The Carolinian - Vol. 55, Issue 1 - Aug. 28, 2017

WWW.UPSTATECAROLINIAN.ORG
Aug. 28, 2017 VOL. 55 ISSUE 1
WHAT’S INSIDE?
• Exclusive interview with Chancellor Kelly
PAGE 8 AND 9
• Special report on the Solar Eclipse and the Party of the Century
PAGE 16
• Important back-to-school information

Meet the Staff
Lucy McElroy, Editor
MCELROLM@email.uscupstate.edu
James Parham, Managing Editor
JPARHAM@email.uscupstate.edu
Asia Suber, Advertising Director
ABSUBER@email.uscupstate.edu
Brandon Pack, Photography Editor
BPACK2@email.uscupstate.edu
Stephanie Sawaked, Opinion Editor
SAWAKED@email.uscupstate.edu
Whit Sanborn, Director of Social Media
GSANBORN@email.uscupstate.edu
Andrew Becker, Senior Writer
ARBECKER@email.uscupstate.edu
Keondre Jones, Design Editor
KEONDRE@email.uscupstate.edu
Cierra Mills, Reporter
CIERRAMM@email.uscupstate.edu
Sydney Foster, Reporter
SNFOSTER@email.uscupstate.edu
Erika Hollis, Reporter
EHOLLIA@email.uscupstate.edu
Savannah Betsill, Reporter
SBETSILL@email.uscupstate.edu
Zandra Shafer, Travel Reporter
SHAFERZ@email.uscupstate.edu
Mary Norris, Arts Editor
MENORRIS@email.uscupstate.edu
Mariana Marsalisi, Photographer
MARSALIM@email.uscupstate.edu
Jim Fair, Faculty Advisor
JFAIR@uscupstate.edu
Bianca Lopez, Reporter
BLOPEZ@email.uscupstate.edu
Jay Richer, Reporter
JRICHER@email.uscupstate.edu
What is The Carolinian?
The Carolinian is the official student news outlet for the University of South Carolina Upstate.
We strive to produce news relevant to our community – Upstate students, faculty, and
staff. We’ve come a long way since our humble beginnings in 1968 – we now publish
stories online daily, produce informative broadcasts, print a monthly newsmagazine and
our social media platforms keep current and 50 years of alumni in touch 24/7.
CAROLINIAN SOCIAL MEDIA
@USCUCarolinian
@USCUCarolinian
The Carolinian - USC Upstate
OUR PRINTER
The Edwards Group (www.edwprinting.com) prints The Carolinian. Michael Watts
is the Production Director and can be reached at Mike@edwprinting.com or
864.324.0642.
ADDITIONAL CREDITS
Front page photo by Brandon Pack
The Carolinian masthead by Matthew Donaldson
Design by Keondre Jones

TABLE OF CONTENTS
4
5
6
7
8
10
12
13
14
15
16
Commercial Music Students
From one student to another
Studying abroad
Greek life
Q&A with Chancellor Kelly
What happened this summer?
Opinion: Virginia Protests
‘Dunkirk’ and ‘The Ministry of Utmost Happiness ‘ Reviews
Student Organizations
Fall 2017 Academic Calendar
Total Eclipse August 2017
8
12
4
16
PUBLICATION DATES
September 21 October 24 November 21
JOIN THE STAFF
As a multimedia news service, we offer a variety of staff positions. The Carolinian
provides unique opportunities for networking, building resumes, gaining priceless
experience, and becoming published. If you’re interested in investing your skills in
USCU’s student media, send an email to thecarolinianuscupstate@gmail.com.
WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND?
We want to hear what you have to say about the university and surrounding
communities. Send an AP style story by email to MCELROLM@email.uscupstate.edu.
Stories should be around 300 words and typed in a Word document. Let your voice
be heard.
EOE: The Carolinian does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin,
sex, age, disability, or any other status protected by law or regulation. It is our intention that all
qualified applicants be given equal opportunity and that selection decisions be based on jobrelated
factors.
3

Student services: Here for you
There are many services available to students at USC Upstate. Below is a
comprehensive list of helpful contacts, offices, and extensions. All extensions start
with (864)-503-XXXX.
Dean of Students Office, Laura Puckett-
Boler, x5108, CLC 303
Campus Recreation, Mark Ritter, x5939,
HEC 3102
Housing and Residential Life, Mandy
Whitten, x5420, Palmetto House
Dining Services, Jim Schecter, x5515,
CLC 121
Health Services, Mary Bucher, x5191,
Health Services House
Disability Services, Wendy Woodsby,
x5198, CLC 108
Counseling Services, Elizabeth Jodoin,
x5358, CLC 224
Office of Student Life, Dr. Krystal Smith,
x5125, CLC 214
Postal Services, Vicky Easler, x5222,
University Services Building
Non-Traditional Student Services, Ellen
Towler, x5195, CLC 224
Greenville Campus, Stacey Mills, x4218,
UCG Suite 627
Student Success Center, Susannah
Waldrop, x5414, Library 224
Career Services, Sherry McAdams, x5393,
Library 203
Opportunity Network (TRIO), Selena Blair,
x5965, Mag House 026
Enrollment Services, Donette Stewart,
x5280, HEC 2058
Information Technology, Luke
Vanwingerden, x5863, ADMIN 109
Photo by Austin Cook | Mary Norris is the Arts Editor for The Carolinian. Norris is studying under
the Commercial Music program at USC Upstate and is an active member of Spartanburg’s
community of musicians.
Commercial Music students release original
music, host open-mic night
Mary Norris
As the Commercial Music program begins another year at Upstate, I am delighted
to provide updates on music events and news happening on campus and around
Spartanburg.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the program, Commercial Music is
offered as a major and minor and focuses on more modern music styles (no, not
music on television for commercials). The program allows students to step outside
of traditional music programs as they study and perform a wide range of genres,
including R&B, jazz, rock, Latin, pop, country, funk, musical theater, and some
classical.
Music faculty and students are incredibly proud of the accomplishments made
last year, as students participated in research symposiums, showcased original
compositions, performed in downtown Spartanburg and at Spartanburg Regional
Hospital, started an on-campus open mic night, and released music.
Photo from Flickr user Ray Cross | Non-traditional students make up a large portion of students
on campus. There are services available for academic and personal support at Upstate.
Students at USC Upstate are Not as
Traditional as You May Think
Cierra Mills
Napoleon Dynamite coined the idiom “your mom goes to college” in 2004. The
saying brought a dose of reality at a marketing class this summer at the George
Dean Johnson, Jr. College of Business and Economics.
Within a classroom of 20 students, there were six students over age 40. High school
students earning dual enrollment were as young as 15.
Full-time and part-time students at Upstate vary in age, according to USC Upstate’s
website. Non-traditional students make up around 40 percent of the students and
represent the true value of diversity.
Three USC Upstate bands and artists comprised of Commercial Music students
released original music that is available online.
The department’s professors are equally as accomplished. Dr. Nolan Stolz has been
working on his novel, “Experiencing Black Sabbath: A Listener’s Companion”.
To start the academic year, I would like to give a warm welcome to our newest
professor, Dr. Carter Callison. A native of Asheville, N.C., Callison completed his Ph.D.
at the Royal Academy of Music in London.
Callison is also an accomplished double bassist and has had his compositions
performed internationally. Dr. Peter Kay and Stan Wietrzychowski are also new to the
program this year.
Moving forward, I am ecstatic to share our accomplishments and to spread word
of Commercial Music events with you, and I hope to see you at various music
functions on campus.
There are non-traditional student resources and events, such as monthly luncheons
at the Greenville campus. Non-Traditional Student Services is on the main campus,
located in the Campus Life Center.
Contact Doug Peters at 864-503-7454, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m for more
information about resources available to non-traditional students.
4 The Carolinian Orientation Issue

