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Ge DEALS FOR M O N T H L hick Y M O N T H L Y BEARS pg 3 LENOIR-RHYNEAN NEWS VOL. 115 — ISSUE 2 November 2020
Lenoir-Rhyne University University School Journalism and Mass and Communication Program Lenoir-Rhyne of Journalism Mass Communication
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Lenoir-Rhyne University School of Journalism and Mass Communic
M O N T H L Y LENOIR-RHYNEAN NEWS
VOL. 110 — ISSUE 2
SEPTEMBE
THE WINNER: JOE BIDEN Lenoir-Rhyne University School of Journalism and Mass Communication
LR pResident TO RETIRE LR pResident LENOIR-RHYNEAN NEWS
VOL. 110 — ISSUE 2
SEPTEMBER 2015
AFTER FOUR DAYS OF COUNTING BALLOTS AND LEGAL WRANGLING AMERICA HAS ITS 46TH PRESIDENT
TO RETIRE Sarah C. Johnson | LRN Monthly Editor-in-Chief
Supreme Court Justice Sonya Sotomayor administers the oath of office to Vice President Joe Biden during the official swearing-in ceremony at the Naval Observatory Residence in Washington DC, Jan. 20, 2013. Dr. Jill Biden holds the Biden family Bible. Also pictured, from left, are: Maisy Biden, Hunter Biden, Naomi Biden, Finnegan Biden, Natalie Biden, Kathleen Biden, Hunter Biden, Ashley Biden, Howard Krein, Beau Biden and Hallie Biden. OFFICIAL WHITE HOUSE PHOTO BY DAVID LIENEMANN
It’s official: Donald Trump is a one-term president. On Nov. 7 CBS news announced that Joe Biden had earned 279 Electoral College votes against Trump’s 213. This time America’s president won the popular vote too with Biden at 74,488,666 to Trump’s 70,337,285 – that’s 50.5 percent to 47.7 percent. Biden’s running mate, Kamala Harris has made history by becoming America’s first female Vice President. She’s also the first black and Indian American to serve in the office. Biden is no stranger to the White House having served as President Barrack Obama’s vice president for two terms from 2009-2017. Biden graduated with a double major in political science and history from the University of Delaware before going on to earn his law degree from Syracuse University. In 1973, Biden was 29 years old when he became the youngest U.S. Senator ever elected. He eventually served six consecutive terms leaving office in 2009. As a senator, Biden championed the Violence Against Women Act, which criminalized violence against women, provided resources for survivors of assault and changed the national view of domestic
and sexual assault, according to Biden’s website. "He's an expert on foreign policy whose heart and values are rooted firmly in the middle class,” Barack Obama said when announcing Biden as his running mate. “He has stared down dictators and spoken out for America's cops and firefighters.” During his time as Vice President, Biden oversaw interagency efforts, and worked with Congress to help raise the living standards of middle-class Americans, diminish gun violence, bring attention to violence against women and aid in the fight against cancer. He also worked to support Obama and help pass the Affordable Care Act. By the end of their time in office the law had become known as “Obama Care” and it had helped reduce the number of uninsured Americans by 20 million. It also forced health insurance companies to provide coverage to people with pre-existing medical conditions. “I’m running as a proud Democrat, but I will govern as an American president. I will work with Democrats and Republicans,” Biden said at a rally in Gettysburg, Pa. “I will work as hard for those who don’t support me as for those who do. That’s the job of a president. It’s a duty of care for
everyone.” Biden has said that he has plans for beating COVID-19, restore America’s leadership in the world, support and restore American manufacturing, create policies to fight climate and environmental issues, improve racial economic balance, empower and protect women, bring an end to gun violence, continue to fight for LGBTQ+ rights, and end the opioid pandemic. In the wake of COVID-19, America’s unemployment rate has risen higher than the rates from the Great Recession. Biden wants to help create millions of jobs and give working-class families the tools and resources they need to rebuild their lives. His plan focuses first on treating COVID-19. He believes that the economy cannot be fixed until the current public health situation is resolved. “Biden believes this is no time to just build back to the way things were before, with the old economy’s structural weaknesses and inequalities still in place.” Biden’s campaign website stated. “This is the moment to imagine and build a new American economy for our families and the next generation.”
