is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. It starts Feb. 1 and ends March 4.
Although Black History Month is celebrated in the month of February, it is meant to inspire ongoing reflection on the diversity that strengthens our collective identity as Americans and as true global citizens. GC works to contribute to the understanding of human progress.
“I didn’t really know about any events going
as if GC could — and probably should — use
banners, or even chalk on the sidewalks, like
of Black History Month.
During the month of
will explore the influence and proliferation of southern food traditions through a series of featured meals served from Chef’s Table in the Max.
In the Russell Library, there are two exhibits for viewers. An exhibit developed by contributed digital artifacts is on display in the library.
Editor
Marissa Marcolina || Digital Media
on this month,” said senior marketing major Savannah Peebles. “I feel
more advertisement for the events. Maybe use more posters and
you see Greek life use.” GC highlights about six events in celebration
February, each Thursday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.,
Chef Enoch RutherfordValentine’s Day is the holiday that couples adore and single people loathe. Before Mariah Carey can even hit the final note in “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” department stores and supermarkets are putting
out candy hearts, chocolate boxes, teddy bears and pricy rose bouquets.
The National Retail Federation (NRF) estimates that 52 percent of Americans will celebrate and spend $26 billion, which is about $80 per person, in the U.S. on Valentine’s Day in 2023.
While the holiday
is viewed as a mostly sweet gesture today, its origins are as bizarre as they are questionable.
According to “NPR,” the exact origins of the infamous love day are hard to determine, but many historians agree that it is linked to a dark festival called Lupercalia in ancient Rome.
From Feb. 13-15, Romans would sacrifice animals and whip women with their hides, believing it would increase fertility. Men would then draw women’s names from a jar to couple with them for the remainder of the festivities, to put it lightly.
During Lupercalia,
on two separate occasions, two men, both by the name of Valentine, were executed on Feb. 14 by Emperor Claudius II. Prior to his death, one of the Valentines signed a heartbreaking goodbye to a woman that read, “From Your Valentine.”
It was Catholic Pope Gelasius I who created
In the Russell Library Special Collections Gallery, you will find “The Soul of Georgia,” which documents the development of a distinct facet of American cultural history through the music of Black Georgia musicians.
See BLACK HISTORY MONTH | Page 2
Saint Valentine’s Day in 496 A.D. to honor both Christian martyrs and cease the pagan festival. As time progressed, writers such as Shakespeare and Geoffery Chaucer, an English poet, helped romanticize and popularize the holiday.
See VALENTINE’S DAY | Page 6
In Super Bowl LVII, the Kansas City Chiefs were able to claim their second Super Bowl title in just four years after defeating the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35 in a matchup for the ages.
The Eagles received the ball first, quickly driving down the field. They capped the drive off with a touchdown by Jalen Hurts on a QB
sneak they had been using to bully teams all season, and the Chiefs were no exception.
The Chiefs made the most with their first offensive possession as well, scoring with a 17yard touchdown pass to tight end Travis Kelce.
The Eagles were able to mostly control the game for the rest of the half, scoring 17 points in the second quarter, thanks to incredible efforts by wide receivers
REVIEW: WRC FITNESS
GC has publicized their WRC makeover for weeks now. Did it live up to the high expectations?
AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith. They headed into the locker room for halftime with a 10-point lead and a score of 24-14.
Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs came out on fire to start the second half, beginning with an offensive possession. Mahomes used his improvisational skills to help his team march down the field, and they finished the drive with a touchdown by rookie running back Isiah Pacheco.
The Chiefs’ defense stepped up and held Jalen Hurts and the Eagles’ offense to just a field
goal on the next drive.
The third quarter ended during a strong drive by the Chiefs, giv-
ing both teams a quick break before a tough, gritty fourth quarter.
See SUPER BOWL | Page 4
The United States was founded on principles of misogny and white supremacy. Black women have experienced a disproportionate level of oppression.
If you are like me, you have a love-hate relationship with GC’s Wellness and Rec Center. It is free, conveniently located on West Campus, has a multitude of cardio equipment and an indoor track. However, this entity is far from perfect. For starters, it is too crowded. There is not a simple or obvious solution to this, but I would prefer to not do leg day in a sea of people. Likewise, there are only four squat racks, two Smith machines, and two bench
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Senior management major Dalton Johnson recalls seeing some of the artifacts while walking through the library.
“I don’t think it’s advertised enough, but I can say that through
presses. This simply does not satisfy the number of people looking to use these pieces of equipment. I found a lot of the equipment, especially in the past year or so, to be outdated, malfunctioned or out of order. For example, the shoulder press machine has been out of order for the past two years — at least. However, I am tempted to say I have never seen it working since I started my undergrad here in 2019. For those reasons, I was ecstatic when I discovered GC was finally giving us a Wellness and Rec Center Fitness Floor
taking a little bit of my time to know what’s being showcased, and I get to educate myself with interesting knowledge,” Johnson said.
In Ennis Hall, an exhibition called “Horsepower” was installed at the Leland Gallery. “Horsepower” is an exhibition of new paintings by Macon
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..................
makeover. This renovation was announced Wednesday, Jan. 25, via email. It included a schedule of revised hours operations, projecting that it would take almost an entire week.
