WHY WAIT TILL THURSDAY? READ MYTJNOW.COM.
Also inside: Students sing their hearts out. See Culture, page 9
Also inside: Two open head coach positions in Athletics. See Sports, page 11
THURSDAY April 7, 2011
WINTHROP UNIVERSITY
Issue 24
NEWS
Students elect CSL president, vice president JONATHAN MCFADDEN mcfaddenj@mytjnow.com
Eight hundred thirtytwo students voted in Winthrop’s first democratic student-wide elections last week. Less than five days later, the votes were cast and the decision made: Kambrell Garvin is Winthrop’s student body president. Garvin won 71 percent of the votes and will start
his role as president on July 1 after the current president, Sydney Evans, finishes her term on June 30. The elections attracted 18 percent voter turnout among undergraduates, which amounted to 832 students who actually voted, stated Evans in an e-mail to The Johnsonian. “That is phenomenal and beyond what we expected,” Evans stated in
NEWS
GOV. HALEY’S MEASURABLES
Alumni job placement may affect college funding
Kambrell Garvin
CSL vice president
the e-mail. Garvin’s new role was publicly announced dur-
ing CSL’s meeting Monday night. “I’m honored that so
BODY IMAGE
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the fourth story of a four-part series about the “measurables” Gov. Haley has put in place to determine state funding for universities.
Students use West Center to stay in shape, keep healthy
CLAIRE BYUN
KATE RISHEBARGER
byunc@mytjnow.com
Special to The Johnsonian
Job placement is not only important to students and their families, but to Gov. Nikki Haley as well. In order to receive state funding, public universities must provide Haley with four “measurables:” graduation rates, number of outof-state students, the school’s contribution to the community and job placement after graduation. Unlike the other guidelines, job placement is the most difficult of the data points for universities to gather, said Rebecca Masters, assistant to the president for public affairs. Institutions have trouble keeping these records, “since alumni are not required to keep their respective alma maters updated about what they do after graduation, whether their next step is in the world of
Students use the West Center to feel good about themselves and stay healthy. Exercise is proven to release endorphins — chemicals that trigger a positive feeling in the body and give the body an energy boost, according to a page on the PBS website about ways you can make yourself happy. Freshman theatre performance major JT Rider uses the free weights and cardio machines for his workouts. “I use the gym because, as an actor, it’s part of my job to look my best,” he said. “Working out definitely boosts my self esteem. Afterwards, I always feel like I look good.” Students mostly use the weight room, but some faculty members come in the mornings before classes start, said senior athletic training major Mike Rice. Rice works at the desk in the weight room. Rice said beginner weight lifters use the weight machines, while more advanced students use the free weights. “It’s easier for beginners to use the machines,” Rice said. “The machine keeps the weights on a track so they’re
See HALEY page 4 NEWS
Model United Nations celebrates 35 years
See GYM page 6
KAITLYN SCHALLHORN schallhornk@mytjnow.com
Last weekend marked the 35th anniversary of Winthrop University’s Model United Nations. Dr. Chris Van Aller, professor of political science, appreciated how long this organization has lasted at Winthrop University. “A lot of organizations don’t go that long,” Van Aller said. Thirty-one different high schools were represented on Winthrop’s campus. Those schools, along with members of PLSC 260 and 261, comprised 65 countries. Model UN gives these students the opportunity to come together and debate current world issues. However, this year, there was a
Kaitlin Sapp
CSL president
many students got out and lin Sapp, who won a 71.9 participated and actually percent majority of votes. voted and believed in the “It feels really amazing; platform that I stood for,” I don’t think it’s hit me said Garvin, sophomore yet as to the extent of how political science major. much this position is goHis first action before ing to take over my life,” taking office is to learn the said Sapp, sophomore inropes of the presidency. tegrated marketing comFrom there, he’ll move on munication major. to asking questions about Once current vice chair parking, tuition and other Tripp Volk vacates his poissues he campaigned for. sition in May due to his Not too far behind is his vice president Kait- See ELECTIONS page 4
With social events, job interviews and dating, body image can be an issue for college students. The Johnsonian explores different areas of body image such as eating disorders and working out.
Graduate student Meghan Donovan works out in the West Center. Photo by Stephanie Eaton • eatons@mytjnow.com
Campus groups raise awareness about dangers of eating disorders MONICA KREBER kreberm@mytjnow.com
Twenty-five appointments devoted primarily to an eating disorder have been made in Winthrop’s Health Services since last August. Dr. Gretchen Baldwin from Health Services said that is a “fairly small” number; it refers to appointments specifically dedicated to someone with an eating disorder alone. However, Baldwin said students do not come to Health Services just for an
eating disorder. “It’s rough for people to come in about an eating disorder,” she said. “It’s typically secretive and sometimes it takes a lot of encouragement and referral by other folks, like friends and family.” Baldwin said depression and anxiety are chief factors in students dealing with eating disorders, but often there are elements of disordered eating in many different conditions that
Serving Winthrop since 1923
I N D E X
• Looks, intelligence or wealth: what’s more important? See Culture page 9 • Do dancers feel pressure to stay thin? See Arts & Entertainment page 8 • Why should Winthrop have trampolines? See Opinion page 5
See EATING page 4
See MODEL UN page 2
Questions? Contact us at editors@mytjnow.com
BODY IMAGE
CAMPUS NEWS
2-4
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
OPINION
5
CULTURE
HEALTH & SCIENCE
6
SPORTS
7-8 9 10-11
2
THURSDAY April 7, 2011
CLAIRE BYUN News Editor byunc@mytjnow.com JONATHAN MCFADDEN Assistant News Editor mcfaddenj@mytjnow.com
MODEL UN • from front special debate honoring the anniversary. Winthrop’s Model UN had a 1976 security council, debating events that were world issues during Winthrop’s first year of holding Model UN. They discussed issues such as space security and the first satellite. “We were basically making policy on something that had already happened,” Van Aller said. According to Kayla Barber, junior political science major, the mock security council was a success. “It was exciting to see how the kids got so riled up, running around and responding to the situations,” Barber said. “We made sure that everything this year was big and memorable,” Barber said. Barber, who was the student coordinator for Model UN and also part of the “Big Three,” was involved with Model UN throughout high school. This year marked her seventh year participating. The “Big Three” was comprised of Kayla Barber, Meredith Edlin, senior political science major, and Matt MacIntyre, senior sociology major. Also new to Model UN this year was the use of an electronic response remote device, referred to as
High school students spent three days on campus representing different countries during their delegations and debates. Winthrop students acted as delegates. Photo by Claire van Ostenbridge • vanostenbridge@ mytjnow.com “clickers” by Barber and Van Aller. The new voting clickers allowed delegates to vote electronically from their seats resembling the actual United Nations. “These clickers were a success, and we’re really looking forward to using them in the future,” Van Aller said. Eric Bostic, sophomore political science major, was the recipient of the Mary Jane Whittaker award for the week. “As a political science major, you have to learn a
lot about the world. [Model UN] is just one way to get involved and learn more about the world,” Bostic said. Bostic, who was secretariat at this year’s conference, was impressed by how well-prepared the high school delegates were. “They came into the conference knowing about world issues. This helped me as a chair to have the [security] council run smoothly.” Those high school delegates could have been
so prepared due to the newly revamped website for Winthrop’s Model UN. The new website is user friendly, with lesson plans for high schools, tips on how to give speeches and guidelines for how to write a resolution, Barber said. “High schools don’t have time to devote to Model UN,” Van Aller said. “Everything that we could do to help them, we did.” Van Aller’s class maintained the website and kept in contact with the schools so that they were
able to fine-tune everything up until the very last minute. This year, no high schools backed out at the last minute. In fact, three new high schools attended this year’s conference. Winthrop students have to begin preparing for the Model UN conference starting in August. Winthrop also competes in three other Model UN conferences among different universities. Students who are interested in participating in Model UN need to take the
introduction course; PLSC 260, offered in the spring. Once that is completed, they take two mini courses, each of which last one hour. In order to compete at the collegiate level, PLSC 362 is required and offered in the fall. To prepare for a position such as a chair of an office, students should take PLSC 261 offered in the spring as well. “It’s a cool way to learn about the real world, human dynamics, and how to prepare for professional situations,” Van Aller said.
