new avp
GRETCHEN MOSSBURG
DEPUTY RESIGNS
The first associate vice president for inclusive excellence has been hired. Page 4
The story of one of Georgia Southern’s top swimmers.
Deputy who arrested Shai Werts had a history of conduct issues. Page 6
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thegeorgeanne
STATESBORO EDITION
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020
gamediagroup
thegeorgeanne.com
GEORGIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY
VOLUME 94 , ISSUE 18
Learn how to register and read our managing editor’s column on why voting is important. Page 4 and 6
Men and Mental Health: Addressing the stigma Page 7
18-year-old suspect arrested in University Villas sexual assault case Page 5
Campus Life events around campus Feb. 6
Feb. 7
Feb. 8
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY’S 4th Annual date auction @7p.m. Russell Union Ballroom Hang out with Habitat as some of our favorite people from around campus help us to raise money for Habitat for Humanity Bulloch County.
75�/46�
51�/33�
60�/39�
67�/46�
events around Statesboro Feb. 6
UPB Statesboro: showing the movie Joker @6p.m. and 8p.m. Russel Union Theater This event is free and open to the public; students, please bring your Eagle ID. Concessions will be available for purchase. Cash only!
Feb.
72nd Annual Miss Georgia Southern University Scholarship Pageant Starting @6p.m. Nessmith-Lane Performing Arts Center!
Feb.
Watch contestants perform in a variety of areas for the title of Miss Georgia Southern University! Once crowned, the winner could go on to become Miss America!
Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
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TRIVIA AT BAJA BORO
@8p.m. – 10p.m. Baja Boro, 711 S Main St, Statesboro, GA $150 in prizes Topics include: Harry Potter, The Super Bowl, 2018 movies, TV, USA, Beer & Liquor, history. F1RST FRIDAY - DOWNTOWN DATE NIGHT
@5:30p.m. – 7:00p.m. 2 N Main St, Statesboro, GA Date night downtown Statesboro. Walk downtown Statesboro an enjoy an evening of shopping, dining and entertainment. THRIVE-CROSSFIT BORO
@8:30a.m. – 9:30a.m.
1189 Sarahlyn Ln, Statesboro, GA We are dedicated to improving the overall quality of life for our community through fitness and wellness, by providing an innovative, constantly varied, highly functional program for our members.
Your Valentine’s Day Horoscope Leo:
Aries
March 21 – April 19 Hit by a sudden craving for love? Don’t be alarmed as Mercury enters Pisces on February 3rd. Now is a good time to do all the romantic activities you’ve probably been putting off. Communication during this time is also important so those activities go as planned.
Taurus
April 20 – May 20 Your confidence, creativity and ability to instantly capture someone’s attention is going to work well in your favor this month. As Mercury moves into Pisces, efforts of communication are strong, use this opportunity to tell a potential love interest exactly what you want and how you feel. Be Assertive and all should be well.
Gemini:
May 21 – June 20 Love and work are high on your to-do list this month, and being the air sign you are, you should have no trouble balancing the two. Rely heavily on your gut if the situation becomes too tricky. On Feb. 7, you’ll be strongly seeking love but don’t be surprised if you may not find that special Valentine. Focus on your work.
Cancer:
June 21 – July 22 Like many of your fellow signs, communication is crucial in getting what you want. This may be with lovers, friends or family. On Feb. 9, allow this time to reflect strongly on what you want. Spend some quality time with yourself, and in the following week, you’ll be spending your Valentine’s with someone truly special.
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July 23 – Aug 22 Want to move on and surely put the past behind you? Then it’s up to you to actually do that and Pisces can help. Be kind but also practice assertiveness. The weekend of Feb. 7 is all about you and spending time with your special someone. The enthusiastic weekend to come will surely lead you in the right direction as Valentine’s Day approaches.
Virgo:
Aug 23 – Sep 22 You maybe marking off the days until V-day, but hold your horses. The first week of February has other plans for you. Like your dreams. Stop planning the most romantic date ever for a minute and go after what you’ve been waiting for. The hustle starts now. Prepare to also be challenged in your relationship. As the love planet approaches, it’s time to sit down and have that talk you’ve maybe been avoiding.
Libra:
Sep 23 – Oct 22 You’re energized with confidence as Venus enters Aries. Say what you want and mean it. Now is the time to talk to a love interest or potential one about where the relationship is going. Be bold and confident and you should be fine. Use this newfound confidence and go all out when Valentine’s Day arrives. Two words: Rose petals.
Scorpio:
Oct 23 – Nov 21 Your friends and partners are a big deal this month. When Mercury enters Pisces, the mood is chill. Spending quality time with friends will leave you thoroughly satisfied. Feb. 9 brings a full moon, and the Lion inside of you should be embraced. Selfcare is important here. Keep this energy flowing, and Feb. 14 will be something special.
