2026_Mar26_TEC

ECU TO PLAY IN CUTTER CREEK INTERCOLLEGIATE A7 to

East

Carolinian The

VOLUME 100, ISSUE 50

YOUR CAMPUS NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1925

Thursday, 3.26.26

NC Senator Thom Tillis to not run for office again Danielle Battaglia

TH E N EWS & OB SERVER

Sen. Thom Tillis said he will not run for public office again. He made that statement in an interview with ABC News’ Jonathan Karl released Monday.

Tillis, 65, a Republican from Huntersville, announced his retirement from the U.S. Senate last summer after sparring with President Donald Trump over protecting North Carolina’s Medicaid coverage. That disagreement spilled over to social media.

Since then, there’s been speculation about what

limits, and then they go, ‘Well, we want you to run again.’

So everybody wants term limits on everybody but the person they like.”

Tillis said the best thing someone can do is termlimit themselves.

“And don’t be so arrogant as to think you’re the only person in the state of North Carolina that can be an effective senator,” Tillis said. “I’m convinced there are hundreds of people in North Carolina that would have been better senators than me. They just didn’t run.”

Tillis, who formerly worked for IBM and as a partner at Pricewaterhouse, first came to public office in 2002

COURTESY OF ECU FOOTBALL

Students scan this QR code to attend the event and register your chance to win.

ECU student appreciation practice Friday Staff Report

East Carolina University’s football team will host a special student appreciation practice this Friday March, 27 at 5:30 p.m.

The event will take place at ECU’s Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. Check in will be at gate four of the stadium.

There will be free food, giveaways, a live DJ, raffle prizes. Students and staff will also have the opportunity to meet the Pirate players and coaching staff.

Students can register for the event itself and for the raffle here.

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

COURTESY OF DANIELLE BATTAGLIA

North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis announced that he does not plan on running for any public office in the future.

comes next for the senator.

Tillis sat down with Karl for a 23-minute one-onone interview discussing his career and the current state of politics.

But Tillis’ career trajectory came up near the end of the interview when Karl asked, “How are you going to be remembered?”

“I have no earthly idea,” Tillis said, before adding, “The only thing I care about being remembered by, is a good husband; a good father.”

That’s when Karl quickly followed with, “Are you ever going to run for office again?”

Without hesitation, Tillis said no.

He then explained that he had to talk himself into a second term in the Senate.

“The timing, I think, was right for me to retire,” Tillis said. “Everybody talks about how they want term

on the Cornelius Board of Commissioners, after pushing for a bike trail on the town’s park board.

He ran for the N.C. House in 2006, then became instrumental, in 2010, flipping the chamber’s majority to Republican. His colleagues rewarded with him by naming him House speaker. In 2014, he ran against Sen. Kay Hagan, a Democrat, and defeated her, going on to serve two terms in the Senate.

Tillis initially planned to run for a third term, but dropped his reelection campaign following his public dispute with Trump.

In Karl’s interview, Tillis said he still believes he has “a healthy relationship” with the president, and that Trump has been “very good” to him “at a personal level.”

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

ECU baseball to travel to San Antonio

Logan Harlow T EC STAF F

East Carolina baseball (15-9-1, 2-1 American Athletic Conference) will continue conference play this weekend as the Pirates travel to Texas for a three game series against the University of Texas at San Antonio (17-7, 2-1 AAC). This series features two teams with productive offenses and could become an important American Conference series as both programs look to build momentum. Each team’s records and statistics are subject to change as both teams have mid-week matchups prior to their weekend series.

East Carolina has relied on its lineup to generate offense through the early part of the year. Several Pirates hitters are among the top offensive performers in the American Athletic Conference. Sophomore outfielder Braden Burress has been one of the most productive players for ECU so far this season.

Burress is batting .376 and ranks near the top of the conference in several categories. He also sits among AAC leaders with 35 hits and has scored 25 runs this season.

Another very important piece of the ECU lineup is junior catcher Walker Barron. Barron is sporting a .381 batting average and is also reaching base at a rate of .452. His consistency at the plate has made him a key contributor in the middle of the lineup and someone opposing pitchers have to work around carefully.

Senior outfielder Jack Herring has also added key production for the Pirates this season. Herring is hitting .338 and has collected 27 hits with six doubles and 20 runs batted in.

The Pirates lineup has shown the ability to score runs in different ways. Through the early portion of the season, ECU hitters have combined for more than 189 hits and over 99 runs scored. That balanced production has helped keep the Pirates competitive in games even when pitching matchups become challenging.

