Charlie Kirk shooting incident Carolinian
On September 10th, 2025, political commentator Charlie Kirk was in critical condition after a video showed Kirk being shot near his neck at a Q&A event in Utah. He was airlifted to a hospital and was in critical condition.
The co-founder of Turning Point USA, a conservative youth organization, was speaking at a Q&A at Utah Valley University, where, in a video, a gunshot can be heard, with the audience gasping in shock and running from the scene. Kirk collapsed in his chair with blood visible prompting chaos in the crowd. President Donald Trump urged prayers for Kirk, calling him "a great guy from top to bottom."
Authorities report that the shot originated from a building approximately 200 yards away, and while an individual was taken into custody, multiple accounts mention conflicting reports about
The routine of an ECU Ice Hockey Player
ECU Ice Hockey All-Star goalie of the year, Jackson Shulmistra, balances a demanding schedule of academics, training, and practices. The first-year MBA student spends mornings in class, afternoons in the gym, and evenings studying or skating at Carolina Ice Zone. With a steady diet and a seven-day workout split, he’s built a routine that leaves him set.
Schedule:
My day starts at 7:55 a.m., getting ready to go to class from around 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. After, I head to the gym for an hour to an hour and a half. When I get home, I spend some time doing homework, then cook dinner, finish any remaining homework, and call it a day.
We practice every Tuesday and Thursday from 8:45 p.m. to 10:15 p.m. at the Carolina Ice Zone, so after cooking dinner on those days, I head to skate.
I total about 3 hours of practice and around 7 to 8 hours in the gym per week.
Gym:
I lift about 5 to 6 days a week regardless of games or practice, resting when I can. I work with a seven-day split: Pull, Push, Legs, Back, Chest, Shoulders and Arms, and Legs. Given this, it can be a little unfortunate for a leg day to land on a game day.
I stretch after every lift and before leg days. Practice-wise, we usually get on 5 minutes early to get extra stretching time, go through a normal practice routine, and after, we have 15 minutes to do whatever we need. I usually grab our best shooters and put myself on the goal line, having them shoot to score from the 70% scoring zone in between the hash marks.
Practice starts with some down time in which I stretch, then we skate boards to boards as a team for 15 minutes. We move into shooting drills like the Albany drill, with pucks on the neutral zone dots and a player in front for rebounds. That’ll take about 30 minutes so we move into a split-ice game and drill format to actually play half the time and focus on finer details.
Diet: My diet is fairly consistent, my breakfast and lunch haven’t changed in 10 years; a bacon egg and cheese for breakfast and 2 peanut butter jelly sandwiches with yogurt for lunch.
whether that person is the actual shooter.
The Mayor of Salt Lake City Utah, Erin Mendenhall, said authorities are still searching for the shooter.
This comes after a dramatic increase in political violence recently, like the assassination of a Democratic lawmaker and her husband back in June, and the shooting at President Trump’s campaign rally last year. This marks another step towards politically-driven violence.
According to President Trump in a post on Truth Social, Kirk is dead. “The Great, and even legendary, Charlie Kirk is dead,” Trump wrote.
This prompts us to ask an integral question: how can we prevent political disagreements from escalating into deadly incidents such as these?
Dinner depends on what I’m feeling. Mostly, it's some form of red meat and vegetables. I've cut most carbs out of my dinner for about a year now. I don’t track macros normally; I try to get about 2800 calories a day and I take about 10 vitamins a day.
Game day:
Before games, I have to mentally start focusing on the drive to the rink up to three hours before. I listen to metal or rock, chew NeuroGum for caffeine and L-theanine, and spend 10 minutes stretching. Then, using racquetballs, I juggle for 5 minutes, juggle off the wall for another 5, then put the hinge down to align horizontally with the wall to work on depth perception and speed.
I rarely ever talk to anyone before a game as I usually lose my voice yelling commands during the game and need to save myself as much as I can.
Team:
My favorite part about being on the team is how well the guys mesh together. I’ve had teams with power dynamics and cliques that separated the players, but all of my teammates are my friends, and we all understand each other.
I’ve learned that I just need to have fun. I originally wasn’t going to play for ECU because I quit hockey after a bad junior year experience, but I ended up joining just for fun and I’m having a blast. Extracurriculars are always a good time no matter what’s happening: I just need to enjoy myself, enjoy life, and enjoy my time.
Sept. 11th, Greenville Museum of Art held its Fashion On Display showcase. The event had food, drinks, and a raffle for attendees. Fashion On Display showcased local and emerging artists' work. Some went with fashion while others had jewelry. Each set of models showcased different brands' work.
According to Alaina Corsini, president of the Museums Board of Trustees and ECU alumni, the main purpose of this showcase was to highlight the museum and its collaborations with local businesses and artists within the fashion world.
“Our goal is to showcase local and emerging artists. They can submit any work whether that be fashion or jewelry.” Corsini said.
