TALON The Kennesaw State University student Feature Magazine
TUNE IN TO NEW WAVES
PUCKER UP WITH the ICE OWLS
MATCHES SAFE ENOUGH FOR THE PARK
RACK UP YOUR SKYMILES: 3 CONTINENTS 1 ISSUE
TALON
KSU’S STUDENT FEATURE MAGAZINE
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF KIKI M. AMANATIDIS ASSISTANT EDITOR HEIDI PARUTA SENIOR COPY EDITOR MEREDITH PRUDEN COPY EDITOR ASHLIE ADLER WEBMASTER ALEX DANAILA STAFF CANDICE COLLINS ALEXIS DAWKINS ANDREW EUGENES JENNIFER GARRETT RYAN GARNER NATHAN MCCREARY MATT NICHOLSON NICHOLAS KELLAND ADAM STEPHENS
TALON is a registered student feature magazine of KSU and is published one to two times a year. Opinion and ideas expressed in TALON are those of the individual authors, artists and student editors and are not those of KSU, its Board of Regents, nor the advertisers. TALON is paid for, in part, through student activity fees and is free of charge to all members of the KSU community. 2005 edition. Talon © 2005
“That’s hot”
content
TALON FEATURE MAGAZINE FALL/SPRING 2005 1
.......campus zoom
<18> Get into the mind of KSU Hockey
TALON
<22> P.R.S.S.A
Kennesaw State University’s Student Feature Magazine fall/spring 2005
<24> Owl Radio
GLOBAL VIEW<<
>>
.....One
night in Bangkok 2
KSU Aussie................ 6
->>Band Banter I like The Like...........
talon. get a grip.
ABC’s of Talon 26 Talon n. (talon) Middle English, from Middle French, heel, spur, Final Thoughts
from (assumed) Vulgar Latin talon-, talo, from Latin talus ankle, anklebone (15th century). The claw of an animal and especially of a bird of prey. A finger or hand of a human being. A part or object shaped like or suggestive of a heel or claw.
10
Tour bus chatter with The Starting Line................... 12 A talk in the park with The Matches................... 14
Photo Finish City View
----->
8
Colors of Fall
-----> 16
PURPOSE Talon, the student feature magazine of Kennesaw State University: To provide members of the university with a visual and written record of campus life at KSU. The opportunity to express themselves in a campus publication. The opportunity to learn and improve production, computer, people and leadership skills.
www.ksutalon.com
ONE NIGHT IN BANGKOK
P H O T O S &
by
T E X T
NICK KELLAND
One night in 1985, a musician named Murray Head recorded a hit song called One night in Bangkok. For those uncultured individuals who don’t know 80s classics, the key refrain goes like this: “One night in Bangkok makes the hard man humble / Not much between despair and ecstasy / One night in Bangkok and the tough guys tumble /Can’t be too careful with your company” It was mid March and midnight on a Thursday when my friend Josh and I arrived at Bangkok International Airport. Even at this hour Thailand’s capital city was disgustingly hot and humid. But the climate was hardly the only thing that could have been described as disgusting. None of that made a difference to us. We were finally there. First stop: Khao San Road. If Bangkok truly does make the hard man humble, this is where it happens. Anyone who has ever been or even heard about Bangkok’s Khao San 2 KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
Road knows that it has a reputation that would only appeal to someone looking for wild, sleepless nights. The entire stretch is absolutely filled with drunken travelers either searching for or trying to avoid the drug dealers, prostitutes and infamous Thai LadyBoys who are permanent inhabits of the area. As Josh and I wandered down the strip, occasionally stopping to see what type of fried insect the next street vendor had to offer, we did our best to slyly sneak past the street’s vile creatures. But with so many of them on Khao San Road, an eventual interaction is inevitable. With no prior notice a hand reached from behind and grabbed my friend’s arm. The grip belonged to a scantily clad young lady with long flowing hair and an extremely well defined Adam’s apple. In a voice backed by more testosterone than both of ours combined, the creature made no hesitation in expressing its true desires to us. “I want you,” it said. Josh let out a
girly shriek. I replied, “No thanks.” And we both made an immediate evacuation. We continued down Khao San Road, stopping in a bar or two along the way, and by the time we got to the other end it was almost four in the morning. Realizing there was no chance of us making it through the entire night, we gave into exhaustion and found a room. The next morning Bangkok was a whole new place. The streets were cluttered with mopeds, taxis and tuk-tuks buzzing in every direction. The city reeked of exhaust and it was ten times hotter than the previous night. I soon realized that dealing with the city’s day-goers would be a far greater test of patience than avoiding its night crawlers. First, there were the regular Bangkok citizens. They were without a doubt some of the friendliest and most helpful people I’ve ever experienced in travel abroad. At first I was truly impressed by their genuine desire to
TALON FEATURE MAGAZINE FALL/SPRING 2005 3
