1. OLD GOLD and BLACK1 0 0 t h E D I T I O N , I s s u e 8 W o f f o r d C o l l e g e F e b r u a r y 2 4 , 2 0 1 5 P u b l i s h e d s i n c e 1 9 1 5
Wofford Live announces the lineup for this year’s Spring Concert
Concerns on the future of Wofford Interim
A conversation with philosophy professor Dr. Christine Dinkins
What is the nature of the
review or discussion con-
cerning Interim at this
point? (Is it a formal meet-
ing, casual debate, sit
down conference?)
“Dr. Ryan Johnson re-
cently became the Director
of Interim, and he and the
faculty Interim committee
(chaired this year by Dr.
Catherine Schmitz) have
opened up a space for con-
versation among faculty,
students and administrators
on what we value about In-
terim, what concerns we
have, and how we might re-
shape it. My sense is there
has been a lot of positive
and energetic response to
this open space for conver-
sation, so it seems likely
it will lead to significant
change.”
What are some of the ad-
vantages and disadvantag-
es being raised in the ongo-
ing conversation of Interim
from a faculty perspective?
“The opportunity to trav-
el is fantastic. I love that so
many Wofford students get
to travel for Interim and ex-
plore new ideas, cultures,
and places.
I think a lot of faculty
are concerned about the
uneven experiences for
students. Some students
love Interim, some do not
look forward to it at all.
Some students can afford
to travel multiple January
terms, some cannot and
feel stuck on campus for
a month when their social
structures, student organi-
zations and other activities
are disrupted.
Speaking for myself, I find
it a challenge to pitch the
academic rigor of Interim
at the right level. I love that
it’s pass-fail so that stu-
dents and faculty can learn
and experiment outside
their comfort zones. But
within this context, some
students work very hard
and do great things. Some
students do the minimum
to pass. Are those students
learning? And is that system
fair to the students working
harder for the same grade?
I’m also concerned about
the timing and length of In-
terim. Interim delays Spring
term and makes the Inter-
im-Spring stretch 18 weeks
long. We faculty and our
students are often intellec-
tually or emotionally very
tired come May, unable to
do our best work in highly
demanding courses. Might
Interim be three weeks
long, with a week break be-
fore spring? Could we find
ways for all students to be
able to travel for Interim
once in their four years?
Could we put Interim more
in student hands – a chance
to engage in activism or
huge, open conversations
about Wofford and its place
in the world?
I think a lot of us faculty
have concerns about the
structure of Interim, but
we love that it gives us a
chance to spend intensive
time with students, learn-
ing together. That’s a really
special thing that we don’t
want to have go away.”
In what ways might Interim
be changing in the future
and how does it fit in with
the Strategic Vision? What
are some of the most likely
outcomes of the review?
“I think right now the
conversation is entirely
open, and we’ve all been
invited to think carefully
about Interim and how we
can reshape it. What do we
want it to be? Let’s dream
big! I hope students read-
ing this article will talk with
each other and talk with
faculty so we can all work
together to take what is al-
ready a very cool, valuable
thing, and make it better for
all students. What a marvel-
ous legacy that would be
to leave for future Wofford
students!”
Who will be involved in the
decision making process
should there be changes
made to the current struc-
ture of Interim?
“My hope is that this
decision will be made col-
laboratively by faculty, staff
and students, with support
from the administration. Dr.
Samhat has said he wants
us all to feel empowered
to shape Interim and the
academic calendar into
what we want them to be.
I know from conversations
with Dean Bigger that she
is very supportive of think-
ing about new opportuni-
ties and activities for Janu-
ary on our campus. So let’s
all dream big together and
decide how we all want to
learn together! I want to
ask all students: what does
an ideal non-traditional
learning experience look
like for you?”
by Michelle Green,
Senior Writer
Dank Sinatra, Magic Man and Moon Taxi are all slated to perform at the annual event
Previously featuring bands like
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic
Zeros, White Panda and Young
Joc, the annual Spring Concert
organized by the members of
Wofford Live has provided stu-
dents with a unique musical ex-
perience. On Feb. 12, this year’s
lineup was revealed during the
halftime show of the men’s bas-
ketball game against Chattanoo-
ga, and features the bands Dank
Sinatra, Magic Man and Moon
Taxi.
The bands were selected after
the committee worked with an
agent to compile a list of feasible
artists that fit within the budget
and that they believed would
provide the desired concert ex-
perience.
“We wanted to use our funds
to bring in several skilled, up-and-
coming bands with grassroots
followings at Wofford instead of
breaking the bank for one rea-
sonably well-known band,” says
Luke Basha, the committee chair
of Wofford Live. “I think the stu-
dent body will have a great time,
even if they aren’t currently fa-
miliar with the bands. I feel that
the committee is representative
of the entire Wofford communi-
ty, and we’re all currently excited
for this year’s lineup, so I feel
that this could be one of the bet
Spring Concerts that Wofford has
ever seen.”
Chie Mushayamunda, a fresh-
man, is excited to experience her
first Spring Concert.
“I have high hopes for Spring
Concert this Year! I’ve haven’t
listened to these bands before,
but they seem great. I’m a huge
indie fan, so it should be a lot of
fun. Hopefully it will be one to re-
member!”
Senior Stephanie Ackerson is
excited to be introduced to these
bands through the concert as she
loves listening to new music.
“I’ve always liked Spring Con-
cert because, even though the
majority of the time I don’t know
the band, it’s still a great time.
We’ve always had bands that are
great live, so I’m excited to have
a fun time and hang out with ev-
eryone on campus.”
“I hadn’t heard of any of the
bands before, but after checking
out some of their stuff I’ve got-
ten really excited to see them
play live,” says Jimmy Schwartz,
a junior who has attended mul-
tiple on campus concerts. “I’m
most looking forward to spend-
ing time with my friends at this
event because it provides an at-
mosphere that often isn’t found
at Wofford.”
Spring Concert will be held on
Saturday, May 2, and the com-
mittee members are currently
working to finalize the remaining
details for the event.
“The current plan is to have
the Fuddruckers truck come
back and to have free snowcones
again as well,” says Basha. “We
at Wofford Live still have a few
tricks up our sleeve as we seek to
make Spring Concert more and
more of an all day event, so stay
tuned and follow us on Facebook
and Twitter so you can stay up
to date as we get closer to what
should be a Spring Concert to re-
member!”
by Kelsey Aylor, Contributing Writer
Much like the concert held for Fall Weekend earlier this year, Spring Concert will take place in Phase III of the Village
Stories of Spartanburg
Global Media Studies class creates Facebook page, impact
This past January, religion professor Courtney
Dorroll led an Interim class that focused on studying
media, both on a global and local scale. An ethnog-
rapher by trade, Dorroll was inspired by the widely
followed “Humans of New York” webpage to create
a local version of the project in Spartanburg. “Stu-
dents acted as everyday ethnographers doing par-
ticipant observation, interviews and photo docu-
mentation, so it allowed students to have fieldwork
experience in their local community,” says Dorroll.
While the course included lectures, films, field-
work with guest lectures, and trips to downtown
and to local neighborhoods, the ethnographic so-
cial media project created by the students has not
slowed down and has continued to receive atten-
tion from the community. The page is followed by
and contributed to by more than 500 members – a
huge increase from the original handful of student-
admins.
The Facebook page titled “Stories of Spartan-
burg” was created by and contributed to by mem-
bers of the class throughout the month as students
“[told] Spartanburg’s story through its local inhabit-
ants, neighborhoods, downtown, restaurants, etc.,”
says Dorroll. “Students went to many areas of the
city and went outside of their comfort zones… I was
impressed by how my students engaged with peo-
ple and how seriously they took the opportunity to
tell Spartanburg’s story.”
The page is filled with portraits and snapshots
of people, places and food all over the city, each
accompanied by a quote that tells a story of Spar-
tanburg and its residents. Some of the posts are au-
tobiographical, while some are simply portraits of
others or even simply photographs of the city itself.
All these posts promote Spartanburg’s story, says
Olivia Crotts ‘17. “[The page] tells the stories of the
people and places in Spartanburg and highlights all
of the good and valuable things the city has to of-
fer.”
Mary Margaret Holden ‘18 wants to go into com-
munications and says she took the class for the
media aspect but was ultimately most struck by
the history she learned. “There is a lot of history
here [in Spartanburg] that many people don’t know
about,” she says. “I don’t look at Spartanburg as a
sort of suburb of Greenville anymore – I look at it as
its own place that is special for what it is.”
Crotts, who took the course primarily interested
in ethnography, saw a similar shift in her view of
Spartanburg. “My perception has definitely shifted
as a result of venturing into the city and getting to
know its people and places. I have a much greater
appreciation for all that the city has to offer,” says
Crotts.
In addition to receiving public attention and con-
tinuing to grow, the work of the students is still im-
pacting the city in other ways as well, says Dorroll.
“One of my Interim students is in the process of
writing a paper about the project to present at a
conference. That is indicative of how my students
have gone above and beyond with this project,”
says Dorroll.
Dorroll hopes that the project will continue to
grow over time and says that she’d like to offer the
same Interim in a few years to document the chang-
es in Sparkle City. “I hope that when my students
from this Interim come back to visit Spartanburg
over the years, they will look back at the pictures
and videos they recorded of Spartanburg in 2015
and be able to document the changes the city will
undergo and the new stories that emerge.”
The page is now open for all members to post
their story, and Wofford students are encouraged
to join the group. “I cannot wait to see how the
page and project continues to evolve,” says Dorroll.
by Sarah Madden, Contributing Writer
Posts to the “Stories of Spartanburg” Facebook page
highlight special people, places and the food of
Spartanburg that make the city unique.

2. FEATURES2 O G & B 2 . 2 4 . 1 5
C a m p u s U n i o n U p d a t e
Students lead campus improvement projects for the spring semester
A note from Campus Union President Hank Davis:
It is hard to believe that another Interim here
at Wofford College has come and gone. I hope all
of you had as much fun as I did during the month
of January. I wanted to keep you in the loop about
what has been going on at our regular Campus
Union meetings that take place every Monday at
6 p.m. in the Olin Building Theatre. Campus Union
recently elected three new members to our body
in special elections: Matt Martin, Lindsay Uhlinger
and Marianna Conrad. Each of these three will
make a positive impact not only on the assembly
but also on Wofford’s campus as well.
