February 9, 2012

WHY WAIT TILL THURSDAY? READ MYTJNOW.COM.

Civil rights at stake in gay marriage debate.

See Opinion, page 7

Dacus Library renovations set to rev up in May. See News, page 3

THURSDAY February 9, 2012

Student volunteers time, energy, love at Muscular Dystrophy camp.

See Science & Tech, page 9

WINTHROP UNIVERSITY

Issue 17

CULTURE

NEWS

Life’s a Drag

Student deployed overseas, leaves behind loved ones JONATHAN MCFADDEN mcfaddenj@mytjnow.com

Finally reaching the tail end of his college education, Winthrop senior Thomas Huskey will not walk the stage in May. Nor will he walk across it in December.

In a few months, the 22-year-old from Beaufort, S.C. won’t be studying abroad, going out on dates or teaching students the systematic techniques of taekwondo.

Instead, Huskey, a fuel supplier with the South Carolina National Guard, will venture to the Middle East and join a convoy of soldiers destined to spend a year in Afghanistan.

Huskey doesn’t let fear interfere with At the age of 17, Huskey joined the his remaining time in the states. Photo military —more specifically the South

by Sarah Auvil • auvils@mytjnow.com Carolina National Guard Army unit— with the understanding that it could be a That day approaches, yet Huskey has ticket to higher education. Still, he knew already made peace with what must hapthat decision was loaded, coming with pen. the possibility that he could one day be deployed if the need arose.

See HUSKEY page 5

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

HIV, AIDS peeled apart MONICA KREBER kreberm@mytjnow.com

Drag queen Jessica Raynes Starr wows the audience with a homage to Nicki Minaj. Photo by Sarah Auvil • auvils@mytjnow.com

GLoBAL puts on a show, raises drag awareness SHAMIRA MCCRAY Special to the Johnsonian

Last week, GLoBAL provided Winthrop students with a fresh outlook on drag with a two part series entitled “Welcome to DragWU.” On Thursday night, over 100 people rushed into Richardson Ballroom to hear a lecture on drag presented by Aaron Sims,

president of GLoBAL. Although the turnout was grand, that many people were not expected.

“We weren’t sure how willing Winthrop was to learn about drag,” said Sims, a sociology major. “We promoted, but didn’t hear any feedback.”

With so many people showing up, the lecture had to be relocated from

See DRAG page 12

NEWS

Police: Three criminals still at large, no suspects JONATHAN MCFADDEN mcfaddenj@mytjnow.com

Three unidentified criminals responsible for committing separate sets of crimes against two women just steps away from Winthrop’s campus remain at large, according to Campus Police.

Efforts to reach Brad Redfearn, public affairs officer with the Rock Hill Police Department, were unsuccessful by press time.

Authorities have yet to locate or identify

the man who allegedly authorities if there have abducted a female been any leads in the Winthrop student case or any suspects from University Place’s arrested. parking lot, held her at The answer was no. knife-point, forced her The Johnsonian asked to drive them both to the same question on an apartment complex Feb. 2. away from campus and The answer, again, then raped her in the was no. apartment’s parking lot Instead, community nearly two months ago. members called in up Once he finished asto 30 tips and possible saulting her, the rapist leads on suspects to fit told his victim that he the incident report’s had just given her AIDS, description. On Dec. according to the inci17, three days after the dent report. assault, police released Last month, The Johnsonian questioned See CRIMINAL page 2 Rock Hill Police, asking

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

I N D E X

Charles Curtis is left-handed, just like his Uncle Gary.

There are actually a few things he has in common with his uncle –all his life people have told Curtis how much he reminds them of his uncle.

Curtis has never met Uncle Gary; he died of AIDS before Curtis was born.

“All my life I would hear these stories about this man that I never had a chance to meet,” Curtis said.

Uncle Gary grew up in New York,

where Curtis is from, and left to live his own life. Since Curtis is compared so much to him, he began thinking about Uncle Gary and wondered more about him.

“I wanted a glimpse into his life,” Curtis said.

Curtis wrote the play “Like Peeling an Onion” a little over a year ago, and the show is inspired by his uncle’s life.

The show focuses on the character David, whose family comes to his home after he dies and begins to learn more about him –they find a bottle of pills

See ONION page 10

SPORTS

Baseball’s daunting opener JEFF BRODEUR brodeurj@mytjnow.com

What better way to start off the new baseball season than having the tenth ranked team in the nation staring you in the face on opening day?

That will be the task at hand for the Winthrop

baseball team as they take on Georgia Tech next Friday as part of the Rock Hill Coca Cola Classic.

Also taking the drive to Rock Hill for the Eagle’s opening tournament will be Kent State, who carry a respectable national ranking of 37 heading into the season. In 2011, the two teams combined to post a

record of 87-38 (.696 win percentage) versus Winthrop’s 27-30 record (.474 win percentage).

Despite the daunting task, head coach Tom Riginos is excited to bring in the powerhouse programs to give his team, predicted to finish fourth

See EAGLES page 14

The baseball team regroups in the dugout before taking on Georgia Tech next Friday. Photo by Sarah Auvil • auvils@mytjnow.com

CAMPUS NEWS OPINION SCIENCE & TECH

2-5

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

6-7

CULTURE

8-9

SPORTS

10-11 12 13-15

2

THURSDAY February 9, 2012

JONATHAN MCFADDEN News Editor mcfaddenj@mytjnow.com AMANDA PHIPPS Assistant News Editor phippsa@mytjnow.com

Police: Rapist, armed robbers still on the loose CRIMINAL • from front a composite sketch constructed from the victim’s memory of the attack.

The problem is, even with a sketch, the description is too vague, authorities say.

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

The police refrained from commenting on any forensic evidence possibly in their possession for fear it could hurt the investigation.

Brad Redfearn, a lieutenant with the Rock Hill Police Department, explained that tracking down a suspect in a case like this isn’t easy. Without any definite ID or facial descriptions, the police are almost searching for a needle in a haystack, Redfearn said.

The crime —classified as a non-acquaintance rape— is also very uncommon in Rock Hill, and in the United States.

National statistics 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.

Another incident closer to home occurred on a Tuesday in broad daylight.

At 3:30 p.m. on Jan. 31, a white non-student female was approached by a black female while she was sitting in her car in the area around 319 Park Ave. The black female, soon joined by a black male, held a handgun at the victim as both subjects entered the backseat of the vehicle, according to an official Rock Hill police report.

They then forced her to drive to a bank and withdraw $300 from a Wells Fargo ATM, according to the report. They then coerced the victim, a Charlotte, N.C. resident, to drive back to the area of Stewart Avenue and Rose Street, where they stole her $200 cell phone.

They then exited the vehicle and fled on foot, the report says.

This victim managed to get a more solid description of her attackers, describing the black male as about six-feet tall, weighing about 170 pounds and wearing a navy blue toboggan, black bandanna, dark colored jeans and a dark colored Tshirt, the report says.

The area around 319 Park Ave. is only a few minutes away from Winthrop’s campus. Photo by John Rhodes • rhodesj@mytjnow.com She described the female as weighing between 130- 135 pounds, standing at about 5’2’’ with curly shoulder length hair and wearing a green turtleneck and black jeans.

The area where the incident took place sits across the street from Winthrop. Students were notified of the robbery almost

Car-related crimes lowest in 10 years

By Connor deBruler debrulerc@mytjnow.com

Automotive crimes have decreased in the city of Rock Hill by 34.8 percent, according to the 2010 crime report by Chief of Police John Gregory and crime analyst Damien Williams.

Crimes involving car and other motor vehicles are at their lowest since 2001, according to the report.

Vehicle break-ins were also down by 17 percent. The decrease of crime is thanks to new strategies, said Williams. “Stratagies such

as increased law enforcment hot spot areas, holiday season crime prevention and neighborhood crime prevention areas have been important in maintaining a decrease in vehicle break-ins, even as the city’s commercial and business areas continue to grow,” he said.

The most dramatic decrease in automotive crime was the theft of vehicle parts and accessories, which are down by 58.1 percent compared to nine years ago, the report said.

24 hours after it occurred.

The reason: “We can’t notify students until we are notified,” said Campus Police Chief Frank Zebedis.

Campus Police did not learn of the robbery until three hours after it occurred, Zebedis said.

They also had conflicting information that wasn’t cleared up until the next day, Wednesday.

Accuracy is paramount when sending reports out to the student body, Zebedis implied.

“If you remember, the rape alert wasn’t sent out until almost 12 hours after it happened when we were notified and could gather the right information,” he said.

Some hours after sending the priority mass e-mail to students, faculty and staff, Zebedis maintained that Winthrop is a safe campus, in spite of the recent incidents.

“The bad guys out there are looking for easy targets. If you appear vulnerable or acting

vulnerable you could be setting yourself up to be a victim,” Zebedis said.

Steps to prevent oneself from appearing vulnerable include being “aware of your surroundings, walk in groups, take the headphones and cell phones out of your ears when you are out in public and pay attention, walk in lit areas, if something looks or feels suspicious, report it to Campus Police,” Zebedis said.

Campus Police offers escorts to students at night, while also educating students on how to defend themselves. Such programs include the Rape & Aggression Defense classes offered each semester.

Look for updates on this case on mytjnow.com as details become avaialable.

Knowledge is power when defending oneself

By Jonathan McFadden mcfaddenj@mytjnow.com

“”

Take the headphones and cell phones out of your ears when you are out in public and pay attention.

Even a shoestring can make the difference between a successful or failed assault.

So can layered tablecloths (for hitting), shoestrings (for strangling) and the plastic tips of shoelaces if the points are concentrated enough to puncture someone in a vulnerable spot, like their eyes.

Don’t believe it? Just ask Thomas Huskey, a senior music Frank Zebedis education major who runs Chief of Campus Police Winthrop’s Taekwondo club and actively serves in the South ing victimized, Huskey said.

Carolina National Guard.

Looking back on his own self A misconception people comas a kid, Huskey admitted that monly have, Huskey said, is that he was heavily bullied. He was they need to be on Jackie Chan also a victim, but more poilevels to properly defend or gnantly, a target. protect themselves.

The gripping thing is now that Not so, says Huskey, who’s “half the people on campus” are been doing martial arts for a potential targets as well, and little over a decade. they don’t realize it, Huskey “You only need a fraction, a said. little bit more knowledge than When crime goes down, the regular person, to defend people often look for temporary yourself,” he said. “You just reforms of self-defense, like a can ally need to know basic things of pepper spray or a knife, he about victimization.” said.

Things such as knowing who But, Huskey suggests students makes a prime target, how one take hold of basic defensive should carry oneself and where knowledge, such as traveling and how to walk at night could in pairs when walking around put students at less risk for be-

campus at night. A person or two people are less likely to victimize someone if they aren’t alone, he said.

Looking down while walking is a poor move that could result in a stolen driver’s license, purse, keys, wallet, credit card, Social Security card, etc., Huskey said.

If individuals carried their keys in their hands while walking to their car, instead of in their pockets, they can use the keys as a defensive weapon if they are attacked.

Shying away from poorly lit shortcuts on campus could also help students remain safe.

Though it may be “the road less traveled,” Huskey said the longer way may be the safer way.

The reality is Winthrop’s Circa 2010, Thomas Huskey practices with members of the located in an area that a cop Taekwondo Club in the West Center. Photo courtesy of Catherine once told Huskey was “bad.”

Zende • zendec@mytjnow.com Then, there’s the DiGiorgio Campus Center, where “reguZebedis would be inclined to looks or feels suspicious, report lar people” can come eat at agree. it to Campus Police.”

Popeye’s, Huskey said.

“Take the headphones and Campus Police offers escorts “Even though that’s okay, you cell phones out of your ears to students at night, while also need to take extra parameters” when you are out in public and educating students on how to to keep safe, Huskey said. pay attention,” Zebedis said. defend themselves.

Such proAnother suggestion of HusAlso, be “aware of your surgrams include the Rape & Agkey’s: Take out the ear buds roundings, walk in groups,” gression Defense classes offered when walking.

Zebedis said.

“If something each semester.

Campus Police Chief Frank

3

THURSDAY February 9, 2012

Dacus Library gets pumped, CTAP still ‘alive’

By Amanda Phipps phippsa@mytjnow.com

Students will soon be able to study in an interactive and engaging environment fused with technology, President Anthony DiGiorgio said in reference to the Dacus Library renovations set to begin in May. During a Winthrop Board of Trustees meeting on Feb. 1, DiGiorgio said he is about ready to approve the design for the internal improvements to Dacus. While an architect has drawn out what the external view of the library could look like, the university is focusing on updating the inside of the existing building.

