APRIL/MAY 2018
Averett Cheerleaders earn
national championship title PAGE 8
note from the graduating editors
Brianna Shelton
Ashley Bowman
Lanie Davis
I have been designing The Chanticleer since my freshman year. Being on staff has given me so many opportunities -- to meet great people, to take on big tasks I never thought I could accomplish, and to just be creative with my layout designs. I’ve made many great memories, and I have gotten the chance to see this staff grow into something wonderful. I am so grateful for everyone I met along the way and especially for my lovely advisor, Dr. Huckstep. My time at Averett really flew by.
I started writing for Chanticleer in fall 2015 and quickly fell in love with this staff and the publication. I have written fun pieces on new professors and greek life on campus as well as more serious topics such as the 2016 presidential election, gender disparities within majors, and gun control. Each story has challenged who I am as a writer and shaped me into who I am today. I am forever thankful to Dr. Huckstep for her words of encouragement and giving me an outet to find my voice.
When I got to AU, I was apprehensive to join the Chanticleer. After editing the paper in high school, I wanted a break. Now, after spending two years on staff, I wish I had one more year on staff with my fellow editors. I wish I could’ve written more stories and explored more topics. Until joining staff, I wasn’t a part of anything on campus, so it gave me a sense of belonging. Contributing to the creation of this publication has been stressful, lovely, and rewarding at the same time, and I will miss it, and Averett, dearly.
Publication Editor
Copy Desk Chief
Multimedia & Copy Editor
ESTABLISHED 1922
Table of
contents
04 Being Australian 05 How Freshmen Athletes Adjust to College Sports 06 Peasley Among Nation’s Top Scorers in WLAX 06 One Cougar Reaches for NFL Dreams 07 Students Voice Opinions about Campus Changes 08 AU Cheer Earns National Championship Title 10 Residence Hall Renovation Leads to New Policies 12 So Much to Discover at the Danville Science Center 13 Decreased Interest in Major Causing Reduction 14 A Q&A with Members of AU’s E. R. T. 18 Averett Students Give Opinions on Gun Control 19 Day to Engage on the Block 20 Averett Theatre to Introduce BFA Degree Option 22 Franks Reflects on First 10 Years of Presidency International student Eleanor Crane shares personal experience Making the switch from high school to university
Freshman athlete breaking records for revamped program
Myles Bennett shares his experience at the 2018 NFL Combine
Discussion emerges surrounding new improvements around AU
Executive Staff Dr. Susan Huckstep advisor
Brianna Shelton publication editor
Ashley Bowman copy desk chief
Lanie Davis
multimedia & copy editor
Jenny Gregory & Lindsey Fulcher video coordinators
Nate Lake
Staff Writers
circulation manager
Ashley Bowman JaCorey Burley Taylor Cook Lauren Cowling Lindsey Fulcher Eddie Glenn Jr. Jenny Gregory Brent Hammer Ellen Koch Nate Lake Brianna Shelton Ashley Thornton Allison Turner Nalisha Valentin Rafael Walker
Competition at C.C.A. ends in victory for Cougars
Main Hall will be ready for freshmen move-in Fall 2018 Explore the educational side of Danville’s River District
Cirriculum being changed to attract students
How prepared is Averett in the event of a shooting on campus?
Rise in school shootings increases conversation around campus How students contributed to the Westmoreland neighborhood
New program aims to increase participation in theatre department AU president plans for strategic growth in upcoming years
More Stories!
Follow @ChanticleerNews on social media to view campus stories on video.
Being Australian
by Eleanor Crane (Special to The Chanticleer)
People focus so much on what they see that they don’t realise there are other deeper, more important qualities a person possesses. The first thing everybody said to me when I first came to Averett was, “Wow, you’re Australian, you must be here as an athlete right?” I was happy that people thought Australia was an amazing place to come from, but I felt like people already had a preconceived image of who an Australian is. I’m proud to possess qualities that Australians are known for, such as mateship (our word for friendship and solidarity) and determination. However, I believe these qualities make a good person, not just a good Australian. Secondly, many Americans have stereotypes of Australia. For example, Australia is in a constant heat wave where the sun always shines and that me seeing a Kangaroo (our national animal) most days of my life is not somehow unusual. The stereotypes that America and the rest of the world hold are not necessarily fact. People assume that knowing me means they
Eleanor Crane, a member of the Kappa Delta Alpha sorority, went on a retreat in Banner Elk, N.C.
know all Australians. This is false, as we are a multicultural and diverse country that promotes all Australians to uphold certain morals while also maintaining characteristics that make each individual unique. In sharing information about my country whilst also staying true to who I am, I hope that I have broken the stereotype of ‘who an Australian is’ and allowed people to look beyond appearances and discover what lies within an individual.
EleanoR
Crane majoring in sports management and psychology plays tennis for the Averett Cougars earned USA South Rookie of the Week for the first and last week of her Tennis season is in Kappa Delta Alpha sorority 4 • Follow us.
Making the Switch: Freshmen Athletes Adjust to College by JaCorey Burley
Good or bad - the memories you have in high school will stay with you forever. Playing the sport you love for four years with the people you grew up with, is an experience like no other. Throughout high school, students are preparing to ascend into a higher form of learning. Second semester senior year is especially important for athletes as they are performing and preparing for scouts and recruiters from different schools to offer them positions on a collegiate team. “Decision Day” is a big moment every athlete will remember. The excitement and accomplishment flowing throughout the air makes the commitment to higher education seem unquestionable. It’s an honor, but after the excitement wears off you may ask yourself - do I really want to extend my time outside of the classroom to indulge in a college sport? Without hesitation most high school athletes would answer “yes” to this question, but how do they truly adjust once they’re in a college setting?
