Saber VOLUME 65 | Fall 2020| Issue 4
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 REPORTERS Destinee Williams Adrienne Baxter-McNeil VISUAL REPORTERS Eddie Sampson Vinh Huynh GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Tanasha Coleman Aaron George
EDITOR'S LETTER Pictured A Thanksgiving's meal for one by Vinh Hyunh Contact For comments or inquiries: csusaber@gmail.com For advertising information: csusaberads@gmail. com 4225 University Ave. Columbus, GA 31907 Special Thanks To Jessica DeMarcoJacobson, Micheal Tullier, Jennifer Joyner, Angelica Acosta, Dr. Joshua May, Professor Amy Taylor, Professor Demetrius Dukes, Micah Courtland, Silvia Beltran, Isabel Herrera, Ian Dooley, Hannah Wikaryasz, and Thai Johnson. 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,
Welcome to our last issue of the semester. It is hard to believe that we have spent an entire semester in a pandemic, but here we are. We are still in the process of finding a new name — we welcome any and all suggestions. Our great hope is to debut a new name in the spring, but we want to make sure we do it right. The end of this year and the beginning of the next are very important as far as our state and our country goes. Joe Biden is the President-Elect of the United States and Kamala Harris is Vice President-Elect, a historic first for Black and Indian women in the White House. Georgia showed up and surprised everyone by turning blue, thanks to the efforts of organizers across the state, like former gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams. Especially when the political climate is so tumultuous, I urge our readers not to be led astray by misinformation. Check your sources, check the facts, and make sure you are sharing truth rather than lies. You can do this by reading multiple news sources across the political spectrum. Another huge election coming up is the January runoff, with two Senate seats up for grabs, along with the Public Service Commission. Please register to vote and make a plan like you did for the general — the runoff could result in a flipped Senate, so please show up for this important election. I have included among the following pages an article detailing important dates and how to get an absentee ballot. In more local news, I am extremely pleased to announce that our Senior Copy Editor Jessica DeMarco-Jacobson will be taking over as Editor-in-Chief in the spring. I will be stepping down from the position for my final semester at CSU, and I will instead assume the role of Social Media Manager. It has been such a pleasure to be in this position for as long as I have. I truly believe that this publication, under whatever name it goes by, will continue to shine a light on the struggles and triumphs of our community. Jessica has been so incredibly involved in The Saber and I am very happy to see her at its helm. Thank you so much for such a wonderful tenure, and I hope you all stay happy and healthy. Signing off,
ash ley
@TheCSUSaber @SaberCSU @ColumbusStateSaber 2 | The Saber | FALL 2020
C O N T E N T S •• VOL. 65 • FALL 2020 • ISSUE 4 AWARD-WINNING STUDENT NEWS SOURCE AT COLUMBUS STATE UNIVERSIT Y
4 |DECEMBER 2020 GRADUATES 8 |“PANDEMIC DEPRESSION” MEETS WILL HAVE A DRIVE-IN GRADUATION ITS SEASONAL COUNTERPART Commencement on Dec. 12 at the Columbus Civic Center will include all 2020 graduates in a drive-in graduation.
How the Covid crisis could cause an uptick in holiday blues
By Macy Frazier
By Adrienne Baxter-McNeil
6 |ARAMARK’S TIES TO THE PRISON-INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
10 |SPENDING THANKSGIVING ALONE: 4 TIPS TO KEEP YOU OCCUPIED DURING THE HOLIDAYS
How the American foodservice company is fueled by incarceration
This Thanksgiving, many people may find themselves spending the Holiday season isolated from the rest of their families and in need of tips and tricks about how to cope.
By Jessica DeMarco-Jacobson
By Destinee Williams
8 |GEORGIA SENATE RUNOFFS: WHAT TO KNOW
12 |PROJECT ARIA
By Ashley Peterson
By Macy Frazier
Three CSU departments collaborate to create unique masterpieces during the COVID pandemic.
