ALETHEIA
Volume XXVn, Number 13
Montreat-Anderson College
March 11,1994
Last in Our Series: Pregnancy and Pre-Marital Sex
Lance Encourages Consistency Despite Conflict
By Joyce Downs
Allegations of premarital sex and
pregnancy on campus have recently agi
tated rumors and raised questions about
administrative disciplinary methods and
the college's role in educating students
about sexual behavior.
The student handbook's sexual be
havior policy states that students engag
ing in premarital sex are subject to disci
plinary action.
Vice-President for Student Devel
opment Charlie Lance handles such cases.
Lance explained that if a student admits
to violating the policy, they used to re
ceive disciplinary probation but they were
not expelled from the college.
However, as of Tuesday, the un
written policy had been changed. Now,
unmarried pregnant women will have no
disciplinary action taken against them.
Married pregnant students also will
go unpunished and their sexual activities
before the marriage took place are no
longer to be considered. Lance explained
that married couples will be treated in the
present.
Lance added that violators will still
be encouraged to seek counseling. Lance
expressed that he wishes to encourage and
support pregnant students, and hopes that
the new policy will promote this.
The most recent alleged violators of
the policy are newlyweds Jeff and Kim
Lang. Neither have admitted to violating
any school policy. Each claimed that they
have been unfairly accused by the admin
istration. This confrontation between
Lance and the Langs occurred last Wednes
day, March 2, six days before the policy
was revised.
Lance called the Langs into his of
fice to discuss allegations concerning the
sexual behavior policy. According to Mr.
Lang, "He [Lance] treated us like chil
dren." His wife added, "I've never been
treated as badly by any faculty or staff
member, or for that matter, any student."
The Langs claimed that Lance's con
descending attitude towards them was in
appropriate.
Lance defended, "[That's] not the
way that I remember things happening."
He added that further comment would
only lead to counter accusations and that
nothing would be accomplished.
Lance explained that in trying to
deal with disciplinary cases, he struggles
to be consistent. He claimed that he tries
to treat accused violators as kindly and
openly as he can.
Several people canvassed observed
that Chapels and Convocations either do
not address the sex issue enough, or do not
do a satisfactory job explaining that hon
esty and straight-forwardness is just not
practiced.
"There’s a lot of beating around the
bush. We're treated more like children
than adults," admitted an anonymous
sophomore.
Ch^lain Ed Bonner encouraged stu
dents like these to listen more closely to
his messages: "They cannot be more
straight-forward."
As to the frequency of discussion,
Bonner added that a whole week to focus
on the issue is enough and suggested those
that need more insight sign up for the
M^age and Family course offered by
the college.
Uniforms, Attitudes, Money: The Cheerleading Story
Disillusioned Team Fizzles After Unsuccessful Semester
By Chad Smith
Students that met last semester to
form a cheerleading team have called it
quits on the basis of new uniforms that
have not come in. Because of variations
in stories from the parties involved, the
actual reasoning of participants leaving
is difEcult to determine.
Karen Schuttcoached seven young
ladies last semester in the hopes of hav
ing a cheerleading team at some of the
athletic games. However, Schutt ex
plained that when an order of new uni
forms did not come in due to company
complications, the team decided to give
up.
Schutt explained that uniforms
were ordered last October. Although the
company promised that M-AC would
receive them by Thanksgiving, the order
never arrived.
The company informed Schutt that
they would need more time because one
of the pieces needed for the uniform was
back ordered.
Schutt also stated that old uniforms
were available. She suggested that if
worn with white t-shirts, the outfits were
presentable. However, the majority of
the team refused to wear them.
Cheerleader Jessica Bonard sup
ported Schutt, "The old uniforms were
fine if everyone wore the same kind of
shirt."
Student leader Daniell Hartness de
fended that the old uniforms did not have
bloomers, which are used as underpants to
accompany the cheerleading outfit.
Other cheerleaders claimed that
there was more to it. Because each cheer
leader was required to pay $147.20 for
their uniform, they decid^ that the amount
was excessive considering that the major
ity of the sports are now over.
Other cheerleaders remarked that
they were not really led and coached to
cheer, but rather left on their own. The
ones who were experienced in cheerlead
ing were pressured into teaching the oth
ers a few cheers, because they thought
they were eventually going to cheer at a
game.
-However Schutt claimed that since
a few of the girls lacked experience, they
did not realize the hard work that would be
involved. She added that after meeting
three days a week last semester, the girls
grew tired and lost their enthusiasm to
cheer.
