GWU
Sports
Big Rich NFL Future? p.7
Leader of the Pacic p.8
Sports Highlights p. 7&8
Gar drier-Webb Urduersity
other
News
Statesville campus p.2
Students care p.2
Drumming professor p.6
Tuesday, September 25, 2001
The official newspaper of Brazilian guchos
Volume 5 No. 3
GWU recognizes seniors
Christi Hallis
Pilot staff
Friday night, the gym in the LYCC
was transformed into Lindsay Court, the
scene of most formal affairs and cere
monies at Gardner-Webb. Over 720
people were present for the annual
Senior Pinning Ceremony for the class
of 2002.
Vice President for University
Relations, Drew Van Horn, told the fam
ily members and supporters of the 160
day and 68 GOAL seniors that it was
“okay to cry,” as the rite of passage got
emotional for many.
“Senior pinning has become a very
important tradition at Gardner-Webb.
The ceremony honors members of the
class by presenting them with a specially
designed pin,” Francine Schau,
Assistant Director of Alumni and Parent
Relations explained.
According to the evening's pro
gram, the purpose of the ceremony is to
congratulate the seniors on their accom
plishments and to wish them the best for
their future.
Van Horn referred to this day as “a
lifepoint—a place you will return to in
good times and in bad to remember.”
He also explained the significance
of the pin's design, which contains a
cross within an arch. According to Van
Photo courtesy of Public Relations
GOAL student Charise Peebles is pinned by her father. James Wilson, at Friday night’s senior pin
ning ceremony. More than 700 people attended the ceremony which recognized GWU seniors in the
undergraduate and GOAL programs.
Horn, the arch “signifies the tradition of
walking through the Gardner-Webb arch
after graduation. It encourages you to
think about your future, but also remem
ber your past.”
Van Horn continued, explaining the
cross in the middle of the arch: “We
hope that, like Jacob, once you leave
here, you will have wrestled with God
and that you will walk differently
because of it.”
President Christopher White,
encouraged the future graduates to
become active alumni. He related “The
Webb” to a spider’s web—“large, com
plex, intricate and sticky,” meaning that
many alumni continue to support their
alma mater.
When the actual ceremony took
place, seniors were asked to tell those
pinning them (usually their parents,
family members or significant others)
how much they meant to them. Many
cried at this moment, as the reality of
this final milestone began to hit them.
Becca Boring, a Spanish Education
major from Sigel, Pa. explained why the
night was important to her.
“It gave me the opportunity to tell
the people I care about why 1 enjoyed
school and what they’ve meant to me.
It’s just now setting in that I’m a senior
and it’s scar5'...but it’s exciting.”
Mark Austin, a Management major
from St. Augustine, Trinidad, had strong
feelings as well, but for different rea
sons.
“This evening meant more to me
than to many others because it was such
a struggle for me to finish. This is my
fifth year and there were times that 1
didn’t know if I would make it. I have
no family here tonight; I pinned myself.
Therefore, I feel this is a great accom
plishment. Now I can see the end, and 1
can see that it’s worth it.”
Neil Brock, a graduating senior of
the GOAL program spoke of the many
demands that GOAL students face in the
process of continuing education. Many
of these students balanced full course
loads, families and full time jobs. Brock
spoke excitedly about the new opportu
nities his degree would provide him.
He urged the other seniors; “You’re
only limited if you choose to be.”
Student reservists may be called to duty
Erin Boyd
Pilot copy editor
The recent tragedies in
New York City and
Washington, D.C. and reports
of “America’s New War” have
many Gardner-Webb students
questioning what role they may
play in the aftermath of the
attack. This “new war” may
affect several students first
hand.
Junior Johnny Bradley,
who is in the National Guard,
received a phone call from the
Charlotte Guard Base within
hours of the attack.
“I was excited they called
me. I want to go—I want to do
my part,” said Bradley.
According to Bradley, the
Guard warned that they were
on “highest alert,” and they told
him to expect further phone
calls from them.
“They said they didn’t
know if they would have to
send us anywhere, but that
there was a good chance of it,
and that there had been a lot of
talk about it around base,” said
Bradley in reference to the call.
Bradley clarified that he
did not know exactly where he
could be sent.
“If we go to war I could be
sent to where the war is, to
New York to help with the
clean-up or to my base where
planes fly out,” he said.
Junior Dave Parker is
“I was excited they
called me. I want to
go-1 want to do my
part.”
-Junior Johnny Bradley
another Gardner-Webb student
who may be affected first-hand
by the United States retaliation
of the terrorist attacks. Parker is
in the Inactive Ready Reserves
(IRR) branch of the United
States Army, which, according
to him, is often “reactivated in
times of emergency.”
Parker received a phone
call from the reserve center in
Clemson, S.C. two days after
the terrorists attacks, but he
was not home to answer the
call.
“I think they may have
been calling me to either secure
my location or to reactivate me
to serve,” Parker speculated
about the call.
Parker shared Bradley’s
enthusiasm and willingness to
take a stand for his country.
“I'm ready. I hope they do
call me. I hope they do put me
back on active,” said Parker.
Parker feels it is his duty as
an American citizen to preserve
the freedom that past genera
tions have fought to attain.
“I think it is the duty of any
healthy American within the
right age bracket to serve. I
hope everyone feels that
way—if they don't, they should
n’t be an American,” Parker
stated.
“If called. I'll be the first to
stand in line. We owe it to the
greatest generation—to the men
and women who__fought and
sustained America through
World War II, because they
made this country what it is
today,” said Parker.
“If we'cop out now, all they
did would be for naught—it
would be like saying we don't
care. That's pretty selfish to
me,” he said.
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