LRN September 2017 by Lenoir-Rhyne University

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VOL. 110 — ISSUE 2

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SKY STREAMING Lenoir-Rhyne University School of Journalism and Mass Communication LENOIR-RHYNEAN NEWS

VOL. 110 — ISSUE 2

SEPTEMBER 2015

LR STUDENTS LIVE STREAM THE ECLIPSE FROM 70,000 FEET IN THE AIR

TO RETIRE By Katelyn Mendenhall | LRN Monthly Editor in Chief

ABOVE: The moon’s shadow is visible on the earth’s surface--the photos were taken from the LR balloon team’s payload between 90,000 and 100,000 feet during the eclipse. SUBMITTED PHOTO.

The LR balloon team prepares its formation to release everything into the air with precision at a practice launch. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Larry Jump seals the payload to make sure that water and cold air stay out. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Professor Douglas Knight, Larry Jump and Jake Robinson test the balloon’s lift and make sure it doesn’t come off the nozzle that is filling it with helium. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Aug. 21, 2017 was probably the only day that glasses resembling those old 50s-style specs were the most fashionable form of eyewear from coast-to-coast. It was the only day people traveled for hours (and sometimes days) to see a show with a climax lasting less than three minutes, and it was probably the only day people remember exactly what they were doing between the hours of 2 and 3 p.m. If you were in the United States of America and happened to find yourself in the path of “totality” during the Eclipse 2017, then you were probably one of the many millions of people staring at the sun for much longer than you should have and were far more jubilant to see the moon than you’d ever care to admit. You may have had a pretty good vantage point of this historic event from where you were, or maybe you simply tuned into a livestreaming option on the Internet, but did you get to see what it was like from nearly 100,000 feet up in the air? A team of eight Lenoir-Rhyne Bears, led by Professor of Physics and Earth Science Dr. Douglas Knight, traveled to Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute in Rosman and launched a massive balloon into the atmosphere to capture photos and video of the eclipse. Who can top that? “The goal of the project was to take pictures and videos during the eclipse from 80,000 to 100,000 feet and stream them to the ground to a NASA website so the public could view it,” Knight said. “We are one of 50 teams that participated in this project— it was funded by NASA and other affiliated companies.” The team started preparing for this event approximately a year ago, and one of the biggest challenges was that many of them had almost no experience with this kind of project. “The hardest part was the beginning because we didn’t know anything about this—we were just going from scratch,” Engineering Physics major and member of the LR Balloon team Jake Robinson said. “But as time went on, we started learning and developing.” Robinson said the team eventually even designed their own payloads, which are the containers they attached to the balloon to hold the cameras, tracking devices and other equipment for the experiment. “It’s like a puzzle. There’s not a straightforward way to do it. There’s no guide,” another member of the team Juan Hernandez said. “It’s more like you find a website, or a code that you like or something that works, and you just start putting it all together and try to get the best out of it.” Though the team had very little knowledge of how to design this experiment when they first started, it turned out to be a success. Their latex balloon, which stretched to around 10 feet wide when it was inflated, traveled up to 99,400 feet, and they were able to video the eclipse up to about 70,000 feet, though the streaming was intermittent. Only a few things didn’t go exactly as expected. One of the systems designed to take still images didn’t work, and Knight said the antenna tracking system let them down, so they had to manually track the balloon system as it ascended into the sky. Even so, it “was definitely worth it,” according to Larry Jump, another member of the LR balloon team. “We went almost to outer space—who else gets to take pictures from that far up?” Jump said. “It was an awesome experience. There was so much learning involved—it’s a great way to challenge yourself.” So far, the team has been able to retrieve one of the payloads that took pictures of the earth during the experiment. Knight says they plan on “going fishing” in Tuckasegee for the other two payloads that landed “in the top of a tree about 30 to 45 feet high.” The team got to witness the solar eclipse during its totality from PARI, which was used during the Cold War to listen to the Russians (of course, it was a secret back then), and when the other payloads are collected, they’ll hopefully get even more videos and images of what the eclipse was like from thousands of feet in the air. Stay tuned for more projects from this group, and feel free to join in if you’re interested. “We’re looking to do a rocket-related project,” Knight said. “Flyers will be posted.”

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An antenna at Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Jake Robinson with the payload the team retrieved from a tree in Tuckasegee, N.C. after its trip almost to 100,000 feet into the atmosphere. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Jake Robinson, Anthony Grady, Joseph Johnson and Douglas Knight stabilize the balloon at a practice launch for the project and are wearing gloves to make sure the oils on their hands don’t disintegrate the balloon. SUBMITTED PHOTO

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NEWS

LRN MONTHLY | SEPTEMBER 2017

BETWEEN BUILDINGS THE ONGOING CONSTRUCTION IN MINGES CAUSES SCIENCE DEPARTMENTS TO ADAPT By Florian Lemmel | LRN Monthly Staff Writer