There are always plenty of events taking place at
Wofford and Campus Union always wants to be a
part of your next event. If there is anything that you
believe Campus Union can do to help you in making
your event the most successful that it can be, never
hesitate to reach out to myself or the rest of the
cabinet, as well as your class and at-large delegates.
Sincerely,
Hank Davis
davishm1@email.wofford.edu
Spring Semester CU Update:
While Wofford is only just finishing the second
week of the spring semester, the campus is already
booming with energy and new ideas. Many student
leaders have developed initiatives aimed at improv-
ing various aspects of student life at Wofford. The
Campus Union Assembly has been honored and
excited to be involved in many of these projects
through the provision of funding, the creation of
new committees or even just sharing information
with the student body. What is the most encourag-
ing is that students are taking power into their own
hands to create constructive change for the good of
the entire campus.
Dining Services Ad-Hoc Committee:
Junior Holten Fields has been leading the effort
to improve dining services for Wofford students. In-
spired by the Activism Interim course this January,
students created an online petition to gather sup-
port for their movement. In just a couple weeks,
that petition has gathered more than 500 signa-
tures from the Wofford community. After Interim
ended, Fields came to Campus Union to establish
an ad-hoc committee to address these issues,
which was established during the meeting on Feb.
9, with overwhelming support from the assembly.
The committee has discussed various goals includ-
ing: using more fresh and local ingredients from
sources such as Hub City Farmers Market, having
more dining options such as the Phase V buffet bars
(the recently discontinued taco bar and pasta bar),
and improving and diversifying the dining options
available on the weekends. This movement is just
getting started and is still accepting students inter-
ested in joining. If you are interested in joining the
committee please contact Fields or any member of
Campus Union.
Academic Commons/Library Advising Committee:
Sophomore Roderick Todd has been leading an
effort to include student participation in an initia-
tive to improve the library for the Wofford commu-
nity. Dean of the Library Kevin Reynolds has been
crafting a strategic vision statement for the future
development of the library. The intention is that
this vision will lead to a library that is more interac-
tive and that can provide more resources to meet
student needs. The draft of the vision, released to
Campus Union for feedback, included areas of in-
terest such as: Collections and Access, Spaces and
Services, Outreach and Collaboration, Assessment
and Organization, Discovery and Education. The
committee was created in response to students’ re-
quests for more participation regarding the future
planning process at Wofford. If improving library
resources and facilities is an area of interest for
you, feel free to reach out to Todd or any member
of Campus Union for more information on getting
involved.
Game Room Ad-Hoc Committee:
Isaiah Addison, Hayden Breckenridge and David
White have been leading the effort to examine the
use of the game room space in the Campus Life
Building. The committee has been meeting every
Friday at 12:30 p.m. to discuss how the Wofford
community could better utilize this space. Some
ideas for improvement have included: repainting
the walls (including a student mural wall), replac-
ing the current features with modern touches, like
new gaming systems, card tables, classic arcade
games and refinishing the pool tables. In addition
to the physical updates, the committee hopes to
bring back the Open Mic Night events that used to
be held in Campus Life; they believe hosting these
events in the game room will provide a more in-
timate and inviting atmosphere for students. You
still have time to be a part of this initiative. If you
are interested in getting involved with this project,
please reach out to Addison, Breckenridge or White
for further details.
WOCO Radio:
Caroline Winn, Kyle Hofmann, Cleburne Fant and
Lindsay Uhlinger have reestablished the Wofford
radio station, affectionately known as WOCO Ra-
dio. The team has been working vigorously the past
few weeks to launch the new radio station. The first
broadcast is scheduled for March 1, 2015. WOCO
Radio will be an Internet radio station hosted by
Live365 and streamed through iTunes radio. They
hope to kick-off the semester with programming
including: news, discussion, music, politics, sports
and campus events. The team is now accepting any
ideas students may have. If you are interested in
working with the radio group or hosting your own
radio show, apply through the website (webs.wof-
ford.edu/wocoradio) or reach out to one of the
team personally.
by Lindsay Uhlinger & Hank Davis, Contributing Writers
N a t i o n a l S i g n i n g D a y
Vast recruiting journeys pay off for Terrier athletics with large classes
Forty-six athletes signed their
National Letter of Intent to be-
come a part of the Wofford
family next fall. Football signed
25 new athletes, men’s soccer
signed 10 and Woco Woso, wom-
en’s soccer, signed 11.
This is an exciting time across
the nation as many schools are
shaping what will be the future
of their sports teams. Wofford’s
coaches traveled the many inter-
states that bring our country to-
gether to find the right pieces for
their teams.
“We feel that this is a strong
class that meets our needs,” says
head football coach Mike Ayers
in an interview with the Athletic
Department. “We put in a lot of
time, and it is a class that is all
over the map from D.C. to Ohio
to Florida and Tennessee.”
The football team also picked
up seven players from South
Carolina, three of which played
at local high schools in the Spar-
tanburg area.
“We have a lot of excellent
players from in-state as well,”
says Ayers. “I feel that our staff
did an excellent job of locating
guys that fit the Wofford mold.”
Traveling from Florida to Ala-
bama to Texas, the Men’s soc-
cer team covered much ground
to develop their recruiting class.
The players in this class have
done their fair share of travel-
ing too, playing in tournaments
abroad in order to better prepare
themselves for the college game.
“Every one of these kids plays
at the highest level within their
club,” says Ralph Polson, Wof-
ford’s head men’s soccer coach.
“They’re playing in a league that
takes them all over the country
to play. I don’t know if there is
a single guy who hasn’t had the
opportunity to go abroad and
play. I think that’s the biggest
thing to look at, having played at
the highest level.”
Polson added that signing day
has grown for the college since
he has been here.
“[Signing Day] used to be just
about football,” says Polson. “Be-
cause of the growing interest of
soccer in our country and its cov-
erage, signing day has become a
big deal for soccer as well.”
The Women’s Soccer team,
known to the players as Woco
Woso, ventured all up and down
the eastern United States from
Massachusetts to Florida to re-
cruit the new class of student-
athletes.
Lucy Etro, a junior currently,
remembers what National Sign-
ing Day meant for her.
“My National Signing Day was
probably the most exciting and
relieving day I have experienced
so far,” says Etro. “I felt really re-
lieved because I knew my next
step after high school, and I
would be playing soccer.”
Etro sees the addition of this
large class as something to be
very excited about.
“I’m pretty excited about the
incoming freshmen,” says the ju-
nior. “I can’t wait to see the im-
pact they will have on the team.”
Lots of excitement by the cur-
rent players and coaches has this
fall looking very promising for
Wofford’s fall sports.
by Kyle Hofmann,
Contributing Writer
The tables were set for the announcement of Wofford’s 2015 recruiting classes at the National Signing Day party in the
Harley Room of the Richardson Building.
Sexual harassment at Wofford
OG&B sits down with Dean Matt Hammett and Human Resource Director Carole Lister for some Q&A
1. How would you define sexual harass-
ment or misconduct?
As defined in the Wofford College Sex-
ual Misconduct Policy: Prohibited sexual
misconduct is any unwelcome conduct
of a sexual nature perpetrated against
an individual without effective consent
or when an individual is unable to freely
give consent. Sexual misconduct in-
cludes, but is not limited to, rape, sexual
assault, non-consensual sexual contact,
sexual exploitation and relationship
violence. Sexual assault is any actual, at-
tempted or threatened sexual act with
another person without effective con-
sent or when a victim is unable to give
consent. Sexual harassment is defined
as any unwelcome conduct of a sexual
nature and can include unwelcome sex-
ual advances, requests for sexual favors,
or other verbal, non-verbal or physi-
cal conduct of a sexual nature, such as
sexual assault or acts of sexual violence.
2. How do you think Wofford compares
to other campuses around the country?
The college has committed to ensur-
ing that we, as an institution, are not
only compliant with federal mandates,
but also constantly seeking to provide
a safe and healthy campus free from
gender discrimination and sexual mis-
conduct. Our policies and prevention
programming is consistent with other
best-practice institutions.
3. Do you think that the recent cases
on other college campuses will impact
how Wofford views or deals with sexual
assault/misconduct/harassment?
The impact from recent cases on
other campuses is to learn lessons from
them. Wofford does not tolerate sexual
misconduct or harassment. The college
has a strong policy with procedures in
place for dealing with sexual misconduct
and harassment, and it will be strictly
followed and enforced.
4. How does Wofford deal with these
cases?
The college deals with these cases by
following the policy. The college will
conduct a thorough, reliable and impar-
tial investigation using a prompt, effec-
tive and equitable process to end the
conduct and prevent its recurrence.
5. What can students do to help?
We would like to see our student
body take an active stand against sexual
assault and other forms of sexual mis-
conduct. By intervening in a problematic
situation, our students can be active by-
standers and have great impact regard-
ing this topic. The first step is recogniz-
ing there is a problem and then stepping
in or getting help from others.
6. Is there anything that you would
want anyone who has gone through
this to know in the aftermath as they
try to reassemble their lives?
We would encourage students to find
support whether it is on or off campus.
Wofford has a lot of resources available
including our counselors through the
Wellness Center. We recommend that
all students read through the sexual mis-
conduct policy as it provides additional
resources and information.
7. Freshmen this year participated in a
Title IX meeting. How successful do you
think this was?
We received positive feedback from
students that attended the program.
Many shared that the content delivery
was interactive and engaging; and it
provided awareness of gender discrimi-
nation, sexual assaults on college cam-
puses and tips for healthy relationships.
8. Do you think that you will have the
same type of meeting again next year
for the incoming freshmen?
As we get closer to the fall semester,
the college will look at various educa-
tional programs that are available. We
have used Sex Signals over the last sev-
eral years and have been pleased with
its content. We are also using an online
sexual assault prevention program called
Haven: Understanding Sexual Assault.
Each first year student was required to
complete the course before arriving to
campus. We plan to use the same pro-
gram or something similar to continually
spread awareness of this topic.
9. How do you think that social media
plays into this issue today?
Social media has exposed the nation
to the depth and seriousness of sexual
assault on college campuses. Some of
the exposure has had an adverse effect
on victims reporting an assault. But, the
positive aspect has propelled colleges
to review and re-address their campus
environment, to reform the community
through awareness education and train-
ing and provide options for reporting.
