Countenancespring18thisone

Contents

Jere of all trades:

An accounting major by day, Wongani Jere transforms into something else by night: music producer, rapper, photographer, audio engineer, videographer and more. He just doesn’t necessarily want you to know it’s him. Story by Summer Tillman.

Photos by Holly Melton and the Daily Reflector

3

Creating a home away from home­—for almost 400 women:

Octavia McLean sees it all, when it comes to the hundreds of college women she oversees at ECU’s Greene Hall. As a resident adviser, McLean tries to make the high-rise dorm a home away from home for students, most of whom are living away from their parents for the first time. Story by Jada Boyd. Residence hall photo by Jada Boyd 6

Navigating the Pirate path: (Featured on back cover)

Applying to college can be a nail-biter. How to describe yourself in all those essays? What counts most—extracurriculars, grades, test scores? These ECU applicants provided a peek as they went through the process. Story by Loren Ruffin. 9

Night shift at Sup Dogs:

It’s Monday “Mug Night” at Greenville’s Sup Dogs eatery, and college students pack the place. For Nate Honstetter, it’s a long shift of checking IDs, watching for trouble, and working the door so no one leaves with alcohol. Story by Clark Coey.

Photo by Mike Harris 12

Autism in North Carolina:

North Carolina has more children than average with autism, yet eastern North Carolina lacks behavioral therapy treatment centers, leaving many in the eastern region without the services they need. Autism is more prevalent than pediatric cancers, AIDS and diabetes combined. Story by Blair Berry. Photos by Kevin Cirnitski 14

Fast food county:

Pitt County has an obesity problem, and it’s especially bad for children—more than a third of whom are overweight or obese. ECU physician David Collier and middle school teacher Tim Hardison have done much to battle this daunting trend.

Story by Thomas Weybrecht. Photos by Thomas Weybrecht, Cliff Hollis. Layout/Design by Jenna Haxton 18

Where’s Daniel?: (Featured on front cover)

Daniel Barth’s thousands of social media followers can tell you. The senior has made himself downright famous at ECU by doing something “big” every year. This year, his big thing has been Snapchat. Story by Melissa Glen.

Photos by Amy Camille Young 22

Earning a degree in depression:

One in four people in the world will be affected by a mental health disorder in their lifetime, and at ECU, the counseling services are struggling to keep up. Yet, many college students never ask for help. Story by Tia-Alanna Joyner.

Layout/Design by Tyler Gavin 28

Countenance design team:

Kendall Coker, Tyler Gavin, Jenna Haxton, Madison Jaggars, Corey Jones, Cooper Kinsey, Jacqueline Nelson, John Nelson, Zachary Volk, Samantha Walsh, Gabrielle Whitlock

Countenance (Vol. 2, Issue 1) is a general longform feature magazine produced by students in the School of Communication at East Carolina University. The articles were written by students in Professor Cindy Elmore’s Fall 2017 Feature Writing class. The pages were designed by students in Instructor Barbara Bullington’s Spring 2018 Desktop Publishing class. Most of the photographs were provided by students in ECU’s Photography Guild, which is advised by School of Art and Design Associate Professor Angela Wells. Funding for the magazine was provided by the ECU School of Communication, School of Art and Design, and the College of Fine Arts and Communication. Questions or feedback can be addressed to Cindy Elmore at Elmorec@ecu.edu or 252-328-5306.

On the front cover: Daniel Barth photo by: Amy Camille Young 2 Countenance April 2018

YZ

On the back cover: Megan Kelly photo by: Kamile Anderson

Described by some as a “walking studio,” and a “jack of all trades” by others, this student finds time in between accounting courses to record and mix music for over 30 musicians in Greenville. Still, he prefers to stay out of the limelight and let the music speak for itself.

by Summer Tillman

I

t’s 2 a.m. and Wongani Jere is awake, fingers dancing on his keyboard, music bumping from his twin speakers. He

is sitting in darkness inside his one-room apartment, illuminated by the computer screens and the hanging string lights of his makeshift studio. He should probably be sleeping or studying for his accounting test tomorrow, but he’s already produced one song and has no plans of stopping.

East Carolina University accounting major Wongani

huddled outside the West End dining hall. He works

Jere is known for being a jack of all trades, but if you

best like this — enclosed in tight, dark spaces with

asked most students at ECU, they probably wouldn’t

nothing but low, mellow beats to keep him company.

even know his name. Or at least, not his real one. “I don’t

It’s the ultimate creative space. Bob Marley posters

really care about being known for making music, but I want the

and snapbacks neatly fill the walls, and a computer he

music to be known,” says Jere. “That’s more important to me.”

built leans against the leg of his desk. Every piece of

At large campus music events such as “ECU Stars,” Jere

equipment is accounted for and organized almost me-

prefers to be behind the scenes. This explains his home

thodically. A microphone stands lookout and somewhere

studio. The room is far from the raucous crowds and small

in the room is a four-track tape recorder given to him by

stages of the open mics of Mendenhall Student Center. Far

a professor in a band. His dad’s record player and a collec-

from the unforgiving cyphers of rappers and beatboxers

tion of mostly free vinyls is tucked around his apartment.

April 2018 Countenance 3

Jere (pictured here in

Drawers are stuffed with hard drives

Scene Around from the Daily

and any cables that he could find.

Reflector at the First Friday

But Jere’s setup didn’t start out

Art Walk in Greenville in July

this way. It was in a dingy room, at

2017) believes that the

an all-boys Catholic boarding school

ECU music scene has “an

in Connecticut, that 15-year-old Jere

extremely high potential

recorded his first song. He had just

to create phenomenal

bought a hundred-dollar mic from

music,” and he works with a

Best Buy, and he and his best friend

marketing company to help

immediately sat in the 6 by 10 foot

give artists a platform.

room they called a “jail cell” to write.

The room had one window, a bunk

Photo credit:

bed with a stiff mattress, no post-

The Daily Reflector

ers, and a desk built into the wall.

“I still have it,” Jere says of the song.

“I listen back to it from time to time.”

The room wasn’t the first place in

I saw your YouTube video. It was real-

who I really am because I wouldn’t say

which one would think to create art,

ly cool. Keep it up,’” Jere recalls. “Of

that I’m a rapper. I just happen to rap.”

but then, Jere always found a way. His

course, my mom was like, ‘What vid-

anonymity started out as a necessity in

eo?’ and was furious. I had to delete

middle school, when he tried to hide his

the account that day. After that, I was

YouTube channel from his parents. His

way more careful and I started going by

mom and dad felt that his creative pur-

different pseudonyms on the internet.”

Jere found himself right where

suits were a distraction from education.

Soon, Jere developed pen names for

he wanted to be — at the heart of

“One time my mom was picking me

his art, each with a medium to fit. There

ECU’s underground music scene.

up and the principal was like, ‘Hey,

was “Phasod” for rap, “JayPushFaders”

In addition to rapping, Jere is a sound

for audio engineer-

engineer, photographer, videographer,

ing and photogra-

music producer and songwriter.

phy, and “Ernie Au-

“He shows us very little compared

rora” for producing.

to what he actually can do,” says Al-

“I have different

ysa Bryant, a fashion merchandis-

names because I like

ing major at ECU who models for

to organize,” Jere

local photographers, such as Jere.

says. “Sometimes I

“We did photo shoots often and

organize what I’m

that’s how I warmed up with him,”

doing by how peo-

Bryant adds, “but I’ve done music

ple view who I am.”

with him too.” As a singer, Bry-

This means a pseud-

ant also records vocals with Jere.

onym for every creative

However, some who have worked

venture—every part of

with Jere have seen firsthand his

him. “My rap name is

artistic work. “I think to have that

like a message in it-

many gifts — for him to be a jack-

self,” Jere explains.

of-all-trades — it’s a blessing and a

“It’s actually a front to

curse,” says Jere’s music collaborator,

“I feel like once you put something in a box, you’re putting a frame or a limit on what that thing can be and what that thing is capable of doing."

"I don’t like to believe that there’s a ceiling of things that I’m able to do.”

