When camping remember the possibilities of bears. Don’t leave food unattended in coolers outside of the tent, that’s a recipe for disaster. Some campsites have hanging posts for food with strong odors like cheese, if a post isn’t provided hang food at least 10 feet off the ground. If a bear approaches don’t run or use the fetal position; the bear will just drag you off. Try to scare the bear by yelling, banging pans if you have any or throwing rocks. Campers will wonder if your crazy but will be thankful you scared the bear away.

For the occasional bear go to Old Forge Campground. It is a local site 11 miles from campus off TN Highway 107. Once off the main road follow the marked signs to Horse Creek and turn right on Forest Road. Forest Road runs out at the campground. The area has 10 campsites that have a picnic table, lantern post and fire ring. Use the back sites and you can hear the waterfall at night. This area does have vaulted bathrooms but no water, so you may want to make a list of all the amenities to bring for overnight. It is also first come first serve, so regulars recommend going early to secure a site. The area does have a waterfall and pool to enjoy in the warm months. The water is so deep you can jump from the falls, that is if you are brave enough. There is a camping fee of $7 a night, and a box for envelope deposit.

“Since we have revamped our equipment students have used it and the word is out,” said Mark Persaud, Student Life Coordinator. “I feel students like the option of being able to take a trip with little cost.”

The excuse for the time being would be weather, but once spring comes you can’t say you don’t have gear. Student Affairs has two five-six person tents and two two-four person tents. The school also has miscellaneous items like flashlights, lanterns and even a cooler on wheels for bigger trips with groups. There is a sign out sheet and items rent for a night to a week. You also don’t have to worry about the cleaning, but if damaged there might be a fee.

“I suppose Nike puts it best by ‘just do it,’”said Will Hogg, a sophomore, Political Science major and outdoorsman. “Get out and go on a hike, go camping, It’s a great way to get away from it all.”

If you’re not much for bugs at night go on a hike. A few miles from campus on the Asheville Highway is a local and national hiking spot called the Appalachian Trail. The entire trail runs from Maine to Georgia, but you can take it a mile at a time and can gain access at different points. There are three different routes to the Appalachian Trail, one is from the Asheville Highway off Camp Creek Bald Road, known as Viking Mountain Road by locals. This site is 14 miles down Asheville Highway, just before crossing the Tennessee line into North Carolina. Driving or hiking, follow the blazes, the painted streaks on the trees. Once at the top of the mountain the white blazes run on the Appalachian Trail. What is convenient about Camp Creek Bald is four-wheel drive vehicles can drive up the gravel road leading to the Appalachian Trail; there is a parking lot at the top.

“The trail is in our backyard,” said Cheryl Summers, Cherokee National Forest Ranger. “We have all the scenic beauty but not crowds of people like you can come across in the Smokies.”

Camp Creek Bald is a favorite trip for the Greeneville Hiking Club. The club has worked with the Konnarock Crew, a group of women from Virginia, to build rock steps through a section of rough terrain. Their work took them seven years, so appreciate the area when you go to visit. Walk either way on the mountain top and see a 360 degree view of Greeneville, Tennessee and North Carolina. A great day trip hiking the six mile loop and picnicking at the Black Stack Cliffs or White Stack Cliffs along the trail, which are around half a billion years old.

“This is one of the regions on the Appalachian Trail that is the most challenging,” said Ron Metcalfe, a local and avid hiker. “So many hikers have read and wrote about the region and its beauty, but unforgiving nature. Hikers have also said this region is one of the most gorgeous with views like no other.”

Not much for leg cramps, take a day trip Margarette Falls. From Greeneville take McKee Street that becomes Jones Bridge Road. Drive five miles until TN Highway 107. Go through the intersection on Greystone Road until Shelton Mission Road where the parking lot for Margarette Falls is located. The trail up is 1.47 miles and is strenuous in areas. There are three creek crossings and a past flood caused limbs and brush to wash down the mountain, so be careful. The area is a beautiful spot in spring and during the high water seasons. You need to remember the rocks will be slippery so use caution when at the top of the falls. In the past few years one man has been cursed and fallen down the entire waterfall. Each were carried back down the mountain which isn’t easy or cheap.

