WHY WAIT TILL THURSDAY? READ MYTJNOW.COM.
Sororities, fraternities. What’s the hype about Greek Life? See Culture, page 9
One man shot and killed at The Money. Read the update online. See News, page 2
THURSDAY September 23, 2010
Have you pimped your ride? Enter the Ridiculous Car Competition. See Arts & Entertainment, page 7
WINTHROP UNIVERSITY
Issue 5
NEWS
WU property appeals to off-campus housing group BY JONATHAN MCFADDEN mcfaddenj@thejohnsonian.com
Walk2Campus Properties won a bid to purchase the Lodge, a privatelyowned motor lodge on Oakland Avenue that was purchased by Winthrop in the 1980s to be used as additional student housing. Brad Hastings, owner of Walk2Campus, said the bidding contract is currently in the due diligence
process, which means Walk2Campus is working with zoning officials to ensure the project receives the zoning it needs. Hastings said they are also making sure the building costs aren’t out of line with their original assumptions and that students will actually lease the product. “All of those questions
Walk2Campus Properties could potentially turn the Lodge into residence space available for lease if the company purchase the property from Winthrop. Graphic by Shatesha Scales • scaless@thejohnsonian.com
need to be answered before we could move forward with the project,” Hastings said. While there is no definite answer as to what the project could potentially cost, Hastings said if the project were to be approved, then there are a number of possibilities Walk2Campus could explore with the Lodge, ranging “from renovation to new build.”
See LODGE page 2 SPORTS
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Eagle coach named to college alma mater’s 2010 hall of fame
THEATER & DANCE SEASON KICKS OFF
BY DAVID THACKHAM thackhamd@thejohnsonian.com
Call it simple midwestern workmanship, but Winthrop women’s basketball coach Bud Childers loves to fix things up. So when the young Childers had a chance to return to his old team at Cumberland College and take over the women’s side already halfway through the season, he didn’t hesitate. “I was young, inexperienced, looking to get into
coaching any way I could, and it was a great beginning,” said Childers. His efforts at the college are now being rewarded with Cumberland naming him to its 2010 Athletic Hall of Fame Class. Childers said his task at Cumberland was not as easy as just restructuring the team and sending them on their way. By his
See COACH page 11
NEWS
Students balance Students act in, direct play about AIDS class, parenthood in life on-campus “The Yellow Boat,” runs Sept. 29 through Oct. 3. Photo by Paul Ricciardi • ricciardip@thejohnsonian.com
BY ALISON ANGEL
angela@thejohnsonian.com
“The Yellow Boat,” an inspiring true story about one boy’s struggle living with AIDS, will kick off the fall season in Winthrop’s Department of Theater and Dance. Erin Lee, senior theater education major, is the play’s director and chose the story. Student directors apply for a show by putting together a portfolio. They plan to design it for the faculty, who make the final decision
about the content. Lee first applied as a junior and applied again as a senior after taking Directing I and II which are two classes required in order for theater students to apply. She was originally inspired by the play two years ago when she came across it in a theater education class. Lee said the show is so good because of the script itself, which David Saar wrote based on the life story of his son Benjamin. “It’s just a really good show and
it’s really well-written,” Lee said. “It hasn’t been that hard to make it good.” “The Yellow Boat” follows the story of Benjamin, who contracted AIDS through a blood transfusion when he was young. It follows him on an intense emotional journey until his death in 1987. The boy was eight years old. Lee said the tragedy of the plot is what really brought them together as a cast. “That’s one thing I love about
See PLAY page 8
BY CLAIRE BYUN byunc@thejohnsonian.com
College students’ rooms are usually filled with earmarked papers, dirty laundry and half-eaten bags of Goldfish. But this semester, entire families can be found in a residence hall. Roddey Apartments is open for families and their children, but is still considered a residence hall
on campus. This semester, two children, along with their parents, live in Roddey. “I’ve never had complaints about Jazlynn, and she’s been living here since she was six months
See RODDEY page 3
HEALTH AND SCIENCE
Observe the Moon Night: Students take in the night sky
BY AMANDA PHIPPS phippsa@thejohnsonian.com
People of all ages stood looking into the night sky as the Earth moved, making the moon appear to move slowly upward past the trees. Learning that the Earth moves about 1,000 mph and having to follow the moon with a telescope because of this phenomenon, were some of the experiences people had
Questions? Contact us at editors@thejohnsonian.com Serving Winthrop since 1923
at International Observe the Moon Night (InOHM). InOHM brought people together under one sky across the world last Saturday. The Carolina Skygazers, an astronomy club in Rock Hill, sponsored the event. At a park near Manchester Meadows, the Rock Hill community came together to observe and learn about the moon. “We were looking at different parts of the moon and
I N D E X
explaining about the craters,” said Carolina Skygazers member Blake Crook. “We wanted to spark interest and get people to see things they have never seen and ask questions.” There were different types of telescopes and a pair of binoculars people could use to observe the moon. Before it was dark enough to see the moon clearly, people were able to see the sun through a telescope. Black sun spots
CAMPUS NEWS
were also visible. Within a period of about an hour, another sun spot became visible for people to see. “The sky is very dynamic,” said Carolina Skygazers member Doug Cook. “Things are always in flex on the sun and in the sky. It just takes being observant to notice.” Children also enjoyed looking at the moon through the different telescopes and bin-
See MOON page 6
2-4
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
5
CULTURE
HEALTH & SCIENCE
6
SPORTS
OPINION
7-8 9 10-11
2
Networking, resumes the keys to impressing employers, landing jobs By Amie Detar Special to The Johnsonian
The goal for most college students is simple: get a job. Once you graduate, however, you are in the same pool as thousands of other recent graduates, many with the same degree as you. So how do you make your light shine a little brighter than the rest? Build a great résumé and network. Résumés present your accomplishments, education, strengths and abilities on a single sheet of paper. The résumé is an important tool, as it is “the first contact that a job seeker has with a potential employer,” says Thomas Injaychock, the Associate Director at the Center for Career and Civic Engagement. “It is… the first impression an employer will get of a person.” So your résumé must be professional and visibly appealing. All résumés should include identifying information, an objective (a short description of the position you have in mind), education (degree information, the name of the institution, your final grade point average and any academic awards received), and any experience as it relates to the job you are seeking. Optionally, you may also include any related course work, honors and activities, certifications or
licenses, or skills that you may have. Be brief and specific, and do not document your entire life. You should also avoid using font sizes smaller than 10, elaborate fonts and the personal pronoun “I.” Basically, make your résumé easy to read and easy to look at. Having an updated résumé is important, especially for upperclassmen. Junior Christine Allen says she keeps her résumé up-to-date because of convenience. “As long as I continue to update it, it won’t be a problem when I need to turn one in… in a short amount of time,” she says. Start writing your résumé today! The Center for Career and Civic Engagement website offers more résumé writing tools and tips, and you can always stop by their office in Crawford for assistance. “Networking,” Injaychock says, “plays a vital role in the overall job search process. More than 80% of employment opportunities come from networking.” When you hear the word “networking,” do you think of Facebook or other social networking sites? If so, you are not totally wrong. Social network sites are part of networking. The most effective approach to getting a job, according to The Center for Career and Civic Engagement, is to
network your way into the position. Not only does networking help you make contacts, but it also allows you to learn more about your field so you can make an intelligent decision about your career. Networking exposes you to unadvertised jobs with less competition, higher level positions, less rejections, direct access to people of influence and more invitations to job interviews. These are important advantages when you are up against thousands of other qualified individuals also looking for a job. Rebecca Schoon, currently studying interior design, says networking is highly emphasized in that field. During an interviewing project she “asked people if they knew others who were… interior designers.” She found an interior designer through a friend and used the connection to multiply her network. It does not matter what field you are entering; networking can always help to further your career. Visit the Center for Career and Civic Engagement for more networking tips and strategies. The Center for Career and Civic Engagement will host the Fall 2010 Career and Graduate School Fair on Thursday, October 21 from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm in the DiGiorgio Campus Center Banquet Hall.
