Volume 103 April 19, 2012 Number 23

Football coach announced

PAUL WATSON Sports Editor Tony Kunczewski has been named Berrys first football head coach. A press conference was held on Monday to introduce Kunczewski (pronounced kun-CHESS-key) to the community. I was so impressed with everybody when I went through the day-and-a-half interview a couple of weeks back. I was joking around about this a lot, but I was wondering, Where are you guys hiding everything? Everything was so top notch here, and the professionalism that they took through this whole process was so impressive to me and my family, said Kunczewski. A search committee that included professor of management Paula Englis, Director of Athletics Todd Brooks, Assistant Director of Athletics Jana Johnson, Associate Professor of Religion and Philosophy Jeffrey Lidke, Director of Enrollment Management Brett Kennedy, Assistant Dean of Students Lindsey Taylor, baseball Head Coach David Beasley, sophomore Kyle Fitting and Student Government Association Secretary junior Stacey Fronek chose Kunczewski from a pool of 265 applicants. The committee presented their thoughts about each candidate, but college President Stephen R. Briggs and Vice President of Student Affairs Debbie Heida made the final decision. Before coming to Berry, Kunczewski served as defensive coordinator of the LaGrange College Panthers in LaGrange, Ga. He helped develop all aspects of a start up program from its inception in 2005. He organized the entire development of the defensive side of the football team, from establishing a defensive playbook, to teaching a brand new coaching staff with all first year college coaches and players, to managing all aspects of game planning and personnel decisions. Over a six year span of recruiting and coaching, Kunczewski recruited and coached seven all-conference players, the conference defensive player of the year, four players selected to play in the Tazon de Estrelles All-Star game in Mexico and one Presidential Scholar. Off the field, he has been a finalist three times for staff person of the year sponsored by LaGrange College Student Government Association, and was selected by the college president to be on the search committee for the next Dean of Students. The Panthers went 9-2 in 2008 under Kunczewski, advancing to the NCAA Division III playoffs in the third season of the program, the third-fastest trip from start up to playoff appearance in NCAA Division III history. The 9-2 record was the largest single season improvement in NCAA Division III history. The same year, Kunczewskis defense nationally ranked 18th in total defense, fifth in pass defense, 15th in sacks and sixth in tackles for loss.

ASHLEY MCINTYRE, Editor-in-Chief

LISTEN strives for official club status

KELLY DICKERSON News Editor The lesbian, bisexual, gay, transgender (LBGT) group on campus known as LISTEN has started a petition and planned an event to generate campus support for their approval as an official Berry College club. Sophomore Rebekah Ingram said on Friday, April 13, the change.org petition was created and as of Wednesday had just over 1,000 signatures. Senior Stacey Sexton said LISTENs only goal is equal status. Our goal is not to be against the administration. Our goal is simply to be treated as an equal organization, Sexton said. Associate Professor John Countryman said his reply to the campus wide email sent on Wednesday, April 11 addressing the hate crime that occurred on March 26 was not directed at Dean of Students Debbie Heida and added that she has been very receptive and helpful to the LGBT community at Berry. I realize talk is cheap is a flippant thing to say, Countryman said. But just talking about the issue doesnt cost Berry a thing. Taking action will cost us. Countryman said that if Berry grants LISTEN official club status, money from donors that Berry has come to take for granted could be withdrawn and

SEE FOOTBALL P. 10

Tony Kunczewski was named the new head football coach for the program that will start Fall 2013. Kunczewski addressed the Berry community Monday in an open conference and laid out his philosophy for the new program, recruiting plans and answered questions.