On The Cover Student Jessica DeMarco-Jacobson sits at the head of the table with a Thanksgiving meal by Vinh Hyunh These Stories found within these 16 pages
G R A D U AT I O N
December 2020 Graduates will have a Drive-In Graduation Commencement on Dec. 12 at the Columbus Civic Center will include all 2020 graduates in a drive-in graduation.
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iscussions have been taking place since May about how to provide an in-person graduation ceremony while implementing safe social distancing procedures. Executive Director of Marketing & External Relations Michael Tullier said, “We know we’ve kind of kicked the can down the road for the spring and summer graduates, but we want to try to find a way to mark that event and milestone in their lives.” Assistant Vice President for Alumni Engagement & Special Events Jennifer Joyner reached out to several other universities when trying to figure out what to do and recounted that “when I called them, no one knew what they could do, and so every institution has evolved on their sites what fits for their community, facility resources... and what we thought the students would be interested in doing.” Several focus groups comprised of CSU students were assembled to discuss graduation ideas. Joyner explained that faculty wasn’t really involved because “our heart is with the students and what they wanted to see from their ceremonies.” Several ideas were thrown around, but after the success of the Homecoming drive-in movie on Oct. 23, 2020, a drive-in graduation appeared to be the best
“We have to think about the health and safety of everybody; not just the student, but we want to try to be as student-focused as possible.” 4 | The Saber | FALL 2020
possible choice. This was partially inspired by the annual Homecoming parade as well. “We want people to decorate their cars; we want to give this a little bit of a parade feel because that [and] honking horns, [is] going to be the outward expression that people have to celebrate their graduates,” Tullier explained. Cars will need to be decorated before arrival in a way that will not obstruct anyone’s view, and cars will only be allowed to occupy one space, so trailers and limos will not be permitted. One of the main factors keeping this event in accordance with CDC guidelines is that everyone will be required to stay in their cars. The only exception will be if someone needs to utilize the on-site restroom or the ones inside the Columbus Civic Center. Another interesting detail about this event is that multiple graduates will be allowed to occupy the same car, assuming that they are a part of the same small social circle. Joyner explained, “You won’t be in order as you have been in the past by degree. You’ll check in in your cars, however many [graduates] are in your car, they’ll scan it so that your names will go in that order, and then they’ll read the names in [that] order.” A large screen will also be present so that attendees have a clear view of what is happening. They will also be able to tune into the Civic Center’s online radio band or watch the livestream from their cars. A recording will also be made available after the ceremonies. Other ideas about graduation were proposed, but many of them were not possible due to safety concerns. Tullier explained that some “students may say, ‘oh, well, UGA is MACY FRAZIER
G R A D U AT I O N
doing this; Kennesaw State is doing that,’ but it’s all in the context of what we can do to provide safety.” He also mentioned that students have suggested walking across the stage to receive their diploma from President Chris Markwood; however, this idea would not work because then he would come into contact with every graduate, making it an unsafe idea. “We have to think about the health and safety of everybody; not just the student, but we want to try to be as student-focused as possible.” Graduating senior Samantha Kepley raised some concerns about having a ceremony amidst rising cases. She felt less wary after hearing some of the regulations that are going to be in place, but expressed a wish that this information had been better communicated to the seniors who are planning to attend the ceremony. Conversations are still being had about how to recognize specific groups of students that had previously been recognized by standing and specific cords. Student focus groups highlighted that one of the things about commencement that was important to them was being recognized for the hard work that they had done throughout their time at CSU. “I hope it comes together the way we all envision it to come together, and that the students enjoy it, and that AARON GEORGE
