EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Taylor Buettner ADVISER Dr. Debbie van Tuyll DESIGN EDITOR Lauren Ramos WRITERS Emily Garcia Sarah Tyschen Madeline Burgin Aaron Nipper *Steven Goodwin WINGSPAN WINGMAN Trey Nevard WINGSPAN Rachel Visintainer Trey Nevard Jacob White Mark Watke Jasmin Rivas Paige Abell Reach Us augustaphoenix@gmail.com 706-737-1600 2500 Walton Way, Augusta, Ga., 30904-2200 JSAC Room 237
Editor’s Note In this semester’s edition, The Art Of…I wanted to appreciate my time here as a student. I have found beauty in tragedy and laughter in pain. Each moment is different than the next and time does not wait for me. Every experience is a piece of my growth and progression into my next stage of existence. I hope with this winter edition of The Phoenix, you can reflect on your own time here and think about what type of legacy you want to leave. I hope you can explore things you never thought of doing; take advantage of your resources that you didn’t know were there; make sure you’re happy (first and always) and above all, be kind and compassionate towards your peers. Thank you so much to Dr. Debra van Tuyll for allowing me to edit The Phoenix these last three semesters and entrusting me with it, for making sure I don’t get way in over my head and for always being completely candid with me. A major thanks to my staff for this edition; thank you for lis-
tening, striving for excellence and being passionate about what you do. A special thanks to Lauren Ramos for your work ethic and commitment. Thank you to Amanda Main and Ravyn Chatmon for advice, guidance and support throughout my last semester as editor. This is an extremely bittersweet moment. I am proud of my work here, but I can’t help but feel like I haven’t done enough, or what I have done could’ve been better. However, my journey doesn’t end here, it begins here. And I am forever grateful for that.
*Name has been changed to protect privacy The Phoenix is a student publication at Augusta University. Opinions expressed are those of the authors and not the editors or the institution. The Phoenix is published twice a semester. The magazine is printed by Claffey Printing, Augusta, Georgia.
Winter 2019 • 3
ARTICLES
WINGSPAN
pg 4 The ‘I’ in Fraternity by Emily Garcia
pg 21 Exposed by Rachel Visintainer
pg 6 Walking In An International Students Shoes by Sarah Tychsen
pg 22 What To Do About The Cold? by Trey Nevard
pg 9 Breaking Down Barriers by Madeline Burgin
pg 23 Quarters by Jacob White
pg 12 The Benefit of the Snout by Emily Garcia
pg 24 Hands by Mark Watke
pg 14 The Art of Deceit by Emily Garcia
pg 25 Jacket by Mark Watke
pg 16 The Art of Fake News by Aaron Nipper
pg 26 Several Questions I Have by Jacob White pg 27 A World of Panic and Pigmention by Jasmin Rivas pg 28 i wrote this because i am tired of writing about you by Madeline Burgin
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Winter 2019 • 5
The Art of Perspective: A Series of Experiences
The ‘I’ in Fraternity Steven Goodwin identifies as asexual or having no feelings of sexual desire towards any gender. Goodwin also identifies as a brother of a fraternity, which he elected not to be named, at Augusta University. Fraternities are generally depicted in pop culture as groups of men reveling in each others’ acts of masculinity. While some would argue that fraternities in actuality are a lot more community service oriented, others would argue that pop culture isn’t too far off base in the way it portrays fraternity brotherhood behavior. On Urban Dictionary, the second most popular definition for fraternity, defines a fraternity as, “A multi thousand-dollar buddies club where you can feel like you fit in somewhere, when in fact you’re just a crowd following alcoholic sheep conformist with no real identity outside of your paid for ‘brothers’ who’s (sic) main hobbies include: getting drunk every day, failing classes, having sex with intoxicated women, developing alcoholism and getting stds (sic), and judging other people for not conforming with your group...” Fraternities often throw mixers with sororities and host date parties where a brother is expected to bring a date, according to
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Goodwin. Goodwin also says that, in many ways, fraternity brothers are well acquainted with acting on heteronormativity and often repeat offenders. And, that this can marginalize fraternity brothers with sexual attractions to any gender besides women, as well as discourage potential fraternity brothers who lie anywhere on the sexual spectrum that isn’t pin straight. Goodwin wanted to join a fraternity to find a group of men committed to bettering themselves. Yet, he describes his experience as not quite what he expected and something he would do differently, if he knew then the things he knows now. Going into rush, Goodwin was a bit apprehensive about how receptive brothers would be to his eccentric tastes and lack of interest in talking about women. He notes, “[I went into rush] expecting conformity. I knew I had to conform. I knew that consciously, too.” Goodwin recounts writing a list of ways not to appear uncommon. He includes that he tried to talk the way everyone else was talking and to downplay his interests. “In some regards it [downplaying one’s interests] is upset-
ting, it is a bit superficial.” Although in the time since Goodwin entered his fraternity, he has expressed to a few members his lack of interest in sex. Goodwin says he chooses not to tell everyone because he wants to maintain some level, as he repeats is the ‘key word,’ of conformity. “In a fraternity you need a little bit of conformity, and I’m already fairly eccentric in my interests. I don’t want to add to that eccentricity by saying that I’m asexual because I already have barriers. I don’t want to add more to that,” he says. Nobody in his fraternity has
onormative socials where a female date is expected are not usually a problem for him, as he often asks his female friends to accompany him. But rather, group conversations among fraternity brothers sometimes exclude him or leave him with an unsavory taste in his mouth. “One time they were having a dirty conversation regarding sleeping with other people. It was rather, I wouldn’t call it sexist but maybe a little bit objectifying towards women,” he recalls. Goodwin says,“I can’t relate to any of that. All I can do is listen
ever bullied Goodwin or called him out in front of others for his sexual orientation. Goodwin says his brothers are relatively open minded, although they have been known to make jokes about homosexuality before. “They’re playful. If they do make fun of someone for being homosexual, it’s more of teasing them. It’s not generally derogatory. In some ways, there is a non-overt prejudice. They may not think they’re being derogatory, and they might be fine with it [being derogatory] but they might see homosexuals, or maybe asexuals in my circumstance, inferior in a small degree or another,” Goodwin says. It’s little things like that the make Goodwin feel slightly less valued. Goodwin explains that heter-
because I think it’s rather vulgar. I think those are private things. There were a couple times I just couldn’t talk, not because I didn’t want to, but because I’d be faking interest. There were times that, not only could I not do anything, but I felt awkward. I felt like, ‘Oh God, I need to take a shower.’ I felt like there was a grime growing on my back.” Goodwin advises men of diverse sexualities to be sure that above all they share hobbies with the men they hope to be in a fraternity with. “If one were to share similar interests with the people in the fraternity, they’re going to get along fine.” He qualifies his statement: “There are homosexual men with very feminine mannerisms, and they are accepted. They don’t necessarily fit in as well but have
