The Clarion, Vol. 82, Issue #13 - Dec. 7, 2016 - MyBrevard

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Dec 7, 2016 - was pretty fun,” Immersion member Jordan. Haak said. After staying .... Prediction Center is predicting
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Clarion

Volume 82, Issue 13 Web Edition

Look for a senior profile on page 6!

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SERVING BREVARD COLLEGE SINCE 1935

December 7, 2016

Immersion students return 21 days of adventure and rerouting

By Jessica Wiegandt Arts & Life Editor

Wilderness Leadership and Experiential Education (WLEE) is a department that trains students to become successes in the outdoor industry. Immersion is a semester where WLEE students apply the skills they have learned and become facilitators. This semester’s Immersion team just finished the 21-day excursion prior to Thanksgiving Break. Each semester in the WLEE department there is usually an Immersion group, but not all the routes taken are the same. The semester is unique because eligible students apply to be part of the team. Group sizes are typically 10 students with one primary professor and one co-leader for the 21-day trip. This semester, there are nine students and the team is led by WLEE professor John Buford. Each Immersion has a WLEE professor leading, with a rotation of Buford, Clyde Carter, Robert Dye and Jenny Kafsky. Students have relative free reign over their route for the 21-day trip, with limitations on van mileage and the skill level of the group overall. The team this semester started at Mount Mitchell and backpacked for eight days to Linville Gorge. There, the team were rock climbing for three days, and then moved on to the NCOBS (North Carolina Outward Bound School). “We got to do community service there for the last day there and then rappelled, which was pretty fun,” Immersion member Jordan Haak said. After staying at NCOBS, the team hiked another two days to Ginger Cave Creek, where the team was evacuated due to wildfire smoke. “We got picked up and got dropped off at John [Buford’s] river property and paddled the French Broad starting at Section 0 [in Rosman],” said Haak. From Rosman, the crew paddled a total of 56 miles in three days on the French Broad River. Once off the river, the group was transported to the intersection of the Blue Ridge Parkway and

the Art Loeb Trail and hiked three days back onto campus. The weather was a large factor on the group, as the team was out during the peak of the drought and wildfires. The drought, which was classified as an extremely severe drought on the N.C. Drought Conditions Map, was causing all of the water sources in the backcountry to dry up. “Initially we were supposed to hike to the South Fork of the New River when we were finished climbing, but we had to change that because there was no water,” said Haak. “We were going to paddle the New River for eight days as our final stretch of the 21-day. That changed.” The team was reconfiguring the route plan up until the final week before they left. “The smoke gave us a lot of problems,” said Haak, “And we had to carry water with us more than usual because we couldn’t fill up in some places.” Haak was evacuated from the field for two days due to a knee injury. “During that time, the team really ran into a water problem,” Haak said. “They had to hike two 12-mile days in a row to get to NCOBS when it was supposed to take three days because they didn’t have enough

water to spend the night.” Three students came in and out of the field due to injury and sickness. In order to pass the 21-day, a student has to make it 15 days in the field. “Injuries are pretty easy and it isn’t a big deal usually,” Haak said, “I mean, you can get something like blisters on your feet and have to sit out for a day or two in order to heal. It’s okay.” One of the primary goals of the Immersion semester is to teach students to consistently and carefully reflect on their work. Haak said the team wrote journals often, and took time for themselves in the woods. “You really grow close to everyone while you’re out there,” Haak said. “You’re living with everyone and I spent 504 hours out in the woods, with the same people, cooking and living together. It’s great and you make a lot of memories, but taking time for yourself is essential.” The next Immersion group is scheduled to go out in the spring semester, and will be led by WLEE professor Robert Dye. This semester’s team has a couple more labs to finish before a final reflection period during exam week, including a day caving in Worley’s Cave, TN.

Photo courtesy of Jill Kaulius

Immersion team hikes back onto campus after 21 days in the woods.

Campus News

Drought and Fire and Rain, Oh My! Page 2

By Jeni Welch Staff writer



The drought in 2016 began in March and only became more severe as the year progressed. Some areas in the mountains are looking at 25 inches below average rainfall. March of 2016 was 2.27 inches below average and the number has simply continued to rise during the year. In June, Transylvania County was announced to be in a severe drought. In October, Transylvania moved into the category of extreme drought along with Buncombe and Henderson Counties. During this month, the French Broad River was only running at 471 cubic feet per second (cfs) instead of the normal 1,020 cfs. Now in December, rain has finally fallen and there is a hint of winter weather coming into the mix this upcoming weekend. However, the damage from the drought is far from done. This severe drought has led to numerous wildfires across the south and in response created terrible air quality for surrounding areas. In WNC, wildfires have burned about 70,000 acres this year. The air quality has been as much a visual an-

noyance as a threat to many locals. Transylvania County was under a code red air quality which meant that everyone was advised to avoid prolonged outdoor activities. The elderly, children and those with heart conditions and respiratory ailments should avoid outdoor activity as much as possible under these conditions. At the end of November, there were around 2,100 firefighters that remained in WNC to continue battling the wildfires. They had 3 aircrafts in assistants and 42 states were represented. The firefighters worked 16-hour days in two week shifts. Most of the larger fires in Western North Carolina were between 100 and 85 percent contained at the beginning of this week. The continuation of rain in the forecast is assisting in restricting the rest of the flames from getting out of control again as of this past Sunday. While conditions were perfect for fires to spread quickly, there was no lightening in the area during the beginning stages of any of the fires. “In North Carolina, 99 percent of our fires are human caused,” said Lisa Jennings, public information officer with the U.S. Forest Service.

