Radford University’s Student-run Newspaper The Tartan | December 5, 2018

th

THE
VOL. CXXXIV NO. 11 · 40 YEARS BEING YOUR NEWSPAPER
TARTAN
RUTARTAN.COM @RUTARTAN @RUTARTAN @THE_TARTAN

IT'S FREE,
TAKE ONE! LETTER | PAGE 2

Celebrating 40 Years of Radford

University student-run newspaper

RADFORD MEN’S THE SURVIVAL JEFFERSON

BASKETBALL
SHOCKS THE
GUIDE TO COLLEGE
NATION FINALS MERGER UPDATE
2 | The Tartan Letter

4
th

Letter to from the Editor On September 6, 1978 (40 years ago), the Grapurchat became ... The
Tartan. The name was changed in order to align to the university's
new school colors of white, red, and grey from its original purple and
grey.

Since then The Tartan has been through its ups and down and has
seen some massive changes whether that be good or bad. With the
introduction of new freshman eager to join a club and seniors on the
verge of graduating but still needing to build a portfolio, The Tartan
has seen a great deal in staff growth and a drive to put out their best
work, and it shows when people do.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens

can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” ―
Margaret Mead

With any organization that I am involved in, I will work with anyone who aims high and is willing to try, and that is
all I ask for as a peer. I have had a diverse group of students working with me this semester from a fashion design
major, foreign exchange students, many majors outside of journalism, and anyone who feels that they have The First edition of The
something to say. With so many different people working at The Tartan, it makes it so much more special to share Tartan from September
our thoughts to our readers. 6, 1978.

Though I know I should not be saying this but, SURPRISE, not every newspaper will be tremendous. Making an
impact does not have to always be about some scandal or a recent crime. It could be having a student see
themselves in the newspaper, a faculty member seeing a story of an event from the College of Visual & The First edition of the
Performing Arts that they've helped with, or even brightening your day with a gallery of the dogs at Radford. Grapurchat from January
27, 1921.
The Tartan maybe hitting the sweet 40 years of age but we are not old yet! Here are just some of the new
additions we have added to the organization of late:

Online:
- Event calendar
- Tartan Training Center for young journalists
- An easier way to apply for a position and submit news/tips
- Internships
- An update on the structure and layout of the website
- Allowing for more reader interaction
- Creating a center for vital student resources
Print:
- Improving the overall quilty of the layout
- The contents page
- The addition of meme of the week
- Useful infographics and pictures
- The weekly weather
- And of course, better journalism

Along with this celebration, it has also been my first year as Editor-in-Chief, and this organization would not be like
it is today without the support from my fantastic staff and the faculty at Radford. It has honestly been the best
place for learning something new every day and to teach by just doing the work hands-on.

So, as you continue to read this newspaper, please enjoy it as an experience and try to realize that some people
might stay up from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. to make this for you. I hope you enjoy, and forward always!

All my best,
Dylan Lepore
Editor-in-Chief
www.rutartan.com Wednesday, December 5, 2018 | 3

Editorial:
Editor-in-Chief
Dylan Lepore
dlepore1@radford.edu
Managing Editor
Ida Domingo
idomingo1@radford.edu
Copy Editor
CONTENTS
Shiza Manzoor
smanzoor1@radford.edu
News Editor
Ida Domingo NEWS + CULTURE + THE TEA + SPORTS
The Tea Editor
Jennifer Bennett
jbennett49@radford.edu
04 THE FINAL EXAM SCHEDULE
Sports Editor
Davis Byrd
dbyrd16@radford.edu
Page Designer
05 JEFFERSON COLLEGE MERGER
Sam Aguero UPDATE
saguero3@radford.edu
The New Students Fall 2018 infographic shows the comparison
Staff Writers: Savannah Roberson, between incoming classes of students at Radford and Roanoke.
Morgan Hutcheson, Nay-Quan Since each location has a diverse population, students who
Bryan, Lucas Carr, Devin Stubbs, and
Dustin Staples (weather) attend there are also unique, from their home states to the
number of credits.
Photography and Advertising:
Photography Manager
Hailey Scherer 06 FALL CONCERT ENDING THE
hscherer1@radford.edu SEMESTER IN SPECTACULAR
Staff Photographers: Shiza Manzoor,
Jordan Bennett, and Suzanne Dorr
FASHION
The audience was amazed as they gave a lot of applause.
SMADs Manager
Yves White
ywhite4@radford.edu
For a full list go to rutartan.com/ FORMER 41ST 00 ON THE COVER

04
wordpress/contact.
PRESIDENT GEORGE H. THE DETAILING OF THE FOUNTAIN.
W. BUSH DIES AT 94
ABOUT US
The Tartan publishes 1,500 copies PHOTO BY HAILEY SCHERER 
per week and is distributed at more
than 26 locations on the RU campus.
The Tartan is always looking into 08 THE SURVIVAL GUIDE TO FINALS 
expanding  their distribution. The
publication is printed at Shenandoah
Publishing House in Winchester, Va.
07 RADFORD CLAIMS #22 IN NEW
NCAA NET RANKINGS 
The Tartan is part of Highlander In the NCAA's first-ever net rankings, Radford Men's basketball
Student Media and is completely team checked in at #22 out of 353 teams in Division 1
basketball. The NCAA Division 1 Men's Basketball Committee

