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Monday, April 4, 2010
Marshall University senior makes her mark outside the classroom BY JOANIE BORDERS THE PARTHENON
Police usage of pepper spray questionable. Page 2
Sports
Herd softball suffers swep versus Central Florida. Page 3
Life
Yeager Scholar takes advantage of her time at Marshall. Page 4
Overlooking all the extracurricular activities Marshall has to offer is an easy thing to do when the homework piles up and exams start, but one Marshall student said that is what makes college worthwhile. Kati Bailey, senior nursing student from Huntington, W.Va., has spent the better part of her four years at Marshall getting involved in social justice events on Marshall’s campus and raising awareness to the Marshall community about the global water crisis, Darfur, poverty and the importance of compassion and kindness. As a nursing student, Bailey is no stranger to huge papers, long exams and a heavy course load; however, she said that so much of what she learned at Marshall took place outside of the classroom. “Get involved,” Bailey said. “See what’s going on around campus and actually take advantage of it. If you literally just go to class your four years at Marshall, you are completely getting scammed. There’s just so much more to offer. So much of what I learned at Marshall was not in the classroom. It was at events. It was at guest lectures. It was at projects. It was at things I saw on fliers and just went to. Not only will you be changed but you’ll meet people and you’ll have actual meaningful relationships.” Among the many extracurricular activities that Bailey is referring to, Be Hope to Her is one of the big ones. Be Hope to Her is an event hosted by NURU to raise awareness of the global water crisis and help raise money to build wells in Africa. Bailey said it was
BY CHERIE DAVIS THE PARTHENON
PHOTO COURTESY OF KATI BAILEY
Kati Bailey, senior nursing student from Huntington, takes a photo with a child in Africa. Bailey has taken several trips to Swaziland in the past two years. by sheer chance raising awareness that she came and offering stuchanges so much of how I across the event. dents a way to make “Another girl advocate and how passionate a difference. was contacted by I am about it. I don’t know “It really is life NURU to do it numbers anymore, I know changing,” Baiand she was very ley said. “If you’ve people who I’m fighting for.” nervous about the never heard about idea of putting Kati Bailey, senior nursing student the Global Water on a big event,” Crisis or traveled to Bailey said. “She knew I was involved another country to see how difficult in Darfur stuff so she just called me something as simple as gathering waand asked if I would do it. I really en- ter can be in the developing world, it joy doing social justice and activism really can rock your world and change and it sounded like a pretty cool event your lens of the world too. You just exbecause it was interactive rather than pand your worldview in a matter of 30 throwing money in an envelope — but minutes. You don’t have to sit through I really had no idea what I was getting a class all semester, you just come to an myself into, in a good way,” said Bailey. event, you can feel what others feel and For the last two years Bailey has See BAILEY I 3 brought BH2O+ to Marshall’s campus
“Visiting Africa
20 dead, 88 injured after storm strikes N.C.
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RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina officials reported Sunday that 22 people died as a result of the severe storms that swept across the state during a sixhour stretch Saturday. North Carolina Emergency Management said the deaths occurred in Bertie, Bladen, Cumberland, Harnett, Johnston, Lee and Wake counties. Half of the deaths occurred in Bertie, a rural county in the northeast corner of the state with more than 700 square miles of land and just 21,000 residents. The storm cut a wide swath across the county, flattening houses and tossing around farm equipment and vehicles, said Zee Lamb, Bertie’s county manager. “We had several fatalities at the same location but they weren’t all at the same location. They were spread out over several miles,” he said. “A lot of them were in their homes. ... There are homes that are just totally leveled. Anybody who was in those homes could not have survived.” The fatalities included several elderly residents of an assisted living facility that was in the path of the storm, Lamb said. Across the state, more than 80 people have been transported to local hospitals, some with severe injuries. Gov. Bev Perdue declared a state of emergency for all of North Carolina on Saturday evening.
