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: Julie Roman
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Designer:
Photo Editor:
Writers:
Ashton Tygart
Samuel Alvarado
Amberlynn Bishop
Victoria Schule
Jessica Smith
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Director: John Harvey
Administrative Support Associate: Yvonne Moye
Publication Advisor: Terrence Dove
Advertising & Marketing Advisor: Julie Roman
Student Media Operations Manager: Janet Rollins
The Hook is copyrighted 2017 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.
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The Hook started out as a simple student interest magazine written, edited and designed by your fellow East Carolina University students. It covered on campus events, the downtown scene and dabbled in lifestyle. The rosebud conceived three years ago has now kicked off its training wheels to cover social issues impacting our campus, student organizations making an impact on the community, a fashion breakdown and more faces in our magazine than ever before.
As editor, you’ll notice my personal touch in many of the stories in this edition. What you’re seeing here is The Hook reimagined and revolutionized. The magazine staff has put their hearts into this issue to bring this campus and community together as one big pirate family. So read the pages following this one with an open mind and a grain of salt. Welcome to our spring 2017 edition and thanks for reading!
Loyal and Bold,
Carlyn Legg
From the chanting of “gold” after hearing “purple” to jumping in an ice-cold pool, ECU continues to value traditions that affect the daily lives of students. These traditions are usually events at the university that students carry on each year to show school spirit, come together as a community and celebrate the university as a whole.
As seniors come close to graduation in May, many look forward to completing one of the most infamous traditions on campus: walking under the cupola. According to senior communication major Jonathan McDougle, it is the one tradition each ECU student must do before leaving college.
“I am really looking forward to walking under the cupola upon graduation,” said McDougle. “I avoided it all four years and look forward to walking underneath it completely.”
Students avoid walking under the cupola during their time as undergraduates because of the myth that says students won’t graduate in four years if they do.
A big ECU tradition is the football culture that keeps the spirit of ECU so alive. From tailgating to the “Purple Haze” intro and the cannon blasting during every touchdown, football season is a favorite pastime among the pirate community.
“The seriousness of football here at ECU is what makes tradition and school spirit so alive,” said senior exercise physiology major Justus Townsend.
Senior psychology major, William Hix, said attending football games has been a favorable activity for the past four years.
“Raising the flag at the fourth quarter is one of the most notable traditions in my past four years here,” said Hix. Hix, who is also on the swim team, says the fight song means alot to him because not only does he sing it during football games but after his swim meets as well.
by VICTORIA SCHULE | photos SAMANTHA HARVEY AND AMBERLYNN BISHOP
“Personally, singing the fight song after swim meets with my team is my favorite tradition and something I’ll remember doing when look back on my years as an undergraduate,” said Hix. Many ECU traditions are popular events that happen every year on campus. Some of those traditions are Barefoot on the Mall, Walk the Plank and Get a Clue, which many students attend to get involved on campus and meet other students.
Senior communication major Carley Paulsen is looking forward to one of the most popular ECU traditions, Polar Bear Plunge. “I’ve been telling myself I would do it for years, but I really don’t like cold water,” said Paulsen. “The Polar Bear Plunge is coming up in January this year and as my last go around I feel like I should participate.”
The Polar Bear Plunge, a yearly event at the Student Recreation Center where more than a thousand students jump into ice cold water, has been a popular tradition for the past twenty years at ECU. For senior finance major Demetrius Dove and senior management-information systems major Alvin Akabi-Davis, ECU’s Cultural Explosion event was their favorite to attend each year.
“One of my favorite traditions on campus is the Cultural Explosion because it gives us a look into the ideas and cultures of other people,” said Dove.
Cultural explosion is an event that celebrates the different talents that represent the various cultures of ECU’s diverse student body.
“It is a showcase of all the different cultures and diversity right at ECU and brings people from different cultures together,” said Akabi-Davis.
With so many of these traditions on campus, it can be difficult to keep track of traditions or check them off the ECU student bucket list. This past year, the ECU Alumni Association and Student Affairs collaborated to create a mobile app to do just that.
“We created the app with goal to make students become more engaged in ECU events, make students come together, and encourage a positively diverse and fulfilling experience for students before they graduate,” said Assistant Director for Alumni Membership, Scott Duke.
The ECU traditions app is way for everyone to communicate on campus on the latest events going on and the different traditions on campus.
“It allows students to look at all the different activities within the palm of your hand,” said Duke.
The app lists 68 traditions on campus and allows students to post a photo to the app as a way share memories and to showcase the fun experience of the compelling tradition.
Duke said that if seniors complete 60 traditions before graduation they will earn recognition for their completion of the traditions.
“For every 15 traditions a student completes, they move up a level. If they get to complete all the traditions, they will receive a medal upon graduation,” said Duke.
While there are many popular traditions on campus, there are also traditions students would like to see on campus in the future.
Senior communication major, Madison Hawkins said Virginia Tech has a tradition she wished she could bring to ECU and participate in before graduation.
“Virginia Tech has this ball event called the ring dance where the seniors get their class rings and to recognize the achievements they have made these past four years.”
Hawkins said celebrating with her classmates on campus through a formal event would be a good way to end senior year before graduation.
“I would like to see more festive traditions on campus,” said Alice Fratoni, speech and hearing sciences major.
According to Akabi-Davis, there should be more events that allow students of all backgrounds, majors and interests to come together.
“Every year we should throw more events where pirates come together to just get to know each other,” said Akabi-Davis. “I feel like we have events for every other reason than to just simply meet new friends or other students and get to know each other.”
The traditions app aims to bring students together through the app, to engage them in those traditional events and to encourage them to meet new people by bonding at events.
“The app allows you to connect with people you may have never met before and become immersed into events,” said Duke.
The Alumni Association aims to bring pirates together through a sense of community and affinity for ECU’s campus and by encouraging every student to engage in on-campus activities before graduating.
“We hope the app will grow will and recruit more students keep the spirit of ECU ongoing,” said Duke.
The app allows you to connect with people you may have never met before and become immersed into events.
- Scott Duke, Assistant Director for Alumni Membership
In a Twitter poll of over 300 current East Carolina University students, 35 percent said they parked on campus, but only 16 percent of those were parked legally. 43 percent said they had to find parking off campus and 22 percent said they gave up trying to find parking and took university transit buses to campus and back each day.
An overwhelming majority of students said they’ve received parking tickets on campus.
