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October 22, 2014 VOLUME 30 NO.6 Visit online at www.collegiannews.com
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THE OFFICIAL VOICE OF THE STUDENTS SINCE 1987
Who's Your Candidate?
Get to know the Gubernatorial candidates before the election
By Rangadevi Chakraborty Staff Writer
T
he three candidates for Governor of Georgia this term are incumbent Nathan Deal, and challengers Jason Carter, grandson of former-president Jimmy Carter, and nanotechnologist Andrew Hunt. Their battle for voters has been increasingly fierce over the past few months. Recent news articles evolved around their respective finances, childhood mysteries and Georgia’s skyrocketing unemployment rate of 8.1 percent this August.
Contrary to what Gov. Deal states on his personal website, Georgia appears to be one of the worst places in the country for job-searchers. When Carter used this to fuel his criticism of Deal’s stewardship, the latter shot back and accused Carter of apparent willingness to expand Medicaid (AJC). But before we make judgements on either side, let’s get to know these people and see why their policies are so important for us students.
Photo courtesy of Nathan Deal's campaign
D
eal’s direct opponent on the left side of the political spectrum is Jason Carter, who has, according to his own website (www.carterforgovernor.com), “worked across partisan and geographic lines to bring honest debate to the state legislature on issues that matter to Georgia’s families. He has been a tireless advocate for stronger ethics laws to make sure that Georgia has an honest government that works for everyone. In the Senate, Jason has fought for public education and to protect the HOPE Scholarship for Georgia families all across the state. He has worked to make sure that small businesses get the same benefits that big companies do, earning him an “A” from the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and the National Federation of Independent Business-Georgia for his work in the Senate in 2012.” AJC reported him saying: “We want a Georgia that’s at its best. And Georgia at its best invests in education, it doesn’t cut billions out of the classrooms, it has an economy that works for the middle class and it always has an honest government.”
Libertarian
Photo courtesy of Andrew Hunt's campaign
Democrat
Republican
N
athan Deal, Georgia’s eighty-second governor, has, according to his own website: “cut state taxes, eliminated state agencies, reduced the state government workforce, saved HOPE from the brink of bankruptcy, championed education innovations and implemented significant cost-saving reforms in our criminal justice system. Being a Republican, he fought to increase public safety on our waterways, improved our workforce by aiding veterans and technical college students and enacted stricter rules on lobbying to boost public trust.” After serving the U.S. army in Augusta and having started his own law practice in Gainesville, he made a career by subsequently becoming a judge, state senator and U.S. congressman. http://nathandeal.org/the-governor/
Photo courtesy of Jason Carter's campaign
T
he third-party candidate, Andrew Hunt, started his own company, nGimat, and believes in a “highly educated workforce” (andrewhunt.us). According to his website Hunt is “a pioneer in nanotechnology [and] has proudly represented Georgia in numerous national and international forums where leaders from around the world collaborate to solve the most complex problems on the planet.” Hunt’s parents founded the first Montessori school in Georgia, leading him value and want to continue this education legacy. According to his website “Georgia can rise into the top 20 states in testing in just four years.”
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COLLEGIANNEWS.COM
Who Is The Republican Candidate for the Governor of Georgia? Illustration by Jasmine Frierson.
Answer: Nathan Deal
EDITOR'S LETTER CORRECTIONS
I
t's voting season and there is no better time to express how you truly feel. Go out to the polls on Nov. 4, and show people how you really feel. This is America. This is what democracy is all about. Become a Georgia
voter today! Remember: if you don't vote, you never got the chance to turn your opinions into actions. I would like to thank each and every one of you for reading the content we put so much effort into producing. We hope to exceed your expectations. If you have any story ideas, comments, or questions, please contact us at gpc.collegian@ gmail.com. We would love to hear from you!
Farhin Lilywala Editor-in-Chief
EDITOR IN CHIEF Farhin Lilywala EXECUTIVE EDITOR Kezia Velista SPORTS EDITOR Hope Dickson
In the Oct. 8, 2014 edition of The Collegian the article about the 2014 postseason ban for the GPC men’s soccer team two statements were made that were not factually accurate. In paragraph eight the article states that the team had a record of 9-0 in the regular season and was 2-0 in the GCAA Conference when the NJCAA handed out the postseason ban for the 2014 season. The official penalty for probation was issued May 14, 2014. The team’s official record after the 2013, and before the penalty was issued in May 2014 was 14-2-3. In paragraph seven sophomore defender Alejandro Mendoza (#15) was quoted giving details about a team meeting when the news of the penalty was shared with the men’s soccer team. Mendoza was quoted stating that GPC “applied for an appeal but the NJCAA didn’t care.” In an interview this edition Athletic Director Alfred Barney stated that GPC could not appeal the ruling, and did not apply for any appealing of the ruling. Also, on the font cover of the Oct. 8 edition, the cover photo not credited correctly. The photo was taken by Bill Roa. The Collegian apologizes for these errors
MANAGING EDITORS Barry Switay Jabril Titus CAMPUS PHOTO EDITOR Billy Esselburn
October 22, 2014
Georgia General Election 2014
Word search courtesy of Discovery Education Puzzlemaker
UJNCOEATOETVCGM QDOVAYLAANUXDNU HBVKZRIEEXESYID BVEGZGTMCBXATVN YBMPRNDELTSVJIE UQBOUNBORWIWRRR IBEHEDUCATIONDE YGRMWSPFHOPENGF MTADEFFSLLOPESE LKRNRONREVOGPNR LAAERMFEXZIGENN UTEDPCOUOIHMRUX ECUDZOVOTINGDNX ASMXUORUQWKBURR TBSPVMTPTYRVEPG AMENDMENT CARTER DEAL DRIVING EDUCATION ELECTIONS GEORGIA
GOVERNOR HOPE HUNT NOVEMBER NUNN PERDUE POLLS
PROPERTY REFERENDUM SENATE SWAFFORD TAX VOTING
PUT IT ON THE CALENDAR 10/22
Clarkston- Health and Wellness Tour of Facilities: 2 p.m.
