Thanks to a new $1 a year lease agreement between Catawba College and the Southern Conference of the United Church of Christ, Catawba will assume management of the 306-acre Black Lake Conference Center in Asheboro. The property is located adjacent to the N.C. Zoological Park in Asheboro.

By Catawba College Student Bianca Stokes '12 - In 1958, 17-year-old Mildred Jeter, who was black, and her childhood sweetheart, Richard, a 23-year-old white construction worker, left their home in Virginia because as an interracial couple they could not be married there. The two traveled to Washington, D.C., where interracial marriages were legal and they were married.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Dan Ryan, a 2009 graduate of Catawba College, majored in Music and minored in K-12 Education. He has been the choral director at North Iredell High School since 2009 and wrote the music and lyrics for the upcoming original musical "The Millennium Problem," which is set for March 8th, 9th, and 10th.

by Katie Scarvey, SalisburyPost.com - Three cheers for ignorance. An early historian and participant of Piedmont Players Theatre, Betty Anne Stanback wrote in a history of the group that the organizers of PPT back in 1961 were "blissful" in their ignorance — unaware of what challenges lay ahead.

by Brittany Wescott '15 - During the first few days of January, my First-Year Seminar and I went to Washington D.C. The trip was awesome. It was the first time a few of us had ever been on a plane, especially myself. I do not know about the others but it was definitely an experience for me. The feeling when the plane leaves the ground is amazing it is similar to the feeling you get in your stomach after dropping off the peak of a roller coaster.

A Catawba College alumna, a faculty member and a student were each recognized at the College's annual Church/College Dinner held Feb. 20 on campus in Peeler Crystal Lounge. Those attending included trustees, college administrators, students and supporters of Catawba's Campus Ministry and its Lilly Center for Vocation and Values.

Two faculty emeriti from Catawba College's Theatre Arts Department were honored Feb. 20 with a facility on campus named in their honor. College President, Dr. Joseph B. Oxendine, recognized Dr. Hoyt M. McCachren, Jr. and Dr. James R. Epperson during a dinner on campus. He unveiled a bronze plaque and announced that the McCachren-Epperson Theatre Arts Office Facility is being named in their honor.

Three members were inducted into the Catawba College Athletic Training Hall of Fame on Feb. 18 during a ceremony held in the Robertson College-Community Center on campus. The ceremony was sponsored by the Catawba College Athletics Department and the Catawba College Athletic Training Program.

By Catawba alummnus Reid Leonard, For The Salisbury Post - As I write this, a production of "Cyrano de Bergerac" is playing in the Meroney Theater and "Honk, Jr" opens Friday night in the Norvell Theater and auditions are in two weeks for the musical "Company."

Catawba's 2012 Lilly Colloquium speaker, Dan Miller, told students on Thursday, Feb. 16, that their vocational happiness could be found "where wisdom meets passion." Miller, president of 48 Days, LLC, said wisdom and passion were equally important, "but if you don't have both, you won't be fulfilled."

Food Lion co-founder and Chairman Emeritus Ralph Ketner is trying to re-create history. He'd love to have in his hands a list of the 125 original investors in Food Town, which became today's Salisbury-based Food Lion grocery chain.

Author Jane Hamilton, cited by "Chicago Tribune" as "one of our most magnetic and provocative novelists," will be the featured speaker at Catawba College's 26th annual Brady Author's Symposium scheduled Thursday, March 29, in the Robertson College-Community Center on campus.

Camp Invention, which features hands-on science and real world challenges for children, will have one its programs hosted on the Catawba College campus. The INNOVATE program will take place in the Center for the Environment on July 23-27, 2012 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

by Lauren Ebersole '07 - We are well into the New Year and I have not made resolutions because lets face it, it only sets you up for disappointment. I am trying to make my last few months worthwhile and successful. I spent New Year's in Kuta, Bali which is, in reality, a terrible place. But for a group of 20 somethings who have limited access to normal 20something activities, it serves its purpose, i.e. I was able to eat four burritos in three days.

The Center for the Environment at Catawba College and Salisbury's Bread Riot will host a screening of "Dirt! The Movie," followed by a panel discussion, which includes a Davidson County farmer, on March 1 at the center facility on the Catawba campus. Bread Riot, a nonprofit food advocacy organization dedicated to "facilitating a supply of locally produced food, utilizing sustainable farming practices," will offer a "tasting" of local foods at 6 p.m. The movie will begin at 6:45 p.m.

By: Paul Schenkel, Morganton News Herald - By the end of his time at Catawba College, Freedom High graduate Donald Rutherford had developed the nickname "the dunker" due to his aerial feats and athleticism. And while the high-wire act has not been slowed in his time playing professionally overseas, Rutherford prefers a different persona now. Just call him "go-to guy."

