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AUGUST 12, 2020 · VOL. 34 · NO. 32 · FREE

Back to School Part 1

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FLAGPOLE.COM | AUGUST 12 , 2020

this week’s issue

contents

WHITLEY CARPENTER

Property Management Investment Properties Rentals Buying Selling

GoJoiner.com

706-549-7371

United Campus Workers of Georgia staged a die-in with students, faculty and staff outside President Jere Morhead’s office, protesting the university’s opening plans. See feature on p. 6.

This Modern World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 NEWS: City Dope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Fill the Dorms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

NAACP Confronts BOE; Athens Goes Green; Cottages on Carr’s Hill?

Curb Your Appetite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

NEWS: Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Trouble in God’s Country . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Pub Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

COVID Comes to College

Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 NEWS: Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

What You Missed This Summer

Sudoku . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Crossword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

MUSIC: Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Threats & Promises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Film Highlights Music Scene

Record Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Bulletin Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR & PUBLISHER Alicia Nickles

Art Around Town . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

EDITOR & PUBLISHER Pete McCommons PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Larry Tenner

Hey, Bonita! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

ADVERTISING SALES Anita Aubrey, Jessica Pritchard Mangum

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE SITE PLANNING & ENGINEERING COMMUNITY SUPPORT

CITY EDITOR Blake Aued ARTS & MUSIC EDITOR Jessica Smith OFFICE MANAGER AND DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Zaria Gholston CLASSIFIEDS Zaria Gholston AD DESIGNERS Chris McNeal, Cody Robinson CARTOONISTS Lee Gatlin, Missy Kulik, Jeremy Long, David Mack PHOTOGRAPHER Whitley Carpenter CONTRIBUTORS Bonita Applebum, Chris Dowd ,Lily Guthrie, Charlie Hayslett, Dan Jackson, Gordon Lamb, Jessica Luton, Rebecca McCarthy, Dan Perkins, Ross Williams CIRCULATION Charles Greenleaf, Christopher Linter, Mike Merva EDITORIAL INTERNS Lily Guthrie, Elijah Johnston, Amber Perry COVER ART by Tim Root

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VOLUME 34 ISSUE NUMBER 32

RESPECT OTHERS WEAR A MASK

Association of Alternative Newsmedia

KEEP YOUR COOL

Better Service, Better Plumbing

comments section You have shared such great times with Chatham and a long loving friendship. I know she would be proud of your words about those common bonds. BTW that Milledge house full of friends has fond memories to me as well.

— Stephen Hollis From “Splendor in the Grass, Glory in the Flower: A Eulogy for Chatham Murray” at flagpole.com

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AUGUST 12 , 2020 | FLAGPOLE.COM

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news

city dope

Help Is Coming ACC APPROVES COVID RELIEF PACKAGE, AND MORE LOCAL NEWS

By Blake Aued, Chris Dowd, Dan Jackson and Rebecca McCarthy news@flagpole.com The Athens-Clarke County Commission which passed unanimously. Even so, the voted last week to provide $4.75 million in commission will have to revisit the issue direct relief to the Athens community using next week to hear Drake’s final legal assessfunding from the coronavirus stimulus ment and pass a related resolution. package passed by Congress in March.

The commission also voted to help Federal requirements that this funding struggling restaurants in Athens by startbe routed through the state government ing a “parklet” pilot program. This would have delayed the money’s arrival in Athens, allow restaurants to set up outdoor dining but now that it’s here, commissioners want areas in some of the empty parking spaces to make the most of it. Athens’ share for downtown, letting them expand their seatthis phase of the stimulus is $6.64 million. ing options. Restaurants are restricted to However, $1.99 million of that must be 35% of their normal capacity during the spent before a fast-approaching Sept. 1 COVID-19 pandemic due to an executive deadline. Therefore, most of this part will order signed by Governor Brian Kemp. be used to reimburse the ACC government Since the likelihood of catching coronavirus for a list of COVID-19 expenses already on is 20 times lower in open-air spaces than the books, which is possibly the only way to indoors, diners these days may prefer getspend $1.99 million so quickly. ting some fresh air while eating or enjoying The ACC manager’s office was hoping a glass of wine. to keep $1.2 million of the remaining If the parklets turn out to be popular, amount to defray the cost of certain capital they might stick around even after the expenses, such new radios, vehicles and pandemic. “This is something that I would a generator at the fire station on College have liked to have seen on the streets of Avenue. Manager Blaine Williams’ fiscally downtown Athens years ago,” Link said. The conservative plan would have saved the pilot program will run for 100 days at first. taxpayers money while still providing $3.96 Then, commissioners and staff will consider million for community relief through small if they’d like to make it permanent. business loans and food assistance. But the For now, all commissioners agreed commission had other plans. with the basics of the plan but had a sharp Commissioner Mike Hamby drafted an disagreement on a few of the details. For alternate proposal to expand the amount example, Link wanted the program to be given for commuavailable to bars as nity relief and to well as restaurants, If it’s so hard for us to shrink the amount but only for those figure out ways to get the businesses following kept by the local government for distancing help into the community’s hands, social capital projects. His regulations to the proposal will provide then we’ve got a problem. letter. Other combusinesses grants missioners had instead of loans, pay the fares of all Athens concerns that parklets for some bars might Transit riders for the rest of the year and devolve into out-of-bounds street parties at fund an array of nonprofits that help night, so Link’s proposal was not voted on. low-income people. Commissioners Ovita The original parklet proposal passed 5–4 Thornton, Andy Herod, Allison Wright and with one amendment. Originally, fees of up Tim Denson were all listed as co-authors of to $20 per day would be charged for each the proposal, and it was supported by the parking space, but Denson thought this was rest of the commission. “against the spirit” of providing assistance However, ACC Attorney Judd Drake to struggling restaurants. During the 100 expressed concern about the plan’s legality day trial period, there will now be no charge and asked for a week’s delay so he could do for the program. [Chris Dowd] more research. Hamby reacted angrily. “If it’s so hard for us to figure out ways to get the help into the community’s hands, then The ACC Planning Commission critiqued we’ve got a problem,” he said. a preliminary planned development on Stimulus funding comes from the fedLittle Oak Street last week that would plunk eral government and is not subject to the a luxury housing complex into the middle of Georgia constitution’s gratuities clause an established neighborhood in East Athens restricting local governments from giving money to businesses directly—or so Hamby near the UGA campus.

