The Iron Blade, Vol. 67, Issue 2

YEARS OF SERVING FERRUM COLLEGE

www.ferrum.edu/campus-life/THE-IRON-BLADE/ | November 3, 2020 | Vol. 67, Issue 2

COVID TOWNHALL

By Mary Stoudt

The Ferrum College Student Government Association, partnered with the Dean of Students Nicole Lenez, held a virtual town hall meeting On Sept. 23. The meeting covered COVID-related affairs. Ferrum Provost Dr. Aimé Sposato also joined the meeting to further explain academics and the impact of COVID on Ferrum.

To open up the meeting, SGA President Kintwon Pettiford and SGA Treasurer Zion Wade thanked all who were in attendance and explained why they were holding this meeting.

“We held this town hall meeting because we know some students, faculty, and staff may have some lingering questions [about COVID],” Pettiford said.

The meeting itself lasted about an hour and both students and staff were present throughout the night. During the meeting, Lenez presented on how the COVID could be transmitted, the importance of social distancing and mask-wearing, and why the LiveSafe app is so useful for tracking symptoms.

“There are two things that I believe are really

helping us keep our numbers down and helping us stay open, and those are masks of course [and the LiveSafe app],” Lenez said.

Additionally, Lenez further explained the COVID-19 dashboard on Ferrum’s

Once every ten years, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges performs an extensive review of Ferrum College and colleges in eleven other southern states.

The accreditation process for Ferrum began nearly two years ago and will receive a final review by the SACSCOC board of trustees in 2021. Ferrum, however, received a final report of zero recommendations on Sept.

24, 2020.

The SACSCOC team that evaluated Ferrum was made up of a group of peers from other higher education institutions from southern states. The southern states that SACSCOC works with - including Virginia - are Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Florida, North Carolina, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.

When speaking with the Franklin News-Post, Ferrum President Dr. David Johns said that “we had zero recommendations.

Probably fewer than 10%

what precautionary isolation is versus precautionary quarantine.

According to Ferrum protocol, precautionary isolation is “used by the College for those who have symptoms similar to COVID-19

stated in Ferrum protocol.

The students, faculty, and staff in precautionary quarantine are not shown on the daily snapshot because they are not actively awaiting a COVID test or have tested positive for COVID. Once

we can handle on campus, what Tri-Area can handle in the clinic, and what the local hospitals can keep up with. When/if the needs of our community (the college AND Franklin County) exceed what we can handle,

ing COVID updates.

After Lenez finished her presentation, she opened up the floor to students, faculty, and staff to ask questions.

During this time, Sposato touched on the classroom setup and the new technology purchased for classrooms that allows full remote and hybrid learning.

For students that are fully remote, Sposato explained that Ferrum developed a way to continue to teach fully remote students for both the fall and spring semesters.

“We're using a highflex model, which allows us to do teleconferencing so there are seated students in front of you and the teacher is teaching students in the classroom Ferrum College students, faculty, and staff attending the Zoom COVID Townhall. Photo Courtesy of Nicole Lenez. and online simultaneously. We’re also using Stronger Together webbut who have not been a student, staff, or faculty we will need to shut down.” hybrid, high-flex, and page. Currently, the dashconfirmed positive cases.” member’s COVID status Nearing the end of her fully remote [teaching board shows the number of On the daily snapshot, changes, it is reflected in the presentation, Lenez also methods],” Sposato said. reported COVID cases and Ferrum does report the daily snapshot. stressed the importance of The town hall ended the date they were reported, numbers of students, faculty, Lenez also answered one getting accurate COVID with Lenez and Pettiford along with a daily snapshot and staff in precautionary of the most frequently asked information. Information on thanking the students, facthat shows current active isolation. questions by students during COVID can be found on the ulty, and staff for coming cases on campus and those In regards to precautionthe evening; that is, “how Centers for Disease Control to the meeting. in precautionary isolation. ary quarantine, “these are many cases do we need until and Prevention’s website for For additional COVIDWhile Lenez was furstudents, faculty, and staff we are sent home?.” overall COVID news and related information, ther explainin the COVID who are not showing sympIn her presentation Lenez updates. For state-specific please see Ferrum’s Strondashboard, students were toms but who have been in had clarified that “there information, the Virginia ger Together webpage, also sending in a variety of contact with an individual(s) is no magic number - we Department of Health also which will be updated questions via chatbox about who has tested positive,” as are closely watching what has a website and is provid- throughout the term.

Ferrum Made a Perfect Score

By Mary Stoudt

of schools get that designation, so it’s a big deal.”

When SACSCOC evaluates an institution, they assess multiple standards including but not limited to planning and assessment, administrative leadership, faculty qualifications, academic programs, and student services.

In the Ferrum press release, Ferrum Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Aimé Sposato said, “We brought together various groups of talented and dedicated faculty and staff

to analyze the systems, protocols, and program offerings. I am delighted to share in the joy that our faculty, staff, and students feel across the campus. I am proud of our work, our dedication to our students, and our mission.”

Ferrum’s Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Kevin Reilly was also an integral part when it came to Ferrum communicating with SACSCOC. Rielly served as a point of contact throughout the process and also spent numerous hours preparing

for the evaluation.

In the Ferrum press release about the accreditation which was later reported by the Franklin News-Post, Reilly also pointed out that “many people worked so hard and with such excellence because they love Ferrum.”

