Ciilleiie SSeivH
International Spotlight
By Maureen Banza
Office Manager
I will walk through the world
and many a time 1 will be judged
for all the wrong reasons. You will
look down on me and at the worst
of times you will even spit in my
face. What wrong have I commit
ted that you must judge me so
harshly?
As an alien to this vast land of
opportunity, you will always meet
someone who does not like you
simply because of where you come
from. Most of us know exactly how
that feels and how misguided
people are. Alexei Kormschikov is
from Russia and will surprise you
with his enthusiasm and charm. He
is mature beyond his years and his
personality will rub off on you
when you sit with him awhile.
How would you describe
yourself in one sentence?
Hard working, determined,
easy going and ambitious.
Which part of Russia are you
from?
I’m from Yoshkar Ola, which
is 500 miles from Moscow on the
east and has a population of almost
300,0(X) people. It is the capital of
one of the Republics, which merged
with the Russia.
Do you have a favorite
saying ?
Not really. 1 take the Nike
phrase “Just Do It” as a principle.
Who has been the greatest
inspiration to you?
My father because he
achieved a lot in his life both
personally and in his career despite
all the challenges that he encoun
tered.
How do you feel about the
way Russians are generally viewed?
1 think that they’re stereo
typed a lot. We’re viewed as heavy
drinkers, trouble causers and no-one
likes us based on only what they see
on the television.
How did you come to study at
Methodist College?
1 studied at the University of
Northern Iowa for a year under a
US government sponsored program.
1 went back to Russia where I got
my Bachelor’s degree. I applied for
a full scholarship under the “Ar
rived Program” and that is how I
came to Methodist.
Wltat changes would you like
to see in your home?
I’d like to see more stability
in our economy and in politics. I’d
also like to see a change in the
mentality of the people because
they are still dwelling on Soviet
mentality. They expect to get
handouts without the need to work.
I’d also like to see less crime.
Where will you be five years
from now?
I hope to be working in the
investments field.
What is your greatest per
sonal achievement?
Getting awarded the scholar
ship because it was very competi
tive. Almost 2,500 people applied
and only 250 were chosen.
If you were stranded on a
desert, what two things would you
take with you?
1 guess I’d have to say two
What are your hobbies?
I love to read books, comput
ers, socializing with people and
hanging out at parties.
Do you have a hidden talent?
Well. I am good at foreign
languages. I studied German,
French and English. 1 don't know
if that can be called a hidden talent.
\ L.
Photo by Krnlin Porter
If you had the chance to be
anyone else, who would it he?
I don’t want to be anyone
else because as me I can be anyone
1 choose as long as I work hard
enough.
When you look at the world,
what do you see?
It’s a big place, full of
opportunities to succeed and be
happy in the life you choose.
What is your favorite food?
Borsch. It’s a Russian soup
with many different ingredients.
Are you into sports?
Yes, I love skiing, cross
country and play basketball just for
fun as I’m not very good.
Many of us at some time or
another have been in some position
where a stranger displayed hatred
towards us for no reason. At
Methodist, we are a small commu
nity where we learn to look beyond
our differences in culture, race and
ethnicity to bond together. What
do we gain from misguided hatred?
We are all wonderful people who
have much to teach each other and
I challenge you to extend the hand
of friendship the next time you
meet someone from a foreign land.
me/'/en9ef
Editor-in-Chief
Carrie Adcox
Advertising Manager
Julie Miller
Office Manager
Maureen Banza
Photo Editor
Robin Warrington
College News Editors
Jennifer Colletti
Amanda Garcia
Entertainment/ MC Expression Editor
Anne Zahran
Opinion Poll and Faculty/ Staff Bios Editor
Amber Moser
Staff
John Arnold
Mike Carpentier
Victoria Cleverly
Jay Hagan
Theresa Hamilton
Stephanie Hein
Nichole Kentner
Christine Kilkenny
Robert McKeever
Len Melton
Mike Micciche
Lee Neugent
Kristen Porter
Amelie Rieser
Trish Smith
Erin Updegrove
Director of Student Media
Jami Sheppard
The Monarch Messenger is the triweekly student newspaper of Meth
odist College. The ideas and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily
reflect the views and positions of the faculty, staff, and administration of
the college.
The Monarch Messenger welcomes letters to the editors. All letters
must be signed and must include the author's address and phone number.
Address any correspondence to the Director of Student Media, 5400
Ramsey Street, Fayetteville, NC, 28311. or via campus mail. Questions or
information concerning stories should be directed to the Director of Stu
dent Media at 630-7292.
Debate Team Returns with
Hardware
By Mike Carpentier
Staff Writer
The Methodist College Debate
Team returned from the University
of Richmond Debate Tournament
with plenty to show for their hard
work and dedication. The squad
earned 3 team awards as well as 2
speaker awards.
The junior varsity team of Ron
Berry and Dee Woodert compiled a
4-2 record in the round-robin style
preliminary rounds to advance to the
single elimination rounds. They
defeated an Army team in the
quarterfinals on a 2-1 decision to
advance to semifinals where they
lost to a West Virginia team on a
close 2-1 ballot. The team finished
fifth overall in the division and Mr.
Berry missed a speaker award by
one place coming in out of 34
competitors.
The novice team of Oghina
Okeyo and Maureen Banza compiled
a 4-2 record in preliminary rounds
earning third place in the division
and advancement to the quarter
finals where they were defeated by a
West Virginia team on another close
2-1 decision. Despite a disappointing
finish to the day, Ms. Banza’s
performance in the preliminary
rounds was outstanding and earned
her 2nd speaker in the novice
division.
