March 12, 2015

THE JOHNSONIAN | THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015 | MYTJNOW.COM BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT TJ SPORTS

tj

Not Again

Jacob Hallex / The Johnsonian

70 - 81 Eagles fall in conference championship to foe Coastal Carolina for second straight year Michael Owens owensm@mytjnow.com

which included his 1,000th career point coming on a free throw in the final minutes. Smith finished with 14 points in his finale, overpassing the thousand-point career mark earlier this season.

Moore simply stated after the game that the moment seemed to have gotten the best of them, and that he and Smith tried to pick an Eagle team full of youth up after the Chants gained control inside a raucous HTC Center.

Kelsey expressed the pride he felt in his seniors after the game.

“Two seniors that have really forged the identity that we want in our basketball program. I’ve never coached two young men that are harder working young men. They work on their games only when they’re breathing, and they set the tone in terms of

Déjà vu is a mysterious thing. An occurrence that nearly, or actually does manage to, repeat itself in a further place in time is not something that happens often.

Case and point, the Winthrop men’s basketball team being defeated by Coastal Carolina in the Big South Championship one year after being defeated by the same team, in the same venue with the conference title on the line.

The Eagles were the subject of a strong second half by the Chanticleers, who came right out the gate and led by as much as 16 in their 81-70 win on Sunday.

The win marks the second straight NCAA tournament bid for the Chants, while Winthrop coach Pat Kelsey’s team was once again left on the outside looking in after earning their way to the rematch with wins over Radford and Longwood earlier in the weekend.

“They were better than us today and that happens sometimes,” he said. “We live to see another day and hope to see them down the road.”

By the time Coastal got out on a 9-2 run within the first four minutes after halftime, it looked like the wind had been taken out of Winthrop’s sails.

The Eagles carried momentum into the intermission by erasing a deficit as large as nine points in five Jacob Hallex / The Johnsonian minutes, and a three-pointer from Andre Smith beat Winthrop senior forward Keon Moore shoots free throws during the buzzer to tie things up at 38.

Winthrop struggled to stop a potent Coastal offense Winthrop’s quarterfinal win over Radford during the Big South that shot over 50 percent from the field in the second Conference tournament. half including three long-range bombs from Badou their work ethic in our program,” he said.

Diange that set the tone throughout the period.

The Eagles capped off their season with a 19-13 The day didn’t come without some silver linings record with the loss, the second straight winning though. Sophomore Keon Johnson led the scoring season during Kelsey’s tenure. It was also Winthrop’s with 18 points and was one of four Eagles to hit third appearance in the Big South title game in five double-figures. One of those was freshman Xavier years, with their last trip to the NCAA Tournament Cooks, who scored 14 points and pulled down 12 coming in 2010 after winning the conference. rebounds in what was just the second double-double For the Winthrop program, it’s about getting ready of his Winthrop career. for November and to begin the climb towards the top Smith and fellow senior Keon Moore were both again - A place where Kelsey hopes to find himself in in that category as well in what could be their final better company sooner rather than later. appearances in garnet and gold. Moore, who was “Three-hundred sixty-five days from now I hope I’m voted to the All-Tournament team, had 16 points sitting here again in a better mood,” Kelsey said.

#NotAllGreeks: Trey Stokes stokest@mytjnow.com “Not all Greeks are racist!”

“Not all Greeks sexually assault women.”

“Not all Greeks haze.”

On March 8, a video surfaced of members of Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) at the University of Oklahoma chanting, among other things, “There will never be a nigger in SAE, you can hang him

mytjnow.com Serving Winthrop since 1923

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EDITORIAL

Big South should consider new location for tournament Michael Owens owensm@mytjnow.com I’d like to preface this article by saying this; I have very much appreciated the hospitality that the Big South Conference has given to The Johnsonian over the past couple of years during the basketball tournaments. We’ve gotten the same treatment as everyone else, and I could not have asked for better experiences in the two years I’ve been there.

Speaking of the basketball tournaments, though, something just seems off about them.

Let me not make excuses. Coastal Carolina played a much better game than Winthrop on Sunday. The Eagles didn’t stand much of a chance after the Chanticleers opened up the second half strong, but it wasn’t just their five players on the floor that gave them an edge.

It was their fans.

Sitting on media row, I looked around at Winthrop’s legion of maybe 150-200 and saw a sea of teal throughout the HTC Center, the regular home of Chanticleer hoops.

It got myself and others thinking, this is really the only tournament in America that’s like this.

