THE COLONNADE The Official Student Newspaper of Georgia College
February 15, 2013
www.GCSUnade.com
Volume 89, No. 17
Single copies free
Blackout_Bobcat: @ now trending
Homecoming budget shrinks, bands multiply, SGA deposits NICK WIDENER SENIOR REPORTER Down $3,370 from last year, the Homecoming budget broke the pattern of a steady increase over the past couple of years dropping to $78,960. The decrease is a result of lower enrollment. Money for the annual event comes from the Student Activity Fee, 8 percent of which is allocated for Homecoming. $64,960 of the budget is allocated for the concert. Of that amount, $50,000 is reserved for the bands. Gloriana and Jerrod Niemann cost $22,550 each. Last year $57,500 was spent on Third Eye Blind alone, while $2,000 went to opening-act The Eric Dodd Band. Over the past few years, as the budget has increased, a sense of
SARAH K. WILSON STAFF WRITER Scrolling down, you’ll come across varying pictures of Georgia College students in drunken stupors, passed out on lawns or dancing with drinks in their hands. There are even snapshots of sloppy make-out sessions, run-ins with cops and iPhone pictures of students taking midnight snoozes in restaurant booths downtown. This is Blackout Bobcat, a Twitter page devoted to posting pictures of Georgia College students in their most intoxicated states. With more than 1,700 followers and 179 tweets since January, the page is gaining popularity. “Oh yeah, I was actually on Blackout Bobcat,” Ellen Osment, a sophomore mass communication major, said. “Thankfully, the picture didn’t show my face. If it had, I would’ve been really upset.” People taking snapshots of drunken students downtown, be it their friends or not, and posting them to a Twitter page is alarming to some. “It’s kind of creepy,” Osment said. “It’s like the whole ‘what happens downtown, stays downtown’ thing just goes out the window. I don’t know who took my picture, and that’s weird.” More than just creepy, the page can reflect poorly on students later. With the account using GC’s mascot in the title, it raises concerns regarding how this site reflects on the university for alumni, parents and, most importantly, prospective students. “I do not agree with it at all. Granted you’ll see people on there and you’ll say ‘Oh, I know that guy’ and it’s funny, but the fact that it says Blackout Bobcat, I don’t think it represents the school in a good light,” Creighton Perme, one of two SGA presidential candidates. It seems this would be a large university concern, but officials expressed great concern for the individuals and the actions depicted. “We really want students safe and seen in a good light,” Tom Miles, director of Campus Life, said. It seems this worry isn’t shared, though. Specifically in the case where a male student was photographed on a bench downtown, hands folded in his lap, while a police officer confiscated his fake I.D. The student, who remains unknown, created a separate Twitter account to ask for the picture to be removed. “Wow he really wants that picture taken down,” Blackout Bobcat said in a tweet responding to the students requests.
“One of the things that has really played into (having a sense of belonging) is the Tent City before the basketball games.” Bruce Harshbarger, VP of student affairs belonging at GC has as well. “One of the things that has really played into (having a sense of belonging) is the Tent City before the basketball games,” Bruce Harshbarger, vice president of student affairs, said. Tent City allows alumni to mingle with each other and create new connections, too.
Budget page 2
Twitter page 2
Graphic by Morgan Andrews
SGA
Presidential candidates announced NICK WIDENER SENIOR REPORTER The candidates for the Student Government Association presidency have been announced. President Pro Tempore Victoria Ferree and Sophomore Senator Creighton Perme are running against each other. Ferree, a junior accounting major, has been on SGA for the past two years. She said one of the main ideas in her platform as president is to promote diversity within the Senate. “One of the plans I really have is to try and diversify the Senate,” she said. “I think it’s made up of a lot of Greeks, and I think that that’s great, but it’s kind of disproportionate to the amount of Greeks we have in the student body.” As President Pro Tempore, Ferree serves as a liaison between student organizations and SGA. “It gives me a good angle for the presidency because I’ve been in the PPT position, so I know how to talk to the student body,” Ferree said. Perme, a management major, serves SGA as the head of the Student Services committee. His
Presidential Candidates page 4
NEWS FLASH
Art installed by student, professor
Crystal Wagner, assistant art professor, assisted by sophomore museum studies major Claire collar, used chicken wire and hand rolled paper to recreate the natural word in her latest piece of art work titled “The Arboretum.”
Dance Marathon donations double JEN HOFFMAN STAFF WRITER After 12 hours of dancing, Dance Marathon participants – clothed in black and waving glow sticks – awaited the final reveal of the fundraiser’s total amount raised. As $42,117.90 flashed across the screen, the hundreds present began to jump up and down, some crying, in celebration of the accomplishment. “At the beginning of this past year, I set our goals really, really high and didn’t let people take their eyes off the prize,” Stephanie Reagan, senior mass communication major and executive director of GC Miracle, said. GC Miracle held Dance Marathon at the Centennial Center Saturday, Feb. 9 from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m. GC Miracle, Georgia College’s largest student-led fundraiser on campus, exceeded this year’s goal of $40,000. This year’s goal was nearly twice as high as previous years. At the beginning of every fall semester, the new executive board decides on its goals and theme for the year. This year, the theme was space. “Dance Marathon is all about the kids, so we always want our theme to appeal to them, and what little kid doesn’t like outer space?” Vanessa Whited, senior mass communication major and GC Miracle public relations chair, said.
QUOTABLE
JEN HOFFMAN / SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER As the evening wound down at Dance Marathon, dancers were given glow sticks to wave around. Moments later, a video, with a space shuttle intro, revealed the total amount raised for Dance Marathon.
Personalized jetpacks were made for each child sponsored in the event. The jetpacks were filled with gender and age-specific goodies for each child to take home. One of the children sponsored by the event, Abe Gainous, was diagnosed with leukemia last April. The money raised from Dance Marathon supports children like Abe. Abe’s mom, Trisha Gainous, said Abe loves
News
Buzz Lightyear. “He thought that was awesome, he keeps wearing (the jetpack) around the house,” Trisha Gainous said. The Gainous family has found a special place in the GC community. “It makes you appreciate what you have
INSIDE
I try to keep “ my swing really
Pints fill up...................................................................2 Sorority Sends Kisses to Soldiers..........................3
simple. The least amount of moving parts the better.
Hanging with The White Kids.................................9 Wasting Away.............................................................9
”
-Patrick Garrett, senior golfer
See page 13
A&E
Sports
It’s All in the Writ...................................................13 Rollerderby preview...............................................14 Leisure..................................................................8 Community News........................................6
Dance Marathon page 2
NUMBER CRUNCH
45 minutes The length of The White Kids opening set at the Homecoming concert. See page 9
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Dance Marathon
February 15, 2013
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Jen Hoffman / Senior Photographer (Top left) A black backdrop for particpants to write their reasonsing for dancing on F,T and K( For The Kids) letters was at the back of Centennial Center. (Botom left and top right) Particpants learned pieces of a complete dance every hour called the morale dance. At the end of the night, all of the pieces of the dance were put together and it was performed before the final amount raised was revealed. (Bottom right) Trisha Gainous, wife of Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach, Mark Gainous, holds her son, Abe, as he sings the words to his favorite song, “Call Me Maybe.”Abe was one of the children GC Miracle sponsored.
even more…now, that we are in the situation that we are in, everyday is just a gift,” Mark Gainous, Abe’s father and assistant men’s basketball coach, said. The $42,117.90 goes directly to The Children’s Hospital at The Medical Center of Central Georgia. It improves the children’s hospital and helps children from around Central Georgia. “It was time for us to put ourselves on the map within Dance Marathon. I’m ready for GC to matter. If any campus can do this, it should be us, ” Reagan said. This is the ninth year GC has hosted Dance Marathon, and this year’s tally was the most money ever been. There were 257 participants at the event, a significant increase from last year’s numbers. “Getting to hang out with the kids we sponsored and hear their stories made the whole 12 hours of dancing completely worth it,” Bekah Belisle, participant and junior
Christians unite at concert
Johna Griwell / Staff Photographer The band from Grace Midtown leads worship for over 200 students of all denominations of Christianity.
Students from across the state experience worship Johna Griswell Contributing Writer Students from across the state gathered at Magnolia Ballroom last Thursday night for a worship service called Transition. The college ministry team from Grace Midtown in Atlanta came to lead a night of vision, unity and worship. Grace Fellowship is a church that has locations in Snellville, Monroe and Atlanta. Its mission is to bring the Christian faith to the cities of the world. They have planted numerous community ministries, called House Church, around the state of Georgia. The House Church in Milledgeville is a student-led ministry that meets on a weekly basis. The two speakers were Drew McClure from Grace Midtown and John Raymond from Grace Snellville. Raymond was one of the founders of the House Church here in Milledgeville. “The team from Grace Midtown is coming to pour into us and fan the flame in the hearts of God’s people in Milledgeville,” Micah Miranda, junior community health major, said. Miranda is a part of the Milledgeville House Church and has been helping to plan and organize this event for the past two months. Miranda explains that Transition is more than just a worship service, “We’re not looking for a good worship set or a good sermon, we want people to encounter God this night.” With over 200 people in attendance, students were represented from other schools such as the University of Georgia, Georgia State, Georgia
“I am really excited about Transition because I have been to this event before in Atlanta, and I’m glad that it is in Milledgeville this year so that people here could experience it.” Keely Lawson, pre-nursing major Tech, Berry College, Kennesaw State and Georgia Southern amongst others. Sophomore pre-nursing major Keely Lawson says, “I am really excited about Transition because I have been to this event before in Atlanta, and I’m glad that it is in Milledgeville this year so that people here could experience it.” Not only does the event bring bands and speakers to GC’s campus, but it also offers a rare opportunity for the on campus ministries to unite under one roof. “I feel like we are all doing our own thing in our community. As the body, we are called to come together,” Lawson explains. Transition brought together House Church, Wesley, Campus Catholics, Campus Outreach and the Baptist Collegiate Ministry on campus.
exercise science major, said. By promoting Dance Marathon in August and continuing throughout the year, the organization was able to raise awareness about the importance of the cause. Some events on campus included: a kick off early on, the miracle makers campaign, which focused on faculty and staff, and promotion through social media. GC Miracle also participated in midnight breakfast, signing up 150 participants in one night. “It’s considered a celebration for what we’ve worked for all year. I couldn’t have asked for a better day,” Reagan said. As for next year, Reagan hopes the organization will keep developing. “We’ve got this momentum for ourselves, we pretty much doubled our fundraising, let’s just double it again,” she said. “I think because we have carved out this presence on campus, I think its just going to continue to grow.”