Other members of the museum like ambassador of Fashion On Display, Victor Ihuka highlighted winners of the raffle while also making sure everything went smoothly. Ihuka, a podcaster and artist himself, wanted to make sure people felt at home in this community of artists.
“We just want people to know that the museum is accessible. It’s about community and camaraderie,” said Ihuka.
The event was also made possible by the staff of the museum, sponsors, and members of the planning committee like Jennifer Harrup that supported the project's mission of bringing together people and showcasing fashion to Greenville. According to Harrup the most rewarding thing about Fashion On Display was seeing it all come together smoothly.
“We started planning this back in June and it’s just amazing to see all of our ideas come together. I think just having the community come together to support art and local businesses is a huge thing for Greenville.” Harrup said.
Another highlight of the event was the raffle. Attendees had the ability to win necklaces, gift cards, and more by just putting themselves in the running.
Overall, the Fashion On Display gave artists the platform to express themselves and show what they’re capable of. It displayed the amazing work it takes to create fashion as well as the artistic expression the creators use within the process. It was a showcase of not only the artists that make up Greenville's local scene, but also the people within the community who are eager to support and platform them.
Dakota Hamm and Trisha Rangaraju
STAFF
BRIEFS
Grant supports community health services, student training
East Carolina University has received a $1.3 million federal grant to expand mental and behavioral health services in eastern North Carolina while training doctoral students in psychology. The award is funded through the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Graduate Psychology Education Program, The grant supports hands-on training for six clinical health and pediatric school psychology students each year and provides free, integrated care for local residents. Led by Dr. Robert Carels and Dr. Marissa Carraway, the three-year project focuses on addressing substance use disorders, including opioid addiction, in rural and underserved communities.
Family ties enhance dental school experience for patients, students
East Carolina University’s School of Dental Medicine is highlighting the impact of family connections on education and patient care. Secondyear dental student Lucy Anna Sheaffer is continuing a legacy started by her grandfather, Dr. Benjamin Brown, a retired endodontist, and carried on by her parents, Drs. Christian and Lisa Sheaffer.
Lucy Anna now learns under her father’s guidance in ECU’s simulation lab, blending family mentorship with professional training. Brown recently established the Grace Marie Hudson Brown Memorial Patient Care Fund in honor of his late wife. The fund helps provide affordable oral health care through ECU’s community service learning centers while supporting dental education.
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.
September 13th
A Nash County man has been arrested for driving while impaired and kicking a police officer near ECU campus. The man was caught going 82 in a 35 mile per hour zone on East 10th st. He was released after posting a $25,000 secure bond.
September 16th
Kinston Police are searching for 22 year old Prince Ellison who is wanted for the murder of Daryl Dudley. The murder took place Aug, 28th at Richard Green Apartments. The suspect is said to be armed and dangerous.
September 11th
A Greenville felon was arrested after police found illegal drugs on him. The man's homes were searched and the police found six firearms. He is facing drug trafficking, possession, intent to sell, and paraphernalia charges. As well as possession of a stolen firearm and for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
Trump’s birthday letter to Epstein and others
Candon Johnson TEC STAFF
On September 8, the contents of three books made by Ghislaine Maxwell, a will, a 2007 non-prosecution agreement, and a set of photos of some of his belongings were released by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform after massive outcry. The Oversight Committee released scans of the books on Google Drive.
These three books titled The First Fifty Years are a compilation of photos and letters that were given to Epstein for his 50th birthday. In the opening of the first book is a table of contents listing contributors and writers for the specific sections. Some people listed in this table of contents are: Ron Altbach, Leon Black, Jean-Luc Brunel, Bill Clinton, Alan Dershowitz, and Donald Trump.
The books themselves are split into the following sections: Prologue, Family, Brooklyn, Girlfriends, Children, Friends, Science, Girl-Friends, Special Assistants, Business, and The Next 50 Years. The public was shocked after the reveal of these books because a lot of prominent officials were listed and photographed within its pages. Maxwell opened the first book with a paragraph detailing the reason for the book’s creation, along with photos after the paragraph acts as an introduction to Jeffrey if he ever read them.
“The idea behind this book was simply to gather stories and old photographs to jog your memory about places, people, and different events. Some of the letters will definitely achieve their intended goal. Some well… you
will have to read them to see for yourself. I know you will enjoy looking through the book, and I hope you will derive as much pleasure looking through it as I did putting it together for you,” wrote Ghislaine.
The first book is mainly focused on Jeffery’s mementos and keepsakes from childhood and like a Cub Scouts award and other miscellaneous items. The next is a photographic history of his family and early years. One thing that stands out about these books is the amount of redaction done on the people photographed.