Most large conferences (ACC, SEC, Big Ten, etc.) all hold their tournaments on neutral sites. Other mid-majors have the regular season champion or highest seed host. The Big South even held that system a few years ago, but it was soon replaced by being put in Conway for the past three years.

see BIG SOUTH pg. 6

Editor believes that national Greek organizations do not take enough steps to prevent racism, violence and sexual assault on college campuses

from a tree, but he’ll never sign with me” on a bus. Both the national organization and the university have responded with swift action; the national SAE suspended the OU chapter, and the President of OU has expelled two students involved in the chant.

Closer to home, the Furman University chapter of SAE was suspended by the university in February for its purported involvement with hazing.

Even closer to home, I have a couple of friends who have been sexually assaulted by members of the Winthrop Greek community.

The prevalence of violence, humiliation and racism in Greek life on American college campuses makes you wonder if these problems are as “isolated” as their defenders claim they are.

see GREEKS pg. 7

Index: News 3 | Arts & Culture 4 | Science & Tech 5 | Sports 6 | Opinion 7

2

Police Blotters March 12, 2015

Electronic check charges 3/5/2015

On the above date at approximately 10:30 a.m. Winthrop Police Department was notified that a former student had an outstanding balance on her account. The suspect sent the school various electronic checks in mid December to pay off her balance. On Dec. 19, 2014, the suspect sent an electronic check for $1,815.75. In addition to that payment, the suspect also sent an electronic check for $7,874.75. The Student Financial Aid office was notified that both checks were returned to her bank due to “payment stopped” after the student graduated. The suspect was sent an email advising her to settle her account by Feb. 2, 2015 and it still has yet to be completed.

The student financial services are now in the processes of changing their procedures so that all students’ accounts are cleared by the time they graduate. The school is sending the suspect a firm letter with a strong deadline. If the suspect does not honor that, they will pursue charges.

Underage alcohol purchase 3/7/2015 On the above date at approximately 3:04 a.m. a reporting officer responded to Richardson Hall in reference to a student welfare check. Upon arrival, a Richardson Hall Desk staff member informed the officer that subject #1 had been drinking and stated that she was going to hurt herself. The officer met with subject #1 in the parking lot and could immediately detect an alcoholic odor coming from her mouth. Subject #1 said she was unsure if she wanted

to hurt herself but had been struggling with depression the past few days.

The subject also told the officer that she was not feeling like herself and just wanted to die. After listening to this, the officer asked subject #1 if she would like to go to Piedmont Medical Center for an evaluation and possible treatment. The subject said that she would go to the hospital by herself. The subject was also issued a ticket for consumption of alcohol under 21 and is being referred to the Winthrop University judicial office.

Violation of dog ordinance 3/8/2015 On the above date at approximately 3 p.m. a reporting officer was dispatched to Winthrop Lake in response to an animal attacking an individual.

According to subject #1, he was sitting down with his dog when the dog managed to get out of his collar and leash. Subject #1 stated that the dog ran into the victim and started jumping on him. The victim attempted to back up but the dog bit the victim’s left arm. The victim proceeded to tell the officer a similar story as subject #1. During this time, the officer noticed that the dog bite resulted in two separate wounds causing blood to be drawn. The officer further observed that the victim had his shirt on him to stop the bleeding.

During the conversation, the victim understood that that the incident was an accident and that he would not be pressing criminal charges. The officer then asked the victim if he wanted to call an ambulance to examine the wound.

The victim declined and said he would contact his personal doctor. Due to the dog biting the man, the reporting officer contacted the York County Animal Control in order to take custody of the dog for a quarantine.

CSL now accepting applications

If you want to: • Make connections with students leaders • Be more involved on campus • Represent the student body • Make connections with faculty/staff • Support your student body clubs and organization • Serve as the official student voice to the Winthrop University Board of Trustees • Improve your leadership skills Then the Council of Student Leaders is for you!

The Council of Students Leaders is a representative body of Winthrop University student leaders and other concerned students.

The Council serves as a vehicle that provides students a significant role in institutional decision-making and self-governance.

Mission Statement “We, the Council of Student Leaders, as the voice of the student body, are committed to Winthrop University and our extended community, through appreciating diversity and encouraging unity. We facilitate the organization of student groups, promote campus wide events, communicate student needs and enhance our understanding of Winthrop in order to better

serve the university. Through our actions, we aim to further student development, to promote integrity and accountability and to empower students to take an active role in campus life. Empowered students will become accountable citizens, will shape positive change and will encourage community pride through their investment in Winthrop University and the world.”

