Clay Rushing
Hometown: Richmond,Va.
High School: James River High School
Other Campus Involvement: Involved with community service programs
"I am hoping to help review the policies of the college to make sure their policies are fair to the students."


Leah Thomas
Hometown: Lancaster, Pa.
High School: Hempfield High School
Other Campus Involvement: FCA, Habitat for Humanity, IAC, Model UN
"I am looking forward to working with students in upcoming events for VWC."


John Tomasheski
Hometown: Summerdale, NJ
High School: Triton Regional High School
Other Campus Involvement: Marlin Chronicle Staff Writer, Wesleyan Ambassadors, VWC Tennis Team
"I feel like I can eventually contribute a lot to the VWC campus."


Sarah Mallard
Hometown: Tyrell, TX
High School: Tyrell High School
Other Campus Involvement: Habitat for Humanity, Wesleyan Ambassadors, Learning Bridge
"I try to have an open mind and I try to bring exciting ideas to the program."

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and students, faculty and staff have taken it upon themselves to educate our campus community of the importance of this month.

Friday, October 8 is Lee National Denim Day, which began in 1996 with hopes of raising one million dollars for breast cancer research and awareness education. On October 8, companies across the country are allowing their employees to wear jeans to work in exchange for a contribution of $5 for breast cancer research and awareness education. Last year over 17,000 companies participated and over $5 million was raised. This is the largest amount of money that has ever been raised in a single day to go towards breast cancer research.

Barbara Fried, director of Human Services, is the head of the committee at Virginia Wesleyan, raising money for this day. "I think students aren’t as serious as they should be," said senior committee member Barbara Pacifico. "Men tend to associate the word breast with women, when in fact more people should realize that breast cancer affects men and women."

October 4-8, students will be outside Boyd Dining Center from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. collecting money for breast cancer research. For each dollar one contributes, he or she will receive a pink ribbon. This pink ribbon can be pinned on clothing or backpacks as a symbol of breast cancer awareness. Last year over $1,000 was raised at VWC. This year’s goal is $2,000.

"Students have been informed about this day through e-mail and the numerous posters hanging around campus," said Amy Niblick, secretary in the business office and member of the VWC Lee Denim Day committee. "The message is definitely out there."

Statistics show that this year breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women, but an estimated 1,300 cases will also be diagnosed among the male population. The American Cancer Society also estimates that this year there will be about 43,700 deaths from breast cancer in the United States alone, 43,400 of those deaths among the female population, and the remaining 400 among the male population.

"The title of the day says it all," said women’s basketball and tennis coach Joann Renn. "I hope to see a lot of pink ribbons around around campus to support this cause." Renn, who is also involved with this committee, quoted words once said by Benjamin Franklin: "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."