THE
SPRINGHILLIAN
Septemebr 25, 2014
Volume 99 Issue 2
Ad Majorem Del Gloriam
What’s the Hold Up? Langan Hall (Still) Closed for Repairs Photo by Shaunicy MUHAMMAD
By Shaunicy Muhammad Reporter In April, the news that Langan Hall would remain shut down for the 2014 academic school year and that students would still be restricted from living there quickly spread throughout campus. Langan, one of the three apartment buildings, is part of a known and wide spread tradition that many students want to keep alive. Today, they ask why it seems that nothing has been done to reconstruct the building or accelerate the reopening. To them, it seems
that there has been no change or renovations done, the main reason was given for the closing of the building over a year ago. Students continue to voice their disappointment and sadness over the pace at which Langan is being remodeled. Some students believe that nothing has been done at all. They are troubled to think of the implications this could have for the Spring Hill community. “Due to the greater number of students who have been enrolling
here in the past couple of years, I believe it would be advantageous to reopen New Hall,” said Ian Garrison, junior and biology-pre health major. Garrison says that Langan remaining closed is one less dorm being utilize, which takes away from the ease of the housing selection process. More dorm rooms equal more rooms for students to choose from. In addition, the closing of Langan meant that seniors hoping to live in one of the apartment buildings had to make backup plans for their housing situation.
There are currently many seniors in Mobile Hall, which in past years has normally been a mixture of junior and senior residents. Housing space isn’t the only thing that students are concerned about. Many are saddened because they feel that the Spring Hill College experience isn’t complete if you don’t get the chance to stay in one of the apartment buildings your senior year. Both Garrison and another
SEE FROM THE COVER pg. 4
THE SPRINGHILLIAN
2
WEEKLY FORECAST
THIS WEEK
Thursday - 86/64 - Mostly Sunny
September 25, 2014
IN THIS ISSUE
Friday - 88/70 - Partly Cloudy
Saturday - 82/72 - T-Storms
Sunday - 82/70 - T-Storms
HILLIAN STAFF
Editors: Natalie Welch Alex Sierra
Advisor: Stuart Babington Photo Editor: Ben Fleming
Inside News Page 4 Learn all about what happened to Student Accounts and Financial Services. Inside Lifestyle Page 8
Repoters Ryan Flynn Jabulani Thompson Shaunicy Muhammad
Missing home? See how other students deal with homesickness.
Sports: Brandon Krus Advertising/social media Erinn Vogel
HILLIAN CONTACT The Hillian Newswire @HillianNewswire
Inside Lifestyle Page 9 See the top five spots to visit in Mobile, AL.
Hillian Newswire hillian _ newswire Letters to the Editors newswire@shc.edu Read the Hillian Newswire online at newswire.shc.edu
Inside Sports Page 11 Check out the Sports section to catch the schedule of upcoming games.
