http://www.uncp.edu/pineneedle/ The Pine Needle staff brings you top stories from around the campus and town. http://www.uncp.edu/pineneedle/images/uncp_home.gif http://www.uncp.edu/pineneedle/ http://www.uncp.edu/pineneedle/news/2011_spring/Fire_begins.html The field in front of Lumbee Hall caught fire Feb. 28 around 2 p.m. Campus police and local firefighters were on the scene to extinguish the fire. March 17, 2011 The field in front of Lumbee Hall caught fire Feb. 28 around 2 p.m. Campus police and local firefighters were on the scene to extinguish the fire. According to campus police reports, the fire was started by a cigarette that was disposed of improperly. Winds blowing up to 60 mph and the warm weather on Feb. 28 were prime reasons the fire spread so fast, according to a March 2 email from campus police Detective Edward Locklear. " Due to the extremely dry conditions, students, faculty and staff are asked to please use smoking stations located throughout the campus community and to also take the time to ensure cigarettes are extinguished before discarding them." " Especially with the high probability of starting a grass fire or dropping it in pine straws, the dry weather can start a brush fire," Charles Britt, Robeson County fire marshal, said. Locklear reported that there have been several small fires on campus believed to have been caused by cigarettes being disposed while still lit. Campus police extinguished two separate small fires on campus. A small brush fire was reported in front of Old Main Feb. 28. An officer responded to the call and extinguished the fire. Another small fire was reported Feb. 23 at the front entrance of Pine Hall. An officer also extinguished that fire. UNCP student Ashley Pryer was on her way to give a tour for perspective students, when she witnessed the fire in front of Lumbee Hall. " When I was turning in, I noticed smoke. But it was just a little bit from what I saw when I drove closer, so I realized it had to have started from a cigarette. Well, with the wind blowing the way it was, it must have caught the ashes and hit the grass and as soon as that happened, the lawn just caught in flames," she said. " The first person I thought to call was Kristen Sharpe, an admissions counselor because I was about to see her and I told her what was happening and to call the police. I was in shock when I saw it because the flames and the wind were dancing together and having their own little unstoppable party," Pryer said. With the strong winds and dried out land, Robeson County has been experiencing numerous wildfires. " We were very lucky," Chancellor Kyle Carter told the Faculty Senate at their March 2 meeting. " The winds were really whipping up." He urged everyone to use caution. " We're not out of the woods, yet, with fire danger and high winds." Robeson County did not have a burning ban, like most of the surrounding counties. Burning yard waste has also been a factor of the wildfires, according to The Robesonian. The Fayetteville Observer reported that a fire, which began Feb. 21, burned approximately 1,000 acres of land in Bladen County. There were no injuries or property damage during that fire. " Anything smokey should be discarded in a proper manner," Britt said. http://www.uncp.edu/pineneedle/news/2011_spring/Graduate_student.html Marlon McPhatter, a UNCP graduate student in the MBA program, won first place at the 41st Annual MBA Student Paper Competition at the Southeast Decision Sciences Institute held Feb. 23-25 in Savannah, Ga. March 17, 2011 Marlon McPhatter, a UNCP graduate student in the MBA program, won first place at the 41st Annual MBA Student Paper Competition at the Southeast Decision Sciences Institute held Feb. 23-25 in Savannah, Ga. " For me, the conference was a great opportunity to present my work as practice for future work at the Ph.D. level," McPhatter said. " I had no idea that I would actually win and all of the competing papers were excellent work. I would not have been surprised if either of the final papers presented had won. I think this is awesome for the UNC Pembroke and proves that we have a great MBA program." McPhatter's paper " Balancing Work with Life: A Look at Alternate Scheduling in the Long-Term Health Care Industry," won first place in the Student Paper Competition. He was able to present his paper in the conference for a monetary award. " Graduate students, like myself, who would like to continue their education at the Ph.D. level are encouraged to write and, hopefully, have their work published at these conferences and in academic journals. Having work published or being able to present at these conferences shows schools that you are able to produce quality academic work, answer questions about your research effectively and present your work for a school looking to accept students into their Ph.D. program," McPhatter said. The Southeast Decision Sciences Institute is a conference held every year at a different locations in the southeastern part of the United States and allows those in the field of