Cheryl Summers from the Ranger District recommends evaluating your fitness before departing. If your push yourself too much you will be in pain and not enjoy the experience. Andy Daniels from the Greeneville Hiking Club suggests tennis shoes for day trips, if serious a set of boots will pay for themselves after 20 miles or so. Also remember snacks, plenty of water, a flashlight and best for last a whistle. Use it if you fall down the mountain, someone will hear it.

The year is 1970 and Tusculum College students gather with area film enthusiasts in the newly built Annie Hogan Byrd Fine Arts Building to view the work of independent filmmakers from across the country. Little did those attending know that the Sinking Creek Film Celebration would in a few short years evolve into a internationally recognized outlet for independent film, as indicated in a document released to the magazine “Cinema Canada” by Kirwan Cox, Director of the Canadian Filmmakers Distribution Centre in 1972, which stated, “Sinking Creek is a small stream of sanity in the hodge podge of monied ego. It was efficiently organized yet remained a very personal event,” said Cox. Cox at first only saw Sinking Creek as “an excuse to get out of Toronto and into the spring countryside of Tennessee”, but he discovered the dedication of the Tusculum and Greeneville communities to independent film, a strong connection that even today remains unsevered.

The history of film within the Tusculum community is rich in artistic importance, originating with the Sinking Creek Film Celebration, which was founded in Greeneville in 1969 by Mary Jane Coleman. The Sinking Creek Film Celebration originally catered to members of the independent film community in the southeastern United States, but quickly grew to be renowned around the globe as a haven for independent film as well as one of the last film festivals that didn’t exist only to grow larger budgets.

“When she started the Sinking Creek Film Celebration,” said Marilyn DuBrisk, director of Arts Outreach and Tusculum Artist–in-Residence,  “there were very limited opportunities for local independent filmmakers, and she was enormously successful,”
DuBrisk assisted Coleman with the festival, where she greeted film directors and other important guests of Coleman. DuBrisk says Coleman had a dynamic personality, which was essential to her success as the festival’s director. At one point, Coleman orchestrated a visit from the Australian Ambassador Sir Keith Waller to Greeneville in order to view artistic works by artists native and inspired by Australia. “Mary Jane never stopped at small things” said Mary Jane’s husband Nat Coleman in a retrospective on the life of Coleman.

Due to exponential growth in size and popularity, the festival migrated to Vanderbilt University in Nashville and remained Sinking Creek Film Festival until 1997, when the name was changed to the Nashville Independent Film Festival (the name was later altered further to omit “independent” from the title, thus leaving it in its current incarnation as the Nashville Film Festival).

Tusculum’s ties to Sinking Creek Film Celebration can still be seen today in the Tusculum Cinema Series, founded by Wes DuBrisk and currently directed by Dr. Tom Harlow an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Tusculum. “The Tusculum Cinema Series provides students with a throwback experience to when cinema was a staple of American life from the Great Depression through the 1950’s,” said Harlow. This experience can allow students to catch a glimpse of the excitement felt in the early ‘70s by participants in the Sinking Creek Film Celebration.
The Tusculum Cinema Series in its current incarnation shows six films per academic year and focuses on providing films of social or artistic merit to the community of Tusculum College. A member of the college’s faculty or staff sponsors each film selected within the series. These faculty and staff members expand the students’ understandings of the displayed film by providing introductory statements revealing each film’s premise.

The ever-evolving Tusculum Cinema Series has now progressed to featuring a yearly theme, which for this year is film within the genre of science fiction. Harlow states that his personal goal for the series is to expose the students to rarely advertised films, such as those he was exposed to during his time at the University of Georgia. “Being with people while they experience these films allows our collective emotions to be that much more intense,” said Harlow.  “All of us wanted that experience to translate from the film series of previous years.”

