Undergraduate Research Symposium - pg. 3
April 20, 2017
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Volume 92, Issue 14
“Art is Hard” Senior Art Exhibition
Photo by Seth Willard
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April 20, 2017
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Opera After Dark
The Department of Music will host Opera After Dark on Thursday, April 20, at 6:30 p.m., at The Patterson.
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VSU’s Out of the Darkness Campus Walk will be held on Saturday, April 29, at 11 a.m., at VSU Main Campus. This fundraising walk will support the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to reduce the annual suicide rate by 20 percent by the year 2025.
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Undergrad Research Symposium
Students were given the opportunity to present their hard work and research at this event.
Kendall Brown, Senior, geology major researched the orientations of cracks in the rocks along the Swanne River. He was trying to find out if the cracks were oriented in the same direction in all the rocks or if they were just random. He found that over a seven-mile span there were some trends in the crack orientation. Now he is continuing his research to find the cause.
Students explained their reaseach to those who stopped and read their posters.
Many people talked and learned April 13, at the undergraduate research symposium. Khristian Roberts Johnson, assistant coordinator for the undergraduate research symposium explained this is the 23rd annual occurance of this event. The first 17 years were for the arts and sciences, but now the symposium is campus-wide. Johnson said the symposium was a great opportunity for undergraduates. “This gives students a chance to present the research they’ve been working hard on, and most of them are very proud of what they’ve accomplished,” Johnson said.
People were free to ask students questions about the projects.
Hunter Howle, senior, mass media major, conducted a semiotic analysis of The Great Gatsby. She took a deeper look at the characters and their actions to discover underlying theme of debatchery and betrayal. She described the symposium as a rewarding event. “You put all this work into something and you don’t think anybody but the professors will see it, but then you have all these people coming up and asking you questions and they’re genuinley interested,” Howle said. The ball room was consitently full for the entirety of the symposium, as students, faculty and staff strolled in and out.
Julia Rodriquez/ THE SPECTATOR
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April 13, 2017
SGA talks office storage space Bryce Ethridge
Staff writer bjethridge@valdosta.edu Continuing from last week, representatives from student organizations continue to question the Student Government Association about their eviction from the Student Union. SGA President Maya Mapp was not in attendance due to a conference she had to go to, so SGA Vice President Adam Slaton took the reins. Valdosta State University Vice President Vincent Miller was asked about his absence at the last meeting, to which he responding by telling everyone that he left due to an 8:30 p.m. conference call with two other college vice presidents. “I did not know that this was even a decision being discussed until very recently,” Slaton said. Slaton said that the other senators had no knowledge that the eviction would happen either and also said that there have been no alternatives for student organization storage spaces stated to SGA. “If this is an issue you feel strongly about, next year, make it a priority because I can’t see anything happening between now and the time before the school year ends,” Slaton said. A student from the gallery asked who to go to for an answer, since the Office of Student Life said that students in the organization would be responsible for finding and funding a storage space. “Your organization is not unlike the other 150 organizations on campus that do not have
storage space or office space to in order to function and that might be an answer that you have to be prepared to receive,” Miller said. Miller said that based upon the nature of the student organization, they might have to be prepared to take the answer above. Sen. Matthew Rowe said that SGA would like to fund student organization storage spaces but are unable to do so due to guidelines set in the SGA bylaws and Student Life.
“Your organization is not unlike the other 150 organizations on campus that do not have storage space or office space to in order to function and that might be an answer that you have to be prepared to receive.” “The only thing I can do is work my butt off to find ways to fund every office that lost their storage space,” Rowe said. “As far as getting money from fees that were allocated, it can’t come from there.” Rowe said that he would be working with Miller in the summer in order to find alternative solutions to storage spaces for student organizations. “We have finals coming up and then we have to move out of our dorms, as well as move ev-
erything out of our offices,” Sen. Joy Ihedioha said. “Where is our stuff going to go?” Ihedioha said that the move is not logical especially since students already have a lot going on during the last week of school. “I’m sorry but Fire Pit is something brand new and organizations have been here for years for these students and I’m sorry but this is why retention rates are low because the school treats us as if we don’t exist and that we don’t pay money to go here,” Ihedioha said. She said that since the school is not giving them assistance with moving out and giving them the runaround, it’s making students feel unappreciated. “There’s no good answer if the answer is there’s no change to what’s happening, to what’s moving forward,” Miller said. Miller said that although there are some organizations that use the offices, it’s not enough for them to allow organizations to continue applying for them and not actively using them. Slaton asked the representatives of the organizations who came if they would like SGA to work with and negotiate a deal with one of the bulk storage places in the area, and they responded yes. “As SGA, I cannot make any promises that something is going to happen before May 6,” Slaton said. Slaton said that he will be looking into storage spaces in Valdosta and will be contacting them in order to find a cheap price for the organizations without storage space.
Kelsey Dickerson/THE SPECTATOR A banner detailing the dates of Mayhem Music Festival at VSU.
Mayhem music festival returns with a twist Kelsey Dickerson
Features editor kedickerson@valdosta.edu The Mayhem Music Festival will make a comeback on April 28 after years of absence. “It’s been a part of our campus forever,” Dr. John Wright, associate director of Student Life, said. “It’s just kind of taking on a new form now.” According to Dr. Wright, Mayhem gets its name from its ‘90s origins. When the festival began as an alternative-rock concert held by the Fine Arts building, VSU was still on the quarter system, meaning school would run through a greater part of May. However, Mayhem fell to the wayside in the early 2000s only to be picked up by the radio station and renamed Blazefest. In the years since, that too has been abandoned. Now, Mayhem is back and will be held on the front lawn for the first time in VSU history. The music will start at 5 p.m., with bands playing sets all the way until 11 p.m. Students will have a big hand in all parts of the night through the music and activities. “I believe all of the bands are made up of students or alumni,” Dr. Wright said.
A student-fronted jazz combo called The Cookout will kick off the festivities, and EDM duo Sunday Service will close the night with a foam party. “The thing is we’re not going to try to keep it traditional,” said Richard Brito, a sophomore international business major and guitarist/manager for The Cookout. “We’re trying to play a show instead of being background music. You’ll actually get to hear [the] individuality of our own form of expression of our instruments.” As far as activities go, there will be no shortage of things to do. Corn hole, henna tattoos, make-your-own flower crowns and extreme bungee jumping will all be included, with CAB and Greek Life sponsoring. A studentled sunset yoga session will also be held alongside the games and music. Food and drinks will be free to all students with VSU ID, but anyone is free to bring their own refreshment. Food will be carnival-style, with carts featuring funnel cakes, fried pickles and turkey legs. “It’ll be a good way to blow off some steam before you have to hit the books and the library,” Dr. Wright said.