It did in fact, not need a week. In fact, it only took about two and a half days to bring in the new equipment. This was the first warning sign for me. Surely, they were not ahead of schedule by that much time.
I went to the gym the next day, Thursday, Feb. 2, around 8 p.m. As soon as I ascended the staircase to the fit-
artist Cedric Smith. Reception for the artist was held on Thursday, Feb. 9, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Georgia’s Old Governor’s Mansion has a specialized tour of the property that interprets antebellum life through the perspective of the people who toiled behind the veil of slavery.
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ness floor, I immediately began observing the atmosphere around me.
The first thing I noticed was there was still the same number of squat racks and Smith machines. Anyone could walk into the Wellness and Rec Center’s Fitness Floor and see that the gym desperately needs several more squat racks to aid in dispersing the crowds of students that tend to gather there.
Likewise, there was still only one leg press. Again, this is a popular workout on leg day; typically, it is a struggle to get a couple sets in.
GC is also home to the Sallie Ellis Davis House. Davis was an inspiration and a pillar of the African American community in segregated Milledgeville. The house was the home of Davis, who was a dedicated and passionate Baldwin County educator. She worked her entire career
That is, if you don’t hover over the person using it.
Despite these downfalls, there were some major improvements.
For starters, there are now more than three working treadmills. Towards the end of last semester, the treadmills began falling off like flies — till there were only three working ones left. There are now all new treadmills, plus two long-distance treadmills.
There is also a new assisted pull-up machine that is much less outdated. It allows for different variations of pull-ups that better
as a teacher and principal and touched many lives of the children in Baldwin County. Her house has been available for historic tours since April 2012, and today, her house is a meeting place for the community of Baldwin County and greater Georgia.
“It’s important that we
target muscle groups. My favorite new edition of the Fitness Floor is the hack squat machine. The hack squat stimulates your quads, hamstrings, glutes, calves, and can assist with improving your traditional back squat form. It also provides much more stability than a typical squat rack would.
Overall, the Wellness and Rec Fitness Floor had some improvements and new equipment to assist in getting a better workout. However, in typical GC fashion, it was overhyped and failed to deliver.
continue to share these historic events and host more opportunities to educate more students at GC,” said senior mass communication major Grace Timme. “I think, also, it could be beneficial if professors let students know about these events and highly encouraged their participation.”
Within the GC Department of Government and Sociology, criminal justice is one of three bachelor’s degree programs, along with the political science and sociology programs.
According to the department’s page on GC’s official website, criminal justice majors typically pursue “careers in government administration and policymaking, criminal justice administration and law enforcement, foreign service, law and teaching.”
The department has 25 faculty and staff members. With access to such a large amount of experienced and active scholars that foster a growth-encouraging academic environment, students can more readily advance their degrees and career pursuits.
This degree program provides many different avenues by which students may gain exposure to what benefits a criminal justice degree might hold outside of college. One of these is the plethora of internship opportunities for students interested in the program.
The webpage of GC’s Department of Government and Sociology lists examples of such opportunities, including those available at Robins Air Force Base in Houston County, Georgia.
According to the website’s page, “a student participated as an intern within the 461st Air Control Wing of the U.S. Defense Department.” The student had the opportunity to work with the Commander and the Executive Officer of the Commander and “assisted in the production of new Public Service Announcements for the Team JSTARS (Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System).”
Kaitley Congdon, a senior criminal justice major, can speak to the advantages of other ways students can gain this exposure, specifically in the required senior seminar class.
The course often hosts professionals in occupations that favor the skills and knowledge acquired from a criminal justice degree to help you figure out where you want to go after college.
For example, one week, a member of the U.S. Secret Service joined
the students in class to talk about what their dayto-day tasks look like and how the skills and knowledge base learned from a criminal justice degree can greatly aid the search for a job similar to theirs.
Other notable courses offered in the fall and spring semesters include Examining the War on Drugs, Gang Crime and Culture and Women in Crime, most of which are upper-level courses.
The Women in Crime class covers topics such as the study of women “as offenders and inmates, as well as crime victims,” according to the course’s description.
Congdon found this class to be one of the most interesting courses she has taken as a criminal justice major.
“People don’t really talk about women in crime,” Congdon said. “It’s a very different perspective on things.”
Her favorite criminal justice course, however, was Drugs and Crime.
“We got to have someone who does drug busts come in, and some task force came in,” Congdon said.
Deciding what undergraduate degree to pursue after just grad-
uating high school can be difficult and, sometimes, stressful. Congdon can even attest to the fact that students might be between two different majors, causing them to fall back on into the “undecided” hole.
“I was between mu-
Artificial intelligence is a technology created to simulate human intelligence while being entirely processed by machines. The term has grown increasingly popular with the rise of facial recognition, AI-generated art and recommendationalgorithms.
The University of Texas at Austin recently announced they are
to offer a large-scale, low-cost online Master of Science program in artificial intelligence, the first large-scale degree program of its kind.
Tuition is intended to be affordable, at $10,000, and the program is heavily inspired by the Georgia Institute of Technology, the first leading computer science school to start a large-scale, low-cost online master’s degree.
Students will have access to training through
the program edX, which prepares students for the career opportunities possible with artificial intelligence, including engineering, research and product management.
