April 18, 2019
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Special Edition
Odum Library’s 47th anniversary
Relay for Life . . . pg. 2 Love, Death and Robots Review . . . pg. 3 Tiger Woods makes a comeback . . . pg. 4
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The Spectator | www.vsuspectator.com
April 18, 2019
NEWS VSU honors Library Week with banned books scavenger hunt Arelexus Brown Staff Writer arelbrown@valdosta.edu
For ages, books have served the purpose of educating, engaging and entertaining. While America claims to protect all under the guise of first amendment rights, books have not always been protected. The government has censored books for centuries. These books are withheld from public circulation with political, moral religious or legal motivation. Banning books is a violation of first amendment rights that robs both readers and writers of their intellectual freedom.
This past week, VSU took back the power by hosting a banned books scavenger hunt during National Library Week. Each day of the week, a banned book was hidden around campus. A description of the book’s hiding place was sent in mass emails encouraging students to search for them. As a reward, students could keep the books they found. The hunt was organized by Michael Holt, marketing and assessment coordinator of Odum Library. Holt’s vision was that students would come to understand the importance of upholding intellectual freedom and the educational
access books provide. “[The event] highlights the important work that libraries do to ensure that we are preserving intellectual freedom by providing access to information,” Holt said. “Giving out books that have been frequently banned or challenged is one way to easily spread the message that providing this access is an important part of what we do.” While book banning appears to be a thing of the past, many modern pieces of literature have been challenged and subsequently blacklisted. “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseni, “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas and “Thirteen Reasons Why” by Jay
Asher, all included in the scavenger hunt, are among many examples of censorship in 21stcentury literature. Holt hopes the scavenger hunt will remind students that the practice of banning books is still an ongoing issue and that more will be willing to advocate for free speech and press. “The discussion over banned or challenged books is not something from the past but is in fact still ongoing today,” Holt said. “[The event] also puts these banned books into readers’ hands, letting them experience the book for themselves.” While banned books can be a
topic many are afraid to confront, Holt encourages more open conversations about censorship of literature. “I think that what the practice of censoring or challenging literature should do for society is stimulate the conversation about intellectual freedom,” Holt said. “When we are more involved in the discussion, or at the very least more aware of the issue, I think that censorship and challenges will have less of a chance of succeeding.” Other books included in the hunt were “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee and “Drama” by Rania Telgemeier.
Lenah Allen/ THESPECTATOR VSU and the Valdosta Community participates in the survivor lap.
With 47 years under its belt, Odum Library still serves the VSU Student Body.
Photo courtesy of VSU
THE HISTORY OF ODUM LIBRARY Celebrating 47 years of serving students
Patrick Barry
Staff Writer pjbarry@valdosta.edu It rises from the palm trees like a colonial fortress, two-toned against the blue sky. Overlooking the clay-tiled roofs of every other building on campus, Odum Library guards over 550,000 bound volumes and is one of VSU’s largest buildings. Last week was National Library Week, and the stars aligned so that Odum Library also celebrated its 47th birthday on April 11. Free cupcakes, pins and party hats brought in the celebration of the library’s construction in 1972. The library wasn’t christened Odum Library until 1990, when the Board of Regents honored retired English professor Gertrude Gilmer Odum, who amassed a considerable sum of money throughout 44 years of teaching. “She was not a wealthy woman, but she was thrifty,” said Deborah Davis, director of Archives and Special Collections at VSU. “She saved up a whole lot of money and wound up giving one or two million dollars to the university.” The Odum Library you see today, however, is not how Odum looked at its dedication in 1972. In fact, Powell Hall now rests in the library’s original location. When first built, the library was only about 85,000 square feet, quickly becoming too small to accommodate VSU’s growing student body, which increased when VSU became coeducational in 1950 and integrated in 1963.
So, in 2004, a $14.2 million addition added approximately 100,000 square feet to the preexisting library, doubling usable space. Davis said that this space was not only necessary to accommodate books but also a growing need for a community-oriented space for students to spend their time.
