December 2016 by Chanticleer News Media

DECEMBER 2016

AFFORDABLE AND DIY

christmas GIFTS PAGE 18

Calendar of events*

December 2016 Sunday

monday

tuesday

*Dates subject to change.

wednesday

Thursday

Friday

AU Celebrates Christmas 7:30 p.m. • Pritchett Reading Day

Saturday

• MBB 2 p.m.

Exam Week

Residence Halls ClosE • 7 p.m.

Winter Graduation

• MBB 7 p.m.

• WBB 3 p.m.

wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

January 2017 Sunday

monday

tuesday

6 10

• MBB 1 p.m.

• MBB 7 p.m. • WBB 7:30 p.m. Classes Resume.

• WBB 6 p.m.

Founders’ Day

• MBB 2 p.m.

• WBB 2 p.m.

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12 16

13 17

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15 19

16 20

17 21

• WBB 2 p.m.

• MBB 7 p.m.

• MBB 2 p.m.

Key

Academic dates

• Athletic Home Games

Exam Week

Misc, Events

ESTABLISHED 1922

Table of

contents

04 Day in the Life of an Admissions Counselor 05 Resumes 06 Practi-CAN: Education Students Gain Experience 08 Partnership with Local Gym 09 “Every Great Kingdom Needs a Jester” AU welcomes Jill Adams 10 10 Student Government Association 11 Dancing Dynasty 12 Love Where You Live Averett Security 13 14 Parking on Main Campus: Cause for Concern? Tattoos in the Workplace 15 16 Student Starts Internet Business Affordable and DIY Christmas Gifts 17 Campus and Community Holiday Activities 18 19 Memories Dear I’ll Hold A closer look at the busy schedule of Jillian Gourley CCECC helps students build resumes and futures One step closer to becoming a teacher Averett Partners with Danville YMCA

Cover photo by Lanie Davis

Executive Staff Advisor Dr. Susan Huckstep

Copy Editor Jada Little

Layout & Design Editor Brianna Shelton

copy & Design Assistant Ashley Bowman

Staff Writers Josh Boggs Kashawn Carter Lanie Davis Clarice Ellinger Lindsey Fulcher Adrianna Hargrove Stephanie Hooker McDonald Rosa Morales T. C. Thompson

3 • The Chanticleer

A profile on the Dan Hayes

Adams named new health & wellness, and Title IX coordinator Hearing Your Concerns, One Meeting at a Time New Club Dances Their Way into Success

Students Create Love Danville Higher Education Council Working hard to keep campus safe

Students Share Opinions on Campus Parking

Another way to express yourself or unprofessional? How Chris Walton founded Flight is Life

Creative ideas for a college student budget

Fun activites to enjoy duriung the holiday season Senior Copy Editor Jada Little says her goodbyes

A day in the life of an au admissions counselor by Clarice Ellinger

Checking over applications, talking with prospective families, and recruiting students to Averett are all just a small portion of the job. An admissions counselor spends a typical day answering emails and phone calls, as well as talking with recruits who meet them on campus. The job requires the ability to be a skilled multitasker, a good communicator, and someone who excels at customer service. Counselors also spend a large portion of their day reviewing applications and paperwork submitted to the office. “My favorite part of being an admissions counselor is seeing the students when they come to campus and seeing them thrive and succeed during their years at Averett,” Associate Director of Admissions Jillian Gourley said. Gourley is in her eighth recruitment cycle for Averett. She began her career in August of 2009 when she became a recruit for the Deep South region. Gourley has kept her original recruitment territory, although her area in North Carolina did shrink slightly in 2013 when another counselor was hired to recruit in Charlotte and along the eastern shore of NC. “I didn’t even know positions like this were out there in the world of higher education,” Gourley said. “I originally wanted to help families adopt children, however it has low turnover and it was 2009, a bad time to look for jobs. When the position opened I applied quickly because I would still be working with families, but I would be telling them about Averett.” Every day admission counselors get to introduce applicants and their families to Averett. They are required to know a lot of details about the school in order to help out the potential students. “We have to stay up to date with current information, know about future plans, as well as knowing our history,” Gourley said. Admission counselors are required to work alongside many others at Averett in order to ensure that the student decides to come to the University. Everyone from faculty members, financial aid, and coaches work hard in order to make sure that a student feels comfortable and at home at AU.

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“I’ve been living the ‘One Team, One Family, One Averett’ motto for eight years now,” Gourley said. “Everyone helps with recruitment, even current students and alumni.” An admission counselor’s day doesn’t end with work in the office. Counselors are required to go on the road for recruitment, where each counselor can travel anywhere from four to six weeks. The furthest that Gourley travels is three hours away from Averett’s campus into Central North Carolina. Even after the admissions department has recruited students that ultimately decide on Averett, they will continue to keep in touch with students. The counselors see students on campus and speak with them, as well as attend games and other campus activities they participate in. “I want to know how their major is, how their minor is, if they are doing an internship, if they are doing study abroad, or if they are part of the honors program,” Gourley said. “For me being an admission counselor isn’t just about getting the student to Averett. It’s also about helping them find their passions and showing the tremendous opportunities Averett can provide.” more active areas, Averett has plenty of places to choose when it comes to picking study spots. Explore campus a little bit and find your own goto spot!