will wash chemical glassware, we have ventilation for dissection and we have lots of wonderful student interaction space,” said Biology Professor Dr. Marsha Fanning. “There are a lot of things in the new building that we never had before.” Another new feature that comes with the new building is still under construction and can be seen even without walking into the building. Behind Minges Science Building, workers have built a greenhouse ABOVE: Workers are doing and started planting what is going to be a landscaping behind LR’s science garden with different herbs, plants and a building where a garden and a wetland are going to be. wetland area. The outside area also comes LEFT: Electrician Will Fountain runs with an outdoor classroom. Everything powerlines through the ceiling in LR’s in and around the new wing is running science building. according to plan. FLORIAN LEMMEL | LRN MONTHLY “There is no delay on the new building,” Pitts said. “But the contractors are behind with the existing building. I’m much more The smell of fresh paint and raw concrete rises concerned about the existing building getting ready to the nose when entering the original wing of in time.” the Minges Science Building. While warm light Pitts explained that due to the complex was flooding through the big windows of the construction of the new wing, the contractors building’s new wing, the raw grey walls of the concentrated on finishing this part of the building. construction site felt cold. Cables are lying on the Therefore, work on the existing building started floor connecting all kinds of tools, and a layer of later and went slower than scheduled. That does dust covers the interior. The old part of Lenoirnot mean, however, that the work on the existing Rhyne University’s science building is still under building is less severe. The building is going to get construction, while the new wing is already in full a new heating, ventilation and air conditioning use. system and new plumbing. To renovate the offices “The new science building is basically ready and create a big classroom, a wall was taken out except some punch-list items,” Otis Pitts, Director on the second floor. The original plan was to be of Facilities Management, said. “Some rooms still finished with both parts of the building before the need shades, and hopefully they get the elevators start of the semester. working soon.” “I can’t tell you for sure, but the plan is to be The new building mainly hosts the labs needed finished in September,” Pitts said. for biology and chemistry classes. With their big The ongoing construction imposes some windows, good acoustics and new computers the restrictions on the science departments. Although new rooms are already pleasing the professors all the labs in the new building are ready to use, who get to teach inside them. classrooms for lectures and office space are “We have new hoods (ventilation systems missing. Professors have to share improvised that reduce fumes), we have dishwashers that offices and have to store their office equipment,

but as far as it is possible all science classes are taught in the new wing, even if it means that some labs get very crowded. “For some of the larger classes we had to find rooms outside (the science building),” Fanning said. “We now have some classes in Rhyne Building and also in the library.” Especially for the physics department the renovation of the old building causes problems. “Because physics does not have space in the new wing, it meant when they opened the new building it was fine for biology and chemistry, but we had no room,” Physics Professor Helen Caldwell said. “Then when the old building didn’t open back up we really had no room.” As a result of that repair, the different science departments have to share the space until the whole project is complete. Professor Caldwell is teaching her class in the room where Fanning’s Ecology class will soon be held. This means that neither professor can quite move into her own space quite yet. They will both be in a holding pattern until construction is complete. “I still don’t know where all my lab equipment is,” Caldwell said. “I’m still looking for a box — I’m sure it is somewhere, but I just haven’t found it yet. It’s like any move, there is always the one missing box, and eventually we find it. I’ll probably end up having to make due with something else, but that’s ok.” Overall the faculty is content with the solutions found and are doing their best to arrange themselves as well as possible with this in-between situation. The reopening of the old science wing is going to bring back some normality, although it is not going to be the end of changes for the science departments. A phase II for the existing building is already in planning. The timeline and features included in phase II are still to be determined. More specific planning is going to happen when the heads of the science departments meet later this semester to discuss phase II in particular.

UNDERGROUND RACISM

PULITZER PRIZE WINNING AUTHOR VISITING LR TO DISCUSS HIS NOVEL ABOUT SLAVERY By Katelyn Mendenhall | LR Monthly Editor in Chief

Flags, slogans and riots prove racism is a poison that still flows through America’s veins. You can look almost anywhere in the country and find racists, racist-haters and people with their heads in the sand. On Thursday, Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. Colson Whitehead, author of the Pulitzer-Prize-Winning “The Underground Railroad,” is coming to LenoirRhyne University’s P.E. Monroe Auditorium to discuss his historical fiction book about an American institution whose aftershocks are still felt across the nation to this day. “I predict that this might well be the best thing LR’s going to have all year,” Professor of Journalism Richard Gould said. “You’re going to remember this.” Whitehead’s sixth book tells the story of a slave named Cora and her escape from a cotton plantation in Georgia. Whitehead was raised in Manhattan, N.Y. and attended Harvard University. He worked as a book, movie and music reviewer and has also written six novels including “The Underground Railroad,”

which was chosen as this year’s campus read at LR. “In recounting Cora’s story, Mr. Whitehead communicates the horrors of slavery and its toxic legacy rumbling on down the years,” NY Times book reviewer Michiko Kakutani wrote. “At the same time, he memorializes the yearning for freedom that spurs one generation after another to persevere in the search for justice- despite threats and intimidation, despite reversals and efforts to turn back the clock. He has told a story essential to our understanding of the American past and the American present.” “The Underground Railroad” has won several awards, including the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award—it was also a New York Times bestseller and Time Magazine’s 2016 Book of the Year. More importantly, the book and Whitehead’s visit to LR are timely and meaningful considering recent racial violence in Charlottesville, Va. and around the country. His book is relevant now and will continue to be as long as racism rules anyone’s heart. USA Today said the book is “one of the finest

novels written about our country’s still unabsolved original sin,” and Ron Charles from the Washington Post said the book “disrupts our settled sense of the past and stretches the ligaments of history right into our own era.” This event is free to the public, and attending is a step toward creating peace and unity. For more information call (828) 328-7206 or visit the box office in P.E. Monroe Auditorium.

