The Rotunda Volume 75, Number 17
Longwood College -- Farmville, VA
March 4,19%
Special Olympics Come to Longwood A Forensic Honor For Longwood By Beth Crispens Rotunda Staff
Special Olympics, held on Longwood'scampusSunday, had many helping hands. Several of Longwood's student organizations participated in one way or another. Two of the main groups who volunteered were the Therapeutic Recreation Organization and the Introduction to Therapeutic Recreation class. The Introduction to Therapeutic Recreation students were buddies to the athletes. Fourteen Greek Organizations participated, including. Alpha Gamma Delta, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Alpha Phi Omega, Alpha Sigma Alpha, Alpha Sigma Phi, Alpha Sigma Tau, Alpha Chi Rho, Delta Sigma Pi, Kappa Delta, Pi Kappa Phi, Phi Kappa Tau, Sigma Sigma Sigma, Sigma Phi Epsilon, and ZetaTau Alpha. Special Olympics give people with disabilities the opportunity to compete in events geared toward their abilities. It also improves self-confidence and physical ability while providing social interaction for the participates. Caroline Johnson, Vice President of the Therapeutic Recreation Organization, said, "If the participants find something they like, they think maybe they can do something else." Special Olympics gave the
By Donnie Hubert Rotunda Staff
Special Olympics wheelchair participant in action. participates that confidence. Raissa Czemerynski, President of the Therapeutic Recreation Organization, explained the individual events. "Target Pass requires an athlete to aim at an area on the wall from a certain distance away. Ten meter dribble is an event in which an athlete dribbles a basketball for ten meters. The third individual event is the Spot Shot, in which the athlete shoots at the basket from different spots on the floor," said Czemerynski. There were also team events. The first was full-court basketball and the second, half-court basketball. These are played according to the athlete's abilities. After the events are finished, each place from First through Eighth receives a medal and the other
participants receive a participation award. The surrounding counties that participated in this year's Special Olympics included Prince Edward, Cumberland, Buckingham, Powhatan, and Lunenburg. Around seventy athletes participated in this year's event. In 1968, the Kennedy family started the Special Olympics for their daughter, Rose Mary. The Special Olympics are helping to improve the abilities of many people with disabilities. This opportunity allows both people with and without disabilities to participatetogetherinoneevent. This event is held every spring semester; all students and faculty are invited to participate next spring.
IFC Achieves Fraternal Excellence By Heidi Hurt Rotunda Staff Interfraternity Council won the Fraternal Excellence award at the Southeastern Interfraternity Conference, February 23-25. This award is the highest honor which can be given to the Interfraternity Council. Interfraternity Council (IFC) is comprised of one representative
from each fraternity on campus. This year was the first that IFC applied for the Fraternal Excellence award. This award consists of 12 different categories, including financial structure, administration, rush, scholarship, public relations, leadership, and community service. Under each of these 12 categories, there are 20 criteria to meet. The Southeastern Interfraternity
Conference consists of 11 states and 100 colleges and universities. This year was the first that Longwood has won the Fraternal Excellenceaward. Only 12 other schools received this award. These winners include the University of Florida, the University of Alabama, Mississippi State, and Virginia Tech.
Longwood College sponsored the Pi Kappa Delta Forensic Regional Tournament this past weekend in the Lankford Student Union and Grainger Building. Fourteen Longwood students participated in this event along with 85 other college students and coaches from six participating schools. The events started Friday, March 1 at 2 p.m., and continued until 9 p.m. that evening. The students started competing the next morning and continued until the evening. The competitions ended Sunday, March 3 around 1 p.m. The six colleges from Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Ohio, Rhode Island, West Virginia, and Maryland who competed in the
event are part of "Province of the Colonies" district. These states, from Massachusetts to Virginia, comprise a section of the nation in which colleges come together every two years and compete. In 1998, the colleges from this district will convene and compete in Massachusetts. Both Nancy Haga and the forensic coach, Sean Rakowski were excited about this tournament and were glad to have the opportunity to host the event at Longwood. Rakowski stated, "I have never organized or hosted a college event like this." The Speech and Theatre Department was buzzing with excitement the day before the competition. The team was excited to be participating in a tournament this important.
See Inside... What Students are doing for Spring Bread... see page 2 Health Series: The Benfits of Exercisesee page 4 Warning about travel abroad... see page 4 Happenings at the Center for the Visual Arts... seepages The Weekender... see page 7 Lady Lancers break record... see page 8
Continued 0n Page 3
Celebrating ^euentp-jftbe Shears; of Writing
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Spring Brings Renewal and Freshness to the Campus The Rotunda Longwood College Box 2901 Farmville, Virginia 23909
Founding Editor Helen Skillman 1920 Editorial Board Editor In Chief Brenda Huffstutler
After the many months of dreary cold and weary construction, March has finally roared in like a lion and it has been nearly five weeks since the groundhog, affectionately known as Phil, saw his shadow. Along with the advent of spring comes many morechanges... Also known as Campus Beautification. Spring usually is a time of rebirth and renewal. This is highly the case here. From the ice bursting pipes in Ruffner to collapses due to snow, many unexpected changes have occurred as well as delays in projected dates for completion of construction. Flow Mole is redoing the electrical cables
around campus to save money on efficiency, and cracked sidewalks are being replaced. With the many unexpected, weather-related problems, the campus has kept up its appearance of construction mess until earlier this week. The torn out roads are now smoothed down with gravel and the yellow caution signs are gradually being taken down one by one. Perhaps the most pleasant surprise was when you take a look to the right of North Cunningham, the mobile trailer along with the JEJ crews has been removed. It is now safe once again for women to walk
at liberty down the gauntlet, safe from the construction workers stares both on and off their lunch breaks. Unfortunately, they have moved behind fler now and are still further up on Pine St. until May when the new education building is forecasted to be completed. With one part of the campus being settled, anotherpartisquickly moved in to in order to meet the deadline of a new and renovated campus by 1997. One of the old high schools, now known as Hiner, is scheduled for renovation soon. Also, after the faculty moves out of Ruffner March 20, two days after
Spring Break is over, Ruffner will start working towards the new dormitory. For those graduating before 1997, you will have to wailout this long haul and envision for the future, possibly to be seen as an alumni. As for the other students, dreary construction can be forecasted for the next year. In the meantime, as a few students have been seen doing around campus, enjoy the March winds and relive your youth by flying a kite Sincerely -Brenda-
Students Getting Ready For Spring Break By: Lisa Dimino
General Manager Blythe Billingsley Chief Copy Editor Heidi Hurt Copy Editors Donnie Hubert Nicole Messenger Layout George Lanum III
Windy Martin; Junior "I have to observe in an elementary school for two days, attend a job interview, and work on a project.
