Maddie Brechtel and Ireland Hayes
Podcast host, advocate, activist, jack-of-all-trades radio man, true crime junkie — it’s safe to say that Cameron Harrelson wears many hats.
Throughout the past 10 years, the lifelong advocate has worked to make Athens a safe and inclusive place for all, especially those in the LGBTQ+ community, through his work with the Athens Pride and Queer Collective. He has also forged the way for change in cold case law in Georgia.
Harrelson came to Athens to study political science at the University of Georgia with plans to attend law school. He grew up in Appling County at the southern end of the state and said living in Athens proved to be a stark contrast to his rural, conservative upbringing.
“There was a whole world that was an oyster to me when I came here, and it certainly interfered with being a successful student,“ Harrelson said.
During his first two years at UGA, Harrelson said he struggled with the loss of support from his family for a brief period after coming out to them as gay. He said he needed time to grow and take a break from school, and he found his way forward from there.
Passion Reignited
After he left UGA, Harrelson started working at a funeral home, where he encountered many families who had lost loved ones to homicide and suicide that did not receive the resolution of closure. Harrelson himself experienced tragic
losses, such as the murder of his second cousin and the loss of his friend who was killed by a distracted driver.
Seeing the struggles of these families reignited Harrelson’s long-held passion of helping others in these situations. When the pandemic started, he took a leap of faith and started a podcast.
“I saw so many cases of homicide, suicide, etc. that were just so devastating, and oftentimes there was no resolution for the families,” Harrelson said. “When I saw the pandemic coming, I looked at my partner and said: ‘Hey, I’m kind of over the corporate world right now, I’m just gonna start a podcast.’”
Under the name Cameron Jay, Harrelson began working on “Classic City Crime,” a podcast chronicling true crime cases in Athens. Most notably, the first season took listeners through the 22-year-old cold case of the murder of UGA law student Tara Louise Baker. Harrelson said he never expected the amount of support the podcast has received, garnering over 1.3 million listeners to date.
“I thought we would have a few hundred people tune in, and then it would be over and I would go back to my corporate job, reluctantly. And that’s not what happened,” Harrelson said.
Through the podcast, Harrelson has worked to enact big changes on the state level when it comes to cold cases. Harrelson saw a need for a state law similar to the Homicide Victims’ Families’ Rights Act, a federal law that allows families to have an independent review board reexamine the cold case after five years.
He and the Baker family joined forces with the family of Rhonda Sue Coleman, who was murdered in 1990 in Hazlehurst, Georgia. After months of advocacy the ColemanBaker Act was passed unanimously in the Georgia State House and Senate. It was signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp on April 28.
“Tara’s case, though I was not able through my podcast to solve her homicide … we still have in some way made sure that her death was not in vain, because the law will now forever be on the books,” Harrelson said.
Harrelson also returned to school, and is close to completing a degree in criminology from the University of West Georgia. He said he hopes to use this education to
continue his work in victim advocacy. Harrelson is also an account manager and media consultant for 98.7 WGAU radio station and Cox Media.
Taking Pride Harrelson has also been a key figure in the APQC. He discovered the organization through the Pride festival and immediately felt the group’s love and acceptance.
Harrelson joined the board and became president, and was instrumental in hosting the first Pride parade in Athens, as well as advocating for the installation of rainbow crosswalks downtown. Harrelson now serves as the president emeritus of APQC.
Harrelson’s APQC colleague and close friend Danielle Bonanno, the current president, described him as a “powerhouse” and “passionate go-getter” who dedicates his mind to his goals. His long list of accomplishments speak to this mindset, Bonanno said.
Marissa Chastain, current APQC vice president, first met Harrelson at a board meeting two years ago and has since grown closer to him. Chastain said the kindness and inclusivity of his character stand out to her.
“From my first board meeting, I saw him as a person that I could talk to and ask questions with no judgment. I think that’s why it’s so easy to get to know and love him, because he just has a way of making people feel like they’re important, like they’re valued,” Chastain said.
Harrelson said one of his core memories from the first Pride parade was when a young man approached him and said it had been the best day of his life. He told Harrelson that he came out to his family who immediately accepted him and adamantly thanked him and the APQC for creating such a loving space for him to do that.
“To see that in his eyes, this glimmer of hope and this self acceptance and this ease of burden that happens when people are validated and accepted for exactly who they are ... that’s not only life changing for someone, but it certainly can be lifesaving, too,” Harrelson said. “To see that quantified in that individual reminded me that even if just one person walks away feeling better or … more accepted, ... or more loved, then we’ve done our job, and we certainly did that day.”
Bonanno and Chastain said Harrelson rarely backs down from a challenge.
“He’s not afraid to upset people with his advocacy and I love that. He stands up for what’s right. He has a lot of integrity,” Bonanno said.
‘Thank God for Athens’
Recently, Harrelson was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma after 8 months of doctor’s visits. Now, his focus is on beating cancer and taking care of himself, and he wants to encourage others to remember to do the same.
“What’s next is that key piece of recuperation and self care,” Harrelson said. “Make no mistake, when these treatments are over, I’m gonna be back and better than ever, so Athens just be ready to buckle up and get back to work on all these different issues that I’m passionate about.”
Harrelson said he is thankful for the opportunities and relationships he’s been provided in his time in Athens.
“Thank God for Athens. When I came here I was such a lost soul, I was internally battling with being gay and struggling to want to live, and then I came here and I met people that were like me, supported me and wanted me and opened their arms to me. And that saved my life, it changed my life and it has forever altered the trajectory of my life,” Harrelson said.
“I truly believe that the work I am doing here is making sure that every person that comes to Athens or chooses to call it home finds the exact same Athens that I found. So that’s what I’m going to keep working to do.”