It’s a big Deal Alex Dunn
asst. features editor eadunn@valdosta.edu
Graduation is coming up fast with only two weeks to go. It will be filled with smiles, cheer and also one very prominent commencement speaker, Gov. Nathan Deal. VSU’s President Richard Carvajal sent an email to the faculty and staff last Friday, announcing the big news. He expressed how exciting it was to have a notable speaker to inspire graduates. “This is truly an exciting time for VSU, and that special night – complete with smiles, hugs, fireworks and now the Governor – will be an awesome celebration,” Carvajal stated in the email. Deal, 74, was elected to the
U.S. House of Representatives as a Democrat in 1992 but became a part of the Republican Party in 1995, according to his website. He announced his resignation from Congress and won the election for Governor in 2011 and is the 82nd and current Governor of Georgia. Deal is only the third commencement speaker in VSU history since the recent change to graduation ceremonies, where commencement was divided into two days to celebrate graduates and undergraduates. According to The Spectator, VSU has lacked famous commencement speakers. Speakers for the graduate ceremonies included a faculty senate representative, vice president of Academic Affairs, an SGA representative and five deans of colleges.
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April 20, 2017
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Our point of view...
A stitch in time: The Spectator moves from print to digital
The Spectator Spring 2017 staff.
Ted Geltner/THE SPECTATOR
Three, two, one: The countdown began last week to mark how many more issues of the Spectator has left in print. Because, ladies and gentlemen next semester this friendly campus newspaper won’t exist as a physical, printed object. Starting in the fall, The Spectator will be 100 percent digital. For decades, new issues of the VSU newspaper regularly appeared around campus each Thursday morning, and wound up in the hands of students. It may have seemed those papers magically appeared, but there was more than a week’s worth of work behind every one. Each Monday, editors would assign stories to staff writers, who would spend a week reporting, investigating, and writing. Their stories would then go back to the editors, who would spend every Wednesday night preparing pages. Each editor is responsible for editing stories and writing headlines for his or her section, and each page may take hours. Finally, by sometimes as late as 3 a.m., the paper would be ready to print. Then on Thursday, hot off the press, the papers would be picked up by the circulation manager around 5 a.m., and for the next seven hours, the newest issue would be delivered to a few places in Valdosta and around campus for readers to take, free of charge. However, as time progressed and technology advanced, eyes became glued to screens instead of paper. The disinterest is not in news though, simply in where it is coming from. The Spectator realized a large percentage of its audience is now reading online instead of print. In fact, according to Pew research center for journalism and media, 10 percent more of U.S. Americans get their news online than in print. While this divide is small, Pew research center for journalism and media also shows that readership in print is steadily decreasing, while online readership is steadily increasing, especially for young adults. It’s sad to see traditions fade, but necessary for organizations such as the Spectator to adapt as society changes, so they can continue to provide a service to their community. Next semester, expect to see an improved website, new social media accounts and more activity on existing accounts. The Spectator plans to continue to cover the news to the best of our abilities, keep its eye on those in power, and keep in constant touch with its readers to truly be “the voice of the students.”
This editorial was written by a member of the editorial staff and expresses the general opinion of The Spectator.
Editorial Staff
Editor-in-Chief: Gabe Burns Managing Editor: Julia Rodriquez Opinions Editor: Hunter Terrell Features Editor: Kelsey Dickerson Sports Editor: Kyle Dawson Photo Editor: Seth Willard Entertainment Editor: Michaela Leung Multimedia Editor: Darian Harris Social Media Editor: Tyra Mills Copy Editor: Kimberly Cannon
Social media cannot control content
MCT CAMPUS (Left) Steve Stephens, the killer worked at a behavorial health center. (Right) Map of where Stephens killed Robert Godwin.
Hunter Terrell
Opinions Editor hlterrell@valdosta.edu A national manhunt was commenced after a man in Cleveland shot an innocent man on Easter Sunday via Facebook Live. Steve Stephens, 37, said on Facebook that he had committed an “Easter day slaughter.” Police later that evening said they could not identify other homicide victims but “continue to search multiple areas. In a shaky video, Stephens gets out of his vehicle leaving the keys in the ignition and walks up to a random target, 74 year old Robert Godwin Sr., who is on the sidewalk carrying a shopping bag. Stephens then asks Godwin to say the name of a woman, whom he clearly does not know. “She’s the reason that this is about to happen to you,” Stephens told Godwin before pointing a gun at him. Godwin is seen shielding his face with the shopping bag. Authorities started digging through Stephen’s Facebook page as well as issuing warnings to Cleveland and surrounding cities via Twitter. A Facebook spokesperson called the shooting “a horrific crime,” adding, “We work hard to keep a safe environment on Facebook, and are in touch with law enforcement in emergencies
when there are direct threats to physical safety.” What the real question is, why was this not taken down sooner or rather how can gruesome and criminal acts be stopped from streaming on social media? It only took Facebook three hours to take it down, but that is plenty of time for it to circulate,
In a shaky video, Stephens gets out of his vehicle leaving the keys in the ignition and walks up to a random target, 74 year old Robert Godwin Sr., who is on the sidewalk carrying a shopping bag. reproduce and for the dark trolls of the internet to take something inhumane, and make it seem customary. Facebook released a statement, calling the video “one that has no place on Facebook, and goes against our policies and every-
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thing we stand for.” The statement also included a “Timeline of Events,” meant to address confusion surrounding why it took so long for the video to be removed. 11:09 a.m. PDT: First video, of intent to murder, uploaded. Not reported to Facebook. 11:11 a.m. PDT: Second video, of shooting, uploaded. 11:22 a.m. PDT: Suspect confesses to murder while using Live, is live for 5 minutes. 11:27 a.m. PDT: Live ends, and Live video is first reported shortly after. 12:59 p.m. PDT: Video of shooting is first reported. 1:22 p.m. PDT: Suspect’s account disabled; all videos no longer visible to public. This is not the first incident Facebook Live has endured. Remember the beating of a teenager midJanuary? What social media sites as well as its’ users need to know is that keeping the digital community safe is key. Report anything and everything that seems insensitive, offensive or just plain wrong. There’s not much more control social media can have over its users, it is the users themselves in charge. Be mindful of your content.
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April 20, 2017
Apology from Pepsi seems Trump orders uneasy airstrike on Syria insincere and unconcerned
MCT CAMPUS Pepsi released a controversial commercial with Kendall Jenner in March.
