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The Spectator | www.vsuspectator.com
October 21, 2020
News VSU uses new tool to lower retention rates
Kayla Pool
Managing and News Editor kepool@valdosta.edu
resource. “I already knew I wanted to do photography,” Nasir Warner, a freshman majoring in mass media said. “Majoring in mass media is what excited me to attend VSU. I think it’s helpful VSU is offering ways to help students pick their major though.” According to mymajors.com, the national average retention rate for four-year schools is 71.8%. MyMajors survey takers have an average retention rate of 85.6%. The retention rate of students taking the MyMajors assessment is consistent across all ethnicities and genders, ranging from
84.7% to 89.5%. “We can see the student’s intended major and their selected major after they complete the assessment,” Tillman said. “As (an) adviser, we learn about each student’s goals and background, concerns that may hinder completion of degree and their top motivation for attending college.” According to Tillman, advisers have learned that 37% of the students that completed the survey are first-generation college students, and the top concerns that may hinder completion of degree is paying for college, balancing work and school, family and poor study habits.
Incoming freshmen students can now utilize a tool to help pick a major and stick to it. In summer 2020, incoming freshmen were able to use a tool called the MyMajors assessment. This tool is a survey that takes about 15 minutes to complete. Based on the answers, the student will receive a list of the top 10 majors at VSU that match the student’s academic achievement, aptitude, unique interests, and preferences. “Finding a major can be tough and that’s why VSU used the MyMajors Assessment this summer,” said Cheri Tillman, director of Advising Center for College of Honors and Exploratory Studies. According to mymajors.com, research has shown that “students engaging in the right majors on your campus enroll, persist, and graduate in four-years at up to 22% higher rates than the national average.” Here is data from VSU summer 2020: Total assessment registrations: 3,125 students (97% completed the assessment) Major Confidence: 28% A Little Sure 6% Not at All 66% Confident While some VSU students already had an idea about what their plan was, In summer 2020, incoming freshmen were able to use a tool called the MyMajors assessment. they are still approving of the new
The top three motivations for attending college are to get a good job, college is the next step in their education and to make more money. “Our advising unit hopes to partner with various divisions in Student Affairs to be proactive by helping our students overcome some of their concerns,” Tillman said. “We have students who indicated they were worried about their lack of motivation and goals and even access to food. These are obstacles that we can help students beat.”
Photo Courtesy of MyMajors Website
High speed chase disturbs VSU campus
In summer 2020, incoming freshmen were able to use a tool called the MyMajors assessment.
Kayla Pool
Managing and News Editor kepool@valdosta.edu Watch your toes, VSU students, as a dirt bike rider roams free after shaking off VSU Police in a highspeed chase through Pedestrian Mall on Sept. 30. On the night of Sept. 30 around 7:50 p.m. Officer Michael Whitlock initiated a traffic stop after hearing multiple dirt bikes riding down a nearby street. “One of the dirt bikes drove through the pedestrian mall to try to get away and Whitlock followed until his supervisor told him to disengage,” Officer Rebecca Leatherberry, operations Supervisor of VSU Police Department, said. According to Whitlock’s police
report, he drove towards North Oak Street and could hear the dirt bikes going north of his position. Once he was at the intersection of North Oak Street and West Brookwood Drive, he could see three dirt bikes going around vehicles on North Oak Street heading west onto Baytree Road. He then proceeded to conduct the traffic stop. All three motorcycles took off at a high rate of speed. Two of the dirt bikes turned onto Sustella Avenue and one continued on Baytree Road. Whitlock pursued after the one bike onto Baytree Road heading west bound. The subject went into the oncoming traffic lane to go around vehicles turning
onto Melody Lane. The driver disregarded the red light at Baytree Road and Melody Lane as well. He then turned into the gas station and continued back east bound on Baytree Road at a high rate of speed towards North Oak Street.
“The driver turned north bound onto North Oak Street then onto Hopper Circle cutting across the Pedestrian Mall walkway from the Student Union towards Carter Drive.” The driver turned north bound
Photo Courtesy of MyMajors Website
onto North Oak Street then onto Hopper Circle cutting across the Pedestrian Mall walkway from the Student Union towards Carter Drive. VSU students on the scene witnessed the incident and some were rather intrigued. “All we heard were sirens and saw them,” said Chasity, a freshman major in business management who didn’t give her last name. “We saw the bike come through and it almost hit us, so we had to back up and then the police car came through where the Student Union is. When it hit us, it basically just caused our hearts to race. It was unexpected, but honestly it was kind of dope to see.” Other VSU students were in
shock about the chase. “Honestly, I thought it was a funny because I saw a dirt bike and then I saw the police, but I thought they were doing two different things,” said Icarli Felder, a junior majoring in secondary education. “I thought the police wouldn’t follow him, but they drove straight through here.” Whitlock resumed to normal operations after his supervisor called off the chase. “Pursuits are often terminated when it becomes too dangerous (i.e. the potential of hitting a pedestrian on campus) and there is no apparent felonious reason why the driver is evading arrest, which is what happened in this case,” Leatherberry said.
