Tj final 3:27

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RMR

Roddey McMillan Record

INCLUDED INSIDE

Student takes a stand against cancer see SCIENCE & TECH pg. 5

Check out the Students schedule of display artwork Inaugural events see A&C pg. 8

see NEWS pg. 3

Issue 23 March 27, 2014

WINTHROP UNIVERSITY

Winthrop board of trustees gains new member see NEWS pg. 4

WU changes don’t warrant attention

ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA

NEWS

A&C

Let there be peace at WU Peace pole erected in Winthrop’s Hardin Family Garden to commemorate Father Valtierra

see OPINION pg. 6

Tennis opens conference play see SPORTS pg. 7

ARTS AND CULTURE

Rape culture defined to students By Casey Scully Special to the Johnsonian When asked if they believed in a “rape culture,” more than half of the audience responded “no.” During discussion, one student said that if a victim had made better choices she could have avoided being raped. Another student stated, “We raise our daughters and we love our sons.” This, and more open discussion, was the result of “Rape Culture: Contemporary Issues,” a real conversations event held March 11 in Owens G01 by the Multicultural Student Council. The event was an open forum for students to interact and debate with one another and with faculty members on the topic of rape culture within the U.S. Dr. Jennifer Disney, chair of the department of Political Science and director of Women’s Studies; Carrie Morphis, director of Victims Services and Sean Blackburn, Associate Dean of Students and Director of Leadership Studies, made up the faculty panel, who provided their insight on the topic. The discussion began with a few umbrella questions, which included, “Do you believe there is a rape culture?” and “What is the definition of a patriarchy?” These questions were proposed to the panel and then to the audience. Dr. Disney provided the audience with this to contemplate: “An examination of pop culture reveals a society that depicts women and women’s bodies as objects of sexual pleasure from the perspective of a white, heterosexual, patriarchal male gaze.”

see CULTURE pg. 8

Index News | 3-4 Science & Tech | 5 Opinion | 6 Sports | 7 Arts & Culture | 8-9

Winthrop president Dr. Jayne Comstock and husband Cpt. Larry Willamson attend the peace pole dedication ceremony in Hardin Garden. Photo by Anna-Marie Hayward• Asst. Arts and Culture Editor By Anna McCall Asst. News Editor Students and faculty gathered together in Hardin Garden on March 24 for the unveiling of Winthrop University’s first Peace Pole in memory of Catholic minister and peace activist, Father David Valtierra. According to a recent release, the peace pole is the most recognized symbol of peace in the world. The newly unveiled peace pole is six feet high and is engraved with the mes-

sage, “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in six different languages. Opening the ceremony were musicians Adrian Bailey and the Soulful Echoes. The band performed a blend of melodies heavily influenced by ambient and Native American styles. Associate professor of history and director of the peace, justice and conflict resolution studies minor Ginger Williams gave the opening address. “Planning this peace pole has been a goal for three years,” said Williams. “In 2010, before Father

David passed away, we had already begun discussions of a memorial to commemorate his life.” Father Valtierra was active within the Rock Hill community in his roles as Winthrop University’s Newman Apostolate Director, a sacramental priest at St. Mary’s and director of the Oratory Center for Spirituality. In his role with Congregation of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri, Valtierra prioritized social justice as the foundation of his ministry.

see PEACE pg. 3

SPORTS

Out of the frying pan and out of the department By Frances Parrish Editor-in-chief “Out of the Frying Pan” directed by Jarrod Bennett,a junior theater education major, is the first play in a series of renegade plays, which are independently produced outside of the theatre and dance department. The cast debuted last Wednesday and Thursday before spring break. The play is about five aspiring actors mooching off of their friend’s father’s money, and trying to keep it hidden from the father. This was Bennett’s first time directing a full show outside of the Theater Department. “It’s an invaluable experience for me,” Bennett said. Aalayah Williams, a sophomore English major, played the part of Muriel, Dottie’s friend from college who rents the apartment for all her friends. Williams explained that most of the cast were not theater majors. “We had biology and English majors, even a dance major,” Williams said. For Williams, acting in a renegade play was different and less stressful than acting in the department on the main stage. “It was for us as much as it was for the audience,” Williams said. Williams explained that it was Bennett’s show, and that he made sure everyone was enjoying themselves while learning their lines. Williams has not only performed in “Out of the Frying Pan,” but in the “Vagina Monologues” and in “Harriett Tubman Visits the Therapist” in the Fall One Acts. Not only did the renegade play give non-theatre majors a chance to be in a production, but also underclassmen. Williams said that most of the cast were sophomores and freshmen. “It gave them a chance to jump feet first in a play,” Williams said.

Winthrop falls to Duke in NCAA Tournament By Michael Owens Sports Editor

Winthrop women’s basketball came into this season with high aspirations and closed out their season on Saturday looking to reach even greater heights in the future. The Lincoln region kicked off the 2014 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament in Durham, N.C. on Saturday as the #2 seed Duke Blue Devils defeated the #15 seed Lady Eagles by an 87-45 final in Winthrop’s first appearance in the tournament in program history. “I am proud of each player and all of my staff for all the hard work they put in this year,” said head coach Kevin Cook. “We are not going to let this game diminish in any way what this team did this season. They made history and have established a solid foundation for this program.” Duke got out to an early 14-5 run led by one of the best guards in the country, Tricia Liston.

In honor of President Comstock’s inauguration, The Johnsonian is painting its pages the Winthrop blue.

The home team’s primary focus came in the paint, scoring easy baskets and crashing the boards against a Winthrop team that was without sophomore forward Schaquilla Nunn due to foul trouble. Nunn picked up her second foul around eight minutes into the first half, and Duke took advantage by putting even more emphasis on physical play inside. The Blue Devils took a 20-point in the paint advantage, as well as a 13 rebounding edge into halftime, as they led 41-17 at the break. Duke continued to dominate throughout the second half, as the Lady Eagles could not overcome the sheer size and power of the Blue Devils. “They crashed the boards really well,” said Winthrop senior guard Dequsha McClanahan. “They were a big groups of girls and we expected that. We didn’t crash as well as we wanted to. I think that’s what separated us. They got a lot of second chance points and

easy baskets.” McClanahan led the Lady Eagles in scoring and rebounding in her final game in a Winthrop uniform, as she scored 22 points and tallied up six rebounds. She finishes her career with 2,277 total points and 744 assists, and is the program’s all-time leading scorer and assist leader, but is the Big South Conference’s all-time leader in those categories. “It’s clear from our history. The stats show it, the records show it, how much time we’ve put into this program from our freshman year to now,” McClanahan said of herself and fellow senior Tiffany Charles as well as redshirt junior Samiya Wright. “I’m just very proud of what we’ve accomplished and what we’ve established. To leave a last impression, I wanted everyone to see our hard work and how far we’ve come,” McClanahan said. Wright was the only other Winthrop player to score in double-digits

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as she capped off her season with a 13-point performance. The team ended their season with a 24-9 record, which marks the most wins by any women’s basketball team in Winthrop history

Photo by Jacob Hallex


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