Russian Lieutenant General Oleg Valentinovich Zoloturiov spoke to students, faculty and members of the community on Thursday, Feb. 8. Speaking through a translator, Zoloturiov discussed "The Religious Factor in State Security in the World."
"Religious factor is becoming one of the strategic factors in the geopolitics of the world today," said Zoloturiov. The General’s visit and speech were sponsored by the Political Science Association of Virginia Wesleyan. PSA advisor Dr. Del Carlson was contacted by the Joint Forces Staff College in Norfolk, who co-sponsored the speaker. "[Zoloturiov’s] visit and talk were very significant because it helps us to understand a position, a view, that 12 years ago, we only understood on a Cold War level," said PSA president Beth Webster. General Zoloturiov has held many positions within the Russian armed forces since the 1960’s. He led forces in the former East Germany and the Mosocw military region. He is currently the Professor at the Academy of the General Staff. Zoloturiov discussed many contradictions among the world religions.
"Leaders of one religion are in contradiction with one another," said Zoloturiov. He named Ireland, Yugoslavia, and India as examples. The General asked the audience to participate in an experiment, to imagine if all of Europe were not predominantly Christian, but Muslim. "Europe would have different countries, it would have different wars," he said. "Europe would speak different langauges. It would have different culture and different history." There would be different mistakes, different victories. The whole planet’s history would be completely different. Zoloturiov also cautioned his audience not to think of the former Soviet Union as "collapsing."
"It gives birth to a very big historic mistake," he said. "Big civilizations, large empires, do not just leave the arena of history." And perhaps most importantly to his audience, Zoloturiov discussed Russia’s relationship with the U. S. "We want a closer connection with America, a partnership," said Zoloturiov. "We need to find ways to understand each other."
"His visit marked the end of what, on a personal level, made me feel like [the Cold War] was truly over," said Webster.
In the past, students living in the International hall were permitted (with a valid driver’s license) to sign out a two-door Honda Accord hatchback for hours at a time. Earlier this year, however, problems were discovered with the car. The International Office is now torn between fixing the car or getting a new one. In the meantime, many students are stuck. Senior Glenda Brinson, who lives on Johnston Hall, said that the purpose of the vehicle was for students to "get off campus and see surrounding areas." Without the car, boredom among International students appears to be on the rise. Eva Kwok, who came to Virginia Wesleyan this semester from Hong Kong, likes living on the International hall, but wants to be able to use the car. "If I want to go anywhere, I have to ask other people and it’s a problem because I can’t walk to the shopping mall," said Kwok. Brinson, who has her own car on campus, said, "I wish they would have it because now I feel like a taxi cab too."
International coordinator Patrick Murphrey believes the absence of the car has caused some problems. "Those who had it in the past were used to it and now have to turn to others," said Murphrey. "Those who are new aren’t used to it and don’t know what it’s like." Murphrey added that although the students may not have access to a car, the "I-hall" tries to have at least one big activity per month for international students that either takes a full day on the weekend or in some cases, an entire weekend. Students living in the hall are also required to create a hall program that is designed to acquaint students with international cultures. Activities such as Halloween decorating, international restaurant hops and bowling offer students opportunities to get off campus and have fun. Despite these activities, students still need to get off campus to buy certain essentials, and without the use of a car they are stuck.
By ERIKA JOHNSON
If you’ve ever considered studying abroad, make sure to ask someone about how any of your financial aid will apply toward your overseas semester. Kelly Fallisi, a junior who studied in Puebla, Mexico in Fall of 2000, was surprised to learn that her Wesleyan scholarship did not transfer overseas. "I chose Puebla because I wanted to work on my Spanish, and it didn’t cost as much as the other programs," said Fallisi. The school’s policy used to allow a student’s scholarship to apply toward the costs of room, board and tuition overseas. Any leftover money was given to the student for spending money. The new, revised policy allows only a percentage of one’s scholarship to apply, and that amount varies. "It’s based on the cost of the trip," said Cary Sawyer, assistant vice-president for finance. "Now we pay the school they’re going to before they go, and we charge them full tuition."
