Steven Schadoff, Staff Writer –

Several Lynchburg College students are outraged with the parking violation fine amount, number of citations given and appeal process.

Many LC students feel that the $50 general violation fine amount is too high for students to afford.

“I think it’s outrageous to expect a student to spend fifty dollars on a parking ticket,” junior Kyle Wolfe said.

“I just feel that fifty dollars is a lot for a parking ticket on a college campus with limited parking and already college students having limited funds as it is,” sophomore Tyler Faulkner said.

According to the LC website, $50 violations are issued for offences that include: unregistered vehicle, parking in a faculty/staff space, parking in a visitor’s space, parking in loading zone, parking on the grass and parking in reserved space.

See Lynchburg College traffic and parking violations.

The lack of available student parking on campus forces students to park in spots which could result in a parking violation. Students feel that with the poor parking conditions, security issues an excess amount of parking violations to students.

“If you are trying to go to the cafe, I would say there are only 30 spots available for almost 2500 students,” Wolfe said

Students feel that added student parking would stop students from taking faculty spaces.

“If there was more parking in general, students wouldn’t have to park in faculty spots,” first-year Ben Weiss said.

Students who receive a parking violation and wish to appeal it can fill out an appeal form, located in Hall Campus Center.

“All requests must be returned to the Information Center within 72 hours of the citation,” stated on the parking violation appeal request form.

The form also sates that a lack of parking or inability to afford parking decal or ticket will not be granted an appeal.

Several students are ignorant to how the appeal process works. LC security would not speak to the Critograph to provide information on this topic.

According to the LC website, parking violation fines are between $50 and $500.

Lynchburg College Men’s Lacrosse team did not make it to the end of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Championship well but received a bid for the National Collegiate Athletic Association Men’s Lacrosse tournament.

When surveyed 87.23% of the people said they believe the Men’s Lacrosse team plays well together and 75.56% think they should have made it further in the ODAC Championship.

The 2013 Lynchburg College Men’s Lacrosse team started out their season on February 16 with a big win against Salisbury College. The team then had three more victories before losing to Gettysburg College on Saturday March 9th.

The team was on the road for the next five games and brought home four more wins and one loose. They lost in overtime 12 to 11 against Stevenson College. The next two games were home against Randolph College and Roanoke College. The team beat Randolph 17-3 and lost to Roanoke 9-8. The final four regular season games were played against Randolph –Macon College, Virginia Wesleyan College, Hampden-Sydney College, and Shenandoah University. They beat both Randolph-Macon and Virginia Wesleyan, lost to Hampden-Sydney and then came back with a win against Shenandoah.

“I thought we had a pretty good year, I think there were definitely some games we would like to have back. But at the same time we also won a lot of big games and playing one of the hardest schedules in Divison III was advantageous for us allowed us to play some of our best lacrosse here towards the end of the year,” said Men’s Lacrosse Coach Steven Koudelka.

When asked through a survey why do you think the team was or was not successful one respondent said, “They didn’t always play consistent this season. They won two tough games early but lost winnable games in the middle of the season.”

“I’d have to say our regular season went pretty well, the losses that occurred them were within one goal. So I think it was that, those little things, those little efforts that could have pushed us to that next level. But preparing and as a team it takes a while to adjust and come together as all of the 51. So overall I think our regular season went well and our post season is bound to be even better,” said senior lacrosse player Jon Gill.

The Men’s Lacrosse traveled to Roanoke College Saturday May 4th for the semifinal game against Washington and Lee. Washington and Lee pulled out with the win in overtime 7-6. Lynchburg then received a bid from National Collegiate Athletic Association for their Division III Lacrosse Tournament.

“Coming into the tournament we really just tried to step up our game because we know that all of our game are going to be much more intense and all the games we are going to play are going to be really close,” said Junior lacrosse player Chris Hower.

Lynchburg played St. Mary’s College in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Wednesday May 8th, at Lynchburg College. Lynchburg pulled through with a win six to five over St. Mary’s and continued on to the next game. In the second round they played Roanoke College at Roanoke College on Saturday May 11th. After losing to Roanoke in regular season, Lynchburg won the game 12-9 and will continue on to the third round of the NCAA tournament.

Lynchburg College will travel to Stevenson College on Wednesday May 13th, and will compete against Stevenson College to see who will continue on in the NCAA tournament.