“It’s hard when you’re running late to class and you’ve got a pass that’s supposed to make it easy to park close to classes and there’s no available spots where you’re supposed to be able to park,” said Steven Manning, junior elementary education major. “I’ve gotten three tickets just this semester for parking on campus, but you just gotta take that chance sometimes. It’s not worth being late or missing a class just to park where they tell you to park.”
On one hand, the ECU Office of Parking and Transportation has placed signs telling patrons where certain parking permit holders are allowed to park. On the other hand, some students don’t feel that the parking department has done enough to cater to students’ needs during periods of redevelopment.
“I mean, I get it, you want to make the campus look better and build new fancy things to attract more students,” said McKenzie Maynard, freshman undeclared major. “But what about the current students?”
Maynard went on to describe that she is an out-of-state, first-year student and that she did not win the parking raffle that first-year students wanting parking passes were placed in. She said not being able to park her car on campus makes it difficult for her to visit home, since each time she wants to visit home a family member must drive five hours from West Virginia and back.
Other students find it easier to pick up and drop off their friends for classes and study sessions.
“My roommate and I are constantly giving each other rides to campus,” said senior business major Jamie Ludwig. “I drop her off in the mornings at Bate, but you can’t park over there so it’s always congested with other people dropping their friends off too.”
Ludwig explained that it’s more convenient to drop off her roommate at class than for either of them to risk being late by trying to find parking.
“It’s always a game of ‘am I going to park on campus and risk a ticket or park so far away that I have to leave the house half an hour earlier and walk,’” Ludwig said. “Sometimes if no one can take me to class and I can’t find parking, I just don’t go to class.”
On a campus that is constantly changing and undergoing construction for years-long development projects, students are left struggling to find convenient parking on campus.With almost 20 ongoing construction projects on and around campus and with the loss of over 400 parking spots behind the main campus library and student center, it’s no surprise that students are using ECU’s transit system.
“I live far enough away from campus that it’s not really like safe to walk or ride a bike from [Copper Beech],” said Manning. “So my only options are to drive or take the bus.”
Manning said he never considered taking the bus to campus before he got ticketed for parking on campus.
“It’s kind of a slap in the face when you get a ticket; I always kick myself when it happens,” he said. “I just think ‘damn, shoulda taken the bus.’”
With over 30 different bus routes throughout the day and through the night, ECU transit has made the lives of many students easier by offering public transportation that is included in tuition fees. Reaching virtually every off-campus student living complex in Greenville, ECU transit runs on 30-minute, 15-minute and 12-minute routes to each complex.
“The bus is honestly the best option because parking isn’t ever guaranteed,” said Ludwig.
The struggle to park on campus legally has kept many students from parking where it’s most convenient for them.
“I almost never find a spot closest to where I’m going,” said Manning. “It’s always a full [parking] lot or some construction cones in my way.”
Manning said he spends a lot of time in the library and often parks a mile away, in uptown parking areas.
“It sucks when you just can’t find a spot and end up parking so far away that you’re like hiking a mile back to your car after studying all night,” he said.
Many students park in the 4th Street parking deck, in 2-hour city parking spots or in parallel parking spots along city roads.
In a survey, 43 percent of students said they typically park in a 2-hour parking spot off campus in the uptown area. Of those, 38 percent said they parked there longer than two hours because of backto-back classes or because they were in the library studying. 28 percent said they were parked illegally off campus and 29 percent said they rode the bus instead of driving.
While students try to find convenient ways to get to campus for classes and study sessions, the university continues with years-long construction projects that will eventually make the campus more appealing and accessible for the next generation of ECU students. Until then, the current student population struggles to conveniently learn, study and pursue their education in a place that doesn’t meet the parking demand for student drivers.
by VICTORIA SCHULE | photos courtesy of ERIK KNEUBUEHL AND AMBERLYNN BISHOP
Erik Kneubuehl, Associate Vice Chancellor of Student Involvement and Leadership
According to Kneubuehl, even though home has its problems, it is still home and that principle is the same with many ECU students. Making positive memories at ECU and letting students express themselves are ways Student Affairs aims to make students feel closer to home.
Faculty members and leaders at ECU often get involved in campus activities such as Cupola Conversations, where students can participate in civil discourse each month. Even eating in dining halls with students, Kneubuehl explained that by encouraging open conversations and being involved with students, faculty members and authority figures become equals with students on campus.
“When you feel leadership is involved, it humanizes us a bit. When we do that, you start to look at us as people and that kind of warmth from our division of student affairs, I think is unique,” said Kneubuehl.
From meeting new friends at orientation to celebrating with friends and family at gradation, East Carolina University is not only a place of learning and obtaining a degree, but a place to call home.
According to Associate Vice Chancellor of Student Involvement and Leadership, Erik Kneubuehl, ECU is his very definition of home. “I equate school spirit in this idea that you feel like it is home. It is your home away from home,” he said.
At many big colleges, it can be easy for students to feel lost when they’re part of a large student body, but in many smaller colleges with smaller campuses, there can be a lack of school spirit. At ECU, having a big student body with a small campus feel and also a spirited culture, it is easy for a student to become a part of the family atmosphere.
Kneubuehl works closely with ECU students and faculty involved on campus in organizations such as Student Government Association, Greek life, Student Activities and Organizations, Intercultural Affairs and the Center for Leadership & Civic Engagement.
These organizations help students become immersed in ECU, learn leadership skills, serve the community and make lifelong connections. Kneubuehl said it is important to hear the voice of college students and it is important to help maintain a close knitcommunity between students and leaders on campus.
“I remember talking to a number of students who wanted the name off of Aycock [residence hall] and they said how frustrated they were with the process, but then they went back to the fact that they love ECU,” said Kneubuehl. “Even when they don’t agree with it, it still is their home. That is as close as you get to family as is possible.”
- Erik Kneubuehl, Associate Vice Chancellor of Student Involvement and Leadership
Student Affairs creates events yearround for students, especially freshmen, to get to know each other and find their place at ECU. Kneubuehl’s favorite event for students is Pirate Palooza, which is held at the beginning of the year as a welcome back celebration for students and includes many different campus traditions.
“When students get here, their dream is realized that they are here at ECU, so it is really fun to see the pure excitement,” said Kneubuehl when referring to Pirate Palooza.
According to Kneubuehl, it is the idea that it takes a village in order educate and bring people together.
