July 18, 2017 KSU Sentinel by Kennesaw State University Student Media

VOL. 50 ISSUE 26 | SINCE 1967

JULY 18, 2017

THE SENTINEL KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY | THE SENTINEL

OLENS DISCUSSES UNIVERSITY’S RECOVERY FROM

FINANCIAL MISCONDUCT

Sierra Hubbard Editor Emeritus

Vice President Mike Pence speaks at the 2017 Conservative Political Action Conference.

Photo Courtesy of Gage Skidmore

ALUMNUS NAMED CHIEF OF STAFF TO VP PENCE Keith Stillman Staff Writer

SNEAK PEEK

Vice President Mike Pence named KSU alumnus Nick Ayers his new chief of staff on June 29, according to the White House. Nick Ayers, who graduated from KSU in 2009, was chosen as the replacement for Josh Pitcock, Pence’s former chief of staff. Pitcock resigned after 12 years of service to Pence. Ayers previously worked as Pence’s chief political strategist during the 2016 presidential campaign.

Ayers will formally begin serving in the new position on August 1. He will oversee the vice president’s staff, manage his schedule and work to resolve problems and disputes before they make it to the vice president. The chief of staff also functions as advisor, aiding the vice president with important decisions. Ayers, a Cobb County resident and a graduate of South Cobb High School, began his

CARING FOR CAREGIVERS Story Starts On Page 4

political career campaigning for former Gov. Sonny Purdue upon graduating high school in 2002. Over next seven years, he earned a bachelor’s degree in political science while serving as executive director of the Republican Governor’s Association. He was voted among “Time Magazine’s 40 Under 40” most influential people in politics in 2012. Chief of Staff continued on pg. 3

CAMPUS CARRY LACKS OVERSIGHT Story Starts On Page 6

In June 2016, the University System of Georgia released a series of audits that detailed financial misconduct at Kennesaw State University. The audits include allegations that span everything from dining services’ $5 million debt to the KSU Foundation funding car payments for the former president every three years. One year later, President Sam Olens sat down with The Sentinel to address the university’s progress and

financial standing. Dining Deficit The biggest hurdle is dining services’ $5 million deficit. Many of the eateries on the Kennesaw campus have been consistently losing money each year, sometimes totaling as much as $200,000. This year, Olens said, the university is set to break even. Audit Update continued on pg. 3

HOUSING CONSIDERS MORE ON-CAMPUS OPTIONS Lauren Leathers Staff Writer University Housing and Residence Life officials are discussing the prospect of building additional oncampus housing for firstyear students as enrollment continues to grow. Freshman enrollment has increased by 73 percent in the

last five years, according to data from the KSU Fact Book, and the drastic increase has led to the demand for additional oncampus housing.

GEAR UP FOR

ATHLETIC DIRECTOR

BACK TO SCHOOL

Story Starts On Page 8

Housing continued on pg. 2

FLIES NORTH

Story Starts On Page 13

PAGE 2

KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY | THE SENTINEL | JULY 18, 2017

NEWS

The Center for Election Systems at Kennesaw State University will no longer handle the state’s elections after June 2018.

Ryan Basden | The Sentinel

ELECTION CENTER WILL NO LONGER MANAGE STATE’S VOTING Madeline McGee News Editor KSU’s Center for Election Systems, which has been plagued with security issues for the past several months, will no longer oversee the state’s elections. According to a report from the Atlanta-Journal Constitution, the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office has signed a terminal contract with the Center for Election Systems, which has handled elections for the state since 2002. It will begin moving voting operations in-house over the course of the Housing continued from pg. 1 Jeff Cooper, director of residence life, said the demand indicates strong support for additional first-year housing. This would complement the University Village, University Village Suites and KSU Place on the Kennesaw campus and Howell Hall and Hornet Village Suites on the Marietta campus. “If first-year housing is constructed, it would be

next year. The final contract will allow the CES to continue overseeing elections through June 2018, although it allows either party to terminate the relationship before this date. The election center’s security was first called into question in March when the FBI began investigating a data breach that allegedly left millions of voter records vulnerable. The breach was traced back to independent cybersecurity researcher Logan Lamb, who in August

2016 began assessing state voting security amid reports of Russian meddling in United States elections. Lamb found an extensive database of voting files available for download on the public CES website. Lamb told Politico the files contained not only registration records for 6.7 million Georgia voters, but instructions and passwords for accessing a central election server and software files for the devices that allow election workers to review and verify

registration records. Lamb said he contacted the CES in hopes the vulnerability would be addressed before the 2016 Presidential election, but it was not. In fact, the breach did not become public until March, when another cybersecurity researcher found the same data and contacted the university. The university is expected to cooperate in the decision. “We support the Secretary of State’s decision and look forward to helping facilitate a smooth transition,” KSU

President Sam Olens said. The security failure was cited in a Fulton County lawsuit challenging the results of Georgia’s 6th District special election in June, won by Republican Karen Handel. The state has said there is no evidence that neither the presidential election nor the 6th District special election was hacked.

reserved exclusively for those students,” Cooper said. “We also recognize that housing demand remains high for our upper division students so those considerations are also reflected in our discussions.” According to Cooper, options are being reviewed to expand housing options on both the Kennesaw and Marietta campuses, but no final decision has been made yet. Currently, first-year students at the Marietta campus that are

enrolled in academic programs are required to live oncampus. According to Cooper, it is possible that a similar requirement could expand to the Kennesaw campus in the future. Cooper believes an oncampus housing requirement could enhance the college experience for residential students, socially and academically. “Our data illustrates that, generally-speaking, KSU

students who live on campus perform better academically than those who live off campus,” Cooper said. “In addition, they are more likely to return to KSU for a second year.” Cooper explained that the requirement would allow the administration to provide each incoming student with a sense of belonging, community, leadership, involvement opportunities and increased access to campus resources. He said that a construction

timeline would become available if additional housing is approved. “Timelines for construction projects include many variables that would affect the length to project completion, including the type of facility and how many beds would be constructed,” Cooper said. The Sentinel will continue to post updates to this story as it develops.

PAGE 3

KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY | THE SENTINEL | JULY 18, 2017

THE SENTINEL

THE SENTINEL IS A DESIGNATED PUBLIC FORUM. STUDENT EDITORS HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE ALL CONTENT DECISIONS WITHOUT CENSORSHIP OR ADVANCE APPROVAL. INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS NEWSPAPER AND ITS WEBSITE IS IN NO WAY CONTROLLED BY THE KSU ADMINISTRATION, FACULTY OR STAFF.

