Volume 65 | Fall 2020 | Issue 3

VOLUME 65 | Fall 2020| Issue 3

Saber 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 GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Tanasha Coleman Aaron George

EDITOR'S LETTER Pictured A view of the River Center by Vinh Huynh Contact For comments or inquiries: csusaber@gmail.com For advertising information: csusaberads@gmail. com 4225 University Ave. Columbus, GA 31907 Special Thanks To Luka Steele, Grace Diamond, Chelle Leary, Emily Moore, and Sofia Colon-Ortiz.

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.

Hello Students,

I hope you enjoy our October issue! As you can see, our publication is still called The Saber - but we are working on that. As you may have seen in our previous issue or on our social media, we have discovered the unsavory origins of our publication’s name and are dedicated to changing it.

Thank you so much to everyone who reached out to weigh in on this issue.

Our current goal is to debut a new name for the Spring 2021 semester. This gives us time to pick a great new name (and we are still open to suggestions for that!) and take care of the more tedious changes that go with that. Thank you so much for your patience, and as always we have open ears.

Additionally, I am extremely happy and grateful to announce that The Saber won the 2020 Pacemaker at the online Associated Collegiate Press Convention this weekend! This award is considered the Pulitzer of college press, and I could not be more thrilled for our staff. We received this honor for our March 2020 issue. I would also like to share that both our Layout Editor Jade Thornton and our Visual Editor Luka Steele have received honorable mentions for cartoon of the year! I could not be more proud of the work that our staff has done.

Now, this issue is a little different. The Saber staff is fully embracing October and all of its Halloween goodness.

The holiday is a favorite of ours and we are so excited to be able to offer some fun and creative content this month.

That being said, please stay safe this haunted season.

The global pandemic continues to loom over us, and it is the responsibility of each person to make sure they are protecting themselves and anyone else they come into contact with. Luckily, we have some solutions for a safe Halloween in, as well as some mask-oriented costumes!

Take some time to have fun this month. Midterms are hectic and this entire year has been rough on students and faculty alike, but it is important to set aside time for yourself.

Along with everything else, please VOTE. It is a small, passive action that should be accompanied by others if you are looking for real change, but it is an important one nonetheless.

Stay safe, cougars.

ash ley

@TheCSUSaber @SaberCSU @ColumbusStateSaber 2 | The Saber | FALL 2020

C O N T E N T S •• VOL. 65 • FALL 2020 • ISSUE 3 AWARD-WINNING STUDENT NEWS SOURCE AT COLUMBUS STATE UNIVERSIT Y

4 |RIVERPARK HEALTH CLINIC REMAINS CLOSED

10 | GHOST STORIES FROM THE FOUNTAIN CITY

13th St Piedmont Urgent Care has still not reopened, leaving Riverpark students without a clinic within walking distance

Some experiences of paranormal activity in Columbus, GA, from CSU students and faculty.

By Vivian Duncan

By Jessica DeMarco-Jacobson

5 |TRICK OR TREAT: IDEAS FOR USING LEFTOVER CANDY DURING THE HALLOWEEN SEASON

12 |THE GHOST OF WILLIAMS MILL

Columbus Residents can prevent waste by using leftover Hallween candy to create recipes, crafts, and by donating treats to charities.

A short illustrated story about a visitor to the Williams Mill and the ghost haunting it.

By Destinee Williams

By Aaron George

6 |SAFE HALLOWEEN ACTIVITIES

16 |COVID COSTUMES

Ways to celebrate Halloween without having to go to a big party

A list of Halloween costume ideas that incorporate face masks

By Macy Frazier

By Nastasia Rozenberg

8 |SABER HALLOWEEN COLLAB

17 |HALLOWEEN COLLAGE

By Saber Staff

By Nastasia Rozenberg

On The Cover Student Luka Steele, dressed as a witch, poses with a pumpkin by Vinh Huynh These Stories found within these 20 pages

Riverpark health clinic remains closed 13th St Piedmont Urgent Care has still not reopened, leaving Riverpark students without a clinic within walking distance

I

n March, at the height of the pandemic, the Piedmont Urgent Care on 13th St shut its doors indefinitely, and Riverpark students are concerned.

