John L. Sincavage
1974 -2001

Virginia Wesleyan alumnus John Sincavage died Saturday in the crash of the 203rd Red Horse Flight of the Air National Guard. A 1995 graduate, Sincavage was a LAMP major, a resident assistant and president of Kappa Alpha fraternity.

As a staff sergeant, Sincavage worked as an equipment operator. Friends said that he joined the Guard nine years ago to help put himself through college. Sincavage was also employed by Nationwide Insurance and was active in Habitat for Humanity. He was a resident of Chesapeake. Virginia Wesleyan security officers have worn mourning bands throughout the week in memory of Sincavage, who served as a security officer at the school.

In a 13-3 vote Monday, the Student Government Association Senate decided that there will be a re-election for 2001-2002 SGA president and vice-president offices. The reelection will be held on Tuesday, March 22. "We don’t want to drag this out any longer than we need to," said current SGA president Josh Snow. "The longer we wait, the harder it is on the candidates." The candidates on the first ticket were Kelly Rust for president and Robbie Cooke for vice-president. The second ticket included Megan Maynard for president and Matt Edwards for vice-president. The student body elected the ticket of Rust and Cooke on Tuesday, Feb. 27. "I think it’s a shame that things were not handled properly the first time," said Rust.

According to the constitution of SGA, under Article III, Section B, an electoral commission will be established to set rules for the election of SGA officers. Snow and current vice-president Cara Swan were members of this commission. A list of rules was established prior to the elections by Swan and Snow that included: the presence of a master list of students to check off those who had voted; the presence of a faculty member to work the voting table; and the requirement that the voting table be kept open to students from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. According to Snow, the SGA Senate decided that these stipulations were violated during the election process. A master list of students was not present for the first 30 minutes of voting to check off students who had already voted; a faculty member was not present when the voting table first opened at 9 a.m.; and the table was closed earlier than the 3 p.m. deadline.

"When the rules that are set aside prior to an election are broken," stated Snow, "SGA may call for a reelection." Snow stated that people were vocal on both sides during discussion at the Monday meeting. Members of the executive board had heard there was a rumor about a petition for a reelection circulating around campus. A decision had to be made quickly. Senate elections are coming up and the candidates who do not win this election should be given the chance to run for Senate. "Having a reelection is telling the student body that we [SGA] did something wrong," said Cooke. "It is making a bigger ordeal out of something that is just a mistake that simply could have been corrected in the future." Candidates Maynard and Edwards had no comment regarding the reelections.

A large brush fire was reported burning between Village III and Lake Taylor on Saturday, March 3, at approximately 4:40 p.m. "We have no idea how it started," said Director of Security Leo Therrien. "I wouldn’t even start to guess. Anything could have started it from vandals to an act of God." Security officers smelled something burning on Saturday afternoon. Officer Tim Kelly could not reach it due to the thick mud, and he called Officer Tom Nelson. Kelly took his own Jeep to the field, and it was then that he discovered the fire. The Virginia Beach Police and Fire Squad were called. Kelly, Nelson and officer Mike Putnam obtained fire extinguishers and attempted to contain the fire until firefighters could arrive.

Therrien estimated the fire encompassed approximately 5,000 square feet of the field. "Their actions were exemplary and commendable," said Therrien of the Wesleyan security officers. In addition, a golf cart was found near the fire, stuck in the mud. The cart was still in the on position, and the battery remained charged. "Obviously, someone had taken it back there and decided to go on a joy ride until it got stuck," said Putnam. "It couldn’t have been out there long before we saw it, or the battery would have been dead. This has been happening a lot more than usual this year." After the officers managed to pry the cart from the mud, it was locked in the Physical Plant. Putnam said he could not determine if the fire and cart were linked. "I don’t want to speculate," he said. "It could have been, but I don’t know." Nelson believes the two had nothing to do with each other. "We could hear a lot of people from the surrounding homes, telling their kids to stay away," he said. "Whoever started it could have come from anywhere."

The Educational Programs Commission passed a proposal March 2 to eliminate Virginia Wesleyan College’s January term and replace it with a winter session. Beginning in January of 2003, students will be able to attend a three-week winter session and earn up to four credits that, unlike January term, may be counted toward graduation. Students graduating in December 2001 or later will have their January term requirement eliminated. Those graduating in May or August of 2001 still must fulfill the J-term requirement. According to Dr. Kathy Merlock Jackson, head of the January term program and of the reform committee, the changes to the program will prove beneficial to both students and faculty. "In some classes there was a motivational problem, because students didn’t feel they were getting credit, so they didn’t work as hard," said Jackson.

In addition, faculty members previously did not get paid extra for teaching a January term course. With the implementation of winter session, they will be allowed to reduce their semester course loads or be paid for overloads. The new winter session will be optional, offering students the chance to either catch up on credits or ease a semester’s course load. Residents who take at least three credits in the winter session will be able to live on campus for the three weeks. Those taking only one or two credits will have to obtain permission from Residence Life. Expenses for the session will be rolled into tuition, room and board. Jackson added that the winter session will afford at-risk freshmen the time to adjust to college life. By taking 12 credits their first semester and another three credits during winter session, they will not fall behind in making progress toward graduation. Many students who are aware of the new winter session are excited. "It’s surprising," said sophomore Lauren Kane. "I think it’s a good idea that the school is giving students the opportunity to take a class that they need in order to graduate."

"It definitely should be optional, too," she said. "It’s their decision if they want to shorten their vacation time." Winter athletes are especially pleased with the decision. Freshman David Doino, member of the men’s basketball team, is glad J-term is being changed: "Thank God it’s gone, because now, when I come back for basketball, I can also get credits for class." Some questions regarding the new winter session remain unanswered. It has not yet been determined what courses will be taught or how much tuition will increase. A committee chaired by a winter session director will meet during a seven-day planning session in Jan. 2002 to implement the system. There will be no J-term or winter session this year.