Volume 88 Issue 7
March 5, 2015
Student robbed at gun point
What to do at VSU Tax Talk- Do you want to know what a W-2 form is and why it’s important? Interested in how taxes work? SGA, BAYBS and H&R Block can help you with that. Come to Student Union Ballroom C at 7 p.m. for Tax Talk: Tax and Student Allocation. Magic vs. Science Join the Anime and Magna Club tonight for film screenings. Come explore different films where magic and science collide. It will be held in the Student Union theatre from 710 p.m.
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Three suspects remain at large John Preer
COLLEGE LIFE EDITOR jhpreer@valdosta.edu
Pour some sugar on me
Rise in college ‘sugar babies’, has students getting extra bucks for their books Jyrell Wynn
STAFF WRITER jdwynn@valdosta.edu With financial responsibilities looming, many college students are choosing to become sugar babies in order to pay off debt. A sugar baby is a young male or female that is cared for by an older man or woman. The babies are paid with gifts, money and other luxuries to provide companionship to their clients. Sugar babies are on the rise among college students, with the University of Central Florida having 700 babies and the University of Georgia having over 550 babies, according to SeekingArrangement.com. Samantha Wilson is a single mom in Jacksonville, Florida,
a college student and a sugar baby. Wilson is one of the many students active on Seekingarrangement.com, an online dating service that attracts successful men and women, according to a USA Today article. Kirstin Johnson, a spokesperson for Seekingarrangements.com, also told USA Today that the average student earns $3,000 a month in gifts, travel, and money. Wilson sees no correlation between being a sugar baby and a prostitute. “It’s not the same,” Wilson said in the USA Today article. “Prostitutes are given money and have sex. They don’t see each other again. We talk a lot, go on dates, and are seen in public.” Al Garabedian, senior ac-
Early bird gets the ‘A’
counting major, said a sugar baby situation could disrupt a real relationship because sugar babies are dependent on their clients instead of their significant other. “It is worth it because you can get anything you want, but you could regret it later due to immediate satisfaction that doesn’t last,” Garabedian said. Nicholas Mordecai, senior business administration and speech communications major, does not agree with sugar babies’ values, but said these people are no worse than anyone else. “As long as both parties are aware, this business agreement is not a bad thing,” Mordecai said. Mark Braswell, senior finance and economics major, hates that sugar babies feel
Stella Henderson/THESPECTATOR
that this is the only way to provide for themselves, but he is not against the act itself. “It depends on the opportunities available to them and their situation,” Braswell said. “If there is no feasible alternative that is clear for them, do what you have to do to survive.” Stephanie Guittar, assistant sociology professor at VSU, sees the issue as a complicated matter. “There is give and take,” Guittar said. “On one hand, the relationship is consistent (with) the balance of power and mutual understanding. On the other hand, women enter the relationship with a shift in power…Can they continue living as normal after their voluntary lifestyle?”
Study links class time to student performance Tatyana Phelps
COPY EDITOR tnphelps@valdosta.edu Many students try to avoid taking early morning classes if they can help it, but after reading the results of two professors’ study, students may want consider taking earlier classes if they want better grades. Two professors at St. Lawrence University conducted a study that confirmed that the earlier the class time students take, the higher their grades are. The researchers noticed that there was a bit of a drop in student grade point averages for each hour a class starts later. “For every hour of class that you have later, you get about a .02 difference, so three hours of difference between class start times will result in a .06 difference in grades,” Pamela Thacher, the study’s co-author, said. The researchers believe that taking earlier classes persuades students to go to sleep earlier, complete work in a
Check out our Midterm Dos & Donts See Page 4 for more
timelier manner and avoid drinking alcohol. All of these factors are said to contribute to better grades and a higher GPA. Although the study shows the drop in GPA when later classes are taken, some professors at VSU feel otherwise. “Students who take earlier morning classes are usually half asleep, and therefore, they do not participate [or] pay attention to class discussions or lectures, do not listen to the instructions for anything, and they are waiting ‘til the last minute to write their papers,” Kristi Williams, VSU English professor, said. “All the morning classes I’ve ever taught are the worst compared to those taught in the late afternoon to evening.” Dr. Michael Davey, another English professor, seems to have mixed feelings about the results of the study. “Basically, you either get students who aren’t organized enough to register early and so (they) register late and have to take courses very early because those are the
Stella Henderson/THESPECTATOR
Later classes are popular because of convenience, but students in earlier classes may reap the benefits.