help tourists in the city. But after a dozen of them stopped us in a fiveblock area and tried to circle the places on our map they insisted we see, I had enough. The next people to get on my bad side were, what I called, “the pigeon people of the park.” If you got too close to these clever street vendors they’d hand you a bag of seed and refuse to take it back. You were left with no choice but to pay them because if you declined for too long you would soon be completely swarmed by hundreds of under-fed, overly aggressive pigeons fighting for food. This was an especially horrifying experience considering it was during Asia’s bird flu epidemic. But without question, the most frustrating people in Bangkok were the tuk-tuk drivers. For those who don’t know, a tuk-tuk is a three-wheeled golf cart from hell. They are by far Bangkok’s cheapest mode of transportation. But be forewarned, if you choose this mode of transportation, you will not make it to your destination without first stopping at at least three shops you have no desire to enter. In our case we were dropped off at a number of tailors filled with salesmen desperately trying to sell us handmade suits we had no intention of buying. Our time in
Bangkok was limited, so we made the tuk-tuk mistake only once. Between the oppressive heat of the sun and the toxic exhaust we were breathing, I could hardly control my desire to scream at people. After almost “losing it” on one final pigeon person I realized it was time for us to get out of Bangkok. We headed back to Khao San Road and prepared for the next part of our adventure. Our original plan was to head to Siem Reap to go trekking in the Cambodian jungle around the ruins of Angkor Wat. Our visas were ready, and we were only a few hours away from our departure, but when I fell ill at the last minute we had to change our plans from Cambodian jungle adventure to rest and relaxation on Thailand’s southern beaches. To this day neither Josh nor I know what really caused the illness. At the time I was convinced I had caught Dengue fever and was going to die in a Thai hospital. I was overreacting. Some Thai locals tried to tell us I had www.ksutalon.com
been drugged, which is apparently a common practice among thieves in Thailand. Whatever it was, it hit me fast, and it hit me hard. For the next 30 hours of my life I was left with 30 minutes of foggy memories. All I know is no matter how hard I tried I couldn’t maintain consciousness for more than a few moments at a time. we didn’t have a safe place where I could sleep it off, Since we had already checked out of our hotel room. Our bus out of Bangkok was still several hours away, so Josh removed all of my valuables and left me unconscious on a bench in a restaurant while he went and explored more of the city. He had a waitress leave me a bottle of water. He’s a true friend. When he came back for me, I remember the look on people’s faces as they watched me stagger out of the restaurant. It was as if they weren’t sure whether to laugh in my face or be concerned for my life. Regardless, I didn’t appreciate the attention I was drawing, and I found myself wanting to scream at people once again. While we were waiting for our bus, Josh thought it would be funny to take a photo of me lying unconscious in the bus stop as people looked on in amusement. Although I didn’t at the time, I can appreciate the humor of the picture now. There is still no chance of it being printed in this magazine. The
bus was two hours late, but that didn’t bother me. Neither did the 16-hour bus ride itself. I passed out through the entirety of it. When we arrived in Krabi Town it was early in the morning, and I was finally starting to feel like I was going to live again. It was the first time in more than 24 hours I actually felt like eating and drinking. Josh and I sat down at a little restaurant owned by an extremely nice Thai woman. I ordered a fruit salad, and thought I was making a safe choice. I was wrong. It was a bowl of papaya covered in natural yogurt that was not exactly the Yoplait I was expecting. It was, much like Bangkok, absolutely disgusting. I felt bad wasting it because the lady was so nice. I waited until she turned her back, and I tossed it in the plant next to me. I’m sure she realized it later when all of Krabi’s stray animals started rummaging through her bushes. As long as I wasn’t there to see the disappointment on her face, I could keep a clear conscience. After breakfast we made our way to the pier to catch a boat out to the beaches. No one informed us of the boat company’s “when the 4 KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
boat fills up, the boat leaves” policy, and naturally, we were the first two people there. After waiting more than two hours for eight people to show up, the boat finally left and we were on our way to our ultimate destination, Railay Beach and some neighboring Thai islands. The Railay Beach area offers a tremendous amount of exciting activities. Unfortunately, my illness prevented me from participating in any of them. In all honesty, the five days we spent there felt more like a honeymoon than an Asian backpacking adventure.
While I could have been scuba diving, rock climbing and sailing, I was sitting beachside, sipping fruity, frozen drinks and taking advantage of $4 Thai massages. Of course, I guess that’s not too much to complain about. Before I could blink, our time there was up, and we were back on the bus to Bangkok. Without unconsciousness on my side, the 16-hour ride was not nearly as painless this time around. When we finally got back to Bangkok we had several hours to spare before our flight. Even so, we wasted no time departing for the airport. Our minds were made up, and we had no intention of giving Bangkok’s residents a second chance. Moral of the story: When in Bangkok, make like a tree and go somewhere else in Thailand. Until next time - goodbye in Thai.
TALON FEATURE MAGAZINE FALL/SPRING 2005 5
A few months after Nickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trip to Asia, he had the opportunity to visit Central America. Here are a few photos ..
