January 28, 2021
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Special Edition
WHAT’S INSIDE
History of sports at VSU page 12 Get to know senior basketball star Imoras Agee page 4 VSU baseball team prepares for upcoming season page 4
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The Spectator | www.vsuspectator.com
January 28, 2021
CAREER SERVICES Career Counseling Internships Cooperative Education Career Readiness Workshops & Courses Job Search Career/Job Fairs Resume Development Mock Interviews Salary Negotiation Networking Strategies Goal Setting Career Assessments Employer Connections
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES is a multifaceted career center designed to assist VSU Students and Alumni in meeting their career goals; through our partnerships with local, regional, and national employers to identify talent to enhance today's workforce. SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH A STUDENT CAREER COUNSELOR! Access Blazer Briefcase from MyVSU. Select “Get Involved’ under ”Blazerlink and Blazer Briefcase”
Located in Student Union 2nd floor behind Starbucks Contact careerops@valdosta.edu or (229)333-5942.
VOLUNTEER SERVICES Non-profit organizations/agencies Blazer Pantry & Closet Service Saturdays Operation Blood Drive VSU Connections to community partners
SPRING 2021 [CAREER] EVENTS BLAZER
SPRING 2021 [SERVICE] EVENTS
SERIES: CULTIVATING PURPOSEFUL RELATIONSHIPS January 14 | 4:00pm-5:30pm | Student Union Suite #2218 & Microsoft Teams EMPLOYER DRIVE-IN: AMERICORPS (CITY YEAR & PEACECORPS) January 20 | 3:00pm-4:00pm | Student Union Suite #2218 & Microsoft Teams GROUNDHOG SHADOW DAY BANQUET February 5 | 3:30pm-5:30pm | University Center Magnolia Rooms
Come to the Blazer Pantry & Closet for FREE food, personal hygiene, and professional clothing items. We are located on the 1st floor of Student Union adjacent to the Union Theater Lobby.
READY
EMPLOYER DRIVE-IN: SHERWIN-WILLIAMS COMPANY February 18 | 11:00am-12:00pm | Student Union Suite #2218 & Microsoft Teams BLAZER READY SERIES: DEVELOPING A CAREER PLAN/STRATEGIC GOAL SETTING February 23 | 4:00pm-5:30pm | Student Union Suite #2218 & Microsoft Teams VIRTUAL BLAZER PITCH (COLLABORATION WITH STUDENT DIVERSITY & INCLUSION) February 25 | 6:00PM-8:00PM | Student Union Meeting Rooms 3&4 JCPENNEY SUIT-UP EVENT February 28 | 5:00pm-8:00pm | 1700 Norman Dr. Valdosta, GA 31601 EMPLOYER DRIVE-IN: GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS March 1 | 10:00am-11:00am | Student Union Suite #2218 & Microsoft Teams CAREER CARNIVAL March 9 | 12:00pm-2:00pm | Palms Quad VIRTUAL SPRING CAREER EXPO: PURSUIT OF A JOB March 10 | 2:00pm-5:00pm | Handshake BLAZER READY SERIES: CONDUCTING EFFECTIVE INTERVIEWS March 24 | 4:00pm-5:30pm | Student Union Suite #2218 & Microsoft Teams EMPLOYER DRIVE-IN: SOUTHWELL MEDICAL March 26 | 1:00pm-2:00pm | Student Union Suite #2218 & Microsoft Teams BLAZER READY SERIES: COMPETENCIES WEEK March 29 – April 2 | By Appointment | Student Union Suite #2218 & Microsoft Teams VISION BOARD PARTY April 5 | 4:00pm-5:30pm | Student Union Meeting Rooms 3/4 & Microsoft Teams EMPLOYER DRIVE-IN: WARNER MEDIA April 7 | 3:00pm-4:00pm | Student Union Suite #2218 & Microsoft Teams VIRTUAL SPRING EDUCATION FAIR April 14 | 10:00am-2:00pm | Handshake SUMMER PART-TIME JOB & INTERNSHIP FAIR April 28 | 2:00pm-5:00pm | Palms Quad
SERVICE SATURDAY: GOODWILL DONATION CENTER January 30 | 11:00AM-3:00PM | 1000 N. St. Augustine Rd. Valdosta, GA 31601 OPERATION BLOOD DRIVE: ONE BLOOD February 16 | 12:00pm-5:00pm | Student Union Ballrooms January 2021
SERVICE SATURDAY: HABITAT FOR HUMANITY February 20 | 12:30PM-3:30PM | Contact Lyle at (229) 305-8420 for Address OPERATION BLOOD DRIVE: AMERICAN RED CROSS March 17 | 12:00pm-5:00pm | Student Union Ballrooms SERVICE
February 2021
March 2021
SATURDAY: VALDOSTA-LOWNDES COUNTY FAMILY YMCA March 20 | 11:00AM-3:00PM | 2424 Gornto Rd. Valdosta, GA 31602 OPERATION BLOOD DRIVE: ONE BLOOD April 2 | 12:00pm-5:00pm | Student Union Meeting Room 1 A&B SERVICE SATURDAY: SOUP KITCHEN AT FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH April 10 | 11:30am-1:00pm | 109 W. Valley St. Valdosta, GA 31601 OPERATION BLOOD DRIVE: AMERICAN RED CROSS April 15 | 12:00pm-5:00pm | Student Union Ballrooms
April 2021
CONTACT CAREER OPPORTUNITIES Phone: (229)333-5942 Email for Students & Alumni: careerops@valdosta.edu Email for Employers: emprelations@valdosta.edu Address: 1500 N. Patterson St. Valdosta, GA 31698 Student Union, 2nd Floor, Suite #2218 Website: www.valdosta.edu/career
The Spectator | www.vsuspectator.com
January 28, 2021
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Editorial
In our opinion..
