April 3, 2014
W W W. V S U S P E C TAT o R . C o M
Inside This Issue
Look for LaShawn Oglesby’s article on the Mary Turner Project on pg. 3!
- oPINIoNS: Students deserve more diversity - FEATURES: Catching a dream - SPoRTS: VSU edges flagler in nailbiter 6-5
Today at VSU vagina monologueS Vagina Monologues will be holding its annual show at 6:15 p.m. in Bailey Science Center Auditorium 1011. tickets are $5 with a VSU id and all proceeds will go to the haven, local battered women's shelter, WGSt Sexual Assault Prevention program and V-day's 1 Billion rising for Justice, that helps battered women and girls globally. You may purchase tickets at the door or through Carswell hall, the Women's and Gender Studies Building, on north oak Street across from Palms dining.
This Day in History Pony Up on this day in 1860, the first Pony express mail, traveling by horse and rider relay teams, simultaneously leaves St. Joseph, Missouri, and Sacramento, california. Ten days later, on april 13, the westbound rider and mail packet completed the approximately 1,800-mile journey and arrived in Sacramento, beating the eastbound packet's arrival in St. Joseph by two days and setting a new standard for speedy mail delivery. The delivery service was ultimatetly a losing venture, but it contributed towards providing federal funding for a national postal service and helped to improve communication in a time before telegraphs.
Today
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Partly Cloudy 87 H 59 L Partly Cloudy 85 H 65 L
Saturday T-Storms
78 H 62 L
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Schedule sparks concerns brought students to campus three days early, allowed for a fourth exam day and increased breaks. Currently, VSU only allows for three days of exams. one argument raised against the scheduling plan is that it will push VSU’s academic calendar to become the longest in the state. “the argument that (the scheduling plan) makes the semester too long is kind of specious because we already have the longest semester of any school in Georgia,” dr. Aubrey fowler, assistant professor of marketing, said. “Saying 'well, nobody else in the state of Georgia has a
winter break' is like saying nobody else had a telephone at one time. it doesn't make sense. “So the undercurrent of all that, in my opinion…is that there is a level of inertia on this campus that keeps people from wanting to change and wanting to try out new ideas whether we know they work or not. they just don't want to change,” fowler said. the length of the semester isn’t the only concern. “the costs to students for any additional day on the academic schedule are $19 $24 (it depends on the residence hall) and $17.25 for dining,” Said fares, ASPC
chair, said in a March 27 email. “for example, if we add three days to the schedule, students pay an extra $200 per semester.” this fee estimate has drawn mixed reactions from faculty members. “the cost of changing the academic calendar is not zero, nor is it enormous,” traycee Martin, interim vice president for finance and administration, said. “however, the institution’s academic calendar should be an academic decision. With one and a half years advance notice, other divisions should have ample time to plan and minimize costs to students and the in-
stitution as much as possible.” this statement seems to convey the general opinion of the university, with thressea Boyd naming it the official university statement. “At this point the cost to change the academic calendar will not be zero but it’s not going to be large, and what’s large? i don’t know,” Boyd said. “But this an academic issue; it should be an academic decision.” Some faculty members are less certain of the costs. “no one actually has a dollar amount in place,” Crane said. “it is too far ahead in
West Hall gets a breath of fresh air
SGA preps for CAB week festivities
Will Lewis Editor-in-ChiEf walewis@valdosta.edu
Efforts to amend the academic schedule were voted down during last week’s faculty senate meeting. the proposed schedule change was “tabled and then taken off the table, then voted down and placed back in the hands of the committee,” said tommy Crane, chair elect of the Academic Scheduling and Planning Committee. According to the March 27 meeting agenda, the decisive vote was between two plans presented by the ASPC. Both plans presented to the faculty senate would have
See BREAKS, Page 2
Joe Adgie SoCiAL MEdiA Editor
jmadgie@valdosta.edu
Will Lewis/ The SPecTaTor
Students walk in front of West Hall in between classes on Wednesday. West Hall’s heating and air is under renovation.
Jordan Hill
Weather
VoLUME 86 ISSUE 10
A S S t. o P i n i o n E d i t o r
jorhill@valdosta.edu
After over 25 years, West hall’s heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system is being replaced, which will cause the building to be closed down during the summer semester. during the summer construction, most of West hall will be closed, and only the front section of the building will remain open. Evy harrell, a senior English major, had plans to take summer classes in West hall. “no one has told me about this,” harrell said. “i thought my classes were in West hall
like normal.” Classes that were slated for West hall will now take place in other campus buildings, according to English department head dr. Mark Smith. dr. Smith encourages students to look at their Banner account to see where their classes have been moved to. the current hVAC system that was installed in the late ‘80s did not account for the many computer labs that West hall has. When the current construction is completed, the building will be better prepared to handle more computers. the major construction
will begin after spring graduation. Contractors will strip out the old system and replace it with a new hVAC system. the hVAC construction project consists of three phases. in the first phase, contractors on the project removed the ceilings in West hall to expose the pipes and wires that are typically hidden by the ceiling tiles. the first phase of the project will cost $916,403 and will be paid for by Mrr (Major repair and renovation) funds from the state. “the new hVAC system is being planned to handle a typical modern office and
classroom configuration,” Alan M. Sanderson, construction-project manager, said. the amount of supply air to each room will be doubled after the new hVAC system is put in, which will counteract the heat that the computers produce. the project will take all of the summer semester and perhaps a portion of the fall semester to complete. if there is remaining work to be done at the start of the fall semester, the contractor will work nights and weekends to finish the construction. Classes will resume in West hall at the beginning of the fall semester.