www.ksutalon.com
TEXT BY ADAM STEPHENS GRAPHIC BY ANDREW EUGENES
H
ow many of you have ever taken the plunge and moved to another city? How about another state? I’m sure you know how big a decision it is when you’re young and reckless and don’t really know what life is going to bring. So imagine moving countries. Imagine jumping across from one side of the largest ocean in the world to the other - it’s not only a big decision, it’s completely and utterly life-changing. I know first hand. Any move like that has to have some pretty big catalysts, especially for a person like me who had never even moved out of the parental abode before. Sometimes, the world beckons - and for a country of travelers such as Australia, this is even more true. As fantastic as life back home in Melbourne was, things got stale - working the same job, seeing the same people, doing the same things. So I thought it was time to liven things up. The major catalyst is a pretty simple one, really. Some of you may know someone who moved a long distance for someone for whom they cared, some of you may not. When you want something to work, sacrifices usually need to be made. So the golden shores of my country were left behind for someone who I thought 6 KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
deserved the sacrifice. Six months later, it still seems worthwhile. Sometimes, the comforts and familiarity of home are no rival for the pulling power of a strong relationship, and even the need to get out of your comfort zone and experience what life really has to offer. I can assure you that a part-time job in a supermarket is never going to satisfy that. I would love to write about the hassles involved in actually getting over, but anyone who has ever been overseas for a long time knows the drill. Most foreign governments don’t like you, don’t want you, and will do their utmost to make sure that your feet do not sully their shores. You can use your imagination and fill in the rest, if you’re into a little bit of mental torture. I think I’ll be quite alright in putting that stuff behind me. So, some of you may be wondering, what is it really like to move from one country to another, and what sort of effect does it have? As you might imagine, going from an empty, large place like Australia to a pretty crowded, large place like America, with all its inherent differences and, of course, the odd little language barrier we sometimes share, can make for some interesting experiences.
Perhaps I was prepared by all the American movies I’ve watched ever since I can remember. But just the same, actually living the American life, as opposed to watching it being shot, blown up, and any of the other clichés and hyperbole that get shown on the big screen, is pretty different. Life in the American suburbs is much the same as life in any other suburb in the Western world - no slums, lots of stuff within easy and convenient reach, sprawling and rambling towns and enormous, ugly developments. Of course, no one does big things with more panache than Americans. I’m used to coming from a place with big spaces - big distances between places, but not a whole lot else once you get out of the city. But that’s just about the only ‘big’ you’ll find in Australia aside from big rocks and a couple of big cities. “As big as you can make it” seems to be the name of the game over here, though. This, to me, means traversing big interstates with lots of lanes, big cars and big semi-trailers all trying to kill each other by some means. Big concrete parking lots for big malls spread out strategically in each city-suburb, big stores such as WalMart and Target, even bigger stores such as Super Wal-Mart and those home stores, and finally capped off with huge, extremely
TALON FEATURE MAGAZINE FALL/SPRING 2005 7
ugly houses hidden away in random subdivisions. The theme of the country seems to be “Big” - not even necessarily that “bigger is better.” One can hardly argue that Wal-Mart has better stuff than many places, but it sure is a bloody lot bigger. Build it as big as you can, and the people will come. I’m positive this is the marketing mantra as spoken by executives all over the country. The monstrous Hummers you see on the roads perhaps best illustrate this ideal. There is absolutely nothing aesthetically nice about them. They’re boxy, have lots of stripes and random lines for various purposes, and one of them alone will consume enough petroleum to keep Qatar’s economy buzzing along nicely. But most of all, they’re big. Bloody big. I can’t imagine driving one of the bastard things. I can only imagine it’d be like driving a tank. The only thing it lacks for it to really be a tank is a turret gun, and I can imagine the execs will hear my pleas and add one on in the coming years. After all, American roads are all about mobile warfare. You need any edge you can get. Outside the cities, I’ve found things to be quite different. In the eastern United States, especially, the country is so densely populated that towns and even smaller cities spring up all over the place. Driving through rural Georgia is a distinctly different experience from taking on the countryside of Victoria - which itself is by far the most densely populated state in the country. If you were to take a trip through the mountainous regions of Vic-
toria, settlements are almost non-existent - and those which do spring up are tiny beyond reckoning for most Americans. An expensive fuel pump, a store for supplies, since very often you’ll really be venturing into wilderness areas, and perhaps a camping ground will make up the center of town, with a few outlying houses. Not much to see and do, but definitely interesting in some ways. It’s a bit like the final frontier, where the unknown beckons the intrepid traveler onward. Driving through the Appalachians in Georgia is much different - there are small towns everywhere, with the requisite McDonald’s, Chevron and whatever else can fit along the main drag. Away from the towns, small homesteads and settlements crop up along the sides of roads, and you never feel like you’re really getting away from much of anything. Traffic is pretty much constant, though hardly fender-to-fender. Drive on any rural road in Victoria, and you’ll sometimes be counting as many cars as there are houses - not much of either! Go into the high country, and you’ll really be on your own. Dirt tracks are the only roads you’ll find, short of one or two access roads, and it’s a bit of an adventure, really. If you take to a hiking trail, more often than not you’ll have it to yourself. I can’t imagine that happening here - and I don’t even want to think about the congested mess of the Smokies. Three million people a year sounds like a few too many for pristine wilderness. Having said that, the Appalachians themselves are beautiful. I find myself comparing them pretty closely www.ksutalon.com
to the mountains close to home -green, densely forested where towns and farms haven’t taken over, and generally peaceful. It’s inevitable that development has made some interesting scenes out of formerly idyllic places, and not always in a good way - Tallulah Gorge is a good example. The necessity for electricity turned a raging river gorge into a tame creek surrounded by enormous cliffs. On another note, the silly town of Helen is an example of kitsch invading somewhere it really shouldn’t. The jaunty Bavarian homes and restaurants look absolutely ridiculous in the forest setting, although it does make it the most popular tourist resort in the mountains, ridiculous or not. I decided that I needed to get back to studying again if I was ever going to make something of myself, either here in United States or back home, so it was sorted out pretty quickly that going back to university was a good way to get myself over here, into the swing of things, and also a good way to immerse myself in the country. Sitting in an apartment isn’t a terribly good way to do that, I have to say! Even university life in the United States is somewhat different to that back home - but I think I’ll get back on that one later. In a few months, perhaps, when I’ve actually figured out how things work here. My six months here in the United States have been the most interesting, exciting and, without a doubt, the most enlivening months of my life. Now that I’m back at university, the fun is really going to begin.
Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas DallasDallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas = Nov. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;03 Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas8Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
Photos by H. Paruta
new york city new york city new york city new york city new york TALON FEATURE MAGAZINE FALL/SPRING 2005 city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city York city new york city new york city new york city new york cityNew new york city new york city new york city new york city new yorkmarch city newâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;04 york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york city new york citywww.ksutalon.com new york city new
9
i like...
By K. Amanatidis The Like is a three-piece band from southern California. In late August, Talon was able to sit with the girls prior to their show with Phantom Planet at the Cotton Club in Atlanta. Here is what they had to say. Talon: Being on the road, what do you miss most about home? The Like: A good shower, free money (from parents), friends, sunny weather and good food. Talon: Good Food? The Like: It’s really hard to find good vegetarian food outside of L.A. Talon: How did you chose to become Vegetarians? CF: I’ve been a vegetarian since I was 2. TT: We did a pig dissection in school, and I opened my lunch to find a ham sandwich. ZB: I just found the concept [of eating meat] repulsive.
WHO’SWHOINTHELIKE: -ZBERG:VOCALS,GUITAR TENNESSEE THOMAS:DRUMS -CHARLOTTEFROOM:BASS 10 KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
TALON FEATURE MAGAZINE FALL/SPRING 2005 11
Talon: What is the most random thing about yourself?
...THE LIKE
ZB: I am very bendy. Like Gumby. TT: I have one blue eye and one green eye. CF: Z’s strong toes.
Talon: What was your first concert? ZB: James Taylor CF: Los Lobos TT: Elvis Costello
Talon: What is your favorite book? ZB: Lolita and Moby Dick CF: Lipstick Traces TT: Lipstick Traces, The Secret History of the 20th Century.
Talon: If you were stranded on a deserted island and you can have three things (minus transportation) what would you bring? ZB: My boyfriend, a guitar and food. Talon: What is your favorite song to cover? The Like: We do one by Splitend called “One Step ahead.”
CF: Lifetime supply of veggies and fruit, a world phone and my boyfriend. TT: My band and my computer.
Talon: Where do you hope you’ll be in two years time? The Like: Still lucky enough to be playing music.
OPPOSITE PAGE: (TOP) CHARLOTTE FROOM, (BOTTOM) Z BERG
The like is currently on tour with Maroon5 through the UK. For more information, visit their Web site at: www.ilikethelike.com
THIS PAGE: TENNESSEE THOMAS
www.ksutalon.com
Tour bus Chatter with
The StartinG
LiNE
When it’s November and it’s cold, nothing warms a girl up like sitting on a tour bus. Okay, maybe it’s a little more than that, but a warm bus does help. The Starting Line’s Mike Golla gave a few minutes of his time to Talon. Here is what he had to say.
TALON ASKS: WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST ABOUT HOME WHEN ON THE ROAD? MIKE ANSWERS
I miss my family. I just got married, so I miss my wife.
TALON ASKS: WHAT’S A PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’D GIVE TO KIDS WANTING TO MAKE IT IN THE BUSINESS? MIKE ANSWERS Don’t sell your soul. Stay true to yourself.
TALON ASKS: WHAT SHOULD FANS EXPECT FROM THE NEW ALBUM? MIKE ANSWERS Growth. We are older now. When we started Ken was 14, now we range from 2025.
12 KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
TALON ASKS: WHAT’S ON YOUR iPOD? MIKE ANSWERS My Chemical Romance.
TALON ASKS: WHAT’S YOUR FAVE SONG TO PLAY LIVE? MIKE ANSWERS Inspired by the $ Sign
TALON ASKS: WHAT’S THE CRAZIEST THING FANS HAVE DONE FOR YOU? MIKE ANSWERS Some of them bake for us.
TALON FEATURE MAGAZINE FALL/SPRING 2005 13
BAND STATS
WHO PLAYS WHAT:
Ken Vasoli - Bass, Vocals Tom Gryskiewicz - Drums Matt Watts - Guitar Mike Golla - Guitar WHERE THEY ARE FROM:
Churchville, Pennsylvania WEB SITES:
www.thestartinglinerock.com www.purevolume.com/thestartingline NEW ALBUM:
In stores May 10 ON TOUR:
Warped Tour 2005
WoRd
aSSoCiaTiON slow = drunk
PinK = vagina
Atlanta = RAP
hockey = beer www.ksutalon.com
b
ritney = skank
A Talk in the Park With
The Matches What do you miss most about home when on the road? Being away from family. I love the bay area. I also miss being able to get a good burrito.
What do you like about being on the road you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get at home? Sweet tea and BBQ in the south. Dialects and various cultural aspects.
What has been a valuable lesson or a piece of advice you have learned while in the business? To be ourselves and stick to the original vision we had for the band.
What is on your iPod? Maids of State (indie pop), Wilco and Revolver.
