Lynchburg residents hear results of economics students' research

Safiyah Lopez '12, center, explains the results of a study she conducted regarding resident satisfaction in Lynchburg's Tinbridge Hill neighborhood.

Like many college seniors, Safiyah Lopez ’12 sat for the Graduate Readiness Exam on Friday.

But first, she sat down with Lynchburg residents who wanted to hear the results of her economic studies of their neighborhood and its economic progress.

Her presentation focused specifically on a neighborhood satisfaction survey that she and Shradha Shrestha ’12 administered this summer, but it represented the culmination of years of research and study by Randolph College economics students and Elizabeth Perry-Sizemore, an economics professor.

Over the years, Perry-Sizemore and her students have studied the economy of the Tinbridge Hill community as the nonprofit Lynchburg Neighborhood Development Foundation (LNDF ) has restored condemned, vacant homes there. Last year, those studies led Lopez to an internship at LNDF.

The studies have shown that LNDF’s restoration and renovation projects helped boost the values of the neighboring homes in the area.

This summer, Lopez and Shrestha participated in the College’s Summer Research Program to continue the research. They conducted an extensive survey to gauge the satisfaction or dissatisfaction of people in the Tinbridge Hill neighborhood and identify areas that people still need improvement.

The survey results showed general satisfaction with the community. In particular, they showed that many people in the neighborhood feel crime is not a current problem.

Aubrey Barbour, a community leader, said the survey provides a real benefit to Tinbridge Hill residents. It shows what progress has been made through neighborhood revitalization efforts, and it could encourage future improvements as more homes become owner occupied, he said.

“We have a lot of people now that are beginning to take ownership in the neighborhood. That means a lot,” he said. “For them to try ownership in the neighborhood affirms that something’s working. This survey should entice more people to come into the area to live.”

Perry-Sizemore said she plans to continue helping her students understand real life economics by studying Tinbridge Hill. Eventually, she wants to go through the community satisfaction survey again to measure progress.

Also, city leaders have asked for help conducting similar surveys in other neighborhoods near downtown Lynchburg.

This project is one example of the way Randolph College students get the opportunity to work on real life projects addressing real life problems. Read a recent Randolph magazine article about the project here.

The weather was beautiful at Randolph College today, with the temperature remaining in the 70s for much of the afternoon.

 Dara Niketic '15, Trey Padgett '15, and Rachel Dunwell '15 enjoy the shade and the sunshine outside the dining hall.

Faculty members Danielle Currier, a sociology professor, and Summer Henderson '07, a philosophy professor, enjoy a chat outside after lunch.

How did you enjoy the weather?

Randolph Remembers 9/11 Victims

Randolph College will mark the 10th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks with a special remembrance ceremony. On Sunday, September 11, the Randolph community will come together to honor those who died during the tragic attacks in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania.

At 8:46 a.m., the Conway Bell will ring three times in honor of the victims of Flight 11 and the World Trade Center 1. Community members will be asked to pause for a moment of silence after the bell tolls. At the conclusion of the moment of silence, Randolph community members will then read the names of each of the victims of the 9/11 attacks. During the reading of the names, the bell will again toll three times—at 9:02 a.m. to honor the victims of Flight 175 and the World Trade Center 2, at 9:37 a.m. in honor of the victims of Flight 77 and the Pentagon, and at 10:03 in honor of the victims of Flight 93 in Pennsylvania.

Organizers estimate it will take the Randolph community three hours to read the more than 3,000 names. Volunteers are being asked to sign up to read in 5-minute intervals. To participate, sign up at the Reception and Information Desk in Main Hall before Friday.

“September 11 will continue to be an important day in the history of our nation,” wrote Randolph President John E. Klein in an e-mail to the community this week. “It is fitting that the College community remember those who lost their lives that day. No matter where you are, or what you are doing, I hope each of us will take time to reflect on the significance of those events to our country.”

News story profiles Randolph College professor

When an earthquake struck Virginia last month, Lynchburg-area news outlets immediately called on Tatiana Gilstrap.

As a Randolph College physics and geology professor, Gilstrap is Central Virginia’s resident earthquake expert. She interpreted data from the College’s seismograph located at the Randolph College Riding Center.

Today, The News & Advance in Lynchburg published a profile of Gilstrap, detailing how she left post-communist Bulgaria in search of greater opportunities for scientific advancement. That quest eventually led her to Randolph-Macon Woman’s College in 2005, where she began teaching after graduate school at Georgia Tech.