What to do and who to call
If you are a victim:
• Get to a safe place as soon as you
can.
• Try to preserve all physical evidence
and place in a paper bag.
• Do not bathe if you intend to report
the misconduct.
• Get medical attention as soon as
possible.
• Contact Campus Safety.
• Talk with a counselor who will main-
tain confidentiality.
• Contact someone you trust, such as
a close friend, to be with you and
support you.
Wofford College strongly supports
and encourages reporting of sexual mis-
conduct. Reporting provides resources
to victims and contributes to keeping
the campus secure.
Sexual misconduct should be reported
to the Title IX Coordinator, Carole Lister,
director of human resources at 597-4230
or Title IX Deputy Coordinator, Matthew
Hammett, assistant dean of students for
student involvement at 597-4048.
More information on sexual miscon-
duct and reporting is in the Sexual Mis-
conduct Policy:
wofford.edu/studentorganizations
(Campus Life Home)and wofford.edu/
humanresources (Title IX)
CAMPUS RESOURCES
• Campus Emergency, 911, 4911 or
597-4911
• Campus Safety, 597-4350
• VP Student Affairs and Dean of
Students, 597-4044
• Associate VP of Student Affairs,
597-4371
• Asst. Dean of Students for Student
Involvement, 597-4048
• Director of Diversity and Inclusion,
597-4043
• Chaplain’s Office, 597-4051
• Director of Wellness Center,
597-4367
• Asst. Director of Wellness, 597-4367
• Campus Counseling, 597-4373 or
4370
• Human Resources, 597-4230
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
• Spartanburg City Police, 596-2096
• Spartanburg County Sheriff, 503-
4500 or 596-2222
• Spartanburg County Special Victims
Unit, 503-4509, 4625, 4626 or 4627
• Safe Homes Rape Crisis Coalition,
583-9803 or 1-800-273-5066
• National Sexual Assault Hotline
(RAINN), 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)

3. 2 . 2 4 . 1 5 O G & B 3 FEATURES
Wo m e n ’ s H i s t o r y M o n t h
Wofford’s past and present involvement, plus perspectives from Wofford women
March is Women’s History Month, a month dedi-
cated to educating on and spreading awareness of
women’s history. Each year, Wofford hosts events
and activities in support of the month. This year,
there are three main events. March 6, SCATE Night
will highlight Women’s History Month, HUB CITY
Bookstore will host a poetry reading titled “Lady
Parts” on March 19 and finally March 20 Susan
Benson-Sokmen from University of Toronto will
present on “Women and Participation in the Armed
Struggle.”
Dr. Laura Barbas-Rhoden, a faculty member from
the Spanish department also involved in the Gen-
der Studies program, reflects on past Women’s His-
tory Months at Wofford.
“There have been amazing Women’s History
Month’s on campus and there have been not so
great ones,” says Barbas-Rhoden. “An extraordi-
nary one was designed by Jennifer Dillinger when
she was a student (Jennifer Almond). It was well ex-
ecuted and it sparked discussion and action.”
Dillinger planned the March 2006 Women’s His-
tory Month. She explains that she got interested in
getting involved and taking initiative because of the
2005 Women’s History Month.
“My sophomore year, Women’s History Month
consisted of a screening of the Johnny Depp film
Chocolat, and Wofford hosted pedicures and a
chocolate fondue fountain,” says Dillinger. “I at-
tended the program thinking it was a fun night for
women and when I realized it was meant to be a
way to respect and honor the people involved in
Women’s History Month, I was really truly ap-
palled.”
Dillinger was disappointed in the theme and
small size of the event. As a student the follow-
ing year, Dillinger headed up a student committee
that planned several panels for Women’s History
Month.
“All the events involved local women who came
in and spoke about their struggle to have leader-
ship opportunities, to hold office, to break through
the glass ceiling. All of our events were geared to-
wards discussion, education and content.”
Dillinger explained that feminism was not a word
used within the Gender Studies program at the
time she was a student. She remembers the year
she helped plan Women’s History Month as a true
shift in perspective at Wofford.
“Honestly for the first time ever—and maybe
that’s a bit strong—but for the first time in my ca-
reer at Wofford there was a space to discuss femi-
nism. To have someone who says ‘I love pink and
dressing in cute clothes’ to begin to understand
what it means to be a feminist, or to have Linda
Powers saying she was a feminist, and to have men
involved in that discussion…We had really great
participation in the events. It was the first time that
we shifted from a fun play time for women during
Women’s History Month to a true educational op-
portunity for women.”
Dillinger remembers that part of the success of
Women’s History Month in 2006 was because her
committee worked alongside the committee who
planned Black History Month events, which oc-
curred the month before, having a seamless flow
between the two months. This year, the Women’s
History Month events and activities were support-
ed by faculty members Beate Brunow and Carey
Voeller. Senior Courtney Parsons, a student on the
committee, explains that a similar springboard be-
tween awareness months is planned for 2015, but
between Women’s History Month and Sexual As-
sault Awareness month in April with a clothesline
project and a speaker in conjunction with Spec-
trum.
Lindsey Perret, the Presidential Scholar for 2014,
is hopeful that this year will have the same sort of
student participation in Women’s History Month
that Dillinger saw in 2006. Perret is a Gender Stud-
ies concentration, and her Presidential Scholarship
highlighted international female empowerment.
She studied women who worked collaboratively
with others to make changes in favor of more inclu-
sive communities.
“My Presidential Scholar proposal was about try-
ing to find women as agents of change,” says Per-
ret. “I noticed that microloan companies gave more
loans to women. So I wondered if women are more
dependable at paying back loans, what other ways
were they making change?”
“I talked to lesbian women activists in Cuba,
women fighting domestic violence in rural Nica-
ragua, and an organization in the Dominican Re-
public that put more emphasis on educating girls
because more boys go to school than girls and the
girls that do attend school only go for half of the
day. I learned how women help other women—not
the US coming in, but women helping in their own
communities.”
From the Gender Studies and Language depart-
ments, Barbas-Rhoden says, “Ideally everything we
do as a society is inclusive, but until we get there,
awareness months bring attention to history and
experiences that often get overlooked or marginal-
ized.”
“It is very, very easy in today’s world to forget
that there was a time when women didn’t have the
choice to enter the world of work,” says Dillinger.
“Fast-forward a few years from that point in time
and women had three choices of work: teacher,
nurse, librarian. Every step forward that we’ve
made needs to be honored and remembered. A
series of events or a month help us to pause, look
back, remember, or simply be educated because
the current college female will not experience
the same things that Roberta Biggers, Linda Pow-
ers and Carol Wilson did. We need to respect and
honor their experience.”
Perret has a global perspective on the impor-
tance of Women’s History Month. She says “We
know we live in a patriarchal world where history
means men’s history implicitly, so to take part of
the year—if not more time than that—to say ‘hey
there were women who did cool things, too’ is im-
portant. I like to ask men what women they know
in their fields that have been influential. Male
mathematicians, for example, might focus on New-
ton but Hypitaia they do not know, and she was
incredible. I think that whether your interests are
math or the arts, you should just take a moment to
acknowledge that history books didn’t cover wom-
en as adequately as they should have. White men
write history so why don’t we go back and rewrite
it and make it more accurate?”
Both Dillinger and Perret had influential men in
their lives that helped them become feminists, and
they would like to invite all men to participate in
the month’s events.
Perret says, “I’m a gender studies concentration
and it started with Dr. Carey Voeller. I was raised by
a single mom, and I realized maybe she was missing
jobs because she was a woman. I started to won-
der about how the structure of masculinity fits into
Wofford.”
Dillinger says, “The person that most inspired me
to be a feminist is my dad and his unwavering be-
lief that his daughters could do any of the things
that other men could do—sports, math or science.
Without his support and belief in me I never would
have had that confidence. I think that’s where it
starts.”
Parsons agreed with Perret and Dillinger.
“Men should definitely be involved. We actu-
ally had a male student on the committee last year
before he graduated. Women’s History Month is
about celebrating women, and men can definitely
do that as well.”
by Michelle Green, Senior Writer
L i f e a f t e r Wo f f o r d
How two alumni have taken the business world by storm
The recent Launch competition may have come and gone, but the
dreams of Wofford’s aspiring entrepreneurs will long outlast their
time as a student. Holly Holladay and Leah Harris, two Wofford alum-
ni, have shown that Wofford students are more than capable of start-
ing, and sustaining, their own businesses post-graduation.
Holladay started her own publishing company in 2013 after real-
izing the majority of publishers in South Carolina tend to specialize in
one genre or another.
“South Carolina has a number of independent publishers, but none
focused on the mix of genres that I wanted to pursue. Thus, my busi-
ness was born. We are currently working with authors in a variety of
genres, including fiction, nonfiction, children’s books and young adult
books.”
She made her debut in the publishing world as an intern, after a
Wofford contact helped her land an internship that later turned into
her first job. But her response to the need she saw in the publishing
world led her to create Holladay House Publishing, which today con-
tinues to expand beyond literature.
“This year, we introduced a line of specialty products with an
18-month day planner, which can be bought on our website holladay-
housepublishing.com. I would like to continue to add specialty prod-
ucts each year.”
But Holladay’s personal gauge of success reflects her company’s
policy on genre: nothing too specific.
“Growth can be measured in many ways – publishing a book in a
new genre or seeing my books and products in new stores – and I am
always looking to improve!”
Similarly, Leah Harris started her Wofford-inspired boutique, Terrier
Tulles, in 2006 when she saw that the Wofford gift market was sparse.
Terrier Tulles recently opened its first store across the street from
Wofford College and sells an assortment of gifts, including key chains,
Christmas items, men’s belts, visors, pet items and tailgating supplies.
They also offer monogramming services and carry a sorority and fra-
ternity line called “Toga Tulles.”
“We pride ourselves in being the key place to find unique Wofford
gifts and have been dubbed ‘The Wofford Boutique’ because the
things we have are so different, in a good way, from the bookstore.”
The boutique also prides itself on selling art by Wofford alumni
Melanie Walters, Lizzie Switzer Malcom and Grace Wallace. Harris is
also in conversation with Mitchell Saum, a current sophomore, about
becoming a vendor for his unique sunglass company, Swell Shades.
“Being a part of the Wofford community helps business. They are
my best customers. It is so rewarding to offer products and services
that are needed by students, staff and alumni.”