“If you’re gonna educate anybody, everybody is involved. From the custodial worker to the chancellor to the student affairs professional to your peers to your parents to the community of Greenville,” said Kneubuehl. “All those factors go into your development as a person and the kind of environment you’re living in and the support you’re getting.”
When students get here, their dream is realized that they are here at ECU, so it is really fun to see the pure excitement.
Students participate in the "die-in" held on campus last October
The bodies of East Carolina University students were scattered across the sidewalk, over chairs and lined the entrance of Mendenhall Student Center. The sounds of screaming students echoed across the west side of campus as curious eyes poured over the silent bodies on the ground. One student stood on a table with her fist in the air and with the final word of her screams, almost unanimously the bodies sprung to life as they responded, “No peace!”
The organized “die-in,” held in October of 2016 was just one of many protests Mia Graves, treasurer of the Relentless Ending to Social Injustice by Solidarity and Teaching (R.E.S.I.S.T.) organization, participated in to bring awareness to social injustice. The protest, created by members of R.E.S.I.S.T. with help from the Black Student Union and ECU faculty, involved over 100 students lying on the ground to represent the bodies of those killed by police violence.
“We approached the situation so that we had faculty and police officers there to make sure we were safe,” Graves said.
Negative comments were seen on various social media outlets including Twitter and Yik Yak.
“A lot of people on Yik Yak were asking 'what were those people doing laying out in front of Mendenhall,’” said Graves. “They said things like, ‘are they protesting Chick-Fil-A,’ and a lot of other insensitive reactions to it.”
The efforts by the R.E.S.I.S.T organization are to educate students about diversity.
“We went to the Trump rally and someone asked what is the difference between white privilege and white supremacy,” Graves said. “Instead of yelling at her or approaching her the wrong way, we said ‘you know you probably don’t understand the difference so let us break it down for you and teach you about it.’”
Graves said that she feels many of the negative responses to the Black Lives Matter movement on campus are due to a lack of understanding by students because they can’t relate to those in the African American community.
“I think a lot of people who don’t understand the movement can’t put themselves in that place to understand it,” said Graves. “Their mentality is ‘it will never happen to me, so it doesn’t matter.’”
For those who are not aware of the Black Lives Matter movement, it is an international activist movement that originated in the African American community in 2012 after Trayvon Martin, an unarmed 17-year-old, was shot and killed by George Zimmerman. This began the start of a movement that awakened Americans and sparked a fire in activists
looking for justice for their communities.
“It is not fair to see our brothers and sisters get shot for no reason on multiple occasions and their killers aren’t getting prosecuted for it,” said Graves.
According to senior communication major and Black Lives Matter supporter, Eboni Jackson, people are forgetting that the issue concentrates specifically on the black community.
The lack of understanding related to the Black Lives Matter movement created another campaign known as All Lives Matter. This group believes every life is precious and should be taken seriously, not just African American lives.
“I understand where they are coming from because of course, all lives do matter,” said Jackson. “I think they are missing the point that right now we just need to focus on the people who really need it.”
According to both Graves and Jackson, African Americans are still stereotyped by the color of their skin.
“I have a one-year-old son, and I feel like when people see me with him or hear about him, they just assume that I am
not an educated person,” said Jackson. “I feel like they think I am not as smart or assume I don’t go to school.”
Graves also mentioned that the stereotyping is a big part of the ongoing injustice issues.
“The stereotype is that people see black people as scary or a threat,” Graves explained. “There was an incident where a black man had his hands up but the police still shot at him.”
One of the incidents Graves referred to was the shooting of Walter Scott in North Charleston, South Carolina. In his case, the shooting was recorded and viewers could clearly see Scott attempting to run from the police officer. The officer in question, Michael Slager, was arrested and charged with murder. His trial began in October of 2016.
The East Carolina University marching band also faced a lot of criticism after 19 members knelt during the National Anthem at the football game against the University of Central Florida on October first.
The kneeling movement began with San Francisco 49’ers quarterback, Colin
Kaepernick who kneeled during the national anthem during NFL football games as a response to the injustices and racism issues that are still prevalent in the U.S. The 19 ECU marching band members who knelt during the anthem caused a great deal of controversy in Greenville over respecting the American flag and freedom of speech.
Many responses to the actions of marching band members were negative, ranging from harassment of the band members to making national headlines. There were also statements released from the chancellor and the athletic bands director.
Junior communication major, Bria Hill, said the marching band incident and the peaceful protests on campus have given her a different perspective of student body and faculty.
“I feel it has changed the vibe on campus between the majority and minority groups. There is a gap that people are not willing to close,” said Hill. “It definitely doesn’t make me feel as prideful as I once was especially after the press releases, which I feel wasn’t as supportive of diversity on campus.”
Hill referred to the press releases from ECU officials in response to the marching band incident in October. Band director William Staub, School of Music director Christopher Ulffers and College of Fine Arts and Communication dean Christopher Buddo issued a statement together after the incident stating that they “regret the actions” of the band members who knelt.
Hill said she hopes in the future that students and faculty can try to be more understanding of where minorities are coming from when it comes to protests about social injustice and equality.
“The thing is, I know soldiers don’t fight for us so we can stand for the national
anthem, they fight for us to give us the right to stand or sit,” Graves said. “So if we choose to sit for it, that’s what we’re fighting for because they fought for us to have that freedom in America. I think that is what people misunderstand about it.”
The Student Government Association released a statement shortly after the football game stating that violence and threats would not be tolerated on or off campus. Chancellor Cecil Stanton
opinion. He said he hopes students on ECU’s campus can still accomplish things together and talk openly when it comes to controversial topics.
“If we don’t say or do anything about it then it will keep going on as it has for years, and I feel like millennials are more about voicing their opinions,” Jackson said.
Graves went on to say that trying to get the attention of the chancellor or other faculty members would make all the difference because they are the ones who have a voice or the power to make change.
“I know race is a social construct but I wish it didn’t have such an impact on a lot of things,” said Graves.
She explained that the African American community fears becoming another statistic of police brutality. “We have to worry everyday that our loved ones won’t just become another hashtag,” said Graves.
released a similar statement explaining that students are expected to be respectful of different opinions and open to civil discourse.
“SGA has always been an organization that recognizes the diversity of opinions that exist on our campus and this is reflected in our assembly where we hear from students of many different backgrounds,” said SGA president Ryan Beeson. “The thing I am most proud of in this is that despite the many differences that exist in SGA, we all are able to get along and accomplish things together. I would hope to see this on our campus as well when students interact with one another and have conversations that can often be difficult.”