After a Norfolk Southern train carrying hazardous chemicals derailed in February near East Palestine, Ohio, the roughly 4,700 residents have been terrified of the possible long-term health consequences. Thousands of aquatic animals were killed because of the derailment, with estimates reaching upward of 44,000, according to Axios. Residents are already showing signs of exposure to dangerous materials in urine tests, though officials are pointing to other causes besides the derailment.
Doctors don’t fully know the effects that such exposure could cause and have not been able to clear confusion among East Palestine residents. Imagine the absolute terror that has been unleashed on this community. What is the overwhelming response from officials? That there’s nothing to be afraid of since Environmental Protection Agency testing found that the air and water quality are safe, but some other experts are questioning the credibility of this data.
The following are chemicals that were possibly released due to the East Palestine derailment:
X Vinyl chloride: used to make plastic piping and packaging, inhalation may cause confusion and dizziness, prolonged contact has been linked to liver cancer
X Ethyl glycol monobutyl ether: a clear liquid that is used to make varnishes and paint thinners, shown to cause nose and throat irritation, headaches and vomiting
X Butyl acrylate: a clear liquid used for making paints, caulks and adhesives, can cause breathing difficulties as well as eye and skin irritation
X Ethylhexyl acrylate: used in paints, plastics and pressure-sensitive adhesives, can irritate the skin, eyes and respiratory tract
X Isobutylene: a flammable gas with a oil-like odor, used in production of gasoline precursors, breathing can cause dizziness and drowsiness
Even worse, train derailments are not uncommon. According to data from the Federal Railroad Administration, the United States averaged three derailments per day last year. While industry leaders want you to believe that railroad safety is pristine, some train accidents have increased in the past decade. Total derailments and mainline accidents may be at historic lows but that does not ensure safe conditions, especially when considering there are fewer trains today and minor crashes complicate these measurements.
Also, fewer trains means longer trains, which are much more dangerous. Because trains rely on antiquated braking systems from the Civil War era — which train companies including Norfolk Southern lobbied against updating — each train car brakes independently which builds up destabilizing in-train forces.
Former President Barack Obama signed a rule that would have required high-hazard flammable trains to be equipped with electronically-controlled pneumatic brake systems, which would significantly reduce the in-train forces and thus derailments. This rule change did not go far enough to include the mixed freight train that derailed near East Palestine, so it would not have prevented that derailment. However, Former President Donald Trump rolled back even these lax rules and President Joe Biden has yet to push for any other substantive action.
In fact, Biden actually sided with Norfolk Southern in an upcoming Supreme Court case, which may make it harder to sue companies for wrongdoing. A Pennsylvania law would allow plaintiffs to file suit against any business registered in the state, despite whether or not the action occurred elsewhere. If the court rules in favor of Norfolk Southern, as Biden wishes, laws protecting consumers in Pennsylvania, New York and Georgia may be overturned.
The catastrophe that occurred was completely preventable. Railroad workers have spent years fighting for a fairer contract against the profit-driven approach that puts workers’ health and consumer safety at risk, but the federal government just knee-capped these workers less than a year ago. Using an archaic law from 1926 — though less ancient than the current braking system — Congress and Biden forced an unjust and unpopular contract on four rail unions, whose employees were seeking paid sick days.
“It always seems like a freak accident,” said Bryant Barnes, cochair of the University of Georgia’s United Campus Workers of Georgia union chapter. “The more we deregulate, the more those freak accidents become less ‘freak.’”
In 2022, human error was the leading cause of derailments. If employees were treated humanely, this would most likely decrease, as workers could take off when feeling sick and not be forced to overexert themselves.
But employees in many sectors are refused paid sick days — around 20% of workers do not have the benefit, varying widely by occupation and age. Deregulation is not isolated to the railroad industry, either. Child labor is currently being legalized across the country, with at least 10 states, mostly those with Republican legislatures, rolling back protections in the last two years (so much for those anti-trans laws masked as protections for minors.) In Gainesville, Georgia, six people died from a nitrogen leak in a chicken plant, which preyed on unregulated labor from undocumented immigrants.
The answer to these issues is simple — organize.
“First and foremost, anyone and everyone, regardless of how large or small their workplace is, should talk with their co-workers,” Barnes said. “Meet up, say ‘These are our issues — how can we improve?’”
By coming together, workers can unite against exploitative practices that throw every ethical consideration out the window in favor of the almighty dollar. If a union can be formed, workers will have protection against retaliatory firings when reporting safety violations and can negotiate fairer contracts that include paid sick leave, through a process called collective bargaining.
Both sides of the political aisle are attacking unions for the sake of profit, which highlights the power that these mega-corporations have on American society. We should not only support the railroad workers’ right to collective bargain with their employers, without fear of Congressional blowback, but the rights of all workers to fight for fair working conditions. Their safety and our own is on the line.
Editor’s note: Carson Barrett is a junior biochemical engineering major.
As a graduating senior, I have been busy planning and applying for jobs for life post-graduation. But as graduation nears and I look back over my time at the University of Georgia, I can’t help but remember the excitement that grows each spring semester as finals wrapped up and summer break approached. Since kindergarten, we have all waited year-round for those special two or three months of freedom. But if years of watching
“Phineas and Ferb” has taught me anything, it’s that ‘the annual problem for our generation is finding a good way to spend it.’ To get some ideas, The Red & Black asked students how they plan to spend summer break.
Editor’s note: Malcolm Montgomery is a senior journalism major.
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Andrew Vance
“Right after finals, I think I’m going to a chapter focus week for InterVarsity. And then I’m gonna do a work week for five days after that, and then to Jamaica for a mission trip.
And then to the Lake with my family and maybe Mexico if my mom lets me.”
“I didn’t get to do any kind of fun senior trip with my best friend [due to COVID-19] — her and I both go here now, she’s my roommate. So, we’re hoping to actually do something now finally since COVID is kind of settled down, so we’re thinking of going to Puerto Rico and just have fun.”
