The Buccaneer BeaconFall Semester 2018 Volume 1, Number 1

IN THIS ISSUE

The Uno f f i c i a l News Source o f Cha r les ton Sou the rn Un i ve rs i t y“Take no part in the unfruit ful works of darkness, but instead expose them.” – Ephesians 5:11

North Charleston, SC

Costin brings new outlook to CSU

Dr. Dondi Costin sits across the table explaining how he left his position as Air Force chief of chaplains to take the role of president at Charleston Southern University, a southern Baptist university. After realizing his passion for higher education years ago, Costin said he did what most men in his position would logically do.

He sat down at his computer and he started a Google search.

Costin was named the third president in CSU history in April, replacing the retired Dr. Jairy Hunter. Costin started his position over the summer, and his formal inauguration cer-emony was held on Oct. 29 in

Lightsey Chapel.Raised in a Christian home

and a life-long follower of Jesus, CSU’s mission of integrating faith in learning, leading and serving is what he said caught

his eye and drew him to the univer-sity.

During the process with the search committee, Costin said

he repeatedly asked the commit-tee whether CSU is as Christian as it claims to be, and said that it was answered with a resounding yes.

“It was unapologetically and thoroughly a Christian universi-ty. CSU is at a unique place that we’re a Christian school but not just for Christians,” said Costin. “We can engage students from all walks of life and share the gospel and show how the Chris-tian worldview affects every area of life. So, we let the truth stand

By Moriah CassanoEdited by Fabrice Jean-Gilles

Air Force vet becomes CSU’s 3rd President

Clery Act: CSU has less crime than Citadel, CofCDespite being the safest col-

lege campus in the area, offi-cials and students at Charleston Southern University said it was important for the school to remain diligent with regards to security.

The Clery Act mandates that colleges and universities must disclose their crime statistics each year and, according to doc-uments available through CSU’s website, the school had a total of 15 crimes reported in 2017. One of those crimes was for an aggravated assault, eight were tied to a rash of burglaries, two were for stalking and four were for car thefts. With a total student population of 3,724, CSU suf-fered a single incident for one of the aforementioned crimes out for every 248 students.

The data for CSU’s Charleston educational brethren was much different. The Citadel had 45

crimes reported in 2017, with three instances of assault, five cases of burglary, two forc-ible sex offenses and 34 vari-ous liquor law violations. The Citadel has a total population of 3,527 students and, based upon the Clery data, had an incident of one of the aforementioned crimes for every 78 students.

The College of Charleston had eight reported cases of forcible sex offenses, or rape, two for “dating violence,” two for stalking, one for burglary, 51 liquor law violations and 28 drug law violations. According to CofC’s Clery report, of the eight reported cases of rape, two filed an official police report and the remaining six disclosed the incident to campus security and sought assistance from the col-lege’s Office of Victim Services. CofC, with a significantly larger student population of 11,942, had an incident for every 128 students for one of the aforemen-tioned crimes.

By comparison, CSU had no liquor law or drug violations reported in 2017 and hasn’t had a rape case in three years. None of the schools reported any hate crimes during 2017.

Jonathan Franklin, resident life coordinator, said he was satisfied with the way security has oper-ated at the school.

“I think, for the most part campus security has done a great

job, with the new installment of the emergency poles on campus, I think that’s gone a long way to clear up some blind spots, instal-lation of new cameras, things like that,” he said

The emergency poles were added to the campus in 2017 and can be used by students, faculty and staff in case of an emergency situation. They are identifiable by the blue light placed at the top

of the pole. Despite the positive additions,

Franklin said he was concerned that CSU may become a target in the future.

John Wilson, director of cam-pus security, agreed, adding that, as a Christian institution, the university could become a target, much like Mother Emanuel AME Church did in a June 2015 shoot-

By Wesley MyersEdited by Emily Crevani

Gators Living on CampusAlligators are living among

Charleston Southern University students.

CSU Campus Security said alligators do live on campus but could not confirm how many. In October, a small alligator was found under a bench in front of Wingo Hall, and others have been seen behind the Buccaneer Fieldhouse, said Director of Campus Security John Wilson.

There are no rules in place that protect students from the alligators on campus. However, if students encounter an alligator, they should attempt to stay at a distance and can contact campus security to resolve the issue if the reptile is being problematic, said Wilson. Biology Profes-sor, Dr. Todd Heldreth, said he doesn’t think the alligators pose a problem.

“You cannot transplant alliga-tors, which is the solution most people offer. Alligators have a keen homing instinct and will try to return home, even after being moved upwards of 100 miles. Nuisance alligators have to be killed because they can’t be

relocated, and most people are not aware that this is the actual outcome,” said Heldreth.

CSU does not have any spe-cific rules in place for wildlife on campus, but the alligators are protected by state laws, said Wilson. Any law enforcement agency can enforce the state laws concerning the alligators, includ-ing wildlife agencies or Campus Security, said Wilson.

The South Carolina Depart-ment of Natural Resources has

regulations for how issues with the alligators should be dealt with. According to the SCDNR website, “In South Carolina, nuisance alligators should be re-ported to the SCDNR. Licensed trappers have been permitted by the SCDNR to remove and dispatch of any alligator who may exhibit aggressiveness, habituated behavior towards humans (most likely from feed-ing), illness/injury or inhabit a

By Sarah ParrisEdited by Ashleigh Cain

A baby alligator sits under a park bench outside of Wingo Hall in October.