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THURSDAY April 7, 2011
The results are in: Garvin & Sapp 2011-2012 ELECTIONS • from front own graduation, Sapp will move into the role in June, she said. Already, Sapp and Volk have begun dialogue on SACS training and SACS meetings for next semester. Junior political science and economics double major Timothy Kroboth won 21 percent of the votes, coming in at second place. “The most important thing is that students actually got out and voted,” Kroboth said. “I think everyone in Council of Student Leaders is ecstatic.” This won’t be the end of Kroboth’s involvement with CSL. He plans to return either in his current position as student representative for the College of Arts and Sciences or in whatever capacity Garvin and Sapp want him to serve. During his campaign, students responded to Kroboth’s fliers—sending him suggestions and concerns if he were to take the presidency, he said. Kroboth said he plans to pass those concerns on to Garvin and Sapp so that all three of them can merge the information they collected individually and band together to implement solutions collectively. A third presidential candidate, junior psychology and philosophy double major Cliff Totherow, won seven percent of the votes. ““The election was a good start to a new beginning for WU,” Totherow said. “Each candidate understood the importance of getting the campus involved.”
CSL’s ideas to better future student government elections • Put president and vice president together on ballot • Place voting links on announcements • Facebook advertising • Place link on Winthrop homepage • Send e-mails to faculty and staff • More advertising on CSL’s part • Continue forum at The Edge • Put pictures of candidates on voting page Above: Newlyelected student body president Kambrell Garvin and his opponent, Timothy Kroboth, shake hands after a CSL meeting. Left: Garvin and Sapp. Photos by Claire van Ostenbridge • vanostenbridgec@mytjnow. com
These ideas were discussed during this week’s CSL meeting.
Compiled by Claire Byun
College Charleston of
maymester/summer sessions 2011
Ida Jane Dacus needs your help:
By Claire Byun byunc@mytjnow.com
The library currently has a trial of an academic e-book database called ebrary – Academic Complete, and Dacus needs your opinion. The library wants students to use the database for papers and projects and fill out an online survery.
“The library very much needs students’ feedback so we can determine if it is a worthy addition to our offerings,” said Antje Mays, head of monograph & AV acquisitions. The survey can be found at http:// www2.winthrop.edu/dacus/resources/evaluatedatabasesurvey.htm and the trial runs through April 30.
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THURSDAY April 7, 2011
EATING • from front might not reach criteria for a full-blown disorder. “Disorders are a way of coping and dealing with pain or stress that is difficult to handle,” she said. Baldwin said the health services at Winthrop are a short-term agency. Due to the demands of the general student population and the number of counselors on staff, they are able to see students for up to about 10 sessions per academic year – typically not enough to fully treat someone who has an established eating disorder. Some students require outpatient care, hospitalization, a higher-level facility or need to continue seeing a counselor a couple of times a week. Since an eating disorder is considered a ways of coping, Baldwin said Winthrop’s Health services work with patients to find other ways to cope and give them other ways to feel in control of themselves and their lives. “A student should never be afraid to come here and just ask questions,” she said. A lot of campuses around the nation have groups dedicated to showing students the different health-related resources available to them. At Winthrop, the group is called SWAT (Student Well-
“”
A student should never be afraid to come here and just ask questions. Gretchen Baldwin Clinical coordinator for counseling services
ness Advocacy Team). Brianne Gemeinhardt – wellness coordinator for Winthrop’s counseling services, and SWAT’s advisor– said the group is made up of about 10 peer-health educators who have gone through a semester of training and are certified to present on different health topics. They learn about community resources and how to deal with students struggling with health issues. “We talk more on body image and less on eating disorders because eating disorders are a byproduct of body image, and we rather hit the main issue than really focus on eating disorders,” Gemeinhardt
Governor analyzes universities’ contribution to the economy HALEY • from front work, the world of graduate studies, or even taking time to travel,” Masters said. Many students also enroll in graduate school, which is not taken into consideration under Haley’s requests, Masters said. Currently, job placement is monitored using a survey sent to alumni six months after graduation, which is administered by the Office for Career and Civic Engagement. According to the survey’s responses, 87 percent of May 2008 graduates were either employed or enrolled in graduate school. In May 2009, the number decreased to 79 percent. December graduates in both 2008 and 2009 recorded 67 percent of graduates with jobs or in graduate school. The alumni of May 2008 found more success in job placement, since only one
percent was seeking employment. Eleven percent recorded taking time off or doing other things. May 2009 grads reported 24 percent unemployment, with seven percent taking time off. The response rate has been traditionally low, staggering between 10-20 percent, Masters said. Winthrop is testing a new survey designed to improve state response rates, which is expected to produce results by June 2011, Masters said. Masters wants students, especially those preparing to graduate, to see how important it is to respond to the surveys. “The alumni response rate traditionally has been relatively small, which further emphasized the need for a better mechanism to develop this information if it is to become a point of emphasis in determining future funding,” Masters said.
Winthrop students employed after graduation 2008: 87 percent 2009: 79 percent
said. SWAT recently did a body image program for students in Lee Wicker Hall. Students participated in a Thumbs Up/ Thumbs Down exercise where they looked at pictures of celebrities and gave a thumps up or down on their bodies. Gemeinhardt said the object was to get students in the mindset of how they are judged and how they judge other people, and how body image plays such a large role in the media. “We play a game and we talk about info regarding body image, and at the end we talk about how we can improve body image,” she said. “It’s a very interactive program; we throw questions out into the audience and get feedback. We talk about stuff you can do to feel better about who you are, inside and out.” Gemeinhardt said eating disorders are not something Health services has students self-disclose a lot about, but there are still events on campus that deal with eating disorders.