4 Countenance April 2018

A

fter joining ECU’s premier creative

organiz ation,

“Emerging New Talent,”

Jerquanus Swann, who knows Jere as

very modest and if you say something

out with creating a budget, but I don’t

Phasod. “I feel like he’s high key the most

that’s not true, he’ll call you out on it.”

see our friendship as money-driven.

important component in Greenville’s

Jere has made it his goal to grow

I see him as someone who could lit-

music scene and ECU’s music scene be-

as many artists as he can. That in-

erally be a best man at my wedding.”

cause, if you ask any person who’s active-

volves

and

Jere also acts as the production

ly making music, [or who has] dropped

new ways to promote their work.

manager for East Carolina Univer-

music within the past five months in

“I think the ECU music scene has

sity’s student-run radio station,

Greenville, Phasod had a hand in the be-

an extremely high potential to cre-

WZMB 91.3 FM. The radio adviser,

ginning of their music career when they

ate phenomenal music, but I think

Shayna Jones, says WZMB relies on

decided they were going to get serious.”

it’s something the community sleeps

Jere for its day-to-day operations.

Swann met Jere after performing at

on like every other art movement in

“Anything you ask of him, he does

an open mic night. “He just rolled up

North Carolina,” says Jere. “There are

to his best abilities,” says Jones.

and said, ‘Hey, let me take a picture of

so many talented artists in general, not

“He’s reliable and dependable.”

finding

new

talent

Jones first met Jere when he

“He has the best ideas and he

takes those ideas then brings

them to life. Anytime you need him, he’s right there. And he

comes through in the clutch, so I call him the Clutch Master.”

worked as a disc jockey for WZMB. Before long, Jere was promoted.

“Everything that he does, he executes above our expectations and it blows me away, really,” says Jones. “He has the best ideas and he takes those ideas then brings them to life. Anytime you need him, he’s right there.

And he comes through in the clutch, so I call him the Clutch Master.”

While he’s not yet a household name, Jere says he doesn’t regret staying anonymous. He wants to continue experimenting and showcasing who he is through different mediums.

you guys,’” says Swann. After a second

just musicians in Greenville, North

“I feel like once you put some-

chance encounter, the two have worked

Carolina, and just in North Carolina

thing in a box, you’re putting a

together ever since. “He’s a great engi-

period that people pay no attention

frame or a limit on what that thing

neer, great mixer, great producer,” says

to and would never know about.”

can be and what that thing is ca-

Swann. “He’s a great rapper. God, I swear.

To give artists a platform, Jere

pable of doing,” says Jere. “I don’t

Put him against any rapper in Greenville

works with Smith’s marketing com-

like to believe that there’s a ceil-

in a rap battle one-on-one and he’ll come

pany, Lotus on Demand, throw-

ing of things that I’m able to do.”

out number one. You can hold me to it.”

ing open mics and art events in

He hopes to continue the art

Despite his anonymity, Jere finds time in

local restaurants and venues. He

movement

between accounting courses to record and

acts as the company’s finance co-

North Carolina. For now, though,

mix music for over 30 musicians in Greenville.

ordinator and unofficial photog-

he just wants to pass his test. n

“He’s essentially a walking studio,” says

rapher and event videographer.

Kris Smith, who records songs with Jere.

“With [Lotus on Demand], he’s

“I love how when he’s in his zone, you see

grown our brand remarkably,” says

a switch kind of cut on and you can tell

Smith, who founded Lotus on De-

it’s his passion. He’s very talented and

mand a few years ago. “He’s helped me

in

Greenville

April 2018 Countenance 5

and

Creating a

home away from home —for almost 400 women

Octavia McLean, resident advisor for Greene Hall dorm at East Carolina University photo credit: Octavia McLean

6  Countenance April 2018

Octavia McLean sees it all when it comes to the hundreds of college women she oversees as resident advisor.

by Jada Boyd

I

t’s a Thursday night at 8 p.m. and things seem quite normal in the “Tampon Tower," the nickname given to the all-female Greene Hall residence dorm at East Carolina University. College girls are hanging around in the lounge, one is reading in the study room, and another crowd is heading out of the building.

Stepping into the stale, cramped elevator, Octavia McLean, 20, greets a few of her residents.

She presses the 10th floor button and smiles at everyone. Once reaching floor 10, she exits and tells everyone to have a great night.

McLean heads straight toward the bathroom.

“Hello. RA on duty. Is everyone alright?” asks McLean.

One yells "yes" over her shower water and music.

“Thank you, girlie,” says McLean. She checks off additional bathrooms on her checklist and heads to the next spot. She checks the fire extinguisher hanging on the wall inside of a glass case. The laundry room is the last stop on the floor. Once completing the walk-through, she takes the stairs to the ninth floor and repeats these tasks.

“When I am the RA on-duty, I’m checking to make sure that there’s no odd behavior taking place, such as loud music, drinking and smoking,” says McLean. Once she reaches the first floor, McLean checks the study rooms.

When everything has been cleared, she enters the office of the residential coordinator and logs the 8 p.m. round into a white “Duty Binder.” Duty lasts from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. This includes answering the “duty phone,” which is a cell phone that McLean picks up from ECU’s Neighborhood Service Office. McLean explains that sleeping is not prohibited when on duty, but answering the duty phone is required because there could be a resident reporting an incident or conflict she is having with a roommate or another student.

Handling anything thrown her way This is McLean’s first year as a resident advisor. She became an RA because she remembers how helpful her RA was and the impact that she left on McLean. “I wanted to make that same positive impact,” says McLean, who is the only daughter in her family of four siblings from Laurinburg, North Carolina.

McLean is an African and African-American Studies major who will graduate in December 2018. This is her first and last year being a RA. “If I had time, I would do this again, but I will be leaving in December of 2018, and I wouldn’t want my residents to get adjusted to me and then get used to a completely different person,” she explains.

Samantha Kasior lives in Greene Hall and has grown close to McLean this year. “I have enjoyed Tae as my RA and would prefer her over any other RA in the building,” says Kasior.

She explains how McLean is kind, approachable and caring. She says McLean embodies those characteristics because anyone could walk up to her with any problem and she’s the one who can solve it. Kaisor says she’ll always remember the first hall meeting, where McLean introduced herself as “Tator-tot-tae.”

Lauren Benson, a junior public health major and another RA in Greene Hall who works with McLean, says that “Tae” is one of the RA’s who can handle anything thrown her way.

“She’s involved in so many clubs on campus and being a RA can be difficult, but the fact that she can juggle everything is fantastic to me,” says Benson. “The hard work and dedication she puts into being a good RA is absolutely astonishing.”

Besides being an RA, McLean is involved in various clubs on campus, such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Student Ambassadors, Black Student Union, and she is an ECU orientation assistant. Although she’s involved in many different organizations, her priority is being an RA. Becoming an RA is a very selective process and takes much thought and consideration. A student must have lived on campus for one semester, complete an application with Campus Living and must interview with a committee from the ECU residential system. According to the interim assistant director of Campus Living, 423 students applied to be RA’s for the 2017–2018 school year, but only 141 were selected.

“The students we choose, we expect them to serve the student population to the best of their ability,” says Gretchen Brockmann, ECU’s associate director of residence life.

Brockmann explains that the RA’s chosen have a job to make ECU a “home away from home” for students, especially freshmen, because they are transitioning from high school and from living with their parents. The RA’s create a place where students feel comfort. Students may know no one once coming to ECU, but an RA may introduce them to a neighbor or somebody across the hall and now they’ve made a connection, Brockmann explains.

RA’s have a great deal of pressure on them because students rely on them and on the ECU residential system, which are, together, the frontline for students. Students can put their trust into their RA for help, guidance and resources.

Besides the 141 RA’s are three graduate assistants helping student residents. Helping students with personal situations April 2018 Countenance 7

and bridging the gap from high school to college are just the few things that RA’s do for their residents. RA’s devote 18 to 20 hours a week to their jobs and sometimes can’t leave immediately for school breaks because they have to complete a number of safety checks in the dorm, such as making sure that refrigerators are unplugged, blinds are open, thermostats are set to specific temperatures and no food has been left in the refrigerators. Despite the obligations, they have some sweet benefits, such as a rent-free, single room, a no-cost meal plan, and a $335 stipend each semester, said Brockmann.