Suzanne Richey, Director of College Communications at Tusculum, stated in a previous release concerning Coleman’s retrospective documentary that the Nashville Film Festival is “…one of the longest-running film festivals in the country, This annual film event attracts enthusiastic film lovers from the region and has been praised by filmgoers and filmmakers alike for its unique combination of big city film festival atmosphere and southern hospitality.” Richey expanded upon the popularity of the festival further by stating, “With more than 215 films from 38 countries, numerous industry panels and music showcases, the Nashville Film Festival draws more than 22,000 attendees.” Richey further explains the reasoning behind originating the festival at Tusculum College by stating that “Coleman was not a faculty member at Tusculum, but she felt that Tusculum College was the center for Fine Arts for our community.” The Nashville Film Festival now celebrates its 41st year in operation due to the tireless efforts of a dedicated member of the Tusculum College community. Within the retrospective filmed for the Nashville Film Festival, Nat Coleman enumerates instances of Coleman’s dedication to the Sinking Creek Film Festival, “A fire of interest was lit beneath her and it wouldn’t go out,” says Nat Coleman.

As Tusculum students, we can find the same amount of enthusiasm for fine art in knowing that the Nashville Film Festival first saw light on our campus. Though this connection may seem vague and distant, in no way is it any less evident than when Greenevillians gathered alongside independent directors to celebrate films created in the southeast and their artistic merit. Even aside from the significance of Sinking Creek as a direct predecessor to the Nashville Film Festival, the work of Coleman and Tusculum students stands on its own merit. According to the “Why NaFF Matters” section of its website, where the NaFF credits itself as the second oldest film festival in the country, states that the Nashville Film Festival was “founded by Mary Jane Coleman in 1969”. One other mention of Coleman and Sinking Creek was found on NaFF’s website, which hails 2010 as the festival’s 41st anniversary.

Rheatown Food Market has hosted the Saturday night jam session for 25 out of the 30 years that Reta Pirozzoli has owned the store. The music draws large crowds, between 30 and 40 every week.

I originally heard about Rheatown from a friend. As a musician, my interest was peaked, and this interest soon led me to take part in the experience. When I arrived, there was no room left between the venue and the rural road that connects Rheatown Food Market to Highway 11E. I parked in the gravel lot out back because, at six o’clock, there were rows of cars parked against the building’s barn slat walls.
As I entered the swinging glass front door, I was struck by the walls with their old country diner feel. I looked up and down, noticing an old moon pie advertisement hanging a little crooked, a Marlboro placard just under that, and a neat stack of firewood on the weathered wooden floor. I took a deep breath. The air was so thick, but not from cigarette smoke or the smell of country cooking. It was music that saturated the air. The musical atmosphere was so fulfilling, I momentarily gasped. The notes combined to produce a familiar tune, bringing back a memory of sitting on the porch and listening to family playing banjos and fiddles.

Entranced, I made my way towards the music. I sat down in a chair and listened for quite some time. I had brought a guitar, hoping to ask if I could play along, but when this group of regulars saw me with an instrument, they asked me to play with them. This came as a surprise to me. Those playing or singing wanted others to play and sing.

The musicians sat around in a circle and took turns singing. When it was my turn, I insisted that singing in front of people is not for me, but they were so encouraging. I remember quickly glancing around the room, making eye contact with two or three people. Their faces expressed a true desire to hear me sing, to see me participate. I sang, even though I was not very comfortable at first. However, with every heartening compliment and warm face, my anxiety eased, and I somehow made it through the song.

The modern fast-paced life simply does not penetrate the walls of Rheatown. Problems and troubles seem to be left at the door. Once inside, the music allows for relaxation, giving the mind a few hours to focus on things that are often considered trivial.

