April 23, 2015 by The Johnsonian

THE JOHNSONIAN | THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2015 | MYTJNOW.COM NATIONAL DENIM DAY TJ OPINION

tj #DenimDay

Eric Hammett / The Johnsonian

Denim Day brings awareness of sexual assault and rape culture to Winthrop and the world Trey Stokes stokest@mytjnow.com The year is 1992. In Italy, an 18-year-old woman is raped by her 45-year-old driving instructor. He threatens her with death if she tells anyone. However, she gathers the strength to tell her parents and the police about the assault. The rapist is arrested and sent to jail. The story should have ended there — but the perpetrator appealed to the Italian Supreme Court, where his conviction was overturned. In a statement by the Chief Justice, he explained the dismissal of the case as follows: “because the victim wore very, very tight jeans, she had to help him remove them, and by removing the jeans it was no longer rape but consensual sex.” In protest, women (and men) around the world — including the Italian Parliament and the California Assembly — wore jeans to work immediately following the conviction. This grassroots protest made it to the offices of Peace Over Violence, a “non-profit, multi-cultural, feminist” organization based in Los Angeles, CA that aims for the elimination of sexual violence. They began the tradition of National Denim Day

in April 1999 — a tradition that continues to this day. Each year during the last week of April, supporters are encouraged to incorporate denim into their outfits as a statement against sexual violence and rape culture. It all culminates on Denim Day; in York Country, it is today, April 23. According to Safe Passage, a local shelter for victims of sexual violence, “wearing jeans on this day is an international symbol of protest against erroneous and destructive attitudes about sexual assault.” So, starting today, you can post pictures with the hashtag #DenimDay to bring awareness to this crucial issue. We at The Johnsonian will be taking part, and we encourage the entire Winthrop community to participate. Like many university campuses, Winthrop is facing a sexual assault epidemic — so serious, in fact, that senior criminology major Jordan Steele decided to devote her final semester at Winthrop to researching its prevalence on campus. Her results have been groundbreaking, to say the least; they show glaring discrepancies between claims given by both campus police and the Winthrop administration about our levels of sexual assault. “I just kept learning about my own personal friends being subjected to this kind of trauma and realized that there hadn’t really been anything done on it yet,” she said. “Someone needed to.” In addition, Steele has been victimized herself. Steele’s research was done by distributing paper questionnaires to a sample of Winthrop students. The surveys asked students if they or someone they know has ever been sexually assaulted. Out of 133 students, 35 reported that they or someone they know had been sexually assaulted — 26.3 percent. That’s more than 1 in 4 students at Winthrop University.

4see DENIM pg. 10

True cost of higher education Breaking down cost of college after graduation Raven Brown brownr@mytjnow.com Hard work and tears may be enough to get graduates through college, but the real payment for their degree comes after graduation. Many college students and recent graduates are

faced with the burden of their student loan debt hanging over them long after the four years they spent in school. “You’re still paying for college so many years after you graduate,” Blair McCraney said, a recent Winthrop graduate. “It’s like you get out of college, but you’re still thinking about college all of the time and how much it cost you.” The average undergraduate borrower from the class of 2012 took on $27,183 in student loan debt, according to Susannah Snider’s article “Avoid Turning Into a Scary Student Loan Stat” that was published on the U.S. News and World

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Report website in July. “The student loan business is a big market, so often times students are great targets for student loan companies, because they know that you’re investing in your human capital, and provided that you successfully complete college you will be able to pay it back,” said Philip Gibson, an assistant professor of finance at Winthrop. Private companies or the government can fund the loans that are available to students and these loans can be subsidized or unsubsidized.

4see COLLEGE pg. 3

Index: News 3 | Science & Tech 5 | Sports 6 | Arts & Culture 8 | Opinion 10

April 23, 2015

2014-15 Accomplishments CSL is committed to Winthrop University and the extended community. Through our actions, we aim to further student development and academic excellence; to promote integrity and accountability; and to empower students to take an active role in campus life, according to the CSL mission statement. The Council strives to provide students with the best possible Winthrop experience and has continued to accomplish that goal during this academic year by: • • • •

• • • •

Traveling to Columbia to lobby for funding and support for Winthrop at the South Carolina State House. Planning and hosting the Garnet and Gold Unity Gala, a campus wide semi-formal and global cultural event designed to bring the community together. Appointing student representatives to all the University wide governance committees. Hosting “Justice Or Lack There Of”; a cultural event to bring awareness to social inequalities, the legal system and the rights of students through a panel of legal experts and law enforcement agents. Providing a voter drive to register Winthrop students for regional elections. Co-Hosting a business mixer in conjunction with the organization True Gold. Providing a student voice to the Winthrop University Board of Trustees. Hosting an election rally and election forum to aid in the

• • • • • • •

selection of a new Student Body President and Vice President. Planning a Winthrop Family Cookout for the student body and their relatives. Fostering leadership through various retreats and workshops. Providing relevant information to the Winthrop community on a weekly basis through articles in the Johnsonain. Co-sponsoring MLK Day of Service and the LIFT Conference. Establishing a clear delivery system of ideas from the student body to Winthrop faculty and staﬀ such as concerns related to safety, food and academics. Investigating and responding to student concerns raised at meetings and through the comment box. CSL leadership and members were actively engaged with the Presidential Search for Winthrop’s 11th President. The entire Council hosted meet and greet sessions with each of three candidates and the CSL President and Vice-President actively represented the student perspective on the search committee.

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April 23, 2015

World Wide Winthrop Day 2015 Where is your point A?

2:30 p.m. 6:14 a.m.

9:23 a.m.

3:14 p.m.

On Saturday, April 18 incoming Winthrop freshman were given a crash course in what life as an Eagle will be like. The day started off with tours of campus and students being introduced to major professors. After lunch, the Class of 2019 met with current students to learn about student organizations and on campus activities.

12:39 p.m.

