The Red & Black | May 2, 2024

Ignoring the signs

Allison Mawn

When Brittney Bateman learned that taking American Sign Language classes would not count for her foreign language requirement at the University of Georgia, she was shocked. She is passionate about all she has learned in the classes and is deeply bothered by university policy regarding the credits.

“I’ve hated it since the minute I noticed that was the case,” Bateman said in a text message to The Red & Black. “[I] decided to be an ASL student anyway because my interest in the language was stronger than my want to get the correct credits.”

All UGA students are required to have three “World Languages and Global Culture” credits to graduate. The requirement aims to teach students to “understand contemporary cultures and people(s) outside of the U.S.” ASL classes are not accepted as satisfying this requirement. ASL classes are not listed as an option on UGA’s list of General Education requirement courses, including under the category of “World Languages and Global Culture.”

UGA has four ASL professors, all of whom are Deaf and have been advocating for a consistent policy of university-wide acceptance of ASL. They have written and revised multiple proposals, attempting to get ASL counted for the “World Languages and Global Culture” credit.

According to Brian Leffler, one of UGA’s ASL faculty, one of these attempts included revising the ASL curriculum to parallel the Spanish curriculum — a language that does count. Their goal is to show how ASL is taught as a cultural tool, despite not being foreign. According to Leffler, the faculty revised the curriculum item-by-item to reflect the curriculum of classes accepted for the credit.

“They recognize that ASL has structure and grammar rules like spoken language but do not recognize the cultural aspect of the language, which is totally different from spoken English or any spoken language,” Laurie Achin, another ASL lecturer, said in an email to The Red & Black.

ASL is fundamentally different from spoken English. ASL has its own grammar, vocabulary and syntax. ASL has five key parameters that play into every sign: handshapes, movements, locations, palm orientation and non-manual markers. Many articles in English like “a” or “the” aren’t present in ASL. ASL grammar is typically object-subject-verb, while English is subject-verb-object .

“I feel like UGA is doing a disservice to the Deaf community by making it seem like ASL is just a facet of English, which is already an extremely all-too-common misunderstanding,” Bateman said.

ASL is a unique language used mainly by the Deaf communities in the U.S. and Canada, but also occasionally in other countries. Many countries around the world have their own sign languages that are distinct from ASL.

A look at the policy

According to Stacey Neuharth-Pritchett, a senior associate dean at the college of education, UGA’s General Education Committee does not accept ASL for the “World Languages and Global Culture” credit because the courses

don’t “substantively focus on a global culture outside of the United States,” a standard classes must meet for them to be considered as fulfilling the credit.

“Many courses fulfilling [the “World Languages and Global Culture”] requirement have nothing to do with language,” Rodney Mauricio, chair of UGA’s General Education Curriculum Committee, said in an email. “However, many language courses at UGA explicitly focus throughout the course on understanding the culture of peoples outside the United States.”

UGA does offer a course in Deaf Studies, AMSL 3000, which focuses on Deaf culture. While the majority of the focus is on American Deaf culture and history, other countries’ Deaf cultures are discussed through a project assigned to students.

However, this course still is not accepted for “World Languages and Global Culture.” The same is true for AMSL 3010, a study abroad program which takes students to France to study French Deaf culture and sign language and how it has impacted ASL.

Students struggle with a lack of clear, concise communication clarifying that ASL courses are not accepted for the “World Languages and Global Culture” credit. They are often surprised to learn they have not satisfied the requirement after enrolling in ASL classes, creating confusion for students and their advisers.

Even though other language courses offered at UGA fulfill the “World Languages and Global Culture” requirement to teach students to “understand contemporary cultures and people(s) outside of the U.S.,” Mauricio said ASL classes, including Deaf Studies, currently do not meet that standard, and thus are not accepted for the requirement. However, Mauricio did acknowledge that ASL is used outside of the U.S. and the existence of Deaf culture.

Some classes that do fulfill the requirement are not “contemporary,” like Latin. Introductory linguistics classes do not focus on a specific foreign language or culture, yet are accepted.

Still, some colleges at UGA do accept ASL as a language credit. Per the UGA Bulletin, “American Sign Language may be used to satisfy the Franklin College Foreign Language Requirement but is not approved to satisfy the General Education Core Curriculum.” It is the only language listed under foreign languages that has a note like this.

Because ASL is not accepted for the “World Language and Global Culture” credit, many programs are dissuaded from allowing it as a language credit, even if it is offered every semester, according to Neuharth-Pritchett.

UGA does not have a university-wide foreign language requirement, but ASL courses would count towards such a requirement if it did exist, according to Mauricio.

In order for ASL courses to be accepted for the “World Language and Global Culture” credit, the university’s General Education Curriculum Committee would have to approve it.

Linguistic discrimination

Enrollment in ASL classes is expanding across the country, including becoming Yale’s third most popular language, according to the Yale Daily News. Some colleges, such as Penn State, allow ASL to fulfill their World Language requirement, even expanding the offerings and what requirements they fulfill as recently as this semester.

UGA has also seen growth in ASL class enrollment in recent years, especially after creating an ASL minor. The number of available electives — and the length of waitlists for ASL classes — continues to grow, and Leffler said the department told the university they need another lecturer.

Despite this, ASL not fulfilling university-wide general education requirements makes Leffler feel “discriminated against.”

“It is human rights for the Deaf communities to have their language and culture accessible and honored,” Leffler wrote in an email.

“It is common for students interested in taking ASL classes to choose not to [take them] after they learn that it won’t count for their world language and culture requirement,” Achin wrote in an email. “Some students choose to stick with the classes anyway.”

Bateman was one of the students who decided to continue with ASL even after learning it wouldn’t count for her graduation requirement. She has since added ASL as her minor. Still, she believes it’s wrong for ASL not to count for all students.

“If I have learned anything from my sign language classes here, it has been the diversity and cultural aspects that Deaf people contribute to the world and each other’s lives,” Bateman said.

Campus unrest escalates

Students demonstrate in solidarity with Palestine

Staff report

Editor’s note: Individuals involved in demonstrations are identified only by their first name to protect their identity.

Campus was quiet at 6 a.m. on the morning of Monday, April 29. However, the air on the lawn in front of Old College had a tense anticipation as pro-Palestine University of Georgia students, alumni, Athens community members and others set up camp on North Campus.

Their encampment demonstration joined many other college campuses around the nation, and the arrests and protests that followed throughout the day were part of an ongoing movement to demand action from universities in support of Palestinians.

The encampment demonstration lasted for roughly an hour and a half before police shut it down and arrested 16 demonstrators who refused to leave the site.

UGA students and others organized the encampment, which consisted of around 25 demonstrators demanding “solidarity, disclosure, protection and divestment” from the university, according to a statement from UGA Students for Justice in Palestine.

Prior to the encampment demonstration, UGA SJP shared a letter of commitment and solidarity to the Palestinian people and student movements across the nation.

“We are committed to upholding a front of resistance at the University of Georgia and holding our institution responsible for its complicity and unwavering support of genocide,” the statement read.

Conflict begins early Monday

The group of demonstrators arrived around 6 a.m. and officially set up tents around 7 a.m. Around 6:45 a.m., two UGA police officers asked the demonstrators to remove the barricade and tents that were set up.