The second shows pictures of friends and acquaintances. A lot is noteworthy, in this section including a lengthy letter by politician Peter Mandelson claiming that Jeffery was “his best pal.” Next in this section is a disturbing collage of animals, as well as a drawing, depicting two versions of Epstein in 1983 and the other in 2003. In the 1983 version, a younger Epstein is seemingly attempting to give candy to children, while in the 2003 drawing he’s older, on the beach, getting massaged blond haired women.
On the next page, there is a photo where Jeffrey stands with two men and a woman whose face is redacted. In their hands is a check for $22,500. It is written to the order of Jeffrey Epstein and signed by D. J. Trump. Below the picture is a blurb written by someone discussing the context of the photo. It states: “Jeffery showing early talents with money + women!”. In the same paragraph it states that Jeffrey sold a “fully depreciated” girl to Donald Trump for $22,500. The writer
ECU Police investigates fondling incidents
Sunday, September 14 around 9:30 pm, three incidents were reported to the East Carolina University Police Department. Three unrelated victims reported a fondling incident in Clement Hall. The victims did not know each other.
The scattered incidents took place between 2 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. According to the ECU alert incident report, the suspect asked two of the victims for a hug before fondling them. The third victim was fondled while they were not looking.
“A person is not at fault for being fondled (the touching of the private body parts of another person for the purpose of sexual gratification, without the consent of the victim); the perpetrator is the one responsible,” ECU Alerts said.
The suspect is not known to be a resident of Clement Hall. It is suspected that the suspect followed the victims into the residence hall. The report warns students to not let people “tailgate” into residence halls. Each person should swipe their own One Card upon entering buildings. This prevents non residents from entering.
There is an ongoing investigation into this event.
“If you feel concerned about a person or a situation, trust your feelings and try to remove yourself from the potential threat, even if it is someone you know,” ECU Alerts said.
of this paragraph is not addressed.
The third book continues the friends section before moving on to the science section which has bizarre collages of science, drawings, and pictures of equations and topics. One noteworthy section that starts off the book contains a letter from Donald Trump that is written within a crude drawing of a woman's body. This letter ends with the line: “A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday–and may every day be another wonderful secret.” Along with this letter is a bizarre letter written by a man named Stuey which ends with a joke about Epstein avoiding the penitentiary.
The next large section is the Girl-Friends sections followed by Assistants, Business, and then a look toward the next 50 years. In the Girl-friends section we see redacted photos of women as well as letters from them to Epstein, which mention “massages” and “private time”.
This barely scratches the surface of the shared information within these three books as the rest of Epstein's documents haven't been fully released yet. In context, these books truly show the huge circle that Epstein surrounded himself with as well as a deep look into his and others’ narcissism.
It in addition to the other documents released reveal a peak into the world in which a rich financier thought he could get away with horrific and unspeakable crimes.
Honoring Charlie Kirk here on ECU's campus
While walking on the campus of East Carolina University, some students and faculty have come across a small memorial in honor of Charlie Kirk, an American right-wing political activist who was recently murdered while addressing an audience at Utah Valley University. The memorial features an American flag surrounded by a variety of bouquets of flowers. Just last week, students gathered near the Cupola to pray and remember the late founder of Turning Point USA. Candles were lit, a moment of silence was made, and prayers were offered to his family and legacy. Turning Point at ECU still continues to mourn his loss, though the public memorial service is being held nationally and will take place on September 21 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
Madison Lanier TEC STAFF
Giuliana Barberio TEC STAFF
COURTESY OF EAST CAROLINA
Clement Hall where the fondling incident took place between 2-2:30 a.m.
GABE KEY I THE EAST CAROLINIAN
The memorial put in place by ECU students in order to honor Charlie Kirk.
COURTESY OF HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
One of the letters that Trump sent to Epstein and others with a drawing.
COURTESY OF HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
Trump's Birthday Letters to Epstein and others. 2 pictures of the letter are shown.
