The SpringHillian Volume 111, Issue 2
February 20, 2020
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
Students Spend Mardi Gras Abroad
Matthew Brent | Reporter Spring Hill College students will be donating their time around the world this Mardi Gras break through the ISIP and JET programs. Five groups of students will aid the communities of El Paso, Guayna, Quito, Belize City, and Punta Gorda at the end of this February. The Spring Hill students who are taking part in these trips will be participating in activities that will help the local people. Through actions such as talking to the community and spreading the Jesuit lifestyle Spring Hill offers, these students will offer a helping hand. The ISIP or, International Service Immersion Program and Jet, the Jesuit Experience Trip, programs offer students the opportunity to go on an immersive trip to another country while also aiding those who live there. The students have been pre-
pared to go to these countries by being taught proper ways to travel and handle the new environments they will be in. The students have met every Tuesday during the semester leading up to the trip in order to help them learn to be immersed safely. The students are excited to embark on these trips and help those they can. Meghan Sullivan, Spring Hill Senior said, “I heard great things about ISIP last year and knew I wanted to do an immersion trip while in college. I really am looking forward to going on the JET trip this break!” Other students hope to learn on this trip. A Junior Communication Arts major, Eleanor Grindinger, said “My group hopes to come back to Spring Hill advocating for those in the process of immigrating.” The trips in previous years have allowed students to
Left to right: Meghan Sullivan, Maria Marchetti, Chris Daffin, Lucy Martinez | Matthew Brent travel to various locations benefits of a Jesuit lifestyle. beads and stuffed animals, a in Belize and Central Amer- These students will have sto- few groups of students will ica where they were able to ries of their trips about how be trying to help others in work with a school and help their immersion trips went different countries this Marthe youths. The trip provides for a long time while many di Gras break. a chance for memories to be people forget which parades made and lives to be changed they went to. So, while many for both the students giving people will be spending this and the people receiving the upcoming weekend catching
SHC Seeks to Improve Campus Ashleigh Kerr | Reporter In recent weeks, Spring Hill College has been working hard to improve the aesthetic of the campus. Students may have already noticed some changes such as power washing, repainting and working fountains. Rachel Lee, Facilities Project Manager and Grounds Supervisor explained more about the changes being made. The school has partnered with Weatherford Lawn and Fountain to restore the fountains on campus. The one on the South Lawn is already running. There is a sealing problem with the fountains at Skips, Viragh and the learning center next to the library. The school is hoping to fix it as soon as possible so that all of the fountains on campus will
Campus Fountain | Ashleigh Kerr be working again. Students will soon have the opportunity to think, study and relax by the school fountains. All three walls at the Dauphin Street entrance have
recently been power washed and have had the letters repainted with brighter colors. New mulch was laid down and pansies were also planted at the entrance to give it a more colorful look for anyone entering the campus or driving by. The power washing does not just stop there. With the purchase of three new power washers, the Grounds team can now keep walkways, outdoor seating and walls looking clean. By hiring a power washing company for maintaining the Campus Tour, the school hopes to use them to also power wash the buildings on campus each year as well. Stewartfield will also receive a couple of upgrades. Alabama Power will be installing
a new heating and cooling system for the building to provide a more comfortable atmosphere throughout the year. The house will also have a new roof in the same style, to reduce the risk of any future leaks. Students living in Viragh were dealing with the problem of red dirt being tracked into their rooms. The Grounds team came up with a solution by building a gravel walkway and finished the look with a river rock border and stepping stones. What else can Spring Hill students expect to see? As far as future projects go, the plan is to have wooden swings put up around campus. Lee explains, “We have one of the most beautiful college campuses in the
South and I think it’s important to have nice opportunistic sitting areas to just sit and reflect on what a beautiful place we truly have, or to serve as small social areas where students can engage with one another.” Mandi Moore, Office Manager of Plant Operations, states that as there is a budget that they must stick to, they are focusing on one project at a time. Students are encouraged to make suggestions. Lee goes on to say, “Spring Hill is the best College around and it’s important for the Grounds to always reflect that! That being said, I’m also ALWAYS open to input and ideas from students.”
