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Lenoir-Rhyne University School of Journalism and Mass Communication
M O N T H L Y
Lenoir-Rhyne University School of Journalism and Mass Communication
LENOIR-RHYNEAN NEWS
VOL. 113 — ISSUE 6
M O March 2019
LENOIR-RHYNEAN NEWS
VOL. 110 — ISSUE 2
LENOIR-RHYNEAN NEWS
VOL. 110 — ISSUE 2
SEPTEMBER 2015
Lenoir-Rhyne University School of Journalism and Mass Communication
JUST LRPASSING BY TO RETIRE PRESIDENT LENOIR-RHYNEAN NEWS
VOL. 110 — ISSUE 2
SEPTEMBER 2015
TO RETIRE
Lenoir-Rhyne student, Sissy Clodfelter, has her senior photo session inturuped by a passing bumble bee. Photo by Jack Williams JACK WILLIAMS | LRN MONTHLY
HUNTING THE STEPMONSTER AT LR HUMANITIES COURSE INVESTIGATES THE HIGHEST PROFILE MURDER IN CATAWBA COUNTY HISTORY By Kandace Pennell | LRN Monthly Contributor
This semester 31 Lenoir-Rhyne University students are getting an exclusive opportunity to go behind the scenes of the highest profile murder case in the history of Catawba County. LR Journalism Professor Instructor Richard Gould is taking his students on a deep dive into the Zahra Baker case. For his class “Hunting the StepMONSTER” (HUM 188) Gould is opening the doors on the methods used in writing his true crime “novel” by bringing in nearly a dozen guest speakers from the heart of the case. From the District Attorney who sought justice for the murdered child to the defense attorney who fought to give his client a fair hearing in court, they’re telling their side of the case to LR’s students. The Chief of Police, his top investigators and the non-profit working to protect children from abuse and neglect – they’re all coming to LR. At the conclusion of the semester’s parade of speakers, the HUM 188 students will try their hand at writing their own true crime novel based on the information they’ve gathered from the classroom guests. The first guests were the former D.A. and his former Chief Assistant D.A. Then the former Hickory Chief of Police, Tom Adkins. Adkins arrived wearing a black suit that he had paired with a white button-down shirt and an American Flag on his lapel. His hair was very short cut in a style reminiscent of his days in the U.S. military, but he had a caring and passionate demeanor, especially about the Zahra Baker case.
“When Richard (Gould) asked me to come speak about this topic, both of us pretty much lived this for several, several months,” Adkins said. “On Oct.
Former Hickory Chief of Police, Tom Adkins visits LR’s “Hunting the StepMONSTER” class to share his perspective from the center of the biggest murder investigation in Catawba County history: the Zahra Baker case. KANDACE PENNELL | LRN MONTHLY
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9th, 2010 I can tell you where I was; I was on this campus when the call came in about a missing ten year old.” Adkins spent the hour recounting his involvement in this gut wrenching case. He detailed how he split his time between running the department’s day-to-day operations, overseeing the Zahra Baker investigation and fielding the media’s interview requests that came in from around the world. Adkins captivated the students by talking about foundational information about 10-year-old Zahra. In the early stages of Zahra’s short lived life she had been diagnosed with cancer, twice. During her battles with cancer she had lost her hearing as well as one of her legs from the knee down. She continued to swim, run and play like most of us when we were around her age. Adkins was very passionate about the Zahra Baker case. You could see his face turn scarlet red and hear his voice becoming shaky when talking about certain parts of the investigation. Near the end of the class Adkins showed a video made in memory of this strong young girl. During the video Adkins fought back tears. The crime was horrifying. The murder was heartbreaking and the case was complex. It’s a lot to contend with and LR’s students will spend the rest of the semester building a complete picture of the case. They’re working on their first true crime “novels” and for some students it’s the first step toward their dream jobs.
