Volume 87 Issue 11
November 6, 2014
Today at VSU Hall vs. Hall Stroll OffCome and watch the residence halls battle it out for the title. The stroll-off will be held in the Student Union Ballrooms B&C at 7:14 p.m. Admission is $1. Good food for a good cause - Come out today to the Front Lawn today from 6-9 p.m for a low country boil. Phi Mu will be hosting this event to help Childrens Miracle Network Hospital. Presale tickets are $8 but can also be purchased for $10 at the door .
This Day in History Four Score On this day in 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected the 16th president of the United States. Lincoln went on to become one of the most loved presidents in history and is known for issuing the Emancipation Proclamation. Source: History.com
Weather Today Mostly Cloudy
Friday
Tyra Mills/THE SPECTATOR Valdosta citizens wait in line to vote on Tuesday evening at Northside Baptist Church. Elections results revealed that Georgia will remain a Republican state.
Election follows historic pattern Austin Wells
Staff Writer amwells@valdosta.edu The Republican Party’s overwhelming victory on Tuesday night can be at least partly explained by past history, according to a political science professor at VSU. Dr. Richard Saeger, a political science professor at VSU, explained how the Republican Party’s success shouldn’t come as a surprise considering the president’s low popularity. “It seems to be against the presidency ,even though he’s not running,” Dr. Saeger said. “Most of the focus of the campaigns are against Obama.” Dr. Saeger explained how the party in control tends to be the losing party on Election Day. “The party out of power generally does very well,” Dr. Saeger said. “In a couple of
years, it’ll be the other way around.” Following the election, the Republican Party now has the majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, also giving them full control of Congress. Among the 32 states that voted for a senator, 20 of those states voted for the Republican candidate. Georgia was among those states as David Perdue received 53 percent, beating out Democrat nominee Michelle Nunn. It wasn’t as close in Lowndes County, as the county gave Perdue 58.6 percent of the vote. Not much will change for the House of Representatives, as the majority of the votes went the Republican’s way there as well. This is also true for Georgia. Of the seven districts with two nominees, one Democrat won, and that was Sanford
“We as a people have a say. It’s important to use the voice we have and make it count.”
- Henry Bochner sophomore mass media
Bishop of District 2. Buddy Carter , Tom Price, Rob Woodall, Doug Collins, Jody Hice and Rick Allen are the rest of Georgia’s district winners, and they are all Republicans. Among the 32 states that voted for a governor, only 11 of those states voted for a non-Republican nominee (10 voted Democrat and Alaska voted for an Independent). Georgia continued to vote
Kayla Stroud/THE SPECTATOR as it did with the Senate and House, re-electing Republican candidate Nathan Deal as governor. The voter turnout for Lowndes County was 44.85 percent, and among that percentage, the college-aged demographic was the second highest voter group. The only age group surpassing the college-aged group was the 65+ age group, meaning that many young adults in Valdosta had a say in this year’s election. Several students spoke on the 2014 election and particularly why they feel it’s important. “We as a people have a say,” Henry Bochner, sophomore mass media
Sunny
major, said. “It’s important to use the voice we have and make it count.” Jalene Snowden, sophomore mass media major, shared her thoughts on the election.“I was pulling for the Democratic nominees to win,” Snowden said. “Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to vote this year, but the election means a lot. It’s our future, and I can’t believe I didn’t take part in voting for our future. I’ll be sure to vote next time.” The presidential election will take place in 2016.
David Perdue
Saturday Partly Cloudy
Source: Weather.com
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Dr. Richard Vodde, VSU faculty member, speaks at the Domestic Violence Awareness Panel hosted by the Office of Social Equity Nov. 4. This forum was one of many held on campus recently that focused on sexual assault awareness and prevention.
Domestic violence awareness panel meets Tyra Mills
Web Editor tnmills@valdosta.edu As the midterm elections came to a close Tuesday night, VSU students gathered in a Bailey Science Center classroom to partake in a Domestic Violence Awareness Panel hosted by the Office of Social Equity. Topics discussed included if and when a man should defend himself against women and how a
Inside This Issue
- OPINIONS: Mandatory Fees: The necessary evil
- FEATURES: Andrew Jeschke wins first place in VSU’s 48 Hour Film Festival - SPORTS: Volleyball climbs to No. 3 in GSC rankings
man should do so if the need arises. Recent brawls between celebrity couples such as Rihanna and Chris Brown, and Ray Rice and Janay Rice were also discussed. Panelists included Dr. Richard Vodde and Dr. Lana Kim, both VSU faculty members, and SGA President Tyler Barker. Professional staff from The Haven, a local nonprofit organization that provides temporary emergency shelter to victims of family violence and sexual assault, were also in attendance.
