Spring break 2023 saw 14 Westover Honors students travel to London in search of in-depth information about Jane Austen.
The study abroad trip was included in an Honors Colloquium taught by Dr. Beth Savage. In this class, students read some of Jane Austen’s famous novels and plays like Pride and Prejudice and Emma.
According to the course description, the purpose of this class is to allow students to make connections between work and culture, especially for a well-known author like Jane Austen.
The trip to see several of Austen’s famous haunts was key to the learning outcomes.
For senior, Frederick Smallshaw, it was also nice to see famous moments. Smallshaw said his history major background really made it amazing for him.
Ramadan begins Wednesday, March 22 and roughly 4-5% of the Lynchburg population practices Islam.
Many of us may not know someone who is Muslim but I think it is still important for us to learn about different cultures and understand what it means to support cultural differences.
Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar and it is thought of as a time for reflection and introspection. For practicing Muslims, Ramadan celebrates the Prophet Muhammad received the first revelations of the Quran as he meditated in a cavern outside Mecca.
Typically, Ramadan is known as the month of fasting. Fasting lasts from sunrise to sunset and it includes not just no food, but no water as well. There is usually a large meal once the sun has fully set or starts to set, depending on their custom. Fasts can be broken with dates and water, but this is more of a snack or a way to get through the day.
An article was recently published on the Critograph’s website about Priority Week at Lynchburg, a week given to students to fill out a survey that will aid administration in the preparation for its SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools) accreditation.
This article, written by Izzie Kirkwood, outlines the way that students are feeling about Priority Week, which is not a priority for most students.
The Critograph reached out to the Student Government Association to ask what their leadership thought about the survey. Due to this, SGA’s Student Body President, Claire King took the concerns of students to administration, resulting in several changes to Priority Week.
“In my recent meetings with university leaders, the importance of student response to the survey has been stressed and defined as critical to its success. With this being said, I will reach out to them as soon as possible to communicate these concerns,” said King.
Caption: Rogers (77) celebrates with teammates from Chrome Lacrosse Club after defeating Atlas Lacrosse Club 24-23 to claim the Premier Lacrosse League Championship. (Photo Credit: Lynchburg Sports Department)
Kevin Rogers, a 2020 graduate of University of Lynchburg became a professional lacrosse champion last week when Chrome Lacrosse Club defeated Atlas Lacrosse Club 24-23 to claim the 2023 Premier Lacrosse League championship on Feb. 26 in Washington, D.C.
Rogers, a former standout midfielder at Lynchburg and the 2020 Division III Men’s Lacrosse Player of the Year, was named to the club’s 12-man championship roster ahead of the 2023 PLL Championship series in his second season with the team.
“Less than a week out, I’m still going crazy over it,” Rogers said. “To cut that net down and to celebrate the way we did, it’s so crazy. It’s so much fun.”
Rogers won the 2018 Old Dominion Athletic Conference championship with Lynchburg, before transferring to High Point University for his fifth-year where he won a Southern Conference championship in his only season with the Panthers. Now he can add a professional championship to his resume.
Spring Break is just next week, but we all know that money can be a little short during the middle of the semester. Whether you are going on a day trip or going to Florida for the full week, there are always tips to save some money along the way and still have a good time with friends. Check out this comprehensive list on small ways to save cash during your week off!
The relay enters the meet ranked third in Division III, setting up a legitimate opportunity for the team to chase the first track national title in school history.
“Our relay is so well-rounded,” said Hotung-Davidsen, who has already secured two All-American titles in the 800-meter run in his career. “The firepower is there, the chemistry is there, now we’re just waiting to toe the line.”
The distance medley relay is an event in which four runners compete in four different distances, laid out in the following order: the 1,200-meter, the 400, the 800 and the 1,600.
For Lynchburg, Csorba will lead off the event, followed by Hodnett, Hotung-Davidsen, and Llaneza.
At the end of the fall semester, University of Lynchburg adopted a new payment system called Paycom, and let students and staff know that the new system would go into effect in the spring semester.
Midterms are now under way at the University and student workers harbor various opinions towards the platform and its different features.
Previously, student workers clocked in and out using the TimeClock Plus app, which used student ID numbers as a form of logging in on computers or smartphones.
Maxwell Garcia, a student worker at On Common Ground, does not see anything wrong with the way the old system works, and has had conversations with coworkers surrounding this thought.
“There’s a good time for innovation that will be well received. I don’t think this switch to the new system took that into account with how many upset rants I’ve heard about it. No one I know was asking for a new pay system, it worked just fine before,” said Garcia.
This school year, at the University of Lynchburg, a beach volleyball team debuted as the newest women’s sport on campus.
This past weekend, the team traveled to Laurinburg, North Carolina to compete against Division III and Division II schools like Bob Jones University and St. Andrews University.
With this being the team’s first ever season and only having freshman and sophomores on the team, it is a learning process for everyone involved.
“I think that there is a little bit more pressure on us because we are a new sport this season but I think as a team we have handled it very well so far and have set good expectations for ourselves and the program itself,” said freshman, Kailey Keough who feels slightly under pressure as a member of the new team.
Another reason that the team is learning so much is due to travel. With only one home weekend in the season so far, many of the matches are on the road in various different states. This can be quite draining for players, but Coach Hannah Givens sees this as a great opportunity for her players.
Photo of students at HOPEx event. Students from left to right (Lorraine Upton, Olivia Upton, Elizabeth Richards, Stacy Gallahan).
A new and beloved fundraising event in the Lynchburg Area has become Beacon of Hope’s “HOPEx” event. Some Lynchburg students got the opportunity to volunteer at the event, and were rewarded with a free entrance to the show.