February 20, 2020 NEWS SHC Promotes Student Internships
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Sanaja Andre | Reporter What is every college student expected to do before they graduate? One would normally answer ‘make Dean’s List’ or ‘set a school record’ or even ‘leave a new club as my legacy on campus’. However, none of these are expected of students. Every college student is expected to have had at least one internship experience before they reach graduation. Why? It shows initiative. The Office of Alumni Relations and Development is a tight-knit and essential office on Spring Hill’s campus. The office’s Vice President, Mary McDonald, and other faculty members have gone to a week-long Case Conference in Orlando, Florida. This office handles a majority of the scholarships that students on and off-campus are receiving, alumni activity and philanthropy events for Spring Hill College. Recently, this department granted student interns the opportunity to be a part of the Case Conference. This year, the Case Conference
was based on a D3 concept: data, design and diversity. It is a networking opportunity to connect colleges from all over the United States. Junior, Daja Thomas is the only undergraduate that was at the conference from Spring Hill College who earned the Delegate Scholarship, granting her the opportunity to attend. “The main focus is advancement, but as a college student, this has been beneficial to me because they were really impressed with the knowledge and experience I have as an undergrad. And some even want to offer me jobs once I graduate, so they took my information so that they can keep up with me,” said Daja. The goal of the conference is to network with other institutions and businesses to see what it is they are doing in the advancement field that is making them successful. Then, faculty and interns will take what they have learned and try to incorporate it into our institution. There were billion-dollar industries that
were there speaking while also providing recruitment opportunities for future careers. “I believe internships are an important part of the college experience. Having an internship allows for experiential learning, which can broaden a student’s worldview. They allow a student to put what they have learned in the classroom into action while gaining real-world experience,” said Mary McDonald. The vice president went on to say, “I also recommend networking if you have not interned. Meeting people in your desired field can help you have a foot in the door when you are on the job hunt.” The conference was a great success and much was learned from all those who attended. If you’re a Spring Hill College student looking for an internship, contact Jermey Moore, Director of Career Development. “I don’t think all programs require it, I mean that could be beneficial, although if you’re in
something like Pre-Health, you’re getting job shadowing hours. Those are not necessarily an internship, but it’s practical experience,” said Moore. “You cannot graduate from an Education or a Nursing program without practical experience. Communication Arts has a requirement that students complete an internship in order to graduate and that really gives you an advantage. Statistically, time to employment is quicker, and then salaries
tend to be higher for those who completed internships.” There is another way for students to get interactive with internship opportunities on an app called, “Hand Shake”. Moore mentioned, “This is the number one tool for entry-level jobs and internships.” This app allows students to connect with all Fortune 500 companies as well as local employers. If you haven’t already, download the app to start networking.
Student Interning | Sanaja Andre
SHC Launches Continuing Studies Program Megan Lear | Reporter
Spring Hill College recently launched online-exclusive business courses designed to provide students a practical skill set in a variety of business areas that will allow them to thrive in today’s business environment. Dr. Daniel Massey, Assistant Professor of Philosophy and continuing studies director, calls this program ‘an extension of the values at Spring Hill College.’ “The students who will be doing this will have done some college, and this is a chance for them to
come back to college and finish a degree or learn a new skill set or new profession to help them advance in their life.” The continuing studies program houses a multitude of degrees and certificates, most notably the Bachelor of Science in Business and Professional Studies where students can choose concentrations in supply chain management, management in marketing, sports management or computer information systems. Wheth-
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er students are interested in starting their own business or want to move into senior management roles, these concentrations will give them the solid foundation they need. In addition,
it is designed to include the prerequisite courses normally required for admission to most Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs. The continuing studies program also is designed to be similar to the in-class college experience. Students will participate in a vibrant course structure and interact with their classmates and professor, the same way they might in person. “Online courses are always very different from an in-person
course. But I think they differ less than you might think,” said Dr. Massey. “The instructor needs to be a presence and the students need to be interacting with one another. So, you might be sitting in your pajamas taking your course but you’re having the same kinds of interactions you’d have with your professor or colleagues in the classroom. I hope it’s not too different, in fact.”
