The Hook Spring 2019

The EC U’s Student Intere st Magazine Spring 2019

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The Hook Spring 2019

The Hook is published twice a year by East Carolina University students at Pirate Media 1’s Magazine Division Office, Self-Help Building, Second Floor. Greenville, NC 27858 Darby Hubbell Magazine General Manager The Hook Editor-in-Chief Rachel Hebert Senior Account Executive

The Hook Staff

Design Chief Erin Flynn Designers Brandon Miles, Katie Church Photo Editor Charlee Moss Copy Editor Sierra Williams Volunteer Devin Raines

Contributors

Blessing Aghimien Rick Atkinson Francis Byungura Chase Carroll Chloe Easton Julie Estep Jon Flippin Kate Francis Isabelle Gallagher Ethan Hageman Lynn Harris Vincent Justice Andrew Li

Zoë Lukas Holly Melton Kinley Orines Pat Polomchak Matthew Prensky Jenna Price Daniel Roberts Rebekah Ryan Carley Summers Samantha Walsh Trajan Warren Giana Williams

Letter from the Editor

The Hook Adviser Terrence Dove The Hook is copyrighted 2019 by The Hook Magazine and East Carolina University, Greenville, N.C. It is printed by Theo Davis Printing, an RRD Company.

The Hook is operated by ECU students who are members of Pirate Media 1, 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 send 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 the Magazine General Manager at thehookmag@ecu.edu.

This spring semester has been completely ran by the phrase, “the new.” With this new year, The Hook staff, reporters and I decided we would take the publication in a new, exciting direction. Offering more content and diverse stories, we wanted to be able to reconnect with our initial purpose as East Carolina University’s student interest magazine, which is to “hook” every student reader in with us.

What you’ll find within the next 46 pages is a collection of articles falling under a wide variety of section titles from technology to fashion, sports and health, environment and politics and everything in-between. I guarantee you’ll find a story to connect with, just as I have, and when you turn a page and see a story you feel your friend might like, go ahead and tell them to pick up a copy too.

My hope with this spring edition is that we can disconnect from our technology and instead, plug-in to reading and sharing The Hook (I’m optimistic the sharing will be face to face and outside in the sunshine!).

If you think of anything or anyone you’d like to see featured in the upcoming fall semester, DM us on Instagram or Twitter (you can find our handles on page 44!).

Happy reading y’all!

Sincerely,

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.

The Hook

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CONTENTS

Technology 5 The Force uploaded 7 The perfect package

Spring 2019 | The Hook | Cover by Katie Church

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5

The Arts 8 Music in the mayhem 9 After all this time - always 10 Them 10 Hook's top 5

Lifestyle 11 Lonely, or just alone 12 Avoid the burnout

Environment 13 Spruce up your space 14 Start your garden

Profile Me

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15 Integrated identity 17 High waters

Politics 19 Striking conversations 21 Party polarization

W.O.W. 23 Identity crisis

Feature 25 Rick Atkinson

Fashion Humor

43 Quiz 44 Life at ECU 44 Jump into summer

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Sports

40 Live in motion 41 Rooted in Pirate Nation

Relationships

29 Vintage Vogue 30 Goodwill hunting 31 Clean up your act

32 Chapel to campus

Health 35 Caffeinated chemistry 37 Spring mix 39 Compliments vs. comments

Spring 2019

CONNECTING THE DOTS...

“He’s (Sasse) offhandedly applauding himself on his success and these not so radical ideas he thinks will fix America.”

Jenna Price

“There’s no law against BS. The First Amendment protects BS.” Glenn Hubbard

“Doing something positive for yourself can feel good too and shows improvement.”

Van-Reede

“You’re not in the game unless you’re playing the game.”

Lynn Harris

“I don’t think the Harry Potter series will ever die. It’s as relevant today as it was when it was first released. The true magic of Harry Potter is that it never ends.”

Kelsey Roden

Nicholas Harleax

“Where you stand when they(ECU) struggle is what really speaks volumes about how much you love the program.”

CJ Shaeffer

Christine Doyle

“If they (plants) are in rough shape and 99 cents then I feel less bad if they die and I feel like less of a failure if I already know they were on their way out.”

Ellen Titus

“We learn how to take things based on our interest and persevere through some of the challenges.”

Clifton Watts

“Just keep pushing.”

Deborah McCrae

“In cosmetics, if you’re not looking at the ingredients you’re really buying it for the brand.”

“Frequent chronic use of anything will have adverse effects on your body.”

“Anybody can be having fun by themselves and then be like, ‘Oh, well this would be nice if I had another human to enjoy this with me.’”

Amelia Coleman

The Hook

“Going to see my parents and stumbling into the newspaper business certainly was one of the best things to ever happen to me.”

Rick Atkinson

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By Pat Polomchak | Photos by Jon Flippin

B

ack in the 1970s, there was a certain aesthetic in which futuristic technology was predicted to fill.

Having just completed the Space Race, the next logical frontier for humanity was in the stars. So, it is understandable why George Lucas's "Star Wars" was such a smash hit when it came out. A whole galaxy of sentient beings, with thriving civilizations on numerous planets, faster-than-light space ships and epic struggles between good and evil? It was a match made in heaven.

Fast-forward almost 50 years and technology has taken on a different path. Rather than focusing our eyes on the sky, technology has developed into creating connectivity here on earth. Thanks to the internet, an individual doesn’t even need to live on the same continent with someone else just to be their friend.

Much like with "Star Wars," however, there is both a light and dark side to the internet in a modern society.

The light side The internet has done a lot of positive things for the modern world. Glenn Hubbard, a communications professor at East Carolina University, said the initial vision for the internet was to bring people together.

“The Mark Zuckerberg-stated dream was that connecting the world would cause people to behave more peacefully,” Hubbard said.

Hubbard went on to say the Arab Spring in 2011 stands

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as a good example. He said the Arab Spring was a series of revolutions which were largely spurred on by social media.

This was a good example of the internet bringing groups together to affect the change they wanted to see in their own lives.

These views are found to be supported by many other sources, such as ProCon.org. According to the website, social media’s facilitation of rapid information dispersal is a positive aspect, as it can cause incidents to be reported to the public in a faster time.

“Social media users have been responsible for reporting events before traditional media outlets, including the Paris attacks in France on Nov. 13, 2015 (Twitter, Facebook, and Vine), the Ebola outbreak in Nigeria and Sierra Leone in July 2014 (Twitter), the Boston Marathon bombing on Apr. 15, 2013 (Twitter), and the Aurora, Colorado, theater shooting on July 20, 2012 (Twitter and YouTube),” ProCon.com said.

John Havick, an associate professor of Communications at the Georgia Institute of Technology, wrote an article entitled, “The impact of the internet on a television-based society.” In his article, Havick wrote every person on social media is a potential reporter of information.

“As users receive the information and relay it to still more users and internet sites, it is almost certain that any important public news will become known,” Havick said.

“This is in contrast to television or newspapers in which the owners and operators act as gatekeepers and choose what information should be released.”

Spring 2019

“We’ve changed the way people engage with information about the world around them to a degree that a lot of people stay in a constant state of riled up.”

The dark side In some ways, the internet has caused more of a divide within global society than has ever existed before. Hubbard suggested sometimes it can get in the way of proper discourse, and lead to more arguing.

“We’ve changed the way people engage with information about the world around them to a degree that a lot of people stay in a constant state of riled up,” Hubbard said. “You unfollow the people who you don’t want to hear from, so the people you’re still in touch with on social media are the people who probably think like you, and they’re riled up too.”

Hubbard said this effect causes people to only get more upset as they begin to isolate themselves, talking only to people they agree with, and inevitably, wind up having angry discussions with people who all think alike, only deepening and widening the rift from those who do not share their point of view.

“It’s just this echo chamber of people, and we’ve just created this culture of just anger and resentment toward others that could not possibly be what Mark Zuckerberg had in mind when he talked about connecting the world,” Hubbard said.

ProCon.com suggests internet use can also cause feelings of isolation in people who use social media too much. The article said social media can lead to a feeling of disconnect in children and teens, and can often lead to depression and low self-esteem.

ProCon.com said though social media can bring awarness to positive organizations, it also helps hate groups just as easily. The website references a study conducted by Baylor University, which attempted to capture the impact social media had concerning various hate groups, and the results backed up the echo chamber idea introduced earlier by Hubbard.

“A study of English-language Twitter posts found that around 10,000 tweets per day contained racial slurs, 30% of which were deemed derogatory,” ProCon.com said. The website refers to this as “a resurgence of racial slurs and stereotypes not seen in mainstream media in decades.”

Logan Hussey captured trolling through the internet.

Verdict As an internet age society, we must bring a balance to "the Force." No one can truly tell whether the internet will ultimately turn out to be a distinctly light or dark entity.

Much like the mythical Force in Star Wars, there will likely always be balance. Will Mark Zuckerberg’s dream be the reality we live in? As Hubbard said, “the jury is still out.”

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TECHNOLOGY

LinkedIn, a social media platform used by employers, should be an app downloaded onto your phone and updated regularly with your most recent career experience.

Stay connected with freshly made networking contacts through everyday social media platforms, such as Instagram.

Create a professional and appealing resume which can reflect your unique personality as well as your professional experiences and skills.

Market yourself with these 3 key elements

The perfect package How to market yourself as a college student

By ZoĂŤ Lukas | Photos by Holly Melton

East Carolina University’s Marketing Department Instructor, Allie Williams, shares her five free marketing tips for students currently in the job searching process.

1. Create a LinkedIn

Your profile picture should reflect your best self.

A professional headshot is almost necessary.

Keep it professional and tasteful. Businesses are now using social media sites to heavily research and recruit potential candidates.

Upload resumes and any other important documents onto your profile.

2. Network, network and network

Networking connects, communicates and builds platforms.

All of which come through personal interactions. Attending any, or all networking events put on by ECU should be heavily considered.

Networking doesn’t always have to look professional.

Networking can include attending student gatherings such as Greek Life socials or Pirate Palooza.

The goal is to run into people you have never met. create connections you may need somewhere down the line for future employment opportunities.

3. Reputation

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It is extremely hard, if not impossible, to reverse the mind of potential employers once their opinion is set. Any action, whether it may be something worn or said, could be misinterpreted.

Stay away from publically discussing "fire" topics which include religion, politics or money.

Social media and the internet leaves a semi-permanent stamp. Anything posted can stay viral, even if it is deleted from an application.

4. Volunteering

Employers like to envision a candidate who cares about more than just themselves.

Businesses are to be looked at based upon their long term goals and values. Potential employers should be aligning their own goals and values with a specific business, instead of having the business align with them.

Brings good conversation starters. It shows a candidate can commit to something other than their work. When it comes to volunteering, it usually is a worthy cause and often, you then become a worthy hire.

5. Have a unique selling point

Create a unique selling point for yourself and have it in your back pocket, ready to pull out at any interview, application or job opportunity.

Make a list of your talents and take time to reflect and refine the skills which could set you apart from your fellow applicants.

Market your quirk. Whether it be an experience or a skill, it could potentially be deemed worthy in an employers eye.

Spring 2019

THE ARTS

Music in the mayhem When social commentary and songs collide

By Blessing Aghimien | Illustration by Isabelle Gallagher

W

e all have sides that we oppose and recognize who are our opposites-in-thought, but music has long united people in all walks of life. Messages can hold more weight when there is a melody behind it, and with the aid of music in the current age, there is no societal issue which goes unaddressed through sound.

Female empowerment From the Women’s March to the #MeToo movement, the world has seen a culture shift when it comes to women demanding respect from those in charge.

“Last year, the momentum of the #MeToo movement arguably has yet to make a lasting impact on the music industry, for many artists who are under scrutiny for sexual misconduct and allegations,” Naomi Wright, a sophomore East Carolina University political science major, said.

Lamenting through lyrics about the woes of toxic masculinity and more, female artists have affirmed how important it is to be as strong and as independent as their male counterparts.

ALBUMS: “Rainbow” - Kesha (2017) : Primarily a pop record, Rainbow incorporates elements of pop rock, neo soul and country pop. Its lyrical themes range from letting go of the past, the cruciality of discovering self-worth and of course, the importance of female empowerment in a patriarchal society.

