November 21, 2013
W W W. V S U S P E C TAT O R . C O M
VOLUME 85 iSSUE 14
Inside This Issue
On the Web
- OPiNiONS: “Students control campus media”
w w w. v s u s p e c ta t o r. c o m
Check out John Preer’s piece on Dr. McKinney hosting the ‘Science Seminar’ series.
- FEATURES: “Wishes grow on trees” - SPORTS: “Undefeated golden Bulls to visit P.E. Complex Sat.”
Today at VSU SOIS - don’t forget to fill out Student opinion of instruction forms on Banner! those who fill out Sois through the Spectator app can be entered to win some great prizes.
Jazz enSemble - Special guest dennis Mackrel will perform at 7:30 p.m. in Whitehead auditorium. the Jazz Ensemble will perform Mackrel’s original compositions as well as his arrangements of other works. admission is free to the public. Faculty Senate - Faculty Senate is holding an open meeting in the UC Magnolia room at 3 p.m.
Weather Today
Friday
Mostly Cloudy 73 H 58 L Mostly Cloudy 78 H 55 L
Saturday
Partly Cloudy 79 H 41 L
SAVE and climate change, pg. 5
SGA votes on fee increases Joe Adgie SoCial MEdia Editor jmadgie@valdosta.edu
the Sga lent their approval to a total of $65 of proposed fee increases during Monday night’s Sga meeting, the last of the semester. the fees that Sga supported were the athletic fee proposal, the technology fee proposal and the health operating and facilities proposals. the Sga voted against the field house and parking facilities fees, amid sentiment against these increases, a sentiment that was echoed by Sen. Edgar James. “We need to be clear: are we voting for the best solution for the university, or the best solution for the students?” James said. “Because
their voices are being heard loudly that they don’t want this, and i agree with them.” James acknowledged that he did what was best for the university, and that “if we’re voting for the best interest of the university then yes, i will approve every one of these increases.” Some guests spoke at the Sga meeting to discuss these fee increases. “i, along with a few others, have taken it upon ourselves to go around with a petition on whether people are for or against fees such as the field house,” Max loudermilch, VSU student, said. “We had about 300 signatures since Friday. a lot of people did not know that these fees were going into place, and i understand that the university communicated with you guys on that pretty clearly, but i think
that Sga has not communicated with the student body very well.” in response, Will Jimerson cited two emails that he sent to the student body, as well as articles that appeared in the Spectator. another guest had an issue with raising the technology fee, citing a quote from last week’s Sga meeting. See SGA, Page 2
‘My Big Red’ joins VSU
Managing Editor walewis@valdosta.edu
Ritsuki Miyazaki / The SPecTaToR
“My Big Red” is the latest sculpture to come to VSU. Hailing from Raleigh, N.C., the art was purchased by the campus art pool collection committee and installed between Reade Hall and Langdale Hall. The piece was created by Robert Coon of Vero Beach, Fla. The sculpture is a painted aluminum statue that is 15 feet tall.
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VSUPD issued an artist rendition of the suspect of a sexual battery charge.
body of another person without the consent of that person,” according to official Code of georgia annotated § 16-6-22.1. (b). the report comes as another installment in a string of violent crimes that have plagued VSU’s campus. antoine Bray, sophomore vocal performance major, was stabbed in october and an unnamed VSU student was abducted at gunpoint earlier the same month.
the Faculty Senate will meet today to discuss the VSU Foundation’s board of trustees’ letter rejecting fossil fuel divestment. the Environmental issues Committee voted in a meeting Wednesday in support of the letter submitted by the Students against the Violation of the Environment and will move it forward to the Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate. “the EiC as a standing committee of the Faculty Senate supports the efforts of S.a.V.E. to encourage the VSU Foundation to consider divesting from fossil fuel extraction-based investments,” dr. Jason allard, professor of geography, said in an email. the B.o.t.’s letter, which
rejected S.a.V.E.’s request to redistribute Foundation money, sparked controversy after it declared the request to be impractical and a breach of “fiduciary responsibilities.” the letter shows a disconnect among the views of several university faculty members. President William McKinney signed a document published by the american College and University Presidents Climate Commitment. “We, the undersigned presidents and chancellors of colleges and universities, are deeply concerned about the unprecedented scale and speed of global warming and its potential for large-scale, adverse health, social, economic and ecological effects,” the document reads. “We recognize the scientific S e e FA C U LT Y , P a g e 2
THANKSGIVING BREAK - UNIVERSITY OPERATION HOURS Odum Library Tuesday, Nov. 26 - closes at 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30 - Reopens at 9 a.m.
