Phoenix // Spring 2015 by The Phoenix Magazine at Augusta University

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Chucktown Charm Mary Darby Garren

Wingspan 10 Sara Mays The Art of Freezing Nick Garrett

A Journey into Nothing Patrick Taylor

Backstage: Independent Artistry Shannon Pak 22

A Taste of Zimbabwe Pardon Ndhlovu

Yoga: The Westernization of an Ancient Practice Erica Ruggles

Haiti: A Journey through Pictures 28 Anna Garner & Matthew Johnson To the Stars and Back Schylo Phillips

Come visit our quaint boutique at the corner of Central Avenue and Monte Sano and enjoy the aroma of fresh baked cookies... just like mom’s kitchen! We offer old fashioned, traditional cookies as well as a wide variety of iced selections for any special occasion!

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Matthew Johnson ASSISTANT EDITOR Anna Garner BUSINESS MANAGER Kaitlin Keller ADVERTISING MANAGER Ashley Shelton CREATIVE DIRECTOR Drew Greiner ADVISOR Dr. Debra van Tuyll CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Randy Pace COPY EDITORS Erica Ruggles and Shannon Pak STAFF WRITERS Elizabeth Canas Christy Cheek Laura Cooper Letitia Cropps Mary Darby Garren Joshua Griffin Brittany Hatcher Savannah Maddox Stephanie McCray Madison Navarro

Shannon Pak Schylo Phillips Erica Ruggles Alissa Salvador Semone Sevion Summyr Sheppard Bernard Smith Shemaiah Stewart Nadeen Strachan Cody Woods

Allgood Hall E159 2500 Walton Way, Augusta, Ga. 30904-220 GRUphoenix@gmail.com facebook.com/PhxMag facebook.com/PhxMag Phoenix magazine is published three times per academic year with a press run of 2,500 copies. It is created on Macintosh OSX computers using Adobe Creative Suite 6.0. The cover is printed on 80# gloss text cover; the text is printed n 60# gloss text. The body copy is Georgia, cutlines are Century Gothic and the nameplate is Cicle. This issue was printed by K-B Offset Printing, Inc. in State College, Pa. Phoenix magazine is a student publication of the Office of Student Activities and the Department of Communications and Professional Writing at Georgia Regents University. Phoenix magazine is a designated public forum and has been recognized as such by Georgia Regents University. The publication is funded by advertising sales and student activity fees. The opinions expressed in the Phoenix do not necessarily represent the opinions of the University System of Georgia, the administration or faculty of Georgia Regents University, the editorial staff or the advisor of the Phoenix.

note from the editor Adventure, exploration, discovery…these are ideas that often drive the human spirit, and all are words that describe this issue of the Phoenix Magazine. As editorin-chief, I would like to invite you, the reader, to take a trip with us; a 36-page journey that will take you from the streets of one of America’s finest southern cities, to the far reaches of outer space. In the world we live in today, there are endless places to go, countless things to do, and so many sites to see. All too often though, the hustle and bustle of everyday life prevents us from experiencing everything that the world has to offer. As you begin to flip through the following pages, it is my hope that you are inspired. Let the words you read and the pictures you see motivate you to avoid a life that is stagnant. In the words of Hans Christian Andersen: “To move, to breathe, to fly, to float, To gain all why you give, To roam the roads of lands remote; To travel is to live.” Get out there and start living!

Matthew Johnson

Cover photo by Randy Pace

CHUCKTOWN CHARM Story and photography by Mary Darby Garren

Layout by Anna Garner

6 Spring 2015 | Phoenix

A gusto for great food, a passion for entertaining and a strong belief in Southern hospitality take center stage in charming Charleston, South Carolina. Few southern cities can surpass the allure of the Charleston low country when it comes to memorable getaway spots. It is no surprise that Charleston, a top destination in the South, has more to offer than can easily be said in a short list. For those who have never had the chance to visit Charleston, start planning your trip now. Rich in beauty and history, this city is guaranteed to wistfully sweep

you off your feet. Condé Nast Traveller, the leading luxury and lifestyle travel magazine, has ranked Charleston the No. 1 U.S., city for the fourth year in a row because of its beauty and history. A new visitor to “Chucktown” should be prepared to wander about on foot like a true Charlestonian. First, brick and cobblestone roads will lead you to King Street, a bustling row of shops, restaurants, hotels and bars that ooze Charleston charm. Each building is different than the next, with historic structures that were built as early as 1890. If you are