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The true cost of education EDUCATION • from front According to Gibson, it would be good for students to understand the difference between subsidized and unsubsidized loans. “A subsidized loan is where the government will pay your interest while you’re in school versus an unsubsidized loan in which your interest is accumulated on your loan while you are in school,” Gibson said. These student loans come at a price, which is the interest that has to be paid on that loan. Recent graduates can find themselves in serious financial trouble if they fall behind on payments and default on their loans. “[Defaulting on loans] can destroy your credit, and it is extremely difficult to file bankruptcy to get out of student loans,” Gibson said. “During the period in which you’re not paying you are accumulating interest. You are liable. So your wages can be garnished and you can possibly lose your home.” McCraney and her husband have begun to take measures to chip away some of their debts in order to remain financially stable. “We began to take a financial peace class when we first got married. The ‘snowball effect’ is a strategy that we learned. Essentially you pay off the smallest loan first because those are the ones you can finish the fastest and will no longer be paying interest on those loans. Any extra money that we have goes towards that, and we are very committed. We have a strong budget that we both

agreed to. As soon as you get the first one paid off, you roll that entire payment to the second loan and you pay it off with that same intensity. It just keeps going like that.” According to Gibson, how students manage their loans while they are in college can have a significant impact on the payments and debt they have after graduating. He believes that while student loans may be viewed as taboo they aren’t a bad debt to have. “It’s the irresponsible use of student loans that is bad,” he said. “Many students will take out extra student loans to fund things like a spring break vacation or a car,” Gibson said. “Just things that are wants, but not necessarily needs. Sticking to the needs is a way to avoid using loans irresponsibly, which is covering tuition, housing and other school related expenses. For anything else get a part-time job to pay for it.” Consolidating loans as a recent graduate could be beneficial and make it more feasible to make payments toward debt. “With loan consolidation you could get a low interest rate and extend the repayment of this loan over a longer monthly period, which would result in lower monthly payments,” Gibson said. The website of The Project On Student Debt, a nonprofit dedicated to making college more affordable, reported that 71 percent of all students graduating from a four-year college in 2012 had student loan debt. “We are at this point in society when a lot of people go to school and the majority of people graduate with some debt,” McCraney said.

Carolyn Rennix | News Editor rennixc@mytjnow.com

McCraney, however, believes that the benefits of college outweigh the costs. “College and the expenses from those four years is so astronomical now, yet it so imperative to your life after graduation,” McCraney said. “It comes down to the value of education. Even though college is very expensive it is something that is priceless because no one can ever take your education from you.” While these loans burden college graduates, they have afforded many students the opportunity to go to college who may not have otherwise been able to. “Student loans can be viewed as you borrowing against your future income. Blair McCraney It provides someone Winthrop Graduate who may not have the means available to go to college to borrow from their future income,” Gibson said. “Once you start working, you’re going to pay it back. It is essentially moving your income across time.”

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Even though college is very expensive it is something that is priceless because no one can ever take your education from you.

April 23, 2015

Show Preview: “Project Two: Find Your Light” Theatre ensemble raises money, awareness for suicide prevention Carolyn Rennix rennixc@mytjnow.com There are over 1,000 suicides on college campuses each year, and nearly 1 out of 10 college students have made a plan to commit suicide, according to Emory University researchers. The Actual Performance Theatre Company will present their musical theatre ensemble, “Project Two: Find Your Light” to raise money and awareness for suicide prevention. The ensemble was conceived and directed by Winthrop University theatre majors Jonathan Hoskins and Jonathon Long. All proceeds made from the event will be donated to the To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA) organization. TWLOHA is a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. TWOLHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire and to invest directly into treatment and recovery, according to the organization’s official website. Sophomore theatre major Michelle Perri served as Project Two’s marketing and assistant stage manager. Perri said that she believes students should expect high quality

entertainment from a cast of incredibly talented actors. She said that the show has a great mix of uplifting “feel-good” songs as well as serious songs that display the message of suicide. “Every night I am overwhelmed by the talent and passion in the rehearsal room,” Perri said. “Throughout the whole process we have been talking about the message of light and hope and how the whole purpose of this show is about sharing our light with others to give them hope for a better tomorrow.” Perri said she believes it is important for college students to understand suicide and how society can help prevent it. “Suicide, suicide prevention and depression are topics that aren't easily and commonly discussed among college students, but I believe they should and can be,” Perri said. “As humans, we all reach rough patches in our lives, some more deep than others, but we also each hold a light that can shine on those struggling.” Perri also said that she hopes this show will help audiences understand that they are the light that can help someone with depression and suicidal thoughts. “The more we understand and are made aware of these topics, the more of a community we are able to build to help lift up people who need light in their lives,” she said. “The more we talk and teach about these topics, the less taboo it becomes, and the more help we can all provide.” The performances will be at the Gettys Center Courtroom in Downtown Rock Hill, April 24 at 11 p.m., and April 25 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets can be reserved through actualperformance@gmail.com or purchased at the door $8. Winthrop students will have $5 admission with their IDs.

Althea Holenko / The Johnsonian

Police Blotters: Driving under the influence 04/01/15 On the above date, the reporting officer was travelling south on Cherry Road at approximately 2 a.m. According to the report, the officer noticed an unidentified vehicle sitting in the Pub House parking lot with the lights on. After 15 minutes, the officer made a second trip by the restaurant and observed the same vehicle with the lights on. As the officer began to check the parking lot for a third time, he noticed the vehicle traveling down Charlotte Avenue at a high rate of speed. The officer then performed a traffic stop at the intersection of Charlotte Avenue and Peoples Place. The subject was identified as a 24-year-old male, unrelated to Winthrop University. The officer could tell that the subject had been drinking and performed a few field sobriety tests. According to the report, the subject showed four clues that he was under the influence of alcohol. After attempting three tests, the officer then advised the subject that he was under arrest for driving under the influence.

Public disorderly conduct 04/15/15

Althea Holenko / The Johnsonian

On the above date, the reporting officer was dispatched to Winthrop University sports complex in reference to a suspicious vehicle. Upon arrival, the reporting officer observed a Ford F-150 parked in the track and field parking lot with the engine running.

According to the report, the officer identified the driver, as a 20-year-old male, and the passenger driver, as a 21-yearold male. The officer could smell the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from the driver. He also observed an open can of beer in the center console cup holder and on the passenger seat floor. Both subjects admitted that they consumed the beer while sitting in the truck and waiting for a female acquaintance to meet them. The officer arrested both of the subjects for public disorderly conduct and open container of beer. They were transported to the Rock Hill City Jail.