The life of a CEO is not always as glamorous as it may seem. Holla-
day says that one of her biggest challenges has been her age.
“I feel that being young is a disadvantage because certain people
hesitate to take me seriously at first. Sometimes I have to work twice
as hard as someone else just to gain that trust and credibility.”
Harris says that her challenge has been balancing the various roles
she is required to play.
“The main challenges are time. There never seems to be enough
of it to be the CEO, COO, CFO, marketer, etc. But you have to trust
that with a great product, a niche audience and time, you are going
to succeed.”
In the end, the challenges have not outweighed the accomplish-
ments. To students who are interested in one day starting or owning
their own business, Harris says, “I would strongly advise you seek out
a business mentor who you can run all your ideas and plans by, to
avoid making a rookie mistake. Aside from that, I say you have nothing
to lose. Shoot for the moon!”
Holladay says, “Be prepared to put your heart, soul and everything
you have into your business, because no one is ever going to believe
in it as much as you do. Don’t be afraid to fail, because sometimes you
learn more from the failures than the successes. If you truly believe
in yourself and your work, starting your own business will be the best
decision you’ve ever made.”
by Katie Sanders, Staff Writer
Harris poses with Terrier Tulle’s very own mascot, Sweet Magnolia, at the
ribbon cutting for the boutique’s first store opening.
Welcoming back Gasparato
As of Jan. 17, 2015, the Wofford com-
munity welcomed Gregory Anthony
Gasparato, a football coach and physical
education teacher. Despite having only
been on staff for the past month, Gaspa-
rato has been a member of the Wofford
community for much longer. A former
student, Gasparato graduated in 2009
with a degree in finance.
“After I graduated, I went to help out
my girlfriend, who is my current wife,
and her family with their restaurant.
While there I got into coaching.”
Since then, Gasparato has traveled
along the east coast working with differ-
ent colleges and high schools helping to
coach football teams.
“In 2010 I started coaching the Rich-
land High School football team and from
there started working with colleges. I
went to Janiata College working with the
Division III team and then Brevard Col-
lege helping the Division II team.”
`Then in 2013 Gasparato reconnected
with an old Wofford coach, Nate Woody,
who was at the time working for Appala-
chian State University. Gasparato would
become the gradient assistant coach for
the team, before finally reconnecting
with Wofford College.
“I am the new Linebacker coach for
the football team and will start working
with them for next year, as well as teach-
ing racquetball.”
It has been six years since Gasparato
has been back to the Wofford College,
but since coming back Gasparato has
been able to meet up with several of his
past professors.
“One thing I always remembered
about Wofford was the personal rela-
tionships I had with coaches and the pro-
fessors. So now that I get to come back
and work alongside them makes it extra
special for me.”
“Dr. Hill helped put me on the right
track as far as getting my degree and
then assisted in getting me accepted into
Grad school.”
Gasparato has come back to Wofford
with the hopes of making a difference
in the lives of the students he will teach
and coach during his time here.
“I know when I was here I had a great
experience with the college with athlet-
ics, academics and social interaction. I
hope to come back and make sure the
guys I am coaching have similar positive
experiences I had.”
If you see Gasparato on campus or
while in the gym, be sure to welcome
him back to our growing Wofford family.
by Kyle Hofmann, Contributing Writer

4. 2 . 2 4 . 1 5 O G & B 4 NEWS
Carolina Panthers extend training camp commitment
NFL team to practice in Spartanburg at Wofford through 2019
On Monday, Feb. 9, the
Spartanburg Area Chamber
of Commerce announced
that the Carolina Panthers
NFL franchise will continue
to hold its summer train-
ing camp in Spartanburg
at Wofford College at least
through 2019.
Chamber CEO Allen Smith
made the announcement of
a five-year extension to the
team’s contract with Wof-
ford, flanked by Panthers
President Danny Morri-
son and Wofford President
Nayef Samhat. Members
of Spartanburg City Coun-
cil and Spartanburg County
Council were in attendance
in an overflow crowd of lo-
cal business and commu-
nity leaders gathered at the
Chamber’s headquarters.
“This is exciting news
for the Spartanburg com-
munity and for tourism to
our region,” Smith said.
“Spartanburg is proud to be
among the handful of com-
munities hosting an NFL
training camp. Most teams
are moving to hold their
camps on their home turf
– only 11 of 32 teams hold
training camp away from
their home cities. I want
to thank Jerry Richardson,
owner of the Panthers, and
Wofford College for creat-
ing this partnership for the
community in which we all
can share and enjoy.
“Last year, we hosted
49,000 visitors and enjoyed
a $5.2 million economic
impact from the camp,” he
added. “Based on last year’s
figures, this means over
the next five years, we will
welcome 245,000 Panthers
fans to Spartanburg, and
the economic impact will
total $26 million.”
Smith noted that Spar-
tanburg area residents also
benefit from training camp
in other ways. “Most espe-
cially, in having the joy of
visiting camp themselves
and taking their children
to watch this professional
football team – up close
and personal – prepare for
its season and to be able
to see veterans and rookies
alike vie for their jobs, and
to have the chance for au-
tographs and photographs.”
Morrison told the group,
“I am excited and proud
to be here with you today,
and I want to tell you how
happy the Panthers are to
be extending our relation-
ship with the Spartanburg
community and Wofford
College.
“Throughout our 20 years
of holding summer training
in Spartanburg, we have
made it our goal to create
the most family-friendly
environment for our fans,
and all of you have helped
us do that and helped us at-
tract visitors from all over
the country – and even the
world – to camp,” he added.
“This relationship – with
Spartanburg and with Wof-
ford – has been terrific. To
play our games in North
Carolina and then have
training camp in South
Carolina fits the overall phi-
losophy of the Panthers as a
two-state team. On behalf
of Mr. Richardson and the
Panthers, I want to thank
the Spartanburg commu-
nity and Wofford for making
it a great relationship, and
one we whole-heartedly ex-
tend.”
Wofford’s president
thanked the Panthers and
the Spartanburg communi-
ty for continuing to support
training camp on the col-
lege’s campus. “It is a privi-
lege and honor for Wofford
College to be able to con-
tinue to be the host site for
the Carolina Panthers’ sum-
mer training camp,” Samhat
said. “The strong relation-
ship with the Panthers and
owner Jerry Richardson and
president Danny Morrison
is one that benefits not only
our campus, but the entire
community. We are the
conduit, the location, but
the Spartanburg commu-
nity makes summer train-
ing camp a success and we
are honored to play a part
in that.
“Bringing training camp
to Spartanburg had a rip-
pling effect as the college
was transitioning from NAIA
to NCAA Division II, with
NFL-caliber facilities help-
ing the program enter the
Southern Conference. Get-
ting the Panthers to cam-
pus was critical to Wofford’s
current athletics success
and profile,” says Samhat.
“Wofford is so thankful for
Jerry Richardson and the
Panthers for providing this
opportunity for the college.
Mr. Richardson and his fam-
ily continue to be generous
to the college and to hav-
ing a positive impact on the
campus and our students.
Just a few months ago, we
announced that they have
graciously committed to
providing the funding for
the Rosalind S. Richardson
Center for the Arts and the
Jerry Richardson Indoor
Stadium for our campus,
helping us to enhance our
academics and athletics
programs in major ways.
We thank the Richardsons
for their continued generos-
ity and support for Wofford.
“We look forward to
working with the Spartan-
burg community – the city,
the county and the Cham-
ber – to continue to en-
hance the training camp ex-
perience for our community
and visitors.”
Panthers’ summer train-
ing camp is held each sum-
mer from late July to mid-
August. Practices are free
and open to the public, and
Wofford hosts a community
party during the opening
weekend to celebrate camp.
Student-trustee listening sessions
Campus Union President’s thoughts on the opportunity to speak candidly with several members of the board
Over the last year, as tensions have
risen over changes on Wofford’s campus,
many students have expressed a desire
to have more connection to those mak-
ing big decisions. On Feb. 9, many stu-
dents got just the opportunity they had
been looking for when Wofford trustees
came for a day of private meetings with
students on campus. The trustees who
visited were invited by Will Willimon, a
trustee and the chair of the committee
on campus life. In the end, Willimon,
Chris Carpenter, and Leon Patterson, the
chair of the strategic vision, attended the
meetings. Willimon invited over 30 trust-
ees.
Campus Union president Hank Davis
wishes that more board members had
attended the sessions. But Davis and
other students were still happy to have
the opportunity to meet with trustees
and talk about topics like Greek life, the
Strategic Vision and dining services.
“It was extremely refreshing because it
was an opportunity that was presented
to us.”
Davis feels like most forums are in-
spired by students, but this was an ex-
ception. “Board of trustees members set
it up for us, and it was great to get that
chance without having to propose it our-
selves.”
As far as the overall mission of the
meetings, Davis felt that the trustees’
trips were well spent.
“It could not have gone better,” Davis
says. “It honestly wasn’t some PR stunt.
They legitimately wanted to hear what
we wanted to say.”
One of Davis’ frustrations was that the
opening of new fraternity houses will be
contingent on financial donations, de-
spite the relative lack of control that cur-
rent students have over these donations.
“They said that they hear me, and they
believe that we can raise the amount of
money in the time allotted. I’ve looked at
the numbers, and I’m worried that some
students will have to go for a time with-
out the Row.”
Davis is still worried about the proj-
ect, but the overall tone of the meetings
helped him feel that the trustees under-
stood his concerns.
Davis was originally critical of the
Strategic Vision. While he still has some
concerns about the wording of the docu-
ment, the meetings helped Davis under-
stand where Patterson, the chair of the
vision, was coming from.
Davis says, “I feel more comfortable
now getting to talk to [Patterson]. He
wants us to be comfortable with the vi-
sion.”
Davis feels like these sessions were a
step in the right direction.
“I would love to have more open dis-
cussions with the people who are mak-
ing the decisions at our school. I think
students would like to have more discus-
sions initiated by the board.”
by Joe Brook, Senior Writer
Wofford trustee Will Willimon organized listening sessions between trustees
and students in early February.
February is a month the United States uses to re-
flect on all of the achievements of black Americans.
