March 20, 2018 KSU Sentinel by Kennesaw State University Student Media

MARCH 20

2018

Vol. 51 Issue 21 | Since 1966

THE SENTINEL Kennesaw State University | The Sentinel

SEVERE WEATHER

KSU dean joining University of Central Arkansas as new provost

KSU PD concludes no illegal activity by church alleged of human trafficking

Alex Guevara | Staff Writer KSU’s Dean of the College of the Arts, Dr. Patricia Poulter, plans to leave KSU to become the executive vice president and provost at the University of Central Arkansas. In an email to faculty, staff and students Wednesday, March 14, Linda Noble, KSU’s interim provost and vice president for academic affairs, said that Poulter will be making the move. Poulter will report directly to UCA’s current President, and KSU’s former interim president, Houston Davis. She will also oversee all schools at UCA and develop strategies to forward UCA’s mission. Poulter will begin in her new position on July 1, 2018. During her time at KSU, Poulter helped create the COTA’s advisory board and the Advising and Retention for COTA students, add 80 new scholarships and gain $1.2 million in donations in 2017, up 29 percent from 2016, according to the email. According to UCA, Poulter was one of 58 applicants for the position and one of 11 who was requested for an interview in Little Rock. UCA students, faculty and staff made up a 19-person committee for the interviews and asked the top four interviewees, including Poulter, to visit the campus at the end of February and beginning of March. During the visit, Poulter toured the campus, met with the Faculty and Staff Senates, UCA’s Student Government Association and the executive staff at UCA. She was also asked to do a presentation where she answered questions for the campus community. After the visit, committee members said she was the most supported of the semifinalists and received the most positive feedback from the campus community, according to UCA. When asked about the visit, Poulter told the UCA News department that she was “thrilled to be joining the University of Central Arkansas.” “During my visit, I received such a warm greeting from the entire campus community, and it was immediately clear that there is an energy here that is almost visible,” Poulter said. The Sentinel reached out to Poulter for comment on accepting her new position, but she did not respond before publication.

DEAN continued on pg. 3

Photo courtesy of Kennesaw State

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Sabrina Kerns | News Editor

Cory Hancock | The Sentinel

Spring’s first wave of severe storms swept through Kennesaw Monday evening threatening hail, strong winds and the possibility of tornadoes.

BLAKE RESIDENTS EXPRESS CONCERNS ABOUT LITTERING Megan Butler | Staff Writer

Residents living at The Blake expressed their concerns earlier this month about the growing amount of scattered trash and the late efforts of housing management to act upon it. Several residents, who wished to remain anonymous, said that people have been throwing trash off of their apartment balconies instead of taking it to the dumpsters, leaving trash strewn across the area behind the complex. “It’s careless and distasteful,” one resident said. “Not to mention that it attracts more bugs to the complex than there already are.” Students living in the complex said that the woods behind the buildings are littered with full garbage bags, pizza boxes, beer bottles and cans. “We have seen birds and squirrels outside eating plastic,” the resident said. A few residents said several calls and complaints have been filed to The Blake management since January. “They have repeatedly told us it would be taken care of by certain deadlines, but those deadlines have since passed,” the resident said. The Sentinel contacted management at The Blake, but they declined to comment on the issue. A group of maintenance workers was spotted last week cleaning up the discarded trash around the complex, another resident said. “They told us that the people with bags of trash under their balcony were going to

NEWS

be fined,” the resident said. “There is no way of knowing for sure who was throwing the trash into the woods, though, so I would not be surprised if the problem continues.” The residents are largely concerned about the environmental impact the trash will have on the area. Animals cannot break down plastic in their digestive system, and pieces of plastic can get tangled around animals’ bodies or heads and cause injury or

Trash is piled up at the dumpsters in The Blake apartment complex on March 16.

OPINION

pg. 2

Alisa Seripap | The Sentinel

ARTS AND LIVING

Emotional support animals vital for health

Mock dorm fire heats up campus safety day

death, according to Sciencing. According to a National Geographic article, mass production of plastics has created around 8.3 billion metric tons of material since it began sixty years ago, and 91 percent of plastic is not recycled. “I wish more measures were taken to prevent environmental carelessness,” the resident said.

SPORTS

OwlSwap drive fosters sustainability

pg. 4

KSU’s Police Department recently closed a case involving reports of human trafficking involvement against members of the World Society Mission Church of God, stating no illegal activity is or was taking place within the group. University spokeswoman Tammy DeMel said that after interviewing members from the church and several of the students who reported the group to police, KSU PD determined that there is no evidence to show the group is any danger to students or the surrounding community. The church group members were initially reported to the KSU PD by a student on the Marietta campus Jan. 30, according to an incident report. According to the report, the student who initially reported the group said she was approached by “some people who made her uncomfortable” in the student center on the Marietta campus. The student reported that two Asian women came to her in the student center, asking her if she knew the “holy mother.” During the conversation, the student said one of the women repeatedly left the conversation to speak to a man who was sitting further away from them. They reportedly asked her to come to a Bible study later on, but she refused because she said the encounter made her uncomfortable. After the encounter, she posted her experience on social media where several of her friends told her that a religious group referencing a “holy mother” was allegedly involved in a sex/human trafficking ring. The student’s friends reportedly heard rumors that the group was inviting women to Bible studies to meet with them offcampus where they allegedly plan to kidnap them. These rumors were also reported on different campuses in Georgia and other universities in the southeast and were also determined to be false. According to the report, another student called KSU PD to report a group on the Kennesaw campus the same day the members of the World Mission Society Church of God were originally reported. The student said the group was handing out materials similar to those described in the rumors floating around on social media. A police officer responded to the call, finding a group of individuals outside of the student center. The report said. “The subjects were witnessing for the Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter Day Saints.” The police officer gave every individual in the group outside of the student center a criminal trespass warning.

Spring game to showcase new talent

pg. 5

pg. 7

Page 2 | Kennesaw State University | The Sentinel | March 20, 2018

NEWS

Metro Atlanta students rally at capitol for stricter gun legislation Sabrina Kerns | News Editor Students, teachers and parents from different parts of metro Atlanta walked out of their classes at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 15, and gathered in front of the capitol building to rally for stricter gun legislation, and one KSU student spoke. Thousands of students from schools and universities in Georgia showed up for the walkout in Atlanta holding signs. Kennesaw State sophomore Katie Jordan said she was amazed by how many kids and parents alike attended the rally. “That was just impressive just how many kids and how many parents were so supportive of that because those parents don’t want to be the next one to hear that their kid’s school got shot up,” Jordan said. Organizers spoke to churches in the area and got them involved in the rally as well. Starting at 10 a.m., several Atlanta churches rang their bells once every minute for 17 minutes — once for each of the 17 individuals who died in the Parkland, Florida, shooting. Jordan spoke about the gun control debate and students’ feelings toward not only the most recent shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school in Parkland but also about other mass school shootings that have occurred in the U.S. in the past.

