January 27th, 2011 Issue

WHY WAIT TILL THURSDAY? READ MYTJNOW.COM.

Celebrity look-a-likes on campus?

Winthrop as a Movie is back.

See A&E, page 9

THURSDAY January 27, 2011

Find out why international students come to Winthrop.

See Culture, page 12

WINTHROP UNIVERSITY

NEWS

Issue 15

HEALTH & SCIENCE

WU makes team effort to prevent campus tragedy

BY JONATHAN MCFADDEN

Want to vote for your student body president? Find out how.

See News, page 5

SKIN CELLS

fice of the Dean of Students and Health and Counseling Services, that meets each Wednesday morning.

Their method: scour police reports involving students and provide a systemic approach to students whose behavior may be disruptive and harmful to themselves or to the Winthrop community, said Bethany Marlowe, dean of students.

Some issues require cutand-dry solutions, such as underage drinking.

Others are medical in nature, such as a student injury needing a follow-up. In instances such as these, Residence Life checks up on injured students if they live in the residence halls. Injured off-campus students usually receive a call from either Sean Blackburn, assistant dean of students, or from Marlowe herself.

When a concerned student or faculty member has safety

mcfaddenj@mytjnow.com

Winthrop is equipped to deal with a Jared Loughner on campus.

Students with disruptive behavior found violating Winthrop’s code of conduct or struggling with major psychological disorders win the attention of Winthrop’s behavioral intervention team.

In light of Loughner’s recent shooting rampage in Tucson, Ariz., Winthrop’s assessment team is already in place and ready to take action if the need arises.

The threat-response group consists of Campus Police, Health and Counseling Services and the Office of the Dean of Students and provides only the second line of defense in preventing campus-wide disaster at the hands of a student.

The first line: the Weekly Critical Incident Review Team , a group made up of Campus police, Residence Life, the Of-

See BEHAVIOR page 3 NEWS

Making budget helps students stay out of debt, professor says

BY CLAIRE BYUN byunc@mytjnow.com

College can create a black hole in students’ wallets, but many ways exist to prevent getting too deep in debt.

Many students rely on loans to pay their way through school, while some earn enough scholarships to stay debt free. However, the temptation of credit cards continuously looms over students’ heads, causing some to fall deep into liability.

“Students should avoid student loans,” Kenlie Berry, Finance Club president, said.

“Work as hard as you can and as many jobs as you need while you are in school.”

Creating financial debt can cause problems later in life, especially when making major purchases, such as a car or house, said Berry, a senior corporate finance major.

She also said credit cards should be circumvented.

“Students must avoid credit cards at all cost,” Berry said.

“Once you start one card, you pay it off with another card, and the debt snowballs out of con-

Senior biology major Joseph Bursey studies the cells of a flatworm to learn about skin cell replacement. He named a new species of flatworm and is working on describing it so that other scientists can identify it. Photo by Stephanie Eaton • eatons@mytjnow.com

Students use worms to learn about skin cell replacement

BY AMANDA PHIPPS phippsa@mytjnow.com

Skin cells replace themselves and contribute to house dust.

Through the process of mitosis, skin replaces itself cell-by-cell from under the surface, biology professor Julian Smith, III said. As new cells are made, old ones are shed from the skin’s surface and contribute to what is commonly referred to as “house dust.” Skin cells are shed on a person’s bath towel, clothes or anything around them.

Mitosis produces new skin cells, makes the proteins and waterproofing compounds a skin cell needs, establishes mechanical connections to surroundng cells to provide strength and then sheds the cells from the skin’s sur-

face, Smith said. Given that a person has no skin diseases or tumors, this process takes 28 days.

“Because of evolution, we expect the genetic mechanisms that coordinate the production of new skin cells to be quite similar across all animals,” Smith said.

Smith works with students to study this process in two worm-like species that easier to work with than mice and are less expensive, he said.

“They are small, less than four millimeters long, but reproduce very rapidly by a form of asexual fission,” he said. “When they are wellfed, they reproduce every two to four days, so they are making new skin cells very rapidly.”

Currently, Smith is at the Institute of Zool-

See SKIN page 7

See DEBT page 2 SPORTS

Diverse team heads for another conference-winning season Sophomore Giovanna Portiolli returns a close net volley during a doubles match on Jan. 15.

The women’s team beat both the Hampton Pirates and the Wofford Terriers that day.

Photo by Stephanie Eaton • eatons@mytjnow. com

BY DAVID THACKHAM thackhamd@mytjnow.com

When it comes to the Winthrop tennis program, being an American is a rarity.

In fact, on both the men’s and women’s team combined, there is only one American-born player.

Dejon Bivens, political science major and one-year veteran of the team, could be forgiven if he had entered the team, quietly went about his own business and let his international teammates bond with each other. But that’s not how Bivens was raised.

“I come from the Charlotte area,” said the junior, “which is a mecca of different cultures, so I’m interacting in a place

Questions? Contact us at editors@thejohnsonian.com Serving Winthrop since 1923

I N D E X

CAMPUS NEWS OPINION HEALTH & SCIENCE

2-5 6 7-8

where there are different people than you.”

It’s no small wonder why Bivens came to Winthrop, then. The men’s tennis team is comprised of six different countries, stretching the globe from Brazil to Japan.

The key to having every player on the same page, despite the language and cultural barriers, is through their one true commonality. “[Tennis] crosses borders, it brings people together…as a unit,” said Bivens.

“Our team is like a family; we really bond together and that’s one of our strengths.

When you feel good about your teammates and want to win for your univer-

See TENNIS page 13

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CULTURE SPORTS

9-11 12 13-15

2

CLAIRE BYUN News Editor byunc@mytjnow.com JONATHAN MCFADDEN Assistant News Editor mcfaddenj@mytjnow.com

THURSDAY January 27, 2011

Winthrop dedicates performance lab in honor of pioneer at celebration of life President DiGiorgio unveils a memorializing picture of former faculty member Mary Roland Griffin during her Celebration of Life ceremony. A perfromance lab in the West Center was dedicated to her memory.

Photo by Stephanie Eaton • eatons@ mytjnow.com

By Kaitlyn Schallhorn schallhornk@mytjnow.com

Mary Roland Griffin was once a student here at Winthrop University. She was an integral part of Winthrop’s faculty, devoted family member, innovative coach and the only female athletics director in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletes (NAIA).

But even more than that, she was a woman of strong influence.

Griffin died January 3 from cancer, but her impact on Winthrop and the surrounding community was proven exponentially Friday, Jan. 21. If the dedication of the Mary Roland Griffin Human Performance Lab was not significant proof of her legacy, the large crowd of people gathered at her memorial service held in the West Center certainly spoke volumes.

A Celebration of Life was held in honor of Griffin and her life at Winthrop. Friends and family recalled both humorous and touching memories—including numerous tales of her coaching days, lessons taught to students and interactions with her family.

The ceremony eventually resorted to standing room only. The crowd was gathered to “memorialize a life that truly matters,” said Dr. Anthony

DiGiorgio, Winthrop University’s president.

DiGiorgio opened the celebration with a brief history of Griffin’s revolutionary influence over women’s basketball. Her team still holds Winthrop’s only 20-game winning streak record, he said.

“Winthrop was her second home,” recalled Dr. Sarah Griffin, niece to Mary Roland Griffin.

Griffin attended Winthrop as a student and later became integrated as a part of the faculty in 1966, where her work that irrevocably impacted the lives of students began. Dr. Charles Bowers, physical education, sport and human performance professor at Winthrop, recalled Griffin as a hard worker dedicated to her students.

The theme resonating throughout the entire ceremony was made evident with Judy Rose, who played under Griffin’s coaching from 197074. Griffin was always about those around her, never about herself, she said.

Griffin’s memorial ceremony concluded with the unveiling of her picture, which will hang next to the newly dedicated Dr. Mary Roland Griffin Human Performance Lab. “Winthrop is a significantly better place to have known [Griffin] for so long,” DiGiorgio said.

Students can seize control of credit card debt debt • from front pay it off with another card, and the debt snowballs out of control.”

Berry knows the money-spending mentality all too well.

As a freshman, she made weekly purchases at the Ralph Lauren store in Charlotte, thinking she should compete to be well-dressed and show off her money.

“It took me about $10,000 later to realize that no one notices,” Berry said.

Instead, saving financial resources in place of impressing people became her main goal. Her future matters more than a sweater, she said.

“As college students, we are supposed to be working toward our futures,” Berry said. “Starting to save is just as great of a way to prepare as anything.”

Unlike Berry, one Winthrop professor advises students to open up a credit account, but use the temptation wisely.

“All college students should work on establishing or improving their credit history while in school,” Mike Evans, executive professor of finance, said. “It’s

“” A student should

take a financial snapshot of where they are and make a balance sheet Mike Evans

Executive professor of finance

important to get off to a good start with respect to managing expenses, and one of the keys is to live within your means.”

Establishing positive credit history doesn’t necessarily mean having to make major purchases; using credit to buy small things, such as gas, will help in the long run, Evans said.

“Only use the card when you are confident you can pay the balance in full at the end of the month,” Evans said. “You don’t want to carry balance from month to month.”

Transferring credit from month to month allows the balance to build interest, only increasing the amount to be paid back. If the full tally is paid at the end of the month, no interest can build, thus decreasing payments.

Evans also suggests using a credit card

to pay for fixed expenses, such as rent.

Because fixed payments must be made every month, building good credit is just a bonus.

“It takes some discipline,” Evans said.

“A student should take a financial snapshot of where they are and make a balance sheet.”

A balance sheet is composed of both assets and liabilities. Assets are items with exchange value, meaning they can be sold, while liabilities are debts.

Subtracting liabilities from assets totals a student’s net worth.

“It’s not uncommon for a student to have negative net worth at this point in the game,” Evans said, “particularly for students who have student loans.”

The best way to control finances while in school, Evans said, is to create a bud-

get and stick to it, especially for those without a fixed income.

“Ultimately, the goal is to look at the amount coming in versus the amount going out,” Evans said. “And if the amount going out is more than the amount going in, go back to the variables and find out where you can decrease spending.”

Need help controlling your finances?

Evans suggests reading USA Today’s “Money” page or using free online tools, such as mint.com, to make a budget.

“And of course you can take my finance 101 class,” Evans said.

Finance rules to follow:

Tips and tricks from financial professor Mike Evans

1) Establish a budget- plan your monthly expenses ahead of time, accounting for rent, groceries, and other fixed payments.

2) Stick to the budget- Keep track of your expenses and try not to splurge on the new Ipod or Air Jordans. According to Evans, “it’s important to monitor what you spend and compare it to your budget.”

