May 28, 2009

Dear Mr. Moderator,

I am writing to you with concern about Erskine College. I am a rising junior Psychology major at the college, and I love the school dearly. As a student there, I have learned very much academically and joined several of the extracurricular groups, such as Student Ministry at the Barn, Judicial Council, and working at campus sporting events. There is no doubt in my mind that Erskine has the opportunity to send most of its students, if not all of them, out and ready into the world.

However, I also would like to tell you of the changes occurring in Erskine that may compromise its future. The college was founded to encourage growth academically and spiritually through the Lord Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, as a very involved student, I see little on the part of the Administration being done to encourage the Christian spiritual growth of the students. I would even go as far as to say that the Mission Statement as well as the motto, “scientia cum moribus conjuncta” (“knowledge joined with morals”) are just words used to dress up our school so that it seems more “Christian” to outsiders. It is almost near to adorning a house with new paint, shutters, and beautiful landscaping, only to find out the house is empty inside.

If you were to visit Erskine today, you would find that it is a house divided. Of course there will be separate groups within a college, like any other school, but this division falls deeper than mere cliques. Many people are unhappy at the school. The school itself does not know what to be when marketing itself to prospective students, so once students do arrive, they do not know what to be either. Erskine markets its roots with the church to the people it thinks are “church-going” individuals, and then markets its endless array of activities to the “other” crowd. While it is important for a school to have activities for its students, I guarantee that only a small percentage of the students are the ones that actually take part in most of the extra-curriculars, organizations, etc. This leaves the rest of the student-body twiddling its thumbs and packing up to leave on the weekends. While this does not appear to be a problem having to do with faith, it is! Our school is being vague in its identity. Without a true connection to the Lord being set honestly before them, our Admissions Department is being sent out to collect students either for or indifferent to Christ-centeredness, and both populations are showing up to Erskine and finding that nothing they were shown really exists! The Admissions office’s leadership has even gone as far as to script questions and answers to be performed by students in front of prospective students and their parents. In previous years, parents would ask questions, and a panel of current students would answer honestly.

Campus Ministry at Erskine College is struggling to survive amongst the Administration. The one department that should be supported, equally to Academics and over everything else, is hardly given room to breathe. Erskine Entertainment Board, which is admittedly important to student life, is given nearly eighty thousand dollars a year to entertain students with concerts, movies, etc. Campus Ministry at Erskine, even if given a small office budget, has to survive mostly off of donations given by churches and individuals. While this is generous, I find it difficult to believe that a school founded on Christian principles hardly supports its Campus Ministry at all.

Most of the students can agree on one thing: we are all disappointed that Dr. Don Weatherman, Dean of Academics and Vice President of the college, will be leaving us next year. Many of the students believed that he would do nearly anything for them to be successful in school. Additionally, he was one of the main supporters of Campus Ministry at Erskine. Without him there, I am afraid that the last string has been cut to keeping this college unified.

Erskine Admissions has a new slogan: Forever Connected. This is an undirected slogan that could be interpreted in any way. A slogan so vague gives just as much insight into the inner workings of the school as any letter written. As I graduate, I would like to be certain that I came from a school that joined Christian Commitment to Excellence in Learning. Are we headed in a direction where Erskine remains Christian affiliated? Are current students begging their younger friends to apply to Erskine? I believe not. Within the next few years I believe Erskine will not truly be committed to Christian values, other than a motto about morals. I believe the campus will become more divided as Erskine flounders about in trying to decide an identity. And I believe that the Administration will continue to let the students believe that they are making a difference at the school with countless forums, panels, and student-led discussion intended to placate the population.

So as you evaluate Erskine College, know that there are students who care deeply about the future of the school. Please hold Erskine accountable and do not let it fall into the category of another relativistic college. Academically, we have the strength to compete with any other school. Give us the added benefit of preparing us to minister to the world outside of college once we graduate. Challenge us to stand firm in our faith for Jesus Christ, and foster its growth within the Erskine walls. Once we graduate, we will have more knowledge and capability to reach out to others around us.

In Christ,

Catherine Howle
Class of 2011