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upcoming EvEnTs
February 25, 2016
Volume LXXXIV No. 3
THIS CAMPUS BROUGHT TO YOU BY PEPSI
Christian Pridemore
Pepsi and Concord have a close working relationship due to the school’s contract with the soft drink company. Photo Credit: Pepsi Inc. file…When we send for bids, we advertise in the local newspaper, the Charleston Gazette, and the vendors have a specified time period to submit a bid and then from there we go with whichever vendor gives us the best option.” Hylton’s main duty is oversight of all
the funds to the athletic department for a new scoreboard in the sum of $15,000. And that’s not all; every time a Concord student buys a Pepsi product there are benefits. According to Hylton, “We also get, and it’s within the contract, the campus gets 45% of
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the commissions of sales we get on campus.” This might seem a bit confusing for students due to the fact that places like the book store and the café also vend Coca-Cola products. Hylton assures that all is well on Pepsi’s end, stating, “Marshall Campbell, who is usually the human resource director legal counsel, discussed it with the Pepsi folks and they came to the agreement that it was acceptable.” Basically, what this means is that Pepsi has no problem with other places on campus specifically vending Coca-Cola products alongside Pepsi products, or even exclusively selling Coca-Cola products in the book store. So how does one go about achieving the scholarship offered by Pepsi? “I’m not sure about the distribution,” Hylton states, “All we do is collect the $12000.” The person in charge of the distribution of these funds into scholarships is the Director of Enrollment, Kent Gamble. Unfortunately, Gamble was not available for an interview. If students would like to know more specifically about the contract, contact Gary Hylton at ghylton@ concord.edu or find him during office hours in room A222. For more information about how SEE PEPSI, P. 2
• This Campus Brought to You by Pepsi • Gravitational Waves • Moe’s Marketing • CU Geography Department
studeNt Life: • Relay For Life Rave • Student AffairsGuest Writer • Alternative Spring Break • Let Your Voice be Heard
Arts & eNtertAiNmeNt: • Ron Placone Returns • Deadpool Review
OpiNiON • Flint Water Crisis • The Millennial Beat
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Everywhere on campus, students have the choice to buy Pepsi products from the vending machines seen in places like the residence halls, student center, and the Fine Arts building. The reason why students see so many Pepsi vending machines and fewer Coca-Cola vending machines is due to a contract that Concord has with Pepsi. This contract states that Pepsi has both exclusive vending rights and advertising rights with the school, allowing them to have those machines on campus and allowing them to promote Pepsi products. The contract also specifies that the agreement will last until December of 2018, at which point Concord will either renew the contract, or the Pepsi vending machines are repossessed. What students might not be aware of, however, is how beneficial this contract is to the campus and its students. “What students need to be aware of is that in this contract, we are given $12,000 annually by Pepsi to redistribute for a scholarship,” says Gary Hylton, Contracts Specialist in the Purchasing Department. Hylton manages purchasing requisitions for the school and makes sure that all the proper paperwork is in order. Hylton
these bidding requisitions, and making sure that both Dr. Becker and Dr. Boggess are notified when needed. In addition to the $12000 that the school gets for a scholarship, Pepsi has also provided
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states, “We make four copies of the requisition, and we send the original and the vendor copy back to the department requesting the purchase. We send one to the receiving department and we keep one on
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the scholarship funds are allocated, contact Kent Gamble at kgamble@concord.edu. The Pepsi contract is definitely beneficial to Concord University and directly influ-
ences the students. So the next ceives and are making a differtime you buy a Pepsi from ence with every refreshing sip. any of the vending machines around campus, remember that you are directly contributing to the funding that the school re-
Got something to say? We want to hear from you! Send guest-written articles or letters to the editor to concordian@concord.edu
NEW SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY BACKS EINSTEIN’S THEORY OF RELATIVITY James Hoyle
The Advanced LIGO measurement, represented by the black line, was able to detect gravitational waves. Photo By: Sky and Telescope the solar system have now been opened. For the first time, astronomers have the ability to map unmapped parts of the universe. It will also be able to help with understanding black holes. Dr. Hawthorne-Allen, Associate Professor of Physics at Concord University, hopes that this discovery will help us further understand what is out there, and hopes that this will help people to understand that there are no black holes in the solar system, and that they are not coming any closer. She also wishes to say that it
is important to understand that these gravitational waves do not physically vibrate the Earth in any meaningful way, merely one-one-thousandth of a proton. In any case, some are calling this one of the greatest scientific discoveries of century, and is the next step in learning what is exactly out there. The scientific findings are available in the journal Physical Review Letters.