This however may be why some people think that bluegrass music is dying. Bluegrass is a relaxing pastime, but can be rather time consuming. It requires a person to put in time, and that’s time that many people today just don’t have. Still, others who are willing to offer up their time see it in a different light. Rheatown employee Ginger Shelton is one of those who see bluegrass as very alive. If you walk in on Saturday night, Shelton will probably be behind the counter—smiling big, working hard, and soaking up the music all around.

Shelton believes that the Saturday night jam is evidence that bluegrass music isn’t fading away. She said that while bluegrass music may be evolving to fit the times, it is not dying. Excited, she smiled and explained how Rheatown now has a website. “I’ve had people from another state come to the store and say they’ve seen us online,” she said.

Fifteen-year-old Daniel Norton also testifies that bluegrass isn’t on its deathbed. “If you got time to breathe,” said Norton, “you got time to pick.” The youngest musician to regularly attend Rheatown, Norton is easy to spot. But you would never guess his age by listening to his music. His fingers burn up the fretboards of the guitar, banjo, mandolin, bass, or whatever else he decides to play; and his personality is as slick as his fingers. He is polite, but funny.

Norton and other musicians at Rheatown are so passionate about bluegrass that they don’t want to leave when the store closes up shop at 11. Norton says he’s been out in the parking lot playing until two in the morning several times. “They have to cut the lights out because they won’t quit playing,” said Linda Ford, a Rheatown regular. “Then they go out into the parking lot.”

The 30 to 40 people that attend Rheatown every week are no doubt passionate. A big problem however is that many people in the area do not have the chance to be avid supporters because they do not even know Rheatown exists. Musician and Tusculum College student Andrew Baker has been residing in Greenville for more than six months and had not heard of Rheatown until just recently. Baker is interested in different types of music venues and was surprised that he didn’t hear of Rheatown sooner. After I explained what Rheatown is and what they offer, Baker said, “I’m interested, and I’d like to attend sometime soon.”

If you are interested in discovering more about Rheatown, look them up on the web or just drop by sometime and see what it’s like for yourself. The jam usually starts around 6 or 6:30. And if your experience resembles mine, you’ll probably want to go back again and again. In fact, I enjoyed my experience to the extent that I plan to attend often. If you do decide to attend, let me lend the only advice I can: relax and immerse yourself in the traditions of Rheatown.

Compiled by Marcus Taylor and Josh Kibert

Written by Katie Pittser

Over the years, students have taken full advantage of the academic field trips worked into Tusculum’s curriculum. Due to the economy and budget crunches, Tusculum faced a tough decision when it cut down on extra-curricular trips.

“Trips that support the academic mission of Tusculum College have not been cancelled,” said Dr. Kim Estep, Tusculum’s Provost. “Virtually like every institution in the United States, Tusculum has felt the impact of the financial recession and is making adjustments in the budget to assure financial stability, despite the uncertain regional and national economy. The one thing that we have not compromised on is academics.”

According to Dr. Estep, the college will continue to prioritize academic expenditures and fund as many field experiences as possible that relate to the academic mission and integrity of Tusculum.

In agreement with Dr. Estep many academic trips have not been canceled but rather altered. According to the Center for Global Studies, the Service Learning Program in Belize, which is a four credit hour class has been re-routed to New Orleans.

“It certainly changes the landscape of the class from global issues to more regional ones,” said Robin Fife, who will be leading the trip.  “I’m hoping to return to Belize in the future when funding is available but New Orleans will offer a new set of challenges for students.”

The program is made available to help alleviate conditions of poverty and promote peace and prosperity through economic development, partnerships, and services. In the past the class of five to ten students travels Belize for eight to ten days. The previous cost for students was part of the regular fees and tuition paid to Tusculum because it is an academic class. Students were required to have a current U.S. passport, proper immunizations, and were responsible for the cost of airfare.

TC Students help locals clean up on a hot day in Belize.

