As we stare at the TV screen,
The lights go dark.
WAPA is at work again!
Our class and our professor have disappeared.
In the 7pm darkness, we cannot see,
But we hear each other’s frustration.
Generators kick in and lights turn on.
Now we can see clearly,
That we still have no signal.
We wonder what St. Thomas is learning,
As we stare at the frozen screen with muttered curses:
“Far site disconnected.”
Arige Shrouf, 2015
(published on http://uvivoice.net/2015/04/26/college-without-the-classroom-how-online-and-video-conference-classes-at-uvi-compare-to-traditional-courses/ on April 26, 2015)
ARIGE SHROUF |
ST. CROIX— It’s 4 o’clock on a Monday afternoon as Sarah Jagrup heads to her first class of the new semester. A brief glance at her schedule indicates she has Caribbean Literature in room 401 from 4-5:15 p.m. She is unaware that the class is a video conference course or that the professor is on St. Thomas as she enters the theater in the Evans Center Building.
She walks in to find the room in complete darkness and completely empty. Sarah double-checks the room and time on her schedule. Reassured, she turns on the lights and makes her way to the center of the room as she waits for her classmates and her professor to arrive.
Ten minutes pass and nothing happens. She is still alone in the largest classroom on campus. Sarah decides to investigate why no one is there and finds out that the class is video conference, so she heads to the library to get help from the IT department.
After a thorough investigation to determine which classroom the class is being held on in St. Thomas, the helpful IT technician connects Sarah with her class on St. Thomas.
When the connection goes through, she finds they have been conducting class without her for the last 30 minutes. She is the only student registered for the course on St. Croix while there are about 17 or 18 students on St. Thomas. A single person missing is easily overlooked.
Touchscreen display which controls video conference equipment.
Sarah goes through this tedious process of trying to connect with her professor and classmates on St. Thomas every Monday and Wednesday afternoon. She makes it a habit to contact IT before making her way to her class since she anticipates an endless list of issues with the equipment. She is at a total loss on how to operate the video conference equipment herself until six weeks into the semester, when an IT technician decides to show her how to operate the technology.
As an education major, Sarah has to have a certain amount of patience, but she confesses that after several days of dealing with lags, glitches, missing out on class time, and being overlooked, her patience was at an all-time low.
“It was horrible and disappointing to me. I was lost and really fed up with the course,” Sarah said. “I could not wait for it to be over.”
“I felt like the ugly duckling, and I was at a total disadvantage,” Sarah said. “It should not be that bad, but it is. The people on the other side just don’t understand our frustration.”
After such a horrible experience, Sarah developed an aversion to video conference classes, but she would soon realize that video conference and online classes are impossible to avoid at the University of the Virgin Islands, and in any case, it is a totally different experience when the professor is on St. Croix and the St. Croix students have the advantage.
Out of the roughly 330 classes currently being taught at UVI’s St. Croix campus – some of them repeated courses being taught by several professors or in different sections – 70 of them are video conference courses and 33 of them are online. Most of these courses are upper level courses and the professors are located on the St. Thomas campus. This means that about 31 percent of all classes being taught on the St. Croix campus are asynchronous upper level courses in which the student either never sees the professor or in which the professor is merely one of several faces on a screen.
Online and video conference courses do have their advantages because they allow students to have access to more classes and more professors than one campus provides. Online courses in particular can also be more convenient for commuter and non-traditional students who have busy lives and have a harder time making it to classes on a regular basis.
Despite the advantages, students and even some professors seem to prefer regular classes to online or video conference classes.
Dr. David Gould, an English professor, prefers teaching in the classroom to teaching online because in online classes there is “not enough face to face communication and online classes encourage plagiarism.”
The login page for the site used to connect to classes online.
(Photo credit – Arige Shrouf)
“I prefer regular classes in a single classroom in which I can interact with the professor and my classmates more effectively,” Corwin Commabatch, a junior majoring in business administration said. “But online classes represent a challenge that can be useful for when we graduate and we are on our own.”
According to Commabatch, online classes force students to be more responsible, to “learn to adjust and be professional” and they are more convenient because they allow him to work at his own pace.
Dr. Valerie Combie, a Master Professor of English, certified to teach online classes said, “I always prefer regular classes. I like the interaction and I can assist students more when they are present in real life.”