New faces help Blazers thrive See Sports for more
Barker said that there are multiple resources around campus to help students if they are in abusive relationships or have been victims of assault. These resources include the campus police department and the campus counseling center. In recent weeks, there have been several forums spotlighting domestic violence and sexual assault. VSU Women of Diversity and the APO service fraternity both hosted forums on Oct. 30, and the Office of Social Equity plans to host another one Nov. 10 at 5:30 p.m. in the Student Union Theater.
On the Web w w w. v s u s p e c t a t o r. c o m
Check out LaMarcus Wilkerson’s story, “Demolishing a piece of history,” on the web!
PAGE 2 | VSUSPECTATOR.COM
NOVEMBER 6, 2014
Students, faculty protest future pipeline Members of VSU and Wiregrass fight against the Sabal Trail Pipeline, scheduled for completion in 2017 Brittney Penland
ASST. FEATURES EDITOR bdpenland@valdosta.edu Protestors gathered on Oct. 31 at the corner of Park Avenue and Patterson Street to stand against the building of the Sabal Trail gas pipeline. The pipeline, scheduled
to be in service May 2017, will run 196 miles through Georgia, expanding Florida’s access to sources of natural gas throughout the U.S. The protesters were associated with VSU’s Students Against Violating the Environment and Wiregrass Activ-
ists for Clean Energy. The costumes they were dressed in for Halloween attracted honking and “thumbs-ups” from those driving by. The protest featured Dr. Micheal Noll, physics, astronomy, and geosciences professor, wearing a Guy
Brittney Penland/THE SPECTATOR Above and Right: Protesters gather at VSU on Oct. 31 to protest the future Sabal Trail gas pipeline, which will run through Georgia.
Fauxe mask. Natural gas pipelines decrease property value, cause landowners to lose the right to plant deep-rooted trees and increase taxes. There have been 144 natural gas pipeline accidents in the U.S. since 2010.
Brittney Penland/THE SPECTATOR
SGA discusses safety, scheduling The weekly meeting focused on VSU’s annual safety evaluation, moving Spring Break and a new academic policy lit areas. They also noted that sheet signs are not allowed to be hung on smaller pine trees around campus due to damages to the trees. Next on the list was the discussion of the Academic Planning Committee pushing Spring Break to Easter. The academic committee is divided on this topic. SGA plans to make a survey to see when students would prefer to
Taymara Tait
STAFF WRITER tatait@valdosta.edu This week, SGA discussed topics concerning the campus safety walk, academic planning and academic scheduling, among others. The Campus Safety Committee takes an annual walk around campus and analyzes lighting and the safety surrounding the campus environment to check signs, examine the parking deck for safety hazards and find insufficiently
have Spring Break. An academic forgiveness policy may go into effect next year as well. Under this policy, students with an inadequate grade can retake the class for a better grade to improve their cumulative GPA. Petitions were passed around to SGA members, and 25 signatures are required by Monday in order for the policy to be passed. SGA also discussed its
effort to sell Krispy Kreme Donuts around campus. Comptroller Tamelia Hall said this fundraiser is raising money for SGA’s scholarship emergency fund. Donuts haven’t sold as expected and members were encouraged to be more active in the effort of selling the donuts. Another subject matter addressed at the SGA meeting was the prospect of a student philanthropy committee, which would mainly focus on raising money for projects desired by the student body.
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: Each row of nine cells must contain each of the numbers from 1 to 9 once and only once. Each column of nine cells must contain each of the numbers from 1 to 9 once and only once. Each of the nine 3 by 3 boxes of nine cells must contain each of the numbers from 1 to 9 ANSWER ON PAGE 5
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Upcoming Events Toy & Clothing Drive The Philosophy and Religious Studies Club is hosting a toy and clothing drive during November in honor of Sharonda James, a VSU student who passed away this summer. Bring donations to Ashley Hall Room 1202. Free STD Testing Nov. 6 2:30-3:30 p.m. Student Health Center (Upstairs) Come by for a free and confidential gonorrhea and
chlamydia testing. You must have a valid VSU ID. Call 229-333-5886 for additional information.
design).” Seminars are open to all students, faculty, staff and the public.
Science Seminar Series
Sexual Assault Prevention Meeting
Nov. 6 4-5 p.m. Powell Hall Auditorium
Nov. 10 5:30 p.m. Student Union Theater
The next installment of the weekly Science Seminar Series will feature Dr. Joshua Reece from the Department of Biology. Dr. Reece’s presentation is titled “Persistent Fallacies in the Teaching of Evolution (that have nothing to do with intelligent
For more information, contact Selenseia Holmes at saholmes@valdosta.edu. Blood Drive Nov. 11 12:30-5:30 p.m. Student Union Ballrooms
The Chi Omega sorority and Sigma Nu fraternity will be hosting a blood drive for the American Red Cross. No appointment necessary. Belly Dancing Nov. 12 6-7 p.m. Student Union Meeting Room 2 Sign-up in the Student Life Office. Space is limited. For more information, contact Candicee Childs at cachilds@ valdosta.edu.