THE SPRINGHILLIAN
NEWS
September 25, 2014
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New and Improved Website for Undergraduate Information By Natalie Welch Reporter
A new, upgraded website for undergraduate academics was launched on September 9th by the Office of Information Technology. The updated website includes the ability to be easily viewed on mobile devices. Dr. Margaret Massey, the Chief Information Officer of the department, says, “We are very proud of the academic programs we have at Spring Hill College, our outstanding faculty, and the success of our students. This new website helps showcase what our faculty and students have accomplished.” The redesign of the website has been no small task, and Dr. Massey says that the web team of Chris Hughes and Laura McNeil has “been working on this for several months to get it right – meeting with each department, making sure they got the latest information.” The website includes content about each of SHC’s 38 majors and academic concentrations. However, if that seems a little intimidating and overwhelming, it shouldn’t; Chris Hughes says, “We’ve taken all the really relevant information
about this particular major and condensed it down to one page.” They also have a “Fast Facts” section on each page that displays pertinent information, such as the number of faculty within a program, as well as clubs and scholarships that relate to that major. Also included on each page are at-a-glance boxes, which list the places where students who have graduated within a certain major have worked, where they’ve interned, and where they’ve gone to graduate school; this allows for current or even incoming students to get an idea of where they could be headed. Another aspect of these new pages is the personal testimonies given by faculty, alumni and current students, which reveal their experiences and impressions of the various majors. “Students are really looking for that personalized experience,” Hughes says. And he thinks the testimonies are a step in the right direction. What else can students expect to find on the website? For one, there’s a handy sidebar that links students to related majors. So, once students have clicked on a major that interests them, they will then be able to see a list of other majors that are similar, and be able to explore those options, as well. McNeil, the other half of the web team, is particularly fond of this feature. “Say you’re a sophomore,” she says, “and you really haven’t decided on something. You’re going to come here, and you might scroll through what you’re interested in.” The most important change created by this new endeavor, though, is the website’s ability to be mobile-friendly;
it uses a “responsive design” which, according to Hughes, means that “the website knows how to adapt itself depending on the size of the screen.” So, no matter what type of phone or tablet a student uses, the website will format itself correctly. “We’ve kind of geared everything towards mobile audiences,” says Hughes. And making the site easily accessible on mobile devices was a logical step, because, as Hughes states, “In the past two years, our mobile audience penetra-
tion has gone from 9 percent to 38 percent.” They expect that number to grow even further in the coming years, which makes the site’s mobile capabilities even more important. For mobile users, this switch means no more zooming in and out trying to view the website while on a mobile device. Instead, in the case of devices like the iPhone 6, “everything is condensed down to a single column,” which allows for easy viewing, says Hughes.
“It’s all the same information,” he adds, “it’s just geared to a mobile layout.” Students shouldn’t expect this update to be a one-time occurrence, either. Hughes says, “We look forward to continuing this development as we work toward establishing a world class presence for the college on the web.” Anyone wishing to view the site should visit ug.shc. edu.
New Hall’s New Lobby By Shaunicy Muhammad Reporter
The lobby of New Hall has a new look. About a week ago, workers began renovations in the newest dorm on campus. The first thing that onlookers noticed was the removal of the old carpet that covered the lobby floor and the installation of a new one. Since then, residents and visitors have seen the addition of two new, flat screened TVs, new tables and large triple tiered stands. Residents and onlookers have given varied opinions about these new add-ons. Some students are excited about the idea that their dorms lobby will have a fresher, more updated look. Others, while they acknowledge the importance of change, added that there are more pressing issues that need handling in the building than the look of the lobby. “I just hate that we have all these renovations going on but they didn’t fix the old stuff,” said Brianna Jackson, a sophomore and Spring Hill cheerleader. Jackson believes that the addition of a new flat screen is especially troubling. She’s not alone in voicing that opinion. Sophomore Tenavia Robinson, who resides in the basement floor of New Hall, believes that not enough attention is given to making the dorms visually appealing. She believes that besides the cleanliness of the dorm, the scenery could stand to be more appealing to students. “I think that the new additions should have been more colorful to bring the lobby to life. They should add some art in the area,” she suggested. Robinson continued by saying they the renovations were a great idea but that maybe a couple of computers could have been added to the area. She says that would be “beneficial” to the students. When asked about his opinion on what is
going on in New Hall, sophomore Demetrice Jones took no time at all to say how excited he was. “I like the idea of having two TVs especially. Sometimes, a group of people in the lobby might not want to watch what another crowd is watching. This gives people a chance to congregate with friends and hang out and watch two separate things. It was a good idea,” he concluded. Students seemed to have many questions about what was next on the remodeling agenda. Jones asked, for instance, “Are they going to renovate the whole building?” He even wondered if other dorms on campus would be receiving the same treatment or if residents in other buildings could see new changes to the buildings they live in. Still, there remains an aura of disbelief for some students who believe that more serious problems aren’t being dealt with. “There’s no way that we should have new TVs in the lobby when the vents in the bathroom don’t work and we have mold,” said Jackson. She continued by saying that she’s been having an ongoing problem with the air in her dorm room. When reached for comment, Director of Residence Life Adam Bernot said that the renovations of New Hall that have happened within the last week are only the beginning of things changes that will be coming be to the dorm. “These renovations are still in process and furniture will be replaced in the future,” he said, adding that the whole renovation is not yet complete. He did not immediately get back to us for further comment. Students are awaiting the new upgrades with great interest and curiosity, wondering what new things are in the works for campus.