From One Student
to Another
Here’s to new beginnings
Whit Sanborn
As the days get shorter, classes begin
and it can seem as if the days last
forever.
Its time to start drinking copious
amounts of coffee, spend all night
writing papers, and complete work due
in an afternoon that same morning. That
all seems good, but there are ways to
minimize stress throughout the semester.
Cutting caffeine may stop the jitters
and definitely cuts your heart rate. As a
non-traditional student, I can no longer
pull all nighters. Not only do late nights
often come with consuming junk food,
but they also increase levels of cortisol
(the stress hormone) in the blood.
Procrastination can seem to be a good
choice in the moment, but when you sit
back and see the big picture, putting off
work has diminishing returns. While we
usually remember this in the beginning
of the semester, we can become lax as
the semester rolls on. Here’s to hoping
that won’t happen. If you’re a returning
student, carry the momentum you had
last year to this year.
New students start strong and create
momentum in a positive direction.
Here’s an idea: try listening to music
while studying – my favorite is “Four
Seasons” by Antonio Vivaldi. My
advice is to not listen to music with
lyrics because it can distract from
attentiveness while studying.
The staff at USC wants you to succeed.
Anywhere from help editing an English
paper to securing a job, there are
resources available.
I come from Buffalo, so I know the
winters here are a tad milder. Use
the break between semesters to get
refreshed and refocused … spring will be
here in no time.
Observe color of decals and
rules of the road
Courtney White
Parking on busy college campuses can
be a hassle, especially if you are new to
the area. Students often complain about
the excessive amount of tickets received
due to improper parking.
Decals received at the Public Safety
building are color-coded based on your
residential status.
Red, on-campus residents
Yellow, commuting students
Green, faculty and staff
Orange lots are for overflow parking
for all students and staff.
Always park in the lot that corresponds
with your decal color to avoid getting
those pricy tickets.
Some rules of the road:
• Don’t back into a parking space
• Decals are placed on the left rear
window
• Handicap parking permits must be
displayed in rear-view mirror
• Do not make your own parking
space – this includes on curbs, grass,
etc.
• Campus speed limit is 25 mph, unless
posted
• Pause for wildlife crossing the
roadways
• Yield to students crossing walkways
• You may appeal parking tickets. If
you don’t appeal, pay fines by date
on ticket.
• Three unpaid tickets will earn a boot
to be placed on your tire.
Students have resources to balance wellness with studies
Hailey Davis
Maintaining a balance between classes, personal life, and health is important for
students and there are services at Upstate that make it easier to stay afloat.
Students are provided free access to the campus Wellness Center, a 60,000-squarefoot
fitness facility with equipment for students to use to improve their health,
strength, stamina, and wellbeing. The Wellness Center also offers programs such as
intramural sports, outdoor recreation, group exercise, aquatics, and sports clubs.
Campus Recreation, located in the Wellness Center, is said to, “provide a safe and
accommodating environment for the students, faculty, and staff of the University
of South Carolina Upstate,” according to its mission statement. “We encourage the
pursuit of a healthy lifestyle to enhance the academic and personal development
of the student through physical activity.”
Health Services offers confidential healthcare to all students and Counseling
Services offers confidential psychological services.
Dining Services works with Sodexo to provide balanced, healthy choices for meals
with its dining hall and on-campus restaurants.
Students can find a balance that works while juggling classes, studying, extracurricular
activities, work, socializing and rest. Using available resources and finding
a balanced schedule will promote overall wellbeing, leaving more time to enjoy the
college experience.
Campus Recreation holds Spartan-X Fitness Classes weekly, all focusing on a
workout tailored to the interest of students. Each class includes activities such as
Ab Master, Core Fusion, Cycle45, Dance-X, Grind, Hydro Power, Lower Body Xpress,
Muscle Ballet, Shred and Stretch, Upper Body Xpress, and Yoga. They also offer
personal training.
Enrolling in Spartan-X Fitness classes or intramural sports is made simple by
IMLeagues, an app designed to show weekly schedules and host sign-up lists. The
app is available for download on smart phones and accessible on web browsers.
5