Continued from page 1 “Even made a Twitter for it? You can’t even tell who it is dude…” The photo was still online at midweek. This realization that photos might be up there permanently has turned the friendly game of catching your friend at their best worst moments into something more. “I think that goes to show, especially for students at GC with things like Bobcat Blackout, its always fun to crack a laugh if you’re taking a picture of somebody and showing it to your friends, but it’s another thing to post it on twitter or facebook and humiliate other people,” Victoria Ferree, SGA presidential candidate, said. With Blackout Bobcat refusing to remove pictures and continuing to allow anyone to submit photos anonymously, it’s introduced a danger to going downtown. “You might just be at a bar having a beer and whoever is managing that site snaps a picture of you and puts you up there with some caption that says, ‘After five in,’ when that’s the only one,” Tyler Havens, director of Fraternity and Sorority Life, said. “Nobody is safe from something like this.” Photos may speak 1,000 words, but sometimes that’s not enough. “Pictures don’t tell the whole story. They tell some of the story … but it could come back and bite you in the butt,” Miles said. Bite physically with the serious repercussions of binge drinking, but also bite professionally. “In terms of realizing the effects of your decisions out there socializing and what can actually happen to you – it’s not a safe place, it really isn’t,” Miles said. “Now people are getting carried away with their phones … and putting [their friends] in a situation that could really cause them some issues in life.” Though no one seems to know who created Blackout Bobcat, its scandalous popularity has caught the attention of university officials. “We’ve been discussing options to respond to the page,” Bruce Harshbarger, vice president for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, said. “If we do respond, it raises the question of what else we respond to.” Though universities are reluctant to get get involved, it seems an increasing number of similar accounts might push their hand. Milledgeville alone has three accounts dedicated to showcasing midnight mischief, including Milly Makeouts. UGA has a similar Twitter page called “UGA Makeouts,” where pictures of drunken students are posted. The difference is that Blackout Bobcat posts pictures of students in all kinds of intoxicated shenanigans. UGA Makeouts is limited to snapshots of drunken hookups. Asked what he’d do if his face ever showed up on Blackout Bobcat, Greg Hladilek, sophomore outdoor education major, said he would “beat up whoever is in charge of it. Whoever is posting the pictures, I’d fight him. I’d find him, and fight him.”
Budget
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“Over time, they built up that fund, so y’all could start getting better-name bands. There was a time when y’all were getting lower-name bands, and y’all just weren’t that happy with that.” Tom Miles, Director of Campus Life “Bringing alumni back, and not only letting them see people they knew, but letting them meet people who graduated at other times, that’s really powerful development for us,” Harshbarger said. Although funds for the Homecoming concert are set before the school year starts, Homecoming was not always funded through the Student Activity Fee. “Over time, they built up that fund, so y’all could start getting better-name bands,” Director of Campus Life Tom Miles said. “There was a time when y’all were getting lower-name bands, and y’all just weren’t that happy with that.” But with better-known bands, the concert costs more, which is why Homecoming went over budget last year. “Last year we had to get a $10,000 donation from Oconee Regional, and I thought we could find a good band that people would really enjoy without having to take that extra donation out, and we got two of them,” SGA President Cody Allen said. This year the cost is down, and Allen hopes to have money left over from the concert to put back into SGA’s reserve account, which is supposed to be 10 percent of their operating budget at around $100,000. The account exists for when emergencies occur and dollars are low. SGA also tries to replenish this fund through ticket sales at the concert. Students can purchase two additional tickets for friends or family for $10 a piece, and $25 a ticket after that. Although, tickets for GC students do not cost, this year tickets will be required to enter the concert. Students can pick up their tickets by showing their Bobcat ID in the DEN. “Y’all come in and out, and we don’t know who’s in. For fire code reasons, we’ve said you’ve got to have a physical ticket,” Miles said.
FEBRUARY 15, 2013
THE COLONNADE
Pints fill up, final tally not in yet
MARK WATKINS / SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER Members of The Red Cross draw blood from faculty and staff last week. The student blood drive was held this week in Magnolia Ballroom.
GC blood drive sets its sights on Valdosta State’s numbers of pints O M “I’m a competitive person, and when we started seeC W LIVIA ORALES ONTRIBUTING RITER
Georgia College kicked off the Dr. John Sallstrom Blood Drive Feb. 12 and Feb. 13 in hopes of beating the amount of units collected at last year’s drive. The Red Cross had a full staff set up in Magnolia Ballroom to welcome GC students, faculty and staff. As of Wednesday afternoon, 295 people had already signed up or walked in to give blood. GC is a big asset to the Red Cross, producing robust amounts of blood each time they visit. As of Tuesday of this week, 124 units of blood were collected from students and 34 units from the GC faculty and staff. “The goal for this blood drive was originally 400 units of blood – this number of units would let us beat our own pre-
ing what Bobcats can really do, and our drives began to grow more, we set our sights on being the biggest drive around. Georgia College is the best; this is just going to be another way to prove it.” Allison Smith, vice president of marketing for GC blood drives
vious record and to beat Valdosta State’s record. At our last drive we received 333 donated units of blood” Allison Smith, vice president of marketing for GC blood drives, said. The rivalry between Georgia College and Valdosta State started this year. Last year Valdosta State collected 403 units, only 70 more than GC. When asked about this rivalry, Barrett
Roell, president of GC blood drives said, “I’m a competitive person, and when we started seeing what Bobcats can really do, and our drives began to grow more, we set our sights on being the biggest drive around. Georgia College is the best; this is just going to be another way to prove it.”
Blood Drive page 4
Sorority sends kisses to soldiers MADDIE SHORES STAFF WRITER The women of Delta Zeta encouraged 250 female students to kiss 250 soldiers – by mail. In celebration of Valentine’s Day, 250 soldiers will receive a postcard that will include an encouraging note and a luscious kiss attached. Delta Zeta teamed up with Maybelline New York, a women’s makeup company, and “A Million Thanks” to help students relay their thanks to the troops overseas. “This is Delta Zeta’s first fundraiser this semester,” Kristin Karschner, junior English major, said. “We decided to do something different than our national philanthropy just because we got a lot of recommendations to do something for the troops.” The goal DZ set was 250 postcards each sealed with a kiss, beginning Feb. 5 and ending Feb. 7. “We actually had 250 lipsticks donated from Maybelline and we ordered 250 postcards from Staples, so we are going to be completely out by the end of (the
“I think that this is an awesome fundraiser because it’s different and appealing. I participated because just thinking about a soldier opening my postcard gives me the chills, and hopefully I can brighten their day.” Katherine Stilley, freshman marketing major day),” Karschner said. The goal was met on the first day just hours into setting up. Each student who volunteered their lips received a free tube of lipstick and got to choose a cupcake to take with them. The assortments of cupcakes were donated from Doodle’s Cupcake Bakery, located in downtown Milledgeville. The table also had many different candies for the volunteers, as
well. “I think that this is an awesome fundraiser because it’s different and appealing,” Katherine Stilley, freshman marketing major, said. “I participated because just thinking about a soldier opening my postcard gives me the chills, and hopefully I can brighten their day.” The table was a hit. Students lined up prepared to donate their lipstick kisses. The table was set up by the fountain and was decorated with pink and blue decorations. A variety of lipstick tubes were standing in rows covering the table, but these didn’t stay for very long. Clotheslines pinned multiple postcards that were filled out earlier in the day and were being used as decoration around the tent. A mirror stood on the table for students to apply their new lipstick just before sealing the postcard with a heartfilled kiss. The students who filled out postcards had their own reasons for participating. “The way the tent looked attracted me over, but it is for a good cause and I like to
Kisses page 4
3 Transition
Continued from page 2 “I thought it was great to see all the ministries unite together under one roof,” Will Dodgen freshman premass communication major, said. Melissa Sorensen, former GC student, came to Transition from the University of Georgia. “I really loved it. I felt like they really sought to be real and not put on a show. They just wanted the raw presence of God”, Sorensen said. Transition is held once a semester, each time at a different location. The last time Transition was held at Georgia College was the fall of 2010. Magnolia Ballroom was
“I thought it was great to see all the ministries unite together under one roof.” Will Dodgen, freshman mass communication major filled with energy and enthusiasm Thursday night. Students who came from unique backgrounds and different places were able to come together with one purpose and one passion and share in a worship experience together.
27 hours for the 27 million Activist group aims to stand to abolish slavery worldwide SHAYNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER There are approximately 27 million people enslaved today. 200 thousand of these people are working in America. Mary Kelling and Meg Partin, both Georgia College students, are working to decrease that number. On Wednesday, Feb. 6, a group of 47 GC and Georgia Military College students gathered at Northridge Campus Church to plan a 27-hour event to take place in March. This is part of the International Justice Mission’s (IJM) Stand for Freedom Campaign. The campaign, partnered with the End It movement for their similar goals, is designed to bring awareness to the reality of human trafficking and raise money to be donated to IJM. Founded in 1997, the IJM operates solely on donations. Their mission is to intervene in cases of abuse in partnership with local authorities, to hold the abusers accountable, to provide care for survivors of slavery and to prevent further abuse. According to their website, the IJM “is a human rights agency that brings rescue to victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression.” Kelling, Partin and others have been planning GC’s Stand for Freedom event since the first week of school in January. Their goal is to raise $15,000, and as of Feb. 13, they had received $1,537 in donations. Stand for Freedom is a
“We really want it to be a Milledgeville movement” Mary Kelling, GC student national campaign. “It’s really cool to see how it’s unfolded,” Partin said. This small group of students hungry for change has been well received by other campus organizations that want to be a part of the movement to end slavery. GC is currently the mostinvolved college campus in the nation for the End It movement. The top 10 most involved campuses include four Georgia colleges. “We really want it to be a Milledgeville movement,” Kelling said. The group wants to get the community involved and make this movement bigger than just GC’s campus. Fundraisers are being planned leading up the actual 27-hour Stand that will take place from noon on March 13 to 3 p.m. March 14. “Move It to End” is an event that will take place at the Wellness and Recreation Center, Feb. 13 beginning at 4 p.m. The event will include a variety of workout routines. Participants are asked to wear black and red. There is no charge for this event, but donations are strongly encouraged. Yummo Yogo is also helping with the movement. On Feb. 20 from 5-10 p.m. 10 percent of all proceeds will be used to support IJM.