CLAIRE BYUN News Editor THURSDAY byunc@thejohnsonian.com September 23, 2010 JONATHAN MCFADDEN Assistant News Editor mcfaddenj@thejohnsonian.com
Resume tips from a pro Having trouble with your resume? Take this advice from the graduate associate in the Center for Career and Civic Engagement and get the right attention
If I had a dollar for things to do that sound like every resume I sent more fun than working on out my senior year of your resume—things like college (and for a solid Homecoming and parties six months after graduand sleeping and getting a ation), I’d be sitting root canal. pretty on a yacht someI also know that most where off the coast of employers will only scan Spain. your resume for about 10 Lies. seconds. So this means you I’d have about fifty only need to spend about 10 Katie Levans bucks, which as it turned Special to The Johnsonian seconds on it, right? Wrong. out, would not equate to Resume writing is an art enough attempts to actuand it’ll take some time (and ally land me a job for quite some time. feedback and more time and revisions) Yes, it was 2008 and the economy to get it right. But put forth this effort had made its sudden and swift downand you’ll see the payoff in the end. turn toward Crapsville, and yes, it was Your resume is your first impression, impossible for just about anyone to find and as Eminem would say “you’ve only a job at that time. got one shot.” So let’s do it right from But maybe there was something else the beginning, shall we? throwing off my job hunting swagger. Want to learn more? Visit the Center Maybe, in spite of the out-of-control for Career and Civic Engagement for economy, there was something within one-on-one resume consultation, inmy control that could’ve given me a leg terview prep, job searching and more. up. Maybe I should’ve focused less on They’ll get you primed and ready for quantity and more on quality. Maybe, the Career and Graduate School Fair just maybe my resume sucked a little on Thursday, October 21 (10am – 1pm, bit. DiGiorgio Student Center). I know it’s only September and I know you have a list of about a million
Resume Tips & Tricks 1. Check your spelling – i dont care if u text ur friendz like dis, but you will absolutely not include such nonsense on a resume. 2. Use the right contact info – No one’s going to hire you if they can’t get a hold of you. And while you’re double checking your contact info, go ahead and abandon your old ilovepokemon@gmail.com email address. Use your Winthrop e-mail address; it looks more professional. 3. Format it properly – Obnoxious fonts (hello, Curlz), tiny type and weird colors are a friend to no one when it comes to reading. Keep it clean and simple. 4. Keep it relevant – Your babysitting job in high school is cool and all, but after four years of higher education, one would hope to find some more recent achievements on your resume. 5. Understand “experience” – No one expects you to have five years of professional experience upon graduating from college. This doesn’t mean your professional experience section should be blank though. Include involvement in campus clubs, sports teams, Greek life and volunteer opportunities. And while we’re on the subject, try to attain leadership positions in these groups. 6. Get feedback – It’s easy to miss all these things and more if yours are the only eyes looking it over.
Winthrop graduating same percentage of blacks and whites By Monica Kreber
kreberm@thejohnsonian.com
As Hurricane Hugo struck Rock Hill in 1989, newly-appointed President Anthony DiGiorgio, along with vice president of student life Frank Ardaiolo and a group of former Winthrop VPs, sat in a hotel room in Charlotte and constructed what came to be known as Winthrop’s Vision of Distinction. This vision “hammered out” the details to what they wanted the university to be like by the year 2000, Ardaiolo said. “Every year we have objectives to fill our vision,” he said. “It outlines all the things that we do and why we do it.” Recently one of the visions has been fulfilled: Winthrop has succeeded in recruiting and retaining a critical mass of African-American students, and now they are graduating at the same rate as majority students. “I think it’s an excellent thing,” Ardaiolo said. “It’s something that we’re very proud of. It fulfills the vision of
what Winthrop set out to do in 1989 and continues to work toward.” Winthrop’s Vision of Distinction was a written set of goals for the Winthrop community and its student body when DiGiorgio first came to the university, and it stated: “Winthrop will be an institution of choice with historically under-represented students who will have demonstrated achievement through both traditional and non-traditional measures.” Ardaiolo said this vision has remained
“”
We’re number one in the country for students of our size and type. Frank Ardaiolo
Vice President of Student Life
SHOTS FIRED LEAVE ONE DEAD, TWO INJURED AT THE MONEY One person was killed and two injured during a shootout Tuesday morning at The Money, according to a Rock Hill police report. Demario Burris, 22, died of gunshot wounds. Scott Thomas, 37, and Dytavius Hinton, 22, were taken to Carolinas Medical Center. The shooting occurred after Burris and Hinton attempted to rob members of a band called Parmalee. The band was celebrating in their RV after performing at The Money. The two men forced themselves into the RV and demanded money. That is when Thomas came from the rear of the RV with a handgun and ordered the intruders to leave. Soon, both sides started shooting and three were hit--Burris, Hinton and Thomas. Police found Burris already dead when they arrived to the RV. He had been shot multiple times, according to the police report. Thomas was listed as in critical condition, while Hinton is in stable condition. Compiled by Jonathan McFadden
unchanged for the past 21 years. “I think that demonstrates a lot of the quality of what’s here,” he said. So why are minority students not graduating at the rate of majority students at other institutions across the country? At Winthrop, Ardaiolo said, it appears to be the opposite. “We’re number-one in the country for students of our size and type,” he said. Ardaiolo accredits the success of retaining African-American students to Winthrop’s ability to incorporate student learning into faculty evaluations. What Winthrop has done is melted University College Student Learning and Development, which in the past has just been the responsibility of Student Life staff, with faculty, who teaches the content of classes. Now, however, the effort comes from more interaction with faculty and students. “Students learn not just the 17 or 18 hours that they’re in a classroom,” Ardaiolo said. “They’re learning constantly from all different venues.”
Winthrop is trying to get students to engage in anything, from their professors, to their fellow students, to campus activities, to what their future could be. Ardaiolo said employers look for two essential things when it comes to hiring: people who can work in teams, and people who appreciate diversity. Therefore, striving to retain African Americans has been a goal for the university since 1989. Ardaiolo said there is no predictability that Winthrop will be able to retain other minorities at the university, but Winthrop is among many institutions trying to attract under-represented students and maintain a diverse student body. “You’ll learn more, you’ll be happier, you’ll be more self-assured, you’ll learn leadership skills,” Ardaiolo said. “You become a better student inside the classroom, which will make you more employable, and it’s a great start to a future career.”
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THURSDAY September 23, 2010
OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING POSSIBILITY
Winthrop purchased the Lodge in the 1980s to provide housing for students after a surge in enrollment in 1979. After the Courtyard was built in 2002, students who lived in the Lodge were trasnferred there. Since then, the space
has been used for storage and studio space for art students. There are no immediate plans as to what Walk2Campus may do with the Lodge if they purchase it. Photos by Paul Riccardi • riccardip@thejohnsonian.com
Restoration of Lodge still in planning stage Lodge • from front Kathy Bigham, chair of the Winthrop University Board of Trustees, said that while she cannot say too much about the legalities and contractual matters of the purchase, she thinks the news about the Lodge will be positive. Rebecca Masters, assistant to the president for public affairs, said that when the Courtyard was completed in December 2002, students living in the Lodge were transferred there. Since then, the front space of the Lodge,
Roddey • from front old,” said Jessica Lipscomb, Roddey resident with her daughter Jazlynn. Lipscomb has lived in
“Yes, we have families and you will see kids running around occasionally. This is not a dorm, Roddey is a home,” Russo said. This semester, two children live in the residence hall in two seperate apartments. Photo by Kathleen Brown • brownk@thejohnsonian.com
which faces Oakland Avenue, has been used as offices for Facilities Design and Development staff, Telephone Services staff and even as studio space for art students from time to time. “The remainder of the space has been used for storage,” Masters said. Masters said that, over the summer, telephone services was moved to an Oakland Avenue location closer to campus. The Lodge is still used for storage. Walk2Campus has enjoyed a beneficial relationship with
Roddey for the past twoand-a-half years, and has never had any problems with other residents or families. Jazlynn is now
Winthrop. The off-campus student housing company, which began with Longwood University in Farmville, Va., wanted to discover another market. Hastings said that, after a search, Winthrop proved to be a school that was similar to Longwood in size and trajectory and was a good market to provide safe, higher-end housing close to campus. Another Walk2Campus location includes SUNY Cortland in Cortland, N.Y.