UGA police and administration said the demonstrators had five minutes before they would begin arresting them on charges of criminal trespass. Around 8:30 a.m., officers began taking demonstrators into custody, handcuffing them and bringing some to a police van.

Dee, a student at UGA, helped coordinate bringing food to the demonstrators at the encampment. Before they were able to bring out an oatmeal breakfast, UGA police seized their food and arrested the demonstrators.

“It was just … feeling helpless but also trying to empower them and make them feel like they’re being supported,” Dee said. “The police never once made us feel safe, they have only made us feel unsafe and scared.”

UGA administration said that Student Affairs and the UGA Police Department made demonstrators aware of the policies, and gave the demonstrators the opportunity to make a reservation for their protest and relocate to a designated forum, according to a statement released by the university on Monday morning.

Demonstrators refused these options and after multiple warnings that they would be arrested for trespassing, officers arrested 16 demonstrators. UGAPD, the Clarke County Sheriff’s Office, Athens-Clarke County Police Department and Georgia State Patrol were all at the scene.

“We’re out here in numbers, and we expect more and more people to join. This is something that genuinely is historic and people will talk about,” Abdulla, a senior mechanical engineering major at UGA said at the encampment. “We’re ready to react and make sure that we’re taking everyone’s security and safety into mind.”

Demonstrators chanted “shame” to the around 18 police officers while linking arms to form a blockade prior to the arrests. They also called the officers “cowards,” “pathetic” and “pigs.”

According to one of the people arrested, the officers attempted to take her hijab off of her head during her arrest. She said only one of the officers helped pull it back up on her head, despite her asking multiple officers. Students and community members who were arrested also said that UGAPD arrested Black women and Muslim demonstrators first.

“I didn’t expect this to be as bad, especially on UGA’s campus, and I’m incredibly disappointed,” Yas, a senior finance and international business student at UGA, said. All of those arrested were taken behind New College where they were searched before being transported to Athens-Clarke County Jail. Any students, faculty or staff members arrested could also face further disciplinary action by UGA, according to the university’s statement.

“They think they’ve scared us off or we’re not going to come again, but we are going to come back stronger,” Dee said. “Just seeing all of that — [we’ll] hopefully raise more awareness and get more support of what university systems are capable of and how much they can silence voices.”

“We have reminded you of the kinds of conduct that is not permitted under this policy,” Eric Atkinson, dean of students at UGA, said at the encampment. “You have clearly signaled your intent to continue to violate our policy, and as a result, this event is now ended, and everyone must leave the area immediately. Anyone who fails to do so will be subject to further consequences, including student disciplinary charges and arrest for criminal trespass.”

According to UGA policy, university community members are legally allowed to demonstrate in both designated free speech zones on campus and any outdoor, publicly accessible area of campus. These zones include the Tate Student Center Plaza, Memorial Hall and the lawn in front of the Zell B. Miller Learning Center. However, the policy states that camping and tenting on campus is not permitted.

For university members, who are permitted to gather outside, it is asked that an organizer contact UGAPD to hold a protest of 10 or more people if it will take place outside the designated time frame of 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Administrators said in a statement that demonstrators “crossed a line” and did not make a required reservation for their demonstration under the Freedom of Expression Policy. They said the demonstration blocked sidewalks and building entrances and used amplified sound, which also violated university policy, according to the statement.

“Let us make it abundantly clear that while the University of Georgia staunchly supports freedom of expression, we will not cede control of our campus to groups that refuse to abide by University policy and threaten the safety of those who live, work and study here,” the university’s statement read. “The University of Georgia remains an institution where ideas, viewpoints and scholarship can be openly expressed and debated.”

Arrests add to nationwide movement

Arrested demonstrators included current UGA students, alumni of the university, students from Georgia State University and others. They were charged with misdemeanor criminal trespass, according to the Athens-Clarke County Jail booking report.

There have been more than 800 arrests on college campuses across the nation since April 18, which is when the New York Police Department cleared an encampment demonstration at Columbia University, according to The New York Times. In most cases, several of those arrested were released, the Times reported.

Georgia State Patrol, Atlanta Police Department and Emory Police Department officers arrested 28 individuals at the Emory University campus in Atlanta on Thursday, April 25, according to The Emory Wheel.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp responded to the Emory University demonstration by thanking law enforcement for “restoring order.”

Demonstrations continue after arrests

At 3 p.m. on Monday, demonstrators met at the Arch in support of the 16 demonstrators who were arrested earlier in the day. They circled around North Quad and eventually settled at Old College in front of the statue of Abraham Baldwin, the same area where the encampment was set up earlier that morning.

Demonstrators had signs and noise-makers, chanting phrases such as “Free Palestine” and “Long Live Palestine.” Many wore keffiyehs, a Middle Eastern headdress, which has gained popularity as a symbol for pro-Palestine activism.

Two demonstrators who had just been released from Athens-Clarke County Jail also arrived at the protest about an hour and half after demonstrations started. They were met with hugs and cheers from the crowd who had gathered to demonstrate on their behalf.

“Just as we have always done in the past, we will respect the right to peacefully protest, but those who choose to make the unwise decision to use our college campuses to intimidate, make threats, promote violence or in any other way break the law will be met with the full force of the law and brought to justice,” Kemp said in a statement.

In Athens on Monday, a number of demonstrators accompanied the 16 arrested individuals to the jail after their arrests, waiting outside with water, snacks and games, while the arrested demonstrators were slowly let out on bail.

“We’ve seen a lot of even community outreach just in the past few hours from people who are concerned about the fact that students, community members, people who are even Athenians that just want to be allowed to access the space that they have paid … and UGA’s immediate response was to call the police,” John, a UGA alum, said.

John was a participant in the campus demonstrations on Monday, and was waiting at the Clarke County Jail.

By Monday evening, the jail record stated all but one arrested demonstrator had been released on a $26 bond. The remaining arrested demonstrator had a bond amount of $1,500, according to the arrest log, and had not been released as of Monday evening. According to someone posting bonds on behalf of the demonstrators at the jail Monday, an unaffiliated church group who did not identify themselves paid for the release of the demonstrators.

After chanting and shouting, there was silence among the crowd as they formed a circle to protect Muslim demonstrators while they prayed on the lawn. Outside of the demonstration, a group of Jewish students watched as chants continued. A senior UGA student from the group who wanted to remain anonymous said he wanted to observe the demonstrations to make sure there was no one “out of line.”

“I think it’s a shame because I don’t think a lot of them know really what they’re protesting for,” he said.

“I fully believe in the First Amendment right to protest, free speech [and] freedom of expression, but we just want to make sure it doesn’t get out of hand like it’s been getting on other campuses.”

As the day of rallying approached evening, more than 50 people remained — laughing, eating snacks and painting posters. Both Jaliah, a sophomore sports management and marketing double major, and Fatima, a sophomore psychology and biology major, woke up to the news of the arrests earlier that morning. Immediately, both of them came out to show their support.

