The George-Anne Reflector Magazine, January 2020

JANUARY 2020 VOLUME 96

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Kings to You: An Inside Look at a Local Band Created by GS Students

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Roadhouse: How a texas native found a voice in georgia’s live music scene

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DJ NINO: An Inside Look at One of Statesboro’s Most Well-Known Performers

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Club Spotlight Southern limelight

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UNDERGROUND EXPOSURE

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FROM FABRIC TO FASHION: THE STORY OF THREE gs fashion designers

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Student homelessness at georgia southern

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not just nerves: anxiety on campus

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SWEET DREAMS ARE MADE OF THIS: Here’s How to Get a Better Night’s Rest

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PARTY SAFETY

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Wiping Out Waste: Georgia Southern’s Fight for Sustainability

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Semester in review

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Quiz: Which local Statesboro coffee shop should you go to?

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MISCELLANY: FOR THE ARTS

CONTENTS TENTS

Staff List Editor-in-Chief Miscellany Editor Campus Editor

Noelle Walker Blakeley Bartee Aubrey Brumblow

Creative Editor-In-Chief Rebecca Hooper Design Editor Aminatta Mbow Designers Morgan Carr

Daniel Castro Kayla Hill Christaje Roach Gherri Weekes-Garnette Dalis Worrell

LETTER FROM THE

Editor

Dear Reader, The George-Anne Reflector Magazine is a premier student lifestyle magazine written by students, for students.

Reflector strives to showcase the lives and culture of Georgia Southern University students.

At Reflector, college isn’t just a phase, it’s a lifestyle. In this issue, we aimed to cover a wide variety of content that reflects this very idea. We have spotlights on students and organizations, features on the music community, as well as pieces showcasing student fashion designers.

However, college students also deal with difficult things and situations every day. The truth is that you don’t know what the person next to you is going through. Because of this, Reflector aimed to tackle harder issues, including anxiety and student homelessness.

In this magazine, we also have a section for our sister publication: Miscellany of the Arts. Miscellany aims to promote the creative culture at our university and inspire students to share their work and grow as creative people.

I’d like to thank the writers, designers and photographers, all of who worked really hard (and lost some much-needed sleep) to make the magazine the very best that it could be. I’d also like to thank those who were interviewed. I appreciate your willingness to be so open to talking about these important and sometimes deeply personal topics.

We hope this issue of Reflector Magazine shines a light on significant topics and gives you an inside look to the Georgia Southern community.

Happy reading!

Sincerely,

Noelle Walker, Editor-in-Chief

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Contributors

Madeline Branch Ashton Christianson Savannah Savage-Johnson Jenna Wiley

Marketing Manager Coy Kirkland Director of Student Media David Simpson

Mission Statement Reflector Magazine is Georgia Southern University’s premier lifestyle magazine. Here at Reflector Magazine, we strive to showcase the lives and culture of Georgia Southern University students. Every day, our staff of editors and contributors work to engage the community with content through our biannual magazine and weekly website.

The George-Anne Reflector is copyrighted 2020 by Reflector Magazine and Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, Ga. It is printed

by South Georgia Graphics, Claxton, Ga. The Reflector is operated by GS students who are members of The George-Anne Media Group, a Georgia Southern student-led organization supported by the Division of Student Affairs.

The magazine is produced twice a year by GS students for the Georgia Southern University community.

Opinions expressed herein are those

of the student writers and editors and DO NOT reflect those of the faculty, staff, administration of GS, nor the University System of Georgia.

Partial funding for this publication is provided by the GS Activities Budget Committee. Advertisements fund the remaining costs. Advertising inquiries may be sent to Office of Student Media, PO Box 8001, or by calling the Business Office at 912-478-5418. Inquiries concerning content should be sent to Magazine EIC Noelle Walker by emailing magseditor@georgiasouthern.edu.

All students are allowed to have one free copy of this publication.

Additional copies cost $1 each and are available at the Office of Student Media in the Williams Center.

Unauthorized removal of additional copies from a distribution site will constitute theft under Georgia law, a misdemeanor offense punishable by a fine and/or jail time.

A Local Band Created by GS Students

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Photo by Lauren Sabia

By Savannah Savage-Johnson

Designed by Rebecca Hooper

Kings to You is a pop-rock band made up of students right here on campus. Its members are Blane Wheeler, senior history major, who plays guitar, sings and writes songs; Myles Lockley, senior political science major, who plays drums; and Graham Harris, senior engineering major, who plays bass.

About a year ago, the idea for this ensemble was born. Its name is inspired by 2002 film “The Count of Monte Cristo.”

The group has played at Gnat’s Landing and Your Pie in Statesboro. They have also played venues in surrounding areas like Vidalia and Swainsboro. The group has covered songs by many different artists, including Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix and Elvis. They have also performed original songs written by Wheeler.

The group was candid about what challenges they’ve faced since they began working together.

“Direction has definitely been a challenge,” Wheeler said. “My songwriting is more pop, and I want to go in a more pop-like direction with a lot of it, whereas I feel like Myles wants to take it in more of a rock direction.”

“But that’s just personal interest taking a role in how we develop collectively,” Lockely added.

“And don’t take pop to mean what the general term means, which is like popular. It’s more about the genre of pop. The melody and the beat.”

Wheeler also opened up about struggles faced when sharing an original song with the group.

“Usually the way that I write music, I write all of the parts out kinda in my head and jot down notes on paper, so in my mind, I have a certain way that I want things to go,” he said. “But when I’m in a band, and I tell them to play this part and it’s different, it’s hard for me to just let it go because my songs are like my babies. So it’s like a difficult thing for me.”

When asked what their goals for the future were, the boys laughed. “I want 50 number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100 at one time,” Wheeler said.

“But, in all seriousness, the whole thing behind starting a band and writing music is to get it out and make it somewhere doing something that you’re passionate,” Myles said. “That’s the main reason why I play. It’s a passion to play music, and if we can make a living doing that, I guess that would be a goal.”

The group is currently working on getting their name out there and booking more shows. For their latest updates, follow them on Instagram @ kings_to_you and like Kings To You on Facebook.

How a Texas native found a voice in Georgia’s live music scene If you’re familiar with the live music scene of Statesboro, chances are you’ve heard Roadhouse perform.

Roadhouse, also known as Kyle Thomas, is a senior English major. He began performing in Statesboro in 2015. Now he plays regularly in popular Statesboro venues like Shenanigans and the Grove. Every Monday night you can find him hosting open mic night at Nonna Picci.

He first started performing in Statesboro at Locos.

“They used to hold an open mic, and I worked at the RAC, and basically one of my coworkers was just like ‘you’re going to go do this open mic, and we’re going to tell everyone in the building so you have to go,’” said Thomas. “And they did.

She sent out a chain to all the different departments at the RAC and told all their

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employees, so I went to the open mic, and they packed the place out.”

Thomas had only planned on doing two or three songs that night, but with the successful start and heavy crowd, the manager told him to just keep going.

That was his first gig. Two weeks later, Locos booked him again for a Thursday night.

“When I first started, the gigs were not consistent to say the least,” said Thomas. “I was only playing Locos, and occasionally I would get like Millhouse or something, but now they fall like water.”

Thomas found his love for music early on.

“I grew up on Texas red-dirt country and bad-ass rock-and-roll and the old alternative country guys like Turnpike Troubadours, the old Willie and Waylon,” Thomas said.

Thomas’ grandfather also serves as a curator for his music taste. “He used to play with a bunch of old Texas legends back in the day,” Thomas said. “He raised me up on Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson and Guy Clark, these old country songwriters, so I started getting into that.”

Thomas has also gained inspiration from bands who play locally around Statesboro like Maples Crown, Play of the Game and Fellas.

After he graduates, Thomas plans to move to either Nashville or Austin to give singing and songwriting a shot.

Thomas talked about some of the obstacles he’s overcome as he performs more live gigs around town.

