Volume 87 Issue 2
SEPTEMBER 4, 2014
Inside This Issue
Volleyball opens season against Lady Rams, Flyers
- OPINIONS: Don’t use our tax dollars to support the Confederacy - FEATURES: ‘Boyhood’ excels
See page 6 for more
- SPORTS: Blazers open up against Albany
Today at VSU Einstein Bagel Grand Opening- VSU students can try out samples, win free prizes and try out VSU’S first Freestyle Coke Machine at the grand opening of the new Einsteins in the Health Sciences and Business Administration building on North Campus. Festivities start at 7:00 a.m. and go until 1:00 p.m. Bake Sale- NAACP is having a bake sale. It will be held in the Student Union from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
This Day in History Coast to Coast On this day, in 1951, President Harry S. Truman delivered the first transcontinental television broadcast. It was picked up by 87 stations in 47 cities, and he discussed the acceptance of a treaty that officially ended America’s postWorld War II occupation of Japan. Source: History.com
Weather Today PM T- Storms
Friday Scattered T- Storms
Saturday Scattered T- Storms
John Stephen
MANAGING EDITOR jsstephen@valdosta.edu Everyone has seen George W. Bush on a screen or in a paper, but now Valdostans will have the chance to see him in the flesh. In December, Bush will be the keynote speaker at Georgia Christian School’s annual Benefit Dinner, which will be held at VSU. GCS is a small, private institution in Valdosta that has a couple hundred students
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from grades pre-kindergarten to 12th, according to Private School Review’s website. Since GCS began having the Benefit Dinner in 2008 to raise money and awareness for the school, it has managed to land several notable speakers, such as former Arkansas governor and Fox News personality Mike Huckabee (2011), former First Lady Laura Bush (2012), and fourtime Super Bowl champion and sports commentator Terry Bradshaw (2013). Each year, the school tries
President won’t cancel Carson Cole Edwards
MULTIMEDIA EDITOR csedwards@valdosta.edu Due to overwhelming debate over a scheduled Sept. 11 appearance by Fox News personality Ben Carson at VSU, President William McKinney released a letter stating he supports Carson’s appearance and will not rescind the invitation. “Our public colleges and universities exist to serve the public good through the free and open exchange of ideas,” Dr. McKinney wrote. “Our purpose should be to keep our universities as open forums where civility, not censorship, governs the means by which we address those differences.” In 2013, Dr. Carson was hired as a Fox News commentator after serving for nearly 40 years as the director of pediatric surgery at John Hopkins, where he was a world-renowned neurosurgeon. He first came into the national consciousness when he criticized President Barack Obama’s health care policies during a speech at the 2013 National Prayer Breakfast. Recently, Dr. Carson began raising funds for a potential presidential candidacy in 2016. In his letter, Dr. McKinney stated that overwhelming
Check out Brittney Penland’s story, “New equipment to end overloaded servers,” on the web!
to top last year’s event with an even bigger speaker, and with “Dubya” booked, this year is no exception. It comes as no surprise that tickets and tables for GCS’s Benefit Dinners sell out rapidly. Details on this year’s dinner are shrouded in mystery. Among other things, the exact date, time and cost to attend remain unknown. Brad Lawson, GCS president, said he is not allowed to discuss the event due to security reasons.
“I would love to shout (about) it from the mountain tops, but can’t,” Lawson said. VSU’s Student Life office is handling preparations for the event, but Alisha Stabler, reservation coordinator for the Student Union, said she also could not comment on the dinner because it is not an official VSU event. What we do know is that when Laura Bush visited in 2012, sponsorships for the event ranged from a modest $500 to a hefty $15,000. A spot at this year’s din-
ner will most likely be even pricier. After Bush left the White House in 2009, he was paid an average fee Bush of $100,000$150,000 for each speech he delivered, according to iWatch News. GCS raised around $150,000 at their 2012 Benefit Dinner featuring Bush’s wife, Laura.
The Happening brings students out
ticket sales and sponsorships have more than covered Carson’s $43,000 fee and that all additional proceeds will Carson be donated to Valdosta Early College, the university’s collaboration with Valdosta City Schools. Dr. McKinney also recounted a controversy early in his career at Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania involving the placement of a bronze bust of Sigmund Freud with a revolver pointed up his left nostril. “I believe that all artists, researches, and speakers deserve to be heard,” Dr. McKinney writes, saying he argued in favor of the artist at the time. Carson’s appearance, funded through the dean of Harley Langdale, Jr. College of Business, was the result of a request from Beta Gamma Sigma, the premier honor society on campus recognizing business excellence. Dr. Carson withdrew from a commencement address at John Hopkins in 2013 after comments he made over gay marriage caused a backlash among students and faculty.
Carlin Morrison/THE SPECTATOR
Students patiently wait to challenge the rock wall on the front lawn during The Happening on Aug. 28.
See Carson, page 2
Students save with open textbooks STAFF WRITER kistroud@valdosta.edu
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Bush to come to Valdosta
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The University System of Georgia and college professors throughout the state are working to provide cheaper textbooks for students. The new Affordable Learning Georgia initiative will give students the opportunity to save big by supplying them with affordable textbook alternatives. ALG helps students by supporting Open Educational Resource’s want for the adoption, adaptation, creation and use of materials in GALILEO and USG libraries. According to Jeff Gallant, the ALG’s visiting program officer for open educational resources, the average annual student’s course material can cost upwards of $1,200.
