March 28, 2013
W W W. V S U S P e C TAT O r . C O M
Inside This Issue - FeATUreS: “‘red assassins’ continue takeover”
See pg. 7 for photos from Wednesday’s pageant, hosted by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.
- SPOrTS: “VSU golf team prepares for invitational”
CPC SteP Show - P.e. Complex, 7 p.m. VSU’s College Panhellenic Council presents its annual step show. tickets are $5 at the door. BlaCk oPS tournament - Student union Ballroom B&C, 6:30-10 p.m. Players can choose between playing on Xbox 360 and PS3 in a Call of Duty: Black ops 2 tournament.tournament participators must play on the same system they started with for the duration of the tournament.entry is free and giveaways will take place.hosted by CaB. VSu theatre: PiPPin Sawyer theatre, 7:30 p.m.
a performance troupe tells the story of a young prince searching for meaning and significance. originally produced for the Broadway stage by Stuart ostrow and directed by Bob fosse. Get reSume feedBaCk Powell hall west, 3-5 p.m. Visit the Career Services office during their resume critique walk-in hours for help with your resume. VSu theatre: PiPPin Sawyer theatre, 7:30 p.m.
a performance troupe tells the story of a young prince searching for meaning and significance. originally produced for the Broadway stage by Stuart ostrow and directed by Bob fosse
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Today in History March 28, 1979: Nuclear accident at Three Mile Island March 28, 2005: 8.7 magnitude earthquake hits Indonesia, the fourth strongest earthquake since 1965
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Faculty Senate:
Fall, Thanksgiving breaks may unite Will Lewis a S S t. M a N a G i N G eDitor walewis@valdosta.edu
the faculty Senate will meet today in the UC Magnolia room to vote on the fate of fall break. the academic Scheduling and Procedures Committee (aSPC) will propose the combining of the fall and thanksgiving holidays into one, week-long break. the elimination of the twoday break in october would allow students an entire week for thanksgiving.
“i think it’s a pretty good idea,” rick o’Neal, senior criminal justice major, said. “Because you just have the three days and then you go back to school and then you have the second break. Just consolidate it. i feel in the long run it will just save time for everybody, and you’ll be more productive.” two to three day holidays also provide some students with an incentive to extend their holiday unofficially. Dr. Marc Pufong, political science department head and a member of aSPC, said that some students will leave the
Professor, former student address SGA about gun legislation Joe Adgie SoCiaL MeDia eDitor jmadgie@valdosta.edu
While the University System of Georgia may have spoken against legislation that would permit firearms on college campuses, they may be unable to stop it. that was discussed during Monday night's SGa meeting, where Dr. Michael Noll, associate professor of geography, and Kathryn Grant, recent VSU graduate, explained why this legislation would be a terrible idea. “We may or may not see in the next couple of days a situation where we are forced, whether we like it or not, to allow concealed weapons on campus,” Noll said. “i don't know how you individually feel about it; i am personally going ballistic over this.” Noll then gave an example of what he felt to be some kind of intimidation that could come from this bill. “that's one way, i guess, that you could do grade inflation,” Noll said. “it would be like, 'What kind of gun do you have? oh, Kalashnikov [aK-47]? a. Wonderful.'” Grant, who wrote in the Spectator last year on this topic, expressed her frustration with the bill, and with the consequences of if this bill would pass. “We are days away from a bill that will essentially force all public universities within the [USG] to allow concealed carry everywhere on campus with the exception of dorms
Follow the QR code for a list of events during Dr. McKinney’s inauguration week.
and sporting events,” Grant said. “the University system has made this decision, and indeed, Dr. McKinney has mirrored that decision, and we’re supposed to be able to participate in the decisionmaking process, but that’s not what’s happening.” the legislation, which is now known as Senate Bill 101, overwhelmingly passed in the state House of representatives on March 22, with 116 voting in favor and 55 voting against. SB 101, which was introduced in the house as HB 512 and sponsored by rick Jasperse (r-Jasper), would ease restrictions on firearms for licensed users in various areas, such as educational facilities, churches, bars and other public locations. following the meeting, ryan Baerwalde, SGa president, spoke of his own personal opinion regarding the bill. “the thing is, you have to be 21 to have a concealed carry permit, so that disqualifies the vast majority of students,” Baerwalde said. “Second of all, you have to have an extensive background check to get that weapon. if you have a criminal history, a history of mental instability, you’re not going to get the concealed weapon permit.” Baerwalde also explained that someone will not bring an aK-47 into class with this permit, but rather a pistol. He also explained that while this was his own opinion, he sticks with the school and their viewpoint in his capacity as SGa president.
friday before the break and come back the weekend following. this disrupts the continuity of classes and puts students behind during finals week. But some students believe that the length of time between breaks would stress them out if the two holidays were combined. “i really don’t think they should be together because you have two months of school, straight, with no breaks, and then you have a full week... but it is just nice to have a break every few weeks,” Victoria Graham,
sophomore pre-nursing major, said. Dr. Pufong believes that the break should be held closer to where the current fall break stands, and eliminate the current thanksgiving holiday. a proposition that he acknowledges probably won’t gain much headwind. But Dr. Pufong believes the break falls too close to finals week. the combination of the two breaks in November will allow students whose families live out of state to travel home. Dr. Pufong said that he was shocked that some students
were forced to stay in Valdosta during the short breaks because of their distance from their families. “the separate breaks make it harder to spend time with family and friends, whenever you do get to go home, because you are rushed,” Blake Covington, senior creative writing major, said. also on the agenda is the movement of the first day of classes spring semester to January 13. according to the faculty Senate agenda this would make VSU more competitive with other schools.
Students enjoy foam party on Palms Quad
Jamal Tull / THE SPECTATOR
Monica Misiura, freshman psychology major, plays in the foam from a foam party held on Palms Quad Wednesday afternoon.
Graphic by Amber Smith/THE SPECTATOR
Tapingo creates ease in ordering, paying for dining Shane Thomas S ta f f W r i t e r shanethomas@valdosta.edu
Lines at the restaurants on campus are known to get out of hand during a busy school day. in order to fix this problem, VSU auxiliary Services has introduced the tapingo service. tapingo will allow VSU students to order ahead and skip the annoying hustle and bustle of lines, while saving them precious time in the
process. “[tapingo] will help people in a rush,” Deon thomas, unit supervisor of Chick-fila, Nathan’s, and Starbucks, said. “You can call your food in and pick it up. it’s more of a convenience thing—you can serve customers in a timely manner.” tapingo is available on itunes and Google Play. tanisha roberts, unit supervisor of the Palms retail Center, already has the application on her iPhone. “i used the [tapingo] app
yesterday,” roberts said. “for me, being an employee, i can run over, get my food and come back. there’s no wait time so i can get back to work.” tapingo applies to all campus restaurants, excluding Pinkberry and the Palms and Hopper dining halls. Payment methods include credit and debit cards, as well as 1-Card services such as flex and Blazer Bucks. for more information, visit tapingo.com.
