Page A4 Wednesday, March 25, 2009 The Pilot Opinions GWU must seize chance to become greater By Blake DuDonis Pilot editor in chief Every week I feel like I’m calling out somebody in this column, and here 1 go again. Oh well. As a student at Gardner- Webb University for the past two years, 1 have spent some time visiting other colleges dur ing weekends and school breaks. Although it’s smaller than all of those schools I have visited - which include NC State and Clemson - 1 prefer GWU above all of those, for different rea sons. That being said, 1 feel that GWU can do a lot more than it currently is to become a better university. 1 know that as a small. Bap tist school in the “Bible Belt’’ and we like having that small town feel, but 1 think that may not be the best for the school. Just because we are a Christian university does not mean we have to be small and secluded. Although Liberty University has a ridiculous set of rules that in enforces, it has effectively kept a strong Christian environ ment, while constantly growing with new buildings and new land. The school is located in Lynchburg, Va., which is not exactly a hotbed of excitement, yet thousands of kids flock there every year. Dr. Bonner and whoever it may concern: You have a good problem - more students than you can accept want to come to this school even though it is in the middle of nowhere. Now is the time to step up and show that you welcome that problem by doing whatever you have to. Build more buildings, update the ones that are already here and stop delaying on things that have been promised. I have yet to see any type of work on the new student center that we have been promised, as the ground breaking seems to be continu ally pushed back. I’m sure that the student center will get built, but it is just discouraging to have things promised to us and then remain unfulfilled. This is a habit that we do not want; instead, let’s build a reputation of being a school that follows through quickly with the things that it has set forth to do. Now, I am well aware of the current status of the United States economy, and I am also aware that Liberty has access to a lot more money than Gard ner-Webb does. But 1 am also well aware that we have a lot of kids spending a lot of money to come here. Take a step back, reevaluate the things you have placed as important and get things mov ing. Now is the time to make a statement and do something that shows that Gardner-Webb is a university that welcomes what ever may come. We must be willing to make advancements, even if that does not fit the ideals of the small town of Boiling Springs. After all, we do have great things in mind. Arts & Entertainment ‘Li’l Abner’ cast and crew set to take you to Dogpatch By Sean Barrett Pilot staff writer The Gardner-Webb University the ater section and Fine Arts department will present the classical Broadway mu sical “Li’l Abner” from April 1-4 at 7:30 p.m. in the Dover Theater of Lutz-Yelton Convocation Center. This musical is based on A1 Capp’s famous comic strip about hillbillies in the fictitious town of Dogpatch, Ky. Student-actor Marcesa Pace summed up the basic story, saying, “It’s a love story between Abner and Daisy Mae.” She described Dogpatch as a town that is kind of backwards. “The women are in charge of the men, and they chase the men in order to find love!” The theater section has been working on “Li’l Abner” for quite some time now, according to its technical director Profes sor Chris Keene. "We began discussion for “Li’l Ab ner” last spring, and we officially began working on “Li’l Abner” back in the fall,” he said. Auditions took place in December and rehearsals began after Christmas break, according to cast and crew mem bers. There are about students and staff members working to bring the musical to life. Acting rehearsals take place from 7- 10 p.m. most nights, and the technical crew works several hours each night, too, “Musicals require four times as much work on all levels, and we’re hoping we get a good response from our audience,” Keene said. “The theater. Fine Arts and students from other majors have all taken part in this collaboration for “Li’i Ab ner.” “So, 1 really hope everybody enjoys this play, and leaves having a good feel ing, and knowing they’ve enjoyed them selves.” Tickets for the performances are only $2 in advance for GWU students and fac ulty, but $5 at the door. For those who aren't a student or faculty member, the cost is $8. Tickets can be purchased in the Communication Studies and Fine Arts departments. Shop wisely and still dress well ‘Top Model’ picks up steam By Jessica Caramenico Pilot fashion columnist As an individual with a high interest in fashion, I find it interesting to hear what designers say about the current social situa tions and how they design accordingly. 