Veritas Issue 1, Spring 2013

Bridgewater welcomes new presidentPage 8

Interterm travel tripsPage 5

Changing ourselves. Changing our community. February 7 - 13 2013

Over the Christ-mas season, while spending much

needed time with my fam-ily, I heard my grandmother say the following phrase: “Well praise the Lord, and pass the ammunition!” In all my years and exposures, never had I ever heard this- it stopped me in my tracks. At first, I didn’t even hear her clearly, so I had to ask her to repeat it. “You’ve never heard that? It’s an old WWII song,” she said, like of course I should’ve known. “I can’t believe you’ve never heard that,” chimed in my mother, and yes, you guessed it, they began to sing it to me. The lyrics are long forgotten, but the phrase resonated with me. As I marveled over this unique phrase, on a deeper level, this hit me in light of the growing issue of gun vio-lence. In my lifetime, I can remember four major gun violence incidents: Colum-bine, Virginia Tech, Aurora, and the recent Sandy Hook. I know there are many other smaller ones as well, but these are the ones that seem to be most remembered. It seems to me that these events roll in phases- a major tragedy occurs which gets ev-eryone saddened and called to action, and in the wake of the disaster often many less-publicized incidents follow, adding fuel to the fires of

2 VERITAS

legislative debates. I was a freshman in high school when the massacre at Virginia Tech happened. Like most on a tragic day, I remember exactly what I was doing when I heard the news. My friends and I discussed it a bit as the news unfolded, but I have realized lately that we didn’t really understand it at the time. Society launched into its tragic frenzy, and gun control and calls to action were all the talk for a while. We even had a “gun scare” at my school- a concerned passerby noticed a student carrying an ROTC rifle into school one morning, and automatically jumped to the conclusion we were all in danger of the same fate as Virginia Tech. We heard of a few more incidents (both real and fake) in the following weeks as legislative debates raged, and then the issue died down. The same thing happened again over the summer with the incident in Aurora, Colorado. And it has happened again in the wake of Sandy Hook, and everyone is now out for drastic mea-sures to be instated. Political opinions aside, guns make me nervous- al-ways have, always will. How-ever, as I have gotten older, I have learned to be more comfortable with them. My trepidation regarding guns has never been from a danger standpoint. My reluctance

toward them was actually be-cause they are so darn loud! (I know...you’re all wonder-ing how I’ve come this far in life- I wonder the same thing almost daily.) Growing up in a rural area with a father who enjoys hunting, guns were no novelty in our house. My father was always very care-ful with his guns, teaching me the importance of un-derstanding them; I quickly learned that it was not what they did but how you han-dled them that really mat-tered. When used safely, he taught me, guns can be both enjoyable (hunting and target practice) and practical (self defense). Thanks to his care-ful interest, I was never afraid of guns themselves- just the noise. For reasons completely unrelated to this most recent outbreak of gun violence, I decided over Christmas break that I wanted to “learn to shoot,” so my dad and I went to the range. In addi-tion to learning that I’m not a bad shot, I learned how to safely use a gun, putting into practice all the things my dad had said over the years. I’m not about to go join the NRA or anything, but I very much enjoyed my experience and am glad I have the skills to safely operate a gun, should I ever have the need. I wish the world would have a more healthy respect for guns, instead of the fear and panic that has come to

“Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition”By Corley Tweedy

be associated with them. Yes, gunmen have wreaked havoc on families and communities over the years, but natural disasters and workplace accidents have done their damage as well. I feel that it is more important to focus on developing a healthy re-spect and understanding for gun safety than to go crazy over legislation that won’t be

February 7 - 13 2013

Brandy BrodeKatheryne Rivera

Corley TweedyRebecca Heine

Alyssa PenningtonJoanna Caples

Nicholas DaviesLacey Naff

Morgan Alexander

Sarah ConnerCassandra Clark

Latisha Branch

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nearly as effective as planned. Regulations should be made, but made with thoughtful-ness and intentionality, not just in response to wide-spread panic following a disaster. ...

Illustration by Victoria Call

2013 February 7 - 13

If by some chance one recognizes the perfunctory title of

this piece, one may notice two slightly minimal ideas that have made themselves comfortable on the edges of these words: first, the unoriginal title that invokes a similarly hastily inscribed article that contains similar themes that appeared in this particular publication at this time last year; (My immediate response would be to simply say: Deadlines.) Second, that these inflamed words will not be focusing on the actual sporting event that occurred Sunday night, but rather on the mass consumerism that is apparently still just as necessary of a discussion around the water cooler, coffee machine or other beverage dispensing machine of one’s choosing before returning mindlessly to the Monday grind like the drones they are. In other, less grandiose words, the commercials, the other diversion present within a diversion unto itself. Before I begin to loose my grip on reality, it should be noted that I am, shall we say, less than

pleased with the quality of this years’ commercials. In fact, the words “bitterly disappointed” immediately spring to mind. Where has the creative talent in this particular field gone? In all the years that I have been viewing television, I don’t think I have been so bored by so many car commercials (with the exception of Kia, which we will get to later) that did not leave with an aching desire to immediately rush to my nearest dealer and sign an immediate lease, even if Willem Defoe is willing to give me everything in return for my soul. Yet, the issues did not cease there; the “Superstition” campaign that Bud Light has been running all year came to its natural conclusion in the city of New Orleans (I will allow you to fill in the obvious blanks) with two advertisements that were underwhelming to the Nth degree, a pity really, as I had actually enjoyed the campaign. There were a number of commercials that left a quizzical expression upon my face as to why they even existed or why they were doing what they were doing (the M&M’s commercial was

a prime example of this: I understood exactly what the commercial was attempting to do, yet I pondered why it decided to do this. Nor, for that matter, was I in the target demographic for the Calvin Klein commercial, though I am sure that there are those who thoroughly enjoyed it) and there were some that shall not be mentioned due to, shall we say, less than perfect execution. (Although I should note that I do hope Tide know exactly what they were doing because their sales in the San Francisco area are going to drop…considerably.) Not even the film trailers could save the already sinking ship as they were rather uneventful, being fairly short and not willing to reveal much, though in the case of “Star Trek into Darkness” I believe I will make an exception, though at least Paramount actually bothered to put a spot together unlike certain other studios. The films that will be remembered as the class of the summer of 2013 are either in hiding or will have a major promotional push come release time. (One brief side note: was I the only one who was perturbed, for lack of a better term, by

