The Spectator Print Edition, 9-27-12

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September 27, 2012

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

VOLUME 84 ISSUE 6

On the Web

Inside This Issue

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

- OPInIOnS: “What happened to childhood?” - FEATURES: “‘dredd 3d’ lacks storyline”

ROTARACT Collects Pennies for a Cause

- SPORTS: “VSu football: no room for error”

Today at VSU naaCPVoteR DRiVe from noon to 3 p.m., naaCP hosts a voter regristration drive on the pedestrian walkway. manDatoRy meeting - any student organizations that did not attend the Mandatory Student organization Meeting or any of the make-up meetings has one last chance at noon in the Student union Meeting room 1.

HisPaniC HeRitage montH KiCK-off - latin american Student association will host a kick-off party with face painting, Spanish trivia and a piñata! the event is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and will be at the gazebo between nevins and West hall.

Bingo nigHt - natural high hosts a bingo night at 8 p.m. in odum library auditorium. it’s free, and snacks and prizes will be provided. Real talK BiBle stuDy - a Bible study will be held by real talk at 8:15 p.m. in the Bailey Science Center room 1011. leatHeR me CRazy - CaB hosts a free event where students can get a variety of leather items from keychains to cell phone cases. there will also be giveaways. the event will be in the union theatre lobby at 5 p.m. until supplies last.

sinK oR swim - Campus recreation aquatics wants to teach students how to swim, perfect their swimming techniques and come hang out. there will be certified instructors. the event will be at 4 to 6 p.m. at the rec Center pool. Call 3335898 for more information.

Weather Today Mostly Sunny

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Friday Mostly Sunny

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Saturday Cloudy

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Question of the week How do you feel about hookah? A. I enjoy it regularly. B. I’ve never tried it. C. I partake occasionally. D. I think it’s gross. Vote online at www.vsuspectator.com!

Last Week Poll Results What are you and your parents doing this weekend? Going to Wild Adventures.

55%

Watching the Blazers game.

36%

Absolutelynothing.

9%

See pg. 6 for more information.

Check out coverage of last week’s voter registration rally!

SGA:

Housing, smoking ban discussed Joe Adgie M u lt i M E d i a E d i t o r jmadgie@valdosta.edu

Students spoke out on the issues of smoking, housing and construction on Monday during SGa’s first town hall meeting of the semester. rashanda Sanders, who did not specify her class or major, objected to the current smoking rules on campus. “i don’t like walking down the main way and having secondhand smoke blow in my face, it is not good,” Sanders said. She asked if designated smoking sections would be possible. “We were drafting a resolution towards the end of last year in the Senate, and one of the biggest arguments is, well, how

are you going to prohibit somebody from doing what they want if it’s not harming somebody, but you know, second-hand smoke is harming other people,” ryan Baerwalde, SGa president, said. Baerwalde also said that there is a state law prohibiting smoking within 25 feet of a building entrance, but the issue is enforcement. one student, Edgar James, a middle grades education junior, had a grievance over the payment of summer housing. “over the summer, there was an issue where they used to allow you to pay housing for the summer out of your fall tuition, because some people just don’t have $1700 in the summer on deck like that,” James said. “they would give you the opportunity to pay for it in the fall

using your excess check, if you had excess available.” James went on to say that he recently received an email explaining that his housing payment was due before the semester, and that it indeed said it in the housing contract, but felt that he should have been given time to save the money before the exception was cut off. Because of personal issues, James was not able to cover his housing fees for summer which raised a new issue. “if you don’t pay the $1,700, you get a financial hold placed on your account,” James said. “What does that mean? You can’t register for classes, and you’re going to be sitting at home with your parents for the fall.” amber Worthy, SGa Vice

President, noted that she agreed with James, and said that she felt like “it was a communication problem.” another question was brought up about the ongoing construction projects here at VSu, and when it would be completed. “[the construction at ashley hall] is coming to a close by the end of this semester,” Baerwalde said. “dr. McKinney [VSu president] is really big about getting the students’ space back to the students,” Baerwalde said. “You know that area in front of Palms? this is my junior year, and i’ve never once been able to walk across that quad.” a ribbon-cutting for ashley hall is set for november, and construction at the Palms Quad has been delayed due to weather,

Other items discussed: • laundry • possible men’s, women’s track and field teams • security • shuttle bus tracking app which has prevented planned outlets from being put in tables on the Quad. SGa meets every Monday in the Cypress room of the university Center.

Hookah smoking gains popularity ZTA hosts Pink Out for breast cancer

Veronica Dominicis S ta f f W r i t E r vmdominicis@valdosta.edu

&

Von Kennedy a S S t . f E at u r E S Editor vmdominicis@valdosta.edu

Von Kennedy

hookah has become increasingly popular with VSu’s students, however, its popularity also comes with new health risks. hookah is an all-natural tobacco mixed with honey, molasses and fruit extract and is flavored with different scents. recently, smoking hookah was found to have some of the same health issues as smoking cigarettes. according to the Centers of disease Control and Prevention, hookah is no safer than cigarettes. Even after being passed through a water filter, hookah still contains harmful chemicals including carbon monoxide, heavy metals, and carcinogens. Charcoal that is used to heat the tobacco can cause the smoker to inhale more carbon monoxide and metal than that of someone who smokes cigarettes. Many of those who do smoke from the water pipe are aware of the health effects caused by smoking the flavored tobacco. "hookah can be harmful to your lungs, obviously, but especially to your heart,” said ivan Morales, junior psychology major. “after all, it is tobacco." When asked about the hookah community at VSu, Morales says almost everyone that he knows smokes hookah at least once a month, if not more often.