October 21, 2020
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The Spectator | www.vsuspectator.com
NCAA Announces New Safety Protocols Austin Bruce
Staff Writer abruce@valdosta.edu The National Collegiate Athletic Association recently announced new protocols for the resocialization of college basketball as part of another round of safety guidelines related to COVID-19 on Sept. 25. Many of these guidelines include precautions that schools are highly suggested to take to help mitigate the spread of the coronavirus. In addition, there are updates on testing and travel considerations that are outlined in the “Core Principles of Resocialization of Collegiate Basketball.” One major precaution that is included in the guideline is that school should have all Tier 1 individuals—student-athletes and essential personnel who are in close contact with them—be tested up to three times per week throughout the season. Other suggestions include regular sanitation of equipment and social distancing on the basketball bench during games. VSU’s basketball teams, which are not slated to start playing until at least the beginning of 2021, are already undergoing the prepara-
tions needed to have a safe and successful season according to the head coaches. “Our administration from the top down has done a tremendous job of keeping everyone informed of federal guidelines on what precautions are needed to have a safe but competitive basketball season,” Michael Helfer, the men’s basketball coach, said. “We will follow the advice of medical professionals and the CDC on how we set up our games with regards to social distancing to ensure everyone is safe.” “If we are required to test three times per week, then we will do exactly that level of testing,” Helfer said. “It’s important to everyone at VSU and within our athletic department to ensure the safety of our athletes, staff, fans and students as we progress into basketball season and other sport seasons.” “I know that our administration will make sure we are testing at the recommended levels for all of our athletes through the duration of the 2020-2021 season,” Helfer said. Women’s Head Coach Deandra Schirmer and her staff have a similar approach as they gear up for the upcoming season.
“We will be wearing masks and social distancing whenever applicable,” Schirmer said. “We will be following all traveling and gameday protocols provided by the NCAA.” “We will be testing three times a week to follow NCAA guidelines,” Schirmer said. “Depending on when our season starts will
Photo courtesy of Flickr
dictate how many times total our team will be tested.” Both head coaches have said that they will have all Tier 1 individuals, as well as their travel staff and managers, included in their testing. It is still unknown exactly how many testing kits the teams will need as the schedules are not finalized as of yet, but the coaches
have assured that they will have enough testing kits available for when the season does start. “We want to play basketball, but we want to do it safely and will follow the recommended guidelines to make sure that happens,” Helfer said.
Hiking available for VSU students Zach Edmondson
Sport Editor zmedmondson@valdosta.edu This fall, all sports at VSU were cancelled except for cross country and golf. Instead of participating in or spectating at team sporting events, students can get involved in hiking, since it only requires one person to do the activity. There are plenty of locations throughout Georgia where students can travel to hike. Some popular hiking locations—almost all are around Atlanta or further north—are Stone Mountain, Helen, Amicalola Falls State Park, Tallulah Gorge State Park, Dahlonega, Ellijay, Blairsville, Hiawassee and Toccoa. For beginners, Stone Mountain is a relatively easy hike with just enough steep climbs to get you ready for what an intense hike might be like. Stone Mountain isn’t a long one, but it does offer scenic views once you reach the top. One of the most popular places to visit in North Georgia is Blue Ridge, a mountain town that is
known for its art center, theater and the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, which offers visitors an opportunity to take a train ride through Blue Ridge to explore and learn the history of the town. Blue Ridge is roughly 4.5 hours from Valdosta, but many would find the drive worth it because South Georgia is a place of flat land that fails to provide a true hiking experience. Alexis Stewart, a belayer for the rock wall and a guide for the ropes course at CORE Outdoors at the Campus Recreation center, recently took a trip to Blue Ridge where she hiked the Mountaintown Creek and Pinhoti trails. “We stayed in the Cohutta [forrest region in Blue Ridge] and went hiking on a few different trails,” Stewart said. “Hiking is a big stress reliever and a great way to explore nature.” Whether you are hiking for pleasure or exercise, it is very important to be prepared before you take a hiking trip. “I would suggest researching as much information as possible about the trail, getting a map onsite, if available, and always wear-
Hiking Trail in Stone Mountain ing comfortable gear,” Stewart said. “Pace yourself and know your limits. Hiking in higher altitudes can be tricky. Hiking boots are not a necessity. Wear comfortable shoes that have grip and bring plenty of water.” Sarah Wiggins, a senior Spanish major, is an experienced hiker.
