2025_Feb20_TEC

ECU SOFTBALL GOES 3-2 IN PIRATE CLASH A6 to

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Carolinian The

YOUR CAMPUS NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1925

VOLUME 100, ISSUE 20

Thursday, 2.20.25

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SGA president and vice president candidates Katie Council and Daniel Walker at the SGA Debate on Tuesday, Feb. 18.

Ticket 2 candidates Deories McLendon and Cole Villagomez at SGA debate.

Tickets 1 and 2 take the stage for debate

Candon Johnson TEC STAF F

Trisha Rangaraju TEC STAF F

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On Tuesday, Feb. 18, the two presidential and vice-presidential candidate pairs for the Student Government Association (SGA) took the stage to debate a variety of student-focused topics. During a multi-round session, candidates had 90 seconds to discuss each key aspect of their campaign.

Questions were submitted both by audience members in attendance and viewers watching via livestream. One particularly pressing topic was how each administration would address mental health on campus.

“Academic wellness is supported by mental and physical wellness,” said Daniel Walker, Ticket 1’s SGA presidential nominee. “We want to support mental wellness through our various initiatives that support students and make us available for them and their issues available for us to help fix.”

Both tickets took the opportunity to share their backgrounds, reasons for joining SGA, and prior leadership experiences across campus. They emphasized how their roles in various organizations have shaped their perspectives and prepared them to address student concerns.

As the debate progressed, candidates reiterated their commitment to student advocacy. One question centered on how

SGA would ensure off-campus students felt included in their initiatives.

“Every student deserves a voice in SGA,” said Deories McLendon, Ticket 2’s presidential candidate. “Whether it's online students or in person, we want all students to feel supported and heard.”

Both tickets reinforced their dedication to fostering an inclusive and welcoming campus environment. Ticket 1 highlighted its “We Hear You” events and “Coffee Chats” as ways to ensure students feel heard. Meanwhile, Ticket 2 emphasized its focus on preparing students for life after graduation through career readiness workshops, policy advocacy, and increased awareness of campus resources.

McLendon and Villagomez both harped on implementing workshops on financial literacy and career preparation in order to better prepare ECU students for life after graduation.

They would like to better equip students with internships and networking opportunities.

The discussion also touched on expanding access to mental and physical health resources. Ticket 1 proposed initiatives such as Pirate Kits and Public Health vending machines to increase access to essential health supplies and resources for students, making them easily available across campus.

These efforts aim to support students' well-being by ensuring they have the tools they need to manage both mental

and physical health challenges in a convenient and accessible manner.

Later in the debate, sustainability efforts and each ticket's favorite aspects of ECU were discussed. In response to the question posed about sustainability efforts, McLendon stated that their team would try and educate students on sustainability practices and advocate for more SGA support regarding sustainability-focused policies.

Another key question addressed the allocation of SGA funding to minority student organizations.

“We want to make sure Daniel and I are actually going out and speaking with minority groups and letting them know how to get SGA funding,” said Katie Council, Ticket 2’s vice-presidential candidate.

“There is so much money allocated for student organizations, and we want to make sure students have access to these resources. That’s why we propose making the meetings students need to attend to receive SGA funding online, so it is more accessible to all.”

Throughout the debate, both tickets remained steadfast in their commitment to student advocacy, outlining their plans to address key campus concerns and create a more supportive environment for all ECU students.

This writer can be contacted at news@theeastcarolinian.com.

ECU states new policy no longer requires DEI courses Dakota Hamm TEC STAFF

COURTESY OF ECU PIRATES

Junior infielder Dixon Williams hit's a home run to right fielder against George Mason University.

» Baseball

Alex Bouche's walkoff secures series win 2-1

Tyler Buonocore TEC STAF F

The East Carolina University Baseball Team (2-1, 0-0 American Athletic Conference) opened their season this past weekend hosting the George Mason University Patriots (1-2, 0-0 Atlantic 10). After dropping the first game, the Pirates were able to win the next two thanks to a walkoff home run by junior infielder Alex Bouche in game three.

Sophomore pitcher Ethan Norby got the start for ECU in the first game. Norby, who primarily pitched out of the bullpen last season, struggled with command early on as he hit three batters in the first three innings which generated a run for the Patriots to take a 1-0 lead in the top of the 3rd. The Pirates

were able to respond in the bottom half of the inning. ECU loaded up the bases and pushed a run across thanks to a walk by sophomore infielder Colby Wallace. That’s all the Pirates would get though, as they left all three runners stranded.

The scoring resumed in the top of the 6th inning when George Mason blew the game open hitting two home runs and plating five. Norby was pulled in the middle of the inning finishing the game with six strikeouts while giving up five hits and three earned runs. ECU was not able to overcome the deficit and they lost their first game of the season 7-3. >

BASEBALL page A7

An email was sent out by ECU on February 6 announcing that Domestic Diversity and Global Diversity classes are no longer required for students to graduate.

“Effective immediately, the UNC System Office has suspended all general education requirements and major-specific requirements mandating completion of course credits related to diversity, equity, and inclusion or any other topic identified in Section VII of the Equality Policy,” ECU wrote.

In another email by ECU on February 11, ECU wrote, “If you are currently enrolled in an affected course, you may stay in the course if you would like to complete it.” However, if a student wants to drop the course, it would not affect their credit hours and graduation.

This new policy came after President Donald Trump issued an executive order to eliminate many DEI policies in organizations. The new policy has had a mixed response from students. Most notably, senior anthropology major Matthew Patteson described the policy as “book burning in real time “ in a post on Instagram.

Patteson worries that the policy will make students no longer sign up for the classes since they’re no longer required to do so. Thus, many professors will lose their jobs due to nobody signing up for their classes.

“Those courses are just very important for getting a better scope of how people outside of your own country and culture operate and see things,” Peterson said, speaking to the importance of the courses.

