Nov 19, 2014 - gan responds to the impending destruction of earth by spinning between .... emotional punch that a lot of
The
Clarion
Volume 80, Issue 12
www.brevard.edu/clarion
Web Edition
SERVING BREVARD COLLEGE SINCE 1935
Follow us on Twitter @BCclarion November 19, 2014
Define consent: Administration continues dialogue on sexual assault in an exclusive meeting for men By Calum McAndrew Staff Writer
“Always get consent” was the message in Ingram Auditorium on Monday evening. Despite its hard hitting message, it appears many questions have been left unanswered. Dean of Students Debbie D’Anna led a presentation in Ingram for the second time in a week. This time she met with the college’s male students to speak to them about the recent attempted sexual assault on campus. Immediately, the tone of the evening was established, with the statistic claiming that males committed 95 percent of sexual assaults. From this point forward, the direction the meeting was heading in was clear, with a series of videos addressing some key points. Audio for the first video, entitled “Men Let’s Talk,” failed when it was initially opened. Rare murmurs from around the auditorium could be heard as the disjointed opening to the meeting led to a lack of patience among some students. The attention of the audience was immediately drawn again, however, as D’Anna said, “A person can only give consent if they are free of any kinds of drugs or alcohol,” before further saying, “even if they say yes, they cannot give consent whilst intoxicated.” When sophomore Jesse Sheldon asked for clarification on what she had said, D’Anna twice responded with the unwavering answer, “It means they aren’t intoxicated.” Confusion began to build, however, as she went on to suggest that, “It depends on the person. If their speech is slurred or they can’t walk in a straight line, then they are intoxicated.” This seemed to contradict her initial statement, which appeared to suggest that any alcohol consumption at all could be construed as “intoxication.” There was further uncertainty on the meaning of intoxication after Dee Dasburg spoke later about a situation in which both parties might be intoxicated. One student went on to ask what the verdict would be in such a situation. Dasburg responded that such a situation would allow both
‘A person can only give consent if they are free of any kinds of drugs or alcohol.... Even if they say yes, they cannot give consent while intoxicated.’
—Debbie D’Anna, Dean of Students parties to put a side of the story forward. This however, was later contradicted by Brevard police officer Steve Wilson, who said, “Intoxication is not an excuse.” Throughout the evening, it appeared that many questions were left unanswered on that front, and many students may be left pondering what the true definition of intoxication is. Wilson took the microphone after D’Anna and head of campus security Stan Jacobsen had spoken. After introducing himself, he posed the audience the question, “Do any of you have 5 to 10 years of your life to give me?” Stunned silence filled Ingram Auditorium and set the tone for much of the rest of his speech, which provoked the most audience push-back against any of the speakers that night. Wilson became the first person of the evening to definitively use the term “rape,” and much of his segment of the evening appeared accusatory in its intent. He referred to “first and second degree rape” and proceeded to alert the audience on all the other ways in which they could be charged in an event of sexual misconduct, including situations such as intimidating witnesses. Perhaps the most controversial moment of the meeting came when a student asked, “What can you do as a third party to defend a victim without receiving disciplinary actions?” Wilson responded by saying the witness should try to stop it. If one did not, Wilson said, “I’m going to ask you, ‘What’s your problem?’” As a follow up to this question, freshman Thomas Ruple asked, “What would be too far?
Could you stab the assailant?” Wilson responded by jokingly responding, “As long as it’s an itty bitty short blade.” He soon went back on this comment however, clarifying that only in a case where “life or limb” was in danger would that be an appropriate course of action. Wilson however did say that, “You should do whatever you can to get him off of the victim.” Toward the end of the meeting, which lasted about 45 minutes, an entire hour shorter than the women’s event, D’Anna held a section for students to voice final questions on the matter. A question from the Clarion asked if it is now the school’s priority to prevent further sexual assaults, to which D’Anna responded, “That is always the school’s priority.” When further questioned as to what the school intended to do in order to prevent such matters, D’Anna responded by saying that the male and female meetings were prevention techniques, and that additional lighting and increased security rounds would be implemented. Students may also be interested to hear that D’Anna confirmed that there will be more educational sessions regarding recent events. “There will be more opportunities for people to come together and discuss, and to keep the dialogue going,” she said. The meeting appeared to be well received by students, who for the most part held their concentration throughout. However, it must be said that at times full clarification, or thorough definitions were not given, and it appears that some people may still be left with more questions on the matter.
