I am going to be your guide with a few suggestions and pieces of advice for the last few weeks of the semester before graduation!

Take care of yourself.

Preparing for graduation is a very stressful, overwhelming, and high-pressure season full of unknowns. Please take time for yourself, and if you need help, don’t be afraid to reach out to the counseling services that ߣ�ѿ�Ƭ Southern offers. They are here to help you, and you are not alone.

Soak it all in.

Stay after class and talk to your professor. Go to that dance, go to the beach, or just go out for a coffee with a friend. We are all moving into new seasons of our lives where we won’t see each other as much and won’t have the freedom and accessibility to just walk across campus and grab a bite to eat with our best friends. Take advantage of that while you still can!

Linger a little longer.

Stay a little later after class. Talk to your classmates. Converse with your professors. See how much they have to offer and what they can teach you. Be open to how they can guide and lead you along the way. They love you and want to see you succeed.

Take all the photos.

Make memories and take photos. We will never forget the memories we make but be sure to capture them all so we can look back years later and see how far we have come!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and let him guide, lead, and direct your steps.

This is a difficult task to complete, but the Lord knows our steps better than we do. God is so good, and he knows where he is leading us. His plans are better than our own.

Visit often.

No matter where the Lord leads you, visit often and know that you will always have a home at ߣ�ѿ�Ƭ Southern.

Make sure you are prepared and have your graduation tickets.

Make sure you are receiving emails from csugraduation@csuniv.edu. Make sure that you have all of your tickets and everything you need to walk across that stage in a few, short weeks.

I pray and hope this gives you all a little comfort. I can’t wait to walk across the stage alongside you!

The Christ-centered program is partnering with students to help them navigate romantic, platonic, and professional relationships. The week kicks off with a keynote address on Tuesday, Feb. 10, featuring Tosha Connors, CEO of local organization My Sister’s House, which serves survivors of domestic violence. The event is coordinated with the Women in Business student organization. Students are encouraged to wear purple to show their support for the program.

Planning for this Valentine’s Day week started last fall between the Title IX Office, Student Life, Counseling Services, and Campus Ministries. First John 4:19 served as the blueprint: We love because he first loved us. “We wanted to pair spiritual reflection with tangible tools for relational health and safety on campus,” said Title IX Coordinator Summer Cora. “Hopefully it means fostering more inclusive feelings across campus as a whole so that students can better navigate all their relationships.”

Throughout the week, students can find tables for candygrams with educational materials and a raffle with the winner announced during Elevate on Feb. 12. 

Then on Friday, a brand new Sweet 16 Event, Vals and Pals, will debut. “When we understand love as something first modeled by Christ, it reshapes how we treat one another,” said Cora. She encourages students to communicate in ways that show respect and clear boundaries throughout the week and beyond.

Vals and Pals is a time to celebrate friendship, love, and everything in between with sweets, treats, and fun activities. The first 100 students will receive an exclusive Vals and Pals t-shirt. Admission is just five OCC donations. Be sure to register on Buc Nation!

Funding for the initiative was generously provided by the South Carolina Institute on the Prevention of Sexual Violence on College Campuses, a chartered institute through Lander University.

Zucker joined the students to thank them for bringing her family’s story to life on stage with the fall production of “On the Other Side,” expressing deep appreciation for their dedication and sensitivity in sharing a narrative close to her heart.

“Thank you for telling this story,” Zucker told the cast. “It means more than you know.”

During her visit, Zucker spoke openly about her Jewish heritage and the importance of preserving culture through family, faith, and shared traditions. She introduced the students to several Yiddish words, teaching not only their meanings but also their spirit.

Words such as go don, meaning “go pray,” kinder, “children,” vail, “to be proud of someone,” and menshi, “a very good person” filled the room with laughter and curiosity. She explained that teaching these words was her way of keeping the language alive.

“It isn’t really taught anymore,” Zucker said. “But my grandchildren have learned a few words, and that means so much to me. Passing that on keeps a piece of who we are alive.”

She also shared about Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, describing the joy of gathering family together for celebration and reflection. The room grew quiet as she recalled celebrating with her loved ones.

“We come together to remind ourselves of where we’ve been and where we’re going,” she said. “That’s what family and faith do. They give you roots.”

Zucker’s reflections turned to her parents, both Holocaust survivors, whose courage and optimism shaped her life. She said her parents “chose joy,” even after loss and hardship, a lesson she carries in every part of her work and family life.

“I was lucky to know them,” she said. “They believed in joy, in laughter, in love. And I try to live that every day.”

Her connection to that legacy can also be found in ߣ�ѿ�Ƭ through , the restaurant named after her mother. Zucker described the restaurant as both a tribute and a love letter to her family.

“Every person who walks through those doors is welcomed like family,” Zucker said.

