September 2011 Issue

Students Ride For Free!

Page 2

New Jumbotron in Stadium Page 12

September 2011

www.lenoirrhynean.blogspot.com

Volume 106 - Issue 1

L-R’s Future Officially Unveiled to Community

Dr. Powell Introduces Capital Campaign Project

Courtesy of L-R

This rendering is the projected look for the new wing of the science building. The existing structure will also be renovated. These upgrades will provide a state of the art facility for L-R students.

Courtesy of L-R Plans for L-R’s new chapel places it adjecent to the Lineberger building, a central point on campus. Students will be able to easily walk to chapel from any point on campus.

Photo Credit: Erin Sweet Dr. Wayne Powell announces the official kick-off of the L-R University Rising Capital Campaign during the recent faculty and staff reception held in the P.E. Monroe Auditorium.

Courtesy of L-R This rendering depicts the look projected for the interior of the science building.

Registrar Office Relocates, Gets Name Change By: Heather Sackett Editor-in-Chief

Photo Credit: Tiffany Fields Jessica Childress, a freshman, momentarily rests outside of Lohr Hall where the Enrollment Management Center is now located.

There is now a one-stop shop where students can get help with any issue relating to enrollment--the newly located Registrar’s Office in Lohr Hall, which is now referred to as the Enrollment Management Center.

The idea to relocate the Registrar’s Office was prompted by Provost Larry Hall last spring when he brought up the idea of having the Registrar’s Office under the umbrella of the Office of Enrollment Management.

After discussion with the President’s cabinet, personnel in the Registrar’s Office and those in the Division of Enrollment Management the idea was put into action. With the inclusion of the Registrar’s Office in Lohr Hall the building is now referred to as the Enrollment Management Center.

“The primary reason for moving the office was to serve our students better,” Rachel Nichols said, Vice President of Enrollment Management. “This is part of our ongoing effort to provide more integrated and effective services to students.”

Registrar Kathy Hahn said the office was at a disadvantage of getting tasks

accomplished with only having three workers.

“With L-R growing, we thought that being a part of a larger unit at the University would be to our advantage and help us better serve the students and the faculty,” Hahn said.

“Hopefully, in the coming months this will be evident.”

The Enrollment Management Center is located on the main floor of Lohr Hall and is comprised of admissions, academic records, financial aid and student success.

Two full time members are in the center at all times to assist students with their needs. The lower floor is home to the Academic Records Office and Student Success Office.

“The Office of Academic Records has gained support by joining a division that already worked in and with many of the same issues,” Nichols said. “By joining the Division of Enrollment Management, they have gained staff support as well as increased levels of integration and enhancement of administrative capacities.”

The first floor of the Lineberger Administration Building has now been taken over by the Office of Institutional Advancement and the former Registrar’s Office has been renovated into a conference room.

New Residence Hall Slated for 2013 By: Gustav Meyners Copy Editor

The building of the new residence hall will be postponed for a year and open at the beginning of the 2013-2014 academic year for upperclassmen students.

Unfortunately, current juniors will graduate before the residence hall’s completion. However, any current sophomore or freshman will have the option to live in the new residence hall.

The hall was originally scheduled to be completed for the opening of the 2012-2013 school year, with construction starting in the next few weeks. However, the university has pushed the date back due to the current state of the economy.

“We’re trying to be fiscally

responsible in hard economic times,” said Katie Fisher, Dean of Students at L-R. “Construction is now scheduled to start in about a year, although the exact date is not known.”

The last residence hall built by L-R was the Living Learning Center in 2000.

Isenhour Hall was renovated last year, but no new living facilities have been built in over ten years.

The new residence hall will help L-R reach its expansion goals and community outreach. The university will be urging more students to stay on campus. Although the dorm is for all upperclassmen, the hall will be mainly intended for sophomores and juniors.

Seniors will be encouraged to stay on campus in apartment type facilities, such

as University Park and Price Village.

“We can currently fill half this building,” said Fisher.

Theoretically, this would enable the university to expand its admissions efforts and make available half of the new facility to future students.

In order to fit the available space, the residence hall will be in an L-shape and run along the corner of 6th Street NE and 8th Avenue NE, where the old Theta Xi house once stood. The University will also be restoring the sand volleyball court.

It will remain in the same location where it once was, which will be along the back of the residence hall.

The residence hall will hold 130 students across three floors. The rooms will be similar to those of the Isenhour

Hall, where two semi-suites will share a bathroom and shower. Each semi-suite will include a sink and non-stationary closet space, which will allow students more options of how they organize the room. Additionally, all bathrooms will be handicap accessible.

The building will include three different lounges disbursed among the different floors. Moreover, the first floor lounge will feature an upper and a lower lobby, allowing more space in the common areas. The third story will also include a sun deck that will face the center of campus.

As part of creating more of a community on campus, the hall will also feature a convenience store on its first See Residence, pg 3

News

2

Greenway Transit Partners with L-R

2011-2012 Rhynean Staff Editor - in - Chief Heather Sackett

Assistant Editor Jamie Frye

Managing Editor Kimberly Caporale

Layout & Design Editor Kate Coleman

Copy Editors Gustav Meyners Olivia Pitman

Staff Photographer Tiffany Fields

Staff Writers Danielle Bongiorno Jessica Childress Tiffany Fields Jimmy Hilton Gustav Meyners Darren Roseboro Shayna Smith Katie Thackerson Asia Wilson

Student Columns Faith Column Olivia Pitman

By: Olivia Pitman Copy Editor For the budget-conscious college student, a new program sponsored by the Student Government Association and the Campus Activities Board may mean eliminating the majority of money spent each week on transportation.

Since August, students have had the opportunity to take advantage of Catawba County’s public transportation system, Greenway Public Transportation, at no daily cost.

Bart Keeler, president of LenoirRhyne’s Student Government Association, said that Greenway approached the SGA about a possible partnership last semester and after review, the SGA agreed to pay for the services, in conjunction with CAB. The services are costing about $14,000, which comes from the SGA and CAB budgets, paid for by student tuition.

While students technically are paying for the service with tuition dollars, Keeler is optimistic that enough students will take advantage of the program to justify writing and receiving grants to pay for the program.

“I don’t want this to be something that students have to pay for,” said Keeler.

“I think this is something that the school should offer to the students.”

There are currently three bus stops located on campus that can be used each day that Greenway is operating.

Valid on all Greenway routes, students and staff of Lenoir-Rhyne can board all Greenway transportation by showing their identification card to the driver instead of paying the fare, which is normally $1.25 per ride.

Part of the agreement between Lenoir-Rhyne and Greenway is the creation of a new Saturday-only route that

accesses Lenoir-Rhyne University, the Greenway Transit Center in Conover, the L-R Blvd. Corridor, Valley Hills Mall and the Hickory Wal-Mart.

This specialized route will run from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., leaving Lenoir-Rhyne at the top of each hour and arriving at the Hickory Wal-Mart at the half hour. Passengers of this route will have access to popular restaurants, shopping centers and entertainment.

Passengers can either remain where the bus drops them off or can catch connecting buses on different routes to take them to different areas not offered on the specialized Saturday route.

While residential students, especially those without their own form of transportation might find the partnership with Greenway to be most beneficial; commuter students may also find the offer to be helpful.

Keeler makes note that even though commuter students have their own car, if they live close to a bus stop, they can still rely on the bus system to get to their classes and to take trips around Hickory and the surrounding areas.

Katie Fisher, Dean of Students at Lenoir-Rhyne University agrees with Keeler’s sentiments. Fisher said that even students who live in Newton, with careful planning, can take public transportation to and from the university without having to spend any money.

While many students who commute to campus or live residentially have their own form of transportation, there are still students who don’t have a vehicle for various reasons. Students who do have transportation are constantly faced with the financial strain of filling up the gas tank.

“With gas prices continuing to rise [transportation] is an issue for many

Going Green Kristen Lain

Diary of an L-R Student’s Summer Travels

Life as I Know It Jamie Frye Music World Daniel Bullins Politics Ryan Pegarsch & Spencer Voelkert Reel World Ashton Currie Restaurant Reviewers Lauren Turnmyre & Whitney Ward Tech Talk Stephen Rankin Senior Issues Alyssa Carlson Nutrition Lauren Singleton

Contributing Writers Katelyn Crawford Bart Keeler Norris Yoder

Advisers Staff Adviser Professor Susan Yingling Faculty Adviser Dr. Lisa M. Harris

Rhynean Blog

http://www.lenoirrhynean. blogspot.com/

Online Archives

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students and will continue to be a bigger issue,” said Fisher.

Students interested in the public transportation can find maps with route information located throughout the campus or can visit www.mygreenway.org for more information.

European Whirl

Freshman Issues Nikki Dunlap

The Rhynean Lenoir-Rhyne University Campus Box 7215 Hickory, NC 28603 (828) 328 - 7176 Harrisl@lr.edu Rhynean@my.lr.edu

Photo Credit: Tiffany Fields Kaitlin Hartis takes advantage of the free bus service made possible by a partnership between Lenoir-Rhyne & Greenway Transit.

Photo courtesy of Katelyn Crawford L-R students enjoy an afternoon gondola ride with other members of their tour group as they travel through the waterways of Venice.

By: Katelyn Crawford Contributing Writer

Traveling abroad is an adventure in itself; but, going on a three-week guided tour with 50 people you don’t know through ten countries in Europe, that’s almost terrifying. Lucky for me, I was joined by Amanda Parmelee, so I didn’t go alone.

We started the adventure in London, England and spent a whole day there before getting on a bus early in the morning to head to our first stop: Amsterdam in The Netherlands.

Amsterdam was quite a culture shock as we headed down the Red Light District,

our first taste of European culture. On our second night we took a canal cruise and were able to see a different side of the city.

After a one day, two night stay, we packed up early and left for Berlin, Germany. We stopped on the Belgian border at an old World War II checkpoint, which was really interesting. Then we headed off again to Berlin. We arrived late, so the next day we took a walking tour and saw lots of the town, as well as parts of the old Berlin Wall and Checkpoint Charlie.

The next morning we were off to the City of 1,000 Spires, or better known as Prague in the Czech Republic. Prague was absolutely beautiful. We took a walking tour of the city the first night and then went

on a river cruise through the main parts of town the next day. Nightlife in Prague was very big, bars and clubs were everywhere.

Munich was our next stop. The drive was really rainy, so when we arrived in Munich it was soaked. We arrived in time to see the Glockenspiel, then went to a beer hall. We learned a traditional German song they sing at the beer halls and were entertained by traditional dances and singing.

Early starts were beginning to become habit by this time as we made our way to Hopfgarten, Austria. Once arriving we set off on a 15 1/2 mile bike ride up and down the mountain. It was so exhilarating and also exhausting. The scenery was breathtaking--the mountains, the greenery, everything was just so beautiful.