The plan for the project calls for rezoning hopes. He pointed to Cobb County, which 10.8 acres from single-family residential to had already handed out money in similar multifamily. The rezoning would allow for ways, and demanded a vote on his proposal the higher density needed for developers to that night. build 67 two-and-three-bedroom cottages Other commissioners also seemed frusfor a total of 173 beds. Some of the cottages trated by the slow rollout of the financial would be slated as “workforce housing,” assistance package and agreed with Hamby. though one Little Oak Street resident, Tom “Landlords are already calling the courts Roberts, wondered what that term means. asking if they can evict now. We need to be If the rent for one bedroom is $550 a more proactive,” Thornton said. month, “that’s not affordable,” he said.

A final request from Commissioner Other neighborhood residents also Melissa Link to purchase two COVIDspoke out against the proposal, including 19 testing machines for local clinics was Shirley Taylor, who said she has lived on included in the proposal before the vote,

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Eastside Developments Draw Opposition

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FLAGPOLE.COM | AUGUST 12 , 2020

Little Oak Street for 40 years. She was conpredicted residents, presenter Bob Smith cerned about the traffic the housing comsaid his client plans to provide a shuttle to plex could bring. She also said she doesn’t the University of Georgia. The site is near a want people there to be taken advantage of. public bus stop. Most of the renters would Georgiana Olive, who said she has lived no doubt be university students. on nearby Inglewood Avenue for 19 years, Speaking against the proposed housing said the students who will live in the cotcomplex was Tess Cunningham, who has tages will not be “vested in the community.” lived on Shadybrook Drive for 25 years.

She opposed changing the zoning for the During that time, she has been involved in students at the expense of the community.

Athens Tomorrow—a community planning Planning commissioner Matt Hall said initiative—and in studies for the Lexington the proposal is “deeply problematic for the Road corridor. Greenspace and open space neighborhood.” He favored the existing were two concerns that came up during RS-5 zoning designation (single-family those studies, she said. A complex as large homes on 5,000-square-foot lots), with as the proposed one “is going to be a huge substantial affordable housing, which could impact on our way of life,” she said. “This bring new residents density is exploding.” “who are a part of the of We need more housing, theSeventy-five neighborhood for a residential units but not student housing. would be reserved for long time,” as opposed to luxury rentals. renters qualifying for Planning commissioner Jim Anderson affordable housing. The project calculates said the proposed project would “destroy “affordable” as someone earning 60–120% community spirit,” while planning commisof the area median income. sioner Kristen Morales (also a Flagpole con“There’s a theme that we need more tributor) said destroying historically black housing,” said planning commissioner Alice neighborhoods is “a scourge on our city.”

Kinman. “We need more housing, but not Commission chair Maxine Easom said student housing.” Morales said she wants the people who waited for more than an such a massive development to “be an asset hour to speak against the proposal were to this section of the road,” not just “an “an indication of community spirit.” The Omni Club.” Hall said he likes the idea of Inglewood area was at one time a mill affordable units but that the entire complex village, and the neighborhood is “a very is “too dense and too high.” historic part of Athens.” Easom is the co-auThe planning commission did not vote thor of a recently released book about the on either plan. They could be resubmitted in history of East Athens. the coming months, possibly with changes Also during the five-and-a-half-hour based on planning commission feedback, meeting Aug. 6, the planning commission for a recommendation to the ACC Mayor considered another preliminary planned and Commission. [Rebecca McCarthy] development along Lexington Road, across the street from the police station, that included an affordable workforce housing During a Clarke County School District component. The project needs a rezoning to virtual town hall meeting Aug. 5, interim place 784 parking places and 501 residensuperintendent Xernona Thomas said that tial units with 1,058 beds on 41 acres next virtual learning isn’t ideal and that this is “a to residential Shadybrook Drive. challenging time.”

