“In high school my entire school would sing our alma mater at every football game. All the students knew the words, and I still remember it now,” said Clayton as he began to croon the words to his high school’s song. “I just thought it would be a good way to start making some traditions for our school.” Clayton and Sandy Billy, the director of the Center for Sacred Music, combined efforts to create the piece earlier this summer. Billy struggled to come up with words that matched the tune Clayton had been humming around the Fine Arts building everyday. “I didn’t have time to think about it, but since he had already written a tune which he played and hummed continuously, I found myself humming it too,” said Billy. Billy added that phrases and themes kept “popping up late at night,” so she decided to start making notes. “Usually a text is written first then set to music, but this situation was the opposite,” said Billy. “I found it to be very difficult trying to get words to fit the tune he had come up with.”

The lyricist must write the song so it sets the stage and links the lyrics with the college. Billy had a basis for each phrase of the song. The phrase “where Marlins play…” recalls the schools mascot. The third line “truth and honor, service, knowledge…” symbolizes qualities students possess and activities students partake in. The line “wisdom lights the way” puts wisdom in great respect, and education is often symbolized as a lamp or light. Billy said the final line reminds everyone that this place is “just the beginning, a launching pad for great ideas and exciting adventures.” Billy did research before declaring her words the symbols of the school’s heritage and pride. Billy said, “Three writings served as a foundation for this piece: a 13th century Zen philosophy called ‘The place is here; the way leads everywhere,’ and a comment by contemporary literary critic Harold Bloome, ‘Information is endlessly available to us; but where shall wisdom be found?’” She also turned to the Bible and found a quote in Proverbs 24:3-4. “By wisdom a house is built and by understanding it is established, and by knowledge the rooms are filled with precious and pleasant riches.” The alma mater was not only making its way through the fine arts department, but traveled across campus as well.

“I do have to say that I was slightly hyperventilating when I heard that there would be a school song,” said Associate Professor of Religious Studies Dr. Craig Wansink. “Sometimes those don’t always turn out well!” To his surprise the “music was beautiful, a little unpredictable and within a stately genre,” said Wansink. Wansink wrote Billy a note saying “when the college choir sang it, I felt very proud (and that was a feeling I wouldn’t have necessarily predicted).” Both Clayton and Billy are honored to have had the opportunity, and hope that it can serve the college in some way. Billy said that she was “delighted to have heard it at the convocation on Oct. 23, and I hope that it can be used frequently.” As for the future, the fine arts staff has gotten together and discussed creating a brass arrangement to accompany the college choir. Associate Professor of Music Lee Jordan-Anders has even toyed with an accompanist arrangement. “Perhaps we can do an expanded version with additional verses for the college choir,” said Billy.

“About four years ago, the administration decided to let the ivy grow on the side of the dorms,” said Mike Rigby, assistant director of grounds and housekeeping at Virginia Wesleyan College. According to Rigby, the decision was made to help give a “softer feel to the buildings-- less institutional.” Since then, the ivy has grown up the sides of the residence halls and onto the rooftops. When Dean of Students David Buckingham was asked about the administrative decision, he said, “The campus grounds is one of the responsibilities of the college business office” and referred the matter to Bruce Vaughan, the director of business operations. “The discussion (about the ivy) revolved around trying to make the residence halls more user- friendly,” said Vaughan. “We allow the ivy to grow to give the institution a softer, more comfortable feel.” However, the ivy has grown over the windows at times and students have not been able to open them. Some students also believe that the ivy has caused an increase in the amount of bugs and insects in the dorms.

“I haven’t heard of any student complaints,” said Buckingham in regards to the ivy, and Vaughan agreed. “I don’t get those calls very frequently,” said Vaughan. Vaughan asserted that before the ivy was allowed to grow freely, the college contacted other schools that also had ivy growing on the buildings. The college wanted to guarantee that the growth of the ivy would not affect the buildings’ structure. “The ivy adheres to the pores in the brick and the mortar,” said Vaughan. “There is no proof that it deteriorates.” Some ivy has even begun to grow into the halls of the villages. In Village II, the ivy has begun to creep through the seals in the windows at the bottom of the hallway leading into Smithdeal Hall. Director of Residence Life Keith Moore even had to remove some ivy around his patio when he moved into Teagle Hall. “I removed one portion one day by myself and then maintenance sprayed the other day,” said Moore. “I am allergic to poison ivy, as almost everyone is, and I wanted it gone, not the ivy, just the poison ivy.” However, maintenance does cut the ivy once a year. “In the winter months we cut it back, normally during Christmas break,” said Rigby. “It is easier to cut it back in the winter when things are slower, and we are not mowing the lawns as much.” Rigby claims that “it is pretty expensive” to cut back the ivy. “We have to get on ladders, in front of students’ windows, and get on the roof to cut it back.” However, Rigby says that if a student is having problems with the ivy, such as not getting his or her window open, maintenance will be glad to come out and fix the problem. Yet, students should report the growth to Moore.