10/24
Newton- Workshop "Understanding Student Loans": 12 p.m., 2N 2260 Contact Carole Jones @ 678-891-3103 or email, carole.jones@gpc.edu.
10/24
-11/2
Clarkston- Theatre Arts Guild Production (Clarkston Event) "A Midsummer Night's Dream" by William Shakespeare: 8 p.m. (opneing night), Cole Auditorium, Fine Arts Building
10/29
11/4 -5
Source: GPC General Events Calendar
Clarston- Workshop "Understanding Student Loans": 12 p.m., CD 2190 Contact Carole Jones @ 678-891-3103 or email, carole.jones@gpc.edu.
Newton- Managing College Debt: 12 p.m.-1 p.m., 2N2260
DISCLAIMER The Collegian is the student newspaper of Georgia Perimeter College, and is a designated public forum for students, faculty and staff to share their opinions. Comments and views expressed herein are those of the individual writers, and not those of the college or the Collegian as a whole. We strongly encourage students to submit articles and artwork for publication. Single copies are free. More than three copies per person are $.50 each. Editors reserve the right to edit for grammar, space, appropriateness and length. Not all submissions will be published. To speak with a staff member, please call 678-891-3382 or e-mail us at gpc.collegian@gmail.com.
STAFF
October 22, 2014
COLLEGIANNEWS.COM
3
Campus News
How much are you paying for Homecoming? By Naya Clark Staff Writer
A
h yes, homecoming! Most of us can reminisce over those days in high school: stressing over who our date would be, what we were going to wear, and of course, the fun of the main event. All of that can be relived again at GPC’s homecoming but at a cost. Based on the National Center for Education Statistics, GPC has more than 21,000 students. The average attendance of Homecoming is 800 to 1,000 students in attendance, meaning only 3.8 to 4.7 percent of the GPC student population, on average, attends Homecoming. Based on attendance, budget and spending for this occasion, Homecoming is GPC’s biggest event, costing around $31,480. This raises several questions: • Why does GPC have a homecoming? • Why does SGA have more funds in order to support this event as opposed to other GPC clubs? • Where are these funds coming from? When Tjazha Mazhani, Student Life director at the Newton campus was asked why GPC has a homecoming, she responded, “Homecoming is an annual celebration for students past and present-and their parents and children…Every fall semester, hundreds of alumni, students, families, and friends descend upon GPC campuses for what is sure to be the ultimate Homecoming experience!” As for funds, most GPC clubs are given about $13,000 from the Student Activities Fund but JAG receives more than $30,000 for homecoming alone. Mazhani stated, “Homecoming is funded by the Student Activity Fee. Please note that some of the campus events (outside of the dance) are supported by the individual campus JAG/Student Life budgets.”
WEEK ACTIVITIES GPC Public Safety Venue (includes venue, food, lighting, etc.) Publicity (includes posters, flyers, tickets, and giveaways) Decorations Entertainment/activities: DJ, photography, week events Miscellaneous ROYAL COURT Local travel Campus Wide Service Learning Project Court Activities (around 10 events campus wide) Court Supplies (sashes, crowns, name tags, etc) Uniforms TOTAL HOMECOMING COSTS
COLUMN By DaVail Weston Staff Writer
W
ell, i t ’s that time of year again. Suddenly, the campus emerges with school spirit as classmates cast votes for Homecoming King and Queen. For a whole week, we experience JAGUAR pride. Homecoming week is fast approaching guys and gals, and as students, we risk getting caught up in the uneventful experience that we comprise most of the time as students. After we have studied for exams,
COST $600 $16,100 $3,220 $644 $5,152 $483 $322 $451 $3,220 $966 $322 31,480
Homecoming: GPC style
attended activity meetings, socialized and gotten a few hours of sleep, we can find it difficult to remember why we chose to come here in the first place. But at Homecoming, we have a chance to celebrate a common bond we share, the pride we feel to be JAGUARS at this college we attend. This year Georgia Perimeter College takes us on a journey to “Fabulous Vegas Days and Nights” remember what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. This event is sponsored by the Jaguar Activity Group, Office of Student Life, Office of Alumni Relations and the Athletic Department. Homecoming is right around the corner, so mark these dates. Nov. 3 - 6 is Homecoming week, and as students we should par-
ticipate to witness our Jaguar pride spread from campus to campus. Nov. 8 is the big day to strut your star-studded attire throughout the night. Homecoming is much more than just a dance, an event, and a week of activities. It’s the one time we get to show our pride/spirit for the school we attend. It’s the best time to connect with your fellow peers from each campus and show everyone that you are proud to be a JAGUAR. And so, without a doubt, I expect to see the venue packed with Jaguar pride. And I promise you won’t be disappointed with what you see once you attend the festivities. See you there and remember to show your Jaguar pride!
GPC Homecoming
November 3 - 8, 2014
Nov. 3: Homecoming Parade Clubs are encouraged to come out with banners that they have made for Homecoming; these banners will be judged for cash prizes. Nov. 6: Homecoming Day There will be a Vegas night theme at the school, with magicians and showgirls. A buffet will be served (first come, first served). Nov. 8: Homecoming Dance The dance will be held at the West Peachtree Hotel. The code is formal and semi-formal. GPC students will need to have their GPC ID and non-GPC students will need to have a state-issued ID. SGA will be checking IDs and dress code.
POLICE BRIEFS By Farhin Lilywala Collegian Staff
O
The Case of The stolen tire
n Oct. 6, a student's tire was reported missing from her vehicle on the Dunwoody campus, parking lot 11. She reported that she parked her green Honda Civic at approximately 8 a.m. Around 9:30 a.m., she returned to find her front left tire, hubcap, and four lug nuts missing. There are no suspects or leads at this time and unless further information comes forth, then an investigation cannot commence as is. Information provided by GPC Public Safety.
O
The Stolen wallet
n Oct. 9, a little bit after 11:20 a.m. in building N of the Clarkston campus, a student's wallet was stolen. The student reported that he was in the College Center from approximately 10-11:20 a.m. As soon as he left, he realized that he left his wallet. Upon returning, the wallet was nowhere to be found. The wallet contained his Social Security card, two bank cards, a Higher One card, his driver's license, and MARTA card. The victim cancelled all of his cards. The wallet has not been recovered. Note from GPC Public Safety: Please be careful where you leave your belongings. If you bring an item of value to campus, please know where it is at all times.
