1999, v40, n4 - Methodist University

CAMPUS NEWSGreen Acres for MeCampus expands to 61 7 acresMethodist College recently purchased a 33-acre tract ofland whichborders the southern part of the campus and the college golf course.This acquisition brings the total acreage for the campus to 617.The land off Meadowcroft Drive includes a brick house, two ponds,and some woodland. It was purchased from the Maurice Taylor familyto give the college access to theforested part of the campussouth of the golf course. Thehouse will serve as a parsonagefor the college chaplain.College officials havetentatively agreed to allow thecity of Fayetteville to route aproposed greenway or hikingand bike trail across the dambetween the two ponds. Thetrail was proposed three yearsago as part of an ambitiousmaster plan for revitalizingdowntown Fayetteville. Theplan's architect said the city should take advantage of the scenic vistasbetween the Cape Fear River and Ramsey Street on the northeast side ofthe city.A group called A Complete Fayetteville Once and For All and theFayetteville Partnership promoted the downtown revitalization plan,but the Partnership was recently disbanded and a steering committee isnow trying to form a new group. Methodist College was a member ofthe Fayetteville Partnership and College President Elton Hendricks servedon its board of directors.Phase I of the city's hiking and bike trail will be built over the next 18months and the city has budgeted $500,000 for it. It will start at ClarkPark and end at the Fayetteville Area Soccer Complex, which is part ofthe Methodist campus. That phase is about a mile and a half in length.The city's Parks and Recreation Department is securing neededeasements for the project and will build and maintain the trail. Othersections will be added later. When completed, the hiking and bike trailwill extend six and a half miles from the Cape Fear Botanical Garden atthe Cape Fear River north to the Fayetteville Area Soccer Complex.TheAmerica's MethodistgreatestCollegecomposersTheatreFebruaryDepartment24-27willwithsalutean originalone ofmusical revue entitled Young Mr. Berlin.Irving Berlin wrote more than 900 songs, 19 musicals and thescores of 18 movies during his career. He is best known for the"patriotic" songs he wrote during World Wars I and II, and the showsand films Annie Get Your Gun, Top Hat and Easter Parade. Some ofhis most famous songs include: "There's No Business Like ShowBusiness," "This is the Army," "White Christmas," and "God BlessAmerica."Dr. Paul Wilson, professor of theatre at Methodist, has writtenand will direct Young Mr. Berlin, which includes a large sampling ofhis songs and an accompanying narrative to reveal the man behindthe songs. Singers interested in auditioning for the show may phoneDr. Wilson at (910) 630-7105.Berlin was the son of a Jewish immigrant and was one· of eightchildren. His father brought the family to America from Russia in1893, and they lived on the Lower East Side of New York City. Inthe early 1900s, Berlin worked as a singing waiter and started writingsongs. Later dubbed "Mr. Jazz," Berlin died in 1989 at the age of101.The famous songwriter once said, ''A patriotic song is an emotionand you must not embarrass an audience with it, or they will hateyour guts." Berlin also said, "Life is 10 percent what you make itand 90 percent how you take it."To sample Berlin's music, visit www.geocities.com/~pfwilson/midis.html#Berlin.College Will Sell Bonds To Fund Four Capital ProjectsBond sales will allow MC to expand and improve facilitiesUnder a proposal approved by the Methodist College Board of TrusteesOct. 21, Methodist College is proceeding with plans to sell$14 million in taxfreerevenue bonds to finance four capital improvement projects and to refinanceexisting debt.In mid-July, college officials applied to the Higher Education Facilities FinanceAgency and the local Government Commission for authority to issuenew bonds. Both agencies are part of the state treasurer's office.Since 1986, non-profit, independent colleges in North Carolina have beenable to sell tax-exempt revenue bonds through the Local Government Commissionto fund construction and renovation of facilities and the purchase ofeqUipment.Vice President for Business Affairs Gene Clayton said two banks are interestedin buying Methodist's bonds. He said the College will use $8.2 millionof the bond revenues to refinance existing debt and $5.8 million to pay forcapital improvements. He said the new bonds will be repaid over a 25-yearperiod.The bond proceeds will be used for the following new projects:- $3 million for a new residence hall that will accommodate68 students and an area coordinator- $1 million for the renovation of science labs- $750,000 to buy 33 acres ofland adjacent to the campus- $600,000 to renovate four residence halls(Cumberland, Garber, Sanford, Weaver)- $500,000 for contingencies"The projects that will be funded from bond revenues are much-needed,said M. Elton Hendricks, college president. "We must act now to accommodatecontinued growth and improve our facilities."Methodist sold $10 million in bonds in November 1995 to pay for sevencapital projects and to refinance exisring debt. First Citizens Bank boughr thebonds, and.the College agreed to pay them off over a 15-year period. Afterfour years of annual payments averaging $1 million, Methodist now owes $8.2million on thar issue.In addition to the bond-financed projects, Methodist isplanning to build arleast fiveother new buildings over the next five years: a Communications DepartmentLaboratory, a Fitness Center, a Science Building Annex, a SponsMedicine Program Facility and a Theatre and Drama Department Facility.These will be funded through another capital campaign, for which preliminaryplanning is now underway.Methodist College2