KSU Talon | Spring 2011

talon

KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY’S FEATURE MAGAZINE

Jan. / Feb. 2011 // Vol. 15, Issue 3

It’s not what you think.*

* well, maybe a little . . .

Cont ents

Jan. / Feb. 2011

Letter from the

Editor

Departments: Letter from the Editor - 3 | Sound/ Sight/Thought. - 4 | Prof. Files - 11 | Q & A - 12 | Features - 14 | The Contrarian - 23

As I am writing this I can look out

my window and watch snow flurries drifting in the wind against a grey sky, scattering themselves among the dry, winter grass. I think it is beautiful. I have no way of knowing what the weather be like outside your window as you read this but I hope you see something that you consider beautiful.

Stories:

Eco-Friendly 4 Man on Fire 6 I Don’t Believe in Green 9 Environ(mental) 11 Q&A w/ Sarah Christopherson 12 Bound by Nature 14 Go Local 16 More Highs Than Lows 18 Green and Crafty 20 Let’s Hammock 22 It’s Not Easy Being Green 23

We called this our “green” issue, but it is not just about the environment or recycling, although it is partially about that. No, this issue is about the color green and all the various meanings and shadings

Photos by Richie Essenburg

Pedro Calderon de la Barca, a 17th Century Roman Catholic priest and playwright once wrote, “Green is the prime color of the world, and that from which its loveliness arises.” Our hope is that you will read the stories inside this magazine and find something green that you feel passionate about so that

you may help spread that loveliness throughout your own life and the communities in which you travel.

We ask only one thing of you, the reader: when you are finished with this magazine, please recycle it.

Pass it to a friend or family member, leave it on a table in the Commons, or put it in one of the many paper recycling bins across campus.

From all of us at Talon, thanks for picking this up and taking the time to read.

-- Ryan Patrick Schill, Editor in Chief

talon

Also,

we are always looking for budding new talent! Visit ksutalon.com to fill out an application and join our staff!

that we think of when we imagine something green, from food to sustainability to architecture. This magazine is more about our many roles in the world we live in and the things we do to improve the world for everyone.

EDITOR IN CHIEF Ryan Patrick Schill

Written By: Meg Hand Richie Essenburg Stephanie Wright Ryan Patrick Schill Meghan de St. Aubin Garrett Moll

Editorial Board: CONTENT EDITOR CREATIVE DIRECTOR MANAGING EDITOR AQCUIRING EDITOR PROMOTIONS DIRECTOR

Design/Layout:

Richie Essenburg Megan de St. Aubin Meg Hand John DeFoor Brittany Granitz

Photography By: Meghan de St. Aubin Ryan Patrick Schill Richie Essenburg Cover photo by Ryan Patrick Schill

Meghan de St. Aubin & Ryan Patrick Schill

Talon Monthly is a registered student feature magazine of KSU. Opinions and ideas expressed in Talon are those of the individual artisits, writers, and editors and are not those of KSU, the Board of Regents, nor the advertisers. Talon is paid for, in part, through the student activity fees and is free of charge to all members of the KSU community.

Sight/ Sound/ Thought.

Eco-friendly By: Meg Hand

Photos by: ryan patrick schill

A

rguably the most studentpacked building on campus, KSU’s Social Sciences Building is far from boring. The first floor’s potent aroma of ever-flowing lattes (and, of course, the neverending buzzing sound produced in the process), state-of-the art vending machines, high-tech classrooms, and zooming elevators make the building perfectly equipped to handle a 21st-century college student’s every need.

With everything so readily available, it’s hard to believe the building is eco-friendly.

The idea for constructing a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified building at KSU grew out of university officials’ desires to substantially reduce and eliminate negative environmental impacts through improving unsustainable design, construction and operational practices. “The LEED Certification process was fairly new

at the time the Social Sciences building was being programmed, and with this project, KSU was actually the second institution in the University System of Georgia to receive this certification for a new building,” states John Anderson, director of facilities planning at KSU. First and foremost, it’s important to understand what being LEED certified entails. The LEED system is a voluntary, market driven building rating system which evaluates environmental performance over a building’s life cycle, providing a definitive standard for what constitutes a “green building.” But what is it about the Social Sciences building that earned it the LEED certification? What makes this building different from the Clendenin Building or the Stillwell Theatre?

For starters, the Social Sciences Building makes a huge effort to increase water efficiency. One way the planners achieved this was by not having a permanent irriga-

tion system. In doing this, the building utilizes 20% less water than what is required in the Energy Policy Act of 1992. Project designers also devised a method for which the building is able to optimize energy performance by creating a 25% reduction in energy cost than what is required by the ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-1999.

Ever wonder why you must stay within the parameters of the designated smoking area outside the building? Smoking is obviously prohibited inside the building, but the designers of the building also wanted to make sure that students and professors were inhaling and exhaling the cleanest and safest air possible. To do this, they installed a carbon dioxide monitoring system, and the products used on the inside and outside of the building were carefully chosen for optimal lung health. For example, the designers made sure that the composite wood and agrifiber products on the interior

of the building (the walls, obviously) contain no added urea-formaldehyde resins. Resins are toxic to the environment and can irritate the lungs, so we owe a big ‘THANK YOU’ to the designers who have kept them out of our building.