Shanice Barnes
Staff Writer shabarnes@valdosta.edu A recent Pepsi commercial starring Kendall Jenner created an uproar on social media. What the commercial producers thought would be a great way to provide unity for all races turned out to be the complete opposite. Audiences didn’t waste time, going to social media explaining exactly why they were so upset about the commercial. The commercial showed Jenner giving a police officer a Pepsi during a protest, and somehow that made everything OK. The recent events regarding officers taking the lives of innocent people of color are why the world wasn’t too pleased with Jenner, a white women who doesn’t really experience the stereotypes minorities face on a daily basis, making everything OK by just offering a Pepsi. The commercial showed young people smiling at a protest when it should have been treated as a serious matter. Audiences weren’t too pleased because it looked as if Pepsi was mocking the popular movement known as Black Lives Matter. This group has worked so hard to overcome stereotypes and break barriers through protesting and spreading the message that minorities’ lives are just as important as whites. So, for Pepsi to take a heavy topic and try to make light of it
was completely out of line. When watching the Pepsi commercial, I completely understood why people became outraged. In a world where there are so many injustices for minorities, it’s a sensitive topic, especially because they’re still fighting hard to gain respect and equality. So, it was somewhat of a slap in the face to see Pepsi make light of those social issues. There have been many instances where minorities have approached police and received the cold shoulder or were beaten for peaceful protest. Pepsi may not have intended for the commercial to be offensive, but the company chose the wrong scenario. Because of the backlash surrounding the commercial, the Pepsi Corporation issued a public apology, which received even more backlash. “Pepsi was trying to project a global message of unity, peace and understanding,” Pepsi said in a statement. “Clearly, we missed the mark and apologize. We are pulling the content and halting any further rollout. We also apologize for putting Kendall Jenner in this position.” Pepsi’s apology didn’t seem sincere, as the company seemed more concerned with apologizing to Jenner than apologizing to the offended individuals. Pepsi may not know how deep this topic hurt those who are affected by injustice daily, but at least Pepsi will think twice before making another commercial on a sensitive topic, such as race.
People attend a protest against U.S. airstrikes on Syria early April.
Tiana Foster
Staff Writer tjfoster@valdosta.edu President Trump has been in office for fewer than 100 days, yet he already has everyone on edge after ordering an airstrike on a Syrian airbase. Trump’s decision to order the airstrike was in response to Bashar al-Assad, president of Syria, for the chemical weapon attack on the town of Khan Sheikhoun. Trump claims the Syrian president crossed the line after approving the poison gas attack against its citizens . According to CNN, the attack killed at least 125 people, many of whom were children. On April 6, the U.S. targeted 60 cruise missiles at the Syrian airbase where the chemical attacks originated from. This was unexpected activity because Trump said he thought his predecessor, Barack Obama, should stay neutral in Syrian affairs. “We should stay the hell out of Syria, the ‘rebels’ are just as bad as the current regime,” Trump tweeted in June 2013.
I don’t fully understand the reasoning behind Trump’s decision after making such a statement. Here it is almost four years later, and Trump goes right against his own warnings. A decision to bomb the same town that was just attacked by its own president could be one of the poorest decisions President Trump has made. However, the missile strike didn’t make any significant damage to Syria or to the regime. Trump’s attempt to oust Assad has now raised concerns with Moscow. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told reporters at a news conference that Russia should reconsider supporting Assad. The administration’s foreign policy admits its first priority is to defeat ISIS, which would get rid of Assad. Trump stated the attack was to “prevent and deter the spread of chemical weapons.” Many Americans didn’t agree with Trump’s decision and thought it was made from a moral viewpoint and not one in the best interest of the U.S. Nikki Haley, U.S. ambassador to the
MCT CAMPUS
United Nations, agreed they are willing to do more in order to end the violence in Syria. Although we’re in no immediate danger, if Trump continues to attack Syria, then he is putting our military at great risk of starting a war with Russia. There are Russian military soldiers stationed at key military bases, and they have also provided Syria with an essential air defense system. A VSU student shared his opinion on the situation. “I’m not into politics like that, but I know that this hasn’t been the first time the U.S. has invaded another country,” Adrian Chambers, a senior marketing major, said. “The video is offensive, and I do think that something needs to change, but I wonder if it’s left up to us.”. Let’s hope that some serious consideration goes into the next plan. There are still civilians dying, and I hope Americans understand the urgency of this situation. The ultimate goal should be trying to find a solution for Syria but avoiding starting a war with Russia.
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April 20, 2017
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Page 7
Fine arts building features senior art Photos by Seth Willard
The Dedo Maranville Fine Arts Gallery hosted the 2017 Valdosta State Senior Art Exhibition. Members of the University and the community were welcomed to the gallery’s opening on April 15 from 1 to 3 p.m.
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MCT CAMPUS
Both photos advertise houses available on AirBnB.
AirBnB hosts are untrustworthy and shady Eboni’ Register
STAFF WRITER ejregister@valdosta.edu AirBnB is an online marketplace and hospitality service where you can lease or rent lodging including vacation rentals, vacation homes, hotel rooms, hostel beds or apartments. Many have used this site when traveling far distances in hopes to cut down on lodging prices. The thought of short-term stays at someone’s already furnished and fully equipped home sounds like a great idea when wanting to live comfortably on vacation. Well, it seems as if there is another side to Airbnb according to Airbnbhell.com where this site is dedicated to the uncensored Airbnb stories from host and guest. Airbnbhell.com features many stories of how guest are ripped off and left abandoned before even getting to their destination. After reading a few, the most
have a common outcome of your host conversing with you constantly and professionally during your pre-booking stage where you communicate with host to find their lodging is a fit for you. After committing to an Airbnb and both you and the host agree it’s a trend for the host to either steal your money because of a strict cancellation policy or two; become unresponsive to your calls, emails, any form of contact. If reading others experiences on Airbnb doesn’t draw hesitation to the whole company, racial profiling surely will. Many over social media seek out help from others on their Airbnb recommendations through hashtags and post. Through this you open a window to others who can relate. When looking into the tag “@ airbnb” on Instagram there are many users who share in common feeling as though they are racially profiled. When creating an account to
Airbnb you have to be willing to prove your income and identity. Many African Americans converse that Airbnb host aren’t too keen about those of color. Its seems as though a booking on Airbnb can be listed as available, but then when you book, the host write back the house isn’t available. Many African Americans in the Airbnb community share this same experience when revealing their identity to the host to make sure “the host knows who to look for upon arrival”. When doing this then getting an unavailable listing to what was already approved draws speculations. Airbnb and its host are ultimately viewed as shady and unpredictable. Thousands of reviews can be written and conversed about online, but everything weighs on the guest and their choice to put their money and information in someone’s hands that they don’t know. Airbnb will continue to be use, but is it trusted?
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Hunter Terrell/THE SPECTATOR Netflix will have competition with YouTube TV, the new streaming app.