TEXT AND PHOTOS BY: K. AMANATIDIS 14 KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
TALON FEATURE MAGAZINE FALL/SPRING 2005 15
Whalen on meeting musical idols:
“I recently got to hang out with Green Day in Montreal. It’s incredible to hear your idols say ‘Hey aren’t you in The Matches?’” In your words, what is “selling out?” Selling out creatively. Changing your style to fit in with what’s popular.
Where do you see the band five years from now? Very big and successful. Selling enough albums and tickets to play Philips Arena.
Any last words to the students of KSU? I wish I knew how to spell the name of your school. Buy CDs, don’t download.
On a chilly November evening, drummer of The Matches, Matt Whalen spontaneously picked Centennial Olympic Park as the setting for his one-on-one interview with Talon. The Oakland native, talked about everything from his teenage years in Oakland, to what was on his iPod. The dancing fountains at the park got some laughs and questioning looks, but over all Whalen had a lot to share. The Matches are currently on tour with Plain White Tee’s, and will be stopping in Atlanta April. 23 at Masquerade. Then it’s off to The Warped Tour. For more information on The Matches:
www.thematches.com.
SlOw = FAST
WORD ASSOCIATION
HOCKEY = CANADA
Bush = vagIna PINK = TIES NYC = AMAZING
ATLANTA = HOTLANTA Ashlee Simpson = Unfortunate
Britney, Phantom Planet, The OC = FAKE www.ksutalon.com
Colors of Fall Photography by M. Nicholson
16 KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
TALON FEATURE MAGAZINE FALL/SPRING 2005 17
www.ksutalon.com
Three hundred KSU students and Owl fans gather into the aluminum stands and peer through the glass. They huddle close as the arena seems to get colder while they wait. A Zamboni slowly creeps across the ice and it rolls out of site after resurfacing the once jagged ice into a smooth mirrorlike finish. Moments later, a thunderous roar is heard as the hockey team scuds across the frozen battlefield. Ryan Falvai is the president of the Ice Owls. His idea of bringing ice hockey to KSU went from a crazy notion to a reality. Now, in his next to final season with the Owls as a player, Falvai looks to solidify his creation as national champions. Falvai has been playing hockey in Georgia since he was 12years-old. The Lassiter High School graduate played with the Georgia Ama-
teur Hockey Association [GAHA] to get experience on the ice. GAHA assigned Falvai to several different teams. “I played for the Atlanta Extreme Junior Team, which has since folded,” said Falvai. In September 2002, the creation of the hockey team took its first step when Falvai approached Dr. Dave Waples, university athletic director. “Dr. Waples was very helpful. He was the first person I contacted at the school about starting the team,” said Falvai. “He basically informed me that the athletic department would not be able to start a hockey team. He gave me a few ideas on where to go next, and which department to call.” Falvai was directed to contact the Intramurals Department. “...they weren’t interested. So, I took the idea to Student Life,” said Falvai. “I had to go through the same
steps any student club has to go through. With lots of help from Ruth Ann Middleton, Jon Nash and I put together a proposal and presented it to the [Student Activity and Budget Advisory Committee]. The committee voted to approve our club, and KSU Hockey was formed.” To organize a hockey team made up completely of students, Falvai used previous contacts. “They were friends or people I had played with or against over the years,” said Falvai. “The Atlanta hockey community is pretty small so word spread pretty fast that we had a team, and a few guys contacted me that way. We also put flyers around campus and had an informational meeting. I had gotten together a group of guys that has been our core team ever since.” Bret Gibout is one of the
PHOTO DESCRIPTION: THIS PAGE: COACHES REVIEW GAME STRATEGY BEFORE THE START OF THE PERIOD OPPOSITE PAGE: GIBOUT ACCEPTS A CROSS-ICE PASS FROM A TEAMMATE
Text By Nathan McCreary Photos By Richard Johnson
GETTING INTO THE MIND OF
KSU HOCKEY
18 KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
TALON FEATURE MAGAZINE FALL/SPRING 2005 19
GETTING INTO THE MIND OF KSU HOCKEY teammates who has been along side Falvai the entire way. “We had seven or eight guys come to the initial meeting. Christian [Burris], our goalie, heard about Ryan trying to start the team and he told me. Word spread,” said Gibout. Gibout started playing hockey at 10 after an NHL championship game hooked him [no penalty was called]. “I remember watching the ‘92-’93 Stanley Cup Finals between the Montreal Canadiens and the [Los Angeles] Kings. Ever since then, I wanted to play hockey. I was in a developmental league and learned how to skate, then played in a GAHA recreational league,” said Gibout. When Falvai held the initial meeting, the first head coach of the team, Jon Nash, was present and brought stability to the project. “I played hockey with Jon a few times, and he had offered to coach our team if I ever got it started. Once I did I gave him a call, and he was extremely excited to start building our team,” said Falvai. He is a big reason why we are a success. He brought experience to the team. He played for the Junior Bruins and played in college.” The one thing Nash could not bring was the funds to outfit an entire hockey team, which can cost upward of $600 per player, according to an online hockey equipment store. Falvai gives credit to a professor at KSU for assisting the team with management. “Professor Joe Eller was our adviser. He made sure we didn’t mess up,” said Falvai. The team’s players must have a 2.0 GPA and be enrolled in three classes. With the team organized and a head coach in place, the Town Center Ice Forum on Barrett Lakes Boulevard became home to the Owls. “The Ice Forum is close to campus and kids come out for night
