Wingate.edu

"Most Likely to be Famous"

2013-05-16T08:59:42-04:00

Yesterday, my friend sent me a picture that he came across in our high school yearbook. The photo was taken and published along with many other senior superlatives. It was a picture of me, after an unreasonable amount of tanning bed sessions and cleverly dressed in a Famous brand t-shirt, labeled with the caption “Most Likely to be Famous.”

Unfortunately, I’m not famous. So, sorry for letting you down, Class of 2010. I think I can rule out reality TV at this point. “The Real World” isn’t cool anymore and I’m well past the age where I could try to use pregnancy or pageantry to become famous. I can’t sing or dance and I don’t know how to upload a video to YouTube. I’m pretty sure this blog is as famous as I’m going to get, which actually doesn’t seem so bad after all the other options I just listed.

My big debut was making it into the “Wingate Today” magazine, which is awesome if you haven’t seen it yet (especially the front cover). Within the magazine, I was recognized for an internship I did for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA). SPOILER ALERT: if you were planning on reading my quote in the magazine, skip over this next sentence. I chose to do this internship because of a [fairly] recent diagnosis of Crohn’s disease. The internship was enriching for me, as expected, and I also got class credit thanks to Wingate’s Office of Internships and Career Services.

On June 1, I will participate in one of CCFA’s fundraisers, Take Steps, in efforts to raise money to help people like myself. Philanthropy may be my last chance at fame. Please help me reach my goal by following the link I have provided below. Otherwise, don’t expect a shout out in my inevitable future red-carpet interview.

http://online.ccfa.org/goto/kellenwilliams

Posted by: Kellen Williams

This is College | Wingate University

2013-05-08T09:16:17-04:00

I've been procrastinating writing this last blog. How do I sum up the last 4 years of my life in a few paragraphs?

How do I communicate to those who have impacted me just how much they mean to me? How do I appropriately thank those faculty and staff who have invested in my personal and developmental growth? What about the maintenance man that's always made me laugh on days I thought I couldn't smile; what do I say to him? And my friends that have become family- how do I thank them for their patience and love since the moment we met?
A thank you, no matter how heartfelt, doesn't always convey what one is feeling. I've been so blessed by God in these last four years and have much to be thankful for.

I have made memories I'll never forget.

Like that time freshman year when we went bowling for Everett's birthday and Cole dressed up as Santa. Or when Kelly and I stayed up all night during exams pulling pranks instead of opening books. I could never forget the 3 a.m. nights playing volleyball and then holding my eyes open during my 8 a.m. class the next morning. Or all those runs with Matt, dreaming of what God could do during our time at Wingate.

Sophomore year was the year of the prank wars, which Stuart and Gray won when they put a baby pool full of water in my dorm room (there, I admit it- you won). I won't soon forget Gabi and I's three week sleepover and I know I'll never have words to communicate to Kelsey how grateful I am for her willingness to sit on her porch and talk through life for hours (same for you Wendy and Amy).

I'll always remember how daring I felt junior year when Andrew, Devin and I climbed on top of the Burris academic building (don't tell anyone that was us…). Or when Harley and I bought tickets and left for a concert in Raleigh within the span of five minutes.

I won't forget how excited I was senior year when Julie, Hayley, Bre and I woke up at 3:30 a.m. to surprise Andrew at his cross country race. Or when Sarah and I decided the best way to spend our time would be to paint ourselves with glow in the dark paint and have a dance party. Or all those hours spent working out with Erika that quickly blossomed into a friendship.
These memories just scratch the surface of the bucket full of sweet memories at Wingate. I'm eternally grateful for God's guidance in bringing me to Wingate and all the beautiful people he's placed so perfectly into my life.
As I sit in the stands at the baseball field on campus and watch the sunset, just 4 short days before graduation, I know God is good, friends like mine are rare and worth time and energy and these four years will be cherished in my heart for many, many years to come.

Posted by: Rachel McCullough

UNICEF, Soccer and an X-Box

2013-04-22T11:59:30-04:00

As a child growing up I was always taught to be open to new experiences and to never turn away the opportunity to expand my horizons. In the past year, one area of my life that was already influential took an unexpected twist for the better. Throughout my life, the one constant in terms of loving has been sports. Football, basketball, and baseball were the main sports that I was exposed to growing up; however, I have always been a sports fan and loved to participate in any sport that I can. Something about the nature of competition and the excitement of entertainment has always made me a passionate sports fan. Over the past school year, due to a simple X-box game, I have become more exposed to a sport that is now one of my favorites -- SOCCER. EA Sports FIFA 2013 is the video game that has gotten me more involved with the sport. I have always known about the sport and have played it before, but never competitively. However, after learning more about the culture of the game I've come to realize how much more it is than a sport. To some people, soccer is a lifestyle. Their countries' pride is exhibited through World Cup Championships and their childhoods revolve around a ball laying (or bouncing) at their feet. As I learned even more about the game and becoming friends with some of the great people on campus that play, I had no option but to develop my game. This obviously has not been an overnight process but it turns out that if you enjoy playing, it makes it that much easier. My new interest in soccer became useful last week during the Faculty/Staff vs. Students charity soccer game for UNICEF. All of the proceeds for the game went towards children’s health and education and a lot of soccer talent was displayed on the student and faculty/staff side. Following a two goal performance and a bit of reflection, I realized that I had finally experienced a small piece of the impact that a simple sport can bring to a group of people. Over $1000 was raised for UNICEF and the game was one of the most memorable sports experiences I will ever have. I have never been a huge X-box player and now most of the school knows that I’m not a great soccer talent, but because I wasn’t afraid to try new things I have found a new interest in something that I may have never experienced before.

Posted by: Andrew Lipscomb

I'm glad I didn't...

2013-04-19T16:47:16-04:00

You may think I’m joking, but just ask any one of my friends that I’ve come to call family…I have dreaded the day quickly approaching (Graduation day) for four years.

When I first came to Wingate, I was terrified. I remember thinking I’d rather die before I moved in so I wouldn’t have to experience something new and scary. When move-in day came around I was still breathing so at the last possible moment, there was freshman Rachel doing check-in and holding back tears.

Everyone was friendly and welcoming. They told me they were glad I was here and they seemed to mean it, but my fears couldn't be calmed. Helpful, enthusiastic students stood waiting to unload my car and take it all the way up the stairs to the third floor of Alumni Hall. I didn’t have to carry more than my book bag and pillow. My roommates were sweet and I was quickly settled in and rushed into orientation weekend.

They kept us busy, which was good, because I was already making plans to transfer. How was I supposed to make it on my own 12 hours from home and knowing absolutely no one? I cried myself to sleep for a few nights and even cried once during an orientation activity. Yes, I was "that girl".

But the strangest thing happened after that first weekend, Wingate started to become home.

By the middle of September I met people I wondered how I ever lived without and started telling them, “I never want to graduate and leave Wingate. How could anything be better than this?”

College turned out to be nothing like I expected, which was good because I expected a horrible four years.

Instead, I have grown more emotionally, personally and spiritually than I could have ever imagined. Wingate provided a safe place for me to explore who I was created to be and what I wanted my life to be about.

As I reflect on the last four years, I find myself laughing about the situations that seemed dreadful at the time, like 10 page papers and noisy neighbors, and shedding tears of joy remembering the late night cookout trips and moments with people who have forever impacted my life.

Posted by: Rachel McCullough

Trail Mix

2013-02-26T10:30:42-04:00

I recently read somewhere that trail mix consists of two ingredients: M&Ms and disappointment. I thought it was so funny that I considered retelling the joke as my own (something I do often), but after all Wingate has taught me about the consequences of plagiarism, I opted against doing so. I can’t figure out how to properly cite my “iFunny” iPhone application, though; sorry, Modern Language Association.

I thought it was funny because trail mix is meant to be a “heart healthy” snack (according to LIVESTRONG.com, so it could very well be a lie), but the best part about it is the least nutritious part. It’s the combination of the ingredients that makes trail mix healthy. Without disappointment, trail mix is just M&Ms. Without disappointment, trail mix isn’t good for us. Disappointment is essential for a healthy heart. Cue another edible metaphor.

A little disappointment here and there is good for us. We have to force down the walnuts, the whole grain Chex cereal, and the raisins in order to fully benefit. Eating only the M&Ms will eventually hurt us. Since I already broke the ice for Lance Armstrong jokes, I’ll use him as an example. Periodical disappointment may have helped his case. He could have lost a race once or twice. He could have taken a break from eating the M&Ms, but he just wanted to eat all 7, one after the other, and then he was left with a bag full of nothing but disappointment.

In conclusion, I regretfully disagree with Forrest Gump. Life’s not like a box of chocolates; life is like a bag of trail mix. It’s not always going to be M&Ms and chocolate chips, but the occasional bran flake is there for a reason. It does always seem to go down a little bit easier with a cup of my Philosocoffee.

Posted by: Kellen Williams

Choose your own adventure

2013-02-21T13:16:01-04:00

Have you ever heard of the "Choose Your Own Adventure" books? Basically, it's a series of books where the reader acts as the main character and can change the outcome of the story. I've never actually read one of these books but I like the idea behind it. At the end of a chapter it says something like "If you decide to look in the suspicious box, turn to page 88" or "If you think you should run and tell someone about the strange happenings, turn to page 104" and so you in a way, write the story.

College is kind of like a "Choose Your Own Adventure" book. You choose the college you want to attend based off questions and then you set off to change your outcome. "If you want to develop a relationship with your professors and receive individual assistance when needed, go to Wingate." Or, "If you want to go to a school that values faith, knowledge and service, go to Wingate." Or, "If you want to spend the next four years discovering who you are in a safe, friendly environment, go to Wingate." The list could go on and on, but for me, all the things I was looking for in a college were here at Wingate.

I don't thrive on making decisions, I'd rather someone make them for me and then I'll make the best of it. I was relieved when I had finally made the decision to come to Wingate because it meant for the next four years, no life changing decisions had to be made. But lately, the familiar and uneasy "what am I going to do next?" question has been invading my mind.

Picking a college and choosing a career remind me of a "Choose Your Own Adventure" book. They both require risk and leave a lot of questions unanswered. Will I make friends at college? What will I be involved in? Will I love my job? Will I make a career out of this? or is this just something for a few years? A lot of these questions can't be answered until you get there and just jump into it.

So, I am about to jump. I graduate in less than three months. I'm nervous about what's next but more than anything, excited! As college graduates, our options are endless. Less than 7 percent of the world has a college degree. Thanks to Wingate, I've been educated in ways that 93 percent of the world hasn't. Next step: adventure. And I get to choose it!

Posted by: Rachel McCullough

Being Mr. Wingate

2013-02-04T15:44:15-04:00

Well - I'm glad to be back blogging for another year. The semester is back in to full swing which has kept me extremely busy. Often times when I'm explaining all of my daily activities to my friends or family I hear the routine "Mr. Wingate" jokes. At this point, I have embraced it and I often times joke to others that "It's hard being Mr. Wingate!" I am highly involved around campus with many organizations, work, a full class schedule, and an internship. All of these things can sometimes be difficult to maintain and create some very unneeded stress. However, after coming by our UCAN office in the student center and seeing advertisement for the MLK Day of Service I began thinking about how easy I really do have it. Despite all of the things that I feel overwhelmed with, when I think about all of the things that others before me had to endure I feel truly blessed and extremely motivated. The small daily tasks that I have to complete are nothing compared to the tasks that those such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had to complete. It is easy to get caught up in our daily lives and forget how good we really have it. I held on to this idea until the day dedicated to Dr. King to ask everyone to enjoy this life that someone else sacrificed so much for you to enjoy.

Posted by: Andrew Lipscomb

Southerner at Heart

2013-02-04T16:58:47-04:00

I came to the South (from Ohio) for a few specific reasons:

-It's generally a lot warmer here
-I was hoping to pick up an accent
-And maybe marry a cowboy.

Well, things never go exactly as I plan. It is warmer here, but my accent still has a way to go. When I go home people tell me I picked up a Southern drawl but at Wingate I'm told I sound like a northerner. Basically, I don't belong anywhere. I wish I was joking about the last one. A few Carolina natives have told me I should have gone to Texas for the cowboys but there's actually a "Cowboy Church" 30 minutes from Wingate. But unfortunately, I don't see many in cowboy hats during class.

Since coming to Wingate I've learned a lot about southern preferences; many of them have to do with food. Fried chicken, hush puppies, chicken and dumplings, sweet tea, Bojangles and BBQ to name a few. In this aspect, I'm on board. I love hush puppies, could eat chicken and dumplings every meal and will never say no to BBQ.

In the last four years at Wingate, many experiences stick out to me that can only be described as Southern. One of those memories was formed last weekend. My friend Erika's parents graciously hosted 13 of our friends for an evening of Southern cooking- best day of my life. She made a huge pot of homemade chicken and dumplings! I got to help make the biscuits (also homemade) and drop the dumplins'. The whole time I was thinking how excited I was to be droppin dumplins' in a Southern kitchen with folks who say “y'all” and showed wonderful hospitality. Things I learned: drop the dumplins' into the pot where the bubbles are and never, under any circumstances, stir the dumplins'. That may seem elementary, but for this Buckeye, these were valuable lessons to be learned!
Other southern things I've come to love: rolling hills in the country dotted with cattle and horses, rocking chairs on front-porches, the mountains and the beach within a day's driving distance and short sleeves in January.

It's safe to say, I think I'll stay here for awhile. Reading this blog and from another part of the country? Come to Wingate, you'll fall in love with the school and the South.

Check out the pictures to see the weekend events. Chicken and dumplings, porch sitting and mountain climbing!

Posted by: Rachel McCullough

A Christmas to Remember

2012-12-31T11:14:41-04:00

I love the Christmas atmosphere. Christmas lights have covered the trees and entrance at Wingate since Thanksgiving. Outside my window there are 3 foot wide snowflakes hanging from the power line poles.

Every holiday season at Wingate has been full of memories and this Christmas season was no different! I went to the Christmas Dinner Dance (that fellow blogger Andrew Lipscomb wrote about) and ate great food and experienced wonderful entertainment.

I also had the opportunity to attend numerous Christmas concerts. If you ever get a chance to hear Wingate's choirs, you must do it. No excuses -- just do it. They are extremely talented and amazing entertainers! They had multiple performances in December that featured festive Christmas music and Handel's Messiah. It was beautiful.

Call me a nerd, but I love concerts and musical events. Not only did I get to see Wingate choirs perform but I also saw the famous Canadian Brass and a musical performance called "The Gathering" for free on campus. The perks of being a Wingate student are endless, take advantage of them!

Concerts not really your thing? Well, there are also numerous tacky Christmas sweater parties, cookie frosting events, multiple showings of Elf and gift exchanges happening all over campus. We know how to celebrate.

There's also a lot of 5k's in the area with Christmas themes. A group from Wingate ran one in Rock Hill, SC called the Reindeer Romp. Once we got there we realized we were a little out of place. Most of participants were families and children; we may have been the only group of college students there! It didn't faze us one bit -- we ran the whole race with antlers on our heads. Afterwards, we all enjoyed giant inflatable obstacle courses, live bands, entertainers, carolers, putt-putt and horse and carriage rides.

On top of all of this, a group of senior friends and I decided to venture to the Charlotte Motor Speedway for Speedway Christmas. The line to get in was over two and half hours. Somehow all three cars of friends ended up together in line. We reminisced on Christmas memories we shared while at Wingate and held back tears as we realized this would probably be our last Christmas all together! About an hour after we got there, I realized my gas tank was getting close to empty. We had been watching cars that waited over an hour turn around and leave because they ran out of gas and I was determined that wasn't going to be my car. So, we turned my car into neutral and took turns pushing it through line. This sounds more dramatic than it actually was. Keep in mind the line barely moved and when it did, it was only about 10 feet at a time. We found this hysterical. We experimented with different ways to push the car and entertained ourselves and the other people in line. My favorite part was when we had a person at each open door and one leg out pushing the car like a scooter. We also stargazed, listened to Christmas music, danced like we were not being watched by people around us and had an all-around fantastic time making memories together!

Check out all the pictures!

Posted by: Rachel McCullough

So long my friend

2012-12-12T09:37:31-04:00

It’s a sad day for the swim team. Last night we found out one of our freshman will not be with us anymore and will return to his country after this semester. Losing a comrade is a tough notion when trying to move forward with the season.

The sport is a grueling one and being such an individual sport it’s mentally very taxing. From an outside perspective, it may seem like a bunch of individuals swimming hundreds of laps up and down a pool, following a black line on the bottom and repeating this 9 times a week, totaling about 20 hours. Who wouldn’t want to quit? However, there’s a lot more to it! Even though the majority of the time we may not show it, we love it. The feeling of accomplishment is such an empowering emotion that it’s hard to walk away from the sport that brings you such intangible joy. The hardship is what makes the glory so much sweeter, especially when you go through it with your teammates. It’s very little wonder why we are so close. When you endure hardship with someone, it usually brings you closer, especially if the outcome is favorable. Well -- with our team, we do this most days of the week, beginning with our first day of freshman year. We endure many harsh days; days where quitting seems to be the light at the end of the tunnel, days where thinking is not an option because your too exhausted, days where the only way to actually make it through the practice is to pull together as a team, as a stronger unit than an individual, to combine your motivation and strength. It is for this reason we are strong and for this reason we hold a strong bond, one that would take a lot to quiver, let alone break.

So to see a teammate have to walk away is a sad notion for us. It is in your freshman year, that you learn so much and especially about your mates. You learn where they come from, their customs, their beliefs and you figure out what made them who they are today and you may not notice it but you’ve probably invested just as much back into them. I think for our freshmen, they realized this yesterday. This happened to me at the end of my freshman year when my best friend had to leave.

But I know this will bring my team together as a stronger unit. They are such a great bunch of guys and I hope they can learn from this experience.

We will miss you Niklas. We appreciate your courage for joining us on this journey and wish you the best. Go do work out there!

Posted by: Rory Julyan

The most anticipated break of the year

2012-12-19T17:11:30-04:00

Christmas break is the most anticipated break of the year. It's three weeks with no classes, no loud neighbors and no homework. What's not to love? Well, you may find a few things that could ruin your Christmas break in college: parents trying to reinforce high school rules, long work hours, pesky younger siblings or a lack of things to do. For most college students, after about a week of time at home they're ready to get back to school. Luckily for Wingate students, for almost every break there's a great opportunity to get out of the house.

This Christmas break, about 65 Wingate students are going to Washington D.C. for Campus Outreach's annual New Year's Conference (NYC). NYC is a five day conference (starting Dec. 29) for college students interested in knowing more about God or growing in their faith. Over 500 students from over 13 different colleges and universities across the east coast will gather in the nation's capital to hear messages from well-known pastors such as Mark Dever and enjoy Christian hip-hop concerts from Trip Lee and Shai Linne. Not only will students learn more about God and enjoy new friendships, there's also a free day to explore the city and a huge dance party to bring in 2013!

Wingate's Campus Director Phil Sineath and his wife Ashley said "We hope conference will be a bonding experience for students that will result in deeper relationships with each other when they return to campus as well as an opportunity to learn more about God together. We are excited to take our first trip to conference with everyone!"
To read what I wrote about last year's conference, copy and paste this into your web browser - http://www.wingate.edu/campus-life/how-i-celebrated-2012-full-of-joy.

There are also great trips and opportunities for your spring break. UCAN, one of the service organizations on campus, hosts Alternate Spring Break trips every year. This year there are five different trips to choose from. Five day trips are going to Dothan, Ala., for Habitat for humanity, Rome, Ga., to work with the environment and a final one to Myrtle Beach, S.C., to help with Impact Ministries. There are also a couple three day trips. One is to New Bern, N.C., and another to Macon, Ga., to work with children. These trips are inexpensive and a great way to give back on spring break.

Posted by: Rachel McCullough

Where has this semester gone?

2012-12-12T09:30:31-04:00

Where has this semester gone? It seems like it was just yesterday when I drove back to The Gate from the airport after my summer break. I was filled with excitement and anticipation for my senior year and what lied ahead. All of a sudden, I’ve stumbled upon my last two weeks of first semester and exams await us.

I recently returned from the SCAD invitational swim meet in Georgia. We won the meet quite convincingly and walked away as a proud/better team. In terms of swimming, I’d say we’ve reached the half-way mark. We have a training trip in December, which starts 2 days after Christmas. After that, we begin preparing for our senior meet and then conference meets in February (where we hope to keep our winning streak going). If we qualify at conference, a few of us will be going to Alabama in March for Nationals.

As for now, I need to stay focused on the task at hand. I have more than enough on my plate. I’ve already kick-started my exams by taking the GRE exam this past Friday. Yesterday was Reading Day and exams start today. My two finance and accounting courses should take the most preparation. As for the rest, I should be alright. After finals I’m off to Alabama with one of roommates, to spend the Christmas holiday with he and his family. I’m quite excited. I met him at the end of my freshman year on his recruiting trip – I was his host and the next year he was my roommate and he’s been my roommate since. So I’m looking forward to meeting his family.

It’s been a solid first semester, but I’m looking forward to a little R & R (Rest & Relaxation). When I get back, I’m going to hit the ground running.

Posted by: Rory Julyan

Christmas Dinner Dance

2012-12-04T16:55:55-04:00

No matter how humble or vulnerable of a person you are, most people can say that there has been a time in life when they have truly felt appreciated and that is exactly where they need to be. These moments do not always happen as often as some may like and may not be recognized immediately, but when they do happen you eventually begin to appreciate them. Over this semester I have had the pleasure of hosting a number of big events here on campus. My first event, Midnight Madness, was perfect for me because of my love of basketball and my dedication to the sports teams here at Wingate University. My second gig was for the BSU Talent Show which was a huge deal because I knew there would be a great turnout and I would be filling the shoes of 3-time host and my business associate, Alex Tai Laing. Both of these events went extremely well and despite my nervousness at the time of the event, I loved every second of entertaining the crowd and being a part of these events. For my last event of the semester, I will be the “Conductor” of the Polar Express themed Christmas Dinner Dance. I am already very excited about this event and all of my enthusiasm has had me wondering, “can I just MC events for a career?” As many of you know I am on a quest to become legendary here on campus and hosting all of these events have been great publicity. I would like to thank everyone for the encouragement during my last few gigs and hope that I can continue to entertain students as time goes on. A huge part of my success as an MC is accredited to the great events that I have hosted. The itinerary for the Christmas Dinner Dance looks as exciting as any event this year with a visit from Dr. McGee, a Horse and Carriage Ride, great food, and some of the most entertaining acts of the year to get students into the holiday spirit. I look forward to seeing everyone at the Christmas Dinner Dance this Friday, December 7, and hope everyone has a great time.

Posted by: Andrew Lipscomb

Seven Deadly Sins

2012-11-26T09:08:21-04:00

Over time, I have learned that sinning to some extent is just a part of human nature. Accepting this fact is a way to find peace of mind through any wrongdoing. With that, I have learned that we tend to put more energy into justifying our sins than we do repenting for them.

The holidays seem to ironically be a sinful time. Some use the holiday as a time to be lazy while they have the chance; some use it to be greedy while shopping for gifts or Black Friday sales. But no matter the sin, we find justification in the fact that it’s a holiday.

Furthermore, there is no better way to justify the sin of gluttony than Thanksgiving. On this day, we spend less time being thankful and more trying to get full. Feelings of guilt are overridden by the reminder that we must feast in order to honor tradition. Anything less than overindulgence would take away from Thanksgiving’s authenticity.

