The Spectator Print Edition, 2-14-13

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February 14, 2013

W W W. V S U S P E C TAT O R . C O M

Inside This Issue

VOLUME 84 ISSUE 18

On the Web

Blaze speaks

- OPINIONS: “society defines meaning of love”

w w w. v s u s p e c ta t o r. c o m

See page 4 for a letter from your mascot to the entire Blazernation.

- FEATURES: “go the cheap route with your V-day date” - SPORTS: “VsU softball catching fire early”

Today at VSU

Download the Spectator app and vote for your favorite couple in our “Show your Love” contest!

Who’s next?

OnE BIllIOn RISInG - Front lawn, noon - 5 p.m. Women’s and gender studies invites the VsU community to “walk out, dance, rise up and demand an end to violence against women. there will be a dJ, raffle and refreshments.

Four finalists fight tooth and nail to be YOUR next provost and VP for Academic Affairs.

ISEP InFORMATIOn Center for International Programs, 10 - 11 a.m. and 3 - 4 p.m. Faculty and advisrs are welcome to isEP for study abroad opportunities. SURPRISE yOUR VAlEnTInE Pedestrian Mall, noon 4 p.m.

Dr. Nat Frazer, Utah State University

society for international students are selling cookies, flowers, cupcakes and cards.

Dr. Bradford Sims, Indiana State University

Contributed by Valdosta Planning and Zoning Committee Eleven houses on the corner block of Brookwood Drive and Oak Street will be demolished to make room for this multilevel development that will include residential and commercial facilities.

REAl TAlk -Powell Hall Auditorium, 8:15 p.m. study the Bible with Xchange Ministries. the topic of conversation: relationships.

MOVIE nIGHT - Odum library Auditorium, 8 p.m. Movie: “the Five Year Engagment.” snacks provided. sponsored by natural High.

VAlEnTInE’S COnCERT Whitehead Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.

Residential corner block approved for demolition Will Lewis A s s t. M A n A g i n g Editor walewis@valdosta.edu

dr. Kristen Johns performs. For more information, contact dr. Johns at kmjohns@valdoat.edu or by calling 293-6195.

Weather Today Cloudy 63 H 38 L

Friday Sunny 69 H 42 L

Saturday Partly Cloudy 59 H 33 L

Question of the week How do you feel about Valentine’s Day? A. My favorite holiday! B. You mean Singles Awareness Day? C. I hate it D. It’s too commercial. E. It’s so romantic! Vote online at www.vsuspectator.com!

Last Week’s Poll Results What Black History figure do you feel is most influential? MLK Jr.

50%

Jackie Robinson

18%

Others

18%

Medgar Evers

9%

Frederick Douglas

5%

Rosa Parks

0%

the final countdown has begun for the demolition of 11 houses located across the street from the Fine Arts Building to make room for a four-story apartment with retail space. south Carolina developer McAlister proposed the plan last year for the residential and commercial facility that will be aimed at students. the Valdosta City Council approved the immediate demolition of six of the houses on the corner of Brookwood drive and oak street in a meeting on Feb. 4. the destruction of the remaining five homes has been postponed until March 15 after the City Council decided that the homes held enough historical merit to warrant their preservation. in the Feb. 4 meeting minutes, Emily Foster, Valdosta historical preservation planner, said that the five remaining houses were architecturally unique and should be preserved, and their demolition

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would adversely affect the historical district in Valdosta. McAlister only owns five of the 11 houses, although all the properties are under contract. dr. saeger asked if any home owners were declining to sell their property to McAlister. Bill nijem, Langdale Vallotton, LLP and McAlister representative declined, saying that McAlister would prefer to have bought all of the properties at once but was unable to do so. dr. richard saeger, vice chairman of the Historical Preservation Committee and political science professor, said that McAlister development must continue the good faith efforts specified in the previous meeting regarding the 11 houses with the remaining five properties. in order to maintain good faith efforts, McAlister must continue to advertise the relocation of the five remaining historic properties. McAlister is also prohibited from clear cutting on the properties until the beginning of construction, unless it is necessary in order to remove the houses. nijem said that the major

concern for McAlister was timeliness. the complex is set to be aimed at student residents, although it will be open to other demographics. Construction would need to start in March or early April of this year in order to open the complex by fall 2014. McAlister development applied for the residential/commercial complex to be listed as a project of special merit. this listing would allow the immediate demolition of all 11 houses on the block. A project of special merit must significantly benefit the city through its aesthetic presence, or provide significant social benefits for Valdosta. nijem said that the complex will have an immense economic impact on the community by creating hundreds of jobs and aiding VsU—by providing housing and retail services within walking distance of the university—according to the minutes from city council meeting on Feb. 4. Celine gladwin, Valdosta historic preservation member, denied the request saying that it did not meet the Project of special Merit provision.

things to know from Obama’s SOTU address

Dr. Jeffrey Di Leo, University of Houston-Victoria

Dr. Karla Hull, VSU

What is the Provost and VP for Academic Affairs, anyway? - Oversees all five of VSU’s colleges as well as Auxilliary Services and other divisions All decisions the provost makes directly affect all students as well as most faculty and staff.

- Chairs Univeristy Planning and Budget Council the provost has a hand in all University spending decisions.

- Actively involved in development of VSU’s new Strategic and Master Plans Future developments and programs will be created under the new provost’s guidance.

- Chairs VSU’s Complete College Ga. implementation committee the new provost will be responsible for the way gov. nathan deal’s CCg plan works on our campus.

Half of the finalists have made their vists. Dr. Jeffrey Di Leo will present Feb. 26 Scan this code to see each and Dr. Karla Hull candidate’s visit schedule will present Feb. 28. and qualifications.

On minimum wage President Obama recommended raising the federal minimum wage to $9 per hour. He also suggested that the minimum wage be tied to cost of living, and thus become “a wage you can actually live on.”

compiled by Amber Smith/THE SPECTATOR

On jobs

Obama said that making America “a magnet for new jobs and manufacturing” is a priority. Many companies that have outsourced jobs are bringing them back to the US this year.

On energy More oil is being produced in the US now than in the past 15 years, and more natural gas is being produced here than ever. If Congress doesn’t pass legislation on climate change, Obama says he will use executive action.

On gun reform Obama wants to see Congress vote on gun reform and he wants to see it soon, even if the vote is against new legislation.

On education Obama asked Congress to modify the Higher Education Act and factors that dictate which colleges receive federal aid. The White House also released a College Scorecard to show how much “bang for your buck” you get from your education.


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