Jillian Gourley sits with two students at John M. Morehead high school in Eden, NC after they were just accepted to Averett University.

CCECC HELPS STUDENTS BUILD RESUMES AND FUTURES by Lanie Davis

As a college student, it is vital to know how to build a resume. Students begin looking for jobs before or right after graduating, and it is important for them to be ready to enter the workforce with a resume. Daniel Caccavelli, senior mathematics, biomedical science, and computer science major, has not updated his resume since high school because he has not needed it yet. As his graduation date in May gets closer, his lack of a resume is a greater concern. “I don’t think building a resume is difficult, just time consuming to decide what to add and how to format to make you stand out,” Caccavelli said. However, he knows the importance of having an adequate resume. “I think that they are a very important assessment for employers to be able to understand you as an individual in a short, effortless manner,” Caccavelli said. Senior criminal justice/sociology major Devione Green is graduating in December and has an updated resume. He has looked for jobs but has not had any luck yet. His plan is to become a probation officer and possibly join the military in the future. “A resume is vitally important. It is a representation of yourself on a piece of paper,” Green said. Angie McAdams, director of career development

Angie McAdams

in the Center for Community Engagement and Career Competitiveness, suggests that students should start their resumes as early as their freshman year in college. “We recommend that if a student comes to Averett and they’ve never created a resume to at least create a resume freshman year, and it needs to be updated every semester thereafter. It lays a roadmap out for how a student should progress throughout career development,” McAdams said. Students may find the process of creating a resume confusing or difficult. It is crucial to know what to include and what to leave out. “Education should be first and foremost, also any work history, volunteer experience, any service learning, and any coursework that sets them aside from their peers such as study abroad or upper level courses within a major,” McAdams said. Certain personal information, like unrelated hobbies, should be left off of resumes, as they are not job related. If a student is having trouble creating an academic or a job resume, McAdams’ office is located in the CCECC, and she is ready to help. “If there are any seniors out there who have not updated or polished their resume, they need to see me as soon as possible, because May is going to get here quickly,” McAdams said. “Students also need to remember that a resume is never 100 percent finished. It’s a living and breathing document. It’s always changing.”

Students can go to the Center for Community Engagement and Career Competitiveness to get help with their resumes.

The Chanticleer • 5

Taking a step towards becoming a teacher

by Adrianna Hargrove

The education department at Averett University allows students many opportunities to receive hands-on experience in the teaching world. Students who have a passion for teaching and helping children learn get a chance to do so several times in different contexts to get a feel for teaching in a real classroom environment. Taylor Meredith, a senior elementary education major, enjoys helping children which is what made her want to become a teacher. “I have a passion for kids because I want to be able to make a difference in their lives every day. I absolutely love watching them develop over a year’s time,” Meredith said. “When you become a teacher, they are no longer just your students, they become your children.” Because her mother was a kindergarten teacher senior elementary education major Norah Holloway has always been surrounded by elements of teaching and life-long learning. “I feel like teaching has been engrained in me. I can’t see myself doing anything else,” Holloway said. “I have this nurture aspect of wanting to help a child and see the potential in them and foster that potential.” “We do a lot of practicum throughout the day,” Holloway said. “A practicum is basically our version of an internship. You build up an experience and gain connections within the school system.” Many classes that education majors take include a certain number of practicum hours. These required hours in the classroom give Averett students the ability to apply the course material they receive in class to real-life students in local schools at all grade levels. Lower level education courses require less hours in the classroom than higher level courses. Students also learn how to make and teach their own lessons plans during their practicum hours and student teaching. Like the other students in her major, Erica Skiddle, a junior, has had experience with planning for the classroom. “Lesson plans can be a bit tedious, but I have

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to make sure I have everything I need so I can be prepared,” Skiddle said. The last class education majors take at Averett is Directed Teaching/Seminar, which is often referred to more simply as student teaching. Senior students are assigned to a school in Danville or the Pittsylvania County area and spend the entire semester with a teacher and their class. “For the first couple of days, we go in and observe the atmosphere of the classroom and see what subjects they are learning and how the kids adapt to someone else being in the room while the teacher is teaching,” Meredith said. The student teachers help their host teachers with any tasks that need to be done while they are there. Holloway works as a teacher aide at Forest Hills Elementary School on Mountain View Avenue, just across the street from campus. “If teachers need paperwork, tutoring folders done, or remediation with a child, those are the tasks I do as a teacher’s aide,” Holloway said. One-on-one experience is very special and important to education majors. In addition to practicum hours and student teaching, some students have even tutored children in the area. “You get to focus on that one particular student, especially when that student is struggling,” Skiddle said. As the students work more and more with younger students and get more experience in the classroom, they also become attached to their kids. “One of the things you learn at Averett is your personal relationship with a child is everything,” Holloway said. “You have to build that bond, and they have to know that you love them so they can love you.” Holloway will officially start her Student Teaching in the spring 2017 semester. “Usually when I meet one on one with a student, I find out a lot about them, I find out about their home life, and I find out what they like to do,” Meredith said. “You immediately have some kind of connection with them. They all get connected to you because they feel like

