Around the Cistern - The College Today
Goings On Around Campus
HOME GROWN
The Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity prides itself on staying true to its roots. That’s why the members always come back to the College, where the national fraternity was founded in 1904. One way the brotherhood shows its dedication is by installing prominent landmarks on campus. In 1929, they dedicated a memorial gate in the Cistern Yard; in 1954, the clock atop Randolph Hall. And, in 1979, they planted a rose garden near the Sottile House, where the flowers thrived for years before struggling in the shade. Last spring, the garden was relocated to a sunny spot near the Pi Kappa Phi Bell Tower – a 2004 gift. “This is the birthplace of our fraternity, and we never forget where we come from,” Jake Henderson, Pi Kappa Phi CEO, said at the garden dedication. “This is our home.”
Leading the Way
The redevelopment of Union Pier, the 65-acre waterfront property along the Cooper River in Charleston’s historic district (top right in photo), will be one of the most impactful redevelopment opportunities in the city’s history. It offers a significant opportunity to transform a port operation into a neighborhood with housing, businesses, public parks and waterfront access.
Following significant community input about a previous proposal, the SC Ports Authority, which owns the property, pivoted to present a new planning process with the College’s Joseph P. Riley Jr. Center for Livable Communities at the helm. The Riley Center is heading up a community-led planning process to create a new proposal.
“The College is proud to be a leader in a process that will result in a plan that will have a tremendous impact on the city,” says Kendra Stewart, the center’s director. “The goal of continuing to improve the livability of our city aligns perfectly with the Riley Center’s mission. We are committed to leading with the values of transparency and inclusiveness and delivering a plan that reflects the priorities of the community and benefits Charleston.”
Stewart expects to deliver the plan to the city this spring.
Point of Pride
The new Pride Center aims to strengthen the College’s support for members of the LGBTQ+ community, further embracing and celebrating this diverse community. With student-created artwork embodying the values of the LGBTQ+ community lining the walls, the center serves as a relaxing, intimate space where students can spend time and socialize in various capacities. Along with supporting them in their creative endeavors, the center’s director, Naomi Simmons (pictured), works closely with students to spread knowledge about their access to critical resources.
Q&A With Dornell Williams
Chef for College of Charleston Campus Dining (Charleston Culinary Group)
Where are you from, and how has your background shaped your approach to cooking?
I was born and raised in Charleston, about five blocks from the College. My background of Gullah cuisine shaped my approach to cooking by infusing it with Lowcountry dishes.
What’s your earliest memory of being in the kitchen and wanting to cook? When I helped my mother and grandmother in the kitchen on Thanksgiving, and smelling the aroma grasped my attention to cooking.
You’ve been at the College about four years now. What’s your favorite part of the job?
Student engagement and creating wow factors during station takeovers, such as “The Walkin’ Doritos Taco Bar,” which was a huge success!
What kinds of requests do you get from different students/groups on campus? Our culinary team just executed a tasting for the Hispanic-Latino group with dishes that included tamales, chorizo con papas, chicken fajitas and tres leches cake.
We have students who come from all over the world, bringing with them all sorts of culinary traditions. How do you take those different tastes and preferences into consideration?
During menu planning, which is done before the semester starts, I take into consideration all of the ethnicities here at the College and include recipes that represent cultures from all over the world.
Do you have a signature dish or a dish that you are especially proud of?
Yes, I created a sandwich called “The Cougar” last semester during the men’s basketball tournament that includes an all-beef patty, pimento cheese, candied bacon and pickled red onion and drizzled with a savory barbecue sauce.
What’s a favorite dish that someone else makes for you?
My wife’s stewed chicken and my mother’s Charleston red rice.
If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Blue crabs would be the answer.
Sports Shorts
Women’s soccer freshman Bella Antonio was selected to represent Charleston on the CAA Family – United for Change executive committee. Antonio was just one of six student-athletes from the conference appointed to the committee, which serves to address issues plaguing our nation and create meaningful change across their campuses.
For the first time in program history, the men’s basketball team has sold out TD Arena for the entirety of the season. “Very few programs nationally achieve a sellout prior to their first game of the season,” says Matt Roberts, director of athletics. “Because of the tremendous effort by our external administrative team, we continue to put Charleston basketball on the map as one of the best programs in the nation.”
Junior Tynley Smeltzer was named the 2023 CAA Volleyball Libero of the Year and earned First Team All-CAA honors (a libero is a defensive specialist). The Savannah, Ga., native and Honors College student led the league in digs per set (5.04) while playing in 104 of the Cougars’ 106 sets. She is the fourth Cougar to earn the honor in the last 10 years, joining Logan Manusky (2020), Andi Zbojniewicz (2014) and Kallie McKown (2013).
Crossing That Bridge
Whether it’s your first time training for the Cooper River Bridge Run or your 10th, here are four tips from Bucky Buchanan ’08, assistant director for fitness, to get you ready for the 2024 race.
- Remember to build in rest days to help your body adapt to the stress of your training program. On these days, you should still plan on being active, like going for a short walk or trying a gentle yoga class. Throughout your training days, focus on consistency and slow but steady progress.
- To ensure your safety and success on race day, avoid wearing earphones – it can be dangerous to listen to tunes in such a large crowd. Make sure to practice this when you’re training as well.
- Stick to what you already know; race day is not the time to try brand-new sneakers or a new meal.
- Finally, bring a small water bottle and an easily digestible snack to the start line. Be sure to sip water consistently throughout the morning.