YouTube takes a swing at Netflix and Hulu offering online streaming TV service Alex Dunn
ASST. FEATURES EDITOR eadunn@valdosta.edu YouTube is now offering a TV streaming service, hitting big competitors such as Netflix and Hulu hard. Rightly named YouTube TV, this Google-owned streaming service has taken big steps to ensure it does not fall flat when competing with other brands that dominate the streaming industry. According to Maxwell Barna of Highsnobiety, there were rumors that Google was trying to offer some type of on-demand live streaming service to compete in today’s market, and now, that product is YouTube TV. “Basically, YouTube TV is a monthly subscription-based, contract-free streaming service that will allow users to stream live and On-Demand television programming direct to their smart TV or other capable devices,” Barna reported. Subscribers pay $35 a month, pretty pricey considering Netflix and Hulu can cost less than $12. However, the service is free for the first month and can be canceled at any time. Subscribers have access to YouTube Red, unlimited DVR space and an ad-free YouTube, so there is a bundle of worth for the expensive price. Although YouTube TV received a lot of the limelight since its debut, it does have a few
shortcomings as a new streaming source, one being that it’s missing popular networks such as TNT, TBS, CNN and the Discovery Channel. For now, YouTube TV is only available in five U.S. metropolitan areas: Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Philadelphia and the San Francisco Bay Area, according to David Katsmaier of CNET.com. So, people living in Valdosta cannot get the YouTube TV experience but perhaps in the coming months. The Youtube streaming service allows up to six people to sign up for an account, similar to Netflix, but only allows up to three people to use it at once, according to fortune.com. So, it’s better to watch together than slow the band-width. Troy Wolverton of The Mercury News reviewed YouTube TV. “It feels half-baked—it’s missing key networks, is only available in certain areas of the country and isn’t compatible with many devices,” Wolverton said. YouTube TV seems like a cool new innovation added to the streaming industry. However, the original YouTube is already free, with endless entertaining videos, so having a paid streaming service when there are already cheaper and more easily used ones available seems unnecessary.
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April 20, 2017
VSU Asks: How do you handle stress? Courtesy of: Alex Dunn and Darla Dunning
Anna Traywick, freshman, psychology major “Make everything I need to do into a to-do list in like tiny steps and then check it off as I go along.”
Rey Paul, sophomore, biology major
Darius Kitchings, sophomore, economic major
“I take a nap, listen to R&B and pretend it’s not happening.”
“I try my hardest to study so that there is nothing to stress about later on.”
Dillon Bell, junior, history major
April Mason, freshman, early childhood education major
Aaron Brown, freshman, physical education
“I go for a walk and get some exercise.”
“I take stress naps and just procrastinate until I have to do something and then I get everything done.”
“I go to the recreation center a lot and bike around campus too.”
The VSU Department of Philosophy & Religious Studies encourages you to take these courses Fall 2017!
PHIL 2010 Fundamentals of Philosophy
• Fall ’17 Philosophy Course Offerings •
PHIL 2020 Principles of Logic & Argumentation
81710 A TR 9:30-10:45am James 81704 A tR 9:30-10:45Am sAntAs TR 9:30-10:45am James 82534 AA* * 81705 b tR 11:00Am-12:15Pm sAntAs * * Note: Reserved for FLC students 81706 c mw 3:30-4:45Pm PEAcE James 81711 B TR 11:00Am-12:15Pm 81707 d tR 12:30-1:45Pm PEAcE Harmon 81712 C TR 2:00-3:15Pm JAmEs 81708 E mwf 10:00-10:50Am 81713 IA Online* Lovern HAckEtt 81709 IA 8/14-12/04 • onLInE* 81714 • PHIL 2030 A • EtHIcs & contEmP socIEty • onLInE* • HAckEtt 81715 • PHIL 3110 A • AEstHEtIcs • tR 12:30-1:45Pm • HARmon 81716 • PHIL 3140 A • EtHIcs & LAw • tR 11:00Am-12:15Pm • PEAcE 81717 • PHIL 3300 A • PHILosoPHy of RELIgIon • mw 2:00-3:15Pm • sERRAn-PAgAn 81718 • PHIL 3610 A • nAtIvE AmERIcAn tHougHt & cuLtuRE • mw 2:00-3:15Pm • LovERn * Note: All sections Marked IA & IB are online. For 81719 • PHIL 3640 A • EnvIRonmEntAL PHILosoPHy • onLInE HybRId • mw 12:00-12:50Pm • sAntAs Info On How To Get Started In Online Courses, Go To: 81720 • PHIL 4120 A • EtHIcs And PubLIc PoLIcy • tR 3:30-4:45Pm • JAmEs http://www.valdosta.edu/academics/elearning 81721 • PHIL 4800 A • AfRIcAn to AfRIcAn AmERIcAn PHILosoPHy • mw 3:30-4:45Pm • LovERn 81722 • PHIL 4800 b • fAtE, fREE wILL, And tImE • mw 2:00-3:15Pm • sAntAs 81723 • PHIL 4800 IA • womEn PHILosoPHERs • onLInE* • LovERn
No Prerequisite For Any Class Listed!!
REL 2020 World Religions
81724 A 81725 b 87126 c 81727 d 81728 IA
mwf 11:00-11:50Am mwf 1:00- 1:50Pm mwf 10:00-10:50Am tR 11:00Am-12:15Pm onLInE*
• Fall ’17 Religious Course Offerings •
sERRAn-PAgAn sERRAn-PAgAn downIng tuRLEy JoHnson
81729 • REL 3270 IA 81730 • REL 3300 A 81731 • REL 3330 IA 82571 • REL 3504 A 81733 • REL 3520 A 81734 • REL 3610 A 81735 • REL 4700 A 81736 • REL 4700 IA
• HumAn QuEst foR fAItH • onLInE* • downIng • PHILosoPHy of RELIgIon • mw 2:00-3:15Pm • sERRAn-PAgAn • nEw tEstAmEnt • onLInE • JoHnson • ARcHAEoLogy of AncIEnt IsRAEL • tR 9:30-10:45Am • downIng • IsLAm • tR 11:00Am-12:15Pm • sERRAn-PAgAn • nAtIvE AmERIcAn tHougHt & cuLtuRE • mw 2:00-3:15Pm • LovERn • AfRIcAn to AfRIcAn AmERIcAn PHILosoPHy • mw 3:30-4:45Pm • LovERn • womEn PHILosoPHERs • onLInE* • LovERn
VSU Department of Philosophy & Religious Studies • Ashley Hall • 229.333.5949
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The Spectator | www.vsuspectator.com
April 20, 2017
Lavender Graduation celebrates LGBT+ Geneva Crooks
STAFF WRITER grcrooks@valdosta.edu
Customizable stew like this is good at any time of the year. Ingredients can be added or taken away to create your own unique flavors.
Erin Turner
STAFF WRITER epturner@valdosta.edu Though it's starting to get hot again in Valdosta, Stew is a year round dish. The tender steak, beans, and hearty potatoes are amazing the first time you try it and again for leftovers. This recipe started out as chili, but potatoes make any dish better, so of course, I added it. This is a build-yourown dish. Add any other ingredients you would like to make it even more tasty!
