ECU TO HOST WICHITA STATE THIS WEEKEND A6 to East Carolinian The YOUR CAMPUS NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1925 VOLUME 96, ISSUE 25 Wednesday, 04.06.22 RCAW honors ECU research, achievement Varun Joseph TEC STAFF BREANNA SAPP I THE EAST CAROLINIAN ECU students stop by various tabels at the Build Your Own Thrival Kit event on the Main Campus Student Center Lawn yesterday. Happiness Week continues Campus mental health resources promoted Breanna Sapp TEC STAF F As part of an ongoing effort to support student mental health, Happiness Week launched Saturday at East Carolina University and will continue through Friday with various events, resource tablings and a mental health symposium. The weeklong celebration began on Saturday with the Out of Darkness Campus Walk, an event that raised proceeds for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Mindful Monday followed in the campus Well-Being Hubs alongside Build Your Own Thrival Kit yesterday on the Main Campus Student Center (MCSC) Lawn. Campus Recreation and Wellness (CRW) will feature Trauma-Informed Yoga today and the weekly event, Therapeutic Thursday, will take place in the campus Well-Being Hubs. Friday will bring Happiness Week’s closing event, the Virtual Mental Health and Well-Being Symposium intended for students, faculty and staff from 9 to 12:30 p.m. Both Well-Being Hubs on ECU’s Health Sciences Campus and Main Campus will be participating in this week’s events. Led by ECU’s Well-Being Collective, Associate Dean of Students Lauren Thorn said Happiness Week is intended to connect students, faculty and staff with resources on campus for mental health and wellness. It’s important to have positive conversations about mental health, Thorn said, as well as to destigmatize mental health resources and outreach. “We (ECU) really wanted to be proactive and share additional information that hopefully can help kind of provide alternative options for students who are looking for some support, or getting them connected with other services on campus, or programs,” Thorn said. “And to really Lauren Thorn normalize that even though this is a stressful time, there are a lot of things you can do to help kind of promote your own well-being and cope.” The university chose for Happiness Week to take place the first week of April because of the pressure of classwork that comes with the end of the year, Thorn said. In addition to this, she said the Center for Counseling and Student Development (CCSD) sees an increase in student services throughout the last month of classes. Many students aren’t aware of the number of resources on campus, Thorn said, so she hopes the week will bring more awareness to what’s available to Pirates. Thorn said Happiness Week will also bring the launch of the university’s recent mental health campaign, #YouMatterECU. The campaign is an ongoing effort made by the university to normalize student experiences with mental health, Thorn said, as well as to promote different university services and tools. She said more information will be available in the coming months. “There are going to be barriers, but you can also equip yourself with the skills, and the tools, and the techniques to be > In an effort to encourage university research, undergraduate and graduate students continue to showcase research in their respective fields at East Carolina University’s Research and Creative Achievement Week (RCAW) through Friday. Director of Undergraduate Research Mary Farwell said the purpose of this event, which began on Monday, is to showcase the research that both undergraduate and graduate students have worked on throughout the 2021-2022 academic school year. Farwell said the reason they chose to provide an online option is because of how accessible it is for students. A basic requirement to view the presentations is an email address, she said, so virtually anyone could take a look if they would like. Judges will include ECU faculty and graduate students, she said, and participants will have the chance to win several prizes. “The judging is very professional. It’s using a rubric. There’s at least two judges so we try to do it as objectively as possible and we also will give out prizes to the top one that is judged to be the best in each category,” Farwell said. Oral presentations were given in person this year and graduate students had the opportunity to Mary Farwell present on Monday, while undergraduate students will present today. The Innovation and Entrepreneurship showcase event will be held online on Friday from 1 to 3 p.m. ECU associate professor for the Department of Human Development and Family Science Kate Harcourt-Medina said oral presentations will be given in person for the first time in two years. She said each group has an individual team member present and then answer any questions that individuals who are watching may have. Harcourt-Medina said feedback is provided on both the student’s oral presentation and poster presentation. There are 71 undergraduates presenting in addition to 81 graduate students, Harcourt-Medina said, and she HAPPINESS page A2 > RCAW page A2 Design Associates Guild to hold art exhibition Ashley Wolfe praise for their work. She said she wanted to be able to do this event to give this experience East Carolina University’s Design Asso- to the public and the design participants. ciates (DA) Guild will host an art exhibition “This is a really good resume builder for with the theme “Looking Ahead” from today people in the arts,” Baines said. “It’s a good to April 15 on the second floor gallery in the thing to say you participated in more than Main Campus Student Center to showcase one exhibition in graphic design.” what each designer in the DA Guild plans Baines said she believes this event is a to do when they graduate. good way to strengthen and build a comThere will be a reception hosted by the munity amongst student artists in the field DA halfway through the exhibition on Friday of graphic design. from 5 to 8 p.m. for the participants of the The event does not cost money to attend, exhibition to get together. Baines said, and it is open to the public. She The ECU School of Art and Design said all the participants of the exhibition (SoAD) has guilds for each art concentration. are encouraged to bring friends and family A Guild is a student organization at ECU, members if possible. and there are multiple student Guilds in the Emily Hall, first-year Master of Fine Arts SoAD. The DA Guild is made up