Before leaving, Zucker shared one of her late husband Jerry Zucker’s keys to success, a principle she continues to live by and encourages others to live by too.

“Have a sense of urgency and a bias for action,” she said, smiling. “When you care about something, do something about it.”

If you would like to see the story brought to life on stage and learn more about what the CSU Players are creating, performances of the fall play will be held Oct. 23 to 26 in Lightsey Chapel.

Performance schedule:
• Thursday, Oct. 23, at 7:30 p.m.
• Friday, Oct. 24, at 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 25, at 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, Oct. 26, at 3 p.m.

Tickets:
General admission: $15
CSU students, faculty and staff: Free

Photo:Philanthropist Anita Zucker, third from left on front row, met with the CSU Players during rehearsal for the play “On the Other Side,” written by Professor Thomas Keating and the CSU Players about Zucker’s family.

The tournament begins at 9 a.m. and ends at Noon on the outdoor basketball courts at the Brewer Center.

Bailey Flemming, president of the Student Advisory Council, shared more details about the logistics of the tournament. 

“The pickleball tournament will be a bracket style. We have room for 32 teams. The tournament will be a double elimination,” she said. “The beginning round and all loser’s bracket games will only be played up until 7 points (unlike the normal 11) to speed things up slightly,” she adds. 

Since Flemming is helping host the event, she can’t participate. “Creating environments where students and faculty can come together outside of the classroom and enjoy their time is one of the most important things I think I can do as the president of the Student Advisory Council,” she said.

Both faculty and staff are welcome to enter the tournament as teams of two, and personal equipment is welcome but not necessary. 

Andalis Burton, executive assistant to the NCOB dean, can take cash payments by April 9 in JH 103 or on the day of. See the for more details and stipulations.��

The proceeds from entering the tournament will go towards the NCOB’s contribution to this upcoming holiday season. 

“With the proceeds that we earn from this tournament, we will purchase things like crayons, coloring books, small toys, balls, jump ropes, toothbrushes, combs, etc. to pack the boxes with,” she explains. “We have a local CPA firm sponsoring us, and their donation will cover all of our costs. Therefore, every single dollar that we earn from signups will go straight to OCC,” she confirmed. 

Operation Christmas Child is a long-standing tradition at CSU. The university has packed shoeboxes for the past 13 years and has held the record for the most shoeboxes packed from any college and university in the United States consecutively for the past six years. 

Flemming shares that the first pickleball tournament held in 2024 was so successful that they continued the tradition. 

“Last year it was also used as a fundraiser, and we were able to raise $500 to pack shoeboxes.” She continued, “Members realized that pickleball was becoming increasingly popular and would lead to a great opportunity for fun and fellowship. The event was a huge success, so we decided to host it again this year.”

The prize for the first-place team will be a $100 gift card. The team in second place will receive a $50 gift card. Aside from the physical prizes, Flemming encourages students to sign up for the impact it will have on others.

Register now, or look for a message in your Outlook emails.

Dr. Brian Miller, professor of history with a specialization in the American South, explained the significance of Lafayette, his visit, as well as the history around The Elms.

“Lafayette was, at the time of the Revolution, a relatively young man. He received a commission as a major general in the Continental Army. From there, he became an influential member of George Washington’s staff,” Miller said.

Many may recognize the name Lafayette from Daveed Diggs’ portrayal in the 2015 Broadway sensation, .

Miller highlighted how Lafayette “survived the brutal winter at Valley Forge and became friends with fellow Washington aide, Alexander Hamilton. He encouraged French King Louis XVI to send critical military support in the latter years of the war and led a division at the 1781 Battle of Yorktown, where the British surrendered.”

Lafayette’s eventual visit to ߣ�ѿ�Ƭ in 1825 was part of his tour of the United States, celebrating America’s 50th year since its founding.

“He arrived in the ߣ�ѿ�Ƭ area on March 13, 1825, where he spent the night at The Elms (the room he stayed in was, in the future, called “the Lafayette Lodge”). The next day Lafayette went to ߣ�ѿ�Ƭ, where he was met with great celebrations, including parades, banquets, and public addresses,” Miller said. 

The Elms is not a historical landmark simply due to Lafayette’s visit. Its origins date back decades before the Revolutionary War. 

“In 1704, Ralph Izard purchased 250 acres from John Francis Gignilliat, which marked the beginning of the Elms Plantation. By 1718, Ralph Izard II built the original plantation house,” Miller said. 

Miller explained that the Izard family maintained prominence in the ߣ�ѿ�Ƭ area through the Revolutionary War, even with the plantation being sequestered by the British.

