September 1, 2008
Trading Spaces: Epilogue
Saturday was the seventh and final day of Trading Spaces – a total of 168 hours. It was a really wonderful week. Forty-four years ago as a freshman when I headed for home, I was actually glad to leave the dorm, but I must confess that on Saturday there was a twinge of nostalgia as I packed up my belongings to leave my dorm and my little bunk in the corner of the “Woo.” Not only have I made new friends, I’ve gained a unique insight into the life of a freshman here at CU. I really enjoyed the experience. If the Woo 7 and the two guests in our home are representative of all entering freshman at Concord, then this is going to be a great class of 2012!
Status: The two guests in our home have returned to the residence halls on campus while the “Woo 7” were reassigned to the various rooms within Wooddell. They will keep the moniker as residents of the “Woo” while I was reassigned to the President’s quarters on the edge of campus.
Humorous Note: In a previous blog, I noted that I had been sighted with an “Official Written Warning” about the fire alarm drill and told that if I received one more such warning I would have to appear before a student judicial board. Can you image calling my office and having my administrative assistant say, “I am sorry but the President can‘t come out and play today because he has been grounded for the weekend?”
We had a farewell breakfast on Saturday morning at the Omelet Shoppe Restaurant in Princeton and talked of making this a tradition each August. Breakfast was good, the conversation great, and the friendships special.
During the meal we discussed some interesting topics ranging from the essence of personhood and behavioral culpability, to who was going win the football games that afternoon. We also had t-shirts made for each of our members that read:
Woo-7 Plus 1
Wooddell Hall
Concord University
August 23-30
Revelation: Although there were seven students officially assigned to our room in the Woo only six actually showed up. The seventh student decided to live at home. Nevertheless, there was always someone else in the “barracks” with us. It was a friend of the other six students. So we always felt that we had room for one more member of the Woo. It was the best of both worlds… six full time members, a president, plus one guest. Thus the Woo 7 +1 can always have an “honorary” member of our select club any time!
Footnote: Given the way the week ended, I am having second thoughts about how this blog was titled. Instead of being an “Epilogue” it should read “Trading Spaces: Round 1.” This was too much fun!
A member of the “Woo Seven Plus One”
Dr. A
August 29, 2008
Coming in for a landing!
Well, we are down to one night before “Trading Spaces” comes to a close. It has been a wonderful week. I have gotten to know several very bright freshmen, attend some of their classes and experience a part of the journey that our freshmen are undertaking. Concord U is quite a place. Faculty and staff are impressive, and the housing team is great!
Although I have learned many things during the week about the Woo 7 and the university, there was one unanticipated outcome that I finally mastered this morning. It is usually dark when I rise, so I have learned to tie my tie in the dark. The first day it looked like either an extended bib down to my knees or was so short that it would qualify as a prop on “Abbott and Costello.” Today, I got it right on the first try. I also learned to use my cell phone to find the right for my socks. The soft light from a cell phone does make black and blue look very similar. It took me three picks to get a match. I think they are both black as I left the room at 6:38 am.
Footnote: In a previous blog, I listed the formula W7+1= 7D + 4Y. That formula will become valid when each of the Woo 7 graduates. It would read… the Woo Seven plus one proud president equals seven diplomas in four years!
We had a few media teams come to the humble “abode of the Woo 7 +1” and interview some of the students as well as me. It was a nice opportunity to let the media experience a part of CU and meet some of our freshmen.
We played our first football game against Carson-Newman last night, and although we lost, the team gave a great effort.
A member of the “Woo Seven Plus One”
Dr. A
August 28, 2008
Classes and Learning
It was another great day at CU. I have been attending classes with members
of the Woo-7 plus one. (You know, that almost looks and sounds like an
algebraic expression…W7+1. I don’t think you can factor it, but I do know
that if you made it into an equation it would read W7+1= 7D + 4Y. Think
about it.)