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NEWS
LRN MONTHLY | MARCH 2019
FORTNITE: THE FREE ADDICTION
OPINION
LRN MONTHLY | MARCH 2019
MEXICAN ON THE U.S.A. AN EXPLANATION OF THE UNKNOWN
By Ana Romero | LRN Monthly Managing Editor
Fortnite: it’s a massive online game where 100 players jump out of a flying bus on to a small island and then fight each other until only one is left. Hidden around the island are weapons and items, including rifles, traps and grenade launchers, and players must arm themselves while exploring the landscape and buildings. The last survivor is the winner. Since July 25, 2017, when the game was released, Fortnite has been massively popular – even some rappers like Drake been caught in this Fortnite frenzy. One of the advantages that makes this Battle Royal game different is that it’s free to download for your favorite console and can be downloaded for your laptop or smartphone as well. “You really need to know about building. A huge part of the game is building structures and trying to protect yourself against other players,” Clayton Schreiber, LR’s ESports Coach said. “If you can’t do that really well you can’t do much on the game.” It’s a really chaotic game and there’s a good chance that if it’s your first time playing you’re going to die in the first few minutes of the match. That was the case for ESports member, Walter Hernandez. “If you first jump into Fortnite, the first game is just a walk around and
shoot things,” Hernandez said. “Now I know how to play, but when I first started I was down on the ground instantly.” Fortnite has become a global phenomenon with people from all over the world playing. The game’s creators know exactly what their consumers want and they give it to them. There are collaborations with the NFL that allow you to use a “skin” to wear your favorite player’s jersey and with Marvel where you can be Thanos, even the latest Fortnite collaboration with the worldrenowned DJ Marshmello, where players get to enjoy a virtual live concert with his latest songs. Another of the ESports members, Noah Rudisill, thinks this multiplatform game is going to stay popular not only because of all these collaborations, which in his opinion can be too much sometimes, but because it’s free and you don’t need to pay for an online network account that you normally need for consoles such as PS4 or Xbox. “I think it will sustain itself simply because of the fact that it’s a free to play game, for me is really popular among parents and kids because that’s an extra $60 that they don’t have to pay plus the price of the game is gone,” Rudisill said. “I think it will remain popular for a good bit.” Yes, it’s wildly popular. Sure it’s
incredibly fun. Some might call it downright addictive – and for many that’s Fornite’s main downside. Some students are finding it a challenge to put the game controller down. They may start slacking on school, stop doing their homework or even
staying up all night playing the game that’s just too good to quit. “First semester it affected me because of the transition period. I wasn’t used to the work yet,” LR freshmen Quinton Mcmillan said.
knew what else she could put beside it. She always felt it would be a nicer name with another one by its side. She tried Sofia and Mariana, which clearly didn’t stick. After those two failures she decided to give me something more meaningful. And because I’m the first child of three, and I guess she loved me the most, she decided on a name that would connect us. It’s a little complicated – stick with me here: Her second name is Guadalupe and in Mexico we have days where different names have their own saints. So my mom decided to give me the saint’s name that’s connected to the day after her own saint: Lucia. Ana Lucia sounded just right. Now, why do I have two last names? That’s because the first one’s my dad’s last name and the second one is my mom’s last name. That’s how it works in Mexico. Here is an example:
I have a younger sister and a little brother, so when my sister and I get married and have kids their last names will go something like this: First name of my choice – their dad’s first last name – Romero But when my brother gets married and has kids their last names will go something like this: First name of his choice – Romero – their mom’s first last name I don’t use all four of my names when I first meet people so people can remember my name easier and not struggle so much. I’m well aware that I have a lot of r’s in there and I really don’t want to make people suffer. Our names are so important to us all, but the way we get them varies from country to country. I like exploring various traditions and taking the time to explain my own.
LR STUDENT ZOË WATKINS SHARES HER PERSONAL EXPERIENCES ABOUT HER TWO WORLD CLASS INTERNSHIPS
Quinton Mcmillan wins a game of Fortnite Battle Royale against his friends. ANA ROMERO | LRN MONTHLY
70,000 SUBSCRIBER DIFFERENCE IS WHAT SETS THESE TWO CHANNELS APART. By Walter Hernandez | LRN Monthly Contributor
YouTube channel were musicians upload their videos under a designated channel. The difference though is that T-series is an Indian based multi-channel network. A multi-channel network is a company that works with various content creators, but all upload to one channel thus giving them a lot of content for their viewers to choose from. “I know about the subscriber war that is going on. Everyone knows about the subscriber war that is going on,” LR Biology major Abby Padilla said, “I think it is hilarious, that all this energy that is going into it makes it even more hilarious because the joke is that it is something trivial that people are making a big deal.” PewDiePie has mentioned in his videos that if he loses the title
By Ana Romero | LRN Monthly Managing Editor Hello, my full name is Ana Lucia Romero Navarro. Yes, I have two names and two last names. Why, you may ask. Well, it’s simple. Let’s start with how my parents chose these two first names. My mom always liked the name Ana, but never
CAPITOL HILL AND THE MADRID EMBASSY
PEWDIEPIE VS. T-SERIES Millions of people around the world are working together to keep one YouTuber at the top of most subscribed YouTube channel. Felix Kjellberg also known as PewDiePie is currently in a very close battle between the second most subscribed channel T-Series. Currently the two channels are separated by about 70,000 subscribers. PewDiePie started his channel in 2010 and has since been a growing YouTuber. His channel originally started out as a let’s play gaming channel where viewers could see him play all types of games. At the time PewDiePie tried to stay up to date on video games, so this would require him to play the latest stuff to keep his viewers happy. T-Series is similar to a VEVO
