The Decree
since 1960 “of, by, andfor the Wesleyan community. ”
February 21,2020
NORTH CAROLINA WESLEYAN COLLEGE, ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA 27804
Clark To Seek Second Term as President
Thomas Clark will ran for a second term
as president of Wesleyan’s Student Govern
ment Association, he said in early February.
At that time, he was the only an
nounced candidate, according to Elliot
Smith, the director of Student Activities
and an advisor to SGA.
A quarterback on the Bishops foot
ball team, Clark is a double major in
criminal justice and history. Following
graduation, he hopes to coach high
school football for a year before he
enters the Marine Officer Candidates
School. “From there,” he said. “I hope
to be a ground intelligence officer in
the Marine Corps and lead Marines on
the ground.”
When he was 11, Clark and his fam
ily moved from Virginia Beach to Cape
Carteret. He spent one year in Austin,
Texas, where he played 6A high school
football. During the past three years,
he has been active on campus in the
Fellowship of Christian Athletes and
Christ Covenant Ministries.
The SGA executive board includes
Clark, Vice President K J Jefferson,
Secretary Rebecca Mitchell, Treasurer
Tim Marinos and Parliamentarian
James Cheazar.
The Decree interviewed Clark about
his time in SGA:
Q. Do you think playing football helps
or hurts in your position as SGA President?
A. I believe it’s good to do both. One
great feature of the SGA executive board is
the diversity. Each member can relate to and
reach out to a different group of students on
campus. This helps us in our efforts to hear
every student’s voice. In my case playing
football makes it easier for me to reach out
to a large portion of students on campus.
Q. Describe a typical day last fall
when you were both a backup quarter-
back and president of SGA.
A. I’d wake up by 5:30 am. and go
through my normal morning routine of show
ering, etc. I’d have class from 8 to 12:30 on
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and then
a class from 9:40 to 11:10 and 2:40 to 4:10 on
Tuesdays and Thursdays. Some days I would
have quarterback meetings between classes.
Following my classes, I’d go to football
practice at 4 and would get out between 6:30
and 7. From there I’d eat dinner, or, if there
was an SGA meeting that Thursday, I'd leave
practice early to prepare for that. After dinner
I’d go back to my room, do my homework,
and then prepare for bed and my next day. I’d
turn in around midnight.
Q. What’s been your focus as presi
dent of SGA?
A. My first priority was improving the
quality of the food and service in the cafete
ria. When I first took office, another huge
initiative was getting the new constitution
passed. While we're continuing to make
progress with food, this semester we’re try
ing to address other campus improvements,
especially in residence life.
Q. Let’s take each initiative one by one.
Could you expand on your work with the
cafeteria?
A. The list could drag on about cafeteria
issues. From portion sizes, to poor quality, to
lack of diverse options, the caf was a huge
concern last semester. We also had certain
issues with food stations and drink machines
not being changed and with overall poor ex
periences in the caf. This semester we’ve seen
improvement, and steps are being taken to
continue enhancements. Next we're looking
at hours of operation, more frequent surveys,
new food options, and a to-go option.
Q. What was done with the SGA
constitution?
A. There were lots of minor changes
that were made. But the main focus was to
clear up ambiguities and vagueness in the
old constitution. There was an increase in
pay for executive board members and some
protections were added for representatives
who miss meetings. Some by-laws were re
moved and some requirements for holding
certain positions were loosened. We wanted
to make it easier to become a member of
SGA in hopes of increasing participation.
Q And as far as residence life?
A. We’re still gathering informa
tion on how we can improve in this
area. We're looking for small ways to
contribute to better living arrangements
and other campus improvements to boost
the quality of student life outside the
classroom. We’re open to suggestions.
Q. What would you say is your
administration’s most meaningful
accomplishment(s) so far?
A. Making progress in the cafeteria
and fixing a lot of the issues there as well
as passing the new constitution have been
huge accomplishments. Much credit goes to
my team. They’ve made my job a lot easier.
Q. What’s been most challenging
about the job?
A. Balancing my different responsibilities
has been a challenge. It’s hard to make my
schedule match that of many leaders of our
campus. While the job is somewhat time con
suming, football also takes a lot of my time and
energy, as does my schoolwork, of course. It’s
been hard working it out, but I've really been
enjoying the experience, so it's all worth it.
SGA President Thomas Clark
Photo courtesy of Clark campaign
Q. What’s one specific area where you
can improve as president?
A. I’d like to become more involved
with clubs, one-on-one. and attend more
events that clubs sponsor on campus. I
want the clubs to know that I care about
them. I’m invested in how well they do.
Q. What’s one change you’d like to see in
the student body ?
A. Student involvement is a struggle at
times, especially when it comes to SGA.
It would be nice to see more students get
involved with our organization as well as
the many great clubs we have at Wesleyan.
Q. If you’re reelected, what would be your
main goals in a second term?