Classified Need A Resume 360 Career Coaching, LLC 770-383-2233 · Professional Resume and Cover Letter Writing packages offered to GPC Students at a discount. · Job Search Assistance. · We create well-written and formatted resumes to highlight students Accomplishments, Education and Experience stating what they can offer. www.360careercoaching.org
By R
Staf
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COLLEGIANNEWS.COM
October 22, 2014
Features
One stop swap: Photo Swap 4x6
Students Justin Beaudrot (left) and Felipe Fernandes (right) rummage through the pile of prints while speculating what they’ve picked up.
By Kezia Velista Collegian Staff
W
hat do you get when you gather handfuls of photographers together in a room? They talk about photography, of course. The 2014 Photo Swap event at the Low Museum did just that. “I expected a lot of people just picking and choosing photos, that’s about it. What happened was, it’s more fun than I expected. I met other photographers and artists, which is always exciting!” ex-
Q&A By Jabril Titus
claimed English major Ella Alexander from the Dunwoody campus of GPC. The annual Photo Swap event held by the Low Museum is a simple concept — anyone can join in. You print out 4x6 photos of anything. Once you come in, put it on a huge platform, then people begin to pick and choose. This is a great way to showcase your work without the pressure of having them hung up on a wall. Photography used to be something that’s time consuming.
Nowadays, with the rising usage of social media such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, almost anyone can do photography within minutes. This statement may cause outrage to a number of people but, it’s the truth. Photography has different meanings to different people; for example, Journalism major Justin Beaudrot says, “Photography to me is an opportunity to capture a moment or memory in time. Especially when hanging out with friends; those images will always remember the good times while we get older
and may forget.” Beaudrot is also a freelance photographer and he spends lots of time shooting pictures of his varied interests. On the other hand, engineering major Felipe Fernandes claims to just take pictures of whatever he likes, yet he contributed to the event by printing out several photos he took from his phone. “I initially planned on going without giving away any photos, but my friend convinced me just to feel more a part of it. I observed some people and turns out, they
Photo by Kezia Velista.
picked up my stuff ! It was relieving,” he replied, when asked if he put anything into the 4x6 pile. Whether or not you are a photographer, the Low Museum’s annual Photo Swap event is for everyone and there’s no limit to who can join! To find out more events scheduled by them, go to http:// thelowmuseum.com/.
Keeping up with Professors
A day in the life of Julie Langley, Communications Professor
H
ave you ever wonder what a professor’s day consists of ? As students many of us take time out to study and do homework for our classes. In return professors spend their precious time planning for just those classes. Julie Langley, Newton communications professor, in particular drives an hour away from the Newton campus to teach.
The C: How much time do you feel you spend planning on a weekly basis?
preplanned for much longer. "
did you bring to the job?
JL: "This semester I teach three classes on Mondays and
moments as well as the ability to handle various challenging students and classroom situations. I brought passion, enthusiasm, and a love of learning with me."
beginning to end.
Collegian Staff
JL:"For teaching, I plan one to three hours weekly.
The C: What is your typical day like? Describe it from
I have
The C: What do you feel is the most challenging part of
Wednesdays and I begin those days at 8 a.m. I drive an hour, teach three classes and have office hours, and then I drive home. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I teach one class and I begin those days at 6:45 a.m. I drive an hour, teach the course, have office hours, drive to Georgia State University, and take Graduate Communication courses."
The C: What is one suggestion on how to prepare now for a future position in teaching?
JL: "Be flexible in your teaching style." The C: (If you don’t mind me asking) What is your age? JL: “I am proud to be 52!
I am challenged to learn a new field."
The C: What advice would you give to a college student
why?
JL: “Literacy is a vital life skill that is changing rapidly:
rewarding because life is about learning."
The C: What skills did you learn on the job? What skills
The C: What do you feel is the most rewarding part and JL: "Unquestionably, I find my students’ learning the most
The C: Can you leave us with a few tips or suggestions for anyone wanting to go into a position such as yours?
JL: “The rewards are emotional, spiritual, and mental rather than mostly financial. Know yourself well before you decide to teach. As my grandfather was wont to say, “It’s surprising to know how much you must know in order to know how little you know.” Be humble and always be willing to learn!
And when did you start working for in your field?
your work and why?
JL: "My field is being phased out of the Ga. college system;
JL: “I learned flexibility and the ability to use teachable
I began teaching when I was 29 and began in this field when I was 37." who’s interested in your field?
consider its viability as a profession before entering the field."
Photo courtesy of Julie Langley
Q&A October 22, 2014
By Ben Abrams Staff Writer
G
PC Athletic Director and Head Men’s Basketball Coach, Alfred Barney, sits down with The Collegian to share his point of view about a few things: the Men’s soccer team ban from the 2014 postseason, his expectations for the team this season, and what the future holds for the soccer program.
The C:
What is your account of the ruling the NJCAA decided on, and the penalties that were handed out as a result of the ruling?
AB:
“The decision to place GPC on probation is not in control of the school, or in control of the athletic director/the coaches. The governing body that makes that decision is the NJCAA. Their ruling based on the violation is true.
The C
: What was the official reason for the probation?
AB
: “We paid for medical insurance for international students, because it is a fee that all international students have to pay. Because it is a fee we felt that we could pay it. It's a mandatory fee, because not all F-1 visa students can afford the insurance policy they need to be eligible to play. The NJCAA Board of Regions requires them to have it."
The C
: If the insurance fee is mandatory, and some of the F-1 visa students could not afford it then why would the NJCAA determine that any rule was violated?
AB
: "The national board said that it was a service that was beyond the aid of tuition, books, room and board, and meals, and we didn't pay it for every student
COLLEGIANNEWS.COM
Setting the Facts Straight Athletic Director Alfred Barney
at GPC. So it was considered a violation. The rule is not written that way, but that is an interpretation of the rule by the NJCAA. So you cannot appeal the ruling, only the rule."