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News/Opinions Editor With the 2016 Presidential election coming up this November, and primaries happening now throughout the country, state politics often take a backseat to the pageantry of the national campaigns. Although being informed about and attentive to national politics, the state and local government deserve equal attention. The legislation set forth by our elected state officials directly impacts our communities. When Governor Tomblin gave the final State of the State address early this year, he spoke about there needing to be a reinvestment in West Virginia. The state currently sits on a budget deficit gap of 388 million dollars for 2016, and 417 million for 2017. The diminishment of coal communities, such as Welch
and War in Mcdowell County, has left the state with pockets of poverty that continues to grow with the continued loss of jobs throughout the entire state. The Republican Party gained control of the West Virginia Senate and House of Delegates for the first time in over 80 years during the last election cycle. The historic election put a spotlight on how the state has shifted in social and economic issues. While having a majority Congress will allow for more legislation to be heard and voted on, it also invites biases. There have been many controversial bills introduced in this legislative session that could possibly have major impacts on the infrastructure in West Virginia. With the decline of coal throughout the state over the past three decades, and a steady loss of jobs, West Vir-
ginia residents desire change. It is unlikely that coal will ever reach the production highs of past generations. New, fresh ideas that put West Virginia families back to work is how the state moves forward. The Millennial Generation of West Virginian faces many obstacles. From a withering job market that lacks in diverse industries, to a growing drug epidemic, retention rates for college graduates in the Mountain state are low due to low confidence in a prosperous future in West Virginia In order for this state to move forward, changes have to happen in many different areas. Being informed about what issues the state is facing, as well as which issues our elected officals are legislating, is the start of creating movement of evolution in West Virginia.
The Concordian has gone digital! There are tons of ways to stay up to date on the latest Concord news, even if you’re not on the Campus Beautiful. We’re on the Issuu App for Android and iOS. Download the App and search Concordian. We’re online at Concordianonline.com Tweet us at @CUConcordian Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/concordian1
Current and Recent Legislation • Cigarette tax, Senate Bills 125 and 139Already cleared by the state Senate, this proposed tax hike would raise the tax on tobacco from $1 to $1.55. Officials say the revenue would help aid health plans throughout the state. • “Workplace Freedom Act”- law prohibiting work contracts that require employees to pay union dues as a condition of their employment. The bill passed the in the house and senate, and was later vetoed by governor Tomblin. Days later the veto was overridden by the Republican-led legislature. • “Religious Freedom Restoration Act” House Bill 4012- This bill would allow business, service providers, and individuals to refuse acts of service to others because of different religious and lifestyle choices. • I77 Toll booths - SB 397 would allow for the West Virginia Parkways Authority to continue with the operation of the toll booths along I77 past the expected bond payoff date in May, 2019. • “Tebow Bill”- allows home schooled students to play sports within the public school system as long as they meet the proper requirements • Concealed Weapon Permit, House Bill 4145 -will allow anyone over 18 to carry a concealed weapon without a permit. You can view all bills presented at this legislative session at www.legis.state.wv.us
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Ever since the foundation of astronomy, mankind has relied on what they could see to determine what is out there in the universe. Now, a new way of observing the universe has been discovered. On February 10, it was revealed that gravitational waves, long hypothesized but never observed, were discovered by the Laser Interferometer GravitationalWave Observatories (LIGO for short) located in Hanford, Washington and Livingston, Louisiana. Gravitational waves were first proposed 100 years ago by Albert Einstein with his theory of relativity. Essentially, when massive stellar events happen such as a supernova, the displaced energy from that event disperse in great gravitational waves that spread across spacetime like ripples on a still pond. In the case of what was observed by the LIGO, the gravitational wave was caused by two black holes merging one billion years ago. In addition to discovering gravitational waves, this was the first observation of black holes merging. The black holes in question were 36 and 29 solar masses. In order for a black hole to exist, it must be at least the size of three
the diameter of a proton. It was precisely such a movement that the LIGO picked up on Sept. ember 14, 2015. The machine, picking up the invisible ebb and flow of the universe, transferred that gravitational wave into a sound wave that scientists were able to hear. It is important to note however that the gravitational wave did not make that sound, but that the LIGO transferred the wave into a sound. The findings passed a series of examinations, reached a five-sigma result (which is the highest vote of confidence that scientists can give for accuracy), and has since been published in a peer-reviewed journal. At first, scientists were unsure if the LIGO observatories were going to be successful. The observatories did not pick up any kind of detection. However, when scientists installed upgrades to the LIGO, they picked up a signal. The detection range on the original LIGO was just under the range needed to detect gravitational waves. All of the advanced LIGO specs have not been met yet, but when they are, scientists expect to see more gravitational waves. With the discovery of gravitational waves, new possibilities for viewing what is beyond
Patrice Mitchell
