The Hook Fall 2016

DARE TO LEAD

CHANCELLOR

VICTIMS ADVOCATE PROVIDES COUNSELING FOR STUDENTD

The Hook

Fall 2016

The Hook is published twice a year by East Carolina University students at the Magazine Division Office, Self-Help Building, Second Floor. Greenville, NC 27858

Magazine Division General Manager Amanda Adkins

The Hook Editor-In-Chief Carlyn Legg

Business Manager Jordan Philippeaux

Design Chief: Designer: Photo Editor: Writers:

Ashton Tygart

Samuel Alvarado

Kyle Berry

Victoria Schule

Jessica Smith

Altavia Lowery

Javeria Salman

Emily Harvey

Carson Cherry

Student Media Professional Staff

Director: John Harvey

Administrative Support Associate: Yvonne Moye

Publication Advisor: Terrence Dove

Advertising & Marketing Advisor: Julie Roman

Operations Manager: Janet Rollins

The Hook is copyrighted 2016 by The Hook Magazine and East Carolina University, Greenville, N.C. It is printed by University Printing and Graphics, Greenville, N.C.

The Hook is operated by ECU students who are members of Student Media, an East Carolina University student-led organization operating under the auspices of the Student Media Board and through the Division of Student Affairs. The magazine is produced twice a year by ECU students for the East Carolina University community.

Opinions expressed herein are those of the student writers and editors and DO NOT reflect those of the faculty, staff, administration of ECU, Student Media Board nor the University of North Carolina System.

Partial funding for this publication is provided through Student Fee Funds. Advertisements fund the remaining costs. Advertising inquiries may be sent to Office of Student Media, 202 Self Help Building, or by calling the Business Office at 252-328-9245. Inquiries concerning content should be sent to Magazine General Manager Amanda Adkins at thehookmag@ecu.edu.

All students are allowed to have one free copy of this publication. Additional copies cost $1 each and are available at the Office of Student Media. Unauthorized removal of additional copies from a distribution site will constitute theft under state law, a misdemeanor offense punishable by a fine and/or jail time.

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

As you embark upon your journey of readingThe Hook, take note of my personal touch. I am a student, an employee, a business owner, an intern and a leader. As a senior, I have been submersed in the abundant leadership opportunities on and off campus here at ECU. I firmly believe that every student who steps on this campus becomes a leader, in some form, before they graduate. Every leadership opportunity should be embraced with open arms and a positive spirit.

As your editor ofThe Hook, I give you a new edition with a fresh take on leadership. Pirates lead differently than others; we lead with our hearts, with our minds and with determination to succeed. Your fall edition ofThe Hook is packed with stories and narratives of leaders and leadership, as well as features on events that celebrate diversity and a recipe on how to tie together your holiday themed drinks. It is my full intention to share with you the leadership resources on this campus as well as the leadership opportunities and possibilities for the next generation of pirates. As we take on another year of classes, another year of opportunities to succeed and another year to set ourselves apart from everyone around us,The Hook is here as your student interest magazine to acknowledge those leaders who have risen to positions of power, to recognize those who go unnoticed and to embrace the unlikely leaders all around us.

Editor-in-Chief

On The Cover Interim Police Chief Jason Suggs Chancellor Cecil Staton ECU Victims Advocate Kat Bursky

STUDENTS IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE AT LOCAL ANIMAL SHELTER

by JESSICA SMITH | photo FLICKR COMMONS

As an East Carolina associate professor, you might expect her morning routine to include putting on makeup, picking out a professional outfit and slipping on some fancy shoes. However, Sartore laces up her sneakers, pulls her hair back and heads out the door. Sartore didn’t take the turn that leads her to a classroom on campus but instead drives toward the Pitt County Animal Shelter where her small class meets three times a week. Once she arrives, she grabs the bag of treats from her car and as she opens her car door, the sound of barking dogs fills her ears. All eyes are on Sartore as she passes the temporary homes of these sweet dogs. The students in Sartore’s class slowly start to arrive and she watches as they take each dog out of their cage and walk them across the street to Alice F. Keene Park.

These walks are all part of the fitness walking class at ECU. This class allows students to achieve class credit, get fit and help a few animals along the way.

“I knew I wanted to do something that helped the community,” Sartore said. Sartore and Stacey Altman, chairwoman of the Department of Kinesiology, approached the shelter with the idea of combining fitness walking with dog walking and not long after, the class was approved.

The class began in the spring of 2014 with a limit of 10 students and since then, the quality of life for the animals has improved.

Sartore says that most days the animals don’t get to leave their cages at all. When her class is there, the

dogs are able to get out and exercise, even if it is only for 30 minutes. Having an outlet to expel some energy helps dogs get adopted because they aren’t too rowdy when potential owners come to visit.

“I haven’t noticed a huge change in the adoption rate since the class started, but the rescue pull rate definitely has,” said Sartore.

The rescue pull rate reflects the number of dogs that are rescued from outside organizations such as the Humane Society. According to The Humane Society of Eastern Carolina, an average of 80% of their animals are pulled from shelters that have to euthanize for space. The Pitt County shelter unfortunately is one with a very high kill rate.

Sartore says that the student involvement in shelters has been tremendously helpful because the students use social media to advocate for the dogs and are making others aware of the shelter and posting pictures of the dogs that are up for adoption.

Having students walking dogs on a regular basis also allows for the shelter staff to learn more about the dogs they are treating.

“Students get to know the dogs really well,” said Sartore. “They are able to tell me how well a dog is walking or if they have any medical issues we weren’t already aware of.”

As much as the class has helped the shelter, it still isn’t an easy class to take. According to Sartore, at least one or two students drop after the first day. The students who stick around start out with the mentality that they will save every dog.

“That phase turns into anger when they realize they just can’t help every dog,” Sartore explained. “It’s just frustrating.”

Even with the frustrations that some students face, Sartore believes the class is a success.

