August 27th, 2015
Volume LXXXV No. I
STAY HUNGRY, STAY HUMBLE: This Edition N : MOUNTAIN LION FOOTBALL PREPARES FOR 2015 SEASON ews
• Stay Hungry, Stay Humble: Mountain Lion Football Prepares for 2015 Season
Tyler Jackson Staff Writer
ahead.” some of his players and the team said he also wasn’t concerned In addition to addressing the have received by down playing with any added pressure that status of players on the field, them and stating that while they may come with those accolades. “I think we put a high level of expectation on ourselves. I think once you do something one time it makes it easier to do it again. We have to ignore that outside noise. Those people don’t know what’s in our locker room and they don’t know what’s inside the other team’s locker room, so we have to take care of us, take each day at a time and stay true to our values. As long as we keep our focus everything should be fine.” Staying true to focusing on the task at hand, Justice isn’t even looking ahead to the Week One matchup against West Liberty, but instead focused on getting through the practices Calvinaugh Jones and the rest of the Concord Mountain that lead up to that showdown. Lions are looking forward to another great season. Although Justice is taking each Photo Courtesy of wvpublic.org day as it comes, when it came to
Among freshmen who will be on the sidelines this fall is Wyoming County’s Justin Cogar who turned down a scholarship offer from Toledo to walk on at WVU and transfer from Morgantown to Athens after a summer of classes. While Cogar may not see a lot of playing time this year, he is in a battle for the backup quarterback position, Justice said. “Him (Cogar) and Garrett Cropp have been battling back and forth splitting team reps. I feel like between those two guys one of them will be able to get the job done. Today I couldn’t tell you [which one will get the job done]. I know Garrett from the mental side of the game as far as what we want to do in our offense is probably a step ahead, but physically and being able to make plays because he’s a really Justice also addressed some of are nice, his team can’t let those good athlete, Cogar’s probably the pre-season accolades that things blur their vision. Justice
Aug. 27-Sept. 2
Weather Trivia When was the first weather satellite launched?
Thursday Sunny 76/53
Precip Chance: 0%
Friday
Mostly Sunny 77/57
Precip Chance: 5%
Saturday
Mostly Sunny 79/59
Precip Chance: 5%
Sunday
Monday
Precip Chance: 5%
Precip Chance: 0%
Mostly Sunny 80/58
Sunny 80/59
Tuesday
Mostly Sunny 79/58
Precip Chance: 5%
Wednesday
Partly Cloudy 76/54
Precip Chance: 10%
?
Answer: On April 1, 1960, Tiros I was launched in the United States.
Athens 7-Day Forecast
This Week’s Local Forecast
SEE FOOTBALL, P. 5
www.WhatsOurWeather.com
• CU Football Signs TV Deal • Currently in the Red Zone • The Saga Continues: More on the Tower’s Renovations
Student Life:
• Sex Signals: Title IX Explained • Coding Coalition Cooks Out • Tack It Up (With Masking Tape of Course)
Arts &Entertainment:
• Go Set a Watchman: a Shot Straight to the Childhood
Opinion
• Time 4 Influence Continued
Aug. 27th 2015, Page 2 The Concordian
News
CU FOOTBALL SIGNS TV DEAL Wes McKinney
Sports Information Director Concord University and WVVA-TV have agreed to air three Concord home football games during the 2015 season. WVVA President Frank Brady and Concord University President Dr. Kendra Boggess signed the agreement Monday afternoon at WVVA’s station. WVVA sports director A.J. Good will do the live play-byplay with former Concord assistant football coach Will King joining Good in the booth for color commentary for the September 12 home game against Fairmont State, the September 26 contest versus West Virginia Wesleyan and the October 24 home contest against Mountain East Conference rival Shepherd.