News
PAge 2 | vsusPeCtAtoR.CoM
MARCH 28, 2013 Upcoming Events
March 29, 3 p.m. science seminar, in conjunction with the Georgia Academy of sciences Annual Conference, features dr. paul richard Carney, M.d. (UF, College of Medicine). "A neuroscientists's Quest to reverse Engineer the Human Brain - Mapping the Human Brain Connectivity" Bailey Science Center, Auditorium
Olivia McLean / The SpecTaTOr
Odum Library has two 3D printers, manufactured by MakerBot Industries.
3D printing comes to VSU Olivia McLean A s s i s tA n t C o p y Editor
March 30, 6 a.m. dr. Marty Williams is taking a university van to the southern Literary Festival at Columbus state University. The van will leave from the service area between Bailey Science Center and Powell Hall.
ovmclean@valdosta.edu
Although it sounds like a future invention, 3d printing has made its way onto the VsU campus. this past year, VsU purchased two machines named the replicator—a desktop 3d printer introduced in January 2012 and manufactured by MakerBot industries. “Basically, it uses plastic to build things in layers,” Michael Holt, assistant professor and reference librarian, said. “if you can picture taking any sort of object that you can think of and sort of slice it into a bunch of layers, the computer program here renders those layers and tells the printer how to build it layer-by-layer. this form of printing has been around for many years, tracing back to the 1980s, but hobbyist-level machines weren't created until 2009. “[3d printers] came out of an international project to make a 3d printer that was capable of fully replicating itself,” Holt said. “that was called the reprap project, and while it has refined itself more and more, it can only print support parts for the printer.” With the continuous development of 3d printing services, the cost of the technology has decreased. According to the new york times, the price of 3d
March 29, 7 to 9 p.m. African student Association's Famine Awareness project. raising awareness on famine and eliminating waste in palms and Hopper. Cypress Room, University Center For more information, contact Amber Williams at amberwilliams@valdosta.edu
This chess set is one of many things the 3D printer can replicate.
printers has dropped sharply over the last two years, with machines that once cost $20,000, now at $1,000 or less. “they typically are around $2,000 a piece, but if anybody is desperate to get one in their homes, they have 3d printers available for $500,” Holt said. Having the replicator on the VsU campus brings Holt one step closer toward his efforts of getting students' creative juices flowing. “[the machines] are parts of my larger vision to have a collaborative maker space here in the library which is basically a central place for people, regardless of their academic discipline, to come and get their hands into the creation of things whether it's 3d prints, website creation, app creation, any sort of programming, or electronic circuit building—even things as varied as cosplay or sewing,” Holt said.
Holt has made multiple figurines and even a full chess set. “right now we have made all sorts of things with it like practical household items such as bottle openers,” Holt said. depending on the complexity of the object that is being printed, it may take anywhere from 10 minutes to 10 hours to be completed. Holt, along with other librarians, is trying to make the replicator available for student use by the fall. “the plan right now is to keep one in the maker space and to move one down to [the media center] for more general use,” Holt said. “there will be a slight fee to use it, just solely so we can keep ourselves in the materials. the stuff that the printer uses isn't free, so we have to cover our costs.” For more information, contact Holt at moholt@valdosta.edu.
Bring money for food. Attendance is free for English majors--if anyone is charged, bring receipts to dr. Mark smith in the English department to be reimbursed. the van holds 15 people; first-come, first-serve. March 30, 8 a.m. relay for Life is hosting a disc golf tournament Freedom Park registration at 8 a.m., shotgun at 9 a.m. Entry Fee is $25 per person. Cost includes a disc of your choice. For more information, contact Kris by calling 300-9148 or at kcearp@valdosta.edu. April 1 and April 2 second annual, campus-wide Undergraduate research symposium Student Union Theatre and Student Union Ballrooms the event begins 8 a.m. in the student Union theatre with panels throughout the day April 1 and April 2. the VsU Art student Competition will be in the Fine Arts Gallery from 7 to 8
p.m. April 1. VsU students will debate on changes to the HopE scholarship from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. on April 2 in the student Union theatre. the poster session and reception is 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the student Union Ballrooms on April 2. An awards ceremony for the best poster is at 6 p.m. on April 2. April 2, 7 p.m. HEro olympics informational meeting Student Union, Meeting Room 2 Limit to one representative per organization. April 6, 5:45 a.m. Campus recreation wants volunteers for the 5k run. the race begins at 7 a.m. and registration begins at 6 a.m. Volunteers are asked to report to Campus recreation at 5:45 am. For more information, contact: knlatevola@valdosta.edu
Police Briefs March 26 officers reported to Hopper Hall where a student was found in possession of marijuana. March 19 it technician found a WiFi antenna, valued at $1100, taken from Bailey science Center. March 17 A bicycle was stolen from a truck while the vehicle was parked on Carter drive. the vehicle had been left unattended for 45 minutes. A suspect was reported fleeing the scene of a traffic stop. March 16 An alarm sounded at the UC Business and Finance area. officers found that the alarm went off due to custodians vacuuming, kicking up dust. A male in Centennial Hall was reported stabbed, but officers found he had been scratched by a pair of scissors during an altercation with a female friend.
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For Sale USED BOOK SALE: Thousands of quality used hardcover and paperback books. Saturday, April 13, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the St. John Parish Center, 800 Gornto Road. Proceeds benefit Birthright of Valdosta.
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Pregnancy Wasn’t Part of the Plan
OpiniOns
march 28, 2013
vsuspEcTaTor.com | pagE 3
Our point of view...
Allow students to choose co-ed roommates
i
magine waking up and panicking because a class that you can’t afford to miss starts in 15 minutes. While heading to the bathroom, you are suddenly confronted by a locked door occupied by your roommate who is singing at the top of her lungs as she applies her makeup. this is not the way our mothers and fathers attended college in yesteryear. recently, students at the University of Florida have started a Change.org petition with encouragement from their department of Housing and residence Education to pursue mixed-coed occupation of dorm rooms in their apartment style housing units. other prominent universities, including many ivy League institutions, already offer mixed coed options to their students when picking roommates. george Washington University in Washington d.C became a part of the phenomenon in 2010.
students lobbied for the issue after a small group of students moved into an oncampus residence and successfully integrated. this prompted them to get it integrated campus-wide. Emory University has already embraced the trend. on the residence Life and Housing page of Emory University website, dobbs, Harris and Longstreet-Means Halls all offer floors strictly for mixed coed arrangements. these floors offer no division between male and female students living on the same floor. the most plausible issue in opposition to mixed-gender roommates is the fact that most upper class college students are not ready for the change. since being in dorms with people of the same sex has already been an integral part of their college experience, change would not be easily embraced. others that oppose may say that integrating genders as roommates will increase
the rate of pregnancy, domestic violence and show that this generation of college students do not have the respect or class to room with different sexes. We believe the increase in pregnancies will not happen because of young women and men rooming together. Most of us have roomed with people of the opposite sex under the same roof before--they were known as mom, dad, sister, brother and other family members that students have lived with throughout their lives. Also, like same sex roommates, some roommates probably will not get along. some will have contrasting personalities and not interact socially. this will also translate into mixed-gender roommates and create a familial bond rather than a sexual bond. the increase in domestic violence is also a moot point when discussing this issue. domestic violence is usually a crime of passion between people in relationships. We believe that
mixed-gender will actually create a sense of heroism and chivalry between roommates. in college, your dorm becomes your home away from home and the people you live with become an extension of family. therefore if you see your female roommate in a quarrel with another person, the male roommate will be more inclined to help or keep her out of danger and vice versa. Also, if there is strife in the household, a male and female roommate would be more inclined to solve it rationally then two ego-driven males or two upset female roommates.
