Carolinian
Conference play continues as East Carolina University (3-2, 1-0 American Athletic Conference) travels to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (2-3, 1-0 American Athletic Conference) to take on the 49ers this Saturday. The game, set to be played at Jerry Richardson Stadium in Charlotte North Carolina, gives ECU an opportunity to build some more momentum as they head deeper into the season.
The Pirates last win came against the University of Texas at San Antonio (2-3, 0-1 American Athletic Conference) at home where they were able to secure a win on the day that the 1999 team was honored. The defense stepped up big time, forcing three turnovers and putting pressure on opposing sophomore quarterback Owen McCown as they erased a 10 point deficit coming out of the first half.
ECU under the leadership of Head Coach Mike Houston, has shown flashes of potential throughout the season so far but hasn't quite been able to find consistency. The UTSA game showed a lot of positives, especially being able to close the game out in the fourth quarter, something the Pirates have struggled with lately.
“I thought we showed some growth in a lot of areas this past weekend,” said Head Coach Mike Houston. “Did a lot of really really good things, obviously able to do the thing that we needed to do in the second half, in particular the fourth quarter in order to win the ball game.”
UNCC is coming off a one point win over Rice University (1-4, 0-2 American Athletic Conference) where the 49ers defeated Rice 21-20 after a comeback following a change in quarterback. Freshman quarterback Deshawn Purdie led the way with two touchdowns and 183 yards in the win after replacing redshirt junior quarterback Texler Ivey.
“Another challenging game coming up on the road this weekend against a much improved Charlotte football team, who got their own big win this past weekend in a game that they trailed much of the game.” said Head Coach Mike Houston.
For ECU to succeed offensively, they’ll need to minimize turnovers and convert key third downs to keep drives alive and maintain control of the clock. Defensively, whether it’s Deshawn Purdie or Texler Ivey starting for Charlotte this Saturday, coach Houston will have a game play for either one of them. If Purdie does get the nod, one key part of the game play could be to throw blitzes to fluster him, considering he’s a freshman quarterback.
“Ivey starts the first half, Purdie comes in in the second half, and throws the ball very well down the field. Said Coach Houston. “I think that’s probably his strength, is throwing the ball down the field.”
Charlotte 49ers head coach Biff Poggi, a seasoned leader with experience coaching alongside Jim Harbaugh at football powerhouse Michigan University, loved what he saw from his quarterback against Rice.
"To loosen them up, we thought we would bring Purdie in and let him see if he could hit some things over the top with our receivers and he did it." Said Head Coach Biff Poggi after the win against Rice. The last time the Pirates and 49ers faced off was last season at Dowdy-Ficklen stadium where Charlotte won 10-7. With Charlotte being driving distance, a lot of ECU fans are expected to be in attendance for the game in Charlotte this Saturday. The game starts at 3:30 p.m. and can be watched on ESPNU for fans who can’t make it to the game.
BRIEFS
Board of Trustees agrees to long-awaited project
The plan is for the Isley Indoor Performance Center, a building that would cover 90,000 squarefeet would be used as a multi-sport training facility. The facility will offer practice space designed to meet training needs of ECU athletic teams along with an area to host large gatherings. The cost of the facility is 24.5 million and will be by the Pirate Club. The Center will be presented to the UNC system Board of Governors for consideration in October. ECU Chancellor Philip Rogers acknowledged the board approval of the performance center as an important step in realizing a long-awaited initiative for the athletics department. The next meeting for the Board of Trustees is scheduled for Nov.21-22 in the Main Campus Student Center.
Accessible Parks grant to redesign Woodlawn Park Woodland Park will be getting a facelift soon after the city was recently awarded an accessible parks grant. Greenville was awarded 500,000 to help improvements at Woodlawn Park located on North Woodlawn Avenue. The proposed project includes outdoor recreational amenities, multisport court, outdoor table tennis ping pong, cornhole, outdoor foosball, and an updated inclusive playground equipment. The grant will need a $100,000 city match from Greenville. Woodlawn Park currently has the city’s oldest playground equipment that was built in 1996, and the park at the moment does not meet ADA requirements with routes of travel. The Accessible Parks Grant Program administered through North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund will provide 12.5 million in matching grants for parks and recreation for people living with disabilities.
CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS
If you feel there are any factual errors in this newspaper, please contact Jaylin Roberts at editor@theeastcarolinian.com.
