TheEast
Carolinian
ECU students protest over recent events
On March 23, Faith Pellini posted a video in which she read off a letter to ECU in response to their email informing her about facing expulsion. The reason for the email was her altercation with a student at an off-campus party. After posting the video, Pellini was arrested twice outside of Tyler Hall, both times for trespassing.
In the second arrest, Pellini allegedly broke the window of the car she was being held in. In the process, her hands and arms were injured. This led to her being taken in an ambulance to the hospital to check if she was okay. According to Pellini, after getting her injuries taken care of, she was placed into Holly Hill involuntarily as the Pitt County Sheriff’s Department feared that she was a danger to herself or others. She was held in the facility for 7 days.
“I just wrote in my notebook every day my thoughts, manifestations, and prayers to God,” said Pellini. Pellini’s next step in her journey is to take care of her legal
Piano Festival winner Loren Kim performs
at ECU
The 2023 East Carolina Piano Festival Competition winner, Loren Kim, performed at A.J. Fletcher Recital Hall on Thursday, April 3.
Kwan Yi, associate professor of piano at East Carolina University, said Kim won the 2023 East Carolina Piano Festival competition, earning a performance at A.J. Fletcher Recital Hall as one of the prizes.
Yi said Kim is a student at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston and the performance was a collaborative recital with each other.
“I spent some time with him as a teacher,” Yi said. “I taught him and I can speak about his ability as a pianist.”
Yi said they performed Mozart's Piano Concerto in D minor, with Kim playing the solo part while he accompanied him on the piano reduction of the orchestra.
Yi said he wants ECU School of Music to be recognized nationally and having different performances can help reach people outside of Greenville and outside of even North Carolina.
battles silently as well as use her platform to help victims and platform those whose cases have been swept under the rug.
“I’m going to work on collaborations with other brands like ARGD (All Rapists Gotta Die),” said Pellini.
Back at ECU, YDSA (Young Democratic Socialists of America) gathered Wednesday, April 2, in front of Ballard Hall on College Hill. They talked with WITN and The Daily Reflector as they put red paint on their hands before putting handprints over their bodies. This action acts as a visual message of the hands of aggressors on victims.
“Protect your students!” said one of the protestors in front of the Student Center.
This protest came almost a week after the two arrests of Faith Pellini in front of Tyler Hall. Her arrests came after a viral TikTok where she called out ECU for their email about her facing expulsion following her altercation with a student at an off-campus party. Since her video was posted, victims have come forward to speak about their experiences.
“This is an issue that was really personal for a lot of women
at ECU and I just saw a chance to mobilize,” said Sierra Issacs. YDSA led a group of students through College Hill, through campus, and to the Student Center. When they made their way to the Student Center, they began rallying a crowd before the intersection that were curious or that stood with the cause. In the course of the protest, a crowd began to form and they shouted rallying cries for change and advocacy.
“They need to hold rapists accountable,” said Reagan Moore.
According to the members of YDSA, the protest was frightening and empowering all at the same time. The crowd which listened to their points became their source of strength as they used their voices to fight for change. YDSA is a group of students at ECU whose mission statement is to build the power of students, communities, and youth to fight for equality, justice, and democratic socialism.
Pirates baseball faces UNCC
East Carolina University’s baseball team (20-13, 6-3 American Athletic Conference) will travel to Charlotte, N.C. to face the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (18-13, 6-3 AAC) this weekend from April 11-13. ECU now sits in third place in the American conference, which is tied with UNCC. To say this weekend is an important one for the conference standings would be an understatement, as they face one of their in-state rivals and look to get back on top of the American.
The Pirates are coming off a weekend where they were swept for the first time in conference play since 2018, along with their first time being swept at home since 2022. The 49ers last series notched a series win over Wichita State University (11-20, 4-5 AAC), two games to one. Charlotte has won seven of their last ten games and have gotten hot at the right time for conference play.
UNCC is batting with a .263 average which ranks 211th in the nation according to the NCAA. On the opposite side, ECU is batting with a .272 average, ranking 167th in the nation. In terms of earned run average the Pirates are sitting at a 4.38 which ranks 41st. Right behind them is the 49ers with a 4.38 ERA.
East Carolina is up for yet again another challenge this weekend given Charlotte's record, the statistics, and the rivalry between the teams. Suffering a series sweep in their last outing vs Florida Atlantic University ( 23-9, 5-4 AAC), the Pirates will have their work cut out for them this week in practice.
“Our position players looked tired. They looked like they had concrete in their feet, so it's my job to get them tougher. We’ll get tougher,” Head Coach Cliff Godwin said following last Sunday’s defeat.