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as number one most subscribed channel on YouTube that it wouldn’t really bother him. He was more in shock that the community that follows him wants him to stay ahead. “People are buying several thousand-dollar Superbowl tickets just to advertise a subscription to PewDiePie, people spending upwards of $10,000 to advertise in New York on large light screens to sub to PewDiePie,” Abby Padilla said, “People are printing fliers and pasting them on trucks, billboards, putting up posters and fliers around their universities and high schools, stuff like that to sub to PewDiePie, and to unsubscribe from T-Series it is on a pretty big scale, it is pretty crazy.” With social media being everywhere ranging from phones, computers, work, school and
Abby Padilla watching the latest PewDiePie video during one of her class breaks at Lenoir-Rhyne University 2018. WALTER HERNANDEZ | LRN MONTHLY
anywhere with an internet access some people think that social media is giving PewDiePie an edge on YouTube. “I think that images are not as popular as they used to be, I think right now videos are just way more popular and they are gaining popularity as time passes and YouTube has been with videos since the beginning,” LR’s International Business and Marketing major Sophia Aguilar said. “When the audience and viewers think of videos or music and their stuff you go straight to YouTube, like it’s the place where people go.” PewDiePie does a lot of interactions with his viewers when possible, for example one of the videos that he produces revolves around submissions made by the fans. He makes an entire video on the submissions and expresses his gratitude towards his viewers. “A lot of people will look at, whether it is an artist, musician, or YouTuber and want to feel that personal connection to them, so social media is also a great gateway to getting to know the individual behind the brand,” LR Designer, Digital Communications Leslie Ellis said. “I would imagine that there is a large following behind this person or other brands because there’s that connection, they feel a part of the journey.” This is what is keeping PewDiePie ahead of T-Series. He wants his fans to feel that without him, he would be nothing. He wants them to know thanks to them he was able to achieve the spot his is currently in. It’s only a matter of days before the subscriber count between the two channels becomes smaller and smaller. Until then the fans of PewDiePie will do whatever they can to help him stay on top.
idol, Abir Ibrahim. For a few years now, I’d been following her youtube videos about her Peace Corps experience in Tanzania. I messaged her on social media and she invited me for coffee to discuss my upcoming Peace Corps application. She’s been not only a great resource but has become a great friend as well. The LCWS semester was one of my best college experiences ever and I wish I could do it all over again. If you want real work experience and an opportunity to explore a different city, then apply By Zoë Watkins | LRN Monthly Contributor for this program. You also attend many cool field trips like visiting the National Museum of African In the spring of 2018, I became part of the American History, the Spy Museum, Newseum and Lutheran College Washington Semester program. touring the White House and Pentagon. During my This is an internship program that gives students time in Washington I attended the Women’s March the opportunity to study and intern in Washington, and the March for Our Lives, which were incredibly D.C. LCWS only offers spots to students from 13 moving and powerful. institutions, Lenoir-Rhyne being one of them. It took six application attempts for me before Any student can apply. This is for all majors, as I started receiving offers from an embassy and Washington D.C. is very diverse and rich with consulate in Spain, as well as an offer from opportunities in every field of interest. the State Department’s Bureau of Western I interned in U.S. Senator Catherine CortezHemisphere Affairs office in Washington, D.C. Masto’s (D-Nev.) press office. I sat in on press My time in Madrid taught me a lot about how meetings and had the opportunity to write a the U.S. government works abroad. Foreign Service memo on the Stoneman Douglas High School Officers, more commonly known as diplomats, shooting. I wrote and edited a video speech for the don’t get enough credit for the remarkable work Senator and also attended U.S. Senate committee that they do. As a Public Diplomacy intern, I was hearings whenever I had free time. able to get an exclusive look at how diplomats I saw many notable people while working on work with other government officials and the Hill. I ran into the Japanese Ambassador journalists. when I was leaving work one day. When I was The Public Diplomacy section focuses on arriving to work, I ran into Soledad O’ Brien, a influencing the general public of the host country well-known broadcast journalist. During my time that the embassy or consulate is located in. Public in Washington D.C., I met with my Peace Corps diplomacy officers may do this by speaking to
LRN
journalists about the policy decisions that the U.S. President makes or speaking to students in the host country about American culture. Working at the U.S. Embassy offered me a plethora of opportunities to observe and take part in different activities. I went to a Masterchef event with the Agricultural Attaché. I also attended a reception for the 60th anniversary of the U.S.-Spain Fulbright Scholars program where I was able to casually speak to His Majesty, King Felipe VI of Spain. That was definitely the highlight of my entire experience. I also sat in on press meetings and gave suggestions to one of the diplomats given the task of writing one of the U.S. Ambassador’s speeches. Many people ask me how I was able to get these high profile internships and there was a lot of hard work involved. During my time at LR, I have been involved in various activities happening on campus, which I used to build my resume, no matter how small the activity or job was. If you can make your seemingly small experiences relevant to the internship, then it will be valuable. I have had a strong support system on campus like Carla Fowler, Dr. Janet Painter, Katie Wohlman and Charlotte Williams. Surround yourself with people who want to see you succeed. The most important thing to note is, if someone tells you no the first time, don’t give up on the opportunity if you really want it. Persistence and determination is key. I hope that many LR bears take advantage of the opportunities and resources on campus, because they, too, can have unforgettable and life-changing internship opportunities.
