February 28, 2013
W W W. V S U S P E C TAT O R . C O M
VOLUME 84 ISSUE 20
Inside This Issue
On the Web w w w. v s u s p e c ta t o r. c o m
- OPINIONS: “faculty questions dead day” - FEATURES: “Sigmas to paint campus blue with Kdr”
Check out pg. 6 to see what we thought of the Bleu Pub in downtown Valdosta.
- SPORTS: “remember the Wildcats”
Today at VSU MidterM today is the official midterm for the semester and the last day to withdraw from classes. Withdrawals must be completed online by 11:59 p.m. according to the registrar, no withdrawals will be processed after this time except for “documented medical hardships.” Guest speaker: “Genes, patents & social Justice: the ownership of Your Genes” - Bailey science center auditorium 3009, 7 p.m. dr. albert Scherr, law professor at the university of New Hampshire who was part of the ethical, legal Social implications of the Human Genome Project that educated faculty worldwide on responsible use of the Human Genome. Hosted by VSu Honors college
Burgers and baseball!
Check out Will Lewis’ coverage of the Arts & Sciences Faculty Research Colloquium on Wednesday.
Faculty Senate:
Elimination of Friday classes discussed Amanda Usher f e at u r e S e d i t o r amusher@valdosta.edu
No more classes on friday? this became one of the main topics of discussion at last thursday’s faculty Senate meeting at 3:30 p.m. in the uc Magnolia room when dr. aubrey fowler, assistant professor of marketing, proposed that VSu adopt a two-day class schedule. this would mean that classes on fridays would cease to exist, and would only be offered Monday to thursday.
Water,
a mixture of thoughts overflowed as some felt that the proposed schedule should not be made mandatory, while others felt as if more research should be done before they make their decision to support or oppose this schedule. in email interviews, a few of the faculty senators expressed their concerns on this topic and other points of business. “i think we need to let good teaching and department and college needs drive the scheduling decisions rather than convenience, and not require two-daya-week classes if three-day-a-
week classes work better for [certain university] units,” dr. Maren clegg-Hyer, assistant professor of english, said. according to dr. clegg-Hyer, core classes and classes in which reading and writing are extremely intense deserve to have more face-to-face time than what a two-day schedule could offer. While dr. Jason allard, associate professor of geography, is one of those senators waiting for more information. He feels as if changing the schedule should have minimal impact on students. “i believe the students should
still have access to the same number of course offerings as [they do] now, and be able to take these courses so that they can graduate in a timely manner,” dr. allard said. “if there would be an adverse impact on the students, i would not support a two-day schedule.” there are various things to consider when changing the way that classes are scheduled. for dr. allard, facility availability is one of them. for dr. Peggy Moch, professor of mathematics education, factors that impact students, faculty, curriculum, teaching, de-
Water everyWhere:
Isaiah Smart S ta f f W r i t e r itsmart@valdosta.edu
stop the silence - uc theatre, 7:06 p.m. oratorical competition with spoken word presentations. a $100 grand prize will be awarded. Presented by alpha Phi alpha in collaboration with Black Student league.
Weather Today Sunny 66 H 37 L Partly Cloudy 60 H 35 L
Saturday Partly Cloudy 55 H 33 L
What are your thoughts on advising? A. Advising is pointless. B. Got my schedule planned and ready to go. C. My adviser is too hard to see. He/she has a full schedule from too many advisees. D. Other (Tweet your answer @vsuspectator) Vote online at www.vsuspectator.com!
Last Week’s Poll Results
Amber Smith editor-iN-cHief amid a flash flood warning and threats of a nearby river overflowing, VSu canceled all classes that started at or after 5 p.m. on Monday. during the time that students were required to attend classes, they trudged around campus with umbrellas, rain boots and jackets hoping to fend off the pouring rain outside. a flash flood warning was in effect from 1 a.m. Monday to 7 a.m. tuesday. Valdosta received
I don’t make spring break plans.
33%
Nothing can put a damper on my vacay.
27%
I’m planning a stay-cation.
20%
Gas is too expensive to travel.
13% 7%
2.87 inches of rainfall, according to weather.com. this was over a quarter of the week’s precipitation and approximately one-third of the month’s precipitation in one day. this heavy rain followed a weekend of rain during which the city received 2.44 inches of rain on friday and 1.98 inches on Saturday. the rain cleared by tuesday and the university reopened for a normal schedule. Valdosta city and lowndes county Schools remained closed on tuesday, as did Wiregrass Georgia technical college.
Amber Smith/ THE SPECTATOR The creek near Oak Parking Deck rose above its normal level due to the heavy rain on Monday.
Valdosta’s local government will be explained to a select group of citizens later this spring. residents of Valdosta will get a chance to see what it’s like behind the scenes by attending the fourth annual Government 101 citizens orientation Program. the mayor and his council created Government 101 in 2010 in attempts to educate residents about the inner workings of their local government. the program will last for six weeks and participants will meet on Mondays from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Valdosta residents will learn about departments such as public safety, engineering, financial administration and facility tour. departments responsible for construction inspection, city projects, water distribution, police bureaus, utilities and many more will be covered during the program. “i feel like things are sugarcoated in the news and i would like to know what’s going on,” deiera evans, sophomore business management major, said. those who plan to participate in this six-week program will have to go through a background investigation and must complete a criminal history form. “i encourage citizens 18 years and up to apply and participate in the program,” Sementha Mathews, public information officer, said. to apply, Valdosta citizens can download the form at See CITIZENS, Page 2
Steam near Palms just condensation Joe Adgie
Are gas prices going to affect your spring break plans?
Hitching a ride with friends.
Von Kennedy/ THE SPECTATOR Students head to and from Odum Library as rain pours down on campus Monday. Class was canceled after 5 p.m., but until that time those on campus had to make their way between the buildings through the rain.
amsmith@valdosta.edu
Question of the week
S e e S E N AT E , P a g e 3
City seeks citizens for government education
karaoke - odum library auditorium, 8 p.m. this event is free and open to the campus community. refreshments provided. Hosted by Natural High.
Friday
partmental scheduling and much more should be investigated. Whether they support or feel indifferent, the senators can agree on one idea: that all sides of an argument should be heard before a final decision is made. “all parties involved must be able to provide input into the decision, including the Student Government association, the council on Staff affairs, faculty, administration, organizations or other interested groups,” dr. allard said. “departments or groups that engage schools or
Social Media editor jmadgie@valdosta.edu
the steam coming from the ground in front of Palms dining is not steam at all, but rather “water runoff,” according to an employee with Plant operations who declined to give her name. the employee explained that this “water runoff” was the result of the rains that have hit Valdosta lately. “it was so wet that, we’ve had it reported, but […] it was condensation,” the employee said in a phone interview.
the employee was not able to explain an odor that emanated from the holes where the steam was coming from. “it was reported that it was just a steam leak in two places outside of Palms, and when i checked with the technician responsible, the explanation i was given was the excess water that we had received,” the employee said. “Nobody said anything about a foul smell.” the unnamed employee then hung up and declined further comment. though no foul smell was reported to Plant operations, students have been seen covering their noses as they walked by.