Anna Smith; Junior "I have to observe high school classes."
Ad Managers Cricket Hayes Nicole Messenger Brad Melton; Junior "I am just going home to work, sleep, and study."
Business Manager Jason Hanchey Advisor Jeffrey Dingeldein
Writers Beth Crispens Lisa Dimino Christy Hayes Donnie Hubert Heidi Hurt Nicole Messenger Heather Miller
Editorial Policy George Lanum; Freshman "I am going to New Orleans. Uncertain about your future? Come talk to Longwood Alumni at the
Alumni/Student Career Link Sponsored by: Alumni Office and Career Center *** Tuesday, March 5, 1996 12:30 p.m.-2:00 p.m. Virginia/Prince Edward Room Dress is informal - Come ask all of your questions!
Notice to all those preparing articles for the paper: All stories must be submitted by 5 pm Thursday in order for them to run in Monday's paper. The Rotunda will not accept any late stories Also, if anyone wished to have a story covered, please contact the office and allow a week for most assignments to be given to a writer. In case of extenuating circumstances, accommodations may be made. The office number is 395-2120. Letters to the Editor are to be mailed to Box 2091. They must be typed and received by Thursday at 5 pm in order to be published in Monday's edition. All letters are subject to editing, and signatures are preferred. Letters may run on any date.
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Beyond IFC Achieves
The Iron Gates
By Nicole Messenger Rotunda Staff
By Bonnie Hubert Rotunda Staff According to various news sources: Senator Robert Dole is pushing ahead with the Republican primaries in the presidential candidate race. This past week he won the primaries in the Dakotas, but lost in Arizona where he hoped to gain the support of the much needed 39 delegates. Sen. Dole beat Buchanan in the South Carolina Primary, Sat March 2 This week the Christian Coalition held a debate with four of the leading runners in the presidential candidate race. Pat Buchanan stated in his arguments that if elected President, he would take money out of the national budget mat helps Family Planning and Planned Parenthood projects. He supports strongly his opposition to abortion and research related to it OJ. Simpson Is taking time out from bis busy schedule of court dates to appear on talk and radio shows. The most recent suit against him, filed by Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown's family, will be delayed till September 9 so that Mr. Simpson can organize his case better. Meanwhile, O.J. spoke recently on a radio talk show, KJLH, and gave a mild insult towards the only black prosecutor in his trial.
Hiner To Be Renovated
Interfraternity Council members L-R Jeremy DiMaio, Ben Hicks, Jimmy Foley, Dave Savino, and Derek Farrey Longwood and Virginia Tech were the only Virginia schools to receive the Fraternal Excellence award. Longwood was the smallest school awarded this honor. The next school closest to Longwood size has approximately 15,000 students. Savita Rai, Greek Advisor, was ecstatic that IFC received this award. "This is very exciting! This award shows how far IFC has come, at least in the two years I've been here," said Rai. Jimmy Foley, IFC President, was al so pleased about this award. "This award shows how much we've put in over the past year. This is an award for our accomplishments and efforts and an award to show the Longwood community what we do and what we are about," said Foley.
In September, IFC set as one of their goals to attain this award at the conference. IFC has dedicated the last six months to accomplish this goal. "I think this [award] is a positive aspect of our existence. I hope this will open more people's eyes to the fact that we are an influential group on campus and in the Southeast. Hopefully this will be an ongoing tradition," said Foley. In Rai's opinion, Longwood is no longer viewed as a hazing school and is now associated with fraternal excellence. "They have come a long way. Sometimes we are so focused on what we do. . . this award is something we've accomplished. We need to take this time to thank the members who open and close every program," said Rai.
