THE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER OF WESLEY COLLEGE Early March 2011 VISIT US ONLINE AT WWW.WHETSTONE.WESLEY.EDU A recent study reveals that Wesley College’s school-wide grade point average (GPA) may be below the national average for both private and public colleges. Although it refused to release the actual aver- age college GPA, Wesley College’s administration said it was happy with the average GPA of its student athletes, a fig- ure released by head coach Mike Drass, despite the fact that this av- erage also went below the national average for student athletes. The 363 Wesley College stu- dent athletes’ average grade point average was 2.64 in the fall, Drass said. But, according to a study by The College Sports Project, this is below the average of the data submitted by the 80 participating colleges in the College Sports Proj- ect produced by Northwestern University. (http:// www.collegesportsproject.org/) The average GPA of the data submitted for 8,951 recruited men athletes is 2.84; for the 6,259 women, it’s 3.18. The overall average GPA of students at private colleges is a 3.3 and 3.0 for public colleges, ac- cording to another study, “Grading in American Colleges and Universities,” where data was sifted from 160 public and private colleges (www.gra- deinflation.com/tcr2010grading.pdf). Patricia Dwyer, vice president of academic of affairs, provided The Whetstone only with GPA percentages. In the fall, nearly 1 in 5 students earned below a 2.0, she said; almost half scored between a 2.0 and 3.0, and a little more than a third earned above a 3.0. “I think it’s important for students to get a 3.0,” said sophomore Matthew Tappan, a history major. “That’s what we’re here for.” The average for the school should be a 3.3, the Dean’s List mark, he said. Mary-Alice Ozechoski, dean of students, an- nounced at a recent open house that “our athletes have some of the highest GPAs.” Forty percent of student ath- letes have earned above a 3.0, Drass’ figures showed. That shakes out to about 145 of the 363 student athletes. “We should all be proud of them,” Ozechoski said. Thirty-two football players, or about one-third, have earned above a 3.0. These students were named to the Atlantic Central Football Con- ference All Academic Team for fall 2010. There are about 100 players listed on Wesley’s football roster. “It is strictly an academic award,” Drass said. “You don’t have to be a starter to receive this hon- or.” Academics come first for junior Trevor Kling, a member of the junior varsity football team, al- though other players have said they are majoring in “football” at Wesley. “Academics come first,” Kling said. “The most difficult thing was balancing time between my two commitments.” Kling is a business major with a concentration in marketing. He also is the vice president of Wes- By Kim Manahan The Whetstone FIGURES FOR FALL 2010 -35 STUDENTS MADE A 4.0 -*80 WERE ACADEMICALLY SUSPENDED -257 STUDENTS MADE DEAN’S LIST -*150 WERE PLACED ON ACADEMIC PROBATION -ATHLETES AVERAGED A 2.64 (* - ESTIMATE) Are Wesley College students below average? Seven students competed in the third annual Mr. and Mrs. Wesley pageant on Feb. 18. Freshman Chea Sloh was crowned Mr. Wesley, and senior Evita Wade was crowned Mrs. Wesley. After winning Homecoming king this past fall, Sloh said that he signed up to compete for Mr. Wesley to try to win another title. Three men and four women competed. Wade, an English major, sang an Alicia Keys song in Spanish for the talent part of the contest. “Spanish is my minor,” she said. “I wanted to do something different and I guess the judges liked it.” The contestants were judged for formal attire, a question-and- answer round, Wesley pride and a talent performance. Judges in- clude Dr. Jack Barnhardt, Anne Rogge, Robert Price, and senior nursing major Brandon Hoskins. “I’m reppin’ Wesley,” Sloh, a media arts major, repeated dur- ing his step routine for the Wesley pride portion. He teamed up with freshman David Ridley, for the talent part. They showed off their Mi- chael Jackson dance moves. Wade answered what super power she would want and why. “I would choose to have a Evita Wade Wade and Sloh By Kelly Morgan The Whetstone Three Wesley College stu- dents and members of Alpha Phi Delta were arrested and expelled from Wesley after police discov- ered them to be in possession of large amounts of marijuana. David Demont, 23, Jason Ruiter, 22, and Corey Cannatelli, 22, who live at 225 N. Bradford St., were arrested by Dover police Feb. 10 for possessing nearly 500 grams of marijuana and growing nine marijuana plants. Each was charged with pos- session of possession of mari- juana, maintaining a dwelling and resisting arrest. “What happened to me and my roommates isn’t as simple as an arrest,” Ruiter said. “It’s not By Kim Manahan The Whetstone Three students arrested on drug charges Before Wesley College’s sci- ence department received two grants worth more than a half- million dollars, students and pro- fessors had a hard time storing and measuring basic chemicals. Potentially explosive mate- rial and acids were not stored safely. Some chemical reactions were not measured efficiently. Now, they are. “Before the changes, the lab was in horrible condition,” said Peter Lorchak, a senior nursing major. “Storage was an issue and the grant gave the science depart- ment an opportunity to upgrade the labs, the technology and equipment to perform more accu- rate research.” New laptops were installed with Kinet (K-eye-net), a pro- gram that calculates chemical reactions and compounds more accurately and quickly than a sci- entist can by hand. “With my compound (vinyl chloroformate), the reactions oc- By Shane Miller Whetstone Contributor “ A c a d e m i c s c o m e i r s t .” - T r e v o r K l i n g SEE WESLEY ON P9 SEE GPA ON P9 SEE SCIENCE ON P9 SEE DRUGS ON P9 Winners crowned in school pageant Science dept. gets more than half a million dollars in grants
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THE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER OF WESLEY COLLEGEEarly March 2011
VISIT US ONLINE AT WWW.WHETSTONE.WESLEY.EDU
A recent study reveals that Wesley College’s school-wide grade point average (GPA) may be below the national average for both private and public colleges.