“The main struggle is playing ‘Strawberry Wine’ every night,” Thomas said. “I’m just kidding. I really do hate that song, but it’s definitely not the biggest struggle. The biggest struggle has probably been that there’s just not much of a music scene here in Statesboro.”

The solution, Thomas believes, lies in both the artists and the general public.

“They literally showed up one day with a drum set and a bass and said ‘hey, can we just back you up?’ And we started a band.”

KYLE THOMAS

Designed by Rebecca Hooper Photo by Kristen Ballard

“Most people here want to hear DJs, and I can’t really fault them for that, but I feel like if the bands can start putting out better product and recording things and getting them online to at least have something to build a fan-base around, and then the general patrons also do their part and come out to support, then I think we would build a live music scene around here,” said Thomas.

He said that creating a bigger live music scene could positively affect Statesboro and Georgia Southern.

“It would be a cool thing to have because, if you could get a solid reputation as a local music scene, you might draw more students here who are creative and that would help create and foster the music scene,” said Thomas. “You might get more bands, you may have more venues that can support live music.”

Thomas considers open-mic nights to be a very important part of any growing music community.

“I understand the prospect of going out and playing music for free is not super

awesome to people who play music, but there are also a lot of people around here that have never played live before and don’t even know if it’s something they’re interested in, so these open mics are a great way to come out and do it,” Thomas said. “There are a lot of people out here that want to start a band, but they don’t know other musicians.

It was while hosting an open mic night that Thomas met the members of the group a little over a year ago. “They literally showed up one day with a drum set and a bass and said ‘hey, can we just back you up?’ And we started a band.”

This power trio, called Roadhouse and Company, performs together about two weekends a month. Thomas didn’t know either of the other members, Zach Futch, senior music major, and Tyler Tupper, junior business management major, until an open-mic night turned into an impromptu jam session. He said that’s even how their name came about.

“I didn’t know them, so I was just like ‘Hey guys, I’m Roadhouse.’ ” Thomas

paused. “And Company, and it just kind of stuck.”

Thomas and his band don’t just play country music, even though most of his original songs are more rock or country blues.

“You will hear everything from Luke Combs. I don’t just look like him,” said Thomas. “I also play anything from Tom Petty, to Blackstreet, Dr. Dre, to Usher to Stevie Ray Vaughan; you’re going to hear everything.”

Thomas enjoys playing in the group because it gives him a chance to interact with the other members rather than just standing on stage singing by himself.

“We’re Roadhouse band. We’re just rocking Roadhouses from here to California,” Thomas said. “Well, more realistically from here to Savannah.”

See upcoming performances at roadhouseandcompany.com and on the Roadhouse Facebook page. Follow Thomas on instagram @roadhouse_music

By Savannah Savage-Johnson

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An Inside Look at One of Statesboro’s Most Well-Known Performers One of the most important parts of a college town is the entertainment available when students want to take a break from responsibilities and have some fun. For anyone who has been to the Blue Room, one of the hottest spots in town, the name DJ Nino is well known.

The elusive DJ, a Denmark native, was raised in Stone Mountain, Georgia. He performs every weekend at the Blue Room to a crowd of excited listeners. He has been DJing since 2013.

Nino was exposed to many different kinds of music since he was a child.

“My mom has always been open to all types of music,” Nino said.

“Whenever I was younger riding in the car with her, it could be Lenny Kravitz, Kid Rock, Run DMC. It could be anything.”

As Nino got older, he found he had a natural talent for putting together music and making playlists that people love.

“Being an athlete in high school, music would pump us up in the

gym and then from there I found this website and just started messing around with it on my computer, and that’s how I really got a feel for it,” Nino said. “And all my teammates were loving it, so I really just went from there.”

Before getting a regular gig in town, Nino performed some other places around town like Shenanigans. He also opened for Migos in their 2015 concert in Statesboro. Additionally, Nino performs in Atlanta and Alabama.

When asked about challenges faced since the start of his career, Nino discussed the racism he has encountered.

“So, when I first got here and started DJing, there were no DJs of color,” Nino said. “I’m mixed with black and white, and there were no DJs of color playing in any of the bars. No matter how good I was, it took people two to three years to realize ‘hey, we can actually have him in here.’’’

Nino says that the racism he’s encountered has gotten better over time.

I appeal to the crowd, so I never just play one genre. I actually don’t have a set playlist either, it’s all just off the top of my head.”

DJ Nino

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“It has now gotten a hundred times better,” Nino said. “That was in the beginning. That was when the Plaza was a thing.”

DJ Nino performs most often in the Blue Room of Statesboro. He has performed there almost every weekend since the club opened in August 2018.

One of the owners, William Bridwell said Nino contributes to the inner workings of the bar and certain things he does allow things to run smoothly.

“He is a very intelligent DJ,” Bridwell said, “I think when most people think of a DJ, they think of a person just getting up their and playing a playlist. But, in my opinion, I think there are so many different aspects to entertainment and nightlife.”

An example Bridwell gave was Nino’s ability to read a crowd. “If

he’s playing a certain genre and the crowd isn’t responding, he can tell that he’s not moving the big crowds in the back to the dance floor, so he’ll change it up.”

Nino’s value to the Blue Room goes beyond what the crowd may see. There are a lot more technical aspects that go into making each performance possible.

“In addition to who is performing, we place a high value on the entire scope of what our patrons are watching and our performers and production engineers can definitely read off each other,” Bridwell said. “One the other owners, Al Chapman, has a background in production and lighting so he comes in to run lights most lights. Al and Nino just mesh very well together and play off each other which ultimately in my opinion raises the bar of the

whole experience.”

Nino also talked about his experience with owners at some clubs expecting him to play only rap music without appealing to other genres as well.

“I appeal to the crowd, so I never just play one genre,” said Nino.”I actually don’t have a set playlist either, it’s all just off the top of my head. I might start off with ‘I Write Sins Not Tragedies’ and end with ‘Knuck If You Buck.’”

As far as the music itself goes, Nino has learned important things throughout his career.

“What I’ve noticed and what a lot of other people are starting to notice now is that we all listen to the same music,” said Nino.

By Savannah Savage-Johnson

Designed by Morgan Carr Photo by Noelle Walker REFLECTOR January 2020 | 9

Go ahead and make the decision to join regardless of whether or not they have experience with the language or culture because it’s always a learning process... Come with an open mind. As long as your willing to learn, we are willing to have you.”

MIKE HARRIS

Japanese Club Secretary

major,” said Harris. “You have different people from different races different backgrounds all coming together to celebrate and fellowship over the same aspects.”

As far as goals for the club, Harris said the club is definitely trying to expand the club and bring in more members. They are really hoping to publicize their club more.

By Madeline Branch

SOUTHERN CHEER CLUB

Georgia Southern’s Southern Cheer Club is paving the way for both men and women who want to be a part of their cheer team, while also making lifelong connections along the way.

“My goal is for the team to freshen up on skills, create memories and allow people to do something they love without having previous skills,” said Southern Cheer Club President Alexis White.

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The Southern Cheer Club is a coed competitive cheer team at Georgia Southern. The organization was founded in 2013 by Jalysha Joseph and Brittany Gas. The cheer team spends their practice time conditioning, stunting, tumbling and creating a routine for their up and coming competitions. They have practices Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 p.m to 11 p.m.

The cheer club tries its best to work with each individual’s class schedule on the team to provide time management skills. White says that she never wants students to use school as a reason as to why they can’t cheer.

“The girls learn how to manage their time and find a balance between school and extracurricular activities,” said White. “We have mandatory study hall on Thursdays in the union where girls can study, catch up on homework and get ahead.”

As far as community service events, local middle school cheer teams reach

out to the club to teach their cheer team basic cheer skills.

“Our executive board will host cheer camps for middle school girls where we teach the girls the basic foundation skills for cheer and social skills, like, a dance, a cheer and stunting,” said White.

Tryouts happen every Fall semester, and the club looks for motivated people with a willingness to learn who will be an asset to the team.