As tech giants work to invest billions in the ever-growing field, the establishment of this program is set to further expand the AI workforce in the U.S.
Dr. Yi (Cathy) Liu, a GC computer science professor, explains the
reasons for the implementation of the program and how artificial intelligence programs are impactful.
“We see some huge demand, every kind of industry, trying to use A.I. to improve productivity in management, and at the same time, reduce the human costs,” Liu said.
With tech companies laying off their workers in favor of artificial intelligence, other programs worry that their importance may become obsolete.
“Many jobs actually can be replaced by machines because machines can work seven days a week, you know, 24 hours a day, so that’s very difficult to pick humans,” Liu said.
Many corporations prefer AI due to the lower cost and effectiveness in comparison to human resources.
“I think the idea is not too bad,” Liu said. “As a human being, many jobs contain lots of tedious repetition — jobs that can
sic education and criminal justice,” Congdon said. “Very different.”
She found criminal justice classes to be very interesting and studying criminal justice allowed her to explore more career opportunities rather than confining her-
be replaced by a machine — and then, that gives you some spaces for the human to do more, like
self to one profession
As a criminal justice major, students will sometimes have to let go of certain biases. The key, Congdon says, is “making sure you have an open mind and you are ready to hear both sides of things.”
the field in the future.
GC students discuss their opinions on the growth and future of artificial intelligence.
“I think there’s some really good parts to it,” said Jasmine Harrison, a junior public health and French major.
a creative, human productive, productive job.”
Although the job market is likely to be affected, many worry about the other potential harms presented by artificial intelligence.
“The first rule for every machine is not to do things to hurt a human, but as a machine, they try to implement their goal, so they probably don’t care about others,” Liu said. “We’re trying to teach a machine to be ethical.”
The influence of AI leads to a shift from general computer science and tech backgrounds once there is a larger breakthrough within
“I know there’s a K-pop group that’s AI that’s really interesting to look at. It can also be kind of scary because there’s a lot of positions that people have that can be replaced by robots and AI. It’s a little weary.”
Rachel Kerger, a second-year creative writing MFA student, illustrated how artificial intelligence could affect her career.
“We can distribute books so much better because of artificial intelligence, but I do know that there’s this new idea that artificial intelligence is going to start crafting its own stories,” Kerger said. “I think it’s kind of a double edged sword.”
Many jobs actually can be replaced by machines because machines can work seven days ... so that’s very difficult to pick humans
Continued from page 1
The final quarter opened up with multiple clutch catches by Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster to move them down the field. They completed the drive with a touchdown connection from Mahomes to a wide-open Kadarius Toney for the Chiefs’ first lead of the night. The next drive was an offensive nightmare for the Eagles, and they were forced to punt. A few
missed tackles by the Eagles’ punt team allowed Kadarius Toney to make a return of 65 yards, the longest punt return in Super Bowl history.
Toney’s historic return put the Chiefs in prime position to increase their lead. Mahomes was able to connect with wide receiver Skyy Moore to make the score 35-27.
With less than 10 minutes left in the game, the Eagles would need to score on their next drive if they had any
hope of winning, and they did just that. With a quick slant completion on third down to AJ Brown and a deep bomb to DeVonta Smith, they found themselves inside the enemy five-yard-line.
Hurts ran it in on a QB sneak for the touchdown to make the score 3533. Hurts also fought to get into the endzone on a designed QB-run play to tie the game with the two-point conversion.
The next drive in the crucial final min-
utes of the game looked all too familiar to the Eagles’ defense, as the Chiefs were once again driving down the field.
Just when the Eagles thought they forced an incompletion on third down to force a field goal and give their offense time to score, a flag came down on the field. The Eagles were called for defensive holding, giving the Chiefs a first down and allowing them to chew the clock before kicking a
game-winning field goal.
With a score of 38-35, the Eagles had enough time to run just one play. They threw a hail mary, but Hurts was unable to connect with a receiver, ending the game in a victory for the Chiefs.
Patrick Mahomes took home the Super Bowl MVP award, with a final stat line of 182 yards passing and three touchdowns combined with a 77.8 percent completion percentage. This honor puts him in elite com-
GC women’s basketball has had many standout players this season which have contributed to their successful year. One player in particular is sophomore guard Alexa Geary. Her outstanding performance for the Bobcats during the week of Jan. 22 awarded her with her third Bobcat Athlete of the Week title this season.
GC women’s basketball had two games the week of Jan. 22, where Geary made important contributions.
The Bobcats were first in action on Jan. 25 against Lander University. Geary had an impressive game, scoring 23 points, pulling in two rebounds and dishing out two assists in her 25 minutes of play. This was her highest scoring game of this season.
She shot an outstanding seven three-pointers and made both of her free throws. With the help of Geary, the Bobcats beat Lander 58-45.
GC played again on Jan. 28 against Colum-
bus State University.
Despite the tough loss, Geary still performed well. She scored 13 points and racked up four assists against the tough Cougar defense.
Making three big three-pointers this game, she went an outstanding 10-20 from the threepoint line. Geary averaged 18.0 points and 3.0 assists during the week of Jan. 22, after these two big performances.
“My performance has been good,” Geary said. “I’ve had some ups
and downs that I have had to go through. My team picks me up, and that 23-point game is just because of them.”