On our way to Venice, Italy the next day we stopped in a town called Lake Garda in Italy (where the Casino Royale movie was filmed) and spent a little time there before reaching our destination in the evening. The next morning we headed by boat into the city made of islands, where we took a walking tour then purposefully got “lost in Venice” before going on a gondola ride.

Leaving the next morning, we headed to Rome, Italy where we immediately took a quick walking tour of the tourist sights before making our way to our campsite. The next day we went back into town, the coliseum was our first stop.

We made our way to the Vatican City, where we explored the Sistine Chapel, as well as the other art museums there and St. Peter’s Basilica.

We headed to Florence, Italy the next morning to take a walking tour and visit a leather-making shop, where we learned how to distinguish between real and fake leather. That night we had a traditional seven-course Tuscan meal, which was delicious!

Laterbrunen, Switzerland was our next destination, though we stopped in Lucerne to get Swiss chocolates, Swiss Army knives and Swiss watches. Our full day in Laterbrunen was spent exploring waterfalls and the little town, which gave you blankets at restaurants so you could eat outside and not get cold!

Our next stop was Paris, France.

The first thing we did in the city was to take a quick driving tour, then stopped to taste authentic champagne and escargot.

Surprisingly, I enjoyed the snails! Later that night a few of us went to the Eiffel Tower to see it glowing in the gorgeous lights. The next day we went to a perfumery then went to see the Arch de Triumph, walked down the Champs Elysses and spent a few hours in the Louvre. We ended the evening at a cabaret show after passing by the famous Moulin Rouge.

We ended the trip where we started in London, England. We visited tourist sites, such as the London Eye and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. The next day we saw Harry Potter 7: Part 2, then went to see Chicago on the West End. Overall the trip was fast, eyeopening and absolutely a blast, better known as a European Whirl.

News

3

L-R Rises Up to Create Leaders Bears’ Lair Updates SGA’s Rise Up Week

Student Opinion Varies By: Shayna Smith & Darren Roseboro Staff Writers

Photo Credit: Heather Sackett SGA Vice President Rosa Reyes helps sophomore student Lynsey Banks with the True Colors personality test during Rise Up Week.

By: Heather Sackett Editor-in-Chief Lenoir-Rhyne has started the 2011-2012 school year with new opportunities for students: the first ever Rise Up Week and Leadership Summit sponsored by the Student Government Association. The week of August 29 to September 3 was a series of events devoted to helping L-R students use resources to become better college students.

SGA President Bart Keeler initiated the idea for this week-long event by drawing from his past high school experiences where he participated in leadership summits.

SGA collaborated with the Career and Personal Development Center to create a week of events where students learned about themselves and what they can get involved in to become better students.

“We’re helping you develop yourself as a leader, then giving you skills to be a leader at Lenoir-Rhyne,” Bart Keeler said.

“Part of being a good leader is being a good manager.”

Rise Up Week opened on Monday, August 29 with the True Colors Festival, a personal assessment test where the colors orange, blue, green or gold determine students’ personalities.

The personal assessment test

was followed by “The Dangers of Drinking and Driving” convocation headed by Jenny Smith and the organization fair on Wednesday. Students also had the opportunity to attend the “How NOT to be Stupid in College: A Guide to College Success” headed by Leonard Geddes.

“I think Rise Up Week helped students realize what they can get involved to maximize their experience here,” said Katie Wohlman, Assistant Director of the Career and Personal Development Center.

“Rise Up Week and the Leadership Summit will help them in their future when they graduate.”

Rise Up week culminated with the Leadership Summit on Saturday, September 3 with the help of Dean Katie Fisher, Katie Wohlman, Jenny Smith, Director of the Career and Personal Development Center, Leonard Geddes, Associate Dean for Co-Curricular Programs and Coordinator of Learning Commons and Janet Matthews, Director of Conferences and Events. The Leadership Summit was specifically designed for students who hold leadership positions on campus and wish to enhance their skills.

“The Leadership Summit helped improve my role as a leader

by better developing relationships with other organizations,” said junior, Anthony Church. “After reviewing what it means to be a leader, we developed a common ground through the ideals of Lenoir-Rhyne’s vision statement and mission statements. We hope to continue to follow the path that will lead us to success in our organizations and community.”

The day opened with a leadership style assessment and was followed by a mission statement activity, a discussion on the shared mission of L-R, team-building exercises and large group discussions.

“My favorite part of the Leadership Summit was the mission statement exercise,” said sophomore Haley Rawlinson. “It was neat to read big companies mission statements like Starbucks then create our own.”

Wohlman said it is essential to L-R’s mission to provide leadership. Both Wohlman and Keeler hope to see Rise Up Week and the Leadership Summit become an annual event that opens every new school year.

“I think Rise Up Week and the Leadership Summit benefit the school as a whole,” Keeler said. “Rise Up week may not stay, but I hope the Leadership Summit does.”

Aramark dining services at Lenoir-Rhyne welcomes new manager, Danya Cope, who has started the year by making changes to the Bears’ Lair.

Lately the talk around campus is centered around how much the Bears’ Lair has changed, how some like it and how some have opinions against it.

New furniture has been installed with L-R written on the tabletops, which gives the Bears’ Lair a totally different look. There are more high and low round tables that accommodate more students who can come and enjoy a hot meal different from what is offered in the cafeteria.

“I like the new furniture but they could put more msaller tables to create more space,” said junior Raveen Smith, Aramark employee.

“I love the furniture,” said sophomore Anquinette Crawford, “but I don’t feel that we have a variety on the menu like we did last year.”

The biggest change that has the entire campus talking is the menu. Students are now only able to get one meal equivalency per day, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Options include soup, salad, or a sandwich from the cooler, as well as chips, cookies

and a drink.

“Meal equivalency is designed for you to get a bite to eat when the dining hall is closed,” Cope said.

By now students realize that the number one seller, pizza, has been replaced with cheeseburgers. The new menu’s main target is now Angus burgers, but the Lair will continue to sell popular items, such as chicken wraps and sandwiches. Angus burgers are now instituted as an option for meal equivalency.

Students can now choose to order a number 3: a burger, fries and a drink from the menu.

“The talk around campus is that some people love the burgers, but I prefer the pizzas,” said L-R sophomore Taylor Oliver.

“There are many questions that I have and I want to know where to get them answered.”

In addition, the dining hall has seen some change.

Students are now being served as opposed to serving themselves.

This change means faster service with less food being wasted.

“It’s for sanitary purposes only,” Cope said. “When you have 400 to 700 students touching the same spoon, it’s not sanitary, as opposed to just one person touching the spoons.”

Danya Cope invites students to fill out a comment card with any questions they may have.

Photo Credit: Kate Coleman Bears’ Lair brings many changes for this school year.

NC Teaching Fellows Lose State Funding Residence State to End Program in its 25th Year

Photo Credit: Dr. Kim Matthews Lenoir-Rhyne Teaching Fellows Junior Cohort enjoy an alternative spring break service trip.

By: Jamie Frye Assistant Editor The success of a program, academic or otherwise, is usually determined by its rapport with the people whom it directly and indirectly affects. It is this rapport that keeps support afloat. In the case of the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program, its overwhelming success and support from Fellows, teachers, students, parents, and community leaders alike was not enough to save the program.

The Teaching Fellows Program was a heated subject of discussion during legislature’s recent budget deficit—a $2.5 billion deficit. The program was an easy target for the legislature, and was eliminated, returning its $13.5 million budget to the state. This was not the only educational program cut either.

Several vital programs, including the N.C. Teacher Academy, a source of professional development for N.C. teachers, were removed from the budget at the hands of the General Assembly.

Teaching Fellows is a program that was enacted by the N.C. General Assembly in 1986. The mission of the program,

according to the program website, is “to recruit talented high school graduates into the teaching profession and to help them develop leadership qualities such as visionary thinking and risk-taking.”

Most of the current 2,000 fellows, as well as those fellows in each of the twenty four classes before will say that this is indeed the case, given that there is mandatory attendance of several conferences for professional development during the program.

These include a Discovery Trip, where fellows travel for a week to school systems and colleges across North Carolina to gather a true understanding of educational demographic and incentive, as well as a Junior Enrichment, Junior Conference, Senior Orientation, and Senior Conference—plus at L-R, an Alternative Spring Break and a study trip abroad.

Lenoir-Rhyne University also gained a new Director of its Teaching Fellows Program this year, Dr. Kim Matthews.

“I am excited about becoming the new director,” said Matthews. “Seeing the fellows at Lenoir-Rhyne and in the schools really renews my spirit about the career I chose while I was attending L-R many

years ago. I really enjoy seeing these young people so excited about teaching.”

Given the fact that N.C. has the lowest teacher salary in the U.S., this goes to show how much N.C. does not prioritize or understand the importance of education and of the role of teachers. The loss of this program will set into motion several negative consequences for the state and for students. Out of over 2,000 applicants, only 500 were awarded the fellowship after being screened through two levels of interviews (local and state) and rigorous sifting of paper applications at local level.

Bottom line, Teaching Fellows is a program that means a lot of things to a lot of different people. As an administrator, classroom teacher and a professor of education, Dr. Matthews offers an informed perspective on the loss of the program.

“I am afraid that the loss of the N.C. Teaching Fellows program will adversely affect the number and the quality of teachers graduating from this and other universities,” Matthews said. “Even though we may have a surplus of teachers at the moment, mostly due to budget cuts, I feel that many teachers will be getting to retirement age and that there will continue to be a need for highly trained teachers.”

Teaching Fellows has been a primary teacher recruitment source for N.C since 1987, so the effects of its cut could be adverse.

“I believe some of the Teaching Fellows are attracted to teaching because of the scholarship,” Matthews said. “Many of them are so bright and talented that they can get other scholarships. When the Teaching Fellows scholarship is no longer available I am afraid that the best and the brightest will major in areas other than education. If that happens, our children will be the ones who lose out.”

I implore you, as a Teaching Fellow, but also as a responsible citizen, to write your legislators about what the program means to you—whether you are a friend, a teacher, a parent, an advocate, or a fellow. What you say could make the difference between a prosperous or a questionable future for teacher education in the state of North Carolina.

Courtesy of L-R The rendering of the new residence hall.

Continued from pg 1 level, similar to the Bears’ Lair.

“I think [a convenience store] would be a great addition as long as the prices are reasonable,” said Aaron Nelson, sophomore student.

Furthermore, there will be a conference room-type area on the first story to serve the needs of the Black Student Alliance, whose house was also torn down with the Theta Xi’s last year.

Aesthetically, the residence hall will coordinate with the track. Both will share similar design specifications, as well as the same brick color. L-R also wants to keep as many of the existing trees as possible and will be planting new trees around the building.

Parking, which is a major stressor for students, will also be increased. New parking will be located behind the hall to help accommodate more students.