WEBSiTE:
Illustration by VSUPD
Faculty Senate to discuss divestment Will Lewis
In 1980, 350-million people around the world turned on their television sets to watch the popular show “Dallas” to find out who shot J.R. ewing.
Find Us Online
individuals on VSU’s campus should be on the lookout for the suspect in a sexual battery case that occurred last July. the VSUPd have released a sketch and description of the suspect on its website. the suspect is described as a Hispanic male, approximately 5’7” in height, with a “buzz-cut” hair style and possibly a thin mustache. the case is being investigated by Sgt. Matt Maestas. VSUPd. Sgt. Maestas declined to comment on the status of the case; however, the VSUPd has confirmed that the case is ongoing. “a person commits the offense of sexual battery when he or she intentionally makes physical contact with the intimate parts of the
- Sen. edgar JameS
Nov. 21, 1980
Source: History.com
walewis@valdosta.edu
clear: Are we voting for the best solution for the university, or the best solution for the students? ”
Millions tune in to find out who shot J.R.
Spoiler alert: The episode proved that Krisin Shepard, J.R.’s wife’s sister, and his former mistress, was the shooter.
Will Lewis Managing Editor
“ We need to be
Today in History
J.R. was shot in the previous season’s finale, and stands as one of television’s most famous cliffhangers.
Suspect sought in sexual battery
Campus Rec Sunday, Nov. 24 - 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 25 and Nov. 26 - 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 27 through Nov. 30 - closed Location: Fri (11-22-13) Sat – Sat (11-23 – 11-30-13) Sun (12-1-13) Palms Friday, Nov. 22 - 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23 through Saturday, Nov. 30 - closed Sunday, Dec. 1 - 4:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. Hopper is closed until Monday, Dec. 2
Pinkberry is closed until Monday, Dec. 2 Papa John’s is closed until Sunday, Dec. 1 from 6 p.m to 11 p.m. Moes is closed until Sunday, Dec. 1 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Starbucks Friday, Nov. 22 - 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. closed until Monday, Dec. 2 Student Union - Chick-Fil-A Friday, Nov. 22 - 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. closed until Monday, Dec. 2 Nathan’s is closed until Monday, Dec. 2 Outtakes is closed until Monday, Dec. 2 University Center - Chick-Fil-A is closed until Monday, Dec. 2
Baja Flats Friday, Nov. 22 - 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. closed until Monday, Dec. 2 Chefs Table is closed until Monday, Dec. 2 Einstein’s Friday, Nov. 22 - 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. closed until Monday, Dec. 2 Sustella Market Friday, Nov. 22 - 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23 - closed Sunday, Dec. 1 - 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Langdale Market Friday, Nov. 22 - 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23 - closed Sunday, Dec. 1 - 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
News
PagE 2 | VsusPEctatOR.cOM SGA Continued from Page 1 “(Brian) Haugabrook said last week that students watch about 700 Netflix videos and 7,000 to 10,000 YouTube videos per hour,” Robert Goebel, VSU student, said. “An increase to allow more students to watch videos is pretty crazy.” As a response, SGA vice president Hassanat Oshodi explained that that was why the internet connection was
so slow. Senator and SGA Chief of Staff Isaiah Smart further explained the reasoning behind the technology fee increase. “Not everybody is watching the videos, and VSU will also extend the general network that we have on this campus, as well as extending it further to North campus, as well as the Education side, as well as the Southern part of campus a little further from here,” Smart said. Smart said that the connec-
tion points on those remote campus sites would be strengthened by those fee increases. That sentiment was echoed by the whole SGA, who unanimously voted for the technology fee increase. The parking fee increase was voted down by the SGA, despite possibilities mentioned by Sen. Matt Cowan. “If we vote down this bill, there’s going to be a reduction of the bus routes from 9 to 5,” Cowan said. “And
NOVEMBER 21, 2013
there’s also going to be the elimination of the Wal-Mart and mall shuttle routes that we have on Thursdays, and basically you’re going to see a lot more students at the bus stops waiting around trying to figure out how they’re going to get somewhere without using the bus.” These votes served as a motion of support from the SGA, who will present these to the Mandatory Fee Committee and their chairperson, Russ Mast.
