• Format
  • Publications (documents)
• Type
  • Text
• Source institution
  • Western Carolina University
• Identifier
  • HL_WesternCarolinian_1987-09-24_Vol53_No07_08

The Western Carolinian Page - 8 Thursday, September 17, 1987 Campus Ministries ONE SMALL PIECE OF TIME By: Sherry Mattson. Episcopal Campus Ministry CAMPUS MINISTRY COLUMN It was a fairly typical September day. Morning rain had given way to afternoon sun and humidity. The radio reported no traffic problems "yet" as I neared Columbia, South Carolina, at T:30 p.m. There was little question where to turn since every vehicle turned as directed by broad- hatted Highway Patrol officers. "WE SPECIALIZE IN TAILGATE PARTIES" a sign flashed. At the last turn some were weeded out: only those with tickets could turn into the dusty, fenced-in parking lot by Williams-Brice Stadium of the University of South Carolina. Matthew 25 popped into my mind. "No umbrellas, coolers, or thermoses allowed in stadium" was printed on the ticket under a likeness of Pope John Paul II, a stylized crucifix in his upheld hands. Bold black letters superimposed on a green silhouette of the state of South Carolina, identified the event: "Service of Christian Witness'87." I surveyed the gathered crowd, many of whom had tables and chairs set up by their cars, with open coolers and used paper plates testifying to meals eaten. A few even burned charcoal in grills, adding to the already stifling heat. Others thronged In dust-covered shoes toward the stadium gates. My mind wandered to other dust-covered feet in a different time and place. Did those who gathered to see Jesus come with the same carnival-like attitude? Did they sit together eating carried lunches while waiting in the hot sun hour after hour to hear what He would say? To tell their grandchildren they had seen him? He then came down with them and stopped at a piece of level ground where there was a large gathering of his disciples with a great crowd of people from all parts ofJudea and from Jerusalem and from the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon who had come to hear him. Luke 6:17 The sea of parked busses revealed the wide spectrum of people gathered on this day. "Cherokee BoysClub," "First Baptist Church of Columbia," "Tennessee Charters", "St. Joseph's Catholic Church," "Voorhees College." From their doors poured families In shorts and T-shirts, women in dresses and wide-brimmed hats, nuns in varieties of habits, men in jeans and baseball caps, priests In clerical black, grandparents with cameras around their necks, high school students enjoying an afternoon off, all sorts of conditions of people. Upon reaching the gate, evidence of the much publicized security measures abounded. Law enforcement officials were everywhere. Each oerson was searched as though we were entering some giant aircraft rather than USC's football stadium. An army helicopter with a large red cross on the side waited in readiness near the south end of the stadium that was completely closed-off to the unauthorized. People streamed into their seats, stopping at vendors selling cold soft drinks in 16 ounce plastic cups with the likeness of the Pope emblazoned on the side. The mid-day sun was relentless. Many stayed in any shady spot they could find. As I reached my place in the 43rd row of the upper east stand, my hope that the water and Pope- cup Sprite I carried would last through the event neared the sincerity of prayer. This was worse than climbing Mt. LeConte. I perused the scene while catching my breath and shading my face from the sun withe slick-covered- program. Why hadn't I thought of a hat? I soon realized that the climb had been worthwhile, though. My presence afforded a view of not only the platform where his holiness would speak, but I could also see the entire roadway approaching the stadium as well as the gate through which the papal motorcade would arrive. At 4:00 p.m. we began rehearsing music and a loud-speaker announced that everything was "on' time" so far, with the Pope's arrival due around 6:30. It was only when I began to read the program that full significance of this event began to dawn. The first two pages were the "warm-up show." A "Celebration of Symbols" in scripture reading, narration, and music. The readers: Richard Thomas. MacDonald Carey, Bonita Granville, Michael Keaton. and Jane Wyatt. I've heard of these folks; I could probably even identify some of their pictures, In the "Service on the Word" the first reader was Helen Hayes, the second Alexander English, and John Paul himself would read the Gospel. But it was the list of other religious leaders that really excited me. (I am,after all. a priest.) The designated leadersof nearly every Christian denomination in this country would share the stage with the leader of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church. As I read down the list, most names don't mean much, but think of all the christians represented! Presbyterian; Southern, American, National, and Progressive Baptist; Episcopal; Lutheran - Evangelical, LCA and ALC; African Methodist Episcopal and AME Zion; Disciples of Christ; United Methodist; Greek; Antiochian; and American Orthodox; United Church of Christ; Armenian Apostolic; and Polish