Cedarville did not have strong executive leadership. In fact, by the end of the year, it did not even have a president! James T. Jeremiah served as vice president while continuing his responsibilities as pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Dayton. It was impossible for him to manage both responsibilities to the degree that was needed. In addition, the Webster fiasco had not created a framework in which faculty, students, or trustees had been able to place confidence in the president. This leadership void contributed greatly to the first-year crisis. Finally, the Baptists had not had time to build a solid relationship with the Cedarville and greater Greene County community. Cedarville had not yet "figured out" its new neighbors! The traditional town-gown conflicts were present. For much of its existence, Cedarville College had been a community– based school, drawing most of its students from the immediate area. Suddenly, virtually all the students were from other parts of the state and nation. It would take time to build communications between the college and the community, and in those early days, the development of the community relationship moved very slowly. Thus, the same three problems that led to the downfall of the college in the Presbyterian years were all very much in evidence in the first year of the Baptist administration. Obviously, changes would have to be made. 1. Norma Deranek. personal interview, August 1986. 2. Ohio Independent Baptist. May 1953, p. 4. 3. Leigh Hunt, personal interview, August 1986. 4. Ibid. 5. John Stoll, personal interview, October 1985. 6. Norma Deranek. personal interview, August 1986. 7. Dayton Daily News, March 16, 1953. 8. Trustees Minutes, May 28, 1953. 9. Ohio Independent Baptist. September 1952. p. 7. 10. Ibid. June 1953. p. 4. 11. Ibid.. July 1953, p. 3. 12. John Stoll. personal interview. October 1985. 13. Norma Deranek. personal interview. August 1986. 14. Trustees Minutes, September 19. 1953. 15. Ibid. 16. Ibid. 17. Ibid. Three students withdrew from school early in the semester lowering the official enrollment for the first year 10 102, according to the official Academic Records of the college. All enrollment slatistics referred to have been compiled by Mr. Jack Campbell. director of Academic Records and registrar. 18. Ohio Independent Baptist, October 1953, p. 11. 19. Trustees Minutes, December 11, 1953. 20. Ibid. 21. Cerald Smelser, Taped Reflections. October 1985. 22. Trustees Minutes, January 8, 1954. 23. Ibid. 24. Ibid. 25. Ibid. 26. Norma Deranek, personal interview, August 1986.. 27. Ibid. 28. Ibid. 29. Ibid. Christian service opportunities were readily available to students, such as singing and traveling with quartets, trios, or the choir. The Ladies Sextelle (1958) was one such group. Chapter XIl/I03
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