SONGS: “Praying” - Kesha, “Gatekeeper” - Jessie Reyez, “Confident” - Demi Lovato, “Flawless” - Beyonce ft. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, “Salute” - Little Mix Substance abuse Throughout the years, the music industry has seen the loss of several notable artists who have succumbed to the use and abuse of lethal drugs. From pioneers such as Prince and Whitney Houston to the more recent passings of Mac Miller and Lil Peep, fans mourn daily and are forever left with the unanswered question: “What more could they have done if their time wasn’t cut short?”

“If you’re an avid listener of rap, it’s hard to deny there has been a noticeable shift in the mindset of some MCs when it comes to self-medicating on opiates,” Draymond Wiley, an ECU freshman psychology and criminal justice double major, said.

Amid the ongoing opioid crisis in the United States, many musicians have used their platforms to speak out against substance abuse and have even told personal stories about their experiences with addiction.

ALBUMS: “KOD” - J. Cole (2018) Appropriately released on a day known for cannabis culture is J. Cole’s long-awaited fifth studio album, “KOD,” which dropped on April 20 of last year.

Through a 12-track body of work, Cole urges listeners to reflect on how one may choose to respond to temptation and trauma.

KOD is a compelling record which captures listeners with its overarching thematic plea — for each person within our society to reevaluate the glorification of drug use.

SONGS: “Once An Addict (Interlude)” - J. Cole (2018), “Sober” - Demi Lovato (2018) Mental health issues According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, approximately one in five (about 43.8 million) adults in the U.S. experience some form of mental illness in a given year. Fortunately, the discussion surrounding mental health is becoming less stigmatized due to those who are willing to speak out on it — from members of the general public to those in the public eye.

“I was officially diagnosed with depression when I got to college, but I’ve been dealing with anxiety and depressive thoughts since I was 13,” Tamirah Stewart, a junior public health major at ECU, said. “I’d be lying to you if I said that music hasn’t served as a form of therapy for me as well.”

With the help of lyrical content addressing the authenticities of illnesses such as anxiety and depression, fans of vocalists can come to terms with mental health struggles they may face themselves.

ALBUMS: “After Laughter” - Paramore (2017) Breaking out of a four-year hiatus is rock band Paramore, who released their fifth studio album “After Laughter” in May 2017.The eccentricity of the music masks the misery behind the record’s lyrical content, which makes “After Laughter” a musical example of how mental illnesses truly impact millions of lives, as most hide behind the facade of happiness while dealing with issues such as depression and anxiety in silence.

SONGS: “Caught in the Middle” - Paramore, “breathin” - Ariana Grande, “1-800-273-8255” - Logic ft. Alessia Cara & Khalid, “24/7” - Kehlani

The Hook

8

THE ARTS

After all this time ­— always How a series published nearly 22 years ago has lasted throughout the decades

By Julie Estep | Illustration by Rebekah Ryan

I

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t has been 22 years since we first got a look into the enchanting world of Harry Potter with the release of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone” in 1997. Since then, author J.K. Rowling’s first novel has turned into a seven-book franchise, an eight-part film series, a play adaptation in “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” and two spin-off film sequels with “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” and “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.” All of this still does not include the extravagant Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme parks in California, Florida and Japan.

Kelsey Roden, East Carolina University senior public health major, said the magic of Harry Potter began with the book series, everything following the novels has kept her invested as a “Potterhead,” or someone who loves the Harry Potter series, especially to a fanatical degree.

“I’ve been to Harry Potter World in Universal Studios in Florida, and it’s amazing. To be able to witness Hogwarts in real life on such a grand scale is breathtaking. It was a dream come true,” Roden said reflecting the time she spent at the Orlando location. “Even though it wasn’t quite like I thought it’d be, the best part was genuine Butterbeer.”

Roden described her entire family as “die-hard” fans of the Harry Potter series, who play a major part in her introduction to the series and her continued love for it.

“I first read the books when I was in the third grade,” Roden said. “I fell in love with the series when Hagrid first brought Harry to Diagon Alley and you begin to realize the true magnitude of the Wizarding World.”

Much of the language and terminology from the series has grown into a recognizable and widely used vocabulary globally.

Ask any true Harry Potter fan, and they will immediately say which house they fall into. The Hogwarts houses from the original series are Hufflepuff, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Slytherin.

For those unsure, author J.K. Rowling also created the website Pottermore, which includes an interactive sorting hat quiz.

Roden is a self-described, and Pottermore verified, Gryffindor because she is adventurous, sometimes a bit stubborn, but always willing to go the extra mile for the people she loves.

Over the years of being exposed to books and movies, Roden said she has taken countless life values from it. One of the biggest inspirations for her came from a somewhat smaller character in the series, Nymphadora Tonks.

“She is intelligent, brave, witty, everything a woman should aspire to be. And her hair is wicked cool,” Roden said.

Roden said she realizes the success of Harry Potter lasting over two decades is more than just the books and movies. They have created a lifestyle among many who have indulged in it.

“I don’t think the Harry Potter series will ever die. It’s as relevant today as it was when it was first released. The true magic of Harry Potter is that it never ends. Not just in the

sense of spin-offs, but every time I re-read the books or watch the movies I pick up something new,” Roden said.

David Brown has been running his own local bookstore, David’s Used Books, in Greenville, North Carolina since 2011. Brown said he has seen thousands of books go through his store throughout the years, but Harry Potter is still the most requested series they get asked about by customers.

“It doesn’t get traded in a lot at all, that’s why it’s always asked about,” David said. “We get it requested so much because it never gets brought in. Anybody that has them, wants to keep them for themselves. It means so much to them too and when they do come in, they literally go right back out.”

Glenda Brown, David’s mother who helps run the store, said she feels the reason Harry Potter has stayed such a popular read for children and adults is the allure it has created. Glenda said, from Harry Potter aficionado’s looking to find a newer copy for their collection to adults who never got around to reading the series, she sees every type of person come in to experience the magic.

Harry Potter not only taught children and young adult readers the importance of bravery, courage and making friendships, but also important and serious life lessons such as tackling fears and dealing with deaths. In those 4,224 words which make up the entire book series, we, as readers, were introduced to the extraordinary world that is Harry Potter, and clearly, a world that will not be leaving us any time soon.

“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” J.K Rowling wrote in the final book of the Harry Potter series, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.”

Spring 2019

THE ARTS

THEM

Sasse explains the why behind the hate and how to heal

A

Michelle Obama’s book was more than entertaining as she paints a human picture of the 44th first lady of the United States.

She details her experience in both college and law school, her struggles with infertility and her marriage to Barack Obama.

Stars: 4 out of 5 Becoming by Michelle Obama

By Jenna Price | Photos by Francis Byungura uthor Ben Sasse, U.S. Senator for Nebraska, delves into the modern crisis humanity is facing: a lack of community, which is creating a national divide. In his book "Them," he says this is the first time since the 1960s the American life expectancy has decreased, suicide and overdose rates are on the rise and this is all caused by, in an oversimplification, loneliness.

A friend recommended the book to me. She said she thought since I have a very open mind when it comes to differing opinions I might find the ideas fascinating. Sasse presents an idea I am also quite curious about: what is causing the greatest political divide in U.S. history since the Civil War? Unfortunately, the answer, according to Sasse, doesn’t have the easiest solutions.

Sasse thinks the divide is coming from a lack of community, which is a point that isn’t incredibly hard to argue. Of course people are lonely. People have always been lonely.

Sasse makes a compelling argument which is, the only thing which can help Americans is the return of "the tribe." He used examples such as the Chicago heat wave, our need to be needed and several other things.

While Sasse makes some excellent points and observations, the most revolutionary section is not revealed until the second half of the book. He titled this section, “The To-Do List.” Here, Sasse makes some excellent points and suggestions about how to approach our divide and repair our “tribes.”

Sasse has potential as an essayist and is rather easy to connect with as a writer, regardless of his politics. He does a good job of using solid examples from both history and his personal life to convey his points. One of my personal favorite chapters is the section where he talks

Hook’s Top 5

Anyone familiar with Cassandra Clare is already aware of her prowess as an author.

"Queen of Air and Darkness" is the last book set Clare’s world of the Shadowhunters in the The Dark Artifices series. A must read for all Young Adult Fantasy fans.

Photo

Stars: 4 Out of 5 Queen of Air and Darkness by Cassandra Clare From one of the men who broke the news of Watergate, comes an in depth look into the Trump administration. Using interviews with several members of the Trump staff, this book paints both an intriguing and frightening picture of the current political climate in America.

Sasse presents an idea I am also quite curious about: what is causing the greatest political divide in U.S. history since the Civil War? about his father and all of the racing metaphors he used while parenting.

Overall, the book is worth the read. It’s only around 250 pages, and even though Sasse is a congressman, there isn’t too much political talk if that would turn you away from a book. However, a lot of the book reads as to what I consider to be a humble brag. He’s offhandedly applauding himself on his success in politics and life, while introducing these not so radical ideas he thinks will fix America.

The Hook

Stars: 3.5 out of 5 Fear: Trump in the White House by Bob Woodward

"Glimmer of Hope" is just that: a glimmer of hope for a safer future. Teenagers who survived a shooting at their high school have rallied together to begin a movement to end gun violence in America. All publication sales will be donated to March for Our Lives.

Stars: 5 out of 5 Glimmer of Hope by March for Our Lives "An Absolutely Remarkable Thing" was the long anticipated debut novel of Hank Green, entrepreneur and brother to John Green. This book did not disappoint. The story itself is both entertaining and important while exploring the concept of privacy.

Stars: 4 out of 5 An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green

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LIFESTYLE

Lonely, or just alone ?

Being alone does not always mean you are lonely

By Jenna Price | Photo by Charlee Moss

D

o people who enjoy being alone feel lonely? At first glance it may seem obvious, they are not lonely, just, alone. As a society, why do we view people who are doing activities alone, as being lonely?

We see people out to dinner by themselves, and we assume they are either waiting for someone, or they have no one. We do not view them as someone who enjoys the solitude of a dinner alone.

Maya Pittman, staff counselor at the East Carolina University Center for Counseling and Student Development, said opinions on loneliness versus just being alone varies from person to person. There are countless things which might drive a person to want to spend time alone and it can be hard to tell why someone might want to be alone.

“It can be an endless amount of things, there’s a lot to take into account as to why someone would feel lonely which is very different from being alone,” Pittman said.

“It could be lack of social support, it could be wanting to be alone, and not knowing why, it could be something that someone’s used to and they just prefer being alone than being with people.”

This begged the question for me, as someone who does not enjoy being alone, would I feel more rejuvenated if I spent some quality time with just myself? While I prefer Sophomore art major, to be around people, my roommate, Myiah Nueman, rides Amelia Coleman, junior marketing and a Limebike on campus. advertising major, prefers to be alone.

Coleman said her reason is the freedom.

She said not having to listen to other peoples’ problems and having control on what she does for herself, are two big factors for her choosing to be alone.

Coleman said she has always enjoyed spending time alone, but really embraced the idea of alone time during her sophomore year of college.

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Coleman said the first time she ever went on a long trip by herself, she went to Corolla Beach, located off the coast of North Carolina. She said it was the first time she ever did anything "big" by herself, but it was a nice break from her day-to-day experiences.

“It was kind of funny when I went on one of the horse tours in Corolla. They were like ‘Where’s your friends?’ and that kind of was like, 'Oh, maybe I should have friends.' That feeling lasted for two seconds though,” Coleman explained.

Coleman said she feels it can be nice to be alone for a certain amount of time. She said despite the social expectations set in college, she thinks being alone can be really beneficial.

Coleman said she sometimes does feel lonely when doing things by herself, but most of the time, and actually enjoys her time alone. She said she feels most people who are doing things alone have made an active choice to do so.

“Anybody can be having fun by themselves and then be like, ‘Oh, well this would be nice if I had another human to enjoy this with me.’ I mean for the most part I don’t feel alone, because it’s my choice,” Coleman said.

Coleman said she thinks a big part of the stigma around being alone comes from social media. She said people who have a lot of images of themselves alone can make people wonder if they are “OK.” Coleman said no one wants to post a ton of pictures of themselves alone. She said other than the environment, social media has to be a big factor of the stigma. Coleman said age and gender also weigh in as important factors.

“I feel like it’s the type of activity you do. Certain activities are more socially acceptable to do alone. At first, I would think like doing simple things like walking my dog or going for walks would be more socially acceptable than going to the beach alone,” Coleman said.