However, with this program, students will be assigned open textbooks online, free of charge. Even if only one course took advantage of these textbooks, students will still save exponentially. “Open textbooks have the potential to save students $100 on average, per course, per semester,” Gallant said. “This means that even if every student had just one open textbook course per semester, this would save VSU students a total of over $2 million in just one year. “ It isn’t mandatory; it is solely the professors’ choice as to whether they agree to take part in the program. For years, professors throughout campus have been using their own resources to make nocost material for lectures or lesson plans. However, Gallant says that
they are more than welcome to take advantage of this new opportunity.
“
Open textbooks have the potential to save students $100 on average, per course, per semester.
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JEFF GALLANT “We would like as many of those instructors to contact ALG and let us know,” Gallant said. “We could help them make their materials even more widely available and therefore more impactful
for learners everywhere.” With open licensing, the books can be freely shared, adapted and implemented within school courses. OER allows both students and professors to use and reuse these materials. “Anyone from the USG can use the textbook and modify it for themselves for that core course ...You’re allowed to reuse, revise, remix and redistribute,” Deborah Van Petten, VSU’s reference collection coordinator, said. Some students seemed to agree with the idea when they were questioned about the program. However, others, like Carrington Ware, a 21-year-old art major, had a more neutral stance. “I personally wouldn’t
Sierra King/ THE SPECTATOR
like it,” Ware said. “I like to actually flip the page when I study. But it’s a free book, so I can’t argue with that.” Since this is a fairly new program, there are still a few kinks that need to be worked out. Though, judging by the progress that it has shown so far, it’s only a matter of time before ALG becomes the norm on college campuses throughout the state.
PAGE 2 | VSUSPECTATOR.COM Upcoming Events The Art Guild Meeting Sept. 5 4 p.m. UC Room 2101 (Printmaking Room) The first gathering of The Art Guild is for anyone interested in creating art or for those who simply appreciate it. This group aims to be a forum for artists to collaborate and draw inspiration from each other, regardless of major. Poetry Night Sept. 9 8 p.m. Jennett Lecture Hall 2211 Deep Release Poetry Society will be hosting another Open Mic Night for all poetry lovers.
Police Briefs Sept. 2nd A book bag was stolen in or near the Fine Arts building. A student’s bike was taken near Langdale Hall, and the lock was found on the ground. Aug. 31st A male filed a report for a stolen bike near the Centennial Hall bus stop. A blond-haired, tall, intoxicated white male, wearing a white T-shirt and black pants and soaking wet was seen wandering through Lowndes Hall. The male, 19, a non-student from Adel, Georgia, was arrested and charged with underage possession of alcohol. Aug. 30th
SEPTEMBER 4, 2014
SGA discusses meal plan abuse, Homecoming LaShawn Oglesby
STAFF WRITER lsoglesby@valdosta.edu Dining services and Homecoming were two of many topics discussed during the SGA meeting Tuesday night. The SGA had several faculty guests who attended to become better acquainted with the SGA and discuss their plans for the semester. They encouraged SGA’s input and help for many projects and ideas. Senators and attendees were allowed to ask questions, comment and make suggestions regarding all things brought up throughout the meeting. Along with dining and Homecoming, the meeting included safety awareness, the student handbook, senate applications, voting for judicial board, swearing in, SGA polo shirts and a recap of recent
Carson
Continued from page 1 A segment of the VSU community is uncomfortable with Dr. Carson appearing due to his outspoken conservative views on gay marriage and the Affordable Care Act. “Like Dr. McKinney, I believe in freedom of speech, but it becomes an ethical dilemma for me when a speaker creates a hostile environment for those who are already marginalized by our society,” said Tracy Woodard, director of women’s and gender studies at VSU. Dr. Woodard questioned the fairness in certain departments having the funds to have their views aired on campus while other views go unheard because of lack of funding.
Corrections In the article titled “Exprofessor’s letter causes stir” that ran in the Aug. 28 issue, a statement addressing
events (Bonfire Cookout and The Happening). The marketing director of dining services, Allison Mitchell, and resident district manager, Pete Harkness, were in attendance to inform the SGA of their dining advisory meetings, which are held the first Thursday of each month, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Harkness said that one or two SGA senators elected to be the committee representatives would help move things forward and bring SGA questions and concerns to the meetings. Meal periods were also discussed, with a few senators voicing their concern about not being able to re-enter dining halls to eat. “There was a few that ruined it for the many,” Harkness said. “There was a few people that were using their block plans or unlimited plan
by swiping multiple times during a meal and bringing friends in when they weren’t allowed to bring friends in.” In order to stop misuse of meal plans, dining services created meal blocks where students with meal plans can only swipe once during a meal period. Those with the unlimited meal plan must wait ten minutes before re-entering a dining hall after leaving. According to Mitchell and Harkness, the meal block schedule can be found on the dining website. Heather Proctor, VSU director of alumni relations, is overseeing Homecoming this semester. Homecoming will be held Oct. 20-25. Proctor revealed the homecoming logo, Ignite, and the theme, which is the 25th anniversary for the arts. There will be many events, such as the T-shirt exchange,
“I believe strongly in a just and equitable system,” Woodard said. “When only one side is heard and what is heard is controlled by the dominant group, that becomes very problematic in terms of equality and social justice.” McKinney said the funds for Dr. Carson’s appearance were privately raised. “My responsibility is to neither agree nor disagree with their choice of speaker,” Dr. McKinney said. Across campus, many students voiced support for Dr. McKinney’s position. “I’m fine with it,” Mikhail Keize, junior mass media major, said. “Everybody has their own opinions, and you can’t hold that against him.” Other students feel that disagreement is healthy. “We need to have a diver-
sity of voices at VSU, so it would be good for people to listen to a viewpoint they don’t necessarily agree with,” D’ante Gooden, sophomore chemistry major, said. Though the event is sold out, additional seating to watch Carson’s address in Jennett Hall, via HD live broadcast, is still available for $10 for general admission and $5 for students and can be purchased online at www. valdostastate.org/BenCarson. Dr. McKinney reiterated that free speech was at the heart of his decision to allow Carson’s appearance to go on. “Our responsibility at VSU is not to silence disagreement and dissent, but rather to provide for a safe, open, and public forum in which academic disagreements may be discussed,” McKinney said.