Studying abroad may seem unachievable to some, but it is entirely possible with a little research and saving. It is an experience that can be worth going the extra mile.
Studying abroad is an invitation to new cultures, languages
Andrew Becker
My study abroad experience didn’t
begin when I hopped off the plane
in Paris, nor after several hours of train
rides to reach my destination in the
Netherlands. It didn’t begin on opening
day at my foreign university, or even the
first day of classes.
It began at Upstate when I decided
to make a simple inquiry when I was
curious and asked for some help. Three
continents, 13 countries, and months
later, I can’t help but feel grateful for my
decision.
All it takes is a little motivation and
curiosity. Who hasn’t imagined living in
another country?
Maybe you’re like me and wanted to
follow in the footsteps of famous expats,
such as Hemmingway or Fitzgerald.
Maybe you’re looking to perfect a
second language, or to immerse yourself
in another culture. Or maybe you don’t
know what you want from life at all, and
you’re still searching for what’s important
to you.
A study abroad experience may offer
all these things, and so much more.
Getting in touch with the helpful faculty
at the Burroughs building can get you
started figuring out your options, costs,
paperwork, and accommodations. They
will let you know about scholarships
opportunity.
The application is not an easy process
and will require a great deal of time and
effort, on top of your normal workload.
There are people to help you along the
way, and the more work you put into
the process the more rewarding your
experience can be.
It takes a few hundred dollars to be
painfully realistic, and know the cost of
your trip.
This experience will cost you dearly if
you do not take the time and effort to
do it the right way, so hit the books hard,
pinch pennies, get scholarships and
grants, and spend wisely. If you can do
all of these things, you’re bound for fun
and success during what will surely be a
profound experience.
Studying in London was enlightening
and life changing
Zandra Shafer
It is odd for me to think back on how
nervous I was in the days leading up to
my trip to London.
Tomorrow is my last day here, and I’m
getting emotional thinking about having
to leave early Sunday morning. London
is such an incredible city, and I feel so
lucky to have been able to live here for
a month and to study under Andrew
Kennedy, who taught me so much
about museums and galleries.
I loved London and my course so
much that I’m planning on applying to
graduate programs in Museum Studies
at three schools over here in addition to
the programs in the United States that I
was already planning on applying to.
This trip has certainly expanded
my horizons, and I’ve learned many
lessons both academic and personal.
Interestingly, I feel perfectly at home
here.
I was expecting it to be a little more
difficult to adapt to the English way
of life. While there are some cultural
differences, the most surprising part of
my stay in London is how similar it is to my
experiences with large cities in the Unites
States.
My time here has been incredible. I’ve
learned so much, and I am very grateful
for this opportunity. It has reinforced my
vision for my future, and opened new
doors and possibilities.
It’s been life changing in more ways
than one. I’m so glad that I chose
to study abroad, and would highly
recommend that every student take
advantage of that option.
It has been such an enlightening and
successful trip that I’ve decided that
I’d like to come here to continue my
education. We shall see what the future
has in store for me, but I will never regret
taking this chance.
Photos by Zandra Shafer | Zandra Shafer attended Pride in London 2017 during her studies.
The Carolinian staff interviewed the USC Upstate Shoestring
Players before they traveled to London to perform their
original play, “Tapestry” this summer. The 2017 London
Company expressed their excitement and nervousness
about presenting their brainchild at the Rose Theatre.
Check out the video online at UpstateCarolinan.org.
6 The Carolinian Orientation Issue

Greek Life is a brotherhood, sisterhood that
embraces campus life
Sydney Foster
Joining a sorority or fraternity has no
class or age limit. You can be 56 years
old and can throw what you know.
Potential sorority members must go
through formal recruitment. It is three
days of complete torture. Got ya – I’m
kidding. It’s three days of a wonderful,
nail-biting experience that you’ll be
happy you went through when you run
to your letters on bid day.
“Joining a sorority has been an amazing
experience,” new Zeta Tau Alpha
member, Emily Danielson said. “I have
gained a wonderful support system and
have met some amazing women who
one day will be my bridesmaids.”
I’m sure you’re thinking to yourself,
“school comes first” – and you’re right,
but don’t fret. Maintaining good grades
and a high GPA is an important part of
Greek life. The awesome thing is there’s
always someone you can ask for help
with schoolwork within your organization.
If you still think you’re not ready to go
through formal recruitment, then that’s
perfectly OK.
Some sororities and fraternities have
spring recruitment.
The process for joining a fraternity is
similar. It is a week-long recruitment
of fun, brotherly activities where both
fraternities reach out and try to get to
know you.
“Being a part of such a strong
brotherhood is helping me shape into
the man I aspire to be,” Jamal Smith
said. “I have been a member of Sigma
Alpha Epsilon since my freshman year
and I have loved every day of it.”
Sorority and fraternity recruitment
will teach you about sisterhood and
brotherhood and what makes each
Greek Letter sorority and fraternity
unique.
Joining a sorority was the best decision
I have ever made. The ladies in my
sorority make me feel like I can fly and
like I am a part of something so much
bigger than myself.
Don’t be nervous. Here are my five tips
to help you out.
• Attend informational meetings
about Greek life and recruitment
• Go into recruitment with an open
mind
• Relax and breathe (but not too
much, you’ll hyperventilate)
• Be yourself
• Prepare to make friends that’ll turn
into family
Contact John Montemayor, Assistant
Director for Fraternity and Sorority Life
and Leadership Programs, by calling
864-503-7488.
Photo by Amanda Raines
Mallory Dussault: Making a difference in
abused and neglected children’s lives
Lucy McElroy
Criminal Justice major, Mallory Dussault
has devoted her free time to helping
foster children for years, teaching them
life skills and giving them something they
desperately need – love.
The Delta Zeta Om member, a junior,
aspires to work as a child abuse
investigator and to foster and adopt
children. Dussault’s mother was a lead
child abuse investigator for 25 years and
later recruited by the FBI.
“My family was a foster family when we
lived in Chicago, we had 200-plus kids in
and out of our home in just two years,”
Dussault said. “Some of the kids we lived
with went to a Royal Family Kids Camp
(RFKC) in Geneva, Ill., and I got to see
what amazing things it did for their life.”
The RFKC provides 6- to 12-yearold
foster children with life-changing
experiences, according to RFK.org.
Camps are filled with exciting activities
for children – visits from Santa Claus and
the Easter Bunny, shaving cream fights
that end in being hosed off by firemen,
carnivals with rides, and birthday parties
for everyone.
Dussault has volunteered in four camps.
“On the day of my eighteenth birthday
I sent in all of my background checks
and I’ve been at camp/club ever
since,” Dussault said.
Photos courtesy of Mallory Dussault
7