a S S t . f E at u r E S Editor vtkennedy@valdosta.edu

Perry davis, junior mass media major, also smokes hookah, and explains the difference. "Both have their perks,” davis said. “While hookah isn't something i can take with me everywhere, it definitely puts me in a more relaxed state of mind which makes it worth the extra work when i get home. “Cigarettes however, don't have as much of an effect, but i buy a pack every now and then as backup for when i'm on the

road or in town,” davis said. although Morales and davis are aware of the effects, the social setting makes it acceptable to them. Vendors of hookah agree with both Morales and davis. Chris Matuszczak, one of the owners of “Smokin’ aces”, a hookah lounge in downtown Valdosta, and alex abell, a co-owner at “divided by Zero”, a novelty shop on Baytree road, believe that hookah is not as harmful as

cigarettes. “Cigarette smokers would argue that hookah is more dangerous because you can smoke for an hour and you can smoke a cigarette in ten minutes,” Matuszczak said. “Yet cigarettes contain more chemicals and toxins that companies throw in.” Matuszczak also looks at the opposing view. “hookah smokers would say

Zeta tau alpha will kick off the fifth annual Pink out this weekend at the VSu vs. Waters football game to support Breast Cancer awareness Month. during the game, VSu players will wear pink accessories with their uniforms. Zta’s national philanthropy is for breast cancer education and awareness. “We’re hosting the game to raise awareness and also to raise funds for early detection and research,” Kailynn Jeffords, a junior nursing major and philanthropy chairman for Zta, said. the Pink out game is just the beginning when it comes to events for the coming month. on tuesday, Zta will host the 15th annual “Big Man on Campus” male beauty pageant which features 14 men from various campus organizations and fraternities. they help spread awareness for the cause through the males on campus. Events during this month will bring much needed publicity, help raise money for breast cancer victims and survivors and help towards prevention of the disease.

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Lowndes County gears up for election Amber Smith Editor-in-ChiEf amsmith@valdosta.edu

With fewer than six weeks until the nation votes for the next president, lowndes County is gearing up for the election. Several organizations, both on campus and off, have held voter rallies trying to get citizens registered to vote before the oct. 9 deadline to be eligible to cast a ballot in the november election. the lowndes County Board of Elections is preparing for a large turnout during the early voting period oct. 15-26. “We’re really pushing early voting,” tiffany linkswiler, elections official, said. “that last week of early voting is going to be really busy.” during this period, registered Georgia voters can cast their bal-

lots in person at the Elections office at 2808 n. oak St. in Valdosta even if they are not registered in lowndes County. hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for those unable to get to the polls during the week, the Elections office will be open for Saturday voting from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on oct. 27. the office will reopen with extended hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. from oct. 29nov. 2. according to linkswiler, all of these voting times count as early voting and allow all Georgia voters to vote in person at the Elections office. however, those who wait to vote on Election day will have to report to their assigned polling places between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on nov. 6 to cast a ballot. Voters’ assigned polling places will depend on where they are

“You need to let your voice be heard...Get educated on who’s running and let’s vote. ” - Jason Romano registered. “You need to be registered where you consider your residence to be,” linkswiler said. those with temporary residences, such as students and military personnel, may have to consider which residence they want to use to register to vote. the difference comes in when local elections show up on the ballot. Voters registered in lowndes County are eligible to vote for local officials such as sheriff,

coroner and county commissioners. Voters registered in other counties will, instead, have the option to vote for candidates running for these offices in the voters’ home counties. though they don’t have to be registered in lowndes County to vote early here, Jason romano, a Valdosta resident and local business owner, thinks students should be registered locally. “[… W]ith VSu, you have people coming down here for four years who say ‘oh, i’ve just going down there for four years then i’m going back home, so i don’t need to register down there. it’s not that important,’” romano said. “Well, it really, really is because your four years may turn into eight years. You might say ‘hey, i like Valdosta; i want to move down here. i want

to stay down here; i want to build a family here.” “You need to let your voice be heard,” romano continued. “We have that right to vote. it’s there for you so go out and register and vote. Get educated on who’s running and let’s vote.” romano’s business, divided By Zero, was one of the locations of recent voter registration events. the lowndes County Ga. liberty outbreak hosted the rally as part of its “divided By Zero appreciation day.” alex abell, VSu alumnus and divided By Zero co-owner, agrees with romano about the importance of citizens exercising their right to vote. “in any kind of representative government, you want to be informed of who you’re voting for See VOTE, Page 2

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Waffle House caught on fire

sePtemBer 27, 2012

Vote Continued from Page 1 and you want to be able to vote for the people who are going to control aspects of your life,” Abell said. Linkswiler wants students to know that they really do make a difference. “The population at the university level is so great that they can make a difference in any local election,” she said. “When John Eunice ran for City Council, he won because of VSU.”

Happy ‘Tator Day! Daniel Young / The SPeCTaTor

Fire trucks and police rushed to the Waffle House on St. Augustine Road Tuesday night. According to Connie, a worker who declined to give her last name, one of the two grills in the kitchen caught fire. “It’ll put us in a rut for Friday and Saturday,” she said. The Valdosta Police Department and Valdosta Fire Department declined to comment on the situation.