Somehow the holidays make right of our wrongs, and I am thankful for that. I am thankful that my ancestors have lessened my vices by making it socially acceptable and culturally necessary for me to stuff myself to discomfort. Thankfully, I have a solid month before having to consider repentance; that’s what New Years resolutions are for!

Posted by: Kellen Williams

My Not-So-Secret Talent

2012-11-20T13:33:27-04:00

My friends often tell me I have a knack for getting other people excited, even if it's about silly things. I often use this to my advantage by convincing people to do things that I think sound fun and other people think sound miserable. For example, Saturday night was about 40 degrees and windy. It would have made sense for us to be inside a warm apartment watching movies while drinking hot chocolate. Instead, about 15 Wingate students were bundled up sitting outside at the drive-in movies. If you've kept up with my blogs, you know how much I love the drive-in movies; it's my favorite place in the world! So, imagine my disappointment when I realized it's almost Thanksgiving break and we hadn't been to the drive-in yet this year! When most people go to the drive-in, they sit in their cars. We think it's more fun to sit outside together and enjoy the movies, each other's company and stars at the same time. With each friend wearing an average of three sweatshirts and two pairs of socks, we huddled together to watch Wreck it Ralph and Hotel Transylvania. Both movies were silly and cute. As an added bonus, it's only $6 a person for two movies. That's a great deal, especially for poor college students!

Another place I recently convinced my friends to go was Aw Shucks Corn Maize in Monroe. Monroe is the closest city west of Wingate; it's full of restaurants and shopping places. But, if you travel to the outskirts of Monroe, you'll find yourself driving down curvy back roads surrounded by fields. This is where we wound up last weekend. We found a deal at LivingSocial.com (a great website for poor college students looking for fun things to do at a discounted price) where you could buy four tickets to the corn maize that included a drink and a snack for only $5 a person. So naturally, we went! It was crowded with young children, teenagers on dates and eight misplaced college students. But, as always, we made the best of it and spent hours laughing and being kids again. We enjoyed hay rides, a slide made out of tile that was built into a silo, a petting zoo, a football toss, a nature trail, a bonfire, old-fashioned sodas and the corn maize. There's inexpensive fun everywhere, you just have to know where to look and being willing to dress warm. I wouldn't trade Wingate weekends for anything; I'm so thankful for the lifelong friends I've made here that join me in crazy activities!

Posted by: Rachel McCullough

Cold classes at Wingate University

2012-11-14T10:32:38-04:00

Wingate University helps you "Major in a Great Life" with hands on class experiences. Take this story for example…

Pretend it's Wednesday, November 14, 2012 at Wingate University. It's 9 a.m. and 38 degrees outside. Now, imagine you're about to canoe in Stegall Pond. "That sounds interesting" might be your response. Well, that was the response of most the students who did just that this morning in their Outdoor Recreation class. "I think this is going to be entertainment for everyone," said Karen Rowe.

Students seemed excited about canoeing in spite of the frigid weather. "It's a great way to start the day off" said Troy Press. Brian Mazhari added "It's definitely not something you do everyday at school."

While watching students get in and out of the canoes was entertaining, the most amusing part was watching amateur paddlers try to avoid the obstacles of the pond. One group was paddling toward the water fall and professor Nick DeLangie shouted "Stay clear of the rapids!" A few groups paddled a little too close to the fountain and ended up being misted by a cold spray. "It was a cold and fun experience," said Bri Stevens. "It's a little misty around the fountain though." Jordan Phillips added "It was pretty simple, but fun. Definitely not what I expected to be doing on my Wednesday morning."

While most students and spectators were laughing and enjoying themselves, some students were crossing things off their bucket list. "Canoeing in the pond has been on my bucket list ever since I came to Wingate," said senior Andrew Smith. Afterwards he added, "It was everything I thought it would be and more. Now, I feel ready to graduate."

Posted by: Rachel McCullough

To Drink or Not to Drink

2012-10-30T09:18:51-04:00

The more philosophy classes I take, the more complex I make the simplest of things. My last blog can serve as an example in that my whole life perspective was changed by a cup of coffee. My “cup of coffee” in the example forthcoming was a 10-year-old boy named John.

I further explored the meaning of life this past weekend as I spectated a U-11 boys soccer game. There was a blue team and a white team; Blue was the best in their league, White the worst in theirs. John was on the white team.

The white team had not yet won a game all season, and had already lost to this team when they played them once before. So, the boys came with expectations to lose but still with enthusiasm to play. I assume any decent person would understand that for a group of boys no older than 10 years, all that really matters is that they have fun.

With that being said, I will further assume that the coach of the blue team is not a decent person. Harsh as it may be, first impressions are lasting impressions. For the sake of my time and my readers’ attention spans, I will spare the details of what occurred to lead me to this assumption. In short, the blue team’s coach was more concerned with hurting the other team than helping his own.

The coach spent more time yelling at the referees and the opposing team’s coach than he did cheering for his own. Meanwhile, the white team fought relentlessly against shots at their goal and their egos with a brutal score of 9-1. The game was clearly wearing them down physically, mentally, and emotionally. The blue team’s coach shouted for each goal as if it were a last-second, game-winning shot while the white team’s coach encouraged his players not to give up.

John fought until the last couple minutes of the game when he finally got a chance to rest. Someone subbed in for him headed toward the bench. As soon as he was off of the field, he ran into his coach’s arms crying from exhaustion. Watching the coach wrap his arms around John and comfort him, I of course cried and sipped my metaphorical cup of coffee.

I could see each of those coach’s reasons for coaching. One cared about winning, the other cared about helping his players; the distinction should be apparent by now. With both of them having played soccer themselves, they had time to find value in the game and to understand what it was all about. My Psychologist instincts tell me that the blue team’s coach has a vengeance deep-rooted in feelings toward his old coaches. The white team’s coach seems to have a passion for the game that he wants to share with others. I could be wrong.

Regardless, our experiences shape what we will become. We choose our majors, the classes we take (to some extent), and the careers we pursue. By having the opportunity to make this choice, we are choosing the paths we take. Deciding what to study leads us to so many other important decisions that will shape our lives.

When we choose what to study, we learn information beyond the curriculum. We learn about ourselves and the world surrounding us. We learn what we are passionate about and what we are not. We have the opportunity to explore that passion and to share it. What I see so often in blue and white writing, I saw in blue and white jerseys: Major in a Great Life. The symbolism of this catchy phrase can be discovered at the bottom of a symbolic cup of coffee. You choose whether or not to drink it.

Posted by: Kellen Williams

Reminders

2012-10-29T14:10:43-04:00

For the most part, a lot of us set goals for ourselves or certain standards we hope to abide by. Sometimes it’s a new year’s resolution, a birthday wish, a diet plan or a strategy to sail through a rough situation. Too often though, we find ourselves realizing that we’ve been distracted from that goal; we’ve taken our eye off the prize. This is a natural occurrence…even the professionals and highly skilled slip up every now and then. It is for this reason, we all need reminders. These reminders come in various forms: could be a sermon topic during a church service or a good friend being honest with you. My favorite reminder often reverts back to one of my completed steps that helped me close in on the goal I originally set out to do because it often reminds me of why I started.

I set a goal for myself at the end of last year’s spring semester and reminded myself of it during the summer break. I worked hard at my goal and as I got on the airplane to come back to college, I added to that goal. I started strong and thought I was en route but somehow I lost track. Thankfully, a good old reminder snuck up behind me and gave me an unexpected whack on the head. I wasn’t too happy at the time but am grateful for it now.

I’ve always believed that life happens (good or bad). When life happens, something falls onto our path which causes us to make a choice. We have to determine how to navigate forward without losing too much momentum. My point is: we need reminders in life that allow us to realize we are strong and can/will carry on. We can’t just sit around and wonder where our reminder was when we needed it. We need to actively make decisions to be our own reminders or even be there for others when they need it. I hope this hits home for some of you and acts as THE reminder you may have needed.

Posted by: Rory Julyan

Social Media Commandments

2012-10-29T14:38:34-04:00

Social Media is one of my newly acquired passions and something that I really would love to make a living out of one day. A lot of people wonder how social media could be a career choice but media marketing is becoming more and more popular and influential in today’s society.

Wingate has quite a few media outlets that can be used to keep up with everything Wingate related. The official Wingate University Facebook page, twitter page (@WingateUniv), and Instagram (WingateUniv) are the main sources of mobile information circulating around campus. Other organizations such as the Bulldog Activities Resource Committee (@BARCWU), Student Government Association (@WingateSGA), and Wingate Athletics (@WU_Bulldogs) also post a ton of information on twitter for prospective and current students to view. It’s always fun to see students on campus having fun on social media sites as well. Several Wingate sports players tweet for their sports teams, the @WU_GroundsCrew keeps students updated and lighthearted with various landscaping tweets, and even our University President, Dr. Jerry Mcgee (@McgeeWingate) has a twitter account.

So because social media is so big and something that am constantly observing and participating in, I have created the 6 Social Media Commandments. These aren’t anything that anyone has told me and a lot of them are either things that bother me or things that I really enjoy.

1) Thou shall not post food pictures. It’s like grade school; if you can’t share with everyone, don’t even bring it out.
2) Throwback Thursday’s: This is NOT a reason to post 1,094,328 pictures of yourself as a baby. It is also not considered a throwback if the photo happened a week ago! Try to use a theme, if it is Homecoming week, post a photo from Homecoming’s past, and every once in a while show everyone how goofy you looked as a child.
3) Overposting: We’re all guilty of getting excited about an event online and “sounding off” about any and everything we can in a 30 minute timespan. However, you’re more likely to be overlooked on a social site if you post random thoughts every 30 seconds! Leave out the “good morning” tweet and post something really interesting. Or don’t post 15 photos of the beach, Picstitch or PicFrame your best four together. Make people wait for your next post, not expect it.
4) Fake Names: I LOVE a creative social media name that is both appropriate and funny. Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr are great places to let your creative flag fly. Facebook; however, should be left simply as your name. Employers aren’t looking for John “StraightfromtheStreets” Doe.
5) Selfies/No Filter: Women, go easy on the self-photos. One will look like the next and if you must do it, make them different somehow! Men, don’t do it! If you have more pictures of yourself online than your girlfriend it is not a good look! Whether you use a filter or not, you look soft!
6) Trends: We all love a good trend and when something popular is happening the best way to find out about it is through social media. This is your chance to be creative, spontaneous, and uncharacteristically different! Instead of posting the same thing 50 other people on your timeline did, find something unique to say or stay out of it. This goes for TV shows, sports events, and even the weather! Trust me, not being a part of the crowd is much better than being judged for being in it.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and free to make choices of what to share on social media or not. The “unfollow” button is available to all and should not be used to determine a person’s loyalty in real life. These are strictly my opinions and I love seeing everyone online being social.

Posted by: Andrew Lipscomb

What in the Wyooter?!

2012-10-26T15:31:55-04:00

Wingate is a school full of traditions. We roll the campus with toilet paper at homecoming, celebrate international week with international food in the cafeteria, hold a Christmas Dinner Dance before every Christmas break and have the Wyooter or his son at Halloween. What's the Wyooter? Great question. Conveniently, I answered it in my latest article for the school's newspaper, The Triangle. Check it out!

The Son of the Wyooter is scheduled to make his appearance at Wingate this Halloween season. This has everyone asking "What is the Son of the Wyooter in the first place?" Many students have an opinion about this phantom creature rumored to haunt Wingate. A sophomore student, Sam Barker, claims to be related to the Son of the Wyooter. "The Son of the Wyooter is actually one of my very distant relatives. He is my great grandfathers sister's uncle," said Barker. "He lives about 2.73 miles down on the north side of the railroad tracks. He's about seven feet tall and wears leather chaps, lipstick and a sombrero. Watch out he bites your legs off! Your left leg to be exact, directly below the knee cap."

Well Wingate, guard your knee caps because the Son of the Wyooter is here. The Son of the Wyooter originates from a long standing tradition called The Wyooter. The Wyooter was started out at a former professors farm in Marshville, NC. Through 2010, Wingate students experienced the terror of the Wyooter every Halloween. Students were led along a trail through the woods full of spooky sights and creatures. In 2011, the Wyooter was discontinued when the former professor left the University.

Many think the term Wyooter originated at Wingate University, but the legend actually spans beyond University traditions. Urbandictionary.com defines "the Wyooter" as "A creature of southern folklore found in the thick woods of southern Tennessee at night. It has a large glow in its dark, square eyes and large, sharp claws and teeth." Jack Daniel's alcohol even has Wyooter merchandise available for purchase and a special Wyooter beverage.

This year the tradition is back, but with a different name and is in a new location. The Son of the Wyooter takes place at the cross country course on campus. On October 25, faculty, staff and Wingate alumni braved the woods and joined the Son of the Wyooter in haunting the trail. Students enjoyed the trail, a hay ride, bonfire and food.

While there are many different student definitions of The Son of the Wyooter, urbandictionary.com defines it as "A creature of southern folklore found in the thick woods of Wingate University in North Carolina. The father (a.k.a. "the Wyooter") was spotted last in southern Tennessee. The son is believed to have enormous glow in the dark square eyes and large sharp claws and teeth. It haunts Wingate University's campus each year around Halloween. While no sightings have been recorded, it's presence is felt throughout the student body." This Halloween season, be sure to keep your eyes open wide, walk with a buddy, and beware of the Son of the Wyooter.

Check out the YouTube video at the bottom of the page with student, faculty, and staff opinions on what the Wyooter looks like and what other students say about the Son of the Wyooter!

Shaheen Safaie, senior: "The Son of the Wyooter is a scary ghost like figure that lives in the woods. He enjoys the cold weather and loves when students are brave enough to walk his sacred trail…"

English Narron, junior: "When I think of it I think of a wolf, a big ugly gray wolf that lives in the woods and creeps around."

Bradley Chandler, junior: "From personal experience, the Son of the Wyooter is roughly 7'3" at full extension and can cover the length of a football field in 6.4 seconds. He is all black with eyes that reflect the color of the moon, often white, but sometimes with a yellow or orange hue depending on the time of year. He is mostly covered with thick, fur-like hair, but has spots where no hair grows."

Jennifer Fuller, sophomore: "I didn't know the Son of the Wyooter was a thing. I thought it was the name of the haunted trail. But if I had to guess I suppose it could be a big hairy thing that roams around the woods scaring people who try to go find it."

Kelsey Perry, freshman: "Is that like an owl of something?"

Copy and Paste the URL below into your web browser to see the Son of the Wyooter video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnfvbwm_Dv8&feature=g-all-u

Posted by: Rachel McCullough

A glimpse into ministries at Wingate

2012-10-15T15:52:40-04:00

"May 11, 9 a.m., Academic Quadrangle." - Shaheen Safaie, Senior
"Shaheen if you don't stop saying that, I will hurt you." - Me

May 11 is graduation day for the class of 2013, which I just happen to be a part of. And yes, I'm in denial. I can't believe that it's senior year and in seven months I'm going to wake up for the last time as a Wingate University student. Everyone keeps telling me that by the time May 11 rolls around I'll be ready, I sure hope they're right.

Most of my future blogs will be a reflection on my time at Wingate. One thing I've been reflecting on lately is how much different my college experience would be if I didn't have a relationship with Jesus Christ. The ministries at Wingate have significantly helped nurture my Christian walk. I love the fact that around here, religion isn’t forced on anyone but everyone is encouraged to engage in their faith.

One of the ministries on campus is Campus Outreach (a.k.a. “CO”). CO's vision statement is "Glorifying God by building laborers on the campus for the lost world." CO has helped me learn what it means to walk with God daily. The Campus Outreach staff and student leaders taught me how to abide in Jesus by studying the Bible, praying and sharing my faith with my friends and family. CO has weekly meetings for any students on campus, regardless of religious beliefs, who are interested in hearing a message from the Bible about who Jesus is and what He has to do with our lives, even in college! CO also holds Bible studies in freshman dorms as well as for interested upperclassman all across campus.

Personally, growing in my walk with the Lord has been the most influential part of my experience at Wingate. I have found satisfaction, security, fulfillment and purpose in Jesus. If I didn't experience Christ, I'd still be searching in all the wrong places- which would have made my college experience drastically different. Instead, I've been perfectly content without searching for crazy parties and unhealthy relationships. I love Wingate because I found what I was searching for…more Jesus. The variety of clubs and organizations on campus allows students to explore their interests as much or as little as they choose. Wingate truly helps students "Major in a Great Life", whatever their definition of the great life is.

This semester, students who have attended the CO weekly meetings have heard messages on "What is the good life?" These messages have caused many students to rethink their definition of the good life. I'm thankful that Wingate University allows so many different organizations on campus so that students can discover the good life. It's changed me forever!

Posted by: Rachel McCullough

Connections + New memories + Free = AWESOME

2012-10-12T15:57:18-04:00

I'm from a small town in the middle-of-nowhere Ohio called Sherwood. The towns surrounding Sherwood are Farmer, Ney and Hicksville. As you can imagine, there's a limited number of big events that take place in towns called Farmer and Hicksville, but, one event brings out everyone in the county, regardless of the weather. This event is the annual Defiance County Fair. The fair is such a big deal in my county that the high school I attended starts a week later than other schools in the area because students go to the fair in August. The fair has everything: animals, food, concerts, games, booths, displays, music and vendors. You could walk around the fair for hours and not see the same thing twice. The fair is such an iconic part of my home life in northwest Ohio that I assumed nothing like it would be in the southeast part of the country. I said goodbye to the fair and all that goes with it when I packed my bags for Wingate in 2009.

Well, as happens occasionally, I was wrong. There's a lot about Wingate that feels like home no matter where you're from. In fact, a few weeks ago I saw an advertisement for the Stanley County Fair (a county near Wingate). As an added bonus, it was "College Night" so every college student got in free with their student ID.

I never thought I'd use the skills I learned in class (a.k.a. “Persuasion”) on a Friday night, but it turns out not everyone gets as excited about the county fair as I do. Sp I used lots of emotional appeal (begging and pleading) and a little bit of logic (it's free). So, thanks to Dr. Coon's class, seven of my closest friends and myself were off to the fair.

It turns out the Stanley County Fair is fairly empty on a Friday night in a Friday night football county but we still had a blast! With the fairground to ourselves, we were free to run around like kids, ride the swings and eat candy apples.

It felt like home, and it was free. You can't get a better combination than that!

Oh, the perks of being a Wingate University student!

Posted by: Rachel McCullough

Scarlet Letter

2012-10-10T12:09:31-04:00

Judging by the line in the Ethel K. Smith café lately, there is a direct correlation between cold weather and coffee consumption. Just as we are all unprepared for the drastic weather changes, I was exceptionally unprepared for this line before my 9:30 class on Tuesday. Overly confident in my judgment and time management, I showed up to the library at 9:18 assuming I would have plenty of time to get coffee and be seated in class before it began.

I was humbled quickly by the line of people reaching all the way to the door and had to even more quickly make some executive decisions. What would be worse, a couple minutes of tardiness with coffee or an hour and fifteen minutes of class without coffee? By no means do I condone tardiness, so my decision is not one of which I am proud, but it is also not one that I regret.

I received my coffee at 9:33 and hurried off to class. Being late to class is embarrassing, but coming into class late with a cup of coffee in your hand is like wearing the scarlet letter. So, I was selfishly relieved to see one of my classmates also rushing to class. As we approached the building, a pile of note cards slid from her handful of books and fell to the ground, scattered.

While I helped her gather these note cards, she explained that she was having a stressful morning as she was preparing for a midterm scheduled later that day. As if the long line hadn’t humbled me enough, I was further humbled in the comparison of her morning to mine. The most stressful situation I had dealt with was deciding whether or not to wait in line for coffee, which type of coffee to order coming in a close second.

Had I not waited in line for coffee, I would have been dramatically complaining about how badly I needed caffeine, while my classmate would have been picking up note cards outside in the cold all by herself. If not primarily providing me with justification for being late, talking to her made me take on my day much differently than I may have. The coffee could have helped a little, too.

Posted by: Kellen Williams

Who killed SWAG?

2012-10-04T15:57:29-04:00

My twitter name @AndyLeeSwagger is often misjudged because of the new swag movement. People sometimes ask what swag means to me or from time to time I am complemented with the word “swag” on something that I wear or do. I am a huge advocate of swagger; however, I believe that the word is sometimes overused and misrepresented. Having swag means being creative, innovative, and true without worrying about what others around you are doing or thinking. Do what YOU like and do it with confidence and passion. To have swag is to be admired. I believe that hipsters and innovators are the originators of swag. They are the ones that create the image that many of us look up too and try to tweak or recreate. So I guess what I’m trying to say is that not everything you do needs to be labeled with swag but rather just viewed as a part of your character.

Wingate University has added a new level of swagger to campus this year by creating a more laid back environment. The new walkway through Camden Street is officially completed and causing an array of positive reactions from those throughout campus. The park benches are creating new hang outs and study spots and the fountain is more than welcoming as you enter or stroll around the campus. One of the biggest changes I’m noticing is that I see less people walking and running around campus and more people running through campus down the new sidewalk. I am guilty of taking off down the new sidewalk with a new Nike Wingate tee and fresh pair of running shoes. If you’re looking for some new swagger, check out the Wingate Bookstore for great options to add to your style this winter.

The last point I wanted to make was the misunderstanding that swagger is not needed or not attractive anymore. Swagger adds flavor to life and continues the idea of new and hip trends becoming popular and desirable. It seems as though this new movement has made people associate swagger with youth, immaturity, and laziness. It is possible to have swagger, class, and ambition. As a matter of fact, many icons in this country are the epitome of all of these things. Every celebrity today has their own style and swagger which makes them unique, but they are also able to maintain a level of classiness that adds to their level of success. So never downplay swagger…but don’t try too hard to get it either. Just be you. Do whatever it is you believe is cool and someone else will recognize your swagger. Remember, the thing that makes you unique is the thing that makes you powerful.

Posted by: Andrew Lipscomb

When you're desperate...

2012-10-01T11:41:27-04:00

You wake up at 8 a.m. on a Saturday to trudge through cold, damp grass in order to get a Chick-fil-a biscuit. Last Saturday, 25 of my closest friends and I were desperate.

Wingate's Student Government Association (SGA) and the Student Bulldog Club co-sponsored SGA Game Day for the men's and women's cross country teams. SGA holds a "Game Day" for every Division II NCAA sport at Wingate; that's 20 Game Days! On SGA Game Day every student who attends the game gets a free gift. In the past students have received t-shirts, sunglasses, food, noisemakers and much more.

Last Saturday however, students received FREE Chick-fil-a biscuits for waking up early and attending the cross country race. I'm convinced that cross country is the most active spectator sport. In every other sporting event, fans sit and watch the game from the stands. Not so with cross country, you have to run around to see the runners as they weave through the woods and around the campus lake. The races only last about a half hour so if you're late or not in the right spot, you'll miss the whole thing! So, even though we were tired from an early morning and had soaking wet feet, we did have full stomachs and got our exercise. All in all, I'd say it was a successful Saturday morning.

Posted by: Rachel McCullough

Bulldog Territory

2012-10-01T11:51:30-04:00

As a self-proclaimed psychologist and an avid eavesdropper (aforementioned in previous blog), I make a lot of observations in social situations. So be forewarned that what may be casual conversation to you is a psychological study to me, and if you sit behind me at a sporting event, you have volunteered yourself as a subject.

With that being said, the subjects of my most recent “study” were parents who were sitting behind me at the Wingate soccer games last Saturday. It didn’t take much time or much eavesdropping expertise to gather the information that I did. The parents were very vocal about their thoughts and feelings and although these said thoughts and feelings were clearly intended for evaluation by the referee with whom they were not happy, I took it upon myself to draw conclusions.