“RA’s really are the frontlines, not only just for us to have a pulse on what the hall is, [but also] if students are doing well academically—typically the RA knows that. If the student is having financial problems, typically the RA knows that. So, we are able to identify students of concern or students that are needing to be recognized as an outstanding Pirate,” says William Bullock, an interim assistant director at Campus Living. “The work and relationships that they bring is phenomenal to me.”

Brockmann says that RA’s not only do their jobs, they complete a bigger task. They make other students’ experiences at ECU memorable by pushing them forward to achieve their goals.

“I love the energy that the RA’s bring; I love the energy that the student leaders bring and the difference that you can make for somebody’s success,” says Brockmann According to McLean, the life of a resident advisor is complex, difficult and misunderstood, something she didn’t recognize as a freshman. Writing incident reports, staying up late to complete duty rounds, and connecting with all her residents are the hardest parts about being an RA. “This job is tough, but what makes it even tougher is staying in an all-girl dorm,” says McLean.

A dorm that houses 380 young women can mean minor attitudes, conflicts and bathroom horrors such as hair clogging the shower drains and crowded sinks with residents brushing their teeth. On a brighter note, McLean enjoys being in an all-female dorm because she says she gets to witness young girls grow into young women.

“You get to watch them become the best version of themselves and I get to help them along the way,” says McLean. She posts inspiring quotes on the hallway bulletin board to keep her residents uplifted. One reads, “Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” Another one reads, “You cannot swim for new horizons until you have courage to lose sight of the shores.” McLean also makes herself available to her residents whenever they need anything, or, whenever they need her.

Promoting bonds, but not missing a trick Besides seeing the growth in her residents, McLean can also see the growth in her bank account. Being an RA gave her and her family financial relief since McLean’s meal plan is paid for and she stays on campus, in her own room, rentfree. The stipend helps her with other needs, whether that’s toiletries or leisure activities. In addition, she gets experience as a mentor, community facilitator, team member, university representative, programmer and referral agent.

Sometimes McLean wishes she could live in an apartment, but, ultimately, she is glad that she chose to be an RA. Mc8 Countenance April 2018

Lean doesn’t own a car, so living off campus would make it difficult for her to get back and forth. By being an RA, she’s on campus, which is helpful because she’s involved and active in many different clubs. Beyond all of this, McLean says she wouldn’t have been able to network and make an impact with the people in Campus Living without her job.

Courtney Withers, a freshman Greene resident, says that McLean is a great RA because she cares about her residents and she’s always there when someone needs her.

“Octavia keeps living in the dorm fun. Even though it sucks to be in a dorm, she does her best to stay up-todate with us as her residents,” says Withers. “She tries to make activities for the hall so that we can bond together.”

McLean says she tries to organize programs for her residents that promote confidence, unity and friendship. One program called “Tie Dye-Versity” was held to shed light on students’ similarities and differences to help them understand one another. The program included an activity to tiedye shirts with specific colors denoting individual differences.

“Can the rest of the guys under the bed please come out?” says McLean, not fooled.

In Greene Hall, the rules and regulations are like most college residence halls, except that males are not allowed in the building after 2 a.m. On this night, laughs and chaos are apparent as three guys run down the hallway past McLean and Lauren Benson, another RA assisting with duty rounds. It is late, and McLean walks quickly toward the room that the guys ran out of and knocks softly.

“RA on duty,” McLean and Benson say in unison. No one answers, but whispers are heard from behind the door. One of the girls answers the door, and lying on her bed, pretending to be asleep, is a guy.

“Can the rest of the guys under the bed please come out?” says McLean, not fooled. Five guys emerge from under the beds of both girls. McLean shakes her head.

After 20 minutes of excuses and explanations, the guys exit the building laughing. McLean says that trying to hide anything so obvious from an RA is pointless because they have seen it all.

“Octavia handled the situation so well, although a group of guys and girls lied continuously to her and me,” says Benson.

Once finished with the situation, McLean returns to the elevator and presses the seventh floor button.

She continues with her rounds as, unfortunately, in the “Tampon Tower,” things aren’t as normal as they seemed. n

Pa

ig

Nav

te

a

the Pi g n ra i t

th

by Loren Ruffin

Rachel Burke is set on becoming a Pirate in the near future. photo credit: Rachel Burke

April 2018 Countenance 9

Writing the essay, stressing over high school performance and filling in applications are all part of the path to college. Take a peek behind the scenes of the ECU application process, as hopeful students apply and those who make the decisions explain how it all works.

“

W hat have I learned from my

past educational

experience that will prepare me to be a successful member of the community?” asks Kaycie Arguedas, 18, reading aloud.

She sits at the computer desk in her home’s office space, glaring at the screen. She types quickly, her fingers flying over the keyboard.

“This is the easy part,” she mumbles under her breath as she works through the application, filling in the blanks, scrolling through the options, answering the questions about herself and her parents. It’s the essay question that causes her to stop and think.

Arguedas, a high school senior in Charlotte, is applying to East Carolina University. She’ll be one of about 19,000 potential freshmen to submit an application for fall admission. Although this is a nail-biting experience for most, she is especially anxious to know whether she’ll be admitted.

“I didn’t have the best grades starting out,” she says, “but the more I got involved in ROTC and we talked about college, the more I realized I need to pull it together because I actually want to go.”

Starting her junior year, Arguedas’ grades began to pick up. Still, she fears the mistakes she made as a freshman will come back to affect her.

10 Countenance April 2018

Kaycie Arguedas is working on setting herself apart from the thousands applying for admission to ECU in the fall. photo credit: Kaycie Arguedas

“Junior year is a turning point,” reads a College Board “action plan.” The college-readiness website says this is because college planning really begins here. This may account for the change in mindset among students whose grades were low at the beginning of high school.

ECU’s Director of Admissions Dave Meredith says that when reviewing applications reviewers are actually OK with seeing this phenomenon. “We’re definitely more inclined to accept a student if we see they improved from their freshman to their senior year,” he says. “We try to be understanding of situations that might have caused that student’s grades to drop.”

This is where the personal statement and essay may help. “ The essay portion is helpful for explaining tough situations,” he says, and that it’s not the time to “cheerlead” for the Pirates.

Meredith explains that this is an opportunity to help the application become one of the 800 to 1,000 sent to a review committee whose job it is to further evaluate the applicant’s potential.

Arguedas, staring at her application, says to no one in particular: “Like what do I say? Should I talk about trying to improve and do better in school?

Or should I talk about my extracurricular activities?”

about how I’ve been spending my time,” says Arguedas. She

“Why not both?” says her mom, checking in. “You could

added that, at times when she was fully immersed in JROTC

explain why your activities influenced you to go to college.”

and other activities outside of class, her grades would slip.

Collaborating with her mom, Arguedas responds, “And

She hopes that these same activities will make up for where

why that involves me having to get better grades and

her academics lack.

re-taking my SAT.” Her fingers begin to fly across the

Nonetheless, Arguedas has something to bring to the

keyboard again. Her pinky finger reaching up to tap

table. She is one of the many unique applications that

the backspace button every few words, she scrunches

circulate through the admissions process.

her shoulders and clinches her teeth with each mistake.

“We have room for everybody,” says Meredith, the admis-

She calls her mom into the room to read over what

sions director. He adds that the office will be busy meeting

she has written and get the maternal stamp of approval.

deadlines to carefully review each application in an exten-

“I wonder what other people write,” says Arguedas.

These statements and essays can contain all sorts of topics

sive process to evaluate if each student is a fit for ECU. Each application is sent through an arduous review pro-

and stories coming from the varied applicant pool. With

cess running through different groups assigned

a range of students with different GPAs and test scores to

to specific tasks: from reviewing the applicant’s

different potential majors and extracurricular activities,

information and putting it into the Banner

the potential class of 2022 could hold any type of student.

system to matching the test scores to checking

R

if all academic requirements have been met. All of this is ecently admitted high school senior Rachel

repeated for each freshman, transfer, readmit and all other

Burke, 17, had her mind made up quickly

types of potential students. Each one of these applications

on going to ECU. Burke applied to the Hon-

has different requirements, and different standards.

ors College, “so I’m mostly set on ECU,” she says.