CRIME LOGS
Editor's Note: The East Carolinian Crime Logs are derived from East Carolina University Police Department’s (ECU PD) public crime logs accessible to all individuals.
Crime Logs are not done within the partnership of ECU PD and The East Carolinian, as this publication is meant to act as an additional resource for Pirate Nation. Below are listings of criminal activity that has occurred on or within proximity of main campus.
Sept. 25, 2024
At 5:30 a.m., 2nd Degree
Trespassing took place at the Sheetz on Charles Blvd. This situation was Cleared by Arrest.
At 12:16 p.m., Warrant Service for Other Agency took place at Brownlea Drive and 10th Street. This situation was Cleared by Arrest.
At 1:20 p.m., Possession of Marijuana < 1/2 Oz., Possession of Marijuana Paraphernalia and Liquor Possession by Minor took place at Scott Residence Hall. This situation is considered Prosecution Declined and Referral Issued. Sept. 26, 2024
At 7:15 a.m., 2nd Degree
Trespassing took place at the exterior of Eakin Student Rec Center. This situation was Cleared by Arrest.
Between 3 a.m. and 3:30 a.m., Misdemeanor Larceny took place at Jones Residence Hall. This situation is an Open Investigation.
lead educational initiatives to raise awareness about common medical emergencies.
According to Fisher, The best advice for those entering EMS is to stay teachable and ready to learn. Every day offers opportunities to gain new knowledge and being open to learning from all experiences is key to becoming a better provider. Even with decades of experience, there's always something new to learn.
“With both of my parents being first responders, EMS is a foundational part of my life,” said Fisher. “Thus, continuing to find innovative ways of advancing the field and improving the patient care experience is a particular passion of mine. Campus EMS accomplishes this mission by increasing access to high quality care for our university community.”
According to Fisher, The most challenging aspect of being an EMT is adapting to complex situations and responding calmly and effectively. EMTs often face uncertainty when arriving at calls but must think critically and make quick, crucial patient care decisions under high stress.
“I think most people do not truly understand the difficult experiences that first responders face,” said Fisher. “Going
into unknown situations, many times risking their lives, to save the life of some one they have never met before takes courage and humility. The ability of first responders to be the calm pres ence during a storm of emotions is what makes these men and women remarkable.”
According to Matthew Geib, a senior at ECU majoring in Biochemistry, and the co-founder and assistant chief of Campus EMS, the concept of a Campus EMS at ECU has been circulating for quite some time, with sev eral previous initia tives falling short. It took persistent effort to reach the point where the program is now.
Much of its success can be credited to a strong part nership with Student Health Services (SHS), who have consis tently supported and advocated for the program. Their backing, along with support from local organizations in the county and city, have been key to the program’s success.
Geib said the football games often lead to a range of medical emergencies. While dehydration and overheating are the most common issues, many calls for long periods or exposure to the sun. They have an efficient triage center at every game and ambulances on standby to transport individuals to the hospital if needed. In fact, over the last two games, they’ve had to send more than 10 people to the hospital.
“When I first became an EMT I had a very different idea of what a difficult call would be,” are extremely difficult and jarring at first. The hardest part about these calls is acting in the face of fear and discomfort, but this is something that gets easier the more you do it.”
Dock worker strike shuts down ports in the East
Los Angeles Times - Tribune News Service - The union representing thousands of dock workers from Maine to Texas launched a strike Tuesday over wages and the use of automation, shutting down seaports with a work stoppage that threatens to cause significant disruption to trade and the national economy.
It was the first strike since 1977 for the International Longshoremen's Association, whose 47,000 members handle cargo operations at three dozen ports on the East and Gulf coasts that receive about half of U.S. imports . And it comes at a delicate time, economically and politically, as the country is emerging from a period of high inflation and is just a month ahead of national elections.
If the strike ends quickly, it isn't expected to have big impacts on businesses or consumers. Many retailers had their products shipped earlier than usual and built up inventory in anticipation of a labor action. Some importers have transported goods by air and others have rerouted cargo to the West Coast, adding to increased traffic at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, the busiest container complex in the U.S.
