The Spectator - 3/12/2019

March 12, 2019

@vsu_spectator

@vsuspectator

Valdosta State Building Origins: A Spectator Investigation Photo by Seth Willard

Special Edition

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March 12, 2019

Meet the 2019 Spectator staff:

Juston Lewis Editor-in-Chief

Peyton Fletcher College Life Editor

Bryce Ethridge Content/News Editor

Leah Morton Copy Editor

Prince Robinson Sports Editor

justlewis@valdosta.edu

pdfletcher@valdosta.edu

bjethridge@valdosta.edu

kemorton@valdosta.edu

parobinson@valdosta.edu

Taylor Sutherland Distribution Editor

Seth Willard Multimedia Editor

Joshua Miller Social Media Editor

Robert Davison Enterprise Editor

Jacorey Moon Special Projects Editor

srwillard@valdosta.edu

joshmiller@valdosta.edu

radavison@valdosta.edu

jxmoon@valdosta.edu

Gerald Thomas, III Engagement Editor

Bethany Davis Graphic Designer

gdthomasiii@valdosta.edu

bethdavis@valdosta.edu

tmsutherland@valdosta.edu

Follow us on social media: Twitter: @vsuspectator Instagram: @vsuspectator Snapchat: @vsuthespectator

Website: www.vsuspectator.com

Come visit us on Wednesday nights at 5:30 in Hopper 1238

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Rings of Glory: Valdosta’s Professional Wrestling Circuit Patrick Barry

Staff Writer pjbarry@valdosta.edu Among the pantheon of American sports, professional wrestling is the estranged sibling. It is nebulous, somewhere between sport and artistic performance.

Its extravagance and exaggerated violence have been ceded to sitcoms and combat sports in terms of cable television, and it would seem the crest of the professional wrestling wave of the ‘80s and ‘90s has all but broken.

It would certainly seem that way, but at Mathis Auditorium in Valdosta, green and pink strobe lights still beat once a month to wrestlers’ walkout songs.

Before attending “Crossroads,” the Feb. 20 Spinebuster Championship Wrestling event in Valdosta, my vision of professional wrestling had been shaped mostly by my father’s secondhand accounts and the occasional World Wrestling Entertainment poster in a friend’s room.

I knew that stars like John Cena and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson had gotten their starts in the industry, but still, I had never considered it more than men in tights jumping on each other.

I was fully ignorant of the beauty, social power and technical intricacies of this wonderful phenomenon.

rest is history.”

History is rarely made easily. Before they could stand in the bright lights of the ring, they needed to put the hours in at the gym.

“You’ve got to work on your conditioning, your strength, and your cardio,” Johnston said.

A typical match is full of hyper complex moves that, if executed incorrectly, could easily seriously injure your opponent and not in the way you intend. Training and repetition are necessary to avoid injury. Nevertheless, the physical threat remains ever-present.

“Pretty much everything in there hurts,” said Jarius Smith, also known as J2Strong, Johnston’s tag-team partner. “Your body is not used to having another man pick you up and slam you on your back.”

This was evident as the event began. Wrestlers began bleeding, and it became more and more difficult to parse theatrics from reality. Smith would throw a particularly convincing kick, and it would appear to connect, only for the seemingly unaffected target to then slam Smith down on the mat with unrelenting force.

At some point in the melee, a metal beer keg was brought out.

It doesn’t matter how much you train, at the end of the day, a keg getting thrown at your head will never feel good.

‘Street Fighter’ David Ali shows off his championship belt to the audience.

But admitting ignorance was the first step. The next one was to learn. As one wrestler told me after his match did not go in his favor, “Once you stop learning something, in professional wrestling, you become stagnant. You cannot be complacent.”

That wrestler’s name was Proc “The Croc” Johnston, and before I sat with him in the dressing room at Mathis Auditorium, I had sat across from him in the University Center food court, in a chair much too small to contain his frame.

He’s an obviously powerful human being, an upperclassman at VSU with a lumberjack body cultivated from a combined football, powerlifting and gator-wrangling career.

He was introduced to the world of professional wrestling after promoter Preston Paradise, whose real name is Richie Wyers, realized that Johnston and his fraternity brother Hunter Mako had potential for excelling in the pro wrestling circuit after they attended a match.

“It was kind of just a spur of the moment thing,” Johnston said. “‘If you do it, I’ll do it.’ And the

The ring appears padded, but the padding does little to mitigate the effect of two human bodies slamming into each other. Hayden “Flash’n Cash” Price weighed in on the difficulty of battling Pure Goodness, a 400-plus-pound wrestler.

“People talk about ‘Oh, there’s padding and there’s this and there’s that,’” Price said. “Well, that padding is, what, a quarter inch? There’s the actual canvas, and there’s the padding, and under there is 2x4’s, and under there is steel. So, when you’re picking somebody up and slamming them on the floor, does that padding really do any justice? When I picked up Pure Goodness and gave him that spinebuster, do you think that was easy on him?”

On top of it all, the audience seemed to thirst for blood, each threat of legitimate injury adding to the fervor of the crowd.

After the dust had settled and the metal chairs, garbage can lids and lightsabers (yes, lightsabers) were stashed away, I sat down in the dressing room in front of an eclectic palette of wrestlers

Smith locks “Good Guy” in an arm hold while Johnston looks on approvingly.

to deconstruct what I had just witnessed.

“A lot of people see this on TV and don’t realize how much it takes,” Smith said. “You’ve got to be crazy to do this.”

It’s not entirely the fault of the viewer to harbor such misconceptions. Until very recently, pro wrestling circuits were very uptight about what goes on behind the scenes, striving to give their viewers a more immersive experience. For the most part, however, the wrestlers opened up about their life in the industry.

What I wanted to know was: “Why does anyone wrestle? What

Patrick Barry/THE SPECTATOR

is stopping this activity, with its ever-looming threat of injury, from fading into silent obscurity?”

If it’s one thing, it certainly is not the ease of the job. Smith tells me that eight out of every 10 trainees never return after the first training day, and the night’s events verified the activity’s difficulty.

“I think all of us have that one moment, during a match, when we’re like ‘Why am I doing this?’” Smith said.

