NORTH CAROLINA COLLECTION
THE LIBRARY, UNIV. OF NOR. CAR.
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. 27514
f #• s V /• tt ft /
CROSSROADS
Belmont Abbeij College
VOLUME I - ISSUE 6
SEPTEMBER 1972
Office
of the
Abbot
Niillius
To The Administration, Faculty,
Students, Alumni, and Friends:
What kind of college is
Belmont Abbey? Simply stated,
we are Christian, Catholic, and
Benedictine. To say that we are
this kind of college is not to
downgrade others or to say that
this is the only kind of viable and
worthwhile educational in
stitution. We are merely spelling
out our own identity - an identity
that is peculiar to us and one
which is essential for our being.
It is important that everyone
(administration, faculty,
students, alumni, and friends)
understand clearly and precisely
our identity and the philosophy
upon which this institution was
founded and to which it now
firmly adheres. We say this
because it is this identity and
philosophy which must dictate
the milieu in which our
educational pursuits are to be
carried out.
From experience we firmly
believe that such a milieu will
enhance the lives of our students
and will give them the op
portunity to find direction,
purpose, and meaning to life. We
believe they will have happier
lives because of this educational
environment.
Our institution is professedly
Christian, and we proudly
proclaim this. Within this broad
spectrum of Christianity we are
distinctively Catholic, and we
adhere firmly to the Teaching
Magisterium of the Church.
Christianity and Catholicism
help to determine and form the
educational milieu of our
College. We cannot permit the
concept of academic freedom to
be so widely and permissively
used and abused that the
Christian and Catholic en
vironment can be undermined.
We will not allow this, as it would
violate our sacred trust and
heritage.
Our College has been and is
open to all persons, irrespective
of race, creed, color or religion.
We were ecumenical before it
was popular. We have
traditionally had great academic
freedom, but this freedom has
been harmonious and com
patible with our philosophy.
Today we strongly reaffirm
our Christianity and
Catholicism, both as to principle
and as to action, in determining
See ABBOT, Page 2
Denise Kiser, the Abbey’s first officiai coed, registers for classes
with her facuity advisor, Mr. Tobin.
Abbey’s First Co-ed
Suzanne Denise Kiser of
ficially became the first co-ed at
Belmont Abbey College when she
registered for classes August 21.
Her route here was somewhat
circuitous: She first learned
about the Abbey from an
alumnus while she was living in
Hawaii with her parents.
Born into a U.S. Marine,
family in Florida, she has
traveled and lived in many
places. Because her grand
parents resided in Gastonia, she
attended school there in the sixth
and tenth grades. At that time,
however, she was unaware of
Belmont Abbey College.
When Denise first applied to
the Abbey at the end of her junior
year at Radford High School in
Hawaii, she had no idea she was
going to be our first co-ed. The
Abbey had not then finally
decided to become co
educational. Nevertheless, the
college retainpd her flnnlicatinr.
- - —X"*-I'*v/ii.
She next thought about attending
Sacred Heart but was delighted
to learn the Abbey had accepted
her as a student and was very
honored and pleased to find that
she was its first co-ed.
Denise commented that she
had also applied to larger
colleges and been accepted, but
was most favorably impressed
by the Abbey, and believed the
advantages of attending a school
where there is a good faculty-
student relationship far out
weighed the attractions of a
large institution where one risks
becoming a mere number.
She believes that co-education
is much more practical and
relevant to today’s fast-moving
culture. She doubts that there
will be much of a problem when
girls begin living on campus next
academic year. She thinks most
men and women want some
privacy and that they will be
able to adjust to co-ed residency.
Preferring the traditional
roles of womanhood, Denise
thinks the Woman’s Liberation
Front could be detrimental and
restrictive to women rather than
liberating. She i.s. howpiro** j-
favor of a few basic changes in
women’s role in society, such as
equal pay for comparative jobs.
Very pretty and quietly
feminine, Suzanne Denise Kiser
is an attractive addition to the
student body of formerly all-
male Belmont Abbey College.
Fr. Kenneth Geyer Attends Sig
Ep Workshop, Leads Discussion
The southeastern region of
Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity
held its annual leadership
conference academy at Clemson
University and Father Kenneth
Geyer was asked to serve on the
faculty for the academy.
Representatives from thirty
chapters in the southeast at
tended. Having served as
chapter counsellor for N.C.
Lambda chapter of Sigma Phi
Epsilon at Belmont Abbey
College since its colony days.
Father kenneth was selected to
conduct the presentation and
lead a discussion of membership
education.
New Facidty
V.: Members
Seven new faculty members
have been appointed to positions
in the College, and are taking up
their duties here this fall.
Dr. Arthur E. Shelton has
become associate professor and
Chairman of the Department of
Sociology. Dr. Shelton has been
teaching in the joint department
of sociology at Catawba and
Livingstone Colleges in
Salisbury, North Carolina. He
holds a B.A. from Emory and
Henry College, a Bachelor of
Divinity from Emory Univer
sity, and a Ph. D. in sociology of
religion from Boston University.
He has also done post-doctoral
studies in sociology. Professor
Shelton is currently engaged in
completing a book on criminal
law and mental competence.
Joining Belmont Abbey
College as assistant professor of
political science and acting
chairman of the political science
department is Robert E. Jones.
Professor Jones received his
B.S. from St. Louis University
and his M.A. from the University
of Notre Dame, and expects his
Ph.D. this fall from Notre Dame.
Prior to coming to the Abbey, he
taught at St. Anselm’s College in
New Hampshire. He is married
and has one child.
Donald Cresswell has been
appointed director of the library
and assistant professor in the
history department. . Mr.
Cresswell holds a B.A. from
Belmont Abbey, an M.A. from
the University of Cincinnati, and
a Master of Philosophy from
George Washington University.
He expects to receive his Ph.D.
this fall from George
Washington University. Hr Is
presently completing a
reference book for the Library of
Congress, which will publish it
as part of the Library’s
American Revolution bicen
tennial program. The book will
be printed in 1973 and distributed
by the U.S. Government Printing
Office.
Appointed as instructor in
economics and business is
Michael F. Kenny. Kenny, who
is returning to academic life
from industry, has a B.A. from
Holy Cross and an M.A. from
Pennsylvania State University.
James M. Tobin comes to
Belmont Abbey from Temple
University. He possesses a B.A.
from St. Vincent’s College and
an M.A. from Temple Univer
sity, and expects a Ph.D. from
See FACULTY, Page 5