Taking into account both their tone and the scoreboard, I could understand that the parents were from the opposing team. It was exceptionally quiet every time a call was made in favor of Carson Newman, because most of the vocalization was seemingly triggered from anger toward the individual who was making the calls.

However, through my observations, I saw that nothing silenced these parents more than becoming surrounded by Wingate fans as the stands filled over time. The louder our fans were, the quieter the gang became. The more we cheered, the less they yelled. Beating of a drum and shouting of chants put to rest their beating of the referee and shouting of complaints. I loved to see how much support there was for our school and how powerful that support was. In that moment, the Bulldogs claimed their territory not only on the field, but in the stands as well.

Posted by: Kellen Williams

The "Bucket" List

2012-09-28T14:25:48-04:00

I’m sure it’s been said several times before, but I have no idea where the last three years have gone. The good news is…my senior year has approached and I’m stoked. It will be my fourth and final year of college swimming and I’m sure it will take up even more time than it has in the past three years, but that’s ok because the swimming is the one thing that keeps me in check and sticking to the task at hand. My swim team has offered so much to me; so much in fact, it’s going to be quite a sad moment when I touch the wall on my last race for Wingate. I hope this year I can offer back at least a fraction of what the team has offered me.

I’ve finally made it to the South Village (formerly Jefferson) apartments’ and I’m living with three awesome mates. We’re in the process of making our so called “bucket” list for the year and it’s looking pretty eventful so far. Unfortunately I’ve still got a decent amount of lyceum (cultural) credits I need to catch up on but I’m happy my apartment mates are right there along with me. We are going to have to squeeze in as many as we can over the next few months. When I’m out of season this year, in my spare time, I have a few plans of my own; I’d like to take a surfing trip to the beaches of Wilmington, go visit a mate in Florida for some more surfing, go on a small road trip with my sister when she visits and go see my cousin in San Diego, CA over one of the small breaks.

It’s going to be a fully loaded last two semesters but I’m excited.

Posted by: Rory Julyan

Embrace your inner NARP!

2012-09-24T09:41:46-04:00

First of all, I would like to send a HUGE “congratulations” to the winner of the Sneaker contest from my last blog! Brodric Dixon was on top his game all week and had the winning submission at 5pm last Friday! If you don’t know Brody, he’s a sneakerman himself and is always bringing a variety of flavorful kicks (a.k.a. SHOES) to campus.

Speaking of campus flavor, the beginning of the year has presented so many opportunities for students to get involved. Recruitment week started for the fraternities and sororities, all of our fall athletic teams have been begun their quest to become conference champions (again), and on-campus events are providing tons of entertainment as well as distractions from the overwhelming stress of the first weeks of classes. If you haven’t found anything fun to do yet on campus…you should probably get outside more often!

Keeping with the flavor theme I want to send a huge shout-out to all of the athletes on campus today for the delicious popsicles that they gave away for Student Fan Appreciation Day. All day, Wingate student-athletes passed out fall sports schedules and freeze pops to all the Bulldog supporters in appreciation for all the fan support we have shown and plan to take part in this year.

With that being said, NARP season began last week when Intramural Ultimate Frisbee began. For those of you not familiar with the acronym, a NARP is a Non-Athletic Regular Person! Some may see a problem with this title, but I encourage all of the non-athletes on campus to embrace your inner NARP! Take an extra nap, play video games, get your homework done early and cheer your heart out for every athletic team you can. If any NARP’s are interested in playing a sport, intramurals is are great way to go. Campus Recreation provides a highly competitive, fun environment for students to come out and make friends and stay active.

For anyone playing intramurals or attending on-campus events: If you come up, say “hello”, and mention my blog…I will include you in my special video blog that I will be making in the coming weeks. Have a great week Bulldogs.

Posted by: Andrew Lipscomb

Swing Dancing Intramural Champs

2012-09-21T16:58:56-04:00

That's kind of a misleading title. Yes, I did go swing dancing. Yes, I am an intramural champion. No, I am not a swing dancing intramural champion- but it did get your attention, didn't it? I'm actually a member of this year's woman's sand volleyball championship team. Intramurals are a big deal at Wingate; the winning team gets a free t-shirt and college students love free t-shirts. Especially one that says "champion" on it. I am now the proud owner of yet another intramural championship t-shirt. That, friends, was a great start to the weekend. Some other intramural sports offered by Wingate are flag football, ultimate frisbee, soccer, floor hockey, tennis, volleyball, and basketball and much, much more!

After dominating the tournament, a large group of students went Swing Dancing with GottaSwing Dancing in Charlotte. Wingate is centered in the ideal location for any college student. We're 30 miles southeast of the Charlotte, NC and 5 miles west of Middle-of-Nowhere, NC. Whether you like the exciting city life or back roads and farms, Wingate has it all nearby. My friends and I often venture into the country side of North Carolina and go to the drive-in movies or random small town restaurants but this last weekend, we made the trek into Charlotte. About 35 students from Wingate went and for $5 we learned basic swing dancing moves and spent the night practicing and perfecting our dance moves and laughing hysterically. It was a great time! One of my favorite things about Wingate is the location. When you come to Wingate, be sure to check in with the locals for hotspots and favorites and be sure to venture to Charlotte for fun, inexpensive weekends!

Posted by: Rachel McCullough

Nothing says Fall quite like Football

2012-09-19T14:49:44-04:00

School has started back up and the weather has started to cool down. Candy corn is not only back on shelves but is now also inside limited edition Oreo cookies. As much indication as there is for the changing of seasons, nothing says that Fall is here quite like a weekend full of football. So, in celebration of my favorite season and in support of my favorite football teams, I attended both the Wingate Bulldogs and the Carolina Panthers games this past weekend.

While I thoroughly enjoy watching a good football game, I have to admit that I enjoy watching the people there even more. In a tight competition for the title of My Favorite People at Which to Stare, people who dance in the stands have officially been surpassed by children who cheer and have no idea why.

At the Panthers game, directly in front of me was a little boy who was decked out in the opposing team’s gear, as was his family. A few seats away from him were two other little boys with Panthers gear and their faces painted. Meanwhile, I expanded my horizons and not only people watched but also began to eavesdrop as a group behind me discussed the phrase, “I grew up as a [Panthers] fan.”

While multitasking, I realized how often people become fans before they even know why. I am a Panthers fan, and having been one since B.C. (Before Cam), I know that the usual response to that statement is “why?” My answer has always been “because I grew up here.” I used to be the girl with the Jake Delhomme t-shirts, obviously without reason. Even now, I still wear my DeAngelo Williams jersey that I bought specifically because it had my last name on the back.

This is where I made comparisons between Saturday’s game and Sunday’s game. I am a Panthers fan because I grew up in Charlotte. I am a Bulldogs fan because I go to school at Wingate. I wear a Carolina Panthers jersey because I like the Panthers, but I wear a Wingate Bulldogs t-shirt because I am a Bulldog. And just as I look back on the 2004 NFL Superbowl and remember growing up as a Panthers fan, one day I can look back on the (anticipated) 2014 WU Graduation and remember growing up as a Bulldogs fan.

Posted by: Kellen Williams

Summer

2012-09-18T11:57:26-04:00

Well, to start, my summer isn’t really a summer. Every year I go back for “winter break.” The weather doesn’t really matter though; it just feels so great being back on familiar ground. It usually takes a few days for me to get used to everything again, the old friends, the old ways and the flow of Cape Town. But when I felt back at home, it was a comfortable feeling, one that put me at ease. Being back with family was a wholesome feeling. Seeing my dogs everyday was brilliant. Troy (my dog) made a year seem like only a week had gone by. He woke me up every morning without fail and was so stoked to see me whenever I got home, even if I had to come back and forth to the house a few times in one day.

My summer didn’t consist of lounging around the house every day; I trained hard at my club swim team to prepare for my senior year of college swimming. I completed an internship and helped my mom at work when she needed the extra hand. These aspects really took up the majority of my break but they were very beneficial. I learned a lot from my internship and it consolidated my decision of a future career. My swim practices definitely weren’t always enjoyable, especially because the weather was not good for the water temperature and at 5 AM, no one wants to hop into a cold pool.

I caught up on a decent amount of surfing and living 5 min away from the beach made it easy for frequent evening surf sessions. I got to surf my favorite spots and sometimes I’d finish the evening off with some sundowners on the beach. In a nutshell, my summer was pretty packed with schedules during the week but on the weekends, my family and I would pack in the activities that we all enjoyed, from wine tasting to watching rugby to surfing. My summer break gave me everything I miss during the year and enough to motivate me for the year ahead. I’m now glad to be back at college for my senior year. It’s going to be an awesome year!

Posted by: Rory Julyan

Social Networking Cleanse

2012-09-11T15:56:17-04:00

How often do you see one of your Facebook friends and walk past without saying hi? Do you check in with old friends to see how they’re doing, or do you assume you know because you follow them on twitter? Did you remember it’s your friend’s birthday by looking at the calendar or by looking at your news feed?
These are some of the questions I asked myself recently, and I am now on a “social networking cleanse.” It didn’t take long for me to realize how time consuming Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram were and how pointless an iPhone is without them. I now have to watch where I’m walking when I’m on the way to class and pay attention to people when they talk to me. I have to look out of the window to know whether or not it’s raining and I have to taste the food in the school cafeteria to know if it’s better or worse than usual. While I was surprisingly able to make all of these adjustments, I was also able to learn quickly that it wasn’t that hard to do so.
My one reluctancy in deactivating my accounts was that I felt they were the only way for some people to get in touch with me; they were my only way of staying connected. What I didn’t realize until I courageously disconnected was that I wasn’t any more connected with people then than I am now. Now, if I want to know what someone’s doing, I have to actually ask. When I ask how someone’s doing, unless it’s the predictable “I’m good, how are you?,” I don’t already know the answer. If I want to see a rainbow after an afternoon storm, I have to look in the sky instead of scrolling through Instagram.
Even though my “cleanse” has only been in effect for a short period of time, and there’s no guarantee that it won’t end once I have to procrastinate on my first paper of the semester, it has helped put things into perspective. I’ve learned a lot in a little bit of time; homework’s easier to do when it’s the only thing to do, SOPA and PIPA weren’t actually death threats, and connections do exist outside of WiFi hot spots.

Posted by: Kellen Williams

Back to school: Senior Year Edition

2012-09-11T16:03:59-04:00

Three years ago when I stepped on this campus, they told me every year would go faster than the last and I remember thinking, "No, this will never be over." During my orientation weekend at Wingate, I remember walking around campus crying. Yes, crying. I was 12 hours from home with nobody familiar around and I was terrified I wouldn't find any friends. Everyone else seemed to fit in and I remember thinking "That's it, I'm transferring." Thank God I didn't. I've met the best people in the world here at Wingate (and it definitely wasn't hard)!
Not only have I made best friends but I've also formed great relationships with faculty and staff members. This experience isn't unique to me! Wingate's professors are easy to relate to and make students feel comfortable instantly; whether by their fun personality or hilarious jokes and examples during class. Many of my friends and classmates have also formed meaningful bonds with professors and other faculty. Don't just take my word for it! Listen to what some friends have to say about their professors.
Jennifer Fuller, a sophomore at Wingate enjoys Dr. Coon's classes. She said ''I really like that Dr. Coon incorporates humor and sarcasm into his class because it helps you remember to not take everything so seriously."
Hayley Hoffman, Senior and Kaitlyn Weathers, Junior have Dr. Culley for Deviant Behavior psychology class. On the first day of class, Dr. Culley introduced himself then said, ''I'm going to go hide somewhere on campus, come find me in 5 minutes." Dr. Culley has a reputation for hands-on teaching; this was his way of teaching deviant behavior. The class finally found him hiding near Austin Auditorium. "There's rarely a boring class with Dr. Culley! He always finds a way to make things interesting." said Hayley Hoffman.
On a completely unrelated note, this week, we had a campus wide dodge ball tournament sponsored by Campus Outreach. About 300 students came out to watch and more than 170 people participated. I was on a team named "Super Ninja Awesome Sauce". Cool name, I know. We made it through the first round no problem but lost in the second round to the defending champs, the Wingate women's basketball team. The basketball team won again this year too, turns out they're good at more than just basketball! Everyone who went seemed to have a great time.

Posted by: Rachel McCullough

Hello again!

2012-08-20T09:32:05-04:00

If you caught my last blog you will notice that my summer was full of some fantastic adventures; however, it was not all just fun and games. In between all of the fun and games were long nights inside of a factory working 40-50 hours a week. Working third shift definitely has its downsides such as a disrupted appetite, shorter days in order to make time for sleeping, and EXTREME FATIGUE! Although it is unfortunate that we do have to work for a living my summer job does provide plenty of satisfaction on payday. In fact, the long hours made my sneaker collection, which I often mention my blogs, even more great! I was able to make some great purchases and grab a few of my favorite pairs of sneakers this summer. We all know that the purpose of having sneakers is to wear them so in an effort to display my newest “pick-ups” I will be wearing a different pair of my newest sneakers every day the first week of classes! Beginning on August 28th I will wear a different pair of sneakers until the end of the day on Friday the 31st. The first person to email or text me the names and styles of these sneakers by 5pm Friday evening will receive a NEW Nike Wingate t-shirt from me! In a not-so-secretive attempt to gain followers on my blog and twitter as well as a way to help those who may not see me or attend Wingate, I will be posting tweets and photos the entire week to help hint the names of the sneakers I am wearing that day! I will also be posting reminders up until my birthday (August 27th) about the “Sneaker Research Contest." I am very excited about this awesome attempt to utilize things I love (ie. style and media), in order to further connect with those who are interested in Wingate and me. I can’t wait to hear from all of you and good luck to everyone who participates!

Posted by: Andrew Lipscomb

Welcome back!

2012-08-16T13:36:56-04:00

I hope everyone had a fantastic summer and are excited to kick off a new school year! This summer was full of exciting times and has really made me anxious to begin my senior year! I’ve accomplished a lot over the last three months with work and preparation to begin the final chapter of my college career (hopefully); however this summer had three moments that stood out above the rest.

The first of which was my experience on my W’International trip to the French Caribbean. It was easily one of the greatest experiences of my life! The group of people around me and the activities that we participated in were truly incredible and something that I will never forget. Although we already knew each other, the bond that was formed during the trip was awesome. Whether scuba diving, zip lining, or enjoying the Caribbean cuisine, dancing, and beach… the entire experience was nothing short of perfect! It would take me hours to describe the trip in its entirety but if you are interested in W’International or my Caribbean experience feel free to shoot me an email.

Although I was home for the majority of the summer, Wingate was never very far away. I soon discovered through social media sites just how close I was to many of my fellow Bulldogs. Spending time with Becca, DJ, and Michelle was a great way to stay connected to my classmates and have a ton of fun at the same time. One of our greatest moments this summer was traveling to Asheville to attend “The Weeknd” concert at The Orange Peel. If you have never heard of “The Weeknd” I would highly advise that you give him a listen! He is a hip hop artist from Toronto that was found by and inducted into the group that Drake claims. It was the greatest concert that I have ever attended. Everything about it was great including the people that I went with! I cannot wait for my “summer crew” from the 828 to return to the 704 so that we can continue our great times at “The Gate”!

My last highlight of the summer is currently still happening. I decided to, once again, participate in the Wingate Leadership Institute in order to further develop myself as a leader and help prepare a special group of freshman for their first year of college. This program is truly special to me and I cannot describe the passion that I have for the development of the students. The preparation that they receive during the three week program can truly save them from a disaster during their first three weeks of the regular semester. Whether it’s waking up a hall full of guys at 7 a.m. for class, revising a dozen papers a day, or giving “Gabagail” a new nickname, the program is different every year and always entertaining. The relationships and growth of both the mentors and students is inspirational and irreplaceable by anything else that the summer could present.

Although it is going to be difficult not seeing my mother as often as I would like to and returning to 8 a.m. wake up calls for class… I am excited that the beginning of the school year is nearby. I’m very excited about blogging once again and cannot wait to hear from all of my readers for the remainder of the year!

Posted by: Andrew Lipscomb

Junior Year Summary - The List Version

2012-05-02T10:32:36-04:00

Top Ten Experiences of Fall Semester Junior Year
1) Meeting really cool freshman on my hall
2) Wingate football games
3) Massive trips to the drive-in movies
4) Going square dancing and eating BBQ at Campus Outreach women’s retreat in Asheville, N.C.
5) Lots of sand volleyball (when it was sunny)
6) Movie nights in friends’ apartments when it started to get cold out
7) Late night trips to cookout (after all the homework got done of course)
8) My sister getting engaged
9) Traveled to Virginia for a weekend trip with close friends to watch a men’s lacrosse scrimmage
10) A Halloween group date with close friends

Top Ten Experiences of Spring Semester Junior Year
1) Continuing to build relationships with cool freshmen on my hall
2) Going to Morrow Mountain State Park on MLK Day
3) My 21st birthday celebration (Surprise scavenger hunt planned by friends!)
4) Going to the Campus Outreach National Conference over New Year’s in Chattanooga, Tennessee
5) Having ladies baking/game nights on random Saturdays
6) Spring break at the beach with great friends
7) Easter break at home visiting friends and family
8) The weather being so warm during March/April- lots of hanging out outside
9) Leading a Bible Study of freshmen girls hungry for the Word of God!
10) Playing on a co-ed intramural volleyball team- the Captain Crushers

Top Ten Things I Learned Junior Year
1) You’ll get more out of school and classes if you actually do your homework and work hard. Overall, it’s much more enjoyable!
2) Make time to hang out with friends regardless of how busy your schedule is - you need to be refreshed
3) Don’t overload your schedule- learn to say no
4) Take advantage of your free time
5) Be sure to sleep
6) Keep meeting new people - meet as many as you can and take time to listen to their stories
7) Do what you say you’re going to do, when you say it
8) Take leaps of faith
9) Do things you think you can’t do
10) Don’t procrastinate

Top Five Regrets of Junior Year
1) Going to bed when I could have stayed up and hung out
2) Staying up when I should have gone to bed
3) Not making more plans for the weekends
4) Making too many plans on the weekend
5) Not taking more pictures

Everyone told me when I came to college that every year would go by quicker than the one before. And, they were right. Every year has gone by fast and every spring semester has gone twice as fast as the fall. I can’t believe next year I’m graduating; I wouldn’t trade my years at Wingate for anything.

Overall, junior year was absolutely amazing. I can’t believe it’s almost over though! Exams are coming fast and classes are finally winding down. This weekend four of my best girlfriends and I are going to a lake house for a relaxing weekend before the last day of classes.

I hope everyone has a wonderful summer; I know I will! I’ll be sure to keep in touch and take lots of pictures. If you have any questions, feel free to e-mail me over the summer!

Posted by: Rachel McCullough

Junior Year

2012-05-02T10:39:57-04:00

Well, this year has come and gone and absolutely flown by. My junior and third year at Wingate is coming to an end and within a few days I’ll be on a plane heading back home to Cape Town to see my amazing family and two beautiful dogs. I’ve missed it all so much, the sea, the mountains, the lingo and the familiar faces but I know that the minute I step on the plane I’m going to miss this just as much. This year has had so many ups and downs and has been actually quite emotionally draining at times, but I’ll be taking away so much with me. I’ve made new friendships and my already existing ones are only stronger. My teammates have created such a great bond that our workouts have become so productive and the results are evidence of this. We walked away with the conference championship title again, and we placed 5th at nationals. I’m confident that the team is no longer feeling like the underdogs anymore. Our efforts, commitments and achievements have established us as a team to be reckoned with. However, through the success, we’ve also lost several teammates and even worse, a coach.

I’m losing a coach at the end of this year and as a result, I’m saying goodbye to a mentor; he has been the mentor I’ve needed through my college career thus far. There have been days in the pool over the three years, that I’ve wanted to quit, walk away and not speak to him again. Yet, each time, I walk away with a greater understanding of myself. He has taught me to push myself to limits I thought I wasn’t ready for. We’d be at the end, the final stretch of a 10,000 yard practice on the last day of a hard week and he’d throw quotes at us like, “wring the towel out” (meaning give whatever is left in that body) or “when the tank is empty, look in the heart.” It gives me goose bumps thinking about those moments in the pool where there really isn’t anything left and mentally you’re zoned out, but you look over at a teammate and you hear your coach say something like that, you can’t help but give it one final push. Most of all my coach has taught me to examine myself and believe that things are possible.

The reminiscing has made me realize that before I know it, this time next year, I’ll be walking through the “gate” for my graduation. And despite the ups and downs, losses and successes, this year has been a good year. A great year. I’ve learned about myself and I’ve learned about others. My friends are some of the greatest guys I know and I’m looking forward to another great year with them next year.

Posted by: Rory Julyan

The Final Weeks

2012-05-02T10:48:20-04:00

The end of the year is so close that it has left me physically and emotionally torn for the past two weeks. With so many exciting things to look forward to at the end of the year and this summer it is tragic that it has to come with late nights in the library and exam preparation. So let’s take the good with the bad and put the last couple of weeks into perspective.

In case you missed it, Greek Week 2012 was great entertainment and the dedication shown by all of the fraternities and sororities should not go unnoticed. The trivia challenge, variety show and obstacle course all served as great entertainment all week and a way to escape the pressures of exams. If you’re looking for entertainment then on April 27 prepare yourself to be surrounded by it. SpringGate 2012 is going to be absolutely amazing and I would highly encourage everyone to attend. With the New Boyz performing and other activities such as cornhole, airbrush tattoos and a surfing simulator there will be tons of fun and prizes for everyone to obtain.

5 p.m.
-Twitter competition begins
- Pool party starts
-Cafe begins serving food
-Cornhole
-Surfing simulator
-Airbrush tattoos
-Bungee run

6:30 p.m.
-Food ends

7 p.m.
-Jerk contest

8:15 p.m.
-Opening Act: Brizzo Da Beast

9 p.m.
-Main Act: New Boyz

Final exams can be ridiculously stressful and if not executed correctly can eventually become the death of college students. Before exams it is important to understand your position in every class. Go visit your professors in order to figure out your current grade and what you need out of the final. Don’t feel pressured once you receive your “target grade,” many factors are considered before final grades are submitted. Make sure to complete all of the last minute assignments that you may have forgotten about before the last day of classes. Participation, attendance and homework grades are all things that you should evaluate before you begin worrying about final exams. On the day of exams be sure to get a good night’s sleep and a well balanced breakfast. Cramming for an exam the night before will only make it more difficult to execute during the exam; instead, balance your study time with other leisure activities to ensure you aren’t overwhelmed by all that you are doing.

Last but not least I would like to thank everyone who followed all of my crazy thoughts and stories this school year. I look forward to sharing more with you as the new semester begins in August! Everyone do great on final exams, enjoy your summer and as always feel free to shoot me an email over the summer about anything you’re concerned with. See you soon.

Posted by: Andrew Lipscomb

Easter

2012-04-13T14:24:51-04:00

Welcome back. Although the Easter bunny stopped visiting me a long time ago I had a terrific Easter break with my family and hope everyone else did too.

Easter break is always a great time for me because it is one of a few times of the year that my entire family is together. This year was extremely special because my best friend Dominique that I grew up with was able to take leave from his base in California to come visit his friends and family for a few weeks. Because he is in the Air Force it was the first time that I have seen him in months and it gave us a chance to reminisce on old times and cause a ruckus, as well. It’s unfortunate that I don’t get to spend as much time with him as I used to, but it doesn’t bother me as much because I know he is away for a great cause. He will always be a hero to me for defending our country and truly inspires me to want to make an impact one day just as he is.

