Do Not Consume
Cut a Rug
Eating Tide Pods started as a meme, but turned dangerous. Read Arts & Living editor Kendall Aronson’s take on this weird trend. | Page 5
Zumba has become increasingly popular at Berry. The Cage Center now offers more classes and has hired more instructors. | Page 6
The
Serving the Berry Community since 1908
Campus Carrier
Thursday February 1, 2018
www.vikingfusion.com
Vol. 109, Issue 15
Kaylie Clapp | CAMPUS CARRIER
This year, the dining hall has updated its options and introduced new, healthier food choices. Read more about the dining hall on page 8.
Former New Jersey governor visits Berry
you want to lead with respect. “To me, leadership without integrity isn’t leadership at all,” Whitman said. “It’s exploitation if you don’t have that integrity.” On Jan. 25, the Berry Center for Integrity and Leadership hosted former New Jersey Whitman said that education was a fundamental building block of leadership. Being Governor Christine Todd Whitman who spoke about leadership and integrity. educated and understanding issues and how to break them down is a crucial part of being a th Whitman served as the 50 governor of New Jersey as well as the first leader. women to serve the position from 1994 to 2001. Whitman is the president “Leaders are driven by passion that sustains their inspiration and of Whitman Strategy Group, a consulting firm that specializes in energy sustains their willingness to do what it takes to be a leader,” Whitman and environmental issues. She served in the cabinet of President George said. W. Bush as Administer of the Environmental Protection Agency. While working her way up to being governor, Whitman said that Whitman is the author of “It’s My Party Too,” a New York Times sharing her goals with the people she would serve was important to her. best seller about her political experience as a republican moderate. She She said a large challenge that she faced was convincing people that also received the 2017 Eisenhower Medal for Leadership and Service. she cared about them and their state. Her lecture at Berry was titled “Women, Leadership, Power and Politics: “Leadership and integrity is about being honest about your goals Overcoming Obstacles.” and honest about how you want to go about achieving them,” Whitman Whitman opened her talk by discussing the recent events in the White said. House and how strong leadership is so important in today’s political Her goal as governor was to make New Jersey “the best place in climate. which to live, and work and raise a family.” “The need for leadership and integrity has never been more important Christine Todd Whitman Whitman said that to seek diversity and making it available is than it is today,” Whitman said. serving to integrity and to our nation’s fundamental being. She compared good leadership to pornography, saying “you can’t describe it, you can’t define it, but you know it when you see it.” “All men and women are created equal, and deserve equal opportunities, and that’s what Whitman said that the pairing of leadership and integrity together is more important than leadership is about,” Whitman said. either on its own. She said that to her, the meaning of leadership and integrity has always been She advised that there will always be someone that is better, and everyone’s job is to find offering a vision that honestly describes the problems to be addressed and treating the people them and learn everything they can from them.
Jessie Goodson news editor
The need for leadership and integrity has never been more important than it is today.
IN THIS ISSUE
NEWS 2
OPINIONS 4
FEATURES 6
ARTS & LIVING 8
SPORTS 10
2
Thursday Feb. 1, 2018
NEWS
Students pursue personal businesses Cassie LaJeunesse deputy news editor
Last semester, professor of management Paula Englis taught an entrepreneurship class. Students in the class created businesses and learned important skills such as how to develop effective business strategies, how to build an organizational structure to implement these strategies and how to finance and market their business ventures. Englis suggests that students take advantage of the resources that they have while in school. “Take entrepreneurship classes, participate in Berry entrepreneurship events,” Englis said. “Leverage your faculty’s knowledge and contacts- whatever your area, there PHOTO COURTESY OFJORIE HODAPP is probably a faculty member who has deep knowledge of the industry or field. Use that knowledge.” Hodapp’s favorite cake to decorate is a Pigs According to Englis, Berry offers several resources to in Mud cake. student entrepreneurs. The entrepreneurship center offers assistance with business plans, social media and website can I do with this that I could sell and make money with?’” development, and Hackberry Lab can help with prototyping. While at Berry, Petty has an office in Green and is part “Student Work and the Career Center have some great of the entrepreneurship program. She also has a booth in seminars that will help you be a better business person,” her hometown of Calhoun, where she sells her merchandise Englis said. and drops off custom orders. It did not take long for Petty’s Many Berry students are interested in entrepreneurship, business to break even, and she is now making a profit. and some have already started their own businesses. “Every time I switched items it was a little hard with startSophomore Jorie Hodapp started her business, JorieCakes, up costs. But (it wasn’t hard) once I got past that,” Petty said. in eighth grade. Junior Anthea Phitides started Marula Market in June of “I tried babysitting, and that wasn’t for me, so I started 2017. She purchases handmade items while on faith-based baking cakes for friends and family and realized I could sell mission trips in Guatemala and then resells them on Etsy. them,” Hodapp said. According to Phitides, the initial purchase of the items allows She originally built her business when she lived in Ohio local artisans to support their families. 