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solar masses. The merging of these two large black holes and the resulting displaced energy was enough that it reached one billion years after the incident occurred. The observatories that picked up the gravitational wave are Lshaped, and have arms 2-andhalf miles long, with mirrors at the ends of each arm. These mirrors, made of what Sky and Telescope calls “ultrapure, superpolished…quartz…” have been “...seismically isolated…” from any outside interference, including noise. A laser light is pointed at a divider in the middle, which is split into two beams that go down the arms, is reflected back by the mirrors, and is diverted back into a light detector. Under normal circumstances, these mirrors do not move, and because the beams cancel each other out, LIGO’s detector sees no light. When a passing gravitational wave passes by the Earth however, the resulting passage cause the mirrors to move ever so slightly. These movements are tiny, less than a fraction the size of an atom. However, these observatories are so sensitive, that according to ScienceDaily, they are able to pick up the movements of these mirrors even if they move a distance of less than one-ten-thousandth
SPOTLIGHT: WEST VIRGINIA STATE LEGISLATION
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opinions
WHY THE FLINT WATER CRISIS SHOULD WORRY YOU James Hoyle
Citizens are in an uproar over the Flint water crisis and the dangers it poses to the community. Photo courtesy of nbcnews.com the political system many find themselves in now. It is not even a matter of po-
litical parties, either. There is plenty of blame to go around that both parties should feel
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ashamed of themselves that they allowed the water situation to get as bad as it has in both Flint and in St. Joseph. Both incidences should serve as warnings to the rest of America. Such acts can happen anywhere and at any time and at an astonishing rate if the population is docile enough and apathetic enough to not pay attention to their surroundings. For all of that however, there is fortunately a way to reverse these problems. The situation in Flint is a result of a failure to listen on the parts of the politicians whose job it is to have the best interests of the people they represent. The United States of America is a republic. We as citizens have the right to demonstrate our dislike by voting out those that cannot or will not listen to our problems. The final verdict on where this country goes rests on the shoulders of the people. Therefore, we should remain vigilant, and always be on the lookout for corruption in who represents us, and weed it out where we can. After all, this country deserves nothing but the best.
The views and opinions expressed in this student newspaper do not necessarily reflect the views of the Faculty, Staff, or Administration of Concord University, or that of the editors and advisor of the Concordian. They are that of the authors.
James Hoyle
Staff Writer Steve Barrett’s Sports Marketing class has created a marketing plan designed to help local restaurant “Moe’s” in the coming years. The plan was presented to the restaurant owners on February 19, 2016, after the death of restaurant creator and original owner Mohammad (or Moe) Seif in January. After his unexpected death, Seif’s wife, Fatima Koraich, decided to reopen the restaurant. In an interview with WVNS-TV, Koraich stated that she wanted to continue Moe’s dream. “I didn’t really know him (Moe) to be honest,” Barrett said, “But I had heard a lot of good things about him... I said to myself, ‘What can I do to help them? They need help.’ That was my first thought.” Though he did not know much about the restaurant or the restaurant industry, Barrett then thought of his marketing class and realized that this could be a golden opportunity for them to apply what they are learning into a practical, real-world situation. The marketing strategy was overseen by 21 students a took roughly three weeks to put together. Though Barrett admits to not knowing much in the way of the specifics of how Moe’s Restaurant functions, he is certain that the four Ps of marketing are applicable for any sort of business or industry. The four P’s of marketing are Product, Place, Price, and Promotion. Barrett added that
The Concordian office is located on the bottom floor of the Alexander Fine Arts Center, Room M-08.
Brittany Strother Editor-in-Chief Patrice Mitchell News/ Opinions Editor
Steve Barrett’s class presented their marketing strategy to Moe’s Restaurant as a gesture of good will between the university and the recent addition to the Athens community. Barrett hopes that the plan will allow Moe’s to continue to serve the area for years to come. Photo Credit: WVNS News after he thought of this, he approached the restaurant owners and asked them if they would be interested in his sports marketing class putting together a marketing program and plan for them. They agreed, and so work began. When asked why the plan took only three weeks to put together, Barrett said that while they could have taken a lot of time to put together a much larger plan, that likely would have taken the whole semester, and as it is a sports marketing class, doing so would be somewhat outside the curriculum. The plan itself details strategic goals for the restaurant,
chiefly they want to become the best restaurant in the Athens area, they are going to implement a loyalty program and to engage in social media. Barrett stated that in this day and age, interacting with people on social media is necessary for any business to succeed. Essentially, what they did was paint a mental picture of what the ideal Moe’s Restaurant would look like, and then put it to paper. What they envisioned is a cozy, family friendly atmosphere where anyone can feel comfortable to sit down and eat, and have it be a memorable, colorful experience. In other words, they envisioned Moe’s
as a cheap place to eat where that cheapness doesn’t impede the quality and freshness of the food. To that end, the market strategy implements event nights over the year, and gives special discounts on certain items throughout the year. It also means cutting the inventory to things that prove less popular with customers. With all of these implementations and ideas in mind, Barrett hopes that this marketing strategy can help Moe’s achieve even greater success than it has seen..