only ones left,” Davey said. “Or you get students who are very organized and motivated and probably have part-time or even full-time jobs and so (they) need to get their classes out of the way to free up their afternoons. “It can be a mix of very strong students combined with not-so-strong, and the latter frequently end up dropping.” On the other hand, Holly Wright, VSU health educator and counselor, feels that it depends on the student — some students are “morning people” and others are not. “Some people perform better in the morning and some perform better in the later part of the day, but this is very individualized,” Wright said. “I have seen students that are really tired and sleepy in the
Inside This Issue
- OPINIONS: Pay attention to faculty senate issues - FEATURES: Crate diggers rejoice: The wax comeback - SPORTS: Goodbye to seniors and season
morning hours. I can schedule the same student for an afternoon appointment and those same students are much more attentive and seem to have less lethargy in the afternoon.” Despite what some instructors have noticed in their classes, De’Osha Randolph, public relations major, feels that she performs better in the morning. “I think early classes are better because I like getting them over with and having the rest of my day to relax, work or do homework,” Randolph said. “I’ve had late classes that were hard to go to because I was tired or just wanted to skip. My brain is normally fried by the end of the day, so it’s always hard for me to focus in late classes.”
The usually peaceful atmosphere of the Pedestrian Mall was interrupted Tuesday night as three assailants, one of whom reportedly had a weapon, surrounded and robbed a VSU student at gunpoint, according to police reports. The student was walking from Georgia Hall when the three assailants on bicycles approached the victim. One perpetrator was reported to be an African-American male wearing khaki pants and a plaid shirt. The suspects approached the victim from near Ashley Hall, robbed him and left in the direction of the Front Lawn. The suspects made off with the victim’s cellphone and wallet. The robbery occurred in a relatively well-lit area around 9:30 p.m. After a rash of on-campus robberies during the 20132014 semesters, VSU hired additional security forces. Tuesday night’s robbery is still fresh on the mind of VSU students, but not many are fearful for their wellbeing because of some personal safety decisions. “I feel safe because I use the buddy system,” William Baskin, junior sociology major, said. “I go everywhere with someone else, never alone.” Other students aren’t so confident in their own ability and are calling for more from VSUPD. “I don’t think they do enough,” Malik Barnes, sophomore biology major, said. “During the day I see no police on campus.” The robbery is currently under investigation, and VSUPD is holding any extra information pending the result of the investigation. Emergency call booths are located throughout campus and can be used to rapidly report on-campus crimes. Jyrell Wynn contributed to this report .
Jordan Barela/ THESPECTATOR
A VSU student was robbed at gunpoint, near Ashley Hall on March 3.
On the Web w w w. v s u s p e c t a t o r. c o m
Check out Kailee Kivett’s “Top crimes at VSU” on the web!
PAGE 2 | VSUSPECTATOR.COM
Upcoming Events Daylight Saving Time: Spring Forward Remember to set your clocks forward an hour Saturday night. Spring daylight saving time officially begins at 2 a.m. Sunday, March 8.
Science Seminar Series March 5 4-5 p.m. Powell Hall Auditorium Shaun Ault, Brooke Johnson and Charles Kicey from VSU’s mathematics and computer science department will give a lecture titled “Discrete Lattice Paths, Fourier, and Random Walks.” This lecture is free and open to the public.
Water Basketball Tournament March 5 7 p.m. Student Recreation Center Teams of five will compete in shallow water basketball at the rec center’s indoor pool. Sign up on imleagues.com.
West Hall AC Shutdown As part of renovations in West Hall’s south wing, the building’s air conditioning will be shut down Saturday, March 7, from 6:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
Exercise Symposium March 7 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Health Sciences Auditorium VSU’s exercise physiology program will host the Exercise is Medicine Symposium, which is for anyone interested in learning more about the benefits of exercise and its inclusion in patient treatment plans. Registration is $25 per person by March 2 and includes a T-shirt. Registration on the day of the event is $30, and T-shirts are not guaranteed.
Police Briefs March 3 A student was robbed at gunpoint on the Pedestrian Mall at approximately 9:35 p.m. by a 6-foot-1-inch black male. After stealing the victim’s wallet and cellphone, the suspect headed north through campus on a bicycle. Police searched nearby areas but didn’t find the perpetrator.