“I’m taking summer classes online; I’m taking pre-calc over the summer [and] working over summer at a pharmacy, so that’s cool.”
“I’m graduating this summer, and I start grad school next year, so I’ll be taking a summer class for grad school. And I submitted an application for a research assistantship, so if that works out, cool. If not, I’ll just be free.”
El lunes 24 de abril, el césped del Tate Student Center se convirtió en una pista de baile mientras los estudiantes aprendían bachata, merengue y salsa de camino a clase. Los estudiantes de la clase de español 4080, Diversidad a Través de la Danza, organizaron la feria de danza latina para obtener créditos adicionales y difundir el conocimiento sobre las culturas latinas.
Bajo un cielo brillante y soleado, los estudiantes cubrieron el césped mientras la música latina flotaba en el aire. Algunos bailarines estaban aprendiendo el juego de pies y los movimientos básicos, mientras que otros comenzaron a incorporar giros. Incluso el profesor de la clase, Faud Elhage, apoyó a los estudiantes en las lecciones y se unió al baile.
“La idea es que mis estudiantes experimenten [esto] no solo como estudiantes sino también como maestros, instructores y también como artistas”, dijo Elhage. “Y experimentar la diversidad”. Tres cartulinas expuestas en la feria ahondaban en la historia de los bailes latinos. La clase también proporcionó hojas informativas sobre el origen, la música, el vestuario y la historia de cada baile que los estudiantes habían creado para el evento.
“[Estos bailes] tienen elementos de la cultura latina, la cultura caribeña, la cultura africana... una especie de combinación de esos factores”, dijo Rowan Wiley, estudiante de último año que estudia ciencia de datos y español. Los participantes podían obtener un certificado aprendiendo los pasos básicos y datos sobre los bailes. Isabelle Jordan, estudiante de segundo año en sistemas de información gerencial, aprendió los tres bailes.
“Realmente no soy una buena bailarina, pero esta fue una forma genial de hacer que la gente aprendiera y se moviera y es muy divertido”, dijo Jordan.
Los estudiantes interactuaban con el público y animaban a los participantes mientras intentaban cada baile.
“Sé un poco sobre la música de bachata y salsa”, dijo Yondi Wondimu, estudiante de biología. “Pero nunca he aprendido realmente a bailar. Así que aprendí mucho”.
Para el gran final, los estudiantes de español cerraron el evento con un flash mob. A pesar de las dificultades técnicas con la música, perseveraron y demostraron su dominio de la bachata.
El miércoles 26 de abril, los alumnos de Elhage se presentaron nuevamente en el evento Milonga Tropical en el Hotel Indigo. El evento comunitario gratuito incluyó presentaciones en vivo, lecciones de tango y una fiesta de baile.
— Este artículo fue traducido por Ana Chirinos.
On Monday, April 24, the Tate Student Center lawn became a dance floor as students learned bachata, merengue and salsa on their way to class. Students from the Spanish 4080 class, Diversity through Dance, hosted the Latin dance fair to earn extra credit and spread knowledge about Latin cultures.
Under a bright, sunny sky, students covered the lawn while Latin music drifted through the air. Some dancers were learning the basic footwork and movements while others started incorporating turns. Even the class professor, Faud Elhage, supported the students in the lessons and joined in on the dancing.
“The idea is to have my students experience [this] not only as students but also as teachers, instructors and also as performers,” Elhage said. “And experience diversity.”
Three poster boards on display at the fair delved into the history of the Latin dances. The class also provided fact sheets about the origin, music, wardrobe and history of each dance that the students had created for the event.
“[These dances] have elements of Latino culture, Caribbean culture, African culture ... sort of a combination of those factors,” Rowan Wiley said, a senior studying data science and Spanish. Participants could earn a certificate by learning basic steps and facts about the dances. Sophomore management information systems major Isabelle Jordan learned all three dances.
“I’m not really a good dancer, but this was a cool way to get people learning and moving and it’s really fun,” Jordan said.
Students were engaging with the public and encouraged participants as they tried each dance.
“I know a little bit about bachata and salsa music-wise,” junior biology major Yondi Wondimu said. “But I’ve never really learned how to dance. So I learned a lot.”
For the grand finale, the Spanish students ended the event with a flash mob. Despite technical difficulties with the music, they persevered and showed their proficiency in the bachata.
On Wednesday, April 26, Elhage’s students performed again at the Milonga Tropical event at Hotel Indigo. The free community event included live performances, tango lessons and a dance party.
— Article by Brooke Liddell
Michael Doti
Millie Sansome’s journey to Athens as a student athlete was anything but typical. Her swimming career has accumulated almost 5,000 miles of travel on her different stops to get to the University of Georgia.
It all started when Sansome was just seven years old. Growing up in Marlow, England, she tried numerous sports as a child, including tennis, attempting to find one she enjoyed. One day, after she finished up her swimming lesson, her school’s club team came in to use the pool for practice.
It only took 30 minutes for Sansome to become intrigued.
“I just told my mom after that, ‘That’s something I want to do,’” Sansome said. “So I applied to join the club a week
William Daughtry
The scoreboard lights up as the public address announcer declares another Georgia men’s tennis victory, finishing undefeated in the SEC for the 16th time in school history. This was nothing new for head coach Manuel “Manny” Diaz, who is in his 35th season.
Diaz is the SEC’s all time winningest men’s tennis coach with 764 career victories heading into the 2023 NCAA tournament. The Bulldogs are no strangers to lasting success.
Through the last 69 seasons, dating back to 1955, the Bulldogs have had two head coaches: Dan Magill and Diaz. Diaz passed Magill to become the all-time winningest men’s tennis head coach in SEC history in March 2020.
“I had Magill with me after I won my 500th match, and there was nobody happier in the whole stadium,” Diaz said.
Diaz’s time at Georgia extends beyond his years as a head coach, as he played under Magill from 1972-1975 and was a two-time All-American.