Police Briefs Nov. 5
Nov. 2
Oct. 31
Several vehicles at the recreation center were reportedly broken into by a male wearing all black and possibly possessing a pry bar.
A MacBook was reportedly stolen from Centennial Hall.
A student reported that his book bag was stolen from his vehicle in the Oak Street Lot.
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NOVEMBER 6, 2014
Do celebratory months unite or create divisions?
Our point of view...
Kenzie Kesselring
Asst. Opinions Editor klkesselring@valdosta.edu When it comes to American history, Caucasian men are constantly celebrated. A white male was the first president of the United States. White males have been credited with solving some of the world’s largest problems, and have been the ones running the government since the beginning of American history. After growing weary of being oppressed, strong women and strong African-American men and women decided to make “the land of the free” a reality for all people. These incredibly independent women who desired the right to vote, equal pay for equal work and to end discrimination of all types against themselves, deserve a
Alison Stephen
Mandatory Fees: The necessary evil Mandatory fees are a nuisance. They’ve been the bane of the bill for years and continue to irritate future students at the same rate that they seem to rise. While removing mandatory fees completely would be appreciated by all, it’s not a practical solution. Saying we don’t want to pay for things we don’t use is an understandable argument. No one really wants to shell out money, borrowed money at that, to pay for a recreation center they visit once to complete a resolution or a parking deck on which they don’t have a car to park. Money makes the world
go ‘round and this campus is no exemption to that rule. Our school, though it has its issues, also has incredible perks. Those fees are a part of a bigger plan. That money goes into the student experience — a selling point for recruitment which leads to more students. The system in place benefits students and allows our campus to become bigger and better. The fact of the matter is those fees are a necessary evil. In the same way that taxes essentially provide money to help citizens, fees do the same thing. Agreeing with the enforce-
ment of mandatory fees does not mean that power should be abused. The responsibility falls on the student body not to blindly complain about the fees, but to be the watchdog of the funds. Pay attention to where it’s going and observe the changes. There are meetings where the fees are discussed and clearly outlined. While our editorials tend to call on administration to improve difficult situations, we also urge students to flex their muscles. Students must remember that we have a voice and power; however, we cannot waste it on complaints without substance and claims without support.
Alex Tostado
Sports Editor ajtostado@valdosta.edu Black History Month and Hispanic Heritage Month are creating differences, not uniting cultures. On the heels of Hispanic Heritage Month and with February rapidly approaching, this topic needs to be discussed. We should not stop educating children about black history and Hispanic history. We should do the exact opposite. These cultures should be celebrated year round, not just confined to one month out of the year. The school curriculum should include the history
This editorial was written by a member of the editorial staff and expresses the general opinion of The Spectator.
Online abortion video teaches viewers nothing Woman undergoes abortion, posts video online to inform viewers of abortion process Tatyana Phelps
Copy Editor tnphelps@valdosta.edu Emily Letts thought that uploading a video of her abortion be a teaching tool and would show women that it doesn’t have to hurt — but did she ask the baby? Although Emily Letts, a 25-year-old abortion counselor, is supposed to be a “sex educator,” she wasn’t using any form of birth control and unintentionally became pregnant last November. During the video, it seems that she was trying to encourage abortion by showing that it doesn’t hurt rather than “teaching” in any kind of way. What was more disturbing than anything is that when Letts admits she was going to have an abortion, she said it while laughing and smiling. Since when did abortion become a laughing matter? During the procedure, she says things such as “Yeah, cool,” and “It feels good.” She even finished the process saying, “I’m done; yay!” It was quite shocking and disturbing. Letts says that her goal was to show that it is possible to
have “a positive abortion story.” There isn’t anything positive about abortion, especially under her circumstances. It’s a little more understandable when women actually try to prevent pregnancies, rather than becoming pregnant by failed birth control or a broken condom. “I wanted to show it wasn’t scary,” Letts told Cosmopolitan. Letts wasn’t looking at the bigger picture. There are a lot of other aspects involved in
MCT Campus
abortion, such as if a woman will regret it, if she feels that she is making the right decision, if that’s the only option she has or if it will hurt her chances of having a baby when she is ready. The fact that this woman believes that her video can be considered a teaching tool is unacceptable. Her video teaches nothing except that it is possible for an abortion to not hurt her, but the baby wasn’t mentioned even once.