MARCH 5, 2015
Happy ‘Tator Day! Faculty senate rants against administration Kenzie Kesselring
Asst. Opinions Editor klkesselring@valdosta.edu The air was thick with tension at last Thursday’s emergency faculty senate meeting as members met to discuss their concerns with the administration, the firing of faculty members and sexual harassment claims made in recent months. The meeting began with faculty members discussing an anonymous letter that was sent to some senate members. According to faculty senate President Michael Noll, the writers of the letter are unknown by anyone on the senate’s executive board. The anonymous letter begins by claiming to be composed by four assistant professors, five full professors and six associate professors. The letter accuses VSU President William McKinney, Provost Hudson Rogers and Chief of Staff Kimberly Luse of poor leadership. “It is time for a no-confidence vote!” the letter reads. The document then goes on to give 10 reasons why the anonymous authors believe the faculty senate should make this vote. The reasons range from the apparent unwarranted firing of former VSU director of communications Thressea Boyd, the amount of time Dr. McKinney travels and his desire to keep VSU at its current size, based on comments he made to the Valdosta Daily Times. Dr. Thomas Aiello, history professor, didn’t hold back during the meeting when he expressed his concerns about how Dr. McKinney handled the situation with former professor Mark George last semester. George alleged that VSU administration wrongly denied him access to his email account and to funds for an organization he founded. “I don’t want our president hanging out with white supremacists and firing everyone,” Aiello said. Accusations that sexual harassment claims in the Department of Education haven’t been dealt with suitably also came out during the meeting. Janet Foster, early childhood
“We are in the midst of a HUGE crisis at VSU.” Dr. Michael Noll Faculty Senate President
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
· · ·
“The administration welcomes the opportunity that has surfaced to hear and understand the issues that have been raised.” Dr. Kimberly Luse VSU Chief of Staff and special education professor, expressed worry that the rights of one individual faculty member were given priority over the civil rights of many others. Dominick Gheesling, assistant professor of art, commented on the issues he sees with hiring new professors and the student-to-teacher ratio at VSU. Gheesling’s feelings about the hiring process were shared by other professors, such as Dr. Sandra Kregar, modern and classical languages professor. Dr. Maren Clegg-Hyer, associate English professor, said that she was glad the senate members were making noise and holding the administration accountable. CleggHyer’s comments gained nods of approval from her fellow senate members. “We all want to move on,” Noll said in regard to his colleagues’ comments. Luse said VSU’s administration is open to discussing the senate’s grievances. “The administration welcomes the opportunity that has surfaced to hear and understand the issues that have been raised by the faculty senate,” Luse said. “Shared governance is deeply valued by President McKinney, and a hallmark of his administration. The work that is being conducted by Dr. Noll and the senators is appreciated, as it gives us a chance to discuss pathways that will help us arrive at answers that are grounded in facts. “At the end of the day, the faculty senate and the admin-
istration all want the same thing, which is how to best support our students through their academic journey to completion of their degree which is transformational to their lives.” No decisions were made at the meeting, but the senate is scheduled to meet again on March 19.
A Centennial Hall resident reported a physical altercation between her and her roommate.
Feb. 28 Police arrested five students in Langdale Hall for misdemeanor possession of marijuana.
Feb. 27 Police stopped a 20-year-old male at the corner of Baytree Road and Oak Street, arresting and charging him with misdemeanor possession of marijuana and driving the wrong way on a one-way street.
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MARCH 5, 2015
VSUSPECTATOR.COM | PAGE 3
Time to stop snoozing
Our point of view...
Erin Martin
Staff Writer erimartin@valdosta.edu
Pay attention to faculty senate issues
Alison Stephen
M
ost college students consider themselves to have a very set political standpoint, but what about when it comes to the politics that go on within our campus? Does reading that this story will be about university politics make you want to snatch this paper up and do some research on what’s going on? As a whole, do students even know what is going on with university politics? How about the recent anonymous document allegedly sent by numerous VSU professors to faculty senate members which led to an emergency meeting by the senate’s executive committee? The document says that it was prepared by 15 professors representing VSU that are calling for a vote of no confidence on VSU President William McKinney and Provost Hudson Rogers. We, as a student body, should be interested in knowing why these professors have no confidence in our president and how this may affect us. We should be interested in something that
can dictate our futures as far as our education and even our careers. If students were more involved in university politics, we could have more of a say in what happens on our campus. We know that every student on this campus has had some kind of complaint at some point in time. If students had more interest in the people making the decisions for our university, then we would be taken more seriously when we want things changed and improvements made to better benefit us. These four (or more) years of college are some of the most important years of our lives, and we should be making sure that we have a university that has our best interests at heart. As students at VSU, we have forgotten that we are the leaders of tomorrow, and we need to be as ready for the real world as possible. We should put our foot in the door of the highest offices on campus and take a step inside so that the VSU administration and faculty knows that we are listening and we are interested in every move they make.
