since 1960. “of, by, and for the Wesleyan community”
March 14, 2008
NORTH CAROLINA WESLEYAN COLLEGE, ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA 27804
After Seven Years at NCWC, Newboulds To Depart for England
Dr. Ian D. C. Newbould will step
down as president of NC Wesleyan
on June 30 to accept the position of
President of Richmond, The American
International University in London.
Wesleyan’s board of trustees will
meet soon to plan for the transition to
new leadership. It may consider naming
an interim president while conducting a
full-blown search.
Since his arrival in 2001, Dr. New
bould has overseen numerous changes to
the college—construction and expansion
of facilities, the establishment of a
football team, and a significant increase
in the number of full-time faculty. In
2002, he helped steer the college through
its successful accreditation with the
Southern Association of Colleges and
Schools. During the 2006-07 school year,
the college observed its 50th anniversary
and gained statewide exposure while it
was considered for possible integration
into the UNC system, a move that the
study committee rejected last spring.
Dr. Newbould is excited about the
move to England, where he earned his
doctorate at the University of Manches
ter.
“This will be a fabulous opportunity
for Carla and me, and we were excited
to accept it,” Dr. Newbould said. “I wish
to thank the board of trustees for the op
portunity to serve these past seven years.
We leave the college and Rocky Mount
with both sadness and excitement. We ■
have wonderful friends in the community,
and will remember Rocky Mount with
great fondness.”
Thomas A. Betts, Jr., former chairman
of Wesleyan’s Board of Trustees, praised
Dr. Newbould and his wife for their
service to the college.
“I had the good fortune to serve on the
committee that recruited Ian and Carla
Newbould to North Carolina Wesleyan
College,” he said. “It was the best deci
sion the college ever made. They took
to the town and the town took to them
degree'from the University of Western
Ontario and master’s from the University
of Guelph.
A native of Canada, Dr. Newbould
came to Wesleyan from Mount Allison
University in New Brunswick, to begin
the college’s 2001 fall semester. Dr.
Newbould served Mount Allison as
President and Vice-Chancellor for 10
immediately; they were an instant hit,
and they were well received by all. Mrs.
Newbould immediately became involved
with campus life and city life. She began
by having students in the President’s
home often, and with great enthusiasm,
and with warmth. Dr. Newbould briskly
rolled up his sleeves and tackled the
many issues facing the college back
then.” years.
Richmond is an international and inter- During the next several months. Dr.
cultural university with 1,100 students Newbould will be completing a new
from 100 different countries. It has five-year strategic plan for Wesleyan. He
also looks forward to taking part in the
' ^ groundbreaking for a 12,000-foot addi
tion to the College’s Elizabeth Braswell
Pearsall Library that will nearly double
^ its size and make the library a focal point
of the campus.
Interview
Just before publication deadline. The
Decree conducted a brief email interview
with the president.
Q: What accomplishments at Wesleyan
give you the most satisfaction?
A: First and foremost the reaffirmation
of the accreditation in 2002. It is not
widely known, but SACS had expected us
to lose our accreditation and it was very
complimentary of what took place in the 16
months that Lee Riggins (then VPA) and I
had managed to accomplish. Full marks go
as well to Fred Grissom and several others.
Other highlights include the raising of
close to $10 million thus far in a financial
campuses in Richmond upon Thames and campaign; improved relations with the
Kensington in London, and in Florence Rocky Mount community; an almost
and Rome in Italy. It is recognized as one 50 percent increase in full-time faculty
of the leading U.S. institutions of higher members; completion of the field house
education abroad, with busine_ss and and recreation center projects and a new
international relations among its areas of library about to be built; and success and
expertise. acceptance of the football program.
Dr. Newbould is an expert in 19th Q: What will be your fondest memories
Century British history; among his of Wesleyan?
publications is a book, Whiggery and A: The people that Wesleyan has—all of
Reform 1830-1841: The Politics of the employees, whether faculty or staff, and
Government, He has been elected a students. There is nothing more gratifying
fellow of the Royal Historical Society of than seeing the faces of the graduating
Great Britain. He received his bachelor’s students as they walk across the stage at
A: Enrollments—^There is still work to
be done to overcome the negative effects
of the mid-90s tuition reduction—and
retention. Long term is the endowment,
but that really takes time for deferred
giving to appear, and a longer history
than Wesleyan has had. Enrollments and
retention will solve budget issues, and
for a tuition-dependent school, that is the
basis for sustained economic and therefore
academic health.