Freshman Lindsey Bateman, member of Averett’s women’s lacrosse team, said she had to learn to adjust to having so much more independence in college. Managing class time, practice and workouts is challenging. It’s definitely a major shift for students, but with the right environment it’s easy to adjust. With the multiple places to receive help adjusting can be very smooth. Bateman appreciates the coaching staff for “helping the athletes keep themselves together.” Academics may be challenging, but performing on the field is just as difficult. Freshman Football player Xavier Aguilar expresses the difficulties of his transition from being the star in high school to the “unknown” in college. “Coming in from a high school where you’re one of the stars on the team to a school where you basically have to start all the way over is tough.” Aguilar decided to fix his situation by changing his attitude, and started seeing results. “I saw my attitude wasn’t benefiting me, so I started opening up more on the field and in the classroom, and I saw progress.” Most high school athletes choose the honor of committing to a collegiate sport. They all deal with the adjustment differently. Aguilar’s advice to freshmen is to prepare for challenges. “You just have to be strong minded and very motivated to do well.” Proper practice on the field leads to positive outcomes on the field. The same thing goes for one’s academics. Success is determined by how you adjust to change.
“Coming in from a high school where you’re one of the stars on the team to a school where you basically have to start all the way over is tough.”
Xavier Aguilar
- Xavier Aguilar
The Chanticleer • 5
Peasley Among Nation’s Top Scorers in Women’s Lacrosse Peasley goes to practice an hour and half early by Rafael Walker
Freshman Elizabeth Peasley is among the top scorers in NCAA Division III women’s lacrosse. As of April 9 and the end of the regular season, Peasley ranked second with 71 goals. She is only one of two freshmen in the top 10. Prior to the season, Peasley was recovering from a broken toe which put her training on hold. She said that her injury caused her to come back and work even harder, putting in a lot of practice and pushing herself more than usual. “I wanted to be better than I was before,” Peasley said. She also notes that her team helps her more than they know. They keep her motivated and make her perform her best. Being the Cougars top scorer didn’t just come to Peasley. She put in a lot of time outside of practice.
every day so she can get treated by the trainer and then goes to the field and does drills on her own.” “There’s always something I feel I have to improve on.” Peasley was really happy with her performance as well as her team’s overall effort. Prior to this season, Averett had not fielded a women’s lacrosse team since 2007. This year’s new team finished the regular season with a 10-7 overall record and went 4-5 in the conference to earn a conference tournament spot.
One Cougar Reaches for His NFL Dreams
by Brent Hammer
Seven. That is the number of the total of Division 3 football players that are currently playing in the NFL. Hopefully, in the coming months, that number will increase. Myles Bennett, a Danville native and member of the Cougar football team, hopes so too. He has always wanted to be an NFL receiver. “I worked so hard all my life, motivated by the fear of not being good enough,” he said. An opportunity is something he always wanted, and on January 27 and 28, he got his shot. Bennett attended a football combine in Indianapolis where football players demonstrate their skills in hopes of attracting the attention of a professional team. When Bennett first stepped on the plane, he was thrilled and scared, as this was his first time on a plane, but also confident and grateful. On day one, Bennett had meetings and measurements. Throughout the day, he met many different athletes, from Division I to former professional players, and then tested some new athletic products soon to hit the market such as cleats and gloves. Day two was the day that he had been waiting for all of his life, test day. They tested broad jump where he jumped 8’10”, vertical jump where he jumped 32”, ran the 3-cone drill at 7.34 seconds,
6 • Follow us.
the 5-10-5 shuttle at 4.30 seconds, and then ended with the famous 40 yard dash which he ran in 4.86 seconds. The final test left were the position drills, which were the most important of the day. Bennett performed extremely well and caught every single pass that was thrown at him. After the event, Bennett got to have a conversation with the CEO of the Beyond Sports Network, who sponsored the combine, and he thanked him for the opportunity. “I’m unbelievably grateful for Coach Adams and the opportunity to continue this journey and so thankful I can chase my dream,” Bennett said. Bennett is patiently waiting for an NFL team to call him and give him his shot to make an NFL roster, so his dream can become reality.
Myles Bennett
Students voice opinions on what they’d like to see improved by Eddie Glenn Jr.
Averett is always changing and improving the look, feel, and functionality of the campus. A few of the most recent changes to campus have been the lobby of the Commons Apartments and the newly renovated cafeteria. These changes not only affect the look of campus, but help to create a different atmosphere and vibe. The school is trying to revitalize campus, starting with new and improved residential spaces. “Campaign for Main” is a project that Averett has put together to completely renovate Main Hall’s 3rd and 4th floors. Students have a few things in mind on what some of the renovations around campus should be. “The WiFi needs to be fixed and bathrooms need to be updated,” freshman Xavier Aguilar said. “We pay for the WiFi as a mandatory part of our tuition and it hardly ever works the way it’s supposed to. Also a better variety of food on campus.” Others find themselves going off campus to grab lunch or a late night snack because of a perceived lack of options at Averett. “We should definitely have some better food served to us,” freshman Coi Okaroh said. “I
found that I eat out a lot more than when I was at home.” Freshman Nicholas Mintz doesn’t mind going off campus to eat, but wishes the Danville area had more college student discounts. “I feel that we should get better/more discounts at places around Danville,” Mintz said. “As far as on campus improvements, I think that the heaters need to be updated and the bathrooms are at the top of my list as far as changes go.” Some students would like to receive more information through email and via email newsletters like Cougar Connection. “I wish that there was a way to send all of the flyers and school events through email, and not just those posted around campus,” sophomore Chris Baugh said. “I feel like I walk past the flyers and become blind to them, so getting them through email would be a lot better for myself.” Averett students aren’t quiet when it comes to voicing their concerns about how they think the school should better itself. They believe that the administration should take what they say into account, because the better the students feel at the school, the better the school is as a whole.
