T HE P ILLAR A Newsletter for Parents and Families
Volume 7 Issue 2
Longwood University
A Place To Be: The Same Sky Project By: Taylor Igne A Place To Be is a nonprofit organization based in Northern Virginia that uses many forms of art therapy to help people work through emotions and life stressors. Music therapy allows people to express themselves while connecting with others. Members cope with their emotions and practice new skills through music. A Place To Be brought The Same Sky Project to Longwood University on April 2nd. The Same Sky Project usually travels to middle and high schools, but Longwood became its first college or university performance. One of the musicians began the show by describing the performers with one word: authentic. The description could not be more accurate. Children and young adults shared their stories with the audience. Anxiety, autism, blindness, cerebral palsy, chronic diseases, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, Tourette’s, and traumatic brain injury are some of the conditions that the audience learned about during the show. Some talked about learning of their diagnosis, while others talked about the struggles they handle on a regular basis. A theme that was evident in each monologue was that each person is so much more than a single label. Amy, one of the performers, dreamed the show to life. She wanted to act and told the audience that she wanted to share her experience with cerebral palsy through theatre. One of the most poignant messages from the show is to never give up on dreams. Madison Lowry, a Longwood student, is very passionate about the project; and she applied for and received a Parents Council grant to bring the group to campus. Madison's brother, Ryan, is a performer in A Place To Be: The Same Sky Project. Many members from the Parents Council attended the performance. It was a wonderful opportunity to see the community come together to support its fellow Lancer, Madison, as she shared her passions with Longwood. For more information on A Place To Be: The Same Sky Project please visit their website at http://www.aplacetobeva.org/same-sky-project/
SNAP SHOT About the Pillar
The Pillar is a newsletter for parents and families published by the Office of First Year Experience and Family Programs. The publication provides Longwood families with information regarding university and community events, student and staff projects, campus programs, and Parents Council updates. The newsletter is a great way for parents and families to stay connected with the happenings at Longwood University. There are four editions of the newsletter each year, releasing in August, November, February, and May. If you have any questions or comments, please contact the Office of First Year Experience and Family Programs by phone at 434.395.2414 or email at firstyear@longwood.edu
In This Issue Page 1 - A Place To Be: The Same Sky Project Page 2 - Snap Shot Page 3 - Flashback Page 4 - Message from the President Page 5 - Parents Council Update Page 6 - Longwood Dining Page 7 - Student Spotlight Page 8 - What’s New @ LU? Page 10 - Flashback Page 11 - From the Lancer Clubhouse
All articles without a listed author were written by Emily Duke ‘15, Graduate Assistant for the Office of First Year Experience and Family Programs
MAY 2016
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Dates to Remember!
May May 2nd-6th: Examinations May 9th: Final Grades Available May 13th: Graduate Commencement May 14th: Undergraduate Commencement August August 22nd: Classes Begin August 29th: Last Day to Add/Drop
FLASHBACK Walk a Mile in Her Shoes Walk A Mile in Her Shoes速: The International Men's March to Stop Rape, Sexual Assault & Gender Violence, is a playful opportunity for men to raise awareness in their community about the serious causes, effects and remediations to men's sexualized violence against women. This event asks men to literally walk one mile in women's high-heeled shoes. While it is not easy walking in these shoes, it is also not easy, particularly for men to speak about gender violence and sexual assault. This landmark event is important not only because of the seriousness of the issue, but because of the increased emphasis of Title IX across college campuses.
