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JULY 1, 2020 · VOL. 34 · NO. 26 · FREE
AMPLIFYING VOICES Hip Hop Artists Use Their Platforms to Incite Change p. 11
READY. SET.
GO SAFELY. ATHENS, GA
Athens-Clarke County is committed to prioritizing your health and safety and mitigating the spread of COVID-19. To do so, we recognize that community-wide measures and guidelines must be established and followed. READY, SET, GO SAFELY is a collaborative community effort to promote and encourage protocol, sanitization measures, and safety guidelines so that we can safely go forward together.
To Ready, Set, Go Safely, we are encouraging all businesses to commit to these 6 guidelines:
Ready.
Set.
Establish and follow approved protocol.
Follow CDC standards for sanitizing and disinfecting.
Monitor and follow distancing and capacity guidelines.
Train employees on protocol to reduce the spread.
As you start to venture out, we ask that you commit to go safely:
Go Safely. Wear cloth face coverings and maintain 6-feet of distance. Welcome patrons who are following guidelines.
Limit close contact and maintain 6-feet of distance. Avoid large gatherings. Wear cloth face coverings in public. Wash hands or use hand sanitizer. Clean and disinfect personal items and surfaces. Respect people and guidelines.
Athens is closely following the guidelines and recommendations set forth by the State of Georgia and the CDC. At present, we are beginning to reopen as a community and several of our businesses are safely welcoming visitors and patrons. However, many are still operating under reduced hours and restricted capacities, so we encourage you to ready and set before you go safely. We invite you to explore all that Athens has to offer as you seek safe things to do this summer!
ReadySetGoSafely.com 2
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this week’s issue
contents
JUNE BALL
Last week’s Pub Notes on Milner Ball inaccurately characterized his firing as chaplain of Westminster House on campus. Actually, First Presbyterian Church here in Athens was quite supportive of Ball and his work, but conservative elements in the Presbyterian Synod of Georgia forced him out. Apologies to First Presbyterian Church members, deacons and elders.
City Dope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 NEWS: City Dope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
This Modern World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Commission Votes to Move Monument and Retool Budget
Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Campus Racism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Curb Your Appetite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
NEWS: Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Hip Hop and Social Justice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Campuses Talk About Racism but Do Little
Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
ARTS & CULTURE: Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Adopt Me . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Hip Hop Focuses on Social Justice
Bulletin Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Art Around Town . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
MUSIC: Threats & Promises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Threats & Promises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Record Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 BLAKE AUED
Goddess Complex, Hello, Bombadier; Ihlyatt, Hubbard’s Cupboard and Jackson Gaines ADVERTISING DIRECTOR & PUBLISHER Alicia Nickles EDITOR & PUBLISHER Pete McCommons PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Larry Tenner ADVERTISING SALES Anita Aubrey, Jessica Pritchard Mangum CITY EDITOR Blake Aued ARTS & MUSIC EDITOR Jessica Smith OFFICE MANAGER AND DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Zaria Gholston CLASSIFIEDS Zaria Gholston AD DESIGNERS Chris McNeal, Cody Robinson CARTOONISTS Lee Gatlin, Missy Kulik, Jeremy Long, David Mack PHOTOGRAPHER Whitley Carpenter CONTRIBUTORS Meredith Kolodner, Gordon Lamb, Sam Lipkin, Dan Perkins, Amber Perry CIRCULATION Charles Greenleaf, Ernie LoBue, Mike Merva, Taylor Ross EDITORIAL INTERNS Lily Guthrie, Elijah Johnston, Amber Perry COVER PHOTOGRAPH of Caulfied and Elite Tha Showstoppa at Full Moon Studio by Whitley Carpenter (see story on p.11) STREET ADDRESS: 220 Prince Ave., Athens, GA 30601 MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 1027, Athens, GA 30603 EDITORIAL: 706-549-9523 · ADVERTISING: 706-549-0301 · FAX: 706-548-8981 CLASSIFIED ADS: class@flagpole.com ADVERTISING: ads@flagpole.com CALENDAR: calendar@flagpole.com EDITORIAL: editorial@flagpole.com
LETTERS: letters@flagpole.com MUSIC: music@flagpole.com NEWS: news@flagpole.com ADVICE: advice@flagpole.com
Flagpole, Inc. publishes Flagpole Magazine weekly and distributes 7,000 copies free at over 275 locations around Athens, Georgia. Subscriptions cost $80 a year, $45 for six months. © 2020 Flagpole, Inc. All rights reserved.
VOLUME 34 ISSUE NUMBER 26
ICE CREAM ARE DELICIOUS
Association of Alternative Newsmedia
SANDWICHES
comments section Why does the CCSD need such a high profile, expensive property on Prince Ave? This is ACC misspending (property) tax dollars again for selfish ends. How does this benefit the students? Move to the mall. We need more taxable properties. Think of the students first! —Gary Johnson
They originally moved out of Mitchell Bridge because they wanted to be in a more accessible central location. The mall doesn’t fit that description. The Piedmont property is already tax exempt, so CCSD moving to the mall would actually take more property off the tax rolls. —Blake Aued From “CCSD Approves Purchase of Piedmont College Campus” at flagpole.com
Residential • Office • Construction • Move In • Move Out
We are here for you!
Taking precautions to ensure everyone stays healthy and disinfecting high touch surfaces. Adilene Valencia 706-424-9810 aecleanathens@gmail.com J U LY 1 , 2 0 2 0 | F L A G P O L E . C O M
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Second-Place Trophy Gets New Home PLUS, CCSD IS GETTING A NEW HOME, TOO, AND MORE LOCAL NEWS By Blake Aued news@flagpole.com The Confederate monument on Broad Street is on the march again. The Athens-Clarke County Commission voted unanimously to approve a plan to move the obelisk from downtown to a site off Timothy Road near the Loop where Athens’ only Civil War action took place. And in its place will be a rainbow crosswalk requested by the LGBTQ organization Athens PRIDE. Athens PRIDE board member Cameron Harrelson said in a letter to the mayor and commission that the group has collected 6,500 signatures in support of the rainbow crosswalk. Such a crosswalk “visually and intentionally communicates to the public, both residential and visiting, that AthensClarke County supports and protects their LGBTQ population,” he wrote. While the Confederate memorial, first installed in 1872, has been moved before, state law now prohibits moving publicly owned monuments under most circumstances. County officials plan to get around the law by moving the monument for its own protection—it was covered in graffiti at a recent Black Lives Matter protest, and crowds have torn down similar monuments in other cities—and relocating it to a place of equal prominence. Commissioners Melissa Link and Allison Wright proposed including the crosswalk in the plans for the Broad Street-College Avenue intersection. The $500,000 plan involves closing College Square to traffic for six months—and perhaps permanently—to create a pedestrian plaza and outdoor dining area, moving the statue and widening the crosswalks between UGA and downtown. The idea of closing College Square to vehicles has been around for decades, but never implemented because of concerns about traffic flow losing parking. Ovita Thornton, who is Black, was the only commissioner to express any misgivings about the plan. “I don’t think moving a statue erases racist hearts,” she said. “It’s part of history.” Thornton said she would prefer to build a statue of the late local civil rights activist Ray MacNair or A.R. Killian. Commissioner Tim Denson proposed a “walk of justice” with memorials built into the crosswalk, but Manager Blaine Williams said that could endanger pedestrians who stopped in the middle of the street to look at the memorials. The commission also approved a fiscal 2021 budget that includes a $1.4 million package aimed at addressing law enforcement in the wake of massive protests in Athens and other cities nationwide over police violence against African Americans. The package includes funding for a third mental health response team that pairs a police officer with a mental health specialist to respond to calls involving people with mental health issues. It also includes funding for a social worker in the public defender’s office, raises for public defenders, a community liaison in the police department, a minority purchasing officer in the finance department, additional Leisure Services youth programs and citizen
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but it failed 6–3. Link then switched her vote to support the budget as presented, which passed 7–2 with Parker and Denson in opposition.