Also in the novice division,
the team of Michelle Muthiani and
Adam Loose compiled a 3-3 record
in preliminary rounds, which
Woodert and Berry show their award.
Photo hy Mike Carpentier
enabled them to clear to the
octafinal round where they lost to
West Virginia. Mr. Loose
collected another Monarch
speaker award by earning the 6th
placed speaker in the novice
division, and Ms. Muthiani was
also very close placing 19th out
of 42 speakers.
“I am extremely proud of
the entire team for this past
weekend,” said second year
Coach Todd Lyden. “Methodist
can take pride in the performance
of this group of students. It is
impressive that debaters can work
with new partners and out
perform themselves. I am
particularly pleased with the
improvement of our JV team
[Berry and Woodert]. They
returned from the first tournament
and immediately began preparing
for this tournament.”
Lyden pointed out the amount
of time and energy it takes to do well
in collegiate debate competition.
“These students come in at least
once a day to go over evidence,
practice, and research. The results
clearly show how the time and effort
will pay off The results speak for
themselves. We returned from
King’s with one team plaque. This
time we returned with 3 team awards
and 2 speaker trophies.”
The Monarch Debate team will
compete again at the Liberty Debate
Tournament in Lynchburg, VA on
November 3. Anyone interested in
joining the Methodist Debate Team
or learning about the Greater Horn of
Africa should contact the team
through Coach Todd Lyden at ext.
7643 or tlyden@methodist.edu.
Halloween Truths
By Robin Warrington
Photo Editor
On Oct. 31, a day is cel
ebrated which some consider evil
and corrupt.
Most people love Halloween.
It is a day that you can get dressed
up like anything you’ve ever
dreamed possible and go out to
other people’s homes and ask for
candy.
Some people do not know
where this day originated, whereas
others know it by heart.
Samhain, the “original”
Halloween, is the festival the Celtic
people celebrated with the end of
the old year and the beginning of a
new one. It originated in the 1st
century A.D.
The Celts used to celebrate
Samhain with a Fire Festival.
They would set fires on hilltops,
and turn out all the fires in their
homes, to scare away evil and
keep the spirits of the dead away
from the living.
The costumes that are a
tradition to us were in those times
animal skins that mortals wore to
confuse the spirits.
The Jack o' Lanterns we sit
out on our front porches were
originally made out of turnips.
They are believed to be lights for
the spirits on their journey into
heaven.
We associate Halloween
with ghouls, goblins, witches, and
black cats. The costumes of the
festival remind us of ghouls,
goblins, and the like, dancing
around in the night.
Trick or treating originated
from Christians roaming the streets
begging for “soul cakes,” which are
squares of bread with currants on
them. The more soul cakes a person
gathered the more prayers they
promised to say for the dead of those
they received them from. The dead
would stay in limbo until prayers
were said to send them to heaven.
In the 19th century the elements
of the Fire festival were incorporated
into the Christian holiday of All
Hallows’ Eve, which is the night
preceding All Saints’ Day.
So now that you know all this
all of us at the Monarch Messenger
wish you a safe and happy Hallow
een!
Our Country Is In Good Hands
By Carrie Adcox
Editor-in-Chief
Eric S. Slater re-enlisted in the
U.S. Army at the Airborne and
Special Operations Museum on
Tuesday, Oct. 24 at 10 a.m.
Dr. Andrew Ziegler, assistant
professor of political science and
leadership, administered the oath.
Slater, from Owego, New
York, is pursuing degrees in
sociology and political science. He
will graduate this May.
He first joined the Army in
August of 1989. His military
occupational specialty is Electronic
Warfare Equipment Operator and
Maintainer.
When asked why he wanted to
hold his re-enlistment ceremony at
the Airborne and Special Operations
museum, he replied, “I wanted to re-
enlist at the museum because it is a
place where we can remember the
reasons for which we serve our
country and the people who secured
our freedom.”
He chose Dr. Ziegler to
administer the oath because not only
has mentored him during his time at
Methodist, but he looks up to him
for guidance as well as his military
experience.
Ziegler is not only a professor
but also the chair of the department
of history and political science as
well as assistant director of the Tally
Slater makes his pledge to serve.
Center for Leadership Develop
ment. He has been full-time
faculty since 1998. He retired
from the U.S. Army in 1996 as a
Lieutenant Colonel of Infantry
after serving 22 years in various
command and staff assignments,
including the Persian Gulf War.
“1 consider it an honor and
a privilege to have been asked to
Photo contributed bv Andrew Ziegler
perform the ceremony. Eric is a great
students and leader, and 1 am confi
dent our Army is in good hands when
he and others like him continue to re-
enlist,” said Ziegler.
Slater now serves in Company
C, 319th Military Intelligence
Battalion, XVIII (ABN) Corps.
Attention students!
By Dave Reece
Director, Police and Public Safety
There have been many questions over the last few days about cult activity in the Fayetteville area. A
rumor is circulating that cult members are hiding under vehicles, disabling women by cutting their ankles, and
then cutting off one of their body parts. Another rumor is tha women are being car-jacked for the purpose of
cutting off one of their body parts.
When the Fayetteville Police Department was asked about this they stated they have not had any reports
of such activity.
In spite of this, community members are advised to exercise good crime prevention habits when traveling
about the community.
If you have any questions feel free to contact the Police and Public Safety Department at 7149.
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