Possession of beer under 21 04/18/15 On the above date, the reporting office was dispatched to Wofford Hall in reference to the odor of marijuana coming from the third floor. According to the report, the officer was able to identify the source of the odor upon arrival and knocked on the door to the suspected room. An 18-year-old female student answered the door, with the odor of marijuana coming from her dorm room. There was also 19-year-old female student and 19-year-old male unrelated to Winthrop inside the dorm room. According to the report, after the officer had permission to enter the dorm room and speak with the student, she admitted to using marijuana but not within the residence. After receiving verbal and written consent from the subjects, the reporting officer searched the room and found three opened beer cans in the fridge and a smoking pipe with small remnants of marijuana. There was no other testable amount of marijuana. All three subjects were issued a South Carolina Uniform Ticket for Possession of Beer under 21.

April 23, 2015

7 things you’re doing wrong with your technology Deborah Crocker crockerd@mytjnow.com

Not restarting. Phones, computers and tablets all need to be rebooted at least once a week to keep them running properly. If your machine or device has suddenly started behaving oddly, try a restart before you attempt any other fix. If you know you won’t be using your computer for several hours, shut it down before you leave. Leaving your electronics alone during updates. While it’s tempting to leave your device in your room while it updates, it’s better to stay with it until the update is completed. If something goes wrong during the update process, you’ll want to know exactly when and where the problem started to occur. This information will also assist the technicians if you need to take the device in for a repair. Letting dust build up in your computer or console. Buy a can of compressed air and use it on your fans, keyboard and any other orifice

at least once a month. This will help with any overheating issues, and will also keep your keys from becoming stuck with the amount of debris under them. Relying on one form of file saving. Don’t keep all of your work on a single flash drive or one folder on your computer. If something happens to either one, you’ll want to have a backup of your backup, especially for final projects and papers that you’re not going to have time to redo. Use online cloud storage or get a portable hard drive, and do your best to keep your portable storage devices clean and out of harm’s way. Failing to pay attention to what you download. Avoid opening mail from sources you’re unfamiliar with, and don’t download any kind of free software unless it comes from a trusted source. Get a virus protection program and keep it updated, but don’t let all of the

responsibility fall to the program when it comes to dodging viruses - if you’re smart about what you download, you shouldn’t need to worry. Not doing cleanups on your computer. A full hard drive can contribute to slowness, among other problems. Delete pictures, files and videos you no longer need, and uninstall the games you don’t play. Forgetting to sign out of

Apple releases over 500 culturally diverse emojis Deborah Crocker crockerd@mytjnow.com In an update released early April, iPhone users received Apple’s final version of their racially diverse emojis. The update included a number of new features in an effort to diversify emojis by popular request. Changes to the emoji system included: • 198 new flags; • 14 new families, including homosexual couples; • 60 new ‘people’ icons; • 4 updated objects, including the Apple Watch; • 285 racially diverse versions of the ‘people’ icons, and • 1 new hand gesture. The new skintones are based on the Fitzpatrick Scale, a recognized standard for dermatology. Any emoji that had a Caucasian skin tone prior to the update was given a bright yellow ‘non-human’

generic skin tone as the default, making it clear that those particular faces were not meant to represent a specific race or skin tone unless changed by the user. The hair, previously black, was also changed to the

characters for people and body parts are meant to be generic, yet following the precedents set by the original Japanese carrier images, they are often shown with a light skin tone instead of a more generic (nonhuman) appearance, such as a yellow/ orange color or a silhouette.” In addition to the extended skintones, Apple also changed the hair colors to make the characters look more human. For instance, very dark-skinned tones have black hair, while very light skin tones have blonde or dark brown hair. Deborah Crocker/The Johnsonian There is currently an online petition same shade of yellow. for Apple to include a “People all over the redheaded emoji, as it world want to have emoji appears to be missing from that reflect more human the options. diversity, especially for There are currently no skin tone,” the Unicode plans to include more Consortium said in a emojis as of 2015, but more technical report last may appear by request in year. “The Unicode emoji the future.

Deborah Crocker/The Johnsonian

Facebook on public computers. If you want to avoid getting pranked by friends or having your privacy violated by strangers, make sure you’re logged out of your Facebook or any other social media account if you’re using a public computer that can’t be shut down. This also goes for lab computers - you don’t want anyone using your print balance on campus.

If you’ve got bugs in your apartment, you may want to rethink your cleaning habits and methods. Don’t leave food on your desk for long periods of time, and try to take the trash out as soon as the bag is full. If you start to see ants, do a search around your room to make sure there’s no spilled food in the corners.

History of the Week April 23, 1564

According to tradition, the great English dramatist and poet William Shakespeare is born in Stratford-on-Avon on April 23, 1564. It is impossible to be certain the exact day on which he was born, but church records show that he was baptized on April 26, and three days was a customary amount of time to wait before baptizing a newborn. Shakespeare’s date of death is conclusively known, however: it was April 23, 1616. He was 52 years old and had retired to Stratford three years before. The events of William Shakespeare’s early life can only be gleaned from official records, such as baptism and marriage records. Today, nearly 400 years later, his plays are performed and read more often and in more nations than ever before. In a million words written over 20 years, he captured the full range of human emotions and conflicts with a precision that remains sharp today. As his great contemporary the poet and dramatist Ben Jonson said, “He was not of an age, but for all time.”

