3.02.12 by The Colonnade

The Colonnade The Official Student Newspaper of Georgia College

February 3, 2012

Toast to this

www.GCSUnade.com

Volume 88, No. 15

Toastmasters, new publicspeaking student group, forms on campus

Mark Watkins Staff Reporter Milledgeville Toastmasters, a weekly public speaking club, has recently been established by two Georgia College students. “Toastmasters is an international organization for public speaking and the way it’s formatted is to help people become more comfortable speaking in front of crowds,” Chase Hurlimann, senior rhetoric major and Toastmasters’ president said. A member’s fist step to improving their public speaking is conquering their own emotions. “One of the most important things is confidence. That’s, in my eyes, 90 percent of it (public speaking) is just being able to go up there and being able to control your fear of speaking,” Hurlimann said. This is made easy by the way the Toastmaster meetings are set up. “People are just scared to speak publicly, but they feel more comfortable in front of their peers. They can do funny topics, and we’re all there to learn so its an open and friendly environment, and its not a class, so there’s no pressure,” Alex Allison, junior rhetoric Check out major and Toastmasters’ GCSUnade com sergeant at arms said. for more The meetings are information about comprised of three secToastmasters tions of tasks club members can be assigned to

City Government

Town council squabble over zoning issue Caitlin Renn Senior Reporter

Scott Carranza / Staff Photographer Jim Mcpahil, sophomore chemistry major, Ray J. Cornay, graduate admissions counselor and Grace Greene, senior rhetoric major (from left to right), attend a Toastmasters meeting.

each week. A member could be graded by being selected as the timekeeper or grammarian, who records how many times speakers say “um,” “like,” and other vocal fillers. “You come in and you don’t know what you’re going to speak on, but they give you a topic, and you have to give a one to two minute speech, just off the cuff,” Allison said.

The member’s could also be part of the main speeches. “We also have two speakers every week that have prepared a speech, and we also have two evaluators that evaluate each one of those speakers,” Allison said. The main speakers are given one speech with set goals out of the 50 differ-

Toastmasters page 3

Developers withdrew an application to rezone three single-family residential properties to multi-residential properties at the Jan. 23 hearing at the Planning and Zoning Commission, opting in favor of spending more time working on the project before presenting it to the public. Close to 40 community members, including property owners and Georgia College residents of the area in question, attended the meeting. Few words of support were muttered among the gathered public before the proceedings began. The rezoning application proposes three properties in a northeast Milledgeville neighborhood, which together comprise 13.67 acres of land to be rezoned to accommodate a proposed apartment complex of six buildings,

named North Star Villages at Milledgeville; the complex would house 123 units, with 492 bedrooms in total. Chairman David Grant opened the hearing with the “hope that everyone can stay friends after all this is over with.” Grant encouraged all who would like to speak to do so, but developer Dan Norman was the only person to take to the podium. Norman withdrew the application for the time being, noting his plans to spend more time researching and educating the neighborhood and the community about the project. “It seems that we haven’t done a good enough job at this point showing [the public] what we want to do and how we want to do it and all the ancillary things that we want to work out,”

Zoning page 4

SGA

SGA fills senator positions Taylor Lamb Senior Reporter Since August, some students have questioned the reputation of SGA because of the various impeachments, removals and the shuffling of positions within the organization. “It kind of puts our school in a bad position, gives us a bad rep,” sophomore exercise science major Nolan Klinke said. “I feel that if they are student leaders they should be setting a better example for all of us.” Former President Pro Tempore Maxwell Pichan, who replaced Ross Sheppard as vice president last month, anticipates a smoother rest of the semester to eliminate the negative views of students. “I think the whole thing about our reputation is that it’s easy to get shadowed by

“It kind of puts our school in a bad position, gives us a bad rep. I feel that if they are student leaders they should be setting a better example for all of us.” Nolan Klink sophomore exercise science things that are going not as smoothly as they could have. Throughout the entire last semester, when we were struggling

with a couple of things, we were still working as productively as we had in years past,” Pichan said. “We’re going to continue that this semester and I’d like to think that we’ve made a good step now in the right direction.” Pichan held a senator seat in Spring 2011 for one semester before he became president pro tempore. As the new vice president, Pichan’s duties will not drastically change. His university committee appointments stay the same and he know oversees all the committees instead of working solely with one. Leading the SGA meeting on Friday is Pichan’s biggest responsibility that he has adopted. He has already sworn in two new senators and plans to help reverse the recent

SGA page 3

University Senate

Fall commencement in works Noelle Brooks Contributing Writer After years of cram sessions, all-nighters, research papers and 200-page reading assignments, the road to college degree is rewarded with a celebrated walk across the stage. Yet since 2005, Georgia College students who graduate in December have not had the opportunity to walk until May. The Student Government Association has been researching the issue and it considers the reinstatement of fall commencement an important priority. “We’ve seen such a growth in graduates and undergraduates, and we’ve got-

ten an overwhelming amount of support from so much of the community,” SGA President Evan Karanovich said. Once a resolution was submitted to University Senate, a committee was created to review the procedures and costs of a fall ceremony. As head of the Convocation, Commencement and Ceremonies Committee reviewing the proposal, Registrar A. Kay Anderson plays a key role in balancing the wants of the students with the requirements for Georgia College. “It’s not just the desire of the students to have a ceremony, but also if we have the resources to have a high quality ceremony for the students so they have an enjoyable and meaningful experience,” Anderson said.

News Flash

Considerations include choosing a venue, the cost of setup, hiring staff to coordinate the ceremony and whether these costs will be compensated by the number of students who actually take part in fall graduation. There is also the tradition among many liberal arts colleges similar to Georgia College to have one ceremony for the whole graduating class. These factors contributed to the end of fall commencement back in 2005, and finding solutions or alternatives regarding these potential issues is a huge part of Anderson’s research.

Quotable

Paw Prints clawed out on-campus bookstore, Paw Prints, has officially closed. Because Paw Prints only offered a limited amount of supplies, while Box Office Books has a full selection, the university decided having two bookstores was an unnecessary cost. The

“In the last few years we’ve seen methamphetamines, and prescription-drug use has just skyrocketed. ” -Bill Massee Baldwin County Sheriff

See page 5

Fall page 3

News

City Government

Greenway prepares expansion Sabrina Chandler Senior Reporter Students venture to the Oconee River Greenway every day. Some travel to the wooded river trail for a scenic run, some for a bike ride and others to simply get away from the stress of college courses by relaxing on one of the decks overlooking the river. Whatever the reason, the outdoor oasis is a main attraction of Milledgeville, and the Oconee River Greenway Authority would like to keep it that way. A state authority, ORGA was established in 2002 to help create a facility that will allow us to coexist with nature while also helping to develop the local economy. The authority receives funding through federal appropriations, private grants, state grants, donations and local funding such as Specialpurpose local-option sales tax. With this funding, ORGA has developed plans for the future expansion of

Inside

SGA presidential race..............................................2 On- campus student jobs........................................2

A&E

Firehouse Theater......................................................9 Homecoming talent show.....................................10

Sports

Bobcats split Montevallo.......................................12 MMA Club................................................................12 Community News........................................7 Leisure...............................................................11

the Greenway. Within these plans are three different phases. Phase one has already been completed with the addition of the bridge and deck to the Greenway. Phase two, planned to include a few extras, has been cut back due to lack of funding. Originally, the additions to be made to the Greenway with phase two included a new parking lot with separate entrance and an amphitheater. Unfortunately, because of the lack of funds, these extras are not feasible any time soon; however, the remaining plans for phase two are still underway thanks to the funds that ORGA does have. Heather Langston, the director of ORGA, said the Bicycling Club of Milledgeville was a large contributor to these funds. “The Bicycling Club of Millegeville dontated $2,000 to us last year. That was a huge help,” Langs

Greenway page 4

Number Crunch

The number of Homecoming events taking place throughout next week, Feb. 6 to Feb. 11. Some of the events include a school reunion, dinner in the Centennial Center parking lot and the blue and green trivia bowl. See page 7 for more.

The Colonnade

February 3, 2012

SGA

SGA senators square off for presidency Lauren Davidson Senior Reporter The 2012 Student Government Association election for the Executive Board is officially underway. SGA Senators Cody Allen and Connor Johnson will be going head to head for the SGA Presidency. Cody Allen has been a part of SGA for three years. During his term as a senator for the organization, he has chaired the Student Services Committee, the Athletics Advisory Board, Greek Colonization and Recycling Committee. Stephen Hundley, who has also been an SGA senator for three years, and is currently President Pro Tempore, is running on a ticket with Allen for Vice President. Allen said that the two decided to run together on a ticket because they both believe they can fix any internal problems within the organization. “We’ve worked as a team on committees

like appropriation, and it’s exciting because I don’t feel like either of us have underlying political motivations,” Allen said. “A lot of things have come around and we finally realized the other night last week, that if we ran together we might be able to fix the organization.” If elected as SGA president Allen says that he wants to fix the internal work place, cultivate a relationship working with the new president of Georgia College, work to form a Greek Judicial Board to deal with incidents within the Greek community, complete the Bell Tower Project and reevaluate the stipends that SGA executive members receive. Hundley says that if elected as vice president he would focus on completing the Bell Tower project by taking it on tour around the campus and implementing other fundraising methods. Another thing that he says he wants to focus on is clearly delineating the goals of SGA committees and ad hoc’s. “The committee goals needs to be rede-

fined, the ad hocs need to definitely be reevaluated because I feel like we’ve had some superfluous ad hocs in the past,” Hundley said. “We are going to do a redefining of committee roles and there is a lot of instances in the constitution where things just aren’t outlined well enough and we are an organization that allows for a lot of play but we are segmented in the committees for a reason, and those goals need to be redefined, so I will be working on that.” The second candidate for SGA President is Connor Johnson. Johnson has been a member of SGA for two years. He is currently the chair of SGA’s Public Relations Committee, the Mandatory Student Fees Committee and the Committee that planned the Student Advisory Council last year. If elected as president, Johnson plans to restructure the fundraising for the Bell Tow-

Senators page 4

Working hard for the money Kat Wardell Contributing Writer Working is part of college life for some students who need extra money to pay the price tag university comes with. However, it can turn into a difficult feat when students must balance their school schedule with their work schedule. One employment option that can relieve students of this balancing act are oncampus jobs. There are two different types of on-campus jobs a student can look into. One option is the Federal Work-Study Program. This program provides jobs for students in financial need that qualify. According to Cathy Crawley, director of financial aid, students who are eligible for Federal Work-Study are evaluated after completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

If students qualify, they are offered an opportunity to participate in the program. According to the Federal Student Aid website, students qualify for Federal Work-Study if they are considered to be in financial need and are at least enrolled for six hours. “There is not an unlimited amount of money allotted from the Department of Education for this, so the spots are first come first serve,” Crawley said. There are around 100 spots in the Federal Work-Study Program, distributed throughout different departments, which are open to students in need, according to Crawley. Another option that students who don’t qualify for Federal WorkStudy, is working through Georgia College’s student work program. This program is not affiliated with Federal Work-Study, and there

are two separate budgets for each program. Student employment is available at numerous departments around campus, two examples are the Library and Instructional Technology Center and the Wellness and Recreation Center. The only setback to on-campus employment is students are only allowed to work a certain amount of hours a week. These restrictions might make living off of these salaries alone close to impossible. Laura Lowndes, senior English major and access service student assistant at the LITC, has found this job to be an ideal option. Lowndes says she couldn’t live off of her library salary alone, because she is only allowed to work 19.5 hours a week, which is the maximum amount of hours a student worker

Jobs page 3

In the Running for SGA Executive Board Presidential Candidates:

Connor Johnson

Cody Allen

Vice President:

Stephen Hundley Treasurer:

Aubrey Ethridge

Sean Espinosa

Allyn Harris Secretary:

Sarah Rose Remmes

On-campus jobs offer students flexibility and extra income

Kat Wardell / Staff Photographer Senior English major Laura Lowndes works as an access service student assistant at the LITC. She is paid minimum wage and only allowed to work 19.5 hours a week.