Front page designed by Kayla Hill
Sagittarius:
Nov 22 – Dec 21 Mindfulness is going to work well in your favor this month, so practice it. Communicate carefully. You may not be fond of walking on eggshells, but it will be a good idea that you try it. Feb. 7 brings romance Venus into Aries and the time is all about you. Spend it with whoever and however you want.
Capricorn:
Dec 22 – Jan 19 Being assertive is the only way you’ll be getting what you want, and planet Venus will help with that. On Feb. 7, communicate exactly what you want to your partner. This should help you decide how you’ll be spending the following special weekend.
Aquarius:
Jan 20 – Feb This is your season and while romance isn’t normally your specialty, you’ve decided to let down those walls as Plant Venus (aka the love planet) enters Aries on Feb. 7 Exactly a week before the big day, you have plenty of time to make those connections. Both romantic and platonic love is hot on your radar.
Pisces:
Feb 19 – March 20 Always stuck between craving love and needing freedom, you like your friend Aquarius, often struggle in the love department. But as the Love Planet surfaces, keep your eyes open on Feb. 9. Any potential love interest is sure to last. Stay alert for any reappearing exes.
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#SeenAtSouthern Our photographers went out on campus and snapped some photos depicting life at Georgia Southern. Come back every week or follow our Twitter, @GA_Visuals, to see if you have been spotted!
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS The George-Anne Statesboro Edition is the official student newspaper of the Statesboro campus of Georgia Southern University, operated by GS students using facilities provided by the university. The newspaper is the oldest continuously published newspaper in Bulloch County. The newspaper is published once weekly, on Thursdays, during most of the academic year. Any questions regarding content should be directed to the student editor email at gaeditor@ georgiasouthern.edu.
ADVERTISING: Any advertising inquiries should be directed to ads1@ georgiasouthern.edu. The GeorgeAnne receives additional report in part from the Student Activities Budget Committee. For more information, rate cards, or sample publications, contact the advertising manager, ads1@georgiasouthern.edu, or student media director David Simpson. The advertiser is responsible for any errors in advertisements and its liability for adjustments is limited to the amount of space the error occupied in the ad. Further, the newspaper is not responsible for any damages caused due to an ad’s omission from a particular edition and its responsibility solely is to reschedule the ad in the next regular edition at the regular advertising rates.
TAMARA TANKSLEY/staff
After a week of cold rainy weather, Caitlyn Meeks and Mya Wilson enjoyed the nice weather by playing football at Sweetheart Circle.
SHAUN BOYCE/staff
Joseph Kurey was spotted carrying an umbrella outside the Williams Center during last Friday’s cold and wet weather.
PUBLICATION
INFORMATION:
The newspaper is printed by The Statesboro Herald in Statesboro, Ga.
NOTICE: One copy of The GeorgeAnne is free to each person. Multiple copies may be purchased for $1 each by contacting ads1@georgiasouthern. edu. Unauthorized removal of multiple copies from a distribution site constitutes theft under Georgia law, a misdemeanor offense punishable by a fine and/or jail time. CORRECTIONS: Contact the editor at gaeditor@georgiasouthern.edu for corrections and errors. THE GEORGE-ANNE MEDIA GROUP: The George-Anne Media
DOREEN FOSCO/staff
Professor Nicholas Radko and his students took an educational trip outside for class Wednesday. Observations for geology classes can be done right on our own campus.
Group is made up of print and digital publications within the Office of Student Media. These publications have been designated a public forum for student expression by Georgia Southern University. Student executives in charge of each outlet are authorized to publish or decline to publish in any medium content of all kinds without prior review by any employee of Georgia Southern University. The publisher of all George-Anne Media Group outlets is the Student Media Executive Board, comprised of the editors-in-chief and division managers listed below. The George-Anne Statesboro Edition weekly newspaper is assembled by The George-Anne Creative Division from content provided by all digital outlets listed below, with additional content and writing by The GeorgeAnne Division. All George-Anne Media Group outlets are headquartered in the Williams Center. The Office of Student Media administrative office is located in Room 2016.