But with each passing day, economists say it will cost billions of dollars in lost trade, although some of that would be recouped later. And if the ports remain shut down for longer than a week or two, more significant and wider effects will hit the American economy. Initially, the impact may be relatively minor and even unnoticeable to most consumers, with products like European wine and perishables like bananas costing more, said Jason Miller, a supply chain management expert at Michigan State University. But after a couple of
weeks, he said, automakers that produce cars in the U.S. could be forced to slow production or even impose temporary layoffs if they can't get enough imported parts and components.
"There's just a limit to what the system can take. You can only divert so much," said Miller.
The Biden administration has said that it is not considering invoking the 1947 Taft-Hartley Act to break a strike, but analysts say it may have little choice if it is not settled soon, given the potential economic and political damage it could cause.
The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach combined had their busiest August ever this year, and both ports have prepared for increased cargo volume in anticipation of the strike. West Coast dock workers are represented by a different union, which agreed to a new contract last year.
"Port operators on the West Coast learned to operate under severe duress during the reopening of trade following pandemic-era distortions," said Joseph Brusuelas, chief economist at the tax and consulting firm RSM US. "We think that this will partially mitigate some of those that will adversely impact trade volumes during the duration of the labor action."
Brusuelas estimated the strike would affect about $1.3 billion in exports and $3 billion in imports daily, still a modest figure given the size of the American economy. "The major industries impacted by this action will be local transportation and warehousing and imports of autos," he said. "Agricultural goods, coal, and petroleum figure to see the greatest short-term impact."
The impact figures to be heaviest in places that are home to or support the biggest ports along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, including New York-New Jersey; Savannah, Georgia;
Houston; and Charleston, South Carolina. But businesses in California say they expect it will also touch them and consumers on the West Coast.
"If we have learned anything at all from previous supply chain disruptions, it is that the fallout results in higher cost for consumers on goods like clothing, fruits and vegetables and medical supplies," said Patty Tschaepe, president of the Los Angeles Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Assn. Longshoremen started picketing after their six-year labor contract with the United States Maritime Alliance expired at midnight.
The alliance, which represents shipping lines and terminal operators at the ports, said late Monday that the two sides had traded offers in what appeared to be a last-ditch effort to avert a strike. The union has been pressing for wage increases of 77% over six years, according to published reports. The maritime alliance said Monday that it had offered nearly 50%.
Top-scale longshoremen earn a base pay of $39 an hour. The union also has pushed hard against employers wanting to use robotics and other labor-saving technologies. The alliance said Monday that it had offered to maintain the current language on automation and semi-automation.
The union, in its latest posted statement Monday, said the ocean carriers, mostly foreign-owned, had made billions of dollars of profits on the back of union workers whose wages have been eaten away by inflation. Neither side had an immediate comment Tuesday.
MARK FELIX TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE
Workers strike at the Bayport Container Terminal in Seabrook on Oct. 1, 2024. 14 ports along the East and Gulf Coasts made preparations on Sept. 30.
OUR VIEW
Students should be educated about political topics
It is currently an election year and the citizens of the U.S. will be coming to a decision about who will be the President for their country, they will also be voting in their local elections. The state of America lies in the hands of the new adults of this world.
We, the editorial staff of The East Carolinian believe that young adults should prioritize educating themselves about political matters in the United States and countries outside of America.
Adults between the age of 18 and 26 should start and continue to be vocal about political, economical and social issues that are happening around them. Every single thing that is happening in the world impacts everyone.
The U.S. will not progress without the young minds of this generation. People shouldn’t ignore, continue to stay silent or be complacent with the state of the world.
There are many policies that have and are trying to be taken away that relate to the basic human rights people should have.
Many should think about their own morals and beliefs and decide what they want their country to look like in the years to come. The decisions that many make now will set the path for the generations that will come after.
It may seem like the answer is to pick 1 side but many should think about how people can come together and make a better world. Young voices matter, it allows for the leaders of the country to pay attention to where they may have gone wrong in the past.
PIRATE RANTS
security. It wasn’t a high school game field. This article was without blatantly one sided. Sad
Why does everyone leave the football games during halftime?
Don’t blame the victims, dum dum. Unfortunately, this is the world we now live in and it’s only going to get
The execution of Marcellus Williams, who was put to death by the state of Missouri last week over the protests of a prosecutor and the family of the woman he was convicted of murdering, exemplifies why the death penalty is a stain on the conscience of this country.
It is not just that the practice is barbaric. Our justice system is also incapable of convicting the right person 100% of the time.