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THE SPRINGHILLIAN
September 25, 2014
Student Accounts + Financial Aid = Student Financial Services By Ben Fleming Reporter
Spring Hill College decided it was time to combine the departments of Student Accounts and Financial Aid into a department called Student Financial Services. The reason for combining the two departments is because they were preforming similar functions, and there was previously a disconnection between the two. Now, Spring Hill will have its own counselors that students and parents can contact all four years about financial aid or the bill. Bob Stewart, the Vice President of enrollment, says that, in the past, Spring Hill has not enforced the policy of families paying their bills ahead of time. This has been a problem because students would rack up a tremendous debt on their student accounts and would not be able to pay it off. “We were not doing our mission if we allowed students to come here and not pay their bill, and walk away from here mid semester with a debt,” says Stewart. The combining of these two departments was centered around the college’s mission on doing what’s right for the students and serving them correctly. When it comes to the new bookstore policy, Stewart explained that the college used to allow students to charge up to $1000 to the bookstore. Then it was found out that this policy
was being abused and students were charging gift cards or other nonacademic things to their accounts and racking up a balance that parents could not pay. Most of the money that the students owed was due to charging to the bookstore. Stewart says, “Now, if you have enough financial aid on your account then you can use that money to buy books, but if you don’t you will have to pay out of pocket.” One thing that student financial services is trying to do is collect money from families ahead of time so they are not creating a balance for books, they are spending money they have already paid to the college. He also states, “Students need to know that if they are struggling to pay for books they need to come see us in the office.” According to Jim Love, Director of Financial Service Operations, the college will be providing comprehensive student financial counseling. Students will have the same financial counselor based on their last name, so that if they have an issue they will be dealing with one person, and not being passed around. This all goes into combining student accounts
and financial aid into one department. Since longtime Director of Financial Aid Ellen Foster, retired this summer there have been many personnel changes. This has made the transition process tough, but there is a plan. Currently three financial aid counselors are being trained and there will be a new Director of Financial Aid starting next month. Love also explained that the college recently started imposing a credit card fee of 2.99 percent on all credit transactions when it comes to paying students’ tuition, which may make some parents a little upset. Love says, “Ultimately, every day we are trying to get better. I understand the frustrations of those stu-
dents that have been underserved and miserved in this transition, but it is all going towards a better education for the students.” In regards to the new bookstore policy, Love agrees with the decision to implement a new procedure. Love explained how the students were abusing the old structure and it was time for a change because they were creating a 1.3 million dollar liability for the school each semester. Students were spending money they had not paid yet, and racking up a huge debt with the school. “Spring Hill, out of 200 Barnes N Nobles college bookstores, had the second highest bookstore amount three years ago. We were second behind
Arizona State, which has about 55,000 students compared to our 1300,” says Love. Students now can only charge with financial aid or if parents give them money beforehand. Love mentioned he has heard students jokingly talking about how they were not going to be able to charge gift cards and gas cards on their student accounts anymore, but overall he believes the process was implemented well. When it comes to the happiness of Spring Hill students, both Bob and Jim believe that this new enforcement of policies will only strengthen the community. It will allow for less financial issues and for the college to move forward.
