September 12, 2013
W W W. V S U S P e C TAT O R . C O M
Inside This Issue - FeATUReS: “iPhone gets personal next week”
Blazer soccer starts conference play
- SPORTS: “Blazer volleyball remains perfect; ready for
See page 5 for more
- OPiNiONS: “GPA stunts student involvement”
VOLUMe 85 iSSUe 4
On the Web w w w. v s u s p e c ta t o r. c o m
Check out Jordan Barela’s story on Career Services!
weekend”
Today at VSU Student VeteranS of america - the Student Veterans of America will hold an informal meeting at 6 p.m. in the heritage room of the Student Union. the event will feature Valdosta fire Chief, J.d. rice.
Science Seminar - At 4 p.m. in Powell hall auditorium, Science Seminar will host dr. Chuck taylor from the department of Psychology to share his work entitled “rational decision making in irrational circumstances: the case of texting while driving”.
caB comedy Show CAB will host a comedy show in the Student Union ballroom at 5:30 p.m. the show will feature Comedian Justin Burkman. recruitment driVe Sigma Alpha iota will hold a recruitment drive in Student Union Conference room 2 at 6 p.m. Game niGht - natural high will host a free game night in the Student Union’s game room starting at 8 p.m.
Weather Today
Friday
Mostly Sunny 92 H 68 L
Student Life plans to New members enforce GPA policy elected to Senate SGA:
Jennifer Gleason Editor-in-ChiEf jlgleason@valdosta.edu
Last week, campus buzzed with rumors that student organization members would be required to have a 2.5 GPA to be involved. “that is, as many things in life are, just a rumor,” said Erin Sylvester, Greek Life assistant director for organizational development. the truth: Student Life is finally enforcing a policy in which members are required to have at least a 2.0 GPA, and student executive members are required to have at least a 2.5 GPA. the rumors followed a discussion at the mandatory student organization meetings tuesday, Sept. 3 and Wednesday, Sept. 4. “the only change is that we have never before provid-
ed a means to enforce this policy and beginning in January 2014 we will be providing that accountability,” Sylvester said. “(W)e will assist in grade collection and enforcement, but without releasing exact grades of students.” Sunday night, SGA President Will Jimerson started a debate on twitter asking students how they felt about a 2.5 GPA requirement. Monday, Jimerson sent a second tweet clarifying the GPA requirements. “i got clarification from the director of Student Life, robin Vickery, on Monday— after the twitter debate started—after it was announced wrong in the student organization meeting,” Jimerson said. regardless, many students weighed in on the debate overnight. “@wcjimerson think it’s a
great idea. Grades come first, everything else is secondary. if your grades aren’t in order, how can your org be?” @ms_rashae tweeted. not all replies were as positive. “(My) being involved in orgs is (what) helped me become who i am today, i wouldn’t want to take that from anyone just because they made a mistake,” @its_Granddaddy tweeted. for Student Life, the dilemma was risking student members for the sake of academic standards. “one of the things that we consider is what area must we give greater priority to?” Kirk Johnson, Student Life graduate assistant, said. “And, our first obligation is to ensure that we provide the kind of support system put in place where students have all S e e G PA , P a g e 2
Blazers beat FVSU, 36-21
Mostly Sunny 94 H 68 L
Saturday
Scattered T-Storms 89 H 67 L
9/11 Never Forget We at the Spectator remember the attacks on the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001. Our thoughts go out to those who were affected, and are still affected, from that day.
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Photos contributed by Dowling Payne/Blazer Pride
Quarterback Cayden Cochran (11) hands the ball to running back Austin Scott (23) during the 36-21 win over Fort Valley State last Saturday in Macon.
See page 6 for more on Blazer football’s second week.