“Look around and see what’s happening — people are making art, it is not what the media is trying to say: ‘they’re calling for the death of Israel and calling for the death of Jewish people.’ That’s not what’s happening here,” Fatima said. Still, there was a tense energy looming as the UGA administration periodically approached demonstrators, notifying them that they could only demonstrate until 9 p.m. Jaliah said there is strength in numbers and encouraged students to come out for the demonstration on Tuesday, April 30, at 9 a.m. All demonstrators cleared out of the lawn by 8:50 p.m., 10 minutes before the 9 p.m. curfew — leaving the site empty and quiet for the night. But the students, alumni and community members plan to remain vocal.

“This illusion of free speech, the illusion of free assembly, the illusion of ‘one UGA,’ I think the veil is being lifted and I think that more students should wake up to the fact that your rights are not

UGA responds to demonstrators

to UGA administration, the demonstrators violated the University Freedom of Expression

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators link arms after University of Georgia police officers and Georgia State Patrol take down their encampment on the lawn outside of Old College in Athens, Georgia, on Monday, April 29. They are demonstrating in support of Palestine in the Israel-Hamas war, joining hundreds of college students in a nationwide movement. PHOTO/LIZ RYMAREV

A pro-Palestinian demonstrator yells chants condemning the University of Georgia and demanding “university solidarity, protection, and the disclosure and divestment of financial relationships” with organizations that support Israel on the lawn at New College in Athens, Georgia, on Monday, April 29. PHOTO/LIZ RYMAREV

Athens resident and self-proclaimed Messianic Jewish Rabbi Camden Pace counter-protests against pro-Palestine demonstrators on the University of Georgia’s North Campus on Monday, April 29. PHOTO/NAVA RAWLS

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators gather near Old College on North Campus at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, on Monday, April 29. This followed the arrest of 16 demonstrators earlier that day at the same site. PHOTO/MARTINA ESSERT

Summer scaries

Successfully navigating internship season at UGA

Throughout spring semester, many University of Georgia students begin the summer internship search, vying for positions in various fields to gain real-world job experience. For many students, this is a daunting task, but with the help of the Career Center and school-specific programs, the experience becomes more tailored and approachable.

I, too, found myself struggling in my search for summer opportunities as I crossed my fingers while scrolling through LinkedIn and hoped someone would read my application. As a journalism student in the Grady College of Journalism & Mass Communication, I also had many programs from my college at my disposal, encouraging me to apply to certain media outlets and a plethora of professors to reach out to for help. My inbox is flooded each week with internship and job opportunity announcements. With my own internship search in the back of my mind, I wondered how other students’ experiences compared to mine and if they had perfected a process to land that coveted acceptance email.

Many students turn to the Career Center for help landing their summer position. Located in Clark Howell Hall, the Career Center offers resume building assistance and the opportunity to schedule a one-on-one meeting with a consultant.

Making a Handshake account is a good place to start looking for open positions. The online platform allows businesses to post job and internship openings for students, and the site can be accessed through the Career Center’s website. The Career Center also offers a professional photo booth where you can get a headshot taken for your online professional profile.

Jack Lail, a junior accounting major, is working as a tax intern this summer with Moore Stevens Tiller, an accounting firm in Duluth. He attributes his success to the aid and preparation provided to him through the J.M. Tull School of Accounting, which houses the Terry College of Business’s accounting program.

“I’d definitely say that I was pretty well set for it because coming from [UGA], most firms think very highly of the

Tull School here,” Lail said. “So, I felt like I went to all the firms feeling good. They all felt like I was a very good fit because they know how hard the school is here.”

In addition to preparing their students academically, Lail applauds Tull for providing opportunities for their students to interact with recruiters and firm representatives. Their events and email communication give students a chance to find firms where they could succeed and give them the opportunity to meet them face to face.

“I think Tull does a very good job because I think Tull hosts [events] about once per month here. So, it’s very hard not to get a job if you’re in the Tull school,” Lail said. “Every single one of my friends signed for this summer or this past summer.”

Sadie Townsend, a sophomore accounting major, also praised Terry and found it easy to find an internship. Last summer, she worked as a bank teller.

“I didn’t find it difficult because with Terry, there are just so many accounting resources and basically people just come to you wanting to have interns,” Townsend said. “It was definitely overwhelming, not knowing how the process works … But, actually getting the internship and interviewing was probably easier than doing any other kind of job.”

From both of these students, I learned the importance of school-specific opportunities found within many majors. These programs seem to be the key to success. Leveraging your college’s resources and soliciting the advice of seasoned professors goes a long way to boosting confidence in your abilities and finding places that are searching for the skills you possess.

If your college doesn’t provide the same amount of resources, remember to look into general Career Center services, as they aren’t program-specific. Talk to other people in your classes and connect with older students on LinkedIn to get ideas about what other people are doing. Look into the companies that your peers post on social media or mention in conversation. Most importantly, don’t let it get to your head — having an internship or a lack thereof doesn’t define your career or you as a person.

Taylor Greaves is a sophomore journalism and international affairs major at the University of Georgia.

1-YEAR-OLD SCHNAUZER BORDER COLLIE MIX

Alyssa Gutierrez, a student at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, adopted Abby in South Carolina. Gutierrez said that many people misidentify Abby as male because of her scruffy appearance. Abby’s extroverted, high-energy personality keeps Guiterrez on her toes and gets the pair outside. Abby loves to swim in Lake Herrick, play with sticks and poop in pine straw.

A 7-YEAR-OLD GERMAN SHORTHAIRED POINTER

Matt Gulley, a field training manager at New Clubs, knew he wanted a German Shorthaired Pointer for their intelligence, agreeableness and weird quirks. He got Riley from Mississippi and said that she is the best dog he’s ever had. He previously has taken her hunting for upland birds. Riley is eager to please, loves to chase squirrels and gets overstimulated in crowded places.

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Taylor Greaves

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La incertidumbre de la fibrosis quística

La comunidad celebra el mes de concientización sobre FQ

Jesse Wood, Traducido por Andrea Aramburo

Los ex estudiantes de la Universidad de Georgia Savannah y Anthony Bosch fueron a hacerse una ecografía de anatomía de rutina de 20 semanas, emocionados de averiguar el género de su bebé en crecimiento. El examen también puede detectar posibles trastornos o anormalidades del feto, pero eso estaba en el fondo de sus mentes.

Los resultados determinaron que el bebé era una niña, pero también identificaron una pequeña anormalidad en el examen. Después de tres meses de pruebas, de pie en un TJ Maxx, Savannah Bosch finalmente recibió la llamada.

“Fue tan tranquilo. Decían, ‘Esto es lo que está pasando, tu bebé tiene fibrosis quística,’” dijo Savannah Bosch. “A partir de ahí, me tomé un tiempo para ajustarme. Obviamente, esa no es la noticia para la que realmente estás esperando o preparando.”

La FQ es un trastorno genético progresivo que afecta los pulmones, el páncreas y otros órganos, según la Fundación de Fibrosis Quística. Una mutación genética que causa una acumulación de moco en varios órganos, lo que lleva a infecciones, inflamación, insuficiencia respiratoria y otras complicaciones. El mes de mayo es el mes de concientización sobre fibrosis quística en los Estados Unidos.

