Campus News
page 7
Pit Still Safe Wendt Remembered
hy Elizabeth Fennell
Why hasn't anyone responded on
their own? Why are there no
answers forthcoming and no seeming
action taken? These questions and
naany more have been running
through Libby Brown's and many
others' heads this past month
concerning students' safety in
Walking from the Pit to their
respective dorms — which happens
to be directly in the path of newly
planted trees where would-be
attackers can easily hide.
The new trees beautify the
parking lot, therefore serving their
purpose; however, I believe that a
student's safety is much more
irnportant, as will many students,
staff, and administrators. And a
student walking up that long hill
will definitely agree when a man
can jump from behind one of the
bigger trees.
Libby Brown has written 2
editorials that have been printed
in the Salemite. and nothing has
happened! Why?
Mr. Sandy Tilley, the
Superintendent of Grounds, was
contacted and extremely helpful
concerning this matter. He was
Very knowledgeable and made
every effort to help. He said that
since October, 1989, about 385 trees
have been planted around campus,
and the trees in question were
planted on February 20,1990.
The many trees and shrubs taking
root in Salem were carefully
planned by A professional designer
and President Litzenburg in July,
1989, with the safety, night
lighting, and screening purposes
planned and arranged very
Carefully. Mr. Tilley keeps the
grounds looking beautiful along
With "limbing up" the dozens of
shrubs and trees for the safety
Variable. His main "territories"
lor limbing up is all around the
dorms and especially around the
new sidewalk pathway between
Gramley and the Infirmary.
Mr. Tilley continues by saying
that the 3 newly planted deadora
Cedars in question are very safe
"...for right now and the next few
years" due to the proper lighting
from the two Dusk-to-Dawn lights
and the several spotlights on the
sides of Gramley, Strong, and
Babcock dorms. The Dusk-to-Dawn
lights are the street lights on poles
that turn on automatically at dusk
and switch off at late dawn.
Other types of trees planted in
and around the Pit besides the
deadora cedars are: 1 deciduous
sawtooth oak, 2 Washington
hawthornes, and 3 catsura trees.
The hawthornes and catsura trees
are light shading trees, and
combined with the lighting
fixtures, they can be easily seen
through in the dark. Mr. 'Tilley's
future is cut out for him because as
the trees grow taller and wider,
they will need continuous "limbing
up" to 6 feet above the ground.
Hopefully, the "limbing up" will
prevent problems with prowlers,
but both then and now it is
important to remember to get an
escort or friends to walk with you
from the pit.
Memebers Chosen
by Tammy Taylor
Seventeen new members have been chosen to join Fremdendienerin.
Premdendienerin is the student group on campus that assists the Admissions
office with tours and overnights. The new members are Angela Aaron,
Elizabeth Barrett, Heather Belote, Hillary Black, Allison Burkette,
Jennifer Carlson, Stacy Dillon, Ashley English, Mary Beth Evans, Amanda
J-ong, Gayden Plowman, Rennie Rosenthal, Terri Smith, Karrie Stansfield,
Jenny "Spaz" Thomas, Betsy VanBenthuysen, and Charla Vlarervich.
by Steffan Hambright
Robert L. Wendt, the retired
head of the sociology department
at Salem, died March 3, 1990 at the
age of 69. He taught at Salem for
29 years and also served as an
interim minister for Baptist
churches in the area. President
Litzenburg said that Wendt "was.
probably one of the more beloved
professors at Salem." Wendt took
an active interest in his students
and encouraged their interest in the
community around them.
Litzenberg states: "He believed
that no one should spend four years
at Salem and not understand the
community that they lived in. And
they ought not graduate without
showing that understanding
through volunteer work."
Genetics vs. Ethics
by Karen Elsey and Kathryn White
On Thursday March 29 as part of the Lunch and Lecture Series, Dr. Jim Edwards
presented "The Genetics: Medical and Moral Implications of Recent Advances in
Recombinant DNA Research" to approximately seventy people. The lecture was
periodically interrupted by bursts of laughter at the various Far Side cartoons
thrown into the slide show by Dr. Edwards. Last summer Dr. Edwards attended a
program on the New Genetics held at Oxford University, thus increasing his
awareness of the ethical implications of recent genetic advances. He began with an
overview of DNA as a double-helix strand of nucleotide pairs. These strands make
up genes which compose the chromosomes located in the nucleus of cells Genes
are often characterized as 'the basic unit of heredity.’ They determine the
characteristics of an individual inherited from the parents. Recent advances in
genetics have raised new ethical issues in the scientific community.
Approximately 4,000 of the 3 billion genes in the human genome have been
identified. The technology is available to map the entire genome, although Dr
Edwards questioned whether that was desirable. As a result, prenatal
amniocentesis can now indicate whether or not a fetus carries a gene for a
hereditary disorder such as Tay-Sachs disease, muscular dystrophy, Huntington’s
disuse, and cystic fibrosis. If a serious problem is discovered the parents can then
decide to abort or continue the pregnancy. Biotech companies are scrambling to
market genetic tests. These tests can also be used to identify carriers of genes
responsible for disorders. The carriers can then decide if they wish to risk having
children. According to Dr. Edwards, many insurance companies help fund genetic
research. Unfortunately, the results of genetic testing may be used to deny
insurance to individuals with genes predisposing them to a disorder. Dr. Edwards
stressed the importance of educating the public to these new advances in genetics
and of being prepared to deal with the ethical questions produced.
Imagine, if you will, ten years from now when doctors can tell you that your child
will have blond hair, blue eyes, and furthermore, Tay-Sachs disease. Do you abort
the pregnancy or give birth to a child destined to die before age five? Besides its
startling medical implications, recombinant DNA testing may also lead to further
rnoral and ethical considerations. For instance, in the future many couples will be
able to determine the 'simplest' of characteristics of the fetus. Suppose that these
couples want one 'perfect' baby? Unfortunately, doctors determine that the fetus
will be a short pigeon-toed boy with terrible acne and protruding buckteeth. This is
simply not their 'perfect' child. Do you keep the 'misfit' or abort it and try again, and
again, and again, perhaps, even again. And just where does society draw the line?
Genetic research-what are the real consequences? Are we prepared to pay the
SACS - cont. from p. 1
These committees have looked at a
big picture and then narrowed down
each item in the various categories.
From the Maintenance staff, to
Main Hall and all the way into the
dorm rooms, the committees have
compiled information into a
multiple manual.
This manual is reviewed by
representatives from SACS during
their four day visit. This coalition
is comprised of twelve
representatives from other
collegiate institutions (out of state)
as well as one official from SACS.
The representatives will be talking
with all members of the
community, from administration to
students. While talking with Dean
Cobb about SACS upcoming visit,
she reiterated the importance of
student interaction with the SACS
representatives.
WKZL - cont. from p. 1
learning in the Triad in the
development of intern programs to
give students hands on experience in
commercial radio. In fact, we've
been so impressed with some of our
Salem interns that they are now
full time WKZL employees. We
hope the faculty and students of
Salem will accept our sincerest
regrets over this incident."