Then, Now, Next

Alice Dean Pugh ’60 / Courtesy Photo

Then

ALICE DEAN PUGH ’60

When I entered the Woman’s College of Furman University 68 years ago, I had no clue what a long shadow that would cast. The joys of that connection have lasted and sustained me in my life’s journey. The friends who I made at Furman are bonuses that I have learned to treasure.

The in-town location allowed me to walk downtown to shop at Ivey’s and Myers Arnold. A yellow school bus was my transportation to classes or Furman Singers’ practice on the men’s campus. When I was a senior, I needed a car to drive to Greenville High School where I did my practice teaching.

The evening meal at the Woman’s College was served family style. The girls on work scholarship served the circular tables of eight people. As we waited for the dining room doors to open, we sang, “Here we are like birds in the wilderness waiting to be fed.” During Sunday lunch we had a seated meal instead of cafeteria style. After lunch we would go to the Chinese Parlor for after-dinner coffee. The hot tea and coffee were served from a silver service. On Sunday evening, we picked up a sack supper that we ate in our rooms.

Before I realized that most Furman Singers were voice or music majors, I auditioned to join the Singers. Again, my luck prevailed; I made the cut. The secular and sacred music I learned taught me much more than I learned in the required music appreciation class. During spring Break, Furman Singers traveled by bus around South Carolina performing in Baptist churches and public schools.

After three delightful years living at “The Zoo” (nickname for the Woman’s College), I decided to live on the New Campus my senior year. When I came back for reunions, I wanted a connection to the new location of Furman University.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alice Dean Pugh ’60 is a retired teacher from DeKalb County Schools in Georgia. She majored in English at Furman and still lives in the Atlanta area.

Emme Edwards ’24 / Owen Withycombe

Now

EMME EDWARDS ’24

When a first-year student first walks on campus, the world changes for them. It’s exciting, horrifying and wonderful all at once. You are starting a new chapter of your life with a new sense of freedom while leaving so much of what you know behind. When I first came to campus, it was nothing like they said it would be in the movies. I was sitting in a Hula-Hoop, standing 6 feet away from everyone, and I was not allowed to have people in my room. Little 18-year-old me felt as if the weight of a global pandemic was on her shoulders and that there was no way college would be a worthwhile experience.

Coming to college is challenging, and it only becomes more difficult as you add academics, sports, relationships, clubs and more. I joined Paladin Peer Support in my sophomore year as I realized I could help people on campus who struggled just as I did. As the current president, I hope to continue to help anyone who is struggling on campus to know that their feelings and hardships are valid and that the members of this club are always here to have these conversations. Paladin Peer Support was started as a club made to train students on campus to meet one-on-one with their peers to help them feel supported and help them through any troubles they were having.

Now that we have many peer mentors on campus through the Pathways Program, our club is shifting toward overall campus support and wellness. We will still offer training for counseling, and students are always welcome to come to us for a meeting. Paladin Peer Support has begun to collaborate with the Trone Center for Mental Fitness, and we are planning for events, such as an aroma therapy stand, a comfort food stand, and an event in which a student walks around the lake with a peer. We will strive to make campus a happy place while making sure every student knows about the mental health resources available to them at Furman.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Emme Edwards ’24 is the president of Paladin Peer Support. She is double majoring in psychology and anthropology.

Jason Cassidy / Jeremy Fleming ’08

Next

JASON CASSIDY

One day last May, while stretching before playing basketball at the PAC, Zach Johnson, a captain in the U.S. Army and an assistant professor of military science at Furman, invited me to attend the Army’s Cadet Command Leadership Symposium in Fort Knox, Kentucky, for three days in July.

The purpose of this symposium is to bring representatives from colleges and universities that host ROTC programs from across the country together to learn more about the Army’s goals, participate in hands-on activities and strengthen partnerships.

I’ve been a colleague with Furman’s ROTC cadre and worked with our cadets for almost 25 years, so I accepted Capt. Johnson’s invitation. I’m glad I did because it was a really cool experience.

The Army’s ROTC program started in 1916 and has thousands of cadets from over 900 colleges and universities. Every summer, all rising college senior cadets go to Fort Knox for 32 days of training. Furman had 18 cadets there while I visited.

Fort Knox felt like a college campus in many ways. There were barracks, mess halls, support services (gyms, health center and other facilities) and even a golf course. The two main visual differences between Furman and Fort Knox: 1. The Army is not concerned about landscaping. 2. There were military vehicles, including tanks, everywhere.

I participated in the challenge course, climbing wall and rappel tower that the cadets tackle during their 32-day training. They make it look much easier than it is. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have some butterflies in my stomach as I looked 60 feet down before stepping off that tower. I also got to experience a beefaroni MRE (meal ready to eat) for lunch.

I can’t imagine living off three of those a day for days on end.

I have a much greater appreciation for what Furman cadets experience, for the valuable leadership training that they receive from the Army, and most importantly for the opportunity that the Army provides young people to earn a college degree and graduate without financial debt. Often, young people think about the military or college as independent career options, when in fact, they can be a wonderful pairing as a career pathway.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jason Cassidy is associate vice president for Student Life and dean of students at Furman.