While East Carolina has several hitters producing strong numbers, UTSA enters the series with three of the hottest hitters in the conference. Roadrunners junior outfielder Lane Haworth, senior outfielder Drew Detlefsen, and sophomore utility player

COURTESY OF ECU ATHLETICS

Junior left-handed pitcher Ethan Norby on the mound in Friday's 3-2 victory against the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Jacob Silva are all batting with over a .410 average.

With both teams featuring multiple hitters near the top of the conference statistical rankings, pitching could ultimately decide the outcome of the series. East Carolina will look to its bullpen following injuries to its Saturday starter senior righty Gavin Van Kempen and its Sunday starter freshman Colby Webber. Avoiding walks and keeping hitters like Haworth off base will be important for the Pirates pitching staff.

For ECU, the series also represents an opportunity to pick up key conference wins on the road against one of the best teams in the American. Road victories in the American Athletic

ONLINE » Golden Retriever to be Forsyth's first pet mayor

Conference can be difficult to earn, and a strong performance this weekend could help the Pirates build confidence as conference play continues.

The three game series will take place at Roadrunner Field in San Antonio, Texas. Game one is scheduled for Friday, March 27 at 7 p.m. Game two will be played Saturday, March 28 at 3 p.m.

The series finale is set for Sunday, March 29 at 2 p.m. All three games will be available to watch on ESPN+ and listen to on 94.3 FM The Game.

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

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NEWS

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Thursday, 3.26.26

BRIEFS ECU Department recruiting research participants East Carolina University’s Departments of Occupational Therapy and Physical therapy are recruiting research participants who are 19-44 years old.

The research will include participants performing household activities and walking without the assistance of a walking device while in the research lab. Participants who have any mental or physical ailments should not be a participant as it may effect the research.

During the research, participants will be asked to wear 4 activity trackers that will monitor their movements while doing the household activities and walking at the physical therapy lab.

The research will be take no longer than 2 hours and participants will be given a $10 gift card after completion of the research.

ECU to host Paint with your Pirate East Carolina University is set to host “Paint with your Pirate.” This event is for faculty and who have a student currently enrolled with ECU. This event is meant to show the relationship between an ECU faculty member and their pirate. The event will take place on Thursday, April 9, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Greenville Wine and Design Studio.

The faculty member and their pirate will have the opportunity to paint an ECU landmark. While painting, they will receive assistance from from the staff of Wine and Design. All painting materials will be provided.

Leadershape starts recruitment East Carolina University’s Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement is recruiting ECU students for their 14th annual LeaderShape Institute.

The Leadershape Institute partners with ECU annually to challenge students to develop their leadership skills with a community.

The event takes place from May 11-May 14 in Columbia, NC. All expenses are paid for by the CLCE. In order to be eligible to attend this event, students must be in excellent academic standing. The deadline for the application is April 1.

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

DULCE PEREZ I THE EAST CAROLINIAN

After recent peeping reports in both Cotton Residence Hall and Fleming Residence Hall, students raise concerns about privacy in residence halls.

Peeping tom concerns Dulce Perez T E C S TA FF

A second reported peeping incident this month in an East Carolina University residence hall is raising concerns among students about privacy and security in campus dorms.

According to the ECU crime log, the most recent case was reported on March 15 but occurred on Dec. 7, 2025, in Fleming Residence Hall 2025.

According to WCTI-ABC-12, a male student claimed to have seen someone slide a cellphone beneath the shower door while taking a shower before the suspect fled the area.

The report comes after another peeping incident was reported earlier this month in Cotten Residence Hall.

In that earlier case, when preparing to take a shower, the resident claimed he had seen a hand holding a cellphone close to his feet. The suspect may have entered the

residence hall by following someone inside without permission.

Rachel Scheiderich, an ECU student who lives on campus, said hearing about the incidents was unsettling.

“It’s a little creepy, obviously, that there's a chance someone's going to be looking at you when you’re most vulnerable,” she said.

Scheiderich added that the repeated incidents also raise concerns about the security of residence halls, especially older dorms.

“I feel like ECU probably could do a better security job,” she said. “We have the camera set up at the entrance of the doors, but I feel like sometimes that isn't enough.”

She also said students often face awkward situations when deciding whether to allow someone into a residence hall.

“Sometimes there's been people who have been standing outside the door, wanting to get let in, and they'll, really, make it your business to let them in,” she said.

Scheiderich continued saying that

“ It’s a little creepy,

obviously, that there's a chance someone's going to be looking at you when you’re most „ vulnerable.