Tsivia Chonoles A&E/Student Life Editor Staff Writers: James Hoyle Christian Pridemore Jonathan Collins Webmaster
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While all of us were distracted by one event or another, there was danger growing within a town in Michigan. It began two years ago, and came to a head recently. The city changed its water source from the Detroit Water and Sewage System to a new source from Lake Huron known as the Karegnondi Water Authority. However, the pipeline to this new source had not yet been completed, and the city council decided to draw potable water from the Flint River until the pipeline’s completion, which is scheduled for this year. Unfortunately, the water coming from the Flint River is not treated properly. As Flint had been getting its water from Detroit since 1967, the city had stopped treating its own water. By drawing on the river, it essentially was giving its citizens contaminated water to drink. Citizens were rightly worried, as analysis of the water, obtained by CNN, noted an extraordinarily high amount of lead coming from the water taken from the Flint River. Complaints about the water were made as early as 2014. However, it took a class action lawsuit by four fami-
lies filed in November of 2015 for any action to happen. As a result, Michigan’s governor, Rick Snyder, declared a state of emergency, and Flint has since switched getting back to getting its water from Detroit until the new pipeline to Lake Huron is completed. However, these actions are both far too little and far too late. The contaminated water flowed into the homes of tax paying American citizens for over a year, and it took a lawsuit for the city to do anything about it. Such inaction is frankly sick and twisted. No one, especially in the United States of America, should be without a source of clean drinking water. When cutting corners to fit the need of a budget gets in the way of the safety and well-being of citizens, then perhaps a reexamination of priorities is in order. Though this happened in Michigan, it is not an isolated case of neglect and oversight on the part of local politicians. After the story of Flint became public knowledge, the town of St. Joseph, Louisiana came forward and showed that due to their aging water system, their water is just as bad as Flint. This only further cements the problems of negligence seen in
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CU SPORTS MARKETING CLASS LENDS SUPPORT TO LOCAL BUSINESS
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DEADPOOL: MERC WITH A MOUTH Tsivia Chonoles
The following article is a reprint from the last edition of the Concordian. The original print included a error in the title.
Undergraduate research can be one of the most challenging yet rewarding endeavors a college student can pursue; and at every university, in any discipline, there are those who prove to be especially outstanding in their fields. Some Concord University Geography students prove to be just that. Every year the Geography department takes students to the Southeastern meeting, where students can not only present their research, but also have the chance to meet with professionals in their fields of interest as well as to speak with and be recognized by graduate schools. “We introduced them [the students] to graduate school people from across the south and our students always make a good impression,” said Dr. Joseph Manzo. The
dents as well. There were professionals and professors presenting and giving talks as well, including Concord University’s own Dr. Tom Saladyga. “It was a unique experience for me as it was my first conference,” Testerman said of the meeting. “The talks that I was able to listen to were very informative. It was unique, as such, because everyone there was in some way associated with geography, so for the most part we were all at least somewhat like-minded. We has the opportunity to represent Concord, our geography department, and West Virginia when we competed in the geography bowl.” The overall top score, among both graduate and undergraduate students, for this season’s world geography bowl was also held by a Concord Student: Robert Jessee. Jessee now gets to go to San Francisco in March to compete with the Southeastern team.
“I extend my deepest gratitude to the CU geography department,” said Testerman, “without [this] wonderful geography project I wouldn’t have had such an amazing opportunity to both do my own research, but present and be recognized for my efforts.”
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hero protagonist beating up an SUV full of smugglers as the credits introduce the main cast as “God’s Perfect Idiot”, “A Hot Chick”, “A British Villain”, “A CGI Character”, and “A Moody Teen.” Interspersed with Deadpool’s initial face-off with his arch-enemy Francis Freeman a.k.a. Ajax, viewers are also told the story of Wade Wilson
Congratulations to the Concord University Department of Geography!
PLACONE
tions, all too often the focus is primarily and nearly exclusively on episodic reporting,” he said to the crowd, “where it should actually, arguably, be the opposite. It should be thematic, it should be on themes, it should be about policy ideas, but it’s episodic. Why? Because that’s more alluring for ratings.” He went on to discuss the key difference between the
way that Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders is running his Presidential campaign and the way that every other candidate is running their campaign: it is completely publicly funded. He has taken no donations from any large companies or corporations. “We are reaching the point where money in politics is slowly going to become a thing
of the past, and I contend that the media has already reached that crisis point,” Placone said. He said that there was no real breaking-point that led to less faith in the corporately-funded media, rather that it was something that gradually happened over time from the 80’s and 90’s and gaining steam from 2004 to now. Placone ended his discussion
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tempt to bolster their ratings rather than reporting on other newsworthy happenings at the time. Placone also discussed the media coverage seen during Presidential elections. “In elec-
Deadpool very quickly surpassed many box office records, including highest R-rated comic book movie of all time. Photo Courtesy of IMDB
by urging people to talk about the problems with the corporate media with friends and family, to question the messages given by the media rather than blindly accept them, and to get involved in trying to fix these problems. For more information about Placone you can visit his website, ronplacone.com.