“There are things going on on campus about it,” she said. Gemeinhardt said more people are going to struggle with body image than eating disorders. With SWAT, Gemeinhardt’s goal is to help college students make healthy decisions. She said she encourages using Winthrop’s counseling services for help. “Counseling services are a big resource,” she said. “This may be the only time in your life when counseling is free, so you should take advantage of it.” Students can also come in to learn about how to better help a friend in need. “You can come in to make him/her feel more comfortable,” she said. “It can have more of an impact on you than you think it does,” Gemeinhardt said. Baldwin said Health services recognize that concerned friends get involved, but proper communication is important. “Being a hawk and saying, ‘eat this’ or ‘you’re not eating’ or ‘you’re only at this or that’ is probably the most annoying thing someone else can do,” she said. “Really just being a friend and talking like, ‘I care about you, I care about what happens with you, I care about what’s going in your life’…is important.” Baldwin said it is important for a friend to acknowledge talking about the pain versus talking about the behaviors. “I think the number-one thing friends and family can do to lower the possibility of an eating disorder is to just be a friend,” Baldwin said. “Within your friendships and relationships, be open and honest with what you’re going through and what you’re dealing with, and just support each other. Create that atmosphere of really talking about life.”
Police Blotter Criminal Sexual Conduct (4/3) At 1:07 a.m., an officer reported for Campus Police in reference to a criminal sexual conduct that just occurred. The officer met with the victim, who stated that between 11:30 p.m. on Apr. 3 and 12 a.m. on Apr. 4 she was sexually assaulted. She stated she went over to University Place Apartments to hang out with a male friend that she used to talk with. She said the male stated he wanted to have sex but she told him she didn’t want to. The victim said the male then ripped her shorts and T-shirt and penetrated her vagina. However, he could not continue the assault because she was wearing a tampon. The victim said the male threatened her, saying he knew where she lived and worked if she tried to report anything. She left the apartment and called her friend, who then called Winthrop Police. The victim said she knew the male’s first name, but not his last name. At the time of the report, she was unsure if she wanted to press charges and refused to give any further information. The reporting officer transported the victim to Safe Passage, where the SANE nurse was paged and completed a sexual assault kit. Larceny of property (3/31) A woman reported to police that on Thursday, March 31, between 1 p.m. and 6:15 p.m., her Kindle book reader, purple leather case and light were taken from her pocketbook while in the Tillman Auditorium, the report said. The woman said the last time she saw her Kindle was just after lunch. She then went to Tillman auditorium for an
event and did not leave the auditorium until the event was over at 5:30 p.m. The woman then found her Kindle missing after returning to her hotel room at 6:15 p.m., police said. The woman said she had another person search the areas in which she had been, but was unable to find the Kindle. The woman then returned to her home town and contacted Amazon to have her account locked, and found that an attempt to access her account had already been made. The woman then contacted WUPD via phone to file a report. She completed a victim notification form and a copy was e-mailed to her, according to the police report. Possession of liquor under 21 (4/1) At 1:38 a.m. a reporting officer watched a student walk on the sidewalk, stumbling from side to side. The officer made contact with the student and noticed she smelled like alcohol. The student said she had been drinking and had consumed five or more mixed drinks containing vodka, the report stated. The reporting officer was able to confirm that she was 19 years old. She was charged with possession of liquor under the age of 21 and was transported to Rock Hill City Jail, according to the report. Petty larceny (3/29) At 8:33 p.m., police responded to Lee Wicker Hall in reference to the theft of a mattress. Upon arrival, police spoke with two students who both said their mattresses were stolen from their room, according to the report. Student A said that around 7 p.m she and student B, who are roommates, left to go to Dragon Express with a group of friends to get something to eat. Student A said she and her room-
mate returned to their room around 8 p.m., where they discovered that their mattresses were gone off of their beds. Student B had a note on her bed that stated “Happy belated Birthday B*** we got your s***” and student A had a note that stated “yeah we got your s*** too B***.” Student A was also missing a bookbag that contained a notebook, but she said that it contained nothing of value inside. Student B said she did not have anything other than her mattress missing from her side of the room, police said. Students A and B said they did not know who would take their mattresses from their room. They said they had not been involved in any pranks in residence halls and that no one would have any reason to play a prank on them. Student A said that one person played a prank on them in the past, but that person was with them when they went to Dragon Express, the report stated. Students A and B said they left the door unlocked to their room. Police were able to find both mattresses in the study room at the end of the hall. The reporting officer said he spoke to the RA, who was informed by a person who wants to remain anonymous, that two guys were heard talking with a group of friends about going up to the room to take the mattresses out. The anonymous person also said student A was present within the group when the two guys were talking about taking the mattress, the report said. The officer contacted one of the suspects from student A’s phone, but the suspect said he had no knowledge of the incident. Both students A and B were issued victim notification forms, and this case was administratively closed, according to police.
Compiled by Monica Kreber
5 Our Say
CONNOR DE BRULER Opinion Editor debrulerc@mytjnow.com
Styles always change, body image remains
CSL ELECTION 2011
Voter turnout illustrates interest, power of Winthrop student body The Johnsonian would like to thank everyone who voted last week in the CSL election. No matter who you supported for president and vice president, if you voted, you took action for positive change at this university. Elections empower students and reinforce our sense of unity as a student body. With more than 70 percent of the vote, Kambrell Garvin’s win demonstrates that students are confident in his ability to represent them in many ways on this campus. We’d like to thank all three presidential candidates and the single vice presidential candidate for running. It’s not always easy to put yourself out there in front of your peers. We hope that in every future election, a wide variety of students will be inspired to run for office and keep the spirit of democracy alive at Winthrop. The Johnsonian would also like to thank the support staff members who
THURSDAY April 7, 2011
work frequently with CSL and in the various offices of Student Affairs and Student Life. Your support of democratically-elected student government is crucial for success now and in the future of CSL. As a publication that enjoys its right to be a free press on this campus, The Johnsonian encourages all students to exercise their right of free speech by contacting members of CSL to create dialogue about issues. The power of student government is built on relationships: relationships between you and your representatives and relationships between your representatives and the administration. The impressive turnout of this year’s election illustrates that students are ready to harness our collective power to keep Winthrop operating as an institution of education and experiential excellence.