games and really support us,” said Gibout. The Ice Forum had a relationship with KSU, offering buy-one-getone-free tickets to skate. “The Forum is great. I’d rather play there, because it is close to campus and nobody else plays there,” said Falvai. The puck on the first year of Owl hockey was about to drop. But, who would play this rag-tag bunch from a relatively unknown southern university? “The first year the schedule was tough to put together,” said Falvai. “We played mostly away games. When we finally got club status, we filled other holes in other team’s schedules.” By April 2003, the Owls were in the middle of a hockey rink, facing off against big-name schools, such as, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Tennessee, Florida, Florida State and others. “We played in Florida, South Carolina, and played in a tournament in Canada,” said Falvai. Season number one included a split with Georgia Tech, and the Owls ended with a winning season record. KSU joined the American Collegiate Hockey Association Division IIII, which allows them to face competitive teams and battle for a national championship. www.ksutalon.com
The ACHA made scheduling easier for the Owl’s president. “The difference between the second season and the first was like night and day,” said Falvai. “We had a whole year to prepare and schedule. We had made contacts throughout the league.” The opponents the Owls had to face became increasingly better to show the ACHA Committee KSU had a worthy squad. “We have to play harder teams. The committee and coaches choose who enters the post-season tournament,” said Falvai. The tournament for the ACHA Championship involves the 5 divisions and 16 teams. The two teams with the most points play for the championship. The 2004-2005 ACHA Championship Tournament is being hosted by the California University of Pennsylvania on March 2-5, 2005. In the second season, the Owls also got some much needed
Goaltender Christian Burris blocks a shot preventing a score for the opposing team.
support from big brother. “The Thrashers gave us an opportunity to play after a game. We played UGA and tied. A 50/50 raffle was also held, and we got half the earnings,” said Falvai. The game at Phillips Arena against the Dawgs was the final game of the season. The Owls ended their second season with a 15-13-2 record. In their third season, the Ice Owls have faced several changes. Head Coach Jon Nash is gone with a short, but memorable tenure as the Owls’ first hockey coach. Matt Hogan became the Owls’ new leader and brings a lifetime of hockey experience. According to the team’s web site, Hogan’s professional career included time on the ice for the Philadelphia Phantoms, St. John’s Maple Leafs, Trenton Titans and The El Paso Buzzards. He also spent time playing in Germany. Hogan is Canadian and played four years of Major Junior A in the Canadian Hockey League for Cornwall, Newmarket and Sarnia. Hogan attended St. Thomas University 20 KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
in New Brunswick, Canada and was League MVP, a three-time All-Star, St. Thomas Athlete of the Year and voted as Canadian Universities Left Winger of the Year. Hogan is not the only new face around the rink. The team made Rod Brown general manager and coach in 2004. Brown began playing hockey at the age of 3, and throughout his youth he played on several competitive travel hockey teams. At 17-years-old, Brown was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings organization, where he played his first three years in Junior A hockey in the North American Junior Hockey League in Detroit, Michigan. Brown also traveled throughout Northern and Eastern Europe playing competitively with the Goodwill Games Tournament earning the title of tournament MVP. Upon returning home, Brown played with the, Detroit Falcons of the Colonial Hockey League [CHL] and the Flint Generals of the CHL. The 2004-2005 season has closed for the Owls. With Falvai’s run with the Owls, coming to an end he said, “I will be passing the torch. I will
always be connected-maybe the promotional or managerial side.” A move into the KSU athletic department is a possibility. The Owls Athletics are moving into the NCAA Division I and need to add a men’s sport, in addition to two women’s sports. With hockey already established and with a fan base, the move seems imminent, but Waples may have different plans. In a recent interview, he made it clear men’s soccer could be the next male sport added. “I’d like to see the team move into Division I. It would be an advantage for KSU,” said Falvai. “Hockey is the most cost -effective sport. It is easy to recruit and exposes kids to the pro scouts” The hockey team is a success. Hundreds students and fans fill the stands when they play at their home rinks, the Ice Forum and the Marietta Ice Center. The KSU hockey club, in just its third year of existence, has made its mark and is expected to remain a successful program. Falvai will leave with a diploma, but the hard work and triumph of the hockey team may be the most rewarding quest he has accomplished.