Finally, respect is essential for all roommates and we feel that men and women will benefit from living with each other by seeing how a male or female conducts themselves in a platonic living environment. this will benefit both genders because they will already be comfortable living with the opposite sex and everything that goes with the experience.
MCT though experiences may vary, college is a place to grow and experience life outside of your everyday “box” and we feel that mixed-gender dorms should be affirmed not only at the University of Florida’s campus, but also at all colleges and universities with on campus dorms nationwide.
This editorial was written by Von Kennedy (vtkennedy@valdosta.edu) and it expresses the general opinion of the editorial staff.
Keep shale at home Sperm exports at high Stephen Cavallaro opinions Editor sjcavallaro@valdosta.edu
While bureaucratic protests flare over the supposed environmentally hazardous Keystone XL pipeline project, preventing the harvest of an abundant supply of crude oil in northern north America by U.s. companies, a different source of domestic energy prevails. shale gas, a copious natural gas in the United states, is being drilled for by Britishowned utilities company Centrica. recently, Centrica struck a deal with U.s. energy company Cheniere to purchase enough shale gas to heat 1.8 million homes in the United Kingdom—a deal backed by the U.s. government. Why does the government support drilling for harmful energy on domestic soil for the sake of diversifying and stabilizing the energy of a foreign market but refrain from supporting its own wel-
fare? shale gas, like crude oil, poses a threat to the environment. Fracking, the method for extracting the substance from the Earth, leads to the release of methane into the atmosphere; thereby, aiding climate change. in addition,
The government refrains from backing revolutionary opportunities. toxins are released into water sources and other ecosystems. America’s finest “eco-terrorists” have incurred as much banter over the pittsburgh-based Center for sustainable shale development as they have over the Keystone pipeline. America remains dependent on foreign energy sources and is perpetually unable to wean itself off be-
cause the government refrains from backing revolutionary opportunities, such as the Keystone pipeline, toward becoming a self-sustainable society. the solution to the issue does not come from enticing other nations to behave similarly. British environmental activists are struggling to protect their nation from making America’s mistake, relying on foreign energy for salvation. With a plethora of thriving energy sources in the United Kingdom, the British are as capable as Americans at instilling a future of energy independence. Adopting such a strategy can lead our nation to prosperity and reinstall the former glory of the unstoppable Union. if our soil must be ravished by the reign of commercialism, the outcome must be for the greater good of the American economy and the American people, not as a ploy to misappropriate energy and misdirect the economies of our allies.
Will Lewis A s s i s tA n t MAnAging Editor walewis@valdosta.edu
the U.s. is the world’s leading exporter of sperm. According to an ABC news report, as of 2005 American sperm banks controlled over 65 percent of the global market. this places Americans in a prime location for the import of another commodity: greenbacks, bones, dollars—money. the business is estimated at $100 million per annum and growing, sans pun. in other countries, however, troubled waters are swirling, and the sperm donation business is struggling for a foothold. in 2001, the Chinese Ministry of Health began allowing sperm banks to open. today, there are currently 17 locations across the east-
ern giant that allows donations. However, strict guidelines and a social taboo against diddling yourself make the acquiring of spunk difficult. in China, to donate sperm the little swimmers must roll at least 60 million deep per millimeter to qualify. the World Health organization defines that as three times the sperm count of the “average healthy male.” Beyond that, donors must
be between the ages of 22 and 45 and cannot lead a homosexual lifestyle or be a foreigner. the heavy restrictions severely limit the amount of donors and created a ninemonth waiting period for hopeful parents. With approximately 40 million Chinese diagnosed as infertile, the infertility rate
has risen three percent in the last 20 years. if the red tape weren’t enough to stall your fertilization celebration, avid Chinese reader, then the social taboo that the general public place upon artificial insemination might just do the trick. in an article with the “China daily Wang Jian, a Chinese graduate student, expressed his reluctance to let his family know about his donation. He fears that they "will kill me for letting a stranger use the precious family seed." Misquoting Jane Austen, it is a universally acknowledged truth that a single man in possession of little fortune must be in want of a pay check. if that man happened to be a young American student, his family would most likely admonish him with little more than a stern look. there might be a quick request for the topic to not be discussed at dinner. Hopefully, no one was drinking milk.
Sustaining resourses for humaniIvey Ingalls-Rubin A s s i s tA n t opinions Editor iningallsrubin@valdosta.edu
the concept of original sin didn’t come about due to some fruit in some garden; it became so when our ancestors used the very first nonrenewable resource in an unsustainable way. there’s nothing but concern and worry that encompasses this seemingly endless binge of non-sustainable resource consumption. Contrary to widespread belief, the real issue generated by the current patterns of resource use is their environmental impact, not the possible finite supply of certain non-renewable resources.
one example, the limitless hand, however, the use of availability of fossil fuels these substances causes a vaand, consequently, their exriety of environmental probtensive use to lems. generate energy, the true has produced goal here some of the most should not It is the serious environbe to comresponsibility of mental problems pletely shut such as air polludown our the current tion and global obviously generation to step working syswarming. this same concept aptem but to up and demand plies to other reit. A global change and modify sources as well strategy to higher awareness, decouple like metal ores and some minereconomic appreciation and als. growth from respect to Earth. the falling environmenprices of these tal degradaresources in the tion, this can world market and consistent be achieved by developing a discoveries of new reserves framework that allows these prove that their availability is resources to be used in a susnot threatened. on the other tainable way without further
harming our environment. resources are ultimately the backbone of any economy. in using and transforming these resources, capital gain is accomplished to acquire wealth for the present and future generations. However, the dimensions of our current pattern of resource use may very well leave us all with serious
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
bility of the current generation to step up and demand global change and higher awareness, appreciation and respect to Earth before we kill ourselves in the plight to make a buck—or save one.