“I know what I’m not. I’ve learned a lot about myself. I learned about setting barriers, I’ve learned saying no, I learned that I don’t have to like everybody and everybody doesn’t have to like me. The most palatable people are not complex,” remarks Goodwin
some level of comradery [since they have similar pastimes].” As for Goodwin, he assumes he will not be in a fraternity for too much longer. “Ultimately, with more progressive values being encouraged within fraternities, I have hope that diverse sexualities will be understood and welcomed more in the fraternity environment,” he says. All told, Goodwin feels he learned a great deal about himself by joining a fraternity. “I know what I’m not. I’ve learned a lot about myself. I learned about setting barriers, I’ve learned saying no. I learned that I don’t have to like everybody and everybody doesn’t have to like me. The most palatable people are not complex,” remarks Goodwin.
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Walking In An International Students Shoes by Sarah Tychsen Inhale…Exhale…Breathe. I kept telling myself over and over again. I could not gather the strength to breathe as an enormous amount of pressure-filled my chest like there was no escape. “Make a choice. You have to make a choice,” my mother and father exclaimed. At that moment, laying underneath the covers with tears rolling down my face, I knew the next words that came out of my mouth would change my life forever. “Inhale and exhale and then spit the word out. It is not hard,” I told myself. A part of me could not get myself to just say, “Yes,” because I was so afraid of the what-ifs and the endless possibilities if I made the wrong choice. Jul. 27, 2016, my family and I arrived at Johannesburg International Airport and made sure my baggage was correctly checked in. We walked towards the doors where I knew it was time to say goodbye and leave everything I had ever known behind. I kept telling myself it was just a “see you soon,” but the air in the at-
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mosphere became as cold as ice. It was in that moment that I realized I had either made the best or worst choice. I knew there was no turning back. I felt weak and wept like a child in my parents’ arms. That lasted for a couple of minutes but only felt like a few seconds. As a tightly knit family, moving across the ocean to a new country was a grueling task to take on. I could not help but notice as I was saying my final goodbyes that other families were saying their final goodbyes as well. Airports used to be exciting for me, the thought of flying made me enthusiastic, but I observed that airports were no longer that happy and exciting after all. I pulled myself together, and while waving goodbye walked through the doors to make my way to the hand luggage clearance area. As I started to make the long walk to the front of the passenger line my mind was completely and utterly blank. I could not get myself to take a deep breath no matter how hard I tried. I was carrying my hand luggage in one arm while trying to
rub the tears that did not seem to come to an end from my eyes with the other. I went down a couple of lanes, and as I was about to get to the passenger line, I told myself, “Don’t look back through the glass doors, don’t do it or you will crumble.” Of course, I looked. I mean who wouldn’t? I saw my mother blow me a final kiss and mouth the words, “It will be okay,” I felt a rush of warmth fill my chest. I got through customs and headed to the place where I was supposed to board and took a seat. I packed the notebook my mother told me to not read until I am on the plane back into my bag and tried to remain calm. The lady sitting next to me asked me where I was going, and I could not hold back the overwhelming emotions I felt. I just sat there silent. I felt mortified that I could not say anything, but luckily, I was saved by the microphone. Bing: “Ladies and gentlemen boarding for flight 201 Delta airlines from Johannesburg, South Africa, to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has begun, we
are calling Zone E.” Oh boy, that’s me. “Breathe and pick up your luggage and walk towards the terminal,” I told myself, in amongst feeling a grueling sense of guilt and shame. I make my way through the tight rows and find my seat; I take out my notebook and necessities and sit down. What felt like a lifetime only lasted 16 hours. The plane was so cold, and the turbulence at 35,000 feet made me feel the sickest I have ever felt. I spent most of my time pacing up and down the aisle and before I knew it, it was almost over. “This is your captain speaking. We have 30 minutes until landing. Please secure all baggage and find your seats.” The time had finally come – touch down. I made it off the plane and to the customs check-in point, but the wait was not over. The line was so long that it took me three hours just to get to the front. Exhausted and emotionally drained, I missed my flight to Augusta and sat waiting several hours for the next one. When I finally made the touch down into Augusta, I felt a
sense of relief. After some much needed rest from jet lag and a trip to Hilton Head, I met with International and Post-doctoral Services in downtown Augusta about a week and a half later. Little did I know my world was about to be turned upside down for the second time. “Sarah, I am so sorry to say this, but you have the wrong visa. You need to return home and apply for the F-1 student visa,” Beverley Tarver exclaimed. I sat there in dead silence, starring into the wide-open space. “Sarah…Sarah, did you hear me?” Miss Tarver said. “Well isn’t that just the cherry on the cake,” I told myself. I get to Augusta and from what I was told, I could do my visa here, only to find out regulations had changed. I packed up half of what I came with and headed back home to get the correct visa. This meant more money for my parents and time wasted to not do what I came to Augusta to do. I waited and waited with a lot of patience. After losing six months
of eligibility to play golf for Augusta University, and time that I could have put towards my degree, I felt useless. I felt ashamed because I had no time to process anything. Nothing seemed to be heading in the right direction. I felt like it was easier to give up, but I was not a quitter, and one thing I knew for sure was that regardless, I had to finish what I had started. I traveled back to Augusta on Dec. 23, 2016 – this time with my family. I was ready more than ever to get the show on the road. I practiced hard and learned a lot over the six months back home and was determined to succeed. I met the golf team, who were a fantastic group of girls and made me feel very welcomed. My nerves, if I had any left, hit me hard. I realized that being an athlete back home is the complete opposite in comparison to what it is like here. I was little to nothing in competition with the other girls on the team. I told myself that I either have to stick with it and work hard or walk away. Two-and-a-
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half years later, and I could not be happier that I seized the opportunity that was right in front of me. It was difficult at times to balance a student life with an athletes life, but my coach taught me to “Keep my chin up and to always push through.” Being an international student is difficult. You arrive in a new country in total isolation. You do not feel as powerful as you did in your own home country. You realize that left, right and center people are figuring you out because you do not act or speak the same way as them.
