LA VIE COLLEGIENNE LEBANON VALLEY COLLEGE’S STUDENT RUN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1924 VOLUME 85, NO. 8 | MARCH 22, 2018
#ENOUGH: LVC students speak out with activism
THERESA MESSENGER ’18 CO-EDITOR
More than 100 LVC students gathered on Wednesday, March 14, to participate in the nationwide school walkout in remembrance of the 17 Florida high school students who were victims of gun violence last month. Seventeen people were killed and 15 wounded at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., on February 14, when an ex-student opened fire on school grounds. Since then, students from Douglas and others across the nation have spoken out against recent acts of gun violence in schools. At LVC, the Feminist Collective and the Women’s Services and Gender Resource Center organized the school walkout on campus and encouraged students to participate. “We knew it was our duty to support these survivors and to
Photo by: Casey Burke ABOVE: Attendees received buttons to wear during the #enough national school walkout.
honor and remember the victims of gun violence,” Gabby Cressman, a sophomore economics major, said. “We hope to encourage students, faculty and community members to use their voices, to vote and to participate in their local, state and
ALICE aims to protect students JALEN CLIATT ’18 STAFF WRITER “I do not have a gun, but I will shoot you all at least once during the seminar.” When it comes to an active shooting incident, the best course of action an institution can provide to its community is preparedness. Brent Oberholtzer, LVC’s director of public safety, hosted a 90-minute session advising attendees on school shooting survival tactics on March 13. The seminar was held in combination
with any second education class taught by Dr. Karen Walker, associate professor of education. ALICE (Alert Lockdown Inform Counter Evacuate) is a program designed to instruct students and faculty about how to react to an active shooter situation. While the acronym may appear to be chronological, Oberholtzer stressed that only the optimal actions being taught should be executed whenever applicable. “I hadn’t been nervous about ALICE continued on Page 3
national government. We also hope to provide support to the local families who have lost family members due to gun violence.” Students locally, nationally and internationally organized walkouts as activists and voices of the #enough
movement to honor victims of gun violence. The motivation behind some of those involved is to seek change in the nation’s gun laws and safety precautions. “I want to see gun reform,” Cressman said. “The atrocities like we saw in Parkland, Florida in February, and the several before this should never happen again. Gun violence has impeded students’ freedom of education, especially in communities of color. It is time that we take the necessary actions to keep schools safe so that we can equip students with the power of education.” Student organizers who were involved with the Women’s March this past January led the organized walkout from the steps of the Frederic K. Miller Chapel where they observed a moment of silence, spoke on the movement and invited the campus #ENOUGH continued on Page 2
Lucky to be a Dutchman CASSANDRA BARRETT ’19 STAFF WRITER LVC Live allows accepted students of the incoming class to meet professors, coaches and current students who are involved in a variety of clubs and organizations on campus. This year, more than 300 students and their families were invited to attend the event held on March 17 in the Arnold Sports Center. Throughout the morning, students were encouraged to attend optional
informational programs, including campus tours, a residential life discussion and a hard-hat tour of the new Jeanne and Edward H. Arnold Health Professions Pavilion. LVC President Dr. Lewis E. Thayne met future Dutchmen and their families during the event. He says that LVC Live is something he always looks forward to, largely because of the sense of community that the event creates. “This event has a lot of energy LUCKY continued on Page 3
INSIDE THIS ISSUE OF LA VIE
RELAY FOR LIFE PAGE 2
SPRING BREAK SERVICE PAGE 3
POLITICS CLUBS PAGE 3
#LVCWLAX PAGE 4
2 FEATURE DiscipleMakers seek to make difference March 22, 2018
La Vie Collegienne
JANESSA CRUZ ’19 STAFF WRITER Remaining active in one’s faith can be challenging once thrown into the hustle and bustle of college life; the College offers a way for students to stay active in their faith. DiscipleMakers (DM) enables college Christians to come together to live out Jesus’ words in Matthew 28:19, “Go and make disciples.” The Christian organization disperses its staff across the country to spread the Word of God and study the life of Jesus Christ. DiscipleMakers believe college students have the ability to make an impact on their peers and to educate their generation on the power of Jesus. The Christian organization has established ministries on 11 campuses -- LVC being one of them. Michael Dueck, co-president and junior athletic training major, finds DiscipleMakers to be a great way to foster his faith at LVC.