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BTV Producer:
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Reporters: Matthew Brent, Ashleigh Kerr, Sanaja Andre, Megan Lear, Lauren Cowan, Ethan Mercer, Matthew Moreno, Eleanor Grindinger
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Stuart Babington, Gary Wolverton and Bill Rowan
OPINION Gayle King Faces Interview Backlash Volume 111, Issue 2
Sanaja Andre | Reporter
A month has gone by, and the world is still dealing with the aftermath of Kobe Bryant’s death. This wellknown athlete, his 13 year old daughter and seven other victims were on their way to a basketball practice in California’s foggy weather in the morning on Sunday, Jan. 26. They were flying without direction because of the fog impairing the pilot’s vision
until they fatally crashed into the side of a hill. The world was shook. It hit all of America and even affected fans overseas. Even if you are not a basketball fan, this tragic event struck a nerve. Within ten days of Kobe Bryant’s death, Gayle King, a broadcast journalist known for working with CBS News held an interview with Lisa Leslie, a former WNBA legend and friend of Byant’s. King prompted Leslie with questions about the MVP and all he has been through in his life as well as his basketball career. However, it was Gayle King’s questions about a sexual assault case involving Bryant from 2003 that has caused a media frenzy. As a student-journalist, I am still learning the in’s and out’s of this tricky but exciting industry. One must know the law that comes with working for the mass media as well as the ethics that follow it. Even though it is hard to keep the
balance of fighting for truth while being empathetic towards the people being reported, there is a balance to maintain. I do not think, coming from a journalistic point of view, that King’s questions were so outlandish to ask. They were public record information, and I am sure that during the time of the actual case King is referring to, that the paparazzi was gaining their fill of information along with fake news.I do believe that her timing for that particular question was more than inappropriate. Ten days after he left this world, King began digging up his dirty laundry for the world to see, and what makes it worse is that Kobe is not here to defend himself. She did not give his family, his friends or his fans enough time to grieve this tragic loss before trying to taint the legacy he has left behind with arbitrary allegations . She did
not give the world enough time to celebrate Kobe’s life before trying to tear everything he worked for down with her probing questions. In the interview King even describes the woman involved in the sexaul assualt case as “victims”. Not saying that the young lady has not gone through some form of violation, but in my opinion King’s mind, Kobe is guilty. Not mentioning that the charges filed against Bryant were dropped. Since the interview, King has been receiving fierce backlash from the public. Fans and friends of Kobe Bryant took to social media to voice their opinions. Oprah Winery, in a following interview defended her friend Gayle King. While fighting back tears, Opah said, “She is not doing well”, and mentions that King has requested for extra security and immediately started receiving death threats.
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Snoop Dogg, an American rapper and friend of the retired basketball star was one the first people to comment on Gayle King’s interview. Snoop Dogg was hurt and upset letting his emotions rule over his judgment. He posted a video online directed at the broadcast journalist, and as much as he is entitled to his opinions, the only issue with his response was that he called King hurtful and misogynistic insults. Since then, the rapper has posted another video in which he not only apologizes to Gayle King, but he asks her to have a face-to-face meeting to really converse without the harsh scrutiny of the public eye.
