Congratulations to the L-R Nursing Program!

Recently the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), our Nursing program’s accrediting body, completed its review and has re-accredited our program for ten years, the maximum number of years a program may receive.

In addition, our Nursing graduates who took their boards first time in 2010 achieved a 100% pass rate on their first endeavors. There were 31 eligible students who all tested and all passed! Of the 70 nursing programs in the state of North Carolina, only eights schools reported a 100% passing rate; the average score was 88%.

October Also Recognized As National Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Submitted by: Dr. Sarah Gareau

Between the pink Facebook profile pictures, Race for the Cure, and pink ribbons on merchandise, many of you may have noticed that October is breast cancer awareness month.What you may not have known is that it is also National Domestic Violence Awareness month. The chance of a woman having invasive breast cancer some time during her lifetime is a little less than 1 in 8. The chance of a woman being physically or sexually assaulted by a partner at some point in her lifetime is 1 in 4. In fact, according to Clotheslineproject.org, almost as many women died during the Vietnam War from domestic violence as soldiers died. While there have been critical achievements in reducing domestic violence through such measures as the Violence Against Women Act, domestic violence continues to be a ‘devastating public health crisis.

According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, domestic violence can be defined as a pattern of behavior in any relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner, including behaviors that frighten, intimidate, terrorize, manipulate, hurt, humiliate, blame, injure or wound someone.Although you might think of domestic violence as an issue that only impacts poor women or women of color, it can happen to anyone regardless of race, socioeconomic background, educational level, age, sexual orientation, religion, or gender. Yes, even men can be the victims of abuse.

If you are interested in reducing domestic violence, there are several things you can do:

• Get educated on the facts.
• Help a friend or family member who is being abused
• Volunteer for your local domestic violence shelter or rape crisis center.
• Share your story if you are a survivor to reduce stigma and encourage those experiencing domestic violence to seek help
• Take action and become an advocate.
• Educate others by becoming a community health educator.

If you are in a domestic violence relationship, there is help. Contact the National Domestic Violence hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or contact Jenny Smith, MSW, LCSW, EdS at 828-328-7252 to make an on campus appointment for one-on-one counseling.

Dr. Sarah Gareau is the Director of the new L-R Master of Public Health program. Dr. Gareau has planned public health programming at the state and national levels related to women’s health and rights and will soon be serving on the Rape Crisis Center of Catawba County’s Board of Directors.

Martin Arrives on Campus!

The statue of Martin Luther arrived this morning on campus. The statue will be erected this week and will be dedicated officially during this weekend's Homecoming Celebration!

Luther Statue to Arrive on Monday!

Lenoir-Rhyne University will soon be home to one of the world’s largest statues of Martin Luther, whose teaching launched the Protestant Reformation and created the Lutheran Church. This 12-foot granite statue is expected to be delivered to campus and erected on Monday morning, Oct. 4 with a dedication to follow on Saturday, Oct. 9 during Homecoming festivities.


The statue is a gift from Charlotte philanthropist Irwin Belk, who previously donated nine bronze statues of athletes playing different sports to Lenoir-Rhyne. His generosity also helped fund the LRU Irwin Belk Track.

Nursing Student Receives Scholarship

Sarah Estridge, a senior Lenoir-Rhyne University Nursing student, has been selected to receive a scholarship from the Great 100, Inc., RN Nursing Excellence Organization of North Carolina for the year 2010-2011.

Ms. Estridge was chosen by the School of Nursing faculty to receive the scholarship from The Great 100. Ms. Estridge was honored at a black-tie Gala at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex in Greensboro, NC on September 18, 2010.

Concert Series Presents Heinavanker October 3rd

The concert series plays host to Heinavanker as its opening event for the 2010-2011 season, a celebration of ten years of concert excellence.  Heinavanker (the Haywagon) is a seven member a cappella vocal ensemble from Estonia, in the midst of a United States tour.  We have hosted them before and they were one of our audience’s favorites, so we are happy to have them return for this 10th anniversary year.

Their program will include Estonian folk music, and sacred music:  Middle Ages and Renaissance polyphony, and modern compositions inspired by the same.