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in Pennsylvania. “I’ve been interested in wildlife for my entire life,” Katie Testerman said when asked about the inspiration behind her project, which was completed as an independent study class. “When I was presented with the opportunity to study the effect fire had on a globally rare dwarf tree forest, I was interested in the effect it had on the wildlife of the area as well. I chose to study birds specifically because not only do they fly and perch, making them easier to identify them visually, they also call, so I could identify them by sound as well. Another factor in my decision was that many birds are quite reliant on trees and whatever effect fire had on the trees would have an effect on the bird species that lived there.” Attending the meeting were many graduate school representatives, graduate students, and other undergraduate stu-
Ryan Reynolds has, somehow, single-handedly redeemed 20th Century Fox…at least until the next X-Men movie comes out. Reader be warned: potential spoilers ahead. For those of you who have yet to find time to see Deadpool, feel free to skip to the very end of this review. As an avid Marvel Comics and Deadpool fan, I am happy to say that this movie met and exceeded my, admittedly lower-than-average, expectations. After their treatment of the character of Wade Wilson in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, I had lost all hope for any potential movie or series involving the character by Fox. Wade Wilson, a.k.a. Deadpool, is not a superhero by any definition of the word; if anything he is more of an anti-hero. Most importantly of all, Deadpool is commonly known by comic book fans as the Merc with a Mouth, and the Merc with a Mouth is not a child-friendly character. When Fox announced that they would be making Deadpool, there was much concern as to how they would be able to successfully capture all that Wade Wilson is in a movie with anything less than an R rating. So when it
out loud in a manner that has the other characters questioning who, exactly, he is talking to, and he regularly references things outside of the established movie-universe. At one point Wade requests to the people who are supposed to be healing his cancer that they not make the super-suit green, a reference to Ryan Reynolds’ previous stint in DC Comics’ Green Lantern. Later in the movie, Deadpool muses as to why we never see more than two X-Men despite the fact that the school for mutants is so large: “it’s almost like the studio couldn’t afford another X-Man,” he quips. Overall, if you don’t enjoy graphic violence, sex, nudity, foul language, and raunchy jokes, then Deadpool may not be the movie for you. For avid fans who enjoy all of that, Deadpool was absolutely delightful to watch; the never-ending jokes were both entertaining and honest, and the characters were immensely enjoyable (including Stan Lee’s usual Marvel movie cameo). It’s neither a superhero movie nor a comedy; Deadpool is his own genre, but if I had to pick an already established one, then I would say that, at its heart, Deadpool is an action-packed romance that is decidedly NOT child- or family-friendly.
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GEOGRAPHY PROGRAM CONTINUES TO BE COMPETITIVE meeting, which is an opportunity to meet representatives for graduate schools and compete in poster competitions and the world geography bowl, moves around each year, and last semester it was held in Pensacola, Florida. “We took about thirteen students, I think,” said Manzo, “and several of them made presentations, but two of them swept their categories.” Those two students were Elisa Sperandio and Katie Testerman. Elisa Sperandio presented a human geography project titled “Life Through the Eyes of the ‘Invader’: A Case Study of Immigration in the DüsseldorfEssen”, for which she conducted field work in Germany. Katie Testerman presented a physical geography project titled “Fire History and Avian Species Composition in a Ridgetop Dwarf-Tree Forest”, for which she conducted field research on Spring Mountain
was finally revealed that Deadpool would indeed be given an R rating, many fans breathed a sigh of relief. And I am happy to confirm that Deadpool earned every second of its rating. The movie does an excellent job of introducing the audience to the feel of the movie with a slow-motion panning of a frozen scene of our anti-
A&E/Student Life Editor
“Concord Geology Puts Athens on the Map” should have read “Concord Geography Puts Athens on the Map”. I apologize for any confusion. Patrice Mitchell, News/Opinions Editor
Tsivia Chonoles
through flashbacks: where he worked, how he met the love of his life and their (somewhat dysfunctional and extremely sexual) relationship, and how he became the super-not-ahero Deadpool. The movie follows Wade as he copes with the discovery of his late-stage cancer by volunteering for an experimental treatment performed by a shady, underground organization that claims to be able to cure him. His cure, however, comes at the price of disfigurement across his entire body, and the movie then follows Wade as he works through the ranks of this organization in an attempt to track down Francis, who was head of the organization and told Wade that he could heal his disfigurement. In the process, the movie does not fail to take full advantage of the classic Hollywood action film cliché of the “damsel-indistress,” by turning Wade’s fiancée into a target. While the story is unerringly predictable, the movie itself is fresh and inventive. The best thing about the movie is how true-to-character the movie is able to keep Wade Wilson. We see Wade regularly do the thing that he is arguably most well-known for in the comics: break the fourth wall. He directly addresses the audience