FROM THE COVER
student, Ashley Boutwell, spoke of the tradition of living in the senior apartments. A senior currently majoring in international studies, Boutwell was clearly frustrated by the closing. “They’re doing a disservice to the Spring Hill students because being able to live in the apartments is something you look forward to as a freshman. It’s a real pre-
view of what living on your own is going to be like.”
Although two other fairway apartments remain open to student residency, not every student who desires this authentic Spring Hill experience will have the chance to attain a coveted apartment. After occupancy of the other apartment buildings, Rubin
Hall and Andrews Hall, were filled last semester during housing selection, seniors had to choose from O’Leary Hall, Mobile Hall, and Skip’s Place. According to the Spring Hill College website, that means 48 students transitioning from juniors to seniors this semester, interested in getting this experience were out of luck.
Juliann Losey, Area Coordinator of the Fairway Apartments, and Adam Bernot, Director of Residence Life, did not get back to us in time for comment.
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September 25, 2014
Offensive Name or Controversy-Free? to five years in federal prison. All that being said, for the love of God, can’t we all just admit that it’s a racist, derogatory term, and therefore shouldn’t be allowed?
By Natalie Welch
Editor-In-Chief
As I scrolled through my phone on Saturday evening, I came across another article about the controversial NFL team name, the Washington Redskins. Now, I’ll be the first to admit, I’ve got a dog in this fight, because I’m part Native American. But I’m not just laying claim to that heritage like some people do, – yes, tons of people in the United States probably have at least trace amounts of Native American lineage; and no, that doesn’t mean you can just say you’re Native American and expect me to take you seriously – I’m actually a certified member of the Cherokee Nation.
Comic by Alex Sierra Assistant Editor
Maybe it’s because I’m a pretty laidback type of person, but I’m not offended very often; at least, not personally offended. I see, or hear of, situations where I completely understand how a certain group could be offended; and I might even be a part of that group myself, but will still rarely get offended. Also, getting offended by something often requires a lot of energy, which I frankly don’t feel like expending. It’s for these reasons that I feel I can speak so rationally about this subject, even with my close ties to it; I’m not offended by the name Redskins, per se, in that I don’t feel personally disrespected by its connotations; it honestly doesn’t make my life any better or worse by having a football team with that label attached to it. But, just because I’m not personally offended by something doesn’t mean it’s not wrong – I’m not particularly offended by tax evasion, either, but that can get you up
I’ve heard some talk about the origins of the term redskins, and an article on Slate, written by David Skinner late last year, details the idea that the history of the word is “not what you think.” It’s an interesting article, and has absolutely no bearing on the debate as it stands today. Skinner acknowledges this, writing that the history of the word “is entirely separate from whether people today, Native Americans especially, rightly find the term offensive.” Why this word came about, and the exact meaning of it at its inception, are of little importance today. Language changes; it evolves. And words can be completely different now from the way they were initially used. The more important matter is how the word has been used since, and the meanings it has taken on, which, it seems abundantly clear in this case, are typically derogatory. If people want to claim that it isn’t derogatory, then they should also be fine with calling Native Americans “heathens” and “savages.” All three terms have been used to mark Native Americans as other, and therefore lesser. Coupled with the fact that Native Americans have – to put it extremely kindly – gotten the short end of the stick in most of their relations with Caucasian settlers, it’s easy to see how the term redskins has become fraught with racist, pejorative meaning. And, in the age of political correctness, it seems only obvious that a team using this name should change it as quickly as possible. However, I’m apparently in the minority in thinking this. Scott Clement wrote an article for The Washington Post earlier this month where he cited a poll, which found that 71 percent of the public thought the Washington Redskins
“should not” change their name; 68 percent believed that the name wasn’t disrespectful. Wait, what? I mean, I’ve heard arguments, mostly coming from the Redskins organization, that claim the name isn’t disrespectful, that it’s actually a term of respect and honor; but I’d really like to know how they came up with that conclusion. The term redskin was used in a time when Native Americans were continuously disrespected and dishonored, so how can the name not be linked with those negative connotations? And even if you think it isn’t disrespectful in the slightest, and there’s no reason to change it, let me just ask one question: What if we changed the name to the Washington Whiteskins? After all, it’s not meant in a derogatory way, and it’s not inherently racist. And yet, doesn’t it feel like something is fundamentally wrong with naming a professional sports team after the color of someone’s skin? Regardless of whether it personally offends you or not, let’s just change the name, keep the needlessly controversial aspects out of it, and focus on the sport itself, because, besides this, the NFL is pretty much free of controversy, right?