This is a trait I have always admired about Coleman. She has never had a problem being alone. Pittman said some people can benefit from being alone. She said engaging in self care by reflecting or writing in a journal can be very beneficial for some people. However, Pittman said spending time alone by engaging in alcohol and other drugs is not beneficial.

Pittman said if someone who is very engaging all of the sudden begins isolating themself, it would be worth looking into for their health.

“Maybe someone that you used to see and talk to all the time, they’re no longer interacting, they’re no longer doing things they thought were enjoyable,” Pittman said. “So, I think if you notice a change and it’s unusual that would be cause to maybe ask the person how things are going and look into that more.”

Pittman said when students first come to the counseling center, they ask for an extensive history so they can understand what it normal for those students to experience.

She said for some people, alone time can be a great way to re-energize, but it really varies from person to person.

Spring 2019

LIFESTYLE

Finding hobbies now, especially while attending college, may be the solution to persisting through the challenges people may face in “the real world”

By Ethan Hageman

H

obbies have been defining our individual identities since we were attending elementary school. The people around us often remember their peer’s personalities or define their peers solely based off of their hobbies alone.

Hobbies create happiness

“We persist through the challenges because of those hobbies and structured activities, that in the long term we learn how to take things based on our interest and persevere through some of the challenges” “We persist through the challenges because of those hobbies and structured activities, that in the long term we learn how to take things based on our interest and persevere through some of the challenges,” Watts said.

Hobbies create lifelong bonds

East Carolina University Recreation and Leisure Studies Associate Professor, Clifton Watts said certain hobbies allow us, as humans, to enter what is identified as, "flow states." A flow state is where a person loses self awareness and the sense of time and becomes deeply invested in an activity.

“What they have found is that people who experience more instances of ‘flow’ are happier,” Watts said.

Hobbies connect you to a social network of people where an individual can create bonds and close friendships. Watts said students need to find a hobby in which they enjoy and find time to devote weekly to this hobby, so they can experience flow states.

By creating this social network, it allows individuals to cope through times of distress because then, they have other groups of friends and peers who can provide emotional support when you need something to fall back onto.

A lot of our time as children is spent in this flow state. As you get older, you are given more responsibility and less time to participate in the things which can alleviate the stress one might endure in day-to-day life.

“The things that you do with your free time become fairly important because this is where we learn how to socialize with people our own age,” Watts said. “If you're dicing up your time and multitasking, it's hard for you to get deeply engaged in things and that’s time you are taking away from the possibility of experiencing flow.”

Hobbies offer us structure, challenge and opportunities for self-determination in our life. Watts credits his hobby of playing the guitar as something in which helps him persevere through life's toughest challenges. Watts said while learning how to play the guitar, one might face plateaus or challenges, much like life spent outside of these flow states.

According to Associate Professor of Psychology at ECU, Matthew Whited, it is important to have hobbies as a college student to ensure you will have a sense of security in your life.

When students come to college, Whited said they are continuously working hard by going to class and studying for a huge part of their day. In the case a student engages with anything negative, such as a poor grade in a class, having a net to fall back into can change your response to the negativity.

Whited spent five years studying at West Virginia University in order to receive his masters and doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology, which studies how to treat mental health issues.

In his final year, Whited spent a majority of his time at the University of Mississippi Medical School treating psychological disorders, specializing specifically in depression and panic disorder.

“For me, my values are like, staying in touch with my family and making things I can use,” Whited said. “Those are like two of my values and if I neglect any of my values than I get tired,moody and I start to burn out.”

College can be one of the most stressful times in a person’s life, however it can be one of the most memorable and impressional times as well. Sometimes, it is worth missing an hour of studying for an exam so you can recharge by doing something positive, or doing something you are passionate about, especially as you create and build social networks, which will help get you through the good, the bad and the ugly.

There is a great quote which I have heard said by teachers all my life, “find three hobbies you love: one to make you money, one to keep you in shape and one to be creative.” Ultimately, the choice is yours.

The Hook

12

ENVIRONMENT

Spruce up your s p a c e

Embrace your inner green thumb

By Samantha Walsh | Illustration by Rebekah Ryan

Plants Air plants These do not require any soil, which leaves room for little mess. Do not place in direct sunlight, but do make sure the plant has some exposure to natural light.

Lucky bamboo These can be grown in moist soil outside paired with partial shade or bright, indirect sunlight inside. Ideal for yards or planter boxes since it grows vertically.

Jade plants These are tough, easy-togrow succulents which grow well in containers. Jade plants love to stay dry in the sunlight, needing about four hours a day.

Tips Create a watering schedule for your plants. Watering is a great thing, but be aware to not over water your plants.

Purchase a pot with drainage holes. This way, if or when you overwater your plant, the excess water will be able to drain out of the bottom. If the plant continues to sit in the extra water, the roots will begin to rot and eventually, over time, kill the plant.

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F

inding a solution has never been easier for students who may be interested in picking up a simple hobby, especially if you follow Julie Marik’s, East Carolina University’s greenhouse manager, lead.

Marik said gardening can become another way to connect with life instead of using your phone while additionally growing a connection to plants and nature through gardening.

Gardening just takes a little planning, including mainly taking your environment into consideration.

“If you’re in an apartment, indoor plants are great. If you have a balcony, you can have things on a balcony. If you’re in a house and your landlord will let you use some of your yard, you could do a garden in your yard,” Marik said.

Planting indoors versus outdoors can lead to different needs for your plants. ECU biology graduate student, Ellen Titus, said there multiple gardening resources to provide instruction, especially online.

When you buy a plant, Titus said typically there is a little information stick you can find placed in the soil. This tells you the type of plant along with temperature, water and sunlight needs. However, she expresses beginners should feel free to Google the specifics of the plant in order to see how to properly take care of it, instead of just "winging it".

Our green thumb experts recommend starting with something low-maintenance, especially if you are new to the ECU's Biology Greenhouse on campus. gardening world such as a plant which requires a basic watering schedule and needs very little attention.

“Start out with something easy and build your confidence a little bit,” Marik says. “Don’t go crazy and ambitious and get a bunch of orchids off the bat unless you really do want to do a fair amount of work.”

Two big places Titus said she buys plants from in Greenville, North Carolina include Lowes or Lidl supermarket. She said they usually have great sales on plants which did not sell during its normal season, so they are extremely discounted.

“If they are in rough shape and 99 cents, then I feel less bad if they die and I feel like less of a failure if I already know they were on their way out,” Titus said. “I say start with the easy plants and start with cheap plants and then work your way up.”

Titus said the ECU Biology Department also sells low-maintenance plants at their annual sidewalk sale in the third week of April. The department sells reasonably priced plants designed for the typical college student.

Becoming a better gardener has never been made so simple.

Follow these easy tips and tricks below when addressing recommended plants.

Spring 2019

ENVIRONMENT

>>

>> Start your garden

You only need a few inexpensive gardening supplies to create an easy and manageable garden in your home or apartment

By Samantha Walsh | Photos by Holly Melton

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East Carolina University greenhouse, located on main campus, directly next to Howell Science Complex.

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STEP BY STEP by Ellen Titus, ECU Biology graduate student

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If using a pre-planted plant, most of them can stay in the pot you buy it in for a while.

If you would like to re-pot, you need to get some soil and a new pot larger than the one it is in. Fill the new pot with enough soil so the plant will be level with the rim and carefully move the soil around while gently pushing on the top to make sure there are no air pockets.

Read instructions for where to place in room.

With direct sunlight, it can go near a window and with indirect sunlight you should place it a few feet away from direct sunlight on the back wall of a room.

Check watering directions and set-up a schedule on your calendar or a sticky note to make sure you do not forget to water. Plants can deal with water stress for a surprising amount of time, but will without proper care eventually die.

The Hook

14

PROFILE ME

IDENTITY

By Trajan Warren | Photos by Kinley Orines

I

n a nation where only 13 percent of the population are African Americans, the presence of minority organizations are necessary for minority groups on predominantly white campuses.

Some believe that in having separate organizations, it isolates minorities and is divisive when creating a cohesive college community.

However, the inclusion of organizations, which provide the ability for minorities to come together, is vital for a healthy campus to thrive.

Dennis Chestnut, a Tabor City, North Carolina native, arrived to Greenville, North Carolina in August of 1966. Chestnut had a dream of going to an institution which provided not only a great education, but offered a multifarious atmosphere.

Chestnut said he decided to be a part of the Pirate Nation while working at the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company Food Store in his hometown. He noticed the daughter of a white family, which had been the nicest to him, had on an East Carolina T-shirt and on a whim, decided to apply there instead of a historically black college or university.

“I did some investigation and found out East Carolina was much larger, more of what I wanted and so I came to East Carolina, ” Chestnut said.

Once he arrived to Greenville, Chestnut realized East Carolina College was not as diverse as he would have imagined. He said he belonged to the first group of 15 African Americans in the class of 1965.

The lack of diversity did not hold Chestnut back, in fact, it made him work harder. Chestnut said he got involved with as many campus organizations as he could.

Chestnut, a self-proclaimed “integrationist,” became a part of the Men’s Glee Club, Men’s Residence Council, Model United Nations and the ECC Student Government Association. Despite his overachieving and studious behavior, some students who attended ECC couldn’t get past the color of his skin.

Chestnut, being one of the first black student to have lived on campus, remembers vividly having a cross burned at what is now the Dowdy-Ficklen stadium parking area on College Hill. Chestnut described having to endure “practical jokes” played on him with having the hot water turned on while he was showering or sardines put in his room when he left school for the weekend.

However, the most disturbing experience of inherent racism Chestnut said he encountered was overhearing a conversation between two ECC professors.

“I was working late in what used to be the computing lab, one of the first ones we had, and I heard this professor say, ‘Let me go see what (my) nigger's done,’” Chestnut said. “There were like, four of us (black students) in his class and so I didn’t say anything, I went over to the chancellor (Leo Jenkins) and told him what I had heard.”

Chestnut said after vocalizing his worries about the conversation between the two professors to Jenkins, they had both retired the next year.

“I was really disturbed by that and he knew that I was a good student and I had been very active on campus and so somehow it turned out that both the teachers, to whom he was talking and the one who said it, retired

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Spring 2019

PROFILE ME

ECU’s Black Student Union Organization, standing outside of ECU’s Student Center. the next year,” Chestnut said.

Despite these acts of bigotry, Chestnut felt no ill will toward the university and otherwise said he has a lot of love for ECU. In 1974, Chestnut returned to ECU as a professor and was approached by the Alumni Association on how to get more students interested and involved with the university after graduating.

“I was saying that while they had chapters for each county, why would they not set up a chapter for African Americans who had gone here?” Chestnut said.

From there, Chestnut said the Black Alumni chapter was started and, as one of its founding members, is proud of what it has become. Although at first, the black alumni did not share the same pride in ECU as Chestnut.

“Most of them were not involved and were not active, didn’t want anything to do with ECU. The ones who had a bad experience here didn’t want anything to do with it, the ones who even had good experiences just got their degrees and said ‘to hell with ECU’,” Chestnut said.

The process of black students developing a sense of allegiance to ECU was a slow, but steady progression, Chestnut said.

During his time as a professor, Chestnut observed the change in identity of the campus. He witnessed how it was no longer an oddity to see black students and professors roam the campus and to be the only black face at a sporting event.

“I wrote the first course on diversity for the university and I feel that we have become, over the time, more of a Pirate Nation and so thus, there’s more of an allegiance to the school,” Chestnut said.

Deborah McCrae, the current president of the BAC since Oct. 20, 2018, said she would fall under the category of an alumni who received a degree from ECU and then left, just as Chestnut described.

However, a change of heart occured nearly four decades later at Homecoming after she had reconnected with ECU alumni.

McCrae expressed she wants black alumni who have yet to

return to ECU, for whatever reasons, to “not let a bad yesterday ruin a good today.”

“Reclaim and reunite,” McCrae said.

McCrae said the goal in her first full year as the BAC president is to get proper funding for the Laura Marie Leary Elliot Scholarship, which will be awarded to students of color majoring in science, technology, engineering or mathematics.

McCrae said she understands current black students at ECU may be struggling with finding their place but wants them to know there have been alumni who have also been in their shoes and there is hope at the end.

“We want them to see faces that look like them and see that, while you may have some struggles adapting to a new way of life, you can make it,” McCrae said. “Just keep pushing.”