Beeson explained that what makes the United States so special is the concept of free speech and thinking. According to Beeson, freedom of speech is what makes people entitled to their own
On social media, BLM supporters created hashtags in the past in honor of those who were killed from police brutality and to spread awareness of injustice.
“Having open conversations and getting people to talk to us and ask us about the movement is some of the small steps we can make..."Attitudes on the Black Lives Matter movement on campus [need to be] more positive and understanding,” Graves explained.
Graves is looking forward to R.E.S.I.S.T. continuing to make conversation on campus and continuing peaceful protests as a way to help students talk about the subject instead of ignoring it.
by VICTORIA SCHULE | photos courtesy of FLICKR COMMONS
Through aches and sweat, participants at the annual ECU Relay for Life event continue fighting on to support those facing cancer. This event helps honor those who are battling the disease or are cancer survivors.
According to the American Cancer Society, more than one million people in the United States are diagnosed with cancer each year. By having fundraisers to help raise money for cancer research such as Relay for Life, the more likely cancer research can become one step to finding a cure.
“Relay for life is not a race. You can think of it as a race but it is so much more,” said head of ECU’s Relay for Life event leadership team, Yadira Zuniga. “It is for a much bigger cause: to fight cancer.”
Relay for Life is the signature fundraiser for the American Cancer Society to help raise proceeds towards cancer research. ECU’s Relay for Life is only one out of more than 5,200 communities in 20 countries that host Relay for Life events.
Each year, the fundraiser hosts the 6 to 24-hour long event on the track to show support for cancer survivors.
“Many people associate the race with the track, which is why many people assume it is just a race,” said Zuniga. “ECU’s Relay for Life typically last for six to eight hours, but we hope to one day have a 24-hour event, but it depends on the amount we raise.”
Members walk on the track to represent the continuous fight and struggle cancer patients go through restlessly.
“Our cancer patients never get a break from cancer. They never stop fighting,” said Zuniga.
According to Zuniga, walking the track is the least people can do to help and show support.
“We are open to anyone becoming involved and starting a team or join an existing team,” said Zuniga.
ECU’s Relay for Life has different relay teams created to help create smaller fundraisers before the main event to help raise money, awareness and to get to know cancer patients in the community.
Each team has a team captain to help set fundraising goals and has participants to help volunteer and be involved with the team.
“We hold fundraisers and events to help the teams raise cancer awareness and most importantly, support the ECU cancer community,” said Zuniga.
From the beginning of the new school year to the day of the event, any ECU student can create a team to participate and fundraise to raise awareness
about cancer in the community. Many of the teams that are already involved include ECU’s College of Nursing, the Pre-Dental Honor Society and fraternities such as Alpha Phi Omega and Gamma Sigma Sigma.
“We also attend events to give back to our cancer patients and get to know them,” said Zuniga. “One time we created goody bags to give to our cancer patients who were being treated and we handed them out to the patients after they got their treatment."
Zuniga recalls one of her favorite events when she was a part of Relay for Life as a caregiver last year.
“Before I became the lead, I was a survivor-caregiver and every year we do a survivor dinner,” said Zuniga.
The survivor dinner allows the team captains, caregivers and those who are or were battling cancer to get to know each other and to hear their stories.
“I believe the survivor dinner was my favorite event that was a part of Relay For Life because it gave me the chance to get to know the survivors on a personal level before the Relay for Life event,” said Zuniga.
Zuniga has set a $45,000 fundraising goal to achieve before the Relay for Life event on April 24. 100% of proceeds go directly to the American Cancer Society.
“Each team has a certain amount to raise which will all go towards the American Cancer Society. I hope we can surpass our goal and raise more in the future,” said Zuniga.
According to Zuniga, the more volunteers and fundraising Relay for Life can achieve, the bigger the chance they can win the battle against cancer.
“I hope we can get more students not only involved in the community but those who are survivors come out as well this year,” said Zuniga. “We want to show we are all in this together and we want to help those who are or have struggled with cancer.”
Zuniga said Relay for Life wants to make sure the ECU community knows there is a support system for those who are battling cancer.
“This whole thing is for them. Whether they are fighting cancer or are survivors, we do it all for them,” said Zuniga.
OUR CANCER PATIENTS NEVER GET A BREAK FROM CANCER. THEY NEVER STOP FIGHTING.
- YADIRA ZUNIGA
When natural disasters bring the community down, it is the foundation of fellowship that brings communities together to achieve greatness. The volunteer-based service organization, F3 (fitness, fellowship and faith foundation), dedicates itself to the local community. F3 gives men the opportunity to use fellowship to establish themselves as leaders through fitness and service.
Alan Nielson, assistant director of aquatics and director of safety and facilities at East Carolina University’s recreation and wellness center, meets with the F3 foundation almost everyday at 5:30 a.m. for group workouts. The F3 foundation originated in Charlotte, North Carolina and aims to strengthen male leadership in communities through its mission of fitness, fellowship and faith.
According to Nielson, F3 is much more than a fitness group. It is a chance to build character and leadership skills while simultaneously embracing the bond of brotherhood.
“Fitness is only the hook,” said Nielson. “What makes people stay and keep coming back to our [early morning] meetings is the fellowship. Fellowship is the glue to our organization.”
Nielson described the brotherhood created by F3 as a faithdriven force.
“When we get to help people, faith is what helps us get through,” he said. “You can’t have one without the other.”
F3 includes students and faculty who welcome new members to join them in their mission to make an impact on the community. Nielson has been an active member of the group since he joined in March 2015 after a recommendation from friends of his church.
F3 has completed several community service projects with Nielson’s help. His favorite series of community service projects supported a founder of the ECU chapter of F3, Nelson Cooper.
The recreation and park management professor at ECU was recently diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
“We did a fundraiser for Nelson Cooper and his family. It [was] a big fitness run called the sasquatch run back in July,” said Cooper.
The sasquatch run is a nine-mile course with five exercise stops. Nielson said they had brothers coming from F3 chapters in Raleigh, Wilmington and Charlotte to support Cooper. He described the experience as “one of the most emotionally draining yet emotionally fulfilling events I have ever been a part of.”
F3’s sister organization, FIA (Females in Action), the Oakmont Baptist Church and the ECU running club also joined forces with F3 to host a 3-kilometer fundraiser run for Cooper.