THE SPRINGHILLIAN
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LIFESTYLE
September 25, 2014
Friends dress up in their wigs and mustaches for Phi Mu’s Wig and Stache Bash Photo by Jabu THOMPSON
Paige GUILLORY and Andrew PETTUS at the Phi Mu Wig and Stache Bash Photo by Jabu THOMPSON
Joe BRANDT and Maggie MASTROGIOVANNI show off some flashy costumes at the Wig and Stache Bash Photo by Jabu THOMPSON Student attends the Phi Mu Wig and Stache Bash in full costume Photo by Jabu THOMPSON
Car getting sprayed at the Sigma Chi Carwash Photo by Ben FLEMING The brothers of Sigma Chi wash the Spring Hill Police car. Photo by Ben FLEMING
THE HILL
Scout KIRKIKIS practices his golf swing on a beautiful day on Spring Hill’s golf course. Photo by Ben FLEMING
Sophmores Will NORTH and Jack CULOTTA showing off their costumes at Lambda Chi Alpha’s 19th Hole Party Photo by Ben FLEMING Juniors Michael ANDERSON, Matt KELLER, Scout KIRKIKIS, AND Freshman Kobe KIRKIKIS pose at the Phi Mu Wig and Stache Bash Photo by Jabu THOMPSON
THE SPRINGHILLIAN
LIFESTYLE
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September 25, 2014
Mobile’s Top Five Hidden Gems By Erinn Vogel Reporter
Part of Spring Hill’s charm is that it is small and community centered. However, occasionally venturing off campus creates new experinces. Maybe you‘ve lived in Mobile for a couple of months or maybe you’ve lived in Mobile your entire life; either way, the following are places you should investigate:
1.
SUGAR RUSH:
If you have a sweet tooth this is your place. There are two loactions the first in Midtown off of Government Street and the second off of Boondocks, this local shop bakes donuts fresh daily. “This place is really unique,” says senior Ally Hill. “The women who bake the donuts wake up at midnight and bake until five in the morning. They open at six and close when they run out of donuts, ” she commented. Sugar Rush not only bakes donuts, but they also have fresh fruit smoothies, flavored slushies, frozen coffee, and sandwiches.
2. CALLAGHANS:
Located in the historic Oakleigh Garden District, this bar was once on Esquire’s list of Best Bars in America. The neighborhood bar plays live music on the weekends. According to Hill, “They have the best burgers.” It is classic and causal with welcoming and loving Irish hospitality. Consider unwinding here on the weekends.
4. THE BAR:
If you are looking for a good time and want to enjoy fresh air, check out The Bar. It has the biggest outdoor deck in Mobile and has a smoke-free environment inside. Located downtown, you can enjoy live music, and during crawfish season they have fresh and free crawfish with the purchase of a beer. Note that you must be 21 to enter. Senior and local Mobilian Kamery Nichols says “I just love hanging out on the biggest deck in Mobile, that atmosphere is fun and the music kicking.”
3. LA PIZZARIA:
This quaint Italian restaurant bakes their pizza fresh and Italian style. They use a wood fire oven and the bricks for the oven were imported from Italy. Not only do they make their bread, pizza dough, and mozzarella daily, but they also get their seafood fresh from the Gulf of Mexico. They are located in the Historic Leinkauf District in Midtown Mobile.
