TALON E
Letter from the Editor
letter from the editor Editorial Board Editor in Chief Rachel Burel Creative Director Steven Welch Managing Editor Ashley Frew Photo Editor Ellen Eldridge Copy Editor Kayla Rowe
Staff Members Staff writers Blake Bottomley Alecia Brown Amanda Goncalves Roderic Graham Jalisa Mapp Cody McGhee Alexander Such Design Assistants Megan Burns Andrea Dowis Advertising Marketing Manager Amie Mowrey Advertising Manager Alek Searcy Advertising Representative Ruth Lauture 1 | Talon Magazine
very year we are given the same line-up of holidays that our cultures celebrate. However, this year brings an added date of celebration for everyone on campus., the 50th aniversary of our great university. Five decades of growth have brought us to where we are today, with a future that continues to look brighter and brighter for everyone involved. In this month’s issue, Talon has decided to join in the festivities of celebrating Kennesaw State University during this special moment in time. We take our readers on an adventure through what was, what is, and what will be changed at KSU. As students, teachers, and bystanders of Kennesaw State University, we hope that you will enjoy our many editorials of the past 50 years of KSU. The people may change as time progresses, but we are all connected by the memories we make as we pass through these halls. Happy anniversary everybody!
-Rachel Burel Disclaimer
All comments and opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily of Talon Magazine staff, its advisers or KSU and do not reflect the views of the faculty, staff, student body, KSU Student Media or the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia.
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05
Happy 50th
C
21 Evolution of Scrappy
KSU’s mascot may have changed over the years, but he;ll always represent the owl pride our students hold.
page 3
Constructing Kennesaw
From its days as a junior college to becoming one of the largest schools in Georgia, KSU continues to grow.
page 5
Kennesaw Sports
Take a look back at how far KSU’s sports have come.
page 15
TA B L E O F
ONTENTS
Plus these stories: Gro Greek! page 07 Fifty Years of Crazy page 09 Drunk Diaries page 17 The History of Talon page 19 Let’s Celebrate page 21 KSU Sweet KSU page 23 Groovy Baby page 25 November 2013 | 2
Scrappy the
K
O Owl
ennesaw State University has been around since September of 1963 and over the past fifty years it has become a comprehensive university along with Georgia Southern, Valdosta State, and University of West Georgia. This is something that would make any student proud to call themselves an owl, but that is not the only thing that has everyone’s spirits high. At this fast growing school, you can find students wearing black and gold with pride and dignity. This pride is influenced by the love for our school, but also by our wonderful mascot, Scrappy the Owl. Scrappy has been a part of Owl Nation since the beginning and is still just as much as an important factor today as he was back then. Scrappy has had a number of looks in the past years. If you were to look at pictures from then and now, you can definitely see the changes. One of the most evident changes is the alterations of his feathers and face design. Scrappy’s feathers were previously brown and his beak was black, but not only that, his uniform was also black with white trimming. Today, Scrappy is a delight to see in his current design which broadcasts our schools’ colors. Scrappy’s new uniform and beak is bright gold with black feathers that cover his body. This most recent design that is displayed on Scrappy was unveiled at Kennesaw State University’s first ever Flight Night which took place at the KSU
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By Jalisa Mapp
Convocation Center in 2012. For this year’s 2nd annual Flight Night the plan of events are quite different but just as exciting. Besides introducing the men and women basketball teams, the event features the appearance of Kennesaw State’s first live owl mascot, a Great Horned Owl. Everyone is excited about this recent step we have made in having our own live mascot. Our baby owl was born on April 8th of this year and is expected to grow to be at least six pounds and have a wingspan that stretches up to five feet! At the moment, our new mascot is in Commerce, Georgia at Winding Woods Ranch to be trained by Daniel Walthers, the same trainer of the Baltimore Ravens mascots “Conquer” and “Rise”. At this time our new mascot doesn’t have an official name so a contest “Name the KSU Mascot” was conducted where everyone was invited to participate in the naming. Adding to the list of exciting events that evening, the chosen name will also be announced. This memorable occasion is planned to take place at the KSU Convocation Center on Saturday, Oct. 19, at 7:15 p.m. We are definitely making changes at Kennesaw State University. You can find Scrappy throughout campus and at almost every Kennesaw State sporting event on many days and if you’re lucky you may even get to take a photo. Scrappy is a favorite among the athletic teams, students, and faculty. Scrappy is a mascot that has a way of making any event at Kennesaw State University be turnt to a different level. Go Owls!!
