The Collegian 11-5-14 by gpc collegian

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November 5, 2014 VOLUME 30 NO.7 Visit online at www.collegiannews.com

Beware of the Ebola Learn about the potentially fatal virus strain

By Naya Clark Staff Writer

ithin the last two months the term Ebola has topped Google searches, trending topics on Twitter, headlines on news stories, and become a topic of much debate and controversy. The recent Ebola scare has even led people to ride public transportation with makeshift hazmat suits for political statements and protection. Many people are afraid of Ebola simply because they don’t know enough about it. A common misconception regarding Ebola is that one can catch it simply by being near a person who has contracted the virus. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Ebola, characterized by severe flu symptoms and more, is “a rare and deadly disease caused by infection with one of the Ebola virus strains.” The potentially fatal virus has been a serious issue overseas in countries including Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea. Thousands of deaths have been linked to Ebola in these countries since the beginning of the current outbreak. When people from these countries travel to others, the threat of an Ebola pandemic comes in to play. Fear of catching this virus has increased especially in the

Georgia and Metro Atlanta area, home to the CDC. After two doctors, Nancy Writebol and Kent Brantly, went overseas to treat Ebola, they contracted Ebola and were rushed to Emory Hospital to be treated. Many feared that the CDC would not be successful in quarantining the virus. A few even feared that Georgia would break out into some form of Ebola zombie apocalypse. Emory has taken several precautions in quarantining the virus, using CDC guidelines which require that healthcare workers: 1. Be rigorously and repeatedly trained in the steps involving infection control. 2. Wear proper personal protective equipment, with no skin exposure. This includes double gloves, waterproof boot covers, fluid resistant gowns, respirators, full face shields, surgical hoods, and water proof gowns. 3. Have a trained monitor in order to ensure that procedures are done correctly. According to the CDC, Ebola can’t be transmitted through air, water, or food; only through body fluids such as blood, urine, saliva, sweat, feces, vomit, breast milk, semen, objects like needles and syringes or contact with a contaminated animal. The virus can only enter the body through the

Illustration by Jasmine Frierson.

eyes, nose, mouth, or broken skin. Almost exclusively in Africa, the World Health Organization (WHO) gave a prediction of 10,000 new Ebola cases per week by December, and the CDC gave a worst-case scenario of 1.4 million in four months. America is expected to be less threatened by the virus, except from those travelling to and from heavily-infected areas. The GPC Student Health Center has posted a protocol regarding the Ebola virus, covering what Ebola is, its symptoms, and how it’s transmitted. According to the protocol, GPC students, staff, and faculty, are highly recommended to avoid nonessential travel to countries that have high numbers of Ebola patients and deaths like Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea. If a student has traveled and returned from any of these countries, staff and faculty are recommended to contact their doctors. Students who have done so are recommended to contact Student Health for counseling. They are also advised to check their temperature twice daily in order to monitor fever, and report symptoms of Ebola such as headaches, joint and muscle pains, diarrhea, stomach pains, loss of appetite, vomiting, or weakness within 2 days of arriving from overseas.

COLLEGIANNEWS.COM

November 5, 2014

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Over the weekend, sports editor Hope Dickson and I flew to Philadelphia for a College Media Association and Associated Collegiate Press

hotel, we attended several seminars, each with a different purpose, a different lesson. We had the opporunity of meeting reporters from the "Philadelphia Inquirer." Most importantly, we had the privledge of meeting fellow journalists from across North America. (Yes, there were a few Canadians as Conference. well.) This conference was nothing There is something about being like I had ever seen before. It was in in a room filled with people so foa convention hotel, the Marriott in cused and lively at the same time. downtown Philadelphia. These journalists were just stuThe beauty of the location was dents wanting someone to hear the not only what was inside the hotel, pleas and empathize with their tribut what was outside. als, just like us. As soon as I stepped out on to If you have an opinion about the sidewalk, I was in the center of this, then be sure to contact us at Philadelphia. When I walked a few gpc.collegian@gmail.com. We blocks to the east, I could see City want to make your voice heard. Hall, beautiful churches, temples, I would like to thank each and and monuments. every one of you for reading the When I walked a few blocks to content we put so much effort into the west, I could see Independence producing. We hope to exceed your Hall and the Liberty Bell, all with- expectations. in a ten minute walking distance. If you have any story ideas, In every other direction, the city comments, or questions, please had a new vibe to offer. contact us at gpc.collegian@gmail. I could go from seeing a home- com. We would love to hear from less man on the street almost you! passed out from drinking too much the night before to seeing rival businesses compete for who makes Editor-in-Chief the best cheesesteak. Inside the hallowed halls of the