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Nationwide Insurance appraiser Bill Stimac, center, surveys the damage to Stone City Kitchens with business owners Hugo Gao, right, and Andy Gao, left, on Sunday after a strong storm swept through Raleigh, N.C. The declaration is a prerequisite for asking for federal disaster assistance. More than a dozen North Carolina counties have also declared local states of emergency, including Wake, Cumberland and Bertie counties. Initial damage estimates say 60 homes have been completely destroyed and more than 400 others sustained damage across the state. In Raleigh, downed trees and a lack of power continue to plague the neighborhoods most damaged by Saturday afternoon’s severe storms.
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The city of Raleigh identified five areas that were hit hardest by the storms: South Saunders Street near Western Boulevard; Stony Brook mobile home park in northeast Raleigh, where three people died; the neighborhoods surrounding Shaw University in Southeast Raleigh; and Buffaloe Road and New Hope Road area; and the Yonkers Road area. Raleigh has roughly 30 teams made up of members of the Parks and Recreation, Public Utilities and Public Works departments working to clear away debris, the city reported in a press release.
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The Japanese club and Circle K hosted the event Art for Japan to raise money for Japan in the Memorial Student Center. “We sold rice balls, cookies and various sweets,” said Kayla Turner, member of the Japanese club and a senior Japanese major from Huntington. “Also, we had art donated by various artists.” The Japanese club made all the baked items that were sold, and Circle K was responsible for all the art items donated. Marshall students, faculty and members of the community donated art to raise Japanese relief funds. Beverly McKinney, music department member, donated a piece of her artwork, which recently won an award. She said the art could have sold for around $200, but she donated it and it was only sold for $50. “We’ve had really generous people donating their art,” Turner said. “Due to the events going on in Japan, we’ve tried to do as many things as possible to help raise money for relief,” said James Kiger, junior Japanese major from Wheeling, W.Va. All money raised will go directly to Red Cross: Japan and some of that money will be sent to also help a local friend of Marshall. “There’s someone named Hiro Ishii, who was a graduate student here who already graduated from Marshall,” Kiger said. “He is a teacher where the tsunami and earthquake took place. Due to the tsunami, he’s lost loved ones.” “He’s been staying at the middle school where he teaches at,” Turner said. “So we wanted to send some money to his community. I’m not sure if he’s still taking refuge there or not.” “We haven’t heard much news from him,” Kiger said. “Last we heard, he was a refugee in the middle school and was helping out. I was good friends with him when he was teaching at Cabell-Midland and getting his graduate degree. I had the privilege of helping with his class.” “We try to do an event each month; but with everything going on, we’ve had several meetings and events planned and being planned,” Kiger said. This Friday, the Japanese club will be co-hosting the Eat Around the World event, where Asian food will be featured and donations can be given to help Japanese relief. Anyone who would like to donate to the Japanese relief can do so at the American Red Cross or look for other events hosted by the Japanese club. Cherie Davis can be contacted at davis542@marshall.edu.
