September 3rd, 2015
Volume LXXXV No. 2
LIFESAVING TRAINING: A.L.I.C.E COMES TO CU Briana Gunter
most cases, the shooter only has important factor in being able Staff Writer one goal: kill as many people as to make rational, effective dethey can. Most active shooters cisions that could save lives if Alert, Lockdown, Inform, don’t actually plan on leaving executed properly. Counter, Evacuate; knowing the premises alive, so they really The “alert” step is when one those terms and the steps that go along with them may end up saving a life one day. The A.L.I.C.E. training program is an active shooter training program that law enforcement officers as well as civilians are being trained in. All Concord University officers have been trained in the A.L.I.C.E. program. Sergeant Terry Moulder with the Concord University Police Department recently led a presentation that went over the basics of how a person should react in an emergency using the A.L.I.C.E. program. Moulder emphasized that a person doesn’t have to follow each step of A.L.I.C.E. in order. Throughout the presentation, Students across the nation take part in A.L.I.C.E training he used the example of an to defend against potential school and public shootings. active shooter on campus and Photo Courtesy of waghostwriter.com went through the steps of what to do in that situation. One thing to remember, however have nothing to lose. Knowing is first aware of the emergency. morbid it may seem, is that in the aggressor’s intentions is an If there were to be a shooter on
Sept. 3-9
campus, the alert stage would kick in once the initial gunshot was heard. This stage is over almost as fast as it starts. The “lockdown” step consists of making sure people in the safest place they can possibly be in an emergency situation. Many high schools have drills where they teach students that if a shooter were to enter the school, the best thing to do is lock the door, hide under the desks, and wait. Contrastingly, Moulder urged against this. Hiding under a desk puts a person in a vulnerable position and makes self-defense significantly more challenging. Instead, make sure the door is secure. Even if it’s locked, block the door with desks, tie something to the handles or door knob to keep it from being opened from the outside, put a door stop in front of it, or anything else that would slow a person from entering the room. The “I” in A.L.I.C.E. stands for “inform.” Inform covers
This Week’s Local Forecast
SEE A.L.I.C.E, P. 2 Weather Trivia What is the largest size a raindrop can be?
Thursday
Few T-storms 82/62
Precip Chance: 30%
Friday
Scat’d T-storms 84/63 Precip Chance: 40%
Saturday
Few Showers 79/61
Precip Chance: 30%
Sunday
Few T-storms 80/60
Precip Chance: 30%
Monday
Partly Cloudy 80/59
Precip Chance: 10%
News:
Tuesday
Wednesday
Precip Chance: 30%
Precip Chance: 20%
Few T-storms 78/56
Mostly Sunny 82/58
?
Answer: A quarter inch because air friction breaks it up if it is larger.
Athens 7-Day Forecast
This Edition
www.WhatsOurWeather.com
• Lifesaving Training: A.L.I.C.E. Comes to CU • Swinging for the Fences: CU Intramurals Expands • Another Step Towards Equality: Unisex Bathrooms Come to CU
Student Life:
• Women’s SelfDefense Comes to Princeton Public Library • Not Done Yet: CU Accessibility Continues to Need Work • A Lot on the Way: Student Activities’ Packed 2015-16 Schedule • Blood Drive Draws Crowd • A Roaring Good Time: Film Society Starts off with Godzilla
Opinion
• How Do I Freshman? 11 Tips to Get You Through That First Year
Sept. 3rd 2015, Page 2 The Concordian
News
SWINGING FOR THE FENCES: CU INTRAMURALS EXPANDS Tyler Jackson Staff Writer Every year, the Director of Intramurals, Chris Smallwood, puts together intramural sports for everyone in the surrounding community to be a part of and enjoy. This year, Smallwood has added even more to a lineup of activities that are among the most favorable on campus. Before this school year, Concord has hosted many intramural sports, such as flag football, indoor soccer, five-onfive basketball, and volleyball, but intramurals have been such a home run over the last few years that Smallwood decided to try softball and it has been an overwhelming success. Smallwood, who has worked for Concord for over four years
now, said when he tried to start intramural softball his first year on the campus beautiful, it didn’t work out so well. “When I first started intramurals we tried doing softball for our first sport and only about nine people showed up, and that was enough for just one team, and as intramurals has grown over the years and we’ve been able to gain access to the softball field, as the coach has been gracious enough to let us use the field as long as we follow her rules,” he explained. Smallwood went on to talk about how intramurals are beneficial to students by stating that it gives the students a chance to get out of their rooms and play some of the sports they had the opportunity to play in high school.