Q+A
with CHANCELLOR KELLY
Photo by Brandon Pack | The Carolinian staff met with Chancellor Brendan Kelly, Ph.D. on Aug. 17 at the Humanities and Performing Arts Center. Zandra Shafer, Stephanie Sawaked, Lucy
McElroy, and Asia Suber conducted an exclusive interview, asking about his goals for the future of the University.
Chancellor Brendan Kelly, Ph.D. joined
the University in March and is focused on
establishing and nurturing relationships with
alumni, students, faculty, staff, and the
Spartanburg community. He is driven by
Upstate’s ongoing potential for growth after
50 years of existence.
Chancellor Kelly met with The Carolinian
staff to discuss his motivation for success and
his vision for Upstate in the next 50 years.
8 The Carolinian Orientation Issue

Q: What piqued your interest and brought you to USC Upstate?
A: That’s a good question. You don’t
move three children – and one of which
is a junior in high school – because your
interest has piqued. That’s why you go
whitewater rafting. We were at a place
where we were ready to transition. I
started being recruited for this position
last June. Long before any of you were
introduced to me, I was introduced to
the University.
There were three primary elements that
drove that decision for our family, and
I’ll tell you – it was a collective decision.
One, the geography is incredible. And
it’s not just that we’re in one of the most
beautiful areas of the country. We’re
also in one of the most economically
hot areas of the country. When you’re a
public university, that’s a really important
attribute – because the product is you.
And if you were graduating today at a
regional comprehensive university in a
state, or in an area of a state where the
economy was not growing, or it was not
robust, there’s not a lot of choice. We
have a large contingent of alumni who
stay here in the state. In fact, the largest
percentage of any university in the state.
We also have most of those staying here
in the Upstate. That’s a
really attractive quality to me, because
it tells us that we’ve got an economy
where we’ve got the opportunity to
grow as a university, and that the region
is dependent on us for its success. We
have to be a great partner that creates
a lot of opportunity.
The second piece was the structure
of the institution – a regional
comprehensive university. The types
of programs that we host, the types of
students that we focus on – that’s my
interest and passion. I have been offered
positions at many different universities,
many very large, and this is where I’d
love to be a part of the community.
And the third was once I got to come
here – meet the faculty, meet the
staff, and understand better where the
students are and where the institution
was – and it seemed like we were ready
for what comes next as an institution. I’d
been part of that a previous institution
and it is a very exciting time in the life
cycle of a university when you’re a part
of “what comes next,” as opposed to
“this is what we’re doing right now.”
When I saw that that was probably the
opportunity that was here, I got excited
to lead us there.
Q: What would you like to accomplish most while you’re here?
A: I appreciate you already talking
about me leaving. (Laughs) I would
say there are three areas where it’s not
about what I want – it’s about what we
need and what we’re supposed to be
doing for the state of South Carolina
and for the Upstate. I say that because
where I come from in Michigan, I’ve
watched economies fall apart because
we didn’t support
them the right way. And we’ve had
some really great opportunities here.
We have to be a great partner. So,
stationing us to be that is going to
require three things. Many people have
heard me talk about those three things
because I really do believe that those
are the three we have to be focusing
on for the next few years in order to
be that great partner and to provide
every student who graduates from this
institution a maximized opportunity to
go out and have the most successful life
that they possibly can.
First, we have to enhance the resources
of the university. That comes in a wide
variety of different ways, but making
certain we’re focused on enhanced
fundraising, auxiliary income, trying
to operate more efficiently. The more
efficient we are – that’s one way of
lowering the cost of operations, which
either allows to make new investments in
quality and new opportunity, or to lower
operational costs altogether. Enhanced
resources are a key piece, because
we’ve got to pay for the future.
Second is, we have to grow. We have
not awarded enough bachelor’s and
master’s degrees to supply the Upstate
with the white-collar talent that it needs.
And we have to make a change there.
I would also suggest that if I’m a student
at Upstate and I earn a bachelor’s
degree, and a couple years later, or a
few years later, I want to enhance my
prospects, and I need to go and earn
a graduate credential – we should be
positioned to provide you that graduate
credential as well in key disciplines in our
areas of strength. We
have a number of graduate programs
right now, we need to expand that.
That would allow us to provide more
opportunities to people in this region to
earn higher education credentials the
way they need to, and to be part of a
really extraordinary university community
at the same time. That growth is
essential. That ambition comes from,
“We have to do that for our state and for
our region, for all of the people who live
here to enhance the quality of life.”
When I get free time, if I go to Target, I
am wearing a USC Upstate shirt. I went
to Target last Sunday to buy school
supplies for my kids – I’ve got a 17-yearold,
a 14-year-old, and an 11-year-old – I
ran into three people in the store who
did not know me, who were all wearing
USC Upstate shirts. I stopped every single
one of them and told them, “I’m a fan
of your shirt.” I just wanted to know what
their connection was and get them
excited about the university. I did that
on one of the first Saturdays I was here, I
had three hours before I had to be back
on campus. I got my oil changed and
went to the grocery store and I wore a
USC Upstate softball shirt. And I knew
when I wore it that everyone would ask
me about the university, that’s why I
wore it. But they didn’t ask me just about
the university, they asked me if I was the
head coach. So, I was like... “yeah.” And
I told Chris Hawkins. And yeah, you’ve
got to understand – Chris Hawkins is
one of the top 25 coaches in the United
States in softball. We have one of the
finest softball programs in America. And
I had to break it to him that his profile
wasn’t nearly as big as he thought it
was, because people thought I was him.
But that type of storytelling – when we
walk down the streets of Spartanburg or
Greenville, we need to see more of our
marks.
We have a lot to brag about and we
don’t do nearly enough bragging and
I’m going to make it my mission to
change that.
Q: What are your plans for fundraising at Upstate?
A: We have a lot of work to do on
that front. We have a lot of relationship
building to do. We have hired Dr.
Meredith Brunen as well. She is absolutely
fantastic, your new Vice Chancellor
for University Advancement. She’s a
very skilled leader in development,
alumni engagement, as well as
overseeing university marketing and
communications. She’s a skilled higher
education leader. She is trying to put
together our organization and our
foundation in a way that people can
have faith in it. If you want to make a gift
to the University, you want to make a gift
knowing it’s being stewarded and one,
in the way you intended and two, in the
most careful hands possible. People who
treat your treasure like it’s your treasure.
We’re setting up that environment
first at the same time we’re building
relationships with people, our hope is
that their faith in this institution and also
the way in which we’ll treat their treasure
will help enliven our outcomes on that
front. I will participate in that on a daily
basis and have been, Dr. Brunen will as
well. We just brought in our new Athletic
Director – Julio Freire. He is absolutely
fantastic. Julio is another one who is
attempting to build relationships now
on behalf of the athletics, but also on
behalf of the University at large. There’s
one thing we know to be true – it
doesn’t really matter where we win in
the institution. If we have the best nurses
in the state, then the whole University
wins. If we win a basketball game, the
whole University wins. If we put out a
great newspaper, the whole University
wins. It’s all of those things connected
together to lift up the institution and we
need all of those things to be elevated
– every single element of the institution.
That’s really challenging. That’s why you
need a lot of enthusiastic people who
are faculty, staff, students, executive
administrations, who are all working for
that one goal. If we do that, I think our
fundraising profile changes dramatically.
We are essential as an institution to
the success of this region and I believe
strongly that people are going to invest
in that.
Q: What was your reaction to the events in Charlottesville?
A: I don’t know if you can have another
reaction than just being disgusted and
sad. Scared, frustrated... very frustrated.
But, there is no place for hatred and
violence and racism and bigotry in
public discourse. There is no utility. It
accomplishes absolutely nothing. It just
destroys the great work of so many
people trying to enliven the human
community. I don’t know what else to tell
you on that front, except that we have
a duty to ensure that we play a role in
making a better human community.
Communications is critical, absolutely
critical. And the type of communication
is even more critical.
READ THE FULL INTERVIEW ON OUR WEBSITE
WWW.UPSTATECAROLINIAN.ORG
9