Pulitzer-winning-author Colson Whitehead will be at Lenoir-Rhyne University’s Visiting Writer’s Series event on Sept. 14. SUBMITTED PHOTO BY MADELINE WHITEHEAD

THE LORDS OF THE DORMS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR RAS AND RDS By Florian Lemmel | LRN Monthly Staff Writer

For most LR students, living on campus means living apart from your parents in dormitories for the first time. It’s also the first time most of us have come across RAs and RDs, or resident advisors and directors, to use the official term. Every dorm has one RD who selects his or her own staff of RAs. “The RD’s main duty is supervising the RA staff and ensuring that the RAs are enforcing all university policies, ensuring that the residents in the particular area and on the campus at large are safe and practicing safe behaviors,” Jonathan

Rink, Director of Residence Life at Lenoir-Rhyne University, said. “The RDs serve in 24-hour on-call rotation, so there is one RD every day that is on call for 24 hours. Currently, we have six RDs, so they are on call a week at a time.” As the director for student life, Jonathan Rink oversees all RAs and RDs and appoints them to their dorms. An RA must have a 2.5 GPA and a clean conduct record. To be an RD you must be a graduate student with experience in resident life. Also, you must have a specific personality. “You must have tremendous

leadership abilities. We look for individuals that can get the respect of their staff and that people will be happy to follow them and really trust what they are saying. We look for people who stay calm under pressure and during crisis situations,” Rink said. “They also need good time management. The RDs are graduate students, and depending on what graduate program they’re in, balancing your grad program and your RD position can be a lot to handle at times.” RAs have less responsibility than their RD, but they are the

first responders when something is happening. Rink said that in case of a suicide attempt the RA’s responsibility is to get someone who can help, while the RD has to be with the person until help is there. That is why both the RAs and RDs receive specialized training. “Beginning in August every single year, RDs are trained,” Rink said. “It’s a week-long training--they meet everyone on campus, go through training with security, go through training with me and other

SEE LORDS, PAGE 5

LOCAL A

LRN MONTHLY | SEPTEMBER 2017

TASTE OF HICKORY

SAVOR ALL THE FARMER’S MARKET HAS TO OFFER By Kyle Cerrito | LRN Monthly Staff Writer

Every Saturday from 8 a.m.1 p.m. and only a five-minute drive from Lenoir-Rhyne, the aroma of homemade kettle corn, apple pies and bread loaves joins an array of fresh fruits, pristine vegetables and organic meats to attract everyone from retired folk musicians to college students. This is the Downtown Hickory Farmer’s Market, and its 72 registered vendors are ready to sell all that they can before the Farmer’s Market closes on Nov. 25. “It’s been crazy,” vendor Lori Dixon said. “The last few weekends, I’ve had a line of three or four people all day; me and my husband were making soap every free moment last week just to keep up.” By 11 a.m., the wicker baskets containing her homemade Lathers Skin Essentials soaps are beginning to empty. The purple and white marbled lavender soap has completely disappeared, leaving only the decorative hay below it, but this does nothing to stop her overall sales. Even if their favorite soap is gone, the customers simply ask Dixon what she suggests, and at $5.75 per 7 oz. bar, she offers a better deal than buying SheaMoisture organic soap from Walmart. Some vendors are even willing to give away free food. “Before you go, you have to try these grapes,” vendor Donna Wood said. Even though giving away food isn’t always the best business practice, Wood owns her

own farm (appropriately entitled Wood Farms), and her business prowess enticed three couples to walk away with a box of her grapes. I tried one. The skin was certainly tougher than a grape you’d find at Lowes’ Foods, but as I bit down it tore open and burst in my mouth, leaving a surprisingly sweet yet sour taste the best Sour Patch gummies vainly try to imitate. “There’s just an oldtimey charm to it all,” local musician Sherrill Keever said. “It’s all homemade. I know everyone, and everyone knows me.” With a singing voice like Jimmie Rodgers and a repertoire full of Beatles, Johnny Cash and Paul Simon tunes, Keever does his best to capitalize on that charm whenever he takes the stage to croon over every white-haired lady that passes. His thick white beard and large belly, which his acoustic guitar cannot hope to conceal, complete the folk hero aesthetic, and whenever he finishes a soulful rendition of the Beatles’ “Blackbird,” the crowd erupts in applause. Even when the music isn’t playing, the farmer’s market never runs out of entertainment value. “Ever seen Pink Floyd played on a dulcimer?” Keever said while nine grayhair women began dancing to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” less than 10 yards from the Farmer’s Market to celebrate their friend’s 69th birthday. They refused Keever’s offers to let them use his amplifier

and, consequently, confused everyone by dancing to nearly inaudible music. “I guess you never know what’ll happen,” local artist Terrell Miller said. Miller will tell you that he is not a serious artist but a seriously unconventional artist. His straw hat has certainly seen better days; A group of ladies celebrates with each turn of his head, their friend’s birthday by dancing more straw either fell to his to “Thriller” in the middle of feet or became tangled in his downtown. curly brown hair. He won’t say if he’s stuck in the past, Farmer’s Market vendor Donna even though he refuses to Wood isn’t above sneaking paint the modern American some of her produce. flag in favor of the 13-star Colonial banner, but he enjoys paying his respects to the artists that inspired Everyone sells produce him. He proudly displays at the Farmer’s Market, handcrafted furniture even local artist Terrell dedicated to his father, two Miller. Vincent Van Gogh imitations and a portrait of blues musician T-Bone Walker. “Like all the great ones, I’ll be famous when I’m dead,” he said. “You won’t find Farmer’s Market vendor Lori Dixon can these in any Walmart; not answer any question you may have about even the Chinese can copy her soaps. what I’ve got going.” Sherrill Keever serenades the These vendors make the Farmer’s Market with his version of Farmer’s Market so special, a Woody Guthrie song. according to the Market Manager Sarah Wood. Wood acknowledges that she is known for sticking to the rules (that includes The best part of the no animals in the Farmer’s Farmer’s Market: Market), but she says that Fresh fruit. her main goal is “making sure everyone’s happy and respecting our vendors.” The Downtown Hickory Famer’s Market is located at Union Square, Hickory, NC 28601. For more information visit hickoryfarmersmarket. com or call (828) 308-6508. PHOTOS BY KYLE CERRITO | LRN MONTHLY