“It’s going to be great for the whole university and the athletic department,” Concord Director of Athletics Kevin Garrettsaid. “We’re putting a great product out on the field with our football program. It extends our fan base as well. What this is going to do for our university and athletic department is just unmeasurable. Garin and his staff have done a great job by bringing in the right type of kids and putting them in the right positions. “I’d also like to thank WVVA and Dave Barnett for this opportunity,” Garrett said. “It’s been a great experience and I look forward to doing it this year and in the coming years as well.” Monday’s announcement is another chance to showcase CU’s football program
after a 13-1 record in 2014 that boasted the Mountain Lions to the national semifinals and to consecutive TV appearances versus Bloomsburg in the Super Region One Championship and national semifinal contest at Minnesota-Mankato. “I don’t think there are too many schools of our size that has this going for them,” Dr. Boggess said. “It’s going to give our community an opportunity to be part of it, if they can’t make it to the games. It’s going to be an exciting time. I think the whole community is going to be rallying around in the way they did last year.” With the playoff run CU went on a season ago, it gave WVVA the chance to air regular season games in 2015. “This is monumental for us,” Brady said. “We had a dry run
last year at the end of the season as Concord got into the playoffs. That got all of us thinking that why not do multiple games this year and help Concord expand its base and help us expand our sports base in the marketplace.” With dozens of Concord players from local towns and communities it will give extended family members a chance to watch the Mountain Lions on Saturdays during the fall. “Now that a local network gets to carry out games, it’s big for us as a program, big for our players and also helps us as far as recruiting is concerned,” Concord head coach Garin Justice said. “Anytime that families, especially extended families can get involved it’s a big thing. When grandma and grandpa can watch the games it’s a big
Find the 2015 football schedule at cumountainlions. com! honor. “I don’t think this deal goes through if we don’t make the run we did last year,” Justice said. “Now there’s interest and there’s people that want to watch us play games. Hopefully we can continue to win and make this even bigger.” WVVA-TV is the local NBC affiliate and the games can be seen on channel 6 on Comcast in Bluefield, West Virginia, channel 6 on Suddenlink in Beckley, West Virginia and channel 5 on Suddenlink in Princeton, West Virginia. Games can also be seen on wvva.com/live.
CURRENTLY IN THE RED ZONE Submitted by Student Affairs It’s fall semester, a wonderful season filled with many exciting times: new classes and professors; new classmates and friends; football games and other sports; intramurals; Greek Rush; Homecoming; and more! We hope that Fall 2015 is among your best times at Concord. Please know that Concord University urges all students to take a proactive approach to safety. One way to do so is to be aware of the high risk time on college campuses known as the Red Zone, to know resources ahead of time, and to employ bystander intervention.
Bystander intervention entails looking out for each other and intervening in a potentially dangerous situation BEFORE it becomes an issue. As students return to campus, not just at Concord, but nationwide, they enter what experts term the ‘Red Zone,’ the first six weeks of college when more sexual assaults occur than at any other time during the school year. During this time, women, especially freshmen, are considered particularly vunerable. According to a 2008 survey by a research group of Middlebury College, first-year students reported unwanted sexual experiences more frequently during the fall semester than older students. This statistic is due to
several reasons, including: students are meeting new people and trying to fit in; students have less parental supervision and more independence which may lead to experimentation with alcohol or drugs; and students are adjusting to a new environment. Here at Concord, if you would like someone to walk you across campus or to your vehicle for safety reasons, contact the Office of Public Safety at 304384-5357 or a CU Residence Hall (North Tower: 304-3845132, South Tower: 304-3845133, Wilson/Sarvay: 304-3845136, Wooddell: 304-384-5135). If you have been a victim of sexual assault, on or off campus, please contact the CU Police
Department at 304-384-5357, Princeton Community Hospital at 304-487-7000, the Women’s Resource Center at 304-2552559 (24-hour Hotline), or a CU Sexual Assault Response Team (S.A.R.T.) member. Names of S.A.R.T. members, medical services, reporting agencies, and support services can be found at http://www.concord.edu/ student-affairs/safety-and-law/ sart. In an emergency situation, call 911. Remember, be smart and be safe! Let’s make the first weeks of fall semester the beginning of a great academic year!
