Saber VOLUME 65 | Fall 2020| Issue 1
THE
AWARD WINNING STUDENT NEWS SOURCE AT COLUMBUS STATE UNIVERSITY
Saber THE
Ashley Peterson, Editor-in-Chief Vivian Duncan, Office Manager Joe Miller, Faculty Adviser Luka Steele, Visual Editor Jade Thornton, Layout Editor Jessica DeMarco-Jacobson, Senior Copy Editor
EDITORS Macy Frazier Nastasia Rozenberg REPORTERS Destinee Williams Adrienne Baxter-McNeil VISUAL REPORTERS Eddie Sampson Vinh Huynh Tanasha Coleman Aaron George
EDITOR'S LETTER Pictured The Bay Gallery in the Corn Center, which has been repurposed as a space for sociallydistanced painting by Jade Thornton Contact For comments or inquiries: csusaber@gmail.com For advertising information: csusaberads@gmail. com 4225 University Ave. Columbus, GA 31907 Special Thanks To Gabriella Castleberry, Victoria Buchanan, Professor David Owings, Professor Ryan Lynch, Department Chair Christopher Whittey, Javaris Harris, Denise Stickney, Montavious Walton, Malik Gabeyre, Jessica Davis, Austin Slocumb, Grace Rawden, and Jon MacGregor Disclaimer Opinions expressed in The Saber are those of the editor or writer of the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of Columbus State University or its affiliates.
@TheCSUSaber @SaberCSU @ColumbusStateSaber 2 | The Saber | FALL 2020
Hello Students,
Here we are in another semester, and it is hard to know where to begin. We have been in a global pandemic for months now, and yet things continue to change every day. Mostly what I want to say here is that I am so proud of those faculty, staff, and students that have continued to raise their voices for the safety of our community. It isn’t easy, especially right now when there is so much to worry and think about, but please know that I hear you and appreciate you. On that note, please continue to act with the health of your community in mind. The Saber will be working mostly remotely this semester to limit the spread of COVID-19. I highly encourage everyone to continue wearing masks whenever you go out, and to go out as little as possible. To our essential workers, many of whom are college students, thank you. I am so sorry that you are in this position. We have some new, wonderful staff members to welcome, and they have put great work into this issue. I so appreciate their hard work and willingness to learn even throughout all of the uncertainty right now. The Saber will continue to write with CSU students in mind. We want to write what is interesting and important to you, so please let us know if you feel a certain subject isn’t being talked about enough. We exist to serve and inform the student body. Lastly, please understand that, even if you are mostly sitting at home right now, we are all going through the collective trauma of a pandemic. Even if it is not directly impacting you right now, it can have some kind of effect on every aspect of everyday life and it is natural to feel emotional about that. Please take care of yourself. The counseling center is offering virtual appointments at this time, and I hope you can take advantage of that if you need it. We wrote this issue with the information we had at the time, but circumstances can change very quickly and we are trying to adapt as things unfold. I hope you enjoy this first issue of the semester. Stay safe, cougars.
ash ley
C O N T E N T S •• VOL. 65 • FALL 2020 • ISSUE 1 AWARD-WINNING STUDENT NEWS SOURCE AT COLUMBUS STATE UNIVERSIT Y
4|ON CAMPUS FEES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
14|THE ART DEPARTMENT’S COVID-19 STRATEGY
CSU continues to mandate normal fees and rates for labs, studios, on-campus activities and amenities, and housing contract cancellation despite ongoing pandemic and limited campus accessibility
For a degree so dependent on hands-on instruction, Department Chair Whittey addresses how the Art Department plans to maintain a safe and capable environment
By Nastasia Rozenberg
By Vivian Duncan
6|CSU STUDENTS PLAN ON HAVING ‘THE TALK’ ON CAMPUS IN A LARGE PROTEST EVENT
16|THE SHOW MUST GO ON: COVID-19’S IMPACT ON THE THEATRE DEPARTMENT
Gabriella Castleberry and Victoria Buchanan unite to raise awareness on issues of racism in the world by hosting an event on campus.
CSU’s theatre department works to maintain a creative and productive environment for its students, as a majority of classes go online.
By Ashley Peterson
By Destinee Williams
8|DOCUMENTING COVID-19
18|TALE OF A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER DURING SHUTDOWN
CSU Archives take on a project to preserve this era
Denise Stickney recalls the events surrounding COVID and their effects on her businesses.