Ingredients:
stewed steak 1 can tomato sauce diced potatoes kidney beans chopped garlic diced onions diced tomatoes salt pepper cayenne pepper *rice *jalapenos
Steps: 1. Season meat well with salt & pepper before transferring steak into Dutch oven/deep pot.
Erin Turner/THE SPECTATOR
2. While meat is heating, add chopped garlic, diced onions, jalapenos, and any other ingredient you would like to add at this time. 3. Then comes the can of tomato sauce, kidney bean, diced potatoes, diced tomatoes. Add cayenne pepper as well. 4. Reduce heat and let simmer for 30 minutes or until potatoes are ideal texture. *Optional: Pour stew over rice and top with jalapenos for extra heat!
VSU will hold its first bi-annual Lavender Graduation, a ceremony that celebrates and recognizes LGBTQ students and their allies, on May 3 at 6 p.m. The goal of the ceremony is to acknowledge future graduates of the LGBTQ community and their allies for their accomplishments and unique experiences at VSU while also bringing students closer together as a community. The Lavender Graduation was the idea of Interim Director of the Student Diversity Department, Dr. Gerald Williams. Since becoming director of the newfound department, he has worked hard to create and promote a campus environment that is comfortable and supportive for all students. “Our department of Student Diversity and Inclusion was just formed last October,” Wendy McLoon, Student Diversity and Inclusion Graduate Assistant said. “Our objectives are to implement programs and events to create and support an inclusive campus environment for all students. The Lavender Graduation Ceremony will be one of the signature events
we planned to implement every year.” After researching, Dr. Williams teamed up with the Gay Straight Alliance to create the Lavender Graduation. “There will be guest speakers who will attend the events,” said McLoon. “We have also asked graduating students to invite their friends and families for this celebration.” “Graduating students will get called to the stage and be presented with a cord and certificate to honor their success. Drinks and snacks will also be served.” The Lavender Graduation has continuously received positive feedback from the LGBTQ community, staff and faculty so far. This new signature event of the Student Diversity and Inclusion department wants to appeal to students of all backgrounds and create an all-inclusive environment at VSU. The main goal is to make VSU a welcoming place to everyone. Any student of the LGBTQ community and the student’s allies, who are future graduates, are welcome to register by emailing Wendy McLoon (wjiang@valdosta.edu) before April 25.
Download the Spectator app to read stories on the go and have quick access to your ‘myVSU’ page.
Honors students research X-Files Bryce Ethridge
STAFF WRITER bjethridge@valdosta.edu The Illuminati exists to mind control your family and friends in order to sacrifice them in a masonic ritual, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. VSU’s Honors College held a conspiracy theory discussion session on April 12 where students researched scholarly or at least credible articles on conspiracy theories. Senior Ann Williams said the Honors College puts on different research events throughout the semester, and all students are allowed to participate. “We pick topics based on student interest and have done more on social issues such as feminism,” Williams said. The topics included in the discussion session ranged from why conspiracy theories exist to masonic rituals for shape-shifting lizard people. Freshman Benjamin Elliott started the discussion with the genetically perfect people called Indigo children whom the pharmaceutical companies are stopping with false vaccines. Many students at the discussion session saw the false vaccines as plausible but not the Indigo
children. The students, including Benjamin, laughed and made fun of certain parts of the theory. “It’s extremely difficult to find articles on Galileo for this (conspiracy theory),” Elliott said. “A lot of it is crackpot stuff, but there’s so many of them that some of it has to be true.” Freshman Joshua Reed had trouble finding credible theories on UFOs, so he decided to show why conspiracy theories exist. Sophomore Chase Perry decided to go with more outlandish theories such as the Illuminati plotting to mind control the world, the U.S. faking the moon landing and the existence of the Men in Black. Perry said that he had chosen to present these three since they were outlandish, but he only believed one since the other two were lacking legitimate evidence behind them. “The only one I could get behind, which is Men in Black, is because I can get behind the theory it supports which is UFOs,” Perry said. Perry also said JFK, as well as 9/11, were inside jobs. Honor’s Society decided to discuss the other theories that weren’t presented during the session after everyone had finished.
April 20, 2017
The Spectator | www.vsuspectator.com
Page 11
Viewers will soon get an inside look at the ‘Life of Kylie’ Briana Salem
Staff Writer basalem@valdosta.edu In addition to being CEO of Kylie Cosmetics, fashion designer and a social media star, Kylie Jenner has landed a spot-on E! Network with her new docu-series “Life of Kylie.” The “Life of Kylie” will feature personal aspects of Kylie’s life, showing time spent with family and some of her close friends, such as Jordyn Woods. Executive Vice President of Programming and Development for E! Jeff Olde commented on Kylie’s success. “Kylie’s beauty, business savvy
and fashion icon status have made her one of the most famous and successful young women on the planet,” Olde said. E!, which has multiple shows centered on the Kardashian-Jenner family, such as “Keeping Up with the Kardashians,” “Rob and Chyna” and “I am Cait,” discussed giving Kylie her own docu-series for a while now. Freshman engineering major Diamond Barton commented on the many Kardashian-Jenner shows. “There are so many different shows that I can barely keep up with the Kardashians,” Barton said. “I probably will try to keep up with Kylie since we are the same age, and I can relate to her more compared to the others.”
Partnering with older sister Kendall Jenner, the sisters created the Kendall + Kylie clothing collection and also launched the mobile game “Kendall and Kylie.” Kylie, who has multiple endeavors aside from executively producing her show, was named one of the most influential teens by TIME Magazine in fall 2016. “I think people expect a lot out of [me and my family],” Kylie told TIME. “Whether we’re influential for one reason or another, it is what it is.” Whether it be for her fashion, her popularity on social media or her success in makeup, viewers will be able to see it all and more this summer on “Life of Kylie.”
Courtesy of Michaela Leung The seniors in Media 4700 (Media Capstone) are required to do documentaries for their final projects. The class was divided into two groups and were able to choose topics dealing with public health in the city of Valdosta.
Students use documentaries to raise awareness for public health issues in Valdosta Playboi Carti debuts mixtape with a rocky start Courtesy of hypebeast.com
Artist Playboi Carti released his self-titled mixtape on Spotify, iTunes and Soundcloud on April 13th, 2017.
