GARDNER-WEBB UNIVERSITY I'‘.December 4,200^ wm^rn Hurine 12 No. Serving the Gardner-Webb University community for more than 60 years This Edition — In campus news ■■ The Gondola restaurant has its merits and draw backs. See p.2 Read what Bill Gates had to say about educa tion, poverty and youth power. See p.2 ■ Opinion/editorial. Lauren Taylor says farewell with her list of Top 10 GWU experi ences. See p.3 Jermaine Gash is on vacation! No cartoon today. Cutbacks in education funding could have far-reaching effects on democracy. See p.3 Graduating seniors should be concerned about the economy. See p.3 — In sports. The volleyball team ended its season at the Big South Conference tournament. See p.4 The swim team faced health issues and still fared well at Dayidson Invitational. See p.4 The women’s basket ball team was on a hot streak until it met up with Wofford. See p.4 Two wrestlers made a good showing at the U.S. Naval Academy. See p.4 Weather Thursday Friday Dec.4 Dec.5 High 55 High 48 Low 33 Low 28 p.m. rain mostly cloudy Sign of the season Index Festival of Lights kicks off campus Christmas season The Gardner-Webb commu nity gathers tonight at 7 p.m. in Dover Theater for the annual Christmas concert featuring the GWU choirs, followed by the lighting of the campus Christ mas tree. Dr. Paul J. Etter will conduct the choirs. After the concert, a path of luminaries will lead the way to the Christmas tree set up in the Quad. University President Frank Bonner will flip the switch that lights it up. Refreshments will be served afterward at O. Max Gardner Hall. Photo by Jared Graf Frost swirls display their feathery patterns on the hood of a student’s car. Gadgety gifts hot items atop holiday wish lists i^n By Shauntel Greene Pilot staff writer The day after Thanksgiving brings some of the biggest sales of the year, luring impatient shoppers out for Black Friday bargains. There was controversy on whether this year’s Black Fri day sales would be successful because of the recent economic distress. According to the National Retail Federation’s 2008 Black Friday Weekend survey, con ducted by BIGresearch, more than 172 million shoppers vis ited stores and Web sites over the weekend. That’^n froml last year. ^.million Shoppers were out to get the hottest electronics and toys of the year. Some of those items include Wii Fit, which came out this summer. The Fits are in unexpect edly high demand and stores are limiting customers to three Wiis at a time. The Wii Fit is a great way to get in shape and have fun while doing it. Another hot gift of the sea son that attracts music lovers and video earners is “Rock Band 2.” The edition^ff “Rock Band” was a huge success in stores and now “Rock Band 2” is rapidly leaving the shelves because of high demand from consumers across America. “Guitar Hero III” is also in high demand. The Apple iPhone as well as the iTouch are in the Top 10 Christmas gifts of 2008. The iPhone that came out in July is one of the most envied Christmas gifts this year. Both devices play music and serve as Internet browsers. Digital cameras as well as cell phones and LCD televi sions are in very high demand this Christmas. Students scatter near and far during Christmas break From Pilot staff reports Source: The Weather Channel After exams, students gladly say farewell to the classroom for a few weeks* Some students have more elaborate plans for Christmas break than others. “I am going to start my life as a post-grad,” said graduating senior Kate Gazaway Stephanie Richy, a junior, said, “I am going home and plan to work at a non-profit organi zation in Winston-Salem..” “It looks like the week af ter Christmas I am going to fly out to San Francisco from Charlotte, go to parties, hang out — get away from North Carolina,” said senior Chase Westbrook. He plans to stay in California until New Years and spend some time in Las Vegas before flying back home. Escaping the evergreens and cold weather, Kayley Potter is going to Cancun, Mexico, for a week. She will swim, canoe and shop with her family. It’s become a tradition over the last three years in place of a summer beach trip. “The time we go is good be cause it’s after finals, and I can relax and de-stress — and eat good tacos and fried ice cream,” said Potter. Freshman Lynsdey Krauss said, “Tm going home to Wax- haw, where I will lay in bed and do nothing for the first week. After that, I will work. “I’m also getting my new car over Christmas!” Freshman Mandie Jefferies said, “I’m chaperoning a mid dle school retreat in Gatlinburg, Tenn.” Steven Miller’s plans are simple: “I’ll