To minimize your risk, use the following safety procedures: * Use the buddy system. Don’t go off campus or back to campus with people you do not know or trust. * Stay in a group; there is safety in numbers. * Be aware of your surroundings and have an “exit strategy” (e.g. back up ride, taxi #, etc.). * Be mindful of your alcohol intake. * Do not leave a drink unattended and do not accept a drink from someone that you do not trust or have not poured/mixed yourself.
Aug. 27th 2015, Page 3 The Concordian
News
THE SAGA CONTINUES: MORE ON THE TOWERS’ RENOVATIONS James Hoyle
Staff Writer Certain students that would typically live in North Tower have been temporarily relocated to Sarvay Hall for the fall semester. New students may question this relocation, but the reason is quite simple: Towers, both the North and South, will soon be undergoing intensive renovation. Signs of it will begin to appear across the campus shortly. But where did the money come from for this project, and what exactly is in it for the student body here at Concord University? The Concordian recently sat down to talk with Rick Dillon, Vice President of Administration & Associate Dean of Students, to find some answers to these questions. “Basically, what we have set up is that the students are paying for this,” explained Dillon, “We took out about a 16.2-16.3 million dollar loan, and those living in the dorms will pay for these renovations over the course of the next 30 years. There are essentially two ways to pay for something like this: you can pay for it up front or you can hire a company to construct the building for you. Both options have their pros and cons, but in the end, we decided to go with the latter
option. They will be getting 85 percent of the rent while the school gets 15 percent. We also had to promise to fill the buildings, but it will wound up being cheaper in the long run.” He then continued his explanation with an anecdote from his own life. “When I first started working at Salisbury University in Maryland in 1987, I was new and was in absolute awe of their state of the art (at the time) student center. While that was happening, I met a man in his 50s doing the exact same thing I was. When I asked him what he was doing there he told me that he wanted to see the building that he helped pay for 30 years before. And that was in the 50’s! This method of payment for buildings is nothing new. Universities often build things and use auxiliary fees to pay for them. For instance, when my daughter was going to college, she was able to get in on a full ride. But to be sure she had it completely free, I checked to make sure there wasn’t anything extra that had to be paid for. Sure enough, I had to pay $900 in auxiliary fees for renovations they had done, were doing, and were planning to do.” With students taking on the brunt of the payment for these buildings, one may reasonably
wonder what students get for their 16 million dollars. Dillon excitedly laid out in detail what they had in mind. “If you could step out of the window of a room in tower and had the ability to fly, you’d see that the entire building is covered in a substance called exterior insulation and finishing system (or EIFS). It was a popular insulation system, but it also has a problem in that it leaks easily. So, the buildings are being recoated with an adobe-like substance that is more resistant to leaks. The singlepane windows in the dorms will come out and double-pane windows [will be installed], making the rooms less prone to drafts. In addition, the Towers will be re-roofed the very year the 15-year warranty expires. Bottom-line, the buildings are going to function as they should.” Dillon then went on to describe what was going to happen inside the Towers. “The carpet, which predates me, is being replaced. P-TAC units will replace the single heating units in the dorms. With the advancements in modern technology, we’ll be able to get both heating and AC in all the rooms for the same amount of money that we’re currently spending for heating alone. There will be
new showers and sinks, but the toilets will remain, since they are still relatively new. There will also be new sinks in the foyer between rooms, as well as new tile. There will also be new lights, and the heaters and ventilation systems in the bathrooms will be replaced. In addition, we’re also using $500,000 of that $16 million to upgrade our IT for faster internet. This is not to say that the students currently in Sarvay will have faster internet. This project will begin roughly mid-April, but preparations have already started. We hope to have it all completed by 2017. There will be schedules for those curious, and those should be being typed up as I speak to you. In addition, there are posters in the towers of what the finished product will look like. It is our job to keep students informed and respond to any legitimate complaints. We’re very excited about this. Even if it winds up costing a little more in the outset, we want it to be done right so students will not have to pay more than have to if something breaks.” Anyone with further questions or comments or complaints may reach Rick Dillon by email via edillon@concord. edu.