See Gators, page 2

See Crime, page 2

See Costin, page 3

BUCS LEAVE A FOOTBALL

LEGACY

THE REFLECTION

POND

‘REJECTS’ OF THE STAGE

INDEXCampus News.................................. 2-3About Us................................................. 3Sports.................................................. 4-5Features................................................... 6

BARBER TAKES OVER

ATHLETICSPage 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 6

Photo from www.csuniv.edu Photo from www.csuniv.edu Photo from www.csuniv.eduPhoto by Ed Brooks

Dr. Dondi Costin Photo courtesy of CSU Campus Security

ing that left nine people dead.“We’re religious affiliated so if some-

one has a beef against religion or a beef against Baptists in general, they may take it out on CSU,” he explained

Wilson said he feels that, even though the school has been very successful at keeping students safe, there is room to improve and the school is always look-ing to strengthen security. He emphasized that the primary thing holding the security office from implementing some new ideas was a lack of funding.

While student and Resident Assistant

Cameron Cross agreed that CSU was a safe institution, he suggested the addi-tion of more security staff. The number of security staff working at any given time varies, but Cross said that adding two or three more guards to each shift could go a long way in providing full coverage and making sure that students are safe.

“You never know you’re not safe until something happens,” Cross said.

recreational swimming area,” Wilson said he receives two tags each

year that licenses campus security to remove two alligators, by termination, only if they become a nuisance. However, none have ever been killed on campus. Al-ligators want nothing to do with humans unless they feel attacked, said Wilson. Heldreth agreed.

“The only times an alligator might get aggressive is a mother with babies or a mother protecting her nest. In all encoun-ters, common sense should take people a long way when it comes to alligators. You would have to be crazy to get anywhere near a mother,” he said.

The alligators don’t pose an immediate threat to students living on campus, but they are a safety concern that residents should be aware of, said Assistant Dean of Residence Life Julie Alimpich. The simplest solution, she said, is to put cau-tionary signs around the areas on campus where the alligators tend to reside.

Heldreth expressed concerns about cre-ating more of a problem if raising aware-ness is enacted poorly.

“You don’t want to spread awareness of the alligators in a way that will cause more people to go search for them. If you put signs up, it won’t draw attention to new people, but it will warn those who al-ready go to those areas. I work at the zoo at Charles Towne Landing and there are warning signs everywhere that an alligator

could be. CSU should consider operating in the same way, as it might help prevent unnecessary encounters with the alliga-tors,” said Heldreth.

Most confrontations with alligators yield no issues and are very common occurrences for some students, according to Adam Huff, a sophomore member of the CSU cross country team. He said he sees them almost every morning while the team runs by the swamp on campus. The alligators tend to swim away or run to the water when they see the runners coming, said Huff.

However, Huff does recall a close call with one of the animals last semester.

“Some friends and I were watching a bigger one swim in the swamp. All of a sudden, it swam right at us and came up out of the water, onto the bank. We left quickly so that it could calm down, but we realized that we were probably standing on the nest,” he said.

Alimpich said that acting to relocate the alligators is unnecessary.

“They are part of nature, and we are the ones taking over their space. We need to share our space well, respect the alligators and be good neighbors,” said Alimpich.

The Buccaneers Beacon Fall Semester 20182

Charleston Southern Univer-sity is getting ready to unveil its new residence hall in the spring semester of 2019.

The currently unnamed building is expected to open in January or February but students who plan on living in the new dormitory will be subjected to a price increase for housing.

The university held a forum Nov. 12 to explain some of the details of the new dormitory and Julie Alimpich, assistant dean of residence life, said it will cost $6,000 to live in the new building, an increase from the standard $5,100. The difference in the price is not covered by university scholarship money, meaning those students will have to pay an additional $900 to live in the new dorm. Alimpich said the increase is justified.

“It’s priced higher because it’s newer and more updated,” said Alimpich. “For example, the Quads are 30 years old, and the other buildings have also been updated, but they are not as nice as the new building.”

The building can house 208 students. There are 112 vacancies for females and 96 vacancies for males, which was determined by the current female to male ratio, said Alimpich.

There are other features that make this building more expen-sive. Alimpich explained that the dimensions of the apartment style rooms are 16 feet by 11 feet with a new common space

between the two rooms and a separated bathroom and shower. Alimpich added that the building will feature washers and driers on the first floor, a lounge on the second and a kitchen area on the third. Alimpich said the kitchen will come with a refrigerator, double stove oven, sink and kitchen appliances.

Most rooms are set to be double occupancy, with two rooms assigned to a suite, said Jessica Hobbs, residence life coordinator. Hobbs said visita-tion hours for the rooms have yet to be determined.

“We are looking into what oth-er schools do for this particular set up, but we have not made any decisions yet,” she explained.

John Wilson, the director of campus security, said the new building will be maintained as well as the other buildings on campus as there will be at least one security guard patrolling the area.

“We will have an area des-ignated for security. We will probably have them stationed from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. like we do in most buildings. There will also be cameras at every entrance, as well as key fob access to the doors to the new building,” he said.