“If we had the debt service, we would pull the target on [the new library],” he said.

To build a new library would cost around $50 million and is not an option for the foreseeable future, DiGiorgio said.

The updates to the existing building will cost just under $1 million, he said.

“This is a good substitute,” he said.

The major thrust of this project is to open the main floor and make it an “engaged information center,” DiGiorgio said.

The design will include study rooms that are equipped with Smart Boards and a more open environment for students to work in groups, he said.

The library will have the capacity for students to bring their own technology and will allow for “almost 24 hour access,” with time set aside to clean the building, DiGiorgio said. He said that with the card key access that is already in place and security cameras that will be added with the renovations, students will still be in a safe, secure environment once the library is always open.

No more fees will be associated with the Dacus updates, DiGiorgio said.

Beside updating the library, Winthrop is also asking for $3.4 million to replace the roof of Wither’s, which is still the original 1912 roof, DiGiorgio said.

He said the university is looking into uplifting the former coca-cola plant for a specialized classroom for graphic design.

As the campus is improved, Winthrop is continuing to work with the community through the College Town Action Plan, which DiGiorgio said has spurred other activities.

“It is a blueprint for what can happen,” he said. “It is slow going, but very alive.”

Top: View of the proposed improvements to the interior of Dacus Library. The improvements will include a more open, interactive environment for students to use technology and work with each other.

Left: The library services area will be more centralized, allowing for an open space for students to work.

Photos courtesy of the president’s office

Campaign close to goal, seeks donor participation

By Amanda Phipps phippsa@mytjnow.com

Donors help keep the Winthrop Experience alive.

The Distinction Campaign raised over $35 million by the end of 2011 to help fund scholarships and help department programs as needed, said Amanda Stewart, director of communications and donor relations.

While the overall goal of the campaign is $50 million, smaller goals include creating and supplementing scholarships.

“We want to increase the reach and value of scholarships to help more

By Shamira McCray students,” Stewart said.

The development office works with departments to find out their needs and match them with donors that have an interest in the department programs, Stewart said.

“The faculty members are being great about letting us know what their needs are,” she said.

The Campaign also supports programs that may run out of external funding, such as the social work department’s End-of-Life program, through immediate assistance from the Winthrop Fund, she said. While this program receives money from outside Winthrop, their funds will eventu-

“”

ally end.

“We will hopefully find a donor to help the program to continue,” she said.

In October, the Campaign induced the first class of the DB Johnson society, whose members made planned, or estate, gifts to Winthrop, Stewart said.

The campaign’s biggest priority is to provide for students’ experience at Winthrop, she said.

“Many students are in a position where money is tight,” Stewart said.

“If students can’t attend, it doesn’t matter what opportunities we can give them.”

If students can’t attend, it doesn’t matter what opportunities we can give them.

Amanda Stewart

Honors society sees record with most seniors graduating program in recent history

Director of communications and donor relations

Special to The Johnsonian

In May, the Winthrop University Honors Association (WUHA) will graduate its largest number of members in several years.

WUHA consists of a little over 200 students with 26 graduating this spring. With this many students completing the program, members say it shows the growth of WUHA as well as the Last semester, honors students were treated to a new quality.

Students who partici- lounge which was formerly the Courtyard Food Court. pate in the program are Photo by Claire VanOstenbridge • vanostenbridgec@ privileged to have small mytjnow.com class sizes in a variety institution, as well as the At the end of the year, of honors courses, honors quality and rigor of the students present their floors in residence halls, honors program. honors thesis research to independent study with “Clearly, this class has the Winthrop commua professor of choice and come to acknowledge nity at the annual Honors access to the new Honors the importance of enterThesis Colloquium. The Center at Courtyard. ing the honors program honors thesis is a commitAllison Howard, senior with the full intent of ment of the program and psychology major, has graduating with an honors students usually conduct seen changes in the proprogram degree,” Howard an independent study gram over the time that said. “Understanding and with a professor of their she has been a member. following through with choosing for research.

“The honors program these additional commitThe Honors Thesis has come a long way in ments is essential to the Colloquium is usually such a short time, and I continued growth and completed in an hour and couldn’t be prouder to promotion of our proa half. With so many have participated in it,” gram.” students having to comHoward said.

Kathy Lyon, professor plete a thesis this year, Since Howard became of psychology and direcconcerns were raised by a member of the honors tor of the honors society, students on how every program, she has noticed said the reason there are thesis would be completed that they have received so many students in the during that time frame. more campus-wide recog- program is due to the fact However, Lyon said that nition as well as greater that they have a signifiwas not a problem. interest from incoming cant presence on campus.

“The students will be freshmen.

“Honors students apdoing both oral presenta“Receiving priority preciate a different type of tions and poster presentaregistration was easily our learning experience and tions,” Lyon said. biggest triumph,” Howard see the value of an honors Seven students will said. education,” Lyon said. be doing 45 minute oral Howard said they began Any Winthrop student presentations and 19 stureceiving priority registra- with a GPA of at least 3.30 dents will be doing poster tion during the spring secan apply to become a presentations. mester of 2010. Members member of the program.

Students completing of the Honors program Letters of invitation are the Honors program will register for classes before currently being sent to receive honors regalia in anyone else at Winthrop, freshman students, Lyon the form of a garnet cord including athletes. said. Freshmen have and an honors program With the Honors proto make at least a 1200 degree. Most of these stugram graduating as many on the SAT or 27 on the dents will also graduate students as it is this May, ACT, and have at least a with an academic honor.

Howard said that it speaks 3.5 GPA to apply to the highly of Winthrop as an program.

4

THURSDAY February 9, 2012

Graphic by Courtney Niskala • niskalac@mytjnow.com

Could faculty, staff see pay raise in near future? That’s a big...

By Jonathan McFadden mcfaddenj@mytjnow.com

Footing the bill for mental health, Medicare and Medicaid will likely take precedence in the dealings of state lawmakers this legislative season, but that doesn’t negate a hypothetical — emphasis on hypothetical— salary increase for university faculty and staff.

Last Wednesday, President Anthony DiGiorgio met with the executive committee of Winthrop’s Board of Trustees to discuss a very early forecast for state funding figures and what Winthrop may hope to see in terms of budget recommendations.

Anywhere between $900 million to $1 billion of excess state revenue is available for possible distribution, DiGiorgio said.

With this estimate in hand, members of the House Ways and Means Committee will consider how to best allocate remaining funds.

Chances are, higher education won’t come up as a prized winner in the monetary exchange.

Nevertheless, 40 to 50 percent of the revenue is categorized as “one-time money,” or non-recurring funds that can be used for capital projects or one-time-only investments. The remaining 50 to 60 percent are recurrent, DiGiorgio said, and able to be used continuously.

“So, you have the issues of how you handle non-recurring dollars versus recurring [dollars],” DiGiorigio said. “There are very different positions on what to do with that, and we’ll see that unfold as we go through the process.”

There’s a wide spectrum of ideas on what to do with the surplus funds, DiGiorgio said,

including easing the tax burden off South Carolina citizens.

Earning top priority on Gov. Nikki Haley’s is mental health, which has remained underfunded for many years, along with Medicare and Medicaid obligations, DiGiorgio said. Then there’s also the state department of transportation, which is currently in a “deep hole” as it faces a mushrooming deficit, he said.

Still, there is “some talk of a salary increase,” DiGiorgio said.

Though Haley didn’t include any salary increases in her proposed budget —a move DiGiorgio said was as political as it was wise for someone in her position— the General Assembly will have the final say as to whether state employees could receive a possible 2 percent salary increase.

DiGiorgio used the 2 percent just as an illustration; no actual numbers have been considered.

Legislative leaders have spoken favorably about a salary increase, DiGiorgio said, before listing off several state representatives “That gives you a signal that in an election year that there might be a salary increase,” no matter how modest it may be, DiGiorgio said.

Alas, there’s a hitch.

More money for employees means a hike in annualizations the state will load onto the university. Annualizations include health care and retirement costs for employees. With changes brewing in the state’s retirement system, there’s an additional $300,000 the university and individuals will have to contribute to retirement funds.

What’s more, every 1 percent salary increase costs the university $370,000.

MAYBE

Paying WU

The only nod to higher education funding in Gov. Nikki Haley’s proposed budget is a 2.3 percent increase to higher education institutions on the reduced base state colleges and universities now receive, DiGiorgio said.

That increase translates into just about $280,000.

The university presented its budget requests to the House Ways and Means Committee two weeks ago, the president said.

At this point in time, DiGiorgio said he doesn’t think the university is anywhere near any state reductions.

“I think that chapter is behind us for the time being,” he said.

Board Member Bob Thompson asked if there was any indication that the state would restore funding to the levels it once was.

The answer: “Restoration is not a word that’s politically correct at the moment,” DiGiorgio said.

With that in mind, the university used numbers for the 2009/2010 academic year as the basis for requests this year, asking for $16 million in state allocations. Currently, Winthrop receives about $12 million from the state, meaning legislators would have to budget out $4 million more dollars for Winthrop alone.

Included in that, university leaders requested: · $3.4 million to repair the roof of Withers · $2 million to help boost the university’s state-of-theart scientific equipment · $500,000 to help refresh the university’s technological

furnishings Winthrop receives about 9 percent in funding from state revenues, but 8 percent comes from state scholarships and grants. Student tuition and fees account for more than 55 percent of Winthrop’s revenue spring.

When the House and Ways Committee releases its recommendations in March, the budget will be passed onto the S.C. Senate floor. The Senate

will overlook the recommendations and make its own improvements or modifications.

This process, in the past, has lasted anywhere from late May to mid-June.

Once Winthrop receives a finalized budget, the university’s Board of Trustees will convene and discuss a spending plan for the university, which includes setting tuition rates for the next academic year.

Winthrop has seen a steady reduction in state support since the economic downturn of 2008. In the early ‘90s, Winthrop received 41 percent of funding dollars from the state. Now, the university receives about 9.6 percent from the state. Information courtesy of the president’s office

Governor’s office proposes revamp of higher ed funding plan

By Jonathan McFadden mcfaddenj@mytjnow.com

Mere months before any definitive decisions about giving more or less money to South Carolina universities and colleges have come through the pipeline, state leaders have proven that adopting a model for higher education funding is a consistently elusive work-inprogress.

Following the release of Gov. Nikki Haley’s budget for the fiscal year ahead, members of the governor’s staff have met with university presidents oneon-one to mull over the newly proposed method for bestowing funds to the state’s universities and colleges.

Vexed by a system that awarded funds to schools “without rhyme or reason,” Haley disclosed her plan to allocate money to colleges and universities on a performance model that judged higher ed institutions on four criteria during an October visit to Winthrop.

Well, four months later, the old criteria are out and four new ones have taken its place.

During his meeting with the Board of Trustees last Wednesday, President Anthony DiGiorgio unveiled the fruits of his own “healthy, robust” 30-minute meeting with members of Haley’s staff.

Staff members asked DiGiorgio, and likewise other presidents, what his reactions were to new standards in the accountability-based funding

Chart courtesy of Winthrop’s Money Matters webpage model, some of which DiGiorgio admitted weren’t too much different than the other four “measurables” Haley pushed before. They include: • Completion: Considers each university’s six-year graduation rate and retention rate for returning freshmen • Affordability & Access: Examines in-state undergraduate tuition and fees and the average graduate debt load as measures.

Though DiGiorgio understands the reasons for these two criteria, he said that access was too loosely defined

•

•

and the view too limited because it didn’t include instate/out-state comparisons or university population.

Educational quality: Deals with faculty/undergraduate ratio, number of faculty with “terminal” degrees and other “input” measures, that have nothing to do with “output,” DiGiorgio said. Terminal degrees are the highest degrees attainable in a certain field of study.

Economic development: Each university is required to provide service to the state by working with local

governments in their respective regions, such as the College Town Action Plan.

Other changes in the new proposal include giving colleges and universities a less aggressive six-year phase-in period so they can have necessary time to adapt to any changes. Before, Haley’s staff proposed a threeyear phase-in process for the accountability funding model.

Within the new time frame, colleges would not receive any money during the first year (dubbed a “measurement year”) but slowly begin to receive a various percentage of funds from years two through six,

DiGiorgio said.

“I think it’s a reasonable paradigm” and enough time for the economy to catch up, he said.

DiGiorgio gave his own review, saying state leaders should consider what SACS (Southern Association of Colleges & Schools) has to say about state colleges and universities. SACS officially re-accredited Winthrop in December.