People will stop to talk to you, but it feels more academically focused.” “Students need a place to come to study, a place to come to hang out,” Davis said. “There’s a lot of people that come just to hang out. For a while, they were calling it Club Odum because so many students hung out.” Looking around Odum Library today, one may see a similar situation. The newly-built, modern Academic Support Center has provided students with a more open, social space, as opposed to the rows of isolated desks in the older sections. But with an increasing number of student needs being met and so much information being easily accessible online, is it possible that
Odum Library could be at risk of losing books and quiet in favor of computers and chatting? Livi Côté, a senior psychology major, spends her time in the library as a tutor at the ASC. When she isn’t working, she is still at the ASC studying or socializing. “It’s a very social dynamic in this room,” Côté said. “People will stop to talk to you, but it feels more academically focused.” This sentiment was echoed by her peers, who enjoy the potential for social interaction the library affords, as well as the ability to find a good spot to study. “I feel like I get more done here than anywhere else,” Austin Danielski, a junior history major, said. “I have my nooks that I go to, but if I’m feeling social, I usually come in here.” Odum Library is doing the best it can to keep up with the modern world. Its New Media Center has embraced modernity and features a recording studio, 3D printer and technology rental service. Many historical documents and professional journals have moved online, but according to Samantha Paul, a reference and virtual services librarian, no one can resist the allure of a good book. “Times are changing a lot, and we’re kind of balancing what students want from the library, which is part of the reason the [ASC] renovation occurred,” Paul said. “But we find that students really love print books, still.” With that in mind, it seems that Odum Library’s future is as bright as the students it serves.
VSU orgs host Disneythemed Relay For Life Lenah Allen
Staff Writer lrallen@valdosta.edu
When faced with danger, most people run for their lives. These people run for others’ lives. VSU hosted Relay for Life, an annual fundraising event dedicated to raising money for the American Cancer Society, on April 12. Campus organizations like Black Student League, Gamma Sigma Sigma and the Blazer football team gathered on the front lawn to raise money for this year’s Disney-themed event. Relay for Life kicked off with a heartfelt speech from cancer survivor Melanie Benson. She walked everyone through her life and why she continues to participate in Relay for Life every year. Benson has been relaying since 2016. She said she chose to come to VSU to participate in Relay for Life because her daughter is a VSU student. “[My daughter has] been relaying since she was nine years old, so […] she’s supported me with my cancer,” Benson said. Benson hopes that her story shows students the impact Relay for Life has. She wants them to see how it helps survivors, remembers those lost at battle, and gives students the opportunity to carry on the relaying legacy. Relay for Life continued with the survivor lap, where all survivors and participants walked around the front lawn to signify their victory in the battle against cancer. The event ran into the night with fun events like Zumba, a twirler performance and a mini
pageant where men dressed up as Disney princesses and villains. The Luminaria ceremony occurred towards the end of the event. White paper bags lit up the dark night and gave tribute to those who have passed. The event ended with the closing ceremony, which recognized all Relay for Life volunteers for their hard work and welcomed exec board members to the stage to explain why they relay. Tiffanie Sherlock, vice president for Relay for Life and a senior psychology major, said that she has participated in Relay for Life since she was young. “I lost my great grandmother to cancer, so we always grew up going to Relay,” she said. “It’s a very close, dear thing to my heart.” Sherlock said that Relay for Life has been successful this year because they built a great leadership team to help organize the event. “Our team is a little smaller because we wanted more people who are excited for Relay and it’s more personal to them,” she said. “Everyone who’s on our leadership team has a personal connection to cancer, so that’s what makes it special for all of us.” Sherlock also said that her goal for Relay for Life next year is raising more money than the year before. “We just wanted to grow bigger and better every year. This year we had more teams and participation than last year,” she said. “Our goal is to raise more money than we had last year by adding one more team.”