National Catholic churches. To my knowledge such a gathering had never happened before! In a world sorely in need of reconciling love of Christ, this would be a Service of Christian Witness because of the very presence of the people who would come together in this place. I began to realize that this was much more than an opportunity to qlimpse the Bishop of Rome. It was an event in history. The Church had taken several hundred years to become so broken. Now I was present in this one small piece of time in which the scandalous division of Christ's Body would move close to wholeness. Time passed quickly. A cloud bank mercifully blocked the sun. Suddenly excitement rose in the east stand: the headlights of of the approaching motorcade were visible. Soon a car after the flashing-lighted car pulled into the lot at the south end of the stadium. A car full of standing Secret Service men stopped; they piled out like clowns at a circus. Then the "popemo- bile" rounded the corner. As he left the vehicle John Paul II smiled and waved at us who could be seen over the edge of the stadium. Shortly the pontiff in white garb stepped into the center of an arc of colorful clerics. The hymn "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee" ended and his holiness Pope John Paul II greeted us, "Brothers and Sisters, the peace of the Lord be with you." Over 60,000 people answered, "And peace be unto you." After silent prayer the choir sang "Lord Have Mercy" in Russian - Gospoddi Po Miliu - recalling the 1000th anniversary of Christianity in Russia. The service continued with readings, hymns, the homily, prayers, and then the gathered faithfully joined hands and prayed together in the words our Lord taught us, "Our Father...." And as we completed this prayer together, another prayer in another voice echoed in my ears. "I pray not only for these. but for those also who through their words will believe me. May they all be one. Father, may they be one in us. Continued Page - Planning Underway for Second Annual Crop Walk The second annual Jackson County Crop Walk (for hunger), set for October 11, at 2:00 PM is drawing broad representation from WCU. At the recent recruitment rally September 17, at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, details of this exciting walk were heard with nearly 30 persons representing Campus, Church, and Community. The following campus groups (represented at the rally) are actively recruiting walkers: Fraternities and Sororities: Zeta Tau Alpha; Phi Mu Lambda Chi Alpha Kappa Kappa Psi Sigma Phi Epsilon Crop Walk '86 Campus Ministry Groups: Baptist Student Union Lutheran Campus Ministry Wesley Foundation Catholic Campus Ministry Presbyterian Campus Ministry Other Campus Groups: Center for Development of Mountain Living (CMIL) International Student Organization Monogram (W) Club Several other campus groups unable to attend the rally are getting Involved too. Last year walkers raised nearly $4,000. This year's Crop Walk organizers have set goals of 200 walkers and $5,000. The money is raised as walkers secure pledges per kilometer from friends and neighbors. Each walker, after completing the 10 kilometer, collects the money and turns it in to CROP organizers. Of the funds raised, 25% stays in Jackson County to help the Home Delivered Meals program and local food distribution ministries. Seventy-five percent goes to Church World Service and other hunger relief agencies as designated by sponsors. "We walk because they walk" is the slogan for CROP/CHURCH WORLD SERVICE. Frances Daniel, ;s'.C. CROP representative told recruiters at the rally, 'so .many people in the world walk for miles just to get a bur. ket of water or medical care....You walk to identify with them." It's not too late to get your group involved in this outreach project. Call Sam Hale (293-5523) or Bill Mehle (293-5487) for all the details. If you want individually to pledge financial support or to walk, contact one of the above campus groups. Stagecoach and wagon rides are only a few of the attractions along with puppets, petting zoo and face painting offered for childred WCU Students: Who Are They And Where Do They Come From ? By Steve Almasy Feature Writer If every rumor that I have heard about Western Carolina was true, then this campus would be smothered with freshman guys from Florida. The truth is a lot of rumors about the total number of students, the guy to girl ratio, and the number of people from Florida are just rumors. Let's take a look at what is really the case. Rumor: There are over 6,000 students at WCU. Answer: True and false. When enrollment figures are done WCU considers students enrolled in programs in Asheville and Cherokee in addition to Cullowhee. According to the 1984-1985 Fact Book compiled by the Office For Institutional Studies and Planning, there were 6,131 students classified under Resident Credit Enrollment. Of those 4,826 were full- time undergraduates on the Cullowhee campus. Add to that 245 graduate students and you get a total of 5,071 students in Cullowhee for the 1984 Fall term. Rumor: there is a 2 to 1 (or more) guy to girl ratio. Answer: False. According to the Fact Book, of the 6,131 resident figure, the breakdown was almost even. There were 3,102 males and 