-Rachel Scheiderich

sometimes you want to be nice and help people get in, but you really don’t know who they are.

The Fleming Residence Hall and Cotten Residence Hall cases remain under investigation.

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

NEWS

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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.

March, 17 ECU police made an arrest on two counts of misdemeanor larceny on an electric scooter at Scott Residence Hall. The incident took place at 7:38 p.m. last Tuesday.

March, 20 ECU Police are investigating and instance of simple assault at West End Dining Hall. The situation took place at 8:21 p.m. Friday evening.

March, 21 ECU police are investigating an instance of injury to real property at Jones Hall. This took place at 9:24 p.m.

Saturday night.

Thursday, 3.26.26

CON Dean elected to AACN Madison Lanier T E C S TA F F

ECU College of Nursing dean and professor, Dr. Bim Akintade, was recently elected to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) as a board member.

Akintade has worked at ECU for four years. He previously served as a faculty member and dean at the University of Maryland's School of Nursing. He has also previously worked as a nurse practitioner for over 20 years.

The AACN advocates for nursing at the highest levels of policy, funding, and workforce, according to Akintade. It shapes the curriculum for nursing programs everywhere.

“Their goal is to ensure that we have practice-ready nurses when they graduate,” Akintade said. “AACN is made up of probably

“ After working on

these committees for about six years, it's an honor for me to put my name in „ the hat...

-Dr. Bimbola Akintade

over 900 member schools in the United States… primarily members [are] comprised of deans of schools and colleges of nursing.”

Akintade has worked with the AACN in the past, serving on committees. During his work on these committees, he has assisted in developing the essentials, the standards for nursing curriculum across the country.

“After working on these committees for about six years, it's an honor for me to put my name in the hat, to sit at the board, and to truly be a representative of not just ECU, but rural areas and schools and colleges that are located in rural areas to determine or to at least influence policy, and to ensure that our voices are being heard and some of our challenges are also recognized,” Akintade said.

The decisions that Akintade and the rest of the board make set the standards, policies, and curricula for nursing schools in America.

Their work influences how funds are divided and more.

Akintade expressed that he was both excited and humbled to receive this recognition and to be seated on the board.

“It does put ECU out there once again, and I know that not just my voice, but the voice of ECU, the voice of our region, is represented at this very important table,” Akintade said.

The ECU College of Nursing will be 66 years old this year and is constantly gaining recognition and awareness for its growth, excellence, and impressive NCLEX and other test pass rates.

“Sitting on the board of directors for AACN is a fantastic opportunity to shine the light on our college, and this really does allow

our college to shine in this national space,” Akintade said.

This is once again a great achievement for

COURTESY OF ECU COLLEGE OF NURSING

Dr. Bim Akintade was elected to board of AACN.

Akintade, the College of Nursing, and ECU as a whole.

“I never miss an opportunity to celebrate, you know, the ECU College of Nursing, our faculty, our staff, and our students for the excellent work we do, and for the role we play and improving the health and the well-being of not only Eastern North Carolina, but for the state of North Carolina,” Akintade said.

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

March, 22 ECU police are investigating an instance of injury to real property at Ballard West.

There is also a juvenile petition being obtained and served. This took place at 5:30 a.m. Sunday morning.

March, 23 ECU police performed an arrest for possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana under half an ounce, possession of drug paraphernalia, and for carrying a concealed weapon.

The incident took place on Charles blvd and East 14 St at 4:52 p.m. Monday evening.

COURTESY OF ROBERTO SCHMIDT

After President Trump's promises of the Iran War ending quickly and swiftly, senators on both sides of the political spectrum do not see an end in sight.

Senators unable to see future end of war

This comes after Trump said he did not see an end in sight and a quick end to the war.

John T. Bennett

CQ -R O LL C A L L ( T N S )

As President Donald Trump’s Iran war enters its third week with the Islamic Republic government still intact, lawmakers from both parties say they have not heard administration officials describe an exit strategy.

The commander in chief on Sunday night again contended that the U.S. and Israel have “essentially defeated Iran.” But the Strait of Hormuz, a key passageway for oil tanker ships, remains mostly closed and the Iranian government remains in power.

“I think I just say they’re decimated,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One. “I think that we’ve done damage to them. Right now, if we left right now, it would take them 10 years at war to rebuild. But I’m still not declaring it over.”