The adjustment from high school to college athletics is a big change of pace. For Geary, a year of experience under her belt has brought out her best this year.
“She has gotten a little bit more confident going into year two,” said head coach Ross Jolly. “I think that she is not necessarily a leader of the team, but she has led more,
led herself and given more leadership to the team. Confidence and leadership are probably the biggest two things that she has improved of as she gets a year older from last season.”
Geary’s confidence can be seen in her improved stats from last season. She has already scored 55 more points than she did all of last season. Her points per game increased from 8.4 to 11.6.
While her number of shots made has increased, her number of
attempted shots has also increased, which also shows how Geary is more confident this season.
Geary has had a huge impact on the GC women’s basketball team and has helped her team in many ways with their successful season.
“She has been a spark when we need it sometimes,” said senior guard Harper Vick. “She has hit big threes when we need it. She knocks down her free throws in clutch moments, so she has really just been a key
pany as one of the few NFL players to win both MVP and Super Bowl MVP in the same season.
Super Bowl LVII gave fans an exciting, high-scoring game with outstanding performances on both sides of the ball for both teams.
Fans now look forward to next year, hoping that their team will be playing in the big game.
person we can look to to hit a three-point shot when we really need it.”
For many athletes, they will never credit themselves for their success, but for the people around them who push them to be better every day.
“I thank the Lord himself, he pushes me every single day,” Geary said. “My team pushes me every single day, so they are both up there when it comes to my success, and definitely the head band, it has good luck.”
On Feb. 7, LeBron James etched his name into the history books once again, breaking the record for the most regular-season points in NBA history.
James is easily one of the best to ever touch a basketball. He has won multiple MVP awards, including the postseason.
He has been an AllStar in all but one season in his entire 20-year career. He has also averaged over 25 points, seven boards and seven assists in his career.
Passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s regular-season points record was arguably the only stone left to turn for James. The world had been
watching to see if James could pass the record for years, and the time finally came for him.
The Lakers, led by superstar James, faced off against the Oklahoma City Thunder in a home game on Tuesday, Feb. 7. All eyes were on James, as he was expected to make history.
James previously set the record for most total points, both regular-season and playoffs, back in February, and on Jan. 16, he became only the second player in the history of the NBA to score 38,000 regular-season points.
James entered the game only 36 points away from passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s
long standing record of 38,387 regular-season points. Kareem had maintained this scoring record for 39 years, setting it back in 1984. James had scored 36 points or more nine times out of his 43 appearances this season, most recently during a 41-point showing against the Celtics on Jan. 28.
In order to break this record, James has had to have an amazing season thus far. According to “Lineups,” James has an overall rating of 97 for the 2023 season, including the No. 1 power ranking for all small forwards across the league.
The talk about who the GOAT is between Michael Jordan and LeB-
ron James is a debate as old as time, but it is now starting to come back into the spotlight.
James now has the all-time scoring record to go along with his four NBA championships, four MVPs and 10 Finals appearances.
In comparison, Jordan has six NBA championships, five regular season MVPs, and six Finals MVPs, not to mention two separate three-peats.
Sophomore business
major Payne Wilson believes this cements LeBron as the greatest basketball player ever.
“Absolutely. Everyone always brings up Jordan’s six rings trumping LeBron’s four, but what he has done with the teams he has been dealt throughout his career — especially now that he broke the all time scoring record — puts him above Michael as the greatest ever,” Wilson said.
Whether or not this
Kylie Rowe
Contributing Writer
Intramurals at GC have long been one of our students’ favorite ways to make the most of their college experience, and this all-women basketball team is proving that you do not even have to play to enjoy the fun.
The Baddies Be Ballin’ team was created in the spring of 2022 by team captain Bailey Parker, a sophomore English major, who said the driving force for starting the team was to make more friends. Her intention was to become closer friends with her teammates, but others started showing up to games, and soon thereafter, the stands at the GC Wellness and Recreation Center started filling up.
The team is made up of a group of close friends, most of whom have never played basketball in any other capacity, that just wanted
to spend their nights on a court, having fun. They make the most of the intramural experience and go above and beyond in every aspect,and people off the court
the Wellness and Recreation Instagram page.
Alyssa Baker, a two-season Baddies fan and sophomore business management major, said the Bad-
when they were losing by over 60 points with five minutes left, and the fans started chanting for the referees to let the team play.
Both teams agreed,
an Instagram page where they share game highlights, player profiles, satirical fan encounters and other funny content.
On top of this, some dedicated fans have start-
makes James the GOAT, he has had a major impact on the game of basketball.
“He was a huge inspiration for kids that came from underprivileged areas, starting a school for kids who could not afford it while also providing them with whatever they need,” said Michael Larrusso, a sophomore business major and basketball enthusiast. “He also revolutionized the game by playing positionless basketball.”
says that “the team is really all [she] could ask for, they support each other through everything, lift each other up and, most importantly, always have fun on the court.”
In both seasons that the Baddies have played, they have had matching jerseys made by their resident graphic design major, Grace Arnold. She has used paint and vinyl to make shirts and bows for the team so that they can always look their best during their games.
It is because of the team uniforms, their energy and their fans that the basketball Baddies will go down in intramural history.
also started to notice.
