TheDecreeNORTH CAROLINA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY, ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA 27804since 1960 “of, by, and for the Wesleyan community.”December 10, 2025Tool or Threat? Wesleyan Professors Confront AI in Classroom By Valentina RabinoSenior Staff WriterAt NC Wesleyan, artificial intelligence has developed into an academic dividing line that runs directly through the classrooms, rather than just a technological advancement. While a computer science instructor on campus urges students to view AI as an essential collaborator, an English professor is concerned that it will diminish the uniqueness of student voices. Numerous daily choices fall between such points of view. NCWU faculty are handling AI's positive and negative aspects in various ways as it quickly becomes a central part of academic life. Some perceive it as a danger to interpersonal relationships, while others see it as a tool that increases possibilities. When it comes to ethics, creativity, teaching, and learning, many people fall somewhere in the middle. Taken together, their voices show a campus dealing not only with new technology but also with the very nature of education.Katie BeemanWhen Dr. Katie Beeman talks about writing, her face lights up. The Wesleyan English professor wants her students to discover their own voices, not borrow someone else’s. That’s why she’s careful with artificial intelligence. “All AI sounds the same,” she said. “It takes away the (student’s) voice, and that’s part of the joy of writing.” According to Beeman, AI poses a threat to creativity, which is very personal. She bases her English classes on dialogue, seminars, and drafting sessions to help students get more comfortable with writing. She doesn't punish a paper right away after AI detectors report pos- sible illicit use. Rather, she takes a seat and talks with the student. “Usually it’s time management or confidence,” she said. “I tell them, ‘If you’re worried about grammar, I’ll help you with that. Don’t let that be what stops you from writing.’” Still, Beeman believes AI use takes away the individuality that makes writing meaningful. “If five people type the same prompt into ChatGPT, they’ll all get the same essay,” she said. “We lose the individuality and critical thinking that liberal arts education is supposed to protect.” Beeman is concerned about academic institutions experimenting with AI-driven online courses that may do away with instructors entirely.Jackie LewisDr. Jackie Lewis adopts a different strategy across campus at a computer lab, where students work on their coding skills. She views AI as a collaborator rather than an adversary. “I actually encourage them in some cases to use it,” she said. “As CIS majors, they’re going to be expected to use it when they get out there.” She shared that her job is to show students how to use it ethically and responsibly. Still, AI has been more openly welcomed by Lewis. “With CIS, it’s best learned by doing,” she said. She uses AI to create examples and problem sets that correspond with her lessons, and she encourages students to compare the outcomes of various tools. When talking about cheating with AI, Lewis says it is as simple as spotting advance AI-written code functions in an introductory course. Instead of punishing students, she uses those moments as teaching opportunities. “Sometimes they don’t realize they’ve gone too far,” she said. “Don’t let AI rob you of a learning experience,” she reminds students. Lewis expects AI will be able to automate busy work and free up faculty time for mentoring. “The human part will become a big piece; we need to make sure we keep that,” she said. “Mentorship is something AI can’t replace.” Her philosophy mirrors that of her colleague Paul Ewell: teach students to use AI ethically and reflectively.Paul EwellDr. Ewell, who has been a professor for almost 25 years, says that AI isn't merely covered in his supply-chain and logistics classes; it's incorporated into the actual work. “Use it,” he says to his students. “Use it all the time but be ready to prove that you know what you’re talking about.”According to Ewell, he is a “dis- ruptor,” the type of professor who declines to give a lecture for an entire hour. In his interactive classes, students solve real-world problems and construct optimization models. “Teaching has never been about me,” he said. “It’s always about student learning.” AI has taken center stage in that ideology. With it, he creates examples, selects current case studies, and invents digital assistants that respond to concerns from students at any time of day. Ewell offers a straightforward solution to the cheating concerns of certain faculty members: make every assignment authentic. His students take oral tests on Zoom, defend their views under pressure, and present their projects to real clients. “You can cheat with AI,” he said. “But when a client asks you to explain your solution, they’ll know immediately whether you understand it.” According to Ewell, artificial intelligence is a tool that encourages students to think creatively and relieves teachers of tedious tasks. Moreover, Ewell highlights the way in which AI can’t feel, imagine or make personal connections, showing the importance of human characteristics. “Forty years ago, success in business came from knowing the numbers,” he said. “Now it comes from imagination.” When asked how he sees the role of the professor changing with the development of the AI, Ewell believes that the technology is going to be transformative. “But it’ll also change the role of universities,\" he said. Ewell explained that the strength at Wesleyan is the liberalarts foundation, the humanities, the social sciences, the human side of learning. “AI can’t feel music, it can’t feel art,” he said. “That’s where we’ll shine.” As Ewell put it, “AI is a threat to people who are lazy. It’s a tool for people who want to learn.”Brent DozierAcross the hall is Dr. Brent Dozier’s office, which feels like a whole different world. Dozier, a 20-year veteran, calls himself “old school,” favoring lectures and discussions in which students work through mathematical examples and theory. “The struggle is where learning happens,” he said. “And I fear that AI guts the struggle prematurely.” Dozier believes that ethics, rather than technology, are the real issue. “Some students think using AI to write a paper is perfectly all right,” he said. “They’re missing the purpose of the assignment.” Though he chooses to view things positively, he has noticed indications of AI-gener- ated assignment responses. “Maybe they used it as an aid,” he said. “But if they rely on it too much, they’re devaluing their own education.” According to Dozier, AI has made many teachers into “professor policemen,” always on the lookout for misuse. “Humans are creative, feeling beings,” he said, “and not simply robots on an assembly line.”Bruce HarveyAI is viewed differently by each professor, depending on their background. Bruce Harvey, a professor of geology who has taught in college classes for over 20 years, believes that AI technology is not necessary. Relying on PowerPoint slides, he uses powerful images in his lectures,See CLASSROOM pg 2Beautiful Game Indeed—Bishops Win USA South in OTAfter tying the match with less than two minutes left in regulation, Wesleyan scored the golden goal four minutes into overtime to vanquish archrival Methodist and claim the USA South Conference title before a jubilant home crowd.