“If you look back, every American generation kind of has those defining moments for the young people in it,” Jordan said. “For our grandparents, it was World War II. For some of our older parents, it was Vietnam and Nixon. It was those things that really made them stand up and say, ‘Are we going to fight for this or fight against it?’ That kind of scars a generation’s psyche in a way. “And so for us, I think that’s really been living through code red drills and hearing about kids our age dying in schools and not knowing if it’s going to be us next,” Jordan continued. Several other students from high schools and middle schools in the Atlanta area also spoke during the walkout, and after the rally was over, a group of students and parents went into the capitol building to speak with state legislators about what they can do to help put restrictions on firearm purchases. Jordan said she has spoken to her representatives about the issue before, and she recently had the opportunity to speak with Rep. Barry Loudermilk, R-Ga., during an over-the-phone town hall meeting where she asked how legislators will work to make Georgia’s schools safer. “I’m really glad they’re doing more than

just rallying, that they are taking it to the representatives,” Jordan said. Clare Schexnyder, a Decatur mother, organized the rally after she started the National Stop School Shootings NOW movement on Facebook. She said she started the page on Feb. 15, the day after the Parkland shooting. Schexnyder said the Facebook group was originally private, but she made it public after a few days because many of the parents at her child’s school were interested in becoming part of the discussion. She said the group had more than a thousand members in just a few days. She said the group had originally planned a national walkout for students and parents on March 2, but that they moved the date to March 14 to align with a walkout planned by Women’s March Youth EMPOWER. Stop School Shootings NOW organized another protest in Atlanta for Saturday, Mach 24, called the “March for Our Lives.” Schexnyder is calling on students, teachers, parents and gun owners to come and rally with the group. Schexnyder said they are expecting approximately 50,000 people to participate in the march.

Photo Courtesy of Jay Schexnyder

Clare Schexnyder stands in front of thousands during a protest in downtown Atlanta on March 15.

E-tuition cuts, university statements Sabrina Kerns | News Editor Editor’s note: This is an updated article from a previously published article containing inaccuracies. University spokeswoman Tammy DeMel reached out to The Sentinel Tuesday to notify it of inaccurate information from the “E-tuition cuts hurting online instructors, courses” in this week’s print issue and to provide the university’s statements regarding comments made in the article. DeMel said Dr. Tamara Powell, mentioned in the article, serves as the director of distance learning for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and not as the director of distance learning for the university. DeMel also said that the undergraduate tuition differential was reduced by 50 percent in fall 2018, and the university anticipates that it will be phased out completely by fall 2019, not spring 2019 as the article states. In response to online technical coordinator for the English department Anne Corbitt’s statement that the loss of funding will likely impact students and the quality of online education, DeMel said, “The university is working to

A mock dorm room is burned as a demonstration to students on March 15.

Photo Courtesy of Matthew Shannon

KSU HOLDS ANNUAL CAMPUS SAFETY DAY Morgan Harrison | Staff Writer KSU held its annual Campus Safety Day Thursday, March 15, on the Marietta campus, and, to celebrate, KSU put on its annual mock dorm room burn. This year’s mock dorm fire demonstration was held on the Marietta campus green between Howell Hall and Norton Hall. The demonstration showed how quickly a fire can spread because of simple hazards like candles and kitchen appliances, especially due to all of the highly flammable items found in a dorm room. Firefighters used candles to set fire to two mock dorm rooms, showing what happens when the flame comes in contact with combustible items such as bedspreads, curtains and books. KSU’s fire safety manager Matthew Shannon said the demonstration lets the public see firsthand how quickly a fire can spread and the extent of the damages fire can cause. The event makes clear the importance of fire safety and prevention devices. “We built two mock residence hall rooms, one with a fire sprinkler and one without,” Shannon said. “We set them both on fire to show the

“The demonstration lets the public see first-hand how quickly a fire can spread and the extent of the damages fire can cause.”

importance of fire sprinkler and smoke alarms for proper notification and control of a fire.” The event was managed by local fire and safety experts such as Fire and Life Safety inspector Tyler Fitts, director of residence life Jeff Cooper, the KSU Police mobile command vehicle, K9 units and the Cobb County Police bomb squad. All of these experts were at the event to make sure the demonstration was safe, to educate students and to answer any questions. Shannon said the point of the event is to teach students “when the smoke detector sounds to evacuate quickly, do not touch or mess with fire protection equipment.” The importance of proper housekeeping was also stressed. Shannon and other emergency officials made it clear at the event that every KSU dorm has a sprinkler, fire detector and fire extinguishers in the rooms and hallways. This demonstration was on the Marietta campus this semester, but the university plans to hold another mock dorm room fire on the Kennesaw campus in the fall.

DEAN

continued from pg. 1

Prior to her time at KSU, Poulter received a bachelor’s in music education and a master’s in conducting from Eastern Illinois University, and she earned her Ed.D in music from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. According to a KSU article, Poulter returned to EIU after obtaining her degrees and served as the department chair for the department of student teaching and clinical experiences, the interim department chair of the journalism department and associate dean of the college of the arts and humanities. She later joined the KSU staff in July 2013.

ensure that all online course quality programs remain in place. “Funding for the ongoing support of distance learning and the associated costs of the online course quality program is currently being explored. The reduction in funding will not equate proportionally to reductions in services and support.” Corbitt also said the funding for training online instructors will also be impacted. DeMel said the university plans to continue faculty training and development. Powell also told The Sentinel that quality control, which would guarantee classes are meeting students’ needs, will be taken away. DeMel said the university does not expect a drop in program quality assurance. The article also mentions that students’ online resources will also be impacted by the loss of funding and programs such as D2L and SoftChalk are funded by e-tuition. DeMel said online resources will likely not be impacted. She also said that D2L is not funded by online tuition, but is instead supported by funds the university receives from the State of Georgia.

Corrections In last week’s issue, in the article titled “40-foot clock brings awareness to national debt,” it refers to Young Americans for Libery as YAFL, but the group is referred to by the acronym YAF. In an opinion article titled, “Reporting is power, power has repercussions,” it references the Kennesaw Pride Association, but the name is actually the Kennesaw Pride Alliance. The artilce also does not clarify that the KPA is a student run organization while the LGBTQ Resource Center is a separate university-run entity.