you are someone else from the outside that cares about their education.” Meredith has also successfully worked with a classroom of children, but not an entire classroom. “Some of the times, teaching a class goes really smoothly because they know that I’m new, but of course, you will have those one or two kids that will act out and want to push your buttons to see how far you can get pushed,” Meredith said. Some people think that being a teacher is an easy thing to do, but Meredith says otherwise. “Most people don’t understand how much it takes to be a teacher. Everyone thinks that it’s an easy path, and an easy career to take. We have to do Practicum hours, we have to student

teach, we have to create lessons by ourselves, we have a ton of work that comes with being a teacher,” Meredith said. “We’re also put under a lot of responsibility because when we become a teacher, those kids are ours while we’re there so, if something happens to them, it’s on us.” Teaching children is no easy job, but it can definitely be rewarding. The education department at Averett helps students learn the most important things necessary to becoming a great teacher. However, there are some things they cannot teach and one of those things is passion. “This is truly my passion and it’s good that you know what your passion is,” Meredith said.

Examples of classwork completed by one of junior Erica Skiddle’s students at her placement are pictured above. At left, Senior Norah Holloway is all smiles with her practicum class at a local elementary school.

The Chanticleer • 7

averett partners with danville ymca by Kashawn Carter

Averett University has established a new partnership with the Danville Family YMCA, allowing students to obtain membership with to be able to use the YMCA facility. The YMCA main gym and workout facilities are located at 215 Riverside Drive. Dean of Students Lesley Villarose was able to give more information about how the partnership came about and what students can do to get involved. It doesn’t take much for a student to get involved on campus by being social or partaking in activities and games sponsored by the Cougar Activities Board, but the YMCA has many things to offer that Averett’s main campus doesn’t have. At the YMCA, students are able to play basketball, swim, run track, lift weights, and have a good time with your friends while being active. “Three hundred twenty students have already signed up to go to the YMCA through our program. They get a membership for eight months, which is the length of the school year, and it’s only for $25, which is billed to the student’s account,” Villarose said. At the beginning of the semester, students were able to get a membership by going directly to the YMCA, but the deadline to register for that opportunity was August 28th. If you are still in search of getting a membership, you aren’t out of luck. Averett students can still get a membership at the discounted price if they go directly to the Dean of Students’ Office and ask. Averett’s fitness center on the main campus is closed due to the renovations to accommodate

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the new health center. “The partnership didn’t come forth due to the fitness center on campus being closed, it came in addition to our joint-partnership with the Danville Regional Medical Center.” Villarose said. “The partnership allowed for Averett to have the ability to sign a partnership with the YMCA. We knew we were taking away an opportunity so we were adding one to replace it.” The partnership also contributes to the coming of the heath center on campus. It allows us to have the aid of a nurse and a place to go to get immunizations and any other medical things that are needed. Even though students have lost the opportunity to work out with machines on main campus, things are still looking bright in terms of wellness activities. “As students, we have the ability to join clubs, hang out with friends, and many more activities, but we also like to be able to have a place where sport activities are able to be played,” Keon Holt, a senior criminal justice major, said. At the beginning of the semester, students were upset about the fitness center being closed and not knowing why it happened. “There will not be another fitness center on campus, other than the Carrington Gym, coming to the campus at this time,” Villarose said. “The Carrington Gym offers a place to play basketball and, if allowed, practice any other sport that wouldn’t do damage to the facility. But as a student, you should look forward to wellness activities like Zumba, or yoga – just things that can keep students active without a fitness center.”

every great kingdom needs a jester by T. C. Thompson

Averett University has the benefit of receiving support from its alumni every year. They help fund projects such as the Student Center and the new Frank R. Campbell Stadium. Dan Hayes is the director of alumni and friend development and is responsible for a large part of alumni support. An average day for him starts with checking social media in the morning to find out any new information about the lives of alumni. He looks for things like marriages, births, birthdays, and any other noteworthy events in alumni’s lives. Then, he makes calls and writes emails to those alumni who can be beneficial to the university and the students. After that, he spends most days having lunch with alumni to discuss their lives and ways that they can help Averett. The rest of his day consists of planning events, coordinating dates, and continuing to reach out to more alumni. “We couldn’t do it without them,” Hayes said. “Roughly fifteen percent of our budget comes from donors.” While networking with alumni, Hayes uses Dan Hayes what he calls the Four T’s to be able to fully benefit from what every Averett alum has to offer. The first T is time which refers to the time given by an alumnus whether that means coming to school-sponsored events, wearing Averett gear, showing support in other ways, or networking. The second T is talent, and that is alumni using their abilities to give back to their alma mater. The third is tuition, which is about sharing experiences from the school with current

students and each other. The final T is treasure, or the actual donations that can help propel the university forward. “I am here to encourage and assist alumni in becoming involved with Averett in order to help the university grow and better serve its students,” Hayes said. Hayes himself is an alumnus of Averett University. He graduated in 1992 with a major in aviation and a minor in theatre. During his time here as a student, he was very involved with the Cougar Activity Board and productions in the theatre department. During his spare time, Hayes enjoys playing volleyball and is in a league at his church, playing guitar, and biking. He also enjoys spending time with his wife, Kim, and his two children, Steven and Erin. They often go out together to do activities such as hiking or going out to shows. Hayes is a member of North Main Baptist Church, and he is the president of the Arc of the Southside, a group that advocates for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Hayes is also active with the local Boy Scout troops and theatre groups. All around, Hayes is very active within the community and the university, and he wants to see Averett succeed. He has the ability to make almost anyone smile and is full of humor. He is truly, in his own words, the jester to our kingdom.