05
student-run. As a newspaper, The
Tartan reserves the right to address,
explore and delve into issues that
affect the university student body
PASSENGER RAIL
and the surrounding area.
COMING TO THE
Student Media NEW RIVER VALLEY
Advertising
Train travel may
P.O. Box 6895
Radford VA, 24142 experience a revival in the
540-831-6051 New River Valley as soon
as 2020. The project,
fittingly dubbed “New
River Valley 2020” is on
track, according ...
Here is your
“We train future #TartanWeather
journalists, editors, Forecast for the
week of Wed.,
radio producers, December
news anchors and 5-December 11,
even entrepreneurs 2018.
10
has done away with the Rating Percentage Index evaluation
process and has adopted a new tool for the selection ...
MEN’S BASKETBALL
EDITORIAL POLICIES:
SHOCKS THE
NATION BY “Our Opinion” pieces are written collectively by members of
The Tartan Editorial Board. The Editorial Board is comprised
DEFEATING NO. 17 of the editing staff, the Tea writers, and other Radford
TEXAS University students.
After coming back from a
These undergraduate and graduate students represent
dominant 102 – 69 victory multiple class levels and different political, cultural, ethnic,
over the Glennville State and religious backgrounds. Members may or may not belong
Pioneers on Nov. 26, the to a variety of student organizations. The Editorial Board is
open to all RU students who apply.
Radford Highlanders men’s
basketball team kept ...

through our ever-

evolving student-
run media outlets.” *This forecast is
always subject to
highlanderstudentmedia.com change!!
By Dustin Staples
dstaples1@radford.edu
4 | The Tartan
S
tudents will have two
hours to complete their
final exams which will
start on the hour according to
the Office of Registrar list below
If students have any conflict
with their exam schedule or
if they happen to have three
or more exams on one day,
students are allowed to seek
the instructor of the course to
arrange a change in your final
exam schedule.
Good luck!!
B Y I DA D O M I N G O
idomingo1@radford.edu
Former 41st President dies at 94
G
eorge H.W. Bush, former
41st president of the
United States, died on
Friday night Nov. 30 at his home
in Houston. He was 94.
His passing was announced
by his office, which came less
than eight months after the
passing of his wife of 73 years,
Barbara Bush, who died due to a
chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease on April 17.
Herbert Bush had Parkinson’s
disease that resulted in him
to be reliant to a wheelchair
or motorized scooter in recent
years. After the passing of his
wife, he had been in and out
of the hospital as his health
declined.
Reported by The New York
Times, Bush spoke his final words
in a phone call with his son, the
former 43rd President George W.
Bush. In their final conversation
through the speakerphone, his
son told Bush that he had been
a “ wonderful father” to him and
his father replied with his final
words, “I love you, too.”
Before this phone
conversation, Herbert Bush
was asked if whether or not he
wanted to go to the hospital
and his answer was no. Instead,
he said he was ready to be with
Barbara, and their late daughter
Robin, who died of leukemia.
Many former U.S. presidents
and colleagues took to social
News
The Final Exam Schedule
media to share their condolences his essential authenticity, at St. Martin’s Episcopal
and reactions to his passing. disarming wit, and unwavering Church. After, Herbert Bush will Former President George
Former President Barack commitment to faith, family, and be buried in a family plot behind H.W. Bush’s service dog
Obama said, “America has lost country, President Bush inspired the Bush library complex, lies in front of his casket
a patriot and humble servant generations of his fellow alongside his wife and former in Houston on Sunday.
in George Herbert Walker Bush. Americans to public service to First Lady and his daughter The 41st president died
While our hearts are heavy be, in his words, ‘a thousand Robin. Friday at the age of 94.
today, they are also filled with points of light’ illuminating the
gratitude. Our thoughts are with greatness, hope, and opportunity
the entire Bush family tonight of America to the world.”
– and all who were inspired by President Trump also
George and Barbara’s example.” designated Dec. 5 as a national
“He never stopped serving,” day of mourning, also in which
said former President Bill Bush will be eulogized by his
Clinton. He adds, “I am son, former President George
profoundly grateful for every W. Bush, along with family and
minute I spent with President friends on Wednesday at the
Bush and will always hold our Washington National Cathedral.
friendship as one of my life’s His funeral will be held
greatest gifts.”
Former President Jimmy
Carter said the Republican’s
administration “was marked
by grace, civility and social
conscience.” and that Bush
embraced “a uniquely American
volunteer spirit.”
James Baker III, former
secretary of state and White
House chief of staff under Bush,
said in a statement that Bush
lead in “strength, integrity,
compassion and humility” on
the global stage and in everyday
interactions. “His passion was a
Courtesy of Office of George H.W.
deep love of family and country.”
The current
president, Donald Trump also
offered his condolences saying
in a statement, “Through
 www.rutartan.com Wednesday, December 5, 2018 | 7