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THE COLONNADE
Food drive promotes community engagement SOPHIE GOODMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER Georgia Colleges accepted donations from students and organizations in it’s annual food and book drive to benefit Cafe Central, Milledgeville’s soup kitchen, Twin Lakes Library System and the Baldwin State Prison. The drive raised over 250 pounds of canned goods and about 200 books. “The bulk of donations come at the end during the competition, where organizations can “weighin” their goods for a chance to win a $200 catering voucher from Sodexo,” Emmanuel Little, diversity relation and training coordinator, said. The final day for the food drive was Friday, Feb. 8. This will be the second year the food drive has been held, but the first year for the book drive. “The food drive was also done last year, but I decided to add the book drive because literacy is an important and often-ignored aspect of community well-being,” Little said. “Also by reaching the Baldwin State Prison as many inmates attempt to rehabilitate themselves and prepare for life outside its boundaries.” Last year, students and local organizations donated 400 pounds of canned food, which helped replenish the supply of food at Cafe Central. “This year we’re aiming for at least 500 pounds,” Little said. “Since this is the first year for the book drive, I’d be happy if we collected at least 200 books.” While serving the community,
“Most people do food drives before the holidays and around the holiday time, but really hunger…lasts all year. People don’t just get hungry around the holiday times, they get hungry all year. Victoria Fowler, auxiliary marketing manager it is also in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. “We are hoping to give back to the community and raise awareness of MLK day but also raise the huge issue that hunger is a year round initiative,” Victoria Fowler, auxiliary services marketing manager said. Through the book drive, Little hopes to reach out to some of the often unconsidered areas in need. “It’s important to reach out to all sectors of the community by any means necessary,” Little said. While January may not be the ideal time for some to donate goods, these donations will help many families in need. “Most people do food drives before the holidays and around the holiday time but really hunger…lasts all year. People don’t just get hungry around the holiday times, they get hungry all year,” Fowler said.
FEBRUARY 15, 2013
Blood Drive
“Bobcat blood is the best blood, of course.”
Kisses
Although the final tally of how many units our campus produced was not in at the time of print, Roell has no doubt that GC will reach the target amount of 404 units. “Our campus has such a philanthropic mind set and great departments like the GIVE Center, I believe we can beat their records - even though they are double the size of our student body.” Blood donation is incredibly important especially in the state of Georgia, where the demand exceeds the amount available, so the need it always constant. “I have tons of blood, and others don’t. It is a responsibility, if you can give blood you should” Ashley Quesinberry, sophomore nursing major, said. The amount of lives that are saved through the blood that GC donates is truly incredible. The Red Cross says one pint of blood helps save the lives of nine babies, or three adults. “The Georgia College blood drive is
Barrett Roell president of GC blood drives
support our troops,” Gabbi Maldonado, freshman early childhood major, said. The fundraiser also hit close to home for the women of DZ. “A lot of the sisters have family and friends and boyfriends in the military. I actually took a particular interest in this philanthropy event because my boyfriend joined the Marines this year,” Karschner said. “A Million Thanks” is a non-profit small organization that was started by an undergraduate student. Her goal was 1 million postcards overseas and exceeded that goal and sent 5 million. DZ plans to continue this fundraising event in years to come.
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Presidential Candidates Continued from page 1
committee works with campus organizations to make student’s experience on campus a more pleasant one. “Basically, ever since I’ve joined SGA, (the presidency) has been a pretty appealing position to me. Its kind of what drew me into SGA was just being able to have an executive position,” he said. But Perme said working as a senator proves to be more difficult in accomplishing projects. “There’s a couple things that I’ve been trying to do on student services that I’ve had budget constraints, such as the card swipes, I was trying to get that earlier this year, but I couldn’t find a budget that would be
awesome, it always has a good turnout, the students are supportive, committed, and it is always such a positive environment. It is very successful, well put together, and always does a great job” says Tonja Lee Jordan, who has been with the Red Cross for a little over a year-and-a-half, and has worked the GC blood drive four times. With such a positive turn out, students are hopeful that the GC blood drive beats its goal of 404 units, and surpasses Valdosta State’s last year record. The Red Cross has a blood drive at GC every semester, so if you were not able to donate this semester, there will be another chance. “Bobcat blood is the best blood, of course” Roell said.
“The debate is interesting because you never know if your opponent is going to come out swinging … you never know what to expect.” Cody Allen, SGA President able to install card swipes for Herty Hall or the art department,” he said. “I would like to involve more in the community than SGA already is.” On Feb. 18 Ferree and Perme will square off in a debate at 7 p.m. in the Maple conference room in the Student Activity Center.
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“The debate is interesting because you never know if your opponent is going to come out swinging … you never know what to expect,” SGA President Cody Allen said. The two candidates will continue to campaign leading up to voting on Feb. 20 and 21. On those dates, from 11 a.m to 4 p.m., SGA will hold polling stations on the Bobcat head on Front Campus to aid students in voting. Allen said there has been a low percentage of students who vote in the SGA elections, and the polling stations are meant to help with accessibility. “I’d like to see more student participation in the elections. I feel if students have a convenient location on campus to vote, we’ll see a spike in the number of people who vote,” Allen said.
Graduate students will travel to present journal IRIS COCHRAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER Georgia College creative writing MFA students Benjamin Mitchel and Emily Chamison will attend this year’s Writers & Writing Programs (AWP) in Boston, Ma., March 6-9, to present to 10,000 attendees the first “Arts & Letters PRIME,” a new concept for twenty-first century books. Chamison started on this project two years ago for her MFA program and a year later Mitchel tagged on to the ePub team. Their mission for the book was for to collaborate and start an online book that can be downloaded to read, watch videos and listen along with the poems, scripts, or short-essays. “Arts & Letters PRIME will let us hear and sometime see authors reading their works or in some cases offering commentary about their writing,” Martin Lammon editor of “Arts & Letters” and director of the Department of Creative Writing said. “In our first issue we are reprinting Julie Wade’s essay ‘Skin,’ last year’s winner of the ‘Arts & Letters’ prize for the creative non-fiction. But Wade also reads from her essay and offers some insight on her creative process through using the ePub.” Lammon said “Arts & Letters PRIME” owes a great debt to assistant editor, Chamison. She devoted much of her time working with the digital innovation group at GC, learning everything she could about the ePub. Although Mitchel came onto the project later in its development, he contributed to PRIME by running the website and offering more creative suggestions for the publication.
“Downloading PRIME can bring art to people because it’s hard to go to a poetry reading (nowadays), they’re not necessarily around. It’s hard to go to a play because it gets filled up and cost money. But we record them and put them into the ePub format where you can download the book for practically free. Typically, if you buy a printed copy it cost $8.” Benjamin Mitchel, creative writing MFA student The trip to Boston will be an opportunity to present the concept to other universities. PRIME is available on iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch and is free to download. Its ePub format allows audio and video content that most eBooks or e-journals do not, as well as graphic material and links to related web sites. AWP is the largest organization of writers, editors, teachers and students of creative writing in the country. This conference is the best opportunity to showcase the e-book to build interest in the book as well to explain the interactive possibilities available through electronic publishing. There will be an hour and a half presentation which will be guided by Mitchel, Chamison, Lammon and contributing writers Julie Marie Wade and Karina Borowicz.
“Arts & Letters” started in 1999 in order to form a contemporary culture and community for writers and artist. Since its creation, students and faculty have worked together put out a physical issue each fall and spring semester. Writers, poets and playwrights from the world over submit their work for consideration. The ebook marks the publication’s immersion in the twenty-first century to become more accessible and interactive to readers, but remains supplementary material to the physical edition. Aubrey Ethridge SGA treasurer explains Mitchell and Chamison were invited to the AWP held March 6-10. SGA allocated the maximum amount of $400 to each student, and help support their trip through the SGA Academic Travel Funds. “Something we felt was very deserving, they are going to the national conference and representing Georgia College as the first people to do
this in the nation,” Ethridge said. “We thought it was a great thing representing GC and we are very proud of what they have accomplished. So, we wanted to award them as much as we could. But, total cost of the trip was $600 per person.” Dr. Lammon explains PRIME will become the new showcase for the web program started last spring, “Ask Alice,” poet-and-residents at GC, Alice Friman. This video program will be archived in the Arts & Letters website and youtube. The programs can be found in PRIME 1.1, and eventually programmed on PRIME 1.2. “Downloading PRIME can bring art to people because it’s hard to go to a poetry reading (nowadays), they’re not necessarily around, it’s hard to go to a play because it gets filled up and cost money,” Mitchel said. “But we record them and put them into the ePub format where you can download the book for practically free. Typically, if you buy a printed copy it cost $8.”
Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere. – ALBERT EINSTEIN
Close up Themes, ideas and events of the 21st century
GC’s top 10 Students share where they want to travel *Results taken from 70 random students *Info taken by Bethan Adams
February 15, 2013 • Editor, Constantina Kokenes
Ireland
Japan
England
Germany
italy
Greece
australia
Brazil
Spain
france
10 votes
6 votes
3 votes
10 votes
2 votes
10 votes
2 votes
8 votes
2 votes
7 votes
Students benefit, develop from studying abroad CONSTANTINA KOKENES SENIOR REPORTER
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY MACKENZIE BURGESS
ASHLEY CLIFTON STAFF WRITER
Study abroad is just an excuse to party in another country. While there is a cultural element which does include social activities, study abroad also provides a unique environment for academics, personal growth and experiential learning. Studying abroad is too expensive. There is certainly a cost to international travel but doing it as student is by far the cheapest way to make it happen. To help support student experiences, Georgia College offers scholarships in addition to the various national scholarships which are available. There are also opportunities to study in less expensive locations or lengths of time that may be more affordable. Studying abroad is not safe. The combination of common sense action on the part of the study students, highly experienced program leaders and thoughtful preparation makes study abroad safe. There is always some inherent risk in international travel, but the same goes for domestic travel as well. I can’t speak a foreign language so there’s no use studying abroad. This is not the case anymore. There are study abroad opportunities in over 75 countries, many of offer courses in English. I’ll just be learning in a classroom the entire time. One of the great benefits of studying abroad is using your host country as the classroom. While you may have some classroom time, it is supplemented with the streets of London, the museums of Paris and the markets of Tokyo. Sources: Scott Terry, study abroad adviser Liz Havey, study abroad adviser
Studying abroad seems like a dream: traveling to a foreign country, meeting new people and experiencing a new culture. However, it offers more than just that. It offers students a chance to open the mind to new ways of doing things and to expand one’s perspectives. Although there is an initial fear to studying in a foreign country, Scott Terry, study abroad adviser, appeases these fears. “We always have students that study abroad who initially had some type of fear or apprehension about traveling outside of the U.S. and not knowing the language, but then they come back and feel empowered for tackling these challenges,” he said. Meeting new people is especially beneficial to students. It helps make connections all around the world, which could help students further their careers through networking. Studying abroad also benefits students academically. “Georgia College does a great job teaching you all these different skills and different things you earn in the classroom, but it’s something else when you can actually apply those in an actual real-life setting,” Terry said. Kate Laures, senior creative writing major, shared her experiences with travelling to Ireland. “I went for theatre. It was really interesting to see how they do theater there. We got to talk to a playwright and see plays. It was really eye-opening from a theatre perspective,” she said. Some GC students are studying abroad by living in Milledgeville Lucine Colignon, senior mass communication major,
“It opens your mind on different ways to live...you absorb the culture without losing your own.” Lucine Colignon, senior mass communication major hails from Noyon, France, a small town north of Paris. “It opens your mind to different ways to live,” she said, “and I think when you study abroad somewhere for a long period of time, you absorb the culture without losing your own.” Fortunately, there is no specific period during a student’s academic career when they need to go. “There is no set time. It’s whatever works for the individual,” Terry said. However, students cannot study abroad after graduating. He advises those planning on studying abroad to plan ahead early, especially due to the amount of paperwork involved. “There’s nothing wrong with knowing ahead and coming into the office early.” Scholarships are available to help with the costs of studying abroad. HOPE, Federal Financial Aid and other scholarships are available for students to utilize.