S.A.V.E. waits for endorsement LaMarcus Wilkerson A S S t . f E At U r E S E d i t o r
lkwilkerson@valdosta.edu
Students Against Violating the Environment (S.A.V.E.) is waiting for VSU President William McKinney to approve a committee that would support the fossil free campaign. According to danielle Jordan, the president of S.A.V.E., McKinney’s endorsement of the committee
would move S.A.V.E. a step closer to their goal: to have VSU fully support the divestment efforts of the fossil free campaign. the S.A.V.E. campaign has been ongoing since october and has support from the Student Government Association, the VSU Environmental issues Committee, the faculty senate, the Sociology Club and the College democrats. Jordan said she’s not sure
S.A.V.E will gain McKinpendence on an outdated ney’s support; S.A.V.E. is source of energy,” Jordan also trying to get backing said. from the board of trustees, the natural gas which travshe said. els through the pipeline is obAn important focus of the tained through a process fossil free campaign is the called fracking. Sabal trail pipeline. there are currently Sabal trail is the pipeline 500,000 active fracturing that, if approved, will run wells operating in the U.S., from Alabama through Lown- according to dangersoffrackdes County and stretch to ing.com. central florida. “We’re increasing our de- S e e F R A C K I N G , P a g e 2
Sevyn Streeter will headline SGA/CAB Week, a week that will also feature the SGA elections to determine the new executive branch and senators for the 2014-2015 school year. Streeter, whose single “it Won’t Stop” was certified gold in March, will be playing at the spring concert on April 17 at the PE Complex. the concert will be for VSU students only and will be free. “Can’t wait to come on campus,” Streeter wrote on twitter on tuesday. According to the SGA during Monday night’s meeting,
“Can’t wait to come on campus.” - Sevyn Streeter
the dates have been finalized for SGA/CAB Week as well as for the SGA elections; these dates can be viewed at valdosta.edu/sga. Potential candidates must submit their election packets, complete with required signatures, to the dean of Students office by friday. Senate vacancies will not be filled during the remaining weeks of the semester so that hopeful senators can focus on the upcoming election this month. Campaigning starts on Monday, but candidates can’t actively campaign until April 14. Voting will begin for both executive and legislative seats on April 17 at 12:01 a.m. and end on April 18 at 11:59 p.m. Every seat in the legislative body−with the exception of 10 reserved for incoming freshman senators−and every seat in the executive branch will be up for grabs.
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PAge 2 | vsusPectAtoR.com BREAKS Continued from Page 1 advance to know what those future costs would actually be. “The comment that was made at the senate, basically, was that it would cost something. As to cost, they were not sure. If they knew well enough in advance, they could minimize costs,” Crane said. Fowler said, "Other than the cost thing, that's been blown way out of proportion with misinformation. We were told very specifically last September … that there would be no additional housing costs…” However, Tom Hardy, director of housing and residence life, said that the extension might involve additional student fees, contradicting Fowler’s statement. “I touched base just briefly with Tom (Hardy) and basically when he made that statement (there would be no housing costs) about not costing, it was when (the sched-
uling plan) was originally just the two days,” Boyd said. Fowler has suggested that his original two-day plan may make a resurgence. “If we were to change that schedule−which I'm not sure we're going to now because of all this brouhaha−but I think we're going to go back to the original schedule I proposed, which was simply dropping Dead Day and giving certain departments a certain amount of time during the day, and we've made all this moot,” Fowler said. "What (Fares) did was take an average. What Chartwells has negotiated is to fulfill the calendar. So if we add three days to the calendar, then if you're paying $200 for the semester−I don't know what students pay for the semester−but if you're paying $200 for the food over the course of the semester, they cover it from the beginning of the calendar to the end," Fowler said. Fares said, “I received the $19-$20 (housing) and $17.25 (dining) figures from
Police Briefs April 1 A VSU counselor requested an officer to come to the Counseling Center to speak with two students who had been threatened. March 31 A female reported a theft. Javier Alfonso Aguilar, 18, of Lilburn, Ga., Emory T. High, 25, of Statesboro, Ga., and Jeremy D. Person, 19, of Lawrenceville, Ga., were arrested and charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana after a witness called VSUPD.
A student reported her red Trifecta tricycle stolen from the University Center bike rack. It was recovered April 1. March 30 Ahmon Lott, 19, of Jacksonville, Fla., was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute after a Patterson Hall RA reported the smell of marijuana coming from rooms.
the Office of Auxiliary Services. It is the anticipated cost per day for the 20152016 academic calendar.” Boyd did provide some hope for the costs being minimized. “Can we absorb as a university some of those costs?” Boyd said. “Possibly− we don’t know what those costs are yet; we don’t know how many days or when the days are.” The first plan presented to the faculty senate allows for a full week for final exams but rejects the proposal for an additional winter break in the spring semester. The additional break was excluded, among other reasons, because it would make VSU one of only two universities to include the break in the academic schedule. The second plan falls in line with a report presented at the Feb. 7 faculty senate meeting by SGA President Will Jimerson, saying students prefer an academic schedule that would include an earlier start to the fall semester, two-day fall and win-
APRIL 3, 2014
ter breaks and an extended finals weeks, according to a poll taken last October by the SGA. Despite all of the controversy, the faculty does agree that they only want what is in the best interest of students. “It's all about giving students additional time to take their finals because three days is ridiculous,” Fowler said. “I've thought that absurd since I got here; I'll continue to think that's absurd until we change it. Four days I think is ridiculous; I think five days is fair.” Dr. Maren Clegg-Hyer, English professor, said, "We'll see how it all works out, but the consensus among most faculty I've talked to is this: We want students to have what they need− some fall break back, one more day of finals. Those things affect students' well-being and success in school. But staff and faculty on and off the committee are also leery of the costs we all know about that come with length of time at school."