Two shoppers enjoying a stroll down King Street

Butcher & Bee, 654 King St., Charleston, South Carolina

lucky, you’ve trekked to a closed-off King Street during “Second Sunday” where inside dining has moved street-side, and local musicians have arranged sidewalk stages for your entertainment. As you make your way through crowds of pleasant, well-mannered people, some of the best food is waiting to be tasted. The Rarebit, a bar and eatery focused on America’s favorite comfort foods, is a must for lunch or dinner. The vintage atmosphere takes you back to another decade as you sip on specialty cocktails crafted by the always-creative bartenders. A beloved brunch spot in the city is Hominy Grill. Since their opening in 1996 in a historic Charleston single house, Hominy Grill has been serving up delicious hush puppies, po’-boys, and more low country favorites. 39 Rue de Jean, a dining destination for the lively tourist, is a vibrant cafe offering French cuisine with a twist. In true Charleston style, the brasserie is housed in a 1880s brick warehouse, which now serves as an authentic Parisian café. Maggie Bailey, a professional dancer at Annex Dance Company, moved to Charleston in 2010 and has since gotten to know many establishments around town. “If I have friends and family coming into town, Rue de Jean is on the top of my list,” says Bailey. If you find yourself hungry after a long night out, some of Charleston’s chefs are still in the kitchen. Bailey highly recommends the late-night menu at Butcher and Bee, a sandwich shop crafting bold recipes with local ingredients. “Without a doubt, Butcher and Bee has the best burger in Charleston,” insists Bailey. Next on the agenda for your trip: shopping. Whether you are looking for fine clothing for your closet, antique art for your collection or a great book for your library, Charleston has it all. King Street is quite famous, sprinkled with shops for every taste from beginning to end. Maggie Brown has been calling Charleston home since 2012, working in retail on the popular one-way street. Brown suggests the local boutiques on upper and lower King Street for an eclectic shopping experience. Follow King Street until you reach Charleston City Market, the town’s No. 1 most visited attraction. You are first greeted by Market Hall, a true testament of Charleston’s dedication to preserve beautiful buildings. Market Hall, which is a designated National

Historic Landmark, sets the scene for the amazing art, collectibles, souvenirs, food and culture found within the vast market. “First time visitors should always check out the shopping at the Market,” says Brown. “There is an endless variety of historic gifts and items that really represent Charleston and it’s people.” Bailey and Brown, both fans of downtown Charleston, also love the shopping in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Mount Pleasant is a picturesque suburban town in Charleston County, only a short drive over the Ravenel Bridge, offering even more things to do for visitors and locals. There is no shortage of entertainment in South Carolina’s prized city. Music venues, theaters, museums, and event halls are scattered around town. Beautiful coastlines like Folly Beach and Sullivan’s Island are just a short drive from downtown, making Charleston an ideal summer spot. Naturally, Charleston hosts many exciting festivals in the summertime. For 17 highly entertaining days and nights, the Spoleto Festival takes over Charleston in May and June. An internationally recognized performing arts festival, Spoleto brings talented artists of opera, theatre, dance, music, and more to stages all over the city. Bailey, a performer in the 2014 festival, looks forward to summer in Charleston for this reason. “Spoleto brings amazing people from around the world to Charleston,” says Bailey, “and their love for the festival brings them back year after year.” If you love live music, the Music Farm,

converted from a former train shed, is an event hall and bar that hosts concerts year-round. Jay Fickle, a music lover and student at the Medical University of South Carolina, tries to make every show at the Ann Street venue. “The Music Farm has a great location right off King Street,” says Fickle, “the venue never fails to bring a variety of good shows of all types of music.” Charleston effortlessly blends recreation and history. The perfect example of this combination is The Battery, a landmark surrounded by the Ashley and Cooper Rivers. The waterfront promenade, built as a defensive seawall during the Civil War, claims some of the most expensive and historic homes in the city. Fickle continues to be amazed by the grand houses every time he visits the tourist destination. “You can feel the history of Charleston when you see these homes close up,”

promises Fickle. Bailey sums up the charm of the “Holy City”: “One amazing thing about Charleston is that you can be walking down a side street of beautiful houses, and you stumble upon an old, historic church on your right, and a packed new restaurant on your left,” says Bailey. “You never know what you are going to see.” Named the “most polite and hospitable city in America” by Southern Living Magazine, Charleston will not let you down. The beloved city continues to attract more and more visitors and permanent residents as it grows and changes with time. The port city may change as people flood in and out, but the history will remain. Plan a trip, but be careful: you may never want to leave.

Mary Darby is a senior communications major.

Undergraduate Georgia Regents University Bachelor of Fine Arts (General) with interest in printmaking and ceramics

2014 11”x14” reduction cut relief

“

If I had to put it in a sentence, my work is about the duality of the natural versus the unnatural, or rather, the worldly versus the otherworldly and how they interact with each other. With regard to my prints, there is a sense of a bizarre environment in each one, yet they are coupled with seemingly recognizable elements. They call into question as to what exactly is happening within the image(s). It is in this emphasis of obscuring organic and static forms that I like my work to play on.

10 Spring 2015 | Phoenix

”

2015 22”X30” reduction cut relief

2014 6”x9¾ ” intaglio etching

“

I mostly do woodcut relief prints, as it allows me to create intense cut marks with a sense of energy and movement. My work process includes the constant sketching and collecting of shapes, textures and compositions that will later inform my larger finished works. This practice of mere sketch to fully actualized image is crucial for me, as I find enjoyment, as well as struggle, in the journey of art making.

