January 19, 2012

WHY WAIT TILL THURSDAY? READ MYTJNOW.COM.

Editor pleads for world change- his style.

See Opinion, page 5

GOP PRIMARY 2012: All the candidates, all the info.

See News, page 3

THURSDAY January 19, 2012

Culture, history and stories composed into student’s published book.

See Culture, page 9

WINTHROP UNIVERSITY

NEWS

Issue 14

SPORTS

Dacus provides nursing mothers with private room

For three (points)... Choiby!

AMANDA PHIPPS phippsa@mytjnow.com The spirit of inclusiveness thrives at Winthrop.

Dacus Library has opened a room for nursing mothers to use while on campus, Dean of Library Services Mark Herring said. The project began several years ago when the university began to look for a possible place for the room. All three women in Herring’s life breast-fed their children, which made him feel he should offer the library as a possible home for the room, he said.

See MOMS page 2 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Behind the Beak MONICA KREBER kreberm@mytjnow.com

He makes public appearances. He has a distinctive outfit. His identity will never be revealed to the public.

No, he is not Superman –but he is Winthrop’s mascot Big Stuff.

As part of Winthrop tradition, The Johnsonian may not publish the name of the person who puts on the Eagle suit and dances with the Spirit Squad at sports events. However, a “friend of Big Stuff” (FBS) said that it is common rule among school mascots to remain anonymous.

Last weekend the Spirit Squad began audition processes for the Winthrop dance

See MASCOT page 8

Diana Choibekova (in white) stole the show Saturday with 24 points, including five treys, to help defeat UNCA by 16 points. She is currently first nationally in three-pointers made per game. Photo by Sarah Auvil • auvils@mytjnow.com

Junior transfer guard sparks Eagles into conference contention with double-double DAVID THACKHAM

cluding five from beyond the arc (50% field goal percentage) and helped the Eagles (8-8, 2-2 Big South Conference) coast to a 84-68 victory at home. The five threepointers help Choibekova’s case to become the national leader in three-pointers per game in Division I. The transfer from Daytona State

thackhamd@mytjnow.com

Cometh the hour, cometh the woman. Winthrop’s junior guard Diana Choibekova defied her recent poor performances Saturday to strike 24 points against the UNC Asheville Bulldogs, in-

College currently has 3.9 three pointers on average in each contest. Although most of the plaudits will go to her point total, Choibekova’s 11 rebounds made the difference in setting up a highpaced transition offense that accounted for 33 points off of turnovers and 13 off the fast break.

A 13-2 tear early in the first half with Choibekova scoring nine within two minutes set the scene, despite the Bulldogs’ Grace Blaylock (23 points) keeping the visitors close.

Asheville found redemption

See BALL page 11

NEWS

Police: No arrests, suspects in Dec. rape case JONATHAN MCFADDEN mcfaddenj@mytjnow.com

Sketch provided by Winthrop Police chief Frank Zebedis

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

Rock Hill Police are still looking for the man responsible for allegedly abducting a Winthrop student from the University Place parking lot and sexually assaulting her at an apartment complex away from campus more than a month ago.

The police do not have anyone in custody and the incident is still under investigation, said Brad Redfearn, lieutenant with the Rock Hill Police Department.

Finding a culprit in a case like this one, Redfearn said, is no easy task.

“We have no suspect name, no exact age, no photograph,” Redfearn said. “It’s like searching for a needle in a haystack.”

What the police do have, he said, is a composite sketch of the alleged rapist crafted from the victim’s own memory.

The victim said her attacker

I N D E X

was a black male in his mid-20s with a goatee and wore a black nylon skullcap, dark jeans and a dark hooded sweatshirt, according to the original incident report.

The Rock Hill Police Department, the agency handling the case because the assault occurred off campus, released the sketch on Dec. 17, 2011, three days after the initial assault.

At around 2 a.m. on Dec. 14, 2011, a 20-year-old female student walked out of her University Place apartment building to get something out of her car only to be confronted by a knifewielding black male, according to the original incident report.

The man put the knife to the student’s right side and forced her into her own car, the report says.

He then instructed her to drive to Innsbrook Commons, an apartment complex at the intersection between Constitution Boulevard and West Main Street,

CAMPUS NEWS

2-4

where, the report says, he forced the student to get undressed and sexually assaulted her between two cars in the parking lot.

After raping her, the victim told police that her attacker told her he had just given her AIDS, the report says.

The fear of contracting a sexually transmitted infection is a legitimate concern for all victims of sexual assault, said Jane Alleva, interim director of Safe Passage, a nonprofit agency which offers assistance and services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.

What this student’s attacker said to her is in line with the purpose of any sexual assault, Alleva said, which is to humiliate and control the victim.

“He humiliated her and he also controlled her beyond the rape because he put that [threat of AIDS] in her head and left her with this very big overwhelming

See CASE page 4

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

OPINION

5

CULTURE

SCIENCE & TECH

6

SPORTS

7-8 9 10-11

2

JONATHAN MCFADDEN News Editor mcfaddenj@mytjnow.com

THURSDAY January 19, 2012

AMANDA PHIPPS Assistant News Editor phippsa@mytjnow.com

Student moms juggle school, work, nursing babies Dacus Library has opened a room for mothers to nurse their babies in private.

MOMS • from front Herring said the room will be a place for nursing mothers to breast-feed their babies in private.

The library put in new carpet and added a chair and lamp to make the room more comfortable. The room can be locked and will have a sign women can put up to ensure privacy.

The room is available for anyone who has a use for it on campus, Herring said.

“Nursing mothers had no where to go,” he said.

“I feel like there will be a use for it.”

The room will also be equipped with wipes, a changing table and diapers, Herring said.

“It is another service the university provides,” he said. “It is an important service that faculty, staff and students can have if they want it. It felt needed.”

Students like senior integrated marketing major Alexis Austin, who works at the library, find it useful as well.

“The nursing room is a great idea especially for mothers who are breastfeeding, like me,” Austin said. “I think that it’s considerate of the library to recognize there are a lot of mothers that are juggling the role of a student and mother.

hope that more places on campus can designate a small room as a nursing room in their building.”

Health benefits

The library’s nursing room, equipped with quaint lighting and a lounge chiar, was the brainchild of Mark Herring, dean of library services, who said three women in his life all breast-fed their children. Photo by Claire VanOstenbridge • vanostenbridgec@mytjnow.com Having the room gives them a quiet place to get work done as well as take care of their baby’s needs.”

Herring said the library seemed like a good place for the room since it is open seven days a week and will be open 24 hours in the future. Austin said students will find the room in the library helpful.

“(Students) won’t have to schedule library time around their baby’s feeding time,” she said. “When their baby is hungry, a mom can simply take a break and go to the nursing room.”

Austin said she has used the room in the past and enjoyed the privacy.

“Since becoming a mother, I realized the only place that I can take my

Subway’s coming back....really

By Kaitlyn Schallhorn

schallhornk@mytjnow.com

After much anticipation, the wait is finally over.

Students can expect to be able to reunite with an on-campus Subway come early February.

“We are currently renovating the space so your dining experience can be more enjoyable,” Pam Yorkovic, director of dining services, wrote in an email.

“We hope to have the new facility open ASAP.” While it has taken longer than previously expected for Subway to reopen in

Dinkins, no additional costs have been added to the project, Yorkovic said.

Students will also have the opportunity to do more than just eat once the restaurant reopens.

“Subway will be hiring students,” Yorkovic said.

Students are encouraged to stop by the Dining Services office located in Thomson Hall where they can find applications to fill out for employment.

The renovations to Subway are overseen by the Facilities Department, which is also working closely with a Subway construction consultant in order to efficiently bring Subway back on campus.

Above is Subway’s once and future location in the basement of Dinkins as it stands today. Though closed in 2010, Subway is on track to open in early February. Photo by Claire VanOstenbridge • vanostenbridgec@mytjnow.com

daughter to feed her or change her in private is the library,” she said. “I

Breast-feeding is good for both the mother and the baby, said Karen Kedrowski, chair of political science.

Kedrowski researches breast feeding policy and said the Affordable Care Act mandates that breastfeeding women have the right to pump or nurse at work and employers have to accommodate them in a place other than a bathroom.

By adding the room on campus, she said Winthrop serves as an example for other state agencies.

Kedrowski said this accommodation is the “beginning of what will be the mainstream.”

“It is an important public health initiative in this country,” she said.

Breast feeding rates are rising among women working outside the

home, Kedrowski said.

“Work places are sometimes not very supportive of a women’s biological needs,” she said.

Kedrowski said the goal is for breast-feeding to be accepted as normal and healthy.

“Breast-feeding is in both the child and mother’s best interest,” she said.

Kedrowski said that formula is not as good for babies as breast milk.

Breast milk is rich in nutrients that protects newborn babies, is easier to digest than formula and fights disease and illness, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health website.

Kedrowski said the room has both biological and symbolic importance.

“Winthrop can show that it is a friendly place for mothers and babies,” she said. “It promotes healthy lifestyles of all sorts.”

