BMW Gives Breast Cancer Research an Ultimate Opportunity

By: Lizzie Cothran


From Feb. 13 to Dec. 13, BMW participated in its twelfth annual nation-wide event to raise money for breast cancer research. The company allowed people across the country to test-drive their cars. While miles were being put onto the cars, dollars were being donated to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure event during the BMW Ultimate Drive.

Supporting a Cause

BMW’s overall goal this year was to raise $1 million dollars, making a grand total of $12 million.

Flow BMW of Winston-Salem participated in the event on Dec. 2 this year, and hundreds of people showed up, bringing the goal closer to possible.

Those interested arrived at the dealership, and after a few questions, were handed the keys to whichever BMW model they preferred. Participants were given a route to travel, totaling a 16 mile course. Therefore, every person that test-drove in Winston-Salem helped donate 16 dollars to research.

Lauren Marrow, 21, was a partaker at the Winston-Salem stop of the tour. She states, “I’ve always loved supporting breast cancer because it runs in my family.”

The reason so many people came to show their support is unnecessary. Whether they have personally lost someone due to breast cancer, are fighting it themselves, or just care about those who are, people showed interest in the event because, in the end, it was for a good cause.

It also didn’t hurt that they got the opportunity to drive a BMW for a few miles. Marrow says that she, “really enjoyed being able to drive around in a BMW that millions of other people have driven,” and that it “opened up [her] eyes to see so many people come together to support a cause.”

Efforts that Really Make a Difference

BMW has been participating in the “Susan G. Komen for the Cure” event since 1997, and has raised over $11 million dollars for breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment programs.

Dave Mertes, an employee at Flow BMW of Winston-Salem, was working on the day of the event. When asked if he thought all of the test-drivers for the day had intentions of buying, he replied, “Of course not. I know most were here just to support the cause.” Any other day, the dealership would be “bugged” by that, but he adds, “We make exceptions."

Families across the world have lost members due to breast cancer, and hundreds of thousands continue to be diagnosed each year. Those lost and still fighting are daughters, sisters, mothers, friends, teachers, students, and much more.

Helping Hands

The 2008 tour included 206 stops in 41 states during a 10-month period.

Mertes says that he didn’t expect the turn-out that came with the event, but that it’s miraculous to think about. “To think that every person is there for some reason, yet for one reason amazes me,” he states elatedly, “...to think people are that selfless in today’s world gives me hope.”

After test-driving, the participants were asked to add their name to BMW’s “Signature Vehicle.” This car was designated to be used as a visible symbol of the collective commitment to win a fight for the cure.

The 2008 tour is complete, and the 2009 tour will begin early next year.

Go to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.'s website to find out more about ways to help support breast cancer research.

“Click to Give” free mammograms at The Breast Cancer Site.

The Grille Quickly Becomes Student Favorite

With the expansion of the High Point University campus, the new Village complex is home to the student favorite eating joint, The Grille, which opened its door Sept. .
The fall 2008 semester is coming to an end and already the Grille has reached the top of the popularity charts.
The student body raves about the new restaurant and the differences from the existing Cafeteria and C-Store. The C-Store is the only grocery and convenient store on campus.

The Grille Separates Itself in Style

The Grille provides fashionable furniture with luxurious chandeliers and convenient easy to order menus. The Grille also provides quick service and ready to make food by the helpful cooks






behind the counter. “I really enjoy the type of cookout feeling you get here at the Grille,” says Senior Chris Mills. “ They cook the food right in front of you, it’s really cool and a nice change of pace from the Cafeteria.”

With New Grille Comes a New Meal Plan

The Village meal plan is quite different than the one available to students on campus. Since the Grille is declining balance only. This part of the student card allows the student to use the card as a type of credit card.
The funds in this area are deposited through credit card and work as cash. The students living in the Village have a meal plan designed specifically for them. The meal plan consists of only 5 meals at the main Cafeteria, and double the funds in the declining balance aspect of the HPU Passport.
This plan is very attractive to most students in the Village because when they are out they can use those funds at any of the restaurants or convenient stores affiliated with the High Point University extra card.
“Last year when I was a freshman I only had 150 on my declining balance card and 14 meals at the Cafeteria. I never liked the Cafeteria food very much so I would always eat at Subway or Chik-Fil-A,” says Sophomore Eric Karge. “Now that I'm living in the Village, I have no problem eating the food at the Grille and since I now have 400 dollars on my declining balance I can also eat out whenever I want.”

Grille 's Taste Passes the Test





HPU students can’t get enough of the new Grille. The Grille serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. All the food is made fresh right in front of you and the options are plentiful. This is a main attraction to the students. This is the only restaurant on campus that offers this service with such wide varieties of food.
Cafeteria offers some stations where only one kind of food is prepared for you, but the rest of the food there is made behind the scenes. “I live on campus yet I'd rather go to the Grille for lunch,” says Sophomore Ryan Gleason. “The quality of food is better at the Grille and when you leave you don't have that odor of Cafeteria following you all day long.”



Declining Balance Emerges as Main Attraction

Opened in the beginning of the semester, the new Grilled opened its doors and a new meal plan created. This meal plan’s objective was to accommodate the students of the Village so they could eat at the Grille stationed right in the heart of the complex. In order to do this, they had to switch the divisions of the meal plan.
The original meal plan is designed to give you more meals at the Cafeteria and less money in the declining balance section of the High Point University Passport.
However, since the new Grille runs off cash, the meal plan for the students living in the Village has reshaped into more money in the declining balance, which acts as a credit card, and minimal meals at the campus Cafeteria.
“I think this is the best aspect of the Grille besides the food.” Matt Cox says. “ I like the fact that if I chose not to eat at the grille I can always use my declining balance at Subway, Chick-A-Filet, or any of the other restaurants who accept the HPU extra Card.”
However not everyone shares the same opinion as Cox. “I can’t stand the Grille.” Brandon Arbogast says. “It’s way to expensive, I’d rather just eat at the Café.”

Grille is also known for its wide variety of grocery items. The difference between the C-Store and the grocery store in the Grille is that the students love not having to walk all the way over to another building just to get groceries.