Another “study abroad” academic trip, like the Belize program, is the Science Program in Costa Rica. The purpose of this trip, which is mainly for students in Field Biology I and II classes, is to acquaint students in the sciences with diverse tropical ecosystems, identify prevalent flora and fauna, and to experience Latin-American culture. Accommodations were located in bio-diverse parts of the country as the students stay at field stations. The destination has also been altered however and Florida will now replace Costa Rica. As budgets are tightened, students opportunities to travel abroad through TC are severely limited.

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“The college has been able to continue to support virtually all of the academic student trips that were planned this year,” said Dr. Estep. “In a few cases, the venues of international trips have changed. The scheduled trip to Costa Rica has been changed to travel to Florida, and the trip to Belize will be traveling to New Orleans. Each year, faculty request different trips. Every effort is made to fund as many trips as possible but is dictated by the academic objectives (student learning outcomes) of the program and available funds.”

Dr. Shelia Morton’s trip overseas is one of the only survivors. She is finalizing the itinerary of her scheduled academic trip to London and the surrounding areas such as the Lake District. This trip is set to leave March 23, as students would save roughly $70 each by leaving on Tuesday and returning the following Tuesday. While exploring the Lake District and London, students will travel through time as they study the British authors Wordsworth, Southey, Coleridge, Scott, Blake, and Keats. They will visit many of the famous places where the creativity of these selected authors flowed.

Dr. Estep made it clear that “most trips were not cancelled”.

“Changes in destination were made in response to a request to be more fiscally conscious and good stewards of the resources of the college in an effort to maintain academic integrity at all costs and to preserve the jobs of Tusculum College faculty and staff,” said Dr. Estep.

“Students are encouraged to continue to take advantage of as many academic field experiences as possible,” said Dr. Estep. “There are opportunities that are generally not available at larger institutions to undergraduate students. Like our small classes and focused calendar, the academic travel opportunities add value to each student’s learning in ways that will benefit students for years to come.”

In the end, student trips are an integral part of individual academic advancement. As college budgets shrink, travel becomes limited and more creative fund-raising as well as planning are required. While many international trips have been eliminated, the opportunity for domestic field experience remains, an fact many TC students are taking advantage of.

He presented a wonderful slideshow for his audience as he reminisced his childhood memories of how the cars changed throughout the years. The main dealerships that dominated the Americans were Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors. This was before the bigger imports such as Toyota and Mitsubishi emerged. “I grew up in the 1950’s era. It was an exciting time dominated by the American made cars,” Charles Tunstall, assistant professor of library science.

Colors were a huge part of 1955 ranging from bright pink and yellow to two-toned colors such as black and white or black and electric blue. He mentioned that Mary Kay would give her employees a pink Cadillac each year while they worked for her for sponsorship as long as the sales were kept up to date. Another big event that occurred was this was the first year the V8 and the Hemi engine was introduced since people were not too concerned with gas prices at the time, it was all the rage. There was a car called the Caribbean that was described as “one block long and three colors high”. The women loved it due to the fact that they could get the car that matched their outfits and they received an umbrella and bag since accessories were a large demand.

“I found the cars shown in the slide show by Charles Tunstall were intriguing. The difference in designs and use of color displayed the creative side of those companies,” said Jessica Gold, a freshman.

Fins were a popular trend in 1957 and Ford took advantage of it. The Skyliner convertible was produced and it had a metal roof with a reverse hood, the downside was that there was minimum trunk space, big enough for possibly small luggage. Going on a week’s vacation in this car would not be the best option but maybe for a day’s drive to go see a friend or relative would be. Ford also tested out marketing a half car half truck. Nash and Hudson merged as they were failing and was known as American Motors Co. or AMC. As the decade was coming to an end, the el Camino came out in 1959, which was Chevy’s version of Ford’s half car half truck production and it can still be seen around today.