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NEWS

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KSUSENTINEL.COM The Booth Western Art Museum is located in Cartersville, Georgia.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Booth Western Art Museum and KSU partnership brings new courses Cameron Loi | Staff Writer The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute in the College of Continuous and Professional Education is now in partnership with the Booth Western Art Museum to bring different types of courses to its curriculum. The Booth Western Art Museum is located in Cartersville and is home to the largest permanent exhibition space for Western art in the country. Sitting at 120,000 square feet, the exhibits they have to offer include contemporary Western American art, Civil War art, historic Western art, presidential portraits and letters, Western movie posters and Western illustration. “The partnership between CCPE OLLI and the Booth Western Art Museum is important because it expands our opportunity to offer lifelong learning to students in Cartersville,” said OLLI project manager Pat Walker. The institute will hold courses at the museum in hopes of bringing in more students who do not live in the Kennesaw area. “Our collaboration with The Booth provides a classroom setting inside a museum that displays pieces of art and history that are being discussed in each of the courses,” Walker said. “We are also pleased that students that would not have been able to attend a course due to the distance of KSU OLLI will hopefully be

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better served at a closer location to their homes.” Since the partnership has been announced, new classes have already been made available on the OLLI website. These classes include Civil War in the Western theater, American West influence on operatic and Broadway productions of musical compositions, spirits of the great American West, legends and basic playing of Native American flutes and how to write historical fiction. According to the website, the Civil War in Western theater course will include learning about the military battles in Shiloh, Perryville, Stones River, Vicksburg, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Atlanta and many more, as well as the officers who were leading the armies. This course is being taught by instructor Michael Shaffer, a historian, author and newspaper columnist. The American West influence on operatic and Broadway productions course is being taught by instructor Donna Angel. She has taught voice, music appreciation and opera courses at KSU for 10 years, and she has also received the “Lifetime Achievement Award” from Opera Volunteers International in 2012. The class will allow students to listen to the unique music that was influenced by the American West. The spirits of the Great American West course looks into the facts of legends and

myths formed by American frontiersmen. Historical questions and facts are woven with the legends to help the history come alive for the students. This course will be taught by instructor Quentin Thomas, who is a recognized historian, author and poet. The legends and basic playing of Native American flutes course will explore the basic knowledge and folklore associated with the Plains Indians and is taught by Carmen Gonzalez. Students are encouraged to bring their own instruments, but there will also be instruments available for purchase. How to write historical fiction is a course offered that teaches students how to write fiction all while using real historical people or places. This course is being taught by Josh Langston who is a published author of five historical novels. According to its website, the OLLI specializes in teaching courses designed specifically for adults over 50 who are interested in learning for the joy of learning. The OLLI has a wide variety of courses, ranging from professional careers to personal classes. The institute offers classes in a variety of topics, and they also offer personal classes to students such as how to work an iPad and staging your home for resale.

Dual master’s program now available to communication students Cory Hancock | Editor-in-Chief Editor’s note: This is an updated article from a previously published article containing inaccuracies. The school of communication at KSU is offering a new dual master’s degree program to students. The two degrees included in the program are a master’s in public administration and a Master of Arts in integrated global communication. The degrees are geared toward students interested in pursuing careers as a communications professional in government and the nonprofit sector but are not limited to those individuals. “What’s cool is that normally in two years you get one degree,” said Dr. Josh Azriel, the integrated global communication program director. “But, if you stay one more year, you can earn two degrees.” Requirements for admission to the program include:

• • • •

A bachelor’s degree A minimum 2.75 GPA A current résumé Two letters of recommendation from faculty or work supervisors • Standardized graduate admissions exam scores • A 1,000-word statement of purpose essay to answer, “In what way do you expect the Master of Public Administration Master of Arts in Integrated Global Communication dual degree to affect or enhance your career goals and aspirations?” The dual degree consists of 54 total credit hours — 24 hours for public administration, 24 hours for integrated global communication and six hours of electives.

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OUTSIDE THE NEST UN condemns DRC’s violent crackdowns Cory Hancock | Editor-in-Chief

What Happened? The United Nations on Monday condemned the Congolese government for what they said were “unlawful and unjustified” actions in cracking down on protests, according to Reuters. So far, Congolese security forces have killed 47

people between 2017 and earlier this year. The U.N. Human Rights Office said the Congolese government has been attempting to cover up the human rights abuses and lethal force by hiding bodies.

In Context Democratic Republic of Congo’s President Joseph Kabila has refused to leave his post after his mandate to lead the DRC expired at the end of December 2016, according to Reuters. Elections have been delayed and the DRC public has become increasingly discontent, leading to protests. Kabila denied allegations of excessive force in January, according to Reuters. The Catholic Church in the DRC has slowly begun to play a larger role in the

protests. On Jan. 21, protests were broken up by security forces with tear gas and gunfire, killing six and wounding dozens more, according to The Guardian. Dozens of priests and nuns were also detained. The DRC is also experiencing ethnic violence in Tanganyika Province. According to the U.N., more than 13 million people need aid, and more than 4.6 million children are acutely malnourished.

What’s next Elections are still planned for December 2018, but the electoral commission has said that may not be possible. They said

elections may have to be pushed to April 2019, according to Reuters.

Page 4 | Kennesaw State University | The Sentinel | March 20, 2018

OPINION

HEAD TO HEAD: SHOULD THE VOTING AGE BE LOWERED?

Voting age should be lowered

Leave the voting age alone

Autumn Edmonston | Staff Writer

Robert Thomas | Contributor

oting polls should lower their age requirement to 16 so that the voice of our youth does not continue to be neglected in American politics. A young person’s voice deserves to be heard — their perspective and their needs matter. However, youth are completely denied the right to vote. Kids are at the brunt of legal decisions, and while they are expected to obey the law, they are not allowed any input. It’s wrong that 16-year-olds are given adult responsibilities and yet none of the privileges. Youth can be tried as adults in the U.S. at 16, and, according to the Equal Justice Initiative, upwards of 10,000 juveniles are housed in adult prisons on any given day. Under the assumption that, at 16, youth are competent enough to understand that their actions have legal consequences, this seems fair. However, our society simultaneously deems 16-year-olds as too incompetent to participate in choosing a leader. They are also expected to pay taxes in the workforce as if they were