TALON FEATURE MAGAZINE FALL/SPRING 2005 21
www.ksutalon.com
CaMpUsZoOm
P.R.S
By Jennifer Garrett
P
RSSA has arrived at KSU. “What is that?” you ask. “Should I be scared?” Of course not. Be happy it is joining our campus’ student organizations. Since Fall 2004, KSU has had a charter chapter of Public Relations Student Society of America [PRSSA] to accommodate the growing number of students. The PRSSA is a student-run organization open to all students with an interest in public relations, marketing or any communication related field. According to the national PRSSA Web site, “The declared purpose of PRSSA is to cultivate a favorable and mutually advantageous relationship between students and professional public relations practitioners.” Dr. Barbara Gainey, faculty advisor, explained, “PRSSA was essentially designed for students to learn the highest ideals in the profession and will help with the transition from
being a student to becoming a professional in public relations.” The Public Relations Society of America [PRSA] founded PRSSA in 1968 at nine colleges throughout the United States. The founding chapters were composed of 196 members. Since 1967, approximately 81,000 people have registered as members. The Web site states “Today the Public Relations Student Society of America has more than 8,000 members in 248 chapters on college campuses across the country.” KSU students stand to gain a great deal from the addition of PRSSA to the university’s registered student organizations. Participating students will benefit from hands on experience and networking opportunities. There are leadership opportunities within the organization for chapter officers and committee leaders. Also, members might be eligible for national scholarships or awards competitions
and travel opportunities to the PRSSA National Assembly, National Conference and regional activities. Additionally, members receive Forum, the PRSSA national newspaper, and biweekly e-mail updates from national headquarters. Members also have access to the PRSSA Web site [www.prssa.org] and can be a part of PRSSA-Talk, the PRSSA mailing list. In addition to general information, the Web site also has information regarding job resources, internships, scholarships and awards, “Each year PRSSA and its sponsors give away nearly $20,000 to winners in national scholarship and awards competitions.” Members have the opportunity to attend events at their parent PRSA chapter to network and learn about the field of public relations. After graduation, PRSSA members can take advantage of joining PRSA through the associate membership program at a cost of only $60 a year for the first two years, whereas the regular membership rate is $225.
Public Relations Student 22 KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
TALON FEATURE MAGAZINE FALL/SPRING 2005 23
S.S.A Gainey said she feels the new organization, “Will give KSU visibility with the PR professional community and give our students tremendous networking possibilities with people in hiring positions and provide a real world focus for our students.” Karla Harvill, professional advisor for KSU’s PRSSA chapter, said “students should hope to gain opportunities to network with people in the industry for internships, and it is a great opportunity to teach the rest of the campus about public relations.” Last spring, Gainey invited students to an informational meeting about PRSSA to find out if there was enough interest to form a chapter. Gainey then started the process of applying for a charter. Involved students took part in drafting the preliminary bylaws and several afforded themselves the opportunity of networking with some of Atlanta’s public relations practitioners.
Throughout the summer, Dr. Gainey continued the process of getting KSU approved for a PRSSA chapter. She said she was excited to receive e-mails and phone calls from students interested in the possibility of a PRSSA chapter. Before the start of fall semester, she received word that the chapter was approved by sub-committee but still needed to be approved by the Board of Directors. She was given direction to proceed as if it were a chapter. It was also approved as a registered student organization on campus. KSU’s chapter of PRSSA has now received its charter from the PRSA, with the Georgia Chapter of PRSA as the sponsoring chapter. Harvill, a member of the Georgia chapter, said they are excited. Meetings will be held once a month during the fall and spring semesters. Kevin Shelly is president. Kelly Tenedini is vice president. Allison
Haley is the secretary and Leann Mabry was designated as treasurer. Kelly Sims was chosen as historian and Laura Smith was selected as PR director. Requirements for becoming a PRSSA member are that you are a current student and payment of dues of $50.00, $41.00 is for national dues and $9.00 is for local dues. Gainey said she hopes students will visit and become part of this new organization. Tenedini says, “It is exciting to have this new organization and opportunity for educational and professional growth at Kennesaw State and it should be a great benefit to all involved.” Both the students and the university will benefit from this organization coming to Kennesaw State. “I think it means a lot for students to hear professionals reinforce what they are learning here and to hear professional ‘war stories’ of challenges and opportunities in our profession,” said Gainey.
America of Society www.ksutalon.com
CaMpUsZoOm “Good Morning KSU, and thank you for tuning into the Owl Radio Morning Show, here at WKSU-FM Kennesaw. Here’s Bob with your parking lot traffic update.” “Thanks Jimmy. Well, it’s another crazy day here in the West deck. Prepare to sit in traffic for a while. You can try the East deck, or you can try lots C, D and E. Oh wait, no you can’t. They are now all staff parking, sidewalks and grass. So you better park by Waffle House or ride CCT to school. Back to you Jimmy with the weather.” That is what you may hear in the near future, when you turn on the radio to listen to your new favorite station WKSU-FM. For many years, students have talked about having a campus radio station. October 11, 2000, “OWL Radio” was approved as a student organization and ever since students have been trying to accomplish their goal of establishing a station. KSU has chosen LPB Communications, Inc. to help airwaves at KSU become reality. LPB Communications, founded in 1960, has placed more than 30,000 transmission products worldwide. Their customers include more than 1,000 college and high school radio stations. There are no transmission towers available, and they cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. For this reason, LPB and KSU have decided the best idea is to choose a radiating cable FM [“FM leaky cable”] station. The use of fiber optic cable, rather than phone lines, allows for better FM quality. Another advantage of using fiber optic cable is KSU will not have to obtain a Federal Communication Commission license. In the beginning, you will be able to hear the station in the student 24 KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
OwL rAdIo center, University Place, KSU Place and 150 yards around the buildings. The station may also be simulcast via Internet streaming. This way fellow classmates, alumni and people all over the world will be able to hear WKSU. Owl Radio will operate under the advisement of the Student Media Board. The type of music played all depends on the DJ. In order to become a DJ, one will have to undergo about six weeks of training. Assistant Director of Student Life, Ed Bonza, said which DJs will be on the air will be determined by “seniority, dependability, audience popularity and advertising popularity.” If many people call in and like a particular DJ then he or she will have a prime spot on the air. The estimated cost of this project is $50,000. “$25,000 will be covered by the Student Activities Board and the other $25,000 will come from the institution,” Bonza said. The original estimated cost for the station, in March 2002, was $72,000- $80,000. You may be wondering, “Where will the station be located?” Bonza said, “Once the Convocation Center is completed and intramurals moves into the new center, then Owl Radio will be located in the old intramurals center. It is centrally located on campus and there will be plenty of room
for broadcast, production and library facilities.” Students will be able to watch DJs through the studio windows, live on air. Bonza also said the station will be completely digital and will be broadcast 24 hours a day. Students will benefit greatly by having a radio station. Bonza said sporting events could be broadcast live, along with up-to-date campus news, the theater department could do shows on the air, and perhaps Dr. Betty Siegel could do live fireside chats or “State of the Campus” broadcasts. Starting a college radio station is a long process, but in the end will be worth it. KSU and LPB Communications are still trying to coordinate purchasing cable, laying cable, computer equipment and much more. Once the station is established, the fun will begin. “The sky is the limit, whatever they want to do,” Bonza said. Owl Radio is tentatively set to hit the airwaves in late spring 2005.