For a list of scholarships, visit www. gcsu.edu/studyabroad.
Abroad and beyond Q&A with junior physics major on studying abroad Less rigorous, definitely, because I did take teachers that were American teachers from different universities from the southeast. They were all from Georgia: North Georgia, GC and Valdosta State.
TAYLER PITTS STAFF WRITER Last week The Colonnade sat down with Ian Agnew, who traveled to Germany last summer to study abroad. He spent a total of five weeks traveling to six different cities throughout the country. Studying world literature and history of German scientists, Agnew spent his days visiting the local museums and any special places the teachers felt served a purpose to their lessons.
agnew:
the colonnade: So do they party like Americans too?
Photo courtesy of Agnew
culture shock for you while studying there?
the colonnade: What agnew: How seemingly
was your schedule like?
agnew: We would have
class every week on Monday and Wednesday. On Tuesday and Thursday, we would have field trips. We would go wherever the teachers decided to take us regarding the lesson, to either museums or cool places.
the colonnade: What would say was the biggest
unfriendly German people were compared to [southerners]. More like [northerners], but a little bit more harsh. They’re not mean, just different.
the colonnade: What was the biggest difference between taking classes at Georgia College and taking classes there?
agnew: Yeah, like he (Agnew’s friend) woke up one morning and was talking to his mom about his hangover, and he was 19. You can drink when you’re 16, and people drink very often when under 16. the colonnade: What did you miss the most about America? agnew: Air conditioning,
free refills on water and drinks and free water. Water is more expensive than most everything else.
Community PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT
February 15, 2013 • Editor, Jeannie Huey
WHAT’S HAPPENING Monday February 18
4
12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
Tech Talks program: software training for Adobe Creative Suite products (GIVE Center computer lab)
7:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Klasinc & Lonar Duo (Max Noah Recital Hall)
Tuesday, February 19
5
Hear the report on our podcast channel
GCSUnade.com
*Incident does not appear on map
1
STOLEN BIKE
Feb. 4 2:00 p.m. Officer Cynthia Johnson met a GC faculty member at the Student Activities Center because his bike was stolen from there. The thief must have taken the bike between 9:30 a.m. and 1:40 p.m. The faculty member said that the bike was worth about $60. The case was turned over to investigators.
2 STOLEN CELL PHONE Feb. 9 6:09 p.m. A student called campus police because her iPhone 4 was stolen from the Front Campus lawn. The student used the “Find My iPhone” app and traced her phone to an area enclosed by North Glynn, West Thomas, and Earnest Byner streets. Sargent Jamaal Hicks and two other officers went there and tried to find it, but were unsuccessful. The student was told that the case was turned over to investigators and is ongoing.
3 ANOTHER STOLEN CELL PHONE? Feb. 9 6:27 p.m. A student called police because his Motorola Photon cell phone was stolen near West Thomas Street. The student told police that the thief had texted his friends, telling them that he wanted to meet up with the student and give him back the cell phone in exchange for a $60 ransom. The case was turned over to investigators.
4 UP TO NO GOOD Feb. 10 8:10 a.m. A GC faculty member called the police to report vandalism outside Adams Hall. The culprits destroyed a few plants and uprooted two lemon cypress centerpieces – one was thrown under a nearby bench and the other was stolen. The faculty member took photos of all the damage and told police that it must have happened between Friday and Sunday. The case was turned over to investigators.
5 CELL PHONE SNATCHERS STRIKE AGAIN
Feb. 10 8:53 p.m. A student called campus police to report that her Sprint HTC cell phone had been stolen off of a table in the Centennial Center. The case was given to investigators.
6 ROOMMATE DRAMA
Feb. 11 10:57 a.m. A student met with officer Earnest Spikes at the GC Department of Public Safety to file a complaint about her roommates. According to Spikes’ report, the student told him that her roommates were “unlawfully coming into her dorm room” to take her stuff whenever she was gone.
1 p.m.
Paws on a Cause (athletics and GIVE center) (Centennial Center parking lot)
5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Venture Out bike maintenance clinic (Clock tower/reflecting pool in front of Napier Hall)
7 - 8:00 p.m.
Flannery O’Connor Memorial Lecture 2013 by Patrick Samway, S.J. (Pat Peterson Museum Education Room)
Wednesday, February 20 12 - 12:50 p.m.
Times Talk: International leadership and the Syrian Civil Conflict (2nd floor of LITC)
3 and 5 p.m.
GC women’s softball vs. Anderson University (West Campus)
4:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Career services information table (3rd floor lobby of the Macon Graduate Center)
8 p.m.
“I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” (Russell Auditorium)
9 p.m.
Blue & Green Trivia Bowl (Magnolia Ballroom, Student Center)
Thursday, February 21 7 - 8 p.m.
“Dominance hierarchies: What does it take to be an elephant don?” by Caitlin O’Connell-Rodwell (A & S 370)
7 p.m.
GC’s Got Talent (Magnolia Ballroom)
8 p.m.
“I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” (Russell Auditorium)
Friday, February 22 6 p.m.
Pre-concert tailgating (Centennial Square)
7:30 p.m.
Homecoming concert- doors open (Centennial Center)
7:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Clarinet and piano performance by Rebecca Rowell Cooke; Beth Rowell McGinnis (Max Noah Recital Hall)
8 p.m.
“I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” (Russell Auditorium)
9 p.m.
Homecoming concert (Centennial Center)
Saturday, February 23 All day
Venture Out camping 101 overnight (Bartram State Forest)
8:30 a.m.
Bobcat Ramble 5k and Fun Run (Wellness Depot)
9 a.m.
“I haven’t had much experience with the cops in Milledgeville, but they seem to be doing their jobs for the most part. I’ve seen both Milledgeville and campus police enforcing the crosswalks really well.” Courtney Harden, sophomore psychology major
Tent City tailgating opens (Centennial Square)
10 a.m.
History of Georgia College (University Banquet Room, Maxwell Student Union)
“I guess from personal experience, they’re not that nice – because they got me. But overall...I don’t know.” Jared Aarsvold, freshman business management major
11 a.m.
Homecoming parade
2 p.m.
Cornhole tournament (Centennial Square)
3:30 p.m.
GC women’s basketball vs. Montevallo (Centennial Center)
5:30 p.m.
GC men’s basketball vs. Montevallo (Centennial Center)
8 p.m.
“I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” (Russell Auditorium)
What’s your opinion on GC police? “I can’t say anything bad about the police. They’ve always been helpful with finding me a way home from downtown.” Maddie Shores, junior mass communication major
My run-in with the 5-0 “I used to compete in mixed martial arts with a cop. One night, I came across a roadblock behind The Grove around 11 p.m. I immediately put it on Facebook to let everyone know. ‘Hey there is a roadblock at The Grove!’– 20 people liked it right off the bat and were like, ‘Thank you so much!’ I was friends with the cop on Facebook and he said, “Oh... that’s not very nice”. Then the next week, he caught me at a roadblock at 3 a.m. He was shining the flashlight in my eyes and all the cops were laughing at me. I was coming back from studying for finals at the library and he was just giving me a hard time – not letting me go. I probably deserved that one a little bit.” Hampton Pelton, junior mass communication major
Sunday, February 24 2 p.m.
“I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” (Russell Auditorium) NOTE: If you would like to see any events incorporated on the calendar, please send them to colonnadenews@gcsu.edu.
Opinion Our Voice Actions should speak louder than gifts on Valentine’s Day Around Valentine’s Day, many people tend to feel scorned or lonely. Either they remember their singlehood or don’t get any gifts from their significant other. The question we ask is, “Why?” Why does society measure the amount of love two people have for each other based on one holiday? A holiday that comes from the feast day of a saint has now blown up in order to boost consumerism. Love shouldn’t be measured by chocolate or flowers, or if you’re taken out to a fancy dinner. Love shouldn’t
be measured at all. It’s not a science or mathematical equation. So, why do we fret over what to buy or what we might get from others? The answer lies in the media. Television and movies romanticize relationships. Most shows have special episodes with a Valentine’s Day theme, showing at least one couple celebrating. In the movies, guys give girls grand gestures, and the girls eat it up. Hollywood even made a movie celebrating this ridiculous holiday. “Valentine’s Day” is not only an abomination of a movie, but also further emphasizes how dependent we are on this holiday. For example, two of the characters are supposed to meet at a restaurant where they met a year prior. If they don’t both show up on that very night, then it’s a sign that they should move on forever. Really? Basing an entire lifetime on one night? It’s ridiculous. Then there are ads bombarding us daily: commercials, billboards, online ads and more. All of them say the same thing: “Buy this, buy that, you’ll be better off with our product!” Around the holidays, these ads blow up. Most holidays are understandable, but around Valentine’s Day, we hear things like, “Show her how much she means to you by buying/taking her to or giving her ‘XYZ’ this Valentine’s
February 15, 2013• Editor-in-Chief, Lindsay Shoemake
Bobcat Beat REPORTED BY ANSLEY BURGAMY
“The Colonnade doesn’t mean to say that the holiday should be boycotted or forgotten, but instead, people should remember that a person’s love speaks louder than words.”