20 percent of the and sold cakes for birthdays and resale profits are donated to Light weddings. When her family moved of the World Ministries, a group to Georgia, she continued her that distributes food and clothing to business and said that business has families in Guatemala. increased this year. “I have been involved with While at Berry, Hodapp mission work in Guatemala for a continues to run her business from while now,” Phitides said. “For this her dorm room. She calls this part most recent trip, I really wanted of her business JorieCakes Campus. to think about a way that I could She tries to bake two to four dozen sustainably create a program that cupcakes every Sunday, making would be able to help the people the batter in her room and carrying down there while combining my everything down the hall to bake passion for entrepreneurship.” in Deerfield’s community kitchen. For Phitides, it is often stressful She then advertises through social to run her business while at school. media and delivers the cupcakes She follows a notecard system in Jorie Hodapp around campus. which she writes down three things “I wouldn’t trade (running a that will progress her business every business) because I enjoy it, but day to help keep herself on track. She plans to go back to it’s a lot to organize and make sure I get everything done,” Guatemala this summer and research the process that local Hodapp said. artisans use to create their products. At home over breaks, she sells full-sized cakes for “Through that, I’m going to hopefully be in the process of birthdays and other special occasions. Her favorite cake that setting up an entrepreneurship curriculum to be able to teach she’s made is called a Pigs in Mud Cake, which is decorated other women in the area how to make these things and create with Kit-Kat bars, melted chocolate and fondant pigs. a sustainable model in that way,” Phitides said. Freshman Harmony Petty started Harmony’s Crafty Senior Nina Kowalke started her business, Click Pop, with Creations as a freshman in high school. She originally made three peers as a student in Englis’ entrepreneurship class. She wreaths and other crafts, but transitioned to making t-shirts described the business as a Christian lifestyle brand. They and decals. sold graphic design prints at Mountain Day and on their “I started scrapbooking when I was younger, so I had a website. Cricut (scrapbooking machine),” Petty said. “I was just “The three peers and myself that started it are all interested playing around with it one day and thought ‘hm, what else in graphic design, and we all pursue Christianity, so that was
I wouldn’t trade (running a business) because I enjoy it, but it’s a lot to organize and make sure I get everything done.
PHOTO COURTESY OF BENJAMIN L. WALKER Walker meets with clients for a photo shoot. something really important to us to incorporate into our idea,” Kowalke said. “We were hoping to expand to more content creation and social media.” According to Kowalke, running her business as a project for the class was great motivation, but she was unable to continue this semester due to her class load. “It might have been easier if we weren’t also the designers, but we were running the business and designing the content.” Sophomore Ben Walker started his photography and marketing business, Jamin Productions, somewhat by accident. In high school, Walker was asked to take senior pictures of one of his friends whose mom offered to pay him. After she posted the photos, he received requests from others. “I’ve never really done any formal marketing, it’s just all been word of mouth,” Walker said. His business grew from senior photos to wedding photos and videos, as well as branding and marketing. He wants to focus on the marketing aspect in the future. “I think my niche is providing high-quality, professional video and marketing services to small brands who can’t really afford to go to a large marketing firm,” Walker said. “I have the ability to charge lower prices and still deliver high-quality content.” According to Walker, running a business as a college student often means making sacrifices. He quit his on-campus jobs last semester in order to run his business. He also has to travel to some shoots and balance work and school. “You have to be okay with saying ‘no’ to social things,” Walker said. “I remember one weekend I locked myself in my room and edited the entire weekend.” Graduate student Devante Jones has plans to build his business, Bridging Education and Athletics Together (BEAT), after he graduates from Berry. He is partnering with his best friend from college to open a gym, hopefully in Chattanooga or Atlanta. The pair hopes to provide incentives, such as a discounted gym membership, for student athletes to excel in school and keep their grades up. “I know it’s for a good cause, I just hope it’s well worth it,” Jones said. “I want to take a chance on it and put some smiles on faces.” Currently, Jones hopes to look for investors for his business after finishing graduate school. He said that starting a business while in school is all about time management, and he looks forward to doing more research for the business after graduation.