This past summer, she traveled to Alaska, California and Colorado over the course of three weeks and went hiking several times. “Bring more water than you think you need, bring energizing snacks, layers (depending on the time of year), break your hiking boots in and wear sunscreen,” she
Photo courtesy of HikeWNC said. In recent years, CORE Outdoors has taken trips to Blood Mountain, Springer Mountain and Providence Canyon. According to Stewart, CORE Outdoors will be offering outdoor events again next semester as long as university policies allow.
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October 21, 2020
The Spectator | www.vsuspectator.com
People Poll: How do you feel about Fall 2020 commencement now being in-person?
Austin Blanton, senior communication major People deserve it (graduation), and I know people are able to come back and walk as well so I think that’s pretty cool. We’re on campus full-time, so I think what’s the point of us not having a graduation. Hopefully, in the spring, it (face to face graduation) will carry on, and I’ll be able to walk as well. I feel like all this works we should be able to walk. “
Caleb Shaw, senior health science major “I’m pretty sure the school is going to follow the guidelines to make sure we’re social distancing. I’m actually pretty excited about it (graduation) (and) that we get to have some sort of a graduation. I think it’s pretty cool how they separated (everyone) into four different graduations.”
Suzanne Nelson, junior musical theatre major
Amber Holley, senior biology major
“I think that it’s a wonderful idea. I think given the fact that we’re already practically doing face to face with social distancing and CDC guidelines, I think that it’s a great idea just for normalcy for seniors that are going to have the last send off. I think that it’s (this graduation) definitely going to be a a test run. Hopefully, they will do this for my graduation, and it will be helpful for the students here.”
“I’m really excited about it. I was sad because I thought that we weren’t going to get a graduation, but I was really ecstatic when I watched the announcement video. The fact that it (the annoucement) was an in a video and not just in an email was really nice.I’m excited my family gets to come. I’m just glad I have something to remember.”
Student businesses making an impact on campus Gwen Friedman
Staff Writer grfriedman@valdosta.edu Almost all students at some point in their education have a job. For some, this might mean working in a restaurant or retail, but over the course of the past decade, more students have started their own business. Posters are found throughout campus advertising student-run businesses for a variety of services. Some sell accessories like bracelets, stickers and makeup, while others focus on nails and hair. Amaya Holloway is a freshman on campus who runs her own hair styling business. She did not start her business when moving to VSU, but it all began when she was 14. Holloway’s desire is to
have fair prices for herself encouraged from the start of her own business. “I enjoy doing it,” she said. “Hair is something I just like doing and my prices are affordable. My business is based on affordable prices [since] a lot of people tend to charge very high prices. I felt like, why pay such high prices when I can do it myself?” A survey by the Kauffman Foundation found that the desire to start a business over other careers has risen for young adults ages 18-21 from 19% in 2007 to 25% in 2010. “I don’t really know about these businesses,” said Leisa Flynn, department head of marketing and international business. “I would say though, that setting up and starting a business is a good experience for any entrepreneur.” Elizabeth Lehto, another fresh-
man, sells t-shirts and stickers through her online shop. Her business started during quarantine, where boredom pushed her to begin making things for others and advertising using Instagram and TikTok. This isn’t Letho’s first crack at small business. She sold bath bombs and soap in high school. However, taking her new business online taught her a lot. “I’ve learned to love small business and now encourage others to shop small,” she said. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, in the U.S. there are 30.2 million small businesses. The SBA also stated that 50% of small businesses are likely to survive five years. This disproves the stereotype that small businesses are bound to fail in their first year. Khamia Reese, another fresh-
men, co-owns a business with Holloway. This business focuses on girls’ accessories. They started their business together on campus to sell items they would want. “In this town there are not many stores real close that have accessories at low prices for college students,” Reese said. With all these small businesses popping up around campus, what
does the future hold for these young entrepreneurs? Businesses advertise on a section of VSU’s community student feed through the V-Statemobile app. To get in touch with the student businesses mentioned above, contact Reese at @a.k_kollection; Letho at @youngandbrokecollegekid; Holloway at @stylezbymaya.