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Dear Editor:

I ask this question as it applies to the removal of Bagby Hall from the Campus of Hampden-Sydney College, “Is Science and Technology the backbone of the H-SC experience?”

Bagby Hall was built as a science hall in the 1800s. In the 1900s, a bigger building was raised to house physical science. Bagby Hall became the Social Sciences Center. Many memories were made there in the 1800s, 1900s, and 2000s. Coincidentally, over the decades, two scientific norms repeated themselves:

1) Change is constant, justification is opinionated.

2) Warriors become great when they see the opportunities for a better day and they act accordingly.

It was stated that a new $30 million science center would improve recruiting and the educational mission of the school. This rhetoric is outdated. Buildings do not bring students to a school. It was also stated that keeping the integrity of history is more important than progress. No, it is not. Students do not attend a college to live in a museum.

The H-SC man goes to the woods of the Tiger to find himself, improve himself, enjoy himself, and march on. He makes memories, he completes tasks, he gets away from mom and dad, he finds his purpose, then goes and shares it with others around the world.

What our boys need in today’s world are the “tools of process” that perpetuates a more relevant reach. The world needs more good men and good citizens. There are plenty of science, rhetoric, and economic undergrads. The world needs more MWLAs (Master Warriors of Liberal Arts).

In my opinion, the college community of H-SC not only needs to provide new facility updates, while maintaining the past, but also needs to provide a masters’ degree program in liberal arts. The educational process around the world is losing its social effectiveness. Integrity is modifying its core of learning to financially appease mass demands. Where in the world is there a master’s degree program developing good men of good citizenship?

This is where we Tigers hold our heads high as we walk this planet. This is the investment we made over the years in ourselves, our children, and our grandchildren. The abilities to say good morning, wave a hand at a stranger, obtain a gentlemen’s “C.”, and gleefully sing out of tune on a Saturday night are needed on this planet more than ever. The world needs more good men and good citizens.

Thousands of years ago, an ancient leader of men said, “A warrior sees life as opportunity. The ordinary sees life as a blessing or a curse.”

H-SC has a great opportunity to honor the memory of Bagby Hall by building a master degree program of good liberal art citizenship that will be the new scientific vertical of the 2000s.

Coach Frank Fulton

Class of 1979,

Hampden-Sydney College