Iron Blade: March 2019

March 1, 2019 Vol. 64, Issue 2

theironblade@ferrum.edu

Ferrum College

215 Ferrum Mountain Rd., Ferrum, VA 24088

Humble and Kind: Remembering A Ferrum Icon

King of the College: Dodger sits in front of the the welcoming sign infront of the school. Photo courtest of Jennifer Talley.

Black History Month

ARC Remodeled

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Dodger spending the day with his family. Photo courtest of Jennifer Talley.

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other animals as well.

“His fascination with squirrels was always just so interesting to me,” said Dr. Lana Whited.

Dr. Whited described one of her favorite Dodger memories from years ago where she had noticed his concentration and mesmerization for one squirrel.

“I remember seeing Dodger outside of Grousbeck, and he had noticed a squirrel in the trees between Grousbeck and Roberts. He must not have seen the squirrel jump to another branch and go on his way, but Dodger was just sitting beneath the tree waiting for the squirrel to come across,” said Whited.

Whited remembers a few hours later leaving the building and seeing Dodger in the same spot, still waiting on the squirrel. Dodger even had a close encounter with a bear in his backyard one afternoon.

“He chased a bear one time in the backyard while I was mowing the grass. We heard some noises in the woods

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On Feb. 4, Dodger, who was beloved by many, was put to rest at age fourteen after a battle with cancer. During Dodger’s fourteen years, he had become a Ferrum College icon. From his gameday appearances on playing fields to his friendly and warm demeanor, Dodger has left a hole on Ferrum’s campus that will be hard to fill.

Dodger’s family has had close ties with the college for years. Both husband and wife Jennifer and Greg Talley attended Ferrum and still live in town where they raised their two kids, Jordan, a student at Longwood University, and Tanner, a student at Roanoke College. The Talley family had years filled with adventure, love, and companionship with Dodger, and extended that love and companionship with the Ferrum College community and the thousands upon thousands of students who got to know and love Dodger.

“He was everyone’s pet. The kids at the college would have to leave their pets back at home for the year, so Dodger became everyone’s dog away from home,” said Greg.

The Talley’s welcomed Dodger to their family as a puppy on Christmas day of 2004 as a surprise for their kids after Greg had seen a handwritten flyer for puppies for sale in Ferrum.

“He’s Ferrum born and bred,” said Greg.

His roots and life were anchored in the small town, and by the time he was a little over three years old, Dodger began to truly immerse himself in the community and expand his territory to the college.

“At first we were just worried he was going to get hit by a car. He would just wander over to the campus and we’d get phone calls every Thursday night, and that used to be the big party night over there,” said Greg.

The Talley’s recalled the brothers of the OXE fraternity taking Dodger in as one of their over time. They said Dodger had become a “pledge” to the group, and even would come home at two in the morning on different occasions, including a night where Dodger received a mohawk from the group.

“He was for sure an OXE member,” the Talley’s recalled.

While Dodger is remembered as being a sweet and affectionate companion, he also had a bit of a mischievous side as well. He was able to fool students and staff into

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Ferrum Born and Bred: Dodger was an iconic member of the community. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Talley.

By AnnGardner Eubank thinking he was sick and would play little “tricks” often. and I had thought it was just a squirrel, so I was telling “He always played the injured role with the college him to go and get ‘em. He looked behind me and took off kids. He’d pretend to be sick or hurt all the time and running, and there was a black bear in the woods,” said we’d get phone calls. Sometimes people would even Greg. think he had died, but every time I went to pick him up Dodger loved being outside. He even befriended I’d drop the tailgate down and he’d hop right on in. He groundskeeper, Jay Prillaman over the course of his life. played the role and he played it well,” said Greg.

Prillaman would often take him on rides through the Dodger was so loved that people would be more than grounds. He even rode down the street in a tractor with willing to make sacrifices for his comfort.

Prillaman one afternoon. The Talley’s recall Prillaman “There was one night we went to pick him up and it naming Dodger “the assistant grounds manager.” was just pouring down raining. A girl had called that A dog’s loyalty is incomparable, and Dodger was no night during the storm saying she had found him, and exception. His fierce loyalty and protectiveness are some when we got there she had given Dodger her rain jacket of the qualities which made Dodger so special. and was holding her umbrella over top of him,” Jennifer “We had all gone down to the lake one weekend and said.

Dodger was terrified to jump into the water. He never Dodger loved the outdoors. He was always wandering touched the water until he saw the kids had jumped in. campus and taking in not only the staff and students, but He thought they were drowning or were in trouble, and he jumped in right after them trying to protect and save them,” Greg said.

Dodger will be missed by so many. He had the ability to make people’s days better just with his presence and friendliness. The Talleys remember Dodger for his humility and one of a kind companionship.

“I’m going to miss everything about him. Just his companionship. I’ll never find another dog like him. He was definitely a once in a lifetime dog,” said Greg.