The C
: Why can’t GPC appeal the ruling?
AB
: "We don't need to appeal the rule, because the rule is in place. This is what I told the soccer team, that we can't appeal the ruling because we did not pay the fee for every student. The school paying the fee for international students is a violation, because it paid for something that is considered above the care of a normal student athlete. We paid it because it was mandated by the Board of Regions for every student athlete. When a student signs a scholarship we tell them that were are going to pay that fee."
The C
: Does the rule that was determined to be violated by the NJCAA deliver a poor interpretation of what is considered a violation of the actual rule?
AB
: "There's no question about it. There nowhere in the rulebook that says you can't pay for medical insurance for international students. Had we paid it for all students it wouldn't have been a problem. It would have cost us more money, but we didn't pay for all the students. So, after meeting with the Vice President and President of the college and going through this, we determined that the rule doesn't say what we did broke the rules it's just their interpretation, and you can't appeal based on the NJCAA's interpretation of the rule, because there's no rule to stand on."
The C: How
vague is the interpretation of the rule that you violated in the NJCAA rulebook?
AB
: "They couldn't even quote us the rule in the book. Only that it is beyond normal circumstances, and because it was a fee required by the Board of Regions. We saw no reason that we couldn’t pay for it."
The C
: If an appeal to the NJCAA was possible, what would grounds would the appeal be based on?
AB: "We were going to base
our appeal on the fact that it does not say in the rulebook that you couldn't pay for players insurance. But, in our meeting we decided we couldn't appeal it because the interpretation was too broad for the governing body of the NJCAA to find any reason to overrule the probation."
The C
: How does this affect the soccer team season, and the future of the program?
AB
: "It's unfortunate that the sophomores who were on the team last year, and the freshman on the team this year have to suffer to consequences of this ruling. But somebody eventually has to pay the consequences.This is a good soccer team, but who suffers the penalty down the road, because the NJCAA is not going to change their minds."
The C:
Staff Writer
Women's Soccer The Lady Jags gave a valiant effort against a regional rival but came out short in a tough 4-0 loss to the Darton State Cavs. The GPC Women’s team is still well over .500 with a 6-4-1 record; and with a lot of unshaken confidence, the Lady Jags are looking to bounce back against Andrew College. This is a very resilient team boasting a 2-1 record in games following a loss. GO JAGS! Men's Soccer GPC’s young and talented Men’s soccer team is making a strong argument week after week that they are the number one team nationally in the National Junior College Ath-
player a coach will find you. All the tournament does is broaden your exposure to (NCAA) Division I and II. Sometimes life deals you a hand you don't want. I would love for them to be in the tournament because it's great national exposure for GPC. But we decided to do our probation this year, recover, and get it going again next year."
The C
: Where does the soccer team move on from here, and what is the goal for this season?
AB: "As an athlete you play
for the love of the game. So I told them, 'You can do one of two things. You can come together and say we can still finish the season undefeated, or you can go the opposite way and say we're not doing anything this season'. It's a tough decision, but you make tough decisions in life all the time. We do things that we're supposed to do all the time, and things don't work out all the time. Wherever you go as a person when you get knocked down you get back up. Here at GPC you’re not here just to play soccer you’re here to grow as a man, and not every decision you make is going to be a good decision. Everything doesn't go your way. If there was a way we could have changed this we would have done it."
The C
How did Coach Z and the players handle the bad news?
: Are you confident in the team’s ability to play for pride?
"They took the news hard, but I reminded them that they are good players. Coaches are looking for good players whether you play in the tournament or not. If you’re a good
men that Mark Zagura recruited on this team, I would be shocked if they didn't try to finish the year undefeated."
AB:
Sports Briefs By Tosin Ogunnoiki
5
letic Association (NJCAA) standings. The Jags are now 11-0 for the first time in school history with their wins against regional rivals Andrew College (5 to 1), and a 3-2 thriller against Darton College. In the win against Andrew College, three different Jaguars scored goals. Striker, Reece Weldon (midfielder), Chevaun Blake, and Dawit Alemu (midfielder). Blake led the pack with an astounding three goals. In the thrilling finish against Darton, star freshman striker, Reece Weldon, scored a game winning goal in the final minutes of regulation putting our Jags up on top 3- 2. Weldon is second in all of the NJCAA for game winning goals with six so far this season.
AB: "With the kind of young
The C: Will this violation
effect recruiting in the future?
AB:
"I don't think it will, because Mark (Zagura) and the athletic program sells itself with a great reputation. A lot of the kids we recruit are kids looking for a second chance. People can look at the record, and say they went undefeated and didn't even go to the tournament that's a school or coach they'd want to play for, because it's not all about winning. It could be used as a motivational tool to be better."
The C
: What is the vision for GPC men’s soccer team for 2015?
AB
: "Rebuilding from this season, and picking up where they left off. We have some sophomores leaving us, but a team of freshmen who will return next year. You can't ask for a better institution for athletics or academics, and one of the most competitive junior colleges in athletics in the entire country. We're always in contention for our regional championships every year. And that is done by having good coaches and recruiting good players."
The C
: Is there anything you learned from this experience?
AB
: "We won't pay for the medical insurance for F-1 Visa students anymore. We've lost some recruits, because they can't afford it, and we can't pay it."
The C
: Will this team be in contention for the 2015 national championship?
AB
: "Yes. Every year no matter who we put on that field."
Schedule MEN'S SOCCER 10/25- Darton State, Dunwoody, Ga.: 1 p.m. 11/1-11/2- NJCAA Regions 17 Tournament, Albany, Ga. WOMEN'S SOCCER 10/22- Andrew College, Clarkston, Ga.: 3 p.m. 10/24- South Georgia State College, Douglas, Ga.: TBA 11/1-11/2- GCAA Tournament, Darton State, Albany Ga. baseball 10/22- GPC World Series
Game 1, Covington, Ga.: TBA 10/23- GPC World Series Game 2, Covington, Ga.: TBA 10/24- GPC World Series Game 3, Covington, Ga.: TBA men's basketball 10/23- Urban Christian Academy, Decatur, Ga.: 7 p.m. 10/30- North Georgia College and State, Decatur, Ga.: TBA 11/4- Atlanta Sports
Information provided by GPC Athletics website
Academy, Decatur, Ga.: 7 p.m. Women's basketball 10/31-11/1- Walters State Tournament, Morristown, Tenn. 10/31- Walters State Comm. College, Morristown, Tenn.: 7 p.m. 11/1- Roane State Comm. College: 4 p.m.
