The Columns by Westminster College

the columns friday, september 9, 2011

In This Issue News

*An Academic Abroad: Fulbright Professor Amy Blakeway *Increase in Parking Ticket Fines On Campus *Westminster Offers New Study Abroad Opportunities *Women’s Recruitment Starts The Year Off Well

International 4 Affairs and Greek Life *International After Graduation: Spain *Holloway Across The Sea: England *Phi Delt Volunteers To Improve Community

Opinion

*Optimism Remains On Westminster’s Campus *On September 11, 2001 *Letter To The Editor

Sports

*Women’s Soccer Team Plays Hard Away From Home *Here We Go, West-MO, Here We Go! *Crushing Victory For Westminster Football

Student Speak Ten years after the anniversary of 9/11, where were you on September 11, 2001?

ON, WESTMINSTER, ON! DESPITE CONCERNS Facing $1.3 Million budget shortfall, President Forsythe invokes college fight song.

BY MEGAN HARDEMAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Standing below a screen displaying lyrics to the Westminster College fight song, “On, Westminster, On!” at his State of the College Address last Friday, President Barney Forsythe asked the college community to be “nimble” in the face of a $1.3 million budget shortfall that will likely result in personnel and other cutbacks around campus. The shortfall is caused by lower-than-expected enrollment figures this fall, a situation that President Forsythe anticipates will be a “one year blip.” “It’s a competitive environment,” said President Forsythe. “Families are concerned about the affordability of higher education.” Westminster’s enrollment goal has fallen between 80 to 90 students short, resulting in a $1 million plus revenue shortage. As an 80 percent tuition dependent school, the lower enrollment figures have had a sig-

President Forsythe delivers his State of the College Address to faculty, staff, and students in Coulter Science Center on Aug. 26, 2011. Photo by Megan Hardeman

nificant impact. “Because of the economy, more students than we anticipated ultimately picked lower cost options, primarily state universities and community colleges,” said President Forsythe. This also applies to the transfer of current students. Enrollment for 2015, however, is already promising, according to President Forsythe. “We’re 30% ahead in inquiries and 60% ahead in applications,” he said. “But

this is a highly competitive marketplace in a very psychologically gloomy economy.” President Forsythe said he and his cabinet members are looking at the college’s operating budget to see if there are savings available. “We’re still going to have some very difficult decisions to make to get through this one year blip,” he said. “We’re going to make those decisions with integrity and respect for the

glorious people who are Westminster College.” For future enrollment stability, President Forsythe cited the mission statement as a crucial role in retaining students: “To be successful, we must generate demand, recruit and admit the right students for our mission, deliver on our mission and our promises, and passionately provide the conditions that foster student achievement and success.”

IN THE JUNGLE: MEN’S RECRUITMENT CHANGES I think I was in third grade, Ms. Rose’s class. I don’t remember what I did at the time. -- Lindsey VanDuyne, Freshman

I was in school! Fourth grade, I think. -- Amy Young, Sophomore

I was in fifth grade, and during one of my classes, I heard that one of the World Trade Center towers was hit by a plane -- Patrick Glauber, Junior

I was in 6th grade, and our teacher said “Boys and girls, something terrible has just happened.” -- Rachel Hyde, Senior

Women are amidst the controversy on Jungle Rush. BY HAYLEE RETHMAN LAYOUT EDITOR Suits and ties, blazers, and nametags were a few necessities seen on Westminster Avenue beginning on Wednesday, Aug. 31. Blaring speakers, men jumping wildly like animals, beating and tearing of blazers, waving of fraternity flags, and cheering females were a few added perks when it came to this year’s men’s formal recruitment. Nearly 100 well-dressed men with the intention of joining a brotherhood paraded down Fraternity Row and entered each of the houses with their designated groups organized by the Interfraternity Council (IFC). Before the formal recruitment process began, there was much discussion about the way it was going to take place. In the past, the process used to be called “Jungle Rush,” a long-standing college tradition. Police cars would block off Westminster Av-

Maine is the only state with a one-syllable name.

enue, lights flashing, from the stoplight at Break Time to the four-way stop at the corner of 7th and Westminster. No cars would be allowed to drive through the street as the men in each fraternity ran and cheered in the middle of the road. This year, the block-off was no exception. In the past, the recruits would walk along the sidewalks from house to house, and the women participated by lining up along the sidewalk, cheering and wearing t-shirts saying “Rush Fraternity X,” and slapping hands and/or other body parts of the males involved. After the vulgar display of what can only be described as sexual harassment during last year’s Jungle Rush, there was a huge push by Greek Life to do away with any and all female participation. “I think it’s a good policy because it allows men to pick a fraternity based on its principles rather than how well-liked they are on campus,” said Dr. Cinnamon Brown. In Oct. 2010, the National Panhellenic Council (NPC)

passed a resolution that does not allow Greek women to participate in any recruitment process for men’s fraternity organizations. The goal of this resolution was to create equality for all fraternity and sorority groups regardless of sex. “The objective of men’s fraternity recruitment is to allow the potential new members a venue

to get to know the men in the fraternity and to understand the fraternity’s purposes, goals and programs, directly from actual members of the organization,” stated theNational Panhellenic Conference resolution. The initial solution to this problem was sent in a mass e-mail to students STORY CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

New fraternity recruits participate in recruitment outside of the Kappa Alpha Order house. Photo by Emma Ray

Every ton of recycled paper saves about seventeen trees.

