February 27, 2014
W W W. V S U S P e C TAT o r . C o M
Inside This Issue
Check out “Dig in: new Remerton buffet offers food and fun”
- oPInIonS: Where is our new atm? - FeATUreS: VsU Golf heads to lone star state - SPorTS: Professor’s collection: a fun diversion
Today at VSU bingo!- Natural High will be hosting a game of BiNGo in the Powell Hall auditorium at 7 p.m. snacks and prizes will be provided! freeze for health- the VsU american medical association will be hosting a fundraiser at the mix from noon to 9 p.m. 10 percent of all mix proceeds will go to VsU ama guess what?- Phi Beta will be celebrating Black History month with a game of Guess Who at 6:30 p.m. in the student Union. get a job! - education career day will be held in the magnolia and cypress rooms in the U.c. dress professionally and bring resumes to give to potential employers.
This Day in History Female Suffrage Constitutional on this day in 1922, eight members of the United States Supreme court unanimously declared the 19th amendment, which granted women the right to vote, constitutional. The amendment stated "the right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State on account of sex." Source: History.com
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Hill Harper excites VSU crowd Isaiah Smart s ta F F W r i t e r
itsmart@valdosta.edu
Hundreds of eyes gazed in a hypnotic state as Hill Harper captivated the attention of anyone near the student Union ballrooms tuesday during the VsU event titled “celebrating 50 Years.” the Harvard law graduate served as the keynote speaker of the 50 Years of integration committee’s biggest event of the school year. students, faculty and staff collaborated in a night of child-like expectation to see the writer, actor and activist speak on passion, energy and the importance of courage. Harper has written five books that have all been on the New York times best-seller list. His most recent work, “letters to an incarcerated Brother,” talks about the U.s.’s incarceration rates, the effects it has on minorities and the potential solutions on reversing such. the night started with a press conference with Harper followed by a ViP reception that preceded his speech. attendees were occupied with videos that highlighted the pioneers of integration at VsU in various areas: the first students to integrate the university and the first african-american faculty member, among others. then came the moment everyone was itching to see.
Harper appeared on stage with an unspoken energy. Before he uttered a single word, eyes were affixed to his tailored, grey pinstriped suit, and the level of excitement was extremely high. then, he began. the activist spoke of passion and its importance. He asked the crowd, “What makes your heart beat faster?” He noted that anything that provides such energy to your life should be reciprocated Isaiah Smart / The SPecTaTor with that much Hill Harper addresses the crowd during his speech on energy in the form Tuesday, Feb. 25. Harper came to VSU as part of the 50 of effort. energy Years of Integration celebrations. like this was evi“Jamal_No_cBear” said. dent not only in his voice and in the dr. shirley Hardin, director of attention he showed to each and every african american studies and inteticket holder but also in the social media that trickled out after the event. gration pioneer, gave a rave review “man, @hillharper was amaZiNG on Harper’s speech. “Hill Harper’s interactive message today…im so glad that i was able to was so energetic, passionate and inexperience his essence of greatness spiring,” Hardin said. “He made me today #HillHarperVsU,” twitter user want to become better at whatever i
VSU students identify what a Blazer really is Jessica Ingram s ta F F W r i t e r
jdingram@valdosta.edu
When you think about Harvard, you think about arrogant, intellectual, trust-fundspending, future corporate lawyers. When you think about University of arizona, you think of “Girls Gone Wild.” But what comes to mind when people think about VsU? the VsU administration is in the process of trying to answer that question. VsU has joined the atlanta firm of t.G. madison to launch an institutional identity study. according to the office of communications, the study will identify the attitudes, perceptions and experiences of current and prospective students, parents of current and prospective students, high school guidance counselors, alumni, faculty, and staff. “VsU’s identity is as strong as the sum of the parts that define it,” michael orr, with t.G. madison, said. “Buildings, curriculum, academic standing, athletics and the city of Valdosta all contribute to your identity, but the most powerful factors are the thoughts, feelings and conversations that happen about VsU. Brands are living things. You are the brand, and the brand is you.” in order to contribute to this idea of branding, a handful of students and alumni were asked to finish a couple sentences: “You might be a VsU student if ...” and
“When i think of VsU i think ...” many of the current students who were interviewed seemed to be thinking about the same thing−parking. “When i think of VsU i think of the struggle to park,” Jessie Brooks, senior accounting major, said. Kati Keefe, senior exercise physiology major, shared the sentiment.