In a Campus Organization? Got an upcoming event? Contact us! We do free advertising for Campus Organizations! Concordian@concord.edu
The Concordian Staff Brittany Strother Editor-in-Chief Sarah White Managing Editor Staff Writers: Jacob Adkins Peggy Ballengee Linh Dinh Briana Gunter James Hoyle Tyler Jackson Haley McCord Patrice Mitchell Web Master Jonathan Collins Mrs. Lindsey Akers Advisor
Your Name Here Write for the Concordian!
Aug. 27th 2015, Page 4 The Concordian
Student Life
SEX SIGNALS: TITLE IX EXPLAINED Patrice Mitchell
Staff Writer Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits sexual discrimination in education. Students and faculty of all genders and ages are all covered under this law, and are protected from the threat of sexual harassment. The law covers all federally and state funded institutions including primary and secondary schools, colleges and universities, as well as museums and technical schools. There are other laws that were designed to challenge sexual misconduct on and off campuses such as the Violence Against Women Act and the Family Violence Prevention ad Services Act. Although these laws are meant to protect individuals from sexual acts of violence, it doesn’t always prevent them. Vice Pres-
ident Biden made the following remarks upon the release of a White House report on sexual assault on April 29, 2014: “We know the numbers: one in five of every one of those young women who is dropped off for that first day of school, before they finish school, will be assaulted, will be assaulted in her college years.” That number has since risen to one in four women, and according to statistics by the Bureau of Justice, 80% of assaults on college students are never reported to the police. Many media outlets refer to this as a “silent epidemic.” To identify, prevent, and combat sexual assault and acts of violence against women on college campuses, many universities are reaching out to outside organizations to assist in educating the students, faculty, and staff on the issue. “Sex Signals”
is a seminar that has come to Concord University for the past few years to help students comprehend the realities of sexual violence, as well as the definition. According to the Sex Signals website, “Sex Signals has become one of the most popular sexual assault prevention programs on college campuses through its unorthodox, humor-facilitated approach to examining our culture, sex, and the core issue of bystander intervention.” The Catharsis Productions seminar uses actors to act out uncomfortable, yet realistic situations that display forms of sexual violence. The program is designed to communicate with students on their level, and to give them a deeper understanding of a topic that is difficult to talk about. The presenters took their time to fully address any ques-
tions or concerns from the audience. One of the most discussed topics during the seminar was about the presence of alcohol during a sexual assault. Many students are often confused about whether or not someone could consent to a sexual act while drunk, or otherwise inebriated. Students were told that the phrase “No response means no,” is good to remember in a situation when you are not sure whether someone is consenting to a sexual act or not. Students were surprised to hear that the number one date rape drug in the United States is alcohol. It’s been proven that the presence of alcohol is “closely associated” with sexual assault in social situations and on college campuses, but it is in no way a means to justify or excuse an assault. Hilary Williams, an actor for Catharsis Productions, has been
with the company for 2 years. Sex Signals travels all over the world to perform for universities and other organizations in hopes of creating dialogue for social revolution. Williams says, “Actually seeing a live show about something [like sexual harassment], makes people more willing to have the hard conversations about it, and it could lead to cultural change.” It is clear that issues like rape and sexual violence are uncomfortable to talk about, especially in an auditorium full of classmates and friends. “Sex Signals” and other organizations like it help to clarify the importance of education and prevention. The goal is to abolish the sexual assault culture on campuses all together. For any information of Catharsis Productions and Sex Signals visit www.catharsisproductions.com
CODING COALITION COOKS OUT Brittany Strother
Editor-in-Chief Concord University’s Coding Coalition, formerly known as the Computer Science Club, hosted the first of many community building events on Friday, August 21 at the Athens Town Park. The event boasted free food, music, and games for all in attendance and was open to anyone interested. The Coding Coalition has been undergoing a change of face lately in an effort to be more inclusive and welcoming of other majors and fields of study. “One of our goals this year in the Coding Coalition was to become more active and en-