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ArTs And EnTErTAinmEnT “THEY CALL ME Q” COMES TO CU Christian Pridemore
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Kadwani presented her one-woman show about overcoming adversity to inspire and encourage Concord students. Photo Courtesy of theycallmeqshow.com strict father, to the friends that were both helpful and harmful to her individuality. Kadwani also drives home the engaging message of being an independent person from what parents and others expect her to be, while still being able to call upon her family in times where she feels lost or confused as to what to do. The overall message of the play resonates as being one of self acceptance,
where Kadwani finds herself going back and forth from India to America to better get in touch with her culture and find out who she is as a person. “They Call Me Q” has won several awards, including Best Play from Maui Onstage in 2013 and an Assemblyman Award from the state of New York in 2014, and Kadwani herself has won the title of Best Actress from the Variations
RON PLACONE RETURNS TO CONCORD Tsivia Chonoles
A&E/Student Life Editor Concord University received a visit last week from familiar comedian Ron Placone, no stranger to our campus. Placone’s visit this time was a slight departure from what most students expect when attending a comedian. His show was geared in particular towards the upcoming Presidential election and the problems with corporate media. Placone presented a witty and
engaging commentary about the problems with American media today, dating back to the 1996 media deregulation. He opened by talking about how media is not simply television or other news outlets; media includes everything from the billboards and advertisements we see on a day-to-day basis. “Because media is so powerful it has the ability to manipulate messages,” Placone said in his talk. He explained how he first became interested in the study of the media with
the way that they discussed and presented the Iraq War. He discussed the main problems with the media: its lack of ownership diversity, and the profit-oriented business model the media follows. “The media caters to its advertisers,” he explained. American media outlets are owned by a small elite group of corporations, which makes our media a corporate one, and not a mainstream one. This was made possible by the Telecommunications Act of 1996,
which allowed corporations to own more than the previously allotted media outlets. He compared this Act to the failed attack on net neutrality, although net neutrality had a better outcome, when a few large cable companies took the FCC to court over their desire to make the internet work the same way that cable television works, forcing people to pay more for speedy internet service. Placone explained sponsored content and the use of “God-
terms” and “devil-terms” in the media to help sway the opinions of viewers. Certain terms are commonly used in news and advertisements to portray things positively or negatively to the viewers. When addressing the profitoriented business model, he brought up the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 and how news stations such as CNN use such events in atSEE PLACONE, P. 9
James Hoyle
Staff Writer Relay For Life of Concord University will be hosting a rave on Tuesday, March 1. This the next step for the group’s efforts to not only inform students that the Relay For Life is active on campus, but also to inform people of what exactly Relay For Life is all about. For those that are unaware, Relay For Life is one of many events sponsored by the American Cancer Society in an effort to raise awareness of cancer as well as raise money
for cancer research. According to the event’s official website, Relay For Life is as much about remembrance as it is looking for a cure for a disease that has already claimed too many lives, hence why much of the Relay is all about remembering those that did not survive their battle with cancer with laps dedicated to their memory. All funds raised by Relay For Life benefit those with cancer. The funds provide help, such as assistance with medications and procedures that can help put cancer in remission. Relay For Life has occurred in more
than 5,200 communities across 200 countries, including places as varied as Australia, Canada, Belgium, Guatemala, South Africa, The Philippines, Portugal, and Zambia, and has been able to help 14 million people with their cancer. With all of these Relays, Relay For Life is able to raise over 400 million dollars a year, and has raised over 5 billion dollars since its start in 1985. Concord University is hoping to add to that. According to Brittany Strother, Director of Relay For Life of Concord University,
students will have the option to come to the event for free and have the chance to win different small prizes, or they can register for Relay For Life to be entered into a raffle to win the grand prize, a $100 Visa gift card. All the proceeds from this rave will go directly to Concord University’s Relay For Life. “We’re going to have music, food, all kinds of fun stuff for students to do. It’s better than just sitting in your room doing nothing on a Tuesday night.” Strother said. The idea came to the orga-
nization only a few weeks ago, and has been in the works ever since that time. Strother hopes everyone that can show up will show up. “The more people that come, the more fun we can have.” Any and all donations will be accepted, and everyone will be welcome. “I hope we raise a considerable donation for Relay, but more importantly I hope we can educate the Concord community about Relay and encourage more people to get involved. It’s really a good time as long as people give it a chance!”