However, senior software engineering

ONLINE » Face the music

GRAPHIC BY JAMIE ANTINORE

major Damien Teran does not believe those classes are important for his major.

“Global diversity courses and domestic diversity courses are good for general education classes, but they don’t really help my major,” Teran said.

Teran said that while he took a Native American history class and found it interesting, it did not help with his major or planned career.

This writer can be contacted at news@theeastcarolinian.com.

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BRIEFS ECU’s research efforts earn prestigious R1 status East Carolina University has earned Research 1 status, placing it among some of the nation’s top tier research institutions. The American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation announced that it recognizes ECU’s growing research activity, increased grant funding, and their commitment to research.

With over $326.9 million in grants secured over the next four years, ECU researchers can take on challenges in health care, coastal programs and education. The R1 status helps ECU’s ability to raise funding, partnerships, and research opportunities for students.

ECU Students lead kitchen, learn food service skills East Carolina University's nutrition students are gaining hands on experience running the No Quarter cafe, which is a student led kitchen in the Health Sciences Student Center. Under the guidance of Professor Roxanne Wilder, students are learning about large scale food production, menu planning, and food safety.

Student’s are taking turns managing the cafe, designing menus, and preparing meals, which helps them gain real world experience and food service. While also addressing the need for healthier dining options, students learn about cost management, disaster planning, and accommodating dietary restrictions.

CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS If you feel there are any factual errors in this newspaper, please contact editor@theeastcarolinian.com.

Thursday, 2.20.25

Ticket one: Walker and Council Trisha Rangaraju T E C S TA F F

Daniel Walker and Katie Council are running for ECU’s Student Government Association (SGA) President and Vice President, representing Ticket 1.

Walker and Council are running because they recognize that while essential resources exist, they are not always truly accessible to all students. They aim to break down barriers that prevent students from accessing vital support, whether through discreet health product distribution, free ride vouchers for safe transportation, or streamlined funding and health services.

Their vision includes launching initiatives like ECU Health Express, creating open dialogue through "We Hear You" events, and implementing innovative solutions such as AI-powered academic advising. Committed to transforming challenges into opportunities, they strive to create a more inclusive, accessible, and supportive community where every Pirate can thrive.

“Vote for Ticket I, a team that puts

you at the center of every decision,” said Walker and Council. “Backed by proven leadership in student government and community service, Ticket I is dedicated to creating a responsive, inclusive, and efficient campus for all.”

Daniel Walker brings extensive leadership experience to his candidacy.

As ECU SGA Director of University Affairs, he allocated funds for initiatives like the Pirate Kits Program and led wellness programs. In his role as UNC ASG Vice President of Health and Wellness, he expanded FULL STORY t he budget and launched a Mental Health Grant Initiative to enhance resources across institutions. Additionally, as Internal Vice President of Pi Kappa Alpha, he organized major events while preserving chapter traditions.

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This writer can be contacted at news@theeastcarolinian.com.

CONTRIBUTED BY KATIE COUNCIL

Daniel Walker and Katie Council: Representatives of Ticket One.

Ticket two: Mclendon and Villagomez

Lauren Carter T E C S TA F F

Deories Mclendon and Cole Villagomez are running for student body president and vice president on Ticket 2.​​The students say they want to be a voice for every student and make sure every student feels heard.

Currently a first-year MBA student and ECU alumni with a Bachelor's in communication, Mclendon is running for student body president.

She’s been a member of SGA for two years and serves as the Director of Graduate Affairs. She was also elected president of the graduate school and serves as the secretary for the International Student Association and is an active member of several committees.

“I just wanna make sure that I can be a source of communication and a voice for all students,” said Mclendon. “There’s a lot of resources on this campus, it’s like a gold mine and people just aren’t aware of where the treasure is and I definitely wanna be that person to help them find it.”

Villagomez is running as vice president on

best person for the job because my sole purpose for running is wanting to improve the student body as a whole and promote connectivity, advocacy, preparation, and spirit among all students.

I believe this combined FULL STORY with my unbiased views will allow for a very effective and successful SGA”.

Ticket 2’s platform is built on four key pillars: Connectivity, Advocacy, Preparation, and Spirit (C.A.P.S.), all aimed at fostering a stronger ECU community.

Their campaign prioritizes advocacy, ensuring every student feels heard. They plan to expand awareness of campus resources, push for policy changes at ECU and the UNC system, and increase town halls. If elected, they’ll introduce a “We Hear You” advocacy table in high-traffic areas, featuring SGA reps, QR codes, and surveys to gather student concerns. A monthly advocacy report will track issues for direct action.

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Deories Mclendon and Cole Villagomez: Ticket 2

Ticket 2 alongside Mclendon. Villagomez is currently a junior business major and serves as treasurer of his fraternity Pi Lambda Phi. He’s also a member of the Financial Management Association, Investment Club, Student Leadership Board, Collegiate DECA, and serves the mathematics department of ECU as a math tutor.

“I’m running for Vice President because I want to be a voice for the people. I believe I’m the

This writer can be contacted at news@theeastcarolinian.com.

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One of the ten sexual assault cases happened 2024-2025 in Jones Residence Hall on Jan. 25.

Ten sexual assault cases at ECU since December 2024 Dakota Hamm TEC STAFF

On January 25, a sexual assault took place in Jones Hall. This marks two sexual assaults taking place in Jones. According to the East Carolina University crime logs, a sexual assault took place only a few days earlier, between January 20 and January 21.

Including fondling cases, there have been a total of 10 sexual assaults on campus reported, according to the crime logs dating back to December. Half of the fondling and sexual assault cases were reported in December.

A sexual assault that took place in Garrett Hall was closed due to the victim refusing to cooperate.

“They are not always reported to us in a timely manner,” ECU Police Chief Chris Sutton said. “This can really impede a thorough investigation.”