For more information about student dining:

http://dining.umd.edu/

http://www.dining.unc.edu/home.aspx?js=1

Drinking on tap with under age people

By: Steven "Steve-o" Portner

Under age people may be drinking more now then ever

The Numbers:

In today’s society, young people are more pressured than ever to drink at an early age. In a recent study done with males and females aged 12-20, 57.3 percent of males and 47.6 percent of females had or are currently drinking. Of these, 21.1 percent of males and 16.1 percent of females have binge drank. Binge drinking is defined as the consumption of dangerously large quantities of alcoholic beverages in one session. Doctors say that 5 or more alcoholic beverages for males, and 4 or more for females, in one sitting is considered binge drinking.

Fraternities and other Greek Organizations:

Fraternities are group of men bonded together by their ritual that contains the founding principles, ideals, and aspirations of the group. Many people believe that young men join these organizations so they have a place to engage in activities such as binge drinking, taking drugs, and easy access to sex from the opposite sex. These are simply stereotypes that have been made from movies like Going Greek, Old School and Animal House.

It is true, however that most fraternities do have large parties in which illegal activities like underage drinking do happen but not to the extent that the stereotypes would have people believe. High Point University student Ryan McCarthy states that when you are in college, “It’s what you do. It’s not like you can stop people from doing it. When you think of college, you think of being able to do what you want, when you want.”

In 2001 The Harvard School of Public Health did an alcohol study on college campuses and found that members of Greek organizations tend to drink on a more consistent basis then people in other types of organizations. Nearly 40 percent of Greek organization members who considered themselves as low level drinking had increased their alcohol consumption, compared to just 17 percent of non Greek students. The study also finds that members who take a more active role in the organization tend to drink even more heavily than the other members.

Does this mean that all Greek organizations are full of beer drinking, drug taking, sexaholics? No, many of these organizations have been taking a stand against the stereotypes. Like others, the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity has put national rules in place that helps to eliminate underage drinking. It is in the bylaws that no Lambda Chi Alpha function is allowed to have kegs, distribute alcoholic beverages and must have sober brothers at all times. If a chapter gets caught not following these laws, they will be penalized from sanctions all the way up to loss of charter and banning on their campus.



Consequences:

Most teenagers who engage in consuming alcohol tend to engage in binge drinking. The problem with binge drinking is that side effects can be deadly. These side effects include sexual dysfunction, unplanned pregnancy, sexual transmitted diseases, liver disease, and alcohol poisoning. Most binge drinking occurs when people engage in drinking games such as quarters, card games, Edward forty hands, and beer pong. Drinking games are very popular with young people, especially at college fraternity parties.

Drinking and driving is also a huge problem with under aged people. Statics show that in 2006 32 percent of all deaths on U.S. Highways were involving a drunk driver, nearly 13,500 people. High Point University student William McNamara states “I think it is a problem when people think they can do short drives when they are drunk.”

It seems that when people drink, especially under aged people, they think that they are invincible. People need to learn that when they consume an alcoholic beverage, your reaction time is affected. However with the proper education about alcohol, people of all ages can enjoy their own personal experience with drinking.

For more information on this topic please visit:

http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/quickstats/binge_drinking.htm

http://www.alcoholalert.com/drunk-driving-statistics.html

http://www.lambdachi.org/

www.stopalcoholabuse.gov/Stats/

Sidebar: Fun times breaking the law

Many people love the idea of going against authority and doing this that they could get arrested for. Is it for the thrill of breaking the law? Is it because everyone else is doing it and it’s the popular thing to do? Or is it because they enjoy the feeling of getting drunk.

Whatever the reason, high school and college students frequently break the law the drink alcohol in large amounts to get drunk and party. Many of these students “blackout” from drinking too much and perform actions that they would normally not do.

Andrew Craig and Rachel Anderson are both students at High Point University, who go out drinking on a frequent basis to get drunk and have fun. Their actions have led them to partake in crazy night that without their friends, they would never remember.




Andrew had a night in which he consumed around 6 to 7 beers and nearly a handle of Southern Comfort leading him to have a lower case of alcohol poisoning and proclaiming that he is “a f__king rockstar!” Rachel had a similar night in which she drunk a large number of shots and began to flash and make out with a female friend for Mardi Gras beads.

Nothing Stays the Same

By Jen Paolino

Nothing Stays the Same

In a society where we pride ourselves on our ability to adapt, to change with the times, anything that falls short of what is new or, dare I say trendy, is shunned, looked down upon, or thought of as not meeting the standards of today.

High Point University is not a school that likes to be overshadowed by many things, so the fact that it is at the top of its class when it comes to education, technology, transportation, and just about anything else you can think of, is no surprise.

In the past three years, HPU has gone from a relatively unknown private school, to working its way up the ranks, now sitting comfortably among schools two or three times its size. It seems as though no stone has been left unturned in the on-going transformation of High Point University.

The Start of it All

In the fall of 2006, it almost seemed as if the cars on campus were outnumbered by bulldozers and pick-up trucks. The streets were littered with men wearing hard-hats, and the sounds of jack-hammers and drills filled the air. While this might not paint the most picturesque of scenes, it was the beginning of something great; something new and exciting. Something extraordinary.

Blessing Hall, the first, but not the last, residence hall on campus to offer private bedrooms, private bathrooms, and a full kitchen, was ready and waiting for the brand new freshman class when they arrived in August 2006. It may have been the first thing to go up, but if anyone thought it was the last, they were sadly mistaken.

According to Dr. Nido Qubein, there have been thirteen new buildings and two new stadiums, a total of 1,000,000 sq. ft., added to the ever-growing High Point University campus. But, not only have new buildings been erected, all of the old buildings have been renovated as well, ensuring that no matter where you are on campus you are getting the very best.

From the Philips School of Business, which features spacious auditoriums, state-of-the-art computer labs, and private study rooms, to the brand new Slane Student Activity Center that includes a fully equipped weight room, the newly renovated cafeteria (now with outdoor seating), to, of course, the Subway, Chik-Fil-A, and Starbucks. And did I mention the pool? Yes, there is a pool, because what would a college campus be without a pool? Pretty lame, if you ask me.