NAACP Celebrates Founders’ Day Lauren Cowan | Guest Columnist
This past Wednesday, on Feb. 12, the NAACP celebrated its 111th founders’ day. On Feb. 12, 1909, eight individuals, including W. E. B. DuBois, Mary White Ovington, Moorfield Storey, and Ida B. Wells, came together in New York to create the largest, oldest and boldest civil rights organization. It was formed partially in
EDITORIAL POLICY:
response to the ongoing violence against African Americans around the country, specifically the 1908 Springfield Race Riot in Illinois. In that event, two black men were being held in a Springfield jail for alleged crimes against white people of the area. Those men were secretly transferred to a jail in another city. This spurred a white mob to burn down 40 homes in Springfield’s black residential district, ransack local businesses and murder two African Americans. As a response to this race riot, the NAACP was established. In its charter, the NAACP promised to advocate equal rights, eliminate racial prejudice and advance the interest of colored citizens in regard to voting rights, legal justice and education-
al and employment opportunities. Since its inception, the NAACP has worked to achieve its goals through the judicial system, through lobbying and peaceful protests. In 1910, Oklahoma passed a constitutional amendment allowing people whose grandfathers had been eligible to vote in 1866 to register without passing a literacy test. The NAACP challenged the law and won a legal victory in 1915 when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Guinn v. United States that grandfather clauses were unconstitutional. Today, the NAACP has more than 2,200 branches and some half a million members worldwide. For 111 years, our great organization has worked diligently to advance justice for all persons. We
The SpringHillian is published five times each semester from January to April. The views expressed herein do not represent the views of Spring Hill College and are not the views of the faculty, administration, staff or students. They are the views of the individual columnists.
stand for equity for all persons. Our vision is to ensure a society in which all individuals have equal rights without discrimination based on race. Our mission is to ensure the political, educational, social and economic equality of rights of all persons and to
SUBMISSIONS:
eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination.
The SpringHillian publishes guest submissions at the discretion of the student-editor and section editors. Submissions should be less than 300 words, and editors reserve the right to edit the submissions for length and content. Original writings should be mailed or delivered to: Student-editor, The SpringHillian, Communication Arts, Spring Hill College, 4000 Dauphin Street, Mobile, AL 36608. Submissions may also be sent as emailed attachments to: shcmedia@email.shc.edu.
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The SpringHillian
AROUND THE HILL
Students celebrate at Campus Programming Board’s 2020 Mardi Gras Ball!
February 20, 2020
Volume 111, Issue 2
AROUND THE HILL
SGA hosts SHC’s Mardi Gras parade and students come out to celebrate. | Sanaja Andre
Father Lucey crowned Mardi Gras King by CPB | Sanaja Andre
Student organizations participate in the Mardi Gras parade. | Sanaja Andre Sigma Chi wins best float.
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LIFESTYLE
February 20, 2020
SHC Receives Mental Health Grant Megan Lear | Reporter
The Alabama Department of Public Health awarded Psychology professors Dr. Jamie O’Bryant and Dr. Jamie Franco-Zamudio a one-year $10,000 grant towards mental health awareness, suicide prevention and LGBTQ+ support. Together, Dr. O’Bryant and Dr. Franco-Zamudio have founded the Get Support, Give Support Project which will offer multiple interventions that focus on providing additional mental health resources as well as support to students and allies in the LGBTQ+ community. Over the next year, Dr. O’Bryant and Dr. Franco-Zamudio will evaluate the effectiveness of these new resources, hoping to have reduced suicide risk and stigma for help-seeking
behavior. “We chose the title ‘Get Support, Give Support’ for this project because our goal is not only to provide training and resources to those seeking mental health help, but also to those who are providing that help to others.” said Dr. O’Bryant. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to participate in upcoming events which include a public speaker, training events, Rock the Hill and a vigil commemorating those lost to suicide. A portion of the grant also focuses on providing extra support to members of the LGBTQ+ community as they are often at higher risk for depression, anxiety and suicide ideology. Through the Get Support, Give Support
Project, students and faculty are participating in a fiveweek common read of Father Martin’s Building a Bridge: How the Catholic Church and the LGBT Community Can Enter Into a Relationship of Respect, Compassion, and Sensitivity. The project has also provided free, off-campus counseling to LGBTQ+ identifying students through a partnership with Collins Counseling & Associates. Students can make an appointment by phone at 251473-3410 and check in with their student ID. “For me, this work is not only an opportunity to provide useful resources and tools to students and colleagues,” said Dr. O’Bryant. “But it has also allowed me to find new connections
on campus and learn more about the current culture at Spring Hill College.” All those interested are invited to attend guest speaker Andrew Onimus’ talk about mental health on Mar. 18 at 6
p.m. in LeBlanc. There will be a follow-up suicide prevention event hosted by Lifelines Counseling Services on Mar. 19 at 12:15 p.m. in Gautrelet.
