Laura Hutton
Co-Editor in Chief

On June 27, Susan Dorsey, Associate Director of Student Academic Support Services here at McDaniel College, donated a kidney to her best friend of 40 years, Diane Taylor. The two met their first day of high school and have been inseparable since.

Taylor suffered from diabetes for 20 years and endured dialysis for 2 years. Her schedule revolved around the dialysis, which took place three times a week and wore her out, destroying the natural glow of her skin. Taylor’s only good day was Monday, and she grew tired of scheduling her life around that one day.

Knowing that Taylor would never ask for a kidney and that her relatives were unable to donate because they also had diabetes, Dorsey volunteered and, eventually, Taylor agreed to the transplant.

Blood was draw from both Dorsey and her husband, Jimmy, to see if either one would be a candidate for kidney donation. Dorsey recalled questioning this, “I don’t know why you’re drawing this blood; I’m a match.” Around Christmas, Dorsey found this statement to be true. She was a 6 out of 7, almost a perfect match, and her husband was 5 out of 7. Between the months of January and June, Dorsey had 38 vials of blood taken so she could be thoroughly tested.

Before the surgery, both women met with an array of doctors, including a surgeon, nutritionist, and a general practitioner. Both also lost weight; Taylor lost 60 pounds and Dorsey lost 40 pounds.

The surgery took place at the University of Maryland. Every year, major hospitals do only between 60 and 70 live donations. The majority of donations are not received from live donors; however, the success rate of live donations is much higher.

On Wednesday, June 25, Dorsey went in for a biopsy and was called the next day and told to be ready for surgery on Friday; it was hard for her to believe. “We were so focused on getting there that we never thought it was going to happen,” recalled Dorsey.

The surgery was scheduled for the morning, and the kidney had to be removed from Dorsey before Taylor could be prepped to receive it. Dorsey did not end up going into surgery until 5 pm, and since she had taken aspirin three days earlier, her blood stopped clotting on the table.

The safety of a donor is of upmost importance, and Dorsey was almost unable to donate. She believes that the prayers of both families got her through as platelets began to work and the kidney was retrieved. This turned the typical 3-hour procedure into 5 hours.

The procedure in general is harder on the donor than the recipient. Taylor felt much better upon waking up, but Dorsey did not. Most receivers wake up feeling a lot better, while the donors awake in pain.

“I really did not know the extent of the discomfort involved in those first three days,” explained Dorsey, who vividly remembers walking the 112 steps that separated her room from her best friends 3 times a day. The doctors pushed her to start moving as soon as possible. It was important to keep active to speed recovery. Dorsey believes that 6 weeks off before returning to work is best. After the donation, she was unable to drive for 10 days and could only use the stairs once a day, but it all pales in comparison to saving her best friends life.

After the surgery, Taylor’s sister, who is not an emotional person, thanked Dorsey, grabbed her arm, and began crying.

Within a week after the surgery, Taylor’s toxicity levels dropped from a 10 to a 3 (on a scale of 1-10). A test a few weeks ago showed her kidney functioning at 100 percent. Taylor will always have diabetes, however, the 21 pills she takes each day will keep her healthy and prevent the disease from destroying this new kidney.

Many ask why Dorsey made the donation, and she explains that anyone would do it for someone they loved, “we’re really sisters in another life. Sure it’s inconvenient and there is pain involved, but that’s like anything in life. This is like a privilege to be able to give someone a life.”

Dorsey completely recovered from the surgery and does not feel any different without one of her kidneys. Taylor is healthy and has a natural glow to her skin; the grayish yellow the dialysis caused is gone.

“After 40 years you know what someone is thinking, they don’t have to say it,” stated Dorsey, but Taylor gave Dorsey a plaque acknowledging her eternal gratitude. It reads: “thanks for the best gift I ever got,” and Dorsey keeps it beside her bed.

Katelynn McGinley
Staff Reporter

A local sorority with a controversial past is currently going through the reinstatement process at McDaniel.

In the spring of 2005, the Phi Alpha Mu sorority was suspended from campus following their involvement in hazing and violation of the alcohol tolerance policy at McDaniel. At the time of the organization’s suspension, all current members were informed that Phi Alpha Mu must cease and desist and members were further warned that they could not operate as an underground group.

“This group did in fact violate these sanctions,” said Amanda Rose, assistant director of College Activities. Due to these violations, the sisters of Phi Alpha Mu were not permitted to return to campus following their initial bid for reinstatement in the spring of 2008. They did, however, submit information to Beth Gerl, the Dean of Students, requesting that they be allowed to return to campus as a local group, despite the fact that the college has a policy of only accepting groups that exist on a national group.