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Campus News
IWIL’s Fall Trip to Atlanta
The Clarion
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November 19, 2014
By Kaelyn Martin Contributor
This past weekend, the young women of IWIL (Institute for Women in Leadership) experienced a trip that would have great impact on not only them but also those around them. On November 15, the IWIL program traveled to Atlanta, Georgia for their annual fall trip. This trip is what is called a service-learning trip, in which the women of IWIL partake in a volunteer opportunity and learn about the culture of the city Atlanta, a city very different from our own. The IWIL program spent Saturday at a crisis center, which is association with the Ebenezer Baptist Church. This church is rich in history and cultural movements. Eleven total IWIL women came out and helped at the center. The other volunteers included Dee Dasburg, Gabrielle Mellendorf, and Leah Colbath. Due to the extra help, the crisis center bagged enough groceries for next Saturday’s distribution. “I felt that we helped,” said Caitlin Hefner. Once the home church of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the church is now the location where those who are in need can pick up the necessary groceries in order to live a sustainable life. “Coming back out with food and seeing them being so grateful for it; that felt really nice,” said IWIL member Lily Bartleson, recalling a highlight from working at Ebenezer. When the volunteering for each day was finished and after a satisfying meal at the CNN
Center, the IWIL ladies got to immerse themselves in a bit of Atlanta culture with a trip to the High Art Museum. Among the many different pieces some favorites included, The Forty Part Motet, the mirrored bowl, and the powerful photography of the American Civil Rights Movement. One of the other ways the IWIL women experience the culture of Atlanta was by visiting the King’s center. This is an exhibit that is dedicated to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and details all of the great achievements he has made toward the civil rights movement. “I really enjoyed learning about segregation, because I really did not know a lot of the stuff we saw over the weekend,” said Audrey Ashburner. The overall cultural experience was concluded with Sunday mass at 11:00 a.m. at the New Ebenezer Baptist church. The women experienced a unique church service that many were not accustomed to experiencing. During the Sunday church service, an announcement was made that a young child part of the Sunday school had to go to the hospital. Upon this announcement, the whole congregation joined hands and prayed for the child “I’ve never felt so close to a stranger in my life. And I thought that was super impactful on my life,” said Lily Bartleson Overall, the women of IWIL learned and experienced what it means to be a true leader and how to not only give their time, but their hearts as well.
Thanksgiving ‘Turkey Trot’ to be run on Nov. 22 By MacKenzie Samotis Staff Writer
According to Feeding America’s “Map the Meal Gap” project, roughly 4,820 people are food insecure in Transylvania County and, of that, 65% are below the poverty threshold. Meaning a number of impoverished households lack the access to food that is needed to live an active and healthy lifestyle. Organizations, like the Sharing House and Meals on Wheels, have dedicated their time and profits to providing counties the food security that is needed. However, they can't do it alone. Brevard College’s freshman Honors Program students are hosting a 5K run, the “Thanksgiving Turkey Trot,” on November
22nd on BC’s campus. The run is being organized to raise food insecurity awareness and funds for the Sharing House Food Pantry in Brevard. In hopes to help Transylvania County meet the amount needed to feed our community, Brevard students are asking a $10 or 10 can entry fee when registering for the run; donations will also be accepted at the event. During this time families, students and runners of all sizes can come out and make a difference in their community, all while having a good time. Brevard College is taking its part in the efforts to solve hunger in its community, however, it is because of community and campus participation that this goal can be met. Come out to the “Thanksgiving Turkey Trot” on
Casino Night By Amanda Higgins Staff Writer
This Thursday marks the return of CAB's famous Casino Night! BC’s Campus Activities Board leader Racheal Barrow wouldn’t tell me too much about the night in an effort to keep the campus in suspense. She did however tell me this, “It is gonna be awesome!” This event will be co-sponsored by the History Club. Barrow said, “Casinos have been a hit in the past. Gambling is known through the ages.” She also tells us that CAB, “... wants to show them that we appreciate everything they are doing and welcome them to partner with us again.” This will be the first time since 2012 that BC has had a Casino Night due to the fact that in the past the event coordinators were less than satisfactory. Thankfully, CAB spent the last year searching for a replacement and found Your Event (YES), the same company that helped bring us SpringFest last semester. This year’s Casino Night is themed as a Casino Royale. When asked, Barrow said for us to think more Bond and less Beyoncé. There is no required dress code but classy dress is encouraged. The event will take place in Scott Commons located in the Porter Center. All volunteers will be dressed appropriately as dealers and trained for their station. Students will play for chips which are then turned into “funny money”, which is used to purchase raffle tickets to win various prizes. These prizes include gift cards to restaurants and stores. The raffle will be held twice during the night so that people who are unable to stay do not miss out on the fun. “You get the real experience of a casino without the worry of spending hundreds of dollars and blowing it all. You also won't get thrown out for counting cards,” says Barrow. “The main point is to have the students come and enjoy themselves. To have a night that is all about the fun."
November 19, 2014
| The Clarion
Arts & Life
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Photo by Rachel Anthony
Therman Elkins as Mick
Photo by Rachel Anthony
Photo by Rachel Anthony
Photo by Rachel Anthony
John Pate as Dean & Karen Bennett as Holly
Karen Bennett as Holly
capable of a healthy relationship with her family. Holly devours emotional support the way others might gorge on a buffet. In Bennett’s portrayal, Holly’s loneliness drives her to compensate with overzealous, rather unsettling attempts at maternal love. As she has tried and failed to comprehend her late husband, who was aloof and often absent, Holly clings to Dean, depending on him to resolve her loneliness and to guard the space of his father’s absence: his place at the kitchen table and the unsorted boxes and memories that the dead so often leave behind. In Holly, Jackola has utilized a stock character: the needy, narcissistic housewife, or in the words of her son, the “delusional bitch.” It is only in her grief that she conveys any depth, although she quickly transitions to a more traditional mode, hysteria. Morgan Evans, played by Hannah Leonard, junior, is Dean’s ex-girlfriend. Morgan is not so different from Holly: hungry, stubborn, and emotionally wrecked by the fact that Dean left for university without saying goodbye. He did not write or call, and she began to collapse inward beneath the weight of his silence, blaming herself for the separation. Like Holly, Morgan is not written as a complex female personality. In her instability, she reorients herself around the men in her life, to a fault. Morgan responds to the impending destruction of earth by spinning between the absence of David and the sudden reappearance of Dean. Because she strayed in his absence, Morgan is at first hesitant to reunite with Dean, and she resents his efforts to reignite the relationship. Ultimately, she is not difficult to convince, nor is she particularly convincing.