The Transformation Continues

If it wasn’t enough to completely transform the already existing campus, High Point University is expanding. The Village, a gated community at HPU that is located on North College Drive, makes the campus feel more like a country club than a university. Following the same formula as York and Blessing residence halls, The Village and The Village II provide students with private bedrooms and bathrooms, kitchens and living rooms, with the added bonus of double beds. Because a bed that fits one just isn’t enough.

While The Village might be cut off from the rest of campus, they still have everything they could possible need over in their private community including a mailroom, a gym, a pool, and The Grille, their very own restaurant/convenience store. So, if they are not willing to take the shuttle bus, which comes and goes every fifteen minutes, to the other end of campus, they’re pretty much set just where they are.

With the Norcross Graduate School, The Philips School of Business, the Jerry and Kitty Steele Sports Center, York Residence Hall, The Village, and a plethora of other buildings already completed, some may be wondering what else could possibly be added to HPU’s campus. Another fountain perhaps? It’s possible, but before we erect another water feature, the school is focusing on what really matters; education.

The Qubein School of Communications has been a work in progress since 2006, and, after numerous minor setbacks, is finally getting completed this August. After expanding the building by 20,000 sq. ft and adding extensive technology, it will boast a full two studio, one control room high definition television facility with green screen capabilities, a state of the art recording studio, and top of the line audio and video equipment. Professional television studios everywhere are already jealous.

One of the highly anticipated projects, with a projected completion date of August 2009 is The Multiplex. With 300 hotel style dorm rooms, a movie theatre, a steak house, and a Barnes and Noble, every student on campus, including myself, is anxiously awaiting its unveiling when they return to school next fall.

The End Result

Although many students have high hopes that one day soon they will wake up to peace and quiet outside their bedroom windows and they won’t be run off the roads by tractor
trailers or giant flatbeds carrying some unimaginably large piece of equipment, that chance is slim to none.

High Point University will always be evolving. Whether it is on campus or with their increasing student body, change is vital to keep things vibrant and fresh; to keep people interested and coming back for more.

“This transformation has made our school a first class place with extraordinary student facilities,” said Dr. Qubein. “All of this has brought us national attention, significant growth in enrollment, and increased retention. We are now a “hot” school with extraordinary learning opportunities and outstanding student involvement. “

High Point University does all it can for its students every day. They are constantly trying to make our campus the best it can be, and Dr. Qubein and his staff have invested $250 million to ensure just that.

To see what other people are saying about the transformation of High Point University, check out the following links:

ABC News

US News and World Report

Sidebar: From Construction Site to Country Club in Under Four Years

Starting out at a new school in a new state is overwhelming on its own, but in 2006, with bulldozers and forklifts taking over the High Point University campus, freshman Ashley Akers began to wonder exactly what it was that she had gotten herself into.

“They were still laying down the grass when I was moving in,” Akers recalls of her first official day on campus. That August, the transformation was just beginning, and the graduating class of 2010 has definitely been feeling the effects of all the on-going construction.

Akers admits that from day one it was like walking into a ‘hard-hat-only’ zone; with hammers banging, drills buzzing and two-by-fours hanging in the air above our heads, there was no escaping the fact that the High Point University we all knew and loved would soon be transformed into the miles and miles of breathtaking campus we have grown so accustomed to.

Being able to watch the changes take place is what really makes it worth it for Akers; knowing what the University once was, and seeing what it has become makes her appreciate everything that HPU has to offer. Even though she will probably be waking up to the sound of trucks backing up for the better part of the next two years, it doesn’t bother her, because she knows that she is getting a first-class education with the best amenities that any school in the country has to offer.

With a big smile on her face, and not the least bit of hesitation in her voice Akers graciously reveals that there isn’t any other school that can make her feel so at home.

Sidebar: Construction Timeline

Name of Building Date of Completion
Blessing Residence Hall August 2006
Slane Student Center August 2007
Philips School of Business August 2007
Vert Track and Stadium August 2007
York Residence Hall August 2007
Jerry and Kittle Steele Sports Center August 2007
The Village Community August 2008
Hayworth Park August 2008
Wilson School of Commerce Under Construction
Brayton School of Education Under Construction
Nido Qubein School of Communication Under Construction

The Campus Concierge

By: Eddie Fane


Sidebar: Other Campus Concierges


The Campus Concierge is a unique feature of High Point University that helps students with many of the difficult aspects of the college experience.


About the Concierge

High Point University prides itself on being there for it's students. In July of 2007, the University enacted a new service to help students known as the Campus Concierge.


President Nido Quebein felt that by having this concierge service, it would help students focus more on school by relieving them of the everyday hassles and stress that being a college student can produce.


The concierge has many aspects that are very helpful to students in many ways.


Features of the Concierge

The Campus Concierge offers more features to students than one may think.

Leslie Smith, who has worked at the concierge since it started in July, 2007, listed off the different things that the service has to offer.

The first of the services is known as Kendall rentals. The Kendall is a type of computer that allows students to download entire books to the computer off the Internet. The Concierge also offers dry cleaning services, wake up calls and daily weather updates.

The Concierge also sends daily emails to inform students of upcoming sports events, fundraisers and other school related activities. The Concierge not only lets the students know of upcoming activities, but distributes tickets to the events as well.

Transportation can also be arranged for students traveling home for breaks through the Concierge. By working with the schools shuttles, trips to airports within the area are easily arranged. Plus, no one can forget the fact that on each students birthday a card and balloons are delivered to the students residence.


The Students Reactions


"I can't explain how valuable the wake up service is", says Junior Cormac Abate. "Without it I would have missed my 8:00 A.M class too many times."

Sophomore Stephan Crim says, "I like the fact that they send you daily emails. It helps keep me informed about whats going on around campus."

The Campus Concierge service is extremely beneficial to the student here at HPU. It offers a stress free way to take care of many students to do lists. In the end, it is just another example of how High Point is going above a beyond to help students be successful in college.


