September 2, 2010 by The Johnsonian

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Thursday September 2, 2010

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WINTHROP UNIVERSITY

Issue 2

Cutbacks leave wellness position vacant BY AMANDA PHIPPS phippsa@thejohnsonian.com

Students and groups will have to handle their own wellness events and goals this year. Due to budget cutbacks, the university will not fill the wellness coordinator position with health and counseling services. The position became vacant

last year after Nicole Scaglione left Winthrop to pursue higher education. Michelle Mann, director for health and counseling services, said the money to support this position is not there this year. “The university will support this position again as soon as it can,” she said. This cutback is a reflection of

the economy as a whole, Mann said. Winthrop reviews every vacancy that occurs to determine if there is a priority to fill that position or if others could handle the position’s duties, said Rebecca Masters, assistant to the president for public affairs. Winthrop devotes more than $1.1 million to supporting health

and counseling services, which includes wellness activities, Masters said. “Exact allocations among related programs will depend on student needs and may vary year to year,” she said. The coordinator position is one of about 35 full-time equivalency (FTE) positions Winthrop is currently holding vacant as

part of the savings plan to “meet the lower level of operating revenues available this year,” Masters said. If there are multiple vacancies in a division, the duties may be integrated into other positions or, if non-critical, the duties may be added to the FTE list until re-

See WELLNESS page 6

NEWS

BUNKING BEDS

WU named top 10 school BY CONNOR DE BRULER

This year, for the

19th time Winthrop was mentioned in a national publication. WU was in the

top 10 best colleges in the Southeast by the U.S. News & World Report. Winthrop was chosen from

1,400 schools.

debrulerc@thejohnsonian.com

Winthrop University has been ranked one of the top ten best colleges in the Southeast by U.S. News & World Report. The report ranked Winthrop as the eighth best college operating in the Southeastern region of the United States, just above Longwood University in Farmville, Va. and Tennessee Technical College. The highest ranked institution in the Southeast was James Madison University and the highest in the nation was Harvard University. The news magazine ranked 1,400 schools on graduation rates, cost, academic offerings and accolades, according to their website. The location and general feel of the campus life were also factors. Winthrop will not only be fea-

Freshman music education major Nigel Angevine arrived at Winthrop to find three beds in a study room in Richardson Hall. One of his three roommates never showed up, but Angevine and his other roommate do not have a microwave or fridge. Photo by Kathleen Brown • brownk@thejohnsonian.com

Late freshmen, transfer housing applicants live 3 to a room in Richardson, Lee Wicker

See BEST page 2

CONVOCATION 2010

BY CLAIRE BYUN & JONATHAN MCFADDDEN

Winthrop’s 125th year

byunc@thejohnsonian.com mcfaddenj@thejohnsonian.com

When Nigel Angevine walked into what was supposed to be his first dorm room in college, he was surprised to find three beds instead of the usual two in his predominantly male residence hall Richardson. Two of the beds were bunked,

three miniature drawers acting as dressers were nestled into the corners of the room and the microfridge was missing. “How are three people supposed to live comfortably in this type of area?” Angevine said he asked himself. Angevine, a freshman music education major, was one of 12 freshmen and transfer students who moved into a Winthrop University residence hall on Aug. 20 and

found themselves in an atypical living situation. On Aug. 31, students living three to a room were moved out of temporary housing. Rebecca Masters, assistant to the president for public affairs, confirmed that the basement of Lee Wicker Hall, as well as two study rooms in Richardson, were being used for temporary housing. “The number of rooms with three people temporarily is only four, so

See HOUSING page 3

CULTURE

Recruiter aims to attract more diversity BY ALEXIS AUSTIN austina@thejohnsonian.com

He has lived around the world, but he doesn’t have an accent. “I was born in Kenya, but my family moved around a lot,” he said. “I mostly grew up in Kenya, Holland

and Switzerland.” Frederik Schlingemann is one of the latest additions to Winthrop’s staff. He is the International Recruiter for the university. As the international recruiter, he is responsible for informing international students about Winthrop

and encouraging them to apply to the university. Only three months into his new position, and Schlingemann has already defined what his goals are for this and coming years.

See RECRUITER page 9

SPORTS

Young Eagles gain international soccer experience A group of Alpha Kappa Alpha members gathers at the convocation picnic. Students, faculty and staff and community members came out to celebrate Winthrop’s 125th year. The T-shirts for freshmen changed from the usual blue to white in commemoration of the anniversary. Photo by Kathleen Brown • brownk@thejohnsonian.com See next week’s Culture section for a look back on 125 years of Winthrop culture.

BY DAVID THACKHAM Special to The Johnsonian

Some Winthrop students enjoy studying abroad, but Matt Stinson and Daniel DiBiagio like to play there. The two Winthrop men’s soccer players were recruited to play for the Canadian Under-20 squad in

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

I N D E X

Spain for the 27th Torneo COTIF this summer. Despite racking up three draws, the Canucks were eliminated, but the two students think the experience was beneficial. “Everything was different about the game, because in college, there

See SPAIN page 11

CAMPUS NEWS

Matt Stinson

Daniel DiBagio

Freshman midfielder Sophomore defender

2-4

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

7-8

CULTURE

HEALTH & SCIENCE

SPORTS

10-11

OPINION

CLAIRE BYUN News Editor THURSDAY byunc@thejohnsonian.com September 2, 2010 JONATHAN MCFADDEN Assistant News Editor mcfaddenj@thejohnsonian.com

required, RECITAL CREDITS: but valuable BY JONATHAN MCFADDEN

mcfaddenj@thejohnsonian.com

Katie Towson is taking 21 credit hours, 12 classes—many of them worth only one credit hour—and living off campus this semester. When she’s not learning how to play new instruments in class, she’s applying her skills in the music department’s practice rooms. While not at home working on school assignments, she’s rushing back to campus in order to catch the latest recital in Barnes Recital Hall. As a junior music education major, Towson is required to obtain 70 recital credits in order to graduate. She isn’t the only one. Students seeking a B.A. in music have to obtain 60 credits, while students majoring in music performance have to obtain 80. Recital credits are a necessary component for music majors to complete their graduation requirements. Dr. Donald Rogers, the department chair for Winthrop’s music department, said recital credits help music students expand their knowledge of their own performances. It also exposes them to a wide range of music and instruments outside of their own concentration. “Being a music major doesn’t mean just studying voice if you’re a voice major, it means learning about string quartets or learning about trumpets,” Rogers said. While the amount of recital credits may seem demanding, Rogers said if students attend 10 recitals a semester, they will be in good shape for meeting all of their requirements. If they procrastinate and fail to get all their requirements, they don’t graduate. Though students with special circumstances, such as having a family, may have an excuse for missing recitals, they, too, are not exempt from delayed graduation if they fail to attend all the recitals they need to. In his 35 years at Winthrop, Rogers said recital credits have always been around. He said he can’t recall a time when a student failed to graduate due to strictly being behind on their recital credits. Though students in recitals are no longer allowed to get credit for their own performances, Rogers said up to 120 programs are offered per academic year for students to attend. Instead, students receive academic credit for their performance in group recitals, such as ensembles and choirs. One upside to getting recital credit is simultaneously getting cultural event credit. Since most of the recitals are cultural events, Towson said she finished obtaining her cultural event credit the second semester of her freshman year. Towson said watching other students perform in recitals helps improve her own skills. It also helps her GPA when she is assigned to write critiques of the recitals she watches. For Towson’s boyfriend, junior music education major Joshua Billingsley, it helps expose him to literature he said he wouldn’t seek out on his own.