Mick Phillips, played by Therman Elkins, is a cantankerous old astronomer who walks with a limp. Formerly a NASA hopeful, Mick follows the steady tick of numbers in astronomical readings without hope that God may someday reveal his hand. In Mick, Jackola applied a masterful use of both humor and brevity. Mick has an intelligent voice, and his dialogue is fused with both humor and longing. For him, life is a lottery, and as the asteroid hurtles toward earth, Elkins fully embodies Mick’s stoicism in the face of his eternity. The fifth character is a news anchor for KPLR Radio News. While the other characters are distracted by internal conflicts, Linda Wells, played by Currin Sessions, establishes a rhythm of external events that paces the play and sets the mood for varying scenes through the use of a classical soundtrack. Wells, however, is revealed in Act II to be more than a convenient plotting device. You’ve met all of these characters before. The strength in Jackola’s characterization lies in his ability to make his characters vulnerable, to strip them of pretense. You already know Holly’s neediness, Morgan’s desperation, Dean’s casual cruelty and emotional detachment, and Mick’s coarse humor, philosophical insight, and drunken truth-telling. They are a communal embodiment of the universal tensions between loneliness and intimacy, between absence and presence, and between hope and despair. Jackola does not resolve these tensions. Instead, he suspends his characters in a more realistic uncertainty. “Not with a Bang, but a Whimper,” concludes with neither a “bang” nor a “whimper,” but with an intentional ellipsis. Is this how the world ends?
‘Not with a Bang, but a Whimper’ By Kara Fohner Editor in Chief
Everyone is going to die, and the characters in Kyle Jackola’s ambitious new play, “Not with a Bang, but a Whimper,” know it. They are devastated, in love, lonely, and selfish, but more than anything, they march to the ticking of their own mortality. After all, they are suicide survivors, and if that isn’t enough, an asteroid is about to collide with the earth. “Not with a Bang, but a Whimper” opened on Thursday night as a Brevard College Theatre production directed by Brandon Smith. Set in the small, fictional town of Littleton, New Mexico, the play revolves around the mysterious suicide of David Robinson, a respected astronomer. The four main characters in “Not with a Bang, but a Whimper” are each defined by their expressions of their “black loneliness.” They reach, but seem incapable of truly touching one another. Existentially, each is alone, isolated by the constraints of consciousness and the inadequacy of symbols, routines, and even human language. They are bound by the seemingly arbitrary nature of their existence, and they struggle in their bindings. Dean Robinson, the clever, but disillusioned protagonist, is David’s prodigal son, who returns to Littleton from his university for the first time in four years to attend the funeral. Once home, Dean, played by John Pate, freshman, is faced with the negative space that his mother, his former lover, and his friend had to fill in his absence. Dean’s mother, Holly Robinson, played by senior Karen Bennett, is coping with the loss of her husband, but it is clear that she has never been
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Arts & Life
The Clarion
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November 19, 2014
Netflix Spotlight: ‘Liberal Arts’ By Michael Heiskell Staff Writer
Coutesy of Matt Johnson
Senior Spotlight: Matt Johnson
By Amanda Higgins Staff Writer
Matthew Johnson came to BC in Spring of 2012 as a transfer from Auburn University in Alabama. Many students on campus will recognize him for his short story “Beans” that appeared in the latest issue of the Chiaroscuro, which tells us of his 20 year strike against beans of any form, which came to an end when his Spanish minor took him to Costa Rica and his house mother Mama Tica changed his life. He came to BC after his sister, Elizabeth Morrison nee' Johnson, transferred here from Auburn and turned her academic career around. This was something Johnson hoped to do as well although he does not despair over the time spent at Auburn. “All of my mistakes in Auburn lead to some pretty great writing material.” When he reached BC he found that it was a lot smaller than Auburn and that he was more than an ID number. He got to know all of his professors, who in turn noticed when he missed class. The one thing he says he misses most from Auburn is the football team. Johnson will be graduating in a few weeks and
plans to move to Denver, CO to find his place in the world, hopefully working in public relations and marketing. When asked why he chose Denver Johnson replied, “It's a cool city; I’ve been in small towns for a while now so I want to see how it's like in a big city.” Johnson says that “the whole English experience” was his favorite part of being a student here. He credits the English department for teaching him how to write. “I had all of these stories in my head but didn't know how to get them out.” For his Senior Project, Johnson has written Let it Ride, a hilarious tale of gambling addiction and run-ins with the mob. The first four chapters of his novel are available on his blog http:// www.mattmakingsense.com/ should you like to see Johnson's hard work before it is published. Johnson is currently sending his novel to literary agents in an effort to be published. Before he leaves Johnson has a word of advice for the freshman, “Go to class. It is hard to make less than a C if you at least go to class everyday.”