IFC Welcomes New Members
Ethan Mercer | Reporter February 1st, men’s greek life on campus grew larger with the Interfraternity Council (IFC) finishing up their Formal Recruitment process. With almost 50 guys going through the process, the four fraternities on campus welcomed their new classes with open arms. At first, the sign up for recruitment was low, causing concern for fraternities’ growth. Concerns were high among the IFC and it’s president, Neil Daly. “There were definitely concerns, most important for me was making sure kids signed up and
ensuring everything went smoothly,” said Daly. Chapter sizes have always been significantly lower at Spring Hill than state schools but that comes with the smaller student body so getting recruitment numbers up has been a problem for the IFC. But with this year’s recruitment having more guys signed up than last year, IFC was really satisfied with their performance. Daly went on to say “we had 15 more guys sign up which was fantastic to see especially with the rise of more and more commuter students. To me, see-
ing an increase in Rushees is a great sign for next year and the years to come.” Greek Life has been a hot topic in recent years. In fact, Spring Hill SGA Candidates have been pushing for greek housing, which has been non-existent for greek life members since the late 20th century. Many believe that no housing for greek life hurts the campus overall. The topic that was brought up two years ago during the SGA Presidential debate, but was quickly shut down. Countless cases of radical hazing across the nation, and the revolving door of our Student Affair and Student Involvement positions hasn’t helped public relations for the campus. Spring Hill hasn’t had the warmest welcome toward the progression of Greek Life. But the IFC president wished the best for the college’s fraternities and many believe he did a great job with his position. With the difficulties of
Greek Life support on campus, Daly commented on the production of the rush process saying “setting up the rush process was interesting, there were parts of it that were really easy, and other aspects that became difficult. The fiasco the morning of the rush with not having designated holding rooms for each fraternity was a lot to handle, but thanks to the help of the other guys on IFC, it was a slight setback and we were able to figure it out. There weren’t any issues with school administrations, Kevin Abel and Ashley Russell were a huge help to us and were willing to assist in any way they possibly could.” The problem with the holding rooms was because the original rooms in Byrne were labeled as “not usable” for disclosed reasons according to Daly. But Spring recruitment is over for Spring Hill and the new members have begun their strides towards initiation. Many considered this
year as a huge success for recruitment, Daly finished saying “yeah, I do believe it was a success. Each organization did well and got some great guys to add to their chapter”.