George’s academic freedom was incorrectly attributed to Dr. Hudson Rogers. In the same article, Reverend Floyd Rose’s name was incorrectly written as Rose Floyd.
In the same issue, a photo that ran with “A letter to the freshman” appeared courtesy of Bobby Lacey/Valdosta State University, unlike originally stated. In the same issue, “The search for the new ‘Blaze’ is on” wrongly reported that auditions are being held for a new VSU mascot.
A female student filed a report that her black Lincoln LS was keyed on the third level of Sustella Parking Deck.
president cookout and pep rally, Wild Adventures night and Blazer Pride Day. She also announced that VSU will be having a homecoming king this year. Thressea Boyd, VSU director of communications, was there to talk about a new safety awareness campaign. She wants the help of the SGA in its development. Sam, a cartoon squirrel, is the mascot of safety awareness. Anyone can follow Sam on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (VState_Sam), though he is geared toward students. Boyd discussed many ideas
for Sam, including introducing a villain for Sam later down the road and how to inform students about VSU and safety via tweets from Sam’s Twitter account. Promotional items such as cups, whistles and shirts were made available to all who attended the meeting. SGA later announced the four candidates for the judicial board who were all voted in by the senators after they each introduced themselves and said why they were interested in being on the board. They were then sworn in after a unanimous vote.
The sudoku grid consists of eighty-one squares in a nine by nine grid. To solve the sudoku, each square in the grid must contain a number between one and nine, with the folAnswers on Page 5 lowing conditions: * Each row of nine cells must contain each of the numbers from 1 to 9 once and only once. * Each column of nine cells must contain each of the numbers from 1 to 9 once and only once. * Each of the nine 3 by 3 boxes of nine cells must contain each of the numbers from 1 to 9
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Aug. 29th A bike was missing after a student left class at Bailey Science Center. Aug. 27th A female student reported that her “Education of Psychology” book was taken from a computer area at the north entrance of Odum Library.
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VSUSPECTATOR.COM | PAGE 3
SEPTEMBER 4, 2014
Brave journalists risk lives to report
Our point of view...
Don’t use our tax money to support the Confederacy
Kenzie Kesselring
Assistant Opinions Editor klkesselring@valdosta.edu Without frontline journalism, Americans would never be able to capture footage or gather information about conflicts overseas. The American journalists that were beheaded are heroic for serving time as frontline journalists in the war-torn country of Syria. When journalists go to another country to report the
news, they have to know the dangers that are waiting for them. They have to be aware of the culture they are walking into and they should know that not everyone is going to be happy about their presence. It is no one else’s responsibility to protect the journalist. Adult reporters are well aware of the dangers awaiting them in places like the Middle East, yet they still choose to accept their assignment there. News organizations shouldn’t shy away from
sending their reporters to dangerous places because it is their job to show Americans the full truth about what is going on in the world. If they just stopped, Americans would still attempt to get their global news from places that could be deemed unreliable. If American news organizations were to pull out of unstable war-torn countries, it would be easier for terrorist organizations, such as the Islamic State of Iraq and
Syria (ISIS), to be the source of global news for Americans and other civilians worldwide. Americans were shocked and upset by the videos released by ISIS. ISIS wants President Obama to end military operations in Iraq and it is common knowledge to Americans that our country doesn’t negotiate with terrorist. This conflict in Iraq is complicated and it is not something that can be ended overnight.
Give us time to get our textbooks Tatyana Phelps
Mike Lagon/THE SPECTATOR
Georgia taxpayers should not be forced to support the legacy of the Confederacy. This summer, sociologist and former VSU professor, Mark George, and Reverend Floyd Rose sent an open letter to Governor Nathan Deal and all Georgia legislators imploring them to do several things: stop endorsing Confederate events and holidays, stop managing Confederate sites and monuments, and change all state roads and highways named after Confederate leaders. Currently, Georgia observes two Confederate holidays: Robert E. Lee’s birthday (January 19) and Confederate Memorial Day (April 26). But what exactly are we celebrating? Many southerners would say that we’re celebrating their heritage. But a heritage that includes enslaving, brutalizing and dehuman-
izing millions of people only because of their skin color should not be celebrated, just as Germans shouldn’t (and don’t) celebrate the atrocities of their Nazi forefathers. If southerners choose to hold on to and celebrate the racist and regressive ideals of the Confederacy, Georgia’s government should not support or be associated with their actions in any way. Tax revenue can’t be used to commemorate a group that ravaged our country with war in order to retain their right to treat African-Americans as subhuman. No, history should not be erased, but it must be recounted accurately and responded to appropriately. Georgia’s government shouldn’t perpetuate the lie that the Confederacy is the glory of the South, when it actually only brings us shame.