According to Sawyer, the policy changed because now the school offers both scholarships and grants. Sophomore Craig O’Neill plans to travel to Australia in the Fall of 2001. "I chose it because it’s English-speaking and because it’s always been a fantasy of mine to go to the outback," said O’Neill. "The University of Queensland has a good science program, so hopefully I’ll be able to go there." O’Neill is on full scholarship here at Wesleyan, but he will have to pay out of his own pocket to study in Australia. "I was told that I’d receive a part of my scholarship, and I was thinking 20 to 30 percent, but I’m only getting one-fifth of my scholarship, which is about $750," said O’Neill. "My scholarship is about $11,000 and my program [in Australia] is about $7000. Only $750 transferred over. I don’t know where they got that number from." Student loans are available to O’Neill, but he will also need money for a plane ticket and money to live on. "The deciding factor to come to Wesleyan was my scholarship," said O’Neill. "The study abroad program was a plus that I’ve been talking about from day one. The new policy hinders where you want to go. I thought they would want as many students as possible to study abroad. Before my freshman year I was told by the Office of Admissions that I’d be able to use my scholarship to study abroad, but I wasn’t notified of the change."
The policy changed in Spring 1999, and Sarah McQueen was lucky enough to travel to England that semester while the full amount of her scholarship could still be applied. "I was only surprised to find that my Christian Service Grant didn’t count," said McQueen. To get more information on the Study Abroad Program, contact the Office of International Programs.
Virginia Wesleyan College seems to be lacking male Resident Assistant-in-Training, also known as RAT’s. Resident Assistants-in- Training shadow RA’s and have fewer responsibilities. In the event that a RA leaves school for any reason, a RAT will take over the RA’s position. Currently there are four female RAT’S, but there are no male RAT’S. "If anything were to happen to a male RA right now," said Director of Resident Life Keith Moore, "I would ask someone who demonstrates leadership skills on the hall to be the RA. That way they would be easily adjusted to the surroundings." The lack of male RA’s reflects the campus’ male-female ratio. The college is currently more than 60% female. "The lack of male RAT’s is proportionate to other activities on campus," said Moore. "More women are involved than men on campus." Unlike RA’s, RAT’s do not get paid. "The work RAT’s do is proportionate to the RA’s," said Moore. "They also get preferential placement for the following semester or year."
"I can see why people would not want to be a RAT because it is work without pay, but you do get something out of it," said junior RAT Jenny Hechtkopf. Resident Assistants can have their pay checks dispersed biweekly throughout the year or they can apply for the value of their room to be paid for because of their position. RAT’s receive free voice mail and a free parking sticker. However, both go through the same selection process along with the same training. Due to drop-outs and changes over the summer, Residence Life tries to get five men and five women in the RA pool after the selection process. Since last year’s selection process, Residence Life has added several RAT’s. "There were qualified people who didn’t apply last year, and we asked them to join the staff as RAT’s this year," said Moore. As a RAT, Hechtkopf goes on duty and does everything with the RA’s except bulletin boards and hall meetings. "I’m an RA when I’m on duty," said Hechtkopf. "I get the radio and if I walk past a room and someone is drinking, I have the ability to write people up.
I am no longer a RAT for that night." In the past, Hechtkopf was on duty one night and one weekend night for each RA. However, this semester she is on duty three nights a month. The RA schedule is done in quads in Village I, and there is always one RA on duty in each quad. At the end of last October Hechtkopf started as the secondary RA, the RA who does not have the radio, and this semester she is a primary RA on duty. This is the first year that RAT’s have been on duty as the primary RA. "It is a great opportunity for RAT’s to take because when you are an RA, you will know what to do," said Hechtkopf. The concept of RAT’s is unique to Wesleyan and came about in 1996. It was initiated by Resident Assistant alternates who wanted to be more involved in Residence Life. Instead of alternates, they became RAT’s. Their duties were to shadow the RA’s and attend regular meetings. "Although the Resident Assistants in Training is a good concept, I do no think that all RA’s in the future will be RAT’s," said Moore.
Other schools have certain criteria before being a Resident Assistant, said Moore. They havewhat is called Preservice, which entails a RAT shadowing a RA, but does not attend the RA class. Currently, three male RA’s are returning for next year, and two males will be Village Assistants. To ease the problem in the future, Moore and his staff are personally identifying qualitycandidates and asking them personally to apply. "I do all this work and don’t get paid," said Hechtkopf. "But I can be the best RA I can with the experience."