This Urgent Care was the primary health center for most downtown students, after the Riverpark health center was turned into an advising center in 2018. It was within walking distance of all of the dorms and lecture buildings, and the student needed only to sign their name and 909 number upon arrival.

Any student, Main Campus or Riverpark, could use the Urgent Care as one of their four clinic visits per semester.

“Honestly, the health center downtown was better than the Main Campus clinic, mainly because we used to actually have an Urgent Care!” says Grace Diamond, a CSU Senior Riverpark student “…[It] was really great because we didn’t have to make appointments, and we were typically seen right away.”

Diamond recently went to the Urgent Care to get an ailment checked, but was dismayed to find a closed sign on the door, indicating the indefinite closure.

“My main complaint is the fact that no one informed downtown students that the Urgent Care had been closed since we were sent home and not opened back up,”

4 | The Saber | FALL 2020

she said. “I was angry because main campus requires appointments, and I didn’t have time for that.”

With only eight women taking care of the entire university population, appointments are necessary at the main campus clinic.

Since the Urgent Care on 13th St is run by Piedmont, and not CSU, they have their own separate rules and scheduling procedures, including welcoming walk-ins.

This has proven particularly advantageous to Riverpark students, and most have exclusively used the Urgent Care, rather than going through the hassle of making an appointment and driving to Main Campus.

A sign on the doors of the closed Urgent Care suggests going to the Piedmont Urgent Care at 7301 Blackmon Rd instead. However, this location is a ten minute drive from downtown.

The Saber has reached out to Health Services and Public Relations for more information on the situation for health services on Riverpark, including when they expect to have a resource downtown again, what caused both the original closing of the Riverpark health center, and the closure of the Urgent Care in March. This article will be updated when we receive comment.

VIVIAN DUNCAN

ASHLEY PETERSON

FOOD

Trick or TREAT: Ideas for Using Leftover Candy During the Halloween Season Columbus Residents can prevent waste by using leftover Halloween candy to create recipes, crafts, and by donating treats to charities.

DESTINEE WILLIAMS

E

TANASHA COLEMAN & DESTINEE WILLIAMS

ach year after Halloween, once trick or treating has ended, families find themselves with what seems to be a surplus of candy and no idea of how to eat it all. Often, the unused candy goes to waste. Instead of throwing out leftover sweets or letting them expire, citizens of Columbus can repurpose the candy using alternative methods that are both festive and environmentally friendly.

Trick or Treaters can make use of unused candy by creating imaginative Halloween-themed baking recipes and crafts. Columbus residents can also call local charity organizations to donate their unwrapped candy.

Recipes: Festive recipes, such as candy bark and monster cookies, are just a couple of delicious ways of repurposing leftover Halloween candy. Candy Bark, which is made of a thin layer of chocolate, includes fruits, nuts, and candy.

A variety of chocolate sweets can be used to create this snack, including chocolate chips, white chocolate candy bars, sprinkles, and candy corn. Using frosting to create a frightening face or a monstrous smile can also add a creepy element to the finished product.

Another popular recipe is Halloween Monster Cookies.

Making spooky and colorful cookies can be a great use of leftover candy corn and Reese’s Pieces, as well as a fun activity for family and friends to do together. Baking cookies is a great way to spend this Halloween indoors, as well as cleanout last year’s inventory of leftover candy.

Arts and Crafts: This holiday season many students and their younger family members will be staying inside. Using the remaining candy to make edible and creative arts and crafts projects is a great way to fill the time. The dye from sweets such as Skittles and Jolly Ranchers can be used to create watercolor paint that smells delicious. To create candy-flavored paint, separate the sweets according to color and let them soak in water.

Carving and decorating pumpkins is a traditional Halloween activity. Candy can be used in a variety of ways to add decoration to frightening Jack O-lanterns. Candy corn can be used to create a fang-filled smile, and rolledup black lickerish can be used to make haunting eyes.