This editorial was written by a member of the editorial staff and expresses the general opinion of The Spectator.
“Piled Higher and Deeper” by Jorge Cham www.phdcomics.com
Copy Editor tnphelps@valdosta.edu Each semester, teachers tell students which books they need for class and expect them to have the books on the first week. But refunds never go out as early as the first week of class. This is where the issue occurs. This semester, refunds won’t be released until Sept. 5 for students with direct deposit and Sept. 8 for students receiving it through the mail. That’s almost three weeks after the first day of class. Although many teachers don’t take this into consideration, there are some that do. Some teachers upload PDF files to BlazeView of which-
ever parts of the book are necessary for reading assignments during the first couple weeks, which gives students more time to get their books. But for students with teachers who don’t do this, what happens? Yes, students can transfer their excess funds to their FLEX accounts. However, this is the most expensive option there is. And unfortunately, money on students’ FLEX accounts can only be used on campus. Also, keep in mind that some students have to live off of their refunds, or at least what’s left of it after purchasing their books. A lot of times, students who don’t have their books when the semester starts team up with other students
Do something, Obama Jordan Hill
Opinions Editor jorhill@valdosta.edu President Barack Obama said he may need approval from Congress before handling the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria situation, to which he previously said he had no strategy for. That’s funny. Only a few months ago did the president make a 5-1 trade without the approval from Congress. After the beheading of two American journalists, President Obama spoke at a press conference and caused uproar when he said, “we don’t have a strategy yet.” We have no strategy to deal with ruthless men who are beheading our American citizens and then putting the videos up for the world to see? It seems that Mr. President needs to get his priorities in line. It’s understood that America does not take terrorists lightly and without retaliation—for example, the killing of Osama Bin Laden.
Obama wants to ensure that ISIS is “manageable.” How do you manage killers? In a time when our president should be making us feel safe and stressing how he is handling the situation, he is doing the worst job possible. In a side-by-side comparison between President Obama and Britain’s Prime Minister, David Cameron, discussing the threat of ISIS, Cameron seemed sincere, protective and determined to protect his citizens. Body language and confidence can mean a lot when you’re addressing a nation in fear. It’s understandable that this problem is much bigger than we see. It’s understandable that President Obama needs to work with others to create a solution. It’s not understandable that President Obama is leaving his citizens in a state of outrage and panic by telling us that he has no strategy to handle the people killing innocent Americans.
who do have the books to get their work done. This can be very helpful, especially for students who can’t afford to choose the FLEX route and have to wait for their refund deposit. But there’s nothing like the convenience and luxury of students having their own books to use whenever and for however long they want.
Jordan Hill/THE SPECTATOR
To relieve students from worrying about how or when they’ll be able to purchase their books, either all teachers should try to make readings accessible to students during the first couple weeks of class or teachers should just wait to assign readings until refunds are deposited.
People Poll: Do you think student employees should have health care supplied by the universities?
Stefon Mills Freshman Business administration “Of course! Of course. I believe solemnly that we should always have health care benefits.”
Abby Hardage Sophomore Biology “I think it would be helpful for some kind of health benefit, because there are things that I have to do.
Ikeiea Grant Junior Pre-nursing “Yeah I think that student employees should be provided health care because they are here most of the time.”
Austin McKenna Senior Finance “I believe they should if they are working more than 40 hours a week. That would give you a full work week, so then I do think you deserve health benefits for that.”
Student employees deserve healthcare Taymara Tait
Staff Writer tatait@valdosta.edu We have all seen student workers on campus, our peers who try their hardest to balance real life daily struggles and college life. Yet, there is a question one must ask: Should student employees be treated as real earning income workers who receive benefits such as healthcare? President Obama has brought that old
question back into consideration for student employees. There is a bill that might be passed for student workers regarding this issue. According to The Affordable Care Act, which begins in the year 2015, student employees who don’t meet the 30 hours a work week will not receive healthcare. This is not right. Students have a heavy load as it is. For many students, working is just the way of life. Some students
need their job while maintaining their busy lifestyles. Student employees are real employees. After all, working on a college campus is considered a job, is it not? The fact that lawmakers would exempt universities from this act is inconsiderate. Although it is argued it is not technically in the budget to provide student workers with such benefits as healthcare among universities, the thought should not be com-
pletely out of range. Every student employee is different. Not every student employee is under the age of 26, where most young adults choose to stay on their parents insurance. When it comes to student workers, if they reach over the 30 hour window as an employee, then it is only right they should receive benefits based on their status and not on their stigma of just being a working college kid.
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PAGE 4 | VSUSPECTATOR.COM
SEPTEMBER 4, 2014
Netflix expands streaming cache LaMarcus Wilkerson Staff Writer lkwilkerson@valdosta.edu
Photo Credit: Courtesy of IFC Productions Ellar Coltrane stars in the new film “Boyhood”, the story of a boy and his experiences between the ages of six and 18. The unique cinematic experience was filmed a few days each year over a period of 12 years.