“I was working late in what used to be the computing lab, one of the first ones we had, and I heard this professor say, ‘Let me go see what (my) niggers done,’”

The Hook

16

PROFILE ME

ECU professor, Lynn Harris, talks about her interest in tracing African Maritime history and her goal to expand her research

By Gianna Williams | Photos contributed by Lynn Harris

O

ne of East Carolina University's very own, Lynn Harris, an associate maritime history professor, one of many women who broke their gender stereotype, going out of her way to pursue a passion no one thought a woman could do, discovering the African Maritime legacy found within the oceans around the world.

Early Life Harris, born in a small colony in South Africa, began her fascination with archaeology and maritime history when she was in middle school. As a child she enjoyed hiking in the Brandberg Mountains in Namibia.

“I just loved the idea of being outdoors and having adventures.

Kind of like an Indiana Jones concept to me, maybe a little bit

misguided. Also, I really loved history in school. I wasn’t really interested in European history, I was always interested in African history,” Harris said.

Born not only female, but also handicapped without her left hand, there were perceptions from the outside world which believed Harris would never be able to accomplish the goals she had set for herself. However, Harris continued to strive toward her dreams because she "loves a challenge."

Unsure if she wished to continue her childhood hobbies for the rest of her life, Harris, for a time, gravitated toward what she was interested in while in school, terrestrial archaeology.

Harris received her undergraduate and graduate degree at University of Stellenbosch in Cape Town, South Africa. While enrolled, Harris said she worked at a South African museum in Cape Town as an archaeologist in African Archaeology.

Even as a young woman, Harris found pleasure in traveling and exploring with other archaeologist.

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Spring 2019

PROFILE ME Harris stands as a mark of height against found African ships.

Harris’s interest in Maritime History grew more when she heard about underwater archaeology and soon began taking scuba diving classes. At the time, the maritime program was new and she had heard there were only two or three university programs around the world which offered the training, one of which was ECU. Some of the hardships Harris has faced with her career was during the 1980’s. She said it was all about working hard to get where you want to be in life. Opening doors for opportunities was hard for her since she’s one of few women working in a male dominated field.

When the program initially started, Harris was one of the first international students on ECU's campus when she arrived in Greenville, NC in 1986.

Research Harris’s research began while she was working in South Carolina as an underwater archaeologist. She explained her interest was found within the history of the slaves who were transported to southern plantations and the skills they brought from Africa, particularly the boatmen.

The boats Harris and her crew found underwater while diving off the coast of South Carolina were not typical to those built in traditional European shipyards. Instead, they looked more like dug out canoes and were unlike other native boats found in the region.

While researching her doctoral dissertation in Charleston, South Carolina, Harris said she began looking further into the tradition of African boat building and it's contribution to a maritime legacy. Harris felt African studies was neglected and discovering a maritime legacy of African ships is not just a revisionist of history, but a part which needed to be highlighted.

Harris’s first book was titled, “Patroons and Pariaguas,” which was published in 2014. She also has contributed to two other compilation books titled, “Underwater Heritage and the Diving Community” in 2002 and “Seaports and Sea Power: African Maritime Cultural Landscapes” in 2017.

Harris recently received an invitation from United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s World Heritage Center to represent the maritime studies program. Harris will be able to start working with African nations and collaborating with a variety of students to globally expand their studies.

Present Day Harris said she is currently researching at the Tar River in Freedom Hill, North Carolina, where the Shiloh landing took place.

Harris explained she’s working with two other faculty members located in North Carolina, one from Appalachian State University, Boone, NC and another from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. All three faculties received a grant to do research in both Ocracoke Island and Portsmouth Island.

Harris discovered Portsmouth Island in the North Carolina Outer Banks, which used to be the location of boat pilots who guided ships through the inland. Harris said she wants investigate the boatmen and the fishing industry in the area. The grant will help build up the missing part of the maritime history on the island.

Harris explained throughout her life, any challenges she has faced have been ones she could persevere through by having faith in herself and patience with the time it may take to resolve a situation.

“There are going to be challenges. It doesn’t have to be gender or disability or anything like that. Everybody has their own areas of weakness in their profession and they just need to work on it,” Harris said. “Try to think about clearly what are you good at and what you enjoy. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and ask for opportunities. Be bold. You’re not in the game unless you’re playing the game. Find your team.”

The Hook

18

Striking conversation

America's current state of divisiveness could create a halt in classroom political debates

POLITICS

By Julie Estep | Photos by Charlee Moss

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s college students today, we are experiencing some of the most politically charged times our country has seen. We have been exposed to viewpoints across all spectrums while attending East Carolina University.

Students have adapted to see both positive and negative political interactions from the people around them. Those on campus who continuously try to promote productive conversations regarding these topics can often be found within the Political Science Department.

Thomas Eamon, a veteran political science professor at ECU said his experiences with classroom debates have always been very favorable. He said he encourages his students to discuss many different ideas in each opportunity he gets because it is a way for students to gain a wider perspective.

Eamon said there are some disciplines which typically don’t allow class time for specific types of conversations, but he is fortunate in being a political science professor because it is a field which naturally requires debate and conversation about leading issues facing students today.

Felix Quiroz, a senior political science and Hispanic studies double-major, said he has seen a shift in more contentious conversations during his time studying politics at ECU. “I believe that to an extent, yes, we are in a very divisive time of our political history, but I also believe that, due to social media and news networks, we could also just be more exposed to it since it is easier to find the information,” Quiroz said.

Co-Vice President of the Political Union at ECU, Quiroz said this is not just experienced by political science students, it can be found across all majors.

“For students specifically, I think that it’s difficult because often, political subjects can be touchy and many don’t want confrontation,” Quiroz said. “However, different classroom environments can change how we have conversations in the classroom. Our willingness to talk about politics can be changed by the professor, our peers, the course itself or the topic being discussed.

ECU Political Science professor, Peter Francia, said throughout his career in teaching politics, he has never had a discussion get out of line in his classroom.

Though Francia said he has not seen a tremendous change in classroom dynamics, he has seen evidence of an increase in polarization in everyday life.

Francia, in his role as director of the Center for Survey Research at ECU, has worked with other university faculty to conduct research about public opinion on politicians, American elections and many other political topics.

Francia explained his polling data, and that from other research groups, show there is a recognizable intensity of dislike for those who belong to opposing parties, which has grown over time.

Different from students who believe many of these issues started during the 2016 election or Trump presidency, Francia said there were other times in the past where the country has gotten extremely heated about political issues including President George W. Bush during the Iraq War or Bill Clinton during the impeachment trial. However, some polling data shows there is some growing polarization out there which sort of filters into how we approach things.

Francia said his approach to keeping an open environment in the classroom is to not share his political beliefs and present both sides of an argument without weighing in on his opinions.

“If I’m going to make fun of one side, I always try to balance it by making sure that I make fun of the other. I really take that seriously,” Francia said. “I think if you set the tone that way in the classroom, the students pick up on that and it doesn’t create

ECU students, Hanna King and Jay Warren engage in conversation in the newly opened main campus student center.

an environment where one side feels under attack.”

An example where Francia said his research has enlightened him on the mindset of members of the public who strongly identify with a particular party was during a study from a few years ago under the topic of “fake news.” Francia said the department presented factual, cannot be disputed information to people from both sides, but still saw partisan lines coming out.

During this study, one question asked respondents whether Hillary Clinton won the popular vote in 2016 which is true, but research showed Republicans were more likely to say she did not.

Another stated the stock market reached a record high during the presidency of Donald Trump, which is true, and Democrats were more likely to answer no, it did not.

“What was remarkable was not that people got some of these, I think, rather easy things wrong, but that there were clear patterns that if you were say, a Republican, you were much, much more likely to answer the popular vote question wrong and believe Trump won the popular vote,” Francia said. “That really speaks volumes on where we are as a country right now that people can’t see reality based on their partisanship.”

Although it may seem students today are facing inescapable political conflicts, those directly involved with the field show a growing desire for civil discourse and a way to combat the negative stigma surrounding the approach to politics.

The Hook

20

POLITICS

T

hroughout history, the United States has been warned of the ever growing divide between political parties. Today in America, the two major political parties, Republican and Democrat, largely sit on even further ends of the spectrum than ever before.

We ask ourselves, why is this the case, when did the true hatred between these parties begin? No one would try to argue against the idea in which party discourse today is much harsher than it was 30 years ago. Since then, the two sides wavering between conservatism and liberalism have gone from being simple rivals to full-on enemies.

In a modern era, where being a political moderate is becoming more and more rare, it can be helpful to examine the causes of what many view as an inescapable problem.

Party

Cause: The internet

Echo chambered media relations could be the cause to this unprecedented divide in today political sides

By Pat Polomchak | Illustrations by Rebekah Ryan

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Glenn Hubbard, a communication professor at ECU, said people cannot talk about modern political polarization without talking about the Internet’s impact. He said the “echo chamber” of people strictly interacting with others who think like them, often only results in them becoming riled up about the other side.

“Regardless of one’s views on which side is right or wrong, I think the ugliness of all of it, especially since the 2016 election… I just don’t think much of any of what we’ve seen in the last three or four years would have happened without social media,” Hubbard said.

Hubbard said in order to stop the rapid polarization, some things may need to be reconsidered in society today. He referred more specifically to the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

“I’m not advocating that we throw out the First Amendment,” Hubbard said. “But what I’m saying is, rethink how we look at, for instance, the dissemination of false information.”

Hubbard argued the way society today interprets the First Amendment is complete free speech; people can say anything regardless of good or bad intentions.

Hubbard said a lot of false information spread in modern political discourse is detrimental to any discussion, and yet, it

Spring 2019

POLITICS does not fall under libel law, making it difficult to prevent.

“It’s just BS,” Hubbard said. “There’s no law against BS. The First Amendment protects BS.” Hubbard suggested perhaps the “marketplace of ideas,” or the concept of, in a free market, anyone can have an idea and it is “the people” who will recognize when ones idea is the best to use, however, it does not work as well as many hoped.

“I don’t know how that works when everybody is spewing all the time, nonstop,” Hubbard said. “Which ideas are going to rise to the top when it’s like that?”

Hubbard said some of the old ideas behind communication law may need to be revisited soon, and while it may not be pretty, a solution could lead to less polarization.

Cause: Inequality Obviously, the internet is not the only culprit of pushing Republicans and Democrats apart. In a 2016 opinion article, The Washington Post made the argument of saying the increasing economic inequality experienced the United States is related to the gap between having conservative or liberal views.

The article referred to a study conducted at Princeton University, where the study showed when a state experiences growing economic equality, the parties tend to act in a predictable way.

“First, state Republican parties shift to the right overall,” the article said. “Second, state Democratic parties shift to the left because their moderates lose.”

The Post article argued the two parties often cause each other to shift further when one side tends to favor the wealthy and the other looks to counter by favoring the poor. However, the Post said the average American typically does not hold particularly extreme views.

“Those who contribute to politics are, on average, a good deal more extreme in their views than the average voter,” the article said, indicating the polarization is, to some extent, more extreme at the top.

Cause: Constituent loyalty Occam's Razor suggests if multiple solutions are present, the simplest one is the correct one. It stands to reason if politics are more polarized than ever, and politicians represent the will of the people, perhaps the voters are more polarized than ever.

Jane Mansbridge and Cathie Jo Martin wrote a book entitled, “Political Negotiation: A Handbook.” In it, the two authors provide data supporting the Occam’s Razor theory in regards to the deepening divide our country is seeing today.

“Over time, voters have increasingly held political views that consistently align with the parties’ policy positions,” they say in the book.

The book explains how Republicans and Democrats have grown more distinct from each other. People sort themselves more effectively into one party or the other, with fewer and fewer people having views from the opposite party.

This, in return, results in the parties growing further apart, making personal sorting all the easier; a vicious cycle continuously repeating itself.

Effects Looking ahead, political polarization is a problem which will need to be addressed sooner rather than later.

People don’t have all of the answers on the “how to,” but the quickest way to solve a problem is to go for its roots.

Examining the causes of political polarization in today’s society may stand as a good first step.

“Im not advocating that we throw out the First Amendment but what Im saying is, rethink how we look at, for instance, the dissemination of false information.”

The Hook

22

W.O.W.

Words Of Wisdom with Carley Summers

Identity

Adventuring within the Morroccan rug trade, Summers explores life now sober.

CRISIS Theme is a purpose for your life, recognize your anxieties and kick them to the curb

Photos contributed by Carley Summers

W

hen I was asked to write “Words of Wisdom” to my 20-year-old self, many things came to mind. As someone who attended East Carolina University, I can relate to the struggles and identity crisis most students go through at this time in their lives. I struggled to fit in and find my purpose, and I really just wanted to understand who I was.