Certainly a Ferrum i con, Dodger will not be forgotten on campus.

“We appreciate the campus being his family while we were away, or while he was away from us,” said Jennifer.

Dodger never met a stranger, and brought smiles to thousands of students and staff over the course of his life.

The students, faculty, trees, and squirrels will miss him tremendously, and are more than grateful to the Talley family for letting Dodger be a part of our lives.

Sports

Art Contribution

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The Iron Blade

March 1, 2019

OPINION Editorial: Government Shutdown But Won’t Shut Up

By Jasmine Williams

“Filling out FASFA was very problematic. I would have it done and filled out and the system would tell me there was an error. I had to call numerous times just for them to tell me that it was being blocked because of the shutdown.”

“The government shutdown represents the polarization of our nation as a whole. It’s one of the flaws of a two party system.”

- Zach Bullard, Senior

-Morgan Hancock, Junior

“I think it was messed up because there’s more important things going on in America right now and just because someone is selfish they don’t see how many other peoples lives are affected.

- Mark Camp, Junior

“It hasn’t impacted me directly, but I have family members who were impacted. I think it’s idiotic becuase our government is run by idiots.

- Angel Hazzard, Junior

March 1, 2019 Vol. 64, Issue 2

Ferrum College

Ferrum College 215Mountain FerrumRd.Mountain Rd. 215 Ferrum Ferrum, VA 24088 VA 24088 Ferrum, IBlade@Ferrum.edu theironblade@ferrum.edu

Co-Editors: AnnGardner Eubank Layout Editors: Mary Stoudt Diamond Hudson

Staff: Sam May Frances Best Jasmine Williams

Advisor: Mingxiao Sui

Social Media Editor: Destinee Nelsom

The Ferrum College Iron Blade Newspaper is a student-written, student-managed, and studentproduced newspaper. Opinions do not necessarily express the views of all students or the staff.

Letters may be emailed to theironblade@ferrum.edu.

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In the event of a government shutdown, federal organizations must legally pause, or suspend, non-essential spending of federal money. Although it is said that many programs are exempt from the nation-wide budget cut, many federal workers and civilian people are greatly affected by the constraints with simple everyday necessities being taken away from peoples and families. The most recent shutdown was the longest in history and lasted longer than what was financially necessary.

Many federal workers were either required to work without pay, or some were notified that they could not work. It came about later with new legislation that people would indeed receive back pay. With one problem semi-solved, the “fix” gives way to the necessity of the acknowledgement of other very large problems; what are the qualifications of necessary federal spending and why do they not cover programs that should be considered societal necessities? Programs that offer federal aid to those who have no other way to live were greatly affected by the giant temporary government shutdown. Programs that regulated the treatment and condition of products that get distributed to grocery stores, programs that monitored the general health and well-being of our country, were as ‘out of service’ as finicky dispenser machines. Even within this mix of mismanagement, some employees that worked for mandatory programs, and sometimes the programs themselves, were put on recall.

Perhaps this just seems like one of the most problematic government shutdowns because the media had efficiently made sure that the coverage was constantly in our faces.

Or perhaps, it seems so bad because as young adults today, we are now feeling the impacts more personally.

This shutdown has hit more people that I know than I’ve ever noticed before, both older adults and people in my age group. One young woman, a current student who requested to remain anonymous, is a child of older parents. With a dozen children, her parents have carried their household being federal workers. Their lives had been dependent upon those federal checks which they were unable to receive during the shutdown. They had been living check to check. With their household being so full already, and not everyone being able to equally share the load of keeping a household in order, along with the heads of the house being ineligible for a job or a social security check, the government shutting down only furthered their financial burden. Left with essentially no other options, the young woman, who lives hours away, was sending her earnings from her work-study position on campus back home to take care of her family.

“It’s just been very hard for all of us. We’re all under a lot of stress to make sure we’re all okay,” she said.

Another young woman, a student of another college who has also requested to remain anonymous, had also been put into a difficult position due to the shutdown. Due to harmful living arrangements and struggling as an expecting mother, she reached out for government aid in order to receive housing and healthcare. While she was eventually approved for health care for herself and her child, she was initially denied because of the shutdown.

“We are covered for healthcare! So, I’m very happy about that. I at least feel like we are taken care of in that manner. But trying to find housing right now and trying to get food on stamps… I don’t want it to happen after the baby is born,” she said.

The government shutdown, which lasted from December 22 to January 25, was a strategy used by President Trump and his administration in hopes to receive enough funding to begin development on his infamous border wall. Trump has been criticized for his decision to enact a shutdown, and keeping it shut down for as long as he did.

By shutting down the government, Trump and his team had neglected the concerns and needs of those who work for and rely on the government.