Bryce Ethridge
Asst. Entertainment Editor bjethridge@valdosta.edu All students have to take a final class that tests their skills and proves they’re ready for graduation. For mass media students, that’s the media capstone class. The media capstone class is a recent addition to the mass media curriculum, with fall 2016 being the first time it was offered, and it is a combination of digital media production and digital media journalism. “We [the mass media department] came up with a course that is basically campaign-based,” Gregory Brown, assistant professor of mass media, said. Brown said students in the class develop a health campaign or educational campaign project and research a relevant issue in their campaign area. “They [the students] start developing a documentary film, and they produce social media to show how the film is progressing and also to help explain the problem that it’s facing,” Brown said. Brown said the Mass Media Department wants students to have portfolio work that highlights what they contributed to the project. “It’s [their work] really easy to see with what the social media people are doing; it’s very easy to see with the editors and what they produce,” Brown said. He also said, while it’s not easy to see what the work production managers put in, they will still have portfolio work, which shows how they held the paperwork together. Brown said he also wants the students to gain experience with deadlines and the paperwork process for films. The class was split up into two groups. One group is developing a documentary on smoking in Valdosta, and the other is filming how the Humane Society is handling the stray cat issue. Senior Kawon Cook, who is working on the Humane Society project, said the class is
helping him learn documentary style, write press releases and do voiceovers. “It’s developing skills that we haven’t had the chance to touch upon yet,” Cook said. Senior Rachel West, who is on the non-smoking project, said the class has tested all the skills they’ve gained over the years. “I feel like it’s kind of been a way to put the skills I’ve been learning from the last five years to use and showcase everything I’ve learned by doing this one project,” West said. Currently, the class is working on finishing their rough cuts. The class will premiere their finished films at Red Door Records and Cinema on April 27 in order to spread awareness to the Valdosta community.
Kevin Paul
Contributor kpaul@valdosta.edu Playboi Carti has 2017 in his sights with his first self-titled mixtape. Jordan Carter, otherwise known as Playboi Carti or Cash Carti, decided to release his first longawaited mixtape. After emerging on the scene with hit singles, such as “Broke Boi,” “What,” and “Fetti,” the Atlanta native became one of the most anticipated artists in the hip-hop industry since 2015. From working with talents such as Lil Uzi Vert to U.K. grime artist Skepta, Playboi Carti’s selftitled mixtape should set all fans demanding a compilation of work. Although “Playboi Carti” reaches the bar set from previous releases, his most recent effort goes no futher.
The introduction, “Location,” opens the tape with a wavy, dreamy synthesizer, accompanied by the standard teamwork of the 808 kick, snare and hi-hat and then a distinctive guitar rift. Although hip-hop producer Harry Fraud brings this dreamscape to life, Carti drunkenly stumbles over the beat, repeating lines such as “Tats on my neck and my arms” and ad-libs of “what” and “yeah” caked over the beat. Even if “Location” doesn’t serve as the most lyrical track, the vibe and essence can be felt. This serves as one of the few highlights accompanied by “Playboi Carti,” as Carti’s producers steal the show with such bouncy and experimental instrumentals. “Playboi Carti” continues with “Magnolia,” serving as another highlight where the producer shines brighter. The track immediately opens
with Pierre Bourne’s signature tag, sampling from “The Jamie Foxx Show,” and then transitions into sampled flutes with a contagious rhythm, seizing the listener’s attention. Carti’s voice fits perfectly into the beat with a hook that reels his audience in but is sugar-coated with ad-libs that could give Chip Skylark a cavity. The tape continues with previously released tracks such as “Lookin” and “Wokeuplikedis,” collaborating with labelmate ASAP Rocky on “New Choppa,” bringing a slightly unique sound but only deviating due to the feature included. When listening to Playboi Carti, substitutes such as Lil Uzi Vert, Future or Lil Yatchy serve as more prominent artists to tackle Playboi Carti’s lane. With “Playboi Carti,” Carti doesn’t bring enough distinctiveness to the industry to separate himself from the pack.
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The Spectator | www.vsuspectator.com
April 20, 2017
Seth Willard/THE SPECTATOR The VSU Cheerleading team performs routines full of stunts and tumbling at the football and basketball games, which helps them hone their skills in preparation for the national championship.
VSU Cheer happy, not content with second Briana Salem
STAFF WRITER basalem@valdosta.edu, VSU Cheerleading tumbled, danced and stunted their way to a second-place finish at the National Cheer Association National Championships on April 8. VSU participated in the competition from April 6-8 in Daytona Beach, Florida. The team competed in the Intermediate Small Coed NCAA Division II division, where Shorter University came in first. Head cheerleading coach Ariel Harmon said the team missed out on first because of some execution issues. The team had been preparing for nationals since last summer.
In July, the team traveled to the University of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky, to compete for a competition bid. Teams compete for a gold, silver or bronze bid, which helps pay for the squad’s expenses for nationals. “Our team did so well at the competition this summer that we received a Gold Bid, which paid a good portion of our expenses for our trip to nationals,” Harmon said. The team brought in choreographer Nikki Lewis to construct a routine that best fit the team and included elements such as stunts and tumbling. Lewis has choreographed the team’s routines for the last four years. Harmon said she thinks this
V A L D O S T A
year’s team displayed a lot of teamwork. She said the team’s success can be attributed to how close they are on and off the mat. Teamwork is important during nationals because the team only gets to perform for an audience once before the competition. “The only other time we perform our routine for an audience is for a family and friends debut of our routine prior to nationals,” Harmon said. “Other than that, the team doesn’t get any experience of performing on that stage until nationals.” Another hurdle the team had to overcome this year was the lack of juniors and seniors on the squad. “This year we had more fresh-
S T A T E
man on the floor than veterans,” Tynisha Harris, a math education major, said. “This was a challenge because we really had to be leaders to help them transition from high school or all-star cheerleading to collegiate cheerleading. With the leadership of the veterans, we helped them understand the hard work and dedication that was required to compete at such a high level.” VSU Cheer has a history of winning championships, with the most recent title coming in 2013. Harris said Harmon and assistant coach and former cheerleader Cody Hudson are a big reason for the team’s success. “The VSU cheer program is an accomplished program because
the desire to win is so great,” Harris said. “Being coached by Ariel and Cody, who have both won nationals, is not only motivating but also beneficial because they know what it takes to win. With their experience, they know how to prepare us both mentally and physically.” The team has already started getting ready for next season. The team held tryouts last weekend and have already selected the team for 2017-2018. “The four national titles the cheer program has already won motivates as well as serves a reminder that we have a reputation to uphold and a legacy to continue as being a part of Titletown, USA,” Harris said.