…Back to the day of classes and learning. I have been going to classes
this week as well. I attended a computer graphics course and an introduction
to music course and enjoyed them both very much. I have also been speaking
to University 100 sections. University 100 is a one hour course designed to
“serve as an orientation and help address student life concerns, and help
‘smooth the way’ for new students at Concord” (Assessment of Academic
Achievement Report 2006-2007).
My meals are in the “café.” The food is great, and the staff is wonderful.
They are polite, friendly and very helpful. The revised food service
areas have really made a difference this year.
Later that evening, my wife Mary and I went to listen to the band Fools and Horses in the student center. Pretty good music, I might add!
Playing our first football game against Carson-Newman this evening (Thurs., Aug 28, kickoff at 7 p.m.) and looking forward to the game!
A member of the “Woo Seven Plus One”
Dr. A
August 27, 2008
Fire Alarm
Last night we had our first fire alarm drill and it was handled very professionally. Earlier in the evening the RA had handed out an information sheet on how to respond to a crisis when the new siren system is sounded. When the fire alarm initially went off, I was sleeping and didn’t hear it. (Not unusual when my head hits the pillow.) However, the alarm soon sounded like a small freight train under my bunk and I was up and had my flip-flops on instantly. Having been a member of building safety committees in my previous positions for more than 24 years and a parent of seven children, I am always the last to leave and check to be sure that everyone has cleared the building or my area. Last night one of the Wooddell Seven was also asleep and one of the resident staff and I waited for him to get out of his top bunk and then we exited the building. When the alarm stopped and the building was checked, we returned to our rooms. Parenthetically, it was raining so we got a cool evening shower watching from the street.
After returning to the room, I was in bed within minutes and almost asleep for the second time when one of the RAs awakened me and handed me an “Official Written Warning” for not leaving the building when the fire alarm sounded. Kudos to the RA! I don’t know if I would have awoken the president, a second time, and given him a citation! As I noted above the RAs were very professional and did their “due diligence” and are to be commended for how they responded.
Déjà vu moment! That was my first RA warning since I was a freshman in college 44 years ago so I am paying attention to it. I assure you that all of my Wooddell Seven roommates including me will be out the door ASAP at the next sound of a fire alarm.
August 26, 2008
Déjà Vu
Yesterday was a déjà vu moment of momentous proportions. It was after 9 pm, and I was resting on my bunk looking at my calendar for the next day when a few students and I began a conversation. We talked briefly about many topics ranging from the Beatles, the up-coming election, the world situation, and the benefits of international travel.
I learned last night from a bright freshman at Concord University how the Beatles got their name. They took their cue from Buddy Holly and the Crickets. Not sure how to explain that someone from the 60’s didn’t know that bit of trivia about the Beatles. However, I did know that Bob Dylan claimed that Smokey Robinson was the greatest contemporary poet in America at that time.
(Flash: I wonder how the world would have been if Buddy Holly had liked ships and had called his band “Buddy Holly and the Steamboats”? The Beatles may have taken the name Tugboats. Oh! Well, that’s for another discussion.)
My déjà vu moment occurred when I realized it was 44 years, almost to the day, that I was sitting in a dorm room having a discussion about the Beatles latest song, the election between Johnson and Goldwater, world events—such as the growing conflict in Vietnam and the free-speech movement at Berkley.
A curious thought then stuck me; how would I have felt as an 18 year old freshman in 1964 talking to someone who would have graduated in 1920 and would have, in turn, been discussing the beginning of the Roaring 20’s, the 1918 world-wide influenza pandemic, the Palmer Raids and the impact of WWI? Wow! Complete déjà vu.
Another great evening with the “Woodell Seven Plus One”!
August 25, 2008
Life in Wooddell…
I’ve had two wonderful days in the residence hall with my new bunkmates and there are some bright, young freshmen coming in who are excited about their future. I can tell you Rick Dillon and the housing staff have been so professional! The staff in housing are taking care of our needs and we are getting into a great routine! I’m starting to attend classes with the students, and so far, I can see myself being a freshman at Concord if I were starting over again as my first choice!