of students candidate in graphic design, is a member of from the graphic design concentration. the DA and a participant in the exhibition. Junior graphic design major Randi She explained that the art she made for Baines is the President of the DA. Baines the exhibit includes some motion graphic recalled that two years ago, when the pan- pieces, so for the physical exhibition, she will demic hit, the DA exhibition was moved have posters of still shots from the motion online. Baines explained that when the graphics and include QR codes to link to the exhibition was moved online, the artists who original digital moving pieces. submitted their work converted Hall feels grateful to the DA everything into a digital file that Guild’s President Randi Baines could be viewed on a website that FULL STORY and Vice President Olivia Magistro was created for the exhibition. because they have been working Baines said she wanted the exhibition to hard this year to put together ways for the be physical and in person this year like it was guild members to be creatively involved. before the pandemic. With an online format, She believes this exhibit will allow her and the exhibition participants cannot mingle the other guild members to be creatively with the attendees and receive in-person involved as designers in ways that exceed FO R THE E A S T C A R O L I N I A N ONLINE | ONLINE » NEWS: ECU Connect encourages » ARTS: NC New Music Initiative Pirate community to network brings in new guest artists OLIVIA MAGISTRO | THE EAST CAROLINIAN Savannah Harris and Leah Smith, members of the Design Associates Guild, prepare for exhibition. the experiences they get in the classroom. “This show is a refreshing excuse to be self-indulgent in my art-making, and really explore something personal,” Hall said. “I’ve been exploring meditation through art, the process of meditating during art-making and graphic representations of meditation.” Hall said the event is a poster show themed on “Looking Ahead.” She feels glad they have been organizing events for students like the upcoming exhibition, Hall said. She said she enjoyed her time as a member of the DA at ECU. “I’m participating because I love making art, and our theme is more self-directed than some of our class assignments.” Hall said. Junior graphic design major Jacob Gantt is one of two secretaries of the DA. Gantt said at the event people can walk around and admire the work that the participants have on display. He said they can also talk with the designers, and mingle amongst the other people who attend. Gantt said artwork of his own will be shown at the exhibit. He said he put months of effort into his piece for the exhibition which is a four-piece swiss design for popular Grunge Rock albums. The four albums incorporated into his piece are “Core” by Stone Temple Pilots, “Facelift” by Alice in Chains, “Nevermind” by Nirvana and “Ten” by Pearl Jam. “I am really looking forward to seeing everyone’s work but also to see mine,” Gantt said. “This will be my first exhibition as a graphic designer and seeing it hung up in the student center will fulfill a part of me.” This writer can be contacted at arts@theeastcarolinian.com. SOCIAL MEDIA @theeastcarolinian Facebook.com/ theeastcarolinian @TEC_Newspaper NEWS A2 BRIEFS Festival to celebrate Pirate culture, diversity Today, the East Carolina University Ledonia Wright Cultural Center, the Student Activities Board and the Office of Global Affairs will host the 15th annual Culture Fest from 5 to 7 p.m. on the Main Campus Student Center (MCSC) Lawn. Students are invited to attend and learn more about the cultures that Pirates bring to ECU. The festival will feature free food and giveaways. If inclement weather occurs, the festival will take place in Ballroom C of the MCSC. Career workshop to guide ECU through digital world To m o r r o w, E a s t C a r o l i n a University’s Career Services will hold a virtual workshop on navigating the digital professional world from 3 to 4 p.m. on Cisco WebEx. The workshop will teach students how to navigate and network professionally on social media, LinkedIn, Handshake and more. Those interested in attending the workshop should register online via Handshake. WGO to discuss gender, current events Friday, East Carolina University’s Women and Gender Office (WGO) will continue its Feminist Friday Discussion Series from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. in Suite 108 of the WGO in the Main Campus Student Center. All gender expressions and identities are invited to the event where attendees will discuss gender and relevant current events. More information is available on the WGO's Instagram. SAB to announce Barefoot on the Mall artist M o n d a y, E a s t C a r o l i n a University’s Student Activities Board (SAB) will announce the 2022 Barefoot on the Mall live concert performance from 4 to 5 p.m. at its Barefoot 2022 Release Party on the Main Campus Student Center Lawn. The release party will feature music, games and swag until announcing the well-known artist to perform at Barefoot on the Mall. CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS If you feel there are any factual errors in this newspaper, please contact Jennifer Sieg at editor@theeastcarolinian.com. CRIME LOGS Editor’s Note: The East Carolinian Crime Logs are derived from East Carolina University Police Department’s (ECU PD) public crime logs accessible to all individuals. Crime Logs are not done within the partnership of ECU PD and The East Carolinian, as this publication is meant to act as an additional resource for Pirate Nation. Below are listings of criminal activity that has occured on or within proximity of main campus. March 31, 2022 Communicating Threats were Cleared/Victim Refused to Cooperate at Legacy Hall at 8:54 a.m. A charge of Simple Assault was Cleared/Victim Refused to Cooperate at Jones Hall at 2:22 p.m. April 2, 2022 A Possession of Marijuana <½ oz. was Cleared by Citation at First Street Place Apartments PVA at 9:02 p.m. April 3, 2022 An Open Investigation is being conducted for Larceny after Breaking and Entering at Ballard East at 2:12 p.m. Wednesday, 04.06.22 National Autism Awareness Month ECU, local organizations highlight resources Mary Lofland T E C S TA F F East Carolina University students and various local organizations will highlight National Autism Awareness Month with upcoming events to encourage awareness and provide resources for those directly affected by autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Co-founder