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Police Briefs Nov. 14 A subject attempted to make a purchase at the Union with a counterfeit ten dollar bill. Nov. 15 A female student was transported to South Georgia Medical Center, intoxicated and in/out of consciousness,
FACULTY Continued from Page 1 consensus that global warming is real and is largely being caused by humans.” “Such reactionary behavior speaks to a lack of thorough research which, for all practical purposes, acts as an obstacle to developing a portfolio that can be both profitable as well as socially and environmentally responsible,” Dr. Michael Noll, professor of geosciences, said. Dr. McKinney will open the meeting with a tenminute question and answer session, addressing questions submitted anonymously by the student body. The meeting will also address the committee member evaluation form, the 20132014 graduation ceremonies and a Dessert Social on Nov. 22 in the Student Union Ballrooms.
from Patterson Hall. Nov. 16 Officers responded to the Union where a female was intoxicated and unresponsive to questioning.. VSUPD responded to Patterson Hall after a smell of marijuana was reported. A subject was stopped in Oak Street Parking Lot in regards
to a report of a suspicious person attempting to access several vehicles. Nov. 17 A student was arrested for carrying illegal knives on school property. Bookstore reported a deposit account fraud in that a subject had made purchases on a bad check.
Nov. 18 Subject reported a stalking involving text messages Suspicious person reported twice by different females. Subject not found by officers.
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OpiniOns
NOvember 21, 2013
vsuspectatOr.cOm | page 3
Our point of view...
Students control campus media a
s campus media outlets continue to work as career stepping stones for students at universities nation-wide, the fight for editorial independence remains a never-ending obstacle. this is noticeable as a bystander, but it all came to light last spring, after leaving the Georgia College Press association convention. throughout the weekend trip, during meetings and seminars, editors from their respective schools all over Georgia shared stories and opinions. Nobody’s stories, howev-
er, were more uncanny than an editor from Mercer University. He openly expressed accounts where the administration has forced the Cluster to change its content to fit their own satisfaction. He even mentioned one occasion where they vehemently snatched newspapers off the stands. Because of pressure from the bigwigs (who wear the suits and ties) the Cluster cooperates without a peep. the Cluster, which has been alive since 1920, is not independent from Mercer. Institutions with independent, student-ran publica-
tions recognize the first amendment and strive to mirror the real-world industry regardless of possible controversy. the type of school a student journalist enrolls in has a huge effect on what content they’ll potentially produce and distribute. for example, the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication is arguably the best around, yet the school’s renowned student newspaper, the red and Black, has had its own independent struggles, most notably last year. In august 2013, members
of the newspaper walked out passionately together in protest soon after the paper hired 10 permanent members who were granted the power to veto student decisions. this happens more often than you would think, and this case was magnified mainly due to it involving one of the nation’s most acclaimed publications. the Spectator, like the red and Black, is not financially dependent on the institution or its president. “the students have lost control of the paper, and a student newspaper is supposed to be run by stu-
dents,” amanda Jones, design editor for the red and Black, told Online athens. “We’re losing power while they are hiring permanent employees that are not students. We are losing control. at this point, every single top staffer walked out.” Nonetheless, the Spectator is being reassured that its members won’t be losing control in that department. President McKinney is willingly signing the Student Press Law Center Model Guidelines for College Media bill on friday, a signature the Spectator has longed for since former VSU president Dr. Louis
Levy was in office. the signing cements that the president and his administration will continue to be solely readers and nothing more. So far, President McKinney has been ideal for us, refraining from intrusion and backing our fellow campus media outlets. the Spectator uses this editorial to say thank you for your patronage and encouragement. It’s safe to say none of us will be protesting – at least no time soon.