SGA Meeting February 27 By Heidi Hurt Rotunda Staff No special orders of the day Other newsworthy reports Legislative Affairs chairperson reported that the Governor's budget proposal for higher education did not pass. Both the House and the Senate proposed to allocate approximately $200 million more to the budget. Currently, Virginia is ranked 43rd in the country for higher education. An estimated $400 million more is needed to put Virginia back at the southern state average. The chairperson also reported that the Governor's proposed
Tuition Contract did not pass. This contract proposed that freshman college tuition prices would not change throughout the student's college career. SGA voted to allocate $2063.80 for (Catherine Easter, SGA treasurer, and Jenny Crook, SGA secretary, to attend the National Student Services Conference. This conference will be held in Orlando, Florida, April 11-14. SGA voted to allocate money for a tablecloth to use for meeting and Continued on Page 4
finalize the architectural plans and put them out for bidding in the Kail. This means that conAfter three years of planning, structions should also begin in Hiner could be renovated. Ac- the fall. cording to Dean Fanner, Dean The exterior of Hiner would of the School of Business and remain the same. The interior, Economics, approval of the Capi- according to Farmer, would be tal Outright Bond would mean refurbished to include electronic between 4 and 4.3 million dollars classrooms and an auditorium would be included in the state with an approximate seating cabudget This money would be pacity of 75. Classrooms of variused for the renovation and mod- ous sizes would also be added. As ernization of the Hiner building. in the past, mostly Business and Farmer related that funds ROTC classes will be held in have been included in the House Hiner. Farmer said that the renovaand Senate budgets and negotiations are now occurring in con- tions would make Longwood's ference committees of the Hiner building "one of the most General Assembly. Upon gain- technological and modern faciliing the needed approval, the next ties in the state." step, Farmer stated, would be to
Crime Reports on Campus Feb 10: Drunk in Public. Spruce st. Arrested. Drunk in Public. Spruce st. Arrested. Drunk in Public. Spruce st. Arrested. Febll: Vandalism. Fire Extinguister Discharged. Lankford Bldg. Under Investigation. Domestic Dispute. Frazer. Resolved. Unsecured Bldg. Barlow. Locked Door. Feb 12: Hit and Run. Wynne Lot. Under Investigation. Larceny. Wallet. Lancer Gym. Under Investigation. Larceny. Electric Cable. Lankford. Under Investigation. Feb 13: Hit and Run. Upper Frazer. Under Investigation. Larceny. Hub Caps. Madison St. Under Investigation. Search Warrent. Frazer. Cleared. Larceny. Dugout Lancer Field. Under Investigation. Feb 15: Wreckless Driving. Madison St. Cleared Feb 16: Drunk in Public. Pine St. Arrested Drunk in Public. Pine St. Arrested Feb 17: Trespassing. Six People. Tabb. Arrested. Underage Possession. Tabb. Arrested. Feb 18: Attempted Larceny. Cox Lot. Under Investigation. Feb 20: Grand Larceny. Radio. Vemon St. Under Investigation. Feb 23: Domestic Disturbance. South Cunningham. Under Investigation.
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Feature Travel Warning on Drugs Abroad U.S. Department of State - In 1995, over 2,200 American citizens were arrested abroad. More than 1,300 of those arrested were held on charges of using or possessing drugs. We know that many college students plan to travel abroad during their spring and summer breaks. Maybe you have been planning your trip all year. Perhaps you have begun buying and packing necessary items like a toothbrush, sunscreen and sunglasses. We hope you will think twice before packing something that will not only destroy your trip, but could easily ruinyourlife. You should be aware that there are increased efforts by many countries to stop the flow of illegal narcotics. If you think there is no real danger in buying or carry ing just a "small" amount of drugs on your overseas trip, you might be in for a very unpleasant surprise. Americans have been arrested for possessing as little as a third of an ounce ol marijuana. You might assume that, as an American citizen, you are immune from prosecution under foreign laws and that the U.S. Constitution follows you where you go. Unlike the United States, few countries believe "you are innocent until proven guilty." The truth is that Americans suspected of drug violations can face severe penalties, even the death penalty, in some foreign countries. It is not uncomContinued from Page 4
SGA Meeting receptions for publicity. Association of Black Students chairperson reported thesuccess of the two gospelfests Sunday, February 25. Groups from Fannville and Prospect participated. "One in the Spirit" was held Sunday in thel-ankfordStudent Union as well. The chairman reported great success. Senior Class President announced the Senior class dates. May 8-pknic on the President's lawn May 9-Cafe night May 10-Baccalaureate
mon to spend months or even years in pretrial detention, only to be sentenced to a lengthy prison stay without parole in a foreign jail. Foreign jails and prisons are frequently substandard. Once you leave U.S. soil, U.S. laws and constitutional rights no longer apply. U.S. consular officers can visit jailed Americans to see that they are being fairly and humanely treated, but cannot get them out of jail or intervene in a foreign country's legal system on their behalf. You should be particularly wary of persons who ask you to carry a package or drive a car across a border. Once that package or anything in the car is in your possession, you become responsible for it. You will be blamed for it, no matter who has put it there. You might unknowingly become a narcotics trafficker. To local authorises, ignorance is not an excuse. You will have to pay the fine and may even spend time in jail for a crime that you did not know you committed. If for medical reasons you must take medication or other prescriptions containing narcotics, carry a doctors certificate attesting to the fact and keep all medications in original and labeled containers. For further information contact the Bureau of Consular Affairs, Public Affairs Staff at (202) 647,1488.
Health Series
™fits of Exercise n* Month
Be
By Wayne Via Physical Education Major
When someone says exercise what comes to your mind? Is it the sweat, pain, time, or soreness you think about? Or on the other hand, do you thing of the benefits that you will receive from doing to? If you were to weigh the pros and cons, you will see by the end of this article that the pros will outweigh the cons. When most people ask what they want out of life they say they want to live long and prosper. The one thing that can bring you or anyone closer to this goal is exercise. Don't think that just exercise will do this but it will help you lead a healthier lifestyle which is definitely beneficial. Some people say that they are physically active. This is also an important component of a healthy lifestyle but is not as important as exercise. Exercise is a planned program designed to develop or maintain specific components of fitness. The reason that this article is stressing exercise is because physical inactivity may be one of the most significant personal factors contributing to the poor health status of many Americans. The Public Health Service
states that lack of physical activity and exercise is thought to contribute to a number of health problems, including high blood pressure, chronic fatigue, physical inefficiency, premature aging, poor musculature, and lack of flexibility. Such factors are the major causes of lower back pain and injury, mental tendon, obesity, and coronary heart disease. These are all the negative results from being inactive. A better way to inspire people to exercise would be to state the benefits and reasons to exercise. Some of the reasons are that exercise may prevent certain types of cancer, relieves stress and anxiety, slows the aging process, reduces the risk of heart disease, raises the level of good cholesterol, improves the quality of sleep, relieves depression, and helps ward off infection. It is important to remember that vou may exercise at any age. There is a specitic program that will fit your needs and wants no matter what they are. The most important point is that exercise in not the only component of fitness. The point of this article is to show you how important the component of exercise is and all the benefits that go along with it.
