November 12, 2015
Photo Illustration by Kayla Stroud
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November 12, 2015
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Thursday, Nov. 12 Information Day for Study Abroad to Cuba: The first day informa tional marathon for study abroad was a great success, and now everyone is welcome for another! For more information on the trip, go to Ashley Hall room 1112 from 5 to 6 p.m. Pulitzer Prize winner on campus: Pulitzer Prize winner Jane Smiley will be on VSU’s campus for three days interacting with students and faculty as this year’s 2015 Writerin-Residence. Her public reading from her new book will begin at 7:30 p.m. tonight in the Student Union Theatre. Seroprevalence Survey and Other Surveillance Activities During Local Dengue Outbreaks: The Science Seminar Series is excited to welcome Dr. Kristina Kintziger, an environmental consultant with the Public Health Research Unit, Florida Department of Health. Dr. Kintziger will share her work with a presentation on “Seroprevalence Survey and Other Surveillance Activities During Local Dengue Outbreaks.” This presentation compares infectious outbreaks in terms of scope, public health actions, and risk factors associ ated with dengue infection. The event takes place in Powell Hall Auditorium from 4 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17 Nobody Quits Like Georgia: Grab a free cold turkey sandwich and get informed on leading a tobacco free life! Taking place at
the Pedestrian Mall Gazebo from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18 Untangling Human Diversity from the Social Construction of Race: Dr. Leslie S. Jones, associate professor in the Department of Bi ology at Valdosta State University, will present Untangling Human Diversity from the Social Con struction of Race from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Whitehead Audito rium. Admission is free of charge and open to the public. Saturday, Nov. 14 Electronics Recycling: The City of Valdosta Public Works Depart ment, in partnership with Keep Lowndes/Valdosta Beautiful (KLVB) and Atlanta Recycling Solutions, will host the Fall Elec tronics Recycling event 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Mathis Auditorium parking lot, at 2300 N. Ashley Street, come rain or shine. While this event is coordinated by the city, the service is provided to all residents of Lowndes County as well. Drop off your old electron ics including cellphones, print ers, scanners, and much more. There is a $20 dissembling fee for televisions. Sunday, Nov. 15 Fall Senior Exhibition: Valdosta State University Department of Art, College of Arts will present the 2015 Fall Senior Exhibition: The Dedo Maranville Fine Arts Gallery presents Things Made by People at 1 p.m. This is the opening reception to celebrate and
socialize with the 15 graduating artists. These artists have either earned a BFA or a BA in Art. The artists will present works in various media including drawing, painting, photography, ceram ics, sculpture, mixed media, and graphic design. It will be a fun show, free to the public and open for all to enjoy. The Student Jazz Combo will play and refreshments will be provided. Other Announcements: It’s that time of year again for the Holiday Helper Project! Don’t miss out on this opportunity to give back and spread holiday cheer to the local children in need. The tree is filling up in the Student Life Office with orna ments each labeled with a child’s holiday wish list and needs. Go to the Student Life office on the third floor in the Student Union, pick an ornament and sign it out at the front desk, and return it by Dec. 11. Do you live on campus? If so, please be advised that Housing and Residence Life will be closing the traditional (Brown, Langdale, Lowndes, Patterson, and Reade) and suite style residence halls (Georgia and Hopper) for select days in November for Thanks giving break. The apartments (Centennial and Converse) will stay open. The dates for closure include Nov. 24 at 4 p.m. to Nov. 29 at 4 p.m.
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November 5, 2015
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Women candidates receive unequal treatment from media in race for POTUS
Our point of view...
Jada Dukes
Media: friend or foe?
MCTCampus Protests continue at the Univ. of Missouri over racially charged incidents.
Every great historical movement has had two things in common: a cause for the people to rally behind and a media presence that sheds light on the movement. The media has been abuzz with the recent happenings at the University of Missouri and a whirlwind of racial tensions seem to be reaching a climax. A video from the UM campus that shows protestors prohibiting a student freelance journalist for ESPN from entering a tent compound has surfaced on the Internet. The journalist is seen arguing with several students and even an assistant professor of mass communications while being physically pushed away from the tent city. After about 12 minutes of what amounts to harassment, the protestors pat themselves on the backs for their perceived triumph over one-sided media coverage. The most interesting thing about this altercation is not how the protestors rallied together to confront this assumed threat, but their unwillingness to hear the journalist out. Had they given the journalist the same respect that they were demanding from him, perhaps they may have seen that their struggle is one in the same. The gravity of the cause that had the protestors so impassioned is very much dependent upon the media
that covers their demonstrations. A free press is the linchpin that holds a democracy together. Without it, the same injustices that are being protested will flourish. Journalists are the only people capable of holding those in power responsible for their actions. The Spectator staff understands and is fully aware of the ethical implications that come with covering volatile situations. However, the protestor’s reaction to a fellow student is frankly disheartening. The scope of their cause can only go as far as the media will take it. With that being said, there needs to be an understanding between student activists and journalists that they can only benefit from cooperation. When journalists aren’t allowed to get to the epicenter of a story, they are forced to report what information they can. When this kind of thing happens, the story suffers from a lack of detail and the nuances that would make it great. We at the Spectator want to urge all college media outlets to understand the circumstances before they make an attempt at coverage. Maintain the objectivity that makes us journalists, but be sensitive to the ethical gravity that comes with their legal right to cover an event.
This editorial was written by a member of the editorial staff and expresses the general opinion of The Spectator.