Hosting fundraising events to benefit families in need is a driving force of F3’s goal to make an impact on the community. Nielson explained his philosophy that when positive groups come together to reach a goal, the results are awe-inspiring.
In 2015, F3 raised money to fill a truck with food items for flood victims in South Carolina. Then, in fall 2016 the group helped flood victims in the Greenville community after Hurricane Matthew.
“After the hurricane came through, we started off by cutting up [fallen] trees,” said Nielson. “[Then] one of our members got a call from Cypress Glenn and found out they were going to evacuate their first floor.”
F3 helped those who lived in evacuation zones prepare for the storm by building sandbag walls to protect homes from flood waters. The men also helped ECU students to evacuate their homes by finding storage areas for personal belongings.
“We want to make sure our community is well taken care of,” Nielson said.
According to Nielson, F3 aims to help people until no more people need help.
is
Burgers and fries and soda, oh my! As students walk through campus making comfortable food choices like pizza, burgers and pasta in their daily diets, some struggle to open their eyes to the healthier options.
According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, some of the top reasons students gain weight in college are unlimited food choices from dining halls (both healthy and not-so-healthy), increased snacking and consuming more caloric beverages such as high-fat, sugary coffee drinks, soda, energy drinks and alcohol.
By switching out foods for healthier alternatives, evaluating the perception versus the reality of what’s available and looking at the healthy choices that can be made at home, students can easily improve eating habits.
So, how do students refrain from gaining weight or lose the extra pounds they’ve gained in college?
According to clinical nutritionist Jeanne Finney of East Carolina University Student Health Services, fresh fruits and vegetables aren’t ideal for students on a budget. Instead, she suggests students buy freeze-dried fruits and vegetables that are more affordable and convenient for students.
“If you buy things that are freeze dried or dried or frozen, you kind of feel a little more comfortable knowing that these last a little bit longer, so financially they’re more affordable,” said Finney. “You can keep them in your car or your bookbag and they’re not necessarily gonna go bad like, let’s say, if you were carrying a banana around it might get mashed up.”
Finney said that it’s not about denying yourself the foods you like because they aren’t the healthiest options, but about making sure the things you want to eat can fit into your diet in a way that is good for the body.
By opting for a side salad and a smaller drink when ordering fast food, students can fit those fast food options into their diet in a way that doesn’t make them feel like they’re making too big of a personal sacrifice.
“It’s sort of teaching that everything can fit, but there’s still a golden rule of making sure you’re having some color to your meal. You’re getting that through the vegetables and you’re still in the long run having a healthy meal,” Finney said.
She added that dining locations on campus regularly offer both salads and hot vegetables that can be added on the side or as the main proponent of a meal.
While there may be healthy options in the dining halls and other locations on campus, the reality is that students don’t go to the dining hall for every meal. So, what about those not-so-healthy dorm room snacks and the low-budget shopping trips for students living off campus?
“Look for the hidden calories; so with ramen noodles for example, it’s not the noodles that are bad for you, it’s the sauce packet,” executive chef Kristian Forrest said.
“So have the noodles and add fresh steamed vegetables to it, but leave the sauce packet to the side.”
Forrest said a simple switch for snacking is to buy baked potato chips or look up a recipe online to make your own chips.
“Anything you can buy in the store, you can make at home,” he said. “There’s no magic sitting on the shelf. Nine times out of 10 if you make it yourself, it’s gonna be better for you and it’s gonna taste better.”
According to Forrest, staying hydrated and replacing soda or sugary coffee drinks with a natural juice or water can also help the body feel full throughout the day.
For snacking on campus, Nutrition Director Skip Allen described the convenience store locations that have “pirate approved snacks,” which he said are USDA approved snacking choices. A big healthy change has been the removal of caffeinated beverages from the Center Court Express inside the Student Recreation Center.
“We just removed soda from center court,” Allen said. “Things like that...kind of orient the student towards making it easier to make healthy choices.”
By setting a healthy eating goal each day, students can look at the foods they have and find ways to fit them into their goals instead of limiting their options.
“Getting enough fruits in a day, getting enough vegetables in a day, getting enough whole grains in a day would be my golden rule,” said Allen. “If you can get five fruits and vegetables in a day minimum, that’s a starting point.”
Allen explained that there’s a clear difference between the perception of campus dining and what’s really served.
“If you look at the actual nutrition value of the food that we have, we have a ton of fresh fruits and vegetables,” he said. “Most of them are locally sourced; we’ve got lean meats that are a lot of times from local farms.”
By using local farms for produce and meat supplies, the money students spend on meal plans goes back into the local farming economy. Most meal plans offered to students include unlimited access to the dining halls, which encourages the selection of food choices on campus. Students living off campus or commuting to campus also have meal plan options.
“There’s several local farms that we use that are within a hundred miles,” Allen said. “We [actually] have basically a hydroponic farm behind Jones Hall right now and we’re gonna be having our own local produce in our dining halls [soon].”
Forrest described the layout of Todd Dining Hall and the options available inside.
“When you walk into Todd Dining Hall the first thing you see is the pizza station. And if you’re a college student, that’s really a comfortable food; you know it, you trust it, you’re drawn to it almost automatically,” Forrest said. “But there’s a vegetarian option every day, every meal...we try to encourage students to you know, be creative.”
The head chefs and nutrition specialists get together every year to discuss possible changes to the menus.
“There’s over three thousand recipes that we have that we produce from one dining hall,” Forrest said. “Go to the grill and get a piece of grilled chicken and then go to the salad bar and maybe make a salad and put grilled chicken on it.”
Forrest explained that as menus are diversified, there’s one thing that remains constant: the salad bar. He added that there are almost 50 items on the salad bar, which provide the opportunity to compose something new every visit.
Instead of limiting food choices to the traditional idea of fruits and vegetables, there are small changes that can make a big difference in the ways to meet nutrition goals.
“It’s not necessarily something different from what you would normally eat, just maybe change your sauce,” Forrest said. “Don’t get mayonnaise, put mustard on your sandwich, and you really do have to put in a little extra effort and thought and creativity into it.”
He explained that instead of the easy choice of alfredo sauce, which has hidden calories, students could choose marinara sauce or make their own sauce with a simple recipe found online.
Allen said he works with students on evaluating their time management skills to incorporate healthy eating into an already busy day.