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COLLEGIANNEWS.COM
October 22, 2014
HOW Do I VOTE? By Maurice Raeford Staff Writer
When is Election Day? -Nov. 4 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. -If you are in line prior to 7 p.m., you will be allowed to vote. -Check the Secretary of State's website for local times and places.
What if I have to work during these times?
What are the requirements for voting?
What type of ID will I need to vote?
You must be: -A citizen of the United States. -If voting in Georgia, a legal resident of Georgia and the county you choose to vote in. -At least 18 years old on Election Day. -Cannot be serving any sentence imposed by a conviction of a felony. -Not judicially determined to be mentally incompetent.
You can use either of the following: -Driver’s license -State ID -Valid U.S. passport -Valid employee photo ID from U.S. Government, Georgia, or any county authority -Valid U.S military ID card -Valid tribal ID card -Voter identification card issued by the County Registrar
What if I am busy on Election Day? -Fill out an absentee ballot. An absentee ballot also allows you to vote early. -You can request an absentee ballot 180 days out all the way up until Oct. 31 as long as it is received by 7 p.m. on Election Day by the County Board of Registrars. -Ballot must be hand written and mailed back.
-If you are not off two hours prior to or after the poll hours, your job legally has to grant you two hours to vote.
By Sabrina Jamil
-Go to Vote411.org and you can request an absentee ballot. If you are out of the country or disabled, a close relative can pick it up for you.
What if I don't have a ride to the polls?
How do I find out if I am registered? -Go to mvp.sos.ga.gov and fill out your first initial, last name, county, and your birthday. -This will allow you to see if you are registered and will also give you your poll location. You can request an absentee ballot from here as well.
Where can I get an absentee ballot?
-Go to ridebuzz.org or ridetothepoll.com, and book yourself a way to get to the polls.
What Can I VOTE On? O
n November 4th, 2014 voters will determine two constitutional amendments and a statewide referendum. If a majority vote ratifies these amendments, they will become a part of the constitution.
Staff Writer
Income Tax Amendment If it passes, the first amendment would “prohibit an increase in the maximum state income tax rate after January 1, 2015.”
Reckless Driving Amendment The second amendment recommends fines from reckless driving be put into the brain and spinal injury trust fund. The money will be used to provide care for those who cannot necessarily receive medical treatment. Additional research can be used for the specific injuries listed above.
Proposed Property Referendum If approved, the proposed referendum would “allow property owned by the University System of Georgia and operated by providers of student housing and other facilities to remain exempt from taxation.”
A Dream Realized:
By Barry Switay Source: ACLU
Passing of the Twenty-Fourth Amendment outlaws poll tax.
Law enforcement officers attack over 500 non-violent civil rights activists while the activists attempt to march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in an effort to demand the need for African American voting rights.
1965
Only 3% of eligible African Americans in southern states are registered to vote. Literacy tests, poll taxes and other Jim Crow laws were meant to keep African Americans from being able to vote.
1964
The Nineteenth Amendment is passed, granting all U.S. citizens the right to vote, regardless of sex.
1940
"Grandfather clauses" are passed in Louisiana to prevent former slaves and their descendants from voting. These clauses resulted in the decrease of registered black voters from 44.8% in 1896 to 4.0% four years later.
1920
The Fifteenth Amendment is passed, giving all men the right to vote, regardless of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
1896
1869
A Brief History of the Voting Rights Act
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COLLEGIANNEWS.COM
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Who's On The Ballot?
U.S. Senate Candidates from Georgia By Maurice Raeford
Sources: opensecrets.org and ontheissues.org
Staff Writer
Photo courtesy of Michelle Nunn's campaign.
Photo courtesy of David Perdue's campaign.
Photo courtesy of Amanda Swafford's campaign.
CEO (Family Dollar) Politician no terms
Lawyer, Politician
Stance
Stance
Stance
Abortion
Safe, legal, rare and a woman's decision
Promote a culture that values life
Unknown
Budget
Make smart short and mid-term investments to drive growth
Cut wasteful spending; Eliminate failed government agencies
Civil Rights
Support equal pay; Let churches and state decide on gay marriage
Strongly believe in FairTax, cut spending to 1998 levels, eliminate income tax (repeal 16th amendment)
Keep marriage traditional
Education
Invest in early childhood education with common core, Smaller classes
Dismantle unnecessary bureaucracy; Innovate at local level
Dismantle Department of Education and put control into local communities. Supports electronic education.
Energy and Oil
Ensure affordable and sustainable sources of energy
End hostility towards domestic energy producers
Unknown
Environment
Invest in deepening Savannah harbor
No stance
Unknown
Government Reform
If Congress doesn’t pass budget they don’t get paid
Maximum three terms in the house; Two terms in the Senate
Gun Control
Stronger background checks for terrorist and criminals
Eliminate anything standing in the way of economic growth, end Federal Reserve, end ALL foreign aid
We have ample gun laws
Health Care
Add tier of affordable coverage to ObamaCare, fix ObamaCare don’t eliminate it
Responsible thing to do is fix ObamaCare and don’t repeal: ObamaCare reduces quality of healthcare and increases cost
Immigration
Make pathway to citizenship make sense
Strictly enforce current laws, Focus on border security
Welfare and Poverty
Consider cost of deportation, require immigrants to pay backtaxes, eliminate caps of number of visas
Hands on network, help people begin their service journey
No stance
Unknown, but promotes individual responsibility
Contributors
Coca- Cola, Emory, General Electric, Time Warner, Planned Parenthood, etc. at opensecrets.org
Wendy's, Bank of America, Waffle House, Reliant Radiology, Northwestern Mutual, etc. at opensecret.org
Libertarian National Comittee, individual donors
By the end of 1965, 250,000 new black voters are registered.
