Gardner-Webb University Digital Commons @ Gardner-Webb University The eW b Magazine Gardner-Webb Publications Fall 1994 The eW b Magazine 1994, Fall Robin T. Burton Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.gardner-webb.edu/the-web Recommended Citation Burton, Robin T., "The eW b Magazine 1994, Fall" (1994). The Web Magazine. 46. https://digitalcommons.gardner-webb.edu/the-web/46 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Gardner-Webb Publications at Digital Commons @ Gardner-Webb University. It has been accepted for inclusion in The eW b Magazine by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Gardner-Webb University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Volume 5. Number 3 Fall, 1994 “WEB AROUND THE WEB ... pages 2-11 Weekley Presented Honorary Doctorate First Dean Named to Business School A publication of the Division of University Relations BSN Program Returns to Main Campus 13 Join GWU Faculty M. Christopher White, President Calendar of Events Ralph W. Dixon Jr., Vice President for University Relations SPORTS IN THE WEB Robin T. Burton, Editor ... pages 12-14 Matt Webber, Writer Boren to Head Tennis Mark Wilson, Sports Editor Bulldogs Get Hotline Football Outlook Wilson Brooks, Art Director Pam Sharts, Photographer ALUMNI IN THE WEB The Web is published for alumni, ... pages 15-19 parents and friends of Gardner-Webb Homecoming Highlights University. It is published four times a Laneys Head Annual Fund year, with issues in spring, summer, fall Class Notes and winter. Passages Please mail information and address changes to: The Web Post Office Box 976 The Weh is now available, upon request, on audio cassette Boiling Springs, North Carolina tape. To obtain a copy please contact the Office of Public Relations at (704) 4M-4616. 28017 (704) 434-4637 Your comments are welcome. FALL 1994 / 1 Sever mind Star Trek. Hollywood “It’s been a good year. There isn’t necessary for good old- definitely hasn’t been a lack of fashioned space-age spectacular events in the sky lately,” entertainment. he says, leaning against the first telling people around me to come So says Tom English, assistant telescope he had as a boy, which he look. professor of physics and director of keeps at the Observatory. “But, then I don’t think the majority of the Williams Observatory at again, I feel like there’s something people can really grasp what’s going Gardner-Wehh. In recent months, interesting to see every time I look on up there,” he says, noting that one English’s eyes have seen — up close through this lens.” of the impacts was 2,000 times more and personal — the explosive Most recently, television news impacts of comet fragments on the powerful than all the nuclear bombs programs relayed to our homes on Earth combined. surface of Jupiter, the metamorphosis NASA’s brilliant pictures of Jupiter Star-gazing is what English enjoys of a partial eclipse, and the Swift- receiving some rather harsh blows most. And as one might predict, he Tuttle comet that was last spotted from enormous comet fragments. The became engrossed with science — during the Civil War and predicted sight of these bombings were and later with stars and space — as a by one noted astronomer as having a entertaining to the everyday person young boy. He admits to peering at small chance of hitting the Earth this on the street. But to English, what he time around. the heavens with his binoculars and saw through his telescope was simply knowing all the constellations while breathtaking. still in elementary school, thanks “A lot of folks saw those pictures largely to his mother who frequently and thought/Wow, that’s neat,”’ he took him to the library for books explains. “But I looked at it in a about astronomy. totally different way. The first time I He shares his appreciation for the actually saw the black markings that “The Final Frontier” with members the comet fragments had left of the community on Monday nights on Jupiter’s surface, I throughout the academic year, started yelling an4 holding public observation sessions at the Observatory. English also directs the Young Astronomers Club, for kids age 7-10 and their parents, and uses the facility as a home for the Cleveland County Astronomical Society. “Believe me, the adults are just as much in awe of the things they see in the sky as the kids are,” he says. “I love to let them look at Saturn and A K O IJNl) Til E W E R love to let them look at Saturn and Observatory visitors than from his know what it was. I even called have them ask me if that’s for real or physics students, most likely because NASA,” he recollects. “Turns out