However, the majority of parking will remain within the football stadium parking lot.

Due to the delay in construction, L-R has opened more parking, which was originally blocked off for construction.

This parking will be available throughout the year until construction begins again.

Although construction is still a year away, the addition of this new residence hall has already stirred up excitement on campus, and will have a great impact once it is built. Freshmen and sophomores will be the first to experience a new L-R residence hall in over ten years.

Editorials

4

It All Ends

Editor’s Comments

Harry Potter Mania Comes to a Close By: Kate Coleman Design Editor

After a decade of production, the series that muggles everywhere fell in love with has come to an end.

The Harry Potter series captured the public with friendships, dark arts and magical creatures. Every single page and every single scene culminated this past summer, July 14, at midnight. Potter fans dressed in robes and carried sticks which they believed to hold magical powers stood in line for hours just to see how the series would end.

Looking at Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint, it is hard to believe that these are the three innocent little kids whom everyone fell in love with almost a decade ago. What Potter-mania has accomplished for the literary world can be easily compared to what the Beatles have done for music. Who could not help falling in love with the Harry Potter characters?

The story is not just limited to books and movies, but it also extends to the creator. J.K. Rowling’s rags-to-riches story is absolutely magnificent. It is hard to believe that she was once a poor woman who was given free coffee and who spent most of her time writing in a coffee shop.

Now she is the first author to receive over a billion dollars from her books.

The Deathly Hallows Part Two started where the first part left off, with ‘HeWho-Must-Not-Be-Named’ digging up the grave of the respected Albus Dumbldore and stealing the Elder Wand. This movie is filled with darkness and evil beyond life

itself.

Beloved Hogwarts is under new management and the Dark Lord has taken over the wizard world. Harry Potter and his friends are on the track to kill ‘HeWho-Must-Not-Be-Named’ one Horcrux at a time. The movie did a wonderful job explaining the Horcruxes and their intricate details. The battle, which took up most of the movie, was both dark and artistic.

Every little move was important in this movie. The way Tonks and Lupin reached for each other in a moment of panic was small, but sent chills up and down the spine and shook bodies--the next time viewers saw them was next to each other, dead on the ground.

Sacrifice played a major role in this movie. The dark and lonely walk out to the Forbidden Forest with a pure intent of dying by the hand of the darkest wizard ever to live was bleak and filled with gloom.

The scene in which Harry dies and goes to a white place was delivered with perfection. The part of Voldemort that had been a part of Harry, lying on the ground moaning and quaking was both disgusting and intriguing.

It all ended with the destruction of Voldemort and the dark arts. The future finally looked positive. Indeed, ending nineteen years later with Harry marrying Ginny Weasley and Ron marrying Hermione was nothing but positive.

No matter who you are and where you live, Harry Potter and his adventures have impacted us all in one way or another, leaving a lightning bolt scar on all of our hearts.

New Year Salutations

By: Heather Sackett Editor-in-Chief

Welcome faculty, staff, returning students and new L-R Bears to the 20112012 school year!

Many changes and improvements have been made both superficially and internally across campus with the building of a new dorm, the renovating of old dorms, the addition of new faculty and yet another year of record enrollment.

As L-R grows in size, I hope the student

body can grow together intellectually as a community and become involved to make this year at L-R an even greater success.

For starters, writing is a skill that all students need to continually work towards improving because it is necessary for success. Writing is a talent that will be put to good use in all fields of work. Last year new successes were made when the university newspaper changed its name to The Rhynean and received a face lift by changing from a tabloid style layout to the more typical broadsheet newspaper layout.

Change is a team effort. The Rhynean is always looking for fresh ideas and new writers. I encourage both old and new students to join the effort and serve Lenoir-Rhyne and the Hickory community by keeping them informed onf recent news. No previous experience is needed. We work as a team to improve our own writing, as well as one another’s.

Faculty, staff and students are invited to join.

Contributing to The Rhynean is a great addition to resumes and a way to start putting together a portfolio of professional work for future employers. If you are interested in becoming a part of the Rhynean team or would like to know more please email: heather.sackett@my.lr. edu or Lisa.Harris@lr.edu.

I hope the 2011-2012 school year brings growth and new opportunities to you all!

Going Green on Lenoir-Rhyne Campus

By: Kristen Lain Staff Writer

When thinking about saving the earth, we think of recycling, buying energy friendly products and turning off lights

when not in use. As human beings, it is our nature to think about ourselves before thinking about the world around us.

When we do stop and think about “saving the earth” in the earthly aspect, our thought process sometimes leads us to thoughts of how we can put a pause on death and extinction of animals or plants.

We need to change that image to how can we produce and prolong life.

Something that we do not often think about at first is saving habitats. Instead of expanding death we can help create life. Right here on Lenoir-Rhyne’s campus there is an outdoor classroom

behind the practice soccer/ lacrosse fields that is utilized for certain natural science classes. Dr. Fanning’s Ecology classes will be using the classroom several times for conducting labs.

Surrounding the outdoor classroom, there are nine boxes strategically placed and also around the side of the LLC and the baseball field. These boxes are about three years old and have been a great addition to the campus.

These are Bluebird boxes that are certifed by the North Carolina Bluebird Society.

In past years, Bluebird population in N.C. has been on a decrease and recently has been acknowledged, causing projects

to be carried out throughout the state and productivity to increase.

The boxes on L-R’s campus are monitored weekly from March through early August when prime productivity occurs This past summer, I had the opportunity to be “Momma Bird” and monitored the birds; which consisted of walking out to each box, knocking first and then peeking inside to see who/what’s home, then recording all data.

This year, we only had bluebirds as opposed to other breeds, which is a first with these boxes and is exciting news. If the boxes are occupied with bluebirds then we can identify with there being an increase in population.

We then look carefully to see if there are eggs or babies and if so, how many.

By checking these boxes and recording numbers, we not only get to watch new birth arise but we are a part of rekindling a population. Saving the earth can start in your own backyard or dorm building by placing birdfeeders or nesting boxes outside. Keep your head up and ears open as you walk past the soccer field towards the LLC and Price Village, you may happen to see a bird fluttering around and they could possibly be a Bluebird that I had the privilege to watch them progress from a little blue egg to the bird flying around foraging for food.

Calendar of Events September 16 Visiting Writers Series Wes Moore 7:00 p.m. P.E. Monroe

October 1-2

3

4

5

6

7

8

8

15

16-18

20

24

17 Family Weekend

In the Garden 7:00 p.m. Belk Centrum

Homecoming Give Away 11:00 a.m. Cromer Lobby

Family Weekend

.23 Study Abroad ConvocationRise Up and Go Global 10:00 a.m. PE Monroe Rave Party 10 p.m. - 2 a.m. CAB House

27 Disaster Prepardeness 6:00 p.m. P.E. Monroe

26 Save a Life Tour 10:00 a.m. P.E. Monroe

.

Theology Colloquium 4:00 p.m. Quiet Room in the library

..

Graduate School Fair 11:00 a.m.

Cromer Lobby

28-30 In the Garden 7:00 p.m. Belk Centrum

Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 8:00 a.m.

Student Opportunities Fair 7:00 p.m. Belk Centrum

Homecoming Bingo 8:00 p.m. Dining Hall

Paul Vanghese 9:00 p.m. Belk Centrum

American Brass Quintet Master 7:30 p.m. P.E. Monroe Homecoming Parade 10:00 a.m.

Fall Break

The Asia Project 9:00 p.m. Belk Centrum

Editorials Restaurant Review

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Movie Review: The Help

Bella Habeba

By: Lauren Turnmyre & Whitney Ward Staff Writers

This month, we went to the restaurant named Bella Habeba, a New York style Italian restaurant located on 1475 Highland Avenue NE Hickory. We went on Friday afternoon at 1:00 p.m.

On the menu, they have a variety of different appetizers, salads, subs, sandwiches, Greek and American specialty dinners, pasta, baked dishes, New York style pizza, strombolis, calzones and desserts. They also offer Pepsi products, sweet and unsweetened iced tea and coffee.

When we first walked in, the waitress immediately greeted us. She told us we could sit anywhere we wanted. We noticed when we sat down that the restaurant had a spacious atmosphere. The tables were dispersed at a comfortable distance from each other.

The waitress came to our table after a minute or two and took our drink orders. She brought both of our drinks quickly. When she gave us our drinks, she then asked us politely if we were ready to order. Whitney ordered fettuccini alfredo and Lauren ordered baked ziti--both came with a side salad and a slice of garlic bread.

It only took the chef around 5 to ten minutes to prepare our salads. When we

got the salads, we were surprised at how large they were. They also provided us with 2 small containers of dressing per salad. This impressed us because it allowed us to add as much or as little dressing to our salads as we wanted.

After we were finished with our salads, they brought out our main courses and the slices of garlic bread. The plates of food were a good proportion and they were very hot.

Whitney felt that the fettuccini alfredo was a very good dish. The sauce had a good taste, but wasn’t too heavy. There were other dishes of fettuccini alfredo that contained broccoli and chicken or jumbo shrimp, but Whitney ordered the regular alfredo.

Lauren enjoyed the baked ziti, but would have enjoyed it more if it didn’t come with a meat sauce. As a side note, Lauren isn’t a big fan of any kind of meat sauce, so this was a “picky eater” moment.

As for the garlic bread that came with the meal, it was pretty mediocre. The slices were pretty big, but they were slightly burnt and didn’t have much of a taste to them. The one good thing that most people can appreciate about this garlic bread, however, is the fact that it wasn’t extremely greasy. Overall, that is the only major complaint that either of us could find with the food.

After we had finished with our meals, the waitress brought us the ticket. We took the ticket up to the front and paid separately. Both of the meals were moderately priced--individually we each ended up paying less than See Restaurant, pg 9

In this film publicity image released by DreamWorks Pictures, Emma Stone portrays Skeeter Phelan, left, and Viola Davis portrays Aibileen Clark in a scene from “The Help.”

AP Photo/DreamWorks-Disney, Dale Robinette)

By: Ashton Currie Staff Writer

The Help, based on Kathryn Stockett’s novel brings the world of the 60s to life.

Emma Stone plays the main character, Skeeter. She is joined

by Viola Davis (Aibileen) and Octavia Spencer (Minnie).

These three extraordinary woman build a friendship deep in the heart of Mississippi in the 1960s. They begin a secret writing project that goes against society and its rules, putting their lives at risk.

A unique type of sisterhood

Freshman Issues A Fresh Start For Our Freshmen

By: Nikki Dunlap Staff Writer

As a high school senior, your teachers expect you to perform at the highest level possible. You work hard to reach the top of the totem pole and then you realize that with authority comes high expectations.