At one of the Baddie’s recent games, they had over 50 people cheering for them. Their fans are not only great in number, but have been described as “electric” by
dies fans are “always showing up and showing out” for the games.
Even when most fans would be distraught, the Baddies fans are going strong. Bailey remembers their first game,
and they were allowed to finish the game. Bailey recalls this moment as a “special moment where [she] felt the love of her friends for a team that is famous for losing.”
The Baddies also have
ed to live stream and commentate each game so that those that cannot make it to the game can still be involved.
Baddies coach Peyton Cusick, a sophomore computer science major,
Bailey also would like to say, “Thank you,” to all of her teammates for being awesome, the GC Wellness and Recreation Center for being good sports when the fans boo their calls, the fans for making the experience what it is and finally, “Go Bobcats! Go Baddies!”
Continued from page 1
Valentine’s Day cards had been circulating throughout the Middle Ages, but it was during the 19th century when Esther Howland became the “Mother of the American Valentine,” as reported by “TIME.” Howland crafted intricate and aesthetic cards that later bloomed into the widespread Valentines that we know and love today.
In 1913, Hallmark Cards began to mass produce their own Valentines and com-
mercialize the holiday, forever altering the month of February.
When asking GC students their thoughts on, and agenda for the upcoming holiday, many had differing opinions and plans.
“I do think that it is a sweet holiday,” said Bethany Barron, senior psychology major.
“However, even though I am in a relationship, I can see how it could be one that people who are single do not like. I don’t think we should look at it as just romantic
love. It could be love for friends or family as well.”
Some students said that they planned to spend the day with their Valentines or close friends. Others said they treated the holiday like just another day.
“I think it can be fun if celebrated with positivity in mind, but I think it can also be pretty dangerous,” said Josh Wilson, sophomore economics major. “It’s important to remember that it is just like any other holiday, and there is no pressure.”
Many felt the hol-
iday is overrated and commercialized by big companies to get more profit out of consumers.
“Why do we have to have a special holiday for people to love each other?” said Trinity Martin,
freshman marketing major. “Maybe men should stop being trash these other 364 days of the year and show love every day.”
Whether you are pouring out pennies to spoil your significant
other or partaking in promoting Singles Awareness Day, keep in mind the dark history and odd traditions that led us to what we now think of as Valentine’s Day.
Courtroom dramas often withhold the jury’s verdict until the film’s final minutes, allowing the first and second acts to build tension, often through an intellectual game of cat-and-mouse between the accused and the accusers. In the opening act of Alice Diop’s first feature film,
“Saint Omer,” the defendant admits to committing the crime of which she is accused. Less than 30 minutes into the film’s runtime, its core tension appears to be resolved.
Yet, Diop’s narrative gains, rather than loses, momentum in the aftermath of Laurence Coly’s confession. As the central question of her trial is answered, count-
less others emerge, all of which are fueled by an unconditional longing for understanding.
The film’s final 90 minutes center on the pursuit of its protagonist, Rama, played by Kayije Kagame, to comprehend Coly’s crime. Rama is an aspiring author and literature professor who comes to Coly’s trial in search of inspiration for
her next novel, a modern spin on Euripides’s “Medea.” Rama is also a stand-in for Diop, whose experiences attending the 2016 trial of Fabienne Kabou inspired the film.
On the surface, Rama and Coly’s lives parallel one another. Both are intellectuals and invested in the world of academia. Both have complicated relationships with their mothers and their heritage. Both are in interracial relationships. Both are Senegalese-French women — and the only Black women, aside from Coly’s mother, present at the trial.
Regardless of Coly’s confession, the judge presiding over the Berck-sur-Mer courtroom, played by Valérie Dréville, is not concerned with punishing the defendant for abandoning her 15-month-old daughter on the beach of Saint Omer. She is inter-
ested in who she is — as a daughter, a student, a partner and a mother.
At first glance, Coly’s story is confounding. She is a PhD student. She is well-spoken. She cites René Descartes and Ludgwig Wittgenstein during her defense — which a juror confronts her about, as he assumes a Senegalese-French woman would be interested in philosophers “closer to her own culture.”
However, even after admitting to her crime, Coly’s resolve remains. She does not believe she is responsible for the murder; demons are.
Further interrogation gives context to Coly’s struggles. Out of financial desperation, she, a poor student, entered a loveless relationship with a married, middle-aged man, which led to her daughter’s birth. He left. Out of shame, she confined
herself within the walls of her house, in which her daughter was born. No one was aware of her daughter’s existence.
The world was introduced to her as a washed-up corpse.
Despite the defendant’s detailed, disturbing description of her daughter’s death, Diop does not end “Saint Omer” with the verdict of Coly’s trial. We do not know if the court’s compassionate judge accepted her defense. If she was convicted, we do not know how harsh or merciful her sentence is — because, in the end, it does not matter.
Before the film fades to black, we see Rama, devastated and pregnant, holding hands with her estranged mother. She is distraught — not just because of the macabre nature of the murder, but because it could happen to her.
The Milledgeville-based band Andalusia played a couch concert with WGUR 95.3 The Noise on Feb. 8.
This alternative rock jam band is composed of five GC students that share a passion for music.