Close behind is an understanding of
what is necessary to increase enroll
ments. Wesleyan cannot sit still in its
programming. Without new programs
and program delivery innovations, no
institution can thrive. As someone said
to me the other day regarding my own
move to England, it’s good to seek out
new challenges; “If things don’t change,
things don’t change.” The same can be
said for colleges, and the successful of
our competitors have embraced constant
programmatic change. NC Wesleyan
must keep pace.
Q: What traits do you think Wesleyan
should seek in your successor?
A: That would be up to others to say.
Walking on water is the usual joke that one
hears.
(Public Relations contribmed to this article)
Ginn Gone, Henninger Takes Helm
By Trevor Seibert and Jarad Brown
Decree Sports Writers
Dr. and Mrs. Newbould on
campus in 2001
. TTT 11 tgraduation. Wesleyan really do'es make a
Audiences Wowed by Once
rnl * X 1 19 X* challenges the college faces in the next.
On This Island Perrormances say three years?
Jack Ginn spent enough time at NC
Wesleyan to see his first graduating class
finish four years of college football, com
pile a 23-17 record, claim their first USA
South Conference and pull a stunning
upset in the NCAA playoffs. Now, like
the original members of the school’s first
football team, the former head football
coach is leaving.
Ginn has
accepted a position |
as assistant head
coach/wide receiv
ers at Grand Valley I
State University in f
Allendale, Michi
gan - one of the
premier Division II |
football programs
in the nation.
In four years as
the Batthng Bishops
head coach, Ginn
brought the team to national prominence.
In 2007, the team finished the year with
a No. 23 national ranking, an undefeated
conference record and a win over number
one-seeded Washington and'Jefferson
College. The win gave the program its first
ever tournament victory and marked the first
time in the history of Division III football
that a No. 8 seed upset a No. 1 seed.
mm'M.
Brittany Richardson, left, and other cast members
perform a scene from "Once on This Island."
Photo by Penrod
By Julianna Cyr and Kimberly McCorkle
Decree Staff Writers
One of the best performances at Wesleyan,
“Once on this Island” combines the classic Romeo
and Juliet swooning and crying with a rollercoaster
of senses. Highly revved emotions and a give-all
cast made this production a joyful and tearful
experience for all.
“Once on This
Island” started
off with a bang,
or rather, several
bangs and a storm.
Ti Moune (Brit
tany Richardson),
whose name
means “little
orphan,” is the
main character,
who is dropped
off in a tree
during a storm
manifested by
Agwe (Malcolm
Armwood), the
god of rain. Ton
Ton (Gregory
Spence) and Mama (Dionne Luckettt), an older
childless couple, happen upon Ti Moune. And, with
the help of Etzulie (Chalistin Cooke), the goddess
of love, they decide to finally take in the little girl.
Filled with odd circumstance predeteimined by
the gods, Ti Moune finds her true love, Daniel (Stuart
Briscar). Sadly, she discovers him after a car accident
in a stonn several years after she was orphaned.
Fighting for his life and going against the will of
Papa Ge (Antonio Rowland), the god of death, Ti
Moune tends to Daniel night and day to save his
life. This sparks a controversy between Papa Ge and
Erzulie. What is stronger - death or love?
When Daniel is taken back to his rich village
on the other side of the island, the poor Ti Moune,
unbeknownst to herself, sets out to fulfill her fate.
She travels through unknown wilderness with the
help of Asaka (Nicole Louisius), Mother Earth,
and reaches the gates of Daniel’s village. After she
manages to get past the guard, she finds her love,
still suffering from pain and illness. Ti Moune
dances for, cures, and makes passionate love with
Daniel, only to soon meet his beautiful, yet arrogant
fiancee, Andrea (Jamie Hummel).
Needless to say, a broken heart is never a pleas
ant experience. Daniel and Andrea are married and,
in dieir village’s custom, they throw coins to the
peasants at the same gate Ti Moune once ttaversed
to find her love. As Andrea leaves the gate, Daniel
hands Ti Moune a few coins in what feels like
payment for past services. Ti Moune, there at the
entrance of Daniel’s world, dies of a broken heart.
