September 22, 2006
Serving the Ganh^~
Volume 10 No. 2
ore than 60 years
This Edition
In campus news:
What’s coming up for Gardner-
Webb University during Fam
ily Weekend? A senior pinning
ceremony takes place this
evening, followed by a full day of
activities tomorrow. See the page
1 story.
Dr. Goodman, a professor of di
vinity, is the new endowed chair
in the School of Divinity. See the
story on page 2.
A new multimedia store opened
this May in Boiling Springs. Its
main goal is to be available to
GWU students by providing a va
riety of computer and electronic
services. See the story on page 2.
Opinion/editorial:
As former University of Southern
California football player, Reggie
Bush, is under investigation by
the NCAA for receiving spatial
privileges, should a Clemson
University football player receive
gifts to help him raise his younger
brother? Jacob Conley and Jack
Naish debate an ongoing NCAA
story.
Sherry Ingram, assistant director
of residence life, provides an edi
torial response to previous Pilot
coverage of the updated alcohol
policy.
Sports Editor Jacob Conley
provides insight to his game-day
routine.
In sports:
GWU takes on defending 1-AA
National Champion Appalachian
State this weekend in Spangler
Stadium. Sports Editor Jacob
Conley breaks down the matchup
and the stories behind the game.
Weekend
Weather
Saturday Sunday
Sept. 23 Sept. 24
83/62 82/61
Scattered Scattered
T-storms T-storms
Source: NOAA
Index
Nfws • . paso 2.;
Photo Features .. p.5gi-’.s 5-6
Op/l'^d pjgc 3
A&L jwgc 4;
Sports page 4
Online
WWW. g wupilot .com
‘Miscommunication’
entangles The Pilot
in political campaign
Dalton campaign manager resigns in fall out
By Matt Tessnear
matthewtl 984@earthlink.net
It took Pete DeLea eight days
to find out who he was really talk
ing to. That knowledge eventually
lead to the resignation of McK
enzie Thompson, who had been
serving as campaign manager for
State Sen. Walter Dalton.
DeLea, a reporter for the
Shelby Star, attended a press con
ference on Aug. 23 held by Wes
Westmoreland, a Republican can
didate for the District 46 seat in
the North Carolina Senate, at the
North Lake Country Club.
At the press conference, De
Lea spoke with Thompson, whom
he said identified herself that day
as a member of Gardner-Webb
University’s student publication.
The Pilot, not as Dalton’s cam
paign manager.
“I spoke with a young lady
that was there,” said DeLea. “She
identified herself as Lindsay Wil
lis with the Gardner-Webb Pilot,
and I made small talk with her.
I asked her if she knew Kaylin
Bowers and Amanda Wood, for
mer students associated with The
Pilot and she said, ‘No, I’m new
here.’ ”
The young woman then asked
him what his political affiliation
was, which DeLea said he thought
was odd.
On Aug. 31, there was a public
hearing of the N.C. Utilities Com
mission at Shelby City Hall.
DeLea said he saw the wom
an who had identified herself as
Lindsay Wilhs eight days before
talking to Duke Energy Public Af
fairs members.
“At that time, she walked up
to me and told me her name was
McKenzie Thompson, the cam
paign manager for Dalton,” said
DeLea, adding that she gave him
a business card and said that she is
enrolled in one class at GWU.
DeLea notified Bob Carey,
chair of the GWU Department of
Communications Studies, and ad
visor for the Pilot, and Westmore
land, of the issue
According to the story, which
appeared in The Star on Sept. 7,
Carey said Thompson’s actions
were imethical.
In a phone interview with The
Pilot, Westmoreland said the press
conference was open to the pub
lic, but he said Thompson should
have fully identified herself to the
group, as a member of his opposi
tion.
Dalton said he would never do
anything to harm GWU’s reputa
tion, or undermine his opposition.
He said Thompson told him she
gave her correct name and was a
student from Gardner-Webb.