“Liberal Arts” is a quiet, thoughtful movie about growing up and learning to deal with the changes that life throws at you. Jesse Fischer (Josh Radnor) is a college administrator living in New York City. College seems like a long time ago but he is still stuck in his ‘liberal arts mentality’. One day he gets a call from an old professor (Richard Jenkins) who wants him to come back down to the school for a visit, which is when he meets Zibby (Elizabeth Olsen), a much younger college student who reminds him a lot of himself. This film plays off of the college ideals well, and a lot of that has to do with the excellent script from director and star Josh Radnor. This is his second film after “Happythankyoumoreplease” and proves to be a much better film. Taking place in a quiet, small liberal arts college, “Liberal Arts” plays out in a great scene. Elizabeth Olsen’s career has really taking off over the last couple of years. But “Liberal Arts” was one of her first big breaks and the beginning of her distancing herself from her older twin sisters. She is a proven actress and a boon to this film, playing the most intriguing and real character. Josh Radnor does a fine job in his respected role as well, though one might question his range when most of his characters in films resemble Ted Mosby from “How I Met Your Mother”. If I have any complaint with this film, it is of director Josh Radnor and his character writing. He is great at writing flawed and complex characters, when they aren’t played by him. So far in his writing career, Josh has written such unrealistic characters for himself that it is almost like he is writing characters for the person he wants to be. Charming, smart and successful, his characters always seem to have it all and I just find it funny that he writes characters like that for himself. “Liberal Arts” is a small indie film that is well worth the time. Funny, interesting, and showcasing the talented Elizabeth Olsen, I would give this film a 4 out of 5 stars and recommend that it be watched.
November 19, 2014
| The Clarion
Arts & Life
‘Interstellar’ an ode to space exploration By Michael Heiskell Staff Writer
“Interstellar” is a reason to be excited for film again; a reminder that film can be one of the most amazing ways of expressing imagination and excitement. “Interstellar” tells the story of Cooper (Matthew McConaughey), a former pilot and engineer who lives in a wrecked future where the Earth is on its last leg. The world is constantly over run by dust storms and most of society is made up of farmers due to the food shortages. To try and find a new hospitable planet, Cooper is asked to fly a ship into a black hole. Crewed with scientist Brand (Anne Hathaway), Cooper heads into the unknown. This isn’t your average science fiction movie. Everything in this film is either based on fact or scientific speculation. Specifically the work of scientist Kip Thorne and his ideas on wormholes and other scientific hypothesis. This is an intelligent, well thought out science fiction film that focuses on the science side more than any other. After I saw this film, “2001: A Space Odyssey” automatically came to mind. When it comes to these films there is no comparison, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. “2001” represented the
despair in humanities future and “Interstellar” represented hope. Both are amazing in their own right, but both look to portray completely different goals. “2001” will shock you, “Interstellar” will amaze you. Along with the phenomenal special effects and cinematography, “Interstellar” had some really fine performances in it. Matthew McConaughey has proven himself to be a serious actor and has completely shed his ‘Alright, Alright, Alright’ persona. Ann Hathaway also turned in another good performance along with the rest of the cast. One of the most exciting things about this film is what it represents for the film industry. An ode to exploration and creativity, “Interstellar” broke the mold of a sequel/adaptation obsessed industry. It is creative and original and adds an emotional punch that a lot of science fiction seems to be missing. The script is amazing thanks to the mega talented script writer Jonathan Nolan. And Christopher Nolan directed another winner that might go down as his masterpiece. “Interstellar” is a visual treat that brings to light bigger ideas. Scientifically inclined and filled with great performances, I would give this film a 5 out of 5. It’s an absolute must watch.
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C
the the Clarion larion Senior Staff Editor in Chief . . . Kara Fohner Managing Editor . . Sam Blakley Copy Editor . . . . . Gabby Smith Opinion . . . . . . . Arts & Life . . . . . Alex Webster Sports . . . . . . . . Sam Marlow Photography . . . . Rachel Anthony Layout & Design . . Michael St. Marie Business Manager . Burton Hodges Faculty Advisor . . . John B. Padgett Other Staff
Ce’Ara Cannon Joshua Cole Savannah Cox Jonathan Furnell Michael Heiskell Jule Hermann Amanda Higgins
Richard Liell Arlan Parry MacKenzie Samotis Jesse Sheldon Kevin Thompson Calum McAndrew
The Clarion is a student-run college newspaper produced by student journalists enrolled at Brevard College. Unsigned editorials represent the collective opinion of the staff of The Clarion. Other opinions expressed in this newspaper are those of respective authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the faculty, staff or administration of Brevard College.
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Sports
The Clarion
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November 19, 2014
Coutesy of BC athletics
Lizzie Graham named as SAC player of the week By Jule Hermann Staff Writer
Coutesy of BC athletics
BC basketball unsuccessful on the road By Savannah Cox Staff Writer
The BC women’s basketball team faced D1 opponent High Point University (HPU) in an exhibition game this weekend, holding their ground throughout most of the game. A 13-2 run in the final minutes of the first half shifted the momentum in favor of BC for the rest of the half, helping the Tornados gain the lead after trailing by, at most, 9 points in the first half. At half time BC was up by nine points. After the halftime break, BC then found themselves leading by as much as 11 points. But, unfortunately the Tornados were unable to hold their lead through the final quarters. HPU took the lead at 9:53 in the third quarter and they held it for the rest of the game, winning with a final score was 72-65. Three BC players finished with double digit points. Madison Lenox led all BC scorers with 16
points while also having six rebounds. Katie Williams finished with 12 points and four steals. And Chelsea Turner and Shelby Wolfe each contributed 11 points in the tough battle. The Men’s team also suffered a loss on Saturday. BC faced GRU Augusta on the road and came up short, losing 79-53. Two 11-0 runs for GRU Augusta defined the game as a whole. At halftime, BC was able to cut the lead to 12 points, but the second 11-0 run for the Jaguars, sealed the deal. Junior Phil Wallace led all BC scorers with 16 points and Senior Darius Moose also contributed 5 defensive rebounds for the Tornados. BC’s Men’s Basketball team will face North Georgia in their home opener; tipoff is scheduled for 7 pm in Boshamer Gymnasium. The Lady Tornados will be back in action Saturday for their first SAC game of the year, on the road at Newberry. Tipoff is at 2 pm. The Men’s team will also play at Newberry at 4 pm.