El diagnóstico fue aterrador para los nuevos padres. Una de las cosas más importantes para la familia Bosch es encontrar un equilibrio entre seguir un enfoque natural para tratar la FQ de su hija Azelie Bosch y permitirle ser una niña, todo mientras se adhiere a las limitaciones de la enfermedad.

Joseph Kindler, un profesor asistente en el Departamento de Ciencias Nutricionales de UGA, dirige el Laboratorio de Nutrición y Salud Esquelética. Uno de los proyectos en los que el laboratorio está trabajando es aprender cómo se ve la salud ósea y el riesgo de diabetes en pacientes con FQ.

“Hoy en día, debido a los notables descubrimientos de drogas y el enfoque de cuidado de múltiples puntas … ha permitido a los pacientes vivir vidas muy largas y saludables,” dijo Kindler. “[Las personas con FQ] podrán casarse, y podrán tener hijos y nietos.”

El futuro es incierto para la familia Bosch, pero han recurrido a su fe, así como a una perspectiva positiva de la vida, para navegar cualquier obstáculo que se les presente.

“La cosa con la que finalmente llegamos a un acuerdo es que la vida no estaba destinada a ser fácil. La vida no tiene por qué ser fácil para ser alegre,” dijo Savannah Bosch. “[La vida] es incierta para todos nosotros, [y] a cierto punto, todos somos crónicos, todos somos terminales.”

The uncertainty of cystic fibrosis

UGA community observes CF Awareness Month

Former University of Georgia students Savannah and Anthony Bosch went in to have a routine 20-week anatomy scan in March 2023, excited to find out the gender of their growing baby. The screening can also detect any possible disorders or abnormalities of the fetus, but that was in the back of their minds.

The results determined that the baby was a girl, but the doctors also identified a slight abnormality in the scan. After three months of tests, standing in a T.J. Maxx, Savannah Bosch finally got the call.

“It was just so nonchalant. They were like, ‘This is what’s going on, your baby has cystic fibrosis,’” Savannah Bosch said. “From there, it took a while to adjust. Obviously, that’s not the news that you’re really expecting or prepared for.”

CF is a progressive genetic disorder that affects the lungs, pancreas and other organs, according to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. A gene mutation causes a buildup of mucus in various organs, leading to infections, inflammation, respiratory failure and other complications. The month of May is Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month in the United States.

The diagnosis was scary for the new parents. One of the most important things to the Bosch family is finding a balance between following a natural approach to treating their daughter’s CF and allowing her to be a kid, all while adhering to the limitations of the disease.

Joseph Kindler, assistant professor in UGA’s Department of Nutritional Sciences, leads the Nutrition and Skeletal Health Laboratory. One of the projects that the lab is working on is learning what bone health and the risk of diabetes looks like in patients with CF.

“Today, because of remarkable drug discoveries and the multi-prong care approach … it’s allowed patients to live really long, healthy and fruitful lives,” Kindler said. “[People with CF] are going to be able to get married, and they’re going to be able to have children and have grandchildren.”

The future is uncertain for the Bosch family, but they have turned to their faith as well as a positive outlook on life to navigate any obstacle that may come their way.

“The thing that we finally came to terms with is that life was not meant to be easy. Life doesn’t have to be easy to be joyful,” Savannah Bosch said. “[Life] is uncertain for all of us, [and] at a certain point, we are all chronic, we are all terminal.”

Read more articles in Spanish at www.redandblack.com/en-espanol

Jesse Wood

GRAPHIC/ABBIE HERRIN

A refreshed roster

Olivia Bontempo

College football may be the first thing that comes to mind when fans think of the transfer portal, but it’s far from the only college sport that has been transformed by the new system.

The Georgia baseball team has been especially active in the portal. This season, its lineup is loaded with transfers.

“Playing the game with four-year buddies is awesome and everything, but sometimes you need a little change in your life,” Baylor transfer Kolby Branch said.

With the addition of 28 new players to his roster, Wes Johnson and the Georgia baseball team are looking to make changes this season and prove themselves as a competitive SEC program.

“When you get into the portal and you start recruiting in there, … yes, you’ve got to go look at their talent and look at their ability, but [you also have to ask] do they fit what you’re trying to do with your program,” Johnson said.

With plenty of new faces, the program has welcomed offensive leaders like Slate Alford, Kolby Branch, Dylan Goldstein and Clayton Chadwick. This group is just a small part of the nearly 20 players the Bulldogs brought in via the transfer portal since last season. Not to mention, Georgia added several freshmen, taking the group of new additions to nearly 30. Despite new faces, the group got along quickly.

“We all really got along [from] day one here,” Goldstein said. “Our bond [keeps] building every day, so it’s bouncing off each other in that aspect.” Branch, a former Baylor Bear, made his way to Athens following his freshman season, where he was one of Baylor’s top hitters. That year, he was named a Freshman All-Amer-

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A young Katie Abrahamson-Henderson, a talented athlete and future collegiate basketball player, looks up to the stands after another 40-point performance. There, she sees her mom, nervously rooting for her without a clue about the game her daughter loves. Decades later, future collegiate basketball player Savannah Henderson looks to the sidelines to see her own mom, now an established collegiate head coach, clapping and smiling proudly at her.

Abrahamson-Henderson accepted a job to return to the University of Georgia in 2022, the school that started her collegiate basketball career. Savannah Henderson later flipped her commitment from her mom’s previous school of UCF to Georgia, not only to follow her mom to her next job but to also follow in her footsteps of where she started her career in basketball.

Since then, the pair have been together in Athens for two years and will head into their third season together later this year.

“Personally, it’s very fun,” Henderson said. “She is my best friend and I tell her everything with reason. Not everything, but it’s really fun.” Henderson and her mom have a close relationship on the court, too. Henderson said her teammates love to prod her into talking to her mom on their behalf when they have an issue with a drill. Or, they come to her to relay their opinions on Abraham-Henderson’s dancing skills. Henderson couldn’t help but keep using the word “fun” to describe playing under her mom, but sarcastically noted that “she can be annoying sometimes or whatever.”

From dancing together to helping her pick out what to wear to just visiting her hotel room when traveling for away games, Henderson has loved getting to be around her mom, and Abrahamson-Henderson has loved it, too.

“Having [Savannah] around, she’s got great energy, she just brightens up the room,” Abrahmson-Henderson said. “When [the team is] struggling with something … she just

ican by the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.

The now sophomore has had big-time moments with the team, including multiple grand slams this season. When he first joined the team, Branch said he was thankful for players like Charlie Condon, Corey Collins and Fernando Gonzalez for welcoming him to the team and taking him under their wings. However, he was also happy to see so many other transfers on the team join him in Athens.

“I guess it’s a comforting feeling,” Branch said. “It’s like a new squad and you get together and you just go play the game you love. It feels like the Sandlot dudes, and you just come together and go play ball and that’s exactly how I like it.”

Alford has also found success as a Bulldog and is currently tied in the SEC in total plate appearances and at-bats. Between Alford, Goldstein and Branch, the team’s offense has reached explosive levels, breaking Georgia’s record of grand slams in a season with nine. With the returns of

Condon, Collins and Gonzalez, the offense has helped Georgia to the top of the leaderboard in several Division I offensive categories and kept the Bulldogs hopeful as the SEC tournament looms.