“My campaign worker, McK
enzie Thompson, indicates that
she never represented herself as
anything but McKenzie Thomp
son,” said Dalton. “I certainly
regret whatever miscommunica
tion occurred and certainly do not
condone any kind of misrepresen
tation.”
Thompson told The Star Sept.
6 that she did tell DeLea she was a
student at GWU, but that she didn’t
know the student newspaper was
called The Pilot. She called the is
sue a miscommimication.
Thompson resigned as Dal
ton’s campaign manager on Sept.
8, citing in a letter to Dalton’s of
fice that the news media had used
the situation to create controversy,
and that her resignation would be
best for her and the campaign.
Thompson also said in the
letter that “I did not in any way
misrepresent myself, lie about my
identity, or in any way state that I
was a reporter.”
“I’m now out of the district,”
said Thompson, over the phone on
Sept. 12. “I have resigned. If you
have any questions about it, I think
the best thing to do is use my letter
of resignation as my comment.”
Dalton and Westmoreland said
the “miscommunication” is not
something their offices will dwell
on.
“I’m not going to make a big
deal out of it,” said Westmoreland.
“My campaign is about jobs, not
about campaign managers. I’m
concerned about correcting the
priorities in North Carolina.”
Westmoreland also said he re
spects (DeLea) for how he handled
the situation.
“The most important thing is
the campaign and focusing on jobs
and healthcare,” said Dalton.
DeLea said he confirmed that
Thompson is enrolled at GWU,
and that a student named Lindsay
Willis applied to the university,
but is not currently enrolled. There
is no information concerning the
coimection of the two names at
this point, he said.
“I didn’t want to rush the sto
ry,” said DeLea, of how he han
dled the situation.
“I wanted to make sure every
thing was factual and I wanted to
make sure someone else was writ
ing it, since I was an important
part involved in the story.”
Senior tradition
opens annual
family weekend
By Ciara Lilly
cl illy@gardner-webb. edu
From freshman to graduate
level, students look forward to
Family Weekend at Gardner-Webb
University.
Students have the opportunity
to spend time with their families,
without having to travel back
home, and get to participate in ac
tivities that cater to students fam
ily.
The All-Star Family Weekend
begins today at 5 p.m. with the se
nior reception. Following this is
Senior Firming banquet and cer
emony at 5:45 p.m. The location
for both events is the Lutz-Yelton
Convocation Center.
Senior Pinning is a tradition
here at GWU. Graduating seniors
receive a pin with the university
name and a cross, which is then
affixed to their clothing by one of
their guests.
Later that evening, GWU will
host the annual StaffTFaculty Va
riety Show at 8 p.m. in the Do
ver Theater. Using an “American
Idol” format, faculty and staff par
ticipants will perform live. There
will be a mix of pop, rock and folk
music, along with comedy and
drama.
Saturday’s formal events be
gin at 4 p.m. with a picnic at Lake
Hollifield (or the cafeteria, if it
rains). There will be music along
with Carolina barbecue.
At 6 p.m., GWU’s Rimnin’
Bulldogs football team takes on
Appalachian State University,
the 2005 NCAA Division 1-AA
national champions. A sell-out
crowd is expected.
Sunday begins with a student-
led worship service starting at 10
a.m. in the Dover Chapel, will be
the first program. Tracy Jessup,
minister to the university, will de
liver the message.
The service will be followed
by a lunch buffet in Dover Cam
pus Center at 11:30 a.m.
Going to the game?
University Police Chief
Barry Joiinson provides
these tips and facts for
students and community
members going to the
GWU vs. ASU game on
Saturday.
* Walk to the stadium
* Stadium Drive will be
closed six hours before
the game
* There will be an in
creased police presence
for safety
* Do not under any cir
cumstances rush the field
or attempt to tear down
the goal posts
* Enjoy the game and be
safe
Running to victory
Pilot photo by Joseph Fluty
Kasey Gladhill challenges a High Point University player during the game on Sept. 15.
Gardner-Webb won with a 5-1 score.