Even the paints used on the interior and exterior of the building are eco-friendly.

Every white wall (and yellow and black, of course) is Green Seal Standardapproved. The carpets? Those too.

Interestingly enough, carpets are a major habitat for bacteria and toxins. To reduce the effect the bacteria may have on humans within the building, the designers make sure that the building maintains a relative humidity of no greater than 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

Of course, there are the less technical aspects of the eco-friendly building that we have all noticed. For example, the recycling receptacles located on every floor. Please use them! They are expensive! Perhaps you have noticed in the restrooms that you are not washing your hands with antimicrobial soap, nor are the janitors cleaning with non-sustainable cleaning products.

But with constructing an eco-friendly building always comes problems. “The building industry has changed and sustainability is a higher and higher priority. However, any new ideas take time to implement. The biggest challenge is probably making sure that the project team understands the various details so that new elements are integrated well with the overall design,” states Anderson.

Did you know the Social Sciences building is LEED certified, or did you simply take it for granteded?

“I actually didn’t know the Social Sciences Building was environmentally friendly until this semester when my sociology professor said something about it. I think it’s awesome the building is eco-friendly. I guess it’s just KSU doing it’s small part to save the environment,” says Lauren Green, KSU junior.

Also, don’t fret. If you got excited read-

ing about how environmentally effective the Social Sciences building is, Anderson says there are more to come.

“KSU has undertaken several LEED projects since the Social Sciences building was completed in 2006. The Commons was awarded a gold certification this year and has received a lot of attention because of the unique design of this dining facility. Our new Prillaman Hall for Health Sciences has also been designed with this approach, as well as the future Science Lab addition that is scheduled to be under construction in December,” states Anderson.

Anderson also emphasizes that the reason KSU continues to consider sustainability and efficiency with facility projects is that it’s the right thing to do!

“The impact of any large building on the environment is significant, and it’s only practical to take a long-term approach,” Anderson says. That said, next time you walk into the Social Sciences building, take a deep breath and rest assured that you’re breathing something that, for once, is beneficial for your lungs.

Sight/ Sound/ Thought.

Sight/ Sound/ Thought.

A Man on Fire BY: RICHIE ESSENBURG

photos by: richie essenburg

I

sat on my bed with a hangover still lurking in my head. There was nothing to do that bright and windy Sunday afternoon. The other six days of the week I spent in class for six hours a day. I was in Graz, Austria, studying abroad. Liebniz, a small city about 3hrs south of Vienna by train was my place of residence for two weeks. I was only one of four “Americans” there and thank goodness.

One problem: the only television station that broadcast in English was CNN. That morning I thought, if only for a second, that this may not be wholly true. I flicked around looking for some American television only to find Charlie Sheen speaking German. Ich verstehe Deutsch nicht sehr gut.

So I was stuck. Stuck with CNN. It’s not like I think they’re communist or anything, I just wish I could have watched Two and A Half Men in a language in which I understand more than a few words. But like I said, CNN was my only of way satisfying my homesickness by way of acting like a true American: I stared into a television for hours.

The night before, my fellow degree-seekers and I went to a restaurant on a hilltop where the wine was free and pouring. So the night was long and the morning longer. I slept through breakfast and rolled around on my hotel bed waiting for my kidneys to forgive me. My roommate, Ivan from Macedonia, loved CNN. I got to be blessed with

the 24-hour news cycle via Ted Turner anytime back in the States; Ivan just loved that it came in clear and he could practice his English.

Ole Brits they were--the anchors, I mean. Their coverage of Africa was quite expansive. Especially considering Americans know nearly nothing about anything or anybody in Africa because CNN doesn’t tell them shit about it. But here, in Austria, where all the English speaking blokes are also British speaking folks, they cover tons about Rwanda, South Africa, The Congo, Sudan, and so on.

So in keeping with their usual Africa coverage, and in keeping with the tradition of handing awards out to always-already white privileged folks, I heard these words come blaring into my hung-over yet attentive brain, “ Yes John, I do believe there is a talent that must be recognized, that with all this great journalism these days, we should really recognize some of the great journal—ists.”

The other British anchor answered, “Oh yes, do tell. Do tell Ron. Do tell. Might I say, an ole chap deserves a pat on the back when he’s worked for it.”

And Ron, “Yes, well in that spirit we have here with us today a man who is deserving of that very thing.”

“Now, ahem, we do want to warn you that due to the graphic nature of this picture, it may not be suitable for all audiences.”

The award winner, Mr. Halden Krog, stands there waiting to be asked a question with his award winning photo containing a young male human be-

ing on his knees, engrossed in flames--speechless, silent, and merely captured by a shutter opening and then closing. The image they show stays and stays on the screen in the background almost the entire length of the interview.

“This sort of thing for me is almost like an autopilot,” he says. “ You know you’ve got to capture this stuff, you know you can’t help the man, firstly, because he’s in this situation where, I mean I wouldn’t know what to do anyways, firstly. So you go into this sort of auto pilot mode, you know, actually,” he scowls and squints and says, “ya know, actually deciding which lens to use, it’s hard to shoot. It sounds kind of grim and, ya know, not right, but that’s what you do, that’s what you’re there for, to tell the story.”