Prior to SACSCOC’s final report in September, Ferrum was permitted to begin offering graduate degrees in psychology and Specialist in Education, or EdS, in teacher leadership and coaching. With the graduate degrees being

offered at Ferrum, the college moved from a Level II to a Level IV institution.

A month after the news of zero recommendations

by SACSCOC, Ferrum also announced the addition of a pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing, BSN. The new BSN program compliments Ferrum’s new Registered Nurse, RN to BSN program, which was launched online this school year.

To learn more about Ferrum’s nursing program visit www.ferrum.edu.

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The Iron Blade

November 3, 2020

OPINION

Word on the Street Sports Continued “Do you believe professional sports should continue and that they can have fans for games?”

“I believe we should not continue sports because of COVID. It is only going to put everyone at risk, even when fans in the stands are following social distancing protocols. All professional sports could have waited a year before resuming the regular season, but if they postpone then they will lose fans and if they lose fans they will lose money.”

“I believe that sports should con tinue because it will keep a sense of normalcy in the US during every thing that is going on. I think they should have fans as long as they limit the number of tickets given to follow social distancing guidelines and wear masks.”

- Anthony Sosa, Junior

- Elsa Pearce, Freshman

By Braden Homsey and Julius Asbury

Sports at Ferrum College have continued to have a multitude of ups and downs as COVID-19 spreads throughout the campus.

Ferrum Wrestling began Phase 2, allowing the student-athletes to lift weights in the same facility (Hank Norton Center Green Room) and do workouts in the wrestling room. Unfortunately, after transitioning to Phase 2, athletes of the wrestling team tested positive for COVID-19, forcing the Head Coach, Ryan Riggs to revert the team back to Phase 1.

“I’m disappointed of course, but this is the right decision if we plan to wrestle this upcoming January,” Riggs said, in regards to moving back to Phase 1.

Women’s Wrestling is continuing to stay positive during these challenging times.

“I believe that as a team we’re really starting to come together. We are taking really good measures to combat COVID-19,” Women’s Wrestling Assistant Coach Alisha Elizalde said.

Outside of the wrestling world, Ferrum football has continued to practice both drills and social distancing by wearing masks to every practice.

Men’s soccer is continuing to practice through drills and simulations. Practices for the team have been continued as usual with drills, conditioning, and scrimmages.

Women’s soccer has also continued to make strides as well, by training out on the soccer field with masks on and distance maintained. Unfortunately, many women soccer team members have been placed into quarantine due to an increased number of COVID cases.

Volleyball, field hockey, and lacrosse are all training through the adversity of COVID-19 by scheduling individual workouts and team conditioning.

In regards to how football, soccer, and lacrosse are performing and handling COVID, Head Athletic Director John Sutyak said that “ I can say that all of our teams have progressed at different rates through our phased approach to return to play.

Football, men’s/women’s soccer, and lacrosse have continued to progress through the phases. We have had to scale back some other teams as a precaution, and our head athletic trainer, Seth Crawford, and I meet every morning to look at where we are with students in quarantine/isolation and positive tests on campus.”.

While COVID-19 is making things difficult, Ferrum College is continuing to follow protocols and keeping its students safe.

“No, I believe sports should stop for a while, especially not letting fans watch.

They are not the most important things right now, people staying healthy is.”

- Jessica Bollinger, Sophomore

“I believe that professional sports should continue and that fans should be able to go to sports games.

Tthey give people entertainment and fans are needed because fans are the big hype for not only the fans but the players as well.”

- Kandace Hines, Senior

Ferrum College 215 Ferrum Mountain Rd. Ferrum, VA 24088 IBlade@Ferrum.edu Editor-in-Chief: Mary Stoudt Social Media Editor: Lindsey Foster

Staff: Julius Asbury Cody Gibson Braden Homsey Ashley Minnick Dylan ScogginsNelson Oscar Sessoms

Kelsey Smith Kiana Somerville Kacey Whorley Chelsea Zizzi

Ferrum College Football photo taken form head shots in September.

Photo Credit: Ferrum College Athletics

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November 3, 2020

By Dylan Scoggins

The Iron Blade

Page 3

College Sports

We all know about college sports, the extracurricular activities that have become careers through organizations like the National College Athletics Association. Being the biggest and most influential athletic association, NCAA sets COVID-related guidelines for colleges and universities to allow them to carry on the fall sports season while keeping student athletes safe.

Using the guidelines issued on August 5, colleges were to decide whether they could compete by the 14th and the divisions by the 21st of August. However, some colleges also noticed the hard way - not following parts of these guidelines will have detrimental consequences for the team and its athletes.

The University of Notre Dame’s team is a recent example of this concern. According to an ESPN article published on September 30, an outbreak of 18 athletes contracting Coronavirus was reported, which led 25 people to be in isolation and another 14 to be in quarantine. This outbreak was likely due to the players’ failure to follow the NCAA guidelines. For example, the athletes ate together, without social distancing; and that allowed it to spread like wildfire. The other possible reason is that the college didn’t test a player after he showed suspicious symptoms such as throwing up on the sidelines.

While this second reason can be excused - such that the coaches may think he was dehydrated (that is what they treated him for) - not doing a prompt test in the middle of a pandemic left the other players vulnerable to it.