3) Establish a cash emergency fund- Stash away any amount of money, whether in a lockbox or savings fund, for emergencies such as car repairs or hospital bills. “Every student should have money set aside that they can really tap into during an emergency,” Evans said.

3

THURSDAY January 27, 2011

Triple team works against campus threats BEHAVIOR • from front concerns about another student, Marlowe encourages them to contact campus police.

“You can get an escort to your car, you can have campus police respond to the student to find out if there is a threat that’s involved,” Marlowe said.

The other option is to contact the dean of students office, where either Marlowe or Blackburn will seek the best possible method to address any student’s problems.

New faculty members receive training on how to handle situations in which students may display disruptive behavior in the classroom.

“We’ve been doing this for a long time so it’s not like we came up with this after Tucson or after Virginia Tech,” Marlowe said.

Each year, Marlowe holds a staff retreat and goes over sexual assault protocol and threat assessment protocol.

Student affairs staff and student leaders who work closely with Marlowe and Blackburn are among those who learn about the protocol.

The team also works with residence life closely, training RAs RLCs, orientation leaders and peer mentors in the

Graphic by McKenna Brandon • Special to The Johnsonian protocol, as well as encour aging them to act as safety nets for their residents or health. atric disorders, such as schizophrenia or Campus recovery students.

“Sometimes I’ll go back to middle bipolar disorder, the assessment team Staff that work in the residence halls After a traumatic event, how does the school or elementary school to get a sense works together to help students and their are able to work with students, who may of who this person is and patterns to his parents gain access to other resources campus cope? be dealing with stress, on lower levels and The answer lies in a multiple-thronged behavior,” said Sankofa, staff psycholo- that may be able to help. aid in preventing that stress from exacergist with and representative of health and For Sankofa, the care the team provides effort from the assessment team. bating. counseling services for the assessment is just as important as the prevention.

As priority e-mails explaining trauma Not only is residence life an invaluable team.

Even if students no longer attend Winand encouraging open dialogue are circuresource, but Winthrop’s faculty provides Sankofa performs an assessment on throp, the team still follows-through with lated to the student body, all three acting further support. the student, but doesn’t perform a clinithem and their parents and offer them bodies of the assessment team analyze “Our faculty is very caring,” Marlowe cal diagnosis because a diagnosis must more help. the situation from different aspects. said.

“That’s the key, we care--it’s about the Campus Police analyzes any possible remain confidential.

Marlowe said that she gets a lot of calls Health and Counseling Services cannot care of the student,” Sankofa said. “It’s crimes from the student’s offense. Health from faculty concerned that particular mandate counseling, but they can legally not about getting rid of a student but supand Counseling Services examines the students may not succeed or fulfill their and ethically mandate up to four assessporting that student throughout.” student’s mental health. The office of academic potential due to the stress they ment sessions for the student, Sankofa the dean of students looks at the student deal with.

Dean of Students himself and possible resources and sup- said.

Whether from residence life, health Once a student establishes a profesport available. and counseling services or faculty and Even if an offense is not a crime, it can In addition, each part of the assess- sional relationship with health and counstaff, the overall goal is prevention, Marseling services, that student becomes an still constitute a violation of Winthrop’s ment team has a different set of responlowe said. official client of one of the counselors and student conduct code, Marlowe said. sibilities.

“We’re not looking to send somebody confidentiality kicks in.

Disruption of classes, seminars and to jail or do some kind of drastic action,” With that, a counselor can not go back research projects is the first prohibited Campus Police Marlowe said. to the weekly incident meetings and talk behavior in the student conduct code and A majority of the time, students who Chief of Campus Police Frank Zebedis specifics about the individual’s diagnosis remains priority for the dean of students display disruptive behaviors are stressed office, according to guidelines given to all represents campus police on the assess- or psychological state, Sankofa said. out and have reached their boiling point, Code of ethics from the American Psyfaculty. ment team and said his role is to gather as Marlowe added. chological Association (APA) and the Faculty are encouraged to consult much information via investigation.

In those cases, Marlowe herself makes American Counseling Association (ACA) the dean of students whenever in doubt “After we have all the facts and inforcontact with the student and talks with maintain that psychologists have a priabout a student’s behavior and call cammation, the situation is assessed,” Zebethem in an attempt to provide help. mary obligation to protect confidential pus police for any behavior that seems dis said. information obtained through and stored threatening.

Zebedis also gives his professional inAssessment team in any particular medium.

The Dean of Students office also acts as put when necessary.

“That is foremost as counselors,” a judicial force capable of giving students “Each situation is different and reStill, there exist issues that can’t wait to Sankofa said.

“It’s like protecting the sanctions or assigning them community quires different levels of input or involvebe addressed on Wednesdays. health and welfare of that person.” service as a punishment. ment,” he said.

When those situations rear their heads, Yet, counselors are allowed to talk In the end, Zebedis collectively makes the assessment team steps in—quickly. decisions along with Dr. Kwabena Sanko- about the quality of involvement from the Faculty and student involvement Comprised of campus police, health fa, who represents health and counseling patient during sessions and provide genand counseling services and the dean of eral opinion, Sankofa said.

Until there’s some kind of red flag services, and Dean Marlowe. students, the behavioral assessment team Still, there exists a time when confidenraised, there’s no way for the assessment To help prepare other students, Zebehasn’t seen any emergencies of a Jared tiality can be breached. team to gauge whether a student may dis and campus police offer active shootLoughner caliber, but did act when someThe assessment team has the duty to pose a serious risk to himself or the comer training—a procedures-based process one threw a smoke bomb into Owens a warn members of the campus community munity at large, there’s no way of assessthat instructs students, faculty and staff few years ago. when potentially dangerous or harmful ing anyone. on what steps to take if someone with a “The smoke bomb really scared peosituations have been reported if review It’s the efforts of the faculty that could gun walks into an office or classroom. ple,” Marlowe said. “…We didn’t wait for by campus officials warrants notification. help identify any underlying issues. a Wednesday meeting to talk about what If an individual poses a serious threat Faculty and staff are encouraged to Health and Counseling Services we’re going to do with this guy because or danger to himself or others, the assess- call one of the three participating departthey caught him pretty quick.”

When examining students for assess- ment team may breach confidentiality to ments in the assessment team if a stuAlong with Chief Zebedis and Dr. Kwadent’s behavior is erratic or disruptive to ment, Dr. Kwabena Sankofa looks at their warn identified victims. bena Sankofa, staff psychologist at health When confronted with severe psychiothers. psychological and emotional history and and counseling services, Marlowe met Marlowe and her staff train with the student to try and help him faculty and staff in the Teaching Learning Center, teaching them to be more aware and cognizant of student’s behavior.

1. A change in behavior-normally, active student will disappear, “After an event like Tucson, peocan’t sleep or eat ple are more in-tune to it,” Marlowe said. “I get more phone calls [from faculty].”

2. A change in appearance—disheveled, not clean, dress and hair Students can also be a big help extreme in identifying potential flares for violence.

Still, the bottom line and the pre3. Sad or flat dominant goal remains the same: prevent violence from breaking 4. Unusually emotional or sensitive; cries or angers easily out.

“If someone is at risk of hurting this community, and if it comes to 5. Appearance of drugs or “unusual” use of alcohol our attention, they will be accessed and there will be a plan that will protect the community,” Marlowe Bethany Marlowe 6. Information from friends or roommates Dean of Students said.

“” We’re not

POSSIBLE INDICATORS OF A CAMPUS THREAT

looking to send somebody to jail or do some kind of drastic action.

7. Been a victim of a trauma-car accident, victim of a crime, perpetrator of a crime, death or illness in family, injury or personal illness

4

THURSDAY January 27, 2011

University-level competencies help WU excel to ‘high level,’ affects all majors

By Jonathan McFadden mcfaddenj@mytjnow.com

All Winthrop students should be able to communicate effectively, think critically and be socially responsible by graduation, according to Winthrop’s universitylevel competencies.

An academic assessment committee compiled by Thomas Moore, vice president for academic affairs, approved the competencies last semester.

Though the university already adopted general education goals via the Touchstone Program in 2002, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) required Winthrop to adopt universitylevel competencies during the 2009-2010 reaffirmation process.

“We were treating our general education goals as our college level competencies,” Moore said.

According to SACS’ 2010 principles for accreditation, every university must identify college-level competencies, or goals in an institution’s general education

program for its graduates.

So, the order went out.

Moore charged the academic assessment committee to come up with a set of goals that would reach all majors and department programs at Winthrop and compile it in a report he could submit to the university-wide academic leadership retreat on Aug. 16, 2010.

Faculty members chosen for the committee worked on the report throughout the summer and were paid a stipend for their efforts.

“They got a report to me,” Moore said.

“I very much liked and appreciated that report and their recommendations.”

After the report was approved at the retreat, it was forwarded to the faculty conference, where the goals compiled by the committee were approved as Winthrop’s university-level competencies on October 8, 2010.

Now, the next step is assessing the competencies at the program and institutional level to determine if they’re being executed properly across program levels,

Moore said.

What it does for Winthrop None of the competencies relate to any specific student or program, but are goals set for all Winthrop students.

“Every program has to pay attention to these for their majors,” Moore said.

Students in accounting cannot expect to fulfill their writing general education requirements and then be done with them.

Instead, the College of Business Administration and any other departments will have to assess whether their students are proficient in displaying grasp of all general education expectations. “…Just because you’re in accounting doesn’t mean you don’t have to learn to write,” Moore said.

Similarly, students are expected to seriously consider the perspectives of others, understand how their field relates to other disciplines and successfully express and exchange ideas, according to the

UNIVERSITY-LEVEL COMPETENCIES: Competency 1: Winthrop graduates think critically and solve problems.

Competency 2: Winthrop graduates are personally and socially responsible.

Competency 3: Winthrop graduates understand the interconnected nature of the world and the time in which they live.

Competency 4: Winthrop graduates communicate effectively.

competencies.

Though no student or major is exempt from the competencies, Moore thinks it’s realistic to know all students may not meet these expectations.

“They aren’t competencies that we expect every student to attain,” Moore said.

“We want students to think about where we’re trying to get them to.”

Still, Moore is confident the competencies display Winthrop faculty’s dedication to student learning across a broad range of disciplines.

Moore said the competencies demonstrate the faculty’s shared commitment in educating not only students, but citizens of the community.

“Nobody who is educating students to work and live productively in the contemporary world could argue against any of these things as important,” Moore said.

While some educators may see teaching students how to develop moral and ethical reasoning or critically solve problems as important, they may decide it’s not their responsibility, Moore said.