“It felt great to finally get the win,” said Coach Mark Bowman. “It’s been a long time coming.”Since Bowman joined the program in 2022, Wesleyan has enjoyed success in the regular season, only to falter in the conference tourney.In Bowman’s first two seasons the Bishops lost twice to Brevard, once in the semi-finals and once in the finals. The 2023 loss was a heartbreaker as Brevard prevailed on penalty kicks, 8-7. Then last year, after finishing 7-0 in conference regular-season action, the Bishops were upset, 2-1, by 4th-seeded William Peace in overtime at home.This year the Bishops would write a different ending. The decisive play began with a throw-in from the left side near midfield. The Bishops then lofted a high ball deep into the offensive zone, toward the back post. After the Methodist defender failed to clear it with a header, Wesleyan forward Nicolas Sautua gathered the loose ball just outside the box. Finding open space, he dribbled to the right and then drilled a low shot into the right corner of the goal.“Nico showed real composure under pressure,” Bowman said.On the winning goal, the coach said, his team exploited a vulnerability in their opponent’s defense. “Our scouting showed that Methodist struggled clear to clear balls at the back post,” Bowman explained. “So, when we crossed a ball and their header barely got it out of the goal box, our guys jumped into action.”In the first half the Bishops took a 1-0 lead on a penalty shot by sophomore center-back Corentin Solitaire. Tom Roantree—the go-to Bishop on penalty kicks—was not on the field at the time of the foul by the Monarchs. So captain Daan Post tapped Solitaire. “I’d decided before the game that I would shoot to the bottom right. If I decide before the match, it makes the situation less stressful,” Solitaire said, noting that he’d been working extensively on penalty kicks during practice. “I always shoot bottom right. I’m not sure why.”In the first 45 minutes, the Monarchs tried to generate offense from their back line, which repeatedly sent long passes down the sidelines, only to encounter a stout Bishop defense.But the strategy paid off early in the second half with a match-tying goal. After Sautua was called for a foul, Matthew Manzano got the ball on the MU side of midfield and quickly launched a long pass across the pitch. The pass found teammate Angel Alacorn, who had snuck past the Wesleyan defense down the right side. Left alone just outside the box, Alacorn drew keeper Jacob Westermark out of the goal and then slipped a shot past him low on the far side. It was 1-1 at the 48-minute mark. “We knew going into the game that Methodist liked to send long balls behind the defense,” Westermark said. “We just weren’t in the right defensive position on the play.”The sudden goal seemed to sap the Bishops’ momentum, and the two teams played on even terms until Methodist took its first lead in the 83rd minute. After the Bishops knocked the ball out of bounds in their defensive zone, MU’s Kaleb Thomas made a strong throw-in. The ball ricocheted around the box until it landed at the feet of MU’s Caron Stretz. The forward’s first shot was repelled by a Wesleyan defender, but Stretz collected the rebound and booted it past the prone Westermark. The goal silenced the Wesleyan crowd and sent the Monarch fan section into raucous celebration.“We allowed our intensity and focus to drop for a few minutes and it cost us two goals,” Coach Bowman said, “and that put our backs against the wall.”With a trip to the NCAA playoffs at stake, the Bishops picked up the intensity. After applying sustained pressure, Wesleyan was awarded a free kick in the 89th minute. Mo Macalou took the shot, which was saved by Monarch goalkeeper Trey Ghor. But the rebound was loose in the box where Solitaire pounced, sending a shot low into the center part of the goal as Bishop fans erupted.Solitaire said that just before the free kick, he had turned to teammate Israel Monsanto and told him, “follow the ball and one of us is gonna score.”Despite his frustration at Wesleyan’s periodic letdowns, Coach Bowman said after the match that he was confident in his team’s ability to come back. “There was a focus for us,” he said. “We’d been in this situation multiple times. We’d gone down in almost every game, and we still found ways to get the results we needed,”In the regular season, Wesleyan trailed Willam Peace 3-1 late in the second half before scoring twice, the tying goal coming with just five second remaining. Against Greensboro, the Bishops scored twice in less than two minutes to erase a 1-0 secondhalf deficit. And in the conference tourney semi-finals vs. Peace, the Bishops fell behind 1-0 and 2-1 before mounting a comeback that culminated in Jordi Rodriquez’s winner in the 83rd minute.Coach Bowman called Methodist the toughest opponent the Bishops faced all season. He described the Monarchs as a hard-working team, one that’s committed to Coach Justin Terranova’s system. “They force you to play 100 miles per hour for 90 minutes and if you let off the gas, they’ll take over the momentum and find ways to be dangerous,” Bowman said.Noting that the Monarchs racked up 11 ties during the season—including a 0-0 regular-season match vs. the Bishops--Bowman said, “They’re a very hard team to beat.”UPDATE: After winning the conference title, the Bishops fell to a higher-seeded Dickinson College, 5-0, on November 15 in the NCAA Region VI playoffs. The host Red Devils (13-0-7) were ranked 22nd in the country at the time, while the Bishops were 125th.Bowman felt his team played well in the first half, but the Red Devils took advantage of a scoring opportunity while the Bishops failed to do so. “I thought we played our game in the first half,” he said. “We really only made one mistake where we didn’t fill in a defensive gap and they made us pay.”Bowman said that at half time the Dickinson coaching staff made changes to their offensive game. “We weren’t able to deal with their adjustments,” he said.The Red Devils exploded for four second-half goals against Westermark and senior goalkeeper Facundo Boismoreau. DC forward Saul Iwowo led the way with a hat trick. “I don’t think we’ve seen a player of his caliber all season,” Bowman said.The Wesleyan men’s soccer team qualified for the conference finals by dispatching William Peace, 3-2, in the semi-final round at Scalf Field on November 5. C. Lewis photo