BIG-TIME COMEDY COMES TO HICKORY ROB SCHNEIDER’S COMEDY ZONE TOUR STOPS OFF AT THE CRAWDADS’ STADIUM Sarah C. Johnson| LRN Monthly Editor-in-Chief
People need to laugh even though COVID-19 has thrown every company for a loop. Hickory’s Crawdads might have just the answer. They’ve had to cancel some baseball games, but they’re still putting their stadium to use by hosting nationally-known actor and comedian Rob Schneider for an evening of stand-up on Nov. 19 at 7:30 p.m. Schneider made a name for himself starring in movies such as “Grown-Ups” and “The Hot Chick,” following his “Saturday Night Live.” According to the Crawdad’s General Manager Douglas Locascio, there will be 50 field seats available and 450 stadium seats. Stadium seat tickets are $35 and field seat tickets are $50.
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Tickets are available at milb.com/hickory/events. “Temperature checks are being done at the gate upon entry. Facemask are required anytime you're up walking,” Locascio said. “Once you get to your seat you can remove your mask.” Since the event is outdoors, people may sit in a group as long as their group stays distanced from other groups. Attendants are asked to put a mask back on if they leave their seats to go to concessions or to the restrooms. LR students will not be able to use their student discount at this event since it is sponsored by an outside company, but students are encouraged to come out for a night of fun and laughs.
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NEWS
LRN MONTHLY | NOVEMBER 2020
OUR SPORTS
OPINION
LRN MONTHLY | NOVEMBER 2020
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DATE NIGHT DISCOUNTS
ARE NOT DEAD
MY FAVORITE RESTAURANTS OFFERING DISCOUNTS TO THE LR COMMUNITY Sarah C. Johnson| LRN Monthly Editor-in-Chief
LR’S ATHLETES HAVE NOT LET COVID-19 SLOW THEM DOWN AS THEY PREPARE FOR SPRING COMPETITION most part… the presidents [of every university in the conference] ultimately made the decisions though,” Pate said. “The presidents had been meeting every Friday as well to talk about everything related to COVID…. Our athletics council made the recommendation, and the presidents actually decided on it.” Football on campus doesn’t appear to be slowing down. Every year the football team comes back to school earlier than the rest of the campus to get prepared for the season. The first game of the football season is usually the first week of September which is two weeks after school starts. The football team still came back almost a month early and are practicing at full speed but staying as socially distanced as possible. Most sports are practicing while incorporating some form of social distancing. Whether it's having multiple practice sessions to spread out the team, or having designated sides of the training facility
LR's Bears square off against each other in a fall practice as they continue getting ready for their spring season. SARAH C. JOHNSON | LRN MONTHLY
Chris Reichenbach, an LR junior from Wapakoneta, Ohio, works to clear the bar in practice. SARAH C. JOHNSON | LRN MONTHLY
Leticia Venancio, junior from Paranavil, Brazil, practices shot put with the guidance of Graduate Assistant, Stephen Sousa during practice on Oct. 26. SARAH C. JOHNSON | LRN MONTHLY
LRN STAFF:
Sarah C. Johnson | Editor-in-Chief
CONTRIBUTORS:
M O N T H L Y
Lenoir-Rhyne University School of Journalism and Mass Communication
only available to specific groups at the same time. The sports at LR are taking social and physical distancing seriously. Some Sports already have social distancing built into them like tennis and track. This has allowed Lenoir-Rhyne sports to excel at having a swift and effective response to the current crisis. Winter sports are also in question when it comes to a modified approach in order to maintain a safe environment as we continue to battle through the pandemic. They're still scheduled to start on time, around mid-November. Head Men's and Women’s Cross Country and Track and Field Coach, Kevin Paterson says that he is ready to go with the indoor track season. He is the only coach that has had to deal with COVID-19 in multiple seasons. All athletes were sent home one week before tracks’ first outdoor meet of the spring season. They were not allowed to come back until August 2020 of the fall semester. “I had to tell you guys the difficult decision that the NCAA had made and the institution had made,” Paterson said at the end of the spring 2020 semester. “Not only were we going to end track, but we were also going to send you guys home.” Each sport has had to adapt to the new rules that training and competing during the COVID-19 outbreak has caused. Cross country and Track and Field have had to overcome their own difficulties and abide by the new NCAA rules. Although the track team has continued training, the continuous risks COVID-19 causes have led to extra precautions regarding the fall season of track. Cross country has also been affected as its season has been postponed to the spring of 2021. All winter sports are still scheduled to start on time.
Grayson Breedlove Kennedy Conner Rebecca Fox Eli Goebelbecker Cameron Hunt Jessica Laign
Maty Mbye Lewis Scott Scotlyn Silvey Makenna Seghers Jay Sowers Josh Sparks
FACULTY ADVISORS: Dr. Lisa Harris Prof. Richard Gould
bird dinner hours (M-F from 3-5 p.m.) Café Gouda specializes in quesadillas, salads, burgers, sandwiches, pizza and pasta. My favorite is the Hot Chick quesadilla, which includes pepper jack cheese, chicken and jalapeños served with sour cream and salsa and your choice of side.
