Page 10 - ThePhoenix1981-82

The Letter to Phoenix the Editor Future vision from the Hill The Majority defended Have you ever considered the future 01 Western Maryland Speaking about fraternities and sororities at Western Maryland, College? What will 'The Hill" look like in five years? What sort of Ralph John stated that "Greek organizations aren't pulled into the Dear Editor student body will attend the college a decade from now? whole college," When asked what changes could be made in the I would like to respond to Robert These and other questions and ideas were addressed at last Greek system, it was suggested that an Inter-Fraternity Council Michlowitz' letter last issue concern- weekend's Board of Trustee's meeting of the Long Range Planning (similar to the ISC) be formed. ing the Moral Ma/Ority.While I do not Task Force. The Committee's purpose is to put together a set 01 Regarding the percentage of minorities in the student population. support the organization's views, I do goals for the college to work toward in the next five years. the college has not yet realized its longterm goal of 10 percent with a support its right, as a minority, to The committee reviewed the 1977 'Five-Year Plan" so that it 4. percent (1981) minority enrollment. Overall enrollment in general express Iheir opinion Just because cbuld assess what progress had actually been made, as well as has remained constant at close to 1250 students. Since the number they are not truly a majority, does not what still has to be accomplished of college-age students will be declining over the next decade, the mean that they have no rights Construction 01 the Scott S. Barr Stadium was the major Committee discussed ways in which more "non-traciticna!'' students The Moral Majority has very little improvement in the athletrc department, and work on Gill Gyrnnaslum could be attracted to WMC.- control over our programming, 'It is is expected to begin sometime next spring. In areas relating to the faculty. Ihe stcoers-crctesscr ratio has the sponsors who decide what shows Other long-term goals for the athletic department include been kept at 15 to 1, and there have been almost annual increases to run, and any concessions by them, construction of a new field house, two new playing fields, lights for in the faculty, Also, if a faculty member retires, his or her _position will be minor. They themselves look to the tennis courts as well ~s six additional courts, and a leveling and may be allowed to another department the infamous Nielson families for their reconstruction of ~hebaseball diamond complete with a dugout and A major renovation of Ihe Quad (Albert Norman Ward and Daniel information, and they number less stands Mclea Dormitories) is being planned. Both buildings need interior than the Moral Majority Although it is often difficult to assess intangible academic and exterior repairs Besides. the TV shows we are improvements, the. recent installation of a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa The 1977 financial projections for the 1981 cost of attending talking about, are not only offensive at WMC recognizes tile academic quality of the college. WMC were underestimated by nearly $1000. The projected cost was to Righi-wing Christians, but to edu- "Do WMC students lack cultural sophistication?" was a question $5450, but it is actually $6425. (The 1977 cost was $4255.) cators and psychiatrists as well. Bob, 'raised, along with the question, "What is-culture?" an informal survey Throughout the discussion of ideas concerning the future of let the "M M" make their threats, it is conducted several years ago at WMC indicated that students here WMC, the committee emphasised that a strive for academic their righl, and if you want to discuss possess limited cultural background. Over the past 5 years, the excellence should be Ihe most important and continuing goal. As the intellectual value of "Bosom Bud- lecture-concert series has been broadened. so students will have the one prolessor put it "We can't afford to be a high-priced Towson . dies" and "Starsky anc Hutch" I'll be opportunity to benefit from more out-of-classroom programs and State University." glad to lectures. Also. the Fine Arts Building may be enlarged in the future Keith Arnold Religious reflection Conservatively speaking John Springer: Activist As rout continues ... Keith Arnold creative, necessary tension in the with neutron bombs. MX missiles and This time a year ago. I was in- It did. The census showed that Rev. Charles Wallace 'religious life between spirituality and all the other trappings of an out-of- formed by those to whom I read and population declined in American ci- It there had been an award for social activism. Cardenal is a priest control military budget. wih a reduced listened, that the Republican party ties Democrat strongholds. And "most promising contemplative acnv- and