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damaging consequences to the delicate environment we share. not only is it possible that biodiversity will be lost, but the more damaged land means more loss of habitats. As humans, the big wigs of this planet, it is the responsi-
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PAge 4 | vsusPeCtAtoR.CoM
OpiniOns
Stimulus cripples national employment Taylor Stone S ta f f W r i t e r tnstone@valdosta.edu
Welcome to the “Land of the free” where the headlines are bad and the bombast from President Obama is even worse. Lets take a glance back to 2009 where for the first time in american history, government spending is going to increase job growth. it’s going to work this time. Pay no attention to the history of past recessions, to how the economy has naturally rebounded itself without a stimulus package promising to reduce unemployment, because if something isn’t broken, you try to fix it anyways, right? in 2009, Obama proposed a stimulus package, the american recovery and reinvestment Plan, with its top priority being to preserve at least three billion jobs in the following two years. it was a plan to create jobs short-term and to act as a catalyst for economic growth in the long term. the Bureau of Labor Statistics has produced data
showing that it isn’t just a coincidence that the unemployment rate has increased under a plan that so fervently promised a large reduction in unemployment in a short amount of time. actual unemployment has far exceeded the assumptions of the White House showing that the unemployment rate would be lower than it is today if Congress hadn’t passed the stimulus. When Obama proposed the stimulus package, he promised that unemployment would not fall below five percent. this is obviously not how things have played out; if any conditions are to improve, the hand of government needs to be drastically receded from our lives. as a country, it is not meant for us to be solely dependent on government to “fix” things. at a glance, it looks like things are improving in the labor market; because conditions of the Great recession are finally improving the reality of the situation is much less comforting. the reason unemployment seems to have decreased is because nearly 300,000 workers left the la-
bor force, not because conditions miraculously changed. Hundreds of thousands of latent workers simply stopped looking for work. if extreme government spending for the sake of digging the country out of a recession would stop, that void would be filled by a growing economy. take a look at history-take a look at the former presidents who did nothing and wisely let the economy rebound on its own. Under President Harding in 1921, the unemployment rate was at 11.7, and in just a year it decreased by almost half because of reduced government spending. is it a mere coincidence that the economy has rebounded on its own for, 150 years but now, under President Obama, recovery is feigned as a statistical mirage? Lets leave the ignorance at home and impose a plan that truly stimulates the economy, a plan that has worked since the beginning, a plan that will decrease unemployment instead of pretending to do so.
MCT
MARCH 28, 2013
features
MARCH 28, 2013
vsuspeCtAtoR.CoM | pAge 5
‘Red Assassins’ continue takeover Isaiah Smart S tA f f W r i t E r
itsmart@valdosta.edu
the theta tau chapter of Delta Sigma theta Sorority, inc. has once again painted VSU with a week full of crimson and cream-coated events. Delta week, entitled “DDay: rED Assassins,” is a military inspired week of events that offered VSU students the chance to participate in the chapter’s fun and community inspired events. On Sunday morning, the Deltas began their week with “Calling the troops” with worship at New Life Missionary Baptist Church. Stu-
dents and other Greek organizations were invited to attend. On Monday, the event “Prisoners of War,” gave students the chance to mingle with the reds. the crimson crusaders had lunch at 11 a.m. at Valdosta Middle School followed by a cookout from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Palms Quad. the evening concluded with a forum at 7:13 p.m. in the UC theater. VSU was prompted to “Man Your Battle Stations” on tuesday as the Deltas invited the student body to Jac’s Lane at 8:13 p.m. for an evening of bowling. On Wednesday, the women of theta tau gave back to the
campus with “DSt Embassy” ence to us, ”takira Borden, program and planning chair, where they visited a variety of offices to drop off appreci- said. “Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for the men's appreciaation treats to employees around campus. today, the week will amp back up with During this time, “Lockdown red Alert.” the Deltas will we hope that each cater to the male popguest truly sees the ulation of VSU with a value of their time dinner at 6 p.m. at Club Heat on Ashley and presence to us. Street. following the - Takira borden dinner at 7 p.m., will dsT Programmer be the 8th Annual Black & White tion which will start promptly Cabaret where dress code at 6 p.m. and the cabaret will will be strictly enforced. start immediately afterward at “During this time we hope 7 p.m., at which time ladies that each guest truly sees the will be admitted.” value of their time and pres-
“
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tickets can be purchased from any Delta for a package deal of $15 for men and $17 for women. the package includes Men’s Appreciation, Cabaret and the Kill: fashion Explosion, but excludes Men’s Appreciation for the women’s package. As if that wasn’t enough, the Deltas will present “the Kill: fashion Explosion” friday at 7:13 p.m. An annual event for the women of DSt, the Deltas will host a fashion show at Palladium. “Our goal is to feature many entrepreneurs, business owners, models and musicians in one fun-filled, trendy event,” Atiya Elliott-Semper,
public committee and fashion show chair, said. the show will feature two hosts, VSU and Wiregrass students and Valdosta community members that specialize in cosmetology, makeup and clothing design. Pre-sale tickets are $10, and may increase when purchased at the door. On Saturday, “Vets in Combat,” will signify the end of Delta week as the women of theta tau will give back to the area with a closed community service initiative at 8 a.m. their week will conclude with a bonfire from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday at the Grove.
VSU’s first lady: ‘always shares a smile’ O
ver the past few months, VSU has been home to a new dynamic duo, the new university president and his wife, Dr. Dacia Charlesworth. Always sharing a smile and more than willing to sit and talk with any student, Dr. Charlesworth has taken on her title of being the “VSU’s first lady” beautifully. Dr. Charlesworth came to Valdosta from Missouri, Pa., and indiana where she held various teaching positions. Her undergraduate college days were spent at Arizona State, where she received a bachelor’s degree in communications. After her undergraduate days, Dr. Charlesworth was completing her doctorate degree when she met her current husband, VSU President, Dr.William McKinney. they immediately hit it off as they had very similar interests and a passion for teaching. Upon coming to Valdosta, Charlesworth knew it would
VSU to enter into a ‘Deaf, Deaf World’
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be a change from working in the classroom. “Now that i’m not teaching it’s bizarre,” she said. “i didn’t know i would miss that day to day connection with students so much.” According to Dr. Charlesworth, she has always had a strong passion for students and their well-being. Because she missed the classroom so much, Dr. Charlesworth often makes lunch dates with students and simply spends time on campus to socialize and connect with them. “it’s my job to be on campus when my husband can’t,” Dr. Charlesworth said. “We want students to know that they are our No.1 priority.” Dr. McKinney is the first to
Allison Ericson S tA f f W r i t E r
abericson@valdosta.edu
it’s a Deaf, Deaf World. VSU’s American Sign Language Club will host “it’s a Deaf, Deaf World” at 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.friday in the Student Union Ballroom. the event will give VSU students, faculty and staff a glimpse into a whole new world where hearing is no longer an option. the participants will enter a silent room where they must attempt to communicate with ASL members and others around them through sign language only. “the Deaf World is not meant to confuse people, but
say how outgoing and caring his wife is. “She genuinely and honestly cares,” he said. “She works incredibly hard to understand each student she meets as an individual.” Upon moving to Georgia, there was more than just a shock of how different weather in the south is. Dr. Charlesworth quickly took notice of the ethnic diversity of VSU’s campus. She loves spending time and learning from all different kinds of students. One of the students she has gotten to know is Michael McKerson, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, inc. and VSU Ambassadors. “She’s very energetic, she wants to get to know the whole student body,” McKerson said. “Unlike others in a higher position, she takes the initiative to talk and be open.” With her strong background in communications, it’s easy to see how Dr.