But for those who weather the storm, the rewards are immense.

Johnston tells me that, for him, wrestling is more than competition. It is his performing art.

Winning and losing matches are secondary to winning the hearts and minds of the crowd.

“It’s my outlet,” Johnston said.

“It saved me before, when my parents were going through a divorce. Honestly, I want to be able to give that same feeling back to any kind of kid in the crowd that’s got something going on at school, a parent that might have something going on with a child.

If I can make them stop thinking about their problems for 12-20

minutes, then I’ve done my job in my heart. At the end of the day, we got to put on a show, or else we ain’t going to be wrestling in front of [anybody].”

Winning over the crowd isn’t difficult for Johnston and his tag team , Smith—they’re “baby faces,” good guys. They might not always win, but the audience will likely prefer them to the victor.

On the opposite side are “heels,” the antagonists. They will get constantly booed or harassed by the audience for their deceitful behavior, only to throw it back at them twofold.

David “Street Fighter” Ali is a heel and a half, gallivanting around the ring with self-righteous anger while simultaneously engaging in overtly deceitful tactics to gain the victory.

By using these character archetypes, along with many more minor and supporting ones, a wrestling promotion can create what is essentially a never-ending epic, in a uniquely American, comicbook-like fashion. The “good guys” may not always come out on top, but they will be lauded for their virtues, whereas the “bad guys” will be exposed for their vices. It’s a testament to humanity’s hunger for storytelling, in a highly consumable format.

It’s an art as chaotic and extravagant as the nation which popularized it. It’s a place where men, women and children are freely encouraged to shout insults at the performers and extreme violence underlines hilarious entertainment. It’s mixed martial arts with a personality.

That’s exactly what sets professional wrestling apart from other forms of sports entertainment, and what places it more on the track of bizarre performing art: the personality.

When I asked Johnston about how he developed his persona, he seemed confused. I was frequently met with incredulous eyes when I posed the question to other wrestlers.

For a moment, I was scared.

What had I done, exactly? Had I broken some unspoken wrestling rule? Had I dug too deep into this esoteric hidden culture? What happens now? Where would they bury my body?

Luckily, the wrestlers were very easygoing. Perhaps because they had just put on a great show, or perhaps because the industry itself requires an impromptu, clever personality. Either way, Johnston silenced the questions bubbling in my head.

“Really, this is me,” Johnston said. “I get out there, I see the crowd, I get amped up, and my personality just goes up to 11.

I mean, what you see is what you get. When I’m out there in

Patrick Barry/THE SPECTATOR

that ring, that is the exact person you see on the street. It’s not a persona.”

“Normal people don’t do this,” Smith said.

And it was true. They all felt a calling to wrestling, to express themselves in this epic show of personality that is halfway between Kabuki theatre and gladiatorial combat. It isn’t merely a career you have as a backup. For professional wrestlers, it is all or nothing.

Hayden Price has felt the calling in his blood since birth but could never place a finger on its origin. That is until the death of a first cousin he had never met, Conrad Eifram, better known by his ring name “Special Delivery Jones.” Eifram enjoyed a nearly 20-year career with the WWE (at the time, the WWF), until his death from a stroke in 2008.

Price cites his discovery of Eifram as his reason for wrestling and held strong to his dream through adversity.

All these people want to be doctors and firemen and policemen,” Price said. “Half of them don’t even make it there. But I just kept to my word. My parents would tell me ‘You want to be a professional wrestler? You’re just a young kid.’ But I’m 31 years old, and I’m still doing this. I’m doing exactly what I’ve wanted to do my whole entire life.”

For others, like Jarius Smith, the calling came in the form of a childhood promise.

Professional wrestling has become almost synonymous with video games, and the WWE alone has released 70 licensed games to date. As a young boy, Smith would play these games with one of his good friends, David, who got him hooked.

David eventually went off to join the Marines, but they didn’t part ways without a final goodbye.

“We made a promise to each other that one day I’ll be in WWE, go through the United States championship, and he will be at Tribute to the Troops,” Smith said. “I will be having the match; bad guys will be beating me. He will jump into the ring and help me win.”

David was deployed two months ago, and they both supply each other with frequent text updates on the status of their journeys.

Wrestling means something different to everyone involved, but it is undeniably powerful. The looks on their faces proves that.

The wrestlers walk around knowing that they are enveloped in a passionate, almost monastic way of life.

“I think the ring is sacred,” Johnston said. “That’s my cathedral.”

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‘We will not be silent’:

Theta Zeta sends a message Malia Thomas

Staff Writer malithomas@valdosta.edu “We will not be silent.”

Gabby Randolph, president of the Theta Zeta chapter of Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc., attests to this, as women still have an uphill battle to face before truly achieving equality.

Hosting the chapter’s third annual “Fight Like a Girl” Women’s March on March 8, International Women’s Day, Randolph and Sigma Lambda Gamma members, as well as other students, took the battle head-on.

“This march is so important to not only our chapter but women in general,” Randolph said. “Women, for all the amazing things we accomplish on a daily basis, are still not on par with the men.”

Theta Zeta feels it would be difficult to argue with that stance.

With about 15 students present, the protesters made the rounds along the pedestrian mall, Palms Dining area, the lawn and areas surrounding the Fine Arts and Communications buildings.

Chanting phrases like “No pay, no way,” “The future is female” and “Who runs the world? Girls,” marchers were met with general support, as spectators sometimes raised their fists or honked their horns in solidarity.

Randolph said she dislikes the fact some people don’t know about International Women’s Day, but she’s happy to raise awareness.

“Knowing that people do hear us and are actually listening is a step towards making an equal playing field,” Randolph said.

According to statistics by the United Nations, which Randolph pointed out, women may equal men in terms of population, but they still lack representation in national and world governments.

But that’s not all.

According to World Health Organization and Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, one in three women globally experience a form of physical and sexual violence based on their gender.

This also ties into the rise of honor killings, a term describing the murders of young women by their own family members because of a “dishonorable” action.

Male family members aren’t held

SGA: The Midterm Review Malia Thomas/ THESPECTATOR VSU students were invited to take part in the ‘Fight Like a Girl’ march on March 8 in honor of International Women’s Day.

to the same standard.