Farhin Lilywala

PUT IT ON THE CALENDAR Source: GPC General Events Calendar

campuses11/6 10/27 All Registration for Spring - 11/9 - 1/11 2015 - Open

11/5

Dunwoody- A Taste of Pallookaville: 11 a.m.3 p.m., outside Student Center

11/5

Clarkston- Student Vocal Recital ft. GPC Vocal Performance Students: 1 p.m., Cole Auditorium, Fine Arts Building

EDITOR IN CHIEF Farhin Lilywala EXECUTIVE EDITOR Kezia Velista SPORTS EDITOR Hope Dickson

Dunwoody- Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show: 8 p.m., Dunwoody Auditorium (NC 1100)

11/12

Dunwoody- GPC Reads Author Event, "Picking Cotton:" 10 a.m., Dunwoody Auditorium, NC 1100, Guest speaker: Ronald Cotton

11/11

Clarkston- DeKalb Symphony Orchestra Concert with Fyodor Cherniavsky, conductor, World Premiere: Michael Kurth: "Inquisivity:" 8 p.m., Cole Auditorium, Fine Arts Building

11/12

Clarkston- GPC Reads Author Event, "Picking Cotton:" 2 p.m., Cole Auditorium Guest speakers: Jennifer Thompson-Cannino and Ronald Cotton. Book signing to follow.

11/12

Clarkston- DeKalb Youth Symphony Orchestra Concert with Earl Kuutti, conductor: 8 p.m., Cole Auditorium, Fine Arts Building

11/13

Clarkston- Jaguar Jazz Combo Concert with Stacey Houghton, director: 1 p.m., Cole Auditorium, Fine Arts Building

MANAGING EDITORS Jabril Titus Barry Switay

11/16

11/18

11/19

Clarkston- Atlanta Guitar Guild Concert: 3 p.m., Performance Studio, Fine Arts Building (use North entrance)

Clarkston- GPC Faculty Concert ft. Caleb Herron, percussion: 8 p.m, Cole Auditorium, Fine Arts Building

Clarkston- Student Instrumental Recital: 1 p.m., Cole Auditorium, Fine Arts Building

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

November 5, 2014

COLLEGIANNEWS.COM

Campus News

"R-A-P-E. Get your filthy hands off me."

It's a matter of race and Do not ignore or endure sexual abuse. forgiveness. By Rangadevi Chakraborty Staff Writer

ou’re walking to the parking lot elevator, trying to remember where you parked your car this morning. Craving a cup of hot chocolate and a movie, you step into the elevator. Right before the elevator doors close, a scruffy looking man hushes himself inside. You don’t think much of it, until the doors close, and you hear his raspy, loud breathing. He first grabs your phone and throws it in the corner, and then presses you in the corner with the buttons. While he forces himself on you, you hope that when the elevator reaches your level, there’ll be someone who will hear your muffled screams. With your one free hand you try to press all the buttons, and the elevator stops at every single one of them. But every time the door opens, there is no one to save you; his attack doesn’t stop. When he’s finally done, after what seems a lifetime, he leaves you on the sticky floor like a shivering pile of trash and hurriedly walks away. Although this may seem like a scene from a melodramatic sitcom, the sad reality is that many people in this “civilized” society still have to endure the violent intrusion of rape. According to the statistics the Governor’s Office has published, chances of something like this happening to a woman are about 1 in 5. Statistics for men are not included. The rape centers in Georgia have reported that about 80 percent of all rape victims are under the age of 25 and are therefore likely to

include many college students. They also believe that less than five percent of (attempted) sexual assaults on college campuses are ever reported to law enforcement, thus suggesting that their numbers might be a lot higher in actuality. It is very reasonable to believe this to be because the victims feel somewhat scared of ramifications or a sense of affection for the assaulter. Fact is that the 24 Sexual Assault Centers in Georgia have said that 70 percent of the victims knew their perpetrators and/or had a certain relationship with them. There are many long-term psychological effects of rape that can influence your behavior throughout your life, or that can linger under the surface until there’s another event that’ll catalyze them back into your memory. The damage to body and spirit caused by rape has been linked to many societal problems such as homelessness, escalated suicide rates, crime and/or teen pregnancies, says the Women’s Resource Center. Often, rape victims believe they’ll get over it eventually, but reality is exactly the opposite. Experts believe the mind after the event of a sexual assault is like a fresh wound, and when it goes untreated, it’ll become infected and hurt you more than the rape itself did. If you or anyone you know is or ever has been the victim of sexual abuse, contact any of the resources listed in the article. Please tell someone.

