The Carrier

Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga.,  will be the honorary guest speaker at the spring commencement ceremony Saturday, May 10 at 2 p.m. on Memorial Library lawn. 

Chambliss is the second high-profile Georgia politician to speak at Berry in the past two years, following Gov. Sonny Perdue, who spoke at last year’s spring commencement.

College President Stephen R. Briggs said he thinks it is important to bring nationally acclaimed individuals to Berry to speak to students, parents, alumni, faculty and staff. 

“I feel that it is important for our students to know who our legislators are and vice versa,” Briggs said. “These people have a unique perspective on our state, our nation and our world.”

Elected to the U.S. Senate in November, 2002, Chambliss is Georgia’s 63rd U.S. Senator. “Georgia Trend Magazine” described Chambliss as a “highly visible and well-respected presence in Washington,” with a reputation as an “affable but straight-talking lawmaker.”

Chambliss is a member of the Armed Services Committee, Senate Select Committee and he is the Ranking Republican Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry.

During the 109th Congress, Chambliss chaired the Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee and is the only U.S. Senator since 1947 to chair a full standing Senate committee after just only years serving as a Senator.

In addition to the Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, Chambliss’ leadership on terrorism and homeland security earned him an appointment to the prestigious Senate Select Committee.

As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Chambliss carries on Georgia’s tradition of leadership and advocacy of the state’s military installations. Chambliss fought policies in 2005 that would have closed several of Georgia’s military bases and also continually fights for a higher quality of life for our troops by pushing progressive military legislation.

Chambliss was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1994, representing Georgia’s 8th District. He is a past recipient of the Air Force Association’s W. Stuart Symington Award, the top civilian award given annually by the association. In January, he was awarded the Legislative Advocacy Award for legislation he began in order to reduce the minimum age at which members of the military can receive retirement pay.

Chambliss earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Georgia in 1966 and earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1968.

Chambliss and his wife, Julianne were married in 1966 and reside in Moultrie, Ga. They have two children and two grandchildren.

Briggs said he looks forward to the opportunity to glean from Chambliss’ words of wisdom. 

“I think Senator Chambliss has done a lot for Georgia and the United States of America, and it will certainly be an interesting and inspirational afternoon.”

After months of waiting and restless anticipation, tonight will be the first night back to work at “The Office.” The cult classic returns tonight at 9 p.m. on NBC, for its first episode after the writers’ strike.

Due to the long hiatus, it’s almost as if a new season is beginning.  For those of you who forgot the events of the first half of season four, here’s a quick recap.

The first episode of the season saw everyone’s favorite drunk, Meredith (Kate Palmer), bounce off the hood of the car of self-proclaimed “world’s best boss,” Michael Scott (Steve Carell). Shortly after that unfortunate auto encounter, Angela’s (Angela Kinsey) cat, Sprinkles, was the victim of a mercy killing at the hands of Dwight K. Schrute (Rainn Wilson).  The one positive point in the episode came when Jim, (John Krasinki) and Pam (Jenna Fischer) finally confirmed their office relationship.  I nearly cried. “They’re like PB & J. Pam Beesley and Jim.” said Kevin (Brian Baumgartner).

Michael subsequently blamed the unfortunate events on a “curse,” but was relieved upon hearing that Meridith’s stay in the hospital led to the discovery of her acquisition of rabies. Naturally, Michael instituted a “Fun Run” to raise money and awareness of this terrible disease. “Myth: rabies kills three people every year. Fact: rabies kills four people every year.” said Dwight.

After the dust had settled on the “Fun Run,” Ryan Howard (B.J. Novak), former temp and newly appointed corporate supervisor, instituted a new Web site: Dunder Mifflin Infinity. The new, young look of the company forced Michael to learn PowerPoint and Creed (Creed Bratton) to dyed his hair from gray to black

Michael found a second job as a weight-loss supplement telemarketer to support girlfriend Jan Levinson’s (Melora Hardin) expensive tastes, then realized he could make a living on one job if he cut out his expenditures on magic kits.