two years old, and Lipscomb has another daughter due in November. “We might live here again in January, but that
time I’ll have a new baby girl,” Lipscomb said. While Roddey is open to many residents, it mostly houses married couples, people with children and international students. The hall is coed and offers one and two bedroom units, each with a kitchen, dining area, common room and a single bathroom. Much of the furniture is provided, including a dinette table and chairs, leaving only the living room without furnishings. Unlike other halls on campus, students are not required to have a meal plan to take up residence in Roddey. Evan Russo, residence director for Roddey, enjoys living and working with the residents and families living in the apartments. “My favorite part has to be the true community we have formed in our building,” Russo said. “We have so many people here from many different backgrounds and family situations that it makes us very rich with diversity and exciting.” Though living among children might seem
stressful, there have been few complaints about the families or their kids. Many of the grievances are standard and can be applied to any student. “For example, every now and then you get a noise complaint, but instead of a college student walking around, it’s the pitter-patter of a 2- yearold,” Russo said. Concerns about the safety of the children on campus are met by Campus Police, though they have never had any complaints regarding kids. “No special privileges [are given to the families with children] from Campus Police,” Frank Zebedis, chief of police, said. “The families are treated like all of our students.” During the day, Lipscomb sends her daughter to daycare so that she can attend class and work. She thinks the most difficult part of living on campus with a child is having to work around the toddler’s schedule, while still being a good parent. “You have to schedule classes around her daycare schedule,” Lipscomb said. “I go to school
and work when she’s at daycare and we chill out afterward.” Overall, the family situation in Roddey has had very little negative effect on Russo, and he enjoys living with such a diverse group of students. “There really haven’t been any negative situations that I have ever dealt with when it came to families,” Russo said. “I would honestly say that we have had many more positive outcomes with our families than negative ones.” Unlike other residence halls, Russo claims Roddey is not as similar to a dorm as it is a home. The residents take pleasure in living with children, and often find refreshment in the small faces of little kids. “Many of our residents enjoy having the children living in our community,” Russo said. “When you have a stressful day, the innocent smile of a child is sometimes all you need to perk up.”
4
THURSDAY September 23, 2010
Organization gives commuters a voice and connection By Jonathan McFadden
mcfaddenj@thejohnsonian.com
With a new office in Dinkins’ former post office, a rewritten constitution and three organized committees, the Commuter Student Association (CSA) plans to continue giving commuter students a chance to express their voices and be engaged on campus. The group held its first official meeting on Sept. 14 to get more commuter students interested in the club. Most students who attended the meeting were freshmen. Jeff Chan, sophomore elementary education major and CSA’s president, said the organization is a chance for commuters to feel as if they are a part of Winthrop’s campus. “It’s like an RSA (Resident Student Association) for commuter students,” Chan said. Through its three committees — publicity, events programming and commuter issues/advocacy — CSA plans to give commuter students more of a connection on campus. The publicity committee, headed by digital information design major Justin McSwain and psychology major Phylicia Burley, will spread the word about CSA and any events they hold. Chan will be over the events programming committee, and said this commit-
tee would try to plan social, educational and service events on campus for commuters. Chan said he really wants the social events to attract more commuters. Such events include “Live At Lunch” lunchtime musical performances by local artists on campus. Dante Pelzer, program director for off-campus student affairs, said CSA realizes nighttime programming is not convenient for some commuters. Midday video game programs and common meeting time drop-in service projects had been offered in the past, he said. Any programs offered in the future, though, will not only be targeted for students living off campus. CSA Vice President Jonny Hartnett said residents will be welcome to any events the organization plans. “As commuters, we sort of bridge the gap between the campus and community,” Hartnett said. Hartnett, a senior integrated marketing communication major, will also be over the commuter issues/advocacy committee. He said he will be working with and through the administration to address any issues or concerns commuters may have, such as parking. Hartnett said the organization will try to provide commuter students with better parking, but not if they don’t have a
substantial amount of members to make a difference. “The numbers matter,” Hartnett said. Hartnett said the organization has recently rewritten its bylaws and constitutions, extending it from about three pages to 14. CSA has also aligned itself to become a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization as recognized by the IRS. All personal donations to CSA will be tax-deductible, which will hopefully keep members from having to pay dues, Hartnett said. Shemeh Shirbabadi, marketing assistant for Dining Services, attended a CSA meeting to discuss commuter meal plans and asked commuters what they would like to see at Markley’s Food Court, Thomson and other food locations on campus. Some ideas thrown around include having free food, bringing back Subway and adding healthier food options. CSA now meets in the old Winthrop post office in Dinkins. Hartnett said Dinkins was chosen as an office space because of its availability and convenience for commuters. Because the commuter parking lot is adjacent to Dinkins, commuters will not have to walk to the campus center for their own “niche,” Hartnett said. The group also plans to petition the
Council of Student Leaders (CSL) for an automatic member position on CSL. Sydney Evans, chair of CSL, said she pushed the resolution last semester, but the commuter organization fell apart and membership was never awarded. Evans said she, Chan and Hartnett have been working to put together a written resolution that will be presented to the council. If two-thirds of the council approve the resolution, then CSA will be awarded membership.
“”
As commuters, we sort of bridge the gap between the campus and community.
Jonny Hartnett
CSA Vice President
POLICE BLOTTER PUBLIC DISORDERLY INTOXICATION (9/11/10) At 2:12 a.m., a reporting officer observed a male staggering while walking down the sidewalk in front of the Telephone Services building. The male ran around the corner of the building when he saw the officer. The reporting officer made contact with the male and found him squatting down in an attempt to hide. The officer smelled a strong odor of alcohol coming from the male. The male said he consumed half of a very large bottle of wine and was trying to carry a large mattress home. The reporting officer did not see any mattress in the area. The male became belligerent, demanding to know why he was stopped. The male slurred his words while talking. The officer placed the male under arrest and transported him to Rock Hill City Jail. THEFT OF PROPERTY (PETTY LARCENY); RECOVERY OF STOLEN PROPERTY (9/3/10) At 3:25 p.m., an officer received information from Crime Stoppers of York County that two male students, brothers, had been bragging about stealing items from Winthrop University and the DiGiorgio Campus Center. The information further stated that the stolen items were supposedly at the males’ residence on Camden Avenue. Two officers went to the residence to interview the males and search for any stolen items that may have been on the property. Upon arriving, the officers knocked on the door, but no one seemed to be home. One of the officers reportedly made a mental note that, at the time, he did not see any property belonging to Winthrop around the house. The officers returned to the Winthrop University Police Department. A few hours later, one of the male students arrived at the police department and questioned dispatch as to why the police were at his house earlier that day. One of the reporting officers met with the student and told him they received information that he may possibly have stolen Winthrop property and that it was at his residence. After the male called his brother, both students voluntarily agreed to let the officers search their residence. The officers made their way back to the brothers’ house, at which time they were greeted by the other male. The officer noticed him coming from behind the house breathing heavily as if he had been rushing to complete a task. The other male returned to his residence
from the police department. The officers and students entered into the house and, while one officer began searching the house, the two students and the other officer remained in the den area. During the search, the officer noticed the back door of the house was ajar. The officer looked outside the door and saw two multicolored chairs, both of the same type being used at the community concourse area of the DiGiorgio Campus Center. Neither of the chairs were outside the residence during the officers’ initial search. The officer informed the other officer of the chairs, and the first officer began interviewing the subjects about where the chairs came from and who they belonged to. Both students claimed they purchased the chairs online and possessed them for a while. When the officer said the chairs were not outside the residence during the first search, both brothers gave different, inconsistent reasons why the chairs may not have been outside. The officer told the brothers that if they started being truthful, then she would recommend them to Winthrop University Judicial Affairs. However, if they continued to lie, then both would face criminal charges. Both brothers confessed to stealing the two chairs from the community concourse area of the campus center on a prior night and placing them in their residence. One officer notified another officer and told him to arrive at the residence with a truck so the chairs could be transported to the police department. The other officer recommended the students to Winthrop University Judicial Affairs, and the chairs were returned to Manning Gibson of Facilities Design and Development to be returned to the campus center.