to Begin The membership Council of the Longwood Center for the Visual Arts and the Daily Grind announce an Artist of the Month program to begin in April. The Daily Grind, a c of fee emporiumcafe, is located across from the Center for the Visual Arts on the corner of Main and Third Street in Farm ville Artists interested in exhibiting two-dimensional work lor a period of one month at The Daily Grind should send a letter of interest and slides or photographs of current work to the Longwood Center. There are site restrictions owing to considerations of space. A Committee from the Center's membership and a representative from the Daily Grind will ta&e care of scheduling the monthly shows, helping artists install their work, making wall labels, sending publicity and announcements. Artists need not be members of the Center to participate, but non-members will be asked to pay a fee. There is no charge to member artists. Opening receptions for the Artist of the Month will be held on the second Friday of every month.
S-Late Holds Annual Conference By Donnie Hubert Rotunda Staff S-Late held its third annual Southside English and Language Arts conference Saturday, March 2 in Grainger. S-Late is the student affiliated part of VATE, the Virginia Association of Teacher's of English and Language Arts. The all-day conference for teachers from kindergarten to college began at 8:15 a.m. with registration for local college students and area teachers. The expected number of participants for the conference
was estimated to be near 75 people. The keynote speaker for the event was Katie Woods, a professor of education at Western Carolina University. Also presenting at the event were teachers from the Chesapeake area, Pulaski County, and various other regions. Donna Logan, recipient of the 1995 VATE Teacher of the Year Award, also spoke at the conference. The purpose of the conference was to help teachers realize their potential when teaching English and Language Arts to their students.
In the morning the conference held presentations geared towards the teaching of English and Language Arts for elementary students. The afternoon programs focused on teaching English to high school and college students. S-Late sponsors minor conferences throughout the year for the organization. According to Dr. Cope, the advisor for S-Late, this conference is likely to be the only one held in the country. S-Late began four years ago through the help of Dr. Cope. Upon arriving at Longwood, Cope hoped to incorpo-
rate students into professional organizations. After S-Late was formed, the students at Longwood attended a VATE Conference outside the state and decided to host a conference here. Longwood has a link with VATE due to the efforts of Foster B. Gresham, a former professor at Longwood who helped build the organization's reputation and name throughout the state. The award for Teacher Excellence, which Ms. Donna Logan received from VATE, is named after Gresham.
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Feature Grace Norman Longwood Fomisics: A Review to Speak Dedication and Excellence The first event celebrating Women's History Month at Longwood College is a slide talk by Grace Norman, Assistant Professor of Art at Longwood College to be held Monday, March 4 at 7 pm at the Longwood Center for the Visual Arts. The lecture will be followed by a reception hosted by the Women's Studies Program at Longwood College. College and community audiences are encouraged to use this opportunity to meet Ms. Norman, who moved to the area at the beginning of this academic year. Ms. Norman is currently showing selections from two bodies of work at the Center. "Bags and ashes...," a series of 44 cyanotype photo-narrative pieces, is, according to Norman, "the culmination of a long-term, visual exploration of issues which affect the socialization of women: issues of boundaries, religion, mortality, and the issues surrounding violence against women." The images and narratives are of actual experiences of women known by Norman. The other series, titled, "Illumi-
nations," are cliche verre prints. "Illuminations is an English word," states Norman, "which means colored plates. It suggests flashes of inspiration, explosions of I ight, and the possibility of ensuingdarkness." Cliche verre is a French work for a photographic process that involves the layering of glass plates one on top of the other. Ms. Norman came to Longwood from Adams State College, Alamosa, Colorado, where she was Assistant Professor of Art. She holds a BFA and MFA from the University of Colorado. Boulder, where she was an instructor in the Fine Arts Department. Norman has shown her works at the Phinney Art Center, Seattle, Washington; the Durango Art Center, Colorado; Arrott Art Gallery, New Mexico Highland University' Las Vegas, New Mexico; Boulder Center for the Visual Arts, Boulder, Colorado; Eastern New Mexico University, Protales, New Mexico; and the Rio Grande Art Center, Del Norte, Colorado as well as numerous commercial and notfor-profit ealleries.
By Sharon Giazeoer Guest Writer The Longwood Forensic* team could be described in one word, superb. This team is constantly active with practice and tournaments. The evidence of all of this hard work and spirit has produced an exciting result—victory* The past three tournaments have proved successful for the Forensicators. The Geneva, Pennsylvania tournament, February 9-11, proved eventful for Ransford Doherty, Christie McDaniel, and Richard Sklat. Doherty claimed Second in the Prose category, which qualifies him for the National Forensks Association tournament in April. McDaniel placed Next Out with her After Dinner Speech and Sklat placed Next Out with his prose piece. February 23-25 proved to be exhausting but victorious. The team traveled to Fairfax County in Northern Virginia for a swing tournament hosted
Learn German This Summer At URI
RESERVE
by American University and George Mason University. At American, Lisa Dimino qualified her After Dinner Speech for the National tournament by placing Sixth in her category. Doherty again placed with his prose piece, receiving First place. George Mason University's tournament rewarded team members with more awards. The Novice Prose category boasted team members, Christie McDaniel with Fourth place and Sara Shannonhouse with First place. Ellen Houseknecht and Sean Meyers received Fifth and Next In awards, respectively, in the Novice Poetry division. This qualifies these individuals for the national tournament as wei. Also in the Novice category, with Improvisational Pairs, Katie Ryan and Robby Winston received a Next In award. Dimino and Doherty placed in the Prose division. Forth and Third, respectively.