Although it refused to release the actual aver-age college GPA, Wesley College’s administration said it was happy with the average GPA of its student athletes, a fi g-ure released by head coach Mike Drass, despite the fact that this av-erage also went below the national average for student athletes.
The 363 Wesley College stu-dent athletes’ average grade point average was 2.64 in the fall, Drass said.
But, according to a study by The College Sports Project, this is below the average of the data submitted by the 80 participating colleges in the College Sports Proj-ect produced by Northwestern University. (http://www.collegesportsproject.org/)
The average GPA of the data submitted for 8,951 recruited men athletes is 2.84; for the 6,259 women, it’s 3.18.
The overall average GPA of students at private colleges is a 3.3 and 3.0 for public colleges, ac-cording to another study, “Grading in American Colleges and Universities,” where data was sifted from 160 public and private colleges (www.gra-deinfl ation.com/tcr2010grading.pdf).
Patricia Dwyer, vice president of academic of affairs, provided The Whetstone only with GPA percentages.
In the fall, nearly 1 in 5 students earned below a 2.0, she said; almost half scored between a 2.0 and 3.0, and a little more than a third earned above a 3.0.
“I think it’s important for students to get a 3.0,” said sophomore Matthew Tappan, a history major. “That’s what we’re here for.”
The average for the school should be a 3.3, the Dean’s List mark, he said.
Mary-Alice Ozechoski, dean of students, an-nounced at a recent open house that “our athletes have some of the highest GPAs.”
Forty percent of student ath-letes have earned above a 3.0, Drass’ fi gures showed. That shakes out to about 145 of the 363 student athletes.
“We should all be proud of them,” Ozechoski said.
Thirty-two football players, or about one-third, have earned above a 3.0.
These students were named to the Atlantic Central Football Con-
ference All Academic Team for fall 2010. There are about 100 players listed on Wesley’s football roster.
“It is strictly an academic award,” Drass said. “You don’t have to be a starter to receive this hon-or.”
Academics come fi rst for junior Trevor Kling, a member of the junior varsity football team, al-though other players have said they are majoring in “football” at Wesley.
“Academics come fi rst,” Kling said. “The most diffi cult thing was balancing time between my two commitments.”
Kling is a business major with a concentration in marketing. He also is the vice president of Wes-
By Kim ManahanThe Whetstone
FIGURES FOR FALL 2010-35 STUDENTS MADE A 4.0 -*80 WERE ACADEMICALLY
SUSPENDED-257 STUDENTS MADE
DEAN’S LIST -*150 WERE PLACED ON
ACADEMIC PROBATION -ATHLETES AVERAGED A 2.64
(* - ESTIMATE)
Are Wesley College students below average?
Seven students competed in the third annual Mr. and Mrs. Wesley pageant on Feb. 18.
Freshman Chea Sloh was crowned Mr. Wesley, and senior
Evita Wade was crowned Mrs. Wesley.
After winning Homecoming king this past fall, Sloh said that he signed up to compete for Mr. Wesley to try to win another title.
Three men and four women competed.
Wade, an English major, sang an Alicia Keys song in Spanish for the talent part of the contest.
“Spanish is my minor,” she said. “I wanted to do something different and I guess the judges liked it.”
The contestants were judged for formal attire, a question-and-answer round, Wesley pride and a talent performance. Judges in-clude Dr. Jack Barnhardt, Anne Rogge, Robert Price, and senior nursing major Brandon Hoskins.
“I’m reppin’ Wesley,” Sloh, a media arts major, repeated dur-ing his step routine for the Wesley pride portion. He teamed up with freshman David Ridley, for the talent part.
They showed off their Mi-chael Jackson dance moves.
Wade answered what super power she would want and why.
“I would choose to have a
Evita WadeWade and Sloh
By Kelly Morgan The Whetstone
Three Wesley College stu-dents and members of Alpha Phi Delta were arrested and expelled from Wesley after police discov-ered them to be in possession of large amounts of marijuana.
David Demont, 23, Jason Ruiter, 22, and Corey Cannatelli, 22, who live at 225 N. Bradford St., were arrested by Dover police Feb. 10 for possessing nearly 500 grams of marijuana and growing nine marijuana plants.
Each was charged with pos-session of possession of mari-juana, maintaining a dwelling and resisting arrest.
“What happened to me and my roommates isn’t as simple as an arrest,” Ruiter said. “It’s not
By Kim ManahanThe Whetstone
Three students arrested on drug charges
Before Wesley College’s sci-ence department received two grants worth more than a half-million dollars, students and pro-fessors had a hard time storing and measuring basic chemicals.
Potentially explosive mate-rial and acids were not stored safely. Some chemical reactions were not measured effi ciently. Now, they are.
“Before the changes, the lab was in horrible condition,” said Peter Lorchak, a senior nursing major. “Storage was an issue and the grant gave the science depart-ment an opportunity to upgrade the labs, the technology and equipment to perform more accu-rate research.”
New laptops were installed with Kinet (K-eye-net), a pro-gram that calculates chemical reactions and compounds more accurately and quickly than a sci-entist can by hand.
“With my compound (vinyl chloroformate), the reactions oc-
and address the submissions to Editor Niki Faught-Hodgson.
The Whetstone/ Cochise Lucas
Music to become a new major at Wesley College
Battle of the sexes
Lincoln-Jackson looks to promote political awareness among students
March 2011 WWW.WHETSTONE.WESLEY.EDU 7
Wesley College hosted a photojournalism exhibit featuring three photographers from The Wilming-ton News Journal on Feb. 9. Their work is currently displayed on the third fl oor of the College Center.Above: Dr. Jack Barnhardt looks at the pictures displayed after the presentation.