tions to what I felt when I was sent home, but not nearly as bad. I feel safe, but also afraid and unsure of my future because at any minute I could hear “approved or denied” by the Department of Homeland Security and that gives me goosebumps just thinking about it. A part of me feels empty and in desperation as I now wait five months to hear news that could change my future. Questions in my head that appear every day such as, “Did my parents waste all this money for nothing in the end? Am I good enough to stay? Will I get good news?”
I felt like it was easier to give up, but I was not a quitter, and one thing I knew for sure was that regardless, I had to finish what I had started.
I started from the beginning, a clean slate and a new chapter that I did not know would turn out to be quite the opposite of what I intended it to be. I did not think I would last and certainly did not think that the people in Augusta would be so welcoming and friendly. I did not think I would achieve even half of what I have achieved, or better yet call Augusta my second home. I will graduate this December, and the process for a new visa has started. I did not initially want to stay. I wanted to finish my studies, get back on a plane and leave without ever returning. The urge to leave quickly changed when I realized just how much I belonged. Of course, I feel similar emo-
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As international students, the fight to stay begins from the moment the word, “Yes” comes out of our mouths. Would I change my decision to move here? Absolutely not. Do I fear my future? Most definitely. I started a new and exciting journey three years ago, and all I can do as an international student is live in the moment, trust the process and hold onto every last bit of hope that I have left inside of me knowing that I am right where I am supposed to be.
BREAKING DOWN by Madeline Burgin
BARRIERS
Through the Housing and Community Development Department (HCD) and the Augusta Richmond County Continuum of Care (COC), Augusta streamlines services for homeless individuals. The main cause of homelessness nationally is economics, explained by Daniel Evans, the community development manager for HCD. He further explained how homelessness can often be a numbers game. To help end homelessness, the HCD pursues affordable housing and preventative measures through partnerships within the COC. “Through our department, Housing and Community Development, our specific focus is on the creation of affordable housing
whether it be for rent or for people to become homeowners,” Lasima Turmon, program supervisor at HCD explained. She then explained the limitations a government department have tried to solve homelessness, “People look to the governing body for the answer without understanding that the governing body can advocate for the answer; it can be limited in its ability to be the answer.” The main limitation is the delicate balance between the public and private sectors trying to address the housing crisis but maintain sustainability. The cause of this limitation is cost; how to retain profit and upkeep while being affordable. “The majority of properties that are being developed don’t be-
long to the city. So, the answer is not the city. The answer is who is going to sit at the table with us to address it, to recognize it and intentionally include it,” Turmon said. “It” being affordable housing, Turmon explained that this answer resides within the private sector and community partners. Evans explained that the COC acts as a network of partners trying to streamline resources to help end homelessness. “The Continuum of Care is a partnership network of local nonprofit agencies and service providers that look to provide services to persons experiencing or at-risk [of being homeless].” Turmon added, “The Augusta Richmond County Continuum of Care consists of community part-
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ners working together to ensure that homelessness is rare, brief and nonrecurring in our community.” The COC helps spread federal funds to local community partners who directly work with homeless individuals. Some of their partners include Action Ministries, the Salvation Army, Safe Homes, Family Promise of Augusta and many others. Evans explained his experience with parts of Augusta misrepresenting homelessness“When I first came into the space, a few years ago, this was a com-
a week. The phases include sheltered locations, service-based locations and canvasing throughout the community. The purpose, Evans explained, is to “...try to get an understanding not only of what specific version of homelessness [that the homeless individuals] may be experiencing but some of the contributing factors as well that have led to that episode of homelessness that they are experiencing at that given time.” The Point-In-Time Count helps give a starting number for how many homeless individuals
pending success in our program is that there is a heavy emphasis on being proactive, not reactive. Identifying who is about to be in that situation and how can we help them.” “Nationwide the data shows you that the most impactful way to address homelessness is to prevent it… Homelessness is a compounding issue… [People who experience homelessness] are more likely to have ongoing and persistent issues with housing stability throughout their life,” Evans added. “We work with organizations, individuals, faith-based communities… to identify the signs that someone has a homeless ep“Our most recent count in January revealed isode looming, whether that is an that we had… approximately 386 people experi- eviction notice or a loss of a job,” said to illustrate how the encing homelessness in Augusta,” Evans Turmon COC tries to prevent homelessness before a person may experience it. The HCD and the COC are actively preparing for Augusta’s munity that broadly acknowl- are present in that snapshot of future growth and its potential edged itself as one that did not time in the city of Augusta. to further marginalize individuals have an issue with homelessness.” “Our most recent count in experiencing homelessness. He then gave an example of January revealed that we had… “There is an opportunity what he would hear within the approximately 386 people experi- where economic growth not only community from citizens of Au- encing homelessness in Augusta,” leaves some people out of that opgusta, “We have a couple of guys Evans said. portunity