TheEast
Carolinian
Board of Trustees approve tuition hike
During a Board of Trustees meeting on Nov. 14, a 3% tuition increase for future students was unanimously approved. This is the first tuition increase at East Carolina University in almost a decade.
An increase in in-state tuition to $4,585 per semester and out-of-state tuition to $21,351 per semester will be seen. Students who wish to attend Brody School of Medicine will see a 3.26% increase. In-state tuition will increase to $22,977 per semester for students and to $52,300 per semester for out-of-state students.
Student Government Association President Daniel Walker said the tuition increase follows other schools, such as NC State, that also raised tuition. He also said that even with the increase, tuition is still affordable.
“We found that the way we were positioned in the in-state and out-of-state market made it very fair for student affordability,” said Walker. The revenue generated by the tuition increase will be used to hire more professional advisors for students. This means there will be more advisors and fewer professors taking on student advising.
“That is going to make it much better for students when they are trying to figure out their four-year plan,” said Walker.
The students who are coming in next
year will not see an increase in their tuition throughout their time in ECU. This is due to North Carolina being a fixed-income state, meaning students cannot pay more in tuition while already in college.
Walker said that ECU’s tuition is still low compared to other schools, such as Chapel Hill, which increased out-of-state tuition by 10%. ECU was also one of the few schools that did not increase graduate tuition.
“I feel like that was a huge consideration when thinking about not only the tuition increases but also we had minimal fee increases as well,” said Walker.
He said it was necessary to increase tuition and fees because it was the only way universities could generate revenue.
“It was always from the start, we were looking at those areas because it is the only way universities can generate revenue,” he said.
Even though the tuition increase does not affect current students, many are unhappy about what it says about ECU. Hannah Gurganus, a junior biology and chemistry major, said that they are very disappointed in this decision.
“I am not surprised by ECU’s constant desire to turn a university that’s supposed to be nurturing the future leaders of this generation into a business,” Gurganus said.
At the same meeting, the building of a new
mansion for ECU Chancellor Philip Rogers was also approved. Chancellor Rogers previously resided at the Dail House, which is now primarily used for special events. The Chancellor’s new residence will be on Jarvis Street. Walker said this has been in the works for a long time and that this is being done so the Chancellor can be closer to the university.
“It was really important not only to the chancellor but for our community for him to be closer to the university,” said Walker. “He is very excited to be a part of the community
we all love,” Walker continued.
Alexis McDonald, a sophomore cybersecurity major, believes that building the new mansion does not help students, and they do not care where the Chancellor lives.
“This money could be used for so many better things, yet here we are with a mansion that will do little to nothing for students,” they said.
Roz Burgess becomes youngest Captain of the Ship winner ever
Candon Johnson TEC STAFF
East Carolina University awarded sophomore business major Roz Burgess the Homecoming Captain of the Ship title. This title is given to students who exemplify leadership and dedication. The same ceremony also awards other Homecoming winners in categories such as Banner, Skit, Food Drive, Parade, and Spirit Cup. Burgess says that winning this title felt unreal.
The Supreme Court rejected a request to overturn same-sex marriage on Nov. 10.
Kim Davis, a county clerk in Kentucky, sought to appeal the rulings of lower courts after she was sued for failing to provide marriage licenses to a same-sex couple. Davis cited religion under the First Amendment as her reason for refusing. The Court rejected her appeal, upholding the lower court's $100,000 award to the couple.
She did not receive the minimum of 4 votes required to have her case officially heard by the Court.
The recent ruling was aimed at redeciding Obergefell v. Hodges, which legalized samesex marriage at the federal level in America. At the time, Davis was one of many defendants, alongside Hodges, the former Director of the Ohio Department of Health.
“There have been many pushbacks in certain ways. People don’t want to be compelled to do things like baking cakes, rent venues to couples,” said Sociology professor Melinda Kane. “But there wasn’t necessarily enough pushback to overturn the whole case,” she continued.
But this isn’t the first time that the Supreme Court has turned down a request to review Obergefell. Davis previously took her case to the Court in Oct. 2020 but was rejected. A florist from Washington also requested an appeal from the Court after being sued for failing to provide services to a same-sex couple in July 2021, but was denied.