By Vivian Duncan
By Macy Frazier
10|PRIVATE COMPANY CORVIAS PRESSURES USG TO MAKE DORMS LESS SAFE
What it is, what it does, and how it works
By Jessica DeMarco-Jacobson
By Vivian Duncan
22|COMICS
20|CANNABIDIOL
On The Cover Student Javaris Harris looks up at Clearview Hall by Jade Thornton These Stories found within these 24 pages
FINANCES
On-Campus Fees During the COVID-19 Pandemic CSU continues to mandate normal fees and rates for labs, studios, oncampus activities and amenities, and housing contract cancellation despite ongoing pandemic and limited campus accessibility
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espite ongoing changes on campus brought upon by COVID-19 such as limited access to campus facilities and last-minute decisions about instructional format, CSU continues to mandate housing contract cancellation fees, regular lab and studio fees, and regular student activity and recreational fees. This pandemic has sent many students into a financial panic as they contemplate how to properly construct class schedules and living arrangements while monitoring mandated fees and potential refunds. Some concerns addressed by students were regular lab and studio fees despite limited access to these facilities, both during and outside of class times. Students also raised concerns regarding difficulties with the housing contract cancellation process due to cancellation fees and issues with cancellation form submission. With the state of the COVID-19 pandemic resulting in sudden adjustments and classes transitioning to a virtual or hybrid format each day as the start of the semester approaches, many students have opted to move out of oncampus housing to reduce overall academic costs. Certain classes, such as art studio classes, have arranged to present all lectures and instructional elements virtually while still allowing students optional access to studios and labs. This optional studio and lab access allows for the course to be coded as a hybrid course. If one class on a student’s invoice is coded as hybrid, despite instructional elements being remote while other classes are coded as virtual, CSU requires the regular fees that apply to face-to-face classes. CSU also mandates these on-campus fees if a student resides off-campus based on the class coding on their invoice. These fees include the activity, athletic, campus access, parking deck, health, and student rec center fees, adding up to a total of $577 per semester. Montavius Walton, sophomore Graphic Design and Cybersecurity major, believes “it isn’t fair that [students] have an athletic fee and student rec fee of $380 when all programs and parts of the rec center are limited or non-
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”I personally believe that CSU is opening exclusively for profit. It’s too soon to be opening schools.” existent.” Walton also expressed that student fees should have been reduced accordingly rather than remaining at normal costs because students are not “being offered a complete, normal semester.” Multiple students expressed personal dissatisfaction regarding limited access to and decreased hours for facilities due to the upcoming school year being “not a regular school year, far from it,” with students “being charged regular fees,” as stated by Malik Gabeyre, sophomore Biology and Pre Medical major. He continued by addressing the problem of being “charged $180 per semester for the student rec center that is now open for only three hours a day, and even worse, not every day.” Gabeyre doubted that “there will be anything athletic about fall 2020,” despite students being charged $200 for the athletic fee. He believes these two fees are “the biggest scams on [students’] invoices” and that the other mandated fees are also “a burden to students.” He expressed NASTASIA ROZENBERG
FINANCES
disappointment with expecting “an accredited institution like CSU to adjust invoices accordingly” but ultimately “forcing [students] to financially struggle.” Certain students conveyed their confusion regarding the lack of fee adjustments because “it is not [their] fault that the coronavirus is happening” and that a large percentage of the student body is unable to physically attend classes for various reasons, as stated by Jessica Davis, sophomore Painting major. Davis described these charges as “wrong and unjustifiable” because many amenities cannot currently be utilized. “Student rec fees should be optional because not everyone uses the rec center,” said Davis, as many students opt to live off-campus or opt to not utilize the student rec center during the pandemic. Art studios and labs are also accompanied by limited access this semester with reduced hours and capacity to follow COVID-19 protocol. Walton revealed that his invoice contains “an art lab fee of $200” with each studio class requiring a regular fee of $100 per semester, “plus an extra course fee of $60." However, he is able to attend class “only once a week because of the pandemic.” Davis also commented on her expensive studio fees, “yet [she] can’t even use the studios for most of the year.” “CSU is taking students’ money and making them think they are being helped when they are not teaching students or giving them their money’s worth” this academic year, said Davis. Davis concluded by stating, ”I personally believe that CSU is opening exclusively for profit. It’s too soon to be opening schools.”