”

Story by Nick Garrett Layout and illustrations by Drew Greiner

THE

ARTOF HOW SCIENCE IS TAKING PRESERVATION TO

CHILLING NEW LEVELS

The bell rings at Greenbrier High School, and two-dozen students rise as one, eager to move on from Art Harris’ Coordinate Algebra class. Feeling nervous in that peculiar high school way, they slip out of the room quickly, no doubt anxious to hear that same bell toll several more times before day’s end. In their haste, they pay little attention to Lauren Smith, a lab assistant setting up fish tanks and microscopes at the front of the room. Not the least bit offended by their lack of concern, she smiles as they pass. “I hope this goes alright,” she says. “They didn’t want to breed this morning.” Five minutes later, another bell rings and two-dozen more students shuffle into the room. They settle into their seats calmly, eying the array of instruments laid before them with a mix of awe and excitement. These students, unlike their fellows, have not come to learn Algebra. Instead, they have come to learn more about life and the value of preserving it

from an expert on the subject. Enter Dr. Ali Eroglu. Ergolu is an associate professor in Georgia Regents University’s (GRU) Institute of Molecular Medicine and Genetics. He is also one of the world’s leading experts in the field of cryopreservation, the process of freezing tissues to preserve them for future use. He and his lab assistant, Smith, came to Greenbrier as part of the “High School U” program, an initiative started by Andrew Kemp, assistant professor of curriculum and instruction at GRU. The program, designed to assist high school students in choosing a career field before they graduate, is still in its infancy, but it continues to grow steadily with the support of experts like Eroglu. For the occasion, Eroglu has prepared a presentation to introduce a fairly simple lab. Its focus mirrors the focus of his research; namely the cryopreservation of Zebrafish oocytes (eggs) for future use. For the students, however, the hands on

portion of the lab involves only the most rudimentary part of Eroglu’s research – the breeding of specimens. Even that, however, proves important to his research. Currently, Zebrafish are at the crux of cutting edge cryopreservation study. Yes, Zebrafish – little pet store danios, the genetically unmodified versions of the typical “GloFish.” But why? According to Eroglu, it’s because the unassuming little fish holds a great deal of genetic potential. “The Zebrafish is a model organism,” Eroglu said. “Seventy percent of our genes are shared..” In layman’s terms, a “model organism” is a non-human creature that is studied to better understand the inner workings of other organisms. In the case of the Zebrafish, our shared genetics make things like cancer research much more accessible. Previously mentioned, GloFish are also helpful in this regard.

Dr. Ali Eroglu Associate professor in Georgia Regents University’s Institute of Molecular Medicine and Genetics One of the world’s leading experts in the field of cryopreservation, the process of freezing tissues to preserve them for future use.

Danio rerio 12 Spring 2015 | Phoenix

green flourescent protein

In 1999, Dr. Zhiyuan Gong of the National University of Singapore inserted a gene taken from a jellyfish into a Zebrafish embryo. The gene, which encodes the green fluorescent protein (GFP), gives an organism a naturally-produced green glow. The result was a glow-in-the-dark, essentially see-through Zebrafish. Using Gong’s model, scientists can use selective genetic encoding to illuminate different parts of an organism, thus giving them the ability to tell how cancer and other such diseases affect a Zebrafish without ever actually having to harm the animal. Naturally, creatures so thoroughly useful to scientific study are in high demand. Unfortunately, as with any lab animal, caring for Zebrafish in large quantities (sometimes thousands at a time) is no easy task. They require regular feeding, a reliable day/night system in which to breed, and a water temperature almost 20 degrees (Fahrenheit) higher than room temperature. Without even factoring in the amount of work required keep the creatures alive and healthy, providing ideal conditions for the Zebrafish is a very expensive process. And that’s just for the ordinary, unmodified Zebrafish. With the number of mutated genetic strains growing by the day, and the cost of space to house thousands of fish growing with it, the problem is clear. But if Zebrafish eggs could be reliably frozen, using the fish for genetics research would become a much more affordable endeavor. That is the ultimate goal of Eroglu’s research.

“The number of mutant lines is, as I said, exponentially growing, so it’s pretty expensive to keep them alive,” said Eroglu. “So, to reduce cost – space issues, in some places – you have to preserve them as cells.” That said, Eroglu warned that there were risks involved. As with all things, not every venture is a success. Sometimes even the best caretakers lose their specimens. “Generations of such mutant lines requires a lot of work, expenses,” said Eroglu. “Research is expensive. So when you lose [the fish]...” he trails off, looking somber. “But, when you preserve them at low temperature, you avoid those risks. You may have infection in the facilities, you may lose your lines. Or, over time, there may have other mutations that affect the normal mutations.” In those instances, having a set of preserved eggs could prove the difference between losing countless hours of valuable research time and moving on quickly

jellyfish

zebrafish embryo

result: glow-in-the-dark transparent zebrafish

14 Spring 2015 | Phoenix

“

after a setback. That amount of flexibility is crucial given the importance of the Zebrafish, an animal that can literally regenerate its own heart. The freezing process, however, is not so flexible. There are two prevailing methods of cryopreservation: slow programming freezing, also known as controlled-rate or “slow” freezing, and vitrification, otherwise known as “flash freezing.” Using slow freezing, scientists gradually reduce the temperature of a cell until enough water has left its membrane, allowing it to be safely frozen in liquid nitrogen with the aid of a low concentration of cryoprotectants (chemical substances that protect cellular material from freezing damage). Vitrification, on the other hand, relies heavily on the introduction of cryoprotectants early in the freezing process to increase a cell’s viscosity and thus decrease its freezing temperature. The end result of vitrification is cellular material

Zebrafish is a model organism.

70%

of our

That poses an especially unique problem for scientists hoping to cryopreserve Zebrafish oocytes, which have a low rate of membrane permeability and a large yolk. More yolk means more water activity, which means less room for cryoprotectants and more potential for ice crystals. That does not include the potential for chilling injury, a phenomena in which the cell becomes damaged as it approaches the freezing point, regardless of any ice crystal formation. Facing these challenges, Eroglu’s research approaches the subject of freezing from an interesting perspective. “We will try both [methods] actually,” Eroglu said. “It will depend on the cells’ tolerance of a high concentrations of cryoprotectants. We will try vitrification, but if the cells cannot tolerate a high enough concentration of cryoprotectants, we will also try slow freezing. Both have some advantages and disadvantages. We have to look at that carefully.”