The band’s name symbolizes their Milledgeville roots, as it is a reference to the home of the famous Milledgeville writer Flannery O’Connor. Similar to other famous musicians and poets, they are inspired and intrigued by the darkness of O’Connor’s writing.
Earlier this year, a Milledgeville-based band broke up, but a few of the remaining members wanted to continue playing music. Thus, Andalusia was born.
“Highspeed Dream broke up, and me and John [singer and guitar player] wanted to keep playing, so we met up with other musicians that
were still here,” said Mason Wiley, drum player and sophomore mass communication major.
Erik Wolstenholme, guitar player and junior environmental science major, also joined Andalusia after leaving another Milledgeville-based band.
“Andrew Bates [the bass player] asked me to play guitar for a few
shows with them in Highspeed Dream,” Wilstonhome said. “I used to play with Subject to Change. I left that and started playing with them, and now, we are here.”
Zeke Nichols, keyboard player and freshman, found the band shortly after he began his educational career at GC.
“I was in a band before, Little Gracie, in Savan-
nah, Georgia, and then, I moved out to college,” Nichols said. “I talked to some friends around, and they were like, ‘You should play with these guys.’ I showed up to Andrew’s house, and we just kicked it off from there.”
The band’s electric stage presence and unique ability to put a modern spin on classic songs has made
them a staple in the small-yet-blossoming Milledgeville music scene. Since the band was created, they have performed in local venues, such as Buffington’s and the Velvet Elvis.
“I liked playing in Velvet Elvis. We had people dancing, and they were just into it,” Nichols said. “They were just moving. When you see that move-
ment and people feel connected to what you’re playing, it just boosts you and pushes you to a whole ‘nother level.”
Even though Milledgeville holds a special place in their heart, the group all expressed that their favorite memories are from shows in Athens.
“There’s more energy in Athens,” Nichols said. “You can just show up somewhere, and the energy is already there. You don’t have to make any of it. It’s just consistent.”
Although Andalusia is a fairly new band, as their first show was in December 2022, they have exciting plans for the future. On March 3, the band will be performing at WGUR’s Sounds of the South music festival in downtown Milledgeville. They will also be playing at Battle of the Bands during GC Homecoming week, as well as the County Line Music Festival on April 1.
Adult Swim’s “Rick and Morty” is one of the most successful shows made for the young
which is home to his other adult animated show “Solar Opposites”, have ended their relationships with the creator.
Adult Swim has followed suit. It was an-
ing the voices of the titular characters, Rick and Morty, since Roiland is the one who voices them.
GC students who are fans of the show, such as Sophie Hidalgo,
his loved ones,” Hidalgo said. “I think the show will survive without him because they have such a strong fanbase, but you will win some and lose some. Some people may be appalled by what happened, but others don’t like change, though.”
tion is still developing, looking at similar situations with other shows and their creators,
one of Roiland’s attorneys wrote that his client is innocent and he expects the case will be dismissed.
adult audience within the past decade. However, it has recently found itself in troubled waters.
Roiland has been embroiled in controversy since 2020, when he was accused by his ex-girlfriend of physical abuse. Companies like Hulu,
nounced last month that “Rick and Morty” will continue without Roiland, and Harmon will take on the solo title as creator for the future seasons.
On top of losing one of the leading writers, the show will also be los-
freshman mass communication major, commented on the situation.
“He must be really creative but, obviously, he’s got something going on in his head, considering he was being aggressive with somebody in his life that was one of
“I don’t really like the show,” said Drew Oldham, sophomore psychology major. “I don’t really have an opinion on the whole Justin Roiland thing because I don’t really know anything about it. But, probably, the show would not survive without him, just cause it’s very much based off his signature vibe for the show that if it misses out on it, it’s not going to be the same.
Though the situa-
It is easy to take for granted how convenient it is to be able to drive to the MAX, downtown or to a store whenever the urge strikes, with the only real limit being how much you are willing to shell out for gas. With how natural being able to drive might feel, it can also be easy to forget how much of a responsibility it is to be able to operate an automobile. The slightest slip or lapse in attention can — and often does — lead to disastrous results.
According to the National Security Council, young and college-aged drivers are significantly more likely to be in a car crash than people in other age demographics. Unfortunately, this means GC students might be more susceptible than most to these kinds of accidents. It is a very sobering thought, but it begets the question of what is actually causing
car accidents. Perhaps a relative lack of driving experience is what makes college students more likely to crash.
The alarming disparity between those two figures paints an unflattering picture of the driving ability of younger drivers. Youthful inexperience is far from the only possible cause of car accidents, though. After all, many older individuals are still involved in crashes, which are typically attributed to distracted driving.
In the modern world we live in, there is a nearly infinite number of things a GC motorist could potentially be distracted by. From the actions of friends and peers to the exploits of the many stray cats on campus, there is no shortage of things to draw the eye.
But, perhaps foremost among driving distractions is the all-encompassing mobile phone.
Using a GPS on your phone has become the
new standard for navigation, and of course, there is always the temptation to text or check social media during red lights.
Phone usage while driving grew to be such an issue that then-governor Nathan Deal moved to stymy it, signing the Hands-Free Georgia Act into law in 2018. This made it illegal to hold or touch a mobile device while driving. The threat of legal repercussions may be enough to stop some potentially irresponsible drivers, but not all.