Between August 1 and August 31, a housing contract cancellation fee of $800 applies towards students’ bills if they chose to cancel housing, as well as a forfeit of the $200 application fee and $50 activity fee, despite the current state of the pandemic and many classes continuing to transition to a virtual learning format during this period between August 1 and August 31. Austin Slocumb, sophomore Communications major, experienced the entirety of his classes transitioning to a virtual format last minute. “There’s no point in living in the dorm with classes suddenly being online. I also had to move out of CSU in 48 hours to avoid paying extra fees.” He also revealed difficulty with the ability to cancel his housing contract, saying, “I wasn’t allowed to fill out the housing contract cancellation form by the housing staff” at first. Peyton Avery, sophomore Biology major, claimed that “housing and professors should have worked together” to establish policies, procedures, and proper deadlines. “I wish that professors had shared their plans with us sooner so that we could prepare for online learning,” stated Avery regarding decisions related to housing and building schedules. Overall, these students revealed that they felt CSU has provided them with multiple inconveniences rather than services in exchange for these mandated fees. As expressed by Slocumb, “this virus has made student finances really difficult.” FALL 2020
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CAMPUS EVENTS
CSU Students plan on having ‘The Talk’ on campus in a large protest event Gabriella Castleberry and Victoria Buchanan unite to raise awareness on issues of racism in the world by hosting an event on campus.
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SU students Gabriella Castleberry and Victoria Buchanan are making plans to ensure that Columbus and the university campus continue the ongoing conversation on racial injustice and discrimination. Sophomore Digital Animation Major Gabriella Castleberry had the idea for an on-campus demonstration. Castleberry approached Senior History Major Victoria Buchanan with the idea because she knew that Buchanan would, “make time for whatever she needed to if it was meaningful.” Castleberry and Buchanan originally met during Panhellenic recruitment a semester ago. VICTORIA BUCHANAN
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Initially, Castleberry considered doing a march. However, she and Buchanan decided that a sit-in style event preceded by a march would suit their objectives better. The two students had many details to nail down before their projected protest date in September. They quickly reached out to the Dean of Students and made sure to get the event officially registered with CSU. The Talk, so named because it will be an opportunity for Black students and members of the community to speak and explain issues of race, is officially registered under the Black Student Alliance. The BSA was recently established and this fall will be its first semester on campus. Christian Haywood, BSA’s president, will be working with Castleberry and Buchanan to put on the event. Castleberry cited the Freedom of Expression Policy in the CSU Student Handbook as a part of their planning. The policy that ensures the rights of students to engage in freedom of expression activities in outdoor spaces so long as they do not interfere with the “other missions of the University.” Buchanan and Castleberry first heard about the policy during orientation where President Markwood explained the rights of students to have these kinds of peaceful demonstrations. “There’s no good time or place to have these conversations,” said
GABRIELLA CASTLEBERRY
“This isn’t just an event for Black people. White people need to attend as well; they need to learn and educate themselves."
ASHLEY PETERSON
CAMPUS EVENTS
Castleberry. “But at the end of the day, these conversations need to be had everywhere: in the workspace, at home, with friends or family.” Castleberry said that, despite the fact that there are many Black students attending CSU, they may not have many spaces where they feel comfortable. “When it comes to Black students, you only hear about Collegiate 100, Collegiate Women, NAACP, and the Divine Nine. One of [CSU’s] core values is inclusivity, but it needs to be an act and not just a statement of words.” The Talk will consist of a march around campus, followed by several speakers from the community. CSU Dynasty, the intramural dance team, will open the event with a performance. Nina Rollins, a student involved with many student organizations including Team 58, will be one of the speakers. “We just feel like she’s a really powerful speaker and is one student to make students sit back and think,” Buchanan said about Rollins. Stevon Lester will be another speaker. Lester is a member of SGA, the NAACP, and serves as the president of Collegiate 100. The Talk will also feature two spoken word presenters, Giovanni Thompson and Kayla Pipkins. Buchanan said that the two are planning to reach out to Black owned businesses throughout this week to confirm their involvement. They are still deciding whether that will include advertising the businesses or having them physically present. The Talk will be on Sept. 18 and will begin at 3 p.m. and end at 5 p.m. They also plan to have tables set up where students can register to vote. Per the flyer, social distancing measures will need to be followed, and attendees must be either students or guest speakers. MEDIA PROVIDED
Buchanan and Castleberry were both pleased with how smoothly the event is coming together. “The fact that it got approved and it’s going so well so fast, I think really proves that CSU wants to make sure they are inclusive for everybody in the school.” “I just want students to come out and know that this is a peaceful event,” Buchanan said. “This is for everybody, not just for Black students on campus. This is for everybody on campus to come and understand what the Black Lives Matter Movement is about. A lot of people don’t understand it, and think that if you say Black Lives Matter, that means their life doesn’t matter. That’s not what we’re saying in this situation.” Buchanan continued, “If we’re going to be at a predominantly white school as Black students, we need to feel comfortable at our school and that our school has our back.”
