ALETHEIA
Volume XXVIII, Number 1
Montreat-Anderson College
September 9,1994
S. P. A. S. Soak in Determined Qualified Students
...in the Montreat, Charlotte and Asheville Areas
by Jonathan Bennett
Beginning on September 19,
adult classes will be offered to stu
dents who started college but for
various reasons were unable to com
plete their studies.
The School of Professional and
Adult Studies (S.P.A.S.) is a pro
gram with three basic principles.
First, it is designed to provide
practical information and pure
knowledge.
Second, it serves as a tool for
advancement in the business world.
Thirdly, it gives those who
were unable to finish college a
chance to receive their degree.
Dr. Isaac Owolabi, director of
S.P.A.S., is a new member to the
college faculty. He has spent the
last five years working as head of
adult studies at Marian College in
Fonddulac, Wisconsin. When first
joining the program in Wisconsin,
there were approximately 500 stu
dents. When Owolabi left the col
lege towards the end of June, enroll
ment was estimated around 2300
students.
Owolabi expressed, "My goal
in this program is to triple the en
rollment of M-AC in about three
years."
The requirements for the stud
ies program are simple. There must
be proof of a high school diploma or
G.E.D. certificate, a minimum of 60
hours college credit attained, G.P.A.
of 2.0 or better, and a minimum age
of 21.
Ken Lakin, director of student
services for S.P.A.S., evaluates the
applications that come through the
office. He also determines prior
learning credits which count towards
the 60 hour minimum and includes
such things as military experience,
a pilots license, or a real estate li
cense.
So far there are 21 complete
applications and over 500 inquiries
about the program.
Window "Panes” Under Construction
in Women^s Dorm
by M. Janie King
Last week, work began on the custom-made windows which are presently
being installed in M-A Hall and will eventually be installed in McGregor and
Davis Dorms. Dan Hensley, facilities manager stated, "I have been pushing for
seven years for these windows," stressing that the windows in M-A Hall now "are
a disgrace!"
The current windows are also inefficienL The new windows will retain 35 %
more heat than the old ones, saving the college over $15,000 per year.
The funds for the new windows were acquired through a $100,000gift from
the Cannon Foundation and other independentdonors, according to Knox Bridges
of the advancement department
However, there have been some concerns about the safety of the install
ments. M-A Hall R. A. Jessica Bonard exclaimed that after her new window was
put in, there was "tons of glass all over the floor". Vice President for Student
Services Chaiiie Lance assured that now there will be proper safety measures
obtained, especially when the installation moves to the front of M-A Hall, where
falling glass on the outside could be extremely dangerous.
The windows in M-A Hall should be finished within three weeks, according
to Dirk Wdmofh in the business office. The workers will then move on to Davis
and McGregor before die winter.
Big Brother is watching
by Phil Parker
As of September 1, M-AC has
a night watchman on campus to
improve security measures and cre
ate safer conditions for campus life.
The Business Office and the
Office of Student Services estab
lished a new contract with the town
of Montreat in order to increase the
security on campus. This means
that in addition to the protection the
Montreat police provide, the cam
pus will also have someone familiar
with the campus to insure all build
ings are properly locked and to check
on places where students would be
during the later hours of the evening.
According to Vice President
of Business Affairs Dirk Wilmoth,
the new nightwatch system will bet
ter service the campus.
"Eventually, the night watch
man will have a phone extention for
anyone to reach him," added Wil
moth.
Presently, the hours for the
night watch are fromlOpm to bam.
Wilmoth concluded, "Every
thing isn't quite together, but it will
be soon."
The classes are taught from a
practical point of view. Professors
do not give lectures but facilitate
discussions instead. These classes
will meet once a week for four
hours. Class size ranges from 16 to
21. Classes, called cohorts, will
remain together and will take iden
tical classes until the program is
complete.
Lakin added, "This is a en
hancement program for more name
recognition and prestige."
This program,the only one of
its kind in N. C., will allow M-AC to
reach more people than ever before.
Courses are taught in both Ashe
ville and Charlotte.
Hello... Hello... Are You There Cable?
by Robby Suddeth
Free phone and cable is here,
bringing entertainment, conve
nience, and a little frustration. Vice
President of Business Affairs Dirk
Wilmoth affirmed, "We are saving
students over $300 per room for the
same services, while improving
campus communication."
Students now enjoy up to 36
cable channels and phone costs be
low current AT&T rates.
Campus dwellers reacted with
calm appreciation. Senior Class
President Jeff Reardon felt that "It's
the best thing that SGA has ever
done."
Freshmen and Howerton resi
dent Jason Sherill beamed, "I love
the cable."
However, time and patience
have been tested. Many televisions
receive only thirteen channels. "My
TV has always been fuzzy," la
mented Howerton resident Ben
jamin Shaw. Also, there are no
plans to offer premium channels.
The most common telephone
woe is the difficulty of outside call
ers to reach dorm rooms.
The correct BTI procedure for
outside callers is as follows: Dial
704-669-8012. Once the automated
attendant answers, they must dial
your four-digit number.
As for annoying prank calls,
Wilmoth added, "There is no call-
block function."
Freshmen Discover New Paths in Life
Through Small Group Discussions
by Chris Howard
A new program for freshmen
and transfer students called Path
finders is helping orient new stu
dents to college life through small
group sessions led by upperclass
men and faculty advisors.
Fourteen of these small groups
metduring Orientation and will con
tinue to meet throughout the semes
ter. These groups discuss study
skills, stress management, exam
preparation, and health issues.
By doing these small groups it
is hoped that students will be better
acquainted with college life and at
mosphere.
Intended to build relationships
and a sense of community. Path
finders has been well received. A
survey of around a hundred stu
dents rated the Pathfinder groups
one of the best things about Orien
tation weekend.
"I think we have some excel
lent faculty and upperclassmen who
have volunteered and they're doing
a great job," exclaimed Resident
Director Nancy McCall.
However, not all response to
Pathfinders has been positive.
Though supportive of the groups,
some students would like to see
changes in the activity schedule.
"I think that they should have
more activities outside, because just
sitting-it's boring. I've .been sitting
in my room studying and I want to
go outside and do something fun"
said freshman Wesley Caldwell.
"I feel that the students in
volved in the Pathfinder groups
should be offered more of a choice
or say in the activities planned,"
commented freshman Rebecca
Rhodes.
The main force behind this
semester's Pathfinders program is
history professor Bill Forstchen,,
whom McCall praised for his work.
Pathfinders sessions through
out the semester are worth chapel
credit. Full credit is given for morn
ing sessions and half for ev enings.
Upperclassmen were selected
from student leaders to guide the
groups. Each group also has a fac
ulty representatives. The leaders
involved are all volunteers.
It is hoped that Pathfinders in
the future will be offered as an hour
credit class. The group si:^es w'ould
not change. Faculty adv isors and
upperclassmen would also still be a
part of it. Evaluations and inter
views from current Pathfinder group'
members will b'e used in setting up
the class.