The Sentinel Student Center, RM 162 B BLDG 5 395 Cobb Ave NW Kennesaw, GA 30144-5591

PHONE

470-578-6470

sentinel@ksumedia.com

WEBSITE

ksusentinel.com

ADVERTISING ksuads.com

THE SENTINEL SUMMER 2017 staff information EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR-IN-CHIEF CORY HANCOCK

eic@ksusentinel.com MANAGING EDITOR ALEX PATTON managingeditor@ksusentinel.com NEWS EDITOR MADELINE MCGEE newseditor@ksusentinel.com OPINION EDITOR REBEKAH FUCHKO opinioneditor@ksusentinel.com ARTS & LIVING EDITOR RAYCHLE WILKINSON artseditor@ksusentinel.com SPORTS EDITOR DARRIN HYPSHER sportseditor@ksusentinel.com

STAFF PRODUCTION MANAGER BRITTANY MCFETTERS

production@ksusentinel.com PHOTO EDITOR RYAN BASDEN photoeditor@ksusentinel.com ENGAGEMENT DIRECTOR ABBIE BYTHEWOOD engagement@ksusentinel.com

KSU STUDENT MEDIA ADVISER ED BONZA adviser@ksumedia.com

KSU STUDENT MEDIA ADVERTISING advertising@ksusm.com

@KSU_SENTINEL

@KSUSENTINEL

OWLLIFE.KENNESAW.EDU/ ORGANIZATON/SENTINEL

JOIN US

NEWS

Chief of Staff continued from pg. 1 “During my years as governor, then as a candidate and serving as vice president, I have come to appreciate Nick’s friendship, keen intellect and integrity,” Pence said in a White House press statement. “I couldn’t be more excited to have him come to the White House as my chief of staff.” Ayers echoed the vice president’s enthusiasm. “I have such deep respect and admiration for the Pences and believe so deeply in the policies the vice president and the president are fighting for,” Ayers said in a statement. “Leaving Georgia, albeit temporarily, was only possible because of how important my wife and I believe this mission is. I am honored with the trust the vice president has in me and [am] excited to serve in this capacity.” Steven Ellis, president of the Audit Update continued from pg. 1 “The goal is that we will make a dent in the deficit by this next fiscal year,” he said. But breaking even is a start, and Olens said it took plenty of changes to get to that point. Contracts with third-party vendors were amended per suggestion from the USG, including removing a $750,000 catering budget just for the former president. Additionally, dining services transitioned from being run by a third-party vendor to a model of selfoperation this summer. Self-operating the facilities means the university can better manage waste, costs, personnel and other factors that affect the bottom-line without paying a middleman. “It’s a win for the students from the dollars perspective,” Olens said. “From a food perspective, it tasted just as good to me as before. I didn’t notice any difference at all.” In addition to the cost savings, this model also allows the Leven School of Culinary Sustainability and Hospitality to be more involved in dining services. Third-party vendors would not allow students to cook food or perform other duties, but now these students can apply their learning in a practical environment. Olens also pointed out that the elimination of mandatory

Nick Ayers graduated from KSU in 2009.

Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia Commons

KSU alumni association, said having a KSU alumnus serving in such an esteemed office raises the national visibility and credibility of the university, which is a benefit to every student. “[Ayers has] always been an impressive and successful

leader that gains the respect of all those around him,” Ellis said. Ellis, a KSU alumnus himself, said that KSU alumni everywhere should be proud of Ayers’ achievements. “It takes being black and gold and proud and bold to a whole new level,” Ellis said.

meal plans for commuter students, which will fully take effect during the upcoming semester, was another recommendation from the USG in last year’s audits. Olens noted, however, that many of these changes had already been put into place when he took office in November 2016. “A lot of credit goes to the interim president, Houston Davis,” Olens said. “I’ve certainly continued the process that he started.” Culture of Ethics He also addressed the many personnel transitions that have occurred over the last year, including adding a new chief business officer, chief legal officer, chief information officer and internal auditor, among other positions. These changes, Olens explained, reflected the university’s dire need for a better culture of ethics. “It only related to several people — that’s the good news,” he said. “The bad news was the people were high up so that they had more effect.” As for the audits’ concerns with the integrity of the KSU Foundation, the entity that manages private gifts and contributions to the university, Olens credits Jim Dunn with correcting those problems. Dunn is acting head of the foundation and will officially take over in August.

“The relationship between the foundation and the university — and the foundation and the University System of Georgia — is probably the best it’s been in years,” Olens said. “Jim has done a great job with that. He’s really spent a lot of time to improve those relationships.” Looking Ahead Change, Olens said, is a normal part of any university, and most of the major steps to address the audit issues have been completed. “We’re probably 80 percent through all the processes that were necessary,” Olens said. “It is my expectation that we will complete the journey by the end of August.” He is now looking ahead to new projects that will affect students on both campuses. A new building, called the Academic Learning Center, is in the works to be built next to the student center on the Kennesaw campus, which Olens said will hold more classrooms. On the Marietta campus, KSU will be expanding Building G and updating the labs. “There are so many faculty doing great work here, so many students doing great work here,” Olens said. “It was really essential to get past the audits and move to the future. Having said that, you had to clean up the errors before you could do that.”

NEWS

PAGE 4

KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY | THE SENTINEL | JULY 18, 2017

Jacobi Mapp (left) and exercise science senior Sarah Taufiq (right) participate in a cardiovascular edurance exercise at the Health Fair on March 15, 2016.

Cory Hancock | The Sentinel

GRANT TO HELP NURSING STUDENTS PRACTICE SELF-CARE Sabrina Kerns Staff Writer KSU’s Center for Health Promotion and Wellness recently accepted a $3,500 grant from the American Health Foundation to fund a program that helps nursing students stay healthy and manage their stress. The grant money will help to support Staying Healthy in Nursing School, or SHINS, a program created by senior nursing major Alison Mutton to help her peers succeed while maintaining their health. Sherry Grable, director of the Center for Health Promotion and Wellness, accepted the award at the AHF’s annual meeting this year in Austin, Texas. “The grant brings a fresh surge of enthusiasm to keep this program moving forward,” Mutton said. SHINS is a yearlong program designed to encourage students to set exercise, free time, nutrition and social connectedness goals while participating in the program’s monthly health challenges.