It’s time to level the playing field As we’ve seen in the sports world, the best teams win championships; not the best player. We as an American society could reflect this truth if we would let ourselves. All too often, people are held back from being great at what they do because of their skin color, gender, etc. This has to stop. Imagine if Tom Brady wasn’t allowed to play football because he was white. Imagine if Michael Jordan wasn’t allowed to play basketball because he was black. In Brady, the people of New England would have lost the captain of their beloved Patriots, the man who would take them to the Super Bowl nine times and come away with six victories. In Jordan, the city of Chicago would have lost, arguably, the
greatest basketball player of all time, and the man who would lead the city’s team to six championship victories, all while helping to popularize basketball around the world. These men were able to thrive in their respective sports and become valuable assets to their teams because they had the ability and were allowed to. If you look at our society, or the ones in charge, you will see just how easily these two athletes’ success could have been over before it even started. In corporate America, success is so often granted to people as a gift rather than something earned. All you have to do is be born into a wealthy family, know the right people or be a certain race or gender. You don’t have to worry about being qualified for the job
if you have already checked off these three boxes. In sports, this method of obtaining success could never work. So what if a guy is born rich or knows the general manager of the Dallas Cowboys? If he can’t throw a football 50+ yards, he isn’t going to be given a silver helmet with a blue star on each side. Do you see what I mean? This is the right way to find success, both morally and practically. We must push the higher-ups in America to function the same way the people in charge of sports teams do. Those in charge should be required to formulate a hiring strategy in which all candidates are analyzed, except for their traits that don’t correlate to their effectiveness, such as race and
gender. Now, of course some fields are better suited for men and some are better suited for women. There is nothing inherently wrong about that. But, in fields that could be performed equally regardless of gender, then gender should have no bearing on the hiring results. Obviously, there are no fields where one race would outperform another race, so race should never be taken into account when hiring an employee. If you become aware of a company who is displaying clear bias in the hiring department, take action against them. For several companies, this could mean ceasing to use their products or services. Money talks and most companies will make changes if it is impacting their profits.
Some companies are more essential to individuals than others and you may not be able to simply cut them out of your life. In this case, contact the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to resolve the matter and effect change. We can’t let discrimination hinder our progress as a society—a team—any longer. We must promote our best players and work together, no matter our differences, so that everyone wins. -This editorial was written by a member of the editorial staff and expresses the general opinion of The Spectator.
Meet the Editors
Lenah Allen Editor-in-Chief lrallen@valdosta.edu
Torrence Weaver Jr. Berliner/Entertainment Editor tmweaver@valdosta.edu
Bailey A Storey Photo Editor bastorey@valdosta.edu
Kayla Pool Managing/ News Editor kepool@valdosta.edu
Isabella Schneider Copy Editor imschneider@valdosta.edu
Sarahi Montero Graphic Design Editor smontero@valdosta.edu
Zach Edmondson Sports Editor zmedmondson@valdosta.edu
Gracie Lucas Digital Content Editor mglucas@valdosta.edu
Gwenivere Friedman Assistant Social Media Editor grfriedman@valdosta.edu
Kilie Huckleby Campus Life Editor kahuckleby@valdosta.edu
Camille Grube-Hall Web Editor clgrube-hall@valdosta.edu
Jonnie Brewer Assistant Copy Editor grfriedman@valdosta.edu
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VSU baseball team prepares for upcoming season Austin Bruce
Staff Writer abruce@valdosta.edu The VSU baseball team is preparing for the upcoming baseball season. This one will be different than any season the school has had due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, the Blazer’s baseball season was cut short two weeks into the season, following the rise of COVID-19 cases across the country. Both the coaches and the players—including seniors who got a second chance to finish their college careers—are making the most of the time spent with each other this season. “We are just going out there in practice every day and are trying to have fun and make the most of it,” Chase Coker, a senior outfielder and market
management major, said. This unique season brings additional hurdles for VSU to jump over. According to Head Coach Greg Guilliams, the Gulf South Conference recently had a Zoom meeting to set up eligibility requirements to play games. The conference agreed that teams must have a minimum of 20 eligible players, including nine pitchers and two catchers. With the requirements in mind, Guilliams says he has had to approach practice differently to determine who will play where. “All positions are up for grabs this season,” Guilliams said. “We are trying to reach a goal where all players are able to play two positions so that we can get through the season, though not many people are cut out to play catcher.” There are also differences in the
schedule this year compared to normal years. According to Guilliams, the scheduled games were cut back from 50 to 40, with 36 of those games being conference games. Another notable difference in the schedule is that conference play will begin on the first week of the season rather than the third week, which is when it normally starts. Zach Blankenship, a fifthyear senior pitcher and applied mathematics major, said he has mixed feelings about this year’s schedule. “We have to play three nineinning games on weekends, including two games in one day, so it will be a challenge,” Blankenship said. Logan Stephens, a senior outfielder and business administration major, says he is glad that the schedule was not
severely cut back. “It is nice that we only lost a few games,” Stephens said. “Some of us thought that we may lose like half of our schedule, so it is good that we did not lose a ton of games.” Guilliams says he has his own concerns about the schedule. “Losing basically our entire
nonconference schedule hurts us some because we do not have much of a chance to play some games to find an identity before heading into conference play,” Gulliams said. The baseball season is set to begin on Feb. 6 at home in a three-game series against Mississippi College.
Photo courtesy of VSU. Head coach Greg Guilliams talks with a catcher during a game last season.