“ Buildings, curriculum, academic standing, athletics and the city of Valdosta all contribute to your identity, but the most powerful factors are the thoughts, feelings and conversations that happen about VSU. ” - Michael orr
“You might be a VsU student if you can never find a parking spot,” Keefe said. another hot topic for VsU students was fees. “When i think of VsU i think of fees, fees, and more fees,” Keefe said. aside from parking and fees, there were some responses that were more positive and some that only make sense if you spend time on campus. “You might be a VsU student if you know ‘club odum’ isn’t really a club,” lacey miller, junior educa-
tion major, said. Jessica Johnston, a business administration graduate student, described an activity that many students participate in during the warmer months. “You might be a VsU student if you lay on the front lawn after class,” Johnston said. B.J. Guest, senior education major, referenced the emails that students receive to keep them updated on campus events. “You might be a VsU student if you get at least five emails from trisha lynn taylor,” Guest said. interestingly, VsU alumni had a much different perspective compared to current students. “When i think of VsU i think of football on saturdays,” Jonathan Jones, 2001 exercise physiology graduate, said. Jones also expressed one of the university’s main selling points. “You may be a VsU student if you don’t want to be lost in a big university,” said. another alumnus, lee ricketson, 1998 biology graduate, said that three football national championships is what comes to his mind when he thinks of VsU. the difference in perspectives between current students and alumni is quite drastic. current students know of the struggles that are fresh in their mind; however, past students remember the positive experiences they had and the things they hear about often.
am encouraged to pursue in my life.” in terms of the 50 years celebration, Harper said in the press conference that we all should expand our “circle of care,” a concept that he would expound upon later that evening and that he alluded to by saying “when folks talk about division, i want to talk about inclusion.” Harper ended his speech with a call to action. “i will not allow fear to stop me from making the choices that i know i should make,” Harper said. “instead, i shall act from my heart.” the audience eagerly repeated his words. tuesday’s celebration will be nothing short of a fantastic memory for many attendees. the interviews, Harper’s speech, his personal interaction with the crowd and the handshakes during the book signing certainly left a deep impression on the crowd. “He delivered a great message, gave excellent advice, and engaged the entire room,” selenseia Holmes, administrative coordinator of the office of social equity, said. “i couldn’t be more pleased with the way the event turned out.”
SGA postpones the addition of new senators Joe Adgie social media editor
jmadgie@valdosta.edu
For the first time in several years, a hopeful sGa senator was rejected by the legislative body−and it happened twice. this occurred during a monday night meeting that saw two other hopefuls elected with relative ease. the two candidates voted down were Kimberly taylor and Brianna marshall. the sGa’s legislative body cited a lack of preparation from both taylor and marshall as red flags that indicated the potential for apathetic senators. taylor and marshall failed to show up with a PowerPoint presentation, which for almost every sGa hopeful is a given requirement in their presentation to the legislative body. taylor was voted down with 15 “yea” votes, 17 “nay” votes and 3 abstentions. marshall was voted down with three “yeas,” 28 “nays,” and four abstentions. taylor cited being forced out of her residence as the reason for not getting a PowerPoint ready. “i had to move out of my room immediately or i would have been charged $435,” taylor said. “i don’t have $435.” marshall, meanwhile, admitted that she was not prepared for the presentation; however, she said she would
be prepared next week and that she could contribute to the sGa. “i love everything that you all stand for,” marshall said. “Just from listening to them talk, i really believe they need a little bit more time to sit and watch our process to understand what we do,” senator edgar James said. “i don’t think they have a very clear understanding of what we do. We want people to come in that really understand and really have a fire and a passion for what we do at sGa. it isn’t just child’s play.” Following up on James’ statement, secretary Kara Fountain called the lack of presentation unacceptable. “You all know that you are constantly having to check your emails, and that’s something that you check automatically,” Fountain said. “i’m pretty sure that they’ve known for a week now to do a presentation, so that is really not acceptable.” senator tamara dunn, in support of the two hopefuls, dissented from James and Fountain. “How many of us have made a mistake in here?” asked dunn. “i think all of these individuals offer something a little different to sGa.” dunn also stated that these potential senators could learn many skills from sGa, and given that they are underclassmen, they could lead the See SGA, Page 2
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PAgE 2 | vsUsPEctAtoR.com
FEBRUARY 27, 2014
Dig in: New Remerton pizza buffet offers food and fun Eric Jackson S P o RT S E D I To R epjackson@valdosta.edu
If the thought of fresh, doughy specialty pizzas doesn’t grab your attention, then take one step inside Remerton’s new buffet restaurant, and you won’t leave without a full stomach. The Mill Pizza Buffet and Games opened last week in the Remerton Mill Plaza across the street from the decimated construction area that was once the Strickland Cotton Mill (hence the name). Customers will quickly no-
tice the hundreds of random items plastering the walls throughout the restaurant, helping to bring them the ultimate store experience. Everything from collectible, soap-box derby cars to sports memorabilia dons the restaurant. “We’re open!” owner Danny Davis said. “It took a long time to get it decorated. We’ve been collecting for years; not just for our personal self, but for the ultimate store. This is what we wanted to build years ago.” A temporary wall currently separates half of the restaurant and will do so until the 40-piece arcade arrives,
which will include games like air hockey and Skee-Ball. To complement the dailymade pies, The Mill also offers full pasta and salad bars. Davis and his staff took over the 7,000-square-foot location, vacated by ChrisMill Homes, in July and began renovating in August. Davis said being in the same plaza as the popular bars played a large role in his decision to open his establishment there. However, he is reluctant to open late in the morning hours, at least for now. “Financially, I already know it would be huge,” Davis said. “But we’ve got so
much money in our decorations and our reputation in being a family restaurant. I was in college too once. I know how it is.” A stage occupies the center of the restaurant which is reserved for future, small-band performances and karaoke nights. The Mill also features a banquet room for parties. Davis said within a week The Mill will possibly be offering lunchtime discounts for VSU students. “This is a total rebuild,” Davis said. “We’ve been working diligently. We still got a lot of work to do.”