The AHF’s grant will help fund healthy activities for nursing students such as new cooking demonstration classes and specialized yoga sessions. It will also fund more sophisticated software to track student progress and allow the department to hire an intern. Grable and her team will put on cooking demonstrations promoting healthy eating. Students will learn to make dishes such as Greek Pita Pizza, Breakfast on the Go, Slammin’ Salmon Tacos, Grillin’ and Chillin’ Burgers and You Have a Pizza My Heart. The group also plans to hire a separate yoga instructor to hold sessions in the health sciences building on the Kennesaw campus to make the sessions more accessible to nursing students. “Bringing yoga to them will make it easy to relax, have fun and encourage social interaction among their peers,” Grable said. Mutton founded the program

in fall 2016 when she found a few other students during orientation who wanted to focus on staying healthy during school. They held each other accountable to their health and fitness goals, and they created 30-day challenge to ensure they were getting the exercise they needed. Students continued to join their group until they had over one hundred nursing students in the program. Many of the nursing students in the program, like senior nursing major Rachel Howard, believe SHINS offers a community where students can support each other and hold each other accountable. “Now that I’m part of the SHINS program, it’s a lot easier for me to make goals for myself, both as part of the program and with goals outside of the particular challenge each month,” Howard said. “I’m a lot more motivated to work toward them when I have so much support.” Each month, students that

choose to participate receive a different health challenge that focuses on nutrition, exercise, and mindfulness. These challenges include increasing physical activity, eating five servings of fruits and vegetables daily, drinking water, getting enough sleep, meditation or practicing time management. “For nursing students with a very full schedule, the idea of adding something to their jam-packed schedule can be overwhelming,” Grable said. “This program will encourage those participating to set realistic and attainable goals that work with their schedules.” Students also receive incentives for completing health challenges throughout the year. For every challenge completed, students will receive a charm to go on a chain bracelet that students can either wear around their wrists or attach to their backpacks. The school will also choose the top three students at the end of each month to receive a $15

prize that encourages healthy living such as a yoga mat, a bag of healthy groceries, an adult coloring book or a relaxation CD. “Too often, nursing students wear exhaustion as a badge of honor,” Mutton said. “The SHINS program gives nursing students a chance to see selfcare as something of which to be proud.” A planning committee consisting of nursing students, health educators, dietitians, licensed professional counselors, exercise science professionals and nursing faculty are working to lead the program and will be available to students throughout the year to help craft and reach realistic goals. “We want a generation of healthy nurses that are going to be able to be energetic caregivers for the rest of their lives,” senior nursing major Robin McCarthy said.

PAGE 5

OPINION

KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY | THE SENTINEL | JULY 18, 2017

THE NEW MEAL PLAN IS

Luke Gardner Staff Writer Beginning fall 2017, all students living on campus will be required to purchase a meal plan that is overpriced and wasteful, with the possibility of extra swipes being squandered at the end of the semester. The details of the new plan can be found on KSU’s Dining web page, which states “beginning in fall 2017, freshmen and sophomores with 0-59 earned credit hours living in campus housing will automatically be assessed a meal plan for $1,890,” and that “juniors and seniors with 60

OVERPRICED AND WASTEFUL or more earned credit hours living in campus housing will automatically be assessed a meal plan for $489.” Admittedly, this practice is common for most American universities, according to NBC, but that doesn’t make it any more affordable. It’s important to consider that many students don’t have any other option but to live on campus. Students with majors located primarily on Marietta campus are required to live on campus their first year, according to KSU’s Housing and Residence Life. Additionally, Kennesaw

campus offers unique housing communities for students who are queer, disabled or international. This makes living on campus the best choice for many because it can be extremely difficult for transgender and disabled people to find housing that they can comfortably live in. It also helps international students navigate a new country, culture and possibly a new language. Other students may find themselves without transportation unless they choose to live on campus. On another note, students

with special dietary needs will be forced to pay for hundreds of meals in a dining hall that provides them with limited options. According to USA Today, Brown University has eliminated this problem entirely by creating a menu that excludes the main food allergens from their kitchen. Other schools have made The Best Colleges list for top 10 colleges with the most “cutting-edge” meal plans due to changes made to their meal plans or dining halls, but the bar seems pretty low. Oklahoma State University made the cut

simply because they allow meal plan swipes to roll over into following semesters. With all these issues in mind, I propose that KSU offer students affordable and customizable meal plans with better options for those who have special dietary needs. In the meantime, those of us required to buy meal plans can use our extra swipes to feed hungry people, which can be done through ShareMeals, a food-sharing smartphone app.

ASK THE OWLS: What do you think of the new meal plan starting fall semester? “I’m getting robbed. I just saw the charge when I pulled up my tuition fees and I didn’t even get to pick anything. I barely go to The Commons anyway.” Joel Kayamba, freshman computer science major

“At the end of the semester people will have wasted so much money. If Kennesaw brought in more options it might be worth it, but right not it kind of sucks.”

Cole Grisham, sophomore mechanical engineering major

“I’m glad I don’t live on campus because I couldn’t afford it. I’m against it and don’t think it should be mandatory, but I do understand why they do it: so they don’t have to lay people off. I used to work at The Commons and when there aren’t enough swipes, the less money they make.” Sarah Hyde, senior dance major

OPINION

KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY | THE SENTINEL | JULY 18, 2017

OPINION: TO WIN, DEMOCRATS MUST GO LEFT Zachary McDowell Staff Writer By not learning from its costly failures in 2016, the Democratic Party is reaching new heights of arrogance and incompetence. In the case of Jon Ossoff, the Democratic candidate in Georgia’s 6th Congressional District election, his neoliberal views —such as not wanting to raise taxes on the rich and opposing a singlepayer healthcare system — won him the support of the DNC and its donors. This provided him with huge sums of money and support — but not the support of voters. The special election between Ossoff and Republican Karen Handel represents the most expensive congressional election in U.S. history, exceeding $50 million spent between the two candidates. It’s important to note that

in District 6, Donald Trump beat Hillary Clinton by one percentage point. But on June 20, 2017 — with the Republican Party in turmoil over health care reform and Trump’s approval rating reaching historic lows — Ossoff lost to Handel by four points. The issue was not that Ossoff wasn’t conservative enough in his stances. Rather, it was that he was not liberal enough to give liberals and progressives reason enough to vote for him. When you give conservative voters the choice between a Republican and a Republican, they’ll vote Republican every time. Even Handel said he “talks like a Republican.” The DNC would rather continue losing elections, performing business as usual, rather than winning elections