CREATING A CULTURE OF CIVILITY AND RESPECT Marjie Flanigan
Student Affairs Over the past several years, Concord University has joined campuses nationwide in a movement to promote civility at the college level. The CU Chooses Civility Campaign was launched in 2012 to bring awareness to the issue and to promote good citizenship. Demonstrating civility includes being polite, respectful, and courteous. Basically, creating a culture of respect means following the Golden Rule: “Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you,” or, “Treat others as you would like to be treated.” However simplistic it seems, the Golden Rule is an excellent way to behave. The lack of civility is not confined to college campuses. According to Weber Shandwick and Powell Tate’s (2013) “Ci-
vility in America,” Americans encounter incivility an average of 17.1 times in a 7-day week. Additionally, 95% of those surveyed believe America has a civility problem and 70% think incivility has risen to crisis levels. If we are to combat this incivility and nurture a culture of respect, we must be consciously aware of our actions. Actions that promote civility include: - Model behavior you would like from others. - Genuinely say please and thank you. - Focus on others’ needs. - Be intentional with communication. Practice listening skills. - Accept that disagreement will exist in your life. Express conflict in a healthy manner by focusing on the behavior and not the person. - Appreciate diversity. - Be aware of your tone of
voice. Also, consider how email, social media, etc. lack a tone of voice to help convey meaning. - Have difficult conversations in person or over the phone (see previous tip). - Do not act before gaining all facts in a situation. Avoid making assumptions. - Recognize others’ contributions to projects. - Understand your natural reactions and manage them with more respectful responses instead of reacting impulsively. - Avoid gossip and complaining. If you perceive someone’s behaviors to be uncivil, first consider your own judgments and assumptions in the situation. If you still believe you should address the situation once you have objectively considered the behavior, The University of Missouri suggests a three-step approach:
- First, think about when to approach the person. At that moment? In private? Over lunch? Once emotions have diffused? - Second, formulate your words. Show concern for your relationship and demonstrate respect. - Third, be assertive but be ready to hear a different view or for him/her to become defensive. Concord University desires all university community members, including faculty, staff, and students to demonstrate civility in everyday acts. With the aforementioned tools, our traditional culture of civility can be preserved.
“If we lose love and self-respect for each other, this is how we finally die.” Maya Angelou
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We all look for answers to fundamental questions about who we are and what defines us as individuals and even as groups of individuals. One such inspiring story came to Concord University on February 16, 2016 in the form of a young Indian-American woman straight out of the Bronx who tells a story of soul searching and self-acceptance. “They Call Me Q” is the story of Quarrat Ann Kadwani, or as she better refers to herself throughout most parts of the play, “Q”. Kadwani’s play describes her journey through life, starting from grade school going almost to the present day. In this one-woman play, Kadwani herself portrays thirteen characters along with herself, including both her parents, friends, bullies, and even strangers. Kadwani quickly got the audience sympathizing with the all-too relatable characters, from the forever worrisome mother and
answer session after every show in order to get the audience’s opinions and interpretations. In the Q&A after her show at Concord, Kadwani stated that she wanted to send the message that no matter your ethnicity, we all go through tough times, and it was these times for her that became this awardwinning play. The timing of this play in today’s world has had an impactful message against racist ideas such as Islamophobia, which was one of the topics brought up after the show. Kadwani stated that she believes that our world is in a transition period, and talked about how the general public is becoming more aware of the struggle by other ethnicities to overcome adversity, which was another overlying theme throughout the play. Kadwani says that every time she performs the play, she not only understands her parents and friends better, but she understands herself better as well. For more information about Kadwani and her play, go to theycallmeqshow.com.
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Theater in 2012. However, that’s not all Kadwani is known for doing. In addition to being the first South Asian female to have a show produced off Broadway, Kadwani’s biography on the website for her play, theycallmeqshow.com, states that she also teaches private classes in solo play creation and other points of theater performance, and has made several television appearances in shows such as “The Blacklist” and “Falling Water.” Kadwani also coordinates an annual philanthropic project titled “A Slice of Hope” and has been the MC for several different events for non-profit organizations such as World Women’s Global Council at the United Nations, Asha for Education, and SOS Children’s Villages India. Kadwani’s inspiration to become an actress and playwright has led her to do some amazing things, but the true source of her inspiration comes from Kadwani’s overall message. Kadwani makes it a tradition of holding a question and
RELAY FOR LIFE RAVE: COMING SOON
Feb. 25th 2016, Page 6 the CONCOrdiAN
Feb. 25th 2016, Page 7 the CONCOrdiAN
sTudEnT LifE
ArTs & EnTErTAinmEnT
ANNUAL ALTERNATIVE SPRING BREAK Tsivia Chonoles
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This year, students will return to Asheville to do more community service projects. Photo Courtesy of Hannah Finkey service. Last year, students on the alternative Spring Break trip worked with the Asheville GreenWorks to assist with river cleanup by helping to
clear out invasive plant species, and Finkey said that although there is not yet a set itinerary, this year they are hoping to work with the homeless or with
a food pantry. “There’s sight-seeing in Asheville too,” Finkey said, “Honestly we always have a really great time.” The alterna-
STUDENTS: A CHANCE TO LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD Dr. Susan Robinett
Director of Assessment On February 9, 2016, Concord University’s first-year freshmen and graduating seniors received an invitation email encouraging them to participate in the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). The NSSE is a widely-used national survey to measure students’ engagement in their academics, both in and out of the classroom. Information gathered through the NSSE, will provide CU with valuable input from YOU for the continuous improvement of the overall educational experience at Concord and what you think
is most important in your college experience. If you have not completed the survey, there is still time! By participating in this short survey, you can make a difference in your Concord experience, and future students’ experiences at Concord. Individual responses to the NSSE are confidential and only the overall group results are reported to show how CU compares to other institutions participating in the survey project. Group results are also very important information that University officials can consider in the decision making process. In appreciation for participating, students who complete
the survey by March 9, 2016, will be automatically entered in a random drawing for a chance to win one of a variety of prizes. Prizes include a 32” Flat Screen TV (worth $200), a $250 gift card to the University Book Store, a $100 gift card to the University Book Store, or one of eleven $50 gift cards to the University Book Store. For more information on the NSSE, visit their website at www.nsse.iub.edu or contact Dr. Susan Robinett, University Director of Assessment, at extension 5321 or by email at robinett@concord.edu Check your email for your invitation and reminders, and help make a difference.