Check out the Web Spectator for more stories and slideshows! Upcoming events Oct. 2 Meet the Candidates, hosted by the Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce, will be 5 to 7 p.m. Continuing Education Building The general election will be Nov. 6. Oct. 2 Faculty and staff may schedule an appointment for a flu shot. The shots are $20, cash or check. Student Health Center Call 219-3200 to schedule an appointment. Oct. 3, 7 p.m. The second Student Organizational Success Workshop will focus on Robert’s Rules of Order and leadershiop. Student Union Ballroom A Anyone is welcome to attend. Oct. 9, noon to 1:30 p.m. A resume writing and interviewing workshop, sponsored by Target Corporation, will be held by Career Services. For more information call 3335942. Oct. 9, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. A mock interview workshop, sponsored by Target Corporation, will be held by Career Services. For more information call 333-5942.

Police Briefs Sept. 25 A leaf blower was stolen. A bike was stolen from the Fine Arts building near the entrance closest to the Fine Arts Gallery. An iPhone was reported stolen at the Rec Center. Sept. 23 A driver was issued a citation for failing to stop for a pedestrian crossing the crosswalk at Oak and College Streets. Sept. 21 A black ‘09 Malibu was broken-into while parked at Oak Parking lot, section G. Some items were reportedly stolen from the vehicle. Officers inspected the vehicle and found the doors would not properly lock. Sept. 20 A black Chevy truck’s back windshield appeared to be kicked-in while parked in the Media Services parking lot for about one week. Sept. 19 A car was reported having a broken window.

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cYaN MaGeNTa sepTember 27, 2o12 Hookah continued from page 1 cigarettes are worse, because they have all the chemicals and hookahs only contain .05-percent nicotine, is filtered through water and has absolutely no tar.” Smoking Aces, according to Matuszczak, is filled with VSU students on weekends. Abell says the sales of hookah related materials at Divided by Zero are high. “I think hookahs and its materials are our best sellers,” Abell said. “It’s popular among the students.” Abell was not aware of the CDC’s findings on hookahs, but when informed, he downplayed the findings. “You can smoke anything and there will be health concerns,” Abell said. “I feel like anything

in moderation won’t be too bad for you. Smoking cigarettes is something you do daily, yet hookahs are something you do recreationally.”

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Taylor Ruppel, junior art major, disagrees. "Why would you inhale something like that?” Ruppel said. “It's harmful to your health."

YeLLoW BLacK vsuspecTaTor.com | page 3

Launch Your Creative Career Today

Von Kennedy / The SpecTaTor

Chris Matuszczak serves a customer at Smokin’ Aces. Smokin’ Aces sells a full line of shisha flavors and other smoking accessories.

Amanda Usher PhoTo EDIToR amusher@valdosta.edu

Dr. Ye [Juliet] Chu works with peanuts—well, on peanuts. The next Science Seminar will take place at 4 p.m. today in Powell hall featuring guest speaker Dr. Ye [Juliet] Chu, postdoctoral associate. Dr. Chu works in University of Georgia’s horticulture department at the Tifton campus. Though she’s been to various seminars, this will be her first time participating in a VSU seminar. The focus of her presentation will be peanut cultivation, including the reduction of peanut allergens and the improvement of peanut oil quality. “[I] look at the genetic components and look to see if [I] could use DNA molecular markers to select for disease resistance,” she said. She wishes to learn about the students’ vision and career choice while she’s here. “hopefully I will help whoever attends the seminar [have] a better stepping stone,” Dr. Chu said in regards to her presenta-

tion. Dr. Emily Cantonwine, associate professor of biology, is fond of Dr. Chu’s work. “I’ve been following her research for a number of years,” she said. “I think she uses some advanced biological techniques to address questions related to peanut production.” The chemistry department will host the next Science Seminar on oct. 4 at 4 p.m. The Science Seminar series was co-created by Dr. John Elder, professor of biology, and Dr. Thomas Manning, professor of analytical and physical chemistry, about ten years ago. After its first year, Linda Chamberlin, former dean of Arts and Sciences, assisted in making it permanent. “There had been a lot of talk about the need to foster greater communication between our science departments and the broader professional community to benefit both faculty and students by exposure to current research on a routine basis,” Dr. Elder said. “In spite of a lot of talk, little was being done towards those ends.”

This is why he and Dr. Manning took it upon themselves to put together the first seminar relying on personal professional contacts as guest speakers. The series are weekly events that occur each semester. According to Dr. Cantonwine, this series allows students and faculty to dig a little deeper into science as they learn more about the research that’s being done. It also increases student knowledge concerning both job and graduate school opportunities in the world of science. “It helps students to see different avenues that might spark their interest,” Dr. Cantonwine said. Dr. Manning agrees with this statement, as he feels that students receive the chance to get educated about new fields that they didn’t know existed. “others might decide that a graduate program is what is in their future,” he said. “For others, it may plant a seed that surfaces later in their academic career or in their life.” The next Science Seminar will be oct. 4 at 4 p.m.hosted by the Chemistry Department.