WOOD When I want to go on a fancier date with my boyfriend, I love to go to WOOD. You can be as causal or as fancy as you would like at this restaurant. The rustic ambience, dim lighting and soft music is perfect. WOOD offers a 10-percent discount for food and non-alcoholic beverages for students, faculty and staff. All you have to do is show your LR ID. My favorite menu item is the Philly cheesesteak pizza cooked in their massive wood-fired stove to cook their pizzas in. The crust is always perfectly crispy, and the fire gives the pizza a light smoky flavor. The Wood Burger’s really good too – it comes with andalouse sauce, which is a Belgian mixture of mayo, tomato paste and peppers. And the beignets – they’re light, fluffy, and flakey French-style donuts. WOOD’s beignets are always deep-fried to perfection and coated with plenty of powdered sugar. They’re fluffy square delicacies that taste just like a funnel cake. TASTEFUL BEANS Tasteful Beans Coffeehouse is the perfect place for brunch, a coffee-fueled study session or a quiet lunch. It is located off Union Square on 2nd St NW, in Downtown Hickory. They offer a 10-percent discount for students, faculty and staff. Unfortunately the discount doesn’t include merchandise and the locally produced art that lines every wall. Tasteful Beans supports local artist by allowing them gallery space on its walls and has an area, in the front of the lobby around the stage, dedicated to local jewelry and soap makers. The stage is used for local poets to share their work on open mic night and sometimes they host special guest speakers and poets. I always order a hot vanilla latte and a cranberry turkey croissant. The croissant has turkey, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion and their special cranberry mustard, which gives it the perfect blend of savory and sweet. It reminds me of Thanksgiving. CAFÉ GOUDA Café Gouda is located next to the Hickory Tavern on NC 127. Café Gouda is another Hickory hot spot for local painters and artists. The restaurant’s walls are gallery spaces devoted to local artists. Café Gouda is a casual restaurant the offers a variety of food choices, including breakfast all day. Café Gouda is perfect for a low-cost casual date during anytime of the day. They offer 10 percent off all the time and 20 percent during weekday early-
THE DISCOUNTS?
Just because fall sports have been postponed doesn’t mean sports are dead. All other sports are still ongoing and on schedule to start on time. The fall sports include football, cross country, men's and women's soccer, as well as women's volleyball. Fall sports have been pushed back to the spring season in March of 2021, due to the South Atlantic Conference’s response to COVID-19. This was seen as the best course of action for safety concerns brought about by the schools athletes, their parents, coaches, school presidents and athletic directors. LR’s Vice President for Athletics, Kim Pate, was one of the people who helped come to a conclusion about what to do in order to insure student safety. The decision to cancel spring sports of 2020 was made by the presidents of multiple colleges with the input of athletic directors after everyone had meetings with the task force. “We were meeting almost weekly for the
Food is essential, but it can be expensive. That’s why it’s nice that LR students get discounts at more than 100 restaurants (including fast-food and sit-down) and stores all over – thanks to the Friends of LR Discount Program. Three of my favorite sit-down restaurants are on the LR discount list. I’m particularly partial WOOD: Pizza, Pasta, & Sandwiches, Tasteful Beans Coffeehouse and Café Gouda.