Love, Death & Robots
April 18, 2019
“Sonnie’s Edge”: In a world where monsters are controlled by fighters and battle to the death for sport, one fighter must overcome her past to emerge victorious. A brutal start to the series, in the best possible way. “Three Robots”: Hilarious synergy between three robot tourists exploring a postapocalyptic city. A refreshing bit of humor before we really get into things. “The Witness”: A woman is a witness to murder and chased through a hedonistic cyberpunk city. Visually stimulating. Interesting plot, though a little predictable. “Suits”: A band of farmers defend their land from an alien invasion. Likable characters, smooth style. One of my favorites. “Sucker of Souls”: A band of
The Spectator | www.vsuspectator.com
One-Sentence Episodic and Overall Reviews
explorers uncover a dark secret in the heart of an ancient castle. Charming, hand-drawn style satisfyingly contrasted by an obscene amount of gore and dismemberment. “When the Yogurt Took Over”: When a curious scientist sneaks out a super-bacteria, things get weird. Shortest of the bunch, but with the most character. One of the best. “Beyond the Aquila Rift”: When a cargo ship’s computer malfunctions, it sends its crew to the furthest reaches of the galaxy. Amazing animation coupled with a killer storyline and a great soundtrack. LD&R’s headliner. “Good Hunting”: After the death of his father—a spirit hunter—a young man fights for truth in a mysterious world. The story didn’t seem to do it for me, although visually it is one of the best.
Patrick Barry
Staff Writer pjbarry@valdosta.edu
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“The Dump”: Beware of the dog. Has great character and characters. Original story. “Shape-Shifters”: A new kind of soldier battles with one of his own. Great, gritty story of love and death. Only missing robots. “Helping Hand”: An astronaut must make an impossible decision when her life hangs in the balance. What “Gravity” should have been. “Fish Night”: A father and son duo stuck in the desert discover its past. Dream-like visuals make up for the mediocre writing. “Lucky 13”: A rookie pilot gets stuck with Lucky 13, a dropship with a reputation. One of the best. Magnificent visuals and storytelling. “Zima Blue”: An enigmatic artist with a mysterious past searches for his ultimate work. The best. Haunting and sublime.
“Blindspot”: A group of robot criminals race against the clock. Not too strong. Jokes fall flat. Feels a bit like it should be made by Lego. “Ice Age”: After moving into a new house, a couple finds a city in their freezer. No, really. Falls pretty flat. As the only liveaction film, it seems dull in comparison. “Alternate Histories”: The “Multiversity” app allows users to play with different timelines. Tries to be provocative. Fails. A good concept wasted. “The Secret War”: Deep in the heart of Siberia, Soviet special forces fight a war that doesn’t officially exist. Easily second best, maybe even tied for first. It took me a while to realize it wasn’t live action.
YouTube in the early 2000s. Admittedly, some films blend into each other visually, sticking to sci-fi clichés. In these cases, the storytelling is usually so exceptional that they are distinct. “Lucky 13” and “Beyond the Aquila Rift” come to mind. In other instances, a film will have a breath-taking visual style and world design, allowing you to look past a lackluster storyline, as was the case with “Good Hunting” and “Fish Night.” Some of the films, however, are just objectively better than others. I found “Ice Age,” the only liveaction film out of the 18, to be corny and forgettable, although it had some redeeming qualities. “Alternate Histories” seemed
overdone and tried too hard to capture an audience of “laugh at anything to do with Hitler” 13-year-olds from 2010. Besides those mediocre films, “Love, Death & Robots” is a solidly enjoyable and even beautiful addition to Netflix’s Original library. The immense animating talent (you may recall the comic book-y cyberpunk style of “The Witness” from a certain recent Marvel film) and inventive storytelling make the show a standout among the monsoon of Netflix Originals. Just don’t watch it at work. Or in the library, like I did before realizing my mistake.
Photo Courtesy of Netflix
I
n these trying times of chaos and self-driving cars, nothing can be certain but “Love, Death & Robots.” It may be tempting to scroll past the 18-episode animated anthology with its inconspicuous logo, but doing so would mean missing out on a brutal and beautiful show of animated force. The settings range from distant planets to underground lairs to the Siberian wilderness. Although they are technically listed as episodes, they are actually 18 short films with independent storylines. The only thing mildly linking the range of narratives, each created by a different animation team, is the show’s title.