One of the most irresponsible choices someone can make while driving is choosing to get behind the wheel while under the influence. Drunk driving is something of a provocative subject, so people are bound to hear about it relatively often. Due to their scandalous nature, DUIs tend to end up dominating local news and gossip when they happen.
there will most likely be a rough patch, but they usually come back with a fresh, new voice.
According to a statement published by NBC,
“We look forward to clearing Justin’s name and helping him move forward as swiftly as possible,” attorney T. Edward Welbourn wrote.
However, despite how often they come up in conversation, Sarah Crowder, freshman criminal justice major, is unsure whether DUI incidents are as common as they might seem to be.
“I’m not sure,” Crowder said. “I’ve heard the bus goes downtown at midnight to pick up people who are drunk.”
Despite only transferring recently, Crowder has heard a lot about the ways GC provides safer alternatives for getting home after a night out, such as the late-night bus line. Though, she also seems to doubt that students would always
choose to take advantage of those alternatives, especially if their decision making is compromised by alcohol.
“There will always be some who’ll think, ‘Oh, I’ll be fine,’” Crowder said.
People often feel a sense of distance between them and what happens on the news. It is often much easier to dismiss what happens and say that it will never happen to you. But, that kind of refusal to contemplate unpleasant possibilities can often beget dangerous choices.
The dangers posed by car crashes are manyfold, from death and
injury to soul-crushing traffic jams. There is likely no clear-cut, immediate solution for stopping these accidents. There is no way, except for time, to beat inexperience, mobile devices seem to be here to stay and getting everyone to kick their alcohol habit is easier said than done.
The only thing that can really be done as an individual is to make an effort to be the most responsible driver you can be — if not for your own safety or the safety of others, then for the poor souls who would be stuck in traffic following the accident.
Probably, the show would not survive without him.Courtesy of Warner Media Courtesy of Vanity Fair Roiland is pleading not guilty in the domestic violence case.
On April 4, 1949, the North Atlantic Treaty was signed, and the foundations of NATO were established. It was with this treaty that it was agreed between the nations of Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the United States that an attack against one would be considered an attack against all. Since then, this treaty has been upheld, although the dynamics of the system have changed, as well as the nations affiliated with it. To fully comprehend the reasoning behind NATO, it is important to first understand the war that laid its foundations, World War II. World War II was an incredibly dark time in history that left its mark
on every single nation on this planet. Not one country escaped its effects, and the horror and bloodshed that this time entailed will never be forgotten. The 1939 Poland invasion sparked the beginnings of the war, and from that point on, distrust ran rampant amongst civilians. Despite the proclaimed protection that the French and British military promised over Poland, Hitler took the risk and invaded the country. This attack resulted in a blindside to the French and British, and the first action of World War II had been completed. Innocent people were slaughtered by German forces, and the horrific lengths Hitler was willing to venture became clear with the Holocaust. The United States entered the war with their own massive atomic attack upon Japan in retaliation to
the infamous bombing of Pearl Harbor. It seemed that the world was in an endless spiral of tragedy. Lines were being drawn in the sand, and nations were scrambling to choose a side. World leaders began meeting with one another and coming to agreements. Treaties were signed and then, in turn, betrayed. Spies began to work their way through Europe, and alliances were formed that caused serious conflicts between other nations. Countries were in a constant state of looking over their shoulder, and safety was a feeling scarce to the times.
By the end of the war, Germany had been conquered and divided into four zones. Great Britain remained in the northwest, the United States in the south, France in the southwest and the Soviet Union in the east. Germany’s capital city of
Berlin remained in Soviet territory but was still divided into four quadrants for each respective nation. Each of these nations was a powerful force during the war, and each had the desire to assert themselves individually as the war found its close. The Soviet Union’s loyalty to the Allies was tedious from the beginning, as it was only established after Hitler betrayed their nonaggression pact and invaded the Soviet Union.
Soon after the overtaking and division of Germany, The Soviet Union began completing their own ulterior motives. The Soviets established a blockade that prevented the other Allied forces from entering into the Soviet’s German territory. While unsurprising to most, this action showed that even at the end of the tunnel, war and betrayal seem to go hand in hand.
It is needless to say that World War II left its mark on the world as we know it today. It was this mark that prompted world leaders to deeply consider who they were willing to trust in the future. It was these considerations that led to the North Atlantic Treaty entering the scene. This agreement made clear that any single nation protected under the alliance could count on the protection of other affiliated nations in the event of an attack.
An ally would hold the responsibility of acting with whatever is deemed necessary, including sending armed forces, to act in the defense of a fellow NATO nation. This treaty operates hugely on flexibility. For some of the largest and most powerful nations on this planet to function as a unit and work together during military strate-
gy, compromise must be made. Nations must have the space necessary to express their individual concerns or willingness in certain areas. Each nation must also have the right to withdraw from this agreement and forfeit the protection that comes with it.
Currently, NATO consists of 30 nations and the initial agreement that the treaty was founded on remains: that an attack on one will be an attack on all. It is this alliance that hinders Putin from advancing into Polish territory as the Ukrainian war wages on. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization allows for countries to feel a sense of protection from one another. It provides the world with hope that we will never have to witness a war as horrific as World War II again.