Styles come and go, but than stick figures. Sexy was the reason they start is all in, as long as it was classy. the same. Men and women The 1960s was one of the want to present the best last really defined decades body image they can to imof style. Eyes were emphapress others, but the ways sized with false eyelashes, they present it has changed eye shadow and eyeliner. from decade to decade. Hair got bigger and skirts got Today, women wear too shorter. Jessica Pickens much eye makeup, tan until Guys’ style hasn’t change A&E editor orange and show off their as much, but has degenercellulite with too-short shorts and tooated from sophisticated and stylish to tight leggings. relaxed and unkempt. In the 1920s women wore shorter One of the biggest sex symbols and dresses, but it was to show their new manly men of the 1930s and 1940s was independence and that they were like Clark Gable. He dressed well, had big men too. Cutting their hair short and ears and all the women swooned for flattening their chests were efforts to him. But male sex symbols were all very look boyish. different. Looking boyish doesn’t mean you Cary Grant was an average height don’t look cute. Take Clara Bow or Lou- and weight, but full of charm. Jimmy ise Brooks, still were beautiful, cute and Stewart was likeable, lanky and slim, sexy with bobbed haircuts. but seemed like ideal husband material. No bras and femininity became Even Bing Crosby made women swoon, cool again, and women were wearing but it wasn’t his physique it was his slinky, silky gowns in the 1930s. The warm singing voice. decade before, women didn’t want their It seems now that movie stars hold bosoms noticed, but they flaunted them one cookie-cutter body image: the in the 1930s. In the older films, you can women, all skinny with long hair just tell most women weren’t wearing bras, like Isla Fisher, and the men are ignoespecially Jean Harlow. rant beef cake; Matthew McConaughey. Harlow also began the hair craze as Body image changes from decade to the original blonde bombshell. Before decade, but instead of getting better, it Harlow, many vamps of the 1920s were seems to degenerate. dark-haired. Harlow was the first to make white-gold hair sexy. World War II changed the way women dressed, and victory was the main accessory. Skirts got shorter to save wool and stockings were hard to come by. Lips were emphasized with lipstick and legs were the main eye candy. The emphasis on legs transitioned to an emphasis on boobs in the 1950s with stars such as Jane Russell, Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield. Hourglass figures were much more desirable
“”
Looking boyish doesn’t mean you don’t look cute.
Editor defends school’s need to bounce This school is in dire need of some trampolines. I know of no better way to lose weight, relax and have fun simultaneously than to jump for hours on an oldfashioned trampoline. We live in a world where both our work time and our leisure time encompass sitting in a chair behind the glow of a computer or television screen. It is difficult for the layman to find time for exercise. Getting on a trampoline is fun and extremely exhausting. The primary theme of this issue is body image. Instead of going over the same information about bulimia and fashion models, I’ve decided to present a solution to this generation’s body problems. I propose that Winthrop University designate an area inside the West Center for two or three netted trampolines. I’d be there all day on the weekends jumping to my hearts content (My heart is
Connor de Bruler Opinion editor
very rarely content by the way). I grew up on trampolines, enjoying the adrenaline rush and the awesome quad workout. I used to fight on trampolines. When my best friend joined the Marines last year, we started sparring on the trampoline again to keep his combat skills up while he was away from the base. I’ve also fallen off several trampolines. My neighbors kept there woodpile for their fireplace near the trampoline for some odd reason and I once fell backward onto the jagged splinters. Trampoline accidents are a thing of the past now that safety nets are an industry standard for recreational trampolines. The rebounding motion on a soft surface can actually help the lymphatic system as well as detoxify fatty tissues
from the body, according to HealthDaily.com. If the administration would set aside a measly $300, we could have some awesome trampolines in the West Center. We could have a whole row of professional gymnast’s trampolines. This issue might not be as hard-hitting as others I have written, but I think a lot more can be done about it much sooner. All the president has to do is say, “Fine, get them the trampolines,” and that would be the end of it. The students shouldn’t have to plead for the right to bounce up and down, back and forth and up and down again. I want every student to cut out this column and send it to the president’s office. If you wish, you may also write a letter illustrating the awesome mid-air stunts you plan to pull off when you finally get to jump on the new trampolines. There is no reason to wait. We must act now. It’s our school.
Illustration by Courtney Niskala • niskalac@mytjnow.com
Why Winthrop would do wonders for students by purchasing a few trampolines for the West Center
About The Johnsonian
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Arts & entertainment editor JESSICA PICKENS
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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.
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CONTACT INFORMATION
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Our offices are located in suite 104 in the DiGiorgio Campus Center. Phone: (803) 323-3419 E-mail: editors@mytjnow.com Online: mytjnow.com LETTER POLICY Letters and feedback can be sent to editors@mytjnow.com or by mail at The Johnsonian, 104
Campus Center, Rock Hill, S.C., 29733. Comments submitted online at www.mytjnow.com may be printed as letters and may be shortened for space and edited for clarity. Please include your name, major and year if you are a student; your name and title if you are a professor; or your name and profession if you are a member of
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THURSDAY April 7, 2011
AMANDA PHIPPS Health & Science Editor phippsa@mytjnow.com
College students prone to eating disorders By Amanda Phipps phippsa@mytjnow.com
All-you-can-eat buffets, late-night studying and the demands of college life make some college students more susceptible to eating disorders, said Amy Combs, liscensed psychologist at the Charlotte Center for Balanced Living. People who have eating disorders usually develop them as a way to cope with stresses in their lives, according to the website for the Renfrew Center, a residential eating disorder treatment facility that focuses on anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorders. Anorexia nervosa is a self-imposed starvation disorder that causes people to limit their food intake, relationships and pleasure in their lives, according to the website. Bulimia nervosa causes people to cycle between out-of-control eating followed by purging. Binge eating occurs when people feel depressed or guilty after episodes of uncontrolled eating or binging. For students who have an eating disorder, college can be detrimental to their efforts to overcome it, Combs said. The eating choices college students have aren’t the healthiest, which can overwhelm students who are already struggling with their fear of food, she said. “College almost sets people up (to have eating disorders) with the meal plans and all-nighters. It is a dangerous time,” she
said. “College cafeterias are very scary places.” Eating disorders can cause depression, Combs said. When people don’t feed themselves, the body does not have the energy to be emotional, which creates a depressing situation in people’s lives. “Eating disorders have always had a huge psychological impact,” she said. Combs said she is not sure in some cases whether depression or eating disorders comes first. However, she said an eating disorder is something people can overcome. “People need to work with someone who has knowledge of eating disorders and who can push them in the right direction,” Combs said. She said it is also important for people to have a structured, balanced life, something that is hard for college students to do. This lack of balance makes people more prone to develop an eating disorder in college, but they are also likely to overcome it in college. The stresses in college are particular to the college experience, Combs said. “People find it easier to keep things under control in the work world where their life is more routine,” she said. The Charlotte Center for Balanced Living offers outpatient therapy to help people deal with these disorders, Combs said. She said she has worked with many college students.
