Radford University’s Student-run Newspaper The Tartan | March 21, 2018

Since 1979 www.rutartan.com @RUTartan @rutartan @the_tartan

News
A Talk with
Radford University Protests
Anthony
Flaccavento Gun Violence
In pursuit of Virginia’s
9th congressional seat,
Flaccavento is going up
against Rep. Morgan
Griffith in the upcoming
elections.
PAGE 2
Culture
“Lady
Macbeth
and her Pal,
Megan”
It is a comedic look
back on her career as
a comedian, as well as
portraying the struggles
of women in comedy.
PAGE 3
The Tea
Should
Teachers Students standing outside to protest gun violence. Photo by Tristan Blake Rines | The Tartan
Have Guns? T r i s ta n B l a k e R i n e s

O
trines@radford.edu
n a cold and windy 25 degrees
morning, nearly two hundred
Their original plan was to have
students exit class at 10 am and meet “It is amazing that
Radford University students,
faculty, and staff gathered at the
at the fountain by 10:05 am to begin
reading the names of people who had so many people
showed up on
campus fountain in a peaceful protest been killed in school shootings from
A look at the Pros and to push for gun reform. Columbine to Parkland.
Cons. The Women’s March Youth By 10:15 am, the event would
PAGE 5 Empower: #ENOUGH National conclude with voter registration such a gloomy and
Sports School Walkout has garnered massive forms being passed around to those
amounts of attention as students, and who had not registered to vote to get sad day. This is
First Ever teachers protest against gun violence more people to get involved with the

NCAA
in cities all across the United States.
What triggered this walkout was by
political process in the area.
At 10:17 am students and faculty
something that I
Tournament
the recent school shooting in Parkland,
Florida, in which 17 students were
were to then return to their original
classrooms or offices and proceed with
really care about
Win gunned down by a student wielding
an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle over a
the rest of their day.
Patricia Ramirez, a Radford
[and] it is really
The deciding ones came
with 43 seconds left
month ago.
The Radford University event on
freshman from Weston, Florida
helping with the event, said, “It is
amazing that so
extending the lead to campus was organized by the Women’s
Studies Club, NextGen, and the
amazing that so many people showed
up on such a gloomy and sad day. This many people care.”
71-61.
PAGE 7
Radford University Young Democrats. is something that I really care about, >> Walkout, Continued on page 2

Enjoy Spring, With a Hint of Snow!