Check out my photo!

Speaking of impacts, I am highly impressed with the level of on-campus involvement that I have been seeing from students on campus lately. Many of you are aware of the Trayvon Martin murder story and have different opinions on the subject; however, anytime you see a group of people unify for a cause it is something that should be recognized. Regardless of the standpoint you have on the case it is great to see that college students are aware of what is going on in the world and are not afraid to make a difference. Heather Davis who was the head of the “I am Trayvon Martin” campus supporters was able to rally students who wanted to be seen and heard to make a difference in the Wingate community. Heather sent me this statement, "We didn't know you, we were never friends, and we have never even seen each other. I am sorry that we had to learn who you may have been through these tragic events, but to the Martin family and Trayvon Martin himself we will speak for you through the people, and we, as the people, will bring you justice." This message is truly inspirational and I hope it motivates others not to be afraid to stand up for what you believe in.

Check out my photo!

Student involvement and leadership is a huge part of what keeps this campus rolling along. Faculty and staff alone cannot keep the campus thriving so it is often up to students to help with many of the activities that go on around campus. For those interested in making a difference on campus I would highly encourage you to apply for one of the committee positions through SGA on Orgsync.com and become a greater part of the Bulldog community. With the year ending many positions are looking to be filled for next year, and so now is a great time to apply for a position that could give you a chance to make a difference.

Posted by: Andrew Lipscomb

Easter Break

2012-04-13T14:38:00-04:00

On Friday morning at 4:30 a.m. my four mates and I crammed into a tiny car and hit the road headed toward Satellite Beach, Florida. We said goodbye to North Carolina’s gloomy drizzle and with tired eyes looked forward to Satellite’s warm rays, decent waves and fun easy-going nightlife.

Our friend Spencer and his mother were nice enough to invite us stay with them for the long weekend and showed us some great Floridian hospitality. After our 9 hour drive we eventually arrived and were greeted by palm trees, surf shops, the smell of the sea and the noise of the waves. We stopped at his house long enough to greet his mother, grab a snack and then we were immediately off to the nearest surf spot (which was 2 blocks down). I was in my element and reminded of home. It had been long overdue since I was on a surfboard out in the back line in the ocean. The weather was warm to hot from sunrise and long after sunset. Spency has a dog at his house so we were all pretty stoked to play with Abby. Needless to say I was a very happy guy.

After our surf on Friday night, we had worked up a large appetite because we were out in the water for quite a while. So went to a local hot spot called Dakine Diegos where we were all recommended to order the Insane burrito that is so big that when you receive it, it comes with a step by step instruction manual on how to eat it. It was awesome! The small restaurant had such character; the only covering offered was at the concession area and the tiki styled umbrellas. Flip-flops were posted up on the walls, you were allowed to write on the benches and chairs and surf/skating stickers were everywhere. It offers a relaxed and unpretentious vibe.

The theme to our days spent in Satellite Beach consisted of several hours of surfing, then relaxing in the Jacuzzi, eating and hitting the local bars for a drink or two. On Easter Sunday we woke decently early to go to church with the family. It was a great service and when we returned we had the whole family around, some of Spency’s friends too and we had a brilliant lunch. Once the food had barely settled we set off for an evening surf session with Spencer’s brother. It was perfect; the sun was setting, the wind was dying down and I was out in the waves with a handful of superb friends.

Monday was our last day and we had to hit the road by 12, so we woke up for an early surf. The conditions were small but still lots of fun. We packed a good surf in and fueled ourselves for the long ride back with another insane burrito. I felt fortunate to experience the way one of my good mates grew up. His mother also took great care of us and we all enjoyed getting to know her a little better. Satellite Beach is a lovely place, comparable to a hidden gem. I’m sure I’ll be visiting it again sometime soon.

Posted by: Rory Julyan

Spring break, again?

2012-04-13T14:44:14-04:00

I’ve been thinking a lot about spring break, mostly about how I want to go back. For Spring Break 2012 I went to one of my favorite places in the world, the beach.

I love the beach. I love the salty smell of the air when you get about 15 miles from the shore. I love the way the sun beats down on your skin while you are laying in the sand. I love the way you can wear your hair in a messy ponytail and no one says a thing because that’s acceptable at the beach. I love how you never know what time it is; your clock is your stomach and when you’re hungry that means it’s lunch time. I love how a day can be spent without your cell phone, the internet, or any technology. I love how time flies by but the days last forever; how you soak up time with friends like you soak up the sun and you pray the day never ends. I love how when the sun goes down, the night has just begun. (In the case of my friends, that means a long night of fighting to keep sleepy eyes open while watching movies and laughing at things that aren’t even funny.) The beach is the place where time stands still and the only thing that can go wrong is that the day goes by too quickly.

Three weeks of school left. It’s the busy time of the semester. I have three projects due in one class, two papers and an exam in another, and the stress of final exams is just starting to creep into my mind. I miss spring break and the beach. Easter break is like a summer tease. It’s just long enough to forget about school work, at least for an afternoon, and just enough time to get used to Mom’s home cooking before having to come back. It’s time to get back on the grind until the semester ends! All of this is why I’ve been thinking so much about spring break. In just a few short weeks Wingate will hold its final classes for the spring 2012 semester, exams will begin and end quickly, and summer will be here. And for summer, I’m going back to the beach. Three more weeks everybody, finish strong!

I’ll tell you a little bit more about my spring break at Myrtle. Well, 10 of us slept 2 to a bed in a small house with one shower and two toilets. Needless to say it was interesting. We spent most of our time playing sports; it was an athletic group (mostly). We played 5 on 5 football on the beach, lots of volleyball, basketball at the courts, and games in the pool. And yes, we did run into the ocean during the first week of March. YOLO right? (You Only Live Once.) It was a blast! We were all very tired after the three day excursion and couldn’t wait to take a hot shower and sleep in our own bed.

I put up some pictures from the trip so that you can experience the beach with us. Enjoy!

Feel free to send some encouraging emails to me!

Posted by: Rachel McCullough

If there was ever a busy week...

2012-03-30T14:00:44-04:00

If there was ever a busy week - it’s this week. And it’s not only me that thinks that; all of my friends are swamped with school work too! I think the professors just realized there are only 6 weeks of school left and they still have so much they want to teach us. So, they’re teaching it all at once, with lots of homework involved. Literally every bit of free time I’ve had this week, I’ve spent doing homework. When I complain to my mom she says, “Yep, you ARE in college after all.” Which is a good point; I don’t know what I was expecting. It just seems like it’s piled on all at once! But that’s enough complaining, there are benefits to these assignments. For example, we’re getting a lot of hands on experience in a majority of my classes.

In my Professional and Technical Writing class, we just got done making a handbook for the communications department. We made an official front and back cover and filled the inside with information about the department of communication. We included anything we thought incoming freshman would want to know about the communication major. I actually enjoyed doing the project because we worked in groups and put to practice what we had been learning in class. Such as, designing a document, use of fonts and white space, font size, page layouts, and how to write memos and emails and then we put it all together in the handbook.

In my Feature Writing class we are learning to write personal perspective stories. We put this to practice and wrote about different topics we are knowledgeable about. Some of them are even going to get published in the University’s newspaper, The Weekly Triangle! I posted the one I wrote about being a resident assistant on the blog so you can check that out too. So, while there is a lot going on academically, (this is just a small insight into a little of the work for two of my classes) it is all useful skills that I’ll be using when I graduate. I definitely feel like I’m being prepared for the “real world” after college! Can’t complain about that!

In my Global Perspectives in Ethics class, we recently read a great book called “The Other Wes Moore.” This book is about the author, Wes Moore, who grew up in Baltimore and despite circumstances, made a name for himself. The author Wes Moore heard about another man named Wes Moore who was sentenced to life in prison for murder and also grew up in Baltimore. The book is about the author’s journey discovering who he is and how his background impacted him while getting to know the other Wes Moore in jail. It’s a very interesting book that really gets you thinking about a lot of issues! Lucky for us, the author Wes Moore came to Wingate on Monday! We got to listen to him speak more about his experiences and listen to some advice on how to make the most of your life while you’re here on Earth! It was very inspirational and a treat to get to meet him after reading about his life in the book.

Then, tonight I got to go to another program! The Cannon and Alumni Residence Halls co-hosted an event with the Black Student Union and brought a guest speaker to campus. She spoke on sexual assault and domestic violence. Afterwards, there was a demonstration on self defense. It was very informative and I feel much more knowledgeable in the definitions of these terms and more confident in defending myself!

So as you can see, this week has been busy not only because of all the homework, but there are also so many events to go to on campus. This weekend is sure to be busy too. I have a leadership retreat for my summer plans. I’m going to The Summer Beach Project, an 8 week program in Myrtle Beach sponsored by a campus ministry, Campus Outreach. This weekend is our leaders’ retreat where we’ll get to spend some time getting to know one another before we live together for 8 weeks at the beach. I’m very excited! And, to add to the excitement, Friday is my birthday. Bring on the weekend!

I hope you all have a great Easter celebrating Jesus’ death and resurrection! Feel free to shoot me any emails filled with questions.

Posted by: Rachel McCullough

Untold Life of an RA

2012-03-30T14:11:41-04:00

They live in the middle of your hall. They’re your first friend when you move on campus. They plan events and programs, knock on your doors, and ask you nicely to quiet down. They hang up flyers, put up new bulletin boards, and make you feel welcome when college is overwhelming during your first few weeks on campus. Who are these busy students? They are Wingate’s resident assistants (RAs). Besides the activities one sees their RA doing on the hall, there are a lot of things people don’t know about their RAs. I have been a resident assistant for two years in the Cannon Residence Hall. I’ve seen a lot of interesting things and been asked some interesting questions.

What exactly is a resident assistant’s job? In Wingate’s Residence Life office, we believe our job is to build community among residents, monitor health and safety, enforce university policies, and be a resource for residents. But, most importantly, a resident assistant’s job is to be a friend for residents.

These duties are performed in various ways. One of the ways a resident assistant builds community is by holding programs. Programs are events held by the RAs for all residents to come to and get to know one another. Popular programs include: coloring and cookie parties, movie nights, tye-dying, canvas painting, and game nights.

RAs monitor health and safety by performing monthly health and safety inspections. The purpose of these inspections is to make sure residents’ living conditions are sanitary and healthy, and to be sure there are no maintenance requests or anything wrong with the room.

Resident assistants enforce university policies by helping enforce quiet hours and drinking regulations, among other policies. Contrary to popular belief, your RA isn’t “out to get you,” but just doing his or her job. Believe me, we hate busting up parties as much as you hate getting them busted.

On top of these duties, Wingate RAs have weekly meetings with the resident directors, deal with roommate conflicts and other hall issues and help take care of maintenance requests. They also act as a liaison between university officials and students, and help with check-in and check-outs at the beginning and end of the school year. RAs show up to school two weeks in advance to go through training in areas such as fire safety and to learn how to deal with issues such as sexual assault and suicide. They also stay after graduation in the spring in order to help with check-outs.

While RAs do receive a small scholarship, any resident life staff member will be the first to tell you we don’t do it for the money. There are far too many duties and requirements to justify the scholarship. We do it because we care about our residents and their well-being while at Wingate. I view my residents as friends and enjoy hanging out with them in my spare time!

While there are many rewarding parts of being an RA, such as seeing students adjust to college while getting involved and making friends, there are also a few not-so-positive aspects of being a resident assistant. I won’t mention any names, but I’ve been asked some pretty silly questions at pretty ridiculous hours of the morning.

Here’s the back story: during the weeks leading up to school, the residence life staff is extremely busy getting ready for students - this means early mornings and late nights. The first day we were able to sleep in was the first Saturday morning students were on the halls. At 7:30 AM, I wake up to knocking on my door. I shuffle to the door thinking “somebody better be dead.” I open the door to a shy freshman girl asking “Did I wake you up?” I told her yes and asked “What’s up?” She said, “The orientation packet said the cafeteria would be open at 7:30 AM, but it’s closed and I’m hungry. Do you know why it’s closed?” I tried to keep my calm and told her it was probably a misprint but there was a McDonald’s right around the corner where she could get some breakfast.

This may seem like a small, insignificant story, but it’s not unusual. My first year as an RA, I was woken up at least once a week in the middle of the night by residents who were locked out of their room, fire alarms going off, questions needing answered “right away,” or noise. Being an RA helps you learn patience. By the way, the girl who asked about the cafeteria and I ended up being good friends. I guess you have to meet people sometime, even if it is 7:30 AM!

One of my favorite stories as an RA took place one spring afternoon. I was on my way to Wal-Mart with some friends and I received a text from a resident explaining there was a spider in the shower. She wanted to know what to do with the spider. I told her what any logical person would say, kill it. She said she was concerned about it having spider babies inside and if she killed it there would be tons of spiders crawling around the showers. Maybe it’s because I’ve never actually seen that turn of events take place, but to me that sounded like the most ridiculous argument for not killing a spider that I’d ever heard. I told her to use another shower and I’d take care of it when I got back. When I got back, it was gone. I’m still not sure what happened to the monster spider.

The grossest thing I’ve ever done as a RA was mop sewage water out of a hallway at midnight. I remember this night very vividly; I was exhausted and had a huge paper due the next day. But, to my dismay, the septic system had other plans for my night. Girls on another floor had been flushing things that weren’t supposed to be flushed, which resulted in a flooded fourth floor Cannon at midnight on a Thursday. So, I begrudgingly put on my rain boots, grabbed a mop and helped mop sewage water out of Cannon.

Obviously, being an RA isn’t always a glamorous job. RAs deal with a lot of craziness and quite a few duties, including duty nights scattered three to four times throughout the month. Being on duty means that the RA is responsible for their area that particular night- including walking up and down every hallway and making sure nothing unusual is going on. That particular night when I was on duty, the hall flooding with sewage counted as something very unusual.

Being an RA is not an easy job but it is worth it. The people you meet and live with make an impact on your heart forever. Getting to know so many girls and build friendships outweighs almost all the negatives. My advice, be nice to your RA, they have a lot going on. And, be an RA if you have the chance, it’s worth the sleepless nights.

Posted by: Rachel McCullough

Busy on campus!

2012-03-30T15:45:21-04:00

The past two weeks here at school have been an unwanted preview of exam week which is sneaking up in May. Over the course of about 5 days I have had a test in every single class except for one and a ton of other things going on besides my hectic study schedule. I can’t complain, however, because in the past week I have been involved with a lot of exciting events.

One of the few things that I am involved with here on campus is the Student Actions Committee. We are currently in the process of planning the SpringGate 2012 concert in which the New Boyz will be performing! Planning this event is becoming a full time project as we are now less than 30 days away from the first ever SpringGate festival. Contests, food, music, and prizes are just a part of the fun activities planned for the April 27th concert and hopefully a few surprises are in the making as well.

Click here for a photo!

Being a tour guide on campus, a part of my job is to be a group leader for Top Scholars Day every year for incoming freshmen. This is one of my favorite events every year because it really gives me a chance to interact and meet with the future of Wingate and also gives me the opportunity to positively impact the incoming freshmen. This was the first year that the Wingate Admissions department decided to do the Tweet for Tuition Challenge and the incoming freshmen gave every bit of creativity they had to try to win. The contest was between the entire incoming freshmen class who wanted to participate. They had to “twitpic” a photo of themselves along with a tiny Wingate yard flag in the most creative way they can for a chance to earn free tuition for their first semester at Wingate. The photos were great and can be found on the Wingate University timeline for anyone interested in viewing them (@WingateUniv or @WingateAdm). I was lucky enough to have the winner on tour the next week and would like to send a huge congratulation to David Cobb.

Click here for a photo!

In my bio it states that my favorite class was interpersonal communications with Larry Coleman; however, after only half a semester in Dr. McDivitt’s ethics course I think I can say that it is definitely my favorite so far. Over the summer during the Wingate Leadership Institute that I mentioned in an earlier blog we had to read a novel titled “The Other Wes Moore.” It immediately became one of my favorite reads and being in Dr. McDivitt’s ethics class gave me a chance to go further in depth with the novel. The author Wes Moore came and visited the campus earlier this week and Dr. McDivitt was able to get me and a few other students a chance to have dinner with him and hear him speak. His speech was truly inspirational and after speaking with a few other students it is easy to see that he really touched a lot of the students with a powerful message. Meeting him was the experience of a lifetime and one that I will remember forever.

Click here for a photo!

Aside from my hectic week I was able to grab a couple of 25 cent strawberry lemonades today and do some fishing with my friends and after this marketing test I’m about to take it will be all downhill until exam week. I hope everyone gets through this crazy time of the year okay and hope to hear from you online!

Click here for a photo!

Posted by: Andrew Lipscomb

It’s time for Special Olympics again!

2012-03-30T16:13:11-04:00

The swim team is officially in off-season now and one of our commitments to service is hosting the Special Olympics for the local mentally disabled or handicapped youth. They absolutely love it! I don’t know if it’s the water or just the attention and activities but they can’t wait to come back each year. Basically, each swimmer on the team pairs up with a Special Olympian, every Thursday, for four weeks which is when we actually host the event. Each week, depending on their athleticism, we get them more accustomed to the water and eventually get them prepared for their specific races. It can be great fun interacting with them. In the beginning, especially for the freshmen who are new to the program, it may seem like a foreign environment but as soon as you become accustomed to it, it becomes fun getting to know what your athlete enjoys. I had mentioned in a previous blog that there is such a fulfilling feeling in an act of service. And today I reminded myself of that. I was having a rather dull day and certain things seemed a little daunting; just one of those days when I wished I could’ve packed it up and planned for better the next day. However, my commitment was at 6 o’clock and when I walked out just after 7 my problems didn’t seem so overwhelming. Instead it was replaced with, in my opinion, an achievement.

Since my freshman year, we’ve always had two girls commit their time to organizing this event for us and for the athletes. Those two girls graduated last year and this year Amanda Gilbert and Lindsey Taylor stepped up and took on the responsibility for the next four weeks. Thank you, girls.

We will also be attending a walk this Saturday morning in downtown Monroe for the stand against domestic violence. It must be the season for service, haha. I’m glad I can be part of it though.

Posted by: Rory Julyan

Spring is upon us!

2012-03-23T09:44:11-04:00

It’s that time of the year again when things are heating up, flowers have bloomed and pollen is EVERYWHERE!

To me, spring is the best time of the year; it feels like an environment of renewed hope and inspiration is created. I just came back from my national championships hosted in Dallas; it went really well. The team did brilliantly, I walked away with a few more All-American awards and we all gained a greater level of respect for each other. It was really cool being in a different state for a while. It was my second time visiting Texas for nationals and the heat down there is always a sneak preview for what is about to hit us. One of my mates from South Africa made it back to nationals as well and catching up with him was awesome.

I’m now on a two week break before we start up with off-season training. It’s a fun time. The weather is lovely, girls are looking gorgeous in their summer dresses and I have no afternoon commitments. I’m catching up on some recreational time at the Jefferson pool, playing a little volleyball and soaking up some rays. This weekend we’ll probably head down to the campus lake for a cookout and then retire on the water in a canoe until one of us pushes each other out of one, ha ha. We are all approaching the final stretch of this semester, class registrations are upon us and so are housing sign-ups. Before we know it we’ll have finals staring us in the face. So, my plan is to enjoy this time. It’s my last few weeks with my college mates before I head back to Cape Town for the summer break.

Posted by: Rory Julyan

Spring is in the air!

2012-03-21T09:28:12-04:00

Welcome back once again! I hope everybody had an incredible spring break experience and was safe returning back to school.

It is crazy to think that the semester is already halfway over! Spring is in the air and definitely apparent around campus. The pool has been packed this week as summer has everyone working on their tans while enjoying the sun. I personally have maxed out my tan and am trying to avoid all the pollen in the air. So while everyone is having fun I'll be inside watching with water balloons and a box of Claritin.

Adjusting to the new heat was, however, a huge upgrade from my spring break. Over the break I decided to go and visit one of my best friends in New Hampshire to celebrate her 21st birthday. This was especially exciting for me because despite traveling many places I had never been on a plane! My first flight ever would be by myself to a foreign place I had never been. I prepared for the climate change but had no idea that it would be as bad as it was. I went from weather in the mid 60s to a snow storm my first night in NH. Despite all the differences my trip was great! The flight was wonderful and I enjoyed every part of flying. Even running through the airport to try to make my flight home was entertaining.

My next time on a plane will be flying to the islands of Martinique and Guadalupe for W’International in May. Spring break prepared me for the experience, and as if I wasn't eager enough, I can't wait to depart now! For those who aren't familiar with the W’International program at Wingate I would definitely advise that you research it online or even contact our International Studies Office for more opportunities to study overseas. If you are interested in hearing about the experience from a student’s point of view feel free to contact me as well.

As the semester winds down I hope everyone stays studious over the last few months of school, and I hope to hear from a few people with questions!

Posted by: Andrew Lipscomb

More Big Visitors at The ‘Gate!

2012-03-16T14:12:47-04:00

In case you haven’t picked up on this from my previous blog, Wingate University is kind of a big deal! Like I said in my last blog, we bring many speakers and performers to Wingate almost weekly. Right before spring break we had Jeffrey Ball, a Woodrow Wilson Visiting Fellow, come to campus and attend various classes as a guest speaker and hold a public lecture. Ball was the environmental editor for the Wall Street Journal up until recently; he is now at Stanford University as a scholar-in-residence.

I had the opportunity to hear Ball in my Global Perspectives in Ethics and Feature Writing classes. In my ethics class we discussed issues such as global warming and the oil spill in the Gulf Coast. Ball covered the oil spill for The Wall Street Journal and shared what he learned from the experience in terms of ethics. We had a great class discussion! It was enjoyable for me because he spoke using terminology that we could understand. After all, this was an ethics class not an environmental biology class!

In the Feature Writing class he brought in some of the stories he wrote while at The Wall Street Journal for us to read and discuss. This part was my favorite because we could actually see that the things we are learning in class are applicable in real-life job situations. The advice he was giving about feature writing is what we were already in the process of learning and practicing in class! It was a great experience to see what our hard work now could turn into in the future. Ball’s visit also helped me get excited to graduate and see what kind of opportunities are out there!

On a completely unrelated topic, if you’re not in North Carolina this week, I feel sorry for you. Today, it was 86 degrees outside. And it’s March! I just can’t get over this beautiful weather! When it’s nice out, my friends and I love to get a blanket and some lawn chairs and sit in the yard beside the residence hall. Today, we sat outside and did homework for two hours between classes; it was amazing. My philosophy is, if you have homework to do, you might as well do it with friends and sunshine! Lazy, warm, southern days are one of my favorite parts about being at Wingate. The campus atmosphere is friendly and inviting, especially on sunny days. For example, today probably half of the campus was hanging out at the outdoor pool, playing volleyball, lying on lawns around campus doing homework, or playing Frisbee. Hope you come visit us soon and experience some of what Wingate has to offer, everything from famous journalists to afternoons around the pool!

Posted by: Rachel McCullough

Leap Day

2012-03-05T07:45:46-04:00

I'm writing this blog on February 29th also known as leap day! I personally can never keep up with when leap years are but after realizing that this is a leap year I started thinking about this day in a different way. I decided it would be a perfect time to propose or give birth because then you have an excuse to only give gifts every four years! A time capsule would be a fun experiment to try on leap year to see how much you have changed or developed over four years. Also leap year adds another day to Black History Month which is another chance to give thanks to the symbolic figures of our past.