The Chanticleer • 9

Adams named health, wellness, & title ix coordinator by Stephanie Hooker McDonald

Jill Adams was hired this year as Averett’s new director of health and wellness and the Title IX coordinator. Before coming to Averett, Adams worked at Ferrum College for 16 years as the director of student health programs. She received her master’s degree in health and wellness from Liberty University and is eager to use her knowledge to help students here at Averett. “I’m just very excited to be here at Averett, and I look forward to working with the students. I really want them to know that I have an open door policy, and I would love for them to come by and talk with me and tell me what their concerns are if they even have any. I definitely want to get out and meet the students and get involved with them,” Adams said. Her job as health and wellness director is to set up programs for students to show them how to deal with stress, healthy eating habits, or anything else health related. She hopes to have speakers on campus and other programs set up for students on health issues including alcohol awareness and safe sex programs. One of the programs Adams is passionate about is the Red Flag Campaign which educates students about dating violence and unhealthy behaviors

when it comes to dating. If you see someone experiencing bad dating behaviors, it should set off a red flag and be reported so that person can receive help. As the Title IX coordinator, she helps students who are exposed to any type of sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, stalking, sexual assault, violence, or any other sexually related issues. Right now, Adams is working on revising the policy for sexual misconduct and trying to get that program up and running. “That’s my major concern right now, and that’s what I’m concentrating on,” Adams said. Once the new health clinic is open in January, there will be programs for students involving health and wellness and dealing with Title IX issues on campus. She wants to hear from the students, find out what concerns them and develop programs to address these issues. There will also be a physician and nurse at the clinic, along with Adam’s new office. Currently, Adams’ office is on the fourth floor of the student center. She is excited get into her new office and start programs for the students at Averett, keeping them healthy and safe.

Student government hears your concerns by Stephanie Hooker McDonald

The Student Government Association is an organization that allows students to take leadership roles on campus. These students are able to listen to any issues their fellow students may have and help resolve those concerns. Members of SGA serve as advocates for students, and bridge the gap between students, faculty, and staff. Abigail King, a sophomore SGA senator, often helps address the issues that affect her peers at Averett. When SGA receives a complaint, they go through several different steps to make sure it gets taken care of, including speaking to professors and staff members. “It is easier for students to talk to their peers than to their professors, so we are their voice and

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try to help them resolve whatever issue they are having,” King said. SGA holds a weekly forum Thursdays at 11:15 outside of their office, located on the fourth floor of the Student Center, to listen to concerns. They encourage students to attend and allow SGA to help with problems they may be having on campus. “The students have a voice at the open forums, and their problems are listened to and resolved,” King said. Anyone interested in becoming a senator for the SGA can go to the office and fill out an application. Elections are held spring semester If you have any questions or concerns about Averett’s campus, you are encouraged to attend one an open forum.

Dancing their way to success by Adrianna Hargrove

The Dancing Dynasty dance team is a new addition this semester on Averett’s campus starting in August, just days before classes began. Isaiah Howard, a sophomore psychology major from Garner, N.C., created the dance team. “There are some girls who haven’t danced a day in their life,” Howard said. “But as they have practiced, practice makes perfect. They have become phenomenal dancers. It’s amazing how much we’ve evolved in just these short two months we’ve been together.” While some clubs and organizations face obstacles while attempting to get approved and officially recognized on campus, Dancing Dynasty had a fairly easy time of it. “The leadership council approved us right away. It was really a fast process,” Howard said. “I guess the reason why the approval went so smoothly was because I was working on the constitution during the summer. When I came back, I had everything prepared.” Being on a dance team can bring the best out of yourself and others. It can also build selfesteem and confidence. Students also get a sense of belonging by joining a group that shares their common interests. “We are more than just a dance team. The girls have grown into a sisterhood. We have seen each other laugh, cry, and go through our ups and downs,” Howard said. The members of Dancing Dynasty hope to give back to the community and the University. “We don’t feel like we are a superior group. We’re just normal people trying to make a difference. Our purpose is to be more than a dance team. We want to work in the community. We want to cheer on Averett. We want

Isaiah Howard

Members of Dancing Dynasty hope to make a difference in the community while building their dynamic as a group.

to be what Averett expects us to be,” Howard said. The dance team learns different styles of dances and performs to various genres of music. “We do step, hip-hop, and lyrical types of music genres. We pick our own music based on our moves. We see the way our body moves, and we think of songs that move to the beat of how our bodies move,” Howard said. “A lot of people say ‘let the song speak to you’, but I believe you should let your body speak to the music.” Most dance teams at colleges and universities participate in competitions. Since Dancing Dynasty is new, Howard doesn’t want to put that extra pressure on the group just yet. “We won’t be in any competitions right now for the time being. For next year, we are looking into it based on how we grow,” Howard said. “We’re not in a rush for competitions because I’d rather get this new club started and running on good terms, than go out and compete. Right now, we’re not at that level of being ready for a competition, but it’s getting there.” “In January, we will be having a showcase where people can come and see the different things we do,” Howard said. The team will also be in the stands during the basketball season and hope to be able to perform on the court. You can find the team on Instagram and Twitter under the username DancingDynasty.