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EDITORIAL
Pell Grant cuts threaten college affordability BY DAILY IOWN EDITORIAL BOARD THE DAILY IOWAN UNIVERSITY OF IOWA UWIRE
Rep. Paul Ryan’s budget plan is causing a bit of a furor in the higher-education circuit. The budget plan, a recent version of which bears the title “Path to Prosperity,” aims to moderate what some see as a catastrophic government debt by cutting numerous government programs, reducing spending and redesigning
Medicare. Regardless of partisan divides and opinions about the national debt (and deficit), ideological adversaries should agree on one thing: Any proposed cuts should not occur in programs that buoy people who are struggling. Pell Grants, which provide financial assistance to low-income students, are one such program. The federal grants provide up to $5,500 per year, on a sliding scale based on need, to college students nationwide. Pell Grants are not the singular cause of our fiscal
MICHAEL ADKINS
problems, and cutting them is not the solution; the Editorial Board hopes that our U.S. representatives will resist the pressure from fevered peers to be “fiscally responsible” long enough to avoid slashing sensitive programs. Iowa’s Rep. David Loebsack, himself a recipient of Pell Grants, took a much stronger stance. He said, “I worked hard for my education, but I also had a lot of help with financial aid.” Recipients of the grants, according to a 2009 study, are almost
twice as likely to be financially independent and have their own dependents than students who don’t receive grants, even if they are about equally likely to hold full-time jobs. The vast majority of Pell Grant recipients in the 2009-10 school year made less than $30,000 per year. 70 percent of students who receive grants qualify for the complete award. Attacks on Pell Grants hit home for many University of Iowa students. Approximately 20 percent of UI students receive federal financial
EDITORIAL CARTOON I JIMMY MARGULIES I THE RECORD
JASON MILLER
LEXICON OF REASON
KANSAS STATE COLLEGIAN KANSAS STATE UNIVERISTY UWIRE
Recent uses of pepperspray are questionable Two recent incidents involving pepper-spray should be examined by the court of public opinion. Police officers in Lakewood, Colo. used pepper-spray on an 8-year-old student attending the second grade. The incident occurred during school MICHAEL where a special-needs ADKINS student reportedly beCOLUMNIST came agitated, removed a piece of wall-trim (equivalent to a sharpened pencil) and threatened his teacher. Two police officers were dispatched to the scene where they pepper-sprayed and handcuffed the child prior to the arrival of his parent. The police officers and their administration have steadfastly maintained that they made the right decision. A police spokesman was quick to point out that no one was injured that day. Some media reports noted that the officers did not attempt to deescalate the situation or otherwise try to resolve the problem before using pepper-spray. The level of force was not commensurate with the threat. It is difficult to imagine that two trained police officers could not successfully thwart the actions of a misbehaving second grader. The situation is especially troubling because the student expressed regret during an interview on NBC’s Today Show and said the school makes him feel “really uncomfortable.” His mother said, “I think there is a problem but it’s with school.” A separate incident occurred at a middle school in Mesquite, Texas. A police officer used pepper-spray to foil an allegedly dangerous baby squirrel. Students videotaped the incident and the video has been widely viewed on YouTube. Students are heard pleading for the officer to stop spraying the squirrel. The officer insisted that the animal could have been rabid and he was protecting the students. However, he did not make an attempt to coax the squirrel away nor did he tell the students to vacate the area for their own safety. Media reports indicate that the squirrel was later treated by animal control personnel and released into the wild. Although the police officers in both cases have been cleared of any official wrongdoing, the court of public opinion should cast a clear vote. Police officers should never intentionally escalate a problem and they should not use excessive force especially when other options are clearly available. Police officers who demonstrate poor judgment should not be allowed to protect and serve. Contact Michael Adkins at adkins172@ marshall.edu.
aid through the Pell Grant program, which prevents them from having to take out costly loans. With student debt skyrocketing, rising tuition, and a shaky economy awaiting new graduates, Pell Grants are more important than ever. There’s no word yet on the details of the budget deal considered by Congress this week, although Obama has said the Pell Grants are maintained at their current maximum value; students will have to wait to see if the 2012 budget makes any reductions in eligibility.