Barbara Jordan of Houston and Andrew Young of Atlanta become the first African Americans to be elected to Congress from the South since the era of Reconstruction.
Due, in large part, to the enforcement of the VRA, the number of black elected officials in Georgia grows to 495 from the three elected officials, prior to the VRA.
Supports individual freedom of beliefs, rights. Government should protect individual rights
Allowing people to carry as many types of guns as possible is the best way to promote safety Healthcare should be the responsibility of the individual
Voting restrictions passed in South Carolina, Texas and Florida are found to disproportionately impact minority voters.
2013
1965
The Voting Rights Act (VRA) is signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson, permanently blocking barriers to political participation by racial and ethnic minorities, prohibiting any election practice that denies the right to vote on account of race, and requiring jurisdictions with a history of discrimination in voting to get federal approval for changes in their election laws before they can take effect.
2011
Non-profit Executive(Hands on Network) Politician no terms
Career
1990
Amanda Swafford- Libertarian
1972
David Perdue- Republican
1965
Michelle Nunn- Democrat
The American Civil Liberties Union represents the NAACP's Alabama chapter in Shelby v. Holder. In this decision, the Supreme Court crippled one of the most effective protections for voting rights by rendering ineffective the requirement that certain jurisdictions with a history of voting discrimination get pre-approval for any voting changes. Texas, Mississippi, North Carolina, Florida, Virginia, South Dakota, Iowa, and Indiana have wasted no time enacting potentially discriminatory laws.
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COLLEGIANNEWS.COM
Kill some time in the voting lines
5 things to bring with you while you wait to cast your vote By Hope Dickson Collegian Staff
I
f you show up on Nov. 4, to a voting center and there is a waiting line longer than the lines at Wal-Mart, there are a few things that may help keep you occupied while you wait to cast your vote.
1. Cell phone
This helps you in several ways. You can sit on Facebook, which we all know is a great timewaster, the entire time to keep you entertained during the wait. Cell phones are also good for keeping up to date with the polls. That way when it comes to your turn to cast your vote, you know for sure who you want to vote for.
October 22, 2014
Judging a voter by appearance
4 types of people you can meet at voting polls By Kezia Velista Collegian Staff
W
hen you go to vote, there are many different types of people we may see. It’s actually possible to figure out who people will vote for by their appearance. Usually, judging a book by its cover isn’t suggested but, come on, in this case, it’s almost hard not to do it.
1. Ages 18-25
These voters are considered the future of our nation. Most are still in college, if not high school. They’re part of the population who romanticize being born in the late 1980’s to mid 1990’s—“Only 90’s kids remember this” is probably one of their favorite phrases. These people are more likely to have a liberal stance on politics. How to identify a “90’s kid:” For girls, she’s probably wearing an oversized sweater, high-waisted pants or maybe even leggings as pants, and since elections happen during cooler weather, lengthy boots with socks cuffed a little bit higher at the end. For guys, he could be wearing jeans that seem too short for him because his socks are showing (this is done on purpose, though), a button down that also seems too small, oxford shoes, and a jacket either made of leather or denim.
2. Book 2. Ages 26-35 3. iPod/MP3 player 3. Ages 36-49 4. Water bottle/snacks Keep up with your literary favorites by bringing along your favorite book. Get your mind clear before casting a vote for our leaders by getting lost in a world only known to readers.
Music can help clear your mind from the troubles of this world. Get lost in your musical favorites.
Water is known to help with your health. It’s always good to bring a water bottle with you anywhere you go, for dehydration purposes, of course. As far as snacks go, a healthy small snack such as: a pack of peanuts, a granola bar, or a piece of fruit can help with your critical thinking skills when you make your polling decisions.
5.
Coffee
If you want to vote before the lines really start, make sure to get there early. And early always means coffee...lots of coffee.
Each person is different. What may work for you may be different from what is on this list. Find what works for you, and see you at the polls on Nov. 4!
These voters tend to be more moderate in their views. They’re out of college, perhaps even done paying their student loans, and it’s safe to say they’re probably liberal on social issues but conservative on fiscal issues. Now, they’ll most likely be suited up, both the men and women, because they have to go back to their day jobs after voting. On the flip side, the women could be wearing athletic attire: yoga pants, Nike’s “Just Do It” shirts, and again… leggings as pants. Women of this age love to show off that they’re physically active, so much that they don’t even change out of their sweaty clothes after exercising.
This age range is hard to decipher because some of them could be wildly liberal or wildly conservative. At this point of their lives, they’ve made up their minds about almost everything, in political aspects. As for the appearance, it’s about the same as those who are 26-35 years old.
4. Ages 50+
Now for this final group of people, they’re most likely conservative, but, of course, there are a few who aren’t. At this age, it’s probable that they dislike the youth and would give anything to be on the opposing side of what the 18-25 age range believes. Their fashion choices could be khaki shorts, sweatpants, polo shirts, and floral printed blouses.
As you can see, all different types of people vote from various ages. What matters is your voice and opinion so even though observing what they wear could be funny, it counts that they have the initiative to go and vote on election day.
Soapbox Students: Will you vote in the General Election? Why or why not?
the
Photos by Alexis Duffey.
#GPCsoapbox
Name: Sara Birdsong, Major: Anthropology Campus: Newton
Name: Jake Scoggins Major: Business Administration Campus: Newton
“Not yet. I don’t think I’m ready. I’d like to make a more informed decision.”
“Yes as we grow into young adults, I feel it is important to know what the government is doing to help (or hurt) us.”
Name: Shane Van DeCeuize Major: Computer Science and Psychology Campus: Newton “No, as I feel my vote does not matter and even if it “may” my ideals are not truly represented.”
Name: Mekay Mitchem Major: Education Campus: Newton “I will not vote in this upcoming election because I have always just thought that my vote doesn’t matter. Also I really do not know about politics enough to vote.”
Name: Ryan Carter Major: Marketing Campus: Newton “I will not vote for the upcoming election because I’m not a registered voter. If I was I would vote due to the seriousness and impact on the state.”