Charlesworth relates so easily to students. She has spent the past few months preparing for the upcoming inauguration events and has spoken to many different groups on campus and incorporated their events to be highlighted during the week. Students and faculty are invited to attend the VSU Performing Arts Showcase at 8 p.m. in the Whitehead Auditorium. Dr. Charlesworth and Dr. McKinney will both perform—Dr. Charlesworth with a dramatic reading, and Dr. McKinney with a drum performance. in preparation for inauguration, the two have spent lots of time preparing Dr. McKinney’s speech. “it’s his biggest presentation yet,” Dr. Charlesworth said. “And i’m his biggest supporter and fan in the world.” Being a professor in previ
rather shed light on the life World,” the roles are reof a deaf person and expose versed and those who can you to the language and culhear must attempt to commuture,” Jake McHargue, a senicate without using their nior American sign language voice-- all while trying to do major, said. every day tasks. the event is meant to teach the general public that I hope that those who deaf students are can hear will experience faced with everyday challenges in first hand the communicating day-to-day struggles with those who can hear. deaf people encounter Simple tasks and ways to overcome. like shopping and -anna meisman going out to eat senior sign languge are harder for deaf major people, because most people don’t know how to communicate “it will give the hearing with sign language. person a little insight on beOnce inside the “Deaf ing deaf and what it is like
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Photo By Wes Sewell Dr. Dacia Charlesworth, first lady of VSU, will lead a 45minute Zumba session on the Front Lawn Saturday beginning at 9:30 a.m.
ous years has given her a new outlook on students and the workings of a college campus. Now that she is mostly working with students every now and then instead of in the classroom, Dr. Charlesworth has an undying respect for students and the hard work and effort that college requires. for them on campus, or even outside of school like at Walmart or Publix,” McHargue said. “Deaf World” is the ultimate communication obstacle course-- testing the skills of a hearing person. Deaf students get the chance to see how a hearing person reacts in a setting they are accustomed to. for once, the deaf students will understand everything being said while the hearing must make sense of it all. Anna Meisman, also a senior American sign language major, hopes that participants will have more insight and understanding after the experience. “i hope that those who can hear will experience first
Outside of her role as VSU’s first Lady, Dr. Charlesworth loves Zumba, her four cats and completely indulging in everything popculture. Her advice to students as they pursue a degree is to find their real passion and follow it. As she is inspired by the work students do, she wants everyone on campus to soak it all in and be inspired by those around them. Dr. Charlesworth is a woman with a welcoming personality, a glowing spirit, a devotion to students and an eagerness to listen. She loves to give guidance and welcomes anyone to say hello to her on campus. “i’m never more proud when a student notices us on campus,” Dr. Charlesworth, said. “i’m here for the students and that’s the No. 1 thing i want them to know.” Dr. Charlesworth can be found on twitter @VSUfirstLady.
hand the day-to-day struggles deaf people encounter and ways to overcome them,” she said. “Deaf culture is so unique and different from anything i have ever been apart of. i hope a lot of people show up and become exposed to deaf culture and sign language.” Much like taking a foreign language, ASL takes years of practice to learn. ASL majors spend four or more years of studying and interning to be able to have a fluent conversation using sign language. “ASL is almost as foreign as Spanish or french to the American language,” McHargue said. “i think that everyone should learn some ASL even if it’s just the basics.”
Want to try your skills at writing or taking photos? Here’s your chance. Email editor-in-chief Amber Smith at amsmith@valdosta.edu and learn how you can join the Spectator today. Maybe you don’t want to write, and would rather sell ads. Email Aimee Napier at acnapier@valdosta.edu to find out how you can start.
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PAge 6 | vsusPeCtAtoR.Com
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Cyrus calls out Drake, Beyonce calls out haters
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ello world—Anthony here bringing you everything ratchet, thirsty, and anything else that had us scratching our heads in the world of entertainment this week. It’s beginning to look like 2013 will be remembered as the year that the art of twerking has gone mainstream. In a video posted last week for her 11.5 million Twitter followers to see, child star Miley Cyrus twerked, popped and gyrated to the already overplayed song “Wop.” From the average person doing it in the club, to former Disney stars doing it for attention, it’s safe to say that twerking is majorly down-
grading. As if Cyrus doing it wasn’t bad enough, 90-year-old grandmothers are doing it for likes and comments on YouTube. I now pronounce twerking officially dead. While we all try and cope with the fact that twerking has gotten out of control, can we also take a moment and lift our girl Amanda Bynes up in prayer? From bizarre run-ins with the paparazzi to even more bizarre postings on social networks, the former Nickelodeon star raised even more eyebrows last week when she sent out a tweet to everyone’s favorite emotional rapper Drake.
Pop Addict Anthony Pope
“I want @Drake to murder my vagina,” she tweeted. Let that sink in for a moment. After that tweet, which Drake didn’t respond to, the former actress tweeted, “Twerking Out.” I’m sure if she gives her friend Cyrus a call she could get some pointers on that one. The Bey Hive was buzzing this past week when Beyoncé unleashed a new track on her fans. The song titled “Bow Down/I Been On” shows a
much more urban side of the former Destiny’s Child lead singer. As her harmonizing vocals reigned over a signature HTown chopped and screwed beat, Bey let all the haters know that she has been in the game longer than most, and they should “Bow Down Bitches.” No word on who the singer was talking about in the song, but I’m sure Keyshia Cole and Keri Hilson are somewhere giving a side eye. What’s most interesting about the Beyoncé single is that it seems like a departure from the singer’s usual “dominant female” persona. Back in the days of Destiny’s Child, it was all about
women sticking together and looking out for each other, but now it seems that gimmick isn’t going to work in 2013. I’m not sure how I feel about a thugged out Beyoncé calling people bitches and telling them to bow down to her. It comes off as forced and fake. While she never confirmed whether the song would be featured on an upcoming album, let’s just hope this isn’t a sign of things to come. The last thing we need is a thugged out Beyoncé album with Juicy J as a guest vocal. Be sure to check back with Pop Addict next week to catch up with all your favorite celebs.
Slang Dictionary Ratchet- (adj) behavior deemed unacceptable by society Thirsty- (adj) desperate Twerking- (verb) an exotic dance that involves quick movement of the butt. Bey Hive-(noun) the name given to Beyoncé’s fans. Side eye- (noun) a look of jealously or dislike
True Korean flavor found in local restaurant
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ocally owned and operated Korea Garden offers a fresh, authentic taste. Amber: Ethnic cuisine aficionados will love the menu at Korea Garden, which offers traditional Korean dishes as well as Korean barbeque. Upon walking in the restaurant, you pick up on the sense that the place was once a diner; however, it now feels more like you are in the owner’s dining room. Jennifer: You could smell spicy-pickled cabbage, or kimchi, strongly when you walk into the place, but that isn’t a bad thing. The menu has vast choices from grilled entrees, classic appetizers to box lunches and dinners. A: One thing to note about Korean food is it is a little different than other types of Asian food. On its Facebook page, the restaurant has a post responding to someone asking if Korean food is as good as Chinese or Japanese food. “Korean food is more similar to Japanese food than Chinese food,” it reads. “It tends to be spicier than Japanese food, and a little more homestyle (a bit ‘rougher around the edges,’ perhaps a bit less refined, but in a GOOD way!). The Koreans LOVE their red meat, much more so than Japanese, although they are also equally gaga over fresh seafood.” J: We ordered some green tea with our meals, and they were served to us in cute small cups and the pitcher was left on our table so we could refill at our leisure. We ordered the egg roll as an ap petizer, which was delicious, and were served soup with various vegetables such as cabbage, cucumbers, bean sprouts and onions that could be added to the soups. I ordered the “glazed
Photos By Amber Smith Above: Korea Garden is a local restaurant on 250 North St. Augustine Road, the former home of a Huddle House restaurant. Right: This eatery offers traditional Korean dishes, as well as Korean barbeque, and makes its customers feel like their getting the full Korean experience.
