fall 2009 fall EastThe Magazine of easT Carolina UniversiTy feeling good about giving back tockphoto.com/Charles Taylor tockphoto.com/Charles s ©i viewfinDer fall 2009 fall EastThe Magazine of easT Carolina UniversiTy 12 fEaTURES feeling gooD aBoUT giving BaCK 12 Alums and friends who give money toBy ECUMarion say Blackburn they’re motivated by the satisfaction of knowing they’re opening doors for a new generation. GHOST sTories refUse To Die 22 The tales you heard as a student of spectersBy Spaine roaming Stephens campus live on today. Some of the old dorms and classroom buildings have heard a century’s 22 26 worth of things that go bump in the night. life’s BaCK nine 26 Like many Southern writers, Jim Dodson madeBy Steve his Tuttle reputation Up North with four bestseller books. But he is spending the second half of his career back home because “that’s where I’m meant to be.” FOUrTh anD golD? 36 After three straight bowl games, the PiratesBy Bethany tackle Bradsher a 12-game schedule that could seal ECU’s reputation as a perennial football power. DEPaRTMENTS froM oUr reaDers ..................3 The eCU rePorT . .4 36 FALL arTs CalenDar . .10 froM The CLASSROOM . 32 PiraTe naTion . 44 Whether it reminds you of an MC Escher CLASS noTes........................47 drawing or a scene from Hitchcock’s Vertigo, the Science and Technology UPon The PAST......................56 Building staircase provided the setting for this striking image. froM The eDiTor froM oUr reaDers fall 2009 fall EastThe Magazine of easT Carolina UniversiTy Volume 8, Number 1 THE MissiNg SUMMER issue Nevertheless, the concept of “university” is published four times a year by [as] the repository of all knowledge expands Read East online at East East Carolina University We sent an e-mail to infinitely out to cyber space. www.ecu.edu/east Thanks for your help Division of University Advancement about 22,000 At this time a year ago, East Carolina was recording its best-ever year in 2200 South Charles Blvd. — fund raising, with about $37 million in new private giving to the university. Greenville, NC 27858 alumni and friends in Stephanie ScarboroughFuquay-Varina Ashworth ’73, With the onset of the worst recession in decades, few expected ECU would mid-May alerting be able to match that level of philanthropy this year, but it did. Total new them that, because of Thanks for the great job that you all do in dollars flowing into ECU’s three foundations reached $38 million at the h the state budget crisis, producing a beautiful magazine, which is the summer issue of such a grand tribute to ECU! end of the fiscal year on June 30, a new record. The worst of times, it EDITOR East would not be — Kinston seems, brings out the best in many people. Steve Tuttle ’09 Anne McCutcheon ’69, 252-328-2068 / [email protected] printed. The e-mail I was impressed by that accomplishment and wanted to know why it I appreciate the magazine and the effort directed readers to the magazine’s web site, where happened. I wondered why so many alumni and friends, even as their stocks ART DIRECTOR/DESIGNER y’all are putting forth. I see a lot of alumni/ they could read the new issue and even download tanked and their 401Ks sank, still managed to send a check to their alma Brent Burch university magazines over the last handful of a copy. Because of technical snags, the e-mail did mater. I asked writer Marion Blackburn to nose around and find out why. years and am very happy with what you’ve PHOTOGRAPHER not reach everyone, but several who did see the note done at ECU. Her report, which begins on page 12, offers a surprisingly simple answer. forrest Croce took the time to respond with their comments: — Chehalis, Wash. How do i subscribe? It just makes people feel good when they see their money going to help How disappointing that the only Patrick O’Neil ’89, COPY EDITOR I’m absolutely OK with this. I actually Send a check to the ECU foundation. a current student. Many of today’s donors struggled to pay for college Jimmy Rostar ’94 communication tool the university has with prefer to read this type of stuff online how much is up to you, but we suggest themselves. They know from experience that a scholarship, even a small its alumni can’t be sent out because of the a minimum of $25. your generosity is one, can mean the difference between staying in school—and being able to CONTRIBUTING WRITERS state budget crisis. versus on paper. appreciated. afford all the textbooks plus three squares a day—or going home. Marion Blackburn, Doug Boyd, Dallas, Texas — Winterville n 252-328-9550 Bethany Bradsher, Jimmy Rostar, —Tom Zielinski ’81, Christian K. Robinson ’02, n www.ecu.edu/devt Unlike Carolina with