The
SpringHillian March 5, 2015
Volume 100 Issue 4
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
Track & Field Shapes Up for an Exciting Season
Badgers are ready to take on the competition this season. See the full story from Sports Editor, Bradon Krus, on page 10. Photo by: Phillip Travis
Residence Life Proposes Change to Housing System for 2015 By: Elizabeth Briggs Staff-Writer Spring Hill College’s lottery system could change before housing selection begins for the 2015-2016 academic year. The Residence Life Advisory Council (RLAC) began discussing the possibility of a new lottery system in November and has been met with opposition by the Student Government Association (SGA). The current lottery system is based on a student’s time at Spring Hill. Under this system, students are prioritized based on the date they were admitted. RLAC is proposing a new system because of a failure to account for transfer students. According to the Office of Residence Life, there were 168 transfer students, about 11 percent of the student body, in the Fall 2014 semester. Mark Mullen, a member of RLAC, stressed the importance of having a standardized housing system that is
fair for all students. He stated, “Under the current system, the transfers are very negatively impacted. So, unless we treat them on a case-bycase basis, they will never have the standing of someone who has been at the college for four years.” Based on research of other universities’ housing lotteries, RLAC created three new options, in addition to the current system: • Priority based academic achievement: a calculation would combine total credit hours earned and cumulative GPA to assign priority within class levels. • Priority based on academic progress: total credit hours earned would assign priority within class levels. • Priority based on academic standing: priority would be based exclusively on academic standing, then randomized within each grade level. • Priority based on time at SHC: the current system.
On Tuesday, Feb. 24, RLAC hosted an open forum to discuss these proposed systems and the possibility of emailing a survey to the student body. This survey would be sent to see what system students prefer. According to SGA President Ricardo Pita, SGA opposed the idea of a new lottery system, and the necessity of a survey, on the grounds that “random is fairest, with a stipulation made for transfer and re-admit students.” Furthermore, he said, “The current system is not perfect; we understand there are changes that need to be made.” In addressing the disadvantage transfer students face in the current system, Pita stated, “At no point has RLAC discussed changes to the current system for just these students.” Pita sees no need to rush the survey. As a result of last Tuesday’s forum, an SGA senator-led committee is looking into the presentation of the survey and its overall necessity. Mullen reiterated that RLAC aims
to give the student body a chance to voice their housing preferences by completing the survey. He stated, “The hope of the RLAC is to survey the student body about possible housing options. As the Student Government Association has opposed this measure, I would encourage students who feel strongly about the housing selection process to email both their class senators and the Office of Residence Life.” On a related note, Adam Bernot, Director of Residence Life, shared that SHC is working hard to makeLangan Hall available by next semester. Bernot stated, “We expect to make an official announcement prior to housing selection in April, regarding whether Langan Hall will be ready for students to move in for Fall Semester 2015.” Housing applications will be due in early April, regardless of which lottery system is selected. The lottery process will follow later that month.
THE SPRINGHILLIAN
THIS WEEK
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WEEKLY FORECAST Thursday - 61/32 - Cloudy/Rainy
March 5, 2015
IN THIS ISSUE
Inside News - Pages 3 & 4 Read the latest on O’Leary’s flooding, and get to know the SGA Presidential Candidates.
Friday - 52/36 - Partly Cloudy
Saturday - 61/39 - Partly Cloudy Inside LifeStyle - Page 8
Sunday - 63/41 - Cloudy
Read about the decline of Twitter and how to land your summer internship interview.
HILLIAN STAFF Editors: Julia Arenstam Cree Pettaway
Lifestyle Repoters: Ishemia Etheridge Elizabeth Briggs
Advisor: Stuart Babington
Sports: Brandon Krus
Photo Editor: Phillip Travis
Advertising/social media: Hannah McIntyre
HILLIAN CONTACT
Inside Around the Hill - Pages 6&7
See photos from Phi Mu’s Phinally Famous party and the CPB-sponsored trip to New Orleans. Photo courtesy of Adele Lemm.
The Hillian Newswire @HillianNewswire Inside Sports - Pages 10 & 11
hillian _ newswire Letters to the Editors hillian@shc.edu Read the Hillian Newswire online at newswire.shc.edu
Check out the latest in Track & Field, plus try out the new fit tip of the week.
