The Rotunda Volume 81, Number 2
Waiting For A Real Restaurant Since 1920
September 21,2001
LongWOod Suffers Hard Times Vigil Held In Rememberance MEG WOOLR1DGE Staff Writer Not many Virginians are unaware of the hungry fire that ate two and a half historical cornerstones of Longwood's campus last April. On the night of the 24th, Lancer students were forced out of their dorms and into the face of uncomfortable truths: today could be a person's last, one should dance now while they can still stand, and comments covered in complaint are worth nothing in the end. We did not need to re-learn these truths. Or, at least not this way. The sentimentality of these past few years will be so intense for Longwood graduates,'' said sophomore Bonnie Jo Gwaltney. They have experienced so much in such a short amount of time.Gwaltney is right. Though, notice lhal the word experience
does not come with an entirely negative connotation. Fighting the fire equipped students with weapons of strength and perseverance, preparing the Longwood legion for future catastrophes of even hungrier appetites. Now it is time for the world to learn a few Longwood lessons. The night sparks flew. Longwood's students didn't wait for the sun to start the day. Before alarm clocks stirred the community from it's slumber, multiple clothing drives were arranged for those left only with the clothes they were wearing. Several students immediately donated the remaining money on their meal plan to provide food for iheir dorm less peers. Junior Sarah Anastas immensely enjoys seeing the citizen leader in Longwood members step forward.
I have watched our student body do everything it possibly can in both circumstances," she said. Anastas might be more perceptive than she realizes. Within hours of last Tuesday's life-changing traumas, Longwood's Student Government Association arranged a platform for President Cormier to come and speak with her students. She spoke again that evening at a gathering on Wheeler lawn not only to provide information, but commiseration, support, and hope for the family that is Longwood. Hundreds of students came to recognize the extremity of the situation, pray for those trying to stay alive, and mourn for those who had not been able to. Numerous blood drives, moments of silence, and prayer offerings later, it was the week
MORGAN MAHAN Guest Writer On Friday, September 14, 12001, hundreds of Longwood College students gathered together in front of Lankford to :how their sadness and respect or the victims of the attacks of he past Tuesday. Everyone was handed a candle, and given the right to get Up on the steps of Langford to say a few words about how they felt. As people got up to speak, their candle was lit, and when they got down, they passed the :andle for others to light theirs.
By the end of an hour the whole street was lit with the glow of candle light held in the hands of Longwood students. As more and more people got up to speak, expressing that they had not planned on speaking, but that they had suddenly become overcome with the desire to express their feelings, many of them seemed amazed by the sight they say in front of them. Many, who looked back down at the students who watched them,
See VIGIL p. 10
See SCHOOL p. 10
Grainger To Be Rebuilt Not Renovated GEORGELANUM Staff Advisor Officials at Longwood College announced today that a decision has been made to reconstruct, rather than renovate, Grainger Hall, which suffered extensive damage during the April 24 fire that swept through the historic center of the campus. According to Dave Harnage, executive vice president for administration and finance, "constructing a new building will serve Longwood better and be more cost effective and efficient in the long run." The decision to reconstruct Grainger comes nearly five months after the April 24 fire that completely destroyed the historic Rotunda and Ruffner complex. Although adjacent Grainger Hall survived the fire, the building sustained extensive fire, smoke, heat, and water damage that included the collapse of the roof onto the top
floor. Damage displaced 30 faculty members and destroyed years of research and personal belongings. During the recovery phase, the interior of the building was gutted and additional infrastructure problems were discov-
ered that might have existed before the fire. According to Harnage, "We have structural problems with that building. We cannot renovate the building to its previous status
See GRAINGER p.10
Cadets Train Hard And Play To Win GEORGELANUM Staff Advisor For most college students, 6:00 a.m. does not exist. For most of us, the world is quiet and asleep, the day has not yet started. That is not the case for MS III Cadet Mike Server (HampdenSydney) or MS III Cadet Jason Jones (Longwood). Every morning these two cadets and 10 to 13 other cadets from the Longwood/ HampdenSydney Army R.O.T.C. Ranger Challenge Team are well awake, and moving very fast. The group of 12 to 15 cadets spend some mornings running sprints or doing distance
runs. Sometimes they take sides and play a friendly game of football. (Even though it may not seem friendly to spectators, it is all in good spirit.) Other mornings the cadets go through some drills that are straight out of the Army. High crawling and low crawling is an activity that these future officers are very familiar with. And last but not least, there are plenty of push-ups and other muscle strength exercises to get the team going. Why would anyone do something like this? Longwood and Hampdcn - Sydney cadets are
See CADETS p. 10