March 1, 2019

The Iron Blade

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Black History Month

By Diamond Hudson 28 out of 365 days of black history does not seem like enough time to enrich an entire community in its culture. Though Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass are meant to be celebrated and honored, there are more African American contributors to history. There is also more than the Emancipation Proclamation and famous athletes. Here are a few little knownhistorical facts that are not shared outside of the usual peanut gallery.

Lonnie G. Johnson (October 6, 1949 - Present)

Carter G. Woodson (December 19, 1875 – April 3, 1950)

An Aerospace engineer from NASA, invented the super soaker in 1982 and Johnson thermoelectric energy converter.

Who established Black History Month? He established the event in an effort to educate the origins, trials, and achievements of African American history with the United States. Its creation was in 1926, and originally called “Negro History Week,” and was meant to be commemorated for only seven days.

PBS Network confirmed that the cartoon Betty Boop, that was introduced in 1930, was inspired by African American jazz singer, Ester Jones.

Otis Boykin (August 29, 1920 - March 13, 1982)

Photo Courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter Hattie McDaniel was an American stage actress, professional singer-songwriter, and comedian. Oscar’s First Black Winner for Gone with the Wind

The inventor of the IBM computer and the pacemaker.

The Black History Month Tribute that is located outside the Panther’s Den near the Student Leadership Office

Photo Credit Diamond Hudson

Claudette Colvin (September 5, 1939 - Present) Rosa Parks was not the only one who refused to give up her seat. At the age of 15, Colvin, from Montgomery, Alabama, was her forerunner. She refused to give up her bus seat for a white passenger on March 2, 1955. She was arrested and became one of the plaintiffs in Browder v. Gayle, which ruled that the Montgomery segregated bus system was unconstitutional.

Shirley Ann Jackson (August 5, 1946 - Present) A theoretical physicist, invented touch-tone telephone, caller ID, and fiber-optic cable. She was also the first African American woman to earn a doctorate in nuclear physics at MIT.

Photo Courtesy of BBC News

Shirley Chisholm (November 30, 1924 - January 1, 2005)

Barack Obama (August 4, 1961 - Present) In 2008, Obama was not only the first African American President of the United States, but he also won a Grammy Award for his audiobooks, Dreams from My Father and The Audacity of Hope, which won Best Spoken Word Album.

Although we have female representation in Congress, the 2018 elections was not the first time the representation was elected. Congresswoman Shirley Chisolm represented New York in the House of Representatives in 1972.

She was also the first black candidate for a major party’s nomination for the Presidential race of 1974.

Serena Williams (September 26, 1981 - Present) Charles R. Drew (June 3, 1904 - April 1, 1950) Thanks to Dr. Drew, the blood bank is always available. As a physician, surgeon, and medical researcher, he worked at Red Cross with a team who discovered blood transfusions.

In World War II, he played a major role in developing the first blood bank and plasma bank. Later on, he invented the Bloodmobiles to transport blood.

To add to her list of accomplishments as a professional tennis player, Williams was the first African American female athlete to have a picture of herself on the cover of Vogue, in the April 2015 issue.

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The Iron Blade

March 1, 2019

NEWS To Live Is To Serve

By AnnGardner Eubank This past October, Hurricane Michael While the trip is sponsored by Ferrum’s tore through parts of the East Coast, Spiritual Life, the group will be serving Mexico, and much of the Caribbean. Hurthrough the United Methodist Committee ricane Michael caused an estimated $25.1 on Relief. The group of volunteers will be billion in working to revitalize homes damages, that were severely damaged and had a by the storm and experienced death toll severe flooding. of at least Mark’s role as a student 43 in the leader is to mediate between state of the students and faculty and Florida to work with the coordinators alone. to help with the planning and The cateorganization of the trip. This gory four will be Mark’s sixth disaster Photo courtesy to AccuWeather storm Florida’s panhandle was faced with natural disaster and relief trip he’s taken with brought received destructive winds and severe flooding.

Ferrum, and it will also be the destrucfourth one tion and devastation to Florihe’s lead. da’s panhandle, and Jackson“I love ville felt heavy blows. the entire Over spring break, Spiritual experiLife will be sponsoring a trip ence. It just for nineteen students and two makes me so faculty members to travel happy every to Jacksonville, FL to aid in single trip.

Photo courtesy to AccuWeather disaster relief. Senior Mark The whole Billions of dollars worth of destruction occurred Kellam is the student leader of process is during the hurricane in October. the excursion and is looking amazing,” said forward to the trip.

Kellam.

“We are going to be working with The disaster relief team will be heading flooding and drywall at our worksite. We out for Florida on March 1 and will be in have one worksite for the trip that will the sunshine state helping the victims of accommodate our whole group,” said the hurricane through the entirety of the Kellam. break.

Radio Rebel

By Diamond Hudson On the evening of Monday, February further notice, all the student-produced 18th, someone vandalized the Ferrum radio shows will be suspended.

