February 20, 2014
W W W. V S U S P E c TAT o R . c o M
Inside This Issue
Pg. 6, Blazers travel to West Florida
- oPiNioNS: Prior-review silences student - FEATURES: officer 699: Man of Mystery - SPoRTS: Blazers attempt to sweep wolves
Today at VSU target the job- representatives from target will be hosting “impress the recruiter” at 5 p.m. on the second floor of Powell Hall-west. the presentation is designed to help candidates be more successful from resume to interview.
meeting at 7:30 p.m. in odum auditorium 1160 to discussing the Caribbean culture and how we can broadcast the culture to the Valdosta state area
This Day in History Atlanta Editor Kidnapped on this day in 1974, reg Murphy, an editor for the Atlanta Constitution and well known anti-Vietnam advocate, was kidnapped by William Williams, a selfproclaimed member of a right-wing militia group. Williams held Murphy hostage for the next 49 hours, driving around the city and periodically phoning in ransom demands. Williams demanded $700,000, which was eventually paid by the paper and delivered by G. James Minter, managing editor. after receiving the money, Williams and his wife, Betty, were caught with the money at their home outside the city.
On the Web w w w. v s u s p e c ta t o r. c o m
Check out Chris Kessler’s review of the new RoboCop movie
McKinney: VSU plans to hire private security firm Will Lewis eDitor-iN-CHief walewis@valdosta.edu
caribbean- the club will be
VoLUME 86 iSSUE 5
VsU is considering hiring a private security firm to assist university police, according to President william McKinney. “what we need are additional eyes and an additional presence,” Dr. McKinney said. “Not necessarily additional armed police but additional security guards that work with our police.” the security personnel are expected to be active and visible sometime in March.
“it is absolutely antithetical to the learning mission of the university if you’re, obviously, always having to think about the amount of safety,” Dr. McKinney said. “if you’re thinking about looking over your shoulder, it’s pretty hard to focus on learning.” the security will be uniformed but unarmed. they will work directly with the university police and other programs, like the student Patrol at night. “My priorities are pretty simple; safety is first, academics is second, everything
else comes third,” Dr. McKinney said. the agenda for today’s faculty senate meeting mentions that, “the ideal ratio appears to be three officers for every 1,000 students. Considering that we have about 12,000 students, the size of our police force is rather small.” Dr. McKinney said that he is aware of the low number of VsUPD officers. the “ideal” numbers presented in the agenda would mandate a minimum of 36 officers on campus.
the VsUPD already regularly patrols campus, but the agenda says “these patrols are mainly done by car but may also be done on foot.” VsU is a no-driving campus, which may explain the low amount of police presence mentioned in the committee’s report. the addition comes after a recent streak of violent crime that has plagued VsU’s campus. the student body has endured an armed kidnapping, murder and the non-fatal stabbing of a student last semester.
Hopper Hall boiler meltdown still has students boiling over
Source: History.com
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VSU Plant Works employees stand outside the service entrance for the boiler room in Hopper Hall. Hopper Hall’s boiler broke last week and was recently addressed by President McKinney in an email to Hopper Hall residents.
Joe Adgie soCial MeDia eDitor
jmadgie@valdosta.edu
the boiler issues at Hopper Hall have entered their second week, and President McKinney is getting involved. a couple of students tweeted McKinney on wednesday, disgruntled over being without hot water. “i would like to know why i paid over $2,000 and i have not been able to take a hot shower in a month,” asked a twitter user known as “Big-
gDaddyBri.” the twitter user also requested a refund for the previous month because of this lack of hot water. McKinney sent an email to Hopper Hall residents on wednesday. “this morning, i was made aware through twitter of systemic and ongoing issues with the hot water in Hopper Hall,” McKinney wrote. “this information is contrary to information i have been receiving over the course of the last two weeks.”
McKinney went on to tell the residents of Hopper that “i am now seeing to this matter personally.” ryan teter, assistant director of facilities for VsU Housing, gave a status update in another email sent on wednesday. “a plumber will be working in Hopper Hall to install a part that might improve delivery of hot water from the temporary hot water heater to your suite,” teter wrote. “Plant operations will also be working to increase the hot
water capacity in an additional effort to improve hot water delivery.” teter also wrote that a shuttle will begin operating for Hopper residents to take them to showers at the P.e. Complex between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. from Monday through friday. No timetable was given by either McKinney or teter on when permanent repairs to the hot water heaters would be completed at Hopper Hall or when the temporary boiler would be removed.
