January 22, 2019
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Special Edition
Super Blood Moon
MLK Day reflections . . . pg. 2 Pop Addict returns . . . pg. 3
The Spectator | www.vsuspectator.com
January 23, 2018
VSU Reflects After MLK Day March Bryce Ethridge
News Editor bjethridge@valdosta.edu In 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said “I have a dream,” and on Jan. 21 that dream was realized sevenfold with the seventh Annual MLK Day March. The march was hosted by the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Mu Omicron Chapter, the VSU NAACP, and—for the first time ever—the Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion. It saw a count of at least 230 students, faculty, staff and community members overall attend much to Dakota Headley’s, host and Mu Omicron chapter secretary, consummation. “I expected a pretty good turnout for this, but just not quite as big as it did,” he said. “Like Lauren [co-host] said onstage, Martin has always symbolized unity and a sense of togetherness for us black people,” he said. “I believe as students and young folks coming together on campus to do things like this, it just shows what we really care about as far as civil rights go.” The march’s route usually goes from the Valdosta State University Center to the Student Union by way of West Brookwood Dr., N. Oak St. and the Student Union’s driveway. This year was different. Instead of going up the student Union’s driveway, the march went up N. Oak St., entering Langdale’s driveway and walking down the pedestrian mall until arriving at the Student Union steps. The march ended with a candle-light vigil and a moment of silence with a slight switch-up. Instead of dissipating, the march’s participants enjoyed a brunch afterwards, a benefit of the newfound school partnership. Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion Director Sandra Jones said the partnership was only a matter of time. “[The department] is not here to do something that’s going to conflict with what’s going on,” she said. “We want to support students, so it made sense to join them.” With a sponsored brunch also
came speaker and Chairman of the Lowndes County Democratic Party Gerone Anderson. His message: Learn from the past to ensure our future. “Our past is coming back to the future,” Anderson said. “The things that are happening now happened a long time ago, but Dr. King handled it a different way.” Anderson said the younger generation should look to the older generation to ascertain solutions. As for “Dr. King’s different way,” Anderson meant that not everything can be done alone, especially not bringing about equality. “We have to be ready as a race [but] we can’t just do everything as blacks only,” he said. “Even in the struggle back in the days of the Underground Railroad, white people helped a lot of blacks back then. It just wasn’t about blacks back then [so] it can’t just be about blacks now. Dr. King worked for everybody’s race not just blacks.” VSU NAACP President D’Layna Jonas said the NAACP and Mu Omicron’s decision to bring in the Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion was more than just sponsorship, but a beacon to students of all backgrounds.
“I believe as students and young folks coming together on campus to do things like this, it shows what we really care about ,” Jonas said she wanted to make sure students knew the march isn’t just for minorities, but a call to action for all. She said she was glad to see such a large and diverse
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Seth Willard/THESPECTATOR VSU students and staff come together in honor and remembrance of Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday. More than 200 students, faculty, staff and community members attend this march.
crowd attend. “Just to see how many people came out in the cold, it shows that they believe,” she said. Graduate student Walker Lee— a non-black student—said he resonated with that message and that he came out in support of his fellow students and community. “I wanted to show that there are people out there that are going to be supportive,” Lee said. This was Lee’s first time attending the MLK Day march and from it, he said he felt the heart of the community. “I got a message of love and support that no matter what is going on in our country or our school, we can all come together as a community, as a school, as a nation and just fight for equality for everybody,” he said. “Or just tiny things that we can do to change.” Martin Luther King Jr. Day is an annual holiday celebrating MLK’s birthday and legacy. The VSU NAACP and the Mu Omicron Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has hosted a march on the day of since 2012.
Seth Willard/THESPECTATOR A large and diverse crowd marching at VSU. No classes for the day, they come for something more important.