he had to drink. The male said he had “too much to drink.” He was arrested and transported to Rock Hill City Jail. PETTY LARCENY (9/10/10) At 8 a.m., a female student went to the Winthrop Police Department to report that her bike had been stolen from the bike rack in front of the Courtyard. She said she last saw her mint green Huffy Cruiser with a brown seat on Friday when she locked it to the bike rack. She said she noticed it was missing on Monday on her way to class. She also said there are several bicycles on campus that look similar to hers, but she took all of the stickers off hers. She was issued a Victim Notification Form. TRESPASSING (1st OFFENSE) (9/18/10) While talking with another officer at the Student Activity Center, an officer observed a man enter and pay the admittance fee while handing over his ID for recording. The officer recognized the subject as an individual possibly under Trespass Notice. When questioned, the subject told police to “check his ID,” and that “I ain’t no felon.” After several attempts, the man admitted to having a trespass notice against him for being in the West Center without approval. The man was arrested and reissued another trespass notice. PUBLIC DISORDERLY CONDUCT (INTOXICATION) (9/19/10) A reporting officer at the Student Activity Center investigated several reports of a man being disruptive and combative in front of University Place Apartments. Both Winthrop police and Rock Hill police were dispatched to the area for a fight in progress, but on arriving all individuals fled. The reporting officer returned to the SAC where he found the subject in question passed out on the floor, and observed a female trying to wake him up. The subject was staggering and appeared to be confused about his whereabouts, and his speech was slurred. The subject was placed under arrest for public disorderly conduct, and became more confused and disruptive after being told he was under arrest.
PUBLIC DISORDERLY CONDUCT (9/14/10) A Rock Hill Police Department reporting officer was dispatched to Ebenezer Avenue for a white male wearing a white shirt and black pants, who was sleeping under a vehicle parked in a driveway. The male got out from under the vehicle and began walking down Ebenezer Avenue in the direction of Cherry Road. The officer was able to locate the male on Ebenezer Avenue, who was being held up by a second male. The officer detected a strong odor of alcohol on the male. The second male said he was out walking his dog when he spotted the male staggering on Compiled by Jonathan McFadden & Claire Byun the sidewalk. He was attempting to help the male back down the sidewalk to the male’s home. The officer asked the first male how much
WANNA KNOW WHAT GOES DOWN IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT? www.mytjnow.com/police-blotter
5
THURSDAY September 23, 2010
CONNOR DE BRULER Opinion Editor debrulerc@thejohnsonian.com
OUR SAY
DIGS inclusion may benefit CSA We have a new center of gravity here at Winthrop. The DiGiorgio Campus Center can be your one stop shop for almost everything you need to do on campus—except for going to class. The pool tables, the food options, the comfortable chairs, the computer kiosks and TVs—it’s a haven for students, especially students who can’t conveniently go to their residence hall to enjoy these types of amenities. Why then does the Commuter Student Association (CSA) have an office in Dinkins, the old student center? In some ways it makes sense. The bulk of their parking is there still and office space in Dinkins was easier to obtain than in the new campus center. But, The Johnsonian thinks this could have an adverse affect on fostering a community spirit in Winthrop commuter students. If the majority of students, faculty and staff are spending their free time at Starbucks and playing foosball, what kind of connection are the commuter students making with the campus by hanging out in Dinkins? Clearly commuters aren’t barred from the new campus center just because their office is in Dinkins. But what kind of message does it send to prospective students who plan to commute when they don’t see a dedicated
Illustration by Courtney Niskala • niskalac@thejohnsonian.com
Porno loses sex appeal I don’t like pornography very much. Similar to cigarettes and Prozac, it does serve a societal purpose. Its benefits, however, are few and far between compared to its glaring problems. We can’t always have a companion. Sometimes a stimulus such as erotic imagery is helpful and convenient. But it’s always important to know porn is a fantasy and doesn’t reflect the actual wants and needs of real human beings. Many friends of mine, both male and female, have admitted to watching pornographic films with their significant other. It doesn’t have to be so taboo or macabre. I think that if we’re open about the things we enjoy, we are ultimately less perverse. My mother had the misfortune of discovering a rather obscene French magazine in the bottom compartment of my bookshelf this summer. She was a little overwhelmed by some of the depictions and the fact I owned this publication in the first place. I admitted it was degenerate but not as disgusting as the majority of pornography released today. She almost couldn’t believe it. My mother grew up during a time when Playboy magazine was still considered porn. Now, it’s
Connor de Bruler Opinion Editor
simply a men’s magazine. Today, mainstream porn has become horribly misogynistic. I couldn’t begin to illustrate some of the things I’ve seen on the Internet. What used to be considered “hardcore” is now commonplace, and the new hardcore is disturbing and violent to say the least. Typical pornographic films today depict women being assaulted and degraded. The change from simple nude scenes to this semiviolence occurred in the 1990s during the Clinton administration’s decision to downplay obscenity laws, according to a PBS Frontline documentary. Many entrepreneurs who would have been prosecuted in earlier years were able to make billions off their intense material. Gradually, the paradigm of porn shifted to meet changing demand- to fit the desensitization of the porn’s biggest customer: young men. Jackson Katz writes in his book “The Macho Paradox” that being ex-
Editor ANNA DOUGLAS
Arts & entertainment editor JESSICA PICKENS
Managing editor TIFFANY BARKLEY
Assistant arts & entertainment editor ALISON ANGEL
News editor CLAIRE BYUN Assistant news editor JONATHAN MCFADDEN Opinion editor CONNOR DE BRULER Culture editor ALEXIS AUSTIN Health & science editor AMANDA PHIPPS
Sports editor CHRIS McFADDEN Graphic Designer COURTNEY NISKALA Copy editors BRITTANY GUILFOYLE BRANTLEY MCCANTS Ad designer SAMANTHA FURTICK
posed to violent imagery intertwined with sex does destroy men’s ability to engage in normal intimacy. He claims this problem leads into other possible issues, such as general disrespect of the opposite sex as well as rape and violence. Not only is the majority of porn anti-women, but it’s also extremely dangerous for actors and actresses to perform under such conditions. On any list of notable adult-performers, one can find a cornucopia of venereal disease-related deaths and suicides. Sasha Grey, an 18-yearold porn star, said she already had an STD while being interviewed on “The Tyra Banks Show.” Angela Devi, an Indian porn star, committed suicide in 2006 at her home in Scottsdale, Ariz. Former actress Jerzy Jaxin said, during a radio interview, she was hurt on a daily basis while working for the industry. Porn is essentially a drug. It can be harmless or detrimental. It’s up to the individual to decide what drug to use and how often to use it. I’ve been exposed to a lot. I don’t care for porn. It’s weird and unnatural. Nothing comes close to actual human contact.