STAFF LIST THE GEORGE-ANNE DIVISION Editor-in-Chief Blakeley Bartee News Managing Editor Sarah Smith News Editor Alexis Hampton Sports Managing Editor Amanda Arnold Sports Editor Elijah Jackson THE CREATIVE DIVISION Creative Editor-in-Chief Rebecca Hooper Creative Managing Editor Morgan Carr Project Design Editor Kayla Hill Photo Editor Isis Mayfield G-A Designers Lauryn Terry, Emilie Powell, Madison Terry, Daniel Castro Marketing Manager Alexis Freeman Business Manager Coy Kirkland The Studio Editor-in-Chief Lawrence Algee The Reflector Editor-in-Chief Noelle Walker
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Opinions
@TheGeorgeAnne
2020: The year of the voters
2-6-20
Voter turnout should be higher than ever this year
SARAH SMITH Sarah is a junior journalism major from Glennville, Georgia
As we creep into 2020, many young people are still apprehensive about voting in this year’s election. The fact
that we are still talking about this is absolutely ridiculous. Despite an improvement in voter turnout in the November 2018 midterm elections and in many 2019 state elections, people still think their vote isn’t that important. Huh? I have heard it all before and I have thought it all myself. As a matter of fact, I’m ashamed to say that I didn’t vote last year. After educating myself on voting and on the issues that those in power have control over, I quickly realized that I have power to make a change and do amazing things. Here are solutions to a few excuses I have heard regarding voting. “The process of registering to vote is aggravating.” I thought this too until I was registered to vote at a music festival last summer. I was registered by HeadCount, a nonpartisan organization that uses the power of music to register voters and promote
participation in democracy. It took me all of five minutes to write my name down. You can register to vote in Georgia by visiting their website. If you are already registered and want to double check your status, you can do that at HeadCount as well. “I don’t live in the county I registered in, so I can’t.” There is a thing called absentee voting. You can vote by mail by applying for an absentee ballot. You must apply before March 20 and the ballot must be received by the election day. “It takes too much time to educate myself on the candidates and what they stand for. I don’t have the time.” There are many really great journalists and organizations who sum up politics and national issues in a clear and concise way. One of my favorites is Minute with Mads, @minutewithmads, on Instagram. Mads is a 23-year-
old journalist who uses Instagram lives and posts to sum up major headlines. Another favorite outlet of mine is TheSkimm. TheSkimm is a free email subscription that you can sign up for. I love TheSkimm because the writers make the news comedic and fun to read. “I just don’t care that much to vote.” Don’t lie! Of all of the issues and political debates I see on Twitter, I know that everyone cares about something. Whether it is the right to bear arms, more gun control, free health care, women’s rights, abortion laws, immigration, the environment or social security, everyone has an opinion, and I bet everyone is very vocal on at least one of the mentioned topics. This is where your newfound education comes in. All representatives have a stance on these issues and more. I’m sure you won’t agree
with everything one person says, but it’s good to know where you stand on certain issues, that way you can match your opinions and thoughts to those of the candidates. No matter what side you are on or who you plan to vote for, I value your vote. Lawmakers value your vote. You should value your vote. Set aside time, register to vote and practice your 15th amendment right. Georgia’s Presidential Primary election is March 24.
Eagles in the Super Bowl
MITCH SMITH Mitch is a senior writing and linguistics major from Camden County, Georgia
Georgia Southern University alumni made history and brought inspiration to our campus as they become the fourth and fifth Eagles to make it to the Super Bowl. Matt Breida and Jerick McKinnon who now play for the San Francisco 49ers continue to set great examples as two former who took advantage of their opportunity and worked hard to succeed.
One of America’s biggest nights in football, the Super Bowl means something special to our community. It is inspiring to see someone who walked the same campus as us and shared a college experience unique to our community reach the potential that they have. There are only a few athletes who have competed on football’s biggest stage and we should celebrate their success, especially our Eagles as we hope to see this tradition continue and encourage others to succeed. Matt Breida graduated GS in 2017 and was named First-Team All-Sun Belt two consecutive years in a row. He led the Eagles in rushing yards his senior year and was signed as an undrafted free agent to the 49ers in 2017. Breida has 623 yards with the 49ers this season totaling 1,902 for his NFL career. He has become a main component in the 49ers running back system and continues to help their success as a team.
Jerick McKinnon, a 2014 GS graduate and twice named team MVP was unfortunately on the injured reserves for the big game. Before last season began, McKinnon suffered a torn ACL. He returned to practice briefly but will need another procedure before he is able to fully play. The third round draft pick is still making the most of his opportunity and can be seen enjoying opening night of Superbowl LIV on the 49ers YouTube channel where he interviews teammates with fun questions and reflects on the past season. These two Eagles join the ranks of Adrian Peterson, Fred Stokes and Earthwind Moreland. All five of these athletes took on the task of making it to the Super Bowl and have done a remarkable job by representing GS, showing our campus and our community that there is no limit to how high Eagles can soar.
Do you have an opinion that needs to be heard? The George-Anne welcomes letters to the editor and appropiate guest columns. All copy submitted should be 350 words or fewer, typed, and sent via e-mail in Microsoft Word format to gaeditor@georgiasouthern.edu. All submissions must be signed and include phone number for verification. GS students should include their academic major, year and hometown. The editors reserve the right to reject any submission and edit submissions for length.
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Opinions expressed herein are those of the Board of Opinions or columnists themselves and DO NOT necessarily reflect those of the faculty, staff or administration of GS, the Student Media Advisory Board, The George-Anne Media Group or the University System of Georgia.
