wfn.org | Return of Forman College delayed again

[PCUSA NEWS <PCUSA.NEWS@ecunet.org>]

Note #7429 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

16-September-2002
02353

Return of Forman College delayed again

Government won't restore property to PC(USA) until after elections

by Jerry L. Van Marter

LOUISVILLE - The return of historic Forman Christian College to the
Presbyterian Church (USA) has been delayed until after upcoming elections in
Pakistan, church officials were informed this week. 

Peter Armacost, FC's president-elect, returned from Pakistan recently with
news that the Punjab (provincial) government has postponed the return of the
school until after elections next month. 

"First it was June, then August, now we hope to get it back within the next
12 months," Armacost, the president emeritus of Eckerd College in Florida,
told the Presbyterian News Service on Sept. 13. "In the meantime, the FC
board of directors is moving ahead to see if we can put together a
high-quality academic program without the property."

A turnover ceremony had been scheduled for Oct. 5. The keynote speaker was to
have been Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf, a graduate of Forman.

Teachers rebelled this summer when the Pakistan government announced that it
would denationalize 60 schools in the Punjab, including Forman. The protests,
prompted by fears of layoffs or transfers, created what Armacost called "an
uncertain political situation."

"Election times in Pakistan have historically been highly emotional periods,
with demonstrations, blockages of traffic and other aggressive activities,"
said S. David Stoner of the PC(USA), who has been negotiating the return of
Presbyterian schools nationalized by the Pakistani government in the early
1970s. "Since the electioneering has commenced, the government has chosen not
take actions that will create anti-education efforts," he said.

Armacost is returning to Pakistan next month for six weeks to continue
working on a strategic plan with Forman's board of directors. Stoner said
fund-raising efforts in support of this strategy will begin when the
timetable for the turnover is settled. 

Armacost said the board, and the Presbyterian Church in Pakistan, don't want
to wait until the property is returned to re-launch its educational ministry.
"The will is clearly there to put together the educational program," he said.
"These people feel they've lost 30 years worth of Pakistani students, and the
church feels it can't wait. They need quality leaders for the 21st century." 

Armacost said he wants to have the educational program in place "before I
come home," whether the property is returned by then or not. He said
officials want to ensure that the program is of high quality and is
financially sustainable. 

"There are more than enough students, yes," he said. "One of our challenges
is to create a program that is affordable for enough students."

According to Armacost, the college probably has enough endowment money to
fund its educational program, but release of much of that money and therefore
the plans are "predicated on getting the property back." 

He said he doesn't fear for his own safety, but realizes that the volatile
political climate in Pakistan will make it hard to assemble a high-quality
faculty. While some Pakistani professors are available, he said, "I would
have to take some from the United States, as well; whether that's politically
possible is an interesting question."

He said reestablishing the college's educational ministry is crucial to the
church and the country. 

"The church feels it can't wait," he said. "The whole future depends on it."
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