“It’s an environment where students can interact with each other and faculty, they can meet alumni. Even the county commissioner comes out and plays five-on-five, and we sometimes allow students from other schools. It just creates a community-type deal and all of the students get to interact with all of these other people.” Despite all of the fun that comes with intramurals, Smallwood says that just as much work comes with it. He likened intramural basketball to an adults league, stating that CU intramural basketball has 37 teams divided into four divisions, and it often requires ten or more hours a day between that and running the fitness center and pool. When asked what sports
Smallwood would like to add to the yearly intramural slate, he stated golf and bowling would be ones he would like to add, but noted the challenges that those sports face. “If I could get equipment or get Pipestem to cooperate then golf would be one we could try while another sport is going on. With a school our size, it’s harder to have two sports going on at once because a lot of the people who play one sport also play another, and if we do two at the same time it could detract from both sports. Bowling would require us to travel which raises liability issues and it’s harder to have events off of campus. A lot of the student population isn’t as big as it is at other schools where you have 28,000 undergraduates, but if
we had some facilities that my staff and I could run it would help. We could have intramurals like racquetball or indoor tennis, and longer seasons, even tournaments throughout the year.” For any student of Concord or any surrounding higher education school that meets the qualifications for each individual sport, check out the intramurals that Smallwood and his team have put together by emailing him at smallwood@concord. edu and find CU intramurals on Twitter by following @curecreation and on Instagram by following @cu_intramurals, for all of your campus intramural scores and highlights.
A.L.I.C.E FROM PAGE 1
gathering any information about the hypothetical shooter: their location, how many weapons they have, anything that’s going to give the victims the advantage. The more information that can be gathered, the better, as it will help in the following steps in the A.L.I.C.E. program. The “counter” stage is probably the most frightening and longest of any other stage. Counter is when and if the shooter comes into contact with the victims. As Moulder said, most active shooters plan on dying during these shootings,
so one of the worst things one can do is to try and negotiate with the shooter or talk them out of it, because chances are, they’ve already made up their mind. If a shooter enters the room, don’t hide, throw whatever is available hand to distract them. As they’re distracted, take that time to try and engage the shooter and disarm them. Of course, this works better if there are several people trying to engage the shooter. Once the shooter is disarmed, Moulder encourages the victims to do whatever they believe is necessary to make themselves feel
safe, even if it means shooting the person. He says “better to be tried by 12 than carried by 6,” referring to the idea that a self-defense trial is much more appealing than a funeral. Once the shooter is dealt with, get rid of the weapon and wait for police to arrive. “Evacuate.” If at all possible, evacuate the building before ever coming into contact with the shooter. If evacuation is successful, don’t try driving away, because chances are, you’ll get stuck in traffic since everyone else likely had the same first thought. Instead, leave on foot,
either into the woods or into ally be able to put the A.L.I.C.E. town depending on location program into action. and situation. One of the most important things to remember, as Moulder put it, is to “go into this thing Interested in knowing you’re going to win.” learning more about If one begins an encounter with A.L.I.C.E? the mind-set that physical harm or death is inevitable, they won’t For more information, be in the right mind-set to make contact the Concord the appropriate decisions to University Police save their lives. Department at (304) Concord University Police 384-5357, or in case are planning on setting up a of an emergency, call live practical simulation on (304)-384-9334. campus within the next month or so where students will actu-
Sept. 3rd 2015, Page 3 The Concordian
News