Teachers want your work rate to increase, your motivational skills to improve and your desire to learn to be ever-increasing. This means meeting deadlines and being self-sufficient. You would think with four years of high school under one’s belt, defeating procrastination and maintaining enthusiasm would not be an issue. Wrong. My senior year put me to the test. I had deadline after deadline for scholarships and so many applications stacking up at the same time that I wanted to just kick back and enjoy the last few months of my high school years.

Procrastination was not an issue for everyone, though.

“I actually made all the deadlines I had to, surprisingly,” said Lee Eubanks of Shelby.

Seniors who manage to stay on the ball are destined for success in college life. Meeting deadlines, however, isn’t all there is to it. The college selection stresses seemed never ending. Once acceptance letters from a few choice schools produced the sighs of relief, anxiety returned for round two. A final decision was now required. Some seniors had a handful of schools to decide between. To other students, it was an easy process; they were set on Lenoir-Rhyne since day one.

“I’m here for soccer, and the psychology program offered [at LenoirRhyne] is pretty good, so the decision was simple,” said Tessa Lukens of Atlanta.

Once the decision was made, the next step was already beginning. A summer of endless packing was now in process.

“Picking out what I needed and didn’t need was the hardest part of packing,” said Lukens.

Many others felt the exact same

way. The packing process required tons of trips to Bed, Bath & Beyond, bargain hunting for necessary electronics and appliances, and figuring out how to fit it all into just a few small bins.

Some students were lucky enough and were able to coordinate with their roommates on who is bringing what.

Others just went with it and hoped not just their appliances would work out, but that their personalities would mesh as well.

“I met my roommate the day of move in,” said Eubanks. “We hit it off pretty well. I wasn’t very nervous, more excited to make a new friend.”

Having an open mind is key to settling in. Everyone is just as anxious as the next, so being understanding makes the process better. It’s important to realize that you may not be best friends with your roommate. It is perfectly fine and even normal to feel this way. There are tons of students on campus with different types of personalities and interests, so chances of finding someone that suites your type is high. Don’t be discouraged and give it time.

Orientation was a great way to meet all the new students at L-R. Certain activities were organized, such as a pool party at Kool Park and Traffic Jam Residence Hall Mixers were great ways of getting to know people.

Everyone went out of their comfort zones to meet the people they may be sharing the next four years of their lives with. These friendships were already being made over such a short weekend that it gave everyone a positive mindset towards beginning class.

In between the different organized activities, freshmen used the free time to begin to arrange their rooms. At first, I thought trying to make everything fit in a logical order was an impossible mission.

But, after a few attempts and a ton of ingenuity, it was completed.

With some minor glitches, including not being able to fully open the refrigerator, my roommate and I managed to make it work. We were later informed that the furniture would probably be completely changed within a month after getting settled in and realizing what will and will not work.

Eventually we will find ourselves in a r outine and all the moving in and meeting everyone will feel like it was ages ago. Until then, it is important to recognize that we are all going through the same situations and experiencing the same feelings. We are all new here and just trying to be ourselves and make new friends along the way. It all takes time and an open mind to become comfortable with change.

forms, which gives them all the strength and courage to endure their trials.

The Help gives viewers a whole new perspective on the issues surrounding racism. Not only is it a film to motivate, but to it reminds everyone that each person is important and equal, no matter how different they may be from one another.

The movie, set during the civil rights era of the sixties, is not only a wonderful story line, but also a great life lesson.

The film depicts family the main character’s family struggles and how she evolves into a

more caring and understanding person, who embraces equality.

It gives the viewer a sense of standing up for what one believes and knows to be right.

As a journalist in the movie, Skeeter interviews Aibileen (a middle-aged maid) who grieves the death of her son. Stockett paints a picture of a community affected by change and torn apart by discrimination.

I recommend this film for all ages, but especially for teens and young adults. I definitely give it a huge thumbs up.

Senior Issues Getting Back Into The Swing of Things

By: Alyssa Carlson Staff Writer

Returning back to school after a summer of vacations, internships and jobs can be both exciting and a little sad for students. For seniors especially, after working jobs and internships more in tune with our specific fields of study, coming back to school can definitely be a transition.

Normally, I am very excited to come back to Lenoir-Rhyne, but this year I was a little hesitant. I spent an exciting summer working for CBS radio station and exploring Charlotte and I was not as excited to come back to Hickory. After being in the “real world” for three months, I feel as though I am coming back to a bubble.

The only thing making me eager to return

Photo Credit: Erin Sweet

to school was the fact that I am finally a senior.

Within the first week, seniors are already being asked to fill out graduation audits; it is almost surreal that in less than one year we will have graduated from college with degrees in hand. This is the time that we should all remember, because despite transitioning back into school mode, we have only a few months left until we have no choice and will be pushed into the world of working, paying bills and responsibility.

That is not to say that some of us are not already experiencing those responsibilities, but the real world will bring even more than I think any of us are ready for. The beginning of senior year is a bit different because along with graduation audits, we are starting to look into potential job opportunities, graduate school applications and more. All of a sudden the future does not seem so far away.

As you dive into adulthood, remember the resources here on campus as well as the connections you have made in your fields of study. Check with your advisors to see if they have any connections for potential jobs and visit the Career and Personal Development Center.

Most importantly, keep in contact with your bosses and supervisors from your internships! It is common to get hired at the places you have worked at in the past.

Hang in there seniors, graduation is closer than you think. Good luck this year!

The 2011-2012 Rhynean Staff. Bottom row L to R: Staff Adviser Susan Yingling, Skye Sessions, Olivia Pitman, Bart Keeler, Kristen Lain, Heather Sackett, Gustav Meyners, Kim Caporale, Tiffany Fields, Faculty Adviser Lisa Harris. Top L to R: Nicole Dunlap, Darren Roseboro, Alyssa Carlson, Danielle Bongiorno, Kate Coleman, Jamie Frye, and Jimmy Hilton.

Internatio

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Remember

9/11/0

By: Bart Keeler Contributing Writer

I can’t look. I still can’t look. As hard as I try, an uncontrollable movement of muscles turns my head away. My ears can hear it and my skin ripples with memories, but my eyes cannot stand to take in those images.

Why? I am not sure, but I think it’s the pain my heart feels when those video clips are shown on TV. My heart, my patriotic American heart, won’t let me watch those images again.

“I don’t think I understood the enormity of it,” said junior political Science major Alyssa Beers, “It still gives me goosebumps. I was in New York all the time. Remembering what the skyline was like when the towers were there, and now they’re gone. It hurts.”

Beers’ comments showcase the feeling most Americans have towards the horrific and unimaginable happenings on Sept. 11, 2001.

We’re unable to truly grasp what happened and to fully explain or comprehend the thoughts in our heads.

“Outrage” is the word I associate most with these events, these attacks. It was the headline of the next day’s Atlanta JournalConstitution. To me, it captures the true emotion of the country after we became victims.

As President Bush said numerous times that day and in the preceding months, our very ideals were attacked that day. As a nation, our freedoms were assailed. We, as a people, were besieged.

We weren’t warned or threatened, we were flat-out attacked. Our security was breeched. Our comfort zone had been shattered and our nation no longer felt safe.

What really happened that day was an attack on American lifestyle by people, who in their hearts envied what we have here in the United States.

It wasn’t New York City that was attacked, but the entire country and our culture, beliefs and ideologies, which were targeted for destruction. That will never be forgiven by this nation.

Maybe that is why we were so joyous when we learned of Seal Team Six’s assassination of Osama bin Laden.

This wasn’t the killing of a soldier in a war. This was the leader. This was our modern-day Hitler. It was bin Laden who led this uprising against American culture and our very freedoms we treasure.

The loss of a man’s life should never

Background Photo: Heather Mount

be celebrated, but it wasn’t his death that was being exalted, but the bringing down of the mastermind behind the destruction of a country’s psychology.

The vengeance was what we wanted.

American troops killed him, but the country as a whole overcame. It was the regaining of American confidence. In a time where much was going wrong for this country—and, quite frankly its president—we were longing for something to go right.

It wasn’t just the fact that a man was killed and his murder of 3,000-plus people was finally penalized that gave us solace, but the assassination of the man whose sole mission in life was to take down American culture and society brings peace and restores hope to the people of the U.S.

I will never forget where I was, what I witnessed, and how I felt that late-summer day.

It will forever be the defining moment for my generation as something in history to which we will forever be tied.

In the end, we got him. Even though it took nearly 10 years to bring him down, we avenged the hurt and removed the bandage from the wound—just as we vowed.

I can find joy in the fact that the man who hates American can no longer threaten this nation which I love.

This is why this September 11 is more meaningful than any others. We are past healing, we are now rebuilding. This will be the cornerstone of the new American culture and prominence.

We learned on the day of this disaster.

On that day, American people exemplified courage, heroics, love, compassion, pride, and spirit. We should take pride in that. We must remember what it was we felt, saw and experienced 10 years ago.

onal News

7

ring

London Protests, Riots Sparked by ‘Restless Youth’

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In this Monday Aug. 8, 2011 file photo a masked youth pulls a burning garbage bin set on fire by rioters in Hackney, east London.

Photo Credit: AP Images

By: Daniel Bullins Staff Writer

On the fifth of August, a group of London Police officers had an altercation with 28 year old British resident Mark Duggan. A gunfight ensued between officers and Duggan, resulting in the young man’s death.

Just hours after the incident, a large group of British citizens, mostly youth, gathered outside the doors of Scotland Yard, also known as the London Metropolitan Police Station, to protest the shooting.

Before any report on the firefight or Duggan’s death was filed, the streets of London were bombarded by enraged citizens. From August sixth to eighth, over 170 people were arrested for rioting, looting, and setting fire to several stores, buildings, and cars in London’s Tottenham Neighborhood.

According to Mark Hughes of The Telegraph, “dozens of other areas in the city were subject to attacks as the riots entered their third and most violent day.

For the first time the disorder spread to some of the city’s more affluent suburbs with Ealing, East Dulwich, Fulham and Notting Hill under attack.”

Over the next three days, Scotland Yard attempted to keep the expanding riots under control, but the cost of the operation began to skyrocket.

Arguments over London Metro’s ability to keep rioting under control while cutting costs became a central point of dialogue. Scotland Yard was stretched to its limits.

While costs were eventually, and

somewhat ineffectively, reduced, rioting continued. On police control, Hughes stated “Many of the areas targeted last night [the third night] seemed to have little police presence. But the violence and looting thrived even where riot officers were deployed as police appeared largely outnumbered and powerless to act.”

Within a week, most of the rioting had given out, leaving British officials and the city of London in a heap of chaos.

Scotland Yard estimated the riots had cost upwards of 34 million pounds, more than the combined cost for security at all public events the previous year.

While the riots were sparked by the Duggan’s death, some see it as a reflection of the restlessness seeping out of today’s English youth. Landon Thomas, a New York Times columnist, stated that “the riots also reflect the alienation and resentment of many young people in Britain, where one million people from the ages of 16 to 24 are officially unemployed, the most since the deep recession of the mid-1980s.”