Day.” We’re being taught that if you love someone, show them how much by throwing money at them. This needs to stop. The Colonnade doesn’t mean to say that the holiday should be boycotted or forgotten, but instead, people should remember that a person’s love speaks louder than gifts. A better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day is to make something from scratch or indulging in one of your partner’s hobbies. Or, if you’re bold, ignore the holiday completely and show your partner how much they mean to you outside of the obligation of Valentine’s Day.
Homecoming 2013 theme
Do you own a gun at home (not at school)? Why or why not?
“No, because I have no need.” Kirsten McCann, freshman pre-law major
“Yes, for home protection and hunting.” Dennis Adams, freshman pre-engineering major
“No, because I don’t think it is necessary where I live.” Sam Davila, freshman pre-nursing major
“Yes, I do. I have one for hunting and personal protection.” Spencer Lovelady, freshman engineering major
“No, I never found a use for one.” Kevin Carri, sophomore undeclared major
That Q&A with Cody Allen is weak and he’s just beating around the bush. I could have said all of that in my sleep. What are your REAL goals for the year?? RAWR! This whole CAS thing is reminiscent of the internet in general back in 1996. I suppose it wouldn’t be so annoying if the thing actually worked. I don’t an understand whywent the here lunchbox allows If you’re alumni who whileonly we paid the you to use $5.50 when the breakfast alone, which Wellness Fee, then we shouldn’t have to pay money to cheapest, is graduate. like $6 something, andpaid thenplenty of getisinthe there after we We already sometoofput thethat items areup, around $5are themselves. money thing so why we continuing to pay if we want to use it after we graduate?
THE LITTER BOX
By Zach Keepers
Response: Homosexuality and the church As a member of the United Methodist Church (UMC,) seminary graduate from Emory University, and the Minister of Youth at Milledgeville First United Methodist, I was shocked and appalled by the portrayal of the UMC’s stance toward homosexuals in the article “Homosexuality and the Church.” Though the “Book of Discipline,” the UMC’s instrument in setting forth policy, states that the UMC does not condone the practice of homosexuality. It goes on to affirm, “All persons are of sacred worth, created in the image of God.” The issue, as far as the Methodist Church is concerned, is not as black and white as Ms. Crowson has led you to believe. When it comes to the debate over homosexuality within the Christian faith, the underlying issue is the nature and authority of Scripture. The Bible is more complex than a simple, literal interpretation allows. A foundational doctrine of the Methodist Church is that Christians draw from four sources as they seek to discern God’s Will. These four sources known as the Wesleyan Quadrilateral are scripture, tradition, reason and experience. This way of interpreting Scripture has lead many Methodists (myself included) to the belief that Scripture is to be understood in light of its ancient historical context. The biblical authors were addressing issues, needs and challenges for their time. Now this “progressive revelation” does not give us the freedom to rationalize or ignore any Scripture we do not like. Rather, it prompts us to engage in study and reflection when we are faced with serious issues, rather than simply quoting a verse and consider-
ing the matter settled. Unlike other words about God in the Scripture, Methodists believe that Jesus is the pure and complete Word of God. Thus, we must read all Scripture in light of Jesus’ actions. This opens the possibility that God’s perspective on homosexuality may be different than what is in Leviticus or in Paul’s epistle to the Romans. It may be that heterosexuality is God’s ideal and intention for humanity; our bodies themselves bear witness, as does the Bible’s teaching about Creation with God forming male and female. But God’s compassion and understanding toward persons who do not fit these norms –whose fundamental wiring seems oriented toward same-sex attraction- are undoubtedly greater than the Scriptures would indicate. Jesus did not lecture the woman at the well (John 4) on the evils of divorce or cohabitation but simply offered her grace. Jesus knew people come before rules. As a Methodist, I felt obligated to call attention to the fact that my denomination does not adhere to any “cut and dry” stance on homosexuality. More importantly I felt lead, maybe by God’s self, to call attention to the fact that Christians “get it wrong” when we speak and act in ways that harm or alienate God’s children; but we get it right when despite our uncertainty, we express the love and welcome of Jesus. So whether one is homosexual or not, Milledgeville FUMC welcomes everyone – as they are.
EDITORIAL BOARD Lindsay Shoemake
Morgan Andrews
Editor-in-Chief
Asst. Ad Manager
Nick Widener
Scott Carranza
News Editor
Anna Morris A&E Editor
Powell Cobb Sports Editor
Marilyn Ferrell Photo Editor Leisure Editor
Jen Hoffman Ad Manager
Constantina Kokenes Asst. A&E Editor Close Up Editor
Asst. Photo Editor Close Up Editor
Ansley Burgamy
Mark Watkins
Jeannie Huey
Lee McDade
Bryce Martin
Laura van Tuyll van Serooskerken
Macon McGinley
Asst. News Editor
Asst. Sports Editor
Designer
Matt Brooke Web Master
Spotlight Editor
Community News Editor Business Manager Faculty Adviser
Joe Kovac Copy Editor
-Sean McConnell, Minister of Youth and Recreation, Milledgeville FUMC
People who have just their first and middle names on Facebook annoy me. If you did that to make it harder for potential employers to find you, you should have taken the time to clean up your timeline and fix privacy settings instead of trying to hide. If they want to find your online presence they will. @blackout_bobcat doesn’t live up to GC’s three R’s.
I find it wildly inappropriate that Georgia College just tweeted about their “thoughts and prayers.” The last time I checked, this was not a private institution, so I don’t think the mention of “prayers” has a place in official University communication.
Text your message to (708) 949-NADE / 6233
AD DISCLAIMER
CORRECTIONS
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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Leisure
February 15, 2013• Editor, Marilyn Ferrell
Hot New Music
Staff writer Ansley Burgamy sat down with The Vespers before their show at The 567 in Macon last Friday After attending a friend’s bonfire, Taylor Jones knew that sisters Phoebe and Callie Cryar were the ideal musical partners he had been searching forming a group. After a musical courtship, the Cryar sisters joined brothers Taylor and Bruno Jones to form The Vespers, whose unique sound can only be created among siblings. All four members are Nashville natives, and their homegrown-folk sound and instrumental twang is embedded in their souls. The word ‘vespers’ means evening prayers, which reflects their firm believe in Christianity. The band is not labeled as Christian, allowing them to be more diverse; however, they do not shy away from writing songs about their faith. “It is hard to keep faith out of our lyrics when that is your life,” Callie said. All four members have an arsenal of instruments they play. Both girls play guitar, ukulele and banjo. Callie gets the most excited when she is playing electric bass and Phoebe loves the banjo, but has been leaning more toward guitar. Taylor is the band’s drummer, but he recently took up banjo. “You always want to play whatever is newest to you and I have been trying to play the banjo a lot,” Taylor said. Bruno has the most interesting array of instruments because he plays the slide guitar and upright bass for the band, but his favorite instrument to play is the B3 organ. When The Vespers take the stage, they each select an instrument from a rack of guitars, ukuleles, banjos and mandolins. The Cryar sisters tend to be meek, but when Taylor hits the first beat on the drums, these petite, quiet girls turn into powerhouses of soul, belting unimaginable notes. The Vespers are currently touring after releasing their second album “The Fourth Wall” in 2012. The album name comes from the term ‘the fourth wall’ meaning an invisible wall between the performer and the audience. “Our goal when performing is always to break down the fourth wall,” Phoebe said. All four members contribute to songwriting and it tends to change with the season, but Phoebe is the driving force behind the lyrics according to Bruno. The band’s albums consist of an eclectic array of songs, but the song “Flower Flower” stands out the most amongst fans as a distinctively bubbly song that just makes you happy whenever it plays. The band is a fairly fresh face in the music industry after forming in 2009. However, their unique, eclectic sound is quickly emerging among the young college scene, especially in the South. Fans are already waiting for the band to announce when a third album will be released.
MARK WATKINS / SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER The Vespers, an American folk band from Nashville, TN, comprised of sibling Taylor Jones, Pheobe Cryar, Callie Cryar and Bruno Jones performing at The 567 in Macon on Feb. 8. opening with an electric cover of “Grinning In Your Face” by Son House. Their harmonious twang entranced the audience filled of all ages. They proved themselves as musicians by not only singing well, but also by showing off the skills they have with multiple instruments. The band also shows their creativity in their lyric creativity; they each have a hand in the creative process.
Before the show, The Vespers sat down with Ansley Burgamy to answer a few questions to reveal more about them:
Where did the inspiration for the song ‘Flower Flower’ come from? Br uno: Callie and I wrote that one. There was a Bruno Mars song “I want to be a billionaire” and I like the reggie/summertime vibe. Callie: We wanted to write our own reggie/ summertime song. We wrote silly lyrics about a little flower and just went with it. What has been you favorite venue Taylor : We all have our personal favorites, to perform at? Ca lli e: We played in a big cave in McMin- but we are bias to the ones that had the nville, TN for a series called Bluegrass Under- best audiences. ground. What is the band’s main goal? Phoe be: The Triple Door in Seattle. The stage Callie: The reactions of the people who liswas big, the sound was good, production ten to our music are becoming more and was great and the room had a great vibe. Tay l or : We all have our personal favorites, more important to us. We want it to mean but we are bias to the ones that had the something to someone else because if its not then there is no point in creating it. best audiences.
Sudoku
Solutions from 2/8/13
Tayl o r : I would like this to grow big enough that groups of people would want to listen to me talk. I want to be able to share a message in that way. Right now I’m just another guy. That would be my ultimate goal. If you could be featured on any soundtrack, what would it be? Ca l l i e : Forest Gump. If they ever made a movie of The Giver, I would want to be in charge of that. Ph o e b e : More hip and quirky movies are coming out where one artist is composing the entire soundtrack. I would like to be in charge of writing the whole soundtrack for a movie. Tayl o r : I would like to have a song on a cult favorite that is shared through generations like The Breakfast Club.