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December 7, 2016

This could include a careless cigarette, campfires getting out of control or arson. There was a burn ban in effect for Transylvania County along with 46 other counties in North Carolina. Luckily, the much needed rain has removed the ban for Transylvania and 31 other counties. Jon Rieck, the U.S. Forest Service fire analyst, confirmed it is the same pattern being view in Southern California and in the Rocky Mountains. In his career, Rieck has never had to fly east to assist with wildfires. If the mountains of WNC want to be out of the deficit rainfall, there will need to be more than 180 percent of an average rain and snow before March 1, 2017. The new weather is a complete change of season for the warm fall weather that has remained throughout November. The Farmer’s Almanac, which is correct 50 percent of the time, is predicting a wet winter with “penetrating cold.” Opposite to the Farmer’s Almanac, The Climate Prediction Center is predicting a warmer than normal winter with higher than normal chances for a below average amount of rain and snow.

Photo courtesy of John Padgett

Umbrellas and jackets came out around campus as rain finally hit Brevard after weeks of drought.

December 7, 2016 | The Clarion

Campus News

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Lessons Correction to ‘Climbing Team’ article and Carols starts the Brevard Climbing Holiday Team getting ready Season

In last week’s issue of the Clarion [Nov. 30], we falsely stated that the new Climbing Team at Brevard College “will compete in the NCAA”. The Climbing Team will in fact compete under USA-Climbing in the Appalachian Region.

By Jordon Morgan Staff writer



The 20th annual Lessons and Carols service last Saturday, Dec. 3, brought beautifully sung carols and spoken benedictions read from The Holy Bible. This tradition is popular for kicking off the beginning of the holidays for those of the Christian faith this season. Including a multitude of carols, such as “Macht hoch die Tür” by Ernst Pepping and “Deo Gracias” by Benjamin Britten, all were enjoyable. Most pieces were outright beautiful and captivating with an exceptionally-coordinated choir. The carols were also diverse in their tone and rhythm. Songs such as the aforementioned “Deo Gracias” were fast paced while others, such as “O Little Town of Bethlehem” were very traditional and had a calming presence to them. Interspersed between each carol were the namesake lessons read by Brevard staff, including Ken Chamlee, Ph.D, Steve Woodsmall, Ph.D. and Brevard College president David C. Joyce, Ph.D. The passages progressively told of the origins of original sin, as told in the Bible, and later going into the story of Jesus’ birth and importance in the Christian faith. Passages included verses from the books of Genesis, Isaiah, Luke, Matthew and John, with each speaker ending with the phrase “Thanks be to God,” keeping the audience aware of what the intended message of the evening was. The lack of applause (as requested in the official program) kept the evening at a very reflective and respectful tone. The “Spirit of the Holidays” means many things to many different people, but for those of the Christian faith, the Lessons and Carols presentation brought everyone together for what it means to them, which is a celebration of their Christian faith.

for its first season By Florian Peyssonneaux Staff Writer

Brevard College’s first ever climbing team is taking shape, as the final roster will be completed shortly. The team will start its season at Western North Carolina University in February and is looking forward to competing in the near future. The team is a USA Climbing-sanctioned competitive collegiate sports team that will compete in the Appalachian Region. “The USA Climbing (USAC) organization differs from the NCAA in a sense that the team has different rules and regulations to abide by under the umbrella of the USA Climbing organization which focuses primarily on Youth, Collegiate, and Professional Sport Climbing, Bouldering and Speed Climbing competitions” said climbing coach, Travis Gray. Concerning the calendar, climbing season can start during the Fall following the USA Climbing Collegiate organization; however, the Appalachian Region has always been a Spring competition series. In regard to the first tournament of the season, Coach Gray said “we look forward to our season opener at Western Carolina University on Feb. 18th, 2017”. Keeping this deadline in mind the students who want to be on the team must give their best in order to be on the final roster. The climbing coach describes the process of recruiting for the team as a “non-traditional tryout.” The most experienced athletes will have their chance to be part of this team just as much as the newcomers. Indeed, climbers have to earn their spot in the team by taking actions such as being committed to team functions, individual