poet who joined the Sandinista commitment to social programs and was on its last legs. As a rather their legislatures are failing them ist" at last spring's honors corwoca- revOlutiooary, movement and when it to the conservation of non-renewable blatantly conservative Republican. Case in point: Texas. With a legisla- lion. John would have won it. He has overthrew the long-entrenched Sa- resources at home, with hunger and this was a rather depressing pros- ture that is two-thirds Democrat, a been associated with peace and maza dictatorship, became minister exploitation rampant throughout the pect, and I did my best to keep the redistricting plan was adopted that, in justice activities since the early sev- of culture in tte new government of world the relationship between faith, despite a lengthy list of Dooms- all probability, will give the GOP lour enties: and his' more recent involve- Nicaragua. But Cardenal is just one God's presence in individual tives day predictions for the long-suffering additional congressional seats in ment in the disciplined spiritual life, example of a tradition met goes back and the presence of his coming GOP. 1982 has if anything, strengthened his to the Hebrew prophets, to Jesus. kingdom of peace and justice for all -Regan can not win. 100 extreme, These events not 'only destroy many social passion. "'e graduated in May and to countless others in the subse- people needs exploring. too far right original predictions, but also tend to and has been-accepted in a psych quent history of western religion. John Thanks, John, for a timely reminder: -Regardless, Democrats, as weaken tile point of view that this M.A. program, but I wouldn't be is convinced this tradition cannot be personal salvation, the cultivation of usual, will still have firm control conservative swing, which has oc- surprised to see him wind up in a ignored the individual spiriluallife, it intimately of both houses of Congress curred, is In tact a swing and not a theological seminary or a religious I think he's right. No one who related with social and political tibera- -Again regardless, with the 1980 fluke community claims to be guided and shaped by ton At the beginning of the school consensus results forthcoming, Indeed, Reagan's policies reach I'm thinking of John now because I scripture can pretend that either year, as we look for direction and the overwhelmingly Democrat into the future, and legislation is just finished reading his senior semi- privitized emotional religious individu- experiment with different life-options, f slate legislatures of this land will written as such. This fact will make it nar paper, "From Mysticism to Poli- alism or zealous attachment to social hope others will find this a helpful redistrict Ihe Republican party very diHicult for a liberal resurgence tics," which he wrote for Ira Zepp last causes is enough. On the contrary, model. How about some dialogue? out of existance. to reverse the flow, Furthermore, the January. Irs a solid piece of aca- true piety, an authentic encounter Time marched on. With November, Reagan package not only benefits demic work, a synthesis of dozens of with the Holy, leads to involvement in Reagan had won. It was not a traditional GOP constituencies, but books and articles, but it's not just an the quest for justice (see Isaiah 6). Ed.Note: landslide, but with two and a half also appeals to many middle-class intellectual exercise. It also reflects And the most profound approaches ~eligion Refl~ion is a column ~~ legitimate candidates, he took a ma- Democratic supporters the direction John's life has been to social action are those nurtured IliSlleS c~ernlng the WMC religIOUS I jority of the vote, despite this "reac- II we postulate that this conserva- taKing. Moreover, it challenges the and sustained by a relationship to commUnity, tionary" view. And, surprise of tive phenomena is not a passing fad, rest of us who consider ourselves God John Springer Is the surprises, the gasping GOP grasped but that in fact the Democratic party religious folk or socialactivists to re- John quotes the French Catholic "John" .refered to In this article. the Senate. Democrats, stunned, en- is under siege. then the question examine our assumptions socialist poet Charles Peguy: "Every- trenched behind their last line of becomes - how will the Democrats JoM focuses on one man, Emesto thing begins in mysticism and ends in defense, redistricting. At best Ihis react too, what for them will be a new Cardenal who seems to embody the politics" Exaggeration maybe But weapon has no eHect on the Senate, expenence r;;;;;;=';;;::~;;;';;";;;''';;;;;;;_;;;;_'''':::=:''':;;;:::==-:''':;=''';:; and at worst it could backfire. The Phoenix Editor... . Robert Holt Managing Editor ... . BethWilliams New Editor ...UzSiegenthaler Sports Editor.... ... 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