Sutton said crucial evidence such as DNA could become limited if too much time takes place after the assault happened. DNA evidence is very important in order to convict a suspect in a sexual assault case.

According to Sutton, ECU’s average of sexual assault cases is sixteen every year. In

2022, there were seventeen reported sexual assaults on campus, with only nine being reported to ECU Police.

Sutton cites embarrassment as a reason victims may not want to come forward. “Victims may not want their family to know that they are sexually active if it is dating violence,” he said.

Sutton states that most sexual assault cases reported on campus involve individuals who know each other.

“Out of everything that we have had reported since 2022, only two of the totals we have had reported were unknown offenders,” said Sutton.

Sutton said that cases are not always reported directly to them. Victims have many places on campus where they can report a sexual assault, such as the Student’s Rights Office, Title XI, the Counseling Center, Student Health Services, or even a friend or family member. Sutton recommends the LiveSafe app, which gives “resources right at your fingertips.”

This writer can be contacted at news@theeastcarolinian.com.

Opinion

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Thursday, 2.20.25

OUR VIEW

DEI education shouldn’t be overlooked

We, the editorial staff of The East Carolinian, believe that the removal of Diversity, Education, and Inclusion (DEI) classes under Trump’s new executive order is a step towards the wrong direction. DEI courses are crucial for enhancing student understanding about history, culture, and social situations.

Allowing politics to decide what can and can’t be taught is a very dangerous pathway to walk on.

DEI courses help students explore different perspectives and expand their views that extend beyond what they see around them. They help students understand systematic issues plaguing the nation. Cutting these courses out of a student’s education will simply leave students unprepared for the real world.

Education should revolve around growth and increased understanding.

DEI courses help students recognize racial, gender, and economic disparities and think about ways to fix them.

Without these discussions, we risk raising a generation that doesn’t understand or acknowledge the fact that inequality is something that exists and inhibits people from reaching their true potential.

DEI promotes increased understanding, awareness, and acceptance of issues related to oppression of many groups of people. If these programs and classes are removed, what will become of our country? Will the pillars of equality and freedom that our nation has been fighting to achieve for so long be torn down?

Students, faculty, and community members must speak up, push back against policies that erase important discussions, and support institutions that value inclusivity. We should advocate for policy changes, support organizations fighting for educational equity, and ensure DEI education remains a priority in schools and workplaces.

Especially in a time like this, where our nation is as divided as ever, DEI education should be prioritized.

ANDREW HARNIK | GETTY IMAGES | TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

Tesla CEO Elon Musk and President Donald Trump during an executive order signing at the White House on Feb. 11, 2025, in Washington, DC.

Just words, or did Trump really mean it

David L. Nevins

T HE F UL CR U M | TRIBU N E N EWS SERVICE

Last week, President Donald Trump shared this quote on Truth Social and X: “He who saves his country violates no Law.” I’ve learned with Trump not always to take him literally but to take him seriously.

In this case, I am taking his comment very seriously.

It appears that this specific quote, “He who saves his country violates no Law,” which is first attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte, was not used by Trump before his post. Not surprisingly, the post has drawn widespread attention and criticism, for obvious reasons, given its implications about executive authority and legality if the words become more than just words.

The statement exemplifies a logical fallacy called “Appeal to Patriotism” or “Appeal to Nationalism.”

This fallacy occurs when someone

argues that an action is justified or acceptable simply because it is done in the name of one’s country or patriotism, regardless of whether it violates laws or ethical principles.

In this case, the statement “He who saves his country violates no Law” suggests that any action taken to FULL STORY save the country is inherently lawful. This is a flawed argument because it ignores the possibility of illegal or unethical actions being taken under the guise of patriotism.

Should Trump continue to espouse the concept that anything he does is legal if he is trying to save the country, the ethical and legal implications are serious and must be challenged.

Surprisingly, there have been several instances in American history where presidents have used the “Appeal to Patriotism” to justify their actions or policies. Some notable

ONLINE |

examples are: President George W. Bush: After the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, President Bush often invoked patriotism to garner support for the War on Terror and the invasion of Iraq. He framed these actions as necessary for protecting American freedom and security, suggesting that opposing these measures was unpatriotic.

President Donald Trump: During his 2020 campaign, he argued that voting for Joe Biden would mean China winning, implying that supporting him was the patriotic choice.

President Woodrow Wilson: During World War I, Wilson used patriotic rhetoric to justify the U.S. entry into the war. He framed the war as a fight for democracy and freedom, suggesting that opposing the war effort was unpatriotic. ©2025 The Fulcrum. Visit at thefulcrum.us.

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PIRATE RANTS The East Carolinian does not endorse the statements made in Pirate Rants.

Compared to other foods, shake smart is relatively healthy but there are a lot of people I think they should find a better way to deal with the crowd

ROBERTO SCHMIDT | AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES | TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

President Trump signing a proclamation renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America on Air Force to New Orleans, Louisiana on Feb. 9, 2025.

be honest, I love shake smart and their drinks. It is much healthier than other fast food shops in the student center such as Steke n’ Shake, Rising Cans’s and Panda Express. As an international student, I can’t stand to eat fast food every single day. It might not be easy to find really healthy food in the U.S. but we can find better options for our health.

Shake Smart offers great healthy options, promoting a health-conscious culture among students. Improving online ordering and adding a screen for completed orders would enhance the experience.

Shake Smart offers a great balance of heathy, protein-packed options, but there is room for improvement in taste and convenience. While their menu appeals to health-conscious students, some items have issues with texture, making them less enjoyable. Enhancing online ordering and refining textures could make the experience more appeling and efficient for students.

Questions regarding Pirate Rants can be directed to editor@theeastcarolinian.com.

Submit your Pirate Rants on our website under the opinion tab or scan the QR code.

The gulf formerly known as Mexico John M. Crisp

T RI BUNE N EWS SERVICE

What’s in a name? Evidently, quite a lot.