SGA Continued from Page 1 organization very strongly in the future. Running counter to the other senators, Tori Baldwin showed sympathy for Taylor’s problem, but not for Marshall. “I’ve been through that, and moving in one day is not easy,” Baldwin said. “I did it last semester, and I missed a meeting, so it’s understandable. I just feel like (Marshall) didn’t really care that much because I heard her say ‘whatever’ six or seven times, so I just feel like that’s a little bit of a warning sign that she may be someone who just sits in the back and never talks.”
The other two hopefuls, Brittany Stokes and Jarrett Wilson, were elected easily. Stokes was voted in unanimously, while Wilson was voted in on a majority vote, with two voting against and three abstaining. Wilson’s election comes in spite of not being at the meeting last week when he was supposed to be voted on as possible senator. “I was actually very sick,” Wilson said. “I was ready to go, I had my speech ready and everything, but I couldn’t make it.” Wilson is determined to do his best as an SGA senator. “I will not miss any more meetings,” Wilson said. “Sick. Throwing up. I’ll be in here.”
Upcoming Events Feb. 28 The Blazin’ Beauties will present “Black Excellence” at 5 p.m. in the Student Union Ballrooms B and C.
der Association) on the Front Lawn from 9:30 a.m.-11 a.m. All money raised by participants and sponsors goes to the non-profit organization.
March 1 The Valdosta-Lowndes County Library needs volunteers to help out with games, refreshments and story times as the library will be celebrating the 110th birthday of Dr. Seuss. Volunteers are needed starting at 11 a.m. Call 229-333-0086 for more information.
Note It’s still not too late to obtain your flu vaccine. The Student Health Center has the flu vaccine (which covers H1N1) available to students ($10), faculty ($20) and staff ($20). Call (229) 219-3200 to schedule your flu shot appointment. Be sure to bring your VSU ID with you. Cash and check are accepted or you can pay through the online immunization store.
March 8 There will be a NEDA Walk (National Eating Disor-
Police Briefs Feb. 26 A female near Brown Hall stepped away from a bench for a short moment, and her purse was gone when she returned. Feb. 25 A student in Brown Residence Hall named Corey reported his black HTC AT&T cellphone stolen. The phone was stolen on Sunday. Feb. 24 Professor Potter lost her iPad in the Student Union a week ago. She was in a conference on the 3rd floor. Feb. 22 A cell phone was stolen in
Centennial Hall East room 260. Feb. 18 Johnny Crawford, 22, of Fairburn, Ga., was arrested for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. Crawford was also charged with trespassing and obstruction of an officer. February 17 A student named Krista said her Honda Civic was broken into while parked at the PE Complex lot. She was in class. A student named Daija had her set of keys go missing (stolen or lost) while eating dinner at Palms Dining Hall.
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Our point of view...
Where is our new ATM? S
tudents at VSU may find themselves suffering from a lack of withdrawals−in this case, atM withdrawals. VSU president, Dr. William McKinney first announced his decision to install an atM in the Student Union during a Student faculty Senate meeting held on Oct. 17, 2013. What prompted this decision was a robbery incident that occurred at the University Center atM. On Oct. 3, 2013, a student was held at gunpoint and forced to withdraw $1,000 from his account. “an atM should be in the Student Union,” Dr. McKinney said during the Oct. 17 faculty Senate meeting. “it’s
more well-lit, there’s more student traffic. that atM is not in a safe and ideal location; that atM is going to be moved.” Dr. McKinney’s original intention was to remove the atM from the University Center because of the increased number of incidences occurring at that location; however, at the feb. 20 faculty Senate meeting, another solution was raised. according to the report made by the Special Committee on Safety and Security at VSU, “some favor leaving the atM machine at its location (the UC), so visitors to football games can use it, (but) we also need an atM machine at a safer location, possibly the Student Union.”