February 3, 2012

The Colonnade

SGA

Continued from page 1 coverage. Since Sheppardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s resignation on Jan. 25, SGA has appointed two new senators and a new president pro tempore, but their reputation is still in need of improvement. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really disappointing that people ran in the first place who didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the dedication that they needed to be in student government,â&#x20AC;? senior rhetoric major Tiffany Niemiller said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That looks so bad on our part for putting them in place as officers.â&#x20AC;? Freshman economics major Creighton Perme replaced freshman Connor Reddick after Reddick was removed. Junior Suzan Wills filled Pichanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s senate seat when he moved to vice president, and junior Stephen Hundley was nominated as the new president pro tempore for the remainder of the semester With the proper positions filled and the refocusing of the organization, SGA expects more

Toastmasters

Continued from page 1 in the Toastmaster manual. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The first speech you get basically teaches you organization and structures of how to perform speaking, the basics of speaking, and then as you go on and get more advanced, you just go on to more complex types of speeches,â&#x20AC;? Hurlimann said. A new memberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first speech is focused around themselves and is used simply to break the ice. The evaluator responds to the speech and tells the speaker the things they did well, the things they need to work on and how they did on reaching their goals. Members often donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a job every week, but each member does participate in table topics. Despite the club founders being students at Georgia College,

propositions and resolutions in the future. Seventeen resolutions passed in the 2010-11 school year and five have passed in the 201112 year, but this does not accurately portray the efforts of the committees. Many of the resolutions last year dealt with clarifying the universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name change and thus the number of passed resolutions was higher than normal. Two of the current ad hoc committees are new entities, West Campus and RecSports Expansion and Fee Assessment. Sophomore exercise-science major Sarah Rose Remmes, the chair for the West Campus and RecSports Expansion Committee, hopes to accomplish many things with her new group. Remmes plans to work closely with Tom Miles, director of Campus Life, to better the Wellness and Recreation Center and West Campus, with emphasis on revamping the intramural fields. At-large senator Paul Murray is the committee chair for Fee

it remains independent from the school. â&#x20AC;&#x153;So many things in Milledgeville run around the university. That itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kind of a put off to people from the community,â&#x20AC;? Allison said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;So weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re also trying to make sure we appeal to the community, because thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what we want to be about as well.â&#x20AC;? The club currently has 30 members, the majority of which are students at Georgia College. Jessica Magnuson, senior rhetoric major, said a benefit of Toastmasters is the practice she receives for her public speaking class. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It helps once you get into your major classes, because I know a lot of people, who havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t had a lot of experience talking in front of people, arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t as comfortable when they have to give presentations.â&#x20AC;?

Assessments, a new committee functioning as an auditing system controlling student fees and monitoring how they are used. Newly appointed senator Creighton Perme joins the committee where Murray believes heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll flourish. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We need more senators in this new group,â&#x20AC;? Murray said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Since Fee Assessments is newer, we need new senators with ambitious attitudes and that have something to prove. I think (Creighton) will help better SGA.â&#x20AC;? Perme missed the elections in the fall, but Karanovich showed interest in him in the appointments for the position and swore him in on Jan. 27. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have to feel how everything works out and see how everything works and hopefully, pretty shortly here, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be able to make some sort of difference at whatever level I can,â&#x20AC;? Perme said. With the carefully appointing of new personnel, SGA expects a consistently productive rest of the semester.

Jobs

Continued from page 2 can have, and she makes $7.25, minimum wage, an hour. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a federal requirement that says we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t work more than that because it is state-funded and we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t work anymore than that and go to school,â&#x20AC;? Lowndes said. Although she may not be able to work enough hours to live off of without other means of compensation, Lowndes says there are great benefits to working for Georgia College. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Working on campus is really convenient. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s super easy to go to class and just walk across the street. Our boss is really good about working with our classes. Like if something comes up with one of our classes, like a big test, or weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re stressed out or whatever, we can rearrange our shifts really easilyâ&#x20AC;Śtheyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re really good about that,â&#x20AC;? Lowndes said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our shifts are really short because we are working around classes. Like in the morning, I work two hours. My longest shift is four hours.â&#x20AC;? Robby Campbell, sophomore management and marketing major, is a member service representative at the

Wellness and Recreation Center. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t live off of my salary without my student loans, but the amount of money I do make is perfect for buying groceries every month, and I usually have a little left over, so it basically keeps me afloat,â&#x20AC;? Campbell said. Although the salary may not be enough to live off of, most people agree the flexibility of the jobs supplement this downfall. Campbell works 10 hours a week in two hour shifts because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all his schedule will allow, which he said GC is very accommodating with. Sophomore marketing major Chloe Frew agreed that her job as a media lab assistant in the LITC is accommodating to her schedule. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My supervisors are super flexible and understanding to our time. Also, my coworkers are amazing. We are always able to trade shifts without much of a problem at all,â&#x20AC;? Frew said. Anthony Bennett, senior marketing major, also works as a media lab assistant in the LITC, and agrees that oncampus jobs are worth having. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on-campus, close to my apartment, and very convenient to my school schedule.â&#x20AC;?

Fall

Continued from page 1

Scott Carranza / Staff Photographer Grace Greene, senior rhetoric major, speaks at the newly created Milledgeville Toastmasters club.

Currently, the committee is finalizing a recommendation for the Provost Sandra Johnson, who will help determine if further review is needed or if the proposal can be approved. If passed, the hope is that students graduating this December will have the opportunity to walk before May, and is something that Sarah Storey, senior business management major, and Kristen Hartley, senior history major, view as an important milestone. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m going to graduate a semester early, and I wondered if I should wait a semester so I can walk in May,â&#x20AC;? Storey said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If they did do it, there wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be that question, that extra stress as to whether I should wait for that ceremony or just go ahead and do it.â&#x20AC;? For both Hartley and Storey, coming back to Georgia College after December to walk in

May is highly unlikely, and will be a landmark event that neither would experience. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think when you start college as a freshman, there is the idea that there is going to be an endpoint,â&#x20AC;? Hartley said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to have that step, to have something to motivate you and push you to get it done.â&#x20AC;? This ability to commemorate oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time at Georgia College is the primary reason that the reinstatement of fall commencement is being reviewed, and this opportunity is one Karanovich believes every student should have the chance to enjoy. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t matter if you graduate in summer, fall or spring, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a matter of you are a graduate of Georgia College and that what youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve done in your time here is acknowledged,â&#x20AC;? Karanovich said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The diploma is just a piece of paper, but the ceremony is a capstone of that experience.â&#x20AC;?

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The Colonnade

Zoning

Continued from page 1 Norman said. City Attorney James Jordan acknowledged the withdrawal, and explained the process to follow: the application will still go through to City Council, which will decide on the withdrawal itself by either approving or denying the request, either allowing the applicant to return with a new application at any time or after a six to 12 month period. The withdrawal at the Planning and Zoning Commission hearing requires no action from the Commission. SGA Senator and neighborhood resident June Teasley expects to see this issue again. “Maybe in six or 12 months they’ll try to slip it through again. I wish I had said something or tried to speak on behalf of some of my constituents; think about trying to walk to class, think about parking. I don’t think it would be good for the community, I think it’s obviously something for profit for the developer.” Norman and his project partner Gary Spillers spoke more positively of their venture, making points in support of the proposal. “We feel like there is a lot of bad information out there right now about what we want to do,” said Spillers, a Certified Commercial Investment Member. Spillers says the North Star

By The Numbers

Villages at Milledgeville would have nothing but a positive effect on both Milledgeville residents and Georgia College students; college students rent 76 percent of the houses in the area, and since the proposed apartment complex would provide a pool, clubhouse area, coffee shop-type lounge area, fitness center and other amenities that Georgia College students would have access to, he says it will improve the neighborhood. “What a lot of people think is that traffic is going to be impacted. There is nothing on [Doles Boulevard] that is going to get any more traffic. What we want to do is basically make an entrance into the development so cars won’t even go through the neighborhood,” Spillers said. “We want to show them how great a project it’s going to be,” Norman said, “and how it’s going to be integrated into the community, how it’s not going to be an eyesore by any means, an operational hazard by any means, a traffic hindrance by any means. We want to have a chance to do that, and we really didn’t. So the next step will be going to City Council. In between, we’re going to hold some public meetings.” “We would be contributing a couple hundred dollars in taxes too,” Norman said. “We run into this all the time, people don’t understand. There’s a lot of positives that are happening.” Norman and Spillers met

13.67 acres of land would be compromised due to the potential housing project at Doles Boulevard and Milledge Avenue

much opposition and slight hostility outside City Hall where community members gathered after the hearing. “I can’t afford my property value going down,” said property owner Linda Yaun. “I don’t believe that the neighborhood can support 400+ cars on a daily basis traveling through the area,” property owner Katie Lipscomb said. “The neighborhood just can’t support that. There’s a lot of students who do walk to school, and having that may cars coming through would just be very dangerous. I think we need to preserve the neighborhood.” Travis Strickland, who owns two houses in the neighborhood, also expressed his concern and opposition. “From an investor standpoint it doesn’t make sense to me because there are three or four apartment buildings over there now that aren’t full. From an infrastructure standpoint it’s not going work either; the water lines aren’t going to support that and the streets won’t support the traffic,” Strickland said. But the developers remain determined for the North Star Villages at Milledgeville. “One point that you should leave here with is we’re not withdrawing this application,” Spillers said. “What we’re doing is just buying some time so we can educate the public. We’re moving forward with this project.”