On Monday, Trump described Iran as a “paper tiger,” saying its air force and navy are “gone.” During an unrelated event at the White House, Trump said the U.S. military has hit more than 7,000 “commercial and military targets” inside the country. He said Iran’s manufacturing for missiles and drones had been reduced, and threatened to target its oil pipelines.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters last week that Trump would decide when Iran was in a state of “unconventional surrender.” On Friday, the president told Fox News Radio that he would know when to end the war based on a feeling “in my bones.”

One possible pathway to ending the bombardment would be a deal with Iran’s new leadership — if it survives U.S. and Israeli airstrikes. But Trump gave talk of a peace pact a chilly reception Sunday night.

“I don’t know that I want to make a deal because you know what? First of all, nobody even knows who you’re dealing with because most of their leadership has been killed, as you know, right? So I don’t even know that we want to make a deal,” he said.

In June 2019, during Trump’s first term, a CQ Roll Call reporter asked him as he mulled military action against Iran during his first term: “Do you have an exit strategy for Iran, if war does break out?” The president replied, “You’re

not going to need an exit strategy. I don’t do exit strategies.”

Fast forward nearly seven years, and Trump 2.0 has boldly gone where Trump 1.0 never did with his air war that, along with Israel’s help, killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. But he has sounded as vague about how to get out of the conflict as he did seven years ago, frustrating some Democratic lawmakers.

“This is absolutely absurd that they have started this war. They have no clear metrics by which to determine what the off-ramp is, and the president feels like he’s able to just literally do whatever he wants,” said Sen. Andy Kim, a New Jersey Democrat who was a senior civilian adviser to commanders in Afghanistan.

“The service members deserve better. They deserve to have some sense of what is the goal and the objective. What is it that they need to accomplish to be able to get home to their families? And he’s doing a disservice if he thinks that he can just do whatever he wants and not clue the service members into this as they’re trying to understand what they’re being put into harm’s way for,” Kim said.

‘A lot of chaos’ Some observers have speculated, based on Trump’s and Leavitt’s remarks, that the president could one day simply declare victory and order the operation to end.

“He could do that,” Kim said of an out-of-the-blue end to the conflict. “He could, one day, just say, ‘I’ve authorized service members on the ground in Iran.’ Or he could say, ‘I authorized them to increase strikes,’ or to have naval vessels escorting every ship through this Strait of Hormuz. That’s what is so unnerving about this — no single person should be able to make this decision on behalf of the American people.”

Arkansas GOP Sen. John Boozman said administration officials, in conversations and briefings with lawmakers, have “outlined a number of points that they want to achieve.”

But he did not mention any plans for a possible exit strategy.

“The ability to prevent Iran from possessing nuclear weapons, and then also their ability to continue making and stockpiling these large ballistic missiles that have

tremendous range. So those are the main things,” said Boozman, a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. “They’ve also talked about regime change, to some degree. But those are the primary things that they’re trying to do, prevent their ability to wage war.”

Sen. Tim Kaine, a Virginia Democrat who sits on the Foreign Relations and Armed Services committees, said administration officials did not describe a possible exit strategy during a closed-door briefing last week.

“I want it to end as promptly as it can. Sure would be great for our troops, great for the region,” Kaine said. “At some point, I think President Trump will just say, ‘We did what we wanted’ and depart. But there will be a lot of chaos in its wake that ... could have a very long set of consequences.

That’s what I worry about.”

North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis, a retiring Republican who has pushed back on some of Trump’s policies, said last week that his main concern is America leaving too abruptly and creating a power vacuum inside Iran.

“What I’m worried about is a precipitous exit before we have any on-ramp for reform. I mean, we’ve had the ayatollah’s son sworn in. I think in some respects he could even be worse than his father,” Tillis said, referring to the late supreme leader, who was killed on the war’s first day, and his son and successor, Mojtaba Khamenei.

“I don’t believe it’s a good idea to just have a precipitous exit. I think there are a lot of things that could happen to the Iranian people and the retribution that would come from this regime,” he added. “So I think that we have to have an after strategy, after hostilities, to make sure that we’re just not leaving them out there and not able to regroup.”

To that end, Alex Vatanka, senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, wrote that “Mojtaba Khamenei must decide whether the Islamic Republic will continue along the strategic trajectory defined by his father or whether the pressures now bearing down on the system will force a more fundamental reconsideration of Iran’s political and foreignpolicy orientation.”

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

Opinion

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theeastcarolinian.com

Thursday, 3.26.26

OUR VIEW

Will SAVE America save America?

We at the East Carolinian think that the SAVE America Act infringes on Americans rights to vote. This proposed act would make it more difficult to engage with local and presidential elections.