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The KSU
November 2013 | 4
KENNESAW Constructing Greatness 50 years in the making
E
By Alecia Brown
very year after summer vacation, students return to Kennesaw State’s campus witnessing some form of change. There is always something new! This year is nothing short of surprises and thrilling anticipation on the upcoming projects that are developing at this present time. Amazingly, students, staff, and faculty members are also beholding and experiencing a precious memorial. Kennesaw is half a century! As old as that may sound, Kennesaw is fairly young. In the short amount of time Kennesaw existed,it has accomplished great tasks and incorporated new elements.Although Kennesaw is a product of a chaotic decade overlaid with: social movements, political invasions, psychedelic culture, and horrid assassinations; Kennesaw is proof that something small and yet wonderful spun out of the sixties. In 1963, the Junior college Kennesaw State appearedon the streets of suburban Cobb County. The total number of students enrolled the first fall semester was 1,014 (Scott 3). Over the years that number has shot up to roughly 24,000 plus students. The number is only going to continue to grow, as Kennesaw is turning into a college town offering new avenues for students to have an authentic “college experience.” A few years ago, Kennesaw did not have the same features that most students today have the luxury of using. Dr. Linda Niemann, professor of English, has worked for Kennesaw State since 1999. When she first arrived she said, “There was no construction.” On the other hand, Whitney Betts, a Spanish
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and Modern language major, came to KSU in 2008 saw nothing but construction. The Commons and the Central Parking Deck were undergoing construction. Reflecting back, it is hard to imagine Kennesaw without those major components that help sparked Kennesaw State’s campus. The Commons is a key feature and the soul of the university. It is not only a place to dine, but it is also a place for bonding. Furthermore, Kennesaw is adding new and innovating technology as it engages in construction. If you have not already noticed the massive construction around campus, well here is your chance of enlightenment. The Bagwell College of Education for years shared a building with Kennesaw Hall. They are now in the process of expanding the territory with new computer labs and a literacy center. Also across the Green from the Bagwell College of Education, they are constructing a new expanded entrance for the Student Center. Unfortunately, this feature will take up some portion of the Green, but who needs that space anyway right? Likewise, there are rumors speckling around about an on campus Starbucks. As exciting as it may sound for all the coffee lovers, I cannot confirm. But in the back of the Student Center they are expecting to have some restaurants in that area. Only time will tell what will be offered. Lastly, the most exciting and most anticipated opening would have to be the new Student Recreation Center. As of now, the Recreation Center entails one basketball court, one upstairs workoutspace, a downstairs weight room, and three fitness classrooms. Of course there are other rooms, but they are occupied for academic and clinical purposes. To say the least, the gym is providing excellent services with their staff and
Campus has not only changed physically, but it is moving towards more diversity. personal trainers, but it does not compare with what is soon to come. The new Student Recreation Center is expected to have an Olympic style swimming pool, an indoor track, more gyms, and many other exhilarantfeatures. It is a two year project, but they will reveal little by little with each completed development. In the small amount of years Kennesaw State has been a university, look at its transformation. Campus has not only changed physically, but it is moving towards more diversity.50 years ago, there were probably no minorities attending or teaching at this college. Now there is no place you can walk without seeing other cultures and races. Although it still needs more diversity, I am proud of the progress that has been made and what is to come. The only pending question left is the parking situation.
With all the significant changes made, “What are they going to do about parking?” Happy 50th Anniversary to Kennesaw State University! If you will like more information about the ongoing or future projects please visit KSU’s website or go to the link https://web.kennesaw.edu/facilities/fpds/current-designconstruction-projects.
