ECU 4/18/24

East Carolina will hold its Spring 2024 Commencement Ceremony on May 3 at 10 a.m. at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.

Ceremonies for the individual colleges at ECU where names will be read will have their own ceremonies for the rest of May 3 and May 4 in di erent locations, according to the commencement website. Ticket information will be shared directly with graduates, but guest tickets are not required for the main ceremony in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.

Degrees with distinction will be for students graduating with certain GPA requirements. For the Summa Cum Laude distinction, students need a minimum GPA of 3.90. Magna Cum Laude is for GPA averages between 3.60 and 3.90. Cum Lause is for graduates with averages between 3.50 and 3.60.

e times and dates for each individual event can be found on the commencement website. e main commencement will have a live stream link to watch virtually. e o cial vendor for graduation caps and gowns is Dowdy Student Stores in the Main Campus Student Center. Graduates can pick up their regalia and other merchandise throughout the week, though shipping is no longer available for caps and gowns, according to the website, unless you are a distance education student.

GradBash is ECU’s once-per-year celebration event for the graduating class. It will take place on May 2 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the North side of Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. Admission is free for all. e event will include live music by e Amazing Lounge Lizards, local food trucks, beer and wine, complimentary so drinks and water and a senior toast.

e annual Barefoot on the Mall concert is back for its 45th year. is years concert will have the band “parmalee” as the event's headliner. e close knit band is composed of two brothers, a cousin and a lifelong friend and plays country music. e band won Billboard’s Most Played Country Song of 2022, “Take My Name,” according to their website.

Year recap: moments at East Carolina

A lot has happened in the last year at ECU. From the season opener football game against Michigan to the current day, The East Carolinian has compiled some of our favorite and most memorable stories from the Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 semester. Some moments were dissapointing and others were made the year. The university experience can fly by, but there are times it is important to reflect. For freshman just getting started in their journey and seniors departing to begin a new chapter, here are some of the moments you may remember from the last school year.

Eli Baine TEC

BRIEFS

Sustainability to hold Earth Day Festival

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Friday, April 19 on the Main Campus Student Center Lawn, ECU Sustainability along with the Brody School of Medicine will be throwing a festival to commemorate Earth Day 2024. The event will offer voter registration, bike blender smoothies, stress reduction activities, an observation beehive, sustainability organizations, a pop-up thrift store and green giveaways.

Storm the Stadium event returns

On Saturday, April 20 from 8 to 10 a.m. at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, the ECU Military & Veterans Resource Center will host its 8th annual Storm the Stadium event, where those who attend take on the challenge of climbing the stairs of the stadium. The event will raise money to fund scholarships for military-affiliated students.

HHP to hold experiential expo

The College of Health and Human Performance will be holding an experiential learning expo titled Ports of Call on Wednesday, April 24 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Rivers Building. The event will be an opportunity for HHP students and faculty to show off their achievements and discuss developments and issues in the world of health.

CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS

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

Opinion

As students begin preparing for final exams and projects for the end of the semester, it’s important to keep in mind the importance of also setting aside time to relax during what is typically a very stressful period of time for college students.

We, the editorial staff of The East Carolinian, believe students should be engaging in relaxation strategies in order to prepare for the last week of the semester.

Although it may be easy to become overwhelmed due to stress and juggling between tasks, we encourage Pirates to finish out the semester strong and to keep in mind that summer is just around the corner.

It’s important to prioritize rest and take breaks when studying for final exams and completing final assignments. Be mindful of tips and strategies one can utilize in order to best achieve success.

Aside from getting a good night’s rest, it’s also important to ensure you are keeping a healthy, well-balanced diet. Proper nutrition and rest are essential for final preparation.

It can be a good idea to find a study space free of distractions in order to focus on tasks. At this point in the semester, it can be very easy to procrastinate coursework.

Lastly, recognize the hard work you have achieved throughout the semester. Whether you are about to walk across the stage with your degree in hand or are completing your first year of college, be proud of your accomplishments.

Take a breather in knowing the semester is almost over and your hard work will surely be rewarded as a result.

PIRATE RANTS

The end of the semester is just around the corner. Hang in there Pirates, you got this!

This Pirate is tired! I have been so overwhelmed due to the amount of schoolwork, job duties, etc. I have been balancing. It really gets stressful around this time of year.

As a student who has paid thousands of dollars to this university in tuition, textbooks, l etc. I don’t understand why I have to pay for cords and stoles for graduation. I just don’t see how it’s fair.

I hate walking to class in terrible weather. If it’s pouring down raining, I’m a lot less likely to go to class.

I really appreciate the instructors who offer extra credit at the end of the semester for filling out the Survey of Student Opinion of Instruction (SSOI) surveys.

The Wi-Fi was out on campus yesterday for at least two hours. It’s absolutely ridiculous how much the internet either is out completely, doesn’t work or only half way works.

I know of so many people who are about to graduate. It’s hard to believe just how fast four years fly by until you’re in that position. It really is true. Congratulations to all of the upcoming graduates!

When O.J. went on trial, it seemed pretty straightforward to me. Looked like a case of a guy who killed his wife and another guy, then tried to run away. White, black, whatever. Didn’t make much difference. Looked simple enough to me.

