Lee Ellis, Athletic Director at Principia College, said recently that “[head track and cross country] Coach [Chuck] Wilcoxen and I have talked about the prospect of hosting a national championship in 2013.” If Principia College were to consider this, the cross-country course on the other side of Beltrees Road would need to be revamped. There are specific guidelines that must be followed in this process so that the course will be up to par with national hosting qualifications. “We will have to move a little dirt, which we hope to have done by 2012,” said Ellis. The goal is to have the course certified by 2012.

Within the next five years, this track will be replaced with a rounder one, yielding faster times. photo / Karlin Krishnaswami

By the fall of 2011, the cross-country team will also have a new team gazebo.   “This gazebo represents a long, long, effort to build a useful structure for the cross-country team,” said Wilcoxen. “It will also help us remember our friend Erika Myers, who was a very important part of our team and passed away the summer before her senior year.”  Members of facilities are helping to build the gazebo with wood harvested from the Principia College campus.

In the next three to five years, the athletic department is also hoping to build a brand new eight-lane outdoor track to replace the old six-lane track that the college currently uses. Wilcoxen said: “In its day, the track was state-of-the-art. I have coaching friends who ran their first race on this track here in Elsah. It’s been a great track for a long time, but it is time to change. A rounder track yields faster times, and teams want to run where they’ll run fast. It is something I take into consideration, so I’m sure other coaches and athletes do, too.”

Since Principia no longer sponsors a football program, Ellis hopes to construct a new soccer pitch. The pitch will be located in the center of the track and will be equipped with lights and new stadium seating. “The current game field for soccer will be turned into a multipurpose turf field, so we can use it for lacrosse, soccer and rugby practices, and any other activities that the students need it for,” said Ellis. The practice soccer field on the other side of the track will be converted into a parking lot in order to accommodate traffic from what will hopefully be more well-attended games and possibly national championships.

According to the plan, the women’s practice soccer field will eventually become a parking lot. photo / Karlin Krishnaswami

As many Principians are aware, the baseball field has also recently undergone several major changes. The athletic department, with the help of donors, has added a press box and stadium seating. “I feel now we have one of the nicest baseball stadiums in DIII college baseball. The players love it, the energy is there, the crowds love it. The stadium gets rockin’, especially for night games and it has helped jolt some life into the program,” said Pete Paciorek, former head baseball coach.

The new press box enables Principia Internet Radio (PIR) to broadcast live and it also keeps the scorekeepers dry in wet weather. Loudspeakers have also been added to play music for the crowd and make it easier to hear the players’ names when they step up to bat. “With these new additions, we hope to host a regional or even national championship on our field,” said Ellis. This improved facility will help the program improve in future seasons as well. “With top-notch facilities, we are going to attract top-notch athletes, which will in turn result in better performing teams,” said Paciorek.

The construction of the softball field just last year is another notable addition to Principia’s athletic facilities. However, the field is still not complete. “There are still two pieces that need to be addressed,” said Ellis. “One is the lack of lights and second is how to get power to the fields.” Right now, the women currently play some of their games at 1 p.m. These early game times pose a challenge because the women cannot miss class for home games. Therefore, it is important that power become accessible to the field so that games can have later start times. The design of the baseball press box will also be used in the construction of the softball field’s press box. Principia will hopefully be able to save time and money by using the same design. Like the men’s box, the women’s box will also have seats and a place for PIR to report from.

The Hexberg tennis complex may also need to undergo updates in the near future.  “When we are not using it, Saint Louis University (SLU), Lewis and Clark and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) all use our courts,” said Ellis. “It is 20-plus years old and needs renovating.” The athletic department would like to add two more courts and improve the locker rooms and the spectator viewing area.

The recently completed press box and stadium seating at the baseball field are the first steps in the revamp. photo / Karlin Krishnaswami

All of these changes and additions have been articulated as part of the master plan currently under consideration by the college administration with the hope that the completion timeframe is between 3-7 years.