123 units will be in the apartment complex, which includes 492 bedrooms

Greenway

Continued from page 1 ton said. Because of contributions like this one, phase two is planned to be completed by the end of the year, as long as funding is in order. This addition includes an extra mile and a half of concrete trail area that will expand beyond the parking lot north of the bridge, giving runners, walkers, and cyclists much more room to exercise. Adam Heagy, former president of the Bicycling Club of Milledgeville and manager of Oconee Outfitters, said the group made the donation in order to promote bicycling in the community. “We hear a lot that the community would love to bike more, but they don’t feel safe. The Greenway is really the only paved pathway for people to ride aside from the road, which can be dangerous,” Heagy said. “But one complaint is that

Senators

Continued from page 2 Project, work with Housing to implement gender equality within the residence halls and The Village and work to fix internal issues that may occur within the work place. Johnson said he believes many of the problems SGA experienced this year have to do with the members of SGA lowering their expectations. “The issue is there was a point in the semester where we lowered our expectations and when expectations of an executive officer are lowered, everybody’s expectations are going to be lowered,” Johnson said. “What needs to change is that there needs to be somebody that can positively influence the body as a whole and make everyone realize that these are the expectations that are you required to maintain and if you cant maintain these extremely high expectations you shouldn’t be here and that’s exactly what I think needs to happen.” There are four other SGA senators running for positions on SGA’s Executive Board. Current treasurer Sean Espinosa will be running for reelection against Aubrey Ethridge and Allyn Harris. Running unopposed on the ballot are Stephen Hundley for vice president and Sarah Rose Remmes for secretary. Students will be able to cast their vote

February 3, 2012 there is only a one mile loop there, which limits how much people can ride. Any way we can help to expand the Greenway, we’ll try to do it.” There are also plans to create a new entrance to the Greenway, leading down from Greene Street, which will make the Greenway a lot more convenient. Many students are frequent visitors of the Greenway, but aren’t aware of the new plans for expansion. Michael Russell, junior mass communication major, is very excited about the new plans. “I think that is absolutely fantastic. I ride my bike there all the time,” Russell said. “I was just talking to one of my friends about how I thought they should expand it. I’m really excited to hear that they’re planning to.” For more information on the plans for the Oconee River Greenway expansion, meetings are scheduled on the last Tuesday of every month at Georgia Military College, with times to be announced.

for these candidates on Nov. 8 and Nov. 9. This year for the first time votes will be cast using OrgSync. In the past MyCats was used for voting. Tom Miles, director of Campus Life, with graduate assistant for Campus Life Jamie Knox, will be manning the system as votes come in. Miles said that using OrgSync, the two will be able to determine the winners of the election electronically rather than having to count them out one by one, which is what they had to do in the past. “We are going to do both (count the votes and look at the electronic results). The system will count it up for us but for the sake of verification,” Miles said, “It will allow Jamie and I to take every vote that’s been recorded and export it into an excel sheet and we can filter it and then double check all the adds and everything and do all of it electronically.” To vote students can visit vote.gcsu. edu. Miles and Knox said they they will be in their office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on election day, to help students with any problems that they may experience. “If a student runs into a problem, Jamie and I are monitoring our emails constantly on the election days. She and I will respond. We’ve even put our departmental phone number and we said that we will be in our office up here from 8 to 5, so that if any individual had a problem they can come to this office,” Miles said.

Close up Themes, ideas and events of the 21st century

February 3, 2012 • Editor, Nick Widener

Gc takes a stab at the violence around us Violence on the rise?

Mark Watkins Staff Writer

Photo illustration by Nick Widener

Campus, community crime exposed Aubrie Sofala Senior Reporter A late-night fight at a club not far from campus ended in gunfire a couple of weekends ago. Four people were shot. However, no one involved in the Jan. 22 incident at the Level 3 Lounge, a two-nighta-week party spot, goes to school here. That said, the violence that broke out at the lounge, in a brick warehouse on East Walton Street a few blocks northwest of Georgia College, is an example of how criminal episodes on the fringes of campus can be cause for concern. In college towns like Milledgeville, campus police often work hand in hand with local authorities. But GC Public Safety Lt. Raynard Tuft says violent outbursts here rarely overlap. “Would I say Milledgeville is a dangerous city? No,” Tuft said. Public Safety works closely with MPD and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Department to keep Milledgeville safe. However, Maj. Joe Grant of Public Safety said campus and city jurisdiction do tend to overlap when it comes to

dealing with student calls. “We can answer it as long as it’s in our jurisdiction,” Grant said. “We will still respond if we are in route and it’s out of our jurisdiction, but we have to notify MPD.” The jurisdiction of Public Safety reaches 500 yards from any property owned, leased or occupied by GC. In December, GC was named the safest campus in Georgia by StateUniversity.com. The website’s rankings take into account the number of crimes reported on campuses. The number of GC students arrested by MPD cannot be measured due to the vagueness of police reports when it comes to documenting whether a student attends GC or another school in Milledgeville. “I think that possibly you have so many young people in different areas, a lot of times the problems that they have are the incidents don’t occur on campus, it happens in the community,” Baldwin County Sheriff Bill Massee said. “I think they (Public Safety) are trying to (make students aware), but the fact that they don’t live on campus, they are spread out, makes it a

community concern.” According to the FBI, violent crimes include murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault. In 2011, the FBI reported a decrease of 6.4 percent in these violent crimes nationwide since 2010. In Baldwin County, the aggravated assault rate, according to the Baldwin County Sheriff’s office, has also decreased since 2005. In 2005, there were 59 investigated cases of aggravated assault and only 13 cases in 2011. A lingering drug problem also falls over Milledgeville, Massee said. “We are like every other small town in America. We are faced with a terrible drug problem. We’ve had a cocaine problem for many years,” Massee said. “In the last few years we’ve seen methamphetamines, and prescription-drug use has just skyrocketed. We’re seeing more and more college-aged students who are addicted or have a problem with it.” Grant agrees that Milledgeville is not crime-free, but feels it is safe for GC students. “It doesn’t seem to be a violent city,” Kayla Sullivan, music

“We are like every other small town in America. We are faced with a terrible drug problem.” Bill Masse Baldwin County Sheriff education major, said. “I mean, there was that one incident where that guy was over by West Campus with a gun, but other than that there doesn’t seem to be anything major.” Grant and Massee both agree that students have fallen prey to community crimes such as robbery, auto theft and burglary in the past. Grant said one violent incident, such as the shooting at Level 3, does not determine the safeness of a community or campus. “Just because of that one incident — that doesn’t mean people have to go out and lock their doors,” Grant said. “The community, no matter where it is, is going to have pockets that are more crime-ridden than others.”

In a world where you can’t take a bottle of water on a plane and where your flipflops have to go through the scanner, it’s easy to imagine the world as a violent place and only getting more violent as time goes on. This isn’t the case. Our current world is neither overly violent nor is the rate of violence increasing. “Emperor stabbed on steps” and “Leader hacked by guards,” both sound like headlines we might hear in current days with a bold title on the front page of a newspaper, or a news anchor squeezing headlines in between the weather and sports. Ironically, these two headlines are not from our time period but describe the murders of Roman emperors Julius Caesar and Commodus, nearly 2,000 years ago. Violence has been around forever. Rudimentary weapons from the stone age, Myan pictographs showing human sacrifices and even recorded genocide such as the Crusades Also, under the rule of Genghis Khan in the 13th century, half of China’s population, an estimated 40 million people, was wiped out. While it can be difficult to connect these killings to modern, daily life, they clearly show that violence is not a new phenomenon. Although violence may have been around since humanity’s origins, we’re left with the lingering problem that, there still seems to be more violence in modern days than in previous ones. This can be attributed to two things. The first being the preponderance of news media and entertainment media that promote violence. Media, such as TV, radio, social networking sites and newspapers, dedicate their space to violent stories because it sells. People buy into violent events. The second reason we perceive the world as ultra-violent and increasing, is because a high amount of our sources of entertainment contain violence. The most recent “Call of Duty” game, a game dedicated solely to blowing up, shooting, stabbing and maiming other players, sold over 6.5 million copies on its release date. The highest grossing movie of 2011, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part 2,” which made over a billion dollars worldwide, contained plenty of battle scenes to warrant its PG-13 rating. It may seem like the world is becoming more and more violent as time goes on. But, in reality, this is not the case. According to a 2011 article in The New York Times, crime is the lowest it has been in the past 40 years. In 1990, in New York, there were 2,245 murders, but for the past nine years, that number has been less than 600. The odds of being murdered or robbed are less than half of what they were in the 1990s, when crime was at an all time high in the U.S. Violence has existed for thousands of years, and it is simply our exposure to violence that is increasing rather than the level of violence itself.

Campus offers protection programs to combat threats Bobbi Otis Senior Reporter Though Georgia College Public Safety and the Women’s Resource Center offer programs about crime and violence prevention, the campus community sometimes doesn’t use the services. “We do have crime prevention programs on various topics, and we can (cater) to whatever group student body would like us to teach,” Public Safety Detective Michael Baker said. “We just ask that they give us an advance notice, and we’ll be glad to get some material together and teach whatever they want us to teach.” Program topics listed on Public Safety’s website include: safety for women, personal safety, alcohol and drug awareness, pedestrianbicycle safety and identity-theft awareness. According to Baker, the alcohol and drug awareness classes are the most commonly requested. University Housing requests the largest amount of those classes per year at a rate of about 10 to 12, but other campus organizations are not as forthcoming with their requests. “Outside of Housing we rarely get requested to do anything, but we have taken the initia-

tive to at least have those programs in place,” Baker said. “We’ve also sent two of our officers to get R.A.D. (Rape Aggression Defense) certified,” Baker said. “After completion they got all kinds of equipment and the gear to teach the class and stuff, so we were really excited about that.” Sgt. Brian English is one of the officers who is R.A.D. certified. “We got sent up there through the Board of Regents on a special grant, me and the officer that works with me. It’s a 12-hour course,” English said. The program now offered at GC is for women only, according to English. R.A.D. has a lecture portion and hands-on activities. “They have what they call a red-man suit, which is basically this big suit with foam that covers everything, so our instructors will dress up in that and once they teach you the self-defense moves you can actually use those (selfdefense moves) against them,” Baker said. “It also give the participants perspective.” The purpose of the class is not to teach attendees how to fight but rather how to escape, English said. Though the class is offered, Baker says that

the 12-hour time commitment might be a deterrent for the program, so no groups have participated yet. Baker said the crime prevention programs can be offered to any group on campus. “We’d like to be able to do it in a group, because there are certain scenarios where you probably team up with a partner and that kind of thing,” Baker said. “We like to be able to teach to a wider audience. It doesn’t have to be a sorority. It doesn’t have to be a certain criminal justice class. It could be a group of your buddies or friends or any other organizational class. It doesn’t matter. We’ll do it for anyone.” SNAP is also available to offer extra security on campus. The Women’s Resource Center has also been asked to visit the residence halls to offer educational programming. Women’s Center and Diversity Coordinator Jennifer Graham does some guest lecturing about gender-based violence, too; however, it varies semester by semester on how many programs and lectures she gives. “There have been semesters where nobody has asked us to do it, and there have been semesters where we’ve had (requests) one after

the other,” Graham said. For the past four years there has been a program during the Week of Welcome to help educate students. “One of the things we do to try and reach every student is during Week of Welcome,” Graham said. “We bring in Mike Dormitz, who gives the presentation ‘Can I Kiss You?’” This program is designed to inform students during their first week about assault and sexual consent issues.