Get to know senior basketball star Imoras Agee with basketball. I realized I didn’t really like football Staff Writer enough to be out there.” aabethay@valdosta.edu Agee’s reasons behind his passion for basketball are Skilled. Tough. both practical and sentimental. Leader. Crunch time. “Being there for my teammates, These are a few I love that. Cheering people on, words head coach seeing them do great. I feel like Mike Helfer used to this is a way I can feed myself and describe Imoras Agee, my family. That’s how I look at it; a senior basketball it’s a job. You can make a lot of player at VSU. money from it, you can be great Agee is an Alabama from it and you can meet a lot of native currently people from it.” playing in his second Agee is majoring in season for the VSU interdisciplinary studies and men’s basketball plans to continue his career team. Agee started in basketball by playing playing basketball professionally and eventually in seventh grade, but coaching. he grew up playing “It’s not even a question,” football. Burke Putnam, Agee’s teammate “I grew up as a and close friend, said. “Whether football junkie,” Agee he chooses to go next year or the said. “By ninth grade, year after that, he’ll go pro.” I didn’t like being in Putnam is not the only member Photo courtesy of Ethan Lowe. the sun that often, so of Agee’s team that trusts in his I just decided to stick Imoras Agee during a game on Jan. 8, 2021. ability. Head coach Mike Helfer
Alora Bethay
also has the utmost faith in his player. “He can score at the three levels: the 3-point line, the midrange and around the goal, and that’s what makes him very, very good.” Agee’s performance this season has left little room to question his ability to perform on the court, and his coach and friends say that he is just as incredible off the court as well. “He is loyal, outgoing, caring, courageous and respectable,” Putnam said. “He is one of a kind. I’ve never been around someone like him.” In his own life, Agee says his brother has been the largest source of inspiration for him. “Even with everything he’s been through, he’s stayed the same,” Agee said. “He is a people guy and a family guy. He reminds me where I came from, who I need to be and where I need to be going.” When he isn’t doing things like
scoring 26 points against West Georgia, Agee enjoys things such as bowling, top golf and race car driving as well as being an avid social media user. “Twitter, Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram…I like to sit and just laugh at stuff on social media,” Agee said. Agee lives his life to the fullest, but says he will never forget where he came from or where he wants to go. According to Agee, confidence is key, and it’s important that aspiring players never let anyone take their confidence away from them. “Continue to grind every day, stay on your grades, stay in the gym and never give up,” he said. “If you have a dream, go get it and never let anyone take it from you.” Agee and the rest of the VSU Blazers will have their next game on Friday, Jan. 29 at the VSU Complex at 7 p.m.
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Lady Blazers sweep shorter in two-game homestand Nathan Harrell
Staff Writer naharrell@valdosta.edu The No. 10 Lady Blazers continue their strong season after topping Shorter 84-54 on Friday, Jan. 22 at home. The Lady Blazers improve to 9-1 on the season (10-1 after the win against Shorter Saturday), while shorter falls to 1-8 (1-9 after Saturday). The Lady Blazers pulled away late in the first quarter and controlled the rest of the game with a barrage from deep. The team hit a season high 14 threes on 35 attempts (40%), including 6 in the first quarter alone. The 84 points scored were the most this season for the Lady Blazers, until Saturday, Jan. 23 when they scored 89 to wrap up the two game homestand against Shorter. The Guardian Bank Blazer Athlete of the Game, Kendall Bollmer, led the impressive performance by the Lady Blazers. The sophomore guard hit six of her nine three-point attempts en route to a career high 18 points. The shooting only showcases one area of dominance for the Lady Blazers, who also held a massive rebounding advantage (53-34). The 53 boards are also a season-high for VSU, who dominated the glass on both ends against Shorter. VSU has outrebounded Shorter by an average of 13 rebounds per game in their four contests this
season (including the game on Saturday). VSU graduate transfer Kwajelin Farrar has been a key part of that rebounding advantage. Farrar currently leads the Lady Blazers in rebounding (9.4 rpg) and notched her sixth double-double of the season against Shorter. It was her second against the Hawks in 3 games this season. With the win, VSU (9-1) still owns the top spot in the Gulf South Conference, while the Hawks (1-8) sit sixth in the East Division. The game opened up with backand-forth scoring and featured four ties in the first 6 minutes of play. Shorter hit a couple of early threes to keep the game close, but couldn’t keep VSU off the glass. Shorter’s last lead was 10-12 at 4:42 in the first, before Lady Blazers’ head coach Deandra Schirmer called a timeout and put in a bench unit that would outscore Shorter’s 42-12 during the game. After that timeout, the Lady Blazers held Shorter to 3 points over the nearly 5 minutes that remained. Defense turned into offense as Kendall Bollmer sank three of her six total threes to highlight a 14-point VSU scoring burst to close out the quarter, with the score 24-15. During the second quarter, the team shot 57% from the field as the lead ballooned to almost 20. With the score 46-27 coming
into the second half, VSU Freshman, Alexandria Smith, pushed the lead to 21 off a layup in the first minute of the second quarter, and VSU never let the lead fall back below 20 for the remainder of the game. VSU went on an 11-2 run including that layup to start the half and before long the lead was almost 30. Shorter was held to only 10 points that quarter, and thanks to a late VSU three followed by a layup, the Lady Blazers would enter the fourth quarter up 67-37. VSU kept the hawks at arm’s length during the fourth quarter, never letting the lead fall below 25. The final score was 84-54. Shorter hasn’t beaten the Lady Blazers since Jan. 9, 2017 and has zero wins in the Complex since the teams began playing each other yearly after Shorter joined the NCAA and GSC in 2012. Four Lady Blazers scored in double digits: the aforementioned Bollmer (18) and Farrar (16) combined for 34, while veterans Delany Bernard and Abby Rouse pitched in 12 and 11 points respectively. VSU was ranked seventh in the D2SIDA Top 25 earlier this week, following the sweep against the Hawks Friday and Saturday. This is the highest the Lady Blazers have ever been ranked in the poll, which began in 2014. VSU will play two games at West Georgia (5-5) on Friday, Jan. 29 at 6 p.m.. and Saturday, Jan. 30 at 2 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Ethan Lowe. Redshirt sophomore Jirah Ards shoots vs Shorter.