Gamers’ Corner: NetherRealm Studios’ “Mortal Kombat X” Philip Rucks rucksp2@winthrop.edu Ah, “Mortal Kombat” - the one game that help create the ESRB system in the early 90s has returned with the very much hyped “Mortal Kombat X.” Its brutal. It has a selfie fatality. It has Jason and Predator. And you know what? I love it! For those who don’t know, “Mortal Kombat” is one of the most popular fighting games of all time. The series is known for its gruesome fatalities and special moves that can obliterate opponents in different ways. “MKX” takes place 20 years after the events of “Mortal Kombat 9.” Some of the previous characters have aged and new characters have emerged for players to choose from. The game plays like “Mortal Kombat 9” but with the stage interactions of “Injustice: Gods Among Us.” In other words, players can grab objects on the side or if backed into the corner, they can wall jump in order to get away. But the newest feature to the series is the variation. Each character has

three variations that have different move sets. For instance Scorpion, a very popular character, has a Ninjutsu variation that uses dual swords or the Hellfire variation

During the campaign players take control of different characters with each chapter. I like this type of campaign mode, because it lets players try a character if they want

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that uses more fire-based moves. I love the new variations, because it not only it adds new challenge but also encourages players to try new tactics. Besides the multiplayer portion, “MKX” also has a campaign mode that continues the story of “MK9.”

to go through the campaign before going online. It offers various challenges to players to complete in a certain amount of time with certain conditions such as acid rain that damages both players. Lastly, there is the online mode and as of this review, still needs

Deborah Crocker | Science & Technology Editor crockerd@mytjnow.com

some work. I had a hard time trying to play with friends, even setting up a private match or lobby does not work most of the time. When I do get into a match, I run into so much lag that my attacks never go through. But the worst offender as a fighting game fanatic is the option to buy easy fatalities. Honestly it feels disrespectful to players to offer them an easier way to perform a finishing move. For example, instead of pressing four buttons you can pay $5 to just press two buttons. I understand some people are not good at fighting games, but to pay for a finishing move feels insulting to players. Despite the connection issues and paid fatality DLC, “Mortal Kombat” is a great game to play regardless of skill level. If you’re a fan of the series or fighting games in general I recommend picking up the game when the price drops. I love using the different variations. The campaign mode was fun, and the online is fun to play when it works. All I have to is say is, “Who’s next?”

SPORTS

theJohnsonian

April 23, 2015

Junior attacker Shannon Gallagher (6) celebrates with teammates after a goal during Winthrop’s 17-6 win over Liberty on Tuesday.

Eric Hammett / The Johnsonian

Seventh Heaven Gallagher nets season-high seven goals as women’s lacrosse captures Big South regular season title

Michael Owens owensm@mytjnow.com

The Eagles defeated the visiting Liberty Flames 17-6 in a game that was partially played on Sunday, but was restarted at Eagle Field on Tuesday afternoon due to rain. Liberty entered A big performance from Shannon Gallagher in as the last remaining undefeated team in was enough to lead the Winthrop women’s conference play, giving the Eagles the regular lacrosse program to a summit it had never season title in tiebreaker scenario. reached in its three-year history: a regular Sung said that getting to see the Flames just season conference championship. two days before made it easier to plan and The win gives the team a program-first sevenprepare for Tuesday’s matchup. game win streak and home field advantage for “If I can get a free look at you live, I’m going to next week’s Big South Conference Tournament. be able to find the seams and holes,” he said. “Three years ago we definitely set out to make The Eagles used that sneak preview to their a really good program,” Winthrop head coach advantage as they shot 70 percent from the field John Sung said. and won the shooting battle 25-20. Winthrop “This is the hard work that my staff has put in, also won 14 of the 24 total draw controls and had the kids have really bought in to what we’ve been 8 free position chances. Gallagher’s performance was ignited early in doing, and they’ve done a great job of bringing this program to where it is.” the first half, scoring three goals on three shots in the first five minutes to give the Eagles a 3-0 lead. “I just wanted to come out really hard. I knew we were so prepared for this game and I knew we had it in is,” she said. Winthrop continued with a goal from Abagail Blevins before Liberty scored two straight goals, including one that deflected off the stick of Winthrop goalie Alaina Girani. She called it a “fluke goal” after the game, and said that her defensive teammates helped her shrug it off rather quickly. She went on to tie her season-high of 13 Eric Hammett / The Johnsonian saves, and picked up three ground balls Freshman goalkeeper Alaina Girani makes one of her 13 saves on the day. as well. Winthrop quickly responded with on a

Michael Owens | Managing Editor owensm@mytjnow.com

drive and scored in the crease from Allie Yeager to make it a 5-2 game nearly fifteen minutes in. Both teams went nearly five minutes without a goal until Liberty struck on a pass play to cut the lead to two on a short-handed goal. Winthrop’s scoring drought ended on two scores in 40 seconds from Logan McCarthy and a shot from Krista Frowein that made it a fourgoal game. Gallagher would score one more time before the halftime buzzer, on a free position play with 2 seconds left that put Winthrop up 8-3 at the intermission. The Eagles took their scoring into the second half and continued to pressure the Flames, coming out of the gate scoring three straight goals as Gallagher added on to her goal total and Big South scoring leader Jenna Kasmarik got on the board. Winthrop took further control with five straight goals, as the Flames managed to score just twice in the final 2 minutes of the game. With the regular season title now in their grasp, the 14-2 Eagles now get set to face the defending tournament champion High Point, a team which the program has never beaten. Sung said that the team set out with a mission this year to defeat teams that had beaten them previously, and have done that so far with wins over Longwood and Cincinnati. “To have a chance at High Point on their own field, on their Senior Day is going to be really special for us and kind of set the tone for the conference championship,” he said. The Eagles and Panthers face off on Friday at 6 p.m.

7 April 23, 2015

Bryan Dillon / UNC Asheville Media Relations

The Winthrop men’s tennis team defeated Campbell 4-2 in Asheville, North Carolina to win their second straigh Big South Championship.

The Dynasty Continues Men’s tennis wins back-to-back Big South Championships, seventh overall

Michael Owens owensm@mytjnow.com The Winthrop men’s tennis team faced Campbell for the Big South Championship for the second straight year on Tuesday, and for the second straight year they came out victorious. The Eagles captured the program’s seventh overall conference crown by a 4-2 ﬁnal in Asheville, North Carolina, after going through

Radford in the quarterﬁnals and Liberty in the semiﬁnals just one day before. Winthrop took the doubles point as the duos of Dylan Comerford/Peter Nagovnak and Steven Patrick and Tremayne Mitchell won their sets, each by an 8-7 score to give the Eagles an early edge. The Camels stormed back early in the singles portion as Marthinus Visser defeated Michael Chen to tie things up before Comerford won his match to pull Winthrop back ahead.

Campbell’s Nicolas Rakitin tied things up again by defeating Patrick in their duel, but wins from Mitchell and a close win by freshman Ruben Franzanti clinched the title with a 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7-1) victory to send the Eagles back to the NCAA Tournament. Last year, the Eagles drew Duke in their regional and fell 4-0 in Durham, North Carolina. The selection show to reveal the ﬁeld for this year’s national tournament is scheduled for April 28 at 5 p.m.

