GC film to premiere at Kentucky Theatre

Georgetown College professor Ed Smith has survived the making of “Surviving Guthrie”—the Theatre & Performance Studies department’s first feature-length, independent film.
The film will premiere at on March 27 at 7:30 p.m. at the  Kentucky Theatre on East Main in Lexington.
Smith said audiences will be entertained by this dark comedy—set at a fictional, small liberal arts college— whether or not they know any of the more than 100 students, faculty, staff or Georgetown alumni who played a role. “We tried from the outset to write an engaging story and then bring as much passion and drive to tell that story cinematically,” said the film’s editor, director and producer.
Jessie Rose Pennington, the female lead who has starred in many college Maskrafters stage productions, as well as numerous lead roles, enjoyed her first film experience and said she thought movie-goers will like it, too. “Since ‘Guthrie’ is so very cleverly written, I could see it doing well at film festivals,” said the junior theatre major from Lexington.
Scriptwriter Jesse Harris, a participant in the ideaFestival’s film-making workshop in Lexington in 2004, said the title character is not based on anyone at the Georgetown he graduated from in 2006. “I call this an autobiography from 30 years in the future,” he said, laughing. “No one will be offended. And, it’s not as ‘dark’ as it started out to be.”
Still, the lead characters aren’t pleasant people. Carter Guthrie (played by well-known Lexington actor Joe Gatton) is an aging, disgruntled professor/father.
Harris further described Guthrie as “a chain-smoking, drunk of a teacher, who is actually doing a pretty good job.” Trouble is his estranged, individualistic daughter Ally (Jessie Pennington) won’t speak to him.
And, the Paulsen College dean of students (English professor Todd Coke) blackmails her into reforming Guthrie—or the school risks losing a huge donation from a wealthy alumnus.
Tickets for this first showing of the 90-minute movie are $6 and can be reserved by calling The Store at GC, (502) 863-8134.
Tickets will also be on sale at the Kentucky Theatre in the late afternoon during the week, and all day Saturday and Sunday.

Press Release

Georgetown catches spring fever

By STEPHANIE BOXX, Staff Writer

Many Georgetown College students are counting down the days until their spring break.
Florida is the destination for GC student Ashley Hashampour who is taking her mom along for some bonding time. Freshman Adrienne Bartlett is also heading to Florida, but she is traveling with the GC tennis team to play in Orlando.
Sara Clarke, a junior Finance major, is planning on using spring break to get a feel for a few graduate schools that she will apply to in the fall.
Many students will be using their spring break holiday to go on mission trips with members of the Campus Ministry staff.
Students will be visiting New York City, Louisville and parts of Eastern Kentucky. They plan on helping out in a wide variety of ways including tutoring inner city children, renovating a homeless shelter and repairing damaged homes.
Sophomore Katie Boyd, along with 13 other students, will be traveling on the Louisville trip, which is focusing on homeless ministry. She said that she hopes to have “a better idea of what the homeless have to go through on a daily basis.”
Other GC students are planning on spending their Spring breaks in pursuit of monetary gain. Ryan Farley, a junior psychology major, is going home to Northern Kentucky to try and find “some work around the community to earn a little money.”
Alyssa England, a sophomore business marketing major, said she is “going home and working for the parks department. I am just working in the office to get some hours.”
Professors are also planning for the week off.
Nicole Conyers, who teaches courses in philosophy, is planning on taking her three-year old son to visit relatives in Western Kentucky. She hopes that the weather will warm up so “it at least feels like spring on spring break.”
Dr. Stephen Mergner, assistant professor of political science, plans on working on his lecture notes and creating tests before he spends some time at the zoo and the museum.
Georgetown College’s Spring break begins this Friday after classes and continues until the first class on Monday, March 24.

