February 21, 2013
W W W. V S U S P E C TAT O R . C O M
Inside This Issue - OPINIONS: “State of the Union affects students” - FEATURES: “alphas to bring ‘7 MO Plagues’ to campus” - SPORTS: “Blazers walk off against Cougars”
Today at VSU
Meet Serwa Collins Check out pg. 4 to learn about this mass media major’s modeling career and more!
VOLUME 84 ISSUE 19
On the Web w w w. v s u s p e c ta t o r. c o m
Check out Von Kennedy’s preview for VSU Theatre’s production of ‘The Skin of Our Teeth’ opening today!
Operation Nifty:
eMajor:
Earn your Bachelor’s degree online
SpaniSh Cafe Student Union Meeting Rooms a & B, 1 - 3 p.m. Come play Spanish games and meet other who are learning the Spanish language. Spanish tutors will also be available.
Will Lewis
Movie night - odum Library auditorium, 8 p.m. Natural High will be showing “the five Year engagement.”
a S S t. M a N a G i N G editOr walewis@valdosta.edu
&
Jennifer Gleason MaNaGiNG editOr
pagan and WiCCan SoCiety infoRMationaL odum Library, 6:30 p.m. this will be an informational meeting for those who want to learn more about VSU’s Pagan and Wiccan Society! for more information, check out their facebook group: facebook.com/groups/ vsupagans aRtS & SCienCeS SpRing CoLLoqUiUM - UC theatre, 7 - 8:45 p.m. Come learn about research being conducted by VSU faculty and students. SCienCe SeMinaR - powell hall auditorium, 4-5 p.m. dr. Carl Crane, professor of mechanical engineering at the University of florida, will discuss the development of self-driving vehicles.
Weather Today
Friday
Partly Cloudy 74 H 56 L Isolated T-Storms 78 H 65 L
Saturday Scattered T-Storms 75 H 50 L
Question of the week Are gas prices going to affect your spring break plans? A. I have to stay home because gas is too expensive to travel. B. Nope. I’m hitching a ride with friends. C. I don’t make SB plans. D. Nothing can put a damper on my vacay! E. I’m making the best of it and planning a stay-cation. Vote online at www.vsuspectator.com!
Last Week’s Poll Results How do you feel about Valentine’s Day? It’s too commercial.
60%
I hate it!
20%
You mean Singles Awareness Day?
10%
It’s so romantic!
10%
My favorite holiday!
0%
jlgleason@valdosta.edu
Photos by Joe Adgie/ THE SPECTATOR Dr. McKinney holds his birthday card from Langdale College of Business Administration at arms length to read it to the crowd gathered for his surprise celebration. "You know it's time to see the eye doctor when your arms are getting too short," McKinney said to the crowd.
McKinney gets birthday surprise Amber Smith editOr-iN-CHief amsmith@valdosta.edu
President Bill McKinney turned 50 on tuesday, but was out of town for a conference in athens that day and the day before. While he was away, his wife, dr. dacia Charlesworth, and other members of the VSU community planned a birthday celebration for his return to campus on Wednesday. as part of the celebration, code-named “Operation Nifty,” campus organizations created sheet signs that were displayed across campus, digital displays for the screens in the Student Union and signed cards for the president. dr. Charlesworth had signs and t-shirts printed. the signs were placed all over campus and t-shirts were handed out in front
of West Hall Wednesday afternoon. dr. Charlesworth also baked cupcakes that she handed out to celebration attendees after dr. Mckinney had opened his gifts. Shortly after 2 p.m., members of the VSU mass choir sang “Happy Birthday” to dr. McKinney through his office window. after being serenaded, the very surprised president came down the stairs to receive his cards and gifts. One of the gifts dr. McKinney received was the “Giraffe award” from the Langdale College of Business, awarded to people who stick their necks out. another gift was a jersey numbered “50” from VSU athletics signed by members of the Blazer football team. “You have no idea how much all this means to me,” dr. McKinney said. “You better believe that this will only make me work harder.”
Dr. McKinney hugs his wife, Dr. Dacia Charlesworth, in front of the West Hall stairs Wednesday afternoon. Dr. McKinney was surprised upon returning to campus Wednesday to find “Happy Birthday” signs all across campus.
Ending dead day, changing smoking policy on agenda Faculty senate meeting today at 3:30 p.m. at the University Center Compiled by Stephen Cavallaro/ THE SPECTATOR
Dead day
Final exam policy
Smoking policy
Certain faculty members are in favor of ending dead day in order to gain an extra day during the last week of the semester to grade final assignments. This decision will allow faculty to avoid missing deadlines and “attend [their] favorite students' graduations” says Dr. Maren Clegg Hyer. In addition, ending dead day may improve the faculty graduation attendance rate; an issue concerning VSU administration.
Final examinations will be administered according to the official final examination schedule distributed by the college dean or Office of the Registrar for regularly scheduled undergraduate lecture or hybrid courses. Further guidelines will be enacted. Instructors must submit exceptions for approval to the college dean. Student may request an examination date change if scheduled for three or more exams in one day.