Despite the Supreme Court following the usual procedure to review all cases, the decision sparked widespread concern about the current state of LGBTQ+ rights in America.
“I think the concern would be, why would you revisit something unless you’re going to change it?” Kane said.
It also sparked discussion about the Supreme Court's conservative lean.
“The composition of the court has changed,” Kane said. “There was concern that the change in who the justices were might make Obergefell at risk,” she continued.
Since 2015, four seats on the Court have changed. Three of the new justices were appointed by President Trump, while only one was appointed by a Democrat: former President Joe Biden.
Justice Clarence Thomas, often considered the most conservative justice on the Court, has hinted at his desire to review Obergefell multiple times. Thomas was one of four dissenting judges in the 2015 ruling.
A change in the ruling would return same-sex marriage recognition to the state government.
“It would affect same-sex couples' ability to marry in certain states,” Kane said. “It would also affect them in having their marriages recognized in other states. Your marriage could not be recognized in another state, and you couldn’t make medical decisions for your spouse,” she continued.”
"It all still feels surreal. It's an honor to be named Captain of the Ship and exemplify the leadership that I've had at ECU through all the programs I'm involved in and all the different things on campus. It's just cool to be able to represent those," said Burgess.
Burgess was one of the students running for this title, and when it was announced, he could hardly believe he had reached this point. He said he was a little unsure if he would win. The reason was that he would be the youngest Captain of the Ship.
However, it all paid off for him as he received his title and reward at the Homecoming halftime announcement. It just so happened that it paid off as Burgess stood on the field smiling, on top of the world.
Burgess was supported by two of his best friends, Pierce Elwell and Sarah Maisto, as he began taking on leadership roles at ECU. Roles that he says have impacted him in big ways.
"They just took me under their wing and showed me the ways of college. It got me involved to where now it's my duty to do the same for students like they have done for me," Burgess said.
Along with the title, the Captain of the Ship receives a one-thousand-dollar educational award. Burgess hopes that his sophomore title win will inspire others to step out of their comfort zones. He says that the thing that helped him continue toward his goals was his support system of friends and mentors.
"I had an army behind me, and that
was just incredible, and I was so thankful for the mentorship and friendship that got me here," said Burgess.
Burgess' goal is to be there for students. He wants to be there to guide them as they make their way through college, which can be stressful and overwhelming. Burgess says that the title of Captain of the Ship means the world.
"When putting so much time and effort into making even a small difference in the place that I love and then being able to be recognized for that just means the world to me. This just makes me want to continue representing ECU on a national level and in a first-class manner in everything I do," Burgess said.
Dakota Hamm
BRIEFS
Legally blonde: The musical offers exciting, women-led performances this week
East Carolina University’s School of Theatre and Dance is hosting “Legally Blonde: The Musical” this week at McGinnis Auditorium, with shows running Nov. 19–23. The production, which is close to selling out, features a large student cast, high-energy choreography and 12 costume changes for lead character Elle Woods.
Students say the musical captures the upbeat feel of the film, with standout numbers like “Omigod You Guys” and “So Much Better.” The show also includes trained rescue dogs from Berloni Theatrical Animals, playing Bruiser and Rufus. Cast members spent weeks conditioning for the fast-paced performance, and the production highlights ECU’s growing emphasis on women-led theatre and studentdriven design work.
Involvement ambassadors help students find belongings
East Carolina University’s Ambassador program has launched a new initiative called Involvement Ambassadors to help students find organizations and events that match their interests. The program aims to support students who may feel disconnected by pairing them with ambassadors who provide guidance, monthly emails and campus resources.
Staff members say the effort strengthens belonging, academic success and retention by keeping students connected throughout the semester. Ambassadors receive training, use a campus resource handbook and track their outreach to ensure consistent support. The new initiative also helps ambassadors build leadership and communication skills.
If you feel there are any factual errors in this newspaper, please contact editor@theeastcarolinian.com.
Global pride on display at ECU campus
Dulce Perez THE EAST CAROLINIAN
East Carolina University celebrated its 3rd annual Parade of Flags, bringing together students from diverse cultures.
