V '
Page 2-CROSSROADS - November, 1971
CROSSROADS
VOL. 1 NO. 1
Published bimonthly by
Belmont Abbey College,
Belmont, North Carolina.
Second class postage paid at
Belmont, N.C. 28012.
Crossroads is intended to
serve as a forum for the several
constituencies of Belmont
Abbey College. It will also
attempt to provide significant
information about the many
issues which affect higher
education generally, and this
college in particular. The
editors welcome diversity of
opinion; editorial standards
aimed at will be those of
Christian ethics, good taste,
and journalsitic quality.
The Editorial Board of
Crossroads includes students,
faculty, and administration.
Additionally, several editors at
large have volunteered to cover
such areas as student affairs,
humanities, and science and
religion.
Correspondence should be
directed to: Editor,
Crossroads, Belmont Abbey
College, Belmont, North
Carolina, 28012.
ilHDiRi Chapters
Records of the Belmont Abbey
College Alumni Association
reveal the following organized
alumni chapters and their
officers. However as we go to
press the New York Alumni are
organizing and have scheduled a
meeting on October 24, 1971.
BELMONT ABBEY COLLEGE
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
BELMONT ABBEY COLLEGE
Belmont, North Carolina, 28012
Telephone 704-825-3711
NATIONAL OFFICERS
President: Hollis E. Dunn,
’32, 217 W. Catawba Ave., Mt.
Holly, N.C. 28120, Tel. Home:
827-4474, Tel. Office: 523i6716.
Executive Vice President:
Anthony C. Muller, AB’56, 1610
Fountain View Ave., Charlotte,
N.C. 28203.
Vice President: Julius S.
Fine, ’31, P. 0. Box 1894,
Savannah, Ga. 31402.
Secretary: Franklin A. Steele,
’47, 250 Mercer St., Princeton,
N. J. 08540.
Recording Secretary: Stanley
J. Dudko, AB’60, 305 S. Main
St., Belmont, N.C. 28012.
CHAPTER OFFICERS
GASTONIA, N.C. CHAPTER
(Elected November 10, 1970)
President: Robert C.
Haygood, Jr. - ’48, 701 Home
Trail, Gastonia, N.C. 28052,
Tel Office: 864-3444.
Vice-President: Bobby S.
Franklin - ’56 206 Clinton
Street, Clover, S.C. 29710.
Our Thoughts
Editorial
Tradition, it would appear,
has relegated Belmont Abbey
College to the role of educating
men only in the arts and
sciences. Therefore, the idea
of coeducation at the Abbey is
somehow incongruous to some
and blantantly objectionable to
others. Although the College
has accepted women students in
their junior and senior years, it
seems that their acceptance
was merely accommodating and
incidental to the purpose of the
institution, a purpose believed
by many to be the education of
men only. This belief steeped in
a ninety-six year history,
however, is more imaginary
than real, for Article 3 of the
Articles of Incorporation of
Belmont Abbey College reads
as follows:
The purposes for which the
corporation is organized are:
(a) To educate men and women
in the arts and sciences;
(b) To grant and confer
degrees in the arts and sciences
to its students, or to others,
when by their proficiency in
learning, professional
eminence^ or other meritorious
distinction such persons shall
be adjudged entitled thereto, as
the Institution may see proper
or as are granted by other
colleges and universities of the
State of North Carolina, and to
grant to its graduates a diploma
or certificate as is usual in
colleges and universities.
The Articles of Incorporation
were signed on June 15,1960, by
Walter Coggin, O.S.B., Joseph
T. Tobin, O.S.B., and Alcuin H.
Baudermann, O.S.B. The
Articles were filed and duly
recorded in “Record of
Incorporation,’’ book 13,
Page 261, on June 30,
amended.
It is obvious, then, that
although Belmont Abbey
College is de facto, by tradition
and current policy, a college for
men, it is de jure a coedu
cational institution,
critical time in
education when good
are vigorously sought after,
Belmont Abbey College has
intentionally discriminated
against a significant portion of
the public. How much longer
can the Abbey in conscience
willfully continue to reject
because of sex alone qualified
female applicants who are part
of the general public which the
Abbey is chartered in law to
serve?
At this
higher
students
Bfliiuini Nu
1 tin* .\l'b»l Ninllii
Dear Friends,
Today one of the main criticisms by the young is that often society,
a group or an institution, will advocate one set of principles but in reality
live quite differently. Quite often this evaluation is valid, and there exists
a foundation for complaint. Everyone recognizes a fraud.
In viewing educational institutions, one can also make this criticism.
If an institution proclaims itself as Christian and accepts students under
this banner, when in reality it is a purely secular institution, it is indeed
dishonest. Likewise, students wdio enter a private institution that advocates
a certain philosophy and rightfxilly establishes a mileu under the aegis of
that philosophy, cannot legally or morally expect or demand something con
tradictory. They are free agents and can matriculate elsewhere.