“As of right now, we cannot host most of the bigger events like nationals,” said Ellis. “We just made baseball able to host.” The athletic department hopes that these additions will enable Principia to host national competitions in soccer, track, cross-country, softball and tennis. “I know our teams will get to that point, so when they do, I want our facilities to be at that point too,” said Ellis.

Since its introduction in October 2007, PIR has evolved into the thriving station it is today. Its shows cover a vast range of topics, including sports updates, a call-in political show, and international music. These shows are available to the world via the Internet. This means that anyone with Internet access can stay connected with Principia by tuning in to hear what students have to offer.

Senior Ricky Seaman said his involvement with PIR started when the time came for him to fill the Mass Communication majors’ practicum requirement. Why did he choose to fill this requirement with a radio show? There are actually a few reasons. “I love cultures,” he said. “I had the music and I was inspired by international friends.” Seaman’s show, “A Trip Around the World,” which “promote[s] global awareness.”

Senior DJ Ricky Seaman sets up for his weekly world music radio show. A Trip Around the World, in the PIR studio. "I love cultures," he said, "I had the music and was inspired by international friends."

Other students involved with PIR are freshman Zach Becker and sophomore Max Russell. Becker said that he got into radio because his older brother, junior Rob Terrell, was on the board. Due to his passion for sports, he started a show called Principia’s Sports Network, or PSPN. Russell has been involved with a variety of shows on PIR, including “Reggae Vibes” and “Beyond Borders,” the former of which hosted Dynamq as a guest. The purpose of shows such as these is to “break down segregation,” said Russell.

However different the shows may seem, the students behind the mics all have something in common: passion. Each student heard on the radio is there because they truly love what they are doing. Freshman Ratia Tekenet said that her involvement with PIR “started out as a joke,” but her passion and love for radio are what really pushed her into it. “I think if you’re determined to do it, nothing can stop you,” she said. She now co-hosts a call-in radio show called “Starlight” with freshman Eric Odanga, a show meant to represent the community and bring it together.

Although anyone can get involved with PIR, it takes a great deal of commitment. According to Rick Dearborn, the Director of Digital Media, everyone who wants to host a show is required to train under someone with experience before they go on the air. Students are also required to sign an agreement that says they will uphold Principia’s standards and will not air anything that would misrepresent the community. For example, if someone were to request “Lil’ Freak,” it probably wouldn’t be played on the air. As much as they may love Usher, someone else may not think his lyrics are appropriate for a medium that exists to advance Principia.

Whether it is due to increased awareness of the station or a response to the great shows available, the number of PIR listeners is growing. “During the last year we had over 23,000 listeners to our live program. So far, the number of listeners is up about 50 percent from last year,” said Dearborn. However, numbers are still not where they could be. “The campus needs to appreciate what we have,” said Tekenet. More than anything, Tekenet would like feedback from the community. “I wish there was a way to know what to improve, what to change, how to make the show better for them,” she said.

By means of a two-hour Principia Internet Radio (PIR) segment on May 21 and an upcoming short film, to be shown during tenth week, the class has opened up discussion about the issue. 

Peace & Conflict is a class at Principia dedicated to creating an environment that embraces and stimulates positive peace. This concept of peace delves deeper than a state of harmony without war (negative peace), to a notion of “working to end all forms of oppression,” as Miller said.

During the quarter, Miller instructs the class to find a topic with firm roots in human rights that is in need of increased awareness on a campus-wide scale. This project enables students to apply the conflict resolution techniques that they have learned to a real life issue. 

This spring, the students unanimously decided that they would focus on the subject of sexual harassment. The radio program was formatted as a round table discussion and touched upon everything from conduct constituting harassment to accounts of harassment on campus. Senior Sara Mata said the purpose of the project was to “create dialogue to bring about change.” Senior Alison Cline said, “We are creating awareness.” 