OFFICERS'
The Forensics team' s expansion in numbers and dedication is impressive to coach Sean Rakowski. Team Captain, Tammy Gingras, is also excited about the team victories and upcoming tournaments. This past weekend, the Pi Kappa Delta provincial tournament was hosted by Longwood. This tournament was for Pi Kappa Delta Forensics Honor Society members and is the first college tournament to be held at Longwood in 20 years. Another source of excitement for the team is the international tournament in Greece. Tammy GingraswiUatteadthis tournament which will be held over Spring Break. Gingras will be representing Longwood in this competition. Several members of the team will compete in another competition the first weekend of Spring Break in York, Pennsylvania. Not much more can be said to describe this team's dedication and excellence.
TRAINING
CORPS
June 23-August 2,1996 The University of Rhode Island in cooperation with the Goethe Institute Boston is hosting the Sixteenth Annual German Summer School of the Atlantic. German will be the sole language of communication, and German life and culture the heart of this six week residency program of intensive language study. Earn up to nine undergraduate or graduate credits while living in the beautiful surroundings of our country campus, just minutes away from Rhode Island's magnificent beaches and historic Newport. This program is ideally suited fa anyone wishing to enroll in beginning through Master's level German. Take advantage of this rare opportunity to participate in this total German language experience Contact Dr. John Grandin of Dr. Norbert HeckJerich, Co-Directors Dept, of Languages, URI Kingston, Rl 02881 Or call: (401) 792-5911 Hearing impaired: (401) 277-5020
College of Continuing Education
URI Providence Center 80 Washington St, Providence, Rl 02903
SUMMER SCHOOL FOR PEOPLE ON THEIR WAY TO THE TOP. If you didn't sign up for ROTC as a freshman or sophomore, you can still catch up to your classmates by attending Army ROTC Camp Challenge, a paid six-week summer course in leadership training
By the time you have graduated from college, you'll have the credentials of an Army officer You'll also have the self-confidence and discipline it takes to succeed in college and beyond
ARMY ROTC THE SMARTEST COLLEGE COURSE TOO CAN TAKE. For details, visit the Hiner Blag., Room 206 ot call
395-2135
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Perspectives Murder by the Bay The Mysterious Lancers TECHNOMANCER" -the mysterious lancers are a group of creative writers wishing to remain anonymous. It was a dark, foggy night with the cold windcoming in from the Pacific. The bay was unusually calm; the clouds hung low making the night seem darker. The city of San Francisco was at its norm for that time. Crime was at its usual level, but the recent rains seemed to have washed all of the filth into the alleys and gutters. Thugs, bums, and derelicts. The newspapers said the same oppressing news about Hitler taking over countries and Japan rising to power, the city was crowded and a tremor could be fell now and then; everything was normal. I' m a private dick and this us where I live. I investigate crimes people bring to me, usually adultery or some jealous person wanting to keep an eye ontheirex. Bytheway.name'sTom. TomRusscll.andlcarryagun. lused to be a cop for ten years until '34. Three years later I started my detective agency. Myjobisdangerous,but I enjoy danger. Business sure has been slow since prohibition was lifted. I've been thinking of rejoining the force as a detective back in the homicide division, except for the police chief problem. Me and Police chief Edmanson go back a long way - - back to the mid1920's during the days of gangsters, alcohol, and broads. Me and the chief were friends from the time I joined the force in '26. When I worked in homicide, Edmanson was a captain in the Twelfth Precinct. Me and Ed got along fine. I'm glad that Ed was able to cover for me from the press. That is because I liked the house nonstandard police questioning on my suspects. If the press found out I would have been fired. Now.thiswas all nice and dandy, until the incident of'34. The incident of '34 was the downfall not only formy career, butalsofor my friendship with Ed. that year crime such as burglaries and robberies were in epidemic proportions for two reasons. The first was the Great Depression forced people todo things to get some dough to live on. Second, thanks to the mob lead by Vinney Valuskey and other bootlegging mobsters, people who had a taste for alcohol had to get money to pay for their expensive drinks. Vinney Valuskey has been head of one of the mob familieson the west coast for a long time During prohibi-
tion, Vinney took orders from Al Capone himself, until Al was incarcerated in Alcatraz, which is across the bay from my office. Vinney has always been a small time mobster who likes to show his power. Vinney likes doing things personally, like breaking someone's knees or hands because they didn't pay a debt or because they were an informant. Also, Vinney has a habit of crushing eyeballs if someone gives him or his girl Veronica the wrong look, this is the kind of guy no one wants to mess with. Thanks to Vinney and the Depression, Captain Edmanson decided to use more flatfoots on patrol instead of in the Office. I was one that was picked for flatfoot duty. On June 18 at 12:35 pm, my patrol partner and I received a call about a break-in in progress. Our police car was the closest to the crim scene, so we followed standard procedure and split up. My partner took the inside while I looked around outside. I heard a shot and then my partner screaming in pain. I rushed inside with my revolver. He was winged and told me that the criminal escaped through a window. I called for backup and went out to look for the criminal. I saw him run down the street. I followed. When I turned the comer, I saw that he had taken a girl hostage. He ordered me todropmy weapon, which I did. Then he aimed the gun at me. I knew he would kill me, unless I acted fast. Dropping down to the ground, I rolled toward my gun, grabbed it, aimed, and fired. But I hit the girl in the chest The bullet went through, later killing her, but it also or killed the perpetrator. I went to the girl and knelt to hold her. Backup soon arrived. While I waited for the ambulance to arrive, the girl grasped my hand and looked with her dark blue eyes into mine. I cried and cried for hours. I shouldn't have fired my gun; I didn't do target practice for years while I worked in homicide. Ifiguredldidn't need it, until I way her blue eyes looking into mine asking why I shot her. I'll never forget the image of those deep blue eyes. Thatimagewill always bum in my mind and heart. The police received a lot of heat from the press and the mayor about that incident. I served two years for voluntary manslaughter. Captain Edmanson hated me from then on for killing that girl, and I have hated him for making me go on that patrol.