In 1976, President Gerald Ford officially modified
‘Negro Week’ to Black History Month “to honor
too-often neglected accomplishments of black
Americans.” Dating back to 1915, Carter Woodson
and Jesse Moorland founded the Association for
the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH), dedi-
cated to promoting the accomplishments of anyone
with black descent. They sponsored Negro Week,
the second week in February because it included
the birthdays of two important men — President
Abraham Lincoln (Feb. 12) and Frederick Douglass
(Feb. 14). The week of observance in turn inspired
schools nationwide to organize local events to cel-
ebrate black accomplishments. Over the years,
Negro Week shifted into Black History Month. This
month of recognition is also observed in the United
Kingdom, Germany and Canada. February.
Earlier in the month Angela Jenkins brought a
mobile African-American Heritage Museum to the
college. In addition to the myriad of posters, let-
ters, books, and other pieces of memorabilia, Jen-
kins also brought a display of inventions created by
black women and men. Below is a sampling.
The portable air conditioner, created by Fred-
erick M. Jones in 1949 — Jones, who began
working when he was 11, had to teach himself
engineering and mechanical work. Thanks to
his invention of refrigerated trucks, the U.S.
military was able to carry food and blood during
WWI.
The cell phone, developed by Harry Sampson
and George Miley in 1973.
The clothes dryer patented by George T. Samp-
son in 1892.
The traffic light invented in 1923 by Garrett
Morgan. Morgan also invented the safety hood
protection device after seeing firefighters strug-
gling. He was not recognized for this achieve-
ment until his invention saved several men’s
lives after a tunnel explosion.
Others include:
Daniel Hale Williams, pioneer of open heart
surgery
George Grant, created an improved golf tee
George Crum, invented the potato chip
Lonnie Johnson, invented the “Super Soaker”
water gun
Patricia Bath, created a laser surgical device
Dr. Charles Drew, the modern blood bank
Alexander Miles, the elevator
Leaders of the Civil Rights Movement featured in
Jenkins’ exhibit included:
Shirley Chisolm, the first African American female
to be elected to the U.S. Congress and the first black
female to run for a major-party presidential nomi-
nation. Fighting for women and minority’s rights
her entire political career, Chisolm started off as a
teacher and educational opportunities was a strong
platform for her.
Rosa Parks, who led a city-wide boycott just by
refusing to give up her seat on the bus. Without
violence or even speaking much, Parks was able to
find ruling in her favor that segregation on buses
is in violation of the Constitution. When asked why
she did not give up her seat, Parks, a seamstress
stated, “I was not physically tired, I was just tired of
giving in.” Those few words changed history as it is
known today.
Maggie Lena Walker, the first female bank presi-
dent of any race. Like Chisolm, Walker also started
off as a teacher but was forced to leave her job
when she got married. Walker started working for
the Order of St. Luke’s and through time, rose in the
ranks to grand secretary. At the time, the company
was close to bankruptcy, but Walker saved it and
even was able to hold on to it during the Great De-
pression.
by Jewell Singleton, Staff Writer
Black History Month: A spotlight on
inventors and Civil Rights leaders
Frederick Jones Harry Sampson Daniel Hale Williams Lonnie Johnson Patricia Bath Shirley Chisolm Maggie Lena Walker

5. 2 . 2 4 . 1 5 O G & B 5 ARTS & CULTURES
Beautiful disasterThe glow of the Eiffel Tower
bleeds into the puddles on the
ground. It’s midnight. The tower
sparkles with brilliant flashes of
light until it goes dark for the night.
A couple kisses to the left of us,
and straggling vendors jangle Eiffel
Tower keychains in our faces.
The hail plummets down on us,
and we run to escape the cold.
We yell out the names of people
we love (earlier, we locked their
names to the love lock bridge near
Notre Dame).
When we make it back to our
hostel, we’re cold – it’s been sleet-
ing the entire weekend, and the sky
is always gray. We fall into a sound
sleep. Our hostel is stationed next
to La Seine, with green-gray wa-
ters churning a steady current, and
swans skating across the surface in
the daytime.
Here, I’ve eaten the most sacri-
legiously delicious cheeseburger
of my life and shared conversation
with other travelers.
“You’re in Europe! Come on, ex-
perience it,” says Daniel, a Brazil-
ian exchange student. “For me, the
drinks are ten times more expen-
sive than in Brazil. For Americans,
only five!”
Before we can continue our con-
versation, his friends call him over
to dance to early 2000’s American
music. A group of people at a table
argue about politics and the merits
of feminism. Solo travelers mingle.
“I’ll be living in India soon,” says
Lena, an American. “I’m ready for
the spicy food.”
She leans in— “Never walk
around here alone,” she says.
It’s 2 a.m., and I’m asleep. A
hand grabs my shoulder. I wake up
and turn to see a figure standing
over my bed. He’s drunk; I string
together more profanities than I
ever have in my entire life. I can’t
sleep for the rest of the night.
I replay the weekend over and
over again in my head: the vivid
stained glass windows at Notre
Dame, the use of light in the Re-
naissance paintings at the Louvre,
the waitress who scoffed at us be-
cause we couldn’t afford expensive
desserts, the pipes hanging out of
the ceiling in the metro stations,
the street performer who forced a
friend into an uncomfortable duet,
the woman who tried to pickpock-
et us, the stunning weave of the
metal in the Eiffel Tower, sitting
knotted in traffic while the cab fare
ticked up, the cracks in the streets
that just felt Parisian.
At 4:30 a.m. we’re up and get-
ting ready to catch our plane back
to Barcelona. On the flight to Paris,
the plane dropped for an agonizing
five seconds, along with our stom-
achs.
At the hostel, we met people
who had been on our flight. The
first thing they mentioned was the
drop, that nauseating fear of fall-
ing, the immediate sense that ev-
erything was going to go wrong.
It’s rare to experience a weekend
that’s as much of a beautiful train
wreck as the one I spent in Paris.
One moment, standing outside of
the Louvre with my hands going
numb, the clouds in the sky broke
and immersed the city in warm,
golden light. We could see the Ei-
ffel Tower stark against the sky in
the distance. In a day’s time, we’d
be underneath it, watching the
lights and letting the hail scrape
against our coats.
by Addie Lawrence, Staff Writer
Flights and plights
The triumphs and trials of traveling abroad
Traveling around Europe is rela-
tively easy once you are placed
there. Sure, Ireland is its own little
island separated from the rest of
the continent, but all it takes is a
cheap flight on Ryanair and in a
couple hours I could be practically
anywhere in Europe. Of course,
traveling is not always so simple.
Based on my experiences abroad
thus far, I have created a profes-
sional list on the do’s and don’ts of
traveling. Enjoy:
1. Get on the right bus to the right
airport. This point may seem like a
no-brainer. Simple. Not a big deal.
But it is quite a big deal when you
are moving forty-five minutes in the
wrong direction from your flight.
Surprisingly, getting on the wrong
bus to the wrong airport does not
make traveling easier, especially if
you are trying to return from your
destination. For example, missing
your flight from Oslo, Norway, to
Dublin, Ireland, is not something I
would recommend. Flights are not
always pouring in and out from Oslo
to Dublin. Life becomes a bit more
complex. The traveler may end up
buying a ticket to London in the
hopes of being able to get a ticket
to Dublin. At one point, the travel-
er may think they have to stay the
night in London. Hope is lost. Yes,
make sure you get on the right bus
to the right airport, adventure seek-
ers. Save yourself a lot of grief.
2. Pack food. If you are a student,
you are most likely traveling on a
budget. Your dollars could be spent
on wonderful experiences instead
of an overpriced, mediocre sand-
wich, so be sure to bring a good
amount of food with you on your
travels. Perhaps make sure to take
foods that include some nutritional
value aside from just crackers and
peanuts. You will start to become
very hungry and feel that you are
a salt balloon waiting to burst. You
may then splurge on dinners, order-
ing large burgers with large sides
and downing the feast in mere sec-
onds, thus ruining your entire bud-
get.
3. Invest in a map of where you
are traveling. Not all of us are lucky
enough to have a Sacagawea on
hand whenever we are exploring
new territory. It is time to accept
that you are a tourist and should,
therefore, grab as many different
maps as it takes for you to under-
stand where you are and where you
hope to go. I would suggest grab-
bing a map that is in a language you
understand. I also suggest that if
you are in Norway, let’s say, and all
the street names look like alphabet
soup spilled onto your map, that
you ask people for landmarks on
how to get where you are going,
such as, oh, I don’t know, the right
airport. Without a map, you risk the
chance of getting severely lost in
freezing cold weather. Not that this
has happened to me before. Nope.
No way. I am a professional. I know
what I am doing.
4. Ask for directions. The map
will always fail you at some point,
no matter how many different ways
you turn it or squint at it or cry on it.
This portion of your travels will test
you because now you get to play
the game “Do American Tourists
Annoy You or Make You Happy?”
Many times people are excited to
help out visitors to their country
with an overwhelming kindness
that Americans are not sure how
to handle. Other times, however,
people find it disgusting that you
are traipsing across their wonderful
city with some trashy tourist map
and muddy shoes. These people
will either say they cannot help
you or they will point you in the
wrong direction or they will refuse
to speak English when they actually
can. Avoid emotionally eating your
crackers and peanuts; you won’t
want to spoil your dinner of granola
bars later.
5. Go with the flow. Perhaps the
most important item on this list is
to learn to roll with the punches.
So yes, you got on the wrong bus to
the wrong airport. And yes, maybe
you were supposed to have turned
left a couple blocks back and now
you’re in an unknown part of the
city. Or maybe you forgot to pack
socks. Instead of letting your mind
drown in these mess ups and ruin-
ing your entire experience, throw
your hands up and just try again.
Now you get to be very knowledge-
able when it comes to rearranging
new flights. Now you get to go on
a new, unplanned adventure to
see something you may not have
originally gone to see. Now you get
to buy fun socks from a different
country and can always fondly look
back on the time you forgot to pack
socks. You may not be laughing in
the moment but trust me, a few
days, years, decades or eons later,
this memory will have you laughing
until you cry.
6. Resist buying lots of candy in
the airport. No matter how down-
trodden you feel, do not buy the
ten-pound Toblerone. It will not
make you feel better and it’s awk-
ward to carry onto a plane. I don’t
care how sick you are of crackers or
how you spent too much money on
your new socks. The five foot choc-
olate bar is not worth it.
