Alecia Page: triumph of a first-generation college student

May 26, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Being a first-generation college student didn't stop Alecia Page from setting high goals. Photo by Morgan Carver Photography.

Alecia Page spent her entire college career holding many titles at Western Carolina University. When she walked at the graduation ceremony on May 11, she left behind a legacy –  a program that will  provide assistance and support for first-generation college students.

“I was elected freshman year into senate, so my term started sophomore year as sophomore senator,” Page said.

Page went on to become vice president of WCU’s student body as a junior and moved up to student body president in her senior year. She also served as a delegate for the UNC Association of Student Government for two years, while also being a sister of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority at WCU.

First and foremost, though, Page was a full-time college student, and a first-generation college student at that.

While Page spent most of her college years listening to the vices of WCU’s students and fighting to make WCU a better institution, she still had to jump over the hurdles of being a first-generation college student and take on the obstacles that came along with it.

Page became passionate about helping other first-generation college students during her time in SGA. She is in the process of crating a program designed to assist first-generation college students through the entire process of obtaining a college degree.

“The general idea for the First Generation College Students (FGCS) learning community is to, first, put them in a residential area together,” Page said.

Page’s idea for a residential learning family would allow students of the same background to create a support system with each other.

“I really struggled with that my first year,” Page said, “and I can’t help but think my time here would have been easier if I had found people who had similar backgrounds sooner.”

FGCS would also have a seminar, similar to freshman and senior seminars, which would assist first-generation college students in picking classes and majors, finding and applying for scholarships, and finding places to work on campus.  The seminar would also offer “one-on-one advising for choosing classes, applying for internships and career planning,” Page explained.

Page recalls her first experience registering for classes:

When Page first registered for classes in her freshman year, she ended up taking 19 credit hours of liberal studies courses, including some honors-level classes, not realizing what a daunting workload she was taking on all at once.

“I survived but it took a lot out of me,” Page said. “I don’t think I learned as much as I could have if I had taken a normal load.”

Page hopes that FGCS will help first-generation college students get all of the information they need when it comes to registering for classes and joining clubs. She wants to smooth out the process for first-generation college students so they don’t have to struggle and learn everything on their own like she did.

Hear Page discuss her time in SGA and her thoughts about being a first-generation college student.

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WCU Confessions: depression, expression, oppression or discretion?

May 26, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Got something you want to get off your chest but are too afraid to say? Now’s your chance with the new Facebook page, Western Carolina University Confessions.

This social networking page provides an outlet for WCU students to anonymously express their feelings about the university, promote random thoughts and discuss problems with their daily lives in the hope of encouraging others. It is truly amazing how people can come together to help someone even though they may have never met before.

I spoke with the administrator of the Western Carolina University Confessions page via online chat. We both thought it would be best for her to stay anonymous in order to keep the mystery alive, but this is what she said about why she started the page,

“Originally this page started as a way for me to find out about the lives of my peers (anonymously, of course). I saw that other schools had a confession page, and I’ve always enjoyed reading about people’s secrets, so I figured why not start one for WCU as well?”

As she added to the page, it morphed into something much more than just a confession page. It’s a place where people in our WCU community can learn how to relate to each other.

“If you read through the confessions and the comments, you rarely see any negative and/or nasty comments- this community of students really wants to comfort each other. This is a truly caring, loving, and giving campus. I think this page is really helping us come together and realize there are more similarities between us than differences,” said the administrator.

The layout of the page is very simple. To post a confession all you have to do is click on the link in the ‘About’ section of the page, type out your confession, and click ‘Done.’ That’s it! As the administrator stated, this is completely anonymous. You will not be judged for what you post because, to put it simply, no one knows you posted it.

The page has flourished since it began on April 3. As of the time of this article’s publication, the page has more than 2,400 likes and over 1,300 posted confessions.

However, not all of the feedback from students regarding the page is positive. Many students believe the reaction caused by this new page is not necessarily constructive.

“I think it’s just a place to hate on Greek life,” said Kevin Bullock, a member of Theta Xi. His friend and Greek brother, Zach Perry, added, “It’s a place to cause drama.”

“It’s just an excuse for everyone to vent anonymously and act like they don’t already do it on their Facebook and Twitter accounts,” said Kelby Faw.

Regardless of the reaction from students, the Western Carolina University Confessions page continues to garner likes and post more confessions each day.

In the video below, I was able to interview many students across campus to get their opinions on the Western Carolina University Confessions Facebook Page.

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Chancellor Belcher on the WCU budget

May 26, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Dr. David O. Belcher, WCU Chancellor

In the fall 2013 semester, undergraduate WCU students who reside in-state will be paying an additional $340 (or 5.54 percent) for their education. In the coming months, the North Carolina General Assembly will decide on the budgets for the UNC school system, and there is a chance the budget will be cut yet again.