attendance, character, or merits. Coach Gray also declared that “What makes this team so remarkable is that we can work with someone who is brand new with climbing and helping them step onto the podium with 3rd, 2nd and 1st place finishes in their respective categories.” For the climbing team the main distinction of the club becoming a team is that they are now an officially recognized competitive sports team within the BC athletic department. For the climbers this difference will be very significant as “the distinction is that these incredibly talented and hard-working indoor competition climbers and rock climbers in general can finally get the recognition that they deserve on and off campus as legitimate student athletes” said Gray. During the preparation for the upcoming season, the team is anxious to start practicing at the Brevard Rock Gym in order to be ready for the collegiate season. The team will also practice on campus, using the athletics facilities for physical training and exercises. Coach Gray is determined for the team to be successful, and has ambitions to follow the example that the cycling team has set, as it is also a Co-ed sport set. “Once we finalize our roster, each one of those climbers who will have earned his or her spot has shown to the team that they are not only focused and determined to succeed, but that they are prime examples of what it means to be ambassadors of Brevard College and the Brevard community as a whole. We want leaders in our program and that's exactly what the final roster will show” said Gray.

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Opinion

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December 7, 2016

Electoral college was meant to be un-democratic County and state borders can affect vote outcome, undermine legitimacy of system, says mathematician By John B. Padgett

Contributor In 12 days, the real election for president of the United States will take place. I am talking, of course, about the electoral college vote, which will take place Dec. 19 in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The winner of that election — i.e., whoever gets 270 or more votes — will be inaugurated president on Jan. 20. And barring something unprecedented happening, that person will be Donald J. Trump, who should receive 306 electoral votes despite losing the popular vote nationwide by more than 2 million votes. In the Nov. 16 issue of The Clarion, I explained how it is possible for a candidate to “win” the popular vote and still lose the election. I pointed out how the electoral college system flies in the face of the “one-person, one-vote” rule that has always been a hallmark of American democracy, and I suggested a few ways that could yield election outcomes more in line with what most voters desire. Last week, an opinion piece by business and economics professor Drew Baker in The Clarion rightly pointed out that the electoral college system gives smaller states more of a say in presidential politics, and that candidates for president must appeal to less populated states as well as big states like California, Texas, and New York. It is true that the system envisioned by the Framers of the Constitution in 1787 was designed to avoid a small number of large states from dominating smaller ones, to prevent what Mr. Baker, by way of Alexis de Tocqueville, referred to as a “tyranny of the majority.” There is certainly some merit to the fears expressed by the Framers about the dangers of faction and tyranny of a majority. Unfortunately, in this year's election, the winner of the election did not achieve even a plurality, much less a majority, of the popular vote. Why did the Framers opt for such an undemocratic method to decide the nation’s chief executive? A number of explanations defending the electoral college system have circulated on social media since Election Day, but to truly understand why the Framers adopted it, we

have to understand the historical context in which it was proposed. During the summer of 1787, delegates from most of the not-very-united states met in secret in Philadelphia to discuss how to reform the Articles of Confederation, the government put in place to govern the new nation following the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Rather than simply repair the relatively weak national government, however, the delegates came up with what was then a revolutionary idea: a much stronger national government that would keep in place individual state governments but take greater precedence over them. To come up with a national government that would be acceptable to both large and small states, delegates made many compromises, the most important of which was the so-called “great” compromise of a two-part legislature, one based on population in each state, the other with a fixed number of senators from each state. And in a clear attempt to preserve the power of the various states, they came up with the electoral college system for choosing the president, an elected office that had not existed under the Articles. For all the talk we sometimes hear about American democracy, the Framers were rather fearful of “the people,” and so in its earliest form, the Constitution established safeguards against mob rule, in particular asserting that Senators and the president would be chosen not by “the people” in direct elections but rather by state governments. Their assumption was that elected state officials could be trusted to make more informed, responsible decisions for the offices of president and senator than could the people. What the Framers did not foresee, however, was that states would adopt a winner-take-all system in all but two states based on the "winner" of the popular vote for president. All of the electors in a given state would vote for that state's popular vote winner regardless of whether he won by a million votes or by five votes. Since the system created by the Framers did not even account for popular vote as a factor in Senatorial or presidential elections, it is reasonable to think, at a minimum, they would