ON DISPLAY....PHOTOJOURNALISM EXHIBIT
The Whetstone/ Cochise Lucas
By Shane Miller
Whetstone Contributor
The action during a hockey
game doesn’t leave the ice when
the players do.
Watching a Zamboni ma-
chine work its magic on the ice is
sometimes more entertaining than
the game.
“During a period, there are
many hard cuts and sharp turns
made by players and this causes
ruts and cuts in the ice,” said Matt
Bartalini, Wesley hockey goalie.
“These ruts and cuts can cause
players to catch an edge and fall
or even twist, pull, or strain a
joint or muscle.”
In order to return the ice back
to its original smooth surface, a
machine called an ice resurfacer
is used.
Some ice resurfacers are mis-
takenly called Zambonis because
the Zamboni brand was the fi rst
and most popular maker of the
machine.
Drew Carter, a 21-year-old
Wesley student, traveled from
Delaware to Mystic, Conn., to
take an 8-hour certifi cation course
to learn how to drive the Zamboni
at the Harrington Ice Rink, where
Wesley plays.
“It takes skills like hand-eye
coordination and knowing dif-
ferent types of ice conditions,”
Carter said. “Some examples are
spraying less water when the ice
is too thick and remembering to
turn the water valves off when
turning through corners.”
The Zamboni is complicated
even though its shape is simple.
“One water tank shoots cold
water out the front to clean while
a blade cuts the ice down and
pushes it onto a horizontal augur
(shaped like a drill bit),” Carter
said. “The augur then guides the
snow toward the middle of the
Zamboni where a tube acts like a
vacuum and sucks the snow into a
large container.”
Wesley hockey player Joe
Fleming said he performs better
on smooth ice.
“Freshly cut ice allows for
faster speed as well as better puck
movement since there is no snow
buildup and no bumps for the
puck to hit,” he said.
To fi nish the job, the Zambo-
ni uses a separate water tank that
sprays water at 105 degrees on to
a cloth running along the bottom,
which allows the water to spread
evenly across the freshly shaved
ice.
Once the 105-degree wa-
ter hits the surface of the ice, it
takes about fi ve minutes to drop
the temperature for the water to
freeze.
“Freshly cut ice keeps the
game entertaining,” said Wesley
hockey player Earl Johnson. “Everything is moving
at full speed and it’s easier to stick-handle, shoot and
skate.”
Each Zamboni rolls along the ice on four large
tires that have spikes.
“Each tire has spikes that stick out no more than
a quarter of an inch, which causes (static electricity)
and gives you 99 percent control,” Carter said. “Vis-
ibility can be tough for an inexperienced driver, be-
cause the front of the Zamboni obstructs your view
until twenty feet ahead.”
Carter explained that there are some tricks to
help determine how well a driver is doing.
“Some Zambonis have a small gap by the driver
seat (on the fl oor) where you can see the ice travel-
ing to the augur,” he said. “If you see pure white
you’re actually cutting too deep into the ice.”
Carter’s favorite part of operating a Zamboni
is knowing that strangers stare from the crowd in
amazement and confusion.
“Having a $120,000 piece of machinery under
my control means I have to fully stay focused,” he
said.
The Whetstone/ Rachael Nissim
By Melissa BoydThe Whetstone When Daryl Davis was 10 years old, he experi-enced racism for the fi rst time in his life. Although he was born in the United States, he lived and traveled with his parents to dozens of other countries. When he marched in a Boy Scouts parade, he was shocked that white adults and children threw rocks at him. “It didn’t make sense to me that somebody had no idea who I was would want to infl ict harm upon me,” he said, speaking to more than two dozen Wesley College students in Wells Theater on Feb. 9 at a Black Student Union-sponsored event. “My parents had to sit me down and explain racism to me that day.” Davis, a professional musician and author, said his experience in other countries “helped shape who I am today,” because he didn’t have to deal with rac-ism. However, every time he traveled home to the United States, race always reared its head. Davis earned a bachelor’s in music from Howard University, has had several articles published about him and his work on racism in newspapers such as the Washington Post. A published author of a book on the Ku Klux Klan, “Klan-Destine Relationships,” Davis said he met a member of the hated organization while play-ing a gig at a bar.
He actually befriended the man, who later quit the Klan. From then on, Davis made several friends with KKK members, and then interviewed them af-ter he decided to write his own book about racism. One of the people he interviewed was Roger Kelly, an imperial wizard (the national leader of the KKK). Kelly and Davis became friends after Davis attended several KKK rallies. “I did not respect Mr. Kelly’s point of view be-cause I am not a racist,” Davis said. Kelly also quit the KKK, Davis said. “If I, a simple rock and roll player, can achieve things like that, we all can if we learn how to,” Davis said. At the end of the seminar, Tre Edwards, a Legal Studies freshman, asked, “Did you ever try to pre-vent black-on-black crime?” Davis said that black-on-black crime stems from “frustration and retaliation.” Edwards then asked if Davis felt he had person-ally helped stop the growth of the KKK. “In the state of Maryland, yes,” he said. “There are plenty of racists, but no KKK groups.” Davis said experience and knowledge overcome prejudice. “Ignorance breeds fear,” he said. “Fear breeds hatred. Hatred breeds destruction.”
Black History Month: A Look Back
Speaker talks about horrors of racism and befriending the KKK
Zamboni machine that cleans the ice can be almost as fascinating as the game
8 WWW.WHETSTONE.WESLEY.EDU March 2011
By Lamesha Green
The Whetstone
Ready or not, here it comes.