Editorial Staff
Editors-in-Chief: Jordan Barela, John Preer Managing Editor: Tatyana Phelps Opinions Editor: Kenzie Kesselring College Life Editor: LaShawn Oglesby Sports Editor: Kristin Whitman Photo Editor: Stella Henderson Multimedia Editor: Jefferson Leblanc Web Editor: Kayla Stroud Social Media Editor: Tyra Mills Copy Editor: Zenobia Harris
Staff Writer jldukes@valdosta.edu There is a long extensive history of strong minded and intelligent women having a lasting influence on the government and its policies dating all the way back to the Women’s Suffrage Movement and the Seneca Falls Convention. For years women have had to prove themselves to be intellectual beings with the mental capacity to hold conversations that touched on topics beyond the elementary, and sadly this fact is still true. As many know the 2016 Presidential Election is rapidly approaching and amongst the many male candidates staking their claim for the White House, there are two extraordinary women who have also decided to run for office. Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton announced her candidacy in the spring of 2015 and Republican candidate Carly Fiorina announced her presidential bid in the summer of 2015 and ever since they have been doing exceptionally well within their respective parties, proving that they are very capable women who deserve to be taken seriously as worthy competitors and yet they are conveyed differently in the media due to their gender. The Huffington Post published an article focusing on the difference in media coverage for female and male politicians; the article is centered on a study conducted by Assistant Professor of Political Science and Mass Communication Johanna Dunaway. The Louisiana State University professor’s research found that out of 9,725 newspaper articles covering senate and gubernatorial races in America, six percent of the stories written about elections with all male candidates focused more so on their character traits and that 55.5 percent of these articles focused more on political issues. Interestingly enough, in elections with both and male and female candidates running, the study found that newspaper articles focused on character traits 10.8 percent of the time and on real political issues 53.1 percent of the time. It is made very clear in this study that there is slight differences in the kind of media coverage female politicians receive versus the coverage received by their male counterparts. While male politicians receive praise for being “cutthroat” and “go getters,” it is the exact opposite for their female adversaries. When women possess these exact same traits, they are often times referred to as “testy” or “ill tempered” by media outlets. Along with having their credibility and character questioned more often than men, it is also popular for the media to focus on the fashion choices made by female candidates and to comment on their overall appearances which directly supports the idea that when it comes to women in the media, it’s less important how well they do their job and more so how good they look while doing it. There are countless articles written about both Clinton and Fiorina that are centered on everything except political issues, things such as hair color and who is able to conceal their wrinkles the best.
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The most crucially important question is, when are the women of today’s society going to stand up against this ridiculous mistreatment. A Los Angeles Times article was published around the time Clinton’s announcement video was released, and in it the reporter said “flattering lighting and professional hairstyling aside, the Clinton that announced her candidacy on a YouTube video Sunday looked every bit of her 67 years.” It aids to mention that the reporter never touched on topics talked about in the video but instead went on to praise Clinton for her willingness to age while in the public eye. Fiorina is unfortunately not excluded from the petty and sexist ways of today’s media. Although the author and former CEO of Hewlett Packard says that she’s used to being treated this way, that in no way justifies how she is belittled and mistreated by not only the media but even her fellow running mates. While working for HP, Fiorina says she had to tolerate the same kind of scrutiny from her co-workers. She says she’s been called a bimbo while at work and even worse, the “B word.” This means that Fiorina was fully prepared for what was to come when she announced her candidacy. This also explains why Fiorina is able to handle the likes of men like Donald Trump. Trump who is known for his outrageous expressions and wonderful entertaining skills had this to say about Fiorina, “Look at that face! Would anyone vote for that? Could you imagine that, the face of our next President!?” When asked how she felt about Trump’s statement, Fiorina made a whimsical expression and calmly said, “ I think women all over this country heard very clearly what Mr. Trump said.” The real question is do the women of America hear very clearly what is being said about these strong and ambitious women? It is sad that the society we live in will praise women who do nothing but post meaningless photos on social media sites practically selling their bodies for fame, but in the same instance will tear down and demean women who deserve all the praise; the women willing to fight off stereotypes and misogyny and put their necks on the line for the sake of all women everywhere. The most crucially important question is when are the women of today’s society going to stand up against this ridiculous mistreatment. When are they going to stand up for the women who stand up for them and stop worshipping the women who don’t?
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November 12, 2015
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A Letter to the Editor Rife meaning of common occurrence; widespread. That’s how a recent article in The Spectator described recent presidential debate coverage. I’ve watched the debates and cannot disagree more. Actually very little was spent debating world events, especially anything resembling antiMuslim sentiment. The most recent debate conducted by MSNBC had questions about “clowns, fantasy football,” and other nonsense issues. It was apparent the moderators were fishing for a dispute between the Republican candidates and not really concerned about real world events. In contrast the Democratic debate faced as their toughest question, “Do you like puppies or kittens?” (slight exaggeration). As a military veteran I can personally speak as to how the SYSTEM treats Veterans and illegal
aliens. For example I personally had to wait three years to have my disability benefits resolved. And that only occurred after I sent Jack Kingston a Power of Attorney to look into the matter. While illegal aliens receive benefits day one. Waiting three years I believe I was more than patient in seeking resolution and I’m thankful for Jack Kingston (Representative for GA’s 1st congressional district 1993-2015) and his assistance. Back to the article. It’s interesting that the writer uses the term “stereotypes” when speaking of those who wished to protest allowing refugees to come to America. When earlier in his article he stereotypes the whole group of protesters as guilty of “bigotry” then later uses “narrow-mindedness and ignorance” In three words he stereotyped the protesters and most likely never asked any of them a
single question as to their concerns. How about understanding that there are citizens right here in America who have legitimate needs and are rightfully concerned when they receive little to no assistance when illegal aliens and refugees will often receive tax payer assistance the first minute they land on American soil. I would rather the writer seek why there are protesters to begin with, perhaps he would have learned that these protesters have legitimate concerns. Maybe he would have learned that they were voicing their frustration at seeing tax dollars spent so easily helping others while they go without. Long story short, after reading the article “Blazers against bigotry” (more than once) I felt like someone has been drinking the kool-aid. -John Brisk
Need to Rant and Rave? Sumbit your Rant and Rave on our website at www.vsuspectator.com! *Rant and Raves must be under 200 words and cannot contain any personal attacks.