Dwight and Angela eventually split, and Andy Bernard (Ed Helms) steped in to fill the Schrute-sized void in Angela’s life.  Dwight became Andy’s confidant in “Operation Fallen Angel,” but continued his slide into an Angela-less depression while outselling the company’s new Web site in one day.

Michael attempted to recreate the danger of “Survivorman,” Dunder Mifflin Utica a fake mustache in the branch wars against Utica and eventually must testify in Jan’s lawsuit against the company.  The last episode before the strike saw Michael siding with Dunder Mifflin over Jan after she stole his personal diary for evidence. “You expect to get screwed by your company, but you never expect to get screwed by your girlfriend,” said Michael.

So what happened to Jan and Michael after Michael ruined any chance Jan had of winning her suit? We could find out tonight, when Michael hosts a dinner party for his employees.  According to the summary on NBC.com, Angela and Andy are invited as a couple, pushing Dwight’s jealousy to an all-time high.

Hilarity is bound to ensue in the six remaining episodes of the season. It is disappointing that so few episodes will be produced, given the fact that these guys had several months off for the strike.  How could they possibly need a break?  Oh well, we’ll just have to enjoy what little time we have left in season four.

If you need to catch up on the first half of season four,  check out every episode online at NBC.com. Now you can watch these masterpieces guilt-free, knowing the writers are receiving their just compensation.

Kyler PostSports EditorContinuing our five-part series on Berry’s athletic affiliation, the Carrier will examine the positive and negative aspects of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II.Moving to Division II would require the least amount of change of all NCAA affiliations. Athletes would still be given scholarships, cost of participation would rise only mildly compared to other NCAA affiliations and the average travel mileage would increase from an average of 143 miles to just 207 miles (Gulf South Conference, Eastern Division).Also, moving to Division II would significantly increase the athletic reputation of the school.  Though Division II is not as strong in reputation as Division I, there is significant name recognition associated with this affiliation. Schools affiliated with the Gulf South Conference, the most likely conference in which Berry would participate should they move to Division II, include Valdosta State University, University of West Florida, University of Alabama Huntsville and University of West Georgia.Division II is also the NCAA option preferred by coaches and student-athletes.  Women’s Head Basketball Coach Jonathan Norton, who coached at the Division II level, said he would be comfortable with a move from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics to Division II.“D-II is the most like what we are currently with NAIA,” he said. “Our travel would be similar, and our costs and scholarships would be about the same.” Norton also said he believes athletic teams would be able to compete at a high level right away.One of the arguments against affiliation with NCAA Division II is an issue of academic reputation. Unlike Division III, none of Berry’s peer or aspirant institutions currently compete at the Division II level. One of the main goals of the committee on athletic affiliation, as stated in the athletic affiliation report, was to “compete in a conference that includes colleges or universities of at least the academic caliber of Berry.” Moving into a conference void of peer or aspirant institutions would not be consistent with that goal.Division II also contains a much larger number of state institutions than other options. The NAIA is comprised of 80 percent private institutions, while only 40 percent of the institutions competing at the Division II level are private. Again, the committee is concerned with placing Berry in an athletic affiliation that is made up of schools comparable to Berry.Division II also has the lowest eligibility requirements of all four divisions being considered. This includes a lower minimum overall GPA and lower number of required courses per academic year than the current NAIA standard and the standards of the other two possible NCAA divisions. Berry’s student-athletes are currently ranked highly, in terms of average GPA, among student-athletes at other NAIA institutions, with an average GPA of 3.41. A drop in the academic eligibility standards of the institution could affect the academic reputation of Berry’s student-athletes, which has been a crown jewel of the athletic department.Next week’s issue will conclude the Carrier’s series on athletic affiliation with an examination of the pros and cons of NCAA Division I affiliation.