In hopes of opening the library to the community and bringing students in, other than to study, Charles Tunstall and Jack Smith have compiled events for this spring. In February there will be “Big Hearts and Little Readers: Children’s Story Hour 2,” Thursday February 11, 2010 at 6 p.m.

There will also be a musical performance “The American Musical Road Trip” by Marsha Griffith and friends on March 25^th at 6 pm and the second part March 31, 11:30 a.m.

Kyle Moore is one of the four returning starters from last year’s squad.  The South Atlantic Conference Player of the Year from last season is one of the main reasons that Tusculum has received the ranking it has.  His league leading 21.1 points per game along with the recording setting 101 three point field goals made and 203 free throws made can attribute to the hype that is surrounding the Pioneers but there is more to the team than just Moore.  “It’s a great accomplishment to receive the ranking that we got but it means nothing if we don’t produce wins on the court” he told the Frontier.

Tusculum has three other seniors on the team that have afforded the Pioneers some much needed experience.  The first of the three that has the most experience the previous season is Josh Bennett, who averaged 10.1 points per game and led the team in rebounding with 7.2 rebounds per game as well as leading the team in shooting percentage by hitting 52 percent of his shots and getting 1.1 blocks per game.  The other two seniors are Wes Taylor and Jimmy Boone who both had considerable roles for the Pioneers last year.  Taylor had to sit out the first two months of last season due to injury which caused him to miss considerable playing time and forced him to play catch up, averaging 3.8 points per game and 3.2 rebounds per game.  Jimmy Boone is the other senior on the team and is going to see much more playing time this season.  Last year he averaged 6.1 points per game and 1.6 assists per game, some high notes for Boone last year was scoring a career high 24 points against Mt. Olive shooting 9-for-15 from the field including 6-of-9 from three-point range.

Another key component to this year’s team has come from Junior forward Rob Troutman.  He looks to continue the family trend that his brother Ryan left behind after last year.  Troutman averaged 9.4 points per game and 4.5 rebounds per game last season and is looking too improve on that.

The Pioneers coach Jim Boone is now in his fifth season with the program and finally has all the pieces put together to make another run at the SAC title this year.  Boone has 381 wins entering this season.  “Getting Coach Boone his 400^th win this year would mean so much to this team because they want to be part of history and that if they were to get him his 400^th win that it would mean a successful year for everyone” Moore told the Frontier after last year’s 20 win season.

Coach Boone does not seem to worry about the milestone.  “It is really not that big of deal regarding the 400 wins, and I mean that in all sincerity – it’s of much so much greater importance to me that we are able to continue to help this team to grow, to improve, and to mature as a team on a daily basis so that we can reach our full potential.  To see this team reach its potential will mean so much more to me than an arbitrary number of wins”

So far this season the Pioneers have a 10-7 record, which has not lived up to the the team’s hopeful expectations.  One positive is that they are currently on a four game winning streak, with two of those wins coming on the road to conference rivals Newberry and Wingate.  After Monday night’s win against Lenoir-Rhyne, the Pioneers have to travel to Lincoln Memorial and Catawba.  Kyle Moore leads the Pioneers in points per game with 23.2 and behind him is Rob Troutman with 9.4.

From April 1st through the 7th, Venus and Pluto are working together on your behalf.  These are the two planets in charge of seduction and finances.  Venus is in your friends, teams, clubs, committees, associations, group activities, networking, Internet, and connectivity sector.  Pluto is in your marriage, best friends, business partnerships, rivals, enemies, and competitors (think yin-yang) sector.  Together, they create a wonderful energy for combining partnerships and social networking.  If you are looking for a romantic, social, or business partner, this is a great time to ask friends and colleagues to introduce you to interesting new people.  The Internet could be another lovely resource for finding various types of potential partners.  If you already have whatever type of partner you need, then this is also a good time for the two of you to enjoy socializing together and/or for the two of you to work on various networking projects together.  Venus and Pluto rule over all forms of wealth and seduction, so this is especially good news for romantic and/or professional partnerships.

