Rambler (Fort Worth, Tex.), Vol. 60, No. 1, Ed. 1 Friday, August 31, 1984 Page: 2 of 4
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Page Two
Friday. August 31, 1984
ures* Opi nions/fizabures • Cjpinons/Feabuncs
Ommsl^mjoES
pinions /Features • QpinionS /RabuPZS* Opfn k
Editorial.
• •
A New Chance
Another year, another chance.
Last year when the news came out that Wesleyan was close
to $11 million dollars in debt, there was talk of the school's
collapse. There was false talk of meaningless degrees. And there
was talk of walk-outs by students and faculty.
This year, however, holds the promise of a new beginning
if, and only if, the lines of communication are kept open.
The signs are encouraging that Wesleyan is getting back
on its feet. Six area banks have loaned Wesleyan $5.2 million,
with a $1.3 million operating budget.
The community is rallying behind the school again. Alumni
who were at first scared of the large debt have now indicated
their support for the school. And students who started their
education here say they plan to finish it here.
Yes, the news is encouraging.
But the new administration must not let what happened
last year occur again, or the crossties of support being woven
back into the school will again unravel.
All indications so far say a lack of communication will no
longer be a problem here. Interim President Jerry Bawcom says
he will continue the open door policy for students to come in
with their questions, concerns, and problems.
But, Bawcom warns, he is putting the past and its mistakes
behind him. He says it’s time to move forward and look to a
bright future.
And Wesleyan will have that bright future, if the admin-
istration continues to do what it has promised: communicate,
with both students and faculty, on the financial status of the
school, how fast the school can expect to repay its debts, and
how these things will affect us.
Bawcom said the debt is being repaid steadily through the
sale of some of the college’s other liquid assets. Enrollment has
dropped slightly, but students still here say they will not leave
the school because things look bad financially now. The faculty
last year was organizing a committee to watch the goings-on
with the Board Room, to give them a closer watch on the school.
But all of Wesleyan’s progress and renewed enthusiasm is
in vain if the students and faculty are ever made the last to
know the college’s status again.
With the new year, however, comes a new chance — for
open communication between the administration, students, and
faculty.
And with that communication, Wesleyan will not only sur-
vive, but thrive, in the very near future.
EDITORIAL BOARD OF
TEXAS WESLEYAN RAMBLER
Editor........................................ Amy Keen
Managing Editor............................ Sandl Harris
Advertising Manager ......................... Tricia Pitts
Sports Editor...............................Andy Chester
Staff
Mike Kwas, Mark Finger, Robert Zeller, Theresa Bick-
nell, Courtney Rutledge, Tiffany Cherry, Gigi Gerard
Cartoonists......Wade Stewart, Angela Pitts, Sonny Strait
Sponsor...............................Dr. Michael Sewell
The Rambler is published weekly during the school year,
except holidays and examination periods by Student Publica-
tions at Texas Wesleyan College.
The mailing address is Texas Wesleyan College, Fort
Worth, Texas 76105.
Texas Wesleyan College is an equal opportunity employer
in all aspects of its operation.
The Rambler welcomes and encourages letters to the Editor.
Letters should be typed, and Include the name, address, and phone
number of the writer. Only the writer’s name will be printed,
and will be withheld if deemed necessary. Letters may be edited
for purpose of clarity and space. Address to — Editor, Rambler —
Campus Mall, or bring by the Rambler office In the Brown-Lupton
Center.
RAMBLER
Summer As Intern
Teaches Much
by Amy Keen
This summer has been the most
exciting and exhausting one of
my life.
I was a full-time summer
Intern with the Fort Worth Star-
Talegram, and my first thought
echoed one I’ve seen on a poster
of an old grisled cowboy: "There
were a lot of things they didn’t
tell me when I hired on with
this outfit.”
I was used to working one to
five last year with the Rambler,
the only newspaper I'd ever
worked on until this summer.
My first day on the job this
summer, though, found me on
the afternoon copy desk — work-
ing at six in the morning to 1:30
in the afternoon. I did that for
a month, then moved to city
desk, working late afternoons
into night
I had only been on city desk 20
minutes when they handed me
my first assignment. With trem-
bling hands, I picked up the
phone and talked to the people
In the story. It was short, but it
was written by deadline, and I
breathed a sigh of relief.
My second day on city desk
proved to be more excitement
than I had ever had In one day.