By Ryan Garner
COLLEGE RADIO ALUMNI IN A-TOWN
TALON FEATURE MAGAZINE FALL/SPRING 2005 25
GEORGIA COLLEGE RADIO STATIONS
CLARK ATLANTA UNIVERSITY -> JAZZ
Melissa Carter Station: All the Hits Q100
College: University of Tennessee
Bill Cellar Station: Kicks 101.5 College: Bethany College
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA -> COLLEGE GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY -> ALTERNATIVE VALDOSTA STATE UNIVERSITY -> COLLEGE
TOCCOA FALLS COLLEGE -> RELIGIOUS Mitch Elliot Station: Seattle’s Mix 92.5 College: Georgia
Cadillac Jack Station: Kicks 101.5 College: Western Carolina University
State University
TROY STATE UNIVERSITY -> PUBLIC RADIO photo courtesy::
Dylan Sprague Station: All the Hits Q100 College: Ohio University
GEORGIA TECH UNIVERSITY -> COLLEGE
www.allthehitsq100. com, www.mix95.com, www. kicks1015.com
www.ksutalon.com
The ABC’s ofA is for Ashlie Adler, the hooch.
TALONB
is for Bonza. Ed Bonza. SUPER ADVISER.
C is for C-Money, mental support extrodinaire.
D is for Alexis Dawkins, a Talon intern.
E is for Everyone or Everything I could have possibly left out. F is for FUN, something Talon is totally about. G is for GOOFY. My staff says I’m goofy. I don’t see it.
H is for Heidi who is a brilliant photographer. I is for InDesign, the program used to create this masterpiece
J is for Jennifer Garret. She is a top seller.
K is for Nick Kelland. Our travel expert.
L is for Laughing...something that’s always going on M is for Mac. A great computer N is for NYC, a place to Learn & Play
O is for omnificent, it means unlimited in creative power :)
P is for Meredith Pruden, a fantastic copyeditor Q is for “I Quit!” a phrase jokingly tossed around during finals
R is for Ryan Garner. He works at PUBLIX
S is for Starbucks. A late night treat.
TisforTALON.Whatelsecoulditbe! U is for UNDERNEATH, an album that was played a lot throughout this process.
V is for VLADDY. Because I heart Moldova. W is for wow. I cant believe this is almost done!
X is for x-rated. Ethos can pull it off, but we canʼt. y is for you. The reason we even do this. 26 KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
Z is for zany. ‘Nuff said!
TALON FEATURE MAGAZINE FALL/SPRING 2005 27
Bringer of venti zen tea Montreal transplant, Greek princess, lover of iPods and bringer of complimentary Venti Starbuck’s green teas, Kiriaki Meropi Amanatidis - known affectionately by her friends as Kiki - is a talented and generous individual and someone you should get to know. Kiki was born in Laval, a suburb of Montreal in November 1983 to Popy and Laz, who were the children of Greek immigrants and met at a Greek festival. Kiki has an 18-year-old sister, Maria-Kathrine, with whom she is “really close.” Kiki is currently a senior communication major at Kennesaw State University and is the editor in chief of Talon, the university feature magazine. She enjoys counting the days until her 3 p.m. graduation May 12 - 59 days away, according to her - and rubbing it in to all those students who couldn’t get into the Communication Theory class. While the rest of us waste away in the stifling heat of KSU this summer, Kiki plans to move to New York City and try for a job at “Cosmogirl!”. Kiki’s future looks so bright, you got to wear shades. This summer when you crack open the pages of one of your favorite teen magazines, check the masthead for her name and you just might be pleasantly surprised. ~ Meredith Pruden
In the past, I have done this as a “thank you” page. Initially this was a “thank you” page, but I decided to scrap it and do it as a “Letter from the Editor.” This issue is probably one of my favorites. I hope you read and enjoy it. I hope it inspires you to do something with your time at KSU, because believe me...it goes by fast. There are so many people that deserved a lot of props and thank you’s, but they know who they are, and I don’t need to bore everyone with a really long list of names and inside jokes. So I will end this with a quote said in a brilliant film, by a brilliant man. Carpe Diem! Seize the Day! <3- KMA www.ksutalon.com