Be a part of the

Upcoming Recitals: September 12, 4 p.m. Justin Isenhour, trombone Guest artist Barnes Recital Hall September 19, 4 p.m. Ronald Keith Parksation Faculty series Barnes Recital Hall September 23, 7:30 p.m. Mark Rapp, trumpet Alumni series Barnes Recital Hall

First year graduate student Jared Jones spends many hours in the practice rooms, tuning his piano skills and rehearsing new music. Jones is working toward his Masters of Music, which requires between 32 and 34 credit hours. Photo by Stephanie Eaton • eatons@thejohnsonian.com Billingsley, a trumpet player who has performed in jazz ensembles and brass quartet recitals, said he mostly listens to jazz and probably wouldn’t normally listen to an excerpt from an opera. The recitals, though, provide an exception. “It’s a good way to find new music and get exposed to new things,” Billingsley said. Jarvis Miller, senior music performance major who completed a good portion of his recital credit toward the end of his sophomore year, can relate. Comparing recitals to the liberal arts education offered at Winthrop, Miller said he owes his exposure to a wide range of music and ideas to attending many recitals. Miller, who changed his major from music education to music performance, had 69 credits when he switched majors. Having attended many recitals during his first two years in college, Miller said obtaining the credit wasn’t too difficult, but students have to be smart about scheduling their attendance. “Recital credits are almost like cultural events on steroids; it’s really crazy,” Miller said. Both Billingsley and Towson agree that being a music major is very demanding.

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“It pretty much consumes your whole life,” Billingsley said. “Usually it’s just all I think about; when I wake up, it’s music.” Still, with such a demanding schedule and high expectations, Towson said it forced her to learn how to manage her time almost as soon as she came to Winthrop. “It kind of forces you to mature academically,” Towson said. With such dedicated drive in their field, Towson and Billingsley don’t experience too much of a social life. Towson said students similar to her have to forfeit many social activities, while Billingsley said his training at Winthrop has led him to view social time as wasted practice time. Dr. Rogers said music, as with many other subjects in the arts, requires discipline and a devotion to building one’s skills. Rogers said that while music majors have part-time jobs and families similar to other students, they’re usually too busy to participate in other clubs and organizations, such as student government. A degree in music education requires 138 hours, opposed to the 124 hours required by many other majors at Winthrop.

WU ranks in top 10 U.S. News & World Report magazine presents Winthrop with 8th best college in Southeast award BEST • from front tured in the September issue of U.S. News but also in the 2011 Best Colleges Guidebook, according to the Winthrop University website. President Anthony DiGiorgio said on the university website the ranking is another sign of Winthrop’s need to continue investing in quality programs and facilities even in times of drastic cutbacks from state funding and support. Winthrop University only received $23,130,953 in state endowments in

2009 compared to James Madison University, which received $40,594,808, according to U.S. News & World Report. Both universities have a similar rate of acceptance: Winthrop at 65 percent and James Madison at 61. The U.S. News ranking marks the 19th time Winthrop has been mentioned in a national publication, according the university website. The Princeton Review has also rated Winthrop as one of the “Best Southeastern Colleges.”

contact Claire Byun • byunc@thejohnsonian.com

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THURSDAY September 2, 2010

Students in cramped space adjust to lack of amenities HOUSING • from front only 12 students out of 2,100-plus resident students have been briefly impacted at all,” Masters said. Masters said that the students who were living in temporary housing were paying the same amount for room and board as other students. If their stay in temporary housing had been extended, appropriate adjustments would have been made to their room and board fees. “Winthrop anticipates some students may be in this situation for a week or so,” Masters said, “and then they will be moved into the spaces of students who had reserved housing space, but whose plans changed and they did not come to school.” Still, Angevine and the other 11 students in a similar situation had to temporarily adjust to cluttered space and a lack of amenities. “We really don’t have a closet—the only thing we have is like the small safe box or whatever and that barely works half the time,” Angevine said. Housing a ‘limited commodity’

Living with two other roommates is not always the best situation, but transfer student Shane Hacker does not seem to mind the cramped space. “As far as living conditions, it’s not too bad,” Hacker said. “I’m not really bothered by it- I was just pleased the air conditioning worked.” Photo by Kathleen Brown • brownk@thejohnsonian.com

Director for Residence Life Cynthia Cassens said a majority of the students placed in temporary housing were late applicants, meaning they applied in either late July or early August. Masters said Winthrop tries to warn students not to procrastinate when submitting housing applications. “Housing is like any other limited commodity: those who act soonest will have better options than those who don’t,” she said. Masters said students were informed that they would be placed in temporary housing via a letter sent by Michell Jaworski, assistant director of residence life. In the letter, students were told they would be placed on a “waiting list” and moved out of temporary space as regular housing space became available. According to this letter, Residence Life believes that most students will receive permanent housing by October 1. Some change, some stability Masters said that in light of high female enrollment, which is a national trend, and Phelps Hall being closed down this year, changes in residence hall space are necessary. Such changes include female students now occupying the fourth and fifth floors of Richardson Hall, which was once the only all-male residence hall on campus. To ensure the safety of these female students, the hall bathroom doors have been outfitted with combination locks; only the residents on those floors have the combination. Even after the housing misplacement, Winthrop has no plans to change its two year on-campus living requirement, Masters said. “Choosing Winthrop is by definition choosing a school for which on-campus residency for two years is part of the program,” Masters said.