SGA is working to establish a campus-wide smoking policy. The current smoking policy bans smoking within 25 feet of entrances, exits, operable windows and ground level air intake structures. Smoking areas will be designated and facilities will be given the right to ban smoking during any time of the day. Other regulations are undergoing consideration too.
Student opinion
Student opinion
Student opinion
"I think the deadline for the faculty to get their grades turned in should be extended. However, I don't believe that you should get rid of dead day because it is a day for the students."
“I think teachers should get to choose when to give their finals so that it will be easier for students to make accommodations if changes need to be made instead of having to go through the dean.” - Erica Velazquez, sophomore, psychology major
"I think that we need more stricter smoking policies around the residence halls and academic buildings [...] I think it's worth a try to try to push smokers away from the buildings."
- Devin Wesby, junior, physical education major
- William Jimerson, junior, international business major
Wake up, log on to facebook, maybe turn down Pandora and go to class—all without leaving the computer—this could be the new morning routine for some students. VSU is now offering eMajor as an alternative to the traditional university experience. VSU’s eLearning service has offered eCore for students who wish to take their core classes online, but now the University System of Georgia and adult Learning Consortium allows for students to also receive their bachelor’s degrees online. “We have been offering online education at the undergraduate level for a few years, and eMajor creates a better pipeline for students in eCore,” andy Clark, associate vice president for enrollment management, said. through eCore, students were required to attend specialty or major classes physically on campus. eMajor makes it possible for students who are unable to physically be on campus to get an education. eLearning plans to push online enrollment for fall 2013. “We have seen a small increase [in enrollment for VSU], but there is a great deal of potential to grow with eMajor,” Clark said. Currently the only majors not available through eMajor are Spanish and criminal justice. “the programs have the same rigor and learning objectives as those offered in the traditional classroom,” Clark said. More information about the eMajor program at VSU can be found on the eMajor page on the VSU website.
Hazing gets zero tolerance at VSU Veronica Dominicis S ta f f W r i t e r vmdominicis@valdosta.edu
VSU has a zero-tolerance hazing policy for student organizations. this means that hazing in any form in not allowed. “When bringing new members into organizations of any kind, there is a misconception that they must ‘prove themselves’ in order to be considered worthy of membership,” erin Sylvester, student life’s assistant director for organizational development, said. “this mentality is at the root of the definition of hazing.” although all organizations on campus and in the state of Georgia have laws and boundaries when it comes to hazing, fraternities and sororities have their own reasons to be against hazing. fraternal information and Programming Group’s risk Management manual states, "the senseless act of hazing not only creates liability risk for the chapter and the entire fraternity, but also hinders the development of the friendships that are the basis of brotherhood and sisterhood."
Paul Guzman, a senior psychology major, said, “i've heard several cases of students dropping out of pledge classes due to hazing, so i do believe it is a detrimental problem here at VSU.” Some incidents of hazing could be merely fodder for the rumor mill, however. “i've never heard any negative things about hazing on our campus but then again i might just be ignorant of it,” Michelle relyea, a sophomore english major said. all incidents of hazing can be redirected to the Office of Student Conduct, a chapter or organization adviser or Student Life. the number for the national, toll-free, anti-hazing hotline is 1888-NOt-HaZe.
Get the full story online!
http://www.vsuspectator.com/2013/02 /20/hazing-gets-zero-tolerance-at-vsu/
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PAgE 2 | vsUsPEctAtoR.com
FEBRUARY 21, 2013
Police Briefs Feb. 19 Tires were slashed while parked in the Patterson Hall parking lot. Feb. 18 A bicycle parked outside of the Bailey Science Center was reported missing. Feb. 17 A bicycle was stolen from a rack by Odum Library. Feb. 15 A student’s computer, tablet and phone were stolen from Odum Library.
Upcoming Events Feb. 22 Deadline for housing in the Honors residence hall, Reade Hall. Housing and Residence Life will accept applications until the date above. For more information, contact Housing and Residence Life (phone: 333-5920) or the Honors College (phone: 2494894). Feb. 22 Application deadline for the 2013 Geico Achievement Award Program. Opportunity presented by Career Services. Sophomores and juniors with a minimum 3.0 GPA can participate. The program recognizes students in business, math, computer science and related fields. Award is $1,000. For more information, call Career Services at 333-5942. Feb. 23, 9 a.m. to noon Science Saturday Bailey Science Center Hosted by the Biology Department.
freestyle lyrics or express themselves through spoken word.
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Feb. 27, 2 to 5 p.m. Fitness Frenzy with Campus Recreation and Campus Wellness Committee Front Lawn Fitness and wellness fair with giveaways, free food and door prizes. For more information, contact Mary Robison (merobison@valdosta.edu). Feb. 27, 4 to 5 p.m. Controlling Your Anger Seminar Counseling Center, Powell Hall-East, second floor Dr. John Grotgen shows attendees strategies for controlling anger and redirecting the emotion positively. Feb. 28, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Spring Education Career Day UC, Magnolia Room For more information, call Career Services at 333-5942.