adults. According to the Tax Foundation, employees under the age of 18 paid a total of $1 billion in taxes to the federal government in 2009. This tax money is taken from more than one million 16-17 year olds with jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, that are not allowed to vote. Recent events have magnified the significance of this issue. Since the Florida school shooting on Feb. 14, high school students across the country, including in Cobb County, have been practicing “walkouts,’ where students leave their classrooms to stand together in silence to honor the 17 victims and speak out in favor of stricter gun laws. Because students are denied the right to vote until they are 18, protests such as these are one of the very few ways youth can contribute to political decisions. These protests are an example of how much America’s youth cares about government politics and how far they are willing to go for their voices

to be heard. However, politicians have no motivation to listen to youth when they have no vote to earn from them. It’s a waste of time to gear their policies towards issues that youth face when they have no power to vote. Instead of pushing kids to the side and saying that their voice has no value in the political arena, they need to be able to participate in their country’s decision making. Allowing 16-year-olds to vote will inspire them in their studies and bring validity to their attitudes. Lowering the voting age will improve voter participation in all demographics as well. In the 2016 presidential election, only about 46 percent of 18 to 29-year-olds showed up to the polls, according to the U.S. Census. If citizens are taught to participate in voting early, and make a habit of it while they’re young, they will never stop. Elected leaders affect the lives of every single American, not just those over the age of 18. Sixteen-year-olds should be included in America’s decision making so that politicians are truly in hands of all their people.

owering the voting age will give greater voting power to the older generation as those younger than 18 are not sufficiently mature and will vote in line with their parents. In 1971, the 26th amendment to the Constitution was ratified, establishing 18 as the minimum voting age for both state and federal elections. Although the proposal was first made in Congress in 1942, it was not until a combination of factors, including the political pressures of the Vietnam draft, that the proposal gained the necessary political backing to become law. The argument of “Old enough to go to war, old enough to vote,” feels far more logically sound and emotionally convincing than any argument given in support of lowering the voting age to 16. A 2006 study by the Political Studies Association said that 16 and 17-year olds are not as mature as other voters when the voting age is at 18. Furthermore, despite some arguing that such age differences

EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS BENEFIT STUDENTS Luke Gardner | Staff Writer

or college students with mental illness, life can be extremely stressful, and the need for emotional support animals is real and should be respected. For these students, having emotional support animals can mean having a friend in times of loneliness and having a distraction while facing a sea of horrifying thoughts. Even when coming from a place of support or genuine concern, students without emotional support animals should avoid asking students with ESAs why they have them. It may seem like a casual conversation starter to some, but essentially it is like asking someone what type of mental illness they have and how it affects the way they live their daily lives, which is a deeply personal question. Students with mental illness should not let anyone else’s beliefs about emotional support animal stop them from getting the therapeutic help that they are entitled to. According to the American Psychological Association, a 2012 study found that 21 percent of students who visited their on-campus counseling centers have severe mental health concerns, while 40 percent have mild mental health concerns. People with emotional support animals are valid in their psychological needs and in their healing process, and/or not

are evened out when 16-year olds are given the right to vote, a 2013 study in the Journal of Electoral Studies found that even when the voting age is lowered to 16, there is no evidence to indicate that adolescent maturity

levels go up. When I think back to my politics at the age of 16, despite having minor differences on some issues, I was still heavily influenced by living with my parents. It was not until I graduated, moved out and began college that I truly began to think for myself about what I wanted out of the world.

“... 71 percent say their social and political ideology is similar to their parents.”

The simple life experiences of being forced to survive on your own, the societal expectations to be an adult crashing down on you and the drastic change in your control of social influences changes you. In the social atmosphere of college, one is exposed to all new ways of thinking, opinion and evidence that previously may have been restricted. This dramatic shift often propels people into entire new frames of mind. The time period of 16 to 18-years old seems to be a very hectic period politically, and attitudes are usually not fully developed. A 2005 Gallup Youth Survey, which asked 13 to 17-year olds to compare their social and political views with those of their parents found that 71 percent say their social and political ideology is similar to their parents. Interest in improving the political participation of young adults would be far better focused on eliminating barriers to voting, such as residency requirements that exclude college students, abolishing rigorous voter ID laws that disfavor young or mobile voters and allowing for same-day voter registration.

Attending college is worth the student debt Gilbert Richardson | Staff Writer

S Logan Sullivan | The Sentinel

receiving special treatment. A person with a mental illness needing an emotional support animal is not the same as someone without a mental illness being allowed to have a pet on campus. While all pets may provide emotional support, the role that ESA’s play in the lives of their owners is vital to their health and sometimes to their survival. It is also important to keep in mind that any domesticated animal can qualify to be registered as an emotional support animal, according to EmotionalPetSupport.com. According to ESAdoctors.com, people suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorders, depression, phobias, personality disorders and stress disorder qualify to have emotional support animals. Once diagnosed with one of the conditions, students can request an emotional support letter from their healthcare professional. They can then go online to register their emotional support animals at esaregristration.org. Students who desire emotional support animals must also go through legalities outside of KSU and are normally required

to have documentation from a licensed physician or mental health professional. Because this process is very involved, it is important for students who need emotional support animals to register them and apply for them to live on campus as soon as possible. According to KSU’s emotional support animal policy, students are allowed to have ESA’s in their housing complex on campus but are “generally not allowed to accompany persons with disabilities in all public areas of Kennesaw State as a service animal is allowed to do.” KSU student housing allows students to have emotional support animals in their dorms. Students must go through an approval process with student disability services which entail the SDS assistant director and/or director reviewing documentation related to the particular student’s emotional support animal. After reviewing the documentation, the director(s) will make the decision and communicate with members of residence life. KSU students with ESAs may be limited in their housing options, as other students who live on campus might have allergies or animal fears. ESAs exist to better the lives of their human companions, and the best way to help them do so is to treat students with ESAs with respect.

Logan Sullivan | The Sentinel

tudent debt is a dire problem that haunts nearly every student, but it is one of the many catalysts of the stream to success that students must go through in order to reach their desired goals. Debt resulting from student loans is at a very high amount nationwide. According to Student Loan Hero, among the 44.2 million student loan borrowers, there is $1.48 trillion worth of student loan debt. This total is about $620 billion more than the United States credit card debt amount. Most career paths still require a degree. It is no secret that the students who have persevered through several taxing semesters, pulled all-nighters to complete projects and dedicated play time for studying are the ones who are earning the big bucks. Additionally, earning a degree of a higher status, such as a doctorate degree, can open doors for higher paying jobs and better wages, making it worth the amount of debt you may face by allowing you to easily pay it off and continue to make even more money. “There are a number of occupations that can lead to success without having to build up college debt, but there are also a number of occupations that require a degree and a certain amount of training, such as what I am pursuing — a

career in the medical field,” said junior biology major Precious N. St. Hilaire. Ultimately, school is so much more than a degree, and paying off the loans may be worth it when thinking about everything a university gives to you as a student. Schools offer intangible assets their students, assets that are not accessible to those who choose not to attend college. Such assets include fellowship with fellow colleagues to establish positive relationships and connections. Also, universities grant their students access to resources that build character, such as involvement in extracurricular activities and professionals who willingly share valuable knowledge to assist students in their quest for success. “I love Kennesaw State,” said Jaylen Waters, a sophomore business major. “The people are friendly when you sit down and talk to them, the school means so much more to me than my education, so yes, I am fine with being in debt to attend such a university.” In general, indebtedness often leads to a state of disdain or despair. While it may be classified as a crushing defeat, student loan debt, on the contrary, is a catalyst that leads to the stream of success.