Senior Staff WritersValentina RabinoAlbert SitwellStaff WritersLauren MartinFaith MooreRavyn SilverSpecial ContributorsCarl LewisShane ThompsonFaculty AdvisorDr. William Grattan179 BraswellEmail: wgrattan@ncwustaffTheDecreesince 1960 “of, by, and for the Wesleyan community.”2 North Carolina Wesleyan University, Rocky Mount, North Carolina 27804PERSPECTIVESDecember 10, 2025CLASSROOM from pg 1such as geological formations and landscapes.Despite not using AI himself, Harvey is aware of its potential, and the fact that students may use it as a shortcut, even though he would be disappointed if that was the case. “It’s a double-edged sword,” he said. “I do applaud students who use it to make flashcards or study guides.” In the geology classroom, Harvey acknowledges that his detection capabilities are limited. His online tests are easy targets for students using third-party resourc- es, and he is unable to determine if an exceptionally quick submission is the consequence of teamwork or artificial intelligence articulating answers over the phone. “I can’t police that,” he said. “I just have to trust my students to be honest.” Harvey worries that it might make classroom interactions less human. “I can’t imagine a college class without a professor in the front,” he said. “But I can see that future coming.”Ayra SundbomDr. Ayra Sundbom, a professor at NCWU who teaches courses in education and technology, has an opinion that has its basis in academ- ic integrity and the real-world challenges of teaching in the digital age. “Sometimes I'll use AI for ideas,” she said. She expressed excitement about making a digital system with AI. “I don't use it as much as some folks, but probably more than others,” she said. As the university's administrator of Turnitin (software designed to check for plagiarism and use of AI), Sundbom frequently witnesses academic dishonesty, the flip side of AI use. “The AI detector is not foolproof,” she said, clarifying that it often gives false positives and sometimes doesn't catch cheating. “So, you know, I really don't love the way that it works, but at least we have something.”Sundbom went on to explain that AI misuse is often more about ethics than the technology itself. “People have been cheating a long time, longer than computers, longer than technologies,” she said. “To me, they’re doing themselves a disservice because you shouldn't be doing that, as it's dishonest. And if a student is cheating, they're not learning.” To avoid AI abuse, Sundbom’s strategy focuses on providing students with options for demonstrating their expertise. She uses up-to-date designs for learning practices that incorporate multiple means of action and expression for their assessment. “If you let the student pick, you're less likely to see them cheat,” she said. According to Sundbom, AI is neither solely a threat nor a solution. “AI is a tool, just like a hammer is a tool,” she said. “And if you use it for a good purpose, then that's great.”Daniel EliasEnvironmental Science profes- sor Daniel Elias views artificial intelligence as a useful tool for im- proving instruction and learning. “AI is a tool that, if used properly, helps tremendously with your dayto-day tasks,” he said. “When used to create work that is to be graded that’s when it is cheating.” AI is directly included into Dr. Elias’s teaching methods. He uses it to help design multiple choice questions; summarize concepts that he needs to explain so he can provide different examples; create images that complement the text in his PowerPoint lectures; and create study guides based on his lectures and in-class assignments for students to use to prepare for their evaluations. To make sure that students still learn the course material, Elias uses a lot of activities that have to be completed during class time, and his ques- tions are not focused on memorized material but application of what is learned. Similar to other professors at Wesleyan, Elias added that his biggest concern is that students will use AI in place of doing the work. “If used properly, it’s a great tool to complement and support student learning,” he said, adding that for professors it can help with grading and free them up to develop class material and other aspects of teaching.Katrina SweetDr. Katrina Sweet teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses. While accepting the new tools, she has the same concerns about preserving the human aspect of teaching. “If we’re just relying on AI, I think that's a threat,” she said. “But if we're using it as a supplement to aid and assist us, like for research or to pull data, that's differ- ent. That's the same as me going to Google doing that. But I would not rely on Google to write my papers, so I shouldn’t rely on AI for that.” Though she understands that AI can be beneficial, Sweet knows that it can never replace the empathy and connection that comes from real human interactions. “Students have asked me, ‘Dr. Sweet, do you see AI as a threat in terms of taking your job one day?’” she said. “And I said no, not at all because I thrive on developing my soft skills, my people skills, and that's something that a robot or a computer would never be able to do.” Sweet’s greatest concern echoes Beeman’s and Sundbom’s, making her question if AI will make students stop learning. “Will that decrease their curiosity and cause them to settle for what a computer gives them rather than doing their own due diligence?” she said. “I'm concerned that it will decrease their learning, their curiosity, and their creativity.” Bishop Bee Club members winterize the hives on a crisp November morning. Shown here (l-r): student Jo Sundbom and faculty members Ayra Sundbom and Chip Larkin. Photo by B. GrattanFCA Was Highlight of My Time at WesleyanBy Faith MooreDecree Staff WriterEvery Monday night, the Wesleyan chapel comes alive as students gather for Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). Though founded to support the university’s athletic community, FCA has become a place where both athletes and non-athletes come together to grow in faith, find encouragement, and build meaningful relationships. Week after week, students from all backgrounds step into the chapel with one shared desire—to pursue Christ alongside one another. Each meeting begins at 8 p.m. with a lighthearted game led by one of the board members, a simple way to break the ice and spark new connections. The games change weekly, sometimes sending students off in pairs for quick challenges or friendly competitions. After the laughter settles, another board member shares an “encouragement”—personal words or a message laid on their heart for the group that night. From there, I (as worship leader) open us in prayer, leading into two or three worship songs before we prepare for the message or break into huddles. Huddles don’t take place every Monday, but when they do, they create some of the most meaningful moments of the night. The room splits into small groups, allowing students to speak honestly and connect more deeply than the larger setting allows. Each group reflects on a passage of Scripture and discusses guiding questions. When everyone comes back together, one person from each huddle shares what their group explored—a powerful reminder that God speaks uniquely to each heart. This semester, FCA received steady support from Barton College’s FCA, whose students often made the trip to Wesleyan on Monday nights. Our students also began traveling to Wilson to join their services. The mutual encouragement between