A Summer at Lander

I taught English in summer school at Lander College, Greenwood, South Carolina,  in 1973.  Lander had the distinction of being the only four-year liberal arts college in the United States that was supported by a county. Greenwood Mills, the local textile mill, was the main financial contributor.  Unfortunately the support was not particularly strong, and as a result the College was not in very good shape, financially or physically.  Since few of the buildings were air conditioned,  when I showed up for the first class day,  I learned that our class was to be held in the Men’s Room in the Gym.  This was one of the few buildings that had an adequate air conditioning system.  The room we were assigned was the men’s  locker room, which connected to the showers and stalls by an opening but no door.  All the chairs faced that opening.  As I came in the room, the class was almost filled.  Suddenly we heard a flush and an opening stall door.  I still remember that student coming out to find a room full of people, male and female, sitting in chairs facing him.  I decided to move the class outside to the bleachers on the soccer field, where me met for the rest of the summer.