This editorial was written by a member of the editorial staff and it expresses the general opinion of the Spectator.
Let’s coexist with Greek life Isaiah Smart S ta f f W r I t e r itsmart@valdosta.edu
In recent news, Greek Life gained hundreds of new members. after CPC and IfC rush concluded earlier this fall, a few NPHC organizations gained their own new set of initiates. Both of these instances hold their own significance. It has been four years since the Lambda Phi chapter of Kappa alpha Psi has had any new members. Last friday, Jeremiah Wiggins, “the Solo Nupe,” presented his 13 newest brothers to the campus. the ballrooms were full of members of the fraternity from different schools, older chapter members and numerous students. after the show ended and tears flowed, attendees were forced out as the union was closed. No one was given the
chance to clean up the ballrooms, and the organization was given a hefty fine that included both trash violations and being in the union too late. Wiggins was threatened with suspension, and the organization was threatened to not be able to book rooms until next fall. that’s going little too far, right? I’m aware that there are policies to follow, but to threaten a graduating senior with the possibility of not
graduating is a little bit of a stretch. In other news, the Kappa Delta chapter of Phi Beta Sigma initiated nine gentlemen this weekend as well. the standout for this organization was the three Caucasian members that joined. Phi Beta Sigma and Zeta Phi Beta are the only NPHC organizations to recently have
members of a different race here at VSU, but those members have graduated. that changed this weekend. What’s great about this is the very thing that many of us have discussed all year: diversity. this is living proof that organizations do not discriminate against any interested students of different races. they are actually welcomed. I’m glad to see to see those young men step up and take the pledge of lifelong broth-
erhood in such organizations. this is my charge to the student body and the administration. Students, hold yourselves accountable for the change you’re looking for. Greeks, be the leaders you’re supposed to be. take on big issues on campus, stand for something and show the rest of VSU what it means to hold
10 percent of the school’s population. to the administration, let the kids play. although there are rules and policies to follow, pinpointing every little incident and making a mountain out of a molehill is discouraging and hurts student and Greek life. this, in turn, requires you to be more informative with a visible and comfortable line of communication. We expect rules to be enforced, but students won’t stand for the unnecessary extremes. at the same rate, students, be cognizant of what is against you and how you can prevent being stuck between a rock and a hard place. Be precise with planning and execution in all things although some things can, and occasionally will, come up at the last minute. as I’ve ended all of my articles like this, I welcome all conversation in attempts for positive change, and I hope that I’ve made someone uncomfortable enough to work toward such.
Change the damage, not the name The government supports harmful energy sources despite condemning oil Taylor Stone S ta f f W r I t e r
tnstone@valdosta.edu
Coal and oil are a few fossil fuels that have consistently been at the center of debate among environmentalists and the current administration with claims that non-renewable resources harm the environment. So, it may come as a surprise that the government made the choice to support coal but not oil. the bottom line – contrary to popular belief – is that non-renewable energy is sustainable and renewable energy is not. Over the years, the government has spent billions of dollars in an effort to make the societal shift to renewables with the construction of wind and solar complexes that have done little, if anything, to help the environment. In reality, the costs and damages of these complexes
far outweigh any meaningful result. Prior to the Industrial revolution, the world was almost entirely dependent on renewable resources, which resulted in a heavy blanket of poverty that covered the country. fossil fuels, however, have always made sustainable progress a possibility, actually improving living conditions and the environment. So, why coal? Coal is a non-renewable resource as well, so why is it accepted while oil is not? Well, remember President Obama’s insistent “green” electric car push? all electric vehicles need electricity to run and what is electricity made from? Coal. that’s what’s behind it. How many Chevrolet Volts and Nissan Leafs have you seen running around town? If I had to take a guess I would venture to say that you
haven’t seen any, and there are good reasons for it, the number one being the complex transformation of driving a vehicle. Not only are electric vehicles much more expensive than those fueled
Oil is the lifeblood of capitalism, and without it there would be no mass production, no thriving economy. on gasoline, but the whole premise that they are better for the environment is flawed. a study from the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership showed that the CO2 emissions from electric vehicles are actually 50 percent higher than those from petroleumfueled vehicles because the
batteries – which have to be changed much more frequently than our traditional vehicles – are made of materials that require much more energy to be manufactured such as lithium and copper. It would seem as if oil would be a logical or even desired choice. Oil is the lifeblood of capitalism, and without it there would be no mass production, no thriving economy and no free-market capitalism, yet it is often blamed for many of the world’s ills. Sure, oil is responsible for CO2 emissions, but CO2 makes up literally one-tenth of one percent of the atmosphere. I would like to say that again. the big, bad CO2 makes up one-tenth of one percent of our atmosphere – not even one full percent. So, what is this really about?