Included would be flat-style apartments, Administrators offered more specifics garden-style apartments and garden-style about what reopening will look like than duplexes, some of them multi-story, with what virtual learning will look like. Viewers studios and units with anywhere from one learned that Chief of Operations Dexter to five bedrooms. Two standalone commerFisher has bought 15,000 face masks, cial buildings would front Lexington Road. along with wipes and shoe covers. He has With not enough parking spaces for the

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CCSD Offers Details on Reopening

BLM Book Group Takes to the Streets

WHITLEY CARPENTER

hundreds of gallons of disinfectant and In what was largely a rehash of public MERV-8 filters for CCSD’s HVAC systems. comments made at school board meetings Several weeks ago, a group of Indivisible There will be signs in the hallways and a in the months since Means was placed on Georgia District 10 activists began demonrenewed emphasis on handwashing. Buses administrative leave, NAACP members strating in support of Black Lives Matter on will carry 48 kids, not 72. repeated the claim that Means was let go as Baxter Street at Alps Road with a regular Amy Roark, who heads the school disa result of behind-the-scenes maneuvering schedule of three days a week at noon. trict’s nursing staff, said the district is takby racist “special interest groups.”

The group of a dozen or so activists ing seriously the safety recommendations Means and the school board agreed to hold signs of support for the global BLM from the Centers for Disease Control and a $637,500 settlement last month, fornetwork such as “Make Good Trouble”—a Prevention, the Georgia Department of mally ending his tenure at CCSD. He told quote from the late congressman and civil Public Health and the UGA epidemiology the board in November that he wanted rights leader John Lewis—and “Justice team. When the schools open for in-person to discuss his exit after the board voted Brings Peace.” The demonstrations last for learning, Roark said, there will be disinfectto urge the state Professional Standards exactly one hour, from noon to 1 p.m., on ing supplies, personal protective equipment Commission to clear him of an ethics comMondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, until for faculty and staff, social distancing, plaint, but also said they would hold him Election Day. Karen Covi, one of the orgamasks and reminders about hand hygiene. accountable at the local level. nizers of the regular demonstrations, sets Until the COVID-19 transmission rate School board members said they had an alarm on her phone to mark the end of drops significantly, returning to school isn’t no knowledge of who filed the ethics comsafe, she said. plaint, nor who filed subsequent complaints the demonstration.

The actions have been organized by a Chief Academic Officer Brannon Gaskins with accreditation agency Cognia or the diverse group of Indivisible members who said there will be live and recorded instrucinfluential “special interest groups” Cognia have been inspired by their participation in tion for students, all of whom will have referred to in its report. “The report was computers. Individual schools will work with families needing instruction outside the regular school hours, which are 8:30 a.m.–3 p.m. for early learning and elementary students and 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m. for middle and high schoolers, with 11 a.m.–12 p.m. for lunch.

“Screen time will be limited to support the developmental needs of students,” he said.

The district will rely on Google Classroom, Zoom and Google Meet.

For grading and communication, parents can log into Infinite Campus. Diagnostic assessments will be conducted at home.

Gaskins said iReady or MAPP will provide instruction for remediation and/or acceleration.

Heidi Hill, the district’s director of special Cole Knapper formed an anti-racist group that has started rallying for Black Lives Matter in Beechwood three times a week. education, said that the Charles Knapper Project, an anti-racist filed anonymously,” Linda Davis said. ‘We occupational therapy will be in a virtual group led by local U.S. Army veteran and learning plan and that the district will part- don’t have that information.”

Athens native Cole Knapper. Cole says she “I think there will always be special ner with parents about how to deal virtually is guided by the expression, “If you want interest groups that exist,” board President with behavior issues. A caseload manager to change the world, you have to change LaKeisha Gantt added. will check in with the student’s family Athens, Georgia,” and envisions an Athens Gantt, Davis and Kara Dyckman said weekly. All the Individualized Education that is free from racism. She is charting a the board is making progress on meeting Plans will be reviewed. course to attack racism with open dialog the recommendations laid out by Cognia When will students be able to return to and education. She named the group in for retaining accreditation, such as filling school in person? No one knows for sure, honor of her father, a retired Clarke County out self-evaluations and meeting with the but CCSD will take a phased approach.

School District principal.

Georgia School Board Association for trainFirst, parents or guardians of students in “I just learned about Black Wall Street ing. Davis said the board—which has six kindergarten through second grade will be given the option of face-to-face instruction, members in their first terms—is improving. about four years ago!” she marveled, referring to the prosperous Black business “I would chalk a lot of our failures then third through fifth grade, then all studistrict in Tulsa, OK that was virtually dents, administrators said at an Aug. 6 work that we’ve had to newness, but what I destroyed by rioting whites in 1921 in am excited about now, and it’s only been session. In the meantime, teachers will be one of the most devastating massacres in recently, is that we seem to have a board required to report to their otherwise empty the history of U.S. race relations, which that’s moving in the same direction toward buildings and teach virtual lessons from only recently has come to light for many learning what our roles are and actually their classrooms. Classes are scheduled to Americans. Knapper maintains that an researching the policy on issues that come start on Sept. 8. [RM] understanding of that massacre and other before the board,” Davis said. horrific chapters in the often violent history Most of that work is happening behind of racism is vital to becoming anti-racist. the scenes, according to Gantt. “Even if Local NAACP leaders pressed Clarke The goal of the group is to help it’s not done publicly does not mean that County school board members on the Athenians better understand the history we’re not committed to holding each departure of superintendent Demond of race in the U.S. and “move from being other accountable in an effort to correct Means during a virtual meeting between passive non-racists to becoming actively and improve the areas that need to be the two groups last week. anti-racist, putting race at the center of the improved,” she said. [Blake Aued]

BOE Meets With NAACP

issues we are dealing with in this country.”