with progressive candidates. To establishment Democrats, maintaining the status quo is the top priority. Jon Ossoff gave the people of District 6 virtually nothing to vote for, just as the Democratic Party gives people nothing to vote for, existing only as the party of “…but, Trump!” How are reducing government waste or “bringing the government up to private sector standards” supposed to get people out to the polls? What does the Alpharetta Tech Corridor have to do with bettering the lives of people in Georgia District 6? To quote Ossoff himself: “I’m interested in delivering results that require bipartisanship and that’s what voters in this district want.” No, Jon. Voters want access to good and affordable healthcare,

decent paying jobs, good schools for their children, etc. — all which Republicans are actively trying to destroy. The only way to win elections is to muster up the courage to stand up and fight for policies that actually matter to people, that will actually improve their quality of life. Maybe if Ossoff had run on such a platform, 42 percent of all registered voters in District 6 wouldn’t have stayed home on election day. Voters are tired of voting for pragmatism, incrementalism and bipartisanship. If Democrats want to win, they need to stop trying to be Republican-lite. Instead, Democrats must go left — and they have to mean it.

‘CAMPUS CARRY’ LEGISLATION NEEDS EXTENDED ACCOUNTABILITY Rebekah Fuchko Opinion Editor The “campus carry” legislation makes it relatively easy for license-holders to find out where they can and cannot carry a concealed handgun on campus. However, these rules are also relatively easy to break because license holders are accountable only to themselves unless they are caught. “Responsibility” — a word riddled throughout the University System of Georgia “campus carry” legislation. These rules, which most public colleges and universities in Georgia have implemented, leave a lot up to chance. The law does provide valuable information about where students can and cannot carry a weapon, but

it also states that “it is the responsibility of those who choose to carry handguns on campus to make themselves aware of where and when they can do so.” In all fairness, this also forces those not participating in the allowances of the legislation to be “responsible” for knowing the same information as well if they want to remain aware of what is and what is not allowed in their location. Accountability to ensure students follow these rules falls to law enforcement, but they have no right to intervene unless someone is caught violating the rules — the key word here being “caught.” According to the law, “faculty members may not ask license-

holders to reveal that they are carrying concealed handguns or in any way discourage them from doing what they are legally allowed to do,” but other USG guidelines state that license holders cannot carry a gun in “faculty, staff or administrative offices.” With these two rules considered, there doesn’t leave much accountability in place to stop a licensed carrier from continuously violating rules. Since the “campus carry” legislation covers concealed handguns only, it would be relatively easy to hide such violations if no one is allowed to ask if they’re carrying. If the “campus carry” legislation was amended to allow students, faculty and staff

to ask license holders if they are carrying, but only when they’re occupying prohibited areas, it would serve as the start to a compromise and a heightened sense of responsibility for more than just the individual carrying a handgun. It all comes back to that pesky word again: “responsibility.” The responsibility on the gun owner’s part is exchanged for trust from everyone else. However, just as a licensed carrier has a right to carry a concealed handgun on campus, those around them should have a right, at least in prohibited spaces, to ask them if they’re carrying.

PAGE 6

THE SENTINEL

CONTACT US WANT TO SUBMIT AN OPINION ARTICLE? EMAIL: OPINIONEDITOR@ KSUSENTINEL.COM MUST BE IN AP STYLE & INCLUDE HEADSHOT. LETTER POLICY 1.) The Sentinel will try to print all letters received. Letters should be 200 words long. Exceptions are made at the discretion of the editors. We reserve the right to edit all letters submitted for brevity, content and clarity. 2.) The writer must include full name, year and major if a student, professional title if a KSU employee, and city if a Georgia resident. 3.) For verification purposes, students must also supply the last four digits of their student ID number and a phone number. This information will not be published. E-mail addresses are included with letters published in the web edition. 4.) Contributors are limited to one letter every 30 days. Letters thanking individuals or organizations for personal services rendered cannot be accepted. We do not publish individual consumer complaints about specific businesses. 5.) If it is determined that a letter writer’s political or professional capacity or position has a bearing on the topic addressed, then that capacity or position will be identified at the editor’s discretion. 6.) While we do not publish letters from groups endorsing political candidates, The Sentinel will carry letters discussing candidates and campaign issues. 7.) All letters become property of The Sentinel. 8.) All comments and opinions in signed columns are those of the author and not necessarily of The Sentinel staff, its advisers or KSU and do not reflect the views of the faculty, staff, student body, the Student Media or the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. Columns are opinions of only the columnist. They do not reflect the views of The Sentinel, but instead offer a differing viewpoint. The Sentinel is the student newspaper of Kennesaw State University. The Sentinel is published weekly (Tuesdays) during the school year. First three copies are free; additional copies are $1.00. No part of The Sentinel may be reproduced without the express written permission of the editor-in-chief.

PAGE 7

KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY | THE SENTINEL | JULY 18, 2017

AND

ARTS LIVING

Summer still holds an adventure or two, even with less than two months left.

Photo courtesy of freestocks.org

LAST MINUTE IDEAS TO CAP OFF THE PERFECT SUMMER Connor Zielke Staff Writer With August barreling closer, it’s easy to resign yourself to the idea that summer is on its deathbed, but this last month can be productive and fun if you let it. If you are taking summer courses, end the summer on a high note by smashing through your finals and enjoying a little time off before the fall semester. A month is plenty of time to gather a gang of friends and take an iconic summer road trip. The Optimal Road Trip is an interactive map detailing

a continuous trip around the continental U.S. that hits one major landmark in every state. Utilize this route to make the most of your end-ofsummer trip. If a cross-country road trip isn’t possible, or just isn’t your thing, there are a plethora of things to do in Atlanta. On July 22, the 7th Annual Atlanta Ice Cream Festival will be held in Piedmont Park from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., with free entry. The festival is family friendly and focuses on promoting a healthy lifestyle through diet and exercise.

