Vol. 52, Issue 3 - September 15th, 2010

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Mace & Crown VOL. 52, ISSUE 3 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2010

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Student newspaper of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, since 1930

The State of the University A journey through the ODU President’s vision Stuart Miller Editor in Chief

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When Old Dominion President John R. Broderick took over as acting president in June of 2008 the University was changing. Enrollment was growing, numerous structures on campus were under construction, and the football program was still in its developmental stage. Now two years later, Broderick is the eighth president that ODU has seen. The Athletic department has seen the departure of a legendary Athletic Director in Dr. Jim Jarrett, but in turn seen vast success in sailing, football, and Men’s Basketball. The campus has began another stage of its overall facelift as the Perry Library and Dragas hall are just a few of the next buildings on the construction agenda, and the enrollment has grown to about 24,000 students despite economic troubles throughout the commonwealth of Virginia. Needless to say President Broderick came into his position as President with a game-plan and has executed it almost flawlessly. Despite the schedule that only he can handle, President Broderick sat down with the Mace & Crown to discuss the state of the university and the ever-changing culture that is Old Dominion University. Stuart Miller: What are your goals for ODU this year? John Broderick: Our goals are clearly to do our very best to be more properly funded by the commonwealth, that is a significant goal of ours. A second goal is to work closer with the city of Norfolk on this joint police precinct and if you have been following what has happened with the city coun-

cil they seem willing to move out in that regard. Those are two that come to mind, we are also putting a much greater emphasis on a community civic engagement relationship for the university, I’d like to see not only all of our colleges, but all of our student, faculty, and staff be much more engaged in both serving the region and having the region coming to Old Dominion as a go-to place for answers and results. I think lastly to focus on what we do well here which is our teaching and our research, we have some incredible teachers here as noted by the state council of higher education with the number of outstanding faculty award recipients we have and we have some really amazing cutting edge research whether you look at what we are doing in modeling and simulation or bio-electrics, so our ability to continue to support those and hopefully move those further and further towards the national front where they deserve to be. SM: Besides construction, what is something new on campus? JB: Well I think this student success center that’s being constructed around the library is going to have a huge upside for students because first and foremost it’s going to ensure students to virtually all the kinds of support services they need, they are going to be much easy to access because they are going to be in a convenient location. Secondly, the fact that it ties into the library is a very imaginative yet a very appropriate way of sharing resources. I believe there is a real benefit for students from the academic advising side, from the academic counseling side as well as having it situated in the library where it really presents a number of winnable solutions for students who will take advantage of the opportunity. SM: What are some of the things that you expect from SGA

JB: I look forward to working with the leadership, I think there are very few goals that SGA has that wouldn’t benefit the student body and I would hope that there are very few goals that the university has that wouldn’t benefit the student body. I think we have some places where we can work together, hopefully advocacy for the university would be one of those. We have 24,000 students who go to school here, probably 85% of you are from Virginia, each and every one of the students here is is a voter should also be advocating for more state support for higher education and more support for Old Dominion. I think we have done a remarkable job here despite all the budget cuts we have of trying to keep our tuition numbers down we have tried to provide access and we have tried to be affordable, but student are voters to and the more that they tell their elected officials that they want to see higher education support and want to see Old Dominion in particular supported, that’s a lot more voices that just myself and university lobbyists knocking on doors where they expect us to say that. SM: How important do you feel that it is for students to get involved on campus? JB: It’s essential. I can look at anything from my own experience, I’ve been on college campuses now for 20-25 years as an administrator or a faculty member and it is important for students to be engaged, it gives you the opportunity to meet other people and it is more of a challenge now for your generation than it was for mine because it is a lot easier for a student from Berkeley, California or Bangor, Maine between text messaging, e-mailing, and Facebook and so on, you can be as engaged with your previous neighbor as you See UNIVERSITY, A3

The great outdoors

Prentice who?