That was a generation ago; in the generation since, for better or for worse, our society has become far more conscious of race, particularly when it comes to interactions with the police. Martin Luther King promoted the idea of a society in which skin color was irrelevant, but instead we’ve gone the other way. Seems to me O.J. was the beginning of that, at least in terms of mainstream America’s recognition of it. Yes, I’m

speaking from my particular perspective, a white guy raised in a predominantly white town in northeast Kansas in the 1970s and 80s. I was in my 20s, a relatively inexperienced reporter, not far out of college.

O.J., too, was not so much black as he was a celebrity, at least in my eyes. He was the Juice, the guy who ran through airports, the guy in the movies.

The cops and courts — why would they want to persecute the Juice?

If anything, they’d give him the benefit of the doubt, right? He was a celebrity in Celebrity City. In any event, the court system is fair, and they’ll get to the bottom of it. That’s what I figured.

I concluded, as the trial went on, that he was guilty. The jury deciding otherwise struck me as wrongheaded; just because a cop was pretty

Thursday, 4.18.24

obviously a racist jerk didn’t actually change the substance of the case. I mean, even if the cop planted the glove, that didn’t mean OJ didn’t kill those people. The blood evidence was awfully strong, and anyway why did he run away?

But I also was able to grasp that “beyond a reasonable doubt” is a high wall to climb, and so I accepted the verdict. (It also struck me as about right that he lost in civil court, where the standard is “the preponderance of the evidence.”)

A generation later, after Rodney King and 41 shots and George Floyd, it’s hard to see things the way they looked at that time. I’m not saying I’ve concluded cops are racists; I’m saying that the issues of race and the criminal justice system are far more complicated than they seemed to me in 1995. Yes, part of that is me: I’m now a grandpa, more skeptical, more nuanced, I hope.

But I think it’s also generally true. The world before the O.J. trial was significantly different than the one O.J. just departed.

I’m not known for healthy eating habits, a trait I’m not particularly proud of but can’t seem to shake. My culinary choices defy threats from The Hubby and cajoling by many friends who have become connoisseurs of the finer things in life. To the utter dismay of my grown children, I love McDonald’s for breakfast — Oh, an egg McMuffin! A hash brown! — and consider a meal at Cracker Barrel the pinnacle of road trip food.

To whitewash my propensity for such fare, I often enlist my grandchildren on forays to the low-brow. The last time we were at a diner, I embarrassed family

a recent jaunt across the state, for example, our breakfast was a greasy cheese pizza bought at a north Naples gas station. The shop was selling the eight-slice version for $3.14 to mark March 14, or PI Day. It doesn’t get more Americana than this. A few decades back, not far from where I grew up, a Spanish immigrant and his sons opened a gas station with a run-of-the-mill convenience store. Over the years El Carajo evolved into a restaurant/bakery/wine shop known as much for its tapas as its paella. Locals loved it, but It didn’t take long before it also became a must-see tourist stop. The restaurant/gas station even made it into People magazine in 2022, when musician Joe Jonas celebrated his 33rd birthday there

selection. My quesadilla was tasty and her go-to chicken strips hit the mark. She also smacked her lips on some kind of frozen cappuccino, a treat she’s normally not allowed to have. As we ate on metal picnic tables outside, serenaded by car engines and exhaust fumes, she enumerated all the Wawa dishes she’s tried. Apparently the paninis and bowls are family faves.

Did I mention the place, across from a large mall in a Miami suburb, was packed on a Saturday afternoon? That the checkout line was 11 people deep? That everyone but me looked like a repeat customer? It just goes to show you don’t need the excuse of a pit stop to indulge in comfort food.

Classifieds & Puzzles

EVENTS

Water and sewer included. $730-$850 per month.

College Park - 1 and 2 bedroom, 1 bath located on East 10th Street. Walking distance to ECU. Water and sewer included. Washer and drying included in some units. $665-$795 per month.

Cedar Creek - 1 bedroom,

Aries (March 21-April 19) —

Today is an 8 — Follow your inspiration. You’re making interesting connections. You can see what’s missing. Not everything is as it seems. Maintain open communications. Share your discoveries.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) —

— Today is a 9 — Bring home the bacon and fry it up in a pan. Don’t get pushy. Reinforce the basics. Grab lucrative opportunities. Develop prospects naturally.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Today is a 9 — Talk about what you love to discover new connections. What you need can be found in your networks. Imagine the possibilities. Develop and grow.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is a 6 — Get quiet enough to listen to your muses. Make plans to realize a dream close to your heart. Outline the steps. Reinforce support structures.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

Today is an 8 — Share support with friends, teammates and colleagues. Collaboration flowers with communication. Discuss potential adaptations around a challenge. Pull together to lighten the load.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — — Today is an 8 — Put your heart into your work to grow. It could get chaotic. Distractions and illusions abound. Focus on the details that you love.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

— Today is an 8 — Follow your heart down interesting avenues. Spontaneous detours can reveal hidden treasure. Let go of expectations. Reality may not match fantasy. Explore possibilities.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)— Today is a 9 — Coordinate for lucrative benefits. Collaborate to bring home a healthy harvest. Keep family expenses paid and everyone fed. Contribute for growth. Conserve resources together.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)— Today is a 9 — You and your partner are in sync. Talk about shared passions and strategies for advancement. Strengthen foundational structures. Reinforce the basics. Love is fundamental.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

— Today is a 7 — Watch where you’re going. Slow for tricky sections. Pitfalls line the path. Physical action gets satisfying results. Score extra points for reconnecting with nature.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

— Today is a 7 — Follow your heart, despite complications. Love, fun and romance take priority. Distractions abound. Simplify expectations. Fantasies don’t match reality. Keep an open mind.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

— Today is a 7

— Relax and have fun with family. Cook up something delicious. Things may not go as planned. Stay flexible and amplify the love part. ©2024

COMICS

Arts & Entertainment

Contestant feels she ‘dodged a bullet’

Studs of Steel Live

Buccaneer Music Hall

2120 E. Fire Tower Rd., Greenville, N.C. 27858

8 to 10 p.m.