7. Remember that it didn’t hap-
pen unless there was a selfie. Per-
haps the most important tip for
easy travel abroad: make sure that
everyone knows you went travel-
ing. Sure, you say you went to Nor-
way or Austria or Italy but how do
we really know that you went? No
one cares about your interesting
travel stories; they just need to see
your face in front of beautiful build-
ings, classic pieces of art and even
alongside regal people. Every photo
you take should include your face
in it somehow. You must push the
boundaries. I am not talking about
the occasional nice group photo or
you posing next to a palace – I mean
the entire photo album should just
be a sea of your face with a tiny
background of where you actually
were. When traveling is so easy, it
is necessary to take over the world,
one selfie at a time. As always, the
goal is to flood social media with
your experience that your fellow
peers probably couldn’t care less
about. You already post three times
a week on your blog. You need
more. You must drown people in
your travels. It’s healthy, I promise.
Perhaps now you will feel in-
spired to go abroad or to travel the
states more than you ever thought
of doing. Even exploring all of Wal-
Mart can prove to be an interesting
adventure. Traveling is about get-
ting lost and losing your luggage
and facing language barriers. It’s
also about getting on the right bus
to the right airport because missing
your flight from Norway to Dublin is
not something I would recommend.
Again, not that this happened to
me. As I said, I am a professional.
Follow these tips and I promise your
next adventure will be as flawless
as a unicycle in three feet of snow.
by Elaine Best, Staff Writer
Wofford students Elaine Best, Kaki Patterson and Carson
Martin attempt to understand the Norwegian street names.
Photo credit Haley Combs.
Traveling exposes you to new cultures and ideas. For ex-
ample, Norway is obsessed with trolls. Trolls are everywhere.
You cannot escape the trolls, even if you try.
Poetry excerpts
from Safe Journey
Michelle Merritt’s Medical
Humanities Capstone project
on cancer
Virtues of anarchy
Nourish my being.
Assaulting insubordinates
With malignant casualties.
Ghastly,
Horrid,
Perpetuating
Havoc.
Destructive by nature,
I pervade throughout.
Subversion
Defies my existence.
Compromising order
Agitating the system
Infringing upon stability.
The system has altered
To one of lawlessness.
To one of oppression.
To one governed by me.
Invade and spread.
Singular destruction
Of a sole entity,
One at a time.
How blissful it is
To subdue
The functional unit
Of a host.
To elicit disarray
With my act of
Proliferation.
Rampant,
Unbridled
Freedom.
I am sovereign.
I gently close the bathroom door
behind me.
Shutting out the world,
For just a moment.
Yet, I escaped nothing
For I cannot run away from
myself.
The me I fail to recognize.
I cautiously undress,
Peeling away my shielding
garments:
My socks, my pants, my shirt, my
underwear,
And lastly, my bra.
With eyes closed, I stand naked,
Unable to face my reflection.
For a brief second,
I pretend
That none of this happened,
That I was not stripped
Of all grace and elegance.
That I was not stripped of
femininity.
I can no longer play
My game of make-believe.
Unable to meet my twin,
I avoid the mirror
And look down where my
Right breast used to be.
There lies the scar
That defined my womanhood,
Or lack of.
Tears stream down my face,
As my eyes met my own glance.
I am face to face with
My own frightening reflection.
I stand nude,
Left bare and demoralized
With no hair
And one sagging breast.
How did I want this?
How could I be so stubborn,
When insisting for complete
removal
Of my right breast.
Drawing by Josh Holt ‘14.
The full-sized display is located in the glass cases on the first floor of Milliken Science,
end of the hall farthest from Acorn Cafe.
Cancer
A WEEKEND IN PARIS
Liliana
Ugliness is all I see.
Vulnerability, pity,
And shame follow.
As I quietly vow,
My husband will never
See me like this,
He walks in
And closes the door behind
him.
I continue to cry,
As my head drops
Out of embarrassment.
He walks over
And kisses my forehead.
Chills pass over me,
As his warm lips
Meet my cold and rigid body.
For a moment, I escaped
And left the world.
A world that continuously
demands
Strength and composure.
I entered a realm
Where just for a moment,
I can be weak
And naked.
Just for a moment, however.
For I cannot live in a
Game of make-believe.

6. WHAT’S UP AT WOFFORD6 O G & B 2 . 2 4 . 1 5
Author and alum Thomas Pierce to speak Feb. 26
Reading from short story collection ‘Hall of Small Mammals’
Wofford MythBusters
Addressing campus rumors and myths with Dean of Students
We’ve all heard our share of myths and rumors across campus in regards to
the campus environment, buildings, events and traditions. But as easy as it is
easy to listen and spread these myths, some in actuality may not be as true as
they seem. Thus, we bring to you Wofford MythBusters, addressing campus
rumors and myths – with help from Dean of Students Roberta Bigger. I sat
down with Bigger to address a few of the myths flying around campus.
Myth #1: The cost of tuition for next school year is going to significantly
increase.
Bigger’s answer: “Yes, it will increase, but not significantly. According to Chris
Gardner, the associate vice president for finance for the college, the reasons
Wofford, like most other institutions, raises its comprehensive fee annually
are varied. First and foremost, crafting an exceptional, transformational edu-
cational experience is expensive – and it’s not getting any cheaper. Wofford
is continually seeking to maximize and enhance the quality of its academic
programs. We believe that these enhancements in quality will benefit all stu-
dents over time, as they help to increase the perceived value and prestige of
a Wofford degree.
Each year, the college must first respond to increases in its costs. Examples
of constantly rising costs include:
• Cost of living adjustments for Wofford’s faculty and staff
• Cable, internet and other utilities cost increases
• Food costs, especially the cost of meat
• Upkeep of mature buildings and grounds
Once those rising costs are addressed, the college must invest in strategic
priorities designed to enhance the quality of the Wofford education. The col-
lege typically invests additional funds into financial aid, to ensure the acces-
sibility of a Wofford education to those who have earned it and to improve the
overall quality of the student profile. In addition, the college identifies specific
programs that will enhance the Wofford experience, the majority of which are
new or enhanced academic programs or new or enhanced student services
offerings.”
Myth #2: There’s going to be a Phase VI and VII of The Village.
Bigger’s answer: “Well, you never know. We have for a number of years
been talking about tearing down Marsh and building a new residence hall to
replace it. There have been drawn plans, students coming in to tell the ar-
chitects what kind of room they would like, a specific layout for the room,
etc. Even when President Nayef Samhat was brand new, there were plans un-
derway to build a new residence hall. However, a detailed analysis regarding
Marsh left more questions: What is wrong with the building? What the costs
entailed to renovate the building? What were the costs to build a newer build-
ing? And also how many more beds does the college need? If we stick with our
goal of having 440 new students each year and controlling the numbers, we
hopefully may not need a residence hall larger than Marsh. The one we had
proposed was going to have 80 more beds than what Marsh currently has. But
now if we control the growth, then what we really would need are a few more
rooms in The Village. We talked about it being less expensive for the college
to build another building in The Village in the gravel lot end behind Phase III
than to build a $25 million residence hall for 280-300 students. And, the other
nice advantage of building a smaller building such as another phase in The
Village is that you could build one in a much shorter period of time. It would
take at least an entire calendar year to build a new residence hall, whereas
we already have the plans for those buildings and know exactly how to build
another building in The Village.”
Myth #3: After Fraternity Row is torn down in the summer, fraternities will
have to use Main Building on the weekends or potentially The Village
Bigger’s answer: “We are working with IFC to make a list of areas – a list
of about six or seven – so that we could tell each organization that we have
enough areas on campus to have parties. We have spaces on campus such as:
Players Corner, Shipp Hall lounge, Gibbs Stadium plaza, Andrews Field House,
the area behind the Papadopoulos Building and the Pavilion. We’ve also talk-
ed about places in The Village, not specific apartments, but places near and
around it. We have identified areas that we could designate for parties and in
addition to that, we want to designate a room on campus where we could say
to each specific organization that this is their room for the semester or year
to hold their officer meetings, chapter meetings, etc. just so they can have a
place to go to so the organizations do not have to operate out of an apartment
or residence hall.”
by Jonathan Franklin, Staff Writer
Hear any myths around campus
that you don’t believe are true
and want them addressed?
Email Jonathan Franklin,
franklinja@email.wofford.edu
or Dean Roberta Bigger,
biggerrh@wofford.edu,
and we’ll be sure to address
them in the next edition
of the Old Gold & Black.
The New York Times recently called author Thomas Pierce’s short story collection “Hall of Small Mam-
mals” “beautifully built” and said Pierce “has an especially deft way of finding just the right final flourish.”
The 2006 Wofford College graduate’s “originality, inventiveness, questing spiritual intelligence and ani-
mal fixation aren’t easy to do justice to in the limited space here,” wrote Books of The Times reviewer
Janet Maslin in the review published in January. “But they’re irrefutably good reasons to discover him for
yourself.”
Pierce will be on Wofford’s campus on Thursday, Feb. 26, as part of the college’s Writers Series. He will
talk about writing and read from his book in the 7:30 p.m. event in the Olin Teaching Theater in the Frank-
lin W. Olin Building. The event is free and open to the public.
On Friday, Feb. 27, at 7 p.m., Pierce will do a reading at The Showroom at HUB-BUB at 149 S. Daniel
Morgan Ave., presented by the Hub City Writers Project. The program is free and open to the public.
Pierce is grateful for the good reviews the book is receiving. “You never know what to expect when you
put a book into the world – especially when it’s your first – so naturally, the good reviews have been a thrill
and a relief. I’m very glad people are connecting with these stories.”
Pierce’s short stories have appeared in The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The Oxford American, Subtropics
and elsewhere. He has reported for National Geographic and for NPR programs, including “Morning Edi-
tion” and “All Things Considered.” Born and raised in South Carolina, he received history and English de-
grees from Wofford and earned his M.F.A. from the University of Virginia as a Poe/Faulkner Fellow. While
at Wofford, Pierce was the 2004-05 Presidential International Scholar and authored “said the dark fishes,”
winner of the Benjamin Wofford Prize for fiction writing. He also received NPR’s prestigious Joan B. Kroc
Fellowship, an intensive training program designed to bring exceptional graduates into public radio and
journalism. Following the fellowship, he stayed on as a producer, blogger and reporter.
“Hall of Small Mammals” was published earlier this year by Riverhead Books.