FRACKING Continued from Page 1 Hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as fracking, involves the injection of water, sand and chemicals into a pipeline that reaches 10,000 feet below Earth’s surface. The process extracts natural gas from the ground, and on average, 300,000 barrels are produced daily from fracking gigs across the country, which makes fossilfuel extraction increasingly profitable. The Fossil Free campaign, which has been joined by more than 400 educational and religious institutions, encourages local investors to sever ties with fossil-fuel extraction companies due to potential risks that can result from fracking.
According to dangersoffracking.com, the water used for fracking gigs contains numerous carcinogens and toxins like mercury, radium and lead, which are mixed with water and sand along with other dangerous substances. Between 0.5 and 2.0 percent of the fracking mixture is made up of chemicals, according to Earthworks, a nonprofit organization committed to environmental health. Proponents of fracking say the process has many advantages. According to energyfromshale.org, the process produces natural energy that is used to cool homes, generate electricity and fuel vehicles. Fracking has created numerous jobs in local economies across the U.S., the website said.
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Upcoming Events April 4 TKE will host its Country Cook-off for Charity starting at noon at the TKE House (on Oak Street, across from Hopper) to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (and other charities). A variety of student organizations will be providing food that will be judged at the event. Small plates are $2, large plates are $4, and all you can eat for $10. Questions? Email rocarter@valdosta.edu. The Sigma Iota Chapter of Alpha Phi Omega presents
“All Fried Everything!” from noon to 5 p.m. on Palms Quad. Come out and enjoy an assortment of your favorite fried goodies: funnel cakes, Oreos, pickles, Snickers, and Twinkies. The VSU Planetarium and Observatory will present “The Celestial Zoo,” the final public planetarium show of its 2013-2014 season. Dr. Kenneth Rumstay will lead a tour of the celestial menagerie. Shows begin at 7 p.m., 8 p.m. and 9 p.m., and seating is limited to 47 visitors per show. Contact the
Department of Physics, Astronomy, and Geosciences at (229) 333-5752 for more information. April 5 Odum Library will be celebrating its second annual International Tabletop Day from noon to 7 p.m. with both the VSU and South Georgia communities. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or new to gaming, you are welcomed. Pizza will be provided. Please RSVP and contact Jeff Gallant at jwgallant@valdosta.edu with any questions.
April 7 In recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Elaine Pasqua will be presenting “An Unheard Voice,” which will be held at 7 p.m. in the Student Union Theater. Contact the Health Promotions Office for more details at hhwright@valdosta.edu. April 8 Chi Omega and Kappa Alpha are hosting a blood drive from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. between palms quad and Ashley Hall. Everyone who donates will receive a t-shirt while supplies last.
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Hopper Hall. The deadline is Monday at 5 p.m. If payment applies, it should be submitted in a sealed envelope at the time the ad is placed. Ads must be accompanied by the name and phone number of the person submitting the ad. Ads must be resubmitted each week, as necessary. Spectator address is: 1500 N. Patterson St., Valdosta, GA 31698. Our
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Roommate Needed Immediately: $375 Rent - Includes all utilities. 1 bedroom in a 3 bedroom house. Available NOW: Lease through July. Email Ashley for info: ashlmiller@valdosta.edu
First month 1/2 off! Need someone to take over my lease. $394/month Utilities, cable, internet, private bed & bath. 3 lovely roommates. Blanton Common has w/d & dw in unit, pool, gym & recreation. Contact Sherrelle Neal
Sublease (478) 972-9099 sjneal@valdosta.edu
Services
aprIL 3, 2014
VSU works to gather slavecensus records LaShawn Oglesby S ta f f W r i t e r lsoglesby@valdosta.edu
Many americans of african descent do not know much, if anything, about their history dating back to slavery, and getting that information is hard to find and sometimes costly. However, one organization is working to get that information to the public for free. the Mary turner Project (MtP) is in partnership with the VSU archives department. they have slave-census records from more than 120 counties and need the help of volunteers to get them digitized. all are welcome to be a part of this historic movement. Dr. Mark George is the MtP Coordinator. He is also an adjunct professor of Women’s and Gender Studies and teaches various courses: race, gender, sexuality, class and masculinity studies. according to Dr. George, the MtP has completed 40 percent of the slave-census records so far. the MtP is trying to grow the project by reaching out to other states and schools so they can get involved and hopefully take over their own states and areas. right now the project has more than 30 collaborative project volunteers from Valdosta all the way to Oregon, and even a soldier in afghanistan. Volunteers can be recruited through the MtP webpage (www.maryturner.org/MtP). afterwards they are given a list of counties that have not been digitized, and the volunteer can select which county records they want to digitize. they also have the option to do only part of the records or
all of them. the records are then converted into Microsoft excel documents. the MtP wants to get these digitized documents up on a “web-based, searchable database for the public,” their website says. this isn’t the MtP’s first project. they have told the story for which their group is named after in over 15 regional events. they have had panel discussions, one just as recently as april 1. the MtP takes donations and has received over $1,000. they have petitioned to get a state park in honor of Mary turner. they also want to get word out about the entire history of Valdosta. “two of the four men who were essential in setting up Valdosta were slave owners,” Dr. George said. “We live in a state where black people are taxed for very racist historical sites.” those sites include many streets named after slave owners and other historical figures that were racist. these streets, such as ashley Street and Gordon Street, were named after a slave owner and Ku Klux Klan leader respectively. On May 17, the MtP will host a commemoration, which they have been doing for years, in honor of Mary turner and other victims of 1918. “there will be 100 or 200 people in attendance,” Dr. George said. “it’s a powerful testament of what people can do when they come together.” Students can find more information on the MtP’s history, accomplishments and current projects on their website.
Photo courtesy of Dr. Mark George
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Sexual assaults plague campuses LaShawn Oglesby S ta f f W r i t e r lsoglesby@valdosta.edu
twenty percent of college students will experience sexual assault on campus, according to Ms. Magazine. this statistic isn’t new to Dr. tracy Woodard-Meyers, director of Women’s and Gender Studies and professor of sociology, or Dr. Mark George, adjunct professor of Women’s and Gender Studies; both believe we need to educate more people about not only sexual assault but also sex in general. “in my ideal world, students would have to take a class on sexual assault their freshman year,” Dr.