Melanie Mager Persevered to Graduate
Having just completed her undergraduate
degree in Wesleyan’s adult-degree program,
Melanie Mager intends to take a short break
and then continue her education by enrolling
in the school's new online MBA.
A Georgia native and now a resident
of Rocky Mount, the 50-year-old
Mager completed her BS degree with
a double major in business administra
tion and organizational administration.
The Decree interviewed Mager just
before her graduation in December.
Q. Many APS students attended a tra
ditional four-year school right after high
school and then, for various reasons, had
to withdraw. What's your story?
A. I did attend college when I first enlisted
in the Air Force, and I completed some
coursework after that. But family obligations,
small children and a husband consumed me. I
wanted to enjoy every moment of the kids’ child
hood, so I put everything else on the back burner.
Q. What attracted you to the Wesleyan
Adult and Professional Studies program?
A. I started at Wesleyan (in August 2017) due
to the convenient location and class schedules.
Q. What did you like most about the
NCWC program overall?
A. The professors! I’ve had some
great ones.
Q. What’s one specific change you
would make in the program?
A. I would change the drop policy. You
should have the ability to drop a class after
the official "drop date" when you have a true,
validated, and verifiable emergency situation.
Q. What was that first semester like
when you began at NCWC?
A. I'd like to continue improving the
cafeteria and enhance residence life and
student life on campus overall. I’d also
want to set the stage for a smooth transition
to whoever succeeds me in the presidency.
Q. Why should your peers vote you
back into office?
A. I care about our students and issues
pertaining to student life on campus. I’ve
worked hard to make improvements and I’ve
listened to the voices of the student body. I
believe my leadership skills and my person
ality give the student government a solid
foundation to continue doing good work.
Smith said that interested candidates
may apply to run for SGA offices by
contacting him in the Student Activi
ties Office. The application deadline is
February 28. The campaigning will be
gin in early March, and on-line voting
will take place from March 12 to 19.
Wesleyan Friends Helped Strausser Cope with Tragedy
By Will Plyler
Decree Staff Writer
Every Monday at 8 pm., a group of Wes
leyan students meet in the Wesleyan chapel.
The brick walls reverberate with the com
bined sounds of a guitar, a piano, a cajon drum,
and at least two dozen voices singing along.
The low-lighted chandeliers and strands of
fightbulbs that hang from the ceiling ftiel the
joy and poignancy of the moment.
This is a meeting of the Fellowship of Christian
Athletes (FCA). Their president is senior and
history major Joshua Strausser. Strausser, 22,
combines his love for music with his love for
sports at FCA, where he preaches, and sings and
plays on the worship team. He is rarely found
here without his distinctive grin on his face.
Strausser has also performed for
three years with the Spectrum Popular
Music Ensemble. In April, he will be
the first student to graduate with Wes
leyan’s new music production minor.
The Decree met Strausser for an interview
in the Taylor Center conference room. "I
kind of miss this room," Strausser said as he
found a seat at the table. During Strausser's
freshman and sophomore years, FCA met
here as a group with three or four members.
Today, FCA has outgrown the confer
ence room, and its 30-plus members
have their weekly meetings in the cha
pel. In his four years here at Wesleyan,
FCA has helped Strausser face a great
deal of challenges, not the least of which
was the death of his mother in 2018.
The room full of trophy cases and retired
A. Learning how to write papers again—
Dear Lord, it had been a while! When I saw
all of the required writing-intensive classes,
I almost backed away. Obviously, I changed
my mind and pressed forward.
Q. What attracted you to your majors?
A. A business administration degree in
creased opportunities with my current employer.
Q. What was your favorite class at Wesleyan?
A. I've had many classes that I thor
oughly enjoyed, but Economics II and
Statistics were my two favorites.
Q. Elaborate on your current job and
career plans.
A. I’m a medical/commercial property
manager (NC Real Estate Broker) with
Lillibridge Healthcare Services. I oversee
annual budgets, quarterly re-forecasts, and
monthly reports; bid, award, and manage
capital projects; manage procurement
directives within my portfolio; manage
personnel; maintain tenant satisfaction; and
perform many other duties for about 300,000
square feet located in three counties.
Q. What challenges did you face in
earning your degree?
A. Oh my. from September 2018
through August 2019 was a doozie of a
time for this old gal; “a trying time” is an
understatement. In September 2018 I had a
colonoscopy and my colon was punctured,
landing me in ICU for a couple of days.
Then in October, Hurricane Michael
hit the panhandle of Florida; that’s where
I grew up and my family still lives. They
were devastated. My sister lost a home,
there was no power for three months, and
my dad's pacemaker/defibrillator couldn't
sports jerseys seemed a fitting place for
Strausser’s interview as he began to share his
story. Strausser grew up in Claremont, the
middle of three triplets. Along with his broth
er, Free. and sister. Erica, Strausser attended
Bandys High School in Catawaba. His father,
Eric, drives a track for Tyson Foods, and his
late mother, Lori, owned a hair salon.
