Cheers to the recently acquired CHOICES alcohol awareness grant, but …

Jeers to the mixed message of the alcohol statistics that have been displayed on posters around campus. Is the fact that 10 percent of Transylvania students drive under the influence really something to brag about?

Cheers to Aubrey “Drake” Graham’s new album “Take Care” that has recently been leaked. Give it a listen if you haven’t yet.

Jeers to the computers in the basement lab of Clay Hall. They don’t work.

Cheers to junior Natalie Jones for recently completing a full marathon, an impressive feat to say the least.

Jeers to the library’s hours. If there are college students that only do homework until midnight, I have yet to meet them — possibly because they have all flunked out.

Cheers and congratulations to all of the new members of the Order of Omega and Omicron Delta Kappa.

Jeers to penalty kicks being the method of determining a winner in soccer games ending in a tie. Is that really the best way to see who is the better team?

Cheers to sophomore Maria Starck on the one’s and two’s at the bonfire in Back Circle sponsored by the Student Government Association.

Jeers to resident advisers that document themselves. Consistency is great, but that’s just foolish.

Cheers to the upcoming Make-a-Wish auction being put on by the women of Chi Omega.

Jeers to bomb threats and the lack of information relayed to the student body related to the incident. It would have been nice to know which buildings were particularly at risk so as to avoid walking into an explosion while vacating campus.

Cheers to the freedoms that come along with being in college, but …

Jeers to the “big brother” effect that has descended upon the social side of campus as well as any residencies that are inhabited by Transy students within the tri-county area.

Cheers to all of the Transy men’s and women’s soccer players who were recently named to the HCAC All-Conference teams.

Sorry for the satire

I’ve noticed that people say “I’m sorry” entirely too often. This is bad because, outside of the context of apology, it ends up inconveniencing the person to whom it is addressed — because that person must now think of a way to respond, and it’s impossible to respond without sounding either insensitive or significantly unintelligent. There are four responses, and they are each bad.

First, “No, you’re not.”

This response is usually given by those who haven’t had their coffee that day, those with an inflated sense of their own importance, or those who become disproportionately angry at others.

A typical situation: Jim forgets to bring a movie for the third time when he visits Kyle. Jim says he is sorry, and Kyle denies his sentiment, saying that Jim is, in fact, not sorry at all, because if Jim were really sorry, he would have remembered the movie. Jim must now either accuse Kyle of distrust or admit that he is not sorry at all and he’s never really liked Kyle anyway. Either revelation can destroy a relationship.

Signage an effective change

When he first came to Transylvania’s campus, President R. Owen Williams announced to me in my first interview with him that monitors would be placed around campus to communicate special announcements, advertise events and promote campus organizations, among other things.

Today, more than a year later, there are 10 of these digital signage monitors around campus, one each located in the alumni and development office, the Beck Center, the Campus Center Canteen, the Cowgill Center lobby, Forrer Hall Front Lobby, Jazzman’s Café, the Rafskeller and the library, as well as outside Carrick Theater and the cafeteria.

According to Vice President for Information Technology Jason Whitaker, there are hopefully more on the way so that eventually every classroom building on campus displays one.

These monitors, much like your own student newspaper, showcase visually appealing designs containing information important to the campus community. They reduce clutter on campus walls by lessening the need for fliers and they integrate technology into the design of campus that, before, was painfully missing. In short, they’re pretty cool.

More than that, though, the digital signage monitors represent what good things can happen when the people working behind the scenes to oversee our campus collaborate and synergize.

The idea came from the president, was researched by Whitaker and the IT department and then installed by the physical plant. On a daily basis, the monitors’ content is controlled by the publications department, and staff in each building can add content to their building’s monitor. This interdepartmental, collaborative work is what’s best for our university.

In addition, submitting content is easy and can be done from the Inside Transy home page, creating yet another efficient way to get information to students.

For these reasons, I am happy to endorse the digital signage monitors as a truly successful project that has positively impacted our campus.

Treading a new path: Noe pursues shoeless adventures

by Abby Fergusson
Sports Editor

Whether it’s due to injury or boredom, many runners have turned to barefoot running to liven up their routine.

For sophomore Erica Noe, a member of the cross-country and track teams, barefoot running has turned into more than just a hobby.

Sophomore Erica Noe has been barefoot running for almost two years. It has helped her become more physically and mentally tough.

“I loved the sound of something that was more natural and better for me; plus it just sounded fun,” said Noe.

For runners like Noe, barefoot running or “barefooting” has turned into more than just running barefoot.