During her semester in Washington, D.C., Zoë Watkins poses with part of her LCWS Spring 2018 cohort on the Speaker’s Balcony. EMMA WEBB | LCWS
CONTRIBUTORS:
STAFF:
M O N T H L Y
Lenoir-Rhyne University School of Journalism and Mass Communication
Managing Editor: Ana Romero Photo Editor: Mike McHugh Sports Editor: William Hewett Production Editor: Kaynmon Maddox Promotions: Anthony Brown
Kandace Pennell Walter Hernandez Zoë Watkins Chloe Cordell Diana Xiong Harrison Elam Jack Williams Ricky Hardison
Savannah Lee Emil Tansinda Frances Williams Kelsy Pitts
FACULTY ADVISORS: Dr. Lisa Harris Prof. Richard Gould
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PHOTOJOURNALISM
LRN MONTHLY | MARCH 2019
PHOTOJOURNALISM
SLICES OF OUR LIVES
LRN MONTHLY | MARCH 2019
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LR PHOTOJOURNALISTS’ IMAGES CAPTURED THE FALL 2018 SEMESTER From Staff Reports | LRN Monthly
LFrom Washington, D.C. to St. Augustine, Fla. Lenoir-Rhyne University’s Photojournalism students told visual stories about LR and beyond throughout the fall semester. Your friends, classmates and fellow students told the stories of their lives and shared them with the world. If you want to learn what it takes to create undeniable images that cannot be ignored – while getting your photos published for the public to enjoy – sign up for this fall’s Photojournalism course. It’s COM 212. You don’t need to be a Communication major and you don’t need a big fancy camera – an eager spirit, a creative mind and the camera in your cell phone are all it takes. For more information contact LR’s Visiting Instructor of Journalism Richard Gould at Richard.gould@lr.edu.
Lenoir-Rhyne student Mike McHugh shoves the Christmas ornaments display in Charlotte. Photo by HARRISON ELAM
Lenoir-Rhyne University senoir, Harrison Elam, acts like he's holding up the Firebird sculpture in Uptown Charlotte. Photo by RICKY HARDISON
Emily Provost, 3, loves the flower she found on the beach while visiting her nana in St. Johns County, Fla. Photo by SAVANNAH LEE
PROJECT Trio, with Greg Patillo on flute, Eric Stepenson on cello and Peter Seymour on double bass, gives a concert in the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. on Nov. 24. Photo by DIANA XIONG
Lenoir-Rhyne Student, Mike McHugh, walks under a construction barrier through the city of Charlotte. Photo by HARRISON ELAM
LR students Mike McHugh and Harrison Elam converse together about the holiday season while leaning against a pair of giant golden Christmas ornaments located in uptown Charlotte. Photo by SAVANNAH LEE
Lenoir-Rhyne student, Dawson Alford, jumps into a pile of leaves while enjoying some much needed free time as LR's fall semester winds down. Photo by JACK WILLIAMS
Marcos Vargas and Allyson Mehina spent a fall day at Glenn Hilton in Hickory. Photo by CHLOE CORDELL
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STUDENT PROFILES
LRN MONTHLY | MARCH 2019
FROM CAMEROON, TO THE PHILIPPINES, NOW THE USA ADAPTING AND FITTING IN ON AND OFF THE COURT WHICHEVER COUNTRY HE IS IN By Emil Tansinda | LRN Monthly Contributor
It has been a long journey to get to Lenoir-Rhyne for Bertrand Awana, but despite being so far away from his homeland, he has managed to make an impact on foreign soil during his time abroad. With a towering height and broad upper body, the 21-year-old junior from Cameroon stands 6-feet 9-inches tall and weighs in at 230 pounds – perfect for a center who can play at forward. Born in Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon in West Africa, Awana is now in his second year at LR, but it was his time in the Philippines that brought him here. “I got recruited by a team in the Philippines when I was in Cameroon. I had a good time there, but then I had an opportunity to come here (USA) to move on with my school and my basketball career,” Awana said. “I then got recruited by a community college in Tennessee, and I played there for one year, then I transferred here the next year.” In his LR career so far, Awana has played in 23 games averaging 7.7 points per game and eight assists. So far this season he has averaged 1.8 blocks per game and six rebounds per game. “At this level, he is an extraordinary athlete, laterally, vertically, and he can run,” assistant coach Zach Corliss said. “He is a huge asset to our team in terms of being able to alter shots at the rim and always being a threat to finish. At this level in our league, he definitely has a huge presence, probably one of the best athletes really in our region, maybe even the country, at his position.” As well as having great athletic ability, Awana is known as a very intelligent individual too. “Another thing about him is that he takes initiative to get things done academically,” Corliss said. “He’ll come to me and tell me things he needs to get taken care of. He’s a