The Chanticleer • 11

Love Where You Live: Students Create Love Danville Higher Education Council

by Lindsey Fulcher

The Love Danville Higher Education Council is new to Averett, but is quickly adding events and volunteer work to their calendars to help better the community. The council is a group of ten, diverse students that meet and talk about how they can better the city of Danville and what they can do to help the community around them “love where they live.” The college council is currently working on continuing to establish themselves and be active in Danville’s community. “When we had the idea of establishing the Love Danville Council, we had two goals in mind. One, create an environment for college students to share their ideas with the community. Two, create opportunities for the community to share all it has to offer our college students,” Assistant Director of Community Engagement Rachel Covington said. The council went on a tour of the Historic District downtown in early November to learn more about Danville’s history around Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. They also toured one of the houses on Millionaires Row. The council plans to use the information they are learning to put together a project later on in the year. “Our community is just as important to our students’ education as the classroom is, and this is the one way that we can share the rich history of Danville and engage our students in improving the place they live,” Covington said. The project will be a video that celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s 50th year anniversary. Martin Luther King spoke a total of four documented times in Danville, which very few know about. The council learned about this history together as a group, but will pass the information along to others around them through the video project. As with any council that represents a group of people, they had to be diverse. In order to prevent having the same ideas and solutions the ten people selected came from different states, class years, majors, athletics, non-athletes, etc. “I wanted to get an array of students who experience Averett and Danville differently. A Danville raised commuter will have a completely different perception than an athlete who is

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Members of the Love Danville Council attend dinner with several Danville City Council members, including former mayor Sherman Saunders, downtown at Dell’Anno’s Pizza Kitchen. The group discussed ways to improve Danville.

from the other side of the country. If we have a diverse group then we will have diverse problems and solution to figure out,” founder and Averett alumnus “Moose” Nassar said. The current council members are Damion Bischoff, Lindsey Fulcher, Antwone Harper, Taylor Hodges, Jada Little, Tatiana MartinHerndon, Talia Nappi, Brianna Shelton, and Kyle Vidano. This upcoming year the college council plans to partner with Danville Police Department and volunteer to improve houses and properties. They have received a grant from the state in order to do this as one of their first projects. They plan to cut back brush, install light bulbs and try to make the properties look less vacant, further preventing break-ins. “The main goal for Love Danville is to let Averett students become voices in their community. When someone goes to university, they are now members of that town. Having a chance to say what can improve the town or the relation it has with students allows an opportunity for relationships to be built, which can benefit both the student and community around them,” Nassar said. The council will continue to serve, better Danville and be bettered by Danville. If you are interested in being considered a part of the Love Danville Higher Education Council contact Covington in the CCECC.

Averett Security: working hard to keep campus safe by Stephanie Hooker McDonald

There are nine security guards that work hard to make sure that students, faculty, and staff members remain safe while on Averett’s campus. The team is led by Chief of Security Jamie Walker. Walker has been working for Averett since March of 2004. There have not been any life or death campus emergencies during his time here, but there are plans set in place in case there is ever an emergency on campus. There are fire escape plans located in classrooms as well as in hallways of the campus buildings. These plans show where you are and the fastest route out of the building. If a fire was to start on campus, a student may be asked to pull a “pull station” and all others would evacuate the building. Security will be alerted and will take care of the situation. It is the students’ responsibility to get to a safe place away from the building as fast as possible, in an orderly manner. If there was ever an active shooter on campus, security asks that students not engage that person. Instead, they should get to a safe place, hide, barricade themselves, and put as much distance between them and the shooter as possible. They want students to run if they can run, hide if they can hide, and fight only if they have to fight. Once students have reached a safe place, they should immediately place a call to 911. Turn the light on cell phones down so that anyone wanting to cause harm will not see it and know where you are hiding. The idea is to get out of harm’s way and hide wherever you can, as fast as you can. Averett is aware that the doors to classrooms do not lock. This could make it difficult to hide quickly from a potential shooter. They are in the process of fixing this issue. “I’m part of the emergency management team. That has been brought up,” Walker said. “I know, right now, they are working on trying to see how much it costs to get all those doors replaced. So Averett is aware of that, and are looking into it. I can’t say what time frame that’s going to happen. I know they are planning on getting those locks replaced where they can be locked.” There are seven yellow call boxes on campus that students can use to access security if they

see something that makes them nervous, or needs to be reported. All calls from the call box, and the number on the back of student’s ID cards for security, go straight to the hand held devices that are kept on security personnel at all times. Security also provides escorts to and from buildings and classes, and to personal cars if students feel uneasy about walking there alone. Call the number on the back of Averett’s student ID cards or use the call boxes to ask for an escort. Security guards are patrolling the campus 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They walk through the campus all night, averaging about every hour. To be safe walking on and off campus students should walk with a friend, and be aware of their surroundings. The area around Averett is a safe place, but there is crime everywhere in any city. To be safe, students should not venture off campus on foot without a friend to walk with them. Students are advised to keep their ID card on them and easily accessible at all times. This is to make sure that no one is on campus that shouldn’t be. “If we approach a student and they don’t have an ID card, and we don’t know they’re Averett students, we ask them to leave. If they don’t leave, we will call Danville PD and they will escort them off campus,” Walker said. This is to ensure that students, faculty and staff all remain safe while on campus. At night there are still places on campus that are not well lit. Averett is now working on replacing the lights on campus that are out and possibly adding new lights. Doing so should make students more comfortable about being on campus at night. “We can’t help you if we don’t know what’s going on. We are here to make sure students stay safe,” Walker said. Students should feel safe knowing Walker and others like him are patrolling the campus. They are only a phone call away if you are have a problem or feel uneasy on campus. To reach Averett’s security department call (434) 791-5888.