“We like to be the liaison between the students and the physical plant,” said Moore. “This process works more efficiently.” However, Moore admits that he does not recall getting any calls from students about the ivy, but he is having Office Manager Rebecca Pope look into the matter, seeing as she receives all of the calls that come into the Office of Residence Life. “We had a call last week,” said Rigby in regards to a student complaining about the ivy, “but we took care of it.” However, senior Taye Ames says that she has complained to maintenance about the ants, earthworms and other bugs that have been making their way into her room, which she believes is a direct result of the ivy. “I called maintenance about the bugs and they said that they did not spray,” said Ames. “So I put boric acid around my room, on the ivy and on the window seal.” Ames also believes that the ivy is a problem and that something needs to be done about it.“If they did not have the ivy, they (the bugs) could go live in the bushes away from the dorms,” said Ames. “I think that it is an eyesore and will cause the building to deteriorate and the paint to chip off.” Yet, Rigby claims that bugs were present before the ivy was left to grow freely. “Even before we let it grow we had bugs,” said Rigby. “I don’t really know if it is more or less now.”

“The weather is more of an issue than the ivy on the side of the building,” said Vaughan in regards to the ivy causing more insects in the dorms. “As a college, we don’t run a roach problem; usually they are imported from somewhere else.” Aside from the insects, snakes have also been spotted in the ivy. “I have seen snakes in there (ivy),” said Rigby. “I haven’t seen any poisonous ones. I have been here five years and I have never come across one, and I have been in the ivy a lot.” However, this is to be expected. Rigby asserted the fact that the campus was “built in the middle of a wooded section and there are lots of animals.” However, “we try to relocate or redirect them (snakes) towards the woods,” said Rigby. However, Vaughan thinks that the ivy is a matter of taste. “It’s look is a matter of taste,” said Vaughan. “Personally, I think it does improve the look of the buildings.” However, if students are having problems with the ivy around their rooms, they should call Moore and submit a request to have the ivy trimmed.

Midge Zimmerman, mail services supervisor in the school’s mailroom, is not frightened by anthrax attacks on Americans via the U.S. Postal System. Zimmerman, who has been working in the system for over 14 years, said she does feel uneasy about the attacks. “I have never seen anything like this,” said Zimmerman. “There is reason to be concerned but not scared.” Zimmerman moved to the area two years ago with her husband, who had to relocate for a career change. She had worked in the post office for the University of Miami in Ohio for 12 years. As a precaution against any biological diseases, Zimmerman and the other employees have been asked to wear rubber gloves while working in the mailroom. This is the only precaution that the school has taken in light of the attacks. However, Zimmerman and her colleagues are constantly looking for anything suspicious. Sophomore Erin Bradley, who works in the mailroom as a work-study, has been told what to look for in suspicious packages.

“We were told that anything that is heavier than it should be, feels like it has powder in it, smells like almonds, or looks like it is from the government is considered suspicious,” said Bradley. “The biggest concern is if you open an envelope and white powder comes out, you are probably in trouble.” Zimmerman says she is not afraid of contracting a harmful disease like anthrax because she has faith in the U.S. Postal Service and the people who work there. Anytime terrorists have threatened the country in the past, the U.S. Postal Service has been put on alert. Extra steps have been taken to prevent tragedies. “Any packages or letters that arrive at the school have already been checked out through the U.S. Postal Service,” said Zimmerman. “Only VWC mailroom employees have keys to the room, so tampering cannot take place once the package is on campus.” Zimmerman said she has not seen any suspicious-looking packages in the mailroom. She gave some advice for those receiving packages. “Be careful, smart and use common sense,” said Zimmerman. “If you see something that looks suspicious, then do not open it.” Zimmerman said the anthrax scare has affected the Tidewater area. According to her, the main post office in Norfolk was closed for several hours a few weeks ago because of the anthrax problem. Anthrax was not found and the mail was delivered around 6 p.m. This event shows that the post office, according to Zimmerman, is taking the necessary steps to keep the public, as well as the school, safe.