Another local summer fling is Georgia Restaurant Week. From July 17-23, restaurants across the Atlanta area will be offering special, fixed prices on food to “increase awareness about Georgia’s culinary scene while highlighting the state’s unique and varied dining options,” according to the Georgia Restaurant Week website. A map of all participating restaurants can be online found online. If you want a change of pace from the hustle and bustle of the city, the 67th Annual

Georgia Mountain Fair takes place July 21-29 at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds. The fair promises musical performances, arts and crafts, carnival rides, and a few lessons on the history of North Georgia. Admission is $12, and children 12 and under get in for free. You can also opt for the 3-day pass at $33 or the Fun Fair pass at $90, which covers all nine days. Parking is free, but pets are not allowed. The Hero Run 5K on Aug. 5 at the Kennesaw First Baptist Church caters to any athlete looking to cap off their summer

for a good cause. Registering for the 5K run costs $25, and all earnings will be donated to benefit wounded veterans. The run is expected to host more than 2,000 runners, both recreational and serious and is part of the Kennesaw Grand Prix Series. The Metro Atlanta area has so much to offer as the summer winds down, so grab some friends, make some plans and end your summer on a high note.

PAGE 8

ARTS AND LIVING

KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY | THE SENTINEL | JULY 18, 2017

MANAGING THE BACK-TO-SCHOOL CHAOS Lauren Leathers Staff Writers Preparing to go back to school may seem dreadful, but here are five simple tasks that can make the transition less painful. Just as it seems summer began, it quickly comes to an end. Regardless of how long you’ve been in school, the first day back can be overwhelming. The beginning of each semester means a fresh start. New opportunities to excel in all areas are presented, and this semester could be the best yet. 1. Tie up any loose ends One of the many joys of summer is being able to choose how to spend free time. Whether it be binging on a new Netflix series, picking up a new book or completing a bucket list of adventures, it is a good idea to wrap up these final moments of freedom before Fall semester begins. With a clutter-free mind and a complete list of activities, one can be completely focused on school once the semester starts.

2. Create a routine Getting back into a routine may seem like a difficult task. After all, who wants to practice waking up for an 8 a.m. class? According to Northwestern Medicine, humans are creatures of habit, and a structured routine promotes health and wellness that can provide major health benefits. Purchasing a simple planner can help students create a routine. Checking the course syllabi for classes prior to the first day of class, and writing out due dates of assignments, will provide a tangible source of organization. By visibly seeing what needs to be accomplished for the week ahead, students can plan to complete tasks accordingly. Understanding personal limits — for example, how long one can spend studying before becoming overwhelmed — can alter a routine to serve the needs of an individual. As stated by the University of Maine,

“routines should serve you, you shouldn’t be a slave to them.” 3. Obtain textbooks without spending a fortune In the rush of the first week of the semester, many students end up spending more than they need to on textbooks. But if students take some extra time to research and compare prices, they can save a lot of money. Websites such as cheapesttextbooks.com and bookfinder.com use a price comparison tool that provides a list of all available online sources to purchase or rent a book from. These sites’ price comparison tools are free and allow students to compare prices from several websites within seconds. The closest off-campus bookstore to KSU is the General Bookstore, where students can purchase, rent and sell back textbooks. 4. Review simple topics According to an article by The New York Times, “summers off

The best way to start the semester is by preparing for it in advance.

are one of the most important, yet least acknowledged, causes of underachievement in our schools.” While everyone can’t engage in summer semester classes, students should spend time refreshing on basic math and reading skills throughout the summer to avoid drastically losing information that they’ve learned in the previous semester. The New York Times says the average summer learning loss in math and reading for American students amounts to one month per year, and the learning loss is cumulative from summer to summer. Refreshing on topics learned previously can help prepare students to learn new information that is often built upon what was learned in previous semesters. 5. Managing stress The Counseling and Psychological Services at KSU provide tips to ease the

undeniable stress that comes with going to school. According to CPS, the human body experiences natural high and low work efficiency periods. Students will be most efficient by taking short breaks when studying for a long period of time. It also says that adequate sleep, moderate caffeine, regular exercise and meditation can help decrease stress levels and maintain a positive mindset. In light of the stress school causes, one should always remember to take the time to share a laugh with family and friends. According to CPS, laughing is the best medicine. Students can stay calm in the midst of the craziness of college, and avoid the stress that builds up at the end of the semester, by preparing in advance. This fresh start can provide a positive, stress-free semester.

Photo courtesy of Tamarcus Brown

PAGE 9

KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY | THE SENTINEL | JULY 18, 2017

The current TARDIS prop used in the production of Doctor Who sits at the BBC Television Center in London.

ARTS AND LIVING

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

FEMALE ACTOR TO PORTRAY THE DOCTOR FOR THE FIRST TIME Chandler Smith Staff Writer In the minute-long teaser trailer clip, it was revealed that “Broadchurch” actress Jodie Whittaker will make history this Christmas Day as the first woman to play the iconic character of the Doctor on the BBC’s hit series “Doctor Who.” For those unfamiliar with Doctor Who, the Doctor is a Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey. Time Lords have the ability to regenerate into a different body when they die, which explains how the show

has managed to run for 54 years, excluding a 16-year hiatus from 1989 to 2005. Since the late William Hartnell first appeared as the nowcherished show’s title character in 1963, twelve different actors have portrayed the Doctor. Though they have all had different personalities, quirks, catch phrases and styles, every one of them has been a man. It seems that the BBC has been building up to this reveal for the last several seasons. All through current Doctor

Peter Capaldi’s four-year-run, reminders to the audience that Time Lords can change not only their faces but their genders as well have been hinted at. Whittaker will take over the role from Capaldi in the 2017 Christmas special, set to air Christmas night. This will mark a change not only in the lead actor but the head writer as well. Steven Moffat will be stepping down from the head writing job after six seasons to make way for Chris Chibnall, who has previously written five

episodes for the series since 2010. While many fans are excited for this change to the show’s dynamic, some are concerned about how changing the gender of such an iconic character will affect the show. Whittaker doesn’t seem to be rattled by fan’s doubts. “It feels completely overwhelming, as a feminist, as a woman, as an actor, as a human…this is why I wanted to be an actor in the first place,” Whittaker said. “To be able to

play someone who is literally reinvented on screen, with all the freedoms that brings – what an unbelievable opportunity. And added to that, to be the first woman in that role.” Whether they’re excited about the change or not, fans will have the opportunity to finally see what a female Doctor will bring to the show on Christmas Day 2017.