Thomas managed an interview with one of the rioters from the incidents in August. Louis James, a 19 year old London resident, stated that he “came here [to the riots] to get his penny’s worth,” and that he had “never been employed” and “only learned to read three years earlier.”

No matter the cause of the riots, whether the death of a young man or the plight of thousands of young people, the tremendous cost falls onto the city of London, the state of Britain, and, ultimately, back on the same people that caused it.

Market Fears Up, Wall Street Down

In this Sept. 9, 2011 photo, trader John Santiago works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. Stocks started the week on a downbeat note Monday, Sept. 12, 2011, as investors feared a potential Greek debt default could wreak havoc on the global economy. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) Photo Credit: AP images

Editorials

8

Lenoir-Rhyne Security Welcomes Students Back many students aware of. L-R Security enforces parking regulations, maintains vehicle registrations, provides parking decals to the campus community, and provides traffic control as needed.

Security maintains call boxes, monitor access control systems, and video surveillance systems.

L-R Security oversees the identification card system and the issuing of ID cards to staff, faculty and students.

They keep the campus key inventory, which includes the issuance of keys to all staff and faculty, and develop and maintain a system for unlocking and locking campus facilities.

Also, Security has been responsible for developing and maintaining a working Emergency Operation Plan and Emergency Notification System. They assist with fire education and prevention programs as well as fire inspections throughout L-R buildings. This includes minor maintenance to campus after

By: Norris Yoder Head of Security Lenoir-Rhyne University Security would like to welcome all new students to campus and extend a welcome back to all the returning students.

L-R Security would like to take this opportunity to introduce the Security Services Department. LenoirRhyne Security is staffed with five full time officers, four part time officers and one administrative assistant, who also supervises the Welcome/Information center (aka, the Fish Bowl).

The current security staff has over 250 years of combined law enforcement and security experience, and patrols the campus by foot, golf cart, bicycle and vehicles. The security offices are located in the Cromer Center directly behind the Welcome/Information Center.

There are many duties and responsibilities of Security Officers that

Always lock your room when leaving

Never prop open any exterior doors to your residence hall

hours, when possible.

Furthermore, Security provides transportation for students when necessary, in such situations as late night rides across campus, medical assistance, and other miscellaneous reasons. Security also assists in resolving lockouts in buildings and vehicles L-R Security Services are currently involved in many programs across campus.

L-R Security is currently working to develop educational programs for students, staff and faculty in areas of security and safety that will one day be available to anyone on campus. This includes developing and implementing annual emergency training exercises or drills, including fire drills, in order to prepare the campus for any future situation that might arise.

As far as technology is concerned, L-R Security also focuses on maintaining and enhancing our current camera surveillance system. We also participate in the development and implementation of a

Always lock your vehicle

campus-wide “one card system.” This will allow security to see where students swipe their student IDs and track where students have been on campus.

We are also pleased to announce that the lighting project is finally moving forward. We are currently working with the City of Hickory to improve the lighting. Work should begin soon in Price Village and expand to the central area of campus.

Additionally, the parking areas received new painting over the summer months. L-R Security will continue to interact with parking as more parking becomes available.

In general, L-R will continue with an overall evaluation of the campus safety and security, in hopes of better providing for a campus that is always changing. If anyone has any questions, concerns, or suggestions to improve the security of the L-R campus, please stop by our office.

Do not leave items of value laying in open sight in the passenger compartment of your vehicle

Avoid walking alone during night time hours

Nutrition

L-R’s “Arts Aloud” Series

Beating the Freshman Fifteen

Katharine Whalen & Her Fascinators

By: Laurann Singleton Staff Writer Q. How I can keep from becoming victim to the “Freshman 15”?

A. For many students, transitioning from high school to college means a somewhat drastic lifestyle change. With this new freedom comes more responsibility and students no longer rely on their parents for daily meals. Many students resort to the all-you-can-eat buffets on campus or cheap late night pizza deliveries and fast food. As we get older we aren’t as physically active.

During high school, students are walking from class to class for the majority of the

day and most participate in an after-school activity. This decreased physical activity coupled with increased food intake will undoubtedly result in weight gain!

Many students don’t realize how many calories are required to maintain their current weight or how many calories they actually ingest. Mypyramidtracker. gov/planner is an excellent resource to calculate your daily requirements, track your meals, and compare your results to the recommended standards for your age, height, and weight. Many smart phones offer free apps that allow users to track daily intake right on their cell phone.

I would suggest all students, not only freshmen, access these resources.

Your daily meals and calories consumed might surprise you. Also, if you aren’t currently involved in any physical activity I encourage you to check out the gym on campus or start a weekly walking routine. Just thirty minutes three to four days a week is an excellent start and can help keep unwanted pounds from creeping up. Again, smart phone users can install free apps like a GPS tracker to log their walks or runs. There are also free workout regimen apps. My favorite is the Nike Training Club app for iPhone users.

So food for thought: keep an eye on your diet, make sure to get the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables, and incorporate physical activity into your life. Three simple steps to keep the freshman fifteen away!

If you have any questions, please send them to: laurann.singleton@my.lr.edu

By: Daniel Bullins Staff Writer

At the height of twentiethcentury American literature, two of the period's most prominent authors, William Faulkner and Ernest Hemingway, had a brief war of words.

Of Hemingway's writing style, Faulkner stated, “He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary.”

In response, Hemingway quipped “Poor Faulkner. Does he really think big emotions come from big words?”

On this argument, I would have to side with Hemingway, and so it seems would Katharine Whalen and Her Fascinators.

On September 2, the band, which is an interesting departure from Katharine’s other project, the everentertaining Squirrel Nut Zippers, opened up Lenoir-Rhyne’s Arts Aloud Series, which is to feature several professionally recognized bands over the course of the year. It was immediately evident that the concert would focus on lyricism and musical simplicity. The only instruments to be found on stage were a guitar, bass, cocktail-drum set, piano, and a few other devices to add flavor to the sound.

“The forecast says it’s supposed to rain, but don’t even give it another thought, I know it will,” said Whalen. “It has rained every time we’ve performed for about the last thirty shows.”

Within the next five minutes, the skies opened for nearly the entirety of the performance. For Whalen however, this repetitive downpour was apropos. After being one of the prominent members of Chapel Hill’s Squirrel Nut Zippers for the past seventeen years, it is almost unimaginable that she has the creative ingenuity left to take on an entirely different style of music. While the Squirrel Nut Zippers are an eclectic mix of swing jazz and Delta blues, Whalen and Her Fascinators manage to come off as a laid back upgrade of punk-folk; imagine the Avett Brother’s on downers, or a very

Photo Credit: Adam Dodds.

Katharine Whalen (top right) and her Fascinators.

content Fleet Foxes.

The band also earned a number of brownie points from their small, albeit active crowd, when they openly interacted with whoever was nearby, even managing to cause a few of the audience members to blush by directly addressing them or, at one point, by actually coming out into the crowd to interact with them. The band’s bassist and pianist frequently called each interaction “an act of ad-lib to fill in the gaps.” What he really wanted to say was we’re just having a damn good time.

To close the show, Whalen made a very interesting decision in playing an older Squirrel Nut Zippers song. It put her over with the already pleased crowd, but seemed oddly de-evolving. The perpetual downpour seemed to agree, as it left the area as soon as the song started. Always trust Mother Nature, Katharine: stick with your newfound growth, and who knows how high the grass could go.

Faith Applied: Alleviating Anxiety

By: Olivia Pitman Copy Editor It doesn’t take long after arriving back to campus before the novelty of a new year begins to wear off. Backpacks have been broken in, books have been opened and the majority of residents have figured

out how to use the “snooze” function on their alarm clocks.

While spending time with old friends and meeting new people has been an exciting part of the back-to-school tradition, the time for pulling all-nighters, researching for papers and stressing about grade point averages has arrived.

For freshman, the stress of adjusting to a newly found independence – not to mention the heavy load of a college semester – is more than enough to create hours of worry and frustration.

For seniors, the cycle of making it through the year is all too familiar. This time, however, things are different. Instead of knowing that there’s always next semester to take certain classes or to improve a GPA, there is the pressure to make every moment count before graduation.

For those in between, the pressure to make the grade and soak up every ounce of knowledge, socialization and sleep that’s

available makes for a year where the word “relaxed” becomes nothing but a distant memory…certainly not a condition to which anyone would be capable of relating.

Amidst the chaos of college life lays an exciting antidote to the common case of college anxiety.

In Philippians 4:6-7, Paul writes, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Not promising that there won’t be anything to cause stress or frustration, Paul provides a solution to what is often an enormous problem in the life of an L-R student. When the inevitable stress of exams, homework, athletics and extracurricular activities begins to cloud the mind, Paul instructs us to let go of our

worries and present them to God. Paul’s instructions contain the solution to what many consider a never-ending problem of stress.

While many find this easier said than done, when the burdens that so many carry are presented to God in prayer, suddenly the problems are no longer one’s own. What may seem like an impossible task becomes possible, and the light that one searches for in the darkness begins to burn bright.

Paul tells the people to request help from God, to speak to Him, and to allow Him to provide peace that will “surpass all understanding.” Though the semester has just started, the coursework to come is sure to cause late night frustration, and the absence of peace is sure to appear.

Instead of allowing anxiety to consume the soul, allow the words of Paul to fill your heart. Present your worries to God and bask in the gift that is God’s peace.

Editorials

9

Current Political Issues What’s Next for the United States?

Into Whose Hands Shall the Anvil Fall?

Washington’s Woes and The Struggling Economy

By: Ryan Pegarsch Staff Writer Over the last few months, the U.S. has been in a whirl wind of political battle, the Republicans against the Democrats. For a few moments the Republicans thought business mogul, Donald Trump was going to run for the Republican ticket but now we are stuck with a group of eight. Will the U.S. vote a woman into office? Senator Michele Bachmann has a really good chance but she has to go through Gov. Rick Perry first.

In my opinion the race is between Perry and Bachmann for the ticket. Former Gov. Mitt Romney has a uphill battle with his healthcare bill he signed into law in Massachusetts. I do believe the Republicans will come up with the right nominee to help get the White House back.

Many of us sat in our dorm rooms watching TV on Sept. 10 and were interrupted by the “Address to Joint Session by President Obama”. The speech that President Obama gave was to make the Republicans look bad on the jobs situation in the U.S. It was a plan to get him reelected but we students need to see the real information. He has no plan on the economy and getting the political revival to end. The Republicans will be doing anything and everything to get the White House back.

Students please get out and register to vote in Hickory, You can make a difference here in Hickory that will affect you for the years you are at L-R.