This musical, with all its ups and downs, must
not have been an easy task for the cast and crew. And
despite some minor flaws in lighting, sound, and a
few forgotten lines, they pulled it off beautifully
Dressed to impress and paired with voices to inspire,
the deities and other main characters set the stage for
a wonderful show.
And when Asaka
declared diat she
“will provide,” she
wasn’t kidding. She
provided a musically
brilliant and lively
performance along
with Papa Ge, Agwe,
ErzuMe, Daniel,
Andrea, and Mama.
Melvin Tunstall
III was brought to
Wesleyan to direct
this year’s tribute
to Black History
Month. When asked
what he believed
^ was the most inspira
tional moral offered
by the story, Tunstall responded that “love is blind.”
This story truly inspires all individuals to disregard
race, religion, riches, and all other inhibitions so
that we may truly follow our hearts.
And, in speaking of the play’s romance,
everyone seemed thoroughly impressed. Polly
Medlin, a 4-year-pld play critic and sister of one of
the chiki actresses, Lauren Medlin, remarked that
the romantic scene between Daniel and Ti Moune
made her “blush” and “cover her eyes.” Polly
wasn’t the only one to have her emotions stined
by the storyline. When the audience realized that
Daniel would forsake his true love for tiadition and
what was to be expected of him, many audience
members let off gasps and groans.
But the play did not end in total sadness. The
gods cheerfully turned Ti Moune into a ttee that
would bear down on the gate that kept her and Daniel
apart. She cracked open the gate of segregation,
forever allowing two once-separated worlds to coex
ist in happiness. And in a twist of fate, she sheltered
Daniel and Andrea’s littie boy, who she made sure
fell in love with a peasant giri not unlike herself
In closing, the play offers some words of
wisdom. Remember, as Mama said, to “choose your
dreams with care.” Love one another, for Erzulie
reminds us that we are all “part of the human heart”
that beats as one. And, as Papa Ge found out, you
can’t “prove death is stronger than love.”
Rousing Speech Caps Black History Month
By Joyce Collins
Campus Life Editor
“Martir1*Luther King has been dead 40
years and lived 39; he has been dead longer
than he has been alive, but look at the bless
ings he has left. It is about being a blessing
to someone else,” - the Rev. William Tumer
The Rev. William Tumer, the first black _
football player at Duke University and now an
associate professor of homiletics, visited NCWC
to deliver an empowering speech in honor of
Black History Month.
Along with Turner’s speech, there were
many other programs on campus. The
“Black Affair,” sponsored by Sisters of
Distinction, was a party and dance held
in the Hartness Center where guests were
encouraged to wear black in light of the
Black History Month. The Black Alumni
Panel was an event led by NCWC graduates:
the founder of Student African American
Brotherhood (SAAB), Davon Davis, and
Petteway Resident Director Jasmin Spain;
both alumni discussed success after college
(see story on page four).
The “Real Deal Crazy Game Show,”
was a program where students had the
opportunity of winning prizes by correctly
answering questions relating to black history.
‘These weren’t usual questions about MLK,”
said Student Activities Coordinator Jennifer
Evans. “These were questions like, ‘Who
wrote Thomas Cabin?’ We always hear about
MLK and Malcolm X, but they had help.”
“Once on This Island,” a musical directed
by visiting artist Melvin Tunstall ID, saw a
successful three-day run at the Dunn Center.
And the final major program was held on
Febraary 27th when student organizations
participated in a black history performance.
This show included modeling, dancing,
singing, as well as a skit.
Tumer gave his speech in the Leon Russell
Chapel on Tuesday, February 26. People
poured into the chapel quickly filling seats.
The audience consisted mainly of football
players, with a few staff and faculty members.
In introducing the speaker, Wesleyan
Chaplain Barry Dmm credited Tumer for a
revelation. “It was not until 1 studied Pente
costal that 1 realized that 1 might as well be
black too,” said Rev. Drum. “I am black too
because I had the honor of working under
this man of such caUber.”
Turner’s words were poetic. He stressed
pursuing your passion in life for doing whatever
your heart desires. “If there is no passion, no
spunk, and no drive, then you are like an old
dish rag,” said Tumer. “The passion has to be
there.” Having a passion laid the foundation for
his speech.