Tiny houses make big plans: New trend helps owners save money and the environment
HGTV.com Tiny home owned by Jenn Baxter highlighted on HGTV.com
Kenzie Kesselring
Opinions Editor klkesselring@valdosta.edu The bigger the better. The more the merrier. Go big or go home; until now. The tiny house trend is the latest craze in the housing industry, and it’s catching people’s attention. HGTV and DYI Network have developed several shows that highlight people looking to building or find their own tiny home in hopes of contributing to their less than traditional lifestyles. A tiny house is defined by the “Tiny House Community” as a home between 100 and, 1000 square feet. These homes can costing anywhere between $10,000 and $40,000 and many can be easily and cheaply moved by cars, trucks, or other heavy machinery, while others are built on foundations. These homes can fit into small place, or be placed on large plots of land, adding to their appeal. Most of these house hunters are in their 20s and 30s and are opting for smaller more mobile houses to fit their on the
go, low key lifestyles. Since these homes are substantially cheaper than traditional living, owners are able to set aside more money to fund their wanderlust or to save for their future. Huge long lasting mortgages are a thing of the past for those downsizing into the new trend. The mobility and the cost effectiveness of tiny houses aren’t the only advantages of the trend. Tiny houses allow owners to simplify their lives, along with drastically reducing their carbon foot print. Since tiny houses are much smaller than traditional homes, there is not much room left for frivolous house hold items or a large wardrobe. According to Oregon Public Broadcasting, 80 percent of Green House gas emissions from the average American home are from electricity and fuel consumption. Luckily for those attempting to “go green,” tiny houses use significantly less gas and electricity than traditional homes. This along with the reduction of supplies
used to build the houses, tends to peak the interest of environmentally friendly home owners. While the tiny house craze is creative, cost effective and environmentally friendly, it’s not for everyone. Many cannot handle the idea of being confined to such a small space after living in homes 10-15 times the size the majority of their lives. Also, when cohabiting is thrown into the mix, small living can become tricky. However, being able to travel, become a homeowner with no mortgage at a young age, and having the opportunity to keep a home intact while moving across country, makes tiny living worth giving up the extra elbow room traditional houses provide. As a young person who wants a life full of all of this, people rarely pass up the opportunity to remind you that you can’t have it all. But tiny living is starting to prove that by giving up a little space and a few belongings, you can come closer than ever before.
Follow us on Snapchat @vsuspectator for coverage of the Homecoming game Saturday beginning at 3 p.m.
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Photo courtesy of Brittany Penland Due to Homecoming being pushed back to November, the Halloween theme was absent from this year’s Wild Adventures night. Future Homecomings are not guaranteed to take place in November like this year’s.
Homecoming hang up:
Late time frame affects Wild Adventures night
Aldean Starr
STAFF WRITER astarr@valdosta.edu Homecoming is here. The time of the year where alumni come back to show support for their alma mater, the campus is full of spirit, and the football team is gearing up to perform in front of one of the largest crowds of the sport’s season. However, this year, Homecoming may have a slightly different feel to it. In past years, Homecoming usually falls in October and this year, the events fell into midNovember. “I like it because I can end my semester on a good note instead of worrying about midterms and a bulk of assignments,” Danyell Peaks, a junior, said. This year’s homecoming week began on Monday and will run through Saturday. “[Homecoming is late] because of a desire of several different groups coming together trying to establish the best date on the season for Homecoming and trying to make it consistent yearly,” Herb Reinhard, Athletic Director, said. The Alumni Association and
former Valdosta State President William J. McKinney were the key figures involved in the decision for the Homecoming date. Homecoming is not guaranteed to take place at this time every year. “We are basically testing it out right now,” said Reinhard. The event that had a drastic change was the Wild Adventures night for VSU students. The VSU night at Wild Adventures happened on Friday, Nov. 6. This year there was no Halloween-themed activities at the theme park because of the late push. “It was horrible, that was the only thing we did not like,” Peaks said. Despite this year’s Homecoming week having a slight effect on Wild Adventures Night, many other common Homecoming activities are still set to take place, like the pep rally, football game, and the crowning of Homecoming king and queen. The Homecoming week events will conclude this Saturday with the football game against the Florida Tech Panthers. The Homecoming Court will be crowned during halftime. The game begins at 3 p.m.
DID YOU
November 12, 2015
KNOW?
Ways to combat stress include: getting enough sleep, avoiding drugs and alcohol, and connecting socially. -A tip from the VSU Health Center, info from cdc.org.