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ANOTHER STEP TOWARDS EQUALITY: GENDER NEUTRAL BATHROOMS COME TO CU James Hoyle Staff Writer Returning students to Concord University may have noticed a subtle but significant change to the campus interior. For many years now, the school has had unisex restrooms for the comfort and convenience of students and visitors. However, after some deliberation and research, Rick Dillon, Vice President and Associate Dean of Students Rick Dillon decided that a change was needed. So, the signs on the unisex restrooms have now been replaced with “gender neutral” restroom signs. In an official statement from the University, President Kendra Boggess said, “The eight designated ‘All Gender Restrooms’ on campus are single toilet facilities open for anyone to use. The restrooms are considered ‘unisex’ facilities and the signage is an attempt to inform our campus community of the change. Under the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety
and Health Administration guidelines, agencies are encouraged to provide unisex, singleuser restrooms when feasible to maximize comfort and access for everyone without discrimination. Concord University’s primary responsibility is to our students by providing them with a quality education in a safe environment.” When asked about why this change was enacted at this time as opposed to sooner or later and what research went into making this decision, Dillon declined to comment. In any case, only the signs outside of the eight restrooms were changed. The actual restrooms themselves remain intact. So what has essentially changed really is the tone and rhetoric coming from the school itself, and with this shift, Concord seems to be making steps towards what can be considered a modern world view. As for the signs themselves, they depict a man, a woman, and a person in a partial dress, and are up in places where anyone can read
them, as per the requirements for such signs. Thus far, student responses to the change seem overwhelmingly positive. In a recent Facebook post, Concord alumnus Caroline Hachem stated, “I’m so proud of Concord!! This is such an innovation, especially considering our locale! Slowly but surely, we’re becoming a more accepting campus for every form of humanity. Way to go, Concord!” Local resident and student Amanda Naylor more or less agreed with Ms. Hachem’s statement, “The bathrooms have always been open for anyone to use. This semester, we simply put up a sign declaring solidarity for the LGBT community while leaving things just as they always were. Anyone who is upset by this has either never been on our campus, or is foaming at the mouth to be offended and outraged by something.” This change has not gone without criticism in some circles, not because of the signs
themselves, but that the changes do not go far enough. Jon Lloyd, a senior and commuter, said, “the changes Concord University made to the bathrooms was an excellent idea. Now if they could address the handicap issues on campus too, I’d be very happy.” It would appear that students are very supportive of this new change, but wish that more can be done about the difficulty some handicapped students might have in reaching these restrooms. With this slight but ever so important change, Concord University has taken a step to be more inclusive to students from all walks of life. In a recent article for the Princeton Times, written by Sara Cameron, Rick Dillon said, “We will always think about gender-neutral, as we move forward. I think we are getting ahead of the game, as the country moves forward in LGBTQ rights.” One can only hope Concord rises up to the challenge of its rivals as the ever-present march of time
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!
Sept. 3rd 2015, Page 4 The Concordian
Student Life
WOMEN’S SELF-DEFENSE HITS THE PRINCETON PUBLIC LIBRARY Haley McCord
Staff Writer On Saturday, August 29, the Princeton Public Library provided a free Introduction to Ladies Self Defense class from 11:00 to 12:30, available to anyone from age of sixteen and up. The class was administered by Chief Deputy Darrell B. Bailey of the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department. Bailey has 32 years of law enforcement experience, 42 years of martial arts experience and is certi-
fied in police defensive tactics; Bailey is also an Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate instructor and has received a black belt. During the presentation, Bailey explained several different scenarios in which a person may be attacked and how to avoid the attack, but also what to do if one is attacked. Attendees were encouraged to grab a partner and try the moves on one another to gain experience. After the group loosened up, Bailey gave demonstrations on some of the ladies and explained
what to do if an attacker comes from all angles and further discussed what to do if an attacker gains control of the neck. Bailey provided handouts with thirtysix self-protection tips for all the attendees to take with them after the presentation along with emergency whistles accented with a compass and red pointer light. When asked why he decided to give these classes, Bailey responded with “For several years, I’ve taught martial arts, which is a traditional class,