In Georgia, various organizations offer counselling and other services to victims of sexual abuse. As one of the biggest, the Women’s Resource Center also offers Dating Violence Prevention programs to students. Contacts to these organizations are listed below. Rape Crisis Center by location: gnesa.org/page/rape-crisis-centers-georgia Decatur Atlanta Duluth Marietta Jonesboro

(404) 377-1428 (404) 616-4861 (770) 476-7407 (770) 427-3390 (770) 477-2177

The Governor’s Office also gives guidelines for what to do after an assault: R5 Get to a safe place and contact someone you trust (friend, relative, neighbor, etc.) R5 Seek medical attention as soon as possible. R5 Do not shower or clean up. R5 Go to a health facility for an examination and treatment for possible injuries or sexually transmitted infections (STIs). R5 Contact the local sexual assault center in your area in order to access services and support. You can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656HOPE (4673) to be connected with a local center or the Georgia’s Family Violence Hotline at 1-800-33-HAVEN (4-2836). To get more information on teen dating violence, or to seek services, contact the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline at 1-866331-9474.

Gold, Silver, and Bronze Wins for GPC By Alem Giorgis Staff Writer

n Friday, Oct. 10, a total of 24 highly coveted awards were presented in eight different categories at the Chancellor’s Annual Service Excellence Awards. This annual event is catered towards recognizing the contributions of staff across the vast network of 31 institutions within the University System of Georgia. GPC was honored with the Gold, Silver and Bronze awards in three different categories. These prizes were accepted on behalf of the college by GPC Faculty. Interim president Rob Watts accepted the Silver award in the institutional category, customer service director Fran Mohr accepted the Gold award in the customer service ambassador category and family nurse practitioner Susan Wetter of Student Health Services accepted the Bronze award in the service excellence to students category. To describe the three award recipients as long-time GPC employees is an understatement: they have over 30 years of combined service to GPC. Ambassador of the Year Fran Mohr has been serving the GPC community since 1999. She has since helped rejuvenate a culture of customer service that is evident throughout the college, perhaps most visible within the admissions department, which has improved

its accessibility to students via the centralized Contact Center. In addition, students may have noticed the volunteers wearing “Ask Me” badges at the start of the fall semester. These volunteers are part of a unique customer service program Mohr pioneered aimed at appropriately greeting incoming students and making them feel at home within the new environment. Interim president Rob Watts is cognizant of the daunting and lengthy journey GPC students take to achieve their academic goals. Thus, Watts has focused much of his work on retention and graduation. Watts stated, “We want to ensure that students at GPC have the kind of experience here that makes them want to stay, graduate, and then transfer to complete their Bachelor’s degree.” A caring environment and responsive administration is important in creating a college experience that is conducive to student success and happiness. Nurse practitioner Suzanne Wetter and the Student Health Service department have contributed a considerable amount to the health sustainability of the student body at large since 2012, when they expanded their accessibility to every campus. The free clinics, and the mobile clinics in particular, have been a substantial benefit for students, particularly those who are uninsured

or lack transportation to visit doctors far from campus. Wetter added that although she’s proud of the progress, she’d especially like to “continue to increase access for students to health care [but] would like to have more staff to do that.” The passion with which each of the winners spoke about their service to the college is quite palpable. Humility and a desire for improvement were common themes within the recipients’ reactions to their awards. Although ecstatic about their wins, each recipient stated that they welcome new ideas because there is always room for growth. Mohr urges students to log onto gpcServes. com to complete a customer service survey after each interaction with a GPC employee. This lets her department know how to address areas in need of improvement. As she reflected on her own goals experiences, Mohr wanted to leave readers with some sage advice: “Try new and different activities – learn new skills – get involved. Find your passions. Most importantly take care of yourself. If you don’t take care of yourself, it is very hard to follow your dreams, serve others and be effective in the world.”