Kennesaw State University | The Sentinel | March 20, 2018 | Page 5

ARTS AND LIVING

‘Kampus Kulture’ promotes authenticity in the KSU community

KSU STUDENTS CREATE SUSTAINABILITY CLOTHING DRIVE Luke Gardner | Staff Writer OwlSwap is a clothing sustainability initiative started at KSU that collects clothing donated by students, and it aims to raise awareness about the negative impacts of the clothing industry as well as teach students how to be responsible consumers and recyclers. Brittany Pickering, a junior sociology major, and fellow classmates from a geography of clothing class, GEOG 4490, got together with their professor, Jason Rhodes, and discussed creating the initiative in fall 2017. Currently, Rhodes and Dr. Vanessa Slinger-Friedman serve as project coordinators. OwlSwap currently has a clothing recycling bin in the Marietta campus’ Atrium building, and the donated clothing is sent to organizations like Reloom where it is used to create beautiful rugs, tablecloths and accessories such as wallets and scarves. The organization’s leadership eventually hopes to expand the location of the clothing recycling bins to

Lyncoln Doggett | Contributor Two KSU students are using student media to change the way their peers view their campus during a new radio show called “Kampus Kulture.” Every Tuesday and Thursday from 12-2 p.m., juniors Himie Freeman and Khadijah Cantrell immerse their audience in an honest conversation about the KSU community and the world as they see it. The idea for “Kampus Kulture” was developed by Freeman last spring after realizing that there were no campus radio shows that followed the same dialogue style as other podcasts that his peers were listening to, such as “The Breakfast Club.” With this revelation in mind, Freeman joined Cantrell to create a show that would provide a platform for current and future students to network and have their voices heard. “Kampus Kulture” often attracts viewers through concert ticket giveaways and campus events while introducing its audience to various personalities and young creatives from the surrounding area. Whether it be a fraternity, a local musician or an all-girl dance group, featured guests are always exposed to a noholds-barred conversation with the hosts.

“I hope to see the show grow and become a tool for students to become more involved,” Freeman says. Honesty is at the forefront of the docket as they cover potentially controversial topics such as sexual assault, consent and relationships. The hosts of the show create an open and comfortable environment for their guests and audience in order to start conversations about situations that affect students on campus and how people interact with the world around them. “I hope to see the show grow and become a tool for students to become more involved,” Freeman said. Exchanging banter through young adult lingo, Freeman and Cantrell make being involved with campus life seem “hip” and desirable. It is the show’s nature of inclusivity and dynamic approach to current events that makes Kampus Kulture a compliment to other campus shows. “Kampus Kulture” is a unique listening experience that is designed to make the audience feel as if they are sitting in the Owl Radio station and participating in discourse with the show’s hosts and guests. Studens can listen to “Kampus Kulture” on the Owl Radio website at ksuradio.com/listen, on the RadioFX app and can find out more on the Owl Radio Facebook page. Editor’s Note: Owl Radio is a branch of Kennesaw State Student Media which The Sentinel is also a part of.

Owl Radio broadcasts “Kampus Kulture,” and the show attracts listeners with ticket giveaways and campus events. Killian Grina | The Sentinel

include student housing and the Kennesaw campus. Pickering encourages students to donate clothing to the bins instead of taking it to thrift stores since unsold clothes can end up in landfills. OwlSwap also hosts clothing swaps every month, alternating month-to-month between the Kennesaw and Marietta campuses, where local artists display their art. Students interested in participating in the swap are expected to bring in clothing and will receive a ticket for each clothing item accepted. With that ticket, students can take their choice of any other clothing item donated. The next clothing swap will be held Thursday, March 22, on the Kennesaw campus Green from 2-3 p.m. Students interested in volunteering with OwlSwap, and artists who are interested in having their art displayed at OwlSwap events, should email owlswap@kennesaw.edu for more information.

Photos courtesy of Seneca Vaught

Students look at clothes during OwlSwap’s event on March 7 in the university rooms on the Kennesaw campus.

Professor Profile: Tricia Grindel Cydni Cope | Staff Writer Every student pursuing a path in KSU’s school of communication and media has likely taken a writing for public communication course as a prerequisite for their upper division classes. As with most college classes, a textbook is required for it. The author of that textbook is a KSU professor that many students may not know. Tricia Grindel, a senior lecturer in the School of Communication and Media, is the coordinator for that writing for public communication course. She also teaches an editing course and a persuasion course, and her other duties include mentoring new faculty members and tracking student pass-fail rates for the writing course. Grindel says her favorite part about teaching is the students, and throughout her career, her bottom line has always been “people instead of money.” “I like thinking I can make a difference in people’s lives,” Grindel says as she explained her joy of being able to teach young minds. Grindel originally attended Edinboro State University in Pennsylvania before transferring to Point Park University in Pittsburgh to pursue journalism. She graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree and summa cum laude with a master’s degree, both in journalism and communications. Grindel relocated to Atlanta from Pittsburgh in 1985. “The first few months were pretty rough, and I wondered several times if moving here was a mistake,” she says. “But after a couple of months, everything fell into place. Moving to Atlanta turned out to be the best decision I ever made.”

During her practical career in journalism and communication, Grindel worked as the director of education and communications for AID Atlanta during the 1980s AIDS epidemic, creating policies and implementing education programs. She also freelanced full-time and worked in organ and tissue donation and transplantation at LifeLink of Georgia as manager of hospital development before applying to KSU. Her venture at KSU started after viewing an advertisement in 2002 for a full-time faculty position in the communication department, now known as the school of communication and media. “I told them I would teach anything they wanted me to teach — I just wanted to teach,” Grindel says. “It had been one of my goals since I was 18.” Instead, she was hired for a part-time faculty position in 2002 but transitioned to full time in August 2011. She became a senior lecturer in 2015 and taught principles of human communication and public speaking before she began teaching the writing for public communication course. Grindel tells her students to keep their eyes on their dream job, but not to be so focused on it that they miss the wonderful opportunities that may come along the way. “My dream job has always been to be the director of public relations for a nonprofit hospital,” Grindel says. “I’ve never had that job, and, at this stage of my life, I likely never will. But I’ve had some wonderful opportunities and have loved almost every job I’ve ever had. I have no regrets.” When it comes to life experiences, Grindel strongly encourages students to put themselves out there.