days later, received a letter stating that he would have two roommates in temporary housing. “Well, I’m not bringing the T.V.,” Rodriguez said when he first found out about the two other students who would be joining him in the basement. Once the realization hit, Rodriguez began trying to figure out what he was going to do with all the belongings he prepared to bring with him to Winthrop. His mother didn’t necessarily make things better. “On move-in day, she took out five crates and two bags of clothes,” Rodriguez said. Rodriguez was the last to arrive to the room and found that the top bunk was ready for him to claim. Also waiting was the fire alarm above the bed, along with the sprinkler system. “So my head was resting right where the fire alarm was, so in the event there was a fire my ear drums would burst and the water would have gone on me because the spray thing was right over me,” Rodriguez said. There also wasn’t adequate closet space. The three new students were provided with a shower curtain, but no rod to hang it on. Fortunately for them, they had no suitemates. “We would just lock the door and take turns,” Rodriguez said. Before being in the room for an entire week, one of the roommates moved out, leaving Rodriguez with only one. Now, Rodriguez said that he and his roommate, transfer student Shane Hacker, have gotten used to the room in the basement that they call “the dungeon.” Not only that, Rodriguez and Hacker have decided they don’t want to go through the hassle of moving out. “Things are just easier down here,” Rodriguez said, “All my stuff is there.” While not upset about the situation, Hacker says he’s received little information from Residence Life concerning his place on the waiting list. “I don’t feel as though they are putting information out as to what’s actually happening. Where I’m going, when I’m moving, I’ve never actually heard,” Hacker said. Neither Rodriguez nor his roommate are looking forward to having to move out, get a new roommate and undergo the adjustment process all over again. Rodriguez said both of them are sure they won’t be roommates after the ‘shakeout period’ occurs on Aug. 27 Rodriguez said the post-shakeout period is “going to be like moving day, part two.” The aftermath Moving day part two came for Shane Hacker. On Aug. 31, the transfer student packed his bags and was sent to a new home in Thomson. There, he would have more space but also a new roommate — something neither he nor Rodriguez wanted. Rodriguez, now living in a lonely basement, said he hasn’t heard anything about when he’ll be moving out.

The ‘shakeout period’ Winthrop offered students the chance to change their living arrangements when other rooms on campus became available. Masters said students went to see what spaces were available on Friday, Aug. 27, in what she termed the ‘shakeout period.’ Numbers were dispersed to students that same day, beginning at 8 a.m. A student’s number determined their place in the line of those waiting to change rooms. Students living in temporary housing were given first priority. Masters said all “third” students were moved out by 5 p.m. Tuesday, but some are still in the temporary rooms. Because students moved out of the study rooms, Masters said those rooms will become study rooms again. Life in the ‘Dungeon’ Like Angevine, freshman theatre education major Sean Rodriguez wound up in a room designed to house three students. Instead of a study room, he and his roommates found themselves in Lee Wicker’s basement. Rodriguez said he never received an original housing agreement like most students, who received theirs in July. By August, he said he and his mother got tired of waiting and wondering and found the housing agreement online. Rodriguez signed the paper and, a few

“”

Well, I’m not bringing the TV. Sean Rodriguez freshman

THURSDAY September 2, 2010

Campus smoking ban still up for discussion By Claire Byun

byunc@thejohnsonian.com

Though a touchy subject throughout last year, Winthrop is still in discussions about its smoking policy. Similar to many schools across the country, the university is considering banning smoking campuswide, as opposed to having the specified smoking areas. However, a decision cannot be made until the Health and Wellness council, consisting of appointed faculty and students, decides to put a ban in place. Michelle Mann, chair of

“”

the Council, said she has not scheduled a meeting yet but plans on addressing the issue in September. “We can’t address the issue until the Council comes to a decision,” Sydney Evans, CSL chair, said. Until the council establishes a new smoking policy, students are still allowed to smoke at the designated areas. These include the bench in front of Wofford Hall, beside Byrnes Auditorium and outside of Roddey Hall.

“I think that’s stupid and silly; it’s the United States of America.”

Adam Bart sophomore

“I don’t think it’s hurting anybody; it brings us [smokers] together.”

“”

If people follow the rules and smoke in the smoking area, then it shouldn’t be a problem. If you don’t want to smoke, then don’t come into the designated smoking areas.

I haven’t seen too many people on campus smoke as it is, so if they propose a smoking ban, it wouldn’t change much.

Aly Sederstrom

sophomore

Thomas White freshman

“It’d be worse without a designated spot. People will be forced to smoke off campus on Cherry Road. If it’s here on campus, it’ll be safer.” Ben Green freshman

Josh Wylie

freshman

POLICE BLOTTER POSSESSION/CONSUMPTION OF LIQUOR UNDER 21 (8/21/10) At 1:25 a.m., a reporting officer observed a black female vomiting in the parking lot of the Winthrop Operations Center, located at 520 Cherry Road.

helping him out of the vehicle. During this time, the student did not understand why he was under arrest or why he was being placed in a jail cell, though the officer had explained it to him several times.

The officer approached the female and detected a heavy odor of alcohol coming from her.

While being booked, the student became somewhat aggressive to the reporting officer and the correctional officers by yelling and not sitting down.

The officer asked her about the alcoholic odor and, at first, she said she had not been drinking. She later admitted to drinking liquor.

FAILURE TO STOP FOR BLUE LIGHT, HABITUAL OFFENDER, DRIVING UNDER SUSPENSION (8/18/10)

The reporting officer administered the PAS/ vr alcohol screening sensor and she registered a reading. Due to her state of intoxication, she was arrested and transported to the Rock Hill Jail.

At 10:46 p.m., a reporting officer observed a 1999 beige Nissan Sentra traveling eastbound on Oakland Avenue with no lights. The driver was operating the vehicle recklessly, weaving and bobbing between other vehicles.

DISORDERLY CONDUCT (INTOXICATION) (8/21/10) At 8:18 a.m., a reporting officer was sent to the West Thomson Residence Hall lobby in reference to a white male student who was being disorderly and hostile toward other individuals. When the reporting officer arrived, he observed that the student was highly intoxicated. The student could not keep his balance and had trouble understanding the officer’s questions and directions. The officer also smelled alcohol on the student and noticed he was not wearing shoes or pants. The officer escorted the student out of the West Thomson lobby and placed him under arrest. After interviewing the student witness who had complained, the officer learned that the intoxicated student arrived at West Thomson by walking from his residence at Richardson in order to get breakfast in Thomson Café.

The reporting officer turned around and followed the vehicle in an attempt to conduct a traffic stop. The officer turned on the blue lights while the driver drove the vehicle into the eastbound center lane of Oakland Avenue at Myrtle Drive.