Some of the long-term effects of COVID-19 were detailed in an article published Laurie Jacobs (M.D.), the chair of the Department of Internal Medicine at Hackensack University’s Medical Center.

“Individuals recovering from COVID-19 may struggle with a number of respiratory, cardiac, and kidney problems,” Jacobs warns, “They also have an increased risk of blood clots, which can potentially lead to a stroke or heart attack.”

These troubles mean that athletes who aren’t protected as per NCAA’S guidelines can lead to severe problems. These few problems, which aren’t the only concerns, can ruin an athlete’s career. In the case of the sports team at University of Notre Dame, that could be 18 careers ruined simply due to the school failure to adequately protect their athletes.

If other colleges aren’t ready and make the same mistakes, that could lead to disastrous consequences for hundreds of young men and women who are enthusiastic about their athletic careers.

Moreover, the COVID-19 on college campuses can get even worse if we allow college sports to return to normal right now. Imagine you’re a college athlete and after a game, you and a few friends go over and talk with a few members of the rival team but one of the rival team members has a cough and isn’t wearing a mask. That simple cough could be COVID-19 and get the other team members sick on both teams. From that initial point of exposure, the number of COVID-19 cases would quickly just increase amongst the athletes.

Just like Notre Dame’s instance, a failure to follow the social distancing guidelines strictly can lead to a set of mistakes, whether they be small or big ones. Most people on a team and at the college level are legal adults, which means that there is limited control a coach can have over the situation. Thus, things can still go wrong.

With all these in mind, shall we risk the lives of college athletes for a couple hours of entertainment? This is not to minimize all the hard work that goes into it; but instead, to most people college sports are more an entertainment. Student-athletes are already guaranteed to keep their scholarships and are funded with the money for any Coronavirusrelated medical expenses that will come out of the college’s pockets. Thus, there is not a big necessity to run the business with risks. Letting the season(s) pass may be the best for everyone, especially during an unprecedented pandemic.

C O N

FACT BOX NCAA’s Guidelines 1. Follow the guidelines given out by the NCAA and all relevant states of government in your area while also giving enhanced protection to players; especially during games. Failures to do so can be reported by athletes and their families.

Any failures reported will be sent to the relevant school(s) and they will be expected to fix them.

2. Schools, in conjunction with existing insurance standards, will be expected to cover any COVID-19 related expenses to prevent out of pocket expenses by the athletes and families. Contracts can NOT for athletes to waive their legal rights regarding COVID-19.

3. Athletes are allowed to opt-out of

playing this season due to COVID concerns, but the schools must follow through on their scholarships. These schools and divisions can use reduced bracketing, amount of competitors, and predetermined, sometimes single sites, but if too many competitors have withdrawn then this will not be able to stop them from being unable to compete this season.

4. If more than 50% of schools have withdrawn, then that sport in that division will be canceled for this season.

However, if the sports have been postponed, then a decision to conduct them at a later date will be based on relevant scientific data pertaining to COVID at that time.

Other problems Laurie Jacobs has Warned About Heart troubles: A recent study by the University of Frankfurt in Germany found that more than 75% of people who suffered from Coronavirus had abnormal heart findings including inflammation in the heart and muscle lining, from which a considerable majority suffered from. This inflammation can lead to long-lasting cardiac disease and failure.

Lung troubles: As you may know, COVID attacks the lungs. This can lead to persistent shortness of breath and dry cough or pain when breathing. Those on ventilators may have more severe symptoms.

Head troubles: Headaches, dizziness, and hallucinations have all been reported in some patients that have had severe forms of the disease. Strokes have also become an ongoing concern among patients.

By Julius Asbury and Cody Gibson

Both photos are from the Ferrum vs. Emory & Henry game Sept. 1, 2018 found. Photo credentials to Ferrum College.

College sports are scratching and clawing their way back to the light.

Regular media users may have noticed - from either social media or TV programs - that college sports are slowly coming back. Only a small number of fans are allowed entries to the stadium; meanwhile, some colleges haven’t permitted the presence of fans at games yet. Some colleges also asked fans to take COVID-19 tests a few days prior to the games, as a prerequisite for in-person participation.

Many athletic teams at nationwide colleges, including Maryland University, University of Michigan, Ohio State University, Pennsylvania State University, Rutgers College, and Johns Hopkins University, have taken such procedures to protect their student athletes’s safety while reinstating in-person connections to their fans.

Of course nothing is with 100% certainty. Despite the great efforts colleges have made to reduce the impact of COVID-19 during the past months, the possibility of COVID contagion still remains. There is an issue though that most colleges aren’t

taking COVID seriously. So far the only school that has had severe COVID issues are the Florida Gators.

In some college football games like Louisville versus Georgia Tech, some coaches didn’t wear a mask and so no refs were allowed to speak to them about called penalties or the game itself. No extremely harsh punishment has yet to really happen.

If colleges, especially D-1 schools, were to suspend their sports programs altogether under the COVID-19, they would lose tremendous money. A total of 220 million dollars can be lost due to the suspension of football games alone, according to USA Today’s financial breakdown of college athletics; and that’ll be a much bigger loss if we also count other sports. In fact, smaller colleges are already not making enough revenue from games this year. If college sports will not return to normal, some colleges may not even be able to get the appropriate equipment for athletic training, according to U.S. News & World Report.