The ability of each film’s creators to pack such great storytelling into 10 to 15 minutes is impressive. It also makes binge watching EXCITING. One second, you’re watching mindbending cosmic horror, and the next a cartoonish comedy about sentient yogurt taking over Ohio. Not to mention the accumulated runtime of every episode is 220 minutes. I finished it in a day. It makes the experience almost transcendent, the mind bouncing quickly from one beautifully portrayed universe to the next. What is also astounding is the variety of visual styles, from the photorealistic beauty of “Beyond the Aquila Rift” and “ShapeShifters” to the stylized existential
nostalgia of “Zima Blue” and “Fish Night.” “Zima Blue,” in particular, is one of the strongest shorts out of the 18. It’s a hauntingly beautiful story of such mysterious vastness that it leaves you speechless, or at least gets you wanting to disable the autoplay feature so you can have a few more seconds to absorb its breadth. You may feel a certain nostalgia while watching “Zima Blue” that you can’t quite place. If so, you aren’t alone. I also felt the same way. After a little research I discovered that Passion Animation Studios, the studio responsible for “Zima Blue,” also created the signature music videos for the band Gorillaz, which graced
Carter, she suffered from many medical conditions like high blood pressure, toxemia and preeclampsia. She states that she was 215 pounds when she gave birth, which for a 5’7’ tall woman, can be pretty nerve-racking to any doctor. She also speaks on how she didn’t feel like herself after having her twins. Going on to say that, she followed a very strict diet of no meat, no carbs, no dairy, no alcohol, no bread and no sugar, just so that she could start to gain her confidence back to deliver her Coachella performance. Also, Beyoncé showed footage of her children, all three of them. That’s right. Blue Ivy, Rumi and Sir Carter are on Netflix looking as cute as can be. IF you’re a Blue Ivy stan like most of her fans, then there’s footage of Blue Ivy singing “Lift Every Voice and Sing” while trying to mimic the runs her mother does for her own rendition. It’s honestly one of the most heart-warming moments of the documentary. Besides all of the behind-thescenes things, the footage of what was taking place on stage was still refreshing a year later. This is one of Beyoncé’s best performances ever. She sang every hit and every fan favorite and even provided immaculate covers and mixes to songs that are African-American staples. Performing hits like “Crazy In Love,” “Formation,” “Diva,” “Party,” “Don’t Hurt Yourself,” “Countdown,” “Check On It” and many, many more, Beyoncé show-
was the first show she produced and performed after she had her babies, and the fans went bananas trying to see it. I just want to say that she is THAT GIRL. The one that your fave dreams about. She is the celebrity of celebrities. I also want to say that Beyoncé said in her 2013 documentary “Life Is But a Dream” that folks weren’t aiming music, and in 2018, she was saying that folks don’t Photo Courtesy of Yahoo want to rehearse because Beyoncé Knowles-Carter debuted her documentary “Homecoming” on April 17. it humbles them. *Side eyes a lot of these lackcased her discography and why perform “Get Me Bodied” with luster music artists.* she has been relevant for over 20 her. I also want to say that, as a years. IF that wasn’t enough, she The performance was authenproud member of the BeyHive even brought out Destiny’s Child tic. The grunts, the yelling, the since the tender age of 6, I am for a segment of her performance. stomping, the dances, the swag. proud of Beyoncé. She continues THE NOSTALGIA. They perEverything was authentic, and in the behind-the-scenes footage, she to push herself, to strive for betformed hits like “Say My Name,” ter, to be in constant competition says that she strived for that. “Soldier” and “Lose My Breath.” with herself, and it shows. Some If that wasn’t enough, BeBeyoncé hired nothing but people may shrug her off as just black people to be her backup yoncé decided to release the live your typical music artist, but hondancers, singers and her band vocals from the performance as estly, she’s much, much, MUCH members. Hiring mostly earlyan album. It is now available on more than that. She is the inspira20-somethings from Historically iTunes for $20. It is also #1 in tion, the vision and the artist. Black Colleges