Opinion Our Voice

New Google privacy settings are too extreme Last week, Google announced a new privacy policy that leaves some Google users outraged. The new policy says the company soon will be able to collect and compile data about its users based on their activity on many of the company’s sites. From Google’s search page to Gmail to YouTube, the company will be monitoring activity and storing it in a database. Google is getting rid of more than 60 different privacy policies within the company and replacing them with one that is a lot shorter and easier to read. The new policy also covers multiple products and features, which is supposedly is to create “one beautifully simple and intuitive experience across Google,” according to the email they sent Gmail users about the new policy. The policy changes will take place March 1. Google’s effort to update its privacy settings is well appreciated, but company went a bit far with its plan to save certain private information. Google will analyze emails to suggest search queries, which is not OK. Email is a personal matter, and a lot of personal information is stored on Gmail accounts such as telephone numbers, addresses and credit card numbers. Analyzing and storing information from personal emails brings up many questions: Will there be more arrests involving child pornography, drug use or, say, computer hacking? Will Google be able to detect viruses sent via email? Probably not. Google says its privacy principles have remained unchanged and will not sell personal information or share it without permission unless there are rare circumstances such as valid legal requests. If signed into Google, the company can suggest search queries based on previous searches and information from email, and it can tailor search results based on the interests expressed in Google+, Gmail and YouTube. “We would better understand which version of Pink or Jaguar you’re searching for and get you those results faster,” Google’s policy email said. Other examples of the new Google policy include: Google automatically signing a user into the user’s calendar upon logging onto Gmail; or putting ads on the page that relate to the content of the emails the user is reading and writing. As Georgia College students, whose email addresses are linked through Google, this means that every email we send and receive will potentially be read by someone at Google. Google is taking heat for the new privacy policy. The company has been hit with accusations of Big Brother-style meddling. There has been a significant amount of news coverage on the topic. CNN reported that eight members of Congress, both Democrats and Republicans, wrote a letter to Google CEO Larry Page asking for clarification on the changes. Although the proposed shift in policy was to “make the consumer experience simpler,” as Google puts it, Congress wants to be sure it does not make protecting consumer privacy more complicated. The lawmakers also noted that because of Google’s global reach, the change could potentially affect billions of people worldwide. We at The Colonnade believe Google is a phenomenon that people use every day to make their lives simpler. Soon, however, it has the potential to make lives more complicated. The term “Google it” may lose its appeal. We may need to get used to new terms like “Bing it,” or “Yahoo! it.”

Letter to the Editor: A XXX-rated phenomenon has biased sources The article “A XXX-rated phenomenon on campuses” (Jan. 20) is an article I’ve been reading and re-reading and in my opinion should not have published in The Colonnade. There’s a lack of supporting data to the point of the article, the statistics are likewise biased, the quotes given seem taken out of context and there appears to be a grievous misuse of the word addiction, not to mention lack of credible sources. There’s no evidence to suggest that there is any link between sex addiction and pornography. There is however a significant correlation between the accessibility to pornography and a drop in sex crimes according to Science Daily. “Results from the Czech Republic showed, as seen everywhere else studied (Canada, Croatia, Denmark, Germany, Finland, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Sweden, USA), that rape and other sex crimes have not increased following the legalization and wide availability of pornography.” “Sexual addiction is, in its simplest form, a normal sex drive that has become compulsive to the point where the behavior is out of control,” is a line in The Colonnade article that is not only lacking a citation that provides supporting data or evidence, it appears subjective in that it fails to provide a definition of what is or is not out of control. Many in the fields of sexology and sexuality are still on the fence of

Anna Morris

Aubrie Sofala

Nick Widener

Editor-in-Chief News Editor

Lauren Davidson Features Editor

Sam Hunt Sports Editor

Kendyl Wade Photo Editor

Hillary Strickland Ad Manager

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Leisure Section Editor Special Section Editor Multimedia Director Asst. News Editor

Chad Patterson Asst. Sports Editor

Chelsea Hinkel Spotlight Editor

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Dawn Parker Webmaster

whether or not sex can be considered an addictive behavior and there is certainly yet to be a link between that and pornography. If an article like this is going to be printed, it should have sources from journals that directly pertain to the subject. Next, there is an atrocious lack of credible sources. Focus on the Family, United Families International and Safe Families are all biased. Data should come from independent, peer reviewed articles and journals, not biased organizations such as these that hide behind the guise of family values. It is organizations like these that keep gays and lesbians at the level of second-class citizens by arguing against their right to marry. On matters like pornography and sexuality, they are most definitely inadequate to use in citation. In societies where restrictions on sexual behavior, such as abortion and pornography, are lessened, there are actually fewer cases of sex crimes and unintended pregnancy. This shows that there is a correlation between sex positive views, or sexual pluralism, and safer sexual habits. The incorrect generalization of information from these biased sources to the college population is a heinous generalization and there should be cited information specifically regarding research of college campuses.

Aubrie Sofala

It’s 7 a.m. and I hear the “BING” of my iPhone blare on the nightstand next to me. At the exact same moment, my desktop monitor springs to life and I receive an email notification. All the while, a Facebook notification and tweet bellow from my iPhone I haven’t yet looked at from the initial text message. Welcome to the 21st century — where you can get one message in a multitude of ways. The avenues of communication have become seemingly endless. At any given moment, one can send a tweet, Facebook message, text message, email or Linkedin message. Having this many options can, at first, look like a problem rather than a solution to our communication problems. I have, on countless occasions, missed certain events or important notifications simply because I did not check my Facebook for a couple days. So the question we are faced with is,

Bobcat Beat Reported by Marilyn Ferrelll

“Do you think Georgia College should have a fall commencement ceremony?” “Yes. Not all people graduate in the fall by choice. If unforeseen circumstance cause them to have to graduate in December, they should still have the option to graduate in the traditional ways.” Brianna McWilliams, freshman pre-nursing major “Graduation from college is a major accomplishment and should be recognized. If you work hard for something, you deserve to be acknowledged.” Cole Burroughs, freshman undeclared

“Yes. Finishing four (or more) years of college is a huge accomplishment that is not an opportunity everyone gets to experience, so students that are graduating should get all of the perks.” Courtney LaHatte, junior biology major “I think it would be great to have it again. It makes graduation more of an event.” Greer Sims, sophomore political science major

-Lucia Caltabiano, senior psychology major

Multiple communication platforms are valuable is more really better when it comes to methods of communication? The rise in technology as a venue for communication should not be seen as a negative. According to the Pew Research Center, more people are using the Internet and email since 2007. The research looks at 18 different nations, including the United States, Russia and China. One trend from the research was the more people used technology, the more educated they were. Specifically, people younger than 30 with a college education were especially likely to say they use the Internet and own a cell phone. The various forms of communication also have proved themselves useful in times of international disaster. When an earthquake hit Haiti in 2010, texters took to their phones and donated more than $2 million, the New York Times noted. This would probably have never happened were it not for advances in communication. Regardless of the complaints that I may have as I rise from my slumber to check my seven different notifications on a Tuesday morning, I can relax in the notion that communication is vital and any element that makes that easier is a gift.

‘Back to the Future’ Homecoming Thunder&Lightning by

“I think commencement is an outdated, pointless tradition. People are in enough of a hurry to start their careers and the commencement exercises are a hassle.” Jay Bowen, freshman business major

“I believe Georgia College should have a fall commencement again to honor the accomplishments and challenges we had to overcome towards becoming a college graduate.” Jennifer Hawe, senior exercise science major See the story about fall commencement on page 1

The Litter Box Thoughts and Rants of Georgia College

For God’s sake, can we PLEASE fix the road the runs by The Village? I’m tired of maneuvering my car around asteroid craters. I wish there was a shower on campus., so I didn’t have to go to class all sweaty. My feet small terrible. The Internet connection is lagging in the residence halls. I wish I didn’t have to worry about finding a job when the economy is in such a bad state. The library probably wasn’t the best place to break-up with your girlfriend, so thanks for providing such an awkward place for me to study for my law exam. I love when my teacher calls out students for texting in class. It’s too hilarious!

Zach Keepers

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Editorial Board Bobbi Otis

February 3, 2012• Editor-in-Chief, Bobbi Otis

Lindsay Shoemake Asst. Features Editor Special Section Editor

Steffi Beigh

Community News Editor Special Section Editor

Lindsay Peterson Asst. Webmaster

Michael Mertz Business Manager

Macon McGinley Faculty Adviser

The Colonnade is not responsible for any false advertising. We are not liable for any error in advertising to a greater extent than the cost of the space in which the item occurs. The Colonnade reserves the right to edit or reject any advertising copy submitted for publication. There is no guaranteed placement of ads. The Colonnade does not accept advertising concerning firearms nor guarantee ads concerning alcoholic beverages.

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Community Public Safety Reports

February 3, 2012 • Editor, Steffi Beigh

Payday lost

January 26 at 12:40 a.m. Sgt. Ennis went to Sanford Hall in reference to found property, according to Public Safety. A woman had turned in three $50 bills. The woman found the money between Foundation and Parkhurst halls. No one has claimed the money.

What’s Happening Friday, February 3

2 Hear the report on our podcast channel

GCSUnade.com

*Incident does not appear on map

1 Caught through the window January 24 at 6:32 p.m. While a fire drill was in progress at The Village Apartments, Emergency Preparedness and Occupational Safety coordinator Justin Gaines saw a man climb out of a window with a dog, according to Public Safety. Gaines spoke to the man and said he could smell burnt marijuana coming from an open window. The man denied smoking any marijuana and led Gaines and Officer Denna to the man’s apartment for identification. Upon entering the apartment, the smell of burnt marijuana was present, and Denna and Gaines believed the source of the smell to be coming from the man’s room. While Denna and Gaines were speaking with the man, they saw that his pupils were dilated and bloodshot. When confronted, the man admitted smoking marijuana earlier. After the man was asked if he had any more marijuana in the room, the man denied there was any left. Gaines and Denna saw a small black safe on the ground. They asked the man what was in the safe. The man opened the safe. Inside, there was a mason jar with suspected marijuana, a digital scale and a prescription-pill bottle that contained painkillers. The prescription did not have his name on it, but the man said the painkillers were for his wisdom teeth. Denna and Gaines also found a package of rolling paper and two flavored cigar wrapper tubes. The man’s case was sent to student judicial.

Georgia College

Career Expo & Interview Day Monday, March 5, 2012

Student Activities Center  Magnolia Ballroom

8:45 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Faculty-led field trip to the High Museum of Art

2 p.m.

Interim president to hold town hall meeting (Russell Auditorium)

7 p.m.

First Friday foreign films “68 Pages” (A&S Auditorium)

Saturday, February 4 All day- Feb. 5

Flick ’n Nuts ultimate tournament (Baldwin Soccer Complex)

Sunday, February 5 6:00 - 10:00 p.m.

Super Bowl party (The DEN)

12:00 a.m. - Feb. 8

Global Citizenship Symposium (Magnolia Ballroom)

Monday, February 6 1:00 p.m.

Paws for a Cause (Centennial Center)

3:30 p.m.

Firehouse Theatre (A&S Auditorium)

5:00 p.m.