Pierce and his wife and daughter live in Charlottesville, Va.
John Swinton, the unsung hero of Wofford’s stellar basketball seniors
Senior guard is a team leader and defensive force for Mike Young’s Terriers
When John Swinton came to Wofford College in
2011, he was relatively unknown. The lone walk-on
in a class that included six scholarship freshmen,
Swinton’s only scholarship offers came from Divi-
sion II schools. Swinton was the only South Carolin-
ian in the class that included players from Minne-
sota, Massachusetts, Chicago and Atlanta.
Four years later Swinton will leave Wofford as
a scholarship player, a team captain and a South-
ern Conference champion. Swinton is one of three
seniors who remain from the original seven in the
class of 2015, but his ascendance to his current role
has more to do with his work ethic than the depar-
ture of other players.
After starring at Wando High in Mount Pleasant,
S.C., Swinton had a choice to make. He could accept
a scholarship from one of the several Division II
schools that offered him a full ride or accept a pre-
ferred walk-on spot at Wofford College, where he
would have some academic aid, but no promise of
a full ride and an uphill battle to earn playing time.
Swinton chose Wofford for a number of reasons.
“My high school coach David Eaton played at
Wofford for Coach Young so there was a connection
there,” Swinton says. “Also Wofford’s academic rep-
utation was a huge part of deciding where to go.”
Being a walk-on player brought Swinton addi-
tional challenges. Fellow senior Lee Skinner saw the
pressure that Swinton was under.
“Being a walk-on he had to maintain a certain
GPA to keep his academic financial aid,” Skinner
says. “He was working really hard on the court, but
sometimes I could tell that he was thinking more
about school.”
Swinton had the same obligations as the schol-
arship players on the court but had to maintain a
higher GPA as he worked towards his biology ma-
jor. Swinton stepped up to the challenge and made
the Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll as a
freshman.
Coach Mike Young realized early on that Swinton’s
Wofford career would be a successful one.
“[Swinton] is a ‘how-to’ guy. If you want to learn
how to act watch him; if you want to learn how to
play watch him; if you want to learn how to work
and succeed at the college level and succeed as a
student, watch him.”
Young says that Swinton was on his radar in high
school, and he was ecstatic when Swinton decided
to attend Wofford.
“He started attending camp here in the summer
with his high school team,” Young says. “He was a
scrawny high school guy that needed to get bigger
and stronger. But I always liked him as a person.”
Once Swinton enrolled at Wofford, he began to
transform into a big-time contributor almost imme-
diately. Swinton logged time in his first game ever
for Wofford against the Georgia Bulldogs of the SEC
in Athens, Georgia. From that point Swinton’s role
grew, and it didn’t seem like it would be long before
Swinton earned the scholarship he was working for.
Young realized how consistent Swinton was, par-
ticularly on the defensive end of the floor.
“He is what he is. He is the most reliable player,
the best teammate,” Young says. “He might play
for five minutes, he might play for 25 minutes, but
I know what I am going to get. He is going to guard
,and he is going to take care of the ball.”
Skinner also saw the strides his teammate was
making.
“Coming in, he was one the smallest guys, but he
worked hard, and you could tell he wanted it more
than anything.”
Swinton finished his freshmen year with two
starts, and played in 18 total games.
At the beginning of his sophomore year Swinton’s
role expanded, and Young realized that his guard
was developing into someone who deserved a full
scholarship. Swinton had also gotten larger – up to
185 pounds from his high school weight of 165.
“I felt bad that he wasn’t a scholarship player his
sophomore year,” Young says, but the coach was
unable to give Swinton a scholarship because of
previous obligations to players. Swinton took the
next step on the court though, starting 11 games
before a stress fracture in his foot set him back for
the remainder of the season.
Entering his junior year Swinton was gaining even
more respect from his teammates. Swinton re-
ceived multiple nominations to be a team captain
despite the fact that he still was a non-scholarship
player and only a junior.
“That just goes to show how the team feels about
him,” Skinner says. “To be nominated as a junior
and a walk-on – that is huge.”
Swinton’s junior year was the turning point of his
Wofford career. He logged significant minutes in
the team’s non-conference schedule, but when the
Southern Conference schedule began, Swinton saw
his average minutes drop to just three minutes per
game over the first five games of the SoCon slate.
The Terriers won just two of these games and fell to
seven and ten overall. Then came a game against
Western Carolina on Jan. 20 2014. Swinton scored
seven points and played 11 minutes. The Terriers
won. That game was the beginning of a nine game
winning streak where Swinton never played fewer
than 10 minutes in any game.
In the middle of his junior year Swinton finally
got the news that he had been waiting two and half
years for. With Indiana Faithfull departing from the
program, Swinton finally got the scholarship he had
been working for.
“It was awesome,” Swinton says. “Everything I
worked for had paid off.”
Skinner was ecstatic for his teammate and friend.
“I nearly cried. I choked up. I know for a fact that
he would feel the exact same for me.”
For Swinton it was the realization of a dream
“Your dream as a basketball player is to earn that
scholarship,” he says.
Swinton also enjoyed the opportunity to tell his
parents that the rest of his college education was
paid for.
“It was great to take that off of them, and it gives
you some new independence.”
Swinton is quick to point out that his success on
the court wouldn’t be possible without the help of
many others.
“It has been awesome to get to play with [Skin-
ner] and Karl Cochran,” Swinton says. “Both of
those guys are once-in-a-generation type players,
and it has been awesome to see the transition from
freshman year to now.”
The three seniors are all captains, and Young says
their complementary leadership styles have helped
this year’s team succeed.
“Their personalities complement each other,”
Young says. “[Swinton] is not as outspoken, but
people listen because he has earned great respect.”
Skinner agrees with Young.
“We are like the three musketeers,” Skinner says.
“[Cochran], he is a superhero. Sometimes the focus
and attention can be on him, but knowing he loves
us as much as we love him we can bring him to our
level, which is needed sometimes,” Skinner says.
“Swinton is that ‘glue guy.’ He brings me in when
I lose my cool. He can take direction. We all mesh
very well.”
Swinton is quick to give credit to others who have
helped him during his college career.
“People around me – family, teammates, coaches
and friends – deserve credit. The fact that it wasn’t
all on me was huge.”
Swinton, Skinner and Young all mentioned the
help of Swinton’s parents and his brother, Trey, who
played basketball at The Citadel for a year and is
now in the Air Force.
“[Swinton] has just a beautiful family,” Young
says. “He has a mother and father who are so sup-
portive of him.”
“They are great people. You can tell right away
that he is their son, and they are his parents,” Skin-
ner says. “I remember sophomore year I was going
through some stuff, and I was on the phone with his
parents, and they passed the phone back and forth
for 30 minutes talking to me while I was crying. It is
little things like that that become big things.”
Whatever the cause of his success, Swinton has
become a vital part of one of the most successful
teams in Wofford history. The Terriers will lean on
Swinton and his fellow senior leaders as the team
tries to secure back-to-back SoCon championships
for the second time in program history.
by Joe Brook, Senior Writer
In four years at Wofford, John Swinton has gone from a walk-on player to a scholarship team captain.

7. 2 . 2 4 . 1 5 O G & B 7
If it weren’t for the taste, I’d be sorry
It’s just a couple of minutes past five o’clock in
the morning and we’re headed out the back door of
our small, beloved cabin that’s placed strategically
in the middle of Hyde County, North Carolina. My
brother, my dad, my dog and I grab all of our last
minute necessities and step out the door, quickly
crossing the line from warmth into a cold, myste-
rious blackness. The crackling of the fireplace can
no longer be heard in the background, and we’re
left with only the lights from our headlamps. We’re
now on a mission to beat the sunrise. My dad grabs
the sleigh of decoys and we’re headed toward the
pond, wasting no time at all. My black lab is named
Nap and, just like always, he’s along for the hunt.
Nap’s leading the way, wondering what could pos-
sibly be taking us so long; he’s been waiting all year
for the season to finally open. He was bred to hunt
and has been doing so all eight years of his life. I’m
bringing up the rear with my gun strapped across
my back and my gear bag hanging over my left
shoulder. My dad instructs all three of us to keep
quiet, making sure we don’t cause any unnecessary
commotion. I can hear the leaves crackle beneath
the boots of my heavy waders, Nap sniffing around
and the birds making their small wakes in the pond.
Besides these subtle movements, all is still in the
early morning.
I’m 13 and I’ve grown up going hunting with my
dad, but this is the first time I will be shooting my
own gun. The butterflies in my stomach are a cross
between nervousness and excitement — I’m ready
to prove to the world that I’m a hunter. I think that
my dad and brother are happy to have me tagging
along, but I know they only hope that I don’t do
anything stupid. I would hate to mess up the hunt
for them, especially considering it’s opening day.
Deciding to give me the complete experience, my
dad informs me that we will not be sitting in the
blind. Instead, we will be sitting in tiny seats, with
no backs, that hold us an inch above the freezing
cold water (as if this doesn’t add more pressure).
My dad turns around and hands me my wading
stick, one similar to those used for hiking. It’s al-
most as tall as me and as thick around as my upper
arm. I finally reach the water and take my first steps
into the thick, unforgiving mud. I slowly make my
way through the corn that reaches higher than my
outstretched arms, continuing to bring up the rear.
The cornfield has recently been flooded in order to
make a waterfowl impoundment that we can hunt
in. I notice a few pieces of corn that have fallen into
the water and will soon be breakfast for the ducks.
The water is rising (or maybe I’m sinking) and it be-
comes harder to make my way. I lose my balance a
couple of times and have to stop for a moment, try-
ing my hardest not to cause a ruckus. I can hear Nap
splashing around, unable to control his excitement,
and scaring a couple of ducks off. It’s beginning to
get lighter outside, making it easier to see, and I can
vaguely spot my destination. It seems as if I’ve been
walking for hours.
I eventually catch up with everyone else and fol-
low their actions of setting up camp. We will be sit-
ting for the next couple of hours in nothing more
than a small gap in the corn. My camouflage win-
ter gloves cover my shooting gloves and keep my
hands warm, for the time being. With all of my lay-
ers, it’s not easy for me to get around. I place my
chair in the water and slowly lower myself into it,
being sure not to miss and land in the water. I watch
as my dad and brother set up the different groups
of decoys. There must be some science to it, so I
won’t bother trying to help.