Canceling college sports can also affect high school sports, which can then lead to a trickle-down effect that

P R O

makes it harder for colleges to scout more recruits.

“They’re not going to catch the COVID on the field they are going to catch it on campus,” said Nick Saban, the Alabama Football Head Coach.

Saban believes that we should keep college sports; and other programs such as SEC, PAC-12, and Big 10 are also on the same side. If permitted with on-campus residence and activities, student athletes can still participate in their respective sport and possibly even have some practice games. The athletes may also be less likely to get contracted with the COVID, due to the smaller number of students allowed on campus.

This very unusual game season under the COVID means games with no fans, or games within the conference only. Most players won’t want to see their dream coming to an end like this; and they thrive to help the higher-ups to keep college sports going. With strict protocols and requirements for the COVID, sports teams aim to continue with regular practices and are looking forward to returning to the normal season.

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The Iron Blade

November 3, 2020

NEWS

Title IX Updated at Ferrum

By Kacey Whorley

Amongst the drastic changes that have come about in 2020, an updated Title IX proposal has joined the list at Ferrum College. As small definitions and explanations have been altered over the years, the process has now been nearly reconstructed from the beginning.

The updated Title IX incorporates concepts such as gender discrimination, sexual harassment, consent, sexual assault, reporting domestic violence, and stalking. Within the new guidelines, each subject is explained, providing resources for students, families, and the community.

Furthermore, the new Title IX guidelines assist students in the process of receiving Title IX and help with follow up procedures and safety measures.

The Federal Government decided to change the Title IX process about 90 days before students returned to campus for the new academic year, according to Nicole Lenez, Ferrum College’s Title IX coordinator.

The Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia (CICV), an organization made up of representatives from private colleges throughout the state, has also worked together from the start of the year to prepare a plan and process for Title IX. “Hopefully with the help of the CICV and the ideas from other schools regarding the updated Title IX, we will easily adapt to the new process,” Lenez said.

The changes that have been made to Title IX can be viewed in the Ferrum College Student Handbook on the Courtesy of Hallmark University.

Ferrum homepage.

COVID Can’t Stop Worship at Ferrum College

By Ashley Minnick COVID-19 has changed many aspects of student life on campus, including worship. The Methodist heritage is a cornerstone of life here at Ferrum College; however, it has been a challenge for some members of the college community since in-person services stopped in May 2020.

Due to the social distancing requirements set in place by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Ferrum College, it’s almost impossible to accommodate a large group of people in Vaughan Chapel to continue in-person service.

With this challenge the worship team came up with an alternative plan; why not congregate outdoors?

According to the flyer posted throughout campus about the chapel service, the outdoor service held on Sunday, September 13, was the first service in Ferrum’s history to take place in the Quad outside of Franklin Hall. It was also the first service to be held this semester.

Dr. Eirc Vanden Eykel provided the message titled “Forgiveness Might Not be for Everyone, and Other Surprises You Won’t Want to Miss”, while the Fresh Wind Gospel Choir sang several songs throughout the service.

This service saw several students and professors gather at the Quad; and more students were listening from their dorm windows at the same time.

This outdoor worship signifies a new alternative for spiritual life at Ferrum. As long as the weather allows, the outdoor setting provides a better way to accommodate the social distancing requirement and encourages attendance from those who may not normally attend service. For example, students who are just passing by can join the gathering at any time.

“Everyone is welcome at any time and really encouraged to come out,” Mia Brower, one of Fresh Wind’s singers said.

Outdoor chapel service is not strictly offered to religious students either.

Mia continued, “The best part about it is that it embodies our motto; ‘Not self but others,’ is the fact that you don’t have to be religious at all to participate.”

If you would like to take part in the next service, be sure to check your Ferrum email for time and locations. If you want to be more involved in the worship service, please feel free to contact Fresh Winds to volunteer as a musician and/or The Vaughn Chapel on campus. Photo courtesy speaker. of Ferrum College.

Victoria Miller Lands a Job with NASA

By Kelsey Smith Victoria Miller is a Ferrum College alumna. She graduated in 2018 from Ferrum receiving her undergraduate degree in political science with a minor in business administration. While at Ferrum, she was involved in women's wrestling, women's tennis, and in the Boone Honors Program.

Miller is now attending Sam Houston State University’s graduate program - Master of Public Administration while living in Texas. Her concentration is emergency management and coordination.

Miller's position with NASA is Contract Special/Pathways Intern in the Operational Support Office of Procurement at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.

When one successfully completes the Pathway Program, they can be transferred to permanent employment or term employment for a term of six years. NASA has a wide range of science, IT, engineering, and business fields of career opportunities.

Miller states, “I was attracted to NASA,because my mother worked at NASA and NASA is about exploring, growing, and continuous learning and improvement.” She continued by saying, “I wanted to work at a place where they value education, lifelong education, as high as the products they produce and NASA does that.”

Miller’s ambition is to be a civil servant for NASA after she completes the Pathway Program.

NASA is not only about being an astronaut, experts are needed in order to make the mission plans and make the missions run in general. NASA has three different Pathway Programs to reach a wider audience: NASA Pathways Intern Employment Program (IEP), NASA Pathways Recent Graduates Program (RGP), and NASA Pathways Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program.

The eligibility criteria can be found on www. nasa.gov, as well as the details about the other programs and opportunities with Ferrum College Alumna Victoria Miller. Photo courtesy of FerNASA. rum College.