Other Campus Concierges

High Point University is not alone in offering students this Concierge Service. A service known as Precious Time has recently been started at Syracuse University. The service has the same basic idea as the Concierge service here at High Point. Precious Time is a completely student run company that offers students pick up and delivery of food and school supplies and can also help students find cleaning services, taxi services and computer repair services. The fact is that with college students lives being so busy, the idea of a Concierge service is brilliant. Within the next few years, I would not be surprised to see more Universities across the nation take to this concierge service due to all the benefits that come along with it.

Some Schools with the Concierge Service

-High Point University
-University of Hartford
-Pacific Luthern University
-Westminster College
-University of Vermont
-Syracuse University


For more information about the campus concierge you can visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com/press-release/the-campus-concierge-a-peace-of-mind-away-from-home-61203.php or http://www.highpoint.edu/concierge/

Christmas Comes Through Giving

By: Abby Wood

Sidebar: Holiday Festivities and Events

Despite the tough recession in the economy, retailers are saying Christmas will not be a total let down for businesses because of the good sales stores are currently having.

Retailers keep a Positive Attitude

Senior General Manager David Huesser of the Four Seasons Town Centre said he felt positive that the Christmas season will turn out well because retailers have a lot of sales for customers right now.

“I’m optimistic that the shopper will continue to respond to the sales the retailers are having,” he said.

In light of the economy, workers inside the stores are deciding to keep the Christmas cheer by carrying a positive attitude, and remembering the importance of Christmas.

An employee working in the Friendly Center's Ann Taylor Loft store said that the economy has not negatively impacted their business, and expects that the shopping season will get better.

He added that customers are taking advantage of the coupons that are offered through some stores of the shopping center, as well as special sales for sweaters offered in Ann Taylor Loft.

“The most popular, cheapest thing to buy here is the cable v-neck sweater for $29.50,” he said.

Retailers have consistently put their best foot forward in hopes that the present economical situation will eventually diminish.

Consumer Opinions on Economy

Consumers have responses of their own on how the economy is affecting them this year with Christmas shopping.

A shopper who preferred not to be named said she is conscious of the situation with the economy.

Another shopper who preferred not to be named said the economical situation is scary right now, but she is still “keeping the faith” that it will be okay.



A recent survey conducted by the American Research Group, Inc. showed that consumers will be spending about half the amount of money they spent last year on Christmas gifts.

According to this survey, “this is the lowest level of planned gift spending recorded by the American Research Group since 1991.”

However bleak Christmas spending may be, consumers are consistently showing a rise in their budget spending as we edge closer to Christmas.



Holiday Festivities and Events

A benefit for Christmas shoppers and retailers this year is the entertainment that will be hosted by the Four Seasons Mall throughout Christmas.

The event will be the Holiday Concert Series “to provide entertainment for the retailers and customers during the Christmas season,” said Common Area Coordinator Kelly Atzbach.

The public is free to schedule a time to perform any type of music at the mall’s amphitheatre during the Christmas season.

Atzbach said they are having the concert series because it is a way for the community to get involved, and it has never been done before.

She said this Christmas season will be a test run to see if people like the concert, and if it is a success, it will continue.

“We want people to appreciate coming out and spending time together. We want to get the community involved, and overall make it a wonderful experience.”

The Four Seasons Mall is also doing a special program called Random Acts of Kindness through Christmas.

Mall officials, students, and other organizations will be passing out free $100 gift cards to anyone that is in the mall. That person who was given a gift will also pass it on to someone else as a way of paying the kindness forward.

Huesser said that the Random Acts of Kindness “is a unique program for us, and it feels good to touch the lives of the community through these simple acts of kindness.”

“This year it is more about the giving than the receiving, and that is what we are trying to bring Christmas back to,” said Atzbach.


For more information on the economy and shopping statistics, visit:

http://www.americanresearchgroup.com/

http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/22/christmas-shopping-will-sales-be-as-low-as-consumers-predict/?scp=1&sq=Christmas%20Shopping&st=cse

Economy Hurting Colleges, Students Alike

by Matt Conley

Mired in perhaps the worst economic recession since the Great Depression, times are tight for many American families. With the stock market crashing and jobs disappearing, both colleges and students are feeling the impact.


Here at High Point

Given the state of the current economy, college applications are expected to be down this upcoming year, as fewer students will be able to afford tuition.

According to experts, private colleges and universities are expected to be hit much harder than public institutions. According to collegeboard, the average price of attending a private four year university is $25,143, nearly four times as much as public four year schools, where the average tuition is just $6,585.

It is also expected that fewer students will go to school out-of-state, where tuition at public universities is usually more than twice as expensive as in-state schools.

So one can only assume that High Point University, a private institution that draws nearly 75% of its students from out-of-state, will be affected more than most other schools.

Not according to Vice President of Enrollment Andy Bills.

"The demand to attend High Point University is at an all-time high," claims Bills.

According to Bills, applications to High Point are up "over 20%" of last years record year.

He credits this to the leadership and vision of High Point University President Nido Qubein and the schools commitment to excellence.

"The nation is taking notice as President Qubein's and our leadership team's branding efforts and strategy are working. Simply put, we have built a first class educational environment and we focus on our students success and happiness."

While Vice President for Financial Affairs William Duncan is also pleased with the early application numbers, he is also a bit more cautious than Bills.

"Applications are up significantly this year over last. That is quite positive, though in the long run it will only truly matter on those students who end up matriculating. With the economy being as it is at present, this is a major wild card."


Some Students Not So Lucky

It will not take until the fall for the effects of the recession to be felt by college students. Some are being forced to transfer or withdraw in between semesters, unable or unwilling to pay next semester's tuition.

High Point is no exception.

Sophomore Biology major Amanda Strom emphatically states, "the cost of tuition played 100% in my decision to transfer."

"The current state of the economy definitely played into my decision, because it is harder to get loans these days and interest rates are higher. I also didn't get as much financial aid as last year, but I don't know how much of that was the economy and how much of it was because freshmen receive money first."