WHERE ARE
Timothy Smith | LRN Monthly Contributor
Through the Friends of LR Discount program students, faculty and staff receive various discounts around the Hickory area. Some are for restaurants, car repair shops, grocery stores and more. Here’s a list my top 20 favorite places to visit and save. For the full list go to LR.edu, click on the Faculty and Staff tab then Discounts. • Café Gouda: 10 percent off all the time and 20 percent Monday - Friday 3-5 p.m. ◦ 2960 N Center St ◦ (828) 267-1300 ◦ cafegouda.com • Coaches Neighborhood Grill: 10 percent discount for students and staff with ID ◦ 2049 Catawba Valley Blvd SE ◦ (828) 358-1658 ◦ coachsneighborhoodgrill.com • Coldstone Creamery: Buy one Love It, get one free on Wednesday nights for students, faculty and staff. ◦ 2045 Catawba Valley Blvd SE ◦ (828) 855-3377 ◦ coldstonecreamery.com • Cornerstone Bakery: 15 percent off total ◦ 1700 US Hwy 70 SE ◦ (828) 578-6700 ◦ facebook.com/ CornerstoneBakeryLLC • East Coast Wings & Grill: 10 percent off food and non-alcoholic drinks; 10 percent off catering orders ◦ 2221 US Hwy 70 SE ◦ (828) 323-9464 ◦ eastcoastwings.com • Guitar Center: One free lesson and 10 percent off checklist for students, faculty staff. ◦ 1718 US-70 ◦ (828) 324-1290 ◦ guitarcenter.com
Sarah C. Johnson smiles brightly after receiving her favorite meal, a turkey croissant with cranberry mustard and a 24 oz. iced vanilla latte, from Tastefull Beans Coffeehouse. QUAVVON MOODY | LRN MONTHLY
• Habitat for Humanity ReStore Catawba Valley: 20 percent off for all students, faculty and staff ◦ 1615 8th St Dr SE ◦ (828) 327-7467 ◦ habitatcatawbavalley.org/restore • Hatch Sandwich Bar: 10 percent discount for students, faculty and staff ◦ 268 1st Ave NW ◦ (828) 322-1196 ◦ hatchsandwich.com • Hickory Community Theatre: $10 tickets for LRU students ◦ 30 3rd St NW ◦ (828) 328-2283 ◦ hickorytheatre.org • Hickory Crawdads: two free tickets every Thursday with school ID. (Additional tickets are $5.) Every other day, student, faculty, and staff can purchase up to four tickets at a discounted rate of $5. ◦ 2500 Clement Blvd NW ◦ (828) 322-3000 ◦ www.milb.com/hickory • Hickory Foundation YMCA: $25 per month membership fee for students ◦ 701 1st St NW ◦ (828) 324-2858 ◦ ymcacv.org • Hickory Museum of Art: $10 membership discount. HMA membership includes offers for free admission at nearly 200 museums throughout the Southeast. ◦ 243 3rd Ave NE ◦ (828) 327-8576 ◦ hickoryart.org • Lowes Foods: 10 percent discount Sundays on all grocery purchases at the Lowes Foods in Viewmont ◦ 260 14th Ave NE ◦ (828) 256-0104 ◦ lowesfoods.com
• Salsarita's Fresh Cantina: $5 nachos on Saturday and Sunday ◦ 944 2nd St NE ◦ (828) 304-2485 ◦ salsaritas.com • Smoothie King: 10 percent off order for faculty, staff and students ◦ 225 12th Ave NE ◦ (828) 855-3833 ◦ smoothieking.com • Take 5 Oil Change: 25 percent off for all students, faculty and staff ◦ 2920 N Center St ◦ (828) 608-0071 ◦ take5oilchange.com • Taste Full Beans Coffeehouse: 10 percent discount for students, faculty and staff - excluding merchandise and art ◦ 29 2nd St NW ◦ (828) 325-0108 ◦ tastefullbeans.com • Tutti Frutti: 10 percent discount for all students, faculty and staff ◦ 2112 US Hwy 70 SE ◦ (828) 270-7130 ◦ facebook.com/tuttifruttihickorync • Unique World Gifts: 10 percent off purchases for all students, faculty and staff. Excludes food and beverage items and clearance merchandise ◦ 2751 N Center St ◦ (828) 328-5595 ◦ uniqueworldgifts.org • WOOD Restaurant: 10 percent discount for food and non-alcoholic beverages for students, faculty and staff ◦ 2039 N Center St A ◦ (828) 328-3432 ◦ wood.pizza
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PHOTOJOURNALISM
LRN MONTHLY | NOVEMBER 2020
CAPTURING OUR HISTORY ONE FRAME AT A TIME
PHOTOJOURNALISM
LR STUDENTS EXPLORE THEIR HOME THROUGH THE LENS
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Jackson Sigmon practices the bass in preparation for when he can return to performing, while supporting his favorite football team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, in their third game of the season. Sigmon has performed in the UNC Charlotte Symphony Orchestra and hopes to return to his passion during 2021. Photo by LEWIS SCOTT
From Staff Reports | LRN Monthly
Each semester a new set of students get to experience the world through a new point a view, a camera lens. These students become LR’s unofficial photojournalists by taking COM 212. This class is designed to teach students artistic composition for photography, as well as how to capture a story/
LRN MONTHLY | NOVEMBER 2020
moment. Even with COVID-19 restriction, many fun and exciting moments are still occurring around the LR campus and Hickory area. Here are eight of their best works this month.