Combs advises students to catch an eating disorder early and not blow it off. “The earlier a person catches it, the more likely he or she can get over it,” she said. It is important for people to remember that an eating disorder is not as simple as struggling to eat, Combs said. “It’s always going to be a whole-person disorder,” she said. Eating disorders affect all types of people, not just underweight people, Combs said. “You can’t look at someone and tell they have an eating disorder,” she said. Statistically, eating disorders are more common in females and Caucasians, Combs said. She said society contributes to this through promoting a female image that makes people want their bodies skinnier than they want to be. “The hardest thing (about overcoming an eating disorder) is learning how to trust your body and overcome your fear of food,” she said. Besides having psychological implications, eating disorders can affect a person’s overall health, said Paula Edwards-Gayfield, clinical supervisor at the Renfrew center in Charlotte. People with anorexia are subject to fatigue, heart problems and an intolerance to cold, EdwardsGayfield said. Common signs of anorexia include hair loss and osteoporosis. People with anorexia can
also develop balance problems and dizziness due to a nutrition deficit. Due to decreased fat, the body cannot produce the hormones it needs, which can often result in the loss of a menstrual cycle in women with anorexia, she said. However, people with anorexia can be treated and get better. “It is reversible even at the lowest weight,” Edwards-Gayfield said. Bulimia can cause swollen cheeks, abdominal pain and bloating and dental problems, including teeth erosion due to vomiting, she said. Difficulty swallowing, swollen glands and swelling in the face are common symptoms of the disorder due to purging. People with bulimia sometimes overexert themselves, which causes shortness of breath. “Overexercising and purging can lead to more high-risk behaviors,” Edwards-Gayfield said. Binge eating has been underreported in the past, but is becoming more easily identified, she said. Increased awareness about the disorders and education for people about healthy dieting can help prevention efforts, Edwards-Gayfield said. “We need to make sure to teach our family healthy habits,” she said. “People need to keep in mind the push to excel versus perfectionism.” She said people with eating disorders search for perfection and try to be in control. They also have difficulty expressing their
feelings and want respect and admiration, EdwardsGayfield said. “If these factors can be addressed consistently, it may aid in the prevention of an eating disorder,” she said.
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College cafeterias are very scary places. Amy Combs
Psychologist, Charlotte Center for Balanced Living
College students are surrounded by stresses and unhealthy choices that make them more likely to develop eating disorders. Graphic by Courtney Niskala • niskalac@mytjnow.com
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Work out; feel better GYM • from front always in the same place, and the machine always returns the weights to the same position. With free weights, you have to be able to control the movement of the weights.” But the West Center offers more than just the weight room to help students stay fit. It’s the site of both “academic and wellness pursuits” and has a 25-yard pool, racquetball courts and a climbing wall, according to the Winthrop University website. Ropes course director, Geoff Morrow, teaches badminton, experiential education, outdoor education and rock climbing in the West Center. Morrow said the rock climbing class isn’t only for building muscles; it also forces his students to get out of their comfort zones. “Everybody learns different things, but all of the lessons are important,” he said.
One of Morrow’s students, junior commercial photography major Rebecca Ruddy, said she goes to the gym for rock climbing, running and fencing. “I took the rock climbing class to meet people outside of my department,” she said. Ruddy said she likes exercising because it gives her more energy during the day and helps her sleep at night. But exercise can do more for you than just make you feel good. The PBS website also states that exercise “regulates stress hormones,” such as cortisol, to get rid of “negative emotions.” Freshman biology major Deidre Comstock attends fencing classes at the gym twice a week for fun. “Fencing provides a fun workout that doesn’t seem like a workout,” she said. “It’s energetic and competitive.” The activity also affects
her body image. “Fencing helps me stay where I want to be with my body,” Comstock said. “I can fit into my favorite jeans, and that’s good enough for me.” Some students don’t just go to the gym for a workout, though. Freshman theatre education major Abby Olson said she goes for physical therapy for her knee. “I feel like I’m doing something good for my body,” Olson said. “I don’t work out to look good; I work out to be healthy.”
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I don’t work out to look good; I work out to be healthy. Abby Olson
Freshman theater education major
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THURSDAY April 7, 2011
JESSICA PICKENS Arts & Entertainment Editor pickensj@myjnow.com ALISON ANGEL Asst. Arts & Entertainment Editor angela@mytjnow.com
Oh, you beautiful doll!
Left: Senior Laura Falendysz buys dolls cheaper from online forums, though several of them are still $500. Top: Falendysz has nine dolls that she uses as characters in her stories. Below: To save money, Falendysz buys several heads that share bodies. Photos by Paul Ricciardi • ricciardip@ mytjnow.com
Student collects, paints and assembles dolls By Jessica Pickens pickensj@mytjnow.com
It started with hermit crabs. Laura Falendysz, senior information design major, was on an online discussion forum searching the crustacean when she came across interesting hobbies. The hermit crab pets led to collecting My Little Ponies, which led to dolls. “I found out about the dolls in 2005 and bought my first doll in 2007,” Falendyz said. Falendyz started collecting Pullip dolls, which have an over-sized head and jointed legs.
She paid $75 for her first doll, and then she discovered ball-jointed dolls in September 2009. “A resident of mine in Margaret Nance stopped by with her ball-jointed doll, and I bought my first one after that,” she said. Many of the ball-jointed dolls Falendysz buys are $500, but the top-notch dolls made by Volks are $1,000. “A lot of the dolls I buy are because they are cheap,” she said. “I save money buying heads and let the heads share bodies.” But the dolls aren’t just for decoration. Falendysz
uses the dolls as a creative outlet, taking photos, painting and writing. “Most people write stories about dolls, but I write in script format,” she said. “If I get bored with a character, I buy a new doll. I don’t buy dolls willy nilly, though, because it gets expensive.” Falendysz bases her characters off of people she has met at Winthrop. She has been particularly influenced by the people she met at GLOBAL meetings, making her two main couples gay. “Most of all, I write the stories to entertain people. I enjoy making
Winthrop As a Movie During fall 2009 and spring 2010, the Arts and Entertainment section featured Winthrop faculty and staff and their celebrity look-a-likes. Now it’s back. This week, The Johnsonian
Darren Ritzer
Send your celebrity look-a-like ideas to pickensj@mytjnow.com.
chose psychology professor Darren Ritzer. According to The Johnsonian staff, Ritzer looks similar to Tobey Maguire of “Spider Man” fame.
Tobey Maguire
people happy,” she said. “My readers push me to give my characters more depth.” Falendysz takes photos of the dolls to go along with the stories, but also wants to pursue photography after college. “A friend of mine and I would paint the dolls and then take photos of them,” she said. “We did a wedding series with the dolls.” Falendysz said some people think her hobby is strange, but she does not view the dolls children or friends. “I view dolls as an art form,” she said. “If I get
upset that one breaks, it’s not because it’s my child, it’s because that’s $500 to fix it.” Falendysz doesn’t know how long her doll interest will last, but she is hoping to take photos and do web design for doll magazines
such as “Doll Reader.” “I don’t know where it will lead,” she said. “Someone once said I may write the next ‘Harry Potter’ and I keep that as encouragement.”
