since 1960 “of, by, and for the Wesleyan community”
November 4, 2011
NORTH CAROLINA WESLEYAN COLLEGE, ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA 27804
Two Bishops Help Save a Police Officer’s Life
By Decree Staff
Two NC Wesleyan athletic trainers helped
save the life of an off-duty Rocky Mount
police officer whose motorcycle crashed on
the new Thomas A. Betts Paricway during a
lecent afternoon football practice.
Joshua Long and Tim Donovan were
commended for their heroic efforts, draw
ing a standing ovation from attendees of
the college’s Founders’ Day ceremonies
on October 20 in the Dunn Center.
The Rocky Mount Telegram reported
on October 19 that the off-duty officer, '
Charles Millender, was recovering from
his injuries at home following his release
from the hospital.
“I was not surpised at all to hear of the
reaction of Josh and Tim to the situatiai,” said
NCWC Athletic Director John Thompson.
‘ They’re vay frofessioial and did what
they’re trained to do. I would have been
shocked if they had not responded. They were
in the ri^t place at the ri^t time, to have the
opportunity, to do what they do. And they
were outstanding in their performance.”
Marie Henninger echoed Thranpsoi’s ctm-
maits. As head football coadi, Henninga-sees
Long and Donovan in acticsi on a daily basis.
He values their expertise and commitment,
but he was still irnpnessed by their response.
“It’s one thing to be trained in CPR and it’s
an entirely different animal to be supremely
confident in your abilities and training to put ,
that to use when tragedy strikes,” Henninger
said. ‘They jumped right into action and it
was impessive to see. While I was not at the
scale, I have to believe that man is alive today
because rf the actions of Jofh and Tun.”
Long is in his third year at NC Wesleyan,
Donovan his first. Both athletic trainers said
that they had treated possible spinal injuries
in the past, but nothing compared to the
severity of the motorcycle accident At the
time of the incident, the two feared not only
a spinal injury, but multiple broken bones
and other possible internal injuries. “It was
an intense experience,” Donovan said.
Both expessed humility in lespMise to the
fiiss raised about their actions. But Long
noted that peihaps the publicity surrounding
them will help raise the public awareness
about the nature of athletic training. “It makes
us feel good to help, but we were simply do
ing what we’re trained to do,” he sakL “We’re
trained medical professionals who don’t
always receive the respect our profession
deserves fiom other healthcare professions.
Hopefully our actions go a small way in
helping others view us in a diffwent light”
Long and Donovan provided the follow
ing account of the aftemoon’s events, which
occurred on September 28: Along with a
group of Barton College athletic training
students, the two were participating in a
Sharise Jones was elected the 2011
NC Wesleyan Homecoming Queen.
She is the SGA secretary, a member
of Delta Sigma Theta sorority, and a
PAL The week's events included an .
alumni golf outing at Ford's Colony, a
haunted house, a concert, a pep rally,
tailgating, and of course, a football
game.
normal Bishops practice around 6 p.m. Long
was facing the softball field, but Donovan
saw the accident “I saw the bike as he went
down the parkway,” he said. “When he first
came into sight, it looked like he was going
pretty fast” Donovan and others on hand
estimated that the motorcycle was traveling
in excess of 70 mph.
Donovan turned back to the practice, but
then caught a glimpse of the bike’s collision
with the rear of a vaa which was tiying to make
a right onto the paikway fiom Bishop Road.
According to Long, many players
witnessed the accident as well. “They’re
drawn to the image of a fast street
bike,” he said. “It’s commonplace for
motorcyclists to speed through that area.”
Right after the crash. Long recalled, there
was “a significant ‘oh s*@#!’ fiwm many of
the players. That made the rest of us realize
something serious had happened.”
At that point, Donovan and Lwig spinted
toward the cwner of the fieki ck)sest to Bishq)
Road and the parinvay “You're not necessarily
thinking through things,” Long said. “You’re
merely reacting based upai what you’ve been
trained to do. Your hq» is that you ggt ova
there and the person is still alive.”
As he ran, Donovan reached for his cell
phone and dialed 911. Then the two athletic
trainers scaled the six-foot hi^ pactice fence
and continued to the scene, both of them carry
ing their sling packs and putting on their mbber
gloves. Donovan maintained ccxitact with the
911 dispatcher even as he climbed the fence.
“When I was running toward the acci
dent, I wasn't sure if the rider would have
survived the impact or not,” Donovan
said. “I was assuming the worst.”
On ani ving at the scene. Long said, it was
clear that the van driver was okay. That vehicle
had sustained damage to the spare tiiE rrxxmted
on the back. Donovan and Lcng turned their
attenticm to the motorcyclist, who lay pwie on
the pavement, ten yards or mews fiom his bike.