The TV screen pans out from the interviewee and shows only the picture on the screen. Mr. Krog begins to speak over it, “For me, what makes it a super powerful image is that you can actually see the guy’s face. It’s not just a silhouette of a man on fire, he’s actually looking straight at the camera, so it’s one of these blistered, deformed faces, through the flames, so it puts a face to what is going on there.”

Yes, the last thing this burning man saw before his death was a white, British, imperialist, photographer “telling the story,” doing his job, snapping the picture. As if to say, “Ello mate, a member of the white tradition is here to press the button and win the award while you take your last breaths. Do try and not wonder too much what it would be like if you were on the other side of the camera.”

Halden Krog, the interviewee, the photographer, the award winner for best photojournalism, did express concern for the man on fire. Anyone could see the concern written on his face during the interview. He did acknowledge that he wished he could have done something; yet, just as quickly, he cited just how skilled one must be to get just the right shot. Don’t we all wish we could’ve helped?

The problematic nature of this instance lies not as much on Halden Krog as it does the award.

Certainly, if Mr. Krog had never been handed the

Sight/ Sound/ Thought.

Sight/ Sound/ Thought.

I Don’t Believe in Green

Why saving the planet is too damn hard by: meghan de st. aubin photos by: meghan de st. aubin

I

award I may never have rolled out of bed that morning and started yelling at the television. If there were no one to tell the rest of the world about the atrocities, conflicts, and crimes against humanity, we would be even worse off.

rica is being torn apart, mostly due to the British imperial power exiting stage left, the world is being shown a decided “good form” to a British man who was just so lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time.

We need journalists. We need photojournalists. We need international correspondents and investigative reporters, and beat reporters; we, humanity, especially those much more privileged than the ones being captured on film, need these people to tell of and give recognition to the honest awfulness that is so much a part of our world.

Now there I was. There I sat in an old, remodeled, Southeastern European castle.

My kidneys hurting, a night of “living it up” prior, and no civil war to speak of three hours south of Vienna. So, the question must be posed: Am I any different than the award winner? The award giver? Any different from the imperial British?

We also need human agency--people that demonstrate action, especially on television. We need pictures of people throwing blankets over burning human beings and people putting out fires. While South Af-

It is my tradition, sadly. Because, one day, my ancestors showed up with bigger artillery and a “civilizing” cause, I am able to provide this very thing you are reading on an overpriced piece of technology. And I

was able to go to the other side of the world to study in castle with a pool on the lawn. I was able to go, to learn, and to offer something rather different than a “pat on the back.”

My last day in Austria came. I sat in the airport lobby and found myself telling a fellow student about what I saw on CNN a few days prior. I began to speak and a scowl came over her face. She started to look off to the distant tarmac. I could tell, only later, that she was quite uncomfortable. “That’s terrible,” she said. “I signed up for this thing online where they email me only ‘positive’ news. There’s just so much negativity in the world otherwise. I just think it’s so terrible that we see so much bad stuff in other places.” I could not disagree more.

wish I could be green. I wish I could believe in what green stands for. I also find myself wishing for a lot of other things, that seem, well, more important. Making straight A’s and worrying about when my soul mate will finally walk into my environmentally friendly arms is enough stress as it is for a twenty-year old. However, despite all things, when we are speaking in realistic terms, I envy those who treat our earth like most of us do not: with great care. I do not buy organic vegetables, or green cleaning products. I eat cucumbers from Kroger and I use Windex. While I’m sure that might make some of you cringe, I do apologize. I just don’t have the patience or the belief that any of these efforts really make a difference.

To begin with, remember that Al Gore film that came out a couple years ago? The Inconvenient Truth, was it? Honestly, I really would like to believe the words that came out of that man’s mouth, because I really felt bad for him after unfairly losing to Bush. However, I just couldn’t believe him.

I think he even rose from a cherry picker to demonstrate a point on his larger than life projections.

I’m envious that many of you can sit there and believe that curbing green house emissions is more important than the war on unemployment and there’s that whole other war in the Middle East to

worry about. I’m not sure how I can really reduce my oil, gas or coal consumption… I still need to drive to school and work. If it’s any consolation, my dishwasher has an Energy Star label.

CNN says there are “low-stress steps to take around the house to reduce your carbon footprint”. In the article, Jeanne Huber offers 22 ways in which you can become green. There is one exercise were Huber suggests pouring food coloring into the water in the tank of your toilet. She says to wait two hours and see if the color has seeped into the bowl. She says this is a good way to tell if your tank’s flapper has issues. I suppose this is a low cost way to figure out if you need to replace your toilet’s flapper so that it does not cost you water you are not technically using, but I feel like I totally stopped missing the point when food coloring was mentioned. That made me immediately want to put food coloring in my roommate’s toilet, just to cause her to have an interesting bathroom experience.

Not only do major news organizations and publications take it upon themselves to spread the word about being green, but also this new message of earthly goodness is all over the place. I stumbled into a high-end grocery store not too long ago and I found that they have their own section of organic clothing. Shoes similar to moccasins made of pure sheepskin… or something along those

Sight/ Sound/ Thought.