Several countries, such as Jordan, Syria, Iran and Egypt, vie for this as a defense in the court of law, according to the United Nations’ Human Rights Commission.

“It’s so much more than America, and people tend to forget that especially,” Randolph said. “That’s why it’s International Women’s Day and not National Women’s Day. It affects all of us.”

To empower its march, the Theta Zeta chapter decided to invite other students to draw up posters.

“It’s so much more than America and people tend to forget that.”

Gabby Randolph ∑ΛΓ President Many of the posters highlighted issues of feminism, consent, pay gaps, successful women of the past and modern era and Donald Trump’s infamous monologue about the female body.

Belinda Francois, a Theta Zeta member and junior psychology major, hoped these posters would make passersby think about a woman’s experience.

“As women, we go through so

much, and it’s so ridiculous,” she said. “It makes no sense we still have different wages for men and women who work the same job.”

Francois noted the trend of women being labeled difficult but also noted that because women know their worth, they demand respect.

She’s been a victim of this herself.

“For me personally, I have been seen as difficult at my job at Publix by my manager,” Francois said. “At my previous line of work, my male manager had a history of [allegedly] sexually harassing his female co-workers, and our female manager never believed anyone. It’s like the burden of proof is on women all the time as a society, and that’s not right.”

Even though the march was small and short, Randolph plans to do more events in March that tackle not only women’s issues but general human rights issues as well.

“We are planning on doing a lot of more student activities in the next week,” she said. “One I know for sure we are doing is our Rainbow Event on equality [on March 13]. Our other ones will be announced soon, but they will be fun and inclusive of everyone.”

For more information and updates on Theta Zeta’s events, contact members at vstategammas@gmail.com.

Theta Zeta can also be reached at @vstategammas on all social media platforms.

Malia Thomas/ THESPECTATOR VSU students show their support for women and the march with personally made billboards highlighting the issues that plague women all around the world.

Lenah Allen

Staff Writer lrallen@valdosta.edu During the past six weeks, Student Government has held many delegate meetings, has passed resolutions and has made decisions impacting the student body in a positive way. Members’ continuous efforts to make students heard has paid off in such a short time period.

SGA President Jacob Bell believes the organization should be focused mainly on students’ needs and any problems they may have.

“When we came in this year, what we declared was that SGA exist for one purpose, and the purpose is to make students feel heard and valued,” Bell said.

“Anything we were doing prior to that didn’t directly relate to making the students heard and valued, we’ve stopped doing.”

SGA started off the spring semester by showing its appreciation to the football team for winning the state championship.

Bell said that showing appreciation is a big part of what SGA does, which is why they’ve created a student extension for the “I Caught You Caring” program.

“We saw there was a need for students to be recognized for their acts as it relates to them going above and beyond for things that relate to citizenship, civility and integrity, which are a part of our Blazer Creed,” he said.

But the most impactful resolution, which SGA is still trying to get passed, is a change in the GPA policy.

The petition SGA created to help support its proposal has garnered over 1,400 signatures in just seven days.

“The biggest thing that our team has fought to do is create urgencies around it,” Bell said. “That’s why I’ve directly communicated with the student body about it and did the petition.”

The current GPA policy calculates all class grades, including failing classes, into the final GPA. SGA would like to implement the repeat-and-replace method, which states that the highest grade will be recorded into the final GPA. Caleb Smith, a senior environmental geoscience major, said it’s long overdue that the GPA policy be changed.

“I do think it’s a good thing,” he said. ”I just think that [VSU administrators] should take into consideration that if they’re going to introduce it this semester, then they need to give retroactive feedback for people who are actually pushing for it. “ Savanna Finney, a sophomore

psychology major, said the policy is a good thing for freshman and sophomore students.

“A lot of freshmen, especially, have a hard time transitioning when they first come in,” she said.

“I think it’s really good for when [freshmen mess] up, and they have that opportunity to really help their GPA.” SGA tried to develop a forgiveness GPA policy back in 2014, but the efforts to get it passed failed.

Bell hopes that this time around they’ll successfully pass it instead of waiting yet another year.

So far, SGA has passed several other resolutions, including the Step/Dance Space resolution, which now allows spaces like Oak Street Parking Deck to be reserved by organizations for practice.

D’Layna Jonas, president of NAACP, went to SGA personally about the issue and is thankful SGA was able to help.

“I feel as though SGA does an amazing job helping organizations with allocated funds and listening to students when they come with issues,” she said. “[SGA] worked day by day to make it possible that we can book those areas instead of when before we were not allowed to at all.”

“I think we’ve made [strides] this semester in how we market the program.”

Jacob Bell, SGA President Additionally, SGA is proud of how Blazer Allocation funds are being used.

SGA has handed out a total of $3,850 in allocations to organizations and students. Bell believes SGA made a lot of progress in the allocation process.

The next thing SGA plans to tackle is a resolution for the lack of visibility of the crosswalks.

Bell said it’s going to be a long process, but he’s ready to work to get it fixed.

“I see it as an urgent issue and something that has been allowed to go on for too long,” he said.

Although SGA has accomplished a lot within the six weeks, it still has a lot of time and work to put in to get more accomplishments under its belt.

March 12, 2019

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BUILDING

O G N I B do you know about the history of your campus buildings?

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March 12, 2019

Dr. Richard Holmes Powell (1875–June 2, 1947)

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Personal Bio: Dr. Powell was the first president of SGSNC. He was

elected in 1911 by the Board of Trustees and served from 1911–1933.

He was in the education system for many years and took pride in providing that education to his students.

Building Bio: Built in Gothic style, the building was originally

Powell Library, which hosted books, donated by other colleges, and artifacts for the college for 30 years before Odum Library was built. Powell Hall/Library was built by WPA funds and bids from the Roosevelt Administration. Completed in 1940, its estimated cost was around $65,000, including furniture. Eleanor Roosevelt, a distant cousin of third GSWC President Frank R. Reade, dedicated the building in 1940.