Winthrop’s battle for state support begins ­—again

By Jonathan McFadden mcfaddenj@mytjnow.com

The beginning of a new legislative session could mean various things for state agencies, but for students of a certain liberal arts college that’s seen its state support chopped in half in the past seven years, it could mean the difference between chucking out more or less money next academic year.

But, don’t count on finding out too much before the session’s close on June 7.

With a session clouded with two major elections —the first-in-the-South Republican primary this month and the state primary in June— and state deficit woes, state leaders are reluctant to engage in discussions regarding college and university funding.

On Jan. 10, the Republican-dominated legislature reconvened in Columbia where the joint assembly of senators and state representatives promised to find a solution for higher state revenues but refrained from suggesting that excess money would be poured back into the educational system, welfare programs or job creation.

Instead, lawmakers may have to focus on repaying the state’s debts to the federal government and compensating for the rising costs of Medicaid.

So, what does Winthrop’s administration do at a time like this?

“We will continue to press for a return of state support to Winthrop in meeting with Gov. Haley and legislative leaders,” DiGiorgio said in a campuswide e-mail to students, faculty and staff on Jan. 9.

DiGiorgio said sate leaders realize employees at Winthrop have not received salary increases in more than three years and, “they are vowing to address that issue this year.”

Each 1 percent salary increase would cost the state about $14 million, which may be why Gov. Nikki Haley’s proposed budget doesn’t include pay raises for state employees.

“I want to give state employees raises.

I think they deserve it,” Haley said in a story by The State, “But it is more important we get these agencies in order in which [state employees] work in, and we give them stronger agencies to go into work everyday.”

State employees may be required to contribute more into the retirement system to help eliminate the retirement system’s $13 billion deficit, the story said.

Though Winthrop employees have gone without pay boosts in some time, the university did not have to implement mandated layoffs for full time

faculty/staff, said Rebecca Masters, assistant to the president for public affairs, in a September story published by The Johnsonian.

As for more state funding for Winthrop, the university is receiving about $13 million —or 9.6 percent— now as opposed to the $26 million the university was awarded in 2005.

“Despite solid work by Winthrop employees to reduce our costs wherever possible while also protecting the experience of our students, these cumulative state budget reductions have meant some tuition increases where necessary in recent years,” DiGiorgio said in the e-mail.

Such years included the 2008/2009 academic year, when Winthrop lost $5.1 million (24 percent) of funding from the state. Federal stimulus funds, $3.4 million total, were allocated to Winthrop to cushion the void, but students still paid 8.3 percent more in tuition and fees.

In 2009/2010, Winthrop received less than $18 million from the state.

During the 2010/2011 academic year, Winthrop’s Board of Trustees mandated a 4.9 percent tuition increase, a number administrators hoped would be a cap for any potential future tuition upsurges.

A testament to their efforts was the 3.9 percent tuition increase students saw this academic year.

DiGiorio doesn’t anticipate the university will have any ideas on where Winthrop stands in terms of tuition costs for 2012/2013 until the end of the spring semester, he said in the e-mail.

Over the past several months, Gov. Nikki Haley has met with university presidents from across to state to begin crafting her accountability-based funding system.

It’s the same system Haley endorsed during her October visit to campus last semester.

Per the plan, schools that successfully meet four “measurables,” or criteria, would receive funding based on merit and not a “hand out,” she said during her October town hall meeting in the Richardson Ballroom.

Haley said it’s possible Winthrop could receive more funding if the university meets all four measurables —which include in-state enrollment, graduation rates, the university’s contribution to society and post-graduation job placement.

Last March, The Johnsonian studied Winthrop’s then-progress on the four measurables. Find those stories on mytjnow.com.

3

THURSDAY January 19, 2012

YOUR TJ GUIDE TO GOP PRIMARY 2012

Elephant image courtesy of FactMonster.

Palmetto State the ‘proving ground’ for GOP combatants

By Jonathan McFadden mcfaddenj@mytjnow.com

Rick Santorum

Former senator of Pennsylvania Economy: Proposes tax reform Education: Wants intelligent design covered in public schools Society: Opposes same-sex marriage, abortion, liberals

Think of South Carolina as the state that can either make or break dreams.

Of course, that’s only if you plan to run for president.

Just ask former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who made history this month with consecutive first-place wins at both the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary.

Or, maybe you’d rather consult with any other “anti-Romney” candidate — a variable that may help any of the other four remaining GOP contenders secure victory in South Carolina’s firstin-the-South primary on Jan. 21.

Primary elections precede general elections to determine which person will be the “it” candidate for their political party in the

general election.

Right now, six Republicans aspire to be their party’s nomination for president, leaving the world to watch as they battle in various caucuses and primaries to sway delegates to give them their vote and oppose President Barack Obama in the general election.

With an Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary out of the way, South Carolina is center stage as the first-in-theSouth primary set to South Carolina, the eighth state to join the help “whittle down the field” of contenders, said Union, has a reputaAdolphus Belk, assocition for being the ate professor of political penultimate and most primitive early primary science.

Candidates with low state. When candidates scoring numbers in the leave New Hampshire caucuses and primary and head down past may stand to lose key Dixie, they can expect campaign advisers, and their opponents to may also have trouble blow the doors wide raising campaign funds, open on name-calling, which is “essential to scurrilous accusations competing,” Belk said. and mudslinging.

“So, they’re broken by the outcomes of Iowa and New Hampshire.”

Tea Party superstar and former Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann is one of those candidates who felt the heat post-Iowa when, on Jan. 4, she dropped out of the presidential race and canceled plans to speak in Fort Mill after finishing last in the Iowa caucus.

For former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Texas Gov. Rick Perry, South Carolina is “it,” Belk said.

“If they don’t do well here, they’re done,” he said.

And, former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, who consistently saw single digits in the polls, is no longer a factor.

On Jan. 16, the once-embassador to China dropped out of the presidential race and endorsed fellow Mormon, Romney.

South Carolina is “an important credential that sends signals to social conservatives and fiscal conservatives in other places that this person has been vetted by voters who share some of the same attitudes regarding the role of government, the role of church in government,” Belk said.

So now that the focus is shifting to the Palmetto State, candidates find themselves placing their hopes in

“”

a voting population of diverse conservatives.

According to Belk, there are: • Conservatives motivated by concerns for national security • Fiscal conservatives, who may also be socially moderate • Staunch conservatives with an evangelical bend, who hold strong views on abortion, same-sex marriage and Timothy Kroboth the role of the church in College Republicans President the public sphere.

With diverse clumps of conservatives converging in South Carolina, the state becomes a “proving ground” for aspiring presidential candidates, Belk said.

And, for RomNewt Gingrich ney — ”the Former Speaker of the House presumptive Economy: Likes deep spending cuts, front-runner” pushes no 2013 tax increase at the head of Education: Shrink education departthe class — that ment; supports monetary incentives for students who take advanced math and sci- might prove to ence classes. Also supports jobs in schools be a challenge, to build work ethic for at-risk students.

Belk said, Society: Opposes abortion, but doesn’t despite his perwant to criminalize doctors that perform formances in them; opposes gay marriage, but advoIowa and New cates certain rights for homosexuals Hampshire.

With a reputation for being a moderate and taking “nuanced” positions on abortion and same-sex marriage, Belk says Romney is molding himself to be a more acceptable candidate to conservative voters.

Romney’s argument now is that his positions on those issues have “evolved,” Belk said, and he is now transitioning farther Right in a fashion similar to Sen. John McCain during his 2008 bid for president.

It’s been a difficult transition, Belk said, but there is hope.

“There’s no single candidate that unites the anti-Romney constituency,” Belk said. “…Votes are going to be scattered.”

Mitt Romney Though Iowa was great for Former governor Romney, it was also good for Rick of Massachusetts Santorum, who is known to be a Economy: Foundhard campaigner and, after comer of venturecapital firm, Bain ing in second in the caucus, now Capital LLC; felt a tough competitor. tax compromise in “That victory gave his camDecember 2010 fell paign a boost,” Belk said. short Then, there’s Ron Paul, who Education: Fan managed to score third in the of No Child Left Iowa caucus, second in the New Behind; wants Hampshire primary and whose more federal and campaign —which at one time state control over made only a soft thud— is now education gaining speed.

Society: Opposes same-sex marriage, Only time and voter turnout back-and-forth on will tell who will go on to oppose abortion President Obama, but South

...A candidate most like Barack Obama is the one who can defeat Barack Obama.

Carolina’s significance is not to be ignored.

Historically, the state’s track record with ‘guessing’ the eventual party nominee has been pristine.

“If you go back to 1980, every victor in the South Carolina Republican primary has gone on to secure the Republican nomination for the general Ron Paul election,” Belk said. “And, Texas congressman people know that. This could be Economy: Wants a place that can either make or to abolish Federal break dreams.”

Reserve “The entire presidential race Education: Abolish has a chance to define where Department of Educathe Republican Party will move tion and leave educain the long term, I think,” said tion decisions to state, local and personal Timothy Kroboth, president of levels Winthrop’s College RepubliSociety: Legalizacans. tion of heroin-use and The senior political science prostitution and economics double major said voter approval of Romney may show that there’s a major shift in mainstream Republican voters.

