PROFILE: Failed Floridian Fencer Finds Finale
Ready. Fence!
Chris Law advanced a step on the raised strip in front of a crowd of more than 300 at the Ocala, Fla., Fencing Tournament. His Russian opponent charged. Law, who was only two points away from winning, retreated a few steps and attempted to block the moves. The Russian lunged forward and body checked Law. Law stumbled, twisted and slipped. His leg was broken and his Olympic bound fencing career was over.
Law is now a senior about to graduate from Marietta College. Before his final fencing match began the fall of his senior year of high school, he planned to go to Penn State on a full ride scholarship and join the fencing team. If Penn State had not worked out, he had been accepted to Harvard under the same conditions. The same was true with Yale, Oregon, Oregon State, and Syracuse. In a few seconds, all of that was gone.
“I blacked out immediately after it happened,†says Law. “The next thing I remember, I was going to the hospital and knew I had a bad injury.â€
The injury was pretty serious indeed. The doctor determined Law’s right leg had a broken tibia and femur, a dislocated and shattered patella, several torn muscles, a torn LCL, and a strained ACL.
Within a few days, every scholarship offer had been revoked except for Law’s academic scholarship to Marietta College. This was Law’s backup to his backup. As it turned out, it became one of the best things to ever happen to Chris Law.
“I enjoyed MC more than I thought I would. Classes I could have had anywhere. The friends, though, I wouldn’t trade for Penn State’s fencing program or Harvard or anything like that for the friends I made at Marietta.â€
Law embraced the situation and he become very involved at Marietta College. He joined a fraternity and became an editor for the Marcolian, the student newspaper. He is about to graduate with a degree in Advertising and Public Relations, a double minor in journalism and organizational communication, and a certificate in international leadership.
Adam Bruhenne, Law’s best friend and former roommate, is impressed by how much the entire situation has humbled Law. “I don’t think I could have taken this as well as Chris Law. He’s become an avid volunteer for the Boys’ and Girls’ Club and wants to join the Navy after he graduates.â€
The military is one option Law is considering. If he can’t find a job in the private sector, he’d like to serve his country.
“My dream job is to be the director of social media for Budweiser, but it will take a while to get there. If I can get in a few years with the government, I think it will not only help my career, but I will be able to give back for everything my country has given me.â€
EDITOR’S NOTE:  This article is by Dave Hood, a Media Writing Two student at Marietta College.  If you are interested in writing for Writing on the Mall, send an e-mail to Patrick_H@writingonthemall.net.
Posted by Dave_H Date: Thursday, April 29, 2010
Tags: Chris Law, College, Dave Hood, Fencing, Florida, Harvard, Marietta, Ocala, Ohio, Olympics, Oregon, Oregon State, Penn State, Syracuse, Writing on the Mall, Yale
"Pioneer Pledge" To Replace College Creed
The Marietta College Creed may be getting a completely new face next year. A new “Pledgeâ€Â has been proposed to replace the Creed currently in use. If President Jean Scott approves the changes, the new pledge could be ready for Matriculation this fall.
The proposed changes have been in development for five semesters. A faculty member on the campus life committee showed how a similar pledge at another university helped make them stronger and give them an identity.
Vlad Grecu, a senior and member of the campus life committee, believes that the proposed Pledge could have the same effect on Marietta College students. “More than anything, it gives identification to what a Marietta College student is. It shows what character we want to show through the people in our college.â€
Posted by Dave_H Date: Thursday, March 11, 2010
Tags: College, College Creed, Dave Hood, Dean of Students, Dr. Robert Pastoor, Marietta, Matriculation, Ohio, Pioneer Pledge, Ryan Gontero, Vlad Grecu, Writing on the Mall
Recycling: Second Option Available to Entrepreneurial Students
After the price of aluminum was cut in half during the height of the recession, its value has begun to rise again. Used aluminum cans are able to net a smart student 65-cents a pound. It may not sound like much, but it can add up quickly.
For students who drink a little more on the heavy side, it is very reasonable for two roommates to go through a case of beer during the school week and another 60-90 beers on the weekends. These numbers can especially be true with the help of a few of age friends.
Last year, Adam Burhenne ’10 often just threw the cans out in the morning, even though he had collected them the entire night in a large black plastic bag. “Unfortunately, I probably threw away more than $100 worth of cans last year. I had no idea that the cans could be worth so much.â€
This semester, Burhenne and his roommate are saving the cans. They tried to at least be more environmentally conscience by putting them in the recycling trailers on campus last semester, but wanted to take it a step further. “Any amount of money to help out is good in this economy.â€
The Rinks located on Route 7 just south of the Muskingum River is one of the easiest locations to recycle aluminum. Ashley’s Recycling, which runs the facility, will not only accept cans, but almost any kind of metal or car parts. Every Saturday between 8:00 AM and 2:00 PM, numerous locals pull up in their pickups with bags and bags of cans, scrap metal, or small motors. The process is quick and easy.
Not only can recycling aluminum help a student’s wallet, but it helps the environment, too. According to Earth911.com, recycling one can saves enough energy to run a TV for three hours. It also takes as much energy to make three new cans from virgin material as it takes to make 60 cans from recycled material.
For students that have a car or pickup to store their cans, the payoff can be pretty good. A month’s worth of aluminum can easily net $10-$20. This payout can double if friends in a dorm or suite work together and all start recycling cans.
Burhenne believes more students might recycle if they knew the economic benefits. “It’s easy money. I just wish I had known sooner than my last semester of college how much money I could have saved.â€
This article was written by Dave Hood, a student taking Media Writing 2 at Marietta College. Â Look for more articles from the class to appear on Writing on the Mall in the coming weeks. Â If you are interested in writing for Writing on the Mall, please e-mail patrick_h at writingonthemall dot net.