In order to hold an Annual Seat, you must have the following: • 2.50 cumulative GPA • Good academic standing During the spring semester, CSL has interviews when there are open spots on The Council.

And every Fall CSL opens at least five spots for incoming freshman and transfer students.

• • •

How Do I Apply?

Applications will be available on March 25 Applications are due at 5 p.m. on April 8 New member interviews are on April 13

If you want to know more about CSL contact any Council member and come to the meetings at 7 p.m. every Monday in DIGS 114.

Featured Photo Eagles spring into action

Manchester Meadows hosted a friendly between the Winthrop men’s soccer team and the Charlotte Independence of the United Soccer League on Sunday night. The Eagles played the Independence to a 1-1 draw.

Jacob Hallex / The Johnsonian

3

Would you get in my bed?

March 12, 2015

Spring Break Awareness Week educates students on sex, drug safety Carolyn Rennix rennixc@mytjnow.com

One in 4 new HIV infections in the United States are among people under age 25.

Most college student fall into this age category and 1 in 5 of HIV infected people do not know because of lack of testing.

Winthrop University Health and Wellness Services hosted Spring Break Awareness week to help students understand the risks they may encounter during spring break and how to safely control theses situations.

A bed was placed in the DiGiorgio Center Lobby with a large sign asking passerbys, “Would you get in my bed?”

This visual display was to help students understand the harsh reality of STD’s among young Americans, specifically college students.

Winthrop students were encouraged to visit Catawba Care for free STD testing.

Students also received information on how to stay safe regarding drug usage, travel safety, rape, relationship abuse and alcohol awareness.

Winthrop’s office of victims assistance and off-campus organizations attended the event to hand out condoms, pamphlets and offer information regarding a safe spring break.

The organizations included: • Safe Passage, Inc.; • Piedmont Medical Center; • Catawba Care; • South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault.

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Greek life spreads depression awareness

Chi Omega and Pikapp host “You got a friend in Me” Victor Volious voliousv2@winthrop.edu

About 9 percent of adult Americans have feelings of hopelessness, despondency and/ or guilt that generate a diagnosis of depression, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Major depression is the leading cause of disability for Americans between the ages of 15 and 44, according to the CDC. Chi Omega Sorority and Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity hosted the event, “You Got a Friend in Me,” to help spread depression awareness among college students.

Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest.

Also called major depression, major depressive disorder or clinical depression, affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems.

The signs for depression include odd sleeping patterns, inability to focus, not having an appetite, having the feeling of hopelessness and helplessness and not being able to control negative thoughts.

During the event, many students’ eyes were opened about depression and how commonly the disease affects college students.

Rob Vereen, a junior finance

major, said that he took away some good tips from the program.

“It was nice to hear about the signs of depression, because sometimes it is hard to see it in others,” Vereen said.

The speaker psychologist Dr. Kitzen, also shed some light on depression on college campus and the demographics of people who tend to suffer from depression.

Kitzen said 30 percent of college students felt so depressed that they could not function.

Kitzen also said that women are more likely to be depressed than men.

The largest scientific organization dedicated to mental health issues, women are 70 percent more likely than men to experience depression during the course of their lifetimes, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

Vanessa Mosher, programing chair of Chi Omega, said that she organized this event to help Winthrop students understand and learn about depression in a healthy atmosphere.

“I feel like everyone on campus knows someone who has depression and if I could help one person, then I have done my job,” Mosher said.

Dr. Gretchen Baldwin, clinical and counseling services coordinator, said that there are resources offered at Winthrop and suggested that anyone suffering from depression should visit the counseling services.

According to the Winthrop Health and Counseling Services, their goal is to assist students to resolve mental health and development issues that interfere in their personal, interpersonal and academic lives.

For more information visit the counseling services office in Crawford or call (803)323-2206.

Carolyn Rennix | News Editor rennixc@mytjnow.com

Althea Holenko/ The Johnsonian

Catherine Lowe | Assistant News Editor lowec@mytjnow.com

4

March 12, 2015

Armored knights of chivalry come to Winthrop Daniel James jamesd@mytjnow.com Are you into tales of chivalry? Are you fascinated by tales of Vikings?

Does the majority of your time go into cosplay, watching “Game of Thrones” and playing “Skyrim”? A minor in medieval studies may be for you.

Professors from the medieval studies minor hosted Medieval Day in order to raise awareness of the opportunities in the minor in DiGiorgio Campus Center March 10.