New marketing campaign seeing results for next fall Julia Rodriguez
ASST. OPINIONS EDITOR jlrodriguez@valdosta.edu Application submissions are up just as hoped thanks to the VSYOU campaign. It is still early and many more applications are expected; but already, expectations have been exceeded. “As of right now this year we are significantly up in applications which is encouraging,” Terrell Mitchell, director of admissions, said. “We are a little over 100 percent up in applications this year compared to last year.” Earlier this semester, VSU announced its campaign of Ignite becoming the VSYOU campaign. As reported in an earlier article in The Spectator, this new campaign is designed to keep the individual in mind and, of course, bring in more students. In addition to the campaign, this is the first full year that VSU is offering in-state tuition to Florida, Alabama, and South Carolina; which has also positively impacted admissions. Every day, an application report is run comparing data from today to data from a year ago today. Comparing day-today gives the admissions office a chance to see how much better this year is going compared to the previous year in a way much more detailed than on overall report of the year. According to these reports, applications are up in Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina and Florida. In fact, last year there were two total applications from Jacksonville, while this year there have already been 57. “This is exciting, but it’s too early to get too excited, though we are trending in the right direction,” Mitchell said.
“This is exciting, but it’s too early to get too excited, though we are trending in the right direction,” Terrell Mitchell, Director of Admissions, said. Thanks for a rise in applications are not just due to the VSYOU campaign, but to a number of factors. VSU sends out a letter that includes all basic info
and a contact card on the back. This is helpful because students out of state may not even know that VSU exists, let alone that they can get in-state tuition. It is still very early and the amount of applications could possibly increase. Overall, there is evidence of VSYOU working and in-state tuition for Alabama, South Carolina and Florida helping as well. “I am confident our enrollment numbers will trend upwards,” Interim President Cecil Staton said in an email. “VSU is often referred to as a hidden gem in Georgia higher education. We are going to make sure it is hidden no longer, and that this gem shines with all the luster it deserves.”
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Held in the lowest regard: budget cuts hit honors students Jyrell Wynn
STAFF WRITER jdwynn@valdosta.edu Earning the recognition as an honor student or teacher is seen as a remarkable achievement for students and parents. The title represents the best traits of determination, persistence, and honor in academic pursuits of excellence. Unfortunately, the title comes with a receipt for many Valdosta State students and staff as they witness the value of their contributions becoming worthless. Budget cuts have caused many honor courses to be cut, teachers
to lose their jobs, and have left many students without classes to take. Associate professor of history Stephanie Hinnershitz is one of the professors who lost her job. She specializes in 20th century American history and immigration/public history. “(There are) going to be a lot of classes not offered,” Hinnershitz said. “History minors and majors will take longer to get a degree.” Hinnershitz was hired to build up the Public History program and offer courses for students, but her only focus will be on her
VSU students organize protest following recent UMO events Julia Rodriquez
ASST. OPINIONS EDITOR jlrodriquez@valdosta.edu A silent protest will take place on Nov. 12 at noon in solidarity with protests against alleged racist actions at the University of Missouri. According to the Washington Post, Tim Wolfe, president of the University of Missouri, was accused of not efficiently handling racist incidents on campus. The Washington Post further explains that these unaddressed incidents included the “n-word” being yelled at a group of black students who were doing a skit on stage and a swastika being drawn on the wall of a dormitory with human feces. The swastika incident was not handled even after it happened multiple times, according to The New York Times. A protest resulted due to the events. Graduate student Jonathan Butler went on a hunger strike in protest and refused to eat until Wolfe had resigned. In addition, many of the teachers on campus
cancelled classes for two days in order to conduct a teach-in focusing on race relations. These actions made a significant impact according to New York Times; however, what truly set things in motion was the football team announcing its refusal to play. The head coach supported the refusal and just one game not being played could cost the university $1 million. Ultimately, the president did resign. According to New York Times, democratic Governor Jay Nixon said, “Tim Wolfe’s resignation was a necessary step toward healing and reconciliation on the University of Missouri campus, and I appreciate his decision to do so.” The campus has begun healing from these incidents since the resignation of the president. In addition, the New York Times says that the university has hired a diversity, inclusion and equity officer in order to help things along and give students the support they need to feel comfortable on campus.
resume. “I have to take time away from teaching opportunities to find a job. If I get a job interview, I have to cancel classes,” Dr. Hinnershitz said. Dr. Owen Jones, associate professor of Latin American history, and Jimmy Taw, lecturer of American history, were also among the history professors who lost their jobs. Dr. Jones has said that she worries that layoffs will become the norm because the Faculty Senate isn’t objecting strongly enough. Non-renewals will start in 2016.
Dr. Thomas Aiello, associate professor of history and African American studies, sees the cuts as a huge blow to students interested in expertise of the fired faculty. According to Dr. Aiello, the biology department will be losing several people, the English department will lose five, and the history department will be hit the worst. No specific courses will be lost. “The Faculty Senate has completely failed at its job,” Dr. Aiello said. Professors have searched for solutions such as investigating
possibility of censure by the American Association of University Professors, but Dr. Aiello continues to try to find money in budget that would save jobs of colleagues. “The Honors College may resort to individual contracts with individual instructors to assign extra work to Honors students in regular surveys to compensate,” Dr. Dixie Haggard, professor of history, said. “But this does not really provide the honors experience we promised these students when they came here.”