really smart kid.” However, it is his ability to adapt, which Corliss thinks is his most impressive quality amongst them all. “I’ve never left the country and the fact that this guy grew up in another country and has come here, been successful and speaks, I think, five languages – that’s impressive to me. That’s one of my favorite qualities about him.” Awana speaks four languages in fact. His native tongue – French, as well as English, Tagalog (which is the language of the Philippines) and a bit of Spanish also. This has helped Awana fit in in every country he has gone to. It has not always been an easy ride for him though. “Coming from where I come from, things were not easy for me. The people, the food, different cultures, was really different,” Awana said. “Also, the education, they act and behave differently over here, so I have to adjust and adapt to the new culture everywhere. Even here in the United States, I have to have a different mindset to where I come from.” From his gleaming smile, it is clear to see how proud Awana is of his achievements and experiences so far in life. “He’s a caring teammate, and he cleans the room, he doesn’t like messy stuff. And he knows how to cook, so when everyone is hungry, we call Awana. He cooks for us and he’s a nice dude,” Awana’s team mate and roommate, Djibril Diallo, said. In the future, Awana hopes to play basketball professionally, but if that does not come to fruition, he is well equipped to work outside of the game, as he will graduate in May with his bachelor’s degree in international business. Awana said, “After graduation, I hope that everything works well. After getting my degree here, if I
could have a professional team, play overseas, or in the US, that’s my goal.” One thing that he felt was key to mention was how approachable he is. Seemingly many people on campus do not assume he is, which may
be understandable considering his large presence. “I wish people would approach me more and not be afraid of me. They think, ‘Oh, that guy is 6-feet-9, maybe he is scary.’ No, I’m a funny guy, I like having fun with people,” Awana said.
LRN MONTHLY | MARCH 2019
LENOIR-RHYNE PROFESSOR DR. RALPH GRIFFITH HELPS STUDENTS CREATE BUSINESSES AND TO THINK MORE INNOVATIVELY By Frances Williams | LRN Monthly Contributor
At the age of 37, Dr. Ralph Griffith has been in the academia industry for a decade. Griffith is an Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship and the Director of the Center for Commercial and Social Entrepreneurship. “I’ve been here for five years now,” Griffith said. “I came down here from Michigan and started our (Lenoir-Rhyne’s) entrepreneurship program.” The provost at the time, Dr. Larry Hall, realized that Lenoir-Rhyne was lacking something that was becoming more and more popular on college campuses, an entrepreneurship program. Griffith was hired in 2013 and with this began the start of Lenoir-Rhyne’s entrepreneurship program through the Charles M. Snipes School of Business. “I came and wrote all the classes for two majors: commercial entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurship,” Griffith said. “After that I just
started teaching” Griffith was drawn to Lenoir-Rhyne because of the opportunity it presented; he was able to create a program from scratch. “It’s very special, if you can imagine creating an academic program that now students say, ‘That’s my major.” Griffith said. “So it’s really special, it feels like you’re contributing to your craft and helping kids be prepared.” In the past five years the major has grown and become very popular. So popular that not only are students choosing this major or other traditional paths such as business management, but they are actually creating functioning businesses. “We’ve commercialized I think close to 30 businesses now,” Griffith said. “There are student businesses all around you that are operating right now.” One of these student businesses belongs to
Dr. Griffith lectures his Intro to Entrepreneurship class in Mauney Hall. FRANCES WILLIAMS| LRN MONTHLY
junior Lenoir-Rhyne student, Eric Dickinson. Dickinson runs Piedmont Fishing Company, LLC, a fly fishing guide service. “Over my sophomore year winter break I thought of the idea for Piedmont Fishing Company, so I emailed Dr. Griffith out of the blue and said, ‘I think I have a business idea can I get some feedback about it?’” Dickinson said. “He replied to my email and said why don’t we go talk about it on the river. I was in his class for a whole semester and I had no idea he even fly fished.” Dickinson’s company officially launches this summer, but expects to start making money as soon as he begins. “There is no other major on this campus that can create return on investment like we can,” Griffith said. “Eric is going to be making money, all summer, every weekend, where else can you do that for yourself? He will retain 100 percent of his revenue. Where else can you do that?” Though the entrepreneurship program is there to assist you in starting your own business if you so choose, it isn’t the sole purpose of the program. “Most people think, ‘Well I don’t want to start my own company,’ but that’s not really what we teach,” Griffith said. “We have a small business management class, but as entrepreneurs we think about innovating systems and processes inside of a company as well.” This way of thinking is what draws many students to the major. Eden Webb, a junior entrepreneurship major attributes the entrepreneurship program to one of the main reasons she chose Lenoir-Rhyne. “I may one day want to start my own business but for now I’m just enjoying learning about small businesses and whatnot,” Webb said. “Dr. Griffith has been my advisor since I got to LR and he has really facilitated my learning by pushing me to think in innovative ways about entrepreneurship.” The success of the Center for Commercial and Social Entrepreneurship is reflected in the satisfaction of Lenoir-Rhyne students. “I think it’s a testament to the outcomes of the program, the graduates that go through, the classes and how we have them set up,” Griffith said. “I think it’s what the students want. It’s not the same old stuff over and over.”