(252) 756 - 5505

Line Dancing and Karaoke

Buccaneer Music Hall

2120 E. Fire Tower Rd., Greenville, N.C. 27858

7 to 11:30 p.m.

“The Golden Bachelor” contestant Maria Trice, who left after the first week of the senior-dating series last year, now says she “dodged a bullet” in the wake of the announcement that Gerry Turner and the woman he did choose are getting divorced after just three months.

Marrying after a whirlwind courtship is like “trying to force a shoe that doesn’t fit; you’re going to get corns on your toes,” said Trice, one of 22 women vying for the widower’s affections.

She has no regrets.

“I think I dodged a bullet,” she told People after news broke that Turner and Theresa Nist were breaking up following their January TV marriage. “The interesting part about being at this stage and this age is people have stuff, even if they do their due diligence of finding out as much as they can about everyone, I think other stuff just comes up. Men in particular.”

Turner and Nist said they were still in love but that the logistics and geography just didn’t work. They announced their split Friday in a joint interview on “Good Morning America.” Widower Turner, 74, is committed to living at his lakeside digs near family in Indiana, while Nist, 70, is based in New Jersey.

Trice said she knew right away that she was not attracted.

“When I first met him, I was like, he’s not for me,” she told People, saying of Nist, “She was so excited. I was like, he’s nice, he’s handsome. I didn’t feel a spark.”

©2024 New York Daily News. Visit at nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

TOMORROW

Reports of Coachella’s death are over

INDIO, Calif. — I spent the last three days in dust-blown Indio walking tens of thousands of steps with tens of thousands of other people at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

It marked the 25th weekend I’ve done this as a journalist. Since 2007, I’ve reported on the festival’s growth as a pop culture touchstone, the expansion to twin weekends in 2012, the epic Beyoncé set in 2018 and the return after pandemic cancellations.

But Coachella, which has served as inspiration for dozens of other events around the country, has not yet sold out for this year’s second weekend, prompting some to ask if its long run as the premier taste-making U.S. festival is over.

Coachella, like many other things that have been around for decades (the first fest was in 1999), goes through up and down cycles. But nobody could look at the packed main field during the reunion of No Doubt on Saturday night and come to the conclusion that Coachella is dead.

The No Doubt set included a guest spot by Olivia Rodrigo — a nice bridge between the legacy and the now of pop music. Then, Tyler, the Creator followed with his most ambitious performance yet at the festival, “fighting with a giant sheep puppet onstage, getting ripped across the set in a fake windstorm, and toting A-list guests for a careerspanning set that proved his singular place in L.A.

music history,” my colleague August Brown wrote. Doja Cat closed the show Sunday night.

That’s not to say this is the fully packed Beychella of 2018. Fridays are typically light, and this year looked more sparsely populated than usual. The festival grounds at the Empire Polo Club were significantly expanded, so everything has a little more breathing room, and fans were able to walk up close to see Lana Del Rey’s headlining set Friday night without getting crushed. I also noticed, compared to years past, far fewer influencer types with lighting rigs attached to their phones for content creation.

Goldenvoice, the promoter behind Coachella, did not respond to a request for attendance numbers during the first weekend, but in previous years the event has been permitted for 125,000 people.

And those attendees are forking over hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars for their musical interlude in the desert.

Although Coachella has sold bottles of water for $2 throughout its history, that’s one of the few bargains you’ll find. A general admission pass for the second weekend runs $499 before fees, which appear to be $50. Then, you need to factor in the cost of a place to stay or camp, getting to the festival site and eating, drinking and buying souvenirs.

A group of attendees told me they paid $20 for three street-style carne asada tacos, $17 for a fresh-squeezed lemonade and $14 for a small cup

of esquites. They also paid $100 for a Coachella blanket and $75 for a sweatshirt.

However, they plan to return to Coachella — which is an experience, from the fashion to the art to, of course, the music.

“A festival is going to be expensive regardless,” said Bianca Anaya, 20, a college student who traveled from Columbus, Ohio, to attend Coachella for the first time. She has traveled around the country in recent years to go to music festivals, including Bésame Mucho in Texas, Shaky Knees in Atlanta and Lollapalooza in Chicago.

Even as Coachella makes dents in bank accounts and spurs some to wonder if its pull is waning, others unearthed a bit of the old magic.

Danielle Dorsey, an assistant editor for The Times’ Food section who was part of our team at Coachella, wrote about her experience at Jon Batiste’s performance Saturday night. It “harks back to the early days of Coachella,” she said, “before any of us thought to capture the experience for the ’Gram and when it was just about letting ourselves be moved by the music.”

CBS starts daytime drama with NAACP

LOS ANGELES — CBS Television Studios has ordered a new daytime drama developed under its partnership with the NAACP, the network announced on Monday.