The other game: By Nicholas Davies

An ill-titled sequel

VERITAS 3

Marvel’s decision to show a teaser for “Iron Man 3” which in turn advertised a longer teaser available on certain social media sites?) Some may have noticed the large and unrelentingly antagonistic block of text above this particular paragraph and allowed their eyes to glaze over, so in order to gain back the attention that I so desperately crave, I will discuss as to which commercials held my attention long after the television was turned off. First and foremost, I should note that while the E-Trade and Best Buy plugs were not masterpieces in any sense of the definition, they both ultimately had something going for them. In the case of the former, it is the simple fact that the baby is never not funny and that Best Buy wisely employed Amy Poehler, who can turn the most awkward of scripts into comedic gold. Doritos never fails to amuse and their spot featuring a rather vindictive goat was certainly a highlight of the night. As for that matter was the aforementioned Kia commercial, whose story as to where babies came from provided such welcome and

relatable entertainment and pleasure. There is no question, however, as to what my personal favorite advertisement of the night was—Budweiser’s pitch perfect spot entitled “Brotherhood,” featuring a reunion between a Clydesdale and the man who raised it. One may mock my sentimentality, but I am unashamed of it (I did after all write an entire piece admitting my grabbing of the Kleenex during both “We Bought a Zoo” and “War Horse”. I’m starting to see a pattern.) But I would challenge even the most heartless person on Earth not to get emotional and wipe stinging tears off their cheek as the two are reunited to the strains of Fleetwood Mac’s bittersweet “Landslide.” It is without question the highlight and an ad that will be very hard to beat come next year. Hopefully everyone else can actually produce something of quality and I can brainstorm a much better title.

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INTERTERM - TO PAGE 14 :

By Kathleen Herring

Bridgewater students pursue many differ-ent activities during

Interterm, a time when full attention can be given to one course or project for an in-tense short-term study. Some work full-time or visit family; others go on trips to enhance their education during a time when they will not have to miss class; and some use this time to experience the work-ing world through an intern-ship experience. The students below are just some of the many highlights of Interterm student internships. Meet Michelle Caron, a

Family and Consumer Sci-ences major and Social Work minor who interned this Interterm at Harrisonburg Rockingham Social Services in the Foster Care depart-ment. Caron, who hopes to someday become a foster par-ent herself, was able to follow social workers to court ap-pointments, home visits with children in foster care, and supervised visits with biologi-cal parents. Although confi-dentiality prevents going into detail, some of the children’s situations were extremely difficult and Caron felt glad to be able to help in any way.

When asked her overall impression of the experi-ence, Caron said, “this internship... helped me gain a professional voice, knowledge, experience, and practical information. But most of all, I learned that I still need a lot more knowledge and experi-ence before I can become an effective helper.” Next up is Samantha Guida, a Biology major interning at The Potter League for Animals, a shelter located in Middle-town, Rhode Island. According to Guida,

“my internship experience… enhanced my passion for animals and confirmed my career ambition to become a veterinarian. There were so many highlights of my intern-ship; training and bathing dogs, assisting with vaccina-tions, working with fearful and neglected animals, and making videos for the Potter League’s website to promote adoptions.” Andrew Levin, a Commu-nications major who spent his Interterm at news station WHSV Channel 3 in Har-risonburg, was extremely enthusiastic about his experi-ence: “To say I was enamored with the station would be an understatement. I was a stereotypical kid in a candy store, wide-eyed and smiling the whole time I was both at the station and out reporting. Through my first interactions there and actually helping with making the news, I was given a crash course in what will hopefully be my career, and loved every bit of the ride.” Levin, who was sur-prised on his last day with a chance to speak on the air for the noon show, “walked out of the studio to applause in the newsroom, and one of [his]

Interterm Roundup: What did YOU do over Interterm?

proudest moments.” Alexandra “Zanny” Ludtke, who majors in Health and Exercise Science, split her internship between two physical therapy practices. At Advantage Physical Therapy in Weyers Cave, Ludtke said, “I learned the importance of making connections with patients… and truly embrac-ing the ideas of teamwork between staff members.” During her time at Purcellville Orthopedic Physical Therapy, she states that her experiences “encompassed all areas of the physical therapy touching on the basic rehabilitation pro-cess, sanitation, finance, and documentation.” The unique setting of two separate offices afforded Ludtke an overall perspective into the career of a physical therapist, one

which she hopes to pursue after graduation. Sociology major Taylor Moss performed his intern-ship at CSC Leasing Compa-ny, making a unique use of his major in a seemingly unre-lated work environment: “One thing that I am most pleased about is using my major of Sociology within a business environment in a very special, unique way in continuing the superior customer service that CSC is known for.” Moss immersed himself so com-pletely in the job that he has been offered summer employ-ment with the potential for a permanent position. His supervisors have also offered to use their large network of contacts to assist in his career search, should he choose to

4 VERITAS February 7 - 13 2013

Here, Sam is pictured with Toby, an English Creme Golden Retriever.

Photo courtesy of Samantha G

uida

Here is a still frame of Levin from his resume reel.

Photo courtesy of Andrew Levin

By Itzel Sanchez

This past Interterm, I traveled to South Africa along with 33 other

Bridgewater College students. There are not enough words to describe how much of an amazing experience this was and how it impacted my life. As our tour guide Johann would always say, “You will see the good, the bad, and the ugly,” and he was absolutely correct. It ranged from the incredible scenic view of nature, to the city and shantytowns of South Africa. We were able to experience game drives, visit a local elementary school, go bungee jumping and shark diving, learn traditional dancing, and taste exotic foods; but above all, we learned about the becoming of what we now know as the beauty of South Africa—the impact of the Apartheid movement, the fight against it, the journey of Nelson Mandela and the victory he brought to his home. I would recommend anyone to take the journey of this extraordinary trip. I would like to start by saying that we all usually tend to have a negative image or impression about Africa. Yes, there is poverty, there is unemployment and there are plenty of people in need. But there is also abundant richness that we tend to overlook or not hear of—richness in culture and in community, richness in the small things about life and a smile and richness in pride of their nation—all things

that we sometimes take for granted. This past Sunday in my Bible class, I asked my students if it was possible to be poor yet be rich at the same time. Some of them said yes and others simply said no. This question brought back the memories of being in South Africa and freely being able to say that it is possible to be poor and rich at the same time. I saw it in the eyes of a little boy playing with his toy consisting of a wire wrapped around a wheel that he pushed around; I saw it in the home of an elderly lady, who even though she did not have much, opened the doors of her home with a warm smile answering all of our questions and allowing us to take photos; I saw it even in the people who would wave at us as the tour bus drove us around their homeland; I saw it in the manager of one of the places we went who blessed the rest of our stay and wished us well. Those are the things I will treasure the most along with all the other activities we experienced. As I would say, it was a trip of a lifetime and I would invite anyone to visit this wonderful place.