The price of tuition is very important to WCU students, as it may determine if they can continue their education or not.

Chancellor David O. Belcher is also very concerned about the possibility of yet another budget cut, and has been working diligently with his team to have a solid plan in place.

“If we were to be faced with another budget cut, we hope to not have to eliminate classes,” Belcher said. “We would try to ensure that every class is full to use our resources to the fullest extent possible.”

Belcher explained that the most expensive part of the university’s budget is salaries. Without being able to afford a top-notch staff, the university could suffer.

Hear what Chancellor Belcher had to say about possible budget cuts and how the university is preparing for it.

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WCU students prepare for life in the ‘real world’

May 10, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Western Carolina University is about to send its largest-ever class of graduates out into the world of real life jobs, but the job market for new college graduates has not improved in recent years. This discouraged this class of WCU students. They all have plans and aspirations for after they graduate. Some plan to further their education while others plan to head straight into the job market.

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Angela Laird Brenton: 1953 – 2013

May 8, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Dr. Angela Laird Brenton

Dr. Angela Laird Brenton, Western Carolina University’s provost and vice chancellor, died early Wednesday morning after a three-month battle with pancreatic cancer.

Brenton began serving as provost at WCU in August 2012 after a 16-member campus committee appointed her in May.

Brenton was born on Jan. 3, 1953, in Duncan, Oklahoma. Prior to her tenure at WCU, she served as dean of the College of Professional Studies at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock beginning in 2001. There, she worked with WCU’s current chancellor, David O. Belcher, who previously served as provost and vice chancellor at UALR.

The WCU flag at the front of campus has been lowered to half-staff in honor of Brenton. The university is offering resources for employees wishing to speak with a counseling professional.

WCU will hold a memorial celebration of Brenton’s life in the early part of the summer. Chancellor Belcher will share his plans for leadership transition in the Academic Affairs Division in the next few days.

Several of Brenton’s colleagues offered statements in her memory.

Dr. David O. Belcher, Chancellor

“We at Western Carolina University truly grieve the loss of our Provost, Dr. Angi Brenton, who died earlier today after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. She lived these last months with grace and has been an inspiration for us all.

I have known Angi for 16 years and can attest that she was a remarkable woman. She was a warm, caring individual with a great sense of humor. And she was a remarkable leader – one of the very best I have ever encountered. Angi had the capacity to advance an initiative but in a way that genuinely embraced others in the decision-making and implementation processes. She was a remarkable advocate for those she represented, an adept communicator on any level and in any forum, and a passionate believer in education and its transformative power in our society. Though she was only with us here at Western Carolina for a little over nine months, she leaves us changed for the better. We will miss her tremendously, but we will see her Western Carolina legacy blossom for years to come.”

Dr. Carol Burton, Associate Provost for Undergraduate Studies

“What struck us about Dr. Brenton is truly her desire to put students at the center of just about every decision she’d make. She’d come to the table and ask, ‘What impact will this have on students?’ She was just a consummate communicator. Even when she had to share bad news it came from the heart. She cared about students intently and that’s why she was in that position. She was a role model for many of us. She and I talked at length about what we loved about our jobs, our challenges. For her, I think it was being one step removed from students, but she knew that she could impact the lives of a large number of students as provost. She also had a deep and abiding respect for faculty and staff. She truly invested herself in this community. She embraced us with everything that she had.

The courageous way she fought was amazing. She was as upbeat and positive as she had been in eight months. She, in that regard, set an example for all of us in how to cope with tragic circumstances. She has many legacies but that is one that I will always cherish.”

Dr. Betty Farmer, Professor of Communication

“It is such a tragedy to lose someone who has so much to give, especially when she was at the pinnacle of her career. The suddenness of it is so sad. My heart goes out to Keith and her family and to her colleagues, especially Chancellor Belcher and Susan, who have known her for many years.”

Dr. Mark Lord, Interim Associate Provost

“As with anyone, there are many nuanced traits that are difficult to capture with a few simple sentences. As I have with many people I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know, I’ve learned much from Dr. Brenton (Angi) –some about work, some about life. At work, she had an exceptional ability to grasp the big picture quickly and convey that vision with clarity and confidence. I think the success of the many initiatives she led this past year (for example, numerous Dean searches, program prioritization, leadership institute) emanated from the clarity she gave to complex, important issues. As a person, Angi’s inner strength and independence became clear soon upon me getting to know her. In spite of the tremendous challenges she faced, her strong inner core has enabled her to stand strong and remain true to herself. She remained engaged in the high-level issues of the Academic Affairs division throughout her battle with cancer because of her care for and dedication to Western Carolina.”