Sports Editor: Alex Tostado Photo Editor: Sierra King Multimedia Editor: Cole Edwards Web Editor: Tyra Mills Copy Editor: Tatyana Phelps Social Media Editor: Jordan Barela
of minorities always, not just emphasize them in their respective months. Yes, we learn about Martin Luther King Jr. and Gandhi, but it is not nearly enough. Students need to learn about Cesar Chavez and the Harlem Renaissance from an early age. Native Americans should be celebrated for their cultures, but instead we learn about the Trail of Tears, barely. According to the 2013 U.S. Census Bureau, Latinos made up 17 percent of the United States population. The African-American population was at 14.2 percent in 2012.
progress these great people have made toward equality. These annual reminders also encourage people from these minority groups to be thankful for all of the fighting that was done for them before they were in the world, and all of the fighting they still have left to do to reach true equality. In an ideal world, people wouldn’t need a month to remind them of the great men and women who worked so hard for minorities to be seen as equal to white men, but that is not the case. The history of America is so heavy with white male leaders and influencers, but those are not the only ones who shaped America into the great country it is today. If we forget about the others, we are turning a blind eye to a huge portion of our history. The school curriculum, however, does not mirror this in the least. It’s no secret that schools don’t teach enough history of minorities, whether it be African-American, Latino or women’s history. Children are still being taught that Christopher Columbus “discovered” North and South America. We still recognize Columbus Day. With the minority population in this country growing as quickly as it is, the school boards need to start teaching children the real history of this country. Once we take away these heritage months, America can focus on uniting cultures instead of dividing them.
Letter to the Editor
Director of Clothesline Project clears the air on BOR policy disagreement On June 23, Dr. Mark George, adjunct professor for the Women’s and Gender Studies program (WGST), used his VSU email to send a letter to the governor and General Assembly asking them to “no longer endorse, promote, and support Confederate holidays, events, and historic sites.” Dr. George’s social justice action was conducted on behalf of the Mary Turner Project (MTP) for which he is the coordinator. MTP is an anti-racism organization that Dr. George and VSU students started while he was a tenure track professor in the Sociology Department (2008). During the week of July 16 I received a visit from Provost Dr. Rogers to talk about Dr. George. Dr. Rogers said Dr. George had used “state resources for political purposes” and that was not allowed per BOR policy. I explained the WGST program does social justice work per our program’s and university’s mission and the faculty identify as “activist scholars.” I stated that I send letters to the governor and other elected officials all the time concerning battered and sexually assaulted women. He said I could do that as a “private citizen using my gmail account” but “not as the WGST director,” and I could “not use my VSU account” --“state resources for political purposes.” I said WGST wouldn’t be able to do any social justice work (Clothesline Project, etc.) because everything we do is political. In August I wrote a letter to President McKinney which resulted in a meeting. I told Dr. McKinney the WGST program would not be able to do any social justice work (Clothesline
Advertising Manager: Aimee Napier Graphic Designer: Mike LaGon Faculty Advisers: Dr. Pat Miller, Dr. Ted Geltner, Cindy Montgomery Reporters/Photographers: Lia Armistead, Mayah Cantave, Jessica Cooke, Kenzie Kesselring, Brittney Penland, LaShawn Oglesby, Marquez Slaughter, Kayla Stroud, Taymara Tait, Christopher Webb, Austin Wells, Kristin Whitman, Adrienne Fry
Project, etc.). He stated, “I like what you do.” I said if there is a policy stating that we can’t use “state resources for political purposes” and Dr. George’s anti-racism social justice action was not allowed, the other WGST social justice actions were just as political and could not be allowed either. I stated it would not be fair to allow social justice actions which gain positive attention for the university and are politically correct but to deny actions that are controversial and gain negative attention. I stated the only BOR policy that I could find talked about political campaigning and endorsing candidates and had nothing to do with what Dr. George did or what I do. He stated he would contact the BOR attorney to get the policy so we could clarify what is allowed. I still have not received the policy. On Oct. 21 the chief of staff, Dr. Kimberly Luse, contacted me after she was contacted by a Spectator reporter concerning the Clothesline Project. Dr. Luse contends that the two actions “are unrelated issues.” They are not unrelated! They are BOTH political social justice actions. If one is unacceptable per a policy, then both are. The administration cannot have it both ways. If they say there is a policy that prohibits the “use of state resources for political purposes” and warranted the actions taken against Dr. George, then they need to produce the policy. Tracy Woodard, Ph.D. Director, Women’s and Gender Studies Professor of Sociology
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month of celebration. Allotting these heroic women a month out of the year to be endlessly celebrated is so important because without it they would go unrecognized. The white men who are celebrated and praised every month of the year would easily overshadow these women. The same is true for the African-Americans who participated in the Civil Rights movement and those who continue to make progress in the field of African American rights. Without Women’s History Month, African-American History Month, and all of the other minority celebration months, there wouldn’t be a yearly reminder of all of the
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NOVEMBER 6, 2014
PAGE 4 | VSUSPECTATOR.COM
Andrew Jeschke wins first place at VSU’s 48 hour film festival Brittney Penland
ASST. FEATURES EDITOR bdpenland@valdosta.edu Andrew Jeschke, senior mass media student from Alpharetta, Georgia won first place overall and first place fan favorite in VSU’s 48 hour film festival on Oct.19. “The film [Strange Fruit] takes a twisted look on realism through the lives of three individuals linked through extra-ordinary occurrences,” Jeschke said. The three requirements for the film were to use hand sanitizer as a prop, have a
Brittney Penland/THE SPECTATOR Andrew Jeschke makes final edits on his film, “Strange Fruit.”