2 | The Tartan
Students standing outside to protest gun violence.
“Every voice matters, every
Walkout
From Page 1 person can make a difference.”
but Radford is a school that’s
fourteen hours away, it is really
amazing that so many people
care.”
Many protestors felt that the
point was primarily focused on
sending a message that there
should be comprehensive gun
reform passed. A couple of the
ideas being thrown in the air
include; potentially changing the
age in which someone is allowed
to legally purchase a weapon or
increasing background checks on
potential gun owners.
“Every voice matters, every
person can make a difference,”
said Radford University junior,
and NextGen member Geoffrey
Preudhomme.
With nearly 200 students,
faculty and staff braving the snow
and wind to stand up against gun
violence, the campus community
certainly made its voice heard.
“I think it is incredible
that Radford students are so
passionate about wanting to see
a change,” said David Horton,
Anthony Flaccavento and Radford’s
Young Democrats.
“For me, the single most
important issue, with a lot of
close seconds and thirds, is
building a healthy economy.”
Manager of Communication
and Outreach for the College
of Science and Technology. “I
think it is time to have a serious
discussion about what can
be done to stop these school
shootings and gun reform is a
huge part of that,” Horton added.
President of the United States
Donald Trump has even recently
been considering alternative
methods to stop gun violence
in schools. Considering a highly
controversial way which would
arm high school teachers who
have participated in specialized
training to, “fire back if a savage Horton for mayor, and, their special guest
sicko came to a school with bad
intentions,” the President tweeted Congress.
out on Feb. 22nd.
Since Columbine in 1999, over
220 students and faculty have
been killed by gun violence on
school grounds. Students and
faculty at Radford University, as
well as all around the country, are him realize might have made some people
standing up against gun violence,
and are demanding change.
Taken from Young Democrats Facebook worked for humans?” Flaccavento rhetorically
Anthony Flaccavento
to Take a Second Swing
Against Morgan Griffith
S h i z a J. M a n zo o r , J e r e m y M o s e r
smanzoor1@radford.edu, jmoser9@radford.edu
Y
oung Democrats host a town hall
meeting featuring candidates Jessica
Critterton for councilwoman, David
of the evening, Anthony Flaccavento for
In pursuit of Virginia’s 9th congressional
seat, Flaccavento is going up against Rep.
Morgan Griffith in the upcoming elections.
However, this is now his first time running.
In 2012, he lost his bid for the seat due to his
status as an environmentalist – which made
apprehensive.
He talked about, “leveling the playing
field.” When it came to define the term,
Flaccavento said, “I mean it quite literally.
Most of the laws, most of the rules that we
implement laws with are against ordinary
people, against young people.”
Some issues he is looking to address have
to do with organized labor and unfair laws
that make creating or joining unions difficult,
non-disclosure agreements between the
employer and employee that may encourage
sexual harassments, net-neutrality, and the
2018 GOP tax bill.
Flaccavento is a big advocate for student
debt relief, and he wants to overturn the
measure in the tax bill that would affect
existing relief programs.
“Student loan debt relief is on the chopping
block. We don’t have nearly enough options
right now as it is. Because of those tax breaks,
> we may have even fewer.” Flaccavento gave
this as one of many ways the current laws are
not helping ordinary people.
“Wouldn’t it be delightful if the economy
asked of his audience.
He was very impressed with the walk-
out protests about gun control. While he
wants to be clear that he supports the second
amendment, he also says that something must
be done.
“We have had a policy now for about
twenty years that is basically to do nothing.”
News
Photo by Tristan Blake Rines | The Tartan
His plan to help prevent further tragedies
involves stronger background checks and
providing better mental health services.
Talking about the things he was passionate
about, Flaccavento said, “For me, the
single most important issue, with a lot