To contact the editor, email gaeditor@georgiasouthern.edu
@TheGeorgeAnne 2-6-20
Associate Vice President for Inclusive Excellence
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Georgia Southern selects TaJuan Wilson for position recommended in inclusive excellence report
BY SARAH SMITH
The George-Anne staff
STATESBORO — Georgia Southern University announced Wednesday morning that TaJuan Wilson, PhD., has been selected to be the first associate vice president for inclusive excellence. This position was one of the seven recommendations that Damon A. Williams, PhD., included in his diversity and inclusive excellence report, Three Campuses One Heartbeat. “Georgia Southern has demonstrated a clear commitment to Inclusive Excellence through the creation of this leadership role, and I’m thrilled to be selected,” Wilson wrote in an email. “After having the opportunity to interview on all three campuses and interacting with students, faculty, and staff, it became immediately apparent to me that Georgia Southern is primed for incredible success.” Wilson plans to continue to listen to the experiences and needs of students, faculty, staff, alumni and the communities of GS. Wilson said he wants his role to affect how GS centers their efforts in meaningful and
intentional ways to ensure student success is always at the forefront. Wilson has been a diversity and inclusion consultant since 2017. Wilson starts his work at GS on March 1. “At Georgia Southern, he will continue our efforts to develop our Inclusive Excellence vision and strategy,” according to an email from GS Communications and Marketing. “Dr. Wilson will be a strategic partner with faculty, staff and students to initiate, define, and implement our inclusive excellence initiatives, policies and programs. This work will support the center pillar of the university’s strategic plan, through which all our populations will feel valued and respected, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation or identity, education or disability.” Wilson has work experience from the University of Iowa, where he served as the special assistant for external relations and associate vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion. Before that, he was the executive director of student programs at the
18-year-old suspect arrested in University Villas sexual assault case BY ABBY FULLER
The George-Anne contributor
STATESBORO — A special Talk Tuesday featuring the first 500 African-American Georgia Southern students will be held Feb. 11 as part of Black History Month. The Diversity Peer Educators, an initiative by the Office of Multicultural Affairs, will host the Talk Tuesday, The Integration of GS. Talk Tuesdays are discussions held every second Tuesday of each month to discuss current events or social justice topics. What sets this particular Talk Tuesday apart is the groundbreaking
Western Wyoming Community College, and assistant director of TRIO Upward Bound at Southern Arkansas University, according to GS Communications and Marketing.
NO PRESIDENT AFTER VOTE BY ASHTON CHRISTIANSON The George-Anne staff
Harris turned himself in after police issued a warrant for his arrest on felony rape charges, according to the press release.
Talk Tuesday to feature alumni panel on Georgia Southern integration BY FERNANDA CAMACHO HÄUSER
Medical University of South Carolina. Wilson was a director of GEARUP Wyoming, a college access and awareness program for low-income and first-generation students near
SGA seeking solution after inconclusive election
The George-Anne staff
STATESBORO — An 18-year-old man was arrested Monday in connection to a sexual assault that was reported at Georgia Southern University in November 2019. Brandon Harris, from Evans, Georgia, was identified as the suspect in a sexual assault at University Villas reported to the GS Police Department on Nov. 17, 2019. Harris is not a student at Georgia Southern University, according to a GS press release.
PHOTO: TAJUAN WILSON
TaJuan Wilson, PhD., is the first associate vice president for inclusive excellence at Georgia Southern.
individuals who will form this month’s panel, the GS First 500. Three to seven of these pioneering individuals will be talking about their experiences as the first 500 AfricanAmerican students here at GS. Just like last year’s event, students and community members will be able to ask the panel questions along with enjoying free catering from the local SmoQue Pit. The event will be held in the Russell Union in room 2080 at 5 p.m. This event is organized by Isabel Thomas who is the graduate assistant for Diversity Peer Educators and the Office of Multicultural Affairs.
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STATESBORO — The Student Government Association announced that there is no new overall SGA president for Georgia Southern University at their meeting on Wednesday night. With the votes not resulting in a two-thirds majority for either executive vice president, Kahria Hadley or Spencer DeMink, there is currently no overall president and no steps in measure of what to do for this case. “The constitution, as it is laid as a product of consolidation, there are some gaps as in terms of what to do when somethings happen or when somethings don’t happen,” Ken Gassiot, SGA advisor and GS associate vice president for student engagement, said. Gassiot said that he, another advisor and Melanie Miller, GS vice president for student affairs, will discuss what do to about the election issue and figure out a plan. Hadley said that the organization is having its annual SGA convention in March or April and that she hopes to discuss the gaps in the constitution. “The constitution was just kind of put together all
of a sudden when we first consolidated, so it has been kind of difficult to try to work through,” Hadley said. “It has been a little bit difficult, so I believe it is definitely going to come up so we can make more concrete of a plan.” Other News Hadley had a meeting with GS Police Chief Laura McCullough about the jogger incident on S&S Greenway
walking trail. “I just wanted to bring it on to campus since it’s not that far away from campus and bring it to Chief McCullough,” Hadley said. “They are heavily increasing patrols on that area since they know that students do walk along that area a lot.” Hadley said the police are doing this by increasing patrols around there and sending officers on bicycles.
To contact the editor, email gaeditor@georgiasouthern.edu
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2-6-20 GRAPHIC: CIERRA HORTON
- Where To Register -
- Where To Vote -
- Democrat -
You don’t even have to leave the comfort of your own bed! You can register at Georgia’s online voter registration.