Arts & Entertainment EVENTS
TODAY
Market on the Square
Winterville’s Market Square, 4:30PM to 7:30 PM 252 Main Street, Winterville, NC 28590
252-814-0192
Try Tennis Baywood Racquet Club, 6PM to 7PM, 471 Baywood Dr, Winterville, NC 28590 252-756-6262
Tommorow
David Baskeyfield and Friends
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 7PM to 9PM401 East Fourth St., Greenville, NC 27858, 252-752-3482
Sip, Savor, & CreatePotter’s Wheel Emerge Gallery and Art Center, 6:30PM to 8:30 PM 404 S. Evans St., Greenville, NC 27858, 252-551-6947
Saturday
Batman Day 2025 at Nostalgia Newsstand
Nostalgia Newsstand, 10AM to 6PM, 1322 E 10th St, Greenville, NC 27858
252-758-6909
Dance Collective Costume & Bake sale
Greenville Civic Ballet, 9AM to 12:30PM, 2285 County Home Rd , Greenville, NC 27858
252-355-7880
End of Summer Vendor Market
Eastern Carolina Village and Farm Museum, 9AM to 1PM 4570 County Home Road, Greenville, NC 27858
252-531-2771
Live Music with Alek Ottaway Band Buccaneer Music Hall, 10PM to 11:59PM, 2120 E Fire Tower Rd, Greenville, NC 27858, 252-756-5505
Sunday
Sunday in the Park- Love Tribe
Wildwood Park, 5:30PM to 7:30 PM, 3450 Blue Heron Drive, Greenville, NC 27858 252-329-9453
Make your own forged necklace and earrings Greenville Civic Ballet, 9AM to 12:30PM, 2285 County Home Rd , Greenville, NC 27858
252-355-7880
Intro to pickleball class
Greenville Pickleball Club, 5PM to 6PM, 1750 Wimbledon Dr, Greenville, NC 27858
252-756-9872
ECU’s Faculty Transforms Art Into Song
Dakota Hamm TEC STAFF
A faculty recital will take place next Monday at 7:30 p.m. at A.J. Fletcher Recital Hall, featuring Daniel Shirley, East Carolina University professor of vocal studies and Eric Stellrecht, the primary collaborative pianist in the Department of Vocal Studies. The recital will feature classic works like Robert Schumann’s Dichterliebe, Op. 48. Shirley and Stellrecht have been performing together for a decade and have performed in six recitals together.
The recital will primarily feature art songs and poetic texts set to music and sung. Two of the poetic texts that will be featured are from German poet Heinrich Heine and English poet A.E. Housman. “The kind of poetry they wrote, on the surface, is simple and well organized,” Shirley said. He said that his favorite aspect of their poetry was the intensity behind it and the subtlety of their works. “The simple structures of the poems usually conceal something much darker and intense under the surface,” Shirley said. He describes Housman’s poetry as “so simple that it is almost child-like, but there is so much meaning and depth and questioning underneath the surface of really simple poems.”
Shirley said the connection with the audience is one of the most important aspects of the recital. “It’s a program that allows me and Mr. Stellrecht to connect with the audience and show them the emotional side underneath the simple nature of the poems,” said Shirley.
The recital will also feature the world premiere of ECU music theory and music composition professor Travis Alford’s Wake. Shirley said the world premiere of Alford’s composition was the driving force for the recital’s creation. Wake is the continuation of a project started by Shirley five years ago, in which he sets much of Housman’s work to music.
Shirley compares the similarities between Alford and the historical composer Robert Schumann in how they take poems and expand their meanings. “They take these poems and really broaden the meaning of them, they are leaning into the under the surface hidden meaning of these poems,” he said. Shirley describes it as a “healthy challenge” to try expressing this in the music while performing.
Even though the event is open to the public, Shirley said it is a great opportunity for ECU School of Music students. He said the recital is a great way for students to learn about the art song genre. “If anyone comes who is not
familiar with the art song genre, I hope it spurs them into learning more about it,” Shirley said. He calls art song a “powerful genre of music.” He said the big reason why the ECU School of Music faculty holds recitals is to showcase their love of music and music composition, primarily with their students. “That is the thing that gets us up in the morning and draws us to continue working in the field and creating music,” Shirley said.
Shirley believes any musician “who has a love of beautiful music made in a live environment, with no electronics,” can benefit from attending the recital. However, not just musicians can get something out of the recital; poets and writers can also get a lot out of it. “Writers, creative writers, and English majors might really enjoy hearing how these poems were treated by the composers and how the poetry begets the music,” Shirley said.
Shirley is excited to sing for his students and anyone who walks through the door. “Singing is the thing that brought me here and is my communicative vessel; it’s the most special thing in the world to me,” he said.
SGA Presents Free Professional Headshots
Adams TEC STAFF
East Carolina University’s Student Government Association has unveiled a new self-service photo booth for professional headshots. The booth was provided by the photo booth service company Iris and is completely free for students, staff, and alumni.
It’s located in the Student Government Association Suite in Room 223 in the Main Campus Student Center.
SGA President Daniel Walker said that the idea was first developed during the ninth SGA session. “Professional headshots for LinkedIN or resumes can often cost hundreds of dollars,” he said. “They can be unaffordable for many students.”
ECU staff and students can take professional headshots in just under five minutes. The booth is open for drop-in sessions from 9 am to 4 pm during business days and is ADA accessible. The space is reserved for faculty and staff on Fridays and is closed during finals week and university closure.
Users will first check in with the SGA staff in
their MCSC office. Three timed photos will be taken and sent to the email address provided at the beginning of the session. Users must make an official Iris account to download and further edit photos. Editing tools are provided both during the session and online after the pictures are received.
There’s no limit to how long sessions can last or to how many times photos can be retaken. However, SGA asks for users to be mindful of others who want to use the booth. Staff will be available for any assistance needed.
“Over 150 students have already taken advantage of the booth”, said Walker.