gaging with the student body,” explained the Coalition’s Vice President, Preston Bennett. He goes on to say that computer scientists are often thought of as antisocial and reclusive, stereotypes that make them seem unapproachable by outsiders. According to Bennett, these stereotypes are simply not accurate. “We are all fun-loving, social people just like everyone else, and the cookout was our way of trying to make people feel compelled to come out and meet us,” he said. The activity proved to be a successful endeavor, attracting students from a wide variety of majors and programs ranging from computer science to
special elementary education. In the aftermath of the event, the Coding Coalition has gained several new members from varying majors. Bennett and the rest of the Coalition are excited about the new prospective collaborations and fresh perspective offered by the new additions. “We really want to emphasize team dynamics and networking, and the Coalition provides an excellent opportunity for students in all majors to be able to connect and collaborate with students who have the ability to make a computer apply some sort of principal that was covered in the other student’s class. Maybe an eco-
nomics major has a load of data that would be way too time consuming to sort and analyze manually…maybe an English major wants to create a piece of software that can generate poetry,” he said, outlining basic examples of potential projects the Coalition can delve into. Projects that once seemed daunting and insurmountable for one group of people become manageable when new ideas and ways of thinking are brought to the table. “The possibilities are endless, and many people don’t think they have the skills or ability to ever attempt such a task, when in reality it’s a simple conversation away from becoming a reality,” said
Bennett. The Coding Coalition is looking to expand their horizons as far as members and projects go, and will be holding numerous other communitybuilding events, starting with a board game night on Friday, August 28 at Subway Sides at 6:00 p.m..
Interested in joining the Coding Coalition? Contact Kyle Reinholt or Preston Bennett on Facebook for more information!
Aug. 27th 2015, Page 5 The Concordian
Student Life
TACK IT UP (WITH MASKING TAPE, OF COURSE) Haley McCord Staff Writer
All tastes were able to find something to suit them. Photos By: Haley McCord
From the famous Leonardo da Vinci painting “The Last Supper” depicting the last meal Jesus shared with his apostles before his crucifixion to singer/ songwriter Lana Del Rey and her exposed navel, Concord University’s collaboration with major poster vendor Beyond the Wall offered dorm decor to suit any style and interest. Whether students were returning to campus for another year or facing their first semester away from home, posters and pictures are a fantastic way for students to feel more at home on the Campus Beautiful. Students gathered on the bottom floor of the Jean and Jerry Beasley Student Center near the university bookstore on August 18 and 19 to browse the monstrous variety of posters available for pur-
FOOTBALL FROM PAGE 1
schedule creation, he did look ahead. This year Concord only plays ten games as opposed to the usual eleven. Justice said that this was due to the fact that most out of conference opponents that could be slotted in towards the end of the season already had games scheduled and were deep into conference play. Justice said his options were traveling across country for
a Division II game or an FCS game, which carries the risk of getting your team beat up a week before the playoffs. If all goes as planned the Mountain Lions can use that week to rest up and prepare for a playoff game. Concord opens its season September 5 at 1:00 p.m. in West Liberty, W.V..
chase. The posters were laminated with thick and durable plastic so that students could easily admire the full length and width of each without fear of damaging the products. Multiple sizes were available to fit any space, from small squares the size of a textbook to massive fullsize posters, and prices were labeled beneath most posters to prevent confusion and streamline the buying process. Students moseyed around the tables and examined posters that reflected their own personal interests from the hours of 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Also available were ornate tapestries of different colors, shower curtains, poster tack for hanging posters on dorm walls while still adhering to housing contracts, frames of all sizes, bookmarks and postcards featuring bands, abstract art, scenery, religious
depictions and famous classical paintings. There were also numerous posters featuring motivational quotations like “Believe you can, and you are halfway there” and sweet blurbs such as Andy Warhol’s belief that “There should be a course in first grade on love.” Although chaotic and buzzing with excitement, students remained gracious and waited in line patiently to purchase their new decorations. Beyond The Wall couldn’t have made a better impression during the back-to-school buzz, simultaneously providing a reason for new and old students to abandon the safety of their rooms and mingle and topof-the-line posters and other accessories. For more information or to purchase more posters, visit beyondthewall.com.