This editorial was written by a member of the editorial staff and expresses the general opinion of The Spectator.
It is the answer to an ageold question: does the early bird get the worm? In studies from Health Ambition, early classes directly correlate to better grades for students. They also note the benefits to your mental and physical health along with your productivity. University Language Services also notes that the smaller and more intimate setting of morning classes enhance students’ ability to reach a higher GPA and become better prepared for class. Now for others who cringe at the thought of being up before the sun, it may be time to make a change. While some
MCT Campus
Studies have shown that earlier classes result in better grades.
researchers offer the thought that the night owl is very productive, you can’t help but mention the risk of oversleeping. Students who stay up late to complete homework or a project are easily more at risk to oversleep when the blaring alarm beeps in the morning. Harvard Business Review defends the morning people with a survey taken by biologist Christoph Randler. He
asked 367 university students what time of day they felt the most energetic and how flexible they would be to take action to change a situation to their advantage. “People whose performance peaks in the morning are better positioned for career success, because they’re more proactive than people who are at their best in the evening,” Randler said. Even though you may hate seeing your alarm clock, books and professor before lunch, it’s necessary for better grades and a better future. Attending early classes (think 8 or 9 a.m.) gives you the rest of the day to be productive. Later classes seem like a good idea, until you realize you have wasted half of your day in bed pressing the snooze button.
People Poll: Do you prefer early or late classes?
Martie Mortensen Sophomore Early childhood education
Dylan Cromer Freshman Mass media
Kya Williams Freshman Communication disorders
“I prefer afternoon classes because then I’d actually be ready and alert rather than I’m about to fall asleep in class.”
“I like to be able to sleep in, but I also like to have my day, so somewhere between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. would be nice.”
“I prefer morning so I can go ahead and get it over with and do everything that needs to be done so I have the rest of my day free.”
Armani Bibbs Freshman Art
Katelin West Freshman Criminal justice
Michael Hart Senior Business management
“I prefer morning classes so I can have things done early and have my free time later.”
“Morning, so I can get everything out of the way.”
“I prefer morning classes because I like to get the classes out of the way so I can do more stuff later.”
Lawmakers push for changes in AP History Jordan Hill
Opinions Editor jorhill@valdosta.edu Like many of us, America has a history — some good, bad and very ugly. That’s the beauty of education. As students, we deserve to know the unbiased truth about what our country has been through. After all, history is known to repeat itself. Oklahoma lawmakers are pushing to change the state’s AP History curriculum. They are pushing to involve more speeches from Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush (Republican presidents) and fewer speeches from the recent Democratic presidents. The bill would also force students to learn the Ten Commandments.
Students depend on teachers to educate them on topics that are necessary to understand their country. The information presented to students should be facts. There is no room for biased political or religious views in the classroom. Giving students the history of America should include the Democrats and Republicans. AP History should include all aspects of our country’s history. It should not be inhibited by the personal views of a politician. Republican representative Dan Fisher, the author of the bill, believes that current AP History curriculum “emphasizes what is bad about America” and never mentions the concept of American exceptionalism. We have to see the “bad”
Tyra Mills/THE SPECTATOR
Republican representatives are pushing for implementing the Ten Commandments in Oklahoma’s AP curriculum.
that America went through in order to learn from mistakes and discourage the same mistakes from happening again. America’s past isn’t pretty, and Fisher’s past is likely the same way. Of course he would want to keep that out of the public eye, but how are citizens expected to make informed political and life decisions without knowing the whole truth?
Encourage your peers! Tweet @vsuspectator with #encourageVSU
Spectator Staff Copy Editors: Opinions Editor:
Editor-in-Chief: Elan Waite Print Editor: John Stephen Digital Editor: Jordan Barela Advertising Manager: Aimee Napier Business Manager: Kristen Varney Circulation Manager: Kailyn Middleton
Jordan Hill Features Editor: John Preer Sports Editor: Kristin Whitman Photo Editor: Tyra Mills Stella Henderson Multimedia Editor: Cole Edwards Web Editor: Kayla Stroud
Tatyana Phelps Adrienne Fry Graphic Designers: Mike LaGon, Savannah Hensley Faculty Advisers: Dr. Pat Miller, Dr. Ted Geltner, Cindy Montgomery Reporters/Photographers: Lia Armistead, Niamini Carlyle-Hollis, Alex Corbitt, Tierra Francois, Zenobia Harris, Ivey Ingalls-Rubin, Kenzie Kesselring, Kailee Kivett, Erin Martin, Stuart Price, Chris Webb, Austin Wells
Tweet compassion Elan Waite
Editor-In-Chief ewaite@valdosta.edu Our generation, the millennials, is called selfish and self-absorbed on a day-to-day basis. When you look at what is trending on social media, you do not see selfies and pictures of Starbucks cups; you see a side of our humanity that gets ignored amongst the negative stereotype that is being portrayed.