New drug ‘flakka’ makes a name for itself in Valdosta Mayah Cantave
A new synthetic drug has hit the streets running the past few weeks. Alphapyrrolidinopentiophenone (Alpha-PVP), most commonly known as flakka, ASST. COLLEGE LIFE EDITOR mcantave@valdosta.edu or gravel, is making an entrance for itself in Valdosta, according to Mark Williams, the Alcohol and Drug Program Coordinator for VSU. The National Institute on Drug Abuse describes flakka as a “foul-smelling crystal that can be eaten, snorted, injected and/or vaporized. Flakka is said to cause an “extreme” type of delirium that can cause hyper-stimulation, paranoia, and hallucinations, according to experts. The use of flakka can cause side effects of violent aggression, self-injury, increased body temperatures, anxiety, kidney damage or failure, and can even cause death. The high the consumption of flakka creates could be compared to ingesting cocaine, PSP, LSD and methamphetamine. The chemical makeup is similar to another drug popularly known as “bath salts,” according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. According to the Journal of Analytical Toxicology, the effects of flakka can occur within 30 minutes of consumption. Flakka is popular throughout the United States but it seemed to hit Florida hard. The Wall Street Journal has linked at least 29 deaths in Florida within the past year to the drug. Like many other synthetic drugs, flakka can be bought from anywhere, including the Internet, dealers and even gas stations. “One of the appeals of flakka is its affordability; it sells for as little as $5 or less,” said Williams. The drug has made its way to Valdosta and several arrests have been made for flakka possession in the past few weeks. VSU is making a stand against the new drug. “We encourage students to be aware of the dangers associated with this drug and to make the responsible decision to avoid its use,” said Williams. The Office of Alcohol and Other Drug Education's philosophy is that awareness fosters informed decisions and, ultimately, positive changes. Mark Williams and other Alcohol and Drug Program Coordinators are available to talk to students about the drug and to provide them with as much information to help protect students.
November 12, 2015
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DID YOU
KNOW?
Before our mascot Blaze was ignited on VSUs campus, our former mascot was a dragon of the same name.
T K M J Z M V A J H H N X Z N D Q W S L R J O B C T 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 following conditions: 路 Each row of nine cells must contain each of the numbers from 1 to 9 once and only once. 路 Each column of nine cells must contain each of the numbers from 1 to 9 once and only once. 路 Each of the nine 3 by 3 boxes of nine cells must contain each of the numbers from 1 to 9 Answer Below
Z U J E E U L N L M H T J X L C J M W Z L D E C A C Q E K N C D E N E C C I E H R I H P V W R R O W L Y F O O T B A L L G M N G E C D L L I E Q Z Y I P A S B B A U A V E T F N H T P M C Z D Z H R G R G G E I K Y E B L A Z E R S H X R S R S Z P V W H H F K S I V T L F T K O W T X K C T
ALUMNI FOOTBALL SPIRIT RED HOMECOMING PARTY BLACK BLAZERS TAILGATE CHEERLEADER
Sudoku Answer
O ! G ZERS
A L B
Valdosta State University Alumni Association
Sponsored By:
Valdosta State University
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November 12, 2015
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DID YOU
KNOW?
What to look forward to: Movies still to come in 2015 Stuart Price
Legend Tom Hardy plays STAFF WRITER stprice@valdosta.edu twin gangsters Reggie and Ronnie Kray, two of the most notorious English criminals to date. The story follows these two brothers’ rise to fame through their underground criminal ring that flourished in the heart of London during the ‘50s and ‘60s. You may know Tom Hardy as Bane from “The Dark Knight Rises” or as the star of summer box office hit Mad Max. Hardy has played the welltrained criminal more than once in his career, but we should see a brand new side of him in “Legend,” scheduled to release Nov. 20. Creed Sylvester Stallone returns as Rocky Balboa to train the son of his biggest opponent Apollo Creed. Adonis Creed is played by Michael B. Jordan, a young, new actor who has already appeared in films such as “Fantastic 4” and “That Awkward Moment” in 2015. Thankfully, this movie won’t be full of an old man consistently being beaten into a pulp since Stallone’s character is returning purely as a coach to his former competitor’s son. Will Adonis be able to overcome an enemy that’s even bigger and “badder” than Apollo or will Rocky’s old feelings get in the way? Check out “Creed” in theaters Nov. 25. Daddy’s Home Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg. Enough said right? Seeing these guys team up for their first feature film
since “The Other Guys” has gotten me really excited for this movie. Ferrell plays an average-paid radio executive who’s fallen madly in love with a woman and her two children while Wahlberg plays a deadbeat dad who’s never shown much affection towards the kids until Ferrell’s character comes around. Hopefully this film will be just as amazing as the last time these guys teamed up and they’ll deliver another hit on Dec. 25! Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens Luke, Leia, and Han Solo make their return to the big screen later this year nearly forty years after the original premiered. Luckily the story takes place thirty years after Episode VI and features Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford playing the leads. This time around, JJ Abrams will be in charge of things and he’s had some fairly successful projects in the past such as both new Star Trek movies and the TV series Lost. Tune into theaters Dec. 18 and see if Star Wars VII can live up to the hype. Janis: Little Girl Blue From the little-known mind of Amy Berg out of L.A. comes a documentary on one of the most influential music makers in recent history. This film premiered at the 2015 Toronto Film Festival. Her story is told mostly through hand-written letters from Janis to her family and friends as she traveled around the country living the rock and roll lifestyle all throughout the sixties. This film is set to premier nation-wide on Nov. 27.
Only about 5 percent of alcohol leaves your body through sweat, urine, and breath; 95 percent is metabolized by the liver.