1 also want to hear the advice they give to fashionistas decid ing how to maintain their wardrobes while being wise with their money. In a sociology class I once took, I researched a thesis about how fash ion is affected by major events in society. A good example that is applicable today is an economic de pression. In the Great Depres sion, which began in 1929, clothes no longer went out of .style with the sea sons, as they usually do. Clothes had to last longer due to the lack of money for wardrobe updates and accessories. This was also a time when American de signers became popular and more widely recog nized because few people had the income to buy the fashions from Paris. Costume designers for films, such as Muriel King, Jean Louis and Gilbert Adrian, grew in popular ity as movies from Holly wood were seen across the United States and around the world. The clothes seen in this inexpensive form of entertainment influenced fashion and helped create a uniquely American style. Currently, most econo mies around the globe are in a recession and the style industry is an area where an effect can be seen. Designers like Mi chael Kors, though he is designing his collections in the same manner as al ways, is not above giving tips to help his customers “survive” this current eco nomic recession in style. Just as in the Great Depression when design ers brought the wardrobe staples back —simple dresses with waistlines and longer hemlines, more sensible than the styles of the flappers - Kors keeps his collections timeless and encourages his clients to re-wear his pieces over and over. On his Web site, Mi- chaelKors.com, there is an area where customers can submit questions to receive his fashion ad vice, While 1 was reading over recent questions, it was interesting to see the responses that he gave concerning wardrobe up dates. As one of my favorite designers, 1 was pleased to see that Kors did not push his own products, but encouraged people to buy the highest quality and most wearable clothes that they could afford. He also suggested keeping their wardrobes as time less as possible. He en couraged staples such as the pullover, pencil skirt and little black dress. With that said, there is no reason to despair over the current financial cri sis and how it will affect your own wardrobe. Dress timelessly, include ward robe staples, choose qual ity over quantity, and keep it fun with accessories to mix and match. By Diana Palka Pilot staff writer Last week’s “New York’s Finesf’ photo shoot was a team effort that proved to be a challenge for some of the “Amer ica’s Next Top Model” contestants. The girls did their best to accommodate to an unsettling feat: shar ing a photo with a com petitor. Foes Tahlia and Nata lie were forced to work together (along with Teyona) in a less-than-im- pressive photo, posing as Times Square tourists. The two managed to put their differences aside and get through the shoot, yet their “best efforts” produced a corny shot, weighed down by Nata lie’s failure to perform. It was a shocker that the photo that took first place was Sandra and Ce lia’s “New York Nannies” shot. It lacked life and any sort of model-like traits that art director Jay Man uel has been drilling into the girls since day one. On the other hand, Am inat and Fo’s photo was Top 15 in “Top Model” history and was awarded a measly second place. Allison and Nijah were in the bottom two after they were given the easi est theme - “Upper East Side Socialites” — and still couldn’t impress the judges. Allison stayed on and was told not to rely on her bug-like eyes to get her by, but not exactly in those words, Natalie’s challenge victory was a hard pill to swallow. Her snobby non- made-over personality is unbearable and unattract ive. And while I hate to be hateful, I was relieved to hear her negative critique at panel after she neglect ed to come through in the photo shoot. As much as I dislike the girl, it’s undeniable that she is the most mod- elesque girl so far. Per haps it was just had a bad shoot. It’s impossible for me to pick a favorite this early in the cycle, but I can nar row it down to three: Fo, Kortnie and London. Who needs to go? San dra. She’s quickly turning into cycie six’s Jade and it literally makes me want to punch someone in the face. In tonight’s episode, the girls will meet Toccara of cycle three and have a pose-off in front of “vogue king” Benny Ninja. The photo shoot will be at the mouth of New York’s Hudson River on historic Ellis Island and as the tension builds, the drama is sure to blow. CORRECTIONS There were erroros in the Miss GWU story that was printed in the Feb, 18 Pilot. Amy Elliott was not the winner of last year’s pageant, nor was she a judge this year. Elliott hosted the pageant but never entered as a contestant. Tara Reich was the former Miss GWU who served as a judge, but it was her third time judging, not her first. . \ •'X You ehtefed nursing to make a difference. The U.S. Army can provide you with financial and educational benefits to make that difference with our Soldiers - with up to $120,000 for nursing school loans and the experience of working with dedicated professionals and advanced technology. To learn more about the U.S. Army Wealth Care Team, call Capt. 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