THE SPRINGHILLIAN
NEWS
March 5, 2015
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Public Safety Tackles O’Leary Hall Takes a Swim Sexual Assault By: Hannah McIntyre Staff-Writer Sexual assault, unfortunately, is becoming a more common word on college campuses across the nation as it is becoming a more common act. However, sexual assault is easily preventable, and Public Safety, led by Laury Rowland, is doing something about it. “The Department of Public Safety has offered allfemale safety education and sexual assault awareness programs such as R.A.D. in the past, and I felt it was time to do the same for our male student population,” said Rowland. She led an on-campus event called Whoa Bro Tuesday night. Whoa Bro was a male bystander intervention program led by male student leaders. The event was hosted by Public Safety and the Rape Crisis Center of Mobile. It was also sponsored by SGA, CPB, and Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity. Rowland explained, “This event taught our male students not only how to recognize a possible dangerous situation but also how to intervene in a safe and effective manner.” Bystander intervention better equips men to express their discomfort. Studies show that males usually do not express their discomfort because they believe they are the only ones who are uncomfortable. If someone is unsure of how to intervene, they are even less likely to take a stand, making this program a crucial step in preventing sexual assault. In recent history, rape prevention has been aimed mostly at women, instructing them to change their behavior. However, this did nothing to change the behaviors of men. Student leader, Ryan Campbell, expressed, “The program was conducted in an effort to raise awareness about sexual assault and take steps to prevent it from happening on our campus.” An National Public
Radio article on bystander intervention explained, “The training is designed to change social norms and encourage people to find ways to intervene.” It is as simple as turning the lights or music on or off to create a distraction. Conner Bueche, Secretary of Campus Life and member of Lambda Chi Alpha said, “Our males on campus will have a better understanding of when consent is given. Moreover, since sexual assault often begins in a public place, we, as men, can help make our campus a safer place by playing a vital role in the bystander awareness process.” Rowland will be hosting other activities for the students during the month of April, which is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. On April 7, awareness t-shirts will be passed out in the cafeteria. On April 14, there will be cookies for teal ribbon awareness, the official ribbon for sexual assault prevention. On April 21, Spring Hill’s male Whoa Bros will be painting fingernails for the ladies of the Hill (teal in color of course). On April 28, there will be a vehicle brought onto campus so the students can participate in an event called “Smash Sexual Assault off the Hill.” There will also be a screening of the documentary The Hunting Ground (date to be announced).
“Sexual Assault is not just a female problem; it is not just a male program...it is an everyone problem,” said Rowland. Sexual assault is preventable, someone just needs to be ready step in when the time comes. Be ready to say, “Whoa bro,” when you see something getting out of hand.
Large fans were placed throughout O’Leary over the weekend to dry out as much of the water as possible. The areas most affected were the first and second floors on the North side of the building. Students’ rugs were brought outside to dry in the sun. Photo by: Elizabeth Briggs By: Cree Pettaway Assistant Editor O’Leary Hall flooded Friday night after a sprinker was set off in a student’s room. Students were asked to vacate the building while water was removed and damaged was assessed. According to Rosalie Carpenter, Vice President of Student Affairs, “A student went to hang a piece of clothing from the sprinkler head causing the filament inside to break and set off the sprinklers.” Public Safety responded to the fire alarm, after about 15 minutes responding to the student who triggered the alarm. Public Safety officers were assigned the task of shutting off the water. Todd Warren, Director of Public Safety, said that the officers “struggled finding the exact valve to turn off,” and after about 45 minutes were assisted by VFP Fire Systems in turning the water off. “In hindsight we wish we had been able to get it turned off quicker, but
the response was the best we could have done under the circumstances” says Warren. To better prepare for emergencies like this in the future, the Department of Public Safety is undergoing training, to learn how to shut off the utilities in all buildings on campus. Warren hopes that training along with a reference book containing photographs and instructions for such tasks will speed up the process in the future. Water damaged parts of the the first and second floor, leaving the the third floor unharmed. Items including school books, clothes, shoes, and electronic items were damaged during the flood. Once the water valve was turned off students were escorted to their rooms to retrieve items they would need over the weekend. Students were asked to find a temporary place to stay Friday night. Spare dorm rooms were offered to those who needed them. On Saturday evening, rooms with
the least amount of damage were reopened, while the rest of the students, primarily on the first and second floors of the North side, were asked to stay in their alternative placements until Monday evening. Kip’s Laundry Service offered to wash students’ clothing that was affected by the flood and personally delivered it back to their doors. As to whether or not students will be reimbursed for their damaged items, Carpenter said, “Any student who has renter’s insurance will be able to file a claim with their company and receive compensation in accordance with that policy immediately.” Carpenter hopes to determine whether or not Spring Hill’s insurance policy will cover the damages to students’ property by the end of the week. However, the overall damage to O’Leary Hall will be covered by Spring Hill College’s insurance plan. At this time the estimated cost for damage is unknown.