In terms of defeating Obama in the general election, Kroboth said he believes Romney probably has the best shot.

Not that that’s a good thing.

Romney could be the ‘Yoko Ono’ of the Republican Party, leading to a possible schism within the party’s walls and causing “irreversible damage,” Kroboth said.

Already, members of the Tea Party are finding their votes split between unwavering conservative Santorum and Gingrich, whose speeches to South Carolina Tea Party constituents paint Santorum as another Romney.

Perhaps the epitome of irony to Kroboth is the demographic contender Ron Paul has attracted.

More young people are flocking to the 76-year-old Libertarian who is running on the Republican ticket than they are to any other candidate, Kroboth said.

A Jan. 12 story by The State newspaper shows that Ron Paul is the most googled candidate despite coming in second in the New Hampshire primary and third in the Iowa caucuses. A story by The Associated Press shows that young people are helping keep Paul’s campaign aloft.

Paul’s campaign focuses on a smaller government, emphasizes personal freedoms and adopts a cease-anddesist method to U.S. military involvement overseas.

Though former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman was Kroboth’s number one pick, “if Republicans want a candidate with traditional Republican values, Santorum is the choice.”

But Kroboth cautions that Santorum supporters may not want to be too enthusiastic.

Romney, whose values most closely align with President Barack Obama, “gives the Republicans a better chance in November,” Kroboth said.

He added that it’s ironic that “a candidate most like Barack Obama Rick Perry is the one who Texas governor can defeat Barack Economy: Jobs, jobs, jobs Obama.”

Education: Eliminate the Department of Education; supports school prayer and religious-based teaching Society: Says abortion and samesex unions should be issues the states handle, not feds

Which GOP candidate would you vote for???

“”

TJ Editors’ Top 10 for Keeping Primary Savvy

Ron Paul — I like his politics on business.

1) CNN 2) NBC

Josh Zimmerman

Senior mathematics

“”

To make it easier on the Democrats, I would pick Rick Santorum.

He’s very contradictory.

“”

Stephen Colbert — I think he’s the only who isn’t insane. I feel that all the candidates are fascists and heterosexists.

Mary Shockley

Junior theatre education

Takia Barnett

Freshman business administration

3) MSNBC

4) The State newspaper 5) The International Herald Tribune/The New York Times 6) The Washington Post 7) Real Clear Politics 8)

Politico.com

9)

Yahoo! News

10)

Facebook (politically-related posts only, of course)

Check out www.mytjnow.com/goprimary2012 for TJ GOP primary coverage you won’t see in print.

4

THURSDAY January 19, 2012

CASE • from front fear that he knew he might have AIDS and that he was going to give it to her,” Alleva said.

Such a threat fits in with other threatening warnings attackers may issue to their victims, such as “I have your driver’s license,” “I’m going to come back and do it to you” or “I’m going to kill your family,” Alleva said. “It’s not unusual for a perpetrator to try to control the victim even beyond the initial victimization.”

Now, as the investigation’s clock ticks, the victim may feel as if her safety has been stolen from her, Alleva said.

“It’s even harder when they don’t know who the assailant is,” she said.

Based off what she’s heard from past clients, Alleva said victims feel as if they could one day be in the grocery store with their assaulter.

“That’s the fear, that every time they go out in public this person that knows [them], knows where [they] live, knows where [they] grocery shop,” Alleva said.

The trauma can become so overwhelming that, to victims, everyone fitting the physique, skin color, eye color or hair type of the attacker becomes a potential perpetrator, she said.

With all sexual assaults, there’s always the stigma of shame that lingers afterwards, Alleva said.

“Even though we try

so hard not to have them feel that way, it’s hard [for them] not to feel embarrassed or question themselves, ‘why did I do this?’ or ‘why did I not do that?’” she said.

The victim is never to blame, Alleva said though they often tend to question themselves.

“That’s your right to be able to go to your car, to go outside, to go to a party...” she said.

With the student’s attacker still at large, the police are asking for the public’s assistance.

“We can only be in certain places at certain times,” Redfearn said.

“We need more information, more people to call in.”

“The public needs to tell us” if they observe any suspicious activity that may point to a possible suspect, Redfearn said.

Not long after the assault, citizens began calling in tips to the department, Redfearn said.

What resulted were 30 different possible suspects fitting the attacker’s description that detectives and officers had to check out.

The process is still underway.

“None of those may be the suspect,” Redfearn said. “We can’t just snatch people off the streets.”

Solving a crime of this caliber is “not like TV,” Redfearn said.

People will often watch entertainment shows like CSI Miami, he said,

and assume a heavy duty crime can be pieced together and solved within 60 minutes.

“That’s not how the real world works,” Redfearn said.

What’s more, “stranger rapes,” as Redfearn termed it, are not common in Rock Hill--or in the United States.

Statistics from the Bureau of Justice show that 77 percent of completed rapes are committed by “non-strangers.” Similar 2002 statistics from the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault show that a woman is four times more likely to be raped by an acquaintance than a stranger.

Sexual assault remains one of the most under reported crimes, with 60 percent still being left unreported, according to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN).

Acquaintance rapes happen to be reported even less frequently.

In 2007, 90 percent of acquaintance rape victims did not report the assault, according to the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault.

Asked whether the police had any forensic evidence to help them with the investigation, Redfearn said the police usually do not comment on any evidence in their possession for fear that disclosing that information could hinder the case.

Speaking for himself,

Redfearn said he was unsure whether detectives had any forensic evidence at their disposal.

Safety measures Once Campus Police learned of the assault, Chief of Campus Police Frank Zebedis sent out a mass e-mail to the Winthrop community alerting them what had transpired.

Zebedis cautioned students to remain “vigilant at all times” and asked that they be aware of their surroundings.

According to Rock Hill Police, the young woman was kidnapped from the parking lot closest to Columbia Avenue, bordering the Courtyard, the new Winthrop Operations Center and Fourman’s Repair Shop.

University Place does not have any security cameras overseeing its parking lot, according to Amy Preiss Barger, director of marketing for the Press Company, an acquisitions company that boasts University Place as one of its properties.

What the complex does have, Barger said, is an on-site courtesy officer whose phone number is given to each resident.

It’s a number senior marketing major Rumelia Greenlee has never dialed; not because she didn’t need it, but because she never had it.

“I don’t know anything about that,” she said. “I

Here at the alleged ‘scene of the crime,’ a Winthrop student was abducted, and later raped elsewhere, early in the morning on Dec. 14. Residents of University Place use this parking lot, which is adjacent to Columbia Avenue, when spots are not available in UP’s main lot. Photo by Sarah Auvil • auvils@mytjnow.com

“”

know there’s an officer that lives there, but I don’t have his number.”

Greenlee, who juggles a third shift job with 15 hours this semester, said one word that sums up her feelings with living in University Place after the assault: “Unsafe.”

“It seems like they’re Jane Alleva not even making moves Safe Passage interim director to protect us,” Greenlee said. “A couple of Kim Smith, though, said nights the police were she could not elaborate there that whole week, but on what was discussed after that week we didn’t or disclose any further see a lot of policemen.” information since the Greenlee also knows of incident’s investigation is times when people who still pending. don’t live in the complex Both University Place manage to get inside by and Campus Walk are kicking in the supposedly private properties, with locked, key-access-only responsibility for their doors. own security measures, “Why keep the doors said Rebecca Masters, locked if people can Winthrop’s assistant to unlock them?” Greenlee the president for public said. affairs.

During Christmas These properties belong Break, Greenlee was under the jurisdiction of forced to stay in Rock the City of Rock Hill, MasHill --and thus University ters said, just like other Place-- because she had to apartments farther away work. When the Winthrop from campus. student was abducted and “WUPD and RHPD assaulted, Greenlee could maintain a mutual suphave been taking her port agreement whenroutine 2 a.m. break from ever both are needed in work. a specific instance, but Now, her routine’s the primary responsible changed a bit. When agency is determined by she comes home for her where an incident occurs,” break, she usually stays on she said. the phone with someone Members of Campus and talks to them “just in Police do patrol the area case I get kidnapped, they surrounding University can hear me,” she said.

Place, including the parkDespite Greenlee’s coning lot, said Chief of Police cerns about safety, there Frank Zebedis. are some safety measures “We don’t answer calls in the area. there, but we are in the Campus Walk, a former area,” he said.

University Place building Zebedis confirmed purchased by Walk2Camthat the Rock Hill Police pus, does have security Department’s dispatch cameras that oversee the responds when a 9-1-1 call parking lot, according to is made from a University Julie Smith, Walk2CamPlace resident. pus’ director of marketing On Jan. 9, Zebedis and leasing. sent out another e-mail Though unable to encouraging students to discuss the situation in be aware when walking on detail, Smith said the offand off campus. Seventycampus student housing two emergency call boxes company has been coand elevator phones are operative with the police available on campus, he amid the investigation. said, and Campus Police Innsbrook Commons, officers will escort stuthe complex where the dents if needed. actual sexual assault took Zebedis also included a place, does have seculink to several safety tips rity cameras monitoring available on the Campus its properties, said Kim Police website.