Faculty Senate speaks safety LaMarcus Wilkerson s ta f f w r i t e r
lkwilkerson@valdosta.edu
the faculty senate will meet today to discuss a final report created by VsU’s special Committee on safety and security, which focuses solely on campus safety issues. the meeting will take place at 3 p.m. in the University Center’s Magnolia room. the committee was formed
to address problems in VsU’s security system and met all throughout last semester. after a careful and thorough evaluation of VsU’s resources and conditions, the committee has offered several recommendations and comments to the faculty senate in the form of a final report. these suggestions include increased awareness of safety escort services, a regulation
of shuttle stops on campus, an increase in the campus police force and an expansion of student patrol routes at night. a key point of the committee’s report is that VsU needs to increase its manpower for programs like the VsUPD and the student Patrol in order to create a safer environment on campus. the report states that an ideal ratio for
police officers to students is three officers for every 1,000 students, meaning that the VsUPD is under-staffed. the committee’s report also recognizes the need for increased lighting and more traffic signage at several pedestrian crossings and walkways across campus. furthermore, the report mentions the location of the S e e S E N AT E , P a g e 2
Ga. House oks bill lessening gun laws Joe Adgie soCial MeDia eDitor
jmadgie@valdosta.edu
the Georgia House of representatives passed a significant law that, if also passed by the state senate, will allow permit holders to carry guns in bars and churches and will significantly reduce the penalty for carrying a weapon on a college campus. Previously, a weapon on a college Rep. Rick campus Jasperse brought about cosponsored criminal the bill charges, but the bill that was passed reduces that penalty to a maximum fine of $100 and no jail time. the bill passed with 119 yes votes, 56 nay votes, and two non-voters. the three representatives from Valdosta, amy Carter, ellis Black, and Dexter sharper, were split on their votes. Carter and Black voted for it, while sharper voted against it. this bill, House Bill 875, had until recently included a provision that would make firearms on college campuses legal for licensed gun owners, but this was excluded from the final proposal of the bill. the bill was then sent to the Georgia senate on wednesday, where it will require passage from the mostly-republican senate and then would require a signature from Governor Nathan Deal for it to become official. Major ann farmer of the VsU police stated that this bill, should it become law, would have to be enforced as a state law. “My job is to enforce the laws of the state,” farmer said in an email on wednesday. farmer declined to discuss the matter further. this is not the first time a bill such as this has been passed. last year, the House passed HB 512, a bill very similar to this year’s HB 875, with the exception of the legalization of firearms on college campuses. a year ago, when HB 512 was being discussed, VsU president william McKinney joined the presidents of every other school in the University system of Georgia, as well as the police chiefs of every school in the system, in opposing legislation that would legalize concealed weapons on college campuses. McKinney declined to comment on the legislation wednesday, saying it would be “imprudent to comment on legislation that is still pending.”
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No worries: Olivia McLean MAnAging EdiTor ovmclean@valdosta.edu
Tell Mom and dad their kid will get to walk across the stage in May. VSU President dr. William McKinney has confirmed that although summer commencement will not be returning, students who have six or fewer credit hours left to fulfill graduation requirements will be able to walk in May. on nov. 1, McKinney sent a mass email to students announcing the change in commencement procedures. “VSU will allow only those graduates who have fulfilled all graduation requirements to participate in Commencement,” the email read. “That
is, VSU will no longer allow students to walk early. Candidates for graduation who complete their graduation requirements in the summer will be permitted and encouraged to participate in the Fall Commencement.” After consulting with the Faculty Senate, the registrar’s office and his own staff, McKinney realized the impact the changes had on students. “(We) definitely underestimated the need for that,” McKinney said. “So, we’ll fix it.” McKinney believes that students shouldn’t be penalized for their majors’ requirement to earn credit hours from courses or programs only offered in the summer.
Upcoming Events Feb. 21 Jonathan Young, Jungian psychologist and storyteller from the Center for Story and Symbol, Santa Barbara, Ca., will present “our Stories, our Selves” in the University Centher Theater at 7 p.m. The VSU Campus recreation department is hosting several red Cross classes for those who would like to get red Cross certified. These are offered at a reduced cost and are a great way to get ready for a summer job. The CPr/AEd & First Aid class will be from 2-7 p.m. The cost for students is $120. Feb. 22 The VSU Ballroom dance Club presents the annual charity event "dancing with the greeks." at 6 p.m. at the Theatre guild Valdosta (the dosta Playhouse). Admission is $5, and votes for your favorite greek performance can be made through a donation of any amount.The winning team will receive 20 percent of the night's proceeds to go to a charity of their choice. Feb. 25 on Feb. 25, Julia garcia, a nationally recognized speaker, will be presenting "The TrU Life" in Jennett Hall room 1111 at 7 p.m. garcia will share her story of alcohol abuse, assault, and
Police Briefs Feb. 15 Three vehicles were broken into at Ashley Cinemas. Feb. 13 A bicycle was stolen. Mychal Cory Williams was yelling inappropriate/obscene things to residents in the Langdale Hall lobby. He appeared to be drunk and was wanted through remerton. He was arrested and issued a criminal trespass warning.
"everything in between." Questions? Call 229-259 5111.