What
Happened
This
Summer?
University launches new website
The new-and-improved university website launched this summer to better
accommodate viewers, especially mobile users. The university recommends using
internet browsers Google Chrome, Firefox, and Safari for the best experience with
the new design.
First, viewers arrive at the homepage – a screen for prospective students and
parents, displaying photos and videos from around campus. Scrolling down will
reveal links important for new Spartans. The next section is “The Dome,” designed
for faculty, staff, and enrolled students. This section contains the most important
information for members of the Upstate family. There is an informational video on
USC Upstate’s YouTube channel that can further help you to navigate the new
design.
50th Anniversary mural symbolizes tremendous growth
Lucy McElroy
A mural representative of USC Upstate’s humble
beginnings, growth, and success has been painted
across Gallery East’s wall in downtown Spartanburg to
celebrate the university’s 50th anniversary. Alumnus
Russell Bannan’s media company, Bannan Blasko LLC,
was commissioned to capture the university’s spirit.
“I cannot be more excited to have the University of
South Carolina Upstate mural featured in downtown
Spartanburg,” Chancellor Brendan Kelly stated in a
University story. “This amazing artwork encapsulates the
history of USC Upstate, its strong reputation of serving as
a critical force in fulfilling regional and state workforce
needs, and its brilliant future.”
The mural reads left to right, with historical
representations first, followed by images that symbolize
the development into a multi-campus university.
The visual progression creates an active viewing
experience and serves as a reminder of 50 years of
growth.
Peaches, mountains, and trees geographically
symbolize the university. The campus was once a
peach orchard and soybean farm until the land
was acquired in 1967 by the Spartanburg County
Commission for Higher Education. The Blue Ridge
Mountains, visible from campus, provide a suitable
backdrop to Upstate’s variety of trees and landscape.
A nurse’s cap is a reminder of USC Upstate’s
foundation – a new chapter of Spartanburg’s nursing
programs that opened after Spartanburg General
Hospital closed its nursing education program.
“I am eternally grateful to Jason Hiltabiddle for
providing such a prominent location for USC Upstate to
share its remarkable story,” Kelly stated. “This is just the
beginning of how USC Upstate intends to approach
deliberate storytelling and branding.” The mural is at
512 East Main Street and a full list of symbols contained
in the mural can be found here. Live video of the
mural’s progress is broadcasted here.
Photo by Brandon Pack | Alumnus Russell Bannan’s media company, Bannan Blasko LLC completed a mural commemorating USC
Upstate’s 50th Anniversary this summer. The mural is painted across the wall of Gallery East in downtown Spartanburg, next to Mellow
Mushroom. A full list of symbology in the mural can be found on USC Upstate’s website.
10 The Carolinian Orientation Issue

Freire named Athletics Director,
replaced retired Lee Fowler
Staff Report
Julio Freire was hired as Athletic Director and Vice Chancellor for Intercollegiate
Athletics at USC Upstate. He replaced Lee Fowler who retired after four years as
athletic director.
“The Upstate region and USC Upstate are at a tipping point,” Freire said. “As
the only public comprehensive university in the area, we, the University of South
Carolina Upstate, are the only university that can propel the entire region to the
next level.”
Freire told of the path that led him to Upstate.
“I grew up in Tijuana, Mexico where I lived in a two bedroom trailer with seven
people,” Freire said.
“I became an American citizen by age 14 and consider myself lucky that I
excelled in athletics and was able to obtain an education,” Freire said. “I was
attending a high school where only 50 percent of the freshmen made it to
graduation – an inner city school.
So, because of intercollegiate athletics I had the opportunity to earn an education
– to earn a degree.”
Chancellor Dr. Brendan B. Kelly said Freire was someone who “captures the spirit of
who we are trying to be in Spartan athletics.”
Photo by Les Duggins | The University announced Julio Freire as Upstate’s new Athletic Director
in July. Freire posed at his press conference July 7 with James Parham as Sparty.
Freire ran cross country and track and field for Arizona State, where he graduated
in 1990 with a degree in education. He earned a master’s in counseling from
University of Phoenix in 1997.
Freire was a high school educator and coach. He was in athletics administration,
joined Ohio University in 2000, Tennessee Tech 2005-2007, University of Arizona 2007-
2010, UNLV 2010-2013, and then athletic director at the University of Tennessee-
Martin. He was at the University of Pittsburgh before coming to Upstate.
Freire and his wife, Cherie, have two children, Christopher, 15, and Gabriella, 12.
Dr. Meredith N. Brunen joins fundraising,
alumni relations efforts
Lucy McElroy
Meredith N. Brunen, Ph.D. joined University
staff as Vice Chancellor for University
Advancement July 3. Brunen will further
the fundraising efforts of the University of
South Carolina Upstate Foundation as Chief
Philanthropic Officer and Executive Director.
“She’s a very skilled leader in development,
alumni engagement, as well as overseeing
University marketing and communications.
She’s a skilled higher education leader. She
is trying to put together our organization and
our foundation in a way that people can
have faith in it,” Chancellor, Brendan Kelly,
Ph.D. said. “If you want to make a gift to the
University, you want to make a gift knowing
it’s being stewarded and one, in the way
you intended and two, in the most careful
hands possible.”
Before coming to Upstate, Brunen worked
alongside Kelly at the University of West
Florida in Pensacola, Fla. as Interim Vice
President for University Advancement and
Associate Vice President for University
Advancement.
Brunen is no stranger to advancing a
university’s efforts for alumni relations,
community engagement, and fundraising.
In addition to serving in those aspects at
UWF, Brunen also served as Chief Executive
Officer of the foundation at Northwest
Arkansas Community College in Bentonville,
Ark.
Brunen works closely with Kelly to bring the
nearly 30,000 USC Upstate alumni closer to
the institution and plays an instrumental role
in the branding of the university.
Meredith Brunen, Ph.D. worked alongside Chancellor Kelly at the University of
West Florida in Pensacola, Fla. before joining him at Upstate. The pair aims to
further alumni relationships and fundraising efforts for the University.
11