but it also marginalizes who slept on the benches down Evans explained how those some people further through the on Broad Street… and that was numbers tend to underestimate environment of higher prices and the way many segments of the the numbers of individuals expe- lack of access,” Evans said. community tried to represent it- riencing homelessness. For exam“As the growth of Augusself, [and] it just wasn’t accurate.” ple, numbers from partners with- ta continues, there needs to be Evans explained one way in the COC, particularly shelters, concerted efforts to stave off the that the COC addresses the mis- show that this number is only a potential that more persons berepresentation of homelessness starting point. come economically marginalized is by gathering data through the The COC then uses this in- than become advantaged by the Point-In-Time Count, which is formation as a starting point to economic growth… through dia standardized method for signi- develop plans to address home- rect and purposeful intervention,” fying the size of a city’s homeless lessness through prevention by Evans said. population. planning, funding and partnerThe first way that HCD and Volunteers conduct anony- ship. the COC are proactively getting mous surveys of homeless indiTurmon explained that the ahead of homelessness is through viduals with basic identifiers in COC has been successful in this the Marion E. Barnes Resource three phases over the course of area, “Part of our success or our Center for the Homeless, which
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is located at 730 East Boundary St. Hawthorne Welcher, director of HCD, explained enthusiastically, “Recently, we created the Marion E. Barnes Resource Center for the homeless intake center. [It] is important because, until a year-and-a-half to two years ago before this intake center, we as a city department would receive phone calls from different [homeless] persons… there was not a central intake location for a person to go to.” “It allows us to be able to totally assess the situation, figure out what the short-term, medium-term or long-term [solutions] are. Now that we have the central intake center, [it] allows for better transparency. From our perspective, it allows us to hold one agency accountable,” Welcher added. The Marion E. Barnes Resource Center for the Homeless will allow individuals experiencing homelessness to “...be diagnosed and assessed from a position or status from a homeless perspective [to determine their needs]. We’ll be able to diagnose and then provide a solution in regards to make a recommendation as to what should happen,” Welcher said.
From an outside point of view, the Marion E. Barnes Resource Center for the Homeless is symbolic of the COC’s goal to streamline information and resources to further help individuals experiencing homelessness. The second way the HCD is trying to end homelessness is by creating a low-barrier housing shelter. The low-barrier housing shelter is proposed to work with a non-profit partner to operate the shelter. The shelter will help those individuals that other organizations will not help. For example, homeless individuals addicted to drugs or those who have pets or families. Many local shelters have restrictions, such as the Salvation Army’s rule of after staying seven nights the individual is then expected to pay $7 per day, or the Garden City Rescue Mission’s 15-day stay limit for the year. This low-barrier shelter will help individuals who cannot afford these restrictions. Welcher explained that, “We’re taking a person where they are and restoring them and building their skill-set and making them a model citizen again.” Welcher wants the center to have resources to help teach individu-
als and track improvements. Homelessness is a unique issue that modern societies face. “Everything that makes us who we are is the full universe of things that could potentially stand as a component to contributing to your homelessness,” Evans explained. Welcher later echoed the same sentiments, “All of us are one to two situations away from being considered homeless in some aspects… We do all of this for one reason and one reason only, regardless of who I am and what I have, this person who does not have what I have, they’re just as important and we are all equal in the eyes of God and the eyes of Augusta, Ga.” Augusta-Richmond County Continuum of Care is actively recruiting volunteers for the 2020 Point-In-Time Count the week of January 21through January 31, 2020. Persons interested in volunteering or donating to support the upcoming count can contact the PIT Count Committee Chair, Mrs. Lynda Barrs at CSRA EoA, Inc. (lbarrs@csraeoa.org), Lasima Turmon (lturmon@augustaga.gov) or Daniel Evans (devans2@augustaga.gov).
Winter 2019 • 13
The Art of Service
The Benefit of the Snout Sophomore, Jen Medlock, got her service dog Paisley when Paisley was less than a year old. Medlock has a disconnect between her heart and her brain which causes her to faint. Paisley’s purpose was to alert people when Medlock was down. At first the training didn’t go quite as planned. “It was a lot of me falling on the floor,” says Medlock. However, the first time Medlock truly fainted in front of Paisley she says Paisley did exactly what she was supposed to do and has been nothing but helpful since. Medlock understands that
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by Emily Garcia
she is not the only person in need of a dog to aid her wellbeing. Medlock, along with sophomore Desiree Green, volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House through their sorority at Augusta University. Green owns a therapy and emotional support dog. Green mentioned to Medlock the idea of possibly giving emotional support dogs free of charge, to the families staying at the Ronald McDonald House. “We want to give dogs that give back,” says Medlock, as she discusses that she and Green hope to accomplish donating
trained dogs to the Ronald McDonald House by starting a puppy training club for students to participate in. Green and Medlock are hoping to guide college students through training puppies’ basic commands and obedience, meeting once a week and fundraising to buy food for the puppies so the cost will be minimal to students who would foster the puppies. The idea came from Green, a special education major and Alpha Delta Pi’s (ADPi) Ronald McDonald House coordinator, who currently uses an emotional support dog for her anxiety.