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Feb. 25, 11:15 a.m. Langdale College of Business presents â&#x20AC;&#x153;Salute to Historical African-Americansâ&#x20AC;? for Black History Month. Poundâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;Hall Auditorium, room 211 Free refreshments provided at noon. Feb. 26, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. On-Campus Interview:â&#x20AC;&#x2C6;Waffle House Career Services office, Powell Hall-West, second floor Feb. 26, 8:15 to 9:45 p.m. Food for Thought Open Mic hosted by Deep Release Poetry Society Student Union Meeting Room 2 Students can join the open mic night and recite poetry,
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february 21, 2013
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Our point of view...
State of the union affects students
a
s conflict-ridden as politics are today, VSU students can embrace some of the key points President Barack Obama emphasized in this year’s State of the Union address on feb. 12. Some of the most pressing issues that will directly affect VSU students and our community as a whole are: • the cooperation between companies and community colleges to train workers for new careers, all coordinated through a single government program. • rewards for effective schools that create and follow their own curricula and methods. • State laws that require students to stay in school until graduation or age 18. • extend college tuition tax credit and double the number of work-study jobs over the next five years. • tax relief for small businesses that are raising wages and creating good jobs. • Opening of offshore gas and oil fields to exploration and production. • implementation of cost-saving reforms to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. • and finally, Congress to increase the federal minimum wage from the current level of $7.25 up to $9 per hour.
While we can all agree that these issues are pertinent to our future success as citizens, cooperative programs between community colleges and business mandating that students stay in high school until graduation or age 18 and the increase of the federal minimum wage to $9 per hour are most important to students. according to the 2011-2012 VSU factbook, VSU received 1,593 transfer applications, accepted 1,149 of them and enrolled 768 students. Of those 768 students, 478 of them came from technical or community colleges from around the state of Georgia. the reasons for why each student started at a different institution may vary, but one goal remained in mind, higher education in order to attain a quality career in the future. Despite more education opportunities, students fall further into debt. But what if they completed their coursework or trade skill instead of transferring? What if companies came looking for their specialized skills once the students graduated? With President Obama’s plan, these students in community colleges and trade schools would have a better opportunity to attain a job with their skills
right out of their program rather than using their school as a conduit to transfer and hope for employment in the future. Not only will this get more young adults into the workforce quicker, but it will help decrease our unemployment rate and maximize wages for employees because companies will pay top dollar to employ the best, young thinkers that will innovate their industries and become the future of their business. in order to receive the previous program, you must graduate high school. that is why we believe President. Obama’s plan to keep students in high school until they graduate is a great idea. though this may be unpopular to high school students who struggle with grades, or have unforeseen circumstances that affect their education, but what Obama is doing is giving them a chance at success. every person deserves a chance, whether or not they think they’re college material—school should always be an option. Would anyone advise their younger siblings to drop out and not receive the same opportunities we receive here at VSU only because they hate math? Life is hard, especially in high school. Motivation can come from one teacher or every teacher, but until you are in
their presence, you do not know who will spark the changes you need to fulfill the potential you have in life. also, personal influences may not always be the best influences as a minor. School provides an outlet from the stress that your community or home life may put on you as a minor. School is where you develop social maturity and interact with adults that are not your parents in order to gain a different perspective on life. all minors deserve this opportunity and no child should be deprived of becoming the best they can be. as VSU students that have achieved and excelled from our individual backgrounds, we must acknowledge that other young people, sibling or stranger, deserve to rise above and do great things if
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they choose to, just like we did. finally, the federal minimum wage being raised always seems to make college students happy and corporations cringe. though companies may be shelling out $1.75 more an hour in profits to lower level employees, the big picture is most important. the federal minimum wage at this moment can barely allow a single person with an apartment to survive in today’s fluctuating economy. in order to keep up with the changes in gas prices, groceries and other every day expenses, we must have a wage set that will stabilize our lives in a time
of such instability. Yes, our economy is turning around, but we are still far from where it used to be. We feel that $9 per hour will keep people making minimum wage viable in our economy rather than them using every dime to pay a bill. Plans such as this promote growth and encourage the everyday worker to keep on striving for excellence. Bringing back this initiative that Obama first spoke of during his initial presidential campaign, will “change” the morale of the people, provide “hope” for us all as we “move forward.”
This editorial was written by Von Kennedy (vtkennedy@valdosta.edu) and it expresses the general opinion of the editorial staff.
