H _ Slogan of the week: _■ ■ I I Almost a respectable news I hG I Q I I I I source since 2006. SERVING THE BREVARD COLLEGE Volume 74, Issue 23 COMMUNITY SINCE 1935 ^009 Nine students embark on Immersion journey photo courtesy Z. Christy Spring 2009 immersion students: John Green, Travis Festa, iViax Peiosi, iVionica Sees, Grant Cromie, Cherie Haseitine, Brittany Giiiey, iViichaei Eieazer, Joe McGarry, and instructor Aiiie Lien. by Zack Christy and Daniel Heyman Staff Writers Nine Brevard College students embarked Tuesday on the culminating trip of their semester, a 21 day immersion journey. The students began their journey s in the Georgia wilderness (near where “Deliv erance” was set). Along with instructor Allie Lien the students will make their way to Lake Jocassee, SC. The students will be hauling their own gear the entire three weeks. “I’m basically bringing the essentials, couple pairs of underwear, my sleeping bag, rain jacket, food, and of course my hat... stuff like thaf ’ said student Grant Cromie. The Immersion semester is required of all Wilderness Leadership & Experimental Education majors. Students are enrolled in five interrelated courses under the direction of one faculty member, and are immersed to develop their technical outdoor skills in a variety of land and water based outdoor ac- In this issue... FEATURES: Pastimes tours Charleston 2 Who got an alcohol screening? 2 Students and teachers branch out 4 ARTS AND LIFE: Dwight Chiles senior recital review 7 Where do you get your news? 7 OPINION: Batstronaut teaches life lessons 5 SPORTS: BC picks up diamond Ws 6 Tennis drops Newberry 6 ODDS AND ENDS: Anatomical Crossword 8 Horoscopes are back! 8 Cartoons! 5 tivities. The focus is on honing the students teaching and leadership abilities. Former Immersion student Steven Acker described his experience in the immersion semester as “mostly hands on, it’s pretty much taught by the students. It’s an excel lent experience.” The highlights include an eight-day Wilderness First Responder Course, many daily field experiences and 35 overnight field days, including a six-day trip sea by Joseph Chilton Editor in Chief The designated smoking area on the Resi dential Town Quad was uncharacteristically vacant Wednesday, devoid of the students pilfering a puff between classes usually found there. People may have stayed away because Wednesday morning was unseasonable cool and unpleasantly damp. But most likely, the smoking area was empty because the government’s cigarette tax increase, the largest of its kind in his tory, took effect Wednesday raising the kayaking on the coast, a three-day caving trip and obviously this 21-day wilderness expedition. This semester’s students return to campus on April 20. Student Greg Woods, just before he was immersed, said, “I’m excited about the opportunity to participate in such a unique form of education. It’s like nothing I’ve ever done before. I know it’s going to be a life changing experience.” price of cigarettesby $1.36 perpackacross the state of North Carohna. The per pack federal tax for cigarettes rose from 39 cents to $1.01 Wednesday, and state taxes added on another 35 cents to the price hike. Most local stores rose prices several weeks ago in preparation for the tax in crease, and according to one local clerk, customers have responded by cutting down on nicotine. “Business is way down,” Brevard resident Tony Thomas said Wedsnesday while man ning the cash register in a local Mr Pete’s Market that was noticeably lacking patrons. See Cigarette Tax, page 3 Taxing days for campus toilers New cigarette taxes hit smokers in the wallet