of close seconds and thirds, is building a
healthy economy.” He believes firmly in
the importance of hard work, and he wants
a government that will provide a support
network for people to succeed. That includes
things like universal healthcare and support
for entrepreneurs.
“I think the role of the government is not to
give people stuff. I think it is to enable people
to help themselves.”
A healthy neighborhood equals a healthy
economy according to him. “I know that good
work always starts with local communities.
That is true whether we are revitalizing
downtown Galax, manufacturing energy
efficient building products in Radford,
tackling drug addiction in St. Charles or
building infrastructure to help farmers in
Duffield.”
The floor was opened to questions from
the public soon after. Some points that were
brought up had to do with the train system
and bolstering infrastructure, a cycle of
poverty in the area, prison systems, the opioid
crisis, as well as funding for space travel.
Flaccavento leaned progressive on most
of the issues stating how he wanted to be a
congressman to all, not just a select few.
“You must simultaneously do well with all
age groups,” he declared, adding on to how
his campaign strategy required everyone to
be, “psyched, fired, worked up and going to
the polls” on May 1st for local elections and
June 12th for congressional district primaries.
However, when it came to space travel, he
was skeptic.
“I just don’t want it becoming an escape
valve (for some) to ruin Earth,” he said.
“I would need to be persuaded that that is
money well spent.”
Culture
www.rutartan.com
Arts and Entertainment in Radford
A Movie Review
Tomb Raider
M i c h a e l A. C o o p e r s m i t h
mcoopersmith@radford.edu
O
n March 15, I went down to the Radford
Theatre to watch an early screening of
the latest iteration of one of my “favorite”
videogame to movie adaptations; Lara Croft as the
Tomb Raider.
Now, to clarify, this review will look at the movie in
both of a film and video game adaptation perspective.
With this version of Tomb Raider, Lara Croft was
not played by the titular Angelina Jolie but replaced
with Alicia Vikander whose acting career consists of
parts from films such as Ex Machina, The Danish Girl,
and The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
To those who are familiar with 2013 Tomb Raider
videogame reboot, you might be able to see that
Alicia Vikander fits the Lara Croft well rather than
an Angelina Jolie type, which was playing of the 90s’
classic Tomb Raider but, yet, they trimmed down the
“fat” of the main story line.
The plot of the movie consists of Lara Croft having
to go out into the Golden Triangle of Southeast Asia
to find her father who had disappeared while on an
expedition. He was last noted on a deserted island
that was rumored to have the tomb of a Japanese
Empress who possessed the touch of death.
Lara enlists the help of Lu Ren, the son of the Hong
“Lady Macbeth and her Pal, Megan”; A Review
V a n F au s t -S t e p h e n s o n
I
vfauststephenso@radford.edu
t’s March, so that means that it is Women’s History
Month, and Radford University is taking part in the
festivities with activities hosted by the Women’s
Studies Club.
One of these activities was the two-night showing of
the one-woman play Lady Macbeth and her Pal Megan,
written and performed by comedian and playwright,
Megan Gogerty.
Lady Macbeth and her Pal Megan is a comedic look
back on Gogerty’s career as a comedian, as well as a
way of portraying the struggles of women in comedy,
especially after changes made to the play after the 2016
presidential election.
As Gogerty said during her talk-back after the show,
“The play changed when the world changed.”
The title of the play is a bit of a misleading one,
as the play isn’t actually a retelling of Macbeth from
Lady Macbeth’s point of view or even that much about
Macbeth in general.
Instead, the title is more indicative of several
references Gogerty makes throughout the show to the
play, comparing her entering her career as a comedian
to the life and death of Lady Macbeth, and then later
the characters of the witches.
Though it is not required, a basic knowledge of
Macbeth is recommended going into the play.
Gogerty plays an exaggerated version of herself, only
known as Megan; with this exaggerated persona comes