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April 23, 2015

Painting brings Winthrop students and faculty together Daniel James jamesd@mytjnow.com Family. Brotherhood. Leadership. Creative Habitat, one of the Academic Success Communities in the Department of Residence Life, gave students and faculty a chance to give thanks to Winthrop University by inviting them to paint messages on a large mural in front of DiGiorgio

Photo by Daniel James / The Johnsonian Winthrop faculty member writes that her favorite part of Winthrop is the student body.

Campus Center on April 21. We wanted to give Winthrop students a chance to express themselves and show what Winthrop means to them,” said sophomore mass communication major and resident assistant Janay Reece. The resident assistants provided the paint and the banner. They also oﬀered treats to those that took the time to paint. Representatives of campus organizations such as Chi Omega and SAE also painted the banner. A faculty member also painted the words “Great Students” to show her appreciation to them. “I painted ‘WU Squad’,” said ﬁne arts major Garrett Bowman. “It’s what me and my friends yell when we’re rolling together. It’s catchy and outwardly represents what we see ourselves as.” Resident assistants awarded popsicles to students that took time out of their day to paint words or images on the banner. One of the resident assistants said

Photo by Daniel James / The Johnsonian A resident assistant writes that Winthrop University has been like a family to her. that they hope to put the completed banner at the front of the campus center in the near future. This event was made possible by specialized programming of Creative Habitat. Creative Habitat is a part of ASC and is devoted to exploring

creativity beyond the conﬁnes of classes, museums and music halls. The purpose of ASC is to house students on themed ﬂoors with other students having similar interests. Building locations of ASC changes from year to year.

Katherine Kinsey directs the inspiring and outstanding choral singers Beth West westb@mytjnow.com Intrigue, desire, passion all graced the Brynes auditorium stage on April 21. The Winthrop Chorale and Winthrop Chamber Singers is directed by Katherine Kinsey who said, “I love my job and I would not want to be doing anything else. Working with these students has given me so much joy and delight.” The ensembles performed several pieces that showcased each member’s talents all while displaying the ensemble’s use of harmonies and vocalization. Throughout every piece the students sounded as if they were one voice. The ﬁrst group to perform was the Winthrop Chamber Singers, a small group of Winthrop students who are extremely talented. The ﬁrst piece the Chamber Singers performed was “Eternal Ruler of the Ceaseless Round” written by Philip Lawson. During the performance the audience was mezmorized by the extraordinary harmonies and the deafening silence that was the end of the piece. Every piece perfromed thereafter displayed several musical attributes that every great choral group needs: breath control, tremendous communication between the director and each other, tonality, bel canto and

emotional connection. Before the Winthrop Chorale perfromed, professor Kinsey greeted the audience and began to give a forward for the hour long piece that the Chorale sang. “There are many movements, and the first portion is now currently on a Domino’s pizza commercial,” Kinsey said. “Carmina Burana,” written by Carl Orff, is a piece that was inspired by 24 medieval monk poems. These poems are very sensual, abrupt, suggestive and dramatic. Orff wrote the piece between 1935 and 1936. The piece has seven movements and 27 sub movements. Two of the titles for the movements are “Primo vere” (Spring) and “Cour d’amours” (Court of Love). Within these movements there were a lot of descriptive singing and suggestive tonalities. Myron Walker, a senior conducting major, had the first solo of the night and completely set the stage for the talent that this group possesses. Walker’s solo urged him to pour his heart out. In the “Cour d’amours” section there were strong sexual undertones and the idea that the piece had finally given in to the desires that may be. All of the soloists were impeccable. Some of the most notable soloists were: Josh Wald, junior choral

April 23 - Sudoku

Daniel James | A&C Editor jamesd@mytjnow.com

Photo courtesy of Samantha Molony Katherine Kinsey directs the Winthrop University Camber Singers for the piece “Carmina Burana.” music major, Necie Wolfe, senior choral music major, Hannah Jessup, music performance major and graduate assistant Zachary Hugo. Wald gave two solos, and in each one demonstrated immaculate breath control, an open and solid voice and incredible range and depth. Wolfe gave the audience a sweet and stunning performance while keeping character for her portion. Jessup and Walker performed remarkable solos together; the portion of the piece they sang involved themselves and the rest of the choir. This portion was extremely suggestive, as if to tell the audience that the climax would be reached at this point in the movement. Jessup performed the last solo of the night and gave an outstanding

run. She has an incredible range and was singing in one of the highest octaves that can be achieved. Overall, the entire performance was a fantastic way to showcase the talents of various Winthrop students. Similar to the brass ensemble event that was covered last week this concert shows that Winthrop’s Music Department is a breathtaking and intriguing department. The students are able to perform and show the Rock Hill and Winthrop communities how aspiring and talented university students are. The next music department performance will be April 23 at 7:30 p.m. in Byrnes auditorium; it is a free cultural event.

April 14 - Solution

Beth West | Assistant A&C Editor westb@mytjnow.com

April 23, 2015

Spring One Acts treat students to stories, old and new Brittany Rauch rauchb@mytjnow.com Winthrop University’s Department of Dance and Theater opened a series of One Act plays, directed by a group of advanced theater students on April 17. There were two groups, Group A and Group B, which performed their productions twice each throughout the weekend. The actors were a variety of theater and non-theater majors. The plays, chosen by the student directors, addressed diverse topics from romantic relationships to modern racial issues. Group A’s productions included “Relationtrip” written by Sharyn Rothstein and directed by Stacey Packer, “Coffee with God” written by Kal Wagenheim and directed by Trey King, “Cleansed” written by Thomas Bradshaw and directed by Quiante Jefferies, “Everything Else” written by Julian Sheppard and directed by Justin Marcell and “Red Locks” written and directed by Winthrop theatre major Jesse Pritchard. In “Relationtrip,” three companions—Carrie, Julie, and Eric—embark on a journey to a friend’s wedding. On the way, they meet a mutual friend of the groom, Owen. While Julie and Owen grow closer, Carrie and Eric’s relationship