Global prayer movement brings students together Valencia Williams S TA F F W R I T E R vwilliams@valdosta.edu

VSU students gathered around the flag pole at 7 a.m. Wednesday morning for a global movement of prayer, better known as See You At The Pole. VSU’s current president, Dr. William J. McKinney attended briefly to show support, as well as Richard Lee, assistant to vice president for Student Affairs and Dean of Students. head representatives from campus ministry associations were also present including CJ harp, the head of the Wesley Foundation and Baptist Collegiate Ministry leader, Jeff Ford. Xchange Ministries leader, Martiez Moore led the overall ceremony. Students mingled and introduced themselves before participating in worship. They then held hands in unity

and silence as Moore led them into a minute of prayer between each specific topic on the agenda.

“ There are some

things you can only do physically, some conversations you can have with people, but there are some things that only happen through prayer.” - Martiez Moore, Xchange Ministries leader

Students prayed specifically for economic, governmental and spiritual restoration, as well as the good health of VSU authori-

ties. Prayers were also bestowed on faculty, staff and administration. The event ended with asking God for academic success and strength for their fellow students regarding stressful assignment deadlines, domestic problems and safety. Moore expressed his excitement to join with tens of thousands of people in prayer. “There are some things you can only do physically, some conversations you can have with people, but there are some things that only happen through prayer,” he said. “I think it is important, especially as campus ministries, that we create a place where people can come pray to accomplish those things you cannot do any other way. When people come to Christ, it makes a positive difference in people’s lives- not just religiously, but holistically.”

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ATLANTA · HONG KONG · LACOSTE · SAVANNAH · eLEARNING

Adam Floeck, B.F.A., animation, 2012, Metuchen, New Jersey

Peanut-y professor comes to Powell Hall for seminar

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September 27, 2012

Our point of view...

What happened to childhood? What was your best pre-teen birthday present? How about a car? ridiculous-- but that may be where we’re heading as parents provide younger and younger children with technology way beyond their years. Before, kids were concerned with Barbies and baseball, now it’s all about the latest social network and technology. the kids nowadays look and act--in a sense--more grown up than grown -ups do. Blame the parents? Maybe. solve the problem. that’s up to us. digital natives—those of us for whom the internet and the digital world have always existed—have to set the boundaries of appropriate technology, especially for children. We have to be the role models. Yes kids are growing up way too fast, but maybe it’s partially the environment we allow them

cell phones aren’t just for teenagers anymore. nearly 6 out of 10 parents of children between 8- 12, have provided their children with cell phones. this is incredible--incredibly sad. if you’re 10-years-old, why do you need a cell phone? Who do you need to call that you can’t from a house phone? Go draw a picture or something. it doesn’t stop there. Why are kids that have JUst completed junior high school able to create twitter, instagram and Facebook pages? Facebook, which was originally created for college students and older adults, is for reconnecting and staying up-todate with a group, or person that you’ve met in your life-span. When you’re that young, who could you possibly have met that you can’t just call? sorry, but if you’re under 16, you have no business with a data plan. if kids really want to grow

to be exposed to. it’s mind-blowing that 11and 12-year-old kids are asking their parents to buy iphones, ipads, Macbooks and expensive game stations. Give me a break. in other words--monkey see, monkey do. Why?—because everyone else is doing the same thing, so of course they want to fit in. they want to be like their big brothers and sisters that they see on college campuses with their cool new phone, and constantly -updated Facebook status. parents are playing the role of enablers. parents-- people that are supposed to set a good example for their children and steer them away from the material things in life, are sitting back and letting these things happen. And it gets worse. this isn’t just a passing trend--this is a nationwide epidemic. According to a report from the national Consumer League,

Garrison Muelhausen

up—do it in another way. Get a life, not an iphone. What’s it got to do with us? it’s up to us to set the example for how to make a digital life meaningful.

that’s why it’s more important than ever for college students to set good examples for this younger generation. it’s up to us to show our younger siblings that technology

is a tool, not a goal. to do that, we must use it responsibly. so the next time you get a chance, take a kid to the park. Leave the ipad at home.

This editorial was written by Shambree Wartel (snwartel@valdosta.edu) and it expresses the general opinion of the editorial staff.

Education in jeopardy People Poll: J. Daniel Young OpiniOns EditOr jeryoung@valdosta.edu

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e are about to laugh ourselves out of an education. We are so busy laughing at the latest thing that Biden says, or pointing a finger at the latest way that romney is alienating his supporters, that we’ve stopped focusing on the issues. When you go to the poll in november, we are collectively about to determine the direction of education for current students and future children’s education. stop laughing at the gaffes and sound bites and start thinking about education, specifically, yours. the presidential race has politicians at odds on how to reel in the spiraling costs of getting a college education. Obama has been working with states to offer incentives for developing a common core for their primary and higher education facilities, whereas romney doesn’t want to use federal money for this endeavor. While Obama has been working with teachers unions, romney says that unions don’t have the students’ best interest at heart. And after the Chicago teachers strike recently, i agree with him, to a point. teachers unions have every right to work toward bettering conditions for their teachers. isn’t that why unions are in place to begin with? still, unions are trying to protect a portion of their membership that isn’t doing a good job and need to stop propping up poorly performing.