Castleberry affirmed this, saying, “This isn’t just an event for Black people. White people need to attend as well; they need to learn and educate themselves. We are still educating ourselves every day on our own community and where we come from.” She said they would not belittle anyone for not knowing everything, since Buchanan and Castleberry are still learning as well. Buchanan and Castleberry are both in sororities that are predominantly white, and Castleberry has heard sisters expressing that they wanted to get involved but didn’t know how. “This event is supposed to make them comfortable enough to come out and be a part of the community and engage with Black students,” Castleberry said. “And just say: Black Lives Matter. Yes, we know that all lives matter. We’re not saying nobody matters. But Black lives need a little more uplifting.” FALL 2020
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CURRENT EVENTS
CSU Archives take on a project to preserve this era
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he Documenting COVID-19 project was started by Professor David Owings, CSU’s archivist, and his assistant, Jessie Merrell. The archive, upstairs in the library, is an expansive collection of primary source material that mainly focuses on the history of Columbus and the Chattahoochee Valley. The archive holds items such as Civil War documents, information on companies like RC Cola and Aflac, as well as resources on the founding and history of Fort Benning and Columbus State University. These records serve as a repository for what life has been like for the people of Columbus for decades. “It is so important to document and preserve the present times we are living through,” Professor Owings explained. “As I tell my students in my classes, we as a people aren't always fully aware that we are living through history
“Think about the very moment we are in right now: most of us haven't been in quarantine for a long while now, but we are still living in an America many months away from a COVID-19 vaccine,” expressed Lynch. “How easily will these experiences and feelings be forgotten once a vaccine is developed?” The archive's mission for all times, but especially now, is “to preserve a portion of the past that often ends up forgotten.” A few weeks ago, Professor Lynch and Professor Owings did a story with WRBL news about the 1919 Influenza Pandemic and how many of the same events that people are experiencing right now with COVID-19 have already been experienced in Columbus over a century ago. In the article, the professors explain how history repeats itself, and how much we can learn from it.
"As I tell my students in my classes, we as a people aren't always fully aware that we are living through history as it is happening - that the moment we are living in is something that people are going to be interested in and want to know more about 5, 15, or 50 years -- or more! -- from now," as it is happening - that the moment we are living in is something that people are going to be interested in and want to know more about 5, 15, or 50 years -- or more! -- from now,” commented Professor Ryan Lynch of the History department, who is also helping with the project. The lives of CSU students hold examples of these historyin-the-making events, the bombing of the twin towers being one of the most obvious. “But of course, the current pandemic is also something that is going to interest future researchers for a long, long time, and those of us who are historians at CSU are very aware of this,” said Lynch. He further explained that we are living in an impactful moment during not just US History, but world history. As historians and archivists, the people who are working on this project understand the importance of documenting as much and as clearly as possible, to help future historians. This project will help further generations to learn more about “how we reacted to the need to mask, how parks closed, how we lost our jobs, how we ourselves became sick, how our family members died, [and] how the nation experienced these significant racial tensions in the midst of the pandemic.” VIVIAN DUNCAN
Because they know what it is like to use their archives to try to learn about the last pandemic that swept through Columbus, what they wanted to learn, and what pieces were missing, the archivists can create a comprehensive and complete documentation for the next archives faculty. “The blog posts we write about the feelings of our declining mental health in isolation, the first photos we take when we arrive to campus for the the first time in five months, a recording of an act of kindness from a nurse at St. Francis - will help future generations tell the stories of COVID-19,” said Lynch. “Those everyday things that we do - even if we don't think of them as ‘writing history’ - are exactly how historians write history.” “Anyone and everyone in Columbus and at Columbus State can contribute to the project, and we want to make sure that it is brought to the attention of our students, staff, and faculty. Our stories and experiences can become a lasting legacy for all of us, and our students have a very important role to play in that, too. Share your experiences with us; tell your story,” he says with his final thoughts.