large movements and has her hamming it up on stage,
which works surprisingly well for the story she is trying
to tell.
Kong sailor that took Richard Croft into the Golden
Triangle.
The movie’s narrative is a straightforward action-
adventure that almost feels as if it used a checklist.
Even when you get to the tomb, which is the “meat”
of the movie, the trials and booby traps seem too
predictable, it could not bring you to the edge of the
seat if it even tried.
Moreover, the twist at the end came way out of
left field but still didn’t feel impactful since it was
unnecessary and random.
Since the movie is a videogame adaption, I would
say that half of this movie relates to the videogame. It
has the same set-up and setting, but as we enter the
actual tomb portion of the film, it felt as we lost the
mystical and dangerous tone that you get from the
videogame itself.
During the action scenes we get these wide shots
of all the destruction that Lara has to run away from
or parkour her way out of. At times these shots can
be exciting, yet they are not focused on, and we move
away since the pacing of the movie is quite fast.
Furthermore, the characters were very
underdeveloped; everyone’s motivations felt very one
note. For example, our villain; Mathias Vogel played
Writing and performing a comedy, especially one
with strong undertones on sexism and sexual assault,
can be a job where everyone can notice if something is
done right, but it is hard to see the small things that are
done well.
The play starts pretty slow, but you are hooked in
before you realize it. There’s no moment of gut-busting
comedy early on, but you slowly feel yourself laughing
more as it goes on and getting surprisingly engrossed
in the story.
Most of the play’s second act is about Gogerty’s story
of starting comedy and the sexism that is inherent in
it; to paraphrase a joke, no matter what demographic
a comedian is, as long as they are male, they will have
jokes about dicks.
Gogerty is an energetic actor, twisting and twirling
around the stage for the entirety of the play. As well,
Gogerty is a great actress when it comes to conveying
emotional scenes; though, these scenes usually jump
right back into comedy, giving the play a bit of mood
whiplash. Her interaction with the props, though few
there are, is subtlety amazing.
In all, Lady Macbeth and her Pal, Megan is not what
I thought it would be going in. In fact, as I began to
realize it was a one-person play, my excitement fell a
little.
However, as I watched more, I began to realize that
this was more entertaining than it would be if it was a
Macbeth retelling or even had more than one person
on stage.
Megan Gogerty is a great comedian and playwright
Wednesday, March 21, 2018 | 3
Taken from imdb.com
by Walton Goggins; the film tries to portray him as a
psychopathic character to the point that our character
tells us he is a psycho, but it never seemed that way.
In my own opinion, Walton wasn’t going all the
way with Mathias as a psychopathic leader. From
what you see, the only indication of him being
“psychopathic” is that he has been on the island far
too long and badly wants to return home. He might
kill a few “slaves” from time to time to make an
example, but it doesn’t seem that he takes enjoyment
in it.
In fact, when they are in the tomb, he is quite level-
headed and focused on the goal at hand, not getting
swept up in the idea of it being a cursed tomb. This is
just one example of not going far with the characters
that you have. It seems the themes were there and
they could have shown different perspectives, but they
did not.
It seems that I can only say is that if you want a by
the book action-adventure movie based on the new
Tomb Raider games, then I recommend this movie;
But there are better action-adventure movies out
there.
The dust on this tomb should have been left alone.
with several other shows, such as Hillary Clinton Got
Me Pregnant and Save Me, Dolly Parton available
online now, with Lady Macbeth and her Pal, Megan
joining them … as soon as Gogerty gets tired of
performing it.
More works by Megan Gogerty are available online
at www.megangogerty.com.
“The
Taken from saffronhenke.com
play
starts
pretty
slow,
but you
are hooked
in before you
realize it.”
4 | The Tartan Gallery

