Come read your own poetry, read your favorite poet’s poetry, or just listen and hang out!

See you all there!

Charleston Southern’s Body Image Week (March 15-19, 2010) was a great success! The Counseling Center and Recreational Services Team planned and organized events for each day last week that focused on a positive view of one’s self.

Monday was “No Mirrors Monday” in which public mirrors around campus were covered to urge students to look inside for beauty.

Tuesday was “Take Heart Tuesday.” The Counseling Center and Recreational Services employees provided information in the Caf about heart healthiness. The caf prepared meals that were “heart healthy” and displayed the nutrition information for each dish. The Greeks performed a step demonstration, and students were encouraged to make stickers that said, “I <3 My _________!” This was the most eventful lunch in the Caf since the Kuumba Festival!

Wednesday there was a “Fitness is Fun” field day. Students in SNA, Psych Club, Kinesiology Club, and Rec Services that included field day activities, health screenings, and a Fun Run.

Thursday featured the Home Run Derby at the baseball field. The events of the week ended on “Fitness Friday.” The counseling services staff provided tours of the Brewer Center to current students to demonstrate how to use the facilities.

In addition to these great events each day, Counseling Services and Rec Services sponsored a “Be Comfortable in your own Genes” blue jean drive to donate old jeans to a local charity. They also gave a way tons of awesome prizes including CSU gear and a bike! The week was extremely successful, and students and faculty enjoyed celebrating Body Image Week!

The SEFER, CSU’s literary magazine, is looking for submissions for the 2010 edition!

If you like to write poetry or short fiction and would like to be published in the SEFER, send your admissions to csu.sefer@yahoo.com by MONDAY, March 22, 2010.

By Megan Bruner

In January, six Charleston Southern students were selected to perform in the South Carolina Intercollegiate Honor Band.

This band is comprised of the state’s best college marching band members who join together to perform once annually. The band directors of each individual South Carolina college nominate students on the basis of performance and skill.

The 2010 participants from Charleston Southern included Brittany Runyon (flute), Julie Duvall (clarinet), Amelia Lane (clarinet), Jeffrey Foster (bass clarinet), Steve McGinnis (tuba), and Andrew Felker (percussion).

The performance this year was held at S.C. State University.  Charleston Southern will be hosting the group’s performance in January 2011.

Begun in January, new student security patrol teams are assisting students and serving as an extension of the campus security department. “The student security patrols are visible, on the move and offering aid to any person in need,” said Don Little, director of security.

Two teams, each with a male and female student, assist students from 6:30-11:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and are clearly visible wearing jackets or t-shirts saying CSU student security patrol. Patrol members receive training and are offered CPR and first aid training.
Teams will patrol campus locations, and each team is available to escort students to and from classes and parking lots. Teams will carry a CSU radio in order to contact a security officer if additional assistance is needed.
“To request assistance, call 20# from any campus landline phone, or call 843-553-5896 from your cell phone or from off-campus, and a team will be dispatched to assist you,” said Little.

Brittany Runyon, Ben Holden, John McDonald and Amelia Lane

By Shelley Garrett

You’re cold, hungry, and you can’t remember the last time you’ve had a hot shower. You have nothing, and you are completely alone; you don’t even know when your next meal will be. Many of us have no clue what that would be like.

According to the South Carolina Council in Homelessness, in 2007, South Carolina accounted for 6,759 people who were homeless, 20 percent of them being children. On January 29, 2009, 43 of 366 homeless people in Charleston County, who stayed in a shelter, were between the ages of 18 and 32. These numbers only account for Charleston County. So you may be wondering what is being done to change these numbers?

On Friday, Nov. 13 Charleston Southern held a Sleep Out for the Homeless. This fundraiser benefited local homeless shelters. Each team that was formed was required to find a sponsor and raise money for the event. Each person on the team was asked to raise $20 each. They then were asked to conduct a nonmonetary drive; that could include a bake sale, a blanket drive, canned food drive, or maybe volunteering in a local shelter.

On the night of the event, students constructed the shelters they would be sleeping in for the night which were then judged in a contest. The contest was judged on the most creative, most elaborate, and best all around; the winner received a small prize. Students were also allowed to raise money while attending the event. The money was due by midnight of the event.

Throughout the event, staff planned activities, such as, cooking hotdogs by the fire, hot chocolate, watching the movie The Pursuit of Happyness, playing glow in the dark discs golf, performances, and other fun games. Omar Montes De Oca said, “The reason why I’m doing this is because it’s a good way to give back to the community.”

Trey Alton said, “I was hoping for people to see what is truly necessary for people to live on, for people in South Carolina and all around the world.” Many students, participating and supporting friends who were participating wondered why they had never done this in the past. One group of freshmen said that they felt it was a good way to get involved and that it was better than just watching a movie in the lounge with friends.  

            Now if you are sitting there thinking that you’ve missed the boat in helping out, I have good news. If you are interested in community service try checking Soup Kitchens and shelters such as The Beacon, Good Neighbor Center or Tri County Family Ministries, all of which are located here in North Charleston. Another way is to work with Habitat for Humanity. There are many projects you can choose from here in Charleston.

So this is my challenge for the students and faculty of Charleston Southern: I challenge you that as you sit around the table with your family on Thanksgiving that you think of one way to give back to those who are not as fortunate as you. Then I want you to go out and do it. It’s our job to do something and help out in the community; you never know, one day it could be you.