CCSD Will Buy the Piedmont College Campus
The Clarke County School District will lease and eventually buy Piedmont College’s committees to study police reform, equity Prince Avenue campus to serve as adminand the impact of Urban Renewal on Black istrative offices. Meanwhile, Piedmont will communities. The package will be funded by raising the lease space in a yet-to-be-disclosed location downtown. hourly parking rate downtown by 25 cents, The Board of Education voted 7–1 at a delaying vehicle purchases and holding curcalled meeting June 25 to approve a lease/ rently vacant positions open for 120 days. purchase agreement with Piedmont. The In addition, 911 calls will all be hancontract calls for CCSD to pay $50,000 dled entirely by police dispatchers, rather a month rent, with an option to buy the than transferring medical calls to private property for $8.2 million. ambulance service National EMS, which “This is a really good situation for us critics of National EMS say will improve compared to the last one we were looking response times. And Athens Transit will be at,” said board member John Knox. “We’re fare-free on nights and weekends starting getting twice the space for almost a million in January. (It’s currently fare-free because dollars less.” riders are boarding at the rear doors during CCSD has been searching for a new the coronavirus pandemic, but that’s only central office since 2016, when it sold its temporary.) headquarters on Mitchell Bridge Road. The budget includes a 0.25-mill tax cut, Administrators moved into cramped temwhich will save the average homeowner porary quarters at about $15, although the H.T. Edwards some people’s I don’t think moving a complex and the taxes will still go statue erases racist hearts. Whitehead Road up because their Elementary annex. property values Superintendent Demond Means—now on increased. administrative leave—nixed his predecessor Some citizens had called on the comPhilip Lanoue’s proposal to move district mission to delay their vote and consider a offices to the old West Broad School. Then “people’s budget” that shifted funding from the school board shot down Means’ plan to police to social services. But with the new buy and renovate a Milledge Avenue buildfiscal year starting in just six days, commising for $11 million. sioners had no interest in further putting Interim superintendent Xernona off the vote. Thomas said that administrators are already “I support a people’s budget and a public in the process of moving their offices to budgeting process, and I hope next year in the old Gaines School to clear out space for the fall, when we begin these budget talks, we can incorporate that kind of process, but expanding the Career Academy—housed in it’s certainly far too late to even think about the same building at H.T. Edwards—which that right now,” Commissioner Melissa Link is seeing an influx of students and is bursting at the seams. said, “We’ve worked on this budget really “This will allow us to be housed together hard. We’ve already delayed it three weeks.” again relatively soon,” she said. Delaying past July 1 would mean payLease payments and renovation costs ing staff overtime to rewrite the budget and missing out on grant opportunities, Link said. “There’s a lot of good stuff in the budget that actually will move us forward toward those goals that folks who are calling to delay the budget actually hope to achieve,” she said. Commissioner Mariah Parker continued to push her “50/10” plan to cut the number of police officers by 50 percent over 10 years and replace them with social workers and mental health professionals. She said she collected 1,300 surveys from residents, and 86% wanted to reduce funding for police. Their top priorities for the budget were public health and child care, she said. But Thornton noted that even 1,300 is just a small percentage of Athens voters. A participatory budget process was included in the Prosperity Package commissioners approved last year as part of the 2020 budget, but the coronavirus pandemic scuttled those plans. She and other commissioners said they want to do more to include citizens in the budgeting process next year. “We don’t always get what we want, but hopefully we put in the budget what the community needs,” Commissioner Mike Hamby said. Parker, Link and Commissioner Tim Denson voted to support the 50/10 plan,
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for the Piedmont campus will come from the $2.8 million sale of the Mitchell Bridge property, according to CCSD communications manager Beth Moore. Funding to buy the campus could come from the current round of ESPLOST, depending on how much is collected, or be placed on the list for the next round that will be up for a vote in 2021. The general fund will not be affected. Nor will other ESPLOST projects be impacted, according to Thomas. Board member Tawana Mattox voted against approving the contract. President LaKeisha Gantt abstained because she is employed by Piedmont College. Piedmont is selling the property because many of the 500 students at its Athens campus are working adults, and the college has transitioned to online and hybrid courses to meet their needs, meaning it only requires about half the classroom space it did a decade ago. “Since we opened our first campus in the area nearly 25 years ago, Piedmont College has been committed to the Athens-Clarke County community. And we’ll be here for another 25 years,” Piedmont President James F. Mellichamp said in a news release. “However, the demands of our students are changing, and investing in a different facility will give us greater flexibility to meet these demands.” The move is expected to happen in January—coinciding with the growing college changing its name to Piedmont University. Piedmont has not said where downtown it will move. Piedmont purchased the former Prince Avenue Baptist Church property in 2007, when the church moved to a new location in Oconee County. The school board also adopted its 2021 budget at the same time the commission was adopting ACC’s. The $165 million budget is about the same as last year. CCSD officials anticipate an 11% cut in state funding, or about $9 million, but that will be offset by rising property values generating more tax revenue and funding from the CARES Act, the federal coronavirus relief package. The budget includes $1.7 million for mandated step increases in pay and $800,000 for raises for custodians. f
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SEND YOUR LETTERS TO P. O. BOX 1027, ATHENS, GA 30603 OR EMAIL US AT LETTERS@FLAGPOLE.COM
COVID-19 Affects Us All
not be the case during the COVID-19 pandemic, though. COVID-19 has now spent months sweepFHA and VA loans are normally flexiing the globe. Some lives have been lost; ble and forgiving when it comes to credit others have been destroyed. Unemployment scores and debt ratios, but not in the face of numbers have seen unimaginable peaks, COVID-19. While the official guidelines of while job demand is virtually nonexistent. FHA and VA have yet to change, lenders are Bills remain unpaid, and hope and the doing a quick about-face on their minimum horizon of normalcy seem like the furthest credit score requirements. As more people things from sight. No matter how COVIDlose their jobs or have their pay cut, lenders 19 has affected your own life, you know it face the risk of more foreclosures. Lenders well. and investors buying the mortgages don’t COVID-19 has become like the uncomwant to take that chance. fortable stranger in the room, the one You’ve probably also noticed the higher whose presence is constantly felt, but rarely interest rates that are uncharacteristic of mentioned, except in the news. No one loans like FHA and VA loans. It’s all in the wants to speak about it, or face of lenders bracing even speak the words, but themselves. They are trying Cutting people’s to avoid another housing it is a constant shadow in everyone’s mind. The virus power off during crisis like we experienced has turned a simple trip to in 2008. With higher credit this time is dangerous. score requirements or the grocery store into the most stressful task of the higher tiered interest rates week or month. Eyes of shoppers glance that make some loans literally unaffordable, coldly as you grab a carton of milk, and a lenders offset the risk of lending to a borsneeze or slight cough will turn heads the rower who may or may not be able to follow way being called on in grade school would through on their mortgage long-term. turn those of your classmates. That is to Initially, the Federal Reserve stepped in say, human interaction has changed, and it and made millions of dollars in purchases will take time to change back. of mortgage-backed securities. Their initial As the daily case and death numbers plan was to buy $200 billion in governroll in, as if counting box office numbers ment-backed MBSs, but they’ve quickly or copies of a new book being sold, we all moved to an open-ended purchase: $250 seem to have convinced ourselves that it is billion was purchased at the end of March so far away, no matter how close we really with the promise to keep purchasing as are. The truth, however, is that COVID-19 needed. is closer to us than we wish to see. Many While these actions may have tempoare lucky. The ability to work remotely and rarily helped the market, they are quickly continue to receive paychecks without issue backfiring. They have caused a huge wave is a privilege that a few lucky individuals of margin calls, which puts the industry maintain. And while COVID-19 has us worat risk. As MBS prices fall while mortgage rying about our own problems, we all are interest