Prof.files Environ{Mental}

lines, adorned the shelves while hemp sweatshirts hung on the racks. Admirable, yes, but do I want to look like a stoner who is about to do her daily yoga cleanse? Not particularly. These articles are clothing are usually twice the price of my other sweaters and shirts. If they are going to this eco-friendly, why not just make recyclable underwear and undershirts.

I’m sure that would be a hit with some of the treehuggers out there.

Please do not mistake my condescending tone for disrespect. I totally respect if those of you out there want to try to help the earth, personally I just feel we are way past that. How can we really repair the damage that has already been done? Starting at the basics with recycling and then moving all the way up to new and improved appliances. Do all the aluminum cans really go to the correct place? Are we really sure used plastic isn’t sitting in some landfill somewhere?

Green items are expensive and I feel the items are unrealistic for college students to buy. Most of us eat ramen on a daily basis and try to get our fruits and veggies when we can. I will continue to remain on the same path, until I really feel that green efforts are in the right place. Until then, I think Mother Earth can take care of herself.

By: Richie essenburg

E

ver wondered why “green” seems to have so many different meanings? For some, the word signifies something positive. For others, not so much. If all the complexities as to how and why this interests you, then you might want to take a course or two with Dr. Beth Giddens.

Dr. Giddens is a professor of English and is also associated with the American Studies department. Environmental literature and the language we use to talk about the environment is her forte.

As for your opportunity to learn more, Dr. Giddens says that, in the spring, “I will teach WRIT 3170/ AMST 3770, which is environmental writing and literature and it is a course that is a broad sweep of national environmental literature from Thoreau forward. It involves students in writing about issues and environmental topics that they recognize and that are near to their lives and personal experience.”

She is also hoping to take a group of students to Cumberland Island Natural Park as a part of the class. The trip is optional, of course, but you wouldn’t want to pass it up!

“I’m trained as a rhetorician,” says Dr. Giddens.

So when asked about the word “green” she said that “green”, broadly, today, just means an effort to be less abusive towards natural habitats, ecosystems, and wildlife than we have been, but I think the word has a long history as well.”

While there are several different associations, the most unforgivable is what has came to be known as “greenwashing.” Often, this involves any given company marketing their product as environmentally friendly, when in reality, the product is quite the opposite.

The most pressing environmental issues, Dr Giddens says, “for Georgia, it’s water. We haven’t solved the “water wars” between Alabama and Florida. We don’t have enough of a water supply for North Georgia, the city of Atlanta. Politicans seem to talk about it when they must and otherwise not mention it. Secondly, is the transportation issue. WE are very fond of building roads, but we have a difficult time using public transportation on a daily basis unless you live in areas where it is readily accessible. Lastly, I would say that the issue of informing people of their daily choices that they can make that have less of a negative impact on their environment and their consumption of natural resources.”

If any of the local issues such as these or any larger, global issues interest you, then you’ll want to check out some of Dr. Gidden’s classes in the near future. And if you just want to be more informed about the environment in general, Dr. Gidden’s recommends: Sierra magazine, National Wildlife, American Parks and Conservation Association. A good website is Mother Nature Netowrk at mnn.org.

Q&A with Sarah Christopherson By: Richie Essenburg

photos by: meghan de st. aubin

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s part of one of the most engaging and active group on campus, Sarah Christopherson keeps busy with the Progressive Earth Alliance at Kennesaw (P.E.A.K.).

If you spend any time on campus, you may have noticed them around—whether you’ve seen them at a conference table during the week or saw them at Homecoming.

A leading member, Sarah is dedicated to the important work of this activist, environmental group. Sarah and I met recently to talk about some of the latest to do with P.E.A.K. and to talk about all things environmental—on campus, locally, and globally.

TM: What is the name of the organization you work with?

SC: The name is Progressive Earth Alliance at Kennesaw or P.E.A.K. for short.

TM: Is it a more recent organization, been around? Maybe just a short history…

SC: I’ve been in this environmental group since 2005, and it was formerly known as Environmental Alliance. In the last year we’ve changed it to PEAK. The changes that we’re trying to make are, we are trying to get to the root of some of the problems, and we recognize that there are social implications that come along with environmental issues.

TM: The progressive part of the name…is

that more concerned with making progress on environmental issues or something more to do with the political?

SC: I’d have to say it is both. We are planning on going to “Power Shift” which is next semester in D.C. and I think if you really want environmental changes to take place, you have to be involved politically.

We are definitely a group of diverse people; some people are more political, other people are more concerned with the small changes they can make in their own lives.

TM: What is your official title? What are some of your responsibilities?

SC: I am the Vice President and Jessica Robinson is the Presdent. While we do have certain areas of responsibility, we function more on if something needs to be done, we do it. I wouldn’t say we strictly stick to positions. We also try to work with several other [environmental] groups in and around the Atlanta area. I plan monthly events as well.

TM: It sounds like the organization is focused on activism and real, practical campus engagement. What are some of the goals you hope to achieve through this?

SC: One of the biggest efforts we’ve focused on thus far is educating students and staff. We really want to get the word out to people, keep people informed. We have tables set up on campus a couple times a month usually.