Thursday Feb. 1, 2018
NEWS
CAMPUS CALENDAR
3
Fawn events around campus Thursday 7:30 p.m. Guest Artist Series: Smokey Mountain Brass Quintet in Ford Auditorium
Thursday 9:30 p.m. Easy Baked Improv show in Evans Auditorium
Friday 8:30 a.m. Groundhog Day on Krannert Lawn with President Briggs
Friday 6:00 p.m. Women’s Basketball vs. Rhodes in the Cage 8:00 p.m. Men’s Basketball vs. Rhodes in the Cage
Friday 11:00 p.m. KCAB Skate Night at Skater Zone
Saturday 9:00 p.m. KCAB Game Show: Wheel of Fortune in Krannert Ballroom
Sunday 3:00 p.m. Berry College Concert Series: Orpheus Men’s Ensemble in Frost Chapel
Richard’s Gym undergoes renovations after damage
Interested in writing for Governor’s Honors Program damage and 81 years of wear lead to damaged The Carrier? foundation flooring will have rubber cushioned Jessie Goodson Email us at pads, two layers of subfloor and news editor
Jessie Goodson | CAMPUS CARRIER The construction zone is blocked off around Richard’s Gym, with a sign posted previewing photos of the new renovation.
sheathing and maple flooring. Richard’s Gym is now under “The new Pro Action Floor renovations after a Governor’s system will benefit anyone using Honor’s Program (GHP) event the facility,” Simpson said. “This over the summer caused damages new floor is the same system as in to the foundation of the building. the Cage. It Along with has a rubber the damage The new cushion caused by system and GHP, the floors foundation is better for are from 1937 system will ensure your knees and were due and ankles.” for a change. the building is in B r i a n Mark Simpson, good shape for Erb, Berry Assistant Director of the decades to come. CF i nha ni cei a fl Physical Plant, Officer and is helping to Brian Erb in charge of manage the the college’s project and said that the renovations will bring financial planning, said that the building up to meet modern renovations began in January, and are anticipated to be complete by building codes. Renovations will include a June. The weight room, coaches new foundation as well as new offices and BOLD offices will basketball court and dance studio remain open during construction. “The new foundation system floors. The new floors for the gym and dance floor will be an “action will ensure the building is in good thrust floor system,” engineered shape for decades to come,” Erb for athletic performance. They said.
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4
Thursday Feb. 1, 2018
OPINIONS
Our View: Actively celebrate Black History Month Today marks the first day of Black History important or how students can celebrate it. Another common grievance about the Month. Many of us can probably recall some Of course, Berry is not incredibly diverse, to month and its supporters is that it cultivates type of special assembly or fun school projects say the least. It is not a secret a culture which puts from elementary school that taught us about that Berry is predominately Take initiative this down one race to uphold why this month is white. Enrollment another. Again, this We are slowly important. Maybe statistics show this mindset lacks the ability month to learn we had a few days very clearly. But to understand that you in history class or this is no excuse can do one without the progressing, but more every day a special speaker for neglecting other. Just because we that came during have a long way to go to celebrate the are celebrating black about what Black history doesn’t mean middle and high history of a large school. However, of our nation we are saying that white before America gives part our attention has and a portion of History Month really history does not matter. dwindled since campus, even America has credit where credit though it is not the means and how to a sad pattern of then. As college students, if you majority. whitewashing our is long overdue. aren’t a part of Some may ask history. Many schools’ celebrate it best. history select clubs that why it is necessary curriculums make an effort to celebrate, the month seems to have a Black History Month are centered around to only be commemorated by tabling in the at all. This question is usually posed by the greatness of white men, diminishing Krannert lobby, something on the Stall Wall someone who has been falsely made to the major contributions of any minority, and an email or two. believe that racial equality has been achieved including African Americans. We are slowly Despite Black History Month being in our country. This question blatantly ignores progressing, but have a long way to go before a nationally-observed month, Berry the lack of respect given during the rest of the America gives credit where credit is long seems to lack sufficient campus-wide year to the black men and women who helped overdue. acknowledgement of why the holiday is to quite literally build our country. Black History Month is meant to open
“What’s your favorite Super Bowl food?”