rates rise, lenders are put in a fickle closer to it than we may realize. Someone situation. Lenders still have to offer the we know has lost their job. Someone we lower interest rates that borrowers locked know has lost a loved one. Someone we in, yet they can’t sell on the secondary marknow has contracted it. Someone we know ket for that same price. has died. Many of those who fall into one The result is mortgage chaos. Lenders of these categories of affected individuals have to exercise extreme caution when (or an unmentioned category) haven’t writing government-backed loans during said anything to us, nor will they. But we COVID-19. With stricter requirements, will all know someone who is personally they can slow down the origination of affected before this is over. We will all know new loans, which helps offset the risk of COVID-19. what’s happening in the secondary market. Nick Hummel Lenders don’t want to face even more loss Athens than they’re at risk of facing with the rash of foreclosures that seems imminent, so they are offsetting it with stricter requirements and higher rates. COVID-19 is making its way around not Charlie Fleming just people, but the economy, too. While Athens we are all well aware of how it has impacted millions of businesses around the country, what’s not so obvious, yet just as devastatCutting off a household’s electricity in ing, is the damage it’s causing the mortthe middle of a Georgia summer is inhugage industry—in particular, government mane at any time, but it is particularly danlending programs, such as Federal Housing gerous during a pandemic. Authority and Veterans’ Administration On June 2, the Public Service loans. You may find that it’s much harder to get Commission voted to end moratoriums on utility shutoffs, which had been in place loans that were once the easiest to qualify since April to protect consumers during for in the market. Government-backed COVID-19. Georgia Power and Atlanta Gas loans have more flexible guidelines, making Light will begin cutting off people’s power it easy for first-time homebuyers, people for overdue bills as early as July 15. This with less than perfect credit, borrowers decision comes as COVID-19 case rates are with little to no down payment and veterans to get the financing they need. This may rising across the state, unemployment in
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Coronavirus Is Hurting Real Estate, Too
Don’t Let Utilities Cut Off Power
Athens is at 10.6%, and public pools, camps We don’t have to look far into the hisand facilities remain closed or limited. The tory, policies, laws and practices to see how conditions under which the PSC adopted intensely impactful real-estate practices the moratorium persist. The policy protecthave been in continuing racial injustices in ing consumers should, too. this country. From redlining to single-famWe are entering the hottest part of this ily zoning, the effect has been to keep Black summer with COVID-19 still spreading in people from enjoying the same experience the community, and options for staying cool of building wealth and stability through real in public spaces are limited. Families are estate investments. The data is there if we relying more heavily on home air condition- look for it. ing. Pools, splash pads, playgrounds, comAm I suggesting that the board that pubmunity centers and many summer camps lished the letter is intending to be racist? are closed. When opened, there are likely to Perhaps not. However, we are at a point in be more restrictions than usual on capacour history where we need to choose to be ity, making these options less accessible. anti-racist in both our personal lives and According to the World Health Organization our professional spheres and policies. To and the Centers for Disease Control and not be proactive in this is to choose to be Prevention, exposure to extreme heat and complicit in further racial injustice. the inability to cool off is linked to poor I am not suggesting the only right choice health outcomes, including respiratory is to back commissioners Mariah Parker illnesses, which could make even healthy and Tim Denson’s plan without question. people more susceptible to COVID-19 infec- I understand that it is easy to interpret tions. Cutting people’s power off during this the movement to defund police as a move time is dangerous both to individual housetowards community instability and lack holds and to the community as we work to of safety. But in reality, efforts at police slow the infection rate. reform all over the country have unequivoAs a leader in the Athens 100% Clean cally failed. (Just ask Minneapolis.) A plan and Renewable Energy initiative, I care like the 50/10 proposal, in a friend’s words, deeply about meeting my community’s “…isn’t about dismantling public safety, it’s energy needs in a just and equitable manabout better equipping public safety for all ner. As a former teacher, I have seen the that gets thrown at it. It means fewer peotrauma that power shut-offs cause for fample will be put in jail or harmed because of ilies in “normal” times. When people can’t misunderstandings, short fuses, and mental pay their power bills, families are forced illnesses. It means a more caring and empato make tough choices, such as deciding thetic community. Who wouldn’t want to between groceries and keeping the lights on live in that kind of town?” or temporarily moving in with other family I’d like to know what the association is members, leading to more crowded housing. doing to push for positive change. I know The PSC vote to end the moratorium forces that your code of ethics gives guidance people to make dangerous decisions as we to assure equality, but that it is up to the work to reduce the individual Realtor to spread of COVID-19. interpret and apply Who wouldn’t want to With this vote, these ethics. Then it is live in that kind of town? the responsibility of the elected officials in the PSC have demonassociations to hold strated that their loyalties lie with utility individuals to these standards. So what are companies and their shareholders—not you all doing in our current climate to take the people. It is time for a more equitable a stand against racism and to push your energy system for the people of Athens. members to do so? To make our commuThis is why 100% Athens is seeking robust nity strong for all our members? The letter community engagement as the Athensthat was sent out in regards to the 50/10 Clarke County government commences plan gives the impression that you all are planning for the 100% clean and renewable fighting to maintain the status quo, which energy transition. Through community means continued inequality. When will you investment in on-site renewables and all make a public statement and take action energy efficiency, community members can for change, even if it’s not related to the look forward to a future of lower costs and 50/10 plan? Your communities are counting more local autonomy over energy policies. on your leadership. Cary Ritzler Valerie Dunn McBee Athens Athens
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An Open Letter to Realtors on Racism
Rewrite UGA Plaque?
I am writing because I wanted to pass on a request and some concerns. It has come to public attention that the Athens Area Association of Realtors published a letter to members encouraging them to express concern about the proposed 50/10 plan in Athens. While I agreed with the suggestion in the letter that much research be done on proposed changes to make sure that we keep our community safe and thriving, the overall tone of the letter was problematic in some other respects. While you would expect a letter from a professional group to prioritize the strength and success of the profession, the tone came across as prioritizing financial gain over community well-being. And by community well-being, I mean the well-being of all members of a community and not just wealthy, powerful (mostly white) ones.
Much of the citizenry of the States and the South is urging removing commemorations of the South during the Civil War. Athens is removing the memorial on Broad. Many people have noted that the majority of these commemoratives were not put in place at the end of the war but later, in response to a resurgence of white supremacy. I am from the North. The commemorative plaque at UGA, with its reference to the “War Between the States,” was surprising to me. When was that plaque erected? What was the context? Should it be rewritten or amended to refer to the war as a civil war that was not about states rights, but about the continuation and perpetuation of slavery? Kristin Miller Athens
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Black Students Are Sick of Lip Service AT UGA AND ELSEWHERE, ADMINISTRATION RESPONSES TO PROTESTS DRAW CRITICISM By Meredith Kolodner news@flagpole.com
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ourdes Torrey was only a few weeks into her first year at the University of Missouri in 2018 when she heard a white student in the dorm room next to hers use the N-word. She reported it through official channels, she said, but never got so much as an apology—and the white student continued to say the word. Torrey enrolled at the university fully aware that the student body president had been called the same epithet in 2015; she hoped things had changed. But, she said, the demands made by students back then have mostly gone unmet. So when the university chancellor eventually released a public statement condemning the killing of George Floyd, after being repeatedly called out on social media for remaining silent, Torrey saw it as performative.