BC’s women's soccer player Lizzie Graham was awarded the SAC Player of the Week after the team won their last game of the season against Coker College with a score of 3 to 1. Graham, who will graduate this spring with a degree in graphic design, is the first person to be mentioned for women's soccer in BC history. "To finish your senior year, your last game, winning SAC player of the week, I couldn't ask for anything else", Graham said. Raised in Mooresville, NC, Graham tried all kinds of sports, including softball, cheerleading, and basketball, before deciding to stick with soccer at the age of 12. Before joining BC, she spent many years playing on a three-time Region 3 Championship team from Charlotte, NC. For Graham, there was no other choice but to become a part of the Tornados. During her junior year in high school, she came out to watch the soccer games of her sister, who graduated from BC two years ago. When she met Coach Shinohara and his team, she immediately liked the family environment within the group and the college. After playing on a Region 3 team, where she sat on the bench most of the time, she was happy to come to BC and play 90 minutes in every game. "I take it as a privilege to help teach the girls who didn't get to play at the level I did", Graham said. She is very close to her teammates and very thankful for the many friends she has gained during her time at BC. As for her future, Graham said that her soccer career is done, since she wants to concentrate on her grades in the spring. After that, she may join an indoors team at home to keep in shape.
November 19, 2014
| The Clarion
Sports
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BC cycling looking toward CX nationals By Joshua Cole Staff Writer
This past weekend at Mars Hill, BC’s Cycling team began their pursuit of another nationals winning season, this time in the sport of cyclocross, a sport in which they already have two consecutive nationals titles, going along with their four consecutive mountain bike titles. Cyclocross, or CX, is a hybrid sport that mixes the bike handling skills of a mountain bike race with the power and endurance of road bike racing, which is then packed into a 30-60 minute spectator friendly race of attrition decided by selective course features as well as tactics. CX is unique in that it is the only cycling event in which riders are regularly forced to dismount and remount their bikes on every lap at specific sections of a one and a half to two mile long course. Particularly skilled riders are able to jump their bikes over sets of wooden planks or logs that are usually just over a foot in height. Typically, races range from 4-8 laps depending on the experience of the riders. Races can be won or lost over minute amounts
of time that become significant after multiple laps. CX races are usually held in a large grassy field and are typically characterized by tight chicanes, steep run-ups, sandy stretches, excessive amounts of mud, and possibly snow. CX is without a doubt a winter sport, originating from Europe; it’s especially common in Belgium and the Netherlands. Collegiate racers took the line, 8 across, at Mars Hill with anticipation, awaiting the whistle from the official as the temperature hovered around a brisk 30 degrees. The whistle blew and the ensuing madness began as racers rushed to find their pedals to claim what is known as the “holeshot,” being the first rider into the first corner, a strategy that is almost guaranteed to keep that rider out of any trouble like crashes that often occur at starts. Racers usually begin to string out after the first few corners meaning a good start and hopefully a top ten position is important to help conserve energy further throughout the race, energy that wouldn’t have to be wasted to gain positions otherwise. Mars Hill’s CX course is particularly difficult due to a long and steep climb into a wooded hill that leads to a fast off-camber descent that can
be quite harrowing when slick. Racers that were strong were able to excel at the steep climb, while others that weren’t as strong had the potential to make up lost time on the descent. BC had three riders competing in CX for the first time in the collegiate B category, Zach Hutelin, an excellent downhill mountain bike racer and member of the nationals winning squad, Sarah Fonger, a member of the women’s soccer team when she’s not racing bicycles for the college’s cycling team and Alex Laifer, renowned for his ability at unicycling and creating impressively accurate recreations of the continental United States. Fonger took an impressive victory in the women’s collegiate B race. In the women’s A race, Sarah Hill, overall winner of the omnium at mountain bike nationals took third place. Zachary Valdez, another strong rider that helped bring home a nationals title, managed a fifth place finish in a strong men’s field. Overall, this was a strong result for BC and a very promising start to a season which will hopefully lead to a third national title to come in January and cyclocross nationals in Austin, TX.