“I’ve benefited from being a player here,” Diaz said. “Knowing the culture when I took over, it provided for a smooth transition.”
Diaz has made quite a mark on the program. Since he’s taken over in 1989, Diaz has won a share of 18 SEC regular season championships and 10 SEC tournaments.
Diaz’s tenure has had its ups and downs. In his first year at the helm, Diaz made the NCAA championship finals, losing to Stanford 5-3. He didn’t win his first championship until 1999 — his 11th year as coach — after making it to the finals four other times.
“We continued to pursue excellence,” Diaz said. “Those years were not failures, they were opportunities for us to gain belief in what we were doing.”
The team, under Diaz’s leadership, finally broke through to beat UCLA 4-3 in 1999, winning the first of four championships.
Alongside Diaz is associate head coach Jamie Hunt, who played for Georgia from 2007-2010. He returned in the 201718 season after spending seven seasons at Vanderbilt.
“Obviously, it’s a different relationship,” Hunt said. “He was a tremendous mentor to me as a player, and he’s still mentoring me now.”
When talking about his decision to come back after his stint at Vanderbilt, Hunt painted a picture of what Georgia means to him.
“This is home,” Hunt said. “When coach Diaz gave me the opportunity to come home, I jumped on it — it was a no brainer.”
Hunt is among the many great players that have come through Athens since Diaz took over the program. Hunt had a 238-80 combined singles and doubles record during his time at Georgia, ranking him third on the all-time wins list. He was also an integral part of the 2007 and 2008 championship-winning teams.
later, and I’ve been doing it ever since and just always loved it.”
For the next decade, Sansome grew into one of the best junior swimmers in England. She competed for her country three times in the European Junior Open Water Championships. In her sophomore season, Sansome earned her first medal, placing third in the 4x1,250 meter relay.
When the time came to apply for college, Sansome had a tough decision, going to the United States or staying in England. It was a long and difficult deliberation, but she ultimately decided to take her talents to America and swim for the University of Iowa.
“It was a decision I made, that I decided to come [to America] because it was an opportunity I didn’t want to pass up,” Sansome said. “It seemed like it was going to be an, adventure and I liked the idea of how you’re swimming
with a team here.”
Adjusting to a team environment was one of several changes Sansome had to make her freshman year. The rest of her family was now over 4,000 miles away and there were plenty of cultural differences she had to adjust to.
However, once Sansome was in the pool, things went smoothly. In her only season in Iowa City, she set new school records in the 100 and 200-yard backstroke, the 800 freestyle relay and the 400 medley relay.
She also won 11 dual races during the regular season, alongside winning Big 10 Freshman of the Week twice. At the Big 10 championships, she placed eighth in the 200 backstroke, fourth in the 800 freestyle relay and first in the 200 and 400 medley relays.
All was going well in the United States for Sansome, until it wasn’t.
A few weeks after the Big 10 championships, the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the rest of the season and shut down almost all modes of travel. Sansome eventually made it back to England, where she spent the next five months waiting to see what would happen next.
While back in England, Sansome received a tidal wave of bad luck. She got sick with mononucleosis, strep throat and the flu all at the same time, which kept her out of the pool for six weeks. After she started feeling better, she received the news that Iowa was cutting its women’s swimming and diving team.
“It was like everything got pulled out from underneath me,” Sansome said. “[COVID-19] took away sort of what I saw was like the main reason why I came [to America] which was to swim, and then suddenly I was just in America and it felt weird.”
During her purgatory, one of her coaches at Iowa had a plan. Before Iowa, he coached current Georgia head coach Stefanie Williams Moreno at Georgia. After watching Sansome for a year, he felt like it would be the perfect fit for her.
“I immediately fell in love with her personality, her enthusiasm, her wanting to get better and improve,” Williams Moreno said. “And I guess the rest is history.”
Sansome only started swimming competitively for Georgia at the beginning of 2021, though this past season was likely her best by personal standards. She recorded new best times in four different events and got an invitation to her first NCAA Championships as a relay alternate. She has also become a favorite among her teammates and coaches outside of the pool.
Williams Moreno said she has high expectations for Sansome as she heads into her final year with the Bulldogs. That includes a spot on the NCAA Championship team and a chance to represent England in the 2024 Olympics.
“I just want to really enjoy every moment even if it’s like I’m in the pool and it isn’t my best session,” Sansome said. “But I want to just enjoy it and soak up everything for my last year.”
The No. 4 Georgia women’s tennis team traveled to Fayetteville, Arkansas, in April and brought home the SEC title.
The No. 2 seeded Bulldogs swept No. 10 seeded LSU, 4-0, advanced to the semi-finals and took down No. 3 seeded Tennessee, 4-2, receiving a ticket to the SEC championship match.
The Bulldogs have six championships spanning across three different decades, two under Magill and four under Diaz. They have had to adapt to a multitude of changes in the college tennis landscape.
The Bulldogs and Diaz have waited 15 years for championship number seven, and in that time have seen their California counterpart, USC, win five championships and SEC rival Florida win one in 2021. Georgia is looking to change that behind the leadership of Diaz, five seniors and freshman-phenom Ethan Quinn.
“We have overcome a lot and have been in a lot of challenging situations this year,” Diaz said. “This team has matured incredibly and they are playing with a lot of resolve, so I think we’ll have a chance against anybody.”
Diaz has made a tremendous impact on the court, but his impact off has been just as important.
“He obviously means the world to me,” Hunt said. “I kind of joke around that I owe my life. If he had not recruited me here, I wouldn’t have had such a good time, I wouldn’t have met my wife and I wouldn’t have the five kids that we have. Incredible coach, obviously, but an even better person.”
Georgia was up against Texas A&M, the No. 1 seeded regular season champions, in the championship match on April 23. Georgia had a stellar performance, defeating Texas A&M 4-2 and taking its ninth SEC tournament title in program history.