College Radio Station. The discs that were “This is insane. The fact that no one alphabetized on the shelves were thrown will fess up isn’t fair to the other students and scattered everywhere along the stawho worked hard on their shows and had tion’s floors. This incident has caused an nothing to do with what happened,” said uproar in the Media Communication com- Nasya Smith, Senior. munity on campus.

This is not the first time that the radio “Whoever did this is ruining a great station was vandalized. During the Spring privilege we have,” said Andrew Meadsemester of 2017, someone had violated ows, Senior. the rule about no food being allowed in Due to his suspicions the station, along and a new untrusting with CDs being disappointment, Dr. disorganized in a Karl Roeper, the head similar fashion, and professor of the Mehad unplugged all dia Communication the equipment. The Department, has revoked professor who taught Media House keys from this class was not all the students currently sure what to do in enrolled in Radio Broadthis situation. casting Methods and the “Yeah, Dr. Brown Photo Credit Nasya Smith Radio Practicum. had asked me what Media House Ferrum Radio Station. to do. I told him to tell “Yeah he took everyone’s keys,” said Jacob Lloyd, Freshthem that everyone man. would fail the class. Unfortunately, we are Campus police are currently in pursuit unable to do that,” said Roeper. of the “Radio Rebel.” The only assumpThis situation has put a lot of students tion on who did it are social media based in a tough position in regards to what is rumors and the fact that the only person going to be done next about their grade in capable of doing such a thing has access the class, as well as how the radio station to the Media House by way of a student will be operated from now on. The best that is a Communication Major or the option right now would be for the student student within the major itself did it. Until who committed the act to come forward.

ARC Remodel Photo Credit Jasmine Williams The ARC packed with students midday

By Mary Stoudt

The ARC’s free coffee, hot chocolate, and tea station Photo Credit Jasmine Williams

demic advisor. Cabiness joined Virginia Western Community College in Roanoke, Virginia as the Roanoke City Community College Access Program Success Coach in 2015. At both Norfolk and Virginia Western, Cabiness worked on retention rates in different programs.

With the arrival of Cabiness, the true vision of the new ARC began to form.

Cabiness has worked with the ARC team as well as Sposato, Aaron Creasy, the Project Manager, and Chris Burnley, the Vice President for Administration and Finance.

Throughout this process, Sposato has been visiting other colleges and universities to see what their resource centers have to offer. Sposato has brought back ideas and pictures of other resource centers to assist in creating a better ARC at Ferrum.

“Over two hundred students a day filter through the ARC [Academic Resource Center],” said Dr. Aimé Sposato, Provost of Ferrum College.

The students who use the ARC are currently greeted by plain walls, old furniture, and worn out carpet. The remodel planned for the ARC is an effort to bring life back into the space.

The plan to remodel the ARC has been in the works for the past two years. Sposato arrived while the planning was still taking place. When she arrived, there was no director of the ARC. Sposato took on the task The ARC Auditorium of finding a director which led her to Photo Credit Jasmine Williams James Cabiness.

Cabiness came to Ferrum after working The changes being made to the ARC are at Norfolk State University as an aca-

drastic and much needed to better accommodate students and faculty.

The current vision of the ARC is for it to be “open, vibrant, [and have] natural

The ARC packed with students midday Photo Credit Jasmine Williams

sunlight,” said Sposato.

The new ARC is going to have more colors on the walls with the use of accent colors. The colors chosen for this project are coming from the Ferrum College Style Guide. More technology is also coming to the ARC. There will be more outlets available, printing stations, as well as modular walls with screens on them.

The physical changes taking place in the ARC will be the relocation of some offices, a rounded desk in the center of the room (similar to the library), a larger testing center that allows students a larger time frame to test, the possible addition of hardwood floors, the addition of a handicap/unisex bathroom, as well as the renovation of the current bathrooms.

There has also been talks of possibly

including a chalkboard wall for students to use as a way to relax.

The new ARC will also accommodate individuals and groups of all sizes.

Classes will be able to come down and have privacy and technology by utilizing the modular walls.

To accommodate students and faculty even more, new seating will be offered and computers will be moved to the center of the room following the design of the library. There have also been talks of including a Keurig station for students and faculty to use.

The goal of the ARC is to make it “feel friendly and inviting,” said Sposato.

Currently there is no set budget for renovating the ARC Burnley is working on creating a budget for the renovation.

The renoThe window of the PAL Tutor vation of office in the ARC Photo Credit Jasmine Williams the ARC is a separate project from the renovations taking place at the international plaza and main entrance to the library.

March 1, 2019

The Iron Blade

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Entertainment

We’ve Got Magic to Do

By Jasmine Williams Ferrum’s theatre department has remained busy this semester in preparation for several performances just around the corner in March and April. With Crimes of The Heart planned to take the stage in April, productions have been in full swing for the preparations of the department’s performance of Pippin. This musical is a coming of age story that will be full of color and extremely catchy tunes.

