The Colonnade Issue 1 | Volume 101

University of Idaho murders

Drew Oldham

Contributing Writer

For months now, college students around the U.S. have been torn apart with fear and rage due to the most recent of attacks. In Moscow, Idaho, Ethan Chapin, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Madison Mogen were all victims of this brutal attack by

Harry & Megan

Hannah Adams

Asst. Opinion Editor

The royal family has been accumulating significant public attention as a result of Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex separating from the monarchy and releasing the Netflix series “Harry & Megan” as well as Prince Harry’s biography,“Spare”.

The royal family and the position of monarchy in the United Kingdom is a system that has been in place since early history. As the era of social media

has taken prominence, the family has been a source of interest and gossip to the world. This began with the dubbed ‘invisible contract’ that exists between the paparazzi and the royals.

The invisible contract that is maintained between the royal family and the paparazzi is an old concept that indicates the family holds a responsibility to allow their personal lives to be on display for public entertainment. The exchange for this is the royal’s ability to fund

Bryan Kohberger. Following the four students’ deaths, authorities managed to track down and arrest the 28-year-old PhD student of criminal justice at Washington State University on Dec. 30 in Pennsylvania.

Authorities used surveillance cameras in the area of the killings, street cameras to track Kohberger’s car, DNA, cell phone location pings and eyewitness accounts to lead them to their suspect. They believe

their lives off the taxpayer dollar of United Kingdom citizens. This contract most recently came into question with the separation of Prince Harry and wife Megan Markle from the royal family after public exploitation became overwhelming.

Their leaving of the monarchy left a line of controversy behind them, with people all over the world passionately holding different opinions regarding it.

See CONSTITUTION | Page 8

this was a “rage kill” since it showed signs of anger, rage and self-pleasure, even though there were signs it was premeditated. Rage killings are rarely premeditated and often occur as a result of an individual’s inability to handle emotions that arise within themselves amidst interpersonal conflict. It has also been concluded that Kohberger had social issues.

See MURDERS| Page 3

“THE MIST” AND ITS RELEVANCE TODAY

Abigayle Allen Opinion Editor

In Frank Darabont’s film adaptation of “The Mist”, written originally by Stephen King, many of the prejudices that are inherently different today, continue to prove that societal ideals have not evolved for the better.

Darabont, having al-

ready directed two other King adaptations, “The Shawshank Redemption” in 1994 and “The Green Mile” in 1999, was hoping critically acclaimed awards would follow his production of “The Mist” in 2007. However, with the debut of this film appearing in theaters during Thanksgiving Weekend, audiences were

taken aback by the apocalyptic events captured in a small town followed by an unpropitious ending.

Long story short, audiences were not pleased leaving theaters. But how does their unsettling feeling towards this movie and its underlying messages relate to society today?

See THE MIST | Page 12

UGA wins back-to-back national championships

Skyla Morris

Contributing Writer

The new kings of college football are not backing down anytime soon. It has been nearly four weeks since the Dawgs claimed their second consecutive national title with a 65-7 wipeout over the TCU Horned Frogs.

With the thrilling

events of this night at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs made history by being the first team to claim back-to-back titles since the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2011 and 2012.

They have also become the first team to win two consecutive championships within the College

Football Playoff era. A new college football dynasty has been born.

Due to the absence of a college football program here at GC, many Bobcats are proud to call themselves fans of the back-to-back reigning national champs. It was truly a night to remember in Athens, as well as in Milledgeville,

and it brought a variety of opinions from fans throughout campus.

“It was great to see that without our firststring players on the field, we could dominate,” said senior Caroline Beck, an early childhood education major.

See BULLDOGS | Page 6

Jessica Whitehead’s photography exhibit, “Seeking Asylum,” displays the beauty of the abandoned Central State Hospital campus.

Stetson Bennett, quarterback for the Georgia Bulldogs, after winning the National Championship vs the TCU Horned Frogs.

The crime scene in Moscow, Idaho, after the murders of four college students.

GA’s fight against fentanyl

Paige Blakemore Staff Writer

On Jan. 11, Gov. Brian Kemp participated in a panel at the 2023 Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The panel included discussions on how every governor across the country is dealing with the increasing fentanyl epidemic.

According to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), there is enough fentanyl present in the country to kill every American.

The GA Department of Public Health stated that from 20192021, fentanyl-involved overdose deaths increased by 218%.

“The opioid epidemic with fentanyl contamination has been a problem for many years,” said Dr. Stephanie Jett, a psychology professor, “Overprescribing of opiates for pain management has hit rural areas, specifically in the South, the hardest.”

Affluent areas in metro Atlanta are no strangers to the epidemic. With many GC students coming from these areas, health educator Rachel Pope feels it is necessary to be aware of these students, who are equipped with prior knowledge.

GC has taken steps to help combat this crisis. Over winter break, Rachel Pope sponsored a Narcan reversal training camp with the guid-

ance of The Jed Foundation and supplies from Georgia Overdose Prevention (GOP). Naloxone (Narcan) can reverse opioid overdoses with an easy nasal spray.

“It is so simple and can save so many lives,” said Pope.

30 members of GC’s staff and administration attended the training. It was a surprising turnout, with multiple departments represented.

“It is a start,” explained Pope. “Our goal is to have a dosage of Narcan in every building on campus.”

Pope went on to say that, ideally, there will be Narcan training offered every semester for more faculty and staff. Eventually, the train-

ing will bench off to students, starting with large groups such as Greek life and athletes.

As reported by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the combination of opioid use disorder and fatal overdoses costs Georgia an estimated $21 million each year.

Kemp and his administration have released proposals that would help fund mental health, substance abuse crisis centers and mobile teams all associated with the epidemic.

In 2022, Kemp secured $636 million for treatment and prevention against the crisis.

“Georgia will now have additional resources to strengthen our response

and address this crisis head-on,” Kemp said.

Passed by both the House and Senate, House Bill 911 included funding to help implement

In order to move forward and see progress, we need a societal and cultural shift. Destigmatizing opiod-related conversations and speaking out is a start.

-Dr. Stephanie Jett

Editorial Board

Katherine Futch..............

Cale Strickland................

Claire O’Neill...................

Rebecca Meghani..........

Lily Pruitt............................

Hayden Flinn....................

Brennan Schmitz...........

Jennifer Crider.................

William Van de

Planque..............................

Abigayle Allen..................

Hannah Adams...............

Anjali Shenoy................

Marissa Marcolina.........

Connor Patronis.............

Robert Trotter...................

William Burke..................

the settlement of opioids.

Additionally, the bill proposed Georgia Opioid Abatement Trust Funds and the Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund Advisory Council.

“It’s nice to know that tax paying dollars are going into something that will benefit every member of society,” said Sam Paton, a freshman political science major. “In my opinion, it will take years to fully progress.”

With regard to mental health, Rachel Pope made sure to point out the effects this epidemic has had through a tremendous amount of research and studies.

“The more you misuse substances, the more negative impact on your mental health. If you are not taking care of your body, your GPA is going to be negatively affected,” Pope said.

GC offers a variety of mental health and substance abuse resources for students and employees through their partner Christie Campus Health.

These resources are available 24/7 and consist of services like TeleHealth, counseling services and Silver Cloud.

“In order to move forward and see progress, we need a societal and cultural shift. Destigmatizing opioid-related conversations and speaking out is a start,” said Dr. Jett.

Continued from page 1

Although the apprehension of an important suspect is one small step on the road to healing for all those afflicted by this senseless, violent act, this case brought about a visceral sense of uneasiness and discomfort that reached far beyond the modest 25,000 residents of this Idahoan town and seeped into and damaged the collective psyche of our entire nation.

This crime has had effects on the American public’s perception of its own personal safety. Several students at GC find that their sense of safety in their lives has been negatively affected

by the developing story around these murders.

“The lack of public access to information about the relationship between the suspect and victims raises many other questions for me,” said senior Corbin Dent, an early childhood eduction major. “This case has definitely made me feel less safe, knowing that all the victims were my age and living in off-campus housing, just as I do.”

In the past decade, there has been an increase in random acts of violence that operate outside logic, reasoning or purpose. This leaves many people having difficulty understanding the situations. Many people who do try to understand

the mind behind brutal slayings such as this one often turn to the idea of a

“lone wolf.” Killers often tend to emerge from the internet after gaining support on media as information arises about these criminals. They often have bitter resentment towards women, and this community outright rejects certain progressive ideals that have become the foundation of many people in today’s gender paradigms.

GC Law professor Adam Lamparello agrees with this way of understanding those who choose to commit to these sadistic stabbings or criminal acts.

“There is a pattern of

conduct in those who engage in this type of violence that indicates most all individuals who partake in these violent acts have tendencies towards malignant narcissism, extreme social isolation or loneliness, a lack of empathy for other human beings and rejection by women that leaves them in a state of involuntary celibacy,” Lamparello said.

Many GC students are sickened by the information emerging about the suspect.

“That dude is bat**** crazy,” said sophomore Nina Schwelm, Mass

Communication major.

Many students do not have much to offer except bitter resentment and fear.

“It hit me too close to home,” Dent said.

Kohberger remains in custody without bond until his preliminary hearing on June 26, which has made many people feel at ease, even though he has not yet been proven guilty. There is not much one can say to attempt to provide some type of solace to people who remain terrified that this violence lurks around the corner from them.