From April 2nd through the 7th, Mercury joins Venus as she battles Mars.  Mercury makes the energy more argumentative.

From April 3rd through the 9th, Mercury also helps Venus and Pluto to bring more good news into you and your partner’s social activities.  Mercury contributes intelligence, communications, negotiations, bartering, bargaining, selling, purchasing, commitments, and/or a sense of community to the dynamic blending your social networking sector with your partnerships sector.

From April 8th through July 20th, Saturn revisits Virgo.  As mentioned before, Saturn is tangled up in a battle with Uranus during this time, so his focus will mostly be on a travel, academic, political, religious, legal, media, philosophical, and/or commercial dramas.

Written by Isiah Lyman & Abby Wolfenbarger

On January 18, 2010 Tusculum College held its first volunteer service day in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.  From 2005 until 2007, students were required to attend classes on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, during which the college hosted symposiums to commemorate the influence of King.  However, this year the college has transformed it’s use of this holiday into an opportunity for students to participate in a day of service to the community.

Tusculum students responded to a request for volunteers from the Center for Civic Advancement and the Tusculum College Office of Multicultural Affairs.  These student volunteers spent the day helping children from the Greeneville Boys and Girls Club make art crafts for patients at the Niswonger Children’s Hospital.  When asked about the 13 student volunteers, Bonnie Taylor, the Coordinator for Student Life and Multicultural Affairs told the Frontier, “as students you may think of it as a low turn-out, but I was pleasantly surprised from the staff perspective. I really appreciate those students that came out. The children of the Boys and Girls club had a great time and are already talking about participating in something similar next year.” 

The participants from the Greeneville Boys and Girls Club, with assistance from Tusculum students, made tray-toppers and pet rocks, which they later distributed along with coloring books to the Children’s Hospital on January 25.  According to Taylor, “Tusculum hopes to continue having service days to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in the upcoming years.” Freshman service volunteer, Vinton Copeland, reiterated the importance of a statement made by the CCA Director Joyce Doughty that “Martin Luther King Junior Day is not a day off but a day on.” 

Service is an important part of celebrating the remembrance of such an influential person as Dr. King.  He devoted his life to help others through his position as the spokesperson for nonviolent activism within the Civil Rights Movement.  Although helping children make ornamental crafts may seem like a small feat, it provided eager Tusculum students with a viable outlet to serve others and promote service within the community.

“As volunteers we showed the Boy’s and Girls Club children that there are other people out there they can provide assistance through ‘seemingly small’ service,” Sophomore Stacey Belletete told the Frontier.

Tusculum students were able to make a positive impact on the community, celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and enjoy themselves by teaching children of the Boys and Girls Club how something as small as a craft can have an enormous impact on someone. Participating Tusculum faculty and students alike hope that this year’s service day will encourage students to devote their efforts into volunteer work, especially on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

Virginia Hall will play host to the only permanent General Education Degree testing site in Greene County and will serve up to ten surrounding counties.

Officially opened at a January 19^th ribbon cutting ceremony, the GED site will serve community members who have not yet completed a formal High School program and are seeking to improve their education and livelihoods. Kim Gass, director of Adult Basic Education for Greeneville and Greene County was present for the event and illustrated the importance of the facility.

“It is a major hardship for many of our locals to get to a testing site. Making travel arrangement is often a key burden that prevents them from taking the test. With a facility in Greeneville I look forward to telling those seeking a GED how close to home it really is,” Gass told the crowd.

Dr. Moody addressed the audience outside Virginia Hall. Left to Right are Jewell Hamm, David Egbert, Kim Gass and Dr. Moody

President Moody was the featured speaker and shed light on the inseparable relationship between institutions of higher education and the local communities they are involved with.

