St. Andrews Presbyterian College | Laurinburg, NC | News

New students formally join St. Andrews community

Laurinburg, N.C. – “At St. Andrews, in this academic year, all of us will encounter many opportunities, persons, choices and experiences. Some assembly will be required. Being among the most extremely privileged persons of all the world’s billions of peoples, we have choices. We cannot escape choosing. What kind of choices will we make?”

This was the challenge placed before the St. Andrews Presbyterian College incoming class by Distinguished Professor of Politics Neal Bushoven during the Opening Convocation held Friday in Harris Courts. The annual event marks the formal beginning of the academic year.

“This Opening Convocation, a literal ‘calling together’ of the entire academic community, marks the 50th time we’ve done this on this campus,” said President Paul Baldasare Jr. “This event marks the official start of the academic year.”

Bushoven’s address, entitled “Some Assembly Required” included a flip chart visual aid referred to as “a poor person’s Power Point.”

“As one of the oldest members of the St. Andrews community in age and service, I offer to you a very warm welcome as you become the newest members of this diverse and dynamic learning community,” Bushoven said. “We are glad you are here. I hope that you will choose to be transformed by this place as I have and hundreds of students who have preceded you.”

Bushoven provided a list of bad advice that would create a very bored and very boring college experience for the entering class including developing “that blank look of boredom and indifference.”

“Now some good advice,” he said. “If you follow this advice it will reduce the chances of your being a fool who is easily fooled. The acquisition of good analytical, critical and reasoning skills will not only open us to the potential for rewarding jobs and careers, but also for good citizenship in a democracy. Acquiring the necessary skills will take hard work. We brought our brain to college, but it is not automatically a cool and rational thinking mind to achieve that will take focused, sustained effort.

“So what can we do, right now, here at St. Andrews?” Bushoven asked. “I have some suggestions. Listen to learn respectfully and carefully to others, especially those with whom we disagree without feeling compelled to argue back and correct. Take challenging courses that demand we think and analyze in a disciplined manner. Enroll in courses that provide historical and comparative analysis. Realize that complex issues have no simple solutions and that maybe the best we can do is find partial and proximate answers. Understand that compromise is almost always necessary. In summary, successfully pursue a good, solid education at a small liberal arts college such as St. Andrews.”

While Bushoven presented many challenges to the group, he also shared a “cry for help.”

“I need you as students and young persons to stay alive,” he said. “Oh, not physically; I need others for that, but mentally and psychologically. Without your assistance, I will surely disappear into my tribe of old geezers grousing about these kids today. Oh, you may laugh at my technological clumsiness and my near total ignorance of your contemporary popular culture, but please at least say hello to me, converse with me and respect me as a person – educate me as to how you see and understand the world. Require of me that when I teach, I also respect you and listen and learn from you. I believe that we all need to find dignity in difference or we will shrivel up and dry out as humans. So as much as I need you, I think you also need me. Otherwise we will both become lost and suffocated in our own tribe. Help me please. I am not yet ready to be an old fart, nor, I hope, are you ready to stop learning and growing.”

The students affirmed their commitment to continue learning and growing by signing the community honor code, agreeing to be contributing members at St. Andrews.

“I want you to look around at the gathered community here today and take comfort,” Baldasare said. “I want to assure you that St. Andrews is a place where many of those you see around you will soon be lifelong friends and mentors with whom you will share the joys and challenges of college life.”

About St. Andrews Presbyterian College

An innovative and bold academic venture, the distinctive character of St. Andrews has been marked by an interdisciplinary curriculum, a highly acclaimed college press, an award-winning pipe band, national champion equestrian teams, and first-rate scholarship. In addition to classes on the main campus, adult learners also choose the Center for Adult and Professional Studies opportunities through St. Andrews @ Sandhills and St. Andrews ONLINE.

On Aug. 29, 1958, the merger between Presbyterian Junior College and Flora Macdonald College became official with the formation of St. Andrews Presbyterian College in Laurinburg, N.C. Further information may be obtained by visiting the College's website www.sapc.edu, calling 800-763-0198 or sending an e-mail to info@sapc.edu.

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