The president also suggested that state leaders look at each university’s academic departments and identify whether they meet their program objectives, while also viewing results from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), which surveys freshmen and senior students to gauge their level of learning, engagement and student interaction with faculty.

Giving a brief history lesson on the way higher education has been funded in the past, DiGiorgio maintained “there needs to be some feasible, relatively predictable, valid way of allocating resources to institutions.”

“”

There needs to be some feasible . . . way of allocating resources to institutions.

Anthony DiGiorgio University President

5

THURSDAY February 9, 2012

Music student deployed to Afghanistan leaves behind family, girlfriend, degree HUSKEY • from front “I was OK with that; I never wanted to be that type of person… I didn’t want to be in the military and not have anything to say. A lot of people are in the military —especially the National Guard— and they just do it for educational reasons,” Huskey said. “Well, I was doing it for educational reasons but not only that; I already knew I was going to join the military, I just didn’t know I was going to join it as soon as I did.”

He’s not crippled by fear.

Instead, he ponders about what —and who— he’s leaving behind in the U.S. That “who” includes a distraught mother, an equally distraught girlfriend, Michelle Rojas, a senior digital information design major at Winthrop, and a music advisor, Katherine Kinsey, who Huskey said is almost like a second mom to him.

The “what” is a unfinished bachelor’s degree in music education, an off-campus apartment and a Taekwondo club he runs.

And the “how” came from another choice he made, this one two years ago.

Hailing from Beaufort, S.C., Huskey moved to Rock Hill where he was able to attend classes but, because of his duties with the National Guard unit in Beaufort, had to commute three hours once every month.

Two years of traveling up and down the road began to wear on Huskey, so, just in the last two months or so, he decided to switch his unit to Rock Hill.

Before he could even get his bearings, the news slammed Huskey —his unit would be deployed to Afghanistan.

“It was kind of a shocker, you know, just going into that situation,” Huskey said.

The shock rippled through Huskey’s family, resulting in “buckets” and “gallons” of tears shed by family and friends. His mom is the worst, he said.

Still, Huskey and his family have lent themselves to preparation, making sure all of Huskey’s ”ducks are in a row,” he said.

Those “ducks” include securing accounts, paying bills and knowing who will get what when, where and “if.”

Love abroad It’s the “if” that made Michelle Rojas bawl every time the subject of her boyfriend’s deployment reached her ears.

“It hit me really hard at first,” Rojas said. “I guess I was thinking about a million different things at once: being apart for a whole year and him just being there, it’s always scary to think about someone close to you being in a situation like that.”

A month or so after the revelation, Rojas said she’s handling it better.

Three to four years later, Huskey has been an “integral” member of Kinsey’s choir, she said.

“I think he felt it was a safe haven for him in high school,” Kinsey said, describing some of the hardships Huskey’s faced in his life. “Thomas loves choral music; I think he found his way through music.”

In addition to exceptional singing talent, Huskey’s inner strength is inspirational for Kinsey.

Through the difficult times, “he hangs in there with a smile of his face,” Kinsey said.

During the course of his college career, Huskey’s faced challenges and accepted responsibilities Kinsey said would most likely “do most people in.”

While in school, Huskey’s mother’s house burnt down. Two weeks ago, his father passed away.

One word Kinsey used to describe Huskey’s attitude in light of these circumstances...“resilient.”

“He sets an important example for our students,” Kinsey said, before admitting that she’s not happy about Huskey’s impending deployment to Afghanistan.

Nevertheless, she holds onto faith in Huskey’s refusal to be deterred by obstacles.

When he comes back —and Kinsey definitely believes he will be back— Huskey can be rest assured that he’ll have a place in Kinsey’s choir.

All Huskey knows to do is let his family, his friends and even his Michelle grieve.

“I don’t try to say things like ‘oh, it’s ok,’” Huskey said. “Sometimes people say, ‘oh, it’s ok,’ ‘oh, it’s going to be better,’ and so forth and so on. Well, in a situation like going to Afghanistan, you can’t really say that. You don’t really know.”

In August, Huskey, a senior music education major, will head over to Afghanistan without completing his degree.

Photo by Sarah Auvil • auvils@mytjnow.coms She can talk about it without crying now.

But she knows the day is coming when Huskey won’t be stateside.

“I think it’s going to hit me all over again and it’s just going to be like a whole mess of emotions again,” she said.

Nevertheless, she’s being proactive. When she found out about Huskey’s departure, Rojas went online and did all the research she could about Afghanistan. She found Facebook support groups for the girlfriends and wives of soldiers who are deployed abroad.

With Huskey gone, Rojas realizes they won’t be able to text or communicate as consistently as they have in the past.

Through the challenges Huskey’s experienced in life, Rojas has been beside her man.

“When you compare me and him, we’re like a good balance. He’s like really strong in a lot of ways that I’m not,” she said. “When we go through things together, [the balance] helps each other out.”

For that reason, Huskey’s already decided not to tell Rojas if something questionable happens to him overseas.

“It’s going to be hard because I’m probably going to imagine all these things happening to him but then they might not be happening to him, or vice versa,” she said.

The only positive thing that can come from this, Rojas said, is the pride she feels for her boyfriend for serving the country.

‘Music is my life’

Michelle Rojas and Thomas Huskey have been together for three years. Huskey’s impending deployment to Afghanistan will not be the first time they’ve had to experiment with a long distance relationship. Photo by Clarie VanOstenbridge • vanostenbridgec@mytjnw.com

Students care for the sick, learn health care models through program

When Katherine Kinsey first met Huskey, she wasn’t sure what to make of him.

“I remember he knocked on my door and said, ‘My name is Thomas Huskey and music is my life,’” said Kinsey, associate professor of music, director of Winthrop’s choral activities and conductor for the Winthrop Chamber Singers.

‘The war is over’

“The war is over” was a cry echoed from the White House this past December when President Barack Obama officially called for the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq. An eight-year military operation in the country saw mass casualties on both sides, unspeakable tragedies and millions of dollars spent in defensive and offensive weaponry.

While troops are abandoning Iraq, others are being sent to Afghanistan to act in a ‘non-combative’ support and training capacity until 2014.

A report recently detailed a plan proposing that special operations troops stay in Afghanistan beyond 2014, an action that greatly contrasts U.S. troops’ withdrawal from Iraq this past year.

Now that almost all American troops have left Iraq, the nation has escalated into violence and instability.

Political and military leaders have insisted that this new plan for Afghanistan is not a direct response to the regressive violence in Iraq.

Regardless of what state Afghanistan is in when he gets there, Huskey doesn’t dwell on it.

“It’s a process, definitely a process,” Huskey said. “I try not to think about it too much, but [I] have to.”

What he does think about is leaving his degree uncompleted for yet a second time in his college career.

The first time came when he worked with South Carolina’s National Guard in Beaufort, Huskey was trained as an ammunitions specialist. Later, though, the job was eliminated in the state, leaving Huskey unemployed while in the military.

“That doesn’t go well with the military,” he said.

So, Huskey had to be “re-classed” by attending another school for another job. He finished and soon became trained as a fuel supplier.

Then, he returned to Winthrop.

Soon, he’ll leave again, unsure of what awaits him in Afghanistan, a nation known as the birthing hub of the al-Qaeda terrorist network.

The military trains its soldiers for possible situations they may face, Huskey said, but one never really knows.

This is what he does know: He’s a soldier. He’s trained in combat. He’s trained to use a rifle. He’s trained to use a grenade.

What comes next: August.

By Amanda Phipps phippsa@mytjnow.com

Students learn how to help people, have hard conversations and provide support through the End of Life program, said Cynthia Forrest, assistant professor of social work.

The End of Life program teaches students to work across disciplines and help support people dealing with chronic illnesses, Forrest said.

“We want participants to learn how other disciplines learn to think,” Forrest said.

“We want them to have experience stepping out of their comfort zone.”

The program is in its sixth year and was funded by the Fullerton Foundation for the first three years and then by the Duke Endowment for the past three years, but will end this semester due to the end of the program’s external funding, Forrest said. She said the program will start up again once funding becomes available.

Students in the program gain the knowledge and skills to work with the end of life population and working in the interdisciplinary model of providing health care, Forrest said.

Graphic by Courtney Niskala • niskalac@mytjnow.com The program members attend seminars once a month, in which they learn and practice skills dealing with people in end of life care, she said.

“The seminars are designed so that students build skills and practice what they are learning,” Forrest said.

Members also do a field placement assignment and take a class outside of their home department or read a book related to end of life to gain experience.

Forrest said the program encourages most students to take the required course on an

audit basis.

“It’s quite a bit of work,” she said. “We want to make it as manageable as possible.”

Program member Vilissa Thompson said she has been able to use what she has learned out in the field.

Thompson is a student in the Master of Social Work (MSW) program and is in her second year of the End of Life program. She is doing her field study at the Rock Hill Dialysis Center.

Thompson works with the social worker at the clinic to help educate patients and help

them make arrangements for treatment. She also provides a support system for them.

“These people are vulnerable,” she said. “They like to have somebody to talk to who understands dialysis.”

Thompson said the patients like to talk about how dialysis affects their lives.

“It’s a whole lifestyle change,” she said. “A lot [of patients] just want to be listened to.”

Thompson said the program prepared her to deal with these situations.

“Roleplaying helps put things in perspective,” she said. “When you are out there doing it, you don’t get a second chance.”

Forrest said they have done a good job evaluating the program each year and have made adjustments where needed.

The program gives students the skills to work with many areas of health care.

“Hopefully [the members] will take these skills into the employee setting and take care of the people they are working with,” Forrest said.

6

Our Say

Elections, neutrality, personal attacks by CSL Kambrell Garvin needs an opponent.

He’s served Winthrop well as the Council of Student Leaders Chair and fulfilled many of his campaign promises. The Johnsonian has nothing against Garvin, and we look forward to his new campaign.

An unopposed candidate, however, is not what Winthrop needs. The democratic student elections are hardly a year old, and a candidate running without an opponent defeats the purpose of student voice.

It doesn’t mean the first candidate is a poor choice, or that he hasn’t done great things for the student body. It isn’t critical of CSL or belittling to their recent achievements.

It’s democracy for the second time in 11 years.

Sydney Evans, CSL election commissionaire, was quoted in the Feb. 2 edition of The Johnsonian as saying Garvin is “challenge-able.”

“And I hope someone does [run for election], not necessarily out of animosity but to protect the integrity of the system; I think someone needs to run against [Garvin],” Evans said.

During Monday night’s CSL meeting, Evans was publicly challenged by Garvin and other members, claiming she belittled the group and criticized progress. Evans responded by explaining her quotes and their context and was supported by some members.

A private meeting was held after CSL, and Evans later sent Jonathan McFadden, news editor, an email stating “from here on out I will only be able to give commentary on the election process; not candidates themselves.”

CSL sent a press release to The Johnsonian on Tuesday concerning the Election Commissionaire, stating “according to the Election Procedures Guide, the Commissionaire is responsible for ‘ensuring that the entire process is executed fairly.’ They then added, “As a result of the important role served, the Commissionaire must be impartial and fair to each candidate seeking office.”

Nowhere in the guidelines does it state she has to remain free of personal opinion. Squelching those rights, no matter her position in CSL, is a violation of Evan’s First Amendment freedom of speech. It can also be considered a threat, if the words or conduct were intended to intimidate.

Students involved in campus organizations are allowed to have opinions and preferences on student government bodies, as stated by a Feb. 14, 2007 ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

Evans does not have to remain neutral because she belongs to a student organization, according to the court case. Administrators, however, must remain impartial.

Evans is also covered under ambiguity; her statements were not criticized for what she thought or believed, but what she reasonably appeared to intend. She was not asking for Garvin’s removal or campaigning against CSL, but merely upholding her duties as election commissionaire. Without extra candidates, there would be no debates, forums or campaigning, which comprises Evans’ duties as the election commissionaire.

When parties have different understandings of their agreement, the party with the more reasonable understanding prevails. The comments made only enhanced her commitment to the job at hand, not belittled the organization responsible for the election. Garvin’s attempt to silence Evans and censor her comments to the press violates her First Amendment rights, which gives her the more reasonable argument.

Encouraging students to run for office, though it challenges the future campaign of the current CSL Chair, should not be punished.

Expressing opinion on governing bodies should not be punished.

THURSDAY February 9, 2012

CONNOR DE BRULER Opinion Editor debrulerc@mytjnow.com

Reading is listening, listening is love I love you. You: the reader. with an opinionated voice.