Student denounces façade of diversity

True diversity not a matter of image

By JEREMIAH REECE, Staff Writer

Oh, Georgetown…
These past two semesters have probably been the most embarrassing of my stay here at Georgetown.
Our recent divulgence about diversity has been met with a great gnashing of teeth among many students.  Not because we are diversifying, mind you; the problem comes into our administration’s attitude towards the issue.
We parade around like braggarts about how diverse our campus is, when that is about as far from the truth as we can put it.
Diversity is a great thing, but what the college has done has perverted it, made it into a giant advertisement for our campus:  “Come to Georgetown College, the most diverse campus in Georgetown!”
Give me a break.
This pat-on-the-back attitude is detrimental to the whole initiative, and before long the whole plan will be as transparent as a freshly cleaned window, especially when someone steps foot onto campus and runs into a sea of young white students.
I am glad that we finally got around to it.  It only took about fifty years after the Civil Rights movement to make this “bold” step.  Ground-breaking move, Georgetown; we should really be given some sort of medal.
That it took so long to start this initiative and that now we’re going bonkers about it is part of what embarrasses me about the whole thing.  Mostly it’s that this school is absolutely not diverse by any stretch of the imagination.
A student-written article and an expensive new building doesn’t cut it.  Neither do expensive posters in every classroom featuring civil rights heroes and the phrase “Leadership in Diversity.” 
Our new partnerships with foreign colleges seem like good moves, but what do these really even mean?  How will they bring diversity to our campus?  Will we receive a few foreign-exchange students for a couple of semesters?  We need to focus on a permanently diverse culture, in the truest since of the word. 
The word diversity is not defined in terms of terms of “black” and “white”; it encompasses a broad, colorful spectrum consisting of a mixture of different ideals, faiths, cultures, nationalities, ethnicities, political views, sexual orientations, etc.
Georgetown does not have this, nor does it currently have the capability to support it.
Step into a classroom; look through the windows of the Caf.  Our student body is predominately white.  Our student body’s religious affiliation is predominately Baptist.  Despite the school’s recent departure from the Kentucky Baptist Convention, we remain deeply tied to our Southern Baptist roots. 
In an environment determined by these factors, true diversity cannot cultivate.  Our background prohibits it.  How can we justify forcing a Muslim or a Jew or even (gasp!) an atheist to enroll in a course on Christianity?
If we are hoping to truly diversify our campus, our focus on Christianity should be modified to fit with people of all faiths.  Our chapel bears a statement quite similar to this, but there is little to no evidence of this on campus.
In fact, it seems to me the school has done more to prevent diversity than promote it.  There are a number of homosexual students on campus, yet when a group of students approached the administration about forming a Gay-Straight Alliance, they were quickly shot down.
As the saying goes, “It takes one rotten apple to spoil the whole list of administrative decisions.”  My apologies to our gay community for this outrage; perhaps it takes a while for “new” ideas of equality to reach our campus.  With any luck you will receive recognition from the school by 2050.
I agree with our college president that our diversity should be celebrated.  Unfortunately, there is basically nothing to celebrate.  It needs a little work (our diversity I mean, not our image.  This has been superbly taken care of). 
Until we can truthfully support our claims of diversity, I would appreciate not having to swallow down embarrassing little declarations about how far we’ve come.

“Shift Happens”

Bluegrass Works Summit

Senior Sierra Gooch, a member of the College’s Investment Team, had the opportunity Tuesday March 11 to tell Yahoo! Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer Libby Sartain about her post-graduation plans after the latter’s keynote speech at the third annual Bluegrass Works Summit.
Themed “Shift Happens: Drive It,” the conference was held at the Thomas & King Leadership Conference Center hosted by Georgetown College and the Partnership for Workforce Development, an affiliate of Commerce Lexington Inc.
Sartain said the technology giant needed at least 1,600 new hires due to recent re-structuring, but their budget could only pay for 600 presently.
According to Lexington’s Lyle Hanna, president of Hanna Resource Group LLC who introduced Sartain, America’s corporations are facing the dilemma of finding 10 million new, skilled employees for the global workplace by the year 2010.
Gooch is a double-major in German and Commerce, Language & Culture from West Chester, Ohio.