As he flew over it on Feb. 9, President Donald Trump, by executive order, renamed the Gulf formerly known as Mexico as the Gulf of America. This, he said, is “even bigger than the Super Bowl,” which happened to be his destination at the time. (We’ll get back to the Gulf shortly.)

Trump has a penchant for naming and renaming. His towers, his businesses, his vodka, his shuttle, his university, his steaks, his sneakers and his memecoin are all named Trump.

Trump likes renaming, as well. When he

ran for the presidency the second time, he promised to reverse the woke foolishness of the Biden administration by renaming Fort Liberty, in North Carolina, as Fort Bragg, the name it bore from 1918 to 2023.

Thus, for more than a century, Black Americans served at an Army base named in honor of Braxton Bragg, a slaveholder and second-rate Confederate general who fought to destroy the Union and keep Black soldiers’ ancestors enslaved.

Under Trump’s direction, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on Feb. 10 renamed Fort Liberty, but, in a coy sleight-of-hand, he claimed to name it after Private First Class Roland L. Bragg, a paratrooper who served

OUR STAFF Diego Lerma

Editor in Chief

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News& Arts Editor

Garrett Skillman

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Serving ECU since 1925, The East Carolinian is an independent, student-run publication distributed every Wednesday during the academic year and during the summer. The opinions expressed herein are those of the student writers, columnists and editors and do not necessarily reflect those of the faculty, staff or administration at East Carolina University or the Student Media Board. Columns and reviews are the opinions of the writers; “Our View” is the opinion of The East Carolinian Board of Opinions.

As a designated public forum for East Carolina University, The East Carolinian welcomes letters to the editor limited to 500 words. Letters may be rejected or edited for libelous content, decency and brevity. All letters must be signed and include a telephone number.

One copy of The East Carolinian is free. Each additional copy is $1. Unauthorized removal of additional copies from a distribution site constitutes theft under North Carolina law. Violators will be prosecuted.

with distinction during World War II. No one is fooled. Look for the reappearance for Fort Lee, Fort Polk, Fort Hood and so on. The spirit of the Old South still smolders just beneath our cultural surface, always ready to reignite.

Trump can’t move mountains, but he can rename them. On his first day in office Trump signed an executive order renaming Alaska’s Denali as FULL STORY Mount McKinley, after our 25th president, William McKinley, whom, on lists of best to worst presidents, historians generally rank somewhere near the middle.

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Arts & Entertainment theeastcarolinian.com

EVENTS

TODAY Musician’s Showcase at Aji featuring Bradford Sweet Aji 801 Dickinson Ave, Greenville, NC 27834 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM 252-227-4512

Musician’s Showcase at Aji featuring Bradford Sweet Aji 801 Dickinson Ave, Greenville, NC 27834 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM 252-227-4512

TOMORROW Chatham Rabbits

The State Theatre 110 West 5th St , Greenville, NC 27858 7:00 PM to 11:59 PM

Sip, Savor, & Create: Potter’s Wheel

Emerge Gallery and Art Center 404 S. Evans St., Greenville, NC 27858 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM 252-551-6947

International Coffee Hour Ledonia Wright Cultural Center Suite 100, Main Campus Student Center, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM

A4 Thursday, 2.20.25

The Great Green Wall screening at ECU Mark Roman T E C S TA F F

On Feb. 13, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., the ECU sustainability program held a screening of the movie The Great Green Wall at the Black Box Theater located on the main campus student center.

Kim Fox, the programs outreach coordinator, says “Once a month we always do a sustainability film screening.”

The film was a perfect way to start black history month for the program as it tells the story of The Great Green Wall.

An 8,000 km “belt of green” located in the Sahel a region in north-central Africa greatly affected by desertification due to climate change.

The film follows Inna Modja, a Malian singer turned activist as she goes through the region following the wall learning about it and the people who work on it across the many countries that collaborate to plant it.

When asked what she wanted people who were at the screening to take away from the film.

Fox says “We just seek to show that from every angle possible that everyone can get involved in sustainability efforts.”

After the film ended a small discussion was held with members of the audience, where they talked about how and what the film made them feel.

One audience member said she “cried at different points in the film.” Another said that the green wall brings a lot of hope that people come together to “save the land that they desperately need for survival.”

The Great Green Wall is a film that has a great impact on not only the people who made and were a part of the film, but also those who watch it. It shows you the stories of the many people who work and live on the Green Wall from a personal perspective.

This writer can be contacted at arts@theeastcarolinian.com.

COURTESY OF ECU NEWS

The screening of the film will be at the Black Box Theater located at on ECU’s main campus student center.

Bike Repair Clinic

Sonic Plaza (between Joyner and MCSC) East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Tunes & Taps: Live Music Fridays

5th Street Hardware Restaurant and Taproom 120 W 5th St, Greenville, NC 27858 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM 252-364-8921

COURTESY OF ECU NEWS

Wild Heart is the first-ever theatrical production of the musical Wild Heart by Chelsea Marcantel. The play is produced by the ECU’s School of Theatre and Dance.

ECU’s first-ever rendition of Wild Heart Alexa Anderson T E C S TA F F

SATURDAY Alexander Series Trailblazing Women of Country

ECU Wright Auditorium 212 Wright Circle, Greenville, NC 27858 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM 252-737-5444

Breakfast Club (80’s Party Band)

The State Theatre 110 West 5th St , Greenville, NC 27858 7:30 PM to 11:59 PM

Feast of the East Chili Cook Off

Farmville Public Library 4276 W Church St, Farmville, NC 27828 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM 252-753-617

Student Apartment Bus Tours

Room 125, Main Student Center, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858 9 AM to 1 PM

ECU Science Olympiad Regional Tournament

Bate, Sci-Tech, Flanagan, Main Campus Student Center 107 Main Campus Student Center, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM

East Carolina University’s School of Theatre and Dance is preparing to showcase the firstever theatrical production of the musical Wild Heart by Chelsea Marcantel.