the two campuses has been a beautiful example of what Scripture calls the body of Christ. Romans 12:5 expresses it well: “so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” FCA President Alexis Pope, a Wesleyan sophomore, is vital to this ministry. She coordinates nearly every detail to keep the ministry running smoothly. Pope’s father was an FCA area director, and having grown up around the organization, the daughter became a leader as well. “I felt the call to step into the role because of my experience and willingness to serve my campus ministry,” Pope shared. Her dedication is woven into every part of the organization. At Wesleyan, the FCA story is not complete without honoring Carol Carson, who has been involved in the ministry for 38 years. She laid the foundation when she first arrived on campus and discovered there was no space for students to gather and grow in their faith. “When I got here, it broke my heart that there wasn’t an outlet for students to know the Lord,” Carson said. “God called me and I answered, and have continued answering.” Her steadfast commitment has shaped the experience of countless students over the years. My own family’s story is wrapped into Carson’s devotion. Now serving as Wesleyan’s assistant athletic director, Carson led FCA when my mother, Amy Moore, attended NCWU from 1992 to 1997. My mom played soccer for Wesleyan, and it wasn’t until her junior year that she found the Lord. “Miss Carol took care of me and showed me a love I’d never seen before,” my mom said. “Carol was so important to my faith in those foundational years.” Because Carson poured into my mother, my mother was able to guide me, making it a true full-circle moment. FCA has also made an impact on students like Justin Thompson, a junior and member of the football team. With Monday nights free from football, Thompson wanted a spiritual outlet beyond his sport. “It’s a way to escape from those things and focus on the Lord,” he said. As an athlete, it’s easy to let identity become wrapped up in performance, but FCA has helped redirect his perspective. “FCA reminds me the reason I’m playing my sport is for the glory of God,” he added. The community has carried him through some of his hardest seasons. And FCA truly is for everyone. Junior Trey Alligood was invited to FCA by board member Ayden Harper and decided to give it a try. While he’d been connected to FCA since middle school, this was his first semester attending at NCWU. His first night felt intimidating, but the environment quickly welcomed him. “I’m friends with people from various backgrounds, and I connect well with a lot of athletes here on campus,” Alligood said. “I’ve been able to find new Godly friendships and people to lean on. That was something I really struggled with during my first two years here.” Through worship—his favorite part—and the messages shared each week, he has learned that “you will know yourself if you look to God. Jesus isn’t hiding from us, and if I continue to seek Him, I will find Him.” Beyond campus, FCA participates in global ministry opportunities such as Operation Christmas Child. Each year, students fill shoeboxes with gifts—from school supplies to toys to hygiene items. Shoeboxes are then shipped to children in need around the world. For many of these children, the shoebox is the only gift they will receive and possibly their introduction to the message of Jesus. Taking part in this project allows FCA students to be part of something far bigger than their own campus. As the semester draws to a close, I’m deeply grateful for the privilege of serving as FCA’s worship leader. Being part of this ministry has been one of the greatest joys of my college years. I’ve watched lives change, friendships form, faith deepen, and hearts awaken to the goodness of God. Even though I will be transferring universities in the spring, FCA at NCWU will forever be a foundational part of my story—a place where I found community, purpose, and a glimpse of the fullcircle beauty of God’s faithfulness. (Editor’s Note: A Nash County native and second-generation Wesleyan student, Faith Moore is transferring next semester to UNC-Wilmington where she’ll pursue a degree in theater).Opinion: The Caf Should Extend its Hours of OperationBy Lauren MartinDecree Staff WriterIt was one year ago, in the fall semester. I had run into problems with the cafeteria hours of operation in the past, but this semester was the worst of it. I had three labs this specific semester, which took up a significant amount of my time, and happened to fall partially during the open hours of the cafeteria. One particular Wednesday, I had had enough. It wasn’t the first time this had occurred, but the consistency of this event finally pushed me over the edge. My Wednesdays were filled with classes, starting at 8 a.m. and finishing with a lab from 1:10-4:10 p.m., with my only free periods occurring between meal shifts when the cafeteria was not open. This meant that every Wednesday I was unable to eat, unless I bought food off campus, which rarely happened. It was just too inconvenient and time consuming. With such a busy schedule, it was impossible to eat properly.The cafeteria is now open from 7-10:30 a.m. for breakfast, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. for lunch, and 4-7:30 p.m. for dinner on weekdays. Weekend hours are from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. for brunch and 5-7 p.m. for dinner. In between these periods, the cafeteria is not open for students while food services prepares for the next meal. As a science-related major (environmental science), I have to take many labs, which usually occur from 1-4 p.m. once per week. Along with having other classes earlier in the day, this makes it difficult to eat during the day, as often I would have back-to-back classes from breakfast time to my labs.Kenia Ruiz-Sanchez, a senior biology major, gave her own perspective as someone who has taken many labs as well. “It’s hard to find time to go to the caf now,” she said. “I remember when you could go in whenever to get little things, and I relied on that a lot to get something to eat between all my classes.”On top of this, being an athlete makes it increasingly difficult to get an on-campus meal. Many athletes have practices or lifts that fall around the time dinner is served in the cafeteria, and with the cafeteria being closed off to students before the true dinner period, athletes are unable to fuel their bodies before intense training.See EXTEND pg 4
