March 22 2016 Vol. 52 N0. 24 by Pacer Times

University of South Carolina Aiken

Mar.22.2016

Vol. 52| No. 24

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INDEX. Smoke Free Campus see pg. 3

Poet J. Funderburk

see pg. 5

Zootopia see pg. 5

Pacer Scoreboard see pg. 6

W.T.

pg 4

Correction For Flag Story see pg. 8

PacerBeat Announcement see pg. 8

Weatherbug Forecast

TUES

Editorial Comic

pg 8

68 45 WED

78 52 THURS

80 55 FRI 50%

SAT

SUN 50%

72 48 72 52 72 55

pg 4

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news

USCA students want to know: WTF?

Pacer Times Editor-in-Chief Thomas Gardiner Copy Editor Caitlin Butler Creative Director Brooke Clark News Editor Lizzie Abshire Sports Editor Jordan Phillips Arts and Entertainment Editor Amanda Askins

Lizzie Abshire

Opinions Editor James Paisley

A section of the fence on University Parkway, part of ongoing campus beautification plans.

Staff Writers Mikaela Ransom

Contributing Writers John Green Cartoonists Rhett Barnard Robert Washington Business Manager Timothy Boerste Events Coordinator Jamacia Jimerson Adviser Peggy Elliott

ABOUT PACER TIMES Pacer Times is a weekly publication of the University of South Carolina Aiken. The opinions stated in this paper are those of Pacer Times and in no way reflect those of USCA. The student newspaper is distributed free on campus, one copy per student. To purchase an advertisement, parties must contact the advertising manager at (803) 641-3517 or by email to pacertimes@usca.edu. Advertisements are subject to rejection by the staff.

Pacer Times is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press and South Carolina Press associations.

About our cover Design by Brooke Clark Logo Design by Brooke Clark

2 | March 22, 2016

four-railed wooden fence, officially known as the “Equestrian Fence,” was built in front of the university during the week of spring break. According to a campuswide email from Chancellor Sandra Jordan, a committee of faculty, staff, and students was created years ago to develop a master plan for improving the appearance of the university. This pre-existing list of campus improvements and beautification projects included the completed pacer fountain in front of Penland, the fire pit under construction, and the new fence.

The purpose of the fence is to make USCA’s grounds appear more welcoming and to showcase the university’s ties to Aiken’s rich equestrian heritage and community. Committee members of were not immediately available for interview. A spokesperson for the university told Pacer Times, “We definitely need to get the news out to the campus community before the student newspaper.” Students were not informed of this beautification project ahead of time, and some have spoken out about the new addition. “I don’t know why the fence was built. It would

have been great if they would have gotten student input to see what we would like to be added to the campus, other than a fence,” said Tyisha Henderson, senior psychology major. Junior fine arts major Makayla Geathers and freshman nursing major Kayla Reeves said the fence is a ridiculous and unnecessary addition to the campus. According to Assistant Vice Chancellor of Student Life Ahmed Samaha, the plan is to paint the fence and tear down the brick columns that stand beside the fence now, and taller columns will take their place. Henderson offered an

alternative beautification idea that would “Let each club or organization plant a tree to take care of. Each organization could pay for their own, but that way students had a say in what they wanted. The day that they planted the trees could be used as a community service day.” Henderson suggested that once the trees were grown, they could be used for students to tie up their hammocks and relax between classes. Reeves said she would like to see changes to the effect of more security on campus. “The campus police do well, but it would be great to have security gates more on campus. That way it’s not so open to the public and not as dangerous,” she said. “The Jacuzzi in the gym needs to be updated. The money being donated can be used to fix things on campus first, and things can be added on afterwards,” said Geathers. According to official correspondence from Jordan, the funds for these and continuing projects have been provided through grants, donors, improved state funding and operational efficiency. The Chancellor stated that no components of the master plan have been funded through student tuition. -Lizzie Abshire

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news

March 22, 2016 3

Campus policy clears smoke at USC Aiken S

even months have passed since the implementation of the smoke-free campus policies at USC Aiken, and the policy has had a noticeable effect. The smoke-free process began as far back as 2013 when the memorandum of understanding was first signed. The implementation was gradational and steps were taken to prepare the campus and services for the full policy that was put into place August 7, 2015. According to University Police Chief Kevin Liles, there have been no negative interactions with faculty and staff. He said that members of the USCA campus follow the rules. “The people we have to speak to are usually those who come in for an event. Occasionally we will find one or two individuals outside of a concert or something at Etherredge and we’ll have to let them know that we are a smoke-free

Thomas Gardiner

The University of South Carolina Aiken has signs all over campus like this one outside of the Penland building. campus,” said Liles. There has also been a noticeable impact on litter found around campus,

especially near the sites formerly designated as smoking areas. “There has been a good

change in the amount of cigarette butts on the ground,” Liles said. He also described the overall

program as being positive, and having achieved the purpose it was designed for. -Thomas Gardiner

