Furman University - Bonhomie Yearbook (Greenville, SC)

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RIGHT: A Furman Ircshman introduces himselt to President and Mrs. Blackwell. BELOW LEFT: Dr. Blackwell and Freshman Rats cheer tor a successful year. BELOW RIGHT: Both Mr. Kendrick and Dr. Blackwell show concern tor the game's outcomo. OPPOSITE PAGE: Dr. Charles H. Townes addresses Alumni during Furman's Homecoming activities in the new Townes Auditorium. 26 President

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BONHOMIE: What do you consider Furman’s main asset in attracting the top quality student? DR. BLACKWELL: Furman's main asset in attracting good students is the quality of the faculty with an emphasis upon effective teaching and meaningful relationships between students and faculty. BONHOMIE: Students have questioned Furman's link with the South Carolina Baptist Convention. Exactly what is the link? DR. BLACKWELL: Furman's charter, which was secured from the State of South Carolina by the South Carolina Baptist Convention in 1850. provides that the Convention shall elect the Trustees and their successors from year to year. Under the charter the Trustees have authority to determine policy for the operation of the institution. In addition, the Convention currently is providing more than half a million dollars annually toward Furman's budget of more than seven million dollars. Of the Baptist support, almost half is for the current operating budget. Without this support, we would have to increase tuition and other costs to students or allow the quality of our program to deteriorate. BONHOMIE: Students are concerned with the amount of money used for campus beautification. Exactly what percent of Furman’s budget is used for this purpose and why? DR. BLACKWELL: The quality and beauty of our campus has undoubtedly attracted a great deal of financial support. People like to support something of quality and the physical facilities of the college are most visible to the public. Wise long-range planning for development of the campus is largely responsible for its beauty, not exorbitant sums of money for beautification. Furman has a smaller proportion of its budget in maintenance of plant and grounds than do most other colleges of our type, as revealed in a recent study. BONHOMIE: You keep up with student opinion. What is your main source of information? Do students approach you personally with problems? DR. BLACKWELL: We have tried to encourage a spirit of openness on the campus, including open lines of communication. In this we have achieved some success. My sources of information concerning student opnion include the President of Student Government who sits weekly with the Administrative Council and with whom I confer frequently, the Student Advisory Committee which is a representative group of 32 student leaders meeting with me monthly, the occasional fireside chats which I hold in the Student Center, talks with individual students, and frequent discussions with staff members in the Division of Student Affairs. Occasionally I talk with students about their personal problems and have been in a counseling relationship with a few students over an extended period of time. BONHOMIE: As top Executor of Furman, what social events do you enjoy most during the year? DR. BLACKWELL: Mrs. Blackwell and I enjoy most the opportunities to be with students in small, informal groups, often in our home. Junior-Senior is one of the social highlights for us. We also enjoy concerts, plays and athletic events. President Blackwell 25

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Dr. Charles H. Townes, Nobel Prize winner of 1964 and Furman alumnus, discussed future space exploration by the United States at a special alumni seminar during Homecoming activities on campus. The future of the space program will be decided by the President and Congress after reviewing the recommendations by a space task force. Townes told alumni and guests following the dedication of John L. Pyler Science Hall Auditorium in his honor. His mother. Mrs. Henry K. Townes, unveiled a plaque in his honor at the ceremony. Dr. Townes suggested that the space program could be a source of world unity. “It would be much happier for Russia to join in. he said, if all openly shared all information and work. The cost of the space program was also discussed by Dr. Townes. Explaining the recommendations of the task force of six billion to two billion dollars, he continued. “We have a middle of the road budget, but we must continue exploration of the moon.” Dr. Townes concluded that what space means to man will determine the kind of program.