November 3, 2020

The Iron Blade

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Social Distancing Fun

By Lindsey Foster

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and rules of social distancing, many in-person events have been either canceled or organized virtually via Zoom, Google Hangouts, Discord, or other social meeting platforms.

On Sep. 15, an event took place in a grassy area between the Sales Theatre and Franklin Hall. The event was “Jamming on the Lawn,” which was created to bring everyone together on campus even during these uncertain times.

The Coordinator of Benefits and Training Melissa R. Wright and Ferrum College President Dr. David Johns were the two faculty members that arranged the event. They discussed with Human Resources about having an in-person event on campus where Ferrum College students,

faculty, and staff could Professor of Religion Eric performance, students to participate whether come together and enjoy Vanden Eykel, Director showed their interest and they are faculty, staff, or a socially distanced event. of Academic Outreach & asked if they could join in students,” Johns said, “and The jams are meant to be Athletics Tom Steele, and future events. that’s what I would hope a time where for an event everyone can of that sort, connect as a that it brings campus and people from take a brain all across break in bevarious detween classes. partments and So far this categories at semester, the college.” three “JamMusiming on cians have the Lawn” performed sessions have different varibeen offered. eties of music The first event genres during was open these events, to Ferrum including but faculty and not limited staff members to country, only; perblues, classic formers who rock and roll, attended this and pop. Two event includpopular songs Left to right: President David Johns, Justin Muse, Tom Steele, Paul Crosby, Jeff ed President that have been Walker, Eugene Hacker, Eric Vanden Eykel, and Jonathan Taylor.

Photo Courtesy David Johns, performed at of Melissa Wright.

Director of all jams so Student Activities JusMechanic Jeff Walker.

“People from all across far are Wagon Wheel by tin Muse ‘05, Assistant After seeing this first campus should feel free Darius Rucker and Country

Roads by John Denver.

“Making music is being creative and you’re creating something out of nothing and I think that’s just so enjoyable; it’s being with other people, creating something, and having a good time is what I enjoy most about it,” Johns said.

Any student interested in the lawn jams can come and join. There is no membership or audition process required since these events are informal. All you need is to bring an instrument and come prepared to jump in with other performers.

All events are held from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm.

Schedules of upcoming “Jamming on the Lawn” events will also be announced through campus email.

If you would like to jam with other performers or have a song request, you can also email Melisssa R. Wright at mrwright@ ferrum.edu.

Halloween Fun at Ferrum

Senior Cameron McAfee carving his pumpkin for Delta Phi Epsilon’s pumpkin carving contest.

Blue Ridge Institute and Museum Director Bethany Worley with Klara the Donkey. Photo Courtesy of

Delta Phi Epsilon’s annual Pumpkin Carving Contest held on the Quad.

Accounting Specialist Lola Cannaday as Jessie from Toy Story. Photo Courtesy of Ferrum College.

Hank Norton’s Legacy Continues

By Dylan Scoggins

Many emails from the new Hank Norton Outdoor Adventures have been coming through since the beginning of the school year. The HNOA is not a newly established center; instead, it was formerly known as Ferrum Outdoors, which was renamed after an endowment was given

by Hank Norton’s family, friends, and former athletes to help support Ferrum Outdoors and the experiences it provides to students and the campus community.

The name of the center was changed to HNOA to honor the late Ferrum football coach Hank Norton.

“The family, former athletes, and coaches wanted a way to continue Coach Hank Norton's legacy and passion for the outdoors,” said Aaron Conover, the direc-

tor of the HNOA center.

The newly named HNOA will still provide similar activities as it has in years past including equipment rental.

“However, the endowment will help expand the types of programming offered and resources in the future. Norton Outdoor Adventures headquarters is now on campus located in the Fitness Center,” Conover said.

The HNOA center still offers activities during this time but in a reduced amount.

It carefully follows CDC safety guidelines at Ferrum for programs and ensures all activities to be offered on-campus only. In addition, strict equipment cleaning protocols were adopted to assure participants’ safety.

“The activities that we offer currently

are all on campus. We are limiting them to what resources we have available as far as the trails, Adam’s Lake and the disc golf course,” Conover said.

The Ferrum webpage also provides up-to-date information about the activities being offered. The list includes caving, disc golf, hiking, backpacking, camping, mountain biking, paddling sports, rock climbing, ropes course, The late Hank Norton who served as a former football sailing, and skiing and coach at Ferrum College. Photo Courtesy of Ferrum Colsnowboarding. lege.

However, many of these will not be available or may be delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The Iron Blade

November 3, 2020

News

Running the Challenges Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim Whether it be training for marathons or researching the brain, Dr. Megan St. Peters has enjoyed challenging herself. When turning 40 years old next year, St. Peters hopes she would be able to do the Rimto-Rim hike at the Grand Canyon.

“That’s 40 miles, so 40 miles for my 40th,” St. Peters said.

St. Peters explained this after just completing another challenge that glows in her academic career at Ferrum this year.

Being the Director of the Master’s Program in Psychology, St. Peters was responsible for designing the program that has been available to students since summer 2020.

Her primary responsibilities included designing the program of study, hiring faculty members, assessing the program, teaching, advising the students, and some marketing and recruiting.