There is a running hash tag, #encourageeveryonein4words.When you look it up on Twitter, you see an array of people all over the world sharing witty sayings and inspiring pictures. You see a generation working together to block out all of the undesirable thoughts and bring in some light and positivity. On our very own campus, we see organizations run by students start programs that will have a lasting impact. Distinguished Women of Excellence and Collegiate
Men of VSU are two fairly new, well-known organizations that started in Valdosta and have been making great strides with their community service efforts. They’re a group of millennials that have started their own roots and in a few years have done great things. We are in no way, shape or form the best we can be yet. We are still young and wild at heart. We share cat videos and rant in 140 characters or fewer, but you can’t count us out on compassion.
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PAGE 4 | VSUSPECTATOR.COM
MARCH 5, 2015
Star Trek legend dies; Brown fathers child Kayla Stroud
Web Editor kistroud@valdosta.edu
Crate diggers rejoice: The wax comeback
John Preer/ THESPECTATOR
John Preer
College Life Editor jhpreer@valdosta.edu Remember way back when? This question is the driving force behind the recent trend of vintage items. This retrospective movement has gone from dusty clothing and discontinued candy to ‘90s cartoons and restored automobiles. People seem to have an involuntary need to reminisce about the “good old days.” Music can be a powerful trigger for memories, but sometimes it’s not the music that triggers the memory. Sometimes the medium we listen to the music on is the trigger. Over the years the physical form we choose to store and listen to music has changed drastically. Perhaps the most timeless of these mediums is the wax vinyl record. Most vinyl records come in one of two formats, the 12-inch 33 rpm and the 7-inch 45 rpm. The “rpm,” revolutions per minute, refer to the speed at which the record should be spun in order to play. The vinyl record has been in rotation since the late 1800s and has withstood the test of time better than some of its successors. The way vinyl records work is rather ingenious. The actual disc is nothing more than a piece of pressed wax. The actual music
is stored on the small grooves in the vinyl’s surface. Because the music is stored in this manner, any damage to the surface of the record will have adverse effects on the quality of the music. Vinyl enthusiasts are often called “crate diggers” in reference to how many people choose to store the records. Whether by design or not, milk and produce crates are perfectly sized to store the relatively large and cumbersome records. The size of vinyl records is perhaps one of the biggest reasons for its fall in popularity. Any sizeable record collection demands a decent amount of space and a strong back. The older vinyl records were made of a thicker quality wax, and as a result weigh more than the average 120-gram record. When it comes to digging for the perfect addition to your collection, a few factors should be taken into consideration. The most important tip is to inspect records before you purchase. There is no greater disappointment than getting home after spending good money on a vinyl and discovering it is badly scratched. Depending on where you go to buy your records, some stores will let you listen to the record before you purchase it. Do your research before buying. Just because a record is old doesn’t mean it is extremely valuable. Many records were mass produced, so there is bound
to be a duplicate somewhere. If you find yourself lost in a sea of vinyl with no idea as to what kind of music to expect from these dusty cardboard sleeves, don’t panic. This is by no means an infallible tip, but amazing album artwork is usually a decent indicator of the quality of music. Any inspiring crate digger should invest in a few things before starting their collection. First and foremost, you need a record player. Some record players will only play one format or the other; however, there are record players that will play the 12- and 7-inch formats as well as CDs and cassette tapes. Lastly, put some thought into where you decide to store your records. Heat, moisture and light can all affect the quality and shelf life of your records. The wax used for vinyl records is very pliable and, if not stored properly, can warp drastically. There are machines that you can purchase to de-warp records, but they can be a little pricy. There are some more economic methods to remove any warps like applying pressure and heat to the record in order to reshape it. The last tip for the would-be crate digger is to search long and often. Any good digger will tell you that the best records are rarely found easily. The good stuff usually requires a little more work. Keep in mind that this can be a timeconsuming hobby.