With spring just around the corner, students can’t wait to take a
break from homework, studying and early morning classes.
“I can‘t wait until March 4,” said sophomore Rashad Dickinson.
“I am going to Atlantic City to hang out with some friends and, most
importantly, catch up on some well needed sleep.”
Students also spend their break with family and friends.
“Over spring break, I will use the time to clear my mind,” said
junior Marvin Bond. “I will spend valuable time with my loved ones.”
Staying productive is also an option for students’ spring break
plans.
Students try to think about others than just themselves over the
break.
“The Student United Way is taking a fi eld trip to Mississippi to do
some community service resulting in the aftermath of hurricane Ka-
trina,” said freshman Jasmine Oden. “Some projects we will be doing
in Mississippi are helping contractors build a house for Katrina victims
and making a garden symbolizing a new start.”
Looking forward to such an exciting experience, Oden also said
she has more plans.
“I am also supposed to go on a road trip with some high school
friends to Ocean City, Md.,” she said. “But in case that doesn’t happen,
I will be taking a road trip with some of my frat brothers of Alpha Phi
Omega.”
By Collette O’Neal
The Whetstone
There’s a new way to get spiritual on campus.
The Young Adult Ministry provides students
with activities on campus for worship, discussion,
Bible study, social action, social life and witness,
said John Scott, a security guard on campus.
The group’s adviser, students call him Rev.
Scott.
“I know that there is a need for a young adult
ministry on campus because of the chapel and its
Sunday services,” Scott said.
The group is non-denominational, and anyone
between 18 and 35 can join.
Eighteen students signed a petition to give to
Student Life after approaching Scott with the idea
of the organization.
Marquiel Aladin and Jasmine Oden are presi-
dent and vice president.
They plan to do volunteer work and fundraisers.
“We want to bring people together, inspire, and
win souls for Christ,” Aladin said.
They also said this group is not about trying to
force anyone to follow a religion
“We give [the students] the tools they need and speak to their hearts,
and leave it up to them to make a decision,” Oden said.
More than 50 people showed up for the organization’s fi rst worship
service, Scott said.
“We feel that this is a part of life that students need for a sense of com-
munity, it helps students open up,” Scott said.
The next service is scheduled for March 15 at the chapel at 7 p.m.
“Come on out!” Oden said. “It’s very inspiring and you feel like part
of a family.”
The club meets every Tuesday night from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. in CC 210
for bible study.
By Kyle Pequeno
The Whetstone
Many students around campus have been report-
ing to the Wellness Center.
“I’m not surprised by it because with the weather
being cold, warm and then cold again people are go-
ing to get sick,” said sophomore Liz Wallace. “I’m
actually getting sick because of the weather change.
Also I’m stressed and not getting much sleep.”
Some students say they’re disgusted by so many
people coughing and sneezing around others on such
a small campus.
“I think that it’s nasty and it is too many of them
and that once they get sick, they should go and get
medical help so others don’t get infected,” said fresh-
man Rita Nwosu.
Jill Maser, director of student health services, has
noticed common symptoms among students recently.
“The symptoms include sore throat, nasal conges-
tion, cough, headache, body aches and temperature,”
she said.
College residents should be aware of the types of
illness going around.
“We have been treating students with both viral ill-
nesses and bacterial infections,” Maser said. “We have
had confi rmed cases of the seasonal fl u.”
Maser offers some words of advice.
“Make sure you are getting enough sleep, wash your
hands, use the hand sanitizers that are located on campus,
do not share drinks, cover your cough, eat a balanced diet
with fresh fruits and veggies,” she said.
John Scott
New religious group allows students to connect
The Whetstone/ Cochise Lucas
The Whetstone/ Cochise Lucas
The Whetstone/ Cochise Lucas
Spring break less than a week away; students’ plans vary
Jill Maser takes a student nurse’s blood pressure
The Whetstone/ Cochise Lucas
Maser encourages students to be aware of their health and to take care of themselves
super power that lets me trans-
late and know all languages,”
Wade said. “I think it’s impor-
tant because those languages and
cultures might relate to you. It’s
important to learn about other
cultures.”
The winners have responsi-
bilities.
“There are certain responsi-
bilities that come with the title,”
said student government presi-
dent Tanner Polce. “Their mis-
sion is to promote a specifi c agen-
da that the students wish to see.”
But at Wesley, the pageant is
seen as a popularity contest.
“It’s great there’s an outlet
on Friday nights to do a program,
but I think if you do an incentive
for the winners, it would be much
more respected,” Polce said.
ley’s College Democrats.
“I put 10 hours a week into school,” he
said, “and 12 hours into athletics.”
Kling transferred to Wesley after at-
tending Harrisburg Area Community Col-
lege in fall 2009.
The 32 student athletes from Wesley
made up about a third of the 112 players
from four colleges placed on the ACFC for
the fall.
“I think that upperclassmen who play
sports or hold an offi ce in a club or organi-
zation should be required to hold at least a
2.75,” said junior Megan Bradley, an edu-
cation major. “In those positions, people
could look to you as a role model and you
should be helping to lead, and not by set-
ting a mediocre example.”
Some students fi nd the student-athlete
2.64 average to be low.
Athletes should have at least a 2.75,
Bradley said. “They’re a student athlete,
not just an athlete.”
Tappan fi nds the athletes’ average of
2.64 understandable.
“I understand they’re busy and balanc-
ing [athletics] with a full course load,” he
said. “There’s always room for improve-
ment. Academics come fi rst.”
Some students say they’d like to know
the average Wesley GPA, not just the ath-
letes’.