One of the first things St. Peters hopes to advertise to the public is that the master’s program is offering an accelerated program, which is part of her tactical design to appeal to students’ need for continuing education.

This accelerated program

is available to students who have already earned 15 undergraduate credits in psychology at Ferrum. Students admitted to this program have the opportunity to receive both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Ferrum in merely five years. Courses for this master’s program are also offered entirely online, which allows students with busy work schedules to make good progress without interfering with their other engagements.

“We really want to help people who have other jobs, other responsibilities, who want to get some real-life experience after their degree to also be able to take the program,” St. Peters said.

St. Peters also prides herself and the master’s program on the incorporation of a research component in the curriculum. According to the American Psychological Association’s guidelines for graduate programs, research design is strongly recommended. Many online graduate programs don’t require their students to complete a thesis project for their degree, however, which St. Peters found in her research of current online psychology graduate programs

By Frances Best across the United States. dents to take Ethics and Ferrum chose to emphasize two Research Methods the role of research in this and Statistics courses, graduate program to stand which are foundational apart. courses. Students are then “We are one of the few allowed the flexibility to

Dr. Megan St. Peters Director of the Master’s Program in Psychology at Ferrum College. Photo courtesy of Ferrum College.

online programs that require a thesis,” St. Peters said, “I’m excited to see how that plays out because we haven’t had any students begin that component in the program yet.”

To prepare students for their thesis project, the master’s program in psychology requires all stu-

choose elective subjects based on their personal interests, such as developmental, multicultural, or abnormal psychology.

“There’s a lot of flexibility…. We really help the students tailor the program to their personal goals,” St. Peters said.

Adjuncts from all

around the nation were hired to teach students in this master’s program.

They came from various backgrounds and areas and thus allow students to experience teaching methods and styles that can be different from what we have at Ferrum.

St. Peters also asked all adjuncts to help students maintain a healthy work-life relationship by strategically allocating their coursework through weekdays but to avoid weekends.

“It’s an ethical standard within our professional body to make sure that you’re taking care of yourself,” St. Peters said.

St. Peters also intentionally designed the program to fit the Ferrum lifestyle. Most classes are kept relatively small, with ten or fewer students in each group; this allows students to get to know their professors and get the personal help they need even in an online environment.

“I really like getting to know the students. I like having the smaller class sizes, it’s one of my favorite parts about it,” St. Peters said.

St. Peters is currently planning on expanding the marketing of the program. She hopes to travel to local high schools

and community colleges to spread the word of the accelerated program, in the hopes that potential students will take an interest in being able to graduate with two degrees in five years.

St. Peters joined Ferrum College as an assistant professor of psychology in 2011. Before that, she was a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Michigan. After teaching undergraduate courses at Ferrum for nine years, St. Peters was appointed the Program Director of the Master’s Program in Psychology.

This program is in its second cohort and plans to start the third one in spring 2021. Applications for the accelerated program are also currently open and students can begin taking courses as early as spring 2021. To be eligible, students must have completed at least 15 credits in undergraduate psychology courses with a 3.0 GPA or higher and submit an essay describing how their previous coursework has prepared them for a graduate program in psychology and their intended goals based on successful completion of the program.

Any questions about the program can be directed to ferrumgoes@ferrum.edu or mstpeters@ferrum.edu.

Jennifer Irish Starts Her New Journey as Director of International Programs

By Frances Best Jennifer Irish has been appointed the Director of International Programs this August, and is continuing to fulfill the program’s mission to help students discover their place in the world.

The International Programs manages international affairs that Ferrum College has for its international students including the supervision of F-1 visa and other related paperwork, as well as for domestic students such as the Study Abroad program. Irish and the International Programs also stay up to date on international news, keeping students updated about new international policies such as the travel bans issued due to the outbreak of COVID-19.

Irish proposed effective solutions to problems caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. As for international students who were unable to return to campus due to travel restrictions, the International Programs created opportunities for virtual meetings. The program also provides sessions that allow students to travel virtually as an alternative approach to help students travel abroad under current travel restrictions. Irish is also currently helping the International Program increase their marketing efforts so that more Ferrum Students will have the opportunity to travel abroad.

“Sharing in the excitement that students feel upon arrival at Ferrum College, or the excitement that they feel as they plan a trip abroad, is my favorite part of this job,” Irish said.

The International Programs now has an office space - which is a new addition to the Stanley Library’s first floor - where students are able to meet with someone in person and help them with international related issues in a more prompt way. The program’s team has also expanded. Irish now has an Assistant Director and an Intern, which provides Irish with extra help when serving Ferrum College students.

Irish has been interested in international affairs since she was an undergraduate at Georgia College, where she was able to study abroad as a student. Irish became an Assistant Professor in Spanish at Ferrum in 2018 and co-led an E-term to the Dominican Republic in 2019. As a Spanish professor, Irish also made connections with Spanishspeaking students from other countries. These connections and her personal international experiences made her a strong fit for the International Programs.

Photo by Frances Best.

Dr. Jennifer Irish pictured working in the International Programs office. The new office space was compleated this past summer and now houses her and history professor Dr. Hancock Parmer who is the programs assistant director. Students interested in traveling or studying abroad are encouraged to stop by the office located next to the front entrance of the Stanley Library.