Which sport are you most excited to come back this semester?
Cam Hamilton, a senior marketing major
Kayla Young, a freshman psychology major
“I’m excited to see football. I’m hoping for a championship.” Riley Biles, a freshman history and secondary education major “I like to go watch basketball games, and it would be fun to see them play. I heard they’re are a good time. I’m hoping they win a lot.”
“I’m most excited for football to come back. I was kind of disappointed because football didn’t come back during the normal season. I was a football manager for four years at my high school and my dad played football so it’s in my blood.
Maya Tupek, a freshman dance major “I wish football would have happened, but I’m glad that we still have basketball. They are a different atmosphere and different playing field, so the energy is also very different.”
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January 28, 2021
SPRING SPORTS 2021 SCHEDULES
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January 28, 2021
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January 28, 2020
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News
Katie Rutherford
Trump banned from social media
Staff Writer krutherford@valdosta.edu
President Donald Trump was stripped of his beloved Twitter account. After the events that took place at our nation’s capital, many social media platforms have swiftly moved to rid Trump of his account. While many Democrats praised this decision, other Democrats feel as though this action was taken far too late because Trump and his colleagues have spread
false information on social media about the coronavirus pandemic, as well as claims of election fraud. Social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest are private companies who own the rights to censor any post that they believe should be censored. The president’s son, Donald Trump Jr., said in a tweet that the Big Tech companies, who restricted Trump from posting, have “eliminated the notion of free speech in America.” Andrew Black, professor of communication arts, believes
Photo Courtesy of Flickr. “We have permanently suspended the account due to the risk of further incitement of violence,” a spokesperson for Twitter said.
this goes beyond just a First Amendment issue. “I think the first thing is understanding that the issue is not a First Amendment issue,” Black said. “The First Amendment protects a person from government action towards speech, assembly, redress, establish, and exercise.” “We have to have peace,” Trump said in a video posted on Twitter as his supporters terrorized the Capitol. “So go home. We love you. You’re very special! Remember this day forever!” In a statement made by a Twitter admin on Jan 8, it was made clear that the platform does not condone anyone who uses their account to incite violence. “We have permanently suspended the account due to the risk of further incitement of violence,” a spokesperson for Twitter said. Many Americans are becoming worried that the president and his administration will move to other social media platforms, followed by their supporters and continue to promote violence. On June 25, Senator Ted Cruz announced that he would be moving to the social media app Parler, which can be compared to Twitter and Instagram. Some conservatives followed, claiming that free speech is in jeopardy and that it will be protected on Parler. Since then, Trump’s son-in-law,
Photo Courtesy of Flickr. “We have to have peace,” Trump said in a video posted on Twitter as his supporters terrorized the Capitol.
Jared Kushner, who works as the president’s senior advisor, moved to block Trump from signing up for other social media platforms
to regain access to the American people’s social media feed.
VSU continues to try to keep COVID-19 cases down
There are 24 students and three employees who have been added to this list, making 27 new cases in total.
Kayla Pool
News and Managing Editor kepool@valdosta.edu Last week, VSU welcomed back students alongside 27 COVID-19 cases. According to their website, VSU has a total of 46 active cases on campus since Jan. 15. There are 24 students and three employees who have been added to this list, making 27 new cases
in total. There are a total of 1,390 employees and 12,407 students at VSU this semester. Dr. Vincent Miller, vice president for student affairs, sent out an email on Jan. 15 regarding students to stay cautious of COVID-19 as they come back from break. The first party flyer began circulating around campus on Jan. 10, the Sunday before classes
started. Students around campus have seemed to be more at ease about COVID-19 as the school year has progressed. Destiny Brown, a senior psychology major, attended the party held on Jan. 16. “COVID was on my mind when I went to the party, but I did wear a mask for protection,” Brown said. “I don’t feel like everyone else took necessary precautions.”According to Brown,
Photo Courtesy of News Editor, Kayla Pool.
a lot of student’s weren’t wearing masks. Chuck Bennett, a junior psychology major, also attended the party during the first week. “I attended the party solely to have fun and be around my peers before the school year started,” Bennett said. “To be honest, the party was a nice way for us to get out, but I did not feel completely safe.” Similar to Brown, Bennett said
few people were wearing masks and social distancing wasn’t being practiced. Dr. Miller says VSU has proved during the fall semester that following COVID-19 safety guidelines can keep cases down on campus and urges students to continue these procedures during the spring semester.