Joe Adgie SoCiAL MEdiA Editor jmadgie@valdosta.edu
the SGA continued to fill its ranks on a night that also saw a refresher course on parliamentary procedure and the SGA fumbling on a decision to support the upcoming Mr. VSU pageant. in total, 20 new members of the SGA and one returning member, between the legislative and judicial branches, were sworn in on Monday night's weekly meeting including two graduate students, a student from Kazakhstan and two transfer students. these include 11 hopefuls who received the most votes in last week's freshman elections. 10 seats were available for freshmen, but there was a tie for 10th between Ladaisha Wilson and Breionna henry. Matt Lovelace, one of the two new graduate senators, explained why he wanted to join the SGA. “Graduate students don't really have a voice on this campus,” Lovelace said. “We do run your campus, for the most part. Graduate students are a huge portion of the population here. We have over 2,000 graduate students and very little representation.” one returning member of SGA is Micah howell, who ran unsuccessfully for the comptroller's seat during the last election. howell expressed intent to improve the rules of SGA elections, rules that came into question after the controversial elections last year. “A lot went on last year during our elections,” howell said. “i really would hate for anybody to go through that
again.” the SGA also had some confusion late in the meeting when trying to figure out whether or not to support the upcoming Mr. VSU pageant. the decision about whether to actually support the event or not was proposed to be tabled by senator Valencia Warren. the proposal would then be heard at a meeting of the Pr committee on Sept. 18, a proposal that was met with disapproval from new senator tamera dunn. “right now, it sounds like we're not willing to say what we're to give to our presenter, and that's making him wait another nine days,” dunn said. responding to dunn, heather Washington, senior senator, explained the proposal. “We're going to move to assist him, but the specifics are going to be outlined in the second meeting,” Washington said. due to the broadness of the initial proposal, Warren was unsure if the tabling was for the upcoming Pr meeting, or for the next SGA meeting. the presenter of the Mr. VSU proposal, Jeremiah Wiggins, demanded a yes-or-no answer right then and there, which he got, with the SGA voting unanimously in favor of supporting the pageant. Lovelace cleared up confusion about the tabling proposal by moving that the responsibilities regarding the Mr. VSU pageant would be delegated to the Pr committee. this too received a unanimous “yes” vote.
Outdoor classroom confuses students Hillary Straba S tA f f W r i t E r hlstraba@valdosta.edu
over the past few months, there have been numerous changes made to the VSU campus—new retainer gardens, flowering shrubs, art installations— but perhaps the most misunderstood addition to the campus has been the outdoor classroom behind West hall. Completed in August, the outdoor classroom is one of the larger improvements scheduled to take place on campus, costing around $45,000 to construct. Brett Ganas, assistant director of landscape and grounds at VSU and designer of the outdoor classroom, said that it was a response to a faculty request for an outdoor area in which to hold class sessions. dr. Ari Santas, professor of
philosophy and religious studies, is the faculty member who suggested the addition during a campus beautification sub-committee meeting, but he said he was not the first faculty member to mention it. “i’ve always liked to take my classes outside, yet even though VSU has a beautiful campus, there are not many places where one can take one’s classes where everyone can sit and discuss,” Santos said. “When Mr. Ganas was meeting with our committee upon taking over the position as head groundskeeper, i mentioned to him how nice it would be to incorporate outdoor classrooms into the landscape planning.” Previously, the area behind West hall was, as Ganas puts it, a “no-man’s land”—an area where students cut through, forming a visible trail in the grass from the
Ritsuki Miyazaki / The SPecTaToR
The outdoor classroom was constructed between West Hall and Nevins Hall, and has been used mainly as a sitting area by students.
constant foot traffic. this unattractive trail inspired Ganas to convert the area into something that was both beautiful and useful, and
the suggestion made by Santas was one way to accomplish that. “the outdoor classroom will provide faculty and stu-
dents with an alternative to traditional indoor study,” Ganas said. “it will be surSee OUTDOOR, Page 2
News
PAGE 2 | vSuSPEcTAToR.coM Outdoor Continued from Page 1 -rounded by trees with lots of color and landscape.” To many students, the lightly-colored cement semicircle looks like nothing more than another seating area for students to take a break between classes. “It looks like all the other architecture around VSU to me,” Dillon Swilley, junior middle grade education major, said. Another student said that the new space looks like a smoking area (this is perhaps due to the large cement ashtrays located near the space). Some students appeared surprised to learn what the space was intended to be. “I think it’s a great idea; however, I cannot figure out how on earth it’s a classroom,” Sarah Caldwell, junior psychology major, said. The space does not immediately invoke the idea of a classroom because it lacks proper seating and other classroom elements, so it easy to see how it could be misinterpreted. According to Santas, students are meant to sit on the wall-like seating that creates the back edge of the semi-circle, and the instructor is meant to stand in the middle
of the semi-circle. The outdoor classroom is one of many that Santas would like to see on campus in the future. He would like to see more strategically placed classrooms around campus, with the contractors and faculty members working together to ensure the space meets their specific academic needs depending on the subject of study. For example, for a biology class studying botany, the outdoor classroom would ideally be located in a more secluded, natural setting. Santas said that the existing outdoor classroom works well to meet his needs, but that its use should not be limited to holding classes. “It can be more of a multiuse space,” Santas said. To this point, no professor has yet reserved the space, which is open to anyone who wishes to use it. Like any other classroom on campus, groups must contact Event Services in order to reserve it. Santas said he feels the classroom in its present form is “a nice start.” He also said he would like to see more landscaping but that the space is great way to break out of the “dark cave of a classroom.”