Now, me and Edmanson have a bitter hared between us that will probalby last until one of us dies. But, the case I was about to investigate would further tear that little friendship Ed and I had left. Morning came after the rainstorm and there I was in my office waking up to another California day. I sure needed to shave and to get cleaned up, but since business was so lousy, I decided tojust skip it. I reclined in my chair and put my feet on the desk. 'Tom. there is a customer here to see you. You want me to send her in?' The intercom was acting up again and my secretary's Bronx accent didn't help in understanding the message. "Yeh, sure. Send her in, Sandi." What am I going to do about this room and my appearance? My hopeful client may turn away and go somewhere else for help. 'Tom, I need your help." The woman entered, sobbing, she was sure a good looking dame. I learned back farther in my chair. "What seems to be the trouble, MissT' I replied to her. I was still startled from her appearance and grace. She had long legs covered in nude stockings. The black alligator shoes enhanced the stockings and the legs. Her dress, with white lace trim, tightly covered her features making any man want to take a second look, she had white gloves on her hands. She tentatively held a handkerchief and a black suede purse close to her abdomen. She wore little make-up; she had a face that needed very little. I couldn't see her eyes, since they were obscured by her constant use of the handkerchief. Her lustrous red hair covered the right half of her face indentedinagentledurl. Herrubyred lips made her dove white skin more radiant. She pushed the hair back and looked at me. My God, here yes were exactly the same of that first I shot so many years ago. that's when I leaned back too far in my chair. "Miss Sarah Smith is my name. Are you OK?' She looked amused when she saw me pick myself up fromthefloor. Thisseemedtorelieve some of her worries. "Yeh. I'm OK. Just my pride hurts. Now, what seems to be the problem." That remark about my pride made her smile, which showed her ivory teeth. From my experience with dames, especially pretty dames, they are usually in trouble and can make a lot of trouble for me. I wasn' t worried about trouble, because I love it and the girls I meet. I told her to have a scat and she looked around for one until I cleared a chair in front of my desk which was filled with old case files. I had to hock most of the furniture and office equipment to pay that month's rent.
"I need your services to investi- being tailed. I had learned to stay gate my husband, James Smith. I back a distance. My days as a cop think he is cheating on me." From the following suspect taught me that He look of her and the sound of her arrived at work and I pulled off onto vocabulary, she came from the ritzy an adjoining street and waited like a part of town. I knew I could get a lot catwaitingforamousetocomeoutof for cash for this job, maybe enough to its hole. pay my secretary the two weeks pay While I waited, thoughts flashed I owed her, and also the rent on my through my head about the girl again office. and how Sarah looked so much like "So, your husband is running her. Ws Sarah the girl's mother? If around on you. How do you knew so, did Sarah know I was the one who that?" I wanted to take the case, but I killed her daughter? Also, who was needed evidence to be sure that this this Veronica? Was she Vinney's wasn't a loony that I was talking to, girlfriend, or was she someone else albeit a pretty one at that. with the same name? Finally, how "I receive calls when James isn't would Sarah confront James if her home from a woman who only wants suspicions were right? Would she to talk to my husband. And, when I divorce him or what? These crazy cleaned house recently, I found love thoughts kept swimming though my letters that had ratherexplicit vocabu- head, but what ifthey were true? lary, signed by a woman named When dusk rolled around, James Veronica" Sarah was beginning to finally left his job. He seemed in a sobagain. "Here is one of the letters." hurry to get somewhere, though in the Sarah gave me one of the letters, opposite direction of him home. I which was written on the 17th of followed him again. James fianlly June, 1941. This was only a week pulled up to a fancy house in a suburb before. I read the letter. It made me of the city. The house seemed familswaet under the collar and turned my iar, but I couldn't remember why face red, not only because of the until the door opened and out stepped subject matter in the letter, but won- a blonde wearing an expensive fur dering why James would want to give coat and probably nothing underup Sarah for what appeared to be neath. some bimbo. I should have guessed it was 'Tom, are you alright?" I lifted Vinney's girl Victoria and that she my eyes from the letter and stared in was cheating on him. I would hate to her eyes for an instant. That image of be wither one of them if Vinney were the girl I shot flashed in my mind like to find out They both might find alightningstrike. Sarah'seyesdrifted themselves at the fish cannery in a away from me and I regained control. sardine can. I went to the window of "I'll investigate your case. My fee the room they were in. The shade was will be fifty dollars a day." Those pulled, except for the bottom part of words slipped out of my mouth be- the window where I took the pictures fore I knew it. What was I getting for Sarah. When I was about to drive myself into, anddidlcare? Iguessthe away, I noticed a car driving away. answer was "no" to both questions. Inside the car was Rico Remondex, Sarah gave me her address so I could one of Vinney's thugs. I followed follow James' routine