find our current system at odds with what they had envisioned. Most people would agree that gerrymandering — that is, drawing electoral districts in such a way as to benefit one political party over another — is unfair. Politicians of both parties have used this tool for decades to manipulate vote outcome, and the courts have often been needed to intervene. What is often overlooked, however, is that state boundaries themselves constitute a form of gerrymandering that can manipulate presidential election outcomes in capricious or arbitrary ways, thanks to the electoral college. In his article last week, Mr. Baker noted that most counties in the United States preferred Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton. That is true, and if the election were based solely on how each county voted, Donald Trump, as he said in a post-election rally last week in Ohio, would have won in a “landslide.” The fact is, however, individual county outcomes don’t matter. Last week, a Washington Post reporter noted that if just five counties in the United States — one in Illinois and four in Florida — had been part of the adjoining states of Wisconsin and Alabama, Hillary Clinton would have won the election. It’s hard to believe, but the outcome of the 2016 election might have turned out differently had surveyors nearly 200 years ago drawn state boundaries in another way. Lake County, Ill. is on the border of Wisconsin. If it were in Wisconsin, Illinois would still solidly remain blue, but the Clinton vote in that one county would be enough to win Wisconsin for her. Likewise, if four counties at the western tip of the Florida panhandle were somehow switched to be in the state of Alabama, Florida would have gone to Clinton. You can view for yourself how the inherent arbitrariness of state boundaries can affect electoral college votes at “Redraw the States,” a website created by mathematician and data scientist Kevin Wilson that allows users to see what might happen if counties were somehow switched to another state. (It works both ways, See ‘Electoral College’ page 5

December 7, 2016 | The Clarion

Opinion

What’s next for the left?

By Calum McAndrew

Editor in Chief To say there has been social unrest in America recently is to offer an understatement so woefully misleading, it may very well be scribed on the motivational poster hanging in Kellyanne Conway’s bedroom. It isn’t rare for such an important decision to spark political unrest resulting in unsavory reactions; in France they just call that Thursday. In this day and age any number of decisions or actions can lead to thousands shouting their discontent. The question then emerges, what is the point? It can be argued that any attempts to change the course of the next two months are completely in vain, since the Constitution of this country has rules in place, and the rules will be followed. Whether President elect Trump will follow his campaign promises is yet to be seen, though early signs suggested that he would be less ‘anti-establishment’ than initially promised. Trump doubled back on his stance on LGBT rights. He announced the ‘beautiful wall’ he was going to build would be partially fencing, which everyone told him was going to be the case. He met with Al Gore, which the former Presidential candidate himself said was “extremely interesting.” He even said he would be willing to incorporate elements of Obamacare, instead of his original position of throwing it in the White House furnace before he moved any boxes in. Even the early appointments to his cabinet screamed establishment, as the “swamp” he promised to drain is beginning to flood into the walls of the white house. Steven Mnuchin, the former Goldman Sachs executive will head the Treasury, and billionaire Wilbur Ross will be Commerce Secretary. The appointment of Steve Bannon, a well known white nationalist, and founder of the alt right forum, and fake news sharing, Breitbart as his Chief of Staff is troubling to say the least. It’s in line with his campaign promises, granted, but troubling nonetheless. The same goes for the likes of Jeff Sessions, Trump’s nomination for Attorney General, who has been on the record as saying, “I thought those guys (the Ku Klux Klan) were OK until I learned they smoked pot.” He later claimed that this was just a joke, so it’ll come as no surprise that as Attorney General, his main ambition is to fight the real evil in the above quote. That’s right, he’s starting a war on legal marijuana. So, back to my previous point. Is this time to protest? Sure, for a while. If change is truly what is desired however, then change is exactly what must happen, but perhaps not the change you think. If the left seriously want to mount

a challenge on the surging far right, then it is imperative that the left improve. First of all, in nominating Hillary Clinton as the democratic nominee this year, there was an unquestionable absence of left wing politicians in this race. Assuming that this improves by the time 2020 comes around, which is hopefully sooner rather than later, there needs to be a wholesale improvement of rhetoric. Calling anyone who disagrees with you moronic, racist or misogynistic is never going to work. How is a person expected to find reason in your argument after they have just been insulted? That itself is moronic, if you’ll pardon my double standards. If the last eighteen months has proven anything, it is that the people of the United States have lost the art of argumentation and debate. Communication skills have fallen victim to fallacy after fallacy, and it simply cannot continue if there truly is desire for progressive change. Trever Noah’s recent interview with social media’s conservative poster child Tomi Lahren was an excellent example of this. Without ever resorting to below the belt shots, Noah managed to conduct an excellent discussion of opposing ideologies. While neither party really managed to deliver a knock out blow, Lahren serially avoided answering questions about her ‘Black Lives Matter is the new KKK’ claim. This is exactly the type of discussion that needs to take place. Continuing on with the media oriented side of things, the second change that is absolutely essential if the left is to succeed in the future, is to have a fair, critical, truth obsessed press. Uneducated claims that the media is part of the Clinton wheel, and fake news articles garnering inordinate amounts of coverage on social media are exactly the reason why this need is so urgent. Recent claims out of the Trump cartel, including from Scottie Nell Hughes, a CNN political commentator claimed, “there’s no such thing as facts anymore,” while discussing Trump’s latest unsupported claim that millions of people voted illegally in the last election. This can’t continue. The exaggeration and polarization of any topic guaranteed to achieve newsworthy status by the President elect has to be covered, and discussed properly. It’s up to the media to disprove these dangerous falsehoods, which are coming thicker and faster than McDonalds customers when the McRib was brought back. It’s also up to everyone else to do argue intelligently, and fairly. So, the next time somebody tells you that three million people voted illegally in the last election, don’t call them a racist. Show them why they’re wrong.