The owner allowed the reporting officer to search her vehicle but nothing was found inside. The vehicle was released to its proper owner and she willingly went to the Winthrop Police Department to give a written statement. PUBLIC DISORDERLY INTOXICATION (8/29/10) At 1:20 a.m., a reporting officer was checking property on foot at the Dalton Hall lot on Founders Lane when he noticed a male urinating in the breezeway area near the Richardson Hall loop. The officer approached the male and detected an odor of alcohol coming from him. The male said he had been drinking shots of unknown liquor. He also said that he had no idea of his whereabouts.

The driver continued eastbound on Oakland without making any attempt to stop.

Further investigation revealed the male was a student at UNC-Charlotte and was at Winthrop visiting friends.

The reporting officer turned on his siren in addition to flashing his blue lights in an attempt to get the driver to pull over.

The male was taken to the Rock Hill Law Center Jail and issued a trespass notification from Winthrop.

The driver then made a wide turn onto Sumter Avenue traveling toward Charlotte Avenue. The vehicle ran through the stop sign at Sumter and College Avenue and made a right turn onto Charlotte Avenue, still with no lights on. Once on Charlotte Avenue, the driver began driving in the wrong lane of traffic, going head on toward oncoming vehicles.

Wanna see those good girls gone bad?

The reporting officer still had his blue lights flashing and his siren blazing.

When he realized that Thomson did not open until 8:30 a.m., he began harassing other students in the lobby. When he noticed students ignoring him, he became belligerent towards them.

The driver turned left into the YMCA parking lot, went through the lot and turned onto Catawba Avenue. The driver leaped out of the vehicle and ran behind the houses located on Catawba, where a short chase ensued.

During the ride to the Rock Hill Law Center Jail, the intoxicated student passed out in the back of the patrol vehicle.

The driver was found hiding in a dog house behind one of the residences.

Once they arrived, the officer had to wake the student up and expend great effort in

The actual owner of the vehicle arrived where the car was abandoned and said the driver was her ex-boyfriend; he had the vehicle for about an hour.

The driver, once arrested, told the reporting officer he didn’t stop because he knew he had no license.

www.mytjnow.com/police-blotter

THURSDAY September 2, 2010

CONNOR DE BRULER Opinion Editor debrulerc@thejohnsonian.com

OUR SAY

Students in atypical housing deserve better Procrastinators or not, the students living in temporary housing in Lee Wicker and Richardson have not been given equal housing as other residents. Students living in study rooms without equal amenities or in rooms with three beds instead of two should not be paying the same as the rest of the students living on campus. Even if they are only there for a week. The inconvenience alone of having to move one’s belongings twice warrants an adjustment in room and board fees from the university. Given the possible impact from Phelps closing and female students being moved into Richardson, The Johnsonian thinks it would have been in these particular freshmen and transfer students’ best interest to have been told there was no on-campus space available rather than

Illustration by Courtney Niskala • niskalac@thejohnsonian.com

Freshmen miss life lessons without common book

Analyzing America’s cultural identity I am an American. I enjoy living in the United States and I am proud of the culture. I doubt it’s the “greatest country on earth,” but it has to be in the top 10. America, however, has become the whipping boy for countries just because of its economic presence. When I lived in Germany, I faced much prejudice and ridicule for being an American during the infamous Bush years. I noticed most countries don’t like the U.S. for a plethora of both warranted and unwarranted reasons. What angers me the most is the simplification of my culture. This country is not simple. America is a giant nation with many different religions, ideologies, landscapes, ethnic backgrounds and demographics. Most Europeans think the U.S. has a single cultural identity. This couldn’t be further from reality. I’m originally from the Midwestern state of Indiana. Coming to South Carolina was similar to moving to a different country. The accent is different. The road rules are different. The stores are different. Many counties still don’t allow the sale of alcohol on Sunday. Even the language is slightly different. The same can be said about my recent trip to Minnesota. It’s true most of us speak English, but many spoken languages exist that are unique to this nation Cajun, Gullah, Cherokee,

Connor de Bruler

debrulerc@thejohnsonian.com

Biloxi, Ojibwa and Navajo. I think the biggest factor against a positive image of American culture is the American media itself. I noticed Europe’s television is very realistic and honest about daily life. Normal television programs in Europe are of a wholesome quality one may find difficult to encounter in the U.S. unless they watch PBS. Most Europeans, however, don’t watch PBS. They receive the standard drivel, such as MTV and Vh1. It is difficult to blame them for misinterpreting the culture if all they watch happens to be reruns of Jersey Shore. They are not exposed to the true beauty and exotic nature that is America. This country has an amazing wilderness and a cuisine that goes so much further than fried chicken and burgers (an American started veganism). We have so much more music to offer than just Madonna and Lil’ Wayne. We have an enormous cannon of literature and visual art that many countries emulate. We are not overweight,

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 designers SAMANTHA FURTICK

uneducated flag-waving morons. I hate the new Jeep Cherokee commercial stating America is a nation of mass industrialists. I am offended and heartbroken by such malignant propaganda. Living abroad gave me many valuable experiences, but it also left me more angry and cynical. I still don’t really talk to any international students here at Winthrop. I’m too afraid to hear their painful comments about the country I love. People who don’t like America shouldn’t bother coming at all. You can learn English at home.

“”

We are not overweight, uneducated flag-waving morons.

Photographers KATHLEEN BROWN STEPHANIE EATON Multimedia editors SHATESHA SCALES KAYLEE NICHOLS Webmaster DEVANG JOSHI Advertising manager KERRY SHERIN Ad sales team GEORGE WILMORE DEBRA SETH WILLIAM NORTON Faculty adviser LARRY TIMBS

be housed in cramped rooms and study rooms. The overcrowding affected 12 students but it is unclear whether all of those students registered for housing late. For example, if two of the three people in a room registered late it is especially unfair to the one student who was punctual to be housed in a cramped space. Abolishing the two-year oncampus living requirement may be one possible solution to avoiding three people to a room in the future, but The Johnsonian thinks the requirement is useful and effective in encouraging student engagement and academic achievement. The best solution in this scenario may have been to tell the students who registered late there was simply no room for them. And that they were excused from the two-year requirement for this academic year.