Robert Smith does his best to hit a few golf balls over the net on the driving range at Catawba Country Club. Photo by JAY SOWERS
Spencer Floyd, a senior pitcher at Maiden High School, has just committed to the Lenoir-Rhyne Baseball team and is excited to become a Bear. Photo by JAY SOWERS
With more school work being done away from the classroom this semester LR students have had a chance to spend more time off campus – here Josh Lazenby takes a break from studying to explore some parts of Hickory he has not seen. Photo by LEWIS SCOTT
Emily Sparks and Milyn Walden enjoy a night out on Hickory’s Union Square only to end up trapped in a mason jar. Photo by JOSHUA SPARKS
Brodie Ham, of University Christian High, displays his dunking skills for some of his buddies at his house on a recent Wednesday afternoon. Photo by ELI GOEBELBECKER
Emily Sparks enjoys a nice day out in downtown Hickory amid the fall foliage as her loving husband captures the moment on camera. Photo by JOSHUA SPARKS
LR student photographer Joshua Sparks captures a shot of himself enjoying a visit with Boomer and Bam Bam two twin puppies that belong to the his great aunt. Photo by JOSHUA SPARKS
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LRN MONTHLY | NOVEMBER 2020
FRESH VOICES: BLACK LIVES MATTER
SPEAKING OUR MINDS ON JUSTICE LR FRESHMEN SHARE THEIR OPINIONS ON THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT
Fresh Voices is an editorial series that follows the new experiences and pressing matters for freshman at LR. 2020 has been a year of struggles. The specter of injustice and racism came into sharp focus this summer with the deaths of African
Americans at the hands of police officers – and the Black Lives Matter organization responded in cities and towns across the nation. The nation has been split. Black lives and families have been destroyed. Towns have been burned
to the ground. America is in shambles. And LR’s freshmen all have varied experiences and opinions. One thing they can agree on is there is a lot of work to be done.
THE AMERICAN BLACK LIVES MATTER, BLACK LIVES POLICING SYSTEM AND SO DOES THE MATTER: A WEST11-YEAR-OLD HOW AND WHY IT SHOULD BE REFORMED AFRICAN POINT OF VIEWPOINT FROM A GIRL LIVING VIEW NEAR FERGUSON
FRESH VOICES
LRN MONTHLY | NOVEMBER 2020
THE WAY WE SEE IT
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LR FRESHMEN MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD ON COLLEGE, LR AND MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE Fresh Voices is a forum where LR freshmen get to share their outlook on subjects big and small
PLEASANT SURPRISES ABOUT LR
as they’re learning to adapt and enjoy the ride. These students are giving their honest opinion as
ENVIRONMENTAL AND COMMUNITY IMPACT
HOW YOUNG PEOPLE CAN HELP THE WORLD
a core component of their FYE class: The Carolina Adventurers Club.
COLLEGE PROVES I CAN DO MY CHORES WHY I DECIDED TO COME TO PURSUE A BACHELOR’S DEGREE
Grayson Breedlove LRN Monthly Contributor
If you had told me last year that my summer before my first year of college would be spent in a national pandemic with protests happening all across the nation, I do not think I would have believed you. For many, this was long-awaited moment of drawing attention to how the American policing system treats the very citizens that they were sworn to protect. Taking a look at this past summer and how people reacted to citizens taking to the streets and various media outlets to fight for equality and justice for all is, in my opinion, a true exposure of deep-rooted issues in our policing system. I personally have not encountered a police officer in the past year, but I know my experience would not be like what so many people of color go through. I am a white female from the South and I have not grown up terrified or concerned with experiencing police brutality. Why should anyone have to grow up terrified of that? In today’s world, why is it normal for people of color to know exactly what to do to not anger or attract the attention of a police officer? Crime prevention should be the focus. “The conclusion made evident on America’s streets is that policing in the United States is abridging the rights of many of its citizens,” according to Amanda Taub of the New York Times. “It is making a lie of the constitutional promise of equal protection under the law.” Equal protection is a lie. Police officers will not protect African Americans, Hispanics or LGBTQ members the way they will protect a straight white male or female and that is a violation of their oath and the constitution itself, but in my opinion, it is the unfortunately harsh truth of America today. Minneapolis has been the focus of media attention since the tragic murder of George Floyd and the riots and protests that followed. Once Minneapolis declared its police department beyond reform and announced the idea to scrap it and start anew, the question became how can they change the broken system and keep it from going back to what it is now. “The new system would look for solutions from the very communities that the old system regarded as the sources of problems and guide investment accordingly. Law enforcement would not disappear, not in a country with more guns than people,” according to Time Magazine. “But the officers who remained would be highly professional and trained in an ethos of valuing life. They would be focused on solving people’s problems rather than locking people up and would work alongside those they serve.” This is a big proposal, but one I hope is accomplished for the sake of this nation and the citizens that reside within. Police officers need to be screened and trained effectively in topics such as ethics, cultural diversity, valuation of life and problem solving. America is at a crossroads. We can embrace the change of the times and move forward for equality and justice for all, or we can stay the same and lose more and more of what makes this country great. The biggest move towards ending systematic racism is reforming our police departments and ending the culture that cultivates this behavior to continue unjustified deaths due to their brutality. In doing so, American policing may slowly regain the trust and recreation they once had and put an end to unjustified killings.