“I really do think this class is making a difference,” Sartore concluded. “I just hope we can keep doing what we’re doing.”

YOU MIGHT BE A IF...

by CARLYN LEGG | photo KYLE BERRY

In a culture rich in pirate pride where students bleed purple and gold, there are a few things that really make us pirates. When asked what really makes them pirates, students had this to say:

You might be a pirate if…

“You always yell ‘gold’ when someone yells ‘purple’ no matter what,” said Stephanie Morales, junior exercise physiology major.

There’s no tradition like a pirate tradition and yelling the purple-gold chant at each other across campus is always welcome, even on the way to early morning classes.

“Your wardrobe is made up of purple and gold and you’re not quite sure how that happened,” said Ronnie Johnson, senior cinematic arts and media production major.

For almost every event on ECU’s campus, there is a purple t-shirt to commemorate it. After four or more years of pirate events, there is sure to be a closet filled with purple and gold clothes.

“Tailgating at 8 a.m. is perfectly acceptable,” said Abu Kuyateh, graduate student in chemistry.

Pirate football is not only a tradition, but a ritual that every pirate deserves to be a part of. When pirate football takes over the fall, it’s tailgating with family and friends that makes the hot noon games and long cold nights so worth it. After a few games, Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium will feel like home.

“You go downtown on a Tuesday,” said Autumn Rushton, senior economics major.

If there’s one thing that’s consistent in Greenville, it’s the night life, especially Thirsty Thursdays at the local bars and taverns. There’s always something to keep pirates entertained.

“If you always carry an umbrella,” said Leah Brooks, senior English major.

There’s a second meaning to the letters ECU, and that’s Everybody Carries Umbrellas. It could be a sunny morning one minute and a raging thunderstorm the next minute.

“You always get extra SupSauce,” said Michelle Kellett, junior communication and political science double major.

The SupSauce recipe will always be a mystery.

CELEBRATING DIVERSITY IN LGBT EXHIBIT

by

ADKINS

AMANDA

| photo KYLE BERRY

Move over ordinary fall colors because a rainbow is about to shine in Mendenhall Student Center this October for LGBT History Month. The School of Art and Design have partnered with the LGBT Resource Office to put on an exhibition called True Colors: Celebrating The Spectrum of Sexual and Gender Diversity at ECU. “It’s an exhibition of portraits,” said Mark Rasdorf, associate director for the LGBT Resource Office. “Each portrait will have a story accompanying the photo which will be that individuals story about how they celebrate their diversity and this is all in conjunction with LGBT history month.”

According to Angela Wells, assistant professor of photography, the idea for the exhibition came at the end of May after Rasdorf was inspired by a travelling exhibit in Asheville.

“I was approached by a colleague at the diversity center in Asheville to take part in a travelling exhibition of photographs celebrating diversity, specifically LGBT diversity,” said Rasdorf. “This was before Orlando, but after HB2 so the subject of social justice and equality for LGBT people is very much in the news right now.”

After Rasdorf spoke with Wells about the exhibition, they decided to work together to create this exhibition that will embrace diversity.

“We are going to have 20-30 photos in black and white on three of the walls in the gallery, each with their own story,” said Rasdorf. “Then in the display cases, me and the group of students that were working here and a couple of volunteer students have selected 31 heroes for the LGBT community. We selected one for each day in October and our students here researched a bio on each person and the students in art and design are going to then create a display of the 31 heroes that will be in the display cases.”

Some of the heroes that will be represented in the exhibit include Barney Frank, the first openly gay person in Congress, Emma Goldman, who openly defended the rights of homosexuals in a time where it was less common to speak out and Harry Hay, who was the founder of the Mattachine Society which was the first gay rights group in the U.S.

“I think with so much attention on social justice and equality for the LGBT community and some of that attention is not positive, it’s really important that we stand up and speak up for who we are as a community and the vitality and diversity in our community and that we celebrate all of that,” said Rasdorf. “Photographs can be very impactful in reminding folks who visit such an exhibit that we have much more in common than we do things that separate us.”

The subject of the photos are predominately students and they will be located on the second floor in Mendenhall throughout the entire month of October. According to Rasdorf, the ultimate goal is “education for all of those who will visit the exhibit as well as awareness of the diversity right here on campus.”

Another hero in the LGBT community that will be represented in the exhibit by way of a portrait is Dr. Jesse Peel who pledged $500,000 for the LGBT resource office.

“We are going to double in the amount of space we have in the new student center and our new center will be named after Dr. Peel so I wanted him to be a part of the exhibit,” said Rasdorf.

While this is the first time the exhibit is taking place, Wells believes that it could be something to continue annually.

“The nature of academia is every year, your student body changes,” said Wells. “So celebrating our diversity is constantly shifting and it’s something that stays relevant. We are limited in scale to how many pieces we can have so making this an annual event will give us an opportunity to have more participants and show more faces in this community.”

“ we have much more in common than we do things that separate us”

—Mark Rasdorf, Asst. Director, ECU LGBT Resource Office

THE IMPORTANCE OF STUDENT

by ALTAVIA LOWERY | photo FLICKR COMMONS

From a young age voters are told that “every vote counts.” Every time a major election comes around, this phrase resurfaces. The truth is, every vote does count and the voices of students do matter. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, young voters’ rates have been below 50% from 1964 to 2012, with voters ages 18 to 24 years old in presidential elections.

Olivia Bartholomew, the School of Communication Representative for ECU’s Student Government Association, urges students to vote on campus, in their community and even on the national level. She also believes that many students choose not to vote because they don’t understand the overall effect it has on elections.

“Student voting is important because it is important that [our] voice is heard. The things we vote on play a vital role in the future of our community,” said Bartholomew. “As college students, we are often so submerged in our college experience that we cannot imagine life beyond the university. The truth is, four years is not that long of a time.”