As freshmen began is for those of you who the first day of orientamissed this enlightening tion we were handed book. Here is your chance “Making the Impossible to understand a small bit Possible” by Bill Strickof why our wise school land. chose this book for us He comes from a freshmen. ghetto in Manchester, If you are worried N.Y. where opportunities about your success in getTabetha Metz ting a job and making a are slim. Guest Columnist good or even decent salary, This book teaches one to find his or her you’re worried about the values and what will bring true wrong things. satisfaction in one’s life. Success lies in passion or, as As freshmen begin this new Strickland likes to call it “swing” journey in our college education, it that one thing that gives you sheer is very important to keep an open- bliss in life. mind about everything. You must trust what it is you With an open-minded atlove despite the doubts you may titude, your opinions will be much have. But that’s what’s so hard more true to you, and if you are about success. I think we all fear more honest with yourself, your we will fail or look stupid doing own opinions will become more what we love. clearly defined. Having a closeOnce you are able to drive minded attitude gives you a negathrough your fears, that passion tive outlook on new things and should drive you to work harder to experiences. fulfill your life’s goals in order to As soon as the book was live a satisfying life. handed to us, many students But what if you don’t know dismissed it as important before what your passion is? It is what even reading the title. They judged gives you a sense of greater the book before even reading the purpose. Sometimes it can be the cover. Many of the freshmen who simplest moments or the grandest felt automatic disapproval before of events. reading the title had that closeIt is what melts your whole minded attitude. life away and focuses you on that With such a negative attitude, one moment. most people procrastinated in Trust your gut and your reading the assignment until the “swing.” Let your passion drive weekend before it was supposed to your motive and work ethic and be finished. then your cards will fall right into Some crammed. place. Just remember that one day Those who said “forget it” you will be 70 years old looking missed one of the most heart back on life wondering how life grasping, mind-blowing stories could have been if you did what you could read for a while. Many made you happy back in those colof the students who crammed lege days. missed the point of the story. There’s nothing you can’t do. The reason I write this article It’s the way you do it.

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.

THURSDAY September 2, 2010

AMANDA PHIPPS Health & Science Editor phippsa@thejohnsonian.com

WELLNESS • from front -tions or, if non-critical, the duties may be added to the FTE list until resources become available, Masters said. Scaglione did leave material to use for continued support of the students’ wellness needs. “The existing body of work (she) did before leaving to pursue further studies can continue to serve Winthrop and its students through the continuity of her colleagues as their time allows,” she said. As wellness coordinator, Scaglione partnered with groups to bring events to campus. The DiGiorgio Student Union (DSU) provided about 80 percent of the funding for past events and the wellness coordinator provided the rest from the department’s budget, said Campus Programs Director Boyd Jones. She also helped with promoting the events, Jones said. Even though DSU worked with Scaglione on events such as “Eaten Alive,” a one-woman play about Anorexia, and “Diversity According to South

Graphic by Francesca Vidal • Special to The Johnsonian Park and Family Guy,” which discussed disability awareness, Jones said the group will continue to host events on alcohol, AIDS and other wellness issues this year. “All of us within the Division of Student Life are aware that Nicole’s position and programming

money are gone due to the budgetary situation and all have been asked to help out where we can,” he said. “We will continue to do some presentations that are similar in nature to what Nicole provided, but our lectures will also go off in other directions as well.”

DSU plans to cover events not only on wellness but also on issues such as censorship and personal finances, Jones said. Students can also handle their own wellness needs through groups such as S.W.A.T, or the Student Wellness Advocacy Team,

which Scaglione formed last year, Mann said. “We are hoping to keep some wellness events going through these students,” Mann said. “The group helps us determine what students are interested in.” Health and counseling services will also continue

to make sure the students’ needs are met, Mann said. “It’s a loss to not have a wellness coordinator at this time,” she said. “But we are working the best we can with what we have and still supporting the students, but we need students to help us find what they need.”

Day celebrates art, health By Amanda Phipps phippsa@thejohnsonian.com

Turn up the music and burn some calories. People of all ages can get into better shape by dancing. It’s a type of exercise that’s not only fun, but a workout as well. Nigel Lythgoe, the producer for the Fox show “So You Think You Can Dance,” announced this year that Congress officially recognizes July 31 as National Dance Day. Lythgoe created the day with the aim of “promoting health and selfesteem through the art form of dance,” according to the show’s website. Congress member Eleanor Holmes Norton introduced National Dance Day as a day to “promote dance education and physical fitness across the U.S.” on July 31 at a press conference in Washington, D.C., according to the website. Dancing mixes exercising and fun, said Cassandra Bell, who teaches aerobic dance and biology. “It is a great cardio workout that most people haven’t considered before,” she said. “It doesn’t matter how you dance, it just gets people up and moving.” Bell said people are more likely to keep up with exercising if they don’t see it as work. “People will stay more consistent with their workouts if it becomes fun,” she said. “Music is key; find something you like.” Dancing can help people live healthier lifestyles in many ways, said Sandra Neels, associate professor of dance and theater. “Each form of dance gets the body in a different kind of shape,” she said. Neels said tap dance results in thinner thighs and modern, jazz and ballet styles of dance work the whole body. Modern and hip-hop dance styles work the cardiovascular system. Dancers also eat healthier, drink more water and have better lung capacity, Neels said. Sweating can also remove toxins, and learning rhythms and moving quickly can sharpen the mind.

Besides better eating habits, dancing forces people to stretch, which can be beneficial to their health, Neels said. “Stretching can help people keep their height,” she said. Dancing has more than just health benefits, associate theater and dance professor Mary Beth Thompson said. “Dance releases natural endorphins and it makes people feel better,” she said. “It can be a positive addiction.” Using dance as a form of exercise can get people into shape, but it’s also a release from everyday life, Thompson said. “It takes people out of themselves,” she said. “It puts people right there in the moment. That movement cannot be re-created.” Classes, such as aerobic dance and Zumba, offer people a chance to have fun while exercising. The classes can inspire people to make healthier choices, business administration major Beyanca Vinson said. She took aerobic dance in the spring of 2009. “The class made exercise more fun,” she said. “It was better than just lifting weights, and the music got my mind off the exercise.” After taking aerobic dance, Vinson said she started watching her diet and protein intake and joined a cardio kick class. “The kick class wasn’t really dancing, and I didn’t get any results from it,” she said. Even so, Vinson said she was more hyped about exercise when it involved music and dance. Neels said dancing is becoming more popular because of dance shows. “Our kids see people from the shows do forms outside of their style, and it encourages them to take dance classes,” she said. Thompson also said dance is becoming more important. “Dance represents movement and celebration,” she said. National Dance Day will hopefully encourage more people to dance, Thompson said. “We want the whole world to dance,” she said. “It is about time we did this.”