We look for positive attitudes, people willing to learn and risk takers because you have to be willing to try anything,“

ALEXIS WHITE Southern Cheer Club President

Designed by Gherri Weekes-Garnette

Georgia Southern’s Japanese Club welcomes all students to learn about and engage in Japanese cultural traditions like foods, languages and traditional clothing.

“The Japanese club was started to celebrate the different aspects of Japanese culture and the language,” said Japense Club Secretary Mike Harris. “We cover things from traditional wear, food and different types of art styles related to Japan and its culture.”

The club meets on Thursdays at 7 p.m. every week where they learn new things related to Japanese culture. Interest

meetings are held at the beginning of each semester, but the club also tables throughout the year and accepts students year-round.

“We usually start our meeting off with learning a new Japanese character or Japanese word for the week,” said Harris.

“This lets everybody know what will be covered for the week.”

Harris also mentions that, in the club’s meetings, they partake in activities like learning how to do origami; how to wear traditional clothing like kimonos; and how to make foods such as sushi, onigiri and udon, a type of miso soup.

There is no fee to join the club at all because they want it to be an allinclusive club that welcomes people of all races, said Harris.

The majority of the people in the Japanese club don’t take any Japanase language classes, said Harris. The club does teach the basics of Japanese like certain greetings and common phrases.

“I like the diversity of our club because it’s not just strictly people who are taking Japanese as an elective or it’s part of their

Photos by Isis Mayfield

JAPANESE CLUB

Southern LIMELIGHT

By Jenna Wiley

CODY THOMAS Designed by Aminatta Mbow

Art and environmental awareness aren’t two things that are usually associated with one another, but the two go hand-in-hand for Cody Thomas Thomas has always loved art and creating it. He also is an advocate for the environmental changes that are happening to the world.

Thomas said what he loves most about his art form is “educating individuals visually with my thoughts and concerns to the environment, and acquiring solutions for these issues.”

His preferred medium to work with is single-use plastic, which he used for his piece

“The Price of Life.” “The Price of Life” is an art exhibit Cody created that was plastic tags that had the names of all the species sent to extinction due to humans. It is his favorite piece.

Thomas recently got approved for a sustainability grant to eliminate plastic waste from 3D printing.

“We will be able to grind down the plastic and then melt and extrude into new filament,” said Thomas. ”There is also the ability to take our plastic waste like water bottles and turn that into 3D filament also”.

Thomas has support from his friends and family members

about his choice of major. They were happy that he would be pursuing a career where he would love going into work everyday.

Thomas didn’t always know pursuing art as a career was the right path for him, but he became more confident in his choice after his professors that he had believed in him and what he could achieve. Two of those professors are Matthew Mogle and Jeff Garland. “[They] have impacted me in the past, present and will in the future. I would not be able to be where I am today without them,” said Thomas.”

Photos by Kristen Ballard and Ashton Christianson

ERIN MAURER Being an artist is not something Erin Maurer always imagined.

She came to Georgia Southern with the intent of solely pursuing a career in sociology with a minor in gender studies. But, after she took an art class for fun, she fell in love with it.

“I have always loved art as a way to express myself, and when I started taking classes that showed me how I could grow as an artist and better explore my ideas, any extra class I had open would be for art,” said Maurer.

When Maurer is working alone, she tends to gravitate towards charcoal and watercolors, but she prefers to work with clay and ceramics when in class.

Maurer describes the feeling of the wet clay as “very soothing and therapeutic.”

She said she loves to work with clay because she noticed how the clay dries in a certain way that makes the artist take their time and really consider what the

end result will be at every stage.

She draws her inspiration mainly from her personal experiences and those around her. She respects how other artists are able to express themselves through their own art form, but, to Maurer, a piece of her art doesn’t really come to life until she translates her own emotions into it. Oftentimes, when she’s working on a sculpture, she pauses and just follows what feels right to her.

Maurer has autism, and she uses her art to channel her emotions.

“Being autistic means that it is often hard for me to convey complicated emotions or my different experiences, but I like to think that in art I can help others see through my eyes,” said Maurer.

Her ceramics professor, Professor Jeff Garland, has been one of the professors who has had an impact on her as an artist.

“He has been great about pushing me to try harder things and allowing me to try out some of my more experimental sculptures,” said Maurer.

Maurer credits him for helping her enter and win a competition for a spot in the annual showcase of undergraduate student artwork in the Center for Art & Theatre’s Contemporary Gallery on the Statesboro Campus.

Although the project displayed is Maurer’s most recognized, she can’t pick a favorite.

“Honestly, every project has a place in my heart for teapots that look like organs to a dragon head the size of my torso,” said Maurer.

Although Maurer isn’t majoring in art, she believes that her major of sociology has a unique perspective. Being a sociology major helps her understand people and, in turn, understand how different people will view her art.

When she isn’t studying sociology or creating something artistic, Maurer is also a member of several campus organizations.

She is in Club Mud and is a moderator for both the creative writing club and Humans vs Zombies.

REFLECTOR January 2020 | 11

Underground Exposure

Designed by Kayla Hill

Photos by Isis Mayfield

2019

Underground Exposure is a fashion show that was created by Georgia Southern student Jamie Lary where artists and designers can gain experience and exposure while doing something that they love.

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E X P O S E

I am most proud about the growth of the brands and the people in the show”

It is really beautiful being able to see the development throughout the entire process and the end result.”

Jamie Lary Fashion designers and artists gathered to showcase their talents at Underground Exposure on October 19.

Underground Exposure is a fashion show that was created by Georgia Southern student Jamie Lary where artists and designers can gain experience and exposure while doing something that they love.

After attending fashion shows in Atlanta and being surrounded by talented friends and family, Lary says that he knew he wanted to create an event for his peers to be publicized but just didn’t know how to piece everything together.

“I knew I wanted to get more exposure for my creative friends and my brother who is a performing artist,” said Lary. “After going to a couple of fashion shows, one reputable show in particular, ‘Young Atlanta,’ really helped me articulate what I wanted to do and put in place.”

The show was held in the Russell Union Ballroom on Saturday where a number of clothing brands and rappers brought their talents to Georgia Southern.

While some designers and artists were Georgia Southern natives, there were others who traveled all the way from Atlanta to show their support for the show.

The list of clothing brands that were displayed were Paradox, Glokk, Fates III, Paradise, Stvck ATL, Love Sick, Risky and MEAR with performances from an artist by the name of Skuffle 59 and Grier Smith.

Georgia Southern students and CEO’s of MEAR clothing brand, Kelly Butler and Kevin Mckenzie, felt that the brand was a great way for others to experience who they are and what they had to offer.

“I feel like it’s a great opportunity for not only our brand but for us and getting our message out there, so more people can know what we are about and not just the name MEAR clothing,” said Mckenzie.

Destini Goins, who modeled for clothing brands Paradox Company, Fates III Apparel, 24 Risk and Love Sick, looked forward to networking and the brands creating a name for themselves.

“I look forward to helping the brands out and them getting exposure and modeling their products,” said Goins.

“A lot of these brands have really big names in Atlanta. I also look forward to networking and helping these brands get their name out there and mine as well.”

This is the fourth year and fourth show that Southern has seen Underground Exposure on their campus, but there have also been two other shows outside of Statesboro.

Lary said that his goal is to ultimately expand Underground Exposure, so that it can reach out and extend the platform and exposure for new brands and performers.

Lary said he was most proud of the growth and development since the start of Underground Exposure.

“I am most proud about the growth of the brands and the people in the show,” said Lary. “It is really beautiful being able to see the development throughout the entire process and the end result.”

By Madeline Branch

REFLECTOR January 2020 | 13

FROM FABRIC TO FASHION: THE STORY OF

CHRISTIAN MINCEY

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Designer Christian Mincey

Designed by Aminatta Mbow Photos by Noelle Walker

For as long as he could remember, Christian Mincey, senior at Georgia Southern majoring in fashion merchandising and apparel design with design emphasis, has loved and appreciated fashion and design.

After attending and participating in his high school’s annual fashion show, he has thought of fashion as “a form of wearable art.”

