The Rotunda # Looking For a Few Good Men Since 1920
Volume 80, Number 18
April 19, 2001
Ex-Student's Virtual Gripe Sparks Curiosity on Campus CLARK BALLEW Guest Writer It's not quite Shawn Fanning and Napster versus the recording artists, but James Eissinger is stirring up his own fair share of cybertrouble. Eissinger's personal website www.LongwoodSucks.com, has soared in popularity in recent months, and with it a growing buzz has spread throughout the Longwood community. In keeping with the times, the twice-former LWC student chose to vent his frustrations with the institution and its practices electronically, by ways of the internet. "My interest in the internet was sparked long before I created LongwoodSucks.com." Eissinger stated. "But I guess you could say that the site is the result of my interest in computers reaching an all-time high." Eissinger's original site, www.icehole.net, was a self-ad-
mitted mockery of website production. "It was a modest attempt, very modest," he said. But as his interest peaked, his knowledge grew with it Eventually, with the aid of innovative programs and hightech devices, Eissinger was able to produce a polished look for his webpage. Still, the number of visitors to the site was limited. "The majority of the hits I got on the page were from friends I had directly referred to it," Eissinger stated. "It was cool to have my own corner in the web universe, but that corner was definitely rural at the time." A more prominent zip code was afforded to the website when its URL was changed to LongwoodSucks.com. "When 1 changed the domain name, I gradually picked up more visitors to the site. It's kind of snowballed with every passing day," Eissinger said. The name change is related
to a spat between Eissinger and the school over some grading and absentee marks that were given to him last semester. Longwood maintained that Eissinger failed his cycling class due to a poor attendance record and that he received a "C+" grade in biology. Eissinger saw it differently and appealed. The college denied his request and the grades stuck. This dropped Eissinger below the cumulative G.P.A. required for a student to stay enrolled at the school, the second time in his Longwood career that such had occurred. Eissinger was given the boot. Viewing the matter as unjust, he retaliated with the website. "1 was never given a fair shake Certain people at the school never granted me the opportunity to present my case; they never heard me out," Eissinger staled. That's when I really be
See SUCKS p. 5
Who's Who Recipients On April 12, 2001, tinguished themselves through Longwood College held a recog- classroom performance, particinition ceremony for Who's Who pation in extracurricular activiAmong Students in American ties, and community service inUniversities and Colleges award volvements. Dr. David Smith, Dean of recipients. Several Longwood students the School of Education and Huwere honored for outstanding man Services provided the recipileadership and scholastic and ents with a message on behalf of community achievements. the Deans while Dr. James Jordan, Over 1900 institutions par- Professor of Anthropology and ticipate in this annual selection of Geography brought a message on men and women who have dis- behalf of the faculty. Thirty-nine students received this award. They are (pictured) Gerald Wayne Anthony. Nichole Diane Arthur, Andrew Bryan Burgess. Thomas Carroll Burgess, Jessica Marie Burnette. Youtnd A.E. Coleman. Kristina Kellie Denson, Abigail Margaret Evans. Rebekah Sollner Hertig. Laura Frost Hulchinson. KristenAnne Ingram. Lauren Elizabeth Jean. Adam Monroe Kelly, Vicki Jo Matkovich, David Jason Passabet, Jennifer Ann Rocheford, Lindy Blair Sumsbury, Kathryn Calderwood Slarke, Krisli Marie Thomas, Arthur Gordon Van Ness, IV, Walter Edward Webster, Jr.,Thomas Lincoln White, Jr., Terri Leigh Williams: (not pictured! Karen Kim-Lion Chen. Christopher Berle Dela Cruz. Alison Nicole Godsey. Kellie Elizabeth Jones, Tamara Danielle Mattox. Crystal Michelle Nemelh. Tan Tra Oo, Amie Nicole Slaton, Kelly Marie Whitmore, Kristen Anne Wilson.
Dean Farmer Praised International Series: Life In Sweden At the reception. Dr. Norm Bregman, provost and Vice PresiDr. Berkwood M. Farmer, dent for Academic Affairs, called who is leaving as Dean of him a 'significant player in the Longwood College's School of life of the institution who has been Business and Economics after 10 a leader in creating an internship for students years, was feted that is second to recently at two none," develgoing away oped a "top functions. flight" corpoD r . rate advisory Farmer, who board, was "the will become driving force in Dean of the Raj bringing about Soin College of accreditation," Business at and was instruWright State mental in busiUniversity in ness students' Dayton. Ohio, success on the was praised by major field test ?tcnk of Filt Photo The andothÂťt a campus reception April 11 Business School was accredited B) ar. invitation only din- in 1998 by the International Astbat evening sponsored by the sociation for Management Bduca School's Corporate AdPRESS RELEASE
See FARMER p. 11
DAWNKANEHL Asst. Opinion Editor When Ellen Berg and Carl Magnusson cannot agree on a point, they put their heads together and speak softly in their native Swedish until they reach a consensus. This is exactly what occurred when I asked them about military service in Sweden. Although many young men serve a mandatory year in the Swedish military, the government excused Carl when he told them that he was going to Longwood for college and to play golf. About twenty years ago, oo one was excused, but more recently the government will approve many more reasons for not
serving. The quiet disagreement occurred over exactly what percentage of young men serve their year, with Carl finally deciding the figure is about twenty percent. The pair have been friends
Linkoping, Sweden since they were ten and grew up in Linkoping, about the fourth largest city in Sweden. They came to Longwood last August to play golf on scholarships, because college sports do not exist in Sweden. Carl even
wants to try his hand at pro golf. Life in Sweden is pretty docile and tranquil, with little crime or violence. According to Ellen, parents do not have to worry so much about their kids or where they are. You can ride your bike home at night without fear and can feel safe. Ellen and Carl look like typical college students: dressed in jeans and khakis, tee shirts, and polos. Both are fair and have light hair and eyes, as many Americans presume of Swedes. A lot of people think English is the first language of Sweden, but of course they speak their native language. Swedish. English is taught starting in the fourth grade as a second Ian See SWEDEN p. 5