la•e•a•I 1• 111!11! luar1er11 PUBLISHED BY COVENANT COLLEGE, LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, TENNESSEE · EARLY SUMMER, 1969 Covenant College's main building became "Carter Hall" in a simple outdoor ceremony on April 8. Many of Chatta­ nooga's foremost citizens gathered to honor Paul Burton Carter, a local industrialist and real estate developer who originally constructed the building in which Covenant is now located. That was in the late twenties. The economic depression which followed closely after the building's gala opening wiped out Mr. Carter's early investment. But a determined spirit and a keen financial sense brought Mr. Carter again to a place of leadership in Chattanooga's business and civic circles. Even though the hotel which Mr. Carter built was oper­ ated independently of him for many years, still it stood as a symbol of his style and vision. "It was always my dream," he said recently, "that through the hotel we would attract people from all over the country to come and visit the Chattanooga area." Now- in a sense - that dream is fulfilled. Not only from all parts of the country, but literally from all over the world, students come to Covenant College. They live and eat and study and worship in the castle-like structure which Paul Carter dreamed of and built. That building, more than any other single human factor, was the reason for the move of Covenant College to Lookout Mountain in 1964. Now just a little more than comfortably full, the '\ President Barnes (left) and Chairman of the Board U.S. D1str1ct Judge Frank Wilson, President Barnes, Vernon Pierce unveil the bronze plaque Mr. Carter, and Master of Ceremonies DeSales Harrison • ai• ll•ildi•I ··1ar1er • all"" former hotel has provided for growth and financial stability for the evening was Mr. DeSales Harrison, chairman of the which the college had not earlier known. board of the Coca-Cola Bottling Co. (Thomas). The Honor­ Paul Carter knew enough of the work of Covenant Col­ able Frank Wilson, United States district court justice, was lege to believe it was worthy of a substantial gift investment. the main speaker of the evening. Others who participated It was a happily surprised college president when Dr. Marion in the program were Mr. Cecil Woods, president of the Vol­ Barnes was called last fall to accept a gift of 228 acres of unteer Insurance Company, and Dr. James Fowle, minister choice mountain land about two miles from the campus. emeritus of the First Presbyterian Church of Chattanooga, The land was recently appraised for $168,000. and Mr. Carter's former pastor. Mr. Vernon C. Pierce, chair­ In transferring the land, Mr. Carter's deed says: "Paul B. man of Covenant's board, spoke briefly and assisted Dr. Carter, the owner of the land hereinafter described, desires Barnes in unveiling the bronze plaque now on the front of to make a gift to Covenant College Inc. of land for and in Carter Hall. consideration of his desire to aid in the growth and develop­ + + + ment of Christian educational institutions in the Metropoli­ tan Area of Greater Chattanooga ... " Only a few weeks before the special occasion honoring In recognition of the gift, Dr. Barnes requested and re­ Mr. Carter, he learned how far abroad Covenant's influ­ ceived from the college's Board of Trustees action naming ence is felt. While eating at a sidewalk cafe in Nairobi, this campus's first and principal building for Mr. Carter. Kenya (82 years young is a good time for a round-the­ In the master plan for the development of the campus, the world trip!), Mr. Carter struck up a conversation with an­ building is scheduled for increased use as a residence facility, other American. Where are you from, Mr. Carter? Chat­ for expanded use in student dining, and for further devel­ tanooga, Tennessee. Is there any chance that you know Dr. opment in student activity offices. The library, many class­ Barnes and the people at Covenant College? rooms, and most faculty offices will be moved from the "That was right down my alley," Mr. Carter told the building when new construction is completed, allowing for men at the dinner. "That gentleman was from the Rift more student use of the facility. Valley Academy way back in the bush. He told me that The ceremony naming Carter Hall was held in connection they send students almost every year to Covenant Col­ with a dinner honoring Mr. Carter. Master of ceremonies lege." portant one for a man of 34. Dean Barker is especially aware of the contribution of Mr. Sanderson in recent years in the area of faculty recruiting, and says that this may be the toughest role to fill. "One of Dr. Sanderson's great achieve­ ments has been his ability, through his own reputation, to attract men of high calibre-Dr. Lothers, Dr. Nicholas