Knapper has selected an anti-racist reading list that the members are discussing in the Zoom meetings, including The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander and AntiRacist Baby by Ibram X. Kendi. Knapper also cites the New York Times’ influential “1619 Project” as a source of information.

Knapper quoted Toni Reed, one of the Indivisible Georgia 10 founders and a participant in the Charles Knapper Project, when asked about the group’s goal. “Toni said that we need to teach ourselves [to be anti-racist] in order to teach our grandchildren,” perhaps envisioning the fulfillment of another famous dream. [Dan Jackson]

ACC Goes Green Environment Georgia highlighted Athens-Clarke County’s nascent solar program during a video conference call about the release of the environmental group’s “Shining Cities” report.

Athens-Clarke County has an official goal of becoming carbon-free by 2035 for the government and 2050 for the entire community. To that end, $16 million was set aside in SPLOST 2020 for energy efficiency. In addition, the county is using a portion of franchise fees collected from utilities for use of the public right-of-way for a “community energy fund” that could pay for rooftop solar panels or weather-stripping some of Athens’ many older and inefficient houses.

In addition, ACC is spending $45 million in SPLOST funding to rebuild the Bethel Midtown Village subsidized housing complex “very much with the mindset that we want that to be a high-efficiency, low-cost, high-solar kind of environment,” said Mayor Kelly Girtz.

He also cited the 600-kilowatt solar array installed at the Cedar Creek wastewater treatment plant last year. “One of the biggest energy drivers in any city or county is treating waste,” Girtz said. “This has offset about half the energy [consumed] at one of our three wastewater treatment plants.”

In Atlanta, solar panels at community centers and fire stations have generated 1,031 megawatt-hours of power so far, according to Chief Sustainability Officer Shelby Buso. Both Atlanta and Emory University contracted with Cherry Street Energy to install solar panels. The company—which also installed solar panels at Athens’ Terrapin brewery—installs the panels at no cost, then charges the client for electricity at a lower rate than Georgia Power. Emory has 15,000 solar panels that generate 10% of its power, according to Ciannat Howett, director of sustainability initiatives.

The Environment Georgia report ranks the 70 largest cities in the U.S. on the basis of solar energy. Honolulu is first; Atlanta is 48th. [BA] f

AUGUST 12 , 2020 | FLAGPOLE.COM

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feature

Brace Yourselves COVID Could Spread as UGA Reopens

UGA graduate students organized a “die-in” on North Campus Aug. 6 to protest the university’s handling of the pandemic.

By Jessica Luton news@flagpole.com

As

Athens braces for the return of UGA students and in-person classes Aug. 20, the data trends continue to show no sign of COVID-19 improvement. The Athens-Clarke County government’s attempts to curtail further spread of the disease by moving last call at bars to 10 p.m. has been met with a court challenge, and faculty, staff and students alike are criticizing UGA’s reopening plans.

A Stressed System Athens’ COVID-19 cases continue to rise at alarming rates, with cases more than quadrupling in July. As of Aug. 10, Clarke County had 2,081 confirmed cases and 18 deaths, adding two additional deaths to the count last week. Before the July 4th weekend, Athens had roughly 400 cases cumulatively since the onset of the pandemic.

Amber Schmidtke, a public health microbiologist who has been monitoring the COVID-19 situation and produces a daily newsletter explaining the Georgia Department of Public Health’s pandemic data, says there are several concerning trends in the data. For one, she says, we’re still seeing a 12–13% positivity rate. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends being at or below a 5% positive rate because that signals that you’re testing widely enough that asymptomatic cases are not being missed.

Also, while people are continuing to seek out testing, there is still a lag in getting appointments and significant lag time in getting back test results. A look at the data suggests that the 14-day window—the best indicating data we have for how we are doing with the pandemic—isn’t giving an accurate picture of things anymore. While real-time data will never be available on who is sick because people don’t get exposed, display symptoms, seek testing and get

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a result on the same day, the 14-day window usually serves as a lagging indicator, with the very best and most accurate data being roughly two weeks old.

“What stands out in my mind is that we seem to have hit a wall for testing,” Schmidtke says. “[A look at the DPH graph shows] that what has been a 14-day window may actually need to be a 21-day window right now. We are undercounting information even three weeks into the past because of testing backlogs.