‘Fallout 4’ review Stella Henderson, Jefferson LeBlanc
PHOTO EDITOR, MULTIMEDIA EDITOR sthenderson@valdosta.edu, jsleblanc@valdosta.edu War never changes, but the “Fallout” series has seen a lot of changes over the past decade. “Fallout 4” is here and has already sold over a million copies on PC consoles alone, beating records in preorders and sales in the first week that have been recorded by online game retailer, Steam. The game itself not only came out for PC, but Xbox One and the Playstation 4. The game play is far better than any previous “Fallout” entry in terms of the shooting mechanics. “Fallout 3” had quite a few bullet sponges, and Bethesda was wise enough to not make “Destiny 2.0” and in fact make a game where your bullets feel dangerous, and so do the enemy’s. Using V.A.T.S. is a lot of fun as well, as it still calls back to the old turn based roots of the series and allows you to pause the battlefield and take accurate shots at exactly where you want to hit your enemies. Every move is a tactical advantage. You can wound a chasing mutant’s legs, or cut a raiders arm clean off, allowing
you to end the battle without ending a life. Combat isn’t the only focus in the game. For the first time in “Fallout” history, you can not only survive, but thrive in this wasteland world. In a very minecraftian user interface, you can create settlements block by block, that match the world’s aesthetic. This is one game that just might keep you frozen to your screen for 200 years. Immersion is what has recently brought the “Fallout” community to a separation. The graphics, while pretty to look at due to its use of vibrant colors, are not up to modern standards. However, while the textures are lower than usual and the character models look a bit more “cartoony” than most others (which actually look pretty close to the pre-rendered characters to the 1997 fallout game), the game is definitely stylized. Although not always realistic, it’s very pleasing to look at. “Fallout 4” has its issues with a weaker campaign and its many glitches, but this game is definitely strong enough to last until “Fallout 5” comes out. We have our fingers on the trigger and our thumbs raised up for “Fallout 4!”
November 12, 2015
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DID YOU
KNOW?
According to WTF fun fact #534: Writing down your worries just before taking an exam can boost your scores.
VSU will say goodbye to long time professor and mentor Shirley Hardin Niamani Carlyle-Hollis Staff Writer ntcarlyle@valdosta.edu
VSU will bid farewell to yet another great professor. Dr. Shirley Hodge Hardin, Valdosta State University Director of African American Studies and Professor of English, will be retiring after 40 years of teaching. Effective on January 1, 2016, Dr. Hardin will officially be a retired great, but not without celebration. A committee of Valdosta State graduates is hosting a retirement celebration in her honor that is set to take place on January 16, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. The establishment of an academic scholarship for VSU students will also take place at this special event. For years, Dr. Hardin has taught, encouraged and mentored hundreds of students throughout her career. Starting in 1976, Dr. Hardin accumulated many academic accomplishments, some of which include coordinating “Helping Everyone Receive Optimum Educational Success” Institute, or HEROES, and a USG Board of Regents co-sponsored African American Male Initiative, which involved a successful four-year academic partnership between VSU and 25 Valdosta High School ninth-grade African American males. “My true vocation has always been teaching and learning, imparting knowledge and life lessons while learning from others,” said Hardin. “I have always sought to leave every individual much better—knowledge and character wise—than when he or she first walked into my classroom.”
“I am convinced that the part of my job I enjoy the most is imparting knowledge to my students and learning from them as well” Dr. Hardin is a dedicated member of several distinguished, professional organizations, such as the National Association of African American Studies and Affiliates. She currently has two major works in progress “Love and Laugh: The Collected Poems of Shirley H. Hardin” and “Us Somethin’ Special: Four Generations of Southern African American Women’s Voices.” She has devoted much of her life to community agencies, institutions and outreach ministries, which are educational, social, civic and faith-based, in the Valdosta and Lowndes County area, and she has been a committed member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. for 43 years. One cannot help but to be inspired by the tenacity that Dr. Hardin exudes on a daily basis. Her hard work and dedication have not been in vain, as she has been the recipient of numerous academic awards including the “Valdosta/Lowndes County Educator of the Year” and the “2015 Lifetime Achievement Award in Education and Community Service.”
Valdosta community unites for a day of fun and games: The American Sign Language club sponsors a Deaf Field Day Nov. 6 LaShawn Oglesby
College Life Editor lsoglesby@valdosta.edu Nov. 6 VSU’s American Sign Language club sponsored a Deaf Field Day. Six local school systems participated with 65 students in attendance and participants as young as three years old. The event was held at the practice field by the tennis courts on VSU campus. Each school system had its own color, mainly for security reasons. Though this was the first year for the field day event Kelly Spell, the staff interpreter and South Eastern Interpreter Support Group affiliate, hopes to “make it an annual thing.”