TM: What do you think of the word “green”?

SC: It’s quite fashionable right now, and there is plenty of “greenwashing”—products that are marketed as being environmentally sustainable or sound when they really aren’t. So it’s become popular enough where companies know certain people will by something if they appeal to them in a this way. The issues are obviously important to people because companies are definitely spending plenty of money on advertising.

TM: What are some of the specific things you are trying to promote on campus?

SC: We are hoping to push for better energy ratings for buildings on campus, informing people about recycling bins, and to raise awareness about the implications of wastefulness.

TM: Do you find it any easier to humanize some of these issues?

SC: Absolutely. People aren’t necessarily that concerned until it affects them. For me, I feel because of where we are in technology, because we have the knowledge, and because we know the implications of our actions, I think we have a serious, ethical obli-

gation to the environment…and not just to the environment but to one another as well.

TM: What you think about the term “green”? Do you even like it?

SC: I think that term has a lot of baggage. It’s become hip, but I think it’s outdated. A lot of people that are really into environmental issues now, really don’t associate themselves with that term. Thought needs to be put into the words that are being used because words associate certain ideas in peoples minds. Sometimes I feel like it loses its meaning.

TM: How much do you put into practice some of these things in your own personal life?

SC: Hmmm well, I don’t dry my clothes in the dryer anymore; I try to keep an eye on the thermostat (even with 3 other roommates); I’m all about organic and local food; I use my own bags; I use real green products—7th Generation is a good one brand, and I’m a vegetarian.

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Bound By Nature By: Stephanie Wright

photos by: meghan de st. aubin & ryan patrick schill

Meghan de St. Aubin

B

eyond the confines of Kennesaw State University’s 240-acre campus lies the “real world.” An entity whose boundaries are undefined, origins are unknown, and whose power is feared by all. Perhaps this concept of the “real world” is the sole reason you are seeking a college education—because you have been told that a degree can be used as a tool to overcome the evils and hardships that the “real world” can bring. However, this piece of paper that you receive upon graduation is useless without having experiences outside the walls of lecture halls.

But where does one go to find such wisdom? Nature Bound, an outdoor adventure organization, provides incredible opportunities and activities for students to take part in—to test their nerve, strength, and resilience by venturing out to the outdoors. Trip leader Nicole Howe, a senior majoring in sport management, remembers one of the first trips she made

with Nature Bound: “We went to Sandrock, Alabama where we climbed up this seventy foot rock that looked over the entire state. I had to face a lot of my fears, including heights, and overcome obstacles. It’s really rewarding to see yourself succeed in the face of opposition.” And opportunities to test your limits in the elements are plentiful because Nature Bound hosts weekly excursions throughout the year ranging from mountain biking, to caving, to backpacking all over the country. Each of these expeditions are not only completely pre-planned for your convenience but are also offered to Nature Bound members at an incredible price. By paying a membership fee of either twenty-five dollars per semester or fifty dollars for the entire year, you can travel to Ellijay, Georgia and be guided through the trails of North Georgia on your bike for only sixteen dollars!

However, if you’re feeling more adventurous, Nature Bound also offers weeklong trips during the summer and winter to

“I had to face a lot of my fears, including heights, and overcome obstacles. It’s really rewarding to see yourself succeed in the face of opposition.” places like Tybee Island, Costa Rica, and Colorado. Each of these trips is planned by a Nature Bound trip leader and is also offered at a seriously discounted price. Trip leader Kevin Krautsack, a senior majoring in exercise and health science, planned a two-week trip to Costa Rica during this past summer for seven Kennesaw students.

Through Kevin’s diligent preparation, he and the other seven students stayed at an organic farm where they took a tour and learned about the process of planting food organically. The owners of the farm also taught their guests how to salsa dance and offered yoga classes. When the students weren’t on the farm, they went surfing in the Pacific Ocean, zip lined across the Costa Rican landscape, and camped under a waterfall.

On these trips, not only are you part taking in once-in-a-lifetime experiences, you are also forming meaningful relationships with the individuals that are with you. Nicole Howe, who has risen through the ranks of the Nature Bound program from member to trip leader to intern, has been on countless trips and has gained invaluable insight into the intricacies of group interaction: “When you’re out in nature, you’re basically forced to get to know each other since you are relying on one another to conquer the elements. Each trip offers a unique atmosphere due to varying group dy-

Ryan Patrick Schill

namics ranging from an intimate experience with a small group of people to a social event with a large group.” Now, as with anything else in life, conflicts in opinion or clashing of personalities will occur on occasion and it is the responsibility of the trip leader to manage these disputes.

In order for the leaders to know how to properly handle disagreements, they are required to attend workshops that are organized by the Nature Bound organization. These seminars include conflict management, equipment orientation, facilitation/de-briefing skills, environmental food prep and more. These classes are not restricted to trip leaders either; any interested member may also take part.

The opportunities for growth are plentiful through the adventurous Nature Bound program. Whether you chose to challenge yourself and face your fears on a weekly excursion to the north Georgia mountains or explore the landscape of a new environment in another state or country, there are no more excuses for sitting around your dorm. Now is the time when you can push yourself further than you’ve ever gone before and see what you’re capable of. Perhaps in conquering your innermost fears, you’ll be able to overcome the trepidations caused by the “real world.”

