Lee College - Vindauga Yearbook (Cleveland, TN)

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The Enforcer So this man is responsible for student housing, counseling and testing, student aid, campus security, student activities, career planning and placement, and the discipline of wayward students. And, of course, discipline is the part of his job most people associate him with. Conse- quently, Dean of Students Paul E. Duncan has gotten the sort of negative image you would expect of the cowboy in the old westerns who always wore the black hat. He admits that somebody has to be willing to deal with things that need to be brought into question; the job all too frequently gets shoved his way: They expect that this office should be the one to deal with negatives, and that ' s not the way it should be. In a Christian com- munity we all should be responsible to each other. But someone has to be in charge of discipline. According to Duncan, it would help if students would realize that cer- tain things have to be done in order to live in a group setting. He hopes that he would be viewed as someone who ' s re- ally fair, who really cares, and somebody well identified with the overall mission of the college — making disciples. Duncan frequently is placed in the position of being both an advocate of students and the one who must bring their conduct into question. It ' s quite stressful for a man whose whole back- ground and training has been in the helping profession to have to bring charges against a student. I don ' t go out looking for people who have violated regulations, Duncan says, but they are referred to his office by other people. They are invited in for a conference so the issue can be discussed; it ' s not a CIA-style interroga- tion with bright lights and broad sweep- ing accusations. The method used by In a community setting, you frequently have to give up certain individual free- doms for the benefit of the whole. Dean Duncan is simply saying, This is what I ' ve heard — what do you have to say about it? Each problem is dealt with on an individual basis. Sometimes, says the Dean, it ' s just a matter of counseling and persuasion — bringing to the atten- tion of the student that his behavior is not acceptable and that ' s done with — it ' s been handled. Other times though, Duncan admits, People ' s behavior re- sults in the interruption of their studies. People often have trouble understand- ing why some students can stay while others have to go. But this is no exam- ple of inconsistency. Being inconsistent, according to Dean Duncan, is not in dealing with all cases the same way, but dealing with one and failing to deal with another. Dean Duncan does not believe that even such severe measures as sus- pension or expulsion are contrary to the biblical concepts of love and forgiveness. He states, The college needs to be forgiving and longsuffering even when it ' s necessary to interrupt someone ' s studies. We frequently show our forgiv- ing spirit by saying ' Look, we care about you, we ' ll help you in your plans, but you ' re not allowed to remain here. ' People often need fairly drastic mea- sures to change some of their less than healthy perspectives. When that change has been effected, Duncan says, We show our forgiveness and willingness to help them by allowing them to return. And there are several students on cam- pus now to testify to that. We do have Sometimes it ' s just a matter of counsel- ing and persuasion — bringing to the at- tention of the student that his behavior is not acceptable and that ' s done with — it ' s been handled. a ministry of reconciliation and of grace, Duncan declares. And part of that min- istry is to help students grow from the experience. We don ' t need to buy a worldly philosophy about failur e, Duncan says. In some areas of life failure may be inevitable, but a person doesn ' t have to see that as the end of everything. When you fail, Duncan advises, ac- knowledge it, take a look at what went wrong, and try to deal with it. A lot of people misunderstand the purposes of the various rules and regu- lations the college has. It ' s not a process of trying to change people ' s beliefs through legislation, and if that were so Duncan doubts that anyone ' s mind is being changed. Still, he states, Lee Col- lege is a private college with a particular mission — it didn ' t just happen that way. It was planned and designed to be dif- ferent, and built around Christian prin- ciples, rules and regulations that are designed to fulfill that mission. It ' s not that the college refuses to recognize the rights of each student as an adult, but that part of that maturity is realizing that in a community setting, you fre- quently have to give up certain individ- ual freedoms for the benefit of the whole. That ' s part of the responsibility a student takes on when he chooses the overall package of the college. Changes in the rules are necessary and a welcome part of the college ' s growth process. Duncan says, As times change, cultural norms change. As we begin to recognize a difference between tradition and biblical principles, we ' ll see changes in areas like that. If there ' s a change to be made, it ' s discussed with I don ' t go out looking for people who have violated regulations. 16 DEAN DUNCAN BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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Moving Up One of the many cost cutting devices the school put into effect for this year was the creation of the position of the Associate Dean of the College. At one time there were separate deans for the divisions of Education, Religion, and Arts and Sciences. Now Dr. Ollie Lee handles all these responsibilities from one office, so that instead of three part-time deans and part-time teachers, there is one full- time dean and three full-time teachers serving as department chairmen. The Associate Dean ' s responsibilities are to help administer the academic pro- grams of the college. Part of that re- sponsibility is the maintenance of the academic distribution requirement called the General Education Core, the list of courses required of all students; the six hours of history, the eight hours of lab science, the two hours of P.E., and so on, required by the Dean ' s office for f graduation. Most students know well the ist on pages 33 and 34 of the 81-82 catalog. Some students question why they are required to take courses outside of their field. Dr. Lee states that the common core is really the heart and soul of the college education. One of the tragedies of the prolifera- tion of knowledge and the tremendous super-specialization, Dr. Lee continues, is that we have lost sight of the practi- cal value of basic knowledge. It is practical. We ' re talking about the kinds of learnings that are essential to the effective functioning of any person as a citizen, as a church member, as a pro- fessional or in other occupational posi- tions, as a parent, and as a member of volunteer organizations. The ability to function at a minimum intellectual level is