since 1960 “of, by, and for the Wesleyan community.”
December 21, 2011
NORTH CAROLINA WESLEYAN COLLEGE, ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA 27804
General Shelton Delivers Inspiring Address at Fall Commencement
By Decree Staff
Retired General Hugh Shelton,
chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from
1997-2001, delivered a brief but inspiring
commencement address to the 120 NC
Wesleyan graduates and their families and
friends December 10 at the Dunn Center.
Referring to the hometowns and
countries of the graduates, the general
said: “The six countries, four states, and 44
North Carolina cities and villages will be
better because of your accomplishments.”
The Tarboro native quoted thinkers as
varied as Albert Einstein and Larry the
Cable Guy, in a crowd-pleasing address that
outlined his four keys to a successful life.
Acknowledging that most attendees of
graduation ceremonies appreciate a suc
cinct commencement address, he opened
by saying. “Let’s ‘get her done.’”
Here’s an overview of the general’s
message to graduates:
1—“You’re never defeated unless you
personally accept defeat.” To illustrate his
point. General Shelton recalled several
incidents from his youth. He mentioned
that as a high school senior he was, at first,
rejected from North Carolina State, his
top choice, because of a low math score.
At the time he was given the option of
taking a correspondence course and then
retaking his entrance exam. After working ’
■diligently that summer with his high school
math teacher, Shelton retook the exam at
the end of the summer and earned high
enough marks to gain admittance to NC
State, where he earned a degree in'textile
engineering.
Later while in training at Fort Benning,
Geoipa, Shelton wasoetermined to enter
the Army Rangers, one of the military’s
most elite forces. But there was one
problem. According to the Army, Shelton
was color blind, which disqualified him
from joining the Rangers. Not satisfied
with the Army’s ruling, he insisted on
retaking the exam. This time he passed. If
he had not been persistent in asking for a
re-test, the general told the graduates, “I’m
convinced I would not have become the
w
Two New Grads; Jessica Poindexter (left) of the day program and Alicia
Nance- Leigh of the Triangle ASPIRE program. Photo courtesy of NCWC Advancement
Why Do Many NCWC Students Lack Spirit?
By Joshua Meeks
Decree Sports Editor
North Carolina Westeyan College is fighting
an up-hill battle. Depaitmaital budgets have
been cut Retenticm rates are low and admit
tance numbers continue to fall fiom previous
years. Around campus, the vibe is gloomy.
On most college campuses school spirit
thickens the air to a point where it is difficult
to breathe. Students pack into gymnasiums
and stadiums and take an active role in Greek
life, student government, and inlramural
sports. But at Wesleyan students are disinter
ested in what is going on around them.
“Everyone seems miserable here,” said
Mackenzie Tingle, a senior “It’s like people
are ashkned of the school. Whereas when
you look at ECU or (North Carolina) State
peq)le are proud to be a part of that school,
whether they’re a student, parent or fan.”
Tingle’s assessment is one tfiat is shared
by many. A lot of students feel that nobody
wants to go to Wesleyan arxl would rather be
somewhere else.
Tingle was one of 100 students who
completal a brief survey for this article, and
several students participated in follow-up
intaviews.
When asked whether he is proud to say
he goes to Wesleyan, junior Tyler Qark
respoTKled with a chuckle of uncertainty.
“For baseball and trying to get other new
recruits, I say I’m proud to go here,” said
Claik. But ifl was talking to somebody who
goes to UNC or Stale, I wouldn't I wouldn't
say Fm ashamed or not f»oud. I just wouldn't
say I go to Wesleyan and ‘we're better’”
But not all students feel the same way as
these two ufper-classmen. Chelsea Colucci,
a fiBshman cheerleader, says she is trying to
move school pride in a pxsitive direction.
“Being a cheerieader, I’m always trying to
enhance our school spirit,” Colucci said. “On
campus here, students are very close-knit
and sup^rtive of each other and their teams,
and this is one of my favorite things about
this college. Rxjm what I’ve witnessed as a
student and a cheerieader, Tm very pleased
by our school spirit”
Junior Qass President Terrance Hooks
has observed that the atmosphere this year
seems different than in the past two years. “I
think that the clubs are trying to do more this
year to get students involved in the school,”
he said. “I think the freshmen are buying into
some of the things the school is doing and
I think that there’s a big change. I won’t be
here much longer but I think that in a few
years we’ll see a change because freshmen
here now care.”
Sporting events are the biggest social
events on campjus and often correlate with
school spirit But at home games the men’s
basketball team has averaged just 242 fans,
which includes players’ piarents as well as
ihe parents of the op)px)sition, who hiked to
Rocky Mount to watch their sons play.