“I hope it comes together the way we all envision it to come together, and that the students enjoy it, and that it could even be a model for other universities going forward.” it could even be a model for other universities going forward,” commented Joyner. Tullier added that “it gives us a chance to reimagine a bit and dream a little bit… how we can bring people back together in a safe way.” For more information and specific details about the ceremony, visit the Drive-In Graduation FAQ webpage or email graduation@columbusstate.edu. FALL 2020
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FOOD
Aramark’s ties to the prison-industrial complex How the American foodservice company is fueled by incarceration
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ramark Corporation is an American food service company that is the exclusive caterer to CSU. In addition to providing the food for the main campus and RiverPark campus dining facilities, Aramark also services the PODs on both campuses. In the past year, the company has come under criticism after allegations of fueling the prisonindustrial complex. For those that are unfamiliar with the PIC, it is a term used to “describe the overlapping interests of government and industry that use surveillance, policing and imprisonment as solutions to economic, social and political problems,” according to the Empty Cages Collective. For context, Aramark also provides food services to provide meals for correctional facilities—including inmates and correctional officers. Aramak designed a program for inmate rehabilitation called In2Work vocational training. According to the company, this training helps create “a path for former offenders to successfully reintegrate into society…[by] teach[ing] offenders the fundamentals of working in a food service, retail or warehousing environment.” Some have criticized that Aramark’s ties to the prisonindustrial complex can provide incentive for them to perpetuate incarceration because they receive monetary gain from servicing correctional facilities. For example, in December 2013, Aramark made a three-year $145 million contract with the Michigan
Department of Corrections in order to provide food services to the state’s 43,000 prisoners. Once Aramark became in charge of the state’s correctional facility food services, they cut the pay of kitchen employees in half to approximately $11, and they also discontinued some of the safety training programs. In 2015, Michigan ceased its contract with Aramark after instances of “unsanitary conditions, food shortages, and unauthorized substitutions” along with other food quality issues, according to In the Public Interest. Because Aramark profits from deals and contracts like these, they may be perpetuating the already staggering US incarceration rate—which is the highest in the world. And when BIPOC are incarcerated more disproportionately than whites, that raises concerns about Aramark’s role in the prison-industrial system as a whole. One former inmate, Kevin “Rashid” Johnson, served time in the Indiana Department of Corrections and wrote an article about his first hand experience with Aramark’s food services. He reported only getting two hot meals a week, a cold lunch, and one vegetable per day. Johnson remembers losing “over 10 pounds in the brief time” at IDOC’s Reception and Diagnostic Center. Johnson also reported that one of his fellow inmates, Earlie Berry Jr. was unable to receive meals free of peanut and soy, even though he was deathly allergic to those ingredients. Aramark allegedly refused to serve him real meat to replace the fake meat they were using despite a doctor’s order for the diet, so Berry sued the company. The
Some have criticized that Aramark’s ties to the prisonindustrial complex can provide incentive for them to perpetuate incarceration because they receive monetary gain from servicing correctional facilities. 6 | The Saber | FALL 2020
JESSICA DEMARCO-JACOBSON
FOOD
Aramark seals a 110 million dollar contract with Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.
There were reports of maggots infestation in the Aramark food in Ohio’s prisons. Later, Aramark was fined for similar cases. .
Inmates sue Aramark for uncompensated prison labor.
SEPT 2013
Aramark closes a 145 million dollar deal with Michigan Department of Correction for food services.
JUL 2015
Michigan Department of Correction ended their contract with Aramark for quality and sanitation food issues.