Von Kennedy/ THE SPECTATOR Steam has been seen emanating from the ground near Palms Dining and some seem to be smelling a foul odor. The steam has been reported to Plant Operations and has been labeled as merely water va-
News
PAgE 2 | vsUsPEctAtoR.coM
FEBRUARY 28, 2013
Fitness Frenzy promotes healthy student body John Preer A S S T . F e AT U R e S eDITOR
Ben Skender S P e C T AT O R CORReSPONDeNT
jhpreer@valdosta.edu
With spring break right around the corner, many VSU students are trying to get into shape and look their best. On Wednesday, VSU hosted “Fitness Frenzy” features different organizations which provided information on staying fit and having a healthy lifestyle. For those who were not so interested in changing their eating habits but still care about physical fitness, there was a booth where participants could sign up for a gym membership and receive a free personal trainer session or visit to the Kenetix Health Club. Kenetix is also having a customer appreciation party today where they will be signing up new members and facilitating a prize giveaway. Some organizations like The Wellness Councils of America, were supplying event participants with brochures full of tips on affordable, healthy eating habits. The brochures provided readers with an easy-to-follow meal plan, and charts with serving size suggestions for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Along with quick homemade meal suggestions, the brochures listed meals available at popular fast food chains that are low in calories and fat. Other organizations were promoting future fitness walks and outdoor activities.
Citizens Continued from Page 1 http://valdostacity.com/ publicinformation or pick up a copy of the CityBeat newsletter. Applications are due on March 8, and can be submitted at the Public Involvement Department, Valdosta City Hall Annex, 300 N. Lee Street Room 202. Applicants must be Valdosta residents and a maximum of 25 people will be selected from the group that passes the required background checks. Participants will be in facilities that most citizens don’t get a chance to see. City Hall officials want to ensure everyone’s safety. “I don’t think a lot of people
City fire codes prevent disaster off-campus btskender@valdosta.edu
Jamal Tull/ The SPeCTaTor
Students walk the tight rope during the Fitness Frenzy event. Several different physical activities were made available to students on the front lawn. The VSU Walking Club will host a contest in which qualifying members compete for a three-day cruise for two. Those interested in the grand prize are required to pay an $8 contest fee and log a minimum of 231 miles between Feb. 11 and April 28. Other qualifying members will also be eligible for many other prizes. When participants first arrived at the event, they were given a card that they carried around to each individual booth. The representatives supplied participants with a star-shaped sticker to prove they visited their respective booths. The goal was to collect as many stars before the event ended. At the event’s conclusion, participants had the op-
will do it,” DeMiah Greene, a junior psychology major, said. “People won’t be interested.” The small number will allow instructors the opportunity to be more involved with the group and provide a more enjoyable experience. “I definitely feel that citizens will be interested due to their feelings of government secrecy,” Alexis Bell, a junior mass media major, said. “I feel as though it’s important because the laws and government affects students as well.” The program will begin on April 1 and will continue for the following six weeks. For more information on the Government 101 Citizens Orientation Program call 229-259-3522.
portunity of turning in their sticker cards to enter into a raffle for a slew of prizes. There were also games that event-goers could play in order to fill their cards with stickers. The games ranged from volleyball to a sack toss. After participants worked up a sweat, they could walk over to the VSU Campus Wellness booth and get their blood pressure and heart rate measured. The Valdosta Chiropractic and Rehab booth provided pamphlets that listed the many uses for chiropractic therapy. They suggested that therapy was for more than people suffering from back problems. According to the literature provided by the vendor, chiropractic therapy can be used
to combat acute coryza (better known as the common cold.) There was even an on-site massage therapist providing free massages and information about the health benefits that massages offer. In addition to providing information that helps maintain a healthy lifestyle, certain booths offered literature on things that are counterintuitive to healthy living. The Alcohol and Drug awareness booth vendors displayed replicas of common street drugs and brochures on the damaging effects they have on the body. They also offered pamphlets about support groups and clinics for those struggling with drug abuse.
Correction: The “Giraffe Award” that Dr. William McKinney received during his birthday celebration on Feb. 20 was presented by the College of Arts and Sciences. The Langdale College of Business endowed a scholarship in the names of Dr. McKinney and his wife, Dr. Dacia Charlesworth. The last issue of the Spectator stated otherwise.
In October, an overloaded apartment building collapsed at an off-campus housing complex near Florida State University. Today, similar apartments are trying to figure out how to prevent such an occurrence from happening. “A certificate of occupancy is issued at the completion of the Fire Marshal’s inspection of new constructed buildings,” Robert DeLong, director of environmental and occupational safety at VSU, said. “This certificate states what the occupancy level is for that particular building.” DeLong explained that occupancy limits are calculated through a mathematical formula and using different types of occupancies, and that his department keeps regular tabs on buildings. “My department performs fire code inspections on all our buildings annually to ensure we are in compliance with all state and local codes,” DeLong said. DeLong went on to explain that nothing serious has happened here at VSU. “I know of no major incidents on our campus where the fire code has not been followed,” DeLong said. Captain John Wisenbaker, Valdosta fire marshal, explained the purpose of fire codes, and why they exist. “Fire codes exist so that the Fire Department’s job is not only easier, but that living spaces are safer in case of an emergency,” Wisenbaker said. These fire codes include easy access to the property, wellmaintained exits, checked and filled fire extinguishers, and
The Classifieds The Spectator prints free classifieds for students of Valdosta State University only. These must be no more than 40 words, or a $8.00 charge will apply. Classifieds for faculty, staff, student organizations,student-owned businesses and the general public cost $8.00 for up to 40 words. Ads should be sent to The Spectator or delivered to our office in 1238 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. The Spectator address is: 1500 n. Patterson St.,Valdosta, gA 31698 spec@valdosta.edu. The Spectator reserves the right to reject any classified ad. All ads are subject to standard editing procedures.The Spectator is not responsible for ads
submitted under false pretenses or for mistakes due to a submit-
ted error. The categories for classifieds include: For Sale, Wanted, Roommates and Help Wanted.
For Rent
AVAILABLE NOW!$100.00 DePoSIT @ TREELOFT. 3BR/2BA $725-775, 1BR/1BA $450-475, 3 blocks from VSU, cathedral ceiling, pool & laundry facilities, water & garbage included. 229-561-0776
For Rent
For Rent
LOOK: House for Lease - Upgraded, like new – 4 bedrooms/ 2 full baths, deck & spacious parking. Bicycle or walk to campus. Washer, dryer, disposal $1,460/month or $365/student for 4 students. suitelivingrentals.com or 770-887-8488.
smoke detectors in working order. As fire marshal, Wisenbaker is charged with the role of inspecting a building to ensure it follows these codes. At Jackson Square, off-campus apartment complex, tenants are discouraged from hosting parties in their units, but rather are asked to hold these parties in the pool area.
“ My department
performs fire code inspections on all our buildings annually to ensure we are in compliance with all state and local codes. ” - RobeRt Delong
“We have this rule not to take the fun out of being in college, but because many of our properties do not have clubhouses for social functions, other than the pool yard,” said Brenda Harrington, property manager of Metro Valdosta Properties, who owns Jackson Square. These rules are abided oncampus as well, and VSU has their own rules regarding parties. “If alcohol is present, there should be no more than 50 or more students,” Howard Doner, VSU police chief, said. “Our officers at that point may show up but only to ensure everyone’s safety.” There have been no cases where injury has occurred because the codes were not followed, but all the halls safeguard against these incidents well.
Services Pregnancy Wasn’t Part of the Plan
News
february 28, 2013
vsuspecTaTor.com | page 3
Upcoming Events March 1, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Free swim lessons with Campus Recreation Aquatics. Student Recreation Center Certified swim instructors will teach the VSU community how to swim. The event is open to VSU students, faculty and staff.
Requirements: Each team must have at least eight players and at least two players must be girls. To Register, email your team name, team captain’s name and captain’s contact info to gnroyal@valdosta.edu.