Valdosta battles homelessness VSU Crime: Criminally low Malia Thomas
Staff Writer maliathomas18@gmail.com Valdosta is bringing in the new year with a community service project: The Points in Time Homeless Count. The project involves city officials and volunteers to get a count of Valdosta’s homeless population. This year’s project will see the Georgia Department of Community Affairs spearheading the count by using mobile decices for surveys. Vanessa Flucas, coordinator for the Valdosta Neighborhood Development department, said Points in Time is a nationwide survey conducted through the federal Housing and Urban Development. “It records the homeless population and considers where these people slept and were housed on that day,” Flucas said. “That’s why it was named Points
in Time. It’s for where they were at that time.” Tyler Tucker, a community service coordinator at VSU, said the count has multiple purposes, such as collecting data, noting trends, planning strategies and obtaining grant money to fund solutions. According to Flucas, the city’s homeless count has gone down since Valdosta started conducting the Tucker survey in 2015. “The numbers have gone down,” Flucas said. “However, we have been counting those who are considered ‘precariously housed,’ and it does not provide a true reading.” “Precariously housed” refers to people without permanent living, but recieve assistance from shelters or other programs. It doesn’t include those sleeping in cars or those on the streets. It also doesn’t mean the number of home-
less in need of aid has lowered. “There are many organizations in Valdosta that fight for the homeless, such as Lowndes Associated Ministries for the People, South Georgia Partnership to End Homeless and the Salvation Army,” Flucas said. “The city does not get the grant money themselves. These programs apply for them and receive the money.” With funding, these programs can assist the affected by making care packages. The training for the homeless count will take place Jan. 26th, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the City Hall Annex . The official count will begin Jan. 28th at 6 p.m. and will last the whole week. To volunteer, contact Tucker at tetucker@ valdosta.edu or Flucas at vflucas@valdostacity.com.
Patrick Barry
Staff Writer bjethridge@valdosta.edu VSU ranked 211 out of all accredited universities in America for campus safety. Alarms.org ranked VSU’s safety based on the number of violent and property crimes on campus, as supplied by the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting and the Campus Safety Security Survey. This puts VSU in the top 8 percent of safest college campuses. The rates of nearly all on-campus crimes have decreased to promising numbers, per UPD’s annual disclosure of on-campus crime statistics. The report states that the UPD’s jurisdiction “extends 500 yards in every direction from any real property under the jurisdiction of the Board of Regents.” This means that there is a distinct difference between on-campus and off-campus
crimes, even if the property is under the jurisdiction of the UPD. Although off-campus crimes don’t factor into most national ranking systems, it’s still important to determine the safety of the surrounding area. Reports from 2017 startled many by presenting a 341 percent increase in part I—violent and property—crimes in the area immediately surrounding VSU. Yet, they don’t seem to be part of a trend. According to the Valdosta City Police Department, crime is down 14 percent for part I crimes. In 2018, burglary cases decreased by more than 100 cases compared to 2017. The department also reported a decrease in motor vehicle crimes by 40 cases. Interim Chief Leslie Manahan said the decrease comes from citizens’ growing sense of civic responsibility, awareness of
suspicious activity in their neighborhood, reporting that activity and the willingness to educate themselves on crime prevention. “We can’t be everywhere we need to be at one time, but people have been taking preventative steps, like setting up alarm and camera systems at their homes now,” Manahan said. “Citizens are coming forward and reporting things to us. We are seeing much more community engagement than previous years.” These statistics seem to signify an improvement in VSU’s crime rate. But students can take extra steps to combat crime on campus as well. Most crimes committed on campus are petty thefts. The simplest thing you can do to prevent theft is be aware of your belongings. If you see something suspicious, do not hesitate to contact UPD at 229-2595555.