Makenna Seghers LRN Monthly Contributor
The first time I ever heard about the Black Lives Matter movement was after the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. in 2014. The place I called home was less than 45 minutes away from there and my 11-year-old eyes saw more hate and fear more than any 11-year-old should. I witnessed the burning and destruction of a city and watched as National Guard tanks crossed through our town to go into Ferguson. Fear. Worry. The unknown. Who was in the right? Who was in the wrong? The answers were not clear. I was young and didn’t fully grasp the situation. I did know, however, that a town that was already hurting was being hurt some more. And I knew that that pain came not just from the loss of a man’s life, but also by the destruction that followed and the flames set to buildings. Blacks Lives Matter movement is something I wholeheartedly stand behind. YES, Speak out for justice. YES, speak out for inequalities. And YES, speak out for what you believe in. This is not just something that can get fixed by painting streets, putting on bumper stickers, and hollering, “Black lives matter,” in the streets, but it also won’t be fixed with more violence. The problem runs much deeper but is much simpler than many of us consider. We need connections. Real ones. Our society, especially the new generations, are getting lost with noses pointed down at a screen instead of at people facing them eye to eye and learning to communicate. Picture yourself as an 11-year-old watching a town you know get burned to the ground. Imagine your parents telling you that mom or dad is not coming home tonight because they have either been severely hurt or are dealing with people who could potentially hurt them. I’ve been that 11-year-old. My father is a nonpatrolling law enforcement officer who works inside the county jail back home in Missouri. He was working there during the Ferguson case. I’ve also been a 17-year-old who knew every day when my dad left that building during the summer of 2020 he did all he could to walk out looking the least like a cop as possible for fear of being hurt or killed. He’s had death wished upon him and been threatened by people carrying guns as he walked out the doors of his workplace. Think about that. A person I value so dearly being wished and threatened with death for his career by someone who doesn’t know anything about him other than that he wears a badge. I'm sure there is also an 11-year-old in fear of her dad getting pulled over on his way home harassed by police. Are we much different? Why can't we relate? The thing is, we all matter. You matter. I matter. Everyone matters. So, when it comes to injustices, if one person is being treated wrongfully aren't we supposed to rally, show love, and show support? Be a voice. Be the change, but most importantly, be the example the generation following us are looking up to as they see progressive change. My advice… before you cast judgement, take a moment. Stop. Talk with others with an open mind and without preconceived judgments. Big changes don't come from destruction – the come when people work together toward a common goal.
Maty Mbye LRN Monthly Contributor
“There comes a time when silence is betrayal,” said Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in April 1967. I believe that time has come. Police brutality or police violence is legally defined as a civil rights violation where law enforcement officers exercise undue or excessive force against a subject. This includes, but it is not limited to, bullying, physical or verbal harassment, physical or mental injury, property damage and even death, as defined by Wikipedia. In the wake of George Floyd’s death at the hands of Derek Chauvin, I’ve come to terms with my own definition from the inspiration of this quote: “When the color of your skin is seen as a weapon, you will never be seen as unarmed,” and its as simply horrifying as that. Watching the video of Derek Chauvin murdering George Floyd in broad daylight as he cried for help and screamed for his mother left me traumatized. It was a cultural shock for me. Living in The Gambia for four years I’d rarely seen any violence. In fact, The Gambia was known for being one of the most peaceful countries in West Africa. Therefore, imagine my shock as I stared angrily at the video that broke the internet. It felt as if the ignorance bubble that surrounded me had been popped and I was left with nothing but the blatant truth. The truth I had ignored for several years in West Africa, the truth I had only seen in movies and simply always brushed off. The truth being African American men, women and children are still being killed to this day because of the color of their skin and by law enforcement who are supposed to protect and serve us all. I turned to my parents for guidance only to discover that they still carried the mindset that the African community should not associate with African American affairs. I knew this was outdated since protests for George Floyd and support of the Black Lives Matter movement was taking place all over the world, even in many African countries. After intensive research, I discovered that George Floyd was only a fraction of the numerous victims of police brutality. In fact, his case is one of the few that received attention while they are many other victims who still haven’t gotten the recognition and justice they deserved. One of the many examples is Breonna Taylor. Malcom X said in 1962: “The most disrespected person in America is the black woman. The most unprotected person in America is the black woman. The most neglected person in America is the black woman.” Fifty-eight years later this quote still applies to the events happening today like the unjust shooting of Breonna Taylor. I have not been able to attend any protests and I have not had a traumatizing encounter with the police, nonetheless, I am tied down like all black people living in America with the fear of my father, uncle and maybe even sisters losing their life to the system that has failed us. Even though, I have not been able to attend any protests, I have done my part by signing numerous petitions, donating to BLM organizations and spreading awareness through social media and to my own family.