Quote: “If a man read little, he had need have much cunning, to seem to know that he doth not.” – Sir Frances Bacon, located at main entrance of Powell Hall —Jayla Trice

President Frank Robertson Reade (1895–1957) Personal Bio: Reade was VSC’s third president from 1935–1948.

After Dr. Pound’s death, Reade was appointed president, making improvements to facilities, curriculum and activities.

2

Building Bio: Previously “Senior Hall” (1957), Reade Hall is

currently one of the only halls located on the pedestrian mall. Reade Hall also houses students of the Honors College and the Pac-Man arcade game.

Quote: “His ability to retain both a student and faculty outlook

has smoothed over rough spots, helping to develop the morale and typically friendly atmosphere of the College which visitors are forever mentioning and attempting to define.” – Valdosta Daily Times, April 11, 1948

Interesting Fact: Reade paved campus roads and helped construct the Senior Hall dormitory, the swimming pool and bath house, the Student Activities Log Cabin and the library. Secretarial science and home economics were also added to classes.

—Kaitlyn Baich

3

Beatrice Irene Nevins (1900–1966) Personal Bio: Nevins was the head of VSC’s biology department

from 1936–1963, after coming to teach at GSWC in 1930. She had a strong passion for botany and aided Dr. C.E Allen in his eventual discovery of the first sex chromosomes in plants. Nevins was known for being a firm but caring instructor. She retired from VSC in 1962.

Building Bio: In 1968, Nevins Hall was dedicated in her honor. The total cost of the building was $1,063,452.

Why: Nevins Hall was dedicated for Nevins’ accomplishments and contribution to the biology department. Students and staff agreed that she was the perfect person to dedicate the building to.

Quote: “The best criticism is faint praise.”

Interesting Fact: Nevins tended to a small pond outside her classroom in West Hall. In it, she maintained live samples of local plants.

—Arelexus Brown

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March 12, 2019

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Captain James W. Patterson (1823–May 1862)

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Personal Bio: Capt. Patterson moved from Rhode Island to

Valdosta, where he practiced law until 1861.

Building Bio: Patterson Hall was approved on February 15, 1968. It was constructed in 1969 as a 300-bed men’s residence hall and is now a co-ed residence hall.

Why: Patterson Hall was simply named after the street it is located on.

Interesting Fact: Early in 1861, Capt. Patterson organized a company of infantry men, called the Lowndes Volunteers, and was elected captain. He and his troops left Valdosta by rail for Richmond, Virginia, where they joined nine other Georgia companies and formed the 12th Georgia Regiment, which was later sent to reinforce Gen. Robert S. Garnett in Northwest Virginia. On May 8, 1862, Confederate troops gained victory, but Capt. Patterson, along with 35 others, lost their lives to hold the Confederate lines. Total casualties in battle were 16 officers and 385 enlisted men.

—Hannah Colligan

Annie Powe Hopper (July 5, 1875–April 6, 1952) Personal Bio: Hopper served as Dean of Women from 1923–1943.

She came to GSWC in 1919 and worked as a training school critic teacher, high school principal and geography professor.

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Building Bio: Hopper Hall was originally dedicated Nov. 14, 1966

and was an all-women dormitory. It cost $705,391, featured two stories and housed 200 women. It was rededicated June 24, 2008, following renovations, which cost $21.9 million, added four stories and made room for 513 students.

Why: VSC President J. Ralph Thaxton requested the women’s

dormitory building be named after Hopper due to the great influence she exerted during her time at the college. He felt the naming to be “very fitting.”

Quote: “There is nothing to be afraid of except fear itself.” – Campus Canopy, 1941, vol. VII

Interesting Fact: In 1962, Hopper’s friends and family began

granting the Annie Powe Hopper Award to seniors who best exemplify Hopper’s ideals.

—Leah Morton

Marian E. Farbar, M.D. (1881–May 4, 1950)

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Personal Bio: Dr. Farbar was a doctor, missionary and acting physician at VSU during the 1930s and 1940s. In her twenties, she traveled to southern India as a medical missionary with a Baptist mission organization. She eventually returned to the U.S. and took on the role of resident physician at GSWC. Why: Dr. Farbar touched a lot of lives and was clearly very loved by

the community during her time here. Dr. Hugh Bailey dedicated the building to her during his tenure as president in the 1980s in regard to what an important figure she is in the university’s history.

Interesting Fact: Dr. Farbar was influenced by the culture she saw in India and was known for wearing Indian jewelry, clothing and headwear (including a turban) around campus. She owned a bike as her main means of travel and could be seen jetting around campus and Valdosta on it.

—Robert Davison

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

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7

Gertrude Gilmer Odum (March 8, 1890–Feb. 26, 1988)

Tommy Thomas (Jan. 1942–)

Personal Bio: Odum was an English professor at GSWC and VSC.

Personal Bio: Thomas was a pitcher and catcher for the VSC Rebels

Building Bio: After 50 years as Powell Library, the library was

Location Bio: Billy Grant Field at Tommy Thomas Park was named

She has had work published in “Georgia Fiction: 1926-1950” in Georgia Review (1951). remodeled and renamed as Odum Library in 1990. It has now seen three different remodels and has grown more than four times its original size.

Why: Odum was a “major benefactor of the University” for years, according to VSU Archives. Odum and her husband, John, had a scholarship name for them after they provided funds and donations to the university before they passed.

Interesting Fact: The first remodeling was in 1972, 32 years after

from 1958–1962 and a coach from 1968–2007. He won two GSC titles and a national championship in 1979.

after two VSU Athletics Hall of Fame coaches. Dr. Richard Carvajal and athletic director Herb Reinhard added Tommy Thomas Park to the field dedication in 2017.

Interesting Fact: Grant served as coach before Thomas and was the

athletic director during the 1979 National Championship. Thomas was inducted into the VSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2006 as the first and only player/coach inductee.

its initial construction. Then, in 2004, Odum Library expanded once again by adding the south side of the building, which cost just over $14 million. The most recent “touch-up” of the second and third floors on the north side was completed in January 2019.

—Paul Rose

—Ray Hannah

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Cornelius Raines “C.R.” Ashley, Sr. (Jan. 1858–Feb. 1926) Personal Bio: Ashley was an avid businessman, who served as mayor of Valdosta from 1900–1904, treasurer of the Board of Trustees and a member of the Lowndes County legislature. At one point, he owned the most property in Valdosta.