Everything from TV shows, superheroes, and classical art was featured at the sale.
Open Auditions for Don Nigro’s Animal Tales
Concord University Theatre will be holding open auditions for Don Nigro’s Animal Tales on September 3rd @ 6:30pm in the H.C. Paul Theatre located in the Alexander Fine Arts Building. Auditions are open to all students, faculty/staff and community members. The play consists of several monologue and dialogue pieces with potential for up to 18 roles. The pieces range from 5 to 10 minutes in length, which allows for a flexible rehearsal schedule. First time performers are particularly encouraged to audition. All proceeds from the production will be donated to the Mercer County Animal Shelter. For more information please contact Dr. Gambill at tgambill@concord.edu
Aug. 27th 2015, Page 6 The Concordian
Opinions
GO SET A WATCHMAN: A SHOT STRAIGHT TO THE CHILDHOOD James Hoyle
Staff Writer Before I begin this review, I would like to preface it by saying that there will be massive spoilers. If you have any intention of reading this book, I suggest that you do and come back to this review later. With that out of the way, Go Set A Watchman is being sold as a sequel to the 1960 Pulitzer Prize winning classic To Kill A Mockingbird. However, Go Set A Watchman was actually submitted first to a publisher. In The New York Times article “The Invisible Hand Behind Harper Lee’s ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’, writer Johnathon Mahler describes the struggle To Kill a Mockingbird went through to get published. When it was first submitted to the publisher, the editor loved her voice, but said that it did not flow well as a novel, and demanded a rewrite. The published version of To Kill a Mockingbird is more or less the fruit of that rewrite. Go Set a Watchman was found in a safety deposit box, and it was eventually published mostly due to the efforts of Lee’s family and not Lee herself. This leaves the publication of this book suspicious especially since it was announced a mere two months after the death of Harper Lee’s sister and caregiver. This is not a review of the ethics of the book’s publication however, but rather a review of the content. And the content is interesting to say the least. The story takes place in the 1950s. Young Scout has grown up and is now calling herself by her full
name, Jean Louise. She comes down to Maycomb, Alabama to visit her family. Lee described Maycomb as a town where things never changed. However, Maycomb has changed. The Civil Rights movement is about to go into full swing, and needless to say, there is unrest in the town. It is here that Jean discovers that Atticus Finch, the man that generations have looked up to, is just as racist as everyone else in the town. Horrified, Scout spends the rest of the book trying to cope with the fact that her father is not who she thought he was. This is without a doubt a bleak set up. Jem died in a swimming accident years ago, and Dill is nowhere to be found. On top of that, dear old Calpurnia wants nothing to do with Jean now that Atticus has unfurled his true colors. When Calpurnia’s grandson is arrested for speeding and killing a drunk pedestrian with a car, Atticus agrees to take the case, if only to stop the NAACP from getting involved. She talks to her Uncle about Atticus’s apparent shift in ideals, but she does not want to hear his explanation. At the courtroom, Atticus argues that African Americans are not ready for full civil rights and that Brown vs. Board of Education was a mistake. Scout, disgusted by her father’s apparent betrayal of everything she thought he held dear, packs her things. Uncle Jack slaps some sense into her and explains that she spent her entire life worshipping Atticus as a god, that she forgot that he is human too, with prejudices the same as anyone, and that she
needs to learn how to become her own person. Atticus says he’s proud of her for standing up for what she believes in, and she leaves for New York. There are some interesting themes in this book, particularly the bigots calling out other bigots. By choosing one flaw in Atticus and ignoring the amazing amount of work he’s done for African Americans as a lawyer, it can be argued that she is being unfair, especially since this is the man that raised her and helped to mold her into the person that she is. This message resonates now more than perhaps it would have in the 1960s, especially in this “Gotcha saying something offensive” witch hunting mentality we see in the political landscape today. We are often far too eager to write someone off as evil simply because their political opinions differ from ours. It’s easy to say someone is a racist or a homophobe or a bigot without knowing their full story or whatever else they might do for the good of the community. Go Set a Watchmen says that this kind of thinking is just as bigoted. Take a look at Atticus, for instance. Does his prejudice overrule everything else he’s done? Does being a racist automatically make you evil? From what I gathered from this book, no. I do not think Atticus was ruined by this book. In fact, knowing that he so viciously defended Tom Robinson in To Kill a Mockingbird despite his prejudice just shows how much he truly believes in the very American ideal of equal protec-