ART AND BEAUTY ARE A MILE AWAY LOCATING LOCAL CULTURE IN DOWNTOWN HICKORY By Kelyn Thornton | LRN Monthly Contributor

Does watching an artist create her work spark your interest? Do you enjoy looking at fine art or browsing handmade jewelry? If you answered “yes” to either of these questions, the Hickory Art Crawl might be just the place for you. Union Square, the heart of Hickory’s Downtown area, is only a mile from Lenoir-Rhyne University’s campus, and it’s hosting a live art event where you can enjoy an evening meeting local artists and reveling in their talents. The event is only held twice a year (in May and September), and this season’s Art Crawl will be on Sept. 21 from 5 until 8 p.m. The Art Crawl will have more than 40 artists, including oil painters, photographers and potters, who will showcase their creations at 25 downtown host businesses. You can begin at Full Circle Arts for the Kick-Off Party at 5 p.m. During this time you can pick up a guide for the evening (a free brochure of the event) that will lead you to each artist. Original creators will be demonstrating

their abilities at almost every turn. Several of the businesses will serve food and drinks while presenting their artist’s works and hosting readings. Participating businesses include: The Olde Hickory Station, Aqua B, The Hickory Museum of Art, Bisque N’ Beads, Tracy’s on the Square, The Natural Olive, FanjoyLabrenz, The Jackson Group, Tasteful Beans, Sonya’s Dance Academy and many more. James & Elizabeth painting by Zan Thompson. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Sculpture by Laurie Bellar Childres. SUBMITTED PHOTO

An aerial view of Lenoir-Rhyne University’s Hickory campus. PHOTO BY BRANDON POPE

Painting by Ernie Sills. SUBMITTED PHOTO

SPORTS

LRN MONTHLY | SEPTEMBER 2017

9,890 MILE JOURNEY HAYDEN BURGIEL JOINS LR’S FOOTBALL TEAM ALL THE WAY FROM AUSTRALIA By Harrison Elam | LRN Monthly Staff Writer

As the Lenoir- Rhyne football season begins, there will be some unfamiliar faces on the team such as freshman, transfers, etc. The cool thing about having new players in the Lenoir-Rhyne football program is that everyone has his own story about how he got to Hickory and became part of the LR community. But one newcomer is walking a truly unique path. That newcomer to the LenoirRhyne football team is Hayden Burgiel, a freshman punter from Melbourne, Australia. Coming from “Down Under” is unusual enough, but Burgiel is also a married man with three sons – and he’s 38 years old. And there’s no one on the Bears’ roster quite like him. Burgiel and his wife, Kelly have three boys, Coby, 13, Judd, 9 and Ace, 6. His wife and kids will head to the States to reunite with Burgiel by December. The first question that comes to mind for many when they hear that the Lenoir-Rhyne football program just got a punter from Australia is ‘How did Burgiel find out about Lenoir-Rhyne?’ “Coach Aaron Brock was obviously looking for a punter, and he rang Rick Sang from Prokicker.com, who then put him onto my coaches in Australia, Nathan Chapman and John Smith from Prokick Australia,” Burgiel said. “They then exchanged a few emails, and my coach sent some film of me punting and kicking Aussie

New Lenoir-Rhyne University football player, Hayden Burgiel practices punting to get ready for the 2017 football season. HARRISON ELAM | LRN MONTHLY

(Australian) punts, then LR offered me a scholarship to come and play football. So, I got my visa sorted, fixed up my paperwork with the NCAA, booked my flights and here I am.” Burgiel’s new to American football. “I have no experience with American football other than my training as a punter with Prokick and watching it on tv. We played Aussie rules back home,” he said. The Lenoir-Rhyne football team was very welcoming and excited to have Burgiel as a teammate and punter, but one teammate in particular enjoys having Burgiel in the special team’s unit with him each day. “Overall it’s interesting just interacting with someone from a completely different walk of life, not only from a geographical standpoint but the age difference as well,” Walker Harrison, LR’s punter and kicker, said. “He is always in good spirits and just takes everything as it comes.” It’s not all easy, but Burgiel isn’t one to back down. “I love a new challenge, and this also gives me a chance to check out America and get a degree at the same time,” he said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to represent LR playing football and will do everything in my power to contribute to success for this team.”