“It’s a seasoned group, I think that’s what’s really exciting about the whole thing,” Condon said before the season. “We’ve got a lot of guys that have a lot of college baseball experience. A lot of guys that have played in competitive conferences and competitive leagues … I think it’s going to translate to a lot of success.”

The Bulldogs didn’t go all offense in the portal, however. Pitchers Christian Mracna and Brian Zeldin were key additions to the pitching staff.

Mracna, a multi-transfer from George Mason, played for several different programs before deciding to join the Bulldogs in January. He’s mostly been a consistent weekend starter this year and has posted an ERA of 4.00 with a record of 3-2 and leads the team in strikeouts with 57.

Zeldin, a transfer from Penn, was recently named for the Stopper of the Year on the midseason watch list and has posted a 3.86 ERA alongside a 3-2 record, 33 strikeouts and five saves. Zeldin quickly found a role as a key reliever and closer.

Johnson has done a good job taking a team that disappointed last season and overhauling the program in one off-season. The team isn’t necessarily World Series-level yet, but its success is largely due to its new head coach and the new roster he’s built.

“Sometimes you don’t really know what you’re gonna get … and so with [Johnson], thank goodness it’s been the same energy,” Branch said. “It’s appreciated and he’s done some great things.”

brightens everything up and it’s a great reminder as a head coach that this is more about just winning and losing … She just makes my day.”

When Savannah Henderson was young, her mom would join her in the gym to work out and practice. When she finished the 10th grade and committed to playing basketball, Abrahamson-Henderson joined her in the gym even more to refine her game.

And yet, Henderson remembers her mom smiling and giving her a thumbs up when she would come to her self-described “little, awful, terrible basketball practice” where she was so young she could only dribble the ball using two hands.

Abrahamson-Henderson didn’t want to pressure her daughters into basketball. At their games, she simply smiled and applauded, which Savannah Henderson compared to how her grandmother would watch her mom’s games. While her grandmother passed away when Henderson was little, the anecdotes her mom shared connected the dots for her.

“She would come to basketball games and sit there and know zero about it,” Abrahamson-Henderson said. “Just sit there where the parents were screaming and wanted their daughter to score points, and here I am putting up 40 and 50 and she’s like, ‘Oh my god what’s happening out there?’”

Abrahamson-Henderson lost her dad — who introduced her to the game — at a young age and was raised by her mom alongside her three siblings. She noted how inspired she was by her mom’s work ethic to raise four kids alone.

Abraham-Henderson remembers her mother as an empowered person and has fond memories of her singing Helen Reddy’s “I am Woman.”

Abrahamson-Henderson’s other daughter, Brooklyn Henderson, played basketball with Savannah in high school — after being “dragged out” to court by her sister and eventually agreeing to try out.

She loved watching both daughters on the court, but Brooklyn eventually left the sport after her sister dislocated her elbow while wrestling for a ball in practice.

Yet, Abrahamson-Henderson and Savannah Henderson got to watch her perform on stage instead of on the court, performing as Mama in North Oconee’s recent production of “Chicago.” Both were shocked when they realized, “she could sing, like I don’t mean sing — I mean sing.”

“She was confident. Playing sports gave her confidence to do that. She would never say that, but it did,” Abrahamson-Henderson said. “I’ve trained my kids to be super competent and I learned that from my mom.”

The two have a chance to play together for three more years and bounce back from a down year, where Savannah Henderson was still working back from a torn ACL she suffered early in her freshman season.

Abrahamson-Henderson, with her daughter in tow, is excited to coach and connect with the group of women she’s coached for so long. With her daughter by her side, the pair are excited to do it together.

“I love it a lot,” Savannah Henderson said. “I love having her close. It has its challenges, but I think it’s great.”

Owen Warden

Junior transfer Slate Alford (44) celebrates a home run with graduate transfer Logan Jordan (17) during a game against Missouri at Foley Field in Athens, Georgia, on Friday, April 12. PHOTO/MADY MERTENS Head coach Katie Abrahmason-Henderson and her daughter, redshirt freshman Savannah Henderson, pose in Athens, Georgia, on Tuesday, April 23. Henderson has been on the same team as her mom since she committed in 2022. PHOTO/OWEN WARDEN

Georgia baseball brought in 19 players via the transfer portal prior to this season.

Georgia senior Sloane Reinstein competes in a freestyle event on Saturday, March 23.

PHOTO/LANEY MARTIN

Georgia junior Zoie Hartman competes in a breastroke event on Saturday, March 23. PHOTO/LANEY MARTIN

Georgia freshman Helena Jones pictured on Saturday, March 23. PHOTO/LANEY MARTIN

A Georgia swimmer prepares to warm up during the 2024 Division 1 Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships hosted in Athens, Georgia, on Saturday, March 23. PHOTO/LANEY MARTIN

Swimmers warm up on Saturday, March 23. PHOTO/LANEY MARTIN

AD DESIGN PHOTOGRAPHY BRANDING CANVA TEMPLATES

The Twilight zone

Athens musician Annabeth Hatfield. COURTESY/FLETCHER JOHNSON MUSIC

Swift-inspired acoustic nostalgia

UGA student releases latest singles

The singer, songwriter and Redcoat Marching Band member Annabeth Hatfield added two new tracks to her discography on March 29. The artist from Waycross, Georgia, brings a refreshing and nostalgic approach to the rich music scene of Athens. Hatfield’s two newest singles, “Nashville” and “Greenest Eyes,” showcase impressive lyricism, vocal performance and production while expressing what it means to miss someone. Written by both Hatfield and Alex Foster, a music business student who also produced both singles, the tracks blend well with her established style.

In “Nashville,” Foster’s stripped-down, vibrant acoustic guitar evokes Fearless-era Taylor Swift, with soft vocals and a sense of Southern nostalgia and charm. Simple and uplifting, the song is reminiscent of Matt Nathanson’s “Come on Get Higher,” further exuding the late-2000’s style Hatfield has established.

Hatfield’s other single, “Greenest Eyes,” is a slow piano ballad about the struggle of owning up to mistakes. The track is a vulnerable self-reflection, propelled by Hatfield’s raw vocals and regretful lyrics.

While Hatfield’s vocal performance hit on an emotional level in “Greenest Eyes,” the acoustic instrumental of “Nashville” plays to her strengths much better. Her soft vocals seamlessly interweave with the twangy and playful strumming of the guitar, whereas in “Greenest Eyes,” her vocals clash slightly with the more intense piano. Hatfield shows a clear path of improvement. She establishes herself in a new light with Foster’s expertly produced tracks.

— Hunter Wright

FOOD

Bolton pasta is no bueno

Dining hall’s pasta option is not worth the line

When the Bolton Dining Commons pasta line is short, I take it as a sign from the universe to indulge. I’ve lived in University of Georgia on-campus housing for three years now and have been a Bolton regular since my freshman year. However, I rarely brave the pasta line.

It’s usually long and backed up, and it’s especially scary to order food when there’s a glass panel muffling the sound of your requests.