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January 28, 2021
January 28, 2021
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Dr. Vince Miller’s passion reflects career choice at VSU Jonnie Brewer
Assistant Copy Editor jasheehan@valdosta.edu
Dr. Vince Miller, vice president for Student Affairs at VSU, has had a busy year due to COVID-19, but he hasn’t allowed that to put a damper on his passion for VSU’s students. The Louisiana native began his journey in 1997 at Louisiana Tech University, where he received his bachelor’s in marketing and master’s in industrial psychology. After 10 years, Dr. Miller got his Doctor of Education at the University of Georgia. In 2006, he took a position as the assistant director of admissions at Georgia Southern University. Due to uncertainty at Georgia Southern, Dr. Miller found himself at VSU as the vice president for student affairs. “I was fortunate that the right time and the right opportunity came along here at Valdosta State,” Dr. Miller said. Coming up on his fifth year at VSU, Dr. Miller is still as passionate about student life as ever. During his time as an undergraduate student, Dr. Miller was involved in a lot of campus life. “I was a part of SGA, campus activity board, I was an orientation leader, worked in athletics as an athletic trainer, and athletic marketing,” Dr. Miller said. “I did everything, so as graduation was approaching, I couldn’t imagine not being a college student.” At Louisiana Tech, Dr. Miller was also an admissions recruiter and led orientations for the students. It was no surprise that he
Dr. Richard Carvajal and Dr. Vince Miller
would also lead orientations at his job at Georgia Southern. “The orientation aspect of my job kind of opened the door to looking at orientation jobs,” he said. “This is what moved me to working in the university system.” Dr. Miller loves his job and focuses on creating a prideful experience for all VSU students. “One of the things that remains core to the universities is that pride you have in the place you go,” Dr. Miller said. “We want that pride to develop because of what you do for you.” The Division of Student Affairs is grouped into student engagement and student support. According to Dr. Miller, student support includes the housing environment, student conduct, health center, and counseling center. He said
supporting students outside of the classroom is also a big part of his job. Dr. Miller is also part of the COVID task force at VSU, which means he is in charge of a large number of changes that the university has had to endure due to the pandemic. With the guidance of the health department, CDC, and the governor’s office, Dr. Miller and the rest of the COVID task force have taken the time to make the right changes for VSU. “All of that has been 100% consuming,” Dr. Miller said. “We had to reinvent how we operate.” Dr. Robert Smith, provost and vice president for academic affairs, is co-chair with Dr. Miller on the COVID-19 task force for VSU. He says Dr. Miller has been
Photo Courtesy of The Spectator
a great partner throughout the pandemic. “Dr. Miller keeps a very close watch on our COVID numbers and is in constant communication with his staff, especially in housing and student health,” he said. According to Dr. Smith, Dr. Miller worked very quickly with the science and math dean to determine what storage units would go where in order for VSU to become a center for COVID vaccine distribution. “I think the reason that we will have these low-temperature freezers and others might not is that because of Dr. Miller’s quick action,” Dr. Smith said. “We were far out in front of others who were seeking to purchase such units. Reminiscing on his time as a student, Dr. Miller seeks to assure
students that his support is available to them, especially during a time like this. “This job is busy,” he said. “But regardless of what my schedule looks like, my door is always open to students.” Even after two decades, Dr. Miller’s passion for students hasn’t faded. Alton Standifer, a former student and colleague of Dr. Miller’s at Georgia Southern, views him as a mentor in a variety of areas. The biggest trait that sticks out to Standifer is Dr. Miller’s passion for the students. “He always purposed his work through a student-centric point of view,” Standifer said. “That is one of the biggest things that made him very welcoming, and someone for the students to get along with.” Standifer describes Dr. Miller as not only passionate, but accountable and honest. Dr. Miller’s advice is one of the reasons he has been able to accomplish many things throughout his career, according to Standifer. The biggest piece of advice given to Standifer was a question. “What have you done to help change someone’s life today?” Standifer said. “This was something he would ask our staff at the end of a day of work.” Dr. Miller’s question reminded Standifer that work done should always be focused on the students and their families. “I even think about it today as we work from home and navigate all these challenging situations,” Standifer said.
Her Campus covers women at VSU Carliegh Parker
Staff Writer carlparker@valdosta.edu There are a variety of organizations here on VSU campus. These organizations include different interests for students. One of these organizations is Her Campus. Her campus is an organization focusing on journalism specifically geared towards collegiate women. They cover different topics from career, love, style and general issues about life. It seems to be an excellent fit for women who plan to major in English, journalism, mass media and public relations. Haley Waters, vice president of Her Campus, says she joined Her Campus in 2018 because of a love for writing. She says Her Campus is a safe space for women of all different backgrounds and walks of life to write and speak about things they feel passionate about. Waters is hopeful that women
connect and form a relationship with other collegiate women to who they relate. “I felt as if I could write about things that interested me all while maybe helping the next woman who may need it,” she said. “I also joined because as an introvert, I felt that I don’t have to fake to be someone else around these women, I genuinely love them and am grateful for their friendship.” Angelica Pinkney, a senior criminal justice major and editor for Her Campus, joined for similar reasons. She joined in the fall 2019 while still in high school, and it appealed to her as a place where women can talk about their struggles as women. “The main purpose of this group is supporting women and trying our best to write informative articles about the everyday things women go through,” Pinkney said. “The purpose we have for this organization is to
strengthen, lead and teach women through writing and reading.” Their goals are also admirable with Sam Acevedo, a junior English major and secretary of Her Campus, saying that their primary goal for the moment is to gain more recognition on campus, so when members graduate, the organization is still thriving for the next ladies that need it. “I believe other women should join because this is the most genuine and kind-hearted group of girls I’ve met since I’ve been Her Campus members here, having made so many closeknit friendships, I want other attitude and genuine heart, as well women to be able to have that as an evident love for reading, same opportunity,” Waters said. writing and an engaged mind. “As the vice president, I feel othWhen joining a group, ers should join because president questions about what to expect Shardai Swift and I do our best to from the group are common. Her make Her Campus feel safe and Campus offers opportunities and fun to be around while helping friends to take with you after our community and ladies grow.” college. Because of COVID-19 There are no requirements to restrictions, Zoom meetings join Her Campus. The only thing proceed every other Sunday at 4 these ladies request is a positive p.m.
Photo Courtesy of Carliegh Parker
However, the upcoming interest meeting is in person at Odum Library in room 1470 on Wednesday, Jan. 27 at 6 p.m. For those ladies not on campus, it is encouraged that you join on Zoom. Her Campus is for student ladies interested in making friends, expressing opinions in a safe environment, and empowering others.