The SGA website recommends wearing darkercolored business casual or business formal attire. The Interior Design and Merchandising Department in the Rivers Building offers professional clothing donated by alumni and the local community. It is available on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 pm to 4:30 pm, and Wednesdays by appointment.
Any photos taken are for professional purposes and should not be used for any government
documents as it does not meet government specifications.
SGA will partner with Career Services for Headshots and Hoagies during National Career Development Week on November 20. Students will have the opportunity to take professional headshots and receive guidance on how to market themselves to a professional audience.
SGA is also developing another opportunity for students to develop their careers called the SGA Summer Scholarship for Regional Transformation. This initiative will provide stipends to support students completing summer internships in the 29 Eastern North Carolinian counties. Future professional events will be posted on SGA’s social media accounts.
For additional assistance, students and staff can contact the Student Government Association by phone or email.
East Carolina University’s Professor of vocal studies, Daniel Shirley, is leading a performance in Carnegie Hall music
OUR VIEW
Student Jobs Deserve Fair Pay
We, the editorial staff of The East Carolinian, believe that East Carolina University student employees deserve better pay for all the work they contribute. We agree with the question on whether the hard work we are putting in each day goes unnoticed.
Many jobs on campus require time commitments and long hours. As the staff of The East Carolinian, we are expected to be able to meet late-night deadlines, communicate with our peers on how to design the next paper, and even deal with high demands. You can compare this job to others on campus, that most likely get paid more. When students get paid more in retail and food industries off-campus, it makes you wonder why ECU cannot offer those same kinds of competitive pay for the backbones of their campus.
This isn’t even about a paycheck anymore, it’s about fairness. You make a fair point stating that some students who don’t have access to a car and can’t find a job anywhere else, are left to deal with the low wages. The purpose of a campus job is to ease the high cost of tuition and provide a student with new experiences, but when the pay is adding up to the effort, it doesn’t seem all that worth it anymore.
Organizations like The East Carolinian have been a big part of East Carolina University for decades. It has allowed students to share their voice and created a community. We urge administrators to want to invest in the students themselves.
Supporting fair pay isn’t a burden but a huge support for the future of East Carolina University.
PIRATE RANTS
be no bannings if it was an opposite-sex kiss, which I view as a double standard.
I hate the places to eat at the student center.
Why is this school only focused on athletics. What about the arts?
People need to start going to the rec center in the morning it is way too busy in the afternoon
Apparently football and drinking are the only things that matter in this town.
ECU’s first day program robbed me of $600.
Why do we have to apply for graduation? That makes no sense, shouldn’t the school know I’m about to graduate?
The dining hall staff are so rude.
Can baseball season start already?
All of the late night food options downtown are so expensive.
How does ALE not catch all of these freshmen?
I swear my dorm has a fire drill every single week. When will it end?
In 2023, the American Library Association tracked 1,247 attempts to challenge 4,240 titles. In 2024, 821 attempts to challenge 2,452 titles were reported. The numbers have fallen, but the problem continues to grow. Why is the idea of censorship becoming acceptable in a society that prides itself on free speech?
I remember my shock in 2022 when I walked into a bookstore and saw the graphic novel “Drama” on a display of banned books. It was a book about a middle school girl on her school play’s tech crew dealing with crushes. What did I miss when I read it all those years ago? What was so offensive that it needed to be pulled from shelves? A character came out as gay.
I couldn’t wrap my head around it. A book that I and every girl in my fifth-grade class had read suddenly wasn’t easily accessible to many other fifth graders. All over something that most of us didn’t even think twice about. But why?
Banning books is a characteristic of a regime who wants to silence opposition and stifle independent thinking, not a democracy. It is one of the easiest ways to get people to conform. You can’t question the view you hold if you don’t know about the existence of another.
Who gets to decide what is worthy of being read? The now-defunct website BookLooks gave “Drama” a rating of 2, meaning that it’s not suitable for those under the age of 13 due to “explicit sexuality” for mentioning a gay character and showing a same-sex kiss done in the context of a play (the character had played the female role at the last second). There would
The belief that even one book is worthy of being pulled from library shelves is a slippery slope. Anne Frank’s diary has already been pulled from multiple schools in states like Texas and Virginia. A book with historical significance in the Western world is being targeted. It’s clear that this decision shouldn’t be left up to a small group of vocal activists claiming to just be “concerned parents.”
Many of the people who argue, “the world doesn’t cater to you” are ironically the very ones who want the world to cater to them. Literature doesn’t cater to people, it reflects the world. Removing books from libraries won’t change that they exist. Labeling another person’s life as “corrupting material” is a dangerous precedent to set, especially in a society that’s becoming increasingly polarized.
It seems that those in favor of banning books believe that they’re doing a good deed for the youth. I disagree. While I don’t believe that young children should be exposed to graphic depictions of violent and sexual content, I also don’t believe that young children are as naive as many perceive them to be. A child will not always stay as a child, and we shouldn’t treat them as if they will always be.
