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Show editorials Awards Night Needs Reorganization For Success On Friday, March 20 the annual Westminster College Awards Night will be held in the Payne Gymnasium. Awards Night is meant as an opportunity to acknowledge students for their accomplishments in student government, clubs and organizations and scholarly pursuits. Unfortunately, it tends to take on the air of Wheel of Fortune instead of the Academy Awards. Awards Night is a two hour saga which includes the announcement of Scholarship recipients, a presentation of slides taken throughout the year, and recognition by organizations for those who made outstanding contributions. Sadly, it seems that most students who attend are merely interested in finding out whether they received scholarships. Thus, af ter the money is doled out, many of them leave. While we doubt that it is possible to change student attitudes towards Awards Night, we do think that if the announcement of scholarships were intermingled with the awards attendance could be retained. Increasing interest is another challenge that we think should be addressed. While we think it is important to give all student organizations an opportunity for their moment in the spotlight, some might be better handled at another time to shorten the endeavor of Awards Nights. We feel that Awards Night is worthwhile and hope that those who attend will do so to. Preview Needs More Than Panel staff photographer taking pictures of the event. Fortunately for all of us, the photoOn Friday, Feb. 6, Westminster will hold grapher had read that second issue. its first campus preview of the year. GeneralGoing from bad to worse, another questionly, a preview consists of prospective students able answer was given in response to a query coming to the campus and looking around to of what kinds of sports activities were availsee what the school offers. able on campus. "Well, we were getting a LaIn the past, there has been an effort by the crosse team together, but it sort of fizzled admissions office to contact student organiza- - out, was the comment made by a former tions so that they may participate in a fair, (and obviously disgruntled) team member. but as evidenced by the last preview held This statement would probably come as Dec. 5, this is not always true. I believe that quite a surprise to the ASWC Legislative Asfor the success f the previews to continue, ' there must be better communication between sembly members who just approved about $1500 for this "fizzled team. The answer was the current students and organizations and also a surprise to the Forum writer who had the admissions office to promote a more uni- - spent two weeks researching the Lacrosse fied atmosphere on campus. story which appeared in the Dec. 1 The Forum has always been a part of the Forum only four days before the panel and insult to injury campus previews. Not only have the editors preview took place. Adding also showed very little resmade themselves available during the actual the pect for himself, the team, the coach and the club and organization fair, but they have to coach in a derogaalways had on hand several back issues of the school by referring the Forum for prospective students to view so tory slang term. that they may get an idea of campus issues Although ASWC Vice President Rick and activities. a member of the panel, corrected the All of these efforts have apparently gone students answer, I believe the damage alunnoticed, not only by the administration but ready had been done. worse, by the students. Referring to the last Is this the impresssion we want to give campus preview held Dec. 5, not only were all clubs and organizations neglected, but prospective students? I think not. written material which the Forum had pubI feel that the admissions office should lished was also lost in the abyss. make an effort to schedule the club and orAlthough the usual fair did not take place ganization fair. in addition to the student (most clubs and organizations probably were panel. As I said before, the panel is a good idea for getting students to communicate; but not aware of the impending preview), the admissions office did set up a student panel of before they throw the panel into the lions den supposedly interested and informed students of prospective students, they should prepare to which prospective .students could pose them with a little seasoning," questions. Several copies of all Forum back issues are of The idea was a good one, yet lack proper kept in the Forum office, and there are some on file in the library. If panel members are planning and preparation may have denot willing to read the paper, perhaps the adSeveral usefulness. tracted from its potential could be missions staff would be better off searching questions came up whose answers in fall out back Forum , students who do read the Forum on a refound issues of the 1986 but the students on the panel had obviously gular basis. not read the Forum and either could not anForum readers are more likely to be aware swer the questions or answered them incor- of what is happening on campus and their inrectly. formation and responses will be based on fact To be specific, one question was raised of instead of rumors and personal disagreements. whether or not there were any peace organizations on campus. Had the students read Bring together the diverse aspects and peothe second issue of the Forum published on ple of the Westminster experience and you Sept. 19, they would have been aware that will better campus previews, and ultimately, the Ramptom Society was alive and well on the campus and all its students. Plan both our campus. fairs and panels for the previews. Plan on It was bad enough that none of the student having active and students to of had idea but the And last not least, but this, any panels. populate panel participants the situation became more bemusing when it plan on having a student newspaper which became apparent that the only person in the tries to be there when you need it; all you room who knew the answer was the 'Forum have to do is look. by Karin Jaffie) er An-dra- e, well-inform- Jan. 26, 1987 Issue No. 9 Forum 5 |