Birmingham Post-Herald from Birmingham, Alabama • 26

Birmingham Post-Herald, Monday, January 17, 1983 Husband and wife in pottery business die TUSCALOOSA Ellen and Houston Hamm worked side by side in the pottery business for most of their 54-year marriage. They died about 12 hours apart Friday and were buried side by side yesterday at Memory Hill Gardens in Tuscaloosa. He was 76 and she was 73. The couple built and operated Hamm's Pottery on old U.S. 11 near Coaling since 1947.

"They both worried about dying before the other. They were very protective of each other in a financial way and in a loving way, Kenneth Miller, a brother of Mrs. Hamm, said. The Hamms pottery business was well known in Hamm died about 11 a.m. Friday at West Alabama Gen- Miller said six generations of his family have been in Tuscaloosa and Jefferson counties and West Alabama eral Hospital in Northport, and her husband died about the pottery business.

for its native-clay flower pots made on the premises. 11 p.m. 1 in Druid City Hospital in Tuscaloosa without The Hamm's shop probably will be closed, relatives Until the past holiday season the shop had been closed knowing of his wife's death. said. only three days in 25 years for the deaths of Mrs.

The couple had no children. Mr. Hamm is survived by Hamm's mother and father and Mr. Hamm's mother. They met when their fathers were partners in the two sisters, Mrs.

Irene Leatherwood of Romulus and pottery business in Romulus, 20 miles west of Tusca- Mrs. Jeanne Barton of Tuscaloosa, and a brother Ernest Mr. and Mrs. Hamm had been in declining health for loosa. When that business closed during the Depression, E.

Hamm of Northport. Mrs. Hamm is survived four several years. He stopped operating the huge dome the young couple moved to Spruce Pine, and later sisters, Mrs. A.V.

Skidmore by in and Mrs. Phyllis Bridges, kiln behind the store in 1972 when he suffered a stroke. worked Sprott as potters. both of Birmingham and Mrs. Jessie Barnett and Mrs.

She continued to come to the store until about a month Pottery at shop during the past decade has Doris Pate, both of Northport; three brothers, Kensold their ago when she broke a hip. been made at Miller's Pottery in Brent, operated by a neth Coaling, Lawrence Miller, Fosters, and Both had been in and out of the hospital recently. Mrs. first cousin of Mrs. Hamm.

Ralph Miller, Prattville. Private liberal arts schools have uphill fight for financing By Sidney Bedingfield Post-Herald Reporter Before leaving work each day, George Jenkins, vice president of development at Birmingham Southern College, sits at a computer terminal in Stockham Women's Building and tallies the day's take. He logs each contribution the school received during the past 24 hours. Then he waits for a computer printout. On especially prosperous days, Jenkins crosses the lawn separating Stockham from the president's office in Munger Hall and presents the tally sheet to his boss, BSC President Neal Berte.

"We had a good day today," Jenkins tells Berte. The president scans the printout, then hands it back to Jenkins. "Yes," he says. "Now what about tomorrow?" Jenkins jokes about Berte's "what-haveyou-done-for-me-lately?" attitude. But during these difficult times, the plight of private, liberal arts institutions such as Birmingham Southern is no laughing matter.

In the past decade, surveys show, more than twice as many private schools have closed as have opened. Many that opened up during the 1960s when the postwar baby boom reached college-student age died without a fight. Older, more established institutions such as BSC and Samford have fared better. But they, too, are showing signs of the strain. Demographics are their main problem.

In the mid-70s the baby-boom generation turned 30, leaving fewer college-age students to supply tuition-hungry institutions. In 1976, there were 4,251,000 18-yearolds in the United States. That figure fell to 4,087,000 this year. And its decline is expected to accelerate in the next five years, according to "The Coming Enrollment Crisis," a study published recently by the Brookings Institution. "Something happened," Jenkins said, "and suddenly, running an institution of higher education became a very competitive business." That is true throughout higher education.

But competition is fiercest among the private schools, where the problem of dwindling enrollment has been accentuated by a depressed economy and a decline in financial aid. Students pressed for money are choosing less expensive public schools over private institutions. Last year, private-school enrollment fell by 41,000 in the United States. And again, experts expect the trend to continue throughout the decade. All of which should leave Birmingham Southern in a precarious position.

A private college founded by the Methodist Church, the school offers a traditional liberal arts program at a time when the trend is toward high-tech, careeroriented training. And it sits atop a ridge in west Birmingham, an area of Jefferson County beset with unemployment. Worst of all, BSC must now compete with the University of Alabama in Birmingham. a rapidly growing public university that offers lower tuition fees, an accessible campus and a major college basketball program. But despite the grim data, BSC has prospered over the past five years.