THE SPRINGHILLIAN
NEWS
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March 5, 2015
SGA Prepares for Presidential Election: Meet the Candidates By: Julia Arenstam Editor-in-Chief
Interview with Presidential Candidate: Juan F. Soto (right) & Vice Presidential Candidate Ben Spotswood Why did you decide to run for SGA President? I’m a student so, my problems are everyone’s problems, and everyone’s problems are my problems. Over the past couple of years I think our spirit has decreased a little bit because of changes in residential areas, and that has a huge impact on our community. It changes the atmosphere, both socially and culturally. What do you hope to accomplish in just one year as President? To foster school spirit when it comes to athletics. A lot of our athletes would really love to enjoy having the rest of the campus supporting them. What do you believe distinguishes you from your opponent? My involvement on this campus. I know what the interests are of the different types of students from each group…and how to potentially address them. Spotswood: I’ve always prided myself on being a leader. Why should students vote for you? I have the same ideals and the same morals as the majority of the students on
campus. While we do pride ourselves on academics, leadership and service for others are something that are very important to me, and I know are important to my fellow Badgers. What do you think your greatest challenge will be? I don’t know what the greatest challenge might be because in my involvement in different organizations you have plans for one thing; you plan to solve an issue or a problem and you come to find out there are a lot more obstacles down the road than you had imagined. One of the important things I want to put emphasis on is the community living on this campus. I think that will be my main focus, but whether that will be my biggest challenge I’m not sure yet. We’ll have to see when we get there. Any closing remarks? I want people to realize that we’ve had two previous elections, but they’ve been uncontested. But regardless of whether people took it seriously or not the past two years, I think this year we have four great candidates. I think it’s important for people to get to know us, to get to know what we’re about.
SGA Presidential campaigning is in full swing this week as the presidential candidates begin reaching out to the student body. The candidates are: Juan F. Soto, junior, with Ben Spotswood, freshman, as his vice president; Conner Bueche, junior, with Jenia Bello, junior, as his vice president. SGA Vice President, Matthew Keller, and Secretary of the Press, Diego Juncadella, will be hosting a Presidential Debate tonight, March 5 at 9 p.m. in the Gautrelet Room. Voting takes place Monday, March 9. Students will be sent their ballot through their Spring Hill College email. Polls will be open from 12 a.m. March 9 through 12 a.m. March 10. The winner will announced March 10. According to the SGA Constitution, the student-elected president is the final authority for all SGA executive decisions. They serve on all Spring Hill College committee meetings. He is responsible for recommending legislation to the SGA Senate and has veto power on all proposals. The president has the power to propose the removal of any officer, or to reduce their salary. The president is to call and preside over all meetings of the Cabinet. He is the liaison between the student body and the college administration and the Board of Trustees. With the Secretary of the Treasury, the president recommends a yearly budget. The president may create committees or task forces and have oversight over all activities of the SGA. Lastly, he has the power to summon any member of the student body to a Senate meeting. For the past two years, the current SGA President has run unopposed. The Student Government Association is looking forward to a more active participation from the student body in this year’s election. Read the full interview online at newsire.shc.edu
Interview with Presidential Candidate: Conner Bueche (left) & Vice Presidential Candidate Jenia Bello Why did you decide to run for SGA President? I wanted to continue the things we’ve accomplished so far. Bello: As a member on the Senate, I’m part of different committees that push forth and see the changes that students want to see. We’re working on a healthy foods committee; that’s a concern students have been coming to us with for a while now. What do you hope to accomplish in just one year as President? Largely that will pertain to what has already been accomplished, continuing that success that we’ve had, improving the voice of the students...There’s a future, and there’s a way to get there, and that’s what we want to continue. What do you believe distinguishes you from your opponent? Our experience, that’s the biggest part. I’ve been with student government for three years now, Jenia’s been here for two years. And that’s what we’re prepared to do, to fight even harder for us and to continue the success that we’ve had. Bello: We’ve been getting exposed to what the values
and goals of student government are. Why should students vote for you? Their voice is heard, and always will be heard, as long as I have a position, as long as I’m elected. We get short term results but its with a long term vision. What do you think your greatest challenge will be? Getting our voices out, from working with our senators, as well as our friends. I think the biggest challenge will be finding a new way to do that. To try to get more of those concerns in. We’re trying to establish a student government office where students can come by. That’s what we want to work to do to bridge that gap, but figuring out the best way to do that will be the biggest challenge. Any closing remarks? We really want to continue serving the students. As student government, we made these steps and we understand where they’re supposed to go. Bello: It’s very rewarding to see progress. So it would be nice to have that opportunity, if elected, to continue to see that progress.