November 2013 | 6
Go Greek By Kayla Rowe
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or those looking for a lifetime of great friendships, a place to call home, and a chance to be apart of something greater then themselves, Greek life is the answer. Kennesaw State University’s Greek life has grown to a whopping 19 sororities and fraternities over the years, including the college Pan-Hellenic, national Pan-Hellenic, interfraternity, and multicultural councils. Every organization is unique in their own way, which might make many freshmen’s decision on where to go and what to join just a little bit difficult. When looking into all the wonderful organizations and what sets them apart from one another, take the time to do some background research. Each and every sorority or fraternity has their own set of morals and standards that they abide by, and some with national philanthropies they support. These differences could cause conflicting feelings for the average freshman who desires to be a part of Greek life, but is unsure of where they belong. Recruitment for most organizations comes around once in the Fall and again in the Spring and depending on the organization, the recruitment process will differ. For the most part, this is a time to figure out what you like and dislike about each one, and determine which suits you and your personality best. Again, for the freshman, you may be coming into college with a predetermined opinion on soroities or fraternities. For instance, some phrases may be familar such as...”you’re paying for friends,” “just a way in to all the crazy parties,” or obviously the idea that every girl is stuck up and every guy is a brainless “frat boy.” Although this may be true for some members, it is certainly not accurate for everyone. These organizations are made up of strong leaders, academic achievers, athletes, performers, and an abundance of amazing individuals. These people all come together to be apart of something greater than themselves and make a difference in the community; it’s not about the parties. Although greek life does bring about so many opportunities for fun nights, it is so much more than just that. It is more than just the spending of money in order to wear letters and have cute things. These things are a lovely bonus, but you are making a contribution in order to help your chapter grow so it can do great things for it’s members and the community. It is certainly worth every penny! So don’t believe the sterotypes, joining Greek life is an amazing choice and will make your college experience entirely unforgettable. The community of Greeks here at Kennesaw State university is held together with a strong common bond of loving the letters we represent. So GO GREEK, you won’t regret it.
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Fraternities and sororities engage KSU community
November 2013 | 8
“
THIS school has seen
some wild stuff since it was built 50 years ago. Besides freak acts of nature, people have a tendency to bring the crazy with them, and with more students flocking to the university, it looks like we’ll only see more of it.
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“
By Blake Bottomley
T
he first two or three weeks of school usually set the tone for the rest of my semester. I take the same route to school, walk the same paths, sit in the same seats, and talk to the same people. School days can quickly become predictable and monotonous, and I think this is true for the majority of my fellow students. Every once in a while though, something strange will break our customary routines, whether we’re locked down for storms or receive an email telling us to be vigilant for rogue masturbators in cars. To celebrate 50 years of crazy at this school, I assembled a brief timeline that highlights some unique, extraordinary, and bizarre occurrences that have taken place at KSU over the past 50 years: • 1970: The Phantom and the Worm – The Sentinel published an article warning new freshmen of the Phantom and the Worm, a pair of poltergeists notorious for pranking unsuspecting students. According to the school’s myth, the Worm was active after midnight and dwelt in the storm drains that snake under the campus, where it would howl throughout the night. The pranksters allegedly filled up the back of a security officer’s pickup truck with empty beer cans. When the officer returned to his truck, he was furious to discover that it had been used as a trash bin, so he emptied the cans onto the campus lawn. He wasn’t any happier after he got a call from administrators asking him to go pick it up. • 1972: George Carlin Performs at KJC – George Carlin is a legend among American comics who pushed the line of what was and was not acceptable in entertainment, transforming the industr y and