“It seems strange that they wouldn’t
release it,” Bradley said. “But I guess it
does make sense because it could be a sore
spot with the college if they are not really
happy with where they are right now.”
An acceptable average would be at
least a 2.5, but no lower, she said.
While 292 students made the Dean’s
or President’s lists in fall 2010, about 150
were placed on academic probation, and
another 80 were academically suspended.
Students who make a 3.3 or higher
are put on the Dean’s list, and the 35 who
made the President’s list made a 4.0.
The probation and suspension numbers
are estimates, said Dr. Angela D’Antonio,
a member of the academic standing com-
mittee, which decides most probations and
suspensions.
“Some students aren’t academically
prepared for college,” D’Antonio said.
Dwyer did not release the fi nal proba-
tion and suspension numbers.
Freshmen are expected to maintain at
least a 1.75 GPA and all other undergradu-
ate students a 2.00.
“The school’s GPA does refl ect be-
cause if most everyone has low GPAs,
people may begin to wonder what exactly
is going on,” Bradley said.
There is no school average to compare
to the athletes’ average GPA.
“We don’t feel comfortable in com-
paring student populations,” Dwyer said.
“I don’t think we should share each
team individually,” Drass said. “We want
to promote the department as a whole.”
Still, the athletics department released
the two highest academic standing teams.
Women’s cross-country, which has nine
members, averaged a 3.46, and the men’s
golf team, which totals seven students, av-
eraged 3.07.
cur so quickly, in order to calcu-
late correct data it was nearly im-
possible to do by hand,” Lorchak
said. “Kinet takes the readings as
soon as the reactions occur.”
A computer with Kinet is
plugged into a large container
with glass sliding windows where
lab assistants conduct their ex-
periments.
Once the experiment begins,
Kinet dips swabs into the com-
pound solution. As the reaction
occurs, the software records the
rate instantly.
The science department re-
ceived $281,676 from the Na-
tional Science Foundation and an
additional $277,000 from the Na-
tional Institutes of Health-Nation-
al Center for Research Resourc-
es-IDEA Network of Biomedical
Research Excellence.
Dr. Malcolm D’Souza was
responsible for obtaining the, but
said everyone did their part.
“All members of the faculty
and staff contribute signifi cantly
to the program,” D’Souza said.
“The department has various
professors that come from well-
respected fi elds to give a quality
education to the students.”
Lorchak is a part of D’Souza’s
research group, which is working
to reveal compounds that are used
in dyes and drugs.
“I am currently fi nalizing my
experiment of vinyl chlorofor-
mate,” Lorchak said. “I’m trying
to see how the chemical reacts
from various solvents and reveal-
ing this information will hopeful-
ly go towards improving medical
drugs.”
Brian Mahon, senior bio-
chemistry major, said that the
grants helped improve safety.
“These improvements have
made our working environment
much safer and also more com-
fortable in the lab,” Mahon said.
Even with the grant, the reno-
vation has yet to be completed.
“The rest of the labs should
upgrade for safety reasons,” Lor-
chak said. “Our computer lab is
a bit small and when full to ca-
pacity it can be uncomfortable to
work in.”
Mahon added that to com-
plete the renovation, more fund-
ing will be required.
as cut and dry as that, and there’s
more to it.”
Ruiter said Wesley “did what
they had to do. They got to keep
their reputation as an institution,
so I’m expelled until next semes-
ter, if I decide to come back here.”
It took Wesley three days to
make the decision, and the col-
lege declined comment on the
students’ expulsion.
Demont was also charged
with possession with intent to
deliver and was released on a
$6,500 unsecured bond.
Ruiter and Cannatelli were
charged with possession of drug
paraphernalia, and each released
on a $4,000 unsecured bond.
March 2011 WWW.WHETSTONE.WESLEY.EDU 9
CONTINUED FROM GPA ON P1
CONTINUED FROM SCIENCE ON P1 CONTINUED FROM DRUGS ON P1
CONTINUED FROM WESLEY ON P1
CORRECTIONSIn the February 2011 issue of The Whetstone, some items were incorrectly stated.
In the article “Routers not welcome in resdience hall,” routers are allowed in residence halls as long as they are properly installed.
In the article “D’Souza participates in grant research with DSU,” the amount of money received from the grants is $30,000, not $24,700.
The Whetstone apologizes for these mistakes.
By Kasey Lynn
The Whetstone
Nearly 180 prospective students attended Wesley’s Feb. 19 Open
House.
Many high school seniors who attended expressed a range of emo-
tions, from excitement to shyness.
“There is a very good turnout and many students seem interest-
ed in Wesley College,” said Colleen Witowski, a student admissions
worker.
Witowski said that there were some students who experienced dif-
fi culties with name tags because of the huge winds blowing through
campus.
They had to return to the admissions table embarrassed to ask for
a new name tag.
The Open House consisted of students taking tours of the campus,
having lunch in the cafeteria, and attending an activities fair where
they could fi nd information about fi nancial aid, admissions and cam-
pus organizations.
“I chose Wesley because I think it can better me as a human begin
and make me a better leader,” said Raphael Stewart, a prospect. “It also
can help me be successful in life.”
Some are considering it for the scholarship.
“I got accepted here, and they offered me a scholarship,” said Ka-
mryn Potter.
Potter and Stewart both said that they liked the small community
and the close relationships students have with professors.
“It’s a small school with some nice dorms and a really nice work
out room,” said Eric Licause, a prospect. Comedian Jen Kober performed for students Feb. 16 in
Wells Theatre.
Feb. 19 Open House a success
VISIT US ONLINE
www.whetstone.wesley.edu
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9 WWW.WHETSTONE.WESLEY.EDU March 2011
OPINION
A couple of
weeks ago, I held a
tiny human – you
know, a baby.