November 3, 2020

The Iron Blade

Page 7

A Worldwide Travel Back Home

By Chelsea Zizzi

Bob Pohlad has traveled all around the world and experienced the beauty of every place he visited. He loves traveling and learning new perspectives from each place he visits, even if he has already traveled there before. Eventually, Ferrum College is where he decided to return to see the world through a different lens.

Pohlad, who has a doctorate in plant pathology, began working at Ferrum College in 1978. He spent the next 41 years working as a biology professor, along with his wife Carolyn Thomas, who has a doctorate in environmental engineering and joined Ferrum in 1979.

Pohlad and Thomas built a family at Ferrum among the faculty and the students. The diversity that Ferrum offered not only helped Pohlad learn from the people around him, but he and his wife became counselors to struggling students and helped them grow as individuals.

“The big thing in life is not the degree behind the name, the real thing is if you are a real person,” Pohlad said. “Being in this community of people and developing this strong feeling of family, that’s just special and it taught us the importance of family, so when we raised our boys our students were part of their family, and that’s why we stayed all those years,” Pohlad continued.

Pohlad finds himself and Thomas deep-rooted in Ferrum College and the broader Franklin County community in many ways, including the water quality work with Smith Mountain Lake, botanical garden and trails on campus, and the landscape design classes that designed gardens around campus. They started their life at Ferrum when the college was a junior college; and they helped shape Ferrum into what it is today through growing programs and limiting class sizes.

During his first year of teaching, Pohlad was supposed to teach a geology class. Eventually, Pohlad taught a plant disease class instead, which he continued to teach for the next 40 years. Pohlad originally taught one class of 126 students who were split into four labs,

but soon he changed it to four classes of 24 students so that he could keep what Ferrum was about. He also redesigned the class to enable better personal learning, such as knowing an individual student’s struggles and helping them. Pohlad wanted students to understand concepts in a way that will stick with them forever.

“When students light up because of something that dawns on them because of something in the classroom that’s how I get my feedback,” Pohlad said, “and that’s why I ended up teaching all these years.”

Pohlad and Thomas both retired in 2018. Retirement to them did not mean sitting around. They traveled to many different places including Hawaii and the Galapagos and participated in events like the 11,000mile national park tour so that they could see the world from a different view.

“You retire but you don’t quit doing things,” Pohlad said.

Thomas passed away in January 2020, after a long battle with ovarian cancer. At her memorial service, hundreds came to celebrate her life. Among those people were students that both Pohlad and Thomas taught 41 years ago in their first class, along with students from their most recent classes at Ferrum.

Without Thomas, Pohlad still continues to work and help Ferrum College as an emeritus professor. He keeps learning and growing from his interactions with the people at Ferrum College; and no matter where he travels, his fond memories and the family he has created are what always bring him home to Ferrum.

“I love seeing things through other people’s eyes because you open your eyes to a different world than I do and I see it through your eyes,” Pohlad said, “to me, I could see the way you did things and it helped me learn in a different way so you never stopped learning.”

To Pohlad, Ferrum College has taught and continues to teach him even today. It was the starting point to one destination, which is also the destination of another journey.

Top: Dr. Bob Pohlad on campus. Photo Credit: Chelsea Zizzi.

Left: Dr. Bob Pohlad with his wife Dr. Carolyn Thomas.

Photo courtesy of Ferrum College.

Student Personal Trainers Helps Student-Athletes Succeed at Ferrum College

By Chelsea Zizzi

Fun Facts about the Author

By Chelsea Zizzi Chelsea Zizzi has loved Christmas since she was a little girl, but it is not because of the reasons a child usually likes Christmas.

While Christmas usually means toys and cookies, it meant adventure, family, and memories for Zizzi. Starting at age 6, Zizzi and her family would make a 12-hour road trip to Buffalo, New York for Christmas every year. While Zizzi’s family hated the trip, she loved it. She would create games with her sister and watch movies to pass the time. She would travel from the highest mountains to the flattest plains and imagine where her journey could take her.

On the evening of December 23, they arrived in New York while most of her cousins were asleep. She and her parents often sat at the kitchen table and played card games.

Everyone was relaxed, laughing as the next hand of Euchre was dealt. Zizzi loved to watch her parents’ happy faces.

Christmas Eve is the time for the Christmas gift exchange within her family. Zizzi always partnered up with her mother; however, they always got the worst gift. Zizzi did not care; she enjoyed laughing and the fun time with her family.

Christmas day is Zizzi’s personal time with her grandparents. They cooked meals, played pool, and played card games together. During these moments, Zizzi and her sister were able to bond with their Gram and Papa in a way that none of the other cousins could experience.

Zizzi’s joyful Christmas memories often end with their return home from New York.

Zizzi’s parents hated the trip but she loved it. Zizzi loved the adventure of the car ride and the close family time she got with everyone, even if it only lasted one night. Zizzi could care less about the presents and gifts that come with Christmas; all she cares about is the family bond that comes with it.

Unfortunately, Zizzi and her family do not make the trip anymore; but the memories that she has is the reason she loves Christmas so much.

Student personal trainers at Ferrum College work one-on-one with student-athletes on specific areas that coaches do not get the opportunity to help with.

Raekwon Parker, a senior at Ferrum College, is a student personal trainer. Parker educates student-athletes on exercises in an individual manner and he ensures that they are confident and comfortable while doing them. Parker was a psychology major in his freshman year; he switched to health and human performance in his sophomore year and has been majoring on that ever since. Parker fell in love with fitness and found his passion in 2018. He has been a personal trainer for two and a half years.