PAGE 10

KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY | THE SENTINEL | JULY 18, 2017

SUMMERTIME MOVIES:

ARTS AND LIVING

AN ALTERNATIVE TO OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES ON A RAINY DAY

Chandler Smith Staff Writer

After the movie “Jaws” came out in 1975, summertime became synonymous with big blockbuster movies, and 2017 is no exception. Dozens of films have been released every month of this rainy summer, and going to the movies is an obvious choice for an indoor alternative to typical summer activities. To kick off 2017’s summer movie season, “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” came out May 5, right in the middle of finals for most KSU students. The sequel earned $145 million over its opening weekend alone, bringing back fan-favorite characters and reigniting the internet community’s love of Baby Groot. While these numbers pale in comparison to many of the movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it

is the highest-grossing comic book superhero film ever to not include Batman, Spiderman or Iron Man. A week later, “Snatched,” a comedy starring Amy Schumer and Goldie Hawn — who returned to the big screen after a fifteen-year hiatus — was released. Despite the film starring a cast of several of big-name actors, it did not do exceptionally well at the box office, grossing just shy of $46 million its opening weekend. However, it seems to follow the grain of easy, slapstick humor Schumer has made a name for herself with and would be a good movie for a night of laughs. Quite possibly the mot talked-about movie of summer, “Wonder Woman,” grossed $103 million its opening weekend.

Being the first major superhero movie helmed by a female director and starring a female actor, its cast and crew have received extra attention. Many superhero fans are hopeful that this will strengthen the female influence in DC and Marvel’s cinematic universes. “Spiderman: Homecoming” marked Tom Holland’s second appearance as Peter Parker/ Spiderman and the first Spiderman movie since Andrew Garfield’s incarnation of the character. Holland’s cameo in “Captain America: Civil War” last summer whetted fan’s appetites for his first appearance as a lead. As the third actor to play Spiderman in the past fifteen years, the British actor had a lot to live up to. The movie grossed $117 million its opening weekend, less than the last two

installments of Tobey McGuire’s trilogy. Many fans are still debating online whether this new incarnation of Spiderman is the best of the three. “Dunkirk,” Director Christopher Nolan’s new film, will be released on July 20. The story is that of Allied soldiers early in the second World War and is told from three perspectives - the land, the sea, and the air. “Dunkirk” marks Nolan’s first non-superhero, non-sci-fi project in many years. Another movie coming out on July 20 is “Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets,” starring Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevingne. The science fiction action film is written, directed and co-produced by Luc Besson. In the 28th century, Delevingne and DeHann are special operatives responsible for

The Earl Smith Strand Theater in Marietta will have showings, and will host many events, through the end of the summer.

watching over human territories and keeping the peace there. On August 18, “The Hitman’s Bodyguard,” starring Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson and Gary Oldman, will be released. The action-comedy, directed by Patrick Hughes, has not been given much publicity, so it might not do exceptionally well at the box office. However, it is sure to be full of laughs, given the all-star cast. Whether you’re on campus taking classes, working in Kennesaw or spending the summer at home with family, heading to the movies is always an option. Many movie theaters offer discounts for college students, making it a summer outing that is both fun and affordable.

Joseph Potchen | The Sentinel

PAGE 11

KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY | THE SENTINEL | JULY 18, 2017

Members of Not Your Professor’s Book Club pose at the Harry Potter Reading Marathon.

ARTS AND LIVING

Joseph Potchen | The Sentinel

KSU CELEBRATES 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF FIRST HARRY POTTER BOOK Stephen Barr Staff Writer Twenty-seven years ago, while sitting on a delayed train from Manchester to London, author J.K. Rowling came up with the idea of a scrawny, bespectacled boy wizard with a lightningshaped scar on his forehead that would later take the hearts of millions of people around the world. The story of the orphaned boy and his first year at Hogwarts, a magical boarding school, was initially turned down by multiple publishers. However, Rowling persisted until June 26, 1997, when her first book, “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,” (“Harry

Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” in the United States) was published. Twenty years later, Rowling’s seven book series is a massive success, selling more than 400 million copies worldwide and, in doing so, inspiring a new generation to read. For its 20th anniversary, the enormous popularity of the series was in the spotlight at KSU. The Writing Center hosted a celebration on July 5 for Potter enthusiasts, complete with typical food from the wizarding world — Cauldron Cakes, Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans and Butterbeer. “It’s sort of one of those

books that you don’t ever want to put down,” said senior computer science student and KSU Writing Center employee Austin Barnett. “It’s surprisingly intricate for just being a kid’s book. All these characters have their own motivations.” The Writing Center’s celebration featured a fun segment of Harry Potter trivia. Those who answered a question incorrectly had to eat a “Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Bean,” risking the possibility of tasting an unpleasant bean such as earthworm or vomit flavor. The event was a clear reminder of the massive impact the Potter series has had on the

world, and how Rowling’s work is still loved by millions after all these years. “I think [Harry Potter] is the most defining childhood literature or fiction work,” Barnett said. “I don’t even think the really old classics are as ‘goto’ for children’s literature [like Potter is].” The intricacy, combined with a sense of timelessness, has led to the creation of the Harry Potter phenomenon. This phenomenon enables the Potter series to be included in the same esteemed circle as many other literary classics. “There’s nothing super dated about [Potter],” said junior

English student and fellow KSU Writing Center employee Sara Omer. “I think the books are supposed to be set in the ‘90s, but you can’t tell easily. I don’t think there’s going to be a point where kids are like, ‘this is unrealistically old.’ It’s just magic.” Only time will tell how Harry Potter will fare in the future, but at 20 years old with a Potter stage play, multiple theme parks and a five-part movie spinoff series just beginning, the future certainly looks bright for The Boy Who Lived.

PAGE 12

KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY | THE SENTINEL | JULY 18, 2017

PUZZLES

CROSSWORD:

SUMMER BLOCKBUSTERS

1. Q-tips 6. *”Straight Outta Compton” Cube 9. Twirled 13. Betty Page or Grable 14. Motion of approval 15. Speak up 16. Red-headed orphan 17. Rudolph’s Clarice, e.g. 18. 4:1, e.g. 19. *What Groot and Rocket were guarding 21. *”____ ____: Fury Road” 23. Like some martinis 24. Ditto 25. Perfect summer sandwich?