“In video conference classes, it is harder to engage with the students,” Dr. Gould said.
With about 88 percent of junior and senior level English courses, 85 percent of upper level communications courses, 58 percent of criminal justice courses, 50 percent of accounting courses and 35 percent of upper level psychology courses – just to name a few – currently being taught online or via video conference, UVI professors and students are no strangers to the varied class formats and most have their preferences.
Zohn Fleming, a sophomore speech communication and theater major said, “I like the video conference classes better because I get to hear a lot of different opinions from students on both or all three campuses. I wish more of my classes were video conference, but I don’t like online classes because I just keep forgetting to do the work.”
With asynchronous classes, it sometimes seems to be a case of “out of sight, out of mind.”
“The video conference class got to the point where I just did what I had to do and nothing more. I would sit in class and be on my phone or iPad the whole time because no one cared,” Sarah Jagrup said. “My interest was not there at all because there was a total disconnect and I was left out. I wished I had more access to my professor.”
“I can’t engage in an online class when the professor is on St. Thomas, but now that I am a senior, I just don’t care anymore,” Sarah said.
“I don’t think it’s fair for students on the remote campus,” Dr. Combie said.
Sophia Horsford, a junior majoring in criminal justice said, “the professors in St. Thomas are hard to get in contact with and if more of our classes were regular classes with just St. Croix, we would have no technical difficulties.”
I would prefer if more of my classes were regular/traditional classes because in class it’s more personal,” Olinger Augustin, a sophomore majoring in communications said. “You don’t have to yell over to the camera and you are more likely to be remembered.”
Shanah Bannis, a senior psychology major said, “I prefer regular classes for the interaction and online classes for the convenience, but in video conference courses is it not easy to engage both sides.”
Despite the challenges of asynchronous courses, they play a crucial role in our campus and, when the technology works and the students are kept engaged, these courses can be effective and provide the campus with a useful resource to connect with not only St. Thomas but St. John as well. Without video conference and online courses, there would be over 100 fewer classes at UVI and taking the necessary classes would be an even greater challenge for students trying to graduate in a timely manner.
Video conference classroom in the St. John Academic Center, allowing students to connect with the two main UVI campuses.
(photo credit: uvi.edu)
“I actually like VC classes,” Dr. Gillian Royes, a communications professor said. “It can be fun with small classes where the students on both campuses get to discuss issues together.”
“Providing video-conferencing and on-line courses provides a service to those who may not otherwise have the opportunity to matriculate,” Nancy W. Morgan, a professor of education, said. “With a motivated student, is not ‘something’ better than ‘nothing’?”
For students like Sarah Jagrup who have had horrible experiences with online or video conference classes, that motivation is hard to come by or maintain.
“At the end of the day,” Sarah said, “you just have to suck it up and get used to it because more and more of your classes are going to be online or video conference.”
(Published on http://uvivoice.net/2015/02/14/black-history-month-at-hbcu-is-uvi-living-up-to-the-hype/ on Feb. 14, 2015)
ARIGE SHROUF |
ST. CROIX— Black History Month at a Historically Black University should be a grand event, but many students feel the University of the Virgin Islands is not doing enough to acknowledge the importance of the tradition this year.
UVI students acknowledge the importance of Black History Month to them and to our community. Even when they are unaware of its origins, they understand the importance of upholding the tradition of the celebration.
Black History Month was initialized as “Negro History Week” in 1926 by Dr. Woodson and was expanded by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) to encompass an entire month in 1976.
In 1986, the observance of Black History Month was passed into law and has since been a symbol of the accomplishments of African Americans.
When interviewed, over twenty students admitted to feeling as though UVI could be doing more this February to really highlight the achievements of African Americans and embrace the spirit of Black History Month.
“It is a celebration of everything that was done to pave our way,” SGA President Sophia Johnson said. “It should really be celebrated more than just one month out of the year.”
“Black History Month means freedom. It is a way of saying ‘we matter, we are here,’ and of allowing our actions to show who we really are,” said Gabriel Lawrence, a senior member of Brothers with a Cause.
“I believe Black History is very important to our culture,” senior Jermaine Tavernier said. “We could find more creative ways to celebrate.”
“Black History Month is about recognizing all the great people that came before us,” sophomore Kennisha Grant said. “We are not really doing enough; UVI could do more.”