“We have people that are waiting hours to get a test. We have people that are waiting weeks to get the results,” she says. “That complicates everything not just from getting an accurate count but also in terms of doing any sort of contact tracing. If a person’s test result comes back three weeks later and the contract tracer calls and asks ‘Who did you run into a month ago?’ nobody is going to be able to report that information. Most people can’t remember what they had for dinner last night, so to recall names and addresses of people that they came into contact with [a month ago] is going to be a nightmare.”

ACC Faces Pushback While the case numbers have been on the rise, ACC Mayor Kelly Girtz says Athens is still in a good position compared to other metro areas in the state. Those who are new to Athens or returning after many months away should be aware that there is a mandatory mask requirement in public for Athens. Girtz further urged everyone to remain vigilant in helping the community curb the spread of COVID-19.

“I do think that the data shows that relative to other metro areas in the state, the Athens population has been acting safely, and we want that to persist,” Girtz says.

“Obviously, we ask that you wear your mask anytime indoors or if you are clustered outdoors in a way that you

FLAGPOLE.COM | AUGUST 12 , 2020

are in close proximity to other people, [such as] waiting to cross a busy crosswalk or lined up outside to get coffee near other people.”

In an effort to curb further spread of COVID-19 and in anticipation of students returning to Athens, the ACC Commission passed an ordinance to move last call up to 10 p.m. and further enhanced the mask mandate to include mandatory mask wearing when people are standing in bars, but it was met with a lawsuit from bar owners the next day. A judge issued a temporary order blocking ACC from enforcing the earlier last call or the mask ordinance. A hearing is scheduled for Aug. 14.

Assuming the mask ordinance is upheld, “We will continue to enforce the mask mandate as we always have—by education,” Girtz says. “We bought tens of thousands of masks to distribute, so if you are in one of those situations that I just described and you don’t have a mask on, don’t be surprised if one of our employees says here is one for you. The goal at the outset was to spend at least a month just doing education and [mask] distribution. Given the legal landscape with the governor’s lawsuit against Mayor Bottoms and the Atlanta City Council, we are just going to continue to use education and distribution [as a means of enforcement].”

Ultimately, Girtz hopes students and others who choose to go out to bars or restaurants are mindful of their behavior. “I understand people’s social needs completely. I understand cultural norms around bar behavior,” he says. “I can’t even begin to count the number of nights I’ve spent in bars in this town, but I will say that glomming up at the bar or close to other people, particularly as people are increasingly tipsy throughout the course of the evening, is simply not safe.”

“Be very diligent about how you conduct yourself,” he adds. ”As many take-out options as you can use, as much outdoor activity as you can manage—those are clearly just safer ways to operate.”

WHITLEY CARPENTER

news

UGA’s Plan Questioned UGA’s latest release of information and guidelines for how they are preparing to reopen campus for face-to-face classes has been criticized by faculty and staff for lacking detail and clarity. While the University System of Georgia (USG) did approve a mask mandate for all buildings on campus in July, many other factors of the reopening plans were deemed inadequate by the Franklin College Faculty Senate and Mary Frances Early College of Education Faculty Senate in a resolution sent to UGA President Jere Morehead and USG Chancellor Steve Wrigley: “It is deeply regrettable that the UGA and USG administrations have brought us so close to the opening of the Fall semester without a clear community understanding of the issues above,” the resolution states. “Furthermore, these issues by no means exhaust the list of unanswered concerns, many of them literal matters of life and death, held by staff, students, and faculty. It has become clear to all that the glaring failures of governance at The University of Georgia during the COVID-19 crisis are a direct result of decades of persistent narrowing of authority at the University into the hands of a tiny cluster of executives, all while excluding the inherent expertise and commitment held by the community itself. Democratic reform of University governance is long overdue.”

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What stands out in my mind is that we seem to have hit a wall for testing.

Among the issues faculty cited: UGA only plans to test 300 people per day, and they’re not being given the option of teaching classes online. Nor is there a clear mechanism for enforcing the mask mandate.

The resolution received a stern response from Morehead and Wrigley calling the resolution “unsubstantiated and inappropriate,” but it also resulted in a webinar meant to help address some of the remaining questions that faculty and staff had. The webinar, however, did not provide enough answers for many in the UGA community.

Following the webinar, UGA’s staff union, United Campus Workers of Georgia (UCWG) further criticized the university’s plans for reopening and their failure to acknowledge the COVID-19-related death of a staff member last week.

Last week, UCWG sent out a link to a GoFundMe account for the recently deceased staff member’s family, claiming that her death was due to COVID-19. Ana Cabrera, a 32-year-old campus maintenance worker, had worked at Brumby Hall, records show. In response to Flagpole’s inquiry about the death, UGA’s Gregory Trevor, interim Senior Executive Director for Marketing and Communications, issued a brief statement that acknowledged her death, but not the cause.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of a member of the University of Georgia community,” said Trevor. “Our sympathy goes out to our co-worker’s family and friends. Out of respect for them, we will not comment further. We are not in a position to confirm the cause of death. The university does not determine the cause of death when we tragically lose a member of our community.”