Role models far from perfect People Poll: James Washington S ta f f W r i t e r jawashington@valdosta.edu
Professional athletes never get a break. it seems that media coverage in today’s society focuses on the negative more than the positive. every time i turn around, an athlete is being arrested on some sort of charge stemming from disturbing the peace, drugs or in some instances—murder. as with any basketball fan of my generation, i grew up idolizing Michael Jordan. “His airness” is the epitome of success in the sport, and i spent most of my free time on the court trying to perfect his best moves. it wasn’t until i began to further research the sport that i learned that MJ was viewed as an excessive gambler and could be a very harsh, critical and sometimes unfair teammate. Who cares? i’m not watching Jordan to live his life. i’m
watching him because i value what he has brought to the game. When i turn on the television, i see news revolving around prominent figures in our society all the time. an ex-LaPD officer just recently committed a string of disgraceful murders. it feels like scandals are uncovered daily involving our nation’s elected officials and clergy members. Should children stop dreaming of being police officers or President of the United States because one made a mistake? i am left confused as to why professional athletes should be looked down upon for their mistakes away from the sport. NBa Hall of famer Charles Barkley may have said it better than anyone else could. especially known for his blunt personality, Barkley stated in 1993, “if i weren't earning $3 million a year to dunk a basketball, most people on the street would run in the other direction if they saw
How do students relate to the local community? Chase Alexander junior nursing major
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me coming." it makes perfect sense. it’s their careers that give them popularity, but it’s the media and the rest of society that expects athletes to be perfect. athletes are placed on a high pedestal until they make a mistake. i understand that athletes spend a great deal of time in the spotlight, but so do doctors, sol-
diers, teachers and actors. at the end of the day, i respect athletes and any public figure for their contributions to their respective professions. if you take away their fame and fortune, however, you are left with a human being, just like you and me. i will never look at an athlete as a role model. i have parents that fill that position perfectly.
Narcissism strings ego along Quasha Ross S ta f f W r i t e r qlross@valdosta.edu
remember the infamous “imma let you finish” speech given by Kanye West at the 2009 MtV VMas? We’ve seen many instances where he has thrown a temper tantrum because he felt entitled to win. Well, the scary thing is that america is filled with a world full of Kanyes. Narcissism has taken over america, and this form of self-absorption and pride can become dangerous. Psychologists have been tracking narcissism through surveys of american college students since the late 1970s, and levels of it—often measured as a lack of empathy—have never been higher, according to assistant professor at the University of Michigan’s research Center, Sarah Conrath. “if you look at the levers in society, almost all of them are pushing us towards narcissism,” Conrath said.
Media and technology are the main driving forces behind our narcissistic ways. Online social networks, such as twitter, facebook and instagram create a
In order to run a successful and lively nation, we must be tolerant, compassionate, selfless and respectful of each other bubble, so to speak, that allows us to be admired and praised. When we tweet something extremely funny or popular, we are praised with retweets and favorites. We also have the option to post only flattering and sexy photos on instagram and facebook. twitter and facebook give us the opportunity to say some-
Issue of the Week thing witty without sounding like complete idiots because we’ve had several minutes to proof and critique it before presenting it to our “friends.” We do all of these things to make ourselves look cool, hip, popular, smart, etc. these desires feed our narcissism. the CirP american freshman Survey reveals that college students are more than ever likely to call themselves gifted and driven to succeed even though their test scores and time spent studying are decreasing. Jean twenge, Ph.D., a San Diego State University psychology professor, is the author of a study which shows that the tendency toward narcissism in students has gone up 30 percent in the last 30 years. Pop culture is also playing a role in the narcissism of young adults today. Celebrities such as terrell Owens, Kanye West, Chad Johnson and the Kardashi-
ans represent the type of narcissism that we see in today’s society. We’re living in the “generation of me,” and it’s scary that our society is actually embracing this way of thinking. So what’s to become of our society if we continue to let narcissism dominate the way we think? Well when you think of all the things narcissism consists of—egotism, disrespect and apathy—it’s likely that we will become our own worst enemy. We’ll be engulfed in a society full of selfish individuals who don’t care about the greater good of the people as a whole. in order to run a successful and lively nation, we must be tolerant, compassionate, selfless and respectful of each other. it’s time that we reinstate the elementary quote that once meant so much: “there is no ‘i’ in team.” We need to look past ourselves and see the bigger picture. Let’s not turn into a world of self-absorbed Kanyes who snatch the mic at every chance provided turning every “we” into “me.”
Sports Editor: eric Jackson Photo Editor: Cody Hicks Multimedia Editor: Von Kennedy Web Designer: rebecka Mcaleer Copy Editor: Shambree Wartel Cartoonist: Garrison Muelhausen Social Media Editor: Joe adgie Faculty Advisers: Dr. Pat Miller, Dr. ted Geltner, Keith Warburg
Lacey Miller junior early childhood education major "i think residents don't really have connections with students but businesses do, because they give student discounts."
Lorena Gasque junior mass media major "...the community really molds the different businesses in Valdosta to accommodate students...Many businesses are very open to hiring college students, almost every business has college students working there."
Melissa Dozier junior psychology major "i think the relationship between the students and the surrounding community really represents what Valdosta is about."
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Spectator Staff Editor-in-Chief: amber Smith Managing Editor: Jennifer Gleason Business Manager: Brandon Mainer Advertising Manager: aimee Napier Circulation Manager: Sarah turner Opinions Editor: Stephen Cavallaro Features Editor: amanda Usher
"i feel that most students are very busy with there degrees and the workload that comes with it, so most students are unaware of what is going on in the community."