THE U.S. AND UKRAINE: HOW BOTH COUNTRIES’ SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN EFFECTED BY UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES

Lilyana Kovacheva Senior Writer

The war in Ukraine has changed the lives of many citizens in ways that American citizens can not imagine. According to AP News, six months of war has caused the destruction of over 260 schools. Back to school has a new meaning in Ukraine. Meanwhile, American students are facing their own educational struggles. In Georgia alone, the pandemic exacerbated existing problems and resulted in understaffed and underfunded schools across the state.

Some states have tried to implement programs that increase available funding for parents to use toward their child’s educational needs.

Ex-Arizona Governor

Doug Ducey signed a law last year that allowed parents to use a portion of their child’s state edu-

cation funds, which was about $7,000, to pay for private-school tuition, tutoring, textbooks, online courses, homeschool material, special-needs therapy and many other expenses.

This became America’s most expansive schoolchoice program. However, Arizona’s new governor, Katie Hobbs, has a proposed budget that will undo the expansion, leaving one in four students eligible for gaining these funds. She claimed the new law will cost Arizona taxpayers over $1.5 billion in the next 10 years and will ultimately bankrupt the state.

Students with all educational backgrounds are affected by the lack of funding. Senior management information systems major Kaila Brown was homeschooled for the majority of her public

education before college.

“Being homeschooled in high school allowed me to work more hours at my job at the time, and, honestly, that better prepared me for the real world than the classes that are taken in high school,” Brown said. “I think that being able to access the state funds would be great for homeschool material. I would have benefited greatly from this and feel that I would have been happier.”

Sophomore early childhood education

major Kaitlyn Kaminski understands firsthand how students can be affected by outside circumstances.

“These kids are not just learning inside of a classroom, through a screen or in their homes,” Kaminski said. “Every day is a lesson for them. I cannot imagine what these students have to deal with in Ukraine.”

Since the pandemic, the classroom has expanded past its traditional settings, and schools across the globe have had to accommo-

date all the new changes. The Council of Europe got Ukraine’s response in regard to the numerous challenges faced by their schools in the COVID-19 crisis. Their main challenge in the time following the closure of schools was to maintain the learning process by distance without overloading students too much.

“These students are now facing existential threats,” said Dr Rob Sumowski, an associate education professor at GC. “Ukraine is going to have issues across the board with making up for wartime existence. Survival is taking priority over the nuances of what education they are getting.”

“Exchange programs would allow for direct assistance,” said Dr. Sumowski.

During the 2020-21 school year, an international educational exchange report found

that there were 5,000 exchange students in U.S. universities. The war between Russia and Ukraine has put a strain on the foreign exchange program, especially as students are fighting to live before they have a chance to fight for their education.

Education across the globe has taken a hit from the pandemic. The U.S. is still working to repair some of the imperfections of our country’s education system.

“We are growing and working on bettering our system,” Dr. Sumowski said. “Each state has its own approach to education.”

While we, as American citizens, have been more than fortunate enough to not fight wars in our backyard, students still struggle across the country to get enough funds to use for their education.

Courtesy of

Bryan Kohberger appearing in a Moscow court for the first time since being charged with four counts of murder

Courtesy of MGN

Children in Ukraine participate in emergency readiness lessons.

Major spotlight: Enviromental Science

Kate Verity Staff Writer

GC may seem like a small and remote university tucked away in central Georgia but it offers much more than many realize. Most students, when asked, can name somewhere around 20 majors offered at GC. However, according to GC’s own website, there are over 40 majors offered to students.

One major that is less common among students at GC is Environmental Science. According to GC’s Fall 2022 Fact Book, of the 5,379 undergraduate students that enrolled, only 81 chose to pursue a degree in environmental science.

These lesser-known degrees sometimes go overlooked by prospective students who would actually thrive in the department. One reason for this discrepancy could be that the department descriptions are complex. This complexity is more easily understood by students who are actively pursuing the major already than those who are on the fence.

For example, on GC’s webpage that summariz-

es an Environmental Science B.S., one sentence states, “The Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences prepares students to explore the interrelationships between human and natural systems and to think critically and analytically in order to solve the environmental problems facing our society.”

This is all important information, but it may be intimidating to a high school senior who is unsure what they truly wish to pursue in life.

One excellent way to get a better idea of what a degree program has to offer is to talk to a student of that department, particularly an upper-level student who has taken many different courses that the program has to offer and knows their major very well.

One such student of environmental science is Henry Sadler. Sadler is a senior environmental science major who has interests in both the science/research side of the degree and the policymaking aspects. Despite having interests in both of these fields, Sadler has chosen to concentrate on the scientific

and research sides of his environmental science major. His sureness in his future was not always so certain, though.

“Ironically, in high school, I was a drama kid,” Sadler said. “I wasn’t really good at science, but I really liked nature a lot, and I decided drama probably wasn’t the right thing for me to do in college.”

Even after settling on environmental science, Sadler did not know what path he wanted to pursue right away.

“I’m more on the science and research side, although initially, coming into college, I wanted to go into like policy and work with like the EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] and such,” Sadler said. “My freshman year, I was with the environmental science club, and I was also with Young Democrats because I wanted to go more into policy.”

However, as a senior at GC, Sadler can look back at his time and point out the cornerstones that got him on the path he’s on today.

In his first semester of freshman year, Sadler took an introductory bi-

ology course required for his degree- BIOL 1107. He believes that to be the lowest grade he’s made in a course his entire college career.

“It was definitely a weeding class,” Sadler said. “I got a D in that class and that definitely made me second guess my major a little bit, but I think that the main reason that happened was that I hadn’t become situated with enough people to be more vocal about being in study groups.”

This just proves the importance of having connections within your

Censorship in public universities

Grace Robertson Staff Writer

In September 2022, a tenured Valdosta State University biology professor, Dr. Leslie Jones, was told to change how she teaches about topics such as sex and gender or else she will be removed from the course. There are, most commonly, two sides of the sex and gender argument that are discussed. One argues that sex and gender are categorically the same, while another asserts that the concepts

are based on birth assignment and personal identity, respectively.

Jones teaches that sex is biological, and gender is a cultural construct, in her Evolution and the Diversity of Life biology course, which led a parent to complain.

The situation led to individuals around the nation questioning how race and gender are taught in an age of progressivity. GC professors explained their thoughts and emphasized that their opinions do not directly reflect the opin-

ions of the university or the USG (University System of Georgia).

Dr. Sabrina Hom, an associate professor of philosophy at GC and program coordinator of women’s studies, discussed the event and how it affects students and professors in public universities.

“We live in a very politicized world, and the degree to which the facts are getting politicized is certainly difficult,” Hom said.

In addressing the political divide that caused

parents to complain, Hom discussed the importance of these topics and how they should be addressed by universities.

“These are precisely the sorts of things that a college really should be sharing, you know: the fact that intersex people exist, that sex is not always a simple binary,” Hom said.

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression is fighting to protect Jones under a proposed violation of the First-Amendment right to academic freedom.

Joanna Schwarts, who is a marketing professor at GC, co-lead for the faculty group Diversity Peer Educators and is on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee of the College of Business and Technology, described her thoughts as well.

“I am absolutely a proponent of academic freedom, but I really think that there is no freedom without re-

department. Whatever major a student may choose to pursue, having peers to lean on and work with makes almost any project easier. Meeting people was one of Sadler’s biggest pieces of advice to freshmen.

“Meet people in your class,” Sadler emphasized. “I really class friendships, and even if it’s just study groups, they can take you a really long way. Talk to your professor, go to office hours, send emails, and always put your first name in the e-mail, or they’ll forget who you are.”

spect for other people,” Schwarts said. “I mean, you can not discuss a subject that is controversial without acknowledging that there are people who have beliefs that are different than yours,” Schwartz explained.

Controversy arose around the issue of tenure and the fact that colleges can not censor the lessons of tenured professors.

“We always hope and expect to see the administration speaking up for those basic values — to maintain those kinds of basic standards — and academic freedom is one of them,” Hom said.

“I really do believe that one of the benefits of tenure is to give professors the leeway to research topics that might be considered controversial because, depending on your view, there are things on the right and the left that are controversial,” Schwarts said. “It does not have to be a political issue. You could just

Sadler went into his college career uncertain of exactly what he wanted to do with his life and unsure if environmental science was even the right fit for him. But he stayed and now knows he wants to work in conservation and forestry.

After talking to a seasoned student in any department, it is much easier to understand what the degree entails and what opportunities are available. Environmental science, for one, goes so much further than just appreciating the beauty of nature.

call it ‘aspects of health.’”

GC students expressed their thoughts on the situation.

Kara Nitschke, a senior psychology major, explained her opinion on academic freedom, a central element of tenure.

“I understand that it makes people uncomfortable, but if everything makes you comfortable, then how do you learn?” Nitschke said.

Lydia Hayes, a freshman mass communication major, described her belief on the discourse.

“Since it is a public college, you can not really tell those professors what to teach if students do not want to hear what they are teaching,” Hayes explained. “As long as they do not say their opinion on the situation, then I think that is fine.”

There is a continuous discourse on the topic of sex and gender being taught at universities that does not seem to have an end in sight.