Donations: For those seeking a less wasteful method of disposing of a surplus of candy, donating sweets to local charities can be beneficial for the entire community, as well as for those in need. Columbus residents can visit the website for Operation Troop Treats, a dentist-sponsored charity that donates candy to deployed soldiers and first responders, to contribute to a charitable cause. Other options include the online site Any Soldier, where donors can choose a specific branch of the military to ship candy to, along with other goods.

FALL 2020

| The Saber | 5

LIFESTYLE

Safe Halloween Activities Ways to celebrate Halloween without having to go to a big party

W

hile it may be disappointing to not be able to celebrate Halloween in large gatherings this year, there are several alternative activities that can be just as festive.

Stage a Haunted Photoshoot This Halloween is the perfect excuse to stage an elaborate photoshoot with the people in your small social bubble. Find an area in or around where you live and decorate it like a photobooth. The discount section of Target has really cheap Halloween decorations that you can utilize for your booth.

For the sake of this article, my roommate, Chelle Leary, and I used three thumb tacks to secure a light blanket to the wall with some orange and purple lights. Utilize 6 | The Saber | FALL 2020

lamps or other lighting sources to create the mood of your shoot.

Dimmer light such as a candle can give your photos a mystical feel. Also make sure to dress up in whatever way makes you feel good. You can put on anything from a costume to your favorite outfit.

The most important factor is to have fun while taking photos. Traditional poses are great, but if you challenge yourself to experiment with your environment, you may just find something you love.

Take Some Time to Learn about Samhain Perhaps you have heard the word “Samhain” in popular shows like Outlander or Chilling Adventures of Sabrina; however, it is a real holiday still observed today. Halloween traces its roots to the Celtic celebration of Samhain, pronounced “sah-win”.

Oct. 31 is the midpoint between the fall equinox and the winter solstice.

This is believed to be the time during which the veil between the living and the dead is thinnest; ancestors can commune with the living, but the living must also be wary of dark spirits. This Halloween happens to fall on a full moon, so in keeping with the spirit of Samhain, be sure to wear a black crystal for protection. This little blurb hardly does Samhain the justice it deserves, so if you’re interested in learning more, find a documentary to watch with your small social bubble on Samhain this year.

full moon picnic A full moon on Halloween only occurs about once every 19 years, so take advantage of that! Treat yourself to some of your favorite food and bring it with you to a park.

Spread out a blanket and hangout under the full moon. Make a playlist for yourself to listen to while you stargaze. Wherever you go, be sure to stay safe and aware of your surroundings, or bring a friend!

MACY FRAZIER

LIFESTYLE

find fun treats to make One fun indoor activity is making treats with your roommates. Grocery stores have stocked up on several different kinds of Halloween cookie dough. If you want to do something more creative, look up some Halloween recipes. More traditional Halloween treats include variations of caramel apples or popcorn balls, but you can find several fun recipes out there that have Halloween themes like cake pop eyeballs or crescent mummy hot dogs. You can make anything though; you do not have to limit yourself to only Halloween treats.

Make whatever makes you happy!

halloween movie marathon with roommates Have some fun with your roommates and watch Halloween movies together. Take some time to talk to each other about the movies you would watch around this time of year as a kid, and revisit those. Old Disney channel movies like Twitches or Halloweentown would make a great movie night. You can also branch out and watch some new

movies. If you are feeling particularly adventurous, watch some horror movies. Older slasher movies tend to be easier for the people to start on, since movies like any of the ones in the Scream series or the Halloween series do not deal with the paranormal.

Many of the older effects help the viewer separate themselves from the events occurring.

stock up on discount candy Most stores sell Halloween candy at a discount starting on Nov. 1.

Although this is not on the actual day, it can still be fun. Venture out to Walmart as pirates and take home your candy plunder. A few days after Halloween, Rite Aid discounts their candy up to 75% off. If you want to get candy on or before Halloween, several stores are selling candy in bundles that are still decently priced. Walmart and Target have whole aisles of Halloween candy bundles. Check them out and see what you find!