“A lot of times I’m working with students on ‘can we get up earlier for breakfast, so that you’re not so hungry at lunch that you don’t want to wait the extra two minutes for the healthier options,’” he said. “Instead of telling [students] ‘no, you’re not allowed to eat this, you’re not allowed to have that,’ it’s more of ‘alright how can we get these proper foods into your diet so that when you eat that ramen, you know you’ve already accomplished your healthy eating goals for the day?’”
Eating smaller meals throughout the day and incorporating healthy snacks into the diet plan is also healthier than skipping breakfast and having a hearty lunch and dinner, Forrest added. By setting nutrition goals and making sure the foods available on campus and at home fit into these goals, healthier eating will make it’s way into the lives of students.
“What you find is over time, you don’t have space to eat the foods that you wouldn’t want to eat [on a healthy diet],” Allen said. “I take it from a perspective that says ‘what do you have, what do we have, where can we help you reach those healthy eating goals?’”
”Nine times out of ten if you make it yourself, it’s gonna be better for you and it’s gonna taste better.by AMANDA ADKINS | photo collage by SAMUEL ALVARADO
Condoms, lube and sexual health tips, oh my! Walking up to a counter at Student Health Services and asking for condoms is just one of the resources East Carolina University offers to students. This resource was one amongst many that were considered when Trojan released their annual report. The Trojan Sexual Health Report Card was started in 2006 and it analyzes the sexual health resources and statistics of 140 colleges and universities.
Discounted condoms are available at Student Health Services
“When it comes to sexual health resources, it is spread out between Student Health Services, Campus Recreation and also the Counseling Center,” said Carol Locke MSN, AMP-BC, adult nurse practitioner at ECU’s Student Health Services. “In student health, we offer STI testing, where you can get tested for gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis and HIV. If you think you have herpes, if you think you have warts, we do all of that as well.”
The testing offered on campus is only a small part of what Trojan looks for when ranking schools. Some of the 11 categories considered are quality of sexual health information on the Student Health Services website, sexual assault prevention programs, hours of operation, outreach programs and contraceptive availability. ECU was ranked on the report card as the 63rd best school for resources, which is a 17 place drop from last year’s report card.
“When you think about the sexual health report card, you think about the rate of STDs,” said Locke. “They are really talking about availability of sexual health resources on campus. Our resources have not changed; in fact our resources have increased.”
Locke believes that the reason ECU went down is because “everything is not housed inside of Student Health, so when they are asking about all the services that you offer, they are asking if they are inside your health center.”
One of the ways that Student Health Services tries to reach out to more patients is by offering a fasttrack clinic. This clinic allows students to see nurses rather than a provider, which allows patients to book same-day appointments and get screened for STI’s in approximately 15 minutes. Students can make appointments by calling Student Health Services, visiting the online portal through their website or going into the health center.
“All of those tests are done here and we can file your insurance if you have BlueCross BlueShield or MedCost or the student health insurance,” said Locke. “If you don’t have those three insurances then it is a self pay, but the cost is very low. We also have been pushing to let students know that we offer oral STI testing because a lot of the same STIs that you can get in your vagina or penis you can also get in your mouth.”
This report card encourages schools to improve their sexual health resources as well as offer more information about sexual health to students. Trojan also plans to donate more than 100,000 condoms to schools throughout 2016 to promote sexual health and contraception.
“We also sell condoms, we do sexual health counseling, we offer all methods of birth control from pills, depo, nuvarings [and] IUDs. That is inside of student health so all of your testing and counseling and birth control you [can] get here,” said Locke. “I know that the rec and wellness center offers a lot of the sex education outreach programs like in the dorm rooms and around campus and the wellness center has condoms for free there.”
Some sexual health classes offered to students are passport events and every event is free of charge.
The counseling center also has a sexual assault advocate for any student who feels that they have been assaulted. All services at this center are free and confidential and have emergency assistance available 24 hours a day.
“We have a lot of resources, you just have to know where to go,” said Locke. “The more you know, the better you’ll do.”
One of the new changes that Student Health Services has implemented is the “Is it in Your Mouth?” campaign. This campaign, that was started in the fall of this school year, promotes oral STI testing to inform students that STIs can be transmitted orally and anally. At the start of this campaign, oral gonorrhea and chlamydia testing became available at Student Health.
“I encourage students that if you are going to be in a relationship with someone, it is smart if you both get tested before you ever have sex,” said Locke.
Students with any questions are encouraged to contact Student Health Services for answers or advice.
“Don’t get information from your friends because they may not have a clue, just come to us,” said Locke. “We are non-judgemental.”
ECU was ranked on the report card as the 63rd best school for resources
by
AMBERLYNN BISHOPIn the middle of fall in Eastern North Carolina, the weather can be in the 70s one day and in the 50s the next, which means that cozying up to the fire with a warm coffee is just as likely as hanging outside with an iced latte. This also leads to fall fashion trends continuing over to spring weather. Thankfully, East Carolina University students didn’t disappoint with their fashion choices for the weather. Here is a look at the top four trends that swept over campus in the fall season and some that have continued into the spring.
The blanket scarf saw it’s debut in 2015, but this trend was in full force last fall. From freezing classrooms to chilly walks through campus, the blanket scarf can be draped, wrapped and even worn as a belt to add comfort and warmth to any outfit.
“I absolutely adore [blanket] scarves,” said Olivia Peaks, junior communication major. “I try to have one to match every cardigan and coat I have if possible.”
Some brands, like The Arrivals and ASOS, even made extra long knit scarves for men. With some blanket scarves being made out of a thin material, they are also a good fashion accessory for the beginning of spring.
There is no judgement between college students when someone wears gym clothes to class, because it’s well-known that sometimes students oversleep and go to school in pajamas or whatever is comfiest. According to Esquire, one comfy trend that has started to take over men’s athletic wear are tailored sweats. They look like slightly looser skinny jeans, but are made out of sweatpant materials.
Most of these tailored sweats cut off right at the ankle so they can be worn for a workout session or running to class late. These sweats go perfectly when paired with a loose t-shirt and solid colored gym shoes.
According to fashion blogger Amanda Holstein, ankle booties might be taking over when it comes to the most popular style of boots worn.
“I see knee-high boots worn all the time when ankle booties are actually the better choice,” Holstein said.
Don’t worry thigh-high boot lovers; it hasn’t reached the point yet where students have to choose, but more students sported booties last fall. Peep toe boots were popular when it was warm outside and chunky suede boots when it was cold. Ankle boots have also been popular when paired with a romper for warmer spring weather.