“The Gates,” which is scheduled to premiere in January 2025, is the first greenlighted project to come out of the pact, which was formed in response to the national outcry following the 2020 murder of George Floyd. The specific time period, launch date and other details will be announced at a later date.

The show will revolve around a wealthy Black family living in a posh, gated community. Michele Val Jean, a veteran of daytime dramas who has won multiple Daytime Emmy and Writers Guild of America awards for her work on “The Bold & the Beautiful,” will be the showrunner, as well as an executive producer and writer.

At the time CBS Television Studios and the NAACP announced their alliance to develop scripted, unscripted and documentary programs for TV networks and streaming platforms, the five-year deal was the most prominent agreement

ever initiated between a major television studio and an organization outside Hollywood to create entertainment content.

Despite announcing a number of projects in development under the agreement, however, none have yet managed to complete the move from boardroom to living room.

“Neither [NAACP President] Derrick [Johnson] or I realized when we made this deal how challenging the environment would become,”

CBS Entertainment Group President George Cheeks told The Times last year. “Streamers are now reconfiguring and redirecting their programming filters on the amount of shows they want to buy. Cable is slowly moving away from scripted.”

News of “The Gates” being ordered to series comes after the network announced Friday that “The Talk,” its “View”-style daytime talk series, would conclude later this year after 15 seasons on air.

©2024

Times.

Thursday, 4.18.24

TEC spertZ'

Nick Bailey Sports Editor

Wichita State vs. ECU 3-0

Why?

The Pirates are on a roll winning six of their last seven as they welcome Wichita State to Clark-LeClair Stadium. The Shockers are only one game behind ECU in the American Athletic Conference but do not pose the same strength nationally as the Pirates do, as our pitching staff ranks in the top five in the nation in ERA with an average of 3.38 per game. The Pirates also have committed just 25 errors all season to check in at a .980 fielding percentage, a mark that sits at 13th nationally. If this game was on the road for ECU I can see them dropping a game, but I see them welcoming NC State already on a roll on Tuesday.

Garrett Skillman

For The East Carolinian

Wichita State vs. ECU 3-0

Why?

With how good the Pirates have been playing lately and how good their stars have been, I’m confident ECU will sweep Wichita State. With home field advantage, Greenville will have ClarkLeClair stadium rocking with thousands of fans. Although Wichita State and ECU have similar batting stats, the Pirates pitching is much better. ECU has a whole 1.0 ERA lower than Wichita, making them much more elite on the mound and defensively.

Takeaways from ECU football’s spring

Nick Bailey TEC STAFF

The East Carolina University football team officially wrapped up its spring practice session April 13 with the annual Purple-Gold game inside Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, which the Purple team won 23-14 over the Gold Team.

Under sixth-year Head Coach Mike Houston, the Pirates played a four-quarter game with a running clock that lasted approximately 85 minutes under partly cloudy skies and temperatures in the low 70s.

Former University of Miami and University of Missouri transfer junior quarterback Jake Garcia started for team Gold, while sophomore quarterback Katin Houser, a transfer from Michigan State University, started for team Purple. Redshirt freshman quarterback Raheim Jeter took reps on both sides of the ball since he is expected to be the third quarterback on the depth chart.

Right away we saw a whole new offensive system then we saw during ECU’s second 10 loss season ever, the impact of newly offensive coordinator John David Baker was evident in the fast paced offense.

Gold took an early 14-7 lead after the first quarter on a Garcia 26-yard touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver Brock Spalding, the game’s first score. Houser quickly tied the game at seven apiece with a 27-yard touchdown pass to North Carolina

State University transfer senior wide receiver Anthony Smith, before Garcia scored on a four-yard run to take the lead in the first quarter.

“I love the offense, I love it. It’s awesome,” Garcia said after the game. “Just being able to move fast, it honestly feels like a fast break in basketball. Like you’re a point guard back there and you have options. Either you hand the ball off or you could just spin it out there.”

Houser and Garcia are competing for the starting quarterback position. Houston stated that it is a legitimate competition that will be settled at some point during summer camp. Both appeared competent in handling the task on Saturday, demonstrating arm talent and quick decision-making.

Both players made deep throws downfield, completing 11 passes of 10 yards or more. Kansas transfer junior wide receiver Kelan Robinson made a 70-yard gain in the first half.

“Offensively I’m pleased with the progress of meshing together,” Houston said after the game. “The mistakes that you still are seeing are guys getting on the same page with the quarterback and receiver. We had a couple mistakes by a couple young

game

receivers that resulted in two interceptions today. Execution is going to be the key to this thing as fast as we’re going. If we can execute, then obviously we’re going to be

The defense regained its footing as both offenses blasted up and down the field in the first half, as sophomore defensive back Isaiah Brown-Murray, junior defensive back Tymir Brown, and sophomore defensive back Kamaurri McKinley all recorded The Purple defense pushed a second-half shutout, while the offense scored 13 points to win by nine. Junior kicker Andrew Conrad kicked a 51-yard field goal in the third quarter and his third of the game from 27 yards in the fourth. Purple scored its final points of the game on a 30-yard interception that got returned for a touchdown by McKinley, bringing the ECU’s offense gained 554 yards (401 passing, 153 rushing) for an average of 8.2 yards per play, scored three touchdowns, and made three field goal attempts. Overall, the defense had 10.0 tackles for loss for minus 27 yards, including five sacks for -19 yards.