of Aces for Autism Kyle Robinson said he created the non-profit organization in honor of his son Samuel, who was diagnosed with autism at 18 months old. As a result of a lack of funding and resources for autistic people, Robinson said he wanted to help families in Greenville, North Carolina, who have been impacted by autism. At the time of his son’s diagnosis, Robinson said there was only one center in Greenville that would test for autism, but it had a three year waitlist. He said early intervention is essential to the vitality of any individual with a mental disability. “A u t i s m really impacts not only the individual, but the family and Kyle Robinson their entire network of people and we really try to not only provide services but advocate and bring awareness to the community,” Robinson said. In August 2014, Aces for Autism was officially established and raised $42,000 at a tennis tournament and dinner fundraiser hosted in Harvey Hall at ECU. By 2015, Robinson said he had generated enough money to provide services to autistic individuals. Most recently, in August 2021, Robinson said Aces for Autism opened a child developmental center with half-day programs to prepare individuals for an in-classroom setting. He said within the next few months, the organization will begin phase one of constructing a 30,000 square-foot clinic on the Ron and Rose Bowen Autism Campus, which started construction in 2018. “One of our sayings at Aces for Autism is every moment counts,” Robinson said. “Every moment is a HAPPINESS continued from A1 able to cope with those challenges and not let them completely derail you,” Thorn said. “So, we really hope that it (#YouMatterECU) will be kind of a new way of looking at mental health services and resources on campus, and that students will be able to connect with that message.” Gwen Krause, coordinator of Well-Being for CRW, said the idea of Happiness Week was pitched last semester as part of an ongoing university response to student Gwen Krause mental health. Overall, Krause said many institutions of higher education have put a focus on student mental health following concerns brought forth by the pandemic and strenuous workloads. As part of Happiness Week, Krause said the #YouMatterECU campaign is intended to address these university concerns by promoting resources available for students including ECU’s Well-Being Hubs, the Pirate Academic Success Center, the CCSD and CRW. Happiness Week offers an opportunity to remove the stigma around conversations about mental health on college campuses, Krause said, especially by creating a safe space where students feel supported. By focusing efforts on validating student wellness and experiences, Krause said she hopes Happiness Week will change the perception college students have on mental health learning opportunity for individuals with autism and we try to make that happen at Aces, so we’re excited about the campus coming.” The new clinic will have therapy rooms specializing in speech, gross motor skills and natural environment teaching. In addition, the clinic will provide learning labs for attendees including a partnership with Food Lion to provide a mini Food Lion where autistic individuals can learn to push a cart through the aisles, select food they want to eat, and checkout. The new clinic will also have a barbershop where autistic individuals are shown haircutting tools and sounds to be expected from the instruments used. He said the outdoor area will have a playground with a splash pad in addition to sensory play activities. “Those individuals can learn to get comfortable in those settings and the goal is for them to get comfortable in those learning labs so they can go out in the community and feel comfortable and have a good experience,” Robinson said. Autism Society of North Carolina Services Coordinator Mackinsay Glover said ASD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects an individual's social and behavioral communication. He said ASD is on a spectrum to depict the degree of severity that varies throughout individuals. Oftentimes it is noticeable that a child is autistic when they lack eye contact or acknowledgment for the activity around them, Glover “I think too often, there isn’t a conversation about it (mental health) or students might not think there’s a place to have that conversation, and so trying to destigmatize it by making it a real thing I think is super awesome and just super important,” Krause said. “Especially because, you know, the topic of well-being on college campuses has grown over the last couple years.” Bailey Jenkins, freshman political science and sociology double major, said she feels as though a lot of college students struggle with mental health issues, most specifically freshmen away from home and those struggling with end-of-year burnout. The pandemic has increased these struggles with mental health, Jenkins said, and she believes it’s important to have university resources available to Pirates during such a difficult phase of their college experience. Many people are afraid to have conversations about mental health and wellness, Jenkins said, but it’s important to destigmatize any negative connotation surrounding the topics. She said campus resources such as those offered at the Build Your Own Thrival Kit event help to promote conversation about the topic of mental health. “I think having a more open conversation about it (mental health), like this, and having things on campus that are like, not shying away from talking about it can be really helpful and open up the conversation on that a lot,” Jenkins said. This writer can be contacted at news@theeastcarolinian.com. ILLUSTRATED BY ABIGAIL LUND The gold infinity loop represents the movement for autism acceptance. said. She said another sign a child may be autistic is if there is a delay in developmental milestones such as walking or talking. TV shows like “The Good Doctor” and “Atypical” display a positive outlook of autistic people, Glover said, but the characters in those shows aren’t always representative of every autistic individual. She said once people are educated on autism, they become more appreciative of what individuals with disabilities have to offer. “There still is the stereotypical misconception of what autism looks like and how autism affects individuals differently, so I feel like it’s important for us to highlight this month to really raise awareness of what autism is,” Glover said. On April 30, Glover