becomes strained as they begin to discuss the future and their views on love. What starts as a curiosity about the significant parts of a long-lasting relationship quickly turns into a tense argument and the crumbling of Carrie and Eric’s two-year relationship. In “Coffee with God,” a young man, Kal, meets God in a diner where they have a long conversation about why Kal’s been missing service. The story delves into the past of Kal’s parents, the death of his mother and the absence of his father. Kal discovers some things about God and himself, coming to terms with religion as a part of his life. Many audience members were uncomfortable with the subject of Bradshaw’s “Cleansed.” The play reflected some stigmas against Asian and African American cultures. A young girl is convinced to turn her back on her father and half of her heritage. Even when some people in her life, such as her mother, father and friend, try to pull her back from the edge. Others push her to commit a crime that she can never undo. In “Everything Else,” couple dresses for a special occasion and as they prepare to leave, they begin to argue about minor problems— such as the importance or attractiveness of a particu-

larly large hat—that quickly turns into more prominent issues that reveal the insecurity and possible unfaithfulness between the couple. A young boy, Sam, and his mother move from one town to the next due to rumors surrounding the mother’s association with a young man in “Red Locks.” Jacob is told about this new ‘Samantha’ who has moved into the community by this friend Lucas. Jacob, wanting to keep another promiscuous female at bay, is looking for love in this ‘Samantha.’ After a series of events that lead to Sam’s escape from his overprotective mother and Jacob’s discovery of Sam’s true gender, leaving Jacob questioning his orientation. The hard work of the actors, student directors, and stage managers was evident. All actors presented skillful presence on stage. The light and sound crew worked together cohesively with their peers in order to allow the showcase to go off without any technical problems. Group B’s productions consisted of “A Game” written by Dennis Noble, directed by Sara Bruce, “Feet of Clay” written by David Caudle, directed by Tessa Zimmerman, “The Imaginary Friend Support Group” written by Lee Mack, directed by Jasmine Gunter, “Born to be Blue” written by

Theatre raises hunger awareness Jami Hodgins hoginsj@mytjnow.com Honors 204 raised social awareness about hunger by putting on a devised theatre production in Dina’s Place on April 14. The production followed the course of a day in the life of the Johnston family, a seemingly average, middle-class family struggling with hunger. In the opening scene, the disabled husband and his wife were sitting at the table and the wife revealed that she had been considering selling her car in order to buy food and pay the bills, but she needed it to get to work. Oftentimes, middle-class families have to determine what sacrifices are necessary in order to meet their needs. The second scene followed their daughter, Gabby, to school where she could not pay attention because of the hunger she suffered. Hunger was personified as its own character, harassing her to the point where she became irritable and disruptive in class. Facts about the impacts of food insecurity on school-aged children were presented, as well as ways in which it could be prevented. Next, Alex, the father, went to the grocery store with only $20 to buy his family’s food for the week and was faced with the dilemma of whether he should buy foods he knew his family enjoyed or foods that would be of greater value for his budget. Again, hunger was personified, and it advocated snack foods and indulgence of the treats that most individuals of higher socioeconomic classes take for granted. The audience learned that most of those suffering from hunger also suffer nutrient deficiency due to their inability to intake foods that are rich in essential nutrients, because they tend to purchase cheaper

foods despite the lack of nutritional value. After this scene, several audience members were selected to participate in a game show where the three contestants were asked to select items from an assortment of foods without going over a budget of $1, $5 and then $10. The contestants also guessed the answers to questions about the statistics of hunger worldwide. The winner of each round was the contestant who stayed under budget and had accumulated the most calories per dollar with their selected items. In the fourth scene, Claudia, the mother, was at work at Applebee’s. While her coworkers gossiped about her in hushed tones out of her earshot, she contemplated stealing uneaten food from the tables she was waiting and taking it back to her family. The potential social effects of hunger were presented as the audience was enlightened on how people suffering from hunger tend to withdraw from social activities they would normally enjoy. Oftentimes, people are unaware of those around them who are going hungry and will make other assumptions about their behavior changes. In the final scene, the family was back in their home reflecting on the day’s events and wondering where their next meals were going to come from. Alex ultimately said that he would rather be lower-class and well-fed than middle-class and starving. The production ended with Gabby asking the summarizing question, “What’s for dinner?” Those who attended this cultural event left with an increased awareness of the nutritional, financial, educational and social ramifications of hunger and how the issue, often overlooked among those around us, impacts an increasing number of individuals every day.

Mark Bellusci, directed by Rodrick Freitas, “Stay Carl Stay” written by Peter Tolan, written by Nora Webb and “The Proposal” written by Anton Chekhov and translated by Paul Schmidt, directed by Riley Ketcham. A doctor decides to play a game on borders and land rights in “A Game.” She has 3 participants. Each has equal parts of land and must say “this is my land. It is mine. It is beautiful¸ and it is mine” at different intervals. Each is driven to desire more land as the game goes on. This play satirizes societal views on ownership. “Feet of Clay” depicts two men in a fishing cabin, Vaughn and Clay. Vaughn has a foot fetish and convinces Clay to let him take sexual photos of Clay’s feet. Clay accepts money from Vaughn to keep quiet. “The Imaginary Friend Support Group” threw a curve-ball at the audience. At first the audience is tricked into thinking that a woman is the therapist for a group of imaginary friends, but in reality, each of the members of the support group are her imaginary friends. “Born to be Blue” is about parents who have become disillusioned with white collar life and business success and encourage their child to succeed at underachieving in life. They raise their child

to aspire to blue collar work such as driving trucks. Eventually he gains a scholarship to Harvard, to being born an overachiever. In “Stay Carl Stay” a woman, dominated by her boyfriend, seeks help from a therapist, who recommends that she get a dog to keep her company. The dog turns out to be a talking dog and she learns why her other relationships aren’t working out as a result of her relationship with the dog. A man named Chubukov proposes marriage to his long-time neighbor’s 25-year-old daughter, Natalia in “The Proposal.” He proposes, but starts an argument about an area of land. The woman’s father is angered by the proposal, but Natalia defends him. The two get into another argument immediately afterward and her father forces her to accept, which in turn leads to another argument. The experience was one of student, family and faculty support. Directors, actors and other various parties expressed their enjoyment and their anticipation of a larger production in the future. Winthrop University’s Theater and Dance department does present its students and their talents in the One Act festival every semester and will continue to do so in the future.