Greek Sync Greek Sync is an event held by the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life where 3 to 4 fraternities and sororities are paired together to compete in a lip sync/dance-off against the other groups! Each team is in charge of selecting a theme, creating original choreography, and dressing the part! Each performance lasts about 5 minutes and at the end there are winners in different categories, such as best overall, best costumes, and best theme. This annual event promotes PanHellenic spirit among our different Greek organizations while also promoting friendship and cooperation throughout campus! -Jessica Gangitano, Class of 2017
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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear Parents and Families, We are fast approaching next October 4, when Longwood will welcome the world to our historic campus for the lone Vice Presidential Debate of the 2016 election. Preparations Dates & Deadlines are well underway and I wanted to share with you some thoughts on how this event will impact2011 students. First, let me say that Longwood stepped forward to host a debate in large August part to students engagearrive our students in thisDecember once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be a part of history. In 18– New 2011 19– registration Last day ofcreated classes or redesigned to incorporate the debate. theFinal classroom, around 30 courses2–are being 20– Continuing students arrive 3– Reading Day Plans are begin in motion department to reach all of its majors with a 22– Classes at 8am for every academic 5-9– Examinations debate-related event about citizenship. of- students have signed up to volunteer 29– Last day to add/drop -5pm 12– All Hundreds grades are due 8:30am and student leaders are busy planning events around campus during the days leading up to September 2011 January 2012 the debate. 5– Labor Day Holiday/No classes, 16– Martin L. King, Jr. Holiday/No The event will, of course,classes, have an impactclosed on parts of campus. We are working hard University closed University 6– Classes resume at 8am 17– Final registration to minimize disruption. The debate will coincide with a slightly extended fall break so 6– Spring schedule due 17– New Student Orientation. Classtudents can go home, but we hope manyatwill 8– Convocation ses begin 4pmstay around (or return after a short visit home). measures will limit toofsome buildings 26– Grade Security estimates due 24–access Last day add/drop - 5pm in the days before the debate, due yet we expect most of the campus30– toFall be 2012 openschedule and accessible. I know many students are October 2011 curious about the Health and Fitness Center, which will close starting in late summer so our 10-11– Fall Break/No classes facilities IT at staffs 12– Classesand resume 8am can prepare for the debate. However, we are currently finalizing plans 12– Deadline to withdraw with of a comparable size available to serve as a temporary fitness center, to make a nearby space “W”- 5pm and the fitness equipment will be moved there. We will also take this opportunity to do some 15– Graduate Comprehensive Exnecessary repair work on the Health and Fitness Center. Details will be shared with students amination IN This Issue 27– Summer 2010 schedule due soon. We are communicating regularly the campus PAGE 1 Wwith ELCOME FAMILIES and local community about how November 2011 PAGEon 2 D ATES ANDI DEADLINE the debate will take place campus. encourage you to visit 7– Advising & experience Registration beginP AGE 2 THE SPIRIT INITIATI Spring 2012 www.debate.longwood.edu, where you will find a great PAGE 3 INAUGURATION OF 18– Advising ends deal of information and can sign up for email updates. PRESIDENT FINNEGAN 23– Student Holiday/No classes PAGE 3 D IVERSITY INCLUSION You will also find Holiday/No a Student FAQ section, where we&are 24-25– Thanksgiving P AGE 4 SPOTLIGHT: NEW classes, University closed that come up about such things as answering questions The Pillar STUDENTS 28– Classes resume at 8am campus impact and how Longwood is paying for the PAGE 4 MOVE-IN TIPS PAGE 5 Nas EWaLone-time ANCER DAYS debate (short answer: from cash reserves, This publication is published & THE G.A.M.E 2.0 investment and unmatched opportunity for our students, by the Office of First Year PAGE 6 FAMILY WEEKEND and not tuition dollars). Hosting aPdebate is a lot of work, AGE 7 TRANSFORM Experience. We would like to but it lines up perfectly with our mission of public service Welcome Familes, Parents, ……. and engaging students in citizen-leadership. The debates themselves are a moment of high civility and dignity in Thank you to the Parents our electoral process and we are proud of our association Council, FYE, and….. with them. Sincerely, President Reveley 2 2016 FALL 2011 4 MAY
PARENTS COUNCIL Ensuring our Students are Future Leaders By: Scott Murdock, Parents Council Member In May, our students are thinking about final exams (trying to cram as much information into short term memory in order to get the grade and head home for the summer). Many students will begin summer internships that will become the foundation for their future career. As parents, it is now our job to become the trusted advisor. They are young adults and our future leaders, so it is vital that we, as parents, guide but not dictate their lives. They will make mistakes you say, and I say, “yes they will” and just like we did, they will learn from their mistakes. What we can and should do is recommend that they seek advice from several sources; their friends, us, their managers and supervisors and other adults that they have trusted in the past. We should try to avoid telling the “what we would do” but listen to their situations, point them into reasonable choices/directions and help them identify any pitfalls we might see. We need to teach them that a good leader listens to various options, considers the merits, seeks guidance from respected mentors and then makes a decision.