A. I would say it’s always having a best friend. We understand each other and get each other on a deeper level than most people do. We've spent so much time with each other that sometimes we know what each other is thinking without having to say it out loud. It wasn't until high school that we were finally separated. Before that, we had not spent more than an hour apart from each other. We shared rooms, we shared clothes, and we shared literally everything I can remember. You can never feel alone; it’s a good feeling to know you’re with someone who always has your back. Even when we would disagree, we still both knew that we loved each other. Now that we’re December 10, 2025 North Carolina Wesleyan University, Rocky Mount, North Carolina 27804 3SPORTSDefensive back Savonte McKeithan capped his Wesleyan career by leading the team in interceptions (4), passes broken up (6) and forced fumbles (2). He ranked fifth in total tackles with 39. The Bishops (2-5) tied for sixth in the USA South Conference. Season highlights included a 48-17 rout of rival Methodist, and a 21-20 upset of second-place Huntingdon at home on October 18. SI photoSamantha Dell completed her 2025 season with 8 goals to rank seventh in the USA South Conference. The senior midfielder added two assists for 18 total points to place 10th. The Bishops finished sixth with a 4-5 record (7-10-1 overall). SI photoWesleyan Student-Athlete Profile: Volleyball’s Amber PierceSenior Amber Pierce just finished her Wesleyan athletic career as a defensive specialist on the volleyball team. As she heads into her last semester, she reflected on her time as a Bishop student-athlete and looked ahead to her intended career as an athletic trainer.The Welcome, NC native played volleyball at North Davidson High School. She has earned USA South All-Academic team honors every year since 2022, and in 2022 and 2023 she earned the conference Sportsmanship Award.An exercise science major, Pierce is applying to graduate programs at Appalachian State, UNC-Wilmington, and James Madison University (Virginia). App State is her top choice. Last year, she interned with Wesleyan’s athletic trainers, focusing on basketball, softball and baseball.Pierce has an identical sister, Marie, and an older brother, James, whom she credits for sparking her interest in sports. “The first sporting events I attended were my brother’s high school football games,” she said.Pierce was interviewed by the Decree in November.Q. When did you begin to play volleyball and what attracted you to the sport in the first place? A. I fell in love with the sport at once. I started playing in sixth grade at my community rec league after all my friends quit soccer to focus on volleyball. When I was little, I loved soccer, but I wanted to go play with my friends instead of being by myself. Even though I think I would have been a good soccer player and would have loved that sport equally, I’m so glad I decided to play volleyball. When entering middle school all my volleyball friends abruptly quit the sport. This is when I had to decide whether I wanted to continue playing by myself for the love of the game or move on and quit like my friends. My twin sister (Marie) and I decided to play throughout middle school and then I played on into high school and college. Q. Describe an early memory of success on the volleyball court.A. When I first made a club team in my area, I knew I would really invest a lot of time and effort into the sport. In seventh grade my mom and dad made me and my sister try out for this club team in Winston-Salem. At the time I honestly had no interest in doing club volleyball. I didn’t think it was serious and it seemed like a waste of my time. During the tryouts I remember being so mad that I was there. Eventually I began to warm up and just started to have fun. When my sister and I learned that we had made a team, we were very excited. That entire first season just showed me how much I truly loved the sport and made me want more. What made that season so special was definitely the coaches. As a seventh grader, it was so inspiring to have college athletes as coaches. I created a great relationship with one of my coaches and still can text her to this day. That year showed me the great love I have for the sport.Q. When did you become a defensive specialist? Describe the role of the DS and the skills necessary to flourish in the position. A. I didn't specifically become a defensive specialist until college. All throughout my club and high school career I was a pin hitter. This meant that I could hit on the outside or the right side but still play in the back row. Most of the time in high school I would go all the way around, which included passing and hitting in the front row. When I was recruited, I was recruited as a right-side hitter. It wasn't until I got to college that I realized I was a little undersized (5’7”) as a hitter. So, in order to improve my skill as a volleyball player I focused on one aspect of the game and that was defense. A DS needs to have quick reaction time as well as good knowledge of the game. When necessary, she also needs to be able to support and cover their teammates. As a DS, my favorite part is taking away the other team’s kills. It's gratifying knowing that you defended your side of the court by keeping the ball in play. Q. Talk more about playing with your twin sister, Marie. A. We played community ball in early middle school and then moved into club and middle school volleyball. Because of some specific medical reasons, my sister was unable to continue to play volleyball after middle school. But I did enjoy playing with her. I love doing things with her because not only is she my sister but she's my best friend. As individuals, we’re very competitive, so being in the same sport created a lot of competitive habits between us. Especially since we’re twins and always compared to each other, it became hard for us not to compare ourselves to each other. This was the only difficult part about playing volleyball with my twin. Q. In general, what's the best part about having a twin sister?adults, we still call and text as much as we can to stay in touch. Should an issue arise with one of us, we can anticipate how the other will respond and what she will need. We can help each other.Q. What's the worst part?A. I would say it’s the comparison between us. We grew up with people always comparing us to each other. People would ask who's the better twin, or who's smarter, and other ridiculous questions like that. As a young child, it can be hurtful to be compared to your best friend in every aspect. Because we grew up with this external comparison between us, in turn it became an internal comparison. I would compare everything I was doing to her and vice versa. It can be a very toxic mindset to do this, but when you grow up like this it can be hard to avoid.Q. When it came to deciding on a college, what schools did you consider and what set Wesleyan apart? A. I only considered colleges in North Carolina. I didn't want to go too far from home. I toured places like Brevard and Greensboro College. But North Carolina Wesleyan is where I found a home. When I met the team, I really enjoyed their company and liked hanging out with them. During my visit, everyone was very encouraging and nice, which made me feel welcome. I also looked for a school where I found the campus to be aesthetically pleasing. Wesleyan’s campus is beautiful, and this was another reason I committed here. Q. How did you get interested in athletic training as a possible career?A. It was not until college that I realized that athletic training was my calling. In my first year here, I went through many different injuries, which sent me to the training room a number of times. Let's