When asked through a survey do you think the Men’s Lacrosse team will win the NCAA tournament, 87.23% said yes and12.77% said no. When asked why or why not one respondent said, “They will win the tournament because they are a very determined and well driven team. They do not let losses get in their way. This past week alone shows the guys have what it takes to win the tournament.” Another respondent said, “Because they aren’t good enough, plain and simple.”

Mandie Ramirez, Staff Writer –

A warm bed, hot meal and loving arms are just a few things that every child needs to have. When children are placed in the foster care system they do not always get that. With the love and support from foster families, these children will be able to have a second chance at an almost proper childhood.

Sherri Brungard and her family are just one of the many households who graciously opened their doors and hearts for children in the foster care system. Brungard is a therapeutic foster care mother with the Presbyterian Homes and Family Alliances in Lynchburg.

Brungard said that after her four biological children grew up she wanted to experience something different. She was introduced to foster care by a friend in church, and she knew it was something she wanted to do.

“One of the main reasons I do foster care is because it creates a baseline. It creates a baseline for right and wrong and really for what a family is…I also do it for the people,” Brungard said.

Brungard has had many different children in the foster care system in and out of her house, and she said that she hopes she has done enough to help change their lives.

“As [the children] develop and as they grow, and they start to look to create their own family, my hope is that they’ll want to have a family like what they came from here and not the kind of family that they were unfortunately born into,” Brungard said.

Brungard said that she loves what she does and looks forward to the future with being a foster parent and what is in store for her.

“I think it’s a very valuable and honorable thing to do and I absolutely love doing it,” Brungard said.

Lynchburg College’s Student Activities Board (SAB) impressed their peers by bringing in country artist Eli Young Band for the 2013 spring concert on Sunday May 5. Many students expressed their experiences at the concert; predominantly providing good feedback, with 46.7 percent of students surveyed revealing they thoroughly enjoyed the concert.

Senior James Thornhill, SAB’s Main Stage Chair said they had been planning the concert since October or November at the very latest, so they were happy to have such a good response to the country artist.

“We did a survey and the survey came back as country and today’s hits, being almost a tie, so since the country top 40 is almost the same as today’s top hits, we decided to go with a country concert,” said Thornhill.

Of the students interviewed, only five complained that the genre of the concert was country while the rest were enthusiastic in regards to the change from former LC SAB-sponsored concerts such as Jason Derulo.

“I know people have their own opinions about [Eli Young Band performing at LC] but honestly, the way I feel about it is a lot of the campus are big country fans. You can’t please everyone and it’s a free ticket, so why not,” said senior Kerry Sparks.

Among many students, there was one popular suggestion for future concerts. Students were unhappy with Turner once again being selected for the venue of the concert and would prefer something outdoors.

Senior Corrin Spitzer added that the only downside of the concert is that the concert is held in Turner. Junior Grace Danish suggested that the concert should be outside next year because she believes it will bring a bigger crowd.

“The only complaint I heard was about having it in Turner. Some folks thought it could have been for fun if we would have had it outside. But with the weather and other variables that come into play with having it outside, you can’t really blame anyone for having it inside,” said senior John Hatcher.

There are major changes coming to Lynchburg College, the changes will start immediately after the completion of the 2012-2013 school year. With the Burton Student Center being renovated the college did not have enough room to keep all of the staff in the renovated buildings. The Colleges has decided to move the College Communications and Marketing departments to the Courts buildings on College Street.

“Campus communication and Marketing will be moving to the courts at the end of this semester, because of the renovation happening in Burton,” said Kristen Cooper, Director of Residence Life.

The college will be also moving the offices of the Sports Management department, which is currently located at 341 College Street, to the courts building. The change will allow the college to renovate the house in order to have students live there next year.

“With the Sports Management house open, it will now be a five person house next year, said Cooper”.
Changes are not only for the faculty and staff, but also for the student body. The Courts has housed up to 60 students number each year, but this year it will only house 25 students. Some students feel that the college should have planned for this better and should not have taken rooms away from students.

“I wish that LC talked to the students about losing the courts, It was were a lot of junior thought they would live”, said sophomore Ned Jensen”

Juniors are the one who have seen the must impact from these changes, because they are mostly the ones who sign up for courts. The college feels that the courts are the least desirable option on Southside, because of that they chose to make the offices instead.

The chart below shows what the favorite places are to live on campus and shows why the college decided to take away the courts.