Crossword
A&E
February 15, 2013• Editor, Anna Morris
Wasting Away By Anna Morris
Photo Illustration by Scott Carranza Editor’s note: This story is not meant to make light of eating disorders. It is meant to shed light on a small portion of what people with eating disorders deal with. If you or someone you know has an eating disorder, please consider seeking help with a counselor. __ I am a failure. But that’s fine, because if I am going to fail at anything, I’m OK with failing at taking on the habits of someone with anorexia. According to the Mirasol Eating Disorder Treatment Center website, one in 200 American women are affected by anorexia. It is a treatable medical illness that alters all parts of the body. Thoughts get hazy. Muscles weaken. Kidneys collapse. I will never truly know what it’s like to have anorexia. But I will admit – I hate my body. It’s been an ongoing battle since fourth grade. Despite this, I have never felt the urge to starve myself. I just couldn’t do it. Food is enjoyable to me. It can be an adventure. It can be part of a social experience. But all of this changed when I decided I wanted to understand – to really feel what it’s like to live on only 500 calories per day. In just one week, things changed. Eating for fun turned into eating for survival. I decided to tell my friends about my plan. I was met with a handful of the same response: “That’s an interesting idea. Good luck!” But one friend in particular, James Hendershott, wasn’t pleased with my idea. I nonchalantly mentioned the idea to him while making dinner. “I really think you should do something else,” he said. “That’s going to mess your body up.” I knew this already. But that’s exactly what I wanted. I wanted bad things to happen so I could feel just an ounce of the pain other girls with legitimate eating disorders felt. In preparation for my week, I talked briefly with a friend of a friend. An exercise science major and personal trainer, Arielle Hope knew a bit about eating disorders. “Keep apples around,” she advised. “And don’t eat all your calories in the morning.” She offered to help me plan out all of my meals for the week, which I decided not to do. I was already at an unfair advantage by not actually having an eating disorder. Asking for a diet plan was out of the question. Girls with eating disorders don’t have a dietitian to help them. I also had my vitals taken, just to see if anything would change. I was doubtful, since it would only be for a week. Blood pressure was great. Arm strength and stamina was fair. I had gained seven pounds since I last weighed myself, but what’s new. My last step was to get groceries. I didn’t have to buy much,
but all I had at home was beer and chorizo. And Lord knows I wasn’t going to get to have any of that. I kept a diary to record my intake and thoughts for each day.
Day one My day began with a cup of black coffee. It was bland, bitter. Not what I’m used to. I usually like what I call “a little coffee with my sugar.” But I read on a pro-ana website that black coffee would become my best friend. Sitting in my morning classes, I felt fine. I found a granola bar in my backpack and snacked on that, hoping it would last me for a majority of the day. I was wrong. Noon rolled around and I was already beginning to feel hunger pains, subtle at first, but the intensity grew. I stifled them quickly with a wheat bagel thin from Einstein’s and started to realize just how difficult this was going to be. I encountered my first hurdle in the form of my dad. He came to visit me and wanted to take me out to eat. El Tequila was his pick, and I was finally met with my weakness: self-control. I could have gotten a salad. I could have gotten soup. No. I got everything that I could blanket with queso. It was amazing.
Day two My best friend coffee visited me again this morning. Trying not to gag on the bitterness of it, I promised myself today would be better. I made some steel cut oats – the best kind of oats to eat, apparently. Too bad they tasted like cardboard. To improve the taste, I added one-half teaspoon of honey, a pretty innocent amount of sweetener, I thought. I also added a small box of raisins. I got my first taste of the measuring that goes into eating a small amount of calories. I allotted myself a three-fourths cup of oats and put the rest in a container to eat later. Unfortunately, I completely overshot with my breakfast. After calculating the calories, which is standard procedure for anorexics, I was surprised to find out I had already consumed half of my daily allotted calories. The worst part? I was hungry again in less than an hour. When I can eat whatever I want, hunger pains are a lot more bearable, because I can tell myself that I’ll fix that soon enough. But knowing I couldn’t alleviate this pain made it that much more uncomfortable. I felt like I was getting punched in the stomach.
Wasting away page 11
Thoughts get hazy.
Muscles weaken. Kidneys Collapse.
1
About 11 million Americans have and suffer from an eating disorder.
2
Nearly half of the citizens in the U.S. know someone suffering from an eating disorder.
3
The 3rd most common chronic disease among young people is anorexia.
4
Eating disorders do not discriminate. Any kind of person can have one.
5
Genetics help determine whether someone has a eating disorder by 50-80 percent.
6
Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness – upwards of 20 percent.
7
Suicide, depression and anxiety are more common issues when dealing with eating disorders.
8
Treatment of an eating disorder can cost between $500-$2,000 per day.
9
Treatment for eating disorders can be very successful, but only one in ten people with them seek medical treatment.
Eating disorders have doubled since the 60s. 40-60 percent of high school girls diet. 91 percent of college females are concerned about their weight. 17 percent of 17-24 year olds have an eating disorder, and once college is a factor it shoots to 40 percent.
To seek any help with eating disorders, please contact GC’s Counseling Services. 478-445-5331 Design by Marilyn Ferrell Sources: OnlineUniversities.com, Eating Disorders Coalition
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The Colonnade
February 15, 2013
Hangin’ with The White Kids primarily, what type or genre of music do you guys consider yourselves? cody: We always say, “No song is safe.” I’d like to think if you were to come to one of our shows and hear a Macy Gray cover or snippet of “Remix to Ignition,” it would explain a lot about who we are. We are all so different and have so many different tastes in music. You don’t really know what you will get. One thing is certain, though, we want you to have fun because it makes us have fun, and we want you to get into it and enjoy yourselves because ultimately we play for you.
colonnade. You are the opening act for the Homecoming concert this year. You must be doing something right. Speaking of Homecoming, how are you all feeling about it? drew: We are all really excited for the opportunity. Considering we are the very first band to go on is exciting because we want to get people dancing and ready for the evening. We hope to make everyone feel optimistic about the radness that Homecoming entails. colonnade: What do y’all plan on doing the day of your performance leading up to that night? elliot: I’ll probably play Frisbee golf with my neighbors and have a pretty relaxing day. colonnade: Compared to your other shows, exactly how will Homecoming be different when it comes to your feelings, nerves, etc.? cody: Homecoming is a lot bigger than our other shows. We aren’t really worried, we love doing this. It’s gonna be pretty sweet to play music in front of all those people. Kelsey Garrisison / Contributing Photographer (From left to right) Graham Williams, Cody Allen, Elliot Payne and Drew Thomas (not pictured) will open for co-headliners Jerrod Neimann and Gloriana at this year’s Homecoming concert. The White Kids, who started playing together around two years ago, will begin playing at 8 p.m.
The Milledgeville-favorite band discusses opening for Homecoming Mary-Martin White Contributing Writer
plays lead electric guitar. Elliot plays bass and sings backup, and Cody is the drummer.
The Colonnade spoke to members of The White Kids, a local band opening for co-headliners Gloriana and Jerrod Niemann at Georgia College’s Homecoming concert this year. The band consists of GC alumnus Drew Thomas and current GC students Graham Williams, Elliot Payne and Cody Allen.
colonnade: The word around Milledgeville is that you guys are awesome. For those that have never seen you play, what is each of your roles in the band? graham: I sing and play acoustic guitar. Drew sings and
colonnade: How long have you guys been together as The White Kids? elliot: We formed about two years ago. Drew and Graham were playing shows downtown here in Milledgeville as an acoustic duo for some time before the band formed. Cody and I had played together in another band prior. We all talked about getting together with a full band, and then two Christmases ago we got asked to play for a holiday party at The Brick and the rest was history. colonnade:
colonnade. What’s the schedule for the night of the concert? What time can we all expect the “radness” to begin? cody: We go on at 8 p.m. and have a 45-minute set, which is a lot earlier and a lot less time allotted than we are used to. However, it just means we have to hit it hard and have a solid 45 minutes of music. We hope to see a lot of faces out even if it’s a little before the headliners. So get excited, prepare to dance and enjoy some music from The White Kids.
Homecoming schedule 7:30 - Doors open 8:00 - The White Kids perform 9:00 - Co-headliners Jerrod Neimann and Gloriana perform
Sounds like love at first melody. So,
S
potlight: Q & A with Meg Partin, President of GC’s Wellspring League
The End It Movement, a coalition of seven non-profit organizations, kicked off with the Passion conference at the beginning of January.The conference aimed to shine a light on the fact that 27 million men, women and children are trapped in slavery in over 160 countries. The goal is to raise awareness and funds to eradicate modern day slavery. Meg Partin, senior exercise major, discusses the event Stand For Freedom.
Iris Cochran / Contributing Photographer Dance workshop attendees begin the basic steps to Afro-Peruvian dancing. According to the choreographer, Cynthia Paniagua, she would rather not do a warm-up and instead stretches throughout the dance.
A taste of Peruvian dance Afro-Peruvian choreographer visits GC to teach a unique dance workshop Samantha Blakenship Contributing Writer
leading the class. A woman in a suit got our attention and introduced the director Mitch Teplitsky and Paniagua. Teplitsky said a few words about the film before turning the class over to Paniagua. “In my class I don’t really do a warm-up,” she said as she moved her arms to the side to demonstrate. “We move and stretch throughout. I want to take you through the progress of Afro-Peruvian dance. First with the African origins then adding the Spanish moves.” She flashed an encouraging smile, and I knew she wouldn’t be too hard on us. I started to become less nervous about making a fool of myself and more interested in the dance itself. The moves started off easy, more like stretches than actual dance moves. In one move we lunged our right leg forward to a right angle and kept the left leg extended. As we continued through the moves, Paniagua yelled over the blaring music to share different pieces of information about the moves. She stopped occasionally to break down a step or to explain the significance of a move. “The Spanish dancers are very proud,” Paniagua explained. “They keep their shoulders back. It’s very ‘Who? Me?’” She pointed to herself and laughed. She kept her head and shoulders high as she moved her hipsBy at what seemed like 90 mph. Ansley Burgamy
It’s a rainy Monday afternoon as dancers and observers gathered in Miller Gym to participate in the Afro-Peruvian Dance Workshop taught by dancer and choreographer Cynthia Paniagua. We gathered in a room while we waited for the other dance class to end. Julie Mulvihill, Georgia College’s resident jazz instructor who hosted the event, came out and asked who wanted to dance and who wanted to watch. I raised my hand to dance along with most of the other people in the waiting room. I’m a firm believer in stepping out of one’s comfort zone. And that day I was going to learn Afro-Peruvian dance. I did a little research before embarking on the Afro-Peruvian journey. I knew it originated in Africa. African slaves then brought their dance style to South America. In Peru the African styles mixed with Spanish dances to give us Afro-Peruvia We entered the studio, and there was already a number of girls spread out on the floor, stretching. The room was large with wood floors, mirrors along the front and ballet beams pushed to the far side of the room. My friend and I found a spot in the back corner. I followed the other dancers’ lead did Byand Ansley Ansley some half-hearted stretches. MostlyBy I wanted Ansley to catch a glimpse of the woman thatBy would be
Afro-Peruvian page 11
the colonnade: How did the End It Movement group on campus get started? meg: Numerous groups from campus attended Passion. When we got back to campus, we organized one meeting to determine how we could make a difference. Everyone was on board. the colonnade: How did you get involved with the End It Movement? meg: I have always been passionate about this cause. When I attended Passion, I felt an overwhelming sense of initiative. They mentioned 27 million (individuals in slavery around the world) and that brief second continued to dwell in my mind.
the colonnade:What will be taking place during the event? meg: There will be all kinds of activities taking place throughout the two-day event including musical guest and speakers. Also, we will have an area on campus where students can experience a day in the life of a labor slave.
the colonnade: When is the Stand For Freedom event? meg: The event will begin on March 13 at noon and will end March 14 at 3 p.m. It will last for 27 hours to relate to the fact that 27 million are currently living in slavery. The idea is to raise money for the International Justice Mission (IJM) by standing for those who can’t stand for themselves.
the colonnade:What is the goal for the event? meg: Our goal is to raise $15,000 to give to the International Justice Mission, but even more than that we want to create a place for students to get involved and continue to raise awareness about this injustice. There are lots of opportunities on campus such as StreetGRACE, Wellspring League or International Justice Mission.