Despite what all of the health data shows about cases increasing here locally and statewide, the associated dangers, and calls for online-only classes from many public health professionals and experts around the state, there has been no indication that an online-only class plan is up for discussion. New information that has emerged this week via an open records request shows that there may be a reason for that. As often is the case, it comes down to money.

According to internal USG memos, a private company known as Corvias that constructs, manages and finances students housing at nine USG schools through a public-private partnership (P3) declared their intention to interpret CDC guidelines in a way that would encourage dorms to be filled to near-maximum capacity. UGA doesn’t have a P3 dorm, but it still stands to lose hundreds of millions of dollars in housing, parking, dining and football revenue if students aren’t on campus.

So where does this leave the Athens community? With a lot of lingering questions and worries going forward. Check back next week for updates. f

news

feature

Profit Versus Precaution?

DORM OPERATOR OPPOSES LIMITS ON STUDENT OCCUPANCY

By Ross Williams news@flagpole.com

As

students and teachers anxiously prepare to return In any event, Georgia State did not need to restrict fall to college campuses during a pandemic, some of dorm move-ins after fewer students signed up, he said. them are buzzing about a letter a private dorm operator “Georgia State University approached system leadership wrote to the state Board of Regents calling on Georgia State with a plan to reduce housing density for the fall semester University and other schools not to limit, due to the coroand was told it was their decision,” Diamant said. “The navirus, the number of students staying in dormitories this system office performed an analysis to review the impact fall. as we generally do with our housing portfolios. It became The May 29 letter from Corvias Property Management apparent to GSU in July that dramatically reduced student and a resulting memo from state university officials was demand for housing has resulted in lower density than made public after a records request from Georgia Tech what was being planned for, and therefore the issue was student Kelly ONeal, who shared it on social media. ONeal moot and the proposed plan was not implemented.” said she asked for the records in late June to learn whether Corvias entered into a 40-year agreement with the plans to reopen during the spread of COVID-19 were driven University System of Georgia in 2015 to provide housby the school, the state or some other party. She got a ing for nine schools, including Georgia State, Augusta response that included the Corvias exchange in late July.

University and Columbus State University. Such public-priIn the letter, Corvias Vice President of Campus Living vate partnerships are becoming more common in univerChris Wilson said the company objected to potential plans sities for services once handled by the schools, including that would limit the numbers of students staying in dormihousing, food services and tutoring programs. The arrangetories, especially at Georgia State University, where Corvias ments allow universities to outsource amenities without manages nearly 3,500 beds, according to its website. having to pay for them and oversee their construction or “We understand the BOR and the nine institutions operation. involved in the Phase 1 Student Housing [agreement] may Georgia voters paved the way for the Corvias arrangecurrently be deliberating alternative plans for the Fall ment in 2014, when they approved a referendum allowing 2020 semester, and we therefore felt it important to comstudent housing to remain tax-exempt if it is managed by a municate directly with you regarding our concerns, as the private company.

Concessionaire, regarding certain actions the BOR may be Some students and professors say they are angry about considering at this time,” Wilson wrote. what they read in the letter and attribute financial motives Georgia State had plans to open its dorms at 75% capacto the guidelines they feel fall short of what is needed to ity when it starts classes Aug. 24, which would have caused protect people from getting infected by the coronavirus.

Corvias to lose $3.1 million over the “This explains so much,” said school year and place the project Brian Magerko, a professor in the When I read the document, School of Literature, Media, and in default, according to an internal it confirmed that finances Communication at Georgia Tech.

Board of Regents memo prepared in response to the warning letter.

“We couldn’t figure out why USG are driving a lot of decisions In addition to Georgia State, would insist on fully opening its rather than safety.

Corvias operates dorms at Abraham campuses despite Georgia’s ragBaldwin Agricultural College, ing virus outbreak. Now we know Armstrong State University, College of Coastal Georgia, what’s happening. Corvias will lose money if students study Columbus State University, Dalton State College, East remotely, and it is trying to force USG to keep students in Georgia State College, Augusta University and University of the dorms, despite the risks.”

North Georgia.

Across the state, another faculty member echoed The letter says the Board of Regents will violate its conMagerko’s sentiment. tract with Corvias if it allows any limitations on the number “When I read the document, it confirmed that finances of students in dorms, reduces fees for a shortened semester are driving a lot of decisions rather than safety,” said or prevents or discourages students from living on campus.

