GARDNER-WEBB UNIVERSITY
January
Serving the Gardner-Webb University community for more than 60 years
This Edition
— In campus news —
Brian McLaren, ‘emerg
ing church’ leader,
comes to Charlotte in
February. See page 2.
1980s theme dance was
a success. See page 2.
Get your free health
screening at the Well
ness Fair in February.
See page 2.
College democrats plan
events to make students
aware of presidential
candidtates. See page 4.
GWU symphonic, band
welcomes community
members. See page 4.
-Opinion/editorial
Editor Rebecca Clark
welcomes students back
to GWU for 2008. See
page 3.
Jacob Conley talks
about New Year’s reso
lutions. See page 3.
Writer’s strike would
be an opportunity for
people to gain stardom.
See page 3.
■ In sports
Tennis team readies for
its season. See page 5.
Lanny Newton sings the
praises of the women’s
basketball team. See
page 5.
Midwest tournament
disappointing for wres
tling team. See page 4.
Weather
j Photo by Chris Breedlove
I Carole Edwards smiles broadly while being interviewed about winning the crown at the Ms. Deaf North Carolina pageant. Edwards
i will carry the title for two years.
I
I GWU student Ms. Deaf North Carolina
I Competes for national title in July
By Rebecca Clark
Pilot editor
Gardner-Webb University student Carole
Edwards was crowned Ms. Deaf North Carolina
pageant at Lenoir-Rhyne College Jan. 12.
The ASL/psychology major also won the Ms.
Congeniality title as well.
In July she will travel to New Orleans to com
pete in Ms. Deaf America contest. Until then,
she will present her platform speech at various
events throughout the semester.
Edwards was excited about the win, as well
as the prospect of going to New Orleans, where
she has never been.
She was awarded a scholarship that could be
used at GWU or for graduate school.
The pageant, the first held in 10 years for
North Carolina, had three contestants.
“The other two competitors were really
sweet girls,” Edwards said. “We all had an equal
chance at winning. I really hope the best for
them now.”
The pageant consisted of five components:
a private interview with the judges, a platform
speech, talent act, evening gown and on-stage
interview.
For the opening act, the contestants dressed
for their future profession, which meant Ed
wards was dressed as a counselor.
“I just dressed like a young professional. I sat
in a chair and showed a chart,” she said.
“For my talent, I wrote a poem myself in
English and then I expressed it in ASL.”
Edwards didn’t just compete for show; she
wants to educate others about ASL.
She said that for the platform speech, “I
talked about my motivation to bridge the gap be
tween the hearing and deaf.”
The way to do that is by building relation
ships, Edwards said.
Her reign is for two years, until 2009. Be
tween now and that time she will attend different
events.
“My PR people will contact me for events
I’ll be going to,” she said. “I have many things
lined up.”
She added that the win would not have been
possible without the help of others.
“I want to thank my chaperone, Sarah, GWU
and Deaf Club for their contributions to make
this a success. I couldn’t have done it without
their support!”
Primary season resurrects
promises of change in U.S.
Today
Thursday
Jan. 23
Jan. 24
49/29
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Source:
Weather
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Index
News
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■ -ragt-'ft
Clinton name pops up
around Gardner-Webb,
but not in positive light
By MiChaela Bryson
Pilot stajf writer
Change is a word being over
used during this presidential pri
mary season.
Every candidate promises
change in one form or another,
whether it is health care benefits,
tax breaks to benefit the economy,
and other promises that seem to be
made every election year.
Change seems to be what the
voters want, as seen in the variety
of winners in the primaries held to
this point.
There is no clear front-runner
for either party.
The 2008 Republican presiden
tial candidates include former New
York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani;
former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huck-
abee; Sen. John McCain (Ariz.);
Rep. Ron Paul (Texas); former
Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney;
and former Tennessee Sen. Fred
Thompson.
On the Democrat side, the can
didates are Sen. Hillary Clinton
(N.Y.); former Sen. John Edwards
(N.C.); former Alaska Sen. Mike
Gravel; Rep. Dennis Kucinich
(Ohio); and Sen. Barack Obama
(111.)
Although a number of other po
litical parties exist in the United
States, the candidates from the two
major parties have the attention of
Gardner-Webb students.
“I strongly believe that we are
going to have a Democratic presi
dent, but I hope it’s not Hillary,”
said freshman Amber Stewart.
“I am a Republican and I want
a Republican to win, but they are
not out there strong enough.
If a Republican wins I’ll be in
complete shock.”
Clinton is not the preferred
candidate for another GWU fresh
man.
“Honestly, I want Obama to
win,” said P.J. James.
“But I strongly believe Clinton
will, sadly. I don’t want Clinton to
win because she will weaken our
country’s military and I believe
once that happens, we’re going to
be a victim of more terrorist at
tacks.”
Sophomore Brean Morgan
wants to see a Democrat elected as
the next president.
“I’m pulling for the Democrats,
but I haven’t decided yet who I
want,” Morgan said.
“The reason I’m pulling for
the Democrats is because I believe
that if they had been in power a
lot of things that have happened
wouldn’t have happened or would
have been dealt with differently.”
Presidential hopeful
at Limestone tonight
Sen. John Edwards will make a
speech tonight at Limestone Col
lege as part of his “Back Home,
Back Roads Barnstorm” campaign
before Saturday’s Democratic pres
idential primary in South Carolina.
Edwards is a South Carolina
native and former senator for North
Carolina.
The event begins at 6:30 p.m. in
the school’s Fullerton Auditorium.
Limestone College is located in
Gaffney, S.C.
Better grades
a top goal for
GWU students
this semester
By Kory McNair
Pilot stajf writer
Each semester brings with it the
opportunity to do things such as im
prove grades, work toward future
goals, meet new people and try new
things.
Many students have high hopes
for just one thing when it comes to
the goals they set for themselves
this semester: good grades.
Devondia Holmes, a sophomore
ASL major, said that her main goal
was to simply “raise my GPA.”
Steven Miller, a sophomore
with a double major in Spanish and
video/ film, said that his goal is to
“have only A’s and B’s for the se
mester.”
Tristan Divine, a sophomore, is
aiming to successfully pass all of
his classes with at least a 3.0 GPA.
Drew Powell, a junior, said that
his most important goals are to “im
prove my grades and study more.”
Grades, however, are not the
only thing on the mind of students
this semester.
“Make good grades and have
fun,” were the top goals of Jay Bai
ley, a sophomore majoring in ac
counting.
Optimism reigns supreme right
now among the students and there
is still time for goals of any kind to
be met.