say I became very familiar with the athletic trainers who worked with me. I asked a lot questions during my rehab time--questions about exercises, injury prevention, and what was causing my different injuries. Learning more about athletic trainers piqued my interest. I also have always loved being around sports and working with athletes. This was confirmed when I got a work-study position with the athletic training staff. During this time, I got an in-depth view of what an athletic trainer does on a daily basis and the kind of work it that takes. Q. This year, your final season on the team, has been a difficult one, with the Bishops going 3-15 in the conference (12-20 overall). What's one positive you can take from a season like this? A. This season definitely came with a lot of ups and downs. I wish the season went better, especially since this was my last. But I'm thankful for all the memories I’ve made this season. See PIERCE pg 4Profile: Goalkeeper Facundo Boismoreau-DarquierFacundo Boismoreau. SI photoAmber Pierce and her twin, Marie. Photo courtesy of A. PierceI met with Facundo BoismoreauDarquier outside of Pash, his place of residence. As we walked through the building, he held every door open for me. He lived on the third floor, the hallway booming with chatty guys. We went into his room, the door wide open already, as he and his roommate never close it. Looking at something on his dresser, Boismoreau’s eyes lit up. “Oh look, we have a pet praying mantis now!” he said, pointing to the tank filled with pine needles and leaves, and sure enough, a praying mantis. “His name is Francisco.” Confusion was plastered on my face, and I couldn’t help but crack a smile at his pure enthusiasm for his new roommate. His side of the room is minimally decorated, with Argentine soccer jerseys hanging on the walls and, on his desk, sit photos of Boismoreau and his family at the beach. The window was wide open with a view of the beach volleyball courts behind his dorm, letting in a gentle flow of air.After he and I chatted for a bit, a few friends walked into his room without hesitation. They made their giggled greetings and he immediately drew their attention to the praying mantis. Boismoreau started talking with them, all in Spanish, and while I don’t understand the language, his laughter and manner of speaking tickled me, and I couldn’t help but giggle with them, his exuberance infectious.Boismoreau, a senior doublemajoring in business and accounting, was born on May 18, 2002 and has lived his entire life in Buenos Aires. Throughout his education, he went to a Catholic school, which happened to be in his neighborhood and just down the street from his house. He lives with his mother, father, and younger brother, who just recently graduated from the same Catholic school. His father runs a booming family-owned hardware store, which has been with them for generations. Growing up, Boismoreau would help out around the store, as well as the By Lauren MartinDecree Staff Writer warehouses they also own.Boismoreau recalled that his fondest childhood memories involve Christmas holidays with his family. In Argentina, the holiday is very different from Christmases in the U.S. With the contrasting climate, Boismoreau and his family spend most of Christmas Eve at the pool. “On the 24th, we’re usually in the pool all day, because it’s summer over there,” he said. “It's very very hot during Christmas.” For lunch, he and his father, along with the hardware store employees and members of the neighborhood, set up a table outside of the shop and do an asado, a traditional Argentine barbeque technique. His dad brings the beef, bread, snacks, and drinks, while someone else does the cooking.Then at 7 p.m., he and his immediate family go to mass, which is held at his old Catholic school. After mass, his entire family meets at his grandparents’ house, which is a block away from his own. “And it’s all the family: the cousins, uncles, aunts, everybody,” he said. “Like 40 people.” Then they eat dinner and chat until the clock strikes midnight, when all of the children go outside and wait for “Papa Noel,” or Santa Claus. As per tradition, one of the adult family members dresses up as Papa Noel and stands out on the house’s balcony, waving to the children as they shout his name. While the kids are distracted, the parents are inside putting the presents under the Christmas tree. “I’ve been Papa Noel twice, and the second time I almost got caught. It was a mess,” he added with a giggle.It's no secret that soccer, or “football,” is a significant part of their Argentinian culture. When Boismoreau was 3, his parents signed him up for soccer lessons, and he fell in love with the sport at once. As he got older, he often played with friends, moving around in different positions. One day, he was assigned to play as the goalkeeper, and something clicked within him. The longer he played, the more he was drawn to a more defensive role on the field, and eventually he worked his way toward becoming an exceptional keeper.After graduating from high school in December 2019, Boismoreau attended Universidad de Buenos Aires, studying accounting. But something felt off to him. “I wanted to get out of Argentina in any way possible,” he said. “I felt like I was kinda stuck.” He was working for his dad’s company at the time, and because his public university was free, there was no urgency to finish his education. “I was basically following my dad’s steps, which is okay, but I just felt like I needed to get out of my comfort zone.”It wasn’t until he had a conversation with his cousin that he even considered furthering his education, and athletic career, abroad. “I had said to him ‘What do you mean? I don’t know English, and I haven’t played soccer in a year and a half now,’” Boismoreau said. “He told me to give it a try anyways, so I did.”At the time, he got in touch with a company called CAMPSA, a soccer recruitment firm that connected aspiring student-athletes with various colleges, most of them being in the U.S., with one exception being in Rome. In the end, he picked NC Wesleyan because it wasn’t solely soccer-focused, and he valued a good balance between athletics and education.When he arrived at Wesleyan, there were some cultural differences that became quite apparent, as it was his first time being in the U.S. long-term. He noted that the biggest culture shock involved mealtimes. “In my country, we usually eat very late in comparison See GOALKEEPER pg 4