I love you.

I think it’s reasonable to say Week in and week out, I that I have become somewhat do what I can to provide one famous on this campus, at least of two kinds of columns. I’m among avid readers. either trying to penetrate your I am not a shark in the skin of social correctness with ocean, but a medium-sized catmy knife of raw anger and fish in a small pond. I am not dissent, or I’m just trying to Connor de Bruler the voice of Winthrop. I’m just Opinion editor make you laugh. one of the many students passI normally don’t succeed ing through. Once I graduate either way, but, no matter from Winthrop, I don’t think what, you keep reading every little word you’ll be hearing from me again. I’ll get I write on this page. I love you for that. a little job to pay rent for my apartment I thank you for that, from the bottom of and, hopefully, marry my girlfriend. my heart. I love you for stopping me on We’ll probably get a cat too. the street and hallways of this college That’s really all I want. and telling me how much you enjoy My plan, two years ago, was to join an my columns. I love you for writing me eco-terrorist cell in West Virginia and letters and telling me how off-the-mark sacrifice myself for a giant elm or pine I am, or how much you hated my last tree. Today, I’ve scrapped that bleak column. Even then, when you don’t vision for my future. I scrapped that like what I’ve done, you keep reading. vision for my future because you, the I love it when people find out who I am readers of Winthrop, have told someand roll their eyes. That’s when I know thing I desperately needed to hear for they’ve read me, and I love being read. so long: that my voice is of importance.

I love it when my boss tells me my No matter what you think of my opincolumns have no point. I love it when ions or my ability to write, by reading the dean of my department comes my words, you boost my self esteem a hunting for me after I broke some welllittle higher. known journalistic law. I savor every Thank you. second I lose face inside the newspaper In my opinion, listening is an act office among my colleagues, because I of love. Good parents listen to their never thought I’d make it to this point. I children. Good boyfriends listen to their never thought I’d be writing for my colgirlfriends. lege’s paper. That fact humbles me. The By reading my words, you are listentwo awards I’ve won are meaningless ing to my metaphoric voice. Thank you in the grand scope of things. I still can’t for listening. believe I write a column every week, I love you. I am nothing without your or that I’m in charge of gathering new readership. writers for my page.

This column is about out of gas, so I rose to the level of editor here at the I’m going to do something I haven’t school newspaper through sheer luck. It done in a long while. I’m going to shut was the right time and the right place. up.

The previous Editor-in-chief, the one who hired me, saw something in me I will never see in the mirror. The current Editor-in-chief puts up with me because she is a truly loving person. It took so much courage (and so much alcohol) to apply and interview for my current position, and I’m thankful everyday that I get to write 400 to 500 words every week and showcase another student

“”

I love you. I am nothing without your readership.

Student takes another bite out of religion

Student lists least desirable relationships for students

A fair number of people in league with Satan. Actually, in this country believe Satan herself is a vastly misunthat religion should be derstood lady that has a vast and taught in the public school complex history surrounding system. What they probher. ably mean is that they want You see, eons ago where only the public school system to morons didn’t believe in Jesus, tell the future mind slaves Boinqueisha, and Bames, three Jared Epps of America all about Jesus world powers formed what is Columnist Christ and the wonderful known today as the Trilateral things he did for people.

Commission; this group was I personally believe that formed by the Catholic Church, a government should be 100 percent the NAACP, and Beelzebub’s Bonitas of secular, but for the sake of peace and Bangladesh. compromise and all that, I’m willing to They selectively murdered everyone put my own biases aside to look at this that tried to get the word out on what a from a different perspective. cool, hip young chick Satan was.

I believe we should implement those Satan died on the Holy Triforce so wonderful Christian teachings in that we can all freely fornicate, because America’s public school systems. It’ll unwed virgins get beat up in Valhalla teach kids to not fornicate, attend Sun- when they die. day cult meetings, and to honor and Also, Boinqueisha was a man and believe in Caucasian Superman Jesus.

Bames Jond was a black dude.

For the sake of fairness, I think that I went through great lengths to if a country founded on secularism uncover this lost history of Christianity (America, for those of you on the back that shakes the very foundation of the of the bus) wants to teach religion in belief system. public schools, it should promote equal I think this seriously true story, as exposure to all religions. well as all other religious interpretaFor instance: if Christianity gets tions, should be given the same expoany sort of disproportionate exposure, sure as Christianity would in a public we should equally educate America’s school system that tries to promote a youth on many other belief systems as certain religion. well. I personally believe that today’s Yes, there’s a small chance that this youth would find the adventures of story I’ve shared is made up, which Jesus and Bames Jond to be of great would mean that it shouldn’t be taught spiritual importance. in a public school system.

Who is Bames Jond? Why, he was Going by that logic, we also shouldn’t the one that introduced Jesus Christ to expose Christianity in America’s public his future baby’s momma, Boinqueisha schools because it’s equally as fake and Mendez. Historical and religious books made up as the religion you just read don’t mention this incredible and about. completely true story of love, loss, and Boinqueisha bless America. undying loyalty to Satan.

Why yes, it is also a little known fact that the holy martyr of Christianity was

I’d like to start this piece Seth Goldwasser solid foundation made of trust with a disclaimer. I am not and faith, kind of like building Columnist an expert on relationships, your house with the foundanor have I studied any type tion of a rock. Two individuals of sociology outside of my own personal must form this foundation. Indepenexperience. The following piece is comdence within a relationship is vital to prised of my opinions on the subject of its success. It is then the task of the romantic relationships based on nothparticipants to understand and build ing more than my personal experience. trust with each other through process of There are three types of relationships: communication. good relationships, bad relationships The more you get to know your partand terrible relationships. Sometimes ner, the more you understand them, they can change from good to bad and and the more you let your partner know vice versa. about you the more you trust them.

There are, however, several set charFinally, the most essential piece of a acteristics of each relationship. The great relationship is intellectual engageworst relationships are easily identified, ment. The greatest relationships are as are the best. The middle or grey area those that stimulate the mind, not with in between the worst and the best are just affection, but with an active engageharder to find characteristics for, but are ment of higher thinking and problem more common among people. solving between the two partners.

Terrible, or as I like to call them, Now for the middle group, those “psychotic relationships,” are those that relationships that share aspects of both seem to make no sense to anyone except the terrible and the great. These relathe partners of the relationship. tionships can be lacking in any number Many of the issues come from coof areas, due to any number of circumdependency from one or both partners stances. to each other.

A lack of trust, understanding, comSimply put, I believe the beaten wife munication, mental engagement or faith that goes back is obviously dependent can strain a relationship, but a lack of all on the husband who beats her for some of them will destroy it. A good relationkind of fulfillment. Another tell-tale sign ship is hindered by dependence from is a complete lack of trust and underone or both partners. standing.

You can be with a great partner, but If you don’t know if your partner is neediness on their part or yours is a true and faithful or if you can’t underrun-to-excuse for a break up. stand what they want or how they want The moral of the story, for this author, it, then communication is extremely is to identify the causes and effects of difficult. A lack of communication is good and bad relationships, and find therefore damaging to both partners. ways to improve your relationship in A great relationship is hard to find. yours and your partner’s own way.

I consider them to be diamonds in the ruff. Ironically enough, the aspects of those relationships are commonly harped-on in western culture. A truly wonderful relationship starts with a

7

THURSDAY February 9, 2012

Letter to the Editor A Freedom Fighter’s response to “Editor takes a piss.”

Written by Sam Murray Senior, Sociology Major Dear Mr. De Bruler, Thank you for using your freedom of speech from the safety of your computer, free from the threat of attacks. That same freedom that you enjoy is a freedom that my comrades and I fought so hard for, several did not return.

Freedom of speech is just one thing that makes this amazing country of ours great.

I’ll never forget walking through the Dallas airport returning home from my second tour in Iraq in 2005. As I walked through the arrival gate there was a large crowd of patriots lining the walls, cheering and showering my fellow veterans and I with gifts, hugs, and kisses. We didn’t know any of them. They were simply proud Americans who wanted to express their gratitude to fellow citizens who stepped up to defend the freedoms they hold so dear.

They were not the only ones enjoying their freedom. As I walked through the crowd I made eye contact with one person who was not cheering. He looked me straight in the eyes and called me a “baby killer.” It was his right to say that.

I fought for his freedom of speech regardless of whether I agree with what he has to say or not.

True, not all of my comrades

have the greatest intentions when fighting in overseas. There are always one or a few bad apples in every group. The military is no exception, and apparently the Johnsonian Staff isn’t either.

You say that “Our boys…are killers” after citing a few gruesome examples of deranged soldiers obviously violating the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The same argument could be made for South Carolinians. I throw in a Susan Smith reference and all of a sudden all South Carolina mothers are heartless, sick women who want to drown their children in the lake. The logic simply doesn’t make any sense.

You can’t stereotype everyone within a group by the outrageous actions of a few the same way I can’t make terrible comments about the Johnsonian staff because of the actions of one. There are great people within your organization trying to do positive and honorable things just like the overwhelming majority of the men and women serving in the United States Military.

Our boys overseas and here in country are “freedom fighters.” They are the greatest fighting force in the world and most of this country supports them wholeheartedly.

“We will not tire, we will not falter, and we will not fail.” George W. Bush.

Gay marriage a civil rights issue In 1967’s Loving v. Virginia, the if you would still hold that belief if Supreme Court ruled that the states you spent a day with a committed cannot ban interracial marriage. gay couple.

Before she passed away in 2008, You would see that gay couples the plaintiff in that case, Mildred are just as able to love one another Loving, released a public statement as straight couples. Would you, about gay marriage: “I believe all after seeing the love between these Americans, no matter their race, two people, be able to say to their Trey Stokes no matter their sex, no matter face, “I don’t believe you should be Columnist their sexual orientation, should able to get married”? have that same freedom to marry.

I also think that any legislation Government has no business imposing some barring two consenting adults from entering people’s religious beliefs over others. into a marriage contract on account of genEspecially if it denies people’s civil rights. der or sexual orientation is a violation of the I am still not a political person, but I am Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth proud that Richard’s and my name is on a Amendment, which states that “no state court case that can help reinforce the love, shall . . . deny to any person within its juristhe commitment, the fairness, and the diction the equal protection of the laws.” family that so many people, black or white, In addition, the Defense of Marriage Act young or old, gay or straight seek in life.

(DOMA), passed in 1996, circumnavigates I support the freedom to marry for Article IV, Section 1 of the Constitution all.” which says that individual states must reIt is an unfortunate fact that our own state spect the “public acts, records, and judicial of South Carolina had a constitutional ban proceedings of every other state.” DOMA on interracial marriage until 1998. explicitly mandates that other states do not It is also an unfortunate fact that, to this have to recognize gay marriages performed day, we have a constitutional amendment in other states. barring gay couples from getting a marriage As marriage is most definitely a “public license. act,” this blatantly contradicts the ConstituNot only does this violate my libertartion. ian beliefs, it is my strong opinion that this When forming your own opinion on this violates our Federal Constitution. In this critical issue, I urge you to take into account column, I will focus on these two aspects. the happiness of others and disregard your It has been said already that a main tenet own personal preconceptions on the issue. of libertarianism is social freedom, or the By denying others the right to their pursuit freedom to choose how to live one’s life, so of happiness, you preclude your own right. long as others are not hurt. So, I pose this question: Who is hurt when two men or two women choose to marry? Whose business is it but theirs? Please, think to yourself and answer honestly. If you are still opposed after thinking about it for a while, I wonder

Connor’s Rant Corner: The Top 10 Most Misleading Song Titles 10. “There is No God” by Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy Our culture is religious enough to assume that God’s inexistence is a negative thing.

Even atheists might think that a song called “There is No God” would be, well, sad.

The Kentucky songsmith, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy (he’s kind of folk music’s Freddie Prinze Jr.), not only plainly states thirty-five times that there is no God, but he seems pretty happy about it.

The song starts off with a swampy guitar riff reminiscent of CCR as Billy sings happily with a chorus of women. He also goes into a falsetto as he assures listeners that there is no God and no prayers.

Just before a fiddle solo, Billy’s ending not is, “There is tons, there is one, there is not any.”

Polytheism. Monotheism.

Atheism.

Make up your mind Mr. Prince Billy.

The song was released as a single and apparently most of the proceeds went to the Save our Gulf Coalition and The Turtle Hospital. Take that, charitable Christians.