ECU soccer announces 2024 season schedule

The East Carolina soccer team, led by Head Coach Gary Higgins, unveiled their highly anticipated 2024 fall schedule, consisting of 17 games, with nine exciting home matches scheduled at Johnson Stadium. Coach Higgins sounded very enthusiastic about this year’s season, saying they wanted the team to be eager to tackle a challenging mix of out-of-conference opponents and competitive American Athletic Conference (AAC) matchups.

“We are very excited for our 2024 season,” said Higgins in a press release. “As always, we have some tough out of conference games on our schedule this year as well as a challenging American Athletic Conference slate.”

2024 Soccer Schedule Preview

Aug. 7: vs Liberty

Aug. 10: vs Elon

Aug. 18: vs NC State

Aug. 22: vs UNC Greensboro

Aug. 25: vs Campbell

Aug. 29: vs Coastal Carolina

Sep. 1: vs UNCW

Sep. 8: vs Western Carolina

The season kicks off with two exhibition games that will help the players get warmed up for the season, and show what necessary adjustments Higgins has to make. The first game will take place at Johnson Stadium against Liberty University at home, and against Elon University on the road.

One highlight of the season is the showdown against in-state rival North Carolina State University on Aug. 18, at 7 P.M. in Raleigh, North Carolina, which is the first game of the season. Following this, the Pirates kick off a stretch of home games, facing the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Campbell University, and Coastal Carolina University, before hitting the road for a match against the University of North Carolina at Wilmington on Sep. 1.

September is the start of AAC conference play, featuring big matchups against teams like Temple University, Florida Atlantic University, and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. The month of October sees a mix of away games against strong opponents like the University of Tulsa and The University of Memphis, along with some home games against University of South Florida and the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

In the last game of the season, the Pirates will face off against Rice University and honor its graduating class on senior night. Following the regular season, the American Athletic Conference is scheduled to begin on Nov. 5, and end on Nov. 10.

No. 9 ECU hosts Wichita State in a tight AAC matchup

East Carolina University’s baseball team (27-8, 8-4 American Athletic Conference) welcomes Wichita State University (21-16, 7-5 AAC) on Friday through Sunday to Clark-LeClair Stadium for what is a tight matchup in the AAC standings.

ECU sits second in the AAC after four weeks of play, just one game back of University of Texas at San Antonio (21-15, 9-3 AAC) in first. Wichita State, meanwhile, is tied for third place, coming off of a series win at Florida Atlantic University (19-14, 6-6 AAC).

The Pirates are coming off a 4-1 week, picking up a series win over Charlotte and two midweek wins against non conference opponents. It was a stellar week overall for the pitching staff, who came together to throw two combined no-hitters in their mercy rule wins over Charlotte and Elon.

Junior righthander Wyatt Lunsford-Shenkman continues his outstanding season, picking up 65 strikeouts through 39 innings. He’s given up only four earned runs and currently leads the nation with a 0.94 ERA.

ECU swept the conference’s weekly awards, with junior outfielder Ryley Johnson and junior righthander Trey Yesavage being named the Player and Pitcher of the week.

Yesavage received the accolade for the second-straight week after going six shutout innings with 12 strikeouts, allowing no hits on the way to the team’s second mercy rule no-hitter in three games.

Johnson isn’t the only batter that’s been on a hot streak for the Pirates. Senior Carter Cunningham is also having a stellar season of his own, leading the team in most offensive categories. He leads the conference in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, and RBI. ECU will finish up their four-game home stand on April 23 as they host in-state rival NC State (20-13, 10-8

The East Carolinian Sports experts predict this week’s events

Garrett Skillman FOR THE EAST CAROLINIAN

Ashleigh Cash TEC STAFF

Trey Yesavage

Many students' rst time living alone is going to college. e change of scenery can be stressful and scary at rst. One aspect of living alone is learning to save and spend money at the grocery store, which can be expensive, so here is a list to help.

Many of the food items can be used interchangeably between meals. e goal is to get as much food as possible for the week while maintaining a budget. e variety will help you make as many meals as possible. Some grocery stores have di erent deals every week, such as Publix, which o ers student discounts and buy-one-get-one-free, but from my experience, Walmart has the most budget-friendly options. Prices vary between items depending on the brand.

Many students nowadays do not eat breakfast, but for those who do, this is a simple, budget-friendly option to shop for.

· Eggs: $3-$6 for 18 count

· Oatmeal: $5

· 32 oz Yogurt: $2-$7 Bread: $2-$3.50

· Milk: $2.50-$4.50

are minor di erences compared to breakfast meals.

· Chicken: $6-$12.50

(Depending on what type of chicken you prefer, rotisserie chicken is a quick and easy way to meal prep)

· Rice: $3

· Ground Beef: $5 (per pound)

· Pasta: $1

·

ese snack options will have a longer shelf life and will last longer

· Apples: $3-$5

· Clementines: $3-$5

· Peanut butter $2-$3

e nal price range for all the ingredients is between $38.5 and $62, but add $10 to $15 for spices, seasoning, and other cooking items. You can nd some of these items and others cheaper at di erent grocery stores, but these are the most consistent prices I found. is list is an excellent guide if you need a place to start your grocery list.

Finding a ordable o -campus living at ECU can be tricky when taking into account utilities. However, if you know the right questions to ask and the average pricing you can make informed decisions about your student living.

e o -campus housing scene at East Carolina University is split between houses and apartments. But most students forget that each comes with separate charges like utilities and parking.