Green says that she understands the positive effects animals can have on a person’s life. Green’s dog, Lego, is a hypoallergenic Australian Sheppard and Poodle mix, trained to detect panic attacks. “He’s certified through an online program, which you can do with documents like medical records [proving your need for an emotional support dog] and stuff like that. But I’m going through the process of certifying him as a therapy dog now,” explains Green. An emotional support dog differs from a therapy dog in that an emotional support dog is used for the comfort of one person while a therapy dog is used for the comfort of the public. Neither dog has access rights to be in every public place, unlike a service dog. A service dog is an entirely separate entity that provides a specific service for a disabled person, all this according to office assistant at Alliance of Therapy Dogs, Tracy Duck. Last fall Green brought Lego to a special education classroom at Langford Middle School to aid him in his training to become a therapy dog. Green says that at first the children were resistant to the pair being in the classroom. “As I kept going every week once a week the kids just started to love him....There was this one student, and he just fell in love with him [Lego], and every time I would walk in, he would just take the leash from me and be like, ‘Okay he’s mine now, this is my dog, bye!’” Green explains. Lego helped the kids work on fine motor skills by going on walks and playing games of frisbee. Green provided the students of Langford Middle School with a meaningful experience free of charge. Green says that already
trained service dogs can be upwards of thousands of dollars which may deter individuals from obtaining one. Green wants to change this and hopes that the club that she and Medlock plan to start will take away the burden of cost and time.
Green says that the club will be named after their aspirations for it’s purpose. “It’s called, ‘We Give Dogs that Give Back,’” Green describes. “[It’s] a program where college students can train these puppies [to be therapy animals] for a year. We’ll donate these puppies once they’re a year old to a family or adult in need of an emotional support dog.” Medlock says that these dogs will not be certified as emotional support dogs officially, as individuals need to individually prove their need for the dog to receive certifications. However, as Green owns a certified emotional support dog, Medlock says that all dogs they train will be held to
the same standards which Green’s dog follows. Medlock also says that families will sign waivers because, “As much as we want to [be fully responsible for the actions of these dogs] they are dogs.” However, the dogs will be trained well, according to Green. Medlock and Green say they are taking the hard part of having a dog out of the equation. “It’ll have the basic commands, it’ll be house trained, [and] we’re going to make sure it’s socialized and [so that the dog is] not going to be aggressive. It’s going to help the parents a lot,” explains Medlock, “If we can fundraise enough, we’ll have enough money to pay for the first round of shots and cover those costs for those people [that can’t afford to pay].” The club is developing Medlock reports. She and Green have found an advisor, Joe Pierce the director of Student Life & Engagement, for the club and have a breeder of aussie doodles, like Lego, ready to give the club a litter of puppies. “We still have to fill out a packet and paperwork to get it approved to be on campus and we’re hoping to be able to have everything together by the start of 2020,” Medlock explains, “So we have a lot of work to do!” Green says she is very grateful for what dogs have brought into her life, exemplifying the art of service.
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The Art of Deceit The city that gave southern literary legends like Joel Chandler Harris and Louise Prudden Hunt also provided a safe haven for, as Atlanta Journal-Constitution journalist Bill Osinski writes, “A true story of unprecedented evil.” In Eatonton, Ga., about an hour-and-a-half drive away from Augusta, a man named Dwight York created a commune in the 1980’s using the guise of ancient Egyptian and black Muslim culture. York lead a group called the United Nuwaubian Nation of Moors and built an Egyptian themed city called Tama-Re. Yet, he is better known for being a part of the largest case of molestation tied to one person not only in the state of Georgia, but in America as well, according to Putnam County Sheriff, Howard Sills. York built pyramids and statues of sphinxes just off Shady Dale Road in Eatonton on what used to be a hunting preserve, says Osinski. The land York settled on afforded many of his followers a place to live and worship him. York used this land and his Egyptian themed buildings to hold an annual festival on his birthday called “Savior’s Day,”
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says Osinski. “It was a money-making venture for York,” says Sills, “If you came to Savior’s Day, which was his birthday every year, you had to pay to come. You had to pay for everything there. It was like a fair, it had concessions and drinks and the evidence that we brought forth in the federal case [was] that the average Savior’s Day netted York over $300,000.” Ursula Chatmon, a nurse at Putnam County Hospital and resident of Eatonton when York built Tama-Re says, “There was large pyramid with a motor in it that moved. It was told by York [to his followers] that the pyramid would take him to heaven.” Unfortunately as a nurse Chatmon witnessed York’s abuse as well as his accolades. “It was sad and disturbing. Small, school age children had to be brought in under the circumstances of being molested. Majority were boys, some young as five. They tested positive for STDs (specifically anal gonorrhea),” says Chatmon. According to Osinski, many
young women and men testified about the terrible things done to them in York’s private chambers. In one room, painted black with mirrors on the ceiling Osinski says, “Police found a lifesized stuffed animal resembling the cartoon character the Pink Panther. The panther had a plastic male sex organ sewn into the appropriate place.” Sills often questioned why people were so willing to follow a man with this behavior, so willing to entrust him with their children. He said he learned to stop looking for those kinds of answers and continue his way to bringing York down. It was on May 8, 2002 Sheriff Sills brought York to justice. Sills recalls the lengthy process of observing the cult in the months leading up to the raid on their compound. “We had conducted surveillance for three months, 24 hours a day. There was always a deputy sheriff or me in a foxhole, 20 yards from that gate. We watched it for three solid months, [through] rain and sleet; it didn’t matter. We judged it [the right time to raid the compound] trying to hit it when there were the fewest people on compound.” Sills explains that on that day 80 FBI SWAT members and 125 deputy sheriffs from Putnam, Bowen, Jones and Columbia County rammed the gates and took control of the compound with in 15 minutes.