Olivia also believes that as a consequence of young adults not voting, politicians do not address or recognize the needs of college students.

“Sooner or later, we all have to make our way in the real world and we need to be a part of shaping that world now,”

Bartholomew explained. “By voting, students have a chance to affect the climate in which they will live, work and take the next steps in their lives.”

McLean Godley, an ECU Alumni and Greenville, NC Council Member, knows first-hand the importance of student voting and credits young adults as one of the influences in his election success.

“One reason why I chose to run for office was because I wanted to help represent a younger generation of the American people who sometimes feel like they are overlooked and their needs and wants are not heard,” explained Godley.

While having a youthful and motivated representative for students can be beneficial, it does no good if the students do not become involved in elections and educate themselves on the candidates. ECU and the city of Greenville have resources for students to join in on conversations in the community.

“Students can stay up to date about what’s going on in the community by getting involved on campus in student organizations like the Young Democrats and Young Republicans,” says Godley. “ECU’s Student Government Association is another great way to stay informed while also helping to make a change in the community.”

Being educated on candidates has never been easier, especially with the constant growth of social media and

online forums. College debt and job opportunities are important social issues to students.

Local and national representatives will recognize the needs of the student population when they see these populations taking a stand and having their voices heard in the polls.

Making up almost 20% of the voting population, young voters can play a key role in elections.

“It’s extremely important that students participate by voting in local, state and national elections so that their voices are represented and heard. I am proud and thankful for their desire to help enact real change in the Greenville community,” says Godley.

By voting, students have a chance to affect the climate in which they will live, work and take the next steps in their lives.

OLIVIA BARTHOLOMEW School of Communication Representative

CHANCELLOR STATON BEGINS TENURE

by JAVERIA SALMAN | photo ASHTON TYGART

With the fall 2016 semester underway at East Carolina University, the freshmen aren’t the only ones new faces on campus. Chancellor Cecil Staton began his tenure as ECU’s 11th Chancellor in July. He said his eyes are set on expanding ECU’s capital, its reputation and telling its story.

Staton laid out some of his goals and plans for his first few years as chancellor of this institution. He wants ECU on the map as a major university, not only regionally, but nationally as well by focusing on “raising the profile” of ECU outside of eastern North Carolina. He added that to a “large degree” ECU’s “story is untold.”

“This institution is on the cusp of becoming, I think, the next great national university in this country,” said Staton. “We have the ability to do that. We’ve just got to focus a little bit, again be innovative, but one of the things I’m going to be out there doing is telling the ECU story.”

There are some challenges ECU faces that he plans to address during his first few years. Citing changes in legislation, academia culture and a changing educational landscape are some of Staton’s main priorities.

“You know these are tough times for public higher education,” said Staton. ”We are all dealing with constrained public financing and disruptive nature of technology and changing workforce issues, just many challenges but when you look at institutions and how they are poised to handle those changes and not only survive, [they] thrive in those changes.”

Staton said he feels like ECU has both “the commitments and the resources” to handle those challenges. Staton wants to work on increasing

the university’s research portfolio and focus on fundraising. As a national research university, Staton believes there are lots of ways ECU can utilize its assets and increase the “research portfolio and footprint.”

“We are a university where we have to be about discovering the next generation of solutions for our culture, for our society, for our nation, for business, for industry and for healthcare,” said Staton.

One thing ECU can expect to see over the next few years is a major capital campaign. Staton said he plans on working and meeting with staff, faculty and students in order to achieve financial and reputational recognition for the university.

“This university is a huge enterprise,” said Staton. “We want to secure ECU’s future by inviting our alumni and community supporters and business leaders and other people who understand the role we play in eastern North Carolina and beyond. We would like them to invest in this university.”

Staton, who comes to ECU after most recently serving as interim president of Valdosta State University in Valdosta, Georgia, said he was drawn to ECU because of the opportunities it provided.

Staton said looking at the university as a whole, ECU has “the largest business school in the state, we have a wonderful education school that put teachers in the classrooms all over the state and is very highly regarded and then we have the things you want at a university, the heart and soul, a great college of liberal arts, these are all wonderful assets.” Staton said while change is hard and many people don’t like it very much, ECU needs to be an innovative institution while continuing to put students first.

“THIS INSTITUTION IS ON THE CUSP OF BECOMING, I THINK, THE NEXT GREAT NATIONAL UNIVERSITY IN THIS COUNTRY”

- Cecil Staton, ECU Chancellor

“The real assets of this university are the people who are on the faculty and staff and our students and community supporters,” said Staton. “I think if all those pull together, this university has a really, really great future.”

According to Staton, ECU has “just the right” range of assets to address some of the most pressing issues facing North Carolina, the region and the nation.

“When you look at the health care, the schools that we have in the health sciences, this is going to be a major issue with the aging of the population in our country, with the changes going on with health-care in our nation,” said Staton. “We are just in a very fortunate position to have those kinds of assets at our disposal to address what are some of the great issues of our day.”

Staton said one thing he’s noticed based on the students, faculty and staff he has talked to in the past few weeks during his transition process is how ECU feels like a community.

To further that community feeling at ECU, Staton will hold office hours for students. Any student interested in asking questions or voicing their concerns will be able

to go to his office at designated times throughout the week.

“I always feel as though the best part of any day is the chance to interact with students,” said Staton. “I am grateful for opportunities to engage with our students around campus informally. But I also want there to be a regular recurring time when students can drop by to see their chancellor.”

He wants to get to know students and have “the opportunity to hear their perspectives and gain an understanding about their concerns and issues.”

During ECU’s fall 2016 faculty convocation, Staton addressed faculty members telling them to see the “hope and inspiration” that comes with a new class of students.

“New students bring new dreams, new questions, new teaching challenges and fresh opportunities to impact the next generation,” said Staton during the convocation.

He thinks ECU is up to the task of providing the necessary skills to the next generation of students.