As Ixmg apprpached Millender, Donovan
checked the mottxcycle, whkh was demolished
and broken into pieces. These was fiiel pooling
on the pavement, and Donovan, fearing a fire,
confirmed that the engine was oflF.
Assistant Athletic Trainers Tim Donovan (left) and Josh Long were
recognized during the recent Founders' Day for coming to the aid of
a motorcycle accident victim. Photo courtesy of NC Wesleyan PR.
Long and Donovan were relieved to
see MiUender’s chest move. “And he was
moaning, which was a welcome sign,”
Long said. “At least he was alive.”
While the two athletic trainers began to
tend to Millender, others apxared at the
scene to offer their assistance. One woman
identified herself as an ER nurse on her way
to weak at Nash Hospital. NCWC Lacrosse
Coach Ramona Walters ofered first aid help,
and another driver, at Donovan’s instruction,
moved her SUV so that it would block
incoming traffic fiom the accident scene.
Although Millender’s right ankle was
twisted to the side and blood was coming
fiom a wound on his leg, Donovan and
Long recognized that their first priority was
to prevent spinal injury. They discarded their
sling packs md began to stabilize his head.
“We had to assume he had a cervical spine
injury,” Long explained. “With tfiat in mind, we
decided not to move hira If we had moved him
and Ik did have a OHvkal spne injury, we ran the
risk rfsevering his spnal cotd, whidi woukl have
not only ended in paralysis but mast certainly
would have shortened his life, as normal body
functioning would have been compDmised.”
After stabilizing him, the two began to
assess Millender’s responsiveness and overall
condition. “I kept asking the cyclist if he could
hear me and if he was okay,” Long recounted.
“We were looking for a cognitive response,
more so than a ‘yeah, Fm good, just abruise.’
All he was able to do was moan.”
Donovati noted that Millender had a weak,
thready pulse. “But at least it was ttee art), though
labored, he was still breathing,” Long said.
When Millender opened his eyes, the
athletic trainers urged him not to move. “We
told him that help was on the way,” Long said.
The nurse removed the victim’s wallet from
his back pockeJ, allowing them to communicate
with the victim by name. ‘ I was trying to keep
him calm,” Donovan sakL “He was disoriented
and unable to speak and in a great deal of
pain. Hearing a calm voice can be reassuring
in that situation.”
Long said that it took the first responders—
NC
Embraces Starbucks
J. Lewis Photo.
By KeCharna White
Decree Staff Writer
“Can I get a Caramel Frapp please?’
is something you’re likely to hear when
entering the Internet Cafe.
Since the addition of Starbucks this
school year, the Internet cafe has been
more packed than ever.
Students and faculty alike have made a
habit of stopping in before and after class.
Many customers appreciate the extended
hours. While the Intemet Cafe was open
for only about two hours last year, it is
now open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday
through Friday.
The Intemet Cafe provides several small
tables, a few couches and a flat-screen televi
sion. Breakfast and lunch food is served
along with the coffee and specialty drinks.
With the Starbucks located in the
Intemet Cafe, it’s expected that the library
would be used more by the Wesleyan
community. Nick Frankenhauser, the
interim director of the Writing Center,
has seen increased traffic throughout
the library. Although there have been
fewer students on campus than last fall,
the library has been occupied more. He
explained that the advertising played a
significant role in increasing the use of the
library as well as the Intemet Cafe.
“Starbucks is an attractive brand that
people know,” he said. .
Many students said they liked the
convenient location of the coffee shop,
while some commented that the presence
of Starbucks helps to promote a “more
adult atmosphere,” which is appealing
to young adults and makes them “fixl
more mature.” Others, like senior Andrew
Herring, complimented the delicious
drinks. “They have a good supply such as
the mango smoothie and frappe,” Herring
said. Sophomore Ebony Nolen said she
appreciates the longer hours and added,
“Tliey have coffee, which is good because
it gives the students energy for class.”
Frankenhauser pointed out that the
Starbucks might impress prospective
students and their families and others who
come to campus for a visit.
Sodexo worker April Kiefer said she
enjoys working at Starbucks. Having
worked at other coffee shops in her home
state of Tennessee, she said she enjoys the
new atinosphere at the Intemet Cafe.
While many on campus have been
thriDed about the new Intemet Cafe
offerings, others expressed far less
enthusiasm. Sophomores Jennifer Fowler
and Cheyenne Green noted the high prices
and questioned the college’s policy of not
allowing students to use of “flex dollars”
for both the grille and Starbucks. “It’s
making all of us college students broke!”
Green said.