but everybody can’t do that; some people have time restrains and physical restrictions. So, I started teaching woman’s self-defense through the Mercer County Board of Education and had a great response [from women] for several years. I’ve had several requests [to give classes] to colleges like Concord, Valley College, Blue-
...Refuse to be anyone’s victim. Ever.” -Chief Deputy Darrell B. Bailey, Mercer County Sheriff’s Dept. SEE SELF-DEFENSE, P. 5
NOT DONE YET: CU ACCESSIBILITY CONTINUES TO NEED WORK Haley McCord
Staff Writer As several new adjustments have been made to the Campus Beautiful in order to create a more pleasant and suitable environment, such as gender neutral bathrooms, the upcoming renovations of both North and South Towers, and extended visitation hours for those living in dorms, many students and faculty members feel that Concord has failed to fully recognize those with handicaps. While Concord has taken baby steps to ensure that all students are given the same opportunities, no matter the situation, several areas on campus would benefit from updates to be more accessible for those with handicaps. From the apparent inaccessibility of Woodell Hall to the multitude
of broken handicapped door openers, the Campus Beautiful is not looking so beautiful to everyone. After exploring the campus and speaking with several students and faculty members about the existing issues, the outrage seems to be more apparent now than ever – beginning with the bathrooms. While the gender-neutral bathrooms are an appreciable addition to the well-rounded campus, the bathrooms can be embarrassing and frustrating for those using wheelchairs or crutches. The Fine Arts Building is the perfect example; not all of these bathrooms are easily accessible. Professor Lindsey Akers, Instructor of Communication Arts, is heated about the topic. After suffering a severe anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, tear in one of her knees and being
confined to a wheelchair for six months or longer, she frankly says, “The toilet paper dispenser sits too close to the ground to be easily accessible to anyone in a wheel-chair. It is an extreme hassle.” Another thing that has angered several students is the inaccessibility of Woodell Hall. Woodell Hall seems to be completely inaccessible; steps leading up and into every door prevent anyone using a wheelchair from entering without proper assistance. This would force anyone with a disability to live in South Tower, which is located significantly farther away from academic halls and the Student Center. Taking into account that the trek from the Towers to the rest of campus is only wheelchair accessible via treacherously steep ramps and sidewalks, this puts added
stress on handicapped students trying to live on campus. The library is another daunting task for anyone unable to climb stairs. From the front, it’s completely inaccessible because there is no ramp. Those using a wheelchair must enter through the basement side door and take the elevator up to the first floor, which can take quite some time. Imagine always going the long way to class, traveling halfway across campus to find an accessible bathroom, wheeling alongside the road because there is not a sidewalk and struggling to open a door while sitting down because the handicap door button will not work. Most of us do not have to face these struggles daily, but some of us do and it’s important to acknowledge everyone. It’s not only Concord’s handicapped population that
is voicing concerns about the accessibility of campus. Junior Kayla Harrison says “Fix the sidewalks and maybe make Wilson Hall more handicap accessible. Without a ramp or public access elevator, people are forced to live in Towers [if the first floor is at capacity] and they may not want to.” College can be stressful enough with exams, homework, projects, and extracurricular activities. It’s unfortunate that Concord’s handicapped population has to endure the added stress of a difficult campus. Luckily, none of the aforementioned problems are not able to be fixed. With the right effort and the right resources, the Campus Beautiful can become more beautiful for every Mountain Lion.
Sept. 3rd 2015, Page 5 The Concordian
Student Life
A LOT ON THE WAY: STUDENT ACTIVITIES 2015-16 SCHEDULE PACKED Peggy Ballengee
Staff Writer Last week, campus was abuzz an ensemble of electro-rock jazz flowing from the football field, accompanied by the excited cheers of the Concord community. That would be The Stunt ARMY, a free-style motorbike group, making a riproaring spectacle in the commuter parking lot on Wednesday, August 26. In attendance was Andrew Sulgit, Director of Student activities, and the one who managed to put it all together. He remarks that this is just the beginning of what will be a very exciting semester of campus entertainment. “Most [events] are still in the making,” said Sulgit, “but we already have several ideas that are being planned for the upcoming weeks here at Concord.”