Spectator Staff Editor-in-Chief: Jennifer Gleason Managing Editor: Will Lewis Business Manager: Kristen Varney Advertising Manager: aimee Napier Circulation Manager: abbie Baggerly Opinions Editor: Stephen Cavallaro Features Editor: Sarah turner
Sports Editor: eric Jackson Photo Editor: ritsuki Miyazaki Multimedia Editor: rebecka Mcaleer Web Designer: John Preer Copy Editor: Olivia McLean Social Media Editor: Joe adgie Faculty Advisers: Dr. Pat Miller, Dr. ted
People Poll What are you looking forward to this holiday season? Jasmine Kendrick junior communications major “I’m really looking forward to volunteering withthe girls at the Methodist Home and the Second Harvest.”
Want more opinions? Check out the Video People Poll online at: youtube.com/ValdostaSpectator
Citizens say ‘so long’ to privacy David Lacy S ta f f W r I t e r dclacy@valdosta.edu
By 2015, law enforcement, colleges and private users will have the chance to use drones as they see fit. this is a good thing, but it’s not without its concerns. this could be great for research. Who knows what companies such as Google could do if they had a drone to use for things like Google Maps? Universities could also use this for classes either teaching students how to use them or giving grants to professors for research, but with things like this we always have to look at the concerns. Privacy is something that americans love, and despite having it constantly invaded by the government, we generally believe that we have privacy in our lives. With drones now being implemented by law enforcement, who knows what kind of trouble could be brought to the private sector? We could see a loss of privacy under the right conditions. Let me explain. after 9/11, america gave up a lot of its rights to privacy so that the government could pass the Patriot act.
this allowed our government the right to wiretap and do other things that would never have passed if we had not just dealt with the devastation of 9/11. So what’s stopping the government from passing a bill that allows law enforcement to use these drones to spy on communities in the U.S. that may or may not be in connection with terrorists? Is this really the best option? What if Valdosta decides it would like something like this to help keep crime down in the city? Would you be OK walking out of your house, apartment or dorm and seeing a drone flying overhead? Now this is all just hypothetical but not as farfetched as it may sound. this is not the only issue. Some people are concerned about airspace. If we have drones flying over different places, will this cause trouble for small airports or cities with air force bases? So how do we find the balance between something that could be used for good but could also have repercussions? Who is protecting us from these things? these are the questions that we must answer in order to have our rights as citizens protected.
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Online at www.vsuspectator.com Opinions expressed in the Spectator other than editorials are the opinions of the writers of signed columns and not necessarily those of the Spectator and its staff. all rights reserved. reprints by permission of the editors. Views in this newspaper are not necessarily those of the Valdosta State University administration, faculty and staff.
