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’Southern A Publication for Alumni and Friends Summer 2007 Volume 33, Number 2 Football Returns to ’Southern BSC begins NCAA Division III era BSC Birmingham-Southern College Editor’s Note What a difference a year makes, but mission far from over by bill wagnon What a difference a year makes. It seems like an eternity to me now, but it was only 15 months ago that the college’s USPS 087-600 Board of Trustees voted to transition the intercollegiate athletics program from NCAA Division I to non-scholarship Division III. That announcement came less than three Dr.G. David Pollick, President months after two of our students were arrested for conspiracy and arson of nine rural Carl Bailey, Chair,Board ofTrustees Alabama churches. In August 2006, the college welcomed a smaller than usual freshman class of 292 students. ’Southern magazine is published three times a year in late spring, What a difference a year makes. summer,and fall by the Office of Alumni Affairs and the Office of August 25, 2006: “The solution to our structural problem is going to be primarily Communications at Birmingham-Southern College, Birmingham, Alabama 35254. Non-profit postage paid at B’ham., AL Permit enrollment. Enrollment, enrollment, enrollment.”—BSC President David Pollick in his No. 2575. Postmaster: Send address changes to: Alumni Affairs, third annual State of the College address to the campus community. Birmingham-Southern College, 900 Arkadelphia Road, Box August 24, 2007: “Well, you were nothing short of amazing! Led by Sheri Salmon 549003, Birmingham, AL 35254; telephone 205/226-4909; or [Dean of Enrollment Management] and her wonderful staff, we got better in every way. access at www.bsc.edu/alumni. Our ’Southern Ambassadors were living examples of why we all believe in the students and graduates of this college. Admissions, while examining every aspect of their Editorial Offices: operation, opened their minds to the change and growth that was essential to success. 15 Stockham Building And the faculty and staff took up the challenge, visiting with prospective students in 900 Arkadelphia Road person, on the phone, and via the computer, in many cases numerous times. And our Box 549004 Birmingham, AL 35254 coaches, the veterans as well those leading programs for the first time on our campus, were Phone: 205/226-4921 so focused that you didn’t even realize it when you blew by the goals that had been set for Fax: 205/226-4931 your teams. A world-class performance. … The Alumni Association set as its goal for this E-mail: [email protected] year to provide 500 new student referrals to admissions. They provided 600!”—President Pollick in his fourth annual State of the College address. Editor: Bill Wagnon, Vice President for Communications What a difference a year makes. August 25, 2006: “There is no doubt that we are in a challenging period for fundraising. Managing Editor: Patricia Cole, Communications Specialist While we have been the grateful beneficiaries of some large and generous bequests … these naturally are unpredictable. In contrast, annual gifting had become more difficult Art Director: Tracy Thomas ’92, Associate Director for Communications--Publications even before we entered this transitional phase, indicating that much work needs to be done to reverse that trend.”—President Pollick. Contributing Writers: August 24, 2007: “Well, the good news is that enrollment is not the only thing growing Sarah Barbee, Associate Director for Athletic at the college. Fundraising for the academic programs and athletics is growing as well. … Media Relations Last year was one of the most successful fundraising years in the college’s 151-year history. Martha Boshers, Director of Major Gifts and Gift Planning Patricia Cole, Communications Specialist … And while all of this is great news, securing the future with our alumni has also been a Carol Cook Hagood ’70, Communications Specialist major goal. … And not at all surprising, alumni participation in events on campus and Linda Hallmark, Communications Specialist around the country increased. … ”—President Pollick. Barrett Hathcock, Communications Specialist What a difference a year does make. Record freshman enrollment. Alumni and friends Benjamin Lewellyn, BSC Student pledging their support to the college. A new beginning in Division III athletics and the Fred Sington, Assistant Athletics Director numbers and kinds of scholar-athletes it is attracting to our campus. for Media Relations It’s nice to be able to celebrate some exciting times at the college with this issue of Peter Starr, BSC Student ’Southern. Yet, there is still much work to be done. As President Pollick reminded us in Bill Wagnon, Vice President for Communications this year’s State of the College, “Today, we should all be proud of what was done this last Photography: year in the critical areas of enrollment and advancement. But you won’t be seeing any Billy