“Ralph Izard III was very influential. The Continental Congress appointed him commissioner to the Court of Tuscany in 1776. From 1782 to 1783, he served as a member of the Continental Congress. He later served in the U.S. Senate and was one of the founders of the College of ߣ�ѿ�Ƭ,” he said. 

The series of lectures begins at 1 p.m. on April 4 in WCCL 102/103 with Dr. Michael Heitzler, a local author, presenting “The Elms Plantation: A Brief History.” Dr. Miller will present “Lafayette: You were here!” at 2 p.m., and the lead excavator of The Elms archaeological dig, CSU Alumnus Ethan Shuler, will present “The Elms Plantation: An Archaeological Perspective” at 3 p.m.

Anyone able should attend these lectures to learn more about American history, The Elms, Lafayette, and the grounds where the school now resides.

“It’s important for students to learn about the history of the area they live in because they are, by living there, a part of that history. History helps define who and why they are,” Miller said.

The U.S. Navy Band performed to a packed house of 1,500 attendees at ߣ�ѿ�Ƭ Southern University’s Lightsey Chapel Auditorium on Sunday, March 30. The band performed a wide-ranging selection of music, from classic patriotic tunes such as “God Bless America” to popular hits. The performance commemorated the band’s 100 years of service, as well as the 250^th anniversary of the U.S. Navy, and is part of a series of performances taking place across the Southeast.

Along with the main concert band, the Navy Band’s Sea Chanters and Cruisers, which are the chorus and popular music groups of the band respectively, joined the stage for the performance.

The band’s Commanding Officer, Captain Robert “Seph” Coats, led the performance. Recently assuming command of the U.S. Navy Band in 2024, he has led and directed other bands within the U.S. Navy since 2008 and has conducted with these bands worldwide throughout his career.

The family-friendly event connects with the local community to spread awareness and appreciation of this cherished organization and the U.S. Armed Forces. The performance was completely free and open to the public, but seating was limited, and an advanced ticket was required.

Musician 1^st Class Ryan Connelly, a tenor of the Sea Chanters chorus, personally described how the Navy Band impacts the local communities it visits during tours. “I feel that we are able to do a great deal of good with our tours, as well as our public performances in the DC area,” said Connelly. “I’ve had great conversations after performances with audience members, both some who have served and some who have no ties to the military, and all of them take away something from the show— whether that be emotional, informational, or just fun!”

Connelly also explained what makes the Navy Band unique as compared to other civilian bands. “The Navy Band in DC is unique in many ways— we are one command but have many smaller bands or ‘units’ that serve various functions,” he said. “There is a lot of history even just within our contributions to the Navy,” he added.

The band’s last stop at CSU was in February 2020, just before the global COVID pandemic hit the United States.

Brandon Carpenter is a senior communication major and an intern in the Marketing & Communication office at ߣ�ѿ�Ƭ Southern University.

ߣ�ѿ�Ƭ Southern University is thrilled to announce its Board of Trustees approved the construction of a new residence hall on campus. The new building will mirror Barbara C. Mead Hall, built in 2019. 

Construction is set to break ground this summer and be completed by August of 2026—in time to welcome Buccaneers that fall semester. The newest three-story suite-style residence hall will house 216 students. 

“We take immense pride in our community, and this new residence hall will be a testament to that pride,” said Brittney Greer, associate VP for student life. “It’s more than just a building—it’s a space where students will form lasting connections, share the gospel, and grow in their faith. With state-of-the-art amenities and a strong focus on discipleship, we are committed to fostering a community where everyone feels valued, supported, and inspired to make a difference.” 

With an increase in housing demand each year since Mead Hall, the university has utilized the Wingate Hotel on its campus for overflow housing—filling it for the last three years. 

“This is an investment in the future of our Buccaneers and a response to the growth we have already seen and project for the future at ߣ�ѿ�Ƭ Southern,” President B. Keith Faulkner said. “We are committed to providing high-quality spaces for our students as they grow in their faith while learning, leading, and serving. This new residence provides exactly what our students desire—a vibrant place where they will sleep, study, eat, work out, and find community.” 

The 52,000-square-foot building will stand beside Mead Hall with a courtyard between the two residences for students to enjoy a fun outdoor community space. The newest residence hall will include: 

• Suite-style accommodations, with two furnished double-occupancy bedrooms, one bathroom, and a common living area; 

• Group study space available for residents located on each floor, including private study rooms on the 3rd floor; 

• A full kitchen on the 3^rd floor for general or reserved use; 

• A grab-and-go Galley retail location on the 1^st floor; and, 

• A fitness center on the 2^nd floor with cardio and cable equipment.��
  

Dean Murphy, chair of the CSU Board of Trustees, said, “In a time when many colleges and universities are seeing enrollments decline, CSU is experiencing record enrollments. The Board understands the importance of the on-campus experience for our students as they live together, attend classes together, and forge the relationships and bonds of friendship which they will carry with them throughout their lives. The addition of this new residence hall will enhance this experience.” 