By Emily garcia York was not actually at the compound at the time but had been arrested in Milledgeville prior to the raid. Osinksi remembers, “He was charged in both federal and state court, he was found guilty on the federal indictment. When the court reads out the sentence they read it out in months, I remember thinking ‘Wow, that’s a lot of months.’” In state court, York was charged with multiple counts of rape and child molestation. The judge offered him an initial plea deal of 12 years for a guilty confession, which the judge later tossed out in hopes of giving York more time. In response York withdrew his confession and demanded a federal trial, according to Osinski. The case was taken to federal court where they also charged York for crimes involving racketeering and the interstate transportation of minors. York was sentenced to 134 years in prison for conspiracy to commit racketeering violations, transporting minors in interstate commerce for unlawful sexual activity and structuring transac-
tions of cash to evade reporting requirements, according to the criminal docket for the case. Chatmon says that the number of children brought to her in the hospital were dwindling at first but, “Once it was investigated, over 100 kids were brought in and checked out. It was believed that York had over 100 offspring.” Currently, no members of the cult reside at the compound in Eatonton, although factions of the cult are still active, according to The Washington Times. Chatmon’s daughter, Ravyn Chatmon remarks, “He [York] is 74 now. But last year actually, he filed a law suit [to free evade jailtime] because the name [of the cult] started off as the [United Nuwaubian Nation of ] Indians instead of Moors, so he argued that he was a Native American and that the U.S. legal system had no jurisdiction over him. But really he’s just an African American man who was born in Boston.” Indeed, court documents from the United States District Court of the Middle District of Georgia show that on December 13th “Malachi Z. York” filed a suit against the Macon County Police
Department, Bibb County, the State of Georgia, the FBI, Sheriff ’s Department and Judge C. Ashley Royal. The official complaint reads, “I am not now or never have been a part of this corporate state or their judicial system. My ancestors have been in this country for ten thousand years. We were here (Native Americans) before Europeans arrived in 1492.” York sued for two billion dollars according to the documents. R. Chatmon reasons that York was convincing and that is why he garnered such a mass of followers despite lacking any spiritual or physical credentials. But, Sills and Osinski, who have both watched York speak to his followers, confirm that although York indeed lacks credentials, he is not a powerful or moving speaker. Osinski even likens York’s preaching to a sort of comedy routine. R. Chatmon says that the South’s culture surrounding faith likely plays a major role in fostering cult activity. “Religion is rampant down here, and if you tell somebody something they’re bound to believe it,” says R. Chatmon.
Winter 2019 • 17
THE ART OF
by Aaron Nipper
18 • Phoenix Magazine
Facebook. 2019. A news headline that reads “Blockbuster Video Stores Rise From the Ground the Same Day Megan Thee Stallion Becomes the First Female President.” Is this true? Is it fake? Is it even news? The term “Fake News” seems to appear rather often in today’s climate. Democrats say it, Republicans say it, the President says it. What exactly is Fake News, though? Is news really “news” if it’s fake? Fake news could best be described as “False stories that appear to be news… usually created to influence political views or as a joke,” according to the Cambridge Dictionary. Fake news is essentially lies disguised as news, and spreads in a slightly similar manner. The spread of fake news is largely dependent on social media, which is why it appears to be a new phenomenon. In a survey conducted by Pew Research Center, 68 percent of adults say they at least occasionally get news on social media. Social media acts as a sort of middleman between the sources and consumers. It allows people who view information to spread it without a second thought. However, fake news has to originate somewhere. According to Professor Rick Davis at AU, “Basically, as I understand it, there are four ways that the internet spreads fake news: bots, people like you and me, trolls and micro-targeters.” Bots are exactly what they sound like: robots. Research put together by the Center for Information Technology and Society (CITS) at the University of California, Santa Barbara says that they are “Comprised of nothing but code,” and “Created by some-
one with computer programming skills,” and continues to lay out that they are “Computer algorithms… that work in online social network sites to execute tasks autonomously and repetitively.” If that doesn’t sound close enough to a science fiction film, they also state that because of these algorithms, “Bots can learn from response patterns or input values how to respond to certain situations.” This artificial intelligence, according to the same research, allows them to mimic social interactions by real users. Luckily, these robots aren’t actual physical beings; they only exist on the internet. They can still, however, help greatly in the spread of fake news. According to the CITS research, “Bots in social media sites post continuously, spreading non-curated content using trending hashtags as the
prove that bots aren’t that smart. They tend to post the same content and comments multiple times, which is a telltale sign the accounts aren’t real. Unfortunately, bots aren’t the only culprit. Humans, a lot of the time unwittingly, are responsible for a majority of the spread of misinformation, largely due to retweets and shares, as shown by research published in the March 2018 issue of Science Magazine. Science Magazine states that “About 126,000 rumors [were spread by around] 3 million people” between 2006 to 2017. According to CITS at UCSB, one reason that humans share more fake news is due to, “Popularity networks that social network sites provide.” This, probably unintentionally, helps to increase the spread of fake news. The larger number of likes or retweets and
According to CITS at UCSB, one reason that humans share more fake news is due to “popularity networks that social network sites provide.” main strategies to reach a broader audience which, in many cases, further helps the propagation of fake news.” Research conducted in 2015 by Indiana University and the University of Southern California estimates that on Twitter alone, between 9 percent and 15 percent of accounts are bots. That translates to roughly 48 million accounts. It is important to note that since this research, Twitter has removed millions of suspicious accounts due to the high volume of bots the research found. So, how can the robot invasion be stopped? One look at an Instagram comment section can
shares, “Changes other readers perceptions about the quality of a message.” This finding is further backed by research from CITS that states, “When a post is accompanied by many likes, shares or comments, it is more likely to receive attention by others, and therefore more likely to receive attention by others, and therefore more likely to be further liked, shared or commented on.” The above patterns are evident in news sharing, fake or real. Bots share fake information through unorthodox means like spamming and repetition, and media consumers see these things
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after they have gained momentum, with many likes and shares, which makes them more likely to conform to what they see, gaining support. Emotions also play an important role. Fake news is sensationalized, meaning individuals are much more likely to share it, with lots of users being on the lookout for things on their feed that stand out or grab their attention. According to the Science Magazine, “Real human Twitter users are 70% more likely to retweet fake news stories.” Sometimes, the news may seem a little bit too familiar to their audience. This is done through multiple ways, one being the use of cookies. CITS at UCSB defines cookies as, “Files that websites install on your computer to save your preferences and remember what you look at.” Websites save cookies so they can recognize users when they revisit the site. However, cookies track individuals’ movements throughout every website they visit as well, and these are known as “tracker cookies” or “trackers” according to CITS at UCSB. These cookies, “Give valuable information about you to other social media analytics firms.” After they receive this data, they can “Calculate models to predict your interests and your purchase patterns.” This is exactly how they’re able to spread fake news, by using this data to pinpoint things, “you are most likely to react positively to.” What happens to this data when the companies obtain it? Here’s an example: Aaron has a Facebook account. Aaron looks up “The 10 Worst Things the Republican Party Has Ever Done.” When he gets done read-