Smith, property manager Since the case is still unfor the complex. solved, any persons who Officials and employees may have information with the complex are still about the case are asked cooperating with police, to contact Sgt. Wes Wiles Kim Smith said, and reof Campus Police at 803cently met with detectives 323-2541. again on January 10.

That’s your right to be able to go out to your car, to go outside, to go to a party...

–––– Police Blotter –––– DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE, SPEEDING, DISORDERLY CONDUCT (12/14/11) At 1:59 a.m., a Winthrop reporting officer was driving on Winthrop Alumni Dr. when he spotted the victim’s vehicle traveling at a high speed, according to the police report. The reporting officer watched the victim ignore two stop signs and recorded the victim traveling at a speed of 54 mph in a 20 mph zone. When the reporting officer pulled over the victim, he smelled alcohol on the victim. When the reporting officer asked the victim for his driver’s license, the victim first handed the officer his Bank of America credit card. After being asked for his driver’s license a second time, the victim handed over his Winthrop student ID. The third time he was asked, he handed his driver’s license, according to the police report.

As the reporting officer was looking at the victim’s license, the victim began to use profanity. The reporting officer asked the victim to step outside the vehicle so he could administer a weapons pat down on the victim. The victim then proceeded to say to the reporting officer, “You better not touch me inappropriately.” The reporting officer then administered a field sobriety test on the

victim. The victim failed the test and was placed under arrest by the reporting officer, according to the police report. The victim was taken to Rock Hill City Jail and continued to use profanity and make references towards the reporting officer’s sexuality, according to the report. The victim’s blood alcohol level was .21 percent. The victim received charges for disorderly conduct, driving under the influence, speeding and consumption of beer under 21, according to the police report.

THEFT OF A KINDLE FIRE (1/9/12) At 12:55 p.m., a Winthrop reporting officer went to the former Bookworm building as a result of a stolen Kindle Fire, according to the police report.

While she was taking a lunch break, the victim was eating in her car and trying to connect to the Internet on her Kindle Fire. The Internet was not working, so the victim placed the Kindle Fire in her purse and finished eating her lunch.

When the victim returned to finish her workday, she placed her purse in the storage room, according to the police report. At 4 p.m., the victim had completed her shift and went to her car to find a ticket for “failure to register.” The victim went to campus police to take

care of her ticket and get registered and then went home. Later that evening the victim noticed that her Kindle Fire was no longer in her purse. She searched her car and the storage room at her work, without finding the Kindle Fire. The storage room door stays open during the day and is easily accessible to customers and other employees, according to the report. The victim received a victim’s notification form, but if no leads arise the case will be administratively closed, according to the police report.

INDECENT EXPOSURE (1/10/12) At 3:20 p.m., a Winthrop reporting officer was informed by two victims that a white male had exposed himself to them at the Winthrop Lake, according to the police report. The victims were meeting at the lake to run and once they both parked by the sand volleyball courts, they got out of their vehicles and began to stretch. As they were stretching, the subject passed them on a bicycle, looked at the victims and said, “Damn,” according to police report. The victims laughed and continued to prepare for their run. The subject tried to hide in the trees and continue to watch the victims. The vic-

tims noticed the subject watching them and decided to choose a new location for their run, according to the report.

As the victims were leaving, the first victim looked in her rearview mirror to see the subject expose his private area and point to his crotch. The subject did the same thing as the second victim was passing, according to the report.

The subject tried to follow the victims but did not keep up. The victims went to campus police. A reporting officer returned to the Winthrop Lake and tried to speak with the subject, but he sped off on his bicycle. The subject is said to be a white male with blond hair and scruffy facial hair, according to the report. Officers from Winthrop and the Rock Hill Police Department tried to find the subject in the areas around the Winthrop Lake, but could not locate him. This case is being administratively closed because of a lack of evidence, according to the police report.

Compiled by Zoe Irizarry

5

Independent Thought BOX from hell No racoon will stand between me and my whiskey.

--Devang Joshi (webmaster) Have a good day.

--Abraham Lincoln There is no I in team, which is exactly why Chuck Norris doesn’t need a team.

--Bucky McDowell Coexist.

--Novelty bumper sticker.

It’s Friday. It’s Friday.

--Rebecca Black Lisa, you are tuurring may apart!

--Tommy Wissaeu The premiere quantum-mechanical equations suggest that reality is a tenuous layer of perception compounded on another layer of invisible cake.

--Novelty bumper sticker

THURSDAY January 19, 2012

CONNOR DE BRULER Opinion Editor debrulerc@mytjnow.com

Editor complains about the way 2012 should go down

Hear are some things I who doesn’t work for the governwould like to change for ment the “private sector”, like the New Year. I don’t it’s just a sliver of the U.S. when believe in resolutions. I it’s pretty much the whole damn want the actual world to thing. I also hated how every busichange. ness executive just latched onto 1). I’d like pop songs to that term like it means something. stop using the following When I say “private sector” I’m Connor de Bruler phrases, “Crying shame”, normally referring to my penis.

Opinion editor “Too late”, “You are my 14). Whatever happened to Sufeverything.” jan Steven’s 50 state project. Did 2). I want my dealer to lower his he just give up? prices.

15). I want the Student Health Orga3). Glenn Beck should stop writing nization to stop offering me kindles. I books. Any books. I don’t even want to don’t want one. read his crossword puzzles.

16). Why isn’t there club on campus 4). Can’t we just legalize weed? for American Indian students. I mean, 5). Religious people should finally I’m not Indian but you’d think there’d admit it’s all a scam. be a community for my Catawba and 6). President DiGiorgio should stop Cherokee friends. e-mailing us about money. It’s always 17). I think every American student gonna be bad news anyway. should take a Chinese exchange student 7). Nikki Haley should stop doing… under their wing to further mix the you know…the whole governor thing. I school. really don’t think an income tax dodger 18). Seriously, those frogs near the is the best person to be governing a lawn are creepy. state whose economy is literally raping 19). Thomson, just because you put itself. a sombrero near your Fritos and chili 8). Thomson needs to stay open a doesn’t make it international cooking. little longer. There are students who get 20). What about those trampolines I out of class rather late and would still asked for? like a nice meal.

21). I really want people who identify 9). Elevation Church should go back themselves as “Furries” to stop acting to wherever they came from. like their some kind of oppressed mi10). Maybe the school could take nority. Group sex doesn’t need animal more initiative to house the stray cats costumes to get any creepier. No one between Nance and Tillman. else should have to suffer just because 11). I’m tired of my friends supportyou imprinted your ill-developed sexual ing Ron Paul just because he wants to needs on 90’s Disney characters. You’re legalize marijuana. ruining the rights of homosexuals and 12). Again, I would like to legalize it. transgender people with your non13). I want congress to stop calling sense. rich people “job makers” and everyone

Our Say

Take advantage of geographical location, engage in politics It’s an election year.

It’s January.

And we’re in South Carolina.

Therefore, as you may have noticed, a barrage of GOP candidate hopefuls have made trips to the Palmetto state, including visits to Winthrop. Primary candidate hopefuls Michele Bachmann, Hermain Cain and Rick Santorum have all been campaigning in the Rock Hill

area recently.

So what does this have to do with you, a Winthrop student?

Well, if you’re not planning on voting, then nothing.

If, however, you decide to cast a vote in the Jan. 21 GOP primary election, make sure you know what’s up with your candidate. Seek out their policies and plans for the future, employing reliable

sources (not just commercials from his opponent).

Attend some of the candidates’ visits to Rock Hill, Fort Mill or wherever they happen to park the Winnebago. Shake his hand, hear him speak live and make sure he’s “the one.”

Just take advantage of our proximity to the candidates, even if you’re not voting Republican.

Want more info on the GOP primary?

Check out our website at www.mytjnow. com and learn about all the candidates.

Want to express your opinion on the Republican primary? Email Claire at byunc@mytjnow.com.

Happy voting, Winthrop.

Original Comic by Courtney Niskala Editor-in-Chief CLAIRE BYUN

Science & Technology Editor CATHERINE ZENDE

Managing Editor & Webmaster DEVANG JOSHI

Sports Editor JEFF BRODEUR

Photographers AMIEE HARMAN CLAIRE VANOSTENBRIDGE JOHN RHODES SARAH AUVIL

Sports Editor DAVID THACKHAM

Ad Manager / Ad Designer RILEY SCHOTT

Copy Editor STEPHANIE ROJENCHES

Ad Sales Representative KATHRINE BROWN JOSH DEMAREST

News Editor JONATHAN MCFADDEN Assistant News Editor AMANDA PHIPPS Opinion Editor CONNOR DE BRULER Culture Editor ALISON ANGEL Arts & Entertainment Editor MONICA KREBER

Copy Editor EDWARD SZEMAN Multimedia Editor JEREMY ALLEN Assistant Multimedia Editor SARAH AUVIL

Graphic Designer COURTNEY NISKALA Faculty Adviser GUY REEL

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.