Mincey said that after he received numerous awards for fashion design throughout high school, and heard positive feedback from others, he realized that “practicing what I’m doing not only brings me joy, but also makes others happy, and they, as well as myself, want to see more of what I’m capable of doing.”

Mincey chose GS because the university offers a program he loved and had experience in, all while being close to his hometown.

“Also, the campus’s size and diversity of natural surroundings , like the plants and wildlife, nature’s beauty drew me to wanting to study here.’’

Mincey’s love for fashion and design started in high school but was confirmed in his college career that this is what he was born to do.

Mincey said that, contrary to popular belief, men dominate the designing aspect of the fashion world. To Mincey, someone’s gender shouldn’t be what sets them apart from the crowd.

“I believe that it is the individual’s work that sets oneself apart from the rest more than anything,” said Mincey “One’s work should showcase their arsenal of skill, talent, craftsmanship, ideation, etc. That’s what I focus on more than anything.”

When it comes to picking a favorite piece he’s created, Mincey knew exactly what it was: a sage green slip dress (pictured). He is most proud of this piece because he drafted his own 100 percent original pattern and constructed the garment from start to finish all on his own.

Mincey’s biggest supporters have been his grandmother and his mom. He also credits his teachers and professors he’s had over the years for encouraging him to pursue his passion for art and fashion.

When it comes to Christian’s source of inspiration, he is able to see the beauty in the mundane. He said he sources inspiration from everything around him, including nature, art, music and culture.

On the other hand, Christian has encountered a few people who do not understand what he does.

“Every now and then, I will be faced with an individual who has a misperception of the fashion industry, and, once given the opportunity to educate one, they’re better able to understand and appreciate my aspirations and future endeavors in the fashion industry,” said Mincey.

Once he graduates in May 2020, Mincey has big plans to take his talent to one of the fashion capitals of the world: New York City.

Along the way, he will be continuing to work on his own brand and networking in the fashion industry. He wants to end up working as a lead designer for a historically prestigious brand/house one day.

By Jenna Wiley

REFLECTOR January 2020 | 15

FROM FABRIC TO FASHION: THE STORY OF

JAMAR FORDHAM Jamar Fordham has always known he wanted to have his own clothing brand, but it wasn’t until recently that he discovered what he wanted his brand to stand for.

Fordham chose to name his brand Paradox to represent the ideal that you should never judge a book by its cover.

He wants people to understand that the brand is a way to show people that they shouldn’t judge others based off their first impression of someone else and that there is always more than what meets the eye.

The designer’s idea for the name of the brand Paradox came from watching the film “The Cloverfield Paradox.”

It took Fordham about a year for his plan to come together.

“What took me the longest, which was about a year, was just planning,” said Fordham. “It wasn’t just popping into my head one day. I had to work to get here.”

Fordham wanted his brand Paradox to mean something because it’s more than “just clothes.”

Fordham believes that it’s important to not focus on other brands when first starting out, so the brand can be as true to the creator as possible. The designer’s inspiration for his clothing brand comes from his passion in life and also trials and tribulations that have helped him get to where he is now. `

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Designed by Daniel Castro

Every piece that I’ve made, I’m pulling from a point in my life.

It’s not like I just think of something and then I make it.

Every piece I come out with has a memory tied to it, or something that’s personal to me.

Photos by Noelle Walker

On top of fashion, Fordham is also about helping others around him and has found a way to incorporate the two.

Half of the money from his release of pink hoodies went to donations for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

When it comes to growing the Paradox brand, Fordham hopes to expand his brand internationally and wants everyone who is a part of his team to be credited for its success.

Fordham has 20+ people helping him run his brand from social media to marketing. In addition to his fashion brand, he also has a podcast where people from

his team talk about a range of topics.

Fordham prefers to work with experienced people, so it’s easier for them to just jump right in. He looks for people who are passionate about fashion and who are willing to go the extra mile and be an asset to the brand.

He one day hopes to have his brand become his main source of income. It’s important to Fordham to maintain “the social media and networking aspect of things.”

By Madeline Branch and Jenna Wiley

Modeled By: Alana Paige, Keenan Louis-Jolly, and Eric Weems

REFLECTOR January 2020 | 17

FROM FABRIC TO FASHION THE STORY OF

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Photos by Kristen Ballard and Isis Mayfield

I think fashion is the perfect combination of art and science.”

Mackenzie Miller Fashion Designer

Designed by Morgan Carr

Mackenzie Miller has been in love with fashion ever since she was 8 years old, and she doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. Miller says she always loved the feeling of dressing up and the sense of empowerment she felt wearing an outfit she loved.

Even as she continued into middle and high school, she “always returned to that same passion.” Miller learned to sew when she was 13 and since then her sketchbooks have been full of fashion illustrations and costume ideas.

When it comes to how Miller views fashion design as a whole, she has a unique point of view. “I think fashion is the perfect combination of art and science,” said Miller. “While it is extremely creative, there is a lot of thought that goes into research and technical design aspects.”

To Miller, clothing is another art form that people can wear to express themselves. For her personally, she uses fashion to highlight her confidence and femininity, but she also acknowledges that it can be completely unique to the individual person.

“I’m extremely inspired by the way people use fashion

to become more themselves or someone completely different,” said Miller. “It is a universal language and a beautiful way to express who you are.”

Miller views fashion as something that can be utilized to change the course of someone’s day and “give them the confidence to do something they may not have done otherwise.”

Professor Addie Martindale, Ph.D, pushed Miller to express her creative side and empowered her ideas.

“I can come to her with any questions or dream, and she helps me find a way to see it to fruition,” said Miller. “It’s been so magical to see that process happen time and time again.”

When it comes to the programs she was interested in, she couldn’t have been happier. “The opportunities to advance my art and career have been beyond my wildest dreams.

I’ve presented at multiple conferences, including one in London, taken study trips to New York City, Hong Kong, Trinidad and Tobago, and had countless experiential learning opportunities where I’ve built skills I didn’t have before.”

Aside from doing projects

on campus, Miller has also gotten other opportunities.

She worked with the Averitt Center Children’s Theatre on their production of “Orestes” making costumes.

“It was a challenge as I had never worked with children in clothing design before, and the play was beyond my typical aesthetic,” said Miller.

“But, I felt the finished project was true to the production and looked great on stage.”

Something else Miller is proud of is her dress titled “Flight” “The inspiration for ‘Flight’ came from my study abroad trip to Trinidad and Tobago where I felt that experiencing a new culture had pushed me

out of my comfort zone, and I wanted to embody that in a dress. I typically work with lots of color and pattern, so I restricted my color palette to just white and used the design details to make the garment special.”

Currently, she is working on her Honors Thesis about designing accessible fashion for people with mobility aids.

Her dream job is to land an internship at Disney and then eventually own her own business designing clothes for women of all body types, including those needing accommodations in terms of accessibility.

By Jenna Wiley

REFLECTOR January 2020 | 19

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Thirty six percent of university students were housing insecure at some point over the previous year, according to a 2018 survey conducted by researchers at Wisconsin HOPE Lab. The survey defines housing insecurity as including “a broader set of challenges such as the inability to pay rent or utilities or the need to move frequently” while homelessness “means that a person is

EDITOR’S NOTE: The story below is of a georgia southern student’s experience with homelessness. She asked to be kept anonymous.

Design and illustrations by Dalis Worrell

One Georgia Southern student found herself living in her car.

“I didn’t have a job,” she said. “My parents were going through some financial hardship, and I kind of didn’t want to ask them for help because of financial stuff, which means I didn’t want them to apply for loans in their name for schooling or housing or anything, and I just really couldn’t afford to live on campus or otherwise, and the financial aid I was receiving just wasn’t enough.”

She was struggling a lot her sophomore year in late 2018 and early 2019. While she was facing financial hardship for an eight month time period, she soon found herself without a permanent place of residence at the beginning of the fall 2018 semester.