The Chanticleer • 7
Averett cheerleaders Earn National Championship Title by Lindsey Fulcher
Senior cheerleading captain Erica Skiddle got the perfect 22nd birthday present that she and her teammates had hoped for on March 3. Averett University won 2018 Christian Cheerleaders of America National Champions and Collegiate Grand Champions titles at their first competition. “We wanted to make a name for Averett cheer,” Skiddle said. “The feeling when they called our school for Grand Champions was amazing. I just wanted to hug each of my teammates and coaches.” The all-girls team competed at the C.C.A. competition held in Fayetteville, N.C., against three returning co-ed teams. The intent was to do their best, have fun, and represent Averett to the best of their ability. The outcome, after going through hard work and determination, made history for AU’s cheerleading program under head coach Angie Bowers and assistants Karen Canody and Samantha Schade. “I am still in shock,” senior Beth Powell said. “We were going up against some very talented teams. It was an incredible feeling of accomplishment.” Bowers, who is in her fifth year as head coach ,said seeing the women compete and come out on top is something she will never forget. “They knew they had it in them to win it, they just needed to go out and really take control of the crowd and do the best they could do,” Bowers said. “You could see it in their faces, in their practices, in their warm-ups, and especially in their eyes, that they had the hunger to win.” The team of 14 has been practicing since August, putting in hours of hard work for what
8 • Follow us.
would be a two-and-a-half-minute performance. “We made changes to just about every aspect of the routine and times did get difficult,” Skiddle said. “We had to lean on and support each other. It was a long and sometimes bumpy journey, but definitely all worth it in the end.” Canody said despite the trials, the moment they realized they won was a dream come true. “We had hoped we would be strong enough to win, but just didn’t know what to expect from other teams,” she said. “Through all the practices, struggles and injuries, they succeeded and they met their goal for the season.” Schade says the team was so excited to be there to compete, so it was great to hear their names called out as divisional winners. Winning the grand championship title was another experience entirely. “Hearing our name as grand champion of the competition, beating out past teams who have won and have been coming for previous years was more amazing than you could imagine,” Schade said.
The biggest thing the Cougars had engrained in them this season was confidence. They were reminded daily to not only have confidence in themselves, but in their coaches and their teammates if they wanted to be successful. Skiddle, who has wanted the team to compete for four years, says she is so thankful to have finally got the chance to compete her senior year. “I have been waiting since my freshman year to compete again,” Skiddle said. “I’m extremely grateful for my coaches, my team, and all the people who have supported us along the way.” Bowers said this particular competition was a great starting place but the team will continue to move forward and go on to larger collegiate competitions. “I just want to thank the support of the Averett community for rallying behind us, as well as my two assistant coaches for all that they have done for the team in helping prepare them,” Bowers said. The cheerleading team held tryouts on April 28. Schade says the hope is that from their success they can grow the interest of more athletes who want to come to Averett and cheer for the program.
Top: The Cheerleading team showed off both winning titles at the Christian Cheerleaders of America Competition on March 3. At right: The cougars represent the motto of “building people” for the CCA by building a pyramid wih flyers (left to right) freshman Hannah Sealey, senior Erica Skiddle and sophomore Becka Scearce.
The Chanticleer • 9
Residence Hall Renovation Leads to New Policies turning the existing attic into a penthouse/lounge by Lauren Cowling and Lindsey Fulcher
New renovations and new residence hall policies will be in place when students return to campus this fall. They will be in place to create a homey residential area and a residential curriculum geared towards each class year for the success of the students. The biggest renovations are happening on third and fourth Main but there will also be extensive work in the Commons Apartments, along with new furniture in Fugate dorm rooms. The renovations for third and fourth Main Halls will allow for more residents to live there and create a more welcoming environment for the incoming students. However, only incoming freshmen will be able to live in these renovated spaces. “We are focusing on these particular two floors and building community with those first year students,” Dean of Students Lesley Villarose said. “It is important that students can find that community within their first six weeks because that is really when they decide whether or not they will stay with us here at Averett. We want to help build that community in one particular area.” The renovation of third and fourth Main Hall will include the conversion of single-occupancy rooms to double-occupancy rooms, along with
10 • Follow us.