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FEBRUARY 20, 2014
Concerned students able to graduate in May again
“Commencement is and should be a very memorable moment,” McKinney said. The power of students’ voices also influenced the changes. “i’ve received a few emails,” McKinney said. “And i’ve tried to respond to most of them.” While some students may accept the adjustments with open arms, some consider the negatives. "it is a good idea, but there are opposite sides to it because what if that student doesn't pass all the classes that they need in order to graduate?" Michaela Hardy, senior international business and marketing major, said. With May soon approaching, McKinney said the
changes will be in effect immediately. “My advice to students who are in that situation (is to) contact the registrar’s office,” McKinney said. McKinney also mentioned the reason why summer commencement was axed in the first place. “it’s very, very small,” he said. “it becomes a matter of resources, but then again, (we) completely underestimated the number of students who actually would be (affected).” “This is something that just needs to be done, and so we’ll do it,” McKinney said. “it’s absolutely the right thing to do.”
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SENATE Continued from Page 1 University Center’s ATM. Previously, there have been a number of incidents at the ATM, and the committee suggests putting another ATM at a safer location, such as the Student Union.
The committee also recommends increased camera coverage across campus. Campus safety has been a significant concern for many at VSU after a student was struck by a truck while in the middle of a crosswalk and later died.
S.A.V.E. discusses VSU divestment, gathers signatures for petition
Feb. 27 Phi Beta will host “How Smart Are You?” for Black History Month at 6:30 p.m. in the Student Union. Education Career day will be held in the University Center Magnolia and Cypress rooms. This event is open to all majors (alum – May 2013 graduates) interested in teaching, and professional dress is required. Attendees should bring resumes and arrive at 10 a.m. Contact Career opportunities at 3335942 for more information. A representative from the Peace Corps will conduct an information session at 5 p.m. in Powell Hall West. This event is open to all majors. Please call deLois Hargett in Career opportunities by Feb. 25 to reserve your seat at 333-5942. Light refreshments will be served. March 8 There will be a nEdA Walk (national Eating disorder Association) on the Front Lawn from 9:30 a.m.-11 a.m. All money raised by participants and sponsors goes back into the non-profit organization to support treatment centers and other resources for those who need help.
Will Lewis/THE SPECTATOR The Students Against Violating Earth set up a table outside Odum Library on Wednesday. Elizabeth Tuttle, Danielle Jordan and other members gathered support for the divestment campaign on campus.
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Feb. 12 Student Jamal o. Tull was arrested on several warrants as well as misdemeanor possession of marijuana.
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Jasmine duerson, 18, of Ft. Stewart, ga. was arrested on an outstanding warrant. A student had her money stolen from Lowndes Hall while playing cards. She left the lobby for a moment, came back and noticed a little while later that her money had been taken.
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OpiniOns
februAry 20, 2014
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Prior review silences students H
elp college journalists fight the good fight. At colleges across the country, students can voice their beliefs, sentiments and musings through independent student newspapers that are free from censorship by the administration. But such liberty is not found everywhere. At Atlanta Metropolitan State College, an editor has reached out to her peers for assistance after experiencing ongoing treatment that is unsettling. That unsettling experience is called prior review. This editor reports that her
college is requiring her newspaper staff to submit each and every issue of their paper to a special committee for pre-publication review. The paper can only be printed after the committee has made changes and approved a final copy. “The committee claims they are just checking for grammatical errors, but I already turn my paper into my advisors for this,” the editor said in an email to fellow editors of college newspapers in Georgia. “I am pretty sure they are attempting to censor our student publicat ion with their actions.” This oppressive conduct is
Students must fight to preserve their rights instead of assuming those in authority will always play by the rules. unacceptable. The process of prior review makes it easy for a college administration to heavily influence the content of a student newspaper, making it more of a propaganda outlet rather than a reliable news source.
The actions of AMSC officials are also illegal. The First Amendment guarantees freedom of the press to all citizens, including college students. Courts have ruled that student newspapers at public colleges have the right to be free from censorship, including prior review. A student newspaper cannot operate effectively if it is hindered by a college administration that seeks to promote its own interests and protect its image. The Spectator is a vital representative of VSU students, ensuring they are informed about their world
and have a chance to change their society through written expression. We also act as a watchdog to those in power, exposing abuse and injustice when it occurs. The Student Press Law Center works to help young journalists succeed and has created a set of media guidelines that safeguards the rights of student newspapers, which is basically a rephrasing of a law already in effect. President McKinney has not yet signed these guidelines, attributing the delay to small language tweaks that need to be made to the guidelines. However, McK-
inney said he is on the side of student journalists and plans to approve the guidelines soon. Students must fight to preserve their rights instead of assuming those in authority will always play by the rules. Students can play their part by engaging with The Spectator, alerting us to news and giving us personal opinions on significant issues. A newspaper that is free to report accurate, unbiased information is a great benefit to all of VSU. Remember, when we’re free, you’re free.
This editorial was written by a member of the editorial staff and it expresses the general opinion of the Spectator.