tion under the law. What this book is saying, in my opinion, is that even if someone has a worldview that is not your own, you should at least try to give them a chance, and not write them off forever, because opinions change. If the immovable Maycomb can change, than surely the most bigoted curmudgeon can one day see the light if we give a chance to see the error of their ways. After all, Abraham Lincoln did not believe in equality in the races, yet he still signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Is his legacy tarnished because his reasons for doing might have been dubious? Hardly. Likewise, Atticus is still the same as he always was. Another important theme is the theme of growing up and making your own decisions. The title Go Set a Watchmen comes from the Bible. In Isaiah 21:3, it says: “For thus the Lord said to me: “Go, set a watchman; let him announce what he sees.” What this basically means from a theological sense is stick your guns about what you think is right and wrong. Atticus is sticking to his, and by Jean’s interactions with Atticus in this, draws on strength she never knew she had. She once looked up to Atticus like a god, but realizing he’s just a flawed human, she must now come to her own decisions about what is right and wrong, and set her own watchman. These are themes well worth talking about and exploring. I just wish this novel wasn’t so poorly put together. It just jumps from scene to scene
without any kind of meaning. It does read like a first draft, which is exactly what this is. Lee’s wonderful sense for detail is present, but it just isn’t as refined as it was in Mockingbird. I will let you, the reader, use your conscience to decide whether or not buying what is essentially a first draft published under shady conditions is wise. If you do buy it, you will find a moral and message well worth exploring, but the method of delivery is not up to what we would expect from somebody like Harper Lee. All that said, I give this book a very hesitant recommendation. It won’t be for everyone, but those who choose to stick with it will find something worthwhile. Go Set a Watchmen is currently available wherever books are sold.
Arts & Entertainment TIME 4 INFLUENCE CONTINUED Briana Gunter
Staff Writer Concord University’s Assistant Professor of Art, Kevin Bennington, is having his art work featured in a solo exhibit at the Chuck Mathena Center in Princeton, WV. His exhibit is called “Time 4 Influence Continued.” The exhibit will run until September 18. Bennington’s artwork that is featured in the exhibit reminds viewers how important it is to take care of the environment. When asked about his upcoming exhibit, he said “these artworks stem from my passion in the field of graphic design and my love for many of the native rivers and lakes in Southern West Virginia. Over the last 12 years I have compiled a collection of over 8000 nature based photos. Some of the places photographed were Key Damn, Harmony Acres Lake, Jimmy Lewis Lake, Sutton Lake, Bull Falls, Cranberry Glades, Greenbrier River, New River, Bluestone River, Camp Creek and Brush Creek. As an artist these photos are my inspiration to create these scenes displayed. From memories and past dreams I used my photo database to construct these one of a kind nature based scenes.” In part of his artist’s statement, he talks about the method behind how he decided to present his artwork, saying, “over the last five years my work has been focused on informing viewers of how important pollution awareness is to our environment and in many
cases I try to draw attention to both extremes of beauty and pollution. In my later work I show the pristine environments and polluted environments as interactive artworks. Viewers can rotate or open the panels on each artwork to reveal the clean and polluted environments. I used this method to hold the idea of a window blinds or curtains. I ask viewers what do they do when they do not want to see something outside? Many of them reply close the window shade or window blind.” Bennington’s artwork seems to be a reflection of his interests and his roots. In his Concord University biography he states that he is a native of the West Virginia mountains and has a strong connection to his environment where he enjoys fishing, hiking, and other outdoor activities. He says, “as a graphic designer, artist, and professor, I feel that I have a deep-seated responsibility to pronounce good morals and practices. I am an advocate for promoting clean water practices and trash removal from many of our local streams and rivers.” Bennington also has a published thesis: “Time for Influence: An Exhibition of Communication and Influence through Awareness-Based Design Mediums.” It delves deeper into what is presented through his artwork and explores new and atypical mediums of communication that help influence anti-littering practices.