Woodard-Meyers said. “it would be a class required in order to graduate.” Dr. George said, “We live in a culture where women aren’t supposed to be sexual, so women tend to blame themselves when they are assaulted instead of the perpetrator.” in a 2010 study involving Dr. Woodard-Meyers and Dr. George, it was estimated that 285 females are raped each year at VSU. Most of these crimes go unreported; the campus crime report shows that two sexual assault cases were reported in 2011 “We live in a very conservative part of the country where we don’t talk about
sex,” Dr. George said. alcohol and drugs are involved in at least half of all sexual-assault cases on campus, and freshmen are the most likely victims of this crime, with about half of sexual assaults happening to them. “it’s scary,” Jessica thomas, freshman mass media major, said. “i don’t really hear about stuff like that here.” in 2000 it was reported that up to 94 percent of sexual assaults are not reported to the criminal justice system. an article in Ms. Magazine revealed that many times when a victim comes forward to the school, the accused is barely held responsible.
Dr. Woodard-Meyers and Dr. George have been part of various studies and surveys taken at VSU pertaining to sexual assault and rape issues on and off campus. in those studies they found that many male students are misinterpreting signs of consent, and female students don’t recognize all types of sexual assault, making excuses for their attackers. “it’s an epidemic throughout the country,” Dr. Woodard-Meyers said. “So much so that the President has created a task force for it.” Read the rest of L a S h a w n ’s a r t i c l e o n t h e web!
PAge 4 | vsusPectAtoR.com
OpiniOns
APRIL 3, 2014
Our point of view...
Students deserve more diversity
T
ake a look around campus, and you’ll see a plethora of identities. People of different genders, ethnicities and races come to VSU to get an education, and as a result there is an adequate amount of diversity. But take a look at members of the faculty and administration, and you’ll realize they are not a reflection of the students. According to the VSU 2013-2014 profile, 39 percent of students are male, and 61 percent are female; however, the 2012-2013 VSU Fact Book states that 63.6 percent of executive administrators are male, and 36.4 percent of executive ad-
ministrators are female. How could it be that the male-to-female ratio of students contrasts so much when compared to the maleto-female ratio of administrators? As an institution, one of the most important things to pay attention to is who is representing it. The “face” of the school determines students’ attitudes toward it and how others perceive it. If students don’t see people who look like them with administrative roles, how can they feel comfortable voicing their concerns and leaving their trust in the hands of these administrators? As much as people “don’t see color,” race will always
be acknowledged, whether it is consciously or unconsciously. It’s a part of our identities and isn’t necessarily a negative thing. During the 2012-2013 academic year, there were 1,202 white VSU employees but only 229 black employees. This is not diverse enough. Of course, quality trumps quantity, so it would be illogical to hire someone simply because of his or her race. We want qualified, skilled people to be the decision-makers of VSU. But at the same time, it would be a step in the right direction if there were a more diverse group of administrators. Last week, the SGA unanimously passed a resolution
recommending the Office of Social equity “be separated and restructured” this summer to handle the lack of diversity in VSU’s faculty and staff. The OSe, whose mission is “to promote and sustain an environment of diversity, equity, respect and inclusiveness for all members of the University community,” currently employs only five people. The resolution also said the OSe “has neglected to ‘achieve excellence through diversity’ efficiently.” If the OSe “encourages the development of policies which improve the recruitment and retention of a diverse student body and fac-
Jordan Hill/ THE SPECTATOR
ulty,” and members of the VSU community don’t think there is enough diversity in the faculty, can we truly say the OSe is doing its job? It seems as though the OSe may need to be revamped, and the goal of a more diverse campus needs
to be put forth proactively if we want to see change. It would be great to find out administrators’ views on this subject and hear their suggestions for increasing diversity among authority figures at VSU.
This editorial was written by a member of the editorial staff, and it expresses the general opinion of the editorial staff.
Hobby Lobby: controlling contraceptives Abbie Baggerly S TA F F W R I T e R
rabaggerly@valdosta.edu
Hobby Lobby should be allowed to freely exercise its beliefs without fear of punishment. Hobby Lobby is many people’s first choice when they want to purchase arts and crafts, and it is on Fortune’s list of largest private companies in the Unites States. The employer adheres to religious ideals such as honoring the Lord in all they do, and the company believes that it is through God’s grace that their store has lasted and grown to what it is today (over 600 stores nationwide). Hobby Lobby also chooses to donate to several charities and organizations, and it also gives a 10 percent discount to churches, schools and organizations with an organizational credit card.
The controversy concerning privately owned Hobby Lobby and certain insurance benefits−including birth control−is uncalled for. It is more about labor rights. If Hobby Lobby chooses to not pay for their employees’ contraceptives, it doesn’t have to. It is a Christian, privately based company that revolves around the teachings of the Bible. Hobby Lobby stores are not open on Sundays, and it has the right to do so. So why should Hobby Lobby be forced to pay for something that it does not necessarily believe in? The company should be protected under the First Amendment, and it should be able to voice its opinion about the personal use of
contraceptives. Before ObamaCare, which contains the birth-control mandate, people had to buy their own contraceptives if they wanted them, and rightly so. Birth control should be an individual’s responsibility, not a company’s.
Individuals who work for Hobby Lobby know what they’re doing; they would not work for Hobby Lobby if they did not believe in the company’s policies and beliefs.