The Parade of Flags was introduced three years ago by Jon Rezek, assistant vice chancellor for global affairs, after ECU received the Senator Paul Simon Award for Comprehensive Campus Internationalization. The event now marks the start of International Education Week.
Cathy Knudson said Rezek organized the parade to celebrate the many countries represented by ECU students and key study abroad programs.
The event quickly gained attention after its first year, becoming one of the most anticipated traditions on campus.
“We had over 100 participants the first year, and it was so successful we were like, ‘This is a great way to start International Education Week, ’” she said. “It just really shows off the vibrancy of ECU,” she continued.
Students pick up flags representing their home countries, heritage, or study abroad experiences. This year, the event expanded with a new collaboration with the Ledonia Wright Cultural Center.
“They mostly coordinated with student
organizations to represent different cultures on campus,” Knudson said.
Victor Inuka, a Nigerian student pursuing his second master’s degree, said the event was one of his favorites.
“Being able to see folks from all these different countries is amazing. Not every student can study abroad, so sharing these cultures gives you a global perspective,” Inuka said.
Isabella Guitierrez, a senior from Mexico, participated in the competition for the first time this year.
“I hope people see that we’re a whole community,” she said. “Even internationals sometimes don’t know how many of us there are,” she continued.
Victor and Isabella’s experiences demonstrate how the Parade of Flags brings ECU’s global community together. The parade encourages learning about different cultures, forming connections across campus, and fostering a sense of belonging.
The Parade of Flags continues to kick off International Education Week, celebrating ECU’s diverse student body and global engagement.
This writer can be contacted at news@theeastcarolinian.com.
Student Government Association elections begin in spring
At East Carolina University, the Student Government Association promotes change and gives students a voice. As the official student-led governing body for ECU, members advocate for students' rights, well-being, interests, and welfare.
The organization has 60 seats, including Student Body President, Student Body Vice President, and Student Assembly representatives. According to Rushil Sachania, the current Speaker of the Student Assembly, getting involved in SGA is not limited to just election season.
Sachania highlighted the importance of students keeping an eye out for open positions year-round.
"If we have open seats throughout the year, like we do right now, we have an application that is always open," he said.
Current Student Body President Daniel Walker said SGA's work extends beyond student policy and budget decisions.
"There's always something within the university that you will find interesting and can be a benefit to not only you, but your fellow students," he said.
SGA provides opportunities to grow professional and personal development. For Walker,
he has reached career pathways through campus administrators, in addition to time and people management, and constituent work.
Leadership expands to numerous roles at SGA. Whether health, wellness, athletics, or sustainability is a student's area of interest, this organization provides a platform to encourage campus initiatives.
"There's never a perfect time to start — we touch every area of campus," Walker said. He added that active listening and adaptability skills are mastered in an environment like the student government.
Sachania highlighted that integrity and transparency are the foundation of a member's day-to-day experience.
"Being a long-time Pirate and someone who genuinely cares about ECU means I carry a deep commitment to advocating for student needs," he said.
Students interested in joining SGA can attend interest meetings through Jan. 28 at the Main Campus Student Center.
Polling for the election will open Feb. 25 at 8 a.m. and close Feb. 27 at 5 p.m. For more information, contact sgaelections@ecu.edu or visit sga.ecu.edu.
PHOEBE GREGG I THE EAST CAROLINIAN ECU celebrated the 3rd annual Parade of Flags. The event brought together students from various cultures to celebrate where the country came from.
PHOEBE GREGG I THE EAST CAROLINIAN Peedee at the event holding the American flag.
Mallory Sheldon THE EAST CAROLINIAN
MALLORY SHELDON I THE EAST CAROLINIAN
SGA elections being next spring. By joining SGA, students can build various skills like leadership.
The East Carolinian Sports experts predict this week’s events
Garett Skillman
TEC Sports Editor
ECU VS. UTSA
Score Prediction?
ECU 38-21
Why?
Coming off a massive win against Memphis last week, the Pirates have all the momentum on the road against an average UTSA team. I think UTSA hangs around for a little while given that they have home field advantage, but this Pirates team is too talented and gritty not to win by at least two touchdowns.
