Monday, June 8

Feature

Nepal: Revolutionizing a Generation
Culture, Feature

Nepal: Revolutionizing a Generation

Nepalese Revolution Sends Shockwaves Around the World. In The Middle Of it All? Gen Z. Written By: Dayshaun Powe, Staff-writer The nation of Nepal has been under a watchful eye over the past few months. First gaining international traction on Sept. 4, 2025. When the government applied their nationwide ban on 26 different social media platforms. The ban was due to a failure of the platforms to register to comply with local laws and standards. This was then followed by a major rise in protest – largely led by the nation's Gen Z population. Although many assume that this ban on social media is the sole cause of Nepal's Revolution, it couldn't be farther from the truth. The ban on social media is what pushed many of the nation's youth over the edge, as they all saw it as a new attempt...
Japanese Art Songs with Naoko Watanabe
Culture, Feature

Japanese Art Songs with Naoko Watanabe

Written By: Emma Adkins, Staff Writer Winthrop University’s Department of music hosted Naoko Watanabe on Sept. 28 for an afternoon recital that blended traditional Japanese art songs with popular selections. The performance, held in Barnes Recital Hall, introduced students and community members to a scene rarely heard outside Japan. The program featured works by composers including Kosaku Yamada and Tamezo Narita – pioneers of the kakyoku tradition that combines Western classical structure with Japanese poetry.  Watanabe's soprano shifted between delicacy and power, moving from Narita’s “Song of the Seashore” to Yamada’s “The Flowers of Wild Orange”. Her clear diction allowed even audience members unfamiliar with Japanese to connect to the emotion of the texts. The recital...
Hill Rocks Out at Don’t Sweat It Fest
Culture, Feature

Hill Rocks Out at Don’t Sweat It Fest

Written By Lanie Cauthen, EIC Photos By Kit Crosby, Photographer Don’t Sweat It Fest returned this year – with music and vendors drawing in people across Rock Hill to celebrate local artists.  The festival officially started in 2010 after Don’t Sweat It Fest founder and musician Mike Gentry decided to host a music event at The Courtroom in The Getty Center. The event took off from there – growing in size with each year. “I think we just need to be celebrating ourselves and our own work. It's a celebration of our creativity,” Gentry said.  However, the event was cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19. The next year, the festival became a non-profit and returned to full strength.  Today, Don’t Sweat It Fest is a four-day event. The fest started on Sept. 17 at Slow...
No Kings Day: Protest Fills the Streets of Rock Hill
Articles, Feature, News

No Kings Day: Protest Fills the Streets of Rock Hill

Byline: Protests sprang up across the nation in response to President Trump’s multimillion dollar army parade By: Markus Bontempo, Graphic Designer On June 14th, 2025, Rock Hill residents and citizens from around the country protested against President Donald Trump’s military parade during “No King’s Day” – one of the largest protests in U.S. history.  The military parade was held in Washington, D.C. in honor of the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. However, many speculate that the purpose of this parade was a celebration of Trump’s 79th birthday – which occurred on the same day. The parade lasted 90 minutes and cost an estimated $25 million to $45 million – with some analysts suggesting the cost to be much higher.  The parade received sharp bipartisan critic...
Former General Counsel Todd Hagins Files EEOC Complaint Against Winthrop University Alleging Discrimination and Retaliation 
Feature, Guest Column, News

Former General Counsel Todd Hagins Files EEOC Complaint Against Winthrop University Alleging Discrimination and Retaliation 

By: Ravyn Rhodes, Managing Editor and Sera Crookes, Guest Writer Todd Hagins, former general counsel of Winthrop University, announced Monday in a press release issued by Hagins’ law firm that he has issued a federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) complaint against Winthrop University. Hagins joined Winthrop University’s Office of the President as the university’s general counsel on Feb. 16, 2023. Before his time at Winthrop, Hagins served as the director of compliance with the University of South Carolina, an adjunct professor at the USC School of Law, director of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division’s general counsel and federal prosecutor.  “This is not about whether something like DEI should exist in 2025, but whether Winthrop protects blatant racism,...