Clarion 1986-03-07 Vol. 61 No. 15

              the Clarion.
Vol.61 No. 15
Bethel College 3900 Bethel Dr., St. Paul, MN
7 March 1986
Candidates seek '86-'87 BSA positions
by Laurie Port
With many papers left to compose, several tests to ace,
and dozens of projects yet to present to our peers, the
1986-87 school year may seem very far away. Four young
men, however, have already been working long hours in
preparation for that time. Jim Bower/]ohn Lassen and
Rodney Schlauger/Scott Nelson are the two sets of running mates vying for the position of next year's student
body president and vice-president. They hope to lead and
serve Bethel students successfully through the next academic year.
The Clarion was interested in their plans and goals,
and has prepared the following presentation of the
respective tickets' platforms. Student elections will be
held on March 13 and 14. Voting will take place by the
P.O.'s. Please come out and support the candidates you
feel will best lead us during the coming school year.
Bower and Lassen, who will both be seniors next year,
have as their primary goals (1) the reorganization of the
student senate and (2] encouraging individual commitment to excellence. To strengthen what they perceive as
inadequate communication between the senate and the
student body, Bower and Lassen plan to survey the student body on a regular basis, publish a monthly newsletter of proposed sludenl senate ideas and actions, encourage feedback from and general participation- by the
student body, and hold an informal chat session on a
regular basis so that students may share their concerns.
They stressed that "communication with the student
body and participation by the students will be our primary objectives."
Concerning their emphasis on excellence, ihey believe
that as Christians we have a "responsibility lo pursue
excellence"—academically, spiritually, and an awareness of the world in which we live. If elected, Bower and
Lassen plan to involve themselves actively in lhe recruitment process to attract the most qualified students to
Bethel, in supporting the discipleship program and Pastor Bob, and in working closely wilh Campus Ministries.
They plan to provide newspapers in the lounges and
eating areas, and work towards getting educational
movies, forums, and significant speakers forchapels and
forums,
Bower and Lassen see the student senate as a problem-
solving organization for the student body, and feel that a
key concern is keeping lines of communication open so
that the student body feels they are being heard. They
want lo be available to hear student opinions and concerns, bolh in organized sessions and on an informal
basis.
Bower has previously been involved in student senate,
as well as participating in varsity debate. He is a three
year veteran of themen's varsily lennis learn, serving as
captain for two.'He also served on the academic policy
committee which has been heavily involved in the revision for lhe new curriculum. Outside of Bethel, Bower is
elections A cont. p. 5
Opposing Bower/Lassen are Schlauger, who will be a
senior next fall, and Nelson, an upcoming junior. They
see several areas where positive change can be implemented. This past year both have been involved-in the
student senate process, and are aware of the communication breakdown between administration and students.
They feel that while the administration makes important
decisions of which the students are unaware, the students' needs and opinions are not heard by the administration. Schlauger and Nelson believe that "because we
have worked with the administration, with senate, and
with internal commitees, we know how and to whom the
concerns of the students need to be brought." They stress
that consistent contact with elected senators, RA's and
other studenl leaders will enable ihem to know what are
lhe real concerns of students.
This past year, Schlauger and Nelson both have served
actively in student senate, working towards extended
LRC hours and improved parking facilities. Both were on
the senate faction which, after finding studenl opposition
to the reduction in chapel services, lead the successful
opposition against lhe change. As a facilitator lo sludent
life and unity, Ihey are proposing that the school banquet
and yearbook be returned to the sludent body next year.
In order to be aware of student opinion, Schlauger and
Nelson want to be available lo lhe studenls. They plan to
poll both senators and students concerning needs. Students will be free lo come lo ihem in the office any lime,
and bolh plan to circulate in lhe sludent center and
cafeteria. Through this one-on-one conlacl, they will be
able to organize forums relevant to present concerns.
Minutes of senate meetings will be distributed on tables
in the eating areas so lhal students can be aware of
progress and activity.
Schlauger and Nelson are encouraged by the signs they
see of spiritual renewal. If elected, they hope lo continue
with this by supporting Pastor Bob, the RA's and the
discipleship program. They also "feel there is a greater
need for Chrislian students in many areas outside of
elections B cont. p. 5
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BRIEFS
■ The Foreign and Domestic
Teachers Organization is still
in need of 200-250 teachers to
fill positions in the Midwest,
West, and Overseas.
Since 1968, lhe_organization
has been finding vacancies and
locating teachers both in foreign countries and in all fifty
slates. They possess hundreds
of current openings and have
all the information as lo scholarships, grants, and fellowships.
If interested in these positions, which range from leaching kindergarten through college, write The National
Teacher's Placement Agency,
Box 5231. Portland, Oregon
97208.
■ Bethel College Professor of
Linguistics William Smalley
has been awarded a Fulbright
grant for his research in language diversity and national
unity among Hmong refugees.
Smalley will use the grant to
fund his investigation and analysis of the formation, structure,
and use of an indigenous writing system employed by
Hmong refugees in the United
States.
"We have here an opportunity to investigate a major intellectual accomplishment, rarely
matched in the history of the
world." Smalley wrote in his
proposal. The writing system
under investigation was invented by a Hmong villager in
Laos who could not previously
read or write any language.
Smalley is one of nearly 900
American and 955 international scholars awarded Fulbright grants for 1985-1980.
The purpose of the Fulbright
Program, now in ils fortieth
year, is to increase mutual
underslanding between the
people of the United Stales and
the people of other countries.
■ Career opportunities in
Christian organizations will be
the focus of Christian Career
Emphasis Week at Bethel College, March 10-15.
Author D. Stuart Briscoe begins the week with an address
at 10:20 a.m. on Monday in lhe
Roberlson Center. Other speakers and topics planned for lhe
week include: KTIS Broaclcas-
ler Paul Ramseyer on non-traditional Chrislian careers (Tuesday); Campus Pastor Bob Duffett on whal makes organiza-
briefs cont. p. 2