“This is way to get them all together and help each other out. It’s just a way to make Valdosta better,” Spell said. There were many activities and games for the kids including an egg, ring and water balloon toss, sack and wheelbarrow race, tug of war, fruit rollup eating contest and others. Some VSU students participated as volunteers whether they knew sign language or not. One volunteer, Justin Worlock a graduate assistant said, “Participating in this changes your perspective.” See pictures on page 12
“I am convinced that the part of my job I enjoy the most is imparting knowledge to my students and learning from them as well,” said Hardin. “As a teacher, I pray that I am able to look beyond an individual’s apparent flaws, social handicaps and academic shortcomings, to envision the success that person can become.” However, the announcement of Dr. Hardin’s retirement does not come easy for many, as she has been such a light in so many people’s lives. “It is going to be really different going into the AFAM Department and Dr. Hardin not being there,” said Senior Tynisha Bledsoe. “She has made such a huge impact on my life and been such an inspiration. You know she just pushes you to be great and the best you can be. I’m sure everyone is going to miss her.” While the transition may be hard for many of her students to make, there is certainly a mutual respect and love that Dr. Hardin has expressed for her students and the VSU campus. “Of course I will miss those students who are eager to learn, eager to share with others. I will miss the creativity, energy, excitement of being in the classroom,” said Hardin. “I will miss my involvement in delighting audiences with academic lecturers and cultural performances. In African American Studies, I have always
Rebecka McAleer and Von Kennedy/THE SPECTATOR
tried to center our students in their own culture as well as show the interdisciplinary of the subject matter.” Dr. Hardin has strived to live according to the same values that she has tried to instill in her students, and wants to encourage all of VSU to understand where they come from and where they are going. “First, embrace your racial and cultural heritage, defy the damaging stereotypes and learn to appreciate the real beauty of diversity found among all groups of people,” said Hardin. “Second, I am addicted to Maya Angelou’s wisdom, especially when she says ‘I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will
forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.’ In short, I have tried to live my life –in and out of the classroom –encouraging success and individual creativity.” Though Dr. Hardin may not be present on campus after her retirement, her legacy and the many lessons and seeds of knowledge that she has planted throughout the years will continue to inspire VSU students and faculty for years to come. Tickets for Dr. Hardin’s retirement celebration are limited. Registration and ticket information can be found at http://www. valdostastate.org/payingitforward.
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Deaf Field Day Jordan Barela/THE SPECTATOR
Eating only Ramen is a thing of the past, real microwavable meals are the future for college students Carlius Williams
Staff Writer twanmook@gmail.com There are many items that are considered dorm room necessities when it comes to food, but there is one item in particular that every college student needs to make a good dorm room meal— the microwave. Some of the dorms on VSU’s campus come equipped with microwaves and there are some that don’t. Either way, having a microwave could mean the difference between having a meal and not being able to eat at all. Many students may choose not to eat at the dining halls or fast food restaurants on campus, and the microwave provides a way to make healthy meals without needing a stove or having to leave your room. There are a variety of foods that you can make with a microwave, and it certainly beats eating junk food on campus or not having enough money in your FLEX account to get Ciroc wings from Big Nick’s. While there are different kinds of meals that you can make from your dorm, I’m not talking about cooking chicken in the microwave like Hottie from the Flavor of Love. But, you can make things like grits, oatmeal, quesadillas, baked potatoes, nachos, soups, and bacon all without a stove. To cook bacon with a microwave, simply lay four layers of paper towels on a plate with a layer of bacon on top of it. One minute per slice should have you in the game, but you can cook the bacon longer in 30 second increments if it is not crispy enough. You can also cook steamed vegetables. Typically you would need to cook them on high for three to four minutes. Eggs, believe it or not, can also be cooked in the microwave. You
can make them in practically every way, from sunny side up, poached and even scrambled. However, you do not want to try to boil an egg because it could possibly blow up in the microwave. To bake a potato, simply poke a hole in it with a fork and microwave it for 10 minutes. Make sure you flip it after 5 minutes. Many students have tried making several of the foods listed above and concur that cooking in a microwave is better than not being able to cook anything at all. “Veggies, bacon and baked potatoes— I have had them before in the microwave. It was good, but cooking food on the stove is always better,” said Khadisia Allen, a junior prenursing major. Cooking with a microwave can be healthy, but there are a couple things to consider. Remember to always follow the safety instructions. Make sure that the items are microwavable safe. Try to avoid foam trays and plastic wrap because they could be hazardous and cause harmful chemicals to migrate into foods. Be careful to avoid electrical hazard in a dorm where other equipment like laptops, toasters hair dryers and irons might compete with each other for electricity and may even over heat. Avoid using an extension cord with your microwave as well. Being a college student means making the most of all of the resources you are given. Sometimes, that means you have to get a little innovative and a microwave can help you do just that. There are a plethora of things you can cook with a microwave, and every student can definitely benefit from owning one.
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November 12, 2015
VSU Homecoming
2015
Stella Henderson & Kenzie Kesselring/THE SPECTATOR
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November 12, 2015
VSU History
Under head football coach David Dean, the Blazers haven’t lost a Homecoming game.
VSU faces must-win Homecoming game Tiarra Bell
Staff Writer tcbell@valdosta.edu With playoff hopes on the line, Valdosta State (7-2, 4-2 GSC) will cap off Homecoming week on Saturday, Nov. 14, when they host the Florida Tech Panthers (7-3, 5-1 GSC). This football contest will be pretty big no matter what, with the game representing not only Homecoming, but also the Blazer’s last regular season and home game as they hunt for both a Gulf South Conference championship and a chance to clinch a playoff berth. The Blazers come into the weekend riding high after running the gauntlet over the past four weeks, taking down Mississippi College, Shorter, West Alabama, and defeating Delta State this past weekend 40-34 in triple overtime. Valdosta State’s Cedric O’Neal made history against Delta State, when he became Valdosta State’s all-time rushing leader with 3,907 yards. In addition, O’Neal’s three touchdowns on the night boosted him to a GSC-leading 13 touchdowns on the season. With it being wide receiver Greg Dent’s first year playing at Valdosta State, he thought they couldn’t be beat, but with the back-to-back two losses, head coach David Dean reminded the players, “It’s not how we start, it’s how we finish.” “That’s the mentality we have going from every practice to every game,” Dent said. “For Florida Tech, we just have to continue to play a complete game on offense, defense, and special teams. Our defense has been on a roll these last two games and they have to take it into this game. As for offense, we have to stay explosive.” Valdosta State comes into this week averaging 182.3 rushing yards per game and producing 225.56 passing yards. The Blazers will meet the Panthers for the third time in their history. The Blazers squeezed out their second win in the series, 31-29 last season. In last season’s meeting, Valdosta State established a double-digit lead in the second half, but survived an 80yard touchdown pass by quarterback Mark Cato that pulled
Florida Tech:
7-3 No. 3 in GSC (5-1) 6th in NCAA D-II
Courtesy of Darian Harris The Blazers’ defensive front readies for North Alabama’s offense on an Oct. 3 game. Valdosta State was defeated 34-12 by UNA.