Kyler Post

Sports Editor

Continuing our series on Berry’s athletic affiliation, the Carrier will examine arguments for and against affiliation with the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III. The moratorium on schools entering the division will be lifted in June, presenting the college with an opportunity to join the league.The athletic affiliation report outlines several positive aspects of Division III affiliation. First, the report claims the role of the student-athlete in Division III is “the most consistent with Berry’s educational philosophy of putting academics first and athletics second.” According to the NCAA’s Web site, Division III student-athletes have maintained the highest combined GPA (3.41) of all three NCAA divisions.Another positive aspect of Division-III affiliation is the low cost of operation. Because D-III student-athletes are non-scholarship, the school would save approximately $2 million in athletic scholarships, which could then be reallocated to the college’s overall financial aid program. The money saved on scholarships, combined with the lower cost of game day expenses presents a substantial argument for Division-III affiliation.Additionally, there are eight of Berry’s peer or aspirant institutions in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference of Division III. Affiliation with this conference and division would put Berry in elite company, increasing the school’s nationwide reputation.While the coaching staff is in favor of remaining in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, the faculty supports a move to Division III. Newly hired Provost Katherine Whatley said she thinks the reallocation of athletic scholarships will attract scholarly athletes to our institution.  “I think with the new scholarships, we would bring in academically gifted students who just happen to be gifted athletes, as well,” she said.  “The type of student-athlete we currently have would not be much different than that, which would mean we could still compete at a high level.” Associate Professor of Physics, Astrology and Geology Todd Timberlake said many faculty members believe a move to Division-III will enhance the school’s academic image. “If we got into the right conference in Division-III, we would gain better academic visibility because we would compete in athletics against academically similar, or even superior, schools,” he said.  “In contrast, in our current NAIA conference we compete against academically inferior schools.  The sense is that this brings our academic image down a notch.”Eligibility requirements would also be left to the interpretation of the faculty of the institution.  In Division III, as long as the student-athlete is in good academic standing, he or she can participate in athletics for as long as he or she would like.  There is no limit on eligibility, as in other athletic divisions.However, unlimited eligibility also presents a problem, according to the report. The report claims that institutionally established eligibility standards would “result in unevenness of academic standards for athletes.”While the money saved in athletic scholarships would benefit the overall financial aid available to students at the college, it would also result in the loss of aid to those student-athletes who receive significant athletic scholarships. Though the report describes Berry as having “generous” academic financial aid, many student-athletes rely on their athletic scholarships to attend.The aspect of non-scholarship student-athletes would also affect recruiting. Not providing potential student-athletes with the opportunity to receive an athletic scholarship would discourage regional, national and international athletes from signing with Berry. This disincentive could hurt the college’s athletic program in the long run.  In the recent video poll conducted by Viking Vision, the overwhelming majority of students polled cited the absence of scholarships as their reason against affiliating with Division-III.The report also states “Division III institutions in the south have a less favorable reputation by and large than those in other parts of the country.” Again, the aspect of building a national reputation must be taken into account.In addition, Division-III affiliation has the least support from coaches and student-athletes.While Division-III affiliation would be consistent with the college’s academic and financial concerns, recruiting difficulties and a national reputation are also factors weighing in the decision on athletic affiliation.Next week’s issue  will examine the positive and negative aspects of NCAA Division-II affiliation.