I can hear people shooting before the legal time,
sure that they’re going to get in trouble. I try to
calm myself down, telling myself, “You’ve shot this
gun plenty of times, the only difference is that the
target is living.” It’s true, my dad has taken me to
the shooting club more than enough times, but
this seems different. I feel like I have something to
prove, or someone to impress. On top of that, I fear
the feeling of apprehension in killing a living and
breathing animal.
We finally reach the legal shooting time and I’m
immediately discouraged when no ducks appear, as
if I thought 20 million ducks were going to fall out
of the sky. We give it a few more minutes and I spot
one coming in low from the right. I shoulder my gun
and wait a couple more seconds. It appears in front
of me for a brief moment, and I know this is my
time to shine. I line the barrel up just perfectly with
the belly of the teal and pull the trigger, hoping for
the best. As a shock to everyone, my shot is per-
fectly on target and the teal lands stomach first in
the water, causing a big splash. I cringe for a second
at the thought that I just killed a living creature, but
my mood quickly changes when I hear my dad and
brother congratulate me.
I look at my dad and can interpret a wide range of
emotions on his face. He’s shocked that I was able
to hit the duck, kind of frustrated that I scared off
all of the other ducks, and thrilled that his daughter
has hunting potential. We decide to call the first kill
of the season Tommy the Teal.
To this day, Tommy the Teal is stuffed and hang-
ing on a wall in my room. Although he was the first
duck I ever shot and killed, he was by no means the
last (not all of my shots have been quite so accu-
rate though). I often weigh the rewards of shooting
ducks, pride in success and food to eat, with the
idea of killing an innocent little creature who’s only
looking for breakfast. I consider this each time I pull
the trigger. I don’t know that it’ll ever stop me from
doing what I love, but I can definitely show the poor
things some sympathy.
It may come across as insincere, considering that
I still shoot them anyway, but if I could write an
apology to let the ducks know I’m sorry, I would.
I’d explain to them that I feel remorse for shooting
all of their family and friends and leaving them to
fly all alone. I’d tell them that as much as I hate to
admit it, they could easily be next. I would say to
watch their backs and try to learn from their peers’
mistakes. And most importantly of all, I’d let them
know that they taste quite delicious.
Lee Massey essay published in the January – February issue of SC Wildlife Magazine
Wofford unveils plans for new Greek Village
Back porches remain a sticking point
Within the idyllic Wofford “bubble” that encom-
passes the small sector of downtown Spartanburg
between North Pine and North Church Street lies
arguably the most unique, beloved and dilapidated
social spot in the South: Fraternity Row. Construct-
ed nearly 60 years ago in 1956, the Row has stood
through JFK’s assassination, segregation, coeduca-
tion, the Cold War, and maybe most impressively,
thousands of college parties. Unlike most college
students, Wofford students do not go out to bars
on the weekends. We don’t even leave campus at
all. On a Friday nights, we stumble past Old Main,
across the grassy quad, confidently show our Row
stickers to the show pros in the middle of the grassy
horseshoe, and house-hop between different fra-
ternity parties until Campus Safety shuts them
down at 2 a.m.
Fraternity Row attracts new students, contrib-
utes to our “tightly-knit” community, and plays a
large role in upholding the traditions that Wofford
reveres. But, after 60 years of faithful service, its
missing windowpanes, nonfunctioning bathrooms
and haphazardly built back decks really have seen
better days. The houses’ undeniably poor state,
coupled with the negative media that Greek orga-
nizations are receiving across the nation, has cul-
minated in Wofford’s most recent unveiling of the
new Greek Village as part of its newly implemented
Strategic Vision to become a “premier, innovative
and distinctive national liberal arts college defined
by excellence, engagement and transformation.”
Because more than 50 percent of Wofford’s cam-
pus is Greek, improving Wofford inherently must
include improving Greek life. According to Dean
of Students Roberta Bigger, the Greek Village is vi-
tal to Wofford’s development: “We know at least
half of our student leaders choose to be members
of Greek-letter organizations. Therefore, the new
Greek Village has been designed for fraternity and
sorority activities.”
Although the new Row is not set for completion
until fall of 2016, current Wofford students will
eventually gain what Bigger refers to as “the most
attractive Greek Village in the United States,” one
that provides “state-of-the-art space that fraterni-
ties and sororities will use seven days a week — not
just for weekend social events and band parties,”
although it has been designed “with all the activi-
ties that sororities and fraternities create and host”
in mind. At $400,000 plus per house, the construc-
tion is a long-term investment that administration
believes will benefit the campus.
The Village, consisting of 11 connected houses
surrounding a large grass gathering area with a
shared pavilion, is drastically different from the
Row that students have been lovingly making fun
of for years. Bigger remarks that the “current lay-
out contributed heavily to the design,” but some
students are not at all pleased with Wofford’s at-
tempt to “homogenize” and “control” Greek Life.
The main issue that students across campus have
with the new Greek Village is not its location or
even the fact that they will be living without a so-
cial place for a year while the new Row is built. It
is the back porches, or lack thereof. Scott Hiler, an
SAE, acknowledges that “the houses look very nice
and the plans look very appealing,” but vehemently
argues that “having the houses share a community
back yard for ‘all’ students regardless of organiza-
tional affiliation is ridiculous.” According to Hiler,
part of Greek life’s social value lies in its exclusivity,
and the unique standards that each organization
chooses to individually uphold. Hiler continues, “I
chose to be in a specific fraternity, and that was
my choice, along with many other students at this
school. I didn’t join one big Wofford fraternity. Each
one is different, that’s why we have to rush, to see
who we like, and who we get along with.” Students,
while excited to be getting such an innovative place
to host their chapters, feel that the college has been
ignoring their pleas for separated back porches.
Additionally, students and leaders of Greek-letter
organizations are concerned that the Village’s lay-
out violates the complex national rules and liability
policies of Greek organizations. Rufus Chambers,
president of IFC, says, “My main concern with the
Row’s new design is that the new design needs to
have some sort of security parameter for the back
porch areas,” as “each fraternity is responsible for
crowd control and management, which will be dif-
ficult to do without some sort of fencing.”
Currently, the houses’ layout seem better suit-
ed for Wofford’s sororities, which have previously
shared a common meeting space in Anna Todd, and
been operated from small hallway offices.
Alumna Ryann Kroske McCall, ’13, who now
works with Wofford’s Development Office as their
coordinator of marketing and communications,
thinks that “sororities have much to gain” from fi-
nally having their own houses. “Sisters can use the
houses in the Greek Village seven days a week… for
meetings, study spaces, casual hang-out, sisterhood
events and more.” McCall adds, “Sense of place is
so important, and even as an alum, I feel like the
ZTA house in the Greek Village will provide me with
a place to call “home” when I return to campus for
tailgates, Homecoming and other events.”
Regardless of its mixed reception, the construc-
tion of the Greek Village will mark a monumental
point in Wofford’s history, one that impacts both
current students and future generations of Wof-
ford attendees. A decision this significant must be
born from wholehearted campus support from
everyone involved, which unfortunately has yet to
be achieved. Although sharply divided on physi-
cal design, administration, students and alumni all
certainly want the same thing: for Wofford to get
The Greek Village right, and to replace the heart of
social life with something even better than before.
by Anna Aguillard, Staff Reporter
Overview of the new Greek village. Images courtesy of McMillan, Pazdan and Smith ArchitectureView from the right of the new Greek village
EDITORIAL
Woffordspoon: Miyako Sushi Group
Bringing you a fresh, local taste
Are you a typical Wofford student?
Are you hungry for dinner at 5:30
p.m.? Are you trying to discover fine
Japanese cuisine on a college student
budget? Look no further than Mikayo
Sushi Group located in the heart of
downtown Spartanburg.
For the third stop on our local res-
taurant review called “Woffordspoon:
serving our fellow students a taste
of Spartanburg,” we dined at Miyako
Sushi Group in hopes of finding top-
notch sushi in downtown Spartanburg.
Our previous “guest eater,” Student
Body President Hank Davis, had such
a wonderful experience during our last
Woffordspoon endeavor that he made
an executive decision to join us once
again, but we didn’t mind.
When we arrived at Mikayo Sushi
Group, we were welcomed by Karina
who is well known for her hospitality
and her enthusiasm for all things Mi-
yako. We were immediately seated
and waited on attentively despite the
dinnertime rush.
Opened in September of 2000, Mi-
kayo Sushi Group was started in an
effort to bring authentic sushi to the
Upstate.
The restaurant has been owned and
operated by the same individuals since
2000.
The Miyako Sushi Group menu is
filled with everything from traditional
sushi to typical Japanese platters to
exquisite desserts and drinks. There is
definitely an option for everyone!
We took advantage of the Miyako
Sushi Group’s happy hour, which runs
daily from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. and means
half-off drinks and select sushi rolls!
Other than choosing Mikayo Sushi
Group as one of our Woffordspoon
picks, our best move was asking our
waiter for recommendations on what
to order. Our waiter was well versed
on the entire menu and made sugges-
tions based off our personal previous
experience with Japanese cuisine.
“Since the start of my college career
at Wofford, I have tried almost every-
thing on the Miyako menu. You could
say I went through a ‘Miyako phase,’”
says Franklin. “I ordered the Chicken
Teriyaki appetizer full of chicken and
vegetables because it was one of the
few menu items I had yet to try. I re-
ally enjoyed my dinner and was glad I
had enough left over to take home for
later.”
“I honestly have never really liked
sushi, but I tried the rainbow roll and
ended up really enjoying it,” says
Moody. “I’m really glad I got the wait-
er’s advice because he recommended
a great choice for me.”
“I had a Philadelphia roll, a New
York roll, and a Spartanburg roll and
they were all delicious and reasonably
priced,” says Davis. “The most under-
appreciated item on the menu was the
dessert.”
Upon asking about the history of the
restaurant, our waiter sent Karina our
way, and we simply inquired about her
experience working at Miyako since
its opening. We were pleasantly sur-
prised when she brought us an Ice
Cream Tempura as a thank you token
for selecting Mikayo Sushi Group to be
featured in Woffordspoon.
We all agreed that the dessert was
a spectacular way to end our experi-
ence at Miyako, and we recommend
you give both the sushi and the dessert
a try!
by Ashlee Moody, Marketing & Social
Media Coordinator; Jonathan Franklin,
Staff Writer