“If there is even the shadow of a doubt of innocence, the death penalty should never be an option,” said St. Louis County’s chief prosecutor, Wesley Bell, who argued that Williams, 55, should be spared.
Are we really willing to accept the wrongful execution of a few innocents as the price we pay for getting it right most of the time? That is a preposterous moral bargain.
Since 1992, according to the Death Penalty Information Center, newly available DNA evidence has led to the exoneration and release of more than 20 death row inmates. Since 1973, the center reports, at least 200 people who were sentenced to death have been exonerated.
What was to blame for their wrongful convictions? In most cases, it was official misconduct, perjury or both.
Oh, and let’s just say it: racism. According to the Innocence Project, 58% of the defendants the group has proved wrongfully convicted over the last 40 years were, like Williams, Black.
The Innocence Project was founded in 1992 by two attorneys, Barry Scheck and Peter Neufeld, who understood that if DNA technology was useful for proving guilt, it could also help prove innocence. I recommend a quick tour of the project’s website, with its stunning statistics laid out starkly in black and white: As of June, the project’s work has led to 251 legal victories and 203 DNA exonerations, and the group’s clients have wrongfully spent a
total of 3,942 years behind bars. Williams was convicted of the 1998 killing of Felicia “Lisha” Gayle, a 42-yearold journalist and social worker. She died a gruesome death by repeated stabbing with her own kitchen knife.
A jailhouse informant and Williams’ then-girlfriend told authorities he had confessed to the crime. But both were what defense lawyers call “incentivized witnesses.” The informant accepted $5,000 for his testimony, and the girlfriend was facing solicitation charges when police approached her about the murder. She also told friends she had been paid for her testimony, according to the Midwest Innocence Project. Both witnesses have since died.
In denying Williams clemency, Missouri’s Republican governor, Mike Parson, said he had “a robust criminal history,” including 15 previous felony convictions, which were “all consistent with entering
the home, attacking Ms. Gayle, and taking her” belongings.
But as Williams’ attorneys have noted repeatedly, no forensic evidence tied Williams to the crime scene. DNA testing, which was not available when Williams was first tried, found no evidence of his genetic material on the murder weapon or anywhere else in Gayle’s home. In fact, later tests showed that, as the Associated Press put it, “the knife had been so mishandled in the aftermath of the killing that it would be impossible to identify the killer.” The prosecutor who handled the case and an investigator admitted that they had touched the knife several times without gloves.
There is a great deal of rhetoric surrounding in vitro fertilization on the campaign trail this election season. Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance is against it, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has proposed coverage for it and Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz shared an inspirational story about his wife, Gwen, using intrauterine insemination to get pregnant. Also, notably, the Senate failed to pass the IVF Protection Act.
IVF has taken center stage as a women’s reproductive rights issue, as it should. But with all this rhetoric, it’s clear there is a big misunderstanding about IVF just being a women’s issue. In almost half of all infertility cases in the United States, the
man is a contributing cause. Yes, women bravely do all the work, appointments, injections and treatments. This country sees hundreds of thousands of IVF treatments each year. It is emotionally and physically exhausting for each individual, but a necessity for many people, like me, who want to fulfill their dream of building a family. Almost three years ago, I was diagnosed with nonobstructive azoospermia, a condition in which there is no sperm in a person’s ejaculate. My wife and I were given a 2% chance of ever having biological children. IVF is our only path toward that dream. We have discussed other options for creating a family, but why not try when the science is here? I’ve been through three clinics and three doctors and still can’t identify the cause. Happily, though, we are almost at the end of our
IVF journey, moving toward the family we desire because of IVF.
There is no pinpointing yet as to why sperm counts halved between 1973 and 2011. Reportedly 10% of all men in the United States who are attempting to conceive, can’t. I t is a huge problem. In the United States, about 9% of men and about 11% of women of reproductive age have experienced fertility problems. D iagnoses commonly given for those men suffering from it are oligozoospermia, a low sperm count; asthenozoospermia, low sperm motility; teratozoospermia, low sperm morphology; and my condition, azoospermia, no sperm in the ejaculate.
Classifieds & Puzzles
Aries (March 21-April 19) — Today is an 8 — Work smarter. Simplify and consolidate efforts. Choose for practicality. It’s getting busy. Distractions abound. Take advantage of an unexpected opportunity for a healthy break.
Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is an 8 — Relax and have fun with someone special. Take time to reduce stress and avoid overwhelm. Naps recharge. Slow and simplify. Listen to your heart.
Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Today is a 7 — Conserve resources and eat at home. Enjoy domestic arts and crafts. Find clever ways to beautify your spaces. Come up with practical solutions.
Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is a 7 — Positive change is possible. Consider a situation from multiple views. Don’t follow a mirage. Illusions fade. Make practical connections. Get creative and express yourself.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is a 9 — Hunt for cash from unexpected sources. Grow your emergency fund. Discover efficiencies to cut costs. Find solutions to conserve resources, time and money.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is a 9 — You’re especially comfortable in your own skin, despite unexpected circumstances. Accept support when needed, and offer it when useful. Step into greater leadership.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is a 6 — Think things over. Don’t rush. Clarify directions with friends. What does your spirit want? Consider things from a higher perspective. Create plans, visions and dreams.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is an 8 — Friends share an interesting connection. Your community network has all the resources you need. Pull together and go for distance rather than speed.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is an 8 — Consider an unusual yet fascinating professional opportunity. Expect a challenge. Choose the future you’re excited to work for. Investigate first. Do your due diligence.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is an 8 — You can find what you’re looking for. Study, research and investigate. An unexpected turn of events opens new doors. Classes, seminars and conferences incite creativity.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is a 9 — Tally the numbers. Unexpected circumstances could get profitable. Prioritize practical family necessities and save what you can. Work together for a greater harvest.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is an 8 — Creative collaboration can build satisfying results. Don’t waste time on false illusions. Join forces with a master. Each has talents the other lacks.
Jacqueline E. Mathews
Arts & Entertainment
EVENTS
Bites on the Bridge Greenville Town Common 105 E. 1st St., Greenville, NC 27858
5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Drake White - Low Country High Road Tour The State Theatre 110 West 5th St , Greenville, NC 27858
7 to 9 p.m.
ECU Symphonic & Concert Bands
J. H. Rose High School
600 West Arlington Blvd, Greenville, NC 27834
5:30 to 7 p.m. (252) 321 - 3640
Historical Nature Kayak
ECU to host Voyages of Discovery Series
4 to 5:30 p.m. (252) 328 - 0287 Live Music Thursdays
- 8921
TOMORROW
East Carolina University’s Voyage of Discovery Series is bringing in top national speakers to campus to speak with students, faculty and the community of Greenville about current societal issues.
Since its establishment in 2007, through the funding of the Dean’s Advancement Council of the Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences, the series has allowed those with platforms to share their perspectives on thought-provoking discussions.
“We were really excited that we were able to get both of our top two people,” Ashley Harzog said, director of alumni relations and outreach for the Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences. “That’s LeVar Burton in the fall and Jeff Corwin in the spring.”
To start off this year’s series, we have LeVar Burton, an Emmy and Peabody Award-winning actor and literacy advocate. Burton is known best for his roles in the children’s show Reading Rainbow, the classic Star Trek: The Next Generation and his show Roots.
“He [Burton] is a lifelong literacy advocate, and that is a hugely important thing,” Harzog noted. Burton’s advocacy for reading and education makes him a fitting speaker because their main goal is to inspire others and leave an impact for the Greenville community, students and locals.
Jeff Corwin, a biologist and wildlife conservationist, will be coming to ECU in the spring semester. Corwin is an Emmy award-winner known for his involvement on Disney channel’s Going Wild with Jeff Corwin and the creation of Wildlife Nation: With Jeff Corwin.
Sponsors and donors continue to play a crucial role in making these events possible, ensuring that the ECU community can access these inspiring speakers.
One of the series’ most dedicated and prolific sponsors is Ms. Harvey S. Wooten. Wooten has supported the series since its founding in 2007, and serves on the Harriot College Advancement Council.
To pick up your free ticket to the Voyages of Discovery: An Evening With LeVar Burton, ECU students, faculty and staff should bring their ECU 1Card to the Central Ticket Office. The Central Ticket Office is located just off the bus loop in the Main Campus Student Center and typically staffed Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Limited walk-up tickets will be available with ECU 1Card on the night of the event while supplies last.
Community members can purchase tickets for $20 through the Central Ticket Office website.
LOS ANGELES — Tribune News Series -
There’s an indisputable fact about Lyle and Erik Menendez: The brothers killed their parents, Jose and Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez, on Aug. 20, 1989, in the den of their Beverly Hills mansion.