“If people in the major programs don’t make it that important to students in that program, what does?” Moore said.

Moore maintains that Winthrop is different.

Sydney Evans, chair of CSL, couldn’t agree more. She said Winthrop has realized learning facts from a textbook is no longer helpful for the workforce of tomorrow.

“Teaching students using the standards represented by the ULCs will make them more competitive and will develop them as leaders,” Evans said.

Now, the university has a faculty-approved document stating that it doesn’t matter what a professor teaches, the competencies matter for students in all available majors.

“I know there aren’t many institutions in the country that could come up with a set of university-level competencies such as these, the way we did,” Moore added.

“They’re going to make us better, and it reflects that we are operating at a very high level.”

That level includes sharing educational commitments across multiple degree programs.

For Moore, attaining the competencies has been a watershed moment.

“I’ve never been this proud of this institution and this faculty as when we passed these university-level competencies,” Moore said.

POLICE BLOTTER PETTY LARCENY (1/19/11) At 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, the Winthrop Police Department received notification through its GPS tracking device that a bait bike had been taken from the bike rack in front of Wofford Hall, the police report said.

A Winthrop dispatcher advised the reporting officer the bike was traveling toward the Winthrop Commons shopping mall. The officer observed the suspect operating the bike in that area. The suspect got off the bike in front of the Cash Advance store and walked inside.

At this point, the officer approached the suspect and asked him if the bike was his. The sus-

pect told the officer it was.

The officer placed the suspect under arrest. At that time, the suspect admitted he saw the bike at Wofford, noticed it wasn’t locked and took it. The suspect was transported to the Rock Hill Law Center Jail, according to the report.

POSSESSION/CONSUMPTION OF BEER UNDER 21 (1/20/11) A reporting officer was patrolling the Student Activities Center parking lot when he noticed two males sitting in a vehicle parked at the back of the building.

The officer approached them and, when the males opened the window, smelled marijuana.

The officer asked both males

to step out of the vehicle, while the reporting officer and another officer on the scene searched the vehicle.

Both males also had the smell of alcohol on them. The officers gathered their information and realized that neither was 21. The officers administered the PAS/VR test and both registered a reading.

The first male received a ticket for possession and consumption of alcohol under 21. The other male was arrested and taken to Rock Hill City Jail because he was being uncooperative.

a black Isuzu after checking the tags on the North Carolina vehicle.

The tag had been revoked for no insurance and the officer asked the subject if he had insurance.

The report said the subject gave the officer the run-around about insurance, and later admitted there was supposed to be insurance through Allstate.

The officer issued the subject a ticket for operating an uninsured vehicle and had the Isuzu towed.

DRIVING WITHOUT INSURANCE (1/22/11) At 6:35 p.m., an officer stopped

Merle Haggard turned 21 in prison doing life without parole.

Don’t let it happen to you. Read the police blotter every week. www.mytjnow.com/police-blotter

5

THURSDAY January 27, 2011

Crossing the street:

By Jonathan McFadden Stefanie Magura was barely out of the street when a car came within a few feet of hitting her.

During another incident, her mother observed a driver neglecting to give Magura the right of way while she was crossing the street.

Situations such as these aren’t uncommon for any pedestrian in the street, but there is a higher level of difficulty for Magura, who is legally blind.

During her time at Winthrop, Magura, a senior business administration major, has come to depend on the kindness of others and the escort services of Campus Police to help her maneuver around an occasionally difficult campus at night.

One day, several trucks were parked in the walkway Magura usually uses to access Crawford, which houses the Services for Students with Disabilities office.

For Magura, what was probably a service truck working its way to Owens’ construction site sounded like a car driving on Scholar’s Walk.

With engines that now purr much more softly, not all cars are made easy for Magura to listen out for, she said.

Before the detectable warning mats, the bumpy, gray tactile mats found at the end of curbs around campus, Magura said it was hard to determine where some bended curbs met the street.

Sometimes she doesn’t know if drivers can see the white canes she and other visually impaired students use to help them navigate campus.

Even with the cane and mats, the fear of uncertainty in the road never dissipates.

“Sometimes I’m afraid I’ll get run over, even though I haven’t,” Magura said.

While she doesn’t know for sure herself, Magura has heard from others that drivers around Winthrop can be negligent.

She said it wasn’t too much of a surprise to hear that a student was hit by a car last semester.

On Oct. 27, a sophomore psychology major was hit by a car in front of the West Center.

Magura appreciated a driver who stopped for her and told her he was letting her by. “…And once I crossed the street, I kind of turned back around and thanked him not just for letting me through, but for letting me know.”

Magura is unable to gauge a car’s speed by just listening to it, but she can distinguish its location and tell from which direction it’s traveling.

daughter learn her way around campus and discover new routes to classes.

While touring campus with her daughter, Margaret has seen the plight of many campus pedestrians.

“I see a lot of times where cars either don’t yield for the pedestrian in the crosswalk or they don’t wait for the pedestrian,” Magura said.

Margaret Magura said she has witnessed drivers passing pedestrians who were barely out of the street.

South Carolina State Law says pedestrians have the right of way in crosswalks.

Pedestrians who are crossing the street and are not in a crosswalk must yield to cars, states the law. But a blind pedestrian with a white cane or guide dog has the right of way at all times, according to the law.

Sometimes vehicles will swerve behind Stefanie when they think she is walking forward, but for the visually impaired individual, such situations can be frightening. “…It scares her,” Margaret said. “She’s not out of the road yet.”

Magura advises her daughter that once she makes the decision to step out into the road, she needs to keep going.

“If you were to stop and go backwards and the car thinks you’re going to continue in the same direction, and just goes right behind where you just walked, you get hit that way too,” Magura said.

Magura has identified some problem areas on campus, such as the crosswalk between the Courtyard and DiGiorgio Campus Center.

Unlike the area between Byrnes Auditorium and the Music Conservatory, which has curves and turns, the area between the Courtyard and the campus center is a straight road. Cars don’t have to slow down.

Magura said she talked with Frank Zebedis, chief of police, about ways to make crosswalks safer around campus.

What resulted was a proposal for tabletop crosswalks, raised speed bumps which force cars to slow down and allow individuals who are visually impaired or in wheelchairs to cross the street more easily.

“Tabletop crosswalks are great,” Magura said. “If any place needs it, it’s that one [street] going from Courtyard to the DIGS.” Part of preventing accidents is educating both drivers and pedestrians, Magura said.

“I think a lot of times students feel like, ‘It’s a crosswalk, I can just walk out and the car has to stop’,” Magura said. “That’s not really the way it works.”

Mother knows best

Detectable Warning Mats

At the beginning of each semester, Magura’s mother, Margaret, helps her

Visually impaired students are taught to listen for traffic and use their white

mcfaddenj@mytjnow.com

Elections for students New campus-wide elections will allow students to vote for President, Vice-President; only candidates from CSL

By Claire Byun byunc@mytjnow.com

After 10 years of representatives from a non-elected student body, Winthrop will hold a campus-wide election for student leaders.

In March, the Council of Student Leaders (CSL) will hold a student-wide election for student government president and vice president offices. However, only members currently on CSL are eligible for election, according to CSL bylaws.

In an e-mail to the student body, CSL Chair Sydney Evans said, “The individual who occupies this seat acts as your voice to the administration, and you should

have a say in who that person is.”

This change might come after last year’s complaints by a group of Winthrop students. In February 2010, The Johnsonian reported on “A Real Voice for the Students, a student-led group whose purpose was to unite Winthrop students who have issues with CSL’s structure.

Prior to 2001, the university did have popular elections for members of the Student Government Association (SGA).

If interested in joining CSL, students may apply until Friday, Jan. 28, at 5 p.m.

Applications can be submitted electronically and are online at www.winthrop. edu/csl.

Leitner employee finds stolen service truck at off-campus apartment complex

By Jonathan McFadden mcfaddenj@mytjnow.com

A Leitner Construction service truck that was stolen last July was found at Whisper Creek Apartments on Herlong Avenue last Thursday, according to a police report.

A resident of Whisper Creek informed a Leitner Construction employee of the truck’s location, the report said.

The truck, a white 1998 Ford F-150 with a Leitner Construction decal on

both doors and two white side panel toolboxes, had the keys in the floorboard, accordng to Wesley Wiles, sergeant with Campus Police.

Wiles said police are not sure how long the truck’s been at Whisper Creek.

The employee at Leitner did not inform campus police that the truck was found until last Thursday, Wiles said.

At that point, Leitner opted not to process the truck since it had been in use between the time it was recovered and reported to police, Wiles said.

Visually impaired student fears safety of roadways

Although Winthrop has audible crosswalk signals, Stefanie Magura is still concerned with the safety of the crosswalks. Photo by Kathleen Brown • brownk@ mytjnow.com canes when crossing roadways in orientation and mobility classes, said Gena Smith, program director for students with disabilities.

To make things even easier, facilities management placed several detectable warning mats around campus.

The mats, which cost $150 each, were strategically placed in certain high-traffic areas of campus after several requests from visually impaired students and their parents.

The mats are easy for visually impaired students to detect with their white canes.

“The white cane hits it and it feels different, it feels like a different surface,” Smith said. “It’s noticeable.”

The mats help visually impaired students realize they are about to enter a roadway and need to be cautious. In Smith’s view, they are pretty effective.

“I’ve gotten positive feedback from students,” Smith said.

Even with the mats, concerned parents still worry about their children.

Smith said she receives a lot of calls from parents who want to make sure their visually impaired children will be safe on campus.

On campus, Smith and facilities management do their best to calm parents’ fears.

Off campus, though, it’s a different story.

Oakland Avenue belongs to the City of Rock Hill, Smith said. From the curbs that leave campus to the streets that cross over to the library and Dinkins, there are no detectable warning mats and the speed limit is 35 mph.

For that reason, Smith is pleased the student center now resides in the center

of campus.

“I think there are students with disabilities who are excited they are not crossing the street to Dinkins to get to the student center,” Smith said. “…And they’re not going down Cherry Road to get to the bookstore.”

Audible signals have supplemented the lack of mats on Oakland Avenue. The signals allow visually impaired students to know when is the right or wrong time to cross the road. If the signals malfunction, facilities management will have to notify the City of Rock Hill, Smith said.

Smith said there are some things on campus that have made traveling better for students with disabilities, but that doesn’t eliminate a student’s need for caution, whether as a pedestrian or driver.

“We still have to be cautious of driving the speed limit,” Smith said. “…A person in the crosswalk may not always see you.”