influencing a new generation of comedians. Kennesaw Junior College invited Carlin, who was only a few years into his standup career, to headline their show at KJC Day. Ticket prices for students? Free. • 1974: KSU’s Counter-Culture Golden Age – The South tightly clutched its conservative values during the 1960’s, making it difficult for the nation’s counter-culture movement to take root here. Once it did, however, it became one of the most interesting eras in the university’s history, the climax of this being in 1974. Students toked up regularly in a forest where the Bailey Center parking lot is now, producing so much smoke that “it [was] a wonder somebody didn’t call the fire department,” according to retired professor J. B. Tate. On one occasion, there was a rumor that streakers were going to run through the campus’s quad, and a crowd of people gathered to watch. The nude runners dashed through the quad and hopped into a waiting car. Thinking the event was over, bystanders began to disperse until they began to hear a noise. In the words of Professor Tate, “a small airplane [was] coming right toward the quadrangle. They had taken the door off of the plane, and they had this naked guy standing up there spread eagle, holding on, and the plane nearly hit the flag pole flying that low.” Yes, you read that correctly. Hardcore hippies flashed the campus in a fly-by. • 1976/2012: World Record Attempts – Kennesaw State has tried its hand at breaking world records a few times. In 1976, students “unofficially” broke the world record for mattress stacking. The goal was to have more than 48 students stacked up on top of each other with mattresses for more than 60 seconds, and they met their goal with 60 students. In 2012, student Jessie Blowers organized the KSU Peace Project, which aimed to remind the world of the importance of peace. The project’s mission was to create the world’s largest human peace sign, a feat that would require more than 6,000 people. About 3000 people filled up the Green to participate in the project. Although KSU failed to break the record,
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the program was still successful. • 1980: KSU’s First Resident – Like much of the campus, Parking Lot A (next to the Clendenin Building) used to be thick Georgia forest. It was so thick that campus security was astonished to find a makeshift shelter hidden behind the trees. The officers had become suspicious after repeatedly witnessing a student named Mike Goldberg going in and out of the woods, and when they confronted him, he told the officers that he’d been living in his shelter since the previous fall. He bathed in the gym’s showers to keep clean and used money from working on campus to buy food. • 1996: The Raccoon Incident – Kennesaw State has a typical suburban wildlife community: squirrels, rabbits, songbirds, a hawk, and the occasional opossum or stray cat. In 1996, a raccoon decided it wanted to make its home here too. The issue with this little masked bandit was that it was unnaturally aggressive and possibly rabid, so its presence was brought to the campus police department’s attention immediately. Not wanting to risk an attack on students, officers shot the hostile mammal. This sparked outrage among the students, not necessarily because KSU police shot it, but because KSU police shot it six times. Many angry students claimed that the overkill was an excuse for the department to try out their new 9mm sidearms, while other students sent letters to The Sentinel arguing that, six shots or not, the incident had been overhyped. • 2006: Spaceship Earth Collapses – No matter which of the main entrances students use to get into the Social Science building, they have to pass one of two monoliths: the section of the Berlin Wall or Spaceship Earth. One little-known fact among students is that these two monuments have both been brought down. The university received the section of the wall after its famous “falling,” but Spaceship Earth wasn’t so lucky. It collapsed in December of 2006, and it took four months for its sculptor, Eino, to rebuild. • 2009: The Little Houdini Incident – Longtime petty criminal and trailer park heartthrob Christopher Gay once stole a Wal-Mart truck in an attempt to visit his dying mother, and some of his other past adventures include stealing the tour bus of country singer Crystal Gale, breaking out of a Tennessee jail to visit his dying father, and escaping from a prison van while shackled, earning him the nickname the Little Houdini. In March of 2009, a Tennessee deputy was transporting him from Florida to Tennessee, where he was wanted for the truck theft. The officer stopped to grab a bite to eat at the Waffle House on Frey Road, and he was stunned to find him missing when he returned to the car. Assuming he fled onto campus, the university shut down for a few hours while law enforcement combed the area for the Little Houdini. • 2009: KSU Floods – In September 2009, record-breaking floods struck the Atlanta metro area. The waters were so severe that the university had to cancel classes until the waters receded. Some students decided to make the most of their free time and play out in the water. • 2010: One Professor, No Clothes – Kennesaw State infamously made national headlines after a part-time accounting professor allegedly stripped naked, exposing himself to his entire class. The instructor was immediately arrested for public indecency and let go from the university. Oh, and this happened at the end of the semester. Finals week will do that to you, man.
