LRN February 2017 by Lenoir-Rhyne University

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New LR president’s top priority: Student Experience Interview by Elijah Blackwell | LRN Monthly Contributor

Lenoir-Rhyne University has a Timothy Smith, current ELCA new president for the first time in Bishop of the NC Synod, was the more than a decade. Dr. Frederick former pastor at Grace Lutheran. Whitt joined LRU for his first day “LR supports their ties to the of work on Feb. 1, succeeding Dr. ELCA and the Church, and that was Wayne B. Powell who served as one of many attractive benefits of president for more than 14 years. LR,” Whitt said. “Some universities Whitt’s first order of business: that are church supported seem getting to know the students, to be distancing themselves from faculty, and staff. their church affiliations. At LR, we “Our top priority remains the embrace our ELCA affiliation and Lenoir-Rhyne experience for our make a strong statement with exceptional students,” Whitt Grace Chapel located at the heart said. “Educating students for life of our campus.” is why we are here. The years Whitt received a call from a our students spend at Lenoirsearch firm for the position of LR Rhyne should provide them with president in late summer last year, a transformational, life changing but indicated his contentment experience upon which they can in his current position at ASU. build successful and fulfilling It was a few days later when he futures. We strive to provide was walking his dog, a beagle students an educational experience named Demi, near Bass Lake that is academically challenging, in Blowing Rock that he met a intellectually stimulating, culturally family who also had a beagle. He enriching and spiritually fulfilling.” began a conversation with the Whitt came to LR from gentleman about sports, politics, Appalachian State University faith and the decreasing tolerance where he served as the Founding around gender issues among Dean of the Beaver College of congregations that would ensue Health Sciences since 2010. When for two miles. It turned out the approached by the staff of the LRN man he was talking to was Leonard Monthly for an interview, Whitt Bolick – the former Bishop of the recognized it as an opportunity to NC Synod-ELCA. Whitt had no meet and talk with students. He idea. “That experience is a strong quickly offered to travel to campus example of why I consider this new to conduct the interview in person. position to be more of a calling,” “It is important that students he said. have the opportunity to get Whitt achieved success at ASU. to know the president of their He doubled enrollment in his university,” Whitt said. “I consider college, received a $10 million myself to be an engaging leader donation, and had recently broken Dr. Frederick Whitt explains that, as LR’s newest university president, this university’s and look forward to interacting and ground on a new $82 million students are his top priority. brian tarpley | LRN Monthly working with our students, faculty building. “For me, it was never and staff on a more personal about just becoming a university of student activities,” he said. “You will see level. I hope to build trust through president,” he said. “It was all us at athletic events, Visiting Writers Series embracing transparency and a culture of shared about becoming the president of Lenoir-Rhyne. I presentations, Playmakers productions, concert governance.” have a personal history with LR. I almost went to performances, convocations, and the many other college here.” While at ASU, Whitt would regularly meet exceptional opportunities LR has to offer its with students individually and in smaller groups “As a toddler I remember my father bringing students and community.” to learn more about their needs, concerns and me to LR football games, when Clarence Whitt’s selection as president of LR is priorities, and that is something he plans to Stasavich was the head football coach, running something he considers as a milestone in his continue at LR. the single wing offense. In high school we played career. “I have had several personal connections “It is important for me to understand the some playoff basketball games on campus, and I to LR over the years,” he explained. “For me, this perspectives of our students and what we was mildly recruited for basketball at LR. While it is much more than a job, but rather, a spiritual can do as an institution to enhance their was not meant to be at the time, it has now has calling.” experience,” Whitt said. “Communication with come full circle,” Whitt said. Born and raised about 40 miles south of students through a variety of forums provides Whitt has always maintained a fondness for Hickory in Mount Holly, Whitt was brought up the opportunity to share important initiatives LR and the University has been on his radar in the Presbyterian Church and Donna (a native and priorities of the University. Effective throughout his life. His decision to accept the of Hamlet) was raised Baptist. He is currently communication is invaluable to the success of any position was about finding the fit between the a member of Grace Lutheran Church (ELCA) in institution.” person and the institution. It was about finding Boone. He and his wife look forward to visiting Whitt and his wife, Donna, are looking forward rewarding work in a place he knew he could make several Lutheran churches in the area to find to becoming active members of the LR campus a difference. a new church home in Hickory. Ironically, Rev. community. “We will be strong supporters

