tWje&otunba Longwood College February 26, 1990
Vol. 69 No. 17
Longwood Dirt Diggers Survey Site By JEN DOOLEY The Longwood Dirt Diggers" - one of the few phrases in American Society that may be taken literally. The archaeological seat at Longwood is more than a group of undergraduate students who like to play in the mud. To many, archeology is one of those areas that seems like it would be Interesting— es pecially when we are seven year olds. Very few people sustain interest to the college level and actively pursue that interest. Longwood's own James W. Jordan, Ph.D. pro fessor of anthropology, is one of those people, along with a number of students whose passion for dirt-digging greatly outweighs any thoughts of material rewards or recognition for their efforts. Although we rarely hear about it. archeology is thriving in Farmville and surrounding areas solely as a result of the efforts of Dr. Jordan and some dedicated students. On Saturday, February 17. a group of students surveyed
a number of area sites including: a possible graveyard, a building site "of undetermined age or nature", and a creek area, among others. As Dr. Jordan explained, the primary problem with site surveying lies in the availability of sites. Usually. Dr. Jordan will be Informed of a potential site by farmers, game wardens or other private individuals who believe inspection of a particular area may result in discovery of valuable objects of information. The purpose of the site survey on the 17th was to determine whether the above mentioned sites might prove to warrant further investigation by the participants in Dr. Jordan's Summer Field School in archeology. First Introduced in the summer of 1980. the field school gives students from Longwood, as well as from other colleges, the opportunity to conduct professional research in areas never before investigated. Usually thirty to forty students participate in a
two to three week session. The Field School is open to anyone from any major. The group is usually very diverse because it includes people who are interested In the past for a number of different reasons. Dr. Jordan explained that he. personally is interested in what it may have been like to have lived here hundreds of years ago as an Indian (the style of life in the past). When the Field School first began only prehistoric Indian sites were Investigated. Later, as Interests widened, historical sites were also examined. The participants have dug at archaic, woodland and colonial sites, including slave quarters and cemeteries. Dr. Jordan explained that, even after a site has been found, a number of problems still remain. Many of the landowners become suspicious that the archaeologist will try to take anything valuable that they find. Although items of value are extremely scarce, there are measures (Continued on page 5)
Longwood archeology students survey a potential site near Longwood.
Farmvllle, VA
30 Year Club Two long-time members of Among matters on the the Longwood College's Council's agenda for faculty have been chosen to Immediate consideration, she lead the College Council, the said, are "the fin a 1 action half of a new implementation of a new governance structure that general education program, went into effect last month. implications of the State Dr. Carolyn Wells and Dr. budget cutbacks, and several Eleanor Bobbitt were unani- promotion and tenure issues. mously elected Chair and "And we are still in the Deputy Chair, respectively, of process of getting ourselves the College Council at the organized and functioning," organization's first meeting on she said. "I have the highest Jan. 25. respect for my colleagues on Dr. Wells is professor of the Council and look forward biology. From 1969 to 1981. to working with them." The other branch of the she held various positions in academic affairs new government structure is administration, serving as the Longwood Assembly. Its vice president for academic voting membership includes affairs and dean of the college all of the College's full-time from 1975 to 1981. Dr. teaching faculty, librarians, Bobbitt is professor of health and coaches who hold faculty and physical education. rank. The Council's voting Officers of the Longwood membership totals 24 and in- Assembly are: Dr. Robert cludes the deans of Webber (professor of Longwood's three schools and mathematics and computer continuing studies, faculty science), president; Dr. James representatives elected from Jordan (professor of sociology each school and the vice and anthropology), vice presidents for academic af- president: Dr. Robert May fairs, business affairs, and (assistant professor of mathestudent affairs. matics), secretary: and Dr. The president of the Judy Johnson (associate College, the vice president of professor and chair of the research and Information Department of Health. systems, the associate vice Physical Education, and president for public affairs Recreation). faculty and publications, and the representative to the Board of faculty representative to the Visitors. Board of Visitors are ex-officio The Assembly will review or non-voting members of the actions from the Council. It may remand these actions to Council. The Council Is responsible the Council for further study for recommending policies on and consideration. Longwood's academic Two of Longwood's programs, effective teaching, standing committees— the conditions of employment and faculty advisory committee to benefits, budgeting, and the president and the faculty many other matters crucial to status committee— will report the College's operation. to the Assembly. The Longwood Assembly Most of the Colleges standing committees- and the College Council have including curriculum, student replaced the Organization of life, finance and resources, Teaching Faculty. The new graduate program, lectures, library, faculty research and ^^(Continued on page 3)^^ development, procedures for promotion and tenure, and Contents the Longwood Seminar— will report to the Council. News 1. 3. 4 Dr. Wells said the Council Commentary. 2 "is an opportunity for faculty Features. 5 and administration to work 1 '<• rsonals. 6 together in a new way to Sports 7 make Longwood College an Calender. 8 institution of high caliber." Classified* 8