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Electoral College Continued from Page 4

by the way; Trump’s lead in the electoral college can be increased by similar moving of some counties to neighboring states.) Wilson’s thought experiment in presidential politics proves that the electoral college ultimately is not really a check, as some (including Mr. Baker) have said, on cities against more rural or suburban areas. “When moving three counties from one state to a neighboring state swings the election,” Wilson writes, “it seems that the real lesson to be learned isn’t one of deliberate protection, but one of capriciousness.” Since state borders are accidents of history rather than intentional acts of vote manipulation, electoral college results technically are not gerrymandering. “Some would argue that this makes it more palatable,” Wilson writes, “but I would argue that it undermines faith in the ‘fairness,’ and thus the legitimacy, of the system.” The electoral college system is an 18th century invention created in large measure to take the choice of president away from “the people” and entrusted instead to wise men in the various states. As America has grown more democratic over the past 200-plus years, however, the electoral college, coupled with a disproportional “winner-take-all” system, has perversely run counter to that democratizing tendency.

the Clarion Senior Staff Editor in Chief . . . . Calum McAndrew Managing Editor . . . Kaelyn Martin Copy Editor . . . . . . Opinion . . . . . . . . Michael Heiskell Arts & Life . . . . . . Jessica Wiegandt Sports . . . . . . . . Campus News . . . . Layout & Design . . . Emma Moore Faculty Advisor . . . . John B. Padgett Tucker Fry Jordon Morgan

Other Staff Alex Perri Jeni Welch Bryant Baucom

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.

All correspondence should be mailed to: The Clarion, Brevard College, One Brevard College Drive, Brevard, NC 28712, or send E-mail to [email protected] clarion.brevard.edu

 Letters Policy: The Clarion welcomes

letters to the editor. We reserve the right to edit letters for length or content. We do not publish anonymous letters orw those whose authorship cannot be verified.

Arts & Life

‘True Memoirs of an International Assassin’

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December 7, 2016

Unremarkable, but still enjoyable By Jordon Morgan Staff writer



The Netflix original film “True Memoirs of an International Assassin” manages to accomplish something that hasn’t been seen in years. The film makes Kevin James seem like the affable, goofy guy he is who can actually be funny, although it still loses out on some of its potential, making it a bit generic in the process. Sam Larson (Kevin James) is an accountant who plans to publish a fictional novel about an assassin who murders people for money. After having the novel published virtually by Kylie Applebaum, he discovers that the book was changed to a nonfiction memoir, and is subsequently questioned by many people, including Katie Couric, playing herself, and is ostracized by his friend Amos, a CIA analyst who helped Larson with his book. Eventually, a Venezuelan terrorist named El Toro (Andy Garcia), believing Larson to be the assassin he created in his book, kidnaps him and orders him to assassinate the president of the country. Embroiled in this rebellion as well as a power struggle between the government, El Toro and a Russian drug dealer named Masovich, a DEA agent named Rosa Bolivar aids him in sorting it all out and getting back home. One thing that can be said about this film is that unlike Kevin James’ previous efforts, (which includes such films like “Paul Blart: Mall Cop,” “Grown Ups 2” and “Zookeeper”) “True Memoirs of an International Assassin” actually contains a plot, memorable characters, development for said characters and a likeable lead. These may not seem like things to be complimentary towards, as these items should be mandatory in any film, especially a comedy, but recent films had reduced Kevin James to nothing more than a painfully unfunny attempt to gain sympathy. While “True Memoirs” isn’t particularly good for anything other than a few chuckles, it’s still a breath of fresh air in this regard. Sam Larson is a smart, humble guy who makes an

understandably questionable decision. He later changes for the better and becomes a believable fighter in the later portion of the film. The villains have identities (albeit ones that are a little bit two-dimensional) and have interconnecting plans that are presented in a way that is relatable to the viewer.

Overall, this is a film that succeeds in its basic concepts, and is very enjoyable even though it doesn’t amount to much. If you have an hour and 30 minutes to spare while browsing Netflix, give this some consideration, and you might enjoy it.

Senior Profile

Brent Turner By Tucker Fry Staff Writer

Brent Turner, a business and organizational leadership major, and cross country runner at Brevard College is getting ready to graduate. He has been at Brevard since halfway through his sophomore year, when he transferred from the University of Louisiana Monroe. Rewinding to his past, Brent was born in San Saba, T.x, but he grew up in West Monroe, La. So why Brevard College? He chose Brevard because he loves the area. On a sunny weekend you might see him hiking the mountains or running the trails. “Being from Louisiana, I have never seen anything as beautiful as Brevard, North Carolina.” said Turner. He spoke of his running history, and talks about how the mountains were a bonus for running. “Also being a cross country runner helped, because I get to run on some of the best trails that America has to offer,” said Turner. Brent is one of the top runners for Brevard,

and this past fall he has ran every race and has he has been pushing to improve his times little by little. After graduating from Brevard, Brent will be attending the University of Tampa in the spring where he will be pursuing an MBA in marketing and running for them as well. Photo courtesy of Ruby Lewis Photography