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• 2011: The Snowpocalypse Hits KSU – A paralyzing snowstorm hit the southeast only two weeks into 2011, rendering several roads nearly undrivable. The university cancelled classes just before they began, which extended the winter break. Students living in the dorms flocked to the snow-covered campus, throwing snowballs and sliding down hills on cardboard boxes, storage container lids, laundry hampers, and whatever else they could find. One group of students built an impressive snowman on the Green that took over a week to completely melt. KSU kept the Commons open for those students that had no other meal options, but its hours were limited. The Frey Road Waffle House received so many students after the Commons closed that they actually had to shut down for a few hours to send employees home so that they could rest. Snowpocalypse 2011 literally froze the south, but KSU students made the most of their extended vacation. • 2011: The Pot Bellied Pig Incident – January 2011 ended almost as strangely as it began. One Friday morning, several helicopters were seen hovering near the eastern side of campus. Apparently, this alarmed some people because the university released the following message: “KSU Alert – This message is to notify the KSU campus community of the ongoing animal control search for a pig near I-75, which has gained the attention of several news media outlets. There is no current emergency on the KSU campus. Again, there is currently no emergency situation on the KSU campus. Thank you.” Of all the notifications released by the school, this one’s randomness is unparalleled. This school has seen some wild stuff since it was built 50 years ago. Besides freak acts of nature, people have a tendency to bring the crazy with them, and with more students flocking to the university, it looks like we’ll only see more of it. Who knows, you might just find yourself in the middle of it if you hang around campus long enough.
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November 2013 | 14
Past, Present and Future:
kennesaw s 15 | Talon Magazine
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ports at Kennesaw State University are expanding due to the growth of the University and success of the athletic program. Soccer, baseball, and softball are the most successful sports at Kennesaw State University (KSU) and have paved the way for more sports to come. Starting in the fall of 2015, KSU students will have a new sports team to watch. NCAA Division I football is going to be added to the already lengthy list of intercollegiate sports. Coming into the Big South Conference, the football team will give KSU students and alum something different on campus to cheer for. Fortunately, according to the success of athletic teams of past, the football team is expected to perform well. Athletic teams found success, winning six national championships since 1983, when they were introduced to KSU. Collegiate athletics kicked off at KSU in 1983 with six sports: women’s basketball, men’s soccer, men’s and women’s cross country, and men’s and women’s track and field. It did not take very long for KSU to find success in these sports. Kennesaw State found its first All-American athlete in 1985 by the form of Jennifer Turner of the women’s track and field team. It took only one more year for KSU to win its first championship in golf. Jon Hough won the
1986 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) golf championship. The fact that Kennesaw State had a successful start in collegiate athletics set the bar high for any future athletic programs. Athletics in the 1990s picked up the success right where the 1980s left off. Kennesaw State saw its first ever team championship thanks to the 1994 baseball team winning the NAIA championship. The championship was a nice send off to the NAIA as Kennesaw State moved to NCAA Division II the very next season. Not to be out done, the women’s softball team won the national championship the following year. The baseball team and softball team found success again in 1996 when they both won national championships; marking the second championship in a row for the softball team and the first championship in Division I for the baseball team. Winning multiple championships lead to the baseball team being named “Team of the Decade” by Baseball America. Although the baseball and softball programs were new, winning traditions were still being built. The decade may have changed, but winning at Kennesaw State continued on during the 2000s. Women’s soccer was introduced to KSU in 2002. In their first season of existence the women’s soccer team started off with an 18-game winning streak. Although the team fell short of a championship, but came back the very next
sports By Cody McGhee
“In such a short time, the sports department has risen to the top tier competition level in the NCAA and has been successful in winning championships”
year and won the NCAA Division II national championship. The first class of the Kennesaw State Sports Hall of Fame was inducted in 2003. Hall of Fame Inductees included: Roger Hopkins, Herb Davis, James “Spec” Landrum, Betty Siegel, and Jenifer TurnerReid. The Hall of Fame celebrates and honors all those who impacted KSU sports programs, and has helped build a winning program. The Kennesaw State men’s basketball team joined in on the winning in 2004 by taking home the NCAA Division II national championship. The men’s basketball championship was the last Division II championship that KSU won due to the fact that KSU was transitioning into becoming a Division I athletic program. Starting in 2005, KSU would compete in the Division I of NCAA. Although the competition was tough, Kennesaw State’s teams kept the wins coming. The women’s cross-country team was the first to win on the Division I level by taking home the A-Sun Conference championship. Women’s softball and soccer got on the board next in 2006 when they each won the A-Sun conference championships. Both went on to win the conference championship again in 2007. Women’s soccer kept the ball rolling by winning the conference championship again in 2008 and 2010. Yet, men’s athletics took a little longer to find success. Men’s indoor and outdoor track and field won the A-Sun conference championship in the year 2008. The very next year KSU added two more accomplishments: The five year transition between Division II athletics to Division I ended and golfer Matt Nagy qualified for the 2009 U.S. Open for the PGA Tour. From 2011-2013 the men’s golf team made three consecutive NCAA regional golf tournaments, while in 2012 the women’s golf team won the A-Sun conference championship, the first ever in their history. Although Kennesaw State has only had intercollegiate sports for 30 years, many great things have been accomplished. In such a short time, the sports department has risen to the top tier competition level in the NCAA and has been successful in winning championships. Kennesaw State University is not only rapidly growing as a university but the growth of sports programs is on the rise as well... It’s safe to say a¬thletics certainly has a bright future ahead.