The

genes

that is, in effect, glass – preserved in a solid-liquid state. The goal of both methods of cryopreservation is to prevent the formation of ice crystals within the cell during freezing. To better understand why this is a problem, it is important to know that all cells contain water. Water serves a multitude of purposes on the cellular level, not the least of which is to provide nutrients to all of the body’s tissues. However, when water freezes, it tends to expand. Cells are usually too fragile to handle this expansion and will often burst, resulting in their death. To make matters worse, cryoprotectants come with their own set of dangers. “These cyroprotectant agents are toxic,” Eroglu said. “If you use them at high concentrations, many cells cannot tolerate it.”

”

are shared.

But in addition to the careful monitoring of cryoprotectant concentrations, Eroglu also intends to use one of nature’s own tricks to preserve oocytes. The introduction of sugars, for example, which some animals use to great effect in the wild. “We propose to use less toxic cryoprotectant agents, like sugars used innately by many organisms, including brine shrimp,” said Eroglu. “[Brine shrimp] can, at certain stages, they can accumulate trehalose disaccharide and undergo anhydrobiosis, which basically stops their metabolism and prevents the necrolysis state.” In simpler terms, that means some aquatic creatures can accumulate sugars and use them to stay alive even when taken out of water. The amount of time varies from creature to creature, but sometimes, those results are nearly unfathomable. “There are also some organisms, like

tardigrades, that can accumulate sugars when a drought occurs,” said Eroglu. “Then, they are pretty much like glass – with very little water left – and they can stay in that suspended animation state for a long time, even centuries, until water is supplied.” Currently, there is no model for the cryopreservation of Zebrafish oocytes. While the process has only recently moved out of the experimental phase in human testing, it is still by no means a sure success in every instance. Research like Eroglu’s is working to change that, but it will take time. The good news is, though, once oocytes can be easily and reliably frozen, cryopreservation research will continue in new and exciting directions. From tissues to organ, possibly some day even organisms, the art of freezing will surely carry on.

At the age of 18, I was a freshman

A JOURNEY INTO NOTHING By Patrick Taylor

What follows is a journey into nothing. Patrick Taylor is an Augusta, Georgia-born musician, music educator, writer and producer living in Atlanta. He is a self-proclaimed seeker and lover of all things indescribable, including but not limited to everything, nothing and the unknown.

16 Spring 2015 | Phoenix

A glimpse into the experience of personal dissolution. An assertion that nothing is everything.

at then Augusta State University. A healthy and sharp kid, if not a little silly, living freely without a care for the world. Early in my second semester, I became the recipient of some life-changing philanthropy and made the thousand-mile move to Boston, where I attended a music school. My first months were lonely and difficult. I missed home, I had trouble making meaningful friendships in a competitive musical environment, and I struggled with my own purpose in life. Why was I given such an opportunity so undeservedly? Why was it so difficult for me to accept? Why did I feel so pulled between a life of no cares and a life of endless worry, of constant striving toward some illdefined goal? These questions were haunting me on a daily basis. As my first New England winter approached, I began to get more and more ill. Fevers, chills, mild delusions, vomiting, incredible headaches. My personality shifted. My decision making processes grew more and more convoluted, and my passion for life completely waned. I went to hospitals and saw doctors. I went to emergency rooms while experiencing hard-to-define visual disturbances and losing motor control of my left hand. Everyone told me I was fine. Take some Tylenol, they said. You’re young and healthy. Just a cold probably. Just a sinus infection. Just the flu. But for around five months, my health deteriorated at every juncture. I grew tired of fighting. In March I used student loan money to buy a ticket to Santa Monica, California, and I sat on the beach for eight days in a mental fog, contemplating my quickly approaching death with a depression verging on indifference. I knew it was coming. And it did come. Only a few weeks after my return from California, the neighbors who lived below me made me dinner. They knew I was in a rough state and they extended kindness to me (at that point I had long since lost the energy to make any good meals). After eating, I retired to my one-room

apartment with a severe headache. I vomited in the sink. Some of the undigested food wouldn’t fit down the drain, so I began punching the sink with both hands, tears streaming down my face, my ribs heaving with desperation, my heart pounding out a weak beat. Then I lost consciousness. Though it may be more accurate to say I gained it. In that moment, my perception, the point of view I call myself, became a singularity. I was nowhere. I was everywhere. There was only darkness, in which I was suspended, like a spacewalking astronaut. It was as if the darkness were a blanket, but also an empty vacuum. And the most curious thing about this darkness is that it was complete bliss. All pain disappeared. All conceptions I possessed of any kind of identity disappeared. I was vividly aware of the nothingness, and yet that nothingness was full. So unimaginably full; I wish I could just show you. It was beautiful. There was nothing to fear. At some point in that timeless space, where I hung suspended between life and death, I heard voices shouting at me from what seemed like hundreds of miles away. They were my neighbors, banging on my locked door, worried for me. I had torn the faucet off the sink, causing water to spray all over the apartment, leaking through the floor and dropping onto my neighbor’s face as he slept. It was around 3a.m. If it weren’t for this particularity, I would be dead. Their voices came through faintly as if from a great distance, and the only responses I wanted to give (of course I couldn’t physically speak; my body had almost totally expired) were, “Why would I leave here? What do you mean, ‘open the door?’ There is no door. This is the only thing. I’m here. I’m happy.” Then I remember nothing until regaining consciousness three days later, in the hospital, surrounded by my family, the left side of my vision completely gone, but my heart full of joy.