business, psychology, ethics and others to present research and their work. Papers are submitted to the Institute during the year and are accepted and rejected by faculty members at various schools across the nation. At these conferences, mostly faculty present their work with other sessions for graduate and undergraduate students. Some of the tracks of research include International Business, Marketing, Management, and Information Technology, and are judged by faculty from numerous schools, including the University of South Carolina, Appalachian State University, Florida State University and Virginia Tech. McPhatter also presented two other papers he worked on at the conference with Dr. Jack Spillan, Dr. William Thomas and Dr. Chris Ziemnowicz. " Presenting three papers at the conference was a bit nerve racking, but my professors demanded a lot from me, and I'm glad to have been able to deliver," McPhatter said. McPhatter said he was glad to be able to represent UNCP at the conference and by winning show that UNCP can compete with other quality institutions in the United States. http://www.uncp.edu/pineneedle/news/2011_spring/Students_encouraged.html With pre-registration only weeks away, it is time for students to think about attending their department majors' meeting and talking with their advisers. March 17, 2011 With pre-registration only weeks away, it is time for students to think about attending their department majors' meeting and talking with their advisers. " These meetings are very important in that they provide the students with up-to-date information on courses and requirements," said Dr. Kay McClanahan, Chair Advising Task Force. The Task Force was established in October 2009 as a recommendation of the Student Success Steering Committee which was appointed by former Chancellor Charles Jenkins. It was included under the committee's recommendations for improving student success. The purpose is to " develop and publicize a mission statement and goals for advising at UNCP, to develop and implement the Advising Week concept and to develop a reward system for faculty advisers," Dr. McClanahan said. Those currently serving on the committee are: Dr. Danny Davis, Dr. James Frederick, Beth Froeba, Dr. Beverly King, Dr. Jonathan Masionpierre, Dr. Shilpa Pai and Preston Swiney. One way the task force will try to reach out to students is by hosting a " Kickoff to Advising" day March 16 from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. on the UC lawn. " Representatives from academic departments and other campus units will be on hand to encourage students to take advantage of the majors' meetings and to meet with their advisers prior to the beginning of registration," Dr. McClanahan said. Dr. McClanahan and the rest of the Advising Task Force hopes that their work and effort will have a positive effect on retention rates. Educating students on academic courses and programs, they believe, will help to raise retention rates. Dr. McClanahan offered a final word of encouragement to students to " meet with your adviser before registration begins so that you can decide together what you should take in the summer and fall." She also stresses that " if you do it early, you'll have a much better chance of getting into the course sections you want than if you put it off until the last minute." http://www.uncp.edu/pineneedle/around_campus/spring2011ATC/Financial_aid.html When Jenelle Handcox departed from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, Ga., she did not know what awaited her in North Carolina. March 17, 2011 When Jenelle Handcox departed from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, Ga., she did not know what awaited her in North Carolina. After all, Handcox had been the financial aid director of ABAC for 12 years and had earned a bachelor's in Business Administration from the University of Georgia and a master's in Public Administration from Valdosta State University. Handcox was born and raised in Georgia and North Carolina is a completely new environment for her. Handcox said that Georgia operated on merit-based financial aid meaning that students leaving high school with the best grades received the most financial aid. On the other hand, North Carolina operates on a need- based financial aid program meaning that the poorer the student the more aid they received. " I am adjusting well," Handcox said, " I am very excited to be here and look forward to working with the students." Office The financial aid office at UNCP has had a lot of turnover this year, including former director Bruce Blackmon's departure. Handcox has already started to update policies and one of her first deeds as director was to do away with walk-in appointments to see her. " You have to make an appointment to see me in particular, but students can still see their financial aid counselors at any time," Handcox said. Students are assigned a financial aid counselor alphabetically according to the first letter of their last name, Handcox said. She added that appointments are necessary because