Cameron Hunt LRN Monthly Contributor
Maty Mbye LRN Monthly Contributor Jessica Laign LRN Monthly Contributor
Lenoir-Rhyne University was definitely not my first choice of schools. As a matter of fact, I only applied to LR as a way of evening out my application list from nine colleges to 10ntil I was admitted and before I committed, I hardly knew anything about LR. Upon research and stalking multiple LR accounts, I began to discover more and more about LR and eventually formed an unconscious view of it. I had formed the conclusion that Lenoir-Rhyne lacked diversity. The pages mostly represented white students and faculty. This made me doubt whether my decision of committing was correct or not. However, upon arrival I was pleased to see I was in fact wrong. It is correct that there are more white students than any other group, which is to be expected in a predominately white area. Even so, upon arrival I immediately connected to the numerous other African Americans in my hall including my roommate. I was also worried that the African community in LR would be non-existent. However, I soon discovered that was not the case. As a matter of fact, I’ve met and connected with multiple Africans from Nigeria, Uganda, Egypt, and even Senegal like me. The diversity present in this school has surprised me and I cannot wait to further connect with others like me. Due to the lack of popularity of Hickory, I assumed that this university would be located in a racist ghost town. I have come to discover that is not the case. In fact, downtown Hickory is an extremely popular attraction that I’ve enjoyed exploring. Places like Kickback Jack’s, Walmart Supercenter, Valley Hills Mall and Defy Gravity are popular and well-known hangouts. Compared to the fast-paced cities I’ve lived in including Charlotte, North Carolina, and Atlanta, Georgia, Hickory is not the most exciting. However, it is not as mundane as I expected it to be. I’m anticipating exploring more of Hickory. Another pleasant surprise was the size of the campus. I assumed the campus would be large and spaced out in size, and that was a concern. I was worried I would need a car to get from class to class and I do not have a license. However, the campus is a reasonable size and most of the classes are a walkable distance from each other, the dining area and even the dorms. This is a surprise I’ve appreciated, and I’ve even come to enjoy the little exercise I get from walking everywhere. Coming to Lenoir-Rhyne University, I did not expect much. I assumed it was a racist school located in a ghost town with little diversity. I’ve come to realize I was beyond wrong. The connections I’ve made so far have been life changing and I cannot wait to further discover what the rest of my three years in Lenoir-Rhyne will unfold.
As a singular person, it feels impossible to leave a lasting impact on our community, our state and the world. At Lenoir-Rhyne, we are geared to learn more about vocation. Our programs allow us to find a deeper purpose. For some this may be religious and for others it can be less spiritual. Regardless of your major, there are ways in our community that we can make a difference. As an advocate for volunteer work, I strongly believe everyone should be finding a way to get involved. Hickory may be a new home for some and for others, they might have grown up here. We can always find a food pantry in our community that can be helped by the addition of a few helping hands. Our local senior centers are always looking for help, but due to COVID-19 it is not safe for many visitors to come in. There are lots of alternatives to volunteering in person due to the risk of COVID-19. There are pen-pal opportunities that can keep volunteers get involved with the residents in the nursing homes. There are Ronald McDonald houses across North Carolina that seek volunteers. They typically ask volunteers to help prepare meals and help serve the families of the sick patients. There are several ways you can help people and incorporating a few hours of volunteering into your week can go a long way for your community. Being more eco-friendly is key. We all know littering is very bad for the environment and you can be fined for it. Recently, the media has been producing articles about how you can reduce the amount of waste you release into the environment. Although single use plastics are convenient and easy, they are showing negative effects of the wildlife, especially in the ocean. With recent headlines announcing the floating island of grocery bags that have gathered in the ocean to make a mass larger than Texas, it is obvious we need to monitor our usage. A simple switch to a reusable water bottle can save money and the environment. The change from a single use plastic bag to a reusable tote can make grocery shopping less wasteful. We can make a difference in our earth by paying attention to our plastic usage and purchasing ecofriendly products that are biodegradable. Plastic can be broken down into micro plastics and have shown negative health effects in aquatic wildlife which we consume. Simple changes to your weekly and daily routines can help our community and planet. Reaching out to a local food pantry is one of the easiest ways to start your volunteering within your community. Switching to reusable products and buying intuitively may seem like they won't make a big difference, but if more people were more conscious it would make a change for the better.