Winthrop has had only four incidents where a car struck a pedestrian said Frank Zebedis, Winthrop chief of campus police. “…Given the number of pedestrians on the campus daily and all the vehicle traffic around the campus on a daily basis, only four incidents indicates we haven’t had a severe problem with vehicle versus pedestrian accidents,” Zebedis said.

This fall, Winthrop held its first orientation program for students with disabilities, Zebedis said.

The program, called REACT, taught students with disabilities how to react and respond in emergency situations, such as fires or general pedestrian safety.

6

THURSDAY January 27, 2011

CONNOR DE BRULER Opinion Editor debrulerc@mytjnow.com

Student uses new WU needs campus-wide elections of student leaders year for fresh start Our Say

After 10 years without of student government elections, the journey to true democracy at Winthrop must start somewhere.

The Johnsonian would like to see fullfledged student elections happen this spring but instead we’re being handed a pseudo-democracy.

Last February when the chair of the council said she would support student-wide elections, we nearly fell out of our seats in Bancroft.

When we learned this week that elections will take place for chair and vice-chair of CSL, we were equally elated.

New student center, new seats to fall out of.

The excitement, however, was shortlived.

While it seems we’re making progress toward a better model for student governance, why do we have to settle for electing only chair and vice-chair?

“”

members of CSL are “good” or capable, it’s the principle of democracy that is in question.

We may be able to vote for two positions now but as stated in CSL’s constitution, students cannot even run for chair or vice-chair unless they are already on council for at least one semester.

And you cannot be on council unless current members of CSL vote you in.

As long as chair and vice-chair candidacy is open only to people who have served on CSL for at least one semester, Winthrop is still void of democracy.

If the student body accepts this fake democracy, fine. Maybe this one step of progress will eventually yield a truly democratically-elected student council.

We aren’t going to twist your arm to attend a CSL meeting or demand that you write a letter to the editor expressing dissent.

But if the student body is ready to elect their representatives, perhaps a few people ought to do something about that.

CSL meets Mondays at 7 p.m. in the campus center room 114. Or, send a letter to The Johnsonian’s editor at douglasa@mytjnow.com.

This isn’t a matter of whether current members of CSL are ‘good’ or capable, it’s the principle of democracy that is in question.

The Johnsonian realizes that people with good intentions are trying to implement democracy but we can’t help but feel like others are simply throwing students a bone.

This isn’t a matter of whether current

It’s a new semester with new and my real classes suffered imclasses and new professors. It’s mensely. By the end of the secimportant to realize a new seond semester, I had a 2.5 GPA. mester can bring a fresh start.

Goodbye LIFE Scholarship.

Freshmen especially need to Some of my other friends hear my message. also lost their scholarships and The first year is always the did not return to Winthrop in most difficult. The adjustment the fall. from your old life to your new I returned, but not without Susan Clark way of life is great. So many consequences. More loans are Guest columnist changes happening all at once being taken out in my name make life difficult to process each semester, and by the time and accept. graduation day comes, I will be more The purpose of my message is to than $20,000 in debt. But I’m the one warn you not to lose sight of why you’re who made the mistake and lost sight of in college. why I’m in college.

It might cost you a scholarship and, It was also my choice to stay at Winultimately, your dreams. throp and take out loans instead of going I, personally, had a very rough freshhome. My pride and determination had man year. The first semester I felt very much to do with my decision (I gradulonely. Making friends seemed difficult, ated high school with honors). the classes were much more challenging Returning home because I didn’t do and I couldn’t find anything in this town well enough in college would have been without a GPS. I slept often to pass the embarrassing. time.

I hope you take this message to heart The second semester was the exand don’t make the same mistake I treme opposite. Hollis, a girl who lived did. Trust me, you don’t want to lose a across the hall from me, became my best scholarship. I’m learning the hard way friend. She began to introduce me to - it’s tough to raise a GPA. I ended my her friends, and I became a part of their freshman year with a 2.5 GPA, and after crowd. Every minute I spent on the go: one semester with mostly A’s, I still only Tuesday: Whisky River; Wednesday: have a 2.7 GPA. I have to make A’s in all Suite; Thursday: Latorre’s; Friday and five of my classes this semester to get my Saturday were reserved for house parscholarship back. ties or The Money. Sunday and Monday Hopefully, my hard work and denight were used to catch up on sleep. termination will pay off in the end.

If there was a class on Charlotte Remember, this is your chance to start nightlife, I would have aced it. However, fresh, so take it while you can. there was no Charlotte nightlife class,

Feminism changes culture, robs men of identity How feminists are adding to their problems by excluding men and leaving them without a positive gender role Davy CrockI’m a guy. I like it et, Daniel that way.

Boone, Andy I’ve always Griffith and enjoyed being a Bill Cosby. guy. I love growing Today, things beards. I love suits. have changed.

I love suspenders. I Homer love women. Going Connor de Bruler Simpson is bald isn’t so bad Opinion editor the friendly, either. befuddling Sure, I’ve oaf we’ve all dressed up as a learned to love. Most of woman before. I feel no his exploits are a result shame or regret for my of his stupidity, and his affinity for occasional intelligent wife and family cross-dressing. I encourage anyone who is curious normally save the day. Dr. House, on the other hand, to go ahead and try it. is a perfectly capable But, in the end, I’m content being male. Won- genius, but he’s also a bastard and difficult to dering what it feels like be around. The Lifetime to wear a turban doesn’t mean you want to become network is full of wayward husbands murdering their a Sikh. wives.

It seems to me, howI’ve also noticed popuever, that men are not as lar feminist literature by comfortable with their folks such as Inga Musidentity as women. cio and Jessica Valenti Feminism has effecdisplay some surprisingly tively changed the disenanti-male sentiments. franchisement of women Many resources exist in American culture, but for women to explore a few side effects exist. 1.) their femininity. Men More children are going don’t have as many posito daycare centers betive resources. I’ve never cause women work more come across a book about often. 2.) Men have been male identity that didn’t left to struggle with findprimarily focus on chauing a new identity for the vinism or rape. modern era.

There needs to be a I’ve noticed a big differrevitalization of male genence in the way men are der identity, something portrayed in the media. positive men and young Years ago, television was boys can hold onto to filled with competent, show the female portion macho guys, such as of our society we are not John Wayne’s characters, Editor ANNA DOUGLAS

Arts & entertainment editor JESSICA PICKENS

Managing editor TIFFANY BARKLEY

Assistant arts & entertainment editor ALISON ANGEL

News editor CLAIRE BYUN Assistant news editor JONATHAN MCFADDEN Opinion editor CONNOR DE BRULER Culture editor ALEXIS AUSTIN Health & science editor AMANDA PHIPPS

Sports editor JEFF BRODEUR Assistant sports editor DAVID THACKHAM Graphic Designer COURTNEY NISKALA Copy editors BRITTANY GUILFOYLE BRANTLEY MCCANTS Ad designer SAMANTHA FURTICK

irresponsible, aggressive, insensitive brutes.

Now is the perfect time for a revolution of male identity with our down economy. Many men are facing a personal identity crisis as they lose their jobs and feel less important in the household.

Gender identity has never been a cut-and-dry issue. It can be extremely subjective. Right now, a debate exists under the radar as to how men should behave. The debate needs to surface to the forefront.

I think the main issues our culture should take seriously today are changing the way sex is portrayed in pornography, opening up to homosexual rights and transgender issues and including men in female support groups and other programs.

Groups such as Women Against Rape should invite more guys to their meetings not to send men on guilt trips, but to begin a dialogue about the causes of violence between the genders. Young woman as well as young men should be educated on issues of rape and violence.

We should also see more positive portrayals of men in educational resources.

I think the Safety 360 videos Winthrop shows Photographers KATHLEEN BROWN STEPHANIE EATON Multimedia editors SHATESHA SCALES KAYLEE NICHOLS Webmaster DEVANG JOSHI Advertising manager KERRY SHERIN Ad sales team KERRY SHERIN SARAH MACDONALD Faculty adviser LARRY TIMBS

Illustration by Courtney Niskala•niskalac@mytjnow.com students make college males look similar to a group of sociopaths whose only goal is to date rape younger girls.

I’m not saying men are marginalized. I’m say-

ing men are in danger of being marginalized. This will only lead to more problems between the genders in our society.

I notice a many heterosexual young men taking

on more feminine mannerisms and behaviors as a concession to women.

I shouldn’t have to show women I’m harmless by being someone I’m not.

About The Johnsonian The Johnsonian is the weekly student newspaper of Winthrop University. It is published during fall and spring semesters with the exception of university holidays and exam periods.

CONTACT INFORMATION Our offices are located in suite 104 in the DiGiorgio Campus Center.

Phone: (803) 323-3419 E-mail: editors@mytjnow.com Online: mytjnow.com LETTER POLICY Letters and feedback can be sent to editors@mytjnow.com or by mail at The Johnsonian, 104

Campus Center, Rock Hill, S.C., 29733.

Comments submitted online at www.mytjnow.com may be printed as letters and may be shortened for space and edited for clarity.

Please include your name, major and year if you are a student; your name and title if you are a professor; or your name and profession if you are a member of

the community.

Letters, cartoons and columns reflect the opinions of the authors and are not necessarily the opinions of The Johnsonian staff.

CORRECTIONS Contact us if you find an error in an issue of the newspaper. We will correct it in the next issue.

7

THURSDAY January 27, 2011

AMANDA PHIPPS Health & Science Editor phippsa@mytjnow.com

WU research uncovers new flatworm species SKIN • from front ogy at the University of Innsbruck in Innsbruck, Austria, learning molecular techniques to aid him and students in investigating the genetic mechanisms involved in this process, he said. Before leaving, he trained the students to work on their own and with each other.

Two students work with the worms to study how their skin cells replace themselves.

Junior biology major Emily Bowie worked with Aeolosoma headleyi, pronounced “hedley,” studying the diurnal rhythm, or the daytime (light) and nighttime (dark) cycle last semester. She looked at how light affects the rate stem cells divide for her biology 300 project last semester. Little information exists on this topic for this species, which contributed to Bowie’s curiosity about this organism, she said.

Knowing if light affects the rate of mitotic division will contribute to the further investigation of the genes involved in the skin replacement process, Smith said.

“Knowing this will give us a way to disrupt normal skin cell replacement in these animals by exposing them to bright light, which provides another useful starting point for investigating the genes involved,” he said.

After collecting the specimens, Bowie put them in an artificial photoperiod incubator for two weeks to simulate day and night. After the specimens were adjusted to the time cycle, they were killed and frozen at different times of the day using a brass block cooled in liquid nitrogen to capture the cell-dividing process.

“Instantly freezing them is the most essential part of knowing when the cells are dividing,” she said.