March 1, 8:30 a.m. Alpha Phi Alpha hosts “The PHate of Rhythm” as part of Black History Month. J.L. Newbern Middle School
March 8, 7 p.m. Join the Outdoor Bootcamp and get beach body fit. Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays through March 8th. Recreation Center For more information, visit the Recreation Center page on the VSU website.
March 1, 3:06 p.m. Alpha Phi Alpha hosts “Stroll Like an Alpha Competition” as part of Alpha Phi Alpha Week. Student Union Ballrooms B & C March 1, 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Lav Luv and Ray Lipowski Student Union Theater CAB is hosting a night of laughter, fun and free food. March 2, 9 a.m. Alpha Phi Alpha hosts “Road to Redemption” as part of Alpha Phi Alpha Week is a road cleanup. Baytree Road to Norman Drive intersection. March 2, 10 a.m. The BCM hosts a free-to-enter kickball tournament. The football field next to the tennis courts on Baytree Road. There will be free food and drinks.
Senate Continued from Page 1 organizations in the community should also be able to provide their input.” Dr. Moch also agreed that the matter required some heavy consideration. “I believe that such an implementation will require thoughtful consideration […] and cannot be just tried out without a lot of careful deliberation,” she said. Senators finally came to a conclusion that a Special Committee, led by Dr. Fowler, should be formed to look into this proposal. Also on the Faculty Senate’s agenda, was the issue of extending the grading deadline after finals week so that professors can attend graduation among other activities. Dr. Clegg-Hyer is in favor of this extension and suggests that the Academic Scheduling and Procedures Committee speak to the Registrar about this idea. “I believe the grading deadlines are early so that staff members at the Registrar’s office have a large enough window to finish processing grades before semester break (perhaps affecting spring registration and other factors),” she said. One solution that Dr. CleggHyer has come up with is to give
March 8, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. LASA presents Carnival. Front Lawn This is a free event complete with a DJ, dancing, food, games, entertainment and fun. Carnival provides students with an opportunity to learn about the origins of Carnival and the culture of Brazil. For more information, contact Joshua Gomez (jbgomez@valdosta.edu) or Laquetta Wysong (lwysong@valdosta.edu). March 11-13 Adobe Premier Workshop March 11 - 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. March 12 - 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. March 13 - 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Media Center Multimedia Lab, room 1300 Instructor Philip Bishop will
faculty a few more days to get grades in, thus giving staff members at the Registrar’s office a little more time to process them. “That strikes me as a good
“ That strikes me as
a good compromise that will greatly reduce faculty stress and enable faculty to represent the university at graduation exercises, while still allowing staff to process grades before the winter breaks come. ” - Dr. Maren Clegg-Hyer
compromise that will greatly reduce faculty stress and enable faculty to represent the university at graduation exercises, while still allowing staff to process grades before the winter breaks come,” she said. Dr. Moch thinks that the deadline should be prolonged to the Wednesday or Thursday after finals. “Even the following Friday would be nice, to give professors
Police Briefs discuss how to setup a project, import videos, edit and export a project. Each workshop will be for one hour, and can hold 15 seats maximum. Register here: http://ww2.valdosta.edu/ finadmin/training/ March 12, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Blood Drive at the UC Kappa Alpha Order and Chi Omega hosts a blood drive. UC Parking Lot March 14, 7:11 p.m. Lambda Phi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. hosts the annual Greekdom Step/Stroll Competition. Student Union Ballrooms VSU Greeks will battle for three rounds to win $1,000. Presale tickets can be reserved until March 2. Contact Jeremiah Wiggins for more information at jawiggins@valdosta.edu.
Feb. 26 A student was reportedly trapped in her bathroom and called her roommate to say someone was in the room trying to stab her. When officers reported to the scene, no one was in the room. The officers made contact with the student who received the call in the Hopper Hall lobby. A phone was stolen. A bicycle was stolen from a rack near Reade Hall. Feb. 24 A gate arm in Hopper circle was broken.
A bicycle was stolen from a rack near Georgia Hall. A bicycle was stolen after midnight from a rack between Georgia Hall and Langdale Hall. An RA reported a person, described as a “black male” stealing a bicycle from in front of Hopper Dining. The suspect was seen heading towards the Psychology building. Feb. 21 A bicycle was stolen from a rack near Lowndes Hall. A wallet was stolen from the Student Union.
Feb. 20 A person described as a “black male” was caught struggling to pull a bicycle free from a rack near Reade Hall. The male was arrested. Feb. 19 A person described as a “black male” was seen trying to steal a bicycle from a rack near Centennial Hall. A car was broken into while parked on College Street, and money was stolen from a wallet inside.
april 6, 8 a.m. Zeta Tau Alpha hosts a Think Pink 5K Race. Race starts at Valdosta Early College Academy The race is for those fighting and those who have survived breast cancer. For more information, contact Rachel Scott at Rascott@valdosta.edu.
a chance to carefully grade, reflect and decompress,” she said. “Not that we do not currently reflect and grade carefully, we do, but we sacrifice attending graduation and other activities to accomplish this task.” Reforming the smoking policy was also on the agenda, but didn’t get addressed due to the absence of SGA senator Reginald Merritt, Jr., who was scheduled to speak on this subject. Other members of the SGA were present, but weren’t prepared to speak about it. The Senate premiered their new addition to the meetings--a question and answer session with VSU President Dr. William McKinney, who couldn’t be present due to scheduling conflicts. Instead, he called in via Skype and responded to faculty questions. The only question that Dr. McKinney was able to answer was concerning faculty salary increases due to lack of time. Other questions that were submitted involved traveling, the abuse of teaching loads and the faculty’s lack of knowledge about Jasmine Benjamin’s death. Dr. Karla Hull, acting as vice president for academic affairs, gave quick and brief responses to these questions on Dr. McKinney’s behalf.
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
OpiniOns
february 28, 2013
vsuspectator.com | page 4
Our point of view...
Faculty questions Dead Day
F
aculty Senate met last Thursday, and discussed getting rid of Dead Day-the 24 hours before final exams that students use to study and relax. When Dr. Maren Clegg-Hyer wrote a letter to the Faculty Senate, she noted that faculty rarely gets to attend the graduation ceremonies for their students because they spend their entire weekend after final exams trying to finish grading before their Monday deadlines. The letter, in full, was added to the Faculty Senate’s agenda for its Thursday meeting. “The nature of assessment in [the] English [department] means that we all have anywhere from 120-200 lengthy, final essay exams to read be-
tween our last finals (usually late Friday night) and the grade deadline (9 a.m.) on Monday morning,” Dr. Hyer said. “Frankly, most of us are lucky to even eat or sleep those three days; even two hours might make me miss Monday's deadThe above clipping is from the agenda for the Faculty Senate meeting from last Thursday, in which the senate considered line. We consider it our ‘gauntgetting rid of Dead Day. let.’” Dr. Hyer cited two possible to consider taking the day away from the semester that is soon We applaud the Faculty SenWe would like to know why solutions: changing the final from the campus community. to come to an end. ate for recognizing the importhat last class on the Monday exam schedule or moving the Dead Day works for students We have all had that one tance of Dead Day and not conbefore exams is necessary. We grading deadline for faculty. in several ways; it is 24 hours class that has taken everything sidering rearranging the schedonly have a third to half of our In response to Dr. Hyer’s letallotted to students to study, out of us and made us break out ule against the students’ best inentire schedule on that day, anyter, the Faculty Senate considcatch up on sleep and relax beinto hives when the final exam terest. way. ered the possibility of getting fore final exams. was near. If we had to guess, faculty Should concerns about the firid of Dead Day altogether and While some students use it Dead Day is our chance to re- and staff enjoy the day away nal exam schedule arise in the moving final exams to earlier in constructively and study until flect on the semester and studyfrom students as well--a dead future, we beg the Faculty Senthe week. they are practically blind, other -cram for some--for that final campus is a peaceful campus ate to please leave Dead Day Fortunately, the meeting did students use that time to meditest that proves we didn’t stay (as long as faculty and staff stay out of the discussion--unless the not reflect any possible changes tate, binge on junk food and in the class past midterms for away from the library during senate considers moving Dead to Dead Day--the senate refused sleep after a well-needed cry nothing. that Tuesday.) Day from Tuesday to Monday.