Brent Turner

December 7, 2016 | The Clarion

Movie Review:

Arts & Life

A mostly welcome return to magic, ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’ review

By Michael Heiskell Opinion Editor

‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’ Directed by David Yates Starring: Eddie Redmayne, Colin Farrell, Katherine Waterston Fantasy, 133 min, PG-13

“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” is a fun and welcome return to the magical world of J.K Rowling. It’s not perfect, but it’s an enjoyable ride. “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” is about Newt (Eddie Redmayne), a magical creature enthusiast. He has come to New York with a briefcase of magical (and sometimes dangerous) creatures. Things take a turn, however, when the creatures start getting out. J.K Rowling penned the script, and this was her first time doing so. I was initially really excited when I heard that she was taking this on. However, there are some problems to be found in it. There are some plot holes, some unbelievable coincidences, and questionable character

motivations. Without spoiling anything, the plan of the main villain makes absolutely no sense. This film is basically just a collection of convoluted, albeit enjoyable scenes that don’t create a coherent plot. Not to say this film isn’t fun. That is its main draw, after all. The film is a joy to watch and hearing slight hints of the original Harry Potter score echo occasionally on screen was amazing. I also enjoyed the work of Eddie Redmayne. Him playing Newt was one of the highlights. He provided an interesting character that will no doubt, for better or for worse, draw many more box office sequels. He seems like he belongs in this world. Another small complaint I had was that this film doesn’t really do much for new fans. There is very little explaining of how the world works for those that haven’t seen the Harry Potter movies. There is a little bit of exposition to Kowalski (Dan Fogler) who serves as the audience in this regard. It’s just not enough, and I feel that this film limits its audience with this choice. Overall, this film is an enjoyable ride. It has some faults in the screenplay and story progression, but it still represents a grand return to that magical world.

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Back on the charts: The Weeknd By Tucker Fry Staff Writer

The Weeknd ended November with an album that hits the charts. On Nov. 25th, 2016, The Weeknd dropped his newest album “Starboy" with many guest appearances. “Starboy” has a mix of R&B and hypnotizing funk that will get you moving to every song. Before the Weeknd released the album he dropped many singles. Back in September, he dropped “Starboy” and “False Alarm,” and both of those songs glided into the top 10 on iTunes. Then when November came around, The Weeknd released two other singles, “Party Monster” and “I Feel it Coming.” As no surprise, all 4 of his singles came in the top 20 on iTunes, and the album has racked up over a million downloads. About a year ago The Weeknd released “A Beauty Behind the Madness” which also had some songs make their way into the top ten. Actually, “I Cant Feel My Face” was said to be the song of the summer, and stayed number one for most of that year. The album revolves around a character described as Starboy, and The Weeknd has said that this Starboy character is supposed to represent himself. The Weeknd collaborated with a couple artist within the album, such as Daft Punk and Kendrick Lamar. The album has a story that one should listen to from start to finish, and by the end you will have developed a love for the feverish hip-hop, funk style that The Weeknd has to offer.

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Arts & Life

Getting ready for exams Relieve stress going into exam week with proper preparation By April Armstrong Contributor

Exam week officially begins Monday, Dec. 12, which means students will be taking and preparing for exams in a whirlwind of notes, presentations and coffee drinking. In order to prepare for exams, students may be looking for ways to destress before next week. As obvious as it seems, being prepared is the best way to reduce stress. In order to prepare students should try to quiz themselves, use flashcards, or find some way to relate the specific content, rather than trying to just read it. “More is learned and retained with four sessions of 15 minutes than one session of 60 minutes,” said psychology professor Dan Moore, Ph.D. Moore also recommends studying in the morning when the brain is “fresh,” rather than staying up late to study. It can also be good to study in the place where the exam will be or to try and match the state of study to the state of testing. “If you drink lots of coffee when you study, you should plan on lots of coffee when you sit for the exam,” said Moore. It is also helpful to be realistic with yourself and not to center your focus on things you can not fix. Rather than over thinking a bad grade in the past, use it to motivate yourself to perform better in the future. “Be realistic. If you made C’s and D’s on all the other exams, don't aim for an A,” assistant professor of psychology Caroline Mann, Ph.D., said. “That’s honestly unrealistic and will lead to disappointment and further feelings of stress

and helplessness.” Spend at least a few minutes between study sessions doing things that relaxes the mind of exams and focuses it on other activities such as a walk in the woods, massages, spending time with friends, or some form of meditation such as Yoga. Kylie Stahl, a student and Yoga instructor, said, “Legs up the wall is one of my favorite restorative poses when feeling stressed.” Stahl, Mann and Moore both recommended some deep breathing such as “Pranayama” to calm the nerves. Stress overall is the body's way of coping. “It is usually proportional to the gap between the demands and the organism’s ability to meet those demands,” said Mann. Activities, such as those mentioned previously, that take up mind space and keep you from multitasking can help to lower blood pressure and release oxytocin, which helps alleviate stress. To further prepare for exams be sure to look at mybrevard.edu in order to find the exam schedule and know exactly when and where to be ready. To help alleviate stress, check out the Campus Spa today and Thursday and Pet Therapy today and Friday. More information on these events can be found from Campus Life or on mybrevard.edu. For those in need of a little extra help in an area, visit the AEC located in the building with the bookstore for the tutoring schedule or for a quiet area to sit down and study.