INSIDE THE MIND OF THE STUDENT-ATHLETE GETTING PAST THE STEREOTYPES By Julia Ponomareva | LRN Monthly Contributor

Among all the clubs and social events that Lenoir-Rhyne University offers, there is one organization that stands out, one that requires more work than any of the clubs and one that involves about a third of all traditional on-campus students. Yes, I’m talking about student-athletes. Around 8 million students in the United States play sports in college, according to US News. The most popular sport is basketball. More than 18,000 schools have a boy’s basketball team, and more than 17,000 schools have a girl’s basketball team. The sport with the highest participation rate is football with more than 1.1 million students playing in 14,000 schools. Some students describe it as a privilege. Others claim it’s a distraction from school. Many think that it gives too many privileges. However, everyone agrees that it’s hard work that not everyone is able to conquer. If you’re a student-athlete, it’s very important to understand that your life in the university isn’t going

to be easy. You’re not going to have much time for other activities, and your sleep will probably suffer. “Everyone thinks that my life is perfect – professors like me and let me turn my papers in late; they think I can skip classes and that it doesn’t matter how I perform in school as long as I am on the team,” LR’s Tennis Team Captain Abbi Wood said. “If only they knew how mistaken they are.” Student athletes have long days. What some non-athletes fail to realize is that student athletes’ days start with 6 a.m. lifting, which means waking up at 5:30 a.m. Then you have to go to class, which you cannot skip – it doesn’t matter how tired and exhausted you are. After that, you try to squeeze in lunch and maybe a short nap before you have to go to the field again. Then you go to the library and study, covering the study hours that every studentathlete has to do. Your GPA is extremely important because you won’t be able to practice with a GPA less than a

certain level. You can’t miss classes because skipping class means penalties in practice. Your every action is scrutinized. Your coaches, staff and athletic director always keep track of your grades, convo attendance and everything else you do. “Very often I hear that playing sport in college isn’t that hard because a ‘season’ only lasts a few months,” Erin Illich, track and field and cross-country runner, said. “What they don’t know is that my season frankly lasts the whole year.” Indeed, many think that a “season” for an athlete is just a few games long. However, the rest of the year is pre-season, which means working harder than ever and getting ready for important matches and games that approach sooner than you realize they will. You spend hours in the gym, on the track and in the pool, finding a way to exercise whenever and wherever you can. “Pre-season is all about development of the culture, strength and experience that will

STAFF WRITERS:

EDITOR IN CHIEF:

Katelyn Mendenhall katelyn.mendenhall@my.lr.edu

SPORTS WRITER:

Harrison Elam Harrison.Elam@my.lr.edu

allow us to peak in the spring,” LR’s Head Tennis Coach Tom Rees said. “It’s where a lot of the groundwork is laid for the success in future, and we can’t skip it.” Being an athlete is constant work on yourself: eating healthy, exercising, maintaining your skills, strength and endurance. It doesn’t happen overnight. Finally, your social life will probably suffer too. You won’t be able to attend all the events LR offers. You won’t be able to hang out with your classmates during the day and party every weekend. But all those sacrifices aren’t for nothing. Being a student-athlete is a great honor and a pure joy. You get to represent your university, set a goal and achieve it and overcome all the obstacles that stand in your way. And your reward is scoring that winning goal and hearing the roar of the crowd. That’s what student-athletes live for.

Laura Brendle Laura.Brendle@my.lr.edu Kyle Cerrito Kyle.Cerrito@my.lr.edu Florian Lemmel Florian.Lemmel@my.lr.edu Dahquan Pauling Dahquan.Pauling@my.lr.edu

CONTRIBUTORS: Dylan Bedell Iuliia Ponomareva Kelyn Thornton Haley Wilkins

FACULTY ADVISORS: Dr. Lisa Harris Prof. Richard Gould

PROFILES

LRN MONTHLY | SEPTEMBER 2017

LORDS from page 2 departments on campus. The RAs go through training the week before the beginning of school.” Besides enforcing LR’s policies, it is the RA’s job to be there for residents when they have a problem and to build a spirit of community in their resident hall. During the week, they are on duty from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. and on weekends from 8 a.m. to 12 a.m. Being around the dorms and caring for students every day of the week does not only mean that they probably know their residents better than they think, but also that they

experience some funny stories. Most of them occur when students are breaking the rules and try to get out of trouble. “Last year on the second reading day, we were doing our last round and were at the last room of the last hall, about to be done and go to bed, and we heard someone saying ‘island’ and then a ping-pong ball hit the table, so we knew we had to deal with it,” Haylea Salamon, RA in Fritz-Conrad, said. “We knocked on the door and heard all those bottles clinking, and we thought: This is going to be a nightmare. When they finally opened the door, they could barely even open it because the students had their desks set up

as a beer-pong table –that’s a good start. They were all underage, so we collected the bottles, and we start taking their IDs and getting all our notes done, this cat comes crawling from under the table and starts climbing up my leg and I was like: ‘Do you have a cat?’ And they said: ‘No’ – that’s when I picked up the cat and asked: ‘You want to try again?’ ‘Ok, we have a cat.’” RAs say it’s funny how students try to pretend they’re innocent. Abram Logan, RA in Fritz-Conrad, said he once found drugs in a girl’s room, and when the security guard who helped him asked whose dollar bill they were using, they pretended that they didn’t know the item in

question even was a dollar bill. Still, it is important to know that the RAs are not the bad guys on the playground, although fining and reporting students who break the rules is part of their job. “First and foremost, we’re there for (the resident’s) safety. So whenever we’re coming in on a party, or coming in on a noise complaint, our first concern is that you’re not safe and that you could be injured,” Salamon said. “If someone is coming in mad at you for whatever they think you did - you think it’s fun for us? It’s not at all – we’re concerned about your life that is technically in our hands. We are not trying to be mean.”