FeaTureS
PagE 4 | VsusPEctatOR.cOM
NOVEMBER 21, 2013
Wishes grow on trees Cole Edwards s ta f f w r i t e r
csedwards@valdosta.edu
the Holiday Helper tree is in bloom once again. students interested in fulfilling a child’s Christmas wish list need to come by the student Life office on the third floor of the student Union to choose a child’s list from the tree. Gifts need to be turned in by Dec. 6. “this is the largest number of children we have ever gotten for this project, so we need all the help and support we can get,” Brian roberts, assistant director for student Life, said. roberts said he has watched this event grow every year and while they usually have an average of 45-50 children, this year they have 96 children. “we’ve always been able to cover every child we’ve gotten, so we’re hoping they all go once again,” roberts said. “with the growing number, it’s important (that) we get a lot of interest.” the Holiday Helper tree is sponsored by the student Life
office along with local agencies such as the Child advocacy Center, Behavioral Health service of south Georgia and Project Light, who provide a list of children in the ValdostaLowndes County community who are under their care. the goal is to fulfill the wish lists of children in bad situations who probably wouldn’t have a Christmas otherwise. “there are no limits to the number of children you can take,” roberts said. “we just ask that if you take a child’s name to please fulfill the wish or bring the name back if you cannot.” Gifts may range from clothing to small toys. for more information, contact the student Life office at 229-3335674.
Ritsuki Miyazaki/ THE SPECTATOR A child’s wishlist hangs from the Holiday Helper Tree in the Student Life Office. The tree is open for students and faculty to choose a child’s wishlist.
PlayStation 4 has big release Hello, and welcome to the final issue of spectech for this semester. i would like to announce my retirement from the spectator. i would like to thank all of my readers for their support during the last few years. this week has been a busy one for sony, Microsoft and Chromebook. this past weekend, sony launched the Playstation 4. it sold more than 1 million systems in the first 24 hours in the United states alone. However, there have been some issues with the bundled-in HDMi cable, which has caused some systems to break. the Ouya has a limited edition system coming this week. the Ouya is an android-powered video game system. it is white and has 16GB of storage. it will cost $129. a future software update will allow the
Spec Tech with Steven Setser
system to use UsB thumb sticks for storage. Microsoft is about to launch new gear on Nov. 22. the Xbox One will launch worldwide, along with the Nokia Lumia 1520 and 2520. the 1520 is a 6-inch smartphone with 2GB raM, 1080p screen and an 800 snapdragon processor. it will be sold by at&t for $199. the Nokia Lumia 2520 is a windows rt tablet that will cost $400 on at&t contract and $500 off contract. acer now has its Chromebook C720 laptop available for only $200. it has 2GB raM, a 1.4GHz processor and a 16GB ssD. the battery should last about 8.5 hours. it is available now. thats it for this semester!
Chris Brown throws tantrum in rehab Hello, world—anthony here bringing you all the latest and greatest celebrity gossip that had us buzzing this week. first up, Chris Brown is still crazy. it’s being reported that while the singer was in rehab earlier this month, he became violent and started throwing objects at the staff. sounds like the Breezy we all know and love. tMZ broke the story this week that the district attorney
plans to use the violent act against Brown when he shows up to court this week. Brown entered rehab shortly after he was arrested for assault after attacking a fan outside of a washington, D.C. hotel back in October. someone please come get him and save him. He obviously needs some help. at least his mixtape dropped this week. that’s good news. right? in the-apple-doesn’t-fall-
far-from-the-tree news, Kendall Jenner shocked no one when she posted some new photos on her twitter. the only problem is that she was topless in them. Jenner turned 18 only two weeks ago, and users on the social network quickly let her know they felt she was too young to show her bee stings to the public. Jenner’s sister, Khloe Kardashian-Odum, quickly came to her sister’s defense and
Pop Addict Anthony Pope
shut her “haters” down. “Models and photographers take beautiful artistic images,” she said. “sit down and enjoy the view.” enjoy the view? Um. Okay, Khloe. Keep in mind this is the family that created a billion-dollar brand from a sex
tape, so it comes as no surprise that she would defend her little sister’s choice of baring her breasts. wrapping things up this week, Kelly Clarkson just joined a zillion other women in Hollywood as she announced that she is expecting her first child with new husband Brandon Blackstock. the couple married just five weeks ago in a private ceremony in tennessee. Clarkson had been promot-
ing her new Christmas album and recently fielded questions about when she was going to start a family. Good for her. Maybe she can schedule a playdate with Blue ivy and North west in the future. that’s it for Pop addict – or at least my version of it. it’s been my pleasure bringing you entertainment news for the past year, but like all good things, it must come to an end.