This editorial was written by Jennifer Gleason (jlgleason@valdosta.edu) and it expresses the general opinion of the editorial staff.
Gender roles censor expression People Poll: Olivia McLean A S S T. C O p y E D I T O r ovmclean@valdosta.edu
Growing up, I remember watching movies that had the “typical” family. There was a mom who stayed home and took care of the house and children, a dad who went to work (usually a mechanic or office job) and two kids—a boy who played sports outside with his friends and a girl who played with her dolls. Gender roles are defined as the overt expression of a person's gender identity. They are seen as behavioral norms that are expected of people of a cer-
tain gender and to some, can also be seen as stereotypes that are usually placed upon a gender as a whole. How someone dresses, what job he or she has and even their personality traits are factors that people look at when determining these roles. An example of a stereotypical gender role would be that women are emotional. people believe that women cry a lot and are unstable during stressful situations. Because this is considered a behavioral norm, it isn't much of a shocker to people when they hear about their mom, sister, wife or best friend crying. Contrarily, another stereotypi-
cal gender role would be that men are not emotional. Men are seen as tough and protecting, therefore showing too much emotion is considered “weak.” Who's to say how a man or woman should display themselves in public? At one point in time, it was unheard of for a woman to be an engineer, mechanic or lawyer because they were “manly jobs” just as it was unheard of for a man to be a hairdresser, stay-athome dad or elementary school teacher because they were “girly
jobs.” Similarly, young boys are expected to be interested in sports and video games while girls are expected to be interested in shopping and all things pink. If kids are kept in this bubble of what they're “supposed to” do and how they're “supposed to” think, there's sure to be conflict when they grow up and begin to discover who they are. Although some may argue that gender roles are beneficial in keeping a steady criterion for people in society, the only outcomes I see are lots of confusion and suppressed expression of who we, as humans, truly are.
Should welfare recipients have to work for their benefits? Kati Keeffe senior exercise physiology major
College athletes lack good pay James Washington S TA F F W r I T E r jawashington@valdosta.edu
Some college athletes are able to say they have successfully converted their college careers into successes on the professional stage. not many can say the same. The most successful college athletic programs have identifiable names and faces that can easily be attributed to them. players like Michael Jordan (north Carolina), Carmelo Anthony (Syracuse), Andrew Luck (Stanford) and robert Griffin III (Baylor) made a name for themselves because of their collegiate successes. Aside from what they did for themselves, these players also helped to bring fame and fortune to their schools as a whole. According to nCAA.org, the
chances of college athletes going on to play at the professional level are slim to none. As of 2012, of nearly 68,000 college football players, only 1.7 percent went on to be drafted by a professional team. As far as basketball, only 1.2 percent of nearly 546,000 players make basketball a profession after leaving college. Furthermore, according to a 2012 poll, nearly 53 percent of college graduates are either unemployed or working a job that does not require a college degree. In 2008, ESpn reached an agreement to exclusively cover the Bowl Championship Series to feature some of college football’s biggest games over the course of four years (20112014). ESpn was able to reach this agreement after offering to pay $495 million to broadcast the event. now, ESpn is offer-
ing nearly $500 million per year to cover the BCS through 2026. In 2011, the nCAA reached an agreement with CBS/Turner Sports for exclusive television and Internet rights to the highly popular college basketball tournament known worldwide as March Madness. This agreement will give CBS and Turner Sports these exclusive rights through 2024. What’s the price tag for this acquisition? $10.8 billion. This is money being spent to cover a tournament that only lasts for three weeks a year. In a world of supply and demand, college athletes are the main reason that networks even consider paying such large amounts of money for these broadcasting rights. When do players get their cut? Many argue that college athletes should not be paid due to the fact that they are receiving a
"I feel like they should work unless they have a disability. If they need help on top of that then they deserve it."
free education. In reality, not every college athlete’s education is free. While many players are recruited and given scholarships, a majority of college athletes are playing for potential advancement to the pros (which is never a guarantee). If a fan is willing to pay a college athlete for their jersey, I feel he or she should be able to take the money. players’ gear is auctioned off and sold in sports stores all over the country. How much of that money goes into that player’s pocket? Fans are paying hundreds and thousands of dollars to see these athletes shine in the prime of their college careers. College athletes get plenty of appreciation from coaches and fans. Let’s start showing them a little more appreciation financially.
Deridra Bauld senior history major "I do think they should work or have proof that they’re actively seeking employment, to ensure that the system isn’t abused."
Courtney Stephens junior accounting major "They should have some kind of community service requirement. If we're going to help them they should help the community."
Butterball mistreats turkeys Stephen Cavallaro OpInIOnS EDITOr sjcavallaro@valdosta.edu
The life of a Butterball turkey is simply a series of torment and agony. As you take your place at the dinner table to gorge yourself with over-processed brutality, do you take a moment to realize the crusade faced by the creature that lays before you? In the words of former Indian nationalist, Gandhi, “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." One of the nation’s most succulent and popular frozen turkey brands has yet again faced animal cruelty charges. Since late 2011 the animal rights organization Mercy for Animals has performed an investigation at a north Carolina Butterball, LLC facility. The investigation led to the
conviction of two former Butterball employees in 2012 and two other employees earlier this month. The vagrants were charged with felony and misdemeanor animal cruelty as a result of their violent actions toward innocent turkeys. While Butterball claims that the ethical treatment and prosperity of their livestock is essential to the business, Mercy for Animals believes that the path of convictions proves that these turkeys are forced to endure horrific conditions and deplorable treatment. Mercy for Animals has since revealed disturbing footage of Butterball’s tyranny. In fact, Butterball has spent numerous years engineering turkeys to ensure they live fivemonth miserable lives. Factoryfarm-bred birds have been artificially selected to grow obnoxiously large at astoundingly fast rates, thereby, resulting in bone defects, flightlessness and heart
problems. Contemporary turkeys bear brittle beaks and feathers with fine, almost translucent shafts. Traditionally, turkeys are powerful and vibrant creatures with personalities and intellect comparable to domestic cats and dogs. They also possess the ability to live up to 10 productive years. Selectively breeding turkeys began in the 1950s to appeal to a naively greedy society bent on perfection and having the income necessary to sustain such desires. Today, according to the 2010 Census, over 244 million turkeys are produced per year to meet consumer demand. And who is the top producer of poultry in the United States? Georgia. While Butterball remains a leader in mass producing turkeys, with most turkey production occurring in north Carolina, the Census Bureau and Department of Agriculture have
both declared Georgia the top producer of poultry in the United States. Georgia supports an enormous and infamous chicken, or broiler, production. In fact, most factory farms are scattered across the South, with some residing in South Georgia and north Florida. Chickens often face a similar fate to turkey, and as students bent on founding a world of civility, we cannot allow such harrowing activity to progress. We must aid organizations such as Georgians for pastured poultry in the fight against these injustices. Gpp works to inform people about both alternatives to factory-farm poultry and the suffering such birds endure. The key is to demand a fair option— choosing to purchase and consume pasture-raised poultry, hence bringing about better awareness for birds’ welfare in Georgia and across the nation.