-Press Release

The southeast mourns

Three collegiate women are murdered in the last week

By KRISTIE POWELL, Staff Writer

This past week, three female college students have been victims of murder. The deaths of a freshman at Auburn University, the senior class president at the University of North Carolina and another senior at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville are being mourned across the nation.
Lauren Burk, an 18-year-old freshman at Auburn University was found shot on the side of an off-campus road. Burk, a native of Marietta, Ga., was discovered wounded on Alabama Highway 147 around 7 p.m. on Tuesday. Her Honda Civic was found 20 minutes later, engulfed in flames. She died later that night in the hospital.
Auburn police have arrested Courtney Lockhart, an Iraq veteran, for her death. His mother formally apologized to the Burk family for her son’s actions on a televised interview. She claimed her son, 23, had not been the same since his 16-month service in the war.
An on-campus prayer vigil for Burk was organized by her friends, and a memorial is being planned by her sorority, Delta Gamma, at Auburn.
At Chapel Hill in North Carolina, Eve Carson, a 22-year-old native of Athens, Ga., was shot and killed in a suburban neighborhood near campus. Officers responded to reports of gunshots Wednesday evening. Carson,  22, was found lying unconscious in an intersection and was confirmed dead as of Thursday morning. She had been shot several times including once in the right temple.
Police are currently searching for a “person of interest.” This man was photographed in a black SUV using her ATM card and is the primary suspect.
Carson, a pre-med senior at UNC, was involved in numerous school activities. In addition to her position as student body president, she taught science to elementary children and spent her summers volunteering in Ecuador, Egypt and Ghana.
This past Saturday, the top-ranked men’s basketball team wore patches which read “Eve” in memory of the popular student. Many of Duke’s fans wore ribbons to show their support.
The University of North Carolina will hold a memorial service for Carson next week when students return after this week’s spring break.
Chapel Hill investigators have been in contact with Auburn police officers. However, it is doubtful the deaths are related. “Even though the homicides on the surface may look similar, it appears to be unlikely they are connected,” states Chapel Hill Police Chief Brian Curran.
Monday, Katharine Wood, a 24- year-old senior at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, was murdered. Wood was found dead after police investigated a report of a loud telephone argument in her apartment complex near campus.
She was found dead in her bath tub, and her body appeared to have been involved in a violent struggle.
Almost 10 hours after the discovery of Wood’s body, a former Arkansas student named Zachariah Marcyniuk, 28, was charged with first-degree murder. He dropped out of school last month.
Police sergeant Shannon Gabbard released that Wood and Marcynuik had been romantically involved. Officers searching for Marcynuik on the basis of their relationship discovered his criminal record that included charges of first-degree false imprisonment, aggravated assault and theft of property.
Students are remembering the communities of Burk, Carson and Wood in this instance of untimely death in the remaining school semester.
Sources: CNN

Flared tempers finally cool

South American standoff leaves leaders pointing fingers

By ZAC BAILES, Staff Writer

The threat of war between the countries of Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador has dissipated as the three sides came to an agreement Sunday.
Tensions escalated on March 1 when Colombian forces killed 25 people, including a FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) leader on Ecuadorian soil. In the ensuing days, Ecuador and Colombia both sent troops to their opposition’s borders.
Venezuela jumped into the mix when Colombian President Alvaro Uribe accused Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez of supporting FARC. FARC is an anti-government guerilla group with a Communist affiliation and drug ties. The accusations and military actions taken by Uribe raised tensions and increased the chances of unrest in the region.
Sunday marked the seventh and final day of the standoff. A deal was struck at a summit held in the Dominican Republic.
With an apology issued by Uribe to Ecuador’s President, Rafael Correa, Ecuador and Colombia have settled their problems.
Uribe also agreed to drop charges on Chavez in an international court. Uribe had hoped to bring charges against Chavez for allegedly supporting FARC.
Through the diplomatic talks, both Correa and Chavez made clear their commitment to fighting terrorism. Uribe also contributed to the diplomatic talks by assuring the two countries that he will respect their borders. 
Although the diplomatic talks produced positive results, Correa remains skeptical about Uribe because Uribe’s U.S.-friendly government makes it “difficult to recover trust.”
With the immediate tensions diffused, Venezuelan diplomatic personnel will return to their embassy in Bogota.
Colombian diplomats have been offered the chance to return to Venezuela. Venezuelan Foreign Ministry said, “[Friday’s summit was] a victory for peace and sovereignty… and demonstrated the importance of Latin American unity in overcoming conflicts.”

Getting a “Passport to the Future”

By STEPHANIE BOXX, Staff Writer

Passport to the Future, an annual event sponsored by Phi Beta Lambda, was held Wednesday evening in the Hall of Fame room.
The event was meant to give students the tools they need to secure a job in their field of choice post-graduation. Topics discussed at the event included resumes, interviewing, etiquette and business dress.
The evening began with a lecture by Robin Fleischer from the Graves Center for Calling and Career. She gave students tips on formatting and proper information to be included on a resume. She also spoke on the importance of networking and being prepared for a variety of interview questions. Students were given practice questions and paired up for mock interviews.
Emily Thompson, a senior accounting major, said that the skills taught by Fleischer have helped her feel prepared when going on recent job interviews.
Jan Crouch covered business etiquette with a focus on professional conduct and proper manners at events where food is being served. Crouch said that she hoped to give students, “general concepts that will help build their confidence.”
Laura Owsley gave a presentation on suitable clothing for interviews. She had students demonstrate both proper and improper attire and discussed basic pieces that all young professionals should include in their wardrobe. She also lectured on the importance of first impressions.
Each speaker allowed for a question and answer period at the end of their lecture. Students were encouraged to contact the speakers if they had any further questions that were not answered in the session. 
Students were also allowed to submit their resumes to various members of the business department for critique. Folders with copies of information discussed at the event were placed at each seat for students to keep for reference. Copies of job placement magazines were also handed out.
The Georgetown College chapter of Phi Beta Lambda has 30 official members and an additional 35 students who have expressed interest and attended events. It is open to all students regardless of major.
Co-presidents Kristin Stratton and Sarah Williams encouraged an interest in new membership. Students are allowed to join at any point in the school year. PBL members take part in various community service projects, competitions and partnerships with companies such as the World Equestrian Games. 
Students who are interested in the topics covered at the event can contact the Graves Center for Calling and Career located in the Thurman Meetinghouse, where service provided are free for Georgetown students. For more information on Phi Beta Lambda students may contact  Rachel
Mullianx at x8068.