Letter to the Editor
Schedule conflict continues Given the concerns raised by the op-ed and the letter to the editor in last week’s edition of The Spectator, I thought I would extend an apology to several entities on campus who I may have regrettably misled or misinformed during the scheduling-revision process. First of all, I would like to extend an apology to Maren Clegg-Hyer who is absolutely correct in asserting that I am not and never have been a member of the Academic Scheduling and Procedures Committee. I have, however, been working hand-in-hand with that committee over the past year in attempting to reach a resolution on extending finals week for our student body. I even worked on a subcommittee of the ASPC in developing a workable calendar that was then set aside by the larger committee. Had she been currently serving on the committee, Dr. Clegg-Hyer would have known that. Second, I would like to apologize to The Spectator, the student body and all other interested parties for not men-
tioning anything about the costs associated with an extended schedule. We were working under the auspices of a statement made at the September meeting of the ASPC that led that committee to believe that there would be no additional housing or tuition costs. In fact, we were told that the only more-than-negligible marginal cost would probably be an additional day of food costs per semester, amounting to about $32, which the SGA was informed of before making their decision. Third, I would like to apologize to all the other individuals in the faculty senate, SGA, COSA, the ASPC and various academic and administrative departments around campus who have worked on this schedule. Whether through my own actions or the actions of others, I appear to be the only one who has been singled out as a champion of extending finals week, a fact that is truly unfair to all the people who have worked diligently on giving our students a schedule more amenable to
their success. Fourth, I do apologize to any faculty senator who ever once thought that I or any of my fellow senators was attempting to pressure them into voting for a schedule that they did not like or feel would benefit their concerns. Having been subjected to such pressures in the very recent past, pressuring anyone has never been and never would be my intention. I imagine that my students who feel pressured by one department or another to take exams in a three-day period also feel the same way. Fifth, I apologize for not making one thing explicit to everyone involved. This is not about breaks or extra days or starting early or anything else other than extending finals week. This is about giving our students more time to take their finals which should promote more individual success and, in turn, enhance retention and graduation rates. Aubrey R. Fowler III
Elan Waite OPInIOnS
Hobby Lobby, a popular craft-store chain, has sparked controversy all over because of their case on birth control. The organization is known for being a family-oriented,
Christian-based establishment−so much so that they are closed on Sundays. Hobby Lobby wants to be able to opt out of the Affordable Care Act’s mandate of contraceptive coverage. Final arguments were made last week in the Supreme Court case. Recently religious freedom
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judgment from their employers. If the Supreme Court rules in favor of Hobby Lobby, we’re essentially infringing on a woman’s right to choose. A corporation being able to decide what an employee’s insurance covers is alarming. A major corporation like Hobby Lobby does benefit from government funds, so should they be able to disre gard government policy? Hobby Lobby has gained immense support for their actions.Many people have been purchasing items and commenting on Hobby Lobby’s Facebook page. At the end of the day, this issue is so much bigger than Hobby Lobby, religion and birth control. We have to step back and take a good look at what one group’s “freedom” will do to another’s. We cannot let people be oppressed for the sake of “freedom.”
The GM recall: Compensating tragedy regardless of finances
General Motors has made several grave missteps in recent years, and it’s time for the car manufacturer to accept the consequences for its actions. Malfunctioning vehicles
lies because of its 2009 bankruptcy. even though a lump sum of money will not bring back the lives that were lost, families should be able to sue the giant company. GM allegedly knew about the faulty equipment ten years prior to the 2014 recalls. The most recent batch of
built by GM have been linked to 13 deaths and numerous accidents, provoking a recent wave of recalls by the company−1.6 million vehicles on Monday and 2.6 million vehicles earlier this year. now, GM may avoid lawsuits from victims’ fami-
vehicles was recalled because of a faulty ignition that causes the car to cut off while in motion, disabling the air bag, steering, and brakes. According to nBC news, GM knew about the faulty ignition since 2004. nBC
Jessica Ingram S TA F F W R I T e R
jdingram@valdosta.edu
Spectator Staff Editor-in-Chief: Will Lewis Managing Editor: Olivia McLean Business Manager: Kristen Varney Advertising Manager: Aimee napier Circulation Manager: Sara Turner Opinions Editor: elan Waite Features Editor: Hillary Straba
eDITOR
ewaite@valdosta.edu
has been the defense for many hot-topic issues, the most recent being Arizona’s failed attempt to allow businesses to decline service to homosexuals. A company should not use religion as a cloak to discriminate, and that’s no different when it comes to health care. It’s a defense with no parameters. now its contraceptives but tomorrow’s issue could be something more invasive. Will certain medicines associated with certain diseases not be covered? What about procedures that may not be a popular choice? This case boils down to a few different aspects that collide: the rights of the workers, the rights of the business and government involvement in companies. Women should be able to get contraceptives without
also stated that GM did not recall cars until February 2014 although the company discovered the problems in 2001. Should GM be held responsible for the 13 deaths caused by its defective vehicles? Absolutely. If car makers can ignore faulty equipment and not face penalties, what is stopping them from continuing this practice of negligence? If there was misconduct on the drivers’ part, GM shouldn’t be held responsible, but in most cases the faulty ignition−not the driver−was to blame. GM should be penalized regardless of their bankruptcy because the families affected by the deaths and crashes deserve retribution.
Contacting Us Faculty Advisers: Dr. Pat Miller, Dr. Ted Geltner, Keith Warburg Reporters/Photographers: Stephen Cavallaro , Khiry Clements, Jessica Cooke, Allison ericson, eric Jackson Jordan Hill, Tyra Mills, Isaiah Smart ,Taylor Stone ,Alexis Waters, Christopher Webb, Lamarcus Wilkerson
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Online at www.vsuspectator.com Opinions expressed in the Spectator other than editorials are the opinions of the writers of signed columns and not necessarily those of the Spectator and its staff. All rights reserved. Reprints by permission of the editors. Views in this newspaper are not necessarily those of the Valdosta State University administration, faculty and staff.