Trent Blanton, an associate professor in musical theatre and director of Wild Heart, said the aspect that makes this show challenging also makes it exciting. He said it’s thrilling they’re the first crew to design and bring this story to life.

However, Blanton said this becomes challenging when deciding how to tell the story.

Blanton said, “The good thing about it is, because there’s no blueprint, it can sort of be whatever you want it to be.” He said it’s exciting they get to draw the first blueprint for other productions to use as inspiration in future renditions.

He said students will enjoy this modernized story about Joan of Arc because it has familiar

music by Pink, Weezer, Andra Day and more.

He also said it’s a unique opportunity to be the first to see this show on stage. “You haven’t seen the production because it’s never been in stay, so I think it’s exciting to get to introduce something like this to the community,” said Blanton.

He said the show times will be at 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday through Friday and 2 p.m. on Sunday in McGinnis Auditorium. Tickets can be purchased through ECU’s School of Theatre and Dance website.

Blanton said he’s looking forward to the community seeing how immensely talented the ECU School of Theatre students are. The caliber of work here at ECU is much higher than people assume, he said. “The shows are professional level quality, and I can’t wait to see how the ECU community, and the community at large, reacts to it,” said Blanton.

Delta Smith, associate professor of costume design, said students should come to see this

show because it’s a contemporary version of Joan of Arc’s story that shows more of the hardships she had to face. Smith also said it should be attractive to students since it has modern music most of them will recognize.

She said she appreciates how it shows a more in-depth story of the courage she exemplified throughout her life. “There’s also a bit of hope at the end to remember that your life matters and what you do in your life matters, and that’s one of the lessons I take from that,” Smith said.

Smith said she hopes people are intrigued to see what these students have done with their director and choreographer’s vision for this production. “I hope that they enjoy it, and are as excited as we are,” she said.

This writer can be contacted at arts@theeastcarolinian.com.

Greenville hosts African American music series Jordan Adams T E C S TA F F

On Feb. 14, Greenville’s Emerge Gallery & Art Center hosted the monthly African American Music Series. Held on the second Friday of each month, this month’s theme was titled “AfroAdorations,” dedicated to the variety of ways to show love.

The show was held on Valentine’s Day and focused on the multi-sided nature of love in four acts, from familial relationships to romantic jealousy. “In the beginning, there was love,” said Regina YC Garcia, a poet and language artist native to Greenville. “Arts help us to bring the love.”

Another major theme of the concert was about love for African American culture and ancestors, as it was held during Black History Month. “We’re going to focus on love as it relates to who we are and where we come from,” Regina YC Garcia said. “Just know that Regina YC Garcia they have taken nothing.”

The show featured spoken and vocal performances from Regina YC Garcia, RaSheeda Waddell, a scholar, Nicole Hairston, a healthcare director, Rafael Garcia and Royan Garcia. The Emerge Gallery’s house band featuring pianist Quincy Jones, drummer Tucker Sanders, saxophonist Sam Doresty, and bassist Chris Puckett provided instrumentals to both original works and covers, such as Boyz II Men’s “End of the Road.”

The African American Music Series is part of the African American Music Trails of Eastern North Carolina, a program that has partnered with the North Carolina Arts Council to highlight the diverse musical heritage across the state, according to the NC Arts website.

The next installment in the series will be held on March 14 in Ayden at 7 p.m., where the gospel group Glorifying Vines Sisters will be performing. There is no cost to attend the concert but seating is limited. The series’ schedule through May can be viewed on the Pitt County Arts website.

This writer can be contacted at arts@theeastcarolinian.com.

JORDAN ADAMS I THE EAST CAROLINIAN

Some pieces that are showcased during the event.

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Comic Book & Toy Show: Sat, Feb 22. 10a-4p.

Free Admission! Greenville Conv. Center. FB: g3ektacular.

HOROSCOPES A r i e s (March 21-April 19) — Today is a 7 — Travel, s t u d y a n d i nv e s t i g at e .

Persistence reveals hidden doors. Hit the road to discover new unknowns. Find alternate routes around traffic. Enjoy meaningful conversations.

L e o ( Ju ly 23-Aug. 22) — Today is an 8 — You’re especially quick and charming. Get together with people you love.

Prioritize fun over cleanliness.

Creative projects can get messy. Tidy up later.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is a 5 — Personal matters take priority. Aim for long-term solutions and don’t worry about short-term chaos.

Keep it practical and avoid stepping on anyone. Nurture yourself.

Tau r u s (April 20-May 20) — Today is a 7 — Manage family financial and legal affairs. Focus on growing shared accounts. Repay a debt or favor. Avoid confrontation with an authority. Stash your treasure.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is a 7 — Contribute efforts for domestic harmony.

Hidden messes get revealed.

Avoid silly arguments. Listen for the commitment under a complaint. Cooking and cleaning gets results.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is a 6 — Rest and recuperate. Look back for insight on the road ahead.

Notice dreams and ideals.

Consider what you want and speculate on possibilities.

Gemini (May 21-June 2 0 ) — Today is a 7 — Collaboration is key.

Keep your temper despite provocation. Ignore gossip or rumors. Work together to get more done with less hassle.

You’ve got this.

Libra (Sept.

23-Oct. 22) — Today is an 8 — Controversy abounds. Research hidden details. Monitor the news and document what you’re learning. Edit and polish communications to avoid embarrassing mistakes. Share your discoveries.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is an 8 — Collaborate with a c om mu n it y effort. Avoid confusion and conflict. Coordinate plans in advance. Maintain open communications. Make sure everyone’s on the same page.

C a n c e r ( June 21-July 22) — Today is an 8 — Physical activity gets results. Practice your moves faithfully despite interruptions. Take it slow to avoid accidents or injury. Keep a steady beat. Prioritize health.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is an 8 — Making money comes easier now.