Know the History Apartheid was a movement that segregated the whites from the non-whites. It began after the Dutch colonized South Africa in the seventeenth century. In the 1940’s, the Afrikaner National

A little taste of South Africa

It was around this time last year that I found out one of my favorite professors,

Professor Watson, was taking an Interterm trip to Germany and Austria. I knew I had to go and I immediately asked my parents if I could. After a few months of hear-ing the usual “well, maybe” response and providing the familiar argument that, “Katie [my older sister] got to go to London for a month when she was in college!” they gave me the definite “YES” answer. Janu-ary could not come soon enough for me. When it finally did, every minute – from the moment we left for the Dulles airport to the moment we returned two weeks later – was enlight-ening, eye opening, and truly awesome. At first, I was ner-vous, because I did not know very many people on the trip besides my super cool apart-ment-mate, Bekki, and my neighbor, Scott. However, just one day into the trip I found my crazy niche of friends that are most definitely going to be life-long. Driving into Frank-furt, Germany and seeing all the beautiful scenery (as we drove in our big bus with our

excellent bus driver) made me realize how much fun I was going to have there. As if the natural sights were not beauti-ful enough, it snowed almost every day while we were there, dusting absolutely everything into a gorgeously white, per-

fect winter wonderland. We visited incredible sights such as three of Ludwig’s castles including the famous Neuschwanstein Castle that was Disney’s inspiration for Sleeping Beauty’s castle, the concentration camp site of Dachau, and Mozart’s birth-place in Salzberg. My favorite day included a delicious con-tinental breakfast at our hotel

(which was SO much better than continental breakfasts in the States) and a long snowy drive up into the mountains to visit the adorable town of Oberammergau. Then we went to the Neuschwanstein Castle, back to the hotel in

München, and finally to an epic restaurant called the Hofbrau-haus with my hilari-ous friends to enjoy a delicious meal and the incredible atmo-sphere of a perfectly German place. Despite the fact that this was my favorite day, another day that is certainly in the running for first place was the day we went to the Salt Mines near Salzberg. We were riding in the bus waiting to arrive at the mines when we turned the corner and there I saw the most glorious and majestic mountain

peak that I have ever seen. I was looking at the Alps for the first time. It was a hugely humbling moment to witness one of the most beautiful of God’s creations right in front of me. When we ventured into the salt mines, I was the only one in the group that had the guts to lick the salt wall

By: Jessie Houff

Good food, good friends, good memories

VERITAS 52013 February 7 - 13

Photo courtesy of Jessie Houff

S. AFRICA - TO PAGE 14 : GERMANY - TO PAGE 6 :

Walking among the stars

Lights, Camera, Action! Interterm 2013 finally arrived and my

classmates and I traveled to the always-sunny West Coast city of Los Angeles for Dr. Jeffrey Pierson and Dr. Michele Strano’s TV and Film Studies course. While on this trip, we experienced many amazing opportunities. We participated in shows such as “The Price is Right,” “Let’s Make a Deal,” “Dr. Phil,” “The Doctors,” “The Ricki Lake Show,” in addition to attending a show taping of “Mike & Molly.” We had the opportunity to be Talent Escort Coordinators for the 18th Annual Critics Choice Movie Awards where we greeted the celebrities and walked them down the red carpet in order to give them an opportunity to talk with reporters and take pictures for the press and escorted them around the venue.

As Talent Escorts, we had an early morning because we had to be at the venue at 8:30 a.m. in order to practice our jobs and become familiar with the venue. At the talent check-in, we were given our badges and headsets and our celebrity assignments. Those not escorting a celebrity were considered floaters and were available if the stage manager or anyone else needed help. I escorted Jon Lovitz, a comedian and actor, Bridgewater College sophomore Lauren Johnson was with Ian Somerhalder, senior Whitney Hardy escorted Matthew McConaughey and senior Maddie Dunn was assigned Emmy Rossum. In addition to escorting the celebrities around the venue and down the red carpet, we led them backstage to the holding room so they could review their lines to

speak when presented with their award. After the award presentation, most celebrities went home so we called for their limos. About half of the class was Talent Escorts while the other half was seat fillers. Some of the other Bridgewater College students sat next to

major celebrities such as Bradley Cooper and Eva Longoria. In addition to being Talent Escorts, we attended major late night shows such as “Late Night with Craig Ferguson,” where Caroline Hutchison made an on-air debut on her 21st birthday. We were also on the set of “Late Night with Jay Leno,” which included Emma Stone from the movie “Gangster Squad.” We also attended the People Choice Awards and sat close to celebrities

Story by and photos courtesy Zachary Mollica


: GERMANY - FROM PAGE 5

(that thousands of other tourists have licked as well). They thought it was gross but hey, you only live once, right? This trip meant so much to me. I have always wanted to travel, but after seeing Germany and Austria I NEED to travel. Professor Watson and his wife, Ruth, were so much fun to travel with, learn from, and search for swing dance clubs with so that we could dance the night away! All of us had so much fun, made memo-ries, and have so many in-side jokes that we will joke about forever. Coming back to Bridgewater was hard and leaving Europe was harder, but it only made me want to travel as many places as possible for the rest of my life. I en-courage any of you readers out there that are students to go on Interterm trips or study abroad. Bridgewater is great, but the world is greater. Go out and see it as much as possible and there will be much rejoic-ing!

...

such as Julianne Hough, Sandra Bullock, Taylor Swift, Jennifer Aniston, and Ellen DeGeneres. Overall, my favorite part of the trip was visiting the studios—Warner Brothers, Universal, and Paramount to name a few—and the lots where major movies and sitcoms are filmed. My group visited the set of “Pretty Little Liars” where we went inside Rosewood High School and took a sneak peak of each of the main characters’ rooms. The two-week trip was such a great opportunity as we all experienced the film world and learned about different jobs in Los Angeles.