Graduate Meg Kowalski clinched the match for the Bulldogs and took the Most Valuable Player title. Additionally, both Kowalski and sophomore Guillermina Grant earned All-SEC tournament team honors.
The No. 4 Georgia men’s tennis traveled to Auburn, Alabama, ultimately falling short of the SEC Championship title. Georgia entered the tournament as the SEC’s regular season champions, having gone undefeated in conference matchups.
The No. 1 seeded Bulldogs swept the No. 8 seeded Florida and the No. 5 seeded Texas quarter and semifinals play. Georgia battled hard against the No. 3 seeded Kentucky in the championship match but couldn’t hold on to its 3-1 lead. Kentucky’s Jaden Weekes and Georgia’s Miguel Perez Peña went into a tiebreaker in the final match. Weekes took the win and clinched the the SEC title for Kentucky. — Ansley Gavlak
How Millie Sansome became a leader for the Bulldogs
Those years were not failures, they were opportunities for us to gain belief in what we were doing.
MANUEL “MANNY” DIAZ | MEN’S TENNIS COACH
Tori Newman
With the addition of graduate transfer Shelby Walters, Georgia softball’s bullpen became the heart of its defense this season. Walters brought her talents from the ACC to the SEC after a season-ending foot injury.
As the Bulldogs near the end of their schedule, Walters reflected on the success she’s seen. Amidst her comeback, Walters highlighted two important factors that made it possible: faith and relationships.
Born in the small town of Cohutta, Georgia, Walters was introduced to America’s pastime and her future career by her parents, John and Shannon Walters.
“Both my Mom and Dad played baseball, so straight out the womb it was softball,” Walters said. “I love the game. I love everything about it. Not just the softball point of view, but baseball wise, I love watching baseball too because it’s so similar to what softball is. You can really find so many similarities and so much love for both the games.”
Her connection to softball grew at Girls Preparatory School, an all-girls private school in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Walters’ pitching brought the team success, winning the TSSAA DII-AA State Championship in 2014.
Walters’ journey continued at Duke, and then on to Georgia, where she transferred to finish out her eligibility.
In Athens, Walters built relationships with her newfound teammates off of their shared values of faith and Christianity, finding fellowship with the infield that now backs her up.
“Syd Cham [Sydney Chambley], Sara [Mosley], Jaiden
Fields, especially in the infield, and Sydney Kuma too,” Walters said. “It’s just been really great and it’s been so welcoming.”
Even prior to Georgia, faith has been an important pillar in Walters’ approach to being an athlete. During her time off the field, she’s been a part of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Christian Forum.
“I really think that it’s helped me to kind of keep the game under wraps and not letting it get too big or to put too much pressure on me,” Walters said. “And then also, just like having my teammates that we can have a fellowship with, especially here at Georgia. So having that community around me also just really helps me to center myself.”
On Tuesday, April 25, Walters earned SEC Co-Pitcher of the Week honors — making her the first Georgia pitcher to earn the award twice in a season since 2015.
“I think pitching in the SEC has really made me focus a lot more on my mental game of being locked in all the time,” Walters said. “Just because in the SEC you are playing top 25 teams basically every single weekend. You don’t really have that break that you maybe have in the ACC, where you’re not playing maybe as high of caliber of a team.”
As a pitching staff, Georgia has recorded 16 shutouts so far — tied for the most in the conference. The onetwo punch of Walters and Madison Kerpics combined for 24-straight scoreless innings, ending during Georgia’s series against Kentucky.
“Maddie [Kerpics] and I have a very funny relationship because we just get each other with what it is that we’re supposed to be doing,” Walters said. “When she’s out there, she’s doing her job and I know that she’s doing her job and I’m there to help too. And I think she knows that also. So, it’s just the sort of mutualistic relationship that we have with each other.”
Walters and Kerpics are often Georgia’s go-to, as Kerpics leads the team in starts, and Walters either starts another day, or awaits the call to relieve her. When talking about her relationship with Kerpics, Walters compared their connection to the one she had with a teammate at Duke.
“It reminds me a lot of the relationship that Peyton St. George and I had at Duke with her and I always going back on each other,” Walters added. “So I kind of knew that coming into here also that it was going to be a very, you know, one-two punch.”
The benefit of being centered for Walters is evident. She has the most appearances at the mound for Georgia and in the SEC, with 36 heading into Georgia’s final series against LSU. She currently leads the team with a 1.30 ERA, a 17-3 record and six saves. She holds the top spot in SEC rankings for saves and is one shy of tying the program record that was set in 2005.
As the team moves into the postseason, Walters’ focus will shift from her in-season success onto what’s ahead. Like she has before, Walters will undoubtedly rely upon her faith and her relationships with her teammates. The
SHELBY WALTERS | GRADUATE SOFTBALL PITCHER
“ We just do what your mom would do... I like my girls to feel like this is their home.”
CHRIS FORD | HOUSE DIRECTOR FOR KAPPA DELTA SORORITY
Jameson Tank releases single of the summer
On April 28, local rock band Jameson Tank released a new single, “Side Mission.” This track makes a perfect Athens summer soundtrack, opening powerfully with electric guitar.
After establishing a heavily ‘70s and ‘80s feel, the song swiftly moves into a lengthy crescendo, building finally into a suspenseful pause before the wave of energy that is the chorus.
Throughout the song, listeners can enjoy multiple instrumental solos. Different parts of the song focus on either guitar, bass or drums, highlighting each of the four band members’ talents.
Jameson Tank recorded the track in a single day, which in turn produced a raw, carefully crafted sound without the need for excessive studio enhancements.
The hard-hitting song harnesses the electric live performance quality the band is known for and wraps it up nicely as four minutes and 11 seconds of head-banging rhythm. With an abrupt ending, the song is over just as quickly as it began, leaving you wanting more.