“I like to be wowed during Black History Month, and I am not being wowed,” junior Pamela Muhammad said.
These seem to be common feelings among the UVI community.
Judith Rogers, Director of Libraries at UVI, said Black History Month is “an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of blacks to the development of the world overall.”
“It is a time to reflect and let the past motivate you to move forward and stay away from negativity,” said Paulette Jarvis, a recent graduate of the nursing program.
“If we want to shine the blacks, we need to shine our history,” Gabriel Lawrence said. “We would not be where we are today without it and we need to improve our efforts.”
But is UVI coming up short in honoring and observing Black History Month, or are students simply too busy or unwilling to take part in the events that are taking place?
Paulette Jarvis said, “I never have time to participate on campus, so I don’t really know what’s going on.” She admits that she has heard of some events happening on campus, but she does not pay them much attention. She is simply too busy to participate.
This seems to be true of many students on campus.
According to Sophia Johnson, “the biggest challenge in planning any event on campus is actually getting them involved.”
In an effort to encourage UVI students to participate, the UVI libraries have had 34 African Arts Panels on display all month long.
Students can stop for a few minutes at a time and learn something about Black Heritage.
Many members of the UVI community have stopped to admire the exhibit.
African Arts Display at the library on the Albert A. Sheen campus.
(photo credit -Arige Shrouf)
Judith Rogers hopes students will “engage with the exhibit and learn from it.”
“Too many phenomenal contributions go unknown,” Rogers said. “It is for the students, but we can’t do it on our own; there needs to be collaboration for us to have a well-rounded curriculum.”
This month there were several activities on campus that highlighted the accomplishments of African Americans.
On Monday, Feb. 9, Student Government Association hosted an event outside student activities which highlighted the contributions of George Washington Carver.
SGA makes peanut punch outside student activities in honor of George Washington Carver.
(photo credit – Arige Shrouf)
According to SGA Vice-President Janelle Royer, the 30 person turnout met their expectations and she felt accomplished simply seeing the students enjoying a cup of peanut punch and dancing to the music played by the DJ.
But a 30 person turnout is rather big for UVI.
When SGA hosted its event in honor of Ben Carson on Tuesday, only ten students participated in the brain dissection at the RT Park.
Students watch as biology students, Nakeisha Prantice and Chenae Allen, dissect sheep brains.
(photo credit – Arige Shrouf)
The annual Man-Up event hosted on Wednesday was followed up by a tribute to the inventor of ice cream, Augustus Carver, on Thursday. Both events had much larger turnouts than other events this month.
This month Counseling and Career Services is also hosting a quote contest and several clubs and organizations have hosted movie viewings.
There will likely continue to be more small events throughout the month, but if students are not participating, will it ever be enough?
“We are doing as much as we can and as much as we think will be successful and have an audience,” Judith Rogers said.
Sophia Johnson said, “We are doing our best to create an interactive environment this month. We are trying to focus our efforts on stuff people will like and participate in.”
Gabriel Lawrence said he suggests we really take this time this month and use this opportunity to “show and shine the Blacks.”
We need make the most out of Black History Month this year and every year to come. This is an opportunity to make the university community acknowledge why it should be “proud to be an HBCU,” Lawrence said.
(Posted on the UVI Voice facebook page on Feb. 9 2015)
SGA is making peanut punch outside student activities on the St. Croix campus in honor of George Washington Carver. SGA urges students to not miss out on the first event launching Week of the Blacks this Black History Month. There is a DJ and free peanut punch.
(Posted on the UVI Voice facebook page on Feb. 10 2015)
SGA is about to start dissecting brains! This is day two of Week of the Blacks this Black History Month. Today is in honor of Ben Carson.
(Posted on the UVI Voice facebook page on Mar. 26 2015)
UVI Pride Week Soccer game score: 4 faculty 3 students!! Faculty and staff yell out: “Better luck next year students!”
(Posted on the UVI Voice facebook page on Mar. 27 2015)
VI Lit Fest Panel Discussion: “What’s in a Good Story.” One of many events scheduled for this weekend. Join the activities at the UVI Great Hall!
Session II of panel discussions at the Great Hall and NWW 102-103 going on right now. Sit through an entire session or watch a part of each!