But what was the motivating factor behind the murders? Was it greed, as prosecutors contended, or was it retaliation after years of abuse at the hands of their parents, as the brothers alleged?
It is a question that the Netflix series
“Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” attempts to answer by dramatizing events and showing different points of view — from the parents, the brothers and those in the family’s circle or some just outside of it. While the latest iteration of Ryan Murphy’s true-crime anthology series is based on the historical events of the case, including the brothers’ trials (the first ended in a mistrial), it also insinuates an incestuous relationship between Lyle and Erik, something that the brothers say is untrue.
Last week, Erik’s wife, Tammi Menendez, posted a statement on social media from him about the series and how the brothers were depicted, calling it “inaccurate” and that Lyle’s depiction was a “caricature” that was “rooted in horrible and blatant lies.” It was followed by another statement on Wednesday from members of the Menendez family, who expressed support for the brothers and called the series a “grotesque shockadrama.” The statement also disputes the
idea of an incestuous relationship, which Murphy said was a theory of Dominick Dunne (played by Nathan Lane in the series), the famed Vanity Fair writer who covered the trials.
In a video interview on Thursday, Murphy responded to the family’s reaction to the series: “I think it’s faux outrage. I think that this story, this Netflix series, is the best thing that has happened to the Menendez brothers in 30 years because it’s getting people to talk about it, and it’s getting people to ask the questions that are important.”
Among those questions are whether the brothers should have another trial and be freed.
Just last year, the brothers submitted a petition for a new hearing based on allegations raised in the Peacock docuseries “Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed” by Roy Rosselló, a former member of the Puerto Rican boy band who said he was drugged and raped by Jose, who was then head of RCA Records. Such testimony could support Lyle and Erik’s claims that they were abused by their father.
As for what Murphy would say to the brothers, he wished them luck in their pursuit of a new trial: “I know that they want new evidence to be allowed in. And I think that should probably happen.” Part of Murphy’s goal with the series is to showcase their point of view, “uninterrupted and unchallenged, which did not happen in court.”
“Monsters” also attempts to contextualize the era and how the brothers became enduring pop culture figures despite their notorious crime. Over the decades, the brothers have been subjects in documentaries, loosely portrayed on film and TV, and even parodied in comedies and sketch series. Murphy said he moved to Los Angeles around
the time the murders happened, and followed the trials closely over the years, thus his interest.
“Looking back, I thought it would be very interesting to do something where you were very unclear about who the monster was,” said Murphy, who co-created and serves as co-showrunner. “Were the boys the monster? Were the parents the monsters? And what I came to was they all were monsters in different ways.”
The series features newcomers Nicholas Alexander Chavez as Lyle and Cooper Koch as Erik, co-starring with Javier Bardem as Jose and Chloë Sevigny as Kitty. “Monsters” has topped Netflix’s most-watched charts since its release on Sept. 19, spurring a flurry of interest in the case and what actually happened. And that’s likely to be sustained because a new documentary, “The Menendez Brothers,” is slated to be released Oct. 7 on Netflix. It features interviews with the brothers and their cousin Diane Vander Molen, who has said that when Lyle was a child, he told her he was being abused by his father.
One of the big reasons Murphy wanted to write about the brothers and the case is to start a conversation about sexual abuse, particularly male sexual abuse. “[In] one weekend, [the series is] hugely popular, and people all over the world are having conversations about this many times, for the first time, and I find that very gratifying,” he said.
KIM KULISH I TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE Erik and Lyle Menendez converse in courtroom during a hearing in Los Angeles in February 1995. The Menendez brothers were sentenced to life in prison.
COURTESY OF EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY
LeVar Burton is the former host and executive producer of PBS’s Reading Rainbow.
Guiliana Berberio TEC STAFF
Pirate Media 1experts predict this week’s events
Trevon McGlone TEC Sports Editor
ECU VS. UNCC
Score Prediction?
ECU 21-10
Why?
Charlotte is arguably worse than UTSA, who we beat by 10. I think Mike Houston finally gets his first in-state win against a North Carolina opponent. It’s a must win game.
Cannon Gates
WZMB Station Manager
ECU VS. UNCC Score Prediction?
ECU 42-10
Why?