The Longwood Parents Council, April 2016 THE PILLAR
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LONGWOOD DINING What’s Cooking with Longwood Dining?
By: Ashley Jones, Marketing Assistant Dates & Deadlines
would not be Spring Weekend without Longwood Dining picnics. Every year, during AugustIt2011 18– New students arrive Dorrill Dining December 2011outdoor picnics for students to enjoy live muthis event, we close Hall to host 19– Final registration 2– Last day of classes sic, student performances, and delicious food. The picnics are offered for dinner on Friday 20– Continuing students arrive 3– Reading Day and duringbegin lunch and dinner on Saturday. Even the Elwood Express, Longwood’s very own 22– Classes at 8am 5-9– Examinations 29– Last day toisadd/drop -5pm 12–cold All grades are to dueall - 8:30am food truck, out and about serving drinks students. The picnics include favorites like hamburgers, chicken and pork barbeque, and veggie burgers with sides that include macSeptember 2011 January 2012 aroni and cheese, fruitclasses, and pasta salad, and L. a variety desserts. 5– Labor Day Holiday/No 16– Martin King, Jr. of Holiday/No University closed tradition unique to Spring classes, University Another Weekendclosed is a Chili Cook-Off where student organiza6– Classes resume at 8am 17– Final registration tions compete in a chili making contest. Organizations provide their own recipes, Longwood 6– Spring schedule due 17– New Student Orientation. ClasDining provides the ingredients andsesstudents then cook their recipe over a fire pit. We have 8– Convocation begin at 4pm 26– Grade due 24– Last dayin ofthe add/drop - 5pmwith a variety of chilies ranging seen overestimates thirty different groups participate contest, 30– Fall 2012 schedule due from sweet October 2011 to spicy. Students are awarded first, second, and third place prizes. The first place 10-11–isFall Break/No classes prize $150, second place prize is $100, and the third place prize is $50, which goes directly 12– Classes resume at 8am to their organization. This year’s first place prize went to Delta Sigma Pi’s smoky flavored chili, 12– Deadline to withdraw with a second “W”- 5pmplace went to Alpha Sigma Tau’s sweet and spicy chili, and third place went to the 15– GraduatePsychology Comprehensive Ex-Debate Club’s combined effort sweet chili Longwood and amination 27– Summer 2010 schedule due
November 2011 7– Advising & Registration beginSpring 2012 18– Advising ends 23– Student Holiday/No classes 24-25– Thanksgiving Holiday/No classes, University closed 28– Classes resume at 8am
IN This Issue
PAGE 1 WELCOME FAMILIES PAGE 2 DATES AND DEADLINE PAGE 2 THE SPIRIT INITIATI PAGE 3 INAUGURATION OF PRESIDENT FINNEGAN PAGE 3 DIVERSITY & INCLUSION PAGE 4 SPOTLIGHT: NEW STUDENTS PAGE 4 MOVE-IN TIPS PAGE 5 NEW LANCER DAYS & THE G.A.M.E 2.0 PAGE 6 FAMILY WEEKEND PAGE 7 TRANSFORM
The Pillar This publication is published by the Office of First Year Experience. We would like to Welcome Familes, Parents, …….
Thank you to the Parents Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @LongwoodDining to see our commitment in action. Council, FYE, and…..