Aside from leap year I wasn't quite sure what to blog about so I decided to take some suggestions. I was asked by a friend to address some of the clothing options that can be seen around campus on warmer days. I preached in my last blog about social media and so I thought I would save that idea for a summer day. I was going to go into depth about the two latest intramural championships I won but with two more sports seasons coming up I decided to see how those go before I submit that blog. So after little help from a few of my friends I turned to my personal consultant and biggest fan, my mother. I know millions of people read my blog (in my dreams) but I can always expect to hear from my mom when I post a new blog. With Mother’s Day upcoming in May, I decided to show some early appreciation for my number 1 lady. Lately we have been trying to figure out how to adopt my best friend and Bahamian brother Tai so that he can stay in the country after graduation. By the way if anyone knows how to get a green card feel free to shoot me an email! My sister is graduating this year and thinks she is grown already and so the other half of our discussion goes towards her. Besides that, a lot of laughs and love can be felt between us and no matter what she always makes me miss home. I am all for staying at school on weekends but there's nothing like visiting Mom every so often. So if you haven't already, call your mother and tell her you love her! Embrace your family over spring break and I'll hopefully hear from everyone soon!

Posted by: Andrew Lipscomb

Mick Reynolds

2012-03-05T07:56:41-04:00

This is a feature story I wrote for Feature Writing Class about Mick Reynolds, the Associate Director of Residence Life. It's a great insight into one of the staff members at Wingate University! Hopefully it gives you an inside look at some of the people that live and work in Wingate! Enjoy!

A hoola hoop, a large piece of paper filled with goals, a bulletin board full of memos, and a birthday card from the residence life staff fills the office of Michael (Mick) Reynolds. He leans back leisurely in the black arm chair that sits in front of his desk, sticks his tongue out slightly and laughs at himself as he debates how to answer “Most people would describe me as…” After about ten seconds he answers “dedicated, if you’re going for a serious answer.” Silly answer? “Incredibly handsome.” That’s Mick in a nutshell. His serious side shows during his job as the Associate Director of Residence Life at Wingate University yet his goofy personality shines in casual conversations in the office. Mick is originally from Cleveland and attended Kenyon College in Ohio where he majored in American Studies. Mick never planned on working with Residence Life, he grew up wanting to be a professional football player. “At some point I stopped growing and my body started falling apart, so what are you gonna do?” And so, higher education is where he landed.

Mick’s wearing khaki dress pants, a button down shirt, and a navy and gold bowtie. “I always thought I grew up in the wrong time period, I’m bringing back the 40s.” He says as he crosses his legs, clearly comfortable with being questioned about personal and professional life. Reynolds started looking for jobs in North Carolina to be closer to his then girlfriend. He found out about Wingate at a higher education conference in Atlanta. He recalls interviewing, coming to visit the school, and finally sealing the deal on the job. “I wouldn’t call Wingate home, but it’s a great place to live and I’ve made some great relationships.”

It’s obvious what is most important in Mick’s life: relationships, particularly with family and friends. Out of all the accomplishments Mick’s had at Wingate, he’s most proud of the relationships he’s built. It’s clear to anyone who has ever had a conversation with Reynolds that he cares deeply for people and wants to see them succeed. His favorite part about working at Wingate? Working with and helping the students. “I’ve had great coaches and mentors and people I’ve grown up with. I’ve felt indebted to that and felt I needed to give back.” Gray Spivey, a Resident Director at Wingate has nothing but positive things to say about Reynolds. When asked “What’s the worst experience you’ve ever had with Mick?” Spivey was speechless and could only answer “Sometimes he makes me do things I don’t want to do, like duty rounds.” Spivey recounts great memory after memory with Mick both in and out of the office. A down day in the office resulted in paper airplanes being tossed at Mick and as he’s playfully swatting them out of the air, he states “I feel like King Kong” to which Spivey erupted in laughter. “Mick’s a great guy.” A five word summary from Spivey: “snazzy-dresser, caring, helpful, awesome, handsome”.

A great look into Mick’s life can be found on Twitter. A residence life staff member, Stuart Lockhart, created a fake twitter account for Reynolds, @fakemicreynolds. “I think it’s funny, I’m surprised people actually want to follow it.” Fakemicreynolds biography states: “Cleveland native, I don't have problems I have solutions, I don't use the words can’t or won't holla at ya boi...DEUCES!!” It has 56 followers including his family and is described to be a fairly accurate account of things Reynolds would say but “with a twist” says Spivey. One of the latest tweets states: “I could win dancing with the stars with no legs #funfact”. While his fake Twitter account may not show it, Reynolds is humble but admits he can often come across as cocky to those he first meets. He buzzes his lips and looks around the office as he explains he can come across as arrogant when talking about things he is passionate about. But, as cliché as it sounds Mick wouldn’t want to be anybody else: “I don’t think I would want to be anyone else. We always have the idea that the grass is greener on the other side; we don’t have any idea about struggles and issues they have on the other side.”

Mick’s goals ten years from now, serious answer: “I just hope I’m happy. I don’t know where I’ll be or what I’ll be doing and I think that’s okay.” Silly answer: “retired and independently wealthy.”

Posted by: Rachel McCullough

“Fundatory”

2012-03-05T08:03:27-04:00

Fundatory - an adjective meaning mandatory fun; a word created by the residence life staff at Wingate University.

We had a fundatory meeting earlier this semester. After a long day of spring semester RA training everyone was ready for bed. But, to our dismay there was an event scheduled for 8 p.m. that night. Everyone was complaining about how tired they were and how no one wanted to go to this “surprise” event. But, we were told it was fundatory aka mandatory fun. The Resident Directors then pulled up a video of a room full of trampolines! Trampolines lined the floors and the walls. There were clips of people doing flips into foam pits and of people playing dodge ball on trampolines. This looked much more exciting than what we were expecting, so we gladly headed to Sky High Sports in Pineville, N.C. Once we got there, it was just as much fun as we were hoping for. Groups sign up to jump for an hour at a time and by the end of that hour, you’re exhausted from fun! We jumped, laughed, fell down, attempted flips, did crazy stunts into the foam pit, and sweat, a lot. Basically, it was a great night! We were actually glad it was mandatory! Not only did we learn about this new fun place to go, but we also invented a new word, fundatory. I encourage you to use it in everyday life. Let me know how it goes!

Click here to see photos!

This week I’ve been looking forward to spring break; it’s SO CLOSE! Five classes and four hours of work stand between me and some time to relax, finally! My big plans: sleep, read, eat, sleep again, and then sleep one more time. College students have a bad habit of staying up late and then dragging themselves out of bed for early classes. I have a bad habit of doing this to the extreme when I know a break is coming up. I rationalize it in my head by thinking “a break is right around the corner, you can push your limits and rest in a few days!” So, I’m pushing my limits and I’m ready for a break! I plan to hang out in South Carolina and then head to the beach for a few days. I’m very excited! Don’t worry, I’ll take a ton of pictures so those of you that live far from the beach can imagine yourself there.

These last few weeks before spring break have definitely been enjoyable! Aside from midterms, we’ve been having a lot of fun going to different events on campus. We went to a concert last weekend that was performed by Ladysmith Black Mambazo. It was amazing! These guys are so good that they were actually banned from competing in South Africa because they were winning everything and no one could come close to comparing to their incredible sound. This is an expert from their website, http://www.mambazo.com/index.php,

“By special invitation from South African President Nelson Mandela, they performed for the Queen of England and the Royal Family at the Royal Albert Hall in London. The group has also performed at two Nobel Peace Prize Ceremonies, a concert for Pope John Paul II in Rome, the South African Presidential inaugurations, the 1996 Summer Olympics and many other special events. In the summer of 2002, Black Mambazo was again asked to represent their nation in London at a celebration for Queen Elizabeth’s 50th Anniversary as Monarch. They shared the stage with Paul McCartney, Rod Stewart, Eric Clapton, Joe Cocker and Phil Collins.”

As you can see, these men are very impressive. It was a joy to watch them sing and perform dances that originated in South Africa. One of my favorite things about Wingate is that we bring groups as talented as Ladysmith Black Mambazo to the University for the community and students to enjoy! It was definitely a night I won’t be forgetting anytime soon! Watching these grown men kick high above their heads repeatedly while singing perfectly and entertaining flawlessly is a sight that has become engrained in my head; it was phenomenal!

Posted by: Rachel McCullough

A week of anticipation

2012-03-05T08:16:11-04:00

This past week has been an irritating week for a few of my mates and me. We walked away from a team victory at our swimming conference championships but unfortunately did not qualify for nationals. (In order to qualify for nationals, one must swim a standard time, the A-cut, or be placed within the top 16; however, it is situational.) Within the few days leading to the conference champs, my coach and a few of us took a calculated chance of not tapering fully and not shaving either. This was done so that if or when we qualified for NCAA nationals, we would have those luxuries to fall on.

The meet was going well and we were in the lead; however, we hadn’t achieved our A-cut. It came down to the last day when the four of us were nervously anticipating our chance at achieving it in the 400 freestyle relay. In the morning during the prelims we missed it by half a second. It was a little disappointing because it would have been a great relief of stress had we achieved it but we knew we still had the finals that night and believed we could drop the necessary time to get it. That night, the atmosphere was perfect. We were feeling good and there was massive support behind us, it ranged from our entire team to parents and even Mr. Poston on the pool deck. The four of us put it on the line and swam to our best ability that night. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough and we missed the required A-cut by .03 of a second. For the four of us, time stood still for a moment and the disappointment seemed a little overwhelming. It was hard to accept that all the work we had put in during our grueling season came down to this race and we missed it by an amount of time that you would miss if you blinked. We were so fortunate to have such a great support system. Our teammates, coaches and parents really lifted us and showed how proud they were of us. They reminded us that our efforts were not unnoticed and that the effort was admirable. We gained the respect of our competitors that night, too, when they showed their appreciation for our competitiveness.

Last week, the week following conference, was the week leading to our second chance. Our coach decided we were not going to sit back and wait to find out if we were going to be invited to NCAA nationals. Instead we were going to drive down to UGA and compete in a meet. There were 12 of us, half girls and half guys, heading to a competition with a purpose. This time of the season is hard because most of the team’s season is over after conference, the only other swimmers are those who qualified for nationals and their season continues ‘til the middle of March. So swimming when most the team is enjoying their long deserved break is a taxing task. Preparing for a second chance meet without a guarantee of going to nationals is even harder. Despite the circumstances, we swam really well. One of my mates and I achieved our A-cuts in individual events and thus got our tickets to nationals. There are still a few swimmers waiting to find out if they will be going. So the stressful “week” continues for them until this Wednesday, when they find out. But for me, it’s preparation time for NCAAs. We will be here over spring break training twice a day and getting ready.

I wish my fellow teammates the best of luck. May this be a great nationals meet.

Posted by: Rory Julyan

Kicks on Court

2012-02-23T09:53:59-04:00

Another intramural season is coming to an end and my favorite sport of all is about to begin playoff madness. Every intramural basketball season I've participated in at Wingate has been a ton of fun and full of competitiveness. This year I decided to do something new for the intramural season and keep a photo document of all of my favorite shoes that I saw on the court this season. For sneakerheads like me this idea was brilliant and a chance to really show off their favorite shoes to ball in. For me it was an experience to see which shoes I should hoop in for the playoffs.

This season I saw various sneakers from New Balances, to Adidas, to retro Nikes and Air Jordans. Two of my friends Pat Smith and Tai Laing went with the low top Adidas this season with a colorful look in a stealthy silver color. Another friend of mine Timmy was spotted wearing my favorite player’s newest shoe in the lately released Kobe VIIs. Various retro Jordans were on the court, the retro VIs, XIIIs and XIs. My award for the best on court for the season (besides me) goes to Brad McMahan who wore the Jordan Last Shot 14s. This was the last sneaker Michael Jordan ever took a shot in as a Chicago Bull and won his 6th championship in.

Over the course of the season I decided to wear 4 different pairs of sneakers for the 4 games that we had on the schedule. I first wore the Jordan 1s in yellow and black to start the season off with a bang. I then went with the new Huarache training shoe for maximum comfort and mobility. The second half of the season consisted of my favorite Jordan that I own, the Jordan 11 low tops. I ended the season with another silver sneaker, the Nike Zoom Hustle, as we hustled our way into the playoffs.

As the competitive playoffs begin I will be wearing the Zoom Hustles and hope to bring news of a championship in my next blog.

Click here for sneaker photos!

Posted by: Andrew Lipscomb

A week in the life of Rachel - Spark Notes version

2012-02-23T10:09:30-04:00

Friday: A group of us decided it was a good idea to go see Joyful Noise at the drive-in movies on the first weekend of February. It. Was. Freezing. I don’t know whose idea it was to go to the drive-in when it was 37 degrees outside but it was a fun and miserable time. We bonded by snuggling close together to stay warm and complaining about how we couldn’t feel our toes. Lately, I’ve been remembering things that my parents would never let me do and I couldn’t figure out why. Well, going to the drive-in movies in February would have been one of those things that got a big “no” and now I understand why… I think I got frostbite. Haha! Turns out sometimes my parents had good intentions…sometimes.

Monday: This year the Wingate Success Coaches sponsored the First Annual Songfest. Songfest is a program filled with study tips in the form of songs performed by students, staff and coaches. For example, the Residence Life Staff sang study tips to the tune of “Be Our Guest” from Beauty and the Beast. The winners were Andrew Smith and Cole Ardent, two junior students. They sang study tips to the tune of “Are you Gonna Kiss Me or Not?” by Thompson Square, but they changed the name to “Are you Gonna Pass Me or Not?” It was hilarious and the crowd loved it. A fun time was had by all; we laughed, heard some great music, and learned helpful study tips.

Tuesday-Thursday: Classes, meetings, more classes, more organization meetings.

Finally Friday: The most exciting thing I’ve done in the last two weeks was go to Asheville this past weekend with 65 Wingate students on a Campus Outreach retreat. It snowed! Finally I saw snow this winter! It didn’t snow at all while I was in Ohio for Christmas break, then in February in the south it snows; who would have guessed it?! We spent the weekend learning more about our identity in Christ, the importance of community, and the importance of sharing what Jesus did with others. On Saturday we had a free day to roam around Asheville and a group of students from Wingate went to the Biltmore Estate; it’s the biggest house in America. We kept trying to picture ourselves walking around the house in our pajamas so that we could picture it being an actual home and we couldn’t picture what that would be like. I got lost and it was a guided tour! The house had over 200 rooms and four floors. There were tons of bedrooms, sitting rooms, dining rooms, various kitchens, a room just for playing pool, an indoor swimming pool, and a library! If you’ve never gone and you’re in Asheville, you should definitely go; it’s an experience like none other!

Tuesday again: I hope you all had a fantastic Valentine’s Day! A group of girls celebrated in style by heading to Marshville to eat at The Wagon Wheel Restaurant. It’s an old-timey place just like you see in the movies with wood paneled walls and faded pink booths. It was full of precious old couples and about ten of us college girls chowing down on hamburgers, BBQ, fries, hush puppies, and free Valentine’s Day cake! After that delicious meal, we came back to campus and watched She’s The Man while making crafts. If that’s not a girly Valentine’s Day, I don’t know what is. We had tons of fun and proved you don’t have to have a Valentine to have a great day; you can have 9 lovely lady Valentines instead! 9 > 1, do the math!

Posted by: Rachel McCullough

Conference

2012-02-09T11:06:45-04:00

It’s that time of the year when my swim team is reaching our “judgment day,” and by that I mean conference championships. We’ve worked very hard this year and it’s been a successful season thus far. However, all the work is a build up for the end of season, much like a showcase, but more importantly for us to prove to ourselves that all the hard work and several hundreds of hours spent in the water has paid off.

We depart a week from Wednesday to check into the hotel in Charlotte and head down to the pool in the evening for the meet’s first two events. The next three days after that will comprise all of the heats in the morning and finals at night, that way we have some time to head back to the hotel to rest a little before the night time session, if you make it back to the finals. The vibe is great! The majority of the swimmers’ parents are there to support and so are some of our mates from school. It’s very seldom one experiences a dull moment at conference.

This conference is very important to us this year. We are going for our 5th title in a row on the men’s side. This will no doubt be the most competitive year and times have never been faster. There is no better way to elevate performance than with this level of competition.

Our preparation has started to change. We are not doing as much mileage and we are focusing on race specific drills. The team is looking great and I’m sure we will impress not only our supporters but ourselves.

Good luck Bulldogs! Let’s do work.

Posted by: Rory Julyan

Social Media

2012-02-06T09:49:11-04:00

It’s 2012! Just in case you haven’t noticed. Just thought I would throw that in there in case anyone else out there gets made fun of for putting “2011” on all their papers like I do. I don’t have any classes on Tuesday/Thursday this semester so I’ve been spending a lot more time on my laptop and on social networks. I realized that Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other networking sites can be bittersweet. So I thought I would share my wisdom with the world on how to go about this thing we are all sooooo obsessed with.

Firstly let’s address the content that goes on to these social media sites. Social networks are supposed to be fun and social, but you do not want to let it ruin your personal life. I have no problem unfollowing or defriending someone who is posting things I don’t want to see or hear, but a lot of people don’t realize that what you do or say online can disrupt your image with people you didn’t intend to see the post. It is not unusual to see relationships ruined, jobs lost, or other tragedies because of something that was posted on a social network. Employers, colleagues, and even schools often check social networking websites to get to know peoples’ interest and hobbies before making decisions about their future relationship. Working in the Admissions Office at Wingate has changed my whole perspective of how to interpret a simple email address. So anything that you wouldn’t want them to see shouldn’t make the internet no matter how funny it is, or good you looked.

Now for one of a few things that annoy me. Along the lines of business and pleasure is knowing when to be professional and when to be informal. If you’re typing an email to a professor and ask “wHat diD i miZz iN claZz t0dayZ?” then there is probably a reason you haven’t gotten a reply back. (Honestly, if you ask me a question like that on Twitter I wouldn’t reply either.) The Office of Career Services and Internships often puts on a media etiquette lyceum, so if you aren’t aware of how to distinguish between a professional and relaxed conversation this would be a great event to check out.

Social media isn’t all bad. I often joke with my mom about how Twitter will replace newspapers one day. They are a great way to stay in touch with the world around you, connect with people that have the same interests as you. It is easy to abuse a social network without knowing you have done it and because of the popularity of Twitter and Facebook it is important to be careful what is posted on these websites.

Thanks for reading, and if you want more than what you got hear you can shoot me an email at bloggers@wingate.edu with the subject line Andrew for my Facebook and Twitter information.

Posted by: Andrew Lipscomb

70 degrees…in January

2012-02-06T10:07:31-04:00

I’m from Ohio. Traits of northwest Ohio: cold, rainy, windy, and cloudy. I love Ohio. I just don’t love the weather. Traits of North Carolina: lots of sunshine, beautiful seasons, not too much wind, and rarely cloudy days. Basically, it’s the opposite of Ohio. I’ve officially become a southerner at heart; this weekend sealed the deal on that!

Saturday was a beautiful day at Wingate, and beautiful days at Wingate call for a few games of sand volleyball! I added a few really neat pictures of us playing volleyball and enjoying the sunshine so be sure to check them out. There was one point that was literally three diving passes in a row and a miraculous shot over the net for a point. We’re epic.

Eventually, the sun went down and it got chilly, but the fun never stops at Wingate! There’s a little Japanese restaurant right beside Wingate called Tokyo Bistro that is perfect after a game of volleyball. Most weeks I eat there at least once - it’s that good. It’s an affordable price for a plate full of food and it’s so tasty! I recommend the Hibachi Chicken with sweet carrots. Mhmmm boy! After eating at Tokyo Bistro, we headed to a baking and game night.

At baking and game night we made a few recipes found on pinterest.com. My favorite was a doughnut recipe. Basically you roll biscuit dough into tiny balls, fry them in oil, roll them in butter, and then roll them in either powdered sugar, cinnamon and sugar, or a glaze - making a doughnut looking dessert. I know, I know, sounds delicious and fattening—they are. I ate entirely too many (especially after Tokyo Bistro) and they were amazing. After about an hour of baking and eating we played Catch Phrase, Scattegories, and Last Word. All fun games for groups of people, and I highly recommend them for parties!

Basically, it was the best Saturday in a very long time and I can’t wait for more sunny days at Wingate! Wingate Weekends = relaxing, awesome, fun-filled, and a treat!

Update on school: classes are in full swing. As a junior this year, I’m mostly in upper level communications classes and I love them! In my nonverbal communications class we’ve been learning about facial expressions and the different ways people use them, whether knowingly or unknowingly. It’s been interesting to watch peoples’ expressions since learning more about them and try to read people and tell what they’re thinking. Last week we did an exercise where we held a pencil in our teeth, while pulling the corners of our lips back, without letting our lips touch the pencil. I uploaded a picture so you can see what I mean. The professor didn’t tell us the point of the exercise; she just made us hold a pencil in our mouths for a few minutes. When we took it out she had us say “eeeee” for about 30 seconds and then asked us how we felt and if our mood had improved since we walked into class. Everyone said that it had! We were all in better moods, most of us were even happy! This was to demonstrate the effect that facial expressions have on our emotions. (The way we were holding the pencil imitated a smile - making us feel happy.) We’ve been joking that we’re going to hold pencils in our mouths every morning! Think I’m crazy? Try it yourself! Let me know how it works!

Enjoy the warm February weather and check out my photos!

Posted by: Rachel McCullough

How I Celebrated 2012- Full of JOY!

2012-01-25T10:14:21-04:00

I’ve been staring at this blank page for awhile now trying to decide how to summarize everything that’s happened in the last month in a short blog post when it seems more realistic to write a short novel. So, I decided to just tell you about the most exciting thing that I did over Christmas break!

This break I spent 5 days (including New Year’s Day!) in Chattanooga, Tennessee with 5,000 college students from across the country at a conference called Campus Outreach National Conference. This conference was an opportunity for college students involved in Campus Outreach across the nation to gather together and learn more about who Jesus was and to worship God together.

Over 70 students from Wingate went to conference and spent five days hanging out and getting to know each other more. Most of our time was spent in rallies and seminars designed specifically for college students and taught by some pretty well known pastors like Matt Chandler and John Piper. The main message was that while we are horribly sinful and fall short of God’s holy and just standard of perfection, deserving eternal punishment in hell, God made a way to Himself through His son Jesus. The pastors explained that Jesus was fully man yet fully God and while he was here on earth, he lived a perfect life; the life that we were created by God to live. They also explained that when Jesus died on the cross God poured out all the wrath that we deserve because of our sin onto Jesus; he was our substitute. So the wrath that we deserve has been completely taken care of and when Jesus rose from the dead, He gave us a new life! The implications of this are literally life (and death!) changing and are the source of an unending amount of joy! If you’re in Christ, God now sees you as He sees Jesus, and Jesus lived a perfect life. So, God sees those who are in Christ as perfect! This is great news for everyone and just a little bit of what the speakers talked about at conference. This news has many different implications but most importantly Jesus’ death allows us to be in a right relationship with God! If you want to hear more about conference and what we learned there feel free to e-mail me or check out http://conationalconference.com/media-page/ to listen to the different talks! Or for a short recap video go to http://vimeo.com/34438737.

Conference was literally a life changing experience, especially for those from Wingate! It was tons of fun hanging out with each other and getting to know other students from school. Not only did we get to learn more about God together but we also had tons of fun exploring the city on the free day, playing in sporting tournaments, spending time together in the hotel lobby and even going to a concert featuring Christian Hip-Hop artists Sho Baraka and Trip Lee. And, just try to imagine New Year’s Eve with 5,000 college students- an unbelievable experience! We unofficially broke the world record of “the number of beach balls in the air at one time” and brought in 2012 with an epic dance party.