Midterm Dos and Donts Do
Don’t
Study ahead of time
Cram at the last minute
Study for classes in order of difficulty. The harder classes come first
Sit in a study group with a table full of text books and wing it
Map out a midterm study schedule. Write it down
Rely on your astounding ability to remember every fact on a test
Look at your grade before the midterm
Go easy on studying for classes you think you are doing well in
Make cheat sheets: short versions of essential information
Bring said cheat sheet to the midterm (unless permitted by prof)
Ask your professor questions well before midterm date
Ask questions five minutes before taking the midterm
Get a full night’s sleep and a nutritious breakfast
Take a quick nap and down an energy drink
Elan Waite/ THESPECTATOR
Chris Brown is with child Chris Brown’s life continues to be a circus. According to TMZ, it has come out that the R&B star has been keeping a 9-month-old kid on the down low — a child that he had with a woman who isn’t his girlfriend. Which when you think of the song that he released a couple months back….yeah. Brown had the child with a 31-year-old former model who he has apparently known for years. Brown’s girlfriend, Karrueche Tran, is said to have been in the dark and was blindsided with the news and broke it off with the singer for the 68th time upon finding out (we’ll see if that actually holds). It has also been discovered in photographic evidence that Tran and the other woman had in fact met before. Poor kid. I mean the actual kid, not Brown. Leonard Nimoy dies Leonard Nimoy passed away Friday night. According to People, the actor had succumbed to a long battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The actor who famously played Spock in “Star Trek” passed away at his Los Angeles home. He was 83 years old. Rihanna and Leonardo share the same general location After months of tales of fan fiction from the media involv-
ing the Oscarless wonder Leonardo DiCaprio and singer Rihanna, there is actual photographic evidence of the two in the same vicinity. In the photo, Rihanna can be seen casually lighting a blunt while DiCaprio stares longingly at the floor. True Luv. The day the Internet stood still The Internet was an interesting thing last Friday. It turned into a mess after a series of hilarious events happened throughout the day. First, live helicopter footage captured two llamas escaping from an Arizona zoo that led police on a wild chase through the streets, followed by a weird story involving a house being stolen (not a mobile home but a literal HOUSE). The culprit is still on the loose. “The Dress” happened. We all heard about that hideous dress that no one could shut up about. Was it blue and black or was it white and gold? Who knows, but social media was abuzz. Yeah, Friday was fun. Wiz needs to stop Wiz can’t seem to keep his ex’s name out of his mouth. Or rather, he can’t sell his music without stirring up unnecessary drama with the mother of his kid. Yet another song has been released where Mr. Wiz is featured bashing his estranged wife. According to TMZ, the rapper is trying to get custody of their son. Something tells me that the way he’s going about the whole ordeal isn’t going to work in his favor.
MARCH 5, 2015
VSUSPECTATOR.COM | PAGE 5
Ending on a
HIGH NOTE Blazers look to future after rough season ends Shane Thomas
Sports Writer shanethomas@valdosta.edu Better late than never, but never late is better. That was the will and testament for the VSU men’s basketball team last Saturday night. A team on a nine-game losing streak lifted itself from the canvas once more to provide a most memorable finale. The Blazers drilled a school-record 21 three-pointers in a 114-95 win over the University of West Florida. It was a perfect storm of sorts as the Blazers played their best offensive game of the season in front of their biggest crowd of the season (2,214). The win capped the Blazers’ season with a 10-18 record, 5-17 in Gulf South Conference play. For head coach Mike Helfer, this season was the worst of his 18-year career. Against UWF, it was a throwback to the glory days of Blazer basketball. The offense came fast and furious, the ball hopped around the perimeter – all accompanied by the roar of The Complex faithfuls. For the first time all season, the Blazers brandished their full potential, leaving many to wonder the whereabouts of that energy, purpose and urgency over the last 27 games. “You hate to say it, but we’re looking forward to next year,” junior guard Blake Justice said after the game. “We know who’s coming back so we’ll build chemistry and be around each other. Hopefully this is the type of game that carries us over to next season.” Undone by slow starts, close losses and an inability to do the little things to win games consistently, the Blazers should treat the 2014-15 campaign as a valuable lesson learned. They struggled to develop a strike-first mentality, as their 3-12 record when trailing at halftime indicates. Coincidentally, the Blazers were 7-6 when tied or leading at halftime. In addition to slow starts, a maddening part of their downfall was their 5-6 record in games decided by six points or fewer. The Blazers’ performance in those 11 games was a major reason they didn’t punch their ticket to Birmingham, Alabama, for the GSC tournament. Wisdom has it that the whole is greater than its parts. The 2014-15 Blazers looked to be so wise when
Blazer bats keep pounding
Offensive hot streak rollls into GSC three game weekend Chris Webb
Sports Writer ctwebb@valdosta.edu
Ray Pack Jr./THESPECTATOR
Senior forward James Spencer follows through on a sucessful jump shot against the University of West Florida. The Blazers came out with a 114-95 win after a nine-game losing streak. This game ended the Blazers’ season, but they hope to bring the same energy to the first game in the 2015-16 season.