said the Autism Society for North Carolina will host the 14th annual Eastern Run/Walk for Autism at Greenville’s Town Common at 9 a.m. The event will have a one mile awareness walk, food trucks and a DJ. Freshman special education major Taylor Beane said she first experienced working with an autistic child when she worked at a summer camp. She said she saw the highs and lows of the ASD spectrum, especially with overstimulation, that can occur around other non-disabled children. Beane said a autistic teenager that went to her high school was the main reason she chose to pursue special education in college. She said she watched him “fall through the cracks” of the public education system, which negatively affected him and his grades. “It hurt a lot because he was really smart and he was a bright kid, he just needed someone to take that time and sit down and explain to him several times and just pay him close attention,” Beane said. Within her major, Beane said she has learned about individualized education programs, which give individuals with disabilities, such as autism, an equal opportunity in the classroom. She said she has learned techniques to handle the high-stress behaviors that often develop when a child is autistic, such as tantrums or physical violence. Patience is the number one characteristic someone needs within the field of special education, Beane said. She said she believes ECU could do more to spread awareness for autism and provide representation for students with disabilities. “I think that people with disabilities and speTaylor Beane cifically autism, I think people forget they exist and I think that they get swept under the rug a lot by either the education system or by the government,” Beane said. RCAW social science,” Kain said. Chuks Ubah, a public health graduate student, said his research is on infections that could arise from being in a hospital environment. He said the common antibiotics that are used to treat diseases are not as effective as they once were and his research shows better alternatives through various testing methods performed with his group. Ubah said he is passionate about public health, microbiology and health care and said his research combines all his interests into one big project. When it comes to public health, he said he wants his research to show the impact it could have in the public health world and the best alternative to current antibiotics. “Getting a breakthrough or finding something that is safer, cost-effective and get the job done as well as do what is intended. With safety in mind, we have to make sure this alternative is safe, that will be a very big breakthrough and this nanotechnology is showing the significance, is showing the direction that needs to be looked into to harness the potential,” Ubah said. Poster presentations will be showcased virtually on April 11 and April 13. Interested attendees can click the link of any session on ECU's Division of Research, Economic Development and Engagement website, as well as ECU's Graduate School website. Oral presentations can be viewed in the Main Campus Student Center or the Black Box Theater. More information regarding abstracts can be found online as well. continued from A1 is thrilled to see what the outcome will be. “Each student has 15 minutes and so they present for 12 minutes, followed by three minutes of Q&A. Anyone in the audience may ask questions about their presentation. They have that time for that question-and-answer portion,” Harcourt-Medina said. Donna Kain, ECU director of the Undergraduate English Department, said it is imperative to showcase student research at the undergraduate and graduate level. Kain said she admires the work students put into their research and added that presenting research could have a significant impact in and around the ECU community. “We want to encourage people to attend. People will be able to attend the live poster sessions and they can also go on and just see posters if they would like to so really, we want to encourage people to join in,” Kain said. All of the information about presentations can be found on the RCAW website, Kain said. She said anyone is free to view the presentations and added that it will be a great experience for the ECU community to see other students present. “We really get a sense of Donna Klain the great things that people are doing at ECU. A number of presentations, whether it is posters or live, will be about work that students have done in the community and in the region, whether it’s about science or education or This writer can be contacted at news@theeastcarolinian.com. This writer can be contacted at news@theeastcarolinian.com. Opinion A3 theeastcarolinian.com ` Wednesday, 04.06.22 OUR VIEW Red light program needs improvement Following the ruling made by the North Carolina Court of Appeals on the City of Greenville’s red light camera program, the program’s distribution of funds to Pitt County Schools (PCS) is insufficient and should be reassessed by the city before continued operation. According to the judicial opinion made by NC Court of Appeals Judge Jefferson Griffin, the City of Greenville’s use of funding was determined to be unconstitutional. The NC State Constitution states that a city with a red light program must turn in a minimum of 90% of its fines and fees collected to its school board. Griffin wrote that the program gave only 71.66% of the total amount of expenses and fees collected to PCS, with the rest made to the city in expenses. We, the editorial staff of The East Carolinian, agree with the ruling made by the NC Court of Appeals and believe the City of Greenville should reassess its distribution of funds made to PCS before continuing further operation of the city’s red light camera program. If citizens are required to pay $100 in fines and fees for a violation, then as determined by NC, 90% of those fines and fees should be used by the school board as needed to best provide for K-12 schools’ needs. Although the program itself is not unconstitutional, the City of Greenville has an obligation to PCS that should be taken seriously by the city and state. Until further assessment of funding, the program should temporarily be discontinued and PCS should receive appropriate funding into the future. PIRATE RANTS The East Carolinian does not endorse the statements made in Pirate Rants. To the guys who called my friends the F word by the ECU letters, I hope you all rot I feel like if they can pay for a new basketball