Students debate immigration reform Jordan Hill S TA F F W R I T E R jorhill@valdosta.edu
John Boehner and the Republicans of the U.S. House of Representatives are pushing for immigration reform. In the new bill, immigrants will have to “pass rigorous background checks, pay significant fines and back taxes, develop proficiency in English and American civics, and be able to support themselves and their families (without access to public benefits).” Criminals, gang members and sex offenders will not be eligible for this program. This bill helps immigrants become citizens by passing tests and proving financial stability. By the time these immigrants reach citizenship, they may actually be better Americans than some citizens. If these immigrants want to be functioning citizens of the great U.S.A., they should be able to support themselves financially and show that they
have the knowledge to function in our society. One concern is children brought to the U.S. illegally. The House Republican leaders recommend offering citizenship “for those who meet certain eligibility standards, and serve honorably in our military or attain a college degree.” This is a win-win: keep the bad people out, let the good people stay. This bill proposes tightening up on border security and makes sure immigrants obey the laws while becoming U.S. citizens. The laws are set for a reason and it’s time the government starts enforcing them. But Boehner says the reform can’t move forward until President Obama gets on board, and that has caused a lull in the process of passing this bill.
"I have made clear for 15 months the need for the Congress and the Administration to work together on the issue of immigration reform," Boehner said. "It needs to get done. I'm going to continue to talk to my members about how to move forward, but the president is going to have to do his part as well." Get it together ,Obama.
Let’s get this immigration reform bill moving forward like it needs to. It’s time to enforce the laws that we have in place. Keep the criminals out of the U.S., and let the deserving immigrants become citizens.
Stephen Cavallaro S TA F F W R I T E R sjcavallaro@valdosta.edu
People across the globe deserve the right to liberty and freedom. What better place to indulge in civil liberties and economic freedom than the United States, a nation founded on the congregation of
peoples from various nationalities seeking justice and opportunity? If anyone embraces immigration, it is our diverse fellow citizens. A Gallup poll conducted last summer concluded that 72 percent of Americans view immigration as a good thing. Why shouldn’t Americans embrace immigrants? Hun-
dreds of thousands of jobs that target immigrants from all over are created each year, and the number of immigrants, both legal and illegal, is rapidly growing. These individuals act as the backbone of our workforce, carrying out jobs that modern Americans are turning away from. Contemporary immigration reform calls for all Americans to be issued national ID cards, and tougher border control. Yet, increasing the government’s presence over the population is not a rational approach and instead infringes upon our own individual rights. The government is increasingly asserting itself onto the people at every chance, and immigration is definitely another scapegoat. The solution? Simply decrease the restriction on foreign people attempting to
move into our nation’s borders legally and grant amnesty to hard working immigrants who, while illegal, have a history of being productive members of society−an idea supported by 87 percent of Americans, according to Gallup. In addition, measures must be taken to ensure people are passing into the nation in order to bask in American ideals rather than monetary incentives. By abolishing the welfare state, federal mandates on states and the birthright citizenship for children of illegal immigrants, newcomers will come to our country for the right reasons, seeking not only financial benefits but also individual freedom. Today, the constitution may be widely debated, but the Declaration of Independence remains undisputable. All peoples are entitled to “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” So why should we allow our laws to protect anything less?
The art of listening Letter to the editor Tyra Mills S TA F F W R I T E R tnmills@valdosta.edu
“God gave you one mouth and two ears for a reason.” This old quote means God gave us double the ears so we could listen more and speak less. Living in such a modern society, it seems that our communication skills fade away as the years go by. The more we indulge in our social media, the less time we have for physical interaction. Though this is a growing problem, I do believe that there are people who prefer physical interaction to internet interaction. There are two things needed to have a successful conversation: A speaker with a message and an attentive listener.
The answer is simple: open your ears. Anyone can hear, but it takes extra effort to actually listen.
Have you ever tried to relay a message to someone who simply was not listening? It can be very frustrating for anyone. The art of listening is very important. Without it, we become narcissistic and full of ourselves, disregarding everyone’s opinion that doesn’t line up with ours. Being a great listener can help you empathize more, thus making you a better friend. It can help you learn to follow directions better,
which helps you score jobs or even get promoted. The list goes on and on, but being a great listener allows you to become a betterrounded person. “I feel like I have no one to talk to” is such a common statement amongst not only teens but adults and children too. You’d think someone would have come up with a solution to end this easily fixable problem. The answer is simple: open your ears. Anyone can hear, but it takes extra effort to actually listen. If everybody decided to listen more and talk less, I know the world would be a better place. Express your opinions by sending the staff a tweet at @vsuspectator.