Photo Credit: LVC.dm.org ABOVE: The DiscipleMakers welcome anyone interested in how the gospel of Jesus Christ enables a better society based on community, fellowship and forgiveness.
“The biggest impact is being able to connect with other Christians on campus and become involved with them through continued communi-
Set sail for a cure chelsea moyer ’18 maddie noonan ’19 STAFF WRITERS It's an opportunity for students to help light up someone’s life and to help Lebanon Valley College fight cancer; this year's Relay For Life is Friday, March 23. The annual event, held at the Arnold Sports Center, honors those who are directly and indirectly affected by cancer. There's a survivor/caregiver walk and luminaria ceremony. Both provide participants the opportunity to grieve, but also, to inspire those who are battling cancer. In addition, LVC's Relay For Life will feature a friendly competition among faculty and staff. The department that raises the most money
by the opening ceremony will be rewarded with a luncheon. The event will feature games, prizes, various speakers, scavenger hunts, a hypnotist and a food booth. Students will have the opportunity to cut and donate their hair as well. After the hair cutting ceremony, all donations will be sent to Pantene Beautiful Lengths to create high-quality wigs. "Last year, we had one of the largest number of participants to date," Jennifer Evans, director of student activities, said. "Around 15 students donated their hair." The hair cutting ceremony will take place in the Arnold Sports Center Arena on Friday, March 23, at 7:30 p.m. Interested students should sign up on Redbook prior to attending.
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community to share their thoughts. “I attended the walkout because I believe in the power of people standing together to show support for the victims of gun violence and demand that something is done to prevent this from happening again,” Casey Burke, a junior exercise science major, said. “I trust that change will happen and that it begins with us.” Before the walkout, organizers
met with faculty to coordinate the details of the event and outline the objectives. In addition, the faculty was sent an email regarding flexibility of excusal of absences as stated in the College Catalog for events like the walkout. The organizers and participants said they felt fortunate to come together to represent something greater than themselves and hope to be part of the change.
ty,” Dueck said. “It [DiscipleMakers] has also had a big impact on my faith through challenging me and growing closer to God.”
DiscipleMakers motto is, “Reaching the Campus...Reaching the World.” Students at the College are putting that motto into action. The group holds Bible studies and welcomes anyone questioning, struggling, objecting or simply trying to find truth in God. The backbone of DiscipleMakers is their honesty and compassion for every student at the College. “One of the biggest positives I have seen through DM is the interaction between all people, no matter of race, age, gender or class,” Dueck said. “It's amazing because Jesus is for everyone and I have seen that lived out through [DiscipleMakers] by the level of community we have as a group.” The group recently returned from their Lancaster Spring Break trip, where they visited ministries and sought to listen and learn each of their missions and visions. DiscipleMakers meet every Thursday in Frederic K. Miller Chapel lobby at 7 p.m.
March 22, 2018
FEATURE
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Making a difference in D.C. SHILESKY MONTALVO ’19 STAFF WRITER While most students went on vacation during spring break, eight students and two staff members traveled to Washington, D.C. on a mission to serve those in poverty. Participating students worked with six different service partners of the Youth Service Opportunities Project including Central Union Mission (which serves men without homes), A Wider Circle (provides home furnishings), Capital Area Food Bank, Reading Partners, Unique Residential Care Center and D.C. Central Kitchen. “Throughout the four days, the students took part in meaningful times of reflection and discussion as together they grew their understanding of what these challenges mean in
our world,” Jennifer Liedtka, LVC's service & volunteerism coordinator, said. The students were separated into two different teams. One went to the Unique Residential Care Center, where students played games, kept company and fed the elderly when help was needed. “This was one of my favorite parts of the trip,” LaElla Dickerson, a junior criminal justice major and political science minor, said. “You could tell that the staff really cared about the residents, and the place was very lively.” Valerie Kosson, a freshman music performance major, said she really enjoyed going to Drew Elementary School to assist elementary students with reading. The program, established through Reading Partners, gives students extra attention to their
Lucky to be a Dutchman
Photo by: Cassandra Barrett ABOVE: More than 300 students and their families attended LVC Live on Saturday, March 17. continued from Page 1
around it, I think more this year than I’ve seen, and that’s exciting for me,” Thayne said. “That energy really comes from our current students.” Nearly 40 accepted students officially enrolled at Lebanon Valley during LVC Live and will be back in the fall to start their collegiate careers at The Valley. The theme for
this year’s LVC Live was “Lucky to be a Dutchman,” with the event falling on St. Patrick’s Day. President Thayne feels lucky to be a Dutchman, especially after being a part of events like LVC Live. “Being the president of this College is the luckiest thing that’s ever happened to me in my professional life,” Thayne said.