The four members, lead by singer Jameson Tankersley, have a gripping stage presence that has forced Athens to take notice. In their two years as a band, Jameson Tank has amassed a significant following by performing often — nearly 70 times a year.
Compared to their previous releases, the group is clearly honing in on their skill and continuing to perfect their own sound, though there is still some room to grow.
Few artists can replicate the feel of their live music in recordings so well, and this is exactly what Jameson Tank has done with “Side Mission.”
— Elliot Yood
Experience it yourself: “Side Mission” is now avilable for download and streaming on all platforms.
Rating:
Ellianos Coffee serves smooth espresso that can satisfy a sweet tooth
At the Ellianos Coffee drive-thru window, it was hard to pick something because there were so many enticing, creative drink options.
The Florida-based drive-thru coffee franchise officially opened on Wednesday, April 19. According to their Instagram, the shop offers “Italian quality at America’s pace.”
The company has 63 locations across Georgia, Florida and Alabama.
I settled on the ‘Caffé Dolce,’ a white mocha latte swirled with caramel from the shop’s signature creations menu. I got the drink iced in the small size. The menu also offers sandwiches, bakery items, smoothies and energy drinks. The first sip was awakening — a cool combination of sweetness and smooth espresso. The most prominent flavor was the white chocolate, contributing to the milky, vanilla-like flavor of the drink. The espresso was exquisite, leaving behind a pleasing aftertaste without bitterness.
Next time, I’m going to order a less sugary drink so that I can experience more of the lovely espresso flavor. Additionally, I would recommend getting a bigger size because the small only lasted a few sips with all of the ice.
Although this is a drive-thru only restaurant, it did not lack good customer service. The worker taking my order was patient as I decided what to get and offered helpful recommendations and descriptions of the drinks.
Overall, Ellianos is a new spot on my coffee shop radar after this pleasant and delicious experience.
— Jayden Henson
Experience it yourself: Ellianos Coffee is located at 925
Painter Will Eskridge creates sweet landscapes
How many times have you misspelled “desert” as “dessert”? Do you confuse the dry, arid land with a mouthwatering treat?
Will Eskridge, self-proclaimed animal and artist, invites viewers to delve into a vibrant scene playing on the homophones. The Athens-based painter’s newest series, “Desserted Deserts,” reflects upon the deserts he frequented throughout his adolescence alongside his veterinarian father.
The majority of Eskridge’s portfolio involves animals, which he has had an affinity for since childhood. However, Eskridge intends for his art to “give beauty” to those who are “deemed ugly.”
The raccoon, bats and opossum featured in this series are starkly juxtaposed with the sugary treats flying overhead. Where these outcast animals typically elicit a negative reaction, they are given a newfound charm with their sweet pairings.
Eskridge’s art honors widely stigmatized beings of nature, but his empathy extends further than just animals as he commemorates the recently discontinued ice cream treat “Choco Taco” in his series.
The artist reveals that perhaps the misfits of the world can be beautiful, too, incorporating his personal motto into all of his work: “For those who can not speak, I give a voice. For those who are deemed ugly, I give beauty. For those who are forgotten, I give remembrance.”
This series serves as a representation of his sense of humor and compassion. It compels viewers to look at ostracized animals from a different, kinder perspective, which is Eskridge’s ultimate objective.
— Melanie LeviExperience it yourself: Eskridge’s work can be seen on his website, willeskridge.com, Instagram, @willeskridgeart, and around Athens. “Desserted Deserts” will be live on his website and displayed in his studio on May 6.
Rating:
An overrated menu that’s not worth the wait
If you live in Athens, you have encountered it: the Raising Cane’s drive-thru line. On just about every day of the week, enough people want Cane’s that a queue of cars wraps around the building and spills out onto Baxter Street.
The restaurant offers a predictable and simple menu that one would expect from a chicken fast food joint, including chicken finger combos and sandwiches. These come with classic sides like crinkle fries, texas toast and a drink.
For the purpose of this review, I ordered the 3 Finger Combo. To put it lightly, this time (and every other time I have eaten Raising Cane’s), I was disappointed.
While I am sure the sit-down dining experience is pleasant at Cane’s, I decided to do what evidently most people do: get my food through the drive-thru.
The nearly 40 minute wait in the line of cars set me up to expect great relief once I got my food. However, the bland chicken left me frustrated that I waited so long for a dinner that was, at best, mediocre.
Cane’s attempts to stand apart from other chicken restaurants like Zaxby’s or Popeyes with their popular dressing, Cane’s Sauce. While it is good, it is not substantially better than other “special sauces” like Zax Sauce from Zaxby’s or even the sauce from the O-House Dining Commons.
Cane’s Sauce could have served as a saving grace for the unspecial chicken meal, but did not quite meet the mark.
Raising Cane’s is wildly overrated, and has no qualities to make it stand out. If you’re hungry, skip the line to get food faster and from a menu with more variety.
— Elliot YoodExperience it yourself: Try Raising Cane’s at 795 Baxter St., open from 10 a.m. to 12 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Avni Trivedi
Mother’s Day is a time to appreciate the moms or motherly figures in your life. For sorority members at the University of Georgia, “house moms,” or sorority house directors, can serve as that motherly figure in their home away from home at college.
Anna Farley, a sophomore nursing major and a member of Alpha Omicron Pi, felt comfortable moving into her sorority house last semester partly because of how welcoming her house director, Jane Self, was. On the day they moved in, Self sat with them in their chapter room answering all of their questions and telling them her life story.
“She’s been our ‘at college’ mom being in the house, and she is the person that I know I can turn to if I ever need anything or am struggling with anything,” Farley said. “I just know that she’s always looking out for us.”
The house directors take on this role with pride, maintaining the sorority houses and managing the facilities while supporting the members beyond their official job descriptions.