Today, though, I ordered white pasta with bacon, green bell peppers, spinach, tomatoes and marinara sauce. I waited for about five minutes before getting my food.

I’m especially picky on how much sauce I like in my pasta. Usually, I err on the side of caution, thinking less is more. Luckily, they only gave me one scoop of sauce, which is the exact amount that I prefer.

The pasta was a bit firmer than I would’ve liked. Although I prefer my pasta al dente, this was too undercooked for my taste. The floury dough stuck to my teeth in an unpleasant way.

Because the spinach wilts down, it felt sparse and I would’ve been happy with more. I also felt like there could’ve been more bacon. However, some of the bacon chunks were pure fat or muscle, which is not fun to chomp down on.

Overall, the flavors weren’t bad. I’m not a cheese fan, so I didn’t put any parmesan on top. But, I did snag a few pieces of garlic bread to eat with it. I’d recommend Bolton diners stick with their gut — get the pasta when the line is short, but you can skip the wait otherwise.

— Libby Hobbs

‘Rescue: Waste and Redemption’

One man’s trash is another man’s art gallery

On your first glance of the exhibit at the Lyndon House Arts Center, you might only see trash scattered throughout the gallery. Looking closer, it is evident that the trash holds artistic value and intention.

The “Rescue: Waste and Redemption” exhibit is guest-curated by Athens freelance artist Lizzie Zucker Saltz and involves 36 total artworks created by 22 artists.

The artists transformed waste, saving materials from ending up in landfills or becoming pollutants. Each artwork used materials that are difficult or impossible to recycle, such as metal, fabric, plastics, rubber, glass, un-recyclable wood, paper and packaging.

It was interesting how each artist explained the works in relation to the challenges of recycling the materials, as opposed to the usual artistic and historical background.

A piece that stuck out to me was Johanna Norry’s “Water Never Goes Out of Style,” constructed from 100 pairs of repurposed jeans and a drainpipe. Norry created 2,000 denim water droplets coming out of the drainpipe to represent the 2,000 gallons of water it takes to make a pair of jeans. She bought the jeans for two dollars each. For Norry, this was the cost of diverting them from the landfill where “hundreds of thousands of discarded jeans [are] destined every year,” according to her statement.

After walking through the exhibit, I wanted to become more aware of which products can’t be recycled, which ones break down easily and roughly how long it takes for each product to decompose.

— Anna Izquierdo

FOOD

I n love with Curry Love

Munch Hut brings Indian food downtown

Felix and Kat Ahmed, owners of Munch Hut in downtown Athens, have turned their late-night restaurant into an Indian takeout kitchen by day, called Curry Love.

The takeout concept offers traditional Indian classics like butter chicken, paneer tikka masala, chana butter masala and more. We ordered the butter chicken and chicken tikka masala plates, which are served with basmati rice, garlic naan and raita.

The chicken’s tenderness in both dishes made it melt in your mouth. Both had a muted cinnamon flavor with a kick of cumin. The butter chicken’s nutty flavor paired well with its slight notes of ginger and tomato. The chicken tikka masala had the warmth and comfort that the dish is famous for, with accents of spices like turmeric and paprika. It had just the right amount of spice. While the basmati rice was cooked well, it was a bit dry. The chicken dishes were missing the typical thick sauces that coat the rice and give it a creamier and more flavorful punch. The naan tasted and looked more like pita bread. It had a soft middle, slightly firm outside and a mild garlic flavor. The raita that came with the meal tasted very similar to tzatziki, with a strong dill and cucumber taste. The base was light, which paired well with the heavy chicken dishes.

The perfect combination was filling the naan with the chicken and rice and topping it with the raita. Curry Love successfully fills the gap of Indian cuisine options in Athens.

— Katie Hughes and Jayden Henson

Pasta from Bolton Dining Commons on Saturday, April 20. PHOTO/LIBBY HOBBS

Chicken plates from Curry Love on Tuesday, April 23. PHOTO/JAYDEN HENSON

The Lyndon House Arts Center on Tuesday, April 23. PHOTO/NAVA RAWLS

Athens after dark

Staff report

Hear the cyclists zip by, smell the aromatic street food and feel the bass thump in the air — you have entered Athens’ very own twilight zone.

On April 26 and 27, the community gathered in downtown Athens for one of its most festive weekends of the year with the return of the Athens Orthopedic Clinic Twilight Criterium, complete with stage races, runs, food, live music and more.

College Avenue was transformed into a hub of activity as nail-biting bike races, food vendors, beer gardens and merch tents attracted a growing crowd of students, Athens locals and competitive cyclists.

The Twilight Criterium marks one of the biggest stops on the national cycling community’s “Speed Week,” a series of criteriums that take place across South Carolina and Georgia, making the event paramount for professional racers and novice riders alike.

Twilight is renowned for its nighttime setting, where the pro cyclists race at high speeds around a closed, multi-corner circuit under the Classic City’s street lights. More than 170 riders competed for a prize pool of $120,000.

Bryant Garrett, a University of Georgia alum from Atlanta, came to race in the criterium with his team, Bonafide Riders.

“Twilight’s like the big kahuna,” Garrett said. “A lot of people come from across the country, especially the Southeast, to come race in Twilight. It’s just such a fun atmosphere.”

Starting as early as 7:45 a.m. on Saturday, the race track, which looped around Washington Street and Clayton Street, was never empty for too long.

Spectators spent the day pressed up against the barricades and professional cycling teams lined the track with their own tent set-ups. As the professional races drew closer and space became limited, attendees took to building rooftops to secure the best views.

Winning it all By the end of the night on Saturday, cyclist Tom Gibbons stood at the top of the podium overlooking the streets of Athens.

He raised his hands in celebration as the crowd erupted. A few moments prior, Gibbons was doused in beer after winning the Men’s Pro race. It was a moment he had dreamed about.

“Every once in a while, there’s [a race] that’s really meaningful to a community,” Gibbons, who used to live in Athens, said. “One that has been long-standing in a community, and that’s Athens.”

Not many recognize the aura of Athens more than team L39ION of Los Angeles’ Alexis Magner, who took home gold in the Women’s Pro Criterium for the second consecutive year. To make the moment even more special, Magner earned the victory in

her hometown of Athens.

“Besides the football, this is the cornerstone of Athens,” Magner said. “It’s so awesome to have the entire community out here supporting it, and the cycling scene is the biggest [criterium] that we do all year in the U.S.”

Although she knew losing would not have been the end of the world, Magner wanted to perform well. Her 150 friends and family in attendance amplified her desire to take home the win.

“There’s definitely some pressure,” Magner said. “I was nervous coming in. To win in front of all my friends and family is just so special.”

As with the women’s race, the men’s field was stacked with cyclists like Gibbons, Danny Summerhill, Robin Carpenter and last year’s champion, Bryan Gomez, competing for the top spot.

Gibbons broke away from the main field with around 52 laps remaining. With an over 26-second lead and 47 laps left, his opposition planned to let him tire out on his own rather than try to attack.

“I was extremely tired,” Gibbons said. “Eighty laps in you know that everybody’s hurting. And if somebody looks like they’re not hurting, they’re just bluffing. That’s the moment you got to hit it. When you hit it like I just did, sometimes they don’t react. When they don’t react, there’s no closing the gap. So it just worked out.”