You can vote right here in Bulloch County! Just make sure you are registered and you must bring a photo ID.
Michael Bennet
www.mvp.sos.ga.gov
113 North Main Street, Ste 201 Statesboro, GA 30458
Joseph R. Biden Jr. Micheal R. Bloomberg Pete Buttigieg John Delaney Tulsi Gabbard Amy Klobuchar
- Check Your Voter Registration Status
GO
Think you might already be registered to vote but can’t remember? You can simply visit the same website listed under how to vote.
Deval Patrick Bernie Sanders Tom Steyer Elizabeth Warren Andrew Yang
- Republican Donald J. Trump William F. Weld Joe Walsh
How and Where to Vote 2020 Presidential Elections Deputy who arrested Shai Werts resigns from Saluda County
PRAY THE GAY
AWAY Author to present "Pray the Gay Away: The Extraordinary Lives of Bible Belt Gays" lecture MCCLAIN BAXLEY/file
Charles Browder resigned from his deputy position at the Saluda County Sheriff’s Office. He was found guilty of conduct unbecoming at his previous position in Lexington County. BY BLAKELEY BARTEE AND ELIJAH JACKSON The George-Anne staff
SALUDA COUNTY, S.C.— The deputy who arrested Georgia Southern University quarterback Shai Werts resigned from his job at the Saluda County Sheriff’s Office on Jan. 20. Charles Browder’s resignation came before an investigative report by Liz Owens at WRDW was published. According to the article, Browder was found guilty of conduct unbecoming at his previous job at the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, but was allowed to keep his certification and get a job at the Saluda County Sheriff’s Department because he resigned in lieu of termination. Browder’s conduct documented by Lexington County includes sending a shirtless picture of himself to a minor and asking the child to secretly meet with him, having a sexual relationship with a woman on duty and saying, “You want a divorce so [expletive] bad, why Page designed by Madison Terry
don’t you make something happen?” to a suicidal woman involved in an alleged domestic situation, according to WRDW. Saluda County did not fire Browder after learning about the findings of Lexington County’s investigation, according to WRDW. Browder pulled over Werts on July 31, 2019 for speeding and arrested him on a drug possession charge after using a test kit on a white substance on Werts’s car and saying it tested positive for cocaine. However, the charge was dropped by the Saluda County, South Carolina Solicitors Office after further testing showed the substance was not cocaine. The George-Anne has requested comment from Chief Deputy Toby Horne at the Saluda County Sheriff’s Office. On Werts’s behalf, Associate Athletics Director Bryan Johnston declined to comment, stating in an email, “Shai has said multiple times that he does not wish to comment on this matter any further.”
BY DAVIS COBB
The George-Anne staff
STATESBORO — Bernadette Barton, professor of sociology and gender studies at Morehead State University, will present her lecture “Pray the Gay Away: The Extraordinary Lives of Bible Belt Gays” on Feb. 24 and Feb. 25 at Georgia Southern University. The lecture, sponsored by the GS Department of Women’s and Gender Sexuality Studies (WGSS), presents the results of five years of Barton’s work interviewing gay men and women about their experiences growing up in the often unsupportive religious environment of the Bible Belt. Barton was inspired to learn about these experiences after she had an encounter with homophobia herself. “It made me very curious about what it was like,” Barton said. “What it would be like to grow up here your whole life, surrounded by this [homophobia], and how it would shape you.” This is the first time Barton has spoken at GS, but it is not the first event of its kind; WGSS has been on a mission to raise awareness for LGBTQ populations on campus since 2017, and has worked to bring several advocates to campus to
assist with this, including LGBTQ rights activist Ericka Hart. Lisa Costello, WGSS program director, said homophobia is rampant, but people are often afraid to talk about it. She said she would like people to come engage with ideas around homophobia. “And it is unfortunately connected to Christian settings — and not all Christian settings are homophobic settings, but some are — and I think that this event could really open conversations around why that is and help people understand that every individual experience is unique and important to hear, and people deserve to be who they are, and be loved and accepted for that,” Costello said. Barton hopes that people will come away from the lecture with a better understanding of the plight of these people who have dealt with homophobia, and that the LGBTQ people who attend will feel that they are being heard and represented. The lecture will be on Feb. 24, in the IAB Room 1020 at 6:30 p.m. on the Statesboro campus, and on Feb. 25, in Ballroom A of the Student Union at 6:30 p.m. on the Armstrong campus. Barton will also hold a book signing after both presentations.