The Pirates have won six of their last ten games and were playing some great baseball leading up to last weekend. In their last outing, the pirates made four errors on just Sunday alone. ECU will be looking to clean things up not only in the field but on the mound and in the batters box as well.
“We're gonna be fine, as I told our players, if you don't believe, don't show up tomorrow. I believe, I've believed since day one and I'm gonna keep believing, so we're gonna be fine and we’ll get back to the drawing board tomorrow,” Godwin also said following the sweep.
East Carolina will also face off against another in-state rival prior to the series against Charlotte when they face North Carolina State University (21-11, 7-5 Atlantic Coast
Conference) on April 8. It’s shaping up to be a very intense week for the Pirates. The game Friday, April 11, will be played at Truist Field in downtown Charlotte, N.C. with the first Pitch being thrown at 6 p.m. As for the games on Saturday and Sunday, they will be played at Robert and Mariam Hayes Stadium on UNCC Campus. Saturday’s game will start at 4 p.m. and Sunday’s game will be at 1 p.m. All of the games will be available to listen to on 94.3 The Game, as well as the final two games of the series being broadcasted on ESPN+.
CAROLINIAN
Student protesters walking past the mall and Student Health Center on ECU campus. The protest started on College Hill in front of Ballard residence hall and ended in front of the ECU Student Center.
Candon Johnson TEC STAFF
Caleb Johnson TEC STAFF
BROOKE WOMACK I THE EAST CAROLINIAN
Award-winning pianist Loren Kim performing at ECU on April 3, 2025.
ECU celebrates R1 status, setting the standard
East Carolina University recently celebrated its designation as an R1 research institution, which places it among the top 5% of U.S. universities for research activity.
ECU Chancellor Philip Rogers hosted a panel discussion which highlighted the university’s focus on experiential learning, industry partnerships, and community impact.
ECU’s R1 status help’s place the university as a leader in research driven service. ECU students and faculty also showcased innovative research, including advancements in cancer therapeutics and interdisciplinary health initiatives. Veteran pursues maritime studies and recovery
Geoff Anthony is a retired Marine Corps colonel and graduate student at East Carolina University. Studying maritime studies at ECU, Anthony hopes to honor his grandfather, who was lost in the Pacific during World War II, by contributing to service recovery efforts with the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency.
Anthony’s work with ECU professor Dr. Jennifer McKinnon has taken him to Croatia, Portugal, and Saipan, where he participated in recovering the remains of a lost service member. Beyond research, he created the Colonel Geoffrey M. Anthony Scholarship to support students studying Marine Corps and naval military history.
CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS
If you feel there are any factual errors in this newspaper, please contact editor@theeastcarolinian.com.
ECU’S medical school builds for the future
East Carolina University will be expanding the Brody School of Medicine, with the new Center for Medical Education Building already under construction as of March this year. This will help enrollment grow from 86 students to 120 students per year.
ECU received $265 million from the NC General Assembly for the construction of the new Center for Medical Education. The building will be seven stories high, 195,000 square feet, and connected to the existing Brody Medical Sciences Building.
Michelle Brooks is the Executive Vice Dean at the Brody School of Medicine. She says getting the building built was a long process and took “a big effort of the school and the community and the medical community.”
Now, as construction begins, all sorts of new problems come with it—one of them being how to handle a building still in occupancy, with classes still being taught, while a new one
is being built right next to it.
This all falls under the responsibility of Gina Shoemaker, Director of Engineering and Architectural Services and Project Manager at ECU.
She says although the new construction will ultimately have a good impact, right now it “affects a lot of people and inconveniences even more,” and “construction is messy, it's inconvenient, and aggravating at best.”
Much of the problem comes from not being able to move teachers and students in Brody and from parking, which is one of the most affected areas during construction.
She says the impact of this construction is much greater and that they “impact a lot more people on this one—there are clinics, medical providers, patients, helicopters—it’s a lot.”
Dr. David Eldridge is the Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. He is in charge of all the educational affairs at the Brody School of Medicine.
He says that there are disruptions but that
“what we're trying to do is accommodate,” and that this is all a “big team effort” in order for everything to continue functioning as smoothly as possible.
Eric Spangenburg, a professor in the School of Medicine and Department Chair of Anatomy and Physiology, says that “the construction itself is a bit of an inconvenience,” but it's worth it because “the new building is gonna change the outlook for all of the Brody learners that are coming here for medical school.”
He says that with the state investing in order to get this completed, it encourages those in the School of Medicine to “step up and deliver” and to “continue to produce outstanding physicians that…will be able to serve the state.”
The building is expected to finish construction in 2027, and Brooks says there is “a feeling of gratitude to our state leaders.”