By Barry Switay Collegian Staff

he GPC Reads committee has chosen “Picking Cotton” as the book of the year to encourage students to want to read, according to Mary Helen O’ Connor, GPC Reads faculty adviser. Most of us have seen the “Picking Cotton” posters all over campus while on our way to class. Those who have taken the time to read the book probably recognize why the GPC Reads committee chose it this year. In case you haven’t had time to pick it up yet, “Picking Cotton” is the true story of a sexual assault on co-author Jennifer Thompson-Cannino and the wrongful conviction and eventual exoneration of co-author Ronald Cotton. Due mostly to Thompson-Cannino’s eyewitness testimony, Cotton was convicted twice in North Carolina and sentenced to life plus 54 years for a crime he did not commit. Cotton was then released after having served 10.5 years in prison. The book is divided into three sections. Thompson-Cannino’s story details her traumatic rape and the emotional struggle she faced in trying to find justice. She explains how difficult it was for her to find peace of mind in the years after her assault and the unfortunate reality that most around her were unable to grasp the nature of what she had and was still going through. Cotton’s story walks the reader through the events of his accusation and subsequent trial. He gives the reader a detailed picture of the struggle of prison life, and his difficult decadelong battle to gather the evidence that would eventually set him free. The final section of the book outlines the friendship forged between the two co-authors. While it paints a very intimate picture of rape, wrongful conviction and exoneration, the book is especially powerful because of the immense capacity for forgiveness that emerges from both the co-authors’ experiences. While both authors were harmed in ways that tragically impacted their lives, their courage and motivation to use their experience to help others is what ultimately makes the book a story of hope. When: Nov. 12, 2014 Where: R5 10 a.m.- Ronald Cotton will speak on the Dunwoody campus (NC-1100) R5 2 p.m.- Jennifer Thompson-Cannino and Ronald Cotton will speak on the Clarkston Campus (Cole Auditorium) NOTE: A book signing will follow this event. *No charge to attend this event.

Phot

COLLEGIANNEWS.COM

November 5, 2014

Features You're in the home stretch Tips on how to stay focused at the end of the semester By Evie Palmer Staff Writer

ost students can agree that we don’t have enough time. This is especially true if we have other obligations besides college classes. According to last year’s GPC records, the average age of a GPC student was 25! So, according to that information, it is highly probable that a good portion of college students have other responsibilities besides classes and studying. That is why it is very crucial that we prioritize our time, especially during this final stretch of the semester.

1. Make a list

To keep us on track, as simple as it sounds, we should write down our most pressing obligations, and finish those first. Then, once our primary goals are completed, we can start our secondary responsibilities. This will help us to avoid multi-tasking, which will enable us to utilize our time better, as we focus on one endeavor at a time.

2.No shortcuts

Shortcuts may seem helpful at the moment, but can hurt us in the long-run. For instance, it may seem more beneficial to rush through our course material, but if we don’t retain the information, we will have to review that same curriculum over again. So, we might as well take our time while studying in order to save time. Another specific example of “taking shortcuts” is cheating and breaking the Honesty Academic Policy. It may seem like a minor offense, but it can actually be detrimental to us students if we allow ourselves to compromise in this area. And, we have to remember that our main objective is not just completing the areas of study, but to grow in knowledge.

Limit social media

Avoid procrastination

In order to be more productive, we should be more intentional with our time on the Internet. Continuously looking at our phone, texting, checking Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, etc., can really add up! While we are studying or preparing for our final exams, it is important to keep our phones out-of-sight and out-of-mind, in order to have less distractions and to keep us on task.

Finally, to properly manage our time, we should avoid waiting until the last minute when completing an assignment or studying for a final. Procrastinating is not a smart decision because it doesn’t leave any room for something to go wrong. And trust me, things can easily go wrong! I have postponed obligations many times, and I have missed deadlines because I didn’t have time to adequately prepare, because I waited too long to get started. Although we can’t add time to our busy schedules, we can manage our time more effectively, so that we can keep our focus this semester.

Tasty Fall Treats By Sabrina Jamil Staff Writer

Butter Beer (influenced by "Harry Potter") Source: Food Network

Prep time about 5 min. Cook time about 3 min. R5 1/4 sweetened condensed milk R5 1/4 butterscotch topping R5 2 tablespoons of whipped butter R5 1 1/2 cream soda R5 whipcream (optional) R5 half a cup ice cubed or crushed R5 cinnamon and nutmeg (optional) Directions: 1. Mix the condensed milk, butterscotch topping, and butter together. Make sure to use a heat protected measuring cup for safety purposes. 2. Put the mixed ingredients in the microwave for 60 seconds. 3. Remove and stir till the butter has melted then combine with the mixture. 4. Heat the cream soda into another heatproof measuring cup for a minute 30 seconds. 5. Fill the cups with the heated cream soda and stir.