According to Rose, the President Council convened earlier this semester to decide upon the future of Phi Alpha Mu, and eventually decided to allow them to return to campus ? but only once they had met certain criteria set down by the college. Rose Eney ‘09, a member of Phi Alpha Mu, explains that these criteria include the sisters “meeting a minimum GPA requirement of 2.25, selecting alumni and faculty advisors, creating a letter of intent to form a Greek organization, identifying the sorority’s values, mission statement, and creed and governance structure.”
The group must attain “at minimum one million dollars worth of liability coverage,” says Eney, in addition to establishing a member education program that does not include hazing, and selecting a philanthropy group to donate their time and money to.

According to a letter to the Phi Alpha Mu sisters from Gerl, the Phi Alpha Mu sorority may not resume official activity on campus until the fall of 2009, and “if at any point the interest group is found taking new members or functions as a group beyond the established college criteria, the approval to reform will be revoked in its entirety.” This includes any gatherings during Homecoming, Spring Fling, or “any other type of on or off campus social activity.”

The Phi Alpha Mu members are not allowed to display the letters or insignias of the sorority until they have collectively met the specified criteria set in place, and the college has provided them with their official approval.

Rebecca Sanger, says that she believes the reinstatement of Phi Alpha Mu is “an amazing opportunity for both us and the college,” adding that she thinks that this move will allow the sisters to “bring their unique spark back to the Hill.” She cites the sorority’s long history with the school, calling its legacy “unparalleled,” and says that the group is “incredibly proud of becoming a recognized sorority once again,” and that they “look forward to working hand-in-hand with the school to return and carry on this tradition.”

(Editor’s Note: This column by Jen Noel is dedicated to some of the most inane calls to which Campus Safety officers respond ? or should respond. Incidents actually occurred, but the names of the culprits are not included to protect the not-so-innocent).

Jen Noel
Staff Reporter

In hopes that Homecoming would spur some extra activity on the blotter, I waited till deadline to ensure that all the best Lighter Side news could be reported. Not as much commotion as was expected appeared on the crime log, however, do not fear, alumni bring out the best (and worst) here on the Hill.

A common thread filled the pages of the blotter this week: an inability to find the proper place to go the bathroom. I know that Blanche Ward is being renovated, but apparently there must be a shortage of restrooms on campus.

Not one but four accounts of public urination were reported in the last two weeks. One student was caught on October 25 urinating beside a dumpster at Garden Apartments?with Campus Safety parked less than 20 feet away.

On November 9, during Homecoming, a student felt the natural surroundings of the baseball dugouts were the best place to relieve himself. An alumnus didn’t need such a private location, as he decided to let loose on Stadium Drive. I guess the old saying rings true: when you gotta go, you gotta go.

Blanche Ward proved to be a hot spot for activity on campus stealing the title away from Rouzer. On October 26, an individual not associated with the college must have gotten word that the upperclassmen dorm has now been renamed “Hotel Blanche.”

An employee from the physical plant found the individual asleep on a couch in the common room of the building and woke the trespasser to ask why they were there. After running a check on the individual, Campus Safety sent them on their way– with the number for the Best Western of course.

A group of students also thought Blanche was their own personal playground November 1. Campus Safety documented four students for trespassing inside the construction area outside the building. It appears that a child’s love of dump trucks and dirt doesn’t die when they come to college.

Perhaps the best entry on the blotter this week came directly at the hands, or should I say vehicle, of Campus Safety. We really should start enforcing routine driving tests for campus employees as the mail truck driver wasn’t the only one to fail in avoiding parked vehicles.

On October 28, a Campus Safety officer was involved in a vehicle crash with a parked dump truck partially obstructing the traffic lane on Main Street. Maybe it’s just me, but obstructing the lane or not, a large, steel truck is pretty hard to miss.

Although Spiderman didn’t make a dashing return and the rock bandit appears to have learned his lesson, the blotter still provided some “relief” from the mundane happenings on campus.

Casey Crough
Staff Reporter

Are the students of McDaniel College really getting a liberal arts education? Is there a way to test their critical thinking skills?

These questions can be answered by the critical thinking test, which was administered to 800 random students. Students are not forced to take the test, but it is highly encouraged.
The format of the test is the Cornel Critical Thinking Test Z or the Ennisweir essay test.

As of November 4, 2008 a total of 117 students chose the multiple choice format, 16 students chose the essay format, and 50 students started the test, but failed to complete.
By completing the test, the students are automatically nominated for the chance to win one of three iPod touches. The student with the highest score will get an iPod touch.

The test is only a small glance of how our college is doing and is being lead by Dr. Peter Bradley, Brian Ault, who is the director of Institutional Research, and by the administration.
“The test is to assess general education. We want to find out if we are actually producing liberally educated men and women,” said Bradley.