The Spectator | www.vsuspectator.com
January 24, 2019
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“Carmen” to enthrall VSU audience Lenah Allen
Staff Writer lrallen@valdosta.edu
Last Saturday and Sunday, VSU’s opera students not only took the stage but also took their audience’s breath away when they performed the concert version of “Carmen.” “Carmen,” a tragic love story by Georges Bizet, premiered in 1875. The story takes place in Seville, Spain and follows a free-spirited gypsy woman who finds herself in a love triangle that results in a dramatic ending no one saw coming. Throughout the production, the audience encounters major themes like love, betrayal and tragedy. The main character, Carmen, longs for love and doesn’t care what she must do to get it. VSU graduate student Kimberly Milton showcased her mezzosoprano voice as Carmen, leaving everyone in awe. Lauryn Davis, a VSU sophomore and communication disorders major, attended the show and was blown away by the
amount of talent displayed. “Her voice was very mesmerizing,” Davis said. “When she came on stage for the first act, I was not expecting her voice to be so powerful.” But director and producer Dr. Tamara Hardesty knew “Carmen” could make an impact on its audience, and now was the time to put on the complex production. “We had the right cast for this opera,” Hardesty said. “We had a student that could fill the role of Carmen, which is a difficult role to cast.” Jordan Layne, a sophomore opera student and member of the ensemble, felt pleased with the performance and said that it impacted the audience in a positive way. “I feel it is always good to show an opera or some sort of classical to bring even more variety to what people normally see,” Layne said. “I’m really proud of how our show turned out.” The orchestra, conducted by Dr. Kenneth Kirk, left its mark on the stage as well. Musicians created
live music that flowed with every note the VSU Opera students sang. Since the opera was performed in French, a screen displayed behind the orchestra projected translations of each scene so that the audience could easily follow along with the story line. But that wasn’t the only thing easily seen. The opera students’ main job was to sing, but they also showed a lot of emotion while doing so, which made it more entertaining to observe. Hardesty believes that she met all her goals when it came to the execution of the production. “The reason we decided to do ‘Carmen’ was to give students a learning opportunity and an experience performing opera,” Hardesty said. “We also wanted to bring opera into the VSU.”With such a diverse theatrical department and its ability to put on shows like “Carmen,” one wonders what else the VSU Opera has in store for the future. Joshua Mazur and Makinsey Rosser performing a duet.
Mark Williams retires from VSU Kyle Grondin
Staff Writer kpgrondin@valdosta.edu
Pop Addict: Ariana vs. Soulja Boy Jacorey Moon Special Projects Manager jxmoon@valdosta.edu Hello to all of my pop addicts of VSU. It’s been quite some time since I’ve filled your teacup with fresh, steaming hot tea. So, I’m brewing up a batch of special oolong just for y’all. Ariana Grande has had a troublesome life for the last two years with one of her ex-boyfriends, Mac Miller, dying and breaking up with her ex-fiancé, Pete Davidson, shortly thereafter. Following a couple of fall smash hits, such as “thank u, next” and “imagine,” she was sure to be cemented as one of the pop girls to watch. On Jan. 18, Ariana released her next single, “7 rings,” and seemingly it has become a crowd favorite. While the song is a cute little bop, the true gem is the visual. For me, seeing Ariana in the set design of a trap house really made the song pop. But the fact that she was in a trap house also worked against her. The song features a rap flow that has been used in rap since about 2007. Since she used it, people of color on Twitter have been attacking her, saying that she is appropriating from the rap culture. I find this completely baseless and tactless. I find myself straddling the fence. To think that somebody can steal a universal flow and be called a thief for using said flow in a pop song, is illogical. People on social media have said that Ariana stole the flow
from Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em, and if you play “Pretty Boy Swag” with “7 rings” simultaneously, you will be able to hear the similarities. I think the only thing that’s really appealing, if anything, is the trap house motifs. I was hoping that Ariana would be able to make music without the judgement this next era, but it seems that everything will be getting worse for her. Either way, I hope that Ariana doesn’t let the naysayers get to her. Keep making bops Ariana. Speaking of Soulja Boy, he has entered 2019 speaking illusions of grandeur. During the second week of January, he went on a press tour discussing new music and his eponymous gaming business, “SouljaGame,” and became the laughing stock of the internet shortly after. While on this press run, he made very audacious but correct claims about his role in the music industry. But one statement, where he claimed to have “made Drake,” was incorrect. Now, anybody with a sparse interest in music knows that is not correct. If anything, it’s rude. But it’s also delusion. It’s time to move on, Soulja Boy. Yes, you were an icon at a point in time, and you did invent the Soundcloud rapper, but it’s time to move on, sweetie. And with this video game business, let that go, too. While sharing about his game console on his press tour, Soulja Boy decided to tell the specifics of his game system. The game system, in essence, is