FROM DOING TO TEACHING LR's senior center Bertrand Awana, of Cameroon, spins the basketball on his fingers in the Shuford gym basketball court where the LR basketball team play their home games. EMIL TANSINDA| LRN MONTHLY
ART FOR CAUSE TAKING A STAND 9,668 MILES AWAY FROM HOME By Ana Romero | LRN Monthly Managing Editor
Sophia Chung getting to work on one of her original paintings. ANA ROMERO| LRN MONTHLY
7 PROFESSOR PROFILES ENTREPRENEURSHIP AFICIONADO
Sophia Chung is a friendly blackhaired girl who just can't stand still. She was born in the East side of Malaysia, surrounded by a lot of different cultures. She says that people are "very chill and relaxed because we can to the mountain, go to the beach, go for a drink and just walk around.” She came to Lenoir-Rhyne University on a scholarship to help leaders from the world and prepare them with education so they can go back to their countries and serve others and help the people that surround them. She is majoring in art and psychology. She aspires to be an art therapist especially because of her passion for traveling so she can help different people. "My paintings normally talk more about the world, different cultures and even about different social issues," Chung said. "It’s more like telling stories through my art and my creativity." She has traveled to a lot of places around the world, by herself or with her family just for fun, but mostly Asia and some European countries such as China, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Taiwan, Hong-Kong, India and Italy among others.
"I love to travel," Chung said. "Travel is not just for fun but more to make the connection, learning the culture and even when I come to the States or go back to Malaysia I can educate people, and share with them my experiences that I learned from traveling to different countries.” Besides having a passion for traveling and painting she is someone who’s really kind and likes helping others. That's how she met Beulah Yusuf, an LR freshman from Nigeria who said Chung made her feel at home when she arrived here and even cooked some food for her. “If I needed something she was ready to help me,” Yusuf said. “She has encouraged me to try new things and meet new people.” Jessica Poindexter is one of Chung’s suitemates and besides agreeing with the fact that Chung cooks most of her meals, Poindexter mentioned something that she had noticed about Chung. “She has a ritual of drinking tea at certain times of the day because of her cultural background,” Poindexter said. “She does that at home.” To see more of Sophia’s art visit her Instagram @sophiacsh_art.
LR PROFESSOR USES PASSION FOR AUDIO AND VIDEO TO TEACH STUDENTS AND HELP THE COMMUNITY AROUND HIM By Kelsy Pitts | LRN Monthly Contributor
If you walk into the Carl A. Rudisill Library, take a left and follow down the dark quiet hallway to the Television Studio, it is likely that you will find William Richter, a professor who has been at Lenoir-Rhyne since 1992. There is a reason why year after year people continue to take Richter’s classes and write stories about him. It isn’t just because he is a very nice guy and a great instructor. To his students and colleagues, Richter is that professor that goes above and beyond not only to help those around him on campus, but he also donates a lot of his time to the community outside of LR. Richter got his start working on the side doing voice overs in college. He volunteered his time to do voice over work for some newsletters for the blind. After graduating from Columbia college in Chicago with his undergrad, he worked in a factory while trying to find a job in the radio industry. He then found a job in Mississippi working in radio and continued with that for six months before heading to Arkansas State University to get his master’s degree. Afterwards, Richter worked as a Media Director at Arkansas State for a year on a U.S. government funded project to train Saudi Arabian customs agents. While Richter started his interest and career in radio, he later gained a new love for television and video when working on his master’s degree. “That’s where I found an area that I really liked,” Richter said. “I worked for a while in video, then went back to school and got my PhD. I figured I needed it if I wanted to teach.” Richter continued to do odd ball jobs, before going to the University of Tennessee. He came to work at LR while still working on his PhD. “When I first came here I taught COM 120—intro to mass com, video production, media law and senior seminar,” Richter said.