(Posted on the UVI Voice facebook page on Nov. 21 2013)
Shadow Our Students (SOS) event going on right now on the St. Croix campus. The students are relaxing and enjoying a lunch break before returning to an exciting day which they will get a taste for college life. The future starts here…
(Posted on the UVI Voice facebook page on Sept. 19 2013)
This is a special moon tonight. Today is the only day of the year with the same number of daylight hours as nighttime ones!
When the world was flat
So small and so vast
When you could fall off its edge
and plummet into the unknown.
When we thought we knew what truth was,
We knew our place in the world
We discovered truths and exploited them.
We were savages, mankind.
But something always changes
Now we know the Earth is round
So large and within reach
At its end, a universe
Waiting to be explored.
The only truth that matters is our own,
and our place in the world.
We preserve truths by using them.
Have we reformed, mankind?
For something occasionally changes
What of when the world is gone
How big will it be? How accessible?
When there is no end,
Only thoughts of what once was.
What truths will matter then,
When we have carved our place in the world.
We regret our actions for their consequences.
It is too late mankind!
Because nothing ever really changes,
Even though everything eventually does.
Arige Shrouf, 2013
I
One afternoon, Anansi was sitting under a towering palm tree just outside the UVI campus trying to take a nap. He was supposed to be looking for a job, but did not feel like working.
You see, Anansi was a trickster by trade, a free spirit. He could not be happy tied down to a job that involved actual work.
Why should I have to work when my neighbors are always so willing to do my work for me? he thought.
He had come to the palm drive at UVI because it was the last place Aso would look for him. He could finally get some peace and quiet. But try as he might, Anansi could not relax enough to rest.
He had to find a way out of getting a job. If he came home without one, Aso would lock him out of the house for good.
Bro’ Rabbit and Bro’ Chicken walked by. They stopped when they spotted Anansi.
“Why Anansi,” said Bro’ Chicken “why you look so sad?”
“Aso is making me get a job!” Anansi cried.
“You… working? said Bro’ Rabbit. His eyes widened and his nose twitched. “Why that is not a tragedy, it’s the funniest thing I have ever heard.” He and Bro’ chicken burst into an uncontrollable fit of laughter.
“I don’t find this funny in the least” Anansi grumbled as he got up from reclining against the palm tree.
“You would if you were in our shoes Anansi. You have never done an honest day’s work in your life” said Bro’ Rabbit while trying to catch a breath.
“Why should I have to get a job? I don’t need any money? I’m a spider!”
“Well,” said Bro’ Chicken “if you bought your goods instead of taking them from everyone else…”
“What’s the big deal about working anyway?” Anansi interrupted him. “It’s not like you have jobs.”
“We don’t have jobs because we’re full time students” said Bro’ Rabbit.
“And we have scholarships” added Bro’ Chicken. “As long as we keep our grades up, we don’t have to pay for anything.”
At this bit of information, Anansi got a huge grin on his face stretching from ear to ear. This may be just the answer he was looking for. The two were still talking, but Anansi ignored them. Anansi’s skin prickled a plan formulating.
Yes, this plan would work; now to carry it out…
II
Anansi made short work of enrolling at UVI. When he got home the next day, he told Aso that he was a full-time student and could not get a job.
He was surprised when Aso stared to laugh.
“I should have known you would find a way to avoid getting a job Anansi” she said, her eyes gleaming with mirth. “Oh, but this is just too perfect.” She looked at Anansi and doubled over with laughter.
“Why is everyone finding me so funny lately?” Anansi was starting to get annoyed. He expected Aso to get angry or even to admit his cleverness, but laughter? He never expected that.
“If I told you,” she said “it would ruin the moment for me. You will find out soon enough.” At that, Aso turned back to the hot stove and continued stirring the beans.
Shaking his head, Anansi went to sit in the living room and wait for dinner.
Everyone is losing their minds he thought with a dazed look on his face.
III
During his first day of classes, Anansi finally figured out what was so funny.
He had classes every weekday and his professors expected actual work. He took one look at the syllabus and his heart skipped a beat. Anansi broke into a sweat looking at all the assignments.
When he ran into Bro’ Rabbit and Bro’ Chicken that afternoon, Anansi was incensed.
“Why am I getting so much work to do?” He demanded. “I thought you said you never had to do any work because you were students?”
Brows raided, Bro’ Rabbit and Bro’ Chicken exchanged looks. They chuckled.