our eyes to the reality of how our nation has developed and to remember those whose contributions have been forgotten or ignored. Attending an overwhelmingly white school does not mean we are excused from celebration or recognition of Black History Month. Living in a community which can easily brush off the historical contributions of African Americans, we are tasked with observing and embracing the month with even more vigor and enthusiasm. We should request speakers. We should have forums. We should desire to know the true history of our nation, not the squeaky-clean version. We shouldn’t allow this month to go unmentioned. Take initiative this month to learn more every day about black history. Join in the discussion with your professors, classmates and friends about what Black History Month really means and how to celebrate it best. The Carrier’s editorial opinion represents the views of the senior members of the Campus Carrier and Viking Fusion news staff.
“Pizza.”
“Pigs in a blanket.”
sophomore
junior
Alexis Johnson
Jed Woodward
Stop eating Tide Pods
The
Campus Carrier EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Avery Boulware
KENDALL ARONSON arts & living editor
The times we are living in do not feel real. The news is constantly filled with headlines which previously would have been on the Onion, our politicians seem to do whatever they want to without any retribution and it seems that every day we are forced to reconsider our news on the world in which we live. One of these such stories is about people eating Tide Pods. Tide Pods have been around since 2012, and they have continued to be popular. Tide has marketed them as small but powerful, and there are different varieties of them for those with sensitive skin and ones with added Febreze. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, two children and six adults died from consuming the laundry pods between when they were released and 2017. And you read that correctly: more adults died from eating Tide Pods than children did in the last five years. My first interactions with the Tide Pods were when I went to college. Both my roommate and I had Tide Pods which we used to do our laundry and they functioned
well. I will admit that I found them fun to squish. Their design is appealing, and some of my friends and I eventually broke one open into a sink to experience that. It was an anticlimactic endeavor, and afterwards we had to scrub the stuff off our hands for a while, so it wasn’t really worth the trouble. I never considered the idea of eating the laundry detergent packages until I saw the ‘Forbidden Snacks’ memes. Those were funny, and I related to them on some degree, they do look like snacks, but it seems that people have taken the joke too far. The “Tide Pod Challenge” involves individuals eating a Tide Pod on camera. There have been many other “challenges” of a somewhat similar nature during my lifetime of people doing something unpleasant on camera. Some, like the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge have helped many people, and others like the Cinnamon Challenge are much more painful and unproductive. The Tide Pod Challenge is more than just painful, though.
The chemicals used in the laundry detergent have sent many individuals to the hospital with stomach and lung damage. They have also been known to cause seizures and induce comas, and in some cases they result in death. The American Association of Poison Control Centers reports that there have been 131 cases of intentional exposure to the Tide Pods since the beginning of 2018. Despite campaigns launched by Tide rallying against eating their product, and YouTube taking down any videos which show people ingesting the Tide Pods, people are still eating them. The fact that this is happening is increasing my general disappointment towards society today. It is funny to talk about how delicious the Tide Pods would be to eat, but it is a joke. Having enough sanity and logical sense to not consume your concentrated laundry detergent would be good in this day and age. To address those who might be eating them directly, I have this to say: you are ruining Tide Pods for everybody. Please, don’t kill yourself for the meme.