“It’s a style of running that goes back to the basics and helps you naturally self-regulate your own running, therefore creating less impact on your body,” said Noe.

Noe started in a more unconventional way than the average barefoot runner.

“I started in the middle of a Maine winter, snow and all. So I began in socks,” said Noe.

This coming January, Noe will hit the two-year mark of barefooting. Her inspiration to begin came after her oldest brother read a book by Christopher McDougall called “Born to Run.”

“It started as a new way for me to bond with my brother and try something new, but has since grown into so much more,” said Noe.

Noe has seen firsthand the positive effects of barefooting.

“I was sick of injuries. I used to get bad shin splints in high school, but since starting barefoot running, I have had no major injuries. I feel more agile and ready to run,” said Noe. “My muscles feel less sore and it feels less taxing and more natural to run because my body is allowed to move the way it was supposed to without being limited synthetically by excess cushioning and structure.”

The NCAA prohibits runners from running barefoot in meets, so Noe has turned to cushionless minimalist shoes.

“(They) give the protection of a shoe with the feeling of running barefoot,” said Noe.

Athlete of the Week: Amanda Skinner

by Alissa Stieha
Staff Writer

Junior Amanda Skinner holds six school records in both individual and relay races. Coach Kyle Dunaway has high hopes for this season on her quest for a chance at nationals.

Transylvania’s swimming and diving teams compete at the highest level, aiming for shattering the longest-standing school records. They compete in the Bluegrass Mountain Conference against programs that are known as “power houses.”

Yet each time they compete Transy never lets the tough competition get to them. For these men and women of Transylvania the importance is on lifetime bests, school records, leadership and building the team for next year.

Junior swimmer Amanda Skinner is no stranger to shattering records and winning meets. She holds six school records, three from individual races and three as a member of relay teams. Last year she was .03 seconds away from making it to the NCAA nationals — to which only 16 athletes from each race are selected to go. She believes this is her year.

Coach Kyle Dunaway states that his goal for Skinner is “to get her to the NCAA meet.” Right now she’s at her career best and her recent meets have proven her desire to get to the level necessary for nationals.

Morlan exhibit goes ‘Beyond’

by Sarah Allison
Staff Writer

Prepare to be whisked away at the new exhibit in the Morlan Gallery. A place far away from exams, deadlines and Transylvania University, “Beyond Boundaries: New Work by Nana Lampton” lets you find that sense of place that college takes away.

This exhibit features Lampton, a Kentuckyartist widely known for her landscapes. These depict both scenic Kentucky spots and foreign locales, reflecting her travels. Lampton suggests that her paintings convey both a spirit of adventure and a sense of place.

Nana Lampton talks to Professor of Art History Dr. Nancy Wolsk at the opening reception of 'Beyond Boundaries: New Work by Nana Lampton." The exhibit is open until Dec. 6.

A Renaissance woman of her time, Lampton is also a published poet. Her books of poetry include “Moon with the Sun in Her Eye,” “Bloom of a Split Board” and “Snowy Owl Gathers in Her Trove.”

Many students appear to be impressed by the new exhibit.

“Nana Lampton’s artwork is beautiful, very inspiring and a great addition to the Morlan Gallery,” said first-year Hannah Greer.

Morlan Gallery Director Andrea Fisher also commented on Lampton and her artwork.

“What makes Nana unique,” Fisher said, “is her ability to run a large company and yet also maintain such a prolific amount of creative output. She strikes me as the type of person who is consistently maximizing her every moment.”

This Morlan Gallery exhibit will be on display until Dec. 6. The gallery will be premiering it to the public Fridayfrom 5 to 8 p.m. as part of the Lexington Gallery Hop.

‘Wind’ offers character over plot

There are so many books in the world that it is impossible to read them all, even if you wanted to. This can be a good thing — so many choices! — but it can also be very difficult to come to terms with.

Like many, I rely on my friends to direct me to books they think I’d enjoy. Sometimes this has the effect that I read something I normally wouldn’t. This was the case with Patrick Rothfuss’s debut novel “The Name of the Wind.”

This fantasy epic opens with a traveler coming to a secluded inn. The innkeeper turns out to be a legendary sorcerer, a sometimes-hero and sometimes-outlaw known as Kvothe the Bloodless.

Most of the novel takes place in the past, as Kvothe reveals his “unexaggerated” life story. Kvothe begins life as a member of a troupe of traveling musicians and goes to a university to study magic, making interesting friends and powerful enemies along the way. Interludes set in the present hint at the development of a future plot, as visitors come and go at the inn.