Spectator Tasters
Amber Smith Jennifer Gleason
chicken” box dinner which consisted of almost too much food to handle—but that’s why I enjoy the boxes at Asian restaurants, when offered. This particular box had tons of grilled glazed chicken, a small cup of soy sauce in the middle, three pieces of sushi, a large mound of steamed white rice, a side salad, an egg roll, a pot sticker and three pieces of deep-fried vegetables. All of the food was great, but the compartment in my box with the deep-fried vegetables, egg roll and pot sticker was too much fried food for me to stomach. It was all tasty, but a bit overbearing. A: I ordered kimchi jjigae, a traditional Korean kimchi soup. Traditional kimchijji
recipes is the best part for me. I recommend this restau rant for people who like Asian cuisine, but also to those who love spicy foods. It is necessary to note that
gae can be made with seafood or pork along with kimchi and other vegetables. The soup is very spicy, which was amplified by the fact that it comes to your table in a stone pot, still boiling from the heat of the stove. Elliott’s family is from Korea and their passion for their heritage is apparent in the quality of their food. The servers, cooks and owners at Korea Garden make an effort to make sure that their customers are very comfortable while they are at the restaurant. I really enjoyed the intimate, homey feel of restaurant. I also enjoyed the fact that the restaurant’s owner makes time to come out and ensure that customers are comfortable. The authenticity and home-cooked feel of the
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many dishes are made with pork and seafood, so if you are allergic to these items you need to look at the menu carefully before ordering. If spicy foods are not pleasing to your palate, you also need to choose carefully.
J: Overall, my experience at Korea Garden was satisfactory, and I would come back again. Especially for another box dinner or lunch. But I might skip on eating the fried foods, or at least get a to-go box for them.
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MARCH 28, 2013
vsuspeCtAtoR.CoM | pAge 7
‘Pippin’ to teach meaning of life Brian Hickey S TA f f W r I T E r
bdhickey@valdosta.edu
If you came to college to find the meaning of life, you might get your answer in today’s performance of “Pippin” at 7:30 p.m. in Sawyer Theatre in the fine Arts Building. Led by Director Eric B. Nielsen, VSU’s theatre and dance department will per-
form the Broadway musical for students and citizens who enjoy storytelling through music. “I’m so excited,” Kelsey South, a junior music theatre major, said. “I did this show in high school so it’s really interesting to see everybody do it again but in a completely different directed way.” for those who don’t know the story of “Pippin,” it is about a young man and his quest to find the meaning of
life. The son of a king, Pippin constantly wonders how to attain true happiness. As a musical, its story is told through song and features ballads, dance numbers and costumes aimed at keeping its audience’s attention. The cast also believes that “Pippin” will keep the audience entertained with its diverse costumes thanks to the work of Ester Iverson as well as its relatable subject matter.
“The audience will really enjoy the crazy costumes,” Emily Bradford, a junior theatre major, said. “And it’s relatable because Pippin who’s just come out of college and he’s trying to find what he wants to do with his life.” Bradford believes that the audience will see all the hard work put into the performance. “We’ve been working all semester on the show and the closer we get, it gets longer
hours and it’s really tiring on the casting crew,” Bradford said. “Our directors really flexible in that he’ll talk to our teachers if we have conflict issues.” Showings of the play started Wednesday as attendees who desired an early preview of the finished piece were given a sneak peak. Additional performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on friday and Saturday, 3 p.m. on Sunday and 7:30
p.m. on April 1 and April 3. Tickets for “Pippin” are $15 for adults, $12 for senior citizens, $10 for children and non-VSU students and free for VSU students. Those in attendance of the play are reminded that “Pippin” contains adult themes and language that is not recommended for young audiences.
Has web always interested you, and you have a desire to join a team. No problem. Email Becka McAleer at rmmcaleer@valdosta.edu to see how you can get involved with the Web Spectator. If video interests you, the Spectator’s multimedia editor Von Kennedy would love to hear from you. Email him at vtkennedy@valdosta.edu to get the experience that you need. He can also help you learn how to snap some photos.
Godspell makes New Miss Black, Gold gets crowned arguing an artform
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Photos By Von Kennedy/THE SPECTATOR
Senior Cambrielle Sanders, biology and African-American studies major, presents her children’s book that he she wrote herself during the talent portion of the pageant. Her platform focusd on bullying prevention titled “Let’s Talk.”
Chaplain Shiree Williams, of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc hosted this year’s Miss Black and Gold Scholarship Pageant 2013. The pageant featured eight contestants.
Contestants congratulates senior dance and deaf studies major Sharia Stripling on being crowned this year’s winner. Her platform titled "Voice the Hand” emphasized violence prevention in the deaf community
elcome back to Additive Noise! We’re going to spin off in a fun direction today with some practical application. We’re diving into the world of Broadway, with the prologue from the musical “Godspell: Tower of Babble.” Cleverly named after the biblical parable of the Tower of Babel where one language was split into the many languages of the world, “Tower of Babble” is a song featuring eight soloists all telling different messages. Their minds are clouded with many philosophies, and I mean that literally. Each character sings a solo quoted straight from the works of a famous philosopher. As each man or woman steps forward to give their own opinion, the solos inter
with Becka McAleer twine. Sometimes they work to gether in counterpoint, such as with Leonardo DaVinci and Jonathan Edwards, who sing a duet together that “sings an argument.” Sometimes, they just plain sing over one another. By the end, no one can really tell who’s saying what, or why. This song is an absolute piece of genius, because it takes great skill to create organized chaos. There is a reason the composer, Stephen Schwartz, is a Broadway legend. Not once do the philosophers run over
each other to the point of destruction, and the music is designed such that they can all sing on top of one another while still sounding harmonious. This is difficult enough to do with two singers, let alone eight. I highly recommend that we all listen to this song several times this week. We live in an age where differing opinions have the power to make or ruin lives. It is my hope that if these eight philosophers can put out all of their ideas at once while still sounding beautiful, we can learn to do the same with ours. It’s all about respect, folks. Challenge yourself this week! Look up “Tower of Babble” and select a philosopher to learn more about. See you back here next week.