PHOTO COLLAGE BY VINH HUYNH AND TANASHA COLEMAN
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HEAD
Private company Corvias USG to make dorms less s 10 | The Saber | FALL 2020
pressures safe
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n August 5, 2020, Dr. Corey Goergen, Georgia Tech professor of disability studies and 18th century literature, tweeted publicly about an internal document from the USG Board of Regents that revealed the relationship between private corporate entities and USG to be preventative of CDC-recommended measures for the upcoming Fall semester amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Student Kelly ONeal requested the letter through the Freedom of Information Act. FALL 2020
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G R A D U AT I O N
Residence halls are most at risk when they are open at full capacity, including shared spaces, and they are at a lower risk when those shared spaces are closed. One of those companies is Corvias, which entered a public-private partnership with USG in 2014 for $517M. The deal concluded that Corvias would “develop and manage student housing for nine campuses across Georgia for the next 65 years,” according to the Corvias News website. At the time, Corvias described its new relationship with USG as “a proven model that protects the program's interests and partners in all aspects of financing, providing funds for upgrades, modernization efforts and the replacement or completion of USG-mandated projects.”
CLEARVIEW HALL
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The agreement allowed Corvias to build almost 3,700 new beds on seven on the nine USG campuses, and they gained the responsibility of managing the new housing facilities for the 65-year partnership. A 2014 Georgia referendum allowed for USG to privatize some aspects of student life on campus, including dormitories and parking decks. CSU is one of the universities that is part of a 40year agreement. The partnership document allowed the construction of the 540-bed housing complex, Clearview Hall. The agreement strove for a “true first-year experience housing facility” and renewable energy initiatives. On May 29, 2020, BOR received a letter from Corvias asserting that BOR cannot “take actions that prevent students or have the effect of discouraging students from living on campus.” The letter to BOR also states that USG institutions cannot do anything that “materially interferes or negatively impacts Corvias’ operation and management of P3 housing.” In other words, the contractual language in the public-private partnership between Corvias and USG and the Corvias position letter from May prevent BOR from reducing room capacity. The internal document reveals that BOR would invite a “Corvias dispute and legal challenge” if they were to attempt reducing room capacity. The document also discusses the BOR’s unilateral decision to close all campus housing in Spring 2020. According to the document, Corvias did not cover or share in responsibility for this refund nor indicated a JESSICA DEMARCO-JACOBSON
CAMPUS LIVING
willingness to do so for Fall 2020 if housing is similarly closed for public health measures. The agreement between Corvias and USG does not require Corvias to provide refunds when on-campus housing agreements are terminated for public health reasons. Additionally, students cannot cancel housing agreements without a cancellation fee. If BOR attempted to make a unilateral decision to allow for students to cancel housing agreements outside of events permitted by Corvias, Corvias would likely legally challenge BOR. The Corvias letter is attached to the end of the internal USG document. The letter reinstated that BOR does not have the right to make unilateral decisions to prevent or discourage students from living on campus, nor does it have the right to limit the number of students in housing or reduce housing fees. The letter reminds BOR of their 40-year arrangement and suggests that BOR’s and Corvias’ interests should be aligned. The letter reminds BOR that the Concessionaire of Corvias went $548M in debt in an attempt to annul $311M of BOR’s debt, construct nearly 6,500 new beds, and to renovate 3,500 beds in total. The letter also states that Corvias intends to follow CDC guidelines “as closely as possible.” Corvias’ reading of CDC guidelines makes it so social distancing is not required between roommates because Corvias considers roommates to be housemates. Additionally, the letter states that Corvias “[does not] believe that [CDC guidelines] requires a reduction in the number of roommates...or the number of students that can be housed in a given building.” The CDC recommends that closed shared spaces such as dorms and communal halls add physical barriers between beds when they cannot be six feet apart. Residence halls are most at risk when they are open at full capacity, including shared spaces, and they are at a lower risk when those shared spaces are closed. The letter to BOR states that Corvias “believe[s] that a more appropriate course of action would be to do things like limit the occupancy and use of common JADE THORNTON
The letter reminds BOR of their 40-year arrangement and suggests that BOR’s and Corvias’ interests should be aligned. areas, shared bathrooms, and elevators.” According to Corvias, they are addressing the limitation of common areas already. Corvias added that limited oncampus housing does not benefit students or the University community because those students would have to occupy off-campus housing that may be more expensive or does not have the same public health procedures as Corvias in on-campus housing. Corvias has privated their Twitter account, and according to Twitter user @SarahLynneKline, their account has been locked since people started making complaints about military housing issues. On August 8, 2020, USG released a statement on ‘inaccurate media reports’ regarding Corvias. “On May 29, USG received a letter from Corvias, a company that manages campus housing for nine USG
institutions,” reads the statement. “The letter stated the company’s expectations for campus housing capacity and financial payment for fall semester, notwithstanding the COVID-19 pandemic.” “No USG institution factored Corvias’ demands into its campus housing plans for Fall 2020,” the statement continues. The plans had already been submitted, nor did Corvias’ letter cause any change, according to the statement. While stating that no individual institution considered the Corvias letter, the USG statement does not note if USG themselves took it into account. “USG has been and remains committed to the essential importance of health and safety for students, faculty and staff,” concludes the statement. “The system continues to follow guidance from DPH, CDC and the Governor’s Coronavirus Task Force.” FALL 2020
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The Art Department’s COVID-19 Strategy For a degree so dependent on hands-on instruction, Department Chair Whittey addresses how the Art Department plans to maintain a safe and capable environment
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ike many of the departments at CSU, the Art Department is having to reinvent their teaching to both keep students and faculty safe in the context of COVID, but while retaining the same quality of instruction. In an effort to maintain social distancing measures, some classes have had to be split between in person and online instruction. According to Christopher Whittey, the Art Department Chair, this results in half of the students meeting with the faculty on one day of the week while the other half meets with their mentors on the other day. The classes that are less hands on, such as Art History, are being offered 100% online. “But imagine the difficulty — if not the impossibility — of teaching something like Ceramics or Sculpture online,” he said, echoing a lot of art student’s concerns about this semester.