Unfortunately today too many private institutions, and Catholic colleges
in particular, have ceased to be Catholic or Christian. If the Catholic cam
pus is to communicate and be meaningful, then it must be authentically
Catholic. It must offer something that the secular campus does not; other
wise it has no reason for existence.
Belmont Abbey College is a Christian, Catholic, and Benedictine
college. We fully intend to be what this implies, because we are for the
student. If we were otherwise, or were to become otherwise, while pro
claiming ourselves such, we could not honestly communicate, and youth
wo^lld rightly say, "You are a fraud. "
Because we are Christian, Catholic, and Benedictine, and because
we are for the student, we totally reject the permissiveness, obscenity, and
ungentlemanly conduct which are so prevalent today. It is our desire to
foster wisdom and knowledge and to help individuals become truly mature
and good. We reject the neo-rugged individualism that is so rampant today,
and we loudly proclaim the need for a return to a true concept of the common
good. For these reasons we have strongly rejected such concepts as "open
dorms" and we will continue to do so.
Belmont Abbey and Belmont Abbey College are now preparing to cele
brate the Centenary of their Founding in 1976. For almost a hundred years
the Benedictine monks have labored here in Belmont, carrying on a varied
apostolate with meager resources and little support from the outside.
Belmont is the only Catholic center of higher education in an area
extending from Washington, D. C. to upper Alabama and from Tennessee
to central Florida. It is a tribute to those who have gone before us that
so much has been accomplished during these one hundred years. y*t the
work has just begun, and much still remains to be accomplished.
Like all private institutions, and especially Catholic institutions, the
Abbey is experiencing very difficult times. One major problem is a drop in
college enrollment. We intend to reverse this trend with your help as we
believe we have something exciting to offer that the secular institutions can
not offer--a Christian-Benedictine milieu. We look into the future with hope
as we have confidence that our administration, faculty, students, alumni and
friends join us in loudly proclaiming the values of Jesus Christ.
For one hundred years the Benedictines of Belmont have used their
meager resources for the good of the community and mankind, irrespective
of color, creed, or status. Belmont has been a beacon beaming the values
of Jesus Christ to the entire Eastern Seaboard. We hope that you will join
with us in helping us to shine even brighter during these next hundred years.
Your moral and material support cannot be better placed than in our young,
as they are the future leaders and mainstay of this great Nation.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
-f-. - ■;
Edmund F. McCaffrey, O.S.B.
Abbot Ordinary and
Chancellor of the College
(The Right Rev, )
Secretary: Alan J. Main-
AB’67, 709 Dogwood Lane,
Belmont, N.C. 28012.
Treasurer: George M.
Jenkins - ’70, 2122 Brookneal
Drive, Gastonia, N.C. 28052.
CHARLESTON, S.C. CHAPTER
(Elected September 19, 1969)
President: John L. Lavelle -
AB’60, 14 Moore Drive,
Charleston, S. C. 29407, Tel.
Office: 803-RA2-0711.
Vice President: John J.
Santos- AB’57,1086 Cottingham
Drive, Mt. Pleasant, S.C.
29964,
Secretary: Bennie G. Farmer-
AB’67, 2271 Burris Road,
Charleston, S.C. 29407.
Treasurer;
Blanchard-’59,
Lane, Cooper
Pleasant, S.C.
Charles C.
1084 Meader
Estates, Mt.
29464.
TIDEWATER (VA.) CHAPTER
(Elected May, 1970)
President: Charles P. Wade -
AB’59, 3806 Pecan St.,
Portsmouth, Va. 23703.
Vice-President - Edward F.
Etheridge - ’47, 1121 Freeman
Ave., Portlock, Chesapeake,
Va. 23320.
Secretary: Paul C. Lynch -
’34, 4518 Bankhead Circle,
Norfolk, Va. 23513.
Treasurer: Jack M.
Molovinsky - ’67, 611 Graydon
Ave., Apt.2, Norfolk, Va. 23507.
CHARLOTTE-
MECKLENBURG (N.C.)
CHAPTER
(Elected November 17, 1970)
President: Richard S.
O’Donoghue - ’48, 6400
Candlewood Drive, Charlotte,
N.C. 28210, Tel. Home: 523-
1159, Tel. Office: 372-5260.
Vice-President: Harry L.
Bizzell, Jr. - ’48, 2601 Kendrick
Drive, Charlotte, N.C. 28214.
Secretary: Donald B. Lampke
- ’43, 611 Manning Drive,
Charlotte, N.C. 28209.
Treasurer; Harry A. Kelly,
Jr. - ’41, 2020 Beverly Drive,
Charlotte, N.C. 28207.
Publicity Chairman, Julian W.
Massi - AB’59, 532 Moncure
Drive, Charlotte, N.C. 28209.
Please turn to Page 7, Column 1