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Volume 6 Relation of U.B/EUB Virginia Conferences to Shenandoah University Dec. 26, 2013
organizations, local governments, agencies, and boards. The book was entitled Rules of Civility for
Modern Society and was modeled after the small volume or red book that George Washington wrote at
age 14 about the same topic, civility. The first 10,000 copies of the book went to graduates of the
University and political leaders in local, state, and federal government. Local media, television, radio,
and newspapers provided extensive coverage of the topic and book that led to dozens of civic club
lectures and speeches to groups desiring to promote civility. The book is in its third printing and is
being used in classes and in consulting work with colleges and universities. The topics of the brief
statements cover modern uses of email, cell phones, driving cars, child rearing, spousal relations, group
political dynamics, and ways to treat one’s fellowman fairly and with mutual respect.
Television and Communications Facilities. The ability to communicate well in a university
community is a very important factor in building consensus and a successful organization. In addition to
the SUN newspaper, the University used video and television as an important initiative in building
community. The University acquired the old C&P; Building on Millwood Avenue, which initially
housed the costume shop for the theatre department. However the building’s availability made possible
the creating of a cable channel on the local cable network. When the new Ohstrom/Bryant Theatre was
completed, the theatre costume shop moved and the C&P; Building became available for the new cable
channel.
Adelphia Communications allocated a cable channel to the city schools for educational purposes,
but sufficient funds were not available to purchase equipment and hire staff to produce programming.
The City of Winchester also was allocated a portion of the channel but chose not to fund the cost of
operations. However, the University offered to partner with the City and City Schools to renovate the
old C&P; Building, purchase equipment, and hire staff to create the new cable channel provided the other
two partners could offer some financial assistance. The new partnership was named WET (Winchester
Educational Television). The station started with bulletin boards of announcements and taped
interviews of university, city, and public-school personnel. Rick Ours, who formerly ran video services
for the Winchester Medical Center, provided leadership for the development of the new initiative.
After the University operated the channel for several years, Jim and Jane Vickers agreed to
provide funds to help with the expansion of the former C&P; building for the University’s
communication program. As the planning for the expansion was underway, the administration learned
that new advancements in digital television had enabled companies that owned local television
operations to split signals and offer profitable local programming in areas that previously were denied
service due to FCC restrictions. Gray Communications Company, which owned the Harrisonburg
WHSB channel, offered to open a new ABC news operation in Winchester in cooperation with the
University. This opportunity prompted the University to lease space to the company at an attractive rate
in exchange for cooperation with the local cable channel to use their studios and television equipment.
The resulting arrangement gave the Winchester/Frederick County community local news, an ABC-
affiliated television station, new staff, and equipment for the local cable channel and the academic
communications program at the University. The new building plan included space for the ABC Affiliate
Channel 3, for the WCT’s cooperative cable Channel 20, and for faculty and students in the University’s
communications program. The Jim and Jane Vickers Communications Center occupies the new and
renovated space on the front of the campus. This venture further illustrates the value of cooperation
between organizations that have common needs and limited resources and the benefits that can result to
all parties.
Davis on History of S.C., 1982-2008 78
organizations, local governments, agencies, and boards. The book was entitled Rules of Civility for
Modern Society and was modeled after the small volume or red book that George Washington wrote at
age 14 about the same topic, civility. The first 10,000 copies of the book went to graduates of the
University and political leaders in local, state, and federal government. Local media, television, radio,
and newspapers provided extensive coverage of the topic and book that led to dozens of civic club
lectures and speeches to groups desiring to promote civility. The book is in its third printing and is
being used in classes and in consulting work with colleges and universities. The topics of the brief
statements cover modern uses of email, cell phones, driving cars, child rearing, spousal relations, group
political dynamics, and ways to treat one’s fellowman fairly and with mutual respect.
Television and Communications Facilities. The ability to communicate well in a university
community is a very important factor in building consensus and a successful organization. In addition to
the SUN newspaper, the University used video and television as an important initiative in building
community. The University acquired the old C&P; Building on Millwood Avenue, which initially
housed the costume shop for the theatre department. However the building’s availability made possible
the creating of a cable channel on the local cable network. When the new Ohstrom/Bryant Theatre was
completed, the theatre costume shop moved and the C&P; Building became available for the new cable
channel.
Adelphia Communications allocated a cable channel to the city schools for educational purposes,
but sufficient funds were not available to purchase equipment and hire staff to produce programming.
The City of Winchester also was allocated a portion of the channel but chose not to fund the cost of
operations. However, the University offered to partner with the City and City Schools to renovate the
old C&P; Building, purchase equipment, and hire staff to create the new cable channel provided the other
two partners could offer some financial assistance. The new partnership was named WET (Winchester
Educational Television). The station started with bulletin boards of announcements and taped
interviews of university, city, and public-school personnel. Rick Ours, who formerly ran video services
for the Winchester Medical Center, provided leadership for the development of the new initiative.
After the University operated the channel for several years, Jim and Jane Vickers agreed to
provide funds to help with the expansion of the former C&P; building for the University’s
communication program. As the planning for the expansion was underway, the administration learned
that new advancements in digital television had enabled companies that owned local television
operations to split signals and offer profitable local programming in areas that previously were denied
service due to FCC restrictions. Gray Communications Company, which owned the Harrisonburg
WHSB channel, offered to open a new ABC news operation in Winchester in cooperation with the
University. This opportunity prompted the University to lease space to the company at an attractive rate
in exchange for cooperation with the local cable channel to use their studios and television equipment.
The resulting arrangement gave the Winchester/Frederick County community local news, an ABC-
affiliated television station, new staff, and equipment for the local cable channel and the academic
communications program at the University. The new building plan included space for the ABC Affiliate
Channel 3, for the WCT’s cooperative cable Channel 20, and for faculty and students in the University’s
communications program. The Jim and Jane Vickers Communications Center occupies the new and
renovated space on the front of the campus. This venture further illustrates the value of cooperation
between organizations that have common needs and limited resources and the benefits that can result to
all parties.
Davis on History of S.C., 1982-2008 78
