Augusta College - White Columns Yearbook (Augusta, GA)

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AUGUSTA L 4 ' «:» leai • —

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1969 WHITE COLUMNS • VOLUME 12 • AUGUSTA COLLEGE THIS IS AUGUSTA COLLEGE AC represents that unprecendented innova- tion in higher education known as the commuter college. In a general sense, its problems are the problems of all commuter schools; at the same time, however, the problems are singular be- cause of the various types of people they concern. As a result, each unique situation requires a unique solution. One of the basic problems AC must confront is evidenced by the philosophy associated with a commuter college. This philosophy advocates that non-dormitory institutions be placed on a geographical basis within commuting distance of all prospective students. However, the lack of expansion area in the immediate vicinity hinders the advancement of both the college system and the students ' learning. The absence of participation and enthusiasm among students, both on intellectual and social levels, results in feelings of disillusionment and a sense of isolation; a feeling of having been denied an important aspect which contributes to the healthful atmosphere encompassing student life. Closely related to this last problem is the image of the college experience which tends to be identified with larger, more prestegious dormitory institutions. Students observe their college friends ' attendance of other schools, who report glorious accounts of their first experi- ences away from home. The student easily recog- nizes personality changes in his friends. Some students convince themselves that AC offers these same experiences. Soon, however, this false conception crumbles and AC is bared for what it is, a lowly commuter school. Once again dissatisfaction and disinterest insue. The result is the transfer of many students while others continue, nursing a cynical, often bitter, attitude towards themselves and their entrap- ments. This presents yet another problem. Many students turn to part or full-time jobs; partial satisfaction becomes available in the form of monetary rewards. Soon AC becomes an ob- stacle to be systematically overcome. Classes are scheduled around job requirements. Day students begin to spill over into the night school, leaving more time in the afternoons or mornings for work. Seen in this light, AC has been gradu- ally changed from an institution of learning to a purely mechanical structure attended solely for the purpose of gaining further monetary rewards which usually accompany a college graduate degree. New programs are urgently needed to combat the devastating stagnation of student interest. Allowances will have to be made, not only for the working students who do not fully partake of the college experience, but also for the full- time students who look to AC as a means of satisfying a very definite emotional and intellec- tual need.

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The days begin and end with the traffic rush — people rushing here, people rushing there. The streets are filled with cars and buses. Students form a large part of A ugusta ' s population. They seldom recognize that Augusta is a growing city. To them Augusta is home.