i am not saying that it’s the teachers fault when there is a general ambivalence of the students about education in general. then there’s the republicans stance that campuses are breeding grounds for liberalism. if any of them had actually sat in any of my classes, then they would see that my professors aren’t the beacons of liberalism they would have you believe and they have little to no influence on most students’ political views. they are already coming to the table with their own ideas. some are far left, others far right and many are in the middle. Of great concern to students should be the political promise by romney that he would turn back legislation from a federally backed low interest loan structure to one based on private sector loans. this action alone would place students’ futures back into the hands of the very people that helped create the current financial fiasco. romney implemented a solid plan in Massachusetts. One that helped fourth and eighth grade students score higher in math and English nationally. if he can pull that same story on a national

level, then i am behind him for this matter. However, there’s no guarantee that he could do this on a national level. Considering that he has flip-flopped on healthcare, there’s a possibility that he may do this on a national level for education, which is a shame because his accomplishments locally were impressive. Consider this: VsU now relies on more of your tuition money to fund education, than money from the state. With all the budget cuts to education, who exactly is looking out for education? i can only speak personally about what’s happening in Georgia because of its effect on me and my educational dollars. there’s so much talk on both sides about the importance of education, yet education seems to be first on the budget chopping block. the problem is that we have a republican majority that has messed with HOpE, while the Feds have been doing the same with pell. Granted, the president has been focusing on providing more money to pell. As a displaced worker, i have been dependent on both these and financial aid to make it

through my educational career. part of the problem in this is now that there are budget cuts impacting the amount of money VsU receives from the state, what happens to education affordability? Will there be more tuition increases? Frankly, if this happens, the state and colleges may start pricing education out of the reach of many college hopefuls. When education becomes unobtainable to the masses, we are back to the early twentieth century. the only people that could afford education then were the wealthy. does this mean that we will revert to a time of elitists control over education? i don’t know about you, but i think we have come too far to allow education to be something that only a certain class of people can afford. in november, when you are at your local polling place, think about this: the decision you make with your vote will greatly impact your education and the education of your children. not just with the national politicians, but the state and local representatives as well.

What did you do with your family for Parent’s Weekend? Jameeka Montgomery freshman biology major “My parents didn’t come down over the weekend.”

Rachel West freshman mass media major “i went home and me and my parents watched the Hunger Games.”

Angelica Simpkins freshman biology major “i showed my parents the sights of Valdosta.”

Issue of the Week: Immigration reform Stephen Cavallero A s s t. O p i n i O n s EditOr jsjcavallaro@valdosta.edu

immigration -- the word alone is a controversial and overly-discussed topic in the United states. Both Mitt romney and Barack Obama possess innovative proposals for reforming immigration, but are the laws and regulations associated with immigration really in need of reform? Or is it simply the lack of enforcing such laws that leads to the loss of millions of dollars per year due to the droves of immigrants who cross our borders illegally? romney desires to remove unnecessary temporary work visa requirements to speed up the process for temporary and sea-

sonal agricultural workers. He plans to ensure that no one overstays his or her visa and that the borders are secured with hightech fencing and security personnel. An employment verification system and elimination of any benefits for illegals also fall under romney's plan. through the drEAM Act, Obama has kept immigrants who have been in the nation illegally since they were children in the country. in addition, he has allowed for undocumented children and spouses of legal U.s. citizens to apply for legal status. increased border security and worksite enforcement has also been proposed under president Obama. the immigration systems as it stands allows for a quota of immigrants per year from nations

worldwide. the current laws and regulations bring in people who are hardworking and determined to uphold a high quality of living. these people are often seeking refuge from poverty and crime. some come for employment opportunities-- others for education. We cannot allow for the degradation of the social services and the opportunities for success

that exist for the needy and deserving who strive to support their families and country. the federal government needs to increase measures to remove those who are infringing on the system. no one who plans to infringe in the slightest on the entitlements of our citizens without first making a sacrifice should go unpunished nor remain within our borders.

“i went home and me and my parents went to the movies to see house at the end of the street. it’s not scary by the way.”

Interested in showing off your artistic side? The Spectator is looking for a new editorial cartoonist who can submit cartoons each week that illustrate our opinions.

Photo Editor: Amanda Usher Multimedia Editor: Joe Adgie Web Designer: rebecka McAleer Copy Editor: shambree Wartel Cartoonist: Garrison Muelhausen Development Editor: Chad stone Faculty Advisers: dr. pat Miller, dr. ted Geltner, Keith Warburg Reporters/Photographers:

Cody Phillips junior biology major “i went home because it was my birthday.”

Email Daniel Young at: jeryoung@valdosta.edu

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Bridgette Unger freshman criminal justice major

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Online at www.vsuspectator.com Opinions expressed in the spectator other than editorials are the opinions of the writers of signed columns and not necessarily those of the spectator and its staff. All rights reserved. reprints by permission of the editors. Views in this newspaper are not necessarily those of the Valdosta state University administration, faculty and staff.