Don’t forget about Concord Color Fridays! Show your Mountain Lion pride by wearing your favorite maroon and gray Concord gear!
Staff Writer On Wednesday, February 17, Concord University’s Black Student Union showed the film “Fruitvale Station.” Pizza and soda was also served, and an open forum where everyone could discuss what they thought of the film followed the showing. “Fruitvale Station” tells the story of the last 12 hours of the life of Oscar Grant, an African American living in Oakland, California, whose death at the hands of police officers was recorded and seen by the general populace. Grant was 22 years old when he died on New Year’s Day, 2009. On the way back from a New Year’s Party, Grant and a few of his friends were involved in an altercation on a subway. Though they were not the ones that threw the first punch, police officers nonetheless detained Grant and his friends at Fruitvale Station. Grant was shot when police officer Johannes Mehserle mistook Grant pleading his innocence for resisting arrest. He was wrestled to the ground when Officer Mehserle shouted, “Stand back, I’m going to tase him.” Mehserle mistook his gun for his taser and shot Grant in the back. He was taken to the hospital, where he died from internal bleeding the next morning. Officer Mehserle was arrested
and was charged with involuntary manslaughter along with charges of second-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter. On July 8, 2010, he was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and found not guilty of the other two charges. He was sentenced to two years in prison and was released on parole after serving just 11 months in jail. A civil liberties investigation was opened up against Officer Mehserle on July 9, 2010 by the U.S Department of Justice, as Mehserle can be charged with the same crime again since the federal government can charge someone independently under the exception of double jeopardy, a defense where someone cannot be tried for the same crime twice if found not guilty. As of 2016, no move has been made to do so. Following the court’s decision, looting and riots occurred throughout Oakland, demanding justice. Nearly 80 people were arrested during those riots. Grant’s death was significant in that it was not only one of the first instances of police brutality uploaded and seen in the age of the internet, it was also a sign of things to come. The modern day “Black Lives Matter” movement began because of killings like that of Oscar Grant, and though his death came just a few years shy of the real start of that move-
Fruitvale Station is a potent display of the struggles faced by many black Americans. Photo Courtesy of IMDB ment, it nonetheless inspired many to action. The film’s depiction of the events tries to be as emotionally effective as possible while at the same time tries to portray its characters as humanly as possible. We see Oscar go through
his struggles of trying to raise a daughter whose mother he is not married to, trying to make ends meet when he can’t find his way to gainful employment, and his difficulties coping with having a criminal record. The film shows Grant in a positive
light overall. However, it also shows him to be confused, quick to anger when backed into a corner, and it shows him lying to everyone, most of all to himself. At the same time, while the police in the film are depicted as tyrannical and quick to anger as well, they also show genuine horror, fear, and disgust for what they do in the film. Officer Mehserle is even shown trying to help Grant after he shot him. The film’s purpose is to not be propaganda for either side of the argument. Rather, it is an honest attempt to tell a story that needs to be told. To that end, during the film discussion, the leaders of the Black Student Union tried to explain that just because someone has a criminal record, it does not necessarily make them awful or even evil people. There are always justifications for everything a person does. The counter-arguments are often drowned out in a haze of rhetoric and political correctness that obscures what is true. The discussion tried to be informative and to teach about the plight of black men and women in this country. During Black History Month, such a discussion could not be more apt. “Fruitvale Station” is available for streaming on Netflix.
The First Amendment Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
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With Spring Break coming up fast, so too is Concord University’s alternative Spring Break trip. This year, the group will once again be traveling to Asheville, North Carolina. “I’m not sure exactly what we’re going to be doing this year,” said Hannah Finkey, organizer of the trip, “But we always do some sort of service. We stay with the Blueridge Assembly, they work with the YMCA down there.” For the past few years, Concord has been working with the Timothy Project, an organization connecting college campuses and other groups looking to do community service and helping to organize the community
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tive Spring Break trip is open to all Concord Students, however the trip only has twelve open seats so it is first-come-firstserve. People are currently wait-listed for this semester’s upcoming trip. “It was a great experience working in Asheville,” said Austin Wickline, a Concord University student who went on last year’s trip, “I had been on many service trips before but this one was like no other. We waded through the river picking up trash which was very different than what I’ve done in the past. However it was fun and a rewarding experience. It was also fun meeting new people from Concord who I had never met before.”
BSU OPENS DIALOGUE WITH FILM