GET TO KNOW WHAT’S HAPPENING! CAB IS UNDER NEW LEADERSHIP AND IS BUILDING A NEW STRUCTURE By Dahquan Pauling | LRN Monthly Staff Writer

Chantelle Tickles, Lenoir-Rhyne University’s Student Activities Coordinator. DAHQUAN PAULING | LRN MONTHLY

Lenoir-Rhyne University’s Campus Activities Board, known as CAB, is an organization that allows students to

plan and organize cool stuff for LR’s students to do. Chantelle Tickles, 31, is new to the Bear family. This is the beginning of her second year as LR’s Student Activities Coordinator. She joined Lenoir-Rhyne in August 2016. Tickles is from Huntsville, Ala., and she attended Spelman College for undergrad then earned her master’s in counseling at the University of Louisville. “This is one thing I get passionate about with students,” she said. “I help with events such as orientation, but I also get to help them with their personal life or just everyday things that they go through.” The students she helps today are facing the same challenges Tickles did in her own student days, whether it’s being involved in sports, internships, being a resident assistant or participating in a club. She was a Resident Advisor and was part of a Psychology club, so she understands

the challenges students face and wants to help them throughout their years here at LR. “I know how important it is for a student to get involved,” Tickles said. “You don’t want to say I’m a part of this club – you want to say I’m actually the president, vice president or treasurer of this club.” Tickles is a proud member of the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority, which she joined at the Univ. of Louisville. “The Fraternity and Sorority life changed my life,” Tickles said. “I wasn’t expecting to go Greek--that wasn’t my plan, but things happen. I met wonderful people, and it is one of the best decisions in my life.” Students run CAB with Tickles’ guidance, and she relies on LR students’ leadership and vivacity to keep the organization going. Tickles explains that joining CAB can be a great addition to a college career and can be helpful for students as they seek employment.

“When employers see your resume and see that you were on a board for student government it’s big,” Tickles said. “LR is still trying to build up the value of CAB so that more students can see the purpose and enjoyment of it.” CAB has two events per month to get students involved on campus. The board bases plans for events on what they believe fellow students would love to see or do. CAB also typically takes on the role of relieving students’ stress in the middle of crunch-time for exams or during busy sports seasons. It provides everyone with interesting and creative ways to relax and never fails to shower students with free LR gear. “What’s great about being part of CAB is the leadership opportunities that students will gain,” Tickles said. “They will know how to plan an event, know how to work with different types of personalities, budgeting and managing finances.”

THE PAST IS THE PRESENT

PROFESSOR ENCOURAGES STUDENTS TO KNOW THEIR PAST IN ORDER TO PROTECT THEIR FUTURE By Laura Brendle | LRN Monthly Staff Writer

More than 10 years ago, Laurette LePrevost retired as Dean of Arts and Sciences at Caldwell Community College and began a new journey at Lenoir-Rhyne University where she now serves as an English professor. She has assisted many students with punctuation and grammar as well as their critical thinking skills. In one of her newest classes she provides a look into history and the impact it can have on today’s society. After earning her undergraduate degree in British Studies at Fordham University, New York native LePrevost moved south to attend graduate school at UNC Chapel Hill. Upon beginning her career, she noticed that she often seemed to hold different values than her students did. She wanted to understand how views about life and achievement varied between the two parts of a single country. That’s how she first became curious about southern culture itself. Southern Culture became a hobby for LePrevost, but she had not considered it to be a course worth teaching for students who actually grew up in the south. “I never had a single course in southern studies,” LePrevost said. “I was more interested in teaching students than in teaching subject matter.” However, teaching students is exactly what led the Southern Culture class into existence. Students who were mostly raised in southern roots were becoming interested in their background, and because of her previous research LePrevost thought she could share her knowledge with these students. The semester begins with an understanding

of social classes in the early American years and said. concludes with the discussion of more recent Provost doesn’t just stick to history – she ventures events. Events like the recent White Power into sociology, literature, folk art, music and rallies in places like Charlottesville, Va. and the cuisine as well. controversy erupting around the rebel flag are As the world is presented by both local and subjects of discussion. international news outlets today, many are fighting Although Southern Culture is mostly for for understanding and peace. In retrospect, we freshman students, the information can be applied have experienced all of these incidents before--the and used throughout a college experience. answers are in our history. Classes like LePrevost’s Michaela Stallings, senior at LR, was a student in Southern Culture class could contribute to LePrevost’s English class. As a freshman, Stallings changing minds, and the world, for the better. was new to the college atmosphere and class expectations. “Professor LePrevost encouraged us to think critically and to share our own opinions,” Stallings said. “This built confidence in my work that year, as well as my attitude toward college in general.” The class is also meant to help people gain new perspectives about different cultural backgrounds. “We learned about the Native American’s position, as well as the African slaves to the Professor Laurette LePrevost sharing her favorite chapter of the Southern Culture privileged whites,” LR text. LAURA BRENDLE | LRN MONTHLY student Saaehim Brooks

TO-DO

LRN MONTHLY | SEPTEMBER 2017

HICKORY’S OWN FILM FESTIVAL THE NEXT GENERATION OF MOVIEMAKERS ARE COMING TO TOWN By Kyle Cerrito | LRN Monthly Staff Writer