SEPTEMBER 12, 2013
Police Briefs September 6 A female student reported some of her items were stolen by a VSU student off campus. September 8 A student's books were stolen from his room in Patterson Hall sometime between Friday and Sunday. A student in Lowndes Hall had his Xbox stolen, and reported that the thief has stolen items from other rooms, too. Two hours later, a different resident in Lowndes hall has had his Playstation stolen. A male reported to the University Police that items have been stolen from his room. September 9 Female has not seen her bicycle since Friday. Her bike
was parked at Sustella Parking Deck September 10 A caller reported that her friend had been assaulted by a black male. Offender left in a navy blue four door Mitsubishi. Offender was accompanied by another black male, no information on where they were going. Theft report filed regarding VSU textbooks that were stolen from the Psychology Building. September 11 Male reports his bike was stolen from the Odum Library bike rack some time on Tuesday night.
GPA Continued from Page 1 the tools so they can give the attention that they need to the academic part of the process.” Grades get diplomas. “They should at least give you a chance to bring (the GPA) up, especially if you’re doing a good job with the organization and maybe, you know, you got really involved in the organization and that was what was causing your GPA to slip,” Terri Harris, Deep Release Poetry Society president, said. Current students will not have their grades checked until the close of the spring 2014 semester, according to Sylvester.
“They should at
least give you a chance to bring (the GPA) up, especially if you’re doing a good job with the organization and maybe, you know, you got really involved in the organization and that was what was causing your GPA to slip.” -Terri Harris
Female reports her red and black Giant mountain bike was stolen from the Reade Hall bike rack on Tuesday.
HAPPY ‘TATOR DAY!
Upcoming Events Sept. 13 The VSU Planetarium will present its first show of the 2013-2014 season, IBEX: Pushing the Boundaries, on Friday, Sept. 13 at 7:00, 8:00, and 9:00 p.m. The planetarium will showcase the journey of the IBEX spacecraft, and Dr. Martha Leake will provide a presentation of the current Valdosta sky.
Sept. 16 Valdosta State University Police and the Department of Environmental and Occupational Safety will host a forum from 7-9 p.m., Monday, Sept. 16, in the Student Union Theatre. The forum will focus on basic crime prevention, personal safety, fire and life safety and emergency response.
From 9 p.m. till midnight CORE will host its annual “Cosmic Climb.” Combining music, movies, neon, blacklights and climbing; CORE is inviting students to wear the brightest clothes and go climb the rockwall in the VSU student gym.
VSU Study Abroad will be holding an information meeting in the University Center Rm.1144 from noon until 1 p.m. to advertise their upcoming program in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Alpha Phi Omega will be selling wings from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Palms Quad. Flavors will include BBQ, Hot and Lemon Pepper; and prices will range from $3.50 to $6.
Sept. 17 From 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 17 VSU’s Office of the President, Student Government Association, Academic Affairs, Odum Library, and Department of Social Work will host “Cookies and the Constitution. The event will be held in Palms Quad, near Langdale Hall, and will feature faculty, staff, and student volunteers conducting a public reading of the Constitution of the United States of America, free pocket Constitutions and cookies, and a bit of trivia fun with Constitutional Jeopardy.
The Blazer soccer team will play Union at 5 p.m. at the VSU Soccer Complex. Sept. 15 Last year’s parking permits from the 2012-2013 academic school year will expire on Monday, Sept.15. To avoid citations for expired parking permit, please renew your permit for the new academic year before the expiration date of Sept. 15. VSU Blazer’s will face off against Alabama Huntsville at 1 p.m. at the VSU Soccer Complex.
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Sept. 18 Phi Beta will be holding an information meeting in the Student Union Conference Room 2 at 8 p.m.
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septemBer 12, 2013
vsuspectator.com | page 3
Our point of view...
GPA stunts student involvement Sigh… If motivating students to join student organizations wasn’t hard enough, it has suddenly just become harder. Student Life is making a counterproductive move by choosing to enforce the 2.5 minimum GpA required for executive members starting next semester. To this point, the regulation has been on the books but not enforced. We can only assume what the administration motives are surrounding this however, they do not outweigh the potential setback organizations will face trying to replace those members. Obviously, these particular students may not be ahead in the classroom, but they are
vital contributors to their groups. Regular members (who are to maintain 2.0) with low GpA’s are undoubtedly more vulnerable to be less enthusiastic about committing to an organization, knowing the trivial obstacle facing them if they want to be promoted to a leadership position. The Spectator, for example, is burned in return as our executive members (editors) are forced to resign due to GpAs that waver on the line. did these members, who are committed to spending hours in the office putting together a paper and reporting around campus, see it coming? No way. The short notice for this
change is baffling, especially with the fact that significantly increasing GpA in one semester is highly unlikely. Those editors just like oth-
It is work outside of the classroom that will help us when we compete for jobs after graduation.
