The SpringHillian Volume 110, Issue 2
Thursday, October 3, 2019
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
President Lee Lists 5 Year Initiatives Gabriella Tucker | Reporter With a new five-year contract in hand, SHC President Joe Lee is looking ahead to a number of longterm initiatives. Dr. Lee is a Maine native but has grown to call Mobile his home. He believes his wife, has really taken a liking to Mobile and they have “a ball” whenever they are here together. His wife is the reason he is at Spring Hill, as she encouraged him to pursue the job because she thought it was the perfect fit for him. Dr. Lee has many exciting goals for the next five years. Those include
increasing enrollment in undergraduates, transfers, graduate, and participants in online programs. He would also like to increase the salary and retirement funds of the professors. Dr. Lee wants to eat in the cafeteria at least once a week to spend more time with the students as he “did not do a very good job of that last year.” Dr. Lee, Joe as he likes to be called, encourages students to visit him in his office “just to say hello- not only when they are in trouble or something bad happens.” He loves interacting with the
students and his favorite day is move-in day! SGA President, Cade Dernlan, has met with Dr. Lee and he called it a “special moment” because he found that they have the same goals. He has said that SGA has many initiatives that will “hopefully come to fruition very soon.” Dernlan believes that Dr. Lee has the passion for higher education and the “fervor” to really make a great impact on The Hill. Whenever Dr. Lee is not in his office, he enjoys walking around campus, baking, and cooking. He is proud to call
Watermelon Bash 2019 See page 8 for story
Students participate in Lambda Chi Alpha’s Philanthropy Event
Dr. Lee, President of Spring Hill College himself a “foodie” and has really enjoyed the Mobile food and culture. Dr. Lee likes to golf “when it is cooler”, and he enjoys watching
New England sports teams because they are “different than the teams down here.” He enjoys reading quite a lot and even called it his passion.
Photographs | Madeleine Naquin, Eleanor Grindinger, Sanaja Andre, Grace Crapps
NEWS SHC Updates its Alcohol Policy
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The SpringHillian
October 3, 2019
Caroline Hunt | Reporter At the beginning of this year, like any other, students of all classes and dorm living situations were brought together for mandatory meetings with their resident advisors and the directors of residence life to discuss school alcohol policies. Most of the information was the same run-through of what students have been told at the start of every year. This year, residence life staff shared with students that there were slight changes in the alcohol policies involving common source alcohol and the tools and containers often used
for rapid consumption in order to make things more clear. Director of Residence Life, Holly Banning, addressed the topic by saying, “Last spring,
student affairs staff held four focus group sessions to discuss alcohol policies with SHC students.” The students represented various groups on campus, including the Student Government Association, which has representatives from each class. The updated policies have been implemented in the handbook for all dorm buildings on campus, excluding the freshman halls, which should not be affected one way or another since they are drybuildings.
Empty Alcohol Containers | Caroline Hunt
newswire.shc.edu
SHC MEDIA TEAM:
@shcstudentmedia
According to residence life and community standards, the change occurs in the wording of prohibited conduct. The rule states, “possessing a common source of alcohol (e.g., kegs, coolers, or equivalent quantities of ‘pooled’ alcohol,” are prohibited on campus. In another section, it states that “Beer pong tables (purchased or hand-made), funnels, bongs, bars, and other devices used for the rapid consumption of alcoholic beverage is prohibited.” A common response that students have to this new policy is that there is no difference between a cooler and refrigerator. They question, why is one allowed and not the other? In response to this, Holly Banning stated, “providing students with alcohol out of a cooler fits within the definition of common source alcohol.” This rule is not a new one, the wording has just been tweaked in order to provide students with a more clear understanding of what exactly is included in “possession of common source alcohol.” She explains that Residence Life felt that the new wording would, “help the students understand more clearly that the policy included coolers—that having a cooler was not a way around the common source alcohol policy.” Students find concern with the policy, stating that there is no issue with using coolers and it should be possible to have a folding table without it being deemed a beer pong table.