“We just do what your mom would do,” Chris Ford, house director for Kappa Delta said. “I like my girls to feel like this is their home.”
Ford is one of 19 house directors of UGA’s Panhellenic sororities, all of which have a house dedicated to housing members, hosting events and chapter meetings, and providing a space for the members to eat and work. All but two of the houses reside on Milledge Avenue.
Each house director has different responsibilities, usually depending on who they report to. Ford doesn’t have to worry about the finances or the bills, as those are taken care of by her boss, the house corporation treasurer, who lives locally. This allows Ford to have more say in the decisions she makes for the house without having to report as frequently to the national organization.
On the other hand, Becky Reynolds, the house director for Delta Zeta, has to pay the bills and handle all the expenses along with scheduling workers and keeping the house in order, since she reports to Delta Zeta’s national organization.
“I don’t have to do anything like Becky does,” Ford said. “Becky’s house is like being in the army.”
Each of the house directors lives in the house with the sorority members, usually in a more private room on the first floor with a separate entrance. Even with the noise and chaos that comes with a house full of college students, the house directors say it keeps them feeling young.
“The girls are very friendly, they’ll ‘spill the tea’ and it’s just fun,” Ford said. “It beats sitting around in an old folks’ retirement center just listening to everybody complain about their aches and pains — I’m just not ready for that.”
Self said she loves how appreciative the sorority is, with gestures like writing notes on the white board on her door. For her birthday, they made a banner listing out things they love about “Ms. Jane,” just like they do for members of the sorority. At the bottom of the list, the sign read: “The best mom on Milledge.”
Self, who was a Kappa Kappa Gamma at the University of Alabama, said she had “mixed feelings” about her own time in a sorority.
After returning to the sorority life as a house director, Self has had a different experience from her time in college.
“I really had this thought about the privileged aspect and I just don’t feel that [way] anymore,” Self said. “There’s always privileged people in and out, but generally I don’t think that applies to every single sorority girl, so I’m glad I changed my mind.”
As safety becomes an increasing concern, the house directors have made it their first priority to keep their house and its residents safe. Carolyn Ashley, the house director at Alpha Gamma Delta for the past seven years, said safety has changed a lot over time.
“[I tell them], ‘Don’t assume that you’re OK, don’t assume that you can walk around alone,’” Ashley said. “I’m just trying to give them some wisdom because I think 19-year-olds have become desensitized to society.”
In the Alpha Omicron Pi house, Self has a TV set up with camera footage from all around the outside of the house, monitoring who comes in and who goes out. The cameras were installed about two years ago.
“I can’t believe we haven’t had them all this time,” Self said. “I think it was a lifesaver.”
The house directors even have an organization, UGA House Moms, that meets once a month to discuss any business they have or areas of concern. They also have a social chair, who plans events for the moms to do together, from playing cards to going on vacation.
“I’ve been told by other people who have been at our university campus that we are really unique,” Ashley said. The directors share names of repair workers, electricians, plumbers and kitchen staff to help each other out. Ashley says she appreciates the support that the group provides, especially since they all “understand how crazy it can be at times.”
The directors describe their group as their own sisterhood.
“We help each other a lot and, at most campuses, you won’t find that in the house mother group — they’re not so strong,” Ford said. “We’re like our own little sorority.”
More than a mom
Some directors prefer the title house director over house mom. Ford says she refers to herself as a house director in front of everyone except for the sorority members because people who don’t know what a house mom does can misunderstand their job.
“We’re pretty much property managers,” Ford said. “We are here for the girls. We are not in charge of any other discipline.”
Self also prefers the title house director and appreciates the distinction.
“[I don’t] want to be responsible for their moral behavior,” Self said.
She feels like her job is to be a good role model for the girls rather than mothering them and instead aims to make them feel safe and comfortable.
“They need an adult in their life that’s calm, stable, wise, that’s lived a long time and that knows what to worry about and what not to worry about,” Ashley said. “I feel as house directors, we fulfill that role of being that for the girls.”
The oldest favorites and newest faces of the local scene occupy
in the busiest and most popular part of town just north of Broad.
E. Broad St.
CHICKEN AND WAFFLES • $ BUBBLE CAFE
E. Broad St.
TEA AND POKE • $
W. Broad St.
DING TEA 125 W. Washington St. BUBBLE TEA • $ DOOLEY’S BAR AND GRILL 259 E. Broad St. BAR FARE AND DRINKS • $$
D.P. DOUGH 180 W. Broad St. CALZONES AND PIZZA • $
EDDIE’S CALZONES AND DRAFTS 265 E. Clayton St. CALZONES • $
FIVE ATHENS 269 N. Hull St. AMERICAN FOOD AND DRINKS • $$
THE GLOBE 199 N. Lumpkin St. BAR AND RESTAURANT • $$
THE GRILL 171 College Ave. CLASSIC AMERICAN DINER FOOD • $
GYRO WRAP 114 College Ave. GREEK FAST FOOD • $
INSOMNIA COOKIES
228 E. Clayton St. COOKIES AND ICE CREAM • ¢
IRON FACTORY
255 W. Washington St. KOREAN BARBECUE • $$
JINYA RAMEN BAR 351 E. Broad St. RAMEN • $$
JITTERY JOE’S 297 E. Broad St. COFFEE SHOP • ¢
LAST RESORT GRILL 174 Clayton St. AMERICAN • $$
LINDSEY’S CULINARY MARKET
520 N. Thomas St. LUNCH AND CATERING • $$
LITTLE ITALY PIZZERIA 125 N. Lumpkin St. LATE NIGHT PIZZA • ¢
MAYFLOWER RESTAURANT
171 E. Broad St. SOUTHERN DINER • $
MELLOW MUSHROOM
320 E. Clayton St. STONE-BAKED PIZZA • $$
MOTHER PHO 167 E. Broad St. VIETNAMESE • $$
MUNCH
THE NATIONAL
232 W. Hancock St. MEDITERRANEAN RESTAURANT AND BAR • $$$
OK! COFFEE
225 1/2 College Ave. COFFEE SHOP • ¢
OSTERIA ATHENA
323 E. Broad St. ITALIAN • $$
PALOMA PARK 235 W. Washington St. TEX-MEX AND DRINKS • $
PAULEY’S CREPE BAR
134 E. Clayton St. SPECIALITY COCKTAILS AND SNACKS • $$
PITA PIT 123 N. Jackson St. FAST FOOD MEDITERRANEAN • $
THE PLACE 229 E. Broad St. SOUTHERN CUISINE • $$
PORTERHOUSE GRILL
459 E. Broad St. AMERICAN STEAKHOUSE • $$$
THE ROOK & PAWN 294 W. Washington St. CAFÉ • $
SHOKITINI 251 W. Clayton St. JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE AND SUSHI • $$
SOUTH KITCHEN + BAR 247 E. Washington St. SOUTHERN CUISINE • $$
SPIRITS ON WASHINGTON 318 E. Washington St. BOTTLESHOP • $
STARBUCKS 100 College Ave. COFFEE SHOP • ¢
STARLAND LOUNGE & LANES
145 E. Clayton St. PIZZA AND BOWLING • $$
TAICHI
Katie
HughesThe streets of downtown Athens have seen an influx of bubble tea cafes sprinkled among the familiar restaurants and coffee shops over the past few years. Bubble tea is a Taiwanese drink made by blending tea with milk, fruit and fruit juices, topped off with tapioca pearls. It is more commonly known as boba, and can be sweet, rich and creamy, or fruity and refreshing, making it a versatile choice.