SPORTS 7 Men’s Basketball Celebrates Senior Night Volume 111 Issue 2
Reporter | Matthew Moreno The Spring Hill Men’s basketball team honored their Seniors as they faced up against Lane College. In honor of them, each Senior was acknowledged with their achievements while walking out to the center of the court accompanied by family and friends. The role of a Senior is to be a role model to the younger players on and off the court. With lots of experience, Senior Gresyn Rogers has set the standard for what a student athlete should be. He spoke specifically about his role on the team: “As a senior my role is to basically set the tone for the underclassmen, whether that be with school work or my energy in practice.” While Rogers performs well in the classroom, he also brings energy and leadership to the court. In a total of 102 games played he started 60 of those games, with a career total of 972 points, 117 assist, and 288 rebounds. Through leadership, there is always adversity that needs to be faced. Redshirt Junior Ryan Littel, faced an inju-
Gresyn Rogers goes for a shot. | Photograph by Matthew Moreno ry by tearing his ACL, MCL, and Meniscus. Although he hasn’t been on the court with his teammates as much this year, he still shows great humility and leadership in the program. Littel said the following on the matter, “Even though I’m not getting minutes, I’m helping guys that
are getting minutes, go harder and get better in practice that way they can perform a high level on the court.” Contribution from everyone on the team is a key component for the Spring Hill men’s basketball program. Working for the team as a whole and lifting each other up in rough
times are what the Seniors have done throughout their Spring Hill careers. Pat McNamara, a Senior Guard is a recent transfer from Fairleigh Dickinson University, and has already had an immediate impact on the Badgers. In 16 only games, he started 9 of those
games, with a career total of 96 points, 17 assists, and 21 rebounds. Chase Shellman, a forward returning to the badgers as a Redshirt Senior has been a huge help and leader for the men’s basketball program. In a total of 107 games played he started 81 of those games, with a career total of 1076 points, 246 assists, and 660 rebounds. Dwight Harris, a Guard,is also another returning Redshirt Senior. Transferring from Chattanooga State Community College, his Junior year has been a great contribution with his energy and flare that he brings to the game. In a total of 53 games played, he started 50, with a career total of 468 points, 116 assist, and 207 rebounds. With so much talent bidding goodbye to the program, it goes without a doubt that their influence will leave an impression on those who fill their spots.
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The SpringHillian
HILL YEAH!
February 20, 2020
ON THE SPOT
“What would be your dream Valentine’s Day date?”
Hayden Franklin | Sophomore “Something that doesn’t involve money, something outside. Today is a beautiful day so a picnic by the water would be nice.”
Grant Freeman | Senior “I would wanna go out to a nice restaurant, and then after go get ice cream or something and then go home...”
Kacy Nalley | Freshman “I want to go to Turks and Caicos and then on the island let go of lanterns with rose petals around us.”
Galentine’s Day Eleanor Grindinger| Reporter
Women on Spring Hill’s campus decided to throw their very own “Galentine’s Day” celebration in Skips on Feb. 13. Galentine’s Day is a current trend and is commonly recognized by women as the day before Valentine’s Day. Women both with and without significant others celebrate on this day by being around their friends and supporting each other in different ways. This night is normally a relaxing and fun night filled with face masks, movies and junk food. The ladies of the second floor Skips pod decided to make Galentine’s Day a little more uplifting. They wrote sentimental, anonymous notes to each other, made new friends, ate desserts and listened to music. This night filled with friendship and support, allowed the attendees to focus on their friends rather than
the desire of having a significant other. Jamie Martin, Skips second flood resident, explains, “It’s an important day for girls to support and rely on one another. You never know when someone needs support.” Galentine’s Day overall shows the importance of lifting women up as well as having a fun, relaxing time without distractions. According to an interview conducted by NPR, the start of Galentine’s Day came from the producers of the television show, Parks and Recreation. Amy Poehler’s character from the show, Leslie Knope, explains Galentine’s Day in an episode from 2010 when she states, “What’s Galentine’s Day? Oh, it’s only the best day of the year. Every February 13th, my lady friends and I leave our husbands and our boyfriends at home, and we just come and kick it breakfast style - ladies
celebrating ladies.” Since this episode, groups of women such as those who hosted the celebration on the second floor of Skips are celebrating Galentine’s Day to its fullest. This commercial-holiday has allowed women to feel loved and supported at times when they might be feeling lonely. The girls celebrating this day feel that the reason this day is celebrated is not because of a lack of a significant other, but rather because time with friends and time to focus on yourself is just as important.
Kireyonne Mannor | Senior “I would like to go on a boat ride somewhere peaceful. Maybe Greece with a picnic on the deck.”