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“Justice is not a black and white concept.” That was the message

of this semester’s opening convocation presented by human rights attorney and activist Noura Erekat. Erekat challenged the audience to examine the intricate complexities of the meaning of justice within the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. She began by asserting that our opinions, as Americans, about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which has remained unresolved since Israel was established in 1948, is likely skewed from the pro-Israeli attitude of our government. Erekat explained that our government admittedly recognizes Israel as our “most unique ally” and with the support of the world’s sole superpower, “the world has already picked a winner” in the conflict. Erekat, an American citizen with Palestinian roots, sought to counterbalance the skewed perception of justice by examining the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through the lens of international law. In citing the Israeli government as a violator of international law, Erekat focused her attention on the Fourth Geneva Convention which prohibits the forcible removal of a population. Erekat stated that “there is

an ongoing project of forced population transfer of the indigenous Palestinian people.” Erekat claimed that this population transfer is carried out through Israel’s complicity with illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and the demolitions of Palestinian homes, both of which are driving many Palestinians into poverty and homelessness. Erekat’s claim that the construction of Israeli settlements is a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention finds support within institutions of international law. In 2004, the International Court of Justice ruled that the settlements are a “flagrant violation” of the Fourth Geneva Convention. Additionally, Erekat points out that these settlements nullify any possibility of a two-state solution based on Palestinian borders drawn in 1967. With expanding Israeli settlements that encroach these borders, drawing a Palestinian state would be nearly impossible. In this way, the settlements represent a major challenge to any peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since a return to the 1967 borders has been a major component of any proposed two-state solution and has been supported by the Clinton, Bush, and Obama

By JJ Krehbiel

administration. Erekat also accused the state of Israel of violating international law through the crime of Apartheid. She cited numerous discriminatory laws that support her claim that Israel is an Apartheid state. Among these institutionalized forms of discrimination are the Law of Return, the ban on family reunification and the Prawer Plan. The Law of Return gives every individual of Jewish heritage the right to citizenship in Israel and the right to settle in Israel. However, for Palestinians who leave Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, their right to return to their homeland is not recognized under Israeli law. The ban on family reunification negatively affects Israel Arabs who are married to Gaza residents by prohibiting the spouses from Gaza to move to Israel proper. The Prawer Plan is an initiative of the

Israeli government to remove Arab Israelis, who are by law Israeli citizens, from their homes to make those areas more accessible to Jewish settlers. The discrimination inherent in each of these laws, according to Erekat, demonstrate that Israel “is not a state for all its citizens, it’s a state for its Jewish citizens first and foremost.” Inviting Erekat as a convocation speaker was suggested to Dr. Pierson by Bridgewater College senior, Aseel Saied. Saied, a Palestinian student, was pleased that Erekat presented the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in fact-based manner. According to Saied, “We always have speakers favoring with one or the other party, but for the first time the approach of explaining the situation was through international and human laws not only a bias perspective.” After speaking with

her peers who attended the convocation, Saied was assured that Erekat’s presentation “uncovered things the community members and students didn’t think about” such as the extensive impact of Israeli settlements. Saied believes that the convocation was well-received by the students and was a valuable learning experience to all who attended. “It was very eye opening,” Saied noted. “I learned a lot and she was very powerful indeed.”

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Opening Convo Challenges Perceptions of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict


PRESIDENT - TO PAGE 9 :

Just recently, after a gruel-ing search process, Bridge-water College announced

that Dr. David Bushman has been selected as the college’s ninth president. The college and surrounding commu-nity members were given the opportunity to come out and meet Dr. Bushman at Tues-day’s convocation in Nininger Hall. Interim President Ferguson began the festivities by say-ing how helpful the Board of Trustees had been in guiding him this past year, and how happy he has been to work with us as interim president. Chairman of the Board Na-than Miller then addressed those in attendance to share a bit about how Dr. Bushman was chosen. Behind the scenes, the Board of Trustees has been working long and hard to find the next face of Bridgewater College. The Board formed a Presidential Search Commit-tee, retained the services of a consultant, and drafted a pro-posal for what they were seek-ing in our next leader. “The committee spent hours and hours- they were so dedicated to the process,” Miller said. After sending an advertise-ment to academic journals and collegiate networks, the Board of Trustees and its Presidential Search Commit-

tee began to weed through the more than one hundred applications they received. Around ten applicants rose to the top of that pool, and these ten were interviewed more closely, questioned on things like why BC would be a good fit for them, the importance of a liberal arts education, and other such items.

After this interview process, Miller said the search commit-tee began to get very positive feelings about Dr. Bushman. “The good thing about the way the process worked was that the decision was more of a consensus instead of a vote,” Miller said. As Dr. Bushman said in the convocation and his letter to

the community, he is abso-lutely thrilled to be here. He has spent many years in the academic field as both an undergraduate and graduate student, professor, department chair, dean of students, and college president. So, as the Board asked him, why choose BC? “That’s kind of a loaded question, like when someone

asks why you love your wife,” Dr. Bushman joked at the con-vocation. He went on to say though that there is no single answer to this question; his answer is one that will grow with time. “If I were going to college now, Bridgewater is a place I would apply,” Dr. Bushman said. Bridgewater College

A new bowtie in townBy Corley Tweedy

employs a type of education he believes in, one that had a significant impact on him. Working with faculty in this environment helps students find where their passions and talents are. He feels that being a teacher has helped prepare him for this position. “Student-faculty interaction is the most important aspect of a

college,” he said, stressing the importance of familiarity with both academics and adminis-tration. “I never imagined myself becoming a college president,” he said. “I didn’t want to be a college president just so that I could be a college president anywhere- so when I saw the ad I was excited because here

was an opportunity to do the exact thing I want to do, in a place I want to be.” After spending time as the presi-dent of Lees-McRae College, he actually went back to a more hands-on position with students, serving as Dean of the School of Natural Science and Mathematics at Mount St. Mary’s University. “I like administration just as well as I like working in the classroom because that’s just as impor-tant to the institution,” he said. Many of the applicants obtained access to the college’s strategic plan, which Miller said was instrumental in the success of the interview. The five main areas of the plan are the Bridgewater experience, new and enhanced programs, access and affordability, alumni and community, and facilities and finances. In much more detail, the plan outlines some specific goals for each area, hoping to fur-ther the college’s success. When asked if he had any specific plans for BC at this point, Dr. Bushman explained that he does have ideas which are based around the col-lege’s plan. “I’m joining your community,” he said, stressing the importance of learning a new culture before you just go making changes. There are three parts to


Photo by Joanna Caples

VERITAS 9

: PRESIDENT - FROM PAGE 8

strengthening an institution’s programs, he explained. The first is to find a really good program, perfect it, and make it your signature. Then, an institution will want to build up other programs that might be lacking. Finally, the institu-tion will explore the possibil-ity of adding new programs. “I think there’s a limit to the number of new programs you can add, because if you want

to do something well it’s going to take resources, and again that’s a choice. On the other hand I don’t think you can just say well, we’ve got these programs, now we’re done,” Dr. Bushman said. “You can’t just do anything- you have to do it well.” A liberal arts program such as Bridgewater’s is important in his eyes. He explained how our jobs will likely be more

and more specialized as we continue our lives, but we get one chance to see the big picture. “Education is more than getting a set of skills; it is understanding what it means to be a member of a community,” he said. The curriculum of a liberal arts education should be put to-gether with thoughtfulness. On a more practical note, students develop skills and attitudes from studying a wide variety of disciplines which creates a more criti-cal mind. “Can you get that anywhere? Maybe, but there’s more thoughtfulness and intentionality to it at places like Bridgewater,” he said.

