Because you asked,..
PHOTO: DEREK SPEIGHT
■ff ^ ^ /
- '3
—
WCC President Dr. Edward H. Wilson, Jr, center, ttianks the
Iceynote speaker, the Rev. Dr. Freddie Barnes, right, and
David Rogers of the Community Relations Committee.
By JOHN LAPOINT
An interview with
the president of WCC is
a standard feature of
the Voice.
THE TYPICAL COMMUNITY
COLLEGE STUDENT IS A
WHITE FEMALE, 29 YEARS
OLD WITH 2.5 CHILDREN.
THESE STUDENTS HAVE A
CONCERN ABOUT CHILD
CARE. WHEN WILL THE
CHILD CARE FACILITY BE «
FINISHED?
DR. WILSON: There are
no completion dates on
that. We are doing a
study now to determine
the feasibility of
whether we put a child
care facility on the
Master Plan. It was on
the original Master
Plan, but we haven't
decided to put it on
the current Master
Plan. It's all several
years down the way.
WILL SWITCHING TO
SEMESTERS PUT US IN
LINE WITH THE DAYS
PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE
OFF?
DR. WILSONt We tried as
mtich as we could to
balance those out, but
we won't hit it 100%.
We tried to be
sensitive to it .
WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST
FEMALE STUDENTS DO IN
THAT CASE? SHOULD THEY
CUT?
DR. WILSON: I don’t
think they should cut.
I think they should
find someone to care
for the child.
HAS THERE BEEN
COMMUNICATION BETWEEN
SCHOOLS ON WHEN THE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS CLOSE SO
WCC KNOWS WHEN THEY'RE
CLOSED?
DR. WILSON: We know
when they're going to
close. We take that
into consideration when
w’e make our decision.
They have a lot more
days they can make up
than we do. If we think
people can get here
safely, we'll have
school. If we don't,
we'll close. We make
that decision on a day
to day basis.
WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE
MOST IMPORTANT ROLE OF
THE WCC FOUNDATION?
DR. WILSON:
Unquestionably, I think
it's providing scholar
ships to students.
The Foundation was
able to provide about
$90,000 in student
scholarships at WCC.
There are other
secondary purposes, but
that's the primary
purpos e.
The Foundation is
designed to provide
that extra money to
make a difference.
WILL THERE BE ANY NEW
PROGRAMS ADDED TO THE
CURRICULUM?
DR. WILSON: The only
new one that is set now
is a program in
conjunction with Pitt
Community College in
Health Care Management.
It's a major that will
be added to our
program.
IS THERE AGREEMENT
AMONG FACULTY AND STAFF
ABOUT SWITCHING TO THE
SEMESTER SYSTEM?
DR. WILSON: Wayne was
one of the colleges
that voted in favor of
switching. I haven't
heard anyone raise any
significant doubts
about i t.
DO YOU SEE ANY
DISADVANTAGES TO
SWITCHING?
DR. WILSON: Well, there
isone obvious
disadvantage. There is
one less entry point
for students to come
into the system. Any
time you cut down
access is always a
concern to me. It cuts
down access since now
you can only come in in
fall , spring and
summer, when before you
could come in summer,
spring, winter and
fall. But I think
that's overshadowed by
the improvement in
transfer .
ARE THERE ANY NEW CLUBS
BEING ADDED TO THE 12
EXISTING ONES?
DR. WILSON: I know we
added one club this
year (). I'm proud of
the number of clubs we
have. We're beginning
to expand our
intramural program,
which we're really
pleased with. And as
we're able to get more
student interest, we'll
expand it more and
more .
STUDENTS WHO ARE
SMOKERS FEEL
DISCRIMINATED AGAINST
SINCE THEY ARE PAYING
STUDENTS, YET THEY HAVE
TO GO OUTSIDE IN COLD
WEATHER TO SMOKE. DO
YOU HAVE A RESPONSE TO
THIS ISSUE? COULD THE
STUDENT UNION BE
EXPANDED TO INCLUDE A
VENTILATED, HEATED
SMOKING AREA FOR
SMOKERS?
DR. WILSON: We already
looked at that. We just
can't find a place to
do it. It, is very
expensive to get a
space with all the
ventilation necessary.
I'm sorry they have to
go outside. I know it's
cold, but it doesn't
get cold that long
around here. It's just
unfortunate.
I just believe the
dangers of secondary
smoke outweigh [the
inconvenience.] That's
the reason I made the
dec i s ion .
DOES THE COLLEGE PLAN
TO DO ANY WORKSHOPS ON
DEALING WITH THE
SMOKING ADDICTION?
DR. WILSON: When we
passed the [smoking]
policy, we told anyone
who was interested that
we would make
arrangements for any
kind of smoking
classes, but we didn't
have any response from
students, faculty or
staff .
continued p. 22
John IVIoses, SGA vice president and MCAE rnember, sewes
traditional soul food at the reception in the Student Lounge
following Dr. Barnes'address. PHOTOS: VOICE STAFF