Be sure to check out all the pictures!

The rest of Christmas break was great as well; I spent a lot of time with family and caught up with a few friends from high school. I hope you all had a wonderful, safe, healthy Christmas and are enjoying 2012 so far!

Posted by: Rachel McCullough

Break

2012-01-20T14:02:53-04:00

It feels good being back at the Gate for the better half of my junior year. My Christmas break, spent away in Raleigh and Florida, was great. The change of scenery was perfect, with Raleigh’s overwhelming pine forests and mix of suburbia and college town living, then to Florida’s warm weather and festive beaches.

The holiday away from school wasn’t complete relaxation. The break away from class was refreshing but I didn’t have much of a break away from the water. I was training most days during the holiday with a club team in Raleigh. By the 28th I had to join my fellow Wingate swim mates in Orlando for our annual training trip, and being out of shape for that was not an option.

For Christmas, I was staying with one of my best mates in Raleigh with his family. The daily routine of waking up late to a cup of warm coffee was probably my favorite part, haha. In the afternoons, Netflix or Redbox entertained us and some nights we’d head down to his college townhouse for an NC State party. Christmas day was great, though. We woke up to a wonderful breakfast and afterward headed upstairs to open a few presents. Once the food settled and the excitement subsided, we made our way outside to a game of croquet, followed by a game of flag football, then more eating and then eventually decided on a game of Monopoly. It was all quite random but really fun.

The next day we packed up the car and made our way down to Orlando where we met up with family relatives. We joined them for a full day at Disney World, which I was thrilled with because it was my first time. That place is amazing, unlike anything I’ve seen entertainment-wise! After that it was off to training trip, and a successful one at that.

Posted by: Rory Julyan

Sneakers

2012-01-12T14:31:47-04:00

Welcome back! I thought about all of my loyal fans who can’t wait to read my blog every week and so I decided to have one ready to post right when Christmas break was over. Okay, let’s be honest, I was bored over the break and decided to use my free time blogging. Regardless I hope everyone had a great holiday season and was satisfied with their time away from school/work.

One thing some people may know about me is that I absolutely love sneakers. (In short, I am a sneakerhead.) So over the break one of the things I was excited about was purchasing the Air Jordan 11 “Concord” on 12.23.11 when they released. This was the shoe Michael Jordan broke a ton of records in during the 95-96 season when the Chicago Bulls went a record best 72-10 for the year. I was hoping that my job would allow me to return so that I could make enough money to spoil myself with an early present. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to work over the holiday season but this could have possibly been a sign that the shoes weren’t worth the work. The day/night before the Concord’s released, sneakerheads around the nation were camping out hoping to be able to get a pair before they flew off the shelves. Reportedly fights broke out and malls were shut down because of the hype of the shoe and the crime that they had caused. After hearing the news of all of the commotion the shoes had caused I determined it wasn’t worth it and it really gave me an appreciative spirit going into the holiday season.

Still determined to have a “fresh” pair of kicks to come back to school with I wasn’t done with my sneaker hunt. I decided to head down to the mall to see what was there for me and ended up with a sweet pair of Adidas with a colorway that caught my eye immediately. I was stoked and couldn’t wait to show off the new pickups. However, the problem with the loud color in the shoe is that it is almost impossible to match! I had absolutely nothing to wear the shoe with outside of the usual black (because everyone knows black matches everything). So another hunt began for a matching jacket that would complete the new look I had been dying to rock over the holiday season. After a day of searching every store me and my dad could think of I eventually had to settle with a black jacket for the annual Christmas basketball tournament that I knew everyone would be at. Upon arrival I was over the overwhelming search, until my I met my cousin in the parking lot to go in and he had on the exact same pair of Adidas with the matching jacket! After making him walk in wayyyy after me I eventually forgot about the frustrations over my sneaker problems and ended up with one of the best memories of my Christmas break.

I hope everyone else had a memorable experience over the break that was a little less frustrating than mine, and if anyone is interested in a new pair of shoes, I may be selling some for the right price!

Click here to check out my sneakers!

Posted by: Andrew Lipscomb

Intramurals

2011-12-08T15:23:37-04:00

Allow me to be a little cocky. Another intramural season is coming to a close, and yet again I find myself in another championship game. Earlier this year I was crowned the flag football champion and now that the floor hockey season is at the peak of excitement the stakes are higher than ever for another championship.

Mac and Brad lead the team in goals while receiving more than a dozen assists on the year from yours truly. Preston has been a defensive wall this year and Tai Laing as a goalie has been nothing short of amazing. I wish I was official and had actual stats but I do know that Mackenzie Hilsinger has been the MVP of every game this season and would love to show him and the rest of the team major appreciation on getting to the championship game!

I cannot go any further without giving all of the girls on the team credit for all of their hard work this season. Caroline is everything you could ask for as a center-mid, Amanda and Hannah anchor down the defense by clearing the ball and making everyone’s job easier, and Sara’s versatility has been great all year ensuring that nobody has to work too hard at any position. This season wouldn’t have been half of what it was without the hard work and support from each of these girls and the entire team’s attitude has made it one heck of a season.

Tonight’s game was a tough one facing one of the most challenging scorers in the league. He was truly a one man force and ended up beating us by himself 9 to 6. The team fought hard and while it was tough to lose it was just great being able to compete with my friends. That's what intramural sports is all about.

Posted by: Andrew Lipscomb

A Little Reflection

2011-12-02T09:31:26-04:00

Over my Thanksgiving break, I recently visited Washington, DC. It’s refreshing to visit a city with such pride, such boldness and presence. It was also my first time riding on a subway, haha.

It felt good being back in a city for a while after being gone from my home city Cape Town, which is quite a decent size, too.

On the first day in DC, I visited both the Library of Congress and the Capitol building. Both were equally exquisite and rich in culture. But it was on the guided tour of the Capitol building that I realized the foundation this country was built on is quite a solid one and an admirable one, too. However, it’s not just the Capitol building; it’s really illustrated in so many ways through the city. The museums present the history in physical art forms, the monuments remind you and the encrypted writings explain it all. It showed me how important it is to know a country’s past the same way it is to know your own. Socrates said that an unexamined life is not worth living. But it’s not just the past we must focus on, it’s the future, too. The past is what must be examined in order to know where you are headed in the future.

My Thanksgiving break and trip to DC gave me an opportunity to take a break from things and allow myself to think. I know I will have some more time for this after exams and I’m sure I will be surprised once again by what I pick up on. It’s not something one automatically wants to do because it takes a little effort but it’s so necessary.

Maybe taking a trip is what triggers it. Exploring something new or visiting something you haven’t been to in a while. Either way I recommend it.

Rorz

Posted by: Rory Julyan

An update!

2011-12-02T09:37:59-04:00

One thing you may not know about Wingate is that we have a really cool Residence Life staff. (I may be biased because I work for Residence Life, but we are really awesome.) One day last week, we had “Sweater Vest Appreciation Day”. I unashamedly participated. I rocked my sweater vest (with a jacket over it) almost the whole day! Haha! There’s a sweet picture of some of the Residence Life staff wearing their sweater vests- I figured with a day as epic as the one we had, people would want to hear about it and see pictures! A few professors even participated, although I’m not sure if they knew they were participating. It may have just been a coincidence…

One exciting thing I have wanted to tell you about is an adventure I had the weekend before Thanksgiving. A few friends and I from Wingate traveled up to Greensboro, NC to meet up with some people that we spent the summer with. An organization we’re involved in, Campus Outreach, holds a summer retreat called Beach Project. Students from about eight North Carolina schools live at the beach for the summer working jobs and learning about how to have a relationship with God. It’s the best way to spend the summer, ever! Well anyway, we had a Beach Project reunion and it was so much fun to relax and catch up with great friends. It’s a neat and unique thing when you get the opportunity to meet students from other universities around the area and become great friends with them! Wingate has numerous opportunities to do this through ministries, intramural tournaments, and through major-specific retreats. About 50 of the 150 students at the Beach Project met up and went to a football game and then had a bonfire afterwards under the stars! It was an awesome weekend with Wingate friends and friends we have made from other schools through opportunities Wingate organizations offer! Definitely get involved when you come to Wingate; if you don’t, you’re missing out on something special!

Check out the pictures!

Well, the last few weeks at Wingate have been focused on trying to survive until Thanksgiving- and I did it! Thanksgiving at home was not as relaxing as I had hoped but it was still home which was “nice” (rainy, cold, and windy). That’s Ohio for you. But, I’m glad to be back at Wingate for these next few weeks! The Christmas season at Wingate is full of excitement. We have a Christmas Dinner Dance, Christmas concerts and readings, and Christmas decorations everywhere!

I hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving with family and friends; enjoy the Christmas season!

Next time you’ll hear from me it’ll already be 2012, so be good until then! Feel free to e-mail me at bloggers@wingate.edu with the subject line Rachel.

Posted by: Rachel McCullough

Thanksgiving break is on its way and I’m excited.

2011-11-18T09:45:18-04:00

Despite not being American, this has become my favorite holiday. In my freshman year and my first experience of Thanksgiving, I was taught that the holiday was all about the three Fs (family, food and football). It took some adjusting because I was far away from my family, I didn’t know much about football and the food was unfamiliar. However, by the end of the day, with my belly so full, I was a major fan of the holiday. I had felt part of a family in another country, where we dropped everything for the day to spend time with each other conversing over delicious food, playing games and appreciating each others’ company. The holiday has not been materialized by a need for lavish gifts, it’s a day to remind us to be thankful, unwind and just enjoy the simple things.

This year I’ll be visiting my good friend and spending Thanksgiving with his family in Raleigh. We’ll have two days to catch up on each others’ college stories before paralyzing ourselves by eating excessive amounts of food and then still inevitably topping it off with desert. On Saturday, we will head up to Washington DC to see the nation’s capital. I’m so excited and grateful they are taking me along; I’ve heard such great things of the city.

I hope everyone has a wonderful time over the break. I know I will.

Rorz

Posted by: Rory Julyan

A Stressful Season

2011-11-18T09:52:13-04:00

This blog is a product of me having no idea what to blog about. This semester has been nothing short of busy and with finals coming up my mind is completely scattered. A blog is pretty much a documentation of your thoughts and events so while thinking about this I realized what I wanted to blog about, everything interesting that has been going on lately.

A few weeks ago I went to the intramural flag football regional tournament in Wilmington, NC after claiming the flag football crown here on campus. While intramural sports have always been a way to stay in shape and have fun, I quickly realized that the competition I was up against didn't quite see it the way I did. These guys eat, sleep, and breathe flag football even going as far as the national level to compete. We came away from the weekend with a 1-2 record losing in the first round of the playoffs but left with a ton of memories and had a lot of fun along the way.

Last week was Homecoming and being a Homecoming candidate made the entire process kind of stressful. The past 6 years of my life at every school football game I have attended I've been strapped to a snare drum slinging beats for the crowd, so when I found out I would be on the field taking part in the Homecoming festivities I was amazed to say the least. I never imagined I would be a Homecoming representative and would like to make this a public thank you to everyone.

Like I said earlier, this time of the semester is always stressful. With finals rolling around it is vitally important to get a head start on studying and make sure you stay on top of classes and assignments. Although there is a ton to do I strongly encourage everyone to take Thanksgiving break and utilize it to the fullest. Do something you've always wanted to, spend time with your family, just take time to debrief before the craziness continues and finals start.

I hope everyone has a great holiday season and good luck to everyone on finals!

Posted by: Andrew Lipscomb

Homecoming & Other Festivities

2011-11-18T10:10:38-04:00

Remember last time I started with a horrible joke? Well, this time instead of a joke, I included this cute Thanksgiving picture!

Check out the cute Thanksgiving picture!

And if that wasn’t doing it for you, here’s a joke too :)
Q: What's a turkey's favorite song?
A: "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas"
HA! Get it? He wants to stay around long enough to see Christmas. That’s a knee slapper.

So anyway, Happy Thanksgiving! I’m so excited it’s almost time for a break at home. Homemade food, a comfy couch to take a nap on, and lots of family time! But, before I get too ahead of myself, here’s the scoop on the last couple weeks!

About a week ago it was Homecoming at Wingate and it was awesome. I finally got to participate in a long-standing Homecoming tradition that is tons of fun- TP-ing the campus! This year the Student Government Association provided toilet paper to the students so that we could TP the campus and build excitement for the weekend! I still felt like I was a rebel even though the University approves and encourages participation. I uploaded some pictures so you can share a little bit in Wingate’s Homecoming weekend!

Not only did we TP the campus but fourth floor Cannon celebrated in style by having a canvas painting night! We decorated canvases to hang on our doors as door decorations. It was relaxing just to be able to sit in the hallway and hang out while getting in touch with our creative side.

To top it all off, the weather was perfect all Homecoming weekend. Every year we have a Homecoming Parade on Saturday before the football game. Usually I just go out and watch, but this year the Student Bulldog Club had a float in the parade; so I participated! It was a little chilly in the morning but we didn’t let that put a damper on our school spirit! Our float won second place in the parade competition! Yay Bulldogs!

It was a day full of athletics. After the parade, we all headed out to the football game and cheered on the Bulldogs while recognizing the Homecoming Court. Then we went to Cuddy Arena to cheer on the girls’ volleyball team to their final regular season victory. That win was an incredible way to end the season and it completed the first undefeated season in program history! Way to go girls! To top off the whole night, we watched the men’s lacrosse team take on the Wingate lacrosse alumni. It’s always a fun game to watch because they’re really competitive while picking on each other and goofing off.

Check out the photos!

As you can imagine, after a day like that I was a little more than exhausted, so I went straight to bed. And that was Homecoming weekend. WOO! Go Bulldogs!

In other news: this weekend I attended a birthday bonfire & a country concert featuring Eli Young Band, Thompson Square, Casey James, and James Wesley. It was wonderful. With a weekend like that, I am exhausted and am going to continue trying to make it through this very busy week now, haha! Wish me luck!

Check out the photos!

Posted by: Rachel McCullough

Homecoming Weekend ‘11

2011-11-04T12:15:06-04:00

For the last few days I’ve been looking forward to this weekend. Being a junior, I’ve seen two classes graduate and in the process of becoming a junior, those two classes taught me a lot; we went through quite a bit together, especially on the swim team. It’s going to be great seeing them again.

Unfortunately I wont be able to participate in most of the weekend activities because the swim team has our first meet of the season over this Friday and Saturday. However, its great knowing my old teammates will be there to support the way they did the past two years. This weekend also gives the new freshman class a feel for what they are in for, in terms of making memories and great friends.

I remember last year’s Homecoming and what a laugh it was to me and my mates. It was such a fun weekend. I remember it being full of laughter and I guess that’s because it was filled with all the funny stories from the alumni and the hilarious tips they would constantly give us. During Homecoming, its tradition for the swim team to present an opportunity to the alumni to put their suits back on and give us a few good races after our Saturday practice. It’s a laugh seeing what can happen to some people after one year, before being in top athletic shape to doing absolutely nothing; however, they “somehow” find a way to give us a run for our money. Then we usually head to the football game and catch up. Last year it was over Halloween, so seeing them with their costumes and partying with us was the highlight of the weekend.

This year’s going to be a little different but I know it will be awesome having their support again.

To my swim team, good luck this weekend. Let’s do work Bulldogs!

Rorz

Posted by: Rory Julyan

A Group Date, Halloween and Virginia

2011-11-04T12:23:31-04:00

What do a group date, Halloween and Virginia have in common?

Nothing really except it’s what I’ve done these last couple weeks. You’re right, that was a bad joke. Here’s a Halloween one: Why don't skeletons ever go out on the town?… Because they don't have anybody to go out with! HA! Get it, any BODY! Don’t worry, there’s more where that came from.

So, last Friday I went on what we call a “group date” (basically it’s just where the boys plan a night for the girls). A few men on campus made a funny video by changing the words of Party Rock Anthem and used it to “ask out” a few ladies involved in the same ministry, Campus Outreach. They planned a whole night for us! They cooked, we had a pumpkin carving contest, danced, and played this really funny game called Quelf.

Check out the pictures!

Wingate gets in the Halloween spirit like none other; I’m sure of it! Last week we had trick-or-treat in the freshman girls’ residence hall. We decorated all six floors spooky for Halloween; the girls lined the walls and the ceiling with big black garbage bags so it was dark and creepy. We hung ghosts from the ceiling, streamers down the hall, cob webs everywhere, and we decorated our doors for a “best door” contest. Two girls on my floor won, of course because fourth floor rocks! Anyway, so we decorated the halls all scary and then the neighborhood kids came in and trick-or-treated down the hall for a few hours! They were all really cute and the girls passing out candy dressed up too-it was really fun! On Halloween we wore our Halloween costumes to class as a part of Wingate’s Homecoming Week (I’ll tell you all about that in my next blog, it’s been awesome!) and had a black-light party in the student center sponsored by one of our fraternities & Res Life. Talk about an exciting way to celebrate Halloween!

Check out the pictures!

Finally, this last weekend three of my friends and I road tripped up to Virginia to watch Wingate’s Men’s Lacrosse team scrimmage Queens & the Virginia Military Institute. Wingate won both scrimmages, so that made the long drive worth it! Plus, it is so pretty in Virginia right now. I thought we were going to get stuck in all that snow that hit the Northeast but it missed where we were and instead the weather was beautiful. The leaves were changing and the sun was shining; it was great. We sang to country music (slightly off key), ate homemade cookies, and cheered Wingate on to victory. Way to go boys!:)

Check out the pictures!

So again, what do a group date, Halloween and Virginia have in common? If you put the three together, you get an awesome couple weeks at Wingate! Didn’t know that this riddle had more than one answer, did ya?

Come back soon to hear about Homecoming week/weekend and to hear some more great jokes!:)
Go Bulldogs!

Posted by: Rachel McCullough

Free T-shirts!

2011-11-04T12:58:03-04:00

I’ve noticed a trend on campus lately. If you come to an event you have the opportunity to win a free t-shirt. This sounds like a sweet deal right? Who doesn’t want a free t-shirt? However, while everyone is there waiting for a limited number of t-shirts to be passed out to the majority of the school that is waiting for the same thing, the real highlight of the night is all around you.

On Monday half of the campus was in the DPC for the black light party waiting for the first look at the free Homecoming shirts that were going to be given out all week, but no one expected to experience the black light festival and ear ringing party that was set up in the lobby. Only 40 shirts were given out and although I didn’t receive one the night was a complete success with food, dancing, and some of the most creative costumes on campus.

Although the party was lively I still hadn’t gotten my free t-shirt, so the next night I decided to cut my workout short to go see Leon Etienne “the Illusionist” in Austin Auditorium. I planned to meet up with Brad and Mac there but after telling a few of my roommates that they were giving out free t-shirts there was soon a crew of us making a trip to Austin! We arrived 30 minutes early and finally got our free t-shirts but that was nothing compared to the show that the illusionist put on. He awed that crowd with a variety of tricks and once again the t-shirt voyage paid off to make a successful night.

The next day was the premiere of the Wingate dance team and the cardio session “Dance Your Heart Out” in Sander Sikes. So because I had a test the next day, and already got my free t-shirt, I didn’t really plan to attend event. However, sometime throughout the day I heard that they would be giving out a different shirt than the Homecoming shirt and made a change of plans to attend! Once again I was too late to get a t-shirt and because of work didn’t get to stay very long but I did catch a glance of the dance talent that Wingate and other schools exhibited during their performances.

Tonight is “Lazerpalooza” in Sander Sikes and they are giving away another round of free t-shirts. Although I’m not sure what a lazerpalooza is my mom told me she would love a Homecoming shirt to wear when her and my family come down to see me at halftime during the football game for the Homecoming ceremony. So of course I will be there trying to get yet another shirt and will probably leave satisfied once again with a night full of fun and excitement with the rest of the bulldogs in the hunt for a free t-shirt. I saw a tweet the other day that said “The greatest things come when you do it out of good intentions.” Although I showed up for a t-shirt and never imagined to have as much fun as I did at most of these events, I realized that sometimes a good time can be found in a place you least expect it.

Posted by: Andrew Lipscomb

Midnight Madness 2011

2011-10-26T09:52:32-04:00

Click here to watch Midnight Madness 2011!

Posted by: Andrew Lipscomb

It’s that time of the year…

2011-10-26T10:02:20-04:00

Festivities are around the corner. The air is getting colder, the pumpkins are being carved, decorations are going up and girls are planning their outfits for Halloween. Not too long after Halloween, Thanksgiving follows and after that is Christmas; such a festive time of the year! I’m glad I’m in America this time of the year.

To add to the already festive atmosphere, it’s my 21st birthday coming up this Saturday. It’s interesting seeing the difference in the celebrations of a 21st birthday here in the US and the way we do it in South Africa. At home it's more of an intimate celebration, with family and close friends. It’s usually more formal as well. It’s a norm for your parents/ brothers or sisters and then friends to give speeches at the beginning of the evening. Drinks and dinner are then served and then a party is usually the way the night ends.

I’m certainly going to miss my family and friends from home this Saturday. However, it’s alright. Part of turning 21 is growing, and in growing, I’ve realized that being here at Wingate is beneficial to my future.

I have no major plans as of yet, I’ll leave that up to my mates, haha. All I have planned is a great lunch at my apartment on Saturday afternoon with my closest friends here. One of my best mates is coming down from NC State to spend the weekend so I’m quite stoked about that.

Things are certainly looking up for the rest of the semester. I hope this weekend is a great one and hopefully I’ll have some photos to share.

Rorz

Posted by: Rory Julyan

Moral of the story...

2011-10-20T14:02:18-04:00

This blog could be short…It’s been a sad last two weeks.

Well, not all of it, but this last weekend wasn’t exactly ideal. Long story short, my hard drive crashed. I lost all my pictures from college and the last two summers, all my music, and all my homework…which kind of stinks because I was in the middle of writing one of two papers due this week. Moral of the story is, back up your files. Promise, you’ll regret it if you don’t.

Anyway, all that “fun” was this last weekend. But, fall break was AWESOME! I’d show you pictures but…right…
So on fall break I went home to Ohio and spent a few days with my family. My brother is a senior in high school so we all went to his high school football game and cheered him on. We made shirts that said “Hey! That’s my _______!” (fill in relation, like mine said brother) for the whole family and it had his number on the back. Yes, we were THAT family.

I also went to Scarowinds at the amusement park Carowinds. It’s an amusement park that they “haunt” for Halloween. Last year when I went I cried I was so scared. Luckily, this year I did not. I just giggled the whole time, but it was still fun. There’s one haunted house that’s in 3D and it’s all clown stuff. So, if you don’t like clowns, stay away from that one…but besides that, I definitely recommend it!

Well, it’s time to go to the best class in the world, Dr. Coon’s Intercultural Communication class. It’s very interesting. We are learning about different cultures and how people think within them. Last time we discussed what a stereotype is and why people make them. It opens up my mind and challenges me to think about humans and how we function instead of just history and stuff. I love it.

I promise next blog will be way more exciting! Enjoy all the crunchy leaves!

Posted by: Rachel McCullough

A Needed Break

2011-10-13T14:25:28-04:00

I don’t know if it’s just the effect of knowing that a break is approaching that makes me feel like I really need one or simply the fact that I really do need one. Fall Break is two days away and it feels like I’m about to get a birthday present.