November 2013 | 16
Di ar ies drunk
By Steven Welch
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I recently had the pleasure of attending the nuptuals of two of my closest friends, who actually met at a birthday party celebrating yours truly. The drinks we partook in were a big part of bringing them together, so it’s no surprise that the sweet nectars of alcohol were also a big part of their special day. Anyone with any sort of common sense knows that all too often, allowing a bunch of people to drink as much as they want can lead to trouble. From my obser vances during the reception in which these people and their drinks flowed freely, I feel the need to offer some tips for anyone who may find themselves attending such a soiree. First, I believe it’s
time to bring up a comparison between an open bar and a buffet. There’s an age-old saying that goes “all you can eat, not you can eat all.” The same rules that are meant to stop you from going for your 8th plate of chicken fingers also apply when you’re contemplating going for your 8th glass of wine. Pace yourself, and don’t guzzle your drink like it’s mother’s milk. All you’ll become is the drunken idiot who can’t hold their liquor. What is this, freshman year? You’re better than that. Second, I think weddings are the perfect time to let your inhibitions go. Get your ass out on the dance floor already; chances are no matter how
little rhythm you may think you have, I gurantee it’s more than the bride’s grandmother who is busy having the time of her life doing the electric slide. Take some of that liquid courage and you’ll forget about your too left feet. You CAN dance, you just have to try. Fina l ly, if you c ame without a date, go mingle with someone you don’t know. Weddings are a hotbed of people looking to hook up, so get a couple drinks for the two of you and see where the night goes. Just remember my first tip, and don’t overdo it with the alcohol. This could be your only shot with this person, and you can ask anyone, no one likes a guy who can’t perform.
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A history of Talon WHEN I ACCEPTED THE INTERNSHIP
offer to collect and write the history of Talon Magazine, I didn’t fully appreciate the opportunity. I thought and still think highly of student media, and I believe that every communication major should get involved with student media. -Ellen Eldridge 19 | Talon Magazine
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By Ellen Eldridge
ne of my original intentions in going back to school for a second bachelor’s degree was to get involved with student media and make the most of my chance to work with others who would be in the same field. Student media adviser Ed Bonza has worked at Kennesaw State University since 1991, and every former student media member I’ve interviewed credits him with their success, in and outside of KSU. Many current students—even those who know all the existing student media outlets—aren’t aware of the fact that Talon started as a yearbook. Our university opened as Kennesaw Junior College, and student media wasn’t necessarily a going to be a guaranteed part of campus, but became something that both staff and students worked for. Dr. Fred Roach gave a video interview where he informed me that he helped lobby for funding. He advised the yearbook, called Montage, for a couple of years (students began attending classes in 1966). “I’ll get the money for you from the administration, but I’m not going to write one word or lay out one page, and it worked out well for both of us that way,” he said. The Roach interview clip as well as all the interview clips for this project are on YouTube, searchable by “Ed Bonza” as the channel name. Through emailing former student contributors and editors, and reading the archived issues from the early Montage yearbooks through the issues of Talon that I copy edited, I pieced together a loose timeline. As I continue to work through the timeline, I can share my sentiment that student media involvement is not only a great networking and portfolio-building experience but also an inspiring way to become a piece of your university’s history. The excitement and passion I saw on the faces of Elizabeth Johnson, who worked on Talon from about 2009 until she graduated in July 2010, renewed a sense of purpose and energy in me. Noelle Davis currently works for Kennesaw State University, and when she was a graduate student in the Master’s of Professional Writing program she became the editor in chief to give Talon its name. “I wanted something to do with owls and hooking readers,” Davis said. When I asked Davis about the mark she made and the legacy she left behind, she reminded me that though I referred back to R. Todd Fleeman as the first editor in chief of the student magazine, Davis was the one to create Talon. Her eyes started to fill with tears, and the scene warmed the parts of my stressed-out student life that questioned how much I should take on. As I continue cataloging and interviewing former editors of Kennesaw’s student feature magazine, I take stock in what I am doing as photo editor. I am a piece of the history I am collecting, and that inspires me. From its early days as a yearbook to becoming a features magazine, Talon will hopefully continue to bring inspiration for years to come.