er departing executive members in other organizations leave now not because of lack of qualification or dedication.
for better or for worse, students who do not meet the requirement are being denied the opportunity to enhance their resumes with respected leadership roles. Is a student who has less than a 2.5 GpA any less qualified to make a difference on campus through an organization than a student who has a 2.5 or above? What about those with a 2.4? If they can graduate with that average, why not let them participate? Students shouldn’t be deprived of what they pay for in student activity fees because administration feels that raising the minimum is beneficial. Since when can’t average students be superior in some-
thing they are passionate about? Many student organization leaders will attest that being a leader and a student is a balancing act. We spend hours dedicating our time to our members, fellow leaders and the service we provide to the university. for many of leaders, like the editors at The Spectator, students who take on the executive roles are wholeheartedly committed. We are the members who found our place of belonging, our niche, with the organization of our choice. And for many organizations such as The Spectator, BlazefM, SGA and others not mentioned, this is our chance to have hands-on ex-
perience in a field we want to be members of later in our careers. Without the chance to have this hands-on experience, holding a diploma alone will not guarantee us jobs. It is work outside of the classroom that will help us when we compete for jobs after graduation. We understand the value of our educations, and the importance of our professors’ time spent teaching us in the classroom. But as executive members of a student organization, we also value our time as leaders and the work to which we have devoted countless sleepless nights.
This editorial was written by Eric Jackson (epjackson@valdosta.edu) and it expresses the general opinion of the editorial staff.
Lighting up freedom Stephen Cavallaro OpINIONS EdITOR sjcavallaro@valdosta.edu
Marijuana is lighting up the media once again, as supports for the legalization of the plant get fired up for future elections. Last year, I discussed how Washington and Colorado were the birthplace of a revolutionary breakthrough conceived in the name of freedom, when the sovereignty of these states chooses to allow the use and cultivation of marijuana within their borders. during that time 50% of Americans believed the use of marijuana should be made legal. Now, the results of a recent Huffington post poll have shown that 51% of Americans are in favor of legalization of the substance. The following ten states are preparing to take their predecessors’ initiative by placing the legalization of marijuana on the ballot by 2017: Alaska, Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon,
Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Major contenders of marijuana-policy hope that Marijuana will soon be treated as alcohol in these states. despite backlash from the biggest adversary to marijuana legalization, the justice department, marijuana is continuing to make breakthroughs across the nation. Over 300 Marijuana stores are preparing to open in Washington while In New Jersey, new legislation allows sick children to enjoy the health benefits of consuming the substance. Marijuana is prevailing against big government. Why? Because people are beginning to trust their own experiences on the matter and not propaganda purported by the government in order to carry out their agenda. Marijuana has been used for a plethora of reasons for thousands of years. Before states began exerting their power to push back the strain the federal govern-
ment has exerted upon them last year, Marijuana, while still illegal, was essentially left alone and is still used as widely today as it was in the 1980’s; now the substance has been condemned by the fdA, who denies that Marijuana is less toxic than alcohol and claims the ‘drug’ is a gateway to its own dangers. despite the fdA’s ruling, the active ingredient in Marijuana, dronabinol (THC), is on the fdA approved drug list. In addition, Marijuana consumption is an activity that 17% of students at VSU have savored in the past year. Many of these students will face severe charges if caught by campus officials. Marijuana is not likely to cause someone to act aggressively because it usually reacts with the consumer as a sedative, so why should these students be convicted for merely enjoying a plant that, according to gallup, 38% of Americans have tried? What are your thoughts on this issue? Send us a tweet at @vsuspectator.
People Poll What do you think about the new Apple iPhones? Ryan Thomas Exercise Physiology Major "I really don't know much about it, I'm more interested in the Samsung Galaxy 5."
Emily Fejedelen Exercise Physiology Major "I think the finger print option is cool!"
Lisa Dowden Nursing Major "I know it is different colors and thats cute!
Keysone XL, oil and water don’t mix Elan Waite S TA f f W R I T E R ewaite@valdosta.edu
The extension of a pipeline already in place has had many environmentalists up in arms. The proposal would allow pipelines to carry oil from Alberta Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. Though those who are for the pipeline say it will generate thousands of jobs and significant economic gains, the opposition claims that the weight of this extension on the environment is nowhere near acceptable. Many fear that the oil being transferred can spill out, leaking into the Ogallala Aquifer in Nebraska, which is a major water source for an
estimated twenty million citizens. Another concern is the harsh processing required for tar sand oil, which is different from the conventional crude oil processing method. With powerful allies on the opposing side like billionaire investor Tom Seyer, it seems as if the issue is far from having a simple yes or no resolution. The Canadian government is pushing to get this approved; however, they don’t necessarily need it. They have means of transporting the oil regardless of this extension. The need for jobs as
well as the promise of a stronger economy has many ready to jump onboard.
