Stetson Commons 1990-2-2

Fall 1990 Volume II No. 2 Stacey Gamete, a Stetson junior, and her dad, Bemie Garnett of Lakeland, keep in stepduringherparents'recent visit to campus for Parents Weekend. December commencement continues old tradition Around 100 students, including 24 graduate students, will receive degrees in December this year, in the first mid-academic-year commencement at Stetson in 40 years. Stetson once had commencements after every quarter, but since switching to the semester system about 1950, the ceremony has been held only in May and August. Stetson Provost Louis F. Brakeman said the idea for the December commencement came from the graduating students. "They wanted to 'commence' when they were done," he said, rathet than wait until May. The Dec. 16 commencement, to be staged at 1:30 p.m. in Elizabeth Hall, will be more intimate than the May ceremony in which around 500 degrees are usually awarded. "It will feel very much like a summer commencement, although there will be a few more students," Dr. Brakeman said. Stetson Chancellor Pope A. Duncan, the university's president from 1977-1987, who holds advanced degrees in both physics and church history, will be the December commencement speaker. Stetson opens heart to parents, Greenfeather Stetson welcomed more than 400 families of students to Parents Weekend this fall. It was the largest Parents Weekend ever, said Rodney Ellis, director of the Carlton Union Building and coordinator for the weekend. The campus hummed all weekend, with the Greenfeather Carnival Friday night and the Parents Weekend Follies Saturday night. A Stover Theatre farce, "Charley's Aunt," sold out both nights, and the School of Music opera performance of "Dido and Aeneas" also drew large crowds. Saturday morning saw 40 students and parents competing in a tennis tournament, and 14 teams on the golf course. A picnic brought 600 parents and students to the Forest of Arden, and parents spent the afternoon sampling mock classes and meeting professors. Greenfeather, in which all segments of the campus pull together to raise money for charity, had begun earlier in the week, with Jim Lather of Venice and Julie Case of Clearwatet as student chairpersons. Events included the Miss Greenfeather and Mr. Beauty contests, Movie Night Out, Hattet's Night Out, a Rock-a-thon, a Fun Run, and a Chalk Art contest. About $13,400 was raised through student events, Ellis said. Faculty and staff pledges brought $13,800, and are still coming in, he added. The money will go to local charities. University proposal approved by Florida Baptists A proposal by Stetson President H. Douglas Lee and Dr. John Sullivan, executive director of the Florida Baptist Convention, to reduce the convention's funding of Stetson and change its participation in selecting Stetson trustees, passed overwhelmingly at the state Baptist meeting in Tampa Nov. 13. It will reduce the FBC contribution to Stetson by about $400,000 over rhe next five years. From 1995 to the year 2000, the FBC will commit a half-million dollars a year towatd establishing an FBC endowment fund at the university. Stetson will raise and add $3 million to the fund, and its income will be used for Baptist student scholarships and "other areas consistent with our role as a Christian institution," according to Dr. Lee. The ten-year period of the arrangement Parents Council mulls funding, The Presidenr's Parents Council, led by Chairman Ed Shelton of DeLand and Midlothian, Va., met during Parents Weekend for lunch and discussions with Presidenr H. Dougas Lee and Provost Louis F. Brakeman. Three sub-committees also met: ♦ The Parents Fund sub-committee set a 1990-91 fund-raising goal of $100,000, which members plan to raise through personal contacts. ♦ The Career Planning and Placement subcommittee received an update on previous recommendations. Newly-hired assistant director Catherine Deithorn is now meeting with students in small groups to discuss placement services. Dr. Judy Wright, Counseling Center director, described its services, including independent programs, individual career will allow Stetson to find new sources to replace the convention funds. The agreement alters trustee selection by incteasing the number of members on the nominating committee and requiring that nominees be reported to the convention rathet than approved by it. The Stetson charter requirement that 18 of its 24 trustees be Baptists was not changed. Stetson will remain committed to its long Baptist tradition, Dr. Lee said. "Florida Baptists give Stetson a sense of integrity, responsibility and distinction Stetson would not otherwise have," he said. "Stetson has always been and will always be a Christian university, permanently linked to the Baptist heritage and the churches of the Florida Baptist Convention." admissions, placement counseling, and a Winter Term class designed to help students with career decisions. The committee also approved Parents Council participation in Stetson's Collegiate Career Netwotk program, which helps current and past students network with alumni and parents for assistance in job placement and relocation. ♦ The Admissions sub-committee reviewed questions on a survey now being taken of parents of high school seniors who contact Stetson for information. The survey is designed to find out where parents get their information about colleges and which sources they trust, said Dean of Admissions Linda Glover. The group was also encouraged to network with othet parents and to be alert to student recruiting opportunities in their hometowns.