feel welcome and
wanted here. In talking with
the students I hear that they
learn alot, and are able to have
close relationships with their
professors. Overall, the faculty
seems very interested and I
think that’s great.”
Wesleyan is a small campus
and sometimes it’s hard to have
any privacy when we all know
everybody elses business. How
ever, some people see life on a
small campus as a challenge and
take advantage of the many
opportunities it offers us. One
of the opportunities Mrs.
Petteway sees, which might
also be seen as a challenge, is
that of forming close relation
ships with so many different
people. “I love the closeness
that you can have on a small
campus. Wesleyan is small
enough for us to know and care
about others.” At first she was
a little apprehensive about
living right on the campus as
this was new for her, but she
was soon put at east. “The first
few days we were here, I was
sort of afraid and I thought, oh
my gosh so many people! Then
one of the sororities came over
and brought me a plant. All of
you are just great, I love you.”
Mrs. Petteway loves the
students she has had the
pleasure to have met and would
like to get to know more of us.
“I love the students I have met
they are top quality. I’m so
eager for them to find happi
ness in their religious activities,
learning and socialization.” It is
obvious to me that Mrs.
Petteway is very interested in
us as people and in our de
velopment in all areas of our
lives.
Mrs. Petteway seems to
understand that when we’ve
just bombed a test, or had it out
with our latest sweetheart or
just feel generally depressed,
and our hard working room
mates don’t have time for us or
are feeling just as bad. You
know, it’s really nice to know
there is someone on campus
whose door is always open to
us. “I just want you to know
that if you feel bad, if you need
a ride somewhere, if you need
help with a party, or any kind of
support. I’m a friend who’s
waiting.”
By this point, the interview
had made a little shift in mood,
I no longer felt as if I was
talking to Mrs. Petteway the
president’s wife, but rather
Mrs. Petteway, my friend. I felt
so relaxed and comfortable
talking with her that I decided I
would go back to visit with her
again, I feel any student who
has not yet had the pleasure to
visit Mrs. Petteway should do
so, and I know you’d be
welcome. “I wasn’t sure what
my role should be here at
Wesleyan when I first arrived.
I did not want to get too
involved with the policy making
and all, that’s really the faculty
and staffs responsibility, but I
did want to get involved with
the students.” At the same time
she was also concerned that
this might not be what the
students wanted from here, and
did not want to meddle. “Yet, I
don’t want to be a substitute
mother, I realize this is not my
role at Wesleyan. We’ve got
mature people out there, of
course we all go astray occa
sionally but I’m not here to
criticize. I don’t always like
what the students do, but I love
them anyway. My one wish
would be for all the students to
know that, Hey folks. I’m down
here in that big house. If you
the degree
new name, new face, a
recently revived starship with
which to explore the innerspace
of our community awareness,
responsive to the course,
guaranteed to bring a smUe or
stifle one. we want you to know
we are having fun.
those responsible
nick glennon, bill medlin, steve
cahoon,
anna galfano, clyde cash,
thanks to
sandy saunders, ken rogers,
frank nunn,
wes vanhook, susie williams,
matthew wentz,
sue we don’t know your last
name, david jones,
Charlie rogers, bill green
contributing artists
jan Wilson, pender high,
gary gurganus, god, daisy
thorp
special thanks to
Ebullience Battle
like a star keep on shining
need a friend, come on down.
“Not only do we have someone
to talk with when we are in the
slumps, but someone who is not
going to pass any judgments on
us, rather treat us as mature
individuals and accept us as we
are. At a time in our lives when
we are confronted with so many
new experiences, that we are
often surrounded by confusion,
what more can a student ask for
but someone to love and
encourage them?
Mrs. Petteway is also con
cerned about the student life on
Wesleyan campus and worries
when something doesn’t come
through. “I was very upset
when the girls basketball team
fell through, because if they
wanted it, I wanted them to
have it.” However, she felt it
was possible for the girls that
were still interested to play ball
anyway.
“Can’t we have one floor
playing another, floor and still
have fun?” Mrs. Petteway
made me realize that if
students are really concerned
and interested in our life on
campus we ought to be able to
do something about it besides
talk. She also mentioned the
fact that at the beginning of the
semester there was talk about
turning one of the empty dorms
into a sort of social hall where
we could have a television and
maybe a juke box, and where
males and females would be
able to meet together in a
relaxed atmosphere. What hap
pened to that? Did we let this
dribble away too, like water
through our fingers?
We talked a little more about
open forms and alcohol on
campus. “I believe something
could be done about these
things if it was done in a mature
and responsible attitude.” Not
only did Mrs. Petteway feel
that we could work things out,
she even offered us a place to
start. “Often, you get more ac
complished when you eat, so, if
you’ve got ten or so people who
want to talk about it, come on
down, I’ll fix you a meal.” There
it is folks, an offer one cannot
refuse. There is no longer any
reason for any student to sit in
his room and complain about
the social life at Wesleyan.
Surely, if we all work together
as mature intelligent people we
can work something out.
In all, Mrs. Petteway’s mes
sage is this: “If we look into the
long-avenue of the future and
see the good there is for each
one of us to do; I believe life
would take on a new perspec
tive. Lost time is never found
again and I do worry when I see
or hear some students throwing
their lives away. At the same
time, I must never attempt to
compel others to believe as I
do—yet I want the students to
know and feel I’m available as a
friend who loves them.”
By ANNA GALFANO
New Hope
In the gathering of and
sifting over ideas that have
surfaced themselves in our
publication we found it as
tonishing that so many people
are having a hard time mixing
with the opposite sex on our
campus.
Using the fine minds we
sometimes control, a clear and
revolutionary solution to the
whole bundle of romantic
indigestion, would be a student
dating service.
Yes that’s right, your lovelife
may be in for a bit of
stimulation if you hurry on
down to the decree office ready
to give a few insignificant yet
very vital facts. Don’t hesitate,
you may find the love of your
live via the ole 3x5 stat card.
Our arranged panel of matchers
are fully capable of igniting
your life with flaming passion.
Nobody walks away a loser.
We’ll fix you up.
All information received is
classified confidential.
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