At this event, they served food from medieval times, allowed students to handle pages from an 11th century Bible and try medieval armor and weapons.

“We have been a minor for four years and are one of the fastest

Photo by Daniel James / The Johnsonian Dame Marita Bendon stands in armor holding a spear while theatre students sing medieval songs and play instruments in the background.

Photo by Daniel James / The Johnsonian Page from 11th century copy of Paul’s Epistles. growing minors on campus,” said director of the medieval studies minor Jo Koster. “It’s a great minor where lots of modern attitudes toward women, homosexuality, Islam and many others come from. So much of that has roots in the medieval ages.

If you are trying to understand how we got to where we are now, it’s a great way to do that.”

The event was meant to raise awareness of the medieval studies minor on campus. This minor within the Department of Disciplinary Studies teaches students about history, religious practices and cultural norms from the Medieval time period.

The minor is composed of an introductory class, two core courses and three electives. According to Koster, one new class being offered this summer is Christine de Pizan in Art and Literature, which will examine “The Book of the City of Ladies” and other works by the late medieval author.

The event also served to raise awareness of The Knightly Order of the Fiat Lux. The Knightly Order of the Fiat Lux is an organization that works to encourage its members to live an honorable and chivalrous lifestyle.

Organization members also train in the proper use of medieval tools and weaponry. Fiat Lux provided

Photo by Daniel James / The Johnsonian all of the weapons and armor at the event.

“We are a real knightly order,” said Fiat Lux member and business administration major Jonathan McCartney. “Our goal is to make good men better.”

While Fiat Lux is technically a fraternity, it does have female members. Marita Bendon, knighted dame of Fiat Lux, has been working with the organization for six years and currently serves as female leader of the youth program.

When Marita Bendon earned the rank of knight it was unexpected.

Bendon said that she expected to be formally given the position of youth program leader when one of the founders told her to kneel.

“No one knew it was happening,” Bendon said. “That was probably the best moment in my life. It was a big honor.”

Bendon said that she is working to start a sister order to better equip the organization’s female members for improvement and advancement, while still working closely with Fiat

Lux, with whom each has close ties.

“It takes a lot of strength to stay with it, but it has always been worth it,” Bendon said.

Fiat Lux not only requires strength of body and mind in melee combat, but also strength of character. Each member is expected to live up to knightly code which states that each member will always be a champion for good against injustice.

Fiat Lux achieves this through service projects with a goal of improving the community. The Rock Hill chapter is currently working with Autism Speaks, an advocacy organization that works to raise awareness of Autism and sponsors autism research, Pilgrims’ Inn, which provides for women and children in Rock Hill and the Rock Hill Dream Center.

Anyone interested in joining Fiat Lux may contact McCartney at 803-487-0860 or at jmccartney@ comporium.net.

Anyone interested in classes in the medieval studies minor may visit winthrop.edu/mdst.

CAN A STUDENT DISCOVER THE TRUTH FOR AMERICA? When you’re a part of the CIA, you can.

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Daniel James | A&C Editor jamesd@mytjnow.com

Beth West | Assistant A&C Editor westb@mytjnow.com

5

March 12, 2015

World’s first solar-powered plane begins historical worldwide tour Swiss aircraft will run entirely without fuel, offering new energy alternatives Deborah Crocker crockerd@mytjnow.com The Solar Impulse 2, the only known airplane of perpetual endurance, began its journey Monday as the first plane to travel around the world completely powered by solar energy.

At 7:12 UTC on March 8, the Solar Impulse 2 left Abu Dhabi to begin its round-the-world flight.

The plane was expected to arrive at its first stop, Muscat, Oman, in 12 hours, from which it will travel to India, Myanmar, China and the U.S. The potentially world recordsetting, 35,000-kilometer journey is estimated to last five months, according to CNN.com. Although the flight was initially scheduled for March 1, recent dust storms caused a number of weather concerns, prompting a week-long delay.

“We have had a lot of sandstorms in Abu Dhabi, and also a lot of wind, sea breezes, higher than the limit,” said meteorologist Luc Truellemans in an interview with CNN. The first prototype of the historic aircraft conducted its first flight test

in December 2009, and successfully completed a 26-hour flight in July 2010. Construction of the current Solar Impulse aircraft began in 2011, with a larger design and a seat for one additional pilot.