"However, most of it was the steep increase in tuition."

Strom, a North Carolina resident, plans to attend Appalachian State University in Boone, NC next semester. Appalachian State, a public university, will cost her $4,194 in tuition and fees, opposed to the $31,000 she would be paying at High Point, minus financial aid.

While there are plenty of students like Strom, there aren't quite as many as you would think.

Explains Duncan, "The attrition rates continue to hold quite well at present. Yes, we are losing students for various reasons, and many times this is actually quite hard to fathom. Nevertheless, it has always happened and it always will regardless of how great a place might be for the vast majority. Thus far at least, attrition is nothing outside of the historic norms, and is actually a bit ahead."

Bills puts the freshmen retention number at "above 96%" which shows no noticeable difference than years past.

That offers no solace to the unfortunate few that are unable to return.

"If it weren't for money, I wouldn't be leaving," admits Strom. "It just sucks."

Is Extraordinary Necessary?

As the economy worsens, many colleges and universities are focusing on cutting their budgets to save money. According to an article in the New York Times, Arizona State University is ending its contracts with 200 adjunct instructors in order to meet its goal of $55 million in budget cuts. Other schools are suspending or eliminating plans for construction.

This puts High Point University, in the middle of an amazing transformation that includes a substantial growth in both acreage and student population, in a tough spot.

How do you cut budgets while at the same time finish construction on several new buildings and increase the freshmen class?

To one student, it's simple.

"Get rid of some of the damn fountains," deadpans Caleb Sonneland.

Sonneland, a freshman at High Point last year who is a part-time student this year due to financial concerns, represents a number of students frustrated with certain aspects of the university that they feel are "unnecessary."

"It's just stuff like the trolley, the fountains, the ice cream truck. We just don't need it. It's like, to think, that the reason I couldn't afford to come back to school here because we bought a trolley, it's unbelievable," says Sonneland.

Strom seems to agree.

"I feel like at High Point you are paying more for the atmosphere and experience than the education. I feel like more money is being poured into projects such as construction of a multiplex when there is already a student center across the road. I also feel like High Point is trying to target a high class demographic and that's why they build all this 'fluff' because the people attracted to it can afford it."

There seems to be a growing consensus around the school that the University is transforming into a type of country club, a reputation only more purported during a piece on Good Morning America earlier this year.

Duncan contends that it is these things that gives High Point its identity.

"We have no plans to cut back on the 'extra things' we do for our students. These are the core of what makes HPU a unique place. To cut these out would not be a wise thing to do- in the short run, or the long one."

"We will not cut services we have promised our students we will provide," agrees Bills. "However, every department will be prudent with their budgets and cut out unnecessary expenditures that do not negatively effect our students' experience. "

And for the "fluff"?

"We also have some luxuries that generous donors have specifically donated money to fund fountains, sculptures, pools, etc. These will continue as planned as promised to the donors," explains Bills.

Even so, tuition for the 2009-2010 school year will rise, due to utilities, food, and additional academic programs, potentially forcing more students out the door.

For more information on this issue, visit Collegewise and The Admission Game.

Former Student Forced to Move On

Caleb Sonneland couldn't wait to return to High Point University for his sophomore year.

That is, until he found out he wouldn't be able to afford it.

In early July, Sonneland received word from HPU that his financial aid would be less than the previous years. This, coupled with the fact that tuition increased by about $3,000, left Sonneland in a tough spot.

After talking with his parents, he decided he was still going to High Point- only as a part-time student.

Sonneland lives in an apartment in High Point and takes two classes. As a part-time student, he is unable to live on-campus, cannot eat in the cafeteria, and is not issued a student ID card.

Sonneland is hoping to stay in North Carolina long enough to establish residency, then will attempt to apply to public schools as an in-state student next year.

"I just really like the area, and all my friends, obviously. High Point is just too expensive," he explains.

As a part-time student, Sonneland pays about $2,000 for his six credits, opposed to the nearly $34,000 full time students pay.

Among the schools he is interested in are the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and Appalachian State University. Both schools are public, with tuition roughly one-fifth the amount of High Point's.

While Sonneland admits this isn't the way he imagined his sophomore year, he is not one to dwell on it.

"It's unfortunate, but I'm not really upset anymore. That's just how life goes."

New Fraternities/Sororities at HPU

New Fraternities/Sororities at HPU

sidebar: What about housing?

by Chris Thurley

A lot of talk has been moving through the HPU campus about whether there's going to be a new fraternity and/or sorority soon. Some students are attempting to start a new fraternity and the sorority girls on campus realize that due to increasing admittance they need another sorority to lessen the amount of girls for rush. When Gail Tuttle, the Dean of Students at HPU and Meredith McCrea, the Greek Life Advisor at HPU were asked some questions they had a lot to say; and not just about new Greek organizations but about where they're going to live as well.

Does HPU need more Greek?

Greek Week this year had two fraternities with one sorority, three sorority’s with one fraternity and every group had just recently (within the last 3 years if not the year before) been with that exact same group. It was obvious something was making this whole process a little confusing and irregularity. Kappa Alpha Psi had too few members to be paired with a large sorority and the Alpha Kappa Alpha’s and the Delta Sigma Thetas had to join in order to have enough people to participate with a fraternity. This confusion upset the Greek community but only gave rise to what the school was going to do in the years to come, especially with increasing admission rates and the amount of students at HPU. For the fraternities a question of another one seemed questionable; although some students think this is a good time to start a fraternity for a growing campus. Zac Gillard, a senior and brother at Lambda Chi Alpha says that these new fraternities will, “[…] generally tend to be started by people who aren’t accepted by current fraternity members and they have a hard time finding new members”. But as Adrienne Sperry a junior and sister of Zeta Tau Alpha exclaims a new sorority, “[…] would help us out with taking too many girls that we can’t handle” and needs to be on their “’to do’ list now”.

What fraternity’s and sorority’s is the school at?

