Newspapers / North Carolina Wesleyan University … / May 1, 1998, edition 1 / Page 1
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VOL. 13, NO. 7 S^udetU ^o^cce Sc^ce f9^^' North Carolina Wesleyan College, Rocky Mount, N.C. FRIDAY, MAY 1,1998 Students use rituals to do well on exams By LISA BERRAGNOLI Finals week means it’s time to study, eat too much (or too little), freak out, and indulge in a little ritualistic be havior. When it’s exam time, students around the nation report they’ll try almost anything to invoke the gods of good luck. “One student rubs a redhead before taking a test. An other writes to her mother before every test or she is cursed. Still another student reported that she does not take a shower during finals week,” says James Farmer, public information officer at Lamar California Community Col lege in Lamar, Colo. Others take a more simple approach. “I pray a little more,” says Mike, who’s on the staff of the Orion student newspaper at California State University, Chico. Believe it or not, a little ritual or two actually might help you pass the exams, says George Howard, a professor of psychology at Notre Dame University in South Bend, Ind. “You want to do everything you can do to be prepared, and if that means walking on the right side of something, then you’re prepared,” he explains. Engaging in such rituals also can put a student in a good frame of mind, which is crucial for good test-taking, Howard says. At many colleges, finals-week superstitions and rituals have been elevated to a campus traditions. Here’s a simple (Continued on Back Page) Sexual harassment rare at Wesleyan By DANIELA PINTO Unlike most colleges and in stitutions, North Carolina Wes leyan College seems not to se verely suffer from the serious of fense of sexual harassment. Sexual harassment as defined in the Student Handbook is “un welcome sexual advances, re quests of sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of sexual nature.” Most of the sexual harassment cases reported, how ever, seem to occur not because of bad intentions but instead from lack of communication between two or more individuals. The problem usually is that the “victim” of the case feels offended by comments, certain touches, or similar actions that the “aggres sor” is not aware of causing. In those cases, said Darrell S. Whitley, director of Human Re sources, “they solve the problem by letting the aggressor know of the feelings being caused to the victim by his/her actions or words.” “Generally,” he explains “the cases are solved there and the problem fades away. However, when the problem persists, inves tigation of the case continues.” In more serious cases, much investigation is required before drawing conclusions and taking action. The process involves dis cretely questioning “both sides of the story” and making a follow- up of the actions or offense made by the aggressor and complained by the victim. If enough evidence is collected or presented to deter mine that there really was sexual harassment being caused, then “appropriate action is taken against the offending employee or student up to and including discharge from the college,” Whitley said. “This type of case has rarely been seen in the college, and I am glad to say that sexual harass ment reports have not increased in the four years that 1 have been here,” he said. “However, I am not trying to say that there is no sexual harassment in the institu tion, but instead I’m trying to say that there have been few cases reported.” Whitley encourages those who feel that they have undergone or actually are undergoing se.xual harassment to report their cases for something to be done about them. On the other hand, if evidence is found that the victim used false facts to tr>' and justify his or her case, then action is taken against the victim rather lhat the supposed offender, he said. Sexual harassment is common in most institutions or organiza tions where a number of persons gather as a congregation, not to exclude North Carolina Wesleyan College. Serious consequences can be diagnosed and action can be taken to punish those causing it, but for this to happen, cases have to be reported and presented with their facts. Investigators of the case are to remain unbiased and complete their jobs as inves tigators of the caic. not that of “deciders." Phi Beta Lambda enjoys successful year By PfflLLIP STRICKLAND The Rho Alpha Psi Chapter of Phi Beta Lamtxla has had a very active year. This North Carolina Wesleyan College business fra ternity completed numerous achievements last semester, rang ing from leadership conferences to recruitment of new members to community service projects. To start off the new school year, Rho Alpha Psi Chapter members participated in the cam pus’ Get on Board Day. This event, directed to new and return ing students each fall, is intended to introduce them to many col lege organizations on campus. Oct. 22-23 found several mem bers attending the Fall Leader ship Conference held in Fayetteville. This two-day state conference included a number of informative business seminars (one of which was presented by local member, Mike Hoppe) and regional meetings. It dso pro vided the Wesleyan students an opportunity to meet other Phi Beta lambda members from across the state. The end of November and be ginning of December found the PBL members really busy. An of ficer and new member induction ceremony and dinner was held, with the new Vice President and Dean of Student Life, Dr. Tyrone Bledsoe, providing the keynote address. The candlelight induc tion ceremony, which was held in the campus chapel, also fea tured remarks from the Wesleyan’s President, Dr. John White. Among other activities during this time was a roadside cleanup in conjunction with the North Carolina Adopt-A-Highway Pro gram. “We’ve been doing the road side cleanup several times a year for the last ten years,” said Dana Ford, faculty advisor to Phi Beta Lambda. He added, “It gives the students great pride to know that they are doing something for the community.” Also, the “Adopt-A-Family” program, conducted in conjunc tion with the Edgecombe County Social Services Department, al lowed the fraternity to adopt a needy family for Christmas. Clothing, food, and gifts collected and purchased by the members were delivered prior to Christmas. Vice President Phillip Strickland recalls the children’s reactions to the presents: “It was a wonderful and self satisfying feeling to see the look in those kid’s eyes when they saw the Christmas gifts we brought. 1 knew that we had made their Christmas.” At the same time, the business fraternity collected new stuffed bears for delivery to Carolina Bear Lodge. The Carolina Bear Lodge In turn distributes them to North Carolina children afflicted with the AIDS virus and other life-threatening illnesses. To close out the fall semester, the members of Phi Beta Lambda hosted a reception to honor (he faculty of North Carolina Wesleyan College. In addition to the food and fun. Phi Beta Lambda presented the faculty with two gifts to help make life a little easier; a new coffeemaker and a toaster oven. Even the Christmas break bore no rest for the PBL’ers as several members got together and cut (Continued on Back Page)
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