For more information:
WCU Office of Public Relations: WCU mourns passing of Angi Brenton

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NFL veteran David Patten returns to WCU

April 29, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Former catamount and 12-year NFL veteran David Patten (Photo courtesy of the WCU Athletic Department)

Western Carolina’s football program has been in a tailspin over the last seven years, not seeing a winning season since posting a 5-4 record in 2005. With the hiring of Athletic Director Randy Eaton and Head Football Coach Mark Speir just a year ago, the foundation for turning this program around has been laid.

In February 2013, Western Carolina added another key ingredient to the mix. Former Catamount wide receiver (1992-1995) and 3-time Super Bowl champion David Patten, has joined the WCU coaching staff. Patten is a 12-year NFL veteran having played for the New York Giants, New England Patriots, Washington Redskins, New Orleans Saints and the Cleveland Browns.

During his standout career with the purple and gold, Patten hauled in 96 receptions for 1,563 yards and 14 touchdowns. He was a member of the “three amigos” that made up the Catamount receiving attack along with Kerry Hayes and Craig Aiken.

After his days in the valley, Patten was ignored by the NFL during the 1996 draft and was cut loose by the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He fell completely out of football and found himself working back home in a South Carolina warehouse.

“I came back home and I’m working in a coffe bean factory. At that time it appeared that your dream isn’t going to come to fruition,” said Patten. “I continued to believe, and at the time I couldnt really workout, but I knew in my mind and in my heart I still wanted to play.”

Patten finally got his shot at the NFL when he was signed by the New York Giants in 1997. Seeing limited opportunities at receiver, Patten’s main role with the Giants was on special teams as a kick returner. After three years with the Giants, he was yet again, released. His career received a shot in the arm when he was signed by the New England Patritots in 2001.

Perhaps the most decorated of Patten’s career, was his stint with the New England Patriots (2001-2004). In 2001, in a game against the Indianapolis Colts, Patten became only the sixth NFL player to throw, catch, and rush for a touchdown. He took one to the house off a 29-yard end-around; he caught a 91-yard bomb from quarterback Tom Brady; and topped it off by slinging a 60-yard option pass to wide receiver Troy Brown. He accounted for a total of four touchdowns that day against the Colts.

Patten really blossomed during his time with the Patriots. Along-side Tom Brady, he was a part of three Super Bowl championship teams (2002, 2004, 2005). His performace in Super Bowl XXXVI agianst the St. Louis Rams was nothing shy of spectacular. During the second quarter, Patten reeled in an 8-yard touchdown in the back corner of the end zone, helping his Patriots to a 20-17 victory to capture his first ring.

“My dream had come true. Everybody dreams of catching a touchdown pass in a Super Bowl and I achieved that,” Patten said. “It was as if all of the hard work, all of the set backs had made it that much sweeter. It made it all worth it.”

The success carried over for Patten in the following season where he amassed career highs in receptions (61) and yards (824) along with five touchdowns. After claiming his third ring in Super Bowl XXXIX, Patten was surpassed by the next batch of great Patriot receivers, David Givens and Deion Branch. From 2004 until 2010, Patten bounced around through free agency to different teams until finally announcing his retirement on July 31, 2010. Patten’s final tallies were impressive as he carved up defenses for 324 receptions, 4,715 yards and 24 touchdowns. With his versatility, he spent some time in the backfield as well as a kick returner on special teams. The do-it-all receiver gobbled up 106 yards on the ground off 13 carries and a touchdown. He piled on 2,273 additional yardage and a touchdown while returning kicks.

On February 11, 2013, Western Carolina announced that David Patten is returning to WCU, this time as a member on the sideline.

“We’re very excited that David Patten is joining our football coaching staff for the 2013 season,” said Speir during the press conference in February. “David will bring a lot of energy, knowledge and passion to our program. Having someone like David with 12 years of NFL experience and three Super Bowl rings around our players and coaches will be a tremendous asset and boost to our program. He knows what it takes to compete at a high level and it’s awesome to be able to have a guy on staff that came through our program at Western Carolina and excelled on the highest stage.”

During Patten’s playing days at WCU, Speir was on the sideline as an assistant. They each left to pursue other careers in football, and now over a decade later, both have returned as coaches.

“Coach Speir called me out of the blue and asked me if I would be interested in coaching and I felt, ‘Hey lets give it a shot’ and see what comes out of it,” Patten said. “As a player, one of my strengths has always been the ability to motivate my fellow teammates and I felt with my experience, I can help instill within them the work ethic, and doing things the right way to give them the opportunity to be successful and help get this program turned around.”

David Patten discusses his football career at Western Carolina University (Interview conducted by Philip Jackson, video provided by Caleb Rutherford)

 

 

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