U N I V E R S I T Y
N I N TH A N N UA L
Graduate Student Research & Scholarship Symposium
The Best Time For Beginning is NOW! TOMORROW Friday, April 21 4:00 - 6:00pm • UC Magnolia Room • Free & Open to the Public • Refreshments Served
• Poster Session Highlighting Graduate Student Research • Call the VSU Graduate School at 229.333.5694 for more info
April 20, 2017
The Spectator | www.vsuspectator.com
Page 13
Murray leading VSU into the GSC tourney Cynthia Papailler
STAFF WRITER ctpapailler@valdosta.edu, Dalton Murray is one of VSU Baseball’s most versatile players. He’s been working on his talents since he could walk. “Since I was about four I joined a t-ball league with my uncle,” Murray said. “I was born in Ohio, so they let it happen there.” Murray transferred from Florida Gulf Coast University at the beginning of the school year. He started the season as a catcher before moving to outfield later in the year. “Going into this past fall after summer baseball an old teammate, Marcus Sigmund [transferred] here,” Murray said. “We played junior college together. I called him and made the transfer here.” His mother and sister are both nurses, and his father works for an electrical company, but they never hesitate to drive over four hours from his hometown of Okeechobee, Florida, to support Murray at his baseball games. While he can play multiple positions in the field, Murray has emerged as a presence at the plate for VSU. He is ranked fifth in the Gulf South Conference with a .374 average. He’s also ranked in the top 10 in doubles (12), RBIs (40) and slugging percentage (.580). “Dalton plays so many positions,” Head Coach Coach Greg Guilliams said. “He can catch. He can play outfield. He runs really well. He obviously got power. He swings the bat well. There’s just so many facets of the team that he can do to help our team win.” Murray’s power at the plate was put on display April 12 after he hit the game-winning double into the right centerfield gap, breaking
the 6-6 tie between VSU and the Saint Leo Lions. The game was a slugfest, which went into extra innings. After two outs, Murray provided the dramatic finish the game deserved. Murray’s short-term goals for the season reflected his focus on helping his team be the best that they could possibly be. VSU is currently fifth in the GSC with four games left in the regular season. Murray said he’s confident they have time to make it into the tournament. “We need to keep playing our best baseball like we did [on April 12],” Murray said. “Keep fighting along. A long-term goal is to earn a ring.” Murray’s determination has been able to transfer easily over to the coaching staff and the rest of the team. They all described him as the guy with all the energy. “Dalton always comes with a lot of energy,” Guilliams said. “I mean, some people are energy takers, he’s an energy giver. Every day he shows up to practice and just has some much energy and I think it’s contagious with the rest of the team.” Infielder Chipper Andzel said Murray’s leadership qualities are just as important as his on-field talents. “Some of Dalton’s leadership qualities are: he comes to practice every day ready to go and he’s always energetic,” Andzel said. “If someone messes up, he’s right there—not cutting them down, but telling them what to do differently to get better.” Murray said the competitive atmosphere and the great home crowd are his favorite things about playing at VSU. Murray, who is a business marketing major, can be found on the front lawn soaking up the sun and
playing with his puppy or hanging out with friends when he’s not on the field. With graduation just a year away Murray is still on the fence about what his plans will be after college. “I have a little bit of experience in sales,” Murray said. “I used to do a bit of sales after my high school summer. I chose marketing just to go into that field, but I might try to do something along with baseball, maybe something with a professional team as far as marketing goes.” For now, Murray will be focused on getting VSU into the GSC tournament. The Blazers’ next game is on April 22 against Delta State in Cleveland, Mississippi.
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Cynthia Papailler/THE SPECTATOR Dalton Murray was the hero on April 12 after hitting the game winning run in extra innings. Murray is in the top ten in the Gulf South Conference in four hitting categories, including doubles, RBIs, slugging percentage and average. His versatility in the field has made him a key player for VSU.
24 HOURS OF LIBRARY GOODNESS STARTING 12:00PM APRIL 30 AND ENDING 9:00PM MAY 5
APRIL 30 - MAY 5
ODUM DOES NOT STOP.
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The Spectator | www.vsuspectator.com
April 20, 2017
Seth Willard/THE SPECTATOR The VSU Red Hots perform at football games and basketball games during the school year while also preparing for nationals by practicing routines and doing work outs throughout the week.
Red Hots bring trophy to Titletown Briana Salem
STAFF WRITER basalem@valdosta.edu, The VSU Red Hots avenged last year’s second place finish at nationals by winning their fifth championship at the National Dance Association championships. The competition, which was held on April 8 in Daytona Beach, Florida, featured winners for multiple categories such as dance hip hop, dance jazz, dance pom and dance performance. The Red Hots placed first in the nation in the Division II Hip-Hop competition and third in the Division II jazz competition. The Red Hots’ head coach,
Kelli Fields said tradition fueled the team to win another championship. “Having won four previous National Championship titles, I knew I had to push the team past their limits and outside of their comfort zone,” Fields said. “The team goal all season has been to win another National Championship title, so that helped them to push themselves as well.” Last season, the Red Hots came in second with a .2 difference in scores between VSU and first place winner Grand Valley State University. GVSU has been one of VSU’s biggest rivals at nationals as of late. “We came in second place last year, so we knew there was
only one more spot to climb to,” Fields said. “Getting so close last year helped with our drive and determination this year. We never expect to win; we only expect everyone on the floor to give 100 percent so that we can leave without any regrets.” The team started preparing for nationals in December by bringing in choreographer Sierra Fuller out of Charlotte, North Carolina. This was Fuller’s third year choreographing routines. After learning the routine, the team practiced to clean and perfect the routing in the following months. Senior nursing major and captain Sarah Owens said the team benefits at nationals from their strenuous work schedule during
the year. “We practice three times a week for two hours and have some long practices on weekends,” said Owens. “We also have morning workout twice a week with a trainer where we build stamina, strength, and endurance to be able to get through our routines.” Because the team gets no prior exposure to competing prior to nationals, the pressure can be high as nationals approach in April. “There are no other collegiate competitions for dance teams, so nationals truly is our only chance to compete all year,” Fields said. “I think that’s why there is so much pressure and stress associ-
ated with preparing and competing at nationals, we have this one chance to compete and we don’t want to waste it.” Owens said she takes pride in being able to keep the status quo surrounding the VSU Dance Team. “What made this year so special was winning a National Championship Title with our hiphop dance routine my senior year and having such a hardworking team to win it with,” Owens said. “The team upholding their reputation as a competitive team, having a passionate coach that pushes us hard, and being surrounded by supportive school, audience, and community is the reason we have such a well-known program.”
VSU Philosophy & Religious Studies Providing a Tradition of Excellence Prepar ing Students for a Career as a Lawyer Br itt any Bell Tur ner
VSU Philosophy Major Class of 2012, now with the firm of Speed, Seta, Martin & Trivett LLC, in Lawrenceville, Georgia
“Majoring in philosophy helped me to stand out from other applicants for Law School. Philosophy is one of the very few majors that allows you to do that AND have an edge because of the critical thinking and problem solving skills you develop. By majoring in philosophy, I was already accustomed to this way of thinking which made the transition into law school and then into my career much easier.”
Alex Lawhorne
VSU Philosophy Major Class of 2012, now with the Georgia Legal Services Project in Albany, Georgia
“My philosophy major not only allowed me to have interesting classes with engaging professors and passionate fellow students, it prepared me for law school and my career. I am grateful I chose to be a philosophy major and I believe it has helped me to be a better lawyer, citizen, and human being.”