nearly five months after Dr. McKinney’s original decision, the relocation has yet to happen. On Wednesday, Dr. McKinney said the plan was moving forward but did not offer a specific timeline for completion. “We are in the final stages required to actually remove the atM from the UC and replace it with one in the Student Union,” Dr. McKinney said. “i plan to discuss the matter with the SGa before final arrangements are made.” While this is encouraging, we at the Spectator feel it’s time for definitive action. atM’s appear to be everywhere−in convenience stores, on street corners−so it
seems like it shouldn’t be a year-long project to install more around campus. We believe that it has taken the administration entirely too long to install the new atM in a safer location. the VSU administration has a responsibility to its students. By neglecting to promptly install an atM in a safer, more accessible location, they are putting students at risk and are encouraging more crime to take place in an area that has already proven to be dangerous. the administration’s lack of activity regarding this matter is unacceptable. it appears that those in power want to have the correct plan
Will Lewis/ THE SPECTATOR
in place but have failed to execute it in a timely fashion. Students and faculty should email VSU president William McKinney at wmckinney@valdosta.edu and re-
quest that an atM be installed in the Student Union as soon as possible in the name of safety. express your opinion by sending the staff a tweet at @vsuspectator
This editorial was written by a member of the editorial staff and it expresses the general opinion of the editorial staff.
Students discuss ex-con voting rights John Stephen COpy eDitOr jsstephen@valdosta.edu
Millions of americans are being cheated out of their right to vote, and the law of the land is to blame. attorney General eric Holder recently gave a speech at Georgetown University, during which he discussed the voting rights that are given to−or more importantly, withheld from−convicted felons. Determining the voting status of felons falls to each individual state, which has led to diverse legislation. Maine and Vermont allow felons to vote during their prison sentence, while 11 states forbid convicted felons from voting ever again. the remaining states fall somewhere in between these opposite rulings. Holder urged states, especially the 11 that ban felons from voting indefinitely, to restructure their laws concerning this issue because such legislation is outdated and counterproductive. those who have been convicted of a felony deserve to suffer a punishment for their actions, but such punishment should not extend to being
stripped of their right to vote. Many felons are reformed and rehabilitated throughout their time in prison, becoming reputable citizens and leaving their life of crime behind them. it is not fair to mandate that those people cannot have a say in who governs them simply because of a former lifestyle they no longer adhere to. the felony voting laws were employed by several southern states in the postCivil-War era in order to keep africanamericans from participating in elections. Lingering racism and abhorrent prejudice led to many africanamericans being intentionally and wrongfully convicted during this time. a law that was created in part to further a racist agenda has no place in our progressive society. rather than protecting citizens’ liberties, felony voting laws restrict them. the right to vote helps make up the foundation of our democratic government, ensuring the people as a whole maintain their sovereignty in political affairs. to disenfranchise millions of
american citizens is a grave misstep by our government. those serving prison time for felonies deserve to be stripped of their suffrage because they have temporarily been removed from society due to serious wrongdoing. Once they have been reinstated into society, they should receive the basic rights of normal citizens−including the right to vote.
if a former felon commits another crime and returns to prison, then his or her right to vote can be revoked for a second time. it is up to our justice system to determine the proper punishment for a felony rather than a state government inflicting a penalty of permanent disenfranchisement upon convicted felons. the United States is a place where people can reinvent themselves over time, regardless of their past, and a single action should not prevent a citizen from retaining the power to be heard in our society.
Taylor Stone S ta f f W r i t e r tnstone@valdosta.edu
in most states, felons have to wait years to have their voting rights restored and for a good reason: they are not trustworthy. Being sent to prison is a punishment, and when someone commits an act that lands
them there, they lose their freedom and democratic rights during that time. the construct of a criminal spending time in prison sets guidelines for society, showing american citizens that when you commit a crime, you lose some of your freedom because you no longer deserve to have it. allowing felons to vote immediately after completing his or her sentence is like expecting a newborn baby to immediately start walking−it shouldn’t happen. restoring an important freedom, like voting, so
quickly after a prisoner’s release is bad public policy, and it certainly doesn’t ensure the restoration of justice. in fact, it does exactly the opposite, harming the people that haven’t committed crimes by allowing someone who has to engage in making decisions that will directly affect the country. Why should someone be allowed to vote that can’t even comply with the regulations of a civil society? Chances are they probably aren’t going to vote for the candidate that is best for the country−and that is exactly the reason advocates so fervently encourage that the voting rights of ex-felons be restored. advocates of restoring voting rights to criminals argue that discrimination against ex-felons will encourage them to commit more crime even though having the right to vote didn’t stop them from committing crime initially. Voting rights are one of the few liberties that can be restored with time; many other freedoms once allowed can never be returned to exfelons. So why focus on vot-
ing rights? Why not rally to allow felons to hold public office or to become police officers? the real reason supporters of voting ex-felons focus on this single issue isn’t because they believe that criminals have “paid their debts” to society or because they came from “disadvantaging circumstances.” they want felons to vote because they know that ex-felons are going to vote for them. it isn’t a coincidence that the majority of the advocates are democrats, ones that operate under the guise that it isn’t really the fault of the criminal that he or she committed a crime or ended up in prison. What criminal isn’t going to support that? Voting has value; it is one of the most important practices in our society, allowing citizens to have a voice. Such an important right should not be immediately granted to individuals that squandered it away so easily. Do you feel strongly about restoring voter rights to exfelons? express your opinion by sending the staff a tweet @vsuspectator.