This on top of threats of ICE agents guarding polling stations is making a lot less people safe from doing their civic duty, voting for public officials. Voting is what makes our democracy what it is.

This duty is what makes us a democracy and in order for us to continue being a democracy, we can’t hold people back from participating in our elections. It’s down right unconstitutional and frankly sounds a lot like intimidation.

We are a nation built by and supported by our neighbors. Our country was built by the people who have come to our shores looking for refuge, asylum, or a dream. Doing this will not do anything except discourage people from going out to vote.

There should be methods to stop voter fraud.

Overall we feel that this idea is taking Trump’s mission way too far. It’s coming between the people and their right to vote for a democratic leader to lead them.

Preventing stolen elections is one thing but this is excessive and treads dangerous waters toward authoritarianism.

COURTESY OF THE NEW YORK TIMES AND KAYLA BARTKOWSKI

Bob Barker and Cesar Chavez. Both were respected members of their communities before gruesome allegations came to light about their actions.

Confronting three legacies Sheilia Suggs T E C S TA FF

We were all taught at some point about influential figures and game show hosts with a squeaky-clean image. Once known as a champion for Latino civil and labor rights, Cesar Chavez became a pillar in the California Latino community. Longrunning game show host Bob Barker, who died in 2023, was widely known for his 35-year tenure as the host of “The Price is Right”. Now, both men are posthumously facing allegations of sexual harassment.

Thanks to the “Me Too” movement, victims of sexual assault can come forward with their accounts after years of stigma. United Farm Workers leader Dolores Huerta recently shared that she was forcibly assaulted by Chavez in a recent New York Times interview. Ever since the news broke, there have been

calls demanding that murals of Chavez be replaced.

“The Price is Right” former model Holly Hallstrom admitted that she also faced coercive demands from Barker and was eventually dismissed from the show after refusing to support him once allegations from another model surfaced, according to Fox News.

Both men, who are highly admired, are examples of how unearthed accusations can tarnish a legacy built on image. We are currently living in an era where allegations that were once swept under the rug have now resurfaced.

In today’s digital climate, society is swift to question the validity of abuse survivors’ stories to the extent of dismissal in favor of the defendant. With the “Me Too” movement validating victims of past incidents, people are bewildered by the news of both men being revealed as

predatory.

I truly feel as if we were taught that these men were known for charitable causes, with Chavez’s activism and Barker’s stance on animal welfare. It is important to listen to the victims now, more than ever. Although both men are no longer alive to refute these claims, the trauma that all women have experienced cannot be erased.

It is okay for us as college students to grieve the fact that known personalities have been proven to be inflammatory towards women. Before we dismiss victims, take the time to hear them out.

We, as society, should at least give victims a voice instead of silencing them in the name of history.

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

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

COURTESY OF ALLISON SHELLEY WITH THE MINNESOTA STAR TRIBUNE

Members of the Karen ethnic group. They stand in front the the US Capitol. They hold their flag and are protesting for human rights violations.

Okay, Panda express needs to get their stuff together, and when I say stuff, I mean their white rice. For a whole week they have had no white rice available, and so I have to settle for fried rice. Which wouldn’t be a problem if not for one thing.

Green. Onions. I like the peas and carrots and eggs. But the green onions are so gross. The texture is very unpleasant. And whats worse, there are so many little pieces of it in each serving! It takes me forever to get it all out. Yes, I take them out before I eat the rice. I see you judging me, I don’t care. This is why I choose and prefer the white rice.

I miss the scooters that used to be here freshman year.

The bathrooms in the art buidling smell atrocious.

I thought working a student job would allow me to strike a good balance of work and school assignments and stay on top of things. That is not the case it seems.

Genuinely why do three hour long classes exist?

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

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

A Conversation with Bianco Luke Hunt

T HE DI PLO MAT

Joseph Lo Bianco is president of the Australia Myanmar Institute and a professor emeritus from the University of Melbourne in linguistics, with a sharp focus on the ever evolving civil war in Myanmar, the politics behind it and the prospect of a future federal government.

While the junta has deployed a new propaganda unit to tell the good news about a war that has cost about 93,000 lives, opposition ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) have been writing constitutions and forming governments and administrations to run their respective states.

Then there’s the opposition in exile, National Unity Government (NUG) which – despite its differences with the EAOs and

its allied People’s Defense Force – remains the only viable political outfit with a nationalist agenda for Myanmar.

