Longwood University Digital Commons @ Longwood University Rotunda Library, Special Collections, and Archives 2-4-2015 Rotunda - Vol 93, No 15 - Feb 4, 2015 Longwood University Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.longwood.edu/rotunda Recommended Citation Longwood University, "Rotunda - Vol 93, No 15 - Feb 4, 2015" (2015). Rotunda. Paper 2138. http://digitalcommons.longwood.edu/rotunda/2138 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Library, Special Collections, and Archives at Digital Commons @ Longwood University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Rotunda by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Longwood University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. LONGWOOD UNIVERSITY The Rotunda Wednesday, February 4, 2015 Fighting the virus since 1920 Pimentel found guilty Norovirus reaches Longwood IFC welcomes new members Comic corner BY TRAVIS LYLES BY TRAVIS LYLES BY NATALIE JOSEPH BY THOMAS WISE Suspended basketball player Virus finally makes its way to About 50% of eligible freshmen Check out our weekly comic awaiting appeal Longwood’s campus participated in recruitmen PAGE 10 PAGE 2 PAGE 3 PAGE 8 Understanding Riley Gardner-Webb defeats Longwood BY ASHLEY ROMERO CONTRIBUTOR “Everyone thinks you’re annoying.” I remember my heart breaking at that student’s words, imagining that one day someone could say that to my future son for asking “too many” questions in class, or for being “too” passionate about learning. Tears filled my eyes as Riley reacted in an apologetic manner, and told his classmates that he guessed he could try and raise his hand more. Out of a mix of anger and PHOTO BY STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER LAURA CLARKE almost loss of total faith in Junior guard/forward Shaquille Johnson leads Longwood in Big South Conference game. humanity, I wrote Riley after —continued on page 14 that class. I assured him that everyone does not, in fact, find him annoying, and that people need to learn to express themselves more respectfully. In turn, he assured me that they “meant no real harm.” “They were probably referencing how I have a tendency to make comments in classes, sometimes without raising my hand (yes, I have done that before, but who hasn’t?). I also am rather hyper and (admittedly) talkative; I am always making comments and coming soon! wisecracks and trying to make people laugh to lighten things up a little,” he replied. SPONSORED BY THE LONGWOOD UNIVERSITY SGA —continued on page 11 vol. 93, issue no.15 2 NEWS TheRotundaOnline.com EDITORIAL BOARD 2015 Pimentel found guilty, appeals to circuit court victoria walker editor-in-chief nick conigliaro editor-in-chief pro tem sports editor rotunda studios producer jeff halliday lauren karidis mike mergen faculty advisers travis lyles jennifer thompson news editor Copy Staff stephanie mendoza jason tsai features editor opinions staff writer meghan west briana adhikusuma A&E editor news staff emily haswell jordyn oglesby PHOTO BY TRAVIS LYLES assistant A&E editor layout staff Prince Edward County Courthouse, located in Farmville, Virginia, held Jason carly shaia natalie joseph Pimentel’s trial on Nov. 5. There he was convicted by the judge, but did not receive opinions editor features staff any jail time. His bond was a factor in the decision to not give jail time. matthew alexander payton conway online editor features staff BY TRAVIS LYLES photography staff NEWS EDITOR orlando peyton @travislylesnews they have an opportunity to make jessica godart rotunda studios staff event coordinator a ruling, either guilty or innocent,” bri dewulf Longwood junior basketball he said. “It’s basically another trial.” madi turner rotunda studios staff player Jason Pimentel was found Pimentel was released on bond assistant event coordinator kira zimney guilty of sexual battery in a trial after the incident in November. kayla baldino social media editor early Monday morning, after being Gilliam said, “Due to the fact that layout editor charged Nov. 5 for a Nov. 2 incident. pre-trial he was out on a bond, at halle parker monica newell assistant sports editor “During the course of the trial and the trial when he was convicted, the business manager the proceedings he was found guilty judge did not impose any active jail laura clarke of sexual battery,” said Longwood t i m e .” alana mackey photography staff assistant business manager Police Criminal Investigator Sam Because Pimentel did appeal, marlisha stewart Gilliam, who testified in court. “I the Prince Edward County Clerk’s carson reeher photography staff had a very limited role in the case Office told The Rotunda that a photograpy editor lindsay graybill because the bulk of the testimony sentence has yet to be issued. ashley bender graphic design staff was given directly by the victim in According to Virginia law, a class copy editor the case, and one other witness.” one