The Chanticleer • 13

Parking at Averett: Cause for concern? by Lanie Davis

At Averett, it’s a common occurrence to circle the parking lots a few times before finding a spot, especially in the mornings. There are approximately 865 traditional students at Averett, and every one of them is allowed a car on campus free of charge. These students and 185 faculty/staff members are competing for approximately 400 parking spots in five parking lots, in addition to street parking along West Main Street, Woodland Drive and Mountain View Avenue. Jamie Walker, director of security, said that the most traffic seen in the Frith/commuter parking area is between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., Monday through Friday. Despite the congestion, there have been few collisions this semester. “We only received four reports of accidents in the parking lot areas so far this semester, and all

Students and staff must have the proper decals to park on campus.

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were minor in damages,” Walker said. Some students are concerned about the lack of parking at the university. Junior biomedical science major Abi Murphy thinks there is “definitely not” enough parking on campus. “On Monday, Wednesday and Friday, it’s not that bad because I get here super early, but on Tuesday and Thursday, it’s really bad,” Murphy said. “Sometimes the parking lot is completely full and I have to circle.” Mackenzie Barrett, junior elementary education major, said that if she leaves the apartment parking lot between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., she usually has a hard time finding a spot when she returns. “I don’t think there is enough parking. I think they need to expand, at least for the commuters because even if they find a parking spot, it’s too late and they don’t have enough time to get to class,” Barrett said. Both Murphy and Barrett suggested turning the tennis courts into a parking area as a solution. “I would go with a plan like moving the tennis courts to North Campus and clearing that out and making it a parking spot,” Barrett said. On the other hand, some students do not have an issue. Andrew Van Der Hyde, an undecided freshman, does not have trouble finding spots in the Frith lot for his 8 a.m. “I think there is enough parking. I’m a commuter and I never have any trouble,” Van Der Hyde said. However, if the parking lot is in fact full, do not be creative in parking your car. “We do issue parking tickets for violations,” Walker said. While parking is an issue to some and not others, as the university continues to grow, it will have to be addressed. For now, it is best for students to make sure they get to campus early in case they have to circle the lot.

tattoos seen as an art form, yet debatable in workforce by Adrianna Hargrove

Over the recent years, tattoos have become very popular. There are many reasons people get tattoos. To some, tattoos are seen as a form of art. Dr. Adrienne Brune, an assistant professor of sociology, has four tattoos. “I see my tattoos as a form of expression. Each tattoo has a different meaning to me,” Brune said. Brune got her first tattoo in her late 20s, and it is a band on her wrist. She got the rest of them while she was teaching. On her arm, she has a tattoo of Michigan, where she is originally from. Her third tattoo is of a needle and thread on her forearm. Her fourth tattoo is a quote that says, “Fear is only a verb if you let it be”. To others, tattoos commemorate personal experiences. Brittany Daley, a senior from Harrisburg, N.C. majoring in sports management and minoring in communication studies, is infatuated with finding the meaning behind tattoos. “I just think they are so cool because it’s such an amazing art form that seems impossible to me,”

Michael Wilkinson, a senior management science and marketing management major, has a tattoo on his right arm along with many others. Wilkinson believes that his tattoos won’t affect him in the workplace because of their placement.

Daley said. Tattoos may also remind the person of an achievement or milestone in their lives. “They all remind me of important things in my life that I sometimes forget. So seeing my tattoos everyday reminds me of things that mean the most to me when I can easily forget them on a day to day basis,” Daley said. Daley has a tattoo on her hip of two fish with her grandparent’s initials on the outside. On her foot, she has a rose that says “smile.” On her back, she has the face of a lion with “it’s not brave if you’re not scared” written around it. “They all come from family ideas and meanings that I was raised on and all relate to major parts of my life and beliefs,” Daley said. Although they have gained more and more social acceptance over the years, employers may look down on people with tattoos. “I never want to allow my career to suffer because someone can’t see past their opinion. I just don’t tell people about them. Since they are hidden, most people never know. That’s my way to not give people a chance to judge me, even though I think it’s ridiculous that people would judge someone over ink on their skin. People try not to judge, but human nature is hard to avoid, so I try to do what I can to have control over how people see me,” Daley said. Michael Wilkinson, a senior management science and marketing management major from Kenbridge, doesn’t think having tattoos will hurt his career prospects. He got his first tattoo during his senior year of high school and now has designs on both arms and on one leg. “My tattoos shouldn’t affect me too much with getting a job. I’d like to start my own business someday, so hopefully it shouldn’t affect anything,” Wilkinson said. Both Wilkinson and Daley hope that future employers will not judge them for having tattoos but will instead consider their work ethic and talent. “It could possibly prevent me from getting in the job market, but so far it hasn’t been an issue. I like that I have the opportunity to show someone my work ethic and who I am before they find out I have tattoos,” Daley said.