None of the girls in my fifth grade class came out as gay after seeing a gay character. Most of them continue to live the traditional American life–get a n education, get a job, start a family. I question those who believe that a small aspect of a coming-ofage story can be classified as harmful and corrupting material.
To me, the main issue isn’t the books themselves; it’s the readers. We should be exposing our youth to a variety of media
and teaching them to apply critical thinking skills. How can we expect to become active members of society if we can’t even think for ourselves? Teachers and schools shouldn’t face punishment for educating students.
Banning books is also a costly action. According to the Guardian, 600 books pulled from school library shelves cost the Hillsborough County School District in Florida an estimated $350,000. This money should have been put toward better use, such as after-school programs or helping to provide lunches to children from lower-class backgrounds.
Challenging books becomes even more problematic when there are attempts to remove books from public libraries. This is not just an attack against education, it’s an attack against communities at large who rely on public libraries for a multitude of purposes.
When do we draw the line? Many people who support challenging books would say that their main objective is to get rid of “obscene” material from elementary and middle schools. But this isn’t the belief of every individual in this camp, especially not the more vocal sector. With government leaders who actively endorse book bans, who’s to say that this won’t become a problem at the federal level?
More than ever, we need to read. We need to read, to understand, to learn. Our children need to read and understand. From “Drama” to “To Kill a Mockingbird”, no book should be banned.
Over the past ten years, division has struck the United States. From Black Lives Matter and LGBTQ+ protests, the 2016, 2020, and 2024 elections, conflict in the Middle East and Europe, The storming of the US Capital building on January 6th, the Jefferey Epstein files, and more recently the death of Charlie Kirk.
Each of these events has continued to broaden the gap between the American people. We as a country are becoming more extreme in both our views and actions.
In his 1796 Farewell Address President George Washington said “However political parties may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become pot ent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of the government, destroying afterwards the very engines that have lifted them to unjust dominion.”
Exactly what President Washington warned us of is what is unfolding in our country today.
We as society have taken the idea of political parties too far. We have engrained the opinions and stances of our preferred political party into our identities resulting in the extreme views and actions we see today.
Division has more drastic effects than meets the eye. We as a society are more vulnerable than ever to the manipulation of our country and government by elites and political figures.
It has gotten to the point where news outlets report in such a way that appeals to a particular party instead of just simply stating the facts and allowing the people to form an opinion on their own.
American society is blinded by their privilege to live in such a great country, to have a political opinion, and our accessibility to information. I’ve found that in most scenarios we as a country could care less about most things that happen unless it directly affects our personal agenda.
Over the last few weeks I have noticed this destructive pattern within society when approaching Trump’s letter to Epstein being released and the shooting of Charlie Kirk. The right is outraged by the shooting of Charlie Kirk, but could care less about the release of this clearly defaming letter because President Trump fits their agenda. The left is outraged about the letter and that there is someone in office who could be linked to Epstein, but
chooses to celebrate the death of Charlie Kirk and or find irony in the fact that he was shot because of his stances on gun laws. Each of us has an innate sense of right and wrong, I encourage everyone to lean into that. Naturally both of these pieces of news are negative. We as people should not stand for political violence of any form just as we should not stand for corruption and pedophila in our government.
While this may seem like an unconventional idea I encourage each individual to think objectively about every piece of news. Do not form an opinion to conform to society or a party. Think critically about why you feel the way you do about things and form your opinion off that. If we can all make an effort to do this, I believe the country will be less divided and people will stand against injustices and wrong doings.
We must begin the fight for unity, the future of the United States depends on it.
The East Carolinian does not endorse the statements made in Pirate Rants.
Classifieds & Puzzles
by Jacqueline E. Mathews
by Jacqueline E. Mathews
The East Carolinian Sports experts predict this week’s events
Garett Skillman TEC Sports Editor
ECU VS. ASU
Score Prediction?
ECU 31-27
Why?
While this is definitely the toughest game of the season, the Pirate’s defense has exceeded all expectations so far, and Katin Houser has had an amazing start to the year. If the run game can get going against this BYU squad, I fully believe we can win this game. Playing in front of a packed Dowy-Ficklen stadium at night, give me the Pirates to upset the Cougars.
Cannon Gates WZMB Station Manager
ECU VS.
ECU 38-35
Why?
Listen, this is our toughest game to date, BYU is the best team not in the AP poll currently, and this is going to be a tough one for the Pirates. I fully believe the Pirates can come out on top against the Cougars and this time I think the offense is going to carry us through it. Katin Houser plays his best football in Dowdy-Ficklen and he will on Saturday.
Caleb Johnson TEC Sports Reporter
ECU VS. BYU Score Prediction?
ECU 27-24
Why?