“There was only darkness, in which I was suspended, like a spacewalking astronaut.”

t a s g k e c : a B INDEPENDENt ARTISTRTy Story by Shannon Pak ||| Photo By Gianna Joy

dam Sams sees touring as more than just a means to an end. As an independent singer songwriter, Sams takes on touring as an opportunity to travel. At 18 years old, Sams moved to Augusta and decided to pursue his passion for music. When he began touring, he quickly learned that life on the road is both “structured and free.” Since independent artists like Sams are their own agents, means of transportation, and communications coordinators, he stressed the importance of planning his days to maintain time and budget while away for weeks at a time. “It helps to have all that stuff together ahead of time because once you’re in the midst of going from city to city, it’s really hard to stay on top of e-mails or phone calls because you have somewhere you need to be or something you need to do that day,” Sams said. He needs to know how many miles a day he should be driving, the estimated times of his arrival, the amount of gas it will take for him to reach his destinations, and other important details to ensure

18 Spring 2015 | Phoenix

a smooth tour. This structured aspect of traveling as an independent artist is vital, but Sams does not forget to make time to enjoy the freer side of his career. Touring has become more than just an opportunity for Sams to spread his music and make money. His favorite aspect of touring is meeting and connecting with new people through his music. “Songs are a way to communicate. If I just drove to a city I’ve never been to before and walked up to someone on the street, [I] couldn’t just have conversation right off the bat. So, to me, music is a way to break down some barriers and create an instant connection where you can actually talk,” Sams explained. Sams constructs his tour around the mindset of meeting and communicating with people along the way. He prefers performing in listening rooms, cafes and other more intimate venues, rather than the typical concert setting to ensure a connection with the audience. This connection or relationship he strives to create is what drives

his music and inspires his writing. Sams writes his songs about his journeys of meeting new people or reflections of trying to find deeper meaning and contentment. “I think a lot of the songs I write do come out of the people I meet, from just observing how people are living in life, and learning how to be better people in the process; and just talking about that stuff,” he said. Touring has also become an opportunity for Sams to explore new cities. “There are great things everywhere you go, if you’re looking for it,” Sams said. “I think a lot of people have the mindset of not liking the place they live and want to go somewhere else, but, as I’ve gone to all these different places, I see that everywhere you go, there’s something cool and unique about that place. And, there are good people everywhere you go.” Danny Brewer seized the opportunity to communicate with people as well during his two-month bike trip. Brewer, from Atlanta-based band Besides Daniel, biked from

|singer songwriter Adam Sams

Colorado to California with just a hammock, laptop and packaged food items strapped to his back. “I was biking from anywhere to 50-100 miles a day, and I was camping at night. It was nice. I couch surfed. I met a lot of people. It was a life-changing trip,” Brewer said. When he was not sleeping in his hammock outside, Brewer couch surfed by searching online for people who open their homes to strangers passing through the city. He also depended on locals and coffee shops to make money. By living outside of the cultural norm for two months, Brewer experienced a new kind of vulnerability. “Everyone’s created comforts for themselves, not that that’s a bad thing, it’s just a part of what people do. That experience strips that away and allows you to interact with people on a different level,” Brewer said. As for his music, Brewer sang and played guitar along the way. “I ended up buying a guitar when I was in Portland,” Brewer said. “Eventually, I made my way down to San Francisco, and I would just bust on the street, just to make enough money to get some food.

If my managers knew I would be in a certain city and at a certain day, they would book a show for me. Otherwise, I would just go to coffee shops.” Brewer’s touring experiences are very different compared to independent artist Jeremy Ezell from Atlanta-based band, The Well Reds. Ezell tours through the National Association for Campus Activities (NACA), an organization that focuses on enhancing student interaction on college campuses around the country. His touring is based around students’ schedules and mainly plays in shows during the fall and spring semesters before finals. He and his band members connect with schools around the country that are looking for music similar to One Republic or Imagine Dragons. During the summer when school is out, The Well Reds play mini tours where they are on the road for three weekends per month starting in May and ending in July. “It’s hard because we have to make a minimum of like $500 for [our] band to really make money at the end. Gas expenses can come out to $250 because there are a lot of moving pieces,” Ezell explained. “It’s a lot of traveling, but we

do it because we love it.” Like Sams, Ezell’s favorite part of touring is also meeting new people. He loves seeing fans excited about music and wants to learn more about them. He is constantly striving to break down the stage-to-crowd barriers in order to continually form new relationships with his audience; this brings Ezell joy as a musician. “I’ve made very tight relationships with people,” Ezell said. “I’d like to look back at my career and see just a nation full of friends and lifelong friends in all the cities I go to. That would be amazing.” Independent music artists thrive in the new faces they see every night when exploring different cities. Touring allows Sams, Brewer and Ezell to experience new places, spread their heartfelt messages as songwriters, and earn a source of income, all while building new relationships along their musical journey.

Shannon is a senior communications major.