Parker breaks down specific areas that the student-athlete needs to improve on. Parker teaches the exercise on a deeper level; he shows what muscles are being worked on, how to do the exercise correctly, and how to breathe properly during them. He wants to ensure that his clients leave in the best physical and mental health so that they can continue on their own. Parker watches student-athletes physically work themselves to become better every day.

“That is what makes [me] smile the most about my job is to know I helped someone make a change for the better for themselves,” Parker said.

Parker values quality over quantity. He tells student-athletes that it is better to do a single push-up that is correct than 30 push-ups that are incorrect. Parker is also an affable trainer who wants students to be sincere so that they have a judge-free and stress-free zone when working out.

“I always wanted to help people,” Parker said, “being a personal trainer can let me achieve that because I can help people with life-altering changes and help them feel better about themselves.”

Parker wishes to continue his personal training job after he graduates from Ferrum College. Personal trainers need experience in order to get clients outside of college.

Parker is getting the experience he needs to be successful as a personal trainer after he graduates.

Photo Courtesy of Ferrum College.

Inside the Hank Norton Center is the athletic training office where athletes go when in need of muscle or medical treatment.

Page 8

The Iron Blade

November 3, 2020

Writing Center and PAL Tutoring Offered to Students for Academic Success

By Chelsea Zizzi The writing center and peer-assisted learning tutoring (PAL) are resources that students can use to improve their academic performance at Ferrum College.

The writing center this semester is being offered online through Brightspace. Students can upload their papers, at any time during their writing process, into the Brightspace dropbox to be reviewed by professors. The online writing center is available to all students who want to improve their writing and grammar skills.

PAL tutoring is a way

that students can get personal tutoring from another student who has succeeded in the class. Student tutors can provide another viewpoint to help students understand the material in a better way. PAL tutoring is offered in both online format and in-person; however, an appointment must be made for both types of tutoring. For in-person tutoring students must visit the tutor at the Carter Center for Academic Success, previously the Academic Resource Center.

In order to proceed with online tutoring and/or in-person tutoring, students must create an account on

WC Online and book a tutor for the time they provide. For more information on WC Online students can check their campus email or talk to Academic Support Counselor Tyler Brubaker whose office is located in the Carter Center for Academic Success.

“I feel like online tutoring is very difficult compared to in-person because it is harder to learn. I also tutor in person this semester, but most people are afraid to tutor or come to tutoring in person because of COVID,” said Jazmin Scarberry, a general psy-

PAL Tutors from the 2019-2020 school year in the former ARC now Carter Center for Academic Success. Photo courtesy of Ferrum College.

chology PAL tutor who has been tutoring for two years.

The writing center and the PAL tutors are available for every student in most subjects. The writing center provides teachers who can help

edit papers and explain citations where the PAL tutors are students that already went through the class and can help other students understand in a different way.

The writing center is open Monday and

Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday from 11:30 a.m to 2:30 p.m., and on Fridays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. More information can be also found in Brightspace.

REGISTER FOR YOUR SPRING CLASSES ADVISING WEEK is Monday, November 2 through Friday, November 6.

Be sure you have PLANNED and APPROVED SECTIONS (not just courses) so that you will be able to easily select the REGISTER NOW button.

Also, you must have ADVISOR APPROVAL on each section, which is indicated with a “green thumbs up” on your Portal planning page!

REGISTRATION WEEK is Monday, November 9 through Thursday, November 12.

Use your planning tool in Panther Portal to self-register for approved sections!

REMEMBER, registration status is based on the number of hours you have already earned: Seniors (88 credits or more earned) register Monday, November 9.

Juniors (56 – 87 credits earned) register Tuesday, November 10.

Sophomores (24 – 55 credits earned) register Wednesday, November 11.

Freshmen (23 credits or fewer earned) register Thursday, November 12.

Victory! Among Us Has Saved 2020 Photo Courtesy of Google Play.

By Mary Stoudt The year 2020 has taken such an unexpected turn that many have been counting down the days till 2021 since March when the world turned upside down.

I can happily say however that not everything in 2020 has been bad, especially since attention has shifted to a fan favorite game Among Us. Among Us originally released in 2018 but due to the COVID pandemic it has seen a wave of popularity. The game was

created by InnerSloth and is available to play on PC, Apple, and Android devices.

The game itself consists of jellybean-like characters who are either crewmates or imposters.

THroughout the game the crewmates try to figure out who the imposter(s) are. The game can have as many as ten players per round and as many as three imposters per round.

In addition to figuring out who the imposters are, the crewmates also

complete tasks throughout the game which increase the crewmates chances of winning, since winning by just completing tasks is possible.

Among Us also allows people to communicate through a chat feature within the game and during the global pandemic communication is something many people thirst for.

The game has forged friendships for many, myself included. Just last week I joined a group of

other Delta Phi Epsilon sorority sisters to play a round and we were all located in different states but that feeling of connection was there.

The game itself is free to play but if you want to upgrade your character you can pay to get new skins, hats, and pets.

Among Us may have arrived in 2018 but due to COVID it has finally made a name for itself. I must say Among Us has definitely saved my 2020 and I can’t wait to get back to playing.