Apartment complexes at ECU either cover the utilities in the base rental pricing while others put a cap on utilities. is leaves students with a small additional charge to their rent each month. When it comes to student houses, utilities are not included in that base rental price each month. On average students in houses say they pay anywhere from 40 to 110 dollars a month on utilities, on top of their rent. is money is used for the electricity, water, gas, sewer, and city charges. Landlords are not a part of this payment

process. Instead, these charges are paid directly to the city of Greenville.

Utilities are based on a house as a whole despite having multiple roommates. is di ers from apartments when charging for utilities. Apartment complexes charge each resident individually.

Students in houses venmo one roommate who is incharge of paying the whole house's utility cost. A er, they pay through the Greenville Utilities Commission’s website. ere is a bill that arrives before utilities are due each month. is bill lays out how much each charge was individually and the total. From there, students split up the pricing depending on how many roommates they have. ere are many factors that play into the pricing of utilities each month. How old and the shape the house is in can determine the pricing.

Students also say that the amount of roommates you have can uctuate the price. e pricing increases with the more people there are in one house using utilities. However, the

more roommates you have to split the cost between the more the price decreases when it comes time to pay.

Students say it can be a little overpriced sometimes depending on the house you choose. Finding a newer house and a good number of roommates can determine if you pay a reasonable amount.

House leases at ECU are most commonly twelve month’s long. Taking in the average cost of utilities for students at ECU, in total each student pays $480 to $1,320 annually in utilities. As Forbes Home reports, the average North Carolina home has a total charge of $400.43 in utilities each month. is shows that compared to the average homeowner students at ECU pay noticeably less or more than the average NC house. However, due to the amount of roommates one has, students individually pay less than the average homeowner in NC.

Navigating roommate drama with RAs

As the new semester approaches and students begin to move into new houses, apartments and dorms, it is important to keep in mind how to best handle roommate disputes and disagreements that may arise.

Aida Khalifa, a sophomore and Resident Advisor (RA) at Fletcher Residence Hall, said RA’s are trained on how to mediate roommate conflicts in the residence halls. The roommates must write a roommate agreement that has written rules and expectations for each person on aspects such as when guests are allowed, how often they’ll clean, how certain items will be shared, and more. If a dispute occurs, they either change what is written in the contract and have both roommates present to agree on this or if that doesn’t

Khalifa said this meant each roommate would have a chance to express their concerns and grievances keep things civil. In extreme situations, the RAs could advise the roommates to complete room changes and in this situation it is the best thing for both roommates when the situation continues for an extended period of time with no end. “Living in a

dorm room with a roommate, it can sometimes get frustrating dealing with a roommate who is messy, loud or tries to take over the space designated to each person, “ said Khalifa. “I’ve seen a lot of roommate disagreements happen mainly because the roommates do not discuss at the beginning of the semester what their boundaries are. A lot of people go into dorm living expecting that it wouldn’t happen to them but when a roommate sees that you won’t communicate when they’re doing something you don’t like they just keep doing it.”

Trevon McGlone, a senior and RA at Scott Hall, said he has seen roommate conflicts begin over small matters such as accusations of one another not taking out the garbage. In those moments, it’s proven useful for him to de-escalate the situation by taking a moment to listen to both sides. This way, there’s no fear of him playing favorites and he gets to clearly hear both perspectives expressed.

McGlone said sometimes solving roommate conflicts can be as simple as getting one person to open a line of communication. This way, they end up fixing the situation on their own without needing him to meditate.

“Honoring the Roommate agreements they sign at the beginning of the year is one of the easiest ways to avoid conflict,” said McGlone. “You can always revise these at any time, so it’s helpful for residents to use this if they have any issues that pop up in the future”.

Sarayu Adala, a sophomore at ECU, said she believes the best way to avoid roommate conflict is to make compromises and be adjustive with your roommate. You should be respectful of your roommates’ differences and preferences and empathize with them to coexist in the best possible way. It is also important to be willing to find solutions that work

for all parties involved and to be flexible and allow for open communication to help things move smoothly.

Adala said another thing to keep in mind would be addressing issues when they arise. She said it is important to avoid turning smaller issues into larger ones so if she identifies an area of change, she will bring it up to her roommate immediately. This way, larger conflicts can be avoided altogether.

“I have been living with the same roommate for the past

How to help the Earth with sustainable living habits

Sustainability is a key factor for natural resources. It actively helps preserve the resources on earth in order to ensure they don’t run out. Recycling takes materials and refurbishes them into different products. Reusing plastic bags allows us to reduce the amount of garbage that ends up in landfills.

All of these steps are things average students can do from the comfort of their own apartments. Things such as turning off lights when you’re away from home, or unplugging electrical devices whenever they’re not in use are simple and efficient ways for people to practice sustainability.

Chad Carwein is the Sustainability Manager at East Carolina University. Carwein took the position in 2016, helping build the sustainability program since its inception.

“(Sustainability) it’s a word that has broad implications, right?” Carwein said. “We’re looking at water, we’re looking at energy, water, waste, transportation, food and dining.”

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is a government agency that’s in charge of protecting the health of humans and the environment around us. According to the EPA,

turning off running water when brushing your teeth can save up to 8 gallons of water, while letting a faucet run when doing dishes “can waste 10 gallons of water and use enough energy to power a 60-watt light bulb for 18 hours.”