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CYAN MAGENTA September 27, 2012

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vSuSpectator.com | page 5

West, Kardashian lookalike sex tape surfaces H ello World--anthony here. as usual it’s time to see what stories in pop culture had us talking this week. the world of television put on its best prom tuxedos and dresses and gathered for the 64th annual Primetime emmy awards. Modern family cleaned house as usual, taking home a total of three awards. Julie Bowen won best supporting actress in a comedy, eric Stonestreet took home a statue for best actor in a supporting role and the entire cast took home the emmy for best television series in the comedy category. Hosted by funny man Jimmy Kimmel, the show went off without a hitch and everyone remained on his or her best behavior. Maybe that was because Lindsay “Walking tornado” Lohan was in New York and couldn’t make it to the ceremony. We always have next year. Moving on to a couple who

will probably never grace an emmy stage: the king and queen of thirst were rocked with a scandal this past week when

Pop Addict Anthony Pope

various media outlets reported that a sex tape involving Kanye West and a Kim Kardashian look-alike was buzzing around. the tape was allegedly filmed before West and Kardashian began dating and is a full 40 minutes long. the female in the video is a dead ringer for the big-booty reality star. Neither West nor Kardashian has released statements on the matter, but since these two never shy away from attention, i’m sure it’s safe to say that they will find a way to turn this scandal into a money maker.

everyone’s favorite bad girl rihanna shared some exciting news this week. the singer announced that she will be releasing her seventh studio album in November and the lead single “Diamonds” will be dropping at some point this week. along with the new album, the Barbados born diva also announced a world tour to accompany it. Being that rihanna isn’t known as the best live singer, we’ll have to see if her #rihannaNavy is faithful enough to drop over $100 to see her in person. But i guess if Madonna is still charging people almost a $1,000 to see her geriatric-self hump the stage, then rihanna should have no problems with this new era in her music. Be sure to tune into Pop addict next week to catch up on the latest and juiciest celebrity news. Until next time peeps!

‘Dredd 3D’ lacks storyline David Lacy S ta f f W r i t e r dclacy@valdosta.edu

it’s that time of year at the movies again. the summer blockbusters have passed, and it’s not quite Oscar season yet. What we as movie goers are left with is the average run of the mill movies that really have no reason to exist other than someone finding the money to make it. So thankfully we have “Dredd.” it’s been 17 years since Judge Dredd graced the silver screen. the original, named after its main character, accumulated a fan base over the years and was remembered for its odd story and interesting setting for a movie

that came out in ’95. Unfortunately “Dredd,” the spiritual sequel directed by Pete travis and starring Karl Urban and Olivia thirlby, has nothing going for it. it’s not a bad movie-- it just has mediocre action, and the characters are so one-dimensional that they come off dull. Some of the dialogue is actually good. the best part of the movie is when Dredd and his psychic rookie partner, anderson, are talking with a drug dealer who is attempting to get inside Dredd’s mind to figure out why they have been locked inside a giant apartment building with everyone trying to kill them. the story, however, is nonexistent. this movie relies on slow motion and over-the-top violence to keep your attention. it works to some degree, but it’s uninspiring and dull for a

portion of the movie. i would have preferred the movie focused on the question of whether Dredd and the other judges should have the right to be judge, jury and executioner. there is a moment near the beginning of the movie where they start to bring this question up and then never say anything about it again. it would have, at the very least, taken this movie from run of the mill to above average. i will admit i enjoyed “Dredd” to some extent. it was hard to look past some of the technical flaws, but it was only an hour and a half and the second half of the movie picks up a good bit . i can’t say i would recommend this at full ticket price, but, if you like action and have a group of people to see it with, you might want to check it out.

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SEPTEMBER 27, 2012 ZTA

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Photo by Ritsuki Miyazak / THE SPECTATOR Ndye Secka, president of VSU Rotaract Club, a junior marketing/management major, helps out at the Pennies for Polio fundraiser last Thursday. Sydney Plunner, a junior biology major, stops to donate. The organization raised over $130, which will be given to different organizations that fight polio.

Rotaract raises funds for polio research Ritsuki Miyazak S TA F F W R I T E R rmiyazak@valdosta.edu

The members of the VSU Rotaract Club are more determined than ever to offer their support to people who suffer from polio all over the world. On Sept. 20, they hosted their monthly fundraising activity, Pennies for Polio, in which they collected over $130. The money collected will be sent to Rotary International, which will distribute the funds among different organizations that fight polio. "Every 60 cents provides treatments for child for the rest of their lives and that's why we built this fundraiser,” Secka said. The club, which is a community service organization, cur-

rently has 30 members, each determined to educate his or her community on the effects of polio. "One thing you should know about polio is that although it has been eradicated out of the United States, it’s still in different countries,” Ndye Secka, president of VSU Rotaract Club, said. "It affects about 2 percent of the world right now, and it also affects little kids, which is really sad.” Polio, a viral disease that affects the spinal cord, causes muscle weakness and paralysis. Ninety percent of infections occur in children under five. "Most people don’t know, but polio is actually really contagious,” Secka said. “Most kids contract it by being in contact with their family members. That is what we are trying to elimi-

nate, the spread of it.” Secka encourages people to take a look at what is going on outside of their country and to think about what they can do to help others. The fundraiser proved to be inspirational to some. "I did not know about any of these facts, and next time I see a polio fundraiser I will definitely donate,” Hiroki Nagatomo, a freshman undecided major, said. Secka encourages students to learn more at rotary.org The VSU Rotaract club’s organization meeting will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the UC Dogwood room. The meeting schedule and fundraiser activities are addressed on its Facebook page as well at the Rotaract VSU chapter.

Check out Spec Tech blog to find out Steven’s 4th favorite video game of all time!