While Duca encourages students with extracurriculars and

Burke, of Wilmington, is exactly the candidate an

explains how they’ll contribute to campus life, Meredith

admissions department might look for. She has a

stresses that students with good grades and test scores

27 on her ACT, is involved with the National Hon-

may foreshadow their success at ECU. He says that it even

ors Society, volunteers, has a job, a 4.8 GPA, and is

looks good to have a really good test score and decent GPA

an ECU legacy student with five alumni relatives.

or vice versa, but adds, “It’s ideal to have both, but good

“We love to see activities,” says Senior Associate Director of

test scores are really important.” He later explains that

Admissions Jacqui Duca. “They show passion and it tells us that

candidates just shy of these requirements are often sent

this student is likely to come here and contribute to campus.”

to the committee for a deeper review.

That’s exactly Burke’s plan when she starts her freshman year. “I’m hoping the Honors College will connect me with a lot of things,” she says. She also plans to work a part-time job.

Burke is still awaiting another application decision, but as for now, she is set on becoming a Pirate in Fall 2018.

M

A

s Arguedas reviews her application, her mom checks in one more time.

“Let me know when you need my credit card for

the fee,” her mom says.

“Well,” she mumbles, “I think I’m going to wait until next

eanwhile, Kaycie Arguedas is eager to fill out her

month to get my scores back before I really hit submit.”

portion of the application dedicat-

She saves her application and exits out of

ed to extracurriculars. For the last

the pages on the browser. Straightening up

four years, alongside other clubs and interests,

the computer desk, she places a thick book

she has been involved in Junior Reserves Of-

into a pile. Hesitating, she picks it back up.

ficer Training Corps, or JROTC­— the federal

As she marches up to her room, under her arm

military-based program designed to encourage

is the big blue book that reads, “The Official

college attendance. “I think [JROTC] says a lot

SAT Study Guide.” n

book photo credit: Hope House Press on Unsplash.com

April 2018 Countenance 11

The commotion and demands of a late-night , restaurant/bar crowd may sound daunting. However Sup Dogs employee Nate Honstetter relishes his job.

12  Countenance April 2018

by Clark Coey

It’s nearing 9 p.m. on a Monday night in Greenville, and the Carolina Panthers have just started their televised Monday Night Football game against the Miami Dolphins.

At Sup Dogs, a local-favorite restaurant and bar downtown, ECU students are already sardined inside and on the back porch. They are ready to watch the game and enjoy some $2 mugs of cold beer. The environment is vibrant, as the drinks begin to flow and Panthers fans are flooding inside to watch their team.

However, not everyone there is quite so short ponytail tied into a bun, Honstetter cheerful, as this can be a stressful night

knows what he’s about to deal with. The

for workers at the restaurant who will have

bar has already begun to crowd and more

to deal with the commotion and demands

students are heading his way. He maneu-

that come with a crowd. Such is the case

vers through the restaurant to the back,

for Nate Honstetter, who just started his

where the kitchen is located. He clocks

8 p.m. shift, checking IDs at the front door

in, greets his co-workers and heads back

for students wanting to come in and drink.

to the front door, where he takes over as

Just two hours previously, Honstet-

the bouncer for the next couple of hours.

ter had been working out at a gym near-

“Drunk people don’t like being told

by. He was lifting weights before mak-

'no',” Honstetter explains. “At the door,

ing his way home to get cleaned up

that’s what I have to do sometimes.

for his shift at Sup Dogs, on what he

Last week I had to turn away a few

knows is about to be a very busy night.

people because they weren’t 21, and

Sup Dogs was founded in 2008 by

they weren’t exactly thrilled about it.”

Derek Oliverio, and is known for its

Swarms of students dressed in Panthers

high-energ y environment with great

gear are heading toward Sup Dogs, and

burgers, hot dogs and drinks. A second

it's Honstetter’s job to check IDs before

Sup Dogs opened in Chapel Hill in 2014.

they go inside. Honstetter grabs each ID,

On Mondays, the eatery offers a “Mug-

takes a quick scan, then hands it back and

Night” deal. Students can bring in beer

nods, as his co-worker stamps the cus-

mugs or anything that can be used to drink

tomers’ hands and they proceed inside.

beer and have it filled for $2 as long as

A short girl with blonde hair arrives

the container holds 32 ounces or less. Stu-

with a tall guy with black hair, wearing a

dents at ECU are all about Mug Night and

Carolina jersey with the number 59 across

crowd the restaurant on any given Monday.

the front. As Honstetter checks the guy’s

Honstetter, 24, arrives at Sup Dogs a few

ID, he brings it a bit closer to his face

minutes early for his 8 p.m. shift. Stand-

for a better look. Honstetter looks back

ing tall at 6 feet, with a dark beard and a

at the guy with a serious demeanor

continued on p. 28 April 2018 Countenance 13

by Blair Berry

Autism is on the rise and higher than average in N.C. Yet therapy options are lacking in the eastern part of the state and budget cuts are slashing other services.

Samuel Robinson photo credit: Kevin Cirnitski 14 Countenance April 2018

T

wenty one-year-old Olivia Hancock is a student at East Carolina University and a member of the Alpha Xi Delta sorority. Alpha Xi Delta’s philanthropy is autism, so Hancock is no stranger to working with individuals who are on the spectrum. However,

the first time Hancock was asked to babysit a child with autism spectrum disorder, she didn’t exactly know what to expect.

“I was a little nervous at first. I had met him before, but never one-onone, so I didn’t know what he liked or how he would act,” said Hancock.

When she arrived at the house and was left alone with 6-year-old Samuel, she quickly realized the night wasn’t going to be as hard as she thought.

Right when she got there, Samuel told her he wanted to play putt-putt.

AUTISM IN NORTH CAROLINA

He led her upstairs to show her

ketball operations for the ECU

his Fisher-Price golf course. Sam-

men’s team, started Aces for Au-

uel wanted Hancock to do all of

tism after his son, Samuel, was

the work, but after she showed

diagnosed with the disorder. It

him the basics of putt-putt, they

is not clear why North Carolina

eventually played together. When

has a higher than average share of

he caught on to the motor skills,

autism, but many places like the

he couldn’t stop smiling. He want-

University of North Carolina at

ed to keep playing and playing.

Chapel Hill, North Carolina State

Hancock said it was a fun expe-

University and Duke University

rience because she loved seeing

are running programs to try to

how joyful he was regardless of

figure out the reason.

where the golf ball ended up. He

Katie Holler, an autism resource

just enjoyed having a friend there

specialist for the Autism Society

to do something with him. “The

of North Carolina in Greenville,

process of that night babysitting

said one major study is to deter-

came so easy. We didn’t have any

mine whether autism could be

issues, which surprised me be-

genetic or environmental. One

cause I thought we would hit a

way this is done is through what’s

bump in the road at some point,”

called “the spark.” This test ob-

said Hancock.

serves the saliva of families and

I

analyzes it. n the United States, 1 in

Although several studies are

68 children are diagnosed

being conducted, many continue

with autism spectrum dis-

to debate the issue. Have autism

order, but in North Carolina alone

diagnoses increased or has the de-

1 in 58 children are diagnosed

velopment of technology caused

with autism, said Aces for Autism

better ability to diagnose? Some

President Kyle Robinson.

also question whether more peo-

Robinson, the director of bas-

ple are being misdiagnosed. Hol-

1 in 59

Around 1 in 59 8-year-old students in North Carolina may be diagnosed with autism.

17%

The finding that 1 in 59 children around age 8 are diagnosed with autism represents a 17% increase from a previous 2012 study that found 1 in 88 children of that age had autism.

37 months North Carolina has the youngest median age (37 months) of diagnosis out of 11 states studied by the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network.

3 years

Most cases of autism are diagnosed within the first 3 years of a person's life.

800-442-2762

The contact number to get in touch with the Autism Society of North Carolina to learn more about autism or to volunteer.