Anjali Shenoy | Digital Media Editor

Changes in funding for GA HOPE Scholarship

Brayden Miller Staff Writer

Though large and content-heavy textbooks are certainly intimidating, one of the biggest obstacles facing those pursuing higher education has always been their finances. The GA HOPE scholarship exists to help prospective students manage concerns about tuition payments in student debt.

“Yeah, it’s a pretty big relief,” said Alex Gerlach, a freshman biology major. “Although its challenges encourage growth, school can be pretty stressful and busy. The financial freedom HOPE offers me has basically given me the opportunity to commit to my studies in a way that really allows me to pursue my goals.”

However, the HOPE scholarship might not have been as helpful as it was intended to be in recent years. Back in 2011, a bipartisan coalition led by then-Governor Nathan Deal instituted a

law (GA House Bill 326) that ushered in a series of cuts to the scholarship in response to the unfortunate economic situation of the GA Lottery, which funds the scholarship.

These cuts narrowed the scope of students eligible to receive benefits, as well as reducing the amount of cash awarded to those still eligible. After these cuts, HOPE no longer offered awards for mandatory fees or book costs and only covered a portion of the tuition of a public, in-state college. In addition, the GPA required to qualify for HOPE increased from 2.0 to 3.0, disqualifying nearly 9,000 former HOPE beneficiaries.

Needless to say, even despite the coalition’s best attempts to frame them in a positive light, these cuts were wildly unpopular. Deal’s coalition attempted to market the changes as encouraging academic achievement from students.

This angle largely

fell flat considering that nothing was actually provided to high achieving students that they did not receive prior to the cuts. The only real change was a curtailment of the benefits less academically-accomplished students would receive.

Then-House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams, though supportive of the cuts, made less of an attempt to be optimistic. She phrased the issue as a grim necessity, as something that must be done

years later, another bill was passed that returned the HOPE GPA requirement back to 3.0 after a large quantity of students

by Deal, who spearheaded the original bill. The issue of the HOPE scholarship would continue to be picked at in the following years, though rarely in such a substantial way as the 2013 bill.

immediately to prevent more severe cuts later on.

The GA HOPE scholarship became something of a hot- button political issue following the 2011 bill. Just two

backed down from pursuing college education, intimidated by the more stringent requirements (GA House Bill 372).

It is worth noting that this change was endorsed

For instance, Stacy Evans’ failed 2018 gubernatorial campaign structured around a promise to reinstate HOPE to its former capacity and make college tuition free or the allowances made to allow students who were unable to sit for SAT or ACT testing because of COVID-19 lockdowns to allow students to qualify for HOPE retroactively.

According to the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, The HOPE scholarship budget would not see any real change until just recently, when Gov. Brian Kemp would allocate $61 million in lottery proceeds towards paying the tuition of HOPE recipients in his 2023-2024 spending plan, a budget plan that promises many other large windfalls for Georgia’s financially ailing education system. It includes a $2,000 pay raise for state-employed educators and an increase of more than $1billion for the public school system.

Kemp’s budget plan is poised to take a significant amount of strain off the currently over-

worked and underpaid staff of Georgia public school educators. This coupled with the large increase of available capital for school resources and Kemp’s stated intention to do away with HOPE’s two-tiered award system could lead to a new generation of well-cared-for and high-achieving students who have less-stringent requirements standing between them and higher education.

Unfortunately, this is far from a permanent solution to the issues the HOPE scholarship system might have. This is only a spending plan, not a firm law. Currently, HOPE’s economic well-being is dependent upon Brian Kemp’s plans for the state. If the gubernatorial office should change hands in the immediate future, the new governor may not place the same value on educational funding. Additionally, with the existence of GA House Bill 326, strong legal precedent exists for slashing HOPE’s benefits to the bone should the Georgia Lottery face another ironic turn of fortunes.

Though this spending plan is far from a guarantee for the future of Georgia’s education system, it is certainly enough to feel a little HOPE.

Claire O’Neill | Art Director

-Alex Gerlach

The financial freedom HOPE offers me has basically given me the opportunity to commit to my studies in a way that really allows me to pursue my goals.

Courtesy of MGN

Brian Kemp

BULLDOGS

Continued from page 1

Beck has been a devoted fan of the 15-0 Bulldogs for about eight years. She was very content with how this season unfolded but was not too fond of some of the performances.

“I think there were a few moments where all of us were kind of disappointed, like Kent State,” Beck said. “That was awful, but we came back.” Like many Dawg fans, Beck is proud to see her team again on the throne.

“It feels great on the top. I’ve been trashtalking for a few years, so I’m glad the Dawgs could back me up on that,” Beck said. “I am looking forward to the threepeat, and I am looking forward to going to more games in person.”

With her excitement about next season, she hopes to see quarterback Carson Beck in action as the starter.

The Dawgs claimed their crown once again with many exhilarating plays. Stetson Bennett ended his college football career with a bang via a total of six touchdowns, four of which were passing, while the other two were rushing TDs. TCU’s Duggan made an extensive

impact in this game. He scored a rushing touchdown within the first quarter, he then threw two interceptions in the second. Both of those passes were picked off by Milledgeville native and Baldwin High School alumnus Javon Bullard.

be them in the playoffs.”

Given their performance of their 42-41 nailbiter victory over Ohio State in the Chickfil-A Peach Bowl, Newcomer did not doubt that Georgia would “run away with” another national champi-

or national title, which resulted in a 33-18 victory over the Alabama Crimson Tide, exceeded this year’s viewership with a total of 20.7 million people tuned in.

As a native of Michigan, sophomore education major Erin Kudla

late in the first quarter.

“[McConkey] was completely open,” Kudla said. “The TCU guy should have been coming [to cover him] and did not, and they scored the touchdown and then jumped up and down. It was cute.”

ferent game statistics are further proof that the Dawgs truly demolished TCU. According to ESPN’s game summary, Georgia’s offense lit up the night with 589 total yards, while the Horned Frogs only gained 188. The Bulldogs recorded a total of 32 first downs, while TCU only gained nine.

As the season has come to an end, a majority of the key players have parted ways with the team. Stetson Bennett capped off his sixth season with this game and will head to the NFL Draft. Other key players, such as cornerback Kelee Ringo and defensive tackle Jalen Carter, have announced their departure in preparation for the 2023 NFL Draft. Wide receiver Adonai Mitchell transferred to Texas a few weeks after the season concluded.

Senior geography major Michael Newcomer was impressed with what he saw in the Bulldogs this year. “I think it was a good season,” Newcomer said. “I did not think they played many challenging teams, but when they blew out Tennessee, I kind of knew it would

onship in their hands.

Regardless of their knockout of a game, viewership hit an all-time low, averaging only 17.2 million viewers. According to Yahoo Sports, this statistic labels the game as “the least-watched title” within the CFP and BCS era. The Dawgs’ pri-

finds the football-driven atmosphere of Georgia to be very different from her home state and has only recently become invested in Georgia football.

She recalled her favorite play of the game to be wide receiver Ladd McConkey’s explosive 37-yard touchdown

With the ongoing hype over the Dawgs’ chances for success next season, Kudla believes that a third consecutive title is highly unlikely.

“I think, eventually, [winning back-toback] is going to get to their heads,” Kudla said.

The strikingly dif-

With many talented players leaving, it is uncertain how next season will look for Dawg Nation. But the return of key players, such as running back Kendall Milton, center Sedrick VanPran Granger and wide receiver Ladd McConkey, brings hope to many fans. The Dawgs will be back in action on Sept. 2 as they face off against UT Martin at home in Sanford Stadium.

Baldwin County’s Bullard wins defensive MVP

Owen McDaniel

Contributing Writer

“About time.” That was the reaction from Baldwin High School’s Athletic Director Dexter Ricks when UGA sophomore defensive back Javon Bullard, a step ahead of TCU’s wide receiver Quentin Johnston, hauled in a deep ball from Heisman Award Finalist quarterback Max Duggan.

For most people watching, the interception may have come as a surprise, especially considering Johnston’s clear size advantage over Bullard.

However, Ricks, who has known Bullard since he was eight years old, will tell you that Bullard has been making plays like that from the moment he first set foot on a field. In fact, when Ricks talks about Bullard, the adjective that tends to persistently resurface is “natural” – not only in terms of talent, but also his leadership and work ethic.

“Even as a freshman, the older kids would look to him for guidance or leadership,” Ricks said. “He came in already as a

natural born leader. It enhanced or grew over the three and a half years that we had him here, but he already came in established as a leader.”

“When he went about his daily routine, you could just tell he was focused on being the best he could be and building for his future,” said Baldwin County High School Principal Jason Flanders. “He was excellent.”

Flanders also added that Bullard graduated from Baldwin High School a semester early, which speaks to his tenacious work ethic.

“He is one of those superstars, but he is also one of those people who works extremely hard,” said Baldwin County head football coach Jesse Hicks. “There is nothing that was given to him. He has worked for and earned everything he has got.”

That hard work certainly paid off on the biggest stage of college football. Bullard recovered a TCU fumble in the first quarter, then picked off two passes from Duggan on consecutive drives in the second quarter during UGA’s 65-7 embarrassment of TCU.

Bullard was recognized for his outstanding performance, winning the defensive MVP award for the second straight game.