THE SPRINGHILLIAN
OPINION
March 5, 2015
Vote for a Leader, Not forYour Friend
By: Julia Arenstam Editor-in-Chief With Sunday’s impending SGA presidential election, I think it’s important to discuss why it is so vital for us as students, and members of this community, to be fully informed voters. It’s one thing to vote in an election, of any kind, but it’s another to vote for a certain
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party because you have actually done your research and support their platform. This election is not a popularity contest. It is not a vote of who looks better in a suit. This election, and the following Senate elections, will have a large impact on the workings of this campus. One of the candidates is a long-term SGA veteran. The other, while widely involved on this campus, has never served on the SGA. While seemingly total opposites, the two candidates share a wide range of goals and beliefs. This underlines the importance of getting to know the students that could represent you for the next year. Many of you, myself included, probably don’t remember the past two SGA Presidential elections. That’s because our current president ran unopposed both times. That isn’t to say he didn’t deserve the position;
but for the past two years, no one on this campus has thought about voting, or about a change in leadership. Since my freshman year at Spring Hill, the college has gone through three college presidents and three deans. Both of those positions are appointments made by some distant governing body known as the Board of Trustees. The student body has no voice in either of those positions. However, the SGA President is a student-elected representative who acts as a liaison between the student body and this mysterious Board of Trustees who makes daily decisions about the goings on at Spring Hill College. This relationship between SGA and the Board has a crucial role in ensuring that the voices of students are heard. Not only is being an educat-
ed voter a civic duty, but it’s common sense. You cannot legitimately vote for a person without knowing what they stand for and sharing similar goals. You have to understand what it is this potential candidate regards as important and valuable. You cannot vote for a person because they seem nice, or because they gave a good speech. It is so vital to the workings of a democracy, even the small democracy of the Sprinig Hill College, to elect leaders that reflect your same goals and values as a member of that community. Therefore, I urge every member of the student body to read about the candidates, not because I wrote the article, but because these are the people that are going to be fighting your battles. They are the ones that are going to push to reopen Langan Hall. They are the people that
bring you puppies during exam week and shuttle your intoxicated selves downtown on the Badger Bus. Whomever you elect to the position could have the power to influence your Spring Hill experience. The Student Government Association is a vital part of our campus life. Tonight, there will be a debate between the two candidates and their vice presidents in the Gautrelet Room at 9 p.m. I encourage students to attend the debate with an open mind, and come with questions prepared for the candidates. Think about every obstacle you face as a student; think about what would make this campus better, not just socially, but also academically. And lastly, think about which candidate you want to represent you as a member of the student body.
never been on the search for diverse emojis as far as race and occupation are concerned, but I do sometimes wonder why vanilla is usually the only flavor of ice cream offered. Sometimes I want strawberry or chocolate, or oreo. There are no emojis for that. However, I do agree that it’s important that all types of people are represented. It may seem a small issue at first, but it represents the larger issue of a lack of diversity in communication. Neil Patrick Harris’ comment at the Oscars, “tonight we honor Hollywood’s best and whitest,” was no accident. Harris’ comment is an example of the long running debate about why diversity isn’t a continuous thread in media communication. Whether it’s watching people on television, in movies, or seeing them represented in emojis, people enjoy seeing others that resemble them in prominent roles. People represented in media often stand as an example of what others can accomplish.
This is not to say that a 10-year-old asian girl can’t look up to a hispanic woman, but that displaying her own culture in media could inspire her to accomplish things that she never saw possible. If someone wants to enter a career field that people of their race aren’t known to compete in, or if they want an occupation that is mostly associated with someone of the opposite sex, seeing diversity in media could have a major influence on them. Emojis are the first of many steps that need to be taken to continue diversity. They are used to symbolize words, phrases, and feelings. They include representations of people, as well as how people are communicating. If a person can’t find a symbol that represents themselves, how are they supposed to feel about the way they’re being represented elsewhere? Despite Apple’s milestone, it’s still receiving criticism for its new emojis. The asian emoji is represented with a yellow face, leaving many
people offended. Now that Apple is diversifying its emojis, there is the question of whether or not people are being represented accurately. There’s a risk of stereotyping races and occupations, a risk I believe Apple is trying to avoid by portraying all of its representations of humans with the same hair, fa-
cial design, and overall body build. Despite the debate I think Apple is moving in the right direction for more diverse media communication. Soon there will be an emoji that represents not just one type of person, but all people, even people with pink hair.
Representing Diversity in Your Emojis
By: Cree Pettaway Assistant Editor After receiving criticism for not portraying enough diversity in their emojis, Apple has become the first mobile phone producer to create emojis with more variety. This includes emojis with different professional roles, as african americans/blacks, hispanics, and asians. The argument supporting emoji diversity is that minorities should have more representation. I for one, have
Graphic by: Cree Pettaway
THE SPRINGHILLIAN 6
LIFESTYLE
Delta Chi brothers, Ian Hatfield, Lee Leavitt, Ben Spotswood, and Stephen Nash transform into their alter egos for their invite party on Saturday. Photo courtesy of Lee Leavitt.