Passenger Rail Coming to the New River Valley

T
rain travel may experience
a revival in the New River
Valley as soon as 2020.
The project, fittingly dubbed
“New River Valley 2020” is on
track, according to spokesperson
Ed Lawhorn, who addressed the
Radford City Council on Sept.
24.
When finished, the project
would allow passengers to board
a train in Christiansburg, Va and
ride it as far as Boston, Ma.
The clear appeal of cheap
travel which allows commuters
to avoid the I-81 corridor is one
of the main draws of the project.
With two universities in the
area, the ridership is projected
to be stable between the New
River Valley and Northern
Virginia.
Several potential sites
were surveyed for the new
station around the region
before a portion of land near
the Christiansburg Aquatic
center was settled on. The land
in question has already been
partially purchased by the town
of Christiansburg, with just a
few acres remaining to be closed
on.
There were several specific
qualities the project was looking
for. Ed Lawhorn said in an
interview with The Tartan,
“It was done by the
Metropolitan Planning
Organization and the Regional
Commission, with a key being For Lawhorn, the work have easy access to the region,
proximity to population, having will be worth it for both the a fact that is sure to make their
a good road network around future riders and the region. parents happy.
the site and sufficient land for With the addition of another With construction starting
facility network.” travel option, the traffic on on a number of new businesses
During his presentation the interstate will hopefully be in Christiansburg, the
to the city council, Lawhorn less heavy, and more economic committee hopes that the new
explained the projects next opportunities will likely come to transportation hub will further
steps. One of which is a the New River Valley. the growth to all of the New
study on any operational and According to the project’s River Valley cities. With the
maintenance challenges the website, nrvpassengerrail.org, potential for new jobs, more
current rail line might pose. the New River Valley has the students, and more financial
The other important study to fastest growing population in stability for the region it’s easy
be conducted by the committee the region. This fact, coupled to see why so many community
will be the ridership study by with the prominent universities members are jumping on board
Amtrak. in the area means that adding the passenger rail project.
To help fund these studies another means of travel will
and the completion of this draw further attention to the
project the state has given a area. By Bailey Speer
grant of $350,000. More potential students will bspeer1@radford.edu

MERGER UPDATE The Return of the Radford Highlander Festival

T T
he New Students Fall 2018 infographic shows the comparison
between incoming classes of students at Radford and Roanoke. Since
each location has a diverse population, students who attend there are
also unique, from their home states to the number of credits.
Courtesy of Jefferson College of Health Sciences | Written By Ida Domingo
he Radford Highlander Festival is
coming back home.
For the last several years the
festival, a beloved local tradition, has been
held in Radford’s Bisset Park. The festival
originally moved from the Radford University
campus because of ongoing construction
projects. With the completion of these
projects drawing to an end the university
President Brian Hemphill and mayor David
Horton of the city of Radford made a joint
announcement about the festival’s return to
the Radford campus.
“The festival is scheduled for Oct. 12,
2019, and will feature the famed heavyweight
games, live entertainment, food, vendors, and
festivities for all ages. The festival is a great
opportunity for the entire community to come
together and celebrate the Highlander spirit.”
Since the mid-1990s The Highlander
Festival has been bringing the community
together to celebrate the regions rich Scotch-
Irish heritage. Initially a small event, it has
grown dramatically into one of the most
significant tourist events in the season,
hosting on average 10,000 visitors.
While many enjoy the festival, even
without any ties to Scotch-Irish heritage, it
is a way to connect with family history. The
primary settlers of South-West Virginia were
the Scotch-Irish (sometimes called Ulster
Scots) who came over to the colonies mainly
due to famine.
The impact of the Scotch-Irish people
is visible from the city names (Glasgow and
Edinburgh), the music, and the hearty rather
untamable spirit of the people. The Ulster-
scots made up a large portion of the American
forces during the Revolutionary War and
account for nearly one-third of all U.S.
presidents to date.
With such a strong and rich history to
connect to, The Highlander Festival annually
draws crowds from all over Virginia to
represent their clans in the heavy-weight
games and to explore local vendors and food.
Live music and an abundance of kilts give the
event the authentic Highlander feel.
Cosa Brown, a member of the community,
who has gone to the festival the last three
years thoroughly enjoys it, saying, “It is a great
way to connect the students and the town,
and watching people toss those wooden poles
is crazy. My family is Scottish, so it is a fun
way for me to experience my family history.
Plus, I got Tartan bandanas for my dogs. I’ll
definitely be back.”
With the countdown timer ticking away on
the festival webpage it is time for vendors and
Radford University clubs and organizations
to start preparations for next year’s event.
The Highlander Festival is a unique way for
student organizations, local businesses, and
community members to all collaborate and
participate.
According to the announcement, next
year’s festival will be planned by the Radford
Highlanders Festival Committee made up
of officials from both the city and Radford
University.
With the move back to the Radford
University Campus, next year’s Radford
Highlander Festival promises to be an exciting
and cheerful event to look forward to.