with the need to preserve and protect our planet. However, that’s not what
In a nutshell it has boiled down to one essential question: Economy or Environment? It’s a little disheartening to see people who ignore the possible side effects, especially with global warming and greenhouse gases as open to public forum and debate as it is now. In an ideal world there could be a compromise and we could find a way to combine the need for jobs
we are dealing with. An oil
Sports Editor: Eric Jackson Photo Editor: Ritsuki Miyazaki Multimedia Editor: Rebecka McAleer Web Designer: John preer Copy Editor: Olivia McLean Social Media Editor: Joe Adgie Faculty Advisers: dr. pat Miller, dr. Ted Geltner, Keith Warburg
the aquifer it would probably soften the blow and get a little more support. In an attempt to get some backing on the Keystone XL proposal, Canada has announced it will try and do more as far as the environment is concerned. We have to remember: oil and water just doesn’t mix.
Watch the NEW Video People Poll Online at : youtube.com/ValdostaSpectator
Spectator Staff Editor-in-Chief: Jennifer Gleason Managing Editor: Will Lewis Business Manager: Kristen Varney Advertising Manager: Aimee Napier Circulation Manager: Abbie Baggerly Opinions Editor: Stephen Cavallaro Features Editor: Sarah Turner
leak would be catastrophic. The one that occurred in Kalamazoo in 2010 is still being cleaned up and if one should occur with this line, it would be on a larger scale. Water and wildlife would be affected. flashes of baby birds covered in thick oil being scrubbed down with dawn come to mind. If we could keep the oil away from
Contacting Us Reporters/Photographers: Niamani Carlyle-Hollis, Cole Edwards, Allison Ericson, William Garrett, Brian Hickey, Eric Holley, Ivey Ingalls-Rubin, Ashley Johnson, LaShawn Oglesby, Steven Quinn, Lawrence Smith, John Stephen, Shane Thomas, Alex Tostado, Elan Waite, Victoria Johnson, Taylor Stone, Rosalynd Baggerly, Olivia Gear, Neil frawley, Khiry Clements, Jordan Barela, Jessica Cooke, Isaiah Smart, Essah Cole, david Lacy, Alexis Waters
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FeaTureS
PagE 4 | vSuSPEcTaToR.coM
SEPTEMBER 12, 2013
iPhone gets personal next week Microsoft, Samsung, Apple and Sony release new products Hello, SpecTech followers, and welcome to another wonderful Thursday. In this issue we have a lot to talk about from Samsung to Apple. Also, the Xbox One got a release date! You’ve been waiting for it. The Xbox One will release in the U.S. on Nov. 22 while the PS4 will release on Nov. 15. Samsung introduced us to the Samsung Galaxy Gear. What is the gear you ask? It is a “smartwatch” that can communicate with your Samsung Galaxy smartphone. It can relay text messages, answer calls, create reminders and, yes, even tell the time. It has a 1.9-megapixel camera for images and 10-second videos. There is no release date yet, but it will cost $299.
Now let’s talk Apple. Apple spoke more about iOS 7. As I said before, the operating system looks flat and very color-
Spec Tech with Steven Setser
ful. It has a better settings menu accessed by swiping up from the bottom of your phone. It also has smarter multitasking, a better notifications bar and Siri is smarter. Even smart enough to look things up on Twitter or Wikipedia. Apple users can download iOS 7 on September 18 but must have at least an iPhone 4, iPad 2, iPad Mini, or iPod Touch 5. As for new hardware,
Apple announced two new iPhones. First off the iPhone 5 is dead. Its replacement is the new iPhone 5C which is made of plastic and comes in green, blue, yellow, pink and white. It has mostly the same hardware as the iPhone 5, but it has a better camera. The iPhone 5C can be pre-ordered on September 13 and will release September 20 for all major carriers. The phone will cost $99 or $199 on contract or $549 without a contract. The other iPhone is the iPhone 5S. It looks like the iPhone 5 but also comes in gold. It has a new 64-bit A7-processor with a M7 motion chip. The M7 chip will help create a better fitness home for the iPhone, and NIKE has already created a health app for it.