“The NUG does have a well worked out policy about federalism, they have taken this seriously,” Lo Bianco told The Diplomat’s Luke Hunt, adding that this is about delivering the decision making process closer to the people in a country where some 130 languages are spoken.

“Federalism doesn’t mean just one thing and Myanmar has to work this out,” he said. “It’s complex. The disadvantages are obvious. You can’t compare Rakhine with Mon or Chin states. Kachin is a huge and has a dominant language.”

Under Senior General Min Aung Hlaing the junta has full authority over just 21 percent of Myanmar, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. EAOs and the PDF hold 42 percent, while the

balance is in dispute.

The Chinland Council and the Karen National Union have written constitutions and a rules-based order while the Arakan Army has seized control of most Rakhine State and built judicial and taxation systems while operating as a de facto government.

Other EAOs are heading down the same path while a declaration of independence by an eastern Karen splinter group led by Gen. Nerdah Mya and known as the Republic of Kawthoolei has been dismissed by the KNU and others as bereft of any legitimacy.

The buzz-phrase is bottom-up federalism and Lo Bianco adds: “After all the fighting it has to happen. It may not be imminent but it is inevitable.”

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

OUR STAFF Trisha Rangaraju

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

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

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Arts & Entertainment theeastcarolinian.com

EVENTS

TODAY Join the Team!

Greenville, NC Recreation & Parks Job Fair Drew Steele Center, 1058 South Elm St., Greenville, NC 27858 252-329-4650​ ​3:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Visiting Artist Series: Mark Hosford, print artist

ECU School of Art and Design, School of Art and Design, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858 252-328-6665 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM

TOMORROW Lightnin Wells Documentary Premier and Concert Farmville Community Arts Council, 3723 N. Main Street, Farmville, NC 27828 252-753-3832 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM

SATURDAY Easter Eggstravaganza

A5 Thursday, 3.26.26

Golden Retriever to be Forsyth’s first pet mayor Richard Carver

NE W S & RE C ORD, G R EEN SB O R O , N .C.

The first pet mayor of Forsyth County is a golden retriever appropriately named Winston.

The Forsyth Humane Society conducted a three-week communitywide election that produced dozens of candidates and raised awareness of the nonprofit’s mission during its 85th anniversary celebration.

Winston won with 7,428 votes, ahead of runner-up feline Sanders at 5,020 votes. Next was Maverick at 4,428 votes, Gideon at 2,375 votes and Bella at 2,292 votes.

The winner was named on Saturday at Wise Man Brewing & Coffee Bar. Winston, owned by Abby Bennett, will serve as a community ambassador throughout the year, appearing at select events and helping spotlight opportunities to adopt, foster, volunteer and support local pets.

“This campaign showed how deeply our community cares about animals,” said Alex Patton, the society’s marketing manager.

“Winston represents the compassion and enthusiasm that people across our region have for helping pets.”

Patton added, “This first election exceeded expectations. It brought new energy, new supporters and new visibility to our mission.

Winston helped make history with us.”

The society plans to expand the pet mayor program in 2027 with additional opportunities for participation from both pets and families across the region. © 2026 the News & Record (Greensboro, N.C.). Visit www.news-record.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

COURTESY OF WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL

Winston pictured smiling with his owner as he was awarded the title of Forsyth NC’s first pet mayor.

Dreamland Escapes LLC, 9271 NC-903, Ayden, NC 28513 252-414-1382 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Easter in the Park

Alice F Keene Park, 4561 County Home Rd, Greenville , NC 27858 252-902-1975 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM

John “Singer” Benson at Uptown Brewing Co.

Uptown Brewing Company, 418 Evans Street, Greenville, NC 27858 252-689-6487 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Paint ‘n’ Sip

Pitt Street Brewing Company, 630 S Pitt St., Greenville, NC 27834 252-227-4151 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM

SUNDAY Spring Vendor Event and Easter Egg Hunt Downtown Bethel, Bethel, NC 27812 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM COURTESY OF THE NEWS AND OBSERVER

50 cent singing into the microphone on stage during the first day of the Dreamville Music Festival two years ago in 2024 located at Dix Park in Raleigh, NC.

New and upcoming music festival to bring big-name artists to Charlotte area Simone Jasper

THE HER A L D - S U N , D U R HA M , N. C . ( T NS )

Get ready to vibe out, North Carolina.

Charlotte rapper DaBaby and hip-hop star 50 Cent are headlining a music festival in Concord.