20 • Phoenix Magazine
ing, he sees a small Facebook like button at the bottom of the page. He can’t decide whether or not to click on it, leave the page and look for more information, or see what else this website has to offer. The truth is that it doesn’t matter, because they already have his information. To summarize, tracker cookies relay information back to the parent website, which in the previous example is Facebook, and it allows them to view what users did on the websites, what pages
book. One day, he is scrolling down his feed and sees a “news” article titled “Donald Trump Orders the Death of Jeff Goldblum.” Aaron, knowing that Jeff Goldblum is a national treasure, shares it without thinking because he is outraged. Now, everyone who follows Aaron will see this story, some will click the link, others will like it and more will share it. All of these things give the companies what they want: a wider audience. The process they used is called “micro-targeting,” which
“There are some firms that specialize in using your data to convince you to vote for a political candidate,” (CITS at UCSB). they open and things of the sort. This information is sent to social media analytics firms where the information is used to target individuals’ interests, and it is even sold to other companies. Hence, the reason some people may search for an item or service and then receive advertisements for that item or service the next time they use Facebook or Google. Well, that’s scary and definitely an invasion of privacy, but where does news fit into all of this? The process can be used to sway opinions, with researchers at UCSB saying, “There are some firms that specialize in using your data to convince you to vote for a political candidate,” such as Cambridge Analytica. Using the previous example, after visiting the website, Aaron may start seeing democratic campaign-related advertisements appearing all over sites he visits. Furthermore, he may start seeing liberal-news sites appear in his recommended section on Face-
according to CITS at UCSB, is a term for “using data to show certain messages,” and in particular, “to those people who are likely to read, like, and share such a post and click on the website where it originated.” As shown earlier by the example, this then gives the companies and websites exactly what they want - more views. The final way fake news gets spread is through creatures known as trolls. According to CITS, trolls under these circumstances, are people who have social media accounts for negative reasons, that “try to undermine the credibility of ideas they don’t like and to intimidate individuals who post those ideas.” CITS states trolls also, “Support and advocate for fake news stories that they’re ideologically aligned with.” Contrary to popular belief, they rarely live under bridges. Trolls were instrumental in the spread of fake news during the infamous 2016 presiden-
tial election, specifically Russian trolls. Trolling isn’t illegal in itself, but in the case of foreign powers, it is. It’s been well documented by Rober Mueller’s report and investigation that Russian agents infiltrated American social media with fake American accounts. According to a summary by Clint Watts of the Foreign Policy Research Institute, among the activities committed by these trolls were inserting forgeries into social media discussions, amplifying target audience stories and stories supporting the Kremlin narrative. As shown in the 2016 election, fake news can have a rather large impact on political decisions. Politicians know this, too. They often help feed into it, as one glance at a certain former reality star’s Twitter account will tell you. This might seem like a mainly Republican issue, but it’s not. Both sides of the political spectrum use fake news, but not in the way one might think. Arguably, even more dangerous than the spread of lies and misinformation is the idea of fake news as a label. According to Cathy Areu, Fox News analyst and creator of Catalina Magazine, the idea of fake news began in the Nixon days. After the Vietnam war, Nixon’s popularity plummeted. “That whole Vietnam thing really put a damper on his presidency,” Areu said. As a result of this, “Nixon started saying, ‘the press doesn’t like me, they’re fake, they just don’t like me.’” Sound familiar? Areu believes the term fake news is used to write off things someone might disagree with. “If you write something bad about me, I’m gonna say fake news,” she said, referring to pol-
itician’s attitudes towards fake news. “But if you write something I like, I’m gonna retweet it a million times and say you’re a genius.” Shouldn’t people listen to journalists over politicians? Aren’t journalists the voice of the people? It comes down to support systems. “It’s not like journalists are the highest paid in society. A Kardashian, a journalist,” she said, mimicking a scale with her hands. This helps to indicate why Donald Trump supporters tend to listen to what he says as opposed to actual news. Journalists might have more credibility, but they’re not as popular, divisive or as “entertaining” as Donald Trump. Areu further explained this comparison with an example involving President Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden. “It’s about who controls the conversation,” she then added, “if Biden came up with something genius, and the President saw a great commercial, who wins? ‘A green deal that’s complicated with windmills and manufacturing jobs’ or ‘The Bachelor has this new chick and I didn’t like her blue dress.’” Fake news has been used in the past as propaganda, particularly during the Cold War, Vietnam, and even the “War on Terror,” in which President George W. Bush, along with Vice President Dick Cheney began systematically destroying Afghanistan post 9/11 despite the Central Intelligence Agency’s files from 2001 showing that none of the hijackers came from Afghanistan. Now, fake news and the spread of misinformation is even more prevalent with social media being an integral part of daily life. This makes it all the more important to understand what is factual
and what is not. Dr. David Bulla, head of the AU Communication Department, says that “Education is the best tool,” when trying to halt the fake news epidemic and that “skepticism is needed.” Not everybody in the media spreads lies or fake news. As a matter of fact, majority of the media outlets aren’t. Bulla referred to journalists as “The Sifters,” who report the facts that they can find through all the misinformation, also implying that the rise of the Internet has eliminated journalists as the gatekeepers. Bulla added, “But now we’re all filters, we’re all gatekeepers, so we self-gatekeep. We gatekeep ourselves, so what happens is, that devalues the media.” Areu, while talking about American journalists in foreign countries who report on wars said, “They’re (journalists) just telling you how many died that day. That’s not fake news. They’re literally just standing there, watching. News was supposed to be the everyman.” It’s important to remember in this divisive and somewhat chaotic time that journalists are still trying to give the public the facts. They aren’t all pushing an agenda. When people refuse to listen to facts, opinions take hold, and opinions have no credibility. The late, great Edward Murrow, known to many as the “Father of Broadcast Journalism,” for his achievements in developing journalism for mass media once said, “Truth is the best propaganda and lies are the worst. To be persuasive we must be believable; to be believable we must be credible; to be credible we must be truthful. It is as simple as that.” The truth is really just as simple as that.
