Inside Furman is published monthly during the school year by the Furman University Department of Marketing and Public Relations. For story ideas, e-mail John Roberts, editor.
Free litter bags
In an effort to keep the campus litter free, the Furman Department of Public
Safety is distributing free automobile liter bags. The lightweight bags, which
fit snugly over most automobile handles, are the perfect size for fast-food
cups, wrappers, cans and other trash items.
Bob Miller, director of public safety, says the campus is mostly litter free during the week because facilities services workers, Furman employees and students pick up and dispose of roadside liter. During the weekends, though, litter is more pronounced.
The litter bags are available at the Department of Public Safety.
A different kind of
Commencement
Furman's 2003 Commencement address will not be given by an eminent scholar,
wealthy benefactor or politician. Breaking from tradition, two Furman seniors
- Steven Buckingham and Kensey Cone - will step to the podium May 31 to deliver
the speech of a lifetime.
Buckingham, a political science major, and Cone, an English major, were chosen from 13 seniors who auditioned for the opportunity. The Association of Furman Students and the President's Council approved of the concept last fall in part because of past complaints about long-winded speakers with little name recognition or no connection to Furman.
Vice President for Student Services Harry Shucker, Sarah Worth (Philosophy), Ron Granieri (History), Rich Letteri (Communication Studies), John Crabtree (Dean emeritus) and the presidents of the sophomore and junior classes selected Cone and Buckingham last month after auditions.
Contestants were asked to write and deliver a draft Commencement speech of no more than six minutes in length. Letteri is helping Cone and Buckingham polish their speeches.
Wrapping up Santas
for Sirrine
The Furman library wrapped up a three-year "Santas for Sirrine" program in
January by raising more than $1,800. Launched in 1999, the fund-raising drive
has raised a total of $13,000 to help update the library collection at Sirrine
Elementary, a school located in a low-income area south of Greenville. Donations,
contributed mostly by Furman faculty and staff, have been used to purchase
more than 900 new books for the school.