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| Photo by BEN RUEHLMANN Baseball player Ryan Ellis hams it up for the audience at the Mr. Wesleyan Pageant. After winning the contest, he exclaimed, “It’s all about having a good time.” |
The Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority hosted its annual Mr. Wesleyan contest Nov. 6 at 9 p.m. in the Grille. There was a huge turnout as students watched some of Wesleyan's fine and not-so-fine compete to raise money for the ASA Ladybugs' treasury. This year's winner was Ryan Ellis, who walked away with a crown and a $75 check. "I feel good," said Ellis. "I represented myself and the baseball team."
Genna Stargell, vice president of alumni for ASA, was hostess of the event. She read the profiles for each contestant who walked across the stage. Humor was added into the introductions. "I would like to thank Adam Hamilton for writing my profile," said Ellis. As the contestants walked on stage to be made spectacles of before their peers, the judges – Lindsey Sands, Brandon Elliot and Erin Bradley – paid close attention.
Some tried to sway the judges with their chests while others tried to impress them with their "God-fearing" ways or the fact that their girlfriend had them "whipped." Even with the screams of "take your shirt off" from guys in the back of the room, the judges were able to narrow down the contestants from the original 22 to a select ten. The ten remaining were asked to answer several questions about themselves. The questions included a variety of personal, humorous and serious aspects of their lives. After judges had heard enough answers from the contestants, they narrowed the group down again to a mere three contestants.
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| Photo by BEN RUEHLMANN A crown awaits the head of the winner at the Mr. Wesleyan Pageant. Each contestant was escorted by an Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority sister. |
Anticipation ran high as the audience waited to see who the winner would be. The final three contestants were each asked three questions: "How will you make Wesleyan the best four years of your life? How do you treat your mom? Why would the other two guys be better candidates for Mr. Wesleyan than you?" A fourth from alumnus Brandon Elliot was: "Why would I want to go on a date with you?" During a brief five-minute intermission, the audience was offered refreshments while judges decided who would be crowned Mr. Wesleyan. From yells in the back it was apparent who the majority of the audience wanted to win: "Ellis!" As Stargell announced third, second, and first place, the crowd went wild with chants of congratulations for Ellis.
Alpha Sigma Alpha was very grateful for the turnout and for those who helped support their fund-raiser. As Betsy Feccella, secretary of ASA, said, "Thanks to everyone who came and to everyone who participated." Due to the excitement and great turnouts of past Mr. Wesleyan contests, Doyle Gillis, president of the Kappa Alpha Order fraternity, has decided to hold the first Miss Wesleyan contest Friday, Nov. 14 at 7:30 p.m. There will be a raffle for the audience, along with monetary prizes for the winners up to $50. "It's all about having a good time," said Ellis.
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| Photo by BEN RUEHLMANN Technical theater advisor, theater manager and Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Alliance Advisor, Tammy Dhority takes a break from her hectic schedule. |
The old saying goes: "If you want something done right, do it yourself." At the Virginia Wesleyan College theater department, there's a new saying. If you want something done right, ask Tammy Dhority.
Dhority is the technical advisor and theater manager for Virginia Wesleyan and she is non-stop, always doing something to better the school. Whether it is sewing her own costumes or being a faculty advisor for the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Alliance (GLBA), Dhority knows how to get the job done. At bigger schools, a theater department would consist of tons of teachers and people to help out. At Wesleyan, there is Dhority. She, of course, cannot work alone. Sally Shedd, the department head, and Bentley Anderson, who runs the technical theater, help keep the fine arts department running. Dhority and the department know how to get things done.
In one year, there will probably be two main stage plays and two studio plays; extensive hard work must happen for these plays to succeed. Dhority credits senior Josh Brown for being her right-hand man. Dhority said that without him, "there would not be enough hours in the day to do everything." Brown is graduating in May and leaving big shoes to fill. However, Dhority knows that there is a solid number of students that she can count on, and each group will keep evolving after the next leaves. Volunteers are welcome to help out anytime in the theater, for there is always something to learn.
Dhority never passes up an opportunity when she sees it. Right now the theater is putting on, "Anything Goes," loading up for the Virginia Symphony, and bringing in a blue grass band. Dhority said that by bringing these different groups in, "people are being exposed to our campus, and that can do nothing but benefit the school."
Please see Theater, page 5
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| Photo by BEN RUEHLMANN “‘If you stand for nothing you will stand for anything’ Chuck D” is what was written on one of the bathroom walls in the men’s bathroom on Smithdeal Hall. |
I don't know what is written on the walls of a women's bathroom, but in a men's room, you usually find some pretty vulgar words or phrases that I don't need to elaborate on. One man, who wishes to be known as "Mr. Murdock," took it upon himself to graffiti the entire bathroom of Smithdeal Hall. Because of quotes by Audioslave, Bob Dylan, Bob Marley, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a cry from the resident advisor to clean up the tasteful phrases has been heard.
“Andrew: What made you write all of those quotes on the bathroom walls?
Mr. Murdock: It was late at night, I went in to use the bathroom, I had seen some graffiti a bunch of times, and it seemed kind of lame that this is the best people can come up with. Then I decided to write positive quotes, and once I wrote one, I started writing more. It only took about 50 minutes altogether. I kept going to my room and back when I thought of something else.
Andrew: So this was you just messing around as a joke?
Mr. Murdock: Yeah. It was a joke, but I really don't mean to disrespect Residence Life or Maintenance, and that's why I think it's good to leave some of it up, because they leave worse graffiti up and that's vulgar, but this is something goofy and positive for the sake of "whoa, that's weird." I figure since everyone has to go in there, why not make it an enjoyable time?
Andrew: So, it kind of adds to the atmosphere if not provides one?
Mr. Murdock: Yeah, but everyone spends time in there, no matter what!
Andrew: So it's something to read, admire, or think about without turning the pages of a magazine.
Mr. Murdock: Yeah, but it's kind of a friendly reminder.
Andrew: I noticed you put up a petition on the door saying that if others want the walls as they are, sign it. If not, then there are no hard feelings.
Mr. Murdock: Yes, I did. The RAs think it's funny, too, but it's still
a violation. I also heard that when the "head honchos" saw it, they
had trouble keeping a straight face. The hearing is later this week, so I can
possibly work something out. I mean, if I get punished, I get punished, but
other people said that it would be cool to keep it up.
Please see Wall, page 5
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