‘Boyhood’ shows passage of time in faces of actors Cole Edwards
Multimedia Editor csedwards@valdosta.edu “Boyhood” is an extraordinary film about the ordinariness of life. Director Richard Linklater, known for art house gems such as “Slacker” and “Before Sunrise,” took 12 years to shoot his remarkable cast, who would meet to film three to four days each summer. As a result, the film is both effortless and complicated, much like life, perfectly capturing the essence of the human condition and the experience of growing up. The film follows the life of Texas kid Mason, played with astonishing certainty by Ellar Coltrane (cast when he was only six years old) in the developmental years from age seven to 19. The various events that unfold are simple, mundane, sometimes funny, often painful and at once as miserable and astonishing as life itself. During the film’s 164 minutes, we watch Mason and his sister Samantha (played by Linklater’s daughter) grow
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As a result, the film is both effortless and complicated, much like life, perfectly capturing the essence of the human condition and the experience of growing up.
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into young adults. Their estranged parents Olivia (Patricia Arquette) and Mason Sr. (Ethan Hawke) provide shaky guidance, since both still have some growing up of their own to do. Every 10 minutes or so, the movie suddenly jumps to the next year, evident by slight changes in Mason: a new haircut, deeper voice, different clothing style. Nothing particularly earthshattering ever occurs, yet it’s too enthralling to look away. As he grows, perhaps as a result of his strenuous home
life, Mason becomes quieter, more artistic, and increasingly philosophical. In a telling scene, he laments the rise of technology and the toll it’s taking on his love life. From Britney to Gaga, Bush to Obama, the film capitalizes on inescapable pop culture moments during the years of 2002 and 2013. Popular songs from the time period, including Sheryl Crow’s “Soak Up the Sun” and Kings of Leon’s “Use Somebody,” punctuate the film. Linklater had a rough vision when he began work on the film in 2002, but he could not have known for certain how his precocious young actors would change. Knowing this, it is incredible to see how seamlessly it all fits together. Though the film runs 2 hours, 45 minutes, it goes by all too quickly, much like boyhood itself, and the bittersweet feeling at the end leaves the audience yearning for more.
Transitioning from summer to fall fashion tips Tyra Mills
Web Editor tnmills@valdosta.edu As we all enjoyed our time off from our jobs and classes for Labor Day, I’m sure a lot of us didn’t even realize we took our first step towards fall weather. Though Valdosta weather is very moody and bipolar, you don’t want to be the one caught in shorts and flip flops in the middle of that cold, night time air. September is what I like to call the “transition” month, as we’re transitioning into colder weather. Here are some items you do not want to be caught without as we head toward cooler weather. Cardigans and sweaters are essential “staple” items we all need in our closets. Both can be worn in all types of weather. I’ve even been guilty of wearing sweaters in the summer for those wet, rainy days. Cardigans and sweaters can both be layered, worn
casually or for nightlife, and can pretty much go with any outfit. Seeing how Valdosta never is completely freezing outside, even in winter, these items are sure to keep you from wearing big, bulgy trench coats and heavy jackets. Ladies, you definitely should invest in tights and
the lower part of your head and neck. By wearing beanies, especially if you find a slouch beanie, it can keep your head, ears and the back of your neck warm. Plus, it will give you an “artsy, skater” look that will definitely score you some glances from the ladies! Of course for both genders
knee high socks this fall. As I stated before, Valdosta weather never really gets too cold, so I believe we can still wear our shorts year roun. However, I do suggest wearing tights or thigh-high socks with shorts just to give your legs some kind of barrier and warmth when it gets nippy outside. As for the guys, I especially think beanies should are your best friend around this time of year. There’s no need to wear baseball caps and “snapbacks” in the winter, as they do nothing for your ears and
we want to make sure we have jeans without rips and tears in them, a few long sleeve shirts and some closed toed shoes or boots. The worse thing that can happen to a young adult in college is catching the flu without the aid of your mother around, so dress smart and be stylish! Don’t let the cold catch you; instead, catch it by transitioning and slowly turning your summer apparel into fall greatness!
Stock up on popcorn for this month because Netflix is streaming new shows and movies. Streaming options will range from new entertaining TV series to aweinspiring movies. Netflix intends on supplying more options for its subscribers, so that their evenings will not be saturated in boredom. Netflix will add “Californication,” a series that presents the life of a writer who struggles to repair his damaged relationships with his family while trying to combat his addiction to sex and drugs. Netflix is also adding a Robin Williams classic,
“Flubber,” which will be a tribute for his recent passing last month. It’s a movie about a professor who discovers a super elastic and bouncy substance. And each day during September, Netflix will add something new to its streaming media. For those select few who don’t have a Netflix account, I am extremely concerned for your well-being. Netflix is a cheap on-demand streaming media that will help you overcome slopes of dreariness and gloominess. Netflix is an inexpensive online streaming media that allows its customers to view movies and shows whenever they want. If you have a significant other, family member or friend that wants to go out to
the movies and you are financially incapable of paying for the outing that week, suggest Netflix to them instead. Netflix costs $7.99 a month, which is cheaper on your pocket and the amount of movies you can watch is unlimited. Netflix is a great source to utilize because it is convenient and economical. So, for those of you who are couch potatoes and like to watch TV, consider Netflix as an option—especially if you want to save money.