The Pirates are playing arguably their toughest game on the schedule this Saturday. Coming off two dominant wins, ECU is hot, and offensively, the pass game is firing on all cylinders. The defense has continued to impress at all levels each week. While ECU is not the favorite, I do believe they have the ability to score on a power five level defense as we saw against NC State. I think they take advantage of BYU’s freshman QB Bear Bachmeier in his first road game.
Pirates face BYU at Dowdy-Ficklen
This Saturday Sep, 20th East Carolina (2-1, 0-0 American Conference) will host Brigham Young University (2-0, 0-0 Big 12 Conference). ESPN predicts that the Pirates have a 28% chance to win the game. Coming off a 38-0 shutout win against Coastal Carolina University (1-2, 0-0 Coastal Athletic Association) ECU will be looking to extend their win streak to three.
Offensively, East Carolina continues to play with a pass first style. Sophomore quarterback Katin Houser has passed for 973 yards and five touchdowns with a 71% completion percentage through three games.
Last week against CCU the Pirates got the best from their star receivers Senior Anthony Smith and sophomore Yannick Smith. The two combined for 15 receptions 161 yards and two touchdowns.
The run game has continued to struggle, ECU still has not designated a lead running back. Despite early struggles running the
ball, the Pirates have lots to build off of offensively. This matchup will be a benchmark to show where exactly this high-powered offense lands when compared to the rest of the nation.
Defensively East Carolina has continued to get better weekly. Last week in Conway, the Pirates delivered their first road shutout in 25 years.
ECU forced five turnovers (two interceptions and three forced fumbles), five sacks, nine tackles for loss, and six pass deflections. This is the most dominant that ECU has been rushing the passer so far all season.
The pass rush will need to continue to make its presence known this week against BYU as East Carolina will face true freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier. Coming off of a week’s rest, this will be the first real test for the young quarterback in his first ever road game.
Like most teams with young quarterbacks, the Cougars heavily depend on the run, ESPN tells us that they are rushing for
over 312.5 yards per game. On the flip side, ECU is allowing just 60 rushing yards per game to opponents.
The Cougars have played two inferior opponents so far in Portland State University (0-4, 0-0 Big Sky Conference) and Stanford University (1-2, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference). BYU has scored a combined 96 points and allowed a combined three points over the last two outings.
In terms of all time record, the Pirates hold a 2-0 record over the Cougars and head coach Kalani Sitake. The first, a win here in Greenville in 2017 and again in 2022 where ECU kicked a last second field goal Provo. The game will be played at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium here in Greenville, N.C. Saturday Sep, 20 at 7:30 p.m. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN2 and will be available to listen to on 94.3 FM The Game.
East Carolina delivered a dominant performance on Saturday night, shutting out Coastal Carolina 38-0 on the road at Brooks Stadium in Conway, S.C. The Pirates controlled the game on both sides of the ball, a historic performance making their first FBS shutout since 2000 and their first road shutout in 25 years. With the win, ECU improved to 2-1 on the season and made a strong statement about the direction of the team.
The defense set the tone early and never let up, forcing five turnovers and registering nine tackles for loss. Coastal Carolina struggled to establish any rhythm or flow, finishing with only 67 rushing yards and 239 total yards. Each time Coastal appeared to be gaining momentum, ECU’s defense stiffened, including two blocked field goals and multiple key stops inside the red zone. The performance showcased not only the defensive line’s ability to control the line of scrimmage but also the secondary’s discipline in coverage.
Sophomore quarterback Katin Houser led the way with a strong performance, completing 28 of 37 passes for 293 yards and two touchdowns.
Senior wide receiver Anthony Smith emerged as his favorite target of the night, snagging a career high 11 passes
for 136 yards while continuing to find open space in the Coastal defense.
The passing game carried the Pirates through the first half as the ground attack took time to find its rhythm. In the fourth quarter, however, ECU’s run game came alive, finishing the game with 204 total rushing yards. Graduate student quarterback Mike Wright Jr. also added a rushing score to put the game away.
Despite the massive win, ECU left points on the field in the first half, with missed field goals, stalled red-zone possessions, and a turnover on downs preventing the Pirates from capitalizing on opportunities. Still, the second half push highlighted the offense’s balance and the team’s ability to adjust. By consistently turning Coastal Carolina’s mistakes into points, ECU pulled away and never looked back.
East Carolina’s defense took over, forcing five turnovers that completely shifted the flow of the game. Freshman defensive back Ja’Marley Riddle came up with a big interception in the first half. The Pirates also swarmed to the ball to jar it loose three times, with junior linebacker Julien Davis forcing a fumble early. Defensive linemen Kieran Davis and Kendrick DuJour recovered key loose balls to give ECU extra possessions.
Each takeaway not only energized the sideline but also set up scoring chances for the offense, as the Pirates turned turnovers into points and built the momentum that carried them to a 38-0 shutout victory. With a matchup against BYU on the horizon at Dowdy-Ficklen stadium on Saturday, the Pirates will look to build on their momentum and continue sharpening their consistency on both sides of the ball. The game will kickoff at 7:30 pm and will be televised on ESPN2 for fans who can’t attend.