Cottages converted to student housing

KRISTEN SELLERS Deputy News Editor In the 2012-2013 school year, Hope Cottage, Louise Cottage, Sunshine Cottage and Poland Cottage will all be used as student housing converted to accommodate the growing student population. Current faculty and staff housing Hope, Louise and Poland will be renovated to be more suitable for students lifestyles. Sunshine Cottage is currently a part of the Child Development Center providing for the three and four year old children. In addition to the classroom space, Sunshine also serves as the library and storage for the Child Development Center. Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Residence Life Lindsey Taylor said these recent decisions all happened quickly with a walk through to assess the buildings and the final decision being announced Friday of that same week. Taylor described the process as a snowball effect. The timing of faculty housing contracts to end or be renewed coincided with room selection which opened up more buildings to transform into student housing. Taylor said the Cottages were needed because of a shortage of beds. The number of available beds was not proving to provide relief for enrolled students and these opportunities opened up. The Child Development Center consists of Faith Cottage, Atlanta Hall and Sunshine Cottage. Dean Heida said all three are no longer needed which is why Sunshine is being reconfigured to student housing. Based on enrollment in the Child Development Center, they did not need all three buildings Heida said. There are potential plans for a replacement classroom to accommodate the loss of space but if it is not decided upon, then with less room, there will be fewer student work positions as well as two fewer teachers for the coming school year.
SEE COTTAGES P. 3

some prospective students may choose not to attend Berry. College President Stephen R. Briggs said he wants to find a solution in which Berry is welcoming and while still maintaining its Christian values. There are some people who want to recognize LISTEN as a symbolic gesture as recognition of gay and lesbian students and want them to feel loved and appreciated, Briggs said. On the other hand, other people chose Berry because of its traditional Christian values and beliefs. But there are people on other sides of this issue as well. Heida said the Board of Trustees does not make the decision on whether clubs have official status; that decision is made by the presidents office. However, Heida said the Board does have significant input and does not have one unified opinion on the issue. Briggs said the decision is a complicated one. Students tend to think about students, faculty tend to think about faculty, and there are eight to 10 different constituencies [parents, alumni, friends of the college and others], Briggs said. But the president interacts with all of them and makes decisions with all of those in mind with a deep appreciation for the mission, identification, history, health and future of the college and weigh many different factors.
SEE LISTEN P. 2

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NEWS
Countryman said that the concluding statement in the campus-wide email sent by Heida prompted his reply. Heida stated in the email the actions of one person can impact Berry in many ways including those of the person responsible and those who are speaking up about the kind of campus we want to be. Countryman said he agrees that one person can have a big impact. That one person can make a difference is a sentiment I heartily endorse and believe in, Countryman said. I just happened to be that first person [to respond to the email]. Ingram said she believes the hate crime has had a huge impact on the campus. I think we really got people that have jumped on the bandwagon, like me, who really want to see LISTEN become official because of this hate crime, Ingram said. A lot of people are saying enough is enough. Countryman said he does not believe in imposing a brand of morality through donations, especially at the expense of another group on campus. Even though taking action could mean the withdrawal of a significant donor, there are other alumni that would step up and fill the gap, Countryman said. I have heard several alumni say I would give to Berry but I cant accept something like that on campus. Countryman said that another statement in the email caught his attention. Heida stated in the email that We [Berry] strive to be a community where all are valued and where no one is targeted based on race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation. Countryman said there was a problem in that statement. There is a disconnect there, Countryman said. The LGBT community has never been afforded full membership. Countryman said a surprisingly large amount of students, faculty and alumni agree that Berry is on the wrong side of history regarding this issue. I believe this is the Civil Rights movement of the generation, Countryman said. For my generation it revolved around African Americans. Heida said the main differences between LISTEN and

APRIL 19, 2012

LISTEN
CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 So what youre trying to do is find a way to deal with the disagreements and conflicts, which is hard because everyone thinks theyre right. Briggs said a decision will be made sometime in September. Briggs said the faculty discussion on Tuesday was a positive one. What I always like to say is that since we have over 150 faculty, we will have over 150 viewpoints on any issue, Briggs said. Berry has been recognizing new religious organizations [over the past couple of years] and well be using that as a model so we can all learn something. Junior Tamara Stegall said she is optimistic about the result of the faculty meeting. I would like it to pave the way for more peaceable discussion, Stegall said. I would like this to transition into having a discussion involving the student body as well as the faculty. Ingram said this issue should not be separated from the hate crime. I do not want to put a wall up between racism and homophobia, Ingram said. The hate crime included a homophobic slur and weve got to be able to educate and communicate about this. Countryman said former college president Scott Colley embraced the idea of granting club status to LISTEN but the Board of Trustees disapproved of the proposal on the grounds that LISTEN was an advocacy group. Sexton said she does not believe that should be grounds for denying official club status. Our response to that is, what in the world is not an advocacy group? Sexton said. By that reasoning many groups on campus should not exist. Briggs said that focusing on the decision of recognizing LISTEN in the past is not relevant to the discussion and would prefer to move the conversation forward.