If we lose this game, I riot, I will be livid, if we lose this game but UNCC is a bad football team and realistically we should not lose this game, give me Jake Garcia over 3000 yards and Harris to have over 100 rushing yards and ECU to dog walk Charlotte and Biff Poggi who I despise as a football coach.
ECU VS. UNCC
Score Prediction?
ECU 28-10
Why?
We still have yet to see a complete game from the Pirates but it seems like we find more and more out about this team every week we play. The Pirates head to Charlotte for an in-state and conference rival game against UNC-Concord where we need to make a statement once again. Mike Houston is winless against FBS teams in NC and I believe that changes this weekend. I expect a big day out of the boys in purple and gold.
East Carolina University’s volleyball team (8-4,1-1 American Athletic Conference) capped off their first full month of play with two conference matchups in Florida. The squad played only three games at home, hosting the Pirate Invitational.
They won the Pirate Invitational for the first time since 2019, before immediately hitting the road for six straight road matchups to end the month.
After a historic 7-0 run to start the season, matching the 2016 squad’s pace, ECU was one of only 16 undefeated teams left in the country. But the Pirates faltered slightly as they faced hefty non-conference competition.
Their seven game winning streak to open the season was snapped at South Carolina (9-3, 0-1 Southeastern Conference), and they would drop the following two games against hefty opponents in No. 1 Pittsburgh (12-0, 2-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) and Marquette University (6-5, 2-0 Big East Conference). The matchup against the latter program came only a week after Marquette received the most votes of any team not in the Top 25 by the AVCA. 2024 marks the first time since 2011 that ECU faced off against the top-ranked team in the country, and it’s only the second time in program history.
The Pirates struggled toward the latter half of the month,
ECU back on track to take on Tulsa
The East Carolina soccer team (5-24, 2-1-1 American Athletic Conference) is back in the win column after beating the University of North Texas (7-3-2, 3-1-0 AAC) 3-0 at Johnson Stadium this past week.
This match is new to the program’s history, with their first game played in October 2023. That game was played in Denton, Texas, and resulted in a 2-2 tie. This match-up would be the Pirates’ first win since Sept. 12, following their threegame skid.
The Pirates are coming off a tie, 2-2, in their previous match-up against the University of North Carolina Charlotte (1-6-4, 0-1-2 AAC). Both senior defender Abby Sowa and graduate student forward Sydney Schnell would score goals in each half of the game.
Schnell scored 49 seconds into the game with an assist from Sowa and sophomore midfielder MacKenzie Smith. Sowa scored her goal in the 47th minute with the help of Smith.
Both the Pirates goalkeeper, graduate student Maeve English, and the 49ers graduate student Emma Wakeman would save and concede two goals each.
During the game against North Texas, Schnell was the first and only player to score points in the first half. She scored in the 25th minute, but North Texas graduate student defender Rachel Roebuck received a yellow card in the 11th minute.
In the second half, Sowa would score in the 78th minute with a penalty kick. A few minutes later, in the 82nd, Schnell scored her second goal with an assist from junior forward Juliana Viera. Viera would go on to receive a yellow card after her assistance.
Schnell would receive offensive player
of the week for her performance against North Texas. She has scored five goals so far this season, three of which came in her last two games.
So far this season, English has saved 78.4% of her shots. Throughout her time as a Pirate, English has always had 70% or higher shots saved per season, with her highest being back in 2022, at 76.6%.
The Pirates will face the University of Tulsa (5-5-2, 1-2-0 AAC) in their next game. Tulsa is one in their last five games. Their last win came in their last game against Temple University (2-10, 0-3 AAC) 3-2.
The Pirates will be in enemy territory next week as they travel to Oklahoma to face the University of Tulsa. The game will be played on Thursday at 8 p.m. EST and can be streamed on ESPN+.
Diego Lerma TEC STAFF
COURTESY OF ECU PIRATES
East Carolina University sophomore midfiedler Mackenzie Smith goes in motion to take the corner sending the ball into the box for the Pirates.
Nick Green
WZMB Sports &
Carolina University senior forward
Sowa named TEC Athlete of the Month for September
Trevon McGlone
ECU senior defender Abby Sowa has been selected as The East Carolinian’s Athlete of the Month for September.
Sowa was chosen for her contributions as the anchor of the Pirates defensive line. The Ironwoman has racked up over 4,000 consecutive minutes played dating back to 2021 and last month that was no different. Sowa leads the Pirates in total minutes played with 990 throughout 11 games so far in 2024, playing every single minute possible.