Unfortunately, my time at ECU was cut short due to my heavy use of drugs and alcohol, which took me down a road of DUIs, rehab stents and overall low self-worth.

I did, however, go back to school in West Palm Beach, Florida where I finished my degree in fine arts with a minor in ministry. Thankfully, during that time, I was able to truly ground myself and learn so much about who I am. It is so easy to pretend you are “okay” rather than to face the truth and expose the deep hurt which is raging inside. We live in a culture where we have to do “all the things,” and do them well.

I have been sober for over seven years, and I own an interior photography and styling business. I am privileged to travel all over the world and do something I truly love.

When I was at ECU, I really wish I had taken advantage of all the knowledge my teachers had to give. I was too busy getting high and skipping class instead.

I honestly wish I had focused more on my true identity rather than my social status. I know not every college kid is like my old self – someone who cares about their social life as much as I did, but deep down inside, we all want to be known. In today’s world of deluged social media, it is evident now more than ever we all strive to be known and loved. I am just now figuring out, at 29-years-old,

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W.O.W.

Summers shoots for her business in the Arizona desert.

who I am and who I was created to be. I do not regret the times I failed because they have truly made me who I am.

During my time in college, I had no idea I would take my passion and turn it into a career.

Most importantly, I want to bring hope to this lost world.

We all have a story to tell. I was healed from my past for a purpose, and I know my purpose is to help people find the truth they so desperately long for. I was so lost seven years ago with no hope, no identity and no worth. I stand tall today knowing who I am and what I am meant to do.

I know my story, along with yours, is to be shared in order to bring hope and inspiration to those who are hurting. Trust me, I am a hot mess and have much to improve upon, but I hope you can learn from my mistakes and make the most of these life altering years.

My words of wisdom to my 20-year-old self would be this: There is a purpose for your life and it is OK if you have not figured it out yet. You are loved and cherished, and you will amount to something whether you believe it or not.

Do not let your social identity or what people think of you overshadow who you truly are. Be kind instead of trying to be cool. Forsake anxiety; kick it to the curb. You were not created to be anxious and worry constantly.

Lastly, love yourself, and love others to the fullest. This is one of the most form shaping times of your life, so choose wisely.

The Hook

Summers says knowing yourself helps to heal oneself.

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“Going to see my parents and stumbling into the newspaper business certainly was one of the best things to ever happen to me,� Atkinson said.

FEATURE

Rick Atkinson

Human connection trumps career recognitions ECU alumnus values relationships over career accomplishments

By Matthew Prensky | Photos contributed by Rick Atkinson

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group of men were driving up the Euphrates River Valley. The group was part of the United States Army’s 101st Airborne Division, which was deployed to Iraq by President George W. Bush in 2003. All was calm as the men from the 101st drove along.

Suddenly, an ambush engulfed their Humvee. Machine gun fire attacked the Americans as they scrambled to defend themselves. The men in the Humvee grabbed their weapons to return fire on the Iraqis, except for one. That one exception was Lawrence Rush Atkinson.

Atkinson, who goes by Rick, wasn’t in Iraq as a soldier.

Instead, he was there as a journalist and military historian covering the invasion by embedding himself within the 101st. The steps in Atkinson’s life which had led him into Iraq in 2003 were not planned and fell into place accidentally, he said. These steps or moments Atkinson describes as the many turns through life.

Those turns transformed a college graduate looking for any job into a national award-winning journalist and critically-acclaimed military historian.

That transformation started at East Carolina University.

From Virginia to ECU to Pittsburg After turning down an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, Atkinson said he went to East Carolina University. At ECU, Atkinson met Cecil Myers and Rob Luisana, and the three would go on to become lifelong friends.

Luisana said, when he first met Atkinson as a

sophomore in the fall of 1971, he thought Atkinson was a bit arrogant.

“Funny, I made a mental note when Cindy (a mutual friend) introduced (me) to Rick and Rick started talking to me about all the things we should be doing. I made a mental note and the mental note was arrogant, but wellworth listening to,” Luisana said.

Luisana said Atkinson was giving him pointers on better ways to protest ECU’s then rule on visitation of the opposite gender. The day Luisana and Atkinson met, Luisana said he had been suspended and banned from ECU for violating that policy, one which he and Atkinson would go on to play pivotal roles in reforming.

“In my mind, he is a superstar talent, but also an overachiever. He’s a wildly successful combination,” Luisana said, describing what he thought of Atkinson’s potential in college.

Outside of Atkinson’s academic and campus work, he was a fun guy, according to Myers. Myers met Atkinson in Tyler Dormitory in the fall of 1970 and said he, Luisana and Atkinson became good friends in college.

Both Luisana and Myers said they did not expect Atkinson to become a journalist or military historian.

Atkinson said while in college, he was involved with The Fountainhead, ECU’s student newspaper, but never wanted to join.

After college, Atkinson said he wanted to find a job to make some money. Atkinson graduated from ECU in 1974, and said he had a job lined up to teach English to Iranian helicopter pilots. Atkinson said he got all the way to the Turkish coast before deciding to turn back. Instead, Atkinson went back to Fort Riley, Kansas to visit his parents.

The Hook

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FEATURE

A ‘stumble’ produces an award-winning journalist Kansas is where Atkinson’s career began, albeit by an accident.

“Going to see my parents and stumbling into the newspaper business certainly was one of the best things to ever happen to me,” Atkinson said.

Atkinson’s “stumble” into journalism is in part due to his mother’s encouragement for him to call Lee Porter, a newspaper editor in Topeka, Kansas.

Myers said before contacting Porter, Atkinson never expressed an interest in becoming a journalist.

Even as a journalist, Atkinson said he did not plan on writing about the military. After working his way up from a small town newspaper in Pittsburg, Kansas, he moved Kansas City, Kansas then onto the Washington Post in Washington D.C. “To the extent that I ended up writing about the military a lot, particularly as an author, I think that was more of an accident of history rather than trying to replicate what he (Atkinson’s father) had done,” Atkinson said.

While Atkinson did not plan on writing about the military, he said it has helped him express himself.

Atkinson said one part of reporting on the military he still finds fascinating is the timelessness of soldiers at war from the American Revolution all the way to the Iraq War. He said they all share identical qualities despite the

advances in tactics and weaponry.

“I write about war because ever scribbler since Thucydides (an ancient Greek historian) knows that means writing about love, hate, the foolishness of fools, the knavery of knaves, the whole panoply of human behavior and misbehavior,” Atkinson said. “War is just the prism that I use for writing about life.”

Atkinson added, “It happens to be a very intense part of the human experience, and I write about it because I’m comfortable writing about it and because it provides the vehicle that I’m looking for as a storyteller.”

Atkinson, military historian, reporting on the front lines of the Iraq war in 2003.

Atkinson, notepad in hand, reporting on military base located in Iraq.

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Spring 2019

FEATURE

Atkinson’s legacy Atkinson’s career in journalism and subsequently military history has produced three Pulitzer Prizes, the George Polk Award for national reporting, multiple critically-acclaimed books and New York Times best sellers.

When asked about the different parts in life and how he got to where he is today, Atkinson said he has been lucky. He added, maybe as any military historian would, luck was a trait Napoleon most valued in his generals.

Atkinson said he does not consider his awards to be the greatest part of his legacy. Rather, he wants his legacy to be about him as a person, spending time with his family and friends enjoying life.

In the minds of Myers and Luisana, Atkinson has been a great friend for the last 41 years. They added knowing Atkinson has been a pleasure.

“What’s been really terrific about a long friendship is you see people go through various phases of life,” Myers said. “Throughout that, Rick has been consistently a person who is fun. He has a terrific sense of humor and a great storyteller.”

WALK TO ECU

Atkinson's reporting military history has produced award -winning jounalism, leaving a lasting legacy for ECU.

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FASHION

By Chloe Easton | Illustrations by Rebekah Ryan

VOGUE

Shopping at second hand stores could be a solution for sustainability and staying on trend

T

he Association of Retail Professionals found in a study about 16 to 18 percent of Americans shop at thrift stores in any given year. Before today’s generation took ahold of thrift shopping as a modern and fashionable trend, the emergence of thrifting can be traced back as early as the 20th century.

According to Journal Storage, or JSTOR, Daily, an online publication that contextualizes current events with scholarship, Christian organizations linked charity and capitalism, forming business such as the stores we see today such as Goodwill or Salvation Army.

the needed supplies and textbooks, college students have to worry about an abundance of expenses including the cost of tuition, rent, food, gas and everyday basic needs.

Thirting can not only help you stay on trend, but can also help you save money in the long run to put towards life's necessities and demands, especially in college.

Staying on trend Junior fashion merchandising major, Shelby Batchelor, said she believes the uniqueness of thrift shopping is what sparked the trend in our current generation.

“I think that in the past we have seen previous generations come back into style, and I think thrift shopping is a good way for our generation to find clothing that matched previous generations,” Bachelor said.

Today’s society craves individuality and with the U.S. apparel market valued at approximately 292 billion U.S. dollars in the year of 2016 (which is based on information provided by the online statistic portal, Statista) more and more individuals have the ability to find someone with the exact same clothing items as one another.

Saving money Not only did thrifting bring itself upon this generation due to the crave of individuality, but it also can stretch a dollar a long way. According to Dealnews, an online corporation dedicated to helping consumers find the best deals on items, in the year of 2017 shoppers saved almost 7 billion dollars from thrift shopping alone.

The College Board estimates the average college student in this country spends around $1,200 a year on books. Besides

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The environment and those in need Fast fashion, according to The Collins English Dictionary, is the reproduction of highly fashionable clothes at high speed and low cost. This means production companies are pushing workers to value quantity over quality and with this quantity, there comes negative consequences.

Australian sustainable fashion and lifestyle publication, The Green Hub, found globally only 10% of the clothes people donate to thrift stories or charities get sold, the rest go to landfills.

You might be thinking, well yeah, but don't these clothes break down? Wrong. The Green Hub found it can take up to almost 200 years for certain clothing material to decompose.

Spring 2019

In order to help reduce the amount of environmental pollution caused by fast fashion, one of the easiest things an individual can do is thrift shopping or donate their clothing items to thrift shops. Organizations such as Salvation Army, are taking notice of this issue and have developed a system to where clothes which have been donated never end up reaching a landfill.

The Director of the Greenville, North Carolina Salvation Army, Major Ken Morris, shared how Salvation Army has developed a system to help with the overflow of clothes. The Greenville store keeps track on how long each item has been on rack and once it has “reached its time,” the item will either be given out locally to those in need or will be packaged up and sent to those in need around the world.

Morris said the extra clothing items will even be turned into items such as rags for cleaning, in order to recycle their purpose.

“People realize now, and maybe this newer generation even more, the fact that we have to be careful with our resources, we have to be careful with proper recycling,” Morris said.

Hopes of Glory Ministries, a thrift store located out of Greenville, North Carolina, is “committed to sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ, relieving food cost burdens, and empowering families towards lasting change.” This store not only strives to reach the needs of the communities but tries to serve the families in need with empowerment programs.

Executive Director of Hopes of Glory Ministries, Mandi Stewart, describes these co-op programs as “a platform for families to come in who may be struggling financially, who are seeking financial stability and self-sufficiency really without the need for us or government assistance.” Stewart said they are hoping to come alongside them and engage in a relationship with them.

With thrifting, you are reducing the need for production of new clothing items which can eventually help lead to environmental sustainability.

FASHION

1 Junior, psychology major

By Chloe Easton | Photos by Ashley Lewis

Dan Miller Top: Button down shirt from Salvation Army $4.00 Bottom: from Goodwill $4.00 Shoes: Vans store $50.00

Junior, construction management major

Hannah Smith

Levis- Field Shirt (Blue) $198.00 Levis - Boyfriend Selvedge Jeans $228.00

2

Top: PacSun- Brixton Bowery Red Plaid Flannel Shirt $64.00 Bottom: PacSunWorkwear Tan Slim Flit Carpenter Jeans $54.95 Shoes: Vans- Slip-on $50.00

Kristine’s top from GCF $3.00 Bottoms from Goodwill $4.00 Junior, psychology major

3

Justin McWilliams

Tops: Levis - Barstow Western Shirt $69.50 Bottoms: Levis- 511™ Slim Fit Stretch Jeans $59.50 Shoes: Vans Authentic Pro $54.95

Top: Button Down from Goodwill $4.00 Top: White Shirt $4.00 Bottom: pants from Goodwill $4.00 Shoes: Converse All-Star $55.00

4 Sarah Tellez Junior, family and community services major

The Hook

Adidas jacket from Goodwill $4.00

True Vintage - Adidas 1/4 Zip Sweatshirt Purple/ Green XL $115.69

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FASHION

>>

UP Clean your act Leave a healthier eco-footprint on both the world and on your face

By Samantha Walsh | Photos by Jon Flippin

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ext time you're out shopping for cosmetic products, pay attention to the ingredients. Eco-friendly may not be the most economical for your bank account but could be the best route for both your skin and the environment.