When I think about why I even bothered to come to college in the first place, I must go back to my middle school decision making skills. Yes, that’s right, good old middle school. It all started back in eighth grade when I had to make a decision whether I was going to go to the Early College in Caldwell County to get an Associate’s degree by the time I graduated high school or go to traditional high school. Reluctantly, I decided to apply for the Early College. From there I went on to graduate with a high school diploma and two associate degrees. First off though, I’ve always known I wanted to work for myself, but in case I needed to get a job to support myself at first on my way to riches I decided it was a good choice to pursue a bachelor’s degree. I mean hell, I knew I was going to get an associate degree and it was practically free, so two more years of my life couldn’t be that bad. I’m also coming to college because my father personally wanted me to. I didn’t want to crush his dreams by just immediately branching off on my own. I believe that what Elon Musk said about college is true. You can learn about everything you want to in college practically for free online or in books, but college is about showing you can do your chores. He is speaking metaphorically here, stating rather that college is about showing you are responsible enough to get up every day and make good grades to get that precious diploma. I absolutely believe this is true, because in the end just because you have a diploma that says you are qualified in a field, doesn’t mean you retained all of the information you were supposed to learn. It doesn’t mean you automatically are experienced enough to go out and start working in a professional field. I believe good experience in the field you want to jump into is the best factor to determine if you will be hired or not, or if merely you will succeed. You have to do the job you want to do to become better at it, no amount of pure studying can account for time in the field. All of this being said, to sum it all up I would say I am at Lenoir-Rhyne because I want to prove to my dad that I can do my chores. I also chose to come to Lenoir-Rhyne because it is close to home and I like the small close-knit community we have, and also I could finish my bachelor’s very fast while also not having to pay a big fee for room and board because I just live at home. College may not be necessary for me, but I felt the degree would be a good backup if stuff ever hit the fan with my own business.
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LRN MONTHLY | NOVEMBER 2020
SPORTS PHOTOJOURNALISM
AND GLORY LASTS FOREVER
JUMP
LRN MONTHLY | NOVEMBER 2020
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LR ATHLETES CAUGHT ON CAMERA From Staff Reports | LRN Monthly
Even though COVID has forced the postponement of fall sports LR athletics hasn’t slowed down. Our athletes are still practicing and working hard every day across this campus. And the budding shooters studying photojournalism
Austin Curry, of Asheboro, catcher for the LenoirRhyne baseball team, practices catching in LR’s bullpen to get ready for the upcoming season. Photo by KENNEDY CONNOR
have taken notice. Here are some of the best action shots we’ve captured at LR and beyond this semester.
LR Track and Field's Devine Drummond practices hurdles for the his inter-squad meet on October 5. Photo by REBECCA FOX LR track teammates Jordan Cruce, Liz Kessler, Pearl Ballard and Taylor Meadows embark on a hike up Baker's Mountain Trail as a way to safely socialize amidst COVID-19 restrictions. Photo by REBECCA FOX
Josh Wise, LR's javelin thrower from Portsmouth, England, finishes up the training day with quad burnouts to help with explosiveness. Photo by KENNEDY CONNOR
Freshman Valentin Voit warms up prior to LR’s inter-squad meet. He competed in the 100m dash, 200m dash, long jump and 55m dash. Photo by REBECCA FOX
LR track team newcomer Melody Jones, has set her goals high for this year’s season and she’s already soaring through the sky. Photo by KENNEDY CONNOR
LR’s Trent Davis of Douglassville, Ga., and Marlin Davis of Indian Land, S.C. train in hopes of winning the conference championship this upcoming indoor track season. Photo by SCOTLYN SILVEY
Trent Caldwell coaches Lenoir-Rhyne's first-ever women's triathlon team in a weight lifting session. Photo by SCOTLYN SILVEY