Features
NOVEMBER 21, 2013
S.A.V.E. makes case for alternative energy
Dr. Jason Allard, geosciences professor, points to an illustration describing increase in temperatures.
Abbie Baggerly c i r c u l at i o n m g r .
rabaggerly@valdosta.edu
the topic of climate change is heating up on campus. on nov. 12, s.a.V.e (students against Violating the environment) hosted a panel discussion of four speakers on climate change and the fossil fuel divestment movement. Dr. Jason allard, associate professor of geosciences, was the first speaker to address the audience. allard said that humans are most likely causing dras-
tic changes to the climate. He also said that sea levels have risen since the mid-19th century, oceans have warmed and glaciers have shrunk all around the world. “Human influence on the climate is clear,� allard said. “there is an increase (of) the greenhouse gas concentrations on the atmosphere.� Dr. christine James, professor of philosophy, discussed the health issues that are caused from fossil fuels. she said burning coal harms people that cannot escape from the poor atmosphere. Breathing and behav-
PagE 5 | VsusPEctatOR.cOM
Go to www.vsuspectator.com to read Jordan Barela’s story on the Candlelight Concert!
Abbie Baggerly/ THE SPECTATOR
ior issues are common in children that breathe these fuels in on a regular basis. Dr. michael noll, associate professor of geoscience, also addressed the audience about problems with using fossil fuels. He elaborated on the fact that the u.s. is the largest source of co2 emissions. some of the alternatives to using fossil fuels are solar, wind, geothermal and hydro energy. “we are moving in the right direction, but we are moving too slowly,� noll said.
Students ‘Payback’ poetry Isaiah Smart s ta f f w r i t e r
itsmart@valdosta.edu
Jennette Hall was filled with confessions of porn addictions, experiences of inequality and the corruption of america as poets gathered on tuesday. Deep release Poetry society presented Vsu’s biggest poetry showcase of the year with “the Big Payback.� “it was astonishing to see all of our hard work come together in an event of such magnitude,� terri Harris, president of Deep release, said. “it was a surreal moment seeing all the poets get up there and perform their pieces in front of a crowd after practicing for months.� the Big Payback was themed after James Brown’s hit song, “the Payback.�
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PagE 6 | VsusPEctatOR.cOM
SportS
NOVEMBER 21, 2013
Undefeated Golden Bulls to visit P.E. Complex Shane Thomas S p o rt S W r i t e r shanethomas@valdosta.edu
the VSU men’s basketball team looks to move to 4-0 when they host undefeated (5-0) Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls on Saturday. Following Sunday’s win over Carver Bible, Blazers head coach Mike Helfer believes his team can be better than what they’ve shown. “You can’t have any mental lapses,” Helfer said. “i feel like we went through a couple of games early on and had lapses where we wouldn’t play well, and you can’t do that to beat a good team like Johnson C. Smith.” JCSU enters Saturday’s game coming off a 65-59 victory over Virginia Union Wednesday night. though the Golden Bulls are a non-conference opponent, Helfer stresses the importance of respecting JCSU and bringing the right disposition into the weekend contest.
“We’ve got to expect a very good basketball team,” Helfer said. “they’re 4-0 (5-0). they’ve got road wins already. they’re going to be good, and we’ve got to expect that from the get-go. i think there are two very good programs playing each other (Saturday).” During their three-game winning streak, the Blazers have been dominant, outscoring their opponents by an average of 23.3 points per game. Against JCSU, the emphasis for VSU will be tough defense and limiting turnovers. the Golden Bulls shoot well from the field (49.8 percent) and excel at forcing turnovers, as opponents are turning it over 19.3 times per game. “i think they’re very good off the dribble, (and) they’ve got good post guys that finish around the rim,” Helfer said. “JCSU does a good job with their press, and they put a lot of pressure on the ball so we have to take care of the ball and make easy passes.”