character that is dying, and use the line of dialogue, “Did anyone else hear trumpets?” Jeschke is the writer, direc-
tor, producer and editor of the film. “This is the first time I got to create something for
myself in a while,” Jeschke said. “I wanted to make a film that was shocking and in your face. “It was great to see everybody’s hard work,” Jeschke said. “I get to compete against the mass media faculty in a 48 hour film festival next semester. It would be cool to beat the professors.” Jeshcke discovered his interest in video production at an early age. “In eighth grade, I wasn’t very good at skate boarding, but I could make videos of my friends skate boarding,” Jeschke said. “Then in high
school, my friends and I made short films. “I took broadcasting my senior year of high school and my teacher wanted me to enter into a film festival. I won first place and that’s when I decided I wanted to go to a college with a film department,” Jeschke said. Last summer, Jeschke worked as an office production assistant for the VH1 reality show, “G.R.I.T.S.” (Girls Raised In The South). “While working for the show, I learned a lot of great things and met people who are all passionate about the
same thing,” Jeschke said. Jeschke stays busy by working on other jobs such as creating commercials for downtown Valdosta, making corporate videos for Fusion Creative Marketing and making videos for Wiregrass Technical College. “I have been working for VSU’s production services for over a year,” Jeschke said. “I’ve been offered a job working for a media company in California when I graduate. I’d like to create art films; films that are a bit unconventional and push the limits in all perspectives.”
Vitamin C offers health : LEMONS benefits to victims of flu Flu season is creeping up on us and many of you are probably already stocking up on medications and tissues. Besides going to the grocery store and buying high
priced medications, you probably already have the ingredients in your house to combat any cold or flu. It turns out lemon can be used in a variety of ways to help the body save itself from the flu season. Lemons contain vitamin C, which is an immune booster and prevents the body from getting a cold. To get the full benefits, choose fresh lemons from the grocery store and try to stay away from pre-packaged lemon juice.
One simple way to incorporate lemon into your everyday routine is by drinking a cold glass of water with lemon juice every morning when you wake up. The lemon will freshen your breath and wake up your immune system, while the water will be adding extra fluids to the body to combat the dryness of a cough. For a different take on regular tea, try combining slices of a whole lemon, two pieces of ginger and honey. Put all of the ingredients in a jar and place it in the fridge overnight and it will slowly become jell like. In the morning scoop two tablespoons into a cup of hot water and let it steep for two minutes. The combination of the
lemon, honey and ginger with help flush out any toxins in the body, help with digestion and settle an upset stomach. Lemon also has the ability to clean the surfaces around the home and eliminate the bacteria and germs that build up. To increase the fighting power of your dish detergent, try adding a teaspoon of fresh lemon juice to help break down the stains. If you are cooking anything that has an un pleasant smell, rub your hands together with hand soap and a teaspoon of lemon juice to neutralize the odor so it will not linger. Besides buying flu medications and extra dish detergent, lemon is always a great alternative to use for your health and throughout the home.