The March 13th-16th

show dates will be led by a strong cast of both upperclassmen and the newest additions to the theatre family, the freshmen.

This musicals’ cast is overflowing with powerhouse vocals and great show presenters. The lead’s character, and the shows namesake, Pippin, will be played by Fox Yates. Yates believes that the musical is an impactful and relatable show.

“The show shows the ups and downs of a person’s

life. It shows the loss of hope and innocence a person goes through and how unaided depression can impact a person throughout their life; whether they have a particularly ‘easy’ life or not,” said Yates.

The circus themed characters are led by the Leading Player, who tells the story of young Pippin as he struggles to find adventure and thrill in his life. Through his life, with occasional persuasion and influence from the Leading

Cast of Pippin in full swing during rehersal. The cast has had numerous rehersals throughout this semester.

Player, Pippin learns lessons of death, love, and the struggle to find fulfillment in his life.

“I think Pippin is faulty, just like every other person is. I just think he goes about life making decisions as best as he can,” said Yates.

The show will hit the stage in Sale Theatre following spring break. Keep an eye out for campus mail for more information regarding showtimes and ticket information.

Senior Spotlight Allison Bower

By Frances Best part in the Fellowship of Most students take at least four years to graduate Christian Athletes (FCA).

Bower’s Ferrum experifrom college, but Allison ence was successful and Bower will be graduating filled with campus involveafter spending just three ment, so it’s no surprise years at Ferrum. Bower was able to get a head start that she has big plans for completing credits while in the future after college.

“I plan to work on the high school. With her final business side of the medisemester nearing its end, cal industry and spend my she has began reminiscing free time traveling,” said on her bittersweet experiBower. ences spent at Ferrum.

Although she’s had “Ferrum definitely had memorable and life changits ups and downs but I ing experience at Ferrum, wouldn’t have wanted it Bower is more than ready any other way. I faced all to finish school and move kinds of new challenges, on to the next stage of her but this school also gave life. me some of my best “I’m ready to start makfriends and memories,” ing some money. These said Bower. unpaid internships ain’t it.

Bower kept herself On a real note, I’m looking busy with extracurricular forward to new challenges activities which included and experiences. I’m ready playing on the women’s to see new things and meet soccer team, being a part new people,” said Bower. of Ferrum’s leadership committee, and also taking Photo Courtesy Instagram

Photo Credit Giuseppe Ritorto

Can Technology Find Her? Double Movie Review

By Destinee Nelson In the modern-day thriller, Searching, a father’s 16-year-old daughter suddenly goes missing. While the suspense of where his daughter may be builds, he decides to take matters into his own hands to search for her. Only 37 hours pass before he decides to launch his own investigation in the one place no detective had yet looked -her laptop.

The father has no choice but to trace his daughter digitally before she’s gone forever.

Technology played the dominant factor in this movie, which was the Technology is one factor in this movie that helped find the daughter of character, David Kim, played

by John Cho. Unfortunately, the film does point out the advantages of technology while also making the point that technology has

only reason the father was able to communicate with others about his daughter's whereabouts. The film portrayed how large a role technology plays in today’s society. Social media apps, chat rooms, and skype were some of the ways this father searched for his daughter. The film takes a turn as the father begins to realize that he didn't know his daughter as well as he thought.

Coming from someone that is always on social media, it was hard to relate to the movie because my parent always knows

where to find me. The communication between my family and friends is frequently and I wouldn’t be hard to find. I feel as if the main character and his daughter lacked a bond that I have with my parents.

In today’s society, technology plays a big role in how we communicate. It does so much to the point that parents don’t interact with their children the same way. Everyone is always on their cell phones and no one wants to interact face to face. When a situation comes up like in

By Diamond Hudson integrated into our lives he makes the decisions, heavily. clicks, and digitally multiThe camera work alludes tasking. to the idea that we are the Cho did not notice his computer and we are using daughter, Margot Kim, the computer, by giving us played by Michelle La, the sensation to allow us did not come home the to identify with Cho when night before the virtual

this movie, it makes some viewers realize how much we take for granted.

Overall, this movie was good. It had moments of suspense as well as drama. It incorporated how modern technology can affect a search for a missing person. It also showed how far a parent would go in order to find their child themselves by using the digital world. This movie starts off strong and leaves the audience wondering if the 16-year-old girl will ever be found. investigation, because they mainly communicated through text messages and Facetime calls.

What if Cho had a better interpersonal relationship with his daughter? Would he have noticed her absence earlier than he did?

Photo Courtesy showtimes.com

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The Iron Blade

March 1, 2019

SPORTS

Ferrum Women’s Soccer Team at their recent Banquet. Photo Credit: Frances Best

New Women’s Soccer Head Coach Erin Saleeby. Photo Credit Ferrum Athletics

Out With the Old, In With the New Women’s Soccer gets a new Head Coach

By Sam May The Ferrum Women’s Soccer team has recently undergone a major change in coaching staff as former head coach of the program, James Lofton, has stepped down from the position. Former assistant coach, Erin Saleeby, has been offered the position of new head coach for the upcoming 2019 fall season.