On-Campus Movies:
Saturday April 7 Comedy Double Feature: 7 p.m.- Ritch Shydner tickles viewers with interviews and animation in “I Am Comic.” 9:30 p.m.- John C. Reilly and Ann Heche go to an insurance convention in “Cedar Rapids.”
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THURSDAY April 7, 2011
Who influences you? Students share their celebrity influences for life, image and style
Simone Smith, junior “I would have to say I adore Mariska Hagartay from ‘Law and Order: SVU.’ She doesn’t influence my self-perception, but I think she is a good example of a beautiful-realisticlooking woman.”
Cruz Wood, sophomore “Lil Wayne-I think he influences my perception of myself because he doesn’t care what other people think of him, and I’m like that; just do what makes me happy.”
In recent years, the media have drawn attention to dancer body-image issues. Winthrop dance majors don’t have any of these pressures put on them in classes. Photo by Stephanie Eaton • eatons@mytjnow.com
Dance students don’t face unsafe pressures By Jessica Pickens pickensj@mytjnow.com
Movies such as “Center Stage” talk about the touchy subject. The film features a slightly overweight girl who gets cut from the company and another girl who struggles with bulimia. Body image is an important topic in the dance world, but pressures are not put on Winthrop dance majors. Dance professor Sandra Neels danced with the famous Merce Cunningham Dance Company and saw the pressures that are now coming to light. “A particular body type isn’t spoken about any longer because of eating disorders,” Neels said. “Directors and choreographers definitely know who they want for their companies and dances, and dancers know what they are looking for by how the other dancers in their companies and works appear.” One famous case involving an eating disorder includes film actress and dancer Vera-Ellen. Vera-Ellen starred in films such as “White Christmas” and is painfully thin. Vera-Ellen suffered from early signs of aging on her neck and for the rest of her career only wore turtlenecks to hide the
wrinkles. In the 1950s, Vera-Ellen helped bring attention to eating disorders, especially anorexia, among other actresses. Many of the anorexia medical terms were coined while she was treated, according to IMDB.com. Winthrop dance majors don’t have these pressures and are only required to follow an appearance code for dress and hair, Neels said. “They have to have their hair tied up neatly,” she said. “And they have to wear tights and leotards as well as ballet slippers for ballet classes.” As a dancer, Neels had guidelines for herself, but not from the company. “The only pressure, which I put on myself, was to be thin, strong, flexible and able to perform any movement that was given to me,” she said. However, Neels also had an image to produce outside the company. “The image I had for myself offstage was one of neatness, elegance and politeness because I was a member of a wellknown and respected company,” she said. “I dressed nicely at all times in public because I wanted to maintain the respect associated with the Merce Cunningham Dance Company.”
Jeffrey Chan, sophomore “John Mayer-just [in the respect that] he’s laid back and chill.”
Jasmine Jackson, junior “My favorite celebrity is Gabrielle Union. I like how she’s always classy [influenced in that respect].”
Photos and reporting by Alison Angel • angela@mytjnow.com
CrossWUrd Puzzle Across 1. What is the theme of this Johnsonian issue? (two words) 4. In Austria, what determines your value? 6. How many years has Model UN been active at Winthrop? (two words) 7. What are chemicals that release a positive feeling in the body? 9. What is one thing that causes eating disorders? 10. What is the last name of the new CSL vice president?
Down 2. What is most important in French culture? 3. Which candidate won the CSL presidential election? (last name) 5. Which restaurant does karaoke on Wednesdays? 8. What does student Laura Falendysz collect?
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ALEXIS AUSTIN Culture Editor austina@mytjnow.com
THURSDAY April 7, 2011
SING OUT YOUR STRESS Karaoke in Rock Hill helps students forget about stress of college By Ted Patterson
DJ gets up and sings a song or two just to show he’s having fun too. John T. Barnett, part-time DJ for Toyo’s and other karaoke events in the York county area, explained how karaoke nights started. “Essentially, Toyo’s has had karaoke on and off for years. They didn't have anyone doing it about a year ago, and someone started a petition for them to hire me,” Barnett said. Since Barnett manages multiple events in other parts of the county, he has C.J. Wells, senior business administration major, to help him by working as the DJ at Toyo’s. The music plays on and on as Dejesus smiles because he can share the night.
Special to The Johnsonian
T
he pressure of classes and exams can be hard on students. It helps to find an escape from the headaches of college. Dennis Dejesus, junior theater major, and a few of his friends go to Toyo’s Sushi Bar and Grill on Cherry Road for karaoke nights to get away from the workload and sing away those struggles. “I always come out to karaoke,” said Dejesus. “Whether you’re singing out to a crowd or to no one at all, if just for a moment to feel free, it’s worth it.” The students heard about the karaoke nights from other friends who have attended. Now, the karaoke nights have showcased at least ten different talents every Wednesday night starting at 10:30 p.m. and ending at 2 a.m. Dejesus and friends perform to the lyrics screen to exorcise any bad emotions from schoolwork or any other troubles. “Karaoke is a great stress reliever for me,” said Jed Cockrill, freshman theater major. Singers can choose from a large assortment of music. They can belt out The Killers’ Mr. Brightside to the neon lit room or dance with the colors of the sequence lights as a friend croons Bobby Darin’s Beyond the Sea. “I think it’s a healthy and safe way to blow off steam with your friends,” said Cecily Bigham, junior Dennis Dejesus theater major. Junior The nights begin when the
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Whether you’re singing out to a crowd or to no one at all, if just for a moment to feel free, it’s worth it.
Dennis Dejesus dances with the microphone while performing karaoke at Toyo’s Bar and Grill. Photo by Stephanie Eaton • eatons@mytjnow.com
Looks, intelligence hold significant value in cultures By Alexis Austin austina@mytjnow.com
A nice body, an IQ of 150, and a bank account with a balance of at least six zeroes behind the first number— according to the media this is having it all. From magazines to the internet to television there is always someone who is beautiful, smart and rich and portraying these things as the key to having a perfect life. Across cultures, the importance of looks, intelligence, and status varies. Julian Aguilar, junior integrated marketing communication major, believes that in American culture looks are most important. “Body image is seen as more important because on television, in films and in music you see perfect people,” he said. “In magazines everything is photoshopped to look flawless and puts that ‘perfect’ mentality in our heads.”