After reading the Feb. 13 article by Joe Adgie entitled “Student majority opposes ban,” I am left with significant concerns regarding the accuracy of the reporting it contained. In the front-page piece, Adgie notes that a majority of students−53 percent−opposes a proposed Board of Regents smoking ban, based upon a Web survey promulgated via email by the Student Government Association. In a previous article, Adgie notes as of Feb. 10, there were 486 respondents to the SGA survey with 42 percent against the policy. Let’s assume there are now approximately 500 respondents with an aggregate student population exceeding 12,000−a mere 4 percent responded to the SGA survey (that’s not including faculty and staff). Any student or faculty member in a department
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which employs statistics in their research will likely concur that the Web-based SGA survey is methodologically flawed. This survey is likely a classic case of self-selection sampling bias, a statistical issue where survey respondents are allowed to decide for themselves if they want to participate in the survey or not. Thus, in this case those most adversely affected by a potential USG smoking ban or who feel most passionately about the ban are most likely to participate in a survey which seeks their input. The result, as this survey reflects, is a low number of respondents with a close division between groups. There are ways to correct for selection bias (most notably, Heckman’s lambda), though I doubt the SGA employed these techniques in their survey. We often say in political
science, the media−including The Spectator−have an agenda-setting role; they don’t tell us what to think, but what to think about. It is irresponsible of a news outlet to assert, definitively, a perceived majority opinion of a campus community based upon a flawed e-survey. It would be more appropriate to say, “Of those surveyed, a majority are opposed to a smoking ban.” There’s another statistical term for a researcher who posits too broad of a conclusion based on their data−it’s called an overgeneralization. And that’s what I think is happening in this case . Respectfully submitted, Nick Rudnik
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OpiniOns
PAgE 4 | vsUsPEctAtoR.coM
People Poll Do you think a $100 fine is acceptable for guns on campus ? Chelsea King senior psychology major “I do agree that it is acceptable for someone to be charged $100 fine because anybody could get upset at anything and then they can just pull the trigger if they feel like they’re ready to. It’s a big danger to have a gun on campus and I do not agree. Leave that to the police.”
Nick Selph sophmore mass media major “I think it’s a good idea in theory, but then again there’s like a gray area with some people, you know, you’ve got crazy people that might just bring a gun and nobody knows about it then you might have really nice people that carry a gun for their own safety get charged $100. So it’s kind of a yes and no answer for me, but that’s how I feel about it.”
Jennifer Suda sophmore history major “I think that’s valid. I don’t really want guns on campus to begin with so a fine for anyone that would have them would hopefully deter people from bringing them to school.”
Parion Mitchell junior psychology major I think it should be a little higher. I want people to be scared to bring a gun on campus because of fines. I don’t feel safe with people bringing guns on campus. I don’t like that association: guns and school. I just don’t feel safe with guns being on campus.
Want more opinions? Check out the Video People Poll online at: youtube.com/ValdostaSpectator
FEBRUARY 20, 2014
Stop sexual assault on campus MCT CAMPUS President Obama's creation of a federal task force to combat sexual assault on college campuses drives home the urgency of this complicated, nationwide problem. But it will take more than a few meetings and a punchy final report to address it effectively. The obstacles facing victims of sexual violence are numerous. Too many schools have failed to take their complaints seriously or to treat them with respect and sympathy. Some schools have sought to sweep problems under the rug by underreporting assaults to the federal government or by failing to take action against perpetrators. Title IX, the federal antidiscrimination law, requires investigations of assault allegations, yet in California alone, Southern Cal, Occidental College and UC Berkeley are alleged to have discouraged victims from reporting assaults. In some cases, victims themselves are reluctant to report their case to the police.
“Male and female students alike need to realize that sexual assault is not a drunken miscommunication but a violent act that must not be tolerated.” A White House report said 22 million women and girls in the United States have been sexually assaulted, mostly by men they know; campuses, it said, are particularly risky. Simply by establishing a task force, the President has raised the profile of the problem. But now the panel needs to grapple with issues of campus prevention, tougher onschool policies toward offenders and stricter enforcement of those policies. Among other things, campuses need mandatory educational programming for incoming students. Studies show rapists on campuses are often repeat of-
fenders. The task force could examine how campuses can make sure that someone found by authorities to be responsible for rape is expelled−not suspended, not given community service. At the same time, the panel could help colleges find the important but tricky balance between vigorously pursuing sexual assault allegations and ensuring the rights of the accused. Perhaps the biggest challenge for colleges, and therefore for the task force, is to figure out how to change the culture on campuses. Bystanders need to be encouraged to stop a situation from escalating into an assault. Male and female students alike need to realize that sexual assault is not a drunken miscommunication but a violent act that must not be tolerated. Express your opinions by sending the staff a tweet at @vsuspectator.
FeaTureS
FEBRUARY 20, 2014
PAgE 5 | vsUsPEctAtoR.com
Officer 699:Man of Mystery VSU parking attendants face animosity while trying to fulfill their duties. Matthew Sullivan S ta f f W r i t e r mjsullivan@valdosta.edu
the life of a VSU parking attendant is racked with peril. “i had just bought a drink from the Student Union and had set it down to write a ticket,” Officer 699, a VSU parking patroller of two years, said. “When someone walked by, they snatched my drink, ran away and threw it in the creek.” Officer 699’s identity cannot be revealed because of a standing policy held by the Parking and transportation
Office to protect all parking attendants from harassment and threats, which is a constant hazard of the job. these hazards exist because students often feel their tuition payment entitles them to park wherever they want without being subject to parking fines. When students receive tickets, they tend to blame the person that wrote the ticket.