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The creative solution the art department has come to is, for example, to move half of a ceramics class into spaces not typically used as classroom areas. Part of the student lounge is being used in this way. This allows for social distancing measures to be implemented, ensuring that each student can be taught six feet apart even without being in the large lecture halls that some other departments are using. The components that are determining which classes are in person, split, or otherwise are the numbers of enrolled students and the size of the space. In other words, the art department is making instructional decisions based on the population density, much like there are now customer limits for businesses based on their square footage. When asked about how easy it would be to implement these social
distancing measures, Whittey responded, “The next time I see anything easy regarding C-19 will be the first time.” This response portrays the difficulty in trying to figure out how to manage a department during the pandemic and get it ready for the semester while there are still so many moving pieces and uncertainties about the virus. Whittey explained that one of the most disheartening and exhausting parts of this process has been having to ask so much of his faculty over the summer. One of the expectations of all faculty is that they must be practicing scholars as well as professional artists, so the only block of uninterrupted time they have to do this work is over the summer. “The contradiction, then, is that we say to the faculty: you need to produce your work and now you are VIVIAN DUNCAN
ART
"the next time i see anything easy regarding c-19 will be the first time." ART MAJORS GRACE RAWDEN (RIGHT) AND JON MACGREGOR (BELOW) WORK IN THEIR PERSONAL STUDIOS
losing the time to complete said work,” he explained. “Having said that, and this is absolutely key for me, I have not heard so much as one complaint from any of the faculty in the Art Department. Not one, in this extreme, uncertain, and utterly draining period. As I have said by now an endless number of times, now with four separate institutions of higher learning on my resume, that this is the most inspiring and dedicated group I have worked with. As difficult as this period may have been for me personally, it would have been endlessly more trying were this not the case. And I so appreciate it,” he said of his colleagues. The art faculty back’s Whittey’s efforts to keep everyone safe. “My biggest worry is everyone’s health and safety,” commented Hannah Israel, an Art professor who is teaching Professional Practice and Thesis Exhibition JADE THORNTON
in person. “ I told my students that we all need to be transparent and communicate if they’re not feeling well physically as well as mentally. These are sensitive times and mental health is in the forefront of my concerns.” Despite the stresses of the summer, Whittey retains hope for this semester. “My hopes for the future are and have always been for the students and for the quality of the education they receive at this wonderful institution. I always send handwritten notes to supporters of our department and often say that their generosity helps provide futures for our talented students that they might not otherwise have,” he said. “This is the work we do at CSU, all of us. My hope is for the future of this next generation of cultural producers and scholars. So much rides on that, now more than ever.” FALL 2020
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T H E AT R E
The Show Must Go On: COVID-19’s Impact on the Theatre Department CSU’s theatre department works to maintain a creative and productive environment for its students, as a majority of classes go online.