By: Spencer Voelkert Staff Writer

As we begin another school year and struggle with growing workloads, Washington continues to struggle with its own workload: how to boost the nation’s weak economy and manage the national debt.

Last month, the financial services company, Standard & Poor’s (S&P) downgraded the nation’s long-term federal debt rating from AAA to AA+, citing the polarizing nature of our partisan politics as the reason for its action. The U.S.based company said in a statement that, “The downgrade reflects our view that the effectiveness, stability, and predictability of American policymaking and political institutions have weakened at a time of ongoing fiscal and economic challenge.”

The main event that caused

the debt downgrade and S&P’s lack of confidence in “American policymaking and political institutions” was the recent debt ceiling debate in Congress, which pitted Republicans against Democrats and brought the country to the brink of default.

The Democrats in Congress wanted to raise the debt ceiling so that the U.S. Treasury would not run out of cash reserves to pay for programs and obligations like Social Security and defense contracts.

They talked about how irresponsible and dangerous not raising the debt ceiling would be.

The Republicans, fired up by their Tea Party base, wanted to reign in on government spending and make sure that no revenue was raised for the federal government and therefore threatened to vote to not raise the debt ceiling, which would force the government to default.

Congress was at a standstill.

Ideology was getting in the way of what was best for the country. Paul Krugman, in an opinion article for the New York Times, called the Republicans in Congress “extortionists” and accused them of “blackmail”. He is right. This was political terrorism. It has happened before, and the Republicans are not the only party guilty of it.

According to a New York Times article from September of 1981, the roles were reversed and President Reagan and the Republicans were pushing to increase the debt ceiling and the Democrats were the political terrorists, “The Republican-

dominated Senate voted tonight by 64 to 34 to raise the Government’s borrowing authority to more than $1 trillion for the first time in history. The vote to raise the debt ceiling, to $1,079 billion, will allow the Government to start its new fiscal year Thursday with sufficient funds in its coffers to pay its bills . . .”

Throughout our nation’s history, the “debt ceiling dance” has been acted out in the same way: the party out of power threatens to not raise the debt ceiling, while the party in power seeks to avoid default by raising it, and the vote is therefore delayed until the so-called eleventh hour.

The problem is not one party or the other individually. Both parties are part of the problem. It is the extremely partisan nature of our political system and its apparent inability to “clean up house” that led to the brink of default and S&P’s eventual credit downgrade.

If Congress could have gotten over their ideological differences and the silly bickering, they might have been able to get something done and reach an agreement in a timely manner, avoiding the downgrade and focusing on more important things like the state of the economy. Instead we are stuck at an unemployment rate of 9.1%, according to the latest Gallup Poll, and a national debt of over $14.2 trillion.

Both are huge problems that need to be addressed, but they need to be addressed separately. But that is another article for another time…

George Lucas Continues to Alter Star Wars Trilogy

By: Stephen Rankin Staff Writer

Blu-Ray has finally proven itself as the high-definition successor to DVD, so it’s only natural that Star Wars, one of the most successful and popular franchises of all time, would get a Blu-Ray edition.

Millions of fans, myself included, would love to get their hands on a high-definition version of their favorite space opera.

Unfortunately, if you’re a fan of the original trilogy, these may not be the discs you’re looking for.

Every time the original Star Wars trilogy has been rereleased to the public, it has been slightly altered from its original theatrical form. Sometimes the changes have been slight, like fixing a scene where a lightsaber was drawn incorrectly or fixing audio issues; but the changes have usually been drastic.

The first major change to the trilogy was in 1981 when the first film was renamed Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. Originally, when it released in 1977, the film was just called Star Wars. The name was extended to better connect the film to the larger saga George Lucas (the series’ creator) had in mind after seeing how successful the first installment was.

Small alterations continued to be made with every re-release, but fans mostly remained silent. That all changed when the “Special Editions” of the films were released in the 90’s. Lucas digitally inserted creatures and vehicles into several scenes to make them feel more “real”, altered several pivotal moments to better fit his new vision for the series, added new scenes by combining previously unused footage and CGI, and reshot or dubbed over sections that he no longer cared for.

While Star Wars is his creation, the series had a profound impact on popular culture and revolutionized the way we make films. For many, especially those who experienced the series at a young age, the films are as important to them as a childhood friend, and any alteration to the movies are seen as an attack on something they love. Fan reactions to the Special Editions were overwhelmingly negative, partially because they effectively replaced the original films for several years. It is only recently that the original films have been made available for purchase.

Additionally, each time the Special Editions have been released for home video they’ve been altered further, often just as drastically as the original films were altered to create the Special Editions. Lines have been re-recorded by

new actors, CGI has been enhanced, and characters and locations from the prequel trilogy have been added to the films. For the upcoming Blu-Ray release, gigantic CGI eyes have been added to puppet aliens, sets have been digitally altered (often in confusing or nonsensical ways), and the villain’s final act of redemption, formerly silent, is now punctuated with two long “NOOOOOOOOO”s, ostensibly to tie the beloved final moments of the original trilogy with the almost universally ridiculed final moments of the prequel trilogy.

Many fans, having grown tired of keeping track of over 30 years of alterations to the films they cherish, have promised to boycott Star Wars until Lucas stops altering the films they love.

Lucas is going to continue to

A Student Perspective Life as I Know it

By: Jamie Frye Assistant Editor Buzz. Buzz. Slap. Snooze. Buzz.

Another early morning rise after another late night.

Why does it always happen like this?

“Uuuuhhhhh,” I groan.

I have no motivation to be crawling out of the bed, but yet I’m doing it anyway. Gotta learn something new today, right? It just might make the headache go away.

Where was I last night? I… I think I can remember something about natural selection, maybe something about the Holy Trinity...

I walk out of my room to the bathroom in naught but my undergarments—shower

caddy in hand, of course. As I open the door, I’m even more awakened by the breeze from the open window and the steam of the showers blowing toward me.

That alone helps me to realize that today has got to be a good day.

I turn up the water to warm but not too warm, and I step into the shower. I put my hand against the wall and my face through the never-ending stream of water.

“God help me to make it through today,” I think. As the water flows over me, I feel cleansed. Replenished. Overwhelmed.

I slide quietly back into my room, welcomed by a chorus of snores and breaths exhaled and inhaled in harmony.

I feel as though something is staring a hole into me, and then I remember—I didn’t set an alarm last night! I turn to check the microwave clock only to see that it is 11:00. “Missed my first class! This is bull—.”

“Alright dude, really? Why are you still standing there naked?”

I had gotten so twisted up in trying to be quiet and freaking out about the time that I’d forgotten I had been standing there without any clothes on.

“I have a towel over my waist bro, chill. But I just realized that I slept through my first class.”

“And what’s so bad about that?”

“This makes the fourth time I’ve done that. And I’m only allowed two absences for that class! I can’t afford to fail anything else just because I don’t show up. I’ll lose my scholarship.”

“Well what do you expect after last night? So many definitions… and so many people…”

“I… have no idea.” I really didn’t have any idea what to think about the whole thing. Isn’t that what college students do, though? Think? I thought so.

After throwing on a t-shirt and the jeans I wore yesterday, I grab my books and run for class.

“Please God, let there be no group activity today,” I said to myself. My breath is still rank and I won’t have time to go back to brush my teeth until after my next two classes. She will never speak to me again.

I turn the doorknob to Radford 213 and slide into the classroom, unbeknownst to the professor, who is deep in thought about what appears to be the effect of the Civil War on transcendentalism. “I made it,” I breathed. I was relieved. Until the professor breaks trance and stares straight into my eyes. I— “Okay, class—we’re splitting into groups today for testing purposes! Eric, you’re paired with Sondra.”

Well *#+@!

change his movies. He isn’t going to stop just because fans are unhappy. The question isn’t whether he has the right to do this, but whether it is the right thing to do. Star Wars (Episode IV) is one of the films preserved by the Library of Congress for being historically or culturally significant, because the original film is a major part of cinematic history. How much can he change the films before they become something entirely new? How much does the opinion of the artist matter once a work is released? How much of a claim can fans, or society, have to a work of art?

These aren’t easy questions to answer, if they can be answered at all, but I know this much: I won’t have a highdefinition Star Wars in my film collection until I can have the versions that changed history.

Restaurant

Photo Credit: Tiffany Fields One of the owners of Bella Habeba happily serves his customers pizza, hot from the oven.

Continued from pg 5 $10. When we were up at the counter paying, we also noticed that the sanitation score was a 98.0, which is very good.

We can both agree that Bella Habeba was a very worthwhile restaurant and it offered quality food for decent prices. The location of the restaurant is very convenient because it is close to the campus. It is a low-key restaurant that not many people yet know about, but it is worth visiting and sampling the fare.

10

Entertainment

Playmakers Open Season with In the Garden Cast List for In The Garden

By: Kimberly Caporale Managing Editor

History will be made on September 28 when the Playmakers bring the play “In The Garden” to life on stage in the Belk Centrum. “In The Garden” is written

by Amina McIntyre who was a Visiting Playwright-in-Residence last spring. The run of the show by Playmakers will mark the first time this play will be performed on stage.

“In The Garden” is a creative retelling of the Song of Solomon in the Bible. One of the most intimate stories will be brought to life on stage with four actors and puppets. Although the story is set in 1946, some say it is a timeless piece.

This production will be directed

by Mia Self. She will be assisted by McIntyre who will be helping since this will be the first time the play is produced.

She will help students bring the play to life in the way she imagined when she was writing it.

“This production is about exploring a longer relationship with a visiting playwright,” said Self. “Along with [theatre majors] I have a lot of freshmen involved and acting in this, but I also have a lot of my upperclassmen working on the production aspect of the show. It provides our students the opportunity to work with a living, breathing playwright who is still revising her work. They are able to see parts of the process.”

The Playmakers are excited about working on a project that is different from the ones they have participated in during previous seasons.

“It will be a new experience for me. I’ve been a stage hand before, but I’ve never actually worked with puppets,” said Michelle Sapanaro who is playing

Shelly: Jessie Emery Benjamin: Tony Chambers Solomon: Tre Woods Voice of Puppet Shelly: Tiffany Fields Shelly Puppeteer: Michelle Sapanaro

Photo Credit: Tiffany Fields Dr. Mia Self reviews a script with drama students preparing them for their first play of the year

puppet Shelly. “I’m excited to work with the rest of the cast and crew since there are so many great people working on this project. It should, at the very least, be interesting.”

These puppets will add an interesting element to the set design of the show. They will be about 3 feet tall and manipulated by the puppeteers while another actor does the voice for the puppet.

“I am excited to step outside of what we typically do for productions.

This is different from anything else I’ve ever designed or tried to make previously,” said Randi Duplantis, props designer for the show. “It will be a challenge but I am

looking forward to bringing the puppets to life.”