Source: https://www.autismsociety-nc.org/ Infographic created by: John Nelson

April 2018 Countenance 15

Source: Autism Society of North Carolina www.autismsociety-nc.org

ler said autism spectrum disorder is commonly misdiag-

screaming in the middle of the store,” said Holler.

nosed as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder because

Applied behavior analysis also provides speech therapy,

the two conditions share common characteristics, with

occupational therapy and physical therapy. The speech

those diagnosed having trouble sitting still, exhibiting

therapy teaches pragmatic language, which is the use of

repetitive movements, avoiding eye contact and having

and understanding of language. Holler says those on the

impaired social interaction.

spectrum have trouble answering “w-h” questions such as

The rise in autism diagnosis means more help is needed

who, what, where, when and why, so pragmatic language

from treatment and therapy centers. “Early intervention

enhances the patient’s ability to comprehend and answer

is more common now, and when [autistic] people get older

those kind of questions. Occupational therapy is used

they are able to do better and speak more,” said Holler.

to determine the patient’s sensitivity in certain areas

One major therapy that helps those suffering from autism

like textures, clothing, food, sound and/or light. Holler

spectrum disorder is applied behavior analysis therapy.

said sensory evaluation is used to determine a so-called

With this therapy, behavior analysts study what happens

“sensory diet.” “Some kids may need to swing or do some

before a behavior is done, what is the actual behavior

kind of movement to calm them down, or if they have

and then what the consequence is after the behavior is

deep pressure the therapist will suggest they wear a

done. Once the behavior analyst finds consistency in the

pressure vest. A lot of it is trial and error,” said Holler.

behavior, the analyst tries to shape the patient’s behavior.

Holler, who has five daughters, four of whom have autism spectrum disorder, recalled, “One of my daughters would scream and get very verbal. We would help her to express her feelings as opposed to throwing down and 16 Countenance April 2018

A

lthough applied behavior analysis therapy is beneficial to people who have autism, Eastern North Carolina lacks such therapy treatment

centers. This is leaving many families in the eastern

region area without the treatment they need or is forcing them to commute far distances to get to the nearest treatment center. “One family I know travels an hour and a half one way to get service. They live in rural eastern North Carolina where there are no services at all, so they travel three hours round-trip just to get service,” said Robinson. Supporters in the area are fighting hard to get an applied behavior analysis treatment center, especially in Greenville.

Aces for Autism is one of the

“One family I know travels an hour and a half one way to get service. They live in rural eastern North Carolina where there are no services at all, so they travel three hours round-trip just to get service.”

group supporters. It is a nonprofit education and treatment center in Greenville that was established in August 2013. It is dedicated to providing doctors who can give evidence-based therapies, said Robinson.

For the past four years, Aces for Autism has held an auction to raise money for building a treatment center in Greenville.

Many in Greenville are working hard to maintain services that benefit autism patients, families and friends, but state budget cuts are not making things easy. “The services that we had two years ago we don’t really have now, so it’s a tremendous need,” said Holler.

Autism awareness ribbon

The Autism Society of North Carolina does provide training sessions for families, patients and police officers. Holler, who is one of the trainers, educates people on what to do if they come into contact with an au-

programs for patients. These programs give autistic

tism patient who may be experiencing an episode.

individuals the opportunity to work on their social skills.

During the hour-long sessions she shows videos

“Autism is more prevalent than pediatric cancers, AIDS

to give real-life examples of autism episodes, and

and diabetes combined,” said Hancock, the ECU stu-

then has the trainees answer questions to make

dent, who volunteers at many autism centers. While such

sure they understand what was wrong in the sit-

volunteerism gives people a simple understanding of the

uation being displayed. The Autism Society also

disorder, she added that it also makes her want to spread

provides support groups for parents, free recre-

acceptance for autism and educate people about it. n

ation groups for patients and free after school April 2018 Countenance 17

photo credit: Thomas Weybrecht

In an overweight state,

too much fast food, too little exercise causing concern for

Pitt County residents

by Thomas Weybrecht

besity

is a worldwide epidemic, and the United States is by no means exempt from the problem.

The disease is consistently linked with other chronic and fatal conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer. But, in Eastern North Carolina, the issue is on another level.

According to the 2016 North Carolina State Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity Profile, released annually by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 65.6 percent of adults in the state were either overweight or obese. Those statistics place North Carolina as the 16th-most obese state in the country. From 2015 to 2016 alone, the number of obese adults in the state jumped nearly 2 percent, and from 2013 to 2015, the percentage of obese high schoolers in the state rose by nearly 4 percent.

“Most of the things that contribute to it [obesity] are things that influence energy balance,” says Dr. David Collier, director of the Pediatric Healthy Weight Research and Treatment Center at East Carolina University.

“If you’re out of energy balance, you tend to gain weight.”

One of those things is fast food. And in Pitt County, fast food is everywhere. The city of Greenville alone is home to more than a hundred fast food restaurants, and there is no shortage of customers.

In a 2006 study published by food service consumer research firm Sandelman and Associates, Pitt County was ranked the No. 1 market in the U.S. for the rate of heavy users of fast food, whom the firm considered to be those who visited fast food restaurants more than 12 times each month. A staggering 59 percent of Greenville participants reported having fit into the category, which was 1.4 times higher than the national average of 42 percent.

graph created by: Thomas Weybrecht

“

Collier says that the numbers are due to fast food’s addictive qualities. “Fast food is designed to be tasty and inexpensive and readily available,” says Collier.

And in a county with more than a quarter of the residents below the poverty line, those features can be hard to turn down. Although Greenville hasn’t earned the infamous “No. 1” title since 2006, it’s clear that there is still a problem that hasn’t quite yet been solved.

Collier’s clinic focuses on childhood obesity, which is more than twice the national average in Pitt County. “The kids we see in our obesity clinic are getting about 400 calories a day in sugary sweetened beverages,” he says. “There’s not a daily requirement for sugary sweetened beverages, so this is above and beyond good nutrition. On average, the kids that we see are getting almost enough calories from beverages alone to drive a pound-per-week weight gain.”

ever I wanted,” Shelton says.

She says it wasn’t until she was encouraged by her family to get healthier, but even more so by her educators through programs like MATCH, that she overhauled her diet, started playing sports and began to see improvement in her overall health. “When you’re eating heathier and you’re getting adequate exercise, you just point-blank feel more alive,” Shelton says.

MATCH, now in its 13th year, is taught at 54 schools throughout the state and, according to Collier, is the most successful school-based health education program in the United States. About 60 percent of the students who are overweight or obese show improvement in their BMIs over the course of their nine months in the program. “This kind of program with a population-based approach, together with clinical intervention, is a pretty potent combination,” says Collier. “It’s also been shown to be durable, meaning that kids who were enrolled in the program in seventh grade are still healthier in 12th grade than kids who were not.”

MATCH places emphasis on both healthy eating and physical activity, the

When you’re eating healthier and you’re getting adequate exercise, you just point-blank feel more alive,

Educating youth According to the CDC, in Pitt County, more than one third of all children are overweight or obese. Tim Hardison, 20 Countenance April 2018

says Shelton.

”

a middle school teacher from Eastern North Carolina, is doing what he can to counteract that— one student at a time.

In 2004, Hardison developed the education program known as Motivating Adolescents with Technology to Choose Health, or MATCH. The program, which is taught to those in the seventh grade across North Carolina, aims to combat and prevent childhood obesity through the use of education technology and physical activity.

Twenty-two-year-old ECU graduate student McKenzie Shelton has experienced the positive reform that comes through health education firsthand. “I was overweight for much of my youth,” Shelton says. “My ideal perception of adulthood was that I was going to be able to purchase and eat donuts when-

“

Part of shedding the image we’ve had in the past is offering health food options, says Shelton.

”

latter of which is also below national standards in Pitt County and North Carolina. According to the CDC, only about 25 percent of adolescents in the state met the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity each day in 2015.

“When I grew up, we didn’t have iPhones or any of that technology… so we went outside,” says retired high school basketball coach Donna Kraus, of Greenville. “The key is finding ways for students to be active, so that they realize the benefits of physical activity.”

Dr. Collier acknowledges that it can be hard to compete with “big fast food.”

“We know it’s not a level playing field for promoting healthy behaviors, be-

cause there’s a lot of very effective advertising that influences people’s choices for when they’re hungry and what they’re hungry for,” he says.

“In the health industry, we don’t have sufficient counter-advertising.”

Major advertising agencies spend anywhere from $3 to $4 billion each year advertising fast food and “fun” food to children and adolescents.

More research to be done Collier is continuing his research into the biological causes for obesity in clinical trials at the Pediatric Healthy Weight Research and Treatment Center, including investigating the effects of xenobiotic compounds such as benzoic acid.