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January 28, 2021
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VSU introduces Expanded Health Program Jasmin Small
Staff Writer jismall@valdosta.edu Just recently VSU and the University System of Georgia announced the expansion of the mental health services. This new program is called Honesty, Openness, Perspective, and Empathy (HOPE) Connect @ VSU, and it provides mental health support regardless of time or location. According to Dr. Vincent Miller, vice president of Student Affairs, the program’s name was created by the SGA taskforce to brand the expanded services and resources on campus. “HOPE Connect @ VSU is an expanded mental health program to support to all VSU students in conjunction with the VSU Counseling Center”, said Dr. Tricia Hale, deputy chief officer of Student Affairs. Dr. Hale said that the expanded program has several resources including, Personal Student Navigators, referrals to treatment options for therapy with community providers and access to Internet-based Cognitive Behav-
Hope Connect Logo
ioral Therapy (iCBT). There is also Virtual Psychiatric Clinics that offer assessment and medication management. Personal Student Navigators assist with referral coordination and support. Navigators assist students working through the self-help coping module in which there are 8 sessions of skills acquisition. “The Wellness Hub” includes an app and an online wellness magazine with educational content, self-help tools, and resource links. “These services are expanded
services on top of what the VSU Counseling Center currently offers,” Dr. Hale said. “It allows students to access therapy with community providers if they so choose, as well as if they live outside of the state of Georgia, are international students or are students who study abroad.” In the past two years, there has been an increasing need for support in mental health services at colleges and universities across the country. “The demand for services has steadily increased over time,” Dr. Hale said.
Photo Courtesy of VSU
The funding for this program was granted from the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) funding which was presented by Gov. Brian Kemp in August 2020. “It was set aside by the federal CARES Act to support mental health and student services through the USG,” Robbyn DeSpain, director of Strategic Communications, said. According to the VSU website, these services are in partnership with Christie Campus Health, a 24/7 hotline and well-being support program.
“USG has also dedicated resources for a partnership with The Jed Foundation (JED) to help campuses create a long-term strategic plan while implementing immediate actions and programs on to support student mental health on campus,” according to the website. JED provides an approach in promoting emotional well-being and preventing suicide as well as sustenance abuse. Compared to online students, on-campus students are more likely to know about the programs VSU has to offer and how to access them. “These resources are incredibly important to our students, and we want to make sure they know what’s available,” DeSpain said. “We are working on a comprehensive marketing plan on campus that involves things like yard signs, flyers and digital signage. For our online students, we will have a strong website and social media presence and we’re marketing to them through MyVSU and regular email communication.” Students can access the 24/7 support line at 833-910-3365.
What is your advice for time management in college? All photos and interviiews done by Gwen Friedman
Alaysha Hawkins, junior psychology major
Stephen Sykes, freshman business major “Have a list of all your assignments that are coming up so you know when they are due, down to the time. Prioritize. Know what you have so you can see it all. I use a word document.” Jesse Latherow, sophomore theatre production major “TIme management is a lot to deal with especially as an honors and theatre student. To-do lists are definitely a big one. Keeping things color coded in a schedule. As much as highschool teachers love to say it, it is really true a good planner helps. The microsoft to-do app does wonders.”
“I say pick out days that work for you so you can set aside time specifically. That way you already have things put in your calendar. Having a planner to plan out your days you can work on certain things. I think making schedules or calendars is really good for students.
Sebastian Fernandez, freshman music performance major “My advice is to look at your schedule weekly. If you have a set plan for workouts, time to do homework or go to classes that helps. Wake up at a certain hour so you can get to class, get your studying done and the rest of your day. Weekends are a good time to study for me.”
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History of Sports at VSU From baseball to football and everything in between, here are just a few images showing the rich history of sports at VSU. 1950 Tennis seems to have been a part of VSU’s history for a while. No set date for it’s making as on official sport could be found, but the earliest date one record is 1950.
1953
Cheerleading appears to go back to Georgia State Women’s College, but the earliest date cheerleading can be traced back to Valdosta State College is 1953.
VSC Tennis player in 1965. (Valdosta State University Archives)
1954
Baseball was introduced to Valdosta State College one year before it became an official sport of the school. The team was called the Rebels, which was changed to the Blazers between 1972 and 1973.
VSC Rebel Cheerleaders in 1970. (Valdosta State University Archives)
1959
Basketball was introduced to Valdosta State College in 1959. Like the baseball team, they were also called the Rebels. Their name was changed to the Blazers in 1972.
VSC Rebels baseball in 1961. (Valdosta State University Archives)
1972
Cross country was introduced to VSU in 1972. They were known as the Valdosta State Cross Country Team.
Two VSU Cross Country runners in the 1980s (Valdosta State University Archives)
VSC Rebels basketball in 1969. (Valdosta State University Archives)
Before Valdosta State University, there was Valdosta State College, and before Valdosta State College, there was Georgia State Woman’s College. Sports and recreational activities are a large part of the history of these three institutions, but it took some longer than others to become official school sports.
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1974
The Lady Blazers basketball team began in 1974, though women’s basketball at VSU can be traced back to the 1930s, when the school was a women’s college.
1982
Despite protests from students and the Valdosta community, Valdosta State College did not introduce the Blazers football team until 1982.
VSC Lady Blazers in 1982 (Valdosta State University Archives)
1985
VSC Blazer football seniors in 1982 (Valdosta State University Archives)
While golf had been played at VSU for years, it did not become an official sport at the school until 1985.
1995
While volleyball can be traced baxck to the early Valdosta State College years, it was held in hiatus for 14 years before being reinstated in 1995.