If I asked you to name the person who appeared in most television shows, newspapers, magazines or radio talk shows in the last two weeks, you would most likely guess John McCain, Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton.  You would be wrong.  That honorable distinction goes to Thomas Beatie.  What’s so special about him, you might ask?  Well, the assumption that Beatie is a man would also be wrong.  That’s what’s “special” about her.After years of being recognized as a woman in society, Beatie had her breasts removed, began taking testosterone, grew a scraggly beard and legally had her gender changed.  However, one major aspect of Beatie’s sexuality did not change: her sexual organs.  She claimed on “Oprah” last week that she left her nether-regions alone in order to have a child one day.  After learning that her wife Nancy could not conceive, Beatie opted to bear the couple’s child.Now, after finding a sperm donor and being inseminated with the equivalent of a turkey baster, Beatie will soon become the first “man” to conceive a child.You may wonder why I have continually referred to Beatie as “her.”  The answer is simple.  Beatie was, is and always will be a woman. Despite her facial and body hair, nothing changed where it counts.  As one commentator noted, “there is a word for a person with a uterus and a vagina.  The word is ‘woman.’”Along with the “notoriety” of being the first “man” to conceive, there have also been talks about making a feature film surrounding Beatie’s experience.  I believe Beatie is capitalizing on a society that is constantly looking for the next weird story.  If she were only concerned about having a child, why do an interview on national television? I’ve heard a number of people say to me how wonderful they think this story is.  I think this story is preposterous.  I don’t mean to be rude, but you’re not a man unless God made you that way.  Beatie claims her pregnancy is “a process. It doesn’t define who I am.” No ma’am. Pregnancy definitely has something to do with your identity.  It’s not often you see a 320-pound, balding male in the delivery room screaming for an epidural.And if you choose to be a “man,” then you should choose to go all the way.  This in-between state is more confusing than Dustin Hoffman in “Tootsie.”Thomas Beatie is nothing more than an attention-starved individual thriving on the constant coverage of what would be regarded as a circus sideshow 30 years ago.In a time in which so many issues should be discussed on news networks and talk radio, we’ve been bombarded with talk about this transgender, soon-to-be mother.  After a while, the novelty of the story will wear off, and Americans will begin searching for the next strange story.  If that happens, Beatie will just have to get her panties out of a wad.  Oh, wait.�

Kyler PostSports EditorTo continue the Carrier’s series on athletic affiliation, we will examine both the positive and negative aspects of Berry’s current athletic league, the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.One positive factor of remaining in the NAIA, according to the athletic affiliation report submitted at the February board of trustees meeting, is Berry’s “history of success in recruiting athletes and being competitive in our conference.”  During the 2005-06 academic year, 16 student-athletes were selected as All-Americans, and 13 were named Academic All-Americans.Viking student-athletes have performed well on the field and in the classroom.  Of nearly 200 student-athletes in 2005-06, 42 made the Dean’s List, and, as a whole, the athletes maintained a 3.05 cumulative GPA. Berry also finished in the top 10 of the United States Sports Academy Director’s Cup standings in four consecutive years from 2002 to 2006. Given its past success in the NAIA, Berry has established itself as a respected member of the league.Another plus side to the NAIA argument is the limited travel required due to the geographically accommodating conference in which Berry participates.  The farthest Berry athletic teams currently travel to participate in conference play is 286 miles (Columbia College, S.C.).The average distance traveled during conference play is 143 miles, compared to 324 miles (Atlantic Sun Conference, Division I), 385 miles (Big South Conference, Division I), 296 miles (Southern Conference, Division I), 284 miles (South Atlantic Conference, Division II) and 541 miles (Southern Collegiate Athletics Conference, Division III).  The only conference comparable to the Southern States Athletic Conference, Berry’s current affiliation, is Division III’s Great South Conference, with an average travel mileage of 142 miles.The NAIA’s Champions of Character program is also “a good fit for Berry,” according to the report.  Since the program began in 2006, four Berry athletic teams have won the award, including, most recently, the men’s basketball and women’s tennis teams. Men’s Head Basketball Coach Jeff Haarlow said, “[T]he character of our athletes is a great source of pride for everyone at Berry College.”The athletes and coaches would also prefer to remain in the NAIA. “We let Todd [Brooks] and everybody know that we would prefer to stay in the NAIA,” said Women’s Head Basketball Coach Jonathan Norton.  “But we want to do what’s best for the players, students and the college.” Along with the arguments supporting Berry remaining in the NAIA, there are also several compelling reasons for leaving.Beyond softball, which Berry hopes to add in the fall of 2009, the college is limited in the sports that they could offer in the SSAC.  Currently, softball is the only sport offered by the SSAC in which Berry does not compete.  Athletic Director Todd Brooks said the college hopes to add lacrosse and men’s and women’s swimming in the near future, which may be difficult to do in the NAIA.  Only 22 NAIA schools compete in men’s swimming and diving, while only 28 compete in women’s swimming and diving.The report also states that “the schools in our conference and in the NAIA generally are not of the academic caliber of Berry College.”  According to the report, the NAIA schools and association itself have the weakest national reputation of all the options available.  Changing affiliations would also positively impact the visibility of the school.Student-athlete class attendance is also an issue affecting the discussion.  The 24-week practice schedule coupled with the length of the seasons affected classroom attendance and the ability of many student-athletes to participate in the student work program, according to the report. NCAA affiliation would offer shorter season practice schedules to lessen the effect on class attendance.In next week’s issue, we will examine both sides of the argument regarding moving to NCAA Division III.  For student opinions on athletic affiliation, check out “The Voice” at www.youtube.com/vikingvision1.