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‘Insatiable Serwa’ shines off campus Serwa Collins is not your typical student. Collins, 28, dreams of making it big in the entertainment industry as a TV show host and personality. While she can be found doing lots of work in the mass media department, she is even more involved off campus. Over the past few years Collins has been successful as a plus size model. She has appeared in two shows and two magazines. In addition to print work, she also spends a lot of her time finding local vocal artists in Val
dosta to help promote. While interviewing the artists, she also showcases her host potential. She loves meeting new people, finding out interesting facts about them and helping them with their careers in the process. Black Crow Media is home to a lot of Collins’ work. There, she is an on-air talent intern where she has her own show on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. where she takes on the name of “Insatiable Serwa.” Her show is geared toward promoting a positive attitude and to reinforcing optimism to her listeners. Collins ends every show with
Burger King gets hacked
February 21, 2013
features a positive piece of advice to someone who proved to the leave her listeners on a happy world that it is possible to rise note. from the bottom to the top. “Anything negative can hapShe also looks up to two of pen, but you can pull positive her mass media professors, Mike out of that if you have a positive Savoie and Frank Barnas, who mind,” she said. always have the door open for When she isn’t diving head their students and are willing to first into media, Collins is coorhelp. dinating blood drives for the Collins’ friends also see the American light and joyful spirit Red Cross of her personality on a or planning daily basis. the next “She has a loving spir“Dre Day,” it and lights up a room, a cancer she is so optimistic Dowling Payne awareness about life,” Daphne event in Wright, Collin’s friend honor of her cousin who died. and neighbor, said. She first began donating blood It is clear to see after spending on her own, but realized she only a few minutes with Collins loved the thought of helping so that she has such a loving heart many people. and radiates optimism. So far she has sponsored six “I get discouraged for a blood drives and gets more and minute, but I just get back up,” more participants every time. Collins said. In the future, Collins sees herself Collins wishes for everyone doing something amazing in the on campus to dream big and to entertainment industry. never doubt themselves. She Her dream job is to work for hopes that students realize that BET or even start an acting cathere is so reer. Her celebrity idol is Oprah,
Look at what’s to come
Photo Courtesy of Serwa Collins Senior Serwa Collins is a senior mass media major who strives to be on camera.
much more than just the university. The possibilities are endless. She accomplishes her goals by going after them with full force and having no regrets. “Pray, study, and network are the three most important things to keep in mind.” Collins said.
The Spectator are taking graphic designers, writers, photographers and ad sales respresentatives. For more information, email Amber Smith at amsmith@valdosta.edu.
Career Services will host a job search workshop March 6 from 12-1 p.m.in Powell Hall-West 2nd Floor. The College of Arts and Sciences will have a Faculty/Student Research Colloquia today in the UC Theatre from 7-8 p.m. Speakers consist of members of the Department of Social Work, the Division of Social Work at VSU, the Department of Physics, Astronomy and Geosciences.
known miscarriage. ello world—Anthony here Beyoncé also sat down with wrapping up all the things Oprah to discuss what was going to that had us buzzing this be in the documentary on “Oprah’s past week. Next Chapter,” which aired right beIn one of the funniest moments in fore. recent social media history, someone Besides seeing Blue Ivy and hearwas able to hack into the Twitter acing her talk about her miscarriage, count of Burger King on Monday. we really didn’t learn anything new Twitter was on fire when the about Bey, except the fact that she hacker flooded the BK timeline with likes to talk to her computer, a lot. McDonalds propaganda, even going Most of the documentary featured as far as to post a picture of someone her speaking to her computer and doing heroin and claiming it was a keeping a video diary of her life for BK employee. the last few years. After 1 hour and 15 minutes of The fact that she still talks like a McDonald’s endorsements, a 5th grader isn’t going to help those shoutout to some DJ and a few ranrumors that she’s illiterate, but haters dom tweets, the page was suspended are gonna hate regardless. by Burger King and a statement was As if things couldn’t get any sadreleased. der than Beyoncé’s speaking skills, “It has come to country singer our attention that Mindy McCready the Twitter account was found dead of the BURGER of an apparent KING® brand has suicide on Monbeen hacked. We day. have worked directThis comes a ly with administralittle over a tors to suspend the month after McAnthony Pope account until we Cready’s are able to re-estabboyfriend was lish our legitimate site and authentic also found dead after he committed postings. We apologize to our fans suicide, followed by her losing cusand followers who have been receivtody of her two children. ing erroneous tweets about other McCready has a long history with members of our industry and addidrug and alcohol addiction, some of tional inappropriate topics.” which was revealed when she apThere is no word yet on who was peared on “Celebrity Rehab” with responsible for the hack, but I can’t Dr. Drew. help but suspect a red headed clown After appearing on the show, it named Ronald had something to do was rumored that McCready rewith it. lapsed several times. Maybe that was Because I think it’s in God’s order what led to her taking her own life. that I mention Beyoncé at least once Some addictions are too strong for this week, Queen Bey gave the the soul. RIP Mindy. world, or at least the Bey Hive, what As always check back with Pop they’ve been dying to see when she Addict next week to see what’s gopremiered her HBO documentary ing on in the world of the rich and “Life Is But A Dream” on Feb. 16. famous. In the hour and a half long docu*Slang Dictionary* mentary, Bey gave the world a glimpse into her life, marriage and ‘Bey Hive’: the unofficial name career, which included letting the for singer Beyonce’s fans world see her daughter Blue Ivy for the first time and discussing her un-
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Pop Addict
ATTENTION STUDENTS WHO PLAN TO LIVE ON CAMPUS NEXT YEAR Reclaim process for current Centennial and Converse residents only--February 11-13 via an on-line process. Students who currently live in Centennial or Converse Hall will be able to reclaim their space if both students in the two bedroom or two of the four students in a four bedroom want to reclaim it. Students who live in an efficiency room will be able to reclaim as well. The process will be held on-line, but staff will be available in the Housing Office during business hours to assist students as needed.