Have fun, gain experience, be cool! Write for the health and science section. e-mail phippsa@thejohnsonian.com for more information

THURSDAY September 2, 2010

JESSICA PICKENS Arts & Entertainment Editor pickensj@thejohnsonian.com ALISON ANGEL Asst. Arts & Entertainment Editor angela@thejohnsonian.com

Students give Welcome Week mixed reviews By Jessica Pickens

pickensj@thejohnsonian.com

Welcome Week is Winthrop’s way to kick off the fall semester and greet freshmen with fun entertainment. This year’s Welcome Week included acts by nationally recognized performers. Recycled Percussion was featured on “America’s Got Talent” and popular rock band, Safetysuit, was featured on “VH1’s Top 20 Countdown.”

Word on the street: Tyler Polomski, sophomore exercise science major: “Welcome Week has been really good. I thought the hip hop show was exciting. I’d like to see more comedians.”

Hypnotist Tom Deluca, who’s act is a Winthrop tradition, once again made an appearance on the Byrnes stage. Old favorites, Grammy-nominated musicians Sam and Ruby performed. Comedian Colin Gilbert opened for Sam and Ruby. Even Michael Jackson made an appearance at Welcome Week with the tribute band Who’s Bad. The film “Ironman 2” christened the new movie theater and 150 students came the first night. The movie Brittany Lawrence, freshman biology major: “The Michael Jackson tribute was great, and the comedian was pretty good. I think the hypnotist is all a trick and coincidental.”

theater will show documentaries and recently released block busters on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Playfair was helped freshman meet new friends and have fun with crazy games that made them break out of the their comfort zones. With so many entertainment opportunities to choose from, here is what students had to say about the Welcome Week events:

Will Lewis, senior sports management major: “I’m skeptical of Tom Deluca and if he’s real or not. I wish there were more acts during the week.”

Morgan Brown, sophomore finance major: “Welcome Week was better last year. I’d like to see the Chinese acrobats again.”

Jessica Richardson, sophomore psychology and English major: “It’s been fun, but not a lot was going on. I wish Playfair had been more interactive because all of the activities went so far.”

Photos by Paul Ricciardi • Special to The Johnsonian

September 2010 Music

When they were young

The Pixies will perform at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 9, at Ovens Auditorium in Charlotte. Tickets range from $39 to $48.

Some of you might remember the “Winthrop as a Movie” feature from last year.

The Swaggerjacked Preview will be at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 9, in Tillman Auditorium. Members of the NAACP will be imitating famous singers and lip synching to music.

Lady Gaga will perform at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 18, at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Charlotte. Tickets range from $51.50 to $402. The Faculty Series presents music written by Winthrop professor Ronald Parks in celebration of his 50th birthday. The concert is at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 19, in Barnes Auditorium. Cultural Event Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers will perform at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 19, at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Charlotte. Tickets range from $41 to $131.

Movies

The sequel to the 1987 movie “Wall Street” premieres in theaters on Friday, Sept. 24. “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps” stars Shia LaBeouf, Charlie Sheen and Michael Douglas.

This year your Arts and Entertainment editors have started a new feature where students can see what their professors looked like during their college days. This week’s faculty

member is sociology professor Jeannie Weil. Want to give your co-workers a good laugh? Want to see what your professors looked like when they were younger? Send us professor ideas or your college photos to pickensj@thejohnsonian. com

The romantic comedy “You Again” premieres Friday, Sept. 24. It is a star studded cast featuring Betty White, Kristen Bell and Sigourney Weaver. In the film, a girl realizes her brother is marrying a woman who bullied her as a child.

DSU

Latino-style dance instructors Salsa Magic will teach students Latin dance steps at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 2, in the DiGiorgio Center Banquet Hall. Free Event Musician Nick Motil and comedian Dan Cummins will perform at 8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 3, in the DiGiorgio Center Food Court. The event is free with a Fall DSU pass, $10 with a student I.D. and $20 without. Poet and comedian Jon Goode will perform at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 9, at the DiGiorgio Center Theater. The event is free with a Fall DSU pass, $10 with a student I.D. and $20 without. Musician David Lamotte will perform at 8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 10, in the DiGiogio Center Food Court. The event is free with a Fall DSU pass, $10 with a student I.D. and $20 without. Rock band Brenn will perform at 8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 24, in the DiGiorgio Center Theater. The event is free with a Fall DSU pass, $10 with a student I.D. and $20 without.

Art

The “Artifacts of Edmund Lewandowski from the Winthrop University Collection” exhibition will be in the Lewandowski Student Gallery in McLaurin Hall starting Monday, Sept. 6, until Thursday, Sept. 30. The “Edward Lewandowski: Precisionism and Beyond” exhibition will be in the Rutledge and Patrick Galleries starting Monday, Sept. 6, until Thursday, Dec. 9.

Looking for weekend entertainment? Go to mytjnow.com and check out Day Clean.

The band is performing Saturday, Sept. 4, at 10:30 p.m.

THURSDAY September 2, 2010

Student center brings new ‘edge’ to WU By Alison Angel angela@thejohnsonian.com

With the opening of the DiGiorgio Campus Center comes a new era of entertainment for Winthrop students. The massive three-story building is quickly becoming the newest center for students to gather. Home to a new Starbucks and a food court offering a wide variety of eats, the center also brings to campus Winthrop’s first ever movie theater, “The Edge.” The new DiGiorgio theater screened its first movie, “Iron Man 2,” Tuesday night with a followup show Wednesday to celebrate Welcome Week and the opening of the theater. More than 150 students turned out to experience the new theater for the first-ever screening. Boyd Jones, university programs director, works with the DiGiorgio Student Union to help produce the shows and movies screened in the new campus center. Jones said the presence of a projection booth in the new theater makes it easy to screen movies. He is excited because the room can also be used for other purposes. “I would have been happy if it had just been a movie theater, but the fact is that it is a multi-function room that we can utilize for many other things,” Jones said. “I think we’re going to utilize that room in many ways in addition to movies to make it a room that everybody on campus will hopefully benefit from.” Jones said the new theater will be used to house everything from a variety of lectures to spoken word poets. The movies shown in the theater are just another opportunity to reach Winthrop students in addition to the other entertainment the university has to offer, he said. “We’ll still be doing things like bands, coffeehouse acts, lectures, poets, but adding films is just another chance for people to be entertained,” Jones said. “But also we’ll be showing documentaries that will be very educational.”

Some students on campus weren’t aware that the new campus center offered a movie theater. Marquita Killian, senior family and consumer sciences major, said she didn’t know there was a theater, but thought it was a good idea. Although she said the price of the movie may discourage her from coming out. “We college students, you know, we’ve got to budget our money right. If it was free, I would go,” Killian said. “Two dollars isn’t bad, though.” The theater, seating up to 224 people, will offer showings twice a week on a variety of topics. Mike Rapay, assistant campus programs director, plays a major role in the new theater. He makes sure there is a diverse variety of films screened and directly oversees the DiGiorgio Student Union’s movie committee. Rapay said he thinks the theater has been well-received based on the opening film screenings. “I do think it has gotten a really great response so far,” Rapay said. “As with any new building or any new anything, we’re finding out ways that we can improve it as we go along.” The movie theater will screen films on Wednesday and Saturday nights throughout the fall and spring semesters.