East Carolina University student and former cosmetologist, Christine Doyle said in cosmetics, if you're not looking at the ingredients, you’re buying it for one of the following three reasons: the brand, the look or the color.

Burt's Bees Hydrating Stick $12.99

Choose clean brands such as Burt’s Bees or Whole Body, which are both eco-friendly and ultimately healthier for your face.

Some brands created by celebrities such as Kylie Jenner Burt's Bees (Kylie Cosmetics) Lip Stick and Jeffree $8.99 Star, produce counterfeit products which are made up of chemicals and fillers.

All of the products can be found at your local drug store or Harris Teeter.

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If you want to avoid harming your skin, it may be worth forgoing buying the cheaper product.

Spring 2019

Stay away from brands such as Maybelline or Avon, which endorse animal testing and use cheap, chemical ingredients to create their products.

According to Doyle, scientists decided to buy counterfeit products and test what it’s made out of they found rat poison and other toxins within the ingredients.

Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Oil $8.99

RELATIONSHIPS

Chapel - to campus

Students running to and from God

By Andrew Li | Illustrations by Rebekah Ryan

T

he last time I prayed to God, capitol “G,” I was 16. I laid in my bed and asked Him to make me straight. When nothing happened, I closed my eyes and went to bed. Ever since, all throughout my time at East Carolina University, I have never believed in God. Running toward According to a Barna study, Greenville is the ninth most “churched” city in America, with more than 50 percent of the population being active church goers. Just a stone’s throw from ECU’s main campus, there are six churches.

On ECU’s OrgSync, 32 religious groups are listed - not counting those classified as cultural such as Hillel, a Jewish organization, or Muslim Student Association.

However, ECU has not been immune to the rapid secularization spreading across academia. It is a commonly held truth that universities are dens of liberal secularity.

The number of students with no religious affiliation has tripled since 1986, while church attendance has dropped 16 percent, according to a survey of college freshmen completed by the Cooperative Institutional Research Program.

Many church officials and researchers believe the opposite — people find their way into churches during their college years. Enter any chapel on a Sunday, and you’ll hear a variety of testimonies to Jesus which began when people were in their 20s.

So what is it about college that brings people to, and pushes people from, religion?

I met Joe Cox in a busy Starbucks. He has been Director of Campus Ministry at Covenant Church in Greenville

since July 2010, and he has been a part of the Christian community here since 1998. He has a kind smile and reminds me of my father. When he sees I’ve bought my own coffee, he scolds me gently. “I was gonna get that,” he said.

Cox said, when he first came to Greenville, college ministry was a rarity— because churches did not understand how to minister to 20-somethings and because it did not produce tithe-giving members.

“So we made an intentional investment in college ministry from our first day here in Greenville,” Cox said. “The success indicators of our ministry— one is that college aged people are (now) the lifeblood are into the lifeblood of the mission and vision of our church.”

Covenant Church has between 75 and 100 college students in its congregation and Cox said the church focuses on integrating college students with the older members of the church, as this helps retain them as churchgoers. This number is significant among Greenville churches, according to Cox, as well as the demographics of these young people.

Covenant’s college students, and by extension, all college town churches, can be broken down into three categories: churched, de-churched and unchurched. Churched students have grown up in the church and have been a part of Christianity for their whole lives. De-churched students grew up in the church, but walked away.

Unchurched students were never a part of a congregation, and have chosen their 20s as a time to explore different religious claims.

“We probably work with 25 percent of our alumnus who came up through our church,” Cox said. “And it’s probably about an even split between churched and unchurched students… It’s not a one-size-fits-all situation, it’s very complicated. Every family is a little different.”

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RELATIONSHIPS Running from Why are people’s 20s a series of turning points? Why is coming to college synonymous with either walking away or toward God, capital “G”? Cox thinks for a moment, and takes a while to make his point.

“Most of the kids we raise up today, both inside and outside the church… They’re over-informed but underexperienced,” Cox said. “The other side of me is, I went outside and played…we played, and we played hard and we got hurt. But we have experiences.”

Cox said when a high school kid arrives to a college campus on move-in day, his “brain is about to burst with knowledge, but his skill set, in terms of what he’s actually done and experienced, is actually pretty low.”

For the church, this comes in the form of a “spiritual incubator,” where youth pastors and parents keep kids safe from any challenges to Jesus, so Cox says. When they come to college and are confronted with different experiences for the first time, they freeze.

“So why would you go to a church service during college when most of the time, you didn’t go to a church service, you went to the youth room?” Cox said. “So, it’s not in them as much as it was in us. I didn’t grow up in the church, but I knew if something went wrong, we go to the church.

We didn’t have a youth group, we had a church.”

Every Nation Campus is an organization which exists “to honor God by establishing Christ-centered, Spirit-

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“You’ve been fed the answers for 18 years, 17 years. That doesn’t mean you swallowed it, but you were fed it. And so now you get a chance to answer it for yourself.” empowered, socially responsible churches and campus ministries in every nation,” according to its website.

It meets every Thursday night. When I go, it’s in the Jenkins Fine Art Building auditorium. It’s hard to tell how many people are mingling about in the room, but there is a friendly energy in the room which is distinctly recognized as “youth group.” There are a lot of broad smiles, handshakes and laughs which all come off a little too loud.

The message that night is delivered by the man who invited me, Blake Dameron, the college pastor at GCF Church in Greenville. He preaches about the “reliability of Christ.” I don’t take notes— I am too busy noticing how they are using the same presentation slides my church used.

Although the majority of Every Nation’s members have some experience with the church before college, Dameron said he has encountered several unchurched members, including his own wife.

It is a natural step to take, questioning the existence of God in college, and Dameron said students who come to ECU are asking that questions along with several others: why am I here? What is my purpose?

“You’ve been fed the answers for 18 years, 17 years.

That doesn’t mean you swallowed it, but you were fed it.

And so now you get a chance to answer it for yourself,” Dameron said. “You’re at a place where, ‘I don’t have to answer this a certain way, I can answer it anyway I want.’”

These questions get more urgent in college, according to Dameron, because a student’s way of thinking is challenged. These questions lead to the foundation of groups like Every Nation because of loneliness. “A lack of friends brings a lot of people in because they know the members of the group will be nice to them,” according to Dameron. “They never expect to find God.” Rich Fontanes was that person. Although he grew up going to church, he said it was more of a family obligation than a real commitment to religion. When he came to ECU in the fall of 2015, he had no connections. He saw a banner for Every Nation and figured he would show up and try to make friends.

He remembers Dameron speaking about a God-given purpose — something he lacked. The next day, they got coffee and Dameron shared the Gospel with Fontanes, which stirred something up in him. He wrestled with that idea for a while until he came to Christ after God “encountered" him.

RELATIONSHIPS “My heart starts beating like really fast. There’s like a burning in my chest that’s spreading really fast through my body,” Fontanes said. “It felt like really weird but good at the same time. And I just knew at that moment that it was God.” Fontanes echoed a lot of what Dameron said. He said many of the people he knows who left the church simply because they were growing out of the habit or held specific problems with the congregation they were once a part of — whether that be a sense of falseness or unkindness.

There is also push from the other side of the table as well. Fontanes said he has friends who are passionately non-Christian. One friend in particular identifies as a feminist and views the Church and its influence as part of the patriarchy. What is much more common than vehement Atheism? Apathy.

“I see that a lot more than passion,” Fontanes said. “It can be tough because the passionate people are definitely gonna be the loudest… So when you’re just listening to noise, it seems like everyone is either this or that. But yeah, I guess if I was to step back and look at it, I would say yeah, I think a lot of people are apathetic on both sides.”

I reached out to ECU’s Secular Student Alliance to try and talk to the other side. According to the group’s Facebook page, it exists to “the ideals of scientific and critical inquiry, secularism and human-based ethics.” I met President Dylan Fick at Starbucks. He’s handsome, with a kind of nerdy charisma which makes me think we are flirting, but then he mentions his boyfriend, which is a bummer.

Fick, a sophomore art and design major, said he revitalized the group his freshman year after discovering it had gone dead for about a year and a half. After talking with the head of the philosophy department, the club was reborn.

grandfather 15 and my “I was like was the . And that passed away ly religious, I prayed real . time I was ld get better that he wou y tl u an yo st n ke li co it’s he passed, ke, And when where it’s li t en om m s er ay have this pr yone else’s ‘Why is ever ed, but why not er sw an g gettin I started after that, me?’ Soon real and as w od G g if questionin my time th or really w if this was l this and al to put into gy er en d an ed myself cially deem I left. I offi 18, and as w I when an Atheist that hits gs ose thin it’s one of th ssibly be can this po you like, how started when my all real? And it n’t bring ssed… I ca grandpa pa dmother.” an gr y ll m myself to te einheim, —Kassidy W e major iminal justic freshman cr

He said the main reason he wanted to join the group was to give people who did not have a church a community.

“To be able to like, come and talk about their issues, talk about normal things,” Fick said. “And to just be able to have fun and deep conversations.”

The majority of the group is made up of Agnostic and Atheist members, although they do have a Christian and a Buddhist. According to Fick, the group will discuss topics from government in society to more comical discussions about the “War on Christmas.”

That brings a few laughs, and Fick says at a southern college such as ECU, it is quite the opposite. Fick explained the group often has table events, where members will hold up signs that say, ‘I’m an Atheist, ask me anything.’ They kept track of their interactions: 15 “mean looks” for every one sign-up, which does not count the fake or mocking questions meant to get a rise out of the members. But it’s not hostility Fick has seen. It is more discomfort.

“In their church, Atheists were these devil worshipers, they were the worst of the worst,” Fick said. “And now they see this goofy dude... just standing there with his friends, and I think it throws them off a little bit.”

Many of the members of the club grew up in extremely religious homes, according to Fick. Not those who were casual Christians, but those who spent multiple days a week in church. And as they grew up, seeds of doubt began to sprout up in them.

When I go home, I’ll go to my old church. Not every Sunday; sometimes, I value sleeping in more. Sometimes I’ll go, and smile my old smile and listen to my family and the congregation sing. I’ll wonder if the feeling in my chest is nostalgia for a simpler time, or God calling me back. However, when my dad begins to pray, I won’t close my eyes.

“I grew up Mormon.… and I was pretty devout for a lot of my life, I would say. But then, I don’t know— I don’t want to say it’s fully because of where I politically lean, but I think it is just because when I was learning, I felt like the church went against a lot of things I advocated for like gay rights and abortion and stuff like that… It just felt like it wasn’t aligning with those things.

And even through all that, I was still devout, I was just having trouble. I was stilling reasoning, you know, like: ‘Christ’s reasonings are the core of this church, like that’s the only parts that technically matter.’ And then, I guess, I turned sixteen… it felt hard to be a part of something that continually did the wrong things. And they like to seperate it as like the Gospel and then the church. They were saying the Gospel’s teachings are like the true stuff and so the church is like people and humans can do bad things and the wrongs things. And it’s like, okay but how they keep saying they’re under the authority of God and then use that reasoning to keep doing the things they’re doing?”

—Amanda Martinez, senior sociology major

“My church ne ver goes out to the ghetto that’s literally behind the ch urch. My people never go out and sa y, ‘Hey, come out and join us.’ We don’t add anything to make them come. There’s a verse in the Bible that says, ‘Lift Jesu s up and he’ll draw all people onto hi m.’ But my church is not giving people a reason other than fo od to come in . My church is not giving people a reas on to see, you know, God quote unquot e in this light. And th at’s kinda ho w I started pushing away from religion.

And I’m saying like, th is is not righ t. And even if my ch urch didn’t do anything, wasn’t Jesus supposed to br ing them in anyway?...