The event is Sunday, October 3 at 3:00 p.m. in the P.E. Monroe Auditorium.  Free admission to all. For more information, visit the ensemble’s website at http://www.heinavanker.ee/ or the L-R Music Program's website has information about the group, along with a polished looking poster, available for printing and sharing, at http://mus.lr.edu/Heinavanker

L-R Alums To Be Presented As Church Musicians-in-Residence

Robert and Ada Smith

University’s Sacred Music Program will present L-R alums, Ada ‘75 and Robert ‘79 Smith, as Church Musicians-in-Residence from October 4 – 6. Public events include a choral reading session, “Choral Gems.... remember these?” on Monday, Oct. 4, at 7:15pm, in the Mauney Music Recital Hall. The public is also invited to a chapel service, also in Mauney Recital Hall, on Wednesday, Oct. 6, at 9:20 am, where the Smiths will lead a service based on The Lord’s Prayer.

While in residence, they will teach a class on children in worship (Tuesday, 8:00 am and the public is invited – Mauney Music Bldg.), give instruction to the organ majors, and work with the Chapel Choir in preparation for the service on Wednesday. There is no cost for any of these events.

New L-R Freshmen President Elected!

Congratulations to the New L-R 
Freshmen President 
Marcus Byrd!

Communication Intern Assist Alumna With Festival

Senior, Amy Saatzer recently had the opportunity to assist with the 1st Annual Dirty Dancing Festival at Lake Lure. Through her communication internship with the The McConnell Group Public Relations, Inc., Amy was able to work with L-R Alumnus, Michelle McConnell Yelton in the planning, marketing and implementation of the event.

Make sure to check out the upcoming October issue of the Lenoir-Rhynean for a full feature story highlighting Amy's learning adventure! 

Various vendors display during event

Main performance stage

Gala Tent at Fire Fly Cove

STUDENTS TALK LEGISLATURE

Submitted By Aaron Bradley Scott
Nation's Oldest Student Legislature comes to Hickory

The North Carolina Student Legislature is the oldest active student legislature in the United States. Founded in 1937, the body has come together each month in the academic calendar to express ideas about legislative topics. It has been reported that 40% of all Student Legislature ideas have been recorded into law. In many regards, those coming together at Lenoir-Rhyne University on September 25-26th are the future leaders of our state; Famous alumni include Governor Jim B. Hunt, Jr., Governor James Holshouser, Senator Robert Morgan, and Charlotte Mayor Eddie Knox, to name a few. The body resembles the North Carolina General Assembly, as they hold interim councils once a month at participating universities and colleges around the state of North Carolina. In April, they meet in Raleigh to hold session in the General Assembly buildings and meeting rooms to present matters in a formal setting.

Aaron Bradley Scott

The Lenoir-Rhyne University delegation was selected to host this year's opening ceremonies after an active performance in last year's academic calendar. Last year's delegation at Lenoir-Rhyne produced eight pieces of legislature including a 17-page bill about North Carolina Energy Modernization. 

"This program is what created my love for legislative debate," says Delegation Chairperson Aaron Bradley Scott. Scott, a resident of Connelly Springs, ran for North Carolina House of Representatives in Burke and McDowell Counties and lost by 160 votes in the May Democratic Primary. Lenoir-Rhyne University offers the Student Legislature as an elective credit for Political Science majors, but it is officially a club on the university's campus. "We don't just have Political Science majors, we have Education, Economics, Philosophy majors, and more," Vice-Delegation Chairperson Spencer Voelkert explains. Voelkert, a native of Alamance County, started participating in the Student Legislature after a few stints of representing in the Model U.N. program on campus. So far, Lenoir-Rhyne has 14 current students participating in this year's North Carolina Student Legislature.

According to the faculty advisor, Dr. Joseph Mancos, “it is the largest I have seen in many, many years.” Last year, Lenoir-Rhyne was recognized for many accomplishments within the state-wide program where Dr. Joseph Mancos won Faculty Advisor of the Year, Lenoir-Rhyne won Best Small School Delegation, and Aaron Bradley Scott won Best Speaker and Best Resolution on separate occasions.

Dr. Joe Mancos

Presently, Lenoir-Rhyne's delegation is holding a fundraiser of selling coupon books that can be used at local restaurants and other attractions in the Hickory Metro area for $20. The money raised will help pay membership dues or other expenses that occur while traveling to Interim Councils across the state of North Carolina. If you are interested in purchasing a book or finding out more about the North Carolina Student Legislature at Lenoir-Rhyne, email Delegation Chairperson Aaron Bradley Scott for details at scotta@my.lr.edu

The opening Interim Council at Lenoir-Rhyne University is September 25th at 9:00am in the McCrorie Center. September 26th the event will be moved to the Rhyne Building.