Coach Saleeby is anticipating some changes to the program, but nothing too major.

“With any transition there will be changes that are made. But, there won’t be many big changes. I want to continue to build on what we have already been doing,” said Saleeby.

Coach Saleeby had been working alongside coach Lofton for the last five years

and feels it has benefited not only herself but also the program in a number of ways.

“Being under Coach Lofton for five years has shaped who I am as a coach and a person. I believe, as did James, that what we do off the field has a direct correlation to what we do on the field,” said Saleeby.

A major foundation of the women’s soccer program at Ferrum is their “all in” approach and their focus on a strong team culture. “ What makes our program and our team so great is that we have players that buy into our values and our culture,” Saleeby said.

After the five years of being assistant coach, Saleeby is looking forward to

what’s next to come for the program with her new position.

“I am very excited to assume the position of Head Coach. Being from Rocky Mount, Ferrum College is home to me. I can’t wait to make a difference at a school that has been a part of me since i was a kid,” said Saleeby.

With the new season only six months away, there is a lot to look forward to for both the coach and players as the team prepares for just their second season competing in the ODAC. “I am excited about the upcoming season. Being in the ODAC, we are playing the best competition and that’s how we continue to get better. We have a great game schedule and a very hungry team.

I can’t wait to see what we can do in the fall,” said Saleeby. The departure of the previous head coach, James Lofton, came as a surprise to many, but the new coach believes she has a strong connection with the team, which will help make the transition an easier one.

“I know that the girls will miss Coach Lofton. He is such a great coach, person, and mentor to the team. However, I have been here for five years and together we built this team. The team knows me and they know that i want what’s best for them. They also know that i am someone who isn’t going to abandon the values of the program, and that I want to continue to make the team the best it can be,” said Saleeby.

Facing Off Men’s Lacrosse Falls to Methodist in Season Opener

By AnnGardener Eubank The Ferrum Men’s Lacrosse Team fell 12-8 in their home season opening game against The Methodist University Monarchs on Feb. 16. The team dug themselves a deep hole early in the game.

The Monarchs scored five goals in just the first quarter alone, all going unanswered until the second quarter. Sophomore Mackoy Bodmer was the first to score for the Panthers two and a half minutes into the second quarter.

Bodmer lead the team in goals, scoring six times to help trim the deficit. After Bodmer’s second goal in the second quarter, the Monarch’s pushed through Ferrum’s defense to score four consecutive goals to extend their lead and close out the first half of the game.

Heading into the second half with a trailing score of 9-2, Bodmer opened the third quarter with his third goal of the night. Meth-

odist quickly responded with two more goals.

Seniors Ronald Carney and Jacob Boswell fought back, scoring a goal each, along with an additional two from Bodmer to close out the third quarter with a closer score of 11-7. In the final quarter, Bodmer scored one more goal with just over two minutes left on the clock, which was answered by Methodist’ offense, leaving the final score at 12-8.

“It was a tough loss. Our team didn’t really show up until half time, but we played really well after half time. I’m hoping we’ll play like that the rest of the season,” said Bodmer.

In their inaugural season in the ODAC, the lacrosse team is looking to bounce back from the loss. The team, who graduated several key members from their program last year, including current assistant coach, Collin Trankel, is working to strengthen their skills and come together

as a unit. With seven seniors, the team knows one another and how to play up one another’s skills, it’s just a matter of blending in some new comers and the team taking on new roles and responsibilities. The team is working towards more consistency for the rest of the season.

“This season we’re trying to make a good impression on the ODAC. I think something that we need to work on is coming out and starting strong and keeping our game going. We don’t want to take any quarters off. We’re trying to play our game the whole time,” said Bodmer.

The team was set to play at Averett University on Feb. 20 but was postponed due to inclement weather.

The panthers are set to play next at William Peace Saturday afternoon. (Feb. 23) Their first ODAC competition will be held against Virginia Wesleyan on home turf on Saturday, March 9.

Men’s Lacross e in Action. Photo Cred Ateyona Morris

Softball Season Begins for Panthers

By Sam May The Ferrum Women’s Softball team have started their 2019 season with a 1-1 record. For their first two games of the season, the Panthers travelled to Greensboro where they played in a double header.

The Panthers won the first game 3 - 2 and ended up losing the second 5 - 1.

Despite the split results, the team is looking to continue to improve and move forward throughout the remainder of what is early on in the season.

Sophomore infielder, Keri Hamlett, is optimistic and enthusiastic for the rest of

the team’s season.

“I think the rest of the season is going to go well. We have a lot of competition on the field to compete with each other,” Hamlett said.