when he left Rico. We knew each other only too home. Before Sarah left, she told me well when I used to rough him up a bit just care of everything else. while I was still on the force. The next day I sat in my '32 Rico had been a hit man for Vinney Chevrolet outside of Sarah's home for a long time. If someone was waiting for James to leave. When murdered, I usually found out that James walked out of the door, he gave Rico was the one who pulled the a kiss to his wife and daughter. Now, trigger. However, I could never pin it why would a man do such a thing on him, thanks to the judges and city when he was obviously running politicians Vinney controlled. I usuaround n his wife? Maybe because he ally questioned Rico by slamming his wasyouraveragerun-of-the-millkind head through walls. He had rather a of guy. I guess I really didn't care hard head when it came to questionabout Sarah's family situation, but ing. But this time Rico saw me. the way James acted with his family Rico's car suddenly accelerated and then the idea that he was commit- and turned down a street. I followed. ting adultery really burned me up. I was about to catch up with him just James looked like a typical man. as we passed alonside a brick wall. He was tall and slender. From the Little did I know that the cops were looks of his three piece suit and hat I hiding behind the wall just waiting for figured he was a white collar worker speeders, and of course they pulled in some business downtown. When me over. Rico got away. James started his' 38 Ford and backed To be continued... out to go to work, I started my engine and followed him. James never knew that he was
March 4,19%
The Rotunda
Page 7
Entertainment ~i PRINCIPLES
'/SOUND
RETIREMENT
INVESTING
YOUTH -.,->,
ONLY YOU CAN PREVENT FOREST FIRES
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A Public Service-ot the US0A Forest Service and I your State Forester
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31
EXERCISE REGULARLY AND YOU COULD LIVE LONGER. INVEST REGULARLY SO YOU CAN AFFORD TO. Americans are living longer lhan ever. So ii s quiie ■.possible vouU spend 20 or 50 years or more in retirement. Can you afford u? Unless you re independently wealthy, chances are you 11 need more than your pension and Social Security to support the kind of lifestyle you 11 want. How can you help ensure that you 11 be in good financial shape'1 Sign up for TIAA-CREF SRAs tax-deferred annuities available only to people in education and research SRA* are easy. No pain, no sweat. The best way to build strength — physical or fiscal — is to stan at a level that's comfortable and add to war regimen as you go along With TIAA-CREF SRAs. you conveniently contribute through your employer s payroll system. You
can stan with a modest amount and increase your contribution as your salary grows The important thing is to stan now. Delaying for even a year or two can have a big impact on the amount of income youll have when you renre.
In 9{eedofa friend 'Write Lisa at The 'Jiptunda 'Bo\_2901
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Relationships. Roommates. Friends. Family. Life is tough; there are so many stressful events that occur. Ever need some friendly advice? Perhaps someone who could just put things intoperspective. Longwood students, I am here for you! Forget Dear Abby. you've got Lisa! Just drop me a line (anonymously) at "Dear Lisa". Box 2901 and III do my best to help you out! I*d love to help you!
TIAA-CREF is the nation's largest retirement system, managing over SI50 billion in assets for more than 1.7 million people. We offer a wide range of SRA allocation choices, long-term investment expernse. and remarkably low expenses' Call 1 800 842-2776 for an SRA Enrollment Kit or our interactive SRA Enrollment Software. Or visit uj. on the Internet at gopher://tiaa-cref.org, or hup://www.tiaa-crer.org.
Ensuring the future for those who shape it."
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The Weekender March 7-9
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Jim's Journal
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Trax in Charlottesville: March 8-Baaba Selh (funky mix of world beat); tickets $5 doors open at 9 p.m.
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lampden-Sydncy: March 7-American Music Celebration Concert Harvey Pittel, saxaphonc and James Kidd piano; 8 p.m.. Crawley Forum ■amville: oM«r •** «*♦ {*
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Charley's: March 8-Slaves to Fashion (classic rock) March 9-Little Ronnie and Grand Dukes (blues and rock-in-roll) ^indshark's; March 7-Hunter Merritt March 8-Wall-o Matics March 9-Live Bait
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Longwood Baseball Team Opens Season 3-1 Lancers Sweep Series With Belmont Abbey Despite a severe lack of practice time outside, the Longwood College baseball team began the season with a series sweep at Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference for Belmont Abbey in Belmont, N.C last weekend. The Lancers took two from Belmont Abbey Saturday 8-6 and 7-2, and came back Sunday for a 16-10 win. Coming into the weekend, Belmont Abbey, coached by Farmville native George Conner, had already pleyed six games. The Crusaders, who missed most of the snow which hit Virginia, were 3-3 before Longwood came to town. Longwood got timely pitching from junior Steve Mozucha and sophomore Todd Barker and key homers from Kevin Cox, Rick Gastley and freshman Shawn Torian in sweeping Belmont Abbey. Mozucha got a win and a save for the weekend. The Lancers head back south this weekend with a twin bill at Morris College in Sumter, S.C. Friday and another CVAC series at Pfieffer Saturday and Sunday.