OPINION: America, one nation under controversy
Stephanie Sawaked
If you are slightly out of touch with reality or the social issues going on in our
country, it may come as a surprise to you that over the last few years our country has
experienced what some would call an epidemic.
No, I’m not talking about the opioid crisis or the election of Donald Trump as the
45th President of the United States. It is a nationwide controversy regarding race,
religion, freedom of speech and most importantly, terrorism.
When we think of terrorism, we popularly associate it with historic attacks carried
out by members of international terrorist organizations, such as ISIS. However,
Oxford Dictionaries defines terrorism simply as “the unlawful use of violence and
intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims.”
Truth is, terrorism knows no boundaries or borders. Domestic terrorism is no exception
to the rule and is rapidly spreading through our nation.
A protest began on the campus of the University of Virginia Aug. 11. Members of
white nationalist groups, white supremacist groups, and the Klu Klux Klan gathered
to practice their First Amendment right and express disdain for the removal of the
statue of Civil War confederate, General Robert E. Lee.
Things quickly began to escalate when counter-protestors such as Antifa and Black
Lives Matter members arrived in opposition.
One person was reported dead the next morning and many small fights broke out,
involving pepper spray and debris being thrown. Members of the Alt-Right groups
began chanting popular Nazi phrases like “blood and soil.”
Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe declared a state of emergency and ordered
protestors to disperse from the area.
A “Unite the Right” rally, expecting up to 6,000 protestors, was planned for Aug.
12 in Emancipation Park by demonstrators who arrived carrying tiki torches, body
armor, and discriminatory propaganda, such as Nazi flags.
Rising tensions between opposing groups led to 20-year-old James Alex Fields, Jr.
plowing into a crowd of counter protestors. Not only did he drive through them, he
put his car in reverse to run through them again. The toll was one dead, 19 injured.
Fields is being held without bond.
Initial lack of media coverage and what appeared to be an insincere apology
from President Trump has resulted in major backlash for both parties.
It seems the media gave no forewarning to the rest of the country about the
decision to remove the statue or the reaction to it, as if they hadn’t known the
protests were planned – given the demonstrators need a permit and go through law
enforcement. Meaning, enough authoritative figures knew the events planned to be
able to inform the public of what was to ensue.
Only when violence erupted and casualties occurred, including two police officers
in a helicopter crash, did the media shift their attention to the chaos.
The situation may have been avoided like the incident at Berkeley College in
California when a planned speech by outspoken conservative, Ann Coulter, was
cancelled due to the amount of controversy it would provoke.
In similar fashion of lacking focus, President Trump has yet to call these white
supremacists just what they are – terrorists. To make matters more interesting, his
statement raised many questions regarding his awareness to the severity to, and his
lack of sympathy for the situation.
In his statement, he describes the events as an, “egregious display of hatred,
bigotry and violence on many sides.” To which he received criticism from members
of both the Democratic and Republican parties.
Once the dust begins to settle and the media moves on to the next headline, who
is to blame for the tragic events happening here at home? Could it be the alt-right
movement for pushing their agenda, or should the government take the blame for
allowing it to escalate so quickly? Or could it be the strong opposition and resistance
movement of the left?
The media plays a hand for not covering the events before it reached this
magnitude and it is not until domestic terrorism gets to its peak that officials begin to
get involved.
These are the issues causing such a rift between generations of all walks of life,
causing our nation to become plagued with controversy.
————————————————————————————————————————
The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and
do not necessarily reflect those of The Carolinian, the University of South Carolina
Upstate, or any affiliated institutions.
Did you know?
New service allows free electronic
access to The New York Times
Lucy McElroy
A new service at USC Upstate allows currently enrolled students, staff, and faculty
members free electronic access to The New York Times.
This service is valid for 365 days after creating a free account at AccessNYT.com
and can be accessed on- or off-campus.
Photo by Ryan Kelly
for CNN
First, enter “University of South Carolina Upstate - Spartanburg, SC” in the “Find
School” box. Do not abbreviate. Then, sign up for an account with a USC Upstate
email address. A confirmation email will be sent to the address provided.
Members can view all articles at NYTimes.com freely and have full access
to associated apps. Services available include English, Spanish, and Chinese
translations, podcasts, videos, newsletters, daily 360 content, a virtual reality app,
and a cooking app.
USC Upstate students, staff, and faculty can also access the article archives
dating back to 1851. This service limits users to five archived articles per day.
Photo by Edu Bayer for The New York Times
More information about this service can be found at:
www.uscupstate.libguides.com/NYTOnline.
12 The Carolinian Orientation Issue