it if it’s a picture hidden in the ot the visual effects outer space was a Russian satellite that had telescope.” provides. burned up and crashed in the The Williams Observatory, “Astronomy is full of a lot of gee- Atlantic Ocean.” adjacent to the football and baseball vliiz stuff, and that’s what makes it so Keep looking at the sky long stadiums on campus, is the perfect n,” he explains. “It’s great to watch enough, he says, and you’ll be amazed playground for English and his mconc. look through the telescope at what you see. Sometimes, however, visitors. and say ‘Wow!’ when their eyes get you have to rely on patience. He makes it a point to show a focused.” “I still haven’t seen Pluto through short slide presentation to all first¬ But being caught by surprise isn’t the Observatory’s telescope,” he time visitors before introducing them new to English. On one occasion in confesses. “It’s very tedious looking to the rest of the facility, which, is 1992, he and three students were at for something that’s basically just a equipped with nine telescopes of the Observatory when they noticed a dot in the middle of millions of stars. various shapesflf sizes and fiery blur make its way across the sky But I’ll let you know when I find it.” magnification power. Don’t be in front of them. For 30 seconds or And even though he has surprised if he also greets you with more, the small group watched in witnessed some brilliant sky shows models of the planets in our solar lence as the object journeyed along recently, English says the thought of system — “Pluto is actually smaller before disappearing beyond the what he’ll see next continues to than Australia,” he demonstrates — horizon. excite him. constructed for size comparisons. “1 he next day I got on the phone He smiles and adds, “I’m still The Observatory was completed and called everybody who might easily impressed.” in 1990 soon after the telescope located in its trademark dome was Grant Provides Funds, Mentors donated by local resident Dr. James Hermann. Although there are more powerful telescopes in the area, To Women Science Majors English feels what’s most important is Gardner-Webb has received a more importantly, we want to simply having a facility for astronomy 5,000 gram from the Glaxo provide them with a unique activities. He points out that the Foundation in Research Triangle educational opportunity as well,” nearest similar facility on a college Park to establish the Glaxo Women Thomas said. campus is at Appalachian State in Sience Scholars Hndowed The scholarships, to he awarded University, although it is not for holarslup bund. to two students, are being offered for public use. Scholarships from the fund will the first time this fall. Students who “We have the unique opportunity cognize outstanding f e m a I e remain eligible will be given to use our Observatory as a resource tide n t > at Gardner-Wehb and preference in receiving the award in to the community, for regional I’ovule an incentive for women subsequent years. astronomy meetings or teacher ♦urin e studentv in entet the science Thomas noted that Gardner- workshops or whatever,” he says. “It’s levs i on. Recipients of the Wehb is now one of 17 schools across a great way to attract people to will also be provided the state to offer the scholarships, Gardner-Webb and have a little fun i woman scientist mentor at which the Foundation first began at the same time.” one ol the nation’s establishing last N o v e m her. He adds that a hotline number ph.it mat out ic.tI c< mipunics. Research, he said, indicates that has been established to keep the s, execut i\ e director small, private, liberal arts colleges public informed about activities at ( »laxo I oundation, explained like Gardner-Webb produce the the Observatory as well as the latest me n i of ing program is greatest number of females entering developments in astronomy. Anyone le b,».»iist women comprise 50 careers in t he sciences. interested can now call (704) 434- m .*f l i la.xo’s professional The Glaxo Foundation was 4434 for that information. cv formed in 1986 with donations from English admits to drawing more i o h e I p t h e s e (Uaxo Inc. enthusiastic responses from his ipienis imam tally, but FALL 1994 / 3 Honorary Doctorate Recognizes Recipient For Strides in Rehabilitation Efforts uring its summer the grace of God can work miracles commencement exercises on in someone’s life. Because he has Aug. 6, Gardner-Webb willingly shared that healing grace University presented the honorary with so many others, he is more than doctor of humanities degree to the worthy of this recognition.” Rev.