Although many athletes find their motivation in the money and fame that comes with their success, Bullard is driven by his faith and his family.

“You have definitely got to have faith. Going into any game, there are never any nerves because I know who I am really playing for and who gave me the ability to do what I can do,” Bullard said.

“Just knowing that God is by my side and he is leading the way and knowing that I am trying to follow his path the best way that I can just gives me a lot of faith, hope and joy for not only me, but for my family as well.”

In addition to his faith, Bullard’s mother, Shonda, has kept Bullard grounded and has been tremendously supportive of him in all his endeavors.

“My mom is my rock. We have that bond that is unbreakable,” Bullard said. “She tells me the things I need to hear, not the things I want

to hear. She is just all around a super woman. I am so grateful that she is in my life, and I just want to continue to make her proud.”

Another thing that stands out about Bullard is his desire to give back to his Baldwin County community.

After winning the 2021 CFP national championship, Bullard visited and spoke at each school in the Baldwin County School System, and he is always looking for more ways to give back.

“I feel like that is another way of me fulfilling God’s purpose,” Bullard said. “The more glory and blessings God gives to you, the more im-

portant it is to give back to others as well. At one point, that was me looking up to somebody who made it out of Milledgeville, and I was hoping that they would come back, so it is crazy how the tables turn, but I want to keep that cycle going.”

As UGA chases its third straight national title, it can be easy for them to get complacent and forget what it is like to be the hunters, not the hunted. However, Bullard believes that the Bulldogs will be more than up to the challenge.

“We know what it takes. We are not satisfied with being complacent. We know what it is to be on top. We believe in getting better each

and every day, in every aspect of the game.”

Throughout his career, Bullard, who was only a three-star recruit out of high school, has faced criticism and doubt, often based on his size. “Thank you, [critics]. People are always going to doubt you, but it is never about proving them wrong. It is always about proving yourself right. I know who I am, and I am going to prove to everyone that I am who I say I am,” Bullard said.

As Bullard enters his junior season, he hopes to continue silencing the naysayers and add to an already impressive legacy that he has built at the University of Georgia.

Claire O’Neill | Art Director

Marissa Marcolina | Art Director Baldwin County High School

GC men’s basketball falls to Lander

Bruce Smith Staff Writer

Coming off two straight wins, the GC men’s basketball team took on 14-4 Lander at home on Wednesday, Jan. 25.

The Bobcats, after getting off to a hot start, fell to the Lander Bearcats 69-54, putting an end to their two-game win streak.

The Bobcats received unfortunate news moments before the game. Sophomore guard Zyair Greene could not play due to personal issues. This was a big blow, as the former Peach Belt Conference Player of the Week was a big part of the recent success that the team has had.

Despite not having Greene, the game got off to a great start for the Bobcats when sophomore forward Austin Sloan capitalized on a fast break dunk that erupted the crowd, giving them an 8-2 lead and momentum.

“Those are the types of plays you go to bed thinking about, and that dunk will definitely be one that I remember for a while,” Sloan said.

The Bobcats lost their lead at 11-10 and were down at the half 40-30.

The second half got off to a slow start for the Bobcats, as they went down 48-30. They narrowed that gap and brought it back to an eight point game midway through the second half,

but that would be the closest they would come.

The team got into the bonus with nine minutes left in the game, but they would struggle at the free throw line, shooting a poor 50 percent for the game.

Despite a couple of scoring runs, the Bearcats had an answer to it every time and won the game 69-54.

“I never like to overreact until I see the film,” said head coach Ryan Aquino. “I felt like there were times where our effort was there, and there were times when we showed no effort, and I feel like that was a big reason why we lost this game.”

With the team missing some players, red-

shirt-freshman guard Ian Davis earned a starting spot and led the team in rebounds with seven along with scoring 13 points. The freshman really stepped up in his first start of the season and will look to see a bigger role for the rest of the year.

The spotlight of the team was redshirt-freshman guard Brenden

Rigsbee. Coming off last game’s double-double, where he scored 25 points and grabbed ten rebounds, the team looked to get him the ball as often as they could.

Rigsbee ended the game with 14 points, leading the team but struggled at the freethrow line, going 0-1.

“I just want to focus

game by game because we have a huge game coming up on Saturday that we must win, and I need to start making more free throws,” Rigsbee said.

The Bobcats are back in action Wednesday, Feb. 1 at 7:30 p.m., where they will travel to Flagler for their rivalry matchup.

Wild performances in the NFL wild-card weekend

Drew Bogumill Staff Writer

From heartbreaking losses to a comeback for the ages, the NFL wild-card playoff games were anything but short of an exciting experience to watch.

For starters, there was a solid matchup between the Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers. The story of this game can be confined to two names: DK Metcalf and Deebo Samuel.

The two opposing wide receivers both had at least 125 receiving yards. on first review. While Metcalf had a pair of touchdowns to go with his 136 receiving yards, the Seattle Seahawks fell short to the 49ers with a final score of 41-23.

The next wild card game can be described as a historic comeback.

The Jacksonville Jaguars faced off against the Los Angeles Chargers, and it was an exceptional game. In the first half the Chargers complete-

ly dominated, but in the second half, it was a completely different story.

After throwing four interceptions in the first half, Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence came

got it done with both his exceptional passing and his rushing skills.

Wide receiver Gabe Davis also had himself a game, racking up 113 yards on 9 targets as well

the Dolphins are out, I am cheering on the Cincinnati Bengals to win it all,” said junior Christian Castillo, a Mass Communications major.

The Bengals had a

enough for the Bengals offense to close out the win. The game ended with a final score of 24-17.

In another great matchup, the New York Giants took on the Min-

downs. The Giants outplayed the Vikings for a final score of 31-24.

The final wild-card matchup was between the Dallas Cowboys and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Everybody was looking to see if 45-yearold Tom Brady was going to bring home his eighth Super Bowl ring. However, the Dallas Cowboys had different plans.

Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott had himself quite a game, completing 25 of 33 passes for 305 passing yards and four total touchdowns.

back and went 18 for 23 in completions, had 211 yards, and 3 touchdowns with zero interceptions in the second half. The Jaguars overcame a 27-point deficit to defeat the Chargers 31-30.

The Miami Dolphins traveled to Buffalo to take on the mighty Buffalo Bills. Many are calling this game a full Josh Allen Experience, as he

as a touchdown. Buffalo edged by the Dolphins with a final score of 34-31, advancing them to the next round.

“It was heartbreaking. No one believed in us all year, but we kept on grinding. It was unfortunate that we got matched up with debatably the best team in the league, but what can you do about that? Now that

tough matchup against the Baltimore Ravens.

The soft coverage from Baltimore held Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow to a relatively bland game. Burrow posted only a 6.3-yard average depth of target as well as zero big-time throws for the game.

Luckily for Burrow, Cincinnati’s defense held the Ravens down hard

nesota Vikings. To everyone’s surprise, star wide receiver Justin Jefferson had a calm game with seven receptions for just 47 yards.

It was the Giants’ running back Saquan Barkley who really took the game by storm. Barkley caught five of six targets for 56 receiving yards as well as 53 rushing yards and two rushing touch-

Tight end Dalton Schultz had a great game as well, catching seven of eight targets for 95 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Dallas rolled by Tampa Bay, winning with a score of 31-14.

The wild-card games provided a weekend full of surprises and excitement. Fans can only wonder what is to come in the next couple rounds of the NFL playoffs.

Marissa Marcolina | Digital Media Editor

Redshirt freshman Brendan Rigsbee goes up for layup over Lander defnder on Wednesday, Jan. 25.

Courtesy of Claire O’Neill | Art Director

Harry & Megan

Continued from page 1

In a BBC News article, “Harry and Meghan: What’s the media’s ‘invisible contract’ with British royalty?” by Alex Taylor, the agreement between paparazzi and the royals is further explained, as well as its effect on the mental state of the estranged royal couple.

“Prince Harry spoke of an ‘invisible contract’ between the Royal Family and reporters - a

world in which orchestrated public exposure is offered, and a level of scrutiny traditionally accepted, in return for privacy behind palace gates,” Taylor said.

“Meghan explained:

‘There’s a reason that these tabloids have holiday parties at the Palace. They’re hosted by the Palace, the tabloids are. You know, there is a construct that’s at play there.’”

“Prince Harry said that he ‘feared history repeating itself’ a refer-

ence to his mother Diana, Princess of Wales, who died in a Paris car crash while being hounded by the press.”

Most recently Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex have released a documentary on Netflix called “Harry & Meghan”.

This series, “Harry & Megan,” goes through the emotions the couple experienced during the time of their separation from the royal family as well as their personal men-

tality during the time.

Prince Harry has also recently released his biography, “Spare”. This book has received mass amounts of public attention, leading some to express their sympathy, or lack thereof, for the prince. Their estrangement led to tensions being increased between the Prince and his family members.

This docuseries had mixed evaluations from viewers, as the episodes caught worldwide attention. GC Political Science Professor Steve Elliott-Gower, who has dual citizenship in both the United Kingdom and the United States, shared his feelings on the idea of mutual exchange between the royal family and the public, and the separation of Harry and Meghan.

“The Royal Family has enormous privilege and a great American once said, ‘with

privilege comes responsibility’,” Gower said. “That responsibility not only involves a certain loss of privacy but it also adds an obligation to act beyond reproach.