1. Health resort 2. POTUS’ West one 3. Tolstoy’s Karenina 4. ____-a-Bear Workshop 5. Britney of “Baby One More Time” fame 6. *Dr. Jones, to his friends 7. Make a pigeon sound 8. a.k.a. dropsy 9. Canned meat 10. Hummus holder 11. Windows alternative 12. Opposite of paleo15. Trying experience 20. Vascular tissue in plants 22. Unit of electric current

ACROSS

28. Lover’s strike 30. Dickens’ “The Pickwick ____” 35. Plural of lira 37. Zeal or elegance 39. Reduce pressure 40. Maple, to a botanist 41. Paisleys in paisley fabric, e.g. 43. Deceptive maneuver 44. Committee head 46. Tallest volcano in Europe 47. ____ en scene 48. Bean-shaped organ 50. Chows down 52. Ground cover 53. Movie-____

DOWN

24. Cover with drops 25. *B in “MIB” 26. Chinese fruit 27. Do it lightly? 29. Sunburn soother 31. Make waves 32. Tiny purses 33. *Actress Rene in “Lethal Weapon 3” and 4 34. *Keanu Reeves’ 1994 action thriller 36. Sportscaster Andrews 38. Fashion house founder Ricci 42. Bringing death 45. Bob Marley’s music

SUDOKU

55. Mont Blanc, e.g. 57. *Maverick and Goose movie 60. *Sigourney Weaver’s 1986 sequel 63. Isabel Allende’s “Portrait in _____” 64. Driver’s aid 66. Sweater style 68. Fill with optimism 69. Make mistakes 70. Follow 71. USSR to USA during WWII 72. Actor Liotta 73. Shabby and tatty

49. Texter’s u 51. Woodworker’s woe 54. *Bruce Lee’s “____ the Dragon” 56. Type of feather 57. “____ it like it is” 58. October stone 59. Feel for 60. Bald eagle’s home 61. #60 Down 62. Hare’s tail 63. *Black Pearl’s domain 65. Baseball stat 67. Anthem author

PAGE 13

KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY | THE SENTINEL | JULY 18, 2017

SPORTS

Vaughn Williams waves to the crowd as he is recognized as the 2016-2017 Under Armour Athletics Director of the Year.

Cory Hancock | The Sentinel

ATHLETIC DIRECTOR ACCEPTS POSITION AT BOSTON COLLEGE Rio White Staff Writer KSU’s Athletic Director Vaughn Williams is headed north after accepting the senior associate athletic director position at Boston College. The announcement was made by BC Director of Athletics Martin Jarmond on July 11, who confirmed that Williams would be leaving KSU after six years of service. This decision marks a return to the Chestnut Hill campus for Williams, who served as BC’s assistant athletic director for operations and facilities between 1998 and 2004. Since 2011, Williams has overseen remarkable growth within the athletic programs, including the highly successful

launch of a Division I football team and the signing of a long-term apparel deal with Adidas. During his time with the Owls, KSU’s competitive sports teams captured a combined 20 conference championships and 23 NCAA postseason appearances. “I want to thank Kennesaw State University for the opportunity to lead Owl Athletics over the last six years,” Williams said. “The community embraced my family and me with open arms, and we forged relationships that will last forever.” The admirable achievements fulfilled by KSU athletics under Williams weren’t just limited to the field. Within the local

community, Williams helped build new relationships between the university and various business leaders and corporations. An increase in private donors and corporate partnerships that have helped fund student-athlete scholarships and facilities improvements are the direct results. Most recently, Williams helped facilitate a football game that will be hosted by the Owls at SunTrust Park in 2018, the first football game to be held in the new stadium. KSU’s 400 student-athletes were also successful in the classroom under Williams, consistently scoring near a 3.0 cumulative GPA. Many sports programs have received

national recognition for their academic efforts over the past few years. For his accomplishments, Williams was named the 2016-2017 Under Armour Athletics Director of the Year. “Vaughn’s efforts on behalf of Kennesaw State University athletics have been nothing short of remarkable,” said Kennesaw State University President Sam Olens. “He has been instrumental in taking the program to the next level and has been a tireless leader and booster for our coaches, student-athletes and the entire university. We wish him great success in his new role.” The last day of Williams’ tenure is set for July 28. Olens

announced Friday that Matt Griffin will serve as the interim director of athletics. Griffin has spent the last two years as the Owls’ assistant athletics director for internal operations. Two years prior to that, he served as director of athletics at Southern Polytechnic State University before the consolidation with KSU. “I am grateful to serve as the interim director of athletics at Kennesaw State University,” said Griffin. “I want to thank President Olens for this opportunity, and I look forward to working with our coaches, staff and student-athletes.”

SPORTS

KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY | THE SENTINEL | JULY 18, 2017

PAGE 14

NEW BASKETBALL SIGNEES LOOK TO BOOST OWLS’ YOUNG ROSTER Rio White Staff Writer

Al Skinner (center) coaches players from the sidelines.

Abbie Bythewood | The Sentinel

The KSU men’s basketball team added three new players to its roster for the upcoming season as the team looks to rebuild after last year’s lessthan-stellar campaign. With the departure of two of the most impactful and decorated players from last season, seniors Kendrick Ray and Aubrey Williams, Head Coach Al Skinner has a young roster heading into next season. The new recruits have to find a way to replicate Ray’s scoring ability and fill the defensive void left by Williams. Skinner did a great job picking up several 3-star prospects in hopes of improving on last season’s 1418 record. Tristan Jarrett is a 6-foot4-inch shooting guard from

Haywood High School in Brownsville, Tennessee. He was named the 2017 All-West Tennessee Boys Basketball Player of the Year after averaging 21.8 points per game and 8.6 rebounds per game. He helped lead Haywood to the Region 8-AA championship. Bryson Lockley is a 6-foot8-inch power forward from Houston, Texas who attended Panola College last season, making 35 appearances. Prior to attending Panola, Lockley redshirted during his freshman year at Santa Clara University in California Fredy Yana is a 6-foot-4-inch point guard from Yaounde, Cameroon. Last season, he starred at Melbourne Central Catholic High School in Florida.

“We’re very happy with our incoming class,” Skinner said. “We are bringing in some more size and talent, and this class is an indication of that.” The three signees should get a good chance to prove themselves and contribute to the team’s efforts because of KSU’s young roster. The sheer size of Lockley should help solidify the Owls on defense, and having two scoring threats in Jarrett and Yana should help build confidence on the offensive end.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYER MAKES

U-20 ITALIAN NATIONAL TEAM

Jordan Gray Staff Writer The KSU women’s basketball team is represented on the U-20 Italian National Team by a rising sophomore in the FIBA European Championship this summer. Rising sophomore Carlotta Gianolla’s hopes became reality when she was one of 16 individuals selected to the team that represented Italy at the European Championship that began July 8 in Matosinhos, Portugal. Gianolla accumulated 18 points, 14 rebounds and two

assists in her five appearances for the Italians against teams like Lithuania and Sweden. Gianolla is not new to this big stage. The power forward played at the FIBA European Championship for the Italian U-17 team in 2014 “Carlotta worked extremely hard to improve her skills on and off the court, she has matured and it is evident in her attitude,” said Carlotta’s head coach, Angus Berenato. “I am so proud of Carlotta because she went into these trials with a fierce sense of competitiveness

and was not going to be denied.” Gianolla received multiple accolades at KSU in her breakout freshman season by being named the ASUN Freshman of the Year, making the ASUN All-Freshman team and ASUN Conference AllTournament team. KSU will welcome Gianolla, and the rest of the Owls, back to the brand new court at the Convocation Center on November 5 against Thomas University.