Spend carefully, as costs may be higher than expected.

Heed recommendations and warnings. Practice humility.

Stick to practicalities.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is a 7 — Professional matters take priority. Avoid expenses or hassle. Steady, gentle pressure works better than brute force. Teach a lesson about patience. Challenge yourself.

HOROSCOPES

Created by Jacqueline E. Mathews

ACROSS 1 __ Reiner 4 “How I Met Your Mother” role 9 Dr. __ Warren; “Station 19“ role 12 “Men __ Certain Age” 13 Actress Verdugo 14 Actor Wallach 15 Antiballistic missile: abbr.

16 “The __ Davis Show” (2000-01) 17 VP Rockefeller’s initials 18 Remove insects from 20 Electronic keyboard brand 22 One of Homer’s kids 26 “I can’t __ satisfaction…” (’65 song lyrics) 27 Ending for Max or Carol 28 Tally up 29 “__ Willie Winkie” 32 “__ Me”; 2009-11 Tim Roth series 35 “The Rookie” role 39 Singing voices 40 “The __”; series for Mr. T 42 Zoom down snowy slopes 43 “Good __” (1974-79) Solution to Lastfrom Week’s Puzzle Solution 2/13

©2025 NANCY BLACK. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY.

COMICS

©2023 Tribune Content Agency, LLC All Rights Reserved.

BREWSTER ROCKIT

4/23/23

4/23/23

47 “__ Grande”; John Wayne movie 48 Suffix for musket or racket 49 “The Main __”; Streisand film 50 Retirement acct.

51 “Car 54, Where __ You?” 52 __ away; dismisses 53 Ending for eight or velvet DOWN 1 “__ to Perdition”; Tom Hanks film 2 “The Fresh Prince __-Air” 3 1st Disney film with no humans in it 4 Music from Jamaica 5 “Grand __ Opry” 6 Mayberry resident 7 Place to stay 8 Civil rights org.

9 Olivia __; “Law & Order: SVU” role 10 Role on “Seinfeld” 11 Robert De __ 19 Pres. Grant’s initials 21 “As far __ know…”

23 Delay 24 Julie Christie’s nation of birth 25 “America’s Next Top __” 29 Eamonn of “Chicago Fire” 30 Whole 31 Sense of self-esteem 33 Drinks to 34 __ for; select 36 Actor Will 37 “__, Indiana” (1991-92) 38 Democratic Republic of the Congo, once 39 Bewildered 41 Wail in pain 44 “__ Got a Secret” 45 “Two and a Half __” 46 “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s __”

SUDOKU

Level 1 3

BLISS

2 4

Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, please visit sudoku.org.uk

WHERE’S PEEDEE?

Solution to Solution frompuzzle 2/13 Saturday’s

9/18/23

© 2023 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.

Sports

A6

theeastcarolinian.com

Thursday, 2.20.25

TECSPERTZ The East Carolinian Sports experts predict this week’s events

Garett Skillman TEC Sports Editor

ECU VS. UNC Score Prediction?

UNC 2-1

Why?

While I do think we steal one game, I think UNC ultimately wins the series 2-1. It’s gonna take a lot of Cliff Godwin preparation to lead this young Pirates team against a #6 ranked teams in the country. I think the series will be decided by who can get the bat’s going early on, rather than the pitching. I have faith in our pitchers to hold UNC to some low inning’s, we just have to capitalize on that.

Cannon Gates

BECCA ERZEN | THE EAST CAROLINIAN

Junior outfielder Emma Jackson steps up to the plate against the University of Maryland, Baltimore County in the final game of the Pirate Clash.

WZMB Station Manager

ECU VS. UNC Score Prediction?

ECU 2-1

Why?

This is going to be a really tough series for the boys in purple and gold as UNC is a top 10 team in the nation. Friday and Saturday are going to be really close games and I believe we can take both of them if we play scrappy baseball but going into Chapel Hill on Sunday is a tough feat no matter the day. We all know Cliff Godwin and if he thinks we have a shot at winning a game I wouldn’t be surprised to see 11 pitchers in one of the games.

Caleb Johnson

TEC Sports Reporter

ECU VS. UNC Score Prediction?

UNC 2-1

Why? Playing UNC will always be a tough matchup, especially in a year where the Pirates are returning two starters. This ECU team is full of young talent and the team has only played four games together. That’s why I think it will be hard to overcome the experience and depth of this top 10 UNC squad, especially with two games coming on the road. I do believe that the Pirates can get it done at home though.

BECCA ERZEN | THE EAST CAROLINIAN

Softball sophomore Kanisha Anderson get’s a base hit against UMBC.

BECCA ERZEN | THE EAST CAROLINIAN

Sophomore outfielder Kanisha Anderson get’s on base in Pirate Clash.

ECU softball goes 3-2 in Pirate Clash Garett Skillman

T HE EAST CARO LIN IAN

East Carolina University’s softball team (5-4, 0-0 American Athletic Conference), took on the University of Maryland Baltimore County (1-3, 0-0 American Athletic Conference) in the final game of the Pirate Clash this past weekend. The Pirates went 3-2 over a five game stretch during the tournament, with the last game ending 3-4 in favor of UMBC. With the bases loaded, UMBC started off the scoring in the top of the third inning after a groundout RBI. ECU managed to get out of the inning without any more damage after getting the next two batters out. In the bottom of the third, senior catcher Joie Fittante hit a single to left center field, followed by a bunt from sophomore outfielder Kanisha Anderson.

With run’s on base, graduate student infielder Morgan Johnson stepped up to the plate and hit a three run home run to right field to give ECU a 3-1 lead. The UMBC Retrievers quickly responded in the top of the fifth inning with a two run home run, tying it up at 3-3. The Retrievers later went on to hit a solo home run to take the lead in the top of the seventh inning.