On occasion, students show some spirit
at the game when they collectively stand to
cheer after a dunk or when cheerieaders lead
the “Bishop Rumble.” But it is rare that an
oppxKing rival, such as Christq)her NewpxMl
or Methodist is daunted when it walks into
our gym because of a deafening crowd of
students who have covered themselves in
blue and gold.
Some students believe game attendance is
low because athletes make up about half the
student population and they are preoccupied
with their own sport. Their free time is used
to complete homework assignments, watch
television, or hang out at the grille.
“Athletes are only focused on their own
sport,” Tingle said 'They want eveiyone to
come to their games and suf^xxt them but thae
are no reverse actions. Somdiow we need to
find a way for the school to build some pride.”
Robert Bass, a defensive back for the
men’s soccer team, sided with Tingle and
believes that there are not many athletes who
care to put time into the other sports.
“We barely have many fans at our games
and the women’s teams get the least amount
of supprat” Bass said. “Everyone cares about
their own incfividiial spxirt and not much fcff
the otliers. It may sound comy, but I think the
best way fcr the school to raise its spirit is for
the sports teams to come together and show
their support for each other.”
A tradition is one way for students to
demcmstrate school pricte, but by most
accounts, Wesleyan is lacking in this area.
Students will make bubbles in the water
fountain on occasion, and every Friday the
cafeteria serves fried chicken but tee is
no single tradition that stands out to most
students. If you are on the football team, you
may touch the triangle before psactice or slam
the sledgehammer before a game, but those
types of traditions are limited to the athletes in
particular spx>rts.
Dean of Students Randy Williams feels
that it is the responsibility of the students to
build pride and tradition at the school. Wil
liams, a graduate of tradition-rich Hampxlen
Sydney and William and Mary, said that
when he took his job in 2009, one of his main
goals was to get students to take ownership in
their college experience.
‘There’s plenty of room for growth here
at Wesleyan,” he said ‘Tr^tions come fiom
the studefits, not the faculty ot staff. I want
to empower the students so that they can be
proud of Wesleyan.”
Students often fail to realize that they are
the ones who make Wesleyan tick, many
interviewees commented.
Every Monday morning, the Student
Activities department sends out an e-mail that
describes “What’s hap)pening at Wesleyan”
for that week. But the Decree survey showed
that only 48 percent of students read the
e-mail. Clark explained that he rarely reads
the e-mails because he does not see anything
that interests him.
“I don’t really hear about anything that is
going on around school,” Qark said. “All I
hear about really is intramuraLs fiom the signs
around school and the e-mails that I never
read. I only Ipok at my e-mail hoping to see if
a professOT has canceled class.”
Qark offered a solution for clubs and
groups trying to get word out about an event
they are hosting.
‘Even if it sounds bad, if they pxit invites
of Facebook, I’d probably pay more attention
to it,” he said.
Another reason students believe that
school spirit is down is the lack of participa
tion in the clubs and other organizations on
campus. President Megan Simpson said that
see SPIRIT pg 2
14th Chair of the Joint Chiefs.”
2—‘TTie harder you work, the more op
portunities you’ll find.” Shelton noted that
opportunity does not “coming knocking
like the Publisher’s Clearing House.” He
ui^ed the graduates to be courageous. “I’m
not talking about the courage to be the first
man to drive an electric car through a car
wash, or even the courage that’s needed
in battle,” he said. “I’m talking about the
courage to achieve your goals,”
3—^“You can’t be great without
being good.” General Shelton stressed the
impx)rtance of px)ssessing “a strong ethical
character,” adding: ‘Try to make the world
a better place to live. Be an example for
others to emulate.” Then, quoting Albert
Einstein, he said, “‘Become a pierson of
value.’”
4—According to General Shelton, the
three most important aspects of one’s life
should be “faith, family and friends. They
should be your highest priority.”
General Shelton received a standing
ovation on receiving an honorary degree
fium the college.
Of the 120 new graduates, 39 came
from the traditional day program while 81
were fkim the three ASPIRE programs:
32 fiom the Triangle campus, 27 from
Goldsboro, and 22 from Rocky Mount.
Business was the most common major
among the graduates with 48 degrees
awarded. Oflier majors break down as
follows: criminal justice/justice studies
(30), psychology (19), accounting (13),
computer information systems (9),
elementary education (7), religious studies
(7), exercise science (5), sociology (3),
biology (2), history (2), political science
(2), entertainment (1), chemistiy (1),
and special education (1). There were 26
students with double majors, and one with
a triple major (injustice studies, psychol
ogy and religious studies).