‘As You Like It’ brings originality to the Shakespeare classic Zack Elledge | Staff Writer From March 20-25, the KSU department of theatre and performance studies will present a live performance of “As You Like It,” an original screenplay by William Shakespeare, directed by Rick Lombardo, the department chair, and I had the opportunity to attend a rehearsal prior to Tuesday’s opening show. The paramount thing about the performance is the original music composed by Haddon Kime. It’s a choice, one among many, that Lombardo and the cast and crew made to differentiate their version from the others. It works handsomely. As we all know, theatre is better when people are singing, and the songs here are great. The performances—both instrumental and vocal—are done live. If “Feathers and Teeth” were “Pulp Fiction,” then “As You Like It” is “Titanic.” It’s a huge show, with huge sets, huge effects and huge performances. Dawn Eskridge, a manager and part-time instructor

of theatre and performance studies, said, “It may be the biggest thing we’ve ever done.” And it shows. From the early “Wrestle-Mania” sequence to a snowy scene involving a group of people who’ve found refuge in the woods, there’s staggering work being done.

“‘As You Like It’ preserves the traditional Shakespeare script but modernizes the story elements.” The performances really stand out here. Thomas Cox plays the consistently entertaining jester named Touchstone, and Andrea Mora playing Duke Senior — the woman leading a group of people traveling through the forest — brings a tactile warmth and life to

the show. The pairing of Brandel Butler’s Orlando and his servant, Adam — played by Jim Wallace — makes for an early, easy protagonist. Emily Musgrove’s Duke Frederick is an incredibly effective and exciting villain in the first act. Carson Seabolt, who plays a clumsy, lovestruck Shepard Silvius, has a recurring physical gag that virtually steals the show, and L’Oreal Roache, who plays the lead female role of Rosalinda, is also amazing. Many KSU students will better know the story of “As You Like It” as the mid-2000’s Amanda Bynes movie “She’s the Man.” But this embodiment of the story has more parallels to Baz Luhrmann’s “Romeo and Juliet,” a 1996 movie featuring Leonardo DiCaprio, Claire Danes and Harold Perrineau. “As You Like It” preserves the traditional Shakespeare script but modernizes the story elements, and it pays off greatly here as all the actors appear to feel so at home in their roles.

“Become that go-to person,” Grindel says. “Underpromise and overdeliver. Be flexible, as life is ever-changing. Look upon challenges as opportunities. Everyone should do what they love because life is too short to be miserable.” Outside of teaching at KSU, she is the neighborhood watch coordinator for her subdivision and is active in her community. She is also involved at her church as treasurer and a trustee, and she loves outdoor activities such as bicycling, playing tennis, golfing and walking.

Professor Tricia Grindel takes attendance in class.

Katie Nix | The Sentinel

YOUR AD HERE Contact Josh Eastwood at admanager@kennsaw.edu for more information on how to get your ad in The Sentinel.

Page 6 | Kennesaw State University | The Sentinel | March 20, 2018

ARTS AND LIVING

Marquis Holmes | A&L Editor

In celebration of the finale of KSU’s Geek Week, students came out for the inaugural OwlCon, held in the Carmichael student center on the Kennesaw campus March 17 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The event brought out the gaming and animation community and encouraged students and visitors to cosplay their favorite characters. The convention included a host of panel discussions that discussed the fate of DC Comics, introductory cosplay tips and “Dungeons and Dragons” character creation. Gaming competitions and contests also included the meme contest, Super Smash Bros. 4, Hearthstone and the cosplay competition which ultimately awarded the winner with exclusive tickets to MomoCon 2018.

Students participate in OwlCon by cosplaying on March 17.

Juan Pablo | The Sentinel

DOWN 1. Locker room supply 2. Caspian feeder 3. Denim innovator 4. Foolish 5. *Before - flour, water, shortening; After - ____ 6. Announce Red Alert 7. *Before - Clay; After - ____ 8. Brazilian dance 9. Kind of lettuce 10. Turkish honorific 11. Channel marker 12. Always, in verse 15. Run around 20. Artemis’ companion 22. Middle-earth creature 24. Organic matter used as fuel 25. *Before - ____; After Myanmar 26. “Encore!” 27. Move furtively 29. Muscle or strength 31. #17 Across, pl. 32. Quarter side, pl. 33. Empower 34. *Before - ____; After Democratic Republic of Congo 36. *Before - William Michael Albert Broad; After - Billy ____ 38. *Before - New Amsterdam; After - New ____ 42. Like certain foods 45. Amazon, e.g. 49. #me____ 51. *Before - supper; After - ____ 54. “Yours ____” 56. D in LED 57. Prince William’s sport 58. Car shaft 59. Cambodian currency 60. Mint product 61. Salon creation 62. Hostile to 63. Just in case 64. M in rpm 66. ATM extra

March 13 SOLUTION

CROSSWORD:

Before and After

SUDOKU

OWLCON WRAPS UP GEEK WEEK

ACROSS 1. “____ Fever,” movie and novel 6. “Is” in the past 9. Name of the Blue Ox 13. Rome’s Colosseum, e.g. 14. Fla. neighbor 15. Jig, in France 16. Volcanic rock, pl. 17. Basketball hoop 18. Opposite of adore 19. *Before - Rodham; After - ____ 21. *Before - ____; After - Mumbai 23. Make mistakes 24. Prickle on a wire 25. Art degrees 28. Abominable humanoid 30. “American Horror Story: Hotel” hotel 35. Tangerine and grapefruit hybrid 37. Sailor’s call 39. Tarzan’s swing 40. Search without warning 41. Audition tapes 43. Shorter than maxi 44. King of ancient Crete 46. Time distortion 47. Bit of slander 48. Bobbysock 50. Row of vagrants 52. “All the Light We Cannot ____,” novel 53. Auctioneer’s quantities 55. El ____ 57. *Before - ____; After - living room 60. Like misanthrope’s remark 64. Pluck 65. Flying saucer acronym 67. Nary a soul 68. Sicker 69. Waikiki garland 70. Written corrections 71. English playwright Coward 72. Japanese capital 73. Fit out again

March 13 SOLUTION

Listen to Owl Radio! Check them out on the RadioFX app and online at ksuradio.com!