Wilson added that there should be adequate parking for the new building, as there is parking lot already near the building and a new lot near the Quads that should be ready before the dorm opens.

With the opening of the new

residence hall, Hobbs said students will no longer have to live at local hotels, such as the Wingate by Wyndham. The hotel students will be made to choose between one of the current dormitories or the new residence hall.

The applications for this new building are opened Monday and will remain open until Nov. 26, due to spring semester room confirmations, said Alimpich.

There are four different groups for applications currently, said

Hobbs. The groups from high-est to lowest priority consist of seniors, juniors, sophomores and freshmen, said Hobbs. The group for seniors also has subgroups, including seniors rooming with senior suitemates, seniors room-ing with a senior roommate, seniors with a junior, with a sophomore and with a freshman. Hobbs said that these subgroups can also be applied to the junior, sophomore and freshmen groups.

The way applications are done may be subject to change in the

future, said Alimpich. “Probably for the spring

semester, we will stick with the Placements Groups set right now, but we might include different clubs like Honors, Teaching Fellows or ROTC in the future. We will have a certain amount of spots allotted for the different groups, but nothing is certain yet. However, pricing will remain at $6,000,” said Alimpich.

NOTE: This article was writ-ten prior to the Nov. 26 deadline discussed above.

CAMpus newsCSU to open new dorm in springBy Andrew BoylesEdited by Keith Terry

The new dorm, which has yet to be named, should open in January or February, according to CSU officials.Photo by Andrew Boyles

Crime, continued from page 1 Gators, continued from page 1

The Buccaneers Beacon 3Fall Semester 2018

With the holidays fast ap-proaching, members of the Charleston Southern University community extended the spirit of giving by engaging with the community in various charitable efforts across campus.

For the Christmas season, CSU partnered with Operation Christmas Child, a branch of the Samaritan’s Purse Charity, to provide a Christmas for the chil-dren around the world that might not otherwise have one.

On Nov. 15, Charleston South-ern students had their packing party where they filled shoe boxes with toys, toothbrushes, Bibles and other gifts and neces-sities.

Kevin Coriolan, student activi-ties director, said that the initial goal was to pack 2,000 boxes, however, with “hundreds of stu-dents, faculty, staff and friends”

participating, they ended up with 2,400 boxes. Coriolan said it was the largest number of boxes CSU had ever packed and a reflection of the spirit of the CSU com-munity.

“CSU has, at its mission, a big heart for service,” he said.

While Operation Christmas Child is a prominent effort among CSU’s charitable causes, it only comes around once a year. Charleston Southern also associates itself with many other charitable organizations, specifi-cally, the American Red Cross. Coriolan said the organiza-tion holds a blood drive once a month per semester on the North Charleston campus or about nine times per school year.

Laura Zagby-Dye, the account manager for the Red Cross in North Charleston, helps hold blood drives on campus through-out the year and said the drives are an excellent way to engage

the CSU faculty, staff and stu-dent body.

“[It is a way to] bring every-one together for the good of our community and the patients who rely on the blood supply for survival,” she said.

Zagby-Dye said hundreds of students roll up their sleeves each year to donate blood at CSU as the Red Cross routinely meets its donation goal of 50 pints per drive when they visit CSU.

However, Zagby-Dye made it clear that there are always opportunities for students to be involved with the Red Cross.

“We need clubs and other organizations to volunteer to co-ordinate blood drives throughout the year,” she said. “They spread the word and recruit donors to make appointments so that each drive is a success.”

Coriolan encouraged students to get involved by joining a stu-dent organization.

“It is a great way for a bunch of people to mobilize and have an effect through community ser-vice,” he explained. “All of our student organizations do multiple service projects each semester.”

Coriolan added that students can also contact him directly if they are interested in participat-ing or starting a charitable effort.

“I will do my best to support and help any student that really has that heart,” he said.

There are still many other organizations students can be involved in throughout the year, including the Eagle Harbor Boys Ranch and Habitat for Humanity.

Coriolan estimated that roughly 75 percent of students are involved in some kind of service learning activity through-out the year. Many charitable opportunities on campus serve as chapel credit.

For more information, contact Coriolan at kcoriolan@csuniv.

Starting in January 2019, Charleston Southern University will offer the university’s first Doctor of Education degree with an emphasis in leadership.

Along with being the first doctoral program at CSU, this will be the first Ed.D. program offered in the Charleston area, a fact that is not lost on Dr. Christy Winchester, assistant director of graduate programs.

“Not only does this help to fulfill our need as a Christian university, it also helps to fulfill a need in our community,” she said.

Acceptance into the program is based on an objective quan-titative rubric, said Dr. George

Metz, dean of the College of Education. Prospective students first fill out a demographic-based application and submit a résumé. Next, applicants have a face-to-face interview, as well as a small group interview with other applicants. Then, they complete a two-page writing assignment while at CSU. Finally, recom-mendations of the students are reviewed.

Seventy-nine people applied to the program that only had 22 slots available. The approval process for the program took be-tween 18 and 24 months, said Dr. Jacqueline Fish, vice president of academic affairs.

Even though the program is rooted in the College of Educa-tion, the program is not just for those who work in education.