She was actively looking for a job during the time she was living in her car, but she struggled with finding one because most places were full or didn’t want people without any job experience.

without a place to live, often residing in a shelter, an automobile, an abandoned building or outside.”

That’s over one third of college students. So what about at Southern? We aren’t able to give a specific answer.

Dean of Students Mark Whitesel said that, in his past role as associate dean for student advocacy and his current position, there have normally been one

She felt safe to an extent. She would park in hotel parking lots with security cameras for protection. She also knew that she could come to the library because, aside from weekends, it’s open for 24 hours. However, she wasn’t able to truly feel at peace because she didn’t have a space that was hers.

With only 4-5 hours of sleep a night, she suffered from lack of sleep and increased anxiety.

Her day-to-day activities involved going to class and going back to her car. She said she basically existed in Henderson Library for a while.

She was able to stay clean because the RAC had showers.

“I could be hygienic,” she said. “But it was like, being in your car, you felt dirty even though you’ve had a shower that day.”

She struggled with feelings of shame and loneliness.

“It was a lot of loneliness because, you know, I didn’t have anybody to go to,” she said. “I mean, nobody really knew my situation because I wanted to keep it hidden.”

She believes there’s a stigma with homelessness.

to two cases a year that they’re notified about.

Nikita Robinson, case manager and licensed professional counselor at the Counseling Center located on the Statesboro Campus, said the most cases she’s had dealing with homelessness are around 10 since she started working at the counseling center in 2015.

“That’s why I wasn’t particularly fond of telling anybody about my situation is because, you know, ‘oh, she’s dirty’ or, you know, ‘she’s going to ask for money,’ or, you know, ‘she can’t handle herself or she can’t get a job, she can’t hold a job’ and stuff like that,’” she said.

Her parents weren’t aware of her living situation. She would tell them she was staying with friends.

Eating was an issue on weekends and nights. However, she had enough money for the dining plan at the beginning of the semester, so she could eat.

On top of her financial hardships, the biggest thing she was struggling with was her depression and the fact that she felt she had no one to talk to.

She also wasn’t able to pay for her medications, including her ADHD, so her mood would be down. However, while she also wasn’t able to pay for a psychologist, the counseling center helped.

Eventually, she got to a place where she just couldn’t continue staying in her car.

She asked her friend if she was able to sleep on her couch, and, when her

REFLECTOR January 2020 | 21

friend discovered she didn’t have a place to live, let her stay in their spare bedroom.

Even after her friend took her in, it didn’t feel like the place was really hers because it was her friend’s place, so she just sought other places to be other than there.

Though she had a roof over her head, it still didn’t feel quite like home.

Her friends, family members and support system helped get her through it. She’s now in a much better situation. She’s had a stable job for almost a year now and has more support from her family members. She has a place to live with friends who care about her safety.

She and her roommates chip in for rent every month, and she’s able to afford things like her phone bill and car insurance.

Her parents are doing better now financially, and she felt comfortable asking them to apply for loans for college.

She described the hardest thing about being homeless was “just not knowing where you’ll end up and not knowing what to do about your own situation.”She wished people who haven’t experienced housing insecurity or homelessness to know that, sometimes, it’s not a choice.

“Sometimes, it’s not a choice,” she said. “It’s not that you can’t get a job. It’s not that you can’t provide for yourself.

It’s circumstances beyond your control that lead to it.”

She said that, even though those undergoing hardships may not be forthcoming with the information, it’s still important to reach out.

“If you have somebody in your life that’s struggling, you should definitely ask them, ‘Hey, do you need help?, [or] ‘’Hey, is there anything that I can do for you?’ Whether it be just having them sleep on your couch for a night or talking to them about it, it makes them feel so much better.”

She also wished people knew there were resources available.

“I wish people knew that there were alternatives,” she said. “I didn’t know this at the time because I was out of options, and I didn’t really want to talk to anybody about it, but now that I know that there are places that would’ve helped me if I needed it that I could go to, I wish that other people knew that.”

GS Resources: The Dean of Students Office “It’s something I think that there’s a little bit of stigma around,” said Dean of Students Mark Whitesel. “I don’t know that it’s easy to identify students that in that situation and, even if they’re identified, have them coming forward and feeling comfortable sharing that, I think, is a challenge for anybody that would be in that situation.”

Whitesel said the way the dean of students office handles the situations varies, and it depends on what the student’s situation is.

Whitesel said the university would meet with the student in the Dean of Students Office individually to see what kind of options there are.

He said that, if the student doesn’t have the means to cover housing, sometimes they can connect the student with the housing scholarship if they qualify. Whitesel added that, if they’re in Savannah, there may be resources that are there as far as shelters.

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Whitesel added that, with the consolidation, he’s learned a bit more about what’s available in Savannah versus what’s available in Statesboro.

Whitesel said there are some universities that have been able to work with donors who have given money to the university to support either spaces or housing that could be available on kind of a retainer basis.

Ideally, if a student is homeless and is able to get independent status with their FAFSA, that’s the optimal situation to qualify for as much aid as they could, said Whitesel.

Whitesel said the office has been fortunate that some of the students that have come forward were able to be connected with resources through the housing scholarship and some other options, so they’ve been able to be in a residence hall.

doctors and medication management.

When a student comes to the counseling center, they take an intake assessment. If they’re assessed to have any needs outside of therapy, they get scheduled with Robinson. She said a student may also get scheduled with her if they were to call in and ask for a specific resource.

First, Robinson will meet with the student for an appointment and find out their individual needs for housing.

“Sometimes, we have students who maybe they do have parents or family that they can stay with; sometimes, we have a student whose living in their car; sometimes we have a student who just can’t pay their rent, and so we figure out which area the student needs help in and then we look at the different resources that are available,” said Robinson.

If the student is living in their car, they might be able to get emergency housing for them through Georgia Southern or use some of the community resources, said Robinson.

“There are a couple places that will pay for nights in hotels,” said Robinson. “Some people will draft a letter to an apartment complex saying, ‘I will provide XYZ if you will let this individual move in today.”

Statesboro Resources: Open Hearts Community Mission 201 Martin Luther King Jr Dr, Statesboro, Georgia 30458

The Counseling Center Nikita Robinson is a case manager and licensed professional counselor at the Counseling Center located on the Statesboro Campus.

“My job is to supplement anything outside of the therapy realm, so if we have a student who comes in and they’re suffering from depression but maybe they also have some homelessness, then they’re going to get their therapy here, and then they’re going to have a meeting with me to figure out housing issues,” Robinson said.

Robinson describes her job as being the connection to the resources. She said that she would collaborate with the Dean of Students office to go through housing for emergency housing on Georgia Southern’s campus. She said she also has relationships within the community, and she’s aware of resources such as Eagles for Eagles that the student may be able to use to pay for their housing if needed.

Robinson said she provides anything a student may need to help them be successful, including resources for food insecurity, transportation, outside therapists or

Executive Director of Open Hearts Community Mission Delia Mobley said that, while they’d like to be able to help anyone that needs housing assistance, the goal is to take someone in and help them get a job to earn enough money to get back on their feet.

Mobley said they like for them to have a good cushion before they leave so that they don’t struggle, so they aim around $3,000-5,0000 in savings before they move out.

As far as students who may be experiencing housing insecurity or student homelessness, the student would have to work. Mobley said they wouldn’t be able to house them indefinitely to only go to classes; their concept is to get them back on their feet and working.

“If they were in a crisis situation, and they’re here, we would want to help them,” said Mobley.

Mobley said they have to examine every situation—it’s not cut-and-dry.

“Where we really have to get strict is if we were ever almost full, and, you know, we had people that couldn’t prove that they were working here, in school here, we might have to say ‘we can’t take you in,” said Mobley.

Mobley encouraged students experiencing homlessness or housing insecurity to reach out. They would need to fill out an application and have a background check. She added that the background check isn’t to see if the person has been in any trouble before; it’s just to check for sex offenders and any current warrants.