Cannon Gates
WZMB Station Manager
ECU VS. ASU Score Prediction?
ECU 38-24
Why?
Listen I don’t care about the home record of UTSA, Blake Harrell has got this team locked in on one goal and that’s going 1-0 every week and he showed that last week against Memphis. The Pirates are going to Texas to lay a beatdown. London Montgomery goes for 2 touchdowns and over 100 yards.
Nick
Green
WZMB Sports & News Director
ECU VS. ASU Score Prediction?
ECU 35-28
Why?
Give me the Pirates baby, I know UTSA has a tough home record and one of the best running backs in the American Conference, but the Pirates have now won four in a row and are tied for first in the conference.
Coach Harrell will have the boys ready for a business trip on Saturday and I expect nothing short of a W for the Pirates.
ECU faces road test against UTSA
East Carolina University (7-3, 5-1 American Conference) enters Saturday’s matchup against the University of Texas at San Antonio (5-5, 3-3 AAC) following a 31-27 win over the University of Memphis (8-3, 4-3 American Conference). The game saw strong student turnout, including students participating in the “tarpless” trend during the second half and a postgame field-storming that resulted in the removal of a goalpost on the Boneyard side of Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. The Pirates now turn their attention to their road trip to the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. According to ESPN’s matchup predictor, ECU holds a 62.8% chance to win and opens as a 2.5-point favorite. ECU has won four straight games and remains in contention for a spot in the AAC championship game. The Pirates are part of a three-way tie for
second place in the conference and hold a head-to-head loss against Tulane University (8-2, 5-1 American Conference), one of the teams sharing that position. UTSA enters the week tied for seventh in the conference and needs one win to secure bowl eligibility.
ECU junior quarterback Katin Houser recorded 332 passing yards and threw the game-winning touchdown against Memphis. Running back London Montgomery led the ground attack with 27 carries for 106 yards and two touchdowns, marking his highest carry total of the season.
UTSA is coming off a 28-7 win over the University of North Carolina Charlotte (1-9, 0-5 AAC). Roadrunners redshirt junior quarterback Owen McCown threw for 306 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Running back Will Henderson III posted a season-high 185 rushing yards and one touchdown. Defensively, UTSA held Charlotte scoreless until the fourth quarter.
Redshirt freshman running back Will Henderson III also enters Saturday’s matchup coming off a career performance. Henderson rushed for a season-high 185 yards and a touchdown against Charlotte, helping UTSA post 500 yards of total offense.
ECU enters the matchup with a statistical edge in several categories. The Pirates rank 14th nationally in total offense and 29th in scoring offense. UTSA’s defense ranks 83rd in yards allowed per game and 111th in points allowed per game. Defensively, ECU is allowing 18.3 points per game, ranking 15th in the country, and stands fifth nationally in opponent scoring percentage in the red zone.
The stage is set for ECU to pick up their fifth straight win. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. on Saturday and the game will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Pirates beat Memphis in dramatic fashion
Logan Harlow THE EAST CAROLINIAN
East Carolina University (7-3, 5-1
American Conference) won in dramatic fashion on Senior Day, rallying late to beat the University of Memphis Memphis (8-3, 4-3 American Conference) 31–27 in front of a packed Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. The crowd remained rowdy throughout the game and into the fourth quarter, where fans eventually rushed the field and took down a goalpost after the game. The win keeps the Pirates positioned in the AAC race as they move deeper into the season.
“Thank you to everyone in that stadium tonight,” said head coach Blake Harrell. “You look up there and see those student’s kind of rallying, and that’s the way our football team rallied in the fourth quarter.”
Memphis opened the game with early success on offense, capitalizing on a few defensive breakdowns and building a 17-10 halftime lead. ECU moved the ball consistently in the first half but was unable to finish multiple drives with touchdowns.
ECU’s momentum in the second half began with its ground game. Redshirt sophomore running back London Montgomery produced several long gains and tied the game with a third-quarter touchdown run after breaking a tackle near the line of scrimmage. Montgomery finished with more than 100 rushing yards and two touchdowns, providing the majority of ECU’s production on the ground and keeping Memphis from focusing solely on the passing attack.