CSU officials have encouraged professionals from all across the Low Country to apply. Metz added that members of the first cohort are from all walks of life and include local firefighters, police and military.

Classes are on campus in a hybrid format and will typically meet once a week with subse-quent readings and discussions posted online via Blackboard. Fish said the need for hybrid courses was necessary because most of the students enrolled in the program are working profes-sionals.

In addition, classes will run in accelerated semesters that are five weeks long in order to accommodate for the amount of people accepted into the pro-gram. Students will also work

in cohorts and move through the classes together. The degree is 60 semester hours in total and include a dissertation.

The process of adding the Ed.D. program was an arduous one. CSU had to apply to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, which included a feasibility study that examined how an Ed.D would benefit both the school and the community. SACS subsequently approved the addition of the program and will follow up with an onsite visit in March.

Fish said the addition of the Ed.D. moved CSU to a level five university per SACS, opening the door for two more doctoral programs to be added in the future.

Campus NewsCSU adds first doctoral programBy Kylie SterchiEdited by Roderick Dale

CSU community bans together for charitable effortsBy Fabrice H. Jean-Gilles

The Buccaneer BeaconStudent ContributorsEditors (COMM 235)

Jamie AndrewsAshleigh CainEmily CrevaniRoderick Dale

Darzane’ FergusonFabrice Jean-GillesChristian Keeling

Larry SienkoKeith Terry

Reporters (COMM 225)Andrew Boyles

Ed BrooksMoriah Cassano

Cam CainJack Delongchamps

Kevin DickinsonAshleigh HolwegerFabrice Jean-Gilles

Wesley MyersSarah ParrisZach Rettig

Kylie SterchiAndrew Tomasovich

Designer (COMM 335)Wesley Myers

FacultyDr. Jason Peterson

About The Buccaneer Beacon

The Buccaneer Beacon is a collection of work from the students in Dr. Jason Peterson’s Multi-media Writing and Re-porting, Multiplatform Editing, and Advanced Reporting classes at Charleston Southern University. Peterson is an assistant professor and curriculum coordi-nator in the Division of Communication & Art at CSU.

Disclaimer: The Buc-caneer Beacon is not an official publication of Charleston Southern University. The views expressed in this news-paper are not neces-sarily reflective of the institution. The stories presented are student generated and are writ-ten and edited by stu-dents in Dr. Peterson’s journalism classes. For more information, please contact Dr. Jason Peterson at jpeterson@csuniv.edu.

for itself and let people make decisions as they do. We teach people how to think and not what to think.”

Costin graduated from high school in Wilmington, N.C., where he said he first felt called to ministry. However, it was his fear of public speaking that led him to enroll in the Air Force Academy.

He said he entered the military with a twofold purpose: both to serve his country and to free his parents of any financial burden. Cos-tin graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science degree in operations research.

He served as Air Force ROTC instructor at Texas Christian Univer-sity for six years until he began his role as chaplain, which he served as for 22 years culminating in his position as chief of chaplains until his official retirement on Sept.1, with the rank of major general.

Costin’s education is extensive, with a plethora of master’s degrees from the Air Force and various seminaries. He has both a Doctor of Ministry degree and a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Costin identified the top three areas of growth he would like to see for the university include enrollment, retention and graduation rate.

Costin described one of CSU’s greatest strengths as the passion of the faculty, staff and coaches for the mission of the institution.

“They understand that they work for the Lord and not just an em-ployer. If people are passionate about the mission, it makes working part of your calling,” he said.

Students across the university said they are excited to see how

Costin will strengthen and deploy CSU’s mission to share the gospel throughout campus, in each classroom and on each playing field.

Junior football player and christian studies student, Josh Rice, said Costin’s desire for God is made clear through his life.

“I think Dr. Costin is going to try his best to create a culture that is first of all, exceedingly and overwhelmingly in love with God and what God wants and out of the overflow of getting that correct, will he strive for academic excellence and leadership,” stated Rice.

Some students said they are drawn to Costin’s intentionality and care for each individual.

“Every time that I’ve encountered Dr. Costin, he’s been kind, personable and incredibly engaging,” said senior christian studies and graphic design student, Marylou Springer.

Senior and Student Body President Princeton McBride said Costin has transitioned seamlessly into the role of president.

“I think CSU was functioning very well before Dr. Costin, but I think the transition has served this campus very well and benefited CSU in many ways. I don’t think there’s a gap with the president and the student body anymore,” he explained. “I think Dr. Costin was the guy to form the bridge showing that he is for them and he is willing to get to know them.”

Costin said he is looking forward, optimistically, as he strategizes how to better carry out the mission of CSU in every facet and area of the university.

“If the mission is clear and people are focused on the mission,

Costin, continued from page 1

The Buccaneers Beacon Fall Semester 20184

There is a new captain at the helm of Buccaneer athletics.

Jeff Barber took over as the new athletic director for Charles-ton Southern University in June 2018 and already has big plans to bring CSU into the future of athletics.

Barber, a 1981 graduate of East Carolina University, car-ries 29 years of experience as a NCAA Division-I athletic direc-tor. He has worked in the athletic departments at ECU, Furman University and the University of

South Carolina before becoming the athletic director at Liberty University in 2006. During his 11-year tenure at the Virginia-based university, the Flames won 83 conference championships.

