Page 140 - ThePhoenix1996-97

Thursday,ApriIS, 1997 -Page 12 FEATURES Students inducted into Society for Collegiate Journalists Bv JEN VICK Safeguard the freedom of all FetI/!4re., Editor campus media in order that they be able On March 12, Western Maryland to serve the campus commu- College introduced the Society for Col- nity legiate Journalists as a new campus hon- orary organization and its first six mem- without dictation, coercion or bers were inducted. restraint." The inductees were senior Sarah The National Constitution and Hand- Sne!!, a political science major, juniors book stated that "In the judgment of the Michelle Hamilton, a history major, Society for Collegiate Journalists, these Jonathan Shacat, a Spanish major, and standards represent the highest precepts English major Jen Vick. The sophomore of enlightened and professional journal- inductees were studio art/art history ism." Each new member was given a major Mike Puskar, and Grant Rice, a certificate and a pin with the Society'S theater arts major. seal of a circle with crossed quills above The initiation ceremony was pre- an inkwell. sided over by Wi!!iam M. Lawbaugh, Last semester, seeking to adopt such President of the National Council of standards for journalism at WMC, SCJ and director of the writing center Hamilton, then editor of the Phoenix, and at Mount St. Mary's College, and Steve Shacat, a staff writer, were informed Newman, professor of public speaking about SCJ through Terry Dalton, profes- at Mount St. Mary's. sor of journalism, and gathered together From left 10 right above, the members of the Society for Collegiate Journalists are as Grant Rice, and Jen Vick. follows: Sarah Snell, Mike Puskar, Michelle Hamilton, As part of the ceremony the induct- students to start a chapter at WMC. ees stood and pledged 10: Each student paid the membership fee interest in various newspaper, yearbook, activities to sponsor. The organization of 25$ that will last them through their magazine and broadcast categories." plans to include not only students in- "Gather all pertinent news college careers, and entered some of WMC's new SCJ members who submit- volved with the newspaper, but all mem- their work done for the Phoenix in the ted work are waiting to be informed of and opinions bers of campus media. SCI National Contest. The contest is the winners that will be announced some The SCI was formed on June 1, 1975, concerning issues and events described in the Handbook as "the only time this spring. when two Greek-letter journalism soci- on the campus, college media competition judged exclu- The new SCJ chapter has yet to eties, Pi Delta Epsilon and Alpha Phi striving at all times for accu- sively by professionals in the field. choose officers, set standards for quali- Gamma, merged. Today there are SCJ racy and fairness. The contest is designed to stimulated fication as a member, and plan future chapters throughout the United States. Zepp, professor of religious studies, discusses years at WMC By NICKI KASSOUS A.v.,;:;tam Fea/ures Editor cerned with outcasts and social injustice," he dents at Kent State were killed. "The big- book." says. gest riot at the college was over food in the Palmer speaks of Zepp with obvious ad- Imagine it is 10 o'clock on a weeknight This concern came from Zepp's child- cafeteria," says Zepp, referring to a walk- mirarion. Hedeseribeshisformercolleague and you are busy studying in your room. You hood. Zepp was raised on a small farm in out by students to protest the serving of some as "a genuinely humanistic and Christian quickly remember you need to go to the li- the town of Madonna, MD. During his child- .kind of mystery meat called "mounds of combination with the appearance of a teddy brary to read a reserve article, but you can't. hood he witnessed many people facing ex- ,joy.:' bear and Santa Claus." Not because you don't have the time, not ploitation from wealthy landlords. In the six- The quality of food has not changed Zepp's white hair and beard do make him because you are already in your pajamas, but ties, Zepp saw the same thing in the eyes of throughout the years, but Zepp's position at look like good 'ole SI. Nick, especially to because it is 1948 and you are a female, And minority groups. "An understanding of WMC has. He has stepped into many' roles his 6-year-old granddaughter, Rachel. Zepp that means your curfew is 10 o'clock. Christianity and liberal arts fueled my con- since 1948, each of which has made an im- . and Mary, his wife of 45 years, have four -In 1997 it may be difficult to imagine a cern for social justice," Zepp said. He ral- pact on his life. From 1963-1978, Zepp children and one granddaughter. He first met female college student having a curfew, but lied behind the ideals of the sixties, support- served as college chaplain. "This was a way Mary on the WMC