officially recognized clubs is that they must get approval for reserving spaces for events and budget requests come through the Dean of Students Office, and they are not included in official Berry College publications or listed on the colleges website as a club. Sexton said LISTEN now has a quasi-official status under the Dean of Students office. She said LISTEN has not tried to put on many events from fear of retribution. Were not exactly sure what would happen to us, Sexton said. Would we lose that little bit of leeway that we have? Because there has been a time when LISTEN has been completely underground. Heida said the group known as LISTEN has existed on campus about nine or ten years but previously it has existed under other names. Stacey Sexton said pushes for official club status have been off and on since LISTEN was first formed. Were all excited about the new football coach but of the schools that make up our new conference, were the only one that does not have an official LGBT club, Sexton said. Heida said both she and Provost Katherine Whatley received complaints from students about spam in regard to replies to the campus-wide email addressing the hate crime. However, complaints had been coming in the weeks prior to the email addressing the hate crime in response to professors announcing summer classes and sending multiple emails about the same event. Heida said an IT survey is being conducted to see what reply all option is used at similar schools and who is given access to it. Ingram said LISTEN created a Facebook event scheduled for Reading Day April 25 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Krannert Lawn. All members of the Berry community are invited. Ingram said LISTEN also has a Twitter, Tumblr and Gmail account and a specific hashtag of listenupBerry. Students Melissa Moore and Kylia Goodner organized the event on Reading Day and Easy Baked Improv will be performing at 3:30 p.m. There will also be food and tie-dying.

Field Frenzy planned, Relient K to perform

JESSICA BRYANT Staff Reporter Field Frenzy will take place at Richards Gym Saturday from 12-4 p.m. and will include food and games including giant tricycle races, a nascar simulator, skeeball, giant twister and more. Field Frenzy is intended to provide a big end-of-the-year spring fling for students [and] it is the last chance we get to have fun as a community and de-stress in the heat of the sun before finals start, Events Coordinator for KCAB Junior Markie Fleming said. Fleming said that The Varsity will be catering and that they will also have Tornado Potatoes, which are fried sliced potatoes on a stick, along with a stand for King of Pops, which is an Atlanta based popsicle vendor. They have a variety of flavors including but not limited to: Strawberry Lemonade, Mexican Chocolate, Arnold Palmer, and Coconut Lemongrass. Along with the free activities and free food there will also be live music from Sam Alexander and Brian Regan. Students should come to this event because it is free fun and free food and if I were students I wouldnt want to miss this awesome event. Assistant Director of Student Activities Lydia Gordon said students can also expect a lemonade stand, popcorn and drinks to be available at this event. She said a rock wall along with an obstacle course would be part of the activities portion of the event. Gordon said that she expects about 400 students to come to this event and that the event is supposed to be a Marthapaloozalike event for the spring. Gordon also said that the total cost of the event should be around $21,500. The event following Field Frenzy is Exam Jam featuring Relient K in the Cage Arena at 8 p.m. on Saturday. The opening act for Relient K will be Allison Weiss, a singer-songwriter originally from Athens, Ga. The cost of the concert is around $45,000, Gordon said. The budget for the concert comes directly from student activity fees. The Exam Jam committee chair Dakota Floyd said the band has a new album coming out this spring, which could boost peoples interest to attend the concert. Gordon said that she estimates about 1,000 people will attend this event. Gordon said the concession stand in the Cage will be open during the concert and that the Berry College Cheerleaders will be running the concession stand to raise money for their team.