Dr. Charles Pecor, former Shorter professor, sent the following to us via email. We asked his permission to post it on the web page and he graciously agreed. Thank you, Dr. Pecor.
I only recently learned of the plight of Shorter College. I am greatly distressed and disgusted to learn of what is happening. My wife, Claudia Thompson Pecor is a graduate of Shorter. Indeed, I met my wife at Shorter. I taught at Shorter and was the theatre director from the fall of 1962 until the spring of 1967. I left Shorter for a similar position at Georgia Tech, and eventually ended up at Macon State College where I spent my last ten years in the academic world as Chair of the Division of Humanities.
I have many warm memories of the school, the faculty, and the students with whom I came in contact. It was not perfect, no institution is, but it was a far cry from what it is becoming. A positive religious life was emphasized on the campus, but it was not “cult like.” No signed “pledges to be good” were required of students or faculty. (If pledges really worked, there would be no divorces.)
Within a few days of learning of what is happening, I called one of my former students who lives in New Jersey. He was also appalled. He said, “My years at Shorter were some of the best years of my life.” I felt the same way. The relationships between faculty and students in those days was something special.
I’ve been around higher education most of my adult life, so believe me when I say that NOTHING good happens when a college loses accreditation, and, from what I am hearing, Shorter seems to be on that path.
Recently I started working on a memoir of my life in educational and community theatre, and I was looking forward to dealing with the Shorter years. Now that effort will be hedged about with great sadness.
Claudia and I wish you good fortune in your attempt to turn back the tide.
Dr. Charles J. Pecor
Professor of Humanities emeritus
Macon State College (retired)