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
"I believe welfare recipients should participate in community service, can’t make someone work who doesn’t have a job."
Brittany Fore junior finance major "If we have to work to help ourselves they should too, unless there is a disability or major financial problems."
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features
FEBRUARY 28, 2013
vsUspEctAtoR.com | pAgE 5
Student fights to survive with camera in hand L ights, cameras and action—a whole lot of action. It all came together in the dorms of VSU, when three students formed SurviveFight Productions, a photography, cinematography and graphic design company. Behind the lens of SurviveFight is Graham Nguyen, sophomore mass media major from Montgomery, Ala. Nguyen first held a camera as a child and started snapping away. He hasn’t stopped since. “I love the emotional aspects,” Nguyen said. “you can control what the viewer feels when they look at the photo.” Nguyen created the business’ name with his own outlook on life in mind.
“We all have our battles, but if you’re always fighting for what you believe in, it’s worth it,” he says. “It’s not about the surviving, it’s about the fight.” In 2011, Nguyen and two of
dowling Payne Photo by: Tanny Luong
his buddies, Tanny Luong and david Hawthorne, started shooting videos and realized their similar visions and interests could be promising for creating something special. Soon after, they began filming automotive drifting events in tandem with
Graham Nguyen, 19, has a deep joy for photography and is now an entrepreneur.
yOLO drift from Cordele, Ga. “Graham and I have always had similar ideas, we just click.” Hawthorne said. “SurviveFight is something that shows promise.
We all put in the same amount of work, and it’s good to be a part of something everyone in the group wants so much.” Luong, who also contributes to the vision of SurviveFight,
Jam to classic, modern Irish tunes
N
o foray through the realm of music is complete without a bit of cultural variety. Where do we find cultural music in a world of crazy college students? Anyone who has ever raised a bottle will tell you that many college students get their culture in the form of classic Irish drinking music. Today, we’ll be going through a medley of Irish tunes from the Additive Noise library. We begin with an old classic that many of us already know. If you’ve ever seen a movie with Irish music, chances are you’ve heard some variation of “I’ll Tell Me Ma.” It’s a children’s song from the British Isles, and happens to have a game that goes along with it. Children stand in a circle and sing the song, which speaks of a beautiful young lady, dubbed “the belle of Belfast city,” and asking for her name. To play the game, one child stands in the center of the circle, and every time they sing “Please,
won’t you tell me who is she?” It was even published in a the person in the center calls out book of songs compiled by Scotthe name of someone in the cirtish poet robert Burns. The most cle. popular recording of “The ragThey trade places, and contingle Taggle Gypsy” in current ue singing. The song is a classic times is that by popular Irish at Irish dances and wedding reband The Chieftains, featuring ceptions, because it is easy to the American bluegrass group dance to, and it gives the audiNickel Creek. ence a sense I highly recof merriommend ment. this recordAnother ing, as it classic folfeatures lows right multiple behind it, voices in a but this one ‘call and re is a bit farwith Becka McAleer sponse’ ther off the map. fashion, mak“The raggle Taggle Gypsy” is a ing it fun to sing along with. native song of Scotland that Last but not least, we’ll follow spread quickly through Britain up two classics with a more and Ireland. modern ditty. If you’ve seen the It tells the tale of a nobleman movie “Titanic,” then you’ve chasing after his wife, who has heard of Gaelic Storm (the Irish run away with a gypsy lover. dance in 3rd class scene --sound The song has held many names familiar?) over the years: “Seven yellow Gaelic Storm is actually one Gypsies,” “Black Jack davy,” of the most prominent Celtic and “The draggletail Gypsies” bands in existence, and is the to name a few. essence of world music. Its
members come from England, Ireland, the United States and even Canada. Though it’s not one of their many billboard top hits, the song that speaks most to me from their repertoire is “Lover’s Wreck,” from their smash 2008 hit “What’s The rumpus?” “Lover’s Wreck” is the lament of a sailor, presumably for a lost lover. He describes his life as “A hundred days at sea, a retch away from misery,” while pining for his lover, “a siren, dripping with desire.” He hints that she was stolen away from him by a ‘thieving band’, and vows that he’ll never sin again if only God will bring her back to him. It’s not a classic, but it sure does sound like one. Now with these three tracks to build on, it is my hope that the Celtic playlists across campus will grow this week. Embrace your inner Irishman, and play on!
Music recitals to fill Whitehead Auditorium with tunes Faculty: Larry Scully will perform piano today, Karl Paoletti will sing Friday and Lauren Burns will play viola with the Azalea String Quartet Saturday Student: Chelsea Slagor will play the oboe Sunday at 3 p.m., Alex Lipsky will play violin Monday and Brittany Lofin will play trumpet on Tuesday **All recitals will be in the Fine Arts’ Whitehead Auditorium at 7:30 p.m., unless otherwise specified.**
Spring break fashion police-men:
Get casual on the sandy beach Brian Hickey S TA F F
WrITEr
bdhickey@valdosta.edu
Its spring break, which means partying, having uncensored fun and students running wild with saved refund checks, right? For you guys out there, preparation for spring break should begin all the way in January. Of course fitness and appearance are key, but proper steps need to be taken beforehand. Now is when you should begin to focus on the clothing aspect.
Too often guys go with the typical “swim trunks and sandals” look, and while that is the safe style, it has been overdone. That’s perfect for the community swimming pool, but this is spring break. Spruce it up a little. Instead, take a more casual approach. Chino and board shorts are all the rage amongst teens and young adults, and it’s obvious why. While the shorts can be used in everyday fashion, they also transition nicely into casual lounging wear.
Now with a variety of bottoms made accessible, it is now time to examine possible tops. Tank tops and tees are always reliable suitors for that hot humid spring weather. Take a risk. Shoes are always a touchy situation amongst guys because most shoes guys buy are for show and not seawater friendly. Instead, save money and go get a nice pair of Vans or Toms—this way the rugged look will complete the outfit. Of course sandals are always dependable and still allow for causality.
Spring break fashion police-women:
Breathe comfortably in the heat Olivia McLean A S S T. C O P y E d I T O r
ovmclean@valdosta.edu
Since most of spring break will be spent either on the beach sipping piña coladas or partying until the sun comes up, it's more likely that us girls are going to want to wear something breathable. Bandeau tops, crop tops and bralets will definitely be seen in abundance this year. They show a lot of skin, but still cover enough so that no one will be complaining. As for bottoms, scalloped
shorts are growing in popularity. They're cute for hanging out during the day or going out to dinner since they tend to look a bit more dressier than most styles. Sun dresses are a favorite goto item for a lot of girls. They're loose fitting, but still accentuate curves in all the right places. They also come in different lengths, so if you feel like showing some leg, opt for a shorter dress, and if you're going for the long and flowing look, pick a longer one. Bright, colorful wedge heels go great with sun dresses as well as thin sandals. A girl can never have too
many bathing suits, and the best thing about them is that they don't have to match another piece of clothing. Bathing suits can be matching or the top and bottom can be of contrasting patterns. Some girls like bold, funky prints while others prefer solid colors. Whichever you choose, a big, floppy sun hat and flip flops (Old Navy ones are the best) should complete the beach outfit. T-strap sandals are cost efficient and aren't too rough on your feet. They come in different colors, so buy a few pairs to go along with different ensembles.