Discriminatory bill brought to light Jordan Hill a S S i S ta n t OpiniOnS eDitOr jorhill@valdosta.edu
Gay people have the plague−at least that’s the way the Kansas House of republicans seems to feel. the republicans are trying to pass a bill that will allow private businesses to kick gay couples out of their establishment. Cops do not have to help gay individuals if they call the police for help. furthermore, if a gay couple sues for discrimination and loses, they will be forced to pay the opposing busi-
ness’s attorney’s fees. the ignorance is astounding. at least Jim Crow laws claimed to be equal, even though they were anything but equal. in this bill, Kansas is blatantly discriminating against gay couples. the excuse for this behavior is that Kansas is protecting the people’s “religious liberty.” the bill states that cops can refuse to help gay couples, and business owners do not have to allow gay couples to be in their store if it violates their religious beliefs.
Homosexuals can be banned from basically anywhere in the state of Kansas. Quoted in an article on
marriage” but don’t condone discrimination. it’s hard to believe that in 2014 politicians are bringing
slate.com, Kansas Senate president Susan Wagle said that a majority of the state senators in her party would not vote for the bill. Wagle said they support “traditional
back discrimination laws. History will always repeat itself, and it seems that the time is upon us to repeat the ignorant discrimination that our country fought against in
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the past. it’s amazing that these politicians would have the audacity to write such a bill and expect it to pass. thankfully, the Kansas Senate shot down the bill. arizona Gov. Jan Brewer vetoed a similar bill on Wednesday night that caused a national outrage. after hearing both arguments for and against the bill, Gov. Brewer decided to strike down the bill, saying the bill would create more problems than solutions. However, in Uganda, a law
was passed that, amazingly, is worse than the bill in arizona. Citizens of Uganda can be sentenced to jail time if they commit or support homosexual acts. this penalty is light compared to the first idea of punishment, which was death. the only hope is for people to realize how ignorant and selfish this bill is. it’s up to those who believe in compassion to provide everyone with equal service. When will these people learn? the time of acceptance and compassion is now. Discrimination belongs in the past.
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PAgE 4 | vsUsPEctAtoR.com
Features
FEBRUARY 27, 2014
Professor’s collection: a fun diversion Sydney Devine S ta f f W r i t e r srdevine@valdosta.edu
english professors collect more than items of the literary kind. from salt and pepper shakers to pink flamingos and brooches (a type of clothing pin), Dr. Jane Kinney, VSU english professor, has a wide variety of bizarre collections that she either keeps in her home as decoration or wears on a daily basis. “i’ve always collected books, it seems, but not other stuff,” Dr. Kinney said. “i find myself the owner of several odd collections now. When i get something odd, funny or interesting, friends and family start giving me more things to add to those odd things.” Dr. Kinney’s unusual collections may have started with books, but they began to take on a life of their own after she was given a set of salt and pepper shakers from her sister that were made from ash particles from one of Mount St. Helen’s many eruptions. Other friends started giving
Will Lewis/THE SPECTATOR Dr. Jane Kinney, VSU English professor, wearing her favorite pink flamingo brooch that is made of paper mache.
her odd or uncommon salt and pepper shakers to add to the original volcano-shaker set, and her collection now consists of around 10 or more. Dr. Kinney’s largest collection is made up of pink flamingos and is displayed in
her front yard. according to Dr. Kinney, the pink flamingos were first used as a marker to help visitors identify her home, but with time they became a standing joke in her family and were often given to her as a gift from family mem-
Love ‘bytes’: Social media is dominating relationships
bers or VSU colleagues. the pink flamingo collection expanded beyond the realm of yard décor and began to include wall plaques, stuffed animals and pins. “My favorite pin is probably the one made out of paper mache, handpainted with pink flamingos on it,” Dr. Kinney said. “i found it at an artist’s store in Branson, Mo., many
years ago.” Dr. Kinney’s large pin collection started while she was living in Valdosta. the first pin she ever received was a gift from her cousin. “the pins are unusual and an easy type of jewelry to
These are selected brooches from Dr. Kinney’s unique collection. She collects many things, including salt and pepper shakers and pink flamingos.
Photo by Sydney Devine
wear because they don’t get in the way or get caught on things,” Dr. Kinney said. “they tend to catch people’s eye and thus are good conversation starters.” even students in Dr. Kinney’s classes have begun to notice her large collection of pins. “i began to notice the amount of pins Dr. Kinney has because she wears one to class every day,” Matthew Sullivan, senior english major, said. “even though she wears them all the time, i never catch her wearing the
same one.” Dr. Kinney’s pin collection not only comes from artist collectives and street fairs, but she also buys them from museum shops as souvenirs when she travels. although she may already have a large collection of pins, pink flamingos and salt and pepper shakers, Dr. Kinney’s collection is always growing. “i’m constantly amazed at how my friends and relatives can keep finding odd, unusual and funny things to add to my collections,” Dr. Kinney said.