Show...
Don’t Tell...
A Look into
Radford
University’s
Community
Students, faculty, and staff standing outside to protest gun violence.

Radford Education Career Fair 2018

Photos by Hailey Scherer, Josh Owens | The Tartan

The tea
www.rutartan.com Wednesday, March 21, 2018 | 5
Editorials and Opinions Quote of the week
“Most people have the will to win, few
have the will to prepare to win.”
- Bobby Knight

Should Teachers Have

ABOUT US
The Tartan publishes 1,500
copies per week and is distrib-
uted at more than 25 locations

Guns?
on the RU campus. The Tar-
tan is always looking into ex-
panding  their distribution.
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The Tartan is part of Highland-

er Student Media and is com-
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paper, The Tartan reserves the
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EDITORIAL POLICIES
“Our Opinion” pieces are
written collectively by members
of The Tartan Editorial
Board. The Editorial Board is
comprised of the editing staff,
the Tea writers, and other
Radford University students.

These undergraduate and

graduate students represent
multiple class levels and
different political, cultural, People advocating for more gun control. Taken from timemagazine.com
ethnic, and religious
backgrounds. Members may hannah curran
or may not belong to a variety hcurran1@radford.edu

L
of student organizations. The
Editorial Board is open to all ately, there has been much She goes on to further state that perhaps IN MY OPINION
RU students who apply. controversy over gun control the government could try to implement a
in traction to the recent school state-funded course for educators. I realize All of these pros and cons are important
TARTAN shootings. there are School Resource Officers (SRO) to consider in this argument, but I do want
I’ve decided to take a pros and cons but is that really enough? Having many to point out some other things that are
STAFF approach to this because I am having a
hard time sticking to a hard yes or no on
more protectors for those kids could be a
great thing in the long run.
relevant as well.
These tragic school shootings have
Dylan Lepore this issue. Some good things could form rocked America. However, is this a
Editor-in-Chief
dlepore1@radford.edu in light of recent events, but there can THE CONS mental health problem that America is
Ida Domingo also be many dangers that stem from that not addressing accurately versus a gun
Managing Editor exposure. There are many cons to think about that problem?
idomingo1@radford.edu
could come with arming teachers. Everyone is very quick to blame the gun
Annie Schroeder
Copy Editor
THE PROS Funding to arm and train every teacher and almost ignore the state of the person
lschroeder@radford.edu would be nearly impossible and unable to behind them. What drove that person to
Gracie Miller The pros for these teachers carrying come out of the education budget, so where make that tragic choice?
News Editor
gmiller27@radford.edu
guns are focused on safety. The shooter would it come from? There can also be an alternative option
may become deterred if he or she knows On the parent side of this, I am also not according to senior Michael Matthews
Van Faust-Stephensons
Culture Editor that they are many trained and armed sure I would want my six-year-old coming who is in ROTC, “I think that only the ones
vfauststephenso@radford.edu adults in the building. home and asking me about guns or better (teachers) that get qualified should, but if
Alexis Gardner Junior Dagny Hammond, who is enlisted yet just reaching for one off their teacher a teacher does not want to, that is fine.” I
The Tea Editor
agardner5@radford.edu
in the army, shared her opinion on this out of curiosity. like this because it gives some choice to the
topic. Teachers carrying guns would also put teachers on what they are comfortable with.
Davis Byrd
Sports Editor Hammond thinks that since guns are a a lot of pressure on them. I want to teach It is tough to say that one side is
dbyrd16@radford.edu significant issue, there are people who are to inspire, with kids there are already entirely correct on this issue, but I think
Hailey Scherer not knowledgeable about firearm safety, pressures, and of course I would protect my if it comes to this, letting the teacher have
Photography Manager
hscherer1@radford.edu therefore making it something out of touch, students but honestly my personal choice I their individual choice is fundamental. It
scary. So if more people are educated on would not want to have to be armed all day boils down to focus on the safety of the
Tyquan Holloway
Distributor guns, then maybe it can become less of a every day in front of my children. kids and what in the end will be the best
tholloway9@radford.edu
terrifying thing and more of what they were circumstances for them to be in.
intended for.
6 | The Tartan
Netflix’s
‘Chewing
Gum’
Michaela Coel as Tracey Gordon in ‘Chewing Gum.’
Your New Show to Binge Watch on Netflix
Ola Elshaar
oelshaar@radford.edu
M “Every character in the show is
ichaela Coel’s spontaneous, convincing performance is enough to keep you
watching her TV show comedy, Chewing Gum, over and over endlessly. It
is currently streaming on Netflix and is worth your attention.
Coel, who is the creator of the show, also plays the main character Tracy Gordon
who is a 24 years old religious, virgin girl who is trying desperately to express herself
in her own way.
Tracey’s mother and her sister Cynthia Gordon are strict Christians who judge
everything Tracey does. Tracey’s mom (starring Shola Adewusi) has a habit of going
around the community hall they live in to try to convert people to become Christians
because she thinks that is her duty as a religious person.
I think every character in the show is just unbelievably brilliant. It is almost like
the producers could make a whole movie based on any of those characters and it
would be enjoyable and entertaining.
Candice, (starring Danielle Isaie) is Tracey’s wild best friend who is always
encouraging Tracey to just go for it. Tracey describes her by saying, “Candice is
like the buffest girl I’ve ever seen on the whole of my estate, but she’s got learning
difficulties so it sort of balances it out – so like, I can be best friends with her, and
I’m not jealous or anything.”
John MacMillan (Ronald) who plays Tracey’s religious, strict fiancé, is just like
her mom and sister. He is aimless severe, and does not want to have sex or even
Taken from netflix.com
The Tea
Taken from netflix.com
just unbelievably brilliant. It is
like the producers could make a
whole movie based on any of those
characters and it would be enjoyable
and entertaining.”
touch Tracey until they get married, *spoiler alert* and that is until Tracey find’s out
in episode three that he is gay and just tries to hide it with Christianity, and they end
up breaking.
Cynthia (starring Susie Wokoma), is just an average and an ambitionless girl who
wants to do nothing in her life except remaining what she is and grow old with her
mom and sister (Tracey).
Also one of the actors who played a dazzling performance was Robert Lonsdale
(Connor) who is Tracey’s new boyfriend. A waste poet guy who lives on the same
estate with Tracey.
Connor is shiftless and kind of foolish when expressing his feeling to Tracey.
When they first started dating, they were trying hard to impress each other,
especially Tracey who was sexually hungry, after being stuck with a religious guy
who would not touch or even like her.
A review was written by Jackson McHenry on Vulture.com called, ‘5 Reasons to
Check out Chewing Gum, a Netflix Hidden Gem.’ McHenry said, “In a time where it
seems as if there simply aren’t enough shows like chewing gum.” One of McHenry’s
convincing reasons to watch the show was because of the jokes and Coel’s expressive
face.
This was one of the lines that attracted me in McHenry’s article about Coel: “She
registers every one of Tracey’s millions of feelings per second in her face, making her
seem awkward, optimistic, bemused, glamorous, frightened, and shy all at the same
time.”
The sitcom is two seasons, and it won the BAFTA for best female performance in
a comedy Program.
Sports
www.rutartan.com Wednesday, March 21, 2018 | 7