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NEWS

LRN MONTHLY | FEBRUARY 2017

Bridges to Dreams: Earn your degrees with less debt By Ghia Smith | LRN Monthly Staff Writer

Millennials have more student loan debt than ever. This is due in part to overborrowing, and taking that extra lap when we fall short on credits senior year, according to CNN. In October 2016, it was estimated that only 39 percent of students graduate on time. This means that the extra semester, or extra year, of loans is really kicking our butts. When we over borrow, often the extra money left over doesn’t get spent on paying back those loans. Even though we have the option of adding the remaining funds to our accounts to roll over for the next semester, many receive it as a refund check and spend it on necessities and wants. LenoirRhyne’s Bridges to Dream program might be just what you need to lower costs of your future debt collection and jumpstart your way into the real world.

“I love the program,” Bridges to Dreams student and former Lenoir-Rhyne football player Xavier Gill said. “Because, if you really know what you want to do in the future, it gives you a jump start on not only your masters, but your bachelors as well.” The Bridges to Dreams Program was created to hasten your journey to a master’s degree. Basically, you must apply to be accepted into the program. Once you’ve been accepted, you’ll be allowed to take up to 12 graduate level credit hours during your senior year. As long as you are continuously enrolled in 12-18 credit hours, and are considered a full time student, these classes will be covered by financial aid. Students are accepted into the program during the fall and spring semesters only. However, once accepted, students may participate in all of the semesters offered as long as it is noted that

financial aid, or any other means of discount, do not apply to summer courses, according to LR’s website. This program cuts back on overall cost by eliminating some graduate class time. It essentially pays for part of your graduate program along with your undergraduate. The remaining graduate hours needed will be discounted. The discount is as follows: For students who received 64 undergraduate credits from LR, a 15 percent discount will be an option. For students who’ve completed 96 undergraduate credits at LR, a 20 percent discount will be available. For more information, please visit the school’s website, or contact Mary Ann Gosnell, Director of Graduate Admissions, at MaryAnn.Gosnell@lr.edu or (828) 328-7111.

Brutality isn’t love There’s help available

By Alivia Russell | LRN Monthly Staff Writer

The girl sitting beside you in class, the boy across the caf, or the person you see in the grocery store. What might these people have in common? They could all be possible victims of dating violence. February is the month of love, but it’s also Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. Nearly half of women in college who date have reported some form of dating violence, according to BreaktheCycle.org, but many college students don’t even know how to identify dating violence. LR junior Leah Bobbett knows firsthand what it is to be in an abusive relationship. “There were definite signs at the beginning of the relationship that should have warned me that getting involved wasn’t a good idea, but I was 15 and thought I knew what love was,” she wrote in an email. The Center for Disease Control defines dating violence as the physical, sexual, psychological or emotional violence within a dating relationship, which also includes stalking. Relationships that involve violence can influence a person’s entire life and can start at any age, including college years and older. It also is not specifically women who are the victims of dating violence. Men can also be victims. Victims of dating violence can show many different symptoms such as depression and anxiety. They may resort to drug use. Many suffer through these symptoms alone, but there are many avenues of help. Counselors at Lenoir-Rhyne’s Cornerstone House provide appointments and assistance to many, but they don’t try to pressure anyone who’s not ready to open up. “If you just want to sit there, you don’t even have to say anything,” Bobbett said. Cornerstone is open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. “Before I broke up with my ex, I started counseling at the Cornerstone Center here on campus,” Bobbett wrote. “As I spent more time with (my counselor) I started to really be honest about (my relationship). She never told me to breakup with him, but she did help me ask the hard questions like, if he was really actually good for me. It was really nice to have an uninvolved outside

source that I could even talk things over with.” Victims who do not feel comfortable talking to someone on LR’s campus have other options. For example, the Family Guidance Center located at 170 HWY 70 Southeast. According to the Center’s website they are a place where victims and children can have a safe home. Bobbett has some advice for anyone who finds themselves in a bad relationship. “There’s no shame in taking care of yourself,” she said. “You aren’t meant to be the one that someone else’s happiness relies on. Really be honest with yourself, and if you need outside help then don’t be afraid to ask. There are people who are more than willing to help you, be it to get out of the relationship, to recover from the relationship, or even just let go of the old relationship.”