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s Columbus State University returns to campus this fall, students within the theatre department may notice a shift in instruction methods, as faculty and staff work to follow CDC recommendations during the COVID-19 pandemic. While classes shift to maintain social distancing guidelines by offering hybrid and online classes, Dr. Lawrence Dooley, chair of the
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theatre department, expressed that several changes are being made to theatre classes and performances to ensure student’s safety. One of the most notable changes within the theatre department this fall is the cancellation of the production season. In an email sent out to students before the start of the semester, Dr. Dooley informed students that Columbus State University, along with several other
local theatres, will be postponing the production season until spring, during which the possibility of continuing production will be re-evaluated. “Our productions have always been the lab for what takes place in the classroom. The place where we put study into action," Dr. Dooley said in the statement. "Not having a regular public theatre season means that we will have to find new and creative ways
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of applying our art. Many such ways have already been suggested, and individual classes will work on ways to make this happen throughout the semester,” he added. Although there will not be a production season, the department plans to have inhouse performances, with the audience consisting of mainly professors and students, in place of public performances. Many classes this fall semester will be moving 100% online at the request of many faculty, staff, and students. More collaborative classes such as scene shop, lighting and sound, and dance will be taught in-person and in a hybrid format. In such cases, masks are a requirement, and classrooms will be marked off to adhere to social distancing guidelines, allowing students to remain at a distance of six feet. The safety guidelines being put into place throughout the MACY FRAZIER
"I feel like in theatre classes, especially, it is hard to be productive without being face-to-face." department also largely impact how theatre students interact with each other and their professors. Interactions will be limited to ensure that students are safe and healthy. Traditional convocation, an event designed to encourage interaction and engagement in the theatre department, has also been canceled. However, the department is looking to the students to find creative ways for all of the department to interact virtually. Student engagement also changes as new challenges, as many students demand that a majority of classes be moved online. Despite the department’s efforts, many students have expressed concerns about attending in-person classes.
Concerns about returning to campus arise among students throughout the theatre department surrounding safety, and efficiency of classes in an online format. Storm Cole, a sophomore theatre education major, expressed that she was worried about student-teacher interaction. “I feel like in theatre classes, especially, it is hard to be productive without being face-toface. However,” she continued. “I am looking forward to seeing what new and innovative ways they incorporate our curriculum.” As the semester starts, classes will remain in flux, shifting online as deemed necessary. The department encourages students to stay alert and look for virtual events to get involved. FALL 2020
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LOCAL BUSINESS
Tale of a Small Business Owner During Shutdown Denise Stickney recalls the events surrounding COVID and their effects on her businesses.
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s many Columbusites quarantined to keep their loved ones safe, small business owners struggled to find ways to sustain themselves and their employees. Denise Stickney, owner of Vertigo, the Black Cow, and Smoke Bourbon and BBQ, recalls that her financial losses started even before the shutdown. People began hearing about the outbreak and avoided crowded areas like restaurants and bars. The dip in sales increased when large downtown events, like the concert series, were cancelled. Several businesses closed their office spaces and employees worked remotely. With the decreased traffic on Broadway, Stickney decided to close down Smoke Bourbon and BBQ during the shutdown and only open Vertigo and the Black Cow for to-go options. Stickney recalls that although the shutdown was difficult, customers continued their support. “Even though our sales were extremely [low], people were coming just to make sure that we knew they wanted to support us. I think at just about every restaurant that stayed open, the employees were getting tips like they had never seen before, and it was for to-go orders.” Customers promised to keep coming back. Stickney said that “Many days in the beginning I was in tears because I felt that love and support.”