4 North Carolina Wesleyan University, Rocky Mount, North Carolina 27804CAMPUS LIFEDecember 10, 2025Graduating Senior Reflects on Her American EducationThe first time I crossed the North Carolina Wesleyan campus is still fresh in my mind. It was January 2023, in the middle of the school year, which is not the usual time to begin something new. The air was filled with the uncertain cold that comes with a North Carolina winter. The sky was a faint blue, the trees were bare, and I was silently afraid. I had just arrived from Buenos Aires, leaving behind everything familiar for a place I had only imagined.During my last year in Argentina, the idea of studying in the United States felt both thrilling and overwhelming. My impressions of American college life came from movies like “Legally Blond” and “Pitch Perfect,” social media, and stories told by people who had studied abroad. Everything seemed larger than life, campuses that felt like small cities; classrooms filled with confident students, like Elle Woods walking though Harvard, who spoke quickly and effortlessly; and professors who expected bold participation. I remember sitting at the kitchen table with my mom one evening, voicing my fears.“What if I can’t keep up?” I asked her. She looked at me with a mixture of love and realism. “Vas a sentir miedo, pero eso no significa que no puedas hacerlo. Lo importante es que confies en vos misma” (You are going to be afraid, but that doesn’t mean that you cannot do it. The important By Valentina RabinoSenior Staff Writer thing is that you believe in yourself). Her words stayed with me, even as I boarded the plane.But expectations rarely match reality. The first few weeks were full of changes and introductions, but also a few missteps. During my first week, I misunderstood a professor’s weekly assignment instructions in a fitness and wellness class, and I didn’t turn anything in until the last two weeks of the semester. Another day, I went into a classroom thinking that I had a Principles of Management class there and ended up sitting for the whole class knowing that that wasn’t the course I had to take; it was just a Business Ethics class. These small moments exposed the gap between the confident, adaptable student I had imagined becoming and the uncertain newcomer I really was.I recall trying to look calm in front of my dorm mirror before class, even though I could feel my heart pounding. I was afraid that I would say the wrong thing, that I wouldn't sound intelligent, or that I would stand out for the wrong reasons. But the worry began to decrease with each lesson and discussion.I fell in love with communication, my major, sooner than I had anticipated. Something about it seemed liberating. I felt comfortable talking about stories, media, and human connection. I soon added journalism, writing, and English as minors, which changed the way I started to perceive the world. I began paying attention to the little things, such as how someone's tone changes while sharing a story they’re passionate about, the rhythm of a sentence that simply feels right, and the silent power of listening.But there were times that I doubted my ability to follow my passion. One night during my second semester, I stayed up late trying to finish a class assignment, a feature story about upperclassmen offering advice to freshmen. I had interviewed several people, but when I sat down to write, I froze. English felt slippery, almost ungraspable, and nothing I wrote sounded natural. I remember closing my laptop and thinking, “Maybe I’m not meant for this.” That moment was heavy, but it pushed me to keep practicing rather than give up.By my first summer, I had already changed. I was more curious and braver. To better identify my own voice, I began writing more essays, brief reflections, and even short articles. Writing turned into a mirror. Confusion, pride, and growth were all mirrored back at different periods.A new type of confidence arrived with my sophomore year. I started taking journalism more seriously, conducting interviews, writing feature Seniors Valentina Rabino and Joaquin Cabello, two natives of Buenos Aires, first met in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Photo by B. Grattanarticles, and learning how to communicate other people's stories honestly and respectfully. I discovered how much I like using language to express human feeling during that year. Journalism was about more than just information; it was about connections.The campus began to feel familiar. I discovered my favorite places: the café where I would sit with my laptop and a cup of coffee while half working, in part peoplewatching, and the peaceful area of the library where sunshine streams through the window in the late afternoon. I became familiar with the rhythm of Wesleyan life, which includes the rush of early mornings and the calm of late afternoons when laughing comes from dorm windows and the air cools.Not everything was simple, of course. There were long tasks that seemed to go on forever and late evenings when I questioned myself. And there were long nights when I cried myself to sleep because of how much I was missing my family. But every obstacle boosted my determination, patience, and confidence. I discovered that I should trust progress instead of aiming for perfection.As I get ready to graduate in December, I can already see how far I've come. I'm not the nervous, uncertain girl I was when I arrived. I'm confident in myself, aware of my abilities, capable, when necessary, of taking the lead. I've learned how to talk to myself as well as to others, how to follow my gut, how to put aside my doubts, and how to celebrate my successes.I gained more than just an education from college; I gained a narrative. It showed me that, rather than loud or abrupt, growth is quiet, consistent, and sometimes only apparent when you look back.All the classroom conversations, late-night papers, and little victories that have defined who I am will be with me when I cross the stage this autumn. I'll always appreciate the relationships that helped me get through difficult times, the professors who had faith in me, and the times I was reassured that I was right where I was supposed to be.I came to Wesleyan three years ago with a bag full of uncertainties. I'm leaving now with experience, trust, and the kind of freedom I used to just admire in others.EXTEND from pg 2As a volleyball player, my practices were typically from 4-6 p.m., with weightlifting sessions a few times a week either before or after that time slot. This meant the cafeteria would be closed before our training. Having practices and lifts during the dinner period also meant my teammates and I would often have to get food off campus or go to the Food Lab, which lacked options, especially healthy ones.During my freshman year—the fall of 2022 and spring of 2023--the cafeteria would be open for students to enter when meal switches were taking place. While students were not able to grab any full hot meals, they could make themselves a sandwich, grab a quick salad or some fruit, and get a drink.As many students have at least one day in their week that they are unable to make it to the designated cafeteria meal hours, they relied on the quick grab-and-go items that were available. This has become an even more acute issue for international students. Facundo Boismoreau, a business and accounting major and athlete from Argentina, discussed this struggle from his perspective.