JUN 2014
JUN 2020
United States District Court in the Southern District of Indiana entered a preliminary injunction in Berry’s favor that ordered Aramark to ensure him “a diet free of soy and egg products for all meals.” Michigan and Indiana aren’t the only states that have had issues with Aramark’s food service quality in prisons. 21 WFMJ, a news source from Youngstown, OH, reported maggot infestations in eight different Ohio prisons in 2014. According to 21 WFMJ, three of these eight confirmed cases were reported after Aramark made a $110 million contract in September 2013. The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections fined Aramark for $272,000 for these instances. TANASHA COLEMAN
DEC 2013
In addition to these complaints, Aramark has also been the subject of other controversies involving unethical behaviour, sexual harassment, drug smuggling, employee misconduct, and even rocks inside prison food. In an article by PBS news reporter Kamala Kelkar, Aramark’s history prompted national protest and march against the company. The University of Georgia, another school in the University System of Georgia has a “self-supporting” dining service. Other USG schools like Kennesaw State and Savannah State, among others, use food service companies such as Sodexo Inc. and Thompson Hospitality, respectively. FALL 2020
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P O L I T I C S / H E A LT H
“Pandemic depression” meets its seasonal counterpart How the Covid crisis could cause an uptick in holiday blues
Georgia Senate Runoffs: What to know ASHLEY PETERSON
O
n January 5, 2021, Georgia will hold its senate runoff election. This runoff is especially important, as there are two senate seats up for grabs rather than the usual one. Whoever wins these seats will become the senators for Georgia in the United States Senate, giving them the power to approve or reject presidential appointees to executive and judicial branch posts, to ratify treaties, and to work in conjunction with the House of Representatives to make decisions in Congress. Republican David Perdue is squaring off against Democrat Jon Ossoff, given that neither of them managed to gain 50% of the vote during the general election. The same is true for Republican Kelly Loeffler and Democrat Raphael Warnock, who will also be vying for a senate seat in January. The runoff could determine the makeup of the senate, given that Democrats currently have 48 seats and Republicans 50. If Democrats score these last two seats, Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris would cast the tiebreaking vote and likely give control to the Democrats. The deadline to register new voters is Dec 7. The secure online portal ballotrequest.sos.ga.gov requires voters to submit their name, date of birth, county, and either their Georgia driver’s license or official state identification number. Nov 18 is the earliest date a registrar can send out ballots. Early voting begins Dec 14. If a Georgia citizen is currently 17 but will be 18 by the election, they are eligible to vote in the runoff election.
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I
n an average year, approximately 5% of Americans experience Seasonal Affective Disorder, according to the American Psychiatric Association. This condition, often called seasonal depression, has a winter variant characterized by an increase in depression symptoms as a result of sparse sunlight, and some believe it may be on the rise this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Isolation and stress are two main inciters for SAD symptoms, and both are greatly increased by new social requirements. Beginning April 23, the Household Pulse Survey explores the socioeconomic impact of coronavirus by questioning its effect on education, employment, food security, housing and more. The U.S Census Bureau is the designated agency conducting the survey in collaboration with the National Center for Health Statistics, the Economic Research Service, the National Center for Education Statistics and other such organizations. Because a larger amount of people may be alone this winter, HPS statistics have been used to examine the possibility of an even greater increase in depression this season. According to a study published in JAMA Network Open, after the start of the pandemic, three times as many Americans showed enough depression symptoms for a probable diagnosis. Those most likely to suffer were those struggling with job loss, financial distress or the loss of a loved one. Those with less than $5,000 in savings were 50% more likely to see an increase in depression symptoms than those with more financial security. This point can be transferred to the college demographic as, according to CNBC, only 5% percent of Americans aged eighteen through twenty-four have over $5,000 in their savings. The Journal of Adolescent Health analyzed HPS data from the month of June. This dataset ADRIENNE BAXTER-MCNEIL
H E A LT H
Isolation and stress are two main inciters for SAD symptoms, and both are greatly increased by new social requirements. contained nearly 5,000 participants between the ages 18 and 26. 59% of surveyors experienced direct or household job loss, while 38% felt they might experience direct or household job loss in the near future. One possible explanation may be that “young adults often work in industries most adversely affected by lockdowns and are not amenable to remote, work-fromhome arrangements.” This entire demographic saw an increase in symptoms of anxiety and AARON GEORGE
depression. The additional possibility of seasonal symptoms could exacerbate mental health issues they may already be facing. However, the HPS contains only a subset of adapted questions from industry recognized questionnaires and therefore, must not be taken for true diagnoses. Secondly, the survey did not ask about participants’ preexisting mental health symptoms. Nonetheless, the Journal of Adolescent Health believes that prior studies have produced enough
results on the connection between job insecurity and mental health that added variables should not affect that connection. The third phase of the Household Pulse Survey is set to end on December 21. Some ways to cope with seasonal depression are to expose yourself to the sunlight near windows, wake up early, exercise, meditate, and establish an activity routine sooner rather than later in order to combat the lack of motivation as the cold sets in. For treatment, counseling, and therapy students can contact the Counseling Center at CSU, which is still accessible in spite of the pandemic. FALL 2020
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THANKSGIVING
Spending Thanksgiving Alone: 4 Tips to Keep you Occupied during the Holidays This Thanksgiving, many people may find themselves spending the Holiday season isolated from the rest of their families and in need of tips and tricks about how to cope.