By Sarah Robinson, Writer/Communications Intern for the Center for the Enviornment - A collaborative effort called "Sustainable Catawba" will soon unveil a new approach to sustainability on the Catawba College campus. Representatives from several campus organizations gathered February 9 to discuss their vision for the effort as well as to report on what their groups currently do to promote sustainability.

On-campus collaboration between Catawba College student groups, organizations, and academic and operational departments is key to creating a new vision for Sustainable Catawba. An effort to seal this collaboration launches February 21 with a pledge.

When 1981 alumnus Richard Steinert came back to Catawba in February, he shared more than just some dance techniques. He shared some of his life experiences with students and gave them insights into his long and successful career as a dancer, a choreographer and an artistic director at some of the country's premier ballet companies.

As Rep. Fred Steen aims for a place in Congress, several people have subtly begun to set their sights on his State House office, including Democrat John Williams and County Commissioner Carl Ford. Dr. J. Michael Bitzer, political science professor at Catawba College, was recently featured in a Salisbury Post article discussing the matter.

Nine-term Republican Congresswoman Sue Myrick is leaving Congress at the end of the year. She announced Tuesday that she won't seek re-election to North Carolina's 9th Congressional district, which covers portions of Mecklenburg, Gaston and Union Counties. WFAE political blogger Dr. J. Michael Bitzer discusses her career and what this means in the race to replace her.

The state of South Carolina recently filed a lawsuit challenging the Justice Department's blocking of the state's voter identification law, possibly costing taxpayers $1 million or more. The state has hired high-powered Washington attorneys and other contracted associates and paralegals that will receive high earnings. Dr. J. Michael Bitzer, Professor of Politics, was featured in an article on The Huffington Post website after being asked to share his thoughts on the topic.

The Salisbury branch of the English Speaking Union will hold a dinner program at the Country Club of Salisbury on Thursday, Feb. 9 starting at 6:30 p.m. The guest speaker will be Michael Bitzer, Professor of Political Science and History at Catawba College, speaking on "American Politics in 2012."

Ladies Night has become a fixture as part of Blue-White Weekend and this year is no exception. It will be held Friday, March 30th at 6 pm (not the usual 7 pm) in Kirkland Lobby of Goodman Gymnasium. The first portion of the evening will be ideas for home entertaining entitled "Tricks, Treats,Tastes and Tablescapes" with Tippie Miller and Linda White sharing what works best for them.

K-12 students in the Rowan-Salisbury Schools will be the beneficiaries of a Saturday, March 24th benefit concert hosted on the campus of Catawba College by Catawba's Student North Carolina Association of Educators (SNCAE). Admission to the 11 a.m. concert, featuring a special performance from Christian Rock band, Grace Reigns Down of Greensboro, will be open to those who make a donation of one school supply to attend.

Dr. Gary Freeze, professor of History at Catawba College, will be a guest lecturer at the 15th Annual Salisbury Confederate Prison Symposium. The event, which runs April 13-15, will move to Tom Smith Auditorium in Ketner Hall on the Catawba College campus on April 14. A series of six lectures on topics relating to the Salisbury Prison will be presented from 9:15 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Freeze will present an overall synopsis of the prison's history from 1861 to 1865.

When Independence High School's production of "Grease" opens next weekend, drama teacher Paula Baldwin will have come full circle. Baldwin got her start in acting at Mount Pleasant High School in Cabarrus County, and attended Catawba College on a drama scholarship. After earning her MFA in acting and directing at UNC Greensboro, she headed to New York City, where she lived and worked for eight years.

Dr. J. Michael Bitzer, political expert and Professor of Politics at Catawba College was recently quoted in an article by TheNation.com entitled, "How the GOP Is Resegregating the South."

As of Feb. 2, 2012, the State of North Carolina Health Departments are reporting multiple cases of the Norovirus. While there have been no confirmed cases to date on the Catawba College campus, the college’s Health Services wanted to inform the community of symptoms associated with this virus and preventative measures that can be taken to prevent it.

Dr. J. Michael Bitzer, political expert and Professor of Politics at Catawba College recently commented on the negative approach of Mitt Romney's campaign ads. Polls show Romney heading toward victory in the Florida GOP primary, which is likely due to the relentless onslaught of negative ads attacking and targeting Newt Gingrich.

By Katie Scarvey, salisburypost.com - Jasika Nicole, a Catawba College alum who plays a regular character on the science fiction TV drama "Fringe," will be the focus of the show’s upcoming episode. Nicole plays Astrid Farnsworth, the lab assistant of the scientist Walter (played by John Noble).

D.J. Colson, a sophomore business major from New London, knows something about how to take an idea and make it reality. The new lamppost banners on campus are evidence of that. It all started with an idea D.J. had during fall semester — one he got after visiting several other colleges about Catawba's size. "I saw they had lamppost banners in place on their campus. I thought we should have some to help create more campus pride here at Catawba."