A quick survey showed that a medium
house coffee runs $1.99, while specialty
drinks like a plain cappuccino, a caramel
latte and a white-chocolate mocha can
cost from $3.50 to $5.50.
Courtney Quinn, one of the RDs,
admitted that she has not experienced the
new Starbucks yet. “I haven’t even used it
or seen it,” she said, noting that she does
not support Starbucks in general, because
she disapproves of the corporation. And
like Green and Fowler, she believes their
products are over-priced.
See STARBUCKS pg 2
Foster Sets School Record
' > W'-
Sophomore linebacker Tazmon Foster looks for running room
after intercepting a Maryville pass in NCWC's homecoming game
October 29. Foster set a Wesleyan record with 21 tackles against
the Scots, but the Bishops fell just short, 23-16. Late in the fourth
quarter. Bishops tight end Taylor Revelle was stopped at the MC
one-yard line following a nine-yard pass play on fourth down. The
loss dropped the Bishops record to 2-2 (2-5 overall) in the USA
South Conference, almost ensuring that the team will not repeat as
conference champs. j.LewisPhoto.
a Rocky Mount fire tnick—about three minutes
to arrive. An EMS team came a minute afiff that
Because Millender’s body was in a pool of
gasoline, it was decided to move him with a
spine board, with Long and Donovan helping
to coordinate the effort Then Millender’s
helmet was removed.
“It was becoming clear he was not
getting full breaths,” Long said.
The EMTs checked Millender's vital signs and
ihenptoedacervicalcdlaronhim It wasdiflicult
to gpt the victim to take in oxygen, which, Lcng
said, the EMTs attributed to collapsed lungs.
Even after the EMS crew reached the
scene. Long and Donovan continued to help
treat the victim. Long worked with the EMTs
to stabilize his head, while Donovan helped
to staunch the considerable blood flow fium
his leg. Long said that the victim’s right
pant leg was cut open to reveal a compound
fia;ture of his rigjit tibia Bleeding was
controlled through a tourniquet
Soon Millender was loaded onto a
stretcher and put in the ambulance. After
some time, he was life-flighted to a
hospital in Greenville, Donovan said.
Donovan and Long gave a repot to polk*
and then returned to practice. “At the fiekl, as we
took our gtoves off, we both realized our hands
were covaed in bkxxi,” Lcng sakL “But we
were relieved to find that it was our own bkxxl
fiom cutting our hands as we hepped the fesice.”
Decree Interview:
Megan Simpson,
SGA President
By Decree Staff
Q. Many students say that they don’t know
much about SGA. What can be done to give
student government a higher pnafile on campus?
A. We get that a lot Some sOidents think that
the SGA meetings are just for clubs arxl oiganiza-
tfcms but it is for every student on Wesleyan’s
campus. We started putting up flyers promoting
the SGA meetings and we are now bringing in
guest ^Kakas fiom around campus so students
can voke their poblems directly to them
Q. What qualities do you bring to the
position of SGA president?
A. I’m very outgoing. I’m motivated to
bring change to the campus. I’m also open-
minded about all issues that students bring
up, and I’m determined to get things done. ,
Q. What are some issues that are occupy
ing your administration at the present time?
A. Morale is one of the biggest issues right
now. We want students to feel pioud that they
attend NCWC. This week is the most spirited
I have seen since I’ve been here. People are
really getting excited about homecoming
week. Another issue that we have is bridging
the gap between students and administration.
One thing we have put together to address this
issue is “Pizza with the Prez.” Pizza with the
Prez has been very succes-sfijl so far. Students
really open up when Mr. Gray comes to the
dorms to talk about issues on campus.
Q. What has attendance been like at your
initial meetings? What can be dcme to increase it?
A. Attmdance avaags about 25 people.
Besides having the guests, we’re trying to increase
through advotisements ^ most importantly,
word of mouth. We’re also putting together an
all-sOident nseling. This is to hear about student
concerns and letting evayone know we are here.
Q. Talk, in some detail, about your
three biggest goals for the year.
A. Two ofour biggest issues, as staled before,
are nraale, and communication between studait
and administratiai The last is student involvement
This is something that has been low for a while.
The majaity of (xganization leaders ate senios
so we have to get the otha classes to be mae
involved if we want to keep student aaivities alive.
Q. Enrollment is down this year in the
NCWC traditional program. From your
observations and your conversations with
other students, does it seem like tiie student
body is feeling die impact of this?
A. Other than tuition, students are not
feeling a negative impact of enrollment being
down. If anything, it has brought us closer.
A lot of people came here because they like
the fact that Wesleyan is a small school and it
feels like a family. We all watch out of each
other. It’s like our own little community.