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his Thanksgiving, as the country continues to deal with COVID-19, many students and professors may find themselves isolated from immunocompromised family members. Spending the holidays alone seems daunting; however, activities such as decorating your house, hosting a virtual dinner party, or spending time outside can make Thanksgiving alone more enjoyable.
decorate your space Decorating for the holidays creates a welcoming and familiar environment. Adding festive fall decorations to your home or apartment is a great way to occupy your time alone as well as get into the holiday spirit. Decorate using fall colors such as orange, red, and yellow or add decor such as garland and fresh flowers. Including seasonal scented candles such as pine is also a great way to create a more festive atmosphere. “When I found out I would be spending this Thanksgiving by myself, I was upset,” said Angelica Acosta, a sophomore in the early education program, when asked about spending the holidays alone. “But I realized I could do fun things like decorating my house to get me into the holiday spirit, and I now have something to look forward to.”
A meal for one Spending a holiday that is traditionally marked by a tasty dinner and time with family by yourself can be disheartening. Although you are spending this holiday season alone, Thanksgiving can still include a mouthwatering dinner and a delicious dessert for one. Occupy the time by cooking yourself a meal, comprised of all of your favorite foods. Incorporate traditional Thanksgiving food or less conventional food such as pizza. The menu is completely up to you.
Host a virtual dinner Being unable to physically meet friends and family does not mean that you have to spend Thanksgiving alone. Although going to in-person events is not possible this year, you can still host a virtual dinner party. Send the RSVP link to your family in advance, setting up a time and day for you and your family to meet. Sending the link before Thanksgiving will give you enough time to make adjustments so that everyone can participate in the festivities. During the meeting, you can cook together, watch a movie, talk, or play a game, all from a safe distance. This is a great way to socialize while also remaining safe. DESTINEE WILLIAMS
VINH HUYNH
Treat yourself All of the virtual event planning and socializing during the holidays can often become stressful. Spending the holiday alone is a great time to take a mental health day. This Thanksgiving put your focus towards relaxing activities such as reading, drawing, taking a walk, or even napping. Going outside and getting some fresh air can also be a great way to relieve stress. Try having a picnic-style dinner in your backyard, or do an outdoor activity like yoga. There are plenty of ways to enjoy Thanksgiving by yourself! FALL 2020
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HEAD
Project Aria
THE LONG TIME AGO QUARTET AT FLAT ROCK PARK
Three CSU departments collaborate to create unique masterpieces during the COVID pandemic.
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rts students everywhere have struggled to find ways to perform and display their work since traditional venues have been closed or limited, and performance opportunities have been cancelled. However, classes have continued, and professors and students alike have had to come up with creative ways to display progress in their performance-based classes. Over the summer, Dr. Joshua May viewed several student projects from the College of the Arts and was fascinated by what professors were still able to do with their students despite the pandemic. He opened a dialogue with Assistant Professor of Dance Amy Taylor and Assistant Professor of Art and Animation Demetrius Dukes about how they could combine their creative endeavors to bring their students together to produce something beautiful and unique for the community. These meetings birthed Project Aria. Each professor selected one of their upper level classes to participate. These students were broken into groups, and each group received an aria to bring to life using their art form.