The Chanticleer • 15

Student starts internet business, Flight is Life tm

by Clarice Ellinger

Creating a brand is hard work, and starting a business doesn’t happen overnight. The process takes time, dedication, and a lot of effort. Some students in college spend their years studying business to one day pursue their dream of owning a business. Instead of waiting until his time at Averett was up, Senior Chris Walton began his own brand and accomplished his own goals. Flight is Life was founded in March of 2016 and officially launched on August 5, 2016 by Walton, an aviation management major. “I’ve always wanted to start my own business – it was a life goal of mine. I did not know whether it would be in personal training or some other area,” Walton said. “Aviation is something I am passionate about and thoroughly enjoy, so I purchased a domain and started Flight is Life as an opportunity to bridge the two.” The site, flightislife.com, currently offers aviation-inspired apparel and also shares news articles about the aviation industry. Since the site’s launch, Walton has seen an increase in website traffic, social media engagement, and sales. “Starting a brand is a process. Each month I look at the analytics on the backend of the

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Student Phillip Owens models in front of an Archer wearing a Flight is Life tee.

Chris Walton, the founder of Flight is Life (above at left), shows off his love for his business. Flight is Life’s logo (top right) is available on all sorts of merchandise, which can be found at flightislife.com, which is shown above (bottom). More photos on back cover.

website to determine how well it is doing, what needs to be improved, etc,” Walton said. Walton will be graduating in the fall of 2016 with his bachelor’s of science in aerospace management/aviation business. Post-graduation, Walton hopes to continue his education in order to pursue his Master of Business Administration. “Five years from now, I see myself with two master [degrees], three businesses, no debt, a corvette z06, a Siberian Husky, a nice paying job, and maybe a mixtape,” Walton said. Even though Walton has dreams to continue his education and move on, leaving Averett will be difficult for him. “The best part about my time at Averett has been the relationships I’ve built with people here,” Walton said.

campus and community holiday activities to enjoy by Lindsey Fulcher

Danville is home to many volunteer opportunities and festivities during the holiday season. There are several ways people can give back and participate in cost-friendly, if not free, holiday activities. “Averett Celebrates Christmas” is an annual tradition at the University put on by the music department. The production will be on Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m. in Pritchett Auditorium and is free for students. Many Averett clubs, teams, and other groups also participate in the Angel Tree sponsored by the Boys and Girls club of Danville. Volunteers choose an ornament with the picture of a child who attends the Boys and Girls Club and that child’s wish list from the tree in the CCECC. The group must then purchase at least two of the items on the child’s list. Students who chose an ornament from the tree are advised to volunteer at the Boys and Girls Club in November to get to know their child. Averett University students, faculty, and staff will provide more than 40 children with presents this holiday season. The children will receive their gifts on November 30 where they will also eat dinner and decorate Christmas cookies. After, they will go down to MPR where they will see Santa and their presents will be waiting for them. Another event to attend at Averett during the holiday season is the President’s Holiday Party. President Tiffany Franks and her husband, Joe, decorate their entire house in lights and festive decorations. The couple even has a different Christmas tree in every room. The Franks put on holiday movies and prepare hot cider, hot chocolate, and lots of cookies for students to enjoy. The party will be held on Nov. 29 from 7 to 9 p.m. A historical event to attend while in town is the Danville Christmas Parade. The parade consists of various floats and performances from church groups, high school bands, local businesses, the University, and many more.

“I enjoy the atmosphere and diversity of people that are attending the parade in the historical part of Danville. As a person that has done the parade with a church group at a young age, it feels rewarding to knowing how much work you put into the float when you see how many people come out,” senior psychology major Chris Campbell said. “I loved walking through the tunnels of people supporting the community during the holiday season.” The parade runs downtown on Main Street and is usually held before the end of fall semester. The Christmas parade will be held Dec. 4 at 3 p.m. Averett University also decorates the entire campus during the holidays. The front of Main Hall has lights wrapped around the large white columns along with oversized, beautiful ornaments, made by volunteers. Down Woodland Avenue there are also more ornament bulbs. Campus has lights around several bushes that spell out “AU” and a Christmas tree in the middle of campus to make students feel more comfortable. This appeals to students longing for home during the holidays and creates comfort even being away at college. “I think the lights give me that warm home feeling at my home away from home. It gets my in the holiday spirit,” senior criminal justice major Cody Johnson said. Another way to see lights in Danville this season is at the Community Holiday Light show in Ballou Park. The light show will be running from December 10 – 25, but will be closed on Christmas Eve. “It’s my favorite time of the year and I just love riding through the neighborhood and looking at all the Christmas lights,” junior physical education major Hannah Shields said. There are plenty of exciting events to attend this holiday season throughout Danville. The community has lights, wreaths, and Christmas trees all over town. If all else fails, fill up a mug with hot chocolate and go for a ride.