March 5, 2015
Badgers attend the CPB-sponsored Pelicans vs. Heat game in New Orleans. Photo courtesy of Juan Soto
Aswan Duncan prepares for the upcoming track and field meet at Mississippi College. Photo by: Phillip Travis
THE HILL Alumni with students and family during service at the Mobile SPCA on Saturday. Photo Courtesy of Cree Pettaway
THE SPRINGHILLIAN March 5, 2015
LIFESTYLE
Cree Pettaway, Ishemia Etheridge, and Aerona O’Cain take a stroll down Royal Street in New Orleans. Photo courtesy of Shaunicy Muhammad
Taylor Webre, Shea Blanchard, Taylor Lashasky, and Elise deBruler became the cast of Wizard of Oz for Phi Mu’s Phinally Famous party. Photo courtesy of Elise deBruler Raquel Galiano and Jordan Quinn pose for the Delta Chi Alter Ego party. Photo courtesy of Jordan Quinn
Jacqueline Day and Jay Howen throw it back to the 90’s for Phi Mu’s Phinally Famous party. Photo courtesy of Jay Howen
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THE SPRINGHILLIAN 8
LIFESTYLE
March 5, 2015
A.K.A. Sorority, Inc. Celebrates Black History Fan of a Fan 2 By: Ishemia Etheridge Staff-Writer
The members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. hosted a number of events last week honoring Black History Month. Black History is important because it is American History; therefore it affects us all. Students see the progress as a country of unity and striving to see everyone as equal. It is also important to be aware of the improvements of our country in regard to social justice. Falon Humphries, A.K.A. Sorority, Inc.’s President said, “It is important that we acknowledge the past in order
to recognize those individuals who made important contributions to history and not only black history, but American history.” They planned four days of activities. One of the events was “Pink goes Red for Health Heart.” On Saturday, Feb. 21, cheerleading coach Carrie Clayton involved Greek Life in the activities. A.K.A. Sorority, Inc. tailgated in the lobby of the recreation center, serving free nachos to the students while pumping up school spirit with a cheer. On Tuesday, Feb. 24, the members partnered with the cafeteria workers to honor Black History Month by providing campus with soul food.
Soul food is essential to the black culture. Eaten by African Americans in Southern United States, soul food includes foods such as: collard greens, black-eyed peas, biscuits, butter beans, catfish, cornbread, lima beans, macaroni and cheese, grits, chitterlings, and so much more. What better way to share culture than participating in the cultural cuisine? On Wednesday, Feb. 25, in the Student Center, the A.K.A.s hosted a Zumba session to help students live a healthier lifestyle. The A.K.A.s partnered with the American Heart Association for this event. Zumba was a way to move, exercise, and have a good time. Brianna Jackson, a member of SHC’s cheerleading squad, was the choreographer of the event. On Thursday, Feb. 26, A.K.A. presented a special candlelight vigil to honor not only black history, but also Spring Hill College’s involvement with Black History Month. Humphries said, “It it our way to honor Black History Month, but also incorporate Spring Hill College’s views on social justice.”
A.K.A. members practice healthy living during their Zumba class in the Student Center on Feb. 25. Photo by: Ishemia Etheridge
By: Phillip Travis Staff-Writer
Artists, Chris Brown and Tyga released their second collaboration, Fan of a Fan on Feb. 24. Both artists released their first collaborated mixtape, Fan of a Fan, on May 16, 2010. The music was released free to the public. DatPiff Mixtapes ranked the mixtape number two on the charts that year. It accumulated over 500,000 listeners and received a five-star rating. IHipHop ranked Fan of a Fan the number four mixtape of 2010. The track “Deuces,” featuring Kevin McCall, hit the number one spot on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs for seven non-consecutive weeks. AOL Radio named “No BS” the number one R&B song of 2010. The two artists teamed up again to produce the album. Some of the featuring artists include 50 Cent, Ty Dolla $ign, Pusha T, Lil Boosie, Fat Trel, Wale and T.I. The track “Ayo” currently occupies the number 17 position in the UK’s Hot 40. HipHopDX has given the album three stars since its release date. The album is expected to gross well. Tyga’s most recent album Hotel California sold over 90,000 copies. Chris Brown’s X album sold over 330,000 copies. The two artists expect this collaboration to receive sell more and attract more listeners than their two albums combined.
The Benefits of Tutoring at the Cener for Academic Excelence By: Jeremy Buckner Contributing Writer & CAE Writing Tutor If you are struggling academically, tutoring at Spring Hill College might be the right option for you. The Center for Academic Excellence (CAE) and the Center for Academic Support and Advising (CASA) offer free tutoring for all Spring Hill College students. Tutoring is a great way for students to seek one-on-one help with a peer for classes or even just specific materials that are causing problems. The CAE is a resource for students who need help with math or writing across the curriculum. We stress “writing across the curriculum” because many students believe that the CAE only offers help in math or English courses. However, the CAE will help you with material like math found in your chemistry courses or writing in your theology courses. As long as the help you need is in math or writing, the CAE is the place to go! CASA, on the other hand, offers
course-specific tutoring in most introductory courses. While math or writing problems in your classes might warrant a visit to the CAE, you should request a tutor through CASA if you are struggling in other classes academically. Tutoring is a great way to learn the material or gain math or writing skills differently from in class. Even those students who just need practice and a confidence boost might find help in the CAE or CASA. Tutors work with students of all skill levels, so whether you are suffering or just want reassurance that you know what you are doing, tutoring is a great option. Also, as a free resource with trained tutors, no one should ever be afraid to ask for help. Sometimes, we all need someone to re-explain something to us or push us in the right direction. Tutors are here to assist you! The CAE offers tutoring between 2 p.m. and 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. The CAE is located in Burke Library 107 in the back left corner of the library. To make an
appointment with the CAE, you can send an email (cae@shc.edu), call (251-308-3008), or go online (www. shc.edu/cae). The earlier you try to schedule an appointment, the more available they will be. CASA tutoring takes place primarily in the library and occasionally in other places, such as the chemistry building. Tutoring hours also de-
pend on the tutor and the student. Students requesting help should go online (shc.edu/casa) to locate the course-specific tutoring list and contact the tutor at least 24 hours in advance in order to set up a time that works for both of them.