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Let’s Celebrate Whether it’s a birthday, wedding, or a friendship, take the time to remember the impact these special days have on your life.
By: Amanda Goncalves
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ife, relationships, work, oh my. If concepts like these have anything in common, it’s that they provide an opportunity for something extraordinary to happen. When they finally do, people take notice, and do something different from what they normally would. Eventually these extraordinary occasions occur more often, until we find ourselves in a sort of tradition with the events of our past. We call them anniversaries, and they’re the days we set apart to commemorate what we as individuals would like to remember.
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The first anniversary many of us ever encounter is a birthday. It may be our own or that of someone we care about, but no matter how young one may be, they recognize the distinction between that day and any other. Although some people grow resentful of the practice when the candles take up most of the cake, celebrating such a time can never fully lose its appeal. The reason for that being, regardless of what society’s opinions are, anniversaries continue to mark the important events in the life of particular individuals and countries.
Ac ro ss t he worl d, t he mo st common purposes of anniversaries are to acknowledge birthdays, weddings, and funerals. Chances are over the years you haven’t been able to escape a show of affection from someone or kept yourself from demonstrating it to another. Either way, you’ve gotten the gist of what you should give, or at least have some ideas thanks to movies and over suggestive girls. Usually these ideas include flowers, dinner, and chocolate. Yet, what about the ones you aren’t celebrating with any particular individual? What if it’s about celebrating the legacy of something much bigger than yourself, and you’re not quite sure that you’d know what to do for it regardless? Well, this year KSU is celebrating our fiftieth anniversary, and if celebrating through founder’s week won’t be enough, here are some more personal anniversaries you could consider starting. Write down expectations and aspirations for yourself, the school, and anything else you would like. Take a small empty metal container of some sort, and place that note inside it. Then, keep it anywhere you like, but do not open it again until next year. You’d be surprised at how things turn out, and how much progress you make without knowing it. Try including your roommates or some other friends into this tradition; after all no matter how different your circumstances may be, we’re all still going through college together. Another interesting anniversary tradition to consider is taking a photograph of something you love. It may be of an angle of your favorite building on campus, or a time of day in which you feel like the lighting is perfect. Write this concept as concisely as you can behind that photograph and give it to someone who you think would find it interesting. At the end of the day, give them something else to consider about the school, something they might never have thought of otherwise.
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KSU Sweet KSU
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By: Alexander Such
orace J. Sturgis was our school’s first president when we opened in 1966 as Kennesaw State Junior College. Now,as a university in 2013,KSU is a thriving community containing 7 colleges and dozens of degree programs. Personally. f I hadn’t previously known how old our uiversity was, I would have never imagined it to be over 46 years in the making. Kennesaw State University is going to be 50 this year, yet the passion and excitement it exudes gives the campus a whole new youth.
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I felt that I belonged to this campus, and this campus belonged to me.