Freshman early childhood education major Stanley Kennedy thinks the same is true for African Americans. “Looks seem more important because it’s the first thing you come across when you meet someone,” Kennedy said. Both Aguilar and Kennedy said the media has influenced their views on looks. “I wish I could be like that,” Aguilar said. “But I’m not going to change who I am to fit that mold.” Kennedy said the media has had both a positive and negative effect on not only himself but people he knows as well. He recalled that while eating at McDonald’s recently, his friend left the table because someone coming near the table was not attractive. “A friend of my mine got up and moved because he thought the person that was coming near the table wasn’t cute. When he got up to leave he said ‘I don’t associate with ugly people’ and left,” Kennedy said.
“It not’s fair that we should judge who our friends are by how they look.” Kennedy said he doesn’t pay much attention to the media because it makes you think you have to look a certain way. Christina Wieselthaler, senior journalism major from Austria, said in her country what you value depends on your age. “In the younger generation, they value looks more,” she said. “As you get older that tends to change.” Sophomore sports management major Corey Walker believes that in African American culture, intelligence is more important than looks or status. “People who are more intelligent get more respect in African American culture,” he said. Siera Lewis, sophomore integrated marketing communication major, agrees with Walker. “Blacks, male and female, have to show what they know,” she said. “We have to be able to work effectively and stand out from the crowd.” Walker and Lewis also agree that looks and the media still play a role in African American culture. “Looks are a big deal but intelligence is more prominent,” Walker said. “The media has influenced the way I
dress, talk and present myself to people,” Lewis said. “There are positive things in the media; you just have to look for them.” Intelligence is also important in French culture, said Valentine Thai, junior integrated marketing communication major. “We care more about what you think and what’s on your mind,” she said. “In France, culture and knowledge are very important. We don’t just attend concerts and movies; we also go to museums and art performances.” Thai said looks and appearances are important in French culture but not valued as much as it is in America. “We have our own opinions and we’re not influenced by the media as much,” she said. Appearance is important but you have to be smart.” Appearance seems to play a role in every culture, although it may not be as important as intelligence or status. Everyone may not have the beauty, high IQ, or large bank account like the people on television, but that doesn’t mean they cannot have everything life has to offer.
Despite intelligence being more important in some cultures, looks still plays a large role in various cultures. Graphic by Courtney Niskala • niskalac@mytjnow. com
10 Sports Briefs Former WU soccer player heading for pros Otto Loewy has signed a professional contract to play for the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer. The deal was finalized on March 31 after Loewy had been training with the Revolution in hopes of joining the team. The former Winthrop standout, who played with the Eagles from 2006-2008, is the tenth Eagle player since 2006 to play professionally or be drafted from the Winthrop program. Adam Gliebe named Big South Co-Player of the Week Eagles senior shortstop Adam Gliebe was named the Big South Conference Choice Hotels Co-Player of the Week. In the team’s four wins last week, Gliebe posted a .533 (8-for-15) average at the plate with six runs scored and seven RBIs, including a two home run, six RBI game against High Point on Saturday. This was the first time the St. Louis, MO., native has won the award and the second consecutive week an Eagle has been recognized after Robert Lake was named The Crons Brand Pitcher of the Week. WU track running strong at Florida Relays Travis Coleman highlighted Winthrop at the Florida Relays over the weekend earning a fourthplace finish in the shot put. Distance runners AJ Fitzsimmons and Adam Freudenthal also had top15 performances, finishing 11th and 14th respectively. Winthrop will return to action next Friday when it hosts the 2011 Carolina’s Cup at the Irwin Belk Track beginning at 5 p.m. Admission is free. Women’s tennis suffers first conference loss of the season The Winthrop women’s tennis team dropped its first conference match of the season after a 4-3 loss to Coastal Carolina on Sunday afternoon. The Lady Eagles won three of the four singles matches but were unable to come away with any doubles matches, dropping all four. The Lady Eagles will be back on the courts on Thursday, April 7, as they return home to take on Gardner-Webb. The match will start at 2 p.m.
Winthrop’s Spirit Squad to hold tryouts The 2011-2012 Spirit Squad tryouts will be Wednesday, April 20th from 6:30-9 p.m. and Thursday, April 21, from 7-9p.m. Try-outs will be held at on the main floor in the Coliseum. For more information contact new coaches Michelle Rock at michellerock22@gmail.com or Lindsey Nance at lnznance@gmail.com
THURSDAY April 7, 2011
JEFF BRODEUR Sports Editor brodeurj@mytjnow.com DAVID THACKHAM Assistant Sports Editor thackhamd@mytjnow.com
Men’s tennis extends win streak to 10 straight
Baseball overcomes six-run deficit to beat High Point The Eagles baseball team scored five runs in the top of the eighth inning to win 10-8 and complete the three-game sweep of the High Point Panthers. Mitchell Knox pitched 4.2 scoreless innings in relief to earn the win. Cam Walters tied a Winthrop record, collecting five hits while driving in one run. The Eagles will be back in action on Tuesday, April 5 with a non-conference showdown with the North Carolina Tar Heels at Boshamer Stadium. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. Softball fails to impress in televised game The Lady Eagles were unable to walk away with a win in the series finale against Liberty as they lost 7-2. The game, which could have been seen on ESPNU, got out of hand early on as Liberty jumped out to a 2-0 lead after two innings and 5-0 after just three. The loss drops the team to 9-22 and 1-4 in conference play. Winthrop will be back in action on April 9 at 1 p.m. as it takes on Coastal Carolina in a double-header in Conway, S.C. Big South announces seedings for women’s golf championship The Winthrop women’s golf team earned the no. 5 seed going into the Big South Championship. Coastal Carolina earned the top seed, followed by Bucknell, GardnerWebb, Radford, Winthrop, Charleston Southern, High Point and Holy Cross. The first round will begin on April 11 with the finals round concluding on April 13.
The men’s tennis team has struck fire at the right time with the Big South tournament right around the corner, beginning on April 21. Photo by Claire VanOstenbridge • vanostenbridgec@mytjnow.com
Eagles look to stay hot heading into Big South Conference Tournament; 10 straigh not enough By Hannah Schwartz
schwartzh@mytjnow.com
The men’s tennis team has won 10 in a row, but that’s not enough for them. They have their eyes set on the Big South tournament that will be held in Rock Hill starting on April 21. “Our main goal is the Big South, definitely,” said senior Sergey Belov. Beyond the tournament, the Eagles’ goal is to win as many matches as possible. Belov hopes the team can stretch its streak to 13 or 14. The Eagles suffered some early loses that could have derailed the season, but coach Cid Carvalho thinks the team is playing its best tennis of the season now. He points to the win over conference rival Radford as the start of the winning streak. “Pulling out some good matches always builds up the players’ confidence, and tennis is a game of confidence,” he said. One of the contributors to the Eagles’ recent strong run is the mild spring weather. Those early
loses came after only a couple weeks of practice, and the team does not have an indoor facility to use. “The weather is getting way better,” Belov said. “We kind of got in shape, physically and technically.” Junior Dejon Bivens also likes the way the year has played out. “So far, the season is going very well in terms of our ability as a team to reach our solid potential in the middle of the season,” he said. Bivens sees it as a vast improvement over last year, which he described as a tough season from start to finish. A season ago, the team lost many close matches early on. “This year, a lot of the players have sort of found their range early.” Bivens said. Another key factor to the team’s success has been the ability to play cohesively. Even if one of the players has a bad day, the others on the team pick him up. They have confidence in their teammates. “We don’t have any stars,’” Carvalho said. “I think it’s mainly
UPCOMING EVENTS Baseball 4/8 @ UNC-Asheville - 6 p.m. 4/9 @ UNC-Asheville - 3 p.m. 4/10 @ UNC-Asheville - 1 p.m. Softball 4/9 @ Coastal Carolina (DH) - 1 p.m. 4/10 @ Coastal Carolina - 1 p.m. Men’s tennis 4/9 vs UNC-Asheville - 12 p.m.