Photo By Jordan Bennett | Written By Bailey Speer

 Culture
6 | The Tartan
Arts and Entertainment in Radford
Fall Concert Ending the Semester in Spectacular Fashion
T
he night of Dec. 1 the
Acabellas performed a
lovely winter concert.
It was held inside the
Covington Center at 7 p.m. The
concert was opened by Low Key,
Radford University’s all men
acapella. The men were funny
and surprising the audience with
one of the songs Brandy (You’re
a Fine Girl) by Looking Glass,
which was amazingly done by
Lucas Lambert.
Later on, they sang “I wish”
by Stevie Wonder. During this
song, there were two soloists
and one rap soloist. Their names
are Jay Aaron Foster, Robert
Gallant, and Dean Rocco.
After this very entertaining
Jordan Bennett | Te Tartan
introduction of Low Key, the
Acabellas appearance made
the audience burst in a big
applause. The first song, which
made people speechless, was
called “Starving” performed
by Charlotte Bucy and Sarah
Ward, who did a great job of
representing the song originally
by Hailee Steinfeld.
“Skyscraper” by Demi Lovato
was the next song which made
the audience speechless. It was
such an incredible duo who took
the stage with strength and
provoked a sense of longing.
Morgan Thomas and Brianna
Ashton sang a good version of
the song.
The next song was “White
Winter Hymnal” by the acapella
group Pentatonix. All of the
members just suddenly sit
down in a line of chairs. They
combined their body with their
voices, it was such a spectacular
performance. They were the
shining lights in Covington. Just
as they finished the song they
disappeared through the door.
However, they reappear
again with a bunch of beautiful
flowers to recognize a senior of
their group that is graduating
this December. It was such an
emotional and special moment
because that member will be
leaving the group soon. Some
of them were the founding
members of the group which
made the audience experience
the sentimental moment.
The famous song
“Hallelujah” was one of the
riskiest parts as everyone knows
the song’s difficulty, and as it
is said, the audience is the best
critic. The group comprised of
Raney Swanberg, Julia Lucas,
Leia Varghese, and Renee
perfectly found the right pitch
which resulted in a big round of
applause.
The next song proposed a
change with a female version
of “Imagine” by soloists
Rachael Cahoon, Jessy Gahafer,
Madison Smith, Maggie Doherty,
Katherine McLean and, Nichole
Wright.
Culture
To conclude, they prepared
the song of “Silent Night”
by turning off the lights of
the room and organizing the
members around the audience.
Each of the members carried
a little light to present a calm
sensation. Brianna Ashton did a
perfect intonation to finish the
concert.
The audience was amazed
as they gave a lot of applause.
The members participating in
the event really did a great job
according to all the positive
feedback they received.
By Nera Romero
rnerea@radford.edu
www.rutartan.com Wednesday, December 5, 2018 | 7