Vultures can fly for six hours without flapping

news

the columns friday, september 9, 2011

A N AC A D E M I C A B ROA D : FULBRIGHT PROFESSOR AMY BLAKEWAY English Professor crosses the pond to teach History at Westminster. BY JACK PARR CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Did you hear the one about the two Brits who met at Westminster College? Probably not, but that is exactly what occurred the other day when Dr. Amy Blakeway, the new Fulbright Professor at Westminster College, was interviewed for this profile. Dr. Blakeway arrived in Missouri just over two weeks ago and is ready to take up her position at the College having recovered from the jetlag and having acclimatized to driving on the other side of the road. Aside from a sevenhour layover in Chicago while in transit to Missouri, her academic journey so far has been nothing but success. After receiving her Ph.D. from Cambridge Uni-

Professor Amy Blakeway, the Fulbright Professor for 2011-2012. Photo courtesy of Jamie Patterson.

versity in 2010, where she wrote her thesis on “Regency in Sixteenth Century Scotland,” Dr. Blakeway was a researcher for the History of Parliament Project and for Birkbeck College from 2010 into 2011. She was also a fellow of the Huntington Library in California throughout April and May of this year. I asked Dr. Blakeway what a Fulbright Scholar actually was: Is it something that one earns or is it something that you are born into? Dr. Blakeway patiently set me straight: The Fulbright Commission

was established just after the Second World War here in the United States. It was set up to encourage educational exchange by sending researchers to study abroad while bringing students from abroad to study in the United States. When asked about what the benefits of researching in the United States, particularly for someone who specializes in Scottish history, Dr. Blakeway explained that there were unique resources in this country, one being the Huntington Library. She went on to discuss the various perceptions of British history: “European history is quite insular” and Scottish history in particular. By studying in the United States, Dr. Blakeway hopes to examine why this perception exists. In the last year in Britain, the government has announced that fees for university study will increase up to three times, to the equivalent of around $14,500. Prices like this for further educa-

tion are long established in the United States, and so Dr. Blakeway said she has taken a proactive attitude towards the change. By teaching here, she will experience the “different relationship with your students” that she has not yet had the opportunity to undertake with the smaller classes of Britain that she worked with while writing her Ph.D. The increase in fees and the consequent increase in contact time between professors and students, which has always been traditionally laissez-faire in

Dr. Blakeway hopes to examine why “European history is quite insular.” the United Kingdom, will be a shift that lecturers in the UK will have to adapt to. The plethora of modules and the multi-disciplinary nature of study in the United States is something that could well find its way across the Atlantic in

the next few years, and Dr. Blakeway will be emerging as an experienced academic during this change. While in America, Dr. Blakeway will be working on transferring her Ph.D. into book form, making it more accessible to a wider audience. She will also be attending and taking part in conferences all across the continent, which she expects will provide access to more unique research opportunities, notably at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, a centre for studies in sixteenth-century Scottish study. Dr. Blakeway said it was complete fortuitous chance which brought her to Missouri, but study in the Midwest is encouraged by the Fulbright commission. The biggest change for her, though, may not be the journey across the Atlantic but the one from California to Missouri. She was in California in spring “when the oranges are out,” so the Show-Me State must live up to its name and provide some comparable bounty to its visitor.

WESTMINSTER COMMUNITY RECOGNIZED IN ADDRESS Faculty, staff, and students share their achievements. BY MEGAN HARDEMAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Several faculty and staff were honored for their time at Westminster. Pat Kirby and Wayne Zade were awarded for their 35 years of service to Westminster College. Professor Keith Hardeman was awarded The President’s Award for Outstanding Teaching, an award for a faculty member who has excelled in teaching, research, and

their wings.

service to Westminster. The Junior Faculty Awards in each division were awarded to Dr. Jim Concannon for Social Sciences, Dr. Maureen Tuthill for Humanities, and Dr. Irene Unger for Mathematics and Natural Sciences. Sue Serota and nine other faculty members launched the online learning program over the summer, while Dr. Kurt Jefferson, Hank Landry, and recent graduate Bernardo Vimpi helped create the Summer Asian Experience for high school students in which nine local high school students and 22 Chinese high school

students shared their cultures, language, and history. Senior Pradipti Rajbhandari and Junior Sneha Bhandari worked through Projects for Peace to install water purifiers in Nepal schools, with the help of Junior Misty Todd. RIGHT: Professor Keith Hardeman, winner of The President’s Award. Photo by Audrey Sharp BELOW: Dr. Wayne Zade and Pat Kirby were honored for their 35 years of service to Westminster College. From left to right: President Barney Forsythe, Dr. Wayne Zade, Pat Kirby, Dean Carolyn Perry. Photo by Megan Hardeman

Colors like red, yellow, and orange make you hungry.

China has only one time zone.

No only child has been a U.S. President.

A teaspoon

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the columns friday, september 9, 2011

WOMEN’S RECRUITMENT STARTS THE YEAR OFF WELL Women’s rush brings in new members to sororities. BY ELYSSA MANN MANAGING EDITOR On the first Wednesday evening of class this semester, 71 freshman and sophomore women congregated in the Sloss Hall Freshman Lounge to being the process of Women’s Recruitment. By Saturday— Preference Day—46 women had turned Greek. On Aug. 24 and 25, the women were introduced to each sorority. The women going through recruitment were greeted with cheery smiles, punch, and cookies when they entered each lounge. They were paired off with a sorority member to chat with upon entering each lounge, and the process began. One tradition that the women had to adhere

Old and new members of Alpha Gamma Delta pose for a photo after Rush. Photo courtesy of Alyssa Fixley.