Caleb Johnson TEC STAFF
GABE KEY THE EAST CAROLINIAN
East Carolina Univeristy football players pose for the photo at home in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium against The University of Texas at San Antonio.
ECU Soccer Shuts out Tulsa in Conference Opener
The East Carolina University soccer team (3-3-2, 1-0-0 American Conference) opened conference play with a 2-0 home victory over the University of Tulsa (5-3-1, 0-1-0 American Conference). Tulsa came into this game hot, winning three of their last four games but the Pirates were able to stifle them Thursday night. After finishing non-conference play with a losing record and without a win at home, this could be the win for ECU that shifts the momentum for the bulk of the season.
The game got off to a hot start with an early goal by the Pirates. A corner kick in the 2nd minute of the game led to an eventual goal by junior forward Alyssa Tucker which gave the Pirates the early 1-0 advantage over Tulsa. The Pirates
continued with constant pressure throughout the half, and didn’t allow the Golden Hurricane to generate any good opportunities. ECU nearly doubled Tulsa’s shots on goal total in the half with the Pirates having 14 shots compared to eight for the Golden Hurricane.
The second half was more of the same, with the Pirates applying pressure on the Tulsa defense and generating more opportunities to score. It eventually culminated in ECU’s second goal by sophomore forward Caitlen-Star Dolan Boodram which was assisted by graduate student midfielder Molly Thomas. That was the English standout’s fourth goal of the season which leads the Pirates so far this season. The defense for ECU remained stout throughout the game and didn’t allow Tulsa to put a ball in the net. As the 90th minute came to a close the Pirates clinched a 2-0 victory.
Despite Tulsa coming into the game as one of the American Conference’s best offenses, the Lady Pirates were able to contain them. The clean sheet was just the second shutout of the season, giving junior goalkeeper Olivia Dietrich the American Conference Goalkeeper of the week for her performance.
The Lady Pirates will look to stay undefeated in conference play on Thursday when they travel to Tampa Bay, Florida to take on the University of South Florida (5-4-0, 1-0-0 American Conference). The game will kickoff at 7:00 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+.
Pirate’s volleyball splits 1-1 at the Tribe Invitational
East Carolina University volleyball kept its strong start to the season going at the Tribe Invitational in Williamsburg, Virginia, but the Pirates couldn’t escape without their first setback of the season. ECU opened the weekend with a comeback win over host College of William & Mary (4-4, 0-0 Coastal Athletic Association) on Friday before falling to Liberty University (9-1, 0-0 Conference USA) in a narrow five-set match on Saturday. After the Tribe Invitational, the Pirates now sit at 7-1 overall on the season.
Friday’s opener against William & Mary didn’t start smoothly, as ECU dropped the first set 21-25. From there, the Pirates took control. Behind the offense of junior outside hitter Ellie Pate, who recorded 19 kills, ECU won the next
three sets, including a dominant 25-12 finish in the fourth. Junior right side Aulie Huff and freshman outside hitter Sydney Buchanan each posted 14 kills, while junior middle blocker Kai Bailey added nine kills and five blocks, hitting .727. The attack helped the Pirates secure the 3-1 victory and extend their unbeaten run.
Saturday brought a tougher test against Liberty, ECU dropped the opening set but responded in the second, only to fall in a close third. The Pirates again fought back in the fourth to push the match to a fifth set. ECU looked ready to complete the comeback after building a 13-10 lead, but Liberty closed on a 6-1 run to take the set 16-14 and the match 3-2.
Despite the loss, several Pirates players had great individual performances. Bailey, Huff, Buchanan and Pate all
reached double figures in kills against Liberty. Sophomore setter Taryn Gilreath was great, dishing out a career high 52 assists in the loss, which earned her a spot on the All-Tournament Team.
The Pirates proved they can continue to rally from slow starts, but the late collapse against Liberty showed the importance of closing out these tight sets. Still, starting the year 7-1 and competing in a five-set battle against an opponent like Liberty shows the potential this team has for head coach Adler Augustin’s squad. The Pirates will now turn their attention back home, taking on Wake Forest University (4-4, 0-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) on Sept. 16.
This writer can be contacted at sports@theeastcarolinian.com.
Tyler Buonocore
STAFF
East Carolina University women’s soccer team celebrates after the goal against the University of Tulsa in the first conference matchup and first home game win of the season at Johnson Stadium.
CONTRIBUTED BY ECU ATHLETICS
Junior outside hitter Ellie Pate get’s ready for the serve against The College of William & Mary.
Garett Skillman
CONTRIBUTED BY ECU ATHLETICS
Sophomore setter Taryn Gilreath serves the ball against Liberty University at the Tribe Invitational.