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Breast cancer infects nearly one in every eight women in the U.S according to breastcancer.org. In 2011, an estimated 232,520 people were diagnosed with breast cancer and 2,140 of those cases were in men. Men with breast cancer have a higher death rate than women because of the lack of awareness and of early detection. “My grandmother died of breast cancer and my mom is an eight- year breast cancer survivor,” Jeffords said. “So personally this cause hits close to home.” ZTA is hoping to reach a large crowd of Blazer fans in Photo by Amanda Usher / THE SPECTATOR order to make the event and Kayla Shelfield, a junior biology major, sits at ZTA’s booth for Breast game a success to stop breast Cancer Awareness month, while sporting pink in support. The ZTAs cancer in its tracks in the Val- will also host the 5th annual Pink Out game this weekend. dosta community as well as naCo-chairmen for “Big Man on and yard signs all over VSU. tionally. Campus” Beka Coyle and Blythe The girls will also have philJeffords also explained that Morgan are excited for this anthropy tables on campus every with breast cancer diagnosis beyear’s event to commence. week in October between West ing so high in women, nearly In addition to the football and Nevins Halls to provide inevery girl in ZTA has a family game and beauty pageant, the formation on breast cancer member affected or diagnosed ZTAs plan to “Paint the Campus awareness and prevention. with the disease. Pink” by putting pink ribbons

Learning to compromise W hen in a relationship, it’s impossible for both partners to agree on everything. Opinions, views and thoughts will all clash at some point. This is where compromise and sacrifice both come in to play. Though these two relationship elements tend to be a struggle to achieve for some people, it’s worth the battle in the end when both partners become victors. Celebrity mental health professional, known simply as Dr. Phil, explains why people hate to not get what they want and why compromise is important. “Manage your expectations,” Dr. Phil said in an article titled, ‘ Opposites Attract, But Can They Last?’ “What makes people upset is not what happens in their [life], but when their expectations are violated. Be realistic.” For those who may find difficulty with this process, take heed to the following simple steps

which we’re sure will help you in your relationship. See where the differences lie. If you and your partner are having a disagreement, the best thing to do is to figure out where your opinions vary before things get worse.

Remember, it is not about who is right, but what solution will benefit both sides. Try to find common ground. When you and your partner know where the disagreement starts, you can figure out how each perspective is the same. Though you may not always agree, it’s the things we have in common with our significant others that brings us together— sometimes.

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Other times, it’s the fact that he or she has traits that are different that fuels the attraction. Find out, in the given situation, what those commonalities are. It will help change the mood of the disagreement when you know you have common ground with one another. Take turns with the compromise or sacrifice. Figure out what you’re willing to give up for the other person. Even if the disagreement is small--and possibly not even worth the battle in the first place-- it’s important to take what you’ve learned from examining your differences and similarities, and explore what options are open for you so everyone wins--and loses--equally. “A solid relationship is based on an underlying friendship and is a function of how well it meets the needs of the two people involved,” Dr. Phil said in the same article. “Find out your partner's needs.”

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SportS VSU Football No Room for Error page 7 | vSuSpectator.com

passing yards in their first loss and gave up 332 rushing yards last saturday. staying focused on individual assignments has been heavily stressed in practice to limit yardage given up in previous losses. the tigers’ offenseresembles the option style like UWA so it’s vital that there isn’t a repeat. the Blazers now prepare for the second half of the season and plan to move on and use their recent loss as moti-

Eric Jackson s p o rt s

eDitor

epjackson@valdosta.edu

the VsU football team is ready to rebound from their 3928 loss to No. 19 West Alabama last saturday and could use a confidence boosting win over edward Waters this weekend before they start the rest of their tough schedule. Although the following four games after saturday are against Gulf south Conference teams, the game is expected to be closer than many think against the NAiA opponent. the 2009 season was the last time the two teams met and VsU won 70-6. “i hope it gets out of hand. they are much better football team than they were in ’09. offensively, my goodness they’re scary. they do some good things and they’ve done a great job coaching those guys, “VsU Head Coach David Dean said. similar to the season opener loss at saginaw Valley state, quarterback Cayden Cochran suffered a big hit in the game that sidelined him which brought sophomore Graham Craig in to finish second half. Coach Dean this week confirmed that Cochran will be starting saturday. the Blazers were torched through the air giving up 378

“We’re not content with all this losing stuff and its about to change real soon.�

- Chris PoPe

vation. “our focus is a little better�, Quin roberson, junior wide reciever, said. “ We’re trying to put that loss behind us. We get into the meat of conference play; you don’t want to go into conference play with a loss. We’re just focusing on edward Waters right now taking it one game at a time.� VsU hits the road next week traveling to Carrolton, Ga to face the West Georgia Wolves then to Florence, Ala. the following week to face the North Alabama

Final 6 games 9/27 - edward Water 10/6 - @ West Georgia * 10/13 - @ North Alabama * 10/20 - Delta state * ^^ 10/25 @ shorter 11/1 texas A&M Kingsville * Conference Game

September 27, 2012

Ladies Soccer prepare for Anderson after roadtrip Ace Espenshied s p o rt s

Writer

acespenshied@valdosta.edu

Mac Ingram/The Spectator VSU cornerback Matt Pierce, who is tied for 1st in the GSC in interceptions, returns the opening kickoff in last Saturday’s 39-28 loss to West Alabama.