she is constantly in meetings, and if a student schedules an appointment they will get the " time and attention they deserve." Handcox said that she has big goals for the financial aid program, but in order to meet those goals students have to understand and interpret the current Standards of Academic Progress. The current Standards of Academic Progress require that students must maintain a 2.0 GPA to remain eligible for financial aid and complete at least 67 percent of their classes. Handcox added that it is better for a student to finish a class than to withdraw because a " W" is the same as an " F" to the financial aid office. " I advise students to always try to finish a course because a " W" will not save you from losing aid," Handcox said. Future Handcox said that she plans to implement a deadline for students to complete all of their financial aid paperwork to help work flow in the office. She added that if students failed to meet the deadline they would lose financial aid for the upcoming academic year. Handcox said that one of her major goals is to get Braveweb directly linked to the financial aid office to eliminate excessive paper work and make thing simpler for the counselors and the students. " My plan is to have a student's information on Braveweb so if a problem occurs they can call in and the counselor can pull up their information and solve the issue promptly," Handcox said. She added that the new process will eliminate a student from having to come in as much and aid the counselors in searching for files because they will now be able to log on Braveweb and locate all of the students' information opposed to digging through filing cabinets. Life away from work When Handcox is not working hard helping students with their financial aid issues, she is either shopping or cheering for the Georgia Bulldogs. " I can't sing or dance, but I love to shop," Handcox said. " I also love college football and the Georgia Bulldogs." She added that her favorite activity is interacting with the students, and she meets with an SGA representative once a week to discuss financial aid issues and " get the word out." " I came to Pembroke on a Saturday during New Student Orientation and all of the new students and their parents excitedly shopping for t-shirts and books made me proud to be a part of this atmosphere," Handcox said. http://www.uncp.edu/pineneedle/around_campus/spring2011ATC/Speaker_urges.html Residence Life and Housing sponsored keynote speaker Dr. Lawrence Mc- Neill Dowdy as he presented "Your Story Matters" on Feb. 22 in the UC Annex to celebrate Black History month. March 17, 2011 Residence Life and Housing sponsored keynote speaker Dr. Lawrence Mc- Neill Dowdy as he presented " Your Story Matters" on Feb. 22 in the UC Annex to celebrate Black History month. Over 100 students and guests came out to hear Community Liaison Dr. Dowdy of the NC Office of the Governor. Though it was open to the public, many students were also given special invitations that qualified them for a raffle to win a $50 Visa gift card.Though it was open to the public, many students were also given special invitations that qualified them for a raffle to win a $50 Visa gift card. Resident advisers issued the invitations that encouraged student participation at the event. The evening began with a welcome speech by Associate Director of Residence Life Cynthia Redfearn expressing her excitement over the diversity of the living and learning programs offered through Residence Life. Students and professors representing historically black fraternities on campus conducted an opening question and answer forum. " Education is key to black students," said Kappa Alpha Psi representative Wayne Brown in response to a question stating that merely 26 percent of black men graduate high school. This student's opinion set the stage for Dr. Dowdy's presentation " Your Story Matters," in which the Pastor of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Proctorville encouraged students of higher education to learn more about their family's history. " Lady Gaga, Justin Timberlake, Eminem… these are celebrities this generation knows more about than their grandparents— those with whom they share a DNA. It is time to put your cell phone, video recorder, and computer to use in a new way; sit down with your grandfather and ask him to tell you his story as you record his answers. Post that on YouTube and watch the ratings soar," Dr. Dowdy said. As the university celebrated black history on campus during February, Dr. Dowdy urged students to understand the important role they hold in continuing the history of America. He reminded the audience that we are all free to attend such a diverse campus because of the hard work and determination of previous generations who fought for our rights and led the way for our benefit. " Barack and Michelle Obama have company in you students—they are not alone in overcoming struggles. Your story matters. Write it. Tell it. Share it. Consider your story and make it more," said Dr. Dowdy as he