An Afternoon with Dr. Gregg

Ben Whitlock
Class of 2015

Over the course of my career as a McConnell Scholar, I have developed a working relationship with the fearless director of our program, Dr. Gary Gregg.  However, I have had few opportunities to get to know Dr. Gregg closely.  I do not think that this is odd, per se.  I am not saying that Dr. Gregg is impersonal, or that either of us have shied away from regular conversation.  I am simply saying that our relationship is mostly professional.  Now that I think of it, I like the fact that our relationship is professional.  There is a sense of decorum associated with professional relationships that I like and find beneficial - I know that Dr. Gregg will live up to his commitments, I know that he will present himself in a certain way, and I know that he is approachable.  Similarly, Dr. Gregg knows that I will live up to my commitments, he knows that I will present myself in a certain way and that I will live up to expectations (I hope he knows, at least), and he knows that he can come to me if something needs to be done. (again, so I hope)  Over the years, Dr. Gregg and I have maintained a professional relationship; but recently, I had the opportunity to get to know him better.  

Perhaps it's inevitable that Scholars grow closer to Dr. Gregg and the Center Staff as they age.  Call it maturity, call it more education, call it experience in the Center... call it whatever ... but I think that we all have grown closer to Dr. Gregg and the others because it's natural.  I hope to stay in touch with all of my fellow Scholars, as well as the Center Staff after I leave, and I hope that I can feel comfortable coming in the Center long after graduation from the program.  At any rate, I had the opportunity to meet with Dr. Gregg after hours to discuss "How to be a Gentleman" - a seminar that we held here in November - and to catch up on the new developments of my academic career.  The meeting stands out because we met at a gun range!

Fear Dr. Gregg!! Fear him! For our director is a crack shot!! Dr. Gregg and I shared a lane at Open Range Gun Range in Oldham County... For those of you who don't know how shooting ranges work, please indulge me:

Upon entering a shooting establishment, one must sign a mountain of paperwork.  The paperwork states that you are liable for damages, etc., etc. but it also gives the staff an opportunity to talk to you.  I always assume that, through informal conversation, they are sizing me up - making sure I'm not insane, making sure I know what I'm doing, making sure I'm not scared of the tool in my hands.
  
]After filing away the paperwork, the staff shows you the list of rules... there are always too many.  All ranges have standard rules however to the effect of 1). always point the gun down range (away from people), 2). never point the gun at other patrons, and 3). NO HORSEPLAY!! Those are the basics.

Once you learn the rules, the staff gives you protective glasses and ear plugs, a target... yada yada.  Then you're free to shoot.

There are lanes in a gun range - like a bowling alley.  You always shoot in your lane, the same way that you don't bowl down someone else's pins.  However, just like a bowling alley, you can share lanes.  

The target is fixed to a swinging contraption.  The contraption can move the target out as far as one would like, thus suspending the target for you to shoot.  It's easy at that point - shoot your heart out (bad analogy), bring it back, see where you hit the target, repeat. 

While we took turns shooting, Dr. Gregg and I shouted at one another about the Center, about seminars, lectures, plans for the future... through the process, I got a sense of being a gentleman in a way that would not be possible in our seminar room.  And I got a sense of what Dr. Gregg is like. He's really not that scary. 

I hope that I will be able to stay in touch with  Dr. Gregg, as well as the other Scholars and the Center Staff.  I hope that our relationship will cease to be strictly professional and look something akin to a mentorship-friendship.  I am thankful for my time in the Center and for meeting with Dr. Gregg.  This colorful, exciting program has been a great ride... This story shows that it's sometimes more exciting than even we know.

Ben Whitlock is a senior McConnell Scholar studying political science and history. He is from Greensburg, Ky.