After they are frozen, Bowie stains and observes them using a confocal microscope. She counts the dividing cells and com-

Junior biology majors Courtney Patenaude and Emily Bowie study Aeolosma headleyi worms’ skin cells. They will work this semester to label the worms’ dividing skin cells and to understand the replacement process. Photo by Stephanie Eaton • eatons@mytjnow.com pares the sizes to see if more divide during the day or at night. Her hypothesis was correct in that cells divide more frequently at night.

This is similar to humans and most living organisms, Smith said.

Cell division in most organisms occurs primarily in darkness. This makes sense because light can cause DNA damage.

Bowie has currently applied to attend the bigSURS, Big South Undergraduate Research Symposium, to present her findings. The symposium will contact Bowie in February and the event is in April, she said.

“I hope to get published and am working toward that,” she said. “But I do not know who I will be doing it through when I get to that point.”

She will continue with this research as a student employee in the lab under the INBRE II grant this semester, she said.

Bowie will work with junior biology major Courtney Patenaude. Patenaude worked in Smith’s lab last semester, learning to use the confocal microscope and how to work in a lab.

Patenaude labeled dividing cells in the Stenostomum virginianum worm but could not identify cells replicating DNA, so she will switch to the Aeolosma worm and begin working with Bowie this semester as a student employee in the lab under the INBRE II grant, Smith said.

Bowie and Patenaude will continue monitoring how light effects the rate of mitotic division in the Aeolosoma worms. Paten-

aude will focus on labeling the cells in the s-phase, she said.

Once they know when cells divide, day or night, which is more common and when DNA synthesis occurs, they can focus on the DNA-replicating and dividing cell population that will produce new skin, Smith said. This information will also give them a time frame for the experiments involving mitosis and DNA-replication.

“That time point is likely to be after midnight and early evening, respectively,” he said, “but fortunately, the animals have neither cell phones nor watches, so we can fool them into thinking our day is their night by putting them into an incubator with the lights off-schedule.”

This would allow them to work in the lab during normal hours, Smith said. At this point, they believe the new skin cells originate either within the organisms’ epidermis or right underneath it.

New species

Senior biology major Joseph Bursey looks at the cells of a Kataplana flatworm.

He worked with biology professor Julian Smith, III to name a new species of a worm in the Otoplanidae family and study skin cell replacement. Photo by Stephanie Eaton • eatons@mytjnow.com

While studying stem cell replacement, Smith and senior biology major Joseph Bursey discovered a new species of flatworm.

One area of Smith’s research involves the study of the ecology, evolution and systematics of animals that live between sand grains on the beach, he said.

Smith and Bursey gathered specimens of species of worm that belong to the Otoplanidae family from Emerald Isle beach, N.C., Smith said. They then figured out which ones are already formally named.

“Most of them aren’t formally described and named, so they are new,” he said.

The next process is to study the anatomy of one of the new species and publish a species description, Smith said.

“We are describing and naming the species so we and others can find them

again later,” he said.

They are also going to make ecological comparisons between samples taken before and after beachfront development to see if humans are having an impact on the habitat, Smith said.

“Although most people don’t know anything about it, it is probably pretty important to humans,” he said.

Bursey studied a new species of Kataplana flatworms from the family Otoplanidae, he said. He is currently working on the species description.

Once gathered, the specimens are stained and fixated on slides for use in confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), Bursey said.

“This is a relatively new technology which definitely complements old ways by providing a better look at the organism’s internal anatomy,” he said.

CLSM is used to study the potential of this Otoplamid specimens in the study of epithelial skin cell replacement, Bursey said.

“Once the species description is complete, I plan to gather more specimens from the coast for a fresh batch to really focus in on dividing cells in the body walls of these organisms,” he said. “We have a lot of hope for useful data coming from them, and so far this has been an incredible experience.”

Bursey was able to involve his creativity in the process.

“I’m still an undergraduate and I got to name a species,” Bursey said.

Bursey also aids fellow student researchers in their beginning projects.

“It is a lot of hard work,” he said, “but has helped me develop as a scientist.”

The experience With Smith in Austria, the student researchers have to keep in touch with him via e-mail and Skype.

They also work with each other, Bursey said.

“He trained us all to

be advanced in our own fields, but they cross over,” he said.

Patenaude agrees the distance can be difficult.

“It can get tricky,” she said. “It feels like we are doing it by ourselves.”

This is a learning experience, Smith said.

“I’m helping them learn to work on their own,” he said. “But that’s largely what research training is about.”

The experience is rewarding for students.

“It prepares me to do cancer research if I want to,” Patenaude said. “It looks really good on resumes.”

It also gives students an outlook on career options.

“It taught me that research is what I want to do,” Bursey said.

The students have to work to succeed.

“If you don’t enjoy it, I don’t recommend it, but if you are willing to put in the hours it’s very enjoyable,” Bowie said. “It’s cool to find new stuff.”

“”

If you are willing to put in the hours, it’s very enjoyable.

It’s cool to find new stuff.

Emily Bowie

Junior biology major

8

THURSDAY January 27, 2011

AMANDA PHIPPS Health & Science Editor phippsa@mytjnow.com

Community goes green The Winthrop and Rock Hill community maintain a community garden near Oakland Avenue Presbyterian Church.

Partnering with the organization SEAC (Student Environmental Action Coalition), Winthrop students and people in the community can help grow and take care of the garden. Students will have the opportunity to volunteer with SEAC on projects throughout the semester. Photos

by Stephanie Eaton • eatons@mytjnow.com

Internet shopping leaves footprint trail for hackers

“”

Everytime you use a public computer, you have to keep in mind...you are leaving an electronic footprint and that there are bad people out there...

The Internet and your money; it’s a concept that is far from new. Only a few years ago, the thought of putting your credit card number into a Web page was, well, frightening.

However, look around now and we do everything from day-to-day banking to purchasing online.

This combination of two worlds is indeed useful, heck it’s just plain convenient! However, as with many convenient things in the world of computing, there is always a downside.

In this case, the downside is the very real threat of having your personal information taken from you.

So, because you are all good people, let me share just a few things with you

Devang Joshi Webmaster

that may help you avoid having your hard-earned dollars squandered away by a geek with an attitude problem (a hacker, that is).

First and foremost, try to handle all of your online banking or shopping on your own computers.

This means staying away from the computer labs to get your “E-Bay” fix. Every time you use a public com-

puter, you have to keep two things in mind; that you are leaving an electronic footprint and that there are bad people out there who may be logging activity on the machine.

So, the best way to avoid trouble is to never put yourself in that situation.

However, if there ever is the urgent need to log on to your online banking, do a couple of things.

First, make sure you uncheck any boxes that want to “save your username;” why give someone the leg up?

Also, try using “inprivate browsing,” a feature integrated into many modern browsers that does not keep a record of your browsing history.

Finally, make sure to log off. As silly as it may sound, it happens a lot more then you may think (just think about how many times you have left your Facebook logged in only to come back to see a new status…courtesy of a friend/roommate).

Another good habit to pick up is reading URL’s.

The URL is simply the address you type into a web browser to get to a Web page. An easy example is the URL for The Johnsonian’s website, http:// www.mytjnow.com.

Now, for the most part, website addresses start with the normal http://, however e-mail systems and bank websites have the https:// designation.

That https:// stands for a secure connection, and is also accompanied with a “padlock” icon in most browsers.

Make sure to look for this type of URL prefix when navigating to your e-mail log-ins or bank logins (a good example of a secure connection would be the student access of the Winthrop e-mail system pobox.winthrop.edu).

Finally, make sure you type the address correctly.

So, as we go about our lives using our online banking and shopping to the max, remember to exercise some caution; heck, be a little paranoid. Think I’m just blowing smoke?

Well, its your money.

Love Week Tuesday, Feb. 1, Wed., Feb. 2

“Just Tough Love?”

• Documentary on college hazing Where: DiGiorgio Campus Center Ballroom Time: 7 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 3

“Beware, Love is in the Air” • Create your own valentines free with DSU Where: DiGiorgio Campus Center main lobby Time: 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

“Is it Love?”

• Performance by Skin Deep and documentary, “The College Hook Up.” Where: Plowden Auditorium Time: 7 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 4

“Live, Laugh & Love” • Performance from comedian Vidur Kapur Where: Dina’s Place Time: 8 p.m. $5 with Winthrop ID, $10 without, free with spring event pass

9

THURSDAY January 27 2011

JESSICA PICKENS Arts & Entertainment Editor pickensj@myjnow.com ALISON ANGEL Asst. Arts & Entertainment Editor angela@mytjnow.com

Shun keeps audiences laughing Student comic on his way up

By Jessica Pickens pickensj@mytjnow.com

Student Eric Shun performs the third Thursday of every month at the Comedy Zone in Fort Mill. He also will be performing there on Friday, Feb. 18, and Saturday, Feb. 19.

Photo courtesy of Eric Shun

Eric Shun doesn’t enjoy public speaking, but loves stand-up comedy.

“I’ve always wanted to do comedy,” said Shun, sophomore digital and interactive media major.

“I enjoy getting laughs, and lots of people told me I should do comedy.”

Shun uses his diverse background of jobs and culture in his comedy routines.

“I’m Korean raised by whites, so I talk about adoption,” he said.

“I’m also going to school as an older guy and talk about my experiences like when I was a truck driver.”

Shun said the only reason he is funny is because he uses all of his various experiences, including being in the military.

“I joke about being the selfproclaimed ‘disgrace to my race’ because I may be the only Asian ever on academic probation,” he said.

Shun has been working at the Comedy Zone in Fort Mill for the last two and a half years.

The Comedy Zone has a headquarters in Charlotte that books nationwide acts.

Shun’s first paying comedic act was opening for Rich Vos in Pennsylvania.

Shun has opened for 10 comedians including Spanky Brown, Mimi Gonzalez and Bonnie MacFarlane.

Shun also shows off his comedy on his WINR radio show on Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. He is also a part of the Winthrop Video Production Club.

“I’ve performed for lots of different backgrounds and people,” he said. “It’s good if you can make people other than your friends laugh. I’ve gotten a good valida-

tion from different ages, sexes and races.”

Shun will be performing at the Fort Mill Comedy Zone on Friday, Feb. 18, and Saturday, Feb. 19, and on the third Thursday of every month.

“I’m on my way and I’ve gotten paid for my comedy,” he said.

“I’m a step up from an open mic performer.”

“”

I joke about being the selfproclaimed ‘disgrace to my race’...

Eric Shun

Sophomore digital design major

DSU entertainment nationally recognized

By Alison Angel angela@mytjnow.com

“Campus Activities Magazine” has recognized the DiGiorgio Student Union (DSU) as one of the country’s best college programming boards.