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Art and entertainment

4 | March 22, 2016

Gamers ‘Pac’ the SAC for new arcade games T

Sophmore communications major Rhett Baraned takes a break on the “Multicade.”

he Student Activities Center got two new additions this week when a vendor brought in two new arcade games. The two machines are typical pay-to-play arcade games. The larger, standalone machine is a bowling game with a rollerball for control. The other machine is an in-table system with chairs. Gamers can pull up and

choose from classic games such as Donkey Kong, Dig Dug and Galaga. “I think the games are great and I’ve already seen a lot of people on them,” said Cullen Hightower, freshman mathematics and computer science major. “But, I think the bowling game being a dollar might keep some people from playing. People love the classic arcade table though,” he said. The bowling game costs $1 per play and also allows for multiplayer games, for $1 per player. The table game only costs 50 cents per play and plays by traditional rules; when your lives are up, your game is over. The table arcade has even attained some sense of campus

fame when one gamer wrote, “Beat the high score on Dig Dug,” on the popular app Yik Yak. The arcade games have other benefits for the campus besides fuel for anonymous social media apps. “The money made from games goes back into the SAC,” said Angel Miano, Assistant Director of Student Life. According to Miano, the games were brought in from an outside vendor. Proceeds will be split with the company, but they will handle maintenance and repairs. While there are only two games now, the possibility for expansion is an ongoing conversation. “We would like to get a foosball table in there as well,” Miano said.

Students also have a major role in determining the future of the arcade games. “If there’s a game in there that students don’t like, then we can take it out. If enough people want to swap it out, we can do that too,” she said. “It’s ultimately about what the students want. This is their space. We just noticed video games had become popular in the SAC and we wanted to give students more options.” For feedback about the games, please see the student life office. They advise students to collect their complaints or requests and submit them in as organized a manner as possible. -Thomas Gardiner

Do you like games, art or entertainment? Join our team! pacertimes@usca.edu

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Arts and Entertainment

March 22, 2016

Guild of Poetic Intent hosts poet Funderburk

he Guild of Poetic Intent will be hosting poet Julie Funderburk this week as part of its continuing Emerging Poets Series. Funderburk is poetry editor of storySouth, an online quarterly journal which publishes writings from Southern authors, and currently teaches at Queens University of Charlotte in North Carolina. She previously taught at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, from which she graduated with her M.F.A. in creative writing. Funderburk, like the guests before her, was chosen as this semester’s visiting poet through majority vote of the Guild members. Guild President Meredith Hawcroft explained the process in which members choose the year’s guest. “Our advisor last year was Roy Seeger, so he compiled a list of six or seven emerging writers.” Hawcroft said.

An emerging poet is defined by the Guild as one who has not yet published more than two chapbooks of poetry. Seeger emailed the list to members, who “did some background research on the poets and read some of their work” before voting on a favorite. After the vote, the Guild’s faculty advisor contacted Funderburk to ask for a visit, and she agreed. “She was the overwhelming winner as the first place pick,” Hawcroft said. “Some of the other authors we looked at had really good content,” she added, but Funderburk was chosen over the rest because of her winning sense of humor in dealing with the everyday human experience. “Her poems are very witty,” said Hawcroft. “She’s saying something meaningful, but sometimes it’s really funny.” Funderburk’s poetry has been published in literary journals such

as 32 Poems, Best New Poets, and The Cincinnati Review. Her chapbook, “Thoughts to Fold into Birds,” is available from Unicorn Press. Funderburk has already received distinctions, including the 2015 Artist Fellowship from North Carolina Arts Council. Her first full-length poetry collection, “The Door that Always Opens,” will be published later this year by LSU Press. The reading will be held Thursday March 24 at 7:30 p.m. at Aiken Center for the Arts on Laurens Street. The event is open to the public. Refreshments will be served. ICE credit will be offered for USCA students. -Caitlin Butler

New animated movie deals with controversial issues T o the average adult viewer, it does not take much effort to notice the subject matter of Zootopia. It is a children’s animated film created by Disney, which, as it turns out, is about ethnic equality. The movie, however, was not advertised as such, so neither the theme nor the ending were spoiled by commercials. However, upon noticing the movie’s theme while watching, it is easy to say what the ending is going to be like. The movie is a softer entry into the

“buddy cop” genre, featuring police rabbit Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde, a con-artist fox. The pair come from similar backgrounds, but they have completely separate views of the world due to certain childhood influences. Being natural enemies, they constantly butt heads as they work together throughout the movie; by the end, the two are best friends and comrades with “saving the city” as the first addition to their joint work experience. The film refers to racism throughout in the safest way possible, depicting it through the predator-prey relationships shown. Characters in the film believe that predators are potentially dangerous citizens because their biology Main characters Judy Hopps the rabbit and Nick Wilde the fox dictates it as such, despite work together as partners in order to solve crimes in the city.

