Samford Crimson
Vol. 59. No. 19
Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama 35209
Friday, March 8, 1974
New direction planned for
studies in Art Department
Dr. Lowell Vann heads the Art
Department here at Samford.
According to him as Samford
enters a new era with the
completion of the Fine Art
Center, so will the Art
Department. This is un¬
derstandably so considering
the additional space that will
be available. More programs
can be offered in a wider range
of areas, thus benefiting our
students.
Dr. Vann feels that the
philosophy of his department
should be restricted each year,
and it is. Recently there have
been changes directed at
involving more students in the
art program. Dr. Vann stated,
“The curriculm in the Art
Department is aimed toward
educational art, instead of
commerical art.. .We are in the
business of training our
students to teach.” He further
pointed out, "The art program
is designed to provide a broad
educational experience for the
non-art student, as well. Our
courses in art appreciation
cover the spectrum of art
expressions, and prpvide a
strong cultral background for
further study of art.”
With the addition of the Fine
Arts Center and all that will
come with it, the Art Depart¬
ment will be in the forefront of
new activities at Samford.
These will include more art
shows and accordingly a larger
viewing audience for the work
of Samford students. Dr. Vann
said that all of the facilities will
be used "to the best of our
abilities.” In that case we will
be hearing more and more fron
our art programs.
Dr. Vann, a native-born Ten¬
nessean, is married to the
former Mira Fairly. They have
four children: Marcus, Kim,
Vicki, and Janna. He currently
is Professor of Art and Head of
the Art Department at Sam¬
ford University.
Vann’s education began in
the Cullman City School
system. He graduated from
Samford University with an
A.B. in 1957. In 1966 he received
a Master’s degree in Fine Art’s
from the University of
Alabama. He earned his Ph.D
in Art Education from Florida
State University. Since college
he has been Assistant Pastor of
First Baptist Church in
Cullman and of Forest Lake
Baptist in Tuscaloosa, where
he also served as Minister of
Education. He was Minister of
Education at East Hill Baptist
in Tallahassee, Florida. His
teaching experience has been
in Cullman in the public
schools and at the University of
Alabama and here at Samford.
While at Samford, Dr. Vann
was Art Editor of the Entre
Nous and President of Kappa
Pi National Art Fraternity. He
was a member of Alpha Phi
Omega, Omicron Delta Kappa,
and the Ministerial
Association. He was also
chosen for Who’s Who in
American Colleges and
Universities.
Dr. Vann currently is Vice-
President of the Birmingham
Art Association and the
President of Alabama
Designer-Craftsmen. He and
his family are active members
of the Green Valley Baptist
Church here in Birmingham.
Speed breakers are only
solution to speeding
In an effort to reduce the
hazards caused by drivers who
thoughtlessly speed on Sam-
ford’s campus, speed breakers
were installed last week in
seven or eight locations where
the greatest dangers exist.
According to Mr. H.W. Riffe,
Physical Plant Superin¬
tendent, there have been
several accidents and an
unrecorded number of "near
mises” which could be at¬
tributed directly to speeding.
No personal injuries have
occurred as yet, and no
pedestrians have been in¬
volved in any of the accidents.
Dean H.L. Martin said that
speed breakers had been used
under consideration several
times during recent years, but
the proposal had been shelved
each time in the vain hope that
drivers would heed speed limit
signs and other warnings of
hazards on the campus.
“Conditions near the Fine
Art Building construction site
entrance have been especially
bad,” he continued, "and we
finally concluded that speed
breakers are the only sure
means of control available. We
studied their use at other
schools, and are installing the
minimum number we believe
necessary to insure safe
vehicle speeds at the danger
spots. We still must count on
the cooperation of drivers, of
course, if the campus is to
remain safe for all of us.”
Signs calling attention to the
speed breakers have been
installed at the campus en¬
trance and on the approaches
to each' location where the
breakers are placed.
Wins national prize
Gregg Sewell, a junior majoring in theory and com¬
position, was the winner of the student division of the
В.
B.
McKinney Hymn Anthem Competition sponsored by the B.
B. McKinney Foundation at Warren M. Angell School of
Fine Arts on the campus of Oklahoma Baptist University,
Shawnee, Oklahoma. First Prize was $75. This anthem will
be published by Broadman Press. First prize in the
professional division was won by Dr. James D. Cram from
Hardin-Simmons University, Abilene, Texas. Sewell is a
student of Bob Burroughs and has had about six pieces
published with several to be accepted. He also wrote the
title song for the Hear and Now Singers’ 1974 album, “More
Like Jesus."
Dr. McCullough elected vice-president
of national professors' organization
University Professors for
Academic Order (UPAO),
meeting in San, Diego,
California for its fourth
national convention, elected
Dr. Fred Decker of Oregon
State University President, Dr.
Dean Monahan of Southeast
Missouri State University First
Vice-President, and Dr.
Herbert McCullough of
Samford University Second
Vice-President.
The convention passed a
resolution condemning the
“political use" of universities
as “contrary to the spirit of the
Constitution of the United
States and of free nation” and
urged that state laws dealing
with political agitation on
campus be strictly enforced.
The convention opposed
compulsory unionization of
faculties, with the possibility of
strikes and forced deduction of
union dues from salaries. The
convention recognized that
university faculties may need
“to unite in discussion and
negotiations with ad¬
ministration” on various
problems but recommended
that voluntary professional
associations be used instead of
trade unions.
Dr. S.J. Hayakawa spoke to
the convention about the
presidency of San Francisco
State University, which he
reopened after rioters had
closed it. He called the campus
uproar of a few years ago “a
passing fad” and expressed
enthusiasm for the commission
on continuing adult education
to which Governor Ronald
Reagan appointed him. Dr.
Hayakawa commended
UPAO for defending the
principle of academic freedom
and responsibility.
UPAO was founded four
years ago by several hundred
universitity professors who
were concerned about the
increasing disruption of
American universities. It has
members at over 300 colleges
and universities in the U.S.
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