How To Get Involved Sign the pledge at ijm.org/stand Join the Facebook group Wellspring League at GC or IJM GC Yummo Yogo Night Feb. 20 from 5 - 10 p.m. Sonic Night Feb. 26 from 5 - 8 p.m. Rocket Roller Rink Night March 7 from 7 - 10 p.m.
By Ansley Burgamy
February 15, 2013
The Colonnade
Young girl, big pipes To read the full story, visit
Maria Esposito Contributing Writer
Photo Courtesy of Evan Wells Photography
Wasting away
Continued from page 9... Again, my self-control got the best of me. Dad took me with him to Thomson, Ga., and I got a grilled chicken sandwich, no fries. We went to my aunt and uncle’s house, and my body began to feel its first effect of hardly eating: fatigue. I spent the entire day sleeping on my aunt and uncle’s couch, feeling bad for not interacting with anyone.
Day three I felt confident that today would be better. My dad went to McDonald’s and asked if I wanted anything, which I declined. But he brought me a breakfast burrito anyways, which I didn’t want to say no to. I started wondering what it must be like for people with eating disorders to hide it from their parents. Although I wasn’t legitimately anorexic, I still didn’t want my dad knowing about what I was doing. “Leave a plate with breadcrumbs in the kitchen,” a pro-ana lifestyle blog advised. Dad took me out to eat again, this time at Amici. I usually don’t think twice about what I eat, but I instantly felt guilty after eating fries. I felt like I was letting myself down. For the rest of the day, I was moody. I was depressing. I was lashing out at my dad for no
gcsunade.com
In the competitive world of college theater, students may wait countless semesters until they are able to land a lead role in the main production. Sophomore theater major Hayley Koger, 20, is not one of those students. Koger’s theater career began when she saw a production of the famous musical “Annie” in her hometown of Columbus, Ga. In the seventh grade, she took part in a summer program at the Springer Opera House and participated every summer upon graduation from Columbus High School in 2011. “It was such an amazing program,” Koger said. “It was a conservatory-style institution that enabled the young kids to take various theatre and musical classes. I really learned a lot from it.” During her time at Columbus High School, Koger was extremely active in the school theater department, holding roles in performances such as “Hairspray,” “Our Town” and “All Shook Up.”
reason. I was eating what I thought was enough, but I guess even at 1000 calories, my body is still affected. My dad asked if I wanted to do anything else. I snapped at him and said I just wanted to sleep. He left. I cried. I didn’t know what was wrong, but I didn’t like it. I tried to start some homework, but a wave of pain seared through my head, so I cried some more and fell asleep.
Day four I was doing very well at the beginning of the day. I got sick around 3 p.m., but I brushed it off. Self-control got the best of me though because a piece of pizza was screaming to be eaten. So was that brownie. My friend Bobbi told me that night I “fell off the wagon” by eating the pizza and brownie. And I felt horrible about it.
Day five Today was one of the easiest days. My body must have been getting used to what I was doing. I’ve been drinking more water this week than I probably have my entire life. But on all of the pro-ana blogs I read they said to drink water when you’re feeling hungry and that would help. And in a way it sort of did.
Follow “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” on:
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As horrible as it is to only consume around 500 calories daily, my body actually felt cleaner. And I kind of liked it. The only downside to the day was I began feeling breathless while working. It was as if someone had taken ahold of my lungs and wouldn’t let go. I just ignored it the best I could until it went away. At the end of the day, I felt good. I hadn’t gone over my limit. But I crashed and had several crackers. I know they weren’t horrible for me, but they were extra calories that I didn’t need. I got sick almost immediately after eating them and threw them back up.
Day six A dull ache plagued my stomach all day. My organs felt like they were at war with each other, and no one was winning. I lost my breath several times throughout the day. Feeling lightheaded around 2 p.m., I knew I had to get something, anything. My only option at that moment was the school vending machine. I went for Funyuns, which was the worst decision I could ever make because I threw that disgusting onion-flavored Styrofoam back up. For my final meal during the experiment, I ate at our school’s dining hall. I told myself I was going to eat whatever I wanted. And despite it being an off day for The MAX, the food
Afro-Peruvian
11
Continued from page 10... “Your top half is saying ‘this is no big deal’ but it really is a big deal,” Paniagua said. “The top half is very proper while the party is downstairs.” The room laughed as she pulled out a Spanish-style skirt and put it on. “The skirt emphasizes the hip motions,” she said, as the purple ruffles of her skirt flew up. Paniagua had us line up on one side of the room, and we danced across six at a time. As we danced I tried not to think about what I looked like. I focused more on the feeling of the dances than getting every move perfect. I talked to Paniagua after class, and she discussed more about the Afro-Peruvian dance style. “It’s starting to become more popular, starting to get back to its roots,” she said. Paniagua received a Fulbright Scholarship to study all kinds of dance and investigate the history behind them. She is featured in the documentary “Soy Andina.”
I had never tasted so good. Luke-warm lima beans and stale nachos tasted like a five-star meal, and I wanted more. At the end of this day, I knew I was done. I was done with the measuring. I was done with the constant cravings and breathlessness. Although I played by the rules to some extent, I still feel like I failed. I shouldn’t have eaten those slices of pizza, or that brownie or all of the damn dining-hall food. My mood fluctuated so much during the week. “You were kind of snappy the first two days,” my friend Coco Esser remarked. “I’d walk into a room, and the first thing you’d do is complain about how hungry you were.” At times I could sense the anger brought on by restricting my calories. I gritted my teeth when friends asked for favors. I wanted to punch the throat of a boy who was smacking his food. My behavior wasn’t the only thing that changed. When I went back to recheck my vitals, I had lost arm strength, and I couldn’t even finish my stamina activity before feeling lightheaded. Men, women, teens and adults all over the world are going about their lives like this. Some for months. Some for years. Some for decades. This was only a miniscule taste of what they have to experience on a daily basis, and I couldn’t even handle it.
LCP & GEM APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR 2013-2014
MARCH 1, 2013
Sports
February 15, 2013• Editor, Powell Cobb
It’s All in the WRIST
LEE MCDADE
Bobcat Nation’s biggest hitters show off what goes into their game-winning swings
Superstition in Sports Superstition has long been apart of human culture, and it doesn’t seem to be hitting the road anytime soon. From the mammoth stone statues on Easter Island to the eerily dark motives behind ancient Voodoo, superstition has proven its powerful hold on humankind. Once we’ve had a taste, ritual becomes addiction. We must abide by the vastly illogical laws of various superstitions or else face doom – at least that’s the idea. In particular, the sporting world as a whole has seemed to have fallen victim to the mysterious powers of superstition. This is no surprise, since the sports world is primarily populated with society’s most competitive individuals. These are people who will do anything and everything possible to reach their goals. The introduction of superstitious rituals within the world of sports has been a wildly infectious pandemic, even grabbing hold of our sport legends. Tiger Woods notoriously wears a red shirt when competing on Sundays, apparently at the urging of his mother who claims the color gives him power because it is the color of his Zodiac sign, Capricorn. Michael Jordan has not played a single NBA game without wearing his old trusty Carolina Tarheels shorts under his uniform shorts.
POWELL COBB/DESGINER
DAVID WICKER/ STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
“With a slapper swing, you get a running start as you slap the ball. They’re very complicated. You have to move your feet at the same time that you’re swinging, and that’s kind of hard. You have to time the pitcher, and all of that has to work together.”
Whitney Okvist sophomore softball player
Game-winning swings page 14
Students strap on skates and hit the rink
If you are witnessing a baseball pitcher who is on his way to pitching a no-hitter, you do not say anything about it, you don’t even think about it. In fact, you stay the hell away from the guy or else you’ll blow the whole thing. Superstition within the sports world is not reserved for just the players. No, superstition has extended its icy grip to the fans. These diehard followers have developed unbreakable rituals of their own. Fan superstitions vary greatly from person to person, and if they are not practiced religiously, the result “could” be catastrophic. Eat a chip, take a sip of Coke, scratch my nose then repeat. Skip a chip and the whole world implodes. The end. It is this exaggerated fear that is the supreme motivator behind all the illogical rituals. For players, failure to satisfy their superstition equals defeat on the field, a fierce competitors biggest fear. With all of this in mind, I’d like to say that superstition is a very real thing. Sure, the world most likely won’t implode because a Chicago Cubs fan somewhere skipped a chip. However, a quick tap of home plate before the pitch might be just the thing to ease your superstitious anxieties before hammering one out of the park.
CLAYTON ROPER STAFF WRITER Few people at GC are aware that the school plays host to the state’s first collegiate roller derby club. Known as The Hell Cats by its members, the Georgia College Roller Derby Club was established in 2011 by Kelly Massey, assistant professor of kinesiology, and a handful of roller derby enthusiasts. Since then, the club has slowly grown into a small collection of dedicated players. “Roller derby is one of the most optimistic and encouraging sports you will ever find,” Sarah Cooper, a sophomore art major and president of the roller derby club, said. “The words ‘I can’t’ are not in roller derby vocabulary.” Although small, the club is committed to educating their its members on the fundamentals of roller derby and dispelling the negative stigmas attached to the sport. “Back in the ‘70s, roller derby was very popular, but it wasn’t popular as a sport. It was just entertainment,” Massey said. “Now, it is becoming more and more of a sport.” To this day, roller derby is still viewed as a mere spectator sport by many, but The Hell Cats are determined to change these perceptions. “Not a lot of people know about [roller derby]. If they have, it is because of the movie ‘Whip It,’ but most of the things in that movie are illegal,” Cooper said. The club has also made safety a top priority. All members are thoroughly educated in how to participate in the sport without causing harm to themselves or others. “Our main focus is safety. It’s a major part of the game: you have to know how to hit correctly and safely,” Massey said. Given the organization’s solitary status in the state, the club makes it a point to maintain an all-inclusive attitude. “There’s this stigma that everyone that does roller derby has to be big and burly. It’s not true,” Ritter said. “There’s all sizes in roller derby.”