Her face was all
scrunched up while
she slept, and her
eyes closed peace-
fully. Her tiny little
hands were balled up
into fi sts, while her
little legs sprawled over my arms.
I don’t know about you, but when I see
a baby, my whole day brightens up. I’m
ecstatic, and the world is just a big ball of
sunshine, with rainbows and little bunny
rabbits.
How come I don’t get like that with
adults?
Nobody ever thinks of an adult or a
teenager as someone to get particularly
excited about, unless it’s a specifi c person,
and even then, not many people change at-
titudes completely. It’s never the same for
an adult the way it is for a baby.
You look at the baby, and think of how
beautiful he or she is, and what wonderful
things they might accomplish in life. Not
many people think this way about anyone
older than the age of about ten. Nobody’s
cute after ten.
Except that’s wrong.
Every person, no matter how much
they weigh, how many pimples they have
or do not have, what color their eyes and
hair are – they’re all beautiful.
According to the South Carolina De-
partment of Mental Health, about 8 million
Americans suffer from eating disorders.
In addition, 75 percent of girls ages 8-9
said they liked their looks, while only 56
percent of girls surveyed ages 12-13 liked
their looks.
People have poor self-images for all
kinds of reasons.
For myself, I can think of a billion and
one reasons why I don’t think of myself as
“stunning.” I’m four-eyes, my eyebrows
are too bushy, my legs aren’t long enough
– the list goes on.
But unlike the 8 million Americans
who starve themselves to maintain an im-
age they prefer to their own, I have opti-
mism about me. I can write well, I’m ed-
ucated; I have a loving family, and great
friends. This list goes on.
Nobody’s perfect. But nobody’s only
fi lled with fl aws either. Everyone’s beauti-
ful, and, without becoming narcissistic or
egocentric, I wish people would look in the
mirror and say, “I’m alive today. I’m go-
ing to make a difference somehow, and I’m
beautiful in the way God made me.”
Conspiracy theories amuse me.
I have my own about Wesley.
For an article this issue, I wanted
to know what the average grade point
average of the college is.
I wanted to know because Coach
Mike Drass had proudly released the
average GPA of student athletes. I
needed the school’s average so I could
provide more information to students,
The Whetstone’s readers, so they could judge for them-
selves how the college is doing as a whole, compared to
athletes here and to other schools.
But no one in the college administration would give
me the numbers.
The offi ce of academic affairs was happy to give me
the number of students who were on the Dean’s and Presi-
dent’s lists. But they chose not to tell me either the average
GPA or how many students were put on academic proba-
tion or who were academically suspended.
I don’t want names. I just wanted what the student body
is entitled to at the school they attend: facts and fi gures.
Here are some facts I got on my own: A recent study
shows that the average GPA of private colleges and univer-
sities is a 3.3; for public universities, it’s 3.0.
From compiling the numbers I was given through sev-
eral different sources, Wesley is below this mark.
In fact, the overall GPA of student athletes (who make
up about 17 percent of the student population) is a 2.64,
according to Drass’ press release.
One source told me that athletes have a higher overall
GPA then the general population, but the administration
did not want to address this issue.
Instead, I was told to focus on the good news about the
athletes.
For one, saying their GPA is 2.64 (and perhaps higher
than the general Wesley population) may or may not be
good news. It’s hard to tell with nothing offi cial to compare
it with, such as the school’s average GPA.
But, for the millionth time, The Whetstone is not the
administration’s PR! We’re here to give the students as
much information as possible so they can fi gure out for
themselves how their school is doing and what they can
do about it.
I wanted to throw up in my mouth when I was patron-
izingly told by the administration to “focus on the good
news.” That attitude does not accept what The Whetstone
is about. I have no obligation to answer to anyone on the
third fl oor of College Center, and neither does anyone on
my staff. My obligation is toward the student body and giv-
ing them as much information as I can.
I’m not knocking anyone who doesn’t have the greatest
GPA; mine isn’t the best. It’s actually about a 2.8/ 2.9.
But it’s troubling that it is so hard for the school to re-
lease this number. Are they hiding something? Last semes-
ter I felt like I had to pull teeth during another interview to
fi nd out how many freshmen were admitted to Wesley with
below a 2.0 GPA.
And yes, some were.
Keeping secrets like this is something that may make
prospective students curious. They may begin to wonder
what kind of standards Wesley really has.
I know I do now. And it’s not because Wesley isn’t a
good school. It’s because its administration refuses to be
straight with the newspaper and its students.
Mission Statement:
The Whetstone is Wesley College’s student run newspaper. It promises to deliver news
and events in the Wesley community accurately, fairly, and ethically. The Whetstone, as
an independent organization, does not answer to the administration, and promises to keep
the best interests of the students in mind.
By writing an opinion piece in last month’s
The Whetstone, I expected there to be a splash
but not a tidal wave.
I voiced my opinion regarding the nursing
department’s raise in standards and the student
backlash against it. I found much of the backlash
to be unwarranted and even whiny.
Because of my article, I was “told off” in
many different ways. Obscenities were used.
People yelled. Some students even urged others
to approach me and tell me that my opinion was
wrong and I was talking down to nursing students.
I wasn’t.
Despite what people may now think, I do have feelings. I don’t
care who you are, no one likes to be attacked, me included. I am
amazed at how many people took the article personally and misinter-
preted it.
I guess this shows how little attention we pay to news and even
to people and how quickly people may jump on someone who says
something they do not like.
To clarify, I have no problem with nursing students or any stu-
dents. I have a problem with people who complain.