Out of the projects that Richter has done, some of his favorites are those for non-profits as well as his voice over work. Some of the nonprofit work that Richter has done includes creating videos for nonprofit organizations such as a video for Centro Latino of Hickory, as well as working with the Footcandle film society and their film festival. Lenoir-Rhyne School of Journalism and Mass Communications Chair, Lisa Harris, has worked with Richter for 20 years. “He was instrumental in hiring me and bringing me into this department,” Harris said. “We have worked together in a lot of capacities throughout the years.” “He does a lot of outreach into the community,” Harris said. “He is always very gracious to go out into the community and help. A lot of people don’t realize that faculty don’t just come here,
William Richter working on getting the video cameras ready in the TV studio for this semester of classes on this Monday morning. KELSY PITTS| LRN MONTHLY
teach and then leave. Our lives intertwine into the communities as well.” Students can tell when a professor cares about them and their success and can see them go the extra mile to help them, while others are there because they get paid either way. Walter Hernandez, senior at LR, is only one of the many students that Richter has had an impact on. “Taking classes with Richter has opened my eyes more to the opportunities that there are out there,” Hernandez said. “He has offered so many resources to me. He is definitely a great professor; if you need something he will be more than happy to help you.” Hernandez is currently taking an independent study for directing with Richter. The thing about independent study classes is that, even if it is just one student, the professor still takes the time to create the resources for a whole other class and meet with you to help you succeed. “I am always glad when I see a student succeed in what they wanted to do. I had a student who graduated and was living in town and asked me how they could get involved in doing work with non-profits,” Richter said. “I thought it was kind of neat that he wanted to do the non-profit stuff and giving back to the community. That made me proud of what he learned while he was here.” Richter is the kind of person that leaves a longlasting impact on those around him. He isn’t just a professor who comes to work, and then goes home. He takes his passions and uses them to help his students, colleagues and the community around him. This shows the reasons why students continue to talk about him, write about him and continue to take his classes. It isn’t just because he is a nice guy. It’s because of the impact that he has that draws people in year after year.
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SPORTS
LRN MONTHLY | MARCH 2019
BEARS BEGIN AT NO. 4 IN THE NATION
MEN’S LACROSSE IS COMING OFF THE BEST SEASON IN SCHOOL HISTORY BUT STILL HAVE SOME UNFINISHED BUSINESS By Anthony Brown | LRN Monthly Staff Writer
LR attacker Joe Budo, of Shrewsbury, Mass, leaves his opponent in the dust during a home game in Moretz Stadium. SUBMITTED PHOTO
College kids stormed the field, gloves and sticks flew across the sky like you might expect at the end of the biggest lacrosse game of the season, but on Sunday May 20, 2018 the colors celebrating weren’t the cardinal and black of Lenoir-Rhyne. They were green and gold. A 17-3 season that ended with the school’s first ever appearance in the NCAA Division II National semifinals, ended with an 11-12 loss to Saint Leo University, of Saint Leo, Fla. The best season in LR lacrosse history didn’t turn out like we’d hoped, but we have a strong foundation going into this one – a whole lot of things are going our way. The off season has been one full of change and recognition for the Bears program. Collin Lett and Ben Corrigan are LR alums who signed professional
contracts, and both were AllAmericans as Bears. Also four-year starter Ryan Crompton has gone from being the goalie to being a coach for the Bears. There’s still plenty of talent and success at LR. Let’s start with the players: senior attacker Joe Buduo was named All-American honorable mention last season, and junior attacker Eric Dickinson was named first-team All-American. As for the coaching side, Head Coach Greg Paradine was named USILA Division II national coach of the year. “For me it was just an acumulation of the last eight years,” Paradine said. “All the kids that have built this program and made it what it is, it was great to see them recognized for it.” The program kicks off the season at home against familiar foe Limestone
College, of Gaffney, S.C. This is the start to another big season for the Bears. “The one thing we have talked about as a team is that this year everyone is coming for us,” Paradine said. “We have gone from the hunters to the hunted and the target is on our backs.” The Bears enter the season ranked fourth in the nation and have high expectations to be one of the 12 teams in the national tournament this year. “Our focus has been on us,” senior midfielder Bowen Collins said. “Ranks are just talk, and that was last year’s team. We are just focusing on becoming better individually and as a team.” The Bears are searching for their fourth straight South Atlantic
Conference Championship and will rely heavy on players like Dickinson and Buduo to help them get there. “Every day our goal is to just get better,” senior attacker Joe Buduo said. “We have to bring the energy, be focused and want it 100-percent if we are going to show up to our expectations.” The Bears are all about business and they know there’s work still to be done. The team wants the school to be as passionate as ever as they chase a bright future that is ahead of them. “We just ask that everyone come out and support and we will make sure that it’s worth seeing.” Paradine said.