Queen Elizabeth understood this obligation.”

Regarding Prince Harry’s book, “Spare,” Gower said, “I have read excerpts and reviews. From what I have seen, the book is a tawdry, petty, ill-advised disgrace. I think the book has damaged Prince Harry’s brand,” Gower said. “He comes off as a whiner, blaming others and not accepting any degree of personal responsibility.”

Gower also went on to speculate his opinion on why the royal family has become an attractive source of gossip in America.

“I suppose many Americans are fascinated with the pomp

and circumstance and the glamor of the Royal Family,” Gower said.

“Maybe the fascination is also connected to the long history that the Royal Family represents.

Of course, Americans also like a good soap opera, so maybe that’s the attraction these days.”

In a recent poll conducted to seventy GC students on the opinion of the “Harry & Megan” series, 50 percent found that they enjoyed the series, while the other 50 percent found the series to be annoying.

Between the “Harry & Megan” series and the release of “Spare” the royal family has experienced heavy media attention the past few years. Reminiscent of Princess Diana’s life and her conflict with the media, time will tell whether changes will be made regarding the invisible contract and the ethics behind it.

‘That 90’s Show’: The Classic Spinoff’s Downfall?

Sean King Contributing Writer

“That 70’s Show”, the series that became known as the big break for popular actors like Ashton Kutcher, Topher Grace and Mila Kunis, has recently boomed in popularity due to a new Netflix release.

On Thursday, January, Jan. 19, Netflix released the first 10 episodes of “That 90’s Show”, the spinoff of the well-renowned parent show.

The new show stars the character Leia Forman (Callie Haverda), the daughter of Eric Forman (Topher Grace) and Donna Pinciotti (Laura Prepon). Leia — named after Carrie Fisher’s Star Wars character — decides that she wants to stay at her grandmother and grandfather’s house for the summer to have the fun experiences Eric and Donna had when they were kids.

The spinoff follows the classic spinoff recipe: It was highly anticipated, advertised and overhyped, while the series itself left many fans disappointed and angry.

The Wall Street Journal writer John Anderson highlighted a consensus popularized among viewers in his article “That ‘90’s Show’ Review: Hello Again, Wisconsin!” that the original, “That 70’s Show”, did a good job of encapsulating the ‘70’s during the time the show was in production — the late (90s) to early 2000s. The spinoff series seems more like those “Disney Channel tween comedies of the early 2000s”, said Anderson. GC students and alumni have mixed reviews about the show but mostly agree with Anderson’s assertion that the show is cringeworthy.

“This show is f****** cringe,” said alumnus Riley Heneghan, a political science major. “It doesn’t even look like the (90’s).”

Heneghan criticized the new cast and new basement scenes — the scenes when none of the “OG” cast were present.

Giving praise to the original cast, he said, “Watching the scenes that involved the original cast’s cameos made me happy and nostalgic.”

Heneghan summarized that he misses the old cast and wishes the show followed more of an update on their lives rather than try to bring new stars to the beloved show. He explained that a show about the old gang taking a summer vacation together — without the children — would be much more nostalgic and entertaining.

Not all fans of the parent show are as opposed to the storyline. However, some would agree that the new spinoff features some nice new faces to

add to the Forman family.

“I like how [Leia] has to handle the summer in a new environment where she makes friends and experiences a little of what her parents did growing up,” said sophomore Emily Ann Tipsword, an early childhood education major.

“I also really liked how the writers included all of the original cast and their parts in the spinoff.”

Tipsword explained that she was overall pleased with the new spinoff, especially how much everyone’s favorite

parents — Red and Kitty Forman — appeared and contributed to the show.

Tipsword only had two subtle but relevant critiques.

“I didn’t like how ‘That ‘90s Show’ tried to be more modern than the (‘90s).” Tipsword said, “I also wish the original cast, minus Red and Kitty, played a bigger role in the show instead of just being guest stars on it.”

Although the spinoff is in the first season, many fans wonder if “That ‘90s Show” will suffer the same tragic downfall

that the former spinoff, “That ‘80s Show” had. The earlier spinoff was canceled the same year as its first season debut.

However, fans of the show can only be left to hope there is more to come. Who knows, “That ‘90s Show” could bring more original characters to the new plotline in a potential — unannounced — second season, bringing even more nostalgia than the show has so far.

Cale’s cinema critiques: best movies of 2022

Cale Strickland Managing Editor

Opinion

After two of the worst years in the history of the box office, movies are back, and I went to the theater more than ever before in 2022. Including streaming titles, I saw a total of 69 new releases over the course of the year. Yet, what was true of the box office during the darkest depths of the pandemic is still true now. Success stories are few and far between for smaller films. Although “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Avatar: The Way of Water” opened to record-setting numbers, many of the year’s most anticipated projects fell far short of breaking even.

Even Hollywood’s biggest directors can not keep their movies in theaters. Steven Spielberg’s autobiographical passion project, “The Fabelmans,” was carted out of theaters and onto paid video on demand less than a month after its release. Franchises have dominated the box office for decades, but the foundation of theatergoing is crumbling. Small and mid-scale filmmaking are no longer sustainable, as studios’ gobig-or-go-home mindset continues to dominate modern moviemaking.

The theatrical business is due for a massive rehaul.

In terms of quality, it was a solid year. I am not sure if it can compare to 2021’s slate, though. Julia Ducournau’s “Titane,” Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Licorice Pizza,” Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune,” Wes Anderson’s “The French Dispatch” and Mike Mills’s “C’mon C’mon” are a handful of my favorite films from the past few years. Still, from the adrenaline rushes of the year’s biggest tentpole titles to the long conversations spurred by smallscale dramas, 2022 had a lot to offer. Here are five favorites, as well as a few honorable mentions.

Honorable Mentions:

“Aftersun” (dir. Charlotte Wells)

There comes a time in our lives when we begin to understand that our parents are more than just our parents. We start to see their struggles and lost passions, and little details that we would not have picked up on before that critical moment form a trail of breadcrumbs leading us to who our mothers and fathers are and were. In her directorial debut, Charlotte Wells nails that feeling.

“Everything Everywhere All at Once (dir. Daniel Scheinert, Daniel Kwan)

Multiverses are all the rage right now. Released just weeks before Sam Raimi’s “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Mad-

known for his sharp social satires, and “Triangle of Sadness” is no exception. I am not sure if I can even recommend Östlund’s latest work. It is long, gross, over-thetop and a bit contrived. Yet, as someone who spent a lot of the pandemic watching Hasan Piker’s live streams, I was on board with almost all of what Östlund put on the screen. A movie has not made me laugh this hard in a long, long time. Oh, and the Fred Again.. needle drop in the last five minutes of this film is pitch-perfect.

5. “Babylon” (dir. Damien Chazelle)

I was one of the few people who did not connect to Damien Chazelle’s 2016 film, “La La Land.” If that was his love letter to

ings towards his hometown, Los Angeles, into a three-hour epic bouncing from character to character. With “Babylon,” Chazelle recreates that manic feeling Anderson was after in “Magnolia,” but rather than looking back on his childhood home, he is reckoning with the uncomfortable truths of Hollywood, the place he once idolized. It is a movie about a director’s complicated feelings towards a complicated place he cares a lot about. It is far from perfect, but I loved all three hours of it.

4. “Bones and All” (dir. Luca Guadagnino)

Cannibalism is a tough sell as is. It is even harder to put out an emotional and earnest film about “eaters” in the same year “Dahmer - Monster: The

David Cronenberg is almost 80 years old, but he seems to be more in touch with the moment than just about any other working director. The world he imagines in this film may seem radically different from today’s. Pain has been eradicated. The worlds of art and medicine have fused, as people, in search of artistic self-expression, have become obsessed with body modification.

Bureaucratic agencies have been created to exercise a sense of control over humanity’s evolution, which has been accelerated by society’s destruction of the planet. A new generation is born with the ability to digest plastic. It is an odd and outlandish premise. However, in a year

same time, he creates a spectacle-filled thrillride of an alien-invasion movie on-par with the work of Steven Spielberg, the man his third feature is a clear homage to. No other director is doing it like Peele is right now.

ness,” Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan’s genre-bending, maximalist romp “Everything Everywhere All at Once” uses the complicated concept of the multiverse to cut through the noise of modern life and highlight a simple, honest feeling of optimism. Scheinert and Kwan build on the zaniness of their last project together, “Swiss Army Man,” as “Everything Everywhere All at Once” features a black-hole bagel, googly eyes, hotdog fingers and a talking raccoon. Yet, as outlandish as it sounds, it packs a universal emotional punch we all can relate to. It is a heart-pounding thriller, a moving tearjerker and one of the best in-theater experiences I have ever had.

“Triangle of Sadness”

(dir. Ruben Östlund) Ruben Östlund is

Los Angeles, “Babylon” is his poison-penned pressing of the industries that run the town. It is a lot, and Chazelle does not hold back. For instance, the first hour of the film centers on a massive party, and Chazelle fits everything he can into every single frame. There are hundreds of people dancing in tandem and a jazz band performing. An elephant appears. It is true chaos, and Chazelle matches the room’s freneticism with constant camera movement.

Not all of it works, but I love what he is after here.