and adding central heat and air for the resident students. The construction is due to finish in the second week of August, just in time for the incoming freshmen to be welcomed to their new home. “It’ll keep the freshmen here and provide more rooms for more students,” Kristen Clancy, a sophomore resident assistant for third Main said. “It will be more of a homey environment and the penthouse will be a huge advantage that allows for cooking. The cleaner and homier environment will help with home sickness for some of the freshmen.” “That space (fourth Main) hasn’t been used for a long time so I think it’ll be good that the students can utilize it, socializing and getting their homework done. It’s good for the new students getting rooms redone, as a lot of the rooms are really old. Updating keeps the campus looking young,” Joshua Davis, a junior resident assistant for second Main, said. With the construction for third and fourth floor renovations already starting, some annoyance has occurred for current residents. The construction begins at 8:30 a.m. and goes until about 4:30 p.m. Since fourth floor is not currently occupied by students, workers are gutting it to prepare
and repurpose. However, this is right above third Main, which may create noise for residents. “I’m honestly not a fan of it right now,” senior Sam Winston said. “It’s super noisy and makes my entire room shake. It also wakes me up in the morning. But I do think it is great that Averett is working on expanding Main and making it a better living area.” Clancy says it is just the noise affecting her right now rather than people being in her space. “My hall is pretty quiet and laid back so it’s an inconvenience for me and my residents.” Head of Residence Life Kyle Patterson says the incoming students who are placed on third and fourth Main will be able to come in and experience a sense of belonging through intentionally developed social spaces. “Our new residents will be dispersed so we are currently developing a residential curriculum in which the students will have tailored programming centered around their holistic development academically, personally, and professionally,” he said. “We in Student Life understand the students want dynamic fun social programs that draw them out of their room for that Instagram moment.”
It is in the works for upperclassmen to expect more staff and faculty interaction and programs on topics such as finances and careers. Newer students will receive details on study skills, social norms, and developing one’s own self-identity. “We want and crave student feedback to create the environment that the students want, within the constructs we have available to us,” Patterson said. “The level of care and intent behind every action the individuals in our department provide are genuine and represent what we truly want Averett’s residential population to become.” Villarose says she would also be happy to talk with any students about any questions, concerns or ideas for any programs they’d like to see go into each of these areas. Averett will grow larger, continue to renovate halls as time goes on and essentially create nicer facilities and a better residential experience. Residence Life asks that you jump on the bandwagon and help them get to this point faster by voicing your opinion and giving them your input. Averett is looking to become better than ever, but cannot do it without the help of the students.
Above: Access to the fourth floor and penthouse of Main Hall have been blocked due to construction.
The Chanticleer • 11
So Much to Discover at the Danville Science Center by Ellen Koch
When there aren’t activities on campus, the River District has plenty to offer. Some of those opportunities for exploration are provided by the Danville Science Center. The DSC has been growing with Danville since the 1990’s. The Director of the Danville Science Center Adam Goebel was able to tell us a little background on the DSC and how far it has come over the years. “The Danville Science Center, a division of the Science Museum of Virginia, opened in December 1995 in the old rail passenger station located on Craghead Street. Since its opening, it has welcomed over ½ million visitors through its doors, over 48,000 just last year alone. In 1995, the Science Center had about 4,000 square foot of public exhibit galleries composing two distinct spacesa permanent science exhibit and a space to host traveling exhibits. In 2005, the Science Center grew again by renovating the old Southern Railway administration building adjacent to its existing location, more than doubling its interactive public exhibit space and capacity. Finally, in 2014, Southern Virginia’s Digital Dome theater was constructed and shows both immersive STEM related movies and planetarium shows daily.” One of the highlights of the DSC is The Dome. Their domed theatre is equipped with over 90 seats and a 40-foot screen. The Dome shows an array of educational films sure to peak the interest of any visitor. Among the films currently showing is Asteroid: Mission Extreme and National Parks Adventure. Whether you are fascinated with the stars or want to see the
12 • Follow us.
beauty of America’s national parks, there is something for everyone. Other than The Dome, the DSC has a number of temporary exhibits that come and go seasonally. Starting April 14, they will have a stunning, interactive butterfly exhibit. “In 1999, it opened one of Virginia’s only enclosed seasonal Butterfly Gardens,” Goebel said. ”Now, in its 20th year of operation, the Butterfly Station and Garden continues to host both native and exotic species from all across North America.“ Science After Dark is an event that happens once a month at the DSC. During Science After Dark, people can take advantage of the DSC’s resources and learn about the world above our atmosphere. The best part is that students don’t have to pay a cent if they show their Averett ID. Free admittance for students is 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. There are accommodations for students who don’t have cars or whoever wants to enjoy a trolley ride around town. “The Main Line Trolley runs from Averett’s Main campus through the River District and stops at DSC. The cost is $1 per person, so an excellent way to get back and forth for those students without transportation,” Goebel said. Be sure to come on out to the DSC the first Friday of every month for Science after Dark and catch a glimpse of our fluttery friends before they fly away in November. Find out more about what temporary exhibits are coming soon and their permanent exhibits like the Estelle H. Womack Natural History Collection on DSC’s website, www.dsc.smv.org.