a collective effort where everybody goes out there and contributes everyday.” Bivens agrees with his coach that the team has a lot of cohesion, but he thinks that everyone on the team is a superstar. “There are personalities on the team,” he said. “Everyone has a chance to shine.” As the season winds down, the team is focused on finishing strong. Bivens understands the regular-season record won’t help the Eagles in the tournament. They need to focus on one match at a time to win it all. “They are not going to give it to us,” he said.
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Our main goal is the Big South Sergey Belov Senior
Women’s tennis 4/7 vs Gardner-Webb - 2 p.m. 4/9 vs UNC-Asheville - 12 p.m. Men’s golf 4/7-9 River Landing Intercollegiate in Wallace, N.C. Women’s golf 4/11-13 Big South Championship in Ninety-Six, S.C. Track and field 4/8 Carolina’s Cup in Rock Hill, S.C.
THURSDAY April 7, 2011
11
SPORTS
Winthrop athletics in search of two more head coaching positions By David Thackham thackhamd@mytjnow.com
Former Winthrop volleyball head coach Sally Polhamus had all of her players read Jeff Janssen’s “The Team Captain’s Leadership Manual during the 2010 season. “I learned a lot from the manual,” said junior middle hitter Becca Toor. “She had us read [it] in order to understand the various techniques and knowledge needed to become a great leader.” The team will do well to absorb that knowledge through these coming months. Polhamus left in March for an assistant coaching position at the University of Florida, leaving Winthrop to fill three crucial managing spots. The university must now look to hire replacements for women’s basketball coach Bud Childers as well as Polhamus, while also filling the open spot for Winthrop’s first women’s lacrosse head coach. “It’s kind of hard to have all three open at the same time,” athletic director Tom Hickman said. The news of Polhamus’ departure took some by surprise, but she was not the one to initiate the conversation.
[Florida] contacted me first with regard to speaking with her,” said Hickman, “which is typical procedure when you’re talking to someone else, so I informed Sally that they wanted to speak with her.” Hickman said Polhamus travelled to Gainesville, Fla. to speak with the Gators’ administration. “I guess they gave her an offer she couldn’t refuse,” the athletic director said. Before leaving for her new position, Polhamus called her former team to break the news. “She made phone calls to each player… during spring break,” Toor said. [I felt] mostly shock[ed], it’s definitely hard to lose a coach that you were so close to. Hickman also felt saddened by the loss of his veteran coach after four successful years. “She was a very integral part of our department,” he said. “Everyone here enjoyed working with her, and our program was on good, solid footing, but I hate to see her go.” Polhamus leaves on a 64-59 record with the Eagles, including a Big South tournament final appearance in her first year in Rock Hill. To Toor, her unique
coaching style was the key to Winthrop’s success. “She was very determined to figure out and ‘read’ all of her players,” Toor said. “She was able to analyze our emotions based solely on facial expressions and body language and was then able to use this knowledge to her advantage by applying it to her coaching. In my opinion, her coaching was phenomenal in that she figured out how to push me to my very best.” Chuck Rey has been appointed interim volleyball administrator until a decision is made on a new coach, Hickman said. While there is expected to be many interested candidates to head the Eagle volleyball program in 2011, little progress has been made in determining a head coach for women’s lacrosse, Winthrop’s newest varsity sport. “The lacrosse inquiries have been a little slower to come in,” said Hickman. “[But] we have a fair number of lacrosse candidates and I’m still looking at potential candidates, to keep our eye on.” “We don’t have to move as quickly as we could right now,” said Hickman. “We’ll probably try to work on the basketball [coaching decision] first, because with lacrosse, it will be the end of the la-
crosse season before we can get anybody here [to interview].” The athletic director was in the process of narrowing down his applicants when issues with the women’s basketball and volleyball position arose, leading Hickman to leave women’s lacrosse on the backburner. “Since we knew we had this spring season to wait through, we put out a deadline application [April 15] so people would know we’re not going to go hire somebody right away.” Dedication to progress, not immediate results, will have to be an important factor for Winthrop’s new coaching addition. Presbyterian College’s men’s lacrosse team had a 21- game losing streak before their first win as a program against University of Detroit Mercy. “We’re looking for someone who runs a good program, is able to adapt to various situations, puts the athlete’s interests at the top [and] takes care of academics; all of those things we take a look at when we look at candidates,” said Hickman. The Winthrop women’s lacrosse program is expected to debut in the spring of 2012.
Athletes aren’t obsessing over body image By Jeff Brodeur
brodeurj@mytjnow.com
As a standout athlete in high school and a consistent performer for the Winthrop women’s basketball team, Kaitlyn Rubino has learned a thing or two about the personalities of athletes when they aren’t performing. According to the former Wendy’s Heisman Athlete of the Year, Rubino says athletes don’t take their body image any more seriously than any other person, contrary to popular belief. “I don’t think many athletes
worry about what they look like when they are playing their sport as much as they worry about how they are playing and focusing on winning the game,” she said. Lettered in track and field, basketball, soccer and volleyball during her time in high school, Rubino never recalled seeing any teammates taking their personal image to extreme measures across any of the sports in which she competed. Just the workouts alone were enough to keep any athlete in shape, herself included. “Personally, I eat whatever
I like because, as an athlete, I work out for at least two hours a day at practice and sometimes even more if we have weights after,” she said. “I am always eating something.” This may come as a shock for many, especially considering there are so many products on the market nowadays dedicated to helping athletes stay in shape. However, in Rubino’s experience, these products probably aren’t being used as often as the media wants us to believe. “The only drinks I see athletes drinking are protein drinks to re-
juvenate their body after a hard practice or workout,” she said. Despite all of the stereotypes of athletes and their personal body image issues, Rubino, who’s been surrounded by sports all throughout high school and college, doesn’t think it has ever been as big of an issue as people make it out to be.
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Personally, I eat whatever I like. Kaitlyn Rubino Junior
THURSDAY April 7, 2011
THE JOHNSONIAN
12