Black History Month started off strong with Viola Davis becoming the third Black woman to win an EGOT, as well as Beyoncé becoming the top Grammy artist in the world. Although it is important to celebrate the progress that Black women have made, it is equally as important to acknowledge the structures that have kept them suppressed for so long, as this is the only way to create permanent change.
The United States was founded on misogyny and white supremacy, as our founding fathers sexually assaulted and enslaved Black women; therefore, Black women have always experienced a disproportionate level of oppression compared to white women and Black men. This is ingrained in our social institutions and perpetuated through education and politics, and there has not been one single large-scale fem-
inist movement that is founded on looking at intersectionality and the experience that women of color face.
Modern feminism is rooted in the work of the women’s suffrage movement. Although the American education system depicts suffrage activists, like Susan B. Anthony as heroes, they gloss over mentioning the white supremacy of this movement. The women’s suffrage movement only began in response to Black women getting the right to vote. As highlighted in works by Black feminist bell hooks, white women felt superior to Black men due to their race, so they felt more deserving of the right to vote. This essentially exiled Black women in the conversation of achieving equal rights between men and women, and this has had long-lasting impacts on the goals of feminism.
These lasting impacts can be seen in the feminist movement of the 1960s that emerged at
the same time as the civil rights movements. The way white feminists focused on their own needs while overshadowing the struggles of Black people is reminiscent of the weaknesses of the suffrage movement.
In modern times, rich white celebrities have brainwashed people into believing that they are the face of feminism. The #MeToo movement specifically has pushed these people to the forefront of feminism. Although the goals of #MeToo are important, the new leaders of feminism that have emerged, such as Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Lawrence, Lady Gaga and many more women in the media industry, do not provide an accurate depiction of the typical woman experience, especially not women of color.
The experience of Black women in the #MeToo movement is grouped together with those of white women, although white women do not face the same type of oppression that
Black women do. Black women are harassed at higher rates in the workplace, and this is not acknowledged in the movement at all. The grouping together of all women further silences Black women, which strengthenswhitesupremacy.
I do not think that the feelings of rich white women should be silenced, but they should not be the foundation of the popular feminist movements while other women are experiencing discrimination from all aspects of their identity.
Abigayle Allen Opinion Editor
“Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 is a federal law that states: ‘No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.’” (Women’s Sports Foundation)
In March of 2022, Lia Thomas became the first openly transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division 1 national championship in any sport, beating out biological women for this title.
After months of protests conducted by concerned women and female athletes due to the unfairness of Thomas being able to compete against biological women, Concerned Women for America filed a formal civil rights complaint under Title IX, with the U.S. Department of Education, against the University of Pennsylvania for refusing to protect the rights of college female athletes. The complaint
goes further than just the unjust competition, also addressing privacy concerns where Thomas was allowed to change in the female locker room,
where biological women change and shower.
The Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, or House Bill 972, “would protect opportunities for women and girls in athletics by ensuring women are not forced to compete against biological males playing on women’s sports team.” (Borowicz,
22) This act works to try and uphold the standards of Title IX and keep an even playing field for women. The bottom line is that identities do not play sports, but bodies do. The male body, after completing puberty, has strength, speed and endurance that women’s bodies, unfortunately, do not. If you are comparing Lia Thomas, a biological male who competed on the UPenn men’s swim team for three years before switching to the
It is difficult to applaud feminism, as it has not been successful at creating long-term success for all women. A feminist movement that is crafted to achieve the goals of the privileged does not help all women. If only white women are considered equal, then the goal of equality for all is not met, and this prolongs inequality.
Technology has turned modern activism into performative expressions on social media, like reposting infographics to an Instagram
story, but fixing this issue requires much more effort than this. It requires systematic change. Education is the primary force in socializing people. The history that is currently taught in the United States school system is from the perspective of those who control social structures, which is white men. This is not an accurate depiction of our country. To start the process of taking these structures down, Black feminist thought must be integrated into education.
women’s team, to this situation, the difference between biological male and female capabilities are highlighted. Thomas smashed many female
tion, a student deprived of an athletic opportunity or who suffers direct or indirect harm because of a violation of this act by a college or public
records and won against the fiercest women athletes in those categories.
This bill ensures that everyone, biological men and women, can compete fairly. Under the bill, an athletic team or sport designated for females, women or girls may not be open to students of the male sex. “In addi-
school would be able to bring a cause of action for injunctive relief, psychological and physical damage, and the costs involved in filing a lawsuit against the college or high school.” (Borowicz, 22) Women have fought for rights to compete in collegiate sports for decades. Before Title IX was
implemented, there were less than 30,000 women collegiate athletes in the U.S. By 2012, that number had risen to 190,000. Women still face barriers, like less pay in professional sports and championships, mandatory tests for women with high testosterone at the Olympics in 2011 and the list goes on. Despite these challenges, women persevere, and that has shown even more abundantly with the movement for fairness in women’s sports. To be clear, this bill was passed to help preserve fairness and protect women. This in no way bans transgender students from competing on athletic teams, but instead requires biological males to play on a men’s team and biological women to play on a women’s team. It is my hope that, because of Lia Thomas, many other transgender students will continue to come forward and compete on teams, so much so that they will be able to compete against each other without being forced on a team not corresponding to their identity.