The study has provided preliminary data that the acid, which is used as a preservative in sugary beverages and fast food, promotes the development and maintenance of obesity. “If that turns out to be promising,” Collier says, “then we’ll develop an intervention around benzoate avoidance for patients who are obese.”

Dr. David Collier Photo credit: Cliff Hollis, ECU News Services

Promoting healthy eating Many, like Collier, are doing their best not to let Greenville stagnate as a city with a weight problem. New businesses have recently opened that present more healthy dining and shopping options including Fresh Market, Aldi, Lidl, Publix, 501 Fresh, Clean Eatz and Muscle Makers Grill.

“Part of shedding the image we’ve had in the past is offering health food options,” says Shelton, who is a graduate assistant for the ECU Honors College. “If we want to be on the new frontier of this top-tier [university and medical] community, then part of that is increasing the health of the community and decreasing our obesity.”

Becoming a "Fit Community" Pitt County has also been designated as a Fit Community by the Fit Together Organization, a distinction given to those communities that show effort to “promote physical activity, healthy eating and tobacco-free programs, policies, environments and lifestyles.” However, “obesity is a complex problem,” says Collier, “in that it’s sort of the ultimate bio-psycho-social issue.”

Kraus, the retired coach, described the intricacy of maintaining physical health.

“Life is comprised of a multitude of things: the intellectual part, the social part, the physical part and the emotional part, but you have to try to keep them in balance,” says Kraus. “The more that young people in particular can understand the value of health and what it takes to be healthy, the better it is.” n

April 2018 Countenance 21

The local celebrity behind the Snapchat story is well known on ECU’s campus for attention-getting stunts and for being highly sociable on and off social media.

Now, he's using his notoriety to help start a support group for students with Asperger's Syndrome.

D

aniel Barth starts out the day like he begins most—on social media.

He wakes up and posts a picture of himself on Snapchat, telling the world he is ready for the day.

However, unlike many people who find themselves to be just another face in the crowd when it comes to social media, Barth has an audience.

“I have 182 friends on Snapchat just who start with the letter A,” Barth says, scrolling through his friends list on the mobile application.

The sixth-year student at East Carolina University has been well-known on campus ever since he arrived at the university, but his popularity really took off this year when he created a Snapchat Story called “Where’s Daniel?”

22 Countenance April 2018

by Melissa Glen Photo credit: Amy Camille Young

April 2018 Countenance 23

This group Snapchat Story allows people to take a picture

“My popularity is not a lottery thing.

You always need a big break.”

whenever they spot Barth on campus and post it for others to see.

“If you have social media then you are going to know who Daniel is,” Warren Dobbins, a freshman geology major, says.

After getting out of bed, 23-year-old Barth walks out of his single room in Scott Residence

Photo credit: Amy Camille Young

Hall and makes his way over to Todd Dining Hall. Todd is an area where Barth spends most of his day, something that has hasn’t gone unnoticed by the employees there.

people with Asperger’s syndrome tend to have a hard time

“Daniel comes in here a few times a day,” says dining

when it comes to socializing or usually prefer to be by

hall employee David White, chuckling. “He will come in

themselves, but Barth seems to defy this generalization.

here like two minutes before we close, religiously. I don’t

“I met Daniel. Well, I don’t really know,” says Jacobs Simmons,

know how he does it. It’s kind of crazy.” White says he has

a freshman business major, recalling his first interaction with

been working in the dining hall for only three months,

Barth. “One day he just walked up and he started talking to me.”

but it didn’t take him long to come to know Barth.

Simmons says Barth gets so much attention from people

“Ever ybody likes him. I haven’t seen anybody

because he is not afraid to be his authentic self in front of others.

who doesn’t like Daniel,” White says. “He sits with

“He is really himself, and he won’t change for anyone,”

everybody, talks with everybody. I think he’s pretty

Simmons says. “There are some things that he does

cool. I’ve only been here since August, and I already

to fit in, but that’s him being him. He just naturally

know who he is. He seems to do his thing here.”

wants to fit in. With Snapchat, that’s just stuff he likes

On this morning, Barth goes through line and grabs

to do. It just makes him happy being around people.”

a bowl, filling it with Fruit Loops and milk. He then

Dobbins says everyone likes Barth because of his personality

walks to the pasta bar, where a female student greets

and his authenticity. “I would describe him as unique,

him, asking to take a photo with him for Snapchat.

confident, eager and genuine,” he says as Barth listens nearby.

“Daniel’s the man. I love Daniel,” she says.

“Maybe I should take notes as well,” Barth says, as he pulls out his

After she takes the photo, Barth’s focus returns to

phone to write down what his fellow student is saying about him.

his meal, as he orders pasta with spinach, marinara

“He’s a genuine person,” Dobbins says. “He’s not an evil

sauce, kale, asparagus, cauliflower, tomatoes, parmesan,

person based off what I’ve seen. He doesn’t try to be evil

bread crumbs, pesto sauce, bacon, olive oil and pepper.

or mean or feel like he is above somebody even though

“But not that pepper, can you use the table pepper, the

he has a higher popularity than the average person.”

small pepper?” Barth asks the employee serving his meal.

Topping off his lunch, Barth grabs a slice of cheesecake and a bowl of ice cream covered in chocolate

syrup,

brownie

pieces

and

sprinkles.

B

arth says until recently he was not open to many people about his Asperger’s syndrome because he was

worried about how it would affect his reputation on campus.

But, make no mistake—Barth is just as unique as

“I fear that it could affect me negatively and if the wrong

his food choices. Barth is among the 1 percent of the

people find out it could lead to discrimination,” he says quietly

world diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, a high-

as if worried about people overhearing. “I’m kind of funny,

functioning form of autism spectrum disorder. Most

right? And I’m funny because I’m funny, but some people

24 Countenance April 2018

might think certain things I do, I’m not doing it because I’m

show on campus, where he showcased his memory skills, as he

cool. They might think I’m doing it because of the thing I have.”

recited over a hundred digits of pi. This year, Barth says his “big

For Barth, one of the first times he realized he was different

interesting thing” is his Snapchat Story, which has given him

from everyone else was when he was in kindergarten.

the most recognition he has ever had during his years at ECU.

“It was at a soccer game that my parents put me in,”

Stephen Gray, the director of student services for

he says. “I got distracted by the dandelions, and I picked

ECU’s Department for Disability Support Services, is no

dandelions and gave them to my mom instead of playing

stranger to Barth. Gray says his role is to help Barth and

soccer. Yeah, so then I didn’t play soccer after that.”

other students facing similar difficulties because of a

Barth grabs his food and sits down at a table near an

disability learn how to acclimate to the college atmosphere.

outlet, so he can charge his phone. Before eating, he gets on

Any student under the department has the option to meet

Snapchat and puts up a picture of his entrée. He starts eating,

regularly with a representative for follow-ups on both their

when again he is greeted by someone he knows. During the

academic and social progress while at college. Gray says Barth

two hours Barth is at the dining hall, he runs into a total

chose to meet with him around two times a month until

of 25 people he knows and who come up to talk to him.

recently when Barth started showing significant progress.

B

“The first couple of years Daniel has been on my arth says his popularity is not a result of luck, but rather

calendar, because he needs some more direction,”

the product of his actions over the past five years at ECU.

Gray says. “He is a bright student, but sometimes he

“My popularity is not a lottery thing,” Barth explains. “You

gets jumbled up and that’s a kind way of saying it.”

always need a big break.” Even before he started his Snapchat

Gray says he would read over each syllabus for Barth’s classes

Story, Barth says he tried to do one “big interesting thing”

and work with him to plan what he needs to do each semester

on ECU’s campus every year to bring attention to himself.

to succeed in each course, including making sure he takes

During his first year on campus, this included uploading

use of the resources available to him such as the University

videos of himself singing comically on YouTube, which

Writing Center in the library. He says he was also one of the

gained him some of his followers but not nearly the

people who encouraged Barth to run for SGA president at ECU.

size of audience he has now with his Snapchat Story.