Freshmen Julie Piersma agreed,
"The team unity was not what it was
suppose to be and most of us were inexpe
rienced. However, we needed more of a
coach than an encourager."
Although Schutt shifted the team's
break up to lack of enthusiasm, the girls
had a different opinion. Over half of the
team members complained that Schutt of
ten failed to show up for practices, leaving
them untrained, and often appeared apa
thetic.
Schutt defended, "I admit I did not
come to some of the practices,.. .because
I was having morning sickness all day
long. But not all the girls came to every
practice either. I regret that the team
disbanded, but it takes time to teach cheer
leading from scratch to those who have
never cheered."
Schutt further added, "I have
coached two cheerleading squads to the
national level. I was a division One Col
lege cheerleader, an all-American cheer
leader, and I taught cheerleading camps
for five years all over the country. Cheer
leading is not about uniforms, but about
supporting your school or college."
Despite Schutt's comment that
cheerleading is not about uniforms, cer
tain team members disagree. Those who
paid for their uniform have not received
their money back. They complained that
they should have already received their
refund by now since the team broke up in
January.
Student Gov’t Nixes Religious Liberals
Alicea, Campbell, Cauley Fly South
By Jeff Lang
Spring Break begins today, and some students will be heading for
sunny Florida. The mountain's winter snow and bleak skies have most
ready for the warmth of the beach.
M-AC's most famous "spring breakers" this year are senior Karen
Campbell and former student Naj Alicea, who are vacationing courtesy of
KISS FM. Alicea exclaimed with a smile, "Karen and I are going to Daytona
Beach."
Some Florida natives will travel home for other reasons. Bible major
Chris Cauley declared, "I'm going home to date my fiance and to work on
my thesis. I have a depressing life."
Other students will be remaining in North Carolina. Senior Scott
Ward proudly proclaimed, "I'm going home to Burlington to watch people
make coats."
Howerton resident Jonathan Woody gladly explained his plans, "I'm
going to worship with my brother in Erwin. He just became a Christian."
Family Science major Lovanda Fast will spend her Break in Ohio:
"I'm going to be involved in a friend's wedding.
Senior Tracy Job joyfully declared, "My break will be spent with my
boyfriend in Virginia. It wiU be the longest road trip I will have made by myself."
By Kerie Peterson
The proposal for acceptance of
the S tudent Religious Liberals (SRLA)
as an association was rejected during
a SGA legislative meeting last month.
Two weeks ago, the Aletheia in
correctly referred to Kim Dockery as
Vice-President of this organization.
At the time the article was printed,
this organization was still pending
SGA approval.
According to Jeff Lang, found
ing officer of the group, the purpose
of the SRLA was to provide a "reli
gious fellowship for the Shinto, Mus
lim, Hindu, and non-Christian stu
dents on campus."
Lang further explained that the
organization was intended to be a fully
universal, parademonstration, parare-
ligious group that would raise the con
sciousness of the student body regard
ing social justice issues like: black
rights, gay rights, women's choices in
reproductive matters, etc.
Lang added that the group would
have contributed to service projects in
the area, such as trail maintenance,
erosion control projects, and Habitat
for Humanity.
The SRLA received the neces
sary votes to be passed through the
executive branch. But when it was
brought up for a vote in the legislative
branch, it was rebuked, and it did not
receive the necessary three-fourths
majority needed to become an asso
ciation.
SGA President Jeff Reardon
commented that the group followed
the necessary guidelines to be passed
by legislation, but that some of the
voting members "may have gotten con
fused on the intent of the group".
After an association is passed
through the executive branch of SGA,
it is then presented on the floor of the
legislative branch and a statement of
constitution is given, along with the
chance for SGA representatives to ask
questions.
Reardon stated that "Lang's state
ment of purpose was exceptional" but
that Lang could have been more persua
sive in his argument. Reardon felt that the
reason the group was not accepted by
legislation was because "some of Lang's
answers to the questions raised didn't cor
respond with the statement of purpose.
That contributed to the doubt and confu
sion that lead [to the decision]".
Lang on the other hand argued
that the negative reaction came from
the "evangelical conservatives in the
SGA legislative" and further stressed
that it "wasn't from the faculty or the
staff at M-AC".
Lang also expressed that because
M-AC is a liberal arts college, be
cause it receives federal and state
funds, and because M-AC invites stu
dents of all faiths here, he feels that an
organization such as. the SRLA to be
officially recognized and to be funded
by the school is very reasonable.