Brian Schwartz, a professor of biology at Columbus The widespread sharing of the Corvias letter this week State University and president of the local chapter of the comes as the first day of classes nears for the 26 University American Association of University Professors. “I wondered System of Georgia schools and tension grows as students why we weren’t reducing housing capacity. Now I know that and faculty object to in-person class safety plans of admina private company is leveraging our debt against student istrators. Thursday the United Campus Workers of Georgia safety.” cited the letter in a press release that called for the uniSchwartz said faculty members have urged Columbus versity system to offer more transparency about financial State President Chris Markwood and university system pressure to take a less cautious approach to COVID-19 Chancellor Steve Wrigley to adopt more safety measures, guidelines. including reducing campus population density and holding Corvias took on $548 million in debt for the statewide classes online whenever possible, without success. project, which aims to provide 6,500 new beds and sigStudents are also passing around the letter, said nificantly renovates existing student housing for 3,500 Columbus State theater major Ashley Peterson. more, with the understanding that they would be paid back “I felt that they were choosing revenue over students’ through student fees, Wilson said in the May letter. The health, in a blatant manner,” Peterson said. “The document 2015 deal also released the Board of Regents from more seems to indicate that universities are being threatened than $311 million of its own debt. with legal action if they try to do things like decrease dorm The company plans to follow guidelines from the Centers density. Corvias does not seem concerned for student for Disease Control and Prevention “as closely as reasonhealth or the health of their surrounding communities, and ably possible,” Wilson said, adding that his interpretation is this is very alarming to me.” the public health agency does not require social distancing Peterson, who said she had concerns about going among roommates. back to campus before hearing about the dorm situation, Corvias set its Twitter account to private and did not learned about the document Wednesday and spent much of respond Thursday to phone or email requests for comment Thursday reading over it and discussing it with classmates about its May 29 letter. in a group chat.

Each member school made its own decision about hous“I didn’t even know what Corvias was,” she said. f ing capacity, and none of them indicated they were influRoss Williams is a reporter with the online newspaper Georgia enced by the concerns raised by Corvias, said university Recorder, where this story first appeared, at georgiarecorder.com. system spokesman Aaron Diamant.

“

AUGUST 12 , 2020 | FLAGPOLE.COM

7

feature

What You Might Have Missed THE BIG HEADLINES FROM UGA’S CLOSURE UNTIL NOW

By Blake Aued news@flagpole.com

O

rdinarily, every August Flagpole offers a recap of what happened over the summer for those who are just getting back or are new to town. This year, though, we have to go back to March, when the University of Georgia shut down, and many students rode out the pandemic from their hometowns.

COVID-19 first struck in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and hit the U.S. in January, then Georgia. On Mar. 13, UGA abruptly told students not to come back from spring break and shifted classes online. The next day, the first confirmed case of COVID-19 was reported in Athens. Then the dominoes quickly started falling: The Clarke County School District also went online, festivals and concerts were canceled, and bars and restaurants shut down. Less than a week later, the Athens-Clarke County Commission passed a shelter-in-place ordinance. Life hasn’t been the same since.

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right-wing Boogaloo Boys— police used tear gas and bean-bag rounds against the remaining 100 or so protesters, arresting 19.

Witness accounts indicated that the police had gathered bad intelligence, and no one was preparing for violence.

It was an unprecedented move by authorities in a city where protests happen on a weekly, if not daily, basis and are unfailingly polite affairs. However, an ACCPD Tear gas fills downtown Athens early in the morning of June 1. internal review later found that officers acted within APRIL: A whistleblowing nurse reported that 10 of the 12 department policy. A similarly large protest held the followNeSmith, however, had died in a fall in his home the (now 18) recorded COVID-19 deaths in Clarke County haping weekend featured a heavy National Guard presence but weekend before the election, though his name remained pened at one nursing home, Pruitthealth Grandview. By ended peacefully. on the ballot. Citing Georgia law, the Board of Elections— mid-April, the virus had killed 500 Georgians. Businesses Mayor Kelly Girtz’s proposed budget included a small cut backed by a judge after NeSmith’s widow and other District were starting to adapt, though, with many restaurants to the millage rate, but some taxpayers were still incensed 6 voters sued—awarded the seat to the challenger, Jesse reopening for carryout and delivery, and other entrethat their taxes would be higher because their property valHoule, rather than call for a special election. A special elecpreneurs shifting to making masks and hand sanitizer. ues rose in 2019. Spurred on by the protests, commissiontion will still be held in November, but just to fill the last Musicians played live shows on Facebook instead of at ers wrangled with last-minute changes to reform police and two months of NeSmith’s term.

Flicker. provide coronavirus relief. Commissioner Mariah Parker JULY: The University System of Georgia relented to pressure Even with the economy bolstered by the government put forth a plan to cut police funding in half over 10 years and announced it would start requiring masks on camgrants for small businesses that promised to keep employand reinvest the money in housing and social workers. A pus. The commission also ees on payroll, unemploypassed a mask ordinance ment spiked 2,000%. By requiring face coverings the end of the month, Gov. inside businesses and other Brian Kemp had allowed indoor public places, as well some shuttered busias outdoors in situations nesses—including salons, where social distancing tattoo parlors and bowling isn’t possible. Kemp would alleys—to reopen. This challenge a similar Atlanta would prove costly later. ordinance in court, which is MAY: With the state projected still unresolved. to lose over $2 billion, The Board of Education thousands of UGA employfinally reached a settlement ees stood to lose their jobs with former superintendent or take pay cuts as state Demond Means, who had lawmakers wrangled over been on administrative leave the budget remotely (sevsince November, when he eral legislators had caught stated a desire to negotiCOVID, so the session was ate his departure. Means suspended). Many who’d received the $409,000 owed already lost their jobs to him in his contract, as were still waiting on their well as $92,000 in legal fees enhanced unemployment and $136,000 in damages. benefits. Money did start Xernona Thomas remains pouring into local govinterim superintendent, ernment from the feds, and no plan to find a permaincluding a $9 million grant nent replacement has been for Athens Transit that announced. allowed it to temporarily go CCSD also announced UGA students have been packing downtown and the bars during the pandemic, often without masks. fare-free. plans to start the school The May election, year entirely online, after though, was postponed until June—except in one case. compromise eventually passed that created a police policy initially planning to offer parents the option of in-perKemp missed a deadline to appoint an interim district review board and increased funding for public defenders. son, virtual or hybrid instruction. The district had already attorney to replace Ken Mauldin, who had resigned in The commission also set aside over $6 million to help the pushed back the start of the school year more than a February. Under an obscure state law, that meant the indigent, nonprofits and small businesses get through the month, to Sept. 8, to give teachers more time to prepare for Democratic primary for DA would be canceled and the recession. Spurred on by the protests, the commission also distance learning. general election pushed back to 2022. Candidate Deborah agreed to move the Confederate monument away from its As college students started to trickle into town and pack Gonzalez sued. She would later prevail in federal court, prominent location on Broad Street downtown. into downtown bars, the pandemic continued to worsen, although the ruling is under appeal.