T HE TAR TAN

ABOUT US

MONDAY MEETINGS
The tea
8 | The Tartan
Editorials and Opinions
OPEN
POSITIONS
The Tartan is looking for dedicat-
ed, fast-learning, and self-suff-
ient student who can set their
own standars or goals for what
they would like to contritbute to
the Tartan.
• Culture Editor
• Assistant Culture Editor
• News Editor
• Assistant News Editor
• Staff Writer
• Staff Photographer
Interested?
For more information head to
Tyler Hall Room 025
Monday - Friday
10 a.m to 5 p.m.
Need a Correction?
The Tartan is committed to
correcting errors that appear in
the newspaper. Those interested
in contacting the paper for that
purpose can send an e-mail to
tartan@radford.edu or call the
main number, 540 831-5474,
to make a correction to any
section.
Looking for
Tartan Archives?
Rediscover the history of the Tartan
through exploring all the way back
to 1910, when it was initially called
the Grapurchat to when it was
rebranded as the Tartan in 1979.
Go to rutartan.com and select the
“More” tab to find those archives.
Do old newspapers bore you?
Check out our new photo gallery
on Flicker by selecting the “photo”
tab to wander our photos taken
by our exceptionally phenomenal
photographers.
T
here is dread in the cold
winter air as finals slowly
approach us. The final
hurdle before we can go home
to our families and enjoy the
festive period.
Here is a quick survival guide
for the remaining weeks on
Radford’s campus:
I will spare the gory details
of how to study. I expect at
this stage of your academic
career you have been lectured
more than enough times on
how to highlight notes and
the importance of pledging
allegiance to the study guide. As
well as suffering through the all
too painfully obvious suggestion
of not studying the night before.
Studying how to study was
never my favorite paradox.
Finals result in a human-
like hibernation. The nights
grow darker and students begin
retreating to the comfort of
their cozy homes (well as cozy
as a student’s homes can get)
The Benefits of Taking a Wintermester Class
W
hether it be catching
up or getting ahead,
a Wintermester class
could be all you need to stay
on track with your graduation
goals.
The
SURVIVAL
GUIDE
to
Finals
to study. I get it, there is little
temptation to don twenty
layers and traipse through over-
glorified frozen rain but studying
around others can really prevent
the study blues.
There is a variety of study
spots around Radford’s campus.
While my swipe is strikingly low
at this point in the semester,
the siren call of grounded
coffee beans always lands me
in Starbucks. I hasten to add
that the coffee shop also has
an enticing Christmas playlist
playing from morning to
evening, one that cheers up all
ill equations you cannot solve.
However, if you have more
self-control than I do, there are
plenty more inexpensive places
to open your textbooks. The
rest of the CHBS building and
the library are always reliable
options.
I also have the tendency to
weigh myself down with the
heavy workload of finals, rather
Radford University offers
Wintermester courses which
are taken at the end of the
fall semester. The university
also allows students to take
Maymester courses and three
Quote of the week
“People usually fail when they are on the
verge of success. So give as much care to
the end as to the beginning.” - Lao-Tzu
than the good healthy weight of
a dumbbell in hand. I can sit and
cram at a desk for hours upon
hours; if you pull the chair away
from me my body would remain
in its L-shape formation.
If you find yourself staring
at the laptop screen with
your mind straying from one
irrelevant thought to the next,
take yourself out of the finals
bubble for a simple half an hour
and move, take a break. Exercise
allows your brain to have a
moment to re-charge while you
crunch, peddle, and dunk away
the stress.
If exercise turns out to be the
only thing you would consider
to be less desirable than weeks
of studying, lend yourself to
a moment of stretching. Your
extended arms have no doubt
become accustomed to their
zombie-like position on the
keyboard by now.
While there is no denying
the importance of finals, allow
sessions throughout the
summer.
There are two semesters
within the academic year, Fall
and Spring. With that being said,
most students find this to be a
The Tea
Courtesy of Kelly Sikkema | Unsplash
yourself to have some fun. This
constant notion of ‘study study
study’ or whatever unhealthy
mantra you assign yourself
for finals week is best avoided
when relaxing with friends.  Fun
may not be able to come in its
regular form of a full-weekend
extravaganza, but you can tame
yourself down to a quiet night
in with friends or a sensible
amount of hours video gaming
together.
Enjoying yourself is yet
another stress reliever, one
that takes your mind off that
seemingly unattainable A.
There we have it, simple yet
effective ways to beat the study
blues. Getting good grades does
not mean cutting all ties with
joy. Well done for taking some
time out of your hectic study
schedule to sit and enjoy this
article. Good luck to all in their
finals and happy holidays!
B y M o r g a n H u tc h e s o n
mhutcheson@radford.edu
time crunch to get the credits
that they want. Some find
that they are struggling with
balancing out their course load,
>> Winter
Continued on page 9
www.rutartan.com
Winter
From Page 8
while others might drop a
class in the semester.
This is where the short-term
semesters come in handy.
“I took a Wintermester
course to help alleviate my
workload for later semesters,”
junior Kendall Clark said.
These courses can be taken
at the university or online. 
Although the length of the
course is shorter, it is not any
easier than the classes taken
during the main semesters.
Professors challenge students
to think in depth about the
material and make sure the
requirements reflect the fall and
spring courses.
“It was difficult to do with
the time being so short and the
deadlines, but I don’t regret
it since I didn’t have to worry
about taking any more of my
core classes and I got to focus
more on my major classes,”
commented senior Nicole
Milleson.
Radford offers over 50 online
courses from almost every
program. Two factors come into
play when determining the cost.
The amount of credits students
wants to achieve, and if the
student is in-state or out-of-
state.
Tuition for an in-state
student to earn three credits is
roughly $1,500, and the costs for
an out-of-state student earning
the same amount of credits is
about $2,900.
If you have to take a
difficult course and prefer a
smaller class size and better
student to teacher ratio, then a
Wintermester course could be
the path for you.  If you find that
you benefit from online classes
then check if a class you need is
offered during Wintermester.
“I liked my Wintermester
class because it was only a
month long instead of taking
a whole semester’s worth of
classes, and it was online so I
could do it from the comfort
of my own house,” senior Tyler
Magee said.
“It helped me get another
class under my belt and didn’t
take a lot of time out of my
week,” he adds.
Radford University offers