Both before and after the transition to coeducation, Gilstrap found the College to be a great place for her to live and practice science. Here is one clip from the article:

“The campus is just gorgeous,” she said. “The one thing that I really liked was the community.”

Especially, she said, the high percentage of international students, and the mentality of the campus population.

“It turned out to be exactly what I expected. Very open-minded people, and very forward-thinking. I really was hoping that would be the case.”

Read the full story here.

New Teaching and Learning Center combines three academic support programs

Three critical academic support programs at Randolph College now share a home in the Lipscomb Library.

Over the summer, the Learning Resources Center (LRC), the Writing Lab, and the Tutoring program moved into a prominent remodeled location on the main floor of the library. The 1,800 square-foot Teaching and Learning Center provides one place where students can go for help with a learning disability, tutoring for a tough class, or guidance in crafting an essay.

“Before, we had separate facilities. Now we have one-stop shopping,” said Tina Barnes, director of the LRC. “We wanted it to be a center for teaching and learning.”

The LRC provides support for students with any kind of disability—any condition ranging from dyslexia to a broken bone—to help them participate and succeed at the College. Barnes also coordinates the Learning Strategies Program, in which students receive help learning college success skills and habits to improve their studying and test taking.

This space on the fourth floor of Lipscomb Library was remodeled to create the Teaching and Learning Center.

BEFORE

AFTER

The tutoring program, directed by M.C. Johnson ‘76, pairs students who need assistance in a specific course with students who have excelled in that subject before. Last year, more than 160 students used

The Writing Lab is staffed with peer tutors who help other students with any phase of the writing process. Bunny Goodjohn, an English professor, oversees the writing program.

Johnson said the new arrangement should help make the academic services more accessible to students.

The staff of the new Teaching and Learning Center will host an open house on September 22 to help students become more acquainted with the facility and its services. Watch for later announcements to get details.

Lynchburg dubbed "Runner Friendly"

Carl Coffey ’11 runs along the Blackwater Creek Trail in Lynchburg. The trail is one place that Cross Country Coach Catherine Phillips recommends for running.

Looking for a place to run? You should check out the City of Lynchburg and Randolph College.

The Road Runner’s Club of America has named Lynchburg a “Runner Friendly Community,” confirming what Randolph College runners already knew.

Not only is Lynchburg a great place to run, but the College is situated near some of the city’s best running paths, on road or on trail.
Catherine Phillips, head coach of Randolph’s Men’s and Women’s Cross Country teams, named several popular, safe running spots near the College. Here’s a map:

With its wide sidewalks, Rivermont Avenue is a popular running spot from early in the morning until late at night, Phillips said. Riverside Runners, a sports footwear and apparel store near the College, provides a water cooler where runners can refresh themselves.

The Blackwater Creek Bikeway and its associated trails are also good, safe places to run during the day, Phillips said. “You always see other runners, cyclists, walkers, at any time of day, and everyone is friendly and encouraging of others,” she said.

The Blackwater Creek Trail is good for biking, too. Wanda WildCat enjoys a leisurely ride down the trail when she is not training for a run.

After dark, when the bikeway and trails close, Phillips said runners in the area should stick to Rivermont Avenue, Peakland Place or Langhorne Road because they are well lit at night and have sidewalks, she said.

These areas are especially busy in the mornings now—sometimes as early as 5:30 a.m.—as people prepare for Lynchburg’s premiere race, the Virginia 10 Miler, which takes place September 24. Phillips said the cross country teams usually participate in the race, but this year they will be away competing in the Roanoke College Invitational meet. However, several faculty and staff members usually run the race, she said.

While we’re talking about running, check out this article about people who have run every day for 40 years. Now that is dedication.

What Did You Do This Summer? Songshine Received Invitation to Perform from Nikki Giovanni

Randolph College’s female a cappella group, Songshine, did more than relax over the summer. Members of the group were invited to perform at James Madison University on June 24. The invitation was issued by Nikki Giovanni, the internationally known poet, who heard Songshine during her visit to Randolph College during the spring.

The group performed at a poetry reading by poet and social justice activist Sonia Sanchez. The reading on June 24 was part of a weeklong seminar on African American poetry at JMU.

Songshine, founded in 1972, has a long history at the College. Auditions for the group will be held this fall.