Upcoming films: • Saturday, Sept. 4: “Shrek Forever After”The fourth installment of the Shrek series where Shrek makes a deal with Rumpelstiltskin he won’t forget. • Wednesday, Sept. 8: “Casino Jack and the United States of Money”A documentary about corruption in D.C.

CROSSWURD PUZZLE

Across

1. What form of dancing gives you thinner thighs? 3. The basement of which residence hall is used as temporary housing. (two words) 4. Last name of the director of Residence Life. 5. How many recital credits do music performance majors need? 7. Who is the director for health and counseling services? (last name) 8. What number did Winthrop rank in the U.S. News & World Report best colleges list?

Down

1. How many students have two roommates? 2. What was the first movie shown in the new Student Center movie theater? 3. What producer created National Dance Day? (last name) 6. How many beds are in some rooms in Richardson?

Above and right: Students watch “Iron Man 2,” the first movie previewed in the new DiGiorgio Center movie theater on August 24. Movies are shown Wednesdays and Saturdays for $2. Wednesday nights are documentaries and Saturday nights are recently released films. Photos by Kathleen Brown • brownk@thejohnsonian.com

THURSDAY September 2, 2010

ALEXIS AUSTIN Culture Editor austina@thejohnsonian.com

Recruiter to set flight for Winthrop RECRUITER • from front “There are two very clear goals I have,” he said. “One is to increase the number of international students, and the other is to increase the number of nationalities at the university. I would like to increase the diversity of students on campus.” Within the next few months, Schlingemann will begin traveling abroad to recruit students. “I begin domestic recruiting next month and international recruiting in January,” he said. He will travel to Africa, Europe and Asia recruiting students from local and international high schools, international boarding schools and EducationUSA. “I look forward to going to all three,” Schlingemann said. Schlingemann, whose parents are Dutch, attended high school in Geneva, Switzerland, and returned to Holland to attend college. For his Master’s of Business Administration degree, he decided to travel abroad and attended Webster University in St. Louis, Mo. Although he has been fortunate to see the world at a young age, Schlingemann decided to begin a career in America. “I saw a job ad for Winthrop posted on the NAFSA website and decided to apply,” he said. “The university flew me down, I went through the interview process and here I am.” Not only does Schlingemann plan to increase the number of international students attending Winthrop, he said he hopes to grow as a person as well. “While I’m in this position, hopefully the international population will have grown, and I hope to grow with that population as well,” he said.

Frederik Schlingemann is preparing to travel abroad in hopes of recruiting more international students for the university. He is the new international recruiter for Winthrop . Photo by Alexis Austin • austina@ thejohnsonian.com

New roommate raises new challenges By Alexis Austin

austina@thejohnsonian.com

Getting out of your parents’ house may have been the most exciting thing you’ve done since graduating high school. Sharing a room with someone you’ve only talked to through Facebook may have been the scariest thing since seeing “Jaws.” According to Residence Life reports, 47 percent of new students used the roommate selection process this year. During the process, students choose to have their roommate selected for them based on their preferences. “The biggest tip I have is communication,” Kurt Moderson said. He is in his second year as the Residential Learning Coordinator for Richardson Hall. Conflicts may arise, especially when it comes to sleeping and cleaning habits, class schedules

and having friends in the room. “Talking about small things that bother them, rather than letting them build to bigger things, is important,” Moderson said. Moderson is not the only one who thinks communication is most important when dealing with a roommate. “I feel like a lot of problems arise because residents don’t feel like they need to communicate,” Evan Harris said. Harris, senior art major, has been a Resident Assistant in Wofford Hall for three years. She says that as an RA she tries to promote communication and honesty. “Living with a roommate and in a residence hall is about communication and thinking beyond yourself,” she said. Junior integrated marketing communication major Kelli Mack knows

this all too well. Mack used the roommate selection process as a freshman. “My roommate and I did have some conflicts,” she said. “Compromise is the biggest thing when having a roommate. When you’re sharing a room you can’t be inconsiderate. It’s not just about you anymore.” Moderson also said students should communicate face to face rather than leaving notes in the room or writing comments on each other’s Facebook wall. To encourage communication, students are given a Residence Life Community Agreement. This small booklet allows each roommate to come to an agreement about issues such as sharing personal belongings, visitation hours and cleaning habits. “The community agreement encourages conver-

sation to have a positive relationship,” Moderson said. Respecting your roommate is also important; the person may not be your ideal roommate, but there should be a mutual level of respect, Residence Life staff said. “You don’t have to be best friends for it to work,” senior interior design major Mical Romano said. She has been a Resident Assistant in Margaret Nance for two years. Mack and her roommate were able to maintain a cordial relationship throughout her freshman year and into the first semester of her sophomore year. However, she said that after awhile the two had to go their separate ways. While communication and respect are key in building a positive relationship with your new roommate, Romano says

there are other ways you

even in the study rooms,”

can bond. Combining both

Romano said. “Your ac-

of your styles to personal-

tions affect the whole community, not just yourself.”

ize the room is a good way to do this, she says. “Color coordinating your room is a bonding experience,” Romano said. “Set up your room so you can make it really friendly. Both people should decorate with pictures and posters they like.” She also suggested leaving your door open while you’re in the room. “When you leave the door open, people will stop by,” Romano said. “This is a good way to meet people on your hall.” Not only is it important to get along with your roommate, but it is also important to get along with those on your hall. There are many shared spaces, such as the kitchen and study rooms. “Clean up after yourself,

“”

When you’re sharing a room, you can’t be inconsiderate. It’s not just about you anymore. Kelli Mack Junior

Been there? Done that? write about it!

The Johnsonian wants YOU! CONTACT US EDITORS@THEJOHNSONIAN.COM

10 SPORTS BRIEFS Winthrop’s teams score big for American Cancer Society A check for $21,525 was presented to the American Cancer Society during the Second Annual “Kicks Against Cancer”exhibition game. The men’s and women’s soccer teams, men’s and women’s cross country team, volleyball team and Pi Kappa Alpha all helped raise the money.