Lisa Taylor, Staff Writer –

On May 3, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released figures showing the nation’s unemployment rate decreased slightly in April to 7.5-percent, the lowest number since the Great Recession hit five years ago. That is good news for the country and even better news for Lynchburg College seniors, many of whom will be looking to enter the job market after receiving their diplomas on May 18.

Bev Reid, director of Career Development at LC, works closely with students to help them discover their strengths and choose their future careers. In the process, Reid readies students to face potential employers by helping the students build strong resumes and refine their interviewing skills.

Additionally, Reid and her staff coordinate job fairs on campus where potential employers and students can connect. Reid said she has recently seen evidence of the improving job market.

“We’ve definitely seen a major trend just in the month of April, a huge increase in the number of jobs, so that’s been really great for our students, especially this close to graduation,” Reid said.

But it is not all sunny skies for the Class of 2013. A closer look at the statistics for recent graduates, ages 21 to 24, reveals some alarming trends, namely that unemployment for this group is at 8.8-percent and 18.3-percent of recent graduates who have jobs are under-employed, according to a recent CNN report.

In a Huffington Post article titled, “Class of 2013: Welcome to the ‘New Hustle,’ contributor Tom Hayes points out that this year’s graduates face a job market with stiff competition and lowered wages, a residual effect of the 2008 recession.

“The Class of 2013–the most educated, yet most-indebted generation in history—faces a long slog,” Hayes said.

Reid said she has seen an increase in the number of students continuing on to graduate-level studies in recent years. For some, it is a way to further cement a position in their future careers; however, for others, particularly for those in the health sciences, a Master’s degree is a minimum requirement, Reid said.

Reid’s experience is backed up by findings in a recently-released study from consulting firm Accenture and reported by CNN Money. Accenture surveyed more than 1,000 people who graduated college in 2011 and 2012. After spending some time in the real world, 42-percent of those surveyed say they will need to go to graduate school. In a separate study by Accenture, only 18-percent of the Class of 2013 expected to need graduate school.

LC senior Kenley Hoover is among those headed for grad school after he receives a degree in communication studies, with a convergent journalism emphasis, in May.

“Surprisingly, I’m not looking to go into the world of journalism. I’m actually going to be pursuing a graduate degree. I’m going to Radford University in the fall, and I’m going to be pursuing a Master’s of Science in Corporate Professional communications, which is more of a PR route. Ultimately, the reason I’m doing this is because I want to become a Communications professor. I want to pursue my PhD after attaining my Master’s degree,” Hoover said.

Senior Alex Curinga is also looking forward to graduation day. As a double-major candidate, she will receive degrees in communication studies and piano performance. She plans to become a college professor and knows she will enter graduate school at some point, but she is not fully clear on her next move.

“Right now it’s a little bit up in the air. I know I’ll be going to grad school for at least one of my degrees. My ultimate goal is to get a career as a collegiate professor in either field. In the beginning I was looking at communication studies, but now I’m kind of between communication studies and music,” Curinga said.

After graduation, Curinga will return to Virginia Beach to live with her family for at least a year before entering graduate school. She plans to work and earn the money needed to continue her education.

Immediately after graduating I hope to get a job doing church music, doing church services, specifically Catholic masses. I hope to get a job to be more financially stable for when I do apply to graduate school,” Curinga said.

Curinga does not have a job lined up yet, but has connections with the local orchestra in her hometown and hopes to intern with them, either performing with the orchestra or handling marketing for the group. She will know something in a few more months.

“I am a little bit worried. I think most of us are worried. For me personally, I’ve been doing retail jobs since I was 16. I went to college partly because I didn’t want to keep doing retail jobs my entire life, I want to do something that I actually love to do,” Curinga said.

Good luck to the Class of 2013.

Endstation Theatre Company will present its annual Blue Ridge Summer Theatre Festival from May 31 through July 14.

“The Endstation Theatre Company is the local theatre company of Sweet Briar College, and strives for the development and promotion of the theatre arts in Central Virginia. Endstation creates unique dramatic experiences by raising the theatrical convention itself. Every Endstation production explores and defines the relationship between live theatre and the audience,” said Co-Founder of Endstation Theatre Company and Lynchburg College Assistant Professor of Theatre, Geoffrey Kershner.

Endstation produces the annual festival every July at Sweet Briar. This festival includes outdoor shows and plays about local history and culture.