“We have the greatest impact on students by the way we live our lives,” Dr. Bushman said in his address at convocation. He employs an attitude he likes to call “servant leader-ship.” “It’s not about the lead-er,” he said, “it’s about using your talents to help others.” Even in today’s very special-ized job market, there are very few industries that can operate

2013 February 7 - 13

with only one individ-ual- multiple people and departments must work together. In a campus set-ting, similarly all systems- academics, residence life, fundraising, community involvement- must work together in order to achieve the best results. “It’s not follow me because I say so, it’s follow me because this is what we want to do, together,” Dr. Bushman said. Dr. Bushman is very excited to come join our Bridgewater community. He will officially begin his role as president on June 1, 2013. In the meantime however, he will definitely be

a presence on campus. He will be in attendance of several board meetings, Founder’s Day, and graduation. When asked what he is most excited for in coming to Bridgewater, Dr. Bushman replied without hesitation, “Possibilities.”

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By Nicholas Davies

Within the last few years, a gradual shift in the popular

culture landscape has affected in the level of fandom that is public. Indeed, gone are the days when exchanges of intermittent conversation re-garding particular intellectual properties occurred in dark corners, out of sight and out of mind; we – that is, the col-lective masses – live in an age populated by fans letting the world at large know what they love and why the love it. From forming flash mobs in an at-tempt to gain NBC’s attention to the simple act of wearing a t-shirt with some quote or logo that allows an individual in the midst of walking to simply nod, knowing that you are one of them. I have written somewhat substantially on my own fandom and I am unashamed of the various popular culture that I genuinely enjoy and love, even if I am perhaps more restrained than others in displaying my affection for it. I write of fandom and walk-ing because there are very few properties within the modern popular culture conscious-ness that can inspire as much vivid portrayals of fandom, and subsequent despair, as

Taking a first step into a larger world

“Star Wars.” It may come of little surprise that I consider myself a fan, as some of my early childhood was spent watching the VHS copies of the original trilogy that we had in the house, which were the original, pre-1997 theatri-cal versions. (To this day, I still do not know to whom they belonged.) One of my most vivid memories at the age of about five or six was my parents’ furthering of my love of the films by purchasing me a toy X-Wing AND a Millen-nium Falcon for my birthday (What can I say? My parents are awesome.). There are other, shall we say not so wonderful moments that only the cruel Mistress of Hindsight can make so clear; those prequels of which we do not speak. Yet in truth, I, like so many others, have invested myself fully in this operatic universe that George Lucas created over 35 years ago. This then seems like the opportune moment to refresh those tired minds about argu-ably the most discussed en-tertainment story of last year: Disney’s purchasing of Lucas-film. I did not write about it at the time, as I was still at-

tempting to recover from the profuse psychological effects that this business transaction had left upon me. Perhaps more selfishly, I did want to be a contributing voice within that violent sea of millions, all fretting about the same thing: the announcement that

there would be a new trilogy of films tentatively scheduled to begin in 2015. Ultimately, even within twenty-four hours of the news, I adopted my “wait-and-see stance.” After all, why criticize when they have not produced any prod-uct for mass consumption? This naturally led to great

speculation as to WHO would direct Episode VII, after Lucas announced that he would hire a creative consultant. The other notable story that surfaced during the wonder-ful and refreshing two-month hiatus from this publication was that J.J. Abrams would be

directing. A natural question arose: can one single director be responsible for two of the largest properties in popular culture: “Star Trek” and “Star Wars?” Is that not what the young people might call a party foul? A simple answer exists: “No.” Granted, there is no denying that I am fan of Abrams’ work and his pedi-gree speaks for itself. If noth-ing else, his work on 2009’s “Star Trek” and its upcoming sequel “Star Trek Into Dark-ness” will have prepared him for the technological and practical demands of a large blockbuster. Yet, it is perhaps in his

2011 effort “Super 8,” a film that I believe to be vastly underrated, that hope for the future of “Star Wars” may be found. “Super 8,” a summer blockbuster, is littered with elements that hearken back to time now forgotten, when blockbusters were still films rather than large consumer

driven machinations of studio executives. It had heart, an actual story and characters that were three-dimensional nature, as well as the profuse and unrelenting nostalgia that drove the film forward and which I hope will serve Abrams well on Episode VII. Whilst we do not need to reminded what came before, a love of that earlier material will inevitably allow, I believe, for greater care of the product in question. That said, however, some fatigue might develop in rela-tion to Episode VII by the time 2015 rolls around – and I am sure that Abrams will be aware of this; everything will be dissected into those minute details, every image bloated in an attempt to decipher a clue that is actually the imagina-tion of the beholder. However, I do wish Abrams the best of luck, and look forward to “Star Trek Into Darkness” when it is released in May. One final thought: Will John Williams be back to compose the score for the film? ...

A Selfish examination of the current “Star Wars” situation

Photo by Taylor Dukehart


“God has called them all home,” an emotional President Obama said

of the 20 girls and boys gunned down at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., in December. I disagree. While I appreciate the president’s intention to comfort grieving families, I reject the suggestion that God “called them home.” In fact, I believe God’s was the first of all hearts to break when Adam Lanza took the lives of those children and seven adults before ending his own. It may be comforting to hear that God called those children home; even that God needed them more in heaven than here on earth, as one platitude goes. But what kind of God would that be? What kind of God would “call home” 20 innocent children who had their whole lives ahead of them? Not the God I believe in. Those children did not die because God called them home; they died because a disturbed young man had ready access to a military-style assault rifle and many

high capacity ammunition magazines. Why do we associate this or any humanly contrived tragedy with God? Perhaps because it is easier than accepting responsibility for our failure to create a society in which life is more sacred than the right to buy and bear guns? Perhaps because it conceals our complicity in a culture where gun violence kills more than 30,000 Americans every year? Whatever our spiritual path or political persuasion, surely we can agree it is time to have a serious national conversation about the need for more effective gun control. And surely we can demand that congress enact common sense legislation like instituting mandatory background checks on all gun buyers and banning high capacity magazines and military-style assault rifles designed for the singular purpose of killing human beings. Don’t we owe at least that to those 20 children and their devastated families?