6

CATHERINE ZENDE Science & Technology Editor zendec@mytjnow.com

THURSDAY January 19, 2012

A day without Wikipedia?

Popular site protests through 24 hour blackout

By Catherine Zende

zendec@mytjnow.com

If supporters of the SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) or PIPA (Protect Intelluctual Propery Act) bills thought opposition would never fully organize, Wikipedia’s planned blackout proved otherwise.

The popular online encyclopedia planned to shut down the English version of its site starting on January 18th 05:00 UTC time, or midnight EST. This blackout is the first staged public protest planned by Wikipedia, according to Wikimedia Foundation, the non-profit organization that operates Wikipedia.

The free encyclopedia planned the protest because, “It is the opinion of the English Wikipedia community that both of these bills, if passed, would be devastating to the free and open web,” according to Wikimedia.

The SOPA bill was introduced to the House of Represenatives as a way to fight copyright infringement and block access to sites that host illegal content.

PIPA was introduced to the Senate before SOPA as another way to fight online piracy, particularly with overseas sites.

While SOPA has stalled, PIPA is up for a vote sometime in the near future, though some are asking for a delay.

Despite the fact that neither SOPA nor PIPA have been passed yet, Wikipedia

still believes the bills will resurface and gain support.

“The reality is that we don’t think SOPA is going away, and PIPA is still quite active. Moreover, SOPA and PIPA are just indicators of a much broader problem,” according to Wikimedia.

While tech companies strongly oppose the bills, not everyone disagrees with the legislation. The main supporters of the anti-piracy bills are believed to be members of the entertainment community who believe piracy threatens the entertainment industry.

Wikipedia is not the first online webbased company to protest these intellectual property bills, but it is one of the first to take action. Companies like Google, Facebook, Twitter, Ebay and Yahoo made their opposition of the bills clear.

On Wednesday, thousands of websites were estimated to “go black” just like Wikipedia.

While the battle between legislators and web companies could last for several more months, Wikipedia’s goal is clear and determined.

According to Wikimedia, “We want the Internet to remain free and open, everywhere, for everyone.”

Wikipedia’s blackout was planned for January 18th 05:00 UTC or midnight EST. The popular, free encyclopedia believes that both the SOPA and PIPA bill will harm the Internet. Photo courtesy of Google Images

Editor questions technology in job search When you live in a world where everything from your physical health to your grades to your banking is done electronically, it is hard to believe that some processes are better done the

By Catherine Zende old fashioned zendec@mytjnow.com way--in person.

And even as I write this, the technology obsessed teenager in me snorts in derision.

What do you mean you can’t rely on the Internet? What can the Internet not possibly do? The answer is, apparently, find me a job.

Since the advent of mobile apps and online search engines, the job hunting process has become inextricably linked to the Internet. As a graduating senior, desperate to find post-college employment, I have relied wholly on Internet searches, apps and databases filled with job prospects.

The temptation is clear: search for job by establishing necessary parameters; filter out the obvious scams with a little click or two; view a brief list of qualifications; submit a digital cover letter and resume without ever speaking to a person.

This efficient process means I can send out hundreds of applications in a single afternoon. But here’s the kicker-there are very few callbacks.

I get the robot email thanking me for my interest and assuring me I will hear from someone in human resources just as soon as possible, both of which are lies. Although I am slightly discouraged, I repeat the process over and over again with countless other companies.

As Albert Einstein said, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

Thus, I must be crazy. Frustrated by my lack of response, I consulted people older and wiser than me (who also happen to be employed).

The response is always the same--if you want a job, you have to call and go in person to get attention. I have resisted this advice greatly due to its inconvenience. Applying online is far simpler and does not carry the emotional weight of being directly rejected with verbal words and a pitiful look. It is much less awkward to be ignored and much easier to move on.

Some of the most common job search engines (and a few of my personal favorites) include Career Builder, Monster, Indeed and Simply Hired. Of course, there are also databases provided by Universities (EagleLink) and local communities or newspapers. Many of these sites offer users the option to save cover letters and resumes; they also save

past searches and update you when new job possibilities arise.

I have the Indeed app on my smartphone because it saves my apps and tells me how many new postings there are for each of the keywords I have entered (examples being “technical writer,” “writer,” and “administrative assistant”).

Career Builder will even send you nice emails from their employees who “find” jobs that may interest you.

The trick? The subject line usually says “Blank Company is interested in you!” when in fact Career Builder is assuming that you are interested in the company. The subject line used to make me excited with the prospect of being scouted, that is until I realized that Career Builder was just matching my searches with new listings.

Still, the online websites make the process faster and easier--no hassle and no awkward phone calls inquiring about possible openings.

But, as the past few months have shown me, what comes easy is not the best bet. Rejection in person or over the phone, although painful, is at least an answer.

With many of the online applications, you never hear a response. They could think your resume and experience is adequate but not enough. Or perhaps they could think you are a pitiful applicant who will never get a job with that resume and cover letter.

The discouraging part is that you

will never know. Were you in top consideration for an interview, or were you miles away from their ideal candidate?

Did they expect you to call them, or was their silent treatment a polite way of saying no? In this case, not knowing is the worst option. Even the companies that did call me back to set up for an interview turned out to be unreliable companies (and maybe a few scams as well).

What makes the temptation to rely on a digital resume so strong is the number of people who luck out and beat the system. Everyone knows at least one person who was “head hunted” because of his or her amazing LinkedIn profile (you know who you are).

This was my temptation for a long time. I thought that it was ridiculous that I could graduate with honors in four years from an amazing university and still struggle to get even an interview.

But this absurdity is the job market.

Things are tough, so our technologically obsessed generation will just have to be tougher. I can’t promise that I will stay off Indeed or Career Builder, but I do promise that I will start calling companies and showing up in their lobbies in my ironed black suit and freshly printed resume. It may be traditional, but it also may just work.

Job or Scam?

Common signs of possible fraudulent job listings

•The job listing asks for your credit card or bank account information

•The contact uses a personal email or a @live.com address

•The company website is not active or re-routes you to a different site

•The company is described as “start-up” or “new.”

•The employer contacts you by phone but there is no way to call them back

Not all scams have obvious signs, so users should be Be sure to research companies before you apply. cautious about anonymous or strange postings. Photo courtesy of Google Images

Talk to others or go to the Better Business Bureau for information.

Source: Winthrop Center for Career & Civic Engagement

7

THURSDAY January 19, 2012

MONICA KREBER Arts & Entertainment Editor kreberm@myjnow.com

History revealed in faculty’s book on WU, baseball WU librarian breaks ground in recording the history of an All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Frances Parish

parishf@mytjnow.com

After two years of research, Robert Gorman, Head of the Reference Department in Dacus Library, has recently published a book about the South Bend Blue Sox team from the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League during World War II. Gorman is the co-author of the book with his friend Jim Sargent, who has previously written short biographies of some of the players in the Women’s league.

Throughout the league’s history, the number of teams has fluctuated. Gorman said in the first year of the League there were four teams, In 1948 there were 10, only to decrease again to five teams in 1954, the last year of the League.

Gorman said that only two teams, the South Bend Blue Sox and the Rockford Peaches, stayed in the league during the entire 12 years of its existence. Gorman

chose the South Bend Blue Sox as the subject of his book because he was acquainted with one of their players, Jean Faut, who lives in Rock Hill.

“She is probably the greatest pitcher in the league during their overhand period,” Gorman said.

Gorman said that the League began as a fast-pitched modified softball game, in which they only had nine players instead of ten. He further explains that the type of pitching changed from under-hand, to side arm, and then to over-hand pitching.

Gorman also said Faut learned to play baseball in her hometown in Pennsylvania from the local semi-pro baseball team, The East Greenville Cubs, and the 2nd baseman taught her how to pitch.

Even though Faut was a pitcher, she came into the league in 1946, as a 3rd baseman.

“During her career, she pitched two perfect games, which no professional ball player, male or female, has ever done,” Gorman said.

Faut played in the league from 1946-

Winthrop alumna Lib Mahon, left, and Rock Hill resident Jean Faut, right, were both players in the All-American Girl Professional Baseball league, and both are mention in Robert Gorman’s book. Photos courtesy of the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections at Winthrop University 1953. Gorman later discovered that a 1942 Winthrop Graduate, Lib Mahon, had also played on the same team as Faut in the Women’s League. Gorman said Mahon played on the South Bend team for most of her career.

Mahon typically played the position of an outfielder, but “she was also a pretty good hitter,” Gorman said. “She was an all-star player twice.”

Mahon played in the league from 1944- 1952. Gorman said that women in the league played multiple positions unlike the men today.

“Those women were tough, really tough,” he said. “They defied convention.

They were playing a man’s sport. They were trail blazers for the women’s movement.”

Gorman said that no one has ever done a history on an individual team in the league, but there have been several histories written on the league itself.

The hardest part of writing the book

for Gorman was gathering the research.

“We were basically breaking ground,” Gorman said. “There weren’t many secondary sources.”