Building Bio: First constructed in 1921, Ashley Hall is one of VSU’s

oldest buildings. The original building had a dining room and kitchen, and the rotunda was used for numerous social functions. In 1942, it was dedicated as a chapel. It’s also been used as an all-women dormitory and student apartments but now holds administrative offices. Built as a dormitory for SGSNC, it was named Ashley Hall in 1923. The building was restored Nov. 5, 2012, costing $5.5 million and taking two years to complete.

Interesting Fact: Ashley Hall won the 2013 Sustainability Award for Historic Preservation.

—Ladaezjah Warrens

William Loraine Converse, Sr. (Feb. 6, 1857–Jan. 1957) Personal Bio: Converse was a Representative for Lowndes County

and advocate for SGSNC. He held position on the local school board, serving 18 years from 1910, and served for the Georgia House of Representatives from 1909–1912 and as state senator in 1913. He also served on SGSNC’s first Board of Trustees.

Building Bio: Converse Hall was completed in 1913 and was the only

building on campus for a time. It contained the dormitory, infirmary, classrooms, dining halls, chapel and social center, until a fire broke out on April 14, 1978. It was dealt major damage, but reconstruction began soon after, and the hall, now divided in two, was completed in 1981. In 2011, renovations began, but the building lost its name. VSU rededicated the building to Converse Hall after a battle with the family.

Quote: “I never had the opportunity to meet my grandfather, so my memories are tied to how he loved education and he loved Valdosta.”

– Marie Converse Smith, granddaughter of W.L. Converse, courtesy of Valdosta Daily Times

Interesting Fact: While one of the two Converse Hall buildings is currently defunct, the other is thriving with constant student traffic.

—Bryce Ethridge

March 12, 2019

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Gowns, Beautiful Gowns: Fashion month in review Jacorey Moon

Special Projects Manager jxmoon@valdosta.edu Fashion month is a time when the world sheds its old adornments and searches for the next big trend to embellish its majestic body with.

This February, nothing was out of the ordinary, including the designs. Now, don’t get me wrong.

I think the shows were decent and entertaining, but I also think that the fashion industry is losing its imagination and creativity. It seems fashion month has become an exhibit for what will sell the most, straying from appreciating the art of fashion.

Between the four weeks— New York, London, Milan and Paris—there were some stand-out shows. Here is where they will receive their acclaim for breathing creativity back into the fall/winter 2019 season.

New York is continuing to fizzle, losing more relevancy with each passing season. It doesn’t have that same sparkle that it once did, say, 15 years ago.

The best show from New York Fashion Week was Christian Siriano. His collection showed

what inclusivity in fashion should look. He used pliable fabrics that looked great on a size-2 model but made sure that the fabrics would look great on a size-12 to size-14 model as well.

Siriano has an impeccable imagination, but sometimes, that can be a disadvantage for him.

For a segment of the show, I was thinking, “Where is she going?

Is she going to space?” And then others, I completely understood where he was going with the garment.

Marc Jacobs gets the honorable mention for New York. For the past couple of seasons, Marc has been obsessed with oversized clothing, and this trend continued into this season. The styling of the collection was visually appealing.

Overall, this city wasn’t, dare I say, interesting. It seems to be decent in producing okay garments and experiences. New York Fashion Week needs a complete creative overhaul and more big designers to pick up the event and return it to its former glory. Honestly, New York Fashion Week might have to be dead in order to revive it. Here’s to wishful thinking.

London fashion is known for

being the creative hub of the fashion industry. Every season, there’s a new designer that debuts there and creates a big name for themselves within two or three seasons. But this season, some of its already developing designers made sure to retain their impact.

The best show from London Fashion Week was Richard Quinn. He understands patterns, techniques, drama and design.

Quinn understands how to dress a woman in a garment that emphasizes her silhouette, as well as adds dimensions to her body.

London Fashion Week continues to show the fashion industry why it’s such a crucial facet of the industry. London is the city of innovation and resurgence, and New York should take notice.

Milan Fashion Week is home to the flashy, edgy and effervescent.

Meaning, this city is where more of the over-the-top and borderline tacky—Dolce and Gabbana—lives and thrives. Milan is a cultural hub for fashion and hosts several designers that push the envelope on how far fashion can go.

With that being said, the best show for Milan Fashion Week was Prada. Yes, I know, the

problematic and sometimes drab fashion house has created, what I consider, a gem. The juxtaposition of grunge, luxury and sophistication tickles my fancy. It was an example of the ongoing ugly/ pretty trend in fashion now. Miuccia Prada, the brand’s creative director, has obviously done her homework and is paying attention to what her clientele wants.

The honorable mention for Milan is Max Mara. The collection was fresh and interesting and deserves a round of applause.

Especially the ending when they had this monochromatic moment with three models. Yes. Milan Fashion Week will always be around, simply because of the talent and legendary fashion houses that show in that city.

Keep up the good work, Milan.

Finally, Paris Fashion Week is the epitome of luxury, elegance and decadence. Paris houses a plethora of legendary fashion houses, i.e. Chanel, Louis Vuitton, etc., and flaunts it with a passion.

With such great labels and legacy, it is hard for new up-and-coming talent to be able to debut and get noticed.

With that said, the best show from Paris was Alexander Mc-

Queen. Sarah Burton has done a good job for the past nine years, picking up where Alexander McQueen left off. If nothing else, the fall/winter 2019 show proves that she has. Sarah understands the magnitude to which his dramatics and productions stood at. Sarah knows how to make the fabric dance and do the work for her, as well as let it contour the woman’s body effortlessly. The tailoring of the fitted suits was impeccable.

Those hard feats highlight why it was the best show.

As for honorable mention, Chanel made the cut for Paris. With it being the last show from Karl Lagerfeld, the brand’s recently deceased creative director, he made sure that it packed a punch.

It was tasteful, sophisticated and intriguing—what a fashion show should be. Thank you, Karl, for your work. Rest in peace.

So, there you have it. That’s my review for the Fall/Winter Women’s Ready-to-Wear show.