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“I envision it as an artistic narrative that shares all of the disciplines in a really unique fashion,” explained Dr. May. “We’re going to feel the sense of liveliness and core of the heart of each aria through the designers, dancers, and singers.” Dr. May arranged for several meetings in which the students assigned to each aria were able to share the work they had been doing individually and have group discussions about how those elements would fit into their final work. These meetings included opportunities for Opera students to share the translation of their pieces. Professor Taylor mentioned that these meetings “really helped move along the choreography and overall choreographic process.” “We created movement to express how we felt and to show a story through dance,” commented sophomore Theatre student Micah Courtland on the dance element of the project. Professor Taylor distributed arias to dance composition students based on how long they were. Longer arias were assigned to two dancers. “I just randomly paired people together that I thought would be
good collaborators,” commented Professor Taylor when asked about how she chose who would work together. “I wanted to challenge the students to work with a genre of music that they may not have been naturally drawn to and may not have worked with before.” Junior Nursing student Silvia Beltran noted that being assigned a piece was difficult for her. “We’re usually the ones that choose our own music, so it’s usually one that inspires us or what we’re driven to, and it was very challenging to find an inspiration in something that you’re not used to dancing… but I ended up really enjoying it.” When dance composition students encounter creative blocks or need some inspiration, they are encouraged to listen to songs in another genre of music. Cortland commented, “For me it was a hip hop song or something like that to get in my mind something fresh, some new movements… and then translating that back into the aria." Animation students were tasked with providing the backdrop for two of the arias. “Our contribution to the music project was to bring the music MACY FRAZIER
A R T S A N D E N T E R TA I N M E N T
“We’re going to feel the sense of liveliness and core of the heart of each aria through the designers, dancers, and singers.” STILL OF SEGUIDILLA ARIA
or the song to life in a non-narrative way, so we tried to experiment more with both dancing as well as abstract shapes,” commented Senior Animation student Isabel Herrera. Sophomore Animation student Ian Dooley explained, “One of the elements that we decided to implement was the use of motion capture. We actually got one of the opera students in a mocap suit which basically can translate their actions into the digital space, [and then] we can then use [it] in the project.” Graduate Music student Hannah Wikaryasz got to wear the motion capture suit, and she commented that this was one of her favorite parts. Herrera commented that this was also one of her favorite parts because “how she felt in a dancing way while she sang really showed.” Professor Dukes explained that he enjoyed having this opportunity for his students, “I’ve always been challenged with figuring out how to encourage STILL OF SEMPLICETTO
MEDIA PROVIDED
my students to move away from nonlinear and commercial renditions of animation… getting them to really experiment.” He added that some of his favorite parts of the project was seeing some of the first few drafts, and telling them to try again to see what they would come up with. Opera students already have a process by which they research and stage their arias, but this project opened them up to other perspectives on their pieces as well. Their part of the project culminated in a live recording with a pianist in Legacy Hall. Graduate Music student Thai Johnson enjoyed seeing how his ideas and the ideas of the animation students helped create an entirely new idea of the aria. “We have our own concept of what the piece is supposed to be for ourselves, and then when we meet with our collaborators… they have a completely different idea,” Johnson shared. “The animation studio came in with this amazing
HANNAH WIKARYASZ AT LEGACY HALL
idea; it was along the same vein of thought of what the character was doing, but just [took] it to a completely different level that blew my mind… Here I am just standing, singing about witches and magic and stuff, and [they’re] creating this whole fantastical universe.” One of the challenges of this project was the more abstract nature, but Dr. May noted, “I think taking this in an abstract way really brings forward a new medium and a new idea about what opera can be today.” Project Aria will be live streamed via Schwob. The premiere date will be set soon. To access this livestream, refer to the QR code on the poster on the following page. Other performances will be released as a monthly series starting in January, leading up to a live performance by the Opera Workshop class next semester. FALL 2020
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