Blazers prepared for playoffs; head coach Mike Swan wins GSC coach of the year Neil Frawley S p o rt S W r i t e r ndfrawley@valdosta.edu
Sometimes hard work goes unrecognized. But for three members of VSU's volleyball squad, hard work paid off in a way one hopes it would. the Blazers finished the regular season with a 19-13 record (winning eight of ten at home) and secured the second seed in the Gulf South Conference tournament after being selected to finish fifth in the conference in preseason polls.
“ I think it recognizes
that our team is making progress, and that people feel like we’re a force to be reckoned with. ” - CoaCh Mike Swan
the Blazers have already seen early payoff, three players were selected to represent the all-GSC team, including head coach Mike Swan being named GSC Coach of the Year and setter Jessica Codato and outside hitter Jenna Kirkwood being named to the first team all-GSC. "it wasn't anything i was expecting at all, and i'm happy for the girls that we got to go," Swan said. "recognition for the program is always great, so i was really proud of Jess and Jenna for making first team all conference. i thought we had other players that could have gotten first or second team. And then my award is just, i think, a team award. So from that end of it, i think it recognizes that our team is making progress and that people feel like we're a force to be reckoned with." recipients humbly accepted their awards as team awards while remaining appreciative about being chosen to represent the team. "i mean it's a team effort,” Codato said. “i wouldn't have won if i didn't have a good team. i'm happy because i'm coming from another country, and i just transferred, so i'm really, really happy.” A boost of confidence may
be just what VSU needs as the volleyball team sets to prepare for the GSC tournament, a three day win-or-gohome event that will decide if VSU's season will go on past this weekend. "We lost our last home game, so it was kind of rough, and having me and Jess represent the team for the award and coach getting Coach of the Year just kind of maybe gave the team a boost of confidence," Kirkwood said. the weekend will begin on Friday with a match against North Alabama, a team that VSU beat 3-1 at home but then lost 2-3 when they played the Lions on the road. "i think that we match up well with (North Alabama), (and) if we play to our potential we'll be fine," Swan said. "there isn't anyone that we couldn't beat if we're playing our game, and our girls just have to realize that it's a oneand-done situation, and if we really want it badly and go and perform like we're capable good things are going to happen," he said. to win the tournament, VSU will likely have to go up against tournament host West Florida University, a team that has been ranked in the top 25 for most of the season and has lost only twice in the conference. the Argonauts had four players named first team allGSC, but VSU's 2-3 loss to WFU in which both teams were tied at 12 in the fifth game supports coach Swan's statement that VSU has the potential to beat anybody in the tournament if they play to their full potential. "i think that all season teams have seen us as the underdog, like 'oh, when did Valdosta State get this good? When did they start winning a lot?’ i mean the conference is so even i think that anybody can beat anybody, so i think it will be a really good tournament, so we just have to bring our best game and stay focused and know that we can do it," Kirkwood said. read the rest online at www.vsuspectator.com
Helfer acknowledges JCSU as a team that does a lot of things well and believes his team will need to play well in multiple areas to win. “they don’t have many weaknesses,” Helfer said. “they’re a very solid team, so i’m not sure there’s one particular area (to exploit). to beat a good team, you have to play well at every position in almost every category, and if you don’t, it’s probably going to come back and bite you.” Saturday’s game against JCSU will be the last home game for the Blazers before they hit the road for the first time this season. “Whether you play at home or on the road, i don’t think that really matters,” Helfer said. “it’s probably going to be close; both teams are going to play extremely hard. it’s an early season matchup, and it should be fun to watch.” tip-off for Saturday’s game is scheduled for 4 p.m. at the p.e. Complex.
Victoria Johnson/The Spectator VSU forward Breon Dixon takes a shot over center Colin Cook during practice on Wednesday night.
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