Residence Hall Spirit Board Contest (Centennial Center)

5:30 p.m.

Dinner provided by Sodexo (Centennial Center parking lot)

9:00 p.m. All day

Blue and Green Trivia Bowl (Magnolia Ballroom) Last day to register or change address and be eligible to vote in the March 6 Presidential primary

Tuesday, February 7 3:30 p.m.

“Gruesome Playground Injuries” (A&S Auditorium)

Wednesday, February 8 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.

Tips to prepare for the Career Expo (Atkinson Hall 202)

2:00 p.m.

Careers in Global and Community Health (Magnolia Ballroom)

8:00 p.m.

Homecoming talent show (Max Noah Recital Hall)

All day - Feb. 9

SGA Election

Thursday, February 9

Career Fair: 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Network with companies looking for full-time employees, interns, and summer hires

Interviews: 2:30 - 4:30 p.m.

Pre-register in the Campus Interview Schedule section of Career Connection. Event Sponsor: Falling Creek Camp Recruiting all majors for summer positions. Get leadership skills while working with kids!

Professional attire and resumes are required. Register in Career Connection at www.gcsu.edu/career

Hosted by the University Career Center 132 Lanier Hall · 478-445-5384 · career.center@gcsu.edu www.gcsu.edu/career

3:30 - 4:40 p.m.

“Where Did the Struggle Against Racism Go Wrong?” (A&S Auditorium)

7:00 p.m.

Third Eye Blind & Eric Dodd Band Home-coming concert (Centennial Center)

Friday, February 10 9 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Special Collections open house (Library)

11:30 a.m.

Peabody Garden Opening (back of Parks Hall)

12:00 p.m.

Intern 101 (113 Chappell Hall)

1:30 p.m.

Peabody School Reunion Luncheon (Magnolia Ballroom)

2:00 p.m.

Alumni registration (Magnolia Ballroom)

2:00 p.m.

President’s Memorial (Parks Hall)

3:00 p.m.

GIVE Center ribbon cutting (Maxwell Student Union patio)

5:30 p.m.

Alumni Welcome Reception (Magnolia Ball- room)

7:00 p.m.

Class of ’62 “Dutch Treat” dinner (Aubri Lanes)

8:30 p.m.

Class of ’62 pajama party (Fairfield Inn)

9:00 p.m.

Young alumni reception (The Brick)

NOTE: If you would like to see any events incorporated on the calendar, please send them to colonnadenews@gcsu.edu.

A&E

February 3, 2012• Editor, Lauren Davidson

Theater

‘Firehouse Theatre’ cranks up the heat

Global Citizenship Symposium fires up the grill for live cooking performance Noelle Brookes Staff Writer Collaborating with the London-based Firehouse Theatre, the Georgia College Department of Theatre is devising a play that will incorporate audience participation as well as cooking live onstage. The production will take place during this year’s Global Citizenship Symposium, “Personal and Global Health: My Role, Our Challenges.” “The Firehouse Theatre will help us see world health interpreted through dramatic performance,” said Dwight Call, assistant vice president for international education and associate professor of anthropology. “This is the fifth year we are sponsoring the symposium, which allows students and faculty to analyze critical world issues from a multitude of academic perspectives, thereby helping students prepare for leadership locally, nationally and internationally.” Karen Berman, theatre department chair, coordinates the arts for the symposium, and with funding from Georgia College’s Arts Unlimited, Berman had the ability to bring in a group from overseas. “The Firehouse Theatre of London was chosen to perform at GC during the symposium because they are known for bringing actors of

diverse countries and backgrounds together to create world premieres of devised original material based on the communities and topics they are portraying,” Berman said. “I knew they could create a play just for us and I knew that the fact they were from London, we would get a global perspective for the global symposium.” Currently, the Firehouse Theatre is in the process of creating the play and will soon have a workshop with select GC theater majors, overseeing their roles in the production. These students will perform with actors from the company and also use improvisational elements to allow for audience participation. “(The actors) are asking our GC theater students to write their own monologues about food, sustainability and global health to be incorporated into the show,” Berman said. “It will be a very personal show, even though dealing with big issues.” Although the format for the play has not yet been finalized, cooking will be a large part of the production, and is a component that sophomore mathematics and theater major Emily Harper views as a good conversation starter. “I’m just thinking of how it will bring people together over food,” Harper said. “We’ll be sharing each other’s ideas about food and how other cultures think about it. It’s kind of like a big idea share.” One of the challenges that must be addressed

before the performance can take place is whether the space can accommodate on-stage cooking and whether this violates any fire codes. The space is currently being examined for any possible issues, and Berman hopes that whatever the outcome, the performance will garner a large audience and active participation. “This show will be funny and poignant and truthful and, hopefully, relate to everyone’s lives. It will tell stories of comfort foods and favorite foods, and times when food is scarce or not healthy,” Berman said. “We hope it will encourage students to think about the way food is grown and prepared and about their own relationship with food and nutrition.” Firehouse Theatre has worked with a number of local colleges such as Mercer University in the past, and it’s focus on community awareness through its plays is the primary reason Berman saw the company as the perfect way to help foster personal reflection within the GC community. “I think it’s going to make everyone think,” Berman said. “It should make everyone stop and think about their role when it comes to health and wellness.” This year’s Global Citizenship Symposium, “Personal and Global Health: My Role, Our Challenges” will be held on Feb. 6 in the A&S Auditorium at 3:30 p.m.

Dance Marathon

Firehouse Theatre London-based theater company to present live cooking performance Feb. 6 at 3:30 p.m. in the A&S Auditorium Admission: Free The play is being held as part of the Global Citizen Symposium. This years symposium will be running from Feb. 6 to Feb. 8. To find out more information at Firehouse Theatre www.firehousecreativeproductions.com

Black History Performance Program highlights black history, culture, while illustrating the past to the present Jennifer Clarke Contributing Writer

The 12-hour-long Dance Marathon will be held in the Magnolia Ballroom from Feb. 4 at 12 p.m. to Feb. 5 at 12 a.m. Hosted by the Georgia College Miracle, the annual event has raised over $100,000 since its arrival at GC. “As an executive board member (of Georgia College Miracle), I think I am most excited about seeing everything come together after the work we’ve done over the past year,” junior mass

communication major Stephanie Reagan said. “I think that we have established a stronger presence on campus this year, and I really want to see that grow.” The Dance Marathon is closely connected with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, and is currently the largest annual fundraiser on campus. “You’re helping children that live right right down the road simply by dedicating 12 hours of your time,” Reagan said. “As a

Courtesy of Amanda Knight fundraiser, we’ve set our goal for $25,000, but we understand that finances are tight for a lot of people.” The 2012 Dance Marathon is open to the entire GC student body, as well as local participants. The event will also include a variety of games and snacks for its lively participants.

Homecoming to include talent show Students showcase their musical artistry Matt LaMothe Contributing Writer Musical acts of all varieties took the Max Noah Recital Hall stage on Jan. 25 and 26 to audition for a spot in this year’s Homecoming talent show, to be hosted by the Campus Activities Board in Magnolia Ballroom on Feb. 8. There will be a total of nine acts in the Homecoming talent show. They will run the musical gamut, ranging from full band performances to solo acoustic performances. Tori Quante, director of arts and culture for CAB, says that they were looking for a variety of talent to come and try out for the show. With this position, she is in charge of art and cultural events around campus. These can range from comedy nights to “Last Lecture,” where a professor gives a lecture as if it’s their last. This is the first time in a number of years that CAB has hosted a talent show for Homecoming. According to Quante, if the talent show is a success, she hopes CAB will be able to

host more talent shows in the future. “We expect students to have a good time,” Quante said. “The talent show is a break from the run of the mill events that you would normally expect for a Homecoming event.” Daniel Giddens, senior management major, is the vice president of programming for CAB. Since joining CAB in August, he has taken the role of overseeing four other programmers. His job for the Homecoming talent show is to find the judges and to make sure everything goes smoothly. “We’re going to have a people’s choice award for the best talent, so we just want people to get excited and see what talent Georgia College has to offer,” Giddens said. Prizes include $100 for the judge’s choice and $50 for the audience’s choice. Julie Overvold, sophomore marketing major, performed her talent of playing guitar and singing “Crazy For You” by Adele. When Overvold heard there would be a talent show, she was excited to perform. “After students see the talent

show, there will be riots in the street,” Overvold said. In addition, there will be a performance by the Sassy Cats dance team following the main acts. Kimmie Wingo, senior marketing major and captain of the Sassy Cats, is excited to lead the team in a dance that it will perform at the Homecoming basketball game on Feb. 11. “We try to pick songs that are popular amongst students for our dance routines,” Wingo said. “We choose songs that cater to the students’ interests.” The Homecoming talent show will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 8 p.m. in Magnolia Ballroom. Nine acts have been confirmed, one for each of the winners from the tryouts. “Our goal was eight to ten acts, but since we might come up short, we have students that have already displayed their talent to us to fill the gaps,” Quante said. There will be two hosts for the show: senior mass communication major Andrew George and senior studio art major Rachel Graham.

The fifth-annual Black History Program at Russell Auditorium features performances about various aspects of the African-American past. “His-Story Told Through Her” is an account of male-dominated history told through women. “Ain’t I A Woman?” has an all-female cast and is about the ridicule and taunting black women face. The lineup for the 7 p.m. event also includes “Strange Fruit,” “Four Women” and “Black Girls Rock.” “Ain’t I A Woman?” is the Feb. 3 program’s opening act. It will be performed by three members of Firyali Dahlia Yolotli to the poem “Sojourner Truth” by Maya Angelou. It will be the dancers’ first performance to a spoken-word piece. “Black Girls Rock” is a part of the performance that will include works by students. The participants had the chance to write an essay about what it’s like to be a black woman through their own experiences. The filtering process pulled out two speakers as they give their experiences. Firyali Dahlia Yolotli, a nonprofit dance group that travels throughout Georgia, will be performing. The student group Little Feet, which helps area children, will also be there. The program is free and open to the public. It is a collaboration between the Cultural Center and Cheryl Coulson of Milledgeville Cultural Connections. Coulson has lived in Georgia for 23 years and is a dance and martial arts teacher for the Youth Enrichment Services program for Baldwin County. She also leads Firyali Dahlia Yolotli, which is Swahili for “Extraordinary Gentle Hearts.” The dance group has been around for 11 years and performs

“I hope that the community gains an appreciation for black history.” Emmanuel Little, diversity retention & training coordinator interpretational, inspirational and African-inspired dance along with miming. The group is free for students to join. The Black History program originally stared at Flagg Chapel to educate the community about history. The demand for the program grew and traveled to Baldwin High School before settling at GC. The goal of the program is “to educate with views of the past, present and possible future,” Coulson said. Little and Coulson both agree that this program is essential to the community and GC students. Emmanuel Little of the Cultural Center said, “I hope that the community gains an appreciation for black history.” Last year the auditorium was packed with students, faculty and members of the community. This year’s event will put a focus on the struggles of black women and the issues faced in American society.

