ECU issues report for sexual assault
Within the last couple of weeks, East Carolina University has seen five separate sexual assaults take place.
“Student well-being and success is central to everything we do at East Carolina University,” ECU Dean of Students LaNika L. Wright said in a statement sent out to students and faculty.
What began as two accounting careers in Winston-Salem has grown into one of East Carolina University’s most transformative philanthropic partnerships. Lynn and Pat Lane, now namesakes of the Brinkley-Lane Scholars Program, have made it their mission to give students the same opportunities that once shaped their own lives.
The Lanes’ story was by no means linear. Lynn, originally from outside Winston-Salem, attended Greensboro College. Amongst many other jobs, her business degree led to an entry-level accounting role at R.J. Reynolds, where she spent most of her career before eventually retiring as senior vice president and treasurer of the entire company.
Pat Lane, a Rocky Mount native, graduated from East Carolina the year it became a university and began his career in accounting, later joining Burlington Industries and then R.J. Reynolds, where the two met. At one point in his career, he helped control one of the largest cigarette factories in the world just north of Winston-Salem.
Throughout their careers, the couple faced major decisions that tested their flexibility and partnership. They turned down a transfer to New Jersey that left them both unemployed, but the company found new positions for each of them. That moment marked a turning point for Lynn, whose reassignment to treasury shaped the rest of her professional life.
“Even though she had no treasury background, she was told she would be sent off to this Wall Street course and that she would learn how to do it,” said Pat. “So as it turned out, losing her job turned out to be a launching of what really became her whole career.”
They settled back in North Carolina, retired early, and moved to their home in Chocowinity 25 years ago.
After retirement, they shifted their focus from business to philanthropy, centering their giving on education. Lynn currently serves as a Board of Trustees member in Greensboro College.
“Lynne was given an honorary doctorate by Greensboro College,” said Pat. “The president made the presentation, had her come up, and he gave her some nice words: he looked down at everybody and said, ‘Let me give you perspective. If Greensboro College had a Mount Rushmore, Lynne would be on it.’”
When asked what advice she would give ECU students, Lynn said “Do something you're passionate about because if you're passionate about your career, you'll do well.”
“Also, always try to have a mentor. No matter what job I was in, I tried to have someone that I felt could advise me, support me, and help guide me.
Lynn said “When I started, there weren't a lot of females in the management and executive ranks and so, I just tried to work harder and longer, and do things that nobody else wanted to do. Because I was doing something I loved, this came naturally.”
Lynn’s connection to East Carolina began through her husband, but she quickly became an active supporter and later the first woman to chair the ECU Foundation. Their shared belief in higher education’s transformative power led them to support the Honors College and the Brinkley Lane Scholars Program.
“Everybody ought to give back to whatever they believe in,” Lynn said. “Education happens to be what we believe in. We think it’s the first and probably the greatest way for somebody to improve their lot in life.”
“We saw how East Carolina can help the region improve and be transformative,” said Lynn. “We wanted to be part of that if we could. We're donors in the Honors College
On Oct. 31, a fire occurred at Scott Residence Hall at East Carolina University. According to WITN, the fire occurred around 4 p.m. and was put out shortly after. No injuries occurred, but it was concluded that the fire was caused by a lithium-ion battery in a skateboard.
According to WCTI, the fire caused the alarm and sprinkler systems to go off, causing residents to evacuate.
The ECU Police Department told The Daily Reflector that students were allowed back into the dorm around 5:30 p.m.
“Together, the ECU Police Department and Greenville Fire-Rescue responded, extinguished the fire, investigated, identified its cause, and safely returned students to their residence in about one-and-a-half hours,” Deputy Chief Chris Sutton told The Daily Reflector.
“This achievement was only possible through the combined efforts of the ECU divisions: Campus Living, Facility Services, and Environmental Health and Campus Safety,” he continued.
Both water and smoke damaged eight rooms and displaced 15 students. ECU campus living said that they have plans for the relocated students
because we see these students becoming leaders who are able to improve the region and improve their communities.”
Even before the program bore their name, the couple funded scholarships and saw the need for ECU to remain competitive with other top honors programs. They ultimately helped close a $240,000 annual funding gap to fill the scholarships full cost along with the Brinkleys, each contributing half.