coach they can afford to get better toilet paper in the art building Why does the art building look like a prison while every other part of campus looks better? Greenville driver’s please learn how to use a parking deck properly! Saw a lot of non-biodegradable confetti being blasted this weekend for grad pics, not acceptable for the fat little ECU squirrels diet Dear coughers and sneezers of the spring, While yes it’s probs just allergies, please cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze and cough, Sincerely someone grossed out Gen Z breaks down barriers Young people are social reformers, will change the future It’s as if hundreds of years of inequality, economic hardships and war were just ignored and we failed to follow one general rule: Do not let history repeat itself. Mary Lofland Oftentimes, it T E C S TAFF has been said that Generation Z will change the world. People born between 1997 and 2012 have grown up to witness a revolution of firsts including the introduction of the iPhone, an African American president and the legalization of same sex marriage. Generation Z has lit the torch to reinvent the idea behind the lesson of history. The advancement of technology along with social media has made young individuals more self-aware and use platforms like TikTok and Twitter to speak out against past traditional ways of thinking. An individual that comes to mind for her impact on social media is Greta Thunberg, a 19-year-old environmental activist. Thunberg made waves in the media for her protest at the age of 15 against the Swedish Parliament for “Skolstrejk för klimatet,” which translates to a “School strike for climate.” “ Generation Z has helped bridge the gap of destruction the previous generations left „ for them to grow up in. -Mary Lofland Climate change is an important topic that will never get dismissed because it affects everyone. Thunberg knew how to optimize social media platforms, especially Twitter, to spread awareness and get a global conversation started on climate change mitigation. Thunberg is a face for the change our generation has initiated. After repeated evidence of accomplishments made by young individuals, the theory has been proven that wisdom is knowledge through experience, not age. One of the privileges we are allowed in America is the freedom of speech and protest, an amendment Generation Z is proud to uphold. Throughout the zoomer’s social media presence, they have made contributions that had an influence on so many people’s lives like Thunberg or the #FreeBritneyMovement, which led thousands to use social media platforms to protest and help end the 13 year conservatorship Britney Spears’ father held over her. Though many say technology contributes to the negative effects on today’s youth, Generation Z has exposed centuries of pain and suffering through online expression. These individuals were born in a time of great tragedy and have most likely observed events like George Floyd or the Sandy Hook shooting, and there is no objection to why these young leaders are so adamantly progressive. Generation Z has helped bridge the gap of destruction the previous generations left for them to grow up in. These young individuals are social reformers who continue to take action against ideologies that limit us as a society. Lofland is a junior communication major and a TEC columnist. To contact her, email opinion@theeastcarolinian.com. Start a podcast to leave your mark For more than a century of human history, the advent and commercialization of the radio has been one of the most important cornerstones of Chris Long T E C C OLU MN IST communication and entertainment in society. Some would claim that the internet has killed the radio, however, the reality is that the internet simply reinvented it. Technology molds and conforms as it evolves, and the radio is an example of such evolution. Podcasting is the future of radio. As of March 2022, Spotify suggests that there are 3.6 million podcasts on the platform. While most do not make it past the third episode, it is easier now than it has ever been to produce. With the cost of production sitting at one recording device and one publishing platform, the barrier to entry is incredibly low. For example, my podcast, the “Small World” podcast, was started as my co-hosts and I decided that listeners could benefit from hearing the conversation that we were having anyway. One $200 investment later of four microphones and an input and we were recording conversations in no time. Not only is it affordable to begin, but there is also a podcast for every one of every topic on demand. Outside of some of the world’s largest podcasts such as “The Joe Rogan Experience,” most podcasts are available on multiple platforms. The “Small World” podcast is available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Soundcloud, and Anchor. This variety of options allows for an audience to listen however they prefer whenever they desire, putting the control of consumption in the consumer’s hands. You will find an audience as you establish a brand. When the “Small World” podcast was launched, our goal was to interview everyday people because everyone’s story is important. Our slogan, “Where you are the topic of discussion” Jennifer Sieg Editor-in-Chief was instrumental to the brand. Even still, our passion is in creating good conversation that is useful for learning, understanding, and creating laughs. What do you, the reader, represent of yourself as your brand? Just as the mission of the “Small World” podcast states, your story is important. Give the world a piece of your passion. With a small investment, generations of people will be able to enjoy your words, advice, expertise, experience, and who you are as a person for years to come. Share what you are passionate about. Conversation, either with another person or yourself, is therapeutic. We need social interaction. You were given a voice for a purpose; use it. Speak for what you believe in. Inevitably, we will all cease to exist. One day our voices will be heard for the last time. How will you be remembered? Let your words outlive you. Start a podcast. Long is a junior English major and a TEC columnist. To contact him, email opinion@theeastcarolinian.com. Markayla McInnis Arts Editor Hannah Bolick Managing Editor How hard is it to drive the right way in the parking deck?!? Giana Williams Copy & Opinion Editor Emily Peek News Editor Abigail Lund Production Manager Whoever decided to move the Starbucks