Within the next “two to five years”, as Dean of Students Gail Tuttle expressed, there will be the possibility of acquiring new fraternity (s) and/or sororities (s). The beginning actions of new fraternity’s are already progressing as members of Phi Kappa Sigma’s nationals came to present their fraternity to the Inter-fraternity Council yesterday 12/9/08. Two students are helping move the idea of a new fraternity on campus with an emphasis on: Phi Kappa Sigma, Kappa Sigma and Sigma Alpha Epsilon. The school’s Greek Advisor Meredith McCrea said the main possibilities for sorority’s on campus are between: Delta Delta Delta, Chi Omega, and Kappa Kappa Gamma.
With the many directions that the school might pursue for the fraternity’s “[…] there’s a little more burden on the students […] it often times [comes down to] student group that do the bulk of the work to start a new fraternity” explains Meredith McCrea. The work is in progress and the student interest is in so now it comes down to time, in order to get these new fraternity’s and/or sororities on campus.
As junior William McNamara exclaims “there would be no issue with people leaving us” and Zachary Gillard reaffirms, “I won’t being seeing or probably even hearing about any of the influence [of these new groups] they’ll be creating in the near future.”

How will the school deal with Greek housing?

“We would love to eventually have a sort of ‘Greek Row’”, Meredith McCrea says with a hint smile in the corner of her mouth. The problem with meeting space and living together as Adrienne Sperry said about new girls in her sorority is a big problem. But until this “long-term” goal is completed the school is just looking for an “immediate goal is finding some space for all the Greek organizations to do that”- Meredith McCrea. How long will a Greek row take HPU? Don’t Hold your breath it will be anywhere from five to ten years.

Interviews:

Gail Tuttle



Adrienne Sperry


Meredith McCrea


William MacNamara

Zachary Gillard

Sigma Alpha Epsilon - Fraternity

Delta Delta Delta - Sorority

Interfraternity Council

Panhellenic

Kappa Sigma - Fraternity

Phi Kappa Sigma - Fraternity

Chi Omega - Sorority

Kappa Kappa Gamma - Sorority

HPU's Greek Organizations

The Most Stressful Time of Year

For many students, college is the best four years of their lives. Unfortunately, the fun stops for a week every semester.

Each semester, for one fateful week, students cram for exams that encompass an entire semester's worth of material and can count for as much as 30% of their final grade. Not only can these tests make or break a student's grade, if they are not careful, it could wind up breaking them.


Feeling the Stress

College is a stressful time. Between balancing school, relationships, a social life, and jobs, all while typically experiencing true independence for the first time, anxiety and stress are common. This stress is never felt stronger than during exam weeks.

"There is definitely additional pressure during finals. They count for so much that you kind of have to study a lot more. If you don't, everything up to it really didn't mean much," said sophomore Joe Caporaso.

One place that feels the impact of finals week is the library.

Admitted sophomore Teddy Bender, "Really the only time I go to the library is for finals, and there are never any seats. Everyone is there."

Another sentiment that some students shared was a lack of sleep.

"I love to sleep, but once it gets to the end of the semester there is never any time to. That is the worst, your sleep cycle gets all screwed up," said Caporaso.

Help is Available

Students aren't the only ones to acknowledge that finals are a stressful time.

Finals are "high stakes and stressful for all of our students," concedes Gail Tuttle, Vice President of Student Affairs.

However, help is available on campus for students who feel overwhelmed.

High Point University has an Office of Counseling that offers assistance to students experiencing "behavioral, and/or psychological problems during the transition into college life."

Much like the students, the counselors are never busier than during finals.

According to Dr. Kim Soban, Director of Counseling and Psychological Services, the office typically averages seeing a 15% increase in students during finals.

Lynda Noffsinger, a clinical counselor in the office, agrees.

"This past week has been interesting. I have had several new clients walk through my door this week for one issue or another, and I also have had some of my students who have regular weekly appointments cancel because they have too much schoolwork to do."

Besides the counseling services, the University has other fun ways for students to relieve stress.

During finals, the University coordinates study break activities in the cafeteria. These breaks typically consist of free food and a movie, allowing students a much deserved break from studying.

"Our University encourages students to come and experience our final examination breaks. Many of the items we provide are comfort foods and something to ease the anxiety of studying or doing final projects," explains Tuttle.

Dealing with Stress

According to the American Institute of Stress, stress is "America's number one health problem."

Even though many students experience stress, they often handle their stress in very different ways. How they handle their stress is crucial in determining the affect it has on them.

"There are negative and positive ways to deal with stress," explains Noffsinger. "However, stress never goes away, and the sooner one learns to cope with it positively, the better."

One of the easiest ways to deal with stress is to utilize time management skills. Creating a schedule of your day and budgeting your time creates a sense of security.

Eating well and exercising are two simple ways to combat stress. Unfortunately, this doesn't always seem to be the case.

"Because of the culture and because of maturity levels, some students choose to cope with their stress in negative ways- binge drinking, abusing drugs, staying up too late, under eating and overeating," says Noffsinger.

"For students that are overly stressed, it is important to keep a healthy perspective. School is certainly important but nothing is worth damaging your physical, emotional, or mental health over."

For more information on dealing with stress, visit High Point's 10 steps to manage stress and anxiety or advice on dealing with test anxiety.

Example video

Video shot during class time

Black Friday Doesn't Offer Much Change

The crowds were just as big this year, surprising store owners everywhere. Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving, and is one of the biggest shopping days of the year, marking the beginning of the Christmas shopping season.

Today’s Economy Means Smarter Shopping

With the nation’s economy suffering, most store employees and owners expected the worst for their stores. Tiffany Holyfield, an employee for Target in Winston-Salem, says, “I honestly expected a regular Friday at work.”

Stores were shocked by the turnout. Holyfield states, “I’ve never worked on Black Friday before, but I can’t imagine it could get much crazier than this.”

Shoppers still showed, but what they bought may be a surprise. Although splurges on computers, televisions, and other electronics still ranked at the top of some people’s lists, others decided to take the opportunity to stock on necessities. Some of the top things Holyfield said she saw coming through her register lane were kitchen supplies, toiletries, towels, and clothing.