Room Selection for the 2013-2014 school year is March 4 - 6, 2013 in the Student Union Ballroom C. Please check the Housing web site at http://housing.valdosta.edu for more details on both the Reclaim process and Room Selection. Please review the schedule listed below to find out what day and time you can participate. TIME
MONDAY (3-4-13) Undergraduates who 10:00 have completed 60 hours am or more & graduate 12:30 students, & have a 3.25 pm GPA or higher All undergraduates who 12:30 have completed 60 hours pm or more & graduate 3:00 pm students Undergraduates who have 3:00 pm completed 22 - 59 hours, - 5:30 and have a 3.25 GPA or pm higher Undergraduates who have 5:30 pm completed 22 - 59 hours - 8:00 & have a 2.75 GPA or pm higher
TUESDAY (3-5-13) All undergraduates who have completed 22 - 59 hours
WEDNESDAY (3-6-13) Undergraduates who have completed 21 hours or less, & have a 2.5 GPA or higher
Undergraduates who have completed 21 hours or less, and have a 3.5 GPA or higher All Undergraduates who have completed 21 hours or less & have a 3.25 GPA or higher Undergraduates who have completed 21 hours or less & have a 3.0 GPA or higher
All Undergraduates who have completed 21 hours or less
*Each time slot is for current residence hall students only (including pulling in roommates), except the last slot on Wednesday.
Participation is open to all current VSU students including students that do not live on campus *The above time slot ends at 5pm.
**GPA = Cumulative GPA
***Completed Hours = Hours completed at the end of Fall 2012
feaTureS
FEBRUARY 21, 2013
Career Services here to help Allison Ericson s ta f f w r i t e r
abericson@valdosta.edu
P
icking a major can be intimidating and unfortunately there is no degree in undecided. this is why VsU offers Career services for the undecided and decided. Career services helps students with everything from preparing resumes to searching for a job. “the purpose of career services is to assist students with finding a major, gaining work experience, such as part time and to assist them in finding a full time job when they graduate,” J. Kevin taylor, associate director of Career services, said. for many students, graduating on time is not an option. Career services will, and has made that possible by providing online inventories, which figure out student’s interests, skills, personali-
ty preferences and work values. “it doesn’t matter if you’re a freshman or a senior, inventories are the way to go,” taylor said. “we can help them look at the options from the inventories, its no charge as long as you’re enrolled.” for students who already have the major of their dreams, career services offers mock interviews as well as online interview practice through interviewstream. interviewstream uses webcam recording to practice interviewing while receiving positive feedback from a career counselor. another option is Career services’ hour-long seminars and workshops to assist in a number of problems like resumes, job searching and interviewing. to attend these seminars students must call 24 hours in advance to register. But Career services isn’t just for students. VsU alumni who need guidance can also take ad-
vantage of Career services’ support and resources for free up until a month after graduation. Career services can help alumni to improve their social media image, interview performance and resume. to avoid being jobless after graduation, taylor recommended that students start applying for jobs two semesters before graduation. “i had no idea i should have started applying before graduation,” ashley thornton, VsU alumni, said. “i thought i would have a ton of leisure time to apply and i would immediately find a job…so not true.” VsU will present spring education Career Day on feb. 28. this event is geared towars education majors but is also a great event for interested students to attend. On March 26, students of all majors can attend the spring Career expo. these events give students the chance to hand out
Alphas to bring ‘7 MO Plagues’ to campus Isaiah Smart s ta f f w r i t e r
itsmart@valdosta.edu
t
here’s a cold front brewing, and it will breeze through campus next week as alpha Phi alpha fraternity, inc. presents alpha week 2013, “7 MO Plagues.” One thing that sets “7 MO Plagues” apart from any other alpha week in the past is the fact that there will be two events per day that the public will get to participate in sunday through thursday. the Mu Omicron chapter of alpha Phi alpha will begin the week with a day of church service at 11 a.m. at Crossing Jordan Baptist Church located at 1401 Cypress st. sunday evening will bring a movie night at 7:06 p.m. in the Bailey science auditorium room 1023. “Our annual alpha week allows us to give back to the community which has supported our initiatives to make a positive impact on campus,” will Jimerson, chapter secretary and webmaster, said. One of the most anticipated events of all Greek weeks is the cookout. On Monday, the alphas will host their cookout, the feast of Kings, from noon to 3 p.m. at Palms Quad with Phi Mu. Phamily Pheud will follow the cookout at 7:06 p.m. in Jennett Lecture Hall room 111. the organization, founded in 1906 at Cornell University, establishes itself on service and will give the student body a chance to participate on tuesday. there will be a March of Dimes fundraiser on the Pedestrian Mall from noon to 3 p.m. “Our organization has no plans on gaining anything from this year’s events,” Kam farrow
Photo Courtesy of Valdosta state alphas The Mu Omicron Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. was founded May 31, 1976, and participates in service projects such as Habitat for Humanity and mentoring students.