Jim Sargent, co-author of the book, conducted many of the interviews while Gorman looked through newspapers, mainly the South Bend Tribune. Gorman said that many women in the league kept scrapbooks, and he was able to use some photos from them in his book.

Quotes from the players and short biographies of the players quoted are woven into the history of the team in the book, as well as game accounts and photographs.

Several years ago, Faut came to Winthrop to speak to students, and Gorman is hopeful that he could have a booksigning in the near future and that she will be able to come to the school to talk to students again.

Editor does not follow on ‘Yellowbrickroad’ Horror film based on “The Wizard of Oz” proves to be “vague and perplexing” in some parts

Connor DeBruler

debrulerc@mytjnow.com

I recently watched a horror film based on “The Wizard of Oz.” No, it is not a cheap, pornographic parody nor does it have anything to do with “The Wizard of Gore,” an old 70’s exploitation film that has nothing to do with Dorothy’s magical journey into a vaguely capitalist parable.

“Yellowbrickroad” is an independent horror film about the small town of Friar, New Hampshire.

In 1940, the entire town attended a screening of “The Wizard of Oz” and then hiked for several weeks up into the mountains and froze to death.

We suddenly flash to the present when a group of rather well-known paranormal investigators and a college psychoanalyst decided to hike the trail to see what all the buzz is about with the intention of writing another bestseller.

This task proves to be far too difficult after the investigators can’t get along. Strangely, the hardest parts of this film to watch are the ones where everyone is getting aggravated. The violence does intensify, but plot becomes so vague and perplexing that it’s hard to care about people’s legs so easily being ripped off by boyfriends

who showed no previous murderous tendencies.

There’s also a character who keeps saying he’s thinking about killing and never actually harms anyone.

Eventually the group can’t seem to reach the top of mountain and most of them are slowly descending into an animalistic madness, while others decide to indulge in hallucinogenic berries.

Hey, I’m all for psychedelics, but when I’m locked into a living nightmare where my work buddies are being savagely butchered and tied to posts and decorated to look like the scarecrow, I doubt I’d want to get high.

The problem with this film is that it’s hard to put one’s finger on. There are so many good ideas and great scenes that utterly fail to converge

into a satisfying whole.

There are no plot revelations nor twists, which is okay for expressly artistic works, but this film relies so much on its spooky premise in the beginning it seems wrong to abandon it as the characterization as well as the story disintegrate like melted celluloid.

It just doesn’t go anywhere.

It’s like an four-star appetizer and then waiting for a meal until the restaurant closes and the waiters ask you to leave.

I’m inclined the think that the directors Jesse Holland and Andy Mitton were aiming for some kind of emotional statement as a homage to directors like Lucio Fulcci and the playwrights Samuel Beckett and Antonin Artaud. But they just suck at it.

The only familiar face is that of Cassidy Freeman who’s apparently on the show Smallville, which I never thought was that great at all.

On a good note, the relatively unknown actress, Laura The character shown in the “YelHeisler, lowbrickroad” cover above is one who plays that DeBruler just happens to disthe creepy like. Photo courtesy of Google Images local acfew foreign films as a part companyof a horror festival, is not ing them on the trip, reworth anyone’s time. It is ally steels the show with hard to watch, weird and some great scenes. nothing is explained by Unfortunately, this the final scene, which is film, which played also the most ridiculous. around Charlotte with a

80s Theme Dance Party

Saturday, January 21, 11 p.m.

Richardson Ballroom - DiGiorgio Campus Center, free admission Put on your best 80s clothes and come dance at the 80s-themed Dance Party!

THURSDAY January 19, 2012

8

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Who do you think you are, Mr. Big Stuff?

Winthrop’s mascot gets a new look -- and possibly a new person to wear the suit MASCOT • from front team and for a potential new Big Stuff.

FBS said the audition process, which typically lasts two to three days, basically checks out the personality and creativity of a wannabe-BigStuff candidate.

“Really just having an outgoing personality and not being afraid to just be ‘out there,’” FBS said.

Spirit Squad coach Michelle Rock said someone who wanted to be Big Stuff would have to be fun, creative and “a little crazy -- in a good way.”

“Since a big part of what Big Stuff does has to do with humor, he is constantly having to come up with new ideas for skits and create props,” Rock said. “He’s also very involved in the community, so a potential Big Stuff would need to be available and dedicated.”

Aside from sports events Big Stuff makes appearances at high schools, middle schools and even the Special Olympics, so FBS said the mascot needs to be able to think on the spot in a lot of different situations – given different games, different scenarios [and] different appearances.

“You have to know how to interact with different groups of people,” FBS said.

FBS added that mascots need to know what is going at all times, and they have to know the rules at events because the NCAA has regulations for mascots.

“It’s an opportunity not a lot of people get,” FBS said. “You have to have a certain spark about you.”

Last weekend’s info session involved getting to know the prospective Big Stuffs.

“You come in, we interview you, talk to you about some stuff and see what sort of experiences you have, and then we throw you in the suit and see what you got,” FBS said.

Along with a rising Big Stuff candidate, Winthrop’s mascot has gotten a wardrobe change: the outfit has been updated and made its “sneak peak” a women’s basketball game last month; the costume arrived Dec. 16.

“It was time for a new one,” FBS said. “The last time we got a new one was about roughly six or seven years ago.”

The old costume, FBS said, is somewhat hard to wash (it “stank”) and although it was not “unsanitary,” it was uncomfortable to wear.

FBS said Winthrop will still hold on to the older one for events in which Big Stuff needs to make multiple appearances at the same time.

FBS added that cer-

tain aspects of the new costume are better than the old: other than being newer and cleaner, the new costume is also lighter and has better vision. The new costume has five finger sleeves whereas the old one had three.

The costume has gotten mixed reviews.

“People say they don’t like it because of the new eyes,” FBS said, “but with anything new it takes time for people to like it.”

Rock said she has heard positive reactions to the costume and that the new blue eyes were created to incorporate the blue found in Winthrop’s logo.

“That was the only way we could think to do it and honestly, I think it’s a great addition,” she said.

It is not the first time Winthrop’s mascot has been updated.

“I could show you pictures from the ‘80s where Big Stuff looks really, really different from what he is now,” FBS said. “When it changed people liked it, and some didn’t like it.”

Big Stuff got his name in the 1980s when Winthrop won the conference championship in the Big South for the first time – FBS said there was a quotation about the team being “big stuff,” and the name stuck.

The history of the

mascot dates back before the ‘80s, when the freshman class was required to have their own mascot. Eventually the Eagles became a popular name.

Rock said promoting excitement and fun is such a crucial part of what the Spirit Squad does at Winthrop’s home games, therefore Big Stuff’s antics and fun personality is such an important contribution to the program.

“Big Stuff is great because he’s the goofy, silly part of our program,” Rock said. “Our fans love him, and the Eaglettes wouldn’t know what to do without him.”

Big Stuff through the ages:

1980s

Photo provided by FBS

2000s

Photo provided by FBS

Today

“”

You have to have a certain spark about you.

Friend of Big Stuff Photo by Claire VanOstenbridge • vanostenbridgec@mytjnow.com

David Coleman- “The Dating Doctor”

Tuesday, January 24 Richardson Ballroom- DiGiorgio Campus Center, free admission 8 p.m. (speed dating to follow from 9:15 - 9:30 p.m.

David Coleman is known worldwide as The Dating Doctor. He has been honored 13 times as The Speaker of the Year and was recently honored as the 2011 Entertainer of the Year and 2011 Male Performer of the Year by Campus Activities Magazine. David has been featured in such fine publications as Us Magazine, Glamour, Celebrity Living, Mademoiselle, Women’s World, Cosmo, ESPN Magazine, The USE Today, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post and The New York Times. He has been featured on CNN as well as on all major television networks and on hundreds of radio stations worldwide. In addition to being the first speaker ever to win Entertainer of the Year, David has received a National Service Citation from President George Bush, and has served as a spokesperson for Microsoft, Abbott Labs, English Leather cologne and Coca Cola.

9

THURSDAY January 19, 2012

ALISON ANGEL Culture Editor angela@mytjnow.com

Unique cultural identity, history, stories Three Winthrop students represent the Degar people from Vietnam, grandfather significant political figure

By Sarah Auvil auvils@mytjnow.com

The representation of indigenous minority groups on campus goes far beyond just Catawba and Cherokee, or even Native Americans. Three siblings studying at Winthrop share a cultural background that most of their peers have probably never heard of.

They represent the Degar people from Vietnam – the youngest of the three published a book on their culture and history, and their grandfather Kok Ksor is the group’s most significant political figure and representative.

The Degar or Montagnard people are native to the mountains of Vietnam, where they have lived at least 2,000 years. “Kita” H’Alina, Y-Danair “Benji,” and H’Liana Niehrah are half Montagnard, half Vietnamese majority.

The three siblings are studying completely different majors at Winthrop.

H’Liana, an interior design major, is ahead three years at Winthrop, the same year as her older sister H’Alina, 21, a senior nutrition major and a coordinator for Winthrop’s Multicultural Student Council.