Once they do this and the background check is clear, they’ll set up an interview. Intakes are on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and applications need to be turned in by 4 p.m. the day before either of those days.

By Noelle Walker

REFLECTOR January 2020 | 23

NOT JUST NERVES

ON CAMPUS College is a time of major change-it’s a stressful balancing act between school, work, family and friends.

We’ve all been nervous about a test or panicked over an upcoming project.

For people dealing with anxiety, however, it might be more than just nerves. Anxiety is a problem many students report, according to the Center for Collegiate Mental Health (CCMH), which reports on statistics about students who go to counseling centers nationwide.

How can we help students experiencing anxiety, which can impair their lives?

What is Anxiety?

“The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,” (DSM5), from the American Psychiatric Association, characterizes generalized anxiety disorder as “excessive anxiety and worry (apprehensive expectation) about a number of events or activities.”

In addition, the worry is “out of proportion,” and the individual “finds it difficult to control the worry and to keep worrisome thoughts from interfering with attention to tasks at hand.”

Also, adults with generalized anxiety often worry about everyday matters, while children with generalized anxiety often worry about their competence or quality of performance, according to the DSM5. There are also multiple types of anxiety/ “It can look different for different

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people,” said Dr Lauren Patterson, the assistant director of outreach and community engagement and licensed psychologist at the Georgia Southern Counseling Center.

According to Patterson and the CCMH, anxiety is consistently one of the top five reasons students come into counseling centers nationally.

“Probably generalized anxiety and social anxiety are the most typical ones for college students,” said Patterson.

Why might students experience anxiety so commonly?

“There are a lot of different factors that could contribute to if a person experiences anxiety or not,” said Patterson. “Genetics has a part of it.

Some of it is having a lot of stressors and being on your own for the first time. Some of it is age-related in that way, kind of the stage of life where you see that might start to happen.

More responsibilities than people used to have. Being a little bit more independent than they previously were.”

Patterson also added that anxiety could result from a traumatic experience. Genetics, high-stress situations, a lot of change and other factors, such as substance use, may make students more susceptible to experiencing anxiety.

How can anxiety affect you?

Anxiety can affect your daily life in ways you might not expect, especially when it comes to work or friends.

“Having anxiety is really fear-based,” said Dr. Patterson. “So that can really keep you from doing things you want to do.”

Patterson used an example of a situation in which a hypothetical person feels anxiety when riding in cars. That fear would then interfere with your ability to get to where you need to go, which would impair how you go about daily life.

“It can interfere in a lot of simple ways you might not even consider,” said Patterson. “Even basic things like taking care of yourself, like making sure you’re eating, you’re showering and attending to your social needs.

So, in that way, anxiety can be similar to depression.”

Depression and anxiety often cooccur.

“It’s a chicken or the egg sometimes,” said Patterson. “Sometimes, being depressed can make you anxious; sometimes being anxious can make you feel depressed.”

Furthermore, students with anxiety may experience negative physical effects. Patterson said there is some research that having long-term anxiety may lead to people becoming more susceptible to chronic illnesses.

What are some ways to cope?

What works for one person may not work for another, especially since anxiety varies among individuals.

Counselors generally tailor their sessions toward what will best fit the student specifically.

However, generally, it’s important to have good coping skills and to really take care of yourself.

“It might keep you from making challenging decisions, but it doesn’t have to,” said Patterson. “I think that’s one thing we focus on a lot at the counseling center is that just because you have anxiety doesn’t mean it has to hold you back in any way.”

Patterson says some generally recommended coping methods include reaching out to support systems, exercising, getting enough sleep, eating a consistent and healthy diet, taking walks, hanging out with friends and simply doing more of what you enjoy.

According to Patterson, excessive caffeine can worsen anxiety, although you don’t have to throw out coffee all together.

“Everything in moderation,” Patterson said.

Bottom line? Don’t skip meals, pull all-nighters or take substances that will increase symptoms. And reach

out to your friends and loved ones.

However, Patterson says that doesn’t include holding yourself back from, for example, crowds if you become anxious in crowds.

“I do a lot of talking through things from an acceptance-commitment therapy perspective when it comes to anxiety,” Patterson said. “About really understanding how the anxiety doesn’t have to hold you back, that you can feel anxious and still fully live your life.”

Acceptance-commitment therapy involves the following principles: a values-driven life, committed action, mindfulness, emotional awareness and acceptance.

“It’s okay to feel different emotions, even what we would consider ‘bad’ ones,” said Patterson.

How should others interact with an anxious individual?

Patterson suggested the following for how to help someone experiencing anxiety.

Ask how to be helpful. Take your cue for what they need in that moment. Some need space, while others may need a listening ear. Don’t assume what the person might need.

Patterson also said that trying to “rescue” someone dealing with anxiety is not the best approach.

“That is our natural tendency when someone shares something that’s a little bit more difficult for us to jump in and say something like, ‘it’s going to be okay, don’t worry about it,’ or give advice, when oftentimes that’s not what is most helpful to a person,” said Patterson. “Most of the time, they just need someone to listen.”

In addition, it can invalidate their feelings, which can make the person in question feel worse without our intending to cause harm.

Patterson also suggested not giving advice unless you’re certain the person wants that advice.

By Aubrey Brumblow

Designed by Daniel Castro I might have anxiety. What do I do?

Full-time and part-time students get 16 free sessions at the Counseling Center at GS. It’s located in building 435 on Forest Drive at the Statesboro campus and opens at 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the week. You can reach the center at (912) 478-5541.

REFLECTOR January 2020 | 25

Sweet Dreams Are Made of This

According to DeLoach, here are 11 ways you can get deeper and better sleep every night.

By Aubrey Brumblow

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Avoid excessive daily caffeine intake. This includes avoiding energy drinks and supplements, which have caffeine in them. More than one standard cup of coffee is considered excessive.

Don’t nap excessively during the day. If you nap, set an alarm, so you won’t sleep for more than 30-60 minutes. Don’t nap in the late afternoon.

Exercise at least 150 minutes a week. However, you shouldn’t exercise close to bedtime.

Wake up at the same time and sleep at the same time every day. This includes weekends!

Turn off all electronic devices at least 30 minutes before bed. The blue light they emit stimulates the brain, keeping you alert.

Reading can help, but set a limit. For instance, read one chapter, then turn off the light.

Do not eat within two hours of bedtime.

Do not exercise within two hours of bedtime. The endorphins your body releases while working out can keep you awake.

Keep the room dark.

If you’re still having trouble falling or staying asleep after trying the above tips, follow up with Student Health Services or your primary care medical provider.

For information about Health Services on each campus, see https://auxiliary.georgiasouthern.edu/ healthservices/

Designed by Gherri Weekes-Garnette

Don’t procrastinate on your studies. Procrastination leads to stress and cramming, which will interfere with your sleep schedule.

Maintain a consistent bedtime routine. By doing the same things in the same order each night, you will teach your brain to recognize the pattern, so that it will begin its “shut-down program” at the right time. As an example routine, you can use the restroom, wash your face, brush your teeth, read one chapter in a book, then turn out the light.

BEDTIME

How many hours do you sleep a night? College is a busy time, so some students may suffer from sleep deprivation.

While everyone has their own unique sleep needs, the recommended amount of sleep for people ages 18-25 is between seven to nine hours per night.

“Some studies report that 80 percent of college students sleep less than 7 hours per night,” said Dr. Brian DeLoach, medical director at GS health services, in an email, “while a study in 2016 reported the average sleep duration for a college student was 7.3 hours.”

The American Sleep Association even reports that 50-70 million US adults have a sleep disorder.

They also report that 37 percent of 20-39 year-olds say they have short sleep duration.

Sleep deprivation can cause a host of health issues. According to DeLoach, it can weaken the immune system, meaning you will frequently get ill, as well as increase your risk of developing chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

On another note, DeLoach adds that sleep deprivation can also increase mental health problems, particularly anxiety and depression, and even creates anxiety and a feeling of being stressed out. You will have less energy, feel tired constantly and possibly gain weight. The fatigue and problems with concentration and coordination can affect your academic and athletic performances.