A lover of sports. Strausser played football,
wrestled, and competed in shotput and discus
at Bandys. His mother used to come to all
his games and ring a cowbell. "The thing is,
she didn’t know anything about football,”
Strausser mused. "Even though I played for
like 10 years...she used to cheer when the
other team did something good and we’d
have to turn around and be like ‘Mom, no.’”
He came to NC Wesleyan in 2016
to play defensive tackle. During his
freshman year, he sustained two
football injuries: a concussion during
training, and a foot injury in one of the
first games of the season. The latter
sidelined him for the rest of the year.
Over the following summer, Strausser
became disenchanted with the competitive
nature of college sports. “It's not the same
feeling as Friday-night football,” he said, re
membering how he was usually too worried
about which players were better than him to
really enjoy playing. This anxiety, combined
with his injuries, led him to decide not to
play football his sophomore year.
Without sports taking up his time, Strauss
er turned his attention to his love for music.
He had begun playing the acoustic guitar
be monitored by his cardiologist. I made
multiple supply trips there for my family,
the community, and all of the animals
suddenly displaced, lost, and homeless.
If that wasn’t enough, a man broke
into my house the following May. I
arrived home before the authorities and
was confronted by the intruder. He was
apprehended, charged with two felonies,
and released that same day; and yes, he
ran. We later found out that he was on
federal probation for illegal trafficking
of firearms. It was scary. He stalked my
house for a while, but he’s now serving
time at a federal penitentiary.
A month later I blew my L5 (lumbar
vertebrae) picking up a 45-bottle case
of water at Sam's Club and had to have
emergency surgery—no physical thera
py or injections for me. I did a number
on the old thing. I finally was released
to return to work August 26th and all is
well. Even through all of the trials and
tribulations, I still recognize that my
blessings far outweigh my hardships.
Q. How will your degree help you in
your career?
A. At this point, I'm not really sure. I
hope to move up within my current com
pany. but I’ll also be keeping an eye out
for opportunities of change and growth.
Q. Who will join you at commencement?
Tell us about celebrations you've planned.
A. My husband, Charles Mager, and
my youngest child, Colby Silverthorne,
will be there. After enduring the Business
482 Capsim final. I’ll probably have a
large stiff drink. Honestly!
when he was 12 years old, but he had "only
really played at church” before coming to
college. He decided to enroll in Wesleyan’s
new music production program during his
sophomore year. As part of the program,
Strausser joined the popular-music ensemble
known as “Spectrum" as a guitarist.
Life was good and then, a few months
into the school year, Strausser received a
phone call that would change his life forever.
Strausser’s mother had suffered from heart
palpitations for most of her life, having been
bom with just two working heart valves as
opposed to the normal four. In October of
2018, Strausser received a phone call from
his brother. Lee, that his mother had been
taken to the hospital and that her heart had
had to be shocked back into rhythm.
He made the three-hour drive home to
Claremont that weekend to be with his mother
and stayed until the following Tuesday, Octo
ber 23, when his mother was scheduled to
have open-heart suigety. “The doctor said that
the surgery went perfectly,’ ’ Strausser recalled.
But after the surgery, his mother
fell into a coma and remained in that
condition the rest of the week. Having
been away for an extended period,
Strausser came back to Wesleyan to
resume class on Monday, October 29.
It was at a Spectrum rehearsal that
afternoon that Strausser received the
news: Lori Strausser had flat-lined. He
rushed home again, arriving shortly be
fore his mother passed away at 12:30
on the morning of October 30.
Strausser remained home with his family
until his mother’s funeral on November 2.
His friends. Beau Sharpe, Grey Clark, Paul
Bunch, and Toby Shaip (all members of
FCA), made the trip to attend the funeral.
After the funeral, Strausser faced the
daunting task of making up for two full
weeks of missed classes, but he said the Bishop
family offered him a great deal of help.
‘Wesleyan has good professors,” Strausser
said, explaining that his teachers allowed
him to push assignment deadlines back so
he could catch up. "(Professor) Ross even
offered to put an incomplete on (his) course.”
he said, “and Get me) finish it next semester."
But Strausser declined the offer. "I
put my nose to the grindstone,” he said.
“Sitting in a hospital waiting room for
12 hours a day gives you plenty of time
to read.” With help from professors and
friends, he passed all his classes.
Strausser credits his faith for helping in his
emotional recovery. "I have a God who never
leaves me,” he said, “so I wasn’t an emo
tional wreck when I came back to school.”
He’s also very grateful to have friends by
his side. “I have some great friends," he
said, “(and so many) great memories... .You
should form as many relationships as pos
sible, because you never know when you’ll
need their friendship or help.”
Strausser will graduate in April with a
major in history and minors in music pro
duction and English. He hopes to work
in music (possibly in live sound), marry
his girlfriend of nine months, Natalie
Larson, and raise children who serve God.
"Everybody needs money,” Strausser
said. "But if I can leave an impact on
somebody’s life, I’ll be happy. Ultimately,
I want to make God proud with my life.”