Prior to the first loss to the season against James Madison, ECU had only allowed two goals on the year thanks to a defensive backline that was captained by Sowa. The contributions aren’t just on defense. Sowa is second on the team in shots on target, tied with freshman forward Caitlin-Star Dolan Boodram, second in goals scored behind graduate student forward Sydney Schnell and fourth on the team in shots.
One of the key moments of September for Sowa came just at the end of the month. First, in a crucial conference game against Charlotte, Sowa assisted on a goal scored by Schnell to put the Pirates up early. Charlotte would equalize but Sowa would take it a step further.
In the 48th minute, Sowa put the Pirates back in the lead with a goal of her own. While Charlotte would once again find an equalizer to end the game tied 2-2, the effort helped rescue a point after the Pirates had dropped two straight games.
The following game against North Texas, Sowa stamped another performance. With the Pirates up 1-0 thanks to another goal from
Schnell, Sowa would get an opportunity to take a penalty kick in the 78th minute and she would deliver to put the Pirates up 2-0 to bolster the lead.
That goal for Sowa made her the first player since Jenna Dages to score two goals and an assist since 2018. She also became the second defender in the last five years to score in back to back games, the first being her fellow teammate
sophomore defender Lucy Fazackerley. Sowa is quickly approaching 5,000 total minutes without being subbed out.
“Honestly, my first reaction was that it made me feel really old. Like being a senior now, obviously being here for all four years, it’s surprising.” Sowa said regarding to having one of the longest active minutes streak
“It’s pretty awesome actually. I don’t think
I’ve heard a lot of people do it, but obviously just being part of a really good defensive unit all four years and that’s kind of something that we’ve prided ourselves on, is just really exciting and really important to me as a player.”
Full ECU men’s and women’s basketball schedule released
Garett Skillman TEC STAFF
East Carolina University’s men’s and women’s basketball programs have released their full schedules for the 2024-2025 season. The men’s team looks to turn things around from last season where they went 15-18 overall, while the women’s team hopes to continue their momentum from last season after two straight appearances in the American Athletic Conference final.
The ECU men’s basketball team will begin the season with a series of non-conference games, starting with a home opener against North Carolina Wesleyan on November 4, followed by games against Coastal Carolina University, University of Mount Olive and George Mason University, all of which are also at home. These early season games will give the Pirates an opportunity for the team to fix any early season kinks before entering the more competitive AAC games.
At Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum the Pirates will host University of North Texas, Rice University, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham, giving a significant home court advantage in these key matchups. On the road, ECU will face the University of Memphis, the University of Tulsa, and Wichita State University.
The six home and away matchups feature opponents such as University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Florida Atlantic University, University of South Florida, Temple University, Tulane University, and University of Texas at San Antonio. One anticipated matchup of the season will be the home and away series against Charlotte, who are a new AAC rival. ECU fans will also circle the games against South Florida after last season’s quarterfinal loss in the AAC tournament.
The ECU women’s basketball team enters the 2024-2025 season with high expectations
after back to back appearances in the AAC Championship final. Coming off an AAC championship in 2023, the Pirates suffered a tough loss to Rice in last year’s championship final. With an 18 game conference schedule, the Pirates will look to continue their momentum and win their second AAC championship in three years.
The women’s team will also play three home only games, three away only games, and six home and away games. The Pirates
home only games are against North Texas, Tulane, and Wichita State, while their away only matchups will be against Memphis, Rice, and UAB.
The matchup against Rice will be one to watch, it’ll be a rematch of last season’s AAC Championship game, where the Pirates fell 41-61. The game against North Texas, who is another conference rival, will also be a big game. Last season’s game between the two teams went to four overtimes, with ECU losing 93-91.
Both the ECU men’s and women’s basketball teams have tough schedules ahead, filled with key conference matchups. For the men’s team, the focus will be on having their first winning season in over a decade, while the women’s team will be aiming for a return to the NCAA Tournament and another AAC title shot.
COURTESY OF ECU PIRATES
East Carolina University senior defender Abby Sowa
matchup
the University of Florida Gators.
PRYOR SHELTON THE EAST CAROLINIAN
East Carolina University senior guard RJ Felton locking in to play defense against North Texas.
PRYOR SHELTON THE EAST CAROLINIAN ECU forward Amiya Joyner shooting free throw.