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Opinion
The Clarion
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November 19, 2014
The role of a chaplain on campus By Gabby Smith Copy Editor
Christine Maddux wears the traditional black and white garb of a clergy worker. She can be seen milling across campus or in the café sometimes, straight-backed and alert, but for all intents and purposes she has essentially moved under the radar here at BC, and it is safe to assume that can largely be attributed to her job title. A chaplain is defined as being a member of the clergy who is attached to a private institution, and Maddux resides in Stamey Wellness Center, which is where I found myself last Thursday as I interviewed her from a comfy chair in her spacious office. Maddux, who has an ordained deacon in the Anglican Church, has never worked as a Chaplain before this but she says she sees herself serving as a “guide for the spiritual life of the campus.” The chance to work at BC in a way just fell into her lap. Maddux has a summer chapel ministry in Lake Toxaway and many of the people she interacted with volunteered at the college, which in turn made her want to get involved. When asked, Maddux explained that she thinks that just because we’re on a college campus doesn’t mean that our religious needs change. Maddux expands that “when students enter college it’s the first time they make the transition into adulthood and get to appropriate values for themselves, and that this is somewhat of a quest, but that everyone has these issues.” She also says that “without having spiritual resources, there is a definite gap in peoples’ lives.” BC is currently home to less than 1000 students, yet it is a very culturally diverse environment, and many of the students here prescribe to denominations outside of traditional Christianity, some being Atheist and Agnostic. When questioned on how Maddux would address these students she immediately responded that, “That doesn’t matter to me. You know Jesus wouldn’t have turned people away because they didn’t believe in him…” Maddux admits that she can’t authoritatively declare how receptive or non-receptive the campus is to religion because she isn’t in the classroom with students, but she has noticed the trend that in general students seem to steer away from “organized religion.” Maddux says she has lots of experience in pastoral matters, but admits that with issues such as gender fluidity or sexual experimentation she can’t really say that she understands where students are coming from because she’s never had to grapple with that experience; however, she also recognizes that “it’s about the whole person, and
that is just one aspect.” For her college is being in the thick of things as she “hasn’t been on a college campus since I was in college,” she says. But with that in mind she, like many women older and wiser, says that she isn’t really shocked by anything, even though its different. “Stress” accounts for the majority of visits she receives, “students have so many choices that they sometimes feel overwhelmed.” Another big issue she talks to students about is their relational problems. Her biggest piece of advice for those dealing with those issues is to “examine their feelings and to try to place themselves on the other side of things, to look into the deeper issue.” “Many times people will have a physical or emotional issue, but it may have a spiritual root, so while we (Dasburg, Maddux, and Clackler) all
have confidentiality clauses, we can refer students to each other because wellness is the goal. We want to be proactive so it’s not just curing the sickness, but preventing it.” Maddux invites people to come and talk to her about anything. Both Maddux and Dean of Students Deb D’Anna see the role of Chaplain in terms of being a spiritual guide, regardless of denomination or belief. Maddux also confided that her own college experience was very lonely and she wouldn’t want anyone to suffer that type of experience, and that God led her to this, using every piece of her background to help her do this job; she’s worked with journalism, theology, and even modeling. She describes this experience as “healing,” and hopes that she in turn has helped heal others.
New club pushes for greek life on campus By Gabby Smith Copy Editor
In last week’s SGA meeting, another social club was brought to the table to be inducted, this time one centered on joining men together. “The Brotherhood,” was an idea started by Freshman Lyndon Young during his first initial week here on campus. Football players move in a week before all other students and it was during this week that Young got his idea off the ground. Having garnered a lot of interest in his social club, Young explains that while having the club is great, that was never the endgame. Greek Life is something that BC lacks as a small liberal arts college. There are a few colleges around the country that have supported it, but we are not amongst that number, that being said, Young fully intends to introduce it to the campus at large. Having already sat down with Dean of Students Deb D’Anna, he explains that “she brought up hazing and the pricing (for those who would join the chapter) as her concerns, but because we have such a small school, it would be easier to control, and
that despite our size we could definitely support Greek Life.” When I asked Young, he explained that Greek Life is kind of like a rite of passage in a way as it’s one of the most publicized things we see as a representation of college life in media. Young also explains that while CAB sponsors a lot of activities on campus typically they only attract certain people. Ideally, Greek Life would do the exact opposite; you’d have a fraternity or sorority that fits to your personality type or lifestyle. In the past, the Board of Trustees has turned down the idea of Greek Life due to concerns that it’ll encourage alcoholism and binge drinking. Young has plans to meet with them in the following weeks in an attempt to get their sanction on this project. When asked to address this concern, he calmly explained, “That’s already an issue, people are already drinking excessively, and drinking while underage, a fraternity wouldn’t make that a bigger problem.” Young stands by the idea that the introduction of Greek Life onto campus could actually solve a lot of our issues, the main one being our retention rate. As of last year our retention rate of first year students was 57%, which is well below the national average. That being said, Young See 'Greek life' on page 10
Opinion Take back the power: sexual assault, society, and the importance of storytelling November 19, 2014
| The Clarion
By Kara Fohner Editor in Chief
I met “Tyler” during my second semester at Brevard College. I was drifting around CAB’s Super Bowl party, located in Coltrane. He was chatting with a friend when he locked eyes with me. “Give me a hug,” he said, smiling and spreading his beefy arms. This was our first conversation, but I had heard about him. My female friends felt jittery, and my male friends felt angry and helpless when he approached. He was a martial artist. It was rumoured that he used these techniques on women who resisted his advances. I watched with peculiar, disassociated curiosity as he swaggered around the table. Then, he grabbed me. His unyielding grip as he spun me into his arms did not match his playful laughter. I wrenched myself from his grasp and left the building. In that room full of people, only one student, my friend David, observed the conflict, and he immediately texted me to ask if I was okay. Over the course of the following week, I shared the story with a few friends, and they responded with their own. “He pulled me onto his lap and wouldn’t let me up,” one said. “He hit Anne last semester,” said another. We told these stories in the privacy of lamp lit dorm rooms, behind closed doors. We affirmed one another with the private tellings of what we would not publicize. “Through the act of narrating we come into identity; we authorize ourselves,” said Professor Lolly Ockerstrom of Park University. “Throughout history, women have told their stories, sometimes at great peril to themselves. They have often trembled while doing so.” Why? Why did we tremble? The fact that we supported one another demonstrates that we understood, at least in theory, the power of storytelling, but none of the instances of harassment or assault were formally reported. The next time I encountered Tyler, I was standing in a semicircle with a group of friends in the lobby of the cafeteria. When he reached to grab me again, I was ready. “Don’t touch me. Don’t touch me or any of my friends again,” I said, whirling on him. “You. make. us. uncomfortable. Do you understand? You will not touch me again.” I left shaking. After I called him out, Tyler did not even look me in the eye until Fall semester of last year. He was lounging beside my roommate in the cafeteria. When I joined her, he glanced up. “You’re really scary,” he said. “Can I give you a hug?”