ECU’s defense experienced challenges throughout the game but produced key stops late. One of the pivotal defensive plays came in the fourth quarter when sophomore defensive back Ayden Duncanson and junior DB Josh Benton combined to stop a Memphis runner on fourth-andshort, giving ECU possession in a tied game. However, a fumble on the ensuing drive gave Memphis the ball deep in ECU territory. The Tigers converted the turnover into a field goal to take a 27-24 lead with just over two minutes remaining.
On the following possession, quarterback Katin Houser led ECU on a late
scoring drive. Houser completed several short passes, extended plays when needed, and moved the Pirates down the field. The drive concluded with a 31-yard touchdown pass to redshirt senior wide receiver Payton Mangrum, who had minimal receiving production earlier in the season. The touchdown gave ECU a 31-27 lead with under 70 seconds left.
Memphis had one final opportunity, advancing the ball near midfield before attempting a Hail Mary as time expired. ECU intercepted the pass, ending the game and prompting fans to enter the field in celebration. The goalposts were removed as part of the postgame scene, and ECU’s senior class concluded its final home game with a conference victory.
“It was crazy, I’m still kind of in shock with everything that happened,” said junior quarterback Katin Houser.” This tight ball game, seeing the fans rallying behind us and finishing that two minute drive after I thought I lost the game with that fumble, having it all come together and win like that is really special.”
With the win, ECU improved to 7-3 and remained in contention for the AAC championship game. The Pirates also positioned themselves for postseason eligibility as they continue through the closing weeks of the schedule. The next game comes against the University of Texas at San Antonio (5-5, 3-3 American Conference) on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPN+ for fans not able to make the trip to San Antonio, Texas.
CONTRIBUTED BY ECU ATHLETICS
East Carolina University redshirt senior runnningback Marlon Gunn Jr. celebrates in the endzone after scoring a touchdown in Dowdy-Ficklen.
PHOEBE GREGG | THE EAST CAROLINIAN
East Carolina University junior quarterback Katin Houser braces for the snap from the center in the win against the University of Memphis.
Opinion
OUR VIEW
Technology is harming Gen Z’s potential
We, the editorial staff of The East Carolinian, believe that technology may limit Gen Z’s potential if it is not better regulated. Even though technology has been essential to society’s evolution, Gen Z is relying too heavily on it and is slowly diminishing their potential. Technology runs not just the world, but also humans.
As a society, our communication with each other is essential. Through communication, we make connections with others, and with these connections, many incredible things can happen. From job opportunities to lifelong friendships to even love, communication is what makes us human. Communication is slowly dying due to smartphones. Smartphones have made communication much harder. Instead of introducing themselves and having a pleasant conversation at a party, people now bury their heads in their phones, scared of face-to-face interaction. We need to put down the smartphones and enjoy real life. It is not just interaction that technology is affecting; it is affecting how we think and what we see. With the continued evolution of AI, Gen Z continuously gets misled by fake images. These fake images generated by AI are hyper-realistic and incredibly dangerous. AI is taking over the world at an alarming rate and taking Gen Z with it. How can Gen Z be known as the climate generation, when we cannot even care about the effects of technology?
PIRATE RANTS
So, you like to use AI. It’s convenient, for sure. But I know a crazy (open) secret about AI, and it might be a truth that’s too hard to handle. If you’re not ready for it, stop reading now.
Here it is … AI hallucinates. Yep. It makes up stuff. Not always, but enough to merit suspicion.
I know. It’s happened to me. I once googled for “ecu chancellor statement on ai”, and Google’s AI summary bot was quick to answer. “As of September 2025, East Carolina University Chancellor Alan White has not made a specific public statement on AI,” it said. “However, his predecessor, Chancellor Philip Rogers, oversaw the development of a university-wide approach to AI integration.”
Reads like it’s real if you don’t think about it.
But wait! Who’s “Alan White”? Search ECU’s online directory and get a “no person found” reply. And Rogers is “former”? Ah, no. He’s the current, since 2021. If you didn’t already know that, a search of ECU’s website verifies it. OK, true, Rogers did the overseeing thing.