Singer Songwriter Danny Brewer Photo provided By Besides Daniel 20 Spring 2015 | Phoenix

FOOD

recipes from around the world

A TASTE

OF ZIMBABWE Recipes contributed by Pardon Layout by Anna Garner

Ndhlovu

chicken stew 5 pounds of chicken, diced 2 cups water 1 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 garlic clove 1/2 onion, diced 1 tomato, diced 1/4 green pepper, diced 5 tablespoons fresh cream

4 cups milk 2 eggs 3/4 cup beaten butter 1/2 cup sugar 1 cup cornmeal 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 1/2 cup sour cream

Place the chicken pieces in a large pot. Add water and salt. Partly cover and bring to boil for 15-20 minutes or until water is evaporated. Add oil to the pot and brown the chicken. When chicken is browned, add garlic, onions and stir. Incorporate the diced tomatoes and green pepper and stir. When the tomatoes and peppers are cooked through, add 1/2 cup of water and fresh cream. Stir and simmer on medium heat for 5 minutes and serve.

Pour milk into a saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and allow to cool for about 10 minutes. Add eggs, butter and sugar to the saucepan. Bring to a boil and remove from heat.

peanut butter rice Pardon is an assistant cross country and track and field coach at Georgia Regents University where he is also pursuing his masters degree in business. He was named All-American multiple times in both sports while competing at the university of North Carolina at Pembroke. He is currently training to represent his native country of zimbabwe at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

22 Spring 2015 | Phoenix

cornmeal cake

1 cup long grain rice or brown rice 2 cups water Salt to taste 1 tbsp cooking oil 3 to 4 tablespoons peanut butter Bring water to a boil. Add salt, oil and rice. Cook the rice until tender and add water if needed. Incorporate peanut butter and mix with a spoon. The rice should be a bit sticky in appearance. Add more peanut butter according to your preferred taste. Fluff with a fork and serve warm.

Preheat oven to 350째F.

Add cornmeal, stirring constantly to prevent lumps. Return to low heat and continue cooking for 20 minutes, or until thickened, stirring constantly to prevent sticking. Add vanilla extract and stir well. Melt remaining 1/4 cup butter and pour into an 8-inch cake pan. Swirl pan to coat bottom and sides. Pour cornmeal mixture into pan and bake for 30 minutes or until cake is golden brown. Cake is done when a toothpick is inserted into the middle of the cake and it comes out clean. Remove cake from oven and cover top with sour cream. Return to oven for 15 minutes, or until sour cream is bubbly and lightly browned. Serve cake while it is still warm.

D the westernization of an ancient practice

ifferent terms come to mind when people consider those who practice yoga: hippies, New Age-y, loosely spiritual types or trendy, wiry blondes who are focused on obtaining the best yoga gear available. However, beyond this common misconception is a rapidly growing community of practitioners and teachers who are dedicated to preserving the integrity of the practice and lifestyle. As yoga begins to re-emerge over the years as a trend, many are drawn to the practice because of the physical aspect. They are lured by promises of a bikini ready body or a full body detox, but neglect to delve deeper into the lifestyle. But at what point does physical performance of postures become the spiritual practice of yoga? Most believe that yoga has its roots in the Hindu and Buddhist cultures, but it is estimated that yoga has been practiced since the beginning of human civilization. The practice was first mentioned in the “Rig Veda,” a collection of mantras and rituals meant for use by Vedic priests. Its teachings and wisdom were passed down orally until the Indian sage Patanjali penned the “Yoga Sutras,” a collection of 195 statements, written in the ancient language of Sanskrit, that comment on the philosophical realities of human existence. The Sutras, which predate any organized religion, continue to influence and guide many yoga practitioners today. Patanjali’s Sutras drew from the teachings of the “Bhagavad-Gita,” the sixth book of the “Mahabharata,” one of India’s most famous epic poems. The Sutras also presented the eight limbs of yoga, which are restraints, observances, postures, breathing, withdrawal of senses, concentration, meditation and absorption, the combination of which would lead to enlightenment, or samadhi. Eventually, yoga practices were created to rejuvenate the body and prolong life. Many other types of yoga were also developed after the creation of the Sutras.

| Story and layout by Erica Ruggles | Contributing designer: Anna Garner

24 Spring 2015 | Phoenix

Yoga made its way to America through Swami Vivekananda in 1893, and he sparked America’s fascination with the East. Later, Sri Krishnamacharya taught Indra Devi, B.K.S Iyengar and Pattabhi Jois. Jois went on to develop the Ashtanga Yoga style, while Iyengar developed the Iyengar Yoga style. Devi herself became known as the mother of Western yoga,

Photo by Robert Bejil

as she played a critical part in spreading the practice across the country through the opening of her Hollywood studio in 1947. Since then, the practice has been consumed by many Americans, although it has just recently gained tremendous popularity in the Augusta, Georgia, area.