Army’s hesitation to grant emergency leave unjustified As you read this column, U.S. Army Spec. Nick Owen should have arrived at his Garden City home to be with his fiancee and bury her 1-year-old son. While the Army reversed their original decision and allowed Owen to come home, it did so for the wrong reasons. The Army clearly reacted to the publicity this story received by the media and was not guided or influenced by basic human EXECUTIVE EDITOR MANAGING EDITOR NEWS EDITOR morals. Whitney Burdette Deanna Bailey Marcus Constantino Owen had been a father to burdette56@marshall.edu bailey360@marshall.edu constantino2@marshall.edu Kaylien since the day of his birth. Owen joined the military to financially support his fianWEB EDITOR COPY EDITOR PHOTO EDITOR LIFE EDITOR cee, Megan Gonzales and their Michael Spurlock Arian Jalali Ashley Grohoski John Yeingst young son. The same place he spurlock36@marshall.edu jalali@marshall.edu yeingst@marshall.edu grohoski1@marshall.edu turned to help him take care of his budding family attempted to keep them apart in a time when they need each other most. In a profession driven on respect, there is no reason in this case the military cannot allow this soldier time home to pay his respects. 109 Communications Building As a veteran, this disgusts Marshall University Nerissa Young...........304-696-2736 me. Let’s get something clear. Letters can be e-mailed to The Adviser One John Marshall Drive Owen is currently serving in Parthenon with word length of Huntington, WV 25755 Kuwait. While he’s receiving Sandy Savage-York...304-696-2273 a small amount of combat pay 350 to 450 words. Writers must Advertising Manager E-mail: parthenon@marshall.edu. give contact information and and enjoys the benefits of taxNewsroom.......304-696-6696 editors will contact them to verify free pay because he’s in a “war information and identify before zone,” he is far from danger. Fax...................304-696-2732 anything is published. I don’t mean to suggest Owen isn’t performing his duties admirably. I respect and appreciate the sacrifices of all my brothers and sisters in arms. But to glorify the peaceful missions of soldiers in wartime allows military units to argue why soldiers in these types of situations shouldn’t return stateside. It is not unpatriotic to acknowledge our military has THE CONSTITUTION flaws; however, it is dishonormarshall OF THE UNITED STATES able to withhold basic human parthenon.com ■ I can’t wait OF AMERICA decency under false pretense. ■ I’m going to miss my friends Congress shall make no law Despite finally being able to ■ Indifferent respecting an establishment of go home, Owen was handed a more traumatic experience religion, or prohibiting the free RESULTS through this ordeal than what exercise thereof; or abridging he will see serving in Kuwait. If the freedom of speech, or of the Army hopes to recruit and the press; or the right of the ■ Yes, absolutely ....................................................61% retrain good soldiers, the leadpeople to peaceably assemble; ■ Sometimes ............................................................ 26% ers need to change ignorant and to petition the Government ■ No ......................................................................... 13% practices like these. for a redress of grievances.
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Marshall’s tennis program’s slated spot for the Conference-USA tournament in Florida this week.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Marshall baseball falls 10-7 to Houston Tennis rolling Quick pitch
into Florida
You’ve got to be excited for the Marshall University tennis team this season. A 7-0 sweep over Pittsburgh to close out the regular season and solid prospects looking toward the Conference USA tournament at the University of Central Florida this Brandon week, things ancich are looking bright for our women in green and white. I’d first like to commend seniors Catherine Kellner and Michaela Kissell for wrapping up their final home matches as Marshall athletes with victories in the route of Pittsburgh Friday afternoon. For Kellner, it’s hard to keep track but I believe that these two wins bring her up to 132 for her career. And Kissell now sits with 109 career wins. Both are equally amazing achievements in and of themselves, as they put both girls in the top-20 tier for all-time career victories here at Marshall. Everyone seemed to make a day of it for Marshall, as the Herd swept all of its doubles matches, and singles play garnered similar results. All is good, and all is dandy. But now we’ve got a C-USA tournament on our hands, and the competition won’t be coming in the form of a struggling Pittsburgh program. Currently it looks as though Marshall will have earned the third seed in the bracket for the tourney, and also will get a first round bye - a great position to start this tournament in. However, we need to look at the other players in this showdown. East Carolina sits atop the 2011 standings as of this morning, with Houston close behind and Marshall sitting third above Memphis. Following them (in order) is Rice, Southern Methodist University, Southern Miss, Tulane, Tulsa, University of Alabama at Birmingham, University of Central Florida (who is host the tournament) and the University of Texas El Paso. Alright so, Houston and ECU. The good news? In Marshall’s last match-up with ECU back on April 8th, the Herd got itself a solid 6-1 victory. Matter of fact, that win set up Marshall for a three duel win streak - culminating in that wonderful 7-0 sweep heading into this last weekend. The bad news? Well, not really any kind of bad news other than what we’d expect to see from the top two seeds in a tournament, both Houston and ECU have wrapped up their final seasons with strong victories. East Carolina will now enjoy a 17-8 record looking back on the regular season, heading into a tournament they are used to being a part of. And Houston, boasting a 16-7 record, will be more than comfortable playing in some southern heat. Ideally, it would be great for either ECU or Houston to find themselves knocked out after a second round upset - as Marshall would have no problem winning the matches it knows it should win. But on the likely chance that doesn’t happen, we as fans have the satisfaction of knowing that Marshall will be entering the Conference USA tournament this year with one of the best rosters we’ve ever had - and we should hope nay - expect to see some great performances by our Lady Thundering Herd in Florida.