After resigning from Liberty in 2016, Barber said he made it a goal to be an athletic director at a Division-I school once again.

“God opened the door for me to come to CSU and made it plain to me and my wife that this is where we should be,” he said.

Barber said his first plan of action includes the addition of more coaches to athletic staffs and more faculty to the academic

offices. Barber added that the university’s athletic facilities would also need to be addressed in the near future.

“We are far behind the other members of our conference in many ways, and, in order to re-cruit the kind of student athletes we need to be successful in this league, we have to get better,” he said.

Barber has a strong history of upgrading facilities at schools he has been at in the past. Barber oversaw the building of new venues at Liberty for softball in 2015, for baseball in 2013 and the expansion of Williams

Stadium on the Lynchburg, Va., campus.

The Greenville, N.C., native said he was raised in a strong Christian home and considers honesty, integrity, professional-ism, excellence, and thoughtful-ness as his core values.

Barber is already making strong impressions on his staff.

“He values people highly and you can see that in all of his actions,” Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach Stephen Gossard said.

Barber has especially made an impression on the CSU sports community. He already knows

most of the athletes by name, has offered to have team captains over for dinner and has traveled on the road with the teams.

Charleston Southern Associate Athletic Director for Compliance and Senior Women’s Administra-tor Ashton Turner, who worked with Barber at Liberty, said she has seen firsthand how he makes student athletes the priority.

“He is very student-athlete driven. That and game day are definitely going to bring his fo-cus. I think we need both for this athletic department,” she said.

Expectations are high for the Charleston Southern University men’s basketball team after finishing last season on a roll.

After a rough start to Big South Conference play during the 2017-2018 basketball season, the CSU men’s basketball team went on a 7-3 run in their last 10 conference games and made it to the Big South Championship tournament quarterfinals before losing to the Univer-sity of North Carolina-Ashville, 71-66. The Bucs ended the season with an overall record of 15-16 and a 9-9 conference record.

The Bucs are currently 4-6, with wins over Columbia International, South Carolina State University, Trinity Baptist College, and Coppin State. Despite the early record in the season, the players said they are looking to build off of the run they made last year.

The team brings back multiple key players from last year, including junior guard Christian Keeling. Last season, Keeling averaged 17.1 points per game and 33.1 minutes on the floor. The then-sophomore entered his name into the 2018 NBA Draft and got a chance to work out with the Milwaukee Bucks, but decided to come back and finish his college career at Charleston Southern.

“Being able to test those waters was really a blessing and learning experience. It helped me elevate my game,” Keeling said regarding his experience with the Bucks. The junior now currently leads his team across the board with 17.8 points per game, 4.3 assists, 31.4 minutes, 8 blocks and 17 steals.

One player who has stood out to coaches and returning players is freshman guard Dontrell Shuler. Shuler is currently averaging 10.9 points and 2.5 rebounds in 22.6 minutes of playing time per game. The rookie is contributing in all categories and said he doesn’t look to stop.

“I feel like although I have a lot to learn, I will improve as the sea-son goes on,” said Shuler.

Leadership for the team comes from the lone senior, forward Travis McConico. The veteran is looking forward to setting an example to the team’s younger players this year.

“I feel like I can be a lot of help for the younger guys and someone they can come to for help,” he said.

In preparation for his senior season, McConico and several of his teammates put in extra work during the off-season.

“It will have us more prepared towards the end of the season when we have to win some big games,” he said.

The Bucs are back in action on the road, Dec.18 at 7 p.m. against Clemson University.

It is an electric Friday night in Charleston, S.C., and the Buc Dome on the campus of Charleston Southern University is filled to capacity with fans roaring at the top of their lungs. Inside the locker room, the players are nervous, but excited about their upcoming game. In the door walks their star shooting guard and the tension leaves the room. Christian Keeling is staying cool and collected, cre-ating a fun, relaxed environment for his teammates. Keeling said it’s all a part of becoming mentally prepared for the task that lies ahead.

“I like to listen to slow music, dance, or do whatever else I have to do to stay loose,” he said, grinning ear to ear.

Keeling is a junior at Charleston Southern Uni-versity, and a preseason All-Big South Conference guard on the men’s basketball team. He currently averages 17.8 points, 4.3 assists and 31.4 minutes per game, to go along with eight blocks and 17 steals, all of which lead the team.

The 6-3 guard from Augusta, Ga., returned to the Bucs after a brief flirtation with a profes-sional career in the NBA. At the conclusion of his sophomore campaign, Keeling submitted his name to league for draft consideration and worked out with the Milwaukee Bucks prior to the NBA Draft. Despite returning to the friendly confines of the Buc Dome, Keeling said his brief excursion in the NBA was invaluable.

“Playing for the Bucks allowed me to experience what it is like to be a true professional,” he said, specifically noting the physical rigors of the NBA.

Keeling did not sign with an agent and was able to return for his junior season at CSU. Focused on the plight of the Bucs, Keeling said his goals for the upcoming season started with a berth to the NCAA tournament.

“We need to get better every day and create a new culture for future CSU teams,” he said.