Decreased Interest in Foreign Languages leads to Reduction by Jenny Gregory
Averett currently offers a modern languages major, a French minor, and a Spanish minor to students. However, that could soon change as data shows that many students stop their study of language after they complete their general education requirements. To complete a minor in a language, students must complete nine courses in the language. Dr. Jennifer Hughes is an assistant professor of English and serves as head of the language, literature and communication department. “[Most minors] are usually people who see language with some connection to their career, want to go abroad or have taken language and want to continue,” Hughes said. With the interest in the Spanish minor so low and Dr. Barbara Clark having retired at the end of the last semester, administration is looking into eliminating the Spanish minor and the modern languages major. “We’ve had no one graduate with the modern language major since 1991 when it began,” Dr. Timothy Fulop, vice president for academic affairs and student success, said. The current plan is to sustain the Spanish courses with an adjunct professor. With an adjunct as the only professor of Spanish, classes may no be offered on a rotation as most are but may be offered based on interest or need. Some s t u d e n t s worry that this will make it difficult to plan their degree completion and to get the classes they desire. Junior Emily
Dr. Tim Fulop
Myers is a music major with a concentration in piano performance, and she wanted to pick up a Spanish minor. “Without a full-time professor, taking the upper level classes is not an option. Apart from wanting to complete my minor, I want to increase my knowledge of the language for career purposes,” Myers said. Although Averett is a liberal arts school, administration’s data shows that in comparison with Bachelor of Science degrees, there are few Bachelor of Arts degrees. This is significant because students seeking a Bachelor of Arts degree are required to have a foreign language through the 202 level. “We will always offer language, it’s just in what extent and form, whether language or culture,” Fulop said. At this time, the administration sees no need to hire another full-time Spanish professor due to low enrollment in the courses. However, the importance of language and the value it brings to an education is still being stressed. “We will use adjuncts to re-evaluate the program and where we are going. We are looking at new ways to package to also focus on culture,” Fulop said.
Emily Myers
Update:
As this issue was going to press, the faculty voted on a new, streamlined version of this major, adding a cultural aspect. We can’t wait to tell you more in the fall!
The Chanticleer • 13
How Prepared is Averett in the Event of an Active Shooting on Campus? A Q&A with Members of Averett’s Emergency Response Team
compiled by Ashley Bowman
On February 14, the country watched as 17 members of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School family in Parkland, Fla., died at the hands of an active shooter. Regardless of your stance on the issue of gun violence, a conversation has been started around the U.S. about what to do to prevent another mass shooting like this from happening again. I sat down with two prominent members of the Averett community, Dean of Students Lesley Villarose, and Chief Executive Officer/Vice President of Business and Finance Aaron Howell, to discuss just how prepared Averett University is in the event of an active shooting. They, along with Dr. Fulop, vice president for academic affairs and student success; Charles Harris, executive vice president; Jill Adams, assistant dean of students/Title IX coordinator; Jamie Walker, chief of campus safety and security; Elliot Baynes, director of facilities services, and Cassie Williams Jones, director of marketing & communications, make up the Emergency Response Team at the University.
Q: Is Averett prepared to deal with active shooters on campus? How? Lesley Villarose (LV): We are. We have an emergency response team that has been formed for years but we recently restructured and reorganized it in the fall. I serve as the incident commander for the University, which means in case of crisis, I am the person responsible for enacting the team and saying “we’re going ahead with protocol.” Right now we’ve done an active shooter presentation and drill for faculty and staff, and we are looking to do those things for students, as well as lockdown simulations using LiveSafe. Aaron Howell (AH):
I think that Student Life has done a great job working with other departments on campus in an effort to help us be more proactive rather than reactive. Things like early alerts and the groups that collaborate and participate with things like that, as well as incident report reviews done by Student Life each week. I think we are trying really hard to treat the whole spectrum. I think we have also done a lot of great work with other aspects that can help
us like the LiveSafe app. We have also tripled the number of security cameras on campus to help us at least see who is coming and going and be able to track people down, if needed. We have done investigations on ways to improve our classroom locking abilities. We have planned in our FY19 budget the ability to go through - we’ve already gone through and done the inventory on which doors need to have additional locking capabilities and we’ve identified the 38 doors that need that. I think that any school that were to say “we’ve got it nailed” - take the school shooting in Florida, they talked about how they practiced and done all sorts of drills and still, in the end, you’re reactionary. We’re not where I’d like to be yet but we’ve come a long way and I think we’re on the right path.
Q: How would you notify students in the event of an active shooting on campus? LV:
LiveSafe; that’s why it is so important for people to download it. It’s all about the prevention, knowing that when faculty and staff report things via LiveSafe, that we have certain protocols in place that directly can support those people that may be in need before it would lead to anything. If they don’t (have a cell phone) then we need to collect their phone number - they’ll get an email no matter what - but if we can get their phone number then they can get the text message.
Q: Are students, faculty, and staff made aware of the procedure? How are we preparing? AH: We did a faculty, kind of a first training, on an active shooter situation last fall and it was received well. It also highlighted that there is a real appetite for that. I know Student Life has according to their plan, an active shooter training they want to provide for the students as well. Through that, it helps begin the education process and help us think through what those next steps are.
Q: How/Whom do we report suspicious activity to? AH: To anyone really! LiveSafe is the formal
application and we hope that students really use
The Chanticleer • 15
that. We never want students to feels as though they are limited to just the app, so the employees of the University are mandatory “reporter-type” people. If there is a threat, the more people you tell, the more ways you disperse that knowledge - the better. The more people you tell, the more opportunities we have to bolster the resources to resolve an issue.
Q: Why don’t our security officers carry guns? LV: Our safety and security officers are outsourced by a third party, Admiral Security, and it’s really per their policy that if we were going to have them be armed there is an additional cost and additional training. Really it’s more typical for armed security to really be police on campus. AH: It’s a balance between the liability an institution would take on by doing that. Prior to this school, I came from Oregon State - where I worked for 20 years - and we had an agreement with the state police and they served as armed guards on campus. A campus like this where we’re in the middle of town where the response time by the police force is so quick, it’s that balance where do we take on that liability to arm security guards vs. do we already have that first line of responders 90 seconds away?