In the days before the ceremony, some
graduates reflected on their time at NC
Wesleyan.
Criminal justice major Antonio “Squirrel”
Harris said that success on the football field
made it all worthwhile. “I loved my time here,
you know,” the framer starxiout linebacker
said. “I played football and enjoyed that”
One highlight he said, was “mak
ing history on the football field” and
participating in the division III playoffs in
2009. Harris intends to pursue professional
football next year in Finland.
Asked about his time at Wesleyan
overall, he replied, “It’s like they say: It’s
what you make of it. I had a good time
while I was here.”
Teammate and criminal justice major
James Carter said that he hopes an intern
ship will help him find a full-time pxisition.
He thanked new Career Services Director
Tiffany Alexander for helping him get ready
for the job market. “With her help I feel very
prepared for what lies ahead,” Carter said.
Not all die graduates were happy with
tiieir experience at Wesleyan. New York
native Tene Griszell-McAllister, a psychol
ogy major, said that she feels somewhat
unprepared for life after college. Medicine
is one field she’s considering.
“I don’t know if I’m ready because I
don’t know what tiie next step is,” she said.
“I also don’t know how to get my foot in
the door with my career path.”
When she was asked if she would
change anything about her college
experience, Griszell-McAllister responded:
“I would go to a completely different
college with more money so fliere can be
more things to offer to tiie students, like a
study-abroad program.”
(Stajf writer Kristina Hill contributed ■
reporting.)
New Tennis Complex Nears Completion
By Gummi Palsson
Decree Staff Writer
The North Carolina Wesleyan tennis
program has gone through successful
changes in recent history, such as
the introduction of the current tennis
head coach, Tebogo Dominic Modise.
Before the South African took control,
the tennis program had not been doing
well, but with some quality recruits and
strict training regimens, the program
has seen new heights.
“I really got lucky somehow with my
recruiting even though at the same time
I worked very hard,” the coach said.
“We’ve done the unthinkable as a team
in a short period of time. It has been
a great experience and I have to give
credit to the ladies and gentlemen that
have been part of our program since
I started coaching here. Their work
ethic has paid off and it has put North
Carolina Wesleyan on a national map.”
To take the next step in making NC
Wesleyan one of the finest Dill tennis
programs, the college is expanding its
existing facilities and building new
ones. According to Loren Loomis
Hubbell, vice president of finance, the
project cost is $815,0(X), with funding
coming from private donors and the
City of Rocky Mount. The city has
I
partnered with the college with an eye
toward establishing youth tennis and
other community programs.
The project involves the resurfacing
of the six existing courts, plus the
construction of six new ones. A tennis
field house will house offices, locker
rooms and an equipment storage area.
A grandstand will accommodate 270
spectators—all in all, a fantastic move
by the college. Coach Modise said.
“We’re already one of the top
programs in the country without a
state-of-the-art facility, but for sure it
will make some additional impact with”
recruiting, exposure, and tennis in the
community,” said Modise, who has led
the men’s team to the national playoffs
three years in a row,
Marcelo Prata is among many
team members who believe the new
complex will have a profound effect
on the success of Wesleyan’s program.
It will improve training and increase
competition among the squad, he said,
while raising Wesleyan’s profile, both
within the community and nationally.
It will now be possible for the college
to host NCAA tournaments, Prata and
Modise noted,
“With more courts, we can play
more matches, and enjoy longer prac-
•41
tices and more individual practices,”
said Prata, a native of Brazil, “The
level of tennis will definitely improve.
And the new facility will bring more
spectators to watch our matches. In the
past we didn’t even have benches for
fans to sit and watch us,”
Modise and his players expressed
excitement about the installation of
new playing surfaces, pointing out that
the old courts caused excessive wear
and tear on tennis balls, which cost
the coach 60 percent of his equipment
budget, “We had a lot of problems in
the past with the old courts,” Prata
explained. “Our tennis balls were
finished really fast because of the old
surface,”
Prata added that he and his team
mates welcome other new features of
the complex, “Most of the nets were
broke and we didn’t have windscreens,
which makes it harder to play with
some weather conditions,”
Loomis Hubbell expects the
contractors to finish new construction
by March 1, ten days before the men’s
and women’s teams open conference
action at home against Averett,
Said Prata: “Our tennis team is
really thankful for the new complex,”
li""
'ti
The new tennis complex should be completed in time for the spring season.
Photo courtesy of L. Loomis Hubbell