Roller Derby page 13
The Short Stop
Once we’ve had a taste, ritual becomes addiction. We must abide by the vastly illogical laws of various superstitions or else face doom.
SCOTT CARANZA / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Sophomore studio art major Sarah Cooper and sophomore exercise science major Beckie Soles watch freshman music education major Hannah Harris practice skating during roller derby club practice.
Upcoming Games Tennis
Feb. 16 Feb. 17
Baseball
Home, 1 p.m. Men’s & Women’s @ Home, 1:30 p.m. Men’s & Women’s @
Feb. 15&16
@
Home, 2:00 p.m.
Feb. 20
@
Home, 3:00 p.m.
Softball
Quote of the Week “Roller derby is one of the most optimistic and encouraging sports you will ever find. The words ‘I can’t’ are not in roller derby vocabulary” -Sarah Cooper, sophomore art major and president of the roller derby club team.
HAVE A RESPONSE? Send it to colonnadesports@gcsu.edu
Notable Stat
100 The amount of career wins Jamie Grodeck now has as head coach for the GC softball team.
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The Colonnade
February 15, 2013
Bobcats show their game-winning swings Johan Wadstein senior tennis player
“When I see the ball coming, I prepare myself. I always prepare myself early. To get the most power, I try to start with the racket up kind of high and far back. My left arm is pointing towards the ball as it comes toward me. I want to hit the ball as high as I can off the ground, that way it’s easier to hit the ball down and make it difficult for my opponent to return. I have a short swing, but I really try to rip the ball and get that spin on it.” Powell Cobb/Desginer
David Wicker/ Staff Photographer
Patrick Garret s e n i o r
g o l f e r
“I try to keep my swing really simple. The least amount of moving parts, the better. I try to make it just a shoulder turn and a hip turn, and I try to stay as steady over the ball as I can. When I do that, it kind of helps me narrow my misses. You might go a whole round and hit two perfect shots, and the other 70 are misses. If you can get your misses to be close to perfect as you can, you can hit more greens and get closer to the pin.” David Wicker/ Staff Photographer
Powell Cobb/Desginer
Roller Derby
Continued from page 13... Although roller derby is typically considered a woman’s sport, The Hell Cats continue to extend a welcoming hand to men who are interested in participating in roller derby. Although the president and coach of the club, Cooper suffers from weak ankles, which limits her physical capacity to participate in roller derby. Despite this challenge, Cooper continues to support the club’s members out of a love for the sport. “Sarah was integral in our development,” Massey said. “Coming in and doing what she does, it’s just amazing!” As acting coach of The Hell Cats, Cooper visits a number of professional roller derby leagues in Georgia to learn the proper techniques. Her efforts do not go unnoticed by her fellow club members. “Sarah has been the reason that I have gotten
where I am so quickly,” Ritter said. “She has been super motivating and she make practices fun.” Due to a complete lack of competition, The Hell Cats have become a feeder to the local region’s roller derby leagues. The club remains optimistic that other universities will soon follow in GC’s footsteps and establish their own roller derby organizations. “I love roller derby – probably a bit too much,” Cooper said. “I honestly think that if I did not have it in my life, I would be a little crazy.” The GC Roller Derby Club holds practice sessions on Wednesdays in the Wellness and Recreation Center and Thursdays at the Fun Factory located on Columbia Street. Even though the club has recruited more than ten 10 members this semester, Cooper hopes that more students and faculty will become interested in the sport. “Roller derby is really like a big family,” said Cooper. “Everybody is so encouraging, caring and loving. It’s very positive.”
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THE COLONNADE
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Loyaltiva update LAUREN CORCINO STAFF WRITER At every Georgia College game, by the merchandise table and concessions, stands a blue-and-green tent with “Bobcat Fan Rewards” emblazoned across the top. Yet many students walk past it, unaware of the rewards it holds for attending athletic events. Loyaltiva Bobcat Fan Rewards was brought to GC for the 2012-13 season to reward fans for attending athletic events. Designed to increase student attendance at GC sporting events, the Bobcat Fan Rewards has not quite reached their ideal audience of students in its trial year. “We got a lot of students walking right by the tent on their way to the games and not really understanding what (Bobcat Fan Rewards) is all about,” Sports Information Director Al Weston said. “Hopefully, we will keep pushing this out there and keep reminding folks that it exists. Coming to games is something that students are already doing and now they can get rewarded for doing just that.” Once a fan becomes a member of the Bobcat Fan Rewards program, points are awarded for attending games and concession purchases at athletic events. The points are collected by scanning QR codes on Bobcat schedule posters and magnets as well as any GC athletic contests. Fans also have the ability to see what events are coming up, how many points those events are worth and the milestone prizes they can work toward. Although the program is QR code based, fans do not need a smartphone to participate and can register for the program with an email address. “Right now the program feels somewhat passive because you can choose to scan the code or not. I’ve got more students at games than are checking in,” Weston said. “Students are not realizing what it is and I got to get students from just sitting in the stands to being a part of the program.” Prizes for the Bobcat Fan Rewards include GC Athletic merchandise, chairs and a tailgate tent and have recently expanded to prizes including other facets of campus beyond athletics, such as campus eateries. “I plan on attending Georgia College athletic events more frequently now that I am aware of the (Bobcat Fan Rewards) because it seems like it is a great way to support the Bobcats and get rewarded with prizes at the same time,” junior marketing major Milton Dean said. This program is geared toward students but is also open to community members, faculty and staff that frequent GC athletic events. “Currently, it seems like our community members, faculty and staff are driving Bobcat Fan Rewards right now,” Weston said. “I would rather it be all students on the list because your student fees go toward athletics and I want students to be able to experience athletics at Georgia College.” Advertised through social media outlets, game programs and the GC Athletic website announced at every game, a goal for the program is to create awareness of Loyaltiva through new methods of advertising. “My goal would be that advertisements for Bobcat Fan Rewards would help drive decisions to come to athletic events,” Weston said. “For example, if we advertise something like a double points day at an event, then we would want that to convince a student to say, ‘Oh yeah, I’ll leave my dorm and go to the baseball game today to get those points.’” Steve Barsby, assistant athletic director, believes Bobcat Fan Rewards has potential to become a campus-wide known program. I think that this program will really grow into something,” Barsby said. “It is like anything – if you get the right group of people into it that really enjoy it, it becomes contagious and goes up from there. Hopefully, (Bobcat Fan Rewards) will make a bigger presence and we can get more people on campus and in town involved with it to really make it great in the future.”
DAVID WICKER/ STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
POWELL COBB/DESGINER
Steve Hazel
“It felt great. I didn’t feel the ball off the bat, and that’s always a good sign.”
sophomore baseball player
-On hitting a grand slam against Mars Hill
Ultimate tourney comes to Milly LEE MCDADE SENIOR REPORTER With its roots dating back to the late 1960s, when a group of high school students from New Jersey first birthed the game, Ultimate has exploded onto the scene. Perhaps the sport’s popularity is fueled by the fact that it offers a cheaper, more convenient alternative to football and rugby. Whatever the reason, Ultimate has made substantial headway in establishing prominence within the American sporting world, particularly at the collegiate level. The flourishing success of GC’s Ultimate team is a prime example of the sport’s growing popularity. This weekend’s tournament, which is known as “Flick’n Nuts 2013,” will be held on Saturday and Sunday and will likely see its largest turnout yet. “This is the fourth time we’ve hosted a tournament at Georgia College and it’s gotten bigger every year,” said Doug Oetter, faculty adviser for both the men’s and women’s Ultimate teams. “The first year I played in it (three years ago) we only had three or four teams come and then last year we had 12, but now we’ve got 20 teams set up,” Joesph Hanson, team director and player, said. Some prominent schools making the journey to Milledgeville this weekend to compete are the University of Alabama, Georgia Southern, North Georgia and Georgia Tech. This 20-team roster has created some organizational challenges for Oetter and his colleagues in the months leading up to the tournament. “We’ve been planning it for about a year now, and everyone has been working really hard to make sure that we will be hosting a firstclass tournament,” Oetter said. “We have to secure the facilities, recruit teams from across the Southeast, line out fields, provide music, … and a warm atmosphere, put together fundraising ideas and ask for help from SGA and Sports Clubs. It’s been a busy time all around.” In addition to all the rigorous planning and organizing that has gone into creating a successful event, the GC Ultimate team has been tuning up on the field in preparation for whatever competition the tournament presents. “We’re doing a practice schedule of 6-to-8 Tuesday and Thursday nights, and then we’re in the weight room Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays,” team president and player Charles Morris said. Tournaments like “Flick’n Nuts”, where a large variety of teams come together to compete in one place, are commonplace for today’s
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collegiate league teams. These events are laced with a sort of brotherly-love for one-another. The players see it as a time to share and practice a mutual respect for their beloved sport. “Twenty to 25 teams is a nice-sized tournament, but I’ve been to tournaments with over 100 teams, and that gets really amazing,” Oetter said. “Since there are usually 15-20 players on a team, you can have 2000-3000 ultimate players converge on a small town for what becomes an incredible weekend. There is a tournament in rural Ohio every June that does just that. Everyone camps out at the fields and becomes a large part of the town for a weekend.” The men’s teams will battle it out Saturday and Sunday at the Walker B. Soccer Complex and the women’s teams will play their games at the West Campus Soccer and Intramural fields. GC also has three alumni teams competing in this year’s tournament. For more information about the event please visit www.gcultimate.
com/
flickn-nuts. html.
SCORE SHEET
Saturday, Feb. 9
Monday, Feb. 11
Softball
Golf
Tennis
Tuesday, Feb. 12
Win 5-2 vs. Barry Win 7-4 vs. Florida Tech
Women’s Loss 9-0 vs. Saint Leo Men’s Loss 6-3 vs. Saint Leo
Basketball
Women’s Win 72-65 vs. Georgia Southwestern Men’s Loss 52-72 vs. Georgia Southwestern
Baseball
Loss 5-1 vs. Tampa
12th of 15 @ Matlock Invitational
Golf
12th of 15 @ Matlock Invitational
Wednesday, Feb. 13
Dodgeball SGA beats Student Ambassadors 5-4 in a fierce yet friendly matchup.
LEE MCDADE