Q: Is there a plan in place for classroom doors to be locked from the inside? LV:
We have identified on Main Campus a number of doors that need locks - it’s 38. We’re working on purchasing a door locking mechanism that will lock those doors and then obviously, training on how that works. We’re also getting an inventory on the number of doors on Riverview and North Campus that do not have the ability to lock.
Q: What is the most important thing to remember during a violent act on a campus such as Averett second of course to safety? AH: I look at the Florida situation - I see not
only the tragedy of who died there, but I also look at a young person who clearly had problems and didn’t get the help they needed. There are evil people in the world and there are people who are just broken. I look at someone like that and from 1,000 miles away I see a broken person that I wish we would’ve gotten them the resources they needed. In any violent act whether it’s an assault or something like that, I try to look at it holistically. With that being said, my primary focus is keeping the campus students, faculty, staff - safe.
Q: Is there someone who is easily accessible for students dealing with mental issues, bullying, etc. to speak with in order to prevent these things from happening? AH: Again - I am going to keep preaching LiveSafe. It has
16 • Follow us.
confidentiality built into it and it goes only to those who need to deal with a particular issue. I would say that the Dean of Students and her staff, the campus counselor Joan [KahwajyAnderson] are great resources who hold high levels of confidentiality and respect for privacy. Find someone who you can talk with - a friend, a faculty member. I think the greatest tragedy is when somebody thinks that they can’t go to anybody for help. There’s always someone here for you. What are some of the recent changes to the weapons policy and what prompted them?
LV: In the student handbook it has not been
changed and that’s pretty clear. But for faculty and staff it had been changed - they can apply for an exception through a committee to be able to conceal carry.
AH: We’ve had a weapons policy since before
my time here at Averett. We did revise it relatively recently. We tried to streamline it in a more easy-to-read way. Basically the University has a strict “no weapons policy” unless there is a formal exception made by a faculty/staff member to carry a concealed weapon. It also does allow exceptions for students who might be sworn officers, like in our GPS programs, or active military.
Q: What would you say to a student who says they don’t feel safe on campus?
LV: Well I would want them to come talk with me so I can understand why they are not feeling safe and how we can work to make them feel more safe. Personal safety is really up to the individual so what I feel safe with may be different than what you feel safe with, so really I
invite anyone to come talk and to know that it is a safe, confidential space.
AH: I can never debate anyone’s individual level of comfort. I would say that if they have particular ideas about how to improve, I would make sure that they are sharing that with me, DOS, Jill Adams, etc. If someone feels unsafe we would like to know why so we can improve it as quickly as possible.
Q: Anything else you would like to add? LV: Really just the importance of being a good bystander and community member. Don’t be afraid to report or say things, because that is really what can save lives and mitigate some potential activities. More information regarding the weapons policy can be found in the student handbook as well as online for faculty and staff through their logins on the University website. Everyone is encouraged to download the LiveSafe application. Once downloaded from your respective device’s application store, you can register your mobile number, verify your profile, and then select “Averett University” to begin receiving campusrelated notifications.
The Chanticleer • 17
Averett Students Give Opinions on Gun Control by Nate Lake
To live in a time where “school shooting” is just another daily talking point is a scary realization. The last place that people should feel unsafe is at a school, no matter what grade level. Unfortunately, this is not something we can say is certain any longer since the United Sates has had shootings at all levels of educational institutions. There has been plenty of discussion regarding how to stop gun violence, but the two biggest conversations center around mental health and how easy it to acquire weapons. There has been little visible involvement on the student side until Parkland. Since 17 students were shot and killed on Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School’s campus on February 14, there have been sitins, walk-outs, protests, and even a march on Washington to protest current gun laws. All of these events were organized by MSD classmates and other children and young adults from around the country, and even around the world. For students all over the U.S., shootings have become too commonplace. According to CNN, there have been at least ten incidents at schools across the country involving a gun in 2018 . There have been many discussions of what the government should do regarding the uptick in school shootings. One proposed solution is to arm teachers. Many Averett students worry that arming teachers would cause more problems. Nehemiah Lesesane, a sophomore from Charlottesville and an avid hunter, doesn’t think that is a good idea. “Arming teachers would make it more dangerous for students, because if you get crazy teachers, they might end up pulling out a gun and shooting a student,” Lesesane said. D’ante Lambright, a freshman from Virginia Beach, also sees issues with arming teachers. “Honestly, I think it is adding fuel to the fire,” Lambright said, “I can already see that there is a problem. Who is going to give them the qualifications? Are they going to go through the same training as police officers? Even so, we still see law enforcement misusing weapons.” Another student who feels as though teachers should not be armed is Lynsey Corriher, a senior
18 • Follow us.
from Concord, N.C. “The problem is that the teachers shouldn’t be armed, it is that the people are getting the guns so easily,” Corriher said. “Giving a gun to mentally unhealthy teachers is just the same as giving it to a student. Also what happens if one of the student is to get a hold of the teacher’s gun, then what?” These students agree that arming teachers is the wrong move to make, especially when budget has been a factor for many years for many school systems across the country. How might these teachers afford guns, if some can barely afford a pack of pencils? While those are important questions that must be answered as well, some students like Lambright and Corriher believe in stricter gun control and closing background check loopholes. “I worked in a sporting goods store that sold guns and anybody could just walk in and buy a gun if you had two forms of identification and filled out paperwork,” Corriher said. While making it harder to buy guns may seem like a helpful solution to some people, Lesesane believes that there are other ways of solving this problem. “There should be at least 2 to 3 police officers in each school. Veterans who do not have a job and have gun training could also easily be a security guard for a school,” Lesesane said. While our government still looks for a solution, some young people around the United States believe that the most common sense path would be to propose stricter regulations on purchasing firearms. “We are not trying to take your ‘yee-haw’ guns away we just want more regulation,” Corriher said. Whatever side you might take on gun control, there is something that Americans can agree on - it is time for change. This is the last time that a school shooting should happen anywhere in the U.S.
students contribute for Day to engage on the block compiled by Brianna Shelton
On April 3, students and staff beautified the Westmoreland neighborhood for Averett’s annual Day to Engage event. This year, the university adopted a block in the heart of Danville to complete different service projects.