VSC Golf team in 1968 (Valdosta State University Archives)
VSC Volleyball players in the 1970s (Valdosta State University Archives)
At other points in time, VSU also had a varsity bowling team, a crab ball team, a swimming team, a flag football team and others. These sports were not played competitively by students, but for entertainment across campus.
Story by Bailey Storey Photos curtosy of Valdosta State University Archives
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Jessie’s Restaurant offers sublime Southern cuisine Jonnie Brewer
Assistant Copy Editor jasheehan@valdosta.edu While it may seem easy to pass by a white-brick, dainty building in downtown Valdosta, Jessie’s Restaurant and Catering is worth the stop for a delicious brunch. There is even parking on the street in front of the restaurant for those who really are in a hurry. Two-hour parking is available all-around downtown Valdosta, so you are always within walking distance of this restaurant. On a Tuesday, I wandered into Jessie’s with a party of two. While instantly being captivated by the brick, charming interior, I was immediately greeted by a kind, masked server. The entire staff was masked, but it didn’t seem like masks were being enforced. However, how can they be enforced when you’ll be spending your time eating? The building had hygienic conditions, so I felt semi-safe from COVID-19. The server offered us any table, so as many would in a town that’s warm in January, we chose to sit outside. Upon sitting down, the server offered
us a drink and quickly, yet smoothly brought them to us. The casual outside sitting area was right by the street, and sometimes got a putrid smell that would naturally happen in a city’s downtown area. The outside sitting was also expressively smokefriendly. However, the shade of the umbrella covering the table allowed for a pleasant breeze as the afternoon sun was beating down. The tables at Jessie’s sits a single person at the bar, which seemed well equipped, to around a table of ten if rearranging took place. Highchairs were also available near the tidy restrooms. As I examined the menu, I couldn’t help but notice the variety of options that were available to Jessie’s customers. Jessie’s is one of the few and far between places around Valdosta with a quality, vegan menu. Something like this is next to impossible to come by in Southern GA. The server was patient with the indecisiveness of my party, thorough with the specials and quick to get our order in and out. We started out with the fried
pickle appetizer, which was adequate. The pickles were fairly thin, so they tasted more so like the breading rather than the pickle. As my meal, I chose to get the buffalo grilled chicken wrap that included tomatoes, cheese and lettuce. The inside was drizzled with jalapeno ranch and buffalo sauce. Served on the side was the sweet and salty potato fries with the perfect crunch. The other person in my party chose the grilled pimento cheese sandwich topped with bacon and pepper jelly. There were many options for bread to have with this melted cheese sandwich, and they chose the buttery croissant. This sweet and spicy sandwich left a small, cheesy mess, but this was expected. Both meals were fresh and spicy and didn’t disappoint. There were a variety of different flavors the complemented one another well and didn’t overload our taste buds. Not to mention each meal was less than $10, so it is affordable for a college student. Needless to say, my party would buy both meals again.
During our meal, the kind server made sure to check on us and our drinks. Any request we made wasn’t forgotten about and was fulfilled in a timely manner. After we ate, the server let us know that cash payments are taken at the counter, and card payments are taken and paid at the table by the server. I found this method efficient due to the normality of service workers holding onto your ticket and card, while being left to stare at empty plates and making small talk with the rest of the party. Here, I handed the card over, paid out, and signed in one go. Even though the restaurant is closed on Saturday’s, there is also take out and catering available. The restaurant is open Monday-Friday from 8-3 and Sunday brunch from 10-2, which includes bottomless mimosas and bloody marys. Jessie’s is a local-themed restaurant that is VSU alumni owned and uses local sausage from Sunset Farms for their meals. Don’t let the activeness of Ashley St. stop you from pulling over to grab a bite at the sublime Jessie’s.
Buffalo grilled chicken wrap
Grilled pimento cheese sandwich
Photos taken by Jonnie Brewer.
Opinion: Various developers remove Parler from stores Katie Rutherford Staff Writer krutherford@valdosta.edu Apple, Google and Amazon have decided to remove Parler from their app stores. In the wake of the insurrection that occurred at The Capitol, some big tech companies decided that removing the social media app Parler would be the right move to prevent further violence. Parler is a social media service that can be compared to Twitter. Allegedly, the app is unbiased and allows free speech. Many conservatives and right-wing extremists resorted to this app because of its claim to protect free speech. But things soon began to escalate on the app leading up to the capitol riots. Encouraged by President Trump, conservatives decided to post on Parler about “marching to the capitol,” and “taking back the stolen
election.” Members of far-right extremists groups posted to Parler on Jan. 6, stating “the war begins today.” The so-called march led to an insurrection on the U.S. Capitol, in the middle of congress certifying the electoral votes from the November election. Legislators had to evacuate the capitol while the angry mob bashed windows and forced themselves on to the iconic Capitol grounds. The day ended with five lives lost, including a Capitol police officer who died from trauma to his head. He was hit by an insurrectionist with a fire extinguisher. Even after the riots occurred on Jan 6, right-wing extremists took .to the app to call for more violence, including on Inauguration Day. “We don’t consider that free speech and incitement to violence has an intersection,” Tim Cook, Apple CEO told
Fox News. Apple, Amazon, and Google took Parler off of their app stores, making it impossible for users to download the app onto their devices. But Parler can still be accessed through any internet browser, such as Google Chrome or Safari. “De-platforming certainly takes some wind out of the sails and makes it harder to organize on the same scale, but there’s no reason to suspect this was the only place these people are connected,” Shannon McGregor, professor at the University of North Carolina told CNN. It is our constitutional right as Americans to be able to participate in free speech. We are lucky to be able to voice our opinions, critique government decisions, and more without being punished. However, there is a fine line between condoning free speech and condoning clear incitements of violence.