As for the video, well, it’s kind of strange too. Billy drives a boat around the gulf, eats ice cream, and dances around the woods without a shirt while his face is covered in baby powder…or is it? Nothing says atheism like a coked-up, shirtless dance session in the woods.

9. “So Athletic” by Jim Jones This is a hip-hop song and nothing says hardcore gangster like…Batman and the Michael Vick scandal. Granted, the song actually does talk about athletics, but it also features a sound clip of Heath Ledger’s Joker taunting a faceless Harvey Dent

from The Dark Knight.

For those who might add this track to their gym routine playlists, Ledger’s eerie, Beatle Juice-like voice discussing “the schemers” might throw them off. Shortly afterward, the song does pick up. The rappers discuss being connected to kilograms of cocaine (which they probably sold to Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy) and other shallow topics that anchor the track back into the hip-hop realm.

But Jim Jones felt the song was still missing something.

Maybe it needed a nice-ass ho, or a well-rolled blunt. “Nonsense,” said Jim Jones. “We must awaken the masses and make a statement.” That’s when he throws in the Michael Vick reference, which ultimately blossoms into a fully developed case against animal cruelty. Oh wait, no it doesn’t. All he says is “Where my dogs at, Michael Vick?” and then drops the entire subject.

Hey, Dahmer, where my Cambodian school boys with Draino power-tooled into their skulls at? In your apartment?

Oh, you really are the life of the party, Jeffrey.

8. “Mr. Rodgers” by Korn I don’t think the guys from Korn spent a lot of time in the Kingdom of Make Believe. The entire song rambles on with hermetic lines like “the time has come to realize how much you really loved him.”

That’s pretty damn ominous.

Can you imagine someone whispering that in your ear while you’re watching PBS? He also screams, “How much I really loved you.”

Wait, that’s not even a complete thought. That’s a sentence fragment, Korn. How much did you really love him? No apt Mr. Rodgers fan walks away with grammar this poor.

The only thing that’s remote-

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ly close to the real Mr. Rodgers is the tormented singer’s “Won’t you be my neighbor?”

No, no I won’t. Nobody wants to be your neighbor if PBS shows tick you off this much.

Apparently the group also does a cover of Outkast’s “Hey Ya” and, yes, they do make it depressing.

7. “I Hate Myself and I Want to Die” by Nirvana

Here’s a sample of a conversation I overheard in a coffee shop: “You know, I really like Panic at The Disco’s thoughtful song titles. It really enhances the music experience for me.”

That person was struck by lightening three seconds later after a rift in the space time continuum opened up and sucked the entire building into its blackened chasm.

They have a song called, “Lying is the Most Fun a Girl can have without Taking Her Clothes Off.” There comes a time when I can no longer come up with jokes and must stare blankly into the distance, thankful that I wasn’t pulled into the black hole on that terrible day.

Of course, the really misleading part about Panic at The Disco is that they play music.

Hey, I’m no expert but I’ve listened to music before, and it doesn’t sound anything like Panic at The Disco.

You can’t fault Kurt Cobain for making tortured music. He was an unhappy guy whose success was almost impossible to enjoy due to his severe clinical depression and chronic stomach pains. He couldn’t get a correct diagnosis and wound up shooting heroin to keep the pain at bay. Things got gloomy enough for Cobain that he wrote a song called “I Hate Myself and I Want to Die”, which is obviously about a young man who decides to surgically attach make-shift antlers to his forehead.

“Most people don’t realize that two large pieces of coral painted brown and attached to his skull with common wood screws can make a child look like a deer,” he says a minute and forty-one seconds into the song just before “The More You Know” star gracefully sails overhead.

Out of reverence to your memory, Kurt, I’m not even going to debate you on this one.

6. “Embrace” by Low For those who are not familiar, Low is a husband and wife music project from Duluth, Minnesota. Their specialty? Really depressing music.

“Embrace,” as you might have guessed by now, isn’t about an actual embrace between lovers. It’s about an abusive relationship. Some of the lyrics include lines like, “I fell down the stairs” and “I wished I were dead.”

Charming.

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5. Everything Panic at The Disco had ever done.

4. “How to Build a Pessimistic Lie Detector” by The Locust Paper. Check. Wires. Check.

Ink. Check. Blood pressure monitor. Check. Wait a minute, this isn’t about building a pessimistic lie detector at all. You’re just screaming for a minute and a half. This song is terribly misleading.

3. “Too Many Puppies.” by Primus.

Primus’s funky, rock song isn’t about puppies, thankfully.

I say thankfully because the verse goes, “Too many puppies

are being shot in the dark.” No words can express the relief of knowing that we don’t have a puppy-murder epidemic on our hands.

The song is actually about America’s bloody thirst for oil causing the unnecessary death of our soldiers.

I should have known better in the first place. There’s no such thing as “too many puppies,” Primus. You can’t fool me. More puppies is always a good thing.

2. “I’ll Be There” by Ari Hest Ari Hest, like Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, isn’t a very mainstream artist, but his work is deceptively influential. The sentiment of “I’ll be there” seems nice enough, were it not followed by the line, “to make you miserable.”

Hest’s hateful revenge song is juxtaposed by his soft vocals and cheerful finger picking. I’m thinking, serial killer maybe?

1. “Pumped Up Kicks” by Foster the People.

This song has everything. It’s catchy. It’s got an upbeat tune.

The vocals are smooth. It’s about a kid going on a shooting rampage. It’s just plain radio material.

It’s hard not to dance to this song, but it’s also hard not to notice nods to the Columbine massacre and serial killer, Richard Speck.

“All the other kids better run, better run, faster than my bullets.”

This isn’t my favorite misleading song, but I put it in the number one slot to call attention to the eerie similarities between “Pumped Up Kicks” and the Gorillaz’ much more overt track, “Kids with Guns.” I’m not sayin’ it’s a rip off, I’m just sayin’ that…okay, it’s a rip off.

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

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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

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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.

8

THURSDAY February 9, 2012

CATHERINE ZENDE Science & Technology Editor zendec@mytjnow.com

Building bonds, helping others

Campers and volunteers pose for a group photo at the Muscular Distrophy Camp at Bethelwoods Campground in York, SC. Photo courtesy of Debbie Szeman

Student volunteers at Muscular Distrophy Camp

By Frances Parrish

parrishf@mytjnow.com

There are many different types of love, like love for parents, friends and even perfect strangers. Debbie Szeman, sophomore exercise science major, spread the love over the summer to campers at the annual Muscular Dystrophy Association summer camp at Bethelwoods Campground in York, SC.

Sophomore Debbie Szeman paints pottery with a camper at the Muscular Distrophy Camp. Szeman volunteered to help mentor kids at the camp over the summer. Photo Courtesy of Debbie Szeman

Szeman spent a week working with children diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy. “It was the best week of my life. It was also the hardest week of my life,” Szeman said.

Each counselor is assigned their own individual camper to take care of for the week. The counselors’ relationships with the kids were complex. “Basically as counselors, we were parents, caregivers, mentors and friends for this week,” Szeman said. Szeman explains that she had never worked with children with disabilities before, and now she wants to make a career of working at camps for kids with disabilities.

Szeman says that she and her 13 year-old camper got along well. “She had the bubbliest personality. We joked a lot,” Szeman said. Her camper had spinal muscular atrophy, was confined to a wheelchair and had limited use of her limbs.

Szeman explained how she had to be there for her camper every minute. She was kept busy helping her camper in and out of her chair, using the facilities, changing clothes, and much more. “Every night, I probably got about four hours of sleep at the most. But I didn’t feel the exhaustion until the end of the week, because it was all about the kids,” Szeman said.

There were many different activities for the campers, like fishing and archery; at the end of the week the counselors hosted a prom for the campers. There was also a magic show and a karaoke night in which the kids sang songs by Taylor Swift, Black Eyed Peas and other popular artists.

“It was so much fun. Karaoke night was rocking,” Szeman said. Szeman said that she and her camper went fishing a lot, but they never caught anything. “We had some very intense games of UNO late at night,” Szeman said.

Szeman says that the hardest part of forming this relationship was overcoming her own insecurities. “I was overthinking about what I should say and what I should ask about their routines. I didn’t want to overstep my boundaries,” Szeman said.

Szeman’s favorite part of camp was dedicating the

week to the kids and giving them an opportunity to feel normal. “At one point I forgot the kids were even in a wheelchair until one of them would run over my foot,” Szeman said.

According to her, the counselors think of the campers as kids first, instead of disabled kids. “Before this disease and before their wheelchairs, they are just kids,” Szeman said.

As much as her camper needed Szeman to help with everyday things, Szeman explains that she didn’t realize that she would need her camper just as much. Szeman said that she was sad to be leaving the camp, but she is excited to see her camper at the Muscular Dystrophy Walk on March 18, 2012 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.

“It’s like a reunion for [the campers],” Szeman said.

Szeman plans to volunteer at the camp this summer, and she is excited to be a counselor to her camper again. Szeman explains that she did not only form a close relationship with he camper but other campers and counselors.

Szeman encourages anyone who wants to volunteer, to do so. “This week was so important to me. I learned so much from those kids about being appreciative of what I have,” Szeman said.

Lucas Coe, MDA Summer Camp Director and Health Care Services Coordinator, reached out to students at Winthrop last year and is reaching out again this year. Coe said that muscular dystrophy predominately affects males, so he is in need of more male counselors since the camp is about 80% male.

An application and an interview are required in order to be a volunteer.

According to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, there are many types of muscular dystrophy, but overall, it is a neuromuscular disease mainly affecting voluntary muscles.

To learn more about Muscular Dystrophy visit www. mda.org/disease/. To volunteer, contact Lucas Coe at LCoe@mdausa.org.

Learn to protect your heart this February

By Adam Uzzell

Special to the Johnsonian

The heart is an impressive organ. All day, everyday, it works to keep your blood pumping.

But sometimes the heart fails. Like any good machine, if you don’t take care of it, eventually it will wear out.

This is where American Heart Month enters.

Every February, hearts receive the recognition they deserve. While protecting your heart is important, not everyone is aware of the month long dedication to heart health.

Rebecca Powell, an early childhood education major at Winthrop University, said she has never even heard of American Heart Month.

Powell’s fiancé, history major Ethan Wallace, said all he knew about American Heart Month is “jump rope for heart.” For Wallace, the word “heart” reminds him of his fiancée.

But one campus organization is working to bring awareness of heart health. Winthrop’s Student Wellness Advocacy Team (SWAT) set up a booth on February 1st, 2nd and 3rd with information and a large piece of paper covered in tiny heart-shaped notes. The notes were filled with students’ ideas for how they would reduce heart disease in 2012.

The president of SWAT, biology major Desirae House, believes that this year’s attempts at bringing awareness were successful.

“We were able to bring new information to people that walked by the table,” House said.

Students walking by could read up on what kinds of food to eat to lower heart disease, the importance of exercise and an explanation on just what heart disease is.

Heart disease is not linked to just one cause or condition. According to the American Heat Association, heart disease (or cardiovascular disease) is a term relating to many conditions caused by plaque build up in the ateries.

“Many people do not know that the #1 killer in American Women is in fact Heart Disease, so to get that information out to as many people is a success for us!” House said. Facts such as this were available for students to view both February 1st and 2nd at the SWAT information booth.

In addition to the information booth, SWAT also worked to increase heart disease awareness by encouraging students to wear red on Friday, February 3rd. Just as pink helps to remind people of breast cancer, SWAT hopes that red will help further interest in heart disease.

“In the future, I see SWAT hosting this on a larger scale,” said House, “…and it is my wish that more student groups and students in general get involved.” House also hopes to see free health screenings join the list of events SWAT provides. “Students would able to get screened and gain free heart health information at the same time,” House said.

For now, SWAT is satisfied with the way American Heart Month has created awareness.

Students came by the SWAT booth and added their ideas on heart health to the poster board and read the information provided.

Still, House would like to see more people aware of the dangers of heart disease. Said House, “I think many young individuals believe their young age protects them from any health issues, and we don’t take into consideration that we too can be affected.”

Graphic courtesy of the American Heart Association

Heart Health Tips from the American Heart Association Tips for Women in their 20s: 1) Know your family history for heart disease 2) Don’t smoke, avoid secondhand smoke 3) Drink in moderation 4) Choose birth control carefully 5) Know your numbers (Cholesterol, Blood pressure, BMI, etc.)

Source: American Heart Association

THURSDAY February 9, 2012

9

SCIENCE & TECH

For the love of math

NERDs organization seeks to build partnerships

By Catherine Zende

She also recognizes the stereotypes placed on math majors. “There are stereotypes, but I don’t think NERDs has lived up to those stereotypes,” Taylor said. “Anti-social is one of the big ones [stereotype], and NERDs is a social group.”