“Solar Impulse 2, the RoundThe-World Solar Airplane, has been developed to meet the #RTW (Round the World) challenges,” said the Solar Impulse team on their web page. “Larger in wingspan than a Jumbo Jet, but as light as a SUV, this solar airplane presents structural and aerodynamic features never before encountered.”

Founder Bertrand Piccard, the first to make a nonstop around-theworld balloon flight, will share the plane’s cockpit with MIT engineer Andre Borschberg to spend a total of 500 hours taking turns throughout the plane’s journey. The Solar Impulse 2 was packed with enough food and water to last the team a week, along with a parachute, life raft and oxygen bottles. Having already determined who would be taking on which flight duties, the flights have been divided between them: Piccard will fly across the Pacific, while Borschberg will fly over the Atlantic.

Borschberg and Piccard do not intend to revolutionize the aviation

Deborah Crocker \ The Johnsonian

industry, but to demonstrate the possibility of alternative energy sources along with new technologies, resulting in less dependence on fossil fuels.

“I am confident we have a very special aeroplane, and it will have to

be to get us across the big oceans,” Borschberg told BBC News. “We may have to fly for five days and five nights to do that, and it will be a challenge. But we have the next two months, as we fly the legs to China, to train and prepare ourselves.”

Your electronics aren’t human – water is the last thing they need to survive. Use special cleaning chemicals to clean your devices, and don’t completely soak them.

Buy screen cleaner for your computer instead of using tap water. If you absolutely must use water, use a damp cloth only and don’t let water droplets seep between the keys of your keyboard. Dry it off as quickly as possible, and never use a hair dryer on any of your devices. For smartphones, get a good screen protector and an airtight case to minimize the need for a full cleaning, and try to keep it out of dusty or messy storage spaces.

Deborah Crocker \ The Johnsonian

College Charleston of

maymester/summer sessions 2015

Helpful tips to maintain your personal health Being a student doesn’t mean sacrificing your mental and physical health.

Deborah Crocker crockerd@mytjnow.com Eating healthy doesn’t mean starving yourself. You may think you’re cutting calories by skipping meals, but you’ll still be hungry.

Although you might lose a few pounds, the weight will return shortly after you begin eating regularly again.

Starvation will also instinctively lead to overeating to compensate for the lack of nutrients, which will contribute to weight gain.

You don’t need to spend hours in the gym to lose weight.

Jumping jacks and jogging in your room are good exercises to do from the comfort of your dorm room, as long as you try not to do it late at night to avoid disturbing others. Look up other at-home exercises you can do between study sessions and during your free time – for instance, there are plenty of excercises you can do using a chair or a desk.

Don’t hold in negative thoughts or leave anxiety unaddressed.

If you feel stressed or depressed, do something that cheers you up. Don’t allow yourself to lie in bed all day, though there’s nothing wrong with taking a day off classes if you aren’t feeling up to it. Go to Winthrop’s counseling center if you need a listening ear, and talk to close friends and family members for advice.

Power-studying can be unhealthy. Instead of cramming over the course of a couple of days, study in short sessions of 20 minutes and take breaks in between. Eliminate any distractions and have food

Deborah Crocker | Science & Technology Editor crockerd@mytjnow.com

nearby. Studying with friends or classmates might also help you retain the information faster, and it will keep you in a better mood as well. If possible, start making a study guide long before the first test is announced so you’ll have more time to go over the material.

If you’re out of shape, don’t immediately move towards high intensity workouts. This isn’t healthy for your body, and may result in injury or extreme exhaustion. Go slowly, and don’t go beyond your limits. Avoid lifting weights beyond your threshold as well. Work your way up to longer, more intense workouts and heavier weights.

Don’t worry about how you look at the gym. You’re there to work out, not to look a certain way to others. If you feel anxiety about being watched, bringing headphones and an MP3 player can help to block out any outside distractions. Just remember that everyone around you is there for the same purpose.

If you need quiet time, take it.

Feeling overworked or tired might call for a nap or just a few hours alone doing something you enjoy to bring your stress levels down. If animal therapy calms you, go to an animal shelter or wait for the therapy dogs to come to the DiGiorgio Center every other Wednesday. Video games, writing, drawing or even exercise of some kind may help you to settle down as well.

End any toxic relationships.

Any friendship that involves emotional or physical abuse isn’t healthy, no matter how long you’ve been friends with that person. It’s better in the long run to end it before it becomes worse. If you feel as if you are in danger from this person, notify campus police.