The reason why Gray believes Barth is so popular

Barth says during his second year, he started using Instagram

on campus stems from Barth’s ability to be who

and worked on perfecting his sense of humor, leading him

he is without any apparent fear of rejection.

to pulling a massive prank his third year on campus, which

“He tells it straight, and sometimes it’s offensive,

gained him a lot of attention. For this prank, he printed

and people take it the wrong way,” Gray says. “But

out blown-up pictures of his face and put them outside of

when they realize where it is coming from, they realize

Mendenhall Student Center, where all the flyers are posted.

that he is a person who has integrity and respect.”

“At first, I put up one picture of my face, and someone tore

Gray says he also worked in the Dean of Students Office at

it down. Then I put up like nine, and they tore that down.

ECU for a large period of his time here, and Barth’s name would

Then I filled up the entire thing with that same picture.

come up often by faculty who were curious about his role on

They tore that down,” Barth says, thinking back on the event

campus and why he seemed to show up almost everywhere.

and smiling. “Then what I did was I used that picture, but

“They would come to me and say, ‘Do you know him?’”

I did a mosaic, like an 8 by 8 printout, so you were walking

Gray says. “And I would say, ‘Yes, he is harmless. He just

and you just see my face but it’s taller than a grown man.”

has some quirks about him that people need to understand.’

The very next year, ECU put a cap on free student printing.

It’s not threatening; it’s just in-your-face sometimes.”

“It’s just a coincidence,” he says.

Barth leaves the dining hall and goes back to his dorm to get

Barth says, after gaining even more recognition on campus,

a textbook before going to Jones Residence Hall to meet some

he was approached by many students and even faculty his

friends. However, when he gets to Jones there is no sign of a

fourth year to run for Student Government Association

textbook, and the only object in possession seems to be his phone.

president, so he decided to launch a campaign. Last year,

He gets on the elevator, where he runs into yet

Barth’s fifth, he participated in Pirates Got Talent, a talent

another student who knows him. Acknowledging April 2018 Countenance 25

her, he pulls out his phone to doublecheck what her

different than others may read it,” Gray explains. “We just

Snapchat username is and that he is friends with her.

talked about Asperger’s, and we talked about autism, and

Barth says he has been at ECU for longer than expected

we talked about the aspects of the disability and some of

because he switched his major during his second year from

the challenges, but also some of the things to look for.”

biology. He is now majoring in economics with a minor in

Gray says this meeting really helped Barth’s peers

business. Barth says if everything goes as expected he should

see that his intentions were good, but it also helped

graduate this year, but he plans to stay at ECU to get his MBA.

Barth to realize he needs to learn to be OK with himself.

“I’ve just gotten so used to this

“ T hey

had

witnessed

campus that I can’t imagine leaving

the behavior, but they just

now, really,” Barth says. “ There

thought that he was quirky,

are just so many relationships

he was weird, ‘he is not one

and stuff I’ve made that I imagine

of us,’ and sadly to say that’s

could help me in my career.”

life. But when it’s explained,

During his six years at ECU, Barth

they realize that, ‘OK I get

says he has never had a roommate,

this,’” Gray says. “I was

because his parents thought it would

proud of Daniel for stepping

be better for him to have his own room.

up and saying, ‘I am who I

“I’ve never had a roommate

am and I can’t change that.’”

probably because of my condition,”

Barth says that, after

he says with a solemn tone.

experiencing

p e o p l e ’s

“Sometimes I feel a little jealous

reactions to some of his social

or envious of 99.9 percent of the

Barth says if everything

skills that first year, he decided

students who have roommates. I’m

goes as expected, he

to try to change his behaviors

like ‘aww man, I don’t have one.’”

should graduate this

to get a better response.

year; but, he plans to stay

“I just stepped back and

at ECU to get his MBA.

was like, ‘Oh God, all of

B

arth says he was not always as social as he is now. He

Photo credit: Amy Camille Young

says his first year at ECU, he saw the way people would react

these people are arguing ab out

T

negatively to certain traits he could not control because of his

me,’”

he

says .

his year, Barth is in the works of starting a club on

Asperger’s. Barth says one specific tendency he had was to

campus for students with high functioning autism, specifically

obsessively stick to his dorm’s rules so much to the point

Asperger’s syndrome, as a sort of support group for these

that if anybody would break the rules in his dorm by his

students. He says the idea will be for students to be able to share

definition, he would report them to the dorm coordinator.

their struggles and what they have learned while at ECU with

“There would be huge groups of people who would

other students like them, so they can prevent some of these

have arguments about me,” he says. “Five people would

students from making the same mistakes they did. Gray says

be like ‘oh, he did this, blah blah blah’ and the other

Barth asked him to be the adviser for the club, and he agreed.

people would defend me like, ‘he doesn’t know better.’”

Gray says one time this tension between Barth and the rest of his hall during Barth’s freshman year got to be so problematic that the disability services office had to mediate a meeting between Barth and his floormates.

“Sometimes Daniel’s interactions with people are different from a social perspective, and he may read things 26 Countenance April 2018

B

arth walks back to his room and lies down on his bed. He uploads one more picture to his Snapchat

Story saying “goodnight” and showing the world his day is over. He turns off the lights, and he goes to sleep. n

continued from p. 14 and says, “This isn’t even you, man.” The

his shift at the front door is finally over.

guy begins to appear nervous, as the

This is not the normal routine for Hon-

line behind him is growing with peo-

stetter at Sup Dogs. He explains that he

ple waiting to get inside. Honstetter

usually is cooking hot dogs and burgers

hands him back the ID and says, “I’m

in the kitchen, but tonight is his turn to

sorry man, you can’t come in tonight.”

work the door for what is typically the

“Whatever, man,” he grumbles as

restaurant’s busiest night of the week.

he grabs the ID back from Honstet-

The football game comes to an end around

ter before leaving with the blonde.

midnight, with Panthers fans happy, hav-

“I just tell it how it is,” says Hon-

ing enjoyed cheap beer while watching their

stetter as he moves on to the next

team win. As the game ends with a score of

person in line. “People have been a lot

45-21, flocks of people have also ended their

more pissed off than that. You should have seen Halloween weekend.”

Although the job can be stressful at times, it is exactly what Honstet-

N at e H o n st e tt e r m ig h t n o t cl o ck o u t o f wo rk at Su p D o gs ti ll af te r 3 a. m . b u t th at 's fi n e w it h h im .

Ph ot o cred it:

N at ha ni el H

ter wanted. He was raised in Greenville and is

on st et te r

night and are heading home, though some students stick around for a few more drinks.

The restaurant is open until 2 a.m., and

Honstetter ’s

work

night

contin-

ues for another hour as he has to help

no stranger to the local college town environment, fully

clean and close the restaurant after everyone leaves.

embracing it as a worker at Sup Dogs. “I had to beg Bret

At almost 2 a.m., the remaining customers are told that it is

for this job,” he says with a chuckle about the owner of the

time to head home. Young people are leaving out of every exit,

restaurant. “I applied and then showed up five days in a row

most remembering the mugs that they brought to fill up with

to try and talk to him. After I got a few recommendations

beer, but some are left behind. Honstetter makes sure no one

from some people that knew him, he caved and gave it to me.”

takes any alcohol with them as they leave, and, once everyone

Honstetter’s interest in Sup Dogs had become well known

is gone, he heads toward the kitchen to start cleaning up.

among his friends. “Nate has wanted this job forever,”

“This isn’t a bad shift for me at all,” says Honstetter

says Kevin Robinson, a longtime friend of Honstet-

as he walks back toward the kitchen a little after 2 a.m.

ter’s. “He loves the environment of downtown Green-

“My hardest shift is on Sundays. I work from 10 a.m.

ville and this is his favorite bar,” Robinson says as he

until we close at 12 a.m. That one usually has me tired.”

sips on a beer, enjoying his night watching football.

At 3:02 a.m. Honstetter is about to clock out after

Honstetter grew up in Greenville with two young-

having helped close the restaurant and clean up after the

er brothers, one of whom attends ECU. While he enjoys

swarm of students dissipated. Before leaving, he shakes

the Greenville lifestyle, another reason he stays in town

hands with a few guys who are still working in the kitchen.

is to be close to his family, who lives a few minutes out-

After his shift, he is heading home to relax. “A lot of the time

side of Greenville. “This is just where I want to be right

I will go to the gym after my shift. I don’t need to tonight since

now,” Honstetter says. “If later on I decide I don’t want

I went earlier, but sometimes I’ll even go late after my shift,”

to be in Greenville anymore, then I’ll go somewhere else.”