180
282
$6,807
total volunteers
hours volunteered
of economic benefit (IndependentSector.org)
The Chanticleer • 19
Averett theatre to introduce bfa degree Option by Allison Turner
The Averett University Theatre Department recently announced that it will be offering a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree starting in the fall of 2018. Programs will include musical theatre, acting, directing and technical theatre. The introduction of the BFA programs will allow students to study a specific area of interest in theatre more closely than what is currently offered. At this time, the department only offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre with focuses in acting, directing and technical theatre. Students may also opt to minor in musical theatre. This allows students to have a more broad experience rather than focusing on a specific aspect. The members of the theatre department are hoping that the introduction of the BFA programs will expand the department and make it more competitive with larger schools. “I would like for us to be another school that is known for putting out good actors and technicians and good art in general,” Todd Blanton, technical director for the theatre department and former Averett student, said. Each year, the theatre department attends the Virginia Theatre Association Convention and the Southeastern Theatre Conference to recruit high school and transfer students. Since the introduction of the BFA programs, there has already been an increase in interest. “When we would go to VTA or SETC, people would say, ‘Do you have the BFA?’ And we would say, ‘No, we have concentrations’,” Jackie Finney,
The Averett Theatre Department will offer the first Bachelor of Fine Arts programs at Averett starting in the fall of 2018.
20 • Follow us.
Future Averett theatre students will be able to focus more on a specific area of interest in theatre with the new Bachelor of Fine Arts programs.
theatre professor, said. “And they would go ‘Oh’ and they would just walk away because we didn’t have the BFA. They didn’t even listen.” Over spring break, when the theatre department traveled to Mobile, Alabama for STEC, many high school and transfer students stopped by Averett’s table to discuss their interests, especially in the new BFA programs. “We were having to say, we just started it,” Finney says. “Next year, it’ll be easier because they’ll go ‘Oh, yeah, you have the BFA. We’re not the guinea pigs.’” The department has already discussed that it will be limiting the number of students that it will be accepting into the new programs in order for it to remain small. This will allow all students to receive an adequate amount of attention necessary to be successful. Future Averett theatre students will still be required to be participate in all areas of theatre, but they will be able to focus most of their attention on their specific areas of interest. “I think what we will find is that there will be students that are coming here for a more specific thing to be great at,” Justin Hall, Averett costume designer, said. “They will be able to come in and hone a talent in a very specific manner.” The goal is for the BFA programs to grow over time and for students to receive a more hands-on experience during their four years at Averett. “I would like it to not just be a school thing, but the public to also swarm here whenever we have productions because they want to see what we’re up to,” Blanton said.
Each year, the Averett University Theatre Department performs a children’s show, two plays, and a musical, along with a musical cabaret.
There will also be more classes offered in the future to better prepare students. The department has already begun transitioning their classes with an auditions class that was offered for the first time this semester. The theatre department is excited for the changes that are currently being made and hope the introduction of the BFA programs will improve the department for many years to come.
Theatre Talent Gathers at Southeastern Theatre Conference Averett’s theatre department attends the Southeastern Theatre Conference each year to show potential students what the school has to offer. The conference brings together thousands of students, professors, actors, technicians and designers. High school students attend to audition for colleges and compete in competitions, while current college students attend to audition for professional theatre companies or participate in workshops. Professors also often attend to recruit students for their programs. There are both actor and technical auditions that are held at the conference. Actors are given 90 seconds to perform a monologue and/or song in a ballroom
filled with university recruiters from all over the southeast area. Technical auditions are also handled in a similar way. “They have about 90 seconds to get up, say their name, and explain why they do what they do, what interests them in theatre, and what they’re looking for in a potential school,” said Justin Hall, the Averett costume designer, who sat in on the technical auditions at the conference. Technical students also have portfolios of their costume, set, lighting or sound designs set up outside the ballroom to display their previous works. University recruiters that are interested in the person auditioning will give the person a callback, which requests the person come by their school’s booth in the exhibition hall for more information about their programs.
The Chanticleer • 21
Franks reflects on first ten years of presidency by Ashley Thornton
Averett University President Tiffany Franks is celebrating her 10th year as president of Averett. Franks came to Averett from Greensboro College in Greensboro, N.C. “I had known about Averett for a long time because I had been in North Carolina for 20 years, and Averett was a school I has always admired and respected,” Franks said. Franks had not planned to become a university president. During her time at Greensboro College, the president there urged her to think about it, and when she heard the job was open here at Averett, she decided she would go for it. Franks immediately fell in love with the people at Averett and could feel that Averett really cared about its students and staff. Franks has certainly accomplished a lot in her time here. In her first four years alone, she launched the Big Dreams BOLD FUTURES campaign (2009), opened the Galesi Family Student Success Center (2011), opened Averett’s Riverview campus which is home to its Graduate and Professional Studies program (2012), opened Averett Central in Main Hall (2013), and launched Averett’s four-year program in nursing (2013). These are just some of the things Franks quickly accomplished. “One of the most meaningful accomplishments in my time here has been renewing the church relatedness of the institution.” Franks and the entire Trustee Board worked for years to restore Averett’s affiliation with the Baptist General Association of Virginia, and in 2011, the group’s hard work finally paid off when there was a unanimous vote to reinstate Averett as a partner. Franks thinks Averett’s Baptist affiliation is a huge part of Averett’s history and will be a big part of its legacy as well. “I think that students faith development is such an important part of a students’ total development,” Franks said. President Franks notes that the five million dollar gift to establish the Center for Community Engagement and Career Development in 2014 had the same memorable feeling as Averett restoring its Baptist affiliation for her.