6

SPORTS

theJohnsonian

March 12, 2015

Dethroned

Title repeat quest ends early for Winthrop women

Jacob Hallex / The Johnsonian

Junior forward/center Schaquilla Nunn battles inside during the Eagles’ loss to Campbell on Thursday. She’ll look to become the first Winthrop player, from either the men’s or women’s programs, to reach 1,000-points and 1,000 rebounds in a career next season.

Michael Owens owensm@mytjnow.com The road to back-to-back tournament titles ended for the Winthrop women’s basketball team on Thursday, as turnovers and a cold day from the floor doomed them to a 65-52 loss to the Campbell Camels in the Big South Tournament quarterfinals.

The team was marred by a season-high 23 turnovers, combined with shooting 30 percent on field goals despite bringing down 55 team rebounds and double-double performances from Schaquilla Nunn and Erica Williams.

Head coach Kevin Cook gave the nod to his opponent on their victory.

“I thought we were ready and focused, but Campbell converted a lot of turnovers into points,” he said.

Convert they did, as the Camels scored 16 points off Winthrop’s turnovers.

They were also credited with 20 steals as a team as well.

Nunn led the team with 21 points and 20 rebounds, on a day where she became the all-time Winthrop leader in rebounds. It was also her 42nd career double-double, and Williams’s 15 points and 11 rebounds accounted for her 22nd career double-double.

She said that her eyes were on the scoreboard all game long, and that the individual performance didn’t dawn on her until after the game.

Campbell was led by their pair of seniors, as Summer Leverette had a

team-high 18 points while Kiera Gaines had 15 points and 4 blocks for the Camels.

Both teams started off cold in the first half, but a 13-0 run from the Camels built momentum midway through the period.

The Eagles used eight unanswered points to climb back in the game, led

by Aliyah Kilpatrick. They had a chance to go up at the half, but were unable to convert as they trailed 24-23 going into the intermission.

Campbell set the pace for the second half almost from the onset with a 15-0 run in the first six minutes to give them their first double-digit lead.

Nunn continued to provide points for Winthrop, and the lead managed to be cut to as small as seven, but threes from Leverette helped the Camels pull away in the final moments.

For Winthrop, it marks the end of another winning season. The Eagles finish with a 17-13 record, the fourth straight mark over .500 .

It also brings the end of the journey for seniors Samiya Wright and Taylor Calvert.

Wright had seven points and three rebounds in her final game as an Eagle, hitting one of Winthrop’s two total three pointers. Calvert played limited minutes after coming down awkwardly on her foot on a play midway through the first half. She was held scoreless, but pulled down four rebounds and also had four assists.

Cook said that work to prepare for next season will start “very soon” and that his squad “will be a better shooting team” when November hits.

Big South • from front The Big South even held a “highest seed hosts” system a few years ago, but it was replaced by being put in Conway starting in 2013.

In two of those three years since, Coastal has won the conference title and a trip to the NCAA Tournament, their first-ever back-to-back championships, and until last year, the Chants had not won a Big South title since 1993.

Coincidental? Perhaps. Controversial?

Definitely.

Like I said, this was a popular topic of discussion over the weekend. Whether it was at live at the venue or on social media, especially Twitter.

Even last year, when the Eagles fell to the Chants in the same sort of fashion, the same conversation ensued, and on this year’s drive home I started asking myself: “When did they earn the right to host?”

The thing is, at least from what I’ve seen, they didn’t.

But why is it in the Grand Strand? It starts with the sponsor, VisitMyrtleBeach.com. I place no blame on them whatsoever, but there is a solution

that would benefit the title sponsor, the Grand Strand and the call for a more even playing field.

The Myrtle Beach Convention Center.

For one, it’s a bigger venue; twice the capacity of the HTC Center, in fact. It has proven to be a solid basketball arena before, hosting the Beach Ball Classic (one of the biggest high school basketball tournaments in the southeast) every year.

It’s also closer to hotels in Myrtle Beach along Ocean Bvld. as opposed to being 20 miles down Highway 501 in Conway. Highway 501 is one of the more hazardous stretches of road in the area, and eliminating constant back-and-forth would eliminate a large portion of risk.

Now if it’s an issue of operating costs, then that’s not a big deal, but if a tournament like the Beach Ball Classic can continually exist there, why can’t a Division I conference tournament also thrive in the same place?

Another option could be to go back to the system where the regular season champion hosts.

This could only bring about mass hysteria in a conference like the Big South, though. Seeing as

Want to see more?