The ‘Social Media Killer’ sets his sights on cyberbullying Marquez Slaughter
STAFF WRITER mjslaughter@valdosta.edu Cyberbullying is a nationwide issue that is at the top of the chart when it comes down to suicide and death rates. The award winning novel, “Lure to Death: The Social Media Killer,” focuses on the issue from the victim’s point of view. Blair London, the author of the novel, bases all of her stories on modern day crimes. London got the idea of the cyberbullying story from witnessing her classmates, who were referred to as the “nerds” and “geeks,” get bullied throughout high school. She took the opportunity to speak to them at their high school reunion. In the novel, there is a young man named Sandy
Bean who is bullied in high school. Bean is technology-savvy and starts on an invention in school that would make him millions, but this invention is destroyed by his classmates who bully him. He tries continuing the invention at home but starts a fire in the house, killing his parents. Bean blames the classmates who bully him for the death of his parents. Years later at the class reunion, Bean plans a revenge for the bullies by creating a special software to track them down and calls himself “The Social Media Killer.” Although this issue is a nonfictional topic, London said she chose to make it a fictional story to get people to read it. “I wanted to make an example, and make the reader
feel the emotions and get the point that I am making,” London said. London wanted to relate her work to the shows C.S.I. and Criminal Minds because these shows use real-life situations and twist them up for the audience. In a Smashwords.com interview on March 30, London said that her most effective book marketing techniques were with Facebook and Twitter, and since those are the most popular social media sites where cyberbullying is present, she said, “I only use them for the books.” She said she has been getting a lot of positive feedback on the novel from Twitter and Facebook. The book is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Smashwords.com.
Kristin Whitman/THE SPECTATOR Anjelica Jones, English major, takes a vision test at wellness fair Tuesday, Nov. 4 in Student Union.
Benefit and Wellness fair at VSU Kristin Whitman
ASST. SPORTS EDITOR krwhitman@valdosta.edu Flu season is in the works— are you prepared? The 9th annual Benefit and Wellness Fair took place this past Tuesday on the third floor of the Student Union and included free massages, prize giveaways and free or inexpensive flu shots. There were over 60 exhibitors at the event handing out information on health and answering any questions at their booth. The top floor of the Student Union was filled with
students, faculty, staff and alumni buzzing around the room to learn more about fitness demonstrations, such as yoga and Tai Chi, discount tickets to Wild Adventures, giveaways and prize drawings, refreshments and free mini manicures. At the benefit, there were free glucose/cholesterol, blood pressure, body mass index, hearing and vision screenings. “I had a vision screening,” Krystin Souter, senior biology major, said. “I found out I was pretty much blind.” Free flu shots were also given to the first 200 fac-
ulty, staff and VSU retirees provided by the University System of Georgia. After the first 200, a five-dollar fee was charged. Ten-dollar flu shots were given to students. Blaze hung around the wellness event from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and cheered on the visitors to be healthier and to take an interest in their daily wellness. The VSU wellness committee supports a well-rounded awareness and practice of healthy living by offering many programs and activities that address emotional, social, physical and intellectual benefits of VSU’s campus.
Confide a dream, and be inspired by others. What would it take to realize? Plot a course in simple steps. Take turns, and delegate what you can. Balance intensity with peace. Ease into a bubble bath or hot shower. Emotional release provides freedom. Trust a hunch. Take time for ritual and symbolism. Keep the faith. Appreciate partners, and celebrate an accomplishment. Pursue what you’ve been practicing, and hone your talents. Get organized, and find quality supplies. Add music to inspire creativity. Delight senses with color, scent, flavor, mood and beauty. Include a water element. Get dreamy. Invite someone you’d like to know better to play. Write, sing out, and broadcast your message. Wax philosophical as you experiment with new concepts. Abundance is available. Talk about your dreams for the future. Friends offer good advice. A fantastic idea could work. Set priorities. Pay bills before spending on frills. A celebratory dinner may be in order. Venture farther than ever. Wear your power suit. Finish an old job, and use the best parts from different options. Get persuaded by a stranger. A brilliant insight illuminates a new road with new options. Balance new work with old responsibilities. Prioritize plumbing. Accept assistance. Don’t pay more than you can afford. If you’re not getting paid, make sure you’re appreciated. It’s okay to invest in a future. Get stylish and go play with interesting people. Discover a delightful truth, and make an important connection. Put down roots. Results look better than expected. Streamline your routine. A touch of mystery doesn’t hurt. Get something you’ve always wanted, or find a way to get those tickets. Register for an opportunity. Consider your long-term plans. Creativity blossoms and collaboration flourishes. You and another are bonded by a shared dream. Keep your objective in mind. Clean up messes as they arise.