Lonewood 8.7: Belmont Abbey
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In the first game Saturday Longwood scored three runs in the first inning and four in the second for a 7-3 lead. When Belmont Abbey rallied for three runs in the sixth off starting pitcher Justin Bunch, Mozucha came on in relief and retired the side, allowing just one hit over the final one and 1/3 innings to pick up the save. Bunch got the win, scattering 10 hits. Cox hit a 3-run homer in his first inning to get the Lancers going. In the second inning, Longwood used five walks, an error and a fielder's choice to score four runs without a hit. Scott Hueston went 2-4 with an RBI as the Lancers totaled eight hits. Mozucha came back to pitch a complete game in the nightcap, allowing just five hits and two runs while walking four and striking out seven. The game was tied 2-2 after six innings and then Rick Gastley hit a solo homer to ignite a five-run Lancer rally in the top of the seventh. Rhett
Lady Lancers Break Record High Point, N.C. - - The Longwood women's basketball team might have had something to avenge Wednesday when it defeated St. Andrews 66-28 in the second round of the Carolina'sVirginia Athletic Conference. When the two teams met nine days ago, the Lancers were flat and nearly had their winning streak and perfect season in the CVAC snapped. Longwood escaped that evening with a 68-66 victory over the eighth best team in the league. Longwood made it a point that nothing of the such was to happen again. The Lancers smothered the Knights the entire game, holding them to just 14 points in each half. St. Andrews shot only 14.8 percent from the field for the game, while LC opened up a six-point lead early I
March 4,1996
The Rotunda
in the second half to the wide margin. Longwood outscored the Knights 40-8 in the final 18 minutes of the game. Junior Nikki Hall led a balanced Lancer attack with 15 points. Charity Owens added nine, while Cessy Sullivan, Ashley Weaver, and Nee Ragland scored eight. Senior Amy Bradley notched 10 rebounds to lead LC. Starting guard Christine Roberts injured her ankle early in the contest and did not return. He status for Friday's game is questionable. The Lancers have now won 19 straight games, stand at 22-5 overall and move into the semifinals Friday against the winner of Thursday's Barton-Belmont Abbey game. The 22 wins breaks the record of 21 set by last year's NCAA-qualifying squad.
Pfitzner, who went 3-4 with a double and two RBI, had a 2-run single in the seventh. Hueston came through again with two hits, a double and two RBI. Lonewood 16. Belmont Abbev
M Torian hit a 3-run homer in the second inning and went 4-4 with fourruns and four RBI, leading Longwood to a 16-10 win Sunday in the final of the series with Belmont Abbey. Cox added two hits with a triple and three RBI, and Jason Hatcher had two hits with three runs scored. Up 8-7 after the seventh, Longwood scored eight unearned runs in the top of the eighth to put the game on ice. Freshman Mike Lewis started on the mound for Longwood and pitched until the fifth when sophomore Todd Barker relieved him. Barker was effective in his four innings, allowing three hits, two unearned runs and striking out eight Crusader batters. Barker was effective picked up the win. Freshman Adam Thrift pitched the ninth.
Lancer Season Ends With 10PointLossin CVAC Tourney High Point, N.C. - - Longwood battled back to cut a 20-point deficit to six in the second half Wednesday night, bat second-seed Pfieffer held off the Lancer upset bid and took an 81-71 triumph in the Carolina'sVirginia Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Tournament. Longwood, which had trounced St. Andrews 75-54 Tuesday afternoon to advance in the CVAC event, saw its season come to an end as Falcon Eric Coates scored 22 points. The Lane
Longwood's Hall on National Ballot •armviilc, Va. - - Nikki Hall, a unior women's basketball > I a j e r at Longwood College, has >een selected as a member of the GTE District m Academic Afl■\nu'ric.an College Division Team innounced earlier today. That lonor automatically nominates ler for the national ballot for the i I h Academic All-America roflege Division Team. The team is selected by the ollege Sports Information I)i■ectors of America (CoSIDA). To be nominated, a student-athete must be at least a sophomore ind a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.20 cu mula ive grade pointaveragefor their :areer. Hall maintains a 3.821 grade mint average with a double maor in anthropology and biology ind is a recipient of the school's Advanced Honors Program Scholarship. Last semester the .anccr basketball co-captain harted a 4.0(1 GPA while lead-
ing Longwood to its finest bas ketball season ever. The Salem, Va. native, and daughter of Dennis and Susit Hall, leads the team with a 16.( point per game average. Hal needs only three points to be-l come the 12th women's player ir school history to reach 1.1 KM points. She also averages 5. rebounds, 4.1 assists and 3.4 steak] per contest Longwood coach Shirk)! Duncan said, "Nikki Hall epitomizes what a student-athleti should be." Her individual success has| been equally measured by tin team's. The Lancers are 21 -f and have won 18 straighi games, both marks setting school records. LC finishec 18-0 on its first season in tin
Carolina's-Virginia Athletit Conference and will be th< number one seed in this week'; conference tournament in High Point, N.C.
Lancers Host Southeast Wrestling Regional Saturday FarmviDe,Va--Longwood College hosted the NCAA Division II Southeast Wrestling Regional Saturday, March 2. Seven schools participated in the regional including Longwood, Ashland (Ohio), Carson- Newman (Tenn.), Gardner-Webb (N.C), Indinapolis (Ind.), Pembroke State (N.C)andWestLibertyState(W.V.). West Liberty enters the meet ranked first in the region, followed closely by Ashland The two teams met in adual last week with West Liberty scoring 21-19victory. Indianpolis ranks third in the region followed by Longwood, Carson-Newman, Gardner- Webband
Pembroke State. The meet included over 20 returning nauonal qualifiers and All-Americans from a year ago. Two West Liberty wrestlers were NAIA National Champions a year ago before the Hilltoppers made the move this season to NCAA Division II. The host Lancers attempted to qualify at least one wrestler to the national tournament for the ninth straight year. The NCAA Division D National Championships will be held this year in Greenley, Colo, on the campus of the University of Northern Colorado form the March 14-16.
Winners of Intramural Events Basketball: Ping Pong: Darts:
Women's Team Men's Men's Women's
Women of Longwood Milton II vman Chris Tyson Traci Hammock