Features
APRIL 3, 2014
PAGe 5 | vsusPecTAToR.com
Catching a dream
Ex-VSU student lends talent to Jamie Lynn Spears Veronica Dominicis S ta f f W r i t e r vmdominicis@valdosta.edu
every kid dreams of being a rock star, but many never make it. tyler tomlinson made it. in 2010, tomlinson was taking classes at VSU, but today he can be seen on the national stage. “Within the past two months, i’ve been in videos and articles featured on the front page of Yahoo, MSN, and tMZ, but i’d say the coolest part for me so far is performing on ‘the today Show,’” tomlinson said. Currently playing guitar for Jamie Lynn Spears, the younger sister to musical pop sensation Britney Spears, tomlinson took the road less traveled by conventional college students. Jamie Lynn Spears began her career in 2005 when she played Zoey Brooks on the popular Nickelodeon series
“Zoey 101.” in 2013, Spears launched her country music career with her debut single “How Could i Want More.” “We’re heading to texas to open for alan Jackson on two almost-sold-out shows in 10,000-seat arenas,” tomlinson said. “Guys like me dream of something like this.” tomlinson entered VSU as a traditional student, starting in 2010 after graduating high school in echols County, a small area located roughly 32 miles southeast of Valdosta. With music taking the front seat in tomlinson’s life, he decided not to declare a major until he figured out what he wanted to do. “i would say (music) took priority over school big time,” tomlinson said. “i had sleepless nights of playing nonstop guitar after school band practices instead of homework−pretty much anything musical instead of school.” for an average college
freshman, 12 hours is a fulltime job. tomlinson, on the other hand, was not only enrolled in school but also took part in many extracurricular activities outside of VSU’s campus. “i was in a touring heavy metal band that was getting
“ We’re heading to
Texas to open for Alan Jackson on two almost sold out shows in 10,000 seat arenas. Guys like me dream of something like this.” -Tyler Tomlinson
signed to a record label soon, writing and recording a fulllength record for that band, playing country music on the side to make money on the weekends i wasn’t on the road with my band, and leading worship (was) pretty much full-time for the youth
group at my church,“ he said. With music becoming a full-time venture, tomlinson was torn between his search for a musical career and a degree. after a year at VSU, tomlinson decided to leave school and pursue his musical dreams−a decision he did not make lightly. thinking back to his freshman year, tomlinson was grateful for his newly made friends and a piece of technology that helped further his career. “right now i’m as successful as i can be, and the only thing college did for me in that respect was give me the opportunity to get a MacBook so i could record music.” Leanne Bradley, a friend of tomlinson’s since 2010, explained that although he has been successful in his musical career, it hasn’t changed him a bit since she met him. “He’s driven by his talent,” Bradley said. “He’s success-
Get ‘Wet `n Wild’ with LASA Rikysha Williams S ta f f W r i t e r riwilliams@valdosta.edu
P
arty Puerto rican style! the Latin american Student association (LaSa) will hold its annual Carnaval event on friday from 5-9 p.m. on the front lawn. this year, LaSa is celebrating Puerto rico with a “Wet ‘n Wild” theme that features fun water-based games and traditional Carnaval activities.
there will be a plenty of food (including unlimited chips and salsa), music performances and the playing of Latin american music throughout the entire evening. there will also be opportunities to win prizes by participating in games or competing in a dance contest. at the end of the evening, LaSa will crown the Carnaval King and Queen. to mark the beginning of Lent, Latin american and Caribbean countries host Carnavals, which is a celebration
similar to Mardi Gras. LaSa uses these celebrations as a guide for their annual event. each year the event focuses on one specific country to show VSU students how unique each country is. “(it is) LaSa’s duty to spread knowledge about Hispanic traditions and culture to the VSU student body and faculty while making it enjoyable and educational at the same time,” Nateya Hamilton, event coordinator, said. Other organizations will also participate in the event.
“Carnaval will be amazing this year,” Hamilton said. “We hope that everybody comes out to learn more about Puerto rican Carnaval and, most importantly, have fun immersing (themselves) in Latin american culture.”
Happy ‘Tator Day!
Spring Break science
Photo courtesy of Dr. Thomas Manning
Dr. Thomas Manning and a group of students traveled to the Florida Keys to research marine ecosystems during Spring Break. The group tested different biodegradable materials to see what creates a better reef.
Even
Odd
ful but still humble.” although tomlinson enjoys being in the limelight, he is preparing to be a producer. He wants to be able to continue his musical career, recording and making records while enjoying a family life at the same time. “i learned that whatever opportunity, decision or mistake, the Lord will provide that which brings Him the most glory,” tomlinson said. “i’ve learned to trust Him on that one.”
Former VSU student Tyler Tomlinson is currently touring with Jamie Lynn Spears.
Photo courtesy of Tyler Tomlinson
Sudoku A N S W E R S
paGe 6 | vsuspectator.coM
FeaTureS
aprIL 3, 2014
Dancing student dreams big Elan Waite OpiniOns EditOr ewaite@valdosta.edu
sharia stripling doesn’t let anything stop her from doing what she loves; not distance, not people and definitely not the fact that she’s deaf. stripling, an amazing dancer, pageant queen and member of delta phi delta, is deaf−and fabulous. stripling, who has been deaf since the age of 4, is a VsU senior majoring in dance. stripling was not always a dance major. she began as a deaf-education major and decided to change her major despite her lack of hearing, which some see as a significant obstacle. some people find it hard to
Elan Waite/THE SPECTATOR Sharia Stripling, senior dance major, she is a member of Delta Phi Delta Dance Fraternity.