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VSUSPECTATOR.COM | PAGE 5
NOVEMBER 6, 2014
First year head coach takes team to GSC tournament VSU is looking for its second ever GSC tournament win and first since 2011 this weekendbeen against UWF because of those girls,” Kristin Whitman
Asst. Sports Editor krwhitman@valdosta.edu Your attention please, your attention please I would like to introduce you to first year coach Rebecca Nolin and her playoff-bound soccer team. VSU will be headed to the Gulf South Conference Tournament starting with a game of revenge against the West Florida Argonauts on Nov. 7. After a rocky start to the season with three losing games, the Blazers soon came together to finish out the regular season with a conference record of 9-2-1. Nolin gives all of the credit to the team. “This whole season has
Nolin said. “They continue to surprise me and have a motivation to win that just comes naturally.” The team says however, that the coach has a lot to do with their success and keeping them fresh. “I could not have asked for a better coach my senior year,” Olivia Mills, senior goal keeper, said. “Her positive and outgoing personality brought a lot to the team this year. I learned so much from her so quickly.” Since the beginning of the season, Nolin’s goal has been to make it into GSC tournament play. The team showed it had the same goal by winning four GSC home games in a row. “Ideally, we are looking
“I could not have asked for a better first year as a head coach. This team really made it worth every stressful moment and it is only good stress when you get results like we have.”
-Rebecca Nolin VSU soccer head coach for a conference win, going to the national tournament and going as far as we can go for each and every one of these players on our team,” Nolin said.
Now that the team has made it, she hopes to continue to push the team all the way for the first conference championship in school history. After the Blazers clawed their way past West Alabama Tigers 2-1 Sunday afternoon to clinch a tournament berth, they were able to sit back and wait alongside top-seeded team North Alabama as the two teams waited to see how the rest of the GSC played out. Nolin was relieved to see her team not have to have the stress of making it to postseason. “I could not have had a better first year as head coach,” Nolin said. “This team really made it worth every stressful moment and it is only good stress when you get results like we have.” The next stop for the Blazers will be in Pensacola, Florida as they take on UWF on Friday at 1:30 p.m. hoping to come back strong with a
Volleyball climbs to No. 3 in GSC rankings GSC tournament quarterfinals set to start Nov. 11, semifinals Nov. 13 Neil Frawley
Sports Writer ndfrawley@valdosta.edu With yet another win on Tuesday night at the University of West Georgia, the VSU volleyball team (19-7, 14-4) secured its third straight win and has ascended to third place in the Gulf South Conference. Two home matches remain on VSU’s schedule. Mississippi College (5-23) has lost its last seven matches, and University of West Alabama (9-19) losing its last four.
If VSU finishes the season undefeated at home, it will be the best finish since the 1998-99 season when it won 79 percent of its games. This team has a leg up on the 1998-99 team-the conference record. That team won 67 percent of the games while the current Blazers are winning 80 percent. VSU is ranked No. 6 in the region for the first time in more than 10 years. VSU has found its success through its defensive prowess, which head coach Mike Swan was hoping would be
much improved from a season ago when he took over the program. This year the team has a +6 block differential and a +46 dig differential. VSU is averaging 2.2 blocks and about 15 digs per set. VSU is converting its defense into offense well, by hitting 20 percent, which is fueling the Blazers 12 kills per set rate. Individuals leading the way for the team include setter Jessica Codato who leads the team with 958 assists. Senior Jenna Kirkwood leads the
team with 329 kills. Defensively Destiny Berry leads the team with 23 blocks, and Ashley Lala leads all members with 443 digs. The final weekend starts with MC on Friday at 6 p.m., followed by UWA on Saturday at 2 p.m. If VSU finishes the season second best in the GSC they will host two tournament matches. No.1 Shorter will be the sight of the GSC championship. Follow Neil on Twitter: @NeilFrawley
win after falling to the Argonauts 1-2 only a week ago. “The last game with West Florida was a battle, a real physical challenge and we are going to up our performance this time around,” Nolin said. “We all really want this championship.” VSU hopes to throw out the past tournament records and make it to the finish line. In 2012 and 2013 the soccer team finshed the seasn Photo courtesy of VSU Athletics with the three seed Head coach Rebecca Nolin clinched GSC and lost in the first tournament berth in her first year with the program. The Blazers play UWF on Friday round of the GSC in the first round. tournament. Both years they were able Follow us on Twitter: to make it to the national tour@BlazerSports nament before being ousted in the first round. Follow us on Instagram: Follow Kristin on @vsuspectator Twitter: @kwhit831
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NOVEMBER 6, 2014
Ich bin ein Blazer: Shane Thomas
Sports Writer shanethomas@valdosta.edu This season, Blazer basketball has the keys to a German import. His name is Nils Dejworek, a 6-foot-10 freshman forward from Ulm, Germany. Dejworek spent last season at Furtah Prep in Acworth, Georgia, where he helped lead the Falcons to a Georgia Independent School Association Class AA state championship. With that success under his belt, Dejworek looks to test his skills at the college level. “We played great teams and we traveled a lot with Furtah over the country,” Dejworek said. “I think (the state title) prepared me to be a part of a very good D-II level team at VSU.” In contrast to Americanstyle big men, Dejworek prefers to operate from the perimeter, but steps inside to do damage as well. “I’m definitely the opposite of the American big man,” Dejworek said. “I’m more finesse, which is more taught in Europe, not the dunking and stuff. I’ve got to develop my physical game here.” Furtah Prep head coach Eugene Fries speaks highly of his former player and student. “VSU has a huge diamond in the rough,” Fries said. “We knew last year he’d be a high level player. He’s a tremendous shooter. I believe he shot 47 percent from three for us last season.” Fries traveled with Dejworek to VSU to work out in front of Blazer Head Coach Mike Helfer. Dejworek will be counted on for rebounding and rim protection, but it is his offensive skills that open eyes instantly.
