December 9, 2002
Long known for having generous “angels,” Western once again is helping
support the Jackson County Christmas Store through Angel Wings, a
program sponsored by the Department of Residential Living.
The Christmas Store, located at the Baptist Student Center, allows
parents in need, as designated by the Jackson County Department of
Social Services, to purchase Christmas gifts for their children at the greatly
reduced price of ten cents on the dollar. More than 700 children received
Christmas gifts through the
store last year.
The Angel Wings program
allows individuals to support
the Christmas Store in several
ways. A monetary donation
may be made in the form of
cash or check made payable to
the Jackson County Christmas
Store and sent to the Depart-ment
of Residential Living in a
sealed envelope. The donation
must be sent with an Angel
Wings contribution form,
which can be obtained at the Department of Residential Living office,
located on the ground floor of Scott Residence Hall.
A merchandise contribution can be given by selecting an ornament
from an Angel Wings tree on campus and purchasing the item described.
The new and unwrapped gift with receipt, along with the ornament,
should be taken to the Department of Residential Living office. Angel
Wings trees are located in Brown and Dodson cafeterias and at A.K. Hinds
University Center, H.F. Robinson Administration Building and the
Department of Residential Living office. Western students, faculty and
staff may contact the Department of Residential Living at 227-7303 to
request an ornament be sent through campus mail.
Individuals also may volunteer time at the Christmas Store. For store
hours, call the Baptist Student Center at 293-9030.
“For fifteen years I have been a part of this program, and every year is a
deeply touching experience. Over $35,000 is generated each year through
compassion for others,” said the Reverend Wanda Kidd of the WCU
Baptist Student Center.
Gifts will be accepted until noon on Wednesday, December 18, at the
Department of Residential Living office. For more information, contact
the department at 227-7303.
This is the time of year that we enjoy
celebrating the spirit of the season. We
reflect on accomplishments and make plans
for a new year.
Uppermost in all of our minds is the
tight financial situation of the state and
Western. Just as in not so good times, a
family sticks together and weathers the
storm. Our Western family has pulled
together, just as a family pulls together,
to weather the tight financial times. I
commend the cooperation and hard work
all of you are doing to help get us through
this time. This is further proof of your
dedication to this university.
Western has a lot to look forward to in
the coming year. Construction projects
are progressing with several being com-pleted
in the upcoming months. We’ve
taken the construction upheaval in stride
and continued to teach and work. Even
though Western topped the 7,000 student
mark this fall, we will strive to work on
increasing enrollment for next year and
the future.
We have achieved a lot this year by
working together for the good of the univer-sity.
I hope the spirit of cooperation and
diligence will continue as we embrace the
challenges of the new year.
Deborah joins me in wishing you and
your family a happy holiday!
Sincerely,
John Bardo
Chancellor
Program Helps Support
County Christmas Store
Students begin to collect toys for the Angel
Wings program. Pictured from left to right
are Bryant Barnett, Alison Lyons, and
Courtney Sandler.
D e c e m b e r 9 , 2 0 0 2 • T h e R e p o r t e r
When Western faculty member Linda
Culpepper began researching the history
of African-American churches in Western
North Carolina two years ago, she had
no idea her work would evolve into “a
great intellectual, academic, and spiritual
journey,” but that is exactly what
happened.
Culpepper, visiting lecturer in history,
was just looking for some reliable records
to use in writing the dissertation for her
doctoral degree, but her work led her to
Mud Creek Missionary Baptist Church, a
little church in Henderson County that
was founded by African-Americans in
1867. It turned out that the church was in
dire financial condition, with its handful
of remaining members saddled with a
$14,000 mortgage they couldn’t pay from
a 1996 construction project.
Culpepper, captivated by the church’s
rich history, and not wanting to see it lost,
alerted the local media to the church’s
plight this past June. The New York
Times wire service picked up the story and
distributed it nationwide, and suddenly
donations started coming in, including a
single $14,400 gift from an anonymous
donor that covered the entire mortgage.
Culpepper said she is heartened that
the story had a happy ending for the
church, but takes none of the credit for
herself. “Mud Creek Church was saved
because of its historical significance.
People responded to the history,” she said.
Culpepper’s interest in the history of
African-American churches in WNC
began two years ago when she was looking
for a topic on which to base a seminar.
She was living in Sylva and commuting to
the University of Tennessee at Knoxville
to work on her doctoral degree in history,
but she needed a topic to investigate
closer to home.