retain a more diverse student body and faculty and implement reforms within the campus police force. Many Black students at North Carolina State University were angered by a statement put out by Chancellor Randy Woodson, which made no mention of police brutality. That campus has been hit many times in the past several years by racist graffiti and flyers as well as the use of the N-word, all of which went unpunished by the administration, students said. In the first week of June alone, three social media posts with racial slurs by two current students and one incoming student were made public. “We’ve had town halls and meetings, but no actual consequences for the students who committed racist acts,” said Brandon Lewis, a master’s degree student in atmospheric science at N.C. State. The university has a hashtag it uses on social media, #ThinkAndDo, he noted with a chuckle. “There were a lot of sighs and eye rolls,” said Lewis, who never had a Black professor when he was an undergraduate at the university. “They do a lot of thinking and Alex English, president of the NAACP chapter at the University of Georgia, reflecting, but not a lot of doing.” After public criticism of Woodson’s says the problems on campus come from systemic racism, which often goes unaddressed. statement, the chancellor put out a second statement, announcing that the university would require all stuthat Black people had naturally lower IQs, Dodor reported dents and staff to “complete diversity it. She said she was told that was “just physics culture,” and and inclusion learning modules.” no action was taken to discipline the student. “It was the A coalition of Black student orgalast straw,” she said. “I changed majors.” nizations is demanding reforms to Troy Alim, who has been a social justice activist for the the campus police, including student past several years, said he is inspired by the leadership of input on police budgets, a public young Black students and agrees that most of the univerdatabase of racial bias incidents and sity statements are window dressing. Leah Davis, who graduated from the University of Mississippi in May, said, “This is stuff we have all officers’ use of excessive force and the “I think there is optimism based on this worldwide heard before,” referring to statements from the campus administration. cutting of ties with the Raleigh Police movement and the fact that there’s worldwide attention Department. In response, the N.C. on the way Black folks have been treated in this country “I felt like it was very disingenuous,” said the 20-year-old State police issued a statement calling for “an end of police for hundreds of years now,” said Alim, who is the Midwest rising junior. “We had a list of things we wanted the school violence against Black people” and pledged to set up a town engagement manager for the Young Invincibles youth to do. I don’t think they’ve done anything from that list.” hall to discuss student concerns. advocacy group. “The question I would ask is, ‘What is being In the aftermath of Floyd’s brutal killing by a white done?’ The institutional racism is so deep, police officer in Minneapolis, university administrators there are so many things that can be done across the country have released statements in the past to address it… I think it’s a really importseveral weeks condemning racism. But many Black students ant time for institutions to show who they say the statements are empty rhetoric; what they want is are.” action. On May 31, during a peaceful demonThey say white students still go unpunished for racial stration against police brutality in downtaunts and insults. They say that, despite endless commistown Athens, protesters were tear-gassed sions and study groups, the monuments of Confederate and near the University of Georgia Arch. pro-segregation leaders remain lodged on their campuses. President Jere Morehead released a stateAfter countless demonstrations and despite numerous ment that mentioned neither racism nor pledges, the numbers of Black faculty members stay stagpolice brutality. After swift criticism, he nant, and Black student enrollments haven’t increased. released a more pointed statement via A University of Missouri spokesperson said that since email, but some students felt it was too 2015 it had increased faculty diversity and raised gradualittle too late. tion rates “among underrepresented minorities.” “You do these small things to make The chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, people satisfied and shut up for a little bit, Rebecca Blank, released a statement that read, in part, “To but it’s never really true action,” said Kaela our Black and Brown students, staff and faculty, I want to Yamini, who graduated from UGA in May. say unambiguously: You belong here, you are important to Many students want the university to Brandon Lewis, a master’s student at North Carolina State, says administrators sometimes this campus, your lives matter and I am committed to your act on long-standing demands to change hold town meetings after racist incidents, but there are rarely consequences. safety.” the names of buildings honoring unreIt didn’t sit well with many members of the university’s pentant segregationists, such as Richard Black Student Union. “I feel like it’s completely lip service, “They think they’re going to pacify the movement, but Russell, the segregationist governor and senator. They have with no actions and no specific next steps,” said Nalah I don’t think current students will allow it,” said Elikem repeatedly asked the administration to hire more Black McWhorter, president of the Black Student Union at the Dodor, who will be a junior at N.C. State in the fall and is faculty members and increase the number of Black students flagship campus, where in 2018 just 2% of students were the editor-in-chief of Nubian Message, a campus newspaper on campus. In a state where almost one-third of residents Black. “These statements are just like the exact statements that highlights the voices of Black and other marginalized are Black, in 2018, only 8% of students at the flagship unithey’ve put out after past incidents; it’s to relieve the students. versity were Black, and only 3% were Black men. weight off of them and just shut everybody up.” Her first year as one of two Black physics majors on the Some students say that the content of the president’s A University of Wisconsin-Madison spokesperson said campus was riddled with covert and overt racist incidents, statement is, in certain ways, beside the point. “I don’t conthat Black student enrollment had increased to 3% last she said. When a student announced during a physics lab demn them for their statements, but I do condemn them year, and that the university is working to recruit and that the reason there weren’t more Black physicists was for not taking action,” said Alex English, the president of
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the University of Georgia NAACP chapter. “It’s bigger than who is a rising senior at Boston College, where 4% of the students took a photo of themselves posing with guns next police brutality, it’s about systemic racism. It’s about the students were Black in 2018. “It feels like a slap in the face.” to a bullet-riddled sign commemorating the place where fact that we are thought of and treated as less-than.” A Boston College spokesperson said they sent the police Emmett Till’s body was dumped in 1955, after he was bruA spokesperson said the University of Georgia has officers as part of a cooperation agreement with the city of tally murdered for allegedly whistling at a white woman. devoted resources to increasing the diversity of the student Boston and noted that the college had launched a forum on So when Chancellor Glenn Boyce put out a statement population and supporting Black students on campus. racial justice to address inequality on the campus. on May 31 that read, in part, “We all recognize that this Students at a flagship university on the other University has a difficult history with these issues side of the country—the University of California at that oftentimes places us at the forefront of complex Berkeley—also want their president to go beyond and emotional discussions,” many Black students words and gestures. were angered, but not surprised, at his delicate choice “People don’t have faith in the rhetoric,” said of words. Nicole Anyanwu, a rising senior who is the student “This is stuff that we have all heard before,” said government vice president for academic affairs. Leah Davis, who graduated from Ole Miss in May and The percentage of Black students at Berkeley has for two years was the student government’s director plummeted since the state prohibited affirmative of inclusion and cross-cultural engagement. action in 1996—it stood at 2%in 2018 (the last year Ole Miss did not respond to requests for for which federal data is available). comment. Berkeley students argue that millions of dollars There have already been several incidents this are allocated to the university police, while resources spring of incoming students using racist epithets that would help recruit and retain Black students are on social media. “These students are already causing lacking. On Thursday, the university announced it harm before they’ve even taken their first class, but would ban its police officers from using chokeholds, the university says its hands are tied,” Davis said. relocate the police department out of a building at She said students in residence halls who report the center of campus and use mental health profesbeing called the N-word never find out whether dissionals to respond to relevant emergencies. ciplinary action has been taken. Enrollment of Black “Why do we have to spend so much time fighting students dropped to 12% in 2018 from 16%in 2010, for these things when we should be focusing on our in a state where half of public high school graduates Tonie Chase, a rising senior at Boston College, said the college’s decision to send campus are Black. education?” said Anyanwu, who is a pre-med major. And at elite colleges in the Northeast, which often police to an off-campus rally was “a slap in the face.” “I would like to be optimistic, but I’ve seen time pride themselves on their progressive policies, many and time again where they make these statements students say they, too, are sick of words without deeds. Students from Harvard University, which also sent camand say these things, and they don’t actually take action,” Some students criticized Boston College president pus police to the rally in Franklin Park, spoke out against said Davis. “Are you giving the African-American Studies William Leahy for sending campus police to an off-campus the decision and demanded that the university abolish Department more money? Are you hiring more Black facprotest against police brutality the same day he issued a the campus police force. In February, several groups called ulty and staff? Are you giving African-American students statement that read, in part, “I particularly ask how we at for the resignation of Harvard’s chief of police after The more scholarships and more equity? Because if not, these Boston College, members of an academic and faith comHarvard Crimson published an investigation that found pat- are all just empty words.” f munity, can and should respond” to the killing of George terns of racism and sexism within the police force. This story about racism on college campuses was produced by Floyd. The University of Mississippi, commonly known as Ole The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit, independent news organization “If you’re sending B.C. police to a peaceful protest, Miss, has a long, well-documented history of racism. That focused on inequality and innovation in education. there’s a conflict with the statement,” said Tonie Chase, includes an incident last summer in which three white
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Eligible subjects will be asked to visit the study location once and provide a blood sample of approximately 7 tablespoons. Subjects will receive compensation of $25 for completing the study. The study will be conducted at the Clinical and Translational Research Unit (CTRU) on the UGA Health Sciences Campus. The Principal Investigator is Dr. Jarrod Mousa. The study team is adhering to the CDC’s recommended infection control procedures and social distancing practices (where possible) during this study. If you have questions or concerns about our safety protocol, please let us know.