“ We issue parking citations to illegal vehicles and not individuals. ” -Officer 699
Matthew Deese, a 20-yearold sophomore, echoes these sentiments. “Parking tickets are frustrating and a hassle,” Deese said.
Officer 699 realizes the job comes with “mixed perceptions, some positive and some negative.” Despite some negative views, this officer claims the worst part of the job is “working in the summer heat and the job having no benefits.” Officer 699 is currently enrolled as an undecided freshman at VSU and works 20 hours a week. Officer 699 said that being a patroller is convenient be cause of the flexible hours. He also enjoys working outdoors. according to Officer 699, the parking patrollers do not have it out for students. “We issue parking citations to illegal vehicles and not individuals,” he said. Officer 699 also adds that their lot assignments vary. “Parking patrollers are assigned to different zones
Photo illustration by LeShawn Oglesby and Joe Adgie/THE SPECTATOR The Spectator interviewed a member of the VSU Parking Patrol but was asked not to release his identity.
throughout the day,” he said. So if you receive multiple tickets, chances are they aren’t even from the same patroller. anthony Bryant, assistant director of parking and transportation, said being a parking patroller can be a tough
Robot band gives new face to music industry D aft Punk is not the only musical robot group storming the media in 2014. Z-Machine, an all-robot band created by Yoichiro Kawaguchi, a professor at the University of tokyo, and designed by Naofumi Yonetsuka, a fellow robotics engineer of the university, has come into the spotlight. Kawaguchi and the other creators worked with Squarepusher, a recording artist from england, to help create Z-Machine’s first album. “in this project, the main question i’ve tried to answer is ‘can these robots play mu-
sic that is emotionally engaging?’” Squarepusher said in a press release.
Spec Tech with Joseph Albahari
the robot band includes a drummer, a guitarist and a keyboardist. “each of the robotic devices involved in the performance of this music has its own specification which per-
mits certain possibilities,” Squarepusher said. the drummer, ashura, is equipped with 22 arms which allow him to play much faster than any human. Mach, the guitarist, has 78 fingers and can headbang, sing and play at the same time. Cosmo, the keyboardist, has the ability to beam lasers out of his head that form various shapes. the robots’ unique design allows them to hit notes that are impossible for human musicians to reach. this creates a new horizon for music enthusiasts. the group’s first album, “Music for robots,” will be
released april 8 and is currently available for preorder on itunes or Bleep. When preordered, the user is given the band’s first single, “Sad robot Goes funny.” the album has five tracks and costs $5 to preorder on itunes and $14.99 for a physical CD or vinyl.
Happy ‘Tator Day! MCT Images
Food, music and nightlife can be found ‘Creekside’ Jessica Ingram S ta f f W r i t e r jdingram@valdosta.edu
N
eed the drink without the drunks? Creekside tavern on Gornto road is best known around Valdosta as a place for good drinks and live music, but the food should not be disregarded. the menu is small−only one page of meals and beverage offerings−and the prices range from $6 to $20 or more. for my meal, i ordered the shrimp in bang-bang sauce with a side of mashed potatoes. the shrimp were fried but still tasted fresh, and the bang-bang sauce was gener-
ously poured over the shrimp, covering every spot. With around 10 large shrimp, the portion was a good size. the only problem i had with this part of my meal was that the shrimp still had their tails, which made for tricky eating. the price for the shrimp was $8. as for the side of homemade mashed potatoes, the only thing that surprised me was the price. for a whopping $4 i expected more than ordinary potatoes garnished with what appeared to be chives. the service at Creekside was superb. i was waited on quickly after being seated and the waiter visited numerous times to see if anything was needed. He also was very
friendly and made jokes throughout the evening. the waiter did mention that every few weeks or so the menu will change slightly, with items being added or removed. Creekside tavern is not a restaurant for the penny pinchers; however, if you’re looking for a good meal with good service, it is definitely a restaurant to keep in mind. i would rate Creekside tavern a 4 out of 5 stars, losing one star because of its priceyness. i did, however, enjoy my meal experience and will be revisiting.
Jessica’s rating:
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job. “as you can imagine, patrollers encounter several irate customers and difficult situations while they are at work trying to perform their duties,” Bryant said. “they have to keep a professional demeanor at all times.”
Officer 699 says his personality helps him deal with the challenges of the job. “i am a calm person,” he said. “i just let it roll off my back.”
Check out Chris Kessler’s review of “RoboCop” on the WebSpectator! www.vsuspectator.com
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A N S W E R S
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February 20, 2014
Blazers travel to West Florida No.2 UWF and No. 4 VSU put conference records on the line Alex Tostado A s s t. s p o rt s E d i t o r ajtostado@valdosta.edu
Sierra King/ The Spectator VSU baseball looks on in the dugout during their 4-1 win Wednesday night. The No. 4 Blazers face No. 2 West Florida this weekend.