NEW INTERIM POLICE CHIEF ENSURES STUDENT SAFETY

by

Assistant Police Chief Jason Sugg has taken over as Interim Police Chief to help lead the ECU Police Department into a new academic year after Gerald Lewis resigned in July. This will be the second time that Jason Sugg has taken over as Interim Police Chief; his last time in this role was from April 2013 to January 2014. Sugg attended the University of Oklahoma and ECU before joining the ECU Police Department, where he has stayed for his entire law enforcement career.

“My father was in law enforcement for 25 years, so it was the only thing I really knew,” said Sugg. “So when I went to college, I majored in criminal justice and then I got out of school and went to work.”

Sugg started as an officer with ECU Police 17 years ago and worked his way up to Assistant Police Chief.

“I am really comfortable working here. I have built a lot of relationships in the university, the city and the community,” said Sugg. “I don’t have any intentions on going anywhere else.”

The search for a new police chief will not affect the efficiency of ECU Police. It typically takes around 3-9 months to find a new chief, according to Sugg.

As for what type of candidate ECU is looking for to take over, Sugg thinks it needs to be someone with good communication skills and someone who has a desire to invest themselves in ECU and the University.

“Being able to sit down and talk candidly is very important,” said Sugg. “They also need to have the ability to sit down and work with others in various partnerships. In an academic setting, someone needs to be able to sit down at a table because everyone wants their ideas to be heard so it needs to be someone that can collaborate with others.”

Sugg is a strong believer in communication and understanding between police and the community.

“I went to a community forum a few weeks ago and I was there to talk about community/police relationships,” said Sugg. “Across the country, that’s a hot topic right now. And they asked me what I thought were important factors to having a good relationship with the community. First, you have to have communication. Communication is a two way street. I also talked about understanding; talk about the problems and expectations for the police and community. If we, at the police department, don’t

AMANDA ADKINS | photo KYLE BERRY

understand what the community needs from us, it isn’t doing any good.”

While ensuring the safety and security of campus and the community, Sugg also aims to maintain positive relationships with other law enforcement agencies and community authorities.

One of Sugg’s goals while he is the interim police chief, aside from ensuring the safety and security of campus, is to have good relationships on campus, off campus, with other law enforcement agencies and with non-law enforcement agencies.

Having those positive relationships with the community will come in handy as the new academic year starts and students return to Greenville. ECU Police will continue with annual training in order to prepare for any situations where their protection is needed.

“A lot of times you might have a student that needs different types of assistance and we want to be trained for that,” said Sugg. “We are going to continue active shooter training and emergency response training; it is designed to tackle a lot of different things and we do that on an annual basis.”

According to Sugg, the ECU Police work with local police agencies to get them involved in order to have consistent responses to resolve situations quickly and reasonably.

Approximately 30,000 students attend ECU and a new smartphone application was created to further increase safety on campus. Called LiveSafe, the app was created so that students, faculty and staff could communicate their safety needs.

“The app does a variety of things,” said Sugg. “Students, or anyone who is registered, can use it as an anonymous reporting tool. For example, if someone doesn’t want to be identified as telling on people, they can use the app to report it anonymously. We want to know if there is something unsafe, even if it isn’t a criminal matter. Let us know if there is something we need to know about so we can potentially intervene.”

The app can also be used for nonanonymous reporting. In addition to reporting crime or suspicious activity, users can go in and send messages to ECU Police.

Subscribers can also use the application to allow a friend or family member to watch them walk somewhere and ensure that they get home safely. For example, if a student is walking from the library to their dorm room, they can request that a friend or family member watch them on the map through

the application. That person can then virtually see them as they walk to their

VICTIMS ADVOCATE PROVIDES COUNSELING FOR STUDENTS

by CARLYN

From East Carolina University’s faculty and staff to students and even volunteers, there is an overwhelming abundance of leaders on this campus. These leaders aren’t always the ones to represent the university or to accept leadership scholarships or awards, but they are essential to the function of the university.

Kat Bursky is the victim advocate at ECU and she spends her days helping students get the help they need by counseling and raising awareness of the issues of sexual assault and partner violence on college campuses. Bursky can be found presenting on these topics to different classes throughout the university as well as in the local courthouse helping students acquire protection orders against abusive partners.

As the only victim advocate on campus, Bursky is passionate about her role as the go-to resource for people who otherwise wouldn’t have access to someone that does what she does on a daily basis. Bursky took on this leadership role because she is passionate about what she does. She is invested in the safety and security of the students at this university.

In her role, Bursky often interacts with students who either come to her after experiencing something traumatic or are referred to her by a friend or family member of someone who has had a traumatic experience.

“I often have people come to me after presentations that I give to tell me that they have been a victim,” Bursky said. “It’s something that happens kind of often, and in that time, at that moment, that

person feels comfortable enough with me to come forward and I do my best to be supportive for them in the moment and point them in the right direction in terms of what they want to do next.”

Bursky explained that she was passionate about sexual assault advocacy in her undergraduate journey and she that she knew there must be others out there that feel the same way she does. In order to raise awareness about sexual assault on campuses, Bursky is at the forefront of a new student organization

change of culture at ECU. According to Bursky, there is a lot of misinformation about sexual assault floating around the student population. She hopes that students can get involved in Stand Up for Survivors and learn from their fellow students exactly what sexual assault is and how it affects survivors. With this culture change, Bursky aims to eliminate campus sexual assault and partner violence for the future generations of students.

“It’s all about creating a culture where people feel comfortable to stand up and say they don’t think it’s okay,” Bursky explained.

I WANT STUDENTS TO KNOW THAT THERE’S AT LEAST ONE PERSON ON CAMPUS THAT BELIEVES THEM AND WANTS THEM TO HAVE THE BEST EXPERIENCE THEY CAN HAVE HERE AT ECU, EVEN IF THEY’VE EXPERIENCED SOMETHING TRAUMATIC

called Stand Up for Survivors.