be home. Just spending time with the family.” Jay Bailey’s, too: “Nothing really. I’||^obabh^fc some where aiK^nang or^^ith my uncles and cousins.” “I’m going home and maybe going snowboarding in Devils Head, Wisconsin,” said Laura Wilcox » “I’m going home back to Il linois to see family,” said Lau ren Evans. Chris Lowmdes is heading overseas. “I’m going back home to England.” Sarajane Burrows will spend 15 days in Nagpur, India. Cross roads Worldwide is sending the team to build a new facility for the orphanage that will house 1,000 children. The orphanage currently ministers to 40. “I’m going as a photogra pher in addition to these things,” said Burrows. She has still has $1,400 left to raise to pay for her own expens es; others on the team are still raising money as well They could also use toilet pa per, travel toiletries and snacks for the trip. The team leaves this Friday at 7 a.m, from Charlotte but will still be raising money well after they get back. To contribute, you can contact Burrows at (828) 337-9740 or e-mail her at sgbO 126@gardner- webb.edu Student finds $10K left behind after concert News. ....page 2 ConuBunity... .....page 2 OpTEd Sports A... ....page 4 , By Diana Palka Pilot staff writer Taylor Doolittle, a sophomore at Gardner- Webb, got more than he bargained for after last month’s Shawn McDonald concert — $10,000. Doolittle said he had just returned from see ing “Quantum of Solace” at the movie theater and wanted to say goodbye to his girlfriend. “Normally I would’ve just stood outside her dorm and talked, but alas, it was raining, we needed shelter.” Doolittle and his girlfriend were talking for almost a half-hour when he noticed the duffle bag sitting on a bench in the LYCC. Doolittle walked over to the bag to cheoj|||)r I.D. to return it to the owner. Inside was a Bible, another book and a board ing pass belonging to McDonald. Carl Cartee will give his annual concert Saturday to benefit the Salvation Army. Carl Cartee set to play concert #11 Special to The Pilot “Then I saw a blue wallet in the bag and I thought ‘Oh s*"‘t!’,” Doolittle said. It was McDonald’s merchandise wallet and contained $2,000 in cash and approximately $8,000 in checks, Doolittle went back to his room and made several attempts to contact McDonald through MySpace, to reassure him that his money was safe. McDonald’s wife messaged Doolittle the next day and asked him to send the bag in the mail. Doolittle was hesitant to send more than $10,000 by mail, and called Josephy Hamby, CMU’s events and retreats coordinator. McDonald had already called Hamby asking ai^jjfcthe bag he left behind. Despite the risk, McDonald insisted on the bag being sent by mail. Singer, songwriter and wor ship leader Carl Cartee will team up with Gardner-Webb Univer sity, WGWG and the Shelby Star to present a Christmas con cert Saturday at 7 p.m. in the university’s Dover Theatre. The event is a benefit concert for the Salvation Army. Admis sion is one new toy for a child and one non-perishable food item, per person. Limited seat ing is available and the doors open at 6:15 p.m. Over the past 10 years, the benefit concerts for the Salva tion Army that Cartee has per formed have raised more than 14,031 pounds of food and 1,414 toys for children. “I especially feel the need for the concert this year, more than any other in the concerts’ history,” said Cartee. “A slow economy and higher unemploy ment often tend to tip difficult circumstances over the edge. “1 know there will be a lot of people in our community who really need assistance this year and I think the concert will not only lift spirits, but make a real impact in people’s lives. I hope everybody who is able to come will give over and above the regular admission of a non- perishable food item or a new toy.” Cartee, a former sacred mu sic major at GWU, recently re leased his newest album “Here I Go.” Jonny Presson, advisory board member for the Salvation Army, hopes that community members attend the concert. “We need you to help us help others,” he said. Noel Manning, head of uni versity and media relations at Gardner-Webb, also spoke of the purpose of the benefit. “This event is really about giving to those in need. I am happy that the community at large continues to support this event and even more indebted to the Carl Cartee family. It is their call to servanthood for over a decade that makes this benefit a success each year.” For more information, please call 704-406-4631. L, .lsinjwa!y5'H«? t*,' l;v- Yh >'ml' 1 V • 1 :7«v' 7 G ' ■ i- . ' , * ' “>*' ' IH'. V ■ •G#. I- '• •> * f '.*:4 ■, • > *\v*.