FALL 2020

| The Saber | 7

H E A LT H

EDDIE SAMPSON, JADE THORNTON, AARON GEORGE

8 | The Saber | FALL 2020

JESSICA DEMARCO-JACOBSON

H E A LT H

ASHLEY PETERSON NASTASIA ROZENBERG, JESSICA DEMARCO-JACOBSON, LUKA STEELE, ASHLEY PETERSON

FALL 2020

| The Saber | 9

COMMUNITY

Ghost stories from thefountain city

Some Experiences of paranormal activity in Columbus, GA from CSU students and faculty

T

he city of Columbus, Georgia was established in 1828. With its historic cemeteries, abandoned textile mills, and dark Confederate past, Columbus has its share of ghost stories and myths. Any theatre kid who attended the Springer Opera House Academy will tell you it's haunted by the famous 19th century stage actor Edwin Booth, the older brother of John Wilkes Booth. The Civil War Naval Museum also boasts its own collection of ghosts who haunt the halls and artifacts.

Here are some of the stories of paranormal activity from different parts of the city:

"I saw the outline of a man in a top hat running towards me."

Emily Moore,

Music Education Major When Emily was living in the Rankin with her roommates last year, some strange things happened to them.

“I had a binder fall off of my desk and land three feet away,” said Emily, “And no one had touched it.” Emily and her roommates also remember hearing someone rummaging through pots and pans in the kitchen one morning at 6:30 a.m.. When Emily and her roommates went to check out what was causing the noise, nobody was to be found.

“There were multiple occasions where chords would be moved around the room at random times after not being touched for a long time,” Emily continued. “We ended up giving our little ghost friend a name: Leroy.”

When Emily and her roommates went to check out what was causing the noise,

nobody was to be found.

10 | The Saber | FALL 2020

Chelle Leary,

BFA Performance Major and Dance Minor One winter night in 2019, Chelle was working as the assistant stage manager of “Cinderella” at the Springer.

During rehearsals, she took the elevator down to exit out of the Saloon every night. She always felt like she was being watched.

“On this path, I would turn and be able to see down the service hallway into Folley Hall,” said Chelle. “One night, I turned to exit [and] I saw the outline of a man in a top hat running towards me. So, naturally I ran across the street into my Rankin dorm. I kept on saying that I was just tired and that's all it was until I was talking to some friends swapping stories and their story matched mine completely right down to the top hat.”

JESSICA DEMARCO-JACOBSON

HEAD

Sofia Colon-Ortiz, Psychology Major

"and then we hear a scream," Sofia and her two friends, Connor and Vivian, visited the Water Shiloh Cemetery in Columbus, GA, when they were around 14-15 years old.

“I don’t think many people even know about Water Shiloh. It’s kind of hidden, but it’s wayyyy bigger than you’d expect,” said Sofia. “It’s at least like 10 acres of cemetery. And it’s old as fuck, too. There were graves dating back to the Civil War. A General is buried there.”

“The most recent grave is from like the 1930s,” continued Sofia. “There was a grave of a five year old girl who had died of the Spanish flu in the 1910s near the front, and the grave closest to the entrance always has fresh, real flowers.”

When the three friends first started exploring the cemetery, they were having fun, laughing, and enjoying their time together. As they continued their journey, they noticed a section of the cemetery located near the back, filled with above-ground crypts and ornamental black fences.

Sofia was feeling a sense of dread as soon as she saw this section of the cemetery because it was so different from the other sections. She told her friends how she felt, and they explained that it was just the area for upper-class, older people. Sofia wasn’t convinced.

The three friends continued exploring the area even though Sofia felt like she was on the verge of an anxiety attack the entire time.

“And then we hear a scream,” said Sofia. “Me and my friends just kinda looked at each other, and they laughed it off.” Sofia tried to get her friends to leave the cemetery, but they insisted on exploring, partly because one of her friends brought a camera to take pictures of the graves.

“Then another scream. And another. And another,” recounted Sofia. “It ends up sounding like that part in ‘Catching Fire’ where they’re in that section of the arena where they hear their loved ones screaming all around them.”

Sofia decided to get out of the cemetery despite her friends staying. Because she was in a panic, she was getting lost in the huge cemetery.