River runs wild
LaMarcus Wilkerson S ta f f W r i t e r lkwilkerson@valdosta.edu
Students, staff and faculty connect in various ways through social media, and now romantic relationships are not immune to the complex world of cyber communication. More often than not, there is a student or faculty member nearby that’s texting their significant other. if that’s not the case, he or she may be tweeting publicly about last night’s fight with a sweetheart. Or worse, these individuals may be committing the social media sin of twatching (tweet-watching on twitter). Whatever the case may be, VSU students, faculty and staff use technology to communicate in romantic relationships. today’s technology makes communication easy and accessible. this is one of the many pros offered by new technology, but there may also be cons to technological advances. “it may take away some of the surprises that are nice to unfold in a relationship,” Dr. Kathleen Lowney, VSU professor of sociology said. according to Lowney, social media like twitter and facebook can provide a bio of a person before conversations happen. Communication out-
Will Lewis/THE SPECTATOR
The usually stagnant stream beside the Oak Street Parking Deck runs rampant after Wednesday’s all-day rain storm.
Summer Yates/THE SPECTATOR Freshman Justin Lewis, left, and freshman John Keibil, right, are passing the time in the Student Union using their mobile devices. Technology has changed the way people conduct their relationships in the age of social media.
lets like these reveal things about a person, which may affect the level of suspense one experiences when getting to know a person. However, with profile bios, “you can see similarities and differences,” Lowney said. according to Lowney, individuals that use social media can find out if they are com patible with one another. “You might have a better sense of who this person is,” Lowney said there are those who utilize social media in order to determine if they want to pursue a certain relationship. additionally, people use social media to vent about the problems they are having in
their relationships. “Most people don’t have these conversations with their partners; they would rather vent on twitter,” Mia rawls, junior undergraduate student, said. Yet, there are those who disagree with social media venting. “People should be straight up with each other; that’s how problems get solved,” Samuel intermann, junior history major, said. as social media rises in popularity, the connection between romantic relationships and the online world becomes even stronger.
VSU students stack the competition with CORE Abbie Baggerly S ta f f W r i t e r rabaggerly@valdosta.edu
VSU students will reach new heights with COre. COre Outdoors will be hosting the second annual crate stacking competition March 6 at 7 p.m. the event will be held in the Student recreation center, and everyone is welcome to attend. equipped with a helmet, harness and a rope, competitors will stack milk crates while climbing the stack, adding more until the whole thing collapses. the goal is to stack as many crates as possible.
the idea of crate-stacking came from a conference that COre attended. “We first heard about it at an aOre conference; the association of Outdoor education then tweaked the idea to fit VSU’s style,” Sean Wilkinson, COre Outdoors graduate assistant, said.
Equipped with a helmet, harness and a rope, competitors will stack milk crates while climbing the stack, adding more until the whole thing collapses. the first time COre sponsored the event, it was a success with over 40 people in
attendance. they hope to have even more participants this year. “Prizes from Mountain Khakis, KaVU, the North face, Croakies and other outdoor companies have hooked us up with shirts, gift cards, chalk bags and more,” Wilkinson said. Students will work to break last year’s records for most crates stacked. the record for men was set by asher Brantley with 21 crates. rebecca tucker set the record for women with 19 crates. the competition costs $5. Participants can pay with cash, check or flex card in advance or on the day of the event at COre Outdoors.
SportS
FEBRUARY 27, 2014
Just not enough camaraderie Neil Frawley s p o rt s w r i t e r
ndfrawley@valdosta.edu
Before i began writing for the VsU women's basketball team, they were a solid 8-2 and undefeated in their home building. then it seemed as if a switch got flipped. the team wound up losing its next 11 out of 14 games. was i that very switch? i would surely hope not, but after personally witnessing every home game and attending several practices−including a couple of the grueling 6:30 a.m practices. i can assure you that the team’s poor second half did not occur because of a lack of effort. Nor is there a lack of talent on this team. on the contrary, this team has the talent to compete with anybody, and they have shown that talent−even though such skill ultimately results in losses−time and time again this season. injury has been a major issue for the team all season long. Maylisa Johnson went down with an ACL injury before the season began. Although not a major scoring threat−averaging about six points per game−Johnson was to VsU what Jason Kidd was to the Dallas Mavericks in the 2011 NBA Finals. she kept the team balanced and acted like a coach on the court, which helps a team big time during moments of stress. Midway through the season, Maggie Davis and ivana also got injured. Both played the center/forward positions, making VsU's front line very thin at the end of the season. still, the VsU roster is riddled with talent. April thomas is an electric scorer. Jordan waugh is a tremendous shooter and an incredible, fundamentally skilled player. rashandra owens is great on the glass. Kourtnee williams is great at handling the ball through traffic and pulling up with mid-range jump shots. Ultimately, from my perspective, the problem never was the personnel, nor was it a lack of depth. the real problem was that this group of players struggled to mesh together, and at times it's been very noticeable. there have been several moments−against Delta state, against Lee and against west Georgia, to name a few−where VsU had opportunities to grab hold of the lead and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, but they didn’t. the problem can't be chalked up to off-the-court is-
sues either. the team frequently mentions how easy it would be to point fingers and pick out the negatives. But they haven't and have held several talks about how to turn hard work into hard-earned success. the real disconnect happens on the court, where mental mistakes−as coach Hill has mentioned several times−have made the difference between a win and loss. For example, against Delta state, VsU cut the score to three points with 1:30 remaining in the game, but they did not get a single-shot attempt and missed both of their free-throw attempts in the next minute. No one stepped up. No one said "i will not let this win get away. we wiLL win this."