If you’ve ever complained that Hickory isn’t thoroughly cultured when it comes to movies, you may have a case. Two of the last three movies to win Best Picture at the Oscars never made it to the local theater, but that’s exactly why Hickory’s own Footcandle Film Society exists – to bring independent films to the locals, whether at their monthly screenings or their annual film festival, which is happening this month. The area’s only film festival is coming to town Sept. 22-24, and it’s going to be half a mile from LR’s campus. The film society will host the event in Drendel Auditorium at Hickory’s SALT Block. “We were really just tired of having to drive to Charlotte or Winston just to see a movie we wanted to see,” Footcandle co-founder Chris Frye said. He explained that the society’s odd sounding name is a photography term used when measuring illumination. The logo represents a literal interpretation of the term. It is an image of a foot cut with a candle for an ankle. Since 2008 when the society opened it has accrued more than 600 members with 200 more on a waiting list. Because Footcandle does not have its own theater and, consequently, must rent out the Carolina Theater once a month for screenings, the number of seats limits membership. Frye never expected the film society to grow so quickly. “For that first week we thought we could just charge $5 at the door, and only 10 or 15 people came - which sounds great,” Frye said. “However, the movies cost $350 and renting the theater cost $300, so if you do the math, we didn’t even come close to breaking even.” Now for two days every month the Carolina Theater in downtown fills with people like Frye. These are people interested in watching movies (like “Moonrise Kingdom” and “Whiplash”) that never make it to Hickory’s main theaters. It’s not supposed to be an exclusive club, but the limited opportunities for membership limit the society’s growth. But that’s why they started their festival. “It would actually be awesome if we could get a crowd of LR students

to come to our film festival,” Footcandle’s other co-founder Alan Jackson said. By the way, Jackson is well aware that he is not the only Alan Jackson. Once, the Footcandle co-founder Jackson called ahead to a hotel in Tennessee to let them know he

would be coming in late due to traffic. Of course, the hotel staff said that it was no problem, and when he arrived around 10 p.m., Jackson was surprised to see a small crowd behind the check-in counter. Undoubtedly, the staff were expecting a country music

star, so when Jackson announced, “Reservation for Alan Jackson,” they figured he was the driver. “After they started processing everything they said, ‘Will Mr. Jackson be needing a wake-up call?’” Jackson said. “I’m like, ‘I don’t think you understand; I’m Alan Jackson.’ Their faces were like, ‘Ah crap.’” At least this Jackson still works in the entertainment business, and he promises a local film festival that overflows with filmmaking talent from all over the United States and even from the United Kingdom. “I think bringing a film festival to Hickory is an awesome idea,” LR student Paul Regan said. “I had no idea that there was anything like that going on around here.” Well, now you know, and it’s maybe one of the area’s best entertainment bargains at $5.50 per film. To check out the previews for each movie and to reserve tickets for the festival go to footcandlefilmfestival.com.

FILM FEST SCHEDULE FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22nd:

• 11 a.m.- The Islands and the Whales

(Documentary, United Kingdom, Subtitled, 81 min.)

• 1 p.m.-Longing for a Kiss

(Narrative, Germany, Subtitled, 87 min.)

• 3 p.m.- The Cinema Travelers

(Documentary, India, Subtitled, 96 min.)

• 6:30 p.m.- Opening Night - Short Film Selections & Reception

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23rd:

• 10 a.m.- Prison Dogs

(Documentary, United States, 72 min.)

• 12 p.m.- Across the River

(Narrative, United Kingdom, 75 min.)

• 2 p.m.- Purple Dreams

(Documentary, United States, 72 min.)

• 4 p.m.- Narrative Short Film Block (115 min. total): Ki • Crab Trap • No Name Maddox • Unbecoming • 7 p.m.- What Children Do (Narrative, United States, 83 min.)

• 9 p.m.- As If I’m Crazy

(Narrative, Netherlands, Subtitled, 95 min.)

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 24th:

• 10 a.m.- She, The Sergeant Matacho (Narrative, Columbia, Subtitled, 90 min)

• 12 p.m.- Documentary Short Film Block (102 min. total): Nobody Dies Here • Girl-Hearted • Submarine • Refuge • 2 p.m.- We’re Still Together (Narrative, Canada, 82 min.)

• 4 p.m.- The Ties That Bind

(Documentary, United States, 66 min.)

After unsuccessfully attempting to use the antique film reel, Footcandle Film Society founders Alan Jackson and Chris Frye inspect a piece of singed film from a society showing of “The Guard.” KYLE CERRITO | LRN MONTHLY

• 6 p.m.- Closing Awards Ceremony & Dinner

HEAD DOWN GO CHECK TO CHARLOTTE OUT ASHEVILLE By Dylan Bedell | LRN Monthly Contributor

By Dylan Bedell | LRN Monthly Contributor

You owe it to yourself to discover the nightlife and full life of Charlotte. This thriving city is located only an hour south of Lenoir-Rhyne. Charlotte continues to flourish and change with the streaming-in of young businessmen and women who are exploring a hip new culture that is the definition of nightlife. The “Queen City” thrives off its pride, and its identity comes from the everchanging cultural movements from the younger generation. Charlotte seems like it was just made for nightlife, with dozens of pubs and bars to choose from along with hot new clubs to go dancing in after. Plus, the NFL’s Panthers as well as the NBA’s Hornets, make Charlotte a prosports hot-spot. It also has the theaters that host monumental concerts and who have seen the likes of Sam Smith and other big-name musicians. Finally, the arts scene runs all throughout the city and takes a more modern vibe than that of the smaller hipster towns surrounding it. Charlotte is the definition of hot city life and will keep you living life to the fullest.