In the first two weeks of the semester, Concord has already been the proud host of comedian, Corey Rodrigues, provided a free viewing of Furious 7, and hosted live mixed music by DJs Late Night and Matt Harvey. Fortunately for the Campus Beautiful, many more exiting events are still to come. Within the next few weeks, Sulgit lists the band My Only Safe Haven, “formerly known as Safe Haven,” he adds, “sortof a power pop-punk band. Imagine Paramore meeting Blink 182.” Performer Paul Louis, most commonly known on campus as ‘The Balloon Man’ will be making an appearance. Other fun student events include a discount movie ticket sale by Marquee Cinemas, and even a talent show with fabulous prizes. Events are generally scheduled on Wednesdays,
and most can be found near the Student Center. Locations are, however, dependent on the activity. Sulgit emphasizes that as the semester continues there will be even more events for the students, especially in regards to Homecoming week. “Naturally, we go all-out for homecoming: black light bingo has always been especially popular as an opening. I never really imagined that a bunch of college students would be so excited to play bingo, of all things, but it’s gotten some high praise.” He mentions that, along with the annual Homecoming Parade, there will also be a bonfire night for students, “We plan on having the Ohio Burn Unit go to the bonfire. Their shows usually include fire-juggling, fire-breathing, and fireeating.” Sulgit also expressed
interest in hosting a free performance by Cody Wickline, a musician out of Beckley and contestant on season eight of “The Voice”. On a wider timeline, Sulgit is still arranging plans. “We generally have activities scheduled year-round, and will be having sign-ups soon for the Halloween trip to Carrowinds, or ‘Scarrowinds’.” He mentions scheduled transportation later in the season to Charleston, allowing students to attend the “CU versus UC” football game. Even further yet, next spring, Sulgit hopes to have a performance by Who’s Bad, the most renowned and longest-running Michael Jackson tribute group. The musicians cover nearly all aspects of MJ’s musical career, paying homage to everything from the Jackson Five to the later styles of “Billie Jean” and
SELF-DEFENSE FROM PAGE 4
field State and recently The Elks. The word is getting out! I’m glad to do it when I can.” Anyone can take the class! It is one-hundred percent free and the information may save your life: “It’s not a long detailed class, but of course, the more training you have – the better you are…” and “the more you practice, the more it becomes second nature” says Bailey. A few self-protection tips from the list given to everyone by Bailey were: “Keep your back straight, chest out, chin level and be mindful of your surroundings. Make eye contact, speak firmly
and clearly. In other words, don’t look and act like a victim! Always trust your gut feelings. If someone or something does not seem right, it’s NOT right. If you are walking and think you are being followed, turn your head and make eye contact to let the person know you are aware and can identify them. As soon as possible, change directions. If you are still being followed, go toward people or open businesses. There are no rules during a sudden vicious attack or rape. To help stay calm, breathe in through the nose and out
through the mouth. If you are in an area that you are not familiar with, give the impression that you know exactly where you are, where you are going and you are not concerned.” There will be another class September 26 administered by Advantage Martial Arts in the same location. The class is free and will address what to do if a victim finds themselves in a ground struggle with their attacker. In order to register for the class, call the Princeton Public Library at 304-487-5045. Chief Deputy Bailey says that if his students remember any-
thing at all from his classes, it should be: “Don’t look like a victim and refuse to be anyone’s victim. Ever.”
Right: Chief Deputy Bailey demonstrates how to escape an arm hold by a potential attacker. Photo By: Haley McCord
“Human Nature.” One of the most important aspects of event planning for Sulgit is the campus interest in the programs. “While it’s usually a mix of who will contact who when making these plans, I always try to remember events that were successful in the student body and bring them back in the following year.” Feedback is not unwelcome with the Director of Student activities, either: “If you quote me on anything, let people know that my door is always open for events and activities. As long as it’s reasonable and within campus budget, I’ll try to make it happen.” Sulgit maintains that he is a supporter of the local arts and performers, and always looking for ways to improve the Campus Beautiful experience.