a variety of ways for students
to succeed. If you are falling
behind or want to get ahead
then consider signing up
for a Wintermester course.
Wintermester begins Dec. 18 and
ends on Jan. 18.  Take advantage
of that month and accelerate
your path to graduation.
B y J o r da n T r e n t
jtrent18@radford.edu
Say ‘Happy Holiday’s’ Not ‘Merry Christmas’
I
t’s December, the time of the
year when Mariah Carey’s
“All I Want For Christmas Is
You” is on constant repeat.
Where party goers down
eggnog and loudly sing “Jingle
Bells,” December is the month
of incredible light shows,
Christmas trees, spending time
with loved ones, and giving back
to the community.
Though Christmas isn’t
the only holiday of the month
it is treated as such. There are
so many more like the Jewish
holiday of Hanukkah which
started in the evening of Dec. 2,
there’s Boxing Day, a holiday in
the United Kingdom which is on
Dec. 26, and Kwanzaa which also
starts Dec. 26.
There is also Festivus
on Dec. 23; which is a more
secular version of Christmas,
with instead of a tree you have
an aluminum pole. It is a less
commercialized version of
How to Prepare for the Spring Semester
A
s the fall semester ends,
many college students
are evaluating everything
they did this semester, the good
and the bad.
A new semester means a
fresh start, and there are many
ways to prepare over winter
break to make the spring
semester the best it could be.
Here are a few tips to start the
semester off right:
1. Start a new planner
Planners are a great way
to stay organized and keep up
with every assignment. Without
them, it’s quite easy to forget
to do an assignment. Making a
planner more personalized with
stickers and different colored
pens can make the process more
fun, encouraging anyone to keep
up with it. Planners can also be
digital through the use of apps.
2. Set new goals
Students could also make
some goals for the spring
semester. These goals can be
grades to reach for, joining
Christmas, very conservative.
For Festivus, there is a feast
and people air out their
grievances that they’ve had
with other family members.
Another holiday in December is
Hogmanay, which is the Scottish
version of New Year’s Eve, and
celebrations can last up to Jan. 2.
So, the question is, with 7.53
billion people on this planet of
many different backgrounds, of
many different religions, do you
tell a person you greet Merry
Christmas or Happy Holidays?
I personally love the
Christmas season; peppermint
flavored foods and beverages,
gingerbread men, Christmas
lights and Christmas music,
and spending time with the
people you love. As Americans,
we’re more inclined to say
Merry Christmas, but we should
be observant of the many
individuals who don’t celebrate
Christmas.
new clubs, volunteering, or
just anything that can be
accomplished within the
semester.
Additionally, reevaluate or
even set new long-term goals.
These goals can include things to
accomplish for the rest of their
time at college, directly after
college, and beyond. Having
specific goals will help students
stay on track, and knowing what
they need to accomplish for
these goals is also essential.
Writing these goals in a
journal or just on a piece of
paper can also make the process
even more comfortable.
3. Take some time to relax
over break
Many people make their
breaks not much of a “break”
with all the responsibilities
they have to do. Keeping up
with responsibilities like work
or even a Wintermester class
is important, but it’s also
important to take time to relax
in between fall and spring
semester.
Wednesday, December 5, 2018 | 9
Tis’ the season to be jolly but
it is also the season of tolerance
and acceptance of everyone, no
matter the background, their
religion, race or ethnicity.
Spread acceptance for
those who don’t celebrate this
Christian holiday, acknowledge
their own right to celebrate
holiday’s native to their religion
or their culture. Respect other’s
beliefs and in doing so they
will respect yours. The one way
you could disrespect someone’s
religion or culture is by telling
them Merry Christmas as some
find it offensive to be told this
because it is not their holiday of
worship.
It took me a while to learn
that not everyone acknowledges
this holiday and that being told:
“Have a Merry Christmas” is
offensive. It also took me a while
to learn to start saying “Happy
Holidays” instead because I was
so used to saying “Have a Merry
Students should some time
to hang out with friends or
family. Also, everyone should be
doing something they enjoy over
break for at least part of it. For
example, continuing or starting
a hobby is an excellent way to
detox from a stressful semester.
4. Maintain a sleep
schedule
At the beginning of break,
it’s okay to stay up late to talk
to friends and sleep in because
there are no classes. Nearing
the end of the break, everyone
should practice getting up the
time they will need to when the
spring semester begins.
This ensures a fresh mind to
start the semester, instead of a
tired zombie mind.
5. Learn more about the
university
At any point of a student’s
college career, even if they’re
in their fifth year, no one knows
everything about their school.
Visit the university website
to learn more about the history,
Courtesy of Annie Spratt | Unsplash
Christmas.”
It takes practice sometimes
to not say things that are normal
to you. Start little by little
telling everyone and anyone
to “Have a Happy Holiday.” It
is more politically correct and
you’re considerate about the
other person’s background and
culture. Not everyone is the
same and sometimes you can
intertwine both sayings in case
they do celebrate Christmas and
if they don’t, they still know you
are considerate of their religion
or culture.
So, as I say to you from the
bottom of my heart and with all
the love in the world, to everyone
on campus and in the city of
Radford, whoever is reading this.
Have a Merry Christmas and a
Happy Holiday.
B y N ay -Q ua n B rya n
nbryan3@radford.edu
the staff, and so much more. This
will connect a student to their
school even more. Also, everyone
should learn more about the
programs their university offers
to help students. For example,
many Radford students don’t
have much information about
the Writing Center, which can
help anyone struggling with a
paper.
Lastly, everyone should
look into the clubs and other
extracurricular activities the
school has to offer and how to
join them. This can be done
through the university website,
RUInvolved, or exploring on
different social media platforms,
which are often used to reach
students.
Most students are looking
forward to the winter break.
While having fun over the
much-needed rest, students
should keep these tips in mind
in order to do their best in the
spring semester.
B y C a i t lyn S t u lt z
cstultz4@radford.edu
Sports
10 | The Tartan
WRITE FOR US!
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fledgling journalist? Or
maybe you just love to
write, and this might be
your first time showcasing
your hidden talent?
Want to bring your opin-
ions and unique views to
the masses? Love the idea
of reporting on and off
campus news, voicing your