HERDZONE
Rhett Stafford went a perfect 3-for-3 at the dish and Victor Gomez launched a two-run homer, however three unearned runs in the top of the eighth for the University of Houston proved to be the difference as the Cougars captured the series finale 10-7 on Sunday at Power Park. Houston took two-of-three in the series after splitting a doubleheader on Friday. Marshall (14-20, 2-7 C-USA) recorded nine hits as a team as Victor Ramos joined R.Stafford with a multihit performance with two doubles and a RBI. R.Stafford also waked twice, scored twice and knocked in a run as he reached base five times in five plate appearances. Chase Jensen, M.P. Cokinos and Matt Creel combined for seven of the Cougars 11 hits and knocked in eight of the 10 runs as Houston improved to an even 19-19 overall and 6-3 in
league play. The game featured a scoreless first prior to a two-run inning from Houston in the top of the second. John Cannon drew a free pass from Herd starter Arik Sikula in front of Creel. The Cougars designated hitter attempted to put down a bunt on consecutive pitches but missed both. Creel worked the count full before launching a two-run bomb to hold an early lead. Ramos put the Herd on the scoreboard when he laced a RBI double to right plating Justin Maynard in the third. The two-hole hitter Isaac Ballou, hit a cue shot to third for an infield single, bringing home the tying run in Kenny Socorro. Sikula blanked the Cougars in the top of the fourth with the score still knotted at 2-all. R.Stafford began the bottom half of the inning by drawing a walk. Next to the dish was MU slugger V.Gomez as he hit a colossal bomb,
his second of the year, to straight away center. Houston would retake the lead by scoring five runs over the next three innings, highlighted by RBI doubles form Cokinos and Creel, while Cannon successfully executed a suicide squeeze. Down 7-4, the Herd would not go down without a fight in the bottom of the seventh. Ramos and Ballou reached base thanks to a double and walk and both moved up 90 feet on stolen bases. On the steal attempt, the Houston catcher airmailed a throw to third, allowing Ramos to scamper home with the Herd’s fifth run. Later in the inning, R.Stafford hit a bouncer back through the box easily scoring Ballou, slicing the deficit to a run at 7-6. The Gomez brothers (Victor and Nathan) drew consecutive walks to load the bases for Thor Meeks. The catcher hit a hard sinking ball to left field that appeared to give the Herd
the lead, but Houston outfielder Joel Ansley was able to haul in the catch to end the frame. Houston would push across three unearned runs in the top of the ninth, with the back-breaking hit coming on a two-run triple from Jensen to center. Houston would take a 10-6 to the ninth. Gomez roped a RBI double in the bottom alf and the Herd brought the tying run to the plate, but Chase Wellbrock induced a fly out to center to end the game. Chase Dempsay (1-2) got the win working 1.1 innings for the Cougars, while Jesse Fernandez (2-2) was tagged with the loss not recording an out in the sixth. Sikula pitched five innings for Marshall, allowing three earned runs on four hits. The righty walked three and struck out five in his non-decision. Marshall will play Eastern Kentucky at 3 p.m. on Tuesday at the Kennedy Center.