Some trends can be a hit or miss. The choker craze that hit last fall might just be one of those styles that continues to get mixed reviews.
Celebrities like Cara Delevingne and Rihanna were seen wearing variations of the choker well into the fall 2016 fashion season. Students at ECU were more hesitant toward the back-again style, most recently from the 1990s.
“I would not wear a choker,” said senior Aftyn Bayless. “Way too 90s for me.”
However, thanks to the celebrity endorsement and the fact that many students were spotted rocking the choker this past fall, this trend deserves an honorable mention in this issue’s fashion recap.
In the humid climate of spring in eastern North Carolina, a refreshing drink must be practical, easy to make and have attractive presentation in order to gain popularity. A mojito is a perfect fit for the spring drink of choice. Here’s what you’ll need to make it at home.
INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 oz White rum
6 leaves of Mint
1 oz Soda Water
Fresh lime juice
2 teaspoons Sugar
PREPARATION
Place mint leaves, lime slice and sugar in the bottom of a glass and muddle with a spoon until mint is crushed. Fill glass with ice. Pour rum over the ice and top with soda/soda water; stir. Garnish with mint leaves.
According to bar manager and mixology blogger, Jeffrey Morgenthaler, there are do’s and don’ts of a good mojito. He wrote these tips:
DO use crushed ice in your mojitos. Crushed ice will melt faster, which is good in a drink with strong flavors. The extra surface area of crushed ice also makes it a colder drink.
DO NOT use pre-made mojito mix out of a bottle.
DO try Bacardi rum in your mojitos. It may be the closest thing to real Cuban rum.
DO NOT over-muddle the mint or dilute the lime with the ice cubes.
DO use bottled mineral water in place of seltzer water.
DO NOT use dark or gold rum in your mojitos, they can change the flavor dramatically.
DO NOT make a mojito when the weather is below 70°F. This is almost as bad as having a Bloody Mary after the sun has gone down.
DO slowly sip a mojito and enjoy the way the flavors meld over time.
DO NOT slurp down a mojito in less time than it took your bartender, or you, to make it.
DO NOT have 10 mojitos tonight. At around 150 calories each, mojitos can pack the extra calories that are better saved for a latenight snack
For a non-alcoholic alternative, try cucumber slices in water for a refreshing twist on the original hydrating beverage.
No matter your what your favorite bottled water may be, adding a splash of your favorite fruit or vegetable is a good way to add a little variety to a daily beverage without adding a lot of extra calories. Make your own cucumber water at home by following these two easy steps:
Slice a cleaned, peeled, or unpeeled depending on your preference, cucumber into 1/2 inch slices.
Combine cucumber slices in water and top with ice. Allow cucumbers to marinate for at least an hour. For best results, allow it to marinate overnight in the refrigerator.
The sky’s the limit when it comes to reaching new heights for senior education major and one of East Carolina University’s most accomplished high jumpers, Avion Jones. Jones, who is a Virginia Beach native, said basketball was his first sport before he started high jumping.
“My high school track coach asked me to come try out,” said Jones. “I ended up signing for college based on what I did my junior year, which was jumping 6-feet 6-inches. By my senior year, I jumped 6-feet 10-inches.”
On May 14, 2016, Jones set a new record for the National Collegiate Athletic Association for men’s high jump, clearing 7-feet 7-inches during the American Athletic Conference Outdoor Championship in Orlando, Florida.
Jones was not only beating university and conference records, he made the second-highest mark recorded in the world at the time.
“High jump is the most difficult sport ever. If I wasn’t scared of heights, I would jump much higher. It starts getting scary when you reach those extra heights,” said Jones. “I’m actually scared of heights, roller coasters and all that. I’ll get on and just close my eyes. Pretty sure in half of my high jumps, my eyes are closed.”
Jones ended his collegiate track career in fall 2016 in an attempt to find a spot
as the third United States Olympian in program history. On a rainy day in Eugene, Oregon, Jones joined other elite athletes from around the nation, but was unable to clear the bar at 7-feet 1-inch during the Olympic Trials. According to Jones, the weather had him at a disadvantage during trials.
“Every time I go to Oregon, it rained every time. The Olympic trials was a two-week long event and every other day it was sunny,” said Jones. “When finals came it looked like it wasn’t going to rain but it ends up raining. I can’t jump if it is cold or raining, that is just one of my flaws.”
Referring to Kendra Harrison’s 100-meter hurdles world record after failing to qualify for the Olympics a week earlier, Jones said that making new records in track can easily be a hit or miss, especially in high jump.
“You can be the number one high jumper in the world and if you mess up on that day, it is over for you,” said Jones when referring to qualifying when competing in the Olympic Trials or World Championships in the high jump event.
Making great accomplishments in a difficult sport was not easy for Jones.
“A lot of it is me battling my mental self,” said Jones. “If I didn’t have that fear, I would jump higher.”
courtesyBefore every jump, Jones takes a minute to make an attempt at the bar. In those moments, he tries to meditate and think about other things before the big jump.
“That is my way out,” Jones said when referring to meditating before jumps. “I don’t even look at the bar. I get scared I am just going to talk myself out of it.” Jones’ competitive attitude is what also allowed him to have such success in the sport.
“I hate to lose. I am just extremely competitive which is what makes me work harder,” said Jones. Motivating himself to do extra workouts to get ahead of the competition was how Jones worked harder to reach his goals when he competed. A trusting coach was a major part of Jones’ ability to clear the bar as well. Many athletes tend to find their rhythm and work with that same technique all year. Jones takes a different approach.
“I’m the type of weirdo who would change their approach four times in one year. A week before the biggest meet in my life and my coach put trust in me doing that,” said Jones. “Other coaches
wouldn’t trust doing that, but each time I’ve done it, I’ve jumped higher.”
When making big achievements such as reaching a new record in high jump, setting goals was never a thing for Jones to have in order to become a successful athlete.
“I never had a goal to go to college or to jump a million feet in the air,” said Jones. “Everything that was set in front of me, I attacked it. A new door opens in front of me, I attack it and it just leads me to different places.”
One big accomplishment Jones is looking forward to this semester is graduating from ECU. Jones will be a first generation college graduate.
“Being the first to go to college, get my degree and graduate will be a big record for me to accomplish,” said Jones.
Jones mentioned his biggest plan was to hit the lottery.