Success on the hardwood has become a common-ality in the life of Keeling. Along with the afore-mentioned pre-season honors, Keeling was a All-Big South Conference second team performer last season, a member of the Big South All-Freshman Team in 2016-2017 after setting the CSU record for

points scored in a season by a freshman and, while at Laney High School, was named 2015-16 Basket-ball Player of the Year by the Augusta Chronicle. Keeling attributed his success to his mother, who he lost to cancer prior to his senior year of high school.

“My family is my motivation,” he said, poi-gnantly.

Like Keeling, assistant coach Arlon Harper was a stand-out player at Charleston Southern. Harper said Keeling brings a positive atmosphere to the locker room and has an innate ability to bring his fellow Bucs together on the court.

“Christian brings an unmatched level of confi-dence to the team,” he said. “Not only is he able to score at a high level, but he has the ability to get raise the level of play for his teammates. Chris-tian’s play reminds me a lot of myself actually.”

Harper compared Keeling’s playing style to that of current Portland Trailblazer CJ McCollum, call-ing the junior, “a pure scorer.”

Classmate and fellow CSU athlete Jack Delong-champs said Keeling is a joy to watch.

“He is a superstar,” said the senior member of the CSU baseball team. “Christian Keeling has the ability the put Charleston Southern on the map.”

As for life off-the-court, Keeling is your typical college student, finding joy in a simple game of Putt-Putt and for good reason.

“I really just enjoy doing things I am bad at. This allows me to always strive to get better,” he explained.

SportsBarber named new athletic director at CSUBy Ashleigh HolwegerEdited by Larry Sienko

By Andrew Tomasovich

Keeling fulfilling promise on and off the court

CSU All-Conference guard Christian KeelingPhoto by Andrew Tomasovich

Bucs look to continue hot streak into 2018-19By Cam CainEdited by Jamie Andrews

The Buccaneers Beacon 5Fall Semester 2018

The 2018-2019 Charleston Southern University women’s basketball team is primed to make a run for the Big South Conference championship.

Last season, the Lady Bucs finished 11-20 overall and 1-1 in the conference tournament, los-ing to Liberty University in the quarterfinals but, the players and coaches said they believe there will be a difference in this year’s team.

Currently, the Lady Bucs are 1-1 with a season-opening 101-50 win over Converse College on Nov. 6, followed by a Nov. 11 defeat at the hands of Da-vidson, 72-34. Their next game is on Nov. 16, as they travel to Orangeburg, S.C., to face South Carolina State University.

Six of the 13 members of the Lady Bucs roster are seniors and head coach Fred Applin, who

is in his seventh campaign with the Lady Bucs, said he has high hopes for his basketball team behind his senior laden squad.

“I believe the seniors play a huge leadership role and serve as role models to the other members of the team both on and off the court,” he said.

Three of Applin’s six se-niors, guards Rachel Burns and Breannah Bretches, and forward Shelby Wilbanks, echoed their head coach’s contention.

“We have the potential to put up better stats than last year per-formances,” said Wilbanks, the Lady Bucs third leading scorer last season with 9.2 points per game.

Applin and the three seniors agreed that last year’s squad suf-fered from poor communication, which was a point of emphasis for the Lady Bucs in the offsea-son. Bretches said an improve-ment in this area could lead the

Lady Bucs all the way to the conference title.

Burns and Wilbanks added that they believe they have to be more of an “up and down team” by dictating the game’s tempo and playing, primarily, a fast

break offense. Applin, Burns, Bretches and

Wilbanks identified sophomore guards Anna Webster and Kelsie Ruff-Mills, senior guard Ke’Asia Jackson, and junior center Jasmine Blackmon as prime can-

didates for a breakout season. Applin said he believes they

have the potential to qualify for the NCAA tournament.

“If they compete every game, then their goal will be accom-plished,” Applin explained.

As the clock flashed all zeroes, the Charleston Southern Uni-versity football team completed a much needed 16-0 victory over Big South Conference foe, Gardner-Webb University. As the Buccaneers stormed the field in celebration, 17 seniors began to realized that they would no lon-ger be able to play in front of the CSU faithful at Buccaneer Field & Whitfield Stadium Center.

The 2018 senior class finished as one of the more success in the history of CSU football. The class helped bring the football program 28 wins in four years, two back-to-back conference titles in 2015 and 2016, numer-ous awards for standout perfor-mances, all while surviving the January 2017 resignation of then-head coach Jamey Chadwell, who was replaced by Mark Tucker, and an NCAA investiga-tion. In October, the NCAA ruled that CSU was guilty of violations concerning the expenditures of money allocated for textbooks and the on-the-filed participa-tion of academically ineligible athletes.

The memories that will reso-nate to the university and its fan base include victories over cross town rival The Citadel in the Football Championship Series playoffs in 2015 and a 2016 season-opening contest against North Dakota State at the Fargo Dome on ESPN. Regardless of the NCAA ruling, the graduating Buccaneers said they were proud of their accomplishments.

“The 2018 class has left a great legacy,” senior running back Adam Allen said. “We won two back-to-back champion-ships. Prior to that the only other championship won was in 2005.”