With 30 laps remaining, chaos ensued. A one-rider crash halted a four-rider breakaway and allowed the main field to catch up. All riders were asked to stop before the original breakaway received a 14-second lead.

“When you make the decision to neutralize and you reset the race, everybody gets a break,” Carpenter said. “And then it gets dangerous again, because everybody thinks they have a shot.”

Despite the delay, Gibbons finished strong to earn the victory. Winning the race was a dream come true for Gibbons, who along with Magner, is very familiar with the Classic City.

“Honestly, when I was putting my hands up, I was like ‘You’re an idiot. You’re about to wake up in your bed. This isn’t real,’” Gibbons said. “This is the only bike race in America that I care to win.”

Gibbsons’ roommate and teammate, Davey Dawson, knew how special this moment was to Gibbons, as a massive embrace after the race brought heartwarming smiles to everyone in attendance.

“He’s basically a local resident here,” Dawson said. “This is the one race, of all the races, that he hasn’t won that he’s wanted to win.”

For Magner and Gibbons, earning gold in a city they both cherish is a moment they will never forget.

“Every time I come to Athens, it feels like coming home,” Gibbons said.

ed competing in races at 11 years old. However, at age 13, it became a more serious endeavor.

Since then, Garrison has moved from age bracket to age bracket, signing to various cycling teams along the way, including Team USA from the ages of 16 to 18. Since transitioning to race professionally, he has competed in many races internationally and across the country, snagging a U.S. National Championship win for the individual time trial in 2021.

But Garrison said the Athens Twilight Criterium has always been one of the greatest races in the world to him.

“I feel so much of a connection to home for me. It’s an atmosphere like nothing you really experience,” Garrison said.

The race began with an excited announcer counting down while loud rock music filled the streets of downtown Athens. “Welcome to the Jungle” by Guns N’ Roses played as the racers sped off.

For a majority of the 1 hour and 40-minute race, Michael Garrison maintained a position in the top 10, pausing briefly to take a pit stop due to a malfunction with one of his bike parts. This did not set him back by much, as he got back in and re-established his position in the breakaway.

Michael Garrison’s older brother Ian Garrison is a former professional cyclist and a current University of Georgia sophomore majoring in electrical engineering. He was ecstatic to see his little brother race in the Twilight Criterium.

“We were in it together for a long time and then I stopped racing about two years ago and then that’s when I was able to really just watch him and support him,” Ian Garrison said. “I’m just pumped to see him out there and [to] not have to focus on myself but just get to focus on supporting him for the race.”

A community gathering Throughout the weekend, lines of people snaked through the area as local favorites like Cafe Racer, Mellow Mushroom, Tamez Barbecue, Alumni Cookie Dough and more served everything from fresh burgers and tacos to popsicles and other desserts. The crowd was interlaced with flashes of neon as cyclists wove through the space in their lycra suits.

On Saturday, these food and merch stalls also made space for the Twilight Expo and Artist Market, where attendees could buy handmade crafts like jewelry or learn about new research and technology from places like Kask, who sells sports helmets, Creed Fitness and the University of Georgia College of Public Health.

Ramon Funes, the older brother of Alejandro Tamez, who owns Tamez Barbecue, said events like this are good for local businesses because they attract a wider community.

“You’re not around certain things all the time; certain cultures, certain people and this brings everybody together,” Funes said.

The series of food stalls formed a path leading to the heart of Friday’s festivities –the Live Wire Main Stage. While serving as a starting point for the weekend’s largest races, the platform also hosted high-energy live performances from musical acts like the Asymptomatics, Crenshaw Pentecostal, Bikes and Mics and Trumpet Chics, along with an open mic that invited the audience to participate. Although the criterium is a space for competition and celebration, it also allows for numerous fundraising efforts. The Twilight Criterium will benefit Community Rocks!, a nonprofit dedicated to providing individuals with creative, active and performing arts education.

Fleet Feet Athens also hosted its American Pride Bank 5K run at the event to support the cause of Wings for Life, a Red Bull-affiliated nonprofit that raises funds for research on spinal cord injury.

Large Red Bull vans were stationed throughout the venue to provide hydration and played music from speakers. The Wings for Life team was also able to raise get close to 100 sign-ups for the nonprofit’s World Run, according to volunteer Jason Hines.

One cyclist’s road to Twilight

Ahead of the Saturday Men’s Pro race, Michael Garrison, a 22-year-old professional cyclist from Decatur, Georgia, steadied his focus and awaited his call to action.

Garrison has been riding bikes for as long as he can remember. His parents would participate in tandem rallies, putting him and his older brother on the backs of the two-seated bikes. Following the footsteps of his older brother, Michael Garrison start-

For the majority of the race, a few racers in the breakaway led the group, which included Michael Garrison. The group collaborated by using each other’s drag to boost their overall speed. However, during the last 10 laps of the criterium, these racers went on the attack to get in the lead.

Michael Garrison fell short of taking first place and took fifth place overall. Still, this continued his trend of improvement from his previous Speed Week races, placing eighth and sixth in Greenville and Spartanburg, South Carolina, respectively.

“I’m here to just keep on improving the person I am and the love I have for the sport and the community I represent,” Michael Garrison said.

Cyclists line up during the Athens Orthopedic Clinic Twilight Criterium in Athens, Georgia, on the evening of Saturday, April 27. PHOTO/SOPHIE RALPH Scenes from the Twilight Criterium on Saturday, April 27. PHOTO/NAVYA SHUKLA

sense of purpose and energy. Nguyen competed through Season 21, Episode 3, which aired on April 3. He was sent home after serving a dish at a Wisconsin cheese festival. There was too much water in his gorgonzola crab rangoon, burying the flavor of the cheese, according to Dane Baldwin, a guest judge on the episode.

“As soon as I got back, I was just so angry and just motivated,” he said.

Nguyen’s enriching experiences on Top Chef and in various kitchens throughout his career ultimately led him to pursue his longtime goal of opening his own restaurant, Pretty Boy. Nguyen is currently in the process of establishing the restaurant in Athens.

Devin Thomas

When Kenny Nguyen took his first job out of high school in the kitchen at a Ruby Tuesday, he never dreamed he’d one day be opening his own restaurant, or appearing on Top Chef.

Nguyen, who gained notoriety for his culinary talent as the former executive head chef at The Expat in Athens, landed his big break as a contestant in season 21 of Top Chef, a cooking competition show on Bravo.

The season aired this spring, and through his experience on the reality cooking show, Nguyen didn’t just showcase his culinary skills — he also learned the value of remaining composed, concentrated and determined in and out of the kitchen.

Nguyen grew up cooking with his grandmother, which kickstarted a passion for

food and a desire to open up his own restaurant at a young age.

After about a year and a half of taking courses in culinary arts at the Art Institutes of Atlanta, Nguyen dropped out. He still found his way into the position of sous chef at Seabear Oyster Bar in Athens and eventually worked his way up to an executive chef position at The Expat.

Nguyen credits The Expat owners, Jerry and Krista Slater, for much of the creativity he learned during his time working there.