This season was a breath of fresh air in a time when the fashion industry seems like a scary place.

But that’s what art is supposed to do: transcend. And that’s exactly what this season did.

I love this look from Prada’s Fall 2019 collection. This look exemplifies Miuccia Prada’s ability to emrge the aesthetics of sophistication with grunge.

This look from Alexander McQueen’s Fall 2019 collection is my favorite because it mirrors the draping and ruching techniques of the 80s.

Photos courtesy of Getty Images and Shutterstock

Page 10

The Spectator | www.vsuspectator.com

March 12, 2019

Opinion: Making the most of your Spring Break Robert Davison Special Projects Editor radavison@valdosta.edu

Spring break is the worst possible time to slack off.

That’s right: the time that most students see as the great golden glimmer of hope in their syllabi, that sacred time reserved for trips to the beach or home, to stay up too late and sleep through the day, the American institution known as spring break; that time is the worst possible time to slack off.

Though it seems like sacrilege to say it, spring break is actually the best time to get a jump on the downhill stretch of your semester and create more time down the road for yourself to relax during its hectic latter half. Here’s a guide on how to maximize your spring break, so you can be productive and get some relaxation in, too.

During the week prior to the break, seek out any professors or advisers you need to speak with and get that out of the way. It can be tricky to navigate appointments during the rush of midterm exams, but you’ll feel better and be able to relax after you’ve done so. Check up on your grades to determine which class deserves some extra attention down the stretch. And before you finish your last official school day, purge your email inbox if you haven’t recently.

For your first weekend of spring break, set aside some time to clean your dorm, house or apartment, even if you’re going home for your break.

Now is one of the last times you know you’ll have the chance, so wash that mountain of dishes, do as many loads of laundry as it takes to remember what color your carpet is, and if you’re the partying type, get

all of the cans, solo cups, pizza boxes and/or furniture off the floor, roof, lawn and/or out of the swimming pool. When you’re done, you’ll feel great, and your roommates will owe you a couple favors you can cash in down the road.

During the same weekend or early in the week, study for upcoming assignments in all your classes. You’ve certainly got at least one professor you’re sure is determined to ruin your break, so do all their assignments now and steal their thunder. At this point, your momentum and productivity is too much to slow down. You’re on a roll, that’ll show ‘em.

And since you’re on such a roll, take a minute to think about some of the big picture things you’d like to get done.

Apply for any summer internships, network with professionals and other contacts you’ve

‘12 Seconds and 12 Steps’: VSU Raises awareness of sexual assault with Take Back the Night Arelexus Brown

Staff Writer arelbrown@valdosta.edu In 2019, we live in a highly cognizant society when it comes to sexual assault. With the #MeToo movement at its peak and the reckoning of high-profile assaulters, the public has been forced now more than ever to open its eyes to the things going on around it.

However, on a smaller scale, there is still much to be done about how sexual assault and violence is handled.

Especially in the places we occupy every day.

According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, 20-25 percent of college women are victims of forced sex during their time in college.

More than 90 percent of victims will not report the assault.

That’s why VSU held its annual Take Back the Night event on March 4. Sponsored by the VSU Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention Taskforce, the international event aims to raise awareness about sexual violence towards women.

Sexual assault activist Katie

Koestner was this year’s speaker.

Koestner made national headlines back in 1990 when she fought to bring about awareness of date rape after being raped by a fellow student at the College of William and Mary.

Daryl Lowe, assistant vice president and dean of students, introduced Koestner as “the person who showed what courage looked like when it was perfect and when it was not.”

At the time of Koestner’s assault, the world would have yet to understand the concept of date rape. In the 1990s, rape was a result of “stranger danger.”

“There had never been a case before mine in history,” Koestner said. “It didn’t have a name then.”

Rape didn’t happen by the hands of men that women found attractive or liked and trusted enough for dating—or so the world thought.

Koestner’s decision to come forward about her assault caused her to face public ridicule, harassment from classmates and a lack of support from her parents.

She recalls being torn between staying silent and resuming life without making a stir or “risking everything” and having her

voice heard.

“I had no money, no power and no prestige when I sought to change the world,” she said.

Koestner’s assault and activism has helped to bring the understanding of date rape into the mainstream and has cast a light on sexual violence on college campuses.

She strongly encourages students to be aware of potential situations that could lead to sexual assault and to be willing to “speak up” and intervene on the behalf of others.

“Silence will always be the easy way out,” Koestner said. “If you take 12 seconds and 12 steps, you could change someone’s life.”

Koestner remains optimistic of society’s push to rectify sexual violence and assault and encourages fellow survivors to not give up.

“When all of us are willing to do the right thing and not need the glory, we change the world,” she said.

Koestener is the current executive director of the Take Back the Night Foundation, as well as the executive director of Campus Outreach services.

South Georgia Film Festival Attracts International Audience Patrick Barry

Staff Writer pjbarry@valdosta.edu This year’s South Georgia Film Festival saw filmmakers from around the world crammed into Valdosta to share their films. The Student Union was transformed into a full festivalworthy viewing area, along with the Mass Media building, from March 1-3.

The films began showing early, beginning at 11 a.m. with a block of foreign short films, followed by high school productions. All the while, the third floor of the Union, which at this point had become a

full-blown convention center, hosted panels and workshops on video editing, networking and women in media.

Later, one of the festival’s five feature-length films took the screen. “My Life with Rosie,” which was directed by Dr. Angela Williamson, centers on civil rights icon Rosa Parks and her relationship with her first cousin, Carolyn Green.

Green is Dr. Williamson’s aunt and the inspiration for the film.

“When I first started the project, I wanted to focus on Aunt Carolyn and the work she’s been doing to keep Rosa Parks’ legacy alive,” Dr. Williamson said.

She expressed concern

for the application of civil rights in the modern world, where racial lines are not as explicitly drawn in the sand, and stressed the importance of continuing Parks’ legacy of compassion and acceptance.

“These women set a foundation for the future. I think it’s really important to know exactly what these women did and what it meant for them,” Williamson said.

Saturday kicked off with a series of panels and workshops and featured “How They Got Over,” the story of how African-American gospel quartets heavily influenced the modern rock and roll genre.