Kyler PostSports EditorThe board of trustees is moving closer to a decision regarding Berry’s athletic affiliation.  The proposal, originally discussed in 2003, involves a potential move to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). In May 2007, the board formed a committee comprised of students, faculty, coaches, board members and staff.Athletic affiliation was a major point of discussion at the February board of trustee’s meeting, and the decision could be made at the next meeting in May. If Berry is to decide joining the NCAA is the best course of action for the athletic department, they must do so before the June application deadline.Several factors contributed to the discussion about athletic affiliation.  One major dynamic of the discussion, according to the athletic affiliation report submitted at the meeting, was the “significant decline in the number and academic quality of the institutions making up the NAIA.” The lifting of the moratorium on joining NCAA Division III last summer is also expected to lead to additional colleges leaving the NAIA. The association’s membership has dropped from more than 500 colleges and universities to under 300.Athletic Director Todd Brooks said the recent decline of the NAIA, coupled with the mass exodus from NAIA to NCAA Division III, gives Berry limited time to make a decision.“The shift from NAIA to Division III led to the moratorium in D-III,” Brooks said.  “We anticipate more schools from our association moving to Division III, which means another moratorium may be close, and our window of opportunity is very small.”Another aspect of the affiliation decision lies in expanding the number of sports available to students. Currently, softball is the only sport available under the Southern States Athletic Conference in which Berry does not compete.The new marketing and branding study conducted last year also factors into the athletic affiliation decision. The new marketing plan focuses on increasing the national appeal of the school. As stated in the report, “it is possible that athletics could assist in raising the visibility of the college.”The report also states that “the strength of the athletic program and its reputation will be determined in part by ‘the company we keep’.” The college wants to compete in an athletic conference that includes colleges and universities of at least on par with the academic standard of Berry.  College President Stephen R. Briggs said this decision is not just about athletics. He said that every aspect of the student-athlete experience must be taken into account.Along with the talk of changing athletic affiliation comes the talk of adding a football program.  Though it is rumored Martha Berry made arrangements for Berry never to have a football program, there is no legal documentation of the sort. Brooks said football has been discussed over the past few years.“We don’t look at a football program as an unrealistic goal for this institution,” he said. “And whether or not we want to add a football team affects the choice we will make regarding athletic affiliation.”Immediate challenges will be set before the athletic program if a decision is made to move to the NCAA.  The challenges will vary depending on which division and conference the college joins. Regardless of which division or conference is chosen, Berry athletic teams will be placed on at least a four-year probationary period in which they will be ineligible to compete for national championships.Another challenge facing the athletic program should they choose to move to the NCAA is the historic rivalry with Shorter College. Shorter currently competes in the same conference and league as Berry and recently added football to their list of varsity sports.  Brooks said he has no knowledge of Shorter’s desire to change affiliation.“Shorter hasn’t really expressed any initiative to move in another direction,” Brooks said.  “They’re hosting the NAIA Football National Championship right here in Rome in 2009, and I don’t know of any talk of them leaving the NAIA.”Should Shorter remain in the NAIA, Brooks said it would be difficult to maintain the tradition of the Berry-Shorter rivalry.“If we move up to Division I, II or III, neither school would really benefit from playing the other,” he said.  “We’d be expected to beat them because of our higher classification, and they would probably not look too kindly on losing most every game to us, either.”Recruiting would also suffer for a few years after the move.  Women’s Head Basketball Coach Jonathan Norton, a former Division II coach, said it will be very difficult to compete for a three to four-year period at the NCAA level.  “We would have to change the type of student-athlete we recruit in order to compete with the schools in our conference,” Norton said. “But it all depends on the division and conference we’re put in.”The athletic department and coaches were given a voice in the decision, according to Brooks and Briggs.  Norton said the coaches are affected by the change, possibly more than anyone else on campus.“Coaches have chosen a profession in which you want to compete at a very high level, and anything that affects that can result in a negative change,” he said. “If a coach’s salary, job description or travel habits changes, it directly affects our families.”Briggs said even if a definite decision is not made in time for the June application deadline, the move can be postponed until next year. However, the decision now rests with Briggs and the board members after the committee presented the results of their investigation.In the weeks leading to the final board of trustees meeting next month, the Carrier will examine both the positives and negatives of every possible affiliation option. The information presented to the board will be presented in detail.“This decision is a very important one that affects everyone on campus,” Brooks said. “It is important that we make a decision that coincides with Berry’s philosophical mission, and that is our biggest concern.”