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Go Local By: Ryan PATRICK Schill photos by: ryan patrick schill

C

indy Nelson decided to stop by the Peachtree Road Farmer’s Market on a whim.

She had never been to a farmers market before and maybe she was hungry or maybe she just felt like getting out of the car and walking around, but she soon found herself face-to-face with the most beautiful foods she had ever seen.

“I eat a lot of fruits and vegetables,” Hill said, “but these just looked different; more real.”

Hill—in her early fifties and home for a long weekend away from law school after recently quitting her job as Director of IT at Home Depot—found herself carrying back to the car an armload of squash, sweet potatoes, heirloom tomatoes, carrots, and broccoli.

“Oh my goodness, the broccoli,” Hill said with a smile. It was, she said, unlike any broccoli she had ever eaten. The flavors were more pronounced; the texture perfect.“I didn’t know you could improve on broccoli,”

she said. The best part: all of the food was grown locally on small farms. The produce was organic, sustainable, and seasonal. Hill felt good knowing that she was supporting local farmers and the local economy. “I’m a student so I don’t have a lot of money, but it is so worth it to pay a little more,” she said.

“You get so much more back.”

Across the country, more and more people are buying local foods just like Cindy Nelson, eschewing the mass-produced vegetables and meats distributed by giant, corporate farms. In response, the market is changing, albeit slowly. With the rise in popularity of locally grown foods have come more landless farmers like Joe Reynolds and Judith Winfrey who together operate Love is Love Farms. Reynolds and Winfrey do not own the land they cultivate—they lease—meaning Love is Love Farms is not tied to a specific place. Wherever they are farming, Reynolds and Winfrey focus on sustainable practices using heirloom and

endangered varieties. They rotate crops and weed by hand. Reynolds and Winfrey do things the hard way but the extra work results in delicious food. They are committed to growing the best tasting food with the least impact on the planet all while working toward a greater farming community in Georgia.

With the addition of the Commons dining facility, Kennesaw State University has made its own commitment to sustainable, local food. According to KSU’s Director of Culinary Services Gary Coltek, a significant portion of the produce consumed in the Commons is supplied by Destiny Organics, a distributor that, as it says on their website, focuses on “connecting local farmers and food artisans with a diverse regional marketplace.”

The Commons feeds an average of 28,000 guests each week, so serving just a small portion of local food can have a big impact on the ability of small farms like Love is Love

to continue operating. It also means that every day thousands of students are given the opportunity to eat nutritious, high quality, delicious local produce in a variety of dishes. “As much as possible we purchase ingredients—including proteins, dairy, fruits, and vegetables—that are grown in Georgia and the Southeast U.S., “ Coltek said. “This month we are serving Georgia grown winter squash and over the summer we served tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers from our own farm and gardens.”

Recently, signs were added to each station inside the Commons listing what ingredients were local and which farm they came from.“I love the stir-fry at Wok Your Way and it’s great that we get to see exactly which foods are local and organic,” Cindy Nelson’s daughter Elizabeth, a senior, said. Elizabeth is a big believer in eating local foods—she shops at farmers markets, avoids overly processed foods, and if she

eats out, she tries to eat in restaurants that are part of the local food movement.

“I was disappointed when we had to buy the meal plan,” she said. “I couldn’t imagine the food would be any good.” Elizabeth, who eats at the Commons mainly on the weekends, still finds the selection to be lacking, but “they are trying,” she said.“It’s hard to find many restaurants that use any local foods at all so I am impressed that they are at least bringing in some local stuff,” Elizabeth said. “You can really taste the difference.”

Cindy Nelson is returning to law school in Illinois with a new commitment of her own to local food and a certain amount of jealousy.“ They don’t have food like that in our dining hall,” Hill said. “But I’m bringing a few big heads of broccoli back with me to get me through the rest of the semester.”

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More Highs Than Lows?

KSU NORML Speaks to Talon

“The students who choose to fight the current laws want to do so with integrity and intelligence.”

By: Meghan de St. Aubin

Illustration By: Ryan Patrick Schill

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hat is green, leafy, and has a musky herb odor that lingers longer than the smell of fresh baked cookies? A pungent substance commonly referred to as Marijuana. You’ve probably smelled it at parties, down the hall in your dorm, or maybe you have even smoked it. It is the drug many of our parents experimented with but tell us not to try. The controversy that follows this recreational drug is greater than alcohol or any other drug out there. Most legislatures have not been amused by the recent grumblings of Proposition 19, which proposes to regulate, control and tax cannabis in the state of California. On election day the nays narrowly outweighed the yeas and many more states could soon follow in California’s lofty footsteps.

Ryan Schorr, now an alumnus, began the KSU Chapter of NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) in the fall of 2009 following unanimous approval by the RSO board.

NORML’s objective is to change current cannabis legislation.

KSU NORML’s current president, Ariana Wharton, joined because she feels this is a civil rights issue more than anything else. “I believe that it is my right

to have and use the plant [cannabis],” says Ariana of the right to fight this sort of prohibition. “For something that doesn’t kill millions of Americas, it’s kind of a ‘duh’ idea to me.”