The group, which has been supplying Winthrop’s campus with entertainment for years, was voted into the top five by the magazine’s readers, who annually choose and vote for the top programming boards in the country.

The readers of the magazine, which include agents and performers who work the college circuit, nominate schools from around the country.

Nominees are based off professionalism and hospitality towards acts among other factors.

This year, DSU is in the top five competing with schools such as the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; Central Michigan University; Methodist University; and the State University of New York.

DSU has won the coveted award in the past and has consistently made the top five every year from 1995-2008.

Additionally, they have won Campus Program of the Year three separate times, in 1995, 2002 and then as recently as 2004.

Boyd Jones, university programs director, said he is immensely proud of his team.

“I’d love for us to win as I am so proud of all we do but I’m not a very competitive person,” Jones said. “I am happy that folks thought of us when completing nomination forms, but I’m not out to beat another school or program board.

I love what we do and am thankful I work at a university that is thankful for what we bring to campus.”

Winners of the magazine’s Campus Program of the Year award receive a commemorative certificate as well as an article in the magazine devoted to the winning group.

Jones has articles from DSU’s past wins laminated and hanging in his office for posterity.

DSU is put at the top because they always just try to make the acts feel welcome, communicating with them not just prior to the acts arriving, Jones said.

DSU also sends performers holiday greetings and congratulates them for achievements.

Jones said DSU thinks of performers as friends rather than acts.

DSU president Ashley Hunter said the way DSU takes care of an act makes all the difference.

Whenever Hunter meets agents or performers in the college market they always speak highly of Winthrop.

“We do our absolute best to make them feel special by welcoming them before they come and meeting all their needs

while they are on campus,” said Hunter, senior integrated marketing communications major.

The group’s success is made possible by the enthusiasm and talent of the students in the group, as well as Boyd’s guidance, who all bring a fresh perspective, Hunter said.

“I feel incredibly humbled by DSU’s success and recognition,” she said. “It can be an intense job at times, so it feels good to know that we’re doing something right and someone sees it.”

While taking good care of the acts may seem like a simple concept, Hunter was surprised that performers, when visiting other schools, sometimes arrived on campus at other universities with no one to greet them.

DSU makes sure to do that with every act to make them feel taken care of.

“It’s like the programming board forgot they booked an act,” Hunter said. “It’s simple, but it makes such a huge impact.”

“This student body takes their jobs seriously, and each performer is treated respectfully and kindly,” said Barbara Meyer, agent for Admire Entertainment who works with the college circuit. “That helps promote the school as a venue to want to play.”

Meyer said having Jones at the helm of DSU has positive effects on the group.

“Many of these students have gone on to continue in the student affairs profes-

sion, and this is a direct result of the mentoring of Boyd,” Meyer said.

Mike Rapay, assistant director of student affairs and new addition to the DSU board, praises Jones for his contribution to the group, as well as the attention to detail the students on the board bring to the table.

“Boyd is the lifeline of DSU,” Rapay said. “He is the magician of being able to bring the type of acts we do because of his long lasting relationships with the agencies and performers around the country.

He is definitely a big motivating factor at pushing the personalization of the events.”

Rapay said he is extremely proud of the nomination and the hard work the students of the board put in, regardless if the group wins the final award come February.

“Just being nominated as one of the top five programs of the entire country is an exceptional honor, and one that our students should take to heart and be proud of,” Rapay said. “DSU should be recognized because of the amount of hard work these students put in to bring entertainment to Winthrop’s campus.”

Voting continues until Feb. 15, when the readers will select one winner from the five finalists.

“Winthrop as a Movie” is back In the fall of 2009 and the spring of 2010, The Johnsonian featured professors in “Winthrop as a Movie.” After a semester hiatus, “Winthrop as a Movie” is back!

Amanda Bynes

Tracy Griggs

The Arts and Entertainment section uses Myheritage.com, a family networking site, to generate a celebrity look-a-like for Winthrop faculty and staff.

This week, Arts and Entertainment chose psychology teacher, Tracy Griggs.

Tracy Griggs looks 70 percent similar to actress Amanda Byrnes of “All That” fame.

If you have a celebrity look-a-like suggestion, email pickensj@mytjnow. com

10

THURSDAY January 27, 2011

Opposing Sides

DIGS theater lacks indie, artsy films Student says art school needs diverse films I hope I’m not the only one who’s been grossly disappointed by the selection of films at Dina’s Place cinema.

When I was in high school, I dreamt of watching all the strange, experimental, trashy art films that I could alongside fellow students in a dark corner of the student union.

I love fringe cinema.

I was an amateur scholar of Italian horror films like “Suspiria” and “Don’t Torture a Duckling.” I thought John Waters was the greatest director since Orson Welles.

I used to read about all

“”

We need crazy midnight screenings of bizarre movies that push the envelope...

Connor de Bruler Opinion editor

the crazy nonsense that took place at old screenings of Jack Smith’s “Flaming Creatures.”

Police convoys used to raid the screenings and take everyone in the audience away in handcuffs.

That’s what I call excitement.

More recently, a police department in Victoria, Australia burned down a theater after an illegal screening of “Ken Park.”

Takashi Miike handed out barf bags at the first screening of “Ichi the Killer.”

But we don’t have this kind of excitement at Winthrop.

We need crazy midnight screenings of bizarre movies that push the envelope, not the rejected Netflix rentals and Hollywood movies we’ve already seen.

Forget that.

This is a college campus. Better yet,

this school is regarded as an arts school. We should be screening student-made films and gutbucket horror movies.

We should be playing films that can’t be screened anywhere else.

We should be screening French nudity and Korean martial arts.

We should be screening the droll tundra of Aki Kaurismaki’s Finland or the emotional tour-de-force of Ermanno Olmi’s post-war Italy.

My parents met at a student union screening of David Cronenberg’s “Videodrome.”

My dad shushed my mother after she screamed during the scene when James Woods pulls a gun from his stomach.

Maybe I’m asking for too much.

Perhaps I could make a concession.

If we continue to play blockbusters, then for every mainstream film we should play one underground flick.

I doubt, however, that this opinion will be taken seriously.

High-tech toys spoil children what happened to the days when While sitting in Chick-Fil-A kids rode their bikes and imagshortly after Christmas, I heard ined they were race car drivers on a trophy-wife mom asking a the Indy 500? child what favorite Christmas present was.

When I was in second grade, I “A DS,” he said. Another didn’t need a giant baby doll that child at Chick-Fil-A listed a gift needed to be used as a Wii conJessica Pickens troller to pretend I was a mom equally as high tech.

Arts and I sat and tried to remember or a babysitter. My sisters and I Entertainment what my favorite Christmas were perfectly capable of pretendeditor gifts were when I was younger: ing our rooms were our homes, a Felicity American Girl doll, a large Cin- kitchens or restaurants. derella Polly Pocket or any sort of Barbie Though children today are experiencwith a cool outfit. ing technology none of us ever could Children today are spoiled by technolhave comprehended when we were ogy and the high-profile entertainment seven, I think it’s a hindrance affecting items it produces. not only social skills, but with just being a kid.

The children I babysit own Wii’s and When I drive through neighborhoods, mini DVD players they watch while they I don’t see as many kids playing outside. eat dinner.

They are all stuck inside with their noses When I was growing up, my famin their Kindle books or their DS games. ily never bought Gameboys, Xboxes or I often wonder if these kids will ever PlayStations. We only played computer find the enjoyment my sisters and I did games, such as Storybook Weaver or through playing Olympics on the swing Oregon Trails, and at least those were set and pretending we were Dominique semi-educational.

But other than that, our entertainment Dawes or Shannon Miller.

It’s really sad to watch children today, items incorporated something kids are especially because their high-profile gifts losing today - imagination.

PS3 driving games give cool 3D images are already turning them into needy, spoiled brats. that make you feel as if you are on the drag strip with dozens of other cars. But

Meet the celebrities.

Write for Arts and Entertainment Contact pickensj@mytjnow.com

DSU open to film requests, criticism DSU board member defends movie theater Here’s the breakdown about the movie selections on campus: Some students say there’s not enough variety or artsy indie movies.

Here’s the issue: as a member of the student committee helps pick movies, I can honestly say we do everything within our very limited power to secure the movies we think would interest Winthrop’s campus.

As in, as many people as possible and as much variety as possible.

Yes, it’s true we show a lot of blockbusters, but we do try to bring a variety, something for everybody.

That includes not only blockbusters, but indie films and documentaries, from the life of John Lennon to the Disney nature series “Oceans.”

To suggest that we offer no variety simply isn’t true: Wednesday nights anyone?

Indie films galore for those who want to see them.

Do the math. We play two movies a week: indie fare on Wednesday nights, blockbusters on Saturdays.

As far as I can tell, that’s one indie for every blockbuster played: those

Alison Angel

Assistant Arts and Entertainment editor

numbers seem to add up to me.

Plus the odd documentary film, educational film, and specialty films are all rolled in there. To me, that is variety.

It may not be up to everyone’s standards, but bear in mind: the movie theater is a project still in its infancy.

There are six students and one higher-up on the movie board who decide what movies come to Winthrop.

That means seven different opinions trying to narrow down an endless list of movies, attempting to please everybody and finding at least one thing to please everybody.

So far, considering that we’re still working the kinks out, there’s been a pretty good student response.

It’s a work in progress, and you can’t just condemn a practice based on a trial run. I say give it a chance.

If you have movies you want to see or if you want to see more documentaries, or more specialty

flicks, let us know.

We’re a student-run board and we will actually listen to you.

We do what we can, but if no one voices their opinions as far as films go, there’s not much we can do about the backlash.

If you don’t voice what you want to the committee, how can we possibly please you?

Don’t be afraid to tell us what you want—more likely than not you’re probably not going to be met with a resounding ‘no.’

If you have any requests, e-mail me or stop by our office in the DIGS in room 212. We don’t bite.

“”

It may not be up to everyone’s standards, but bear in mind: the movie theater is still a project in its infancy.

11

THURSDAY January 27, 2011

CROSSWURD PUZZLE

Upcoming on-campus films: Saturday, Jan. 29, at 7 p.m.

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off: A young, cute Matthew Broderick skips school and gets into mischief.

Saturday, Jan. 29, at 9 p.m.

The Breakfast Club: An assortment of stereotypical teens are in weekend detention together and bond.

Wednesday, Feb. 2, at 8 p.m.

Across

1. Who is the vice president for Academic Affairs? (first and last name) 6. What is the process where skin cells replace themselves?

7. What was thrown in Owens two years ago that alarmed students? (two words) 8. What does finance professor Mike Evans say students should start building? (two words) 10. Which residence hall was a “bait bike” taken from?