Taking naps or “catching up” sleep-wise on the weekends doesn’t work.

“Our brain needs regular sleep of adequate duration to function,” said DeLoach.

Sleeping in and napping sets back your sleep schedule each night, which can lead to insomnia.

Each of these problems can mean the worst for students. The college environment can be incredibly stressful, and losing a scholarship because of poor sleep hygiene could spell disaster for a college career.

So, how can students combat these nasty side effects and get a good night’s sleep?

THROUGHOUT THE DAY

Here’s How to Get a Better Night’s Rest

With most students in college going out on weekends, hanging out with friends at bars or parties is common. However, it is important to be aware of possible threats or dangers that may occur.

Don’t Go Out Alone

“First, don’t ever go out to a party or bar alone! Take someone along whom you trust,” Statesboro Police Chief Mike Broadhead said in an email.

There’s safety in nuambers, so going out in groups is a good idea.

Broadhead said that you should take someone with you that you trust if you go out.

Designed by Christaje Roach

Crowds

Broadhead said that being aware of your surroundings is the first step in personal safety.

“While this can be difficult when in a crowd, if you start feeling uncomfortable based on your surroundings (like if the party is getting a little too rowdy, people are bumping into you too frequently, etc), remove yourself from that situation,” said Broadhead.

Broadhead also said that sometimes it may be safer in a crowd.

“If you are at a house party and someone singles you out and their attention makes you uncomfortable, go stand or sit near others so that there are more people around,” said Broadhead.

Have a Designated Driver (DD)

Drinking and driving is very dangerous and illegal, so someone should agree to be the sober driver while out.

Every 48 minutes someone somewhere dies due to drunk driving, according to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration also says that, if you are pulled over for driving under the influence (DUI), you can be charged with a misdemeanor or even a felony.

Watch Your Drinks

Don’t leave your drink alone. If you go to the bathroom, your drink should go with you as well. Even if you leave your drink with friends, there is no guarantee they will stare it down till you get back.

You should never accept drinks from strangers because you never know someone’s intentions, said Broadhead. Also, don’t accept drinks that you have not watched being made While you are drinking,be mindful of how you are handling your drink. Be careful not to over indulge with alcoholic beverages. Too much alcohol can cause your liver to shut down and ecan even lead to death.

If you feel that your drink is hitting you harder than normal, this could be a sign that your drink was drugged because the symptoms can be similar to that of intoxication. Symptoms of these drugs, often called “date rape drugs,” include having trouble moving or controlling your muscles, dizziness, slurred speech or having problems talking, according to the Office of Women’s Health.

“If you start feeling drugged or too intoxicated, immediately get with your partner and tell them what you are feeling,” Broadhead said. “The two of you then need to move to a location with fresh air. If the symptoms persist, immediately contact Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and/or the police. The police are not interested in ‘busting’ you, they want to help you stay safe.”

Listen to Your Instincts

Always listen to the feeling in your gut.

“I have heard from many people over the years who were victimized by a stranger or acquaintance, and many times the victim has told me they didn’t ‘feel right’ about the person or situation, but were afraid to be rude, so they remained in the situation and ended up getting hurt,” Broadhead said.

Be Aware

Broadhead said that when a person is out in a public place, they always need to be alert.

“If you start feeling uncomfortable based on your surroundings (like if the party is getting a little too rowdy, people are bumping into you too frequently, etc), remove yourself from that situation,” said Broadhead He also said that if you become intoxicated, you diminish your ability to be aware of your surroundings.

“In all situations, YOU are responsible for ensuring your own safety, and that all starts with being aware,” said Broadhead.

By Ashton Christianson

REFLECTOR January 2020 | 27

Wiping Out Waste Georgia Southern’s

Fight for Sustainability Between July 1, 2017 and June 30, 2018, Georgia Southern University produced 4112 metric tons of waste, according to a Freedom of Information Act filed to Georgia Southern’s Records Office. That is equivalent to the weight of about 206 tractor trailers.

The Center for Sustainability at Georgia Southern is complete with a group of Green Ambassadors who work together to improve the campus and help the earth by reducing waste, saving water and reducing the overall carbon footprint of the school.

Among these improvements is the addition of 41 recycling bins throughout campus. These bins are made from 97 percent recycled material across campus. Each bin is made in a factory powered completely by renewable energy sources, said Environmental and Sustainability Manager for Georgia Southern University, Tiffoni BuckleMcCartney in an email.

Lissa Leege, Ph.D, is a professor of biology and the first and only director of the Center for Sustainability since its creation eleven years ago. Throughout this time, there has been an increase in recycling bins on campus.

“Anything that goes in a trashcan goes all the way to Macon to a landfill

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one way in a truck to a landfill where it will stay forever,” said Leege. “It will never break down, it will never be turned into something else. We are wasting resources by sending something that is valuable in a truck throwing it into a landfill where it can never be used again then that truck has to come back so we’re wasting fossil fuels, we are wasting space, we are wasting resources the actual resource of the recyclable items.”

In the same year, about 738 metric tons of materials were recycled from GS, which is about the weight of 37 tractor trailers. This totals to about 17 percent of waste produced by GS being recycled, according to the GS Records Office. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that only about 30 percent of all waste produced in the world is recycled.

Green Ambassadors is a university organization that aims to promote sustainability. President of the Green Ambassadors, Victor McRae, believes that the school can improve by reducing the amount of waste while also increasing the amount of recycled materials.

“Students should be leading this,” McRae said. “Instead of waiting for the school to do something, we need to be meeting them halfway.”

McRae enjoyed discussing the issue of recycling because it can

be looked at from so many different angles. He believes that a big portion of the problem lies in food waste.

“We need to start by getting rid of the big plates in the dining halls,” McRae said. “People won’t like it at first, but it is a known fact that smaller plates reduce portion size.

Plus, from a business approach, it would reduce labor and save money if less food was wasted. You have to talk about saving money to get big companies on board.”

While the Green Ambassadors have not implemented these specific ideas, they have been in contact with the Dining Commons about the issues of food waste and determining what could help reduce the amount of food being thrown out.

The issue of food waste is not unique to the university setting.

Food waste is the biggest issue for America as a whole, making up 22 percent of all landfill material, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

As far as getting more students engaged in recycling and waste management, McRae thinks that the answer lies in making the actual act of recycling more fun.

“I like the water bottle refill stations because it tells you how

Designed by Christaje Roach

many plastic bottles have been saved,” McRae said. “Having a counter on the recycling bins could be fun, plus students love competition.”

He also thinks encouraging campus organizations to compete to collect the most recyclables would help the cause and be fun for students involved.

This year, GS is on track to exceed the amount of recycling gathered last year. However representatives at the Center for Sustainability recognize that there are some things the university can aim to improve.

“Reducing contamination of the recycling stream is the biggest obstacle,” said Buckle-McCartney in an email. “We believe tackling contamination will have the biggest impact on the quantity recycled.”

Contamination is the main cause for rejection of materials from the university, said Buckle-McCartney.

While the receptacles for recycling are clearly labeled, many items are not put in the correct bin or they are left with food or other contamination present. When this happens, the item likely cannot be recycled due to improper disposal.

While recycling is an important step for sustainability efforts, it should not be the only method of helping the planet.

“We need to reduce and reuse before we recycle, so, again, recycling should be a last resort,” Leege said. “I mean we should solve the problem before we even have to get to recycling.”

As the Center for Sustainability works toward decreasing last year’s amount of waste produced, new programs and enhancements have come into play. The GS recycling program has continued to grow as staff have been trained on recycling on campus, and the school has invested in new equipment to collect and haul away the recycled materials.

Additionally, GS no longer uses food trays, disposable containers, or food with individual packaging in the dining halls. This act alone reduces food waste by up to 30 percent per

person said Buckle-McCartney.

The Center for Sustainability has put emphasis not just on improving campus, but also making an impact in the Statesboro community as a whole.