they started 5-1. They had talented pieces, but the losses mounted quickly in conference play. Chemistry was not the issue. The Blazers acted like a family. What the team lacked was glue-guys. Having players that accent and unify each other’s skill sets creates a good team. Michael Jordan had Scottie Pippen, but he also had Dennis Rodman, Ron Harper, Steve Kerr and Luc Longley - players lacking starpower with one or two specialties serving as the glue to solidify the team. The Blazers relied on James Spencer and Justice as go-to guys. Eventually, teams moved Spencer out of his sweet spots and crowded Justice to get the ball out of his hands. Unfortunately, the Blazers’ shooting was lukewarm to ice cold most of the season. The swarming defense the Blazers relied on early fell by the wayside as their shotmaking went astray. Teams took advantage of them on the glass and, as Colin Cook said following an 85-83 loss to West Georgia on Feb. 21, did the little things better as the season wore on. “It’s been the story of the season,” Cook said. “Sometimes it’s not about X’s and O’s; it’s about doing what it takes to win and sticking to what works. We do it - to go up (eight) when it works and then get away from it and lose by two. It’s been the story of the season.” For the second straight year, the Blazers were awful
on the road. The Blazers have lost 19 of 24 road games dating back to 2013-14. The road struggles should come as no surprise considering the Blazers were outrebounded 20 times this season and won just six of those games. The Blazers also coughed up the ball at a high rate, finishing the year with more turnovers than assists. It did the Blazers no favors to run into the buzz saw known as the GSC. Seven teams posted winning records in-conference. West Georgia, Alabama-Huntsville, West Alabama, Union and Shorter all won at least 18 games this season. The young Blazers simply lacked the experience to overcome. After wholesale roster changes over the past three years, Helfer and his staff assembled a younger team in hopes of building a sustainable foundation for its future. There were diamonds in the midst of the Blazers’ rough season. Spencer was a model of consistency with his bull-in -a-China-shop offensive game and hard-nosed rebounding. The senior from Chicago averaged 13.8 points and 7.4 rebounds - both team-bests. Colin Cook raised his level of play offensively, posting career-highs in points per game (10.6) and rebounds (6.2) while leading the GSC in blocks per game for the second straight season. Jeremiah Hill and Josh Lemons showed the ability to score and defend at a high level. Hill and Lemons both ranked in the top10 in steals
Ray Pack Jr./THESPECTATOR-
James Spencer takes his last walk out as a Blazer. The seniors were honored at the game against the University of West Florida. Seniors including Spencer were able to walk out at halftime with their parents in recognition of their success at VSU.
in their first season with the Blazers. With German big man Nils Dejworek as the only size left, the Blazers will need to add rebounding and rim protection in the offseason. Dejworek, a skilled, 6-foot-10 forward, is more of a perimeter player than a traditional big. With his 11 points and three three-pointers against UWF, Dejworek’s unique skill set displayed the kind of player he can be moving forward. The Blazers will also have red-shirt junior guard Chris Longoria in the fold next season. The 6-foot-4 transfer from Samford University is a dynamic, aggressive scoring guard with playmaking ability. Longoria and Justice should provide solid leadership next season. “I like our returning guys,” Helfer said. “We’re going to have to put some pieces in there but I’m looking forward to it. We have to turn the page quick — you want to leave this season behind and look toward the ‘15-16 season.” A 10-18 season certainly frustrated the players and coaches, but that frustration was palpable with the fan base. Average attendance dropped from 1,132 to 792 this season. The famous quote from “Field of Dreams” comes to mind: “If you build it, they will come.” For the Blazers, the little things are a great place to start.