something that all college graduates ought to be able to expect of their institution. The sole purpose of education is not merely to provide occupational training, or to thereby guarantee financial suc- cess. Especially not for Christians. Dr. Lee says, There are some values we hold very dear other than occupational values. There are some goals and objec- tives which we as a Christian college share that cannot be put in materialistic terms. These goals and values must be reflected in the distribution requirements of our curriculum. What then is the useful, practical pur- Eose of this expensive requirement? Dr. ee answers, The real criteria for usefulness ought to be such things as what kinds of lifestyles are formed after having this college experience, what kinds of basic value commitments does one One of the tragedies of the proliferation of knowledge and tremendous super-special- ization is that we have lost sight of the practical value of basic knowledge. build his life around. With these stan- dards in mind, Dr. Lee states that pure- ly occupational values rate low on the list. There are several elements that Dr. Lee mentions as being essential to aca- demic success. One of the things that is THE LOVE OF KNOWLEDGE If we aren ' t the leaven of the lump in society, then what ' s the hope for society? ' very crucial is a feeling of the impor- tance of academic work apart from this thing of usefulness. Dr. Lee also men- tions religious commitment as a surpris- ing factor that seems to play a substantial role in being a good student. Another important ingredient accord- ing to Dr. Lee is a basic sense of self-security. He explains, If I were to do a personality profile of the student who ' s likely to be successful, I would ask ' Does he feel comfortable when he ' s alone and can ' t think of anything in the world to do but study? ' if that panics him, if that makes him depressed, then he ' s going to have a hard time. A good student has enough sense of self securi- ty to endure that and feel good about tnat kind of situation. One of the essential elements is and always has been hard work. Dr. Lee says, Students who have enough drive can overcome a lot of limitations. There is a distinct and designed dif- ference in academics at a Christian school. Not that there is an entirely different set of facts from what students would get at a secular institution, but that there is a different philosophical framework for those truths. That Chris- tian perspective makes a difference in how the teacher views his role with his students. We have some of the best teachers you ' ll find anywhere, Dr. Lee states. The percentage of teachers holding the top degree in their field is much higher than one might find at other colleges or universities. But the difference goes beyond that. The faculty, according to Dr. Lee, also serve as Christian role models, inside the classroom and out. Dr. Lee sees the role of academic education as an important advantage in the Christian life, preparing students to cope with their own problems as well as those of a world in desperate need of the full ministries of Christ. To fail to provide that training is not only shameful, but dangerous. Dr. Lee puts it this way, If we aren ' t the leaven of the lump in society, then what ' s the hope for society? —RKO 15

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the students, through groups like the President ' s Council on Student Affairs or the SGA. It would be disastrous, Duncan concedes, to fall into a trap of trying to catalog every prohibition. So students are an important part of the rule making process, aiding the Dean ' s office in setting principles broad enough to allow for flexibility and personal ex- pression. One of the most rewarding aspects of the Dean of Students ' job is the oppor- tunity to see students grow. A lot of students spend a while trying to find out what they ' re doing here at Lee. I ' ve seen a change in most of them, Dean Duncan says, from a grappling, trying to find out where they fit in, what it ' s really all about, and how to approach When you fail, acknowledge it, take a look at what went wrong, and try to deal with it. the college, and then getting involved in it and really developing themselves. Duncan regrets that he fails to express often enough to students his belief that there are people here that God is going to use in a marvelous way, adding, God has given them certain gifts and talents, and He ' s going to use them tremendously. The greatest thing Paul E. Duncan has learned in his tenure as Dean of Stu- dents is not to panic. It ' s so easy to panic, he says, when you ' re involved in a very difficult situation that involves parents, students, church officials, facul- ty, and you don ' t see any way out of it. People may not be willing to look at all the facts or have them available, and it becomes easy to get anxious. The best advice that Dean Duncan has found is to deliberately look at it, let it set, and expect that God will help you work things out. He explains why. Frequent- ly we get into more difficulties when we get into a hurry and make some wrong decision that we wouldn ' t have made if we had just acknowledged our depen- dence upon Him. To some, he admits, that may be considered a spiritual copout; but Dean Duncan is convinced that a practical faith is essential to successful living. If you ' re really doing what God wants you to do, he concludes, you will have difficult times, but God will see you through. —RKO Frequently we get into more dif- ficulties when we get into a hurry and make some wrong decision that we wouldn ' t have made if we had just acknowledged our dependence upon Him. Who ' s in Charge Here? The Lee College Board of Directors has had a relatively busy year. They have had to make many administrative decisions concerning where to cut and where to add as well as many other decisions that have and will affect the lives of many students. As far as ninety-nine percent of the administrative decisions dealing with fac- ulty and staff are concerned, President Conn is the final decision-maker. How- ever, upon President Conn ' s announce- ment of his resignation, the Board of Directors were brought to make a deci- sion unique to this year. The recom- mendation was Dr. Ray H. Hughes. The recommendation was brought before the Executive Committee of the Clmn h of God for approval. I hus, we see ihe chain of authority for fee College. Kx- cept for polic) decisions, the President is usually the final step on the ladder. The Board of Directors is over the President and the Executive Committee of the Church of God is over the Board of Directors. Dr. Paul Laverne Walker is chairman of the Board of Directors. He has prayerfully led the Board of Directors in what has been considered the most critical year in the history of the college. The Board of Directors, 1981-1982 Dr. Paul L. Walker, Chairman H. W. Babb Paul F. Barker John E. Black Elton Chalk Robert E. Daugherty Bill Higginbotham David Poitier William H. Pratt Richard L. Tyler, ] Cleo Watts THE LOVE OF KNOWLEDGE 17