It is bravura filmmaking fueled on ambition. A lot of people have compared it to Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Boogie Nights” and Martin Scorsese’s “The Wolf of Wall Street,” but I think it is closer to Anderson’s “Magnolia.” That film was Anderson’s attempt to weave his feel-

Jeffrey Dahmer Story” is released on Netflix. Yet, Luca Guadagnino’s reunion with “Call Me by Your Name” star Timothée Chalamet is just that: a sincere, heartfelt romance. Chalamet and his co-lead, Taylor Russell, play a pair of starcrossed lovers whose uncontrollable urges have pushed them into society’s margins. In Guadagnino’s adaptation of Camille DeAngelis’s novel, cannibalism is a stand-in for any alienating aspect of one’s identity. Chalamet and Russell are both exceptional, and Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’s score is one of my favorites of the year. If you can stomach a bit of gore, there is a heart-wrenching story of acceptance lying underneath this film’s bloody exterior.

3. “Crimes of the Future” (dir. David Cronenberg)

in which people’s rights to bodily autonomy, in all forms, were jeopardized, Cronenberg’s utopian world felt a little bit too close to home.

2. “Nope” (dir. Jordan Peele)

Jordan Peele’s directorial debut, “Get Out,” is an all-timer for me. The ideas in his follow-up film, “Us,” intrigue me, even if the execution is not up to the almost-impossible-to-match standard “Get Out” set. With each project, Peele’s ideas have expanded in scope, and the filmmaking has followed suit. In his first two films, Peele crafted discomfort out of the realities of race and class. With “Nope,” he is questioning the moral standing of the medium of filmmaking itself. He is attempting to locate the primal forces and urges driving modern-era content creation. At the

Prior to TÁR, writer-director Todd Field had not made a movie since 2006. If he said he spent every single day of those 16 long years laboring away at the screenplay for this film, I would believe him. His return to the big screen is a 160-minute thought experiment which places Cate Blanchett in an all-too-real spin on the world of high art. I have read Twitter thread after Twitter thread about people walking out of the theater and Googling, “Is Lydia Tár a real person?” which is a testament to Blanchett’s powerhouse performance as the film’s titular conductor and Field’s attention to detail in crafting his version of a world inaccessible to the general public. I have read review upon review calling this one of the great movies about cancel culture, but it is much more than that trite phrase. It is a true Swiss watch of a script. I have seen the film three times, and it morphs with each subsequent viewing. It makes you wonder if greatness, true dominance in one’s field, requires viciousness, or if greatness is nothing more than a title achieved through deception and manipulation. Field’s film manages to pose questions without lecturing his audience or providing simple answers. It is a Rorschach test. I know it is just the beginning of 2023, but I have a feeling we will look back at this as one of the great achievements of the decade.

1. “TÁR” (dir. Todd Field)

Courtesy of Tar media kit

“S.O.S.” by SZA: bop or flop?

Collin Zabroske Contributing Writer

SZA, renowned American singer-songwriter, released her second record-breaking album,“S.O.S, on Dec. 9, 2022. S.O.S. has remained number one on the Billboard 200 for a consecutive six weeks and counting, beating Taylor Swift’s number-one record for “Midnights” by one week.

SZA’s groundbreaking streak has not been seen by a female artist since Adele’s “30” in November. 2021. The album features many artists including Phoebe Bridgers, Travis Scott, Don Tolive and Ol’ Dirty Bastard. This wide range of artists gives the SZA fandom a

little taste of everything. With an early 2000’s rock sound found in “F2F” to a more seldom sound in “Ghost in the Machine” with guest Phoebe Bridgers,”S.O.S.” provides a sonically diverse range of songs while maintaining its cohesive R&B integrity. This has music critics comparing “S.O.S.” to her previous album, “Ctrl”.

“S.O.S.” is not sitting in the same lane as “Ctrl” in terms of musical style and production. With a more modernized R&B style influenced by Travis Scott, “S.O.S.” gives the listener a new direction into the mind of SZA. These new tinges of hip-hop R&B completely defy the alternative cohesion SZA fans were used to with “Ctrl”.

SZA’s debut album, “Ctrl”, released in summer of 2017. Although “S.O.S.” has proven to be a top-charted album, I believe that the production, songwriting and sonic cohesion of “Ctrl” is better than “S.O.S.” Since the album release, “Ctrl” has remained on the Billboard 200 for a total of 260 weeks straight, making it her most iconic piece of work to date prior to “S.O.S.” It has never left the chart and continuously extends its record as the album by a black female artist with most consecutive weeks charting.

With this standing, SZA had a lot of pressure to produce an equally groundbreaking album like “Ctrl”. Some

may argue she delivered; I believe otherwise.

“Ctrl” will remain my favorite SZA album over “S.O.S” because I grew up listening to it in some of the most developmental years of my life. The album explores all aspects of love, s*x, relationships and self-love which were all new feelings I found in myself at 17. Due to the almost five-year anticipation period leading up to “S.O.S.”, I was expecting a similar alternative-style album like “Ctrl” to blow me away.

When midnight of Dec. 9 came and I listened, I found myself a little disappointed. There was something missing. Most of the songs on the album sound very similar despite the

2023 pop culture predictions

What do GC students think is going to happen in 2023?

Shaw Coggin Staff Writer

With the first month of 2023 coming to a close, we decided to ask students from around campus what they think is in store for pop culture for the rest of the year. One topic that seems to peak student interest is the lives of celebrities.

Bailey Parker, sophomore English major, said, “2023 will be engagement season.”

A sentiment shared by many, Moriah Hamlin, sophomore education major, predicts that Miley Cyrus will announce that she has entered into a new relationship after her drama with ex-husband, Liam Hemsworth.

Going off of that, Parker thinks that Cyrus will date comedian Pete Davidson. Payton Dromey, freshman business management major, on the other hand, thinks that Davidson will enter a relationship with actress Jenna Ortega.

It is not only Miley Cyrus and Pete Davidson’s love lives that students are interested in. Another big topic of discussion is Tom Holland and Zendaya’s relationship.

Parker thinks that they will get engaged before the end of the year. The opposite sentiment is held by Bella Mccomis, freshman major, who thinks that they will break up.

Movies and podcasts, too, were also a big discussion topic among students. Lili Martin, sophomore psychology major, said, “I think

‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ will be one of the best movies this year, but I have little faith in the rest of the Marvel movies coming out.”

Hanna Sowers, freshman history and geography major, and Alyssa Baker, sophomore business major, think similarly as well. With a lot of the more recent MCU releases, it seems like Marvel is starting to lose the favor of general audiences. Sowers believes that the same will happen with the Star Wars franchise as well.

“As much as I love Star Wars, I think it’s going

down also,” Sowers said.

Sophie Hidalgo, freshman mass communication major, thinks that podcasts will become even bigger in popularity than they already are.

Sloan Freeman, sophomore environmental science major, predicts that the “What’s That?” podcast will blow up.

Many have thoughts on what the new big releases and artists will be.

Blake Martin, senior mass communication major, thinks that Miley Cyrus and Rihanna will be the most popular artist of the year. Both he and Sowers believe that Rhi-

few features that stand out to me,like “Special”, “Low”, “Kill Bill” and “Ghost in the Machine”. Maybe my attachment to the nostalgic songs of “Ctrl” like “Normal Girl”, “Prom”, “Go Gina” and “The Weekend” made it hard for me to accept the new wave of music SZA is producing.

I felt this exact same way when my other favorite artist, Lana Del Rey, released her album “Chemtrails Over the Country Club” after her critically reviewed album “Norman F***king Rockwell”. There is no comparing the two much like comparing “Ctrl” to “S.O.S.”

anna will release a new album after her performance at the Super Bowl.

McKenna Ryan, sophomore mass communication major, thinks that Taylor Swift will release her long awaited album “1989”. Allie Wiernicki, sophomore education major, thinks Swift will go on tour but will be underwhelming.

Another music artist who has been in the news a lot lately is Kanye West. Morgan Kenney, senior GC student, thinks he will go missing again or will die.

Another big celeb who students predict the

passing of is Elon Musk. Moriah Hamlin, sophomore education major, thinks that the multi-billionaire will be found dead, and the cause of death will be a mystery.

Olivia Crawford, freshman creative writing major, thinks that Musk will fake his death and go to Mars.

Some otherworldly predictions come from Anna Boughton, senior psychology major, Campbell Porter, sophomore marketing major, and Parker Smith, freshman biology major.

Boughton believes that the metaverse will become way more popular and that it will take over people’s jobs.

Porter believes that the video game industry will finally crash.

“They have been on a decline for a while now and I think the market will finally crash this year,” Porter said.

Smith thinks that marijuana will be legalized everywhere.

Courtesy of Sza’s media kit

“Seeking Asylum” opens in Milledgeville

GC alumni’s photography exhibit on Central State Hospital draws attention to mental health

Rowe

Contributing Writer

Jessica Whitehead, GC alumna and judicial assistant for Superior Court Judge Terry N. Masse of the Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit, has a photography exhibit called “Seeking Asylum” opening Feb. 4 in the W.H. Smith Building in downtown Milledgeville. The exhibit displays the beauty of the abandoned Central State Hospital here in Milledgeville.

Whitehead enhances the colors and ambiance that she was able to find on this campus with a long, sometimes dark history. Whitehead is also working on a book that will complement her exhibit and give insight to her experience while

photographing Central State as well as the history around the hospital.