Photographers KATHLEEN BROWN STEPHANIE EATON Multimedia editors SHATESHA SCALES KAYLEE NICHOLS Webmaster DEVANG JOSHI Advertising manager KERRY SHERIN Ad sales team SARAH MACDONALD DEBRA SETH WILLIAM NORTON GEORGE WILMORE Faculty adviser LARRY TIMBS
place for them in the heart of campus? Frank Ardaiolo, vice president of student life, makes a good point about the limited space in the campus center for student organizations to have their own office. To accommodate the most people at one time as possible, The DiGiorgio Campus Center offers 48 lockers for student organizations to apply for and use for storage. Space is available on the second floor for meetings by reservation and on a first-come, first-serve basis. Any club or organization can make use of this space. But, we think there’s a difference between space being available for commuters and space being dedicated for commuters. Dinkins is currently housing University College, the Academic Success Center and the Social Behavior Research Lab. Soon, the International Center will move from Tillman to Dinkins, Ardaiolo said. And, he said, an express store similar to the one that was once in the West Center lounge will be placed in Dinkins at some point. Even as Dinkins re-creates itself and finds new uses for its space, the new campus center is the appropriate place for a group that represents a large section of students such as the Commuter Student Association.
Student disagrees with Islam Last week, Floridian pas8:37 reads, “In order that Altor Terry Jones caused quite lah may separate the impure a stir when he announced from the pure, put all the he would burn copies of the impure ones, one on top of Koran on Sept. 11. the other, in a heap and cast He called on other people them into hell.” to join him because he was What this verse means against the construction of is that Muslims are to kill Jeremy Gatlin a mosque at Ground Zero in people who don’t practice Guest columnist New York. Islam, which is entirely difNews of Jones’ plans ferent from what the Bible reached Afghanistan and caused Afsays. In John 13:34, the verse reads, ghans to rally in protest, according to “A new command I give you: Love one www.nydailynews.com. The website another. As I have loved you, so you said Gen. David Petraeus feared must love one another.” Jones’ actions would endanger the Nowhere in the Bible does it say lives of American troops. to kill people who believe differently The website states that Jones than you. Instead, we are to love flipped back and forth about burning them. the Koran until he finally decided to The action, however, that Jones cancel the event after the mosque was was going to take would’ve only given a new location. caused hostility and fighting. I’m thankful he didn’t burn the Also, burning the Koran isn’t going Koran because his actions could’ve to make Islam go away because Musendangered the lives of many people. lims will still practice its teachings. But I think I understand what I know that not everyone readJones must have been thinking. I ing this article is a Christian, but the don’t think a mosque should ever be only way to combat Islam and other built on Ground Zero. It would be religions effectively is for Christians insensitive to the lives that were lost to unite and show Christ’s love to and everyone affected to allow a group nonbelievers, pray that the nonbelievof people who share the same beliefs ers submit their lives to Christ and not as the terrorists to build a mosque. judge nonbelievers. Despite the problems with his choIf Jones wants to take action against sen type of protest, I agree with Jones’ Islam, then he should put into action views against Islam. the three things I have mentioned. Before I go any further, I want to Taking militant action against a group say that while I don’t agree with Isof people will only end badly for all lam, I don’t hate Muslims. parties involved. Islam, in my opinion, is an evil The love of Christ is the only way. religion, and its holy text, the Koran, teaches hatred. For example, Koran
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@thejohnsonian. com Online: mytjnow.com LETTER POLICY Letters and feedback can be sent to editors@thejohnsonian.com or
by mail at The Johnsonian, 104 Campus Center, Rock Hill, S.C., 29733. Comments submitted online at www.mytjnow.com may be printed as letters and may be shortened for space and edited for clarity. Please include your name, major and year if you are a student; your name and title if you are a professor; or your name and
profession if you are a member of the community. Letters, cartoons and columns reflect the opinions of the authors and are not necessarily the opinions of The Johnsonian staff. CORRECTIONS Contact us if you find an error in an issue of the newspaper. We will correct it in the next issue.
6
THURSDAY September 23, 2010
Left: A participant enjoys looking through the commercial telesccope provided to observe the moon. Below: A Carolina Skygazers member looks at the moon through a smaller telescope. A variety of equipment was provided for people to observe the moon and planets during International Observe the Mooon Night. Photos by Kathleen Brown • brownk@ thejohnsonian.com
MOON • from front oculars. “I can see blue craters,” one participant said. Adults were able to learn about the moon’s surface and see it through the various telescopes. “It was there and it was unique,” participant Shamanika Hills said. “I’ve never seen anything like it.” Venus became visible as the night progressed. Cook said it resembled a bright white half-crescent moon. It looked similar to this because of its position relative to the position of Earth and the sun, he said. “It is brighter at this time in the season than any other time even though less of the planet is illuminated,” he said. “This may be because it is closer to us than later in the season.” Participants said they were able to see Uranus when darkness fell using the bigger telescopes. They also saw Jupiter surrounded by its four moons. “To have telescopes of this size is a rare treat,” said Charlotte Amateur Astronomy Club member Bob Meunier. People were able to scan the
sky with the equipment provided, which allowed them to see more than just the planets, participants said. “I think I saw proof of aliens,” Winthrop science communication major Kate Rishebarger said. “There was a vehicle I thought was an airplane, but realized it was too close. It looked like an x-wing from Star Wars.” Though the event allowed
people to use their imagination, it was also a time to learn. Participants said the craters on the moon became clearly visible with the telescopes after dark and were a topic of education throughout the night. “Larger craters are about 140 miles across,” said Carolina Skygazers member Roddey Gardner. “The smaller craters are estimated to be about half
the size of Rock Hill.” The local event provided a night of learning and moon gazing to the Rock Hill community. “I think this was an excellent idea because it brought people together who share the same interests,” Winthrop graduate student Avianna Rishebarger said. “I learned a lot.”
TECH COLUMN
Students, faculty and staff join in competition to learn healthy habits By Amanda Phipps
phippsa@thejohnsonian. com
Stepping on the scale can earn students, faculty and staff a new pair of shoes. Prizes and weigh-ins are motivational tools the Office of Recreational Services offer through its competitive incentive program this semester. The “Biggest Loser” competition started with the first sign-up meeting on Sept. 9, said Lindy Lunkenheimer, program director for fitness and aquatics. The program offers students, faculty and staff the chance to receive weekly nutrition tips and exercise challenges, Lunkenheimer said. The tips will also vary depending on if the participant has chosen to work at the begginer level or the advanced level. The participants will also weigh in each week, and Lunkenheimer and Rob Schroeder, the grad-
AMANDA PHIPPS Health & Science Editor phippsa@thejohnsonian.com
uate associate for fitness and aquatics, will record their progress during the competition, Lunkenheimer said. “We provide them with someone to hold them accountable,” she said. The program will run for six weeks, and the last weigh in will be held on Oct. 22, Lunkenheimer said. The winner is the person with the biggest percentage of body weight lost. Prizes will also be offered to each contestant, and a grand prize of a pair of running shoes will be awarded to the winner, Lunkenheimer said. Though it is too late for anyone else to join as part of the competition, people can still receive the tips and challenges each week and participate in the weigh ins, Lunkenheimer said. They would just not be eligible for the prizes. The program allows people to have goals each week, which some find
helpful to their efforts to be healthier. “It has given me an incentive to stop eating bad foods,” freshman biology major Brittany Lawrence said. The informative aspect of the program provides each member with nutrition tips, which one member found helpful as well. “The program answered my questions about nutrition and exercise,” adjunct chemistry instructor Pam Jaco said. “I found it interesting and helpful.” Working with others is part of the program that hold people accountable for their challenges. “I decided to join because I thought it would be helpful to do something with a group of people,” online learning coordinator Kimarie Whetstone said. “The excitement of competition also made me more motivated to eat healthier and to exercise.”