None of the ideas or opinions that were shared and discussed during the radio program were presented in an aggressive tone. The purpose of this discussion was education, and as Miller said, the class was not “trying to protest anything or anybody.” Instead of pointing fingers, the members of this class folded their hands and concentrated on the variety of ways to alleviate the problem of sexual harassment on a grand scale, as well as at Principia. We’re not as exempt from the rest of the world as we think we are, said Mata. 

This is not to say that Prin’s policies are without room for change. As recent issues on campus have become publicized, it is becoming clear that certain aspects of the policies need to be modified, as members of the class said. Senior Chelsea Sutton said, This is our community. We all have a responsibility to help things. 

One of the main issues is the lack of information available detailing Prin’s policies. It is true that each freshman attends a required talk about harassment and that they also receive a summary of what Prin considers sexual harassment. However, the Peace and Conflict class believes that this should not be the extent of the conversation. 

A few members of the class admitted that they did not remember the meeting in their freshman year and were unaware of any paperwork on the topic. A couple of local colleges have attached a readily available outline of their sexual harassment policies to their college websites. Students consider this to be a possible resolution to the information issue, as well as a way to raise consciousness. 

The film that the class is putting together will be presented in a documentary format. It will emphasize student perceptions and understanding of sexual harassment, as well as personal accounts of sexual harassment from students on campus. These accounts will be shared either by the victim, but if they wish to remain anonymous, a member of the class will share the story in the first person narrative. 

Cline said that a great deal of people, both male and female, have already shown their interest in sharing their experiences within the forum of the film.

According to class members, sexual harassment is a serious issue of which members of every community need to be aware. They hope this project will raise the current state of passive understanding to a more enlightened state – perhaps even to the realization of positive peace. 

The race will start at 8 a.m. at the Crafton Athletic Center natatorium, where competitors will begin with the swimming leg. Entrants will line up alongside the pool’s edge according to racing bib number, and will begin the swim in the water. 

After the first participant commences, each competitor will be sent in at ten second intervals. Participants will swim 400 meters, or 16 lengths, in a serpentine fashion, moving into the neighboring lane to make room for competitors behind them. Once the swim is completed, competitors will climb out of the pool and make their way through Crafton to the transition area.

The transition area, located in the Crafton parking lot, is a space where triathletes change clothes, grab food and water, and shift gears for the leg of the race.

Next is the cycling segment, which will meander 23 kilometers (14.38 miles) through the Elsah community along Elsah Hills Road, Beltrees Road, and Green Acres Road.

Assistant Professor of Theatre Patrick McCreary, a long-time triathlete, described the cycling leg as having a few challenging hills, plus tricky and technical descents, but also as being picturesque and breathtaking. Cyclists will dismount before entering the transition zone, then rack their bikes, lace up their running shoes, and start the run. 

The run is the final portion of the triathlon. It will head down Eliestoun Road, loop around the Eliestoun Mansion, and travel back towards Firehouse Road where the race begins to wind down. Competitors will know they have almost finished when they glimpse the chapel finish line, and make the final sprint on the chapel green.

When participants finish the triathlon, they are entitled to a special lunch provided by Dining Services, though food will be available for guests to purchase.

Following the triathlon and lunch, an awards ceremony will take place on the chapel steps. Winners in their separate divisions will receive a custom award, crafted by Elsah’s Crocker and Springer pottery shop.

The divisions for the triathlon categorize participants by age, gender, individual vs. relay, and by whether they are alumni, current students, or off-campus participants.

Triathlon registration remains open to Principia until today. The event focuses on including the surrounding Elsah-Alton-St. Louis community.

McCreary said he was approached by Special Events Coordinator Tim Booth to spearhead the organization of the triathlon as a new method of reaching out to the greater community. McCreary said the purpose of the triathlon is to create awareness of Principia’s facilities, history, and beauty. He added, “[The triathlon] is an excellent opportunity to meet and compete with members of the community and to enjoy a beautiful day on our property.”