to on the way down to the lounges was staying silent while on their way to and from the lounges. Although they looked at each other quizzically after this announcement, members of the Panhellenic Council explained that the silence is intended to help them process and consider their ex-

perience with each sorority. “I was looking for girls that were confident and a place where I could be myself and make tons of new girl friends,” sophomore Theta Colleen Stagg said about her experience in recruitment her freshman year. “I also wanted a group that enjoyed doing service

work and not just doing it as a chore.” Stagg was especially excited for this year’s festivities, especially since it was her first as a Theta greeting the new girls. “I loved meeting the new girls and seeing their smiling faces!” After taking part in

the Open House nights on Wednesday and Thursday, and in Philanthropy Day on Friday, women who participated in Recruitment made their decisions as to which sorority—Kappa Kappa Gamma (Kappa), Kappa Alpha Theta (Theta), and Alpha Gamma Delta (Alpha Gam)—they might like to join. They make this decision based on which of the sororities sent them a “bid.” This “bid” is sent to them by the sorority and girls who receive them must decide whether or not they wish to accept the bid, and therefore join the sorority. They formally accept this bid on Preference day, which was on Aug. 27. Of the 71 women who took part in the Recruitment process, 49 received bids and 46 accepted them.

INCREASE IN PARKING TICKET FINES ON CAMPUS the changes is an automatic Parking ticket fees increase significantly $100 fine for anyone parking in a handicapped spot for students. BY TJ HOMAN STAFF WRITER As many of you may have noticed, and even more of you probably have not, the fine for parking tickets has increased this year on Westminster’s campus. Among

and increased fines for parking on the hill and in the spaces reserved for visiting students and admissions personnel. A member of the Westminster security staff said they had “no idea” what the rational was behind the increase, but they did note that the fines did

NEW STUDY ABROAD OPPORTUNITIES New study abroad programs to Chile and Denmark are being offered. BY NOEL POLHEMUS STAFF WRITER For those interested in Spanish-related subjects, a study abroad program in Oviedo, Spain, will be offered this summer. There will be three terms throughout June and July, with classes offered in Spanish language, translation, literature, history, and art, along with Latin American culture. The town of Oviedo has medieval origins, and is close to beaches and mountains. It holds frequent festivals, food-based events, sporting events and bullfighting. Students will live with a host family and have their meals and some Saturday excursions included. Travel to other countries in

Europe is also possible. Dr. Craig Dennison is the contact for this program. A travel-abroad opportunity is also being offered to Vina del Mar, Chile, in La Universidad Adolfo Ibañez. The school is located along the Andes Mountains and Atlantic Ocean. It is a small private

“It’s really a good program and an excellent city.” liberal arts school that was recently rated the number one business school in Latin America. Modeled after U.S. liberal arts schools, La Universidad Adolfo Ibañez is currently trying to diversify itself and attract international students. Classes will be offered in Latin American culture and history, Spanish, literature, history, art, film, business,

seem “a little steep.” The officer did go on to say that he did not enjoy any part of writing tickets to college students and would much rather just have people follow the rules. Two seniors who have had a car on campus for the last three years shared their thoughts about the fines. Michael Stroup, a senior and the Business Manager and other assorted subjects. Dr. Susan Divine, a professor of Spanish who is currently developing the program, said she became aware of it while doing her graduate work at the University of Arizona. “Students who had participated enjoyed it,” Divine said. “They do a good job of choosing excellent host families. It’s really a good program and an excellent city.” Other attractions include Buenos Aires, Lima, Peru, horseback riding trips through the Andes, backpacking through the mountains, and visits to indigenous ruins and towns with cultures vastly different from American ones, according to Divine. There will be two different programs for Westminster students going to the Chilean school. A semester-long program will be available to students majoring or minoring in Spanish, business, history, linguistics, economics, or art history.

for SGA said, “I feel like the fines are too high, especially because of the limited number of spaces available on campus.” Bryan Whitman, another senior and a member of Blue Blazers said, “I don’t see what the big deal is. I mean, the signs are clearly posted and if you break the rules, a punishment should be enforced.” Whether the fines are jus-

tified or not, they are the rules on campus, so make sure you have your parking sticker in the window if you are going to park on campus. Watch the signs and park in the areas that you are allowed. As someone on the security force said, “I didn’t write the rules, but I am going to enforce them.”

IN THE JUNGLE, RU S H C O N T I N U E D STORY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

and faculty of Westminster stating, “…no wom an will be permitted to participate in the men’s formal recruitment process this year.” “Men’s Rush should have been handled better. Voices from all sides should have been taken into account and heard. There should have been an open forum last spring semester,” said senior Vanessa Lauterwasser. After much debate and student distaste for the first solution, the women of the Westminster Panhellenic Council came to a solution. “Women will be allowed to stand across the street in front of their desired houses… Towards the end of each party, Panhellenic will instruct women to move from the fountain

to the flagpoles, so that the IFC counselors can bring freshmen up to the hill until the start of the next party.” Complying with all of the above rules, the supporting women (and a few men) stood behind the fountain of the Davidson Leadership Plaza and cheered for the men as they changed and entered the different fraternity houses. And after every party, the excited women inched closer towards Westminster Avenue, still acting in accordance with the terms set by Panhel. In their final e-mail to the student body, Panhellenic Council said, “This is an opportunity for us to continue one of our greatest traditions here on Westminster’s campus, while starting a new one to keep things under control.”

contains 120 drops of water. Mexican jumping beans jump to get out of sunlight. Pearls dissolve in vinegar. Heat, not sunlight ripens tomatoes. A house-

international affairs INTERNATIONAL

AFTER

BY MEGAN HARDEMAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

2010 graduate Whitney Griffin at a primary school in Jarandilla, Spain in May 2011. Photo courtesy of Whitney Griffin.

teaching abroad as a first ‘job’ out of college and I thought it would be a fun way to transition into the working world,” she said. Griffin is currently working for Language and Culture Assistants Spain Program in Valladolid, Spain, where she teaches English to high

the columns friday, september 9, 2011

GRADUATION:

Spanish student seizes the international experience.