There’s help available Cornerstone House Location: 8th Avenue behind Fritz-Conrad Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Family Guidance Center Location: 17 U.S. 70 S.E. Contact Number: (828) 322-1400 fgcservices.com

National Domestic Violence Hotline Contact Number: (866) 799-SAFE (7233) Thehotline.org

staff writers:

Leah Bobbett Leah.Bobbett@my.lr.edu Florian Lemmel Florian.Lemmel@my.lr.edu Alivia Russell Alivia.Russell@my.lr.edu Ghia Smith Ghia.Smith@my.lr.edu

Women’s Resource Center Location: 125 Third St. NE, Hickory, NC Contact Number: (828) 322-6333 wrchickory.org

contributors:

David Bradham Jr. Elijah Moon Blackwell Courtney Brown DeChane Grinton Emily Kiziah

staff photographer: Brian Tarpley Brian.Tarpley@my.lr.edu

faculty advisors: Dr. Lisa Harris Prof. Richard Gould

NEWS

LRN MONTHLY | FEBRUARY 2017

when bears and unicorns

unite Theta Xi Kappa Omicron broadens its horizons By Courtney Brown | LRN Monthly Contributor

are being so accepting of While the name “Kaleb different backgrounds, Miller” may not mean much especially on a campus as to the average person, it small as Lenoir-Rhyne.” means a lot to the Kappa Since Kaleb is the first Omicron chapter of LR’s transgender male joining Theta Xi fraternity. Kaleb a fraternity on campus, Miller is a freshman music there is not currently education major, and the a transgender policy first transgender brother of specifically for fraternities. this chapter of Theta Xi. “Currently there is no “So far, I am the first,” policy that would allow for Miller said. “I don’t have an mixed birth gender housing,” official number, but from Dean Katie Fisher said. conversations with some “Currently the policy is only brothers, I have heard that single genders can live in the there are probably no more room, but it’s not out of the than a few dozen in other realm of possibility.” chapters.” The reaction of Theta Miller didn’t want to go Xi to Kaleb has been Greek at all when he first overwhelmingly positive. came to Lenoir-Rhyne. “Theta Xi is about being “Honestly, I wanted Kaleb Miller is an LR freshman music education major and the first transgender member of LR’s chapter the best a person can be, nothing to do with Greek of Theta Xi. courtney brown | LRN Monthly and if this was where Kaleb life, because I had the could be the best he could misconception of what it “If Kaleb identifies as male, then he can get a be, then we’re all for that,” is truly about,” Miller said. bid,” Marcantel said in accordance with Theta Xi’s Bradham said, “As far as we’re concerned, he’s just “I thought all of Greek life was the same as the national bylaws. one of the guys, and we treat him as one of the stories you hear from media. I’m very glad that I “Initially I was afraid. Because of the guys.” was proven wrong,” circumstances, Kaleb’s bid required a unanimous Since Kaleb had a unanimous vote to get a bid, “I had been in acquaintance with Kaleb through vote,” Bradham said. “Overwhelmingly, Kaleb Bradham said, “I have full faith in Kaleb, and I think some of the brothers in marching band, but I got the support of the brothers. He united the that he will make a great brother.” didn’t actually meet him until the Greek Fair on brothers. To us, he’s just one of the guys. I don’t It means the world to Kaleb. campus,” said LR’s former Theta Xi president David even think of him as being transgender.” “Before Theta Xi, I had a hard time finding where Bradham Jr. After the initial “OK” from Headquarters, I belonged. I came from a place where there was Kaleb had been looking between Theta Xi and Bradham approached LR’s Director of Student little support for me and the queer community as one of LR’s sororities during the Greek Fair. Activities Jodi Jabs. She’d met Kaleb through the a whole,” he said. “I was very antisocial, and I had When someone made a rude comment about Honor’s Retreat over the summer, but hadn’t really a really hard time trying to transition my senior Kaleb being in a fraternity Bradham spoke up. year. When I came to college, I got the chance to “Theta Xi is proudly an LGBTQ+ friendly fraternity,” had much contact with him since then. “Jodi was in tears of joy, because she saw it as come in and be myself without having to worry he said about my past.” Initially, Miller thought that he was joking, but he a really big step with HB2 being such a hot topic,” Bradham said. The young men he met in the fraternity had a lot later approached Bradham about the situation. Jabs said that Theta Xi didn’t have to get her to do with his development and growth. “I decided to rush after talking to a few of approval for Kaleb to join the fraternity. “The Theta Xi brothers took me in and my friends in Sigma Kappa,” Miller said. “They “Each organization has a policy from immediately supported me from day one. They connected me to David, and he made sure that I Headquarters. On campus, we have developed a have helped me become more comfortable in my was allowed to rush.” transgender policy for sororities,” she said. “Any own skin and helped me embrace my identity. I “I was a little nervous at first,” Bradham said, “I person can join any organization on campus, but am now much more confident in myself, which has wasn’t sure how the school would see it. I wasn’t it’s up to the individual chapter.” allowed me to be open to everyone about being sure how Headquarters would see it. I wasn’t sure Bradham went to her to talk about it, and told transgender,” Kaleb said. “I am very blessed to how it worked. We didn’t really want heat and her that Headquarters was okay with it. At this be a part of such an incredible group of men. … I attention from the media.” point, they decided to give Kaleb a bid. have a whole group of people who care about and That’s when Bradham contacted Tanner “The hair on my arms stood up and I had tears support me.” Marcantel, the Executive Director of Theta Xi. in my eyes,” Jabs said, “I was so proud that they