Their advice to prospective math majors is simple: stay with the program. “My advice would actually come from one my professors. He said that, ‘The average person will look at a math problem and if they cannot solve it within the first two minutes, they will give up.’ So my advice is, once you decide to do mathematics, stick with it,”Neal said.

For those who stick with math and join NERDs, there are certain benefits to be had. “Get involved, make those connections, because it is really hard to do on your own,” Taylor said.

The new t-shirt design for the NERDs club depicts Albert Einstein with the words “Math Life” written on his hands. The club picks designs that are humorous and appealing to mass audiences. Photo courtesy of NERDs club needed help with algebra II. Even though Neal was a freshman, he taught himself so he could teach his friend and keep the band going. “So, for my love of music, I developed a love for math, and the love of math took over,” Neal said.

For Taylor, the love of math came from her desire to be a teacher. “I knew I wanted to teach ever since I can remember. I always enjoyed math. I wanted to go further in it,” Taylor said. “Now that I have gone further, each step gets better and better.”

Neal and Taylor share a love for math and a friendship that grew stronger in the difficult math classes.

“We were in the same calculus class our freshman year, but we didn’t get really close until we hit the really hard classes,” Neal said. Taylor values the NERDs group because “it’s like a family.”

Test your math skills!

Rhyme Time Sir Isaac ______ : wheat protein Who’s next?

8, 4, 12, 6, 18...___?

Who’s Your Daddy?

Father of Geometry ______

Answers (courtesy of NERDs):

During common time, when other students were eating lunch and taking a break from the academic world, a small group of “nerds” gathered for a friendly math trivia competition. The prizes? Nerds candy for the winners and airhead candy for the losers. But in the friendly environment, there are not really any losers.

The “nerds” are members of the Nu Epsilon Rho Delta club, a math club for math enthusiasts on campus.

The members teamed up to play the Jeopardy style trivia game that included a variety of cleverly made math questions. With party horns in hand, the students prepared to answer questions in categories like “F in Math” and “Who’s Your Daddy?”.

However, there is more to this club than just candy and competitive trivia. The organization is dedicated to being a place for math lovers to meet others, learn of opportunities and network.

The club also participates in fundraisers for the math department and even design t-shirts to sell. Junior Matthew Neal is president of the club and has seen the organization develop since his freshman year.

The club’s direct connection with the department has helped its development. “It’s kind of a self-feeding organization because the people involved in the math department are the people involved in NERDs,” Neal said.

Junior Whitney Taylor, treasurer for the club, appreciates the help the club has received from faculty. “The new professors who have come in this year have taken interest in it so it has definitely picked up since previous years,” Taylor said.

Neal and Taylor came to love math in different ways.

For Neal, the love of math came by chance. “I did a little bit of everything in high school. I was doing music, doing theater, doing academia,” Neal said.

His passion for math came from a band member who

Rhyme Time—Netwon: gluten; Who’s Next?—9; Who’s your Daddy?—Euclid

zendec@mytjnow.com

Lecture deals with HIV spread, stigma

By Shamira McCray

Special to the Johnsonian

Although African Americans and Hispanics account for nearly 30 percent of the United States population, they account for almost 70 percent of adult AIDS cases and 80 percent of pediatric AIDS cases. It is a startling, but true.

This statistic is one of the reasons why Winthrop’s chapter of the NAACP held a program on AIDS last Wednesday night in an effort to raise awareness of the virus.

Over 30 students showed up in Sims 215 last Wednesday night for the NAACP’s HIV/AIDS program. The program, which was entitled “HIV/AIDS and You: Let’s Talk about It,” was a collaboration with Catawba Care in Rock Hill.

Telluss Good, from Catawba Care, presented the lecture and began with an activity to show how fast HIV can spread. Each person in the room was given an index card and was instructed

to write the names of three different individuals who were in the room.

Random people were selected to read the names on their cards which were supposedly “infected” people. By the end of the activity almost everyone in the room name was called except for one individual who had an A written on her card, which stood for abstinence.

This activity got the crowd energetic and interested in the topic at hand.

“The activity was a good way to represent, on a smaller scale, how HIV spreads in the community by one person to multiple people,” sophomore psychology major Jasmine Jamison said.

Good’s lecture revealed the statistics of HIV, primarily among African Americans. He also lectured on the different ways HIV can be contracted and spread from one individual to the next.

HIV is a virus that attacks a person’s immune system. One can only become infected with the virus if their blood comes in contact with it.

The most common ways HIV can be

contracted is through sexual contact with someone infected, using a needle that has also been used by an infected person and being born to an infected mother.

Good said that South Carolina is ranked fourth in the country for African Americans living with AIDS. They represent 73 percent of all HIV/AIDS cases.

“Silence is a killer,” Good said. “It’s important when we get information on AIDS to spread it someone to else.”

The highlight of the lecture, however, was when guest speaker and peer advocate CeCe, who is HIV positive, spoke to the crowd. CeCe, who is now 26 years old, has had HIV for 10 years.

She got the disease when she was 15 years old and got tested after being notified by someone from the American Red Cross.

After participating in a blood drive with the American Red Cross, CeCe received a phone call from someone affiliated with the organization notifying her that something was wrong with her blood. The individual recommended that

she get tested for HIV. After doing so, it was then confirmed that she was indeed infected by the virus.

CeCe explained to the crowd that she adjusted well to the idea that she was infected by the disease.

“I shed like one little tear, but my family went ballistic,” CeCe said. “I didn’t have time to worry about me getting sick because I had my whole life ahead of me.”

CeCe has now been married for six years and said her faith has not wavered.

Kethania Thompson, a junior human nutrition major, was the coordinator of this program and said that she was happy with the way the program turned out.

“I was not surprised by the high percentage of African Americans being infected by this disease because I have some background of HIV,” Thompson said. “I am interested, however, in seeing the reduction of the stigma.”

Technically Romantic

Editor explores long-distance relationships, online dating Our love stories are not like the our parents’. We don’t always meet in person, and we don’t always spend days upon days with each other.

And while we may wish that our romantic lives were like the old romances of the past, during which we see our love from across the room and subsequently begin the traditional dates to movies and restaurants, the 21st century has introduced a whole new dating game that changes romance.

Technology has changed everything about our lives, so why should it not also change our romantic lives? But is the new

By Catherine Zende dating world a better dating world? zendec@mytjnow.com

Long-distance Love The discussion of long-distance love is near and dear to my heart since I am experiencing the difficulties of physical distance from my boyfriend. Considering the size of the campus and the disproportionate ratio of women to men, it is no surprise that many students find themselves in relationships with people outside the Winthrop community.

But if one key element of a relationship is physical proximity, how do long-distance relationships work for college students? From my personal experience, the answer is found in technology. Daily sessions of texting, Facebook chats, Skype video sessions and, of course, the more traditional phone conversation keep us connected. We are not physically close to one another, but technology has metaphorically filled the distance.

I know long-distance relationships are nothing new or unique, but more and more college students are using today’s trendy tools to keep the romance going—at least temporarily.

While my boyfriend and I are connected and still “together,” the relationship does not progress as quickly as it would if we were in the same county. We almost never fight because, like research has shown, individuals in long-distance relationship do not want to fight during their limited moments of contact. Instead, interactions become more based on a sort of 8th grade version of love in which we say how much we love each other and how great things will be once we are reunited (i.e. after I graduate).

But this is not to say that long-distance relationships are easier or less likely to

cause fighting. In fact, they are extremely difficult to maintain. Issues of jealousy, resentment and doubt are more likely to appear when you do not see someone everyday. Who is he with right now? Why has he not texted me back? Can we make it as a couple after being apart so long? Long-distance love is probably the most difficult because it is the most uncertain. But when the doubts arise, I log onto Skype or send a quick text to my distant sweetheart.

Online Matchmaking Technology does not simply change our current relationships; it can also impact how we establish those relationships in the first place. Online dating has come a long way since Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan exchanged amorous emails on AOL. Now we can connect with our potential soul mates via thousands of dating sites. There are dating sites for every imaginable group: Christians, Jews, African-Americans, homosexuals, the young and the old. What is more amazing is that these digital matchmakers promise to find us love based on scientific principles and technical advancements. You take a lengthy quiz and they will match you with someone who has the same “chemistry” as you—like an equation for love.

So is it possible to calculate love? The “love calculator” ads asking you to submit your crush’s name and yours for a “free” estimate of your chances of getting married are pretty much scams (check out the fine print if you do not believe me). But sites like eHarmony, Match.com and Chemistry.com seem to have success stories.

While I appreciate the efforts made by these sites to find “true love” through logic, I never made it very far on the sites. Once the free weekend was over, so was my interest. Still, many success ful love stories began on the sites, thereby showing that your computer can actually get you a date. I am going to caution all my single friends out there: do not log onto these sites because of a temporary, Valentine’s-day-induced depression. That is what I did, and trust me, it just makes it worse. Join the site when you are ready (and of a sound emotional state).

But even if you do find yourself a cutie on the site or maintain your long-distance love through steamy Skype sessions, remember that nothing (even technology, unforunately) can subsitute for some good, old face-to-face date time. And if you are still single, take some advice from a former single gal: get out there and mingle, because the Internet cannot give you everything.

10

THURSDAY February 9, 2012

MONICA KREBER Arts & Entertainment Editor kreberm@myjnow.com

It’s ‘Like Peeling an Onion’...

The cast of “Like Peeling an Onion” rehearsed the play over the course of about eight weeks. The performance was held in Dina’s Place. Photo by Claire Von Ostenbridge • vonostenbridgec@mytjnow.com

Playwright and director Charles Curtis brings Winthrop a play that discusses HIV, AIDS and homosexuality ONION • from front (antidepressants) in his bedroom and learn that David had tried to commit suicide. The family questions how they could not have seen the signs; David always seemed so happy. They also begin to question themselves.

“The onion begins to peel at the very beginning,” Curtis said.

The show came to Winthrop on Jan. 31. The Council of Student Leaders (CSL) picked up the show after last August, Curtis said.

Curtis both wrote and directed the play.

“I’m really proud of it,” he said. “I’m really proud of my cast…I’m glad Winthrop did this for me; they’ve been great to work with.”

Curtis said what he loves about the play is how personal and real it is, and how he got to learn more about his uncle’s life.

“I found love for my uncle,” he said. “I love him and I don’t even know him.”

Curtis also said he believes audiences can relate to the characters in the show.

“We all want people to see the best parts of who we are,” he said. “This is how we live our lives. It’s not a bad way to live our lives, but it makes it so important.”

Curtis said he personally knows CSL president, senior political science major Kambrell Garvin.

He said once Garvin became president he talked to Curtis,

interested in bringing performances to campus, and asked Curtis for ideas.

Curtis told him about “Like Peeling an Onion” and how it talks about issues concerning HIV, AIDS and homosexuality.

Originally, Curtis said, the show was supposed to be held during Sexual Awareness Week in November, but this will “probably not” be the last time it comes to Winthrop.

“I’m looking forward to working with Winthrop again,” Curtis said. “I had a really great time and I had a really awesome experience with the cast and crew.”

Garvin said that when he entered his position as president last May, he noticed that there were a lot of issues on campus that centered on sexual behavior. It was decided that it was important for CSL to do something that adequately addressed the ongoing issues. Thus CSL’s Sexual Responsibility Initiative “came into fruition.”

“Anytime there is a major issue on campus that affects students, I believe that CSL has a responsibility to address it in some way,” Garvin said.

The performance was held in Dina’s Place. Garvin said the theatre quickly reached capacity the day of the show.

“At the end of the production I noticed that many students were transfixed, and some were even in tears because of the powerful message that the play shared,” he said.

Director and playwright Charles Curtis said he wrote the play in two days, and this play was the stage debut for some of his cast members.

Photos by Claire Von Ostenbridge • vonostenbridgec@mytjnow.com

After the play, Garvin said, many students tweeted about it, and the quote that seemed to have resonated the most was, “Getting to know someone is like peeling an onion; the more layers you pull back the more they make you want to cry.”

“I’m proud of the fact that CSL has made it a top priority to sponsor events and initiatives that have a lasting effect on the Winthrop experience,” he said.

Garvin appointed freshmen theater major and CSL member Mashario Morton to serve as the coordinator between Curtis and CSL. Morton said when Garvin gave her the script, she read it and “immediately fell in love with it” because she could relate to it.