Blazer baseball scores a perfect 10 Chris Webb s p o rt s w r i t E r
ctrswebb@valdosta.edu
No. 4 Valdosta state (10-0) continued their perfect start to the season defeating Columbus state (6-6) 4-1 wednesday night at Billy Grant Field. the Cougars pitching struggled early against the Blazer bats, joining the growing list of teams unable to handle VsU’s powerful offense. the Blazers jumped on the board quickly scoring three runs in the first inning giving their pitching an early lead CsU couldn’t overcome. VsU has outscored their opponents 13-1 in the first inning in the 10 games this year. “i think it’s proven at all levels of baseball, whoever scores first usually wins,” head coach Greg Guilliams said about his team’s batting early in games. “the way our
guys keep coming out tells me that they are ready to play each day.” Leading the way for VsU at the plate wednesday was right fielder Jimmy dowdell going 2-4 with two runs batted in, including a big rBidouble following a rBi-triple off the bat of catcher Bryant Hayman in the first inning to give VsU a 2-0 lead. VsU used a total of five pitchers in efforts to keep arms fresh heading into this weekend’s big series against west Florida. “it was the game plan the whole time, we wanted to rest some arms and not over use anyone going into the weekend,” Guilliams said. starting on the mound for the Blazers was senior Zakk white, who went two strong innings for VsU, allowed zero runs on one hit and one walk before being replaced by Cameron tewksbury in top of the third. tewksbury struggled al-
lowing all three batters he faced to reach base and one to score. Coming up huge out of the bullpen was Colby wisdom, who shut down the Cougar bats when he made an appearance during the middle of the third inning rally. wisdom replaced a struggling tewksbury, who failed to record an out in the third. wisdom finished with two innings pitched with two strikeouts on just one hit allowed. the lefty has really settled into his role out of the bullpen as a change of pace type pitcher and now hosts a season earned run average of 1.42. “Just focusing on my role, i know i’m going to be throwing off speed coming into the game. My main thing is just knowing what i have to do and being able to get it done,” wisdom said about his early success. Coming into the game up
3-1; CsU had runners on 3rd and 2nd with 0 outs, wisdom was able to make quick work of the next three batters and stranded both runs on base, preserving the lead for VsU. “that was probably the difference in the game, it’s a 3-1 game, no outs, they had a rally going and ended up scoring no more runs After that i don’t think they threatened the rest of the ball game,” Guilliams said about the third inning. Ethan Bornstein got his second save of the season, coming into the game during the sixth inning and silenced the Cougars bats pitching three innings of no hit ball. VsU heads to pensacola, Fla. this weekend to take on No. 2 west Florida in an early season top 5 match-up that may give us a glimpse at how the GsC plays out this year. Follow Chris on twitter: @Ctrswebb
No.4 Valdosta state baseball will play a road game for the first time this season in a top-five matchup against Gulf south Conference rival, No.2 west Florida, this weekend. the Argos are 8-2 on the season with a perfect 3-0 conference record, while the Blazers (10-0, 3-0) are off to their best start since 1978 (when statistics were first recorded). VsU has outscored its opponents 106-22 in the nine victories. Head coach Greg Guilliams knows it’s early in the season and doesn’t want to put extra pressure on his team about being ranked this high. “Everybody knows that at this point [being ranked No. 4] doesn’t mean anything; all that matters is what happens in the end,” Guilliams said. the players agree with Guilliams, as junior first baseman Kevin Cruz acknowledged. “we’re not worried about playing against [UwF]; we just have to make sure we go through the fundamentals and do everything we can [do to win],” Cruz said. “we should be pretty clear-minded. we can’t be thinking about the rankings because that would mess us up.” it is hard to find an out in this Blazer lineup, with a team batting average of .334. the seven Blazers who have
started in all nine games are batting above .300. the team is led by the 2-34 hitters: transfer shortstop Mike reed, catcher Bryant Hayman and transfer outfielder Jimmy dowdell. reed, Hayman and dowdell combined are batting .415 and have driven in 43 runs. it is not just the bats that are winning these games; defensively, VsU has been consistent and aggressive. “the defense is going to be the strength of our club,” Guilliams said. “if our guys make mistakes, and they make mistakes being aggressive, then as a coach you can live with that.” Guilliams says that the pitching staff needs to limit the walks. Against shorter last weekend, VsU allowed 13 batters to reach base on a free pass. “the better teams are going to make you pay for [walks] because they have better hitters in the lineup,” Guilliams said. senior pitcher dom deMasi is a projected starter for one of saturday’s two games and is ready to impress UwF after being swept in pensacola, Fla., last season. “it’s going to be a big experience,” deMasi said. “i can’t wait until 2 p.m. on saturday.” Follow Alex on twitter: @Alex_tostado12
SportS
FEBRUARY 20, 2014
Blazers attempt to sweep Wolves
PAgE 7 | vsUsPEctAtoR.com
Rugby takes field Victoria Johnson s p o rt s w r i t e r
vijohnson@valdosta.edu
Shane Thomas s p o rt s w r i t e r
the Valdosta state rugby team is charging in full force this spring season. saturday, VsU competes against North Georgia College & state at 2 p.m at the North Campus field. "this is the biggest game of the season. if we win this game we will be eligible to go to playoffs in pensacola, at the University of west Florida, " former rugby player Max Mundel said. the Blazers, who are undefeated, already have astounding wins against competitive talent against Georgia College and state, emory, and Florida state this
shanethomas@valdosta.edu
Valdosta state (13-9) look to improve their standing in the Gulf south Conference when they welcome in-state rival west Georgia (16-9) thursday night. the Blazers defeated UwG 72-64 in Carrollton, Ga. on Jan. 16. Blazer guard Blake Justice led the team with 25 points and VsU held UwG’s leading scorer Deonta stocks to only 10 points in the win. Helfer sees the wolves as a much different team heading into their second meeting. “Five of their nine losses, they haven’t had all of their guys,” Helfer said. “stocks didn’t play until the first semester was over and they didn’t have thompson last time. He’s a great player—he had 19 points and 21 rebounds against Columbus state.” An encouraging sign for the Blazers is the play of ju-
Stanley Gilliam/ The Spectator Point guard Jeremy McKay soars for a dunk during last Saturday’s 66-63 win over Union.