I’m not a really big fan of fantasy trilogies (Yes, “The Name of the Wind” is yet another faddish fantasy trilogy.), but something about this one grabbed me. The writing is unobtrusive and clever, and the book reads easily and pleasantly. I found myself hurrying back to it whenever I could, but I have a hard time qualifying what it is exactly I liked about this book.

Bomb threat tests T-Alert: Fraudelent call forces campus wide evacuation

by Jake Hawkins
Managing Editor

Students breach the Bubble during the midday evacuation at different locations around Lexington, including Third Street Stuff and Coffee, pictured above. Both students and faculty gathered in safe locations away from the main part of campus.

Investigations are still ongoing after an unknown suspect called in a bomb threat Monday, forcing an evacuation of the entire Transylvania University campus.

The threat, which was received by the Department of Public Safety at 11:13 a.m., stated that an explosive would detonate on campus at 1:00 p.m., according to Director of Public Safety Gregg Muravchik.

After the threat was received, a T-Alert was issued that instructed all students to move off campus. Multiple reports, however, confirmed malfunctions in the campus-wide emergency alert system.

“I received the emails on time, but I never get text messages,” said sophomore Annie Wright.

Those on campus also noted that the campus-wide public address system was not used.

“That should have been activated,” said Muravchik, “We’re working hard to make sure any deficiencies are corrected.”

Vice President for Information Technology Jason Whitaker explained the reason some students may have received delayed text messages was due to the “email-to-text bridge” currently utilized by T-Alert.

This “bridge” sends an email, rather than a text message, to your phone’s carrier-identified address. These email messages, however, may be delayed by phone carriers.

“There are services that we could pay for that guarantee timely delivery, but because T-Alert reaches you in many ways we have felt in the past that the email-to-text method sufficed as one more way to reach (students),” said Whitaker.

After Monday’s incident, though, this method of issuing T-Alerts to phones may be re-evaluated.

Despite these problems, campus was successfully evacuated before 1:00 p.m., the time the bomb was threatened to be detonated. Members of the residence life staff, DPS and others assembled to verify all buildings were evacuated.
“I was very pleased with the way students, faculty and staff responded,” said Muravchik.

Following the evacuation, DPS partnered with other agencies, including the Lexington-Fayette police and fire departments, to sweep the campus to determine no threat was present.

Campus resumed normal activities at 2:30 p.m. after it was determined no threat was present.

DPS is still working to identify the person responsible for the fraudulent call. If caught, the person could face a Class C felony for terroristic threatening.

Transy annonces Equestrian program

by Abby Fergusson                Erin Brock
Sports Editor                          Editor-in-Chief

Dary Wax, owner of Dreamer's Run Farm and leader of the new equestrian program at Transylvania, has experience in both riding and instructing other riders in competition.

The Transylvania University Pioneers will add an equestrian program to their list of varsity athletics in the 2012-2013 school year, marking the 23rd varsity sport for the university.

The newly announced program will compete in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA), which was established in 1967 and, to date, contains more than 370 college teams, representing more than 8,300 riders.
The Pioneers will compete in English riding, or the “hunt seat” division. The hunt seat is based on the tradition of fox hunting and is one of the most commonly found forms of forward seat riding.

Transy aims to participate in eight different levels and nine competition classes within the English division, ranging from walk-trot to walk-trot-canter and including both flat work and work over fences.

The hope is for Transy to also complete in the Western division of riding, which includes walk-jog, horsemanship and reining.

TU-UK game benefits beyond the buzzer

by Molly Crain
News Editor

Now that the hype from the Transylvania vs. University of Kentucky game has settled down, the Transy community is left wondering, “Will the two teams ever play each other again?”

“We are in a situation where we are depending on the year. You have got to be an experienced, older team to try to do these things,” said Director of Athletics Jack Ebel. “I do think that it’s something that will happen again, but honestly it’s up to UK. We will just have to wait and see.”

Despite the final score of 97-53, Transy has made more gains than losses by playing the Wildcats, one being a 25 percent increase of hits to Transy’s new athletics website.

“On the day of the game there were approximately 1,800 visitors to the website, and 9,300 for the week — that is the highest increase since we started the site in May,” said Ebel.

“A lot of people don’t even know about (Transy),” said Ebel. “When people first hear our name they think, ‘Who? What? Romania?’ ”

However, Ebel isn’t just speaking about attention to the athletics department, but also to hopes that events like the Transy-UK game will attract attention to other programs as well.

“We have this great product that not very many people know about,” Ebel said, “and this is a great way to get it out.”