chapter treasurer and special events coordinator, said. “instead, we have worked diligently to provide events that give back to our community that being our university, the city of Valdosta, our nation and to provide a fun and interactive week with the campus.” tuesday, Pharaoh’s appearance, will conclude with a professionalism forum at 7:06 p.m. in the student Union theater. the Mu Omicron chapter will present encoding intelligence to campus wednesday. the first event will be a clothing/school supplies drive on the Pedestrian Mall from noon until 3 p.m. the second event will be the Black Leaders empowerment summit at 7:06 p.m. in Jennett Lecture Hall room 2211. farrow has high hopes for the forum and expects it to be the greatest event of the week. “Our week is the last week in february, essentially ending Black History Month, and we felt there is no better way to go out than on a positive note that consists of the leaders of our campus speaking about leadership and our potential for great things,” farrow said. thursday, the Dialect of reason, will bring the campus an oratorical competition at
7:06p.m.in the University Center theater. “the Mu Omicron chapter pro vides a host of educational, service, social and personal development forums and special events on campus throughout every year,” Jimerson said. speeches in the competition will focus on the issue of equality for all people. the winner will be awarded a prize of $100. friday the alphas will present their event, the fate of rhythm. the men in black and gold will start the day by participating in the Black History Month Cele bration at 8:30 a.m. at J.L. Newbern Middle school. at 3:06 p.m., Black student League will collaborate to bring stroll Like an alpha to the student Union Ballroom B & C. teams of girls will put together their best routines of strolling using signature moves of the alphas and compete against one another in the event. alpha week will conclude with “road to redemption” at 9 a.m. on saturday with a day of service cleaning Baytree road at the Grove. students are encouraged to participate. for more information of the week’s events, follow the alphas on twitter at @MuOmicron1906.
Microsoft takes over Skype, analog sticks much ‘better’
H
ello tech enthusiasts. i’m here with the newest tech news you need to know about. an analyst says that the iPad will be updated to look like the iPad Mini this spring. apple will also introduce a new apple tV box with better software, but no iPad Mini with retina Display. take this with a grain of salt people. if you don’t already know, Microsoft is ending the windows Messenger program. they will instead move all of its users to skype –which is now owned by Microsoft. the move will take place during the month of april. skype has also begun a video messaging beta service. You can send a video to someone when they are not logged on. the beta is only for windows users for now. the service should be available to everyone in april. stay tuned and keep checking for updates. the Playstation 4 controller for the development kit might have been revealed. this may or may not be what the final prod-
uct looks like. the controller is longer than the Ps3 controller and has all the same buttons. the D-pad is smaller to accommodate a new touch screen/pad. there is a light bar on top that looks similar to the Playstation Move requirements.
remember the talk surrounding the LG Optimus G Pro? well it’s coming. it will have a 5.5inch screen with 2GB raM and a 1.7GHz processor. it sports a 13-megapixel camera. More details will be revealed at the Mobile world Congress. HtC is back! the HtC One is rumored to release March 22 for at&t, sprint and t-Mobile. it has an all aluminum body and looks much like the BlackBerry Z10. the screen is 4.7 inches with 468 pixels per inch. it also has an interesting feature of a four-megapixel camera. the sensor will capture 300 percent more light than competing camera phones. the $199 version will get you 32GB storage-- another $100 will get you 64GB. that’s it this week people. see you next time! the question of the week is, “what video chat service do you use-- skype, Oovoo?” email your answers to smsetser@valdosta.edu.