Lending a hand at the City of Refuge LR student volunteers tutor at Hickory after school program By Emily Kiziah | LRN Monthly Contributor

LR students looking to lend a hand are getting this program and Circle K members participate as and psychology major Jenny Fisher. “It feels good a chance to tutor some of Catawba County’s less well. Currently, their staff is composed of about 10 that I can help the children while also giving back fortunate students through a program called City members as they are seeking more to join. to the community at the same time. My hope is of Refuge. “I love the kids that participate in this program. that more LR students learn about the program The program, hosted at the City of Hickory’s It is rewarding to see them grow and ultimately do and get involved.” Brown-Penn Recreation Center, located at 735 better,” said second-year volunteer, LR sophomore, Fisher said once, when she was helping one little Third St. S.W., is providing Lenoir-Rhyne girl with reading at the beginning of the students the opportunity to tutor local year the student was just guessing, but by elementary students. the end of the year she was sounding out City of Refuge is a non-profit the words. organization sponsored by First Fisher adds that this program is Presbyterian Church, located in Hickory beneficial for LR students because it allows about five minutes away from the them to go outside campus, learn and help Recreational Center. City of Refuge has the Hickory community and gain real-world been in operation for well over 10 years. experience. Tutoring sessions take place after school Covering science, math, reading and Tuesday through Thursday from 3:15history, tutors have the opportunity to help 5:30 p.m. with the first hour focusing on in any subject area. This also allows each homework and the second for recreation. students to get individualized tutoring. Also provided is transportation, a meal, “I like the fact that we are able to help and students receive emotional support. the children on the ground level, so by Schools participating include Longview the time they get to middle school they Elementary, Oakwood Elementary and are more prepared,” said City of Refuge Viewmont Elementary. Coordinator, Angela Heard. “This program Jenny Fisher tutors children like Daijha Floyd at City of Refuge every week. Lenoir-Rhyne students have the gives children a one on one connection.” EMILY KIZIAH | LRN Monthly opportunity to gain work-study through

LRN MONTHLY | FEBRUARY 2017

TAKING A PEEK INTO THE

NEWS

FOURTH DIMENSION LR prof. is a guide to the other side By Leah Bobbett | LRN Monthly Staff Writer

LR math professor Dr. Timothy Goldberg showing shock at his model of a tesseract. leah bobbett | LRN Monthly