LRC host amnesty event, Easter egg hunt

By LIZ CLEARY, Staff Writer

The Ensor Learning Resource Center will be hosting Amnesty Weekend beginning March 20 at 6 p.m. and ending March 23 at 1 a.m.
For the LRC, Amnesty is a time to forgive overdue fines that may have been accumulated by patrons this semester.
In order to receive amnesty, patrons must return any overdue item, and the fine will be erased with no questions asked.
The LRC will also be forgiving fines for anything left in the book drop.
According to Reference Librarian Misha Mueller, “fines will be erased only for items returned during Amnesty Weekend.” The LRC will also be hosting an Easter egg hunt on Sunday, March 23.

Staff spotlight: Lora Helton

By D’ANN MIRACLE, Contributing Writer

When a Georgetown College student steps through the doors of the infirmary, he or she is likely to be greeted by Lora Helton, who is usually sitting at the front desk ready and willing to assist.
Although the Student Wellness Center is where Helton works now, it is not where she initially thought she would be working. Helton went to school to obtain a two-year associate degree in accounting and administrative skills, not knowing at the time that these skills would be just what the Student Wellness Center was looking for.
In 2001, Helton began working in the infirmary as the Administrative Medical Assistant for Georgetown College.
Helton obtained the title of Certified Nursing Assistant at the Kentucky College in Lexington and did some shadowing at the UK Student Heath Center.
Helton also attended the HIPPA seminar, which certified her in doing things such as keeping up with medical records and privacy policies.
Helton begins her day by arriving at the Georgetown Community Hospital by 8 a.m. to pick up charts, serums and other supplies for the Georgetown College clinic. She is back at the clinic by 8:30 a.m., in order to be there when it opens to students at 9 a.m.
The clinic sees students based on emergency or by scheduled appointments every 15 minutes. Walk-ins are taken based upon availability. The last appointment is taken at 3:30 p.m.  At this time, Helton wraps up any paperwork or charts for that day.
Helton feels that since the day she applied for a job at Georgetown College, everything has just fallen into place and that it has been a blessing from the very beginning.
Helton loves meeting new people and considers everyone working in the clinic her “second family.”
Helton said the best part of her job is forming relationships with patients.
“I build relationships with the students as soon as they walk through the doors of the clinic that I will take with me from here on out,” she said.
Since Helton began working in the clinic in 2001, she has helped develop record keeping and the Women’s Health Program. 
She has also helped expand the clinic by developing outreach programs such as Ladies’ Night Out and the Spring Break Fair.
Helton also works with the Student Health Advisory Council that produces the “Toilet Paper” newsletter.

Limits on cash EQ leave some espresso lovers steaming

By STEPHANIE BOXX, Staff Writer

The cash equivalency program at Georgetown College is an opportunity for students to make the most out of their meal plan.
The program allows students to purchase items at the Mulberry Café and the Grille during designated hours. As long as the items are under $4.25, they can be used as a replacement for a meal in the cafeteria.
The only limit to using cash EQ is for the purchase of espresso drinks in the Mulberry Café.
Nicole Wesley, a junior elementary education major, believes that she should be able to use cash EQ for espresso drinks since she pays for the meal plan.
“I would much rather use my money to buy an iced white chocolate mocha than waste it in the Caf to get a bowl of cereal,” she said.
Vince Swecker, retail manager for Sodexo at Georgetown College, is in charge of the deciding factors in the cash EQ program. According to Swecker, espresso drinks can’t be purchased using cash EQ because they take too much time to make.
“Have you been to the Mulberry during the cash EQ time?” he said.
Espresso drinks are the most time-consuming item to make on the menu and lines at the Mulberry in the morning are already long. 
Swecker believes that students could solve these problems by themselves. He said that if students spaced out the times that they come to the Mulberry and decided what they wanted to order before they got to the counter, it would reduce the rush and perhaps allow the staff to have time to make the espresso drinks.
Emily Faulkner, a freshman, prefers a latte to the black coffee or hot chocolate options offered at cash EQ time.
“Black coffee kind of sucks,” she says pointing at the cup sitting on the edge of her desk, “but I’ll drink it.”