looked out to an audience filled with students, educators and even family. Dr. Dowdy's three sisters traveled to Pembroke to support his speech. His youngest sister, Olivia Delois Dowdy Brown, graduated from UNCP in 2000 specializing in visual arts. " We are all very proud of our brother. He is a powerful speaker and always has a great message," Brown said. Dr. Dowdy has served in the ministry for more than 28 years, he is the Vice Moderator for the Lumber River Baptist Association and in 2010 he was appointed by the office of Gov. Beverly Perdue to serve as the faith-based Outreach Coordinator for the state. http://www.uncp.edu/pineneedle/around_town/spring2011ATT/China_offers.html Studying abroad in China provides students with a great opportunity to see the world from a new and different perspective and to experience how students from other countries and different cultures live. March 17, 2011 Studying abroad in China provides students with a great opportunity to see the world from a new and different perspective and to experience how students from other countries and different cultures live. Study abroad programs, such as UNCP's summer faculty-led study abroad program in China, allow students to absorb another country's history and culture. Instead of skimming through pages of textbooks and glancing at pictures and postcards of new and exciting places in the world, students are able to physically touch famous monuments and walk on the same cobblestone paths that famous figures in history have walked on before us. China is one country that offers students opportunities to study Chinese history and culture first hand. China is full of architecture, artifacts and relics that date back to ancient times and brings China's 5,000 plus years of history to life. In Beijing, the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City all offer a vast insight into Chinese history and culture. The Summer Palace, dating back to the Qing Dynasty, is also a beautiful tourist attractions filled with history and tales of how the Dowager Empress Cixi used moneys reserved for building a navy fleet to reconstruct the Summer Palace so she would have an extravagant summer resort. The Shanghai World Finance Center, the third tallest buildings in the world, and also the Jin Mao Tower, the 10th tallest building in the world are located in Shanghai. The Yuyuan Garden, dating back to the Ming Dynasty, is also an historic attraction in Shanghai. The Twin Pagoda Temple, located in Taiyuan, also dates back to the Ming Dynasty. The two 53-meter tall pagodas each have 13 stories made completely of brick and stone. Inside the pagodas, wishes and prayers of people who have visited the temples are carved into the bricks. Not only does the rich history of China make the country a significant study abroad site for students, but the differences in Chinese lifestyle also make the country eye opening for American student to experience. In a country where the government has blocked popular social media websites including Facebook and Twitter, students experience first-hand the control of the Chinese government and impact that the Chinese Communist Party has on daily living. In 2009, President Barack Obama announced the " 100,00 Strong Initiative" urging American students to strengthen U.S – China ties by studying in China and becoming more involved in world affairs. According to the Assistant Secretary of State for Educational Affairs Ann Stock, more American students study abroad in China than in any other country. UNCP has a summer faculty-led study abroad program in China that allows students to attend the Xi'an University of Posts and Telecommunications in Xi'an, China. Eight UNCP students will earn 3-credit hours this summer during their 18-day stay in China. In addition to taking classes at XUPT, students will also participate in excursions to see the Great Wall, The Forbidden City, the Terracotta Warriors, the Beijing Opera, Shaanxi Provincial Historical Museum and many other historical sites in China. " Study Abroad is an investment in your future. As a global citizen in today's world you are more aware of cultural similarities than differences, and you strive to practice humility, tolerance and self-criticism," Robyn Deemer, Study Abroad coordinator, said. " You understand how to get things done in this world and you nurture and empower others around you. You are a leader in your own right. Travel abroad is an incredibly enriching experience, and when coupled with academics it becomes even more rewarding and valuable." Editor's note: Pine Needle Layout Editor Kaleh Sampson traveled to China over spring break. http://www.uncp.edu/pineneedle/around_town/spring2011ATT/Wilmington_arcade.html The American arcade is dying. For many gamers, this isn't a surprise at all, but it is an unfortunate fate for the once popular gamer getaway. The past few years have not been kind to the arcade gaming scene, especially during these last few weeks. March 17, 2011 The American arcade is dying. For many gamers, this isn't a surprise