East Carolina had an opportunity to answer back in the bottom of the seventh inning, but after a couple groundouts and a fly ball, the Lady pirates fell just short of the comeback. While ECU did lose its final game to UMBC, they were able to go positive in the Pirate Clash with a 3-2 record.

Because of freshman pitcher Kendall Frost’s stellar pitching performance in the tournament, she earned herself the American Athletic Conference pitcher of

the week. Frost is the first freshman pitcher at ECU to earn pitcher of the week since Toni Paisley in 2007 when she won it in Conference USA. She recorded an ERA of Kendall Frost 0.86, and 11 strikeouts in the 16.2 innings that she pitched.

The Pirates next two games against No. 12 Duke University (7-3, 0-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) have been postposted, making their next game take place against Canisius University (1-4, 0-0 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) on Friday. The game starts at 3 p.m. and can be watched on ECUPIRATES. com for those who can’t make the game.

This writer can be contacted at sports@theeastcarolinian.com.

Women’s basketball dominant performance vs. UNCC Logan Harlow T EC STAF F

The East Carolina University Pirates (14-12, 6-8 American Athletic Conference) secured a big 63-45 victory over the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (8-16, 3-10 AAC) at Minges Coliseum on Saturday. The Pirates showcased a balanced offensive attack and a dominant defensive performance to seal the win.

Junior forward Amiya Joyner led the Pirates with a double-double, recording 14 points and 12 rebounds, along with a team high three assists.

Freshman guard Devin Hagemann provided an early offensive spark, scoring 13 points of her own, 11 of them early in the game. This early surge set the tone for ECU’s control throughout the game.

Defensively, ECU dominated, particularly in the third quarter, holding the 49ers to just six points and extending their lead into 14 points. The Pirates’ defensive adjustments effectively contained Charlotte’s leading scorer, Junior forward Keanna Rembert, who scored 15 points in the first half but was held in check in the second half of this game.

It’s hard to win any game in basketball, but when a team has 20 turnovers and shoots 1 for 11 from 3 it becomes virtually impossible and that’s exactly what The Pirates forced the 49ers to do on saturday. This Consistent effort on defense led

them to winning every single quarter of the game making it impossible for Charlotte to get momentum at any point.

The Pirates played a well rounded team game, with five players scoring eight or more points and six players making at least three shots. ECU assisted on 15 of their 23 made shots and forced 21 turnovers from the 49ers. Despite committing 19 turnovers themselves, the Pirates improved their ball control in the second half, reducing their mistakes to just six giveaways.

The Pirates struggled from behind the arch, shooting just 5 for 16, which has been a recent trend for the Lady Pirates. Despite their poor three point shooting, they were able to come out with the win, which may not be possible against a higher powered offense down the final stretch of the season.

With this win, ECU is now multiple games over .500 and looking to gain on the momentum going forward. The Pirates are set to face North Texas at Minges Coliseum in their next matchup on February 22, which can be watched on ESPN+ for those not able to make the game.

This writer can be contacted at sports@theeastcarolinian.com.

BECCA ERZEN | THE EAST CAROLINIAN

Sophomore guard Jade Tillman drops the defender driving to the basket vs. UNCC

SPORTS

A7

Thursday, 2.20.24

East Carolina men’s basketball upsets UAB

Caleb Johnson T EC STAF F

East Carolina (14-11, 6-6 American Athletic Conference) men’s basketball knocked University of Alabama at Birmingham (15-9, 8-3 AAC) in an upset win Tuesday night. The star duo of senior guard RJ Felton and senior forward C.J. Walker combined for 52 of the team’s 82 points in the win. With the win, the Pirates are at an even 6-6 in the American, putting them in the perfect position to make an end of season push for a top seed.

Coming into this matchup the blazers were heavily favored. They had just two losses in the American entering the game and have one of the best players in the American in senior forward Yaxel Lendeborg. Lendeborg leads the team in all three major stats (points, rebounds, assists) and commands a stifling presence on the defensive end.

The Pirates’ top performers on the night were Felton and Walker. Walker finished with 29 points, six rebounds, and a block on 10-16 shooting. This marked Walkers’s fourth game in a row scoring over 20 points.

Felton finished the game with 23 points, six rebounds, and two assists all while shooting 50% from the field. Felton knocked down five three point baskets on the night. Senior guards Jordan Riley and Cam Hayes also contributed heavily in the win. Riley finished with 12 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals. Hayes finished with 10 points and three assists.

The ball game opened with a three pointer from Felton. The two teams continued to battle back and forth for the remainder of the half, but the blazers were able to build a small lead in the closing minutes. The half concluded with a score of 36-31 in UAB’s favor.

The second half began with the Pirates trailing. As the half progressed the blazers were

BECCA ERZEN | THE EAST CAROLINIAN

Senior guard RJ Felton sets up offense vs. UAB.

able to extend their lead to as much as 12 points.

ECU then sparked a 12-2 run which cut the Blazers lead to just one point.

Then, with 12 minutes left to play, the Pirates tied the game on a three point jump shot from Felton. Felton and Walker then proceeded to go toe to toe with Lendeborg and the blazers for the remainder of the half until running away with the game in the final 45 seconds.

Felton beat Lendeborg off the dribble for a layup which along with some clutch free throws from Riley and junior forward Trevion LaBeaux put the game away. The Pirates won 82-75 over the Blazers.

At the time of writing, the game against University of North Carolina Charlotte (9-16, 2-10 AAC) will have already been played. So the Pirates next matchup will be against Tulane University (14-11, 8-4 AAC) at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday Feb, 19. The game will be played at Devlin Fieldhouse in New Orleans, LA. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN+

This writer can be contacted at sports@theeastcarolinian.com.

BECCA ERZEN | THE EAST CAROLINIAN

Senior guard Jordan Riley shoots the free throw vs. University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Pirates men’s basketball defeats instate rival UNCC Caleb Johnson TEC STAFF

COURTESY OF ECU PIRATES

ECU Pirates senior guard RJ Felton knocks down the three point shot against instate rival UNCC.