reading performance. “I was helping a little kid with his reading because he had an individualized reading plan,” Kosson said. “I felt a connection to him because I was able to relate to him.” On the last day of the trip, the group went to the D.C. Central Kitchen where they had the opportunity of cooking for the homeless. The D.C. Central Kitchen prepares thousands of meals a year for the homeless. “The trip was enlightening and makes me inspired to do more,” Dickerson said. “The experience was different than what I was expecting, but it was still very rewarding.” A presentation that will provide more details about the service trip is scheduled for Tuesday, April 17, at 11 a.m.
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taking education classes and heard personal accounts,” Melissa Munn, a freshman chemistry and secondary education double major, said. “I had not thought of some of the things [ALICE] had suggested, and more classes should teach this as common knowledge.” In the last three weeks, following the Florida high school shooting, at least three more shooting incidents occurred across the U.S. There have been 200 active shooting incidents from 2000 until 2015, and only five of those events involved more than one shooter. According to the methods taught through ALICE, preventative instructions implemented by elementary and high schools have hindered students. Turning off the lights and hiding under a desk is more detrimental to a student’s chance of survival. Like a structure fire, a gunman is an active killer, so getting out of the building is best in both situations, according to Oberholtzer. “Pain is temporary, but death is permanent,” Oberholtzer said. “Break those legs, dislocate that shoulder, lacerate yourself so badly that you need plastic surgery but tell your story later.” On average it takes about five to six minutes for police to reach the scene, and that could be more than enough time for a shooter to incapacitate victims. During that time, being informed and brave enough to survive can buy time for yourself and others. Oberholtzer plans to host more ALICE sessions this semester.
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Let’s talk politics HUNTRE KEIP ’20 STAFF WRITER With the primary and gubernatorial elections later this year, two political party clubs have been revived on Lebanon Valley College's campus. The College Democrats and the College Conservatives clubs were recently brought back by LVC students who are interested in politics. Both organizations were former clubs on campus, but there was lack of interest and inactivity. This year, students are determined to create a bigger following for both clubs. "It's extremely important to have political party clubs on campuses because young people often have the lowest voter turnout," Noah Kauffman, College Conservatives president and sophomore biochemistry major, said. Like Kauffman and the College Conservatives, members of the College Democrats believe college students should be aware of the government and the field of politics. "A lot of college students don't necessarily know how to become involved if they feel passionate about politics." Kylee Petritsch, College Democrats president and sophomore politics major, said. "These clubs help them become more involved and informed with their desired party." Both clubs plan on creating networking events with local Democrat and Republican politicians, speakers and members of the Harrisburg community. The opportunity of networking is evident, but there is a chance for students to voice their thoughts and concerns about policies. "Whether it's College Democrats or College Conservatives, students should have the chance to express their opinions and beliefs freely," Petritsch said. With additional support, more young adults will become aware of politics and identifying what is real or fake while continuing to voice their opinion. "America isn't made up of one party," Kauffman said. "The First Amendment gives us the right to have the freedom of speech and I think we have a duty that our Founders set forth to protect that right." Both clubs have monthly meetings and welcome new members.