Sept. 3rd 2015, Page 6 The Concordian
Student Life
BLOOD DRIVE DRAWS CROWD James Hoyle Staff Writer Well ladies and gentlemen, it happened once again. The blood-suckers came and drained students of their much needed resources. No, not student loans, the Red Cross Blood Drive that occurs at least once a semester every year on campus. The event itself occurred on Thursday, August 27, and lasted all afternoon. Students could either set up an appointment to give beforehand or could have just as easily walked in and donated that way. The Red Cross attempts to make the process easy for those wishing to donate. While the actual donation itself may be a bit too much for
some to handle (those with a fear of needles need not apply), the work that the Red Cross does is absolutely necessary for medical purposes. According to the Red Cross’s official website, every 2 seconds, someone in the United is need of blood. One pint of blood, just one donation, can potentially save up to three lives. On top of that, five million people in this country every year are in a desperate need of blood. Most importantly, blood cannot be manufactured. Eligible volunteers are the only source of blood for those that need it. Unfortunately, only 38 percent of the population of the United States of America is eligible to donate blood. Therefore, when the Red Cross says they are in a constant
need for blood, they are incredibly serious. So, if helping fellow human beings and potentially saving them from certain death is not enough reason to consider donating, there are plenty of reasons to donate blood that will benefit your health. In an article on news.health.com entitled “4 Unexpected Benefits of Donating Blood,” writer Rachel Swalin explains some of of the personal appeals of blood donation. First, your blood may flow better. According to the article, “Repeated blood donations may help the blood flow in a way that’s less damaging to the lining of the blood vessels and could result in fewer arterial blockages.” Second, you get basically a
mini-checkup. Before you can even donate, they test your hemoglobin count, your iron levels, your blood pressure, and they test your blood for many infectious diseases, including HIV, AIDS, and the West Nile virus. If your blood test positive for any of these diseases, you will informed immediately. If they come back negative, then anything that you have been exposed to will have proven to not have affected you. On the subject of iron, donating blood can help you keep a proper balance. Swalin writes, “The statistics appear to show that decreasing the amount of iron in otherwise healthy people over the long run is beneficial to their blood vessels, and diseases related to abnormalities
in blood vessels, such as heart attack and stroke.”However, it should be noted that if you have an iron deficiency or anemia of any kind, you should not donate blood. Finally, donating blood can actually help you live longer. A study in Health Psychology states that doing good works, such as donating to charities like Red Cross for altruistic reasons can potentially live for four years longer than those that donated for the checkup or other reasons. Whatever reason, all students are urged to donate blood if they can. It could potentially save a life, and by doing such a good work, potentially saving oneself.
A ROARING GOOD TIME: FILM SOCIETY STARTS OFF WITH GODZILLA Peggy Ballengee
Staff Writer Godzilla rampaged Concord’s own Marsh Hall in room A237 on August 20 to the 22. This savage attack marked the first viewing of the Fall semester, hosted by Concord’s Film Society. Occurring on Thursdays at 8 PM, Fridays at 3:30 PM, and Saturday at 6 PM, the Film Society strives to provide a pleasant end to most busy weeks here on the Campus Beautiful. Specializing in the obscure and unique, a film as wellknown as Godzilla was something of an exception for the society, “We’ve actually just acquired a new blu-ray player and high-definition projector, so we
wanted to pick a film that could really show off the full capabilities of our equipment.” says Dr. Charles Brichford, the Division Chair of English at Concord and sponsor of the Film society. The assortment selected by the group usually leans further toward the foreign, the dated, and the outright odd, “The Film Society began and continues out of student interest in movies that are difficult to see. Even with the prevalence of the internet, we still try to show movies you’d have to do a lot of digging to watch otherwise.” Brichford says. Throughout the semester, the Film Society strives to show a wide arrangement: usually including at least one documentary, silent film, and foreign film
in one of the languages offered here on campus. “The society is made up of both passive and active members,” explains Brichford, “the passive members are just on the mailing list and kept upto-date on the films to come, but the active members help run the projector and handle the equipment. If you want to be put on the mailing list, all you need to do is reply to the mass e-mail about the Film Society expressing your interest.” “Our group is designed for entertainment,” says James Hoyle, President of the Film Society and their SGA representative, “We realize it’s a small town, and there isn’t much to do around here. So, we have in-
teresting films to show that you can’t find anywhere else.” Hoyle is an advocate of the experience that comes with seeing a movie on a larger medium, as opposed to on a regular television. In light of the new equipment, he’s sure the Film Society will only become more impressive, saying, “Epic movies are done a disservice on smaller screens. It’s the difference between watching, say, “Return Of The King” on a laptop versus in theatres: all of the little nuances and effects get lost in translation.” Hoyle has been a member of the society since his sophomore year, and runs the projector on Saturday showings. A fan of movies, he’s found the experience to be a
delight and would recommend it to any curious students. The Film Society acquires the films through SGA funding, usually purchasing close to 100 movies. “We only watch about twenty of them each year,” says Brichford, “What’s left over, we either donate to the library or watch at the beginning of the incoming semester.” Two movies on the list are the classic, “Faust,” and “The White Ribbon.” Information on the incoming showings will be sent through the mailing list. While the rest of the films are to be determined, the Concord Film Society is excited to see new faces to match the new semester.