Write for the health and science section. E-mail phippsa@thejohnsonian.com
Graphic by Courtney Niskala • niskalac@thejohnsonian.com
Google offers competitive programs Let’s start with a short list of what Google provides to people around the world:
Devang Joshi Webmaster
Google is now much more than the novel search engine it once wasyou remember, the website that let you find other websites. But if you’re like me, you’re thinking 1996 was a LONG time ago, and we can forget the nostalgia of Google’s past and move on to the new Google. It’s bigger, it’s better and it’s shinier. But in all seriousness, the Google of today is a totally different beast, and the company has found a way to get into EVERY aspect of the computing world. What does this mean? Is it a good thing? Does this mean I’ll be toting a “Google chip” in my forearm sometime soon… maybe? To really understand the good versus the bad on Google, you have to take a look at what Google provides to you, the user, and in providing those services, what does Google take away from the rest of the world’s tech companies?
Search, Alerts, Blog Search, Books, Checkout, Google Chrome, Custom Search, Desktop, Directory, Earth, Finance, GOOG411, Google Health, iGoogle, Images, Maps, News, Patent Search, Product Search, RealtimeNew!, Scholar, Toolbar, Trends, Videos, Web Search, Web Search Features, Code, Labs, Blogger, Calendar, Docs, Google Mail, Groups, Knol, Orkut, Picasa, Reader, Sites, SketchUp, Talk, Translate, VoiceNew!, YouTube, Mobile, Maps for mobile, Search for mobile, Pack Mind you all of that is free, and it’s no surprise Google is such a big deal. For example, we all get on YouTube; some of you have probably already visited the site multiple times while checking your Gmail or searching for something using your Google toolbar. Or perhaps you downloaded Google Chrome and are using it to update your blog, provided by Blogger of course. This begs the question, is being so homogeneous in your tech world OK?
What are we missing out on? Well for starters, there may be new and exciting technologies coming out that will never make it past the huge corporate beast that is Google. In a sense, this flashes back to about a decade ago when our old friend Microsoft (you remember him, right) was under fire for being a monopoly and not allowing other companies to enter the market. This is similar to the situation Google is creating. In addition, the Internet world is becoming more and more dependent on Google, and who knows, the days of “free” may disappear one day once Google has banished its corporate competitors out of the Internet domain. Is this good or bad? Well, that’s really up to you. If you are one to support the little guy, go ahead and delete your Gmail account, never visit YouTube and start using Bing.com. But if you’re like me and cannot get away from Goodg, I’ll save you a spot in line behind me, you know, for the “Google chip” that’s coming out next month. I hear it’s shiny.
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JESSICA PICKENS Arts & Entertainment Editor THURSDAY pickensj@thejohnsonian.com September 23, 2010 ALISON ANGEL Asst. Arts & Entertainment Editor angela@thejohnsonian.com
Ceramics professor gains national recognition By Jessica Pickens pickensj@thejohnsonian.com
Ceramics professor Jim Connell has an impressive resume. “I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t love it,” Connell said in his office surrounded by dozens of ceramics. “It’s easy if you love something.” Recently, he was recognized as one of the top six ceramic artists in South Carolina in the “SC6: Six South Carolina Innovators in Clay” exhibition at the Columbia Museum of Art.
Record breaker
But Connell isn’t only just a regional celebrity, he’s also been recognized nationally and internationally. His work has juried six times out of the last eight years at the NCECA Clay National Exhibition. “A Canadian and I have a friendly rivalry because we are both tied at being in the exhibition six times,” Connell said. Connell has also had his work juried into the Strictly Functional Pottery Nationals 16 out of 17 years, which is more than any
other artist who has been shown in the exhibit. “I didn’t know who else was in the running,” he said. “The next person who has been in the second most has been juried four times. It helps show me my pieces are innovative, but consistent.”
Constantly working
Though Connell has received national recognition, he enjoys his time as a professor at Winthrop, where he has been since 1987. “I’ve never looked to move on or go to bigger, more prestigious schools,” He said. “It’s my baby here.” He can be found working seven days a week in his studio in McLaurin. “It gives me a chance to play,” Connell said. “I’m constantly working and looking for those little grains to make it better. You have to constantly be digging your well deep so you can always go back for an idea.” Connell’s work will be displayed at the Columbia Museum of Art until October.
Ceramics professor Jim Connell, who currently has work displayed in the Columbia Museum of Art, is recognized as one of the top ceramic artists in South Carolina. Connell is also a nationally and internationally recognized artist. Connell teaches classes at Winthrop. Here he shows his students how to paddle out imperfections in their work. Photos by Paul Ricciardi • ricciardip@thejohnsonian.com
Ridiculous Car Contest Does your car have flames on the sides, a dragon head painted on the hood or a portrait of your dog Molly on the rear bumper? The Johnsonian wants to see whatever modifications you have made to your vehicle. Through the month of September, the Arts & Entertainment section is hosting a contest for the Winthrop student’s car with the craziest paint job, most modifications or that stands
out the most. Submit your photos and they will be placed on The Johnsonian’s Facebook page. The car most “liked” on Facebook will win a $25 gas card. Winners will be announced in the Oct. 7 issue. E-mail your pictures to pickensj@ thejohnsonian.com.
Graphic by Paul Ricciardi • ricciardip@thejohnsonian.com
CROSSWURD PUZZLE
Flowers’ CD blossoms Killers lead singer impresses with new album “Flamingo”
Killers’ songs, not that they had been intended for the Killers). However, I think it’s necessary to clear his name. In interviews and articles, Flowers said the rest of the band I’ve been waiting for it since wanted to take a break after the May. “Day and Age” tour; the tour Brandon Flowers’ solo album Jessica Pickens ended early due to the death of “Flamingo” was the fiber of my Arts and Flowers’ mother. But Flowers being all summer. Entertainment wasn’t ready for a break and proI listened to the single “Crosseditor duced the album “Flamingo.” fire” on repeat during my hour The album was released on Sept. 14, commute to my internship, constantly and I was at Best Buy by 10:30 a.m. to looked online for news about the album snatch up a deluxe edition of the CD. and listened to all four Killers albums Some songs on the album sound simithis summer. lar to what the Killers might sing. Other My Killers and Brandon Flowers songs have a soulful feel, while some are obsession all began last March when I even country western-like. bought “Day and Age,” the band’s fourth My favorite song is “Only the Young.” album featuring the single “Human.” The lyrics and music make me melt into It quickly became my favorite CD, a dream-like state, and I enjoy the spaceand I listened to it every day. Then, in age sounding keyboard. early May while researching the CD and Other songs to make sure you listen to upcoming Killers events, I saw that the are “Magdalena,” “Crossfire” and “The Killers announced on April 29 the band Clock was Tickin’,” which I think is about was going on hiatus and Brandon Flowhis parents’ troubled relationship. ers was working on a solo album. Flowers was on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” My heart stopped. on Sept. 14, when he told Kimmel the What did this mean? Was hiatus anKillers would be coming out with a new other word for the band’s break up? album in 2011. Nevertheless, I was excited about “I think the other guys just wanted to Flowers’ solo album because I knew it dry out after the ‘Day and Age’ tour,” he would be great. said to Kimmel. During the summer, angry fans on If you are a fan of the Killers or just message boards insulted Flowers by think Brandon Flowers is attractive, buy calling him selfish and greedy for using his new album “Flamingo.” “Killers’ songs on his new album” (In You won’t be disappointed. reality, he said his songs could easily be
Upcoming on-campus films: Saturday, Sept. 25: “How to Train Your Dragon”- An outcast viking finds and befriends a dragon. Wednesday, Sept. 28: “The Runaways”- Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning star in the film about Joan Jett.