Westminster strives to provide global awareness for students on campus, but 2010 graduate Whitney Griffin exported her interest in studying abroad post-graduation. Griffin studied abroad in Spain multiple times: her first time to Salamanca in the summer of 2008, again in the summer of 2009 to Malaga, and back to Salamanca for the fall of 2009. “Spain changed my ideals as a person and how I lived my life and what was important to me,” she said. After Griffin graduated with degrees in International Business, Leadership Studies, and Spanish, she took the advice of Heriberto DelPorto, a Spanish professor at Westminster. “Professor DelPorto always mentioned

school students. These cultural ambassadors are also responsible for teaching their students about North American culture. Last year, she worked in Jarandilla de la Vera in an elementary school two days a week, spending two days a week with high school students, as

well. Griffin came to Westminster with a passion for basketball and little interest in Spanish or international travel. “Suddenly, basketball wasn’t important but maintaining my Spanish language, keeping up with friends from around the world,

SPAIN traveling, and looking into a global future were,” said Griffin. “I immediately began working in the study abroad office on campus to help others have as great experiences as I had.” It was her work in the study abroad office that enlightened her about several of the possibilities Westminster students have for traveling or working abroad. “Current Westminster students should do one thing: Leave!” said Griffin. “Students should take advantage of Westminster programs such as ‘Take a Friend Home’ or direct enrollment study abroad opportunities in Winchester or Oviedo.” Griffin said these programs help students form connections with the global community long past their study abroad experience: “It’s comforting to know that I have a network of friends and host families to welcome me back year after year,” she said. “Studying abroad opened my eyes to the world outside Missouri.”

HOLLOWAY ACROSS THE SEA: WINCHESTER, ENGLAND Rachael Holloway prepares to travel overseas for study abroad. BY RACHAEL HOLLOWAY STAFF WRITER I will not claim to be an organized person. I rarely color coordinate my clothing and my folded laundry still hasn’t made it to the drawers. But I am a checklist-making idealistic foodie bound for Europe. I’m not sure what lies in the months ahead, but I’ll catch you up on the last few.

I’ve always had a little pang for the foggy London weather and those country hills. I have worked more retail this summer than I could have ever imagined, including seeing a few customers I never want to see again, including my sixth grade teacher (we all still hate you.) Thankfully, with a deep breath and plenty of brown-bagged lunches, I made it through to a nice savings account and stronger sense of self (clichéd, fly hums in the key of F.

Junior Rachael Holloway with Ilundi Adriano during her 2010 trip to Mozambique, Africa through the Take-a-Friend Home program. Photo courtesy of Rachael Holloway

but true.) If anyone is wondering, getting a UK Visa is as hard as they tell you, and I suggest those with this in mind do not procrastinate. To sum up my experiences: The FedEx lady knows me, I laughed out of frustration on the other end of a phone call with a very important person, and I got lost for three hours because there is not a highway sign for Missouri Route 29 on my way to the United States

Central Immigration Services office. Just for everyone’s information, they do not have a telephone number. Also, you will look angry or high in any official pictures for your Visa. Basically, I’ve learned how to get things done being 5’3” and still looking twelve. One thing I’ve found that eases my mind is that most people want to be Superman. If you can convince them that they are your saving

Panda bears eat up to sixteen hours a day.

grace, which many times they are, they will help you get where you need to go. I’ve found that traveling internationally requires two things: a “gangsta” face (yes, I do actually have one,) and a sincere smile. If you’ve got those two down, as well as a good grip on your personal items, you’ll probably be okay. Everyone keeps asking if I’m excited, and of course I am. But I’m also nervous, and

scared. I’ve never been out of the country for more than three weeks, and I’ve always been with someone I know. This time I am on my own and though liberating, it brings a self-conscious realization that I have to make new friends. Aside from giant, human-thirsty spiders, my biggest fear is being made fun of. It may stem back to the huge glasses and Texas hair I sported in second grade, or the day I crawled out of the jammed bathroom stall only to look up and see the most popular girls in seventh grade eyeing me with disgust. Whatever it is, this rush of trepidation horns its way in on my excitement for Winchester, and I hope to leave it at our country’s borders. I am excited to see what this next year brings. I’ve always had a little pang for the foggy London weather and those country hills. And, let’s face it, we want the accent too. Winchester will be a perfect place to spend my junior year of college -- a good place to figure out what I actually intend on doing with my life. I’ve never really known what to say when people ask what I want to do with the rest of my life. I just smile and say, “Well, looks

The deepest place in the ocean is about seven miles deep.