Sept. 3rd 2015, Page 7 The Concordian
Opinions
HOW DO I FRESHMAN?
11 TIPS TO GET YOU THROUGH THAT FIRST YEAR Haley McCord Staff Writer The sun is bright and a new semester has officially begun! New students are flooding our campus wide eyed and terrified. For those who may be frightened and desperately searching for a few kind tips to help nudge them from the nest – look no further. From one Concordian to another, these tips are guaranteed to make you laugh, keep you on schedule and keep you calm when you feel like you just “can’t even.” College is a time for exploration and finding out who you want to be. Just make sure to make time for the important things in life throughout your journey. Like doing your laundry. Definitely make time for laundry. 1. Go to class! I cannot express how important it is to be in class every day. Yes, an eight o’clock class on Monday morning is no slice of cake, but it’s much easier to take your own notes than fight with a picture of someone else’s. If for some reason you must miss a class, let your professor know
ahead of time. Otherwise, be there or be square! 2. Back up all of your files. Electronics aren’t flawless. If you lose a document or a jump drive, most professors have no sympathy for you. Make sure all your projects and papers are tucked away in safe and reliable place. 3. Don’t procrastinate! Do assignments as they are assigned rather than two hours before your class is scheduled to begin. Close that Facebook tab, put Instagram on the backburner and do your homework! You will feel much better once you can cross that Lit paper off your to-do list, guaranteed. 4. Don’t be afraid to ask for help! There are so many people on campus that will help you! Take advantage of your professor’s office hours; swing by if you have a question and you will typically find an answer. Tutors are also great, and they’re available in almost any subject. The best part? It’s free! 5. Your RA is your new best friend. If you’re living on campus, the RA assigned to your floor
is always there to help. Don’t be afraid to ask them questions! Maybe you need help setting up your router or you just can’t seem to find your Ethernet port; no matter the obstacle, your RA is there to help you tackle it. But if you’re a tiny bit shy and afraid to knock on their door, consider sliding a note underneath. 6. Avoid the freshman fifteen at all costs. Just because you can drive to Sheetz at two in the morning does not mean you should! Choose healthier foods and take advantage of the gym! Grab a friend and support each other’s healthy decisions. Maybe your significant other would tag along as well; as they say, those who work out together, stay together. 7. If you’re having problems with your roommate, talk it out! Don’t let your anger build until you just can’t seem to keep your mouth shut anymore. Cut the tension with kindness. Be stern but sensitive and listen to what your roommate has to say. It’s healthier for both of you to live in peace for the next few months than in agony.
8. Treat yourself. It’s definitely not a great idea to finish an entire bag of Doritos and half a gallon of strawberry ice cream while watching a Netflix marathon, but we all deserve a little T.L.C. You have my permission to indulge a tiny bit. Go ahead and eat that cupcake, order those shoes you’ve been eyeballing for months, take a 3 hour nap and treat yourself like the queen or king you are. Treats every now and then make all the hard work in between seem much easier! 9. Don’t feel pressured to declare a major immediately. You have time to think it through! Just because it feels like the majority of your friends have chosen a major doesn’t mean you’re behind. Experiment, take a wide variety of classes, find what you love to do. Don’t stress too much about the rest of your life. Find out who you want to be and your major will soon follow. Remember, time takes time. 10. Sleep is a beautiful thing. Remember to get your beauty sleep. We all pull the occasional all-nighter to finish a paper or study for that huge exam, but
a healthy and fairly regular sleep schedule is incredibly important to a successful college career. Without sleep, we get irritable, forgetful and become more prone to sickness. Make time to catch your Z’s. And last but certainly not least, 11. Call home. Don’t let the pressure of being an adult scare you away from calling home. It’s not a sign of weakness. Call your mom and dad, your grandparents, or your best friend from back home. Anyone that loves you and encourages you to be your best, give them a call. You’d be surprised how good you’ll feel after simply hearing their voices. The transition into college can be an intimidating experience, but it can also be the beginning of the most exciting period in one’s life. These tips can help ease some of the stress, but the most important thing is to remember that this is your time. It’s your life, and it’s your college experience. Make it exactly what you want.