5. THE ART WALK:
Make plans to head over on the second Friday of every month to the LoDA art district and enjoy beautiful art work. This is the 8th year that LoDA is hosting the ArtWalk. Expect live music, delicious foods, and obviously, beautiful art. Stroll through the streets and pop in and out of local galleries, shops, and studios. “I think it is super cool that there are a ton of local artists and it’s a great way for the community to share their passions with the locals,” says Nichols.
So next time you are bored or looking for something to do on a weekend, go and check out one of these local gems.
September 25, 2014
THE SPRINGHILLIAN
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Home Is Where The Heart Is By Erinn Vogel Reporter
It’s that time of year again—everyone is settling into a routine and the novelty of new surroundings is wearing off. You are probably craving a favorite home cooked meal or a hug from your dad, your mom, and maybe even a little brother or sister. But you aren’t going home until Thanksgiving or maybe not until Christmas, so how do you deal with the sadness and anxiety? “I think my freshman year was a lot harder being away from my family. But I think it gets easier as I’ve adjusted and having good friends helps,” says senior Clare Lynch from Chicago. What is most helpful for Lynch when she is homesick is to “Keep busy and try to get involved because you won’t think about being so far from your family. Honestly, you should treat yourself. Go shopping or get Starbucks it really will make you feel better.”
According to Teen Health, it is completely normal to feel homesick. “Familiar surroundings, people, and routines provide a sense of security and comfort. In a new place, you may find yourself missing the comforts of home and loved ones.” People who are experiencing homesickness might feel anxious, sad, and nervous with constant thoughts of home. You might start comparing the cafeteria’s food to your mom’s home cooking, Mobile Bay to Lake Michigan or whatever your favorite part of home is. Everyone responds to homesickness differently. Some students will call home everyday, hide in their dorm room, or drive home every weekend. Other students will keep busy doing homework or socializing with friends. “Sunday’s are the worst for me,” says senior Ally Hill from St. Louis. “At home we usually have a huge family dinner and everyone just relaxes. It’s nice. But Sunday’s
Senior Mary Kate GALLAGHER and Senior Clare LYNCH represent their Chicago heritage as they pose in front of the Chicago flag.
at school usually mean a lot of homework and stress.” Homesickness is something people relate too—and if you can’t you are lucky. It’s not an easy feeling to overcome, but finding good friends and staying involved with school and the Spring Hill community will help. “The best advice I can give,” says Hill, “is to make Spring Hill your second home, don’t just run home every weekend. Instead, find good people to hang with and places you enjoy spending time in and soon you’ll feel as safe and comfortable at school as you do at home.”
“The best advice I can give is to make Spring Hill your second home, don’t just run home every weekend. Instead, find good people to hang with and places you enjoy speding time in and soon you’ll feel as safe and comfortable at school as you do at home.” -Ally Hill
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SPORTS
September 25, 2014
Get To Know the New Spring Hill College Rugby Coach By: Brandon Krus Sports Reporter
With the new school year in full swing, it brings in another season of Spring Hill College Rugby. The Badgers have a new head coach this year and his name is Justin Goonan. Goonan is from a small town called Belton, TX, and graduated from Texas A&M University with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics. While at Texas A&M, Goonan was a member of the Corps of Cadets, which is one of the most prestigious groups to be a part of at Texas A&M, and was also a member of the Aggie rugby team. After graduating, Goonan went on to receive his Master of Science in strength and conditioning with distinction from University of Greenwich, which is located in the United Kingdom. Goonan has been around rugby for about 14 years now. He was first introduced to the game during his freshman year at Texas A&M. After college, Goonan went to play rugby all over the world. He started
off in Brisbane, Australia, playing for the QUT-North’s in the Brisbane Rugby League Premiership. He then returned to the United States and played for New York City Old Blue Rugby Football Club in the USA Super League. Goonan then headed back overseas to Durban, South Africa, where he played for the Northwood Crusaders and also was a strength and conditioning intern at the Sharks Academy. After playing for the Crusaders, Goonan went to play for the Boston Rugby Football Club in the USA Super League in Boston, Massachusetts. Goonan also was the rugby coach at Brookline High School, Boston College, and the strength and conditioning coach for the USA Rugby Jr. All-Americans. Following his time in Boston, Goonan headed back overseas one more time to be a strength and conditioning intern for the London Scottish Football Club in the Rugby Championship League. He fi-
nally returned to the United States and became the head rugby coach at Wake Forest University before taking the job here at Spring Hill College. Goonan is in his first season as the rugby coach for both the men’s and women’s rugby teams. He also serves as the strength and conditioning coach for all athletic teams and tries to help them out when he is not busy fulfilling his obligations for the rugby team. Since this is his first time at a smaller school, he has taken to his new job and surroundings pretty well. “I really enjoy the close-knit community here on campus and appreciate all the hospitality that has been shown by everyone. Before visiting, everyone spoke very highly of the history and natural beauty here on campus and they were not wrong,” Goonan said. “Mobile is a great town. Within days of arriving, I reconnected with a former college baseball teammate which gave me a great network of friends.”