FOR MORE INFO OR TO SIGN UP, PLEASE EMAIL: CTRU@UGA.EDU OR LEAVE A VOICEMAIL: 706.713.2721 (Please expect delayed responses if leaving voicemails)
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creating solutions. Athens hip hop legend Duddy Ken wants to see further community involvement between law enforcement and the people, to create unity and opportunities. “Music is really the only way I know how to express myself, not a big talker,” says Duddy Ken. “We use politics in hip hop to speak and bring awareness to certain social issues and to encourage people to vote. Hip hop is a good vessel for politics to reach the culture.”
Amplifying Voices HIP HOP ARTISTS USE THEIR PLATFORMS TO INCITE CHANGE By Sam Lipkin music@flagpole.com
out another song in a couple weeks that’s more about bringing people together,” says Caulfield. In addition to the “Bulls on Parade” track, Elite collaborated with other Athens hip hop trailblazers, such as Ishues and Duddy Ken, and even shared the studio with several family members. After a hiatus from the Athens scene, Elite enjoyed coming together with likeminded people to share in the communal, creative energy. “One part for me that was great was just the positivity of love and respect for one another, being able to come together and make our aggressions be known collectively. To have a stronger impact as opposed to just voicing my own opinion,” says Elite. The history of hip hop has always been tied to politics, and the local community has proven that these ties are just as powerful today. Playlist For A Protest is designed to be a digital extension of the protests happening in-person as people continue to experience the threat of COVID-19. “Music in general has always been a platform of information regarding awareness, everything from police brutality to Elite Tha Showstoppa and Caulfied at Full Moon Studio. prejudices of several different types,” says Elite. “A lot of songs are made from an oppressed situation. A Hosted by Linqua Franqa (Mariah long time ago when I was a kid, a lot of hip Parker) and Dope Knife (Kedrick Mack), the hop was our news.” newly launched iHeartRadio-platformed Hip hop has long been a channel for podcast “Waiting on Reparations” is just bringing information to the culture and that: a vessel for hip hop and politics. It WHITLEY CARPENTER
O
ver the years, hip hop has experienced a lot of growth in the broader Athens music scene, but it has also established an increasingly stronger presence in local politics. Amidst protests against police brutality and racial inequality, it’s not surprising that hip hop artists are using their various platforms to elevate the community’s voices. Many members of the hip hop community, including Caulfield (Curtison Jones), were present at the initial Athens protest that took an unexpected turn. After relaying his experience on social media and encouraging the rest of the scene to come together, Jay Rodgers of Full Moon Studio in Watkinsville, decided to volunteer his services as a vehicle for the local hip hop scene. The result was Athens GA Hiphop In Solidarity’s album Playlist For A Protest, which features 24 original tracks by local artists including Kxng Blanco, Foreign, Rubi Fyre, Keefie, YOD and Vision da Poet. “Us as artists, a lot of us here don’t have a lot of influence or pull more than our platform, so it just seemed like the perfect idea,” says Caulfield. “I think that Mariah [Parker] is the perfect example. We have a close-knit community, and having someone who’s actually a part of the hip hop community in office is really dope. It’s a unique situation.” On Caulfield’s featured track, he joined forces with well-known artist Elite Tha Showstoppa (Darrin Ellison) for a cover of Rage Against the Machine’s politically-charged “Bulls on Parade.” The idea of “rally ‘round the family” connected to bringing out the music scene for Caulfield, but this track only represents half of his perspective. “I don’t want that to be the only message that I put out there, you know, angry. I don’t want violence, so I’m actually putting
brings together hip hop listeners and people interested in policy to further understand what the community has to say and how they are affected by policy. “When people ask me how I got my start in politics, I always go back to Hot Corner Hip Hop and organizing those first couple of hip hop shows, because a lot of those skills for putting together shows are the same kind of skills that I use now to organize the car caravan we had downtown last night,” says Parker. “I was hearing stories from people like Squalle and D.K. and L.G. and Caulfield and realizing all this messed up stuff and problems people have—we’re not going to solve it by having a hip hop show. It’s an important part of it, but if there’s nobody in City Hall listening to these stories, and taking these stories seriously, and trying to change the conditions people are living under, then we’re going to be stuck complaining about this forever.” “Waiting on Reparations” co-host Mack is using his artistic skills to express himself, in addition to music and the podcast. Gerry Conway, the co-creator of The Punisher, created a campaign to reclaim the comic book character’s logo from law enforcement by having people of color redesign the logo. Mack enthusiastically took part in this project involving his favorite comic book character. Podcasting as a platform has proven to be a learning experience for the hosts just as much as the audience. Exploring hip hop culture through the lens of politics has been eye-opening for Mack, and he hopes that the podcast will continue to grow and spread awareness. The hip hop community’s voices carry a lot of perspective from personal experience. “Politics is life, at the end of the day,” says Mack. “Everything kind of has a nugget of political insight that you can take from it.” f
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cla cl assifi fie eds Buy It, Sell It, Rent It, Use It! Place an ad anytime, email class@flagpole.com
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REAL ESTATE CONDOS FOR RENT 3BR/3BA; 2BR available. 1-year lease starting July. Monthly rents are $515 (downstairs) and $525 (upstairs.) Electric, water, and inter net included. Located in the Woodlands on the eastside. Please contact Garrett at 770845-2768 or email at gwpaul88@gmail.com
HOUSES FOR RENT Newly renovated 2BR/1BA in Historic Normaltown. $1400/month. Available mid-July or August. Please visit www.133LenoirAvenue.com for more details. Flagpole ♥ our readers. flagpole offices will be closed July 3rd and July 6th in preparation for and recovery from celebrating July 4th. Have a safe and happy holiday weekend!
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Office space available at 220 Prince Ave. Flagpole has more space then we need in the 1907 two-story house that we rent across from The Grit and Hendershot’s! Three spaces available on the second floor: $800/ month for large office; Facing Prince Ave., lots of windows, built-in bookcase and decorative fireplace. $600/month for medium office; 17ft x 14ft, decorative fireplace and storage closet. $350/month for small office; Perfect for space for a single person to get some work done. All spaces include parking for the renter and a guest, all utilities (except phone) including inter net and use of shared conference room. Must have limited foot traffic. No reception available. Please email ads@flagpole.com for more information or to set up an appointment.
1BR/1BA Apt. $680/mo. Off Prince Ave. Smack-dab between Normaltown and Downtown. Sublease 8/1–11/30. Please text 706372-2181.