To contact the editor, email gaeditor@georgiasouthern.edu
2-6-20
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ADDRESSING THE STIGMA OF
MEN AND MENTAL HEALTH BY OLIVIA CRAFT
The George-Anne Reflector staff
Men and mental health are two words that people normally would not put together, and if they are, they usually carry a stigma. Considering college can put a strain on mental health, it is important to address the stigma that men are inadequate if they suffer with their mental health. “At any one time, it is believed that one in five women and one in eight men are diagnosed with a common mental illness, such as anxiety, depression, panic disorder or obsessive compulsive disorder,” according to the Counseling Directory. The Counseling Directory also reported that “talk therapy has been shown to help with many of the key mental health issues experienced by men, including stress, anxiety, addiction and depression.” Men tend to suppress their feelings to the point where they are not even able to understand that their feelings are their feelings, Jared Yates Sexton, associate professor of writing at Georgia Southern and author of the book “The Man They Wanted Me to Be” said. “Men sort of mask everything under the space of control,” said Sexton. Sexton explained that when men, or anyone for that matter, bottle up their emotions, it is hard to understand what is going on inside of their heads. “If you’re not going to complain, then there is no way to understand what is going on internally,” said Sexton. In other words, talking out your feelings can help you understand exactly what you are feeling. Lauren Patterson, a licensed psychologist at Georgia Southern’s counseling center, explained that bottling up emotions is dangerous because
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when men cannot recognize distinct feelings, the only emotion that is prevalent is anger. This can lead to physical abuse, emotional abuse and even substance abuse. “Physical injuries are akin to mental health injuries,” said Sexton. Benjamin Drevlow said that you have to “remember that all men are going through this. It is a matter of being brave enough and man enough to admit it.” Once men start communicating their feelings, regardless of their fear of being seen as inadequate or their fear of being judged, the stigma surrounding men struggling with mental health may begin to disappear.
happens when men try to reach this unattainable construct called masculinity, and when they cannot, they try to overcompensate until their masculinity becomes toxic. In his book, “The Man They Wanted Me to Be,” Sexton explains what toxic masculinity is: “This, I’ve come to learn, is how toxic masculinity works. Most every man suffers for his inability to live up to the rigors of masculinity as a child, and most every man feels like an outsider…The performance continues until there’s no performance anymore. There’s just a man who knows no other way.”
REBECCA HOOPER/staff
Quote by Benjamin Drevlow
Drevlow said that we are a couple of generations away from this, however, because the people who socialize the men of current generations tend to enforce the idea of masculinity, which leads to toxic masculinity overall. Toxic masculinity is what
Patterson said that what leads men who are suffering with mental health issues to suicide or abuse is the idea that “the only emotion men are allowed to express is anger and the idea that you must pull yourself up by the boot straps and take matters into your own hands.”
“Suicide is the biggest cause of death for men under 35,” according to the Counseling Dictionary. Men bottling up their emotions is a construct etched into society from years ago when men saw themselves as the hunter-gatherers and workers of the family. With that belief came the idea that men had to be tough in order to take on the masculine roles of household, said Patterson. However, because society has already moved away from this belief –– seeing that men can be homemakers and women can be the hunter-gatherer of the family without very much backlash –– it is important to get rid of the idea that men have to be stoic and unwavering in their emotions. In fact, Gretchen Livingston reported for Pew Research Center that, as of 2012, the number of stay-at-home fathers had risen up to 2 million, according to Pew Research’s Social & Demographic Trends. Drevlow said that it is socially acceptable by men for men to be angry. When men are wavering in their feelings and are nervous or worked up over something, they are seen by many men as inferior. Many men are taught that it is feminine to express emotion that is not anger, so it is important to communicate and work to blur the lines of the stereotypical masculine and feminine constructs. Patterson said that a way to break this stigma and help men’s mental health is to vocalize that “it is okay to feel what you feel.” Full-time Georgia Southern students are permitted 16 free visits per year with a licensed psychologist and are promised anonymity. To schedule an appointment, call 912-478-5541 (Statesboro Campus) or 912344-2529 (Armstrong Campus).
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Georgia Southern baseball prepares for new season with championship aspirations BY ELIJAH JACKSON The George-Anne staff
The Georgia Southern baseball team opens their season next week with the hope of getting back to the conference championship. Coming off a 35-24 season, the conference championship game loss to Coastal Carolina last summer is still fresh in the team’s mind. Head Coach Rodney Hennon, who has held the position for 21 seasons, feels that this team can continue the success it had from last season, especially with the number of players returning this season. “Yeah, I mean I think this is a
team that’s capable of winning a championship, and getting to the NCAA regional,” Hennon said. “There’s a good nucleus back form last year’s team and we have a good core of guys that have been in the program for several years now that have continued to develop.” The Eagles will be fairly young as they have five seniors and 17 total sophomores and freshman. Hennon believes that the older players will be able to help the younger players transition from high school baseball to the collegiate level, which can be tough for some. “We’ve got some young guys that will be able to contribute
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and play some key roles at times,’ Hennon said. “I think our younger guys are in a good situation from the standpoint, we’ve got a lot of older guys around them.” Steven Curry leads a crowded pitching room, with 21 total pitchers on the roster, as he holds a 7-1 record as the starting pitcher. Mason McWhorter returns after he led the team with 12 home runs and 57 RBI with a batting average of .321. McWhorter was named to the 2020 Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference Baseball Team. The Eagles went undefeated in the fall when they took on College of Charleston and
Gordon State College in four exhibition games. This was the second year in a row where the NCAA has allowed Georgia Southern to play exhibition games in the fall. Hennon feels that these tough early match ups should really help show what their team is made of. “I’m a big believer that if you want to be a championship team and you want to get to the NCAA regional you have to play those caliber clubs early in the year and that’s how you improve and get better,” Hennon said. “I think we were a better team last year as the season progressed and one reason for that is, a lot of the
the pitching we faced early in the year were some of the elite arms in the country.” Hennon also added that playing elite talent helps players improve because then they know what to expect as the season progresses. The season starts with a five game homestead against Ball State and Georgia Tech and then a three game visit at East Carolina in Greenville, North Carolina. The Eagles play three schools ranked in the preseason top 40 rankings to start the season, while Sun Belt play doesn’t start till March 13 in a three game homestead against Troy.