Check out our photo gallery from the 2015 Big South Tournament at http://bit.ly/1EnH0l1

how there was a seven-way tie for first place at one point, putting an athletic department on the spot with a week to prepare for a tournament isn’t exactly ideal. It also puts pressure on schools with smaller arenas (i.e. Charleston Southern and Presbyterian) to fill up a sudden flux of fans from other schools.

An alternative to this would be to go back to where the higher seed of each game hosts in each round. While this worked for a while, it did seem to take away from the event a tournament like this could be.

The last option would be just to remove it from the Strand altogether after the agreement ends in 2016. The spot that was most talked about was the Bojangles’ Coliseum in Charlotte, which is soon to be the subject of a $16 million renovation funded by the city.

It’s where the league offices are located and is a much more centralized location, making travel easier for the Virginia schools.

Any way you slice it, unearned home-court advantage is something that seriously needs to be evaluated in the Big South.

Ready for March Madness?

Want something different?

Take on the TJ Bracket Challenge using Realtime Brackets!

Steps 1. Log on to rtbrackets.com 2. Sign in using Facebook or Google+ 3. Choose between three game types 4. Click “Join a Group” and search “TJ Bracket Challenge” 5. Password is “mytjnow” Jacob Hallex / The Johnsonian

7

March 12, 2015

#NotAllGreeks Trey Stokes Opinion Editor

GREEKs • from front On Twitter, a former member of SAE from the University of Texas claims the same racist chant was used during his time there.

As a disclaimer, let me say that I have no problem with any voluntary association among consenting individuals, as long as they aren’t hurting anyone. The First Amendment protects such freedom of association, and I love the First Amendment more than anyone else I know. And I’m not just picking on SAE. That being said, I have a personal problem with groups that systemically condone — either explicitly or, more often, implicitly — oppression based on gender, race, sexual orientation or anything else. The national SAE organization condemned the

OU chapter because to do otherwise would have resulted in more of a condemnation of the fraternity as a whole. In other words, they got caught — what else is going on that never gets recorded?

What have Greek organizations done at a national level to proactively stifle the spread of misogyny, homophobia and racism? I don’t think it’s a high priority for most.

But when your specific in-group boasts higher rates of sexual assault and racist comments than the general population, regardless of whether it’s a Greek organization or not, you need to admit there’s a problem — instead of snuffing out isolated incidents that happen to leak out.

But why wouldn’t Greek organizations admit there’s a problem? Well, it’s bad publicity, for starters.

The hashtag #NotAllMen was used by feminists to mock the dismissal, usually by men, of conversations about topics like sexual assault. The refrain “not all men rape” is irrelevant to the discussion of sexual assault — the fact is that some men rape, and that fact needs to be addressed. #NotAllGreeks are racist, hazing, sexual criminals, but some are — and it’s time we admit that there’s a problem.

“Don’t be silly, wrap your willy”: safe sex over break

Christine Buckley Staff Writer Spring break begins next week, and, to some people, it’s time to party. It’s also time for some students to have a spring break fling with no long-term commitment.

But would you trust that handsome man or sexy woman who you just met at a party to be the parent of your future child? Do you expect them to be honest about their sexual past when you ask them in the heat of the moment? This is why if you plan to be sexually active this spring break, you should use a condom.

One can preach about abstinence all day, saying that it’s the only 100 percent effective method to prevent pregnancy, but the truth is that some college students will have sex this spring break. Knowing that, it’s important to mention that if a condom is used correctly, it is about 98 percent effective at preventing pregnancies. And trust me, even though having sex with the perfect human specimen might sound intense at the time, having to raise a child afterward while pulling a full-time load at a university is not a glamorous consequence.

Though some might try to convince others, the “withdrawal method” is not very reliable, as sperm can exist in pre-ejaculate fluids. While many people claim this technique is safe, it’s important to know that people who use this method correctly still only maintain a success rate hovering around 73 percent.

Birth control pills and IUDs are even better than condoms at preventing pregnancies; however, it’s still recommended to use a condom until you and your partner have been tested for STDs—and you both have the paperwork to prove it.

Your partner can “look” clean but still be infected with a STD. STDs, such as HIV, may not have any physical signs but still be present.

Your partner’s sexual orientation or color does not matter. He or she may still be infected with HIV. Oral sex is also not a safe substitute. While it does prevent pregnancies, STDs such as HPV, gonorrhea and viral hepatitis can still pass between partners, and have no physical symptoms.

Condoms can reduce the risk of transmitting STDs on top of the already-impressive record of preventing 98 percent of pregnancies.