Aug. 27th 2015, Page 7 The Concordian
Aug. 27th 2015, Page 8 The Concordian
Millennial Beat Patrice Mitchell
Staff Writer From a very young age, my mom made me understand how important my right to vote was. She explained to me that it is a privilege in the nation that I live that I may have a chance to help decide how my government represents me. As a black woman, many people fought and died for me to have that right. From the Civil Rights movement to the Women’s Suffrage movement, the path was paved for all American citizens to vote in local and state elections. It was made law through the 19th amendment, as well as the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Over the past 40 years, Americans’ trust in the government has been declining. According to a CNN poll done in August 2014, only 13% of the American public trust the government. I think that is the direct reason why less and less people are voting in local, state, and national elections every cycle. A survey I conducted by a group of students on Concord’s campus found that the top three concerns among the students ages 18-30 are jobs, student loan debt, and civil rights. We are the most educated generation ever and the deepest in loan debt. The Atlantic article, referenced below, states that one third of Millennials
over 25 have at least a four-year college degree. For Concord University alone, the average debt of graduates as of 2013 was $23, 943.00, and 93 percent of graduates had some kind of debt. The Atlantic Magazine published a study about Millennials and politics. Researchers found although we are the generation getting “screwed” the most economically, we are also the most optimistic about the future. “Millennials are the first generation in the modern ear to have higher levels of student loan debt, poverty and unemployment, and lower levels of wealth and personal income than…Generation X and Baby Boomers.” Within the past few years there has been a resurgence of a type of human and civil rights movement, including race, LGBT, women’s reproductive rights, and first and second amendment rights. Other major concerns were climate change and environmental issues, criminal justice system reform, healthcare, immigration reform, and the national debt. The same survey found that six percent of those students were not registered to vote. According to the Census Bureau, there are 75.3 Million people that belong to the Millennial age group as of 2015. For the next national election cycle
Generation Y, or Millennials, will be a larger voting group than the baby boomer generation. That means that WE could be the difference we want to see in politics. With great numbers comes great responsibility. We could be the generation that decides the next presidential election, as well as the directions our country takes on social, economic, and civil rights issues. Whether you think you vote matters or not, it does. That is the basic party of a democracy, and how our society functions. This Beat is dedicated to shedding light on the major political issues that Millennials are facing today. The articles will cover the topics from all sides, avoiding a biased opinion on the issue. The purpose of this section is to make people care about their right to vote on issues that will eventually affect them during their life time, as well as encourage them to be the changed that is needed in the country today. After all, nothing gets changed while we choose to remain voiceless. It was Martin Luther King jr who said, “Human progress is neither automatic or inevitable...Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concerns of dedicated individuals.”
Confirmed 2016 Presidential Primary Candidates: REPUBLICAN:
DEMOCRATIC:
Jeb Bush
Lincoln Chafee
Ben Carson
Hillary Clinton
Chris Christie
Martin O’Malley
Ted Cruz
Bernie Sanders
Carly Fiorina
Jim Webb
Jim Gilmore Lindsey Graham Mike Huckabee Bobby Jindal John Kasich George Pataki Rand Paul Rick Perry Marco Rubio Rick Santorum Donald Trump Scott Walker
Check us out online!
“Nobody will ever deprive the American people the right to vote except for the American people themselves, and the do that by not voting.” - Franklin D. Roosevelt
Tweet at us @CUConcordian Follow us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/concordiannewspaper1 Check out our online version at www.concordianonline.com Or send us letters to the Editor at concordian@concord.edu
We’d love to hear from you!