at all, but it is an unfortunate fate for the once popular gamer getaway. The past few years have not been kind to the arcade gaming scene, especially during these last few weeks. Rumors started to spread that two of America's most popular arcades, Arcade Infinity in Los Angeles and Chinatown Fair in New York City, were shutting down. Financial woes finally took its toll on Chinatown Fair, which officially closed their doors on Feb. 27. The death of the arcade scene can be attributed to the home console market. Why would you go to an arcade when instead you could sit at home and play a game like Call of Duty with millions of players online? This is the sad reality that arcade owners are facing. However, in Wilmington, N.C., there's a place that's been keeping the arcade dream alive for the hardcore gamers, while at the same time caters to anyone. Jungle Rapids Family Fun Park is something to behold. It has go karts, mini golf, laser tag, a huge indoor playground, a rock wall, a restaurant and a water park. The place is simply huge, but the first thing you see when you enter though its doors is its arcade. You're bombarded with sensory overload as you look at their huge selection of games. Daytona USA 1 and 2, Dance Dance Revolution X, Manx TT Superbike, Time Crisis 2, Silent Scope, Rad Mobile, Xmen Arcade (the six player, dual screened cabinet), and the elusive and extremely rare Ocean Hunter can all be found here, and in perfect working condition. Jungle Rapids also has a large selection of ticket games, from skee ball to a video game version of Deal or No Deal. There are, however, some drawbacks. For one, the Brave Firefighters game has been there for about a decade, and no one plays it, and for good reason: it never works. The game's fire hose controller is way too heavy and the targeting reticule is always off. Another complaint is that Jungle Rapids replaces games with less than stellar ones. Over the past year, they replaced their Soul Caliber 2, NBA Showtime and Initial D machines with lack luster ticket games. While they do occasionally add new hardcore arcade games, they're not always good, case in point: Justice League Heroes United, Aliens Extermination and Nascar Arcade. Even with these complaints, Jungle Rapids is a fantastic arcade with dozens of arcade classics. If you're in the Wilmington area, check it out. http://www.uncp.edu/pineneedle/around_town/spring2011ATT/Apple_releases.html The farther we go into the year 2011, the more people are proclaiming that this is the year of the tablet. Apple is back to remind consumers that the iPad is where this trend started and that the iPad 2 is where it's going. March 17, 2011 http://www.uncp.edu/pineneedle/sports/sports_spring_2011/Braves_NCAA_appearance.html The storybook run for the UNCP men's basketball team came to a close in the opening round of the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional Tournament on March 12, falling to Peach Belt Conference foe Augusta State for the fourth time in the 2010-2011 campaign. March 17, 2011 The storybook run for the UNCP men's basketball team came to a close in the opening round of the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional Tournament on March 12, falling to Peach Belt Conference foe Augusta State for the fourth time in the 2010-2011 campaign. The Braves, the eighth seed, were outrebounded 40-29 by the No. 1-seeded and host Jaguars, who also scored 22 second-chance points in the contest. " We are disappointed, and we became more frustrated because we felt as if ASU was out-working us. ASU has a great team and great program. We have a lot of respect for them," Braves head coach Ben Miller said after the game. In a noticeable difference over their PBC Championship matchup on March 6, the Braves had seven players score five points or more, a contrast from the one-sided scoring game a week earlier. Sophomore Shahmel Brackett led the Braves with 14 points, including three three-point baskets, as well as five assists and five rebounds. Sophomores K.J. Cooper and Ty Alston each contributed nine points and two rebounds, while sophomore George Blakeney also scored nine points and grabbed five rebounds. Junior Nate Priest pulled down a team-high seven rebounds for the Braves while also chipping in five points. In his final game donning the Black and Gold, senior Chris Hargrove scored six points, grabbed two rebounds and had one assist. UNCP found themselves down 10-0 after the first 5:52 of the game before Priest put the Braves on the board. From there, the Braves continued to chip at the Augusta State lead, cutting the margin to four at the 12:12 mark on Alston's jumper. A run by Augusta State increased their lead to double digits, a long range three-point shot by junior Marcus Heath cut the margin to nine at halftime. In the second half, UNCP pulled to within five on a layup by Blakeney and a three-pointer by Brackett. Two free throws by Hargrove pulled UNCP to within three at 43-40 at the 13:52 mark. After Augusta State pushed its lead back out to nine