Want more info? To learn more about Firyali Danlia Yoloti dancers visit the Smith House on campus. Any students interested in attending any cultural events on campus visit gcsu.edu and refer to the events link at the bottom of the page.

The Colonnade

potlight:

Q: What encouraged you to choose “The Wedding Singer” for this year’s first large production? A: We decide our season about a year in advance, and the department chooses it altogether. I collaborate with Dr. Wendy Mullen in music, who determines the musical. Before we choose it, I collaborate with the designers to see what is feasible and also enjoyable. We meet several times to talk through and it’s something we really like. Mainly, we chose it because it’s a good match for the department right now. Our department has grown a lot the past few years, and there is a lot of energy in that growth. The payoff from all the work we’re doing felt, to me, that a celebration-type show was in order. Q: Have we ever done “The Wedding Singer” at GC before and, if not, are there any elements of the performance that we can expect to see differ from the wellknown movie? A: We are doing the Broadway musical based on the movie. The movie came first, and there are significant differences in the movie script and the musical. I think that the musical is richer. The characters are more real. We dive deeper into the relationships in the musical. All of the music in the musical is original with the exception

February 3, 2012

Q & A with Amy Pinney, director of the upcoming play the “Wedding Singer“

of two songs from the movie that Adam Sandler sang. One of them is “Grow Old with You” and the other is “Somebody Kill Me.”

encourage the cast to do anything unique to prepare for the performance?

Q: When was “The Wedding Singer” first performed with it coming after the famous movie? With it being so new, is it a performance you think the community will find modern and relatable?

A: When we do musicals, we have instituted the annual musical boot camp. We come back from Christmas break a week early. Beginning on Jan. 3 we started meeting for ten hours a day. Twenty-five people came back early from break to work on this production.

A: It opened on Broadway in 2006, and I definitely think students will be very interested.

Q: How do you expect the audience to react or feel about the performance? Are there any particular emotional undertones present?

Q: What are you looking forward to the most in this performance? A: I’m most excited for the campus community and the Milledgeville community to see the amazing work these kids are doing. I see it in class everyday, so I’m so excited for other people to see what they can do. That’s what I look forward to the most. This particular show is not only a lot of fun and not only am I working with 50 dedicated people, but these actors are not only invested in the show. They are deeply devoted to each other’s success. Q: Is there anything that you personally are doing to

A: I expect them to feel joyful and uplifted. I expect them to laugh a lot, and for them to be moved. The show celebrates all kinds of love. I expect them to care deeply about these characters. When I cast the show, I cast the people I did because I needed them to be real and honest. “The Wedding Singer” is about real people. Q: Aside from the Department of Theatre’s passionate reputation, if you could give students one outstanding reason to attend, what would it be? A: It’s a perfect date night. It’s fantastic, fun music and the show is hilarious.

By: Chelsea Hinkel

Theater Blood, sweat and tears: ‘Gruesome Playground Injuries’ Upcoming play takes on touchy issues, brings dark themes to life Jennifer Clarke ContributingWriter “Gruesome Playground Injuries” is a play about a boy and a girl who meet on a playground. The story follows their lives and deals with issues like growing up and the impact relationships can have. It also focuses on mental and eating disorders, self-destructive behaviors and co-dependency. The Georgia College performances of the play this month, part of the Global Citizenship Symposium, also feature funny moments to dull the blade of reality.

“I wanted something that my 13-year-old sister could go to,” Gruber, a senior theater major, said. “The other scripts did not appeal to me. … A toxic, unhealthy relationship … sometimes no matter how much you love someone, (love) isn’t enough to save them.” The relationships between the characters drew Gruber to direct this for her capstone after turning down two other choices. She said that in the end the hour-long play turned out darker on stage than it did in her original vision. Gruber has performed in “Hamlet” as one of the three Gertrudes. She also directed “To Life”

and “Bug.” She has traveled to New York and directed an off-Broadway play. Will Saunders and Sarah Michael, both theater students, play the leads in “Playground Injuries,” which spans 30 years. Special effects, include elaborate makeup and blood. “At one point, the guy is in a wheelchair and has a busted eye,” Gruber said. The play’s many settings include a school nurse’s office, an emergency room and a funeral home. “(This play) deals with the realities of college life. I encourage all students to see this per-

formance,” Karen Berman, director of theater, said. Although the play will deal with mature themes, some students didn’t seem disturbed when told about it. “We can deal with this type of stuff, we’re in college,” Terren Casson, freshman pre-engineering major, said. “It’s definitely going to be an interesting show.” The performance is free and open to the public at the Campus Black Box Theatre. The Global Citizenship Symposium is an interdisciplinary event that pulls from several academic departments and student organizations.

Movie Review: ‘The Grey’

courtesy of

Nick Widener Reviewer A voice-over spoken by Ottway, Liam Neeson’s latest action-hero role, immediately introduces the characters of “The Grey” as a group of “men unfit for mankind.” They are renegades, ex-cons, runaways, all present for “a job at the end of the world.” Throughout the film his soft, rugged Irish voice will grasp you, and with him, you will ponder those tough, existentialist questions survival spawns. And though the man-versus-nature motif is tiresomely executed and often mishandled, there are rare occasions when an honest depiction of the brutality in survival comes to fruition. Both “Into the Wild” and “Cast

Away” present this conflict with nature delicately, and in an understandable and unshakable form. In “The Grey,” with its Alaskan setting, nature has a nearly supernatural presence as it garners utter control of its unfortunate victims. After a plane crash, oil drillers find themselves stranded in the wolf-infested wild, and if they do not freeze to death, they will be eaten. Quickly, the survivors of the crash build a fire, and the hopelessness inside of them begins to build. It is not long before a wolf attacks Ottway, rendering him with a large gash on his face and as a marked man. And after a confrontation with the wolf pack, Ottway and his own pack, Burke (Nonso Anozie), Henrick (Dallas Roberts), Talget (Dermot

Mulroney) and Diaz (Frank Grillo), realize they are encroaching upon the wolves’ territory. “The Grey” reunites director Joe Carnahan and Neeson for their second film together. Written by Carnahan and Ian Mackenzie Jeffers, from a short story by Jeffers, “The Grey” is infinitely more serious and focused than “The A-Team.” While the two are both satisfying in different ways — “The A-Team” being pure action fun — “The Grey” is a sobering trek through the depths of a man’s will to survive. The film is tightly shot making the vast arctic expanse feel like an attic at times. But, there are magnificent shots of the disastrously-beautiful snowy landscapes as well. These shots are a spooky juxtaposition to the close-ups,

and a reminder the wolves are waiting. There’s a mysterious ambiance to the wolves’ presence, creating the uneasiness and unnerving effects of a looming evil. Seemingly, the wolves are omnipresent, and are able to outsmart the humans at every step of their escape attempt. As the wolves begin to test the survivors, the humans begin mirroring their behavior. Absent from society, their animalistic instincts to survive kick in. Even Ottway, the designated alpha of the clan, puts down a challenge to his authority after the alpha male does the same. Though the film is sparse on dialogue, there are several fireside banter scenes with comedic musings that break the excellently paced action

Open Road Films

and detract somberness from the film. While they do serve as expositions to these characters’ stories without giving too much away, no illumination of the past would have been a preferable alternative. “The Grey” finds a median between action and poesy without being too piteous. In between its action sequences are majestic tracking shots and snow-graced uncertain faces. And unlike most action films, where death seems intangible, “The Grey” grittily portrays death as the only comfort in the arctic.

Grade: B

Leisure

February 3, 2012 • Editor, Anna Morris

Hipsters, rockers and ravers: 2012 music festival preview

Lindsay Shoemake Staff Writer

South By Southwest

When spring rolls around, band tour buses intuitively roll out across the nation. This year, concertgoers everywhere have ample opportunities to experience live music for days on end at music festivals both big and small. Check out a selection of 2012’s most promising festivals, which appeal to a wide array of musical tastes.

Electric Daisy Carnival - Held in the vibrant

Las Vegas this year, the Electric Daisy Carnival is back and ready to rave. Featuring days worth of electric music, EDC also offers its patrons carnival rides to enjoy while listening to the music. When: June 8-10 Price: $229/ three day pass

Savannah Stopover - A local coastal festival,

Savannah Stopover 2012 located in Savannah, Ga. is the one-stop spot for all things indie and experimental rock. With up-and-coming gems Jukebox The Ghost, Oberhofer and The War On Drugs headlining the four day event, the performances are sure to be underground crowd-pleasers. When: March 7-10 Price: $75/ three day pass

The Colonnade Speaks

- Located in the heart of Austin, Tx., South By Southwest features over 2,000 musical acts in a span of five days. With the festival’s lineup consisting of genres from folk to avant and experimental, South By Southwest offers a smorgasbord of musical selections. When: March 13-18 Price: Varies depending on pass

Bonnaroo

- Not for the amateur music festival attendee, Manchester, Tenn. serves as the venue for earthy music festival Bonnaroo. With its patrons camping out over a span of three days to witness the live performances, Bonnaroo is an experience all its own. Although the 2012 lineup is yet to be released, past performers include Eminem, Childish Gambino and Mumford & Sons. When: June 7-10 Price: $209/ three day pass

Vans Warped Tour -Forever a punk rock staple, the

Vans Warped Tour is blowing through cities across the nation this summer. Hitting Atlanta on July 26, Warped is a music-filled day full of rock, metal, hardcore and pop bands. This year’s lineup includes Warped veterans and newcomers alike. When: July 26 Price: Pre-sale begins April 6.

2012 Grammy predictions

Hangout Music Festival - Located on a

gleaming, white sandy beach, the Hangout Music Festival uses Alabama’s Gulf Shores as its center stage. Hangout appeals to fans of rock, pop and indie artists. Although the festival’s lineup is still in the works, Foo Fighters, The Flaming Lips and The Avett Brothers are confirmed artists for the 2012 event. When: May 18-20 Price: $209/ three day pass

Sweetwater 420 Fest -For concertgoers on a

budget, Atlanta’s own Sweetwater 420 Fest is a free music experience full of music, beer and Earth Day celebrations. With neo-psychedelia band Perpetual Groove topping off the lineup, Atlantans are sure to enjoy the annual festival held in Candler Park. When: April 20-22 Price: Free

Coachella - Laden with celebrity sightings and West

coast flair, Coachella embodies the hippie-esque feel of Indio, Cali. Complete with an A-list lineup including Snoop Dogg, Arctic Monkeys, Bon Iver and M. Ward, the eclectic music festival staple is sure to please this spring. When: April 13-15 and April 20-22 Price: Varies depending on pass

Sudoku

Who do you think should win Best Record of the Year? “The Cave”

“Rolling in the Deep”

Steffi Beigh

“Adele should win, because her voice transcends all genres of music.”

“Its haunting lyrics resonate with my soul. Also, who can say no to a quartet of British men?”

Lindsay Shoemake

“Firework”

“Holocene”

“I love shouting that song at the top of my lungs in the air with my bros, tearin’ it up.”

“Although they might be quite depressing in their music, they still prove themselves as amazing artists.”

Nick Widener

Marilyn Ferrell

Crossword

Who would you like to see win Best New Artist?