I am told things every day that I do not like but I don’t go verbally
attacking people for it, nor do I verbally attack people who have dif-
ferent opinions from me. However, I am not trying to scold anyone. I
am trying to teach a lesson.
I have noticed that people do not like to be pushed out of their
comfort zones. I am no exception. However, I do try to get out of my
comfort zone as much as I can.
I had decided to take a few steps out of my comfort zone and
express my opinion to the public. In return, I got slapped in the face
several times. It has been a brutal experience. But it has become a
learning experience as well.
As the saying goes, what does not kill you will only make you
stronger. I believe that.
I encourage people to mature and push themselves. I have been
brought up with the motto: you have to get out of your comfort zone
to get better, to succeed. I have my Dad to thank for engraving that
into my mind.
Sometimes it hurts to put yourself out there.
Look at me. I had a tidal wave come crashing down on me for
stepping out of my comfort zone and publishing an opinion. But I am
still here. I am living and breathing. I am surviving. It can suck but it
is not something that can or will kill you. In fact, in the end it can help
you.
Seeing the feedback I have received from my opinion piece, I see
how many people do not like to be criticized or judged or told anything
that they do not want to hear.
People can learn and need to learn how to deal with criticism and
judgment and negativity and differing opinions.
Nursing students: Use your raise in standards as a way to push
yourselves out of your own comfort zones.
All students of any major: Use obstacles in your way to push
yourselves out of your own comfort zones.
Wesley College, step up. Find your voice. Proudly voice your
opinions. Push yourself. Confi dently get out of your comfort zone ev-
ery once in a while.
I did it and I believe you can do it, too.
“I prefer relationships; it’s more of a one on one thing with me instead
of hooking up with people.”
- Erica Martin, junior
“I have a relationship; I’ve been going with a guy for a year and a half.
It’s nice having someone who is there for you, and you’re never alone.”
- Charminta Brown, sophomore
“Of course I prefer a relationship, just because of self
respect. It’s more private; I prefer my business to just to
be with one person, one
person at a time.”
- Chardinay Wood, junior
“I prefer relationships. If with the right person, they’re
great.”
- Azure Johnson, sophomore
STUDENT ON THE STREETBy Cochise Lucas
By Kim Manahan
By Melissa Boyd
By Kasey Lynn
Speak up, your opinion matters
Stop being shady, Wesley - my GPA is 2.84 - now what’s yours?
Everyone is beautiful; you just have to realize it
I didn’t always
know I wanted to be
a journalist. In fact,
I didn’t even know
I liked to write un-
til my junior year of
high school.
It’s funny be-
cause I’ve been writ-
ing as far back as I
can remember. Even
before I knew how to write I was writing.
My mom would come up to me and I
would say, “Look, mommy, I’m writing a
story!” My mom would look down at the
paper full of scribbles and say, “That’s
great sweetie, what does it say?”
And I would give her an elaborate
story that would fi ll three or four pages of
scribbles rather than fi ve lines.
When I was older, I wrote poems as
a way to release my bottled-up emotions
and frustrations. I even joined my middle
school’s poetry club and had two of my po-
ems published in the local paper.
Now that I look back at them, they
were the cheesiest little poems. Then I
stopped writing for a while. I’m not exactly
sure why.
When I started looking into colleges in
my junior year, I had diffi culty fi guring out
what my major would be.
So I went back to what interested me
and came up with writing. From there
I looked at possible majors and came up
with English.
Once I fi gured out what my major
was going to be, I researched which jobs
I could get and I thought about becoming
a journalist.
Then when I came to Wesley, I did The
Whetstone for credit and loved it.
The thing I think I enjoy the most is the
people you get to meet. You get the chance
to know them on a level that’s totally dif-
ferent than if you were in the classroom, or
just walking around campus.
I like being part of something bigger
than myself. I’m able to let people know
what’s going on around campus, whether
it’s good or bad news.
Yes, it is hard work sometimes, and,
yes, sometimes we get negative comments
and reviews, but that’s all part of working
for a newspaper. We take the feedback into
consideration and move on.
Why dwell on what used to be, when
it’s just “old news?”
Being a journalist is my passion, and I
would never have known that without The
Whetstone.
Have you gone
to the cafeteria late-
ly? No? Maybe you
should, and while
you’re in there, make
sure you head toward
the macaroni station
and look at the wall
behind the chef, and
tell me what you see.
I see a menu that
is a little funny at fi rst but then it turns from
humor to frustration and irritation.
The menu I am talking about is the
Black History Month menu that went up
for Feb. 16.
As an African American student, I
wasn’t so offended that there was a menu
especially for Black History Month; it’s
more about what’s actually on the menu –
corn bread, collard greens and fried chick-
en.
Why not add some watermelon? Or
other foods apparently only black people
enjoy.
Now don’t get me wrong, I do like
those foods, with the exception of collard
greens (I have to trust your cooking to
thoroughly enjoy that one). But why do I
get this feeling that, when people think of
foods African Americans like, fried chick-
en and corn bread are at the top of the list.
I think that is wrong to label one race
or ethnicity with a specifi c food. Do only
Asians eat Chinese food? Are the French
the only ones that enjoy a fresh baguette?
The answer is no, and you know it.
The other side of this argument is, I
understand that the school is just trying to
get students more interested in Black His-
tory Month. But I am going to be brutally
honest with you – and you might fi nd a
group of people that would agree with me
on this, no matter their race.
Rather than try to wow students with
fried chicken and collard greens, why not
wow us with more guest speakers, like
Darryl Davis, who appeared thanks to the
Black Student Union to talk about the Ku
Klux Klan.
Let’s have guest speakers who have
suffered or who grew up during times
when people like me would never have the
chance to write on a newspaper.