This writer can be contacted at news@theeastcarolinian.com.
COURTESY OF ECU NEWS
East Carolina University chancellor Dr. Philip G. Rogers other ECU employees breaking ground at the site of a new building that will be finished in 2027.
Mark Roman TEC STAFF
OUR VIEW
Movie studios should leave remakes in the past
We, the editorial staff of The East Carolinian, believe that movie studios should stop remaking classic movies into live-action and create something original. The recent Snow White remake was scrutinized extensively online and received an IMDB rating of 1.6 out of 10. Both actresses Rachel Zegler and Gal Gabot received negative reviews for their on and off-screen antics.
Walt Disney Studios’s is one of the main culprits of constantly remaking their older films. In recent years, some of these remakes include The Jungle Book, The Lion King and the upcoming May 2025 release Lilo & Stitch. Many of these films lack creativity and appear to be cash grabs that benefit only the executives of the companies. Many online commenters point out the poor CGI quality, which has been in other Disney properties like Marvel films and television shows. Movie studios, like Disney should develop and foster new ideas. Doing this will only improve the quality of movies in cinemas. It can set the bar so other studios can follow suit, improving the movie-going experience for viewers.
PIRATE RANTS
Rest in power, Annie the
you’re mad because someone inflicted harm on another person and didn’t get in trouble for it so you inflict harm on another person and get in trouble for it. actions have consequences and your actions have invalidated your argument
Disney’s live-action Snow White disappointed me with confusing casting choices that prioritized messaging over staying true to the original, losing the heart of a timeless fairytale in the process.
In recent years, Disney has made many animations into movies. Some of them were very successful, but some were not as good as expected. The Snow White Movie cost a lot of money but it was not very popular. I think the actress has a lot of responsibility.
The minecraft movie is freaking awesome!!!!! People need to chill out a bit in the theater but it’s still super fun.
I’m paying $250 for a parking pass, but I still can’t park on campus? Paying money to walk 15-20 minutes to campus, or I can wait and hope that the bus is on time. Thanks.
Getting my first Big Mac today wish me luck. Also RIP Annie the Corgi Mix. I never met you or know you but rest in power.
President Donald Trump’s most recent announcement about the tariffs is one of the boldest economic moves we have seen in years, but is it the right answer? Putting a tax on Chinese and European goods sounds like a great way to improve American manufacturing, however, there could be major problems in the long run. While I understand that the United States has been a victim in global trade before, this could do more harm than good.
We all know this already: tariffs make everything more expensive. The companies that rely on imports aren’t going to take the extra costs for themselves, but instead, they’re going to pass them onto us–the consumers. Higher prices on food, gas, and other everyday purchases. This isn’t the
best consequence when we are already in a world dealing with inflation.
How do you think other countries are going to react when they have to accept these tariffs? When we look back in our history books, we know that trade wars lead to even more tariffs, which can impact American industries. Farmers will get hit the worst when China, Canada, and Mexico slap tariffs on our agricultural goods. Yes, manufacturing companies might benefit in certain areas, it’s true. But when our exports are hit, that will not last very long.
The way these tariffs were implemented could have been done a little differently. According to the Associated Press, Trump used his power to push the tariffs through without congressional approval, meaning he applied them on his own. Trade policy should be carefully thought out and not done by executive order. It was also said
that Trump’s own party does not totally agree with this idea because of its impact on the economy. Doesn’t that say a lot? I understand wanting to bring back manufacturing jobs to the US and I do agree that we should not let unfair trade practices pass. However, this seems like a risky approach that could cause serious issues down the road instead of solving them. Making purchases more expensive and potentially causing trade wars does not seem like a great way to strengthen the economy. A smarter and more thought-out approach needs to be put in place to fix trade imbalances.
Not one that will hurt your everyday American.
Five years after the COVID-19 pandemic closed down schools in March 2020, our children are still suffering from learning loss. Recent results from the National Assessment of Education Progress show the average eighth-grade score down by five points in reading and eight points in math from 2019 assessments.
As districts prioritize professional development for teachers in literacy and math instruction, with mixed results, schools are missing the point. It wasn’t simply a change in instruction that caused learning loss; it was also remote learning and social isolation. COVID-19 exacerbated levels of trauma by isolating children in homes where parents were struggling to maintain employment, coping with illness and loss, and covering for the absence of child care.
Today, students in many schools are at heightened risk of trauma as they worry whether their parents might be snatched away by immigration officials or lose their jobs due to tariffs and federal employee cuts.