I was 16… It was scary, because you know, this is a different way of thinki ng. And it’s ch allenging the way I thin k.”

—Athena War

d, freshman bi

ology major

Caffeinated chemistry The substances you’ve been mixing into your body with the intention of boosting test scores, could actually be negatively affecting your success

By Vincent Justice | Photos by Kate Francis

C

HEALTH

affeine is a stimulant drug in which many college students use on a daily basis. Quite often, students will mix caffeine in addition to other stimulant drugs to help them stay hyped up with an academic edge. Little do these students realize how the habits they start now can affect their overall health for a lifetime.

Nicholas Harleaux, a junior nutrition and science major at East Carolina University, said caffeine in general will constrict a person’s blood vessels. He said when this happens, nutrients struggle to flow throughout a person’s body.

Harleaux said analyzing things in regards to someone’s short term use of coffee, it is not always bad for your body. However, he said long term use of caffeine can lead to the equivalent of someone being dependent on any type of drug.

“Your body starts to build a dependence on it and it effects your homeostasis. That’s why your body goes through withdrawal when you don’t have caffeine. It’s enough to make someone feel on edge or give them headaches. It’s a result of having that cup of joe or even a soda,” Harleax said.

Colin Burns, a professor in the ECU chemistry department, said whenever someone consumes anything, the body has to process that material. When a person uses any drug, Burns said it will always affect the physiology of the user’s body. He said this is essentially the user influencing certain metabolic pathways.

“If we understand that, we can intervene at some point,” Burns said. “When we think about a drug, they’re designed to have a mechanism of action. It takes a lot of research to figure out how something works. We’re deeply interested in knowing that.”

Burns explained what people often seem to neglect is when something is ingested, the body needs to discrete the substance at some point, which can have adverse effects. For someone who say, may be diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder, Burns said they should be careful and cautious when taking their medications while mixing with drinks such as coffee or anything else containing caffeine, such as Redbull or Monster drinks.

“You’re taking a bunch of stimulants all together. You should be aware of excessive caffeine intake,” Burns said. “They won’t say, 'don’t take with caffeine', but you might just want to moderate the amount.”

Brian McMillen, an ECU professor of pharmacology and toxicology, said those diagonosed with ADD or ADHD, we often prescribed an amphetamine or a methylphenidate. In low doses, these drugs can increase attention to a certain task. He said, as a result of using these medications, users may find a reduction in appetite and sleep.

“As you go up in dose, you get to see the stimulating effects and

the euphoric effects. You take one to study and you take three to cop a buzz,” McMillen said.

McMillen said he recalled when he was in college, students, if they needed to stay up late to do an assignment, would take caffeine pills and drink coffee. Things are different today with the rise of ADHD medication on college campuses. It is an important question to ask yourself, ‘what has more adverse effects? Is it the caffeine or the medication itself that students are taking?’

“The greater health risk is an overdose of caffeine,” McMillen said. “First issue there is the metabolism humans have is bimobil distribution. There’s a small population of 10 to 20 percent of people who are slow metabolizers to caffeine.”

McMillen said people will also drink sodas and energy drinks without realizing those also have caffeine in them. He explained people who are ingesting too much caffeine on a regular basis will find they become more easily agitated and their heart rhythm might become irregular.

“If you’re trying to pull an all nighter, too much coffee can disrupt your ability to study because you can’t stay focused. It’s much better to stay up with the course and just get a good night’s sleep before your exam,” McMillen said.

Harleaux said people may be more dependant on caffeine than they realize. He explained this is due to people consuming soda so frequently. Everything should be handled in moderation when it comes to putting substances into your body. He used the example of saying if someone is to drink a single glass of wine everyday, then they won’t likely see any life threatening results; the same goes for caffeine or any light hearted substance.

“This goes for any ADHD medication. It releases a hormone in your bloodstream and it rewires your brain or at least enhances your brain to function better. That’s what it’s supposed to do,” Harleaux said.

Harleaux said the mentality students have with thinking their bodies can undertake the overwhelming amounts of drugs they put into it is incredibly damaging at the end of the day. Everyone’s heard of the freshman fifteen, he explained, people will eat and eat thinking they won’t see any poor results, however, after it's all been said and done, they often do. Substance abuse works the same way, even if it is taken with an innocent intent, such as staying up to study.

“It’s a slippery slope; students who have a meal plan will go to the dinning hall way too much; they’ll eat way too much. It’s really the same for caffeine, ADHD medication, alcohol or anything that you can put into your body. Frequent chronic use of anything will have adverse effects on your body,” Harleaux said.

Mixing any drug with caffinated products can lead to health risks.

The Hook

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HEALTH

SPRING MIX

By Zoë Lukas | Photos by Jon Flippin

Ingredients:

S

pring and summer are upon us, which also means so is the food! Local Greenville, North Carolina restaurant, Ford and Shep, prepares for the season with subtle ingredient changes and tips on preparing your own restaurant styled dish made right in the comfort of your own home.

1 whole rabbit, skinned and cut into 8 pieces 1 shallot, peeled 10 cloves garlic, peeled 3 fresh bay leaves or 6 dried 8 cloves 15 to 20 whole black peppercorns 8 star anise pods 16 juniper berries

Tips and tricks for creating the perfect spring plate.

Decide on the type of dish you are looking to make, this will help narrow down your choices and offer more direct recipe suggestions which will be beneficial during the second step.

Grocery shop.

Shop around and find food ingredients that are visually appealing and make you want to create a delicious dish.

Don’t be afraid to Google.

Googling can help answer questions and re-design an entire dish if needed. It can specifically help in providing ideas on how to make non-vegan dishes vegan.

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6 cardamom pods 10 sprigs thyme 4 sprigs rosemary 1 teaspoon mustard seeds (yellow or brown) Kosher salt and cracked black pepper About 3 to 6 cups oil Lemon wedges

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees 3.

Contributed by Sous Chef, Manny Sergi-holt

Have an idea of what you’re looking for.

Rabbit Confit

Attributed recipe from Leite's Culinaria's website.

Be original and research.

Sergi-holt advises to look around online or in different recipe books to mix-and-match ideas to make the dish unique and cater to your own liking.

Search and find healthy substitutes.

F (148 degrees C). Rinse rabbit under cold running water and pat dry with paper towels

If oil comes to simmer, reduce heat. Cook until meat is tender, about 3 hours. Remove pot from oven.

2. In lidded 4-quart or larger 4. pot combine rabbit with the shallot, garlic cloves, bay leaves, cloves, peppercorns, star anise pods, juniper berries, cardamom pods, thyme, rosemary, mustard seeds and 1 tablespoon of kosher salt. Add enough oil to cover meat by half an inch. Place parchment paper, cut to fit your pot, on the surface of the oil. Cover the pot with lid and put into oven.

Experiment with substitute ingredients which will better fit dietary restrictions as well as make dishes healthier and more specific to your needs.

Keep in mind, there are several substitutes for milk, oil and meat.

Ford + Shep's version of Rabbit Confit

Spring 2019

Preheat a charcoal, grass grill or ridged cast-iron grill pan until hot. Lift pieces out of confit oil and season with pepper. Set aside oil and reserve for serving time. Lightly sear the meat just long enough to warm it. Imbue it with a smoky char flavor.

5.

Drizzle meat with confit oil and top with lemon juice.

Enjoy!

HEALTH

Drinks

Iced Flash Brew

Ginger Rum Fizz

Ingredients:

Ingredients: 1½ fluid ounces Don Q Oak barrel spiced rum ¾ fluid ounces ginger syrup 2/3 seltzer water 1 lemon wheel

Ginger Syrup 1 cup granulated sugar ½ cup finely chopped ginger 1 cup water

Ethiopian Coffee (Ethiopia Sudan Coffee)

1.

Create ginger syrup. Add the rum, ginger syrup, and some ice cubes to a glass; top with seltzer water and stir to combine.

1. Boil water 2. Add filter

and coarse Half & Half / Cream coffee grounds (if possible, try and buy from local natural creamery 3. Pour water over coffee grounds slowly until you 1 cup ice reach your desired ratio.

2. Place the

4.

ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat.

Serve over ice, use pour over method (also known as the Flash Brew which pours hot coffee over ice for instant chilling) and enjoy!

3. Cook at a low simmer for 5 minutes.

4. Remove the pan from heat and let steep for 15 minutes

5.

Strain the ginger pieces from the syrup.

6. Garnish with a lemon wheel for serving.

The Hook

Blackbeard’s top coffee syrup flavors: 1. Vanilla 2. Caramel 3. English Toffee 4. Hazelnut

38

HEALTH

Have social media impressions replaced the feeling one gets when they receive an in-person compliment

By Jennifer Flippin | Photos by Holly Melton

“But just in general, as well, having the confidence yourself to go up and tell somebody else something positive says a lot about you versus writing out the comment.”

From left to right: Melissa Glenn, Gena Horton and Allie Mcdonald enjoying a nice conversation on ECU’s mall.

T

39

he importance of social media impressions, likes and tally of comments has been continuously stamped into today’s society in order to patienticely replace the feeling you get from one spoken compliment.

This concept isn’t new. To ponder "why" suddenly these disconnected and impersonal compliments might possibly be valued so much more than the comments we may receive in person is something psychologist, and scientist, have been researching for years.

According to a study posted on Plos One, a website dedicated to publishing scientific research journals, researchers at the National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Nagoya Institute of Technology, and the University of Tokyo, have found a scientific explanation to why the human brain reacts so well to compliments in addition to answering why when we receive compliments, our internal reaction is to keep pushing to do better.

"To the brain, receiving a compliment is as much a social reward as being rewarded money. We've been able to find scientific proof that a person performs better when they receive a social reward after completing an exercise. There seems to be scientific validity behind the message 'praise to encourage improvement'.

Complimenting someone could become an easy and effective strategy to use in the classroom and during rehabilitation," Norihiro Sadata, one of the study authors, said in a statement to Medical Daily.

Bianca Franco, a YouTuber from Charlotte, North Carolina has over 45,000 subscribers on her youtube channel and receives numerous likes and comments from people all over the world.

With an influence like that, Franco says you have to wonder whether the compliments you receive online are genuine, and if so, genuine for the right reasons.

“I feel good. I think everyone feels good when they get a compliments. Sometimes I wonder if it is genuine, or if they’re just doing it to try and, not to sound conceited, but to be my friend. I think there is a fine line between meaning it and just doing it to promote yourself more,” said Franco.

Franco prefers face to face compliments rather than reading comments on social media because it showcases the other person's traits more clearly.

“I would prefer face to face, even though I live majority of my entire life on social media. I think face to face is more genuine,” Franco said.

For instance, Franco said it means so much more to her when people come up to her and say, “Oh my gosh, I watch you, I love your videos,” in person rather than a comment shared online. She said this is because then a fan has made the point to come up to her and physically say something.

“Having the confidence yourself to go up and tell somebody else something positive says a lot about you versus writing out the comment,” Franco said.

On the other hand, Sam Kahn, a junior sociology major at East Carolina University, prefers social media compliments rather than face to face compliments.

“I like both, but I really enjoy social media compliments. I think it’s because I just don’t get them a lot, so, if multiple people can see the reason why I’m getting a compliment from their followers then maybe they’ll like, recognize me more,” Kahn said.

Kahn said she still appreciates in-person compliments, but admits she feels a lot more comfortable receiving compliments through social media because it requires a less awkward reaction rather than when complimented in-person, when Khan said she is “thankful,” however the interaction can be “awkward in the moment.”

Hadleigh Painter, a student at East Carolina University studying both religious studies and hispanic studies with a minor in communication has over 150 thousand Twitter followers.

Painter said she prefers her compliments in person rather than online because she often finds online, a lot of people will be “fake” and never really knows what their motives may be, there is a virtual barrier. Though people can be like that in real life, she said it’s having the ability to feel people out in person is what makes the compliment easier to ingest.

According to an article published online by Balance, psychologist William James said the deepest principle in human nature is to be appreciated. At the end of the day, isn’t that really all anyone really wants? To feel loved and acknowledged.

Compliments, whether they are given out through social media or in-person, are needed for the bettering of human performance.

A compliment can be an easy way to help others. Whether it’s a simple emoji on an Instagram photo or an in-person, “wow, you had a great presentation today,” a compliment could be all it takes to push someone to do their personal best.