opinion on topics ranging
from movies, laws, and on
the many fun, and some-
time’s unusual, attractions
going on around campus?
Then give Radford Univer-
sity’s Student-run Newspa-
per a shout and email the
Editor-In-Chief!
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Editor
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letter head over to
www.rutartan.com.
Meme of the Week
Jokes
What word starts with “e”,
ends with “e”, and only has
one letter in it?
Envelope.
Men’s Basketball Shocks the Nation
A
fter coming back from a
dominant 102 – 69 victory
over the Glennville State
Pioneers on Nov. 26, the Radford
Highlanders men’s basketball
team kept the momentum going
as they once again defied the
odds as they defeated the Texas
Longhorns on the evening of
Nov. 30.
Although the Longhorns
coming into this battle are
ranked number 17 in the nation’s
top 25 college basketball teams,
the Radford University men’s
basketball team (6-1) are no
strangers to impressive victories
this season!
Notable senior forward Ed
Polite Jr. leads the Highlanders
to victory against the Longhorns
totaling 11 points and six
rebounds.
The Highlanders came into
this game doubted by many with
several complications facing
them to achieve this victory,
but they would not let that hold
them back for one second.
Although the Highlanders
Radford Claims #22 in New NCAA Net Rankings
I
n the NCAA’s first-ever net
rankings, Radford Men’s
basketball team checked
in at #22 out of 353 teams in
Division 1 basketball.
trailed the entire first half, they
never gave up and continued
fighting back. By halftime, the
eager Highlanders made it a
nail-biter as the scoreboard
displayed Radford with 33 points
and the Longhorns with 34.
As both teams came into
the second half fired up, this
game had the fans in attendance
watching on the edge of their
seats.
The Radford Highlanders
didn’t take their first lead until
the 18:06 mark in the second
half.
The second half didn’t
consist of a lead higher than
six points from either team
and as the hard-fought second
half carried on the Highlanders
began to feel a spark as they
held on to the Longhorns ever so
closely.
This contest encountered six
ties and 11 total lead changes!
With 24 seconds left in
regulation, the Highlanders
trailed the Longhorns 58 – 59.
Sophomore guard Carlik Jones
The NCAA Division 1 Men’s
Basketball Committee has done
away with the Rating Percentage
Index evaluation process and
has adopted a new tool for the
then did what he does best and
took control.
While Jones began displaying
his remarkable basketball skills
and IQ, he was then able to drive
to the basket and score a tough
bucket while drawing a foul
from Texas senior guard Kerwin
Roach ll.
Being the Big South freshman
of the year in 2017-18 basketball
season, Jones is surely no
stranger to big shots. Jones hit
a buzzer-beating three as time
expired lifted the Highlanders
over Liberty last season in the
Big South Championship!
Following the successful
basket and free throw attempt
from Jones, the Longhorns would
then gain possession and miss
a three-point attempt as the
scoreboard displayed Radford 61
and Texas 58.
The Highlanders iced the
cake getting the rebound because
it caused the Longhorns to foul,
sending Devin Hutchinson to the
free throw line where he made
1 of 2 attempts increasing the
selection and seeding of teams
for the 2019 NCAA Tournament.
RPI rankings are based on the
numerical rankings on a team’s
wins and losses and their
Sports
Courtesy of RU athletics
Highlanders lead to 62 - 58 with
11 seconds to go in regulation.
Throughout the game,
Longhorns struggled severely
from 3-point range as they shot
a horrific 5-for-27.
Along with Polite’s 11 points
forward, Mawdo Sallah shot an
impressive 5 for 7 from the field
recording 10 points as well.
Junior guard Travis Fields
included an additional 10 points
which placed three Highlander
players in double figures to cap
off the well-deserved victory.
The Highlanders have jumped
out to a remarkable start as they
now hold victories at Texas and
at Notre Dame this season. Join
the Radford University men’s
basketball team as they will
look to continue their exciting
season when they travel to
Harrisonburg Virginia Dec. 4 as
they take on the James Madison
Dukes at the JMU Convocation
Center.
B y C h a d B ox l e y
cboxley@radford.edu
strength of schedule.
The NCAA Evaluation Tool
>> NCAA
Continued on page 11
www.rutartan.com
NCAA
From Page 11
(NET), will be the new
barometer for the committee,
and it will include game
results, strength of schedule,
game location, scoring margin
(capping at 10 points per game),
and net offensive and defensive
efficiency.
The new ranking system
was approved in late July after
months of consultation with
the Division 1 Men’s Basketball
Committee, the National
Association of Basketball
Coaches, top basketball
analytics experts, and Google
Cloud Professional Services.
The NET system was created to
be as accurate as possible while
evaluating teams fairly.
Game date and order were
just two of the criteria omitted
from the evaluation process so
as to give importance to both
early and late-season games.
There is also an implementation
of a 10-point cap on the
winning margin to prevent high
rankings from encouraging
unsportsmanlike play in
accordance to teams running up
the score when victory is certain.
The Highlanders have begun
the 2018-19 season with a 6-1
record beating big-name teams
like Notre Dame, William and
Mary and most recently 17th
ranked Texas Longhorns. They
are averaging 77.4 points a game
while holding opponents to 67.2
points per game.
Over the Thanksgiving
break, Radford competed in
the Gotham Classic, hosted
by the Fighting Irish in South
Bend, Indiana. The Highlanders
went 3-1 in the tournament,
upsetting and Notre Dame 63-60
as well as handing losses to UIC
and William and Mary.
Their only loss in the
tournament came by way of
Duquesne in a tightly contested
match-up ending with a final
score of 69-64.
The Highlanders are having
the best start to a season since
Wednesday, December 5, 2018 | 11
the 1990-91 season when they
started 8-0. They are on a three-
game winning streak and look
to continue the streak as they
travel to Harrisonburg to take
on the Dukes of James Madison
Tuesday, Dec. 4.
Check the Radford Men’s
Basketball team homepage to
see the outcomes.
They will continue their six-
game road trip playing Power 5
teams such as Clemson on Dec.
15 and Maryland on Dec. 29 to
close out 2018. The Highlanders
will not come back to the
Dedmon Center until New Year’s
Day as they go up against the
Mars Hill Lions.
Radford will begin Big
South Conference play against
Longwood University on Jan. 5 in
the New River Valley. They look
for two consecutive Big South
Championships and to move up
in the NET rankings and to make
another NCAA Tournament
Birth by the time March comes
around.
Senior forward Ed Polite
Jr. (12.0 Points Per Game) and
Redshirt Sophomore point guard
Carlik Jones (16.2 Point Per
Game) plan to keep this train
rolling as the 2018-19 basketball
season gets into full swing.
By Lucas Carr
lcarr15@radford.edu