Winter 2019 • 21
Exposed
by Rachel Visintainer What if all your daring thoughts were written on your skin? with the boldest font and color words were ever written in. Large and legible, printed there, from the soles of your feet to the roots of your hair, clearly emblazoned and laying bare the process deep within.
WINGSPAN
People can read every line or whim you ever not said, simply thought about them. They lay you out
Rachel Visintainer Trey Nevard Jacob White Mark Watke Jasmin Rivas Madeline Burgin
and deftly pin you down and spread you
thin. They grab you, pull you by the wrist to get the full view of the list pour over each detail and gist of every longing and
art by Paige Abell 22 • Phoenix Magazine
sin. Winter 2019 • 23
What To Do About The Cold? by Trey Nevard
Can I -should I -survive this lethal cold? Together we generate heat, I’m told. Yet as I lay down, curled up next to you, I wonder about the cold. What to do? Your body is warm, but not as before. You once were virgin and lover and whore; Now I shiver when I’m thinking of you And your long lukewarm fingers. What to do? Your angelic smile has turned to ice, And even your kisses are not as nice. It’s strange, ‘cause they’re done exactly as you Did them back in our love’s youth. What to do?
Quarters
by Jacob White
Careful Tread lightly Trouble I’m lightning Like the sky in a storm I feel like I’m rain but I know that I’m wrong. Holding on Scratching my head like I’m Scratching a post Trying to make the most of the memories I’ll have tomorrow. Trying to make a plan Trying to talk myself to death. I’m lightning but I feel like I’m rain.
It’s here that I realize the mistake made. My heart drops. It’s too late for any aid, For you still love me, but what to do When you find out that I’ve grown cold of you?
24 • Phoenix Magazine
Winter 2019 • 25
MARK
Hands, white chalk on paper
26 • Phoenix Magazine
WA TKE
Jacket, Oil on canvas
Winter 2019 • 27
Several Questions I Have by Jacob White
Is this a black ink splotch or a sentimental soft-lock? Is the future so much brighter than the past or is the future being looked at with rose-tinted glasses? Is Harold on the roof with a brain in his sack is it safe to go out front or should I go out the back? Is there fertilizer at my feet or are my feet fertilizer? And if I had never asked, would you be any the wiser?
28 • Phoenix Magazine
A World of Panic and Pigmentation by Jasmin Rivas
It’s not real. That’s what I tell myself every time I see those blue and red lights. It’s not real. That’s what I tell myself when I see a white man with a gun entering a store. It’s not real. That’s why I can’t breathe. Because it’s not real. Those things never happened. They can’t have. Those horrible things can’t have happened in my world. It’s not real. My father at the wheel and my heart in my throat when I see what my brother used to call the cop-cops. I’m okay. Just breath. My parents have their papers. We’re all citizens. There’s nothing to fear. Just breath! Dammit! Why can’t I breathe? There’s nothing to fear. They’re here to protect us. Not to rip my loved ones away from me... Right? There’s nothing to fear from that man with a gun. He must be an off-duty cop. Breath! Why are you crying?! Just breath! Why? Why am I so scared. This isn’t real! There’s nothing to fear. There’s no way that history could repeat itself. We CAN’T POSSIBLY be hated simply by the color of our PIGMENT and the languages we speak. Can we? Breath. Just breath. They’re not going to do anything. They can’t hurt you. And when the lights zoom past to another person, I let the panic reside. And when the man with the gun reveals he’s simply in the store to buy his groceries and leave, I let the panic reside. Only then can I breathe. But the peace I feel when they’re gone... That’s what’s not real.
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i wrote this because i am tired of writing about you by Madeline Burgin
I am the Villain, who drowns in poetry You were the Hero, who majored in hurting me. Claim you’re the Hero who lacks in cowardice and claim I hurt you out of malice. But I sought you out, so you could breathe new life into me. However, all I chased was a pipe dream. You can’t erase the past, it’s there for eternity. But I was there in our sunshine days and sometimes I wish I would’ve stayed. The truth is: I was hurting too and I never felt comfortable telling you. Never able to read me, never able to see me ‘cause I was vigilant of my hurricane emotions. The dam only broke because of miscommunications which, led to a disintegration of the Hero’s “moral integrity” which she held above me, tortured me, and most all: Misunderstood me. All because I am the Villain, who drowns in poetry.
30 • Phoenix Magazine