Be fashionable during Spring When you think of spring, you probably think of dainty fabrics and Easter pastels, right? For this season, black and white are hotter than ever. It's a unique look, but also classic enough for everyday wear. Try a bold stripe or a crisp short suit and you'll fit right in this spring.
Correction: All services provided by the Office of Career Services are free of charge for students and alumni with the exception of career tests. These tests are free to cur-
Channel your inner globe trotter because loud ethnic prints are HUGE this year. Traveling the world may not be possible, but you can certainly look like you've been jet setting. We've been seeing beautiful tribal prints all over the runway for spring mixed with stripes and plaid.
rent VSU students and cost $50 for alumni, who have a grace period of one semester before charges are implemented.The Office opens at 8 a.m. An article titled “Career Services here to help” in the Feb. 21 issue of the Spectator stated otherwise.
On March, 6 Career Services will be hosting a job search workshop in Powell Hall- West, second floor. It is set to begin at 12 p.m. and end at 1 p.m.
was at a loss for words when asked why the group works so well together. “We just click,” he said. As far as the future of SurviveFight goes, it’s all about rolling with the punches. Every month brings new projects to the table. More recently, the team has been shooting a TV series proposal to be pitched to the discovery Channel. “We don’t have the best equipment or spend the most money, but we do the best with what we have,” Nguyen said. Along with video work, Nguyen is a highly skilled photographer. What first started as taking senior portraits for friends has turned into a steady business. While Nguyen originally didn’t think college was for him, he quickly found a reason to be at
VSU. “Being among so many people with common goals is motivating,” he said. “It’s unifying.” Nguyen credits his motivation to his long time girlfriend, also a student at VSU, who strongly supports him and his work. “I don’t like doing things like everyone else,” Nguyen said. “I’ve learned to do it all in my own way.” Nguyen encourages all students to discover their vision and work toward it. “If it’s not difficult, then it’s not worth it,” he said. For more information about SurviveFight and to view Nguyen’s photography, visit survivefight.tumblr.com or add Nguyen on Instagram: @grahamnguyen.
Check out the Web Spectator at vsuspectator.com to read Anthony Pope’s “Pop Addict,” Steven Setser’s “Spec Tech,” Von Kennedy’s coverage of “The Skin of Our Teeth” and many more features.
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February 28, 2013
Sigmas to paint campus blue with KDR of each patron’s bill will be donated to the No Kid Hunger s ta f f w r i t e r philanthropy. itsmart@valdosta.edu On Monday the sigmas will get the campus involved with a Phi Beta sigma fraternity, cookout with the women of Zeta inc. will return to their roots next Phi Beta sorority, inc. from 1 week as they bring Kappa Delta p.m. to 5 p.m. at Palms Quad. reloaded to campus for their the sigmas will them give 2013 Greek week. VsU students a chance to watch the boys in “flight,” blue will provide starring an accompanying Our week’s plan is Denzel mixtape to comwashingto give back to the plement their anton at 7 nual week. p.m. in the people, be ‘The “everything we student People’s Frat.’ do, we do for the Union - aaron howard people,” Brandon theater. Menner, vice On tuespresident, said. day, there “for this reason, Phi Beta sigma will be an stD awareness table is considered the ‘People's frat’ on the pedestrian walkway from to many.” noon until 2 p.m. the sigmas will begin KDr that evening, in collaboration with the sitdown. students are with Delta sigma theta sorority, encouraged to join the sigmas at inc., the sigmas will present the 11 a.m. at serenity Christian american Dream, a Hollywood Church followed by lunch at squares type event, Buffalo wild wings. ten percent
Isaiah Smart
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Photo Courtesy of Kasey Carter The Kappa Delta Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. was founded March 31, 1979.
in the UC Magnolia room from 7p.m. to 9 p.m. “Our week's plan is to give back to the people, be "the People's frat,” chapter President aaron Howard, said.
On wednesday morning, the sigmas will host a breakfast give-a-way from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on the pedestrian walkway. spring break is around the corner, and sweatin’ Bullets is a
part of the final stretch. the event will feature D&t Personal fitness and the women of alpha Kappa alpha sorority, inc. at 7 p.m. in the student Union Ballrooms. On thursday, the Deep release Poetry society and Media arts Geniuses will collaborate with the sigmas to bring “Poetic Justice.” “Perhaps the event i am most excited about will be our “Poetic Justice” poetry event,” Menner said. the event will be held at 6:30 p.m. in Jennett Lecture Hall. admission for Poetic Justice will be $1 or canned good item. the sigmas will set it Off on friday with a cookout and flag football game from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on the front lawn with the men of alpha Phi alpha fraternity, inc. friday will end with a fundraiser at CiCi’s Pizza from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. the week will conclude with a
morning of giving back to the Valdosta community with an adopt-a-highway cleanup at 10 a.m. after a long week and a day of service, take a load off at the student recreation Center. the men of Phi Beta sigma and exclusive Models will host a pool party from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. “the student body will learn during our week that we do all of what we do for them,” Howard said. “respect is a two way street. without the support and respect of the students, a fraternity can die off of a college campus very quickly. we thank Valdosta state and all of the organizations that have been down to contribute to our cause, and it's time to pay them back.” all events are open to the student body. for more information, visit the Kappa Delta sigmas facebook page or follow them on twitter and instagram @KD_sigmas.
Bleu Pub: local, ‘much classier than a bar’ t
his week, the spectator tasters headed downtown for a taste of what a local restaurant has to offer. amber: the Bleu Pub is one of several “Bleu” establishments in downtown Valdosta. the Pub is located on Hill avenue, right on the very edge of the downtown area. it’s got a kind of hidden feel. this establishment is much classier than a bar and has the welcoming atmosphere deserving of the connotation that comes with the name of “pub” blended with the classiness implied when an establishment names is named with the french spelling of “blue.” Jennifer: Bleu Pub reminded me of the pub/restaurant atmosphere found in college towns like athens—rustic interior with somber lighting. the line of sports photos on the walls were interesting to look at with close ups of some players in action on the field. On a busy night, i
imagine the place being full of people and a small band or solo act entertaining the crowd on the small, corner stage near the door. amber: Coming into the Pub from this side of the building, we stepped into a space that was very long and open. On the walls near this door are several framed
completely indoors. Jennifer: the menu was full of several entrees that looked like they would stick to our ribs—primarily sandwiches and burgers. it was hard to decide exactly what we wanted from the menu, but when our food got to us, the portion sizes weren’t overwhelming, although the I had decided to try food was incredibly fillone of what I hear ing. amber: are the ‘best Our server inburgers in town.’ formed us that we came in during happy - amber smith hour, meaning there were several drink photos of sports teams and playspecials and 2-for-1 appetizers. ers past. there is also a stage in we opted not to try any drinks, the corner of the room. the other but we did take advantage of the door is on the opposite wall near appetizer offer. Jennifer suggestthe bar. the restaurant had an ed nachos. i was torn between a outdoor café feel, complete with quesadilla and fried mushrooms. shutters and awnings on one Jennifer decided on the mushwall, though the establishment is rooms for me, and soon we had
“
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two delicious plates placed in front of us. By the time the appetizers arrived, i had decided to try one of what i hear are the “best burgers in town.” the Bleu Pub has one of the most extensive burger menus i have ever seen. all of these burgers are hand-pattied and
up to the hype. this is quite possibly the best burger i’ve ever had. You can taste the freshness that the establishment prides itself on. Jennifer: i ordered the Braveheart Burger which consisted of everything on a typical burger, plus peanut butter. Naturally the idea of Dijon mayo with peanut butter did not sound appealing so i opted out of it and ended up only eating the amber smith Jennifer Gleason burger with the patty, peanut butter and leteach variation has the option to tuce. substitute a vegetarian-friendly the burger was a half-pound, black bean patty option. i chose thus it was too much to eat in the Goddess, which comes with one sitting, but worth it. when i feta cheese, cucumbers and black initially asked for it, our server olives as well as the Pub stantook a few steps back to the bar dard trimmings—lettuce, tomato, to make sure they had all the pickles, onions and Dijon mayo. proper ingredients. when he rethe Bleu Pub definitely lives turned to our booth, he informed
Spectator Tasters
me that i would be getting the first batch of freshly made peanut butter. it was my first time receiving homemade peanut butter from a restaurant and the hot, melted, just-made quality of the spread made the burger even more satisfying. it was a risk ordering the Braveheart, but my addiction to peanut butter outweighed my hesitation. i opted in for the macaroni and cheese instead of fries (for an extra cost), and it was not the traditional macaroni and cheese most Kraft lovers have come to know. it tasted as though it was a distinct blend of two different cheeses, but it wasn’t an unappealing take on the side. along with peanut butter, this includes hummus, the cheeses used, black bean products and falafel. the Bleu Pub’s menu lists several other items that we will definitely be back to try, along with the new changes that will be made soon.