Kent Cheramie (middle) tutors Jasmine Coaltes (left) and Kimberly Shoemaker (right) in the CAE. Photo by: Phillip Travis
THE SPRINGHILLIAN March 5, 2015
LIFESTYLE
The Decline of Twitter: Why Other Social Media are Taking Over By: Elizabeth Briggs Staff-Writer While this is the age of social media, where thoughts, pictures, and videos, are shared with the world, some social media platforms are showing a recent decline in usage. According to a survey by Tom Webster of convinceandconvert. com, Twitter’s demise is upon us. Webster’s survey compared the percentage of users age 12 and older on a variety of social media platforms. Based on this the results of this survey, Facebook is still overwhelmingly at the top of social media usage, with 58 percent of the survey’s population having a personal Facebook profile. Twitter users, however, make up only 16 percent of the population. Instagram and LinkedIn both have grown in recent years and surpassed the popularity of Twitter. Even Google+ ranked higher than Twitter, with 17 percent of the survey population having accounts. Theatlantic.com attributed this decline of Twitter to the overall homogenization of the social media
site. They claimed, “At some point Twitter narratives started to look the same…too much of Twitter was cruel and petty and fake.” Senior, Victoria LeBlanc agrees that Tweets on Twitter are too repetitive. She stated, “I would rather look at pictures on Facebook and Instagram than read Tweets.” Webster observed that “sharing images is a basic human behavior.” Think back to those days when your family pulled out the VHS and cassette tapes to share memories and experiences. Current popular social media, such as Instagram and Snapchat, and even FaceTime, cater to this desire. Although photographs can be Tweeted, Twitter fails to make the viewing of these pictures streamlined and easy. Junior, Tyler LaPointe said she does not use Twitter as much as she used to, but when she does, she uses it mostly for “keeping up with friends from home” and less for news updates. When it comes to pictures, however, LaPointe stated that Instagram is her preferred platform for sharing. With Twitter on the decline and
other social media steadily increasing in popularity, the human desire to share experiences is growing, and the platforms will always be in a process of change. This fad does not seem to be going away anytime soon.
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Erin Brennan, senior, and Rebecca Marroquin, sophomore, check out their social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. Photo by: Elizabeth Briggs
Landing a Summer Internship, Beyond the Résumé By: Cree Pettaway Assisstant Editor For the past few months, college students have been seeking out and applying for internship positions for the summer. Glassdoor, an employment site, compiled a list of the top 11 internships for college students. The list includes: Facebook, Quicken Loans, NBC Universal, and Apple. Facebook, NBC Universal, and Apple provide college students with experience in business, software building, and design. If finance is more your speed, Quicken Loans teaches interns about the mortgage industry. Whether you’ve already applied for a summer internship or not, pay attention to these key details. In an interview with Sharee Broussard, Ph.D., APR Associate Professor, and Communication Arts and Fine Arts Internship Coordinator, Broussard gives key advice for nailing your next application and interview. The first step to applying to any of these internships is having a positive online presence. Broussard recommends cleaning up your appearance online before you submit your résumé to any company. When asked what was the most common mistake
college students make when applying for an internship, Broussard said, “Their social media footprint doesn’t match the application materials.” With media being a prominent element in today’s society, it can be the first place an employer looks to get a sense of the person applying for a job. To clean up one’s media presence, Broussard suggested starting with your email. When applying for an entry-level position professionalism is key. This means that using an email address from sixth grade may not be the best option. Photos and social media accounts in the web should also be considered. “Make sure everything up there projects what you want to say about yourself,” said Broussard. A photo of you drinking at last week’s bonfire could be what costs you an interview. Once your Facebook and email are clear, make sure your résumé and cover letter say everything you need them to. Broussard described a résumé as the summary of all qualifying factors that help you get an interview. This means accurately portraying to a potential employer that you have the skills needed to perform the job without difficulty or error. If you’ve never worked a job
for pay, it’s important to let employers know of any activities inside and outside of class you’ve done that relate to the position you’re applying for. This is your way of showing potential employers that you have the skills they’re looking for. Broussard said don’t be afraid to ask for an interview. This should be included in the last paragraph of your cover letter. It’s not enough just to send a résumé and cover letter. Show the employer that you’re not only qualified for the job, but eager to start. If you find that during an internship you’re uncertain as to whether the job is something you want to do in the future, don’t be discouraged. Mark it as a learning experience. Broussard said internships “give students a chance to find out what they really like or don’t like.” The only way to truly know if you’ll enjoy doing something is to actually do it. At the very least, working an internship will give college students the experience they need when applying for jobs after college. Broussard said that this prevents the common problem of not being able to find a job due to a lack of experience. If you’re applying for an internship where you receive neither pay
nor school credit, make certain that no labor laws are being violated. “Internships should be for pay, for course credit or for both,” said Broussard. Otherwise, students run the risk of being submitted to “unfair labor practices.” According to the U.S. Department of Labor, there are six criteria that must be met by an organization to offer internships. This includes intern training, experience, and supervision. For the full list of qualifications, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s website. If you’re wondering when is the right time to apply for an internship, Broussard recommended college students intern after they’ve received basic skills in their major. This is usually junior or senior year, once students have had time to not only learn, but develop their skills. So how do you land an internship?