Backers demand refund With the help of generous Kickstarter donations, tech company Oculus Vr was set to revolutionize the world of gaming. But in March, much to the dismay of the internet, Facebook decided to buy Oculus Vr for $2 billion. Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, commented on the deal after it was made public. “After games, we're going to make Oculus a platform for many other experiences,” Zuckerberg said. “imagine enjoying a courtside seat at a game, studying in a classroom of students and teachers all over the world or consulting with a doctor face-toface−just by putting on goggles in your home.” Oculus Vr was created in 2012 after a successful Kickstarter campaign; Kickstarter is a website dedicated to donation-based crowdfunding
Spec Tech with Joseph Albahari
for creative projects. through crowdfunding, Oculus Vr raised over $2 million, which was well above the $250,000 goal. palmer Luckey and Brenden iribe founded Oculus Vr and the concepts that the Kickstarter campaign was trying to back. Anyone who donated $300 or more to the Kickstarter project received a prototype of the Oculus rift−a headset gaming device−and a game to play on it. Over 5,000 people backed the device with $300. the company had been
working on the rift, and once the device was completely funded and created, Oculus Vr sent development kits to game designers so they could begin making games for the rift. Many developers were interested in using the rift with their games, including Valve and Mojang, the developer of Minecraft. rift works by having the character in the game mimic the head movements of the user.
To read Joseph’s full article, visit The Spectator on the Web at www.vsuspectator.com
understand how it’s possible to dance without being able to hear the music. “i would use my ipad or phone and put it on my chest and feel the vibrations,” stripling said. “i think about the dance as i feel the vibrations. When it’s time to perform, i just feel it.” dancing is not the only barrier that stripling has had to overcome. she has participated in a few pageants, often times being the first deaf person to enter and win. “Last year i won Miss Black and Gold,” stripling said. “it was one of my most cherished moments ever.” not only did stripling win the title, but she was also the first deaf girl to take the crown in that pageant. “i was the first deaf girl to
get the crown and win,” stripling said. “then i went on to districts and won the denise smith Award.” stripling plans to graduate in May. she eventually wants to learn how to drive even though it worries her mom.
wrecks. it happens. You can’t protect me from everything, but i’m working on it. i think soon she will get fed up with me and say ‘okay go get your driver’s license.’”
“ Last year I won
Miss Black and Gold. It was one of my most cherished moments ever. I was the first deaf girl to get the crown and win. ” - Sharia Stripling
“Everyone drives,” stripling said. “Everyone
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SportS
APRIL 3, 2014
PAge 7 | vsUsPectAtOR.cOm
VSU edges Flagler in nail-biter, 6-5 Chris Kessler S p o rt S W r i t e r ckessler@valdosta.edu
Valdosta State baseball (2010, 12-7) was back in action at Bill Grant Field last night against Flagler (18-16, 9-12). After taking a 3-2 lead in the first inning, the Blazers didn’t look back as they held the lead for the rest of the game, winning 6-5. VSU certainly didn’t go untested. With a 5-2 lead heading into the eighth, the wheels began to rattle as Flagler started a late rally with the bases loaded. in a unique move, coach Greg Guilliams brought in junior Colby Wisdom with the count at two balls, two strikes and just one out with the bases loaded. “in that situation, Zakk (White)’s breaking ball wasn’t as sharp as i’ve seen it, and Colby has a really good curveball,” Guilliams said about his decision. “As a hitter, to only see one pitch from the guy’s arm is difficult.” Guilliams’s move worked out, and Wisdom set down the first hitter on one pitch. After walking in a run, the junior was able to get a flyout to center-fielder Hunter
thompson, leaving the bases loaded. Both teams had plenty of opportunities to drive in runs, but neither capitalized fully. the Blazers were able to strand nine Saints on the bases but also left 11 of their own runners on the bases. “offensively, that was really the only negative,” Guilliams said. “We just didn’t drive in runs with guys in scoring position. overall, we swung the bats well.” VSU didn’t take long to respond. After a leadoff walk and stolen base from thompson, second basemen Matthew Fears lined a single to left field that was misplayed, allowing thompson to score and Fears to advance to second. Down 6-3 in the ninth inning, Flagler still wouldn’t go away as they scored two quick runs on three straight hits. enter Beau Blair, who immediately killed off Flagler’s rally. Blair was able to induce a double play, and ended things with a pop-out to third. Valdosta State got off to a lethargic start, with starting pitcher ethan Bornstein getting yanked abruptly after just a third of an inning, facing just four hitters and al
“Offensively, that
was really the only negative. We just didn’t drive in runs with guys in scoring ” position. -gReg gUiLLiaMs
lowing two runs. “i had set it up ahead of time, that guys were going to go one or two innings because it was a mid-week game, and ethan was only going to go one inning; you could tell it was not his best day,” Guilliams said. the Blazers’ offense made up for their early pitching and defensive woes, responding with three quick runs of their own in the bottom of the first. Shortstop Matt reed scored the team’s first run on a Flagler error after a leadoff single. third basemen Kevin Cruz added with a sacrificefly rBi, followed by a rBi single from right-fielder Jimmy Dowdell. Coach Guilliams brought in left-handed pitcher Mitch King, who sat down the first seven batters he faced and energized the entire team.
“Mitch threw really well, so that’s been a really big plus,” Guilliams said. the freshman went two and one-third innings, with three strikeouts and no runs allowed. VSU’s offense got a strong contribution from Dowdell, who went 4-4 with a double, rBi, run and stolen base. Bryant Hayman and Clint Carr added to the offense with rBi singles of their own. With the victory, VSU looks to continue their momentum as they host Gulf South Conference foe Alabama-Huntsville this weekend.