There are many misconceptions about the use of marijuana and how it affects the body. The most common stereotype is of people who are burnt out and choose nothing else but the drug. While you may know someone who has developed a close personal relationship with their bong and reruns of Cheers, there are other people out there that smoke on occasion or to rid themselves of physical pain.

Cannabis has been around for centuries and has been used in many different ways throughout time.

Another common misconception is that marijuana is something new, and only became prominent during the sixties. However, there are many accounts of ancient civilizations using the cannabis plant to cure ailments. It is even rumored that Queen Victoria used the plant to help with her menstrual cramps.

During the prohibition of alcohol, marijuana was admired for it’s “soothing” properties.

However, NORML does not support or condone, by any means, breaking the law. The students who choose to fight the current laws want to do so with integrity and intelligence. Ariana insists that the

way to get things changed is not to break the law and go to jail. Instead, she says that “The way to get things changed is to get the people to speak out for their rights.” She says that decriminalization is like putting “a bandage on a missing limb”. Legalizing marijuana is ultimately the goal and more positive change could come out of doing so.

Reform and legalization could potentially minimize problems like prison overcrowding and the millions of dollars spent on prohibition and propaganda. This would allow the police to focus on catching criminals who are involved with what NORML consider to be harder drugs. “As a direct result of prohibition, drugs are more readily available to children than the legal poisons—cigarettes and alcohol,” Arianna goes on to say of the seemingly impossible fight taking place.

Many students have experienced being kicked off of campus, and losing financial aid and scholarships, all because they were caught with marijuana. It may seem arbitrary to put a permanent mark on a student’s life for using a substance that, many believe, does not have any negative effects on their health. In reality, our bodies are not equipped to facilitate the inhalation of burning matter, whether that is through marijuana, cigarettes, pipes, or cigars. But some research indicates that cigarettes may be more harmful than marijuana due to the

addition of additives and other potentially addictive substances.

NORML holds bake sales where the proceeds are used to purchase hemp that members have been braiding to sell at a hemp fair. The proceeds from the hemp fair will go to fund lobbying at the State Capitol and to help treat medical conditions whose symptoms and side effects are currently being treated with cannabis such as multiple sclerosis and AIDS. NORML at KSU intends to hold a walk to raise even more money. They also hold screenings of movies such as “The Union: The Business Behind Getting High” and “Waiting to Inhale”, which initiate discussions of marijuana related issues. Currently, NORML is working on getting a speaker from L.E.A.P (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition) to come and talk about the problems with prohibition as well as having professors and other individuals talk about the uses of cannabis, as well as legal, health and economic issues involving cannabis.

For the members of NORML, patience is certainly a virtue. Until things change, however, Ariana and the rest of NORML are fighting not for the right to get high, but for their civil rights.

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Green and Crafty

By: Richie Essenburg photos courtesy tristan weeks

Meet Tristan Weeks.

She’s not your ordinary “artist”— a title I still insist on assigning her, though Tristan is much more humble about her hobbies. She takes random stuff—just about anything—and makes into something completely new. She starts with items such as bathtubs, glass bottles, and even bike tires and makes them into art! Though she questions what she does as “art,” she says she “feel[s] uncomfortable with the term artist or what I do as art…I don’t feel particularly “artsy” most of the time. I do like to make

random stuff though! That might be a little more accurate.”

Tristan indicates learning from her own unique experience and acknowledges her parents when asked about how she came to be so crafty: ” I like the idea of taking something that had a previous use and making it into something else…sometimes that something else has no function whatsoever, [laughs] other than just to look at.

My parents kind of passed down this mentality and some of the

skills too—Daddy taught me how to weld and Mama taught me how to put up with him.”

Her yard at home is decorated with several of her pieces and using “found” items for reuse in her art doesn’t always ensure the best relations with her neighbors.

Tristan says she is “pretty sure [her] neighbors think I’m the weirdest person on the planet. If there were a homeowners’ association in my neighborhood we would’ve been kicked out a long time ago.”

Lately though, she has found some new projects that might not entice the neighbors to peak in her back yard. Tristan is engaged and is working on some projects for her wedding. When I asked her more about it she said, “I’m actually making a lot of stuff for my wedding that’s coming up! I made my bouquet out of old brooches.

People have sent me stuff, actually, from all over saying ‘Hey I heard you want to do this.’ It’s pretty cool actually. And different family members have given me different

things so it’s kind of a family heirloom now.”

Aside from her craftiness, Tristan has also been a traveling musician most of her life and plays guitar and mandolin. She also has no real sense of time—as she so candidly shared. Tristan is not your conventional artist or maybe even your idea of an ordinary student here at KSU. That is what makes her so interesting, and in turn, making KSU that much more interesting!