There is a new home button on the 5S. It is the same size, but lacks the “square” on the device because it now has a fingerprint scanner. This will allow for better security with unlocking the phone or purchasing content from iTunes. It can remember multiple fingerprints too. The camera is also better with an f/2.2 aperture and a new dual “flesh tone” flash on the device. The iPhone 5S will also launch on September 20 with no pre-order available. The phone will cost $199, $29, or $399 at all four major U.S. carriers. Sony recently announced two rather interesting products, the Sony Cyber-shot QX100 and QX10. Now these sound like DSLR cameras, but they
are just lenses that attach to your phone. They can pair up with either NFC or Wi-Fi and the phone it is attached to runs an app to control the lens. The lens itself has a battery and microSD card slot so your phone’s battery and storage are not taken up. A release date was not announced, but pricing is between $250 and $400. That’s it for this week, Spectator readers. Here’s my question for you: Will you buy either of the iPhones or look for something else? Email your answers to smsetser@valdosta.edu.
For Setser’s full story, go to the Web Spectator!
Parents to see what VSU is all about Cole Edwards S TA F F W R I T E R
csedwards@valdosta.edu
Scan the QR code to read Allison Ericson’s ‘Miss VSU pageant returns’ story!
Tell Mom and Dad they can quit calling and come visit instead. VSU will be hosting its annual Parent’s Weekend event Sept. 20-21. Parent’s Weekend is a great opportunity for parents to spend time with their students on campus. The event allows parents to meet other parents as they join students, faculty and staff for a full weekend of barbecues, movies, football and more. “Parent’s Weekend offers a great variety of activities that
grow and change each year to keep parents wanting to come back,” Robin Vickery, director of Student Life, said. The event kicks off Sept. 20 with a 6-7:30 p.m. checkin that will allow guests to pick up their registration materials, event passes and a campus map. After check-in, a game night will be held in the Union Station. At 8 p.m., attendees have the opportunity to attend a fine-cuisine dinner and theatre performance at Bas Blue Brasserie. Tickets cost $40 for students and $50 for non-students and must be purchased through the College of the Arts Outreach Of-
fice at 229-333-2150. Friday night’s activities will conclude with a 9 p.m. showing of “Man of Steel” in the Student Union Theater. On Sept. 21, the day will start off with an Academic Expo at 9:30 a.m. in the Student Union. Faculty members and administrators from VSU and the Office of Academic Affairs will be on hand to provide information on resources and opportunities available to students. There will be a special southern-style buffet of barbecued and fried chicken for lunch. The bookstore will also be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. for visitors to purchase
collegiate souvenirs. Odum Library will also host library art tours featuring traditional and modern works by students and nationally known artists, and Nevins Hall will be running five planetarium shows exploring discoveries made by astronomers over the last four centuries. This all leads to the fifth annual Blazer Walk at 5:30 p.m., where participants will greet members of the Blazer football team as they make their way to the stadium for the 7 p.m. game against the Shorter Hawks. Parents may purchase general admission tickets at
http://vstateblazers.com and enter the code “parent” for a $5 discount. There will also be an encore showing of “Man of Steel” at 9 p.m. The registration fee for Parent’s Weekend is $25 for each participant. The fee covers all events in addition to lunch and a family photo button, but the dinner and theatre performance and football game cost extra. The last chance to register is by 3 p.m. tomorrow. For more information, contact Student Life at 229-333-5674.
SEPTEMBER 12, 2013
SportS
PagE 5 | vSuSPEcTaToR.coM
VSU women’s soccer kicks off conference play Alex Tostado s p o rt s w r i t e r
ajtostado@valdosta.edu
No. 25 Valdosta state women’s soccer team (2-0) begins its conference schedule this weekend at home against Union University (10-1) on Friday evening and Alabama-Huntsville (0-0-2) on sunday afternoon. the Blazers are nationally ranked for the first time in its young history. Head coach Mel Heinz has been working on increasing the confidence of her team as well as keeping them focused as they approach the weekend.