My full credit semester is mentally taxing and my swimming schedule is taking its toll on my body. However, the heavy schedule and routine is helping me. It’s giving me some structure. I’ve also been trying to place some focus on balance in my schedule. It’s definitely a skill, but wow it takes a lot of effort. It’s made me realize that I need to cut back on some social and party time in order to get that balance I’m looking for. My coach said it right when he mentioned that in college, if you’re an athlete, there are only 3 things you can do in college: classes, sport and party, but you can only do two of them really well. As a social guy, having to cut back on it is hard but it’s for this very reason that I’m really looking forward to Fall Break. It’s not a long break but when things are so hectic, it becomes a holiday. I can’t wait to kick back and chill without worrying about homework or waking up early. I’m going to use it as a recharge for my batteries.

My mates and I usually go down to Myrtle Beach for the break but this year our training schedule doesn’t offer us enough time for that. It’s alright, though, because it does offer us a training schedule without any other stress.

For those of you who are staying on campus, I’ll be seeing you around.

Rorz

Posted by: Rory Julyan

Wingate Athletics

2011-10-07T10:16:21-04:00

It isn’t difficult to realize how successful Wingate athletics have been lately. With many reining conference champions it’s no surprise that the University is off to an excellent start to the 2011 season. The Bulldogs football team is 3-2 and rolling behind the play of Campbell Trophy national semifinalist Cody Haffly and other SAC Players of the Week. The Bulldogs look to continue their streak over their next four conference games with 3 of 4 of them being on the road. The Wingate Men’s Soccer team is currently 1-2 in the conference with a huge stretch of conference games coming up this month. With 4 of these being at home, support would be greatly appreciated to make a turnaround and put WU Soccer in conference contention. The Women’s Soccer team is currently 7-2 and on an impressive six game win streak as they head into a long stream of conference games with a 2-0 record. With a 7 game conference stretch ahead of them it will be exciting to see what the team can achieve and how far they will be able to go this season. The Wingate Golf team is shooting well winning the LRU event giving them their 2nd first place win out of three this season. Despite all of this the most impressive streak on campus belongs to the Wingate Volleyball team and their amazing 16-0 record! The lady ‘Dogs cracked the top 15 in the NCAA Division II top 25 recently and plan to continue rolling during their upcoming 11 game conference stretch. Continued support for all of these teams is appreciated, and increased support during a vital time in the season is encouraged. Being a student athlete is a truly difficult craft and to be as good at it as the Bulldogs are should definitely not go unnoticed!

Posted by: Andrew Lipscomb

My Perfect Love Story

2011-10-07T11:01:49-04:00

If I was asked, “What’s been your favorite experience at Wingate University so far?” Without a doubt, I’d say “learning how to walk with God daily.” The ministry, Campus Outreach, has been very influential in teaching me how to study the Bible, pray, and live for the Lord while in college- and after! This weekend the ladies of Campus Outreach went to Hickory, NC for a women’s retreat. We met up with girls involved in Campus Outreach from six different campuses across North Carolina. Fun is an understatement. Our speaker was Ashlee Johnson and she spoke out of the book of Jonah. The theme for the weekend was that God is a God who pursues His people! We decided this is the perfect love story. “God pursued me despite my sin, asked me to be in a relationship with Him FOREVER, and I said yes!” Not only did we hear three great talks about Jesus, what He did, and why it matters, we also went line dancing and ate all you could eat BBQ.

We traveled down a dirt/stone road to the literal middle of nowhere. We drove up on a bunch of locals wearing plaid shirts and overalls, old men playing the spoons, kids dancing, and lots of BBQ. We line-danced the night away to a live band and an iPod with modern songs like the Cupid Shuffle and Cha-Cha Slide. I never wanted to leave. It was a night filled with delicious food, dancing, and great friends. That’s a good weekend right there folks. Which I knew it would be because Friday in the Caf I got a fortune cookie with a fortune that said “You will have a wonderful weekend.”

I experienced a new Wingate favorite last week, too; my new favorite lyceum. A lyceum is a cultural program Wingate students have the opportunity to attend. Last week the P.E.A.C.E. Club brought a group of men to campus that travel around the world teaching and preserving African dance and culture. They wore traditional dress and played bongos. The best part was it was interactive, which I was not expecting, but also not upset about, haha. They had everyone stand up and do some really interesting and amusing African dance moves.

Check out the pictures!

Anyways, this coming weekend is fall break! I can’t believe first semester is halfway over already. I feel like we just got back to school! I’m traveling to Ohio for the weekend to see my family. I don’t get to go home a lot- so I’m pretty excited! I’ll be sure to take tons of pictures to show you! Until then, have a great couple of weeks!

Posted by: Rachel McCullough

Welcome back!

2011-09-26T14:11:18-04:00

School is back in session and campus is crazier than ever! With back to back years of the largest freshmen class ever, if you want to get somewhere on campus you better get there early! The turnout for the multiple events that were happening the first week of classes was unbelievable. Immediately after freshman orientation and move-in day no one paused to rest and much of the campus came to the bulldog bash in the DPC to get license plates made, play corn hole, and to step to the beats of 95.1 FM’s DJ. As usual the return of Jim Wand was a memorable experience and another great way to forget about the countdown to classes. However, classes didn’t stop anyone either. The “Open-Mic Night” catered by Salsarita’s was an awesome event for anyone who wanted to come display their musical talent, get some great food and entertainment, or just act goofy on stage in front of their peers. I’ve personally had a few encore requests for my Kanye West cover. The Foamapolooza in the Jefferson Quad was another way to get wet and wild and have some fun before the first weekend festivities began. If you weren’t able make it out to these events chances are you have noticed the activeness of the cafeteria, Jefferson pool, and any of the apartment areas. Whether a freshman or upperclassman I can almost guarantee that everyone on campus has already made a handful of new friends. The upbeat campus environment is uplifting and with upcoming events such as sporting events, lyceums, and intramural sports coming up I can’t wait to see who all I will meet and develop relationships with as the year goes on. Who knows, someone I meet may even end up in my next blog!

Posted by: Andrew Lipscomb

Laila Lalami

2011-09-26T14:16:52-04:00

Today I was one of the fortunate students to be given a presentation/speech by the author Laila Lalami about her book, “Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits.” She was lovely and so well spoken, it made for such a refreshing presentation on her perspective on global issues today. The thing I was most grateful for was that she didn’t come to make a point or convince us of something, she simply left us thinking and with a broader perspective on pressing issues such as immigration, development economics, suppression, dictatorship, leadership, etc.

Laila is an immigrant herself, from Morocco, and she told us her story; It was not unfamiliar for many immigrants. However, in her story telling, I couldn’t help but notice an unsurpassed amount of knowledge and passion for those in hardship and struggling environments trying to make the best of their situation. It was slightly embarrassing to notice the overall reaction of ignorance prior to her explanation of the issue and it reminded me that there is no substitute for education. Education is key to a broader understanding of pressing global issues. Without education, we cannot grow. It actually left me a little sad when I was reminded that we are so often pondering over what we wish we had when instead we live in an environment of abundance. And if we are caught wondering and wishing for better things, learn to see it from a different perspective, try to appreciate it. If you did have what you were wishing for or had it all along, would you really have appreciated it? I feel striving for something and learning to appreciate the process is more rewarding than being given what you want. I know it may all seem a little off topic, but these were the thoughts I was left with after Laila Lalami’s humbling speech today.

Thank you, Dr. McDivitt, for organizing it for our GPS class.

Rorz

Posted by: Rory Julyan

“Hey Ma! Check it out, I’m famous!”

2011-09-26T14:27:00-04:00

The World’s Strongest Man Competition is at Wingate. And it’s kind of a big deal. ESPN is here, along with other media and lots of people. It’s been TONS of fun! These are literally the strongest, biggest guys from ALL OVER the world on Wingate’s campus. They're walking around outside my dorm, eating in our cafeteria, and hanging out on campus. It’s awesome. A lot of students have been able to take pictures with the strong men; they are all super friendly and really nice. There's one man from Iceland that everyone wants to get pictures with. His name is Thor, and he's almost 7 feet tall. Needless to say, he stands out from the students. I actually met his parents at one of the events and they told me that he's only 22 and been training for 2 short years! So keep your head up boys, there's hope for you! It airs in December of this year and I'm going to be famous, without a doubt. (Okay, maybe not famous but definitely on TV!) They take lots of crowd shots and do interviews in front of the crowd etc., and I've been in a lot of the shots. So look for me and other Wingate students on ESPN in the winter! It's been a VERY exciting couple weeks on Wingate's campus!

Have you heard about our volleyball team? If not, check us out. We're dominating and setting records all over the place! We hosted the first home game on Friday night and the stands were full! Wingate sports are awesome because other sports teams come to support each other. Two lacrosse players came dressed up like Mario and Luigi, and the rest of us wear our student bulldog club t-shirts and cheer them on! They won in four games versus Tusculum!

In other news, if you happened to be walking through the Academic Quad Saturday night you would have been in for some excitement. This last Saturday a group of about 30 got together for a friendly game of capture the flag. We dressed in all black and some of us painted our faces. We don't mess around about capture the flag here. Unfortunately my team lost...3 times in a row. In our defense, it ended up the track team vs. the not-as-fast people (no offense teammates). The first time we thought we’d try to be tricky and surprise the other team; you know, smarts versus speed. So, all 15 of us just charged the flag...and all got “out” and sent to jail. So that was a fast game. After that we played a few games of man hunt (kind of like hide-and-seek but more fun) and then ended the night with an impromptu dance party for one of my friend’s birthday!

Talk about ANOTHER great week & weekend. Wingate = the place to be.

Check out the pictures!

The video link is a video that a few of my friends put together. It’s a spoof of a popular YouTube video and really funny.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkBVqVw5qUg

Posted by: Rachel McCullough

Junior Year

2011-09-09T09:56:15-04:00

My summer break was like a breath of fresh air, as well as a restart button. Going back home to South Africa is humbling to me. It’s a completely different environment where the vibe is more relaxed and the immediate differences, socially and economically, gave me a warm feeling reminding me I was home.

I feel my visit home once a year isn’t enough but I appreciate my time there. I learn the length of time at home isn’t as important as what you do when you’re back home. Two and a half months is a long time; all I needed was enough time to walk my dogs on the beach, go for a surf, and spend time with family and familiar faces. The length of time was a luxury; I even had enough time to miss my mates back here in the US. I’ve certainly made a bunch of great friends within the two years I’ve attended Wingate.

I’m back at college now for my junior year and I’m feeling good about the year ahead. I’ve got a busy class schedule and my swimming practices take up a lot of my time but the routine and constantly being on the go reminds me I’m working towards something and I’m bound to see the benefits. I read on a t-shirt today that “Knowing where you’re going is great but enjoying what you do while getting there is everything.” I have an idea of where I’m going, and the way things are going this year, I think I’m really going to enjoy it.

Posted by: Rory Julyan

Wingate Leadership Institute

2011-09-09T10:12:29-04:00

With school back in full swing I have heard many complaints from my peers about how busy they have become as of late. Many people went from summer vacations and part-time jobs to the full time commitment of school.

However, a group of 44 students decided to pass up their last four weeks of summer and move in early to get a head start on the school year. The Wingate Leadership Institute was one of the most influential programs I have ever had the opportunity to participate in. I, as well as five other peer mentors, had the opportunity to help 38 freshmen mature as students and as people to ensure that they would have the most comfortable college experience as possible.

The beginning of the program was difficult for everyone. Many of us were anxious and excited, but let’s face it, summer break seems much shorter when it is over. Despite the homesickness and trust issues that some of the students displayed, within a week of us meeting it had already felt like we had known each other for years. We quickly became our own little family, and all of the freshmen quickly caught on to how abstract college life can seem compared to being at home.

I loved watching the freshmen grow and develop, and every time I see one of them doing well or witness their appreciation for the program I KNOW I made the right decision to be a part of the program. One of the most surprising parts of the program was my own personal development. Being a peer mentor I felt more obliged to lead by example and practice the principles that I had been teaching the freshmen for three long weeks. I now know I must practice good study habits, stay involved, help others whenever possible, and be a role model because if I don’t I will hear about it 38 different ways.

Nevertheless, I can say that coming back to school early and dedicating my entire day to these students was one of the greatest things I have done at my time here at Wingate University. Seeing all of the potential that the Class of 2015 has ensures that the future of the school is in great hands.

Click here for a photo!

Posted by: Andrew Lipscomb

We Bleed Blue & The Girl Scout Drop Outs

2011-09-09T10:43:34-04:00

Wow! What an exciting, busy, crazy, fun, adjective-filled first few weeks at the ‘Gate!

The first few weeks are always filled with lots of activities and this year was no exception. On top of RA training (which included an awesome ropes course), getting the dorms ready for the incoming freshmen, planning activities, organizing events for the Student Bulldog Club, catching up with friends, and starting classes- there’s been a lot going on. Here’s a LITTLE of what I’ve been doing these last 3 weeks (with pictures)! Be sure to keep checking in to see what kind of exciting things I’ll be doing next!

First off, the picture of a bunch of girls flexing was our “Amazing Race Challenge- Wingate Edition.” The Cannon/Alumni staff (the freshmen girls’ RAs) got together and planned an event for any freshman girl who wanted to find out where things are located on Wingate’s campus! We had them all start in front of Cannon Residence Hall and then sent them to four different places; the football field, soccer field, new Subway restaurant on campus, and to one of the emergency poles scattered around campus. With some stellar prizes on the line, the girls took this very seriously and literally ran between stations! It was a lot of fun and a great way to get to know other girls and spend a few hours on a Saturday afternoon!

Click here to see the photo!

The next picture is one of many shots from our first football game vs. Valdosta State. Sadly, we lost in double overtime but the boys did a remarkable job and it was a great game to watch! The Student Bulldog Club, which is basically a spirit club for Wingate athletics, came out in full force to the game! We painted up, put on our Student Bulldog Club t-shirts that say “We Bleed Blue” on the back, and went out to the game to support our Bulldogs! It was tons of fun with lots of cheering and free pizzas for the student section at the end of the first quarter. The picture is one of the “Wingate Morphmen” being tossed up into the air 21 times for the 21 points we scored so far!

Click here to see the photo!

The picture that has girls in sunglasses was our dodgeball team for the “Wingate University Second Annual Dodgeball Tournament”, sponsored by one of the ministries on campus, Campus Outreach. Our team name was “Girl Scout Drop Outs” because we couldn’t think of a name that wasn’t already taken, so we Googled “cool dodgeball team names” and landed on that one. Who knew that was actually a popular search? Anyways, our team lost in the first round to the cross country girls. But, at least we looked good while doing it - check out our hater blockers.

Click here to see the photo!

Finally, this last picture made my week. That is me and yes, Dr. McGee, President of Wingate University. My friend and I were walking around campus taking pictures advertising for Campus Outreach’s weekly meeting called PRIMETIME and just so happened to spot Dr. McGee. We called him over and of course he was more than happy to take a picture with us! That friends is what we call a good day!

Click here to see the photo!

Well, there’s a lot more I could tell, but those have been just a few highlights! Have a great week and check back again soon!

Posted by: Rachel McCullough

Easter

2011-04-27T16:21:13-04:00

Easter weekend is approaching and I’m happy about this. Being on such a small campus, I tend to feel a little claustrophobic at times so the break will be a great opportunity to be off campus for a few days. It’s actually at such great timing as we are coming down the final stretch of this semester, meaning we are getting a little tired and a small break is exactly what we need before the most important part of the semester – our finals.

I’m going down to Myrtle Beach where one of my roommates lives and there are a few of us going. I’m looking forward to waking up so close to the ocean where I’ll be able to walk a block to the beach front and spend the majority of my days down there under the sun and on the sand.

I remember last year when I went to Myrtle Beach for Easter and how refreshing it was to be in a household again where I woke up to the smell of pancakes and warm bagels, knowing that no plans await me and going with the flow is the only way to go.

The candy is also one of the greatest aspects of the holiday. I don’t have this variety of candy back home and I intend to embrace this opportunity, haha. I remember writing on eggs and dipping them in food dye as being one of the family traditions. I also remember that Reece’s, for Easter, produces a ridiculously large peanut butter and chocolate egg that I didn’t buy; however, this year I will not make that mistake, I will invest in that chocolate oasis.

I think this small necessary break will be great and I hope everyone gets to spend time with family and friends.

Posted by: Rory Julyan

Service

2011-04-06T14:12:33-04:00

This hasn’t often been the topic of my day-to-day conversation because it hasn’t really ever been on my mind. However, service is one of Wingate’s top priorities. From freshman year all freshmen are required to enroll in a service activity such as Habitat for Humanity. Sororities and fraternities are probably the most involved parties when it comes to service; they are busy all the time. They organize several per month and the activities they plan in order to raise the money and awareness are usually a great success.

As I mentioned, it wasn’t a priority of mine, it wasn’t even on my mind until I was pushed into it. This was necessarily done by my swim team. Every sports team on campus has to do their bit in voluntary service for the community. Ours happens to be an event we host called the Special Olympics. The event entails each swimmer looking after a designated special athlete. These athletes possess various disabilities, be it mental or physical. There is a specific day of the “Olympics” that we all gather our athletes and prepare them for race day. The races range from assisted short distance swims to races from a dive off the starting blacks; it depends on the athletes willingness and ability. It is up to us to connect with the athlete in order to teach them a few skills in time for the races. We meet with them every Thursday for 4 consecutive weeks and in this time spend 45 minutes with them in the water.

Due to me not being familiar with such a program, I wasn’t enthusiastic about it. I didn’t know if I would be all that comfortable and I was evidently hesitant. But boy, was I wrong! These kids are fun! I thought it would take me a few days to become accustomed to them and get a better understanding but that’s not the case; they are just so enthusiastic and so excited to be with us in the water. By the time my first session was over I was completely rejuvenated. The boy I was looking after made me so tired because he wanted to do so much in the water; he kept me thinking of new games and exercises for his swimming technique. I should have been exhausted but my guy put me in such a good mood. I thought I would have to do all the work when it came to conversation and not making it awkward or wondering how I could keep communicating but he did everything. It was lovely seeing someone so carefree and happy doing something he wanted to do. It makes me wonder why I don’t embrace that everyday…

It’s been a year since the last Special Olympics and this year’s is on its way. We are already up to our second practice and my man, Adrian, has improved significantly since last year. I’m proud of him.

It’s not often we opt to move out of our comfort zone in order to benefit someone else, especially someone we don’t know. But without preaching, I ask you to give it a try once in a while. Just give in to it and see how you can assist someone in need. Chances are, if you’re in that position, you’re better off than they are and they could use your assistance. There really isn’t a need to be afraid; instead try keeping in mind the feeling after you have accomplished helping someone out. It is liberating. You will end up asking yourself why you hadn’t done this before or why it’s been so long.

Everyone needs to be pushed out of their own comfort zone. It is often how success is achieved. If I use athletes as an example, during their season athletes may reach a plateau. This is where the athlete reaches a certain point via maximum effort and they feel they can go no further. At this stage the athlete needs assistance and the assistance comes in many forms depending on the athlete profile, but no matter which way the athlete acquires their assistance they will have to step above their comfort zone to push past the plateau. This can be applied to many aspects of life and if you have the will power to push yourself out of your own comfort zone, you are a special person and I hope you do just that. You will be benefiting yourself by growing as an individual but at the same time you may not even realize the impact you have made on the person you have just helped. You may have given them a newly restored hope and you may have been an inspiration.

Please, go be that person. You owe it to yourself.

Rorz

Posted by: Rory Julyan

Off-Season

2011-03-24T10:39:46-04:00

It feels weird when I think that my sophomore swim season is already over. I’m halfway through my college swimming experience – that’s crazy!

It’s really been such a great season though. I’ve enjoyed the new freshmen and the team has become a brilliant group. The fact that we had such a successful season is just a bonus. It’s what we did within the season that was most important. It’s much like the saying, “It’s not the destination that counts, it’s what you did along the journey.” Well, along our journey we soldiered on and became a close-knit group that now shares tremendous memories of another season together. A college swim season is a long and grueling one. The breaks are minimal and the hours in the pool are maximum. But it’s not the hours in the pool that count, it’s the majority of our time spent outside the water that really plays a big role in our season. It’s evident in our performance whether we did our best outside the water and if the choices we made will aid us in achieving our goals we set during preseason.

As I mentioned in a previous blog, it’s a liberating feeling knowing that I can walk away from this season with my head held high because I feel an overwhelming sense of achievement that I can share with my close teammates and that all our hard work has paid off. The next best feeling to that is being able to celebrate off-season. However short our break is, it’s going to be enjoyed!

It feels so weird not having something going on between 3 and 7 pm. My days are so long now. I wonder what I would’ve done if I had this extra time every day… To be honest, I really don’t want to do anything with this extra time, right now. I want to do as much of nothing as possible. Just the feeling of not having to rush to the gym or pool straight after class feels so good and walking to wherever I want to go now, at the pace I want, feels great. This mental and physical rest is necessary and now that the sun is coming out and the weather is heating up, it’s make everything a whole lot better. It’s perfect timing. Spring is upon us, the rest of the students are back from spring break, everything seems to be more festive with this change in weather and I have all the time in the world.

I want to say congratulations to the Wingate swim team on such a successful season. Thank you to our support squad and all the parents who are there for us and cheer us on; you guys are great.

Rorz

Posted by: Rory Julyan

Education

2011-03-09T10:41:31-04:00

I’m starting to appreciate the fundamentals of a liberal arts university. I’m realizing that in this period of my life, I’ve never been in greater need of a broader education.

Coming from a foreign school of thought relating to higher education, I’ve always been in favor of choosing a major and pursuing it thoroughly until graduation without any waste of time. Through slight ignorance I viewed the liberal arts system I was about to enter as a waste of a large amount of time, time that my friends back home will capitalize on and pull ahead of me in the field of our interest. I wasn’t interested in the studies of religion, history, literature or whatever was about to stand in my way of gaining knowledge in my major. I had just finished high school and the thought of being institutionalized again wasn’t top priority but at least knowing that it would be to my benefit and increase my knowledge of the topic I share a passion for was a help. I wanted to “get in there,” learn and get out. Wasting my time on random topics of studies that are not of choice was a bleak thought for me.

I was wrong and consequently I was wrong for the majority of my freshman year. I was willing to embrace and, in fact, enthusiastic to embrace new experiences and cultures but I didn’t employ this view to my education. I simply went through the motions and did what was necessary to pass and sometimes not comfortably. I was missing the point of the studies from the professors who were so passionate about their content. Being blinded by a biased point of view installed in me from back home, I was missing out on the brilliant content in front of me. I’m not saying that the thought of education and education back home is bad; no, it’s of the highest standards globally. It was my fault to not look past the normal path I was on and to embrace my new experience with enthusiasm and with an open mind.

I was reminded of the significance of the schooling system the other morning when a retired professor spoke to me of how he hated picking up his literature and having to study them for the required assignments but now that he has the time he can’t put them down. He said he wished he had taken the time back then and actually looked past the requirements and deadlines and by initiative see what the text really was conveying and find the potential lessons to be learned.

I realize I’m not qualified to say which schools of education should be implemented or how to go about it by combing certain aspects of each to create the most beneficial system but I am learning and comparing them. I’m also grateful that I have realized I’d be wasting my time if didn’t embrace the benefits of what my education offers me.

Despite all the benefits in the world, I’ve also experienced the downfalls of overexposure to deadlines, assignments and examinations. My stress levels have peaked and my lack of sleep may be showing. Now I’m going to enjoy my well deserved spring break.

Rorz

Posted by: Rory Julyan

Anticipation for Summer

2011-03-04T10:52:46-04:00

It’s been too long! I feel like I’ve been exposed to the winter season for several years now – I’m looking for the sun.