...

Spirit Matters

By Chaplain Robbie Miller

God Did Not Call Them Home

THE AWARDS STRATEGEM

By Nicholas Davies

The unforgiving depths of winter, when the bitter cold wraps its

glacial and inky hands round the denizens of the northern hemisphere alleviated only by the thought that spring can-not be too far from reach, is host to a great many holidays, false pageantries, and general days of wistful dreaming of the warmth that surely cannot be that far away. It also hosts the greatest artificial pomp, where beautiful people gather around each other, slapping each other on the back before pretending that they did not realize they were “talented” in the eyes of their callous peers. Yes, faithful readers (all one and a half of you), it is awards season again, where the sub-jective art of criticism is for-gotten in a matter of hours, re-placed by smiles so bright that they burn effortlessly through the screen of your television in order to distract the viewer long enough so that they can be counted in amongst the ratings’ figures the next morn-ing. But do not think that I have grown weary and acerbic regarding the awards season—rather know that I have. Once you have seen one, you have seen them all. Enough of my callous mut-terings though. What of the current state of the awards season? After all, the Golden Globes took place about a month ago and the Oscars throws its annual party at the end of February. If one were to use the Globes a reference point, which may not neces-sarily be the smartest idea considering the farce that they have turned into over the last

few years, one may find that it is indeed the usual suspects being rounded up, even with a number of surprising nomina-tions to be found. (If one were to ask briefly what I thought of this years’ Golden Globes Ceremony, I would respond with the following answer—some nice speeches, a surprise in the domination of “Argo” and I delighted in the han-dling of the hosting duties by the supreme duo of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.) It is in the midst of that previous statement, before I became distracted and began to reminisce fondly about Fey and Poehler’s opening mono-logue, where one may find my largest problem with the Academy Awards—even with the expansion of the best pic-ture category a few years ago, there are only maybe three or four films that the Acad-emy would more than likely vote for as their Best Picture of the year, whilst the others have been added in attempt to attract viewing figures. For instance, as intriguing as it is to have films such as “Beasts of the Southern Wild” or even “Amour” and “Silver Linings Playbook” nominated, do they have an actual chance at win-ning? It would appear though that “Argo”, the film that mysteriously directed itself according to the Academy, to borrow an old Billy Crystal joke, may crash the party that seemed to belong to perhaps the film bestowed with twelve nominations “Lincoln” or maybe “Zero Dark Thirty,” especially considering the amount of awards that it has been picking up on the circuit,

including multiple Golden Globes, Directors Guild, Producers Guild, and Screen Actors Guild. Then again, what do I know? After all, this is the first year in a rather long time that I have not seen any of the nominated films before the ceremony. Another cursory glance amongst the ranks of the nominated also reveals a disturbing lack of notoriety towards two of my favorite films of the year, “Moonrise Kingdom” and “Skyfall,” though having said, I would put good money on Adele winning Best Original Song, much as I enjoyed the jazz tinged opening number of “Ted.” Amongst the animation nominations, one may find me pleased with the nomina-tion of “The Pirates: Band of Misfits” in the Best Animated Feature category, although it is the only film in that category that I have seen; nor would I be surprised if “Paperman” won the Best Animated Short Film. (If one has not viewed the latter, Disney released it onto the Internet this past week and I would highly rec-ommend it.) There is much that could be discussed regarding the nomi-nations and the various other award shows, but then I would not have much to discuss in my post-Oscar piece then would I? In the end, I will inevitably do what I always do—moan, grumble, yell vari-ous abuses at the screen and write a load of nonsense about it; after all, what do you think this is? But I would not have it any other way. ...

An injudiciously compiled Pontification on the current Awards Season

Ingredients• Pre-candied walnuts • 1/2 cup water • 2/3 cup white sugar • 1 cup walnuts • 3 egg whites • 1/2 cup cornstarch • salt and pepper • 1 lb. large shrimp, peeled and deveined • 3 tbsp mayonnaise • 2 tbsp honey • 1 tbsp lemon juice (from concentrate is fine)• 1 tbsp sweetened condensed milk • oil for frying DirectionsLooking to impress your date with a special home cooked meal? Well this looks fancy and is easy to make. Add some sautéed green beans and some rice and you have a wonderful looking meal with relatively little work. Just please be careful with the oil, sugar, and fire alarms if cooking on campus.For those of you feeling adventurous you can make your own candied walnuts, or you can always pick some up already prepared. Making them yourself is fun though and eating them warm makes them taste even better. To prepare your own walnuts, bring 1/2 cup water with 2/3 cup sugar to a boil in a small saucepan. After the mixture reaches a rolling boil, add 1 cup of walnuts and continue

to boil for around 3-5 minutes. The sugar mixture should be getting thicker and begin coating the walnuts with a nice glaze. If they are not coated enough continue boiling allowing the mixture to thicken a bit longer. Once they have reached the correct consistency, place the walnuts on a parchment-lined cookie sheet and let dry. Make sure it is parchment or waxed paper though; using paper towels will only create a sticky mess and waste the awesomeness. Feel free to eat some now, but make sure to leave some for the shrimp.Begin heating the oil to around 350 degrees, using a large saucepan filled halfway with oil can work if a deep fryer is not available. Then prepare the shrimp’s batter. Just whip together 3 egg whites in a bowl until foamy and then add 1/2 cup

Story and photo by Kaitlyn Wiltshire

cornstarch, seasoning with salt and pepper. Toss the shrimp in the batter to coat evenly, but be sure to not let the shrimp sit in the batter for

long. Try to place the shrimp into the oil immediately after coating with the batter. Do not place all the shrimp in the oil at once, even if you think you might have room. They have a tendency to stick together this way and they also significantly lower the temperature of the oil. This is bad, not only will they take longer to cook, but they will also retain more of the oil.So, after dropping a few shrimp in, let them fry on each side for a couple of minutes until golden brown. Flipping them can sometimes be difficult, using a slotted spoon to hold them under the oil works, but be careful not to burn yourself. Remove the shrimp with a slotted spoon and place them on a paper towel lined plate or cookie sheet to help absorb the excess oil. The shrimp should have puffed up some and be crispy

after removing them from the oil.For the dressing, stir together 3 tbsp. mayo, 2 tbsp. honey, 1 tbsp. lemon juice, and 1 tbsp. sweetened condensed milk in a bowl large enough to fit all the shrimp. After mixing, you can taste to see if you would like it creamier (more mayo) or sweeter (more milk). Keep in mind this will taste a little different once you add the shrimp and walnuts. Once you like the flavor, add the fried shrimp into the bowl and toss to coat evenly with the sauce. Do not be too harsh though, since the batter could begin to flake off. Try to coat the shrimp while they are still warm, since the sauce will be cooler, you do not want a cold meal.Before serving, do not forget to sprinkle on your candied walnuts, which hopefully have gotten to a tacky if not hard consistency. Serve with some rice and sautéed green beans to make it a relatively easy meal. The only irritating thing? Opening an entire can of sweetened condensed milk for 1 tablespoon…look in next week’s issue to see the dessert solution to this leftover problem. ...