The team has a busy and strong schedule ahead of them as this is their first season playing in the ODAC conference, including teams like Roanoke and Lynchburg, along with long time nonconference rival, Averett University.

“I’m ready for Averett because they are usually our biggest rival. I’m also

excited for any ODAC team too because it’s our first year and we have a lot to prove,” said Hamlet.

The team has 14 new players on their roster after only graduating three seniors last season, allowing the team to be competitive not only against other teams, but with each other fighting for a spot in the line-up. The team will be back in action in a non-conference game on Feb. 23 as they travel to Methodist University for a double header.

March 1, 2019

The Iron Blade

Page 7

The Finish Line: Ferrum Swimming Closes

By AnnGardner Eubank Both the Men and Women’s Swim Teams have closed the chapter on their 2018-2019 seasons as they competed in their final contests at the ODAC Championships held Feb. 15-17 in Greensboro, NC. The women finished eighth out of twelve teams, and the men finished eighth out of ten.

Washington and Lee University dominated the competition, with a team score of 913 for the men and 988 for women. The Lady Panthers finished the meet with a team score of

103, and the men with a score of 125.

The men placed highest when they finished sixth in the 200 Medley Relay.

Jacob Blaukovitch, Dom Philpot, Taylor Darnell, and Jonathan Kraft competed in the medley. The same group also finished seventh in the 200 Freestyle Relay. Darnell was the highest placed individual for the men, earning an eighth place recognition in the 200 Fly. The women’s top placements were two seventh place earnings. Hunter

Tharpe, Elina Baltins, Katie Shoaf, and Courtney Moyer earned seventh place in both the 400 Medley Relay and the 200 Medley Relay.

The program has been improving and breaking personal records each season in the past several years. Senior and captain, Jonathan Kraft, thought this past season was one of the best.

“Our two week taper was intense and we prepared well. We had strong team unity. When we got to ODACS, everyone was

dropping times and reaching personal bests. Our relays were executed very well, and we broke records because of that,” said Kraft.

The program will be graduating two seniors, Mariah Banks and Jonathan Kraft. The team is still young and will have a core group of veterans able to take the pool next season.

“I strongly believe that the team is going to continue to get better and constantly improve next season. I’m excited to see how they’ll do next year,” said Kraft.

Baseball Braces for ODAC

By Frances Best With the Baseball season underway, expectations are high for the Panthers as they return to the diamond following a successful 2018 season. Veteran team member and senior, Braxton Wheeler, feels they have a strong team moving forward.

“I firmly believe that we are going to have a really solid team. Most of our starting lineup is juniors or seniors, so we definitely are very experienced in all phases of the game,” said Wheeler.

With a strong group of returners on the team, they also have a large crop of new talent joining the squad this season.

“We have nineteen or so guys on the squad this year that weren’t on the team last year. In my four years here it’s very normal to have a lot of freshmen come in on the team as well as transfers to play,” said Wheeler.

With nearly the entire rest of the season ahead of them, Wheeler has a positive outlook on upcoming games.

“Certainly since we have switched conferences, each game is going to be something to look forward to, but if I had to pick a one series to look forward to it would be Shenandoah on Saturday April 13th,” said Wheeler.

Men’s Basketball Look to the Future

Teeing Off

By Mary Stoudt

Joseph Pride stands ready in the outfield. Photo credit Ferrum Athletics.

Women swimmers take their place before taking off. Photo credit Feruum Athletics.

This spring season the Ferrum College Golf team has numerous invitationals to look forward to under the direction of Coach Erick Cox. Cox graduated from Ferrum in 2013 and was a member of the golf team all four years.

The men’s team has four golfers for this upcoming season; Freshman Matthew Henninger, Junior Lance Keiser, Freshman Jared Moulse, and Sophomore Hunter Shelton. The women’s team will be entering their first ever spring season at Ferrum with three golfers, including Freshman Jetta Huffman, Freshman Hunter Tharpe, and Sophomore Jordan Thompson.

The men’s team is set

to participate The Callaway Garden Invitational on March 4, The Jekyll Island Collegiate on March 15, The Camp Lejeune Intercollegiate on April 5, and The Emory Spring Invitational April 20. The team will also be wrapping up their season competing in the ODAC Tournament scheduled for April 29.

The women’s team is scheduled to participate in The Adidas Intercollegiate on March 11, The Max and Susan Stith Invitational on March 24, The Eagle Invitational on March 30, and The Carnegie Mellon Spring Shootout on April 13. The women will also be competing in the ODAC tournament on April 29.

Swim Records Broken Compiled by Frances Best

By Sam May The Ferrum Men’s basketball team played their final two games of their challenging season.

Despite finishing the season with an overall record of 5-20, the team seems to be remaining positive and taking this season as a building year to come back stronger for next year’s 2019-2020 season.

“Our record doesn’t show who we really are.