Whitehead credits Dr. Greg Jarvie, a deceased psychology professor from GC, with inspiring her to start researching the hospital’s history.

“For all of the almost 30 years that I knew him, we talked about mental health treatments and facilities,” Whitehead said.

Jarvie encouraged her to learn more about Central State, and she sought to do the history justice with the “Seeking Asylum” project, though she never imagined that it would become this big.

Because of this hospital’s history with mental health, it was important to Whitehead that this project shines a

light on mental health.

”The goals of the project are pretty multi-faceted, but one of the main goals is to continue destigmatizing people who have mental health issues,” Whitehead said.

was always about learning more about what she could do to improve the circumstances so many find themselves in.

The “Seeking Asylum” project is Whitehead’s self-proclaimed “cre-

the hospital’s past and what was left behind.

The stigmatism around mental health, though it has improved through the years, is still difficult for those struggling with mental health to get around, and this is an issue that has always been close to Whitehead’s heart.

Choosing psychology as her major at GC

ative outlet” that has also proved to be so beneficial to continuing this dream.

People from the state of Georgia, especially older generations, remember Central State purely as an “insane asylum,” and there have been many ghost stories told throughout the years regarding

One afternoon when Whitehead was taking photographs, she got in her car to move to another area on the campus. While her car was in reverse, she saw a man that she thought to be a security officer in the rearview mirror and back-up camera. She grabbed her permits to show to the officer, and when she got out of the car, no one was there.

Later, while doing more research about Central State, she stumbled across photos of the hospital, including some of male patients dressed like the one she saw behind her car. Whitehead also said that this experience did not deter her

from continuing to visit Central State, and whatever presence was there was not threatening.

Jessica Whitehead is also opening an online store with merchandise featuring some of her favorite pictures on sweatshirts, t-shirts, stickers and other knick-knacks. Out of the profits Whitehead makes from book and merchandise sales, she will make regular donations to The Depot in the hopes that the Heritage Center there will reopen one day. People will be able to learn more about Central State Hospital, and donations will be accepted at the exhibit to be used for repair of the water damage at the Brown-Stetson-Sanford House.

Kylie

Courtesy of Jessica Whitehead

Photo of the trail to the men’s prison at Central State

Courtesy of Jesssica Whitehead

Jessica Whitehead and her photography at the Seeking Asylum exhibit.

-Jessica Whitehead

The goals of the project are pretty multi-faceted, but one of the main goals is to continue destigmatizing people who have mental health issues.

“The Mist”

Continued from page 1

Remaining true to King’s original vision, “The Mist” captures the storyline of a father and son taking a trip to the supermarket to stock up on food supplies for an approaching storm. It is there that the father, character, David Drayton, and his son find themselves trapped in a supermarket with other shoppers when a perplexing mist drifts into town. Darabont wanted to capture The Twilight Zone’-esque theme with monsters and other unspeakable creatures lurking behind the translucent mist. Much of this film focuses on the actions of the people within the supermarket, highlighting the differences in their approach to decide what to do about the mist. While some shoppers were focusing on surviving and escaping the supermarket, others were drawn to Mrs. Carmody, a supermarket attendee preaching the gospel, and her religious explanations to this mysterious mist. In attempts to help create a theme for how society can turn on itself during high stress situations, Darabont includes a poster of the 1982 film “The Thing” (a remake of the 1951 film “The Thing From Another World”) within the walls of main character David Drayton’s studio in his home. The film helps to provide a visual depiction of how

society, men, acts when they believe that the world may be crumbling. That juxtaposed with the fact that the United States had just entered its fourth year of the war in Iraq and with the most devastating economic recession around the corner, audiences were left feeling very unsettled.

This story, being set within a small town, meant that the patrons attending the supermarket knew each other, further adding to the horror of the events that would happen within those walls. Because the patrons knew each other, any outsiders were highlighted, including Drayton’s neighbor Brent Norton, a lawyer from out of town. These distinctions made between “townies” and “out-of-towners” meant that they did not fit into a survivalist or evangelist faction that the supermarket attendees divided itself into. To combat this, Norton, an out-of-towner, pointedly comments on the fact that himself and the other out-of-towners may “pay taxes here” but remain unwanted. The outof-towners were made to feel like immigrants to the country being ostracized from the group.

Brent Norton was a unique character depicted in this film, not only for the context of its production in 2007, but also in modern times. Following true to many of King’s stories, he is the only African American in an allwhite story. He plays an antagonist, meaning his

rationality goes against that of David, the protagonist in the story. While David believes the creatures are real because he witnessed a gruesome scene in the back of the supermarket, Norton believes that there must be a rational explanation for the “creatures” David describes to the group. Norton, clothed with his “rationality,” leads a group of “out-of-towners” into the mist early

white main character, to Barack Obama, a lawyer who began his campaign for presidency the same year as the film’s release. Norton’s character relating to Obama in 2007 speaks to a new landscape of racial divide in 2023, with his removal from the story’s narrative. The attendees of the supermarket, where every character is white, are shown guarding themselves from the

color. The evangelist in the story, Mrs. Carmody, even makes a comment when speaking towards nonbelievers as believing they are “privileged” to survive and believe they are entitled to this privilege, much as our society believes there is privilege based on race or class rank.

Drayton, accompanied by his son and other survivors, driving away from the supermarket in attempts to escape the mist. They inevitably run out of gas, and white hero Drayton, kills all of the survivors in attempts to spare a gruesome death at the hands of the monsters in the mist.

in the film, and they are never seen again. The “mystical negro” (Lopez, 2017) is a trope in several of King’s texts. Though not as offensively portrayed as John Coffet in “The Green Mile” John Coffey, Norton proves to be an oddly irrelevant character within this film. With this film being produced in 2007, it is hard not to associate Norton’s character, a lawyer in contrast to a

A.I. is not our enemy

Abigayle Allen Opinion Editor

OpenAI recently developed a language model named ChatGPT that changes the way in which society views and uses technology. This new model is laced with the ability to work as virtual assistants, a language translator and chatbots used to aid the way in which we interact with technology.

Think of ChatGPT as Siri without an attitude problem. ChatGPT provides a free application that will write or give any information upon asking. Students can use this tool to search for any information desired and to aid in brainstorming new ideas.

While this application is revolutionary in its collection and production of information, educators worry that this new tool will aid too

much to a student’s advantage, writing computer generated essays and solving homework problems. Many education boards have even gone as far as blocking this application from school-given equipment and networks in attempts to combat this from happening.

Furthermore, ChatGPT can also be used recklessly. If this technology were to land in the laps of the wrong person, they may learn how to commit a criminal act in seconds. Although the technology may be designed to decline these inhumane requests, there is a possibility to form a loophole. This is possible through the algorithm that ChatGPT runs on. As this technology is used, it retains information and human-like responses, which could cause the reproduction of ambiguous and potentially

detrimental information.

Although prone to errors, as more research is done, these kinks could be resolved. As this technology is used, answers could become more accurate. ChatGPT is based on data, meaning it is probabilistic, and the human use of this technology will increase the range of information and give more reliable information.

This proposes a question: Will ChatGPT become a nightmare within a classroom setting?

Although ChatGPT may give an easier and more efficient way for students to cheat, cheating did not commence with the birth of this new technology. Students have practiced and mastered the art of cheating. Whether it be copying their classmate’s homework or simply bringing a cheat sheet into a testing room, the students

mist with a horror that’s different – in every sense, including racially. This aids in the scene where the supermarket residents do not try to stop and are almost eager to give Norton up to the mist because of his race. This narrative depicts white-on-white violence that can almost be seen as irrelevant in our society because this violence is mostly overlooked for being incited due to skin

who are characterized by cheating will continue to cheat. This is especially true after the COVID-19 pandemic, where most classes were moved online and continue, even now, to run on a hybrid class schedule. Lucky for educators, many anti-cheating detection services have developed services in an attempt to combat this type of plagiarism.

Because cheating with or without ChatGPT is inevitable, how could educators use this service to their advantage in the classroom?

ChatGPT services can be implemented in the classroom for a plethora of reasons. Whether it be to simply aid students in formatting an essay or generating ideas for said essay, these services can be used for good. The flaws in this technology can even be used to the advantage of educators,

Mrs. Carmody’s character not only represents small-town conservatism but also small-town thinking. The store’s attendees are shown dividing themselves into factions, some of which believe she is a disciple, speaking with God’s tongue or that she has lost her mind. Supermarket employee, Dan, describes the attendee’s reactions as “scar[ing] people badly enough … [will] get them to do anything. They’ll turn to whoever promises a solution.” Mrs. Carmody’s character is exhibited as carrying both traditional and frightening beliefs, sharing that her solutions are from holy texts and her “facts” are true, depending on an individual’s personal thinking. In modern times, Carmody’s fears turn inward, and with the viewpoint of Donald Trump’s presidency, we can see how Carmody’s rhetoric, established in religion, can be perceived as societal fears. Her idea, derived from Abraham wanting to sacrifice young boys, can be applied to the dismissal of minorities or other marginalized community members.

The film ends with

Drayton, with no bullets left to end his own life, steps out into the mist to die. Within 10 seconds, the government appears from the mist with everything under control.