nior guard Larry stone. the indian Hills Junior College transfer had a season-high 18 points against UwF to follow up a 10-point, five-rebound effort against Union last saturday.
“He’s coming in as our sixth man but there’s some value to that,” Helfer explained. “You know you’re bringing in a very good player who is good enough to start but Larry is such a great
kid, he knows he’s going to play a lot of minutes.” stone started the first three games of the season before senior Jeremy McKay moved into the starting lineup.
“Being a sixth man has its advantages,” stone said. “As a sixth man, you can see what’s going on and how you can impact the game. if i’m on the sidelines i can hear Coach yell out to guys what he wants. it wasn’t a big tran sition. Any way i can help the team win; that’s my job.”
season. the team manages to schedule practices and condition four times a week to prepare for their upcoming tournaments. if anyone is interested in donating, there is a ' Fund Me ' account on their Facebook (Valdosta state rugby Club) page that allows anyone to send money to support the team. "so far we have had a gracious donation from clientele located in Valdosta, who have previously sponsored our team,” Mundel said. After this weekend’s contest -- the team is planning a trip to Colorado -- where the national championship is located for the team’s final playoff game. UwG is 8-8 in the confer ence heading into thursday, while the Blazers are 7-9. Blazers hold 67-53 all-time record against the wolves. it will be “red out the Complex Night” as VsU students are encouraged to wear red to the game. tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m.
StrugglingVSU to host UWG Blazers go Cougar hunting Neil Frawley s p o rt s w r i t e r
ndfrawley@valdosta.edu
Dogs are often thought of as man's best friend. But during tonight’s game against west Georgia, the wolves will be anything but friendly. For VsU, who have just two wins since Jan. 6, the wolves may be mistaken for vultures. this past weekend for VsU was a difficult one. All three teams they played−University of North Alabama, Union University and Uni-
versity of west Florida−were all at least .500 percent or better in the conference, with Union being third in the GsC. the upcoming weekend against UwG and shorter University is a much lighter weekend regarding both records and rankings. VsU (10-12, 5-11) is eighth in the conference. Coming off of a doubledigit loss to Alabama Huntsville, UwG is 7-15 overall and only 5-11 in the GsC, which puts them in ninth for the conference. shorter (16-6, 4-12),
ranked 10th below UwG in the GsC, is coming off of seven straight losses, including a 71-59 home loss to VsU on Jan. 16. VsU shouldn't shrug off their opponents this week though, considering this may be the final chance to string wins together. VsU’s next two opponents include road matches against No. 18 Delta state, who are 2nd in the GsC, and Christian Brothers, who gave VsU a 67-60 loss in the Complex on Jan. 25th. the Gulf south Conference tournament starts March 6.
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Lia Armistead s p o rt s w r i t e r
jparmistead@valdosta.edu
After falling to Columbus state last season, VsU men’s and women’s tennis teams look to bounce back against one of the nation’s best. Friday marks the sixth match of the men’s tennis season. they will be taking on No. 10 Columbus state in Columbus, Ga. During the last meeting, the men’s team had a close encounter with CsU, losing by only 3 points, 6-3. After only playing against
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three opponents in the 2014 season, the Cougars are undefeated going into this match. the Cougars have dominated the three opponents that they’ve played this season, winning matches 8-1 against Georgia southwestern, 9-0 against Fort Valley state and 9-0 against stillman. CsU has not played a match since Feb. 9 as VsU’s men’s team heads to Columbus after upsetting No. 9 rollins Feb. 15. the men are looking for their fourth straight victory. VsU’s No. 16 women’s team has an even tougher
challenge against No. 5 Lady Cougars. Going into this match, the Lady Cougars are undefeated after dominating Clayton state, Fort Valley state and stillman. the ladies most recently beat GCsU 8-1 and Young Harris 9-1, both at home.
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February 20, 2014