The bats continue to boom for a streaking Blazers squad. The Blazers have been destroying everything thrown their way early in the season and enter the weekend with their bats blistering. No. 23 Valdosta State (11-4, 6-2 in GSC) look to keep the bats rolling when they welcome North Alabama (9-3, 3-2 in GSC) into Billy Grant Field for a three-game weekend series that includes a doubleheader on Saturday. Leading the Gulf South Conference in 10 offensive categories, including hits, runs, doubles, home runs and runs batted in, VSU’s offense is on pace for huge numbers this year if their early tear can continue. A major part of the early success at the plate has been the production and contributions of the 3-4-5 hitters, Bryant Hayman, Hayden Jones and Kevin Cruz, who own .481, .500 and .429 batting averages respectively. The trio have already combined for 13 home runs, 60 RBI, and 48 runs scored. “We have swung the bats well so far; it is nice having an offense where you know you’re never out of a ball game,” head coach Greg Guilliams said. “We are going to score runs this year with the big strong guys we have.” The 13 homers are more than eight of the other nine GSC teams have combined on the season, to put their starts in perspective. Toeing the rubber for the Blazers this weekend looking to silence UNA’s bats will be Mitchell Cody, Kyle Andre and Austin Glorious. “Mitchell and Kyle constantly fill up the strike zone
for us; you don’t see them hurting themselves with walks and getting behind in counts, and that’s the biggest thing working for them right now,” Guilliams said. “Austin has pitched well recently for us also; we just need get consistent with a few of our other pitchers.” Kellan Bailey, who competed for a spot in the starting
“We have swung the bats well so far; it is nice having a offense where you know you’re never out of a ball game.”
-Greg Guilliams Head Coach
rotation out of camp, has emerged as a valuable weapon out of the bullpen for Guilliams, who has liked what he has seen from the lefty late in games this season. “Bailey has done such a good job out of the bullpen that with the way he is pitching, it is going to be hard for me to move him out of that role,” he said. The main task and challenge for VSU’s pitching staff this upcoming weekend will be limiting the Lions’ speed on the base paths. UNA comes into town with 28 stolen bases leading the GSC; outfielders Heath Wood and Brandon Pugh have combined for 18 of them. “We need to keep them off first base,” Guilliams said. “If they do get on first, then we need to find ways to disrupt their timing on the base paths. Whether that is our pitchers holding onto the ball longer or just attempting more pickoffs, we have to find ways to help our catchers throw them out.”
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MARCH 5, 2015
Goodbye to seniors and season Lady Blazers suffer a tough loss in the quarterfinals of the GSC tournament Nianani Carlyle-Hollis Sports Writer nthollis@valdosta.edu
VSU Lady Blazer basketball make it to the Gulf South Conference tournament, but burned out after the quarter finals with a 60-50 loss. VSU took on rival Lady Statesmen of Delta State at Walter Sillers Coliseum in Cleveland, Mississippi. The loss closes out a 14-15 season for VSU and brings them to an overall record of 14-15 and a GSC record 10-12. Before the loss in the tournament, the Blazers bid adieu to their seniors at the last game of the regular season. The Lady Blazers were fired up for the seniors last Saturday night against West Florida, but came up short 75-71 to end
regular season play. In honor of the celebration of Senior Night, the Lady Blazers started the game off with heat and were able to maintain the lead for the first seven minutes of play. The Lady Argonauts started a streak of their own around the ten minute mark and went on a 17-6 run to give them a 32-22 lead over the Lady Blazers. With 3:19 to go in the first half the, Lady Argonauts pieced together their largest lead of the night and were leading the Lady Blazers by 11 points. The Lady Blazers did not back down and fought their way back to within two points of UWF after a big three made by senior April Thomas at the buzzer to end the half 37-35. Coming out at the second half, the Lady Blazers blazed through and took 63-62 lead with a little over six minutes to go on the clock after Jo Bistrow was able to connect from behind the arc.
UWF seemed to have plans of their own as they rallied behind sophomore Katie Bobos and went on a 9-3 run to take the lead over the Lady Blazers 71-68. The Lady Blazers continued to fight until the final buzzer, but ultimately came up short and were defeated. UWF shot 45.16 percent from the field, 18.75 percent from long range on the night and were able to score 25 points off of turnovers made by the Lady Blazers. Thomas had 18 points on the night, leading the Blazer pack in scoring, while Amy Duke, Imari Simpson, and Jordan Waugh all chipped in double digits of their own. The Lady Blazers shot 48.28 percent from the field and 25 percent from behind the arc in the first half. In the second half they continued on shooting 52.17 percent from the field and 60 percent from the three point line.
Farwell to the seniors #12 Amy Duke G/F # 15 Katie Repko G #20 April Thomas G #22 Jordan Waugh G
Ray Pack Jr./THESPECTATOR
Senior Maylisa Johnson takes one of her last shots as a Lady Blazer. The team put up a hard fight for the 2014-15 seaosn but fell short at the quarterfinals of the Gulf South Conference Tournament.
#23 Maylisa Johnson G/F
Ray Pack Jr./THESPECTATOR
Maylisa Johnson prepares for a rebound after the University of West Florida put up a shot. The Lady Blazers fell to the Lady Argonauts 75-71 before heading to the GSC tournament. The Blazers finished the regular season with a 14-15 overall record and 10-12 in conference play.