“At that time, the scholarships were $3,000 a year short of being full, and you have 80 students,” Pat said. “So $240,000 short per year. We do get to write a $120,000 check every year, but it’s money well spent.”
Their dedication extends far beyond financial contributions. The couple mentors one student from each class year, hosting dinners and staying in touch even after graduation. They say the students’ drive and humility inspire them and reaffirm their commitment to the program.
“It energizes us,” Lynn said. “To see what scholars accomplish and to see how grounded they are. They’re not elitist; they’re really smart and very determined. It inspires us and reinforces to us that we’re doing the right thing.”
For both, their support of Brinkley Lane reflects a shared belief in giving others the same opportunities that shaped their own success. Their involvement has grown alongside the program, and they continue to support ECU’s mission to uplift its students and community.
“When we decided to go to the Honors College, we needed to put our money where our mouth was,” Pat said. “If we could pull it off, it would change the academic perception of East Carolina University.”
And it has.
Sexual assault cases are no strangers to ECU, as in 2024 alone, there were 15 rape offenses on campus, according to ECU’s fire safety and security report.
This seems to be the average, as when you look at 2023 and 2022, you see the numbers are usually around 11, 15, or 16. According to WNCT, Chief Chris Sutton held a press conference on November 3 to discuss this matter.
“Our average normally at ECU is somewhere between 16 or 18 cases, and I believe right now we’re sitting on 11 or 12,” said Sutton to WNCT.
Though this is the average, the number is still frightening. When you look at the numbers, you see that ECU ranks shoulder to shoulder with bigger universities like NC State in terms of crime.
“In the recently reported assaults, the victims and suspects were acquaintances. We want to ensure our campus community is aware that there is not an unknown perpetrator targeting individuals in the area. To be clear, sexual assault under any circumstance is unacceptable and is never the fault of the victim,” continued Wright in her statement.
The statement then provides resources for reporting crime on campus and explains basic consent and what an ECU Alert is. An ECU Alert is a notification sent to students and faculty regarding emergencies and information about what is going on at ECU’s campus.
writer can be contacted at news@theeastcarolinian.com.
Lithium-ion batteries are also used in various other items, such as cell phones, power tools, toys, and E-cigarettes. The N.C. Office of the State Fire Marshal told the Daily Reflector, “lithium-ion batteries can pose serious fire risks if overcharged, damaged, or mishandled.” Some ways to prevent incidents include buying batteries from reputable and tested sources, not overcharging batteries,
only using chargers compatible with the device, and discontinuing use if the battery becomes discolored, swells, or emits an odor. The ECU Police Department again warns students that battery-powered scooters and skateboards are prohibited in residence halls.
COURTESY LYNN LANE
The Lanes' impact on the ECU honors program is felt. They donate a large scholarship fund annually for honors students to get scholarships.
Trisha Rangaraju
STAFF
COURTESY OF ECU HOUSING
Five cases have been reported over the past month
This
BRIEFS
Honors student leaders find inspiration in Atlanta
Seventeen East Carolina University Honors College student leaders spent fall break in Atlanta for the college’s first leadership trip, combining service, education and networking. Students volunteered with Trees Atlanta, removing invasive species from the Beltline, and visited historic sites such as the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park and Centennial Park. They also toured Mercedes-Benz Stadium and connected with ECU alumni at the Boys & Girls Clubs of America headquarters. Funded by an ECU Truist Leadership Center grant, the trip aligned with the Honors College’s pillars of community, opportunity, responsibility and exploration.
Researcher offers new target for high blood pressure
Researchers at East Carolina University’s Brody School of Medicine have identified a new potential therapeutic target for treating high blood pressure. The study, led by Dr. Srinivas Sriramula, published in the American Heart Association’s Circulation Research, found that blocking the kinin B1 receptor in the brain can reduce hypertension and inflammation.
The discovery highlights how B1R interacts with the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R), a major target of existing blood pressure medications. The research, conducted over three years, involved collaborations with institutions in New York and Louisiana and included ECU graduate students. The findings could lead to improved treatment options for patients resistant to current therapies.
CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS
If you feel there are any factual errors in this newspaper, please contact editor@theeastcarolinian.com.
CRIME LOGS
Editor's Note: The East Carolinian Crime Logs are derived from East Carolina University Police Department’s (ECU PD) public crime logs accessible to all individuals. Crime Logs are not done within the partnership of ECU PD and The East Carolinian, as this publication is meant to act as an additional resource for Pirate Nation. Below are listings of criminal activity that has occurred on or within proximity of main campus.
Oct. 31
A man was arrested on Halloween night for possession of marijuana with the intent to sell or distribute. The incident took place at 1301 Charles Blvd around 11:30 p.m.
Nov. 3
Two people were arrested on drug charges after a two month investigation in Pitt County. The two people are being held with bond at Pitt County Detention center.
Nov. 3
Over halloween weekend, ECU reported its 11 or 12 case of sexual assault this year. The incident is said to have taken place at Jarvis Hall. The incident undergoing further investigation.
Nov. 4
A Pitt County man has been arrested for child sex crimes. Rueben Jackson had incident liberties with a seven year old girl. The incident reportedly took place in June, 2024.
The government shutdown affects students
With the recent government shutdown that has been going on since Oct. 1, many college students around the country who receive SNAP benefits are left panicking. East Carolina University is no exception.
According to NCDHHS, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps 1.4 million North Carolinians receive monthly benefits which provides families with low incomes the ability to be able to purchase nutritious food at a lower cost. These funds are loaded onto an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card and can be used anywhere that accepts this form of payment.
To receive SNAP benefits as a college student you must meet requirements like working 20+ hours a week, care for a dependent young child, etc. You must also go through an application process to get accepted.
Since this can be a lengthy process or students aren’t eligible, many students rely on food pantries located around campus. ECU’s Williams-Ross Purple Pantry located in the Main Campus Student Center, provides free resources like food and personal care items to enrolled students struggling with food insecurity on campus.
According to NPR, as of Nov. 3 the Agricultural Department has told the court that they will be using all its emergency fund to help pay SNAP recipients half of what they receive for this month. This will assist these students and families for the time being, but the longer the shutdown goes on the more negative impacts there will be.
ECU professors
Thirteen years into her career at East Carolina University, Professor Brittany Thompson has seen many changes in communication among students and professors. Emails have replaced office visits, and what was once a revolving door during office hours has turned into a quiet hallway.
While classroom interactions have changed, Thompson said students’ drive to learn hasn’t gone anywhere.
“I still feel like young people, 18 to 22 or 24, are looking for the same things,” she said. “I still see a similarity in students. For the most part, you all come in wanting to learn, to experience, to grow, and that part hasn’t changed,” she continued.
Thompson’s focus on meaningful learning is evident to her students.
A teaching assistant who took her class before joining her said, “I liked how it wasn’t a lot of busy work. The way her class was set up, organized by modules, none of it was unnecessary. All of it
benefited me.”
Professor Glenn Hubbard, who has been with ECU since 2010 teaching journalism and communication, has also noticed a shift
You have now, of course, a whole generation of people who have practically lived with this new technology all their lives... We have more people who just aren’t comfortable communicating with professors at all.
in how students communicate.
Even with these changes, Hubbard said the culture at ECU has remained consistent. “People really like it here and people really feel happy and proud to be a part of this university. That hasn’t changed” he said.”
Thompson said that even as ECU continues to change, her purpose hasn’t. After 13 years in the classroom, she said her focus remains helping students succeed.
“There are parts of the job that are really hard,” she said. “But rarely does it have anything to do with the students. That’s why I keep coming back. I love seeing students across campus speaking to me.”
For Thompson, the relationships she builds with students are what make teaching meaningful. Both professors agree that while technology has reshaped communication, the heart of ECU, its students and sense of community, remains the same.
DULCE PEREZ I THE EAST CAROLINIAN
professors believe that students now are not comforale going to them directly and are too comfortable hiding behind email. This can
Dulce Perez THE EAST CAROLINIAN
DULCE PEREZ I THE EAST CAROLINIAN
Many ECU professors have seen student come and go.