truck to west end, THANK YOU! Breanna Sapp News Chief Audrey Milks Assistant Production Manager Brendan Cavazos Sports Editor Questions regarding Pirate Rants can be directed to Giana Williams at opinion@theeastcarolinian.com. Submit your Pirate Rants on our website under the opinion tab or scan the QR code. Serving ECU since 1925, The East Carolinian is an independent, student-run publication distributed every Wednesday during the academic year and during the summer. The opinions expressed herein are those of the student writers, columnists and editors and do not necessarily reflect those of the faculty, staff or administration at East Carolina University or the Student Media Board. Columns and reviews are the opinions of the writers; “Our View” is the opinion of The East Carolinian Board of Opinions. As a designated public forum for East Carolina University, The East Carolinian welcomes letters to the editor limited to 300 words. Letters may be rejected or edited for libelous content, decency and brevity. All letters must be signed and include a telephone number. One copy of The East Carolinian is free. Each additional copy is $1. Unauthorized removal of additional copies from a distribution site constitutes theft under North Carolina law. Violators will be prosecuted. Halie Miller Visual Arts Editor Olivia Magistro Creative Director Contact Info The East Carolinian Mendenhall Main Floor, Greenville, NC, 27858-4353 Email: editor@theeastcarolinian.com Newsroom: (252) 328-9238 Ads: (252) 328-9245 Fax: (252) 328-9143 Classifieds & Puzzles A4 Wednesday, 04.06.22 theeastcarolinian.com CLASSIFIEDS FOR RENT CROSSWORD Decorated, Great Price, Large Deck in Back Yard for Grilling, Some Pets O.K., Great Parking Available July 1 and August 1, 2022 $700.00 month Call fast 1-252-756-3009 or text 252-341-9789 Aries (March 2 1 - Apr i l 1 9 ) — To d ay i s a 9 — C om mu n i c at i on s channels are wide open. Stay connected. Share support with someone experiencing bad luck, broken dreams or hearts. Listening is more powerful than speaking. L e o ( Ju ly 2 3 - Au g . 2 2 ) — To d a y is an 8 — Have fun with friends. Share resources to help others facing difficulty or hardship. Strengthen bonds and relationships. Social connections lead to interesting opportunities. 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Good food is good medicine. Recharge, recuperate and rebuild your strength and endurance. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is a 9 — Expand territory and widen your exploration. Prioritize practical logistics to steadily advance. Doubts interfere with progress. Avoid impulsive moves. Plot your course carefully. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is a 9 — Get creative to solve a puzzle. Connect with your favorite people. Have fun with family and friends. Focus on beauty, goodness and love. Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is a 7 — Find a quiet spot to read and think. Revise plans to reinforce basic structures. Schedule carefully to keep deadlines and promises. Rest privately. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — To day is an 8 — Collaborate to strengthen shared finances. You can find the funding to make desired changes. Apply creativity, ingenuity and resourcefulness. Share clever ideas and choose. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is a 7 — Organize your spaces at home. House cleaning and domestic i mprove me nt s prov i d e satisfying results. Increase the beauty and comforts of your surroundings. Cook up something delicious. ECU Student Duplexes at Wyndham Circle 2 and 3 Bedroom, 2 Full Bath, Cathedral Ceilings, Newly ECU House for Rent! 3 Bedroom 1 ½ Bath, 1909 East 4th St. $1500.00 month! Call 252-756-3009. FOR RELEASE OCTOBER 13, 2019 THE TV CROSSWORD by Jacqueline E. Mathews HOROSCOPES ©2021 NANCY BLACK. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY. Created by Jacqueline E. Mathews ACROSS 1 “__ in Toyland” 6 “__ About You” 9 City in Florida 10 Refrigerator brand 12 __ B. DeMille 13 Role on “The Beverly Hillbillies” 14 Bit of soot 15 Will of “The Waltons” 16 Stephanie Zimbalist’s dad 19 Actor Chandler 23 “Schindler’s __” 24 “You’ve Got __”; Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan film 25 “The Colbert __” 28 Minnie Mouse’s love 30 Sharif or Epps 31 Columbo’s portrayer 32 Like Lady Godiva 33 Talk show hostess Lake 34 “__ Peaks”; mystery horror series 36 M’s followers 39 Van Buren or Sheen 42 “The __ Reed Show” Solution to Last Week’s Puzzle Solution from 3/30 COMICS BREWSTER ROCKIT ©2019 Tribune Content Agency, LLC All Rights Reserved. 10/13/19 10/13/19 44 Main character in “The Little Mermaid” 45 “As I was going to St. Ives, __ man…” 46 Mind-altering drug, for short 47 Bill de Blasio’s title DOWN 1 __ Raton, FL 2 King toppers 3 “The __”; Chris Harrison series 4 Actor Wallach 5 Mr. Mineo 6 “__ with a Plan” 7 Jillian or Curry 8 “One __ at a Time” 10 “The Kids __ Alright” 11 Actor on “Superstore” 13 Ruby or topaz 15 “How to __ Away with Murder” 17 Evergreen tree 18 Q-U connection 20 Long-haired ox 21 “__ to Me”; Tim Roth series 22 Tarzan portrayer Ron __ 25 Reagan or Howard 26 Large Australian bird 27 Cushion 28 “The Bernie __ Show” 29 Type; variety 31 Ice-T’s role 33 “The Adventures of __ Tin Tin” 35 Actor Wheaton 37 “__ __ bigger and better things!” 38 Early host of “The Tonight Show” 39 GPS screen diagram 40 “Joan of __”; Ingrid Bergman film 41 “__ Van Winkle” 42 Poorly lit 43 Tumor suffix SUDOKU BLISS Level 1 3 2 4 Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, please visit sudoku.org.uk Solution to Solution from 3/30 Thursday’s puzzle 6/14/19 © 2019 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved. Rebel April 25th Now accepting submissions through Arts & Literature Magazine For more information, email rebel@ecu.edu Arts & Entertainment theeastcarolinian.com EVENTS TODAY A5 Wednesday, 04.06.22 Art contest winners revealed Noelle Edwards T E C S TA F F Open Mic Night Pitt Street Brewing Company 630 S. Pitt St. 8 to 10 p.m. (252) 227-4151 Collegiate Recovery Community/Food Personal Item Drive Health Sciences Student Center, Back Porch 1868 Health Science Drive 9 a.m. to noon (252) 737-1018 TOMORROW Therapeutic Thursdays Kinetic Sand MCSC Well-Being Hub 128 E. 7th St. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (252) 328-5770 Zip Thursdays North Recreational Complex 3764 US-264 4 to 7 p.m. (252) 328-1577 Networking and Your Job Search In the Digital World Virtual 3 to 4 p.m. (252) 737-1010 FRIDAY ECU MFA & BFA Printmaking Exhibit Greenville Museum of Art 802 S. Evans St. 