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“Thank you for asking…” I replied. He awkwardly patted me on the shoulder before retreating to a safe distance. We never spoke again. Around a week later, he sexually assaulted my friend Audrey in the gymnasium. She punched him in the face, screaming, and he ran. Audrey then called security, who in turn called the Dean of Students, Debbie D’Anna. My friends texted me and asked me to come out. When I arrived, six or seven women were clustered in the auxiliary gym. Most of them were quiet introverts from different social groups who typically avoided conflict. Tyler no longer attends Brevard College. The college did not release information about this incident to the public out of respect for Audrey’s wishes. She had called security because she was angry and afraid, but in the aftermath, she simply wanted to move on. Still, D’Anna implored the women present in that gymnasium to report any instances that made them feel uncomfortable. If I or any of the others had filed a formal report, Campus Life could have recorded a pattern of behavior long before the assault. Unfortunately, this scenario is common. College girls often do not report instances of harassment because they are afraid of being socially labeled as irrational, overly sensitive harpies. They also fear ostracization, intimidation, retaliation, or even blame. According to RAINN (Rape Abuse and Incest National Network), 60% of sexual assaults go unreported, and 97% of rapists will never spend a day in jail. At the meeting for women last Wednesday night, Debbie D’Anna asked the women present how many of them had experienced sexual harassment. Almost every woman in the room raised her hand. “How many of you reported that to somebody in campus life or security?” Four hands went up. “We would like to be able to protect you from everything,” said D’Anna. “We can’t always do that, but again, you have to report it. You have to report it. You have to be relentless with it,” she continued. “It can be the smallest little thing that you think is silly, but it’s not silly at all.” Thankfully, in comparison to large universities, BC is a relatively safe campus and our administrators have an open door policy. “I’m a senior here, and I’m from Jacksonville NC and I lived near ECU,” said Kristin Conant. “I’m from an area that’s a college town, where there is a missing person every day, there’s a rape
every day, and there’s a murder, every day, and it’s reported,” Conant said. “I think all these people here [the administration] should be thanked.” But according to senior Michael St. Marie, sexual assault is a symptom of a pervasive cultural mentality that students unconsciously express during their years here. “It’s a general lack of respect within the culture at Brevard College” St. Marie said. “Culturally, that’s not something that’s talked about or thought about, but it would solve these problems as well as a lot of other problems.” I agree. Despite BC’s curriculum emphasis on Socratic dialogue, many students do not respect one another. However, it is also important to remember that sexual assault and a lack of respect, even as a socio-cultural symptom, is not particular to Brevard. Small towns are microcosms of the global community. Also, victims portrayed in the media are most commonly female, but RAINN also notes that 10% of sexual assault victims in the US are male, but because of the cultural assumption that men always want sex, they also do not often share their stories. Reddit, an online forum, has hosted multiple threads about this topic. One user, “Man_with_ the_Lime, asked, “Men who have been raped by women, what does society not understand about your situation?” There were 4,127 comments in response. User Epsonpro9900 said, “I've been sexually molested by 3 guys when I was a kid, and raped by a girl when I was 13 (she was 24). I have only ever mentioned it online. I tried telling my wife once while we were drunk, but she started acting repulsed, so I laughed it off as if I were joking.” User JaronK said, “False rape charges are a standard way to cover it up. As in, ‘if you tell anyone, I'll say you raped me.’ A lot of the time, people think it's really funny, even when you're obviously not joking.” Obviously, because Reddit is an anonymous forum, these accounts have no scholarly credibility, but Reddit does provide a platform for people to speak, and by speaking, take back their power without fear of social repercussions. That said, to assume that men are typically the perpetrators is a perversion of masculinity, and to portray women as typical victims is an inaccurate representation of femininity. I can attest to this, as on Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2007, I was sexually assaulted by Lynn, my best friend. I was 15. Her friend Nick, a subservient, mentally ill classmate with long greasy hair and wiry forearms, held me down. “I’m so sorry,” Nick said. “I’m sorry, See ‘Storytelling’ on page 10
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Greek life
Continued from page 8
trumps it up to the fact that there aren’t enough activities on campus for students to do and there isn’t enough socialization between students, “if people had more friends they’d stay longer.” Now with us being a liberal arts college, my first concern was that the idea of Greek Life might be something that the student body rejects, but I’ve been told that my concerns are invalid and unfounded. When he presented his idea to SGA last week, Young explained that he already had gathered around 17 members for a start-up group and that the numbers are growing fast. He’s managed to gather together a diverse group of students from all different majors, socioeconomic standings, races, and religions under his banner. The only legitimate reason he could see for someone being genuinely opposed to the idea was that
Back Page “nobody wants to deal with people losing interest in their club and people might be concerned that a social club would get more people as a better alternative to academic clubs.” Unlike a club however, a fraternity would be more elite. To join, one would be expected to pay a $250 sign-up fee as well as a $100 annual fee. Also, instead of anyone who shows interest automatically being admitted, students would have to go through the pledging system, where they would be assigned a series of tasks and questions to see if they truly embody the pre-existing principles and standards of the fraternity. In order to get this idea off the ground, Young has talked to the Dean of Students and is planning on having an interest meeting the week after Thanksgiving Break to organize before sitting down with the Board the following week. His hope is that we’ll be able to introduce two sororities and two fraternities to campus; however, on the off chance that the Board denies his request he says “we’ll continue on as a club but I’ll gather together a bigger interest meeting.”