points, UNCP again answered back, cutting the lead to four at 58-54 on a Brackett three-pointer with 6:24 left to play. The Braves cut the lead to six at the 2:08 mark, only to see Augusta State again push the advantage to eight points with 1:34 to go. Jaguar free throws in the remaining moments made the final, 14-point margin mask what was a close game throughout. " UNC Pembroke has a good team. A lot of credit goes to Pembroke. They hung in there and even battled back," Augusta State head coach Dip Metress said following the game. Looking back The 2010-2011 Braves team will head into the UNCP record books with the most wins in school history, finishing the season 18-12 overall, after being selected to finish 13th in the PBC preseason coaches' poll. The Braves also made the PBC Tournament field for the first time since 2008 and, with their win over USC Aiken in the opening round March 1, were victorious in the tournament for the first time since 2006. A final second win against Georgia Southwestern in the PBC Semifinals March 5 sent UNCP to its first PBC Championship appearance. In the PBC Championship, UNCP fell short before being selected to their first NCAA Tournament appearance hours after the PBC final. The Braves lose two seniors, Hargrove and Lamar Cross, but will have 12 players returning as juniors or seniors next fall. " Chris (Hargrove) raised the bar for us this year. We have accomplished things this year that have never been done. We are going to celebrate this season because we made it this far," Miller said. http://www.uncp.edu/pineneedle/sports/sports_spring_2011/Tennis_Hilton.html With most students vacationing on Spring Break, the UNCP tennis team instead spent the week out of school in Hilton Head, S.C., where they played in six matches from March 4-11, finishing 2-4 in the contests. March 17, 2011 With most students vacationing on Spring Break, the UNCP tennis team instead spent the week out of school in Hilton Head, S.C., where they played in six matches from March 4-11, finishing 2-4 in the contests. The Lady Braves picked up wins over Tusculum and Clarion, while dropping matches against Mercyhurst, Indiana (Pa.), Armstrong Atlantic and Charleston (W.Va.) throughout the week. Mercyhurst In the opening match, Mercyhurst lost just seven games total, besting UNCP 7-2 on March 4. Mercyhurst swept through doubles play before winning three singles matches in straight sets. The Lady Braves picked up their only points in singles play in the No. 4 and No. 6 matches. Senior Maricel Quintero picked up a 7-5, 6-3 win in the No. 4 match before fellow senior Christian Minnick tallied a 6-3, 705 triumph on court No. 6. Tusculum On March 7, the Lady Braves eased into a 6-3 win over Tusculum, with UNCP winning four singles matchups in straight sets. In singles play, Minnick opened the scoring with her 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) win in the No. 6 matchup before No. 1 Jenna McGary finished her match quickly, with set wins of 6-0 and 6-2. Freshman Madeline Di- Nunzio won 6-3, 6-3 in her No. 5 singles matchup and sophomore Mia Winterbottom bested Tusculum in the No. 2 match by 6-4 and 7-5 scores. In doubles play, the duo of McGary and freshman Hannah Herlocker took the No. 1 matchup, while Winterbottom and DiNunzio rallied back to win their No. 2 doubles matchup. Indiana (Pa.) Indiana (Pa.), ranked seventh in the latest Atlantic Region rankings by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, had no problem with UNCP on March 8, defeating the Lady Braves 8-1. Minnick picked up the only UNCP point in her No. 6 singles matchup, rallying back from a first set, 6-7 loss before winning 6-0 and then winning a 10-3 super set to get the win. Armstrong Atlantic Hours after falling to Indiana (Pa.), the Lady Braves made the short ride over to face Peach Belt Conference foe Armstrong Atlantic on March 8. Armstrong Atlantic, the nation's top team and threetime defending national champion, swept UNCP 9- 0 while winning all singles matches in straight sets. Featuring three of the country's top-ranked singles players and the NCAA Division II's top-ranked doubles team. Armstrong Atlantic had no problem winning their 57th consecutive match, a streak dating back to March 2009. Charleston (W.Va.) The Lady Braves were right back on the court on March 9, when they debuted a shuffled lineup that gave 34th-ranked Charleston (W.Va.) a run for its money before falling 6- 3. UNCP picked up wins in each of the top three singles matches, with McGary picking up an upset victory in the No. 1 match, while Winterbottom had little trouble in the No. 2 matchup and Herlocker rallied back for a three-set win in the No. 3 singles matchup. Clarion UNCP wrapped up their trip on a positive note, blasting Clarion 9-0 on March 11 in their final match. The highlight of the match came from freshman and Pembroke native Kelsey Hunt, who picked up a win in her first collegiate match in the No. 6 singles position. UNCP now heads back into PBC play, with their record standing at 4-8 after the trip.