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (252) 758-1946 Colton Borum, a senior animation and interactive design major, and Emily Hall, a first year graduate student in graphic design, are the winners of the Wings Over ECU art contest in which contestants designed wings to go up in the Main Campus Student Center (MCSC) and the Health Science Student Center (HSSC). The murals will become permanent fixtures in the student centers and will be rendered onto a vinyl material to be affixed to the wall. Winners also received a $500 reward. According to the Wings Over ECU website, the East Carolina University wings are intended to celebrate of ECU as an institution and a community and to serve as photo opportunities for both visitors and users of the student centers. The mural that will be put up in MCSC is a collage of different types of hobbies and images that depict different majors offered at ECU. The mural for the HSSC is a less intricate design and shows off ECU’s colors of purple and gold in a gradient pattern. Boths murals are on track to be completed and available to the public before the end of the spring semester. Borum, the student whose design was picked for the MCSC, said he entered the contest because it stuck out to him as a way to leave his legacy on ECU since he will graduate in May. “I wanted to show not only the diversity of all our (ECU’s) programs but the diversity of the students as well and who the pirates are, not just college students but their background and why they are here (at ECU),” Borum said. He said his thought process was to draw one item and then try to connect it to another. Borum said he has always been one to draw in class. He said his mom was his kindergarten art teacher and ever since then he has had a passion for art. Borum said he was very surprised when he received the email that told him his design was chosen for the MCSC. He said his family and friends were all excited to hear the news. “I definitely think ECU should be doing a lot more of these student interactive projects,’’ Borum said. “I think ECU should push their students to do more of campus art, whether it is just for artists, business majors or nursing majors.” Hall, whose design will be in the HSSC, said she is always intrigued by opportunities through which she can have her work shown on campus. She said she originally had entered to be the MCSC mural but was chosen for the HSSC. Hall said the idea behind her wings was to include ECU’s school colors of purple CONTRIBUTED BY EMILY HALL Digital illustration by graduate student Emily Hall displays future plans for the Health Science Student Center mural. CONTRIBUTED BY COLTON BORUM Senior design major Colton Borum’s design will be featured at ECU’s Main Campus Student Center. and gold. She said she also wanted the mural to be inclusive so that when people of different shapes and sizes stood in front of the wings, it worked with a lot of different body types. “Our culture and society spend so much energy focusing on how folks should look and doesn’t teach us to embrace what we do look like and who we are,” Hall said. Hall said she was excited but a little surprised to hear she had won the contest. She said she suffers from imposter syndrome so to be chosen as a winner is very meaningful to her. She said she hopes as she continues to grow as an artist that she will become more confident in her work as well. Director of the Dr. Jesse R. Peel LGBTQ Center and Senior Associate Director in Intercultural Affairs Mark Rasdorf said there were a lot of competitive submissions. The majority of submissions were for the MCSC. The review community was made up of seven staff and faculty members from Student Affairs and the School of Art and Design. “I think the committee was a good mix of folks to get different perspectives,” Rasdorf said. “For me, I was looking for work that I thought spoke to the main campus and work that I thought spoke to health sciences.” Director of Student Centers Dean Smith said he has been responsible for projects like this before as he was in charge of the 9/11 memorial located in front of the MCSC, which was created by an ECU student as well. Smith said in regard to the art contest, he was responsible for the approval of the idea and acted as an overseer for the event. “When I saw this project, I thought that’s just a cool thing for people to come and take photos,’’ Smith said. “It was something I thought would add to the diversity of the building and be something that students would enjoy.” This writer can be contacted at arts@theeastcarolinian.com. DOGGIE JAMS RETURNS TO FILL FIVE POINTS PLAZA Characterized by sunshine, Sup Crushes and the screams of excited fans, Doggie Jams returned after two long years on April 1 with the highly anticipated headliner Shaquille O’Neal, also known as DJ Diesel, and opener Bryen O’Boyle, otherwise known as Just the Tip. The event was hosted by influencer, Brianna Lapaglia, also known as Briannachickenfry. NIA CRUZ I THE EAST CAROLINIAN NIA CRUZ I THE EAST CAROLINIAN NIA CRUZ I THE EAST CAROLINIAN The community shows up for the sold out show on April 1 at Five Points Plaza. DJ Diesel arrives at the venue to headline the event. Just the Tip performs with his guitarist on stage for the audience. OLIVIA MAGISTRO I THE EAST CAROLINIAN Attendees cheer while the music festival returns after postponement. NIA CRUZ I THE EAST CAROLINIAN NIA CRUZ I THE EAST CAROLINIAN Brianna Lapaglia hosted Doggie Jams. A group of fans anticipate the start of the concert with one wearing a dog mask. ONLINE | FULL STORY AND MULTIMEDIA COVERAGE Sports A6 theeastcarolinian.com Wednesday, 04.06.22 TEC spertZ ' The East Carolinian Sports experts predict this week’s events Max Lukas News and Sports Reporter with WZMB Baseball vs ODU today Score Prediction? 8-3 ECU Why? ODU has played very well up to this point in the season but with recent events, the team is worn down and beat up. ECU has to capitalize and build up the momentum as they head into a weekend series vs Wichita State. Anthony Bove Host of Inside the Lines with WZMB Baseball vs ODU today Score Prediction? 5-3 ECU Why? This ODU team is worn out and beat up after making a long road trip back home to Virginia from Florida. ECU needs to come ready to play and hit all the marks in order to get the win going into the weekend. Brendan Cavazos Sports Editor @bcvaz_xi Baseball vs ODU today Score Prediction? 