SportS
FEBRUARY 28, 2013
vsUspEctAtoR.com | pAgE 7
Blazers ready for Las Vegas trip Eric Jackson S p o rt S E d i to r epjackson@valdosta.edu
Eric Jackson/THESPECTATOR Konstantin Kutchensko and Mario Navarro won 8-2 over West Alabama’s Honorio Fernandez and Manuel Grossman in Sunday’s 5-4 victory over UWA.
VSU tennis to host foes this weekend Kutschenko, one of two upper-classmen on the Blazer squad, is the lone senior. He was playing in the No. 5 singles spot back in 2011 when VSU defeated Barry to win it all but come Saturday he will be playing in the one spot looking to make a statement against a strong rival. on the other side of the courts the Lady Blazers will be taking on the same two schools in a similar scenario. the Lynn women sit at 6-1 and are No.4 in the country while the Barry women are 6-0 and ranked No.5. the women don’t have that history of playing each other in national championships like the men do but that doesn’t mean that it makes the matches for them any less important. the Lady Blazers have played two hard fought matches recently against two top teams in the country losing 4-5 to both number nine West Florida and Georgia College. “i think it gives them confidence [playing in close matches],” Hansen said. “the girls know they can hang with some pretty good teams.” this weekend the Lady Blazers will look to get over that hump and not just hang with a good team but actually come away with a victory. “i need to get out of the way and let them play. i probably coach them too much and make them nervous,” Hansen said. “they’ve put the pressure on themselves and it’s encouraging. i’m excited to see what they can do.”
Ace Espenshied A S S t. S p o rt S E d i t o r acespenshied@valdosta.edu
the Valdosta State men’s and women’s tennis teams take on two of their toughest opponents this season Friday and Saturday. on the men’s side Lynn University is ranked No.3 in the country while Barry University is right behind at No.4. Both teams are undefeated on the season as the Fighting Knights sit at 8-0 and the Buccaneers at 6-0. “We have to work on some things we’ve been working on all semester and make sure we can be confident going into the weekend,” head coach John Hansen said. VSU has had more history with these two schools in men’s tennis then with any other school in the country. in 2006 VSU won its first tennis championship with a victory over Lynn but it didn’t take long for the Fighting Knights to get their revenge defeating the Blazers for the National Championship a year later in 2007. the bad blood gets even worse with Barry University as they defeated VSU in the 2010 National championship. VSU returned the favor defeating the Buccaneers in the 2011 championship, and the Buccaneers once again added to the rivalry beating the Blazers in the first round of the South regional last season. “We’ve played both of them a thousand times. We’ve got a lot of new people this year,” Coach Hansen said. “it’s probably not going to mean as much to them as it will to me. it’s going to mean a lot to Konstantin [Kutschenko] especially.”
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. the Valdosta State golf team hopes this won’t be the case after they compete in the first-annual Las Vegas desert Classic on Sunday and Monday. the revere Golf Club, where the event is held, has a par-72 layout enclosed by mountainous Nevada gorges and completed with an overlooking view of the Las Vegas skyline. “it’s a challenging course,” Kevin Walton, tournament director, said. “Good for a college tournament. Lots of elevation change on the golf course. the conditions are really great, greens are tough, just a good tournament course.” the two-day event, hosted by, Missouri-St. Louis, will feature
Courtesy of Revere G.C. Revere Golf Club's Lexington and Concord Courses will be the playing field for Las Vegas Desert Classic on March 3-4.
13-15 teams from around the nation, including fellow Gulf South Conference team, West Florida. the Blazers will compete against their rivals again for the first time since being defeated a few weeks ago by the Argos in the Matlock Collegiate Classic. Head Coach Jared purvis expects his team to learn a lot during this experience and hopefully leave with a victory. “our goal is always to win,” purvis said. “We just want to make sure we play good consis-
tent golf, eliminate the mistakes, because in the end all we can control is what we do. We know we can be very competitive with those teams. We’ve proven it in these last two events. Both tournaments we’ve beaten teams ranked ahead of us so these guys know they can do it.” After an unsatisfactory seventh place finish in their last event, the Blazers are trying to get out of the bunker in their second event on the Blazers’ 2013 schedule.
VSU plans to board their airplane Friday morning early enough to spend the rest of the day catching some sights of Sin City before the practice round of participating teams on Saturday afternoon. the Blazers look to make a statement teeing off in the major resort city for the first time in school history. “We’re always happy to play in competition but especially going to Vegas. this is the first time we’ve ever played a desert golf course which is something the guys have wanted to do for a while. it’s a new city for us. None of these guys have ever been there so it will be a treat for them,” purvis said. the Blazers make their way back to Valdosta on tuesday to begin preparing for their next event, First Federal Southeastern Collegiate, which they’ll be hosting on March 11-12 at Kinderlou Forest.
Basketball team set for season finale Shane Thomas S p o rt S W r i t E r shanethomas@valdosta.edu
the Valdosta State men’s basketball team goes back on the road for its final two regular season games. Head Coach Mike Helfer and his team will try to continue their winning ways as they travel to Memphis, tenn.,to take on rival Christian Brothers in the Canale Arena thursday night. Following a come-from-behind overtime victory against West Florida on senior day, Helfer believes that his team should already know the importance of these final regular season games. “As you get to the last week of the season, these games should push you into go mode,” Helfer said. “this is it—we’re at the end. i would think that you’d be excited to play, no matter where it is, and try to find a way to get another win.” the Blazers will face a tough task, as Christian Brothers is 102 on its home floor this season. “All home teams are going to have momentum swings,” Helfer added. “You’ve got to handle that. You can’t panic; you’ve got to really buckle down when [Christian Brothers] starts to get that crowd going and go on a run.” in the previous matchup on Jan. 24, the Blazers defeated the Buccaneers 68-60, holding the opposition to 41.8 percent shooting and just 4-of-19 from
VSU splits in Battle of the Borders tourney (left) VSU’s club lacrosse team competed in the ‘Battle of the Borders’ tournament last Saturday. In Game 1, the Blazers lost 8-5. Then they beat Stetson College 10-6 in Game 2.