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December 7, 2016

Exam Schedule Monday, December 12

Class Block 1, MTH 8­–9:15 a.m. Exam: 9 a.m.–noon Class Block 7, TF 9:30–10:45 a.m. Exam: 1:30–4:30 p.m. 7–8:15 p.m., MW or MTH classes 7–9:30 p.m., MW or MTH classes Exam: 6–9 p.m.

Tuesday, December 13 Class Block 2, MTH 9:30–10:45 a.m. Exam: 9 a.m.–noon Class Block 8, TF 11 a.m.–12:15 p.m. Exam: 1:30–4:30 p.m. 7–8:15 p.m., TTH or TF classes 7–9:30 p.m., TTH or TF classes Exam: 6–9 p.m.

Wednesday, December 14 Class Block 3, MTH 11 a.m.–12:15 p.m. Exam: 9 a.m.–noon Class Block 9, TF 12:30–1:45 p.m. Exam: 1:30–4:30 p.m. Class Block 12, W 11 a.m.–1:45 p.m. Exam: 6–9 p.m.

Thursday, December 15 Class Block 6, TF 8–9:15 a.m. Class Block 14, TF 8:30–9:20 a.m. Exam: 9 a.m.–noon Class Block 4, MTH 12:30–1:45 p.m. Exam: 1:30–4:30 p.m. Class Block 10, TF 2–3:15 p.m. Class Block 15, TF 2–2:50 p.m. Exam: 6–9 p.m.

Friday, December 16 Class Block 5, MTH 2 - 3:15 p.m. Exam: 9 a.m. - noon Class Block 11, W 8-10:45 AM Exam: 1:30 - 4:30 p.m. Class Block 13, W 2 - 4:45 p.m. Exam: 6 - 9 p.m.

December 7, 2016 | The Clarion

Sports

Two BC head coaches resign

By Calum McAndrew Editor in Chief

Shigeyoshi Shinohara, the men’s soccer head coach, and Paul Hamilton, the football head coach, have both resigned from their positions at Brevard College. Shinohara leaves after spending a total of eight years at BC, which saw him as head coach of both women’s and men’s soccer, whilst Hamilton resigns after nine years in his position. As a coach at BC, Shinohara spent seven years coaching women’s soccer, guiding them through a majority of their time as an NCAA team. In his final year at BC, Shinohara undertook the role as the head coach of men’s soccer, assuming the role after the 2015 season, following the resignation of former head coach Bradley Morrison. In one of his most successful years as a coach at the college, and indeed one of the most successful seasons in men’s soccer program history as an NCAA outfit, Shinohara guided the Tornados to a semi final in the SAC conference championship, where they were narrowly ousted by Lincoln Memorial University in a penalty shoot out loss. This run also included one of Brevard’s most

famous victories to date, in a contest that saw the men defeat the number one team in the nation, and eventual national champions Wingate, in a historic upset that finished with a scoreline of 1-0. Hamilton, who was appointed as the football head coach at the beginning of the 2007 season, joined the Tornados after spells as coach at East Tennessee University and Elon University. In their final season as a DII outfit, Hamilton was at the helm as the Tornados closed out the season with a record of 1-10 in all matches. Their sole victory came in non-conference play, where they defeated The Apprentice School Builders by a score of 38-7. Hamilton ends his BC career with a 24-76 record, leaving him with a 24% win record with the Tornados. “I am extremely grateful for all the hard work from both Shug (Shinohara) and Paul,” Athletic Director Juan Mascaro said. “From Paul we have had nine years, and from Shug eight. For that, we are all truly grateful for all their work for Brevard College.” The search for new coaches now begins, as the college enters its final semester before reclassifying to DIII.

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This week in BC Athletics

Mens Basketball vs Queens at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 7 in Boshamer Gym. Womens Basketball vs Queens at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 7 in Boshamer Gym. Cycling Conference Championships on Saturday, Dec. 10 in Hendersonville, NC.