What is the fourth dimension? The short answer, anything you want it to be. But that’s confusing. It took LR math professor Dr. Timothy Goldberg to explain exactly what the fourth dimension is. “The fourth dimension is a little bit of a weird way of putting it,” Goldberg said. “A dimension is a quantity we’re choosing to measure in a way. So, when we say live in three dimensions, for instance, what we mean is that any point in the space that we sense really easily can be described by three numbers, but you have to tell someone what you’re measuring. So the fourth dimension – it totally depends on what you’re talking about.” This means that by saying “the” fourth dimension, you could be considered incorrect. When you say “a” fourth dimension instead you are correct without a doubt. “Another dimension besides the three that we use to describe the usual space we physically sense can represent all sorts of quantities,” Goldberg said. “A very popular (fourth dimension) is time. We can imagine that not only do we have a position in space, like latitude, longitude, how high off the ground you are or how far below, you could also say what time you’re existing.” Easy enough, right? “But that’s only one particular additional dimension of quantity that you can think about,” Goldberg added. “We can think about lots of them – we could measure your average temperature. That would be another quantity. If you had a fever you’d be moving a little bit further along that temperature axis.” There is no way to accurately draw the fourth dimension. The reason is that if a flat surface had an x and y axis on it that represented longitude and latitude, as mentioned by Goldberg, and then

we had another axis rising from the intersection of the x and y axis which represented height, then we would have no physical area or way to place another axis to represent time. It would be pointing out at some other odd angle. To clarify his point Goldberg looked to a wire model. It’s a cube within a cube and they’re attached at the corners – it’s called a tesseract or hypercube. No, it’s not the mystical gizmo that the Avengers were fighting for in the Marvel movie. It’s real. “Sometimes, in fiction, depending on how careful they are, they really do mean this and other times they don’t,” Goldberg said. “But it’s a four dimensional thing, and whereas a square is made by putting line segments together and a cube is made out of taking squares and gluing them together and filling in, a tesseract or a hypercube or a four dimensional cube, is made by taking cubes and gluing them together and filling in the inside.” Stick with him and he’ll blow your mind. “(The tesseract) is a four dimensional thing that we have dragged into three dimensions, so stuff is distorted,” he said. “There are two bonafide cubes here – but these other cubes that are attached to it got all wonky when we dragged it into three dimensions. So we can represent higher dimensions using some artistic trickery.” See? “(The fourth dimension) can be whatever,” Goldberg said. “You just have to specify it. One of my favorite fourth dimensions to imagine as an extra coordinate is color. And you can because there’s this whole color spectrum.” For those who can’t get enough of the fourth dimension, Goldberg recommends the book “Flatland” as well as its movie for students to

better understand the mind-bending realities of dimensions – or you can drop by during his office hours. He welcomes questions about nearly any topic – especially those relating to math. Students he’s taught say that he has a way of explaining things that make the concepts and theories easier to understand. “I’m currently in his Abstract Algebra class and in the last class he showed us ‘Futurama,’” LenoirRhyne student Thinh Thruong said. “(It’s about) possible way to switch bodies back and forth and also have the same mind. (‘Futurama’ is) very down to earth but if you look closer you will see so many intellectual ideas and thoughts from that movie that he showed us. And that really is so related to our Abstract Algebra curriculum.” Students also enjoy talking to Goldberg outside of class. “I have not had the pleasure of taking any classes with him, if I’m honest,” Lenoir-Rhyne student Yonathan Sorto said. “Since my advisor was on his floor I just kinda ran into him a couple of times. He’s a pretty cool guy. He wears superhero shirts sometimes, so that’s pretty rad.” Goldberg manages to slip education into the most innocent of things, it seems. “(Goldberg and I) played a game on a piece of paper where you draw circles and whenever you connect the circles you draw another line and an extra circle. The object is to connect as many or create as many lines as possible. (Goldberg) talked about how that could be like a senior project by itself. I would definitely say (that Goldberg has unique ways to teach math),” Sorto said. “I have friends who have taken his class and they’ve all enjoyed him as a teacher. And he genuinely seems to care about whether his students pass or fail and that they really understand the material.”

LEADER from page 1

a part of LR’s growing initiative to expand its offering in the health sciences, such as the addition Physician Assistant Studies program, but acknowledges that will not be his only focus. “I am not here to be the president of health sciences, but the president of LRU,” he said. “My priority is to enhance all programs at LRU – arts and sciences, education, business, music and culture, student activities, athletics, STEM programs and all extensions of the LR experience.” It’s a big job and there are big shoes to fill, but Whitt is ready for the challenge.