Manhattan was the first

greek life

the columns friday, september 9, 2011

KAO

TURNS

GREEK

THINKING

INSIDE

Sorority life has positive Impact on lives of Thetas. BY KATY EDEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER When you think of “Greek,” many things probably come to mind: sororities, fraternities, hazing, letters, initiation, horror stories about rush, etc. But as any member of the Westminster College Greek system will tell you, being Greek is not about the letters that adorn your sweatshirt or about being a facet of cliquey, exclusive groups. Being Greek is about being a part of something bigger than yourself. There are many qualities about being a member of Kappa Alpha Theta that have influenced me during my years at Westminster. I have been provided the opportunity for personal growth, a nearly seventy-member support system, and most importantly, the chance to work with meaningful philanthropies at the local, national, and even international levels. Theta strives for excellence in scholarship and service, as demonstrated by the numerous Drosten and English cup awards—which are earned

Returning Kappa Alpha Thetas pose for a picture while making kites with their hands, the symbol for Thetas. Photo courtesy of Clare Sanchez

by achieving the greatest amount of service hours and highest cumulative grade point average on campus—that are humbly displayed in the lounge. Many of the ladies of Kappa Alpha Theta will tell you that one of the primary reasons they chose to become a member had to do with the fact that Theta is so serviceoriented. Theta supports the Head Start preschool in Fulton as our local philanthropy, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) as our national philanthropy, and finally,

the Kappa Alpha Theta foundation internationally. But Thetas don’t just support other Thetas. The organization gets involved with each Greek organization on the Westminster College and William Woods University campuses. It also donates time and money to worthwhile causes around the country. Though the aspects of service and scholarship are certainly exemplary, perhaps what is most astounding is the incredible bond that links such a varied group of

ladies. Sophomore and officer in Epsilon Iota, Mary Nestor, has this to say of Theta at Westminster: “I love that Westminster Thetas are such a truly diverse group of women. We have women in every organization, group, sport, and major on campus and each of us thrive in our specialties. Together, we make one extremely strong, supportive unit that is Epsilon Iota.” The broad spectrum of passions, personalities, abilities, and experiences unquestion-

OUT

ably lends many benefits to each individual member as well as to the campus as a whole. Senior, officer, and proud member of Epsilon Iota, Rebecca Reape, gladly gives reasons she chose to be a part of Theta at Westminster: “The thing I love most about Theta is its history and how the knowledge of that history inspires me to become a strong woman. Theta is the first Greek fraternity for women and its founders had to endure a lot of criticism. Knowing that I belong to an organization with such strong women at its roots encourages me to stand up for women and the other things I believe in. Being a member of Theta has helped me to become a woman I can be proud of.” Members of Epsilon Iota definitely know the meaning of being Greek at Westminster, which is something that couldn’t be further from sorority stereotypes, and have hopefully provided some insight into how much this organization means to each of us.

PHI DELT VOLUNTEERS TO IMPROVE COMMUNITY Service remains main focus of Greek organizations. BY KYLE GUNNINGCONTRIBUTING WRITER As members of Greek organizations, a big part of our lives is service. Greek men and women are dedicated to philanthropy and the betterment of our communities. Nowhere is that is more true than at Westminster College. Service is a topic close to me and it is a major reason I joined Greek Life here at Westminster. For most of my life, I have volunteered and worked for a non-profit in St. Louis. When I choose for myself what I want to do with my life, I think about how I can help others, because helping others reach their potential gets you closer to reaching your own. Immediately after I joined Phi Delta Theta, I served as Philanthropy/Community Service Chair for two semesters. We volunteer. We donate. We fundraise. That’s what good Greeks do. It is that commitment capital of the United States.

Senior Cameron Ballard and sophomore Wyatt Schults help recycle for Phi Delta Theta as part of their Philanthropy project. Photo by Kyle Gunning

that makes Westminster’s Greek community outstanding. One of our new commitments at Phi Delt is to saving our planet. The passion of the Environmental Science majors in our fraternity has spread within our house. Dissatisfied with the lack of recycling on campus, last year we began our own recycling campaign in cooperation Beavers have orange teeth.

with Kingdom Projects, Inc. The local recycling

We volunteer. We donate. We fundraise. That’s what good Greeks do. company has given us two 55 gallon bins for recy-

clables. Since this personal effort began, the Phi Delt house has filled these bins to the brim every week, and we often fill bags with recyclables that won’t fit within the bins. If a semester is 15 weeks long, we recycle approximately 1,650 gallons worth of material per semester. That’s more than the entire campus of

Snails can sleep for up to three years.

Westminster combined. Our House Mother and Cook, Patsy MacDonald, has joined our campaign. She recycles the materials from food packaging and offers suggestions to improve our initiative. You can’t walk through our house without stumbling across one of those small blue bins. By making the program convenient, informing the members of the importance and benefits of recycling, and teaching our members about proper recycling procedures, our chapter has been extremely successful. We hope our commitment to the environment will encourage successful programs in other fraternities and campus housing. Every leader aspires to change the world. At Phi Delta Theta, we know that the great ones start by changing their community. We hope that you will join us in saving our planet by making a small difference in Fulton.

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The Statue of

opinion OPTIMISM REMAINS ON WESTMINSTER’S CAMPUS The challenges Westminster faces so early helps “pull us together as a community.” Less than three weeks into the semester, Westminster has already seen its share of difficult situations. A $1.3 million plus deficit, possible personnel cutbacks, and conflict revolving around Jungle Rush have tested the faculty, staff, and students before professors have even tested in the classroom. What’s important is not how many issues the school may have, but how

the Westminster community has come together to deal with these issues. These situations “pull us together as a community,” said Dean Carolyn Perry. A number of faculty, staff, and cabinet members have come forward to help solve the financial situation in their own way, according to Dean Perry: -- a faculty member asked to help with fundraising, and another said he’d help double our efforts with online teaching. Another said he’d give up his winter break to teach an online course to help raise money. -- a staff member asked

to give a huge part of her salary so that we didn’t have to cut services to our students. -- a faculty member is working tirelessly to make inroads with teaching opportunities in other countries to help increase revenue. -- a faculty member said he’d help us do marketing at no cost by getting us into the ‘YouTube’ and ‘podcast’ world. -- a cabinet member donated all his professional development funds, and another donated all retirement for a year. President Forsythe’s

SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 A look back at the events following the Sept. 11, 2001 attack on America. BY TJ HOMAN STAFF WRITER On Sept. 11, 2001, the United States experienced an attack of epic proportions. The lives of thousands of innocent civilians ended when two planes crashed into the towers of the World Trade Center. While Americans stood in shock and disbelief, another plane hit the Pentagon. Without the bravery of the passengers on United 93, yet another plane would have hit the White House. At that time it seemed like almost anything was possible and it was hard to rely on anything. Then, something wonderful happened. The sun rose. Sept. 12 came, the terrorists had thrown their best punch the day before, and America was still standing. Over the next few days, we saw the best that America had to offer. New Yorkers came together and the rest of the country rallied around them.

President Bush provided a symbol of hope and stability and the vast majority of Americans were calling retribution against the evil men who had committed these crimes. Patriotism was back and thriving and everyone was proud to be an American. Oh, how things have changed in the last ten years. We have fought two wars, been lied to and kept in the dark by our leaders, and embarrassed by Guantanamo Bay and our flailing economy. We saw the auto manufacturers fail and the banks were hot on their heels, and watched as the American debt rose to $14.6 trillion, subsequently lowering our credit rating as a nation in the world market. From a more internal perspective, we have definitely seen the worst that people have to offer in the last ten years: Westboro Baptist church members picketing the funerals of American soldiers, racism against those of the Muslim faith, greed and a lack of accountability on Wall Street, businesses all over the country shutting their doors for giant corporations

to take over, and a separation from the traditional family values that made our country great. As we, the students of Westminster College, look at the world we will soon inherit, it is difficult to stay completely optimistic about the direction in which our nation is heading. The job market, even in fields that were traditionally viewed as secure, is troubling and getting worse everyday. This leads me to ask what it is that we can do to make our own future better and provide our future generations with a brighter tomorrow than we are currently facing and the following solutions materialized. First, it is important for our generation to recognize that the days of working for 30 years at the same company, retiring, and receiving a pension are over. Our lifetime in the workforce will be characterized by a serious amount of saving and maintaining a comfortable lifestyle in case something goes wrong, rather than spending every penny you make, because you have great job

meetings last week with the three divisions were received in a positive way, as well. “He always makes the faculty feel he supports us,” said Professor Wayne Zade, chair of the humanities division. “Things on the backburner are being brought forward.” This positive outlook on conflict within the Westminster community was also evident during men’s recruitment. While students were upset over the change in rules involving women during jungle rush, the Panhellenic members and Dean Tina Rajmaira came to an agreement that suited all

parties. “We have developed a solution that will both honor the spirit of the NPC Resolution, address the challenges our community has faced with inappropriate behavior and continue the positive benefits of having members of our campus community rally to support our men as they participate in recruitment,” Dean Rajmaira wrote in an e-mail to the campus community. It has been uplifting and hopeful to see such a positive attitude emerge from the Westminster community so early in the academic year.

security. In this volatile job market, it is important to make yourself as valuable as possible. Adding a second or even third language or being proficient on different technology systems will become vital tools that help workers become invaluable to their employers and improve job security. Second, it will be up to our generation to determine whether our culture of unaccountability and entitlement is allowed to continue or if we decide to turn it around and demand a change. The American dream as we know it has taken a serious hit over the last ten years. Small business owners are finding it more and more difficult to thrive in our current recession. It is up to us, the twenty-somethings of the world, to stand up and demand that the American people work for a living and that those we put in positions of power are accountable to the people who gave them their power. Finally, it is up to us to ensure that the fear of terrorism and pride in America that we all felt ten long years ago is not forgotten. We must remember the way we felt after Sept. 11 and

ensure that we do not allow anything like those attacks to ever happen again. In the last ten years, the world has drastically changed. As the future leaders of America we, the students of Westminster, need to determine what it is that we want for our lives. Never before has America been at such an important crossroads and never before

the columns staff megan hardeman editor-in-chief

noel polhemus Assistant Editor

elyssa mann

managing editor

haylee rethman layout editor

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

A chalk drawing by senior Phil Klahs could be seen in one of the classrooms in Coulter Science Center. Photo by Chelsea Tuthill

Liberty wears a size 879 sandal.

I was always told the highlight of the beginning of the year was rush. The streets are closed off, we rush down a line of women into our future homes into the welcoming arms of our chosen Fraternity. There were no women, but all the houses had people outside going crazy, and music blasting, and walking into each house was exciting. Each house had its own flavor and specialty to bring to the table. I loved the fact that Westminster was one of the only schools to still put on Jungle rush. As a school

Sound travels quicker in water than in air.

deeply rooted in tradition, it seems a bit contradictory to take it away. Try and even Google Jungle Rush, you won’t find anything. I can’t speak for all the freshman, but it’s really nice to be a part of something special that no one else can claim they do. When I heard Westminster was going to start killing it off and try and remove it completely, I was dumbfounded. Firstly, not permitting women to stand outside their chosen house in support just seems downright wrong. I feel like the

Polar bear fur is transparent, not white.

women are just as important as the house itself. Not allowing us freshmen to walk down the lines of them definitely took away from the excitement. Secondly, I don’t want just one day, and only 15 minutes at each fraternity. I liked spending an hour at each place. I liked getting to know the guys. I don’t want the only reason I join a fraternity to be because I know the most guys in it from class. Lets be honest, Jungle rush was and is amazing. Don’t take it from us Westminster.