Womens Basketball fall to undefeated LMU By Bryant Baucom

Staff Writer The Brevard College women’s basketball team (4-2, 1-2 SAC) fell to Lincoln Memorial 94-65 (9-0, 4-0 SAC) in a conference matchup despite 31 points from Madison Lenox. The Tornados committed 31 turnovers against the No. 20 team in the country and first-place South Atlantic Conference team. Lincoln Memorial would score 36 points off of Brevard turnovers. Madison Lenox added in a season-high 31 points for the Tornados while coming up one rebound shy of a double-double with nine. Lynsey Crisp, Kelsie Rhyne, and D’Naya Wilson would record seven points for the Tornados while AnnaLee Bolinger and Cienna Bryant added in six points each.

Offensively, the Railsplitters were led by Shea Coker, who scored 18 points on 8-of-16 shooting. Megan Pittman added in 16 points and grabbed the team-high in rebounds with nine. Lincoln Memorial jumped out to an early lead, as the Tornados trailed 22-10 at the end of the first quarter. Lenox would go on a run herself in the second quarter, scoring six consecutive points and closing the gap for the Tornados. The Railsplitters looked to head into the locker room with a 17-point lead following a basket from Shea Coker but Cienna Bryant had other plans. The freshman hit a buzzer-beater from the behind the arc to cut the Lincoln Memorial lead to 14.

In the third quarter, the Tornados would get within 11 points with an and-one and three pointer from Lenox. For the Tornados, turnovers stifled their comeback attempt as the Railsplitters would use six turnovers to net six points and outscored the Tornados 24-15 in the third quarter. The Lincoln Memorial lead would reach its peak in the fourth quarter as Emily Griffith hit back-to-back jumpers to extend the lead to 35. D’Naya Wilson sank two free throws at the end of the contest to give the game its final score. The Tornados will return to the hardwood on Wednesday, Dec. 7th against conference opponent, Queens at 6:00pm in Boshamer Gym.

Sports

Mens Basketball still Athlete of without conference the week win after LMU defeat Madison Lenox Page 10

By Bryant Baucom Staff Writer

The Brevard College men’s basketball team (1-8, 0-3 SAC) fell to the high-powered offense of the Lincoln Memorial Railsplitters (7-2, 3-1 SAC) by a final of 100-50 on Monday night in Harrogate, Tenn. Stevie Williams led the Tornados offense with 15 points while Shelby Parris added in 10 points, going 10-10 from the free throw line. Omar El Diraoui added in 11 points and grabbing five rebounds while recording four blocks on the night. Chris Perry led the Railsplitters by scoring 27 points while shooting 12-of-16 from the field and grabbing nine rebounds. The Tornados would have no answer for Luquon Choice as he added in 13 points while shooting 3-of-6 from three. Paul Woodson tallied one block and recorded a game-high 11 rebounds for Lincoln Memorial. Prior to the first media timeout, the game would go back and forth. Omar El Diraoui would get the Tornados on the board and score four points before the first media timeout as

Lincoln Memorial led 7-6. Stevie Williams and El Diraoui hit back-to-back jumpers to give Brevard a 6-5 lead before Chris Perry slammed one home. The Lincoln Memorial lead was extended to 10 following the timeout as Trevon Shaw hit from behind the arc and DeShawn Patterson used a foul to convert two free throws. Following the under-twelve timeout, the Railsplitter lead would be cut to nine with a bucket from Shelby Parris. Lincoln Memorial responded by going on an 11-0 run, hitting three shots from behind the arc and giving them a 30-10 lead. The Railsplitters went on another run late in the first half, scoring 13 unanswered points. Chris Perry used a layup at the end of the first half to give LMU a 48-17 lead heading into the half. Stevie Wiliams had a strong second half, scoring 11 of his 15 while Omar El Diraoui added in seven points with three assists and three blocks in the second half. The Tornados will return to action on Wednesday, Dec. 7th at Boshamer Gym to take on conference opponent Queens at 8:00pm.

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December 7, 2016

Madison Lenox, a senior guard from Raleigh, North Carolina, has been the leader for the Tornados on the young season. Lenox has led the Tornados in scoring in five of the six games this season, averaging 21.5 points per contest. She’s shooting 51 percent from inside the arc and averaging a double-double with 11 rebounds a game. Lenox is currently first in the South Atlantic Conference in scoring and fourth in rebounds. On December 3rd, Lenox surpassed Samantha Winn on the Tornados’ all time scoring list with 1,262 points and is the current leader of points per game in her career at 15.4. In the previous two games against Lenoir-Rhyne and Lincoln Memorial, Lenox has combined for 52 points along with 18 rebounds while shooting 63 percent from the field. Lenox has the led the Tornados to a 4-2 start, their best in five seasons. They return to action on Wednesday, Dec. 7th against Queens at 6pm in Boshamer Gym.

Climbing Team members compete at local competition

Photo Courtesy of BC Athletic Media Relations

Members of the new BC Climbing Team competed at a local competition at the Brevard Rock Gym, where Lauren Fowler, Sam Munson, Caroline Safford, Nathan Bopple, and Gabe Braganza all took places on the podium.

Photo Courtesy of BC Athletic Media Relations

Senior guard Madison Lenox in action against LMU.