Honstetter says, referring to his 24-hour gym membership.

After three hours at the door, Honstetter moves to a new

Honstetter doesn’t live far away, and always either

station on the back porch for the remainder of his shift. His

walks or rides his bike to work and back. Tonight, he

job is now to just make sure that no one takes their drinks

walks, and after saying 'goodbye' to the last of his

off of the porch, which would be a violation of the restau-

coworkers, he takes a look at his phone while striding out

rant’s alcohol restrictions. He leans back against the railing,

of the parking lot toward his house a few blocks away. n

and takes a deep breath as he appears to be relieved that April 2018 Countenance 27

Anxiety and depression are on the rise at universities across the nation.

From academic stressors, to making new friends and living away from home for the first time, find out why students are struggling more than ever.

28  Countenance April 2018

Photo by "ankxt" www.flickr.com/photos/ankyt/13782787114

by Tia-Alanna Joyner

A

nxiety, depression and academic stress are the main vehicles in an increase of mental health issues on college campuses across the nation, and for Andrew Johnson, a senior at East Carolina University, the daily battle with his own demons has barely kept him afloat.

The signs were never prevalent to Johnson until two years ago after his girlfriend noticed a constant change in his behavior.

“She would notice my mood swings and how my depression would fluctuate all the time when I was with her. At one point, she just sat me down and told me all the things she saw. I knew at that moment I needed an evaluation,” said Johnson, a pseudonym for the ECU senior who did not want his name used.

Johnson was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, a mental condition that is marked by a pattern of ongoing instability in moods, behavior, self-image and functioning, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

“A number of factors can influence anxiety, depression and any other mental health issues, including genetic factors, life history, how stress is managed over time, and situational factors,” said Dr. Valerie Kisler-van Reede, a licensed psychologist and director of the

April 2018 Countenance 29

“genuinely feel disconnected There are days where I

from reality. Lots of, 'I don't understand why I feel the way I do.'

”

other students. Hailing from outside of Chapel Hill near the University of North Carolina, Johnson’s move to the eastern side of the state caused him some isolation.

“There is definitely a difference in the way people dress, think and act, and I did not fit the typical ECU person,” Johnson said. “I stuck out like a sore thumb because I did not conform, but it was eventually for a good reason because I became a magnet to those who didn’t fit either.”

Johnson described his freshman year struggle as the first building block to opening up about his condition. “I am truly thankful because with my friendships, especially early on, it made it so much easier to deal with it because I was comfortable talking about it. Some people with my

Center for Counseling and Student Development at ECU. “It

same case don't have that luxury,” Johnson said thoughtfully.

can become more apparent in college because mental illnesses

“I still do have challenges, like with relationships. It's a bit

act as a disruption in functioning in the area of emotional

of a challenge because my partner never knows how my

or psychological health, and due to the amount of stress

mood is going to be and that is something that is difficult

students take on, it can seem like everything is overwhelming.”

to deal with, especially when it's someone you care about.”

For Johnson, his illness affects him every day. At times,

ECU’s Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Dr. Virginia Hardy

he describes his mood as dramatic shifts — ­ almost like he

says that she has noticed an increase in mental health issues

is two different people in one body. “When I get mad for

with freshmen in recent years and that these freshmen, unlike

no reason, I just try to rationalize it,” Johnson said. “There

Johnson, are more closed off than ever. “When you compare

are days where I genuinely feel disconnected from reality.

ECU to other universities, everyone is running the same.

Lots of, 'I don't understand why I feel the way I do.'”

Everyone is experiencing lows in regard to students coming with

According to the World Health Organization, one in four

more issues, students being less resilient, having less coping

people in the world will be affected by a mental health disorder in

mechanisms and not being able to manage the disappointments

their lifetime, with the ages between 14 and 35 years being the hotbed for such development.

The constant change, adjustment and lack

Those with depression or anxiety often feel alone, although statistically they are not.

of communication are what Ainsley Worrell, assistant director of wellness promotions at ECU, says are factors in high rates of diagnoses in those ages, and particularly during 18 to 25. “Those are your undergrad and graduate years, which you have the most amount of stress,” Worrell said. “You are in a new place, making new friends and you are on your own for the first time, in addition to adjusting to a heavy workload. Those factors in general create a mindset where you might not reach out because there’s no one you can talk to.”

In Johnson’s case, coming from a place very different from Greenville, North Carolina, was a drastic change for him, as it is for many 30 Countenance April 2018

Photo from pxhere.com

"You know, after I was diagnosed, I was relieved because I knew the problem and how to deal with it in a productive manner. From that day forward, I have been getting in tune with myself because I know the risks and I don’t want the other me to win.”

distracting himself from what he calls “damaging and distorted” thoughts similar to the ones he had last year. “You know, after I was diagnosed, I was relieved because I knew the problem and how to deal with it in a productive manner. From that day forward, I have been getting in tune with myself because I know the risks and I don’t want the other me to win.”

Tips to Finding Your "True Self" Through treatment and counseling, Johnson has found outlets for what he calls “his true self.” Working out, playing video games, having a good sense of humor and talking to his very close friend are ways Johnson has prevented his demons from encroaching into his daily life.

they experience when they are here, so they self-medicate or

As alternative options, universities like ECU offer counseling,

[cause] self-injury,” Hardy said. “It’s a national phenomenon.”

crisis and psychiatric services to all enrolled students at no

The Cost of Depression

additional charge to combat mental health illnesses, and to

Nationally, suicide is the third leading cause of death

the Wellness Center on ECU’s campus act as a gateway to

on college campuses, and over 90 percent of those who

stress management, as do mental health events like Fresh

committed suicide had an underlying mental illness,

Check, an interactive fair that brings awareness through

according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

entertaining activities throughout the year, according to Reede.

Over the past year, 7 percent of college students have

Emphasis on training faculty and other students are other

considered suicide, and students like Johnson are at risk.

prevention tactics Hardy is spearheading as the resources, in

“One of the reasons why so many deaths happen is

her opinion, are not enough to tackle mental health issues in

because those students did not have a voice. There is a

students. “We are taking it very serious. We realize it’s a growing

stigma in reaching out and most students internalize

problem; we don't see an end to this in sight, and to recognize

the stress, the anxiety or whatever they are dealing

that we won't be able to resource ourselves out of it is the most

with until one day they can’t keep it in anymore,” said

important step,” Hardy said. “It’s not a Counseling Center issue

Worrell. “More than 40 percent of college students may

or a Division of Student Affairs issue, it's a university issue.

be dealing with a mental health issue right now, but

We need the entire university to be aware and familiar, and be

they go undiagnosed because many don’t seek help.”

able to identify students and provide the resources we need.”

One day Johnson experienced his breaking point. He

Intervention resources like ECU Cares, a hotline for distressed

sat on his bed for hours on a chilly snow day waging a

students or concerned bystanders, and Pledge Purple, a yearly

battle within himself. Johnson described it as an internal

university initiative to provide education and advocacy, are

monologue with two characters going back and forth in

additional ways the ECU community stays connected and

his head. “I just remember that I was paranoid about how

remains alert to students with issues, according to Hardy.

my friends perceived me. It was very random but I just

These resources provide a support system that most students

sat, stared at my bedroom door and thought about it.

may not have or need at any moment of their college years.

They usually would say I’m smart, witty and kind, which

As Johnson’s final semesters approach, he says the one

would uplift me but also confuse me,” Johnson said. “I

thing that kept him afloat was not himself, but his true life

told myself then that I didn’t believe a word they ever

vest: the people closest to him. “To this day I am thankful to

told me … and now when I think back on it, I would say

have support from my friends, but I also have outlets that I

I’m mostly angry at myself because it was like I didn’t

can go through in case I am feeling out of it,” Johnson said.

appreciate the people around me or their friendship.”

“You know, it’s a daily struggle, but I am pushing through it

From that day to now, Johnson says he has been

one mood swing, one spark of anger or confusion, at a time.”n

help students like Johnson to alleviate stressors. Places like

April 2018 Countenance 31

Although she is now anticipating graduation, Megan Kelly, an ECU senior, still remembers the apprehension involved in applying to college.

What about those who are just starting out on the path to higher education?

See story, p. 9