Athens School of Music. Instruction in guitar, bass, drums, piano, voice, brass, woodwinds, strings, banjo, mandolin, fiddle & more. From beginner to expert. Visit www.athensschoolof music.com, 706-543-5800.
flagpole classifieds Reach Over 30,000 Readers Every Week! Business Services Real Estate Music For Sale
SERVICES
Clocked is looking for experienced, professional, kitchen staff. Must have at least two years of fine dining, fast-casual culinary experience. Starting wages at $15/hour with benefits. Needs to be fun, creative and dedicated to providing good comfort food and service to customers. Resumes only. hollandshield@gmail.com
ROOMS FOR RENT
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BASIC RATES* Individual $10 per week Real Estate $14 per week Business $16 per week (RTS) Run-‘Til-Sold** $40 per 12 weeks Online Only*** $5 per week
FOR SALE MISCELLANEOUS Want old newspapers for your garden? They’re free at the Flagpole office! Call ahead, then come grab an armful. Please leave current issues on stands. 706549-0301.
MUSIC EQUIPMENT Nuçi’s Space needs your old instruments & music gear, especially drum equipment! All donations are tax-deductible. 706227-1515 or come by Nuçi’s Space, 396 Oconee St.
Plumber Pro Service & Drain. Upfront Pricing. Free Estimates. $30 Flagpole Discount. Call 706-7697761. Same Day Service Available. www.plumberproservice.com.
JOBS FULL-TIME Are you looking for part-time or full-time employees? Place an ad in the Flagpole Classifieds! Call 706-549-0301.
LOST AND FOUND Lost and found pets can be advertised in Flagpole classifieds for free. Call 706-549-0301 or email class@flagpole.com to return them home.
MESSAGES Flagpole subscriptions delivered straight to the mailbox! Perfect present for your buddy who moved out of town! $45 for 6 months or $80 for 1 year. Call 706-549-0301.
Office space available at 220 Prince Ave. flagpole has more space then we need in the 1907 two-story house that we rent across from The Grit and Hendershot’s! Three spaces available on the second floor.
email ads@flagpole.com for more information
ADOPT ME!
Visit athenspets.net to view all the cats and dogs available at the shelter
*Ad enhancement prices are viewable at flagpole.com **Run-‘Til-Sold rates are for MERCHANDISE ONLY ***Available for individual rate categories only
PLACE AN AD • Call our Classifieds Dept. (706) 549-0301 • Email us at class@flagpole.com
• Deadline to place ads is 11:00 a.m. every Monday for the following Wednesday issue • All ads must be prepaid
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Frankie (53452)
Frankie is a lovable guy that just needs a friend! He can be a little wary of new people (or pets) but once he has time to warm up, he’s good to go! Frankie enjoys playing catch, running around and of course, pets and praise!
Magic (53560)
Four-year-old Magic is 81 pounds of love and cuddles! He likes to roam around and sight-see, enjoy his “me-time” and getting pets. Magic is familiar with living in a home and is probably housetrained, so he’s family-ready!
Wilson (53354)
Wilson’s currently in a foster home, but his caregivers describe him as sweet, well-behaved and great with people of all ages! He is also said to love walks, be housetrained and know basic commands.
These pets and many others are available for adoption at:
Athens-Clarke County Animal Control 125 Buddy Christian Way · 706-613-3540 Call for appointment
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bulletin board Deadline for getting listed in Bulletin Board is every THURSDAY at 5 p.m. for the print issue that comes out the following Wednesday. Online listings are updated daily. Email calendar@flagpole.com.
Art ARTS IN COMMUNITY AWARD: RESILIENCE (Athens, GA) The Athens Cultural Affairs Commission awards grants of $2,000 each to public art projects, events and activities that promote creative placemaking in the community. Grants will be awarded based on the level of community enrichment through the arts, contribution to the local identity and quality or artistic merit. Artists, local organizations and groups can apply. Deadline Aug. 7, 11:59 p.m. Fill out online proposal. info@athensculturalaffairs.org, www.athenscultural affairs.org/calls-for-artists GET ARTISTIC 2020 PROPOSALS (Creature Comforts Brewery) Get Artistic, Creature Comforts’ community impact program designed to foster place attachment by investing in the creative economy, is currently accepting proposals from individuals and nonprofits for the 2020 grant funding cycle. Deadline July 17. getartistic@ccbeerco.com, bit.ly/ getartistic2020
Auditions THE ODD COUPLE (Elberton Arts Center, 17 W. Church St., Elberton) The Elbert Theatre Foundation hosts auditions for The Odd Couple on July 20–21, 6–8 p.m. Looking to cast a mid-sized group of adult
men and women ages 25–50. Be prepared to read excerpts from the script. Performances held Oct. 2–4 and Oct. 9–11. 706-283-1049
Classes ART CLASSES (KA Artist Shop) Virtual classes are now held through Zoom. “Calligraphy Club” is held every first Thursday, 5:30–7 p.m. FREE! hello@kaartist.com, www. kaartist.com BREAD FOR LIFE (Athens, GA) Bread for Life is seeking students for a new session that begins July 6. Applicants must be unemployed, living in Clarke County and 18 years old or older. Must meet one or more barriers to employment: criminal or addiction history (one year clean and sober), victim of domestic violence, or receive SNAP benefits. Bread for Life provides an eight-week training program to help improve lives and begin careers in the hospitality industry. 706-357-4405, contact@ breadforlifeathens.org DEDICATED MINDFULNESS PRACTITIONERS (Online) Weekly Zoom meditations are offered every Saturday at 8 a.m. Email for details. jaseyjones@gmail.com DRAWING WITH HEATHER JOSHI (OCAF, Watkinsville) Classes cover outlining, contouring, hatching, crosshatching and scumbling techniques. Classes include video demos, slide shows and examples
art around town AMICI (233 E. Clayton St.) Jennifer Wallens Terry is a medium, pet psychic and spiritual coach. Her abstract paintings focus on texture and color, while others feature celestial and symbolic imagery. ATHENS INSTITUTE FOR CONTEMPORARY ART (ATHICA) (675 Pulaski St., Suite 1200) “Project Social Story” includes films and photos submitted by teens exploring social distancing, distance learning and staying at home. The no-contact exhibition can be viewed online at athica.org or in-person on screens outside the gallery. Through July 8. CITY OF WATKINSVILLE (Downtown Watkinsville) “Public Art Watkinsville: A Pop-Up Sculpture Exhibit” consists of sculptures placed in prominent locations around downtown. Artists include Benjamin Lock, William Massey, Stan Mullins, Robert Clements, Harold Rittenberry and Joni YounkinsHerzog. • “Artscape Oconee: The Monuments of Artland” features a total of 20 paintings on panels installed around town. Artists include Claire Clements, Peter Loose, Andy Cherewick, Lisa Freeman, Manda McKay and others. GEORGIA MUSEUM OF ART (90 Carlton St.) “Louis Comfort Tiffany: Treasures from the Driehaus Collection” features over 60 objects spanning over 30 years of the famous stained glass artist’s career. • “Master of Fine Arts Degree Candidates Exhibition” is an annual exit show for the graduating master of fine arts students at the Lamar Dodd School of Art. • “Rediscovering the Art of Victoria Hutson Huntley” contains approximately 30 lithographs and two paintings. • “Drama and Devotion in Baroque Rome” celebrates Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio’s influence. Through Aug. 23. • “Altered Landscapes: Photography in the Anthropocene” includes images that demonstrate humanity’s impact on the natural world. Through Sept. 27. • “Recognizing Artist Soldiers in the Permanent Collection” includes artists who served in conflicts from the Revolutionary War through World War II, as well as those who served in the 1950s. Though the museum is temporarily closed, many of the exhibitions, as well as the permanent collection, are currently available to view online at georgiamuseum.org. In celebration of International Museums Day, over 160 high-resolution works from the museum are available through Google Arts and Culture at artsandculture.google. com/partner/georgia-museum-of-art. GLASSCUBE@INDIGO (500 College Ave.) “Supple Moments, Dark Corners” is a site-specific installation by Eli Saragoussi that is accompanied by a