BADGERS FINISH SWEEP
Story and Photo Courtsey of SHC Office of Sports Information FORT VALLEY, Ga. The Spring Hill College volleyball team closed out the 2014 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Division Crossover Tournament with a 3-0 (25-19, 25-19, 25-18) Saturday morning victory over the Benedict College Tigers finishing a six-game sweep on the weekend. The Badgers moved past Benedict (5-4, 2-3 SIAC) behind the eight-kill, twoace effort of senior Megan Haber of Lillian, Ala., along with 31 assists from freshman setter Marie Rooks of Tallahassee, Fla. Senior Sami Maurer from St. Louis, Mo., corralled 19 digs as the Badgers tallied 50 total digs on defense. As a team, SHC slapped out
a .212 attack percentage (33-15-85) with 10 aces and eight total blocks. Spring Hill (13-3, 9-0 SIAC) will return home for a non-conference contest versus the Faulkner University Lady Eagles (11-4) on Tuesday, Sep-
tember 30, at 6 p.m. in the Arthur R. Outlaw Recreation Center. The Badgers opened the season earlier this month with a closefought 3-2 (25-22, 21-25, 25-11, 15-25, 15-13) loss at Faulkner.
Sophomore Molly GRIFFIN going up for a hit
Overall, Goonan is enjoying his time here on the Hill and has a good strong feeling that the rugby team is going in the right direction even with the departure of former coach Mollie McCarthy. “Coach McCarthy paved the way by raising the standards for the men’s team and establishing the school’s first ever women’s rugby program.” Goonan is also pleased to have all the support from the student body and athletic department to take the rugby program to an even higher level. “Having support from the school and the athletic department puts the rugby program in a very unique position. The ability to recruit student athletes specifically for rugby can attract potential students from all over the country and, possibly, the world. My goal is to create an environment where students feel they can develop just as much on the field as they do in the classroom.” Be sure to keep an eye out for Goonan on the rugby
field when the team takes on Tulane University and the University of Southern Mississippi in late October out on Dorn Field.
GOONAN observing his teams play during the game against Troy Photo by Ben FLEMING
THE SPRINGHILLIAN
September 25, 2014
Foreign Student-Athletes at SHC By Jaboo Thompson Reporter
Every year Spring Hill College welcomes a new batch of students that are looking forward to starting a new stage in their lives. It is no secret that the United States is home to many prestigious colleges and universities. This directly correlates to the increasing number of intentional student-athletes calling Spring Hill their new home. These studentathletes of Spring Hill College have taken the opportunity to leave home and embrace a new culture. For some, it can be an easy task and for others it can be hard. “Spring Hill College differs a lot from my previous college, and language is the biggest part when it comes to academics,” says
Cross Country Looks to Improve By Ryan Flynn Sports Reporter
transfer sophomore, Dinard Garrett, is from Sweden and on the soccer team.