Or maybe the school could fi nd some-
one who has stories about slavery, so that
people of all races could understand Afri-
can Americans much better for what they
have been through.
I know that is just one student’s view
on this, but I am sure there are many others
who might feel the same way I do but do
not have the means to express themselves
with their words, as I have been given the
opportunity to.
March 2011 WWW.WHETSTONE.WESLEY.EDU 11
I agreed with your editorial about the increase in nursing standards. Perhaps an
English major like me doesn’t have much need for “Math for Literature,” but being able
to administer medications safely and effectively to patients is of paramount importance
to a nursing professional. People’s lives are at stake. In my opinion, requiring nursing
students to earn a 90 percent on a “Math for Meds” test is a no-brainer. I am guessing the
math they have to do isn’t exactly abstract algebra.
As with ANY major – nursing, English, media arts, environmental science – some
students can meet the program’s expectations and some can’t. The increase in the nurs-
ing standards is only going to help identify those who can rise to the standards and those
who cannot.
I can understand why some of the nursing students are unhappy with your coverage,
but I don’t think that their reactions to your coverage makes you negative. Objectivity is
nearly impossible for people directly involved in a situation, regardless of how self-aware
they think they are.
In my opinion, it is not so much the stories The Whetstone chooses to cover or your
editorials that have earned the newspaper its “negative” reputation. It’s really much sim-
pler than that. As with all news stories, many people don’t read more than a paragraph
past the nut graph. But they all read the headlines.
Take, for example, this headline in the January edition of the Whetstone where the
above-mentioned editorial appeared: “Basement dwellers moved to upper fl oors in resi-
dence halls”. Really? “Basement-dweller” is a term with a very negative connotation; it
implies a shiftless person who mooches off other people and contributes little to society.
A human slug. And you just used it to describe your classmates.
Through the years, there have been many headlines that I have read and thought,
“Wow! This article is going to be so negative!” before I even got to the lead.
I think you all do a great job with the paper. The Whetstone is very good at represent-
ing and interpreting what happens on campus and reporting those facts to the students.
But my advice would be to put more thought into the nuance of the language you use
– especially in your headlines. Headlines are what readers see fi rst and at times your
headlines imply a negativity that just doesn’t exist in the articles they introduce.
-Doryann Barnhardt
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
DO YOU PREFER RELATIONSHIPS OR HOOKING UP?
By Kyle Pequeno
By Collette O’Neal
This menu seems kind of off...
I found my passion in words
“I prefer relationships. Hooking up can be cool but having someone I can constantly go
back to is great, you know having a true one.” - Nestor Navalo, freshman
“Relationships can be a lot of work but they are worth the effort.” - Jon Salacuse, senior
“I prefer hooking up; right now, I’m young and I’m not really looking for one now, but I
do sometime in the future.” - Chris Douglas, senior
“I favor relationships. I lean toward it more because of my good nature,
but this is college so there is nothing wrong with enjoying our youth, and
that aspect of college.”
- Travis Ragland, sophomore
“I’m going to say hooking up. I say that because you don’t have the at-
tachment or have to commit. I prefer the casual life; it’s less stress. Girls are tough like a
class, of course, unless you drop it.”
- Chris Collins, sophomore
I just read Kasey Lynn’s article “Take a step back and reconsider the consequences”.
I am a nursing major at this school and i am enraged about this article that is written by
someone who has no idea what our program is like, and what we go through on a daily
basis to earn our degree.
No student should be able to bash a program at this school or the students enrolled
in it and have it placed in school’s newspaper. I am currently surrounded by a group of
fellow nursing students and our study session was interrupted by someone who brought
Kasey’s article over for us all to read.
The bottom line is nursing students at this college work harder than the average
student. NOBODY has the right to say that we complain too much and that we need to
suck it up. I fi nd it disgusting that the school would allow an article like this to be placed
in it’s newspaper. What kind of message are you sending to Wesley students? Are you
saying that it is ok to disrespect an entire department at this school and have it published
for everyone to read?
This article was extremely disrespectful to ALL nursing students. I just read the Mis-
sion Statement at the bottom of the newspaper and it reads...”promises to keep the best
interests of the students in mind.”
Well Kasey’s article is extremely hypocritical of the mission statement - there is noth-
ing positive about her article and all that article accomplished is a large loss of readers
for your newspaper.
Myself, and many fellow nursing students, will no longer be reading your paper.
A Proud Nursing Major,
-Brittany Steele
First of all, I think the Whetstone is a wonderful means of communication and stimu-
lates some very thought provoking topics. I applaud the efforts of everyone involved in
it’s publication.
My question about the paper is the recent article titled, ‘Septic tank fl oods Gooding
Hall’s First Floor.’
I believe accuracy in the article should be an important issue.
1) It seems minor, and maybe is, but Wesley is on City water and sewer. No septic
tank system.
2) The article puts a spin on the fact that Security beat Maintenance to the scene.
Maintenance is not a 24 hour operation and we did respond promptly to securities call on
Sunday. Security is a 24 operation.
3) We tried to correct the problem and had to call in an emergency contractor who
had the correct equipment to repair the problem.
4) The contractor told us he corrected the problem and we ran an enormous amount
of water own the drain.
5) Unfortunately, the next day, it occurred again. The same contractor responded
and (at no charge) put an article of clothing out of the drain.
This is really not a huge deal. My guys who are standing in ankle deep water with
extractors trying to suck up the water so it doesn’t get in the student’s rooms, get a little
disgruntled at times. So do my guy who come in on Sunday performing their best to fi nd
the problem by snaking out the drains. That’s not my complaint.. that is our job.
-Chuck Arthur
Have something to say? Write a letter to the editor.