The M o n t r
WHE
n t Voice
ONE
Volume III, Number V Montreat, NG 28757 December 6, 2002
Discovering Dr. Daniel
By Lyndsay Mayer
Montreal College welcomed back
the newly doctored Brad Daniel from
Antioch University in NH on Novem
ber 19, 2002. The associate professor
of environmental science and
outdoor education has been
devoted to coursework since
May of 1997 that culminated
in a doctorate of philosophy
and environmental science.
Daniel’s dissertation, entitled
“Life Significance of a Spiritu
ally Oriented Outward Bound-
'fype Expedition,” inspects the
life-long impact backcountiy
expedition programs have on
participants. Daniel notes there
is “very little extensive research
into the value of these types of
a 14-mile run at the conclusion of the
program.
“1 contacted as many [Discovery
participants] as I could, from 1976
to 2000,” says Daniel. “I asked them,
quantitative and qualitative data. “As
a biologist, 1 was trained quantita
tively,” Daniel reflects. “This always
bugged me. How. do you get at the
richness of human experience with
just numbers? 1 don’t think
you can.”
This philosophy flooded
Daniel’s presentation of his
dissertation to the review board
at Antioch. He created a photo
gallery of 17 study partici
pants, each capturing a portion
of Discovery. A quote from
the photograph’s subject head
lined each picture, with statis
tical data at the bottom. The
board members were invited
to walk through Daniel’s pic-
torial rendition of Discovery,
months after their experience.” for tiieir Prof.
All of Daniel’s re.search
data came from Montreal College
Discovery .students. Discovery is a
20-day journey into the wilderness
held every summer for outdoor educa
tion credit. It 'is comprised of several
components including rock climbing,
backpacking, white w'ater canoeing,
route finding, a solo experience, and
was this an important part of your
life? How did it stand out against the
landscape of your life?”
Daniel’s passion as an educator
is “helping people see connections
between different bodies of knowl
edge.” He has learned through the
process of pursuing his doctorate that
he appreciates the value of blending
Dozers Level Land for Roxy
Hines Memorial Softball Park
By Becca Snyder
Heavy machinery' broke ground for
the new softball and soccer fields at
the Black Mountain Campus the first
week of November.
“The plan is that we w'ill play soft-
ball on the new field this spring,”
says athletic director John Sullivan.
He explains that the field should be fit
for cleats by Februaty 1.
The present softball field is on the
Presbyterian Children’s Home prop
erty. “We have a long-term agree
ment with them,” explains Sullivan.
The college does not pay rent on the
field, but has used it for the past five
years with the understanding that they
would find another arrangement when
it was possible.
Al Edwards, facilities director,
explains that the fields will be graded
by laser-guided equipment and will
have a final slope of 1%. They will
be complete with irrigation, dugouts,
and fencing.
“Instead of there being a chain-link
fence behind first base, we’re going
to do something different,” explains
Sullivan. “We want to dig a low walk
way between the dugouts and put a
netting over it. The netting will be
almost invisible to the crow'd.”
Sophomore softball player Amy
Thomas says, “We’re excited, 1 guess.
We just don’t know a lot about it.”
The finish-date for the soccer field
rests at August I, when Sullivan
explains the teams will need it for pre
season practices. Mike White, wom
en’s soccer coach, says they do not
actually plan to use the field for pre
season “because it is so hard on the
field. It will most likely be, reserved
for game and night practices only
once school starts.”
Montreat’s soccer field is currently
located on the Presbyterian Chi Idren’s
Home’s land. “As far as we know, we
will be able to continue to use the
soccer field as a secondary' playing
field and practice field.” This would
allow both the men’s and women’s
teams to practice simultaneously, and
also provides facilities useful for host
ing a soccer tournament.
Sullivan envisions the new fields
tlips. [Other] studies follow up professor Dr. Daniel exhibiting his expertise on blending in with his viewing the pictures in the
with participants maybe just six surroundings which i.s important to know how to do ifa class of college same Order the activities were
Nathan Thomas hones his musical .skill as he prepares for chapel band ,
Nathan Thomas: Ace of Bass
experienced by the students.
“They got the feel of what it would
be like to actually be on the trip,”
explains Daniel.
Daniel concluded that an over
whelming majority of participants
reflected most strongly upon the solo
experience of the trip. The second-
most frequently mentioned activity
Continued on page 4
as being friendlier to the public. Al
Edwards explains “there will be a
20-foot access ramp to the fields,
and we’re putting in three parking
lots. We’ll have 120 new spaces, and
according to ordinance, that’s enough
for our whole,student body to come.”
“We hope [the fields] will be
lighted,” says Sullivan. “We are work
ing with the Town of Black Mountain
in terms of their lighting ordinance.
And there will be new bleachers on
the right field and left field lines.”
The lighting and seating offer a more
comfortable environment for specta
tors. “We hope more people from the
community will come out to a game
after work,” says Sullivan.
Miller says, “We’re looking at
spending, with individual gifts and
foundation grants, $250,000.” Sulli
van further explains, “It’s not coming
out of the general fund. W’e’re not
spending more money than we actu
ally have on hand.”
Lighting the fields would cost an
extra $120,000, according to .Alex
Continued on page 3
By Kortney Blythe
Nathan Thomas, crushed 42 hope
ful competitors in the Rock and R&B
categories at the Ernie Ball Bass Day
Out 2002, Saturday November 23 in
the music Mecca of the United States,
Nashville, Tennessee.
Ernie Ball, a major company that
produces guitars, basses, and instru
mental accessories, sponsored the
competition. The contestants only
played against people in their own
age group, either: 5-10, 11-14, 15-17,
18-21,22-30,30-40. or40+.
Thomas, a freshman music busi
ness major, battled it out in the 18-21
group, where each artist had to jam
in 6 categories: Classical, Jazz, Funk,
Folk, Rock, and R&B. The best bass
ist overall award went to the artist
who took the prize in the most cate
gories. Thomas missed this title by
one categoiy victory.
“The guy who won best overall
was amazing. 1 thought he was going
to win eveiy category. But he ended
up winning 3 and 1 won 2.” However,
Thomas is not complaining.
“When they called my name, I was
so out of it that my dad had to nudge
me and say ’that’s you Nathan.' 1
almost cried when 1 realized I had
won,” he recalled.
Thomas was floored by his own
success. He admitted, “I really only
went for the experience and to ask the
judges how 1 could improve. 1 didn’t
expect to win. On the ride home, I
was still in shock. I was shaking. It
Continued on page 6
Bus Service Links
Montreat and Asheville
staff Reports
Asheville Transit Services and
Mountain Mobility opened a coop
erative net of new bus routes servic
ing the Black Mountain and Montreat
areas December. The service is avail
able Monday-Saturday, for fares var>’-
ing between 50 and $1 per boarding.
The new routes offer expanded
services to the Black Mountain/
Swannanoa area. Asheville Transit
Serk'ices will add aji early-morning
and evening run to Route 28 that
presently serves the Black Mountain
and Swannanoa areas. Routes arrive
in Black Mountain and Asheville in
time to transfer to connecting transit
routes.
The 20 and 28-passenger buses are
lift-equipped and also feature bike
Continued on page 6
'V'erse of tfie Weefi
Be joyful always; pray continually; give
thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will
for you in Christ Jesus.
- / Thessahmiam 5:16-18