Y-Danair Benji Niehrah, 17-year-old freshman English major, published his book recording the stories and culture of his people, entitled “Homeland.” It is available for purchase on Amazon.

The sibling’s unique names derive from the French’s confusion between gender in the names of their people upon contact – “Y-” means male, and an “H” prefix with an apostrophe before a name designates a female, H’Alina and Y-Danair said.

Coming to terms with a unique cultural identity and knowing exactly how to respond can be complex. “When I was younger, I did not think anything about it,” Y-Danair said. “When I was in middle school I started learning more about it and got more interested.” He recalled his dad telling him, “you should write about our people, our culture,” but Y-Danair thought that would be boring.

Then his father and grandfather started to tell him stories. “It kind of inspired me to do something for my people,” Y-Danair said. “So I just...wrote a book.”

His sister H’Liana, a design major, created the sunrise graphic for the cover.

Similar to Native Americans in the United States, “We’ve always been there,” Y-Danair said. However, “[American Indian groups] have a bunch of Native American museums or reservations,” he said. “We have nothing like that in the U.S. for our people. If anything, our culture is preserved through our homes.”

“Montagnard is the name the French coined us when they came to colonize us,” Y-Danair said. “Our land is basically around the mountain areas, that’s why the French called us ‘Montagnards,’ which means mountaineers or mountain people.”

The “Degar” is what the people call themselves. The Degar consist of seven tribes, with three main ones, Y-Danair said. “In the Vietnam War, we got caught in the middle,” he said. In Y-Danair’s book, he records stories of how his family members risked their lives to come to America as the Vietnamese “dropped artillery shells” on their villages in the war.

His dad spent days in an underground bunker, he said.

“In Vietnam now, we’re basically just being persecuted for our Christian faith,” Y-Danair said. “And because we helped the Americans during the Vietnam War.” The Degar were traditionally ani-

Y-Danair Niehrah and his sister, H’Alina, represent the Degar people from Vietnam, adding to Winthrop’s diversity. YDanair published a book explaining the culture, history and stories of the Degar tribe. Photo by Sarah Auvil • auvils@ mytjnow.com mists, but converted to Christianity with the arrival of French and American missionaries, he said.

Like other minorities, racism and resentment against his people have been hard to overcome. Y-Danair recalled reading a comment on a youtube video of the documentary “America’s Forgotten Allies,” in which both his grandfather and father are interviewed.

“I see a lot of Vietnamese posting comments,” he said.

One referred to his people as “dark-skinned monkeys.” But by no means do all Vietnamese share this sentiment, he was quick to add.

“Over here, in South Carolina, no one really knows who Montagnard people are, but the majority of us stay in the Greensboro, N.C., and Charlotte area,” H’Alina said.

While the three of them grew up in Charleston, S.C., and do not speak much of the Montagnard language, H’Alina thinks she may have used to.

“We did know a whole lot when we were little because I saw our home videos and I am speaking a whole different language, and I don’t understand what I am saying,” she said.

Y-Danair wears a brass bracelet with carvings on it that distinguishes his people, he said. When any of the Niehrah’s see someone wearing this kind of bracelet or their people’s handmade satchel with red, green, black, and yellow woven designs, they know right away that the person is a Montagnard.

Y-Danair said his hope for the Degar was “That we would be recognized as our own people separated from Vietnamese control and persecution.” In a way, the Degar are like an endangered species, he

Top left: The Niehrah family, including Y’Danair and H’Alina. Photo courtesy of Niehrah. Bottom left: The Degar people are known for their brass bracelets, such as Y’Danair’s handcrafted piece.

Photo by Sarah Auvil • auvils@ mytjnow.com

said.

The siblings estimated that there are only 100,000 of their people left, and that the number may only continue dwindling. “Especially now, when you look at the younger generation,” H’Alina said. “No one married a Montagnard person. Many of us are mixed now.”

Their family may never be able to go back. Because they are related to Kok Ksor, the president and founder of the Montagnard Foundation, Inc., “the

voice of our people,” the Vietnamese government would recognize their father right away, and it would be unlikely he could get past Saigon, Y-Danair said.

Those left behind related to anyone with power are reportedly facing violence. Kok Ksor’s 80-year-old mother Ksor H’Ble “was arrested and tortured by the Vietnamese security police who beat her and broke three of her ribs.”

She recently passed away, according to montagnard-foundation.org.

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THURSDAY January 19, 2012

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

New faces have baseball excited for 2012

By Jeff Brodeur brodeurj@mytjnow.com

With a new season of Winthrop baseball less than a month away, the Eagles are looking to improve on last season’s 27-30 campaign, placing them fourth in the Big South Conference.

With several key players from last year’s roster now gone, the freshman and Junior College transfers for 2012 will be expected to come in and contribute right away, a task that head coach Tom Riginos believes his newcomers are fully capable of.

“Right now we could realistically have 3 or 4 freshman or JC players starting as position players,” Riginos said. “There’s also probably another 3 or 4 freshman or JC pitchers that are vying for playing time right away.”

Winthrop’s 2011 recruiting class, which includes Junior College transfers and 14 freshman from nine states throughout the country, has been highly touted by not only Riginos, but also the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. Each season, the newspaper creates a list of

the top 100 nationally ranked college baseball recruiting classes.

Winthrop was one of three Big South schools to receive the honor this season, along with Coastal Carolina and High Point.

Tom Riginos Of the 18 new Head Coach faces on the field this season, Riginos noted middle infielders Jason Driver and Patrick McClendon, catcher Clay Altman, outfielder Elliott Caldwell and pitchers Preston Johnson and Michael Gilroy as “guys that should be kept an eye on.”

Gilroy, a Columbia, SC native, was expected to be redshirted his freshman year after suffering from elbow problems, but has made dramatic improvement over the last several months.

“He [Gilroy] rehabbed it during the fall, and it looks like he will be available during the spring, so that is a pleasant surprise for our team,” Riginos said. “His elbow seems fine, and he will be able

to step right in and compete for some innings.”

Despite all of the hype surrounding the new players, Riginos kept his reality in check, saying that this is still a young team, and inexperience typically means adversity throughout the course of the season.

“I always tell my players it’s a marathon it’s not a sprint,” he said. “It’s a long season, we’re going to have ups and downs, and it’s how we handle the downs during the season that’s going to be key for us.”

The Eagles their work cut out for them in 2012, between building team chemistry with new players, dealing with a challenging non-conference schedule and playing in an increasingly competitive Big South conference.

“I never put numbers on a season,” Riginos said. “We just want to get better every single game, we want to compete every game and I think if we do all the little things right, I think the wins and losses will take care of themselves.”

The Winthrop Eagles will play their first five games at home against Georgia

Tech and Kent State as part of the Rock Hill Coca-Cola Classic. Opening day will be on Feb. 17 at 6 p.m. as they take on the Yellow Jackets of Georgia Tech.

“”

I always tell my players it’s a marathon, it’s not a sprint.”

Tom Riginos

Head Coach

Fall sports attract 8.8% more fans since 2010 Volleyball attracts over 5,000 fans to Winthrop Coliseum

By David Thackham

thackhamd@mytjnow.com

Over 10,000 fans provided support for Winthrop’s fall sports in 2011, an increase of 836 people (8.8%) from 2010, statistics from the Winthrop Athletics website show. All three major fall sports, women’s soccer, men’s soccer and volleyball, showed increases in attendance during home and neutral games.

Men’s soccer Men’s soccer attendance made the largest comparative jump as 2,848 fans came out to Eagle Field to see Coach Rich Posipanko and his squad this year, 33% more than in 2010. “There is no question that fans can have a factor on the out come of games in all sports,” Posipanko said. “I can tell you all players appreciate, recognize and understand the importance of a fan base and turnout.”

The increase comes during a 7th place(7-12-1, 4-5-0 BSC) season in the Big South before losing in the first round of the 2011 conference championship. Last year saw 2,136 people come out to support men’s soccer who finished sixth (5-12-0, 3-5-0

BSC). Posipanko admitted that the increase was not due to winning games in the disappointing year.

“However,” he said, “I do feel there is a growing fan base at Winthrop and within the community that we have tried to cultivate by being involved in the community and youth clubs. If you win, and play good teams, they will come.”

Eighty-nine more people per game came out this season as compared to 2010, meaning an average attendance throughout eight home games of 356 fans per game.

Women’s soccer A 2nd place finish in the conference regular season garnered 2,483 fans throughout the course of nine home games in 2011, making an average of 276 fans per visit to Eagle Field.

This was an increase of total fans to watch women’s soccer from 2010, but a statistical decrease in fans per game, as 304 Eagle supporters on average watched the Lady Eagles each contest.

Although Winthrop was less successful in the standings and championship last year, 2011 saw the Lady Eagles take five more wins than 2010, including an

UPCOMING EVENTS HOME GAMES IN BOLD Men’s basketball 1/21 @ Charleston Southern - 5:30 p.m.

Women’s basketball 1/21 @ Radford - 3 p.m.