“So we’ll do things like awareness campaigns during the different awareness months and film screenings and other things throughout the year like bringing in speakers,” said Bursky. “We will focus on getting everyone together to figure out what they’re passionate about and figuring out how to put that into action.”

What this means for students is a

Traumatic experiences like sexual assault and partner violence can affect the everyday life of a victim. Bursky said that students often feel isolated after experiencing these things and she wants students to know that they are not alone.

“I want students to know that there’s at least one person on campus that believes them and wants them to have the best experience they can have here at ECU, even if they’ve experienced something traumatic,” said Bursky.

Leaders like Bursky help raise awareness about prevalent social issues and provide counseling to student in need. Bursky shares her passion with co-worker and outreach coordinator on campus, Lauren Thorn, who she said is tireless in her efforts to get the word out about the counseling center at ECU. Bursky enjoys working on a campus with leaders like director of the LGBT Resource Office on campus, Mark Rasdorf, who is also at the forefront of major culture change for the university.

LEGG | photo FLICKR COMMONS

Kat Bursky

by CARLYN LEGG illustration SAMUEL ALVARADO

DRESS TEST WELL WELL

From a student’s first day on campus, they are told that school should be their highest priority for the next four to five years of their life. With that expectation comes some implications of success. Parents, peers and administrators expect students to do their very best in the classroom. This means high graduation rates for the university, high GPAs in departments and high test grades in the classroom.

A phenomenon sweeping college campuses across the nation is the belief that if students dress for the career they want and the grade they want, they will succeed. With that idea in mind, students have started to dress the part. They attend career fairs dressed like young professionals, arrive at job interviews dressed like their interviewers and dress up for test days.

Career counselor Carol Woodruff says that students who dress the part present themselves in a more professional light and may be respected more by their professors and job interviewers because they present a professional image.

“A lot has changed over the years,” Woodruff explained. “There’s a lot to be said for dressing in a way that matches the direction you want to go in life.”

Every student’s dream of success is different from that of the peers around them. A goal becomes a vision of that dream and puts into perspective he steps a student can take to achieve their vision of success.

“Studies have shown that when students dress well, they feel more professional,” Woodruff said. “There are a lot of similarities between dressing for an interview with a [potential] employer and the testing environment.”

When put into perspective, students can consider

a test in a classroom a stepping stone to their future. Courses later on in the academic years become more focused on the actual major and as these courses become more and more important for students to do well in, some begin to take testing more seriously.

“As a senior, I really find myself studying more and taking every course in my major very seriously,” said Leah Hemsley, senior political science major. “As I move forward, getting closer to graduation, every single time I take a test I study like my future depends on it because in a way it does.”

Hemsley said she likes to dress comfortably for tests, but also in a way that makes her feel like she’s going to do well.

“I have this bright pink blouse that just makes me feel like I can do anything,” Hemsley said. “I wore it to a really important exam last semester and I felt more comfortable in my own capabilities.”

Working with students and faculty every day to create a unified vision of professionalism on ECU’s campus, Woodruff said that finding a piece of clothing that really makes you feel confident can make a big difference in the way you perform.

“We, as humans, do a lot of communicating without speaking and that includes what you’re wearing,” said Woodruff. “Dressing in a way that is perceived as powerful, can really leave an impression.”

By dressing like a successful student and going into a testing environment well prepared and looking professional, students are more likely to feel confident in their skills, abilities and knowledge of material.

by AMANDA ADKINS | photo KYLE BERRY

The holidays are quickly approaching and with them come celebrations with a lot of delicious snacks and treats. These extra calories can easily add up after a second plate of dessert.

Rachel Calisto, university studies major, is a part-time personal trainer and daughter of former bodybuilder, Joseph Calisto. Growing up in a home where working out was a daily norm, Calisto has perfected the at-home full body workout, a great workout routine for burning off that extra slice of pumpkin pie.

“Working out is important because it helps build self confidence,” Calisto said. “It also makes you feel healthy on the inside which can motivate you to stay on track.”

Calisto recommends grabbing your heaviest textbooks, a full water bottle and putting on your favorite television show.

CRUNCHES three sets of 20

Start off your workout with a standard crunch. Keep your feet flat on the ground and slowly bring your head, neck, shoulders and upper back off the ground while flexing your abdominal muscles as you lift. “You can even hold a textbook on your chest as you crunch for a more intense workout,” Calisto explained.

REVERSE SIT-UPS three sets of 20

Lay down with your back flat on the ground. Lift your legs, with knees together. Slowly bend your knees while bringing them toward your chest and back down to starting position.

MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS three sets of 20

Get into the push-up position. Move your knees up to your chest one leg at a time and pretend you’re climbing a mountain as fast as you can.

PLANK one minute

Get into the push-up position, start your timer. “Make sure to breathe,” Castillo recommended.

SQUATS three sets of 20

Pretend you are sitting in a chair. Make sure your back is straight and your knees stay over your ankles and don’t move past your toes.

CALF RAISES three sets of 20

Stand with your back straight. Slowly lift onto your toes and back down, making sure to flex your calves with every lift.

WALL SIT one minute

Slide into squat position with your back firmly pressed against the wall. Hold this position for one minute. For extra intensity, hold your arms straight in front of you. You can even doing this holding a textbook.

PUSH-UPS three sets of 20

Keep your back straight and don’t let your bottom lift too high or droop too low.

ARM PRESS three sets of 20

Lay flat on your back. “I call this my lazy girl workout,” Calisto said. “Take a heavy textbook and slowly lift it above your head and back down. I can sit in front of the television and do this workout for hours.”

TRICEP DIPS two sets of 20

Bring a chair and set it in front of the TV. Place palms on the edge of the chair with your feet straight in front of you. Slowly dip down toward the floor, making sure to keep your elbows close to your side and lift back up.