the city’s prey-predator ratio of 100:1. This belief not only causes much tension between the main characters, but also results in unrest for the city’s entire population as a speciessupremacist assistant mayor fights underhandedly to rid the city of all predators. This movie is impressive for how it exemplifies our own world’s opinions through the emotion and personality of the animated characters. What is more impressive is that

this movie premiered during a presidential election year, one of the most important times in U.S. history. As one could guess, the movie not only draws attention to social injustices in recent years, but also to (a) certain presidential candidate(s). The plot of the film reminds audiences that taking advantage of the ignorance of the people and using “bully tactics” to gain power and immunity does not a suitable leader make, in any way. -John Green

Writer of the Week Caitlin Butler

Writes like a speeding bullet. More powerful than a simple declarative sentence. Able to leap bad spelling with a single bound. It’s Super Caitlin!

Pacer Times recognizes its Copy Editor, Caitlin Butler, for writing stories, editing everyone else’s stories and fixing everyone’s layouts for the nth week in a row, even though she suffers from Senioritis., which can only be cured by graduating.

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Sports

6 | March 22, 2016

Baseball continues trend of dominance

Pacersports.com

Senior slugger Max Schoen eyes the pitcher in a matchup from this weekend’s series.

oach Kenny Thomas’s team continued to roll this weekend, with a 3-game series sweep over the North Georgia Nighthawks. The team improved to 22-5 on the season with a 14-4 record against PBC opponents. Friday’s game was not an easy victory for the Pacers. The team fell behind early, with single runs coming in the first and third innings

for the Nighthawks. The Pacers would answer with an RBI single from RF Luke Westerberg, which brought home catcher Max Schoen, bringing the score to 2-1. Then in the bottom of the eighth, the Pacers tied the game up with 3B Jonathan Banks doubling to left field scoring CF Mitchell Price from first base, knotting the score at 2-2. Neither team would score

in the ninth, which forced extra innings. In the bottom of the tenth the Pacers took the victory, after a walk-off double from Banks brought Schoen across home plate, with the final score being 3-2 in favor of the Pacers. The contest on Saturday was equally exciting. The Nighthawks once again jumped to an early lead with a two-run homer in the first. The Pacers would answer

in the bottom of the first with LF Chaz Pal bringing home 2B Skylar Mercado with an RBI single. The game would remain 2-1 until North Georgia broke the game open with a 4-run fifth inning to make the score an intimidating6-1 for the Nighthawks. USCA would answer in the bottom of the inning with an RBI double from Mercado to score SS Tyler Ammerman, and another RBI double from Pal to score Mercado to bring the deficit to 6-3. The Nighthawks scored once again in the top of the sixth and made the score 7-3. The Pacers chipped away at the lead once again with catcher Charles Padilla bringing home Banks with an RBI single. Trailing 7-4 in the bottom of the ninth, the Pacers looked to put runs up and take game two of the series. The inning got started with Ammerman getting a free pass to first, followed by another walk, this time plating Mercado, with Joey Smithers coming in to pinch run for Mercado. Chaz Pal reached first on a fielder’s choice, with Ammerman being out at third. 1B Brian Parreira would reach first as well, loading the bases. LF Zach Moon was hit by a pitch, scoring Smithers to

bring the score to 7-4. Luke Westerberg would come in to run for Moon, and Schoen hit a bases-clearing double, scoring three runs and ending the game with a final score of 8-7. The final game of the series was much less excitement, and more of a bullying. The Pacers flexed their muscles with a dominant 10-2 victory over the Nighthawks. Pal hit two doubles, with Parreira and Banks each getting one. Parreira led the way with three RBI’s, Pal had two, and Schoen and Price each had one, with the other three runs coming from errors. Starter Joe Marlow pitched 6 innings and gave up only four hits and one run. Reliever James Lynch came on to pitch in the seventh and pitched two innings of scoreless relief, allowing two hits, while striking out two and issuing two free passes. Coming on to pitch the ninth was Nick Jobst, who allowed a home run but struck out the three other batters he faced in the inning, also allowing one walk. The Pacers continue their season on Wednesday against Paine at 6 p.m. and against conference rival Montavello on Friday at 6 p.m. -Jordan Phillips

Weekly scoreboard: Men’s and Women’s Tennis Benedict

USCA

Men

USCA

3/16

Augusta

Men

Lander

Benedict

Women

USCA 3/19

USCA

Men

USCA

3/20

3/16

Augusta

Women

Lander

3/19

3/20

USCA

Women

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Sports

March 22, 2016

Softball falls to Lander in PBC contest T

Pacersports.com

Senior Sarah Montei looks to launch a shot over the fence in a contest earlier this season. Do you like sports? Want to be a sports writer? Come to the Student Media Office on Tuesdays at 5:15 or email us at either pacertimes@ usca.edu or phillij@usca.edu.