misdemeanor is the highest whitney scott ashlyn kemp Rotunda Application Editor The Rotunda first reported on category of misdemeanors. “It assistant copy editor Pimentel’s arrest in November, and holds a penalty of no more than quoted Longwood University Chief 12 months in jail, and/or $2,500 in of Police Robert Beach commenting fines,” said Gilliam. on the situation. “The victim said Pimentel was suspended that in the early morning hours of indefinitely from the basketball Nov. 2, she was ‘forcibly fondled’ program Nov. 6, but has recently Look out for The Rotunda’s FREE app within the next week! by an individual who was later been practicing, and traveling with determined to be Jason Pimentel,” the team. He still has yet to play said Beach. in a game this season. Longwood contact information After the court’s decision, Pimentel Athletics said there is no current [email protected] appealed the indictment to circuit change in Pimentel’s status. therotundaonline.com court. According to Gilliam, if a There is currently no set date for case decision is appealed in general Pimentel’s appeal. @longwoodrotunda district court, it moves to circuit Follow The Rotunda for updates /longwood.rotunda court where there will be a second on Pimentel’s appeal, with more hearing by a circuit court judge. specific information to come once a /therotunda “The testimony is presented in circuit court date is set. front of the circuit court judge, and Editorial board and staff positions are available; contact The Rotunda ([email protected]) for more information and an application. February 4, 2015 NEWS 3 Norovirus infects Longwood Three-Dozen confirmed cases across campus BY TRAVIS LYLES NEWS EDITOR @travislylesnews A virus that put Hampden-Sydney College (HSC) out of commission last week has made its way to Longwood University. As of 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, there have been roughly three-dozen confirmed cases of the norovirus at Longwood University. In an online- alert the University said, “With a student body of nearly 5,000, we naturally expect illnesses at this time of year and remain vigilant in our prevention and cleanup efforts.” The norovirus, which is linked to Gastroenteritis, swept through HSC leaving approximately 300 students, or 30 percent of the campus ill. According to school officials, there were 150 confirmed cases of norovirus, and about the same amount of unconfirmed cases. The college shut down last Thursday afternoon, and officials decided not to reopen until 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning. All but 200 students chose not to evacuate campus. HSC officials say they believe this is the longest the school has been closed since its opening, dating back to 1775. Typical symptoms of norovirus last 24-48 hours and include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramps. Longwood’s Director of Communications and Media Relations, Matt McWilliams, clarified that for a confirmed case of norovirus to be tallied, the person infected must have been officially tested via a stool test or diagnosed as a result of their symptoms. PHOTO FROM GOOGLE When asked whether he thought the virus would make its way to An up-close photo of Gastroenteritis, infamously known as the Longwood with force, Vice President of Student Affairs, Dr. Tim Pierson norovirus that has been sweeping our local campuses. said, “How much it will spread, I don’t know. But most people can’t imagine it not making its way here. How does it have that much of a hold on Hampden-Sydney, with the number of our students that interact with resources to keep the university safe, or we had enough faculty and staff Hampden-Sydney students, and it not be brought here?” that were also sick, that’s when we look into shutting down.” “We need to be prepared: that’s the headline I have for Longwood,” he McWilliams said that since the breakout at HSC, Longwood has said. stepped up efforts across campus to attempt to isolate the virus. A According to Pierson, the main factor in containing the virus on Longwood norovirus alert stated that the university has provided Clorox campus is making sure students and faculty who feel ill make the right bleach wipes at the front desks of residence halls since Jan. 30. decisions. “The biggest thing that needs to take place is people all making HSC officials told The Rotunda that the school installed multiple hand reasonable, rational judgments,” he said. “If you’re sick, stay home. Same washing stations in the dining hall. Though Longwood has placed hand thing with students at HSC who are sick and have friends who want to sanitizer dispensers throughout campus, they have also made a few other nurse them over here, that’s not a good decision either.” adjustments. Pierson said the university had to change the type of soap He added, “I had someone on the police staff say they weren’t feeling used across campus because of the norovirus.