THE LONG ROAD BACK WOMEN’S TENNIS PLAYER LUCY WHELAN’S JOURNEY BACK FROM RUPTURING ACL By William Hewett | LRN Monthly Staff Writer
Injuries are part and parcel of playing sports at the college level, from all the crunching tackles in football to the consistent pounding of the body in tennis. Injuries are just second nature in sports. It’s when they get a serious long-term injury that people really understand just how frustrating and mentally draining injuries are. Sophomore women’s tennis player Lucy Whelan, of Aberdeen, Scotland knows all about the process of coming back from a serious injury that put a stop to her freshman campaign. In a training session preparing for the Bears second game of their 2018 season, Whelan ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus. Whelan looks back now at the moment with very little recollection. “The whole thing seems like a blur to me now, but I just remember being lobbed at practice and having to stop suddenly due to the fence being closer than I was expecting,” the small but very competitive Whelan said. “As I stopped I twisted my knee at the same time and it gave way.” The agony Whelan went through is something she hopes other people will never have to go through. “The pain was excruciating and I heard my knee pop straight away as I collided with the fence,” Whelan said. “It was definitely the worst pain I’ve
experienced in my life and I was terrified as I had never been injured seriously before.” The moment Whelan tore her ACL is still in the mind of her teammates who could see the funny side now she’s back, but also remember how worried they were. “It was funny to see Coach carrying Lucy in his arms to the bench when she got her injury but at the same time I was really worried,” sophomore Sanne Janssen, of Maastricht, Netherlands said. Whelan was still upbeat after the injury and hoped for a miracle. “I was still in shock and not really wanting to accept it. But I still had my hopes up that by some miracle it was nothing,” Whelan said. “When our athletic trainer Sarah Lightfoot told me I needed surgery I was shocked but deep down I knew it was coming.” With any injury, the rehab process is a grind. “The worst part about the news was how long the recovery would take. I thought that the worst case would be three to four months but when he told me anywhere from six months to a year that’s when it hit home the hardest,” Whelan said. “I knew this would mean I would miss our entire season, plus the fall semester and limit everything I could do over summer, even on holiday.” Overcoming hurdles is a major part of rehab. Even when all of us are enjoying our summer vacations, Whelan was spending hours on
rehab. “She had a lot to do, a lot of rehab initially right after surgery to get back her range of motion before she could start gait training,” Whelan’s Athletic Trainer Sarah Lightfoot said. “Once we reached summer break we used the Whatsapp to go over rehab exercises and chart her progress.” The rehab process was a long, scary process back to fitness for Whelan. “The first month and a half were the worst as I was unable to feel my leg, as the femoral nerve block (medically administered pain relief) they used didn’t wear off properly for a good few weeks so I couldn’t feel from halfway up my calf to my hip essentially,” Whelan said. “This scared me the most as I thought I would never be able to run or even play tennis again as this first part was taking so long.” The progress she made is something that has really impressed Lightfoot. “It has gone very smoothly. ACL rehab is a long journey with many highs and lows,” Lightfoot said. “Like it is for most athletes, not being able to participate in the sport she loves while recovering was very tough for her.” Finally, after being out for almost a year, Whelan is back and firing for the Bears. To cap off her recovery process she was named in the SAC second team doubles preseason award along with her partner Marta
Escanero. “That was a pleasant surprise and something I wasn’t expecting,” Whelan said. “It made me super happy and showed that all my tireless hours of work that no one sees wasn’t for nothing. I just can’t wait to get back onto the court for the Bears.” You can catch Whelan and the Bears tennis team for their home matches, which are held at the YMCA.
Lucy Whelan going through one of her numerous rehab exercises while getting back to full fitness. WILLIAM HEWETT | LRN MONTHLY