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The small business community downtown also kept in contact with one another. Owners would call to check in and to compare hours and business strategies to stay open during unprecedented times. Stickney recalls that this network was a large source of support for her. When the CSU dorms closed, several student employees at Stickney’s businesses had to find places to stay in order to continue working. Some of them were able to find friends to stay with while others had to leave their job to go home. The financial fallout during the shutdown also caused Stickney to have to make some difficult decisions. She explained, “It was devastating to our income because that’s when we had to decide who would stay on payroll and who would get laid off.” A couple members of the management team were so invested in their work that they continued working even after Stickney informed them that she would not be able to pay them. All employees that were temporarily laid off were offered their jobs back, but the businesses are far from recovering. Since reopening, Stickney’s businesses have implemented several measures in accordance with CDC guidelines so that customers will have a safe MACY FRAZIER
LOCAL BUSINESS
“Even though our sales were extremely [low], people were coming just to make sure that we knew they wanted to support us." dining experience. In addition to the mask mandate, there are several sanitation stations around all businesses. Each one also has a hand washing station outside in case customers are uncomfortable with going inside. Employees wear shirts with messages about staying safe, such as one that says “wash your hands” three times in a row and another that says “standing together 6 feet apart.” Stickney has also ordered numerous sanitation products to place at individual tables. Vertigo, the Black Cow, and Smoke Bourbon and BBQ are all open for dining again, but all locations are still down about 30% in sales. Stickney explained that until large events return to downtown and surrounding areas, “we’re going to continue hurting.” VINH HUYNH
DENISE STICKNEY
FALL 2020
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cannabidiol cannabidiol What it is, what it does, and how it works
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VIVIAN DUNCAN
H E A LT H
what it is The CBD market has been predicted to hit $20 billion by 2024, according to Forbes. Yet, only 5% of Americans know what CBD is and how it works, according to a survey conducted in 2016. New CBD stores continue to pop up around Columbus, making information about CBD useful. CBD stands for cannabidiol, the second most prevalent of the active ingredients of cannabis, otherwise known as marijuana. However, the CBD oil you find in stores or in medical marijuana is actually derived from the hemp plant, a close relative of the marijuana plant. By itself, it does not cause the “high” typically associated with marijuana. According to a report from the World Health Organization, “In humans, CBD exhibits no effects indicative of any abuse or dependence potential... To date, there is no evidence of public health related problems associated with the use of pure CBD.” All 50 states have laws legalizing CBD with varying degrees of restriction. CBD products are legal in Georgia, with the exception of CBD in foods, beverages, animal feed, or dietary supplements. The Georgia Hemp Farming Act, passed in May 2019, formally legalized CBD products that contain 0.3% THC or less. THC, known in the scientific world as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, is the compound responsible for producing the “high,” so because hemp plants, unlike marijuana plants, have very trace or no amounts of this at all, the resulting CBD products do not have intoxicating effects.
what it does The most significant research done to date on the effects of CBD oil shows that it works for those who experience seizures. Epidiolex is a CBD oral solution that was approved by the FDA in 2018 to treat two rare forms of epilepsy—Lennox-Gaustaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome. According to scientists, the CBD helps suppress seizures by slowing down messages being sent to the brain, changing calcium levels in brain cells, and decreasing inflammation in the brain. Other applications include managing anxiety, PTSD and cancer side effects. Additionally, significant results from some studies have convinced many researchers, such as Integrative Medicine Specialist Melinda R. Ring, MD, executive director of Northwestern Medicine Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, believes that CBD oil “could be a powerful tool in helping individuals seeking help for addiction.” This is because its inhibitory effect may help manage triggers for cravings and anxiety in people who use addictive substances. AARON GEORGE
There are also studies that have tested the validity of CBD’s effectiveness with other ailments. A study in the European Journal of Pain used an animal model to see if CBD could help manage arthritis pain. Their researchers noted a significant drop in inflammation and signs of pain, without additional side effects. The same report studied CBD’s effectiveness when it comes to treating chronic pain. The research again concluded that there is substantial evidence that cannabis is an effective treatment for chronic pain of all sorts. Both of these claims are also backed up by a separate study in the Journal of Experimental Medicine. In these studies, subjects were found to not build up a tolerance to the effects of CBD, so there would be no need to increase dosages in the future.
how it works The human body is home to what is called the endocannabinoid system. It is a fairly recently discovered part of the biological system, having only been discovered in the 1990s. Being a complex system, there is still much unknown about how it works and what it affects. What researchers do know, though, is that it impacts appetite, sleep, mood, and memory. The endocannabinoid system has three components that already function regardless of whether someone uses CBD: receptors, enzymes, and endocannabinoids. They are a regular part of normal body function. The receptors in this system are responsible for governing pain, appetite, memory, mood, inflammation, and coordination. Interestingly enough, researchers believe that CBD does not attach itself to the receptor as many other medicines or substances would. Rather, it influences the receptor in some way that “activates” it, allowing for the health benefits that people associate with the compound.
the takeaway Some CBD manufacturers have come under government scrutiny for wild, indefensible claims, such that CBD is a cure-all for cancer, which it is not. We certainly need more research, but CBD may be proven to be an option for managing anxiety, insomnia, and chronic pain after sufficient high quality human studies have been performed. Because CBD is currently mostly available as an unregulated supplement, it can be difficult to know exactly what you are getting. If you decide to try CBD, read any labels on the products thoroughly, and talk with your doctor to make sure it will not affect any other medications you are taking. — if for no other reason than to make sure it won’t affect other medications you are taking. FALL 2020
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COMICS
JESSICA DEMARCO-JACOBSON
NASTASIA ROZENBERG
"Linda expected a graduation gift in her last semester at CSU, but instead received a bill for several fees!" 22 | The Saber | FALL 2020
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