THURSDAY September 2, 2010

CHRIS McFADDEN Sports Editor mcfaddenc@thejohnsonian.com

Eagle baseball player flies high in summer league

Eagles men’s soccer team makes preseason poll TopDrawerSoccer. com ranked Winthrop 48th in its annual preseason poll. The Eagles won the 2009 Big South Conference title, but may have a tough time matching last year’s success as they lost all five starters.

Coaches predict third place finish for volleyball team After finishing with a 19-11 record in 2009, Winthrop’s volleyball team was picked to finish third by the Big South Conference coaches. Winthrop senior Kaley Viola was named to the preseason AllConference team. The Eagles lost in the first round of the Big South Conference Tournament last year.

Eagle baseball team names new coach Tom Riginos is set to take over the Winthrop baseball team after being named coach. Riginos takes over for long time baseball coach Joe Hudak. Hudak was reassigned to a position within the athletic department. This is Riginos’ first head coaching position. Riginos, from Florida, comes to Winthrop with 17 years of experience. He was an assistant coach at Stetson for nine years and Clemson for eight. Hudak finished his Winthrop career with a 662-467-5 record. He took the Eagles to the NCAA baseball tournament five times and won three Big South Conference titles.

Crane’s offensive prowess can help the Eagles baseball team improve 2009’s record and make life easier for new coach Tom Riginos. Photo by Kathleen Brown • brownk@thejohnsonian.com

League names Chas Crane offensive player of the year By Chris McFadden mcfaddenc@thejohnsonian.com

If Chas Crane’s offensive performance this summer is any indication of the play he will bring to the baseball team, Crane and the team may be in for an outstanding season. Crane, a junior from Bridgewater, N.J., was named the Rawlings Coastal Plain League offensive player of the year. “It was truly an honor,” Crane said “I put in a lot of work in the (batting) cages this past year and was excited to see it pay off.” Crane played for the Peninsula Pilots where he led the league in RBI’s (48), slugging percentage (.600) and homeruns (9).

“I believe that sucsix years old, the player of cess comes from hard the year is quick to show work and the opporhis humble side despite the tunity to succeed,” he accolades that have come said. his way. The third basemen/ “I had a great group of leftfielder will bring teammates and a great those same offensive coach; the fans were great, Chas Crane skills to the Eagles too, and made each player Junior baseball team this want to play as hard as they spring when Winthrop begins can,” Crane said. their season. Even the player he names as “The goals are to win the Big one of his favorite professional South Championship and get into players shows the type of characthe NCAA Tournament,” Crane ter and competitor Crane is. said. “New York Yankee Nick Growing up, he tried out mulSwisher is not a superstar, but he tiple sports, but baseball was the goes out there every day and has one that “stuck” and gave him the a good time and is excited to be most pleasure. there,” he said. “He respects the Playing baseball since around game and plays it the right way.”

Come show us your skills, your writing skills that is. Become a sports reporter for The Johnsonian. Contact Chris McFadden@ mcfaddenc@thejohnsonian.com

The Eagles baseball team has enjoyed success in the past, but has slipped some in recent years. Winthrop finished 27-30 last season. While the team will have a new coach in Tom Riginos this season, Crane thinks Winthrop can return to playing at a high level. “We want to get to the point where our program is a consistent top-25 team year in and year out,” he said. If the Eagles are going to have that type of success, Crane will certainly be one of the key players who will push the team toward that goal.

THURSDAY September 2, 2010

SPORTS

Women’s soccer team poised to surprise Team returns 10 starters from last year’s team By Chris McFadden

mcfaddenc@thejohnsonian. com

Coming off a surprising run during the Big South Conference Tournament, the Winthrop women’s soccer team was picked to finish seventh by the conference coaches. After finishing the 2009 regular season with a 5-10-6 record, the Eagles made it to the conference championship game before coming up short against High Point University. Despite the run in the tournament, Winthrop made a change at the top and fired head coach Melissa Heinz. Heinz had been head coach with the Eagles for seven years and was the only coach the soccer team has had since its existence. Winthrop fielded its first women’s soccer team in 2003. The Eagles hired Spen-

The Lady Eagles soccer team will have a new coach this year after last year’s coach Melissa Heinz was fired. Photo by Kathleen Brown • brownk@thejohnsonian.com cer Smith who, ironically, had the most wins in Radford University men’s soccer history. Smith was named the Big South Con-

ference coach of the year twice at Radford. Smith will inherit a team that returns 10 of 12 starters from the 2009

team. The Eagles return their top six point leaders led by senior forward Tricia Vensel.

She produced eight points for the team last season. Vensel should be one of the leaders of the 2010

team. Winthrop also returns its top goaltender in red shirt junior Kelsy Weavil. She had 98 saves in 2009 and a 84-percent saves average. Weavil had several strong defensive games and will need to continue that type of play for the upcoming season. The Eagles will also need to improve their play away from home if they want to have a better 2010 season. The team was only 2-72 on the road overall and 0-4-1 in conference road games. Experience should not be a problem with the 10 starters returning, and if the Eagles can continue to get strong play from Weavil, they could be a surprise in the league. The Eagles next home game will be September 17 at 7 p.m. against Georgia State. The team currently has a 0-1-1 record, with the loss coming against Appalachain State University and tie against Marshall University.

Players’ experiences will help young Eagle team SPAIN • from front are a few key players you need to watch, but the international teams have dangerous people everywhere,” said Stinson, a freshman business administration major. DiBiagio, sophomore business major, said the time playing in Europe has allowed him “to adapt, mature and make sharper decisions in order to become a better overall teammate.” But simply being in the home

of “La Furia Roja,” or the red fury — the nickname for the Spanish national soccer team — was an extraordinary event in itself. DiBiagio remembers much of the atmosphere in Spain: fans cheering with enthusiasm and passion atypical of most American supporters. “They cheer because it’s the right thing to do,” the Toronto native said. “Fans there want to

make the players better and give them a feeling of exuberance.” The Winthrop players aren’t strangers to an international setting though. The university’s soccer team is composed of 10 players who aren’t from the United States. Stinson said he is optimistic about the conglomeration of styles because the different backgrounds and abilities will “slowly mesh” on the field.

“All the European players are technically very good. The Africans are fast and have a lot of pace, and it’s good to have a balance when we’re playing,” the midfielder said. Stinson and DiBiagio’s increased game time will certainly be a large help when they return to a Winthrop squad with no seniors this year. However, neither player thinks this is a weakness, echo-

ing their team goal of winning the Big South Tournament once more, while improving the team one game at a time. DiBiagio thinks Winthrop can become a team quickly and set the bar high for the next three or four years. Regular season play begins on Sept. 3 at home against the Brevard Tornados.

THURSDAY September 2, 2010

THE JOHNSONIAN