Herd softball suffers sweep vs. Central Florida HERDZONE
The Marshall University softball team dropped to 15-27 overall and 1-13 in Conference USA with Sunday’s 10-6 loss to the University of Central Florida at the UCF Softball Complex. Marshall’s explosive five-run showing in the third inning was not enough as the Thundering Herd fell 10-6 in the matchup and to the threegame series sweep. Rebecca Gamby had three hits on the day while Jazmine Valle connected 2-for-3 at the plate with a pair of RBI and one run scored. Natalee Pulver took the loss for the Herd, dropping her to 7-14 on the year as UCF’s Lacey Dinney improves to 10-7 with the victory. University of Central Florida (18-24, 8-7 CUSA) got things popping in the first with a sacrifice fly by Marissa Menendez to score Allie Jest and give the Knights the first lead of the game, 1-0. A Herd misplay in the second put pressure on the Herd defense with Knights runners in
Bailey
Continued from Page 1 you can do something about it that’s the coolest part.” In 2009, the first year Bailey worked with NURU to hold BH2O+ with over 50 participants, Marshall had the more participation than any other school in the country. Among the many lessons that her social justice programs have taught her, Bailey said that first year holding BH2O+ taught her that people really will show up. “When you do an event that really involves people in a whole different way participation wise, it brings a new perspective to the table,” Bailey said. “Be Hope to Her just offered a totally different ballgame. People could literally participate, they could experience something themselves they didn’t have to read about it, they didn’t have to listen to it they could just walk a mile and completely be changed in a different way.” Finishing up her last year at Marshall and her third year hosting BH2O+, Bailey said she is excited for this year’s event. “This year, we are pushing more fundraising,” Bailey said. “In past years, we’ve had private donors who’ve basically given us money for participation, and this year we don’t have that. “This year, I’m finding the independence to be kind of cool,” Bailey said. “We have such a strong group of people who plan BH2O+, it’s definitely not just me, there’s a whole group of people,” said Bailey. Be Hope to Her is held each year outside the Memorial Student Center at the fountain. This year, the event will be held on Thursday, April 28 from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Students are asked to carry a bucket of water on their head and walk a mile around campus to symbolize the walk that many women in Africa make every day. The walk will last roughly 30 minutes, according to Bailey, followed my music and speakers in the plaza. Along with BH2O+, Bailey’s heart is very much in the work and trips she has taken to Swaziland the last two years. “You know, I have a shirt that says ‘I need Africa more than Africa needs me,’” Bailey said. “I feel like that’s so true.
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scoring position at second and third with no outs. Starting pitcher Erika Bennett was able to get assistance in the situation with a fly out to center but one walk later jammed Marshall in a bases loaded situation. An RBI from Jest plated Kellie Todd but before the Herd could get out of the frame another error was capitalized on to allow two more runs to come home as Central Florida went up 4-0 after two innings. Marshall was feisty in the third though in a two-out rally that converted five runs, on four hits and four Florida errors. A RBI-single from Alysia Hively jump started the offensive spark, plating pinch runner Melissa Loesing, who was on base courtesy of Alianna Telles reaching on a Central Florida error. Valle made it a 4-3 ballgame with a double to left that scored Gamby and pinch runner Morgan Cottrell, who was on by virtue of a Hively single to left. Marshall then tied the game when Melanie Stoehr’s RBI-single brought around Valle and claimed the 5-4 lead after Bri Anna Hope crossed
home safely during a defensive rundown play on Stoehr between first and second base. Momentum found its way into the Univerity of Central Florida dugout as the Knights were able to tally two runs, unearned, in the bottom of the fourth on one Marshall error and one hit. The Herd would not stay down long however as another RBI-single from Hively plated Ashley Gue and tied it up at 6-6 heading into the bottom of the fifth. The lead swayed in favor of Central Florida in the bottom of the frame, 10-6, after Patrice Fee scored during a Jest at-bat. Marshall faced another bases loaded situation and brought in Andi Williamson to replace Pulver, who entered the circle in the fourth. Three runs ensued as back-to-back RBI-singles from Menendez and Tiffany Lane combined for a 10-6 cushion. The Knights would hold on through two more frames to pick up its eighth conference victory. Marshall hosts Morehead State on Tuesday in a doubleheader that is slated for a 3 p.m. start.