“If that doesn’t work out, my back up plan is to pursue this track thing for as long as I can. It would be dumb of me to give high jump up for nothing,” said Jones.
Finishing up his last semester, Jones plans on keeping his professional athletic status as a high jumper in the hopes to compete in a professional conference one day. Jones hopes to compete overseas and beat his record one day, but is currently finishing up college and his education internship with E.B. Aycock Middle School.
“I just signed a contract with an agent. They get you to the big professional leagues,” said Jones. “I recently got invited to an Olympic training center in Arizona. Hopefully, I go there to train and get some coaches. It is not going to happen overnight. It takes patience.”
“Family, the best way I can put it, is a support staff. It’s people you can talk to in the best times and the worst times,” said Charlie Yorgen, East Carolina University baseball middle infielder, on what he believes the definition of family is.
Yorgen has been playing alongside his team since he arrived on campus in the fall of 2013 and feels that his teammates have become a second family to him.
“I have my real family and I have the baseball team,” said Yorgen. “I’m spending all day, every day with these guys. Everyone is so invested in people’s lives that it does become a family.”
During the recruiting process, Yorgen made sure to look for a place that felt like home and a place where his team could be like a second family. Those characteristics caught his attention when he began looking at the ECU baseball program.
“East Carolina in general is a family, you can tell how supportive Greenville is and how supportive the athletic department is,” said Yorgen. “That was one thing that really stuck out to me, how close knit the community is. I came down for three or four football games during the recruiting process and you could
just tell how passionate the fans are. That was really special and was one of the things that really drove me here.”
Yorgen went to high school in Richmond, VA and had no ties to ECU before coming here.
“I had no connection to ECU at all, other than my high school travel teammate, Bryce Harman, who was committed here, so we went through the recruiting process together and that helped the transition,” said Yorgen. “I just fell in love with the program.
“It’s an unbelievable baseball program. The university, the community and the spirit of Greenville is centered around East Carolina.”
Aside from helping his teammates, who Yorgen feels are a second family, he also took on a leadership role last year. When Hurricane Matthew rolled through Greenville, destroying many homes and businesses, Yorgen stepped up to help.
“We were here because we had practice over break and we were able to go to a retirement home and build sand
walls so that water wouldn’t get up to the building,” said Yorgen. “We went to the food bank shortly after to help feed families that lost everything.”
Yorgen said he felt the impact the team’s presence had on the community and the sense of pride it instilled in those affected by the disaster. Other athletic teams such as softball, women’s basketball and individual athletes also went out and volunteered during the recovery efforts.
“That just reiterates how this athletic department really cares about the community and everyone was so willing to go out and help and take their vacation to help,” said Yorgen. “Everyone here is so passionate that it is easy to fall in love with the place because you have so many people you can rely on and talk to.”
Some community service activities Yorgen and his teammates participate in are with the children’s hospital, Packages for Patriots, packaging Thanksgiving dinners and Go Team Impact which uses teamwork to support children facing chronic or life-threatening illnesses.
“I think one of the special things we have done is called Go Team Impact, which is where we add a team member,” said Yorgen. “Rhettec Galaska is 11-years-old from Greenville and has Hodgkin's Lymphoma and he joined the team in December. That’s one of the things I am most proud of.”
Family starts with blood and expanded to teammates, friends, and more. Fortunately for Yorgen, he found his second family at ECU.
“You go through so much together that you just appreciate everything that everyone offers so I have definitely always enjoyed the team aspect throughout life, but now this is a much closer knit group than I have ever been a part of.
I’ve known Bryce Harman for the past 10 years of my life so I am sure he’ll be with me in another 20 years,” joked Yorgen. “All these teammates, I love them to death, I would do anything for them. It definitely is a family atmosphere.”
Spending nearly every moment with his teammates has created a bond that Yorgen believes will be lifelong.
Kelsey Rohrig, thrower on the East Carolina University Track & Field Team, practicing her Shot Put technique
From sweating on the track to studying hard for success in the classroom, student athletes balance their passion and education. Senior finance major and thrower on the East Carolina University track and field team, Kelsey Rohrig, said she takes great pride in representing her school, her team and her family on the track.
She said the team itself has become a big part of her sense of belonging on campus.
“I’ve met some of my best friends being an athlete,” Rohrig said. “We’re all on the same schedule, so we all have that same concept like if we get everything done: practice, class, work, we can go have fun together.”
Starting her day with an early morning practice, Rohrig said she goes straight to class from practice, then to the gym after class for evening workouts. Some days, she said she goes back to the classroom for a night class.
“The craziest part of my day is probably finding time to eat or get food,” she said. “But it forces you to be organized.”
“I think that’s a really cool thing about being a student athlete is like you are brought into kind of like a family of people who want you to succeed,” she said. “I’m a thrower and...it’s a big part of the family to have people who are actually concerned about your wellbeing.”
While community service is a requirement for student athletes, Rohrig explained that volunteering with local elementary schools has given her the opportunity to get close with the community and make a difference. Volunteering has strengthened her sense of pride in the community.
She explained that the amount of time she spends with her teammates both at practices and volunteering has given her a sense of accomplishment.
“We’ve become really connected as a group and you know, as a track family we have different team events throughout the year so you just kind of get to know everybody because you see them and it’s nice when you’re walking on campus and you’re like ‘wow I know so many people.’”
—Kelsey Rohrig
Setting out her different changes of clothes along with snacks to eat throughout the day and planning her schedule out are all things Rohrig likes to do each night to plan for a smooth sailing day.
Student athletes are expected to strive for success in their sport, in the classroom and in the community. Self-motivated by the success of her teammates, Rohrig said she is personally motivated by her teammates who are better than she is at practice and in the weight room. She explained that seeing her teammates do better than her in workouts motivates her to do better so that she never comes in last.
As a thrower, Rohrig has connected with her teammates to form a familial bond.
In a sport that can be intense and competitive, Rohrig described her lighthearted attitude and how it lightens the atmosphere at practices.
“I’m like the jokester on the team,” she laughed. “I feel like sometimes you just get so intense in it and it makes you more frustrated and I think that I bring a lightness to the practice and I enjoy it when my teammates do, we keep it fun and our coach is really good about that too so it keeps practice more light and upbeat.”
When asked how the skills from the track translate to the classroom, Rohrig said being an athlete forces her to organize her schedule and have a structured plan to stay ahead of her school work because her momentum on the track goes handin-hand with academic advancement.