One of the benefits condoms have over birth control pills is that a prescription is not needed.

Also, condoms have fewer side effects than birth control pills, the only exception being when one is allergic to the material used in the condom’s creation. Latex is a good example. Though it’s not common knowledge, birth control pills can cause problems for some women, such as weight gain, headaches and even blood clots. The pill can also affect a woman’s menstrual cycle.

The condom, on the other hand, does not have any biological side effects.

Plus, condoms are easy to get. Gas stations, pharmacies and grocery stores typically sell condoms at an incredibly cheap price. Some health care institutions even provide condoms for free.

Unless you are planning to have a child, there is no reason not to use a condom when “hooking up” this spring break.

Condemnation of homosexuality at Erskine unfair to gay athletes

Michael Owens Managing Editor Erskine College is located in the middle of nowhere in upstate South Carolina. Remember that, because it’s important.

It’s also important to know that this is a school that condemned homosexuality in a ruling last month due to a pair of male volleyball players who came out as gay last year: “Sexual relations outside of marriage or between persons of the same sex are spoken of in scripture as sin and contrary to the will of the Creator,” according to a statement from their board of trustees, citing Bible verses in full as well.

The school is a private, Christian college that is also a liberal arts school founded by the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. The board later came out and explained that gay and lesbian students were not banned, but many began to react as if they were.

The university president tried to explain that this wasn’t about the volleyball players who went public about their sexuality, but in my estimation, you couldn’t fashion a better scapegoat.

I’m sure it’s not all their fault either, considering an article on a site called ARPCTalk, an unofficial blog run by members of the ARPC, not long after the two student-athletes came out to in an article on Outsports.com.

“Indeed, the student wants the publicity,” wrote Chuck Wilson, ARPCTalk’s site editor.

Trey Stokes | Opinion Editor stokest@mytjnow.com

“And, if there is a list of private, Christian colleges which are havens for practicing homosexuals, the name of Erskine College is now on that sad list.”

Thankfully, the site isn’t the official voice of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, but it does show what kind of people we’re dealing with here, and the kind of people who could have pressured Erskine’s trustees into making such a decision.

The two volleyball players, who helped lead the Flying Fleet to a 21-7 record and a trip to the NCAA tournament in 2013, have taken different paths since.

Andrew Davis has stayed at the school and remains on the volleyball roster while declining comment. Juan Verona, however, has been very vocal on social media following the statement, stating that it just sends more fear for those afraid to come out. He is looking to transfer for personal reasons not pertaining to the university’s policy.

Even then, he told Jeré Longman of the The New York Times that it just wouldn’t feel right representing a school that didn’t really support him.

And you know what? Why should he?

The school has basically gone out of its way now to send a negative message to other gay, lesbian and transgender students. Even if there is no ban, it makes things very uncomfortable not just for those students, but also for those who don’t really have a problem with it.

It might as well just be a big, haughty slap in the face.

Administration says it’s not a big deal, and the athletic director of the school has said that he hopes that it won’t hurt recruiting.

However, it will have an impact. Maybe not one that will be directly felt for a school with just over 600 undergraduate students, but it certainly put

them on the map for all of the wrong reasons.

The Times also spoke to a senior women’s volleyball player who happens to be dating a freshman on the women’s lacrosse team.

She too expressed that this sends the wrong message about their school, and said it was sad to see closed-mindedness continue to hold authority.

Even other students at the school have expressed their opinions, as both the student body president and editor of the student newspaper, The Mirror, spoke positively about Davis and Verona to the Times. The former even went on to say the two were “some of the mostliked guys on campus.”

So where do we go from here?

For those at Erskine College, life goes on.

Being of private status, they can enact policies like this and come out unscathed. Will they get bashed for it? Of course. Do they care? Not really.

Also, in regards to using the Bible in their statement, did any of them actually ask, “What would Jesus do?”

You know what I think He would have done?

I think He would have been inclusive and supportive of them just as much as he would have acted towards any good Christian. But hey, I’m an agnostic who grew up heavily involved in a Methodist church, so what do I know?

The bottom line is this: for us to move forward as a society on this issue we have to do just that — move forward. Let’s stop alienating people based on their sexuality or race or whatever makes us, us. It’s time we came together to make sure that not just gay athletes, but everyone is treated fairly and equally.

Let’s learn from these mistakes and act like we’re citizens of the world, not like we’re in the middle of nowhere.

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March 12, 2015

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