Volleyball Falls Short to Clemson

R
adford Volleyball lost in end their season and see them see if the Highlanders can add
four sets against Clemson swept in three straight sets. The even more post-season wins and B y Z ac h a ry P ot t e r
in the sweet 16 of the Highlands refused this and went even an NCAA Tournament bid. zpotter2@radford.edu
NIVC Tournament. It marked on to score three straight points Courtesy of RU athletics

an end to their impressive year, making the score 25-24.

which included the programs
first ever post-season win.
The Highlanders performed
strongly in the first set, leading
Clemson 6-5. However, Clemson
would bounce back and gain
a 10-7 lead. But Clemson held
firm and won the set as Radford
couldn’t close the gap for the
rest of the first set. Clemson up
1-0.
Radford was able to come out
strong again and post a 6-4 lead
early in set two. Thanks to some
nice kills from Valerie Gonzalez
and Amaya Rousseau, the early
lead was a good boost in the set.
However, Clemson bounced back
again leading the set 9-7.
Radford still continued to
press on in this competitive set
and climbed to a 16-14 lead.
Yet again, Clemson scored five-
straight points, something the
Highlanders couldn’t overcome
for the rest of the set, losing
narrowly 25-22. Clemson up 2-0.
Clemson seemed like it
would walk away with a quick
win and send Radford packing
home early. Though that was
not the case. The Tigers jumped
out to an early 15-11 lead,
pushing the Highlanders ever
closer to desperation. Thanks to
some nice play from Gonzalez,
Rosseau, and Mallory McKnight
earning two kills apiece, Radford
charged ahead with a 9-5 run.
The match wasn’t over
just yet and Clemson proved
once again they were going to
be tough to beat with a score
of 24-22. Radford was now in
desperation mode as one more
point scored against them would
In the next play, the Tigers
evened out the score at 25,
seeming to never quite go
away. McKnight and freshman
Kylie Tuxford provided two
consecutive kills and Radford
won the set 27-25. Clemson still
up 2-1 sets.
Radford had played well and
strong throughout the match
and was now one set away from
tying the match at two sets
apiece. However, the fourth set
would prove unlike the first
three. Radford still managed to
start the set out strong, trailing
Clemson 6-5.
Though the Tigers would
rally from there and push to a
7-1 run. The Highlanders ran out
of gas from that point and could
never recover losing the fourth
and final set 14-25.
The Tigers held the
Highlanders to a match-low
eight kills. While also holding
the Highlanders to zero hits for
the entire set. Clemson wins the
match 3-1 advance to the Elite
Eight and knocking Radford out.
Though the match ended in
a loss, the Highlanders still can
look back on their 2018 season
as a success which included
their first ever post-season win
against Appalachian State.
Radford will end their season
with a 22-7 record, while also
being 12-4 in the Big South
Conference.
Seniors Gonzalez and
Rosseau will be missed after an
impressive year which showed
in the final game of the year.
Though this season may be over,
we will look on to next year and
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