Get involved with The Peak! Apply online at studentmedia.kennesaw.edu!

Kennesaw State University | The Sentinel | March 20, 2018 | Page 7

SPORTS

EGGERTH’S WAY:

Track teams seek to continue excellence outdoors

Rio White | Sports Editor

Over the past several years, there have been few college track and field teams as decorated and dominant as KSU’s squad led by Andy Eggerth, but his demeanor remains is still incredibly humble. A former pole vaulter and an assistant at three other schools before coming to KSU, Eggerth has helped the men’s team win seven straight indoor and five straight outdoor conference championships. He has also led during the rise of the women’s side, who won their first conference titles in both the indoor and outdoor competitions last season. This outdoor season, the teams are looking to improve themselves from the indoor season and continue to set personal bests. The women’s team came just short of defending their indoor conference title this season, but Eggerth maintains that they can get right back up and compete for the outdoor title. “They’ve done a good job, but they just haven’t done everything in their power that they could do,” Eggerth said. “I challenge them to take it a step higher. We’ve got talent there...we’ll have a realistic shot of getting that title back.” Though the men’s team successfully continued

their streak of indoor conference titles earlier this season, that does not stop Eggerth from finding ways to improve. He sees the reality that the current team is excellent relative to other teams but may be lacking in comparison to past KSU teams. With this realistic view, he commends his athletes for their successes but does not delude them into thinking that they are perfect.

“The last thing we can do as a coaching staff or a team is to get complacent because we’ve had a lot of success.” For all the accolades that the teams have garnered, Eggerth’s keen sense of strengths and weaknesses in particular disciplines allows him to adjust every season and avoid stagnation. In addition to the technical side of the sport, he

understands that his relationship with the players is equally as important. “As a head coach I have to find the right balance between...building them up but at the same time challenging them,” Eggerth said. “The last thing that we can do as a coaching staff or as a team is to get complacent because we’ve had a lot of success.” Every year, new and veteran athletes alike on Eggerth’s track teams push themselves both physically and mentally. An inherent desire to improve on skills is perhaps the most important attribute of any recruit that seeks to join KSU’s program. “We try to recruit people that are intrinsically motivated,” Eggerth said. “If you don’t put in the full work in the preseason, you can be as motivated as you want on championship day, but you’re only going to get the results that you’ve earned in the preparation.” The track teams opened their outdoor season at the Yellow Jacket Invitational on March 16 and 17 with Erica Sergeant’s school-record pole vault score highlighting the day. They move on to participate at the Winthrop Adidas Invitational from March 22-24 in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Director Andy Eggerth stands proud as the track teams continue to improve in the ASUN conference.

Photo courtesey of KSU Athletics

Women’s golf finds footing in Mexico tournament Rio White | Sports Editor The women’s golf team placed second at the Hawkeye-El Tigre Invitational in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, over the weekend, finishing with a five-player team total of 28-over par. In a two-day event that began on Friday, March 16, the 48th-ranked Owls placed higher than three teams ranked above them in the Golfstat college golf polls. Junior Roanne Tomlinson was the top individual finisher for the Owls with a threeround total of 4-over 220, finishing eighth overall. KSU’s Medy Thavong of KSU played as a non-attached individual and finished second overall with an even-par 216. The team survived a tough two-round first day

Sophomore catcher Daniel Seres (25) slams the ball to the outfield against Evansville on Feb. 24.

and kept its composure in Saturday’s final round to finish over ranked Wisconsin, San Diego State and Washington. “This is a huge result for this team and so well earned,” said head coach Rhyll Brinsmead. “This result is so satisfying because the team went out and earned a second-place finish in a strong field.” The Owls found most of their scoring success on par-5 holes where they excelled to a team score of 9-under, just two strokes behind tournament winners the University of Arizona. On par-3 holes, the Owls finished in the middle of the pack and were 12 strokes behind the category leaders.

As the only team to have their best scoring round on the final day, the Owls are continuing to strengthen their credentials in preparation for the Atlantic Sun Conference Championships next month. After finishing third last season, the Owls are looking to break North Florida’s hold on the last two ASUN titles. “We have practiced diligently, and the team executed so well today in really tough and windy conditions,” Brinsmead said. “I am so happy for them and Kennesaw State.” Up next, the women’s golf team will host the Henssler Intercollegiate, which will be played from Monday, March 26, to Tuesday, March 27, at Pinetree Country Club in Kennesaw.

Chris Brown | The Sentinel

Baseball routed by Bulldogs, improves against Sooners Perry Turnipseed | Staff Writer The baseball team played four road games last week, dropping a 15-3 game against the University of Georgia on Tuesday, March 13, before taking only one of three weekend games at Oklahoma. Against UGA, Jake Franklin led the Owls with three hits, establishing an early 3-0 lead in the second inning. Garrett Hodges and Tyler Simon each had two hits and one RBI. An RBI double from Hodges, a sacrifice fly from Terrence Norman and an RBI single from Simon gave KSU the advantage. The Bulldogs quickly responded and scored seven runs in the next two innings to take a 14-3 lead. They went on to score one more run and blanked the Owls for the rest of the game to get the victory. Traveling to Norman, Oklahoma, the Owls began their series against the Sooners Friday night. Grant Williams led the Owls with two hits, but the star of the day was starting pitcher AJ Moore. He pitched five innings, had a careerhigh nine strikeouts and allowed just four hits without giving up a run. He was taken out after five innings, and the relief effort could not continue the shutout. The game was scoreless until the sixth inning when Moore was taken out, and the Sooners scored from two walks. The Owls countered in the next inning as Norman scored on a wild pitch to make the game 2-1. The Sooners added a third run in the bottom of the seventh to give the game a final score of 3-1.

The second game mirrored the first one as a pitcher’s duel, and no runs were scored until the seventh inning. Taylor Allum was the Owls’ most successful hitter with one hit and one RBI while Brooks Buckler pitched six-and-one-third innings and allowed eight hits, two runs and two strikeouts. The scoreless tie was broken when Allum put the Owls on top 1-0, but the bottom half of the seventh inning saw Oklahoma score four runs on four hits, giving the game a 4-1 final score. The Owls closed out their series in Norman on Sunday afternoon in a game that had very different features than the previous two, showcasing an Owls slugfest as they came out on top 9-4. Jake Rothwell was the starting pitcher for the Owls and had a successful outing, pitching six innings, allowing eight hits, allowing one run and recording six strikeouts. By the fourth inning, the Owls were out to an 8-0 lead courtesy of home runs by Helms, Simon and LaDonis Bryant, while AJ Willoughby hit a two-run double. After Norman hit an RBI single to increase the lead to 9-0, the Sooners would score one run in each of the last four innings to make the final score 9-4. Next up, the Owls will be back home to take on Jacksonville State at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, March 21.