DULCE PEREZI THE EAST CAROLINIAN ECU professors also believe that alumni are very helpful when they talk with current students.
Glenn Hubbard
Brittany Thompson
The East Carolinian Sports experts predict this week’s events
Garett Skillman TEC Sports Editor
ECU VS. UNCC
Score Prediction?
ECU 41-10
Why?
After a big conference win on the road against Temple, I think the Pirates keep the momentum rolling and blowout the 49ers. UNCC is the worst team in the American conference so I expect nothing less than putting up at least 40 points against this team, and that’s being generous to the 49ers. Dowdy will be rocking for homecoming weekend and the Pirates get a cake walk this week.
Caleb Johnson TEC Sports Reporter
ECU VS. UNCC Score Prediction?
ECU 49-7
Why?
ECU is set to play one of the easiest games on the schedule. I fully expect the Pirates to bring the work to the one win 49ers who have yet to win a conference game. After last week’s dominant win over Temple, I expect ECU to score in bunches on Saturday. ESPN gives the 49ers less than a 3% chance to win the game.
Cannon Gates WZMB Station Manager
ECU VS. UNCC
Score Prediction?
ECU 56-10
Why?
Has anybody ever heard of scheduling a cupcake opponent for homecoming? Well I have and that’s exactly what the Pirates got this Saturday where the 49ers are going to have their worst nightmare come true. The Pirates are gonna show up big time in front of the packed home crowd and Anthony Smith and Yannick Smith will combine for 225+ yards receiving in this one.
Pirates matchup with Charlotte 49ers
East Carolina University (5-3, 3-1 American Conference) football returns home to Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium on Saturday to face the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in an American Athletic Conference matchup. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. as the Pirates look to continue their push through the second half of the regular season.
East Carolina enters the weekend at 5-3 overall and 3-1 in conference play after defeating Temple University (5-4, 3-2 American Conference) 45-14 on the road last week. The win marked the Pirates second straight win and a complete performance on both sides of the ball. ECU amassed 614 total yards and held Temple to just 233. The ground game powered the Pirates, with 358 rushing yards on 51 attempts.
Saturday’s game is homecoming week-
end, with Athletic Director Jon Gilbert announcing that tickets in the upper level will be just $12.
“It’s critical that we have strong attendance for our final two games to create a special environment for our team,” said AD Jon Gilbert.
The 49ers are seeking just their second win of the season, and hopes to break a tie for last place in the American Conference with the University of Tulsa (2-6, 0-5 American Conference). UNCC enters Saturday’s matchup looking for more consistency on the offensive side of the ball. The 49ers haven’t found their QB1 season, with sophomore QB Grayson Loftis, junior QB Zach Wilcke, and junior QB Conner Harrell all receiving significant playing time this season.
The 49ers have faced challenges against high-tempo offenses, particularly in stopping the run game. Saturday’s matchup
against ECU will test their ability to contain a balanced Pirate attack that has found rhythm over the last few weeks.
Saturday’s game carries conference implications for the Pirates. The Pirates look to break a tie with Tulane University (6-2, 3-1 American Conference) and the University of South Florida (6-2, 3-1 American Conference), who all sit in third place, and 3-1 in conference play. East Carolina also looks to move towards bowl eligibility for the second time in three seasons. The 49ers are looking for a big upset win and to move up in the standings.
Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium in Greenville, N.C. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ for those unable to attend the game.
Pirates soccer falls to University of Memphis
On Monday, your 8th seeded East Carolina University Women’s soccer team sailed into Florida to take on the 1 seeded University of Memphis Tigers (16-0-2, 9-0-1 conference), where they eventually fell 0-1 in the American tournament quarterfinals. The Pirates were heavy underdogs against the undefeated Tigers, but pushed them to the brink. In a nailbiter, Memphis’s junior forward Ashley Henderson scored in the 86th minute which would eventually be the game winner.
The Pirates entered the match as the No. 8 seed, facing a Memphis team that was unbeaten and ranked among the nation’s best. The opening minutes featured steady pressure from Memphis, who outshot ECU 20-6, but senior goalkeeper Olivia Dietrich was the defensive star of the game, finishing the night with eight saves.