NEWS EDITOR Jessie Goodson DEPUTY NEWS EDITOR Cassie LaJeunesse FEATURES EDITOR John Catton ASST. FEATURES EDITOR Leo Narrison ARTS & LIVING EDITOR Jameson Filston ASST. ARTS & LIVING EDITOR Kendall Aronson OPINIONS EDITOR Lexikay Stokes SPORTS EDITOR Claire Voltarel ASST. SPORTS EDITOR Chris Ferguson COPY EDITOR Michaela Lumpert GRAPHICS EDITOR Leo Narrison ONLINE EDITOR Kaitlan Koehler PHOTO EDITOR Bailey Albertson ASST. PHOTO EDITOR Katie Sweeney
The First Amendment is a powerful tool
PHOTOGRAPHER Andrea Hilll
SAIF SARFANI guest contributor
The arrests of journalists internationally have become all too commonplace in recent years. Freedom of the press is not explicitly recognized as a right in many countries. Fortunately, in the United States, the First Amendment protects both freedom of speech and freedom of the press constitutionally, enabling us to write, say, publish and criticize virtually anything. However, many countries have journalists arrested for reporting government wrongdoing or criticism of elected officials. There isn’t freedom of the press in China, Sudan or Ethiopia, which causes tension between systems of power and journalism. Nevertheless, journalists do their job by reporting on issues that matter. Reading about international
journalists being detained for simply reporting the truth and doing their job reinforces the importance of the First Amendment. Not only are we able to criticize the government, we can hold them accountable. The fact that truth is suppressed in many other countries also makes me realize that freedom of speech and the freedom of the press are treasured and protected. International journalists know they face a harsh reality when they are going to do their work in countries that could detain them. This just goes to show how limited the First Amendment protections are because they are not law outside the United States. Just in being able to write this editorial allows me to
express my right without fear of scrutiny by the government. I can express thoughts that may otherwise be censored elsewhere. The New York Times recently reported that journalists in Sudan were arrested while covering protests’ over the country’s inflation. Authorities have frequently confiscated newspapers and detained them for reporting that displeases longtime Sudan president Omar Hassan al-Bashir. In the Philippines, 38-yearold law student Jover Laurio, who ran the Pinoy Ako Blog in anonymity, quit her day job because armed bodyguards keep an eye on her after she was revealed as the writer. Laurio is a critic of the Philippine president Rodrigo Duetre. Our democracy can flourish because we can call out
“Papa John’s Pizza specifically. ”
“Buffalo Chicken Dip.”
senior
sophomore
Savanna McKellar
David Allen
politicians for their unethical deeds because we can stay informed through news. It’s sad to hear that reporters get arrested because their work upsets the government or displeases its president. That stops them from telling the truth. Journalists’ voices matter because they have the power to keep citizens informed. I value freedom of the press as it keeps me up-to-date on a wide variety of issues. U.S. journalists can report facts that show government misconduct, wrongdoing, etc. and they do not have to fear landing up in jail. This just goes to show that the First Amendment is a powerful tool for strengthening a democratic society, but outside the United States, its use is limited in scope and sometimes nonexistent.
PHOTOGRAPHER Luke Koferl PHOTOGRAPHER Lia Batista SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR Haiden Widener BUSINESS MANAGER Carson Oakes ASST. BUSINESS MANAGER Bailey Hanner ADVISER Kevin Kleine The Carrier is published weekly except during examination periods and holidays. The opinions, either editorial or
commercial,
expressed
in
The
Carrier are not necessarily those of the administration, Berry College’s board of trustees or The Carrier editorial board. Student publications are located in 103 Laughlin Hall. The Carrier reserves the right to edit all content for length, style, grammar and libel. The Carrier is available on the Berry College campus, one free per person. (706) 236-2294 campus_carrier@berry.edu
6
Thursday Feb. 1, 2018
FEATURES
Zumba brings out
Sophomore Katie Malcolm teaches new moves to her class.
Freshman Lizzy Madeiros shows off her moves.
Zumba fever has got Berry College dancing. O has steadily increased as more and more Berry stu “Its your own personal party,” Junior Erika working out and dancing.” In fact, with an average of 30 students per se its room in the Cage Center. “We try to cap our classes at 35 people p instructor said. “We even have to turn some peo So what is attracting so many students to this “The community here is great,” Malcolm said it means to be Berry really thrives here.” “We are allowed to go at our own pace,” Sop The diversity of students attending the classe “I love that I get to see people from all over c there has been a noticeable increase in the numb This increased number of students has allowe In the past, the organization relied on instructors in Zumba has led to more student interest in inst “My favorite moment as an instructor is whe dancing to really getting into it,” Malcolm said. The instructors’ passion for Zumba is definite “I wish all places had a program like this so graduate,” Cottrell said. Zumba holds classes at 7:30 p.m. Monday thr to hold Zumbathon, a two-hour continuous Zum
Students perform
t Berry's boogie John Catton features editor
Leo Narrison asst. features editor
Over the past three years Zumba class attendance udents are discovering the dance workout routine. a Cottrell said. “It’s a perfect combination of
ession classes, the group is beginning to outgrow
per class,” Katie Malcolm, sophomore Zumba ople away so we aren’t overcrowded.” s unique form of working out? d. “You’re always around people who care. What
phomore Abigail Collins said. es is also very noticeable. campus come,” Cottrell said. She also noted that ber of males attending the classes. ed for Berry to have three new student instructors. s from the Rome YMCA. The growth in interest truction. en I see someone go from being skeptical about
ely felt by the students. o I could continue in such a great place after I
rough Thursday. The organization is also excited mba session on Feb. 14.