Shoppers are being smarter about where their money is spent, showing some things may just be more important than holiday spending. Most Black Friday shoppers said they just had one or two things in mind to buy, rather than browsing for more deals and spending too frivolously.

Shopping Turned Violent

If shopping is a sport, then some people should be kicked out of the game. Some people don’t dare to face the Black Friday madness. Shopping cart brawls and wrestling in the aisles of stores are classic ways to poke fun at Black Friday, but some happen to be truer than others.

This year, a Wal-Mart employee in New York was trampled to death by a chaotic, sale-eager crowd Friday morning. The rush of shoppers also injured three others. In California, two men shot and killed each other in a crowded Toys R Us store.

Alternatives to the Crowd

If Black Friday isn’t your thing, don’t worry. Not everyone has the time, patience, or mindset to camp out in front of stores on Thanksgiving or wake up before dawn the next day. The crowds can get overwhelming and dangerous, but there are alternative ways to save.

Thomas Bridges, a student and part-time worker, still had work Friday morning, so couldn’t spend the day shopping. Still wanting deals, he decided to take advantage of online deals. “I scoped out what I wanted a few days ago, then after work, I plan on sitting down for just five minutes and getting it all done at once,” he says, “…no crazy lines, no competition for what I want, and no other distracting sales.”

Most stores have the some of the same bargains online. Another option for online shoppers is to wait for Cyber Monday, the Monday following Thanksgiving, which is the unofficial kick-off to the online Christmas shopping season.

For more information on Black Friday this year, visit:

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/2008/11/29/20081129biz-blackfriday1129.html

http://www.mlive.com/chronicle/news/index.ssf/2008/11/economy_brings_out_deal_seekers_on_black_friday.html

And be sure to check out the upcoming Cyber Monday deals!

The Improvement of the Extra Card

High Point University has many improvements that have been added by new president Nido Qubein. One of these improvements is the High Point University Extra Card. This is an account on the student card which holds money that can be added by credit card through the students online MyStuff account. The HPU Extra account was created to help students pay for items that are not included in the regular dining plan. With the expansion of the school, new venues were added for the students. These included vending machines, a Convenient store, and restaurants on campus. The Extra card would allow students to use the money on the account purchase these items. Also, off campus venues were acquired by the school to be HPU Extra card accessible.

The expansion of the venues that are accepting of this account have increased every year. My first year here at High Point University the only available venues were the on campus ones and three off campus. Barberitos, Jersey Mikes, and Dominos were the only three off campus establishments that accepted the credit card like account. Over the past two years the venues have tripled leaving students very satisfied with the newly acquired.


Senior Mike Nelson states "Since my freshmen year, the HPU Extra card has grown tremendously. It was been awesome because the school was able to get a lot of the most popular restaurants around town to be Extra card accessible." Newly added Carolina Diner, Sonic, and East Coast Wings and Grill have been student favorites.


The University does not play to stop there. They are just beginning to tap into the food court at the local mall, Oak Hallow Mall. This would be another huge step because this is where a lot student do there shopping. it would be convenient for students to be able to use their Extra card at any one of the venues in the food court. "Oh my God, this would be amazing because I'm tired of having to spend more cash at the food court every time I go shopping. It would be so much easier to separate the shopping money with the food money," says Junior Christina Ferraiolo.

Shuttles are an Extraordinary disappointment

With the addition of the brand new dorm buildings, The Village 1 and 2, High Point University had to help students travel back and forth to main campus for classes every day. The school took the extraordinary approach and decided to invest in several small shuttle busses and one retro looking old time trolley to make living slightly off campus easier. Within the first few hours of the shuttles running, the students realizes that these shuttles were about as far away from extraordinary as could be.

Students began to question why the school could not keep the shuttles on the ‘every 15 minute’ arrival at every stop. Within the first two weeks of classes, the school decided to scratch out the time interval on each and every shuttle stop sign, leaving the students to have no idea what the shuttle schedule was. If there is not designated time of stops at the Village to main campus, then how will students be able to make sure they are able to arrive at class on time? Village 2 resident sophomore Ryan McCarthy states that the shuttles are “Useless, irresponsible and the people who work in the office don’t care what you say. They sat it’s on route even if you see if parked.” Village 1 resident sophomore Joseph Boyle says they are “Dirty buses, overcrowded, rude drivers who drive to slow and there are not enough shuttles.”

It seems that after enough students started to complain about the shuttle, the parents counsel began to ask questions. Nido Qubein and the rest of his high ranking staff began to scramble to answer all of the questions and find solutions to all the problems. After about 2 months, the school decided to change the location of shuttle stops to make them more user friendly for students by adding temporary awnings until they finish building permanent ones to protect students from the weather elements.

These improvements are a step in the right direction, however there is still much room for improvement. To this day, there is still not a definite time that any of the shuttles will arrive at any given location, nor how long it will take to travel from point a to point b. As students more forward and look ahead to next semester, they can only hope that travel between The Village 1 and 2 and Main Campus will become a more scheduled event and will lead to less late arrivals and less headaches.

Problems on Campus

As the student body at High Point University continues to expand, the campus itself has had to adapt to the increasing amount of people that call it home. For the most part students are thrilled with all that HPU has to offer. Whether it be the amazing dorm rooms, the new student center or the snacks offered to students on their way to class, the university does what it can to make sure it's students are happy. However there are some aspects of our university that are leaving students more than disgruntled.

Parking

One of the main problems that people seem to be facing, including myself, is the lack of parking around campus and the abundance of tickets that students are receiving. With all of the new bulidings that have recently been consrtucted there is not enough parking around campus to accomodate all of the students who drive to class. Numerous times I have had to park on the complete opposite side of campus causing me to be late to class. On some occassions there are open spaces or areas you can fit your car into but this almost always leads to a ticket that can cost up to forty dollars.

"The lack of parking around campus is rediculous. I have had over four-hundred dollars in parking tickets this semester alone because I have to park illegally," says Kyle Beck a junior at HPU. I know that I can not afford these tickets and something needs to be done in order to save students cash. I was declined for an interview with the head of security but I can guess that the school is making a large amount of money by charging students the minimum of twenty dollars per ticket.