SPORTS
March 22, 2018
Women’s lax sticks strong
KURT HARNISH ’20 STAFF WRITER With spring sports now in full swing, the LVC women’s lacrosse team is looking to continue its hot start into the rest of the season. The team was fortunate to have multiple freshmen step up into key roles as some seniors graduated in 2017. The upperclassmen are ecstatic by how the freshmen have been playing since the start of the season. “The freshmen have had a huge impact already this season,” Jen Eck, a junior defenseman, said. “We have a lot of young talent which is very exciting. They have contributed to our team greatly.” Last year the team did not play as well as they had hoped, but they feel that this year will be different. Players have brought a lot of intensity to games and practices by playing physically and fighting for every loose ball they can. “We are playing very fierce on the field,” Morgan Ernst, a freshman
Photo by: ACS Photography ABOVE: Jen Eck, a junior defender, in action during non-conference play against King’s College.
defenseman, said. “We are looking for the MAC Championship this year, and it shows in how we have been playing.” All of the Dutchmen’s MAC Conference games are coming up in the month of April. Also, the team
is excited for rivalry games against Messiah College on April 4, and their senior day game against Albright College on April 28. “We are very excited that we get to play both Messiah and Albright at
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home this year,” Ernst said. “They are going to be intense games, and we hope to make a statement against these teams.” The Dutchmen have three firstteam all-conference players returning this season in senior captain Emma Jones, and juniors Makenzie Kelley and Jen Eck. The team has set goals and is feeling confident that they will achieve them. “Our team goals are to take it game by game and remain focused on winning the MAC and being competitive in [tournament play]” Eck said. “We have had great team chemistry so far and it has helped to improve our play.” The Dutchmen are excited to keep on rolling in the regular season but have their eyes set for postseason play. The team’s next game is Thursday, March 29, at Lycoming College.
Baseball heats up in spring break trip to Florida COLIN ALBRIGHT ’18 STAFF WRITER
when we needed them.” The early-week success for the Dutchmen did not The Lebanon Valley transition into the end of College baseball team the week as LVC lost the final finished 3-5 in its annual four games of the trip. LVC spring break trip to Fort Pierce, Florida. was defeated in both games The Dutchmen jumped of a double-header by the out to a 2-0 record to start Fighting Scots of Monmouth the week on a positive note. College (Ill.) on March 7. The On Sunday, March 4, LVC struggles continued for the defeated the Cougars of Dutchmen the following day Misericordia University 126. The offense was fueled by as they dropped two games homeruns coming from Jon to SUNY Maritime. Although Harned, a senior outfielder, the squad lost the final four and Chris DeClerico, a games of the trip, the team sophomore shortstop. was in contention to win Later that day, LVC defeated every game and lost by a Massachusetts Maritime by a score of 17-14. margin of two runs or fewer “Starting off the season in each game. Photo by: Theresa Messenger 2-0 felt amazing, especially “I have a lot of faith in knocking off Misericordia, ABOVE: Members of the team celebrate Chris DeClerico’s seventh inning grand slam which gave the Dutchmen a six-run lead against Misericordia, the 2017 MAC Freedom champions. this year’s team and I don’t who is a power house in think bouncing back from the MAC Freedom,” Harned and first baseman, picked up the loss and tacked on four more runs in those last four losses will be an issue,” said. “I also think those wins allowed for the Dutchmen. the seventh inning to provide some us to be more relaxed out on the field Harned said. “Now that we have LVC got back on track the next insurance. and not press as much.” the spring training jitters behind “It felt great starting the season off The Dutchmen fell to Penn State day with a 6-2 win over the Fighting us, I think we are going to be a very Behrend the following day by a score Muskies of Muskingum University. on a positive note, and the wins gave competitive team in conference ball.” of 11-7. The team held onto a 6-1 lead Dylan Stephen, a sophomore pitcher, us motivation to go through the rest The team is back in action on into the fifth inning when the Lions tossed a gem – going seven full of the week looking for more wins,” posted seven runs and never looked innings and allowing just one earned Stephen said. “Our defense was there Friday, March 23, as it takes on Albright back. Josh Marcelli, a junior pitcher run. The offense got LVC ahead early to back me up and made crucial plays College at home at 3:30 p.m.