Enrollment is up, as are alumni support and faculty morale. The school opened a new library recently, and officials are hatching plans to finance a computer science building. Why the surprising turnaround? Many point to Berte's arrival at BSC in 1976. At that time, the school's enrollment stood at 727, the lowest it had been in 20 years. Its budget was in the red the school's deficit had reached nearly $500,000 the previous year and the number of faculty members had fallen to 61.

Because of those problems, BSC's future was cloudly. There was serious talk, among alumni and church officials, of either closing the campus or relocating to another city. Berte's supporters say the president brought management skills to BSC that have become essential to the contemporary college president. In short, they say Berte brought business acumen to the academy. "These days," Jenkins said, "a president has to be an academician and a chief executive." Nowhere are those business skills more essential than among private schools in the 80s.

Colleges such 'as Birmingham Southern have three sources of income: tuition, endowments and gifts. Even with increased enrollment, tuition supplies only 48 percent of BSC's operating budget. The rest has to be raised. 12 hours apart Under Berte's leadership, BSC bolstered its Office of Development, the school's fund-raising operation. Once a tiny department shunted off to the side, the office has grown into a sophisticated, highly competitive business.

Through the development office, Berte initiated a three-phase fund-raising drive in 1979 that, so far, has netted about $13 million for the school. Alumni contributions during the past five years have increased by almost 15 percent. And endowments to the college have risen from $10 million to $17 million. Included in that $17 million are four endowed chairs in BSC's growing business school. Friends and relatives raised the money from those chairs to honor four local corporate leaders Hugh Daniels of Daniels Construction, Joe Bruno of Food World, Elton B.

Stephens of EBSCO and B.A. Monaghan of Vulcan Materials. By Tommy Langston Business is fine for The Pitcher Show, which created a controversy last year when Cobb Theatres applied for a liquor license Cinema-bar proving a quiet success By Grace Fiorella Post-Herald Reporter The state's first cinema-bar has been open in Vestavia for almost a year, and city leaders there say no problems have arisen. But administrators in neighboring areas still don't favor the idea for their cities. The Pitcher Show, a Cobb Theatre located in Park South Plaza, became the state's first cinema-bar last February.

Beer, wine and sandwiches are sold to moviegoers, and no one under 19 is admitted. Bob Zeitz, Cobb's advertising director, said business has been "terrific. Especially in the last few weeks." Apparently, the theater's success has not meant boisterous behavior in city streets or trouble with enforcement of the age limit, as many residents feared. Vestavia City Council members say the theater's first 11 months have been less than climactic. "We haven't had any trouble with it," council president Joe Pilleteri said.

"None that I've seen, anyway." Councilwoman Sara Wuska, who was against the theater's opening, said she still opposes its unique characteristics. But she knows of no problems it has caused. "This was certainly a progressive and a new concept for the state. I still would prefer not to have a theater that sold wine and beer. "But because of their cooperation and working with our Police Department, we have certainly been able to control it." Councilman Cliff Holman agreed.

"It's been doing fine. I've heard no bad things at all." Lt. Doug Jefferson, Vestavia's acting police chief, said he's had no complaints from residents, and said the 19-year age limit is well enforced. With The Pitcher Show a year old and doing well, Zeitz said it's possible the movie chain may open more cinema bars. "There's nothing on the boards right now, but I certainly wouldn't rule it out." However, Cobb may have difficulty con- A patron at The Pitcher Show enjoys a refreshment while watching a movie.

vincing other area cities to approve of the drop said it has served the city's moviegoers concept. well. He was unaware of The Pitcher Show's Hoover Mayor Frank Skinner said he 19-year-old age limit, but said he prefers probably would be against the opening of a the youth of Homewood "not have the cinema bar in his city. opportunity to join in." "I'm undecided. Well, I shouldn't say that.

A year ago, many Vestavia residents felt I think I would be opposed. But I haven't that way. heard any type sales pitch, and it's not good to have pre-conceived ideas." In December, 1981, council members Skinner he approved Cobb's request for a beer and wine said is not familiar with The license. Pitcher Show, but he does know beer is sold to But calls from angry residents prompted moviegoers. the council to rescind its approval at a speOn Vestavia's northern cial meeting called by border, So Cobb representatives went to MontMayor Jack Grace.

Homewood Mayor Robert Waldrop also said gomery, where the Alabama Beverage Conhe does not favor the opening of a cinema trol Board granted them the license. bar. The same tactics could be used again, if "I always think of movies being espe- Cobb decides to expand its venture. cially for kids. I just feel like we ought to But Waldrop said he would rather not protect our kids as much as possible." face that possibility.

Cobb's Green Springs 6 Theatres, a multi- "We'll cross that bridge when we come to screen complex, is in Homewood, and Wal- it. But I hope nobody ever brings it up." Abscam informant found untrustworthy thy Associated Press NEWARK, N.J. Justice Department lawyers sent to examine New Jersey prose-. cutors' complaints about the FBI's chief Abscam informant came away convinced he could not be trusted to tell the truth, according to government documents released to The Associated Press. The documents, obtained by the AP in a 20-month Freedom of Information Act effort, disclose new details of an internal Justice Department fight over the controversial Abscam operation.