Construction

The parking problem is not the only one that students are facing. The amount of construction around campus is a constant hassel for all students. Whether it be the noise, the problems with driving around the workers who are always blocking road or the surley workers themselves, everyone is ready for the construction to just be done with. Sophmore Britney Dimon says, "I live in the sorority dorm buliding Millis and I am woken up by the sounds of construction everyday. I know that there is nothing we can do about it but it is just annoying." She is right because there is nothing that can be done about it but we can all agree no one is happy about it.

The Voice of the Students

So what is to be done about these problems? Well no one can change the fact that construction is annoying and thats a fact. However I do feel that something can be done about the number of tickets being written to students. We need to increase the amount of parking lot and turn reserved spaces into sutdent parking. I also feel that twenty dollar tickets are very over priced and are only this high as a scam to make the university money. I know i am upset over these problems and I also know that the students feel share my feelings.

Inspiration Comes Through on Thanksgiving Event

Nicholas Marks taps his fingers on the guitar to warm up. The A Cappella brothers sing a little hum to vocalize their voices. Joan Brock sits patiently upon her stool, listening to her own heart beat. Lights come on, Assistant Vice President of Community Relations Chris Dudley speaks, and Nicholas Marks is the first to walk out on stage.

He taps his fingers lightly upon the strings, strumming a little to get the beat going. He builds a fast-paced rhythm, making an entourage of notes Spanish-styled. Getting up from the chair, he walks to the foot of the stage, grinning as an entertainer would during his show.

Making the beats even faster, he begins to move around the guitar to perform various tricks for the audience. He lifts the guitar over his head while his back faces the audience. He strums the strings from behind, and he flips the guitar in the air and catches the next note once it lands in his hands.

His time is up. He takes a bow, and grins even wider than the first time.

“The guitarist was amazing. I found him very entertaining,” said Elisha Robbins, a sophomore at High Point University.

As Chris Dudley walks off the side of the stage, the four men – Kevin, Brent, Josh and Dave kick off their performance with the song – One Fine Day.

Their next song – Mustang Sally, allowed us the audience to make a dance move. During the chorus “ride Sally ride” we stretched out first our right arm, then our left, and proceeded to make a slow, sweeping gesture.

After three more songs, an excellent fermata, and a couple of jokes, the Marcoux brothers bow and exit the stage for the final guest of the evening – Joan Brock.

Escorted by Chris Dudley, Joan walks the front of the stage as if she were walking on water. She smiles a radiant smile, full of hope and love to everyone.

She recalls the past event of when she could no longer see, and deciding that she would not give up on life.
Delving deeper into her story, Joan also recalls how she felt when she lost her husband from a rare form of cancer. Coming back to the square of decision, Joan explained she could not give up, but had to keep going.

“She was by far the best part of this show. I loved how she described her issue of being blind, but still was able to rebuild the life around her,” said Brandon Clark, a junior at High Point University.

Joan Brock completes her story with a message to all of us: to never give up faith. She says she has been through tough times, and she still gets frustrated over things, but through it all, she still keeps her faith. She ends with “God bless you all,” and is escorted once again by Chris Dudley off the stage.

For more information on the event visit:

www.highpoint.edu/documents/2008CulturalEvent_web.pdf

www.highpoint.edu/news_events/article.cfm?ArticleID=1236

Christmas at HPU

Although a heated argument may arise at other schools about decorating the campus in a Christmas fashion, High Point University thrives with their decorative fashion. The argument of whether college campuses should decorate or promote Christmas has been on on-going debate for a long time because some see it as threatening the "seperation of church and state" logic. Naomi Rockler-Gladin wrote in an article in 2006 that as a Jewish woman she truly doesn't see this as being an attack on her beliefs, but rather a secular symbol for happiness, "These symbols bring many students joy and comfort , especially as finals roll along, and they are an important part of American culture." She continues in a seperate article to tell American colleges and people opposed to Christmas decorations need to, "[...] stop being Scrooges".



WOW This Place Looks Amazing!

On High Point University's campus one may think that this is a school for Santa's little helpers instead of a liberal arts college in the middle of North Carolina. The campus has Christmas decorations strewn across its, already beautifully landscaped, campus which one student, Adrienne Sperry, a junior at HPU thinks is, "[...] a little bit excessive, but still pretty. It definetly sets the mood for the holidays". And HPU's director of WOW, Roger Clodfelter, has several ideas of why this use of Christmas decorations is a great way to turn up the volume of the "WOW" factor on campus. WOW is the campus chair to " [...] improve the appearance of campus and suggesting new projects or features that will create a dynamic and progressive atmosphere at High Point University." Roger expressed to me that this decorative process is only to make students truly feel like this is there home and their comfort zone. "We strive to make the HPU campus your home. The Christmas decor is an extension of that philosophy". This idea seems to be reaching the students in the same way as well, at least for Adrienne Sperry, "If anything they (the decorations) help us get through a very stressful time".

Too Much Money?



Another main focus that students have is whether the school spends too much money on decorating and adding beauty to the campus where maybe they should focus more time and energy on scholastics. "I absolutely think the school spends too much money on aesthetics. While Having a pretty campus is great for admissions I think a lot of it is unnecessary", exclaims Adrienne Sperry. Whether it's the larger than life panther statues, or the multitude of fountains across campus one thing can be reassured, "We re-use decorations from year to year so our budget is used in a very effecient manner", Roger Clodfelter reassured me, only with a small addition of decorations to the areas that were not finished this time last year.

Happy Holidays


The majority of campus loves the decorations because of the joy that Christmas decorations bring to so many people. The only question of decorations is why Christmas gets all the focus? Where are the Thanksgiving decorations? We all love a turkey dinner just as much as anything else, so maybe next year WOW could "[...] have giant turkeys strapped to the light poles", as Adrienne Sperry suggested. But until then, there's still a large display outside the Slane Center to represent the "'horn of plenty' in celebration of Thanksgiving"- Roger Clodfelter.


by Chris Thurley