Page 111 - The Voice of Authority

Qubein personally. And if he’s away, they receive a DVD
recording of his comments, apologizing for his being gone
the day they visited.
On move-in day, rather than the typical dreary day that
most college freshmen and parents experience in the sum-
mer heat, running up and down stairs with box-loads of
snacks, sandals, and CDs, freshmen are greeted by upper-
classmen who meet them at their cars to help them unload.
They receive ice-cold bottled water and ice cream while
they unpack. The president himself roams the campus
shaking hands, meeting parents, and greeting wide-eyed
students.
Safety surfaces as another concern on the minds of par-
ents. Although crime is no more a concern in High Point
than in any other small town its size, the school offers valet
parking at the dorms after 9 p.m. as another way to com-
municate to parents that the school cares about the safety
of its students and to eliminate that “eerie” feeling of walk-
ing across a dark parking lot alone at night.
Respect for the individual ranks high on the values list
at High Point. Construction from all the renovation proj-
ects around the campus creates dust. So respect translates
to a free car wash on Saturdays for the students.
Generosity places high on the values list as well. Kiosks
serve free food—ice cream in hot weather, hot chocolate
and soup in cold weather. Students learn generosity by see-
ing it modeled all around them.
Confidence, too, can be a boon to a student’s career
early on—both during academia and later. A bubble gum
machine stands outside Dr. Qubein’s office to encourage
students to come by, pop in a coin, and have the courage
to chat with the big cheese for a few moments about what-
ever’s on their mind.
The total effect of Dr. Qubein’s efforts to communicate

Is It Consistent? 99