“there are a lot of kids that are having conversations with me,” Coach Heinz said. “they are not where they want to be… i think the wins helped everybody charge up and want more from what they have been giving.” Both UAH and UU are coming off rough seasons last year yet Coach Heinz wants her girls to still play their best. “As much as we are hoping for a cupcake game, it never seems to be the case,” Coach Heinz said. “we definitely have to make sure that if we are the more talented out there that we show it from the beginning to the end.” VsU beat both teams last
season by the same score of 1-0. Coach Heinz wants to set the tempo early and continue the winning streak by scoring more goals. “(Union) is a hard working team and i’m sure they are getting better, like everybody,” Coach Heinz said. “we have to make sure we set the tone and rhythm of the game and stay within our play.” the Blazers want to show everybody that they can compete in this conference. “Conference games you need to win bigger because anything can happen,” Coach Heinz said. one thing that Coach
“it’s just warmer so we practice a little earlier in the morning verses practicing in the afternoon,” Bell added. “i can tell that it’s different for our athletes, but i think it works out better that way for us.” Bell holds his practices six days a week at 6 a.m. but admits that his team is responding well to the change. “it takes a while for everyone to get going,” Bell said. “it’s an adjustment but they’re getting used to it.” Bell’s success extends past the realm of coaching. Bell was an All-American at seton Hall and competed in the 1996 U.s. olympic trials in the 1500 meters. “i think winning is just as much of a learning process as it is with ability,” Bell said. “i’ve been a part of winning programs my whole career. success breeds success.” Bell understands that his confidence may rub some the wrong way but the key, Bell says, is getting athletes that buy in. “with my athletes now, they want to win,” Bell said. “they have an attitude where they want to be good. i talk about it a lot and when ath-
letes hear you talk about winning, they just jump on board with that.” “My expectation is not an expectation that they don’t have for themselves,” Bell explained. “i just make sure that we talk about it a lot.” Bell believes his team will surprise this season and expects the team’s record to reflect accordingly. “Coming into this season, there are a lot of bright spots,” Bell said. “the guys’ team is a team that is going to be a surprise, not just in the Gulf south Conference but in the region.” `“we’re not regionally ranked yet—and i say yet because i think within the next couple of weeks, we’re gonna start seeing some rankings out of our guys’ team.” Bell’s goal with Valdosta state is to restore pride and tradition to the Blazer crosscountry team. “we’re going to win,” Bell said with a grin. “we’re going to bring back the pride and tradition that was here years before i arrived.”
Heinz points out is that the Blazers have depth on the bench, unlike last season. “i think that’s the difference for us from last year,” Coach Heinz said. we probably did not have that depth on the bench and we had to force people to stay out there longer than they needed to. why not put in fresh strength and let our starters get a good 10 minutes of rest and then halftime and then go again?” the coaching staff realizes that weekend games are tough to recover from but they accept the challenge of getting the players ready. “everybody (in the conference) is playing a Friday game and everybody is play-
New Cross Country coach brings elite experience in first season Shane Thomas s p o rt s w r i t e r
shanethomas@valdosta.edu
Valdosta state cross-country has a confident new leader this season as new head coach Clinton Bell takes over for departed todd smoot. Bell brings his decorated track record from Big east powerhouse pittsburgh, where he served as an assistant track and cross-country coach. “i’ve had the opportunity to be with some good programs,” Bell said. “whether it’s Division i or Division ii, i’ve taken a lot away from my experiences being involved with and trained by some of the top coaches in the nation.” 876 miles from his last job, Bell does not see his change of address as an adjustment thus far. “it’s only warm, that’s it,” Bell says laughingly. “other than that, i enjoy it. it’s not really a big transition for me. Coaching is coaching—no matter where you are. Valdosta has a great tradition of winning.”
Follow shane on twitter: itsathomasthing
Blazer volleyball remains perfect; ready for weekend Neil Frawley s p o rt s w r i t e r
ndfrawley@valdosta.com
it's always exciting when results equal expectations. it's even better when results exceed those expectations. though the volleyball season is only in its first week, it's hard to not be impressed by a 5-0 start. the VsU Lady Blazers are fresh off their home opener victory against the Albany state Golden rams in what was a 3-0 match sweep. A big congratulation goes out to first year head coach Mike swan for earning his first win in the pe Complex. “You always want to play well at home, or at least get a win, so people feel good about it when they leave,” swan said. “we had a nice crowd, so it's good to finish this off in 3 (games)." VsU came into this match charged up after having a successful weekend in Carrolton, Ga. where they competed in the west Georgia tournament. After weeks of preparing in preseason practices, the Blazers unleashed their potential by winning four games in a span of two days. in the four matches, VsU only lost 2 games, and finished every team off in four games. Following the success in the tournament, VsU was
charged and ready to go to face a struggling Albany state squad, who arrived with a record of 0-4. VsU quickly took advantage of the Golden ram's struggles by jumping out to a 12-2 lead within minutes of the start of the first game. Albany state fought to stay in the first game, making it a 21-18 contest, but would inevitably fall by a final score of 25-19. Game 3 had the most drama where VsU found themselves at a 13-7 deficit, their largest deficit of the entire contest. remaining composed, VsU roared back on a seven to one run to tie the score at 14-14, which would be extended to an eighteen to five run, which would leave VsU the victor with a score of 25-19. overall, VsU dominated in every offensive category. As a team they hit an impressive .407 percentage, with 39 assists compared to Albany state's 22. Jenna Kirkwood lead in hitting with a .571 hitting percentage, while Jessica Codato lead in assists with 39 who was tied with Ashley Lala for most digs at 7 apiece. the team will have an excellent chance to work on those kinks when they travel to Aiken, s.C. for the Aiken invitational thursday.