Bobbi Otis

Bon Iver

Skrillex

“I love listening to Bon Iver, because they’re mellow and relaxing after a rough day.”

“He’s transcended to millions of fans quicker than any electronic musician ever.”

Chad Patterson

Solutions from 1/27/12

Sports

February 3, 2012 • Editor, Sam Hunt

Collegiate

Bobcats split Montevallo Bobcat men and women split games against Montevallo on “Pack the House in Pink” Night Morgan Wilson Staff Writer Behind strong performances from Ryan Aquino (18 points), Mike Augustine and Jared Holmes (14 points each), the Bobcat men (12-7, 5-5 PBC) pulled within one game of the top spot in the PBC West Division with a 67-59 victory over the first-place Montevallo Falcons (15-6, 6-4 PBC). The crowd enjoyed the night’s theme, “Pack the House in Pink” sponsored by Zeta Tau Alpha. Fans were encouraged to dress in pink for the night to support breast-cancer awareness. The players and cheerleaders also participated, wearing pink shoelaces and ribbons. The Falcons out-rebounded the Bobcats 49-42, but Georgia College held steady for its fourth straight victory in the PBC. “Our weakness was how we rebounded, but anytime it’s a conference game it’s a big win,” senior guard Ryan Lively said. GC held the lead during the entire first half, so their confidence radiated as they went into the locker room leading 28-21. The Falcons’ consistency allowed them to begin catching up, but the Bobcats managed to hold the lead. Both teams continued to give it their all as the clock ticked down, but, in the end, the Bobcats came out victorious. “We played a hard game, and we had lots of energy,” senior guard Jared Holmes said. “Our strengths were how

well we attacked, and the energy that we brought. It was a big home win against a quality opponent.” Victory slipped out of the Bobcat women’s (4-15, 2-8 PBC) hands Wednesday night as the Montevallo Falcons (8-11, 3-7 PBC) defeated the Bobcats 61-47. The women tried their best to take the PBC win, but they were off their game, and it wasn’t enough to stop the Falcons. “We didn’t play to our full potential,” sophomore forward Krysta Lewis said. “Our greatest weakness was focus, and what we need to work on for the next game is coming out ready.” Shanteona Keys led the team with 19 points, and Lewis added 12 points for the Bobcats as well. “We need to work on being strong with passes,” freshman guard Keys said. The women were down 29-16 at halftime, but the second half seemed promising as they began making a comeback. It wasn’t enough, though, and the Falcons continued to pull ahead. Sophomore forward Abby Slocumb suffered an injury to her right eye in the second half and left the game. The women continued to play hard despite the loss of their valuable player, but they couldn’t rally. “They (the Falcons) played harder, and they were quicker than we were,” Head Coach Maurice Smith said. The Bobcat women take on Georgia Southwestern (13-6, 5-5 PBC) this Saturday, Feb. 4 at the Centennial Center at 1:30 p.m.

Gonzalez, Braves ready to forget September swoon Chad Patterson Sports Columnist

Jen Hoffman / Staff Photographer Senior forward Ryan Aquino grabs a rebound over a Montevallo defender on Wednesday Feb. 1. Aquino scored 18 points in the Bobcats’ 67-59 victory over the Falcons.

Club

Volleyball club Mixed Martial Arts Club fights for Spring braces for Tech

Scott Carranza / Staff Photographer Graduate student and MMA Club leader Justin Doll practices at the Centennial Center, which takes place Monday through Thursday at 5 p.m.

MMA club demonstrates fighting and self-defense Powell Cobb Contributing Writer A young man finds his rhythm as he practices his kicks against a pad that his friend sturdily holds for him. Five yards away, two people wrestle and tumble around on a floor of mats. It’s not an environment everyone is partial to, but for the Mixed Martial Arts Club, nothing feels more at home.

The Short Stop

“We love to have people come out and see what we do,” said Justin Doll graduate student at GC and MMA Club leader. “Most people here aren’t that familiar with martial arts. They’re just looking to learn or get a little exercise. Anyone can come participate.” Doll has been practicing martial arts since he was 8 years old. During his sophomore year, he became a member of Georgia College’s MMA Club. When the original founders of the club graduated, Doll picked up the torch and has been running with it ever since. “Back when it was founded, the club was run more like a boot camp,” Doll said. “It was very strict and intimidating. But over time, it’s become less and less structured to get where it is today.” Every Monday through Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in the Centennial Center, members are free to train with whatever they want at any time, provided the equipment is available. Duffle bags full of sparring gear surround the floor mats. A punching bag wrapped in a thick layer of duct tape stands off to the side, waiting to be hit. “It’s such a fun way to get a work out without even noticing it,” freshman biology major Kelsey Richardson said. “It feels good to let out my energy or any stress I have from school.” In addition to practicing and teaching martial arts to club members, the club participates in a handful of events to strengthen their skills and teach others the importance of self defense. Last year, the club held training seminars with sororities Phi Mu and Alpha Delta Pi to teach them some basics of self defense. “We taught them a handful of moves from Krav Maga, which is an Israeli martial art based solely on ending combat as soon as possible,” senior criminal justice major and club leader Jeramie Beck said. “When a girl is being bothered by someone in a bar downtown, what she needs to know is how to defend herself properly and get away quickly. We made sure the sororities understood what to do in those situations.”

MMA page 14

season opener Mallory Chapman Contributing Writer The Georgia College women’s club volleyball team is getting back into the routine of drills and practices as it prepares for its first tournament of the semester at Georgia Tech on Feb. 25. The team has 16 members and has two to three tournaments scheduled for this semester. Practices are Sunday and Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Wellness and Recreation Center. The team hopes to host a tournament, but factors such as WRC hours and availability may not allow it. Coach of the women’s club volleyball team and mass communication professor at GC Stephen Price has high hopes for the team this year and continues to see development and improvement in his players. “My hopes for the team have already happened, which is for them to really enjoy volleyball and for them to continue to play even after high school,” Price said. “I think two or three years ago when I started helping out they had low self-esteem as a team. There were only about seven girls who played so practices were tough. I think in the past couple years we have raised that self-esteem.” Having a club team has benefited players not only athletically, but also person-

Upcoming Games Basketball: Men’s

Feb. 4 3:30 p.m. v. Ga. Southwestern Feb. 7 7:30 p.m. v. Clayton State Women’s Feb. 4 Feb. 7

The Side Line

1:30 p.m. v. Ga. Southwestern 5:30 p.m. v. Clayton State

“My hopes for the team have already happened ... for them to enjoy volleyball .” Stephen Price, Head Coach ally. “I really enjoy meeting new people and growing as a team and getting better,” Callan Bennett, sophomore nursing major and president of the women’s club volleyball team said. “I love when you do well because you practice, and you can see the changes.” Diana Dazey, senior nursing major and member of the women’s club volleyball team, has gained more than just volleyball skills throughout her time on the team. “It’s done a lot for me. I took over the club after my freshman year, and being the (previous) leader for two years was a great learning experience,” Dazey said. “I gained leadership skills. You wouldn’t think because it’s volleyball a lot would go into it, but it’s great.” A varsity women’s volleyball team is currently not offered at GC, so many players are thankful there is

Volleyball page 14

Quote of the Week “This team has a very good pass rush. I’ve seen it game after game. They can hit the quarterback.”

-Patriots quarterback Tom Brady on the Giants’ vaunted pass rush.

It has been four months since the Atlanta Braves collapsed. Four months since a 13inning loss to the Phillies, a season-ending defeat that sealed their doom. They lost 20 of their last 30 games. They squandered a 10½ -game wild card lead in the season’s final month. It still makes no sense. So, how does manager Fredi Gonzalez, who was handed a team with World Series potential from Bobby Cox, reflect on a meltdown labeled as one of the worst in sports history? “We tried things. We had meetings. We had meetings for everything,” Gonzalez recently told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “We had meetings to decide about meetings. After a while it’s like, ‘How many times can I perform an autopsy?’” How does something like this happen? How does Gonzalez and the rest of the team get over such a depressing way to end a season? For one, this team never really clicked. Sure they were headed to the playoffs, but we all knew we hadn’t seen this team at its best. Pitchers Jair Jurrjens and Tommy Hanson were basically lost for most of the season after the All-Star break. Dan Uggla hit a careerhigh 36 home runs, but only after one of the worst starts to a season I have ever seen. Jason Heyward’s sophomore slump sent fans into a frenzy, and many began to think Heyward just might become the next Jeff Francoeur. The Braves were a good team, projected to reach 95-plus wins going into September. But good teams don’t give up 10½-game leads. Good teams don’t lose consecutive series in a playoff race to the Mets, Nationals and Marlins, expecting to make it anywhere in October. Sure, there were injuries. But injuries happen. The Braves, who have terrific chemistry, somehow could never figure out how to turn it around, which still boggles my mind to this day. Luckily for Gonzalez, general manager Frank Wren didn’t blow up the team, instead keeping a team with such great potential in so many positions to give it a go once more in 2012. Gonzalez was handed a gift-wrapped present with this great team, but another mediocre season won’t assure him another season in Atlanta. We’re tired of mediocre in Atlanta. It’s time to make it change, Fredi.

Notable Stat

48 The number of times the New York Giants defense sacked NFL quarterbacks this season. The Giants battle the Patriots in the Superbowl this Sunday, Feb. 5.

February 3, 2012

The Colonnade

Bobcat men persevere over Lander Chad Patterson Contributing Writer

Kendyl Wade / Senior Photographer Senior forward Mike Augustine drives for the reverse layup in a 71-68 home victory against Lander University Saturday, Jan. 28.

Check out

The Bearcats made a

GCSUnade com quick run in the first 10

Behind a balanced attack led by senior forwards Ryan Aquino and Mike Augustine, the Bobcat men on Saturday knocked off Lander University, one of the top-scoring teams in the Peach Belt Conference, 71-68. Lander came into the game scoring nearly 80 points a game and boasted one of the Division II’s best players, guard Corey Wright, who Men’s was averaging 21.2 points Basketball per game. GC 71 GC forced 13 turnovers, while holding Wright to LU 68 just 17 points. Augustine scored 17 for the Bobcats, while Aquino added 16. After a slow start for both teams, the Bobcats turned it on in the last 10 minutes of the first half, shooting 53 percent (8-15). Junior Ryan Lively connected on two 3-pointers during the the run for GC as the Bobcats stretched the lead to seven, 35-28 to to end the half. “Coach (Sellers) told us not to be complacent. Leads change so quickly in this league,” Aquino said. “At no point is a lead safe, so we’ve just got to act like the score is 0-0 all the time.” Lander had other thoughts, though.

minutes of the second half to bring the game within one point (46-45) when Lively banked in a 3-pointer with time on the shot-clock dwindling to allow GC some breathing room. Both teams continued to play tough down the stretch, and with 5:39 left in the game Lander tied it at 55. But once again Lively knocked down another 3-pointer, his fourth of the game, to make it 58-55. After that, the Bobcats never relinquished the lead. Coach Terry Sellers noted the ability to use his bench and the Bobcats’ mental toughness as a key on both sides of the ball after the game. “I thought Blake was huge. He knocked down some really big shots today,” Sellers said. “We’ve dropped a couple close games here at home in the conference. … Guys just kind of grew up and have showed some really good toughness these last couple of games. We just made about one more play than they did.” Balance from the bench keyed the victory for the Bobcats down the stretch. GC used its bench for 30 more minutes than Lander did. for more information about the Georgia College men’s basketball team

“This is when we made our run last season, and now we’re making our run this season.” Mike Augustine, Senior forward Junior guard Terrance Chatman and sophomore guard Joey Bell provided some much-needed help defensively off the pine for GC. “Terrance always plays good defense. I thought Joey Bell did a great job in the first half defensively,” Sellers said. “I like the balance of our team. That’s making us a better team because more guys are scoring for us.” Bobcat senior Augustine’s 17 points in 34 minutes came in one of his best performances of the season. “This is when we made our run last season, and now we’re making our run this season,” Augustine said. “I just gotta stay aggressive and not get complacent –– both Ryan (Aquino) and I really.” GC hosts Georgia Southwestern at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at the Centennial Center.