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
The First Amendment protects freedom of speech, the press, assembly, and the right to question the government. Nowhere in the Constitution does it say that American citizens have the right to freely threaten historical
ceremonies such as the inauguration because they feel that an election was “rigged.” Apple, Amazon, and Google are all private companies that can make their own decisions. Removing the Parler app from their app stores was a small step in the right direction.
Pop Culture Pop Quiz: How much do you know? What girl group was Beyoncé originally a part of? A. TLC B. Destiny’s Child C. Spice Girls D. En Vogue
What is the highestgrossing film to date? A. Gone with the Wind B. Avatar C. Titantic D. Avengers: Endgame
When was Madonna’s debut album released? Get Out and Us were created by what director? A. 1979 B. 1981 A. Jordan Peele C. 1983 B. Spike Lee D. 1985 C. Steven Spielberg D. Quentin Tarantino
Photo courtesy by Flickr
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KFC to enter console war with upcoming KFConsole Torian Gordon
Staff Writer tkgordon@valdosta.edu Fast-food giant KFC steps into the console war with the new KFConsole while Sony and Microsoft are busy at war with the Xbox Series X/S and PS5. Not to mention the silence of Nintendo on any hardware updates. The KFConsole was believed to be a spoof of the new PS5 and Xbox Series X/S consoles back in the summer 2020, but later in Dec. 2020, the console was confirmed by the fast-food giant on their social media handles. It was announced that the console would be coming soon. The fast-food giant has teamed up with tech company Cooler Master, a PC gaming company known for its gaming PC’s and additional gaming PC products. According to Cooler Master and KFC, the console can play today’s latest games and VR games in stunning 4K visuals with 240fps
(frames per second). Alongside that, the console is rocking the mighty Intel Nuc 9 Extreme Compute Element CPU, a powerful GPU from the tech company, Asus, and two Seagate BarraCuda SSD’s containing 1TB of storage. This console will have the world’s first built-in chicken chamber which keeps your delicious finger lickin’ chicken warm through intense gaming sessions. However, this is not KFC’s first time on the gaming scene. The company has official gaming social media pages on both Instagram and Twitter, and the KFC gaming YouTube channel with over 38.1k subscribers. The social media pages are mostly gaming memes and announcements, while the YouTube channel consists of gaming tutorials, funny videos and a lot of Colonel Sander appearances with a smiling bucket
on his head. The company also has their own dating simulating video game titled “I Love You, Colonel Sanders! A Finger Lickin’ Good Dating Simulator” by Psyop, a video game publishing company. The game consists of the Colonel serving up delicious meals while navigating the dating world of fellow chefs. KFC is gearing up to join the gaming world. The game is Currently there is no word now available on the console’s release or any for purchase on PC through the additional information on the Epic Games and Steam stores for console. Will the KFConsole digital download.
Photo courtesy of Flickr.
blow the Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo consoles out of the water? Only time and everyone’s wallets will tell.
Films to Look For: Anticipated Movies for 2021 Due to the pandemic, the movie industry slowed down its production and prompted many viewers to re-watch films of the past. As 2021 kicks into gear, so do the many anticipated films that fans of all genres have been waiting on.
With some traditional movie theaters closed and social distancing guidelines, the way to enjoy movies during the pandemic has changed. But streaming platforms such as HBO Max, Disney Plus and Amazon Prime Video are bringing selected movies to the homes of many movie-buffs. “Without Remorse”
“Respect”
From author Tom Clancy, comes a film starring Michael B. Jordan as John Clark. The film follows Clark, a U.S. Navy Seal, as he sets his eyes on vengeance after his wife is murdered. But he discovers that he has landed himself in a bigger situation.
This film, which is based on a true story, celebrates the life of Aretha Franklin by showing the events that led to her becoming the Queen of Soul. Jennifer Hudson plays the singer alongside names such as Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Mary J. Blige and Tituss Burgess.
Release date: Feb. 26, 2021
Release date: Aug. 13, 2021
“Candyman” Based on the 1992 film of the same name, director Nia DaCosta and producer Jordan Peele reimagine the classic tale. Starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, the film follows Anthony, a visual artist who moves into the newly gentrified Cabrini Towers. After being told the tale of Candyman, danger awaits him. Release date: Aug. 27, 2021
“No Time to Die” “Black Widow”
This is directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga and stars Daniel Craig as James Bond. Bond must leave his peaceful life in order to save a scientist who has been kidnapped, but he faces challenges when a villain, who is equipped with futuristic technology, turns up in his plans.
Starring Scarlett Johansson, David Harbour and Florence Pugh, this spy thriller follows Natasha Romanoff (Johansson), also known as the Black Widow, as she revisits her past in order to take down a threatening conspiracy. Release date: May 7, 2021
“F9”
Release date: Oct. 8, 2021
“The Beatles: Get Back”
The Fast and the Furious franchise continues with the ninth installment directed by Justin Lin. Starring Vin Diesel, Tyrese Gibson, Michelle Rodriguez and Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, the film centers on Dom Toretto’s (Diesel) fight to save his loved ones by tackling his past endeavors. But, by doing that, he has to catch someone that shares his last name: his brother.
Directed and produced by Peter Jackson, this documentary showcases hours and hours of never before seen footage filmed in 1969 of the British band. The film stars John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr as they prepare for their first live show in years. Rehearsals, recording sessions, concerts and more are included to be seen on the big screen.
Release date: May 28, 2021
Release date: Aug. 27, 2021
“West Side Story” Starring Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zelger, the musical is reconstructed by director Steven Spielberg. The original debut was in 1961 and set in New York City during the 1950s. Teenagers Maria and Tony find themselves torn between loving each other even though their ethnic communities are rivals. Release date: Dec.10, 2021
Story by Kianna Ross.
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for more information visit https://www.vsuama.org
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