Newspapers / Meredith College Student Newspaper / Nov. 8, 1979, edition 1 / Page 3
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NOVEMBER 8, 1979 THE TWIG PAGE 3 Former Ambassador and Wife visit campus by Kathy O’Brien “Although there have been moments of anxiety and sorrow, I can’t think of any other way I could have spent 30 years with so much ex citement and satisfaction,” said Max Vance Krebs, for mer United States am bassador to Guyana, speaking of his career in the foreign service. Krebs and his wife, Esther, will be visiting Meredith next week as Wo^row Wilson Fellows. Krebs retired in June of 1976 after a diplomatic career begun in 1947 concentrated primarily in Latin America. Max, born in Cincinnati, Ohio, credits his early interest in diplomacy to the ii^uence of a group of “remarkable and dedicated teachers - all women.” These teachers recommended that he stay at Princeton University, which had just begun the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. He graduated from Princeton in 1937 with a special certificate from the Woodrow Wilson School. Esther Krebs is a graduate of Smith College, where she earned a degree in economics. According to Max, education is very important in foreign service. “In order to be able to interpret and analyze what’s going on in a country you have to know anthropology, and economics, you have to be a sociologist and a political scientist.” Esther added that most importantly, “You have to be a psychologist. You have to be a well rounded person.” Max and Esther Krebs are compliments to each other. They are animated when they talk. If one is at a loss for the right word, the other easily finishes the sentence. They are en thusiastic on the subject of their experiences in the foreign service. Esther has always facilitated her husband’s career. Being out of the actual work of diplomacy allowed her to make observations bn other sides of life in the foreign service. She saw special difficulties in the area of child rearing. The Krebs have two children. “A child has a hard time finding his own identity. We always tried to keep a close- knit family and remind the children that they were Americans. They more or less lived in an American enclave in a foreign society.” Max added, ‘"riie children always lived in the en vironments of being a minority.” Esther went on to explain, “The children were also spoiled in many ways. They lived in the top strata and didn’t have to learn how to do little things to take care of themselves.” “This made it hard for our son. It made it hard for him to relate to people his own age. He’s seen so much of the world is and is so knowledgeable. He says he feels like a little old man.” The Krebs’ life in the foreign service also had, its moments of tragedy. In 1967 Max was appointed Deputy Chief of Mission to Guatamala. The appointment soon became “a fiery baptism into crisis leadership,” ac cording to Max. In August of 1968, after a year of threats and voilence by leftist terrorists, his direct superior. Ambassador John Gordon Mein, was murdered by left wing terrorists. Max spoke quietly of this period in his life, his earlier enthusiam dampened. “The leftists guerillas were trying to copy the Cuban experience. They figured out that a target for attack sure to get publicity was the diplomats, in par ticular, the American diplomats.” “The Guatamalan govern ment demanded that the ambassador have a body guard and a special vehicle. It was a hassel. After several months there was a lull in the guerilla activity and Mein decided to get rid of the protection. He knew the risks.” “Then on an afternoon in August, on his way to the office the guerillas in tercepted his car. They or dered his chauffer and him out. He tried to run and they mowed him down by machine gun.” It was later discovered that the real intent of the guerillas had been to kidnap the ambassador and hold him as ransom for a guerilla leader imprisoned by the Guatamalan government. After a pause Max went on. “We had talked about the threat before. He was decent, humane, and dedicated to trying to improve things for Lynn Mosss finds her niche in the Meredith community by Jill Allen “It took a long time for me to find out what I really wanted to do with myself and my life, but I finally found it,” said Lynn Moss, the dynamic resident advisor in Carroll Dormitory. “My real love is counseling and programming and I get to do both here,” she explained further. Born in Raleigh, the 25- year-old was raised in East Africa by her Baptist missionary parents, returning to the United States only twice. When 18, she returned to the U.S. and attended Mars Hill College for two years. “I was attracted to the school because it was small, close to my grandmother’s house and I could major in music there.” Later she transferred to the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, intending to major