Photo courtesy of Joesph Flowers
,
Q & A with Morgan J. The Spectator’s D.J. Davis recently caught up with the senior outfielder Q. Coach (Thomas) Macera led you guys to a national championship last year, what are a few words to describe what he has meant to your team? A: He’s definitely one to not settle. He is always pushing us, he always wants us to do better. He doesn’t get complacent. Q: How have you enjoyed playing on the same team as your little sister, Fran Johnson? A: I’m sure it’s great for my parents because they get to come to the same place to watch us both play, but it’s really great, she’s working hard and she’s been able to get a starting position for herself too. Q: How is the chemistry among the girls on the team? A: We were all new, so we’re all trying to work out how to play with each other, but it’s coming together. Q: What is one of the funnier moments that you’ve shared with your team on the road? A: Arguments over which movie to watch on the bus. Q: And which did you decide on? Courtesy of VSU athletics A: We chose “Hitch”once and Coach didn’t like it, but about 20 minutes in he finally admitted he was enjoying it, so, small win for us. Senior outfielder Morgan Johnson
Q: You’ve been named an All-American, you’ve won a ring, what’s left for you to accomplish at Valdosta State? A: I just want to be able to help my team towards a successful record, win another conference championship, and I don’t know, I want to go out on top I guess. Q: What brought you to VSU in the first place? A: I could have walked on at Georgia, but they didn’t have a nursing program. This is where my dad went and I just love the campus. Q: You’re a senior this year, what is the plan for life after softball? A: I’ll take boards for nursing in June, and hopefully I’ll be home in Macon, working there.
three-point range. Blazers’ guard patrick diop scored a game-high 17 points and dished out five assists in the victory. “i think pat’s done a good job of learning our system,” Helfer said. “ideally, you don’t want to have your point guard as your leading scorer. However, pat gets a lot of his points in transition, which i’m fine with so i’m happy with his play.” the Blazers are also preparing themselves for the level of physicality that comes with big games on the road. For about 20 minutes during tuesday’s practice, the Blazers’ coaching staff armed themselves with contact pads and put the team through live contact drills to simulate what the team will experience around the basket. Heading toward the regular season finale against delta State on Saturday, the Blazers hope to mirror the win on their first nationally televised stage on Jan. 26. “i like the fact that our guys stood toe-to-toe with them,” Helfer said. “delta prides them-
selves on being so physical that they take the other team out of their game and hopefully that won’t happen for us as we go in there on Saturday.” the Blazers will have to reckon with delta State’s leading scorer, terry Leake Jr., who had 21 points and 16 rebounds against the Blazers in the previous meeting. “Leake is such an explosive scorer,” Helfer said. “He can score in bunches consistently. We’re just gonna have to make sure that he’s gonna be one of their focal points. it’s gonna be a tough matchup.” though VSU has won four
consecutive games, they understand that winning the last two regular season games means very little once the GSC tournament begins. “Winning the last two games would be very important,” Helfer said. “tournament play is its own animal. But, i would love for us to be playing our best basketball come next Friday.” the Blazers go on the road in Memphis, tenn. to play Christian Brothers on thursday night before traveling to Cleveland, Miss.,for their regular season finale against delta State on March 2.
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Your Mobility Photo courtesy of Lowndes County Historical Society James Washington/THESPECTATOR Former VHS Wildcats Calvin Lester and his brother, Frank in November 2012.
1971 VHS team captains photo. (Top row left to right) Steve Stanaland, Alvin Peyton, Stan Bounds. (Bottom Row left to right) Calvin Lester, Scottt Griffin, David Berrian.
Remember the Wildcats James Washington S ta f f W r i t e r jawashington@valdosta.edu
Never underestimate the heart of a champion. football is a key component of Georgia heritage, and much of that credit is due to Valdosta. in their storied history, Valdosta High School’s football program has won 41 regional, 23 state, and six national championships. No successful run comes without a few obstacles to overcome. from 1968-1970, the Wildcats went on a streak of 36 wins, zero losses, and one tie. However, after the team lost a great deal of players to graduation, many people chose to write the team off as an early failure. they were projected to finish the 1971 season with a 5-5 record and miss the playoffs. Calvin Lester, 59, played guard for the ’71 Cats. During his junior year he barely saw any time on the field. “i was a ‘pine-rooter’,� says Calvin. “Kids nowadays call ‘em ‘benchwarmers’.� after the 1970 Wildcats finished their season one game short of a state title, young Calvin took it up on himself to motivate the team. He credits one particular post-game speech as a major reason behind the soon-to-be success of the 1971 team. “there were seniors crying on
the bus,� says Calvin. “that was the only game that those guys lost in their high school careers. i told the rest of the team that we had to win a state title for them.� frank Lester, 61, is Calvin’s older brother. He played defensive end for the Wildcats during the 1970 season. “i never would have thought that [Calvin] had a leadership gene in him,� says frank. “He always came across as the type that followed along. But i learned a lot about my brother that year.� the team put forth a legendary run on the field. Coached by the legendary Wright Bazemore, the team forever etched their names into the record books with an undefeated season (13-0), capped with a 62-12 victory in the state championship game against avondale. to add to their credit, their season total of 629 points stood as a Georgia record for 23 years. the team’s success, according to Calvin, came from “a perfect blend of speed, quickness, and rugged muscle.� for all the success that the team saw on the field, there was an equal, if not greater, struggle taking place within the school. Valdosta High School was fully integrated in 1969, and, as expected, not everyone welcomed the change. Calvin recalls many painful moments from his experiences with the team. “Bringing [Black students]
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over from Pinevale didn’t do much for us,� he says. “We might have been playing together, but at the end of the day we still went to separate locker rooms.� During the fall of 1969, rumors spread that the voting was being fixed to prevent a Black student from winning Homecoming Queen. “Soon as word spread, we fixed that,� says Calvin. “a lot of the black players walked out on the team. We knew they needed us, and they wouldn’t play without us.� in 1971, he was named a team captain. this appointment also came under controversy. after three black players were chosen as team captains, the coaches appointed three white players to balance the racial leadership. “Coach [Bazemore] knew that the boosters wouldn’t accept three african-american captains,� says Calvin. “We had to reach a compromise, and that’s why we were the first team to have six captains.� to add insult to injury, 1971 marked the first year that the Valdosta Daily times did not feature a captains’ lineup or photo in the newspaper. early in the season, the Wildcats were barely recognized. By the season’s end, their efforts resulted in their twenty-third regional, fifteenth state, and third national titles. Years later, a story eerily similar to their own was made into a
movie. ironically, however, the movie was not about Valdosta. the Disney movie “remember the titans� tells the story of t.C. Williams High School in alexandria, Virginia. Much like the Wildcats, they were forced to face the harsh realities of racism when their school was integrated in 1971. When Valdosta High School was named the National Champions that year, t.C. Williams tied for second place in the final polls. “everything that they went through, we had done it two years ago,� says Calvin. “1971 was our year because our worst year was already a memory. the only real difference that i saw between that movie and our situation is that their head coach [Herman Boone] was black.�� While the movie received critical acclaim upon release, the national response in 1971 was quite the opposite. “We had never even heard of them,� says Calvin. “i didn’t know anything about [t.C. Williams] until i saw remember the titans. i immediately thought, ‘Why not us?’� Calvin Lester and his teammates will forever hold a special place in Georgia history. the rest of the country has no problem remembering the titans. in South Georgia, fans and players use their own unique memories to remember the Wildcats.
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