Upcoming baseball schedule 1. Alabama-HuntsvilleSat. (DH) 2. Alabama-HuntsvilleSunday 3. @ Georgia South western- Tuesday 4. Albany St. Wednesday 5. @ West GeorgiaApril 12
Tennis packs bags for road matches this weekend Lia Armistead S p o rt S W r i t e r jparmistead@valdosta.edu
No. 13 Valdosta State men’s tennis will serve up another weekend on the road. After losing to rival West Florida, who broke VSU’s winning streak last week, the men’s team will take on No. 25 West Alabama this Friday. UWA will be one of three opponents for the Blazers this weekend. the tigers defeated the Blazers in the conference tournament last season. “We always go into a match thinking we’re going to win, but every one of us knows that that’s going to be a tough one; West Alabama knows it, too,” head coach John Hanson said. the team will travel to Livingston, Ala., to play the
“ We always go into a match thinking we are going to win, but every one of us knows that that’s going to be a tough one. UWA knows it.”
John hanson, tennis coach
tigers and to pensacola, Fla., to play Concordia on Saturday and Christian Brothers on Sunday. During the 2012 season, the Blazers defeated all three of these opponents. the No. 15 VSU women’s team will be traveling alongside the men’s team to Alabama and Florida. in the 2012 season, the Lady Blazers defeated the
tigers 8-1. As the teams travel from place to place, the players have to adjust to different surfaces, which is the most challenging part of playing away from home.
Upcoming tennis matches 1. @ UWA- Friday 2. Concordia- Sat. 3. Christian Brothers- Sunday 4. ArmstrongApril 11 5. Shorter- April 12
Intramurals near playoffs Victoria Johnson S p o rt S W r i t e r vijohnson@valdosta.edu
Coming up on their third month, the Valdosta State intramural teams are becoming notable. Softball co-rec team tilikum played Don't Ask Don't tell on tuesday. "even though we’re all competing against each other, i'm having a good time,” tilikum right-fielder Megan Deal said. “i love being outdoors and meeting new people that attend the same school as me. it's a great way to
network." on their first game of the day, tilikum was excited. "previously we've had four games and didn't win most, but we still enjoy ourselves," Deal said. Co-rec soccer team Hopper Dynasty is ready for the playoffs. Having equal wins and losses, Hopper Dynasty is making sure they are at their best for their future rivals. For more information regarding intramural sports, go to imleagues.com.
Even
Sierra King/ THE SPECTATOR
(Above) Senior Jimmy Dowdell went 4-4 with a double and RBI in VSU’s win on Wednesday night. The Blazers host UAH this weekend.
Odd
Sierra King/ THE SPECTATOR
Sophomore catcher Clint Carr hits the ball Wednesday night. The Blazers played their first of four straight home games.
PAge 8 | vsusPectAtoR.com
SportS
APRIL 3, 2014
How Final Four Heinz explains decision to leave It’s time to be with family, friends will be matched up, played out Alex Tostado
S p o rt S e d i to r
ajtostado@valdosta.edu
Neil Frawley S p o rt S W r i t e r ndfrawley@valdosta.edu
No.1 Florida Billy donavan and his Gators look poised to take home Florida's third NCAA Championship in donavan's tenure. Florida has unquestionably been the most consistent team in college basketball this season, going undefeated in their last 29 contests. ironically, however, UConn was the last team to beat Florida, a 65-64 game that ended on a Shabazz Napier buzzer beater. How Florida responds this time around will be interesting to see. it's also worth noting that Florida's other loss this season came to Wisconsin on November 12. No. 7 UConn From the Atlantic Athletic Conference— yeah, the conference that seems more like an orphanage for rejected teams— UConn is back in the Final Four since 2011, when Kemba Walker lead the charge for the Huskies. Kemba may be gone, but his successor, Napier, has filled his shoes just fine. What's more impressive this time around is UConn just came off NCAA probation due to recruiting violations in 2012, which left them unable to play in postseason. Hall of Fame coach, Jim Calhoun resigned, and former UConn guard Kevin ollie took over the head coaching job. Give credit to Napier for
not leaving and sticking it out, because the UConn Huskies are back in the college basketball spotlight, after what some thought could have been a long dark period for this historic program. prediction: Florida moves onto the championship round. Napier will come to play and will put in a valiant effort. But it takes a full team to beat these Gators, as they can come at you in so many ways. Scotty Wilbekin is an outstanding point guard, patric Young is a major force in the paint, and Michael Frazier is a laser three point shooter. UConn may have gotten the first laugh, but in a win or go home scenario, Florida looks too much like a champion now to pick against them. No.2 Wisconsin Bo ryan is the best coach you have never heard about. ryan has 704 wins in his career, and 321 wins at Wisconsin where he has been coaching since 2001. But one thing he didn't have, until now, was a Final Four appearance. But now that he's here, don't expect him to be satisfied. these Badgers can play. Frank Kaminsky, a sevenfoot long range bomber causes problems for opposing teams with his ability to hit threes and rebound the ball. Wisconsin teams are typically known for grinding out wins on defense, and slow paced offense. But as the analysts are saying, "this is not your father's Bo ryan team." read the rest of Neil’s story www.vsuspectator.com
Valdosta State women’s soccer coach Mel Heinz wouldn’t leave her Blazer family−except to be with her own family. Last week, Heinz announced she was leaving after three years with the team. the coach that built the program in 2011 is leaving for a position in her brother’s business where she will be
the sales and account manager. on March 19, during VSU’s Spring Break, Heinz’s brother offered her the job while she was visiting family. Heinz thought about it for the next few days and made her decision before school resumed after the break. She informed Athletic director Herb reinhard on the morning of March 24 and told her players that evening. “don’t get me wrong; it wasn’t (an easy decision),”
Heinz said. “it all fell together very, very quickly.” Heinz cited her family as a major factor in her decision. “during Memorial day weekend, my family goes out on the boat and hangs out on the lake; i recruit soccer players,” Heinz said. Heinz has appreciated her time at VSU and will miss the Blazer community. “it’s hard to leave here,” Heinz said. “i would never leave here for another coaching job.”
Heinz’s VSU records Overall: 33-16-7
GSC Record: 16-5-5 GSC Coach of the Year- 2011 All-GSC Players: 10 All-Academic Honors: 27 players