Board candidates answer faculty questions
by Bernie Scheffler, ne news editor

    As the May 4 election approaches, candidates for the District 2 seat on the TCC Board of Trustees are finalizing their campaigns.

   Last week the two candidates, Dr. J. Ardis Bell and Nicholas Nance, answered questions from faculty and staff on NE Campus, which is located in District 2.

   Bell, a 77-year-old retired doctor, and Nance, a 24-year-old NE Campus student, answered pre-submitted questions from faculty on a variety of topics, including motivation, vision, technology, transportation and accountability.

   When asked why they wished to serve on the board of trustees, Bell said, “I want to serve my community, to continue serving the community, as I have in the past.”

   Bell has been a board member since its inception in 1965, serving as the board’s president since 1976.

   Nance says, though he lacks Bell’s experience, he also can do the job well.

   “I reviewed the qualifications for the position, and I feel I meet those qualifications, so I’m running for it,” he said. “What makes me different is that as a NE Campus student, I see things from the perspective of a student, rather than an administrator.”

   Both candidates agreed that the biggest problem facing TCC in the near future is the status of college facilities.

   Construction on South Campus, the first of the TCC campuses, began in May 1966 and was completed September 1967.

   South Campus was followed closely by NE Campus, which opened for classes in September 1968.

   Even NW Campus, which opened in January 1976, has surpassed its 25th anniversary.

   SE, the newest of the campuses, opened in fall 1996.

   Nance and Bell each expressed concern that student populations are growing too quickly for these aging campuses.

   “As the facilities sit now, they will not be able to handle an increase in student population,” Nance said.

   Bell agreed, saying, “Our biggest problem right now is the number of students, and I think that’s a good problem to have.”

   “But, we must enlarge our facilities,” he said.

   When asked if he supported term limits for board president, Bell said, “No, I don’t see any need for that,” drawing laughter from the audience.

   “In some cases term limits are feasible, but for board president, I think the most qualified candidate should serve. I don’t know if I support term limits for that,” Nance replied.

   The elected trustees will serve six-year terms and will not be paid for their services.