The production will run from September 28 to October 1 at 7:30 p.m. in Belk Centrum. The play will run for the final time at 2:30 p.m. on October 2.

Tickets for the shows will be available for advanced purchase online at the L-R Playmakers website or the day of the show.

Tickets will be $10 for adults and $5 for seniors, children and non-L-R students.

Tickets are buy one, get one free for faculty, staff and Senior Bears. L-R students are admitted free with their student IDs (For ticket reservations call 328-PLAY. or visit www.theatre.lr.edu.)

Voice of Puppet Solomon: Cody Watson Solomon Puppeteer: Sara Ginn Sheba: Amanda Cotto

A Series Worth Discovering Visting Writer Series Provides Students with Experience & Opportunity

By Danielle Bongiorno Staff Writer There is no denying that in these four to five years of college, each student will grow as a person in multiple facets of life. However, growth is not limited to the few hours spent in classrooms each day. The majority of time spent in college is outside of the classroom. As a result, Lenoir- Rhyne seeks to provide opportunities that are going to stretch students’ ideas and expand their cultural horizons. One of the ways this growth is nurtured is through the Visiting Writers Series.

It is very rare that one can sit in the company of a published writer, much less a New York Times Best Selling author.

Throughout the school year the Visiting Writers Series seeks to bring famous authors, poets, and novelists onto campus for the pure enjoyment of students, staff, and community members.

For some, listening to the heart behind an author’s writing or the experiences that developed a piece of poetry is not enough to pull them away from a busy schedule and into a plush red seat in P.E. Monroe on a Thursday night.

Dr. Rand Brandes, Series Director and English professor at L-R, provides a few points to keep in mind when deciding how to spend a Thursday evenings.

The Visiting Writers Series are free events and open to the public. It is a great opportunity for students to hear stories and opinions of successful, established authors in the world. Students may not be over-joyed to go to these events but looking

Natasha Tretheway

back they will regret not taking advantage of these opportunities.

“The Visiting Writer’s Series is beneficial for two crucial reasons: one it allows students to listen to and engage in dialogue with credible writers from a variety of fields multiple times a year,” said Daniel Bullins, a L-R student. “Two it connects the students and Lenoir-Rhyne with the community in a way that most programs could only dream of.”

Many may be thinking, “I’m not really a reader, or into writing and poetry.” The VWS seeks to reach and benefit individuals outside of the literary

Wes Moore

arts world. These authors will provide exposure to a new range of experiences and ideas that may challenge and inspire, but more importantly, establish growth.

As Lenoir-Rhyne seeks to become a more prestigious University, the Visiting Writers Series is becoming an integral part.

“The Visiting Writer Series offers students an incredible opportunity to not only read the works of many pre-eminent authors of our day, but to also hear the authors in their own word,” said Dr. Fisher, Dean of Students. “Not every college or university has this type of program and

I believe that our VWS offers students a special experience that connects the head and heart of all readers.”

If these reasons are not enough, there is always the simple fact that the writers are entertaining! Most of the writers create a fun and interesting cultural ambiance. These events count for convocation credit, which adds a perfect incentive to an already great night.

One of the most important writers on campus this year will be Wes Moore on September 16 at 7 p.m. in P.E. Monroe. Lenoir-Rhyne is anxiously seeking the arrival of this New York Times Best Selling author. However, a few more great upcoming authors to mark on your schedule are Natasha Trethewey on Thursday, October 6 and Edward P. Jones Thursday, November 3, both at 7 p.m. in Belk Centrum.

Trethewey is a Pulitzer Prize winning poet who writes “hauntingly beautiful” poetry about tragedy, memory, loss, recovery, and home. Jones is a New York Times best-selling author who will keep readers entertained with his life stories enhanced by a southern twist.

Neither author will disappoint readers.

VWS can be followed throughout the year on Facebook or through the webpage visitingwriters.lr.edu. Take a step outside your comfort zone, be open to new ideas, and try something different.

College will be over before you know it so make the best of it. Grab the reins of every opportunity and don’t miss out on a chance to meet or hear an author speak.

The opportunity may not present itself again.

WLRZ Radio Station Schedule All Access features Elena Yanez

Randy and Friends features Randolph Carroll

The New News News Hour features Danny B, Matty P, and Spency V

Monday and Tuesday from 9:00-10:00 p.m.

This show features current, mainstream music with plenty of old classics as well.

Tuesday and Thursday from 8:00-9:00 p.m.

This show with mainstay Randy Carroll that, usually, features weekly guests of Randy’s choice.

Tuesday from 7:00-8:00 p.m.

This weekly news show features up-to-date stories, generally focusing on the national political and economic climate.

Up the Arts features Henry Michaels & Chris Murphy Wednesday from 8:00-10:00 p.m.

This weekly classical music program focuses primarily on prominent twentieth century composers and pieces.

Gospel Recovery features C^3

Nightcap features Boogie Watson

Wednesday from 10:00-11:30 p.m.

This is a weekly show primarily featuring contemporary indie and up-and-coming bands.

Thursday from 10:00-11:00 p.m.

This weekly show focuses almost exclusively on non-mainstream rock, blues, and indie.

Hump-Day Tech Spectacular featuring Stephen Rankin & Darin Philyaw

Wednesday from 5:00-6:00 p.m.

This weekly technology show focuses on current tech updates and important changes in the technological field.

The Game Show features Stephen Rankin and Darin Philyaw

Friday from 5:00-6:00 p.m.

This weekly show focuses on soon to be, or just released, video games.

Sports

11

L-R Cross Country An “Eye Opener” By: Katie Thackerson Staff Writer

The men’s and women’s cross country teams started their season off Friday, September 2 at the Eye Opener Invitational in Spartanburg, S.C. at 7 p.m.

Coaches and teams in the conference already have their eyes open, trying to realize where the competition is and which teams they need to beat. LenoirRhyne is near the top of the list; the women’s cross country team is ranked second in the preseason coaches poll, and the men’s cross country team is ranked in third place.

While speaking to senior Kate Griewisch about the upcoming year, one can already tell that they are expecting the season to be great.

“I’m excited about this year, one of our goals as a team is to take back the South Atlantic Conference Championship,” Griewisch said. The Bears actually won that title in 2008 and 2009.

The teams are starting off at a good pace this year. At the Eye Opener Invitational on the women finished eighth out of

Photo Credit: L-R Sports Photo Senior Kate Griewisch is excited about what the season holds.

20 teams while the men came in tenth place out of eighteen teams.

“We are focusing a lot on team-building and encouraging each other this year,” Griewisch said. “I really want to enjoy my last cross country season and work to improve my times from last year as well as finish first as a team in the SAC Championship. I hope to see our team grow closer to each other and God on our way to having our strongest team yet,” Griewisch said.

The Lenoir-Rhyne Bears also hosted the L-R Invitational on September 10 in Newton, N.C. at 9 a.m.

NCAA Violations Most Wanted List By: Asia Wilson Staff Writer

Photo Credit: Tiffany Fields Sophomore Kaitlyn Burton sets the ball to the outside during practice.

LRU Volleyball Gears Up for New Fall Season By: Jessica Childress Staff Writer

“I’ve got it! I’ve got it!”

This is what many will hear ringing through the halls of L-R’s Shuford Gym. As Lenoir-Rhyne’s volleyball season kicks off one might ask, “Who is the team to beat this year?” According to Head Coach Dave Markland the conference is extremely strong from top to bottom; but even though this might be the case, the Lady Bears dedicate themselves to conditioning and

running drills six days-a-week in order to prepare for a great season.

Coach Markland shares his goals and expectations for the coming season with a simple shrug, “We want to improve throughout the season, but most of all stay healthy and prevent injuries.”

“We had many injuries last season—this season we are putting it behind us and not worrying about things we cannot control.”

Lenoir-Rhyne’s athletes are quite dedicated—not only

in sports—but also in the classroom. It takes a lot of hard work to form a functional team, not only from the coach but the players. There is not a doubt in Coach Markland’s mind that the Lady Bears will finish top three in the conference.

“We have very talented athletes and a good team,” says Coach Markland.

Support the Lady Bears as they open on September 2 with the first game of the season.

Their goal? To “play hard, play smart, and play together.”

Meet Mike Houston By: Jimmy Hilton Staff Writer

Before Coach Mike Houston takes the field this season as Lenoir-Rhyne’s new Head Coach, let’s take a look at his background.

Coach Houston graduated from Mars Hill College in 1994 with a bachelor’s degree in biology. While there, Houston played football for the Mars Hill Lions as a tight end.

Coach Houston began his coaching career in 1995 as a defensive coordinator for the Forbush High School Falcons, located in East Bend, NC. Coach Houston only stayed one year at Forbush, before he left to take over the job as defensive coordinator of the T.C. Roberson High School Rams, located in Asheville, NC. There, Houston served as a defensive coordinator for five years.

In 2001, Houston took over the head coaching position at T.C. Roberson. He served as head coach at T.C. Roberson for five years. T.C. Roberson posted a 42-14 regular season record and a 5-4 record in the playoffs under Coach Houston. He was also named a two-time Times News Area Coach of The Year in 2002 and 2004.

Coach Houston’s best season was in 2004, when the Rams posted an undefeated regular season and won their first conference championship in the school’s history. The Rams finished the season with a 13-1 record, later losing in the semi-

Photo Credit: Rich Duncan Coach Mike Houston spends a moment in deep thought after having given a speech to his players.

finals. In 2005, Houston was selected as an assistant coach for the North Carolina Shrine Bowl staff. North Carolina went on to win the game against South Carolina 28-24.

After 2005, Houston left T.C. Roberson to become the associate head coach and defensive coordinator of the Brevard College Tornados.

Houston left T.C Roberson as the coach with the highest winning percentage in the school’s history and helped establish T.C. Roberson as one of the top football programs in the state of North Carolina. While at Brevard, Houston helped rebuild the football program after a 56year hiatus.

Coach Houston only

spent one season as Brevard, after being accepted as Defensive Coordinator and Secondary Coach at Lenoir-Rhyne University. Houston served as Defensive Coordinator and Secondary Coach from 20072010, and in 2010 became the Associated Head Coach of Lenoir-Rhyne. In 2010, LenoirRhyne’s defense had one of its best seasons in years. LenoirRhyne finished first in the South Atlantic Conference in total defense and fourth in the NCAA Division II in rushing defense.

In 2011, Houston become the eighteenth head football coach in the program’s history.

Within the past year, many colleges and universities have joined the NCAA’s most wanted hit list. Football and basketball teams have been in the mainstream news due to the breaking of NCAA rules, one of the most talked about topics in sports recently.

Programs like Auburn, LSU, Ohio State, Georgia Tech, Boise State, Tennessee and North Carolina have all been penalized

by NCAA for major rule violations. Other schools, such as Oklahoma State, Alabama, Georgia, Iowa and South Carolina were also under investigation because they were publicized for minor or “secondary” violations.