VOLLEYBALL

LEGACIES

by CARSON CHERRY | photo KYLE BERRY

Athletes want to make a mark on their sports team and be remembered for the time they were on the squad. The legacy they leave behind is important for any student athlete.

East Carolina’s volleyball program is still gaining traction. The program has not had a winning season since 2006, but through a spirit of pride and enjoyment of the sport, our athletes here at East Carolina have established an expectation of pride and loyalty.

Haley Bidgood came to ECU to play volleyball after her high school volleyball career in her home town of Cary, NC. ECU was her top choice and the school where she wanted to make her mark.

“I was looking at a lot of different places,” said Bidgood. “ECU was the first place I felt like I was at home and a place I could be at to go to school.”

Bidgood currently plays as a right side setter for the team and after her first season she has a plan on what her legacy is going to be.

“I want to be the change, or be part of the change for our program,” said Bidgood. “Turning our program from losing seasons to winning seasons, just turning it to a place where girls want to come here and get recruited because it’s a top level school in a top level conference.”

Bidgood wants to help attribute to the success of the team.

“I want to see us being the top of our conference and making it to the NCAA tournament, which would be a dream,” she explained. “I want the team to be successful in the future so I can look back and say I was part of that change.”

Bidgood is currently studying family and community services with the intent to go to nursing school after she finishes playing volleyball. There are players who have already gone through the volleyball program and have established themselves with post-college careers.

Erica Banning did not travel far from home to play volleyball at ECU. She went to D. H. Conley high school right here in Greenville.

“I did not want to venture too far,” said Banning. “Growing up here, my family had season tickets to the football and basketball games. I looked at other schools, but it looked evident that I wasn’t going to be comfortable at any school other than ECU.”

While at ECU, Banning played as a middle blocker. Banning carried on the legacies she was taught in her first year on the team.

“The seniors on the team and the people

who came before them had a set standard that you’re going to come in and are going to work hard,” said Banning. “We didn’t settle for just an ok season, we set very high standards for ourselves. I never really thought of coming in and setting a legacy for myself, but there was one when I came in and it was important upholding that.”

Banning earned a Bachelor of Science in family and community services with a minor in sports studies. After graduation, she worked at a high school for four and a half years before coming back home to ECU to become an academic advisor, where she even gets to help the volleyball team.

“It’s really cool to see them go through it and know that I can answer questions for them and guide them,” said Banning.

The Volleyball team holds high regard for the foundation of strong-willed players with pride for their team that was set by the players before them. These standards are the driving force behind the team as they continue to strive forward for a successful season.

Haley Bidgood | Cary, NC ECU Volleyball right side setter

POLICE TAKE NEW MEASURES FOR SAFETY

With ECU’s growing number of students and Greenville’s growing community, law enforcement have been working hard to make sure students and civilians feel safe in their community.

Dealing with incidents, crime and terror is no simple task in a world where problems can arise in any shape or form.

The recent uprise in terror attacks and gun violence has made the Pitt County Sheriff’s Office take notice and has enforced new training for officers to deal with such threats, according to Public Information Officer for Pitt County’s Sheriff’s Office, Christy Wallace.

“With the upswing in active shooter and terrorists events such as the Orlando nightclub shooting, we have been placing a big emphasis on training to deal with a situation like that,” said Wallace. “We have trained with other agencies in our area so that if an event like that were to happen, with multiple agencies responding, we would be better equipped to deal with the situation.”

All of the Pitt County police vehicles are equipped with rifles and first aid equipment and many have ballistic shields to deal with the case of terror threats.

Wallace noted that the police take terror threats very seriously and take the highest regard and measures to ensure safety.

“Another area that we have made a real difference is in medical-emergency type situations,” said Wallace.

Pitt county police are out on the field every hour of everyday securing the community and are often closer to emergency situations than EMS, according to Wallace.

“We have trained in Pit Crew CPR,” said Wallace. “Also, with Opiate use increasing, we also carry Narcan to assist with Opiate overdoses.”

When situations like terror threats or increased drug use are on the rise, it is imperative that police forces change and enforce these new safety procedures so when the situation arises, police can do their job adequately.

From emergency blue-light phones to ECU alerts, these are just a few of the ways ECU has invested in technology to ensure the safety of students on campus.

According to Wallace, one of the ways to deal with crime is investing in new technologies to better improve police reaction to emergencies.

“We have tested several types and brands of

by VICTORIA SCHULE illustration SAMUEL ALVARADO

body cameras to supplement our in-car camera program,” said Wallace. “At this point we are still in the test-and-evaluation phase to determine the best product for the cost.”

Body cameras are a device used to help document what occurs during a call and assist in collecting evidence for investigations.

“We have recently started using LPR (License Plate Recognition) on some of our vehicles,” said Wallace.

This new technology reads all the license plates that pass by the police vehicles in both directions and references the license plates to a national crime base.

“This (LPR) allows us to find stolen vehicles, stolen license plates, wanted vehicles in association with a crime as well as vehicles associated with wanted persons, or associated with any type of alert,” said Wallace.

Just as beneficial technology can be for police, it can sometimes do more harm than good. With GPS technology apps, like Pokemon Go, it can lure users to unsafe areas, private property and encounters with dangerous people.

Wallace mentioned that the big issue people have with playing apps or being on their phone is lack of awareness.

“If you are walking around looking at your phone, you are not only unaware of what is happening or who is around you but you also make it very obvious to anyone with the predator type mindset that you are an easy target,” said Wallace.

Being unaware and not paying attention to your surroundings is the biggest way to end up in danger.

“There have been instances of people walking out in front of cars, walking off cliffs, being robbed while using these type apps,” said Wallace.

Wallace mentioned that some of the biggest crimes in Pitt County are larcenies, vehicle and residential break-ins.

Being aware and taking safety precautions play a key role to preventing crimes such as being robbed.