Lions. rivals UNA is currently on a two game winning streak, while UWG hasn’t lost a game at home this season. “We’ll be fine,� Chris pope, senior linebacker, said. “our preparation will stay the same. staying focusing is the biggest thing. Keep preparing and staying hungry. it’s just a loss and we got six more games.� Gerald Ford, who leads the GsC in receptions and receiving yards, hurt his knee last game

and is questionable to play this saturday. Junior linebacker Jeremy Grable will be out for the game with a sternum injury. saturday’s pink out game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. kickoff at Bazemore-Hyder stadium “We got to keep it constant that’s what we plan on doing these last six games. We’re not content with all this losing stuff and its about to change real soon,� pope said.

Sudoku

VsU women’s soccer team (61) is on the road against West Georgia tonight and palm Beach Atlantic saturday before coming home to attempt to get the first ever win against Anderson on tuesday. in what was supposed to be an easy game for the Blazers in 2011, it turned into a 1-0 loss and a lot of motivation. Coach Melissa Heinz is confident that her players will be ready for the trojans this year. “i don’t think i’ll have to coach in that game because they will be so motivated,� Coach Heinz said. in their second season ever the ladies are off to a promising start but they need to finish games much better. in their only loss this season to North Alabama this past Friday, VsU let a 3-2 lead in the 62nd minute slip away from them. the team is focusing and working hard to come out strong in the second half of games. “We are playing hard and playing smart in the first half, but come second half the team plays a little long ball and keeps us

from playing composed,� Coach Heinz said. Learning to put teams away in the second half will be important the rest of the season, and Anderson, 4-3-1 on the season, would like nothing better than to shock the Blazers again. one player that is looking to get revenge on the trojans is Blakely McClellan, who is back from a torn ACL injury. “What has surprised me most about this season was even being able to play,� McClellan, sophomore forward said. “i should have missed almost a month and a half more but now i’m able to play.� McClellan, who was tied for the team lead in goals last season with four, has yet to find the back of the net this year. Coming off the bench with three shots this season, she could be the spark in the second half the Blazers have been looking for. “We are a different team this year, we know each other better, and we know how to work together more,� McClellan said about the Anderson game. “the freshmen are contributing to the team a lot as well, so i think we are ready to play them again.�

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page 8 | vSuSpectator.com

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September 27, 2012

Ultimate Frisbee team growing fast VSU volleyball roadtrip update Kellan Rhone S p O rt S w r i t e r

kdrhone@valdosta.edu

with the motto, "think Before You throw,� the ultimate Frisbee club can't wait to start playing in tournaments. the next tournament is on Oct. 13 in Central Florida at the Kennel Kickoff. VSU's ultimate Frisbee club plans to win big this year with a huge improvement to its roster. position is key in the game of ultimate Frisbee, because once you have the Frisbee in your hands you are not allowed to move again until you throw it. Like football, the ultimate goal is to get the disc into your team’s hands in the end zone. it's a stamina driven sport. "A lot of people don't understand how fast the sport actually is," Craig Bell, one of the four captains and vice-president of the ultimate Frisbee club, said. Bell, along with Matthew and Michael pigg, and Kevin Swords are the four captains of the ultimate Frisbee club. the club is in the USA Ultimate Frisbee organization which governs tournaments and regions for ultimate Frisbee games between Division i, ii, and iii schools. this year they'll be play-

ing schools including Florida State, Florida, emory, College of william and Mary, and Notre Dame. Gavin Vawter, one of the former captains of the club, is excited about this year's large freshman roster. Bell and Swords started a Frisbee league at Lowndes High School which may have had some impact on the fact that the club has doubled its number of members this year. Bell hopes that the tournaments this year will give them the experience they need in order to win. "[the tournaments] are gonna be a really big test for the freshmen coming up,� Bell said. “it's going to be a lot faster pace than they're doing at practice. if you're not sore, you're not playing enough." two years ago the club placed 28th out of 600 other ultimate Frisbee clubs. Bell credits "heart" as being one of the greatest achievements that the club has gained over the years. "i'd rather have seven people out there that are putting everything they got into the game and lose really bad, than seven people out there that don't care,� Bell said. “Heart is something you're gonna need".

Ryan Hendrix

S p O rt S

writer

rthendrix@valdosta.edu

the VSU volleyball team hit the road early last week for what’s sure has already been an exciting trip with plenty of ups and downs for the team. After dropping their first two

games of the roadtrip bounced back to beat Union. the Blazers, (9-5 overall, 3-3 GSC), coming back from a win against Union University, play west Alabama (9-5 overall, 2-4 GSC). Although VSU is (6-1) at home, they must improve their (3-3)conference record. tania tauiliili, a senior and

middle blocker for the Blazers, brought home VSU’s first GSC player of the week Award for her performance in a three-match home stand against GSU opponents Shorter, (8-1 overall, 2-1 GSC), Alabama-Huntsville, (7-6 overall, 1-2 GSC), and west Georgia, (6-6 overall, 1-2 GSC). the Blazers have finished three of their nine matches on the

road. VSU now travels to Livingston,Ala. to compete against west Alabama Friday. Albany State will be the following opponents next week and give the Blazers their only relief from conference play in the roadtrip.

Intramural Update Registration: Cornhole (Sept. 17- Oct. 2) Homecoming 5k (Sept. 17- Oct.19) Strongest Blazer (Sept. 17 - Nov. 6)  Event Date: Cornhole (Oct. 4) Homecoming 5k (Oct.20) Strongest Blazer (Nov.7)

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