Since this is the first triathlon hosted by Principia College, McCreary said he hopes to start a new tradition. But in order for there to be another triathlon next year, this year’s triathlon needs to prove self-sustainable.

McCreary said, “This [triathlon] is not being subsidized; it needs to pay for itself.” Registration fees, in addition to sponsorship from Wild Trak Bikes in Alton, pay for T-shirts, race bibs, timers, and food. Whatever profit is made from the event will be deposited into the Blue and Gold fund for Principia athletes.

Despite the pressure of organizing a successful event, McCreary said, “[I am] grateful to [Dr. Palmer] for his support of the new outreach event.”

McCreary, who has competed in 142 triathlons over the last 19 years, will not compete in the Escape to the Bluffs triathlon. He said, “I would love to participate, but I’m committed to making sure it’s well-organized, safe, and fun for all participants.”

The relatively new Principia Internet Radio (PIR) is an Internet-based broadcasting system that makes it possible for people all over the world to tune in. Internet has given Prin radio the chance to grow to new heights.

“There is a potential for an unlimited amount of listeners,” said sophomore Matt Donatelli, the manager of the radio station and one of the hosts of the political and current events talk show “We the People.” Junior Mona-Lisa Mills, host of a call-in request show called “P.S. I Love You”, pulled in 320 listeners last quarter. It is this awareness of being heard that is drawing an amount of student-run shows that, as Donatelli said, is “unprecedented for PIR.”

Before PIR, Prin had a radio club known as WTPC that started in the 1960s. The educational station was a low-power FM “class D” radio station that traveled 10 watts. Being a class D station meant the Principia channel was not protected. All other local and larger stations held precedence over WTPC, and if one of the stations wanted the radio club’s frequency, they could take it.

The station made three channel changes during its run, from 89.7 to 95.5 to 105.3. Rick Dearborn, the director of PIR, said that after the last change, the decision was made to take it off the air in hopes of finding a better outlet. That outlet was found in the wonders of the Internet. 

“I think Internet radio has a future,” said freshman Max Russell, member of the PIR board and co-host of “360 Radio” with sophomore Rob Terrell. Russell said that with the increasing prominence of portable devices that connect to the Internet, “AM, FM, and XM radio are becoming obsolete.”

Terrell was not as enthusiastic as his co-host. He said that the number of listeners has not been as high as he had hoped. “It hasn’t really gotten off the ground yet. I mean we’ve only done two shows,” Terrell said, adding that he believes the amount of listeners will multiply as the quarter continues. 

At this time, there are six student programs and eight that are being considered by the student-run broadcasting board. The programs focus on varying interests, far surpassing a strictly music agenda.

The potential for an extremely high rate of listeners has appealed to senior Paul Ireland, a co-host of the “Philosophy Quorum” show with junior David Miller. Ireland said that the capabilities of the show being on the Internet has made it into an “intellectual outlet” that has really come out from underground.

Networking websites such as Facebook give hosts the opportunity to create groups that promote their shows and remind their friends on and off campus to listen. People all over the world can phone or message in to have their requests and opinions considered and discussed. The virtually unending potential is astounding. 

The board hopes to expand the influence of PIR on campus. Russell said that the board has a great deal of ideas to improve it. There are plans to try to get the promotional pitches geared even more towards events on and around campus. Russell said he is also planning on holding contests on his show featuring giveaways such as a free shake at the Pub to the winners.

There is even an idea circulating around the board to hook up the Pub speaker system to PIR instead of XM radio as it is now. This would give students the chance to call into the Pub and make requests. It has also been proposed that live music events on campus, such as the intimate concerts put on by Briars Road in the Pub could potentially be recorded and listened to live over PIR.

Video may have killed the radio star, but the Internet has reanimated and redrawn the possibilities for a comeback.