The documents also quote one top Justice Department official as saying FBI agents would not cooperate with New Jersey federal prosecutors who questioned Abscam's tactics. The undercover political corruption probe became public in February 1980, and has resulted in the conviction of former U.S. Senator Harrison Williams Jr. 'of New Jersey and six congressmen. Their convictions are being appealed.

Melvin Weinberg acted as the chief underdover Abscam operative after being granted a probationary sentence for a 1977 mail To accomplish those fund-raising feats, BSC officials say, the school "developed a program for aggressively telling our story." "My job is marketing and selling the college," Jenkins said. "I don't want to sound too crass about it, but if we think we can sit back in our ivory tower and wait for the contributions to come in, then we would be out of business soon." Since 1979, the school has implemented some marketing techniques that 10 years ago would have been unheard of in higher education. For example, the school: Took out an advertising supplement in local newspapers touting the school's academic programs and community service. Hired a Dallas consulting firm College Service Bureau to develop a "national strategy" for marketing BSC. Developed what Jenkins calls "an ongoing cultivation process" aimed at keeping in close touch with both alumni and corporate interests likely to contribute money to the school.

Hired Jenkins, whose background is in both higher edcuation and community development, to run the office of development. In many ways, Jenkins' personal career reflects the national trend toward more aggressive fund-raising efforts by institutions of higher education. He received a graduate degree in education from Florida State University, then worked as an administrator at the University of South Florida. After returning to Birmingham, however, Jenkins took a community development job with the chamber of commerce. In August, he combined his education and marketing experience and joined the development staff at BSC.

"A few years ago, no one would have thought a reputable college or university would have ads in newspapers or on billboards," Jenkins said. "Now, everyone has to do it Vanderbilt, Davidson, they do it too." Although times are difficult at BSC and in higher education in general, Berte said he believes some good may come from all the belt Schools now are forced to take a hard look at what they are offering. And many are finding fat that needs to be trimmed. "In the 60s, the biggest problem was, 'How do you build the next Berte said. "Schools were trying to be all things to all people they were thinking about how they could get more students so they could get more Now, Berte said, schools must "re-analyze their mission, and I think we will all come out of it stronger." fraud conviction.

Weinberg was deeply involved in the Abscam prosecutions, and has been regarded as a key figure in the entire operation. The Justice Department tried to corroborate Weinberg's court testimony with tapes of politicians discussing and accepting bribes. Critics of Abscam claim Weinberg's method of luring politicians with bribe money violated their constitutional rights. Defense attorneys repeatedly challenged Weinberg's credibility. The objections of New Jersey federal prosecutors to Weinberg also became known during Abscam trials.

Questions surrounding Weinberg's credibility arose during the Abscam investigation of Kenneth MacDonald, vice chairman of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission. MacDonald was indicted on charges of conspiracy and extortion; he died before his trial. In an unrelated case last week, a federal judge ruled that McDonald's family can continue a libel suit he filed against Time Inc. before his death. The U.S.

attornet's office in Newark had criticized Weinberg's failure to record key conversations in the McDonald investigation and Weinberg's alleged acceptance of personal gifts from other investigative targets. The Justice Department sent members of its Public Integrity Section to Newark to review those objections. After taking over the investigation from the New Jersey prosecutors, the Public Integrity Section lawyers also found Weinberg untrustworthy, according to the released documents. In January 1981, then-Attorney General Benjamin Civiletti summoned two of the New Jersey prosecutors Edward Plaza and Robert Weir to Washington to explain their objection to Abscam tactics. On January 30, Weir, who continues to serve as an attorney on the Organized Crime Strike Force in Newark, told Justice Department officials that Reid Weingarten, one of the Public Integrity lawyers sent to Newark, also had doubts about Weinberg's credibility and told him he had decided not to use Weinberg's testimony in the McDonald investigation.

"He had decided that Weinberg was 'incredible and he could not trust him to testify to the truth in the grand jury," Weir said, according to the documents. For example, the president said, BSC now has "no illusions about growing any larger." Enrollment stands at 1,553, and the school does not expect it to increase in the future. There are plans for a computer science building. But officials contemplate no other campus construction for some time. "We want to be a high-quality liberal arts institution," the president said.

But even the liberal arts, the traditional attraction at BSC, have undergone subtle changes in the last few years. As it is at most schools, the trend among students at BSC is toward more career-oriented course work. The college's Business School has grown dramatically. Now, one out of four students at BSC is a business major. Even the traditional liberal arts programs have grown more practical.

Berte said he has worked to get the faculty out of the ivory tower and more in tune with the business world. Many have taken internships with industry and government, which, Berte said, gave them an idea of the options, available to student graduating with liberal arts degrees..