In reference to beer pong and folding tables, the answer is the same, all policies are consistent with what they were before, the wording has just been tweaked. Beer pong tables, specifically, have always been prohibited; however, the difference now is that any folding table that could be used for beer pong or any other games involving rapid consumption are banned. “We want our students to have a good time, but we also want them to abide by the law and remain safe,” says Holly Banning in reference to the new policies. “I feel strongly that the safety of our students is of the utmost importance.” When asked if there was a specific reason that the wording changed, Holly Banning responded, “The new wording in the alcohol
policies were meant to address rapid consumption devices on campus, we are really seeing a positive trend in the number of incidents, hospital transports, and calls for heavily intoxicated individuals, which was the administration’s goal all along.”
@SHC_Media
SHC Student Media
shcmedia@shc.edu
The SpringHillian Editor:
Web Editor:
BTV Producer:
Art Director:
Advertising Manager:
BTV Director:
Grace Crapps
Joanna Dembowski
Amelia Hoffeld Caroline Weishaar
Cassidi Sterrett
Chase Brouillette
Alcohol cans on a table. | Caroline Hunt
Reporters: Caroline Hunt, Jose Chavarria, Tara Summers, Gariella Tucker, and Blake Flood.
Advisors:
Stuart Babington and Toi Thornton
OPINION Death From A Stick: The Vaping Crisis
Volume 110, Issue 1
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Tara Summers | Reporter
Many college students vape regularly, claiming that e-cigarettes help them destress between classes. However, these vaping devices are linked to multiple cases of illness and even death across the country. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the national death toll from lung illnesses linked to vaping
is now up to at least 15 people, while over 800 cases of the vaping-associated lung injuries have also been reported. The most popular form of e-cigarettes for young adults are Juuls. The cigarette-alternative brand has previously advertised that their vaping products are “99% safer than cigarettes,” to the disapproval of the FDA. The brand has converted many cigarette-smokers to regular vapors with their product, but they have also gotten many young people, including adolescents, addicted to nicotine. Now that a criminal investigation has been launched against the brand, the $38 billion company’s CEO Kevin Burns
has officially stepped down from his position, according to MarketsInsider. Juul has also announced that they will cease all advertising in the U.S. Since the vaping crisis has spread across the nation, the Trump administration announced this month that they plan to ban most flavored e-cigerettes, according to The New York Times. Trump said “We cant allow people to get sick. And we cant have our kids be so affected.” The CDC says that about 62% of patients with vaping-related illnesses are between 18 to 34 years old, and 22% of patients are between 18 and 21. There are 16 cases of vapingrelated illness cases under investigation right here in
Alabama. According to NBC News, patients affected by vaping-associated injuries experience symptoms similar to those of pneumonia, During an interview with CBS, Burns himself warned
that those not already using nicotine should not vape and not use Juul products. I agree that people not already addicted to nicotine have no reason to even pick up an e-cigarette. Why waste the money on a product that does not benefit you? The truth is that no one really knows just how dangerous vaping products can be. Personally, I would prefer to not be a human “lab-rat” and risk illness or death from vaping. The CDC recommends that people refrain from using vaping products, especially those containing THC, and I agree with this completely.
*Joker Film Controversial Content* Grace Crapps | Reporter
EDITORIAL POLICY:
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.
SUBMISSIONS:
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
October 3, 2019
Students unwind by riding a skateboard around Rydex Commons.| Photo: Tara Summers
A group of students have dinner together at the caf. | Photo: Tara Summers
Students study and enjoy lunch at Einstein’s. | Photo: Tara Summers
Volume 110, Issue 1
AROUND THE HILL
Two students take advantage of free yoga in the Eichold Gallery. | Photo: Tara Summers
Name brands right across the street!
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The SpringHillian October 3, 2019 6 LIFESTYLE Student Struggles with Food Sensitivity
Jose Chavarria | Reporter In recent years, the benefits of a glutenfree diet have become widely recognized, but undoubtedly thousands of people suffering from food intolerance have been diagnosed. Among the students at Spring Hill College, there is no exception. Gillian Nelson, a junior at Spring Hill College, explains her personal experience about her three years of
living with a food sensitivity. “When I was diagnosed in 2016 at the age of 17 with food intolerance, I was told to adhere to a gluten-free diet,” said Nelson. Nelson mentioned how emotional and frustrating it was after she was diagnosed with a food sensitivity. For these people, food sensitivity can be a challenge, since in many cases their eating routine must be completely changed.