must control the robotic arms with the assistance of a team of surgeon tech coordinators. The surgeon uses a system of joysticks and foot pedals to control the four arms and camera from an operating console. This multi-faceted design allows for a detailed system of checks and balances to
minimize the chances for accidents or malfunctions. Certain controls are fitted
offer some a safer alternative. In stark contrast to the traditional surgical method, the da Vinci robot performs the same procedure using a few small incisions that require a much shorter recovery time. This speedy recovery lessens this risk of other complications developing and allows the patient to get back to their lives much quicker. Those still concerned about the safety features can rest assured. Emergency failsafe buttons are stationed all around the machine that immediately eject all of the instruments installed in the robotic arms and shuts the entire system down. Perhaps the most interesting component of the system is the four robotic arms. The arms are designed to give the surgeon an extra dimension of dexterity and precision. Each arm can have a different tool installed and the status of those instruments is relayed in real time to the over-head touch screen display. High definition cameras provide the technicians and surgeons with detailed threedimensional feed throughout the procedure. This machine is effective only with the help of human
with a device similar to a dead man’s switch that locks down the machine if a live person isn’t presently handling it. For patients needing surgeries that require large incisions and long recovery periods like an abdominal hysterectomy, the da Vinci system could
surgeons. So in a way the da Vinci surgical system, no matter how complex, is just another tool at the surgeon’s disposal—an innovation to traditional medicine that blends modern robotic precision and patient-friendly methods.
SGMC hosts Da Vinci robot simulation for public John Preer
Features Editor jhpreer@valdosta.edu Humans are constantly innovating, evolving and improving upon previous models. The role robotics plays in the field of surgery has been a touchy subject for a while. Questions of ethics and human capability have been the fodder for scholarly debates about the feasibility of robot surgeons. The da Vinci surgical system seems to have found just the right balance of mechanical dexterity and human consciousness. The South Georgia Medical Center has been taking advantage of this cutting-edge technology for little over four years. “The proposal was submitted the previous year and we began using the da Vinci SI model in April of 2010,” said medical specialist Meghan Schunhoff. On Aug. 29 SGMC hosted a meet the robot demonstration in the front lobby. Visitors were given the opportunity to operate the da Vinci XI model to perform simulated procedures on an artificial abdomen-like model. The system utilizes a combination of finely tuned machines to perform minimally invasive surgeries for conditions ranging from hysterectomy to uterine fibrosis. “We use the da Vinci machine everyday here for a range of laparoscopic procedures,” said Precious Kelly, surgeon tech coordinator. In order for the machine to operate a trained surgeon
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This machine is effective only with the help of human surgeons. So in a way the da Vinci surgical system, no matter how complex, is just another tool at the surgeon’s disposal—an innovation to traditional medicine that blends modern robotic precision and patient-friendly methods.
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VSUSPECTATOR.COM | PAGE 5
SEPTEMBER 4, 2014
Blazers set to light up the night against Golden Rams
VSU to use dual QB system in season opener, O’Neal, backfield poised for outstanding season. Chris Webb
Sports Writer ctwebb@valdosta.edu September in Valdosta means one thing: football. After going 6-4, losing three of their last four games and missing the Division II football playoffs, Valdosta State is ready for a new season. “We aren’t really thinking back on last year,” Head Coach David Dean said about his team’s attitude entering the season. “We look at this as a new year and with only 11 returning starters, there is not very many of them that even remember all that.” The Blazers hope to get things started on the right foot this season when they welcome Albany State into Bazemore-Hyder Stadium for Saturday’s season opener at 7 p.m. Cedric O’Neal, pre-season All-American junior running back, will lead on offense this year. “The Awards are nice, but this is a team sport and without a good team behind you, those awards will never happen,” O’Neal said. Joining O’Neal for a third straight year in the backfield
is junior running back Austin Scott. “(They) have both looked really good in camp for us all summer,” Dean said. “Austin has been a little banged up, battling a pulled muscle in his leg, but I think he’ll be ready by Saturday.” Another impressive running back in camp is sophomore Nick Davis. “Nick has had a great camp as well,” said Dean. “We are just very fortunate to have a trio of outstanding running backs to hand the ball off to this year.” The offense looks to replace last year’s starting quarterback Cayden Cochran,
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We are just very fortunate to have a trio of outstanding running backs to hand the ball off to this year.
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Photo courtesy of VSU Athletics Junior running back Cederic O’Neal will lead the Blazers offense this season. VSU opens the season Saturday against Albany State.
and three leading receivers, Seantavius Jones, Regginald Lewis and Willie Downs. Jones, who led the team last year with 55 catches, 13 touchdowns and 777 yards, is currently a member on the New Orleans Saints practice squad. Chris Anderson is the lone returning starter at wide out. Joining him will be Roshmel Young, D’Amonte Ridley and Xay Howard. Junior transfer Shane Henderson joins the Blazers from Allan Hancock Junior College where he had 1,069 yards on 77 catches and seven touchdowns last season. Heading into Saturday’s season opener, Coach Dean will be using a dual quarter-
back system. Returning is last year’s backup, sophomore Kaleb Nobles, who finished the year with 967 yards and 12 touchdowns. Jake Medlock, senior transfer from Florida International University, will also be competing for the starting job. Medlock was FIU’s starting quarterback the past two seasons and threw for 3,049 yards with 17 touchdowns and eight interceptions during that time. “They are two totally different quarterbacks,” Dean said. “They each bring different things to the table that we like, but they are both great leaders that can make plays for us.”