Oatmeal Pancakes Prep time about 5 min. Cook time about 25 min. R5 1 egg R5 1 teaspoon oil/lemon juice R5 apple oatmeal R5 recommended pancake mix R5 bananas R5 2 tablespoons of milk Directions: 1. Crack the egg combine it with the oats, oil/lemon juice, milk and bananas all into the mix. 2. Stir until the desired thickness appears but make sure to blend thoroughly. 3. Heat the skillet over mediumhigh heat 375°F. 4. For every one pancake, pour 1/4 cup batter into hot skillet.

Pumpkin Toffee Cupcakes Prep time approximately 10 min. Cook time about 2 hours R5 Pillsbury Pumpkin Toffee mix R5 3 eggs R5 half a cup of oil R5 1 cup of water R5 2 tablespoon of either regular or almond milk R5 butterscotch frosting desired amount Directions: 1. Crack the eggs, then put all the ingredients together (except the frosting) into the bowl. 2. Mix and stir the ingredients together for about 4 minutes. 3. Place the cupcake liners in the pan. 4. Meanwhile preheat the oven to 350°F. 5. Place about half of the cake mixture in the cupcake pan. 6. Place the pan in the oven for 20 minutes. Check the cupcakes. If need be, add 10 minutes. 7. Once the cupcake is finished let it cool about 10 minutes after that you can frost.

November 5, 2014

COLLEGIANNEWS.COM

Our Voice

"The course of true love never did run smooth..." (I.I.136).

Truman Griffin, Demetrius (far left) and Joshua V. Montague, Lysander (second to left) vy for Liza Monge, Hermia's (far right) attention, much to Jessie Kuipers, Helena's (second from left) disapproval.

GPC's groovy "A Midsummer Night's Dream" By Kezia Velista Collegian Staff

his fall semester, the Theatre Arts Guild at Georgia Perimeter College performed William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” They put an interesting contemporary twist to it by setting the scene around the 1970s instead of the original Ancient Greece era. The Cole Auditorium stage at the Clarkston campus was filled with dangling umbrellas and dim-lighting, prepared for this Shakespearean original. For those who haven’t read or seen any

performance of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” it’s a comedic play that has three interconnecting plots but mainly all ends up with the characters Theseus, Duke of Athens, and Hippolyta, the Amazon queen getting married. There are also characters Hermia, Lysander, Demetrius, and Helena. First, Helena was engaged to Demetrius, but he broke it off because he grew feelings for Hermia. However, her emotions aren’t mutual due to the fact that she is actually in love with Lysander. Hermia and Lysander’s love can’t be expanded, because Hermia’s father, Egeus insists on her marrying Demetrius. Egeus tells his daughter that she has to marry Demetrius, or else die as the conse-

quence. Hermia and Lysander plan to run away into the forest to elope. She tells her friend Helena about her plan, but Helena snitches and tells Demetrius in hopes that he’ll get close to her again. At the end of the play, one of the characters tries to convince the audience that it had all been a dream, which is why the play is titled, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” To be completely honest, the actors and actresses themselves were phenomenal. They knew their lines and did not once break character. I was actually amazed as to how great they were. To name a few, the student who played Hermia, Liza Monge, is a sophomore at GPC and this was actually her first time per-

Photo courtesy of Theatre Department.

forming with TAG. She was exactly how I’d hope the character Hermia would be. Ever Devereux, a theatre and psychology major, had an amazing way of showing her comedic talent playing Puck. On the other hand, I have to admit that if someone was coming in to see the show and has no prior information of this Shakespearean play, I can safely say it would be hard for them to understand what exactly the storyline is. Some scenes felt rushed and not as wellthought-out as they could’ve been. Overall, it was funny, as it was intended to be a comedy, with a handful of parts that made the audience laugh.

Jim Crow Laws still alive and well, an institutional system By Ruth Green Staff Writer

r o m “The N e w Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness” by Michelle Alexander: “More African Americans are under the control of the criminal justice system – in prison, or jail, on probation or parole – than were enslaved in 1850.” In 2010, Alexander wrote the aforementioned book. She discusses at great length how the old Jim Crow Laws are currently being

applied to American society under the guise of the “War on Drugs” movement. It began in America in 1982 and became the law of the land by then President Ronald Reagan and vehemently enforced by President Bill Clinton. Historically, Jim Crow refers to the institutional system of the separation of blacks and whites in America. It was not only a system of separation, but a system of oppression denying people of color the right to vote, and the freedom to live and work where they pleased. People of color had to use substandard public facilities for just about everything. Even in death, cemeteries were also segregated!