using Google Classroom. July 6–31 or Aug. 3–31. $120–150. www. ocaf.com OLLI@UGA CLASSES (Online) OLLI offers 28 different classes through Zoom. Topics include photography, bats and coronavirus, how changing diets can impact vision and cognition, mindfulness and more. For ages 50 & up. July 6–Aug. 6 at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily. www. olli.uga.edu SAVE YOUR STORY (ACC Library Online) A digital preservation series focuses on saving audio (July 9) and video (July 23). Classes are held at 6:30 p.m. www.athenslibrary.org/ athens/departments/heritage SPANISH CLASSES (Athens, GA) For adults, couples and children. Learn from experts with years of professional experience. Contact for details. 706-372-4349, marinabilbao75@gmail.com
Kidstuff ACTING CLASSES (Madison County Recreation Department) “Acting Basics for Kids” is a six-part course that covers pantomime, improvisation, scene study and public speaking. “Auditioning and Scene Study 101 for Kids” is a six-part series that places an emphasis on the art of auditioning for television, commercial and film roles. Both courses are for ages 8–14 and held Mondays, Aug. 24–Oct. 5 (skip Sept. 7),
5:30–6:30 p.m. (acting basics) and 6:45–7:45 p.m. (auditioning). $80/ course. Register online. www.madco rec.com ART CLASSES (KA Artist Shop) “Art Club Junior” is for ages 8–12 and held on Fridays at 4:30 p.m. “Art Club for Teens is for ages 12–18 and held Fridays at 6:30 p.m. Check website for details and to register. Classes are held over Zoom. $15. www.kaartist.com GARDEN EARTH EXPLORERS (State Botanical Garden of Georgia) Families can choose one of six 90-minute programs and enjoy their own private garden adventure with the garden’s education staff. Box lunches available. Themes include sensory garden, really remarkable rainforest, eco health, stream ecology, Georgia discovery quest and treasure hunt. $50/three participants, $10 per additional person. botgarden.uga.edu/garden-earthexplorers-summer-expeditions VIRTUAL SUMMER CAMPS (Treehouse Kid and Craft) Each camper will receive a bundle of supplies to keep, organized projects, play dough, home rules, art bingo and more. Themes include creative beasts, under the sea, food trucks, insects, matchbox mice miniatures, slime and more. www. treehousekidandcraft.com
Support Groups AL-ANON 12 STEP (Multiple Locations) Recovery for people affected by someone else’s drinking. Visit the website for a calendar of electronic meetings held throughout the week. www.ga-al-anon.org
soundscape by Max Boyd called “Jungle Drone.” Saragoussi recently incorporated additional set pieces built for Ad•Verse festival. LAMAR DODD SCHOOL OF ART (270 River Rd.) “Amiko Li: The Purpose of Disease” presents the Dodd MFA Fellow in photography’s explorations into acupuncture, palm reading, psychogenics, herbal supplements, antibiotics and the regeneration of limbs. • “KITCHEN” is a new animation by New York-based artist and former Athenian Michael Siporin Levine, inspired by his quarantine experience. • In “Mors Scena,” photographer Rachel Cox documents the viewing rooms and visitation spaces of funeral homes, drawing attention to how we mourn and memorialize the dead in America. • Atlanta-based artist Michi Meko’s 2017 installation, “One Last Smile Before the Undertow,” is a suite of works addressing black life in America postObama. Exhibitions are available online at art.uga.edu. LYNDON HOUSE ARTS CENTER (293 Hoyt St.) The “45th Juried Exhibition” presents 199 works by 144 local artists. Through July. • “Online: Collections from our Community” presents a collection of shark teeth found by Myung Cogan. Visit accgov.com/lyndonhouse to view. • The Lyndon House is currently open to the public, with precautions in place. Daily installments of artwork and activities are also available on Instagram and Facebook, using the hashtags #45JuriedShowOnline and #ArtsCenterOnline. OCONEE CULTURAL ARTS FOUNDATION (34 School St., Watkinsville) The Annual Members’ Exhibition presents works by the gallery’s member artists. Louisiana Tech University’s School of Design professor Frank Hamrick’s handmade artist’s book, “It was there all along,” is presented as an online exhibition of wet plate collodion tintypes addressing water-related issues. Both shows are available online at ocaf.com through Aug. 1. TIF SIGFRIDS (119 N. Jackson St.) “Summer Group Show 1” features works by Holly Coulis, Gracie DeVito, Peter Doig, Marten Elder, Ridley Howard, Becky Kolsrud, Mimi Lauter, Jasmine Little, Adrianne Rubenstein, Joe Sola and Lisa Williamson. Through July 20. UGA OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY (1180 E. Broad St.) “The Earth Day (Art) Challenge” is a virtual exhibition of works commemorating the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Visit sustainability.uga.edu/earthday-art-challenge-exhibit. UGA SPECIAL COLLECTIONS LIBRARIES (300 S. Hull St.) Online exhibitions include “Steele Vintage Broadcast Microphone Collection,” “Foxfire on Display at UGA: 50 Years of Cultural Journalism Documenting Folk Life in the North Georgia Mountains, September–December 2016,” “Covered With Glory: Football at UGA, 1892–1917” and “Fighting Spirit: Wally Butts and UGA Football, 1939–1950.” Visit digilab.libs.uga.edu/scl/exhibits.
Frank Hamrick’s newest photography book, “It was there all along,” is presented as an online exhibition by the Oconee Cultural Arts Center through Aug. 1. Hamrick will give an online gallery talk on July 9 at 2 p.m. through Zoom. Visit www.ocaf.com. RECOVERY DHARMA (Recovery Dharma) This peer-led support group offers a Buddhist-inspired path to recovery from any addiction. Meetings are currently held through Zoom at zoom.us/j/2465753412. Thursdays, 7–8 p.m. FREE! Find “Recovery Dharma Athens GA” on Facebook
On The Street ACRONYM (Athens, GA) ACRONYM is a new website compiling COVID19 aid for Athens-based live music venues and artists. Check the website for updated listings on funding and financial opportunities, mental health guides, organizational support, community resources and more. Visit acroynym.rocks COMMUNITY COVID STORIES (ACC Library) The Athens Regional Library System is collecting COVID19 experiences from the community. Submissions can be written journals, photos, videos, oral histories and saved social media posts. Stories will be permanently archived through The Heritage Room. Fill out the submission form at athens library.org. heritageroomref@athens library.org SUMMER READING PROGRAM (Athens Regional Library System) All ages can participate in this year’s summer program, which has the theme “Imagine Your Story.” Patrons can check out digital eBooks, audiobooks and magazines online, or place holds for curbside pickup weekdays 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Prizes will be given to readers. www.athens library.org SELF-GUIDED TOURS OF ATHENS (Athens, GA) The Athens Welcome Center is offering self-guided tour brochures of their popular walking or driving tours. Read about some of the most iconic Athens landmarks and locations. Options include an African-Amercian Driving Tour, Downtown Athens Tour, Athens Music History Tour and more. There are also narrated Athens Podtours with recordings of local stories and music. www.athenswelcomecenter. com/tours THE FINCH (Online) “The Finch” is a new podcast aimed to dissect complext issues with a multidisciplinary approach. Hear interviews with professionals from the Center for the Ecology of Infectious Diseases, Center for Vaccines and Immunology, Human Research Protection Program and more. sptfy. com/thefinchpodcast TRASHERCISE (Athens, GA) Complete your own Trashercise workout by walking, jogging or running along, trails, roads and neighborhoods. Bring a bag, gloves
or a grabber, and pick up any trash you see. Share photos through #trasherciseathens. Report your cleanup online and Keep AthensClarke County Beautiful will send a prize. carlos.pinto@accgov.com, www.keepathensbeautiful.org