We’ve been in almost every single game. We definitely feel we could have easily flipped a lot of those losses into wins. We got better over the course of the season but we really wanted to come out with more wins than we did,” said freshman Trey Barnhardt.

While the team closed

out their first season as members of the ODAC with a 4-12 conference record, they’re already looking forward to next year to come back stronger.

“I’m really looking forward to continuing to get better, both as a team and as individuals as well. We are getting better and i’m really looking forward to seeing it gel together,” said Barnhardt.

The Panthers are expected to have a strong amount of veterans next season, as they are only graduating two seniors, Marcus Huff who named in the third team all conference and R.J. Turner. They are also working on building a strong recruitment class for the upcoming year.

“We have two seniors

Women’s 400 Medley Relay 4:48.26 Hunter Tharpe, Elina Baltins, Katie Shoaf, Courtney Moyer Men’s 1650 Freestyle 18:12.74 Taylor Darnell Men’s 200 Backstroke 2:54.29 Philip Martin Men’s 100 Breaststroke 1:04.26 Jacob Blaukovitch

Marcus Huff takes a shot. Photo credit Ferrum

Men’s 200 Breaststroke 2:21.99 Jacob Blaukovitch

Athletics.

leaving, but outside of that I’m not quite sure. The coaches do a good job with recruiting guys and getting the right people here.

We should have a decent amount come in. That way we can all grind it out and compete against one another to set our team for the year,” said Barnhardt.

Men’s 100 Butterfly 56.17 Taylor Darnell Men’s 200 Medly Relay 1:47.68 Jacob Blaukovitch, Dom Philpot, Taylor Darnell, Johnathan Kraft Men’s 400 Freestyle Relay Taylor Darnell, Jacob Blaukovitch, Dom Philpot, Johnathan Kraft Men’s 800 Freestyle Relay 8:15.55 Jacob Blaukovitch, Johnathan Kraft, Dom Philpot, Taylor Darnell

Page 8

The Iron Blade

March 1, 2019

Riding Through Roanoke: Art Professor Contributes to Our Community

By Destinee Nelson Art Professor, Jake Smith, has recently been asked to display some of his very own artwork to share with the Roanoke community. Smith, who has a background of creating multiple monumental sculptures, is eager to complete the task.

“I was the Director of Art for a company called 4DD Studios for several years. I was responsible for production of museum exhibitions, signage and monumental sculptures that could reach multi story scale,” Smith said.

Notable projects created by Smith include a sixty foot bowling pin located in Fredericksburg, VA. Along with a sixteen-foot-long fish that’s near a pier in Maryland and faux concrete panels for a concentration camp at the Holocaust Museum. Lastly, Smith has a traveling interactive

circus themed children’s exhibit about human parasites and six-foot-tall medals of honor for the Pentagons Hall of Fame heroes.

Smith received an unexpected phone call recently from the Roanoke City Parks and Recreation in which he was asked to create two more of his infamous “giant bicycles.”

The Roanoke City Parks and Recreation plan to display Smith’s bicycles near the Roanoke Star.

After materials were ordered, Smith began construction, beginning with wheels using steel for the rims from a manufacturer in Roanoke.

After welding and and assembly, the bikes were finished with body filling any dents and weld marks. The final paint job required four layers of base coat and four layers of additional stripe color. Now the community is waiting for a warm and sunny day to install the bikes on Mill Mountain.

(Above) The process of creating the Giant Bicycles. (Below) Two of the finish Giant Bicycle Statues.

Photo Cred : Jake Smith

Panther Briefs Ferrum Radio Monday Drew- The Early Bird 10 a.m. to noon Happy Hour @ Marie’s 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Jake Mum-Powered 7 p.m - 9 p.m Tuesday William- Wil Da Beans 11:30 a.m - 1:30 p.m Wednesday Cedrick Mumble Rap 4 p.m.-6 p.m.

Colton- The Rock Block 7p.m -9 p.m.

Thursday Isaiah -Zay in the House 10 a.m. to noon Friday Fox Yates - WEDO Weekly 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Hailu- The Hailu Show 2 p.m.-4p.m.

Christian Chris Way 5p.m. -7p.m.

Sunday ZavionWEDO it Twice a Week 6p.m.-8p.m.

Dodgeball

rd a o B n i t e l l u B r e Panth

Sponsered by FC Women’s Soccer Win a cash prize!

March 17, 2019, Located at the YMCA at 1:00 p.m. $5 Per Person 7-8 Players Per Team May the best team win!

Spring Break Information All Residence Halls will be close during Spring Break.

Spring break begins afte reach student’s last class on Friday, March 1. Residents Halls will close at noon on Saturday, March 2. ALL students must leave campus no later than noon Saturday, March 2nd. Residence Hals will reopen on Sunday, March 10t at 12:00 p.m, and classes will resume on Monday March 11th.

Students should not return to campus earlier than noon on Sunday, March 10th.