TARTAN
SCOREBOARD
Women’s Golf
Bobby Nichols Intercollegiate

Mar. 19 (315-313) 7/9

Mar. 20 (315-313-319) 7/9

Baseball
W UNC Asheville 12-5

Conference: 1-2-0
Overall: 8-11-0

Softball
L Longwood 0-1

Conference: 0-3-0
Overall: 14-12-0

Letters to the
Editor
Jones and Fields Jr. Celebrate the school’s first tourney win. Photo courtesy of RU Athletics
We prefer letters that are fewer

Radford Claims its First Ever NCAA

than 200 words and take as
their starting point an article
or other item appearing in The

Tournament Win by Defeating LIU Brooklyn

Tartan. They may not have
been submitted to, posted
to or published by any other
media. They must include the
writer’s full name — for more Austin White
awhite26@radford.edu
information and to send a

A
letter head over to fter surprisingly winning the trying to pull away from LIU Brooklyn, Polite Jr. did not make a field goal for the
www.rutartan.com. Northeast Conference, LIU Brooklyn and they just couldn’t shake them off. rest of the game. Because his offense was
was coming off a five-game winning Sophomore Travis Fields Jr. started missing, the Highlanders needed someone
Notes of Worth streak when they faced Radford in a play-in to make plays by finding senior Randy to fill the void.

R adford’s
men’s
basketball
game for a spot in the East Region.
The winner would play Villanova
University, the number one seed in the
team has region. Even though the Blackbirds were
gained tons on a win streak, the Highlanders were on
of national a seven-game winning streak coming fresh
off a game-winning buzzer beater by Carlik
exposure
Jones to win the conference tournament
ever since
over Liberty University.
Carlik Jones’
Radford’s defense made a difference
shot heard early in the game holding LIU Brooklyn
around the to nine points up 18-9 with 9:37 left in the
world. Not first half. Ed Polite Jr. made his presence
only has the known by getting six quick points and two
team been assists. He also grabbed three rebounds
in the news Courtesy of RU Athletics in that timespan while playing impressive
lately, but the Highlander defense on forward Zach Coleman for most
mascot’s popularity has of the night.
grown as well. It was LIU Brooklyn kept it close with forward
recently rated the number Raiquan Clark hitting a key three-pointer
one mascot in the NCAA to keep the game close making it 20-16
tournament by USA Today with 7:24 left in the first, forcing coach
Mike Jones to call a timeout.
Sports.
The rest of the half the Highlanders were
Phillips in the paint for a nice dunk. Fields
also swished a three from the corner. The
Highlanders found themselves up 30-28 at
the end of the first half.
The Highlander guards carried the team
for the entire game, especially the second
half. Senior Christian Bradford started the
second by making two layups to extend
the lead. Phillips also came up big in the
second, grabbing rebounds, blocking shots,
and scoring on the inside to keep the LIU
Brooklyn defense honest.
Clearly, Coach Jones wanted defense to
be the key in winning the game, with the
Highlanders not allowing LIU Brooklyn to
score a field goal after sophomore guard
Julian Batts’ three-pointer with 6:50 left
made the score 57-55 Radford. The rest of
their points came from free throws.
Radford’s stellar defense ended up
helping their offense finish the game on a
10-2 run.
One of Radford’s primary offensive
weapons in the first half started to go cold.
That, someone, was Fields Jr. He carried
on what he was doing in the first half of
the second, assisting open teammates and
hitting a sweet jumper. With 3:29 left in
the game, he dribbled the ball to the right
side of the three-point line with a defender
on his hip.
He then crossed the ball over from his
right hand to his left sending the defender
flying to the right and finished the play by
hitting a swishing three and nodding his
head in satisfaction.
Polite Jr. ended up making up for his
bad shooting night by hitting clutch free
throws down the stretch of the game. The
deciding ones came with 43 seconds left
extending the lead to 71-61. He finished
with 13 points and 12 rebounds notching
his 27th career double-double.
All students and Radford citizens should
be proud of this team after their incredible
year, easily one of their best.
8 | The Tartan Sports