“Make yourself competitive...A lot of people have college degrees, what have you done to set yourself apart from everyone else?” -Sharee Broussard
THE SPRINGHILLIAN
SPORTS
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March 5, 2015
Women’s Rugby Takes Tough Loss To Alabama By: Brandon Krus Sports Editor
The Spring Hill College Women’s Rugby team took on the Alabama Crimson Tide this past Saturday on Dorn Field. Many people were excited to see the Badgers show off what they have been working on over the past few months. Although they only had one substitution available, that did not stop the intensity and drive of the team. The Badgers started out playing a solid defense for the beginning portion of the first half. They made a strong defensive stand by holding up the Crimson Tide on several goal line stands and two held up tries. The Badgers finally gained some momentum offensively when senior, Jasmine Brackett broke off for a long run into Alabama’s territory where the defense of the Crimson Tide held up. Freshman, Eryn Swarn kept the momentum going by scoring, giving the Bad-
gers a 5-0 lead. Eventually, the Badgers used their only substitution after Rebecca Perera left the game with a foot injury, puting pressure on the Badgers for the rest of the game. After holding steady for a while, the Crimson Tide took a 7-5 lead and did not look back. They took a 14-5 lead heading into the second half. Spring Hill came out strong in the second half behind some tenacious defense from senior, Amber Rowland and freshman, Tamiera Nash. Alabama ran the ball in for another score, taking a 19-5 advantage. But this did not shake the will of this Badger team as they found the try zone one more time, ending the game with a score of 19-10. Although they lost, the Badgers were excited about how they played against Alabama. Coach Goonan said, “Despite knowing the incredible challenge facing them, our ladies gave a courageous performance that earned the respect of their
opponents and supporters. This group surpassed all predictions that could be made about a team facing the kind of numbers deficit along with rarely and experience in the sport”.
The Badgers will host Spring Hill College 7’s Tournament on March 21.
The Badgers are looking to start the season off strong with a good showing at the Mississippi College Opener. Coach McVey said the teams have been taking the right preparations to get ready for this season. He said,
“We have done a good job of training and thinking like a top level Division II program. I am looking forward to what we can accomplish
The Lady Badgers are relieved after a rough game against the University of Alabama on Saturday. Photo courtesy of SHC Office of Sports Information
SHC Track & Field Ready to Start 2015 Season By: Brandon Krus Sports Editor Spring Hill College Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Teams will open their 2015 season this weekend as they travel to the Mississippi College Season Opener in Clinton, Miss. The Badgers will be competing in their inaugural season at the NCAA Division II level, and their first season in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The program is still young as it heads into its third season under Head Coach Craig McVey. McVey joined SHC athletics as the first head coach of the Badger Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track & Field programs in the summer of 2012. He then took over the reins of the Cross Country programs in 2013. He came to Spring Hill after 15 years as the associate head track & field coach at the University of Albany.
In his first two years, McVey has led the men’s team to third place finishes and led the women’s team to a fifth place finish in 2014. Although these are impressive for a team only being around for two years, McVey is setting high goals moving into the future. He said, “I am really pleased with the way we finished last year, but we are looking to move forward and make our mark at the next level.” There are around 30 athletes returning for both the men’s and women’s team this season. Leading the way for the Badgers is junior Jordan Travis for the men, and sophomore Corinne Missi for the women. Travis qualified for the NAIA National Tournament in the 800 meter run with a time of 1:53.83. Missi also qualified for the NAIA National Tournament in the triple jump while also claiming All-American honors.
this season.”