Teams still needed for spring intramurals Victoria Johnson s p o rt s w r i t e r
vijohnson@valdosta.edu
After being a part of student life for over 30 years, Valdosta state intramurals is in full swing for the 2014 spring semester. "You don't have to be an athlete to be a part of the games, we just want to give people a chance to freely play a sport they would like to be a part of," Nick Lumpkin, Di-
Sierra King/ The Spectator Head coach Kiley Hill speaks with his players during a timeout.
open, or play her one-on-one. this is basically Hill's message to Duke: "we're putting the game in your hands." However, i never saw the fire. i saw the effort, which has been there in spades the whole season.
Commentary every team needs someone who can do this. Not only does this set a standard that others must respect and live up to, it also helps the whole team stay calm in high-pressure situations−the type of situations that not having Maylisa Johnson greatly affects. in the buzzer-beater loss to west Georgia, VsU found themselves in a similar situation. But this time, VsU got a strong contribution from its 6-0 forward, Amy Duke. After the first half, Duke had nine points and seven rebounds and was well on her way to a double-double. she got her double-double, finishing with 16 points and 12 rebounds, but it could have been more. several times Duke had opportunities to score and decided to distribute rather than try for the score, including one where she dribbled past her defender and had nobody between her and the basket. she passed the ball out to a three-point shooter who ended up missing the shot. Being a basketball mind, i fully understand the decision. it is nice to get other players involved, and when you are attracting as much attention as Duke was that night, distributing the ball can be very effective. However, what ultimately makes a team, a coach, and a program look good is a win. even if a player records 15 assists, it doesn't help the team if such actions don’t result in a victory. And with VsU so in need of a win, it would have been nice to see Duke be the catalyst for that win. i thought i was about to see a win happen against west Georgia. Coach Hill kept drawing up isolation plays for Duke to get the ball, forcing the defense to either double team her, leaving shooters
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But i didn't see the fire in the eyes that it takes to stand and fight for the win. when one player is constantly given the ball−which has been the case a lot with April thomas, VsU's leading scorer at about 15 points per game−it's possibly a sign that other players don't feel confident. As a result, players resort to the “LeBron James” offense where one player is selected as the "chosen one" and is given the ball, only to have all the other players clear out and watch what happens. it's a poor sight for a coach to see, and one that a coach needs to correct if he/she wants to see better results at the end of ball games. Having a dominant player is great, and having a player step up and be a leader is amazing. But even if there is a “LeBron James” player−and i use the term in this case incredibly loosely−there still must be a cohesive energy given off by all the other players. simply put, you need a teAM. Delta state University is a team. Lee University is a team. Union University is a team. Valdosta state at the moment is a collection of very good players, and the standings show it. Coach Hill has been working with a mantra that he calls "working smarter, not harder." with only two games left on the schedule, plus at least one more game in the GsC tournament, the last few games serve as a sort of "mini" season for coach Hill to work with his players before going into next season. VsU is coming off a win against shorter, which should help build confidence and ease any tension in the locker room.
Even
At the end of the day, the VsU women's basketball team has no reason to get down on themselves. After being plagued with injury and having to fit in the scoring power of April thomas, the future of this team is still very bright. though the team is likely to miss the Division ii tournament and finish at the bottom of the GsC, don't be surprised if the Lady Blazers come out of the gates in full force next season and rack up the wins.