Schools need to adopt Trauma-Informed Practices in the Schools, or TIPS, to provide a foundation for learning. The good news is that while TIPS may require a culture shift away from punitive responses to misbehavior, many teachers are naturally
good at TIPS and can integrate these into their daily instruction.
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network names four components of trauma-informed schools. To begin, they must realize the widespread impact of trauma.
More than two-thirds of children in the United States experience at least one traumatic event before they turn 16 years old.
That means that in any classroom, some students will be coping with sudden and overwhelming events — such as a natural disaster, car accident or violent crime — that cause significant distress. Others will
be suffering chronic trauma such as domestic violence, child abuse or neglect. Still others will be enduring complex trauma with a variety of overlapping and continually harmful experiences.
While some children demonstrate resilience in the face of adversity, others struggle to manage the symptoms of traumatic stress. Schools must learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of trauma, which can be mistaken for learning disabilities.
Corgi Mix. She was the perfect Pirate Pup adopted from the Greenville Humane Society.
The East Carolinian does not endorse the statements made in Pirate Rants.
during
Arts & Entertainment
EVENTS
Evans Street, Greenville, NC 27858
4:00 PM to 5:30 PM
Beginning Sewing: Lounge Pants Pitt Community College
1986 Pitt Tech Rd, Winterville, NC 28590
6:30 PM to 8:30 PM 252-493-7317
Knife Forging Pitt Community College
1986 Pitt Tech Rd, Winterville, NC 28590
6:30 PM to 9:00 PM 252-493-7317
Live Music Thursdays
5th Street Hardware Restaurant and Taproom 120 W 5th St, Greenville, NC 27858
7:00 PM to 10:00 PM 252-3648921
TOMORROW
Nerd Nite GreenvilleEcology of the Graveyard of the Atlantic w/ Terry Papavasilis Tapped650
650 E Fire Tower Rd, Winterville, NC 28590
7:45 PM to 11:59 PM 252-689-6455
The Multiverse Experience: Celebrating the Power of Poetry Through Word and Song Emerge Gallery and Art Center 404 S. Evans St, Greenville, NC 27858
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM 252-551-6947
Sherlock Holmes and the First Baker Street
Smiles and Frowns Playhouse 4354 Lee St, Ayden, NC 28513
2:00 PM to 4:00 PM 252-746-7002
Should’ve Been Cowboys at The State Theatre with special guest
Victor Hudson
The State Theatre 110 West 5th St , Greenville, NC 27858
8:00 PM to 11:59 PM
SATURDAY
Egg Rush River Park North 1000 Mumford Road, Greenville, NC 27834
1:00 PM to 2:30 PM 252-329-4560
Cinematic Sip: Outdoor
Movie- Footloose Nauti Dog Brewing Co.
210 Main Street, Winterville, NC 28590
8:00 PM to 10:00 PM 252-227-4231
Record Store Day 2025 at Alley Cat Records
Alley Cat Records
1011 Charles St, Greenville, NC 27858
10:00 AM to 9:30 PM 252-751-0590
The
Trisha Rangaraju TEC STAFF
f ifth and f inal Dreamville
On April 5th and 6th, thousands poured into Raleigh’s Dorothea Dix Park, buzzing with anticipation as they waited for their favorite artists to enter the stage.
According to the Dreamville press release, Dreamville Festival has quickly grown into one of the largest annual events in North Carolina and one of the most popular artist-led music festivals in the world. Each year, it draws guests from across all 50 states and around the globe for a carefully curated experience that highlights local culture, food, nonprofit partners, and art alongside performances from some of the biggest names in music.
Founded by rapper J. Cole, who grew up in nearby Fayetteville, the festival is also a way for him and his team to celebrate and give back to the community that shaped his journey as an artist.
This was the fifth and final installment of the festival and a celebration of live music, art, food, and community.
This year’s lineup included Lil Wayne, 21 Savage, PARTYNEXTDOOR, J.I.D, Ludacris, J. Cole, Erykah Badu, Glorilla, Wale, Keyshia Cole, and Chief Keef, among others. Each performance included a lively set and an anticipating audience.
Dreamville Festival 2025 also featured its
“Afterwards, he’s going to go down to South Carolina to play with a professional orchestra,” Yi said. “The orchestra is called The Long Bay Symphony Orchestra in Myrtle Beach.”
Loren Kim began his musical journey at the age of five and is currently studying under MengChieh Liu at the New England Conservatory of Music.
Kim said the piece he performed was special because it’s one of only two minor-key concertos Mozart wrote.
“In contrast to what you usually hear from him, it’s very dramatic and dark,” Kim said, “which makes it unique.”