Above: Badgers, Phillip Travis, junior, and Robert Treuting, junior, compete in the 200 meter dash. Photo courtesy of Phillip Travis
THE SPRINGHILLIAN March 5, 2015
SPORTS
SHC’s Fit Tip of the Week: Pull-Ups By: Justin Gooonan Badger Strength & Conditioning
The objective of strength training is for an individual’s gains to transfer into a sports or real life setting. Using bodyweight exercises are great tools to increase body awareness and control without using external loads or objects. In today’s segment, we will explain some pull-up variations that will make this great bodyweight exercise more inviting for beginner and novice lifters. Name: Pull-up Target: Latissimus Dorsi, Posterior Deltoids, Rhomboids, Trapezius Timing: Strength Phase Execution: Hang from a pull-up bar with arms completely straight. Grasp the bar with hands slightly wider than shoulder width. Pull your chest toward the bar. Your chin should rise above the bar at the top of the move. Slowly lower your body to the starting position. Important: Keep your core tight and your legs motionless. Keep knees bent if your feet touch the floor at the bottom of the movement. Variation: Overhand Grip (pull-up) Underhand Grip (chin-up) Neutral Grip Inverted Pull-up (pictured) Email badgerstrength@gmail.com to suggest an exercise or topic you would like to see highlighted in this segment. For exercise demonstration clips to include in your workout, look for the Badger Strength channel on YouTube.
Top: Goonan demonstrates an overhand grip pull-up. Middle and Bottom: Goonan demonstrates a modified inverted pull-up. Photos courtesy of Justin Goonan,
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Upcoming Games in SHC Athletics
3/6 - 3/8 Softball at The Gulf Coast Invitational Tournament 3/6 Men’s and Women’s Tennis at Loyoloa University - 3:00 p.m. 3/7 Men’s and Women’s Track at Mississippi College Season Opener - 10:00 a.m. 3/7 Baseball vs. Tuskegee University (DH) - 3:00 p.m. & 5:00 p.m. 3/7 Sand Volleyball vs. Faulkner University & Loyola University 3/8 Men’s and Women’s Tennis vs. Tuskegee University 10:00 a.m. 3/8 Baseball vs. Tuskegee University - 1:00 p.m. 3/8 Men’s and Women’s Tennis vs. Huntingdon College 1:00 p.m. 3/9 - 3/10 Women’s Golf at Loyola Invitational 3/10 Women’s Tennis vs. Missouri Baptist University - 2:00 p.m. 3/10 Men’s and Women’s Tennis vs. University of Mobile 6:00 p.m. 3/11 Baseball at University of West Alabama - 3:00 p.m. 3/12 Softball vs. Albany State University - 12:00 p.m. 3/12 Softball vs. Benedict College - 6:00 p.m. For information on schedules and scores, be sure to visit www.shcbadgers.com.
THE SPRINGHILLIAN 12
HILL YEAH!
March 5, 2015
On the Spot: What’s the weirdest app on your phone?
Malek Abuhmoud Freshman
Connor Blaschak Sophomore
Caroline McGraw Junior
Shardena Jones Senior
“Opposing Views. This is controversial news which is the weird unusual news so I guess it’s weird.”
“SimpleUkuleleturner. This app allows me to create my own tunes on the ukulele.”
“Waze, it allows me to know when police are nearby and it allows me to tell others using the app when the cops are ahead. I haven’t gotten a ticket all year.”
“Baby Phone. I downloaded it for my nephew but I play it from time to time too.”
Same-Sex Marriage Encounters Opposition in Alabama State Courts By: Hannah McIntyre Staff-Writer Jan. 23 marked a historic day in Alabama, especially for its homosexual residents. U.S. District Court Judge Callie V. Granade ruled in favor of the freedom to marry, striking down the state’s ban on the marriages of same-sex couples On Feb. 9 some counties in Alabama began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. However, the majority of judges in the state declined to do so, citing the Alabama State Constitution, which bans same-sex marriage. On Feb. 12 a federal judge ordered a county official to issue a marriage license to a gay couple, and the rest of the state began to follow suit. Since then, things have been slowly sloping downward. Roy Moore, Chief Justice of Alabama, sent a missive to state probate judges refusing to issue marriage licenses to gay couples. Moore explained to the judges he was not bound to adhere to the ruling made in late January, which explained that Alabama’s gay marriage ban was unconstitutional.
Moore recognized he will have to follow what the United States Supreme Court declares later this year, but he wants to keep fighting the issue until he is forced to stop. He believes that if the Supreme Court chooses to legalize gay marriage, it would be one of their greatest mistakes, comparing it to allowing segregation, slavery, and abortion. Moore has said that if given a case dealing with gay marriage, he would refuse to concede with the official ruling in his judicial opinions, or he would dissent or recuse himself. The Sanctity of Marriage Alabama group also opposes the legalization of same-sex marriage. The group held two rallies in February at the State Capitol of Alabama, and has expressed support for Moore in a news release. “Several have refused, and we applaud their resolve,” read the release. “Some of our leaders have cowered and others have stood firm.” While all of this opposition is filling the news, more counties are issuing same-sex marriage licenses. Alabama is on its way to full legalization of same-sex marriage.
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