Stetson Commons 1995-5-1

COMMONS Fall 1995 A Newsletter for Families of Stetson Students Volume V — No. 1 Rachel Ward, DeLand, left, and Lindsey Brown, Jacksonville, are 1995 FOCUS leaders. Ward is president of the Student Qovernment Association, Alpha Xi Delta sorority rush party chair and a panhellenic council representative. A psychology major, she is featured in this year's back-to-school issue of Florida Leader (inset), a magazine for Florida college students. Brown, a sociology major, is vice-president of the SQA, and a member of Apha Chi Omega. Both are involved in the Youth Motivators and the Student Ambassador Programs. Stetson, Florida Baptist Convention sever ties 7 Stetson University and the Florida Baptist Convention have agreed to sever all remaining formal ties. Stetson will return to the Convention the $568,000 principal from a 50-year-old endowment fund for pre-ministe- rial scholarships. Stetson's duPont Library will retain control of the Baptist collection, to which Florida Baptists will continue to have full access. "Stetson had not wished to walk away from its historic partnership, but it was clear several years ago that ultimately formal separarion would be the only means by which either Stetson or the Convention could maintain integrity of purpose," President Doug Lee said. The Stetson University Board of Trustees endorsed the final separation agreement during its Sept. 15 meeting. After the Florida Baptist State Convention acts on it in November, a legal document containing rhe rerms of the agreement, which both parties will sign, will replace all previous agreements between Florida Baptists and Stetson. The century-long relationship has resulted in the development of strong leaders for the denomination, outstanding musicians for Baptist churches, and continuing education opportunities like the summer camps for Baptist lay persons and the Winter Pastor's School. The Convention was at one time Stetson's largest single ■donor, but funding has declined steadily from 'more than $1 million a year in 1987 to less than $20,000 in 1994- Lee noted that the focus of both institutions has changed with the growing complexity of modern life. Florida and Southern Baptist funds, he said, increasingly are being allocated away from higher education to the growing needs of church development. Stetson's primary focus "is to provide its students with an academically rigorous learning environment which supports their continued development as socially responsible adults." The Convention will continue to fund the ministerial scholarships through May 1996, when they will be absorbed into the more than $5 million in merit and need-based scholarships Stetson funds each year. Annual gifts from the Convention have been replaced by the Challenge Fund, with more than $700,000 in annual gifts, primarily from Stetson trustees and advisory board members. Stetson's cutrent endowment totals $72 million. "We firmly believe there is a need for an institution like Stetson University, where young people can receive an academically excellenr university experience in an atmos-phere that encourages them to deal with con-temporary issues in the context of a religious commitment," Lee said. "Stetson will seek ways, through the newly organized interfaith Stetson University Church Relations Council, to develop working relationships with indivi-duals and churches, whatever their denomination, who wish to become associated with us. We remain deeply committed to mainraining a strong campus ministry program." Members of the PPC share conversation at last year's Family Weekend meeting. Left to right: Judy Smout, Clearwater; John Paulk, Ruskin; and Frank Richter, Ponte Vedra. Come to campus on family weekend Circle October 20-22, 1995 — Stetson University's Family Weekend. Spend time with your student on campus and interact with faculty and administrators. Experience campus tours, classes with your student, a concert by the Stetson Symphonic Wind Ensemble, a Stover production or soccer competition, eating at the cafeteria and meeting new friends. Registration forms are in the mail. Tickets for most events are free but must be reserved. The picnic is $6 for adults and $4 for children under 12. B.S.U. Dinner Theatre tickets are $7.50 for adults and $4 for children under 12. Show your school spirit and order a souvenir T-shirt for only $8! The student coordinator of the Family Weekend committee is Jennifer Righi, Palm Harbor. Other committee members are: Tom Kellett, Columbus, Ga.; Albert Yonfa, Orlando; Nicki Schaeffer, Coconut Creek; Michael Pickett, Valrico; Kelly Pentz, Plantation; Melissa Dugger, Tallahassee; April Farson, Satellite Beach; Tina Pappas, New Smyrna Beach; Courtney Thurber, Coral Springs; and Robert Masucci, Jacksonville. The President's Parents Council will meet Friday, October 20, during Family Weekend. Stetson is committed to remaining one of the most responsive and competitive universities in the nation, according to President Doug Lee, who organized the PPC in 1980 to create a representative advisory group of parents providing feed-back to the university. PPC members play an active role in enhancing their student's educational experience through service to areas that impacr the university's success: admissions, campus life, career planning and fund-raising. They will wear special nametags at Saturday activities. Share your ideas and interest with them. If you have any questions about the PPC, contact Myrna Bizer, Parents Program director, at 904-822-7453 or write to Campus Box 8279, DeLand, FL 32720-3777. Don't forget to send in your registration form. See you at the Stetson Safari!