Asheville is just a hop, skip and a boat ride down Interstate 40 to total chill vibes. Located only an hour away from Lenoir-Rhyne, Asheville has culture, nature and adventures awaiting that can suit just about anyone. Plan a day trip down one weekend, and explore the acres and miles of property at The Biltmore Estate. The Vanderbilt’s (former) private summer home has been transformed into a beautiful walk-through museum that’s also accompanied by gardens, stables and a vineyard. Asheville has a lot to offer for those who are more down-to-earth and adventurous with its arts and music presence. The downtown area comes alive each week with vibrant sidewalk vendors and random performances in the street. The city also represents a chaotic hippy-styled exploration of love and life. You can visit the wall where hundreds go and share what they would like to do before they die, or take a hike on one of the many trails that weave through the Appalachian mountains. Being a college town as well, Asheville remains relevant and lively, always ushering in new cultures and people to enrich and populate it. You’ll discover new experiences, new territories and maybe something new about yourself in Asheville.

OPINION

LRN MONTHLY | SEPTEMBER 2017

A POEM SMALL TALK FROM THE EDITOR

SEVEN TIPS ON HOW TO BEGIN A CONVERSATION WITH A STRANGER

By Haley Wilkins | LRN Monthly Contributor

By Katelyn Mendenhall | LRN Monthly Editor in Chief

Welcome to the Lenoir-Rhyne Newspaper’s monthly staff. Yes, you read that right—no need to laugh. We need you (yes you), or else we have no news. No front page, no cool pics, no different views. You could be the star of our next paper. Your fame could last for months, or just be a vapor— Either way, you’re important because you’re you. Just let us capture and retell the awesome things you do: That winning basket, sweet goal or sly touchdown, Tell us what’s happening on campus or downtown. Share with us what’s inspiring and what makes you curious. We’ll even investigate the things that make you furious. And this is our promise to you: We will write what’s unexpected, enlightening and true In a way that’s entertaining, engaging and new And hopefully serve up some thoughts for you to chew. And one more thing: Just give us the interview.

THE

College is a time to branch out and explore new things. It is a time to get you out of your comfort zone and discover things about yourself and the world. One of the best ways of doing this is getting to know other people. Hearing stories and discussing ideas can really help you shape your own opinions and beliefs. But how do you meet these people? It can be intimidating to talk to a stranger. First impressions are very important, and you want to come across as friendly and inviting. An example of this is with sorority and fraternity recruitment--you need to be remembered but also liked. The best way to do this is by having a simple conversation with people. Here are a few tips on how to start a short but meaningful talk. 1. Small talk can be repetitive. Try

to ask open-ended questions such as, “What made you want to major in that?” rather than conversation killers like, “So you want to be a teacher right?” 2. Talk about the things around you if the conversation weakens. This is a topic that you both have the ability to add to. 3. Be genuine-- listen and show that you care about what they have to say. 4. Be curious. Ask questions that will allow them to explain the thought behind something. 5. Stay off your phone. 6. Look them in the eyes as they speak. Give them your attention. 7. Let them know you appreciate talking to them. Give them a pleasantry as you leave. Tell them that you enjoyed the time with them.

PERFECT NAP

By Harrison Elam | LRN Monthly Staff Writer

We all have those mornings when the alarm clock goes off earlier then we want it to for school or workouts, and the first thought that goes through my mind when that happens is, “Ugh, when can I get back in bed?” Lenoir-Rhyne University is back in session for another school year. However, this can be an early reminder to all of us that our daily schedules are going to change quickly. Because of this, our sleeping schedules are changing as well. Some might think this is a bad way of thinking,

but according to the National Sleep Foundation, napping is healthy and includes positive benefits such as restoring alertness, enhance performance and reducing mistakes and accidents. Our busy schedules will probably keep us from finding as much time to nap as we might like, but you don’t need as much time as you think to take a successful nap. The United States appears to be becoming more and more sleep deprived. While naps do not necessarily make up for inadequate or poorquality nighttime sleep, a short nap of 20-30 minutes can help to improve mood, alertness and performance, according to the National Sleep Foundation. As students, we can all find at least 30 minutes of our day to rest. Now for the key to all great naps: The best naps are short naps This is crucial because short naps won’t give your body enough time to go into a full sleepmode. “A short nap is usually recommended (2030 minutes) for short-term alertness. This

type of nap provides significant benefits for improved alertness and performance without leaving you feeling groggy or interfering with nighttime sleep,” according to the National Sleep Foundation. As a student-athlete, I have taken full advantage of this short nap recommendation and have seen positive results and felt great. So, to all Lenoir-Rhyne students, if you are waking up to a busy school day ahead of you, schedule yourself a quick power nap - you won’t regret it!

Lenoir-Rhyne student-athlete Jordan Mann finds some free time in his busy day to take a nap. HARRISON ELAM | LRN MONTHLY

LRN MONTHLY | SEPTEMBER 2017

LR REACTION

CHAPEL HILL?

#WeAreChapelHill? #GDTBATH? #sticktotheclassics What ever happened to the Red & Black? (Did we “Fling it wide” out the door?) “What? Carolina Blue?” – Sara Jones, senior communications major “I think it doesn’t need to be Carolina Blue.” – Savannah Hendren, freshman music education major “I like it, but it’s random--it’s not LR’s colors.” – Marie Hill, junior elementary education major “Our colors are red and black, but this is Chapel Hill.” – Sheldon Costner, junior criminal justice major “It makes me think ‘UNC.’ Change the colors. If you change the colors, then you straight.” – Marquez Gray, sophomore sociology major.