1/23 @ Liberty - 7 p.m.

Men’s tennis 1/27 vs USC-Lancaster - 10 a.m.

1/27 vs Wofford - 2 p.m.

Women’s Tennis 1/21 @ Davisdon - 12:30 p.m.

1/21 @ North Carolina State - 5 p.m.

1/22 @ Wake Forest - 4:30 p.m.

Indoor Track and Field 1/21 @ Gator Invite

8-2 record in the Big South.

Winthrop’s ability to score was a pull for many soccer and non-soccer fans alike.

Winthrop women’s soccer tallied 45 goals throughout the 2011 season, an average of 2.29 goals a game, far exceeding their opponents (29 goals, 1.45/ game). Winthrop fans also travelled in number. The three neutral site games gained an average of 141 WU fans a game.

Volleyball Volleyball took more fans than either soccer program in 2011 after attracting over 5,000 fans to the Coliseum.

Home games saw an average of 458 Winthrop fans cheer on the team, 44 more than last year, despite 2010 having an extra home match.

The 5,042 total supporters witnessed a 20-8, 12-2 BSC season with only one home loss to the team’s credit. The shift from 2010 to this year amounts to a 1.4% increase (4,971 in 2010). The statistics show that fewer people travelled to matches away from the Coliseum, with only 84 people coming out to neutral matches, compared to 164/ game in 2010.

A 20-8 overall record gave volleyball a total attendance of 5,042 people, an increase of 44 more fans per game than in 2010 • By David Thackham thackhamd@mytjnow.com

THURSDAY January 19, 2012

11

SPORTS

Winthrop lax readies for inaugural year

Winthrop shuffles match dates ahead of 2013 opener

By David Thackham thackhamd@mytjnow.com

Winthrop Lacrosse coach John Sung. Photo by David Thackham • thackhamd@mytjnow.com

Sung signing spree adds 19 players to women’s lacrosse for 2013

By David Thackham thackhamd@mytjnow.com

Winthrop women’s lacrosse head coach John Sung will have a squad of 27 athletes at his command by this fall. The first year boss announced the signing of an inaugural class of 19 prospects earlier this month to bolster his team ahead of their Winthrop lacrosse’s first season in the spring of 2013.

“We want to make sure we’re competitive right away,” said Sung of his new recruits. “They play on a high level, from the top club teams in the country. I was hired to bring in the right kids, and we have a lot of good talent in this first year.”

Twelve players from Maryland anchor the class that features five in attack, seven midfielders, five defenders and two goalies. Danielle Ellis, Claire Feeney, Shannon Gallagher, Hayley Krause and Megan Wallenhorst represent the attack, while Abigail Blevins, Megan Brady, Alexis Cantwell- Badyna, Krista Frowein, Michele Hart, Logan McCarthy and Megan Patterson will be in midfield. Defenders include Samantha Pontius, Nadia Naja, Maggie Montanye, Carrie Miskill and Jessica Hucke, while Jesse Filyaw-Hiu and Camille King were recruited as goalies.

Many of Winthrop’s recruits played and excelled in multiple sports while in high school, such as basketball, soccer and cross-country, a habit that Sung finds useful.

“It helps to be a complete athlete,” Sung said. “Lacrosse is such a combination of sports, so being a full athlete can only be helpful.”

Sung says he recruited heavily in the state of Maryland in order to

snag who he thought were playing in the more highly competitive club teams in the country. Three of his players come from the Maryland United Lacrosse Club and three more trained with the SP Lax Club based in the Old Line State. “[The recruits] play on a high level, they’re in the top club teams in the country,” Sung said. “The clubs are pushing kids to play in the Division I level, so there’s game in and game out competition. Their talent may make up for any inabilities they may have with experience.”

Although the seven players who have already arrived and are training on campus will have a year of experience under their belts, two recruits from the Class of 2016 are likely to make headlines as first-year starters. Goalie Camille King has been a part of six state championship teams during her time at Severna Park High School while Danielle Ellis has seen three championship victories during her time with Maryland United and St. Mary’s High School.

“Camille King is a pretty highlytouted recruit with us, she played on one of the top regional teams in the country,” Sung said. “It’s hard to pick out field players, they’re all going to be pretty solid. A lot of them know each other because they played with each other and against each other, on the same circuit.”

Although the first Winthrop face-off won’t take place for another 380 days, Sung is looking to the future.

“We’re that much closer to having the season kick off.”

Sung’s lacrosse program will kick off its inaugural season against the Howard University Bison, scheduled tentatively for Feb. 9 in Washington, D.C. The opener was originally tipped to start against the Naval Academy, but that date has been shifted to the tenth of February. The Eagles still plan to make their home debut against Marquette University on February 16 in a night game.

“It looks like we’ll have eight homes games and eight away games so far,” Sung said. “Whether we’ll have any more, we’re just waiting for letters from the NCAA to come through, so we’ll know more then.”

Howard compiled a 4-13 season in 2011, including a loss to Winthrop’s Big South rival Liberty University. Like Winthrop, the Marquette Golden Eagles will be beginning their first season in 2013 and are coached by Notre Dame standout attacker Meredith Black.

The lacrosse season kicks off Feb. 9 against Howard University. Photo by David Thackham • thackhamd@mytjnow.com

Sports Briefs Preseason poll picks women’s tennis to come out on top in 2012 The Winthrop Eagles’ women’s tennis team is the most likely to repeat as Big South Conference champions in 2012, says a preseason poll of the conference’s head coaches. Led by veteran head coach Cid Carvalho, who has captured 15 regular season championships and 14 Big South tournament titles, Winthrop returns four players from last season’s roster, including conference Player of the Year Yasmine Alkema.

Winthrop received seven first place votes and 79 points, 18 points more than last season’s poll which also tabbed the Lady Eagles first. The Lady Eagles will play on the road until Feb. 17th against the Campbell Camels.

Softball announces rigorous 56- game schedule including 19 home games Coming off a 16-36 year in 2011, Winthrop softball head coach Mark Cooke announced a tough non-conference schedule, including the likes of nationally-ranked Texas, California and Tennessee. On March 9, Winthrop will have its home opener when it faces St. John’s to open up the 2012 Winthrop/adidas Invitational (Mar. 9-10).

Men’s tennis predicted to finish runner-up in BSC Despite capturing the #1 seed in last season’s conference tournament, the league’s men’s tennis coaches picked Winthrop to finish second in the Big South Conference in 2012. The preseason poll had Winthrop finish with one first place vote and 49 total points, 12 points short of the projected champion, the Radford Highlanders, who are the defending conference champions. The Eagles will open up their year at home on Friday, Jan. 27 against USC-Lancaster at 10 a.m.

Cooke has coached the Lady Eagles for 23 years.

Photo courtesy of Winthrop Athletics

Men’s basketball finishes 1-1 on the road versus Liberty, High Point Two days after going scoreless in the final five minutes in a loss at High Point, Winthrop found their comeback in an overtime victory against the Liberty Flames during a week-long away stretch. After taking on Campbell at home on Tuesday, the Eagles’ next home match will be against Gardner-Webb on Thursday. Reggie Middleton’s driving bucket to open overtime against Liberty allowed him to reach the 1,000 Point Club. Only 20 players in Winthrop men’s basketball history have achieved the feat. With 14 points in Lynchburg, Andre Jones surpassed Eddie Gay into 15th place on the career scoring list with 1,093 points.

Lady Eagles snatch 4th place in BSC after impressive Asheville sweep BALL • from front on the tips of their tongues as the first half waned into the second. They shot a perfect 10-10 from the foul stripe in the second half, combined with Kelli Riles finding success in the Winthrop paint.

Yet strong will was rewarded for Winthrop, who regained their lead instantaneously with a 22-6 run from 9:26- 3:42 left in the game, including 11 from sophomore guard Dequesha McClanahan.

“It was a game of runs,” said Choibekova after the game. “We had everyone scoring, which was good.

I was trying to get rebounds and play good defense so I could play better offense.”

“We knew [Asheville] would increase their intensity after being down,” said Coach Stollings. “But I kept telling our young ladies that we’ve got to get harder on defense. Full credit to Choiby, she had a ton of rebounds. I’m just as proud of that as I am about the scoring. Q [McClanahan] and Samiya found a lot of people in transition.”

Choibekova acknowledges her national ranking, but says it won’t be a distraction for her on game days.

“I’m playing my own game, so it doesn’t matter to me,” she said. “I’m just chilling.”

History shines favorably on Winthrop, who is now 6-1 against UNCA (6-10, 2-3 BSC) in the last seven

meetings between the foes.

With the loss, UNCA now drops to 0-8 on the road this season.

Winthrop’s second win in a week catapults the Eagles from 6th to 4th in the conference standings, with a game in hand over league leaders High Point and Charleston Southern.

“”

We had everyone scoring, which was good.

Diana Choibekova Junior guard

Choibekova beat the record for most three pointers made in a single Winthrop game earlier this year. Photo by Sarah Auvil • auvils@ mytjnow.com

THURSDAY January 19, 2012

THE JOHNSONIAN

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