his week on March 16, the softball team took a fall to the Landers Bearcats, making them 18-8 on the season. The Pacers started off well with Andrea Daring leading them off in the second inning with a walk to first base followed by Taylor Allen and Sarah Timmerman loading the bases. After moving into the third inning, Lander increased the gap, holding it until the sixth inning. However, the Pacers started fighting back in the bottom of the seventh inning. Sarah Montei hit a single into left field, and stole second shortly after. Sydney Murphy received

a free pass, putting runners on first and third. Samantha Chubb came to bat, hitting hard into right field and sending Montei home. There was even a little entertainment when Hannah Price hit it straight to second base causing the second baseman to do some acrobatic tricks to catch the ball and end the game 2-1. The Pacers wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be at home again until April 9 against Young Harris, but theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be heading to Erskine college this weekend for a doubleheader which begins at 2 p.m. and will be streamed live at pacersports. com. -Mikaela Ransom

Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pick: Game of the Week Baseball vs. Paine 3/23 @ 6:00 p.m.

Pacersports.com

Junior Nadine Tusiama has been awarded the Bronze Body Tanning Salon USC Aiken Athletic Department Student-Athlete award for the week of March 20 .

Pacersports.com

Junior Hubert Tisserand tied 23rd after the frist day at the Cleveland Golf Palmetto Intercollegiate March 8th.

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Editorial

March 22, 2016 8

Correction to previous issue

Not for reuse without consent

Sex brings right-to-privacy into spotlight

n Vol. 52 No. 22 published on March 1, 2016, Pacer Times ran an article that contained an error. The article, titled Southern pride promotes prejudice, said, “Make no mistake the Confederate flag stands proudly next to both the Christian flag and the South Carolina state flag, dispelling any doubts of the church’s affiliation with the proConfederate ideology and their idea of South Carolinian values.” The article errantly assumed

a direct relation between the monument and the church’s property and values. The monument actually sits on state controlled right-of-way property and is cared for by an outside organization with no affiliation to the church. Pacer Times would like to apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused Lakeside Baptist Church in Clearwater. An investigation is ongoing into the monument’s ownership and legal status.

Pacer Beat launched

acer Times is proud to announce Pacer Beat, the student media webcast. Like Pacer Times, the Beat will be a weekly publication featuring news stories, local issues and a little humor. The current anchor is Rhett Barnard and the director is

Thomas Gardiner. The webcast is produced in association with USC Aiken’s video production crew Keith Pierce and Joshua Campos. The first episode is up now on our YouTube page. Follow us and never miss a Beat. -Staff Report

C’mon dad! I need a new guitar for battle of the bands!

Now, if you’ll excuse me......

erry Bollea, also know as Hulk Hogan, was just awarded a handsome sum of money for a violation of privacy and defamation of character by media outlet Gawker. It was determined in a court of law that the publication was guilty of invading Boella’s privacy and had damaged his image as a result. Hogan, and let’s be real, he is well known as Hulk Hogan, was recorded in the bedroom of his then best friend Todd Clem having sex with Clem’s wife. Clem is a radio DJ, a shock-jock type, and has publicly noted that Hogan was unaware of the camera in the room. In an interview with Howard Stern, Hogan even admitted that he was given permission to enter the affair with Mrs. Clem. There are a litany of moral

issues to be addressed in this case, most of which will be saved for another column. After all, I don’t want to heteronormatize sexuality. The biggest cultural concern this story brings to the surface is right to privacy. Was Gawker actually responsible for the invasion? No, they got the video from an anonymous source. But, they made it public. And, in the age of sex-tape celebrities (more true than the age of celebrity sex-tapes) it made a splash. The controversy surrounding the extramarital activities and social norms that make them taboo created a stain on Hogan’s reputation. It is ultimately the responsibility of the publisher to stand behind their material. That means facing the music when they get out of tune as

much as making profit or taking awards when they do well. They must ask the right questions and shun complacency when editing. We can sometimes get caught up in the flurry or excitement of a story, just like an athlete gets caught up in the heat of the moment, and forget a little bit of our humanity and sanity in the process. I was guilty earlier this month of the very same thing. Whether you’re publishing your daily meals on social media, turning in a research paper or trying shockjock tactics by running an exclusive sex tape, keep your responsibilities in mind. Don’t steal, don’t cheat and don’t call someone something they are not. -Thomas Gardiner

Thomas is the author of the weekly sex and life column.

Sorry son, no handouts. You’ll have to work for it!

I’m gonna ask your mom for beer money...