“LR is in a strong position because of Dr. Powell’s vision and initiatives,” he said. Whitt is prepared to accept the challenge and elevate LR to an even higher level of excellence. “I believe we have the responsibility to leave things better than when we found them.” Whitt has enjoyed a prosperous career in higher education, working at six different colleges and universities but he believes he has found his home at LRU. “This is the last stop for me,” he said with the serene smile of a man who has found his calling and knows there is nowhere he’d rather be.

“I was impressed with the University’s mission statement, traditions, values and the overall experience – I refer to it as the LR advantage,” Whitt said. “The emphases on the liberal arts and liberal learning and developing the whole person through a faith-based perspective – these are values I believe in and embrace.” Whitt feels strongly that his extensive experience in health sciences drew the attention of the search committee. He is excited to be

OPINION

LRN MONTHLY | FEBRUARY 2017

Great Expectations: Women and body image By Alivia Russell | LRN Monthly Staff Writer

By Alivia Russell | LRN Monthly Outreach Editor

Women should look a certain way – that’s the message we’ve gotten our whole lives. Don’t believe me? Go pick up a couple fashion magazines and see if you spot a pattern. Leaf through those pages and you’ll hear it loud and clear: “Your hair should look like this; your face should look like that; your skin should look like this; your chest should look like that, and your butt …” You get the picture. But here, in real life, people come in a variety of shapes, shades and statures. Don’t believe me? Go stroll campus. And all those women you see (men too) – they’ve been bombarded by these unrealistic body

image expectations their whole lives. Society today makes women feel like they should be a certain size to be attractive or that they have to do their makeup to even be noticed. Many feel as though this is absurd and that something should change. Celebrities like model Ashley Graham have started campaigns to combat this issue. Here at LR there are plenty of women who are determined to be true to themselves despite society’s expectations. One example is LR’s Lineberger Multicultural Scholar in Residence – Dr. Kathryn Pewenofkit Briner. Growing up, she was a tomboy who would rather go hunt with her dad than dress up like her mom wanted her to. Briner admitted to still having the pressure in her life to look a specific way as an adult, even though she knows who she is. And don’t forget the biggest shame driver of all – weight. This summer Time magazine published this story: “40% of U.S. Women Are Now Obese.” That means we live in a nation where 65.5 million women don’t fit those magazine stereotypes, according to the latest census population estimates. Women who wear above a size 12 are considered “plus size.” Looks like it might be time

to consider them normal. The next time you’re looking at a leggy supermodel ask yourself what it took for her to look like that. If you guessed trick photography and an unhealthy dose of airbrushing, you’re probably right. The images you’re feeling compared to in glamor mags have more in common with cartoons than they do with real live people. Feeling like crap because you don’t look like a “woman” who doesn’t even exist outside of Photoshop is no way to live. With some confidence you can get out there and prove society wrong. You can come to school with absolutely no makeup on and still be the most beautiful version of yourself. Take it one step at a time. Maybe you start with just cutting back on how much makeup you wear – go for the natural look without being natural. Do whatever makes you feel comfortable in your own skin. My dream is that one day every woman will realize that she is beautiful – no matter what anyone else says, and no matter what scars, blemishes, or body insecurities she has. Because just like Ashley Graham says, “There is no reason to hide and every reason to flaunt.”

First steps in a

new world LR through the eyes of an international student By Florian Lemmel | LRN Monthly Staff Writer