11. Which Winthrop program was created in 2002?

Down

2. Which women’s coach holds Winthrop’s only 20 basketball game winning streak? (Full name) 3. How many days does it take for skin cells to be replaced? (two words) 4. Last name of one of the Johnsonian’s copyeditors.

5. What is the name of the shooter in Tucson, Ariz.? (last name) 7. Name of the psychologist at health services.

9. Winthrop student aspiring to become a comedian. (Last name)

Grizzly Man: Amateur grizzly bear activist Timothy Treadmill and girlfriend Amie Huguenard lived among grizzly bears until a bear killed them in 2003.

All movies are in Dina’s Place Theater in the campus center and are $2 with I.D.

Johnsonian picks winners In a couple of weeks, the Grammy Awards will be awarded for the 53rd time.

Record of the Year: “Empire State of Mind” by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys Album of the Year: “Fame Monster” by Lady Gaga Song of the Year: “F*** You” by Cee Lo Green

The Johnsonian picked their favorite songs, albums and artists from a few of the awards given at the Grammy’s.

The Grammy’s will air on Sunday, Feb. 13. Here are some of our picks:

Best New Artist: Mumford & Sons Best Female Pop Vocal Performance: “Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga Best Male Pop Vocal Performance: “This Is It” by Michael Jackson Best Pop Vocal Album: “Fame Monster” by Lady Gaga Best Rock Album: “The Resistance” by Muse Best Rap Album: “The Adventures of Bobby Ray” by B.o.B

12

THURSDAY January 27, 2011

ALEXIS AUSTIN Culture Editor austina@mytjnow.com

ESL tutor assists with writing courses

By Alexis Austin austina@mytjnow.com

This semester, the Academic Success Center will introduce a pilot program for international students.

Each Friday, international students enrolled in either Writing (WRIT) 465 or Critical Reading, Thinking and Writing (CRTW) 201 will have the opportunity to get assistance with their writing and presentation skills. Tutoring will take place from 2-4 p.m.

“We were being proactive,” Michelle Wolf, director of the Academic Success Center, said. “We thought it was a nice pilot program, especially since we have a large group of international students.”

Students will be tutored by LeAnn Lowry, a professor at University of North Carolina Charlotte. Lowry is also an English as a second language, or ESL, tutor. She has previously taught at Winthrop as a Writing 101 instructor.

“Since she has taught at Winthrop before and has ESL expertise, it was a nice combination,” Wolf said. “She was also available at that time spot.”

“I love Winthrop. If they had an intensive English program, this is where I’d be,” Lowry said.

Lowry’s position is part-time and is being paid through funds the Academic LeAnn Lowry talks with Xiao Li Zhang about her CRTW 201 course. Lowry will be tutoring international students who need Success Center received from the help with WRIT 465 and CRTW 201. Photo by Alexis Austin • austina@mytjnow.com FIPSE (Fund for the Improvement of academic culture in America. week. “We want to encourage said they will look at several effective study habits or just go Postsecondary Education) grant.

“I think the problem is the students to attend each week factors. to have a quiet place to study.

Wolf also said they wanted to begin academic culture. American although it isn’t mandatory,” “We will look at students’ The center has 25 trained the program at the beginning of the students’ past educational Wolf said. “Hopefully they grades, the level of attendance student tutors.

After semester rather than wait until midbackground has encouraged have a good experience and and have those who attended completing training, students terms to help students who may be critical thinking, and college continue to come back.” will complete a survey,” she receive a certificate of struggling. is a place to fine tune those Lowry said she plans to give said. completion.

Lowry also met with Gloria Jones, skills,” Lowry said. “Students students useful resources in “I want students to get a C or “We offer supplemental Dean of University College, and two from other countries are terms they understand. higher in their classes,” Lowry academic support,” Wolf said. professors who teach WRIT 465 and not always taught to think “My main focus is to said.

“When places such as the CRTW 201 to learn about what is critically, but to regurgitate supplement the resources they Since opening last fall, the Writing Center are closed, we expected of the students in order for information.” already have, but in easier Academic Success Center has are here to offer our services.” them to pass the course.

The tutoring sessions are terms,” she said. helped over 350 students in She also said one of the difficulties voluntary. It is not mandatory To determine whether the various subjects. Students international students face is the for students to attend each program will continue, Wolf can work with a tutor, learn

Street Talk English you didn’t learn from your professors International students, you probably didn’t learn these phrases in your English classes. Here are a few that might make your conversations more interesting.

Test your friends and see if they can correctly define them.

Gunk- sticky or greasy residue Example: The stickers left gunk on the window.

Vibe- feelings, intuition Example: I got a bad vibe when she got in the car.

Programs, location attract international students to WU

By Alexis Austin

Winthrop was going to be like,” she said. “I didn’t have time to visit the school before I came.”

Deciding which college to attend is not Although her first choice was to study in an easy decision, especially if you are Manhattan, NY, Weiselthaler said she took planning to study abroad. One must decide the opportunity to see other parts of the what to study, what country to study in and United States, especially the South. how to pay for it all.

“For me, it’s a big university, but it’s not Students from over 50 countries have too big. I get to see familiar faces; it’s like a decided to study at Winthrop. This number community,” she said. continues to grow by the year.

Oguntoya said although she received Christina Wieselthaler, senior scholarships from other schools, Winthrop journalism major, decided to study in was her first choice. the United States after speaking with her “I didnt have a scholarship to Winthrop neighbor one day. but by faith we decided it was the best “After I got out of school, I wasn’t sure choice and luckily I was able to get a what I wanted to do,” she said. “One day scholarship which waived my out of I was talking to my neighbor and she state tuition, thanks to the International suggested that I travel or study abroad. Center,” she said.

After thinking about it for a week or so, I Weiselthaler also said she is glad decided that’s what I wanted to do.”

Winthrop has the International Center.

Wieselthaler is a native of Vienna, However, she that it’s difficult to find your Austria. Before coming to Winthrop, she way and get things transferred. took English classes in New York. After “When we need something that’s the first staying there for six months, she decided place to go,” she said. “I did have trouble she wanted to continue studying in the getting my credits to transfer from back United States. home. It took me a year to get everything “I applied to five universities on the straightened out.” east coast. I went on collegeboard.com Oguntoya said she wishes that and found schools that offered majors in international students had more journalism and were on the east coast,” opportunties for on-campus jobs and Rock Wieselthaler said.

Hill had public transportation.

For recent graduate Tobi Ogunkoya, “I did not like international students her family expected that she continue her have such few opportunities to work here. studies in the United States. Ogunkoya Every job is reserved for people with work received her Bachelor’s degree in business study and I think that is so unfair since marketing this past August. we cannot work off campus or work more “I was already out of the country for my than 20 hrs a week by law,” she said. “ I last two years of high school, so I suppose did not like that Rock Hill had no public it was expected. I attended a boarding transportation and Winthrop only drove school in Georgia state and my brother was students to the games; not to Wal-Mart or already in college in New Jersey,” she said. the mall.”

Ogunkoya is a native of Lagos, Nigeria.

Nevertheless, she said she enjoyed her She said she and her father chose Winthrop years at Winthrop. because of the warm weather “I loved all my and its business program. international friends, “We checked my other the weather, the small choices and, in terms of campus since I had no ranking, Winthrop was car,” Oguntoya said. ranked highest for business,” “ I loved how friendly she said. everyone was. I loved the Wieselthaler said she chose atmosphere and the peace Winthrop because all the and quiet when everyone other schools’ admissions left for the weekend.” were closed for the Fall 2008 Christina Wieselthaler Senior journalism major semester.

“I had no clue what austina@mytjnow.com

“”

I had no clue what Winthrop would be like.

13

THURSDAY January 27, 2011

JEFF BRODEUR Sports Editor brodeurj@mytjnow.com DAVID THACKHAM Assistant Sports Editor thackhamd@mytjnow.com

International talent pushes tennis team toward possible championship repeat TENNIS • from front very strong.”

In this family, success breeds success. The men’s squad won the Big South Conference Tournament for 2010 and has won it four times in the last eight years.

Much of their continued triumphs have come through doing the simple things right.

“The biggest thing we look for [when recruiting],” said assistant coach Andrew Stubbs, “is work ethic.

You’ve got to be willing to put in the hours, go to school and compete at a high level.” Bivens demonstrates the Winthrop way by simply noting, “We’re a bunch of competitors; we don’t like to lose.”

What they do like to do is play, which was hard for many of the Eagles’ talent before they were recruited to Rock Hill.

“We don’t really have college tennis back home [in Russia]” said Sergey Belov, senior business administration major who calls Nizhniy Novgorod his home. “Our league is like 10 universities and that’s all. The level of college tennis in Russia is really low. However, in the U.S., it is a really big thing.”

As we move further into the spring, the season will loom even larger. After competing in several invitational friendlies, the team is currently 1-2 after a gritty loss against foe UNCGreensboro, but Coach Cid Carvalho remains ever positive on the season, which includes storied programs such as Clemson, Georgia State and Davidson.

“I feel very confident [about the schedule] because we only have things to gain,” Carvalho said. “We play many ACC, SEC and nationallyranked teams [because] the way I look at it is that to be the best, you

have to play the best.”

If home-court advantage is an indication of success, the Eagles might be in for a treacherous road ahead. Only seven games throughout the regular season are played in Rock Hill.

But the team is taking the pressure off themselves and onto the court.

“We will be really pleased to win a Big South this year as well,” Belov said. “I believe everyone of us wants the same… However, we have no pressure because tennis is the game where you never know who is going to win and who is going to lose.”

In the end, Carvalho wants to control the only thing he can in the dogeat-dog Big South Conference chase as universities vie for national ranking.

“Winning the Big South is our goal every year,” he said, “but there’s so many things you have to go through in the season, like injuries, so its very unpredictable. We just have to deal with today and focus on that so we can do better tomorrow. When things happen, we have to pull together and go through it, so the only thing we can do is do the best we can every year.”

That’s what lone American Dejon Bivens hopes to do as he enters his second year of competitive collegiate tennis.

“I feel like I’m carrying the American flag,” he said, “it’s always good to represent your country and myself well.”

But the important thing is that, despite the difference in hometown, every player can be on the same page, come April 21, the dawn of the 2011 Big South Tournament.

“In order for us to be a championship team, we have to be cohesive and work together no matter where we come from because tennis is a very united game,” Carvalho said.

Despite the team being 1-2, the season is early. Coach Carvalho and the squad have high hopes for another golden season for the Eagles. Photo by Stephanie Eaton • eatons@mytjnow.com

Sports Briefs Track and field continue running strong Winthrop’s track and field was able to turn in five top-10 performances at the Hokie Invitational over the weekend.