Allen, who has been a staple in the Buccaneer backfield, touted the dynamic rushing attack that averaged over 210 yard per game over the last four years behind former Bucs Mike Holloway, Darius Hammond, Ben Robin-son, and current running backs Terrence Wilson, Noah Shuler and Ronnie Harris. Allen said he would remember, fondly, the aforementioned victory over The Citadel and a home victory over the then-No. 1 Coastal Carolina University in 2015.

Another player that was a fixture in the Buccaneer offense was offensive lineman Joe Gold, who transferred to CSU in 2015 from Florida Atlantic University. Football aside, Gold said it is the friendships he has made that stand out the most.

“Going back-to-back in 2015 and 2016 was a blast but a defin-ing moment on the field for me was this year when me and my two best friends, Jarrod Downer and Zack Evans, finally got to play and start together on the field,” he said.

Although Downer and Evans, also offensive linemen, have dealt with injuries their entire careers, they both said their physical sacrifices were worth it.

One redshirt senior whose football playing days could be extended following the season is team captain, defensive end Solomon Brown. Brown has littered his name up and down the Charleston Southern record books and played a huge part in what has become known as the ‘Blue Swarm’ defense. Brown has tallied close to 138 tackles in his career, 14.5 sacks, 45.5 tack-les for loss, five forced fumbles and two interceptions. Brown has been honored as Big South Freshman of the year, an FCS sophomore All-American and a

four-time Big South All-Confer-ence selection. Brown, who is looking to have an opportunity to play professional football next year and working out at the NFL combine, said the moment that stands out the most to him was when the Buccaneers took on former conference rival Coastal Carolina in Conway, S.C., on Oct. 1 2016. The game ended up being a double overtime thriller that would eventually lead to Brown blocking a field goal to win the game, 59-58.

With his collegiate career coming to an end, Brown said he looks to future classes to carry on

the legacy that has been set forth. “(I want future classes) To

improve on what we did well and to perfect what we did wrong,” he said.

To demonstrate the overall magnitude and legacy of the 2018 class, special teams coor-dinator and team chaplain David Padilla, said he appreciated the way this class handled the ebbs and flows of the college football seasons.

“I would say the standard has been resilience,” he said. “These men have had to be resilient through coaching changes, an NCAA investigation, poor lead-

ership within their own ranks, and when you have that many people with so many different backgrounds in one room, its hard to find common ground, but when they look at the name on the front of the jersey they have been resilient enough to rally around that and they have been able to hold their head high.”

In December, head coach Mark Tucker resigned and it was announced that the football team would be forced to vacate 18 victories and the Big South championship from 2015.

Sports

By Jack DelongchampsEdited by Christian Keeling

Bucs senior class leaves legacy on the gridiron

By Kevin DickinsonEdited By Darzane’ Ferguson

Lady Bucs hope for success in 2018-19 season

The Buccaneers Beacon Fall Semester 20186

For students in Charleston Southern University’s theatre program, rejection is the key to a world of possibilities.

Since 2011, Charleston South-ern has offered a student-run al-ternative, the Rejects, to the main stage of shows offered through-out the semester. That year, Theatre Professor Thomas Keat-ing produced “12 Angry Men” with a cast largely comprised of newcomers to CSU’s main stage program, which left many of the regulars out in the cold for the semester. To hear Keating tell it, the program was born, not out of necessity so much as it was spite.

“The sort of ‘veterans’ who had been in things like ‘Hamlet’ or ‘The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe’ decided they wanted to produce some theatre of their own,” he said.

Since then, the program has played host to a variety of projects, from straight plays to original works. At the core, the purpose of the program is to provide an alternative, one that Keating said students find more appealing than the main stage fare.

“It’s usually a departure from what the regular season is . . . they’ll usually produce some-thing counter to that. I think mostly it’s because they have the choice,” said Keating.

This, perhaps, explains the fre-quency of the improv and sketch

comedy shows, generally held once a month, under the Rejects umbrella.

“The fringes of respectability are more likely to be looked at in a Rejects show,” Keating said.

Keating said he takes a hands-off approach with the Rejects and, while this potentially raises concerns, he was quick add that the students always maintain an air of professionalism.

“I’ll give advice and sit in on a rehearsal if needed, but other than that, I let the students work things out,” he said

Josh Kerr, a senior at Charles-ton Southern, has appeared in shows both on the main stage and with the Rejects. In fall 2016, he and 2016 graduate Morgan Calvert collaborated to create, direct and produce an adaptation of the comedy film “The Princess Bride.” While there were some difficulties ar-ranging the seating in the limited space of the Black Box Theatre, Kerr looked back fondly on the experience.

“I have many fond memories, but they always stem from the people I was fortunate enough to work with,” he said, smiling. “I hope it (Rejects) remains long after my time here.”

In the upcoming semester, the Rejects will put on two shows: “She Stoops to Con-quer,” directed by student Diana Snellgrove, and “Self-Titled,” an original composition by senior Ashleigh Cain. “Self-Titled” is

an exhibition of student-created poetry presented by four actors. Cain, an English major, said her show is the culmination of an idea she’s been nursing for a year and a half.

“Poetry is, in my opinion, the rawest form of art; it comes straight from the heart and has always been an astounding emotional outlet for me,” she explained. “I want to give other people, especially those who would never dare to step onto a stage, a way to express them-selves and a way for those in the audience to see that they aren’t the only ones struggling.”