I can’t let you see me,I feel the need to hide.If you come too close,

you’ll see how much I’ve cried.

I don’t know how to stop myself.

I don’t know what to say.It really is much easier,

to push people away.There’s so much I should

tell you.Thinks you really ought to

know.But if I let you in,

there’s the chance that you might go.

Emotions can be complicated.

Love is just the same.No matter what you do,

life is just a game.If not for my family,

I’d damn it all to hell.Being sick isn’t easy,

I’m not dealing all that well.

Yet if I could have one wish.

It wouldn’t be for me.There is only one thing,

that I would want to see.My sister should be happy,

healthy and strong.I’d cure her of her illness,

so then she could move on.We shouldn’t have to

suffer,at an age that is so young.

But if it’s gotta be this way,

then I wish I were the only one.

The Only OneBy Katheryne Rivera

Honey Walnut Shrimp


By Melina Norman

“Connecting cultures, Building community”

topic of housing to the topic of how to learn English. The center offers answers and aid to all kinds of questions and situations. Employee Alicia Horst said, “the immigration system incredibly complex” and thus it can bring about many different questions. The IRC provides a great

many services to its custom-ers: passport assistance, medical billing, diversity workshops, immigration in-formation, etc. The center even helps people in financial situations and offers courses in order to help people learn or refine their English. Tours of the community are even given to those who need to learn the area. The center has a few employ-ees, but most are volunteers. The center takes volunteers from the surrounding com-

The NewBridges Im-migrant Resource Center opened in

Harrisonburg in 2000 and has been providing service for the continuously developing com-munity ever since. Since over 51 languages are spoken in the Harrisonburg area, the Mennonite churches

felt the need to open the center for those who need aid. The center is less than 1000 square feet and is located near other sources and agencies in downtown Harrisonburg. Over the years people have come to know the center and it keeps a solid customer base of about 1,200 people per year. The IRC (Immigrant Resource Center) is open to anyone throughout the work week by appointment or walk-in. People can come ask questions ranging from the

This page in partnership with:

munity and from the nearby colleges. They take in 15 volunteers each semester and provide training for everyone. Whether it’s for academic credit or for personal inter-est for the future, volunteers should be prepared to work. A couple of the things that are appreciated by those at

the center are volun-teers that are bilingual and well-traveled. Reflecting on her experi-ence working at the center, Horst said, “I enjoy it. I’ve completed three years here now, but you have to maintain a good balance between find-

ing good ways to help people but also maintain the big pic-ture.” The driving goal of the NewBridges IRC is to build connections among people within its diverse community by helping people in any way they can.

...

know others with similar experiences of homeless-ness. Volunteers are needed to provide a well-rounded meal that adheres to the Food Guide Pyramid. This can be a great group project. Call Laura at 540-432-1812 to schedule a meal.

On Feb. 22 at 6:30, head over to Ruby’s Lounge (basement of Clementine) for Restore Love Rock & Runway, a night of music and fashion to raise aware-ness of and promote healing for child victims of sexual abuse. Admission is $10 in advance and $13 at the door. All proceeds benefit the Col-lins Center. Call 540-432-6430 for more information.

Can you read this? More than 12 percent of adults in Rockingham County can-not. Here’s a fun opportu-nity for Scrabble fans to help change the statistics: Regis-ter for the Play for Literacy Scrabble Tournament on Feb. 24 to benefit Skyline Literacy, an organization that works to promote and improve adult literacy in the community. Register online at www.skylineliteracy.org or call 540-433-0505. The event costs $10 for individ-ual players or $30 for teams of three.

Have you inherited an an-tique from a grandparent or own a piece of estate jew-elry you’d like to learn more about? The Massanutten Regional Library Antique Appraisal Fundraiser will be held on Feb. 12 at the Jef-frey S. Evans & Assoc. Offic-es and Auction House in Mt. Crawford. Admission at the door with an appraisal item will be $15. Event starts at 6 p.m. and benefits Massanut-ten Regional Library. This event can be part adventure, part history lesson, and part treasure hunt, to paraphrase PBS’ highest rated television series, “Antiques Roadshow.” Learn more: (540) 434-4475.

Coaches Training for First Tee of Harrisonburg will be held on Feb. 13, 5:00-6:00 p.m. First Tee provides young people with charac-ter building and life skills lessons using golf as the platform. Visit www.first-teeofharrisonburg.org or call 540-437-4239 to learn more about volunteer opportuni-ties.

Mercy House, an organiza-tion combating poverty and homelessness, will hold a Community Dinner on Feb. 21 at 5:30. This is a valuable time for Mercy House families to enjoy a meal together and get to

Upcoming events and opportunities

Photo by Tayser Al-Safar

EVENTS - TO PAGE 14 :

: S. AFRICA - FROM PAGE 5 : INTERTERM - FROM PAGE 4

Party created this movement in order to establish control over the economy and the social system of the country by maintaining white domination and increasing racial separation. Later, stronger laws were created and racial discrimination was institutionalized. In 1950, the Population Registration Act required that South Africans be classified into three different categories based on their race. This consisted of whites, non-whites (blacks), or colored (mixed decent) and was based on social acceptance, appearance and decent. But that was not enough; Blacks also had to carry “pass books” that contained their fingerprints, information, and photos so that they were allowed to access non-black areas. Later, homelands were created which were established as independent states so that Africans would be citizens of that place and therefore lose their citizenship and any right in South Africa. This caused the Africans to become aliens of their own country. In consequence, it led South Africa to develop high unemployment rates and tension between these groups. South Africa now has the biggest gap in the world between the rich and the poor....


work elsewhere. The next student, who was featured last fall for her internship at Copper Ridge Animal Hospital, is Jessie Ow-ens, Biology major, who this Interterm chose to explore the wildlife side of animal care with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. According to Owens, “a few of the many things I was able to do was stock trout, set bait sites for golden eagles, work at a fish hatchery, help exam-ine a black bear for research, and ride along with a couple of Conservation Officers.” Owens, who once thought she would be pursuing veteri-nary medicine, has found a

Owens is pictured here cradling a sedated black bear, a truly unique experience for her.