Despite the Tiger 20 shots, and 10 on goal, the Pirates defence kept them in the game, including a goal line clearance by senior forward Juliana Viera. As the clock wound down, fatigue began to show for the
Pirates after withstanding the offense all game. In the 86th minute, the Tigers finally broke through when sophomore midfielder Ai Kitagawa delivered a pinpoint corner kick into the box. Henderson headed the ball into
the back of the net and the Pirates had just a few minutes to equal the game.
A last minute shot by Viera to the top left corner of the net was saved by Memphis in a last-ditch effort to tie the game up. The Pirates were unable to get past Memphis, and the loss ended ECU’s season with a 6-8-4 overall record and a 4-4-2 mark in conference play.
Key players stood out as freshman defender Gia Spinetti was named to the American Conference all-freshman team, and senior midfielder Isabella Gutierrez and sophomore forward Caitlin-star Dolan Boodram received all conference second team honors.
Just a year ago, ECU was the team on top of the AAC, claiming the 2024 conference title and punching its ticket to the NCAA Tournament. While the Pirates couldn’t replicate their 2024 postseason magic, their performance against Memphis, one of the nation’s most dominant teams, showed they’re still a program that can hang with the best.
Womens basketball dominates Wilmington in season opener
Logan Harlow TEC STAFF
East Carolina University women’s basketball team (1-0, 0-0 American Conference) opened the 2025–26 season with a dominant 82–63 win over the University of North Carolina at Wilmington (0-1, 0-0 Coastal Athletic Association) on Monday night inside Minges Coliseum.
The game started with ECU pushing the tempo and using its full-court pressure to force UNCW into mistakes. The Pirates defense set the tone, creating turnovers and easy transition looks, but the Seahawks hung tough early by knocking down some timely shots. Despite controlling most of the pace, ECU found itself trailing 34-35 at halftime.
The third quarter completely flipped the game, ECU outscored UNCW 25-14 during the frame, turning up the defensive pressure and attacking the basket. East Carolina opened the fourth quarter on a 10-2 run to build a comfortable lead that they maintained for the remainder of the game. Turnovers became a major issue for UNCW, as the team committed 27 compared to ECU’s 17.
While the Seahawks managed to win the rebounding battle 39-30, those extra boards didn’t translate into points, ECU’s defensive rotations and transition game off turnovers were a main reason the Pirates got the win. ECU also shot 49.2 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from beyond the
arc, while holding UNCW to 42.4 percent shooting and 23.5 percent from three-point range.
Offensively, it was a balanced night all around for the Pirates. Six different players scored in double figures, showing the depth of this year’s roster. Senior guard Kennedy Fauntleroy led the way with 16 points, three rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Graduate student forward Anzhané Hutton added another 15 points in the win , along with four other players in double digit scoring.
For UNCW, sophomore guard Kylah Silver finished with 16 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists, despite the loss. The Seahawks fought hard in the first half, but ECU’s athleticism and depth wore them down as the game went on. The win was a strong start for an ECU team looking to make a statement this season. They showed a mix of defensive toughness, balanced scoring, and the ability to adjust when challenged.
Next, ECU will face Liberty University (0-0, 0-0 Conference USA) on Friday afternoon on the road in Lynchburg, V.A. With their first win already under their belt, the Pirates will look to keep the momentum going. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ for those not able to travel to the game.
Garett Skillman THE EAST CAROLINIAN
East Carolina University
COURTESY OF ECU ATHLETICS
Pirates soccer team huddles before kickoff.
Josiah Cobb TEC STAFF
OUR VIEW
What the White House destruction signals for America
We, the editorial staff of The East Carolinian, believe that President Trump’s current destruction of the East Wing of the White House is a haunting sign of what our democracy is slowly becoming. President Trump’s destruction of something so synonymous with America is a slap in the face of not only the American people but also every single person who has set foot in the White House.
Since winning this past election, President Trump has been doing whatever he wanted, whether legal or illegal. He truly wants to shape the country into his image and what he and the rest of his cronies want it to be, and the destruction of the White House is possibly the most obvious sign of that. Since the summer, it has been known that Trump will build a gold-plated ballroom, costing $300 million. The construction of something so pointless as a gold-plated ballroom and the destruction of the white by the president himself is almost poetic.