Some notable college-

made and do any other tasks that you know can beef up your resume.

At this point you’re probably part of the way through your break. If you’ve gotten all of the above done, and you wanted to take a beach trip, a day at the mall or just a day bingeing your favorite shows, do it. That Hawks game you’ve been saving up for? Now’s the time to go. That afternoon you wanted to spend planting flowers and playing with your dog?

Go for it. Being productive during your break doesn’t mean not having fun. It just means not wasting all the free time you’ve gotten.

As your break winds down, you might feel a sense of dread about heading back to school.

Take that as a sign that you should study just a little bit more, plan for your upcoming assignments and get back into “school mode” on Sunday evening. You’ll feel better if you do.

Finally, there’s a couple of things you SHOULDN’T do during your break. Don’t sleep too much and regret that your break feels like it flew by. Try to eat relatively healthy; indulge in your favorite foods but don’t overdo it. Don’t see it as a time to completely check out from Thursday evening through

Happy Birthday,

Dr. Seuss!

Dr. Seuss, born Theodor Seuss Geisel, was a name often heard in my childhood. It was through his rhymes and limericks that I first found myself paying attention to words.

And now, I’d like to pay back just a small amount of the debt I am in to this wonderful, imaginative man in honor of his birthday, March 2.

Happy 115th birthday, Dr. Seuss.

Dr. Seuss was my childhood’s father, My fantasy storybook author.

Born in 1904, Under the name Theodor, And Seuss Geisel came after.

Dr. Seuss was a poet and scholar.

Learned from what Dartmouth and Oxford could offer.

He took what he knew, Both English and ‘toons, And left with his bae, Helen Palmer.

Dr. Seuss was a writer and ‘toonist.

He made sure every publication knew this.

Published by Saturday Post, Earning more money than most, And the magazine “Judge” did him justice.

Dr. Seuss was too old for the draft.

Volunteered to fight Nazis with his craft.

Making magic motion picture A proper propaganda fixture, And teaching the Axis that they were daft.

Dr. Seuss was a child’s friend.

He taught them to comprehend.

Yet, a fact you might relate, Had no children, thought it great.

Once said, “You have ‘em; I’ll entertain ‘em.”

Was Dr. Seuss a man I knew?

The man behind “Horton Hears a Who”?

The painter behind the page?

“The Cat in the Hat” sage?

No, but not a day goes by that I haven’t wished to.

level films included “After Ashes,” a quirky conversation between an eccentric artist and Death during the apocalypse, and “Wendy,” the story of a young girl who overcomes the psychological constraints of her broken home on Halloween.

Later that night, after a seminar about the acoustic guitar’s influence in rock and roll, came “Cruel Hearts,” the second feature-film of the day.

This crime thriller was written and directed by Paul Osborne and stars Melora Hardin, also known as Jan Levinson in “The Office”.

After the film, a Q&A took place between the producers of the film and the audience.

Sunday, the final day of

the festival, featured two blocks of short films in both the open and college-level categories.

The awards ceremony was then held in the Student Union Theater, following a reverent silence for tragically passed colleague Karen Miranda.

Winners included “Rachel’s Pitch” for the high school category, “After Ashes” for the college category, “The Replacement” for best short film, “Cruel Hearts” for best feature and “Peggy” for Best of Fest.

The festival concluded with the final feature, “Wake Up,” a horror film by Joe Nowland.

March 12, 2019

The Spectator | www.vsuspectator.com

Page 11

Column: VSU Softball could be a heavy title favorite Kyle Grondin

Staff Writer kpgrondin@valdosta.edu Titletown may be adding more trophies to the case this spring.

The Lady Blazers, Division II’s fifth ranked team in the nation, is starting to resemble a real powerhouse, looking to accomplish back to back Gulf South Conference championships. After winning all five games in their first home stand of the season, VSU looks well equipped to exceed all expectations on the season.

Early in the year, VSU was somewhat overlooked, as they welcomed 13 new faces to the roster, many people expected to see a lot of regression, but they have looked dominant to start the year, going 16-3 as we just passed the first third of the season. The season has been capped with wins over teams currently ranked first and fourth in the country respectively, Southern Arkansas and North Georgia.

Courtesy of a strong pitching staff that has picked up many accolades to start the year, including multiple pitching of the week honors. The Lady Blazers boast three strong pitchers, senior Kasie Johnson, sophomore Caylie Van Auken and junior Giovanna Watts all proving capable of stepping in and pitching a gem.

Simply put, the Lady Blazers, in my opinion, have the strongest pitching staff in the country. They dominate most games, have shown an absolute command of the strike zone, leading the conference with 148 strikeouts

VSU Softball during their home opener versus Union on March 3.

to only an astonishing 13 walks, and have proven capable of single handedly winning ball games. With the talent on the staff it is proven that they can lead the team to a deep tournament run.

Not to be outdone, what sets this team apart however is the offense can also help win a lot of ball games.

The Blazer Bombers have shown throughout the year that they can come up with the big hits when necessary. They are pacing the conference

Photo Courtesy of VSU

with 24 home runs on the year, and are ranked 12 in the nation with 1.24 home runs per game.

Junior’s Jordenne Gaten and Haley Garrett set the tone for the lineup, leading the way with 5 and 4 home runs respectively, and at the top of the order, can help swing the momentum

in VSU’s favor right from the get go.

For this team to reach its potential, VSU will need to get more runners on base for their power bats.

For a team that generates so much power, their on base percentage and runs batted in are still only middle of the pack when it comes to conference statistics. But the pieces are in place, like junior’s Taylor Strickland and Dream Aaron, who get on base at 40 and 50 percent clips respectively. The goal will be to get more runners in scoring positions.

Going forward, the rest of the season will be crucial, with many conference games slated over the coming two months.

The biggest games of the season, however, will be a three game home series to start spring break March 16 and 17 against University of West Florida. UWF is currently ranked second in the nation, and seems to be the only real conference competitor to VSU’s dominance.

They hold a 21-1 record and have one of the strongest all around rosters in the country. Games will start at 3 and 5 p.m. on March 16 and 1 p.m. on March 17.