campus at a Halloween 50 years ago that rule was strictly enforced ing the generation's desire to enhance human- for me to relate religion and education in a party. "My wife is wonderful; she is a spiri- at WMC. The curfew rule is just one of the ity. creative and intellectual way," he says. tual, sexual soul mate," says Zepp. many aspects of college life that has changed "Ioday's generation has this cuss word In his role as professor, Zepp attempts to Perhaps the love between Zepp and his since 1948, the year Ira Zeppbecame a part called the sixties," says Zepp, who wishes incorporate his life experiences in class dis- wife led Barbara Homeff, associate dean for of the WMC community. today's college students could, better relate cussions. He is technically retired, however first-year students, to ask Zepp to preside "It was a different time," says the 67-year- to the mentality of that generation. Although he returns each spring to teach two courses, over her Valentine's Day wedding last year. old professor, emeritus of religious studies Zepp dislikes making broad generalizations, Liberation Movements and Human Freedom "It is a charismatic experience to be touched Zepp has witnessed many "different times" he sees differences between students of the and Prejudice and Power. Both courses deal by Ira Zepp and I asked him to officiate at throughout his ~8 years at WMC. sixties and students of the nineties. with society's ethical dilemmas in recogniz- Continued on page 13 Zepp began his college education as a He sees a more selfish orientation in ~ II 1 night student at the University of Baltimore. many of today's college students. Accord- ing human freedom. {' crest C {'nr' ideas about human freedom, Zepp'sown He wanted to study business, but quickly dis- ing to Zepp, the fifties saw a generation of ethics, and the sixties we" published ;0 his , 1\. covered that "business was not my thing." students concerned with personal purity. The 1974 book about Martin Luther King, Jr. .,' After receiving a full football scholarship, students of the sixties responded to the pu- "Search for the Beloved Community" writ- . Zepp soon found himself a student of phi- rity of the fifties with increased social aware- ten by Zepp and Kenneth Smith, one of losophy and sociology at WMC. His inter- ness and concern, inspired by the decade's King's teachers, was one of the first pub- est in the ministry inspired him to become events. Today's students have left social re- lished works on King and will be reprinted Genuine Help and Understanding the president of Christian Fellowship. Zcpp sponsibility behind to become individually this fall. In 1989, Zepp wrote another book, also served as president of the All-College righteous, says Zepp. his dissertation on King, "The Social Vi- IV/Sleep Sedation Council and the Gamma Beta Chi fraternity, While the sixties brought many changes sion of Martin Luther King Jr." He also co- First & Mid-Trimester Abortion Services earning him the best all-around male title on to Zepp's life, he does not feel the decade edited a collection of poems with former Free Pregnancy Testing graduation day. altered the school's conservative nature. He WMC English professor Del Palmer. The Sonograms From student to fraternity president to compares WMC to a water lily, floating atop book, "Drum Major for a Dream," is a col- dean of Baker Memorial Chapel to profes- a pond. The lily may be floating on the lection of poetic tributes to King. Community Education & Guest Speaking Services sor, Ira Zepp has seen a spectrum of people water's surface, but it is rooted in the ground, According to Palmer, both men began to 24-Hour Emergency Call and events alter his life. beneath the pond. Storms come. but the wa- independently collect poetic tributes to King The sixties provided the backdrop for ter lily forever remains atop the pond. following his death. "One day we were just FOR APPOINTMENTS CALL: some of Zepp's most influential days. As The sixties brought winds of change to talking about King and I told him I had been 410-788-4400 the Civil Rights movement gained steam, American society, but WMC remained intact. saving poetic tributes and he said 'So have Zepp was in the South lobbying for voter reg- Students here organized a march through I,' then we found a publisher," says Palmer, Suburbia Building istration and listening to Martin Luther King Westminster following the assassination of who adds that it is "truly astonishing to me 5802 Baltimore National Pike, Suite 600 Baltimore, Maryland 21228 Jr. speak in Selma, Ala. "I was very con- Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968 and they held that two people on the same campus can Convenient to Baltimore Beltway (695) small demonstrations in 1970 after four stu- have the same idea and combine it into a (Out of Area) 1-800 427-2813