Defensively, VSU will be looking to replace four of its top five tacklers from last year, including linebacker Chris Pope who finished his career with 372 tackles, a VSU and Gulf South Conference record. VSU is glad to have senior defensive end, Tevin Davis, back 100 percent after missing the last four games of the 2013 season with a broken toe. Davis will look to lead the defense under new Defensive Coordinator Bubba Walker. Walker has earned his promotion after serving as VSU’s linebacker coach since 2011. VSU’s defense must be ready for Albany State’s offense led by All-Southern
Intercollegiate Athletic Conference quarterback Frank Rivers, who threw for 2,000 yards and 19 touchdowns last season leading his team to a 6-4 record. This will be an early test for a young Blazers secondary that sees the return of only one of last year’s four starters, senior safety Isaiah Gresham. Sophomore Kenny Moore and junior Cameron Olds will most likely join Gresham in the secondary, and get big increases in playing time from last year. VSU has also brought in safety Duran Lowe, a senior transfer from Wake Forest, to strengthen and add depth to their secondary.
versity of Alabama, paying players would essentially make schools like Alabama the equivalent of the New York Yankees in Major League Baseball. The Yankees are notorious for acquiring the best players and having a bigger payroll than anyone else. We are talking about educational institutions here, not professional sports teams. Players transfer all the time. What happens if a player
wants to leave the school? Does it work like the NBA, where a team trading a player is still responsible for his salary for the duration of his contract? Would a university have to negotiate a buy out of a player and have the player pay the difference? Paying players only causes more problems that do not have easy solutions. Not everyone gets an opportunity to play college football or college basketball and those who do are not guaranteed to play in the NFL or the NBA. The reality that many ignore is that the institution is not there solely for athletics. There are people swimming in debt chasing their degrees that will never play a second in any col-
legiate sport. Those people are whom the university should be designed to help, not just athletes. Colleges and universities are in place for furthering education to prepare individuals to go out into the world as professionals in a variety of fields. Athletics is only a small piece of the puzzle so why should the educational system poten-
tially suffer because of it? If the NCAA decides to compensate players for benefitting from their play on the field, do so when they are no longer amateurs. Pay former players in the form of pensions. Both the NCAA and former players benefit and the educational system is no longer held hostage.
Do D-1 athletes deserve wages? You decide Shane Thomas
Sports Writer shanethomas@valdosta.edu “Show me the money” belongs in the movies, not on the field. On the surface, paying players sounds logical. After all, the NCAA and its institutions generate much of their revenue from athletic programs and subsequently, the athletes’ talents on the playing field. However, the term is student-athlete for a reason; individuals attending college are students first, athletes second. The concept of the student-athlete has been diminished due to lucrative television contracts and advertising for college football regular season, bowl games and the Final Four in college basketball. “Student-athlete” has become an umbrella term, different from its intended purpose. If college athletes are paid,
they are no longer students, at least in a traditional sense; they become employees. As an employee, they would be subject to the same regulations as faculty. The balance of power would change drastically as the instructors are paid to educate the students while the student-athletes would be paid to do what exactly? Given the amount of revenue generated by power schools such as the Uni-
Austin Wells
Sports Writer amwells@valdosta.edu Paying student-athletes is difficult to argue, but we must hear the different opinions. However, money talks and when you look at the revenue that schools make from athletics, it’s hard to say that the student-athletes competing and helping to bring that money in shouldn’t be a part of that revenue. According to Forbes, the University of Alabama made $143.3 million in athletic revenues in 2013. That’s more money than all 30 National Hockey League teams made and 25 of the 30 National Basketball Association teams made. Yet, the athletes competing for those teams are actually paid for their services while student-athletes receive no part of the millions their school makes off of their play and the merchandise of the team they’re playing for. Also, when the National
Collegiate Athletic Association was first founded in 1905, the argument against paying the student-athletes was that the coaches were not paid either. Today coaches are paid thousands, some of them millions just to coach. What about the young students, who go out and make huge commitments to playing a sport at their college? Don’t they deserve some sort of reward for their services as well? According to Forbes, the typical college football player puts in more than 43 hours of work a week (the typical American work week is 40 hours). This can be a huge strain on the players, especially considering they have to put in hours of work for their classes as well. In some cases, student-athletes will even miss classes in order to play a sport for their college. For example, the annual NCAA men’s basketball
tournament (known by many as “March Madness”) affects more than six days of classes. As a student myself, missing one day can put me behind. For a student-athlete having to commit so much of their time to both a sport and an education, having that education affected by their sport must be quite the burden. It’s a full commitment when a student decides to play a sport for their school. If student-athletes didn’t make that commitment, those millions of dollars that their schools made from just athletics wouldn’t be possible. To say that student-athletes should be paid like professional players is a stretch, but to say they don’t deserve anything for the time and effort they put in for the sport they play is a stretch in itself. It’s time for the NCAA to change their ways—it’s time to start paying student-athletes.