East Carolina (15-11, 7-6 American Athletic Conference) traveled west on Saturday to face in-state rival University of North Carolina Charlotte (9-17, 2-11 AAC). With this win the Pirates are now sixth in the American and are two games back from a top five spot. Senior guard RJ Felton lit up the scoreboard from deep in this matchup hitting seven total threes.

Coming into this matchup, the Pirates were favored to beat the team out west.

Following a stellar performance against University of Alabama at Birmingham (16-9, 9-3 AAC) only a win could be expected.

UNCC is dead last in the American Athletic conference.

RJ Felton stole the show on Saturday, the senior guard finished with 23 points, five rebounds, and three assists. Felton went 7/9 from beyond the arch and notched his second game in a row scoring 20 or more points.

Seniors, guard Jordan Riley and forward C.J. Walker also contributed heavily to the win. Riley rounded out the night with 15 points, eight rebounds, and three assists.

Walker finished with 13 points, seven rebounds, and two steals. Senior guard Cam Hayes added eight points of his own on the night.

The Pirates as a team shot 49% 26-53 from the field and 54% 13-24 from three.

BASEBALL continued

from A1

In game two, the Pirates decided to throw freshman pitcher Bradley Zayac. He walked a batter in the first inning, but got the following batter to ground into a double play ending the top half of the inning. ECU’s first turn at-bat was not very productive as all three batters struck out.

The Pirates had their first real opportunity to score in the second, when they loaded the bases with two outs. But freshman outfielder Alex Peltier could not drive them in, sending us to the top of the 3rd scoreless. Zayac made quick work of the Patriots again and gave ECU another chance to score. Wallace put the first run on the board in the game going deep for a solo home run to center field.

George Mason responded in the top of the 4th, and put up two runs to give them a 2-1 lead. The score stayed that way until the bottom of the 7th when junior infielder Dixon Williams hit a three-run-shot to give the Pirates a 4-2 lead. George Mason would try to fight back in the top of the 9th and make it a 4-3 game, but ultimately couldn’t get another run across giving ECU their first win of the season.

The final and best game of the series was the rubber match game three. 17-year-old pitcher Sean Jenkins took the mound for the Pirates. He went five and two-thirds giving up one earned run on one hit. George Mason

They won the rebound battle 33-21. They also notched 15 assists as a team.

The rivalry matchup opened with a mad three point basket from both teams. For the first nine minutes, the two teams traded leads back and forth. In the latter half, the 49ers were able to build a lead and carry it into half time. The first half concluded with a score of 35-29 in UNCC’s favor.

The second half opened and the Pirates were able to quickly close the gap. Due to the hot three point shooting from Felton, and sizable contributions from Riley, Hayes, and Walker ECU was able to build and sustain a lead over the 49ers. Felton hit five threes in the second half. East Carolina was able to run away with the game defeating UNCC 75-59.

With this win, the Pirates brought themselves one game closer to a top spot in the American Athletic Conference. In hopes of making a late season push, the Pirates have now brought themselves within two games back the top five and four and a half games from the number one spot.

ECU will be back in action against Tulane University (14-11, 8-4 AAC) Wednesday at 7:30 p.m Feb, 19. The game will be played at Devlin Fieldhouse in New Orleans, LA and will be broadcasted on ESPN+. ESPN has the Green Wave favored over the Pirates 63% to 37%.

This writer can be contacted at sports@theeastcarolinian.com.

got the scoring going early, taking advantage of an error made by ECU and pushing two runs across. They would add another in the top of the 4th thanks to a solo shot by junior outfielder James Quinn-Irons.

An error by the Patriots in the bottom of the 5th would give the Pirates their first run of the game making it 3-1. They would add another the following frame when freshman infielder Keon Bowman grounded into a double play but Wallace was standing on third and waltzed home. One more run would be added in the 7th when with two outs, Peltier hit a bomb to left field to tie the game.

The score stayed knotted at three until the bottom of the 9th inning. Alex Bouche led off the inning and found himself down 0-2 in the count. He turned on the next pitch and ended the game with a homer down the right field line giving ECU their first series win on the season.

Up next for the Pirates is a road game at Campbell University (0-3, 0-0 Big South Conference) on Tuesday night at 5 p.m. Following that ECU has arguably their biggest test of the season with a three game weekend series against the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill (3-0, 0-0 Atlantic Athletic Conference). The games will be played at three different sites, Clark-Leclair Stadium, Durham Bulls Athletic Park, and Boshamer Stadium.

This writer can be contacted at sports@theeastcarolinian.com.

SPORTS

A8

Thursday, 2.20.24

CELEBRATE ECU’S 9TH ANNUAL DAY OF GIVING IN SUPPORT OF SCHOLARSHIPS, ATHLETICS, HEALTH CARE, RESEARCH AND MORE! PHILANTHROPY HONOR CORDS

Graduating students can receive a Purple and Gold™ philanthropy honor cord to highlight their giving spirit!

Make a gift of $20.25 at the student involvement tables or online

by May 5 at www.piratealumni.com/philanthropycords25.

ENGAGE WITH GIVING Pirate Nation Gives representatives will be at the Main Campus and the Health Sciences Campus student centers from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to promote student involvement. Students who participate in the activities will receive a

FREE Chick-fil-A sandwich!

PNG CHALLENGES

Feeling competitive? There are university-wide PNG challenges designed to give you an opportunity to show off for your gift area.

PEEDEE’S MATEYS Find a PeeDee squishy on campus during PNG and earn funds for a program of your choice. Follow scavenger hunt clues March 5 on Instagram and Facebook to locate PeeDee. Learn More: www.ecu.edu/piratenationgives ADA Accommodation: 252.737.1018 or ada-coordinator@ecu.edu