“Be alert, look alert and carry yourself in a manner that shows you are paying attention and are aware of your surroundings,” said Wallace. “Makeeye contact with anyone that seems suspicious as they are less likely to engage you if you have seen them and never walk alone.”

10TH STREET STOPLIGHT ALLEVIATES DANGER ZONE

by EMILY HARVEY | photo KYLE BERRY

The infamous intersection between Copper Beech Townhomes and 33 East apartment complexes in Greenville has changed. The stoplight that East Carolina University and the City of Greenville community have been calling for was installed at the beginning of July.

The intersection of 33 East and Copper Beech Townhomes now has an operational stoplight, that student drivers, pedestrians and student bus operators are glad to have for safety’s sake.

President of ECU’s Student Body, Ryan Beeson, said the Student Government Association (SGA) has been advocating for the installation of the stoplight for several years.

“You look back at least two administrations and maybe even some talks before that about the need for a stoplight there,” said Beeson. “So this is something that has obviously been important to students for quite some time.”

Beeson said, especially in thelast administration under former SGA President Mark Matulewicz, SGA partnered with city leadership, specifically former ECU student and Councilman McLean Godley, to help make the stoplight a reality.

“I think it just speaks to the persistence of our members of student government and how hardworking they are when it comes to trying to see a project like this, which does take quite a bit of hoops to jump through in terms of you have to work with some state agencies as well as our city officials to determine, ‘is this something that’s really needed,’” Beeson said. “And I think we made the case very strongly, especially after a number

of pedestrian accidents there, that this is something that was highly needed.”

Senior Craig Cranford has been a student bus operator for ECU since June of 2015. Cranford has driven route 507 Copper Beech and 501 33 East, which operate during the fall and spring semesters, as well as summer route 703, which is a combination route for Copper Beech, University Manor and 33 East.

“Prior to the stoplight, traffic was always heavy, especially around lunchtime and five o’clock,” said Cranford. “And so it was kind of like playing a game of chance because you’d have to wait for a gap in traffic.”

Cranford said even though some routes pull in the Copper Beech entrance with the light and come out at the entrance with no light, it is still easier to drive the route with the stoplight operating at one entrance.

“I can tell when I’m pulling out of Copper Beech now, there’s a gap in traffic coming from the left and so the light is basically stopping traffic coming from the CookOut area and Greenville Boulevard,” Cranford said. “And so in my opinion, I think it’s going to make it safer for us pulling out [into traffic]...it’s still going to provide more safety for us because we don’t have to worry about traffic coming from the left.”

Cranford said the light makes it safer for pedestrians as well. According to Cranford, many students ride the Copper Beech bus when going to 33 East during the school year because the 33 East bus leaves from Speight on ECU’s campus and the Copper Beech bus leaves

from Christenbury, so if students are closer to Christenbury they ride to the first entrance of Copper Beech and then cross the street to 33 East.

“Both from a driver’s perspective and a former resident of 33 East, you were basically playing Frogger, like real life Frogger, because you’re trying to cross the road,” said Cranford. “And now that the stoplight is up, I feel a lot safer being able to drop people off if they decide to ride 507 or 703; they can now get off at that first stop, walk to the intersection and cross safely when they have the green handed cross as a pedestrian.”

The stoplight comes after many accidents involving cars and pedestrians in previous years, as well as a fatal wreck in May.

“Certainly our administration is grateful for the work that previous administrations have done and members of the student Senate,” Beeson said. “Really, it’s hard work like that, that you finally see some pay off there after many years.”

Beeson said he has been involved in SGA for a number of years and said it is a good feeling to see the work of so many in the organization and the community pay off.

SGA CONNECTS STUDENTS WITH NEW CHANCELLOR

by EMILY HARVEY | photo KYLE BERRY

ECU’s Student Government Association (SGA) will host different functions throughout the semester to better inform students about a number of topics including rising tuition and student rights.

After a year of changes that included a new constitution, new president and vice president along with a new chancellor, SGA is ready to start off the fall semester in the right direction.

“The biggest difference for our administrative staff is the push for programming,” said SGA President Ryan Beeson, graduate accounting student. “We have set up numerous programs for students and staff to get involved.”

Among the programs SGA has set up are a debate, themed months and opportunities to become acquainted with the new ECU Chancellor, Cecil Stanton.

“Chancellor Stanton has requested that SGA help him become better acquainted with the student body,” Beeson said. “He wants to help us expand and improve as a university.”

In these plans, SGA will host functions that could give the Chancellor more opportunities to meet students. In order to achieve that goal, Chancellor Stanton has opened office hours for students to come and talk with him about their concerns about current issues on campus.

SGA has themed each month in order to gain awareness and support for numerous topics.

“We hope this gains momentum and boosts morale among students,” said Beeson. “The goal is to bring the student body closer together.”

The month of November has been dubbed “Pirate Health Month” to better inform the student population about all aspects of health.

Another month is “Professional Pirate Month,” which will better inform students

on proper behavior and etiquette in the workplace. An etiquette dinner party is in the works.

The debate project is also underway. SGA plans to host the debate around election time to educate students on the different issues going on around the world. The debate is also meant to inform students on the different ways to handle these social issues.

“We want the student population to become more involved in what is going on in the world around them,” Beeson said. “We hope this debate opens eyes for many students.”

Beeson’s personal goals include bringing awareness to the rising tuition and student rights.

“Rising tuition is always going to be an issue and I believe as students, we should push to keep that in check,” said Beeson.

“Students shouldn’t have to strain to get a higher education.”

SGA plans to host a forum that would allow students to discuss how to handle the rising tuition costs and the importance of certain fees.

“Student rights is also a very important issue for me,” said Beeson. “I feel like situations could be avoided or given different outcomes if the student was properly informed about how to handle the situation.”

Beeson wants to make as much information available as possible to enhance the student experience at ECU.

“I believe it is our job to be the voice of the student body and give students everything they need to succeed,” said Beeson.