The Chanticleer • 17

Affordable and diy christmas gifts on a budget by Lanie Davis

Buying Christmas gifts while in college can be tough, especially when the “broke college student” stereotype is actually a reality for a lot of students. Presents do not always have to be expensive, though. Here are a few suggestions for inexpensive or do-it-yourself Christmas gifts that are good alternatives to high dollar ones.

Baking

Everyone loves a good batch of fudge or chocolate chip cookies, and there are a ton of different recipes on Facebook and Pinterest for holiday treats. Reindeer chow and candy cane bark are popular and simple Christmas sweets.

Artistic

There are a lot of students who have a talent for drawing or painting, and they can make special gifts for their loved ones while using little to no money. Putting in an effort to create a hand drawn or painted picture of a subject of interest to a friend or family member would surely mean a lot to them. Keven Kling, junior aviation major with a minor in art, uses his talents in pottery and drawing to make gifts for his family. “Knowing that my mom likes alpacas and knitting, I made her a small container to hold her yarn for Christmas that looks like an alpaca,” Kling said. “It’s easy and fun to make my own gifts. If you know the person, it’s easy to create the gift from what they like.”

As a Christmas present for his mother, Junior Keven Kling created an Alpaca-shaped container out of clay to hold yarn.

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Crafting

There are several different crafts on Pinterest to create different holiday presents. For example, ornament making and decorating is popular. A simple craft that makes pretty ornaments includes clear glass balls with removable tops, This DIY ornament serves as a crafty Christmas themed yet affordable holiday present. scrapbooking paper and ribbon. All you have to do is cut the paper into strips, roll the strips tightly, then put them inside the glass ornaments. Finish the ornament with ribbon around the top and a nice message or monogram on the outside. There are several of easy crafts like this one out there, and no one turns down a homemade gift.

Knitting/Crocheting

A lot of people knit or crochet in their spare time as a hobby, but it can also be useful to make gifts for friends and loved ones if funds are low. Senior elementary education major Elisabeth Brogden has crocheted scarves and hats for family members in the past. Brogden prefers to make gifts because she finds them more unique. “I feel it is more personal and heartfelt because you are making something special for them,” Brogden said.

Senior Elisabeth Brogden enjoys crocheting gifts for friends and family. Above is a Christmas scarf in progress.

Memories Dear I’ll Hold by Jada Little

I can still clearly remember the day I got my acceptance letter from Averett. As I sat on my living room floor, ripping open the envelope with “Big Dreams, Bold Futures” emblazoned across the back, I thought of all the things that lie ahead of me. At the time, I was 18 years old, halfway done with my senior year of high school, and totally unsure what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. Now, at 21 and at the end of my undergrad career, I could not be happier with my choice of school or major. I look back on my experiences at school with love in my heart, Averett pride in my soul, and confidence in my future. As a freshman, I was often too terrified to even speak during group presentations, and the thought of giving a speech by myself left me shaking in my boots. I knew that I loved to write, but with the support, education, and guidance I received at Averett, I was able to find my voice. My enthusiasm for public speaking was born here, and I was given plenty of opportunities to practice both of my passions. I still may not be the world’s best speaker, but I have come a very Jada Little and Ashley Bowman, at right, enjoy their time at the Newseum in Washington D.C. last spring. Katelyn Holley, Little, Dr. Susan Huckstep, Brianna Shelton, and Mercedes Key, below, celebrate their partnership with River District Artisans downtown in 2014.

long way from where I started. Beyoncé Knowles once said: “if everything was perfect, you would never learn and you would never grow.” I will admit I have made some mistakes these past few years, but I have learned a lot from those mistakes – about myself, others, and life in general. The good times I have had at Averett are the ones I will remember forever, but the hard times I endured through are what helped me figure out the person I wanted to become. When I was asked to be an editor in my second semester on staff, I knew it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. The Chanticleer has become a big part of my college life (and, if I’m being honest, my identity as an Averett student) ever since, and it is incredibly difficult for me to even think about giving it up. That being said, I know that my fellow editors and staff writers will continue to do great work and produce the amazing publication I have held so close to my heart for so long. I am so indescribably grateful to everyone who has helped me along the way— from my parents who have always encouraged me to follow my dreams, to all of my roommates (and nearly roommates) who have comforted me through many rough nights of crying before a deadline, to my advisor who continues to tell me I’m ready for the “real world” no matter how hard I try to fight her on it, to all of the friends I’ve made who have truly become part of my family. I know without doubt that I could not have gotten through this stage in my life alone. Every person who has walked into my life has made an impression on me and has helped me to become the person I am, and I cannot find the words to show how much I appreciate that. Averett has given me more than I ever thought possible. I can only hope that I make my alma mater as proud of me as I am of it. I am now facing the world with the same promise of big dreams and bold futures I came into Averett with stuck in the back of my mind. My journey has not been the smoothest, but it definitely has been the best one for me. XOXO,

The Chanticleer • 19

Flight is LIfe

™

Aviation Inspired Apparel

“We Bring Your Passion To You.”

Flight is Life was founded in March of 2016 and officially launched on Aug. 5, 2016 by Chris Walton, an aviation management major. The site, flightislife. com, currently offers aviation-inspired apparel and shares news articles about the aviation industry.

#FLIGHTISLIFE

Chris by

Walton

flightislife.com