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TEAM ROSTER
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Shayla Smith INF/OF
ailee Wilson inf
Harlee Rewis rhp
Kyleigh Richardson rhp/of
Shelby Barfield 2b/ss/rhp
10 Alisha House of
Jonai Conlin c/util
Faith Shirley 1b/3b
Ellington Day of
Rylee Waldrep rhp
Ashlynn Gunter inf
Aaliyah Garcia rhp
Jess Mazur rhp/ util
Linzie Lafavor c
Ashleigh Morton RHP
ALLYSAH MULLIS C
Olivia Creamer 2b/ss
Ashleigh Duty of
Alia Booth inf/of
Mekhia Freeman of
Sydney Horton c
Mary Grace Howard of
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Georgia Southern softball’s new coffee bean culture at the forefront of the 2020 season BY AMANDA ARNOLD The George-Anne staff
The Georgia Southern University softball team opens their season this weekend with a new mindset and a few new faces on the coaching staff. Coming off of a 23-28 season complete with a brief appearance in the conference tournament, the team returns five seniors to the roster. The Eagles said goodbye to a whopping six seniors last season, including outfielder Shelby Wilson who led the team with 37 RBI. This off-season, Head Coach Kim Dean wanted to push for the team to grow together off of the mound and learn to work together as a team. This will be just her second full season in Statesboro, as she was previously at Armstrong State, and she went through a grueling hiring process to fill vacant spots on the coaching staff. “We obviously have two new
coaches, we have a lot of new kids,” Dean said. “So just really trying to get us to understand that that success is built from ... within our locker room, more importantly. We really focused on that and ... the fundamentals of the game.” The team introduced Dani Price from her alma mater, McNeese State, and Brock Van Faussien from the University of Pittsburgh to the softball program during the off-season break and both have received a warm welcome by the team. The seniors raved about the positive contributions they’ve made in the few short months that they’ve been a part of the program. The team has adopted a new theme for this season, nicknamed a coffee bean culture. Adapted from the wildly popular motivational book from best-selling author Jon Gordon, a coffee bean culture is defined as a culture that is willing to be changed by taking action.
This book’s main ideas have been implemented by the program from the team to the coaching staff to the extended staff, including the strength and conditioning coach and the sports psychologist. The team exchanges coffee beans every practice as small tokens of affirmations for their teammates, on or off the mound. Simple actions like giving each other rides or cooking a team dinner for each other is worthy of a coffee bean and it has helped the team to build a stronger bond. Five seniors are at the forefront of this movement within the program, including Mekhia Freeman, Shayla Smith, Alia Booth, Sydney Horton and Ellington Day. Dean emphasized that the team’s goal this season was to create a family atmosphere and enjoy the struggles that the season is bound to bring as a collective group. “I’m pumped, I’m ready to go,” Freeman said. “I’m kind
ISIS MAYFIELD/staff
The Georgia Southern softball team leans over the gate watching the next Eagle at bat. The team will begin regular season with the Bash in the Boro tournament this weekend. Page designed by DANIEL CASTRO
of sad but I’m excited though because everything we’re doing means we’re moving in the right direction. It’s good to see.” Freeman was selected as a Preseason All-Sun Belt outfielder and was shocked by the league’s decision because she did not feel like last season
on the roster and Dean plans to rotate them frequently. “I think that we have a couple that will take the bulk of the innings,” Dean said. “There’s no rule that we can’t put in a pitcher for one or two outs, there’s no rule that we can’t flip starters quickly. All of our pitchers will help us in
“If you put a carrot into hot water, it softens, but a coffee bean is the only thing that changes the water... We don’t let the water change us, we change the water for the better. We really have taken that full stride.” KIM DEAN
Softball Head Coach was anything special as an individual. She was proven wrong by Sun Belt officials. The fall season was cut short due to weather, but Dean does not think that the schedule change hindered the team in any way, and infielder Shayla Smith echoed the sentiment. “The few games we did have really showed our potential,” Smith said. “We’ve all established these great relationships, so I’m excited to see on Friday how that portrays in the game.” When it comes to pitchers, GS has a plethora of choices for who can take the diamond. There are currently six pitchers
certain ways.” On the flip side from last season, there are many away games on the schedule, meaning a travel-heavy lifestyle for the next few months. Three Power 5 schools will make a trip to Statesboro, and at the end of the season, rival Georgia State will host the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. The team will play host to Hartford, ETSU, Rutgers and Army West Point during Bash in the Boro on Eagle Field this weekend. Conference play will not begin until March, so the team has ample time to prepare this young roster for a strenuous Sun Belt schedule.