Women’s hoops drops battle to Bearcats 70-52 Marilyn Ferrell Staff Writer The Georgia College women’s basketball team suffered a tough defeat when it fell to Lander University 70-52 on Jan. 28. Although it was another loss for GC’s women’s basketball, the young team is optimistic and understanding of its strengths and weaknesses.

“There were some aspects where we could have done a better job, but in the same breadth, we got better,” Head Coach Maurice Smith said. At the start of the game, the Bobcats were quick to take the lead with freshman guard Enisha Donley making a jump shot and a layup in the first minute of the game, giving GC a 4-0 lead.

Shortly after, the Bearcats began to accelerate their play and scored 15 points in a row over the Bobcats, taking a 15-4 lead. Lander continued to increase the point gap over GC throughout the half and when the halftime buzzer rang, they had a 3919 lead over the Bobcats. Women’s When the second half began, Basketball the Bobcats managed to decrease Lander’s lead over them GC 52 when a 3-pointer made by freshLU 70 man guard Mikalyn DeFoor and jump shots made by Donley and freshman guard Shanteona Keys all in a row set the score at 41-26 with 16:58 remaining. Both teams stepped up in the second half, but Lander once again took control of the game. With 7:45 remaining in the game, the Bearcats regained the 20-point lead they had on Georgia College at the end of the first half when

a layup gave them a 56-36 advantage over GC. Although the Bobcats scored 33 points in the second half, Lander was able to maintain their lead and took a 70-52 win. Donley was the highest scorer for GC, tacking a total of 12 points to the scoreboard and DeFoor and Keys each brought 10 points to game. “We had a good game plan, and we know what we needed to do,” DeFoor said. “I think we have a lot of things to get better at though.” They know we are a young team, everyone is out to get us, out to pressures us, but I feel like we held up to them. Although the young Bobcat team was unable to stand up against Lander, Smith had a positive outlook on it all. “With a young team, you look for your small

Women’s Bball page 14

Kendyl Wade / Senior Photographer Freshman guard Mikalyn DeFoor stares down a Lander University defender on Saturday, Jan. 28, in a 70-52 defeat at the Centennial Center. DeFoor contributed 10 points, five above her per-game average.

The Colonnade

Inside Intramurals

MMA

Spring intramurals kick off, offer multiple sports to all

Morgan Wilson / Staff Photographer (Left to right) Sophomore Ryan Hamilton, freshman Austin Howard and sophomore Lindsey Dillard of team “Ball Me Blazer” earns its first victory against team “Bear GRRR ...Tiger” in an intramural dodgeball game at the Wellness and Recreation Center.

Features of Wellness and Recreation Center provide amenities for newly added sports Morgan Wilson Staff Writer Georgia College students headed to the new Wellness and Recreation Center at West Campus on Monday, Jan. 23 to kick off the intramural Spring season, this year bringing several new additions to intramural sports. In addition to the traditional sports such as flag football, basketball, softball and dodgeball, RecSports has added volleyball, indoor soccer and inner tube water polo to the list of options. While most students are familiar with volleyball and indoor soccer, inner tube water polo is a new concept to grasp. “It sounds really hard but really interesting,” junior nursing major Stephanie Hedlund said. “It sounds

like it would be fun to watch.” WRC’s new amenities, such as indoor courts and a pool, allow more room for sports that would be difficult to play elsewhere, which is why these new intramural sports have not been possible to have at GC before this year. Junior mass communication major Allison LeFevre is taking full advantage of the novel opportunities presented this year by the new WRC. “I love all of the new sports options they have for this semester because of the new Wellness Center,” said LeFevre, who is a member of coed soccer’s “Impact”, coed volleyball’s “Orville Ready Blockers,” women’s basketball’s “The Dream Team” and women’s dodgeball’s “The Dream Team.” The first of the new sports to be put

February 3, 2012

to the test was indoor soccer. It was a rousing start to the season as “We Paid the Ref$” beat “What’s Life Wit…” 17-3. Volleyball wasn’t played until Tuesday, but it also started with a bang as “Our Tip Is Too Big” won against “Rec N Balls”. Inner tube water polo began Wednesday as the “Looney Tubes” secured a win over “Tubular” while testing out the WRC’s new pool. Everyone has his or her favorite sport, and, even with the new selection, many students still prefer to stick with their original favorite choices. Junior education major Katie Diagostino, who is also a member of “The Dream Team” prefers girl’s dodgeball over the new sports because she loves the members of her team. “The Dream Team” showed what it’s made of Tuesday as it dominated its first game against “Gamma Sigma Sigma” 13-0. “Dodgeball is definitely my favorite intramural sport to play,” Diagostino said. “I have an awesome team that is not only athletic but also just fun to be around.” While many of the new sports and some of the old ones are played on West Campus, the Centennial Center also hosts many of the intramural events, so it is not forgotten in the new transition. Teams like “Victor’s Secret,” “The Grapists” and “Dumbledore’s Army” all utilized their space in the Centennial Center to win their intramural games. “There are a lot of challenges that come with having 190 combined teams sign up for five intramural sports compared to 135 and two last year,” Coordinator of Recreational Sports Bert Rosenberger said. “The major challenges have been scheduling the games and cross training over 50 student employees. So far our student staff has been up to the challenge, and the first week of new and previously played sports has been great.”

Continued from page 12 Being a criminal justice major, Beck isn’t afraid to explain the legal consequences of getting too carried away with a fight. “When someone’s throwing punches at you, it’s easy to let your adrenaline take control of your body,” Beck said. “Before you know it, you’re really beating up on the other guy, and that could possibly result in a lawsuit.” Instead, Beck encourages club members to learn how to end a fight as soon as possible using

Volleyball

Continued from page 12 a club team available. The club team allows for a less time consuming schedule for its players. “These are girls who just love volleyball and really want to keep playing,” Price said. Participating in tournaments is a great opportunity for the players to show their skills and compete against other schools.

quick, lethal attacks. Once the fight has ended, he emphasizes the importance of stepping away and calling 911 immediately. The club also hosts a Ultimate Fighting Championship event in The DEN once or twice a year. Club members can bring food and enjoy hanging out with each other while watching the UFC matches that are airing on television that day. “We just like for everyone to be friends here,” Doll said. “The last thing we want is for someone to be nervous to come to the club because their worried about getting hurt. We look out for each other.”

“Getting to go to tournaments and seeing their teams helps us get ideas for our team,” Bennett said. The team is currently working on drills such as passing and defense to get the players back in the mindset of the game before their first tournament. “We beat Georgia last semester and took third at their tournament,” Price said. “Most goals we have already accomplished. I’d like to see us win a tournament this semester.”

Women’s Bball

Continued from page 13 battles to win, we did a lot better playing stronger with the basketball, playing against a pressing team,” Smith said. “Overall I was pleased with the effort, and anytime you’re pleased with the effort, you can’t harp on the bad too much.” The Bobcats know they have several components of their game that they need to improve on for the next game. “We need to make sure we are extra strong with the ball, and making sure we are hustling

Most players on the women’s club volleyball team have had previous experience playing volleyball. Although the schedule isn’t as demanding as a varsity sports would be, it still takes time and effort to be a part of the team. “I love that it is a great balance between being competitive and just having fun,” Dazey said. “Growing up I was very competitive and traveling a lot, but now I can still play a good game without being too serious.”

through out the entire game,” Donley said. “Making sure we get to our spots.” Smith said the players need to make better decisions. “It comes with playing, we are going to work on the fundamentals in practice, but they really need experience,” Smith said. “When it is all said and done, we have to tip our hats off to Lander.” The GC women’s basketball team’s next game is home on Feb. 4, at 1:30 p.m. against Georgia Southwestern State University. “That’s the great thing about it. You get knocked down, you have the opportunity to get right back up for the next game,” Smith said.

GEORGIA COLLEGE HOMECOMING

schedule of events Monday, February 6

Friday, February 10

8 a.m. Ofﬁce Decorating Contest begins – participants begin decorating 1 p.m. Paws for a Cause – Centennial Drive 5 p.m. Residence Hall Spirit Board Contest (RSA) – Centennial Parking Lot 5:30 p.m. Dinner in Centennial Parking Lot – Provided by Sodexo 6 p.m. Winners Announced: Spirit Board and Paws for a Cause 9 p.m. Blue and Green Trivia Bowl (CAB) – Centennial Center

2 p.m. Baseball vs. University of Tampa – West Campus 3 p.m. GIVE Center Ribbon Cutting – Maxwell Student Union Patio 5 p.m. Baseball vs. University of Tampa – West Campus

Tuesday, February 7 10 a.m. Ofﬁce Decorating Contest (judging) 2 p.m. Winners Announced: Ofﬁce Decorating Contest 5:30 p.m. Women’s Basketball vs. Clayton State – Centennial Center 7:30 p.m. Men’s Basketball vs. Clayton State – Centennial Center

Wednesday, February 8 8 p.m. Homecoming Talent Show Competition (CAB) - Magnolia Ballroom

Saturday, February 11 8:30 a.m. Bobcat Ramble 5K and Fun Run – Parkhurst Hall 9 a.m. Tent City Tailgating Opens – Centennial Square 10 a.m. Parade Line-Up – Tatnall Street 11 a.m. Homecoming Parade Begins – Hancock Street Noon Tailgating Begins at Reunion Tents – Centennial Square 1 p.m. Baseball vs. University of Tampa – West Campus 2 p.m. Cornhole Tournament (RecSports) – Centennial Square 3:30 p.m. Women’s Basketball vs. Columbus State – Centennial Center

Halftime: Intro of Mr. and Ms. Georgia College

Thursday, February 9 8 p.m. Homecoming Concert sponsored by Oconee Regional Medical Center featuring Third Eye Blind and Eric Dodd Band

Want more info? Download a QR code scanner on your smart phone and scan to see where it takes you!

5:30 p.m. Men’s Basketball vs. Columbus State – Centennial Center Bobcat Ramble Awards Parade Winners Mr. and Ms. Georgia College SGA Election Results