Land, sea, and air:
Christopher Nolan’s ‘Dunkirk’
Andrew Becker
The evacuation of forces from the
Belgian beaches of Dunkirk was not an
easy reality for the allied forces of Europe
to face in 1940.
Surrounded by German offensives and
with their backs against the water of
the English Channel, the allied troops
were lacking in air support and transport;
forced to rely on civilians with boats who
would put their lives at risk to save others,
nearly 400,000 soldiers stood in lines
along the beach, taking shelling from
German Luftwaffe.
In the water awaited U-boats, making
the naval destroyers and vanquishers
meant to take them home as dangerous
as the enclosing forces surrounding the
beach.
Christopher Nolan delivers a wellmastered
composition in honor of this
difficult point in the War with his film
“Dunkirk”. Told through three equally
important and interweaving threads,
divided by land, by sea, and by air, the
film’s democratic approach explores, at
its heart, themes of bravery and honor
in grave circumstances, which Nolan’s
film accomplishes through powerful
performances, sound, and a balance of
agoraphobic and claustrophobic shots
of cinematography.
The expansiveness of the beach’s
sands, the depth of the Channel’s
waters, and the emptiness of the sky
above are transmogrified into tiny
cockpits, watery hulls aboard sinking
ships, and dense, crowded lines of
people surrounded by weaponry.
Nolan’s direction proves masterful, with
particularly impressive odd angle sea
and aerial sequences. The dialogue is
also sparse throughout, allowing for a
more powerful performance to take
over; as a result, much of the emotion
in the film comes through the actor’s
nonverbal communication.
Though this is not to say that the film
allows for stagnation through silence,
quite the opposite, the film’s minimal
score and steady reliance on practical
sound creates a more engaging mood
throughout the plot.
“Dunkirk” is already one of the finest
films released this year, and it’s a tribute
you shouldn’t miss from one of the most
acclaimed directors of the 21st century.
Photo from The Atlantic
Courage against tragedy in
‘The Ministry of Utmost Happiness’
Andrew Becker
Photo from Penguin Books
In light of our grieving and enraged
political climate plagued by constant
conflict and tragedy, where protests
have turned violent, and “as always,
everybody (has) believed what they
wanted to believe,” there’s something to
be said of courage.
To have courage — true, noble
courage — is to be devoted by duty to
a purpose or cause valued as equal to
oneself or higher, and to fearlessly risk
danger in its defense. It must be said
that the most courageous experience
the strongest gravitation towards duty,
notably if the devotion is born of their
empathy for others.
With her new book, Arundhati Roy has
built a truly daring if not at times risky
narrative.
The much-anticipated release is Roy’s
first return to fiction since her highlypraised
debut “The God of Small Things”
won the Man Booker prize for fiction 20
years ago.
What the new novel so often displays is
the power of courage against tragedy.
As readers, Roy leaves us drowning
in a crowded amalgam of disparate
voices all reverberating in and out of
coalescence with one another in a flimsy
echo chamber; admittedly, the novel’s
politics, anachronistic tendencies, and
frequent leaps in perspective often
creates a disorienting and frustrated
fable for readers.
However, the empathy and devotion
demanded of, and displayed to, readers
serves as truly rewarding endeavor.
Take “Anjum, who used to be Aftab”
for instance. She left home young
to live among the other Hijras in the
dream-draped Kwabgah of Delhi,
until tragedy after tragedy leaves
her living in a graveyard plot where
everyone eventually becomes one with
everything.
Alienated, pushed to the subaltern
regions of human experience, devoid
of place, voice lost to the toxic winds
and caustic whims of the world, Anjum
manages to strive and survive with
a glowing sense of empathy, one so
strong that when she sees the orphaned
future born of flesh before her, left
abandoned in the hostile multitude, she
seizes the moment and acts dutifully to
save a life other than her own, proving
that no matter one’s gender, race,
caste, or class, if devoted to empathy,
you’re capable of a most noble kind of
courage.
And the world is in desperate need of
courage.
13

Student Life offers opportunities for involvement
Stephanie Sawaked
If you happen to be new at Upstate
and looking for a quick way to make
friends with similar interests, or just looking
to add extracurricular activities to your
schedule, the Campus Life Center is your
haven for an abundance of potential
organizations to join.
The Student Life office is open Monday
through Friday from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. The
various groups are sure to fit students
from all walks of life. The following is a
short description of each organization
offered:
Academic & Professional | Organizations
in this category are either connected
to an academic department, major
or minor and are advised by a faculty
member or administrator from that
department. Getting involved in an
academic organization is a great way
for you to learn more about your major/
minor, to interact with faculty outside of
the classroom, or to learn more about
an academic area in which you are
interested.
Honors | Honors organizations are
student groups that recognize the
academic achievements of USC
Upstate students in a chosen field of
study or academic classification. Some
organizations are connected to a
specific major while others are open to
all USC Upstate students who meet a
minimum GPA requirement. Admittance
into these organizations is by invitation
only.
Faith, Spirituality or Belief-Based Faith |
Spirituality or belief-based organizations
provide a community for USC Upstate
students who share similar worldviews
and ideologies, or who are exploring
new facets of faith or spirituality. Some
organizations are directly affiliated with
local congregations, some are part
of the student organization’s national
network, and others are grassroots
organizations founded to meet the
needs of current students.
Fraternities and Sororities | USC Upstate
is home to 13 fraternities and sororities
that are governed by three councils: The
Inter-Fraternity Council (IFC), National-
Panhellenic Council (NPHC) and
Panhellenic Council (PC).
IFC Fraternities | These fraternities limit
their membership to male students at
USC Upstate.
NPHC| This is the governance council for
historically African-American fraternities
and sororities, membership is limited
to USC Upstate Students. Panhellenic
organizations limit their membership to
female students at USC Upstate.
Performance | Do you like to act or
sing? Do you play an instrument? USC
Upstate has five groups that provide
students with the opportunity to pursue
their interests in the performance arts.
These organizations are advised by USC
Upstate faculty and several provide
scholarship opportunities for their
members. Contact the organizational
advisers for more information about
these scholarships.
Special Interest | Organizations that
do not fall into the categories above
are considered Special Interest (subcategories
can be found online at the
University’s website. These organizational
topics range from social issues to
athletics and everything in between.
The majority of these organizations are
advised by USC Upstate faculty or staff,
some are advised by members of the
local community with expertise in the
related area.
Joining a student organization is a great
way to meet other students with similar
interests or to learn more about a topic
that interests you.
Science Club is more than experiments
Courtney Pitts
The Science Club offers a range of entertainment.
We will open the fall semester with a Nature Hike led by Mrs. Julie Smoak, our advisor
of the Science Club, and a USC Upstate botanist.
She will describe plants that are edible on campus. That is also an opportunity to
learn what plants are edible for survival – if needed.
The next two months will be hands-on science experiments where a description and
demonstration will be provided. No prior knowledge of the experiment is needed.
A Smorez/Hot Cocoa Bonfire is scheduled in November. It’s a relaxing night with the
club right before finals.
The Science Club is not restricted to only science majors. If you have an interest in
science, please come to a meeting and see what the talk is about. We want the
club to be a place to meet friends that may not be in their major – especially for
freshmen and transfer students.
The Science Club hosts an annual nature hike with the organization’s advisor
and Biology professor, Julie Smoak. Smoak leads members around campus,
teaching students about plants on campus.
There is one meeting per month.
The Science Club is about having fun, not about work, and we hope that this year
we can bring that to you.
Participating in student organizations can make a college experience even more
memorable, so it is important to know what is available to you at USC Upstate.
Stay up-to-date on the latest student organization news with The Carolinian –
online and in print.
Organization presidents and representatives are encouraged to send information
and news to be published via email to MCELROLM@email.uscupstate.edu.
14 The Carolinian Orientation Issue
The club regularly participates in volunteer work -- for example, picking up litter
around and outside of campus. Photos courtesy of Courtney Pitts