A historian friend suggested that
Culpepper research a black commune that
was located on the South Carolina-North
Carolina line during the post-Civil War
years. In looking for information,
Culpepper discovered there were several
African-American churches in Henderson
County during those years, and
“church records, when you can find
them, are an excellent source on
people and families,” she said.
Culpepper contacted the Mud
Creek pastor, who surprised her by
saying the church still had possession
of most of its old records. Culpepper
told the church members she would
write a church history for them if they
would assist her in her research.
“Historians are supposed to be
objective and removed, but that
was impossible,” Culpepper said.
“Once I met these folks, they just
welcomed me in. It was an immediate
connection.”
Culpepper has spoken at Mud
Creek Church’s Homecoming for the
past several years, and she joined with
church members again this past
September for a special Homecoming
event — the burning of the mortgage.
She also was able to deliver the
church history on that day, and the
members are selling it as a fund-raiser.
Culpepper donated copies of the
Mud Creek
Church history to
the special
collections
departments at
Western’s Hunter
Library and the
Appalachian
State University
library, the
Baptist collection
at Wake Forest
University, and
the Henderson
County Historical and Genealogical
Society.
Culpepper plans to continue her
research into “African-American commu-nity
building” in the region, with hopes of
obtaining her doctoral degree in the next
two years. Her work will take her to other
churches and communities as she seeks
information about the African-American
experience in post-Civil War Western
North Carolina, but she said her experi-ence
with the members of Mud Creek
Church will remain special.
Holiday on Parade
Western athletes show their spirit of the season as they participate in the annual Sylva
Christmas Parade December 3 in the downtown area.
Linda Culpepper
Historian’s Work with Church
Evolves into “Great Journey”
December 9, 2002–January 19, 2003
Look for regular updates on the university’s Web site at www.wcu.edu/cal.html
D e c e m b e r 9 , 2 0 0 2 • T h e R e p o r t e r
Key: $ - Admission fee; HA - Hoey Auditorium; HFR - H.F. Robinson Administration Building; HS/CF - Hennon Stadium/Childress
Field; MHC - Mountain Heritage Center; NSA - Natural Sciences Auditorium; RRAC - Ramsey Regional Activity Center; RH - Recital
Hall, Coulter Building; BB - Belk Building; UC - A.K. Hinds University Center; UOC - University Outreach Center; WS/BW -
Whitmire Stadium/Bob Waters Field; SSF - Shrader Soccer Field.
Submissions:
Send news items and calendar notices to
WCU Calendar, 1601 Ramsey Center,
Western Carolina University, Cullowhee,
North Carolina 28723 or
e-mail to Reporter@email.wcu.edu.
Submit items for the university’s
calendar online at least one week prior to
the event.
HHH Now Showing HHH
Exhibitions:
People of Fire. Joel Queen, WCU freshman and member of the pottery-making Bigmeat
family of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee, is working to recreate the technology and
patterning of ancient pottery and continuing the tradition with his own designs.
Through December 13, Chelsea Gallery, UC. (227-7206)
Let Justice Roll Down Like Waters, paintings and calligraphy by Kichung Lizeé.
Opening January 8 through February 6. Opening reception January 15, 4–6 p.m.,
Chelsea Gallery, UC. (227-7206)
North Carolina Women Making History. The trials, triumphs, and changing roles
of women during the past 400 years. Through December 2003. MHC. (227-7129)
Migration of the Scotch-Irish People. (Permanent exhibition). Information,
illustrations, artifacts, and murals. MHC. (227-7129)
Monday, December 9
Concert—WCU Jazz
Ensemble performing
original arrangements of
jazz big band selections,
8 p.m., RH. (227-7242)
Tuesday, December 10
Training Tuesday—
“Time Management II:
Taking Control of Your
Workday (part 2)” will
discuss effective time
management that helps
you get the right things
done. Professional Devel-opment
Track. Partici-pants
must attend all
three sessions to receive
credits. Registration
required. 9–noon, Room
404, BB. (227-2388 or
www.wcu.edu/hr/training)
Catamount basketball—vs.
North Greenville, 7 p.m.,
RRAC. (227-7338)
Thursday, December 12
Retirement reception—for
Judy Dowell, assistant to the
chancellor, 3:30-5:30 p.m.,
Room 323, BB.
Friday, December 13
Recital—Community
Chorus, 8 p.m., RH.