Kennesaw started as a commuter school, and the same still rings true for a large part of the student population. Being a part of the 94% of students who commute, I can vouch that one does not feel disconnected from campus life. Those of us who work jobs or have children to tend to while not in class can still take part in school events, both during the day and at night. Everyone feels welcome and it is very easy to feel at home. It doesn’t take much to become a part of the scene. Small conversations pop up around the halls of the Social Science building, the close-quarters seating at the bars in the Commons promote small-talk, and the University Rooms are always packed with events where people can learn and experience new cultures or ways of thinking. Until halfway through last year, I had trouble coming to this realization. It happened one warm day as spring was blooming
throughout the campus. I was walking back from the Financial Aid office and found myself in the center of Campus Green. I looked at my surroundings and felt the sense of academia, community and life. I thought to myself, for the first time in my entire school career, “I am part of something huge.” I felt that I belonged to this campus, and this campus belonged to me. Kennesaw State University has evolved tremendously since its birth, and the spirit of the institution, coupled with the tenacity of its students, has created something nobody could have foreseen. In these fifty short years, Kennesaw State Junior College has become a force to be reckoned with: a community of devoted and excited students who are passionate about their education and their school. I couldn’t imagine a better place to call home.
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Groovy Baby Part of the college experience is finding ways to express yourself, to bring your style ideas out into the open for everyone to see. One student shares his design ideas to bring a blast from the past to any dorm room.
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By Roderic Graham n the 1960’s when KSU first opened its doors for students, there were no dorm ro oms. KSU was only a community college and did not have the space for student housing . Since 2002 KSU has opened up four dorms, with each dorm containing private bedrooms. Because KSU does not have the traditional style dorms, each student can let the creative
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juices flow when it comes to decorating their space. Today,if you walk inside a room in University Place, the typical décor could be posters of a favorite sports team or music artist, empty Ramen noddle packages and tons of Apple products and maybe a flat screen TV. But with schedules being so hectic, who has time to decorate? Without a flat screen TV or other new-aged themed items, what would a KSU dorm room in the 1960’s look like?
The sixties were about revolution, from a social standpoint as well as style. Bright, bold colors became a staple in American style, eventually finding their way ino the homes of millions of families. Adding subtle splashes of color through accessories and accents is the perfect way to bring attention away from those plain white walls we know all too well.
The Vietnam War, Civil Rights Movement, Neil Armstrong walking on the moon and The Beatles are only a few of the cultural and political phenomena in the 1960’s. So, for our 60’s styled dorm room posters probably would include activist, anti-war slogans, or pictures of music legends; like the Beatles or Hendrix. Flower power, peace, and love were popular trends; so a few psychedelic patterns peace signs, and hearts might be hanging from the ceiling or wall. Light a few incents and add a record player and you’re on your way to creating a 60’s styled dorm room. Color schemes in the 60’s were very vibrant. Bed spreads and sheets were designed with bright colors infused with mellow earth tones. And we cannot forget
the infamous shag rug, which adds even more 60’s flare. Lava lamps are a main source of light, even though they don’t shine very bright. In some dorm rooms, you might even find cigarette butts. That’s right; the 60’s was so cool you were allowed to smoke in your dorm room! It wouldn’t be rare to find school paraphernalia in a college dorm room. In the 60’s if KSU had dorms; you would find a touch a black and gold mixed in with the sea of bright colors. An owl mascot would probably be decorated in 60’s themed clothing as well.Back in the day, dorms would havebeen more traditional style.For example, students would probably sleep on bunk beds or have two twin beds in a room with one desk for studying. There would be
no private bathrooms (can you imagine!). You cannot forget your “mini fridge” or a microwave because there would not be a stove or even a full kitchen to cook any food. You could have pretty muchkissed personal space goodbye. We can compare your dorm room to a 60’s dorm room. Let’s replace the laptops and tablets with dictionaries, encyclopedias, and school books. Next, take away the flat screen TV and add a small 10-19 inch black and white television. Decrease the closet space in half. Remove all cell phones and replace it with a rotary phone (Bet you don’t even know what that is). Throw in some bright colors, add a little flower power, and you have created a 60’s style dorm room. Keep it groovy baby!
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