Most of these teams are among the nation’s favorites.

However, these schools are in jeopardy of facing major trouble.

This issue grabbed major media attention when it was reported that the USC football and basketball players broke NCAA rules, most notably in 2006. Yahoo! Sports reported that alumni and current NFL star, Reggie Bush, received as much as $300,000.00 in cash and goods from a marketing agent. While Bush was under investigation his 2005 Heisman Award Trophy was taken due to the allegations.

Later, Yahoo! reported that former Trojan star and current Memphis Grizzlies standout OJ Mayo also received improper gifts on multiple occasions. Moreover, Ohio State was a part of this negative limelight.

A group of players accepted improper benefits from a Columbus tattooparlor owner and declined to tell Ohio State or NCAA officials about the incident for more than 9 months.

UNC Chapel Hill is known and idolized world-wide for both its sports and its academics by both residents and outsiders.

The school grew in popularity when the chancellor broke NCAA rules by discussing a scholarship offer from fired football coach Butch Davis concerning Davis’ son. They offered Drew Davis a scholarship without consulting an athletic director. NCAA prohibits the discussing of recruits, who haven’t signed a letter of intent.

These are just some of the schools that are facing challenges, but there are other schools facing secondary violations because of “isolated or inadvertent nature.”

Is it ethical for the NCAA to investigate major top-notch schools? The NCAA has the

right to investigate when there are improper benefits and academic misconduct or faun. At the same time, many athletics aren’t aware of the trouble that comes after receiving benefits from sports programs when offered. Most student athletes are young and do not pay rules any attention.

The average 18-22 year old hears an offer along with money and immediately they see nothing but green money signs. Is it really the player’s fault for not having the knowledge they need to know about the violation or is it the school’s fault since they know the rule book?

“I am opposed to paying athletics, but favor the return to some level of expense help,” said Neill McGeachy, Athletic Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at L-R. “There are real costs involved with being a student, but to pay the Division 1 athletes a ‘salary’ I am very much against,” said McGeachy.

He believes in a policy of “no gifts before or for signing.”

“I believe that as a student athlete, I should receive monetary gifts because college sports is a job,” said Isaiah Whitaker, L-R fullback.

When an athlete is in college and playing a sport, their life is devoted to it. They live and breathe sports.

Whitaker said he does not see the difference in paying NFL players for their hard work and paying college players, who are prone to injuries from the hard contact sport.

“So what’s the problem?”

Whittaker said. “If you think about it, if it wasn’t for student athletes at every school in the nation, the schools wouldn’t be what they are. Athletes bring in a great deal of money not only into the sports programs, but to the entire school as a whole.”

In high school sports can feel overwhelming and too much of a contact sport, but quitting is an option with no penalty.

However in college, quitting is not so easy because with quitting comes loss of scholarship and paying out of pocket for tuition.

The big name D-1 schools often pay off their athletes prior to signing because they are financially stable enough to do so. As a result, all the “talented” athletes go to those D-1 schools instead, while D-2 schools receive a smaller recruitment pool for the fact of not being able to afford paying athletes as much.

Regardless of financial ability, all schools, no matter how big, need to follow NCAA rules.

NCAA

Sports

12

New Football Season for Lenoir-Rhyne Bears “Our team are Road Warriors this season...

By: Jimmy Hilton Staff Writer For 2011, it’s all new for the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears football team this year: new coach, new expectations, new schedule, and a new JumboTron.

After posting a 7-4 record last year and their first winning season in 16 years, the L-R Bears football team looks to build and improve this year, with firstyear head coach, Mike Houston.

Coach Houston takes over for Coach Fred Goldsmith, who after coaching for four years decided to retire from coaching. Coach Houston inherits a 7-4 football team last year and a defense, in which Coach Houston had led, which finished first in the South Atlantic Conference in total defense and fourth in NCAA Division II in rushing defense.

For the 2011 season, the L-R Bears have some high expectations for the team. The L-R Bears have been picked to finish third in the South Atlantic Conference 2011 Preseason Poll and have received some votes for the 2011 AFCA NCAA Division II National Top 25 Preseason Poll.

“We expect our football to be as good as any of our opponents on our schedule

Photo Credit: Tiffany Fields Zach Neumann kicks the ball from the 30 yard line during practice

Photo Credit: Tiffany Fields The Lenoir-Rhyne Bears stay focused during a crucial play.

this season, and that will be in it, every game this season,” Houston said. Houston said his team had a great camp this summer. Coach Houston also discussed how well the freshman class was in the camp.

One of the challenges that the L-R Bears will face this year is that there will only be four home games on a ten game schedule.

“We are embracing that the fact that our team are road warriors this season, and we are ready for any challenge,” said Houston.

One addition that fans will see and enjoy this year is that of a JumboTron to the stadium.

With the addiction to a new JumboTron this season, fans will be always to see their L-R Bears in all new way from seasons past.

“The JumboTron is a great addition for the fans this year, however not for the player because we want our players to stay focus in our games this year,” said Houston.

With the new changes for the L-R Bears football team this year, there is one question: “How will they be able to manage everything this season?”

The Bears are off to a great start this season with a 22-6 victory over Concord University on September 3.

“... we are ready for any challenge.”

Shoes to Fill

Men’s Soccer Team Will Have to Fill Big Shoes, Holes in Defense By: Bart Keeler Staff Writer

Last year, the Lenoir-Rhyne men’s soccer team conceded 30 goals in 18 games. In order to rise to the top of the SAC standings this season, they will have to sure up their defense.

“We’re going to have to concede less goals,” said head coach Tom Gott, “We’re always going to create chances.”

The defense will be anchored by returning starters sophomore Chris Wilson and junior Stefan Dill. Wilson is the only returning starting defender in a back line which will feature at least one freshman and a couple of seniors.

“We’ve got depth at the back, which is good. We have three guys who can play in the middle…We have solid outside backs,” said Gott.

Dill will not be a stranger to the starting lineup, having started three games and playing in two others.

“[Dill] has come back a lot more mature this year,” Gott, a former goalkeeper here at L-R, said of his starter.

Like last year, the defense will be a question mark for Gott, but unlike las season, the Bears will have to figure out who their goal scorer will be.

Their greatest offensive threat for two years in a row was Dave Bailey, but he graduated last year. Also leaving after the season was Nicky Matthews, who was the

Photo Credit: Rich Duncan Senior Dan Jones evades a defender in a preseason scrimmage against Concord Univ.

team leader in scoring with 12 goals. This will leave a vacuum for younger players to replace.

Luckily for Gott, there are four great players who are ready to step up.

Chibuzo Nwosu hopes to avoid the

sophomore slump and repeat his goal proficiency from last season. Nwosu score nine goals and recorded four assists for the Bears in his freshman year.

Gott believes that “[Nwosu] is more than capable” of filling in for Bailey.

Returning for his senior season is Dan Jones, who has been a significant role player for the Bears in his four seasons. Also, sophomore Sean Rogers is set to help the team achieve their goals this season.

“I think we can make the top three,” said the versatile midfielder.

Rogers found the back of the net six times last year.

Gott also believes a top-four finish is achievable for this team in 2011.

“I see seven decent teams. Any of them can get into the top four.”

The Bears hope they are one of the four teams who will earn the right to host the first-round match of the 2011 Food Lion SAC Tournament. To do so, they will have to win four very important home matches.

The Bears host Lincoln Memorial, Mars Hill, Wingate and Tusculum. Those four teams will all be tough opponents for the Bears, according to Gott.

“Anderson are starting nine seniors and went to the Sweet 16 last year.

They’re going to be good. But CarsonNewman are down, and if we can beat Wingate, Mars Hill and Tusculum at home, we’ll be in the top four.”

The “gaffer,” as his players call him, is approaching each game as it comes to him.

“We’re going at it one game at a time…we can beat anyone on our day.”

Bears on the Big Screen: New Jumbotron By: Tiffany Fields Staff Writer

It’s the big game of the season at the Helen & Leonard Moretz Stadium.

The Bears are down by six with only seven seconds left on the clock. This is the moment no one wants to miss. The center snaps the ball to the quarterback who passes it off to the running back. Thirty yards later he’s in the end zone and then, touchdown!

It’s the play of the year--too bad you missed the whole thing.

Wouldn’t it be great to have an instant replay? Thanks to the brand new Lenoir-Rhyne University JumboTron, you can. Standing tall in the open end of Moretz Stadium, Lenoir-Rhyne University is proud to be the home of the only JumboTron in its athletic division.

The new state-of-the-art scoreboard includes a four-speaker audio system, a 19 mm video display, eye-catching graphics and more. The scoreboard was built by Electro-Mech, one of the top manufacturers in the industry, thanks to a donation from the Dimperio Family.

Don Dimperio and his wife Peggy are both Lenoir-Rhyne alumni. Don, a ‘73 graduate, played tackle for the Bears football team during his years at LR.

While Dimperio was enjoying the homecoming game last year, a conversation sparked between Neill McGeachy and him about the ancient history of the scoreboard

that was still being used at the time. Don, his wife Peggy, and his former roommate then decided to make a donation in order to help LR advance technologically. Don is “really, really proud to be able to do this for LR.”

The new scoreboard will offer closeups of on-the-field action, instant replays, high quality graphics, and promotional opportunities for many activities around campus.

“The video board will bring all of Lenior-Rhyne athletics together, promoting other LR Sports before and during the game,” said Chris Sykes, Creative Services Supervisor for Charter Media in North Carolina.

Sykes is heading up the technical work on the video board. The new big screen on campus is more than just a toy for the athletics department, though. The JumboTron will be used for numerous events on campus including graduation, concerts, and more.

“Any time you add the video element to a venue, it brings excitement and one more way to get the message across,” said Sykes. “In this case, the message is Lenoir-Rhyne.”

It takes more than just a push of a button to make all of these things happen, though. Behind the scenes there are a group of people working hard to produce quality video and graphics for the fans. Whether it’s the task of rolling and carrying cords

Photo Credit: Tiffany Fields Ryan Pegarsch, Sophomore Sports Management Major, runs the handheld camera during a trial run of the JumboTron.

or controlling what is displayed, everyone plays a part. The group of volunteers includes students with a wide array of interests who have spent time training and learning the equipment. Sykes feels that this is a good opportunity for students to both “see how the production side of TV/Video works” and “gain the experience they will need to start in a career.”

As L-R kicks off the 2011 fall sports season, a lot of exciting things are

happening. One that should be on the top of everyone’s to-do list is attending an event at the Moretz Stadium. Whether it’s a football game, lacrosse match, or movie on the lawn – seeing the new video scoreboard in action is a must. It will take support from everyone here on campus to help Neill McGeachy, the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, achieve his goal of using the JumboTron to not only add excitement to sporting events but also to “promote LRU at large.”