More than a dozen artists — including Busta Rhymes and Waka Flocka — are set to take the stage at the Be More Grateful Festival in June. And tickets will go on sale soon, DaBaby announced Monday, March 23 in an Instagram post.

Here’s what to know about the festival’s lineup and how to get tickets. When and where is the festival?

The Be More Grateful Festival is scheduled for Saturday, June 13, according to the event’s website.

The slate of hip-hop artists will perform at the Route 29 Pavilion in Concord. The venue is located near the Charlotte

Motor Speedway and a roughly 15-mile drive northeast from uptown Charlotte. How to get tickets Tickets are set to go on sale Friday, March 27. For more information about getting seats, visit bmgfest.com.

Route 29 Pavilion didn’t list festival details on its website, but it said “parking rates range from $10 to $20 and may vary depending on the event.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by KIRK (@dababy) Who’s performing at the festival?

Festival headliner DaBaby, whose real name is Jonathan Kirk, is known for his hit song “Suge.” The Charlotte native has appeared at local high schools and put Queen City references into his music videos. He’s also faced legal trouble and other controversies, The Charlotte Observer reported.

Also headlining the festival is Grammy-winning rapper 50 Cent, who put out early 2000s hits such as “In da Club.”

Other artists in the concert lineup include: * Boosie * Webbie * Busta Rhymes * BigXthaPlug * YK Niece * BunnaB * Big Boogie * Waka Flocka * Trap Dickey * Fetty P Franklin * Mellow Rackz The festival didn’t immediately respond to The Charlotte Observer’s request for additional information on Tuesday, March 24. Ask the North Carolina Service Journalism Team Questions about life in North Carolina? Or have a tip or story idea you’d like to share? The service journalism teams at The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer want to hear from you.

You can submit your question by filling out this form. © 2026 The Herald-Sun (Durham, N.C.). Visit www.heraldsun.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Classifieds & Puzzles

A6 Thursday, 3.26.26

theeastcarolinian.com

CLASSIFIEDS

CROSSWORD FOR RELEASE APRIL 7, 2024

THE TV CROSSWORD

by Ricky Cruz

COMICS BREWSTER ROCKIT

BLISS

Created by Ricky Cruz

4/7/24

ACROSS 1 During 5 “EastEnders” network 11 Wild, in a way 13 Deal snippet 14 “The Incredibles” daughter 16 Duplicated 17 German refusals 19 Poet Silverstein 20 Programming block airing “Friends” and “SpongeBob SquarePants” 23 “A little” 24 Reduced-price 27 Corbin of “High School Musical” 29 “Gross!”

30 “The Big Short” producer Gardner 32 1982 Toto hit 34 Punk guitarist Albertine 35 Weakness of Superman 39 It’s represented by a lightbulb 41 Birth country of Alexander Siddig 42 “___ Rouge!”

44 Millie of “Coronation Street” 47 Nike logo Solution to Last Week’s Puzzle

©2024 Tribune Content Agency, LLC All Rights Reserved.

WHERE’S PEEDEE?

4/7/24

48 “Tell absolutely ___” 49 Fez feature, sometimes 50 “I’ll start now” DOWN 1 Clip show hosted by Alfonso Ribeiro 2 “Turning Red” protagonist 3 Cooking show franchise originally from Japan 4 “Doctor Who” baddie 5 Email discreetly 6 Speeds up 7 Netflix cartoon based on a video game 8 Andy Taylor’s son 9 Fielding of “The Great British Bake Off” 10 Finale 12 Princess Organa 15 Explosive block in Minecraft 18 Chocolate candy with nonpareils 20 Pen tip 21 Fisher of “Wolf Like Me” 22 Squid’s squirt 25 Jan ___, Melora Hardin’s “The Office” role 26 Put a show together, say 28 Promotional cereal for “Family Matters” 29 Freezing 31 “Killing ___” 33 Call to up a bet 36 Pull 37 Father of Thor 38 Planet home to the Gungans 39 Ames’ state 40 Mulder and Scully and Thelma and Louise 42 Winter Tucson hrs.

43 Kings’ league 45 Demon of Japanese folklore 46 Nothing but ___

SUDOKU

Level 1

2

3

4

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

Solution to Monday’s puzzle

1/27/26

© 2026 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.

Sports

A7

theeastcarolinian.com

Thursday, 3.26.26

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

Tyler Buonocore TEC Staff

ECU VS. UTSA Score Prediction?

UTSA 2-1

Why?

I really want ECU to win the series and while I’m a very optimistic person, I think the injuries to our pitching staff will play a huge role. GVK going down with Weber already out is brutal and I just don’t see us finding a way around it against a very good Roadrunners team.