Gulten-Free Pizza in the Caf. | Jose Chavarria
For Gillian Nelson, this has become a way of life. She mentioned that many times this can become frustrating because her friends must choose a place to eat that has gluten-free options as well. Nelson remarked that many times she prefers to keep quiet when arguing about where they will eat, as she does not want to cause disgust with her suggestions. Often times, she chooses salad. “Being a commuter student, this presents a problem for me, since, in the school cafeteria, they don’t always offer a “gluten-free” menu,” said Nelson. Nelson lives two miles away from campus, but she spends most of the day on campus, so she usually brings her lunch and snacks from home. The new general manager in the cafeteria, Alex Tholl, emphasized how important it is to offer a
personalized menu for people who cannot eat gluten or people who have any other food allergy. Tholl said, “Students who suffer from food intolerance have the option of sending us an email or a text message so that we can make the best meal plan that suits each of the students who have this problem.” This is one of the new proposals that Campus Dining wants to improve. One of Campus Dining’s main goals is to offer a meal plan for all students, and they are working on it every day. Dealing with food sensitivity is a process that requires time and perseverance, but over time, it becomes a way of life. Through its food
programs, Spring Hill College works every day to maintain the welfare of its students.
Campus Ministry Announces Food Locker Caroline Hunt | Reporter
Spring Hill College campus ministry has teamed up with the Jesuit group on campus, Alpha Sigma Nu, to provide students, faculty and staff with resources for food that they may be needing. Campus ministry sent out an email to all students and faculty on September 3 informing us that they have
recognized that there are people on this campus who experience food insecurity. In order to help these people
acquire the food and nourishment they may be lacking, an area has been designated for people to take and leave food as needed and able to. There is a food locker located on the second floor of the Barter Student Center that has been dedicated to this purpose. Locker number 9 has been labeled the “take something / leave something” locker and stocked with non perishable food items. The locker is located in a small nook in the building and is meant to be a thing of assistance rather than shame. According to campus ministry, “It is completely self-serve and anonymous.” The College and University Food Bank Alliance defines food insecurity as “the limited or uncertain availability of adequate and safe foods, or the ability to acquire such foods in a socially acceptable manner.” Students, faculty, and staff on Spring Hill’s campus
are not only encouraged to utilize the items available in the food pantry but also to contribute to it if able. If the movement seems to be working, campus ministry and Alpha Sigma Nu plan to place drop boxes around various places on campus as well as in the chapel in order to make it more accessible to more people. The idea of an on campus food pantry is not something new to our campus, and it is not unique to college campuses. The College and University Food Bank Alliance offers a network of food pantries across many college campuses and shares the resources. “ We are helping our members to continue the vital work of serving students with food insecurities,” the website states. The website also offers a study on food insecurity on college campuses that states that somewhere around 30 percent of college
students are food insecure and, “the most extreme form is often accompanied with physiological sensations of hunger.” It is no surprise that college students are known to lack sufficient nutrients, but it is not often understood just how much this affects their lives. “These stressors affect student success and in the long term, impact learning, grades, graduation, and time of de-
gree,” the website explains. Spring Hill has chosen to join the movement by adding a food pantry on campus in order to assist students, faculty, and staff in acquiring the proper nutrients they need to perform adequately in school and encourage the motto, “Give all you can, take as much as you need.”
Cans in Food Locker| Caroline Hunt
SPORTS 7 Women’s Soccer Prepares for Next Game Volume 110, Issue 1
Jose Chavarria | Reporter
The women’s soccer teamkicked off the 2019 season and shared its determination and strong mindset. The team refers to this season as “comeback season” as they hope to improve both on and off the field. In addition to growing a lot as a team, the Lady Badgers have new strategies planned and new priorities straight. This is all thanks to the help of the team’s head coach, Emily Marcouiller, and assistant coach, Gabrielle Burmaster. Senior and captain of the team, Johanna Meister, said it is important to be a good role model and leader to the group of 26 young women. When discussing the outlook the team has this year, Meister said the team must, “Play for each other, because soccer is a sport that is played as a team. We must stay in a positive environment for each other and be
College community. She trusts that all the girls will do very well in the upcoming games and will make Mobile proud. “I have so much pride and love for my girls. They have made my Spring Hill experience unforgettable and very special,” said Meister. The women’s soccer team was described by students and coaches in three words:
tenacious, transitory, and respectable. Each of these words exemplify the grit and character displayed by the 26 young women on the team. The team anticipates its next game on Oct. 4 against Auburn University Montgomery on the Byrne Library field. Make sure to come out and support the Lady Badgers!