Fall 2017 Academic Calendar
Aug. 24 Thurs | Fall Classes Begin
Aug. 24-25 Thurs-Fri | Continuing Registration;
• Drop/Add through SSC
• Welcome back tables at the CLC, HEC, The George and
Greenville UCG Atrium from 8:30 am-3 pm
• Theater show by Shoestring Players, performing “Tapestry” from
8-9pm in the HPAC
• Luau party between the Treehouses from 9:30 pm-12:30 am
Aug. 27 Sun | 2017 Intramural Sports Registration
Aug 28-29
Mon-Tues | Drop/Add through SSC
Aug. 30 Wed | Drop/Add through SSC
• Last day to recieve 100% refund
Aug. 30 Wed | Fees due by 5 pm
• Last day to drop without receiving a “W”
• Last day to change from credit to audit
Sept. 4 Mon | Labor Day Holiday - no classes
Sept. 15 Fri | Last day to apply for December graduation online
Oct. 4 Wed | Last day to drop GRADUATE courses with a “W”
Oct. 5 Thurs | First day GRADUATE “WF” grade assigned
Oct. 19-20 Thurs-Fri | Fall Break - no classes
Oct. 23-27 Mon-Fri | Academic Advisement for Spring/Summer 2018
Oct. 30-Nov. 3 Mon-Fri | Academic Advisement for Spring/Summer 2018
Nov. 1 Wed | Last day to drop UNDERGRADUATE courses with a “W”
Nov. 2 Thurs | First day UNDERGRADUATE “WF” grade assigned
Nov. 6-10 Mon-Fri | Priority Registration through SSC for Spring 2018
Nov. 13-17 Mon-Fri | Priority Registration through SSC for Spring 2018
Nov. 20-21
Nov. 22-26
Mon-Tues | Priority Registration for Direct Connect Students
Wed-Sun | Thanksgiving Break - No Classes
Nov. 27 Mon | Open Registration Begins
Dec. 8 Fri | Last day of class
Dec. 9 Sat | Reading Day
Dec. 11-15 Mon-Fri | Final Exams
Dec.19 Tues | Convocation to honor December graduates
Dec. 20 Wed | Grades due at 9:00 am
15

TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE
AUGUST 2017
Upstate mooned at the Party of the Century
Cierra Mills
Crowds of students, faculty, and staff left their worries behind to enjoy a
highly anticipated two minutes of darkness at the Party of the Century on
Aug. 21.
Spartans kicked off the Fall semester by witnessing a rare moment in history
– a total solar eclipse around 2:39 p.m. Students were given opportunities to
win commemorative T-shirts and received free eclipse-viewing glasses, which
ran out of stock in the first 15 minutes.
The party gave freshman and transfer students a chance to meet new
people while enjoying party refreshments and a front row seat to the eclipse.
Many new and transfer students received T-shirts at recent orientations with
an Upstate-branded hashtag, “#IGotMooned.” More than 800 T-shirts were
distributed.
Refreshments were eclipse-themed, featuring items like vanilla and
chocolate moon pies, and Sunkist and Sun Drop sodas.
“The Solar Eclipse pretty much happens once in a lifetime and I felt honored
to share the moment with my sorority sisters of Alpha Kappa Alpha,” Cianna
Clinkscales, a senior, said.
As the moon began moving across the sun, students competed in historical
solar eclipse trivia in hopes of winning prizes – USC Upstate-branded solar
eclipse T-shirts, stress balls, and USB flash drives.
The DJ kept the crowd entertained with rap, pop, and country music.
Students danced to radio hits while faculty waived their arms to the ‘80s
classic hit, “Total Eclipse of the Heart” by Bonnie Tyler.
During the two minutes of partial totality, attendees erupted in excitement
and gazed through their eclipse viewers at the sky in awe. Students viewing
the eclipse chanted, “This is going to be the beginning.”
Junior, Howard Parham appreciated the positive energy shared by students,
faculty, and staff. “Words cannot describe the experience from today. I got
to experience something that happens only rarely,” Parham said.
The next total solar eclipse visible in the United States will occur in 2024, but
South Carolina will not be in the path of totality. The last total solar eclipse
viewable from South Carolina occurred nearly 50 years ago, in 1970.
This is the last time the Upstate family will collectively gaze at a total solar
eclipse for years to come. The event will go down in history as a story to be
told for generations.
Photo by Cierra Mills | Spartanburg was slightly out of the path of
totality, but party attendees saw partial totality from campus.
Eclipse photos by Brandon Pack
Photo by Cierra Mills | Mylishia Blakely and Deandra Turner show
off their Party of the Century T-shirts. The pair expressed their
excitedness about celebrating the historical event on campus.
16 The Carolinian Orientation Issue