50 Shades of Jane

for that can be a sign that a person could be abusive if in a relationship. People who are violent in general “When I saw the title “50 tend to be abusive to their Shades of Jane,” I couldn’t partners as well. They help but think that is what could have possessive or it is like for a person who controlling behavior and is in an abusive relationuse kindness to ship… there is be manipulanot any black tive. They tend or white left, to have trust it’s just shades issues and of gray,” said push for Beverly Hola serious brook, victim relationship services counvery quickly, selor. because in Plain Jane reality, they hosted “50 do not care Shades of about their Jane” in partner Owens G01 to enough to Carrie Morphis teach students get to know Victims Service Coordinator about domesthem on a tic violence, serious level. how to catch When one is in an abuthe warning signs and what sive relationship, they may to do if one witnesses dofind it difficult to get out. It mestic violence, on April 15. is estimated that individu“Scarily, domestic vioals who are in an abusive lence is one of the leading relationship attempt to causes of injury for women leave around seven times ages 15 to 44. More combefore finally break free mon than auto accidents, from their partner. muggings or cancer comIf a student at Winthrop bine,” said Carrie Morphis, believes that they are in an victim service coordinator. abusive relationship, please According to Morphis, contact Victims Assistance there are various forms at 803.323.2206. If one of abuse that can happen witnesses abuse, call secuin a relationship, includrity or report the crime on ing: physical, sexual and Winthrop LiveSafe applicaemotional abuse, as well as tion. threats and stalking. There Christine Buckley buckleyc@mytjnow.com

“”

Domestic violence is one of the leading causes of injury to women ages 15 to 44.

are many red flags to look

April 23, 2015

Raising sexual assault awareness at Winthrop Trey Stokes Opinion Editor

DENIM • from front In its annual safety report, campus police said that “[a]lthough Winthrop University has experienced a significantly lower incidence of rape, burglary, assault and acts of criminal trespass than has the surrounding community, we must honestly state that such incidents can and do occur.” According to Steele’s research, however, when taking underreporting into account, Winthrop’s rate of sexual assault is “obviously higher than the national average, which does not reflect well on the safety of our campus.” On college campuses nationwide, more than 90 percent of sexual assaults go unreported. Winthrop, unfortunately, is no different. Of the sexual assaults reported on the surveys, Steele found that about 93 percent of them were unreported to law enforcement and 95 percent of them were unreported to the school. Men face huge stigma as victims of sexual assault. In our society, there still remains the idea that men are physically impossible to sexually assault. However, anyone can be taken advantage of and be hurt just as deeply psychologically regardless of gender — as a victim of sexual assault myself, I can attest to this. In addition to the shame and self-blaming, many men face a societal stigma that they will be considered as less of a man if they admit to being taken advantage of by a woman or another man. “The two closest men to me in my life have both been sexually assaulted. There needs to be some kind of education towards men that isn’t

just ‘don’t rape’ — although they need to better educate on that too.” Steele says she plans to provide suggestions to various parts of the Winthrop administration and community regarding their response and attitude toward sexual assault on campus: campus police, student life and Greek life, among others. “I think they should improve their education past just the ‘Not Anymore’ video,” she said. “I suggested more emphasized components in ACAD that involved student volunteers speaking to classes and telling their personal stories.” Steele also wants to emphasize outreach to male victims. “I feel that any resources made available to women should be made available to men, like the Rape Aggression Defense courses.” In addition to prevention, she wants to make reporting sexual assaults as easy as possible for victims. “I suggest more streamlined methods of reporting that don’t require the victim to continuously have to relive the experience by telling the story to multiple people. Maybe a detailed questionnaire that would cover any questions any oﬃcials would need. Then it’d be in writing and the person would only have to do it once.” In summary, Steele wants to get the message across to the university that there is a huge problem that needs to be addressed — a bigger problem, perhaps, than they think. “I feel as though it isn’t ridiculous for me to expect a certain degree of safety on my campus.”

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I feel as though it isn’t ridiculous for me to expect a certain degree of safety on my campus. Graphic courtesy of Peace Over Violence

A farewell to Winthrop University

Trey Stokes Opinion Editor When I arrived at Winthrop nearly four years ago, I was a 16-year-old know-it-all who always did well in (home)school, but did not have much (or any) real social skills. I was homeschooled since third grade and graduated two years early, which made me, if not the youngest person in my class, the second youngest. I was planning to be a nutritionist,

which was in fact the biggest reason I had come to Winthrop in the first place — a great Human Nutrition program. However, I soon found the required chemistry to be untenable. A general education Spanish class, however, wakened me to my real passion. In Dr. Catalina Adams’ SPAN 202 class, I discovered my passion for languages. Today, Spanish is my major and Dr. Adams is both my mentor and my friend. Dr. Adams also convinced me to study abroad in her home country of Costa Rica. My study abroad experience in fall 2013 at the age of 18 truly was my coming-of-age. It was intensely difficult — but I recommend it to everyone. It sounds cliche, but sometimes getting lost in a foreign country is the best way to find yourself. My on-campus job as a tutor

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wakened me to my desire to pursue a career in Spanish higher education. During my first semester, I recall walking into the offices of the Academic Success Center to ask for a job. Unfortunately, Michelle Wolf, the director of the ASC, said that I had to have passed a class with a “B” first in order to tutor it. Four years later, Michelle is another Winthrop faculty member who I call my “Winthrop mom.” I began writing for this rag during my freshman year, writing the occasional op-ed or news story. After I returned from Costa Rica, I decided to put my grammar Nazi-esque tendencies to good use by becoming a copy editor. One interview later, and I stand before you all as opinion editor — a position that has awakened my love for feature writing and sexuality

Editor-in-Chief ADARRELL GADSDEN gadsdena@mytjnow.com Managing Editor MICHAEL OWENS owensm@mytjnow.com Webmaster REAGAN MARTIN martinr@mytjnow.com News Editor CAROLYN RENNIX Assistant News Editor CATHERINE LOWE

journalism. My senior year saw me ﬁnally confront my struggles with depression and anxiety with the constant support of Health and Counseling Services and, more speciﬁcally, my counselor Beverly Holbrook. Looking back, I can see that Winthrop University had its hand in every major event and process that has developed me into the person I am today. Throughout my four years here, Winthrop has always been the gorgeous, silent (and sometimes not-so-silent) background for my growth as a student, professional and — most importantly — as a person. As much as I love Winthrop, though, it’s time to graduate and move on. But I will never, ever forget what it’s done for me.