Freshmen Katie Cooley (left) and Lizzy Madieros (right) take a break from dancing.
m choreography led by the instruction of Katie Malcolm.
Photos taken by John Catton
Katie Malcolm and Junior Erica Cottrell keep up with the music.
8
Thursday Feb. 1, 2018
ARTS & LIVING
Thursday Jan. 26, 2017
2
Dining Hall upgrades food selections government and has helped to create many of the new options available in the dining services now. Bell said that she is pleased with how willing the Dining Hall is to work with students and adapt to their needs. The gluten-free bread is now her favorite of Berry’s Dining Hall has responded the gluten-free options. “The pizza and the gluten-free to student’s critiques and has made bread is a some changes game changer in their services for the dining provided help hall,” Bell said. better cater to “There’s a lot student needs. more people The Dining that are glutenHall makes free than ever changes to before. It’s still their food not easy to be selections each gluten-free and semester. This Rachel Mahd to have dietary year, they have restrictions, but added variety it’s a lot easier to pre-existing now than it was options like new condiments, spices, salad options and a year or two ago, and I think Berry is cereal options. They have also added opening its eyes to that.” Freshman Rachel Mahd is a ‘specialties’ like pasta or curly fries each day at the grille section, daily offerings vegetarian who says she eats in the of french fries, a yogurt bar and make- Dining Hall at least once a day. She said your-own-flatbread options. They have she can always find something to eat. “I’m always happy with my options, also added several new gluten-free options such as gluten-free bread and but there’s never a surplus,” Mahd said. Mahd’s parents were originally pizza. Additionally, Viking Court now worried when she decided to become offers gluten-free bread at Chick-fil-a. a vegetarian that Junior Alexi she would not be Bell pioneered able to get enough many of these protein, but she says changes in that it hasn’t been dining options a problem at Berry. this semester. She takes advantage She became of tofu offered at the gluten-free and Mongolian station and dairy-limited proteins in the salad last year, and bar. She also enjoys realized how Alexi Bell new additions to the many fewer dining hall like the options there yogurt bar. However, were for students with these restrictions. She she said she would eat in the Dining eventually talked to Fraser Pearson, Hall more frequently if more vegetarian general manager for the dining services options were offered. Freshman Nick Fernandez was a at Berry, and walked with him through the Dining Hall as he told her about vegetarian for a short period of time, and was surprised when he began eating which things she could eat. “I think the biggest thing is just being meat again there weren’t many more vocal about it,” Bell said. “I’m excited options than what he was used to as a vegetarian. to see what else they will bring.” “There is some meat in D-Hall that I She eventually joined the dining services committee in student will never touch,” Fernandez said.
Kendall Aronson asst. arts & living editor
I’m always happy with my options, but there’s never a surplus.
There’s a lot more people that are gluten-free than ever before.
Kaylie Clapp I CAMPUS CARRIER ABOVE: Corn tortillas are available for gluten-free students to load with a variety of toppings. BELOW: The pizza station now offers gluten-free pizza options. Students can customize their own pizza toppings.
The Carrier is hiring photographers!
For more information, contact
bailey.albertson@vikings.berry.edu
Thursday Feb. 1, 2018
ARTS & LIVING
9
February 10 Seed Swap
• 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. • Cheift ans Museum The Chieftains Museum and Major Ridge Home will be hosting the fifth annual Floyd County Seed Swap. Attendees can share or trade seeds, cuttings, bulbs and plants with other members of the community. This event is free and open to the public.
Above: Sean Thrower talks to a guitar merchant during an interview for his Youtube channel. Below: Thrower and his bandmate Sam Green perform for the National Association of Music Merchants.