7-3 ECU Why? ECU is coming off two wins in a series on the road. At home against ODU, the Pirates will find their comfort zone early and control the pace of the game. COURTESY OF ROB GOLDBERG | ECUPIRATES Former head basketball coach Joe Dooley talks with the referee courtside at the game on Feb. 12 against Southern Methodist University. » ANALYSIS Defense doomed Dooley Former head coach failed in close games Chris Long T E C STAFF Former men’s basketball head coach Joe Dooley’s coaching struggles on the defensive end and inability to close out games led to the demise of his second four-year stretch with the East Carolina “ The difference between good franchises and great franchises is the ability to close „ out in close games. -Chris Long University Pirates. As the clock wound down, ECU missed three 3-pointers but converted two. HowThe Pirates began their season in an unprecedented manner, defending home ever, it was not enough as Oklahoma came court through the first 10 games. However, out on top in the 79-74 loss. all was not as it seemed. Wins against South The difference between good franchises Carolina State University on Nov. 9, Canisand great franchises is the ability to close ius University on Nov. 12 and out in close games. In the rest of Western Carolina University the out-of-conference schedule, the on Nov. 14 cushioned ECU to Pirates presented a 6-2 record but FULL STORY an early 3-0 start to the season. poised a total point differential of 19 None of the three teams ended the regular between all eight games. Of the eight teams, season with a winning record. over half ended the season with losing Beginning with the first game of the records, which highlights the tight margins season against SC State, one thing was clear; of wins. As for the two losses, both teams closing out was a problem for the Pirates. that ECU faced ended with winning records. Basketball is a game of runs, but allowing SC When the Pirates faced the then-ranked State to come back from a 13-point deficit No. 10 Houston this season on Jan. 22, to bring the game to within 2 points in four ECU was outmatched defensively out of the minutes of play is not winning basketball. gate as Houston smothered the purple and In the first loss of the season against the gold while scoring at will for a final score University of Oklahoma on Nov. 18, the of 79-36. The 43-point differential was the Sooners led by four with two minutes to go widest margin in the season for the Pirates, in regulation. Not only did they create the win or loss. In the next four games, ECU lost all four by a total point differential of 45. lead, but they also kept it until time expired. ONLINE | Following the stretch of losses, ECU was able to put together a win against the University of Tulsa while the team sat at the bottom of the conference. Tulsa ranked 246th in scoring in the NCAA, averaging 67.4 points per game across 31 games. The loss highlighted the Pirates’ inability to defend down the stretch with a final score of 73-71. Tulsa controlled the pace through the final two minutes of play until senior forward Vance Jackson hit a game winning 3-pointer with 11 seconds left to play. Following Dooley’s termination from the program, former Tennessee University assistant head coach Michael Schwartz was hired to fulfill the defensive deficit as the new head coach for the Pirates. Schwartz made clear his intentions to bring defensive effort and presence to the program, leaving a bright future ahead for ECU. This writer can be contacted at sports@theeastcarolinian.com. ECU to host Wichita Abbie Clavijo TEC STAFF The East Carolina University baseball team (16-13, 2-1 American Athletic Conference) prepares to face their second in-conference opponent, the Wichita State University (12-15, 1-2 AAC) Shockers, at home in a three-game series that begins on Friday. Both teams kicked off conference play on the road on last Friday. The Pirates headed to Cincinnati, Ohio, to face the Bearcats of the University of Cincinnati (10-16, 1-2 AAC) in a three-game series. After falling in the first game of the series 3-7, the Pirates stepped up and not only took their first conference win of the season but also took the series. ECU claimed its first in-conference victory of the season with a 8-4 win over the Bearcats on Saturday. The Pirates were able to keep their momentum into the final game of the series on Sunday, coming out on top 12-10. The Shockers faced their first in-conference opponent in Houston, Texas, as they faced the University of Houston (19-9, 2-1 AAC) in a three-game weekend series as well. The Shockers defeated the Cougars on Friday in a 4-0 shutout giving Wichita its first road win of the season as well as its first conference win. However, the Cougars ran past the Shockers in the following two games. Wichita fell 3-5 on Saturday and 3-4 on Sunday to close out the series. When the two teams faced off last season the Pirates made their way to Wichita, Kansas, where they took on the Shockers in a four-game weekend series that began on April 30, 2021. The Pirates took the first game in a 10-0 shutout, but the Shockers answered back in the second game of the opening doubleheader, coming out on top 2-12. The Pirates took their second win of the weekend the following day, claiming an 11-3 victory. Unfortunately for the Pirates, they were unable to take the series after falling to Wichita 9-11 in the final game of the series. The last time Wichita visited Greenville, North Carolina, was the last weekend of March in 2018. The Pirates were victorious in that series only falling in the first of the three games played. The Pirates not only have the better season record, but they also have the upper hand on their home field. The Shockers have struggled immensely on the road this season, managing only one win out of the 11 games they’ve played on the road. ECU will take a short break from conference play after the series against the Bearcats. The Pirates host Old Dominion University (18-9, 3-3 Conference USA) for a midweek contest today. The Shockers took a break as well, as they took on Oklahoma State University (20-8, 5-1 Big 12 Conference) yesterday. Returning to conference play the Pirates and Shockers will kick off a threegame series at 6:30 p.m. on Friday in Clark-LeClair stadium. They will clash again at 4 p.m. on Saturday and will close out the series at 1 p.m on Sunday. All games will be broadcast live on ESPN+. This writer can be contacted at sports@theeastcarolinian.com.