arketers in the United States have continuously been pressured to find ways to appeal to the athletic Western consumer. Consequently, yoga has been advertised as more of a fitness and bikini bootcamp routine than a spiritual practice that requires presence of mind. In fact, Iyengar maintains that the union of the head and heart occurs through yoga practice, which allows consciousness and presence to spread throughout the body and into the soul. “[Iyengar] said, ‘Yoga teaches us to cure what need not be endured and endure what cannot be cured,’” said Nicole Cox, a yoga instructor who teaches at studios around the Augusta area. “This idea of doing yoga so that way you can look a certain way to fit society’s expectations is very counter-yoga.” Nicole has been teaching for three years and was first drawn to the practice because of the spiritual aspect. Her first experience with yoga was with a personal trainer who ignored the spirituality of the practice completely, but Nicole knew that the practice was calling her to seek the

deeper, inner teachings of the ancients. “Even when I was a student, before I started teaching, I saw a lot of students who were on their mats to sweat and get a yoga butt,” Nicole continued. “Yoga is supposed to help you accept who you are and where you are.” Because she recognizes the importance of preserving the integrity of yoga and its teachings, she endeavors to teach from a traditional perspective while still appealing to Western individuals. “With the playlists that I use in my classes, I take even the very modern music that if you listen to the lyrics, it has a message in it that transcends time,” she said. “I try to theme the classes such that it’s the teachings of the ancients, but how they can apply to your life today.” While these techniques embody the authenticity of her teachings, she also asks her students to set an intention for their practice, which allows the student to cultivate a practice that is far more than physical movement. “When you bring that mindfulness to the mat and set your intention that this practice is more than just a physical practice,” she said. “You will see a drastic difference, not only in the practice itself, but in the benefits you gain.” While Nicole was drawn to the practice to experience a spiritual awakening, others, like Frankie Kraemer, sought it out for physical reasons. Frankie had been practicing for over a decade without exploring the deeper elements of yoga. After the arrival of her second child, she realized

Photo by Amanda Frame

Photo by Robert Bejil

that yoga allowed her to feel grounded in her daily life and truly enjoy a break from her kids. Shortly after, she became a yoga teacher and later opened Space Yoga in Augusta, one of the area’s newest studios. “Yoga isn’t so much of a fad, it’s more like an enduring trend,” Frankie said. “So people are getting exposed and don’t realize that there’s more to it.” Frankie has been teaching for about four years, but hasn’t noticed an influx of new students who are only interested in the physical postures, or asanas. “I’m not really trying to preserve this ancient art when I’m teaching or when I’m practicing, and I don’t use a lot of Sanskrit,” she said. “People should make their own choices about their practice. I just want to introduce people to the practice, although I do teach from an ayurvedic perspective.” Ayurveda originated from the Vedic culture of India around 5,000 years ago. It is a complex system of natural healing that can also be intricately woven into yoga practice. Frankie ties the concept of doshas, which are three bodily humors that form an individual’s physical constitution, into her personal practice and teachings. “I have practices depending on whether the season is vata, pitta or kapha,” she said. “So I use pranayama breaths and specific asanas to build heat in the body in the winter.” So when does the physical performance of asanas become a truly mindful yoga practice? “When you can let go of control,” Frankie said. Some individuals choose to venture

26 Spring 2015 | Phoenix

“It’s not specifically about weight loss or looking to get in a workout. It’s not yoga. It’s got to be about your breath, and if you lose your breath - just bring it back.”

to India to further their own personal practice and infuse more authenticity into their teaching styles. As mentioned previously, although yoga predates organized religion, including Hinduism, it is still practiced extensively in India. Ti Wegemeyer, who recently moved to Augusta from Italy, spent two and a half months in India, during which she gained a massive insight into yoga in its entirety. “I think Western yoga has become its own breed, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that,” she said. “I think there’s value in understanding that [Western yoga] is its own entirely separate animal from yoga in its original form. I think it’s important when you’re learning anything to learn the language and the history that it is based in.” Ti also found that some of the things that she learned about the origins of yoga and its philosophy at yoga teacher training in the US was different from the truth, as she learned from one of her philosophy professors in India. However, these discoveries only served to open her mind and deepen the understanding of the practice. “The first time I took a yoga class, I didn’t cry or anything like that,” she said. “But it was that feeling of complete acceptance, just complete sacred space. When I talk about it I get goosebumps - it was just, profound. So it wasn’t about the physical for me, it was a little bit of a moving meditation, a little bit of a moving prayer. It was really about through my movement and my breath, I was able to find some things, and they were able to come up, instead

Photo by Richard Stahman

of me just pushing them back down.” Ti has noticed quite a few new students during her year and a half of teaching who are largely interested in the fitness aspect of yoga, especially around New Year’s. “Heated vinyasa classes are getting popular around the Augusta area, and you just don’t know what the heat will do to you,” she said. “You read in the magazines how ‘hot’ yoga can help you detox and sweat it out. It’s not specifically about weight loss or ‘grinding it out,’ looking to get in a workout. It’s not yoga. It’s got to be about your breath, and if you lose your breath - just bring it back.” For Ti, the physicality becomes yoga when the breath be-

comes intensely involved. “It is the active movement and breath together. I think when we move and breathe and get out of our heads, it just frees us up for enlightened thoughts. Those things come to you when you aren’t focused on your brain. When you can let everything go and just be present, that’s where the yoga is. When you focus on the different parts of yoga, not just your practice, you will become kinder and want to achieve a higher version of yourself.” As yoga continues to be an enduring trend that tends to rise and fall in its overall visibility, it is important to remember that there is more to the practice than the performance of the postures. It

is a lifestyle and a mindset, and some enthusiasts may even find that performing the asanas while being devoid of mindfulness and presence is doing a disservice to the ancient practice and its practitioners, and by extension, ourselves.

Erica is a senior communications major.