Carlotta Gianolla shoots a free throw against NJIT on Feb. 1.

Brandon Robinson | The Sentinel

PAGE 15

SPORTS

KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY | THE SENTINEL | JULY 18, 2017

TRACK AND FIELD COMPETES IN

IAAF CAPITAL CUP Lance Kenerly Staff Writer KSU sent two of its best up to Canada to compete in the International Association of Athletics Federation Capital Cup. The IAAF Capital Cup was held at the Terry Fox Athletic Facility in Ottawa, Canada July 4-5, bringing together the best track and field athletes in the world to compete, including sophomore Jordan Gray and senior Joshua Mulder from KSU.

In the women’s division, Gray posted a seventh-place finish overall, while Mulder was forced to pull out of the men’s competition after the eighth event on the second day. Gray competed in the heptathlon and finished the first day with 3,369 points, a good enough finish to put her in third place overall heading into the second day of competition. Gray’s best performances on

the day included a third-place finish in the high jump, clearing a height of 5 feet 8 inches. Gray also placed sixth in the 100-meter hurdles, shot put, and the 200-meter race before ending the day. Mulder took part in the decathlon and completed his first day of action with 3,878 points, putting him in sixth place through the first five events. His best events included

a fifth-place finish in the high jump, a second-place finish in the shot put, and a secondplace finish in the 400 meter, posting a career-best time of 48.17 seconds. Gray began the second day of competition by placing fourth in the long jump with a distance of 19 feet 3.25 inches. She also placed sixth in the javelin throw with a personal best score of 132 feet 10 inches. Gray placed

10th in the final event of the day, the 800-meter race, posting a time of 2:27.35. Gray’s solid performance at the IAAF Capital Cup is a continuation of her incredible collegiate career at KSU. She won this year’s ASUN conference heptathlon, scoring a KSU school best and ASUN outdoor championship best 5,641 points as she won all seven events.

KENNESAW STATE BASEBALL SENDS FOUR TO THE MLB Lance Kenerly Staff Writer The 2017 Major League Baseball draft saw a total of four KSU prospects make the leap into professional baseball. Pitchers Mason Ward, Tony Dibrell, and firstbaseman Austin Upshaw entered the league, while pitcher Gabe Friese signed in free agency. Dibrell was the first Owl to be drafted, being picked up in the fourth round as the 127th pick to the New York Mets. The right-handed pitcher finished the 2017 season with a record of 7-4 and a 2.45 ERA. Dibrell also posted 103 strike outs over 95.2 innings of work. Upshaw was the next KSU player to be selected when he went in the 13th round to the Chicago Cubs as the 405th overall pick. The Owls’ first baseman has performed well in the summer league for the Chicago Cubs Minor League

team, the South Bend Cubs, as he hit a three-run home run in June. In 10 games with South Bend, Upshaw is batted .386 (17-44) with four doubles, one home run and seven RBIs. Ward was the final Owl picked in the draft, going in the 34th round to the Pittsburgh Pirates as the 1018th overall pick. The left-handed pitcher completed the 2017 season with a 4-2 record and a 3.26 ERA. For the 10th consecutive year, the KSU baseball team has produced at least one MLB draft pick. Friese was not selected in the draft but was able to sign with the Milwaukee Brewers during free agency. The KSU pitcher held a 3-3 record and 4.33 ERA during his 2017 campaign. Friese earned his first victory at the professional ranks with the AZL Brewers on July 5 in a 6-3 victory over the AZL White Sox.

In five games, the righty has allowed just one unearned run and six hits in 10 innings. Pitcher Richard Lovelady, who played a key role in the Owls’ bullpen in 2016 to help the Owls win the ASUN regularseason championship, was recently called up to Double-A for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, the Minor League Affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. Since the KSU baseball program began at the NAIA level in 1984, the school has sent 66 players to the majors, the first of which was drafted in 1989. Of these players, 51 were drafted, and 15 signed during free agency. To date, catcher Max Pentecost remains the highest draft pick in school history, going in the first round to the Toronto Blue Jays as the 11th overall pick in 2014.

Pitcher Tony Dibrell pitches against WMU on Feb. 17.

Cory Hancock | The Sentinel

SPORTS

PAGE 16

KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY | THE SENTINEL | JULY 18, 2017

Taylor Denton winds back for a throw to first base in a game against the University of Illinois on Feb. 25.

Cory Hancock | The Sentinel

SOFTBALL GRAND SLAMS Jordan Gray Staff Writer The KSU women’s softball team had a record-breaking 2017 season with many triumphs on both an individual and team level. The Owls had many highlights, such as placing 2nd in the ASUN Conference, and playing in the postseason for the first time as a Division I program. No achievement was bigger than acquiring the

2017 SEASON

Region 5 title and advancing to the finals after gaining the number 1 seed at the National Invitational Softball Championship. Individually, Olivia Tamewitz, Courtney Sutter, and Alley Cutting had standout performances with 11 different ASUN honors, and six non-ASUN recognitions and awards combined.

Cutting, a red shirt sophomore, went ASUN First Team All-Conference and was the ASUN Conference Freshman of the Year. Cutting pitched a perfect bottom half of the 7th inning to defeat Georgia State, clinching the Region 5 title and advancing the Owls to the semifinals. Sutter, a redshirt senior from Marietta, Georgia, also

made the ASUN First Team All-Conference list. Sutter was a crucial part of the Owls’ success this season, hitting home runs deep into the NISC tournament and tallying 16 total this past season. Like Cutting, Tamewitz also made the ASUN Conference All-Freshman Team and gained recognition as an ASUN Second Team All-Conference player.

Head Coach Pete D’Amour led the team to a 40-20 overall record, placing them No. 46 in Division I softball out of 295 teams according to the NCAA women’s softball rating percentage index, an index used to rate teams based on their win-to-loss ratio and other factors.