Turner challenged the audience to think of
answers to two questions: After you seize the
moment, how do you make it serviceable for
a lifetime? And how do you celebrate Black
History Month?
Tumer answered these questions by
speaking to the hearts of Wesleyan students.
“If you are a college student, then you are
a minority, it doesn’t matter what color you
are,” said Tumer. He encouraged students to
use their time wisely; “Study now, right now,
pull an all-nighter if you have to. The time
you spend making an excuse, use that time to
do whatever the excuse is saying that you are
supposed to do.”
His speech made listeners consider helping
others. He emphasized that there may be people
who need your help. “Put someone else on
your agenda besides you,” said Tumer. “Life
will become boring if you are the only one on
your agenda. The greatest joy I get is helping
someone else.”
Along with helping others, you never
know who may be waiting to see you put
forth an effort, so that they can help you.
“You don’t know who got your back, waiting
for you to show that you have the passion to
annihilate and seize the moment,” Tumer said.
Tumer concluded his speech by
discussing what he believed broke the cycle
of people having passion for life. “People
became self-absorbed; parents working 2
and 3 jobs, not realizing that the first job is
being a parent. Parents got preoccupied with
success,” Turner said. “Some parents never
let the child out of them; still 30,40 years
old, running the streets and hanging out.”
Some students enjoyed the speech. “I think
that he gave us an answer about us having a
history maker,” said Junior Milani Wilson.
“We don’t have any more Martin Luther Kings
or Malcolm Xs, that’s what we need. The
question is; how many people are willing to do
itT’ she said.
Junior Jamal Lawrence found the speech to
be mentally stimulating. “He was very wise and
intellectiial. He was a great motivational speaker,”
hesaki.
see SPEECH on pg. 4
In light of Ginn’s departure, Wesleyan’s
Director of Athletics John Thompson
promoted defensive coordinator Mark
Henninger to head coach.
Coach Thompson said that
Henninger’s familiarity with the college
and players on the team made it an easy
decision. “There are many reasons that
Henn is the right man for the job—his
experience, his personal preparation to
be a head coach and how integral he
was in the development of the program
and its current players.”
A native of Indianapolis, Henninger
joined North Carolina Wesleyan in 2004
after a four-year assistant coaching stint
at his ahna mater, Wittenberg University
in Springfield, Ohio. The winningest
Division III football program in the na
tion, Wittenberg produced three NCAA
Division III playoff appearances and a
record of 41-7 during his tenure.
Henninger hopes to continue the
winning tradition at NC Wesleyan.
“Coach Ginn laid a solid foundation
for our program here at NC Wesleyan,”
Henninger said. “I’m honored to be
chosen to build on his success, and
I’m excited to start a new chapter of
Wesleyan football.”
Ginn announced his departure at a
team meeting and among players the
reaction was surprise and then relief
“At first I was almost mad,” said
sophomore running back Teron Bush,
“because it was kind of messed up for
him (Ginn) to abandon the team after we
fought so hard to make a name for him
and he just vanishes, but now I realize
Mark Henninger Sports information Photos
it wasn’t really like that. He had to do
what was best for him and his family,
and I wish him the best of luck.”
Junior nose tackle Russell Rouse
said players remain excited about next
season. “I was in total shock when coach
Ginn announced he was leaving; in fact
I actually looked around thinking I had
heard him wrong,” said Rouse. “I think
coach Henn brings an almost contagious
excitement and intensity to the team.”
Offensive lineman William Parker
was a member of Wesleyan’s original
team in 2004. He thinks Henninger is
an ideal fit for the Bishops. “Ginn was
a great coach,” Parker said, “but Henn
will be just as good. His precision,
attention to detail and intensity will get
him and the team to the top.”
President Ian Newbould was instru
mental in bringing football to Wesleyan.
He praised Ginn’s accomplishments.
“Jack Ginn is a coach who delivered
on his promise to build a successful
program,” Dr. Newbould said. “In four
years, he produced a champion team
that set conference records. Moreover,
he stresses the importance of character
and academic achievement. We are
sorry to lose him, but it was inevitable
that his success would be noticed. I am
proud of Jack, and wish him every suc
cess as he moves on to the next level.”