“VSU has a huge diamond in the rough. We knew last year he’d be a high level player. He’s a tremendous shooter.”
-Eugene Fries Furtah Prep head coach
“I just don’t think you have kids that are super skilled that are very tall,” Helfer explained. “He’s probably 6’10” and he’s got the skill level of a guard. That jumped out at me right away—it’s not only the ability to shoot and handle the ball, but his passing. On his visit, his passing was impeccable. “He’s just a very tall, skilled kid that’s not a pencil—he’s got some size on him and he’ll get bigger and bigger as he gets older.” If that sounds familiar, it will be for many basketball fans. Dejworek idolizes fellow German and NBA superstar Dirk Nowitzki. Like Nowitzki in his early years, Dejworek’s defensive skills and physicality need to develop. “The physicality at the college level is so much greater,” Helfer said. “I think his biggest issue would be adjusting to the physical part of the game. I think he likes contact—which is a great attribute to have—and he can handle contact already. He doesn’t get smothered out
there.” Dejworek takes his coaches’ constructive criticism in stride and embraces the challenge to improve every day. “I like that my coaches push me defensively,” Dejworek said. “That’s my only issue right now—defense and getting stronger. I like that they push me with that because what I need right now is to play good defense. It’s not taught very much in Europe. Defense isn’t much of a basketball impact.” Like many college freshmen, Dejworek, whose father is a doctor and mother is a physical therapist, is not yet sure what he will major in at VSU. “Right now, I major in physical education but I’m kind of going off of it,” Dejworek said. “I’m undecided but I’m choosing between international business and psychology.” Dejworek arrived in the United States as an exchange student prior to his junior year in high school. With offers from Division I University of North Carolina-Greensboro among others, Dejworek preferred the South Georgia scenery. “I definitely like that it’s in the south,” Dejworek said, smiling. “I like the warm weather. We have a great coach in Coach Helfer. The facilities are not D-II like, they’re more D-I like. All of those aspects made me choose VSU.” When asked what the differences are from his home in Germany to the United States, Dejworek had one word in mind. “Big—everything is big here,” Dejworek said. “Everything is more separated. If you go into a bigger city like Atlanta, of course, everything is tied together. But, in Ger-
Dejworek brings Euro-style to VSU
many, everything is tied together—it’s house and house. It’s a big country, bigger basketball here.” Dejworek, who speaks unmistakably German-tinged English, has two older brothers that played Division I basketball. His older brother Philip, a 6-foot9 forward, played at the University of Portland from 1997 to 2001 and averaged 6.4 points per game in 105 career games for the Pilots. His brother Mike, who stands 6-foot-11, played sparingly at Belmont and The Citadel before embarking on a coaching career in Europe. From his time at Furtah Prep, Fries believes Dejworek has a unique ability to not only learn the American lifestyle but to offer his German perspectives. “Nils is a wonderful kid,” Fries said. “He works hard in the classroom and on the court. I had him in my Government class and Nils was always participating and many times he was giving us the Sierra King/THE SPECTATOR European point of view Nils Dejworek hopes to lead the Blazers to a postseason run this year. The on things.” 6-foot-10 true freshman from Germany wants to bring a European style of basketball to the Gulf South Conference. With the Blazers’ season tipping off Nov. “I think he has a tremenFollow Shane on Twitter: 14, Dejworek looks forward dous upside,” Helfer said of @ItsaThomasThing to his first taste of the college his freshman big man. “He’s game. a very good person and is “My expectation, first of willing to learn and doesn’t all, is definitely getting some think he might know it all like Want to be a sports playing time here,” Dejworek some of today’s kids. He’s writer/photographer? said. “(Coach) said I’m geta sponge—he’s just soaking ting playing time here being everything up. a backup for (Colin) Cook, Contact Alex Tostado “He’s one of those kids our senior center, and I’m just ajtostado@valdosta.edu where you just love beexcited to get better.” ing around him. I think that Helfer also expects great upside will be developed things from Dejworek and because he’s willing to be praises his willingness to developed and listen.” learn.