Across
3. Name of play starting on Sept. 29. (two words) 5. Last name of The Johnsonian’s news editor. 8. What does Thomas Injaycock say is essential to getting a job? 9. Program to help students, faculty and staff lose weight. (two words)
Down
1. Name of Brandon Flowers’ new album. 2. Where did people watch the moon on Saturday? (two words) 4. Number of times ceramics professor Jim Connell has been in Strictly Functional Pottery Nationals. 6. What building does the Commuter Student Association (CSA) meet in? 7. What Winthrop property did Walk2Campus recently buy?
8
THURSDAY September 23, 2010
“The Yellow Boat” Actor aims to leave audience ‘thinking’ Play • from front theater is the community it builds with people,” Lee said. This is Lee’s directorial debut for a full-length play. She is making the transition from actor to director for the first time. “I think the biggest difference is that there’s so much responsibility on the front end (as a director),” she said. “As an actor, the responsibility is at the back end.” She said that as an actor, your main wish is to work with a good director. Lee is focused on being the best director she can be for her actors. Pulling their talent and potential out is the main challenge, which casting plays a huge part in, she said. “If you cast good people, then you can sit back and watch and there’s just magic on the stage,” Lee said. “It’s really all about the casting.” Philip Calabro, sophomore theater major, plays the lead role of Benjamin. Trying to understand the struggle of what the character went through is the most challenging
part of the play, he said. “Everything that happened in his short life can leave you speechless,” Calabro said. “Conveying his true story to the audience, to have them leave the play thinking is my main goal.” The show is very important to Lee not only because it’s her debut as a director, but also because of the message it sends. The show brings the AIDS epidemic to light by documenting a boy’s difficulties, and AIDS is an issue Lee is very passionate about. “That’s my goal in the show: to raise awareness for people,” she said. “It’s really important for people to see that it’s still an issue in the world today.” “The Yellow Boat” will be performed in Johnson’s Black Box Theater at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 29, to Saturday, Oct. 2, and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 3. Tickets are $5 with student I.D. and $10 without on Sept. 29 and 30, and $8 with I.D. and $15 without on Oct. 1 to Oct. 3.
Top: Sophomore theater major Philip Calabro plays 8-year-old Benjamin, who received AIDS a blood transfusion. Sophomore theater education major Sarah Gunter and theater major Christian Hubbard play his parents. Kyle Amick and Meghan Smith play doctors. Below: Junior theater major Bailey Robinson, who plays Joy, fights the AIDS to help Benjamin battle the disease. Photos by Paul Ricciardi • ricciardip@thejohnsonian. com
WANT TO GO? What: “ The Yellow Boat” Where: Black Box Studio When: Sept. 29 - Oct. 3 Time: 8 p.m. or 2 p.m. Price: $5 to $10, $8 to $15 Worth: Cultural event
When they were young Some of you might political science professor Karen Kedrowski. remember the “Winthrop as a Movie” feature from last year. Want to give your co-workers a good This year your Arts and laugh? Want to see what your professors looked Entertainment editors have started a new fea- like when they were ture where students can younger? see what their professors looked like during their Send us professor ideas college days. or your college photos to pickensj@thejohnsoThis week we have nian.com.
Then
Now
Cast list:
Sarah Gunter...Mom Christian Hubbard...Dad Philip Calabro...Benjamin Bailey Robinson...Joy Kyle Amick...Eddy Zachary Woods...Imagination Potential Loren Mixon...Imagination Potential Meghan Smith...Imagination Potential
9
THURSDAY September 23, 2010
ALEXIS AUSTIN Culture Editor austina@thejohnsonian.com
More than just a party
Sororities, fraternities based on values, director says By Alexis Austin austina@thejohnsonian.com
Selling lemonade. Shouting out calls across campus. Wearing t-shirts to represent their organization. These are some of the many things you will see various Greek organizations do across campus. However, there is more than what meets the eye. Greek organizations serve a number of purposes, especially at Winthrop, program director of fraternity and sorority affairs Lindsey Dombert said. “The purpose of Greek organizations is for students to unite themselves over values. It offers the opportunity for a variety of experiences over one organization,” she said. Currently about 550 students are active in Greek life Dombert said. Sophomore business administration major Tim Mention said he thinks the Greek organizations will grow in numbers. Mention is not in a fraternity but said he has considered joining. “I think Greek Life here on campus is different, compared to many HBCUs (historically black colleges and universities) I have visited,” he said. “I really think that as time passes
Greek life at Winthrop will pick up and start to become bigger in numbers.” Although this number has remained consistent on Winthrop’s campus, there has been an increase across the nation, Dombert said. “Winthrop’s numbers have remained around the same,” she said. “The organizations are growing in the number of programs they put on and service hours they complete each year.” Allair Gehm, a junior childhood education major, has mixed feelings about being a part of Winthrop’s Greek life. Gehm is not in a sorority and said she doesn’t want to be in one. “I like the idea of it but I don't like that you have to pay to be in it and that you get fined if something is not exactly up to their standards or par,” Gehm said. There are 16 Greek organizations on Winthrop’s campus. Each organization belongs to a specific council. Depending on the council the organization belongs to, there are different procedures and rules they must abide by in order to accept someone as a member. “Greek organizations have an internal system for sanctions and can fine chapters for violating
those sanctions,” Dombert said. “The fines are within organization themselves and members will know what these are before becoming a member.” Winthrop does not fine organizations unless they have done something in violation of school policy. “A Greek organization would be fined just like any other organization on campus,”Dombert said. Students are expected to have a specific grade point average, number of service hours and must pay dues. The cost of dues depends on the organization and can include national and chapter dues. “The prices for joining vary depending on the organization,” Dombert said. “Some organizations may have a one-time due of $1,000 while others may have dues of $200 per semester. Some organizations also have payment plans as an option.” To be active in any Greek organization, Winthrop requires students to take at least 12 credit hours. Gehm and Mention have been asked by various organizations if they were interested in being a part of Greek life. Gehm also said the organizations seem very competitive. “I think that it is very competitive around campus with signs and chalk everywhere,” she
Street Talk English you didn’t learn from your professors
International students, you probably didn’t learn these phrases in your English classes. Here are a few that might make your coversations more interesting. Test your friends and see if they can correctly define it.
Fired up- to be very angry Example: The man was fired up after waiting in line for two hours. Tightie Whitiesmen’s underwear that are white Example: My grandfather still wears tightie whities. Compiled by Alexis Austin
G Graphic by Mika Parajon• parajonm@thejohnsonian.com said. Mention said that despite all the requirements, he hopes to be a part of Greek life some day. “The reason I want to be part of a fraternity is to basically give back to
the community and have the group of people I can call my brothers, who I know will always have my back regardless of the situation, and the idea of networking,” he said. Dombert said that Greek life’s impact on Winthrop
has been huge. “They give back to the community and it encourages students to keep their grades up to stay active in their organizations,” she said.
10
SPORTS BRIEFS Athletes of the week announced Senior volleyball player Kaley Viola and men’s golfer Jordan Sease were named athletes of the week. Viola was named to the All-Tournament team at the Kansas Invitational. She had 35 kills and 24 digs during the three matches of the tournament. Sease, a junior, led the men’s golf team in the team’s season opener. He shot a one-over par (215) at the Sam Hall Intercollegiate hosted by Southern Mississippi University.
Tennis player aces first competition Freshman tennis player Andressa Garcia won her flight championship at the UVA Fall Classic. In her first collegiate tournament, she won four matches to finish at the top of her bracket.