Later, I put ChatGPT to the test. I asked it to find studies on a journalism topic of interest to me. It was super-quick to answer with a list of five studies.
They looked real if you didn’t think about it.
But wait! I couldn’t find any of them. I
asked the bot, “Did you make up these studies?” Yes, it confessed, “it appears I inadvertently fabricated [them].”
“does using ai have an effect on the human brain”. You’ll get a slew of studies that say AI is good, bad or shades of in between.
The
Parking needs to be more accessible
campus and in classrooms I feel horrible leaving my dog in my apartment all day
Why are all the medical buildings so far away, I don’t have a car here so it is a pain to get all the way there and I hate riding the bus
“Why?” I asked. The chatbot blamed its programmer-creators.
“My response generation is based on patterns I’ve learned from a wide range of texts,” it said. That “sometimes leads me to assemble [responses] that sound plausible but are not real. … I try to ‘fill in the gaps’ by generating what I think fits the request based on my training.”
That “wide range of texts” spans billions of pages of stuff that’s free to know on the interweb. If it’s behind a paywall, AI can’t get to it. And millions upon millions of those free pages are biased toward English, Western culture and a relatively narrow set of things that AI rules as popular.
My source is a recent article by a Cornell doctoral student who studies such things. You can read it for yourself by searching the site Aeon.co for its title, “Holes in the Web.”
The point: Verify all things that AI tells you. A big-dog tech leader just said so too. Check it for yourself. It’s easy. Search The Guardian news site (theguardian.com/us) for the headline, “Don’t blindly trust everything AI tools say, warns Alphabet boss.”
I know another (open) secret about AI, and it could scare the Arrrg out of you.
Here it is … Nobody really knows for sure what using AI is doing to us. To see what I mean, search the Google Scholar database for
A 2024 research review is an example. Its authors picked through 14 studies on AI in education and research.
One “good” they found: AI could help you be a better writer.
Some “bads: Depending a lot on AI can make you less creative. It can make your writing less original, less the true you. If it plagiarizes and you miss it, you get the grade hit.
A scary bad-er: If you offload a lot of your brainwork onto AI, you’re likely to unlearn how to think and do for yourself.
Don’t take my word for it. Read the article for yourself. To find it, type this into Joyner Library’s One Search: “The effects of over-reliance on AI dialogue systems on students’ cognitive abilities: a systematic review.” It’s the article’s title.
The point: To let AI live your life for you is to devolve into a helpless lump.
Don’t be a lump. It’s far better to be selfaware. Proactive. A critical thinker. Be smart and be skeptical about using AI. There’s joy and freedom in thinking and doing for yourself.
You got this!
(This writing, it’s all humanmade by me.)
The term tipping point provides a useful way of thinking about that theoretical juncture along any path when the possible becomes the inevitable.
We often use the term in connection with climate change: The tipping point is the moment when the processes that contribute to global warming take on an irreversible life of their own. For example, greenhouse gasses tend to raise the global temperature, which tends to melt the arctic tundra, which releases more greenhouse gasses, creating a loop that continues until it reaches a theoretical point of no return.
Unfortunately, in the case of climate change, the tipping point probably isn’t so theoretical.
But in the case of President Donald Trump, does it exist, at all? Is there a point beyond which Trump’s most committed fans will finally withhold their support?
If you’re a steadfast Trump supporter, you may have already given up on this column. But I hope not. It’s worth considering whether Trump’s behavior could ever reach a tipping point that would change your mind about him. And if there is no tipping point, then that’s a worthwhile piece of information, as well.
There’s not much point in dwelling
on supposed tipping points from the past, except for the light they shed on future tipping points.
But consider a couple:
Plenty of commentators—me included— thought candidate Trump was finished when the Access Hollywood tape came out during the 2016 campaign. After all, Trump was caught bragging about how his power, as a celebrity, allowed him to commit sexual assault with impunity. Ordinarily this would immediately disqualify all candidates for public office, but not Trump. In short, the critics were wrong.
They were also wrong in imagining that Jan. 6, 2021, would be a deal-breaker for Trump supporters.