Women’s Soccer Team Captain, Johanna Meister | Jose Chavarria the best version of ourselves as friends, on the soccer field and in life.” Her goals are to keep the team close and focused. Directors of the women’s soccer team, trust that this season will be good and know that progress will be demonstrated on the field despite the difficulty. The team has countlessly demonstrated dedication during the last few years.
The women have hopes that this hard work will be rewarded one day with more wins this season. Over the past seven weeks, the team has played a total of six games. The Lady Badgers have won one game thus far, but the team has the opportunity to win 11 more this season. Johanna Meister knows how important the soccer team is for the Spring Hill
Player, Sidney Spivey | Courtesy of shcbadgers.com
SHC’s Martin Breaks NCAA Record
Blake Flood | Reporter
Peggy Martin has won more than 1,350 games making her NCAA’s volleyball coach with the most wins in history. After eleven years of retirement, Martin decided to continue her career on the Hill. Martin said, “I was pretty happy with the accomplishments I had when I retired. However, I had the opportunity to come here and really turn a program around at
Spring Hill.” She continued to express her appreciation working with the women on the SHC volleyball team, “It gave me the chance to work with some fabulous kids at a fabulous place. Spring Hill has allowed me to extend my career and break this record.” Becoming a record holder is not the easiest of feats. “I would have to say that it was probably the most ex-
Peggy Martin | Courtesy of shcbadgers.com
citing finish of any match I have ever been a part of,” reflected Martin after she won her record breaking game. With excitement, Martin describes the last few minutes of the game, “We were down 14-8, and it was a freshman’s turn to serve, she served an ace at 10 and 14; we get a kill at 15 and 16, ending the match and setting a record.” For her players, Martin’s coaching is special. Sophomore Kassandra Fairly
shared her admiration for Coach Peggy, “Playing under coach Peggy is an honor because she is a great coach.
So being able to play for her, especially after she broke the record, is an extreme honor.” Fairly continued to explain that Coach Peggy Martin has been the best volleyball coach she has ever had and one of the reasons she decided to come to Spring Hill. Martin acknowledged that if it hadn’t been for those
around her throughout her career, breaking the record would have never been possible. Martin said, “I would like to thank all those people who have had a part in any win or even any loss that I have had for putting up for me and my demanding ways. I’m getting credit for a village of people, and I appreciate all of them.”
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The SpringHillian
HILL YEAH!
November 29, 2018
ON THE SPOT
What Are Your Plans for Fall Break?
Robert Letterman | Freshman “I’m going to New Orleans to spend time with my family.”
Lauren Hahn | Junior “I’m going to the beach.”
Pankaj Amarnani | Senior “I’m might be going to New Orleans.”
Watermelon Bash 2019 Staff
Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity held its annual Watermelon Bash Saturday at Dorn Field on the SHC campus. Members of the college’s Greek community participated, bringing canned food items for Lambda Chi’s philanthropy, “Feeding the Gulf Coast.” Some of such challenges included relays with a greased watermelon, a seed spitting competition, tug of war, etc. Members of the teams that participated in these events seemed to agree that the tug of war challenge was the most fun. It included a large mud pit that the losing team would fall into upon the loss of the challenge. According to the organization’s website, Feeding the Gulf Coast, formerly the Bay Area Food Bank, “operates three branches located along the Central Gulf Coast with facilities in Gulfport, Mississippi; Theodore, Alabama; and Milton, Florida. Together these facilities in partnership with over 400 agenciesdistribute over 20 million pounds of food annually to the 24-county service area through the food bank’s hun-
ger-relief programs. Lambda Chi Alpha raised 8,446 lbs of canned goods, and 1,400 dollars during their event this past Saturday, September the twenty-ninth. Phi Mu took the gold, winning first place with the most cans donated ever (5,000). Their contribution of cans made up for over seventy five percent of Lamda Chi’s entire donation to Feeding the Gulf Coast. Delta Gamma came in second place, and Tri Delta rounded the competition out at third. One team named The Waterfelons made out like bandits as the Best Freshman Team this year. (ethan, monica quotes) Over all thiis was a very sucessful philanthropy event for the Lambda Chi Alpha, Delta Delta Zeta, Chapter at Spring Hill College.
Caroline Landaiche | Sophomore “I’m going to Chattanooga to see friends.”