I was covering police beat with
the regular reporter when the
call came In about a motorcycle-
bus collision. I was scared to
death, and the scene was chaotic
and not very pretty, but I learn-
ed a valuable lesson the hard
way: not to freeze up at the
scene of a crime or major acci-
dent.
The next day was exciting and
sad at the same time. A 14-year-
old boy had been shot and killed
by another 14-year-old. Friends
and family members started ar-
riving while we were talking to
witnesses and police. I was
shaken by what I saw, but I
didn’t freeze up and not talk to
people, and I gained more con-
fidence In that day than any
other.
Working for the Rambler had
taught me how to talk to people
and look for stories, but I had
to learn from experience at the
Star-Telegram what dealing with
people from all walks of life was
like, from the rich tour pro-
moters to the bums on Jones
Street to the middle class teen-
age™ to the busy city officials.
One night while covering police
beat I got to the scene of a
homicide before the victim had
died. I was shaking, but I talked
to the witness and to the police
without giving away to them
what I was feeling.
It’s things like these that a
college newspaper cannot pre-
pare you for. I learned more this
summer by actually "doing” than
I have In three years by simply
taking notes.
And that's not to knock the
education I have received here;
it was an excellent preparation
for what I have learned. But
some things you must learn by
doing.
All of my summer was not
spent on deaths and tragedy;
most of It was very pleasant.
I came away a bit ashamed of
myself for complaining about
working extra hours after work-
ing with professional writers who
came in on their days off to
write features.
Yes, there were “a lot of things
they didn't tell me when I hired
on with that outfit,” but one of
the things was how much I would
love every minute of it, and how
I would know that I had found
my career choice for life.
Tarrant County officials have
proposed a Nov. 6 election on
whether to install the nationally-
recognlzezd 911 emergency num-
ber.
If the 911 system Is carried in
November, Tarrant County will
become one of over 40 cities in
Texas to Implement the three
digit number.
The Circle T Girl Scout Coun-
cil, which serves Tarrant, John-
son, Hood, and Somervell Coun-
ties, started the push to get the
911 system back in the summer
of 1983, when a Girl Scout Adult
Volunteer Task Group was work-
ing on a new "Practically Inde-
pendent Person" program. When
the task group decided to print
a decal with an emergency num-
ber the group found out what a
difficult task that would be.
"One look Inside the cover of
a phone book at the amount of
emergency numbers listed for
Tarrant County made It clear
that we needed a central emer-
gency number,” said Jane Duna-
S.G.A. President
Extends Welcome
by Roger Nelson
Welcome to, or welcome back
to, Wesleyan. This Is a pivotal
year in the life of Wesleyan, as
the search for a new president
continues.
As president of the Student
Government Association, I am an
ex-officio member of the selec-
tion committee. Dr. Walter
Toxey represents the faculty, Mr.
Buddy Carter represents the
staff, and Dr. Tom Cockerell
represents the alumni. The trus-
tees on the committee are:
Bishop Russell, Reg Martin, Jim
Nichols, Don Barton and Barry
Bailey, chairman.
My role on this committee Is
to represent you. Throughout the
year I will continue to update
you on the progress of the selec-
tion committee. I need to hear
from you any suggestions you
might have as far as criteria for
a new president. If you know of
someone qualified, referrals are
also welcome.
Dr. Jerry Bawcom is the acting
president until the new president
is found. The school Is in no
danger of collapse and your de-
grees are as valid as they have
always been.
vant, chairperson of the Girl
Scout 911 Task Group.
Dunavant believes the advan-
tages of the system are tremen-
dous, since it will assist resi-
dents; especially children, elderly
and handicapped persons. It
could also reduce the risk of
calling an Incorrect emergency
number, or the wrong city’s
emergency number. Southwest-
ern Bell officials report that the
system would cost telephone cus-
tomers 20* extra on their month-
ly bill.
Holiday Travelers
To Enjoy Rest Stop
Southbound motorists travel-
ing on Interstate 35 during Labor
Day Weekend may pull over for
refreshments at the 32 mile
marker Just north of Burleson
from Friday, Aug. 31 to Monday,
Sept. 3.
The Labor Day Rest Stop,
sponsored by the Fort Worth
Jaycees.
911 Has Chance In Nov.
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Rambler (Fort Worth, Tex.), Vol. 60, No. 1, Ed. 1 Friday, August 31, 1984, newspaper, August 31, 1984; Fort Worth, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth646900/m1/2/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas Wesleyan University.