Campus

Written by Alyssa Wilson ~ Editor-in-Chief 

The University of Lynchburg held its first Black alumni weekend, which included many events from networking opportunities to a gala for all students and alumni. 

This historic weekend was achievable due to the Helen Mundy Witt Society, a society of Black alumni and current students that honors Witt, the first Black student to graduate from the University, then Lynchburg College at the time of her graduation. 

On Saturday night, Sept. 24 a gala was hosted with food, music, and a multitude of speakers who spoke on the weekend theme of ‘Accepting the Assignment’.

As this was the University’s first Black alumni weekend, there was a heavy emphasis at the gala about the importance of accepting the assignment and going further than just what was discussed during the weekend, but expanding discussion of what it’s like to be Black at Lynchburg beyond the event.

“Thank you to all of the alumni who put this weekend together,” says President Alison Morrison-Shetlar, “We need to be celebrating our diversity more on our campus and you all have left a legacy, a footprint, for millennia to come.”

President Morrison-Shetlar opened the event with a speech that challenged alumni and students to get to know each other and connect on the reasons why they chose to go to Lynchburg and have the Lynchburg experience. 

Assistant Editor ~ Em Maxey 

The Virginia 10 Miler was held this weekend in the neighborhoods surrounding Rivermont Avenue and some residents who were unaware of the event were left stuck at home. 

The Virginia 10 Miler went from Rivermont Avenue through the Langhorne Road intersection and ending at Riverside Park. 

Several residents were trapped in the apartment complexes and houses on North and West Princeton Circle, Randolph College and the neighboring roads. 

Communities like Princeton Circle West Apartments that have no alternative route except through Rivermont were more impacted than other communities. 

Alyssa Wilson ~ Editor-in-Chief

The Helen Mundy Witt Society will be hosting the first ever Black Alumni Weekend at the University of Lynchburg this coming weekend. 

The weekend kicks off on Sept. 23 to Sept. 25 and will include many different opportunities and activities for Black alumni and all students to network and engage with each other. 

Tracy Epps and Rachel Gibson are two of the people from the Helen Mundy Witt Society who have been working since January to ensure that the event goes smoothly.

The Society was established by Epps and several of her Alpha Kappa Alpha sisters in the early 2000s after a previous student was turned down by the Alumni Board when presenting the idea of a Black affinity group. 

Epps attended James Madison University for graduate school and was motivated to establish the Society after discovering JMU’s dedication to their Black alumni. 

“My inspiration were the connections made around its Black alumni around homecoming. The institution supported its Black alumni and efforts to fundraise for scholarships, create meaningful programs and opportunities to connect at homecoming and other times throughout the year,” Epps said. 

Alyssa Wilson ~ Editor-in-Chief

The Student Government Association at the University of Lynchburg appointed its newest Student Body President for the 2022-2023 school year. 

Senior Claire King has been a part of SGA for her whole college career, starting out as a senator, Director of Development, and her most recent position as Vice President of Internal Affairs, which was her first ultimate goal before deciding to run for President. 

King was interested in leading a smaller group of people as VP in the previous school year, but after her peers started asking her if she was going to run for President she decided to put herself out of her comfort zone and take on leading a larger group. 

“I realized that I do feel like I have what it takes to step up and be that liaison between students, faculty and staff, so it was just really something that I felt passionate about and somewhere I felt like I could serve,” King says. 

Although it is only the start of the semester, King met with President Alison Morrison-Shetlar and Vice President for Student Development Eric Baldwin. 

Rylee McDonal ~ Copy Editor

An uptick in burglaries on the southside of the University of Lynchburg are causing concern among students.

On College Street, items have been stolen off of porches, Greek letters have been taken on Vernon Street, vehicles have been broken into on Lakewood Street.

There has also been a case of a residence being broken into.