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Sept. 3rd 2015, Page 8 The Concordian
Millennial Beat
“A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution
The chart above shows the number of firearm related homicides by country, with the U.S. having significantly more than any other listed country. Photo courtesy of www.vox.com
THE GREAT GUN DEBATE Patrice Mitchell
Staff Writer On April 20, 1999, two young men opened fire on classmates and teachers at Columbine High School in Colorado, murdering 13 people. On July 20, 2012, one man walked into a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, and started shooting into a packed room, killing 12 people. A man armed with two handguns entered Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, on December 17, 2012. 20 of the 27 slaughtered were children. June 17, 2015, 9 people were shot by a man in Charleston, South Carolina, while attending a Wednesday night Bible study at a church. August 25, 2015, two journalists were shot during a live national broadcast in Roanoke, Virginia, just less than two hours from Athens, West Virginia. These cases, among many other mass shootings and acts of gun violence, have some Americans questioning gun laws and challenging the second amendment. It also has people holding on to their firearms and their rights a little tighter. The Geneva-based Small Arms Survey, the leading source of international public information about firearms, found that the U.S. has the largest armed civilian population in the world, with an estimated 270 million total guns. For the next election cycle, the presidential candidates will approach this issue more aggressively than in the past. With multiple national tragedies involving gun violence, support for stricter gun laws as well as support for the second amendment continues to grow. Not
many debates have divided the nation as strongly as the debate over gun rights, and candidates running for president have to bring the country together on this issue. One side of the debate argues that guns are not the problem. The media and the entertainment industry are often blamed for desensitizing consumers to gun violence. Video games, movies, and books that glamorize improper or violent use of guns are the most popular types of media blamed for aiding in the perpetuating violence in real life. Representative Tim Huelskamp of Kansas appeared on the MSNBC political talk show Morning Joe and said, “It’s not a gun problem, it’s a people problem, it’s a cultural problem.” The argument against tighter gun control regulations seems to be that if people want to do bad things, then they will do bad things, and they will use any tool they can to harm others. It’s just that guns are the tools they choose to use. Jed Smith, an armorer and shooting instructor at a gun shop near Roanoke, Virginia, says that more education about guns for people buying and selling guns is key to help combat senseless gun violence. He says that the laws don’t need to change, but better communication between government agencies could help prevent guns from getting into the hands of individuals that are not qualified to have them. Smith also compares a gun salesman who doesn’t use good judgment or follows the law while selling a gun, to a bartender who knowingly serves a clearly heavily intoxicated person too much alcohol. On the other end of the debate, many advocacy groups
are fighting for stricter gun laws, banning high powered assault rifles all together, and challenging the second amendment. Ryan Dahrouge of The Nation, an online magazine geared towards Millennials, writes, “The United States needs a comprehensive reform of its gun laws, reforms that have teeth and are not riddled with loopholes and exceptions. A total ban on assault rifles, high-capacity magazines and military-grade ammunition would prevent untrained individuals from obtaining and operating dangerous weaponry— the same reason surface-to-air weapons aren’t currently available to the general public.” No matter what side of the debate you are on, there is no doubt that the conversation and education should be had. Banning all guns would be in violation of the second amendment, but introducing laws that that would give priority to public safety may be something to adopt. This is one of the issues facing the nation that people feel most passionately about, especially in West Virginia. Learning how to protect gun rights, as well as protecting the American people from random acts of gun violence are essential to creating a better future for the United States.
“The United States needs a comprehensive reform of its gun laws... -Ryan Dahrouge The Nation
“It’s not a gun problem, it’s a people problem, it’s a cultural problem.” -Representative Tim Huelskamp (Kan)(Rep)