There was no phase of public life not affected by Jim Crow Laws especially in the South. Jim Crow is viewed by many to be the American system of “Apartheid.” It was designed and enforced by the U.S. Supreme Court, to keep “the Negro” in his place socially, politically and economically. In her book, Alexander writes in detail how becoming a felon relegates a person, particularly those of color to a status of servitude similar to slavery in the history of America. During slavery, Africans who were forced into slavery were denied all human rights. As a slave, a person was not able to make any self determining decisions, was sold, punished and killed at will.

One of the first things to be denied a convicted felon is the right to vote. Once branded a felon, it is very difficult to live a life with dignity. A person is denied access to social services, adequate housing, gainful employment becomes much harder than it is for the nonconvicted because few are willing to hire felons. Once the “Have you ever been convicted of a felony?” box on a job application is checked “yes,” the chances of being hired are significantly diminished. A summary posted on the website of the Center for Law and Justice states, “The impact of the drug war has been astounding. In less than 30 years the U.S. penal population exploded from around

300,000 to more than 2 million, with drug convictions accounting for the majority of the increase.” Alexander states in her book that this phenomenon occurred “… when violent crime was down.” How then have so many African-Americans ended up behind bars? According to NationMaster. com, the U.S. has more people incarcerated than any other country in the world. “The New Jim Crow” is a fascinating study of the current system in place and the active incarceration of poor people, particularly poor people of color. Alexander argues very convincingly that Jim Crow still exists and is in ways just as insidious as it was many years ago.

COLLEGIANNEWS.COM

November 5, 2014

Our Voice A small fish in a big pond: Learning lessons in Philadelphia Photos by Alice Murray and Farhin Lilywala.

By Hope Dickson Collegian Staff

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ndependence. Philadelphia. What do these two words have in common? As college students, we don’t always fully grasp the concept of what it means to be independent. The reason behind that is because we have spent so many years relying on other people: our family, friends, significant others, etc. But college is a new experience. It’s the chance to break free of the dependence of others and make a name for ourselves. It’s an opportunity to claim our names in this huge world. This past weekend, from Oct. 30-Nov. 1, Editor-in-Chief Farhin Lilywala and I had the opportunity of a lifetime. We were able to attend a College Media Association (CMA) and Associated Collegiate Press (ACP) Conference in Philadelphia, Penn. Some thousand odd miles away from home, this was a scary but exciting new adventure for me. I was Katniss Everdeen going into the arena. Ever since I was young, the only traveling experience I’ve had was going to 28 out of 50 states with my family. This time, I was without the people I loved most in the world. The “before” feelings for me were unbearable; I was terrified, yet excited. I didn’t know what to expect, being so far away from home, but I was thrilled at the opportunity for a new experience. As with any new experience, adrenaline coursed through my veins. From the plane ride to exploring a brand new city, this trip was an awesome

learning experience. Defined literally as “The City of Brotherly Love,” Philadelphia is one of the most historic and famous cities in the United States. It is the place where our founding fathers signed the Declaration of Independence; it is home to the Liberty Bell, “the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” the “Rocky” movies, the Original Philly Cheesesteak rivals ‘Pat’s’ and ‘Geno’s’, etc. This city is by far a city to learn from. We tried to fit all of the “Philly Experience” in a span of three days. Walking around this huge city for hours, around each corner was a quest. At the CMA conference, we learned how to better serve you, our readers, in getting you the news of Georgia Perimeter College. We want to give you material to read that can move you, excite you, and entertain you. We want to give you the college experience by letting everyone know of what is going on at Georgia Perimeter. One of the contests held was a “Shootout in Philly.” We had two days to capture Philly using the word “independence” into one picture. This was much harder than expected. We didn’t win, but we learned a different angle on independence. To me, I’m the baby bird that just left the nest. I found my adventurous side. I’m young and have yet to experience the true meaning of life. I’m alive and shouldn’t let anything hold me back from my purpose in this world. I am independent. Independence. Philadelphia. What do these two words have in common? The answer is: Me.