Photo courtesy of Jessica Ow

ens

true passion for becoming a Conservation Officer after this internship. As she explains, “I thought I had my career all figured out, but it took three internships to show me that there was a better career suited for me, that I hadn’t even thought of.” These students gained unique and infinitely valu-able career experience during their Interterm semesters, and each is now on a path to solidify their career goals and plans. To learn more about the internship program at Bridge-water College, visit the Office of Career Services located in Flory Hall’s lower level....

Interested in early child-hood education? Register for the Smart Beginnings of the Shenandoah Valley 8th Annual Early Childhood Leadership Summit on Feb. 27, from 8 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. This year’s focus is “Act Locally, Think Inclusively.” Educators, business repre-sentatives and community leaders will explore how to identify opportunities for building support for young children with disabilities. Call 540-568-8968 to learn more.

Break the mid-winter blahs at Big Brothers Big Sisters

Bowl for Kids’ Sake 2013 on March 16 at Valley Lanes in Harrisonburg. This fundraiser is a fun, easy way to help Big Brothers Big Sisters of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County make a positive, long-lasting impact on children in our commu-nity. Your participation can help start a child on the path to fulfilling their potential – and succeed in school and life. Register now to be a bowler. Volunteers also needed to staff the event. Visit www.bbbshr.org and click on events, or call 540-433-8886.

: EVENTS - FROM PAGE 13

Each week, both the men’s and women’s track and field teams put up

strong performances and con-tinue to climb in the regional rankings. This week the men’s team went from being ranked No. 7 to No. 4 in the rankings. The women’s team moved up to sixth in the region. Both teams are off to a fast start and it seems at each meet a record is broken. Tim Wisniewski, a senior runner, said, “It’s like we can’t stop breaking records this season; we just went up to the

Armory in New York City and ran the sixth fastest Distance Medley Relay in the nation so far for Division III. Unreal.” Even though track and field meets are composed gener-ally of individual events, the importance of the team is not lost. All the athletes love the close bonds they have formed as a team, from freshmen to seniors. Senior Morgan Keplinger said, “This year the track team has become very uni-fied and that has really helped everyone bond, which helps

A Record Breaking Start

By Emily Higgins

gcgcg gcgcS C O R E V C A R DFebruary 2Men’s Basketballvs. RoanokeFinalW, 75-73

us become a strong support system for each other. Track and field is a sport that has teams within a team.” Luke Sohl, a sophomore runner, was a key part of the record-breaking weekend at the Armory Collegiate Invi-tational and recently received a title as the ODAC Track and Field Performer of the Week. “I might be as good as I am, but it is so much easier to work hard and continue to reach for more when there are fellow team mates who are standing by my side. We have

become a family that would do anything for each other,” he later expressed. The Bridgewater community has many exciting events to look forward to from both teams. In recent years, the program has improved be-cause of large amounts of hard work by both coaches and athletes. “This team is a young and talented. During the Confer-ence meet, we have the talent to give Lynchburg a run for their money for the champi-onship,” Sohl said.

Wisniewski seconded him, saying, “This is a track sea-son that is literally rewriting the books and redefining the program.” For the women’s team, they plan to contribute beyond the track by participating in community service to give back to the community and create stronger bonds among teammates. There can only be good things to come from both teams. ...


Men’s and Women’s Track

Women’s Basketballat RandolphFinalW, 76-65

February 4Women’s Basketballat Mary WashingtonFinalL, 56-41

February 6Men’s Basketballat ShenandoahFinalW, 70-61

Women’s Basketballvs. ShenandoahFinalW, 63-52

Photo by Sam Bernstein



February 7 - 13 2013

By Lacey Naff

Ride with Pride

The Bridgewater College Equestrian program hosted the Tournament

of Champions on January 26th at the Bridgewater Equestrian Center. Twenty-two of the top riding teams from the East Coast entered the tournament, including two from Bridgewater. Our teams were proud to take first and second place against all of the other schools that entered. The team also ended the Tournament of Champions series as Reserve Champion. The Bridgewater riders finished the three-show series just one point behind Virginia Intermont College. Junior Taylor Rose who is vice president of the

Equestrian Club said, “I feel like we came together for this show and it ended up going really well, the horses were great and everyone rode well, also.” Rose led the team to the title with first-place finishes in both Open Over Fences and Open on the Flat. Adrien Green won her class, placing first in Walk-Trot. Lauren Casey placed in two classes, finishing second in Intermediate on the Flat and fifth in Novice Over Fences. Leslie Allen took second place in Walk-Trot-Canter. Sixth-place finishes were Emmy Rhodes in Intermediate Over Fences and Juliana Peterson in Novice on the Flat.

Other Reserve Champion honors were, with first-place efforts, Kayla Deyarmin in Intermediate Over Fences and Alex Szucs in Novice on the Flat. Second-place finishes included Katie Peach in Novice Over Fences, Claire Rosso in Walk-Trot-Canter and Shea Sutherland in Walk-Trot. Emily Manos placed in two classes with a fifth in Open Over Fences and a seventh in Open on the Flat. Danielle Wolklin had a seventh-place finish in Intermediate on the Flat. Riders Dana Paulding and Rose placed third and fourth in the Medal Class, respectively. When it comes to showing

horses, the horse you are designated to ride can heavily impact how well you perform, as all horses perform and behave differently. Rose explained how significant the “draw” is because if you draw a challenging horse to ride, your skills are definitely tested and it may become more difficult to place in classes. The Eagle riders, who understand that well, did what it took to

make sure they were prepared for any horse they might draw. Junior Emmy Rhodes, who is the IHSA chair for the club and team captain, explained, “We tried to figure out which horses were going to be in everyone’s draw, and make sure everyone had a chance to ride those horses. One of our major goals was to prepare riders on horses that they do not normally ride.” This was also the first time that two of the teams from Bridgewater rode against each other. When you host a tournament, you get to enter two teams instead of one, a “home-court advantage.” Congratulations to all the girls who got to ride in the tournament – it takes a lot of hard work. One must join the Equestrian Club, try for a place on the Equestrian Team, and then be chosen from the team in order to show. Rhodes concluded, “I

thought as a team we worked really well together. It was hard having the show over Interterm when not everyone is here to help out, but I think everyone that was here did their best to put it on. I was really proud of my team mates.” Finishing a tournament on top is only the beginning for these riders, as the spring season kicks off with a show on Friday, February 8th, and riding will continue on for the rest of the semester. ...

16 VERITAS

Equestrian Team



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Veritas Issue 1, Spring 2013

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