The reason why the testing is occurring is directly connected to the curriculum change at the college.

“No radical changes are going to happen immediately based on this study,” said Bradley.

If there was a huge gap in the results, the administration would probably take action, explained Bradley.

The test will occur again in five years. The entire study is based on four major components: Critical Thinking, Communication, Creative Expression and Problem Solving, and Global Perspective.
“I didn’t really know what the test was all about until I finished it,” explained one student. To keep the test confidential, the student would like to remain anonymous.

“I was motivated to complete the test because the iPod attracted me,” claimed the student.

Yet, do students feel like they are getting a liberal arts education?

“Yes,” said Tim Connors, ‘12. “I definitely feel like I am getting a good education. All of my classes for my major are different, but related somehow to my major,” said Connors.

Mike Pfeiffer,’12 agrees. “I feel like I am getting a good education because of how the professors assess things. I’m energized about what I am learning,” he said.

The project cost a total of $1,428.09, which was funded by the administration. The test itself cost $528.09, and $300 each for three i-Touch iPods.

Students who were chosen for the test have access to more information via blackboard, and have until November 15, 2008 to complete the test.
Otherwise, the results and other information are confidential for those students who were chosen.

Rose Eney
Staff Reporter

Let the games begin; this year’s theme for homecoming certainly reflected the day’s events in a proper fashion. Even the weather played games all day, starting in the morning as being chilly and cloudy and going to being warm and sunny in the afternoon.Though mother nature was acting up, McDaniel students and alumni alike did not let that ruin their day. Sophomore Mike Mandel said “The football game is my favorite part and I love the atmosphere.” Senior Kaitlyn Giddings said of her last homecoming on the hill “I feel kind of sad to be leaving but equally excited to be able to come back in the future.”

People began setting up tents around the field as early as the Tuesday before the game in anticipation of rain that might have been headed their way. Lucky for them that was one game the weather did not play. According to junior Joe Drzonsc, Greek organizations spent up to five and a half hours painting their large and colorful letters on the hills surrounding the area during the week. The newest addition to the Greek family at McDaniel, Kappa Delta Rho, won the contest for best letters on homecoming day.

On the morning of the homecoming game people began to flock to the field from 7:30 a.m. onward. Grills were set up and fold-up chairs began to line the top of the bowl surrounding the field. Plastic table clothes were weighted down with burgers and hot dogs as the smell of grilling began to fill the windy air. Several groups of people had music playing from the backs of their cars and tubs filled with drinks in their trunks, truly the epitome of the tailgating spirit. The field became a virtual parking lot as hundreds of cars crammed onto the grass to get as close to their respective tents as possible.

As the start of the game approached the clouds began to recede and hundreds of people began to anticipate the match between the McDaniel Green Terror and the Gettysburg Bullets. The first quarter ended with the Bullets scoring seven points and the Terror only three. Though the game was a huge focus of the day, there were plenty of other things to devote attention to. All over people were selling food and programs, alumni were hanging around at the tent designated just for them, and everyone was enjoying the company of their friends.

Halftime came around as McDaniel fans cheered on their team as they trooped up the steps to take their break. The McDaniel College cheerleaders performed a routine to fill the crowd with energy. Afterwards the homecoming court, including king Matt Daley and queen Ellery Wynn, marched onto the field to claim their titles in front of the students who voted for them.

The halftime break passed and the fans began to fill the stands once again to catch every minute of the game at hand. On the surrounding hills many people were still socializing with their peers and friends. Class of 2008 alumnus Nick Tully stated “It’s great to be back even though it’s a bit overwhelming. You want to talk to everyone but it’s so hard to see everyone you want to see.” Alumni are the heart of homecoming and senior John Kelley believes homecoming is “absolutely amazing because it’s a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with those who have graduated from McDaniel.”

Graduates and non-graduates alike stuck around to the very end of the game even though Gettysburg lead McDaniel the entire game and achieved an impressive win of 38 to 9. McDaniel fought hard and everyone enjoyed watching their Green Terror players. Junior Abby Walker embodied McDaniel’s attitude when she said that the Terror will just have to rebuild itself for next year’s contest. Though spirits remained high after the loss, the weather seemed to have given out when clouds rolled in at the end of the fourth quarter.

People stuck around on the field for around a half hour after the game, still too transfixed by the wonderful atmosphere that homecoming provides. One last song was sung and one final hamburger finished. The grass parking lot that had accumulated so many cars began to empty and people began to return to their dorms, hotels and apartments.

Homecoming holds many traditions for McDaniel’s students and alumni. Some have parties after the game and some make sure to wear their favorite school sweatshirt every year. Whether one has kept up their tradition for 40 years or has yet to create one, homecoming is a place to hold on to the past, revel in the present and look forward to the future.