the Panthers within two points with 2:15 left in the final quarter. The Blazers iced the victory by recovering the ensuing on-side kick. Coming off a six-game winning streak this year, Florida Tech is playing just its third season of football. The Panthers are averaging 31.6 points per game, while holding their opponents to 23.5 points. At this point in the season, Florida Tech is nearly equivalent in production from both components of its offense. The team is averaging 184.3 rushing yards per game, down from 198.9 in 2014. They have produced 256.5 passing yards each game this season, from 288.7 last year. Cato has thrown for 1,854 yards, with 18 touchdowns. Running back Antwuan Haynes has been a good
Valdosta State:
7-2 No. 4 in GSC (4-2) 7th in NCAA D-II
WIN OR GO HOME
contributor for the Panthers this season, producing 1,132 all-purpose yards, while Trevor Sand leads the team rushing 657 yards this season. Chris Stapleton leads the FIT defense with 80 tackles, while J.J. Sanders leads the team with seven sacks. This past weekend, the Panthers pulled off one of the bigger upsets in Division II over the No.1 ranked West Georgia (9-1, 5-1 GSC), handing the Wolves their first loss of the season. The final score was 28-26. No. 23 Valdosta State and Florida Tech stand as two of the top 10 teams in the NCAA Super Region II. The NCAA selected the much anticipated contest as the Division II Football Game of the Week for Saturday. The matchup will be aired live on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN app. Kickoff is slated for 3 p.m. at BazemoreHyder Stadium in Valdosta.
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Sitting volleyball benefit for Wounded Warrior Project
Senior soccer stars succeed
Niamani Carlyle-Hollis Staff Writer ntcarlyle@valdosta.edu
Two senior players are named first team all-GSC Aldean Starr
Staff Writer astarr@valdosta.edu After a disappointing season, the Valdosta State soccer team had some bright spots to end the year, headlined by the stellar play of two of their star individuals. The Blazers’ soccer team ended the season with two first team allGSC athletes, senior goalkeeper McCall Gardner and senior defender Shelby Jennings. Gardner was a transfer from the University of Memphis who eventually transferred to VSU because she was “a little too far away from home.” Gardner also said that former Blazers Abbi Edwards and Shelby Jennings played a big part in her decision to come to VSU. Gardner patiently waited her turn to show her capabilities of becoming an all-GSC goalkeeper, showing her skills at a position that has produced consecutive all-GSC goalkeepers, with Olivia Mills being honored last year and Gardner being the latest in that chain. Gardner helped the Blazers put up great defensive numbers along with teammate/all-GSC defender Shelby Jennings. Jennings was able to end her collegiate soccer career with two consecutive all-GSC honors for the past two seasons. “It took 18 years of hard work, inside of practice and outside of practice,” Jennings said. Throughout her career, Jennings scored a total of four goals, four assists and over 3,500 minutes played. Together Gardner and Jennings put up a spectacular defensive season for the Blazers with Jennings leading to four shutouts and played a total of 1,593 minutes, while Gardner ranked third in the conference in save percentage and second in saves per game. Gardner and Jennings knew each other well before becoming Blazers; they were also high school teammates at Peachtree Ridge for two years. “Both of us receiving this achievement is really awesome because we got to see each other grow,” Jennings said. Gardner added “I am thankful to have not only played high school soccer but finished my college career with Shelby Jennings, she has been a great friend and teammate.”
Stella Henderson/The Spectator
Students were tasked with playing volleyball from their knees for a benefit event. There was a $1 donation to get inside and all proceeds went to the Wounded Warrior Project.
Stella Henderson/The Spectator
The participants accepted the challenge of playing volleyball while sitting down. The event was held in the Campus Recreational Center.
The VSU Campus Recreation held a Sitting Volleyball Demonstration on Wednesday, as a benefit event for the Wounded Warrior Project. There was a huge turnout as campus clubs and community organizations competed against each other in such a unique form of volleyball. Participants were required to either sit or kneel on the court in order to try and score points against the opposing team. With three courts set up, teams such as the Collegiate Men of VSU and the Valdosta Parks and Recreation Center battled it out in a fun filled environment all in an effort to get the grand prize of free pizza. “This was a great event where everyone was able to come out
and have fun and since it is Veteran’s Day, it makes it that much more special to be a part of this that benefits the Wounded Warrior Project,” participant Kaala White said. “Free pizza, enjoying the company of friends, and being able to be beneficial to others, you can’t beat that experience.” The Campus Rec required a $1 donation to get in the door and all proceeds are being donated to the Wounded Warrior Project. Though things may have gotten somewhat competitive at times, participants, officials, and spectators alike all maintained smiles and continued to cheer each other on. “It’s like you know you want to win, but we are all family here so it really doesn’t matter who wins or loses,” Elijah Jones said. “We are all here to have fun and enjoy homecoming.”
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November 12, 2015