A groundbreaking ceremony is planned for April, followed by a grand opening event next year. 

More than 370 doctoral, master’s, and bachelor’s degrees were conferred during ߣ�ѿ�Ƭ Southern University’s fall commencement Dec. 19 and 20.

Elizabeth England, president of the Student Government Association, addressed the undergraduates. She said, “Each person sitting here came to ߣ�ѿ�Ƭ Southern as a version of themselves that is different from the one in front of us today. You have grown, learned, and changed over your time here. ߣ�ѿ�Ƭ Southern has done the same; we have each witnessed changes around us throughout the years, and I hope that you each leave today knowing that ߣ�ѿ�Ƭ Southern is better because of you and your impact.”

Dr. Michael Wilder, provost and vice president for academic affairs, told graduates, “You are the epitome of what CSU hopes for as we seek to deliver distinctly Christian, academically excellent liberal arts, professional, and graduate education.”

Wilder encouraged the graduates to be ambitious people. “But the ambition I challenge you to pursue is a holy ambition that your life may be pleasing unto God,” he said.

The first class of Doctor of Physical Therapy graduates and graduates of the Master of Medical Science physician assistant studies program received diplomas Dec. 14.  

Prospective students now have an opportunity to receive $1,000 after touring ߣ�ѿ�Ƭ Southern University, the Lowcountry’s only Christian higher education institution. The $1,000 Tour Treasure Grant is provided to a student if they attend an official visit such as a personal tour, A Day in the Life, or First Look event with the Office of Admissions before August 2025. To be eligible, a student must enroll as a first-time freshman or transfer student in the fall 2025 term, submit the 2024-2025 FAFSA, and live anywhere in the world outside of Berkeley, ߣ�ѿ�Ƭ, or Dorchester counties.  

“A campus visit is the best way to imagine yourself at that college and briefly experience all it offers,” Dr. Tony Turner, vice president for enrollment management, said. “At ߣ�ѿ�Ƭ Southern, the campus visit will expose students to a Christian foundation, excellent academics, and our family culture. We believe in campus visits so much that we have provided a grant to encourage students to see what CSU is about for themselves. When a student visits, we hope they will quickly realize CSU is a special place where students can thrive and become the person God intends them to be, with a strong support system to help them along their path to graduation and beyond.” 

The Tour Treasure Grant, which originally kicked off in 2022, is a one-time, nonrenewable grant available only within the first year of enrollment at ߣ�ѿ�Ƭ Southern. 

Prospective students interested in visiting campus in spring 2025 can learn more and register . Other campus tour opportunities can be found at charlestonsouthern.edu/campus-visit.  

With a 300-acre campus nestled in the center of the ߣ�ѿ�Ƭ metro area, CSU enrolls approximately 3,900 students from 43 states and 40 countries. The university offers more than 60 undergraduate degree programs, 20 graduate programs, and two doctoral programs. CSU also competes at the NCAA Division I level with 16 teams in the Big South Conference. 

It’s official – ߣ�ѿ�Ƭ Southern University has packed the most Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes of any college or university in the U.S. for the sixth year in a row.

This year is ߣ�ѿ�Ƭ Southern’s 13th year of packing as a university. Since 2019, the CSU family has packed 63,388 boxes for children around the world. Total number of boxes packed for 2024 is 13,670.

Jody Jennings, vice president for student life and dean of students, said, “Every box packed is an opportunity for someone to hear the Gospel. Reaching our goal represents sending the Good News of Jesus to 13,670 people across the globe. CSU students, faculty, and staff can celebrate the impact they are having around the world.”

The campus works on collecting supplies and donations throughout the year. Two big events are conducted in November each year. Students, clubs and organizations, residence halls, and faculty and staff departments bring their boxes on OCC Collection Day.

The remainder of the shoeboxes are filled at the OCC Packing Party. More than 500 students, staff, faculty, and community and family members gathered last week to complete the packing. 

Top Individual Student Packers:

• DJ Brummett, a two-time winner, junior, aeronautics – professional pilot major
• Krystal Guntinas, senior nursing major

Top Staff Departmental Packers:

• Enrollment Grad/Online
• Marketing and Communication
• Business Affairs

Top Faculty Departmental Packers:

• College of Nursing
• College of Education

ߣ�ѿ�Ƭ Southern University is grateful for the companies and groups who partner with us by supplying donations:

• CSU Women’s Council
• PetSmart
• Coastal Race Productions
• ߣ�ѿ�Ƭ Orthodontics
• South Carolina Stingrays

To support this ministry in 2025, learn more at charlestonsouthern.edu/OCC.��