"Bourbon and ginger beer:" A day in the life of Nick Valencia By Farhin Lilywala Collegian Staff

n my wildest dreams, I did not imagine that I would have the opportunity to hear a live CNN reporter say, "Nick Valencia, CNN Atlanta." Nick Valencia says this phrase every time he ends a segment. I saw him say it about six to seven times on Sat. Oct. 26. Each time, it was surreal to think the man talking in front of me is on live cable TV. I thought if I was standing behind him at the time, then I would be in the shot too. Of course, I wouldn't and didn't do that. But alas, it was an incredible sight to witness. Valencia had to be on air at 6:50 a.m., so we were at the Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta headquarters bright and early at 6 a.m. with a cameraman and a producer. Although we didn't actually go inside the facility and just shot the footage from in front of the sign, we went through a full set of security measures due to the sensitive nature of the fa-

cility. Valencia and the producer apologized for the holdup, but honestly, I didn't mind. In fact, for the first time, I felt how it would feel covering a real broadcast story in the field. I have little experience in broadcast, which only excited me more to learn about it from a professional. Valencia was at the CDC site to report an Ebola update. According to the producer and Valencia himself, they spent the previous two days confirming sources and retreiving as much information as they could. In fact, Valencia wanted to report the story from a different angle, but sources could not be confirmed in time; therefore, the team quickly shifted gears and gathered information for the new story. At about 6:40 a.m., Valencia and his two-man crew began final preperations for the shot. The cameraman ensured the lighting was proper, Valencia put his makeup on, and the producer called into the control room to make sure the audio and video were clear. At 6:48 a.m., Valencia went live to do a brief teaser for the story to come after the little more than three-minute break. (A longer break than usual, said the producer).

After his first clip, Valencia went live once again at 10 a.m. and then again at 1:30 p.m. Generally, between these live shots, the team would bustle around, gathering the newest information available. In this specific scenario, however, there was no new information to be reported. So, there was somewhat of a lull in between the shots. Nonetheless, Valencia takes this time to catch up on other stories going on around the world, as well as writing quick packages. Valencia said, "Part of my strength is writing quickly and not just that but writing well." Although I had heard about the significance of writing well before, this was one of the few times I saw it in action. Shadowing Valencia for the better part of the day allowed me a glimpse of what a journalist, specifically a broadcast journalist, goes through on a daily basis. I sit in my newsroom, as "Ms. Editor-in Chief." In reality, I can't wait to be a journalist for the rest of my life, doing research and falling in love all over again with my first love: writing.

Photo by Farhin Lilywala. Valencia prepares for his 1:30 p.m. shot. The cameraman adjusts the lighting, since the Sun came out.

November 5, 2014

COLLEGIANNEWS.COM

Sports

Their Last Kicks

GPC Men's Soccer Team season ends with a tie to Darton State

By Ben Abrams Staff Writer

he end of the 2014 season for the Georgia Perimeter Jaguars can be summed up by two plays, during the 2-2 draw against Darton State Cavaliers on Saturday, Oct. 27. In the last minutes of the game, midfielder Chevaun Blake (#17) launched a potentially game-winning shot towards the goal that was out of Cavalier goalie Trevor Newton’s (#1) reach. The ball was misfired toward the top of the goal and ricocheted off the crossbar. Two minutes later, history replayed itself in front of the crowd as Blake’s second game winning attempt to score a goal ended with a similar result. After the game concluded three minutes later in the 2-2 draw, everyone departed the field with mixed emotions of pride and disappointment. When asked about his final thoughts, Krishan Patel (#10) said, “We’ve had a good season with 14-0-1. It was a first undefeated season for this school. We made history.”

The Jaguars finished the season with a record of 14-0-1 in the regular season, and 5-0-1 in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association (GCAA) earning the best record in the conference. The team also had its best season in school history with one of the top three best records in the nation for Division I Soccer in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). “We started a little slow, and then got back in the game,” Blake (#17) stated after the game. “It was our own mistakes. We missed a lot of opportunities, but we did overcome them. Unfortunately the game just finished that way.” The team would have been one of the favorites to win the national championship this year. However, the conclusion of this year will leave the team and their supporters with the question of what could have been, if the team had not been banned from playing in the postseason for the 2014 season. This is the result of the oneyear probation sentence the program is serving after the NJCAA