Guitar insructor reaches community with blog Jameson Filson Arts & Living Editor
Sean Thrower, an Artist Affiliate at Berry, runs a blog that provides recsources for guitar enthusiasts of all kinds. For years, Thrower has had a website where he shares free lessons and interacts with his students. He has had a blog on this site for a long time, but he began focusing on the blog in August. He started a new site called Guitar Ramble. Since then he has had worked to grow his following as he shared both original content and topics he found interesting on the web. On the blog, Thrower said that his goal is to promote connections between guitarists of all styles that have an interest in furthering their skills. Thrower works on the blog with his bandmate Sam Green, a program manager for the Air Force, who plays with Thrower in their band Terminus Falls. The two have known each other and played together for years, and they decided to take on this project together. The blog will soon expand the content it offers. Thrower will upload his first original YouTube video this week. The videos are part of the growing media the two use to engage with their audience, and will start with videos featuring guitar makers. The videos support the site’s cause, which is to increase the visibility of guitar culture and get more people interested in the
instrument. The second goal was to support some of the businesses, big and small, that came out to the convention. Thrower and Green recently traveled to the National Association of Music Merchants in Anaheim, Calif., where the two performed and did video interviews to inform their audience on the products that were at the trade show. Green suggested that they take advantage of their trip to produce content as well as perform. There is usually one blog post a week, but Thrower wants to post more often as the blog grows. “For the time being we don’t want to stress ourselves out, Thrower said. “We have a lot of other projects that we are involved in.” Despite busy schedules, the two post regularly and are serious about the blog. They hope to increase posts to every other day in the future. Green said that he has learned a lot while working with the blog. He was completely new to writing in this way, so there was a lot that he had to figure out. He said that writing for the blog is a challenge, but not one without its benefits. “I have learned a lot about the process of organizing my thoughts and ideas,” Green said. “It can be a lot of work.” The blog has found an audience in other countries due to Thrower’s promotion and he wants to continue to develop a diverse audience. “We want the world of music and the world of guitar to stay strong, and this is our way to help with that,” Thrower said.
Febrary 11
Valentunes VI - What’s Old Is New Again • 4 to 5:15 p.m. • Rome Welcome Center Rome’s 50-member community chorus, The Three Rivers Singers, will present “Valentunes for Valentines VI – What’s Old Is New Again.” The concert is free and open to all.
February 10 Partner Yoga Workshop
PHOTOS COURTESY OF SEAN THROWER PLAYLIST:
We’ve Got You Covered PLAY
12 songs, 40 min
TITLE
ARTIST
Blank Space
Ryan Adams
No Diggity
Chet Faker
...Baby One More Time
Ed Sheeran
If I Ain’t Got You
James Bay
All Time Low
Andy Grammer
Starboy
SHAED
Let Me Love You
Fitz and The Tantrums
Cool Kids/Riptide
Less is More, The King and Queen
Black Beatles - Acoustic
The Mayries
Broccoli
Cheat Codes
Stay With Me
Jason Derulo
Kevin’s Pick: You Shook Me All Night Long
Steve ‘n’ Seagulls
• 5 to 6:30 p.m. • Springstone Yoga Studio Tanaya Larsen will lead a partner yoga class with moves based on trust and communication. The class is $40 per couple at the door.
February 10
Rome Art Coterie February Meeting
• 6 to 8 p.m. • Rome-Floyd County Library The Rome Art Coterie will meet to talk about different styles of art presented by a local or regional artist. The event is free.
February 16 Arbor Day
• 11 a.m. to noon • State Mutual Stadium The City of Rome Tree Board will host an Arbor Day event where attendees will plant a tree. The event is free.