A lot of the time people will say ‘Oh, it’s just a sacrifice for you to go there’ and I can’t help but just laugh because it’s not a sacrifice at all. In fact it’s so refreshing.” According to Bailey, the community is ravished by AIDS, hunger and numerous problems that are unfathomable to deal with, she said it’s just awesome to be there and experience life in a more natural way — like washing her own clothes, fetching water and not eating all kinds of processed food. “When I was there, it just felt so right,” Bailey said. “My heart just broke for the injustices that I heard about while I was here in the comfort of my own home and as I worked hard to advocate for the injustices in Africa, Darfur and the Global Water Crisis I just felt this need to actually go and not just send stuff, not just send resources but go myself, have my feet in the soil, look the people in the eye and see what I’m fighting for and see who I’m fighting for and see who I’m speaking up for. It’s not a statistic or a number it’s a person. “It’s so different when somebody talks about HIV and AIDS and they just blab on about statistics for me because I think of two of my dear friends who died from HIV in Africa and I think of their faces and I think of their families,” Bailey said. “When you know someone who is afflicted by something, it changes your attitude, your perspective and your
passion — for me, that’s what Africa does. I don’t know numbers anymore, I know people who I’m fighting for.” “Being friends with Kati makes me a better person,” said Kelly Armstrong, fellow nursing students and friend of Bailey’s. “Kati really, really loves people,” Armstrong said. “She makes me want to be passionate about what she is passionate about.”
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Yeager scholar experiences college through dance BY CRYSTAL MYERS THE PARTHENON
Her vivid red hair is not the only thing that makes Laci Browning stand out in a crowd. Student, Yeager scholar, dancer, future law student and Pi Sigma Alpha member are just a few of the titles listed on Browning’s ever-growing resume. Browning is a senior political science major from Pineville, W.Va., who chose to attend Marshall University after she was offered a Yeager scholarship, which covers the price of tuition among other things. Browning said the Yeager program is one she both loves and hates. “The Yeager program is meant to be challenging, and it is,” Browning said. “The seminars I had to take were no less than extremely stressful, and I am currently ripping my hair out over the senior project I have to do; however, I am a much better writer, presenter, and analyzer because of those seminars. “ The Yeager Scholar Program includes a core of four seminars for the first two years, the development of a proficiency in a modern language, leading to a senior project, and other tasks while maintaining a 3.5 accumulative GPA. “Although it’s challenging, it’s worth it,” Browning said. “I am going to school for free, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The most important experience I have had in life so far was being able to go to the University of Oxford, and the Society of Yeager Scholars made that happen. For that alone, I will be forever grateful.” A few years ago, Browning was given the opportunity to study abroad in England for three weeks during the summer. She and two close friends spent the weeks traveling and exploring the cities of London, Paris, Venice and other parts of Europe. “The coolest part was that we saw the end of the Tour de France by chance,” Browning said. “That was a once in a lifetime opportunity if I’ve ever had one.” Although Browning said she would like to visit everywhere in the world, the country at the top of her list is Australia. “Their culture seems so free-spirited and laid back, and I would love to travel, eat, sightsee and meet people there,” Browning said. Along with Australians, Browning said if she was given the chance to meet any person living or dead it would be Abraham Lincoln. “It takes a strong-willed and incredibly gifted politician to make decisions during a time where the country is literally split in half; I would ask him why he made the decisions he did, and what he thinks of the country today,” Browning said. At 21 years old, Browning has taken on tasks outside of the realm of most college students. She is the founder and president of A Marshall University Student Ensemble of Dance. Browning said she created AMUSED because dancing is one of her biggest passions. “It is my passion and I will continue to