Gulf South Conference Standings 1. Lee (16-2) 2. No. 17 Delta State (15-3) 3. Union (13-5) 4. West Florida (11-7) 5. Alabama-Huntsvile (10-8) 6.Christian Brothers (9-9) 7.North Alabama (8-10) 8. West Georgia (7-12) 9. Valdosta State (6-12) 10. Shorter (4-15) 1.1.West Alabama (1-17)
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rector of intramural and Club sports, said. in addition to being available to all students, it’s also free. “we started to try to increase our information on twitter and Facebook in realization that people will adhere more to that than flyers and such around school,” Lumpkin said. read the rest online at vsuspectator.com
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February 27, 2014
VSU golf heads to Lone Star State Chris Webb S p o rt S W r i t e r
ctrswebb@valdosta.edu
the Valdosta State golf team packs their clubs up for texas next week as they will compete in the 10th annual St. edwards invitational. the two-day tournament is held on Mar. 3-4 at the Grey rock Golf Club in Austin, texas. Five top-25 teams will join the Blazers to make up the 16-team field, including defending national champions, No.1 Barry University and No.4 Cal State-Monterey Bay. VSU looks to bounce back after a 10th place performance at the Matlock Colle-
giate Classic on Feb. 11. A first round 305 score put VSU in 13th of 15 teams and killed any chance of a top five finish as the Blazers were stuck looking up the scoreboards the rest of tournament. one of the few bright spots to take away from the Matlock was the play of junior Austin McNeil, who finished in 20th individually shooting a (+3) 219. VSU will need for McNeil to continue his solid play coming into this week at the challenging Grey rock Golf Club which hosts the annual tournament every March. Joining McNeil, head coach Jared purvis is sending Alex Jones, John Fordham,
and the lack of consistency has been the biggest problem for VSU so far this season. if VSU wants to be in a good position on this tough golf course, they will want to avoid those one or two rounds shooting in the high 70s and low 80s, which has hurt them in recent tournaments.
Follow @BlazerSports on Twitter for updates on VSU athletics.
VSU Golfer Average GolfDigest.com Grey Rock Golf Club,an 18-hole golf course located near downtown Austin, Texas., is the setting for the St. Edwards Invitational March 3.
Florian Schmiedel, and Freshman Mitch Lomis to texas to make up the fiveman team. this group has proven that they can put up low scores;
the next step is getting everyone hitting the ball well on the same day. the Blazers haven’t been able to put low rounds together for consecutive days
John Fordham
74.1
Mitch Lomis
74.3
Alex Jones
74.8
Florian Schmidel
75
Austin McNeill
75.4
Michael Nutter
76.5
Wheaton Hall
77.8
Want to be a sports photographer? Email: epjackson@ valdosta.edu
The little man that plays like a giant Shane Thomas S p o rt S W r i t e r shanethomas@valdosta.edu
When the Valdosta State men’s basketball team took the floor Nov. 11 for its season opener, there were several new players for fans to become acquainted with. the Blazers were victorious that night led by one of their newcomers, an undersized yet speedy point guard named Larry Stone. Generously listed at 5-feet10 and weighing in at 165 pounds, the junior put up solid numbers in his VSU debut; 13 points, five assists and two turnovers in 29 minutes. those numbers don’t tell Stone’s entire story. During the final minutes, with the Blazers already leading by 31 points, a loose ball rolled toward the scorer’s table. As his signature dreadlock
VSU Athletics
dangled, it was Stone, who outran an opposing player to dive head-first to recover the ball. “it’s great to see kids make those plays because that means it’s a habit,” head coach Mike Helfer said after the game. “it’s not for the crowd, or for one play, it’s a habit when you’re up that many points. that was the best thing for me—he is going to be diving on the floor for the entire season so that’s what made me happy.” Sacrificing his body and his game for the team has
Paul Leavy/ VSU Larry Stone has been a key contributor this season coming off the bench.
been a key for the Blazers this season. Stone, a four-year starter at t.C. Howe Academy in indianapolis, ind., before playing one year for Division i iUpUi, started the first three games of the season before senior guard Jeremy McKay took over at the point. “As a sixth man, you can
see what’s going on and how you can impact the game,” Stone said. “if i’m on the sidelines i can hear coach yell out to guys what he wants. it wasn’t a big transition—any way i can help the team win, that’s my job.” it is easy to point out Stone’s lack of height, but often the smallest player on the
floor has come up the biggest with the game on the line; in the last two minutes of regulation and overtime this season, Stone has made a teambest 19-of-20 free throws. “You know you’re bringing in a really, really good player that’s probably good enough to start,” Helfer said of Stone. “Larry’s such a great kid. He knows he’s going to play a lot of minutes and especially at the end with him making those free throws. For a coach to have confidence in a kid to step up and make them is really important.” A transfer from indian Hills Junior College, Stone is one of the guards in the Blazers’ back court along with McKay and fellow junior Jalen Crawford. “it’s like a triple-headed monster,” Stone said. “Jalen’s a big, physical guard. Me and Jeremy are the quicker, stronger guards and we can
really get after guys as far as our speed and quickness in the full court. it’s a big advantage and any given night, any one of us can go off.” Stone finished his high school career at t.C. Howe as the school’s all-time leading scorer before coming to VSU. playing on a team with four players averaging double figures per game, Stone has no problem to taking a back seat to make his teammates better. “i’m more of a true, passfirst point guard,” Stone said. “i understand everybody has to get the touches. the game isn’t about who gets the shots, it’s about the open man. if we believe in each other the way i believe in my teammates, i believe we can make a run [in the conference tournament].” Follow Shane on twitter: @itsathomasthing