Junior College transfer paying immediate dividends by

this year?

Outdoor Adventures prove exciting, economical for students

Matthew McCracken Staff Writer

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Tom Anderson

Contributing Writer

Running out into a crowd of almost 20,000 people who are up on their feet screaming can make you skip a heartbeat. Anything from worrying about your performance on the field to how you look can spark your nerves. Fortunately, for Junior transfer Prentice Gill; it was more exciting than nervous. “It’s hard to get nervous when you know nobody in the stands knows you. It’s like looking up at 20,000 blank faces you don’t know,” Gill said about his first Old Dominion football game. Transferring across country from Los Angeles Harbor College, Prentice Gill is one of the Monarchs’ newest threats at the wide receiver position. Having caught 48 passes for 651 yards, five of them for touchdowns, Gill isn’t a stranger to big plays on the gridiron. Averaging 13.6 yards per catch and 59.2 yards per game at Los Angeles Harbor College, Gill is more than another receiver. He is the go to guy when a team needs a big catch in desperation for a win. To Old Dominion fans just a week ago, Gill was nothing more than a passing breeze from the wind. Ask any Monarch Maniac today and you’ll hear answers from “he’s the man” to “our savior.” Although Old Dominion suffered a loss in their first game to Jacksonville University, Gill was one of the leading receivers, and kept the Monarchs in the game until the end. Catching six passes for 79 yards with a touchdown, Prentice Gill was no longer known as number one on the Monarchs’ roster. He is no longer a ghost, no longer a whisper, he is Prentice Gill. Some might wonder why Gill would come all the way from Los Angeles to Norfolk just to play football. When asked about it, Gill admits “I committed because of Domo.” Domo, better known as Dominique Blackman, is Old Dominion’s back-up quarterback who transferred last spring from the same college as Gill. See PRENTICE, C4

The Outdoor Adventure Program, located in the Student Recreation Center, might just be the best-kept secret at Old Dominion University. Yes, most students have been to the gym, but many never realize the opportunities they might be missing out on, including OAP. Maria Marshall and Paul Okoniewski are just two of OAP’s characteristically helpful program representatives. “Students expect that they can’t go on an adventure living in the city of Norfolk,” said Okoniewski. “Its fun for me to help students see that adventure is right around the corner, even in the city.” Marshall’s favorite part of working at OAP? “Trying to get as many people outside as possible and helping to teach people outdoor skills that will benefit them for the rest of their lives.” The positive aspects of OAP extend well beyond just its knowledgeable staff. OAP has two main functions: the rental program and the adventure program. At OAP students can rent high-quality outdoor gear for dirtcheap prices. OAP rents $800 mountain bikes for $4 per day, and two students can split the cost of an $8 two-person kayak and paddle on the Elizabeth all day. OAP even has dollies to easily help the smallest person pull a boat from the Student Recreation Center to the river. Tents and sleeping bags will help make this Fall an exciting

Danielle Buxton Mace & Crown

time to enjoy the outdoors. Likewise, the OAP adventure trips are a great deal for students. Surfing and kayaking trips are only ten bucks including transportation and equipment, and several of the overnight weekend excursions are only thirty bucks per person. OAP has a trip to satisfy every student’s interests, including kayaking, fishing, surfing, rock climbing, and backpacking. Whether you’re renting equipment or going on an OAP trip, the OAP staff will gladly provide free instruction on equipment use to get you on your way to an adventure. “It’s a really cool program,” said junior Matthew Adams. “I love camping, so anything that can get me out of the house and hiking somewhere is great.” You can also visit http://studentaffairs.odu.edu/recsports/oap to view the equipment rental list and the Fall Trip Schedule.

NEWS

SPORTS

ARTS & ENT

OP-ED

Exclusive interview with President Broderick A2

Complete STIHL Soccer Classic coverage C3

Local musicians showcase at 37th and Zen B1

Qu’ran controversey revisited D4

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