Cannon Gates

WZMB Station Manager

ECU VS. UTSA Score Prediction?

ECU 2-1

Why?

While UTSA is a really tough matchup within the American conference and we are down 2 of our top arms in GVK and Weber, I do not see why the Pirates cannot come out with a series win in this one, we will lose Sunday if I’m picking a 2-1 series but Norby finally looks better and the hitting for the most part has been very solid.

Nick Green

WZMB Sports & News Director

ECU VS. UTSA Score Prediction?

ECU 2-1

Why? UTSA is arguably the best team in our conference (besides us of course) and was ranked pretty evenly with us in the preseason rankings with ECU having the slight edge. This week is going to be an incredibly tough week while also playing Duke in a midweek game and losing 2 weekend starters in GVK and Weber. I think we’ll drop a game simply due to lack of arms but don’t be surprised if we still win the series.

COURTESY OF ECU ATHELETICS

East Carolina University’s softball team with their powdered purple jerseys on in their recent 2-1 series win against the University of Memphis.

Softball to face UAB

Blazers to travel to Greenville this weekend Kalise Lewis

F OR TH E EAST CARO LIN IAN

East Carolina softball (22-11, 6-3 American Athletic Conference) continues conference play this weekend as the Pirates welcome the University of Alabama at Birmingham (12-20, 0-9 AAC) for a three game conference series. The series presents an opportunity for the Pirates to continue their strong conference play while the Blazers look to secure their first conference win of the season.

The Pirates currently hold a two game winning streak but will first host Stanford University (18-8, 8-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) the Pirates look to add to their 14-6 record in Greenville. ECU has shown consistency in conference play with a 6-3 AAC record, which puts them near the top of the conference standings heading into the weekend. The Blazers will also play a mid week game ahead of their weekend series in Greenville.

UAB enters the series with a 12-20 overall record and is currently on a seven-game losing streak. The Blazers have struggled both at home and on the road this season, posting a 2-9 home record and 2-8 away record, but will look to turn things

around against the Pirates.

Offensively, East Carolina has relied on depth throughout their lineup that confidently displays their ability to apply pressure, utilize speed, and string together big hits. Consistent hitting at the plate and taking advantage of key moments will be important to ECU as they look to control the pace of the series.

Defensively, the Pirates will focus on limiting opportunities for the Blazers who have produced a .272 batting average this season. ECU’s ability to execute in high pressure situations and control innings will play a major role in the outcome of the series.

This weekend’s matchup provides the Pirates with an opportunity to climb higher in conference standing heading deeper into AAC competition. For UAB, this series is a chance to build momentum and capture their first conference win of the season.

Game one will be played in Greenville, North Carolina Friday March, 27. at 5 p.m. at the Max R. Joyner Family Stadium.

Followed by March, 28. at 2 p.m. and March 29. at noon. All three games will be broadcast on ESPN+.

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

COURTESY OF ECU ATHELETICS

East Carolina University’s Men’s Golf team following their second place finish at the East Carolina University Intercollegiate a three day fifty four hole tournament played at Brook Valley Country Club.

ECU to play in Cutter Creek Intercollegiate

Tyler Buonocore T EC STAF F

The East Carolina Men’s golf team is traveling to Snow Hill, North Carolina to partake in the Cutter Creek Intercollegiate at Cutter Creek Golf Club from March 27th–29th. The team will play three rounds and will try to take home the title after finishing 2nd at the tournament last year. Including the Pirates, there are 14 other teams traveling from as far as Providence, Rhode Island.

The Pirates are coming off a 2nd place finish at the ECU Intercollegiate at Brook Valley Country Club in Greenville, NC. ECU saw good showings from senior Philip Bondestad

and junior Nathan O’Neal who both shot +3 on the tournament and finished in a tie for fourth place.

Sophomore Luke Mosley also had a solid weekend shooting +4 and securing a top 10 finish tied at eighth place.

Cutter Creek is a very difficult par 72 course playing at 7,272 yards Nathan O’Neal from the tips. It has a slope rating of 138 and a course rating of 75.3. Last year, Campbell University won the tournament putting up a ridiculous -22 with ECU coming in second at -14. -10 was the winning

individual score after three rounds of play.

The tournament is set to take place this weekend Friday March, 27 through Sunday March, 29.

ECU will reveal the list of players as the tournament nears. This is the Pirates 2nd to last event before the American Athletic Conference Philip Bondestad Championships.

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