Esteban Soto, chief of Campus Security said,“Our golf carts and cars have been custom wrapped to enhance visibility. Lighting has been enhanced throughout campus. We have added bicycle patrol to our repertoire. Two officers who have recently attended crime prevention training are willing to provide crime prevention presentations. And we have trimmed trees and shrubbery to enhance lighting and video surveillance.”

Chief Soto made it clear that all students have access to a campus escort from “sunset to sunrise.”

However, Campus Security would not comment on the numerous break-ins on the southside.

Tyler Flaherty, a recent graduate of the University of Lynchburg, and victim of an armed mugging last semester, said,  “It felt like the school was more concerned with making sure that I knew campus security couldn’t do anything to help than they were with assisting me.”

By Caroline Gilmore ~ Marketing Manager and Em Maxey ~ Assistant Editor 

On Tuesday, September 6, 2022, Brewed by Mission House opened its doors in Schewel Hall. 

Mission House Coffee was founded in 2018 by Tommy and Amanda Clark, with its first location being in River Ridge Mall.

Since then they have added a location downtown on Commerce Street, and they have another location opening on September 10th in the Cornerstone neighborhood.

“Mission House Coffee has extremely delicious Hot chocolate,” sophomore Charlotte Gibbs states, “In my opinion it is on par with the Muse.” 

The company supports local nonprofits each month through its “Round-Up” Program, this month allowing customers to round up the amount of their purchase to support Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Brewed by Mission House their menu will soon be available online at the University Dining Services website.

Rylee McDonal ~ Copy Editor

The class of 2026 was welcomed to the University of Lynchburg community with a series of Hornet Days  hosted from  August 19th through the 21st.

The aim of Hornet Days is to help  first-year students and their parents acclimate to campus life.

Among the traditional opening ceremony and class photo, there were many seminars revolving around traditions of the campus and community expectations. 

Kristen Cooper, associate vice-president for Student Development, said, “Hornet Days is an opportunity for us to introduce new Hornets to the campus community. It includes first-year students, transfer students, etc. And really allows us to introduce them to resources, provide them an opportunity to connect with each other, and provide them an opportunity to connect with faculty, staff, and administrators.”

Em Maxey ~ Assistant Editor:

Margaret Pierre has joined the University of Lynchburg community as its new Title IX Coordinator. Title IX policies have been a hot button issue around the country especially in light of Roe v. Wade repeal.

“… In order to be in compliance with the US Department of Education, I acknowledge that there may be a need to change some of the current policies and procedures,” said Pierre. 

The Office of Equity and Inclusion will work closely with Pierre to draft policies that are equitible and provide a space free of harassment and discrimination, said Dr. Robert L. Canida II, vice president for Inclusive Excellence.

Some of the changes will include protection against discrimination in case oversight for LGBTQ+ students who are subject to discrimination based on the subject of “sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex characteristics.”

The new regulations also clearly reinforces the protection of all students and employees against all forms of sex based assault and discrimination (including but not limited to individuals that are pregnant or having pregnancy-induced conditions). 

Written by Alyssa Wilson ~ Editor-in-Chief

Photo retrieved from https://magazine.lynchburg.edu/article/president-alison-unmasked/ by Alyssa Wilson 

The University of Lynchburg is kicking off the 2022-2023 school year with a new strategic plan, improved enrollment and a deficit.

As higher education institutions around the country step into a new post-covid normal, Lynchburg is facing a $12 million financial shortfall that is of concern to some in the campus community. 

What is driving this deficit? 

President Dr. Alison Morrison-Shetlar says the projected financial deficit for this fiscal year is primarily due to three things: 

1. There has been a smaller decline in overall undergraduate enrollment through attrition and graduation than the number of students that school is currently bringing in. 
2. A small decline in graduate enrollment. 
3. Various unavoidable increases in expenses. 

President Morrison-Shetlar and her team have been working to make a plan over the past year to address these concerns. However, during the summer break leaders across the university’s faculty and staff worked together to identify ways to create a realistic budget by fiscal year 2026.