“I have been in a similar situation, so of course I wanted to be a part of it,” she said. “‘Like Peeling an Onion’” tackles many

problems we faced today and I am glad that Winthrop could experience it with me.”

11

THURSDAY February 9, 2012

My epic heartbreak horror story Editor compares and contrasts the differences between Valentine’s Day during her senior of high school and her senior year of college

Monica Kreber

kreberm@mytjnow.com

Four years ago I was a senior in high school.

If you were to look at my Facebook status on Feb. 14, 2012, this is what it would have read: “HAPPY SINGLES’ AWARENESS DAY! Oh, and 113 more days.”

By “113 more days,” I meant 113 more days left until my high school graduation.

According to the new Facebook Timeline, I made this status at 7:31 a.m., before school actually started that day. Little did I know that it was going to be the worst Valentine’s Day I would ever have.

In order to explain this, I need to take you back four months beforehand...

I am sure everyone has some sort of “epic” heartbreak horror story from their high school years that they share with friends today. My own story occurred right on Halloween: about a week beforehand, I broke up with my high school sweetheart. It was not a break up in which something profoundly dramatic happened

(i.e: someone cheated, someone was becoming abusive, etc.). The relationship simply was not working out anymore.

Initially, my ex and I were civil and seemingly harbored no hard feelings for each other. We tried the whole awkward “still friends” thing for a week. We still mingled with the same group of friends; we still got along at school.

Then my ex slept with his best friend’s girlfriend and our “still friends” thing was over.

It was not because the mess really had anything to do with me, but this was high school so no one could be mature about it…especially my ex, who actually had the nerve to steal his best friend’s girl and then inform me on the phone that somehow this was all my fault because if I had not broken up with him, he would not have done such a thing.

In a weird way, I guess he was correct, but who does that to their own friend?

Long story short, my ex and I stopped speaking after this incident. He may have acquired a new girlfriend, but I heard through the grapevine that most of his buddies had sided with his former best friend about the whole “stealing-hisgirl-away” problem.

The new girlfriend and I were not exactly friends either. I have

plenty of colorful names that I could refer to her as, but I think I will just stick with calling her “Jane.”

Since I was the exgirlfriend, Jane. Did. Not. Like. Me. I think she got it into her head that since she was dating my ex-boyfriend that I was out to get her.

Really, I was looking forward to graduating from high school and moving on – in fact, at this point in time, I already knew I had been accepted into Winthrop. Like most graduating seniors, I had a huge case of senioritis once I had my college plans sorted out – that is why I started the countdown to graduation in my Facebook statuses.

I will say, however, once February drew closer that school year, I got a little apprehensive since I was guy-less…and Jane delighted in that fact.

Second semester senior year, when everyone’s class schedules had changed, I had the misfortune of having to pass Jane in the hallway at the end of every day in order to get to my car. She and I never spoke to each other, but on the morning of Valentine’s Day I could not help but wonder if she planned to make some snarky comment as we passed each other later.

I got my answer at

precisely 3:35 p.m. when school let out.

At the end of the school day I was feeling relieved. All I had to do was get to the senior parking lot, hop into my “nifty” burgundy Buick, fight my way through the horrendous bad drivers that I shared that parking lot with and go home.

It was the home stretch – literally.

I walked through that last hallway that stood between me and a set of stairs that would lead me outside and to my car…and there she was.

Jane was walking my way, smiling.

She had a bouquet of flowers in one hand that I can only assume were from exboyfriend.

I kept going. I remember smiling at the people I recognized as I passed in order to look like I did not see her.

But I did see her.

She knew I did.

She gave me a weird little wave as I passed her but I kept walking. Then suddenly I heard that ridiculous voice of hers.

“Hey, Monica, Happy Valentine’s Day!” I froze. With a feeling that someone had just socked me in the stomach, I whirled around but she was gone. I felt my face go red, my palms start sweating, my whole body start shaking.

I wanted one good reason not to find her and confront her, but

instead I swallowed my pride and forced myself to head out to my car and just go home.

When I got to my Buick, I angrily threw my book bag into the backseat, and then something caught my eye. Jane had just passed by a few empty parking spots over.

She did not see me; she was looking back toward the school – probably searching for her boy toy.

I did not feel like swallowing my pride. I dropped everything – I did not even bother shutting the two doors I had hanging open on my car. I quickly walked up behind Jane and said sharply, “YOU!” She turned around, and immediately started backing up (that part made me feel better).

“What was that?” I demanded.

Jane looked all defensive. “Sorry. I wasn’t trying to p*** you off. I was just wishing you a happy Valentine’s Day…” “Why.” She shrugged, still backing up. “I don’t know…just trying to make peace.”

I just looked at her.

“Fine, I’ll leave you alone, if that’s what you want,” she said.

I said, “Whatever” and turned right back around and headed to my abandoned car. I was still fuming as I slammed on the gas pedal and sped out of the parking lot.

According to the grapevine at my

high school, Jane remained steadfast in the belief that she was just trying to be nice to me. I guess that is left open for interpretation.

(I think I had the last laugh, though; less than two weeks later, word got around that Jane had cheated on my ex and proceeded to break up with him. Since he had originally stolen her from his best friend in the first place, nobody pitied him).

Everyone has had a nasty break up. It is nothing to dwell on or be ashamed of – I think it is all part of growing up.

At the time, I hated my life as I prepared to graduate from high school. Four years later this is my second time being a senior, and I have noticed that the biggest difference between now and then is: back then, I had a Facebook status countdown to my graduation day. Now I am so busy with my friends, my boyfriend, my classes, my need to find a job…I have not really thought about graduation.

When I flipped my calendar page over to February, my reaction was, “Already?!”

Cherish this semester, fellow seniors. Happy Valentine’s / Singles Awareness Day and…I do not want to know how many days until graduation.

WUrd Search JOHNSONIAN CANDY LOVE WEEK WINTHROP EAGLES CHOCOLATE DIGS SAFE SEX MAKE OUT

FEBRUARY BE MINE TOGETHER FRIEND SINGLE SUGAR SEXTING KINDNESS

Late Night Trivia -Compiled by Monica Kreber

Test your wits and know-how in DSU’s Spring Late Night Trivia event complete with prizes and FREE Papa John’s pizza.

Where: The Edge - DiGiorgio Center When: Saturday, Feb. 11 at 11:30 p.m.

Price: Free

Offer Valid First Time Customer Only.

Local Resident within 20 miles of salon.

Valid ID Required.

Expires: 5/31/12

12

THURSDAY February 9, 2012

ALISON ANGEL Culture Editor angela@mytjnow.com

Killer Queens rock Winthrop’s campus DRAG • from front its original location in a Digs classroom, to the Richardson Ballroom.

In the lecture, Sims explained to the crowd how drag first came into existence as well the overall goal of drag. Drag first appeared in theaters. Women were not allowed to act in theaters which called for men to impersonate them. Still today, the overall goal of drag is entertainment.

The audience was educated on the six different types of drag, which are camp, glamour, pageant, illusionist, alternative and king. In addition to learning the different types, audience members were taught proper etiquette in addressing drags.

“When they’re dressed as a girl, they should be referred as she,” Sims said.

Sims has been doing drag for about two and a half years. He said it was a personal decision and has made him a better person.

“It was personal for me,” Sims said. “I got shown for drag and wanted to make it a point to raise awareness than for people to have suspicions.”

Besides being lectured on the details of drag, three audience members were chosen to have their makeup done. Two of the individuals had their makeup done by student experts, while one lucky individual had his makeup done by Shane Kindley, Miss Gay North Carolina. Kindley, who goes by the drag name Jessica Raynes Starr, has four years of experience and started doing drag because someone told him he couldn’t because he was too much of boy.

The makeup session seemed to be the highlight of the presentation which resulted in several individuals remaining in the ballroom bombarding the participants long after the event was over.

Regardless of the makeup session, the overall lecture was a success. The crowd left with more knowledge of drag than what they came with.

“It was really interesting, and I learned a lot about drag,” sophomore Bria Bethea said. “I understand more about what it is and why they do it.”

On night two of DragWU, students were entertained with a thrilling drag show in Dina’s Place.

There were a total of 12 performances that got the crowd wild and excited. Some audience members were so excited that they tipped the performers.

Some individuals spent as much as six dollars. However, it was all going to a good cause.

Proceeds from the drag show went to the Trevor Project which is a national organization that provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth.

Performances were done by a mixture of Winthrop students as well as professional drag queens.

For freshman computer science major Courtney Stokes, performing drag for the first time on Friday was inspiring. Going by the drag name of Apollo Bryant, she is sure she will perform again next year.

“It was kind of an all inspiring thing; scary, intense and fun at the same time,” Stokes said. “You forget about the fear of performing in front of a large crowd.”

Students and local drag show celebrities come together to show Winthrop what the art of drag is all about. Photos by Sarah Auvil • auvils@mytjnow.com

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JEFF BRODEUR Sports Editor brodeurj@mytjnow.com

THURSDAY February 9, 2012

DAVID THACKHAM Sports Editor thackhamd@mytjnow.com

Finding chemistry on and off the field

By David Thackham thackhamd@mytjnow.com

Relationships often float or fail depending on how a couple can find the time to support each other.

Student-athletes, with their grueling practice schedules, numerous road trips and incalculable schoolwork load, often find it especially hard to maintain a healthy union. Yet in this season of harmony and love, one story of a strong relationship shines through with former women’s soccer player Nichole Smith and former men’s soccer player Matt Horn.

The two have been sharing time, devotion and quesadillas together for over two years and three months.

“We like to have ‘Cheesy Friday’ together,” Horn explained. “We make cheesy dishes together and watch really cheesy movies. It’s fun.”

Such are the ways Horn and Smith do their best to keep in touch, especially during the fall, when both their soccer seasons coincide. Although Nichole wouldn’t see it as luck, the pair did get to see each other more often this year, due to an injury that ended her season early.

“If you want to look at it in the positive side, I got to see Matt a little more,” Smith said. “It sucked because I wanted to be there for my team this year, but I got to hang out with his family a lot. They come out for every single game, so that was fun.”

Although the two met in their freshman year, time commitments and school pressures meant that neither Smith nor Horn had time to talk until 2010.

“Even though she didn’t talk to me for a year, she started texting me a lot, so I had to play hard to get,” Horn said, with a wry smile on his face.

Their first date was to see the movie, “The Christmas Carol,” followed by ice cream.

“We get ice cream a lot, don’t we?” Smith asked Horn, laughing.

The routine is the key, though. The couple says they always try to keep at least one date night a week free to spend time together. The two lead Winthrop’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes during the year, so if they can’t spend quality time together, they can count on meeting up on Sundays.

“The hardest part,” said Horn, “is learning to juggle time between my teammates and Nichole and school-

work.”

The two recognize the importance in keeping academics at the forefront. Smith says they’ve enjoyed doing homework together, in order to stay focused, off-season or not.

“My grades are much better. It’s been really helpful for me. Matt helped out a lot,” she said.

“I paid her to say it,” Horn added, smiling.

Regardless, the two agree that keeping an open, honest relationship, with lots of space for their commitments led to a strong union.

“I know he’s busy,” Smith said, “because I’m just as busy. It can be frustrating, but we understand when you’re really tired and can’t hang out.”

“We’re always open together,” Smith says. We took it really slow, but we spent a lot of time, just going out on dates, really enjoying each other a lot and not going too fast.”

A winning combination of players on the soccer field can lead to success. A winning combination of people in love can lead to far more.

“She was so much different to other girls, so I just tried to get a date,” Horn said. “And it worked.”

Eagles drop last three of four with PC loss

By Casey White whitec@mytjnow.com

The Winthrop Lady Eagles saw a comfortable 10-point lead disintegrate before their eyes in the last eight minutes of Saturday’s conference matchup versus #6 ranked Presbyterian College.

Although phenom guards Diana Choibekova and Dequesha McClanahan averaged 22.5 points each on the afternoon, Winthrop’s bench couldn’t provide any late support, leading to a rough 63-60 loss at the Winthrop Coliseum.

“They wanted to keep the game low, slow, close and tight for them to have a chance,” head coach Marlene Stollings said. Stollings said PC’s win was partly due to the fact that they were able to keep the game at a slow pace that the team was comfortable with.

Winthrop’s McClanahan got off to a slow start, but started gaining momentum after making two free throws 11 minutes into the game. McClanahan ended the first half with nine points, and kept up the pace scoring another nine in the second half.