“No Anansi” said Bro’ Rabbit “what we said is that we could not work because we’re full-time students.”
“Yes,” added Bro’ Chicken “being a student is so much work, we don’t have time to get jobs.”
Anansi clenched his fists, his face turning red. “Well then I don’t want to be a student anymore” he said.
“You could always drop out” said Bro’ Chicken. “But you would still have to pay the tuition.”
“So you would still have to get a job to earn money” said Bro’ Rabbit holding back a smug grin.
Anansi screamed, his eyes getting wider and wider until they nearly popped out of their sockets. He collapsed, his legs falling out from under him.
When he woke, Anansi was still under the palm tree.
It was just a dream. I’m not really a student he realized. Anansi sighed and sagged against the tree.
When Bro’ Rabbit and Bro’ Chicken walked by and asked what he was up to, Anansi answered “I am never going to be a full-time student.” He jumped to his feet and took off, fleeing student life.
And so Anansi went out and got a job. Then he went home to tell Aso.
The wheel bends and the story ends…
Arige Shrouf, 2013
Written for a UVI Creative Writing Course
I
One night Anansi was walking home after spending the day with Bro’ Rabbit and Bro’ Mongoose. He was so proud of how his day had gone. It had been a successful day in the life of a trickster.
They had come across a basket filled with fruits and vegetables. Instead of sharing the treasure, Anansi suggested to his neighbors a race. The winner would get the basket all to himself.
Now Anansi was clever. He did not join the race. While Bro’ Rabbit and Bro’ Mongoose raced through the woods, Anansi hid in the bushes and ate every last fruit and vegetable in the basket. His belly full, he handed the empty basket to the winner, said his goodbyes, and went on his way.
II
Meanwhile Aso was at home waiting for her husband Anansi to get back from a so called errand. She had prepared a nice meal because it was there anniversary: the one day a year when she expected Anansi not to go about his old tricks.
The meal had been ready for hours, but there was no sign of Anansi. “Now where is that Anansi off to now” she wondered. “He better not be off playing tricks on our anniversary!”
For years, Aso had stood by as Anansi played trick after trick on their neighbors. Sometimes she even helped. A trickster is what Anansi was, what he always would be, she knew that. Accepted it even. But for once, she would have liked Anansi to put her first. Even if just for this one day out of the year.
She wanted him to care about her like he cared about himself and his tricks.
After waiting another hour, Aso began to get angry. She decided that when Anansi got home they would talk about his responsibilities as a husband. It was time things changed.
III
While Anansi was walking by the river, he passed by Bro’ Turtle. Turtle said, “why Anansi, Aso has been looking for you all day. I would watch my back if I were you. She looked spittin mad!”
“Well, I wonder what’s gotten into her?” Anansi mused.
“She didn’t say” responded Brother Turtle.
“I tell you, it’s days like this that make me miss my time as a bachelor, when I had all the pretty ladies after me” said Anansi. “Being a family man is hard work. I better see what she wants now.”
“Well good luck to you” said Bro’ Turtle with a smirk at Anansi’s retreating form. Aso would put him in his place soon enough.
IV
Anansi continued walking along the dirt road from the river on his way home thinking of ways to avoid Aso’s anger. She could never stay angry at him too long, he knew. Today would be no exception.
When he got home, he didn’t even notice the candles on the table. He was too busy looking at the bundle of contained fury that was his wife. “Hello wife,” said Anansi hesitantly. “What has got you all riled up?”
“Hello husband,” she responded calmly as she began to slowly rise of out the chair she had been sitting in when he walked in. “Have you forgotten what today is?”
“Well no” he answered confused. “It’s Saturday of course.”
At that moment, Aso lost all her patience. “After all these years, how could you forget our anniversary!” she yelled.
“Is that why you are so upset? We will just have another next year…”
“How dare you Anansi!” Aso interrupted. “I had a nice dinner planned, and for once I hoped you would put our family first.”
“Aso, worry not. We will have dinner and all will be forgotten. I am starving; I would hate to see this nice meal go to waste. Let’s just eat” he pleaded.
“No Anansi,” she said. “I have put up with your trickery but I will not be ignored. I want a Divorce…”
V
And so it went. Anansi and Aso got a divorce, the first couple in the village to do so. It was the biggest piece of gossip for some time, but that never bothered Anansi. Few things often did, and although Anansi was confused about the break up, he was enjoying the single life without a nagging wife.