David Gregors
VSU Philosophy and Religious Studies Major Class of 2013, completed the JD degree at Florida Coastal School of Law
“My education in Philosophy and Religious Studies at Valdosta State has been an invaluable asset in my pursuit of a career as an attorney. Anyone interested in pursuing a career in law or any other profession in which complex, abstract, or ethical issues may present themselves would be well advised to begin their pursuit in the Philosophy and Religious Studies Department at Valdosta State University.”
Check our upcoming course listings in Banner & on the Valdosta State University website! http://www.valdosta.edu/philosophy Ashley Hall, Room 1202 • Phone: 229-333-5949 • TTY: 229-259-5011
John Robbins VSU Philosophy Major 1982 Defense Attorney Birmingham, Alabama
Jason Johns VSU Philosophy Major 1999 Partner, Jackson Walker Law Firm, Houston, Texas
Lance Eric Neff VSU Philosophy Major 2001 Asst. Attorney General of the State of Florida
Jeremy K. Baker VSU Philosophy Major 2007 Asst. Southern District Attorney Valdosta, Georgia
The Spectator | www.vsuspectator.com
April 20, 2017
Page 15
Kenny Moore: from concessions to draft Juston Lewis
ASST. SPORTS EDITOR justlewis@valdosta.edu, This year will be Kenny Moore’s sixth year playing football. Most players sixth year came in middle school or high school, but Moore will be looking to help an NFL team in 2017. Moore is a Valdosta native, and he played four years of football at VSU. He is fifth all time in VSU history with 11 interceptions, and he was selected to the All-Conference, All-Region, and All-American teams multiple times while playing at VSU. All of these honors came after playing organized football for only one season at Lowndes High School. Moore played soccer, basketball and ran track before being convinced by one of his track teammates to join the football team for his senior year. Prior to taking the field on Friday nights, he helped his basketball coach at the football games’ concession stands. “My basketball coach ran the visitor side concession stands at Lowndes games,” Moore said.
“He was asking if anybody was free to help him. I was the one that said yeah, I could do it.” Upon joining the team, Moore immediately made an impact for the Vikings, who went 9-2 and made a trip to the 2012 GHSA AAAAAA Playoffs. Moore earned a football scholarship to VSU after his senior year and was one of the few freshmen who played in every game for the Blazers the next season. “Starting out I didn’t have the intentions of playing,” Moore said. “I ended up starting a game freshman year, and I’m thankful for that. It was really the guys who came before me who taught me how to be a college athlete.” It wasn’t always easy for Moore though, especially after only playing two years. He contemplated leaving school during his freshman year at VSU. “My mind has been a lot of places,” Moore said. “I didn’t expect to play. I was actually about to go to the Air Force my second semester of college if I did not play my freshman year. It was all God. It’s just the path he wanted me to take. “
WORRIED THAT YOUR GPA WILL COST YOU HOPE?
WE SAY UP YOURS!! AVG COURSE GRADE CHANGE MIDTERM TO FINALS FOR TOP 3 COURSES TUTORED (MATH, ENGLISH, CHEMISTRY)*
.43
.40 .36
.30 .29 .20 0
3
5
10
NUMBER OF TUTORING SESSIONS
*GPA INCREASE BASED ON QUALITY POINT AVERAGES DETERMINED AT MIDTERM & FINALS
VSU STUDENT SUCCESS CENTER MON-THURS 9 am - 7 pm
FRIDAY 9 am - 3 pm
www.valdosta.edu/ssc for more information
SATURDAY Closed
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Moore said he thinks about that decision a lot. “It means a lot to me,” Moore said on being able to play at VSU for four years. “I’m very thankful that God gave me this opportunity to be where I am. I never saw any of this coming. It feels like a dream. Every day I wake up I say wow, I’m really doing something that a lot of guys really wish that they could be doing. I just give thanks to my family and God.” Moore and his family have been through a lot of adversity, especially when he lost his father in February of 2016. “We lived in the same city growing up but things didn’t work out with me and him getting along,” Moore said. “For some reason one night I had a dream, and I guess it was God, and it told me I should get closer to him. It was about November of 2015, I reached out to him and we ended up getting closer over the months. As we talked and talked and went out or just hung out he ended up getting sick.” His father eventually passed on February 7, 2016. Suffering such a tragic loss was a setback for Moore, and his academic and athletic life suffered as a result. “I thought I had an injury, I was away from everybody for so long,” Moore said. “It was a tough moment in my life. I missed a lot of school and a lot of workouts. I thought that was it [for me], but God picked me up.” Moore went on to have his best statistical season at VSU. He had 65 tackles, eight pass breakups and five interceptions, leading the team in all of those categories. All while being converted from cornerback to safety and playing under a new coaching staff. Moore shined the brightest in the Blazers’ first round loss to UNC-Pembroke. He had 10 tackles, two tackles for a loss and two interceptions in the 24-21 loss. Moore racked up a host of accolades in his final season at VSU, including GSC AllAcademic team and being named a First Team American Football Coaches Association All-American.
Seth Willard/THE SPECTATOR Kenny Moore was a turnover machine last season, earning fifth on VSU’s all-time interception list.
Once Moore’s playing time was over at VSU, and graduation came and went, he began a journey to becoming a true NFL draft prospect. He was invited to play in two collegiate all-star games. After standout performances in both games, he signed an agent, who sent him to Indiana for two months where he focused on preparing for his pro-day. Moore participated in a regional combine in New Orleans two days before he participated in VSU’s pro-day. He was also invited to participate in a pro-day at Kennesaw State University, where he got more exposure to NFL teams. The workouts resulted in Moore receiving phone calls from teams such as the Kansas City Chiefs. He has talked to teams about being a nickel corner back because of his size, but he said feels that he can fit anywhere. “Typically they’d pick a nickel because he is not as tall but, I have long arms and big hands,” Moore said. “I’m pretty smart, and my film shows how I can play.” Moore said he doesn’t have a dream destination where he wants to play, at least not yet.
“I’m not really counting on any team, in my head,” Moore said. “I would go anywhere. I’m thankful for any place that I go. I just don’t want to bounce around. I just want to get somewhere and be a franchise player.” Moore’s time at VSU has etched him in history as one of the best players to come through the football program. He is now trying to play at the next level, which is something few Blazers have done. “For the guys that I’ve already played with, I wish y’all the best, and I hope we meet at the top,” Moore said. “[For] the guys under under me, don’t be a follower first of all. Be a person with a good head on your shoulders. Be a student first, take care of business. Anything you put your mind to, if it’s football or it’s not, try your hardest at everything you do.” The draft begins on April 27 and will last three days for the seven rounds of selections. If Moore is not selected, he could still be signed to a team as an undrafted free agent. “My time has come to an end as far as college, and I’m just preparing myself for everything that is at stake,” Moore said.
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April 20, 2017
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