Raindrops can fall as fast as 20mph.

sports

the columns friday, september 9, 2011

WOMEN’S SOCCER TEAM PLAYS HARD AWAY FROM HOME Women’s soccer looks to unite as a team during a transitioning time. BY LINDSEY DENNIS CONTRIBUTING WRITER The 2011-2012 Westminster Women’s soccer team soccer team moved to campus on Aug. 17 to begin two-a-day practices before the rest of the student body arrived. Waking up for 7 a.m. practices, the girls gave their all, testing their speed and endurance during the fitness tests each morning. After ice baths or a shower, they showed back up to practice at 5

MEN’S

SOCCER

Men’s soccer looks to improve on already successful previous season. BY MATT WEBER CONTRIBUTING WRITER The Westminster men’s soccer team is getting ready for another successful outing after setting the school record for wins in a season last year.

HERE

BY HAYLEE RETHMAN LAYOUT EDITOR A touchdown, an interception, a breakaway layup shot, a swished threepointer; one of them is completed, and the crowd goes wild. But the first fans in

GO,

the chain of clapping and yelling are cheerleaders. This year’s roster includes two new freshmen, Garrett LaFleur and Megan Spano; three sophomores, Sarah O’Grady, Janie Wellman, and Claire West; two juniors, Jasmine Brown and Makenzie Gash; and two seniors, Sarah Buchheit and Erin Schell. Last season, the cheerleading team was

COUNTRY

Cross-country looking to add more women. BY LAURA SANDERS CONTRIBUTING WRITER The cross-country team is once again stretching its muscles and warming up for a new season. Coach Dave Tobey is working closely with team captains junior Victor Stichnot and sophomore Sarah Koestner to make sure this fresh batch of runners performs at its peak not only throughout the season, but also at the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC)

points to make them better throughout the season. The first regular season game was away in Decatur, Illinois, at Millikin University. After a 4-hour bus ride, the team entered the heat to play

No matter what the score is, the players always come away finding things they want to work on. hard for 90 minutes. The final score was not quite what the team had hoped for, so it was decided that in the next game they would come out with even

TEAM

They are coming into the season ranked fifth in the powerful SLIAC conference and hope to pull many upsets throughout the year to achieve their goal of winning the conference championship. Losses from graduation include all conference goalkeeper Taylor Webb and forward Jeff Chacko. Returning players who are ready to step up are senior

A small team with a big positive attitude hopes for the best this season.

CROSS

p.m. to further improve and connect with teammates. Each evening ended with a team dinner at either a teammate’s or coach’s house. The dinners were filled with laughter and conversation, all components of a maturing and close-knit team. The Women Blue Jays’ first game was a home scrimmage verse Southwestern Illinois College on Aug. 28. The team struggled to mesh together and connect passes in the first half, but by the second half they figured out what improvements needed to be made and made them. Although this game did not end in a win, the team still came away with learning

Championship at the end of October, the cross-country team’s ultimate goal. Tobey is optimistic for the season, due in part to the addition of accomplished freshmen. All of them, he says, previously ran in high school and are now “challenging older runners for a top spot in the team.” The six new members help to round out the group as a whole, joining seven sophomores and six juniors. The team’s only senior, and one of the students responsible for restarting the cross-country team, John Hardin, graduated in December of 2010. Besides the fresh-

more force. And they did on Sept. 4 against Nebraska Wesleyan. In the locker room afterwards, the sweat, tears, and pain showed how hard each player worked in that game. This season the team is focusing on being positive on and off the field. This goal has already been met through their first four games. Positive feedback and comments can be heard across the field. No matter what the score is, the players always come away finding things they want to work on, both individually and as a team. This team is a transitioning team, changing players each year, so it is important for team members to use

VICTORY

captains J.P. Thompson, Sean Peterson and Matt Shoults. Other key players expected to contribute immediately are junior Graham Lloyd and sophomore R.J. Moore. Players to keep an eye on are sophomore goalkeeper Jon Malter and junior midfielder Adam Ross. The main strength for this Blue Jay Squad is that they are returning most of their

team from last year, which should make for an exciting run to win the conference championship. The only weakness is that most of the team is very young. “The team is excited to start this season,” said Senior captain J.P. Thompson. “We are coming off the most wins [12] a Westminster team has ever had and are already off to a good start with a

2-1 record. The team has looked great in preseason and only going to get better as our very young team gets more experience. The team is returning all but two starters and freshman such as Raider Bennett, Christian Solis, and Conner Hollrah have stepped into their roles very well.”

WEST-MO,

HERE

composed of thirteen girls: five freshmen, three sophomores, four juniors and one senior. After losing only the sole senior, Whitney Tenholder, to graduation, the new roster includes just a few more girls, changing the size of the squad only slightly. “I’m really excited for the upcoming season,” said team captain Sarah Buchheit. “Our team has

only added a few new members, so I look forward to continuing on all our hard work from last year and having just an allaround fantastic season.” Buchheit, last year’s captain and returning captain, is not the only one with high hopes for this season. The fans and the rest of the team are optimistic about the year to come as well.

CONFIDENT

their voices immediately to get things across to each other and understand playing styles. The team is led by coach Jen Dyson and assistant coach Bill Killen and consists of seniors Megan Burke, Katie Denning, Courtney Luebbert, Ashley Moore. Juniors include Katy Braden, Chelsea Cole, and Courtney Howe. This year’s sophomores are TeoMarie Anderson, Lauren Dolniak, Megan Gunnels, Valerie Holder, Sarah Ogar, Beau Reiske, Cassie Rossman, Katie Seyer, Erin Slay. New in the freshmen lineup are Lindsey Dennis, Abby Ryan, Taylor Buettmann.