CORE stacks crates, to bring the ‘80s back in style Veronica Dominicis S TA f f W r I T E r
vmdominicis@valdosta.edu
Known for bringing the adventure to VSU, COrE has several activities and competitions lined up for the remainder of the semester. Getting everyone back into the swing of things, COrE held a crate stacking competition from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Tuesday at the basketball courts in the Student recreational Center. In crate stacking, the participant stacks a 1.5 foot crate while climbing the crate(s) he or she stacked. The promotional video by COrE showed the difficult
task of keeping balance and maintaining a firm footing on the crates while simultaneously stacking more crates on top. "There is a good amount of balance and focus needed to prevent collapse," Wilkinson said. "Not to mention when sweet prizes are thrown into the mix, competition gets heated." Prizes that were given out during the competition included slacklines, hammocks, sunglass holders, chalk bags and hats. Another competition that COrE will host is the ‘80s Top rope Competition. The event is unlike any other rope course competitions held at COrE being the first ‘80s
themed challenge. A top rope event starts with the climber being harnessed in safety gear. The participant is then anchored to a spot of the climbing surface, in this case the rec’s rock wall. Climbers will then climb to the top of the wall. Prizes will be given out to winners at the competition, but the types of prizes, as of now, are unknown according to Melanie Stawkey, a COrE graduate assistant. The event will be hosted at the rec’s rock wall, and will give beginner, intermediate and even advanced climbers the opportunity to participate. "rock climbing is a great way to be active while having fun,” Stawkey said.
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The competition's date and time is to be determined by COrE. Competitions are held within the rec, but in April, COrE will travel outside VSU to multiple locations. The COrE trip scheduled from April 6-7, will take participants to Tallulah Gorge and Stone Summit. Stone Summit, located in Atlanta, is the nation's largest climbing and fitness center, according to Stone Summit's website. The website also states that the center is for beginners and experts-- the walls ranging from 25 to 60 feet. Tallulah Gorge is a state park located in northeast Georgia. According to the
state park's website, the state park is home to a suspension bridge, hanging 80 feet above the ground, a gorge two miles long and 1,000 feet deep and eclectic species of animals and plants. The student fee is $60 while the nonstudent price is $70. The fees include all equipment needed for partici-
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pants. A pre-trip meeting is scheduled for April 3 at 7 p.m. at the rock wall located inside the rec. COrE will be hosting courses, classes, and competitions throughout the rest of the school year and continuing into the summer months.
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vsuspeCtAtoR.CoM | pAge 9 Remaining Baseball Schedule: Home - Away:
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27 Delta State
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VSU baseball tames Golden Rams
Melissa Powell/THE SPECTATOR VSU first baseman Jake Montgomery awaits a possible throw while an ASU baserunner sags off during Wednesday night’s 13-0 victory.
VSU hosts rival West Georgia this weekend Ace Espenshied A s s t. s p o rt s E d i t o r acespenshied@valdosta.edu
the Valdosta state baseball team is beginning to play some of its best baseball heading into this weekend’s series against rival West Georgia. After starting Gulf south Conference play 0-5, the Blazers now find themselves at 3-6 in the Conference, recently winning two out of three against conference leader West Alabama. Heading into this weekend’s series VsU has won six of its last seven games and it looks like the team is hitting its stride. “i think we’ve been swinging the bats better and that’s been a struggle for us,” Head Coach Greg Guilliams said. “But its [this weekend’s series] is going to come down to pitching, both teams are going to need their starting
pitcher to go deep into the game to give both of us a chance.” sophomore Jamie sexton, the Wolves ace of the pitching staff, is expected to take the mound at Billy Grant Field this coming weekend. Coming off a game where the Blazers saw 13 runs cross the plate on 15 hits they know runs will be at more of a premium against a pitcher like sexton. “Every team has an ace and he’s obviously outstanding. For us we just gotta try to put solid contact on the ball and if we are able to do that we’ll have some chances,” Guilliams said. “A guy like that you aren’t going to get that many chances, the few that we have we’ll have to cash in.” West Georgia sits at 18-11 on the season and 7-4 in GsC play as this weekend will cap off the home stand for the Blazers before their final road
trip of the regular season. At 14-11 overall VsU has seen 13 of those wins come at home this season. if they are hitting their stride they will need to carry it into this weekend and beyond on the road to prepare for the postseason. “i don’t think any series is any more important or any less important,” Guilliams said. “But for us we are just gonna come out, hopefully play hard, and give ourselves a chance to have some success.” it may not be any more important, but this is definitely a big series for the Blazers if they want to set themselves up and position themselves better for the postseason. the double header will begin at 3 p.m. Friday and the series wraps up saturday at 1 p.m.
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Alex Tostado s p o rt s W r i t E r ajtostado@valdosta.edu
the Valdosta state (14-11) pitching staff stole the show against Albany state University (10-20) holding the Golden rams to only one hit in a 13-0 rout Wednesday night. VsU pitcher Jarrod Carlton got his first win of the season pitching two innings and giving up zero runs or hits. Nonetheless it was a combined effort from seven pitchers (Mann, Watson, Carlton, demasi, John, Weil, and White) on the night. “those guys (bullpen pitchers) are important because in the postseason those guys are going to have to pitch,” head coach Greg Guilliams said. “it has to be more than just our weekend guys.” the Blazers’ offense did its job as well, posting 13 runs on 15 hits. VsU junior shortstop Nick rodda had three hits in four at-bats and drove in four runs in the game. “Nick was struggling but this last week he has been swinging the bat a lot better,” Guilliams said. “i think he is
very capable of that and he was batting in the seventh hole so there were a lot of guys on base.” rodda did not do it by himself as second baseman ryan McClellan also tied the gamehigh four runs batted in. the Blazers had trouble stealing bases being caught three times Wednesday night. “there are always things to get better on,” Guilliams said. “our base running, getting some bunts down and we still walked a couple of guys but at the end of the day, we ob-
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viously did a lot of things right.” VsU has won six of its last seven and will host rival West Georgia in a three-game series this weekend at Billy Grant Field. Notes: Former Atlanta Brave Gregory McMichael was the guest speaker at the second annual Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ sermon on the Mound. the event took place following the game.
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1 Photos by Melissa Powell 1.Dom DeMasi came into relief for pitcher Jarod Carlton during the top of the sixth inning Wednesday. 2. A VSU baserunner scores a run during the 13-0 win over ASU. 3. VSU Catcher Bryant Haymen prepares to bunt before the pitch is thrown to him.