In terms of trash pollution, the EPA recommends that people volunteer in their communities in order to limit the amount of litter that others leave. This can be done around apartment complexes as well in order to limit the amount of waste that is disposed of improperly, or improper cleaning after pets. Students can reduce waste by not grabbing excessive amounts of produce, just to let them spoil and toss them into the garbage.

Carwein also mentioned that ECU has a sustainability plan that documents the steps the university is taking in order to meet their goals for their organizations and sustainability clubs.

The ECU Sustainability Plan shows the amount of waste reduction the university has achieved while also going over their goals with how the sustainability office has developed since 1990, when the campus first implemented recycling.

A breakdown of owning pets in college: the pros and cons

Despite all the commitment and dedication that goes into taking care of furry friends, many students find their pets to be an essential part of their everyday lives.

It is no secret that balancing school work along with other life circumstances can be difficult to manage, and with adding a pet to the mix, it could potentially cause added stress on students.

“Sometimes having a pet can (stress me out),”senior university studies major Kaitlyn McMillen said. “You never know what might happen to them or unexpected vet bills can occur when they get sick.”

Although owning and taking care of pets can be a major financial and physical responsibility that may add strain to an owner’s daily life, some find that owning pets, especially in college, helps them cope with the pressure that comes along with being a student.

Junior recreational therapy major, Taylor Williams, feels that owning a cat has been comforting. “He’s my best friend,” Williams said. “He helped me go through college.” Williams also said that owning her cat has reduced her stress.

Certain kinds of animals may be more difficult to take care of while in college, which is why some students may choose to own pets that don’t require as much attention as other animals.

“It’s easy to take care of a cat,” Williams said. “It’s not as hard as a dog which is why I went with a cat.”

In addition to helping in reducing stress, some students feel that having a pet in college can help with the fact that they are away from home.

“[It’s] very comforting having an animal with you at school,” junior Mckenna Flowers said. “Especially [with] being away from home.

Flowers said she didn’t have her dog with her freshman or sophomore year but decided to to bring him to school this year. “I really missed having him around,” Flowers said. “Just having him in my presence comforts me so much.”

Some pet owners feel that on top of providing comfort, their pets also help in providing them with a sense of security in their homes.

“With all the crazy stuff going on in the world I feel safer at home having pets around,” McMillen said. “Especially when I’m home alone.

If you are looking to make an addition to your college life, there are many places where you can find your new furry friend.

“The animal shelter is extremely full right now and they are asking as many people [as they can] to foster,” McMillen said. “If you are looking for a companion I would suggest starting your search there.”

The Humane Society also provides adoptions for cats and dogs, as well as the option of fostering if you are looking for a pet. According to the Humane Society of Eastern North Carolina, the price for adoption is $200 for dogs and $100 for cats. If you are looking to foster, you can apply online.

Even though owning a pet at times can be difficult, it can also be extremely rewarding. Pets are able to provide their owners with security, comfort and companionship. As difficult as college may be at times, owning a pet may help ease some of these struggles by always having a bestfriend by your side.

A student picking up litter from the creek at the bottom of College Hill on ECU’s campus.

Trisha

Transit around campus and Greenville

East Carolina University has worked to provide cost free, efficient options for students to travel around campus and the city of Greenville effectively.

Chad Carwein, sustainability manager at ECU, said a lot of students walk by means of transport. He said A lot of students live within walking distance of the university so biking and walking to campus are active transportation options, meaning people are using their body to provide energy for transport.

Greenville has been working to expand the Greenway Network, Carwein said. This is the road parallel to the tar river near the grid and he said hopefully there will be more sidewalk and road infrastructure added to provide students with an easier commute to campus.

“Traveling more sustainably reduces costs for students too,” Carwein said. “Going green is saving green so if you have the option to walk, use a bike or carpool those are better options for those who live off campus.”

Carwein said there has been a big rise in electric bikes and scooters and those are great options for traveling to and from campus while also reducing the impact left on the environment. He said the ECU Transit system is also an option for getting around campus and places a little farther including apartments and the other ECU campuses.

He said ECU has the largest bus fleet of any school in the

UNC system along with the Greenville Area Transit (GREAT) to provide students access to campus and Greenville conveniently. Carwein said ECU also has an on demand transit system to take students farther from campus in Greenville and other cities as well.

“You don’t have to worry about being stuck here,” Carwein said. “If you walk or bike to campus there’s options for leaving town. The bus has real time updates and you’re able to track where it is and where it is going too.”

Lauren Garcia, sustainability director on the Student Government Association executive cabinet, said the ECU bus system is scheduled to add 2 new electric buses to their fleet over the summer. She said this will not only add more transit options for students but it will also work to reduce costs and energy waste.

Garcia said the administration wants to go more electric with the transit options provided. She said buses are very popular for students to travel around campus so adding these options will allow students to travel more environmentally friendly.

“It’s really nice that a lot of student housing is within walking distance of campus,” Garcia said. “There are definitely ways to improve city infrastructures that make it easier and safer for people to walk and bike everywhere which is highly encouraged.”

There has been a lot of work being done to encourage students to carpool with friends or roommates, Garcia said, to

make traveling to campus more efficient and easy for students. She said with so many people using walking as their method of transportation she wants to make sure there is safe transportation for students.

She said on demand transit is available to students but they may not be aware of it. Garcia said on demand is available for those who need to travel farther from campus including around Greenville and outside city limits.