Upcoming Games
9/26 Womens Soccer vs. Christian Brothers Univesity - @ 2pm 9/26 Mens Soccer vs. Christian Brothers Univesity - @ 4pm 9/26 Womens XC vs. SHC Cross Country Classic - @ 4:30 pm 9/26 Mens XC vs. SHC Cross Country Classic - @ 5:30 pm
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Both the men’s
and women’s cross country teams have gotten out to a strong start for the 2014 season. The men’s team finished 4th out of 10 teams at the Martin Epps Classic while the women’s team finished 5th out of 13 teams. The Badger cross country teams fell off a bit
there were some nerves about it. But after the race, the team had such a sense of accomplishment for the work we did that day and it was a great feeling.” The Badgers are looking to bounce back after a rocky start. “The season has been good so far, a little bumpy to begin with. It’s always hard to adjust to the
in their second outing as the men finished 10th out of 11 teams at the UAH/Earl Jacob Memorial and the women finished 11th out of 13 teams. Junior Patrick Lameka highlighted the significance of their first race when he explained, “It was only a few weeks into the school year when we raced and
heat and humidity and that hurts us in the start. But we’ve been working really hard as a team and things are settling into place,” said Lameka. Craig McVey, head coach of the men’s and women’s cross country teams, is really happy with the direction the women’s program is heading. He stated, “We
For the most part, becoming a student-athlete in the USA is a journey, to say the least, for any international student. A combination of being skilled at your sport and knowing English well enough to be admitted is very important. In addition, Garrett says, “So far Spring Hill College has been a great experience. I get to play the sport that I love and go to school and learn things that I possibly
wouldn’t have learned in Sweden.” Foreign students come to the U.S. for many reasons, but it all points to a single word: opportunity. Leaving their homes and coming to America gives them the chance to possibly return home with degrees and disciplines that their home country lacks in. In the end, for most international-athletes, the experience will be unforgettable. Garret says, “I have enjoyed
are where I expected us to be, especially our freshman woman.” He continued, “Two of our top three are freshmen and they’re doing a good job.” One of those top runners is Gaby Hantak, a freshman from St. Louis Missouri. “It’s been a great experience. It’s great to see how everyone works together and pushes each other,” stated Hantak. When asked about his expectations for the rest of the season, coach McVey said, “Get better. Our final meet is at Mississippi College and it will be a majority Division II tournament. It will be a good test to see where we are.” Come out and support the Badgers this Friday, September 26th, as they will host a race on the golf course and will run right by the on-campus apartment complexes. The women will race at 4:30pm and the men will follow at 5:30pm.
Pictured: The mens cross country looks like they are ready to handle business this year Photo by SHC Athleics
the experience because I have the best of both worlds having a dual citizenship.” Spring Hill College continues to welcome foreign students in order to expand the diversity and culture.
Photo by Jaboo THOMPSON
9/28-9/30 Womens Golf @ Union University Invitational 9/29-9/30 Mens Golf @ Union University Invitational 9/29 Womens Soccer vs. Union University @ 1pm 9/29 Mens Soccer vs. Union University @ 3pm 9/30Womens Soccer vs. University of North Alabama @ 4pm 9/30 Volleyball vs. Faulkner University @ 6pm
For scores and more, be sure to vist www.shcbadgers.com
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HILL YEA!
September 25, 2014
ON the SPOT Where is your home and what do you miss the most about it?
NICK Chaney
LOURDES Gomez de Cordova
RICHARD Pellman
SAMUEL Hutcheson
Mandeville, LA “I miss playing volleyball with my family and friends.”
Miami, FL “I miss the food because I like food more than people.”
Baton Rouge, LA
Hoover, AL “I miss my friends but that’s ok because the staff of the SpringHillian are my friends.”
“I miss my family.”
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Comic by Alex Sierra Assistant Editor