For most of you, walking around the campus of Lenoir Rhyne University is one of the most normal things in life. Your eyes are familiar with the environment and everything fits in perfectly. But every semester there are people who are totally new at LR. They see the university and its surroundings with fresh eyes. I am one of them, an international student from Germany at Lenoir Rhyne University. One of currently 45 to 50 international students doing an exchange year or playing sports at LR. The first thing you do on campus is move into your dorm and that’s already new ground for me. When I left my parents’ home to study in Magdeburg, Germany I moved into a small apartment 20 minutes away from campus – like most students do. Some people share their apartment with one or two friends, but in Germany you normally live off campus and take public transportation to go to classes. Tong Chenlin, an exchange student from the Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics in China, is familiar with staying in a dorm, but things are a little different at his university. “The dorm here is very old, and in China we have no such thing as a security card, instead there is a person watching and if he doesn’t know you he won’t let you in,” Chenlin said. When I got here and took my first step into my dorm I felt like I was stepping into a Hollywood movie. LR’s Student Center with its fire pit, the sofas, the big TV and the pool table looks to me a bit like a common room from the Harry Potter books – except that you have a TV instead of speaking portraits. But that wasn’t all that took some getting used to. Let’s talk about your bathrooms. In Germany the restroom doors look like normal doors leaving only a very small space between floor and ceiling open. Here they look like swinging saloon doors from the wild, wild west. Also it feels like the toilet is missing something (besides the chunk of plastic at the front of the toilet seat). Where is your toilet tank? Where is it? Where’s the flushing water stored? Yes, your toilets do seem to work without a tank but, for me, a toilet with a tank looks more trustworthy. But let’s leave your strange toilets behind and discuss some real problems. In my first week here I had a very weird experience. My friends

International Student Florian Lemmel

and I wanted to go out for dinner on Sunday and decided to go to the Crossing at Hollar Mill about five minutes away from campus, so we got into a car. Wait, what? The total absence of public transportation and going everywhere by car is very strange for most international students. In a normal German city owning a car is absolutely unnecessary. In fact it is making things more difficult considering the lack of parking lots and the twisted routes in a lot of cities. So you either walk or take public transportation to get around town. Adapting to life without public transportation is a challenge for international students. “Some students are saying, they don’t want to ask people for a ride, which sometimes makes it complicated for them to get what they need,” said LR’s Director for International Education Dr. Laura Dobson. Speaking of differences, I have to mention food. Believe it or not, I like the LR cafeteria more than the one I have back home. I mean you can go eat nearly any time you want and you have a large choice of meals. Daily hamburgers as an essential food is new for me, though. In Germany I would eat a hamburger maybe once a month. But there’s more to it than that. “In China, we have to pick a meal and then have to pay for it and the canteen does not provide food

all day,” Chenlin said. His experience mirrors what I’m accustomed to back home. And once you sit down in the cafeteria there‘s something you can’t overlook: There are LR clothes everywhere. Everyone seems to identify themselves with this university and you’re proud to wear its colors, name and mascot. This is unusual for a lot of international students. Chenlin isn’t even sure whether his university sells T-shirts with its name emblazoned on them. The type of school spirit and identification with your univeristy is something I really like – and would love to have in Germany. My university has twice as many students as Lenoir-Rhyne and it does sell T-shirts with its name on them, but you seldom see anyone wearing the “h2,” which is the clipped form of my university’s name. In Germany people usually don’t identify themselves with their university. I would presume that this is one reason why there are nearly no activities on campus. Students barely participate in university politics and few stay in contact after graduation. Final first impression: What every international student notes immediately is this: All the people you meet are very nice and everyone gives you a warm and friendly welcome, so that you don’t feel to foreign while walking your first steps through Lenoir-Rhyne University. It’s unusual, and I didn’t expect it, but I was very pleasantly surprized.

Where is your tank? submitted photo

SPORTS

LRN MONTHLY | FEBRUARY 2017

the plan:

Dominate the Diamond

LR Baseball heads into upcoming season hungry after 2nd most wins in school history last season By DeChane Grinton | LRN Monthly Contributor

Wes McGuire

LR’s baseball team is stoked to start the upcoming season. Although the team produced a 33-18 record last season, Head Coach Tom Fleenor said he isn’t content. “I thought last year was a huge step in our program’s progression,” Fleenor said. “We recorded the second most wins in school history and so I was obviously pleased with that, but I’m not satisfied. I hope we can improve.” The team will return this upcoming season without a lot of graduating seniors including outfielder Chase Hathcock and pitcher Wes McGuire. Fleenor said losing a huge chunk of their experience and hitting will require the returning and transfer players to step in and fill those roles left by the departures. “We need to get consistent