3,029 females. So much for a guy's excuse that he can't get a girl because of a bad ratio. The similar rumor that there are more guys on campus is partially true. There are about 3,000 people who live on campus of which 1,600 are male. Rumor: There are 1,500 freshmen. Answer: You guessed it, false. Those of you who said a little over 1,000 were closer. Each year over 2,500 people apply to WCU. About 2,100 get accepted but of those only 50 percent enroll. The Fact Book shows that from 1980- 1984 an average, freshman class had 1,200 people. It is important to remember that all new faces are not freshmen. Each year about 350 people transfer to WCU. Add this to a crop of freshmen and you can get about 1,500 new faces each year. Final rumor: 30 percent of Western students are from Florida. Answer: Not even close. Florida is the highest contributor of out-of- state students but only about six percent of students at Western are from the land of sunshine. In fact, only about 14 percent of WCU students are out-of-state. Another interesting fact: There are more students from Jackson County then from Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina combined. These are just a few rumors that I found to be interesting but false. If there are any more then the Fact Book can probably set the record straight. It can not answer every question though. Like why did 37 women sign up for married housing in 1984 and only 30 men. Now that's how rumors get started. <Tbe brothers of Sigma ^hi "EpsiCon 'Wish the Cats the (Rest ofLucl<i Against TLast Tennessee State GO CATS! THE JACKSON COUNTY PEACE NETWORK By Nancy Bryant Staff Writer Since the first use of the atomic bomb in warfare, when the U.S. virtually destroyed Hiroshima in 1945, the subject of nuclear war has been both a frightening and a controversial issue. Stance supporters of nuclear war justify that attack forty-two years, by claiming that, had the bombing of Hiroshima not occurred, Japan would not be such a thriving nation today. On the other side of the fence stand those in opposition to nuclear arms. Like countless other groups in the U.S., the Jackson County Peace Network remembered the bombing of Hiroshima as a tragedy. The organization held a candlelight vigil in front of the Jackson County Public Library on August 6 of this year, as much in honor of those who lives were lost in the bombing, as in protest of nuclear war. Affiliated with the North Carolina Committee for Sane Nuclear Policy, the Jackson County Peace Network was founded in 1983, as a result of a nuclear arms race conference held on campus in the fall of 1982. First coordinated by Dr. Barry Nathan, an active member of Physicians for Social Responsibility, and formerly a practicing physician in Sylva, J.C.P.N, was initially called Jackson County Citizens for Nuclear Arms Freeze. According to Dr. Ed Prince, an instructor in the WCU Department of Political Science and Sociology, and the current coordinator of the Jackson County Peace Network, organization seeks to educate the community on peace Issues. J.C.P.N.'s education committee, headed by Pat Montee, provides materials on those issues for use in local schools. The organization also sponsors, in area high schools, the Vision of Peace Contest, in which students participate in various areas of competition, including essay, visual arts, and performing arts. However active In the local community, the Jackson County Peace Network does not limit itself to such a small scale, and recognizes the importance of making progress concerning nuclear policies on a national level, as well. Dr. Price said that the group is involved in lobbying Congressmen and Senators in Washington. J.C.P.N, is petitioning Congress to cut off American funds for nuclear testing, as long as Russia doesn't engage in nuclear testing. This proposal, according to Dr. Price, has just been pried loose from a Republican filibuster, and is expected to come to a vote in the Senate in the next couple of weeks. It is part of the defense bill package to be voted on. Dr. Price, who also serves on the national board of Sane/Freeze Organization, encourages anyone interested in the Jackson County Peace Network to become Involved in the fight for nuclear disarmament. Pamphlets and membership information may be obtained from Ron Arps, the organization's treasure, at Computer Works on campus.

The Western Carolinian is Western Carolina University's student-run newspaper. The paper was published as the Cullowhee Yodel from 1924 to 1931 before changing its name to The Western Carolinian in 1933.

• Creator
  • Western Carolina University
• Format
  • Publications (documents)
• Type
  • Text
• Date
  • Date original: 1987-09-24
  • Date digitized: 2019-04-11
• Extent
  • Dimension: 22.75" x 15"
  • Pages: 14 pages
• Subject - Topic
  • College student newspapers and periodicals
  • Cullowhee (N.C.) -- Newspapers
  • Universities and colleges -- North Carolina -- Cullowhee -- Newspapers
• Location
  • Jackson County (N.C.)
  • Cullowhee (N.C.)
• Source institution
  • Western Carolina University
• Source Collection
  • WCU Students Newspapers Collection
• Identifier
  • HL_WesternCarolinian_1987-09-24_Vol53_No07
• Repository
  • Western Carolina University Hunter Library