“I end up finally getting out, and the one gate to get in and out deposits you on a sidewalk right next to some houses,” said Sofia. “And there’s a lady playing with her kids in the front yard of the house closest.”

Sofia’s friends came out of the cemetery right after her.

“I’m Puerto Rican, and we don’t play with that brujeria stuff,” explained Sofia. “I practice witchcraft, but I do all light stuff, and I refuse to do spirit work. I definitely think it played into me being more aware and cautious because I was more well-versed in what spirits are actually capable of.”

"then another scream. and another. and another."

ASHLEY PETERSON

FALL 2020

| The Saber | 11

AARON GEORGE

FASHION

Covid Costumes A list of Halloween costume ideas that incorporate face masks

A

s Halloween approaches and festivities ensue, many students are contemplating costume choices and matching masks. This year, face masks take on a new importance in relation to safety, but many costumes can easily include a face mask that ties in with the character. By getting creative with how you choose to style your look, you can stay safe and protect others while still wearing your favorite costume. Here is a list of ideas for Halloween costume ideas that incorporate face masks:

ӹ ӹ ӹ ӹ ӹ ӹ ӹ ӹ ӹ ӹ ӹ

Ninja Genie Mummy Witch Skeleton Pumpkin Nurse/Doctor Superhero Crayon M&M's Fast Food Employee

Mask-Wearing Character Masks are made with different characters’ facial features on them, such as Darth Vader or Jason Vorhees. Choosing a mask as the focus of the costume allows you to find more simple clothing that you may already have lying around, like all-black to match Darth Vader or black jeans and a brown jacket/sweatshirt like Jason Vorhees.

16 | The Saber | FALL 2020

cowboy/cowgirl

animals Find a face mask with a matching animal pattern, such as tiger stripes for a tiger, or find a mask with the animal’s features on it, such as a cat’s nose and whiskers.

Choose a bandana patterned face mask or add fringe to a plain face mask

devil/angel Choose a red or white mask to match and decorate it with sequins for an extra touch

disney characters Similar to an animal costume, many masks are made with Disney characters’ mouths. If you own Minnie or Mickey ears, pair them with a matching face mask.

face paint Costumes with face paint, such as a clown or Sally from “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” can still be worn even with a face mask! Buy a cheap mask and wear it as you apply your face paint so that the mask blends in with your makeup.

celebrity Recreate a celebrity’s face mask look, such as Lady Gaga from the VMA’s.

Simple face masks can also be dyed or decorated with fringe, lace, beads, sequins, and rhinestones to match the theme of any costume. If you prefer to not wear a costume but still want to stay in the Halloween spirit, opt for a Halloween themed face mask, such as a mask with a Halloween pattern, fall color, or Jack O’Lantern print. Treat your face mask as an accessory for your costume to make the creative process of putting your look together more fun. Stay safe and stay spooky!

NASTASIA ROZENBERG

NASTASIA ROZENBERG & AARON GEORGE

october collage Take a break from studying and get crafty! Create a spooky collage with these October and Halloween-themed images.

NASTASIA ROZENBERG

FALL 2020

| The Saber | 17

Saber THE

Saber THE

Saber THE

Saber THE

Saber THE

Saber THE

Saber THE

Saber THE

Saber THE

Saber THE

Saber THE

Saber THE

Saber THE

Saber THE

COUGAR y op C CENTER DAVIDSON STUDENT CENTER, 1ST FLOOR COUGARCOPYCENTER@COLUMBUSSTATE.EDU P: 706.507.8630 | F: 706.507.8262

We are a full-service student copy center dedicated to meeting the printing needs of students and student organizations at affordable prices. Our staff is committed to providing excellent customer service and are ready to assist you.

Whether big or small, come see us for your next project!

BLACK & COLOR COPIES • FAXES • LAMINATION SCANNING • BUSINESS CARDS • POSTERS BANNERS • RESUMES • BROCHURES • INVITES ANNOUNCEMENTS • THESIS PRINTING FLYERS • HANDOUTS • TICKETS ADDRESSING • PROGRAMS •AND MORE! WWW.COLUMBUSSTATE.EDU/PRINTSHOP

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Saber THE

Find us online at

csusaber.com