The 2013 festival will hold performances at The Renaissance Theatre in downtown Lynchburg, on the lawn of Sweet Briar, at Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest, the Old City Cemetery, the Presbyterian Homes and Family Services and in the Babcock Fine Arts Center at Sweet Briar. Blue Ridge Summer Theatre Festival will include original plays for and about Virginia and also location specific outdoor shows.

“At our outdoor performances, the location sets the stage. Our 2011 production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream was performed at an old train station against the backdrop of a mountain vista. Our 2012 production of The Comedy of Errors was set amidst the gardens of the historic Sweet Briar House, originally built in the 18th century and now used as the home of the college president,” according to endstationtheatre.org.

This 2013 season will consist of three shows: The Taming of the Shrew written by William Shakespeare and directed by Geoffrey Kershner, Cymbeline written by William Shakespeare and directed by Walter Kmiec and Violet: A Musical written by Brian Crawley, music by Jeanine Tesori and directed by Chad Larabee.

The setting adds a unique atmosphere to the festival experience but is not the only reason each night is such a success. Audience members are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets and food to the event. Local breweries also offer wines and glasses for tastings throughout the night.

“Central Virginia is one of the most beautiful places in the country – it’s a fact. The Blue Ridge Mountains offer a stunning backdrop to an area rich in history, culture, and unique locations. There is so much to do, so much to see, and we invite you to come spend a weekend to explore the region by day, and experience the Festival by night,” according to endstationtheatre.org.

When Lynchburg College Chaplain Stephanie McLemore decided she was ready to be a mom, she prayed about it, asked her mother and sister for emotional support, and then went to a fertility clinic to undergo artificial insemination. The procedure was successful after the second attempt and later that year, McLemore gave birth to a healthy baby girl named Sophia.

Today, Sophia is three-years-old and has a 14-month-old sister named Ellery, who through a different donor, was also conceived by artificial insemination.

McLemore is among the growing number of single women in America who are turning to artificial insemination to fulfill their desires for motherhood. McLemore, 43, said she hopes to be married some day and that she is happy with her bold move to become a single parent.

“I didn’t want to miss my chance to be a mom. It might not have been the first choice, but it was all at once possible and a real option,” McLemore said.

McLemore is open about her choice, and in the summer of 2010 she wrote about life as a single mother in an article for Just Women, a quarterly magazine published by the Women’s Ministry of the Disciples of Christ.
“I am a straight, single pastor who at 38 had dated a few guys seriously over about 15 years, but who was desperately afraid of missing my chance to be a mom… I really wanted to fall in love, get married, and have a family,” McLemore said in the article.

With no husband on the horizon and her proverbial biological clock ticking, McLemore took matters into her own hands and sought medical assistance in the path toward motherhood.

Originally a procedure to help infertile couples become parents, artificial insemination has increasingly become an option selected by single women who are established in their careers and want to start a family, according to a 2010 article on SingleEdition.com, an online resource for single women and men.

Scott Brown, director of communications for California Cryobank in Los Angeles, estimated “10,000-12,000 single women a year visit a sperm bank,” according to the article on Single Edition.

McLemore said she investigated adoption before making her decision, but artificial insemination removed some of the uncertainties that come with adopting a child, and the procedure was less expensive than adoption. Plus, as she wrote in her article for Just Women, she was able to participate in the “miracle of creation.”

Though an increasing number of women are choosing a one-parent family dynamic, there is still a matter of acceptance by a society that largely views two parents as the foundation of a family. McLemore knew that, as a Disciples of Christ pastor with several family members as ministers, the idea of single motherhood could be problematic for some. She said that although there was some opposition, she received overwhelming support and understanding from those around her.

“There were some folks that were very upset with my choice. There was one Virginia church elder that wrote the regional minister and expressed his concerns, but I feel very good about my choice and, overall, folks were supportive and really happy for me,” McLemore said.

A number of factors led McLemore to choose single motherhood, including stability in her career, financial security and support from her mother and sister, affectionately known as “Ya-Ya” and “Auntie Lisa.”

The “daddy question” has already surfaced in McLemore’s household, with Sophia noticing that many of her peers have both a mom and a dad. McLemore does not side-step the issue. Instead, she tells both her daughters about her decision in terms they can understand.