Beacon of Hope is a nonprofit organization that helps local high school students in going to college. In 2022 the organization had its first “HOPEx” fundraising event, Beacon’s personal twist on a Ted Talk.
The event requires months of preparation from its staff, but on the day of large events like this one, organizations often need a few helping hands.
Several University of Lynchburg Bonner Leader Program students elected to spend their Friday night volunteering at the event, first welcoming VIP guests to the pre-events mixer and then ushering guests to the Historic Theater at the Academy Center of the Arts, where the event was hosted.
Olivia Upton, sophomore and Bonner Leader volunteered for the event after the Director of the Bonner Program, Tasha Gillum told her it seemed like something she would enjoy. “It was right up my alley, as I have an interest in education myself,” Upton said.
Collage by Jordan Abbott displaying cookie aisles at Walmart, Aldi, and Target
Determining which grocery stores have the best selection of products for the best value can be a daunting and time-consuming task.
A study conducted in 2022 revealed that the average college student spends $294.06 on groceries every month.
With all aspects of the economy currently being impacted by inflation, knowing which stores can give you the best value for your dollar is crucial.
According to a poll conducted via Instagram story, 53 percent of University of Lynchburg students prefer to shop at Walmart, while 41 percent prefer Target.
Senior Emily Bray chooses to shop at Walmart because it has, “Lower prices than Target and more of a selection than Aldi.”
On the other hand, sophomore Courtney Newton prefers Target.
“For me, it’s a place of convenience. It’s where I’m used to shopping,” says Newton.
On Feb. 25, 2023, I visited Target, Walmart and Aldi to compare prices and the amount of in-store selection of four items frequently purchased by college students: laundry detergent, Oreo cookies, microwave macaroni and cheese cups and frozen pizza.
Priority week at the University of Lynchburg is off to a slow start despite administration’s Lynchburg Cares incentives.
The Priority Survey originally sent out on February 24th is meant to compile data from students that will help the university improve both student life and academic success.
According to an email by President Alison Morrison-Schetlar, this survey is a key component for the university’s upcoming accreditation review for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Some of the main topics of this survey include questions relating to financial needs, campus security, academic advisors and the knowledgeability of the faculty and staff.
While the results of the survey could greatly improve campus life, students have indicated that it has not been advertised in a way that is accessible.
There is also a time commitment of about 15-20 minutes to complete the survey, which could be inconvenient for the majority of students, especially those who are studying for midterms and finals.
Abigail Lawrence, a CA for the university, said, “It would take time that I don’t have.”
When interviewing students about their knowledge of this survey, 4 of 5 admitted that they had never heard of the survey before, let alone filled it out.
An intern for the research center, Emily Brown, added, “It is not a priority, even though it’s called priority week.”
For each survey completed, there was also supposed to be a $1 donation sent to the Lynchburg Cares Fund, which offers financial aid for students in times of need.
The last day for students to complete the survey is Sunday, March 5th.
Hannah-Jones at the University of Lynchburg. Photo by John McCormick
Alyssa Wilson ~ Assistant News Editor
Author of The 1619 Project, Nikole Hannah-Jones visited the University of Lynchburg as the Rosel Schewel Lecture award winner nearly a year ago, and while much has changed since her visit many things are still the same.
Hannah-Jones’ 1619 Project, has upended conversations on race and racism nationally. It was recently developed into a docuseries put out by Hulu refreshing many minds on the importance of the project which was originally developed as a New York Times Magazine, then a book, and a podcast.
Topics like those broached in the docuseries are still relevant today, while some people have proven to be sensitive to those topics others welcome them with open arms – unafraid of uncomfortable conversations.
Hannah-Jones’ project begs the question of how educators can create an environment within their classrooms that cultivates open and honest discussions around topics like racism and how it touches so many parts of American life.
The importance of teaching multiculturalism and being real with students is Hannah-Jones’ answer to this question.
“So it’s the obligation of professors, to teach them about the world that they will actually go in, because you can’t help what community you were born into, you can’t help if you went to schools that weren’t diverse, or you live in a community that’s not diverse,” said Hannah-Jones.
The University of Lynchburg is a predominantly white institution, attended by students who, for the majority, have grown up in predominantly white areas and attended mostly white K-12 schools.
This tournament is a very important to the sorority’s philanthropy, Prevent Child Abuse America as all of the proceeds will be going to supporting the organization.
Kappa Delta’s Vice President of Events and Programing, Lauren Mills said, “Our golf tournament is the last day of our shamrock week. Shamrock week is a long-standing nationwide Kappa Delta event to fundraise for PCAA. Last year, Jenna Marshall hosted an amazing golf tournament, and I wanted to continue that!”
The ‘Suit Yourself’ closet is a project dedicated to helping provide students with formal wear for interviews, ceremonies and many other events.
Dr. James Roux, professor of Communication Studies, started this project to help the students in his Business and Professional Communication class when they did not have attire for their required mock interviews.
“Over the years, increasingly, my students did not have appropriate interview clothing,” he explained.
The demand soon grew beyond just the students enrolled in business classes.
“After talking more, I realized that more people did not have etiquette clothing. It just grew the need for it,” Roux said.
Housing and Residence Life Partner with Wellness to Teach Self Defense
A self defense course opened up for faculty, students and staff last Wednesday, led by Ricky Reiss and Jamie Smith. This course was started in response to some of the recent security concerns both on and off campus.
The course was designed to educate participants on how to defend themselves from oncoming attacks,provide information on relevant issues like how to tell a bartender that you need help or how to seek assistance from Campus Security.