“Without a car, it’s almost impossible for international students to quickly grab something to eat in between classes,” said the senior. He added that with having so many classes, he also does not always have time to make it to cafeteria hours.What’s more, students don’t want to spend most of their money on food outside of schoolprovided meals because of how costly it can be, especially when they’re required to purchase a meal plan while living on campus. I live in the Villas where residents have full kitchens. Despite this benefit, we’re all required to get a “Villas meal plan,” which give us a specific number of meal swipes and flex dollars each semester. At the end of this term, I had 300 in flex dollars remaining, as I had little time to get lunch and dinner during weekdays. With me no longer living on campus next semester, those flex dollars will no doubt be wasted, which is particularly exasperating since my meal plan was required.To provide a better experience for students on campus, the cafeteria should return to how it used to be, staying open during the in-between periods. This would allow us to utilize the full potential of our meal plans, as well as get the proper nourishment during the day to fuel our bodies and brains.PIERCE from pg 3Leaving volleyball this way is bittersweet, but I feel as though the leadership role that I took on this year will help the team in the future. Another positive is that the team connectivity was the best it's been in the last four years. Although this year has had more losses than wins, it taught me how to turn a bad situation positive. I was still able to stay positive and encourage my team the way I needed to even with this outcome. It's taught me perseverance and how to cope with failure. Q. So far, what's been your best memory about being on the Wesleyan volleyball team?A. It happened this season in a match at William Peace. We had lost the first two games and it seemed like we were going to lose the third game and then Coach (Vicky Gentile) started to make changes on the court. I got put into the game and made a difference for my team and brought the energy the team needed. We ended up reverse sweeping and winning the match, 3-2. It was so exciting, and everyone was so happy about the win. Looking back, I can say that I was a big contributor to why we won that match, and it feels good that I made a difference for my team. Q. What's your favorite nonsports memory about Wesleyan? A. It would have to be my internship. I learned a lot and really got the most I could out of it. I asked a lot of questions and learned a lot of things that made me excited for grad school. I was also able to see injuries and sporting events that I probably wouldn't have seen otherwise. My internship solidified my goal of becoming an athletic trainer. I also spent a lot of time with the athletic trainers and formed friendships with all of them. That’s something I’ll remember forever. Q. If you were Wesleyan president for a day, what one change would you make to benefit the student body? A. I would give students more incentive to attend different sporting events. I know some sporting events are really popular such as men's basketball and baseball and sometimes soccer. But there are sports that do not have a large attendance rate from the student body such as women's basketball, volleyball, football, and lacrosse. I think all sports should have around the same support from the student body. Promoting sporting events will help increase the attendance and this, in turn, will improve the atmosphere of the game. Q. In general, how has being on a team benefited other aspect as of your life?A. I think it’s set me up for success in the future. Playing a sport has taught me discipline and the benefits of hard work. I’ve sacrificed a lot for the sport that I love, and I know I'm going to have to sacrifice to do the things that I love in the future. Playing volleyball has also taught me how to be part of a team. I've learned how to be a leader and a role model. I've learned that it's important to set an example for what the expectation is. I've also learned a lot of time management skills with playing a sport as we’re on a strict schedule. I understand the importance of communication with my team members. There's a lot I can take away from playing volleyball and I'm so grateful that I was able to have this opportunity. Q. After this season, how do you expect to remain involved with volleyball? A. I do plan on continuing to play volleyball. I live near Charlotte and over the summer I found an adult league that I will continue to play in with a former teammate, Hanna Byrd. Volleyball has always been something special to me so I don't think I'll ever fully stop participating. Hopefully in my professional career I can be an athletic trainer for a volleyball team at the collegiate level. I'm excited for what this new stage of life will be.GOALKEEPER from pg 3to here,” he said. He said that in Argentina, lunch is usually eaten at around 3 p.m., and dinner is at 10 or even 11 p.m. at times.Boismoreau shared that one of his fondest memories was recently, when Argentina won the 2022 World Cup. He recounted that he had missed almost all of the semifinals game because he was flying from the U.S. to Argentina at the time, and was only able to catch the last 10 minutes. For the final, he was already in Buenos Aires, and was watching the game at home with his mom and brother. “I was super nervous,” he said. “But then Argentina was playing so well that all of that nervousness disappeared.”Argentina had scored two goals in the first half, and he said that France was not playing their best. But the French came back in the second half, tying it up, 3-3. “The extra time was just pure suffering,” Boismoreau said. After Argentina won the penalty shoot-outs, and in turn the World Cup, he and his family were ecstatic. “We were on our knees shouting in front of the TV,” he said. Shortly after the ceremony, he joined the 50,000 other Argentines that stormed the streets of Buenos Aires, bearing their blue, white, and gold in the form of jerseys and flags.When it comes to his home country, Boismoreau is very patriotic and not just with soccer. But unfortunately, their political circumstances have made it difficult for him to stay. He becomes passionate in talking about politics, especially since he feels the old government, La Libertad Avanza, is responsible for dismantling his country. “Every time there was an opportunity for progress, the politicians made sure to take it away,” Boismoreau said. “But the new government is trying to change a lot of these old ways.” Unfortunately, he said, this new government, Frente de Todos, is facing a lot of challenges and has little structure. “I’m hopeful that things will continue to improve and get better.”As a senior, making plans beyond graduation is certainly on his radar. Being an international student means that he has the opportunity through his student visa to take OPT, or Optional Practical Training, which allows him to work in the U.S. for a year. After that, he intends to become a certified accountant, working in a bustling city somewhere. As for returning to Argentina, he says that he would like to continue to live outside of his home country, at least in the short-term. “I would like to live in Europe somewhere, but I haven’t decided yet,” he said. “But maybe eventually I would like to return. It depends on how the situation in my country evolves.”