In 2007, with the country at war and on the brink of recession, this ending depicts a theme of humanity’s quick will to kill for the greater good. Drayton, believing he is saving his compadres from a horrible death, ultimately comes to find that these actions were unneeded and over the top. In 2023, this ending holds a new truth: The government, unseen and uncaring throughout the film, takes its own time cleaning up their messes.

The government’s arrival at the end of the film will never provide Drayton with comfort because the damage had already been done. The film’s message provides audiences with a piercing look at humanity coupled with this same outlook on government employed by humanity.

“The Mist” remains a truly frightening horror story with its message changing as the years tick on. I can only imagine how its haunting message will remain true in years to come.

with the faulty responses that sometimes appear when using ChatGPT services. A popular structure for teaching produced by Benjamin Bloom’s taxonomy explains “the value of material and spread of information” (Barrett, 2023).

Our society and school systems are no strangers to change and reform. It was just three years ago when Zoom became the new format for many of

our classes. Rather than letting upgrades in technology and the spread of information deter educators from utilizing its advantages, educators should learn how to incorporate these advances into their lesson plans. In any case, educators are leading a technology-fueled generation, and it would be to their advantage if they prepared for a more digital future.

Courtesy of Art Director | Claire O’neill

The 37th President of the United States – Richard Nixon – is among the greatest presidents in our history. Elected twice to the Oval Office – the second time by an overwhelming margin – Nixon’s accomplishments in office were groundbreaking, transformational and inspirational. Indeed, Nixon embraced a moderate, rather than ideological, paradigm to governance and a principled, not partisan, approach to leadership. In fact, even a cursory glance at President Nixon’s accomplishments demonstrated that, under his leadership, the United States prospered economically and forged partnerships internationally. For example, Nixon:

• Ended the military draft.

• Created the Environmental Protection Agency.

• Appointed largely originalist judges to the United States Supreme Court.

• Dedicated $100 million to begin a war on cancer.

• Signed Title IX, which prevented sexbased discrimination in federally funded programs and activities.

• Oversaw the desegregation of southern schools.

• Authorized the joint work between the FBI and Special Task Forces to effectively eliminate organized crime.

• Participated in the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) with Soviet Secretary General Brezhnev.

• Signed the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, which substantially reduced the threat of nuclear war between the United States and Russia.

• Became the first President to visit the People’s Republic of China, where he helped to normalize trade relations with the Chinese.

It should come as no surprise, therefore, that in 1972, President Nixon was re-elected in a landslide, with a mandate to lead and an agenda to effect transformative change in domestic and international policy.

Then, Watergate happened.

And that would ultimately lead Nixon, under threat of impeachment, to resign from office, with so many promises unfulfilled and accomplishments unrealized. But that resignation should have never happened. Congress should have never sought to impeach Nixon, particularly in light of his policy and legislative successes, and his actual role in Watergate.

To be clear, Watergate was a third-rate burglary performed by low-level, junior-varsity henchman who were on Nixon’s re-election committee and seeking intelligence on, among other things, the Democrats’ strategy for the 1972 re-election campaign. Unquestionably, this was a criminal act and indisputably, it was morally reprehensible.

But Nixon never authorized the burglary.

Nixon never even knew about the burglary until after it happened.

Given these facts, and Nixon’s overwhelming success as President, why was he impeached? Because he covered it up, often lying to his colleagues and Congress about the extent of his knowledge after he became aware of the burglary. It was the coverup, therefore, not the crime that led Nixon, under threat of impeachment, to resign. The threat of impeachment,

however, and subsequent resignation, should never have occurred. It led to the loss of a great leader and ushered in an era of American politics that was characterized by partisanship, polarization, and political gamesmanship.

This opinion may seem controversial, but the basis for this conclusion is not. To begin with, and as stated above, Nixon never authorized or even knew about the burglary until after it happened. Furthermore, at the time of the burglary, it was widely known that the mainstream media, which is overwhelmingly liberal, hated Nixon, and that the Democratic members of Congress were searching for something – indeed anything – to undermine his political power and reputation with the American people. Given this context, what was Nixon supposed to do after he was informed of the burglary? Have a press conference and give the media – and Congress – precisely the ammunition to attack him relentlessly and undermine his legislative agenda? Think about if you were in Nixon’s shoes. What would you have done?

The most likely answer is precisely what Nixon – and former President Bill Clinton –did when faced with damaging scandals. You would cover it up due to fear of the political, not necessarily legal, repercussions. President Clinton, for example, famously held a press conference in which he stated, “I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Ms. [Monica] Lewinsky.” Well, sure enough, Americans soon learned that Clinton had oral sex with Lewinsky in the Oval Office, and they had the displeasure of learning about the infamous blue dress. Of course, like Nixon, Clinton covered it up too – and if you are honest with yourself, you would too. This is not to say that the conduct of these two men was not reprehensible. It is to say that the coverups were not nearly as reprehensible – or contrary to human nature – as critics, most of whom are politically biased, would suggest.

And the nature of the coverup underscores another critical point that should have prevented the threat of impeachment and Nixon’s eventual resignation. Put simply, Nixon never acted with the requisite corrupt motive that relevant federal statutes required. Specifically, the coverup was not designed to evade legal responsibility for the burglary (nearly everyone involved served

time in prison), but to minimize the political fallout that would invariably accompany discovery of the burglary. This is not a distinction without a difference, because corrupt conduct, if entirely politically motivated, is not sufficient to satisfy the statutory elements upon which impeachment was predicated.

Perhaps most importantly, Nixon’s resignation must be viewed in a broader context given the totality of the circumstances. Nixon was an outstanding president. His extraordinary policy and legislative accomplishments benefited the United States domestically and internationally. His moderate approach to leadership (Nixon would likely be considered a Democrat today) was purposeful and principled. Yet, all of his accomplishments, both present and future, were destroyed because of a third-rate burglary, a partisan Congress, and a coverup in which almost anyone in Nixon’s position would have participated. Regardless of these facts, Nixon resigned.

But Clinton didn’t. Why?

Because when Clinton, a Democrat, was president, a democratic majority controlled the Senate. Democrats also controlled the Senate in 1972, but Nixon, who was a Republican, would not get the same courtesy from his political adversaries. Not to mention, George W. Bush, who invaded Iraq based on false and misleading premises, caused the deaths of over 100,000 American and Iraqi citizens. Despite these facts, Bush never faced impeachment. But Donald Trump was impeached not once, but twice, based in part on allegations of collusion with Russia that proved false. Do you see what is wrong with this picture?

Impeachment is not a moral endeavor. It is the height of hypocrisy. It is a political enterprise designed to destroy political opponents. And today, this country needs less, not more political gamesmanship.

Ultimately, given Nixon’s accomplishments and broad public support, one must ask: what public purpose did his resignation serve? Shouldn’t the public good, rather than artificial moral protestations and political tactics, guide leadership decisions? If it did, Nixon would have remained president. And the country would have been better for it. Elvis would probably agree.

RICHARD NIXON: ONE OF THE GREATEST PRESIDENTS WHO SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN FORCED TO RESIGN

Impeachment is not a moral endeavor; it is the height of hypocrisy.

Adam Lamparello, J.D. Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice

Former President Richard Nixon (Left) and pop-icon Elvis Presley (Right) in Dec. 1970.

The problematic behavior of Tucker Carlson

Hannah Adams Asst. Opinion Editor

Since the start of television news reporting, political stances have become a pinnacle piece of most large-scale news stations. This has led to the segregation of channels and a huge disconnect in the information people receive. Those that listen to a right-sided news channel will receive information in a different light than someone who listens to left-sided news. Reporters have become more carefree with their words, some becoming known for their highly opinionated segments. A prime example of this behavior is Fox News reporter Tucker Carlson. Carlson has been ex-

portrays his opinion in an arrogant and unnecessarily antagonistic way. Many of the lawsuits that have been filed against him are in consequence of his over-emotional and unchecked tangents. With each of these suits, Carlson hides behind the defense of libel, refusing to take accountability for the problems that his words invoke. His claims are disputed regularly, yet the reporter has not been required to claim responsibility for his actions. It is this method of news delivery that creates barriers between the people and causes conflict. The fact that Carlson is allowed to continue this behavior is an injustice to the honor that once came with

er have become the motive of large-scale news reporting platforms. News should be delivered objectively, without manipulation, so that people can form their own logical opinions.

While Carlson is not the only reporter to take on this behavior, he is the first to come to mind when thinking of problematic newspersons. Most recently, Carlson has been ridiculed on social platforms for a segment that entailed his aggressive statements regarding the changes of the M&M’s-brand characters. One must question why Carlson is so intensely bothered by such an unproblematic idea. Brands undergo modernization and

cist statements and wild arguments that deny the statistics calculated by professionals if the information is not in his favor. For example, Carlson once countered the calculated statistic that suicide rates would decrease detrimentally with firmer gun regulation laws by claiming that the

never should be allowed, and it is a shame that he was allowed to continue without consequence.

While news platforms do serve the purpose of allowing for the debate of information, there is a line that can be crossed. Guests should still be given a chance to talk and state their opinion. They

ing said in the first place. Unfortunately, Carlson is only one of the modern-day news reporters to be given a platform to engage in problematic behaviors.

People like Carlson should have to take accountability for their words and claims, especially when they can