The destruction of part of the White House comes after the president’s promise in July that the building’s infrastructure would not change while he is in office for a second time. Even though donors cover the construction of the ballroom, this shows how out of touch the president is. He does not need a gold ballroom that costs $300 million. He is clearly doing this to show the American people that he does not care, especially after he has announced that SNAP benefits will not be going out to low-income families while he is building the ballroom and destroying the White House’s east wing.
PIRATE RANTS
The president is not on the ballot, but these elections are massively important. When we vote on the local and state level we are voting on the things that directly affect us the most.
Roads, schools, property tax, community resources, and public safety are all issues that are at hand in this election. Despite knowing this, these elections often have massively lower voter turnouts compared to the years we have presidential elections. Studies show that around 70% of the country turns out for a presidential election while between 5% and 15% turn out for local elections.
Why is that? This is a question that I have been asking myself approaching the beginning of this month. What I’ve found is that there are multiple different answers to that question.
The first one is that people are simply just underinformed. The average person does not understand how local governments work and the effect that it directly has on their daily lives.
A study from The U.S. Chamber
Association shows that 70% of Americans would fail a basic civic literacy quiz. So it is not surprising that participating in local and state government elections is sort of an afterthought.
Next, I believe that people could just care less. Today we have so many things that distract us. Social media, sporting events, TV shows, and video games are all pillars or cornerstones of everyday life in the U.S.
So people could care less because they are consumed by all of the other things that are going on at all hours of the day. Because these smaller elections are not this big, glamorous, argumentative event that people are drawn to for entertainment and drama; there is always going to be a smaller voter turnout.
Another factor is the mindset of potential voters. As I stated before, most Americans are simply under informed on the concepts of civics and government. For this reason, people are subconsciously closing themselves off in a negative way to the idea of voting in a local and state election.
People often do this to protect themselves, saying things like “my vote doesn’t matter” and “I don’t know anything about it so there’s no point.” This pattern develops into self-disempowerment where individuals
The grounds crew is always so rude on campus they stand there and expect you to walk around them while they blow cigarette smoke in your direction
I’ve been approached by like six different people doing random interviews on campus whats going on with that is it like a new trend or something
Professors need to receive promotions based on their SSOI not their tenure
Why does the bagel and taco place on campus close so early I’ve always wanted to try it but I am always still in class when they close
People need to start pressing the button for the robots to cross the street it takes forever to get my food
This school needs to invest in some better toilet paper this one ply is not cutting it
Classes like coaching theories and scuba diving should be more widely available for students
The dorms reeked of alcohol and weed this weekend ECU has got to fix that
I was hearing music in my dorm until 5 a.m. on Friday night, absolutely ridiculous
disassociate from voting as a whole.
This is the wrong approach, when voters feel this way they should take the time to do the research. If they feel their vote doesn’t matter they should gather like minded people around them to make the vote matter.
Voters also tend to believe they can’t affect the hot button topics that they are often so passionate about in the national elections. Abortion, immigration, foreign policy, etc are all topics that people are very passionate about but they do not see how they can make an impact on these things locally and at the state level.
In reality, elections at the state and local levels is where the real change begins. With that being said we should all be active in every election no matter how big or small. We should not allow excuses like being under informed and not feeling like our vote matters hold us back from being the change we want to see. It is vital for the future of our country that we become more politically involved not only as a generation (Gen Z) but as a society.
As the government shutdown drags into its fifth week, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, has become just another casualty of the Donald Trump administration’s cruelty. Without congressional action, millions of Americans may see their SNAP benefits vanish this month — including over 2 million people in Illinois and hundreds of families in Moraine Township alone. When the federal government fails to fulfill its responsibility to feed our neighbors, it leaves townships, churches and volunteers scrambling to fill a gap that no amount of goodwill can close.
I am a local government official who helps oversee a community food pantry, which means I interact with a small sample
of the over 40 million Americans who depend on SNAP to buy groceries for their families. Our local government-run food pantry in suburban Chicago serves hundreds of families each month, including many who rely on SNAP, and we expect demand for pantries like ours to soar as this benefit and others are ripped away.