(227-7242)
Saturday, December 14
Fall commencement, 2 p.m.,
RRAC. (227-7413)
Monday, December 16
Meeting—mandatory pre-trip
meeting for Base Camp
Cullowhee “Winter in the
Florida Keys” trip, 5 p.m.,
Base Camp Cullowhee.
(227-3633 or 227-3620)
Friday, December 20
Lady Catamount basket-ball—
vs. Campbell, 7 p.m.,
RRAC. (227-7338)
Monday,
December 23—
Friday, December 27
Christmas Holiday
Offices Closed
January 2003
Wednesday, January 1
Holiday—Offices closed
Sunday, January 5
Residence halls open for all
students
Catamount basketball—vs.
VMI. Southern Conference
game, 3 p.m., RRAC.
(227-7338)
Monday, January 6
Orientation—for new
freshmen and transfer
students. (227-7413)
Tuesday, January 7
Catamount basketball—vs.
Reinhardt College (resched-uled),
7 p.m., RRAC.
(227-7338)
Lady Catamount basket-ball—
vs. UT Chattanooga,
Southern Conference game,
7 p.m., RRAC. (227-7338)
Wednesday, January 8
All classes begin
Saturday, January 18
Lady Catamount basket-ball—
vs. Georgia Southern,
Southern Conference game,
2 p.m., RRAC. (227-7338)
Monday, January 20
Martin Luther King Jr.
Holiday
No Classes—Offices Closed
Mail faculty/staff notes, events, notices, and changes of address to The Reporter, 1601 Ramsey Center, or
send them via e-mail to Reporter@email.wcu.edu.
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D e c e m b e r 9 , 2 0 0 2 • T h e R e p o r t e r
s Mike Creason, director of intramural
sports, and Dan Grube, assistant professor
of health and human performance and di-rector
of the physical education majors pro-gram,
received prestigious awards at the
November 22 North Carolina Alliance for
Athletics, Health, Physical Education,
Recreation and Dance (NCAAHPERD)
Convention. Creason received the North
Carolina Association for Intramurals and
Recreation Lifetime Service Award. Grube
received the Edgar W. Hooks Jr. Young Pro-fessional
Award.
s Lynn Heinrichs and Rita Noel,
associate professors of computer informa-tion
systems, won the award of Best
Pedagogy Paper for “Preparing Students
for a Changing World: A Freshman
Seminar Experience” at the International
Association for Computer Information
Systems 2002 annual conference held in
Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The article will
be published in Issues in Information
Systems.
s Tim Inman and Amber Rhoades,
resident directors, recently presented
“Un-Slumping Student Staff Meetings”
at the North Carolina Housing
Organization’s annual meeting held in
Greensboro.
s Robert Caruso, vice chancellor for
student affairs, was a guest speaker at the
fall conference of the North Carolina
and South Carolina College Personnel
Associations and the National Resource
Center for the First-Year Experience and
Students in Transition held in Char-lotte.
His topic was “Critical Issues
Facing Today’s College Students.”
s Jane M. Eastman, visiting assistant
professor of anthropology and sociology,
was presented with the C.B. Moore
Award at the 59th annual Southeastern
Archaeological Conference held in
Biloxi in early November. The award is
presented “for excellence in archaeology
by a young scholar in southeastern
studies.” Individuals are nominated and
voted on by past recipients of the award.
The prize was initiated in 1994 by
members of the Harvard University
Lower Mississippi River Valley Ar-chaeological
Survey and the Peabody
Museum.
s Jane Adams-Dunford, assistant vice
chancellor for student affairs, and Dwaun
Warmack, coordinator of multicultural
affairs, recently presented “ Get It, Got
It, Good—Lift As We Climb! A
Retention Program That Works” at the
Southern Association for College
Student Affairs Conference in Biloxi,
Mississippi. The session focused on
effective strategies utilized within Project
C.A.R.E. for retaining minority students
on a predominantly white campus. Also
discussed was a collaborative relationship
with the Division of Academic Affairs to
address specific orientation and retention
issues faced by minority freshmen and
transfer students.
s Mary Warner, associate professor, and
Mae Miller Claxton, visiting assistant
professor, of English recently chaired
panels and presented papers at the
National Council of Teachers of English
convention in Atlanta. Warner’s panel
was titled “Revisioning What Teens
Read: Guiding Adolescents in the Search
for Meaning.” Claxton led the panel
“Adding the Picture to the Text:
Incorporating Technology into the
Literature Classroom.”