October 22, 2014
COLLEGIANNEWS.COM
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CONSOLIDATED SAMPLE BALLOT NOVEMBER 4, 2014 GENERAL ELECTION For Voter Registration, Absentee Ballot status, or Election Day polling location information: • Access the Secretary of State "My Voter Page" at www.mvp.sos.ga.gov/ • Contact the Voter Registations and Elections Office
For United States Senate
For Secretary of State (Vote for One)
(Vote for One)
DAVID A. PERDUE
(Incumbent) Republican
M. MICHELLE NUNN Democrat
DOREEN CARTER Democrat
AMANDA C. SWAFFORD
For Public Service Commissioner
(Vote for One)
(To Succeed H. Doug Everett) (Vote for One)
RALPH T. HUDGENS
BRIAN P. KEMP
Republican
For Commissioner of Insurance
Libertarian
ELIZABETH N. "LIZ" JOHNSON
(Incumbent) Republican
EDWARD T. "TED" METZ
Libertarian
Write-in
For Governor
E L
Write-in
For Attorney General
(Vote for One)
J. NATHAN DEAL
SAMUEL S. OLENS
(Incumbent) Republican
(Incumbent) Republican
JASON J. CARTER
A S
Democrat
GREGORY K. "GREG" HECHT
ANDREW T. HUNT
Democrat
Libertarian
Write-in
Write-in
For Lieutenant Governor (Vote for One)
L.S "CASEY" CAGEL (Incumbent) Republican
CONNIE J. STOKES Democrat
For Public Service Commissioner
(Vote for One)
(To Succeed Lauren W. McDonald) (Vote for One)
RICHARD L. WOODS Republican
VALARIE D. WILSON Democrat
LAUREN W. "BUBBA" MCDONALD (Incumbent) Republican
DANIEL A. BLACKMAN Democrat
ROBIN AARON GILMER Libertarian
Write-in
For Commissioner of Agriculture
For Commissioner of Labor
(Vote for One)
(Vote for One)
GARY W. BLACK
J. MARK BUTLER
CHRISTOPHER JAMES IRVIN
ROBBIN K. SHIPP
(Incumbent) Republican
Write-in
For State School Superintendent
P M
(Vote for One)
JOHN H. MONDS
Democrat
Libertarian
Write-in
HERMAN D. "DOUG" EVERETT
(Incumbent) Republican
Write-in
(Incumbent) Republican
Democrat
Democrat
the
Write-in
Write-in
Soapbox
Information from DeKalb and Gwinnett County 2014 Sample Ballots
Write-in
Designed by Farhin Lilywala
Photos by Alexis Duffey.
Professors: Will you vote in the General Election? Why or why not?
#GPCsoapbox
Name: Wendell Broadwell Class: American Government Campus: Newton
Name: James Battey Class: Biology Campus: Newton
Name: Mike Sakuta Class: Chemistry Campus: Newton
Name: Doug Casey Class: Health/P.E. Campus: Newton
Name: Laura Edmunds Class: English Campus: Newton
“Yes, I want to express my opinion.”
“I will definitely vote because I think it’s the responsibility of all citizens to vote.”
“I will definitely vote because it’s important.”
“Yes. It’s important to express your opinion and rights.”
“Yes, this election really matters for higher education in Georgia.”
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COLLEGIANNEWS.COM
October 22, 2014
Our Voice COLUMN By Barry Switay Collegian Staff
F
ew among us are unfamiliar with the major political parties fighting for office. While it may seem a logical thing to do, casting one’s ballot solely out of loyalty to a party is a wonderful way to waste a vote, second only to not voting. According to the U.S. Senate, a political party is a group of “individuals who organize to win elections, operate government, and influence public policy.” Some benefits of parties include making complex issues digestible to the public and giving people a
Don't Vote for a Party
sense of unity around shared interests. Problems arise when a political party becomes part of our identity. When this happens our capacity to think independently is watered down. If we consider ourselves “yellow dog” party loyalists, we are likely to follow the ideas of the group of which we are a part. As party loyalists, we may also be likely to reduce social and economic problems to “the other party’s fault.” A June 2014 Pew Research Center study, Political Polarization in the American Public, found that “the ideological overlap between [Democrats and Republicans] has diminished.” The country is more polarized today than at any time in the last 20 years, according to the study. This great divide between the two domi-
nant parties makes it easy for us to determine that there are just a few perspectives or commit the fallacy of the excluded middle: if one party is “wrong,” the opposing party must be “right,” it’s either this way or that way. I think if we work to leave the parties behind and distance ourselves from being “team players,” we can be a little more confident that our political views and voting tendencies are grounded in principle, not groupthink. Instead of taking the shortcut to thinking that political parties offer, we should look beyond them and to the candidates themselves. We would be wise to pay particular attention to whether a candidate’s past lines up with what they claim they want to do in the future. In doing this, we should not be satisfied
by the fluffy and cosmetic rhetoric found on candidates campaign pages. The list of helpful websites below will greatly reduce aimless Internet wandering. With all this in mind, let’s be careful we do not vote against a party just to be rebels. The rebel in this case is defined as much by his/her opposition to a party as the member is defined by their support of it. And if we go with a party, let’s not just follow someone else’s ideas. I think the key here is to make political decisions based on our own well thought out principles. We should reach our own conclusions first, then if we choose to, look for a party that shares our perspective. The incorrect approach is to become a card-carrying member of someone else’s point of view.
Helpful Sites •
votesmart.org- Use this non-governmental, nonpartisan, non-profit organization to dig up loads of facts about candidates big and small.
•
ballotpedia.org- Use this site for detailed info about any and all elections and ballot measures. Note: while this site uses a wiki platform (meaning anyone can add info), everything is fact checked before it is published on the website.