To check out more of Tristian’s work visit www. greenandcrafty. blogspot.com

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Let’s Hammock By: Stephanie Wright

It’s Not Easy Being Green Why saving the whales may kill your job BY: GARRETT MOLL

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nce you start hammocking, you can’t stop trying to find places to tie up. Gazebos, poles, buildings, anything and anywhere is fair game,” exclaims Kevin Hamilton while canvassing his surroundings, searching for any two objects that could potentially support his weight. “The world suddenly becomes filled with potential places to take a nap.” And what college kid wouldn’t love that possibility? Kevin, along with his co-founder Daniel Lowe, are the masterminds behind the creation of the Kennesaw Hammock Club, and they are dedicated to promoting and spreading the love of limitless relaxation with the student body.

The idea for such a group initially began as an endeavor to organize a flash mob hammock assembly on the Campus Green. However, after the attempt to organize the flash mob failed, the idea to arrange other hammock get-togethers eventually evolved into the official establish-

ment of a Facebook group classified under the category of extreme sports. How can the act of hammocking be considered an extreme sport you ask? Well, the combination of a portable suspended bed with human ingeniousness and recklessness can potentially lead to perilous situations. Kevin is no stranger to danger with his most memorable experience while hammocking and hanging off the edge of a cliff: “I was hiking with a friend when we came across this cliff that just so happened to have the perfect sized gap to hang a hammock between the tree on the overhang and another tree on the opposing side. It was the true definition of extreme relaxation.” There is even a website called extremehammock.com that is dedicated solely to the documentation of tying up a hammock in some of the most dangerous and unusual places in the world.

However, before you go out to find a cliff to hang a hammock off of, be mindful that hammocking is not

only an extreme sport but also an art. “You have to know the basic concepts of physics to know what things will hold your weight, which trees provide the best support, and how to tie up your hammock to countless objects,” Daniel explains.

“If you don’t, you’re going to be in for a rude awakening when your hammock falls from out under you.”

So, if you’re a fan of napping in random and potentially dangerous places, hanging from cliffs, climbing trees and the principles of physics, the Kennesaw Hammock Club may just be the place for you. Just be forewarned that hammocking might become an addiction and completely alter how you view any two objects standing eight to ten feet apart. You may also experience reduced productivity due to increased suspended slumbering.

N

early 60 years ago, Lewis Strauss, then head of the Atomic Energy Commission, famously predicted that atomic fusion would cause energy to be so inexpensive it would be essentially become “too cheap to meter”.

The idea of free energy was in many ways amazing and society altering, but it was also a very scary concept for it’s time. Had Strauss been correct in his predictions, every single coal, oil, and natural gas worker would have likely been out of the job. Thousands, possibly millions, would be out on the street.

As you can tell today by the dent in your alcohol budget inflicted by your energy bill, Strauss’ prediction never came true. However, the concept served as a reminder of a very real lesson in economics: even in the wildest dreams about the advancement of society, there’s almost always a loser in the deal.

Interestingly enough, we’re seeing this concept come into play once more with the modern day green movement. While on a personal consumer

level the green movement represents sentiments of sustainability and altruism, from a business standpoint the green movement has manifested itself as an incredible focus on efficiency. The added bonus of running PR campaigns about saving the whales aside, businesses are finding ways to produce the same outputs with only a fraction of the inputs previously required.

In many ways, this has been an amazing thing.

Retail stores are saving money by reducing the energy usage of their buildings. Car manufacturers are both cutting emissions and fuel costs by introducing more efficient cars. Businesses can now both save natural resources and increase efficiency by going paperless. We’re producing more and using less.

However, as I mentioned before, there’s almost always a loser in the deal. What’s the giant elephant in the room? By far the best way to increase efficiency isn’t LED lighting or paperless billing; it’s replacing human workers with machines. Blockbuster employees are being replaced by Redboxes, bank tellers are being replaced by ATMs and smart phone applications,

and tax accountants are being replaced by TurboTax. It’s a wave of innovation that’s inevitably going to find it’s way into all parts of society. Fast food restaurants are going to eventually find ways to make fully automated restaurants and kiosks.

Doctors eventually won’t be hiring secretaries to do their scheduling anymore; they’ll be using computer programs. The number of employees required to operate an entire supply chain will eventually dwindle to a handful. Every company will find cheaper, more efficient ways to do things with fewer employees. If they don’t, ten others will.

The green movement is going revolutionize society and increase our standard of living, but it’s going to leave some people behind. If I can offer any advice, it’s to make sure you don’t come away a loser in the deal. The ability to think critically is really the only thing separating you from a piece of technology and a computer program. Just be ready though, because one of these days you’re going to have to prove it.

Hi!

Welcome

You've made it! to the back cover. Hopefully this means you've read the whole issue. But now you are faced with a choice. You can hold on to the magazine and read it again later (because it is just that awesome) or you can get rid of it. If you decide to be rid of it you have a couple of options. BUT PLEASE DO NOT THROW

IT AWAY.

If you are sure you are totally done with this issue and never ever want to

recycle it

see it again, please by putting it into one of the many paper recycling bins located all over campus. Or you can be more creative. Leave it on a chair or in a classroom for someone else to find. Tear out the pages, ball them up, and use them to play basketball. Draw silly faces on the pictures inside. Or just take it home and add it to you growing collection of Talon mags.

The most important thing is to not throw it away. There are a million ways to recycle, all of them just as simple as throwing it away, but infinitely better for our planet.