Haiti

a journey through pictures

Layout and photography by Anna Garner Concept by Anna Garner and Matthew Johnson

Devastation and pover ty have wreaked havoc on this small Caribbean island. However, the editor s have witnessed the beauty and joy found in the land and people of Haiti. A life changing exprience can be hard to put into words, but they want to share their journey through pictures.

Capital is Por t-au-Prince Poorest countr y in the Western Hemisphere Haiti makes up the western one-third of the island of Hispaniola (border s the Dominican Republic). National language is Haitian-Creole. Estimated population in 2014 - nearly 10 million Major cash crop is sugar. Substinance crops include corn, rice and sweet potatoes. Januar y 12, 2010 - 7.0 magnitude ear thquake strikes and destroyes the majority of Por t-au-Prince. Estimated deaths between 230,000 & 316,000.* *data from CNN.com and Britannica.com

28 Spring 2015 | Phoenix

Ear thquake devastation in Por t-au-Prince

Children enjoying rice and beans for dinner

Yolanda smiling for the camera

Cof fee roasting in La Montagne

A typical home in the Haitian mountains

30 Spring 2015 | Phoenix

These children of Haiti are all smiles

Families who live in the mountains of Haiti walk miles ever y day to collect food and water.

THE

STARS AND BACK

Story and layout by Schylo Phillips Contributing designer: Drew Greiner

In the 21st century, space travel has gone from being science fiction in novels and movies to a reality for a select few courageous women and men. What makes astronauts want to catapult themselves into zero gravity while facing so many unforeseen dangers? For some, the spark of curiosity can all start with a book or a movie. Cody Shaw, a senior aerospace engineer major at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, watched a movie in his math class, and that is how his interest with space travel began. “Back in seventh grade, I was taking a math course. My teacher at the time watched a movie every

now and then, and towards the end of the year my teacher put on a movie called ‘October Sky.’ That actually got me really into rockets, and that was pretty much the moment,” Shaw said. Space travel is a captivating idea, but to become one of the few people that will be selected to go into space, a person must complete a long and demanding application process that takes about two years. James S. Voss, a former NASA astronaut, encourages future applicants to prepare and apply to the program until they are accepted. “There are a lot of things that people could do to prepare,” Voss said. “The gist of it is that they need to do well at everything they

do get a lot of education, and get a lot of experience. Do the kinds of things that help them to have skills that make them a better astronaut. Some of those are physical, manual skills, some are mental skills, but things that you wind up using when you are on space missions.” Bonnie J. Dunbar, a former NASA astronaut, believes that people should prepare themselves mentally before they apply to the program. “Do you like to fly? Are you curious? Are you disciplined? How do you handle stress? All of those things, NASA evaluates those attributes before they select you into the astronaut core,” she said. Only the best of the best will get

the chance of a lifetime, and once an astronaut is thoroughly trained, it is time to go into space. Packing for a trip is not always fun, but it’s necessary. Luckily, astronauts get everything packed for them before their missions. They do get to carry a few small personal items from home along with them. “We don’t bring our own stuff. We have flight suits and food and all of that’s prepared and provided by NASA,” Dunbar said. “We do get to bring a few personal mementos with us. Like a necklace from your mother or something like that; not very big.” Speaking of food, it’s not like it was in the early days, according to Voss. In the past, most astronauts’

meals were a paste that came out of a tube, but now there’s more options and they’re tasty. “The Russians send up cans, and they send up fish, vegetables, chicken and things like that. There are dried fruits and nuts that you use for snacks, some cookies, bread, quite a variety of things, and they are all quite good. They do a nice job on the space food today,” he said. Playing with food and liquids in microgravity is a nice past time, but what else do astronauts do during their free time in between space walks and experiments with fruit flies? According to Voss, working out, watching movies, and reading books such as “The Last of the Mohicans” are all popular choices, but the best thing to do? Just look out the window. “It is such a beautiful view of the earth,” he said. “It’s different than looking at a map; it’s constantly changing because there’s always different lighting and season even when you’re up there for a long time. The earth is very beautiful, so it can be really entertaining to just watch out the window and see the earth go by.” Dunbar had a different view of Earth while on a shuttle that was not quite in outer space. “The sky was full of stars, and we were lucky on my first flight that we had a full moon, so we used the binoculars to look at the features of the moon and that was pretty spectacular as well,” she said. It would be a shame to see such breathtaking sights and not be able to tell loved ones about them right away. Fortunately, astronauts had telephones during their missions and Voss explained how he would call friends and family from space. “That was particularly nice to call people that weren’t expecting, wanting to tell them that you were calling them from space,” he said. Although astronauts are able to call home and talk to family and friends, there are people that they must communicate with constantly: their crew. Crews can range from three people to eight, and Dunbar believes learning how to get along with one’s crew is important to the mission, and she had a

34 Spring 2015 | Phoenix

great crew. “We trained together for a year and a half, so they were my friends and my colleagues,” she said. Along with having shared experience and special bonds with his crew, Voss also feels a special connection with fellow astronauts that have come before him and after him. “I think it’s not unusual to have that type of bond or connection to people that have the same experience as you,” he said. “You are apart of a special group.” Being an astronaut takes a lot of time and hard work. Dunbar explains that if a person pushes them self, it brings about a satisfaction when they achieve their goal that’s

hard to replicate. As long as there is a curiosity and need for space travel, there will continue to be more adventures and advancements in space.

Schylo s a senior communications major.