10
Thursday Feb. 1, 2018
SPORTS
Thursday Feb. 2, 2017
Berry softball strives for success this spring Claire Voltarel sports editor With only one week left until their first game, the Berry softball team hopes to continue building the program’s success into the upcoming spring season. Last year, the Vikings had a recordbreaking season, winning their third straight Southern Athletic Association Championship title and playing all the way through the regional game in the NCAA tournament. According to head coach Cori Thiermann, their performance has grown the name of Berry softball, but both coaches and players agree that this success is a challenge to work harder and go farther this spring. “They are working hard in the offseason and outside of practice time and doing all the little things right,” Thiermann said. “As a coaching staff, we are really excited to see what is going to happen because we know we have the passion.” Thiermann noted that the graduated seniors were major contributors, and believes
this year’s seniors will be key contributors team bonding events consisted of scavenger as players and role models for the team. hunts, BOLD ropes course, leadership and Moreover, the freshman class has shown communication training and dining together. athleticism and promise to live up to this Thiermann believes their drive on and off the season’s challenges by proving themselves field makes for more confident players and in the offseason. stronger team chemistry. Senior pitcher Kassie “It’s like a big family in Howard and freshman such a short period of time,” Bayleigh Masterson said Masterson said. that the offseason consisted Howard and Masterson of several weight and both noted their coach’s push running challenges, but their for academic excellence and hard work took place outside involvement in the Berry of the weight room as well. community. Through the short fall “It’s great to be well season, the team put several rounded,” Thiermann hours a week into team said. “We push our girls in bonding, community service everything we do whether and study hall, which led in the weight room or on Cori Thiermann them to the highest athletic the field, but it really is team GPA last semester: a important they are getting 3.49 average. the most out of their career According to Howard and Masterson, the here at Berry.” team’s community service projects included Players and coaches hope to surpass the work with Habitat for Humanity and the precedent set last year and win a national Rome Braves Miracle Field. Additionally, title, but the strategy is to take the season
“Wins are just a product of doing the process the right way”
step-by-step. “We are trying to take it on game at a time and focus on the task in front of us,” Howard said. Thierman’s immediate goal is to find out who their team is and how they are going to function. The Vikings were invited to the Nation Fastpitch Coaches Association Leadoff Classic, which Thierman believes will be a good tell as to where the team stands. The Vikings will face six of the top 25 teams in the country in Tuscon, Az., on March 2-4. “Wins are just a product of doing the process the right way” Thiermann said. For Berry softball, this process consists of supporting each other, building confidence, and enjoying each game on the field and from the sidelines. “If you’re not playing, you want to be the biggest supporter of the person in your position so it helps them and helps you push yourself,” Howard said. The Vikings will kick off the season on Feb. 6, facing Covenant College at home.
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Thursday Feb. 1, 2018
SPORTS
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Baseball prepares for a challenging season Commentary by Chris Ferguson assistant sports editor
With a season opener only days away, Berry baseball will begin their spring season against Maryville College at William R. Bowdoin field. Since the Vikings will have a home field advantage, it will be an exciting match up, and a great way to kick of the season. Before the Vikings start their conference games, they have a series of tough matchups in preparation for these games. Last year, the Vikings played Emory University to a one-point game on two separate occasions. It was also at this time that Emory was ranked first in the nation according to NCAA archives. This year, the Vikings look to take on the Eagles in a home game on Feb. 21. This will be a great opportunity for the Vikings to settle the score right before their first conference game of the season against Oglethorpe College. Looking deeper into the season, the Vikings will prepare to face the toughest opponent in the Southern Athletic Conference. Birmingham-Southern College is one of the best teams the Vikings have faced in the past, finishing fourth in the national tournament last year. The Vikings will keep the home field advantage, but will have to play their best to secure a victory. The team has a majority of underclassmen on their roster, with only six seniors leading the pack. This means that they might have to rely on some of their younger talent in order to be successful this season. Another element that the Vikings must adapt to is the addition of a new assistant coach to the current coaching staff. Assistant coach Kellen Greer was hired at the end of last year’s spring season in order to focus on the outfielders, base running and help with
PHOTO COURTESY OF MATT ZIMMERMAN Junior Casey Whitaker practicing his pitching as his teammates watch. The Vikings will open their season on Feb. 6 against Maryville College at home. hitting. In his previous job, he coached 11 seasons at Sparkman High School in Harvest, Ala., where he compiled a 292-178 overall record. Under Greer, the program posted 10 consecutive playoff appearances from 2007-2016, had four Final Four appearances and finished as
the Alabama state runner-up in 2014. It will be interesting to see him carry this success from his previous job into the collegiate level by coaching his first spring season with the Vikings. The team will play a total of 40 games this season against 17 different
opponents. This means they will be playing the most total games in a single season, in comparison to other Berry sports teams. With so many games ahead, the Vikings will need to rely on each other, the coaching staff and their loyal Berry fans.
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Thursday Feb 1, 2018
SNAPSHOTS
PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED BY MASON BUMGARNER
Berry students dressed their best and turned out to KCAB’s Casino Night on Saturday. With poker, craps, and blackjack tables, student bet their $5000 “dollars,” and put their winnings toward raffle tickets. These tickets could be dropped in one of the many boxes for a chance to win prizes like gift cards, date night vouchers and even a Keurig coffee maker. Several types of mocktails were served, as well as trays of Chick-Fil-A nuggets and chocolate-covered strawberries. Just like in years’ past, there was even a “drive-in” wedding chapel for those wishing to elope for the evening. Students used props and posed with friends in front of the photo booth. Though only a few students actually won prizes, the event was one of the most heavily-attended of the year.
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