While many came into the season tepid, it is clear that VSU hasn’t missed a beat despite all of its new additions to the roster.

With a strong pitching staff and the power to back it up, fans can hope to see the black and red of the Lady Blazers competing in Denver come late May.

Justice, Morgan honored Prince Robinson Jr.

Sports Editor parobinson@valdosta.edu VSU backcourt tandem of Beau Justice and Winston Morgan were named to the 2018-19 Gulf South All-Conference teams, the league announced March 2.

This is the second-straight year that Justice has earned First Team honors.

Morgan was named to the Second Team.

Justice fell short of the GSC Player of the Year award, as West Georgia’s Marquill Smith won the honor. West Alabama head coach Allen Sharpe won GSC Coach of the Year, beating out VSU Head Coach Mike Helfer.

Justice finished last season as a National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-America honoree.

He scored a career-high 47 points

this season against Fort Valley State, marking the second-highest personal scoring total in the GSC this season.

He added 12 triples, as well.

Justice ranks No. 2 behind Smith in scoring with 21 points per game. In 91 career games, Justice has scored 1,672 points. He has made 248 triples in his career, which is No. 8 all time in the GSC. Morgan ranks No. 2 in scoring at 13.3 points per game for VSU. For the second straight year, Morgan could surpass 100 threes in a season. He leads the team with 98 this season shooting at 45 percent.

For his career, he has drained 204 triples and set the school-record for triples made last season with 106 for eighth in GSC history.

The Blazers defeated No. 8-seed Union University 92-76 in the quarterfinal round of the GSC Championship on March 5.

Cone’s execution Smith’s great home stretch leads to successes Smith cuts a piece of the net after Blazers win share of GSC title on Feb. 28.

Gerald Thomas III

Asst. Sports Editor gdthomasiii@valdosta.edu The transfer from Northeastern Mississippi Community College, Bryce Smith has been giving a muchneeded push to the Blazers late in the season as they surged into the Gulf South Conference tournament.

In the last two games against Auburn Montgomery and Union College, Smith has propelled himself into the spotlight, averaging 22.5 points per game and 7.5 rebounds.

Smith faced minor struggles early, averaging 5.3 points per game and 2.5 rebounds per game through the first twelve games of the season while not getting consistent minutes on the court.

“He tore his ACL last February and it takes a while for you to mentally get over that hurdle of coming back from surgery,” Head Coach Mike Helfer said. “He’s now over that hurdle and getting back to how he was playing before the injury.”

Coach Helfer then felt the need to shake things up and let Smith start for the next seven games, beginning in their Jan. 3 matchup against West

Florida.

Smith responded by averaging 12 points and seven rebounds during that span.

But a pattern then was discovered.

Smith was better as being the spark off the bench instead of being the big in the starting five.

Regulated back to the bench, Smith showed that he would ball regardless.

In the next ten games up to their March 5 GSC tournament matchup against Union, Smith averaged 15.7 points per game and 6.1 rebounds.

“I feel like I have to keep proving that no one guard me in the GSC,” Smith said. “I’m coming out every night and going to work.”

Let’s revisit some of his best games, though.

His coming out party: In the Blazers’ Feb. 9 game at Shorter, Smith went in full takeover mode, posting a career high 31 points and five rebounds.

GSC tournament pre-test: Smith, a junior, overshadowed his senior teammates on senior night against Auburn Montgomery. He posted a stat line of 28 points and 8 rebounds, while showing off his shooting touch, knocking down 3-4 three pointers.

It’s Game Time: In the quarterfi-

Photo Courtesy of VSU

nals matchup against Union, Smith came off the bench and backed Beau Justice’s 35-point performance with 17 of his own and snagged seven rebounds.

This game, Smith relied mostly on his post-up game and banged down low with the bigs.

“I feel like they weren’t aggressive in the post when they were guarding me, so I took advantage of it,” Smith said.

Jointing his 6-foot-9-inch size along with his shooting range and post-game, creates matchup nightmares for opposing teams as they do not know which Bryce they will face that night.

“He’s the ultimate mismatch. He can play on the perimeter and if you’re smaller than him, he’s scoring on the block, so we’re able to use him in any play style,” Helfer said.

This is exactly what the Blazers’ need as the GSC Semifinals are approaching along with the national tournament looming.

A team that was once married to Beau Justice’s success has now found their Robin and this is only the beginning as he has one more year to be a Blazer.

Kaitlyn Baich

Staff Writer kebaich@valdosta.edu From Soperton, Georgia to Valdosta, Georgia, the left-handed pitcher Tristan Cone has always has always had one goal in mind, playing baseball.

Since a young age, Cone has always studied the game of baseball with his father, Derek Cone.

With the help of technology, this made the two’s observations easier over the years.

While observing and playing, Cone learned mental aspects that would help him in different parts of his life.

“The mental aspect has helped me in baseball, school, and life,” Cone said. “To be out on the mound pitching, against another team who is trying to beat you, is a high-stake environment. You have to keep calm.

Your focus is the most important thing. In school, baseball has taught me time management and how to study effectively.”

Along with baseball, the education system played a role in Cone’s life growing up.

“My mom is a fourth grade teacher and my dad is an administrator,” Cone said. “Sports has always been a part

of my life. Me and my parents always watch any sport that’s on, from baseball, football, and tennis, to Olympic sports.”

Cone fell in love with the VSU community“I really enjoyed the campus and the city around it,” Cone said.

“Where I come from, the community has always been in full support of the athletics near them, and I felt that the same way here. I really enjoy the community life and how there’s numerous things to do here at VSU. Baseball does take up most of my time and I always enjoy being on the field with my teammates.”

Cone is a biology major and plans to become a professional baseball player.

His alternative is to continue his education to be a physician’s assistant.

Afterwards, he intends on being an orthopedic surgeon“I hope to become an orthopedic surgeon to help athletes decrease their chances of having a severe injury that hinders them in their sport,” Cone said.

Cone believes baseball has taught him a lesson in his life.

“In life, it helps me know that every day you may not have your best stuff, but you will be able to find ways to make things work,” Cone said.

March 12, 2019

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