“I say, ‘Well, you don’t have a daddy yet, you may someday, but you have a Ya-Ya and an Auntie Lisa.’ I tell them that their ‘mommy wanted little girls so badly that she found a doctor who could help her, and a donor who could help her, and Auntie Lisa said she’d help… and grandma said she’d help a lot!’ And then I had them, and it’s been the best thing in my life,” McLemore said.

McLemore said the experience of motherhood has changed her in many positive ways, even making her more effective working with students on campus.

“Being a mom makes me a much better pastor. It has taught me to have much more patience, how to get more done on less sleep, and just to be joyous in a way I hadn’t before,” McLemore said.

McLemore is careful to point out that her decision and the timing were right for her and may not be the best option for others. She cautions any independent woman thinking about motherhood to consider all her options first.

“Single parenthood is a tough road. In fact, I’m only able to do it because my mother is so helpful,” McLemore said.

With the help of his cabinet, Onofrio has no fear that these plans will be put to action.


“I’ve worked with everyone on the cabinet before outside of SGA so I’m excited to have everyone all together,” Onofrio said.

The SGA Cabinet is made up of Vice President Shameka Ferrell, second Vice President Megan Paugh, Treasurer Lynn Russell, Secretary Sierra Spicer, Special Event Coordinator Grace Leaney, Public Relations Chair Melissa Berkowitz, Chief of Staff Cam Gates and a new position SAB/SGA Liaison Kelly Holland.


“This new position was created to help strengthen the ties between SAB and SGA,” Onofrio said.


Onofrio said along with having a helpful cabinet he is also grateful to have supportive administration.


“I’m fortunate that I can meet with the administration here. It’s nice to have a good community where they are so helpful. Not all schools have administration that work so closely with the students,” Onofrio said.


One thing that Onofrio said he wants the LC community to know is that SGA is here to help, by being the voice for the students.


“That’s what we’re here for; we’re here to help students get their voices heard. If anyone ever has a concern they can come to us, they can approach any of us,” Onofrio said.


In order to help the students as much as possible, Onofrio said that next year, any cabinet member that lives on campus will have a manila envelope on their doors for students to leave and comments, questions, concerns or suggestions.


“We want to put one in Schewel, the Student Center and the Fishbowl, out office in Hundly. We just really want everyone to know we are here for them. Everyone should feel free to e-mail me too at Onofrio_S,” Onofrio said.


With many plans and high hopes for the future, Onofrio proud that he is able to have this opportunity.


“I’m just super excited for a great next year,” Onofrio said.

As the spring semester comes to an end, many seniors and other graduates are preparing to leave Lynchburg College behind them.

Additionally, many of the underclassmen are sad to say goodbye to the students who will not be returning to LC. Once underclassmen finish final exams, they are expected to move out of their on-campus housing after 24 hours unless they have an approved reason from the Office of Residence Life.

Still, many underclassmen have found a variety of reasons that will allow them to stay on campus through Senior Week and Commencement, whether it is work-related or for student involvement reasons.
Junior Marvin Argueta-Sol plans to stay through Senior Week up until Commencement Day for

the third time over the past three years.

“Since my first year at LC, I’ve been a member of the concert choir and as such, I’m required to sing at the graduation ceremony. In addition to that, I’m the Class of 2014 president and in order to prepare for a successful Senior Week, our class council stays to watch how this senior class expedites their senior week and offer a helping hand as needed,” Argueta-Sol said.

Other opportunities for underclassmen to stay on campus include ushering or being a flag-bearer during the Commencement ceremony. First-years Rob Carter and Will Woodward plan to hold a flag during the ceremony in order to be able to stay on campus through Senior Week and Commencement.

First-year Benjamin Gerke said he plans to usher during Commencement for the same purpose.

“I’m a new member of Phi Delta Theta and some of these seniors changed my life during the pledge process, so I want to be here to show them support. I signed up during a Senate meeting for Student Government Association, so it was really convenient and I’m glad I got the opportunity,” Gerke said.

Other students are approved to stay simply because they want to attend the ceremony. Junior Billy Saulle said he is staying for Commencement because he wants to see his friends walk across to stage to get their diplomas.

“There are seniors here who I look up to and it means a lot to see graduation. I wouldn’t have been able to stay if I didn’t get approved to watch graduation,” Saulle said.

Typically, the students who stay at LC until Commencement are mostly upperclassmen, who are able to participate in the many activities of Senior Week that are sponsored by Student Government Association, as a way to celebrate Commencement.