THEN:

NOW:

Taken from Deadspin

Photo courtesy of RU Athletics

Nine Years and They Are Dancing Again

D av i s B yr d
dbyrd16@radford.edu

T
he Radford Highlanders Men’s basketball team made its first appearance in
the NCAA Tournament since 2009 this last week.
The Highlanders topped off their impressive season in which they finished
second in the conference after being projected to finish seventh by winning the Big
South Tournament and winning their first-ever NCAA tournament game against
Long Island University Brooklyn.
The last time Radford had made it to the tournament was in the 2008-09 season
where eventual champions North Carolina defeated them in the first round. It would
take the Highlanders 9 years and undergoing an arduous rebuild for them to reach
their next tournament appearance.
The Highlanders would finally get their first taste of success in March after
defeating LIU Brooklyn 61-71 in their matchup in the First Four.
The Highlanders would then put up a valiant effort against #1 seed Villanova in
a 61-87 loss to the Big East Tournament Champions. The Highlanders played hard
every second, earning admiration from Former NBA star and commentator Reggie
Miller who gushed on commentary about the Radford fans and the players making
themselves and the school proud.
It seems safe to say that this team absolutely did just that with a gutsy
performance against one of the best teams in the tournament. The Highlanders Taken from roanoke.com
shared a moment with their traveling support and even stayed to applaud and rebounding by Belarusian junior big man Artsiom Parakhouski while this year’s
acknowledge the same fans who had been cheering their hearts out for their team. squad was led in scoring and rebounding by another junior, this time being Ed
Both this season’s team and the 2008-09 team share some similarities Polite Jr. Polite Jr. was first-team All-Big South while Parakhouski was a multiple
when it comes to their leading scorers. 2008-09’s squad was led in scoring and time Big South player of the year. TK
Current coach Mike Jones was the man chosen to help rebuild the program after

“Jones, in his 7th season whos in

a rough couple of seasons. The previous coaching regime was under fire from the
NCAA and coming off the back of a particularly poor season, and the reins were
handed to Coach Jones who changed the system and made the Highlanders into
charge of the Highlanders finally saw a tough and hard-working team with an emphasis on defense, rebounding and
second-chance points.
his work and his team’s work come Jones, in his 7th season whos in charge of the Highlanders finally saw his work
and his team’s work come to fruition with a second place finish in the conference
to fruition with a second place finish after most had the Highlanders pegged to finish 7th at the start of the season.
The Highlanders would fight through the Big South Tournament and defeat

in the conference after most had the Liberty University in the final after a dramatic buzzer beater from Big South
Freshman of the Year Carlik Jones. Coach Jones was recognized for his hard work

Highlanders pegged to finish 7th at

over the course of the season by being named as Big South Coach of the Year.
The Highlanders will be looking forward to next season with a host of returning
players and will be hungry to compete and make it back to the dance come next
the start of the season.” March.