Storytelling Continued from page 9
Kara.” But he would not let me go. There were other people present. Josh, a blonde skater with watery blue eyes and a narrow, rat-like face, watched. When I begged him for help, Josh looked at my assailant and said, “You have two minutes.” Lynn put her hands around my throat. “I could make you pass out this way,” she said. For months after the assault, I was in shock. I told only my family and a few close friends. I did not want to press charges. Although there were witnesses, the story seemed too bizarre, too unbelievable to take to court. At the time, it felt easier to move on. Three years later, I was a senior. We still attended the same high school. In fact, we were in the same US History class. I had, to a certain extent, emotionally recovered from the assault. More than anything, the psychological trauma had been from the betrayal. Still, I never quite let Lynn shift from my peripheral vision, and I noticed that she was growing close to a soft-spoken freshman girl. I walked to the school counselor’s office and told her everything. I said that I feared for the safety of the incoming class, as Lynn would not graduate for another year. When the counselor said that they already had a testimony of the incident from the boy who held me down, I was shocked. Tormented by his own role, Nick had confessed, but administration could do nothing until I spoke. A few weeks later, Lynn was transferred to the alternative school in the district. They told her that there, she would graduate on time.
What it boils down to is this: Sexual assault is not just a national or international problem. It could happen to anyone, and predators are not specific to any race, gender, age, or demographic. Unreciprocated sexual contact is the dehumanization of one person for the sake of another’s gratification. It is rarely simple, and it is never easy. By reporting my experience, I reclaimed the power that Lynn had stolen three years prior, and I was able to observe the direct connection between storytelling and social change. I write this article as a plea: Tell your story. It is only when everyone speaks — women, men, grandmothers, children, immigrants, cashiers, poets, politicians, academics, and playwrights — that we can begin a community dialogue about sexual assault. Regardless of the complexity of the circumstance, if you tell your story, you will be validated, protected, and supported. The act of storytelling is a powerful declaration of autonomy and a preservation of the human spirit: we process and affirm who we are, what happened, what we meant, how we felt, and what we believe. Regardless of gender, age, and context, you can take back your power. As I did. As Audrey did. By telling your story, you can redefine a traumatic experience on your own terms. You will evolve from “victim” to “victor.” You should not have to tremble again. This story was printed with the written permission from the woman in the first narrative. All names of the students involved in both incidents have been changed.
The Clarion
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November 19, 2014
Orange Peel: local gem By Jonathan Furnell Staff Writer
The Orange Peel in Asheville is a great place to see big name artists for small prices. The Orange Peel is one of the most recognized concert venues in the southeast and even the entire nation. Only 40 minutes away, The Orange Peel is a great place to catch some of the biggest artists in music. Bob Dylan, Smashing Pumpkins, Skrillex, Macklemore, The Killers and many more have all graced the stage. The Orange Peel was opened in 2002 and has been hosting big names ever since. The building has an interesting history, serving as a skating rink in the 1950s’ and various R&B/ soul clubs in the 1970s’ and 1980s’. The sound and lighting at the Orange Peel is state-of-the-art. And The Orange Peel was also named one of the top 5 concert venues in the nation in Rolling Stone Magazine in 2008. This past week I attended The Dirty Heads concert there. Droves of dread-headed locals headed out to see the reggae-rock act perform. Rome from Sublime with Rome made a guest appearance and opened the show. When I walked in, I was greeted by friendly staff that directed me into the main concert hall and took my ticket. Once inside, the atmosphere really sunk in. Signed posters of previous acts lined the walls, along with memorabilia. The main venue is a large open floor with the stage front and center. There were already people clumped up in front of the stage ready for the show and more people began to file in until the floor was full of people. Rome opened the show with a loud and energetic set. The crowd was electrified. After Rome finished there was a short break before The Dirty Heads came on. The lights went dark and then screaming started. The Dirty Heads filed onto the stage and started their set. The crowd went crazy as TDH played some of their best hits along with other songs. The concert ended after an almost 2 hour set. Overall I am very impressed with the quality of the venue and will definitely return again. If you’re looking for a fun night out, check out WWW.Orange Peel.Net for upcoming shows and to get tickets.