Events ADULT BOOK CLUB (Madison County Library, Danielsville) Discuss With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo. Copies are available during curbside service hours and on RBDigital. Discussion will be held via Google Meets. Register online. July 14, 11:30 a.m. www. athenslibrary.org/madison ATHENS FARMERS MARKET (Bishop Park) The market is open with safety precautions in place. Wear a mask, pre-order when possible, keep your family home and use cashless payments. Saturdays, 8 a.m.–12 p.m. www.athensfarmers market.net JULY EVENTS (Southern Brewing Company) Cornhole ATL league every Wednesday, 6:30–9:45 p.m. Sunday Trivia with Solo Entertainment everty Sunday at 5 p.m. Fourth of July Celebration with live music by Grassland String Band (7–9:30 p.m.), Catch 22 food truck and a fireworks show on July 4. North Georgia Ducks Unlimited Social on July 9 from 6:30–8:30 p.m. DJ Osmose on July 10 from 6–9 p.m. Southern Violence and Wrestling on July 11 from 8–10 p.m. LoveShack: A Concert for Athens on July 18 from 5–11 p.m. Live music by Alex Culbreth on July 25 from 5–7 p.m. www.sobrewco.com LIVE WIRE SUMMER EVENTS (Live Wire Athens) Wedding Industry Happy Hour, every Wednesday from 5–6 p.m. Darts, every Wednesday from 5–10 p.m. Fresh Garden Jam with live jamming, every Thursday from 5–10 p.m. Love Music Live Stream offers bands streamed from the main stage, every Friday 5-10 p.m. www.livewireathens.com/ calendar STAR SPANGLED CLASSIC (Ben Epps Airport) Fireworks will be launched on July 3 at 9:30 p.m. Guests are encouraged to view the display as a “drive in” type spectator experience. www.accgov.com/ fireworks THE CRY BABY LOUNGE PRESENTS (Online) Eli Saragoussi hosts bimonthly shows using YouTube Premiere. See Telemarket (Athens), O Key (Athens) and Bathtub Cig (MN) on July 10. Proceeds benefit The Okra Project. Find The Cry Baby Lounge on Facebook. elinor.saragoussi@gmail. com, bit.ly/TheCryBabyLounge f
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Goddess Complex’s Sonic Collages PLUS, MORE MUSIC NEWS AND GOSSIP By Gordon Lamb threatsandpromises@flagpole.com APPROXIMATELY INFINITE UNIVERSE: The new five-track record by
Goddess Complex (the compositional outlet of musician and composer Cloud Powers) was a more than welcome addition to my listening this week. As usual, Powers pulls water from a very deep well—which includes influences as far flung as Yoko Ono, Pamela Z, Laurie Anderson, et al.— and this new collection, In The Bay Of Pigs, is fully refreshing. Working largely via cyclical electronic manipulations and well-chosen samples, Powers’ strength often comes from the seeming ability to anticipate the next portion of whatever collage she’s creating. And that’s important because it’s a markedly different approach than letting sounds spin around and throwing a title on whatever comes out. The most notable track here is “SaHh,” which draws the ears in via what is first heard as gull squawks but turns distinctly into an underlying rhythm upon which halfstep keyboards and dreamily doze-y vocals are laid. The electro smoothness of “MOR” and the glitchy plea of “Rose” are swell, too. This is available at goddesscomplex.bandcamp.com.
FALL INTO THE WELL: Athens poets Alex
Johns (a 2019 Georgia Author of the Goddess Complex Year nominee) and Zach Mitcham are also talented songwriters who make music under the name Hello, Bombardier! They’ve got a new album out now titled OK When You Are, and I’ve been enjoying it thoroughly. The pair is adept at crafting multi-layered compositions, but with an understanding of the importance of empty space. The songs here can be deceptively gentle, but sneak up on the listener in much the same way as, say, Pinback or Tycho. These qualities are on full display during album highlights like “At Least On Your Special Day” and album opener “Waste This Day With You.” The final track is named “We Won’t Get There Soon,” and it’s a complex number that blends a shockingly beautiful tune with a sometimes jarring chorus progression. Ultimately, like everything else here, it works. Give this a solid chance by heading to hellobombardier.bandcamp.com and spinning it a few times for yourself.
UNDERCOVER: Daniel Shroyer (Mandible Rider, Shadebeast) just did a split release with Ihlyatt, where he goes under the name Ixian. Although the latter has two tracks featured here and Ixian only has one, I suppose seniority does have its benefits. Shroyer’s track is named “All My Friends Are Plants Now,” and it builds from a relatively buried organ progression into a swirling dark and semi-ambient track. It’s full of oscillations and other hooha, including a D-beat that may well just be electro-manipulation, and
Dog Spa
for nearly its entirety walks a line very similar to black metal, but then turns relatively full-throated around the seven-minute mark. Ihlyatt’s turn at bat delivers the surprisingly tuneful and melodic mid-tempo rocker named “Other Electricities,” albeit fronted by nearly two minutes of sampled dialogue from somewhere. Similarly, “Blue Jaunte” slides along a solidly groovy bass rhythm custom built for heady escapism. Check this out, as well as other Ixian tunes, at ixian.bandcamp.com. JUST THESE DUDES: Nearly 30 years ago,
there was a band named Hubbard’s Cupboard here in town that, for a couple or three years, did some things, played some shows, recorded some songs then went the way of the buffalo. Well, now under pandemic conditions, the band decided to record their version of R.E.M.’s “It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine).” All things considered, it’s a decently executed—albeit completely unnecessary—cover of the original and the accompanying video is chock full of rando film and video clips that prove the Internet Archive does indeed have a purpose. I’d like to specifically point out that the band faithfully replicates Mike Mill’s honky-tonk piano section, complete with glissando, right around the two minute mark, which is exactly where it should be. You’ll have to head to YouTube and look this up for yourself, but if you just wanna hear the tune, head over to hubbardscupboard. bandcamp.com.
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ONE THING AT A TIME: Songwriter Jackson Gaines has run
through a few bands since he started playing several years ago, among them Dank Sinatra, Public Pretenders and Old House. Lately he’s been recording, like everyone else, undercover of COVID and is planning his first full-length solo release. He reports he’s got several songs completed, but only one, “Running In Circles,” is available at the moment. All instruments were played and recorded by Gaines, with mixing and mastering assistance from Jay Rodgers and Joel Hatstat, respectively. The song pretty much describes, as Gaines says, “constantly moving and never really ending up anywhere.” Musically, it reminds me very much of songs that appeared on the soundtrack to “The O.C.” in that it’s breezy and eminently listenable while also having lyrics that are universal enough to be open to interpretation. It should be noted that there’s about a two-second Allman Brothers-style guitar flourish right near the beginning, too, which was a nice touch. You can hear this on Spotify. f
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record review Seline Haze: Haze (Independent) “Haze helped me love myself a bit more… and I hope you are loving yourself, too,” writes Seline Haze on her Bandcamp page. Haze, who was voted Best Female Hip Hop Artist at the 2018 Athens Hip Hop Awards, released a new six-track EP titled Haze on June 5. The EP continues her message of self-empowerment, following her 2018 debut EP, Saga of Love. Haze’s rhythmic, clean bars in this raw and real composition prompt head bumps from start to finish. Opening with “Too Close,” she raps about the issue of boundary-setting, and introduces the garden as a metaphor that’s woven throughout many of her songs, bringing a wholesome consciousness to bloom. Half of the tracks feature other Athens and Atlanta artists, who add their pieces to the tale of sacrifice and survival. In listening, I’m taken on Haze’s journey to self-love and brought to a greater sense of my own—a continuation of tending to the garden, doing the bidding that she intended with Haze. [Amber Perry]
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