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PAGE 6 | VSUSPECTATOR.COM
Volleyball opens season against Lady Rams, Flyers Neil Frawley
SPORTS WRITER ndfrawley@valdosta.edu On Friday, six Blazers will begin their final season as collegiate athletes. But before we delve into the sentimental aspects of everything in their past, there are still 28 regular season matches and a post season to do what no other Lady Blazer volleyball team as done before: win a Gulf South Conference title. While head coach Mike Swan has been gifted the advantage of so much senior leadership, he believes that all of his players can be contributors from day one, regardless of age or class. “I think all six seniors have potential to be leaders for everybody to rally around,” Swan said. “And I think collectively as a group, hopefully, everyone can provide
the leadership we need when they’re on the court.” Swan and his players are using these last few days of the pre-season to be as ready as possible to start the season on a double-header. The first match will be against Albany State University, a team that VSU played twice last season, winning both in convincing fashion. But Swan never looks over an opponent and especially isn’t leaving anything to chance with this being the first game of the season. “Albany State always has athletic players,” said Swan. “They run an unorthodox offense. I think we can expect a lot of stuff to come back at us. Maybe that will get us out of our way of playing.” ASU, out of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, went 17-14 last and were picked to finish first in the Eastern division of their
New coach ready to open season Kristin Whitman
SPORTS WRITER krwhitman@valdosta.edu Valdosta State University women’s soccer team opens their season at North Georgia College Friday at 4 p.m. The team is looking to continue their success after their 10-0 win over South Georgia State College in their scrimmage on Wednesday, Aug. 27. First year head coach Rebecca Nolin was all smiles after the scrimmage and hopes to see the team play the same way, with as much intensity as they did at their practice game. “Everyone on this team has a duty and if they work hard and communicate, like they know how, I truly believe we will come out on top,” Nolin said. Senior Abbi Edwards plays as one of the forwards for the team this year. This is her fourth year with the women’s soccer team and she hopes for “big things” out of this team in their upcoming game. “I expect hard work and dedication out of these girls this year and I really think as a team we will succeed,” Edwards said. Looking to start out on the right foot, the team prepares for the game by having an intense week of practice. “If we play the ball and work together with all the talent that we have on this
team, I truly believe we will come home with a win against North Georgia,” Nolin said. This is an important game to start off the season with, and a big deal for the seniors of the team. “This is our last year and we have worked four years to make this program what it is,”
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conference this season. VSU’s other opponent, Lynn University, is less familiar to Swan, but not to VSU, who played Lynn every year between 2010 and 2012. In those years VSU lost twice in 3-0 matches, but won in 2011 3-2. “Lynn, I think, will be a very good opponent for the
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Edwards said. “I really hope we can start off with a win. I think we have all the potential to do so.” Even with the commanding win over SGSC, the Lady Blazers still look to improve with their communication and working on formations. “We could improve by tweaking some of our formations but all and all, we played an awesome scrimmage game and hope to bring this confidence and hard work to the first official game,” Nolin said.
has improved in that area since the pre-season began, a sloppy Labor Day practice, Swan says, may have taken the team a step back. “(We had) bad technique,” said Swan. “We’re being sloppy, and not making the appropriate footwork...just going back to old habits to try and be comfortable.
Photo courtesy of Paul Leavy of Valdosta State University From left to right: Brittany Smith, Jessica Codato, Destiny Berry, Jenna Kirkwood, Krista Bradford, and Ashley Lala. The six seniors are looking to win VSU’s first GSC volleyball title.
Upcoming Soccer games Fri, Sept. 12 @ Palm Beach Atlantic Sun. Sept. 14 @ Florida Tech Fri. Sept. 19 Christian Brothers Sun. Sept. 21 @ Delta State Fri. Sept. 26 @ Shorter Sun. Sept. 28 Lee
If we play the ball and work together with all the talent that we have on this team, I truly believe we will come home with a win against North Georgia.
first weekend,” said Swan. “They always have a really good program there.” But before his squad gets to Friday, Swan is mostly focused on his team’s performance in practice. He has been stressing to his team that their service must improve, and that it cost them matches a season ago. While the team
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“I’m hoping today was a fluke, and that… we will be much better.” It’s also possible that practicing against themselves for the past three weeks has the team amped to see some new competition on the other side of the net. While the pre-season can help build fundamentals and give coaches the chance to endorse their gamelans, the competitiveness and intensity cannot match that of a real competition. “I think the girls are looking forward to seeing somebody else on the other side of the net, rather than each other,” said Swan. “That will hopefully get it a lot more competitive and engaged more than just practicing against your own team.” The action begins at 3:30 p.m. Friday against ASU, followed by the LU match set for 6 p.m. in the PE Complex.
VSU rugby club to hold car wash fundraiser Lia Armistead
SPORTS WRITER jparmistead@valdosta.edu The Valdosta State Rugby Club is having a car wash Saturday, Sept. 6 at 9 a.m. in the Lucky’s parking lot off Baytree Road to raise money for their spring season. According to Max Mundel, the team has been very successful in raising money from the car wash in the past. Last semester the club raised between $400 and $500 at a carwash. The proceeds went toward their travel funds. The car wash is free, however, but the team will be accepting donations.
After going to the national championship for the first time and placing third out of over 200 teams from across the nation, the rugby team has high hopes for recruiting and bringing more awareness to the club. According to Mundel, the team is always interested in new members, even if it is the first time playing, hence, the reason behind their saying “WE TRAIN, WE WIN.” The team works out at the student rec center, which is where they find many of their new recruits. According to Mundel, it’s the most successful form of recruitment. The team increases aware-
ness through word of mouth and fundraisers, such as the car wash, that they put on once a semester in order to gain fans, players and funds for the season. Most of the more experienced players started off playing rugby for the first time at VSU, so not knowing how to play is not an issue. As a student-run organization, the VSU rugby club is a great way for students to meet new people and to learn a different kind of sport while helping the team make it back to the national championship for the second season in a row.