Menus, nutritional information, contact information, and the latest news and events can be found on our website. Visit us at www.Longwood.CampusDish.com! 2
MAY 2016
FALL 2011
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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT Beyond the Classroom By: Jessica Gangitano, Class of 2017 One of my favorite memories from Longwood is the time I participated in a social justice movement on campus. The Student Diversity and Inclusion Council put on a program outside on brock commons called “Love Knows No…” They had students stop at their table to write down how they thought that sentence should be completed. This program was promoting diversity and that love extends way past people’s foreseen differences. Some sentences said, “Love Knows No Color” and “Love Knows No Gender.” These statements were saying how we are different races and different genders, but we still have the ability to love each other. These statements were written on small white boards and then filmed to make a short video showing how we value diversity and inclusion on our campus. This program really opened my eyes to how our campus recognizes people’s differences and not only tolerates them, but accepts and celebrates them as well. Longwood truly is a place where you can have personal growth, learn from others, and be accepted for who you are.
Jessica Gangitano, Class of 2017 THE PILLAR
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WHAT’S NEW @ LU? The Twelfth Night By: Taylor Igne Twelfth Night was directed by Longwood’s Dr. Bruce Speas. The show was performed in Jarman Hall, and it was the first time the theatre department had performed in the space since 2009. It was the first time current students performed on a proscenium stage at Longwood. This was a great opportunity for students to try out a new space and learn how to produce a show in a larger space. The department hopes to be able to produce at least one show in Jarman every other year to give students the experience working in different spaces. The show came with many growing experiences that are important in theatre. Dr. Speas said he wanted to do a Shakespearian play because the challenging rhythm of the language heightens students’ abilities. It was set in the 1920s so the show began with the Charleston. Students learned the choreography and the process it takes to incorporate dance into a theatre piece. Earlier this year the department brought in an expert on stage combat and held workshops for students, including training with a rapier. In Twelfth Night students were able to use what they learned in the workshops and apply those skills to a sword fight scene. Twelfth Night was also performed for area high school students from Prince Edward, Cumberland, and Nottoway. This was an opportunity for local students to see the outcome of months of planning and working as part of a theatre piece. An alumni event was also hosted to celebrate Twelfth Night. About 60 theatre alumni came back to Longwood to support and network with current students. Twelfth Night brought a lot of attention to Longwood’s theatre department from students, prospective students, and alumni. For more information on Longwood University’s theatre department and productions please visit its website: http://www.longwood.edu/ tag/theatre.htm
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FLASHBACK
Spring Weekend 2016 -An All-American Spring Weekend-
ALL 2016 2012 MFAY
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FROM THE LANCER CLUBHOUSE Lancers Dominating on the Diamond this Spring By: Chris Cook, Assistant VP, Athletics Communications As the calendar turned to spring and the weather in Farmville heats up, so are Longwood’s baseball and softball teams. The Lancers are enjoying quite the spring on the diamond with a softball squad that is in first place in the Big South and a baseball team that is just two games out of second place heading into the final stretch of the regular season. Longwood’s baseball and softball teams have annually been two of the most successful programs on campus over the past several decades, and this spring is no exception. Combined, the two teams have a 52-33 record and match Coastal Carolina as the only Big South teams to rank among the league’s top five in both baseball and softball. The dominance from the Longwood softball team is nothing new, as the group is in position to win their second straight Big South Championship and third in the past four years. Led by 19th-year head coach Kathy Riley, Longwood softball is easily the most successful team on campus, advancing to an NCAA Regional twice since 2013. The Lancer baseball team became an established Division II powerhouse under legendary head coach Buddy Bolding and is now well on the way to finding that same success at the Division I level under second-year head coach Ryan Mau. Mau’s Lancers are currently just two games out of second place in a strong Big South Conference with three Big South series remaining. The opportunity to see both of these teams in action on campus one last time is coming up, as the baseball team’s last three home games against UNC Asheville are on May 68 and the softball team’s final series comes against Radford on April 29-30.
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OUTSTANDING FIRST YEAR STUDENT ADVOCATES
MAY 2016
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FALL 2012
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For questions or comments about this newsletter, please contact: Office of First Year Experience & Family Programs 201 High Street Farmville, VA 23909 434.395.2414 firstyear@longwood.edu www.longwood.edu/newstudent/