THE

men, Koestner and junior Kaily Downey are definitely two runners to watch, Tobey says. Both women finished the SLIAC Championship meet last year in the top 14, earning them the distinction of All-Conference runners. A Westminster female cross-country runner has not held this title since 1990. No Westminster male has earned it since 1994. With such good athletes competing this year, Tobey is confident that the team’s goal of moving up from its current SLIAC ranking of ‘middle-of-the-pack’ is

“I’m really excited,” said sophomore Claire West. “I was a little apprehensive about the smaller squad, but I think it will allow us to become more elite.” The cheerleaders cheer not only for football and men and women’s basketball games but they also travel to various contests to participate competitively.

STARTING

within reach. Scoring as a team at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Regional Competition would be an added bonus. The one thing the cross-country team lacks is women. “The men’s team has 12 or 13 runners, but the women have six runners right now,” said Tobey. To earn places in a meet, the team has to have at least five runners, but the more a team has, the better its chances of placing higher. More runners also help ensure that there will be enough people to race even if someone is injured or cannot go to a meet.

GO!

LINE

The first meet of the season is Friday, Sept. 9 at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg. Team members invite Westminster supporters to go along and show their support. Tobey will have directions, and can be contacted through e-mail or by a visit to his office on the second level of the Historic Gym, room 10A. Coach Tobey also encourages interested students to join the team, or even just to come to practices. “Anyone is welcome…and we are always looking for new team members,” he says.

A chalkboard eraser is one of the best ways to wipe a foggy windshield. Place an apple in a bag with your potatoes to keep them from budding. To remove

sports

the columns friday, september 9, 2011

CRUSHING VICTORY FOR WESTMINSTER FOOTBALL First football game sets positive tone for rest of season. BY BRAD WILSON CONTRIBUTING WRITER The Westminster College football team hosted the Rockford College Regents for the season opener and crushed the competition in a 51-24 victory. The Blue Jays scored first with a 13yard rush from senior Zain Gower in the home opener and never trailed throughout the game. The Blue Jays offense was led by senior wide receiver Carl Givens who racked up three receiving touchdowns out of his eight catches for a total of 167 receiving yards. In addition, Givens ran the ball a single time for 52 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore quarterback Scott Rodgers contributed 258 passing yards to the 433 yards of total offense, throwing the ball 24 times with 14 com-

pletions. Three of those completions were passing touchdowns to Givens, and Rodgers also ran a touchdown himself. Westminster’s running game was just as strong as their passing. In a comeback from last year’s season ending injury, Gower rushed the ball 16 times for 66 yards and a touchdown. The running game was accompanied by freshman reserve Carson Moyer who came into the game strong with five rushes for 17 yards and a touchdown. The Westminster defense was unstoppable and a key part of the Blue Jays victory. The Rockford offense was shut down to 245 yards. The trouble for Rockford came from the secondary of Westminster’s defense which caused four interceptions. Two of the interceptions were by junior linebacker Gus Lyles who returned one for a 35yard touchdown. The other two interceptions were re-

corded by senior defensive back Kelvin Williams and freshman back Brett Carrigan. Another spark in Westminster’s defense came from Josh Bromberg, a junior linebacker who led the team with seven tackles, including two in the backfield for a total loss of 11 yards. Westminster came out of the gates strong in the first half and took control of the game early. The 13-yard rush from Gower gave the Blue Jays the initial lead, but they wouldn’t be done yet. Westminster scored two more times in the first quarter with two electrifying plays from Carl Givens with a 70yard touchdown reception from Scotty Rodgers, followed shortly by a 52yard run. The Rockford offense failed to make it into the red zone in the first quarter of play, settling with a 35-yard field goal. The Regents

scored their first touchdown early in the second quarter, but the Blue Jays would respond with three unanswered touchdowns. Rodgers passed to Givens for an 11 yard touchdown reception for the first score of the quarter. Then, the offense was helped out by a Gus Lyles’ interception which he returned for a 35 yard touchdown. In the end of the second half, Scott Rodgers ran the ball in for a 4-yard touchdown with 41 seconds remaining in the half. Westminster led Rockford College 39-10 at the end of the first half. The Blue Jays continued their domination into the second half when they scored two more unanswered touchdowns in the third quarter. The first touchdown was a 31-yard pass from Rodgers to Givens. The next score came from a one yard run from Moyer. With a 51-10 lead, the Blue Jays would be

able to coast through the rest of the game. Rockford College was able to put up two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter against the reserve defense of the Blue Jays. These scores would certainly not be much of a comeback and the Blue Jays were victorious over the Regents by a score of 51-24. The Blue Jays excelled in just about every aspect of the game, but had some trouble on the PAT kicks. The offense had no problem getting into the end zone, but failed on four of the seven kicks after. Two of the kicks were blocked by the Regents special teams, and two were missed. Ross Richardson had the three successful PAT kicks. The Westminster Blue Jays hope to start a streak by winning their next game at Northwestern in Minnesota on Sept. 10.

ABOVE: Freshman Tony Mitchell runs during an offensive play against Rockford College. TOP LEFT: The Blue Jays huddle up during a time-out during the game against Rockford College on September 3. BOTTOM LEFT: The Blue Jays take the field in their game against Rockford College. The final score was 51-24. Photos courtesy of Chelsea Tuthill.

crayon marks from walls, use a hair dryer to heat the wax.

Licking a stamp burns ten calories.

You burn more calories sleeping than watching television.