determined the school provided illegal benefits to certain players during the 2013 season. The game itself provided the audience with an ironic story that was a symbolic of the roller coaster of emotions the team went through this season. The trouble started for the Jags when the Cavs center midfielder Kevyn Macfarlane (#11) scored the first goal of the game in the tenth minute with an assist to forward Darwin Espinal (#10). The Jags would even the game seven minutes later when forward Patel (#10) knocked in his goal to tie the game 1-1. The two teams remained in a defensive battle for the remainder of the half until the whistle signaled for halftime. In the second half, Cavalier midfielder Matt Treumun (#5) scored in a rocket shot in the first hour giving Darton State the 2-1 lead. GPC then played the equalizer in the middle of the game as forward Anel Ramic (#13) tied the game at 2-2 with his goal. “We had some [opportunities] we gave away in the second half,

We had two sloppy goals we gave away, and we should have won easily,” said Patel reflecting on what made the difference for the game. “In the second half of extra time we hit the post twice and obviously it’s not been our day today.” During the two ten-minute session of over time the Jaguars found opportunities to end their historic year with a 15th consecutive victory. The team missed all of their opportunities from shooting at open nets to missing the goal when the ball hit the posts and the crossbar late in the game. However, GPC’s goalie Kekuta Jatta (#00) outperformed Trevor Newton from Darton state by having 12 saves in the game in contrast to 0 for Newton. After the final whistle blew, the teams shook hands, and the Jaguars walked back to the bench exhausted. There was some relief that the Jags had been able to save their perfect season with the tie. The Jags were also able to finish the season with a bittersweet and historic conclusion. For now the Jaguars will have

to get past their disappointment of this season’s emotional roller coaster, and begin to prepare for the 2015 season when they will have their postseason eligibility back. 12 of the 17 players on the team are freshman meaning the team could be seen as a favorite to be crowned the 2015 national champions. “It’s a shame we can’t go to nationals, but we can only move on now,” Patel explained with his gratitude. “I’ve met a great group of lads who hopefully can carry on next year, and good luck to all of them.” At the end of the day Coach Zagura summed up what the team’s mentality is as the 2014 season is placed behind them, “We’re done for now we just have to come back next year.”

Photo by Ben Abrams

Sports Briefs By Tosin Ogunnoiki Staff Writer

Women's Soccer The Lady Jags capped their 2014 season with a tough road loss against South Georgia State 5-1. Although the Lady Jags fell to losses in their last three games of the season, the team showed much momentum and talent moving into next year. Head coach, Bruno Kalonji, has a nice cast of returning experience. Freshman Defender Lindsey Davis, Goalie Aubrey Bush, and Forward Yvonne Miggins all look towards 2015 to shine and to improve upon the team's 2014 seasons. GO JAGS!

Men's Soccer Our very own GPC Jags finish the 2014 season strong with one that's sure to be in the history books. The Men's soccer team went undefeated for the first time in GPC's history ending the season off with a flawless record of 140-1. The last game of the season resulted in a draw 2-2 in a heated region match-up against rival soccer club Darton State. The top scorers, freshmen Forwards Krishen Patel and Anel Ramic, scored a goal each with both goals assisted by freshman striker, Reece Weldon. As the 2014 season draws to a close and the 2015 season approaches, Perimeter's young team and Head Coach Marc Zagara are eager to turn right back around to repeat a perfect season. Zagara boasts a hefty return of all but five players on the current roster, including star striker, Weldon, who led the entire (NJCAA) in game-winning goals.

Schedule Information provided by GPC Athletics website

Women's basketball 11/8- Clinton College, Rock Hill, S.C.: 2 p.m. 11/14-15- Gulf Coast Tournament, Panama City, Fla. 11/14- Chipola College, Panama City, Fla.: 5 p.m. 11/15- Gulf Coast State College, Panama City, Fla.: 2 p.m. 11/18- Southern Crescent Technical College, Griffin, Ga.: 5:30 p.m.

men's basketball 11/14-11/15- GPC Tip-off Tournament, Decatur, Ga. 11/14- Atlanta Metro vs. Gulf Coast State College, Decatur, Ga.: 5 p.m. 11/14- Lawson State Comm. College, Decatur, Ga.: 7 p.m. 11/15- Atlanta Metro vs. Lawson State Comm. College, Decatur, Ga.: 1 p.m. 11/15- Gulf Coast State College, Decatur, Ga.: 3 p.m. 11/18- Southern Crescent Technical College, Griffin, Ga.: 7 p.m.

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November 5, 2014