Despite having limited squad, they were able to leave Blackburg, Va. with their heads held high.

The best finish from Winthrop came courtesy of freshman Jeanne Stroud, who placed third in the 5,000 run.

The other top-10 performances were by sophomore Adam Leroux (6th in the 800), freshman Gabe Holguin (10th in the 800), senior Devin Gist (8th in the 35-lb weight throw) and junior Adam Freudenthal (10th in the 3,000).

Winthrop honors Big South Presidential Scholars Last week, Winthrop recognized 142 student-athletes who acheived The Big South Conference Presidential Scholar status.

In order to qualify for this status, student-athletes had to keep and maintain at least a 3.0 GPA for the entire academic school year.

Of these 142 students, 28 of them were able to keep and maintain a 4.0 GPA throughout the year.

Men’s basketball prepares for road trip Winthrop will head to the road to play

four straight away games in the next eight days. All are important conference matchups, which will likely help shape the outcome of the middle of the Big South table.

Winthrop takes on Presbyterian College on Jan. 29, Radford University on Feb. 1, Gardner-Webb on Feb. 3 and UNC Asheville on Feb. 5.

Lady Eagles overcome 15 point deficit to win After trailing by as much as 15 points in the first half of play, Winthrop shot 61 percent in the second half to win against UNC-Asheville last week.

Dequesha McClanahan led the way with 26 points, while Kaitlyn Rubino chipped in with 15 points of her own.

Mary Hathaway also had a strong performance with a double-double.

The victory marks the fifth consecutive win over Asheville and improves their overall record to 9-8.

Softball ranks third in preseason polls The Big South preseason polls were released on Monday, which has Winthrop predicted to finish third in the conference this year.

Radford and Libery claimed the first and second place spots respectively.

The 2011 softball season kicks off on Friday, Feb. 11, as Winthrop takes on Furman University.

THURSDAY January 27, 2011

SPORTS

14

Popularity of ultimate frisbee on the rise

By Hannah Schwartz schwartzh@mytjnow.com

One of the fastest growing sports on Winthrop’s campus is ultimate frisbee. The Ultimate Frisbee Club, founded last semester, now has over 100 fans on Facebook.Ultimate frisbee, which club member Kevin Reynolds describes as a cross between football and soccer using a flat disc, has been growing in popularity.

He says that two years ago there was a “minigroup”, but it disbanded due to lack of interest.

Since the new club wasfounded last year, more than 20 regular members who come out to play during the Thursday afternoon pickup games.

Club president Matthew Abraham is excited by the growth, but the club continues to grow.

“We just want to get more people out here” said Abraham.

He said one of the best things about ultimate frisbee is that “it’s a sport where anyone can really play.” Everyone is welcome to come out and play in the afternoon pickup games.

People can also join the travel team that plays other schools and will be attending the tournament.

The travel team is coed and currently has 15 members.

It is a challenging game to play, but current club members are more

than happy to teach any newcomers the rules of the sport. “As long as they are willing to play, we are willing to have them come out and play with us,” Reynolds said.

Not only has the club grown, but the talent of the club has increased as well.

“It’s amazing to see how much it has grown in skill set,” says Reynolds.

Even the members who never played until joining last year are able to hold their own against other schools and in scrimmages.

The Ultimate Frisbee Club is holding a scrimmage as a part of itspreparation for a tournament in early March that they will be playing in.

This will be the club’s first tournament, although they played UNCC twice last year, beating them both times. They are also scheduled to play against Pfeiffer University this semester.

The scrimmage will be held on Jan 30 at 4 p.m. at the recreational fields by the coliseum, and it is free to get in.

Anyone interested in joining the club can contact Matt Abraham at abrahamm3@winthrop. edu or visit the club’s website at www.birdsnest.org/ultimate_frisbee.

“”

It’s a sport where anyone can really play.

Matthew Abraham Ultimate frisbee captain

The Winthrop ultimate frisbee club plays on Dinkins lawn every Thursday from 5-6:15 p.m.

All are welcome to come out and have a good time, no experience required.

Photos by Hannah Schwartz • schwartzh@mytjnow. com

THURSDAY January 27, 2011

15

SPORTS

NCAA president helps Winthrop athletics celebrate top 10 teams in school history

By Jeff Brodeur brodeurj@mytjnow.com

For all those Winthrop students who decided to hit the gym this past Friday evening, there’s a good chance you noticed something out of the ordinary going on in the West Center lobby.

Dozens of Winthrop studentathletes from past and present showed up dressed in their finest attire as they gathered in the lobby to enjoy a drink and, most importantly, reunite with their former teammates as they were honored as one of Winthrop’s 15 Teams of Distinction.

“This event gives Winthrop athletics an opportunity to recognize 15 teams that were selected based on achievement of certain milestones in their sport,” Athletic Director Tom Hickman said.

The 15 teams of distinction included: 1980-1981 men’s basketball (all-time most wins), 1981 baseball (NAIA World Series runner-up), 1987 softball’s first Big South Championship), 1987-1988 men’s basketball (first Big South Championship), 1988-1989 women’s golf (first Big South Championship), 1994 women’s tennis (first Big South Championship), 1995 baseball (first NCAA baseball bid), 1997 men’s tennis (first Big South Championship and NCAA bid),

2000 men’s cross country (first Big South Championship and NCAA bid), 2002 volleyball (first Big South Championship and NCAA bid), 2002 men’s soccer (first Big South Championship and NCAA bid), 2006 women’s soccer (first Big South Regular Season Championship), 2006-2007 men’s basketball (first NCAA tournament victory), 2007 softball (first NCAA bid) and 2008-2009 women’s basketball (first WNIT bid).

A total of 273 student-athletes and coaches were welcomed at the otherwise invitation-only event.

As several student gym goers passed through, they glanced at the numerous photographs and trophies on display, all to the credit of these men and women of Winthrop’s rich 125 year history. This night was living proof of why we are called the Campus of Champions.

Once everyone had arrived and got a chance to have a drink and socialize, they migrated to the DiGiorgio Campus Center Ballroom, where all the invitees were greeted with a dinner no students would ever confuse with something they’d have at Thomson Café.

A 45-minute video presentation followed shortly after, which documented the entire history and development of Winthrop’s athletics teams,

their success along the way, and in essence, why every person who steps foot on this campus should be proud to call themselves a Winthrop Eagle.

The highlight of the event was DiGiorgio’s welcoming of keynote speaker Dr. Mark Emmert, who serves as the fifth president of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

He addressed the importance of athletics within higher education, but also how he intends to change perception that the NCAA is all about making money, a growing suspicion since signing a $10.8 billion contract with CBS last April.

“We in the NCAA are not in the business of making money… it’s the business of supporting kids to provide them with opportunities to compete at a high level,” he said.

Emmert ensured that out of the $700 million they are making from their new broadcasting contract, 96 percent of that will be given to collegiate athletic departments across the country, a category that would include Winthrop University.

When asked about the decision to expand the men’s NCAA basketball tournament from 65 teams to 68, he stated how midmajor teams are more likely to compete in play-in games, as Winthrop’s men’s basketball did last season.

“The Big South is very likely to get more national exposure…,” Emmert said.

As the night came to a close, Hickman presented Emmert with his very own Winthrop Eagles shirt as a symbol of gratitude for taking the time out of his busy schedule to visit in celebration of the school’s 125 year anniversary.

Just about four years ago, our men’s basketball team was celebrating their first NCAA tournament win over Notre Dame. To this day, people associate this university with that exact milestone.

“It’s amazing how big of an impact sports can have on a school,” Terence Chia said, who was part of the 1997 men’s tennis team that earned Winthrop its first Big South Championship and NCAA bid.

Needless to say, the university has made great strides since opening its doors in 1886 as an all-female institution. Much of this can be thanked to all the great men and women who came out to be honored by the Athletic Department for helping make this school as we see it today.

“”

The Big South is very likely to get more national exposure...

Mark Emmert

NCAA President

WU athletes deserve our support

By David Thackham thackhamd@mytjnow.com

The Winthrop Coliseum easily holds more than 6,000 raucous Eagles fans.

You would think that during a five game winning streak, you would see the home court packed. You’d be wrong. Only 188 people in attendance for a January 11th matchup against Gardner-Webb. Not even the pep band turned up.

The Winthrop Coliseum easily holds upwards of 6,000 fans. So why was there so little interest?

It’s not as if this game was on any sort of school night: Winthrop had recently been blanketed in snow, causing a threeday cancellation of classes, from Jan. 10 to 12. Perhaps you want to play the

poor college kid card and talk about how much money it costs to get to games.

That’s covered for you, too.

Students get into regular season home games, to EVERY sport for the low, low price of $0. From baseball to track, if you have a ride, you have a seat.

And don’t tell me you “have too much work” to go out and see a game when you know you never will actually start that essay you’ve wasted your time telling everyone about.

How can you ignore so many possibilities to support your athletic peers?

Aimee Kline, director of Event Management and Promotions sends out an e-mail each and every week with the scores from all athletic events as well as a detailed schedule for the upcoming

Upcoming Events Men’s Basketball 1/29 @ Presbyterian at 7:30 p.m.

Women’s Basketball 1/29 vs. Liberty at 7 p.m.

Men’s/Women’s Indoor Track and Field 1/28-1/29 Liberty Open in Lynchburg, Va. Women’s Tennis 1/29 vs. William & Mary at 1 p.m.

1/30 vs. Florida/College of Charleston (TBA)

games.

As if that doesn’t pull you out from your stuffy room and into the stands, athletics offer students even more incentive, offering prizes for the more games and events you attend (double points for a track meet).

And don’t delude yourself into thinking Winthrop is “not that good anyway.”

Our 2010 Big South season champion men’s basketball, women’s soccer and men’s and women’s tennis teams would like to remind you that their work is real, legitimate and keeping Winthrop the “Campus of Champions” that we always pride ourselves on being.

Nevermind that we have two of the fastest track athletes in the Southeast in Jeanne Stroud (3rd place finish in the

5,000 meters at the Hokie Invitational in Blacksburg, Va.) and Keary Simms (defending Big South indoor champion in the 55-meter hurdles).

Never mind that the baseball team is in for a season for the ages as they take on the likes of University of Florida and Notre Dame before a tripleheader over three days against our storied rival, Coastal Carolina.

The passion is intense, the love for the game, abundant. But one question remains for athletes who look up into those empty seats.

What’s your excuse?

THURSDAY January 27, 2011

THE JOHNSONIAN

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