Cain said the inspiration for “Self-Titled” came from her experiences in last fall’s show, “Diving Into the Wreck,” a de-vised piece that was built mainly from the experiences of the show’s nearly all-female cast.

“I’ve always loved theatre that means something, rather than just art for art’s sake,” Cain said.

Cain said she considers what her actors are getting out of the experience particularly reward-ing.

“Devised theatre also gives the actors an opportunity to pour themselves into the play, more so than if they were playing a char-

acter written by someone else,” she explained. “(It) stirs up a strength, a confidence, a passion that you just wouldn’t get from a play that’s been reproduced dozens of times.”

The multiple closings of cam-pus necessitated by the weather in the fall have wrought havoc on the production’s schedule, including a second round of au-ditions, which were held earlier this November. But Cain said this extra time has opened the door for her to reconsider what the show is, and allowed her to make changes, ones that she says add to her message.

“We’ve actually transitioned from a half-female, half-male cast to an all-male cast in an attempt to show that men can be unapologetically emotional and poetic, too,” she said.

At the end of the day, Cain said she hopes that her audiences see themselves represented.

“I want the audience to leave saying ‘If they can do it, so can I. I am stronger than my fears and the other things that get me down. I’m not alone.’”

Cain drew it all back to one line, one she asked her audition-ing actors to read for her.

“Life influences art, but art

also influences life. Theatre isn’t just standing on a stage, pretend-ing. It’s an outlet; it’s emotion-al…Art can influence life. Art can change the world,” she said.

Both Cain and Keating said they appreciate the intimacy of the Black Box. Keating added that, while he could envision the program breaking out of the Black Box, experience has taught him that the Rejects’ home is the small theatre in the music building.

“It’s a homespun feeling,” he said. “I think it enhances the visibility of the program because people who would not otherwise come to shows come to see their friends, to support them, and then they learn that the Black Box exists.”

Keating said he treasures the growth of the program and the camaraderie that the Rejects inspires in the CSU theatre community. And when consider-ing what, in the history of the Rejects, he’s proudest of, he took it back to the ones who started it all, the original “Keating’s Rejects.”

“For giving me the healthy stubbornness that I taught them,” he said with a laugh.

By Zach Rettig

‘Rejects’ to present two productions in the spring

featuresThe spiritual, prank-filled history of The Reflection Pond

The Reflection Pond may seem like a decoration on

the campus Charleston Southern University, but the origins of the body of water are wrapped in the purpose of the institution.

According the 1966 edition of the school’s first yearbook, the “Cutlass,” the Reflection Pond was included in the original architect’s rendering as the focal point of the campus. Additional-ly, in her book, “Ebenezer Stones – A Firm Foundation: A History of the Baptist College at Charles-ton 1955-1988,” Margaret T. Gilmore wrote of the Reflection Pond, “The name transpired to become exquisitely fitting, mir-roring the sky, and finally a spire for them to appreciate, as they walked or sat beside it - reflect-ing and dreaming.”

Over time, a number of tradi-tions grew and developed involv-

ing the pond. Eric Bone, a 1982 graduate, said he remembers throwing people in the pond for their birthdays. That same year, the Shoney’s Big Boy ended up in the pond, as noted in the “Cutlass.” The traditions were not limited to students as two of the three school’s presidents, Dr. John A. Hamrick and Dr. Jairy Hunter, spent time in the pond. Between the years 1979 and 1982, according to 1982 graduate Allison Kellum, the former Al-pha Rho Omega sorority would hold an annual football game in the pond.

Associate Dean of Whitfield Center for Christian Leadership and Campus Ministries, Pas-tor Jon Davis, who was also an assistant football coach at CSU beginning in 1991, said upper class players would toss fresh-men members of the team into the pond, but, within a few years, that tradition came to an end.

As more and more wildlife arrived in the form of cranes, heron, geese and ducks, the tradition of throwing people into the pond slowly declined. Davis suggested that the water tests were conducted by members of the biology department in the mid-1990s and traces of E-coli were found.

Dr. Peter Jenkins, professor of biology and geology and the director of Master of Science in biology program, said he could not confirm actual dates of the tests, but confirmed that they had occurred over the past eight years.

“E-coli has been identified in the pond water and mud. Actu-ally, (it) is a very normal occur-rence considering that wildlife is present,” he explained.

Davis said he believes that the pond is a respite for the students and that more importance should be place on the spirituality of the pond, adding that he would like to see it represent Jesus as the “Living Water,” a reference to John 4.

“It needs to have some color, a fountain and God’s promises around the pond,” he said.

Davis said any enhance-ments would have to be initiated through the Student Government Association.

Many current students said they see the pond as a place to reflect, relax and socialize.

“It is very peaceful and gives me a place to think and clear my mind,” said Kelley Keller.

“The peacefulness helps calm my anxiety,” added Ellison Gil-liard.

By Ed Brooks

CSU students discuss the campus’ visual centerpiece

The Reflection Pond on the North Charleston campus of CSU.

Photo by Ed Brooks

“The fringes of respectability are more likely to be looked at in a Rejects show.”

- Theatre Professor Thomas Keating