“Through this project we are able to share our resources and in doing so, improve the lives of those who live here and in our region. We are very proud of this project, and its foundation in the value of education, a concept central to Tusculum College at whatever level it might be.”

Dr. Moody also named some reputable GED recipients including Bill Cosby, Dave Thomas and her mother who earned her GED at the age of 60 with four grandchildren.

The project was undertaken at the recommendation of Melissa Ripley who has now assumed the title of Chief General Education Degree Administrator for Tusculum College. Testing will take place in either Virginia Hall room 216 or Chalmers based on which program is chosen, split day or all day.

“I’ve worked consistently, every day with our mentor program since about September. Susan Doughty, TN Administrator of the GED has been involved throughout as has Kim Gass. Without the support of Dr. Moody and the institution today’s ribbon cutting wouldn’t have been possible,” Ripley told the Frontier.

The test costs about $65 regardless of which test is chosen. The expense goes towards purchase of the testing batteries (packs), an expense TC pays upfront. GED tests are a group of five subject tests which together form a battery. If passed, certify that the taker has American or Canadian high school-level academic skills. The GED is also sometimes referred to as a General Equivalency Diploma or General Education Diploma.

To pass the GED Tests and earn a GED credential, test takers must score higher than 60 percent of graduating high school seniors nationwide.

“Based on what I’ve seen we will have a pretty diverse range of age groups. We hope to bring over 300 individuals through the program by year’s end,” Ripley told the Frontier.

For more information regarding testing, contact Melissa Ripley in the Admissions Office or through the TC switchboard during normal operating hours.

Miriam (Parke Brumit), Jacobed (Tanya Rathbun) and the Princess (Lori Anne Sparks) come to Moses (Jeffrey Diehl) in a dream.

While many have read, watched or listened to the story of Moses from the book of Exodus in the Bible, the power of dance and physical interpretation was felt at Annie Hogan Byrd on January 22, at 7 p.m. In its seventh year, Central Ballet Theatre of Greeneville produced Exodus, the Story of Moses. The private ballet company, which ministers through dance, sent a message of inspiration to the audience on opening night.

In the beginning the Hebrew people were under the rule of Egypt and the Pharaoh.  As enemies grew and the Hebrew population increased, Pharaoh became paranoid and decreed all male Hebrew babies be thrown in the river.  Jacobed, knowing Moses was a special child, puts her son in a make shift basket and sent him down the river for a better life.  Ironically the Pharaoh’s daughter saves him and he grows up in wealth and privilege.  When grown Moses faces a choice between power and the love for his people.

Throughout the ballet we watch Moses as he is broken down by God and lifted back up to save his people and take them back to the promise land. “People need to remember the power of love has to overcome the love of power so the world will know peace,” said Dante Adela, the dancer that portrayed the Pharaoh.

Moses (Jeffrey Diehl) and Zipporah (Emily Perkins) celebrate their marriage.

As the dancers prepared for the show, each had a goal of interpretation they wanted to convey to the audience.  Sarah Sanders wanted to show the humility of Moses. Todd Aiken wanted people to see the way God can use people once all things are gone. Amy Pitman Durand hoped people would see that seemingly impossible obstacles can be overcome and to stay encouraged and positive through the struggles.  “Any show that can relay a message without using words is powerful,” Victoria Neal.

Because the ballet company is still introducing itself to many for the first time and being in a conservative area, the costumes were geared toward the audience with the men not wearing tights, but white cotton pants. The dancers made up for the setback by remembering the discipline for dance.  “Great things keep happening each year we come back. It’s all about learning and growing as a group,” said Dante Adela.

The ballet was a success, accompanied by a standing ovation. The community turnout was fantastic d filled most of the seats opening night. About twenty Tusculum students were also in attendance. One woman even asked about where to pick up tickets for next year’s show.  The show will continue on the 23rd at 7pm and 24th at 2:30 pm. For Saturday and Sunday’s performances, the audience is sure to take away a message of their own.