Garrett Vaughn

Tom Fleenor

production from the middle of our lineup,” he said. “That may be a tall order because our three, four, five and six hitters from last year have graduated. I think the new crop of guys, which are mostly transfers, should be able to fill those roles. We lost some very good leadership to graduation, but our current seniors are already doing a great job keeping everyone focused on the task at hand.” Out of those graduating seniors, the biggest lost is most likely infielder Matthew De La Rosa. De La Rosa led the team last season with 10 home runs and 61 runs batted in, and was drafted No. 841 by the Baltimore Orioles in the 2016 MLB Draft. The transfer players (including first baseman Alex Reynolds from UNC Charlotte, first baseman Zach Jacobs

Zach Jacobs

from Florence, Darlington Technical College and third baseman Fred Wadsworth from USC Sumter) will be relied on to replace a lot of the production lost by De La Rosa and the other departing seniors. Jacobs said he understands what he’s coming behind and is hopeful to help the team in any way he can. “I’m ready to come in and really provide a spark in this offense, and give the pitchers here a little room for error during the games,” he said. Jacobs is coming off his season at Florence Darlington Technical College, where he finished with six home runs and 40 runs batted in. Senior Catcher Garrett Vaughn said the team plans on approaching this season with a lot of relentlessness. “We plan on approaching every day with the same level of intensity

Chase Hathcock

to get ready for the season and to be successful throughout the season,” Vaughn said. “We want to work relentlessly at all times and make sure every time we step out onto the field we are doing so with maximum effort and focus.” Fleenor said that it will take an entire team effort to improve a on a good record from last season. “When it comes to naming players we will look to the most to be successful is impossible because we are looking at everyone on the team to improve so that we can be a good team,” he said. “It will take everyone on the roster knowing their role to achieve the success I know our team can accomplish.”

Behind the scenes with injured Bears Dedicated team works to restore LR athletes to health By DeChane Grinton | LRN Monthly Contributor

Injuries are inevitable. Like it or not, they’re part of the game. Lenoir-Rhyne University’s Associate Athletic Director Michael Flicker has dedicated his career to caring for our injured athletes. Flick, as he’s known around campus, and his team specialize in getting players healthy and back in the game. “Some of the best preventative measures are our strength and conditioning program, proper education in nutrition and rest, along with adherence to weather and other safety guidelines that are in place for the athletic teams at LR,” Flicker said. Prevention doesn’t always do the trick, and once a player is injured, transparency between the trainer and the athlete is vital. “Athletes tend to be able to deal with injuries better when they are a part of the process,” he said. “Being honest with the student athlete and giving them a plan to follow is the best route.” Senior Volleyball player Brandi Thomas knows what it’s like to be sidelined by injury. “It’s extremely frustrating being hurt and being unable to be out there fighting with my teammates, but at the same time you have to try to withhold your frustration,” she said. “You have

to show positivity during the process, as well as being there for your teammates even with the limited role you have during recovery.” LR’s Director of Strength and Conditioning, Luis Velez, said sometimes the recovery process is more of a mental hurdle than physical. “The thing that most holds back an athlete during the recovery process is a lack of confidence that they can go back out there and perform,” Velez said. “When a person is injured doing a move, their initial thought is they will get hurt doing that again, and so the key is getting them over that fear with time, trust and patience.” Injuries plague some sports more than others. “If you counted overall injuries, the teams with the largest number of injuries would tend to be football, men’s lacrosse, women’s basketball and

women’s soccer,” Flicker said. “It’s primarily due to the type of play in these sports that leads to the increased injury percentage.” No matter the sport, it’s the medical professionals – not the athlete, or coaches – who decide when it’s time to get back in the game. “That responsibility lies solely with the athletic training staff and any other medical professionals working with the injury,” Flicker said. “The player will have input based on signs and symptoms monitoring/reporting, but neither the student athlete nor the coaching staff will have the final say in return to play.” It’s all about keeping our Bears safe and healthy.

Right hander Brett Fulk gets his shoulder into shape in preparation for LR’s baseball season. LRN Monthly file photo

LR baseball player Patrick LaGanke working in a rehab session. LRN Monthly file photo

LR’s Associate Director of Athletic Performance Michael Flicker discusses the recovery process with sophomore LR lacrosse player Colin Lett. LRN Monthly file photo