Rambler (Fort Worth, Tex.), Vol. 65, No. 14, Ed. 1 Friday, May 4, 1990 Page: 1 of 2
two pages : ill. ; page 14 x 10 in. Digitized from 35 mm. microfilm.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Rambler
"Truth is our authority-authority is notour truth
Texas Wesleyan University, Fort Worth, Texas
Mia
IV\ \s
WESLEY \\
l M\KIM'IT
Friday, May 4,1990
the low popularity this action is
said to have with some professors.
Bawcom also lays some blame
for communication problems on
the Rambler: previous staff did not
print notices of upcoming events, a
practice which, he said, largely
continues today. Bawcom sug-
gested that the Rambler establish a
current events column to list up-
coming campus affairs, and to
weekly send a reporter to collect
event information. “People should
forgive the Rambler for past mis-
takes,” Bawcom said.
Bawcom meets with students;
Ann Waggoner Hall discussed
by Derek Dexheimer
Staff Writer
Campus improvements and
student apathy were the topics of
discussion when Dr. Jerry Bawcom,
held a queslion-and-answer session
with the Progressive Student Un-
ion last Thursday. The Wesleyan
Initiative and communication prob-
lems between administration, fac-
ulty, and students were also points
of interest touched on by the fifteen
students in attendance.
"We just don’t have the money,"
Bawcom replied toques lions about
why campus facilities arc not being
improved. Bawcom cites the care-
less awarding of scholarships dur-
ing the 1984-85 school year as one
of the main reason for Wesleyan’s
restrictive debt. “We were buying
students,” Bawcom said. Even so,
many improvements are being
planned for the campus.
Bawcom revealed that a pos-
sible source of funding has been
found that will provide half of the
money necessary to renovate or
rebuild Ann Waggoner Hall, with
the remaining cost to be covered by
the university or other agencies. A
possible fourth floor for the MeFad-
den Science Center, an option under
consideration since the first three
storeys were completed, is now
recei veing greater attention than in
the past: Bawcom said that a new
National ScienceFoundationfund,
specifically geared toward improv-
ing science facilities on small uni-
versity campuses, could provide
monies for expansion. A new
Humanities building as well as a
sanctuary for the new Fine Arts
building are being planned, and
the Academic Annex and Boaz Hall
are to be demolished this summer.
Improvements for university
dormitories and food services arc
also planned, Bawcom said. "We’re
exploring more creative ways for
food service to serve students,”
Bawcom said. Temporary repairs
are also slated for the worst dorm
parking lots and access roads;
Bawcom again points to insuffi-
cient funds as to why the lots will
not be completely renovated.
Campus lighting will eventually
extend from Rosedale across the
campus after Ann Waggoner is de-
stroyed or repaired; major land-
scaping is also being delayed until
a definite plan for dealing with
Ann Waggoner is formed. “We’re
planning new tennis courts and
athletic fields after that,” Bawcom
went on. A main goal is to make
the campus more pedestrian: stu-
dent parking will be moved to the
periphery of the main campus, and
the university has purchased three
lots on the cast and west of the
campus for new parking facilities.
In addiltion, Bawcom explained
the goals of the university in deal-
ing with the decline of the Poly-
technic Heights neighborhood.
“We hope to make the university
cooperate more with the neighbor-
hood,” Bawcom said. The
Wesleyan Initiative, the plan un-
derway to restore several blocks of
Poly to the south of the campus, is
expected to address problems the
three-year-old Polytechnic Main
Street program cannot deal with.
Eventually these two groups,
"We hope to make the
university cooperate
more with the
neighborhood"
“along with Goals for East Fort
Worth will begin to make some
positive changes,” Bawcom said.
Bawcom pointed out the university
must become more accessible to
local businesses and spur new
business in the area. “We have to
take responsibility for the area with
our staying,” Bawcom said.
Student apathy and miscom-
munication on campus arc addi-
tional concerns for Bawcom. “In
my years here I've noticed that
there is a great correlation between
the number of on-campus students
and student activities .... There’s
also a relationship between student
leadership and what goes on. Stu-
dents must make things happen
themselves; they must participate
on the Student Activities Commit-
tee to make things happen."
“The big problem [in commu-
nication] came after chapel was
dispensed with,” Bawcom contin-
ued. “I ’ m not saying that we should
bring chapel back, but we should
do something [to improve commu-
nication.)” Chapel services,
Bawcom explained, were not as
much religious worship as a lime
when the entire campus was gath-
ered and people could be informed
of campus happenings. In the
meantime, Bawcom would encour-
age students to announce student
activities in their classes, despite
TWU Centennial plans
to include convocation,
Alumni, Open Houses
The Centennial celebration of
Texas Wesleyan, a year-long trib-
ute to the history of the university,
is currently being coordinated
among alumni, students, faculty,
and staff. Planned activities will
highlight both the University and
each of its four schools.
Texas Wesleyan Days at Poly-
technic United Methodist Church
begins the Centennial on Septem-
ber 9,continuingat the FirslUnitcd
Methodist Church of Fort Worth
on September 23. The formal
Centennial Convocation, featuring
a nationally recognized speaker, is
scheduled for September 24, fol-
lowed by an All-University Open
House.
Alumni will again gather on the
29th of September at the Round Up
Inn for the Centennial Celebration.
Students arc also invited to the
event.
see Centennial, page 2
A typical view of the closed-off third floor of Ann Waggoner Hall. The building is termed the oldest,
continuously used educational building in Tarrant County, and is one of the original buildings of the campus.
It was last renovated during the 1960s. photo by Ernest William Todd
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Rambler (Fort Worth, Tex.), Vol. 65, No. 14, Ed. 1 Friday, May 4, 1990, newspaper, May 4, 1990; Fort Worth, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth645926/m1/1/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas Wesleyan University.