Kyler Post
Sports Editor

The Berry women’s basketball team is preparing for their upcoming appearance in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Championship Tournament.
The seventh-seed Lady Vikings will take on second-seed Langston University (Okla.) Thursday, March 20 at 3:15 p.m. in Jackson, Tenn.
Berry secured a spot in the tournament by finishing as runner-up in the Southern States Athletic Conference Tournament last Saturday.  Head Coach Jonathan Norton said he believes the week-and-a-half layoff will help his team get healthy.
“The time between games will allow us to rest our girls who are hurt,” Norton said.  “In fact, by Thursday, we may be healthier than we have been all year.”
Senior forward Mickey Duncan and junior guard Nikki Jackson are among the Lady Vikes’ walking wounded.  Duncan has battled a back injury all season, and Jackson is nursing an injured hamstring she acquired in the semifinals of the SSAC tournament.
However, Norton said the team’s athletic trainers should have Jackson’s hamstring at 100 percent by game time, and Duncan said she is not about to let her injury keep her off the court.
“I definitely expect to play next week, without a doubt,” Duncan said.  “This time of year, you have to lay it all out there; this is what it’s all about.”
As has been the case all season, Norton said he will look to Duncan and Jackson to lead the team on the court. “Despite their injuries, Nikki and Mickey are still the older leaders of this team,” Norton said.  “We look for those two to have big games.”
Norton said  finishing off the opponent would be a major point of discussion in the next week of practice. Berry let a 17-point lead dwindle in the semifinals of the SSAC tournament against Emmanuel, winning by a final score of 52-48.
“Finishing has been a big problem for us all year,” Norton said.  “The good thing is, we’ve been on the winning side of almost all those games.”
Norton said he has implemented situational practice strategies to prepare for big-lead situations.
“I’ll put the girls in situations where they’re up by 15 and then say, ‘OK, you just gave up 10 straight points,” he said.  “After that, I leave it up to the leaders on the court to settle everyone down and stick to the game plan.”
As for Thursday’s game, Langston will present the Lady Vikings with interesting challenges.  Langston is 30-1 on the year, including two wins against NCAA Division I opponents.
The Lady Lions are fifth in the nation in rebounding margin, an aspect of the game Berry has struggled with all season.  However, the Lady Vikings may hold a bit of a height advantage.
Langston’s tallest player stands at only six feet tall.  Duncan and freshman forward Kayla Carlisle stand in at 6-foot-2. The height discrepancy should work in Berry’s favor on the glass.
Because the brackets were released Wednesday, Norton was only able to comment on Langston in limited terms.
“All I know is they play six players and played in a traditionally weak conference,” he said.  “Beyond that, we’ve got our work cut out for us in the scouting department.”
The winner of Thursday’s matchup will face the winner of Southern Nazarene (25-6) and Trevecca Nazarene (19-11).  The second round contest will take place March 20 at 9 a.m.
The other SSAC representative in the tournament, conference champion Lee University, drew Brescia University (18-12) in the first round.  Norton said it is critical that both Lee and Berry perform well in the tournament.
“We both need to advance to at least the ‘Sweet 16’,” he said.  “That kind of success would bring our teams and our conference a lot of positive recognition.” A Berry-Lee rematch could potentially take place on a grand stage.  Should both teams win out, they would face off in the national semifinals.
Aside from conference recognition, Norton said he acknowledges the importance of building upon this year’s success.  He said winning a few games in the tournament would make next year’s team, a “possible preseason top 20 team.”
With only one player leaving the team next season (Duncan), Norton’s hopes could come to fruition.
“With most of our team returning, success in the tournament would be a huge stepping stone to greater heights for this program,” Norton said.
Given the Lady Vikings’ track record historically in the national tournament (4-8), a win would be a step in the positive direction.