The Owls run out of the tunnel, led by sophomore Peyton Moore (40) in last season’s Big South Championship game on Nov. 18, 2017.

Abbie Bythewood | The Sentinel

Owls hope to preserve success in spring game Rio White | Sports Editor The football team will host its fourth annual spring game on Friday, March 23, at 7 p.m., showcasing both veterans of last season’s successful team and new players from this year’s recruiting class. Four players from last season are unavailable because of injuries, classes and graduation, including graduating AP third-team AllAmerican Zach Mitchler who started all 36 games of his college career. As a result, center C.J. Collins is the only member from last season’s solid offensive line to be actively participating in spring practices.

Defensively, some of the most important figures of the past three seasons left in Taylor Henkle, Izzy Sam and Tonarius Portress, and it remains to be seen who is to fill the void left by them. Their leadership, along with their physical talents, will be missed as the defensive unit seeks a leader. A number of returning players will be on both sides of the field, however, including quarterback Chandler Burks, wide receiver Justin Sumpter and linebacker Bryson Armstrong. In addition, the dynamic rushing attack from last season remains intact, with key players Darnell Holland,

Jake McKenzie and Shaquil Terry set to feature once again. Other returning stars include Anthony Gore Jr., Akebren Ralls, Bronson Rechsteiner and Justin Thompson. The 14 new signings in this year’s class will look to make their mark in the spring game, especially the transfers who already have college experience. Admission to the spring game is free and will be streamed live on ESPN

Page 8 | Kennesaw State University | The Sentinel | March 20, 2018

SPORTS

SOFTBALL SHUTS OUT PANTHERS, TAKE TWO OF THREE FROM SPARTANS Vincent Coakley | Staff Writer

Sophomore pitcher Ally Cunning (15) throws a pitch against Rutgers University on Feb. 24.

The softball team stayed strong last week, defeating Georgia State 8-0 on Wednesday, March 14, before taking two of three from the University of South Carolina Upstate over the weekend. A combination of shutout pitching from sophomore Alley Cutting along with a trio of home runs from Maddie Roth, Kira Czyrklis and Raleigh Williams proved to be too much for the Panthers in an 8-0 home win for the Owls Wednesday night. The game’s tone was set early with Cutting allowing only one hit while the offense produced four runs of their own in the first inning. Roth took advantage of two previous singles by batting them in while she later scored on a double from Patrica Awald, who herself would score later in the inning for the team’s fourth run. Following a pair of of hitless innings from Cutting, the Owls struck again on a home run from Roth in her first at bat of the third inning. The Panthers nearly clawed back

Richard Blythe | The Sentinel

into the game in the fifth inning when they were set up with the bases loaded and only one out, but Cutting kept a cool head to keep GSU scoreless. KSU closed out the game in the sixth with a pair of home runs from Czyrklis and Williams, after which the game was called on a mercy-run rule.

comeback bid by the Spartans was stopped short at just one run. Cutting put in another quality performance from the mound, pitching a complete game for her sixth win. Later that day, the only run of the second game came on a wild pitch as the Spartans won 1-0. The Owls’ bats couldn’t crack the code of opposing pitcher Erin Hill, only producing two hits. Despite a solid overall pitching performance, only giving up two hits, Abigail Green lost her start. Sunday’s game saw another tight affair as the Owls turned the tables to win 1-0. Much like the previous game, an error proved to be the difference in the game. Olivia Tamewitz scored on an error by the Spartan’s shortstop after a sharp ground ball by Noelle Winkles. Green and Cutting combined for a dominant pitching performance, totaling seven strikeouts Up next, the Owls take on Liberty University at home for a doubleheader on Wednesday, March 21.

“The softball team has won 11 of their last 12 games, including nine at home.” The Owls then won two of three weekend games against the Spartans in Spartanburg, South Carolina. In Saturday’s games, the Owls opened with a 2-1 victory. Awald’s solo home run in the fourth inning proved to be the difference as a late

Men's tennis improves, close non-conference play Rio White | Sports Editor The men’s tennis team defeated South Carolina State 4-3 on Sunday, March 18, winning five out of its last six matches, and built considerable momentum heading into conference play. Drew Lahey and Bryan Triana got the Owls out to a hot start, defeating their Bulldogs doubles opponents in a 6-2 scoreline. Soon after, senior Corey Smith featured alongside Harrison Wood in a doubles victory, also winning 6-2 to secure the doubles point for the team. As the singles matches began, freshman Triana helped power the Owls ahead. After getting through the first set 6-3, Triana blanked his

opponent 6-0 in the second set. Fermin Calvo Barcelo had a more difficult match on his hands, being taken to a tiebreaker in the first set and winning it 7-3. He then beat his opponent in the second set 6-1 to give the owls a 3-0 advantage early on. The Bulldogs refused to give in, taking the next three matchups to tie the overall score at 3-3. Lahey and Harrison Wood took both of their singles matches to three sets. Lahey took the second set of his match after dropping the first but fell 6-3 in the final set to lose out. Wood took his match to a third-set tiebreaker but dropped it 7-4.

Smith played a two-set match, narrowly falling in the first set 6-4 before coming up just short in a second-set tiebreaker. After going down 6-4 in his first set, Lucas de Torres Curth fought through two difficult sets and took them both 7-5. Losing its first five matches of the year, the men’s tennis team has improved its record over the last month to 5-6. The Owls will begin conference play at home this upcoming weekend, hosting Lipscomb on Saturday, March 24, before playing Gardner-Webb March 25.

Registration for summer courses at UNG is open! Apply Now! UNG.edu/apply See course offerings for all five campuses at go.ung.edu/courses.

Freshman Bryan Triana returns the ball with a backhand hit against the Georgia Southern Eagles on March 9.

3-POINT PREDICTIONS PURDUE V. #3TEXAS TECH

MICHIGAN V. #7TEXAS A&M #7NEVADAV. #11LOYOLA-CHICAGO #3

Richard Blythe | The Sentinel

(12-11)

Cory Hancock Editor-in-Chief

(13-10)

Abbie Bythewood Engagement Director

(11-12)

Rio White

Sports Editor

(10-13)

Payton Butler

Production Manager

(10-7)

Doug Malone

Owl Radio Sports Director

PURDUE

TTU

MICHIGAN

TAMU

MICHIGAN

LOYOLA

NEVADA

LOYOLA

NEVADA