Opinion Editor TREY STOKES

Director of Digital Information JACOB HALLEX

Arts & Culture Editor DANIEL JAMES

Ad Manager AVERY OWENS

Science & Technology Editor DEBORAH CROCKER

Graphic Designer ALTHEA HOLENKO

Copy Editors FRANCES PARRISH ADAM MATONIC RACHEL SHAFFER

Faculty Adviser GUY REEL

theJohnsonian

Communication in the age of social media

Adam Matonic Copy Editor Is there a rift between the self you display on social media and the self you return to each night before bed? Is there a divide between your social media presence being an authentic representation of who you are and being an amped-up, hyper-likable persona? Many millennials today are losing themselves in the Internet. A three-fold issue comes up: millennials relying too heavily on social media as their primary source of validation, millennials tailoring their personalities in ways to garner more Internet attention and lastly the impediments to communication the Internet causes for all generations. Millennials have begun planning their own nostalgia, adapting their present-moment behavior in a way that best serves to romanticize their online selves in an instant cyber-memory. This removes emphasis from experiencing the present moment to the fullest extent and places it on squeezing new experiences into a bite-size, pixelated package. The instant feedback loop that takes place when we post something online can mess with our self-esteem. There is often a sense of validation that arises when the likes flood in and a sense of self-doubt when they don’t. I’m hard-pressed to find many millennials who are immune to the quirks social media has imbedded in our conditioning. Our infatuation with social media is caused by the very human condition of being most motivated by pleasure. We naturally gravitate toward and utilize what makes us feel good. In a 2012 Harvard study, researchers found that feedback from self-disclosure on social

April 23, 2015

media stimulates the pleasure centers in the brain. Pleasure’s opposite, of course, is pain; and I’ve met some who have become disenchanted, discouraged and depressed when the likes and follows prove hollow and of no lasting value. The feeling of forlorn comes from placing too much stock in the Internet as means for validation. The encouragement to selfdisclose, in my experience, has also altered the way we communicate face-to-face. The monologue has become a fixture in Western culture, where each person alternates talking about themselves until both run out of stuff to say. No commonality is fleshed out and nothing is really related. So, despite two people being in the same room with their smart phones put aside, there’s a feeling of isolation to the way social media is conditioning us to communicate. The Internet, the most connective technology in human history, is actually altering our ability to connect even when we’re not texting at the dinner table. The Internet definitely has its place. Instant access to information is a gift to all living in these times. Online communities can be extremely helpful and supportive. But it’s time to stop living on the Internet’s terms and start using it on our terms. The key to overcoming some of this conditioning is to remember who you were before it all took hold. Remember the warmth of connectivity when real, empathetic conversations were had. Remember your core self that long pre-dates Facebook and Instagram. Become your own source of validation, and remember that no one is their conditioning alone. Real connection takes vulnerability. It may be harder today than ever before, but all humans have the courage to be vulnerable even if that courage has atrophied some over time. There’s an essential need for humans to share who they really are with other people, and it’s time to ditch the personas, unlearn the conditioning and start having real relationships again.

They also serve...

Dave Birley Staff Writer There is a corny old saying : “They also serve who stand and wait.” The point of the saying is a reference to people who work in restaurants and are referred to now as “servers,” but in years gone by they were called “waiters.” One might even be tempted to turn the old saw on its ear and say “They also wait who stand and serve”. Actually, though, I have no desire to discuss either the restaurant business or the acrimonious debate about minimum wage. As I recall I did touch on that subject in a past column. No, my thrust here is to draw attention to a totally different group of people. Memorial Day is only a month or so away, but when it arrives, Winthrop will be on summer hiatus, and there will be no Johnsonian for my soapbox. The people to whom I refer are related to the military. However, again, I am not referring to the folks who carry guns and try not to get shot at or blown up. I refer to a vast group who are almost invisible to the world at large and the general population at home. I refer to the military support personnel. Every military person who carries a gun needs certain things to be able to do so. Ammunition comes to mind immediately. Someone has to receive the ammunition at some central storehouse, inventory it, determine who gets what and then arrange for it to be sent to the person with the rifle. That means that someone has to transport it. But someone had to transport it to the military storehouse. Did it get there by ship or by plane? Who was on the ship or plane? How did it get loaded on the ship or plane? Are you beginning to see

a pattern of the “invisible” force here? And that is only ammunition. Now let’s extend our view a little. Napoleon Bonaparte is said to have observed once that an army marches on its stomach. The food has to be supplied, stored, distributed to cooking facilities and somebody there has to cook it. MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) get old in a hurry. Being on a firing line is hungry work. So now we have ammunition and food. Obviously close behind those there has to be the medical staff. The old TV show “M*A*S*H” did an amazing job of portraying truthfully a great deal of what the field medical team’s life is like. And that team, in turn, needs to be supplied. And behind all this, someone has to keep track of things. Record keeping is a necessity. Who, what and where don’t happen by chance. Generals cannot get their job done without knowing that kind of information – and quickly. And then we must remember that all of these personnel are on deployment. They are away from their homes and their families — often for months, sometimes for a year and more. And many of them serve multiple deployments. And while they serve, their families are without them. Little kids don’t have a daddy to romp with them. Nowadays, it is not uncommon for little kids to have no mommy at home to cuddle with them, sing lullabies to them and nurture them. Folks, this Memorial Day, will you please make a special extra effort to reach out to all you can find who are in the military, or in the homes waiting for their loved ones to return. Maybe “Thank you for serving” is a bit less than what we should offer. How about really reaching out and offering to take the family for a trip up the Blueridge Parkway, to the Columbia zoo or any number of other places. How about kicking that up a notch and “adopting” a military family not just for the day, but long term. That would be a Memorial Day celebration that could last for years.

April 23, 2015