a bootleg. It will house most of the games that we already play and own and bring it to us in a “convenient” platform. He said that it would have Super Mario games, Marvel games and even Fortnite. But Epic Games said that it will not be a part of that buffoonery and thus ended that story. Soulja Boy, did you really think that you were going to get on Al Gore’s internet and spread lies and think that it wouldn’t get back to people? Like, is your pinky rings on too tight? Is everything okay at home? I’m tired of talking about him. I’m placing Soulja Boy on the sick and shut-in list. Moving right along. Just a few other quick things: I’m not going to get into R. Kelly. Just know that over here, I’m not supporting and won’t ever again. If you are supporting him, congrats. If you’re not, thank you. Thank u, next topic. I know that everybody’s excited about Kamala Harris announcing she’s running for presidential candidacy. Research her before you sincerely vote for her. Donald Trump, your citizens are still suffering. At the time of this post, it has been 33 days since the government has been shut down. Thank you, Nancy Pelosi. Thank you for standing up for the American citizens. Here’s to hoping for a better 2019. Chile, that’s all I’ve got to make up for my second hiatus. Sorry, babies. Remember to check back here to get your teacup filled with more tea!
After 20 years as the Assistant Director of Alcohol and Other Drug Education, Mark Williams has decided to call it a career. VSU will hold a ceremony to celebrate his work on Friday. Along his journey to retirement, Williams has helped create a supportive culture in the Counseling Center and has made a lasting impact on his friends and colleagues. “Mark was such a kind person, one of the most honest and encouraging men you could ever interact with,” Dr. Tricia Hale, Director at the Counseling Center,
“One of the best things about Mark is that he is always willing to help you out.” said. “He was such a great asset to the Counseling Center because his ability to work with kids [whom] suffered with alcohol and drug abuse allowed us to focus on a lot of mental health students and even help find a connection between the two if necessary.” Williams joined the VSU staff after retiring from the Air Force, where he also worked as a substance abuse coordinator. He mentioned how a lot of his patients were around the same age group, which allowed a pretty seamless transition. “Teaching was the added bonus,” Williams said. “Being able to add the KARMA class program that I was able to teach, along with treatment of addictions, was something that allowed us to create more exposure to what we did
here at the Counseling Center.” KARMA, which is short for knowledge, awareness, respect, maturity and achievement, aims to educate students on how they can help others whom are struggling with issues like substance abuse, sexually-transmitted diseases and eating disorders. In addition to classes like KARMA, Williams’ overall personality made him a great person for the students he helped and the coworkers in his department. “One of the best things about Mark is that he is always willing to help you out,” Holly Wright, a counselor at the Counseling Center, said. “He has just done so much to help grow the center. From teaching and outreach programs he helped start, plus just being an active and supportive listener. He always told me to believe in myself and the work we do here, and I will miss the wisdom, experience and humor he provided every day.” Wright has known and worked with Williams for 12 years. While Williams has left feeling deeply satisfied with his time here at VSU, he wants to see the growth and outreach at the VSU Counseling Center continue to develop. “We’ve done a lot of great things to increase exposure at the Counseling Center, but we should always allow kids to remember they have people here to help them,” he said. “It is time we destigmatize mental health and substance abuse. Students shouldn’t feel ashamed to seek the help they need.” Williams’ retirement ceremony and plaque will be awarded in meeting room 1B, on the third floor of the Student Union from 2-3 p.m. He plans on savoring his last moments at VSU. “I have been blessed with gracious and caring coworkers and incredibly supportive supervision, and of course, great students. There is an energy on a college campus that you just don’t find anywhere else.”