Although McClanahan seemed to pick up the slack at the end of the first half and during the second half, Winthrop’s other go to shooter seemed to lose her momentum in the second half. Choibekova only managed to make only 8 points in the second half, three of which were free throws, compared to her solid 14 points in the first half.

Winthrop’s bench didn’t fare as well as McClanahan and Choibekova, only managing to score a total of six points before the end of the game.

The first period ended with Winthrop and PC tied at 30. The Eagles managed to make 45.8% of their shots, with The

Strong performances by Dequesha McClanahan and Diana Choibekova were not enough to take down Presbyterian College on Saturday. Photo by Sarah Auvil • auvils@mytjnow.com Blue Hose making 46.2% of theirs.

Kristen Stevens and Mariah Pietrowski carried PC offensively and kept the otherwise weak team from falling too far behind.

Stevens came off the bench and went 7-11, five of which were three pointers, while Pietrowski went 7-13 and made 6 of her 8 free throws. Without these two players taking the lead offensively, PC’s score would have taken a major hit.

“Mariah is a very talented player. She’s the leading scorer for them, and she’s their go- to player,” said Stollings. “All of

their offense goes through her. She really spirited their comeback.”

“Nine of 17 free throw shooting could have been the difference,” said Winthrop assistant coach Kevin Cook. “You’ve got to hit your freebies.”

Winthrop only managed to make 46.2% of free throws in the second half.

Winthrop not only struggled at the free throw line, but also couldn’t manage to get rebounds off of their three point shots.

Winthrop took the court with a new energy in the beginning of the second

half and took a quick lead. It was at this time that they created the biggest deficit of the game at 10 points. Winthrop’s defense fell apart within the next five minutes and PC regained the lead.

With 1:30 remaining PC took the lead and stayed ahead until the final buzzer, despite an attempt to get Choibekova the ball to tie the game in the final seconds.

Winthrop looks to learn from this loss and will try to defeat Gardner-Webb, who are currently ranked 10th in their conference, in their next match.

Sports Briefs VCU sweeps men’s tennis 7-0 The Winthrop men’s tennis team were swept 7-0 by No. 42 ranked Virginia Commonwealth University Saturday afternoon at the Thalhimer Tennis Center. The loss evens up Winthrop’s record to 2-2 on the young season, as the Rams improve to 8-1.

In the doubles round, the Eagles couldn’t find any answers as Nadav Ruppin and Guy Kubi fell to Alexis Heugas and Camill Salomon 8-2 in No. 1 doubles, as Dylan Comerford and Rich Meade were knocked off by Filip Svensson and Max Wennakoski 8-1 in No. 2 doubles. In No. 3 doubles, Yuta Hirokawa and Luka Stanic were defeated by Alejandro Argente and Jaime Vazquez 8-2.

Winthrop could not manage a point in the singles round as VCU controlled every match, not dropping a set.

The Eagles will be back on the courts on Saturday, Feb. 11 when they travel to Wake Forest. The matchup will begin at 4 p.m.

Women’s tennis drops fifth straight on road The Winthrop women’s tennis team dropped its fifth straight match as the Eagles fell to Virginia Commonwealth 5-2 Sunday afternoon at the Thalhimer Tennis Center.

With the loss, Winthrop falls to 3-6 as VCU improves to 7-1.

The Eagles came up empty in the doubles round, but got on the scoreboard in the singles round. Junior Yasmine Alkema gained a victory over VCU’s Ana Bara at No. 1 singles 6-2, 7-5, as Giovanna Portioli defeated Alena Gerasimova 6-3, 6-3 in No. 5 singles.

“We played very well today against a very good VCU team,” head coach Cid Carvalho said. “Yasmine and Giovanna had great wins, and everyone played well.”

The Eagles will continue their road trip on Friday, Feb. 10 as they travel to Eastern Kentucky. That match is slated for 12 p.m.

Junior tennis star named conference Player of the Week Winthrop junior Yasmine Alkema has been named the Big South Conference Choice Hotels Women’s Tennis Player of the Week, the conference announced this afternoon.

The 2011 Big South Conference Player of the Year continued her winning ways on Wednesday as she earned the lone point against 14th-ranked Clemson by taking down Josipa Bak 6-3, 6-2 in No. 1 singles. Earlier in the match, Alkema teamed

up with sophomore Andressa Garcia in the doubles round and defeated Nelly Ciolkowski and Keri Wong 8-7 in No. 1 doubles. Later in the week, the doubles duo knocked off College of Charleston’s Samantha Maddox and Irene Viana, 8-1, which propelled the Eagles to capture the doubles point.

This is the first time this season Alkema has been named to this award and second in her career. She is the third Winthrop player in three weeks to receive this honor.

Lacrosse announces summer camp dates Winthrop women’s lacrosse head coach John Sung has announced that the 2012 Eagle Elite Lacrosse Camp for both girls and boys age 13 and older will be held at Winthrop July 27-30. For an application form that can be printed and returned, please visit the summer camp link on the lacrosse page of this website.

Sung along with assistant coach Amanda Shimp will conduct the girls camp, while Jason Farrell, the head men’s lacrosse coach at Benedictine University in Illinois, will serve as director of the boy’s camp staff.

Posipanko announces dates for summer soccer camp

Lacrosse players train at last year’s tutorial outside the DiGiorgio Campus Center. Photo

by David Thackham • thackhamd@ mytjnow.com

Winthrop head men’s soccer coach Rich Posipanko has announced the dates for the 2012 Summer Camps.

Posipanko will offer four different camps for the summer for all ages and skill levels.

The first session is the Tega Cay Camp held June 11-14. Day Kick Camp and Eagle Camp will be held June 18-21, and the final camp offered is Eagle Team Camp July 9-13.

All camps are open to boys and girls ages 4-16. For addition information and a brochure/camp application, please visit www.winthropsoccer.com or call the soccer office at 803-323-2129, ext. 6236 or 6256.

THURSDAY February 9, 2012

14

SPORTS

WU baseball team preps for big dogs in opening tournament

The Eagles will kick off thier 2012 season taking on two of the top 40 teams in the nation in Georgia Tech (no. 10) and Kent State (no. 37). Photo by Sarah Auvil • auvils@mytjnow.com

Powerhouse programs will give Winthrop an early season test in the Rock Hill Coca-Cola Classic next weekend EAGLES • from front in the conference, an early season test.

“These are going to be four really competitive games against good competition right off the bat, and it’s going to show us what we’re made of,” he said. “It’s always good to compete against some of the best teams in the country, and we were fortunate enough to get two good teams for a tournament here.”

The Eagles will have home field advantage throughout the opening tournament, something that proved to be invaluable for the team last season. The team posted a 19-14 record on their home turf last season, which accounted for more then 70 percent of their wins.

“At home, I think your guys are more relaxed and they’re in a routine. Whenever you’re on the road it’s a little more difficult, your routine is off a little bit, and I think when you just keep them in routine they feel a lot more comfortable.”

Winthrop will need to be at the top of their game next weekend, and while Riginos has yet to announce the starting pitchers, he suspects it will be either juniors Matt Pierpont or Eric Ruth. The two were the top performers on the mound last season, going 4-4 and 6-1 last season respectively. Regardless of who takes the mound, the pitching unit as a whole will be a huge factor in the outcome of the tournament.

“Any time you go into a series like that, your starting pitching is key,” said Riginos. “Matt and Eric are two big keys right there.”

Riginos also noted that the team will also have to score some runs as well, and a few offensive players to keep an eye on will be sophomore TJ Olesczuk, junior Matt Lobacz and senior Chas Crane.

“Those three guys have all experienced coming back, and they’ll be key to not only the first weekend, but the whole season,” he said.

While the opening weekend may prove to be a great measuring stick to how Winthrop stacks up against the best of the best, fans shouldn’t necessarily use it as an indicator to how the team will do the remainder of the year. Riginos stressed the fact that he never sets goals as to how many games they need to win in a given tournament. Instead, he’s looking to come away with things for his squad to improve upon as the season progresses.

“We just want to go out, play hard and play errorfree baseball; play clean baseball and the Ws will take care of themselves.”

The opening game for the Winthrop Eagles will be against the Yellow Jackets of Georgia Tech on Feb. 17, followed by a game against Kent State on Feb. 18.

The conclusion of the Rock Hill Coca Cola Classic will be on Feb. 19 with a double-header against the same two teams. All games will be played at the Winthrop Ballpark. Game times can be found at www.winthropeagles.com.

“”

These are going to be four really competitive games against good competition right off the bat, and it’s going to show us what we’re made of.

Tom Riginos Head Coach

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THURSDAY February 9, 2012

15

SPORTS

Yellow Jackets looking to sting Who Winthrop should watch out for on Opening Day • Mott Hyde #3 Although just a sophomore, Hyde has the credentials to be one of the best prep middle infielders in the country for the #9 Yellow Jackets. Hyde started all 63 games for Georgia Tech last season, including 54 as second baseman. He likes to make gutsy moveshe stole home in a 6-5 victory over NC State last year and fielded 39 double plays, most on the team.

• Luke Bard #38

What you need to know about...

Georgia Tech • Hometown- Atlanta, Ga. • Nickname- Yellow Jackets, Rambling Wreck • Conference- ACC • Head coach- Danny Hall, 987 wins in 24 years of coaching • Seven ACC championships • 27 NCAA appearances • 2011- 42-21 overall record (22-8 ACC) • Starting Position Players Returning/ Lost- 7/2 • Starting Pitchers Returning/ Lost2/2

One of the leading closers in the ACC, Luke Bard knows how to end a game cold. He comes back for his junior year in Luke Bard winds up to send a delivery. Photo Atlanta after turning courtesy of Georgia Tech Athletics down an early start to a Major League career with the Boston Red Sox, who drafted him in the 16th round of the 2009 draft. The Academic All- ACC 2011 selection posted eight saves last season, giving up just three earned runs in the final nine relief appearances for the Yellow Jackets.

• Evan Martin #11 Infielder, outfielder, Evan Martin has the skill to play nearly every position in the field. The senior, who has made the ACC Academic Honor Roll since his freshman year, has a less-than-stellar .200 batting average, but makes up for it with his base-running speed once on the bags.

Golden Flashes bolt into contention Contenders for Kent State • Ryan Mace #32 Georgia Tech and Winthrop will find it equally difficult to deal with senior Ryan Adams on the mound. The 6-0 right-handed pitcher from Tallmadge, OH has a mean fastball, but likes to keep batters guessing.

“I wouldn’t necessarily say one pitch is best,” he said. “I’m hoping to gain a couple miles per hour on my fastball and I need to work on my slider and my change-up.”

He finished 5-3 on the mound in 2011.

• Evan Campbell #14 The statistics don’t lie. After Kent State struggled to a 6-10 record over the first few weekends of 2010, Junior Evan Campbell dives for a catch. Photo courtesy of Kent State Athletics Flashes’ coach Scott Stricklin slotted freshman Evan Campbell into the mix as second baseman. From then on, Kent State went to a barn-storming 33-15 record, earning the Beloit, OH native Second Team All- MAC honors.

Campbell continued to impress in his debut season in Kent, collecting a .394 on-base percentage and solid .961 fielding percentage up the middle on the bag. Look for this known commodity to make a difference.

• David Lyon #36 Lyon’s talent shone through in his sophomore year, as he started 53 of 58 games between his catching and DH work. His 42 RBIs in 2010, combined with 22 more in the summer with the Alaska League champions, the Mat-Su Miners, make Lyon a threat on the plate for Eagles and Yellow Jackets alike.

What you need to know about...

Kent State

• • • •

Hometown- Kent, OH Nickname- Golden Flashes Conference- Mid-American Head coach- Scott Stricklin, 267 wins in seven seasons • Three straight MAC titles • 2011- Finished #26 in nation, 45-17 overall record (21-5 MAC) • 5 seniors for 2012

THURSDAY February 9, 2012

16

THE JOHNSONIAN

VISIT MYTJNOW.COM FOR MORE

Phelps is re-opening for Fall 2012 Now you have more room selection options!

What does Phelps Hall have to offer? » Wi-Fi throughout the building » New bathrooms with new showers » Sinks located in the rooms » A computer lab available 24/7 to on campus students » Self-regulated visitation policy » Improved accessibility with a new elevator

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Phelps Hall, a co-ed suite-style residence hall, will be re-opening for 2012-2013.

Phelps is ideal for rising juniors and seniors!

For more information, contact the Department of Residence Life at 323-2223, in 237 DiGiorgio Campus Center, or via Facebook or Twitter (@WUResidenceLife).

Watch your Winthrop email for room selection information!