and Universities, several countries on iTunes. Who P.S. Like Dj Khaled said, “After or HBCUs, she wanted to hire do you know that can release an Beyoncé perform. After she done people that have a story to tell. album full of material from an old the dance. Coachella gotta rename In the documentary, she says that performance and go #1 in several Coachella to BeyChella. New she wanted to hire people so that countries??? Beyoncé Knowlesname alert: BEY-CHELLA!” when the audience would look at Carter. That’s who. Know who And that’s that on that! the show, they would be able to she is. Recognize that she is not That’s all the tea that I have for identify with her various ensemble the one to play with. members. Although the show is old, it still this week. Remember to check back here next week to get your Of course she brought out her holds value and weight because teacup filled with more piping hot husband to perform “Déja Vu” of what it meant to her and what tea! and also brought out her sister to it meant to the fans. This show
Pop Addict: Beyoncé Comes Home Jacorey Moon
Special Projects Editor jxmoon@valdosta.edu Hello to all my pop addicts of VSU. It has been a week since I’ve seen you last. HOW Y’ALL DOING? I’ve got a nice cup of honey mango white tea brewing, so let’s get into it. Nothing else matters this week as it relates to pop culture because the queen has blessed us. On April 17, at precisely 3 a.m. EST, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter debuted her documentary “Homecoming” on Netflix. The documentary is based on her groundbreaking Coachella performance from last year. The theme of her performance was the HBCU experience, and aptly, she named it “Homecoming.” “Homecoming” encompassed her performance and gave viewers a behind-the-scenes look at what went into creating the show and also how she conceived this idea. Beyoncé did it again. One thing that she continues to do is show people why she’s the last of a dying breed of legend performers. Beyoncé puts everything in curating her performances. That was displayed in the documentary as well. Her work ethic is why she’s the world’s living biggest artist. In the behind-the-scenes footage, Beyoncé talks about many personal facets of her life, such as how when she was pregnant with her twins, Rumi and Sir
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The Spectator | www.vsuspectator.com
April 18, 2019
SPORTS VSU’s Mike Helfer: Key candidate for KSU position Prince Robinson Jr.
Sports Editor parobinson@valdosta.edu
After winning his 15 major, Tiger Woods has made a comeback for the ages. He won The Masters for his fifth time on April 15.
Photo courtesy of Pixabay
THE TIGER’S BACK Woods’ Masters win rejuvenated a wild career for the ages Bryant Roche
Staff Writer bcroche@valdosta.edu I was born in ’95, too young to remember Tiger’s record-breaking performance in ’97, not quite old enough to fully appreciate his dominance at Pebble three years later. Still, I had grown up in the “Tiger Era,” an environment where it was Tiger vs. the field, red Nike shirts, and a tiger head cover over my driver. Having a PGA Tour event in town, Woods made the trip to TPC Sawgrass every year, young boys and girls priding themselves on just getting a glimpse of him, bonus points if you could attain his autograph at the practice round on Tuesday. It was there on the famed Island Green where Tiger Woods holed a downhill, 60 foot-birdie putt, with NBC’s Gary Koch calling it “Better than most” that Saturday in 2001. In the 2005 Masters, with a one stroke lead, Woods hit his tee shot over the green on the par 3 16th. At that moment, all conventional wisdom pointed to Chris DiMarco now having the momentum after his ball lay on the green some 15 feet away from the pin. But this was Tiger we were talking about, and after scientifically examining the putting surface, he landed his chip at the perfect spot, trickling down the slope until it stopped just shy of the cup. Then, as if the crowd had willed for it with its eruption, the ball fell in. The call that encapsulated Tiger more so than any other though?
18 at Torrey Pines. Why? Because with perfect brevity Dan Hicks described what everyone and their mothers were thinking: “Expect anything different?” Despite having an injured knee, hacking it out of the rough to get it there, and dealing with the resulting slick, 12-footer, did anyone in their right mind even dare betting against Tiger?