COLUMN
Make a difference: Go vote now! By Azka Iqbal Staff Writer
T
urning 18 and being able to finally vote can seem like a big deal. You are finally able to voice your opinions and actually have them matter, even though your one vote can seem insignificant. It is more the idea that you are involved in your community. Reasons why you should vote: 1. So student issues are addressed Why would politicians care about student issues if the students themselves seem not to care? Politicians base their campaign around the voters. If college students went their issues addressed, they must make up a significant amount of the voters. 2. Because people fought so you would have this right Remember the times when anyone who was not basically a rich white male couldn’t vote? No, of course you don’t. It’s because people have already fought for everyone to be allowed to vote. Do you really want their battles to go unappreciated? The greatest way you could honor their commitment to making sure everyone can vote is by utilizing the right they gave you. 3. Because it is basically your future What we do now, determines what happens later. If you do not vote on issues that matter to you, you cannot blame the future world for not being how you want it to be. If you care about the environment, vote for it. Same thing goes with abortions, gay rights and any other issue. If you do not fight for your rights, who will? Many college students do not vote because they do not know how too. This is the case for almost a quarter of all college students. Imagine if they had been well informed and able to vote how they could have changed the results of the election!
•
http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/en-US/ VoteList.aspx?Chamber=1-Use this site to learn how your Georgia state Senate and House members have voted.
October 22, 2014
COLLEGIANNEWS.COM
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5 Things Not to Say While Waiting in Line at the Voting Polls By James Fisher Staff Writer
I
t’s that time again, the November Midterm Elections are coming up and it has been a heated race for the Senatorial and Gubernatorial candidates. In the Senatorial race, we have Democratic candidate Michelle Nunn, Republican candidate David Perdue, and Libertarian candidate Amanda Swafford. In the race to be Georgia’s next Governor, we have Democratic candidate Jason Carter, Libertarian candidate Andrew Hunt, and running for re-election Republican candidate Nathan Deal. During this time, the citizens of Georgia line up at their nearest polling location and vote on who will be their voices for the next few years. Like American Idol, not every candidate can “sing” very well and voters will be subjected to cantankerous or sycophantic judges on the respective news broadcasting services each voter listens to. On voting day, voters will be waiting impatiently to cast their ballots. While in these lines, here are five things NOT to say: “I hope voting for my friends and family is not considered voting fraud.” U.S. citizens and the government take voting fraud very seriously. Fraudulent ballots could result in the unintended candidate being elected. Nobody wants the other candidate to win. It’s best that the voter drags their friends and family to wait in line with them to vote, or they can fill out an absentee ballot if they cannot make it. Dunwoody Communication student, Eliz-
abeth Carroll suggests voters standing in line do not talk about how, “Anyone who votes for so and so is an idiot. Or any negative comment about another candidate that someone else could support.” Defaming someone voting for a particular candidate is not a very smart thing to do as people can get very offended by that and it could easily escalate into a fight. Fighting in voting lines is not recommended, unless you want to be arrested. "What's this line for,” asks Nursing student Chelsea Scoggins, wandering to a mass of voters lining up. This is not suggested to ask because the people in line will probably think the voter is an uneducated voter. No one likes an uneducated voter and it is recommended that the voter refrain from talking about how little they know about the issues and candidates. Biomedical Engineering student Joseph Kazim suggests that joking about, “How you have just returned from West Africa then sneezing,” is not a very good idea and those voters will start to panic as the Center for Disease Control surround the building, quarantining everyone in line. Joking about Ebola or any other controversial topic along those lines is not a laughing matter and could get the voter in a lot of trouble. Finally, it is recommended that voters standing in line say nothing for fear that they might insult each other. If voters do decide to talk then talk amongst yourselves about wholesome topics like tiny animals, arguments about which smart phone to get, pumpkin spice flavored foodstuffs, or socially acceptable public displays of violence like football and video games. Because people like those things more than arguing politics.
FIVE-MINUTE POLITICAL IDEOLOGY QUIZ Courtesy of Dr. Michael Mitchell, GPC Clarkston
Step 1: Evaluate each statement below according to the scale and write the appropriate numbers in the boxes under "Step 1." Step 2: Multiply your scores for the ODDNUMBERED statements by -1 and the EVEN-NUMBERED statements by +1, and write the results in the boxes under "Step 2." Step 3: Add the scores in the GRAY boxes for "Step 2;" write the result in the GRAY box under "Step 3." Add the scores in the WHITE boxes for "Step 2;" write the result in the WHITE box under "Step 3." Step 4: Plot the score from the GRAY box in "Step 3" on the y-axis (economics), and plot the score from the WHITE box in "Step 3" on the x-axis (cultural) on the grid below. The intersection of the two points is your estimated political ideology.
-1 0 +1 +2 partly agree partly agree partly disagree disagree and partly agree disagree 1. When government requires wealthy citizens to pay taxes at a higher rate, it punishes them for their hard work and economic success. -3 strongly disagree
-2
2. Government should spend money to get the economy moving again when there is a recession and times are hard, even if it increases the national debt.
3. When government provides health care or welfare programs to people, it takes away their freedom to make their own choices and rewards those who are lazy and do not want to work hard. 4. American democracy is threatened by wealthy businesses and individuals who have too much political power.
5. Even though most Americans are Christians, government should not establish Christianity as the country's official religion. 6. Government should outlaw abortion.
7. Government should not regulate sexual conduct between consenting adults. 8. Government's need to stop terrorism outweighs the right to privacy. Those with nothing to hide have nothing to fear.
ECONOMICS: Anything having to do with money. Economic issues include taxes, unemployment, social welfare spending, the minimum wage, worker safety standards, international trade, regulating business, financing education and health care. CULTURE: Anything having to do with morality and social values. Cultural issues include sexuality, (abortion, gay marriage), crime and punishment, regulating of media (what kind of sex/violdence./ language should be allowed on television), religion, drugs. •
CENTRISTS: Government should have a moderate role in regulating both economic and cultural values.
•
COMMUNTARIANS: Government should have a prominent role in regulating both economics and cultural values.
•
CONSERVATIVES: Government should have a limited role in regulating economics but a prominent role in regulating cultural values.
•
LIBERALS: Government should have a prominent role in regulating economics but a limited role in regulating cultural values.
•
LIBERTARIANS: Government should have a limited role in regulating both economics and cultural values.
+3 strongly agree
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COLLEGIANNEWS.COM
October 22, 2014