Barker, Dr. Donaldson, Dr. Nuermberger, Dr. Olney-men who bring real excellence of background." Dean Barker also emphasizes Dr. Sanderson's work in helping the college understand its own purposes and goals as a Christian institution. "We don't have a well formed statement of how this applies in every field," he says, "but there has been progress." "Dr. Sanderson has raised a standard of our distinctive of the Reformed faith-but he has always emphasized that we are not merely Reformed but Reforming. Under his leadership, the Status Study has been completed and much work put into a formal statement of purpose. Those ef­ forts have clarified the progressive nature of our educational task, the innovative aspect of it, the need to explore all the implications of both the covenant of creation and the great Barker is named commission." Eager to maintain momentum in the directions Dr. San­ derson has pointed, Dean Barker is already hard at work. He Dean of Faculty sees three primary objectives during the next few months: (1) Faculty recruiting must continue and be stepped up. Covenant College has a new Faculty Dean. He is thoroughly One goal is to have at least four teachers in each department acquainted with the college's past, is already totally im­ offering a major course of study, and for one of those teach­ mersed in its present program, and gives frequent thought ers to have a doctorate. to the school's future. Why are doctorates so important? Acknowledging that William S. Barker received the reins of faculty adminis­ a doctoral degree is no guarantee of a great teacher, Mr. tration from Dr. John W. Sanderson, Academic Vice­ Barker points out that a man without a degree may well President and Dean of the Faculty since 1962. Dr. Sander­ have a superior ability to communicate. But having some· son resigned the position to return to full-time teaching in thing to communicate is also important, and the three years the philosophy department; he was also named Scholar in invested in a doctoral program provide a teacher with con­ Residence by the board of trustees at its recent meeting, fidence in breadth in his discipline. Not until then can he and will be encouraged to engage in writing as well as his really know what a student should have-"lt takes time to teaching responsibilities. get a grasp of any field as a whole." An advanced degree is Professor Barker has been associated with Covenant Col­ also evidence of competence in a specific area of specializa­ lege since the school's St. Louis days. St. Louis, in fact, tion, a real necessity in upper-division cour.ses. is his home town-his father was a banker there, the Card­ (2) A five-year projection of Covenant's curriculum is inals gave him a thorough education in baseball, and what another priority in Dean Barker's schedule, and he hopes to is now the Covenant Presbyterian Church contributed sub­ make the projection of course offerings and faculty needs stantially to his deep interest in the work of the church more systematic. Some departments will be restructured. at large. A sociology major may be offered if competent Christian From St. Louis's Country Day School, Mr. Barker went scholars can be found. Language offerings must be expand­ to Princeton University, where he was graduated Phi Beta ed. The whole core curriculum will get a hard look-"We Kappa in history. He completed a master's degree at Cor­ have to review regularly what we expect to be part of nell University, and then returned to St. Louis to enroll at · every Covenant student's education." Covenant Theological Seminary. While preparing for the (3) Increasing teaching effectiveness is another prime ministry, he taught part-time in the college's history depart­ goal. Dean Barker is eager to spend time next year visiting ment and continued in that role when he was ordained and classes and reviewing the work of individual faculty mem­ became minister of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in bers. "We want to find out what is working for some," he Hazelwood, a St. Louis suburb. says, "and see if there can't be more cross-fertilization of Mr. Barker was one of the dozen faculty members who good ideas about the learning process." moved with the college to Lookout Mountain in 1964. In all three areas, the new dean is a natural successor to Commuting for two years and then a leave of absence in the retiring one. His reputation for scholarship, his careful 1967-68 permitted him to complete all requirements for and thoughtful insights into the very nature of Christian ed­ his doctorate in history at Vanderbilt University, except ucation, and his own high standards in the classroom will for final work on his dissertation which he expects to finish frequently remind his colleagues of Dr.