Anansi played on the pity of his neighbors and got free meals and hospitality for weeks. All was good for a while and Anansi had no worries. He was free. But once the charity stopped, Anansi realized just how alone he was now.
He came home to an empty house. There would be no one to welcome him and no food on the table. He no longer had a family to tell of his schemes and his days’ exploits. Anansi was alone.
Anansi became sad, but he did not understand why. One day he asked his grandmother if she could explain the feeling to him and so she did: “my dear boy, you are lonely. You miss your wife. Is life without Aso not what you expected it to be?”
“No grandmother of course it is” he insisted.
“I should knock some sense into you child!” she countered. “Go talk to Aso and see if you are lucky enough to win her back.”
“How do I do that?” he asked.
“Show her that you do care. Tell her what a fool you are, get down on your knees and beg her to take you back!” she advised.
After thinking it over and deciding that he really did miss his Aso, Anansi decided to do just that.
VI
Aso had learned about trickery from the very best and she was not about to make it easy for Anansi.
For days Anansi kept coming to her and asking her to come back to him. Each day she would respond “Now Anansi, we are no longer married. You must once again prove your worth to me if you want my hand, for I am free to choose any man as my husband now.”
She had Anansi perform task after task reveling in his dedication to win her back. Some days the tasks were simple, getting her water, planting her garden, preparing her dinner, or doing her laundry. Yet other days, the tasks would be as difficult as finding a rare flower near a volcano.
As the days and tasks passed, Anansi began to win back Aso. And one night when Anansi came with an armful of rare flowers, got down on his knees and asked Aso to marry him-again- she said yes.
And so Anansi and Aso were married once more, and Anansi now had two anniversary dates to remember, but remember them he would.
The wheel bends and the story ends…
Arige Shrouf, 2013
Written for a UVI Caribbean Literature Course
ARIGE SHROUF| Sept. 28
ST. CROIX— The two soccer fields on the Albert A. Sheen are not being used after being called “unplayable,” which is putting a strain on the BUCCS soccer team.
After three years of planning and construction, the university is doing maintenance on the fields, such as cutting the grass and marking the field.
The fields should be available to the players by November, but no later than spring 2014.
The Virgin Islands Daily News published an article on Sept. 9 that called the UVI performance field “a field of dreams deferred.” It noted the condition of the field: the slope, the holes, the anthills and weeds. The field was “deemed unplayable” after a failed inspection from the Liga Atlética Interuniversitaria in August. Without the Liga Atlética’s approval, the field cannot be used for league matches.
“The biggest impact” of that decision has been a financial one, as the university tries to “address concerns brought up in the report,” said Nereida Washington, director of Campus Operations on the Albert A. Sheen Campus.
Travel to Puerto Rico for games can also get costly, but the decision impacts the students as well.
“Our students are the only ones in the league that have to travel for all of the games,” Washington said. “We have lost the home game advantage of being able to have fans and spectators who favor the UVI BUCCS on the sidelines.”
In addition to being at a disadvantage in terms of support, UVI students may also end up missing classes to attend games.
Some team members don’t mind all the traveling or having to miss classes. They view the constant traveling as an exciting experience.
“I like traveling to Puerto Rico for games,” Ismail Yusuf, a freshman member of the soccer team, said.
Without a soccer field on which to play some of the league matches at home, the soccer team has to travel to Puerto Rico for every game. Although some students view away games as a good thing, this constant travel could affect their performance in class since they will be missing so many classes and having to catch up.
“The university is seeking to increase athletic and physical education opportunities for student athletes on St. Croix and the V.I.” Washington said. The soccer fields, one for practice and one for games, would provide those opportunities but they are not being used.
Washington said “Intramural and athletic programs are key to your experience in [college]” so the university is working to make the fields ready for use.
Despite the league’s decision, UVI officials consider the fields “playable.”
Washington said that “given the concerns that were raised, the field is not being used.” She said the fields would begin to be used by the BUCCS between November and December, but “definitely in the spring.”
According to Washington, the Liga Atlética’s inspection impacts the ability for the UVI BUCCS to play on the field” but not the university’s. Washington said the inspection “is not a requirement to play.”