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ing a sunday game and that sunday game is really what brings out the character of your team,” Coach Heinz said. “that’s why we encourage our fitness to be where it needs to be. i think whichever team comes out strong, and can hopefully keep the momentum, will get the win.” the Blazers enjoy playing in front of its home crowd
and have only lost three games at home in the past two seasons. “our girls don’t like to lose, first off, and at home they know it’s not allowed,” Coach Heinz said. Follow Alex on twitter: @Alex_tostado12
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september 12, 2013
Blazers’ golf team prepared to tee off upcoming season Chris Webb s p o rt s w r i t e r
ctrswebb@aol.com
Dowling Payne/ Blazer Pride Quarterback Cayden Cochran scrambles during Saturday’s game against Fort Valley. Cochran finished with four total touchdowns in the 36-21 victory.
Bye week halts victory momentum Chris Kessler s p o rt s w r i t e r
ckessler@valdosta.edu
Valdosta state's season opening 36-21 victory put the team on the right track, but the Blazers won't get to take the field for another week due to their bye. the Blazers handled Fort Valley state convincingly. Despite the score, head coach David Dean was disappointed in the Blazers’ second half performance. “i thought we kinda lost a little bit of focus down the stretch, offensively and defensively. i was pleased because i thought we beat a pretty athletic football team and pretty much had the game in hand, but i think after the half we got a little bit complacent and if we want to get to where we want to be; we can't have complacency,
we have to finish off games.” on offense the Blazer's posted a total of 456 yards, led by senior quarterback Cayden Cochran, who threw for three touchdowns and had 285 yards through the air. However, Coach Dean was most impressed with his new offensive line's performance. “Having a new offensive line, guys that have never started, our quarterback wasn't sacked in that game, and you're talking about (Fort Valley state) that pressures every single snap,” Dean said. “we were able to keep Cayden off the ground, which is surely a positive.” Usually most football teams’ greatest improvement comes between week one and week two; for VsU it may come at a later time because of their bye week. “to me, it comes at a bad time. i would rather correct
those mistakes that we made last saturday and carry over to saturday. Now you have to sit and wait for another week, so i feel like we're going to be starting over against shorter and maybe the most improvement we're going to have is between shorter and Angelo state. i would much rather have this off week later on.” with their lone bye week being so early into the season, it could be a problem for VsU as the season goes on.
“
With the schedule we got down the stretch, it's going to be tough because there's a lot of physical football teams we’ve got to play
”
- head coach david dean
. “we'll manage it as we go, depending on how beat up we are and the team we're playing that week.At this level a couple injuries can hurt your football team. Hopefully we're not going to face that.” After their week off, the Blazers will play nine constitutive games, not including a possible playoff run. “we're going to have to be smart as we keep going down the stretch. we're going to have to rely on what we do on saturdays to as far as hitting and physical play, that's going to have to carry over to the next saturday because we're not going to be able to do a lot of it during the week,” Dean said. the Blazers (1-0) will be back in action on sept. 21 against Gulf south Conference rival shorter. Follow Chris on twitter: @ChrisLKessler
the Valdosta state University golf team is set to tee off their 2013-2014 season Monday, sept. 23 at the Jay Jennison Memorial. the event is set to take place at the palencia Club in st. Augustine, Fla., the par 72 layout features 7073 yards of golf. this will be the Blazers first appearance at the tournament since the 2011 season where they finished tied for fourth shooting a tournament total 891, just 27 strokes over par. VsU is returning only three players from last year’s team, juniors John Fordham, wheaton Hall, and lone senior Austin Graham. the Blazers will be trying to replace Cleveland Golf/srixon All-American scholar Nate Anderson who lead the team with 74.8 strokes per round average. to do so head coach Jared purvis is bringing in six new players this year, “to give [the team] more depth, and make things a little more competitive.” “with the guys we’ve added plus our returning guys” feels “there is definitely someone that can step
in and fill his shoes.” Highlighting the new class of players is Division i transfer Alex Jones from eastern Michigan. the team has also added two international players, freshman Derek roach from Canada and freshman Flo schmiedel from Germany. VsU will be looking to improve on last years total of seven top 10 finishes, and will start the season ranked 31st. (according to the Golf world/Nike Golf preseason Division ii College Coaches’ poll) the Blazers are scheduled to play in 10 tournaments this year including the First Federal southeastern Collegiate, which is played every March at Valdosta’s Kinderlou Forrest Golf Club.” “it’s a team with a very good chance this year,” purvis said. “this is probably the hardest working group i’ve seen here. outside of what i have them do these guys are spending a lot of time on their own because they know that’s what it takes to compete for a National Championship. their qualifying right now is very, very competitive and there are a lot of solid scores being shot…we have a chance to be very good, but only time will tell.”
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Kinderlou Forest golf club is home of the VSU golf team.
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