“Oh WOW! IN YOUR LIFE HAVE YOU SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT!” Verne Lundquist exclaimed. Put in a different way, when Phil stepped on 18 tee two years before at Winged Foot, all he needed was a par to win. Just face it: you weren’t sure whether or not Lefty would win or if he would fall short somehow. When Tiger had the lead on Sunday at a major, not only did you know he would pull through, but even the slightest of conceptions of him falling short never entered your mind. One could argue that Jack Nicklaus has accomplished more, particularly in light of his stillrecord 18 majors. He sustained
a level of success for a longer period of time. If he could be likened to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Tiger was our generation’s Jordan. The argument is largely this: that Kareem faced an older Wilt, Moses, “The Dream,” and a bevy of other great big men throughout his career. Those who played against Jordan in 90s tend to be less revered, but defenders will say that the greatness of “His Airness” was that he brought fear into any possible player who approached him. Just ask Clyde Drexler how the 1992 Finals turned out. It was Jack who dethroned “The King,” Arnold Palmer. He competed against Arnie, Player, Watson, Trevino, Seve etc. In a sense, he played in a smaller “league” than Tiger, who you could argue had to face deeper, wider competition with the game’s growth, although some historians may say that doesn’t necessarily mean better. Same for Jordan. His NBA had more teams than Kareem’s, but for a kid growing up in the 90s, all they grew up watching was Jordan winning time after time. For me, it was Tiger time after time. Sure, there was Phil, Ernie, Vijay, and others, but the title of the game’s best was never in question just as it had been for Jordan in the 90s NBA. With that being said, for a kid who has grown up only knowing Tiger, wouldn’t it be natural for that kid to yearn for him to come back? With Tiger delivering virtually every time (14-1 when leading before the final round of a major),
barring that one flukey loss to Y.E. Yang at the PGA, how could one truly expect someone of my generation to simply turn to another player and believe it would all be the same? Heading into Sunday, Tiger, apart from not having Jack’s 18 major wins, only had one thing missing from his résumé: a comeback at a major championship. A feat that he has been chasing his entire career. This has become his ticket to be the greatest ever. In several ways, Tiger’s victory didn’t make sense; he wasn’t ahead, he didn’t have that specific shot that stood out like in 2005, nor was it one of his record-breaking demonstrations of dominance. Instead, it was perfect in that he did the one thing he hadn’t done before, while still possessing the aura of old, intimidating his playing partners like he used to, letting them make the mistakes when it was time. He recovered from wayward shots, reminiscent of Hagen, winning on the final day with Walter’s match play mentality. He showed that he could last like Nicklaus, despite the long journey it took to get there. His comeback was the closest thing to Hogan’s, a man who survived a greyhound bus crash, only to return stronger than before. Perhaps more importantly, Tiger, with his victory this week at Augusta, won the hearts of the patrons like Arnie had with his Army. People who wouldn’t normally be allured, were enthralled Sunday. For Golf, could one possibly conceive of anything better?
VSU has a history of losing great coaches to better programs. Carley Kuhns left for Samford just a week ago. Now, Helfer’s name has circled around and it looks that he could be taking over as the head coach of the men’s basketball team at Kennesaw State. The Owls went 6-26 last season, ranking No. 8 in the Atlantic Sun Conference. Al Skinner, former Owls head coached, stepped down after three seasons. For 14 years, Helfer has coached the Blazers, averaging 20 wins a season. Since 2017, the Blazers have made an appearance in the NCAA tournament. At VSU, Helfer holds a 251131 record. He has 12 winning seasons with the Blazers on his resume and has continued to put the Blazers in the national spotlight. In the Gulf South Conference, Helfer is the leading head coach, depending on who you ask. Year in and year out, Helfer and the Blazers are top-5 in the conference. Losing seven players to graduation has depleted the roster. The likes of sharpshooters Beau Justice and Winston Morgan will be hard to replace in recruiting. Greg Zuppas, Keshawn Ingram, Desmond Deramus and others will not take the court under Helfer. That leaves Clay Guillozet and Bryce Smith as the 1-2 punch next season, so whomever takes over has a place to build. For two straight seasons, the Blazers ranked No. 1 in points per game, with over 90 a game. Each night, the Blazers were easily the best shooting team on the floor. Potentially, a team could get those services. According to Andrew Doughty, writer for Hero Sports, Helfer is a strong target for the head coaching gig at Mercer University. Mercer fired head coach Bob Hoffman on March 11. KSU centric twitter accounts have begun to follow Helfer. He recently spoke at the Southern Polytechnic State University Hall of Fame ceremony on the week of their spring game. Also, Helfer is a member of the KSU Hall of Fame. He was inducted in 2015. There have been no details on whether Helfer has engaged in KSU talks, but anyone can do the math on this. The Owls are in need of Helfer and it all makes sense. As new details arrive, this story will be updated.