22 • Follow us.
President Dr. Tiffany Franks poses with Ashley Thornton and Aariyana Britton for a photo opportunity.
“Engaged learning is so critical and fundamental to students and their success.” Franks has plans for Averett’s near future. When she arrived Averett’s enrollment was at 735 traditional full-time students. This next year Franks projects that Averett will hit 975 traditional full-time students. “We’re proud of that increase at a time in education where demographics have not been on our side. Fewer and fewer 18 to 20 year olds are going to college and an even fewer number pick small private colleges,” Franks said. Averett wants to keep growing that number until it reaches 1,200 traditional full time students. On the Graduate and Professional Studies side, Franks wants to keep launching what she calls “mission oriented, market smart academic programs” that respond to what the industry and what the workforce says it needs. “There is no limit for our adult programs because everything is online so were not
landlocked like we are here. We can grow as large as we can serve well. Strategic growth will continue to be at the top of the list for what I see coming in Averett’s future.” In the fall of 2018, Averett will launch masters programs in data analytics and criminal justice administration/leadership. Franks also mentioned that plans are in the works to expand athletics in 2019. While Averett has changed a great deal under Franks’ leadership, she knows Averett has changed her as well. “You can’t spend 10 years of your life somewhere and give about every ounce of your being, you passion, and your love to something and not be changed. I am convinced that those things that we care the most about and we invest in change us forever. I am changed as a result of every student that I’ve been privileged to get to know, every staff and faculty member.” Students notice her passion and find her love of Averett contagious. “You can see how much Dr. Franks loves Averett just by being around her. The way she interacts with the students and how she talks about Averett really show it,” senior Hannah Mattson said.
Staff also recognize Franks for her passion and for being very student-focused. “Dr. Franks is the most personable, focused president that I have ever had the pleasure of working for. The fact that she was once a dean of students shows her commitment and care for the students. She always reminds us that students need to be in the center of every decision,” Dean of Students Lesley Villarose said. Although many of her memories involve student achievement, Franks finds it difficult to identify just one favorite memory. “It’s a lot. It’s those memories where I have celebrated milestones. Whether it was the softball team when they won their conference championship last year, a team taking Daly Field for the first time, the first blessing of the hands ceremony with our nursing program, or renewing the ties with the Virginia Baptist, I will never forget these things,” Franks said. Seeing students succeed, donors being generous, and faculty and staff being at their best are some of her favorite memories as well. President Franks is looking forward to the future and has no doubt that it will be just as memorable and successful as the last 10 years.
Dr. Tiffany Franks participates in a skit to promote life in the newly renovated residence halls.
The Chanticleer • 23
#Chantishowcase
Meet Sydney Glass - Averett’s first modern languages graduate set to walk across the stage on May 5. “My experience has been great as a modern languages student. I enjoyed being able to work “I do not believe that teachers should be armed on closely with both the Spanish and French school grounds. Our campus already has a policy professors and having access to endless opportunities. in place on firearms. So far this has not been an It has been a wonderful journey, and I hope to issue, therefore I believe students would be more continue my studies in the future.” at risk with faculty carrying them.”
Aquayla swann ‘18 Mathematics /Butner, N.C.
Should teachers be armed?
“Teachers being armed should have been established a long time ago to defend the most precious thing - American students. Why do we have armed secured men and women around malls, jewelry shops, banks, etc. but we can’t defend the future of this nation?”
Ricardo roman ‘21
Flight Operations /Absecon, N.J.
“Teachers being armed would be something very interesting to see. I don’t really have confidence that it would be a good idea but if it needed to happen and for some reason police or security couldn’t handle the job then we would need something to protect us.”
WHILE AT AVERETT, SYDNEY HAS WORKED AS A WRITING CONSULTANT FOR THE STUDENT SUCCESS CENTER. SHE ALSO TUTORS FRENCH AND SPANISH. DURING HER JUNIOR YEAR SHE STUDIED ABROAD IN SEVILLE, SPAIN. MOST RECENTLY, SYDNEY WAS AWARDED THE 2018 ENGAGED STUDENT LEADER AWARD AT THE ENGAGE SHOWCASE. SHE WILL BE GRADUATING FROM THE UNIVERSITY AS A DOUBLE MAJOR IN MODERN LANGUAGES AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES WITH A MINOR IN ENGLISH.
Abby Taylor ‘20
Biological Psychology /Waynesboro Va. “I do not believe that teachers should be armed. What makes the professors qualified to carry arms as if they were police? There was just a massive march on gun laws and how few of them there actually are. Arming professors could potentially do more harm than good.”
Tyler gray ‘18 Marketing
/Chesapeake, Va. compiled by Taylor Cook
Have a great summer!