East Carolinian does not endorse the statements made in
Brian L. Massey
John M. Crisp
Classifieds & Puzzles
Jacqueline E. Mathews
Created by Jacqueline E. Mathews
Arts & Entertainment
EVENTS
TODAY
Live Music with Wally Peterson
Famiglia, 740 W Fire Tower Rd, Winterville, NC 28590
6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, Phone 2526896330
Murder Mystery Dinner Sweet Aji, 801 Dickinson Ave, Greenville, NC 27834
7:30 PM to 9:30 PM, Phone 2522274512
Tommorow
Cirque Kalabanté: Afrique en Cirque Wright Auditorium, 100 Wright Cir, Greenville, NC 27858
7:30 PM to 11:59 PM, Phone 2523284731
ANNUAL HOLIDAY SHOW at City Art Gallery
City Art Gallery, 511 Red Banks Rd, Greenville, NC 27858
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Phone 2523537000
Dawson Wright Band at the Buc Buccaneer Music Hall, 2120 E Fire Tower Rd, Greenville, NC 27858
10:00 PM to 11:30 PM, Phone 2527565505
Elle Woods is coming to ECU campus!
Khyati Daggubati TEC STAFF
East Carolina University’s School of Theatre & Dance is trading in its traditional fall colors for a whole lot of pink this season, as it prepares to bring Legally Blonde: The Musical to McGinnis Theatre from November
Beneath the sparkly surface of Elle Woods’ world, this year’s production is offering something the School hasn’t tackled in more than two decades: real life, professionally trained
Amanda Hudson, the Business Services Coordinator for the School of Theatre and Dance, is very excited for this year’s production.
“Legally Blonde was chosen by the SOTD to challenge students in new ways”
“Every year when we choose our productions, we try to find something that would challenge the students, something they wouldn’t have encountered here,” she said.
“And it’s been over twenty years since we had professional animals on stage,
Hudson explained the School also considers what the Greenville and ECU community wants to see when making this decision. With the talent in place and the rights secured,
“It stretches our students’ knowledge a bit further,” she said, “and three of them get to work with professional theatrical animals.”
Those animals, flown in from
New York, have worked in both film and on stage, and they bring a level of professionalism that students don’t usually get the chance to interact with. The star canine, of course, is Bruiser Woods, Elle Woods’ iconic Chihuahua. However, this Bruiser is more than a purse accessory.
“Bruiser actually has lines in one of the songs and he has a few different cues. He’s Elle’s emotional support animal.”Hudson explained.
The second dog, Myrtle, plays Rufus who is Paulette’s beloved companion. Their presence makes the production feel closer to the high-caliber versions audiences might have seen in major theaters.
While the dogs bring a special charm, Hudson believes the heart of Legally Blonde lies in the story’s message. When I asked her about the main takeaway, she said the show highlights the importance of staying true to yourself and embracing your own choices, even when they go against others’ expectations.
Elle Woods begins the story underestimated by almost everyone around her, including her own peers. Yet she proves through hard work, kindness, and confidence that she is capable of far more than people assume..
Hudson also wanted the ECU community to know that this production isn’t a carbon copy of the movie. She explained that the creative team added a few new twists to change it up a bit from the original Legally Blonde.
“A lot of people think that it will be just like the movie, but there are some changes in the ECU one” she said. There is something new and interesting.”
Between the professional animals, the student talent, and the creative choices made by the production team, theatergoers can expect familiar songs and characters but with a fresh ECU spin.She mentioned another thing many audience members don’t realize: no two nights of the show are ever the same. Live theater is its own living world, the crowd’s reactions influence the performers from the moment the curtain rises.
“Audience members need to know that it’s a little different every night because it’s live theater, which is one of the beauties,” she said. When we have an interactive audience, that helps feed the actors, and their energy follows the audience.”
As opening night approaches, the cast and crew are eager to share a performance that blends hard work, imagination, and the kind of authenticity that only live theatre can offer. For Hudson, she said the true magic comes from the connection between the performers and the audience, a relationship that makes every show its own experience. She hopes that viewers arrive open-minded and ready to engage, because each night brings something slightly different.
This writer can be contacted at arts@theeastcarolinian.com.
ECU student dressed as Elle Woods
Amada Hudson