Kim has performed at numerous venues, including solo engagements with orchestras such as L’Orchestra Sinfonica del Conservatorio
“Luigi Cherubini” di Firenze at the Oratorio di Santa Cecilia in Perugia, Italy and the LA Dream Orchestra at Zipper Hall, Colburn School.
Kim has also participated in numerous competitions, receiving 1st place in the California Association of Professional Musical Teachers Concerto Competition and Music Teachers’ Association of California regional concerto competition.
“The third movement is really fun to play,” Kim said. “It’s really fun to kind of be in tandem with the orchestra.”
Holden Burroughs, a sophomore at the ECU School of Music, said that Kim is a great pianist
largest food lineup yet, with dozens of local vendors offering everything from fried chicken and tacos to seafood, vegan dishes, desserts, and more. Fan favorites like Cousins Maine Lobster, Let’s Eat Soul Food, and Mazz ‘a’ Mia’s Pizza returned alongside newer options, giving attendees a wide range of flavors to enjoy.
“Dreamville is an incredible opportunity to get our name out there,” said one worker in pizza shop Pizza Nova. “We offer vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free services to account for the thousands of people that come to Dreamville. We’re so grateful we got this exposure.”
Upasana Lamsal, a junior at UNC Chapel Hill, was excited to attend her second Dreamville. She described the atmosphere as exciting and inspiring.
According to Lamsal, although the weather was hot and the crowd was thick, spirits were not dampened. The 308-city acre park was filled to the brim with music lovers like her across the country who were prepared for the day.
“We got to the headliners’ stages at least an hour early and it was so worth it because we were able to see the artists up close,” said Lamsal. “The amount of people and energy here is unreal, I would go every year if I could.”
Some speculate that although the Dreamville Festival is ending, a new concert series may replace
and that the first piece he saw Kim perform was by Alexander Scriabin.
Burroughs said it’s important to have these performances as a way to bring high-caliber musicians to Greenville, as many people may not have opportunities to hear classical music.
“So having the piano festival and having pianists like Loren come here to perform definitely opens up opportunities for people,” Burroughs said. “To listen to things that they might have predispositions about or not liking, but actually come and end up thinking they like it.”
Burroughs said while he isn’t always very explicit with his emotions, playing the piano allows
him to connect with people on a deeper level. He said it provides an opportunity to convey feelings that might otherwise be hard to express.
Burroughs said even though playing the piano takes hours of practice and hard work, it’s just really exciting and fun to play it.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to share the finished product,” Burroughs said. “What we do is take music that we enjoy and feel connected to, then share it with others to see if it has the same impact on them as it does on us.”
it starting spring 2026. We can breathe a sigh of relief because the end of Dreamville may not mark the end of springtime concerts at Dorothea Dix Park.
GABE KEY I THE EAST CAROLINIAN
Chief Keef performing on the first day of the Dreamville Festival. This is the last year of the
Classifieds & Puzzles
Aries (March 21-April 19) — Today is an 8 — A lack of funds would threaten plans. Review budgets and update for current circumstances. Manage accounts, transactions and investments. Contribute to the family pot.
Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is an 8 — Physical activity energizes as it consumes. Fuel your work with healthy foods and exercise. Take care of business while taking care of yourself.
Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Today is a 7 — Take it easy. Romance can kindle, when encouraged. Spontaneous fun with your partner is worth the time. Collaborate for shared workability and ease.
Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is an 8 — Household issues require attention. Stick close to home. Privacy comforts. Organize, sort and clean. Put stuff away. Make repairs. Keep systems functioning smoothly.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is a 7 — You’re especially clever. Research, write and edit. Make interesting connections. Don’t issue statements without review and signoff. Reestablish an old bond. Listen and learn.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is a 7 — Keep doing what it takes to bring home the bacon. Postpone what you can and take care of business. Bake up some dough.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is a 9 — Try a new look or style. Make upgrades to your personal presentation. Update your brand. You’re in the spotlight more lately. Dress the part.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is a 6 — Consider what you want. Envision your dream career. Contemplate the possibilities and prerequisites. Organize and make plans. Schedule actions and milestones. Imagine the possibilities.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is an 8 — Connect with friends, social and community groups. Consider the big picture. Share resources and cooperation. Explore and investigate. Build networks for shared support.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is a 7 — You’re attracting the attention of someone influential. Practice and polish your professional presentation. Plan and prepare to shine in the spotlight. Make it look easy.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is a 7 — Expand your territory. Get adventurous and embark on an exploration. It pays to have strong support from a partner. Share your appreciation.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is an 8 — You and your partner can find the necessary resources to accomplish your objectives. Make valuable connections. Don’t waste time arguing. Prioritize profitability.
by Jacqueline E. Mathews