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Cinderellas steal March Madness spotlight Neil Frawley S ta f f W r i t e r ndfrawley@valdosta.edu
With the bevy of "Cinderellas" (teams that have extremely low expectations of winning) remaining in the NCaa tournament, college basketball has been provided its much needed spark needed in order to entice fans. Despite a season that failed to produce any great team(s) or any exceptional players, the myriad of underdog stories offers america something compelling to root for. Once again March Madness' succeeds with its fan- friendly appeal which rarely fails to produce. impressively, nine teams seeded nine or lower (one being the highest and 16 being the lowest) advanced beyond the round of 64. furthermore, seven of those nine teams were double digit seeds, and three of those double digit seeds, including the NCaa's first ever 15 seed, will be playing in the Sweet Sixteen. Don't forget about Wichita State either, the No.9 out of the West region who downed its region's No.1 seed Gonzaga. Double-digit seeds have combined for ten total wins this March. and absent the down-thestretch controversial call in the Ohio St./iowa St. game, it likely would have left sixth seeded arizona as the highest seed left in the West region. and while all of these underdog wins have undoubtedly been harsh on the nation's brackets, the entertainment value more than makes up for the money you likely won't be winning in your March
Madness pool. the great part about teams like florida Gulf Coast and La Salle represent all that is right about college hoops. these teams have genuinely proven the even small schools from small conferences do have what it takes to compete with the major college programs. it's great for the integrity of college hoops. With all that in mind, let's quickly recap the "madness" that took place this past weekend before the next
Commentary round of games begin. We'll start off with the major bracket- busting story on hand. florida Gulf Coast captivated america's attention after ripping of back to back wins, first against two-seed Georgetown, and then against seven-seed San Diego State. What made it excited wasn't just tHat they pulled off the upset, but it was HOW they pulled the upset. in what seemed like a trapeze act of continual spectacular dunks and alley-oops, it became apparent that this was not your run-of-the-mill 15 seed. the eagles followed their victory over Georgetown by downing seven-seeded San Diego State in much similar fashion. "Our goal was to make history and we did it," millionaire and head coach andy enfield said in a press release on Sunday after the game against San Diego State. as the swaggering eagles prepare to play three-seed florida, it doesn't appear as if nerves will be playing much of a factor. in fact, not a sin-
gle one florida Gulf Coast's players were even looked at by florida; don't think fGCU's players have forgotten about that. But florida Gulf Coast isn't the only highly unexpected that continues its "march" towards atlanta. La Salle, winner of the play-in game against Boise State, is the only 3-0 team in this tournament. following their first game in Dayton, the explorers defeated 4-seed Kansas State in the round of 64, and then snuck by 11seed Ole Miss after tyrone Garland hit what he coined the "Southwest Philly floater" with just a second remaining in the round of 32. “it is tremendous, just tremendous. and i don’t think that’s the last we’ll hear of the Southwest Philly floater, just because that sounds tremendous. i haven’t even had enough time to ask my guys if that’s even a real thing," LaSalle coach John Giannini said in a New York Daily News report after the victory. also don't forget that 12seed Oregon also remains alive. after winning the Pac12 Conference tournament, many still believe this team was vastly under-seeded. However, after blowing out both 5th seeded Oklahoma State 68-55 and 4th seeded St. Louis 74-57, the Ducks will need to keep the offense flowing if they have serious hopes to send home the overall top seed Louisville Cardinals. tournament play picks back up tonight starting at 7:15. Make sure to tune in for more exciting Cinderella action. follow Neil on twitter: @Neilfrawley
email:
epjackson@ valdosta.edu
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MARCH 28, 2013
vsuspeCtAtoR.CoM | pAge 11
Adam Froman hired as Blazer football quarterbacks coach Eric Jackson S p o rt S e D i to r epjackson@valdosta.edu
AP Photo Adam Froman started 17 games for the Louisville Cardinals (09-10).
Former Louisiana State University offensive assistant Adam Froman has been hired as the new quarterbacks coach for the Valdosta State football team. the 25-year old replaces Northwestern State (La.) offensive coordinator robby Brown, who left the Blazers a couple weeks following the national championship victory.
Head Coach David Dean announced the news on tuesday. "Adam brings a lot of experience and different idea from all of the places he has been," Dean said in a press release. "He is a good technician when it comes to teaching the game and will provide us with new ideas as we move forward with our quarterbacks in particular and offense in general." Despite being one of the youngest coaches on staff,
Froman brings an abundance of knowledge at the position he will supervise for the Blazers. the former University of Louisville quarterback was a standout at Santa rosa (Calif.) Junior College before transferring to LU. in 2008, he earned player of the year honors in his last JUCo season recording 3,876 passing yards and 40 touchdowns. Froman’s two seasons as a Cardinal were plagued by injuries yet finished with 2,987
passing yards and 17 touchdowns in 17 games. the Atlanta Falcons signed Froman in 2011 but was unable to make the final roster before the start of the regular season. His final playing days were in 2012 for the Arena Football League’s Spokane Shock and Canadian Football League’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Follow eric on twitter: epjackson
VSU golf team prepared for Invitational Shane Thomas S p o rt S W r i t e r shanethomas@valdosta.edu
the Valdosta State golf team looks to bounce back in the Buccaneer invitational on April 1 in Miami Gardens, Fla. in last week’s Bobcat invitational, the Blazers finished 16th out 17 teams after shooting a final round 303. Despite the disappointment, VSU Head Coach Jared purvis maintains that the psyche of his team remains very good. “the guys are still upbeat,” purvis said. ”they were able to take a few days off for spring break—just re-energize themselves. they’ve been working hard at it for the last two days and i’m sure they’ll continue to work hard at it.” While purvis is pleased with his team catching its collective breath, he stresses the importance of remaining
loose on the tee. “You don’t have to have the mindset that you’ve gotta shoot a 66 every time you tee it up,” purvis said. “We need to just worry about keeping it in play and just hitting good, solid shots and giving ourselves good chances at birdies.” “the biggest thing is just to remind them that they are good golfers—they can’t let one bad tournament get them down.” Last season, the Blazers fought their way to a 12th place finish out of 14 teams in the Buccaneer invitational. purvis understands what lies ahead as his team looks to avoid a repeat of last season. “it’s a tournament that hasn’t been very good for us,” purvis said. “[the course] is a different type of grass, different conditions—it’s a very good golf course so we’re gonna play an extra practice round down there to get accustomed to it.” the weather forecast for the event indicates warm, hu-
mid conditions. According to Weather.com, it will be 81 degrees in Miami with 73 percent humidity and a 30 percent chance of isolated thunderstorms. “it’s gonna be a nice change from what we’ve played in all spring,” purvis said. “We’ve dealt with a lot of wind, a lot of rain—it’s been quite chilly out so we’re excited to go somewhere where it’s 80, 85 degrees.” With top teams such as Nova Southeastern, Barry and Lynn University being heavily favored, purvis readily embraces the underdog role heading into the tournament. “You don’t have the attention on you that other schools will have on them,” purvis said. “it’s up to our guys to have the mindset that we’re trying to go out there and prove that we are just as good as them.” the Blazers will also have experience working in their favor, as the roster features three seniors—Nate Ander-
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Nile Young Photography Normandy Shores Gulf Club is the setting for the annual Buccaneer Invitational. Established in 1941, golf greats including Sam Snead and Arnold Palmer were once regulars of the Miami Beach course.
son, Clarke Hendrick and Drew McGuire—and three juniors in Austin Graham, Collin Ho and Abdul Sihag. “this is the first time where all five of our guys have actually played this
course before,” purvis said. “With this course, all of our guys can be very successful.” the Buccaneer invitational begins on Monday, April 1 at Normandie Shores Golf Club
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in Miami Gardens, Fla., and concludes on April 2. Follow Shane on twitter: itsathomasthing
PAge 12 | vsusPeCtAtoR.Com
mARCH 28, 2013