Those who have never tried boba won’t have to go far to find it — downtown Athens is home to three bubble tea cafes: Taichi Bubble Tea, Bubble Cafe and Ding Tea Athens. All three spots offer a wide variety of food, fruit teas and milk teas.
Despite the multitude of coffee shops in downtown Athens and the hold that chains like Starbucks and Jittery Joe’s have on University of Georgia students, bubble tea holds its own loyal customers. While bubble tea has captured the hearts of people everywhere, it has taken on a life of its own in Athens, creating a community of people who love the drink.
While bubble tea is loved for its delicious and diverse flavors, there is more depth behind its popularity. Bubble tea cafes offer a relaxing and fun environment that stressed college students and thirsty townies alike often crave.
Claudia Loughlin, a junior psychology major, sits at a table in Taichi with her friend Sydney Granados, enjoying a Thai iced coffee with boba. She likes to come to bubble tea shops on her work break because of the environment they offer. Loughlin said that the bubble tea shops downtown have a chill atmosphere, with people just hanging out and having fun. She enjoys this environment over the “quiet study area” that a coffee shop like Starbucks has.
“It’s a lot more chill and a lot more friendly and inviting,” Loughlin said.
In addition to the good environment, the boba itself draws people in. Angela Cheung, a sophomore marketing and international business major, is not a coffee person. Instead, she drinks bubble tea. Cheung said her hometown has a Starbucks but not a bubble tea shop, which pushed her to work at Taichi.
“It’s something different,” Cheung said. “It’s bubble tea!”
However, there is more to bubble tea cafes than just a positive environment and a wide variety of coffee alternatives. Bubble tea has helped foster a community for Asian American students at the University of Georgia.
Thanh Nguyen, a sophomore public relations major, has been working at Taichi for almost two years. He had previous boba experience back in his hometown, so he knew the transition to working at Taichi would be a simple one. Nguyen said it’s easy for him to “be a part of boba,” because of its popularity among Asian American people and mentioned the appeal of working in a place where the management and his coworkers are also Asian.
“It’s nice to have a little community around you, especially at work,” Nguyen said.
Nguyen seems to have found this community at Taichi, and he said that his coworkers are his favorite part about his job.“It’s nice to know that there’s never any pressure at work because we’re all friends,” Nguyen said.
Jenny Chen, a sophomore marketing and management information systems major, gets boba from Bubble Cafe at least two or three times a week. For Chen, this love for boba extends beyond its variety of flavors or the caffeine buzz it provides.
“For me, it’s not because I get the caffeine kick, it’s because I grew up drinking boba,” Chen said.
Chen lived in China for five years of her life and said drinking boba is nostalgic for her, a feeling she believes the Asian American community in Athens can relate to as well.
In addition to appealing to the Asian American communities in Athens, bubble tea is giving UGA students who are less familiar with the drink a chance to engage in a culture that is different from their own.
Chen spoke about the increasing popularity of bubble tea, sharing that she thinks boba is a very palatable taste that is reminiscent of flavors from other cultures, such as smoothies or tea with milk. She believes that this familiarity could be why people find themselves drawn to it.
“A lot of people also grew up eating or drinking smoothie bowls or just smoothies. Different cultures have very similar things,” Chen said.
Chen thinks that although people already enjoy engaging with Asian culture, they will start to associate it with things like fruit teas because there’s “always something for everybody.”
Lauren Wheeler, a sophomore public relations major, ordered a fruit tea from Ding Tea Athens. She thinks that the value of bubble tea is in the experience.
“I think it just provides a different culture experience that a lot of people in Georgia in general might not necessarily be exposed to … It’s just more diverse,” Wheeler said.
At the end of the day, boba offers a taste of a different culture, creating a new experience for people who have never had it and a familiar, nostalgic one for those who have.
“Everyone has experience with coffee, but not as many people have experience with boba,” Nguyen said.
The bubble tea cafes in Athens allow for the Athens community to get the boba experience, immersing themselves in the flavors of a different culture, while still giving them the freedom to make their experience what they want it to be. At the end of the day, it’s all about community. Bubble tea allows for the Asian American community to engage with an aspect of their own culture while inviting others to join them.
As Chen said, boba has something for everybody.