Kyler Post
Sports Editor

With the addition of two racquetball courts to the new Steven J. Cage Athletic and Recreation Center, some questions often come up. “Is that my point or yours?” “Is that legal?”  “What do all these lines mean, anyway?”
The courts have brought racquetball to the forefront of recreational sports on campus; however, there are quite a few misconceptions about the rules of the game and exactly how to play properly.
Though the sport is not as popular as it was 20 years ago, it is becoming one of the more popular activities on campus.  Interest is evident, given the courts are always in use by students, faculty and staff.
College President Stephen R. Briggs and Kinesiology Department Head Bob Pearson are two of the most knowledgeable racquetballers on campus, with more than 40 years of playing experience between them.
Pearson said the most common misconception students have about racquetball is that the game is nearly identical to tennis.
“I see so many students trying to swing their racquet like they’re playing tennis,” he said.  “The truth is, a racquetball swing is actually like a ping-pong swing; it’s all in the wrists.”
Pearson also said he sees far too many students “making up the rules as they go.”  He said he hopes to educate students about the proper way to play a game of racquetball.
Play begins with the server standing in the “service zone” and serving the ball to his/her opponent(s).  To serve, the server must first bounce the ball and then strike it with the racquet.   While in flight, the ball may strike one side wall, but no more, after first hitting the front wall, or the “play wall.”
Any serve that does not carry beyond the “short line” of the service zone is considered a fault. The server is given two opportunities to put the ball into play.  If the server hits two faults in a row, the player returning serve takes over in the service zone and the original server assumes the return-of-serve position.
To return a serve, stand in the middle of the court, at arm’s length from the back wall.  Return serve by striking the ball before its second bounce.  The ball must be returned to the play wall for it to be considered a legal return.  At this point, the ball may hit any surface (ceiling included) except the floor as long as it hits the play wall before bouncing.
Once the ball is in play, each player alternates hitting the ball until one misses the ball or hits an illegal shot.  If the player returning serve wins the rally, he/she takes over serve.  A player may only earn points when serving.  Racquetball matches are typically two games to 15 points and a tiebreaker to 11 if necessary.
Hinders are stoppages of play and result in the replay of the point.  It is the responsibility of the player to give their opponent enough room to hit the ball.  Players must give their opponent a straight shot to the front wall as well as the angle, which would result in a crosscourt shot to the opposite back corner.
Some typical examples of hinders include, but are not limited to: 1) a ball striking any part of the court, which results in an erratic rebound (fan vents, door knob, lights, etc.), 2) accidentally hitting the opponent with the ball as it is heading toward the front wall, 3) unintentionally contacting the opponent while attempting to make a play on the ball and 4) screening opponents’ view of the ball or having the ball pass between one’s legs.
Briggs explained that it is the responsibility of the player to call his/her own hinders.
“Usually I’ll call my own hinders just like you would call fouls in a pickup basketball game,” he said.
Pearson and Briggs both said important aspects of the game include keeping the opponent moving and returning serves as low on the wall as possible.
“You don’t want to simply return a serve,” Briggs said.  “You constantly have to be thinking about the best way to make your opponents’ next shot as difficult as possible.”
One strategy Pearson said was especially effective is the “Z-Serve.” The serve hits the front wall at an angle, then hits the side wall and the back corner in a Z pattern.  “It is very difficult, sometimes impossible, to return this serve when it’s executed correctly,” he said.
Another effective strategy is the “kill shot,” a shot that hits the wall or the corner of the wall just a few inches from the floor.  These shots give the opponent a very slim chance of returning the ball, hence the name “kill shot
Aside from the recreational benefits of playing a game of racquetball with friends, the sport is also an effective workout.
“Playing a game of racquetball exercises every part of the body,” Pearson said.
“If you don’t break a sweat when you play, you haven’t played hard enough.”  Briggs said, “I can usually only play for about an hour before my legs give out.”
An important safety aspect of the game is wearing goggles.  The goggles prevent serious eye injury to the player and are now required to be worn while using the courts in the Cage Center.
The seven-week racquetball course begins today and will continue to be offered by the Kinesiology Department in the future.
Briggs and Pearson said they are excited to see the sport of racquetball sweeping the campus and are prepared to take on all competition in a doubles game.