its Morehead-Cain scholarships and N.C. State Steve Row, Spaine Stephens In the future, save the money for other Isn’t it unrealistic to expect state funds n [email protected] with its Park scholarships, ECU doesn’t have a prestigious, well-endowed university needs because most of us can go to pay for the magazine’s publication? Join the alumni association and receive CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS online and read to stay informed. It’s a nice, Isn’t the magazine something that should a subscription as well as other benefits scholarship program bearing the name of a wealthy alumnus. It mostly Jay Clark, Rob goldberg, and services. Minimum dues are $35. relies on hundreds of smaller donors to fund its two largest scholarship Cliff Hollis, Mike litwin, glenn Sides well done publication but the magazine be financially supported by dues and/or n 1-800-eCU-graD programs, the East Carolina Scholars and the Access Scholarships. But usually hits the recycle bin the next day after I other grants/gifts, maybe even appropriate n www.piratealumni.com n [email protected] philanthropy is more personal here; if you support an Access Scholarship, CLASS NOTES EDITOR receive it, which is a terrible waste. Use e-mails commercial advertising? leanne Elizabeth Smith ’04 ’06 which you can do for only $20,000, you get to meet the student who, like this one to alert us that new articles, etc. — Sarasota, Fla. Join the Pirate Club and get the [email protected] Robert Blake ’66, magazine as well as other benefits but for your help, probably wouldn’t be here, and hear them say thanks have been posted and save the mailing cost. You have a great publication that has been appreciated by sports fans. Minimum dues in very personal terms. This year there will be 77 Access scholars, and all ADMINISTRATION — Raleigh are $75. Gary Rabon ’76, well received and will be missed by many n 252-328-4540 of them have taken the opportunity to thank the people who made their Michelle Sloan I haven’t finished reading the in pdf who just are never going to be able to n www.ecupirateclub.com scholarships possible. h format yet. It is beautiful, as always,East but condition themselves to read a magazine off n [email protected] their computer screen. The state budget crisis is placing an even greater burden on ECU’s fund Assistant VICE Chancellor there is some satisfaction lost by not holding Contact us FOR UNIVERSITY MARKETING the magazine in my hands. Thank you for — ECU director of athletics n 252-328-2068 raising. Reduced state appropriations, which had provided just 36 percent Terry Holland, of the university’s budget, are being concentrated on the classroom, so Clint Bailey your hard work and a wonderful job! n [email protected] n www.ecu.edu/east there’s no state money for any academic extras. Philanthropy must make up — Robersonville SPortsmaNlikE CoNDUCT Donna W. Roberson ’91, Thanks for including the photo of Jerry Customer Service the difference. Even before the recession it was estimated ECU would need I think this is a great protocol for all future To start or stop a subscription, East Carolina University is a constituent institution of McGee ’65 and me from the BCS National or to let us know about a change of one billion dollars in funding above its state budget in the next 15–20 The University of North Carolina. It is a public doctoral/ editions of It’s a beautiful, glossy, high- East. Championship Game in the summer issue. address, please contact lisa gurkin, years to attain the university’s goals. research intensive university offering baccalaureate, master’s, color product in hard-copy, but traditional [email protected] or 252-328-9561 specialist and doctoral degrees in the liberal arts, sciences It was a blessing and real privilege to have That’s a lot of money, but no one here is afraid of the challenge. Not when and professional fields, including medicine. Dedicated to the printing is just too costly for individuals, had that opportunity and the feedback from Send letters to the editor to achievement of excellence, responsible stewardship of the for institutions and organizations, for [email protected] or ECU has friends and alumni like you. our work at the game has been very positive. 1206 Charles Blvd. public trust and academic freedom, ECU values the corporations, for communities—and for contributions of a diverse community, supports shared As in any game you work, you hope the post Building 198 Thank you. east Carolina University governance and guarantees equality of opportunity. the planet. If recipients find something game discussions are about plays from the they’d like to print out (at home or at any greenville, n.C.