Brown Matthew Mielke banner behind me that says, ‘Mission Accomplished,’ although you might hear the more Wynter Byrd Dee Moore Fred Sington accurate, and certainly more eloquent, words, ‘This is not the end. It is not even the Patricia Cole John Consoli Bill Wagnon beginning of the end. But, it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.’” College Archives The day before school started for the fall 2007 term, a faculty member told me that he’s Lisa Harrison Geoff Knight Office of Athletic Media Relations never seen such a buzz about the campus. For the first time in his nearly quarter of a Randy Lee Submitted Photos century here, everyone—faculty, staff, students, and alumni—is pulling in the same direction. www.bsc.edu What a difference a year makes. Send news of alumni weddings, births, and deaths, and other ClassNotes material to Carol Cook Hagood at [email protected] or 205/226-4913. Bill Wagnon Vice President for Communications Inside ’Southern ’Southern magazine / Summer 2007 / Volume 33, Number 2 A Publication for Alumni and Friends Feature 22 Are you ready for some football? Birmingham-Southern enters new era of intercollegiate athletics; football team BSCDepartments retakes field after 68 years 2 Community News 13 Faculty News 16 Student News 38 Alumni Affairs 48 Philanthropy 52 Athletics 58 ClassNotes 77 ’Southern Voices On the Cover Birmingham-Southern is playing football again for the first time since 1939 with a slate of 10 games this fall. Shown are (from left to right) Chandler Bares, a sophomore quarterback from Highlands Ranch, Colo.; Tony Myers, a sophomore wide receiver from Alabaster; and Tay Walker, a junior wide receiver from Birmingham. Find out more about the football program and Division III athletics beginning on page 22. Cover photograph by Geoff Knight. summer 2007 COMMUNITY NEWS New students arrive among new construction, football Birmingham-Southern welcomes its largest freshman class in school history freshman class and an outstanding group of transfer students.” About 120 of the new students will be playing one of BSC’s seven new NCAA Division III sports, supporting the college’s move to D-III athletics as a major step toward its long-term plan to grow and sustain enrollment at about 1,800 students in the next few years. BSC Provost Dr. Kathleen Murray, however, emphasizes that the academic integrity of the college will not be compromised by this planned growth. “We have made a commitment to maintain the 12-to-1 student-to- faculty ratio throughout this process,” she says, “and we are doing so this fall without increasing the number of adjunct faculty. And, as our enrollment continues to grow in BSC's large group of new students, including a record freshman class, fill the Bill Battle Coliseum floor for the the future, we will add full-time Opening of School Convocation on Move-In Day Aug. 25. faculty accordingly.” The spring semester on the Hilltop 326 last fall, which included 292 In May 2006, the college’s Board ended in the midst of much freshmen and 34 transfers. Overall of Trustees announced that the anticipated change for the coming enrollment is expected to grow from athletics program would move from fall. Three large construction 1,207 last year to about 1,315. The the NCAA Division I level to non- projects, the acquisition of an freshman class included 14 National scholarship NCAA Division III, apartment complex, a new major Merit Scholars compared to six last citing both financial and philo- course of study, one football team, year; 60 percent of the freshman sophical considerations. It also six other additional new sports, and class was male students compared to announced that it was reviving the three months of summer later, the 36 percent last fall. Additionally, the football program, which last took opening of the new school year academic profile of the freshman the field in 1939, along with the heralded the untold excitement. class was virtually unchanged over addition of six other sports for men Classes began Aug. 29 with more previous years in terms of high and women. Other new sports than 500 new students, including school grade-point average and include men’s and women’s indoor the largest number of new freshmen average ACT and SAT scores. and outdoor track and field and in Birmingham-Southern history. “This is a significant accom- men’s and women’s lacrosse. The school-record 452 freshmen plishment for our college, our Pollick says that while an increase were joined by 54 transfer students. Admission Office, and our coaches,” in enrollment was expected with the Another three freshmen and 25 says Birmingham-Southern President additional sports, there are several transfers enrolled in January for the Dr. David Pollick. “We set lofty other factors intertwined that are spring 2007 term. goals and many people worked helping the college forge ahead with The 506 new students compares to diligently to bring in a record its plan for growth.