THURSDAY September 23, 2010
CHRIS McFADDEN Sports Editor mcfaddenc@thejohnsonian.com
Intramurals promote fitness, sportsmanship at Winthrop By Chris McFadden
mcfaddenc@thejohnsonian.com
Students scream as a fellow classmate catches a pass from his quarterback and dives into the endzone. This isn’t a dream sequence from one of Winthrop’s die-hard football fans whose heart skips a beat at the mere mention of possibly playing football on campus. No, this is a real life football game taking place at one of the university’s recreational fields. The only caveat it’s flag football. Flag football is one of the 14 league sports Winthrop offers through its intramural program. “They are usually four weeks in length
and end with a single elimination tournament,” program director for intramural and club sports Neil Ostlund said. Winners of the tournament receive an intramural championship T-shirt and bragging rights. An all-campus championship title is given to one male and one female team that gain the most points from participating in multiple intramural events. In addition to the league sports, there are 24 special events/ tournaments during the school year. These include: a spades tournament, captain’s choice golf and a disc golf tournament. Intramural sports have long been of-
fered at Winthrop as a way for students to get exercise as well as participate in sports they love. “I’m not exactly sure how long they have been here, but they have been here for more than 25 years,” Ostlund said. Intramural sports are popular and have become embedded in colleges all over the country. The NIRSA, which Winthrop is a member of, may be one of the reasons for this growth. “The National Intramural Recreational Sports Association brought on the idea of recreation and helped make that idea grow on campuses across the country,” Ostlund said.
According to its website, NIRSA was founded in 1950 and has embarked on a journey to promote ethical and healthy lifestyle choices. The recreational services department knows there are health benefits to participating in intramurals, but it also thnks there are other benefits intramural sports can provide.
“The first thing we hope is the student has fun. Also, we believe students will be able to relieve stress from the classroom,” Ostlund said. “Intramurals provide opportunities for leadership and teamwork,” he said. “They give students an opportunity to demonstrate sportsmanship by maintaining their com-
posure and a calm attitude while they compete.” Whether students are looking for a novel way to introduce exercise into their daily routine or simply like the thrill of competition, intramural sports may be the way to go. “We want students to have fun,” Ostlund said.
Cross country runner runs to title The Hurricanes played Man Down in a recent Flag football game. Flag football is one of 14 sports offered through Winthrop recreational services office. Photos by Paul Ricciardi • ricciardip@thejohnsonian.com
DODGEBALL • DODGEBALL
DODGEBALL • DODGEBALL
Junior runner Adam Freudenthal won the the South Carolina Intercollegiate Cross Country Championship held at Winthrop Lake. He ran the 8K in a time of 25:18.18, which helped Winthrop finish in second place. Nineteen schools participated in the event, which is in its 24th year.
THURSDAY September 23, 2010
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SPORTS
Basketball coach specializes in rebuilding teams coach • from front first full year at the helm, he had a roster filled with players as youthful as him. Thirteen freshmen and a lone sophomore were the tools Childers had at his disposal for the 1983 season. It turns out that was all he needed. That year, Childers led the Bulldogs to the National Junior College Athletic Association national championship game, establishing their credibility and attaining a remarkable 49-10 record. The coach consistently said that team was the best he ever had, calling the experience “amazing.” After such a successful stint, however, Childers, almost inexplicably, left the program. “I think the allure of building and fixing something has always been real attractive to
me and I enjoy it,” the head coach said. “I don’t plan on leaving, but it just turns out that way.” Despite the abrupt exit, his blue-collar work ethic led Childers all around America, coaching at venues as varied as the minnows of Montevallo University in Atlanta, to the storied program of the University of Louisville. He notched up two regular-season conference championships at Louisville. But Childers’ story has now come full circle and brought him back home. Cumberland voted the program builder into its hall of fame, among six others. Childers admitts he was shocked to hear the news. “It came as a complete surprise. To be considered is an honor, a real thrill,” he said.
What may be even more thrilling are the prospects of Winthrop’s women’s basketball team for this coming season. The seven-year veteran coach hopes to use his vast experience to lead Winthrop back into contention for postseason play. “Winthrop is very similar to a lot of the other schools that I took over. We need to look for stability, be consistent, have strong leadership and commit to doing things in a certain way,” he said. With new assistant coach Tounisia Turner-Lewis at his side and several elite freshmen waiting in the wings, Childers likes the way the future looks. He said he’s excited about the youth on his team, with 10 freshmen and sophomores on the roster.
“We’re going to be faster and quicker than ever before. We’re moving to a more dynamic, more explosive play and it’s been a while since I’ve seen that,” he said. Childers hopes to change the fortunes of Winthrop just as he did for Cumberland. The proof of the Lady Eagles’ improvement can be seen in how opponents view the team now. “Each time I’ve taken over a team, a lot of coaches call me to schedule to play us because they think we’re easy,” Childers said, “but now, they don’t like to call me anymore.” The Lady Eagles begin their season at home against the Belmont Bruins on Nov. 12, with conference play beginning in January against Charleston Southern University.
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Winthrop is very similar to a lot of the schools I took over. We need to look for stability, be consistent, have strong leadership... Bud Childers
Lady Eagles head basketball coach
Former WU player an advocate for the underdogs By David Thackham
thackhamd@thejohnsonian.com
Jeremy Plexico likes to root for the underdogs. Probably because he knows the feeling: he’s been one. The current Ball State University baseball pitching coach was a Winthrop legend back in 2002 and 2003, but his story started farther south down I-77. Beginning his baseball career at the University of South Carolina, Plexico found himself riding the bench, stuck behind more proven talent in the pitching rotation. “It just didn’t work at at USC,” the Chapin High School graduate said. His fortune was soon to change with a move to Rock Hill. “I only went to Winthrop on a baseball decision,” Plexico said. “When I got there, it was a perfect fit, the city was good for me and it was a great situation.” Under the tutelage of Winthrop head coach Joe Hudak, Plexico flourished. “Winthrop helped me believe in myself when I played in front of the fans.” Plexico seized upon that opportunity, surprising most and completing the season 9-5, with a respectable ERA of 4.38. In his first year, he received Third Team All-American honors. Hudak and his new recruit worked hard during the offseason of 2003 to
further improve Plexico’s game. “Hudak was able to help with my changeup and several different pitching strategies,” the coach said, “so I was able to put that to use by going out and executing. The extra training paid dividends, and the pitcher’s second season was even more successful. He sliced his ERA in half to 2.90 and racked up an 11-3 record, which helped him earn All-American honors for the second successive season. The young Plexico thrived in the classroom as well as the diamond. He earned the Big South Male Scholar Athlete of the Year award as a senior, the Winthrop Senior Academic Award and the Big South Presidential Scholar Award. But one thing Plexico values more than anything is his former teammates. Plexico said his best memory from playing at Winthrop was “all the friends and everyone he’s met.” “Just about everyone I played with I can call up at any time and they’d do anything for me at the drop of a dime, so a lot of my success wouldn’t have happened without my teammates,” he said. The coach thinks his personal statistics were “icing on the cake” for such a successful spell with the Eagles. After graduating in 2003 with a B.A. in history, the Montreal Expos draft Plexico
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in the 19th round of the amateur entry draft. He enjoyed a respectable five-year stint with several minor league teams before choosing a more preferred role: helping those underdogs like he once was. “I’ve been either the guy at the end or the top of the bench, so I know how everyone feels, Plexico said. “I’ve learned to deal with people who I’ve never been around, from all walks of life, and I’m able to relate to them,” he said. “I’m going to work with all the guys, even the ones on the bottom of the roster and pull for everyone who runs out there.” Ball State University was the first to recognize his commitment.
“The Cardinals coaching staff is awesome I feel like I’m working with people, not for them,” Plexico said. The newly-instituted pitching coach has hopes to go as far into college baseball as he can, building a strong foundation of players and staff alike. But in essence, the most important thing for Plexico is to help the players. “I want to bring a killer instinct with a laid back attitud be even keel, easy going, a guy who the players can look at as a comfort zone and be the one they can count on,” he said. Whether benchwarmer or grand slam hero, the Winthrop alumnus is working hard to make sure everyone knows he or she counts.
THURSDAY September 23, 2010
THE JOHNSONIAN
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