THANKSGIVING IN A GLASS

by AMANDA ADKINS |

KYLE BERRY

We all know that pumpkin pie is a classic dessert for Thanksgiving and just the taste of it makes us think of fall and cold weather. The next time a little pick-me-up that tastes like a classic fall flavor is needed, try out this pumpkin pie shot recipe by mixthatdrink.com.

1/2 ounce of Irish Cream

1/2 ounce of amaretto

1/4 ounce of cinnamon schnapps

Simply pour the ingredients into a shot glass and give it a stir. Brown sugar rim and cinnamon sticks optional.

For a family friendly drink that will make you ready to cuddle up with a good book, try this Pumpkin Spice Latte recipe from allrecipes.com.

1 cup milk

1 tablespoon white sugar

1 tablespoon pumpkin puree

1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2cup brewed espresso

Mix the milk, sugar, pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice and vanilla extract in a small saucepan put on low heat. After five minutes, mix in the other half of the milk. Add the espresso and mix until it turns foamy.

Pumpkin Pie Shot

PUMPKIN PIE SHOT

Pumpkin Spice Latte

photo

THE BENEFITS OF A FIFTH YEAR

by VICTORIA SCHULE | photo illustration ASHTON TYGART

Timelines and deadlines are important in college; whether it is homework assignments, club meetings, classes or going to work, it’s important to never be late. What about graduating on time?

For ECU English Instructor, Kimberly Thompson, it’s not about graduating on time, but whether or not a student can balance their work and know their limitations.

“When it comes down to it, you are the one doing the work. It comes down to you in the long run of when you graduate,” said Thompson. “The pressure of graduating on time can come from a student’s major, finances, peers, family and universities.”

“You’re going to have students try to get out of college as soon possible for a various amount of reasons. You’ll have some students take 18 maybe even 20 credit hours to graduate early or on time,” said Thompson. “That’s great if a student can handle that amount of work, but there’s nothing wrong with taking 14 or even 12 credits either.”

Graduating later than expected should not make a student feel left behind. According to a study by the National Center for Education Statistics, 40 percent of college students take longer than four years to graduate and there was almost a 60 percent six-year graduation rate in 2008.

“Just because it takes a year or a student takes that extra semester doesn’t make them any worse of a student than someone who graduates in four years,” said Thompson. “There are many reasons why a student could end up graduating later.”

Sometimes a monkey wrench can get thrown into the works and can cause a roadblock in the plan of graduating on time. The case for graduating late isn’t always because a person decided to be a bad student. Thompson mentioned reasons such as getting sick, family emergencies, changing their major, or transferring as major reasons that can change a student’s plans.

Thompson, who was also a fifthyear senior when she was an undergraduate, said college should be a time to discover yourself and learn about the real-world.

“The reason I graduated late was because I switched my major so

many times,” said Thompson. “I ended up switching back to my original major by my junior year because I took so many of those classes for that major.”

As a student, knowing your limitations can be a smart thing.

“At the time, and even till this day, I know that if I take on too many things at once, I won’t be able to handle it,” said Thompson. “There were times where I had to decline doing certain things like taking a certain class because I know I wouldn’t succeed as a student at the time.”

Even though not being able to graduate at the expected time can sound like a bummer, and it may seem like you’re behind your peers, but the fact of the matter is that an extra year can actually make you ahead of the curve.

“By graduating later, I actually had room to take classes that I thought were interesting,” said Thompson. “If you have the chance to take a class you find interesting, or find fascinating, take it because you may not have the chance to do something like that ever again.”

Taking that extra year or two can enable students to become involved in things they may not have had the chance to be a part of before. It can allow students to develop more leadership skills, make new relationships, raise their GPA and even gain work experience before landing a job.

Not only do fifth-year seniors have more time, they have one more winter, spring and summer break to look forward to. And better yet, as an ECU pirate, fifthyears have the chance to enjoy the student discounts and pirate

football season a little longer than students who graduate in four years.

“College shouldn’t always be work, work, work,” said Thompson. “Of course, I don’t recommend being a party animal either, but overloading oneself with school work isn’t good for the mind.”

Having a good college-worklife balance is an important part of being a successful college student.

“Don’t play so hard that you can’t work at all, but don’t work so hard where you can’t play at all,” said Thompson.

Thompson mentioned that too many students judge themselves as a person based on their grades, but it’s not the case.

“My best advice is don’t be so hard on yourself as a student,” said Thompson. “Look at Einstein, he was a bad writer and Bill Gates who made C’s, look at how far they came.”

In the end, taking that victory lap with college just might be worth it. College isn’t forever, but the skills, experiences and memories you make in college is.

“It doesn’t matter if it takes a student five years or four years or even eleven years. What matters is if they are comfortable with themselves as a student and never give up on their goals,” said Thompson.

- Kimberly Thompson, English

“Don’t play so hard that you can’t work at all, but don’t work so hard where you can’t play at all.”

Instructor

“Communicate with professors to build relationships,” said Aliyah Ingram, senior public health major.

“Utilize the time you have wisely, it will disappear faster than you realize,” said Ryan McGowan, senior electrical engineering major.

“Don’t stay inside your dorm room, branch out and meet new people,” said Katie Kappler, junior special education major.

“Take advantage of time management,” said Azmar Middleton, junior economics major.

“What’s due tomorrow can be done tomorrow,” said Walter Sellers, junior electrical engineering major.

“That we have a pirate tutoring center,” said Symaria Parker, sophomore biochemistry major.

“Don’t think that what you start out as a major is what you will end up with,” said Heather Traub, junior anthropology major.

7 THINGS I WISH I KNEW AS A FRESHMAN

by AMANDA ADKINS | photo FLICKR COMMONS

Over the course of four years in college, there are a lot of things to learn and it would be much easier if someone made a guide on the things they wish they had known as a freshmen at ECU, so we did just that.