in classical guitar. “My second year there, I changed my major to recreation and outdoor education. I liked Lynn Moss, the resident advisor of Carroll and Assistant Director of Student Affairs, is making the Meredith community her new home. (Photo by Steve Wilson) music, but it wasn’t really what I wanted,” she said. After Lynn graduated from UNC-G in 1976, she went back to Africa where she taught music and coached field hockey in a school with 7th - 12th grades. “I stayed there for five months; then I went back to UNC-G to pursue a master’s degree in coun seling.” When asked about her teaching experience in Africa, Lynn said, “I loved it there, but I was still searching for something else; I wasn’t ready to settle down yet.” “I paid my way through graduate school by super vising student teachers. I was paid $12(X) a semester which helped a lot.” Continuing, she said, “While I was there I did an internship at the student activity center. That’s how I became interested in a job like I have now,” she explained. “I had Meredith in mind because my mother went here. I graduated with a master’s degree in May, so I was lucky to get such a good job this soon.” Besides being a resident advisor, Lynn is the Assistant Director of Student Activities and is involved in MRA, CCA, Cornhuskin’, and the Residence Hall Board. She was also active in promoting the Tom Chapin concert. Too much work for someone? Not Lynn! “I stay busy and I don’t really have time for outside activities, but I don’t mind. Right now, my work here is my life, and I love it.” Max Krebs, former ambassador to Guyana, and his wife Esther, will be visiting Meredith next week speaking to classes and at convocation. the Guatamalans. He was a very religious man.” Guatamala was the third consecutive post that Max had served with Mein, and they were close friends. Both of the Krebs described it as a very traumatic experience and a time of personal sadness. “There was a tragic thread woven into our Guatamalan experience. "We went to funerals at regular intervals,” Esther said. On April 4, 1974, he presented his credentials as United State Ambassador to Guyana to President Arthur Chung and Guyana House. His greatest challenge in this post was maintaining favorable diplomatic relations with the Guyanese government as it moved closer to socialism and accelerated its “march toward the tents of the Third World and a rigid alignment with , the Non-Aligned Movement,” Max said. After his tour in Guyana, Max retired from his career as a diplomat. The Krebs look back with an optimism over the last 30 years. Esther explained, “There was something attractive about each place, there were disadvantages too. Still, every place we were stationed had its delights.” Baker attends Leg Board Questions and concerns discussed, suggestions made On September 24, Mr. Joe Baker, attended the Legislative Board meeting in order to answer questions concerning th.e various departments for which he is responsible. Among the problems discussed, the current parking, situation seemed a main concern for many. Seniors were con cerned about more parking spaces marked specifically “for Seniors only.” Also it was decided that Seniors can park on the grass by the Pit without having to worry about being towed. The problem of lighting from the Pit to the Senior dorms was also mentioned. Mr. Baker in dicated that there are future plans to pave the gravel area behind Poteat Residence Hall. Also due to the shortage of parking spaces, security has been more strict about distributing parking permits to the Freshman and to the Sophomores, and they have specified that they are only to park on the lane leading to Johnson Hall. Some of the other con cerns expressed were the possibilities of getting a stamp machine and ice machines for the residence halls. The possibility of improving the existing laundry facilities by adding another washer and dryer was introduced. The continual problem with the vending machines either not being filled or the food not being fresh was also discussed. Some individual concerns were as follows: 1) The temperature in the library will be controlled by an Auxiliary unit. 2) Trash cans need to be placed inside Joyner and Hunter so that students will extinguish their cigarettes and throw their cups away before class. 3) The problem of security will be looked into as Zack’s opens. 4) The Juniors and Seniors have asked that the security guards walk them to their dorms since there is not much light between Johnson Hall and these dorms. 5) Fourth Brewer has asked that they be given bookshelves since their desks do not have them. All of these problems and suggestions were assured that they would be looked into. Mr. Baker encouraged students to stop by his office and offer their suggestions. Ridgewood Beauty Shop Ridgewood Shopping Center 833-4632
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