Tuesday afternoon marked the end of an era in professional sports.  Brett Favre, veteran quarterback of the Green Bay Packers, retired from the National Football League after 17 unforgettable seasons.
Since I was old enough to watch football, Favre has been my favorite player in the league.  After the lackluster days of riding the bench with our beloved Atlanta Falcons, Favre was traded to Green Bay in 1991.  Since his first appearance at Lambeau Field, a 21-point comeback win against the Cincinnati Bengals, Favre has captured the hearts of fans all over the country.
Now that Favre has decided to hang up his cleats, it is time to officially compare him to the greatest quarterbacks of all time.  With three Most Valuable Player Awards, more than any player in league history, Favre’s performance speaks for itself.
Some argue, however, that San Francisco’s Joe Montana, Miami’s Dan Marino or Denver’s John Elway deserve spots ahead of Favre on the all-time list.
To those critics, I say this: Favre won more games with less talent around him than any of these men could have ever hoped to.  Exactly who else played for Green Bay’s Super Bowl team in 1996?
Elway had Terrell Davis.  Marino had a stellar defense behind him and an excellent receiving core and still managed to avoid a Super Bowl victory.  And Montana played for, arguably, the most stacked team in the NFL during the mid-’80s.
Not only did Favre accomplish more with less, but he also rewrote the NFL record books.  Favre is the all-time leader in passes (5,377), passing yards (61,655), passing touchdowns (442) and, most importantly, wins (160).
In addition to these marks, Favre has also started in an NFL-record 253 consecutive games.  Imagine attending every class every day for 253 straight days.  Even the most studious among us can’t claim perfection in that area.  In the NFL, guys miss games because of “spasms” or “undisclosed injuries.”  Favre just got up every Sunday and went to work.
His “iron man” reputation and Southern charm make him the most appealing quarterback in recent memory to fans, teammates and the media.  His post-game press conferences made the game sound so simple.  Even after what would be his final game against the New York Giants in the Conference Championship, Favre was quoted as saying the Packers lost because they “didn’t score more than they [the Giants] did.”
It pains me to think that the last memory I have of Favre tossing a pigskin was an overtime interception.  But then again, that was always his style.  He was always more of a wild west gunslinger than a typical quarterback.
Though some experts debate Favre’s legacy, I will forever remember him as the athlete I idolized throughout my youth.  It’s obvious to me, and millions of others, that Favre is a positive role model both on and off the field.
Now, Aaron Rodgers will have to fill the enormous cleats of a living legend as Favre passes from the playing field to football immortality.