“In one year our Landscaping department kept 1.4 million pounds of wood waste out of the landfill, and it was reused on campus,” said BuckleMcCartney.

GS also uses a third party vendor to turn oil waste into biodiesel and other useful materials in order to keep harmful toxins out of landfills. Students and organizations on campus have also teamed up multiple times to donate food, clothes, household goods and bikes directly to charities within the city.

The Center for Sustainability is continuing to work to find ways to improve campus and get other students involved.

Students can reduce waste by carrying a reusable water bottle or cup and taking their own reusable bags to the grocery store. Stores like Food World even have the option of

buying things in bulk by taking your own containers to stock up. These actions help reduce the amount of plastic being used every day.

Every year the Center for Sustainability invites students and faculty to submit proposals for projects that would improve environmental sustainability on campus. For 2019, 15 requests were approved totalling at $226,997, according to the Center for Sustainability. These projects seek to improve the environment on campus in different ways. Some projects chosen aim to reduce energy usage, monitor and protect wildlife on campus, and reduce waste.

Every year GS sees new programs campus wide to help increase the amount of waste that is recycled.

These programs are important as they not only aim to make recycling easier, but also to educate students on the importance of living a sustainable life.

Now, it is the job of the students to take steps to help the planet. Small actions lead to big results.

By Savannah Savage-Johnson

Recycling vs.vs.

Landfill Materials Recycling Landfilled 5,000

recycled landfilled

2963.98

3,000 2,000

4112

4190

3925.5

4,000

1129.7

1205

1049.9

1,000 900 800

738

700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 2014/2015

2015/2016

2016/2017

2017/2018

Fiscal Year

REFLECTOR January 2020 | 29

Semester Sept. 10

Sept. 18

oCT. 10 Freshman Taylor Evans left her handprint on the “I ask for consent” wall to raise awareness at Georgia Southern’s Commit to Consent rally .

Students rallied and marched in protest of the book burning.

Oct. 18

Designed by Aminatta Mbow

The Farmer’s Market Festival featured many businesses in the community that sell local products.

Members of the Association of Latin American Students commemorated their home countries in their flag parade.

30 | REFLECTOR January 2 0 2 0

in Review

Photo by GS Athletics

OCt. 25 Photos by Kristen Ballard,, Isis Mayfield, Lauren Sabia, and Kaitlin Sells

Georgia Southern hosted its annual homecoming parade themed Cirque du Southern, featuring President Kyle Marrero with wife Jane Redding and daughter Lily and the Southern Pride Marching Band.

GS’s Athletic Department raised awareness for Suicide Prevention and honored the life of Jordan Wiggins during the game against New Mexico State.

OCt. 26

The lighting of sweetheart circle took place on featuring Santa Gus, ornament decorating and even snow.

Nov. 30 Georgia Southern defeated Georgia State in Paulson Stadium, sending the Eagles to the Cure Bowl.

Dec. 4

REFLECTOR January 2020 | 31

Which local Statesboro coffee shop should you go to?

What are you looking for, price-wise?

A. B. C. D.

3

On the cheaper side Moderately Priced I don’t mind if it’s a little pricey Price Doesn’t Matter

What aesthetic would you like your coffee shop to be?

A. B. C. D.

2

Homey Snug Relaxing Casual

MOSTLY A’s The Daily Grind

MOSTLY B’s Cool Beanz Espresso Bar

MOSTLY C’s Three Tree Coffee Roasters

MOSTLY D’s Ellianos 32 | REFLECTOR January 2 0 2 0

Why do you want to go to the coffee shop?

A. To study B. To grab a cup of coffee and maybe walk around downtown for a bit C. For the food/photo ops D. To hang out with friends

4

Which drink appeals most to you?

A. B. C. D.

Iced Coffee Hot Coffee Anything and Everything Frozen Coffee

Designed by Aminatta Mbow

1

REFLECTOR January 2020 | 33

MISSION STATEMENT In Spring of 2019, Miscellany Magazine of the Arts was reborn after three years of inactivity. The Editor-inChief of the George-Anne Reflector Magazine at the time worked to get the publication running again and hired an editor.

With this rebirth, the staff was a bit lost for a time, unsure of the exact purpose of the publication besides being a place to post student works maybe once a month if they were lucky. However, as the submissions rolled in, we realized that Miscellany

could become not just a publication but a collaboration platform.

Students would have a way to share their work publically and get input from anyone.

The Miscellany staff determined that the magazine would become a creative community for Georgia Southern students. It would connect them with the creative, from art to writing, and become a way for students to express themselves.

Miscellany now aims to promote the creative culture at our university and

I LOVE HER MORE ON AUTUMN NIGHTS Marci Delcampo Poem

they’re perfect for being together — cool enough to cuddle, yet warm enough to strip our bodies bare and lay there — your skin one with mine as your locks of golden sun tangle themselves in the webs of my fingers. i smile as your pale hands delicately trace the curves of my tan waist; your tiny breasts stuck to my wide chest, and your sweet, damp breath warming my neck with each soothing kiss. my cold, freshly manicured hands find warmth between your smooth legs, and i perform symphonies inside your body. the softness of your voice a crescendo, my tongue tuning your frame with all our muscles tense, aching; two bodies becoming one, orchestrating sounds of true love. a dolce movement of us, together, music taking form, releasing a grand finale of short moans and blissful panting, falling together like leaves between the sheets of a beautiful composition, and we lay there, in euphoria – out of breath.

34 | REFLECTOR January 2 0 2 0

inspire students to share their work and grow as creative people.

Our hope is that through community and collaboration we can reach our full potential as artists and as a university. A lot of promise exists in this new Miscellany to grow as a publication to serve students and nurture creativity. We strive to be a safe place where everyone and anyone can share their work and become better creators.

WAKE UP CALL FROM NANA Jonathan Baker Poem

I slept on a couch with board underneath and when I inhaled first morning breath it was sticky and sweet and comfortable.

Nana comes bull rushing through slamming and screaming her deaf way.

Rising with aching back I shake my oversized cousin (miraculously asleep) and rouse him from the loveseat he’s packed into like a can, I drag him to the kitchen.

Nana doesn’t eat breakfast but stands by the stove and watches us all.

She’s gearing up for the day yelling at my grandfather and throwing down silverware and glasses of milk.

We sit in the same chairs for twenty years Eating Pillsbury crescent rolls like communion cakes.

LETTERS

PAREIDOLIA

Hope Noelle Walker Poem Despite how hard I try, you are in everything. You are in the faces of strangers on the sidewalk and in the vines clinging to the brick wall of my apartment and in the clouds drifting above and in all the cracks of the pavement I walk on and you are even woven in the noodles of my soup. You are in my own reflection and in the shadows of my bedroom, and when I wake up in the night disoriented in a sleepy daze, I see you, and extend my hand out but instead of touching your face all my fingers do is reach for something that will never be there. I try not to think of you but you seem to slip into my subconscious, forcing your face to haunt me in everything I see and don’t you know that I can’t breathe and all you’re doing is reminding me that I’ll never be able to see or kiss or embrace you again, you’re squeezing my insides suffocating me and all I want to do is forget your face so I can just breathe again.

Aminatta Mbow Digital Art

THE SCIENCE OF WAR Trey Rhone Poem

I learned about Human Anatomy when I was seven years old. Not because I wanted to, but because it’s hard not to notice the body strewn all around the playground. Did you know that the small intestine is about twenty feet long? Learned that one when a mortar shell hit the local recreational center.

Gallbladders look like pears if you tilt your head a bit. I wish for times when I didn’t know that a human heart was roughly the size of a fist, or that the eyes and tongues swell after one passes, but that’s the price of freedom I suppose. They get pats on their patriotic backs while us kids are left to play on bloody swing sets and sandbox surrounded by the corpses soon to be cadavers.

OUT OF REACH Morgan Carr 2D Art

REFLECTOR January 2020 | 35

BECAUSE COLLEGE ISN'T JUST A PHASE, IT'S A LIFESTYLE

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