So many members of our community have already sprung into action to donate food and funds to area food pantries in the face of this looming crisis — but should we have to? As Americans, the desire to help our community has repeatedly led us into the same trap — beguiled into believing effort and good intentions are substitutes for government action on the most urgent of crises.
We ask too much of our community organizations, including our food pantries. And time and time again, they rise to the occasion to do the impossible: Perform the services the government should provide, but without the resources, infrastructure or funding to do so.
To be clear, those of us who have the means should come together and support our local food pantries and neighbors in their time of need. I have been heartened to see neighbors coordinating community food drives, packing holiday meal kits and donating what they can to their local food pantries.
The East Carolinian
Classifieds & Puzzles
by Jacqueline E. Mathews
by Jacqueline E. Mathews
Arts & Entertainment
EVENTS Keeping jazz alive at ECU
TODAY
Moonlight Hayride and Campfire at River Park North—Day 2
River Park North, 1000 Mumford Road, Greenville, NC 27834
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
2523294560
The 24th Annual Down East Holiday Show Greenville Convention Center, 303 SW Greenville Blvd, Greenville, NC 27858
5:00 PM to 9:00 PM, 2524937287
Tommorow
Farmville’s Laugh Shop Comedy!
Farmville Community Arts Council, 3723 N. Main Street, Farmville, NC 27828
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM, 2527533832
The Breakfast Club (80’s Party Band)
The State Theatre, 110 West 5th St , Greenville, NC 27858
7:30 PM to 10:00 PM,
Saturday
2025 Fall Craft Fair
Saint Peter Catholic Church, 2700 E. 4th Street, Greenville, NC 27858
10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, 2527573259
Candon Johnson TEC STAFF
Jazz is an artform that was invented over 100 years ago, and is still alive today, which uses a variety of instruments that focus on rhythm, swinging cords, and melodies to give a feeling to the sounds.
East Carolina University continues this trend of keeping Jazz alive with its Jazz Ensemble. This ensemble, led by Kobie Watkins, an accomplished percussionist and ECU adjunct faculty member, is a collection of students who focus on different jazz instruments and perform in events.
Watkins has an extensive career in the field of music. He aims to inspire as well as teach his ensemble members the joys of music and performing.
“At the end of the day they are musicians, I like to talk to them about the process of developing good rehearsal techniques as opposed to just coming in and having practice,” said Watkins.
Watkins has been in his position as adjunct professor since 2022 before applying and getting his position of director of the jazz ensemble in the fall of 2024. The performance is important but to Watkins so are the musicians as they make the whole thing happen.
“We have drums, piano, bass, trumpet, saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone sax, and trombones. Each musician plays their role to make the performance happen,” Watkins said.
Directing isn’t all fun and games, it illuminates challenges that come with preparation and time management. For some it’s a steeper learning curve. Watkins says that preparation is important because if a student comes in unprepared it can make it incredibly difficult to rehearse.
“We don’t get to talk about the higher levels of musical development when the kids are unprepared,” said Watkins.
This level of preparation goes into every aspect of the ensemble as it’s the way to not only understand the music, but be able to perform it to
the best of their ability. The students are given a series of weeks to practice and rehearse their parts while developing their music day by day. It’s in the solos, the chord progressions, and more as students begin to develop the music they learn. The music then turns into an aspect that they can make their own unique expression.
“On a good day, they’ve been studying the music for maybe three or four weeks and we’re able to get to some of the deeper sound, history, and individual expression,” said Watkins.
Watkins says that the Jazz Ensemble’s performances are participatory events. Events that the audience can clap their feet, sing along, and overall just have a good time. To him, this is what makes these performances what they are, collaboration and audience engagement.
“You don’t just have to be a player and you don’t just have to be a listener, You can be both,” Watkins said.
This writer can be contacted at arts@theeastcarolinian.com.
NUHU AHMED I THE EAST CAROLINIAN
An ECU student holding a tuba on stage during a Jazz Ensemble performance to keep Jazz alive at ECU.