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Eagles add UAB transfer to 2020-21 roster BY ELIJAH JACKSON The George-Anne staff
Georgia Southern men’s basketball coach Mark Byington announced on Monday that junior guard Zack Bryant will transfer to the program. Bryant is a transfer from UAB who only played three contests in the 2019-2020 season. He will be a junior in terms of eligibility and will be able to play next season. “Zack is an extremely talented guard, and we are excited to have him in our program,” said Byington. “He can dominate the game with his athletic ability, his scoring ability and breaking down defenses to find others.” Byington also said that Bryant is looking for a fresh start that is closer to his home. UAB announced on Nov. 18 that Bryant was dismissed from the UAB men’s basketball team for conduct detrimental to the team. Before being dismissed by UAB, Bryant was averaging
11.0 points, 2.7 assists and 2.0 rebounds while shooting 60 percent from 3-point range. He averaged 14.1 points, 3.5 assists and 3.3 rebounds in 70 contests in his two previous seasons with the Blazers. His best game for the Blazers was against Canisius College where he had 26 points, seven steals, four assists and five rebounds off the bench, while also shooting 64 percent from the field and 50 percent from three-point range over the course of a season-high 37 minutes. Bryant was a part of the Conference USA All-Freshman Team in the 2017-2018 season and the All-Conference USA Third Team in the 2018-2019 season. His junior year, he broke Memphis Grizzlies guard and former Duke star Grayson Allen’s single season record at Providence High School with 634 points. He will look to bring a scoring presence to the Eagles next season.
He can dominate the game with his athletic ability, his scoring ability and breaking down defenses to find others.” MARK BYINGTON
GS men’s basketball coach
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GEORGIA SOUTHERN ATHLETICS
Zack Bryant will play for the Georgia Southern men’s basketball team next season, announced by Head Coach Mark Byington on Monday.
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Gymnast turned Swimmer
GEORGIA SOUTHERN ATHLETICS
Gretchen Mossburg is a senior on the swimming team. She is one of two members of the diving team. BY ELIJAH JACKSON The George-Anne staff
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Gretchen Mossburg:
Gretchen Mossburg originally wasn’t a swimmer, even with family ties in swimming with her, but after deciding that she was done with gymnastics at 15 years old, swimming became her primary sport. Mossburg followed in her mom and uncle’s footsteps as they both were swimmers. Her mom swam through highschool and her uncle swam at the division two level. “My parents found out that at a young age I was athletically skilled and they wanted me to use that skill to go to college and use it to get a scholarship,” Mossburg said. One of her gymnastics coaches actually suggested that she start diving because one of the girls on the gymnastics team left and started diving. Mossburg has had a love-hate relationship with swimming. In high school, she admits that she lost her passion for the sport. “There’s times where I definitely have gotten burned out,” she said. “Definitely, I will say I was really against going into a college sport in high school until junior year. That was also when my passion came back for doing a sport and I realized I did want to go for a college sport.” Mossburg is a 2D studio art major and she says that it has helped her form time management skills while juggling being a student and a division one athlete. Being originally from Maryland, Mossburg wanted to stay in-state to go to college. After doing her research, she realized a lot of the colleges around her really didn’t have
the things she was looking for. When she looked at Georgia Southern, she saw that the school did not offer an illustration major, but a more broad spectrum of majors that she was interested in. In 2018, she jumped to the fourth-best spot on the all-time Georgia Southern performance list after getting a score of 280.25 in the 1 meter event at the 2018 CCSA Championships. “I want to say it does make me feel proud that I do leave back some sort of legacy, especially being like a senior now,” Mossburg said. “When it comes to diving, I’ve never really paid attention to the scores and the scores did matter to me but as soon as that meet finished that meet was in the past.” Diving Coach Collin Vest has not been at GS for Mossburg’s entire tenure as an Eagle, but she says that he has helped her in many ways since his time as her coach. “He definitely had a different coaching style than what I’ve had in other diving situations,” she said. “In the beginning Collin and I butt heads a lot in the beginning the first year he was here. But over time I started to open up my mind and be more open minded to his coaching style.” Mossburg believes that the team genuinely feels like a family and since she’s the oldest, the other girls are all like little sisters to her. If she could go back in time, she would tell her freshman self to just relax and embrace the journey of being a collegiate swimmer. “You’re going to get through this kid,” she said. “You’ll be okay. It’s gonna go by so fast. Just go for the ride and see where it takes you.”
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Puzzles
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The George-Anne 2/6/20 Crossword Across
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To contact the creatitve editor-in-chief, email prodmgr@georgiasouthern.edu
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