dance as long as I am physically capable,” Browning said. “There is a feeling I get from dance that I don’t get anywhere else – it’s the feeling of escaping. I become someone else when I dance, whoever that character may be and I am a vessel for the audience to escape the chaos of life, even for an hour or so. Jessica Fox, instructor at Jeslyn Performing Arts Center, met Browning four years ago when she first taught her in a dance class. Fox said her first impression of Browning was that she had a beautiful energy. “Laci is a perfectionist who is very direct, in charge, confident and full of life,” Fox said. “She was extremely open to new perspectives, experiences and has a willingness to learn and embrace change.” When Fox first met Browning, she said Browning was looking for a place to continue her training during college and was searching Huntington for a dance facility to call home. Since, Fox has asked Browning to join her dance company as an apprentice, and Browning now includes Fox on her list of heroes. “My mother is the first, because she raised me as a single parent and would drop anything for me,” Browning said. “I wouldn’t be who I am today without her.” “Second are all of my dance instructors: Toneta Akers-Toler, Jessica Fox, Jerry Rose and his daughter, Heather Rose-Zickefoose. All four of these people taught me so much about dance, how my body works and moves and who I am as a dancer. However, they are my heroes because they are keeping dance and the performing arts alive in West Virginia and giving others the opportunities that I had/have.” After four years, Fox said she still feels the same as she did about Browning when they first crossed paths, but their relationship has developed from professional to a supportive friendship. “Now, I just feel like she’s really embracing herself on the journey through life, making it her own and becoming the person she has set out to be,” Fox said. With graduation quickly approaching, what is Browning’s next step will be attending the University of Kentucky College of Law starting in August. Political science professor Cheryl Brown has thought Browning in several classes. “She is a great student and really a delightful person,” Brown said. “I know that she intends to go on to law school. I believe that she will do very well there.” However, while still an undergrad at Marshall, Browning spends her spare time doing a few other things besides dance. She works part-time as a brand rep at Pac Sun, a clothing store located in the Barboursville Mall. She said she also spends as much time as possible with close friends. “My favorite part about college is being able to study what I enjoy while living somewhat on my own and growing closer to old friends while meeting new friends on a daily basis,” Browning said. Crystal Myers can be contacted at Myers132@marshall.edu.
JOHN YEINGST | THE PARTHENON
Laci Browning, senior political science major from Pineville, W.Va., is a Yeager scholar who founded AMUSED, an dance ensemble for Marshall students.
Marshall art students ‘cap off’ their education BY JARED ROACH THE PARTHENON
This week, Marshall’s Birke Art Gallery will give senior art students a chance to show what they’ve learned. Senior art students from multiple disciplines will present their work at a reception Tuesday as part of the art department’s Capstone Series. These shows are designed to feature the students’ work and determine if the student is ready to graduate. Ellen Weed, senior sculpture major from Huntington, is one of the four students featured in the exhibit. Weed said while sculpture is her focus, she’s also including drawings in the show. She said like many art students, her interests cross over into other creative areas. “For this show, I’m creating things, but I’m also using found objects and found materials,” Weed said. “They serve as a base for my carvings, which differs from the other work in the show.” The title of the exhibit is “Go Figure,” which references the collective theme of the artists featured in it. Each of the four artists’ works deal with figurative elements of the human body.
Sassa Nibert, senior sculpture major from Barboursville, W.Va., is already an accomplished artist. She is currently working on a large scale steel sculpture for the riverfront park in Huntington. Nibert said the show will be a culmination of what students have done for the past four years, but what she’s doing now is completely new for her. While Nibert said each of the artists’ work is unique in its own way, Shayne Sigmon, senior printmaking major from Chapmanville, W.Va., said his work is more personal in nature. “My body of work is about my own life and my spiritual journey through life,” Sigmon said. “I wanted to illustrate certain points in my life that have changed me as a person.” The show will be on display in the Birke Art Gallery Monday through Thursday. The reception will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m Tuesday. “I just want to say that the COFA program here at Marshall is amazing, and the faculty really cares about giving the students the best education,” Sigmon said. “For me to have shared the skills and knowledge of all my professors has been a privilege and an honor.” Jared Roach can be contacted at roach47@ marshall.edu.
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