“Jerry and Krista really gave me a lot of free rein on what to do, and [I had] never really made Italian food before. So, just kind of teaching myself and with their guidance about what to make, and basically just making whatever I wanted to make,” Nguyen said.

In November 2021, Nguyen was named a “Rising Star of Georgia” by Restaurant Informer magazine. The magazine gives the

honor to those who make a mark on Geor-

gia’s restaurant industry and have a drive that will take them far in the future.

Nguyen’s culinary journey to open his own restaurant reached new heights with his debut on Top Chef, a milestone that brought both exhilaration and challenges.

“It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” he admitted while reflecting on the demanding circumstances of Bravo TV’s culinary competition.

The high-stakes environment, tight time constraints and criticism from culinary experts are only a few of the stressors Top Chef contestants encounter.

Yet, amid the pressure and intensity, Nguyen found inspiration in the connections made with fellow chefs and mentors including celebrity chef Tom Colicchio and Top Chef host Kristen Kish. Kenny’s experience on Top Chef gave him a renewed

“I felt like it was a good opportunity to like get some notoriety and some kind of fuel to open up the restaurant,” Nguyen said.

Nguyen prioritized staying calm and focused while experiencing stressful situations on the show. He said he plans to implement these lessons as he prepares to open Pretty Boy.

His Vietnamese-style restaurant is an ode to his grandmother and the English translation of the nickname she gave him. Pretty Boy will be located on Barber Street, next to Hendershot’s. Nguyen has hosted pop-ups around Athens in anticipation of its opening.

Last year, Nguyen visited Vietnam to immerse himself in culinary training in preparation for the restaurant’s opening. Pretty Boy will serve as a culinary haven where

“This

Cultivating food memories

Preacher Green’s brings Southern comfort food to East Athens

Melanie Levi

Almost every day, Paul Allen and Ted Lahey have a high school reunion. Both are East Athens natives and attended Cedar Shoals High School. Now, the longtime companions-turned-co-owners get to see the familiar faces of former teachers and old friends walk through the doors of their latest endeavor, Preacher Green’s, a Southern diner that opened shop in April on Barnett Shoals Road.

The duo are not newcomers to the restaurant industry. With over 30 years of combined experience, Allen and Lahey finally brought their aspirations to open a restaurant in their hometown to life. Preacher Green’s serves downhome country cuisine and comfort food for lunch and dinner that the pair have carefully curated to satisfy the community.

Lahey described the fare as Southern, simple and familiar.

“Restaurants downtown [are] trying to redefine what Southern food is, and growing up here, that’s not what I remember eating,” Lahey said. “We’re trying to create a food memory moment, like, ‘Oh yeah, this is the way my grandmother had it or the way I ate it at the church potluck.’”

Lahey used to own two Roswell eateries and brings his own decades-worth of personal recipes to the new establishment.

Although Lahey transitioned from a background specializing in Italian cuisine and Allen was a tennis director for much of his adult life, the high school comrades reunited

for the same purpose: to serve great food and connect the Athens community.

Classics like country fried steak, meatloaf and southern fried chicken are a few of the selections that Preacher Green’s has to offer, and each meal contains Lahey and Allen’s individual touches.

“There’s a number of restaurants on this side of town that serve fast food and bar food, so we wanted to add a slightly more grown-up option,” Lahey said.

The restaurant opened on April 3 and is a hub for friends of all kinds to convene with one another over quintessential comfort food.

We’re trying to create a memory moment ... this is the way my grandmother had it or the way I ate it at the church potluck.

TED LAHEY | CO-OWNER OF PREACHER GREEN’S

From lunch specials such as salads and sandwiches to hearty dinner courses like brined and roasted pork loin, there is something for everyone at Preacher Green’s. Add a side like biscuits or collard greens to a meal and experience the flavors of a homemade spread.

“Lunch can be blue collar workers just coming off of an electrical job or a landscaping job and the next table is a group of ladies having lunch together,” Lahey said. “We’ve been lucky to have a pretty diverse audience here.” Lahey and Allen spent two years searching tirelessly for the perfect home for their restaurant. They toyed with different concepts and locations until they landed on their ideal spot on Barnett Shoals Road. They purchased what used to be Turtle’s Records in Green Acres Shopping Center, a plaza which they frequented throughout their childhoods. Owning and operating Preacher Green’s has given the duo a chance to pay homage to their youth and provide a welcoming, homey atmosphere to patrons in an area they care deeply about.

“We have a real connection to the East Side,” Allen said. “We know so many people that come in here, whether it’s our former teachers or parents of our friends growing up, or people that we did grow up with that we haven’t seen in decades. It’s a very unique thing about this restaurant in particular.” Lahey and Allen intend to expand not only their seating and catering menu but their reach to the entire city and beyond. They hope to become a staple in the East Athens area for years to come.

Paul Allen and Ted Lahey, co-owners of Preacher Green’s, pose for a portrait in their restaurant in Athens, Georgia, on

You’ll

LEO: JULY 23-AUG. 22

This will be a busy month for you. Final deadlines, exams or due dates will be approaching and you will need to focus to get everything done. Rest, take care of yourself and remember not to overwork yourself.

SAGITTARIUS: NOV. 22-DEC. 21

This will be a month of personal development for you. You will start to grow, mentally. Take care of yourself and speak to your peers. They are here for you and will encourage you.

HOROSCOPES

TAURUS:

This

VIRGO: AUG. 23-SEPT. 22

This month will be challenging, with lots of obstacles to overcome. Take each one at a time to not overwhelm yourself. You’ll have people to help you along the way so use their guidance and lean on your friends.

CAPRICORN: DEC. 22-JAN. 19

Your self-esteem will grow this month. Use it to your advantage and make it last. Be kind to yourself and others and work on your interactions with others. Making relationships with the people you are with is very important.

GEMINI: MAY 21-JUNE 21

chaotic month, you need a break. Make sure to care and take time for yourself. Take breaks. You might feel anti-social so spend some alone time if needed.

LIBRA: SEPT. 23-OCT. 22

Love will be in the air this month. New people will pop in and out of your life but take it as it comes. There’s no need to overthink or psych yourself out. Everything will work out just as it should.

AQUARIUS: JAN. 20-FEB. 18

You’ll feel confused this month. Many questions will arise about the future and the past, but don’t let it overwhelm you. Reach out to your mentors and to the people you look up to when you need clarity.

CANCER: JUNE 22-JULY 22 You’ll be facing your problems this month. The big issue on your mind will become a bigger part of your life. Face it head on and work through it. Getting over this hump will put you in a better situation later.

SCORPIO: OCT. 23-NOV. 21

This month will be great to get everything you’ve been avoiding done. Don’t procrastinate any longer. That book you’ve been meaning to read? Read it. The friend you wanted to call? Call them.

PISCES: FEB. 19-MARCH 20

Self-love will be a focus this month. Recite your affirmations, think positively and radiate good energy. It’ll make you more approachable and will help you stand out. If you feel good on the inside, you’ll look good on the outside.

UPCOMING EVENTS

—Avni Trivedi

Filmmaker

Actor Ash Veazey poses with her award at the Tate Center on Sunday, April 21. PHOTO/MERRI