Spring 2019

SPORTS

LIVE in Why people chose to attend live sporting events over watching from the comfort of their own homes

By Daniel Roberts | Photos by Francis Byungura | Illustrations by Rebekah Ryan

W

hen students receive their acceptance letter saying they got in to the university they applied for, they try to plan out the different things they hope to accomplish, or do over, in the next four years of their life.

After persevering through those college years they reflect on the experiences they had while attending college. One of the main highlights of going to a four year university such as East Carolina University is being able to attend the sporting events and show some school pride.

I find spectators seem to only really talk about the athletes themselves and rarely seem to observe the fan experience going on around them.

Senior Ryan Allen feels differently when it comes to being apart of the fan experience. Allen’s a big sports fan and finds through participating in live sporting events, he is only adding to his collegiate experience.

I enjoy sitting close to the court, being near the action. I like being involved in all the cheers throughout the game. Furthermore, I would never have another chance to be in the student section after school, so I wanted to get the most of time in the section now,” Allen said.

Technological advances in recent years have changed how physically active people are and how often people actually go out and socialize with others in respective communities. Attendance at ECU sporting events has taken a drop in recent years, not only because of technology, but also because of the program’s lack of success.

Organizations on campus, such as the Minges Maniacs, were created to help

Fans in the stands engage with the basketball players in Minges Coliseum.

provide the best student section possible for all ECU athletic teams that play in Minges Coliseum.

The Maniacs attend a variety of sporting events and while not only promoting the organization itself, the Maniacs sole existence is for the teams as well. Senior, Davis Searcy, president of the Minges Maniacs, said he has made it to where it would not be a real ECU game without their presence.

“Almost all of my friends I either met at games or we go to games together now.

I feel like I know so many people just from going and interacting with people at games,” Searcy said. “I grew up all things ECU from birth. I have never missed a home football game in my life, and I have wanted to be there to support our teams!”

What tends to happen more times “The Pirates definitely play with than not is if there is a big game, the my emotions, the loses against seats will be packed. If the athletes and coaching staff start the game off with a anyone sting a whole lot, but strong fan support, things tend to start wins against conference foes and off on the right foot. However, the second regional opponents make you the team starts losing, and starts losing feel great,” bad, the seats begin to clear out.

Going to live sporting events is like going to church, fans are in a place with other fans who think alike, which creates a sense of belonging. Politics, social media and the internet are not needed to make watching the game live enjoyable. Allen said his roots at ECU and the bonds he’s created through the Maniac’s extends well past his graduation.

The fact of watching the game live in itself and staying fully engaged makes the fan experience unique, irreplaceable and memorable.

The Hook

40

SPORTS

Rooted in Pirate ECU sports, more than just a game

East Carolina Teachers College established it’s first football team.

1932

FAST FACT East Carolina College desegregated athletics in 1966.

1970 Mike McGee served as head coach during the Marshall plane crash which killed 75 people, 37 of which were members of the Marshall football team.

FAST FACT Ruffin McNeill played football for four years at ECU and won a Southern Conference Championship victory in 1976.

FAST FACT Ficklen Stadium was renamed to Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium in 1994.

ECU alumni, Ruffin McNeill, hired as the first African American head football coach in ECU’s history.

2010 2013

Jeff Compher hired to replace Terry Holland (2004-2012) as new Athletic Director.

2015 41

December 2015, Coach McNeill is terminated after finishing the season with a record of 5-7.

Scottie Montgomery hired as head football coach.

Cecil Staton hired as the new chancellor with a vistion to turn ECU into “the next great national university.”

2015

2016

SPORTS

Nation T

ypically on a gameday at East Carolina University, you will see a sea of purple and gold scattered all across the city of Greenville, North Carolina. When it comes to football, ECU is a community who loves its sports, and takes extreme pride in watching the Pirates.

With many gameday traditions and rivalries, ECU sports has become a staple of building school spirit and pride. With chants of “Purple, Gold!” being heard everywhere you walk on a Saturday, the spirit is felt by all who love ECU. Every fan is important to the spirit of ECU on game day, however, some fans help make ECU gamedays even more special. The Minges Maniacs are a student run group of fans dedicated to making the men’s and women’s home basketball games, as well as the volleyball games, rowdy for the Pirates when playing in the Minges Coliseum.

The Minges Maniacs was started in the early 2000s by a former ECU student, Jonathan Medford, and has continued on today to impact each ECU game.

A huge advantage to being a part of the Minges Maniacs is being a part of the most special group of fans on campus, who all share the same love and pride for ECU athletics.

For sophomore Minges Maniac, Alex Talton, the Minges Maniacs was a way to get to know people with the same passions as him. A lover of sports, Talton said finding people that had that same love and spirit for the Pirates ultimately is what drew him to become a part of the Minges Maniacs.

“A big part of joining was me caring so much about sports at ECU and everything else, and those same people have the

FAST FACT In June of 2017,Compher agreed to a five-year contract extension ($435,000 per year).

By Chase Carroll Photo by Francis Byungura | Illustrations by Rebekah Ryan same kind of passion and desire about the different sports programs, and ECU as a whole,” Talton said. “It made me want to get involved with them because its a ‘birds of a feather stick together’ kind of thing.”

Talton said being a part of a fan base, which cares so much about it's team, plays a big part in how the players play on the field.

“I think the fans play a major part in how the team does, because it helps to show the players that there are people besides themselves that care about what’s happening on the field or court,” Talton said. “It gives them a little bit more passion, helps them play with more desire, whereas if they were out there having to play by themselves they might not have that.”

For sophomore Minges Maniac, CJ Shaeffer, supporting ECU athletics through thick and thin is something he believes everyone should do. Having the school spirit, despite the losses, is what Shaeffer said helps the program and the fandom grow as well.

“In my mind, supporting our school’s athletic teams during the tough times is what really matters,” Shaeffer said. “When your team is constantly pulling out winning records, of course you’d want to cheer them on. Where you stand when they struggle is what really speaks volumes about how much you love the program. Without the support of the fans, ECU probably wouldn’t be able to make the rise back to prominence that they are about to do now.”

Shaeffer said he makes it to every football and men’s basketball game, and goes to most of the baseball games he can get to. He also attends the occasional women’s basketball, soccer or softball game, saying that, with all of the sports, he enjoys attending ECU. Shaeffer said he loves helping to promote the athletics at ECU, especially during the big games when he feels the team deserves even more support.

“When we have a big home game coming, I always try to get anyone I can to go to the game,” Shaeffer said. “Some friends and I have gotten into the habit of passing out flyers around campus to promote basketball Mike Houston, 2015 Southern Conference coach of the year, hired on as new head football coach after Coach Mo was fired right before the Pirate’s season finale against North Carolina State University (L 3-58).

2018 In May, ECU Board of Trustees agreed to a $1.26 million Compher contract buyout.

2018

games where we’d really like to see the support. Not only does packing the arena rattle the away team, but it gives our players a confidence boost too.”

A big part of the football game day experience is tailgating before the game, which, as many have said across the Pirate Nation, “ECU has never lost a tailgate!” No matter the amount of wins in the column for ECU football, students are sure to never let a loss stop them from winning off the field, and create a special experience in Greenville.

Many students make bonds with people through both tailgating before the game, as well as the game itself. Football brings ECU together unlike anything else in Greenville.

For ECU freshman, Allie Nisbet, the gameday tailgating experience has been more than just having fun. She also has built bonds with most of her best friends through the “pre-game” experience. Nisbet said she has made “friends for life” because of the athletic events at ECU. “Tailgating is definitely more than just drinking and having fun,” Nisbet said. “It’s also an experience in meeting so many new people as a freshman. I entered ECU not knowing too many people, and most people I’m now friends with I met at ECU football tailgates. I even met one of my best friends and my roommate for next year at an ECU tailgate, and made memories I won’t forget.”

The love of ECU sports brings people together, and overall makes ECU a much more exciting and proud place to be. Fans have shown no matter how the results are on the field, sports mean much more the ECU experience than just winning; it's about building friendships and bonds, as well as building spirit on campus. The Pirate Nation is a proud fanbase, and ECU has a bright future in athletics as long as the fans have anything to say about it.

Jon Gilbert is named the new Athletic Director in December.

2018

HUMOR

By Trajan Warren | Illustrations by Rebekah Ryan

Which ECU building are YOU? Have you always wanted to be a building?

Not really, but I’m down.

Yes.

Do you constantly miss deadlines?

Nah.

Well, this quiz is not for you.

Favorite color?

Carolina Blue

Purple No...

Gold

Are you a procrastinator or anticipator?

Yeah, tbh.

Are you shallow and empty on the inside?

Just Do It, like Nike.

But this nap though...

Main Campus Student Center

“Hell is empty and all the devils are here.”

William Shakespeare

Student Recreation Center

43

West End Dining Hall

Belk Building You are an introvert and tend to isolate yourself from the rest of your peers. There’s a chance you may not have many friends, but you prefer it that way.

West End Dining Hall You are always a little hungover and never quite full.

There’s a real chance you’re a slob, but there’s hope for you still.

You are more times than not on top of your work and are a well-read person.

You may also being dying inside.

Totally

Belk Building

You are a little full of yourself, but you mean well. You show real potential in becoming a prominant member of society.

Joyner Library

Social

Loner

Student Recreation Center

Joyner Library

Spring 2019

Main Campus Student Center You often wait until the last possible moment to literally do everything.

There’s a chance for you redeem yourself if you would just start using a calendar.

HUMOR

Life@ECU Rate My Professor: @ECUProfessor 1. Is there only one professor, or is it a group of a few professors that answer?

It has always been only one professor running the @ECUProfessor account.

2. What content do you hate responding to?

Questions about my identity and people who are trying to get me to say negative things about the university administration.

3. What are your honest opinions about our football team?

The Scottie Mo era was pretty awful, but many of the Ruffin McNeill years were great fun. I think that our team has a lot of good potential, and hopefully Coach Houston will lead us back to victory.

4. What is one political opinion that you have been dying to share?

Over the past year, I became much more moderate in my political views and it’s a very freeing feeling.

5. What is your most memorable interaction on Twitter?

When Coach McNeill yelled at me for jokingly telling students that they should keep studying in the stairwells during a tornado warning.

Have a professor you think should be featured in The Hook, DM @TheHook on Twitter or Instagram.

What Do You Meme?

@thehookecu

When my teacher gives a pop quiz.

@thehookecu

Spend your engaged Jump Intobreak Summer in Greenville

By Jennifer Flippin So, you’re stuck in Greenville this summer?

Well, the boredom stops now. No matter the reason, it’s important to know your 1 options in order to make the most out of your time.

BOWLING American Machine and Foundry (AMF) Bowling offers great deals each day of the week. With promotions such as unlimited bowling, an arcade full of games and a cafe full of food and daily drinking specials, you’re guaranteed a 2fun night with friends.

A WORKOUT CLASS If outdoor things might not be for you, a fun way to stay in shape during the summer might be yoga, weight-lifting, kickboxing or even indoor cycling. Purple Blossom Yoga Studio, located at 302 Evans St, offers various classes and levels of expertise. If you are a registered East Carolina University student, you can be enrolled on a “trial basis” for as low as $10.

3 GRAB SOME ICE CREAM Simply Natural Creamery is the perfect place to satisfy your hot and humid taste buds this summer. Located at 317 Arlington Boulevard, this local creamery has more than enough natural flavors to fit everyone’s taste.

4

Me waiting until the last minute to all my assignments.

ECU students e walking across th crosswalk

Jump into summer

The Hook at ECU

The Hook

TEST YOUR BRAIN Uptown Brewing Company offers several themed trivia nights throughout the year, featuring popular TV shows and movies including “Parks and Recreation,” “Friends” and “The Office.” So grab some friends and put your knowledge to the test, you may even win a gift card or two!

Keep up to date with ECU news all summer long. Download the Pirate Media 1 App in the App Store or Google Play!

44

Adding up the connections Acknowledging the human connectors which bring together and build up today’s society as we know it Illustration by Rebekah Ryan

7dollarsBillion have been saved in 2017 through thrift shopping

10% 23,265

total undergraduate students enrolled in ECU and 100+ years of alumni are dedicated sports fans

16% 28,718

students enrolled at ECU in Fall 2018 and 4,559 of those students were African American 45

in the U.S. experience some form 43.8 adults of mental illness in a given year Million

10 to 20%

13% 22 of the population are African Americans

$1,200, on estimate, is spent on books and supplies a year per college student

Spring 2019