Spec Tech with Steven Setser
also, the analog sticks are now concave and look much better. it could also have a “share” button the sony press conference in which the Ps4 was expected to be revealed took place wednesday. is it me or are iPod charger cords never long enough? well, they just got shorter. apple has released the Lightning cable separate from the new iDevices and it is half the original length. the cord still costs $19.
their resumes to recruiters and view different job opportunities. “Currently i am interning and testing out my dream job but if i had known Career services offered so much i would have hit them up before graduation,” thornton said. Career services also hosts oncampus interviews with companies to give students a convenient and equal opportunity. Over the next few months, waffle House and sherwin-williams automotive finishes Corp. will be conducting interviews for a management position. for more job opportunities, visit Career services, open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondaythursday and friday 8 a.m.to 3 p.m. in Powell Hall-west on the 2nd floor. they take appointments as well as walk-ins, and students can now follow them on twitter and facebook, where you can view more job opportunities and upcoming events.
vsUspEctAtoR.com | pAgE 5 Check out the web spectator at vsuspectator.com to get taylor stone’s take on fashion, and to see what restaurant made the spectator tasters list this week. also on the web is a preview for “the skin of Our teeth” and CaB’s “Midterm study Night and relaxation: Common Mind Music.”
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Page 6 | vsusPectator.com
SportS
february 21, 2013
Blazers walk off against Cougars Alex Tostado S p o rt S W r i t e r epjackson@valdosta.edu
Catcher Bryant Hayman’s game-winning base hit in the bottom of the ninth to bring home Dan Hoover helped outlast the Columbus State Cougars in a 4-3 win on Wednesday night. “they had been pitching me away all day and i just wanted to make sure i didn’t do too much,” Hayman said. While the Blazers improve to 6-2 on the season, the Cougars fall to 3-9. VSU’s offense struggled to get off the ground all game until it
came down to the wire when sophomore Hayman came through with the clutch play. Nick Fogarty did not have the ideal rebound start following his perfect game the team was hoping for. the Blazers’ pitching stalled at the beginning of the game. in his first start since his perfect game; Fogarty went three innings and gave up three runs on six hits. Sophomore pitcher Dom Demasi allowed three hits and zero runs in two innings after coming into relieve Fogarty for the Blazers in the sixth inning. “everybody has their off days and i am not going to hold it
against [Fogarty],” Demasi said. “i just went out there and just tried to do my job and just [take] it a pitch at a time.” the four strike-out performance was good enough to keep the game close and pave the way for senior pitcher Benjamin Weil. Weil held the Cougars to zero runs while striking out three batters in almost two innings of work. “i thought our bullpen was outstanding tonight,” head coach Greg Guilliams said. “We played good defense and finally got that big two-out base hit… before [the Cougars] did.”
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Pitcher Nick Fogarty glances over before the wind up on the mound.
VSU says farewell to seniors Shane Thomas S p o rt S W r i t e r
shanethomas@valdosta.edu
Valdosta State men’s basketball team is gearing up for its final home game of the season, hosting West Florida Saturday afternoon. the Blazers enter the game on a three-game winning streak following a 70-69 victory over the West Alabama tigers last Saturday at the Complex. UWF has won two consecutive games after defeating West Georgia 87-79 last Saturday in their final home game of the season. it will be senior night as four Blazers: Josh Sparks, Shaquille Harris, James Anacreon, and Jarroid Johnson, will be honored in their final home game before they wrap up the regular season on the road against Gulf South Conference foes Christian Brothers and Delta State. “i think Senior Night is great
at every university across the country,” Mike Helfer, head coach said. “it’s a chance to say thanks to your seniors. obviously, everybody is very familiar with Josh and i’m so thankful for what he’s done for our school— not only from a basketball standpoint but a community standpoint. But, even guys like James Anacreon and Shaq Harris, who came to play their senior year here, have just been awesome for our program and great representatives.” Senior forward Josh Sparks is the only player returning from last season and is currently in his third and final season for the Blazers. Sparks is currently having his best season in a Blazers uniform, averaging 12.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.9 blocks, and 1.2 steals in 30.1 minutes per game; all career-highs. “My first two years i was a role player— just get rebounds, block shots and get a couple buckets here and there,” Sparks
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said. “Coming out this year, i knew the focus was gonna be on me and some other guys. it just feels good to be able to show my whole repertoire and be able to play my game.” Sparks is a fan favorite in the Complex and admits that Saturday will be an emotional game for him. “it’s going be bittersweet,” Sparks said. “i love playing in here—the whole atmosphere. it’s going to be awesome when i’m in the game but when it’s over, i’ll probably shed a couple tears to be honest.” UWF will be looking to spoil the Blazers’ night, as they aim to complete the regular season sweep. “[West Florida] is a very good team with a lot of different weapons,” Helfer said. “We’re just gonna have to be prepared for everything that they throw at us—just be into the game from the jump ball. they will definitely be into the game so we need to
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make sure we’re into the game.” the biggest concerns for the Blazers revolve around West Florida forward terrance Beasley and high-scoring guard ellis Young iii. Young is coming into Saturday’s game as the reigning GSC player of the Week for the second consecutive week, punctuating the honor with a 41-point performance against West Georgia. “He missed seven free throws,” Helfer said with a laugh. “But, ellis and terrance Beasley are both great players that can go off on any night. You’ve got to make sure that both of those guys are keys defensively, but they’ve got other kids that can make plays and we’ve got to make sure that we’re ready for everybody.” tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. following the Lady Blazers’ home finale.
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