“There is no required inspection done by a body in order to play. We will use the Athletic director’s, the soccer coach’s [and other individuals’] evaluation of the fields to make sure that [they are] maintained properly so that [they are] playable,” Washington said.
Despite UVI officials’ assurances that the field is “playable,” the university has been taking steps to improve the condition of the performance field.
The primary measure is a process called top-dressing in which the holes are filled in with a mixture of soil and sand. The process would have to be done either “annually or biannually,” Washington said.
Ronald Joseph marking performance field on Sept. 16; Photo credit- Arige Shrouf
The university marked the performance field and had the grass mowed on Sept. 16.
“Everything we are doing is part of a maintenance program,” Washington said, so there are “no extra costs.” The funds to “maintain a high performance field” come from the “grounds budget.”
Maintenance of the field involves processes such as reseeding, which is “recommended nine times a year,” Washington said.
It also involves mowing the grass “twice a week,” physical plant employee, Ephraim Rodriguez, said.
When asked to give his perception of the field, Rodriguez pointed out that “there are no benches and no bathrooms, so that could be inconvenient.”
According to Washington, the university is well aware of these concerns and is working on them. A bleacher was purchased last year, although it was not put out because it would get in the way of field improvements.
“The goal is to move in that direction where all these amenities will be available,” Washington said.
ARIGE SHROUF|
ST. CROIX — Jack Welch once said, “Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.”
SGA President Kevin Dixon
There are leaders of large nations and small organizations, but great leaders strive to help and inspire others; they “have a heart for outreach.” Student Government Association President Kevin Dixon has been described as one such leader.
Since being elected president last year, Dixon has made it his mission to “move the organization forward” in order to better serve the student body. Under his leadership, SGA has become an organization that junior Zoe Walker believes “could really make a difference.”
A senior majoring in business administration with a concentration in marketing, Dixon is a very busy person. On his second year at UVI, he decided to “get involved” on campus and that has been one of his goals ever since.
In addition to serving his second-term as SGA president, Dixon also is a member of several other clubs, organizations and committees on campus. These include the UVI Senate, the Honorary Degree Committee, the Voices of Inspiration Choir and the St. Croix Presidential Advisory Committee. With so much on his plate, Dixon still manages to excel in his classes and is even the student ambassador for the Thurgood Marshal College Fund.
How does he do it? “Long nights and weekends” and learning to “balance and prioritize.”
“It’s stressful, but knowing the stress is worth it, makes it okay,” Dixon said. “When you have a purpose, it makes up for all the stress and when it’s over and you know you did things right and people enjoyed it, it’s all worth it.”
One word Dixon tries to live up to is “ambitious.” He is motivated by “that sense of having an impact.”
Even at 16 he had taken on leadership positions in an effort “to help change lives.” He led walks in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life in which his group exceeded the goal set for all groups. During his second year at UVI, Dixon joined SGA and became the public relations officer. He then became treasurer and worked his way up to president of the organization.
However, Dixon hasn’t always been the confident and charismatic young man you can see walking around campus greeting people with a smile. Before becoming a leader, Dixon faced his own struggles to “grow himself.”
When he moved to St. Croix from St. Kitts in 2003, Dixon was “shy and quiet” and he “did not like speaking in front of audiences.” Today, he can be seen giving speeches and representing various organizations at events.
He credits the change in him, in part, to the “support of his family members,” and Ms. Washington, Ms. Finch and Ms. Elliot. However, the greatest influence in Dixon’s life has been his pastor, who acted as “a mentor and role model” to a young Kevin Dixon.
Without the influence of people such as his pastor, Dixon believes he “would not be as involved on campus as he is. He also “would not have grown as much as he has in the past few years,” overcoming most of his shyness to become the public figure he is on campus today. For that influence, Dixon says, he is “really grateful.”
Just as others have inspired and influenced his life, Dixon hopes to use his leadership skills to “inspire others” and “touch other people’s lives.”
As John Quincy Adams said, “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”
For Dixon, “It is always a pleasure serving.” He advises students to “get involved” and “set themselves apart from other students by showing they are well rounded.”
Because of Dixon’s dedication and effectiveness as a leader, several family members and individuals have been encouraging Dixon to run for government office. It makes sense, they argue, “since he has been setting himself up to do so.”
“It’s definitely something to think about,” Dixon says, but right now, he is focused on his last year at UVI and intends to “go out with a bang.”
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