“On demand is great for those who don’t have cars around campus,” Garcia said. “The transit is like Uber but safer for students and can take people to places like Raleigh and farther places in Greenville. It can be really helpful when you can’t find a ride.”

Nicolas Carter, sophomore psychology major, said he appreciates all the options for transportation around campus. He said having visited other universities, he feels ECU has worked to provide an easy and efficient way for students to get around.

Carter said using the buses has made it convenient for him not to rely on his car around campus. He said he is able to utilize the bus system to travel to places such as College Hill or D lot, and the stadium on game days.

“A lot of people don’t use the bus and it’s really surprising,” Carter said. “Having a way of transportation provided where I don’t have to use my own vehicle has made it a lot easier for me and my friends to get around without worrying about parking or travel costs.”

Carter said walking around campus is really easy but he would like to see more lanes added for bikers and scooters. He said students walking and biking on the small sidewalks provided can get chaotic and most of the time people have to walk or bike in the road to get more space.

If he could improve anything about transit around campus, Carter said, it would be sidewalks and parking. He said parking is really limited and can be expensive on campus so it’s important to make it easily accessible for students to get to campus.

“I think more sidewalks around campus and the areas of Greenville around school could be helpful,” Carter said. “The hourly rate to park in the garage can add up and that gets to be really costly for students driving to campus every day.”

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

Mastering healthy eating habits while living independently

Living alone may be a relieving experience, bringing with it freedom and independence. However, with that freedom comes the responsibility of looking after yourself, particularly in terms of eating. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is critical and it is perfectly feasible even if you are dealing with the difficulties of independent living.

Planning your meals in advance is the cornerstone of healthy eating, ensuring you make nutritious choices even on busy days. Sarah Gwenn, a nutritionist for Triangle Nutrition Therapy, says she emphasizes the importance of meal prepping. “Spend a few hours on the weekend planning your meals for the week,” she said. “Cook in batches and store your meals in the refrigerator or freezer. This way, you’ll always have a healthy option readily available, saving you from ordering takeout or relying on unhealthy snacks.”

Achieving and maintaining a nutritious diet when living alone is undoubtedly difficult, but Gwenn said the significance of mindful eating.

“Eating isn’t just about filling your stomach; it’s about nourishing your body and mind,” Gwenn said. “Practice mindful eating by savoring each bite, eating slowly and paying attention to your body’s hunger and fullness cues. This awareness helps you enjoy your food more and prevents overeating.”

People who live alone frequently feel as if they can’t buy a lot of groceries because they are afraid that food will go to waste since they won’t be able to eat it all in time. Graduate student Nick Trevino, who is a Teacher Assistant for a Kinesiology class, recommends buying in bulk and utilizing the freezer to save items for the long term.

“So, I don’t really go out to eat much because I really enjoy cooking. When it comes to myself I tend to buy my meat (chicken/beef) in bulk from Sam’s Club and freeze it. This ensures that I always have it and it will not go bad. When it comes to fruit and vegetables I normally wait until the day that I am going to need them and run by Food Lion that day, so they do not go to waste. If I do keep vegetables at home, I will keep them in the freezer for them to last longer.” People sometimes get out of rhythm with their diets or

cooking habits, everyone is human. Trevino says having people around him helps him stay on track and that sometimes it takes inner will to keep up motivation throughout a diet.

“When it comes to staying on track with a diet, I try to get my friends around me to join in with me so that we can all keep each other accountable,” Trevino said. “Also, when living on your own the best way that I have found to keep on track with a diet is by just taking out and not having bad food in my house. Other than that for me it is just willpower to stay on track.”

It appears that healthier foods are always more expensive than unhealthy foods these days, but senior nursing major Abbey Gilbert utilizes coupons and membership’s with select grocery stores to aid her in buying healthy foods.

“Healthier foods generally seem to be more expensive and it can be a problem for college students, including those that live on their own,” she said. “I usually look for things on clearance at grocery stores and coupons that come in the mail.” Members of grocery stores such as Lidl’s and Walmart also benefit from additional savings. Having your parents come to town and go grocery shopping with you always helps.”

Meal preparation believers swear by it, that it will save you all the time and money in the world, but some people disagree. While meal prep has its doubters, Gilbert said meal prep is worthwhile and efficient.

“Meal preparation, in my opinion, is both useful and cost effective,” she said. “Especially if you are living alone. As a single person who enjoys cooking, I will frequently prepare larger-sized dinners so that I can keep them and enjoy them throughout the week. This is especially useful during weeks when my schedule is crammed with classes, teaching, and other day-to-day activities.”

Remember that your path to healthy eating is unique to you. Experiment with different recipes to determine what works best for your lifestyle and don’t be hesitant to seek advice from nutritionists, chefs, or wellness coaches if necessary. You can experience the pleasure of independence while fueling your body with the goodness it deserves with commitment and the correct techniques.

Nick Bailey TEC STAFF

Aida Khalifa TEC STAFF

COURTESY OF UNSPLASH

Several colored containers of fresh fruits and vegetables. Learning to navigate buying produce at the store is important to health.

NIA CRUZ | THE EAST CAROLINIAN

Most off-campus routes run from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., the website has more information. There is also a bus that goes to Walmart.

NIA CRUZ THE EAST CAROLINIAN

The ECU Transit system runs across campus and Greenville.