I want to spend afternoons lounging at the Jefferson pool. I want to be able to play volleyball in the sun, with music blaring from some Jefferson apartment nearby, while people are splashing around in the pool. I want to throw a football on the lawns and catch Frisbees ‘til late evening without worrying about it being too dark or too cold. I want to take weekly trips to the campus lake with the girls packing picnics and lads barbecuing in the shade. I want to road trip to the coast and spend a weekend at a friend’s house near the sea so I can wake up to the smell of fresh sea breeze and the sound of waves breaking on the shoreline. Finally, I want to start each day off by waking up because the sun is beaming through my blinds and not due to the sound of my dreary alarm.

No season brings greater joy to me than the summer. It reminds me of back home when I would spend hours on end in the waves on my surfboard under the intense African sun. My dogs would be running as far as they could see and the atmosphere on the beach would be one to experience, not to describe. It all acts as a recharge button for me and I’ve needed a long overdue recharge session.

Winter has served me well with many days in under blankets catching up on great movies and readings, as well as perfect conditions for studying. Winter provides great opportunity for a lot of work to be done but it’s now time to have fun. It’s time to see faces of sun-kissed skin, board shorts, bikinis, sunglasses and sunsets. Worries fade away when you’re having fun under the sun. There is no sweating the small stuff when you’re sipping on something cold and going with the flow – just cruising.

All those heading off for the spring break soon – enjoy it! Go crazy, try new experiences, meet new people and make memories. Go recharge those batteries; just make sure you make it back safely.

Rorz

Posted by: Rory Julyan

Swimming Conference

2011-03-03T11:35:03-04:00

Last week we (the Wingate swim team) made our way to Charlotte where our annual conference championship is hosted. It’s been a long season and the preparation had taken place to make sure all the swimmers would be at their peak performances for the championship. It’s really quite a fun event, despite all the pressures that go along with it. It is the last meet of the year where the whole team is together in full force cheering each other on. The seniors of all the teams competing in the conference get acknowledged on the last day, which adds to the festive environment, and it gives the parents of the seniors an opportunity to be involved in some way.

Going into the championship we knew it was once again going to be another battle for the title of conference champions. The men’s team has achieved that title 3 years in a row and I was able to be part of that winning team last year in my freshman year. It was a brilliant moment when they announced it to the crowd that we were the 2010 conference champions; it made me so eager to feel that again this year going in. The competition was tough, there was a wide spread of talent and we were matched in every event. But it took us one day, the first day, to capitalize on victories. The girls were swimming very well, my relay team won, the distance swimmers won, I won my 50 yard freestyle and the team came together in realization of what we were capable of over the next few days ahead of us.

As the meet went on it was evident our closest competitor was the Johns Hopkins team. We were able to focus on our own tasks at hand instead of their results and we came out on top. Toward the end of the finals of the last night, it was evident that we were ahead in the points. All that was left was the relay and even if they were able to beat us they still wouldn’t be able to win the overall champion title. It was a liberating feeling, knowing the four of us could go out there and simply enjoy our last relay. I was very proud when we stepped up to the plate and still put forward our best efforts and achieved a great time, as well as the first place.

I was very pleased with my own efforts. Out of my 7 events I got 6 golds and one silver. The icing on the top, though, was the champion trophy we were awarded with at the end of the meet.

It’s a beautiful thing when an athlete gets to experience the internal reward he/she has been fighting for all season. It’s a reward one cannot flaunt, nor can they express its full impact but it is the reason we do what we do all year long. It’s a rejuvenation which no drug could ever accommodate you with, and the Wingate swim team experienced it for the fourth time that Saturday.

Go Bulldogs!

Posted by: Rory Julyan

Senior Day Meet

2011-02-02T16:04:39-04:00

The swim team hosted Emory University on Saturday for our last in-season swim meet of the year. There were several reasons why this meet was important to my team; firstly, it was our last in-season swim meet which meant we wanted to go out with a bang and a real confidence booster before we start preparing for the conference championship and national championship. The second reason is we were swimming Emory University. I respect Emory as a competitor and they are a very good one; we have been unable to beat them in the past and they, therefore, remained one of our toughest competition. The third reason is that the day really was about the seniors on our team – it was the Senior Day meet and we bid them farewell on their last meet on home ground.

A few of us on the team remember the sad feeling of losing so narrowly to the Emory swim team of last year and how bitter the bus ride home was. We all knew it meant a lot to our seniors and coaching staff to win that meet, but unfortunately on that day, Emory was simply the stronger team. I cannot fail to mention they had a men’s diving team, and that was something we did not have; this inevitably hurt us in the points tally.

However, we made sure our freshmen and newcomers to the team understood the importance of the day to come during the weeks leading up to the meet. We had done our research on the team and found that we were fairly evenly matched, with the argument of many that on paper they were the stronger team. Nevertheless, this was not a day for us to roll over, and our coaches made sure of this.

Saturday came and we were ready. We started off with the 200 medley relay. I was on the breaststroke leg and I swam a great in-season split; it was enough to gain a small lead on which we capitalized and won. Starting off the meet like that put us on a level and we stayed on that level. We kept pushing through and made sure we gained as many points as possible. I was pleased with my win in the 100 breaststroke and my fellow teammates were great support. As a team we did a great job; we swam hard for each other and we supported each other through the meet. It was enough, in fact, it was more than enough because once again, Emory brought a men’s diving team to gain points over us; however, we had pulled so far ahead that their diving team could not make up the difference.

On Saturday we were the stronger team. It was the first time we had beat Emory and I hope to make it a tradition. I know our seniors had a great time and fortunately some of them were even able to share the celebrations with their parents.

Our coaches were thrilled and the team walked away ready for our preparations for Conference and Nationals.

I want to wish my team the best of luck for what lies ahead. It is the final stretch of the season but it is the most important. Everything leads up to this, so let’s stay focused and be there for each other. Good luck!

Rorz

Posted by: Rory Julyan

Wingate, My Second Home

2011-01-28T14:42:47-04:00

Even though it’s my second year here at Wingate, I still find it strange how soon I began to start calling this place “home.” My home is in Constantia, in the city of Cape Town – South Africa. It’s a beautiful place. It’s where I eventually want to settle down and let my roots grow. I feel it has close to everything I need. I not only say this because it’s where I grew up, but because I’ve seen a fair amount of other countries including Australia, Croatia, Austria, Germany, Mauritius and now America. This has allowed me to see a fraction of what is out there and it’s helping me realize what I want in life, and at the same time it clarifies that what I have at home is pretty good.

Being so far away from home, I can’t help but miss it during quiet occasions when I have time to reflect; however, most of the time I’m completely occupied to the max. Between class, homework, swimming practice and competition and a social life, it’s hard to find a spare minute, but when I do my thoughts drift to images and memories of home. This is why I find it strange that I still call Wingate “home” without realizing it. It must be from all the activities I’m involved in and the people I have come to know so closely; it creates a family away from family and thus a home away from home. My new “home” now consists of my room which I share with a great roommate as well as the rest of my apartment which I share with 6 other guys. One would consider this to be an extremely awkward family. Instead of it being quiet and a place for retreat and relaxation, it’s permanently noisy; my dining room table has been modified to a ping pong table, the washing machine and dishwasher seem to be permanently in use and all five TVs are played at high volume covering various sports news updates and the latest entertainment shows. I live in Africa but I’m positive that the entire elephant population has migrated to the apartment above me. In order to get to my apartment one has to skilfully move him or herself along the pathways that are covered in ice right now. At the same time they may have to dodge the different sporting apparel being thrown down from above and all other directions from the sportsmen occupying the surrounding apartments. It’s truly a madhouse! But I’ve come to love it.

My home away from home may not be quaint and blissful but right now there is no other way I’d rather have it.

Posted by: Rory Julyan

My Christmas Break

2011-01-20T16:47:58-04:00

I hadn’t had a break that I felt I deserved more than this recent Christmas break. Exams took quite the toll on me, and my swimming schedule carried on through the exams as well as the lead up to it. It mat have been the overall stress but familiar faces were beginning to be a little too familiar; a break was long overdue.

The day of my last exam I set off for Raleigh, NC to visit my freshman year roommate. We spent a few days in his town house near the NC State campus before heading to Kansas. I truly had no idea what awaited me in Kansas. I had been told by a few of several details of the “flat” land state of America. I was told it was deserted arid land run by cowboys on horseback, with permanent gray skies and no water to be seen for miles on end. Boy, were they wrong! It’s such a lovely state. It’s earned the title of natural beauty because it hasn’t been ruined by the fatal actions of unsuccessful modernization. The change from the natural rural landscape to the downtown Kansas City is not a sudden change, leaving a viewer with a brash image; no, the change is pleasant as you drive along into a cosy looking neighbourhood and the following neighbourhoods all carry a certain “homey” feel to it. The old architecture has been well up-kept and it sets the scene for your entry into the old characteristic city. The streets were beautifully lit up for Christmas, from lamp poles to the majority of buildings. Even the horse carriages shaped in pumpkins were covered in bright lights.

My highlight of visiting downtown was a toss up between the outside ice rink under the fairy lights covering the surrounding trees and the old Kansas City train station. I think you have to be inside the enormous train station to understand why it made an impact on my visit.

My days were filled with activity! The house we stayed in had a log cabin feel to it and it overlooked Lake Winnebago. The family we stayed with also had a barn a few miles down the road with a good amount of land extending along another lake. In the barn were 5 horses, a dirt bike, a golf cart and a go-cart. Needless to say, it was a playground for all ages. It was my first time on a dirt bike and trails had been made wide enough for us to ride the go-cart along it as well. It had been so long since I last rode a horse; it was a great feeling riding in a western saddle at the horse’s fastest canter after watching a John Wayne movie the night before! Shooting shotguns was a new experience for me; I was so excited! Clay pigeon shooting is great fun. It took a few attempts but I got the hang of it and it became slightly addicting.

My time in Kansas was brilliant and I couldn’t have asked for a better getaway, but it wasn’t all fun and games. I had to workout and swim to maintain fitness because on the 29th I was on a plane en route to Orlando, FL for our annual swim team training trip. It was brutal-13 days of doubles (two practices a day) with the exception of New Year’s Day. We averaged 14-16 thousand yards a day, with weightlifting and dry-land practises following pool practises. I’m sure we’re (swim team) all grateful for it because we came back in great shape and are ready to end our season in top form.

We were fortunately able to make it back on campus the night before the large snowfall.

I wish everyone luck for the semester ahead and may this new semester be an eventful one.

Posted by: Rory Julyan

Thanksgiving, oh thanksgiving!

2010-11-23T15:45:07-04:00

This is by far my favorite American holiday. Family, FOOD, reflection and relaxation. There is no better timing for this holiday.

I am so pleased materialism has not gotten the better of this pleasant holiday. I’ve only been able to experience thanksgiving once but I was so fortunate enough to spend it with the family I did. It was actually so close to what I predicted it to be and I had some high expectations. I was in a big house in a lovely suburb, one large extended family all staying under the same roof, copious amounts of food and great conversations around the table. I think my experience may be the reason I am such a fan of this holiday.

I was introduced to new food that I hadn’t had before and the abundance of it all made it so much better. My favorite now and what I’m looking forward to most are the sweet potatoes with melted marshmallows on top with a topping of cinnamon. This dish would usually seem like a dessert dish to me as a foreigner but it’s served with the main meal and it goes perfectly with it. The cafeteria has in fact done a great job with this meal within the last 2 years and the thanksgiving dinner presented to us the other night was an absolute teaser for what is about to come.

Of course, nothing can top off a great meal better than a delicious pie; pumpkin pie, pecan pie, whatever your choice, it’s going to do the trick. I couldn’t help myself, I had to have both and I intend on enjoying both in a few days. The great thing about this day is that no one feels awkward about the amount of food they eat; in fact, it’s encouraged! The whole environment, with the help of family, allows you to feel comfortable getting involved in the festivities and food because afterward it’s relaxation time – major relax time. Football is on and everyone is so full; it’s the perfect time to just kick back and sink into a couch.

This was of course from my previous experience and I’m sure many families may have a few traditions of their own; either way, I employ the idea of you getting involved with family and enjoying this holiday. It’s really one not to be taken for granted. Even though it’s not a holiday I am used to celebrating, I still wish I had the fortune of having my family near to celebrate it with them. So remember you have much to be thankful for.

All those leaving campus, travel safely and don’t rush. You’ll have plenty of time with your closest ones. Have a great holiday guys.

Rorz

Posted by: Rory Julyan

Homecoming Weekend

2010-11-08T16:57:51-04:00

I thoroughly enjoy events that bring old acquaintances together along with good friends in the spirit of festivities. Homecoming was one of those perfect events; it brought family, alumni, teachers and friends together over one festive weekend.

The weekend was filled with events taking pace all over campus. There were several sporting events, with football being the main attraction sport; there was a parade, barbeque and evening events. There really was an event or two for everyone. Alumni, family and friends started arriving on Friday and upon arrival there was something for them to do in order to get the weekend rolling or simply to break the ice. I was slightly envious, being an international student, but it was still great to see all the parents who were able to make it. They were able to see what their kids have been up to and they got a glimpse of their college life for a few days. It was great seeing faculty getting involved in the festivities and getting caught up in the vibe. It’s not often your able to see them outside the environment of the lectures.

Being a sophomore, I had not been acquainted with the majority of the alumni. Fortunately I had remembered a few from my freshman year but the best part of their visiting, was the company of the seniors from last year and in particular my old teammates and captains. It’s a great thing, seeing them again and especially after a few months when they’ve been able to assess their new paths in life. They all had a few interesting tales to tell and those who had been travelling told theirs with intriguing details.

Unfortunately I was not able to take part in the activities of Friday night. I was with the team travelling to Pfeiffer University for our Friday night swim meet. We made the trip worthwhile and we dominated. When we arrived back on campus, we caught a glimpse of the remains of the bonfire. I heard it was pretty cool and that those who went to it later joined the lads manning the pig roast over at the football field. The poor bugger had been roasting all Friday until the afternoon of the Saturday football game. There was a terrific turnout for the game. Wingate was out in full force and the tailgating was awesome. My mates and I joined our alumni in the swimming tent for snacks and a catch-up on the previous night’s endeavours. We also wondered around to mingle with other teams and graduates from last year. The game was a good one and the win, of course, raised the spirits of everyone (besides the opposing team…). The halftime events included flame-throwing dancers, elected individuals along with Homecoming King and Queen, and my teammates and I were brought up onto the 50-yard line and recognized for our All-American awards, National Champion awards and three-time conference champions award.

After all that, it was really only the halfway point of the festive weekend. The rest involved the majority of the festivities. Families joined other families and celebrated together with their kids; teams got together for various functions and everyone was getting dressed up in their Halloween costumes. I must say I appreciated all the alumni who joined in on the costume action – it showed great spirit.

All in all, it was quite the successful weekend and I’m truly looking forward to the next Homecoming.

Rorz

Posted by: Rory Julyan

The Importance of the First Throw-Down

2010-10-22T13:36:44-04:00

Whenever you are about to begin a new chapter in your life, be it in work, your first semester in college, a new relationship with someone special or the beginning of a sports season, there will always be that first test – the first throw-down. It may be a new experience or an experience that is familiar to you; nevertheless a test will come around and if it is your first test in your new chapter, you’re going to want to “hit it out of the park.”

I have my first test coming up. It’s relatively familiar to me since its my second season in my college sport but it’s the first meet of the season and to me, no matter how many times I go through this, it still feels like it’s the first time ever. This may not be the case for you and maybe nerves never play a role in your ventures in life, but no matter how you deal with pressured situations, there is such importance as to the manner in which you handle your first test. Your first test sets you off for your chapter ahead and I’m quite sure we’d all appreciate a little head start or moral booster for whatever awaits us in the future. This is why attitude is the first and foremost important aspect that must be dealt with when approaching your first test. Not everyone walks away a winner but everyone can walk away with their heads held high, you just need to know how. It really doesn’t matter if your first test is coming up in the near future like mine, or if it has recently passed; they are both great opportunities to assess yourself and your current abilities, strengths and weaknesses. A positive attitude starts with assessment and the attitude cannot be obtained nor sustained without full understanding as to where you are and where you want to be. So, take some time, look back or look in the mirror and ask yourself did I approach that correctly? How did I handle myself? Was I prepared? Was I confident? Is that how I would like to perform the next time? Or ask yourself, am I ready for what is to come? Have I put in the work necessary? What are my strengths that I can capitalize on? What are my weaknesses that may hold me back?

Confidence may not rush to you immediately when asking yourself such potent questions but that is alright because you would have already made a step forward toward your success by assessing your current position. By being true to yourself, you will know where you stand and what you have to address and how to address it. As you put the effort in, just the way you have by starting the process, you will be gaining that positive attitude and when that “mountain” approaches you will soon see the possibility of a throw-down that will boost you and fill you with confidence for whatever lies ahead.

My first test has been looming for a while now and it will finally be here on Sunday. I have not been feeling confident about it for all that long, until recently when I realized that I need not worry about the test itself; the more I speak of It, the bigger it seems. Instead, I have chosen to focus on myself and my strengths, and I have a new found confidence; my teammates and I have put in the hours of quality and we know how to stand strong, shoulder to shoulder, so when the throw-down comes, we will be ready.

Posted by: Rory Julyan

Social Networking

2010-10-14T16:13:40-04:00

This Friday, I attempted to go watch the movie Wall Street; however, I was going with friends and I didn’t have a car and it turned out the the only cinema showing Wall Street was too far away. So over a vote we ended up going to Social Networking (the movie about the invention of Facebook). And if you don’t know what Facebook is, then maybe it’s time to start getting out a little more or become properly acquainted with college life.

Well, I wasn’t too keen on the idea of watching this movie but I had nothing else planned for the night so I just tagged along. Boy, am I stoked I went! What an awesome movie… I’m sure the movie doesn’t appeal to everyone but for those who actually understand it, I’m pretty sure they were blown away at some point, be it Mark Zuckerberg’s witty intellectual comments or the “actual” story behind the invention or the planning and scheming of those who wanted a piece of the action or even the ending when his net worth and donations are revealed.

This movie wasn’t only a great Hollywood creation, it also explained how our generation, as some call it the “Facebook generation,” have been so influenced by this internet site. Some may argue it’s for communication purposes, some for simply keeping updated by browsing friends’ photos and others believe it’s there for our status and image, as explained in the movie. I believe it’s for all those things and maybe more. We cannot ignore the impact Facebook has had on our lives thus far. I also think this is only the beginning; like most great inventions, it inspires others that may complement it or one day replace it. I am no Facebook addict, nor am I in awe of it for I do see many negative externalities that come with the networking website, but I cannot ignore the opportunities that have been created and the potential opportunities that come with it.

This is a topic I would love to hear some feedback on. Please, readers, send me your thoughts on what you think about Facebook. I’m not talking about the often discussed topics; I’m talking about issues that have been bothering you when it comes to Facebook or why you feel it will prove to be the next greatest invention. If you’ve seen the movie please tell me what you thought of it and if you have any questions for me.

Much appreciated.

Rorz

Posted by: Rory Julyan

Fall Break

2010-09-24T14:57:18-04:00

The topic of fall break is in the air. As I walk along corridors, down main pathways and hang out in apartments, I hear chit-chat and the plans that go along with the upcoming fall break. I feel the majority of students would stand beside me in saying that fall break could not come any sooner; however, some would certainly feel that the break is coming too soon and that things are only getting started.

For me, I am already in need of some peace and quiet. I look forward to stepping out of the routine and deadlines and instead, wake up when the sun shines through the window and onto my face. I also hope that that sun only shines through after 10:00 am… maybe it’s because my swimming training is really starting to pick up with the 2-a-day sessions and the lack of sleep due to my late re-adjustment to college life. The work load isn’t getting any easier either; in fact, quite the contrary. Teachers are starting to lose their sympathy for newcomers and the quizzes, tests and projects are rolling through.

Please try not to perceive this negatively, I am not trying to escape from the hard work and run away forever; instead, I’m looking forward to something. A few of my closest mates and I head down to Myrtle Beach each year for our fall break. I say it as though we’ve been doing it for the last decade; however, we’ve only done it once and it was a massive success. Everything went brilliantly from the trip down to the beach, our plans for each day or lack thereof, to our long easy ride back. It’s been a highlight to me and I can speak on behalf of my friends in saying we’ve been looking forward to the next fall break since the day we got back from the first one. I hadn’t put my finger on it and neither had I thought about why we had such a great time and why we made a promise to go back the following year. It was only during this previous summer break, when I was browsing through my pictures of my first year in college and the experiences that went along with it. I saw our pictures and the pattern was a periodic one. It was evident we weren’t all that well acquainted with each other and knew very little about each one’s background. But as the break went on and relationships grew due to long crazy nights and lazy days on the beach, it became evident in the photos and it hit me. We didn’t seem to be best friends or anything close to it but as the days went on it seemed as though we couldn’t have been happier.

I don’t want to make it sound like a cheesy story where a bunch of friends went away for a short holiday and came back great friends. I’m saying that we took a chance and it turned out for the best.

We all had a long, tough first year at college ahead of us and we had only had a glimpse of what was still to come, just before fall break. Our coaches seemed terrifying; our work load seemed daunting. We imagined a mountain ahead of us. But the break was all we really needed. It was enough to build great friendships, which is an asset during the year when you need someone to lean on during the rough patches. We are all on the same team and practices didn’t seem so terrifying anymore.

Unfortunately, not everything turns out the way we want it to and one of our closest and craziest companions had to leave us in order to attend another school. It wasn’t what he wanted but his major was only offered at that school and therefore the move was necessary. This is another reason why I am so looking forward to fall break because he will be joining us once again and for the second time we will all be back up in our traditional holiday location, just as we promised a year ago. It makes it all a bit more meaningful, knowing that our actions and follow through of plans reflect our value for the friendship we have built. Despite our heavy and different schedules, we are all able to keep our word without burden.

I really hope that all my fellow students will take this break and use it. Go out and recharge those batteries. Break loose from the hustle and bustle and make sure when the break comes to an end, you are ready for what lies ahead. Take a chance, invite your roommate to your house or accept an invitation.

My quote for the break is: “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

For all those traveling, please travel safely.

Rorz

Posted by: Rory Julyan

Taking the Positive Approach

2010-09-09T16:25:09-04:00

My schedule is a full one, and last year as a freshman it took me some time to adjust and made me appreciate the time off, especially at the end of last semester when I was able to go home and visit my friends and family. But my time off didn’t necessarily mean kicking back completely and vegging on the couch. Oh no! I was in the heart of the Soccer World Cup! Cape Town, where I live, had the most impressive and most expensive stadium and it was magnificent. It’s placed on the water’s edge of the Atlantic Ocean and overlooks much of my town's splendor.

I have attached a photo of the stadium lit up at night in the background of the Cape Town night life.

It was such a festive season and almost every morning there was a tale to be told of the night before. Despite the festiveness, I was able to break away from all the “buzz” and have a little alone time among the waves I had missed so dearly during my freshman year. I made sure I had time to surf at least 2-3 times a week, and it allowed me to unwind and fuel myself for my sophomore year ahead.

I'm sure the majority of the foreign students would agree with me in saying that leaving home is not an easy process but a necessary one. There's a feeling that I’ve missed out on much back home during my school year and I try to make up for it when I get back, but there's only so much you can do and before you know it, it's time for round 2 at the “Gate.” My positive approach this year should give me the upper hand. I have also gained knowledge from my freshman experiences and dealings with friends and family relationships. I’m confident about this year and I wish all my mates on campus the best of luck for the year ahead.

Posted by: Rory Julyan