The delayed election finally happened on June 9. Four with cases jumping from 400 to 1,600 in a month. Hoping incumbent commissioners—Parker (who was unopposed), to tamp down on the maskless masses, the commission JUNE: The George Floyd protests came to Athens on May 31, Allison Wright, Jerry NeSmith and Mike Hamby—won voted to cut off alcohol sales at bars and restaurants at 10 when an estimated 1,500–2,000 people gathered downeasily, with Carol Myers winning the open District 8 seat p.m. A group of bar owners sued, and as a result, both the town to rally for the Black Lives Matter movement. Police representing the Eastside, and Kirrena Gallagher taking earlier last call and the county’s mask ordinance are curresponded by declaring a curfew and ordering them to the District 2 seat on the school board representing East rently on hold pending an Aug. 14 hearing. disperse. Around midnight—citing the presence of armed Athens.

And so here we are. f

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ver last weekend, Deborah Birx, to escape the bug in its earlier phases. It the White House Coronavirus Task runs more than 150 miles from Richmond Force coordinator, told CNN the County at its northern end to Atkinson COVID-19 plague’s assault on rural areas is County at the southernmost point. now on a par with its toll on more denseAnd the case rates in most of the ly-populated urban areas. counties in that chain now dwarf those That’s certainly true here in Georgia. In in Metro Atlanta. Such counties as Jeff fact, case rates are currently growing faster Davis, Jefferson, Wayne, Toombs and in rural counties than in major metropoliJohnson, among others, have case rates of tan centers, and rural areas by and large now have higher case rates.

To put this in perspective, Georgia is now one of 21 states accorded the dubious honor of being a COVID-19 “red zone” by Birx’s White House task force. That group recently began assigning that designation to states that meet one of two criteria—first, that the number of cases per 100,000 people rises by 100 or more over a seven-day period, or, second, that the “positivity rate” is higher than 10%.

Georgia makes the cut on both counts. Its cases and case rates have been rising relentlessly pretty much since the pandemic started, and its positivity rate has been floating above 10% for several weeks. Tuesday’s report well over 2,000 per 100,000 people. The (Aug. 4) from the Georgia Department of county with the highest case rate in Metro Public Health (DPH) puts the cumulative Atlanta, Gwinnett, has a current case rate positivity rate at 11% and the rate for the of 1,874.18. Indeed, generally speaking, the batch of tests reported yesterday at 12.7%. smaller a county’s population, the bigger As of Tuesday’s report, 141 of the state’s its recent increase in COVID-19 cases. The 159 counties qualified as red zones in 118 counties with populations of less than their own right, as the map is intended to 50,000 people posted bigger increases in show. Each of the shaded counties posted case rates than any of the other groups of increases of at least 100 cases per 100,000 counties with larger populations. people over the Interestingly, it past seven days; the was the mid-sized COVID-19 is continuing to group of coundarker the shade, the bigger the increase. move tsunami-like across ties—16 counties (The blank spots on with populations the map represent the rural east-central Georgia. between 50,000 18 counties that held and 100,000—that their case rate increases under the 100-perposted the smallest increases (although 100,000-people threshold over the past those increases still qualified them for “red seven days.) zone” status). There is no doubt a variety One key story for Trouble in God’s of reasons for this, but a couple of possiCountry is that COVID-19 is continuing to bilities suggest themselves. One is that the move tsunami-like across rural east-central group includes counties—like Dougherty Georgia. TIGC first reported in early July and Floyd, among others—that suffered that the bug seemed to have finished savag- most of their damage in the early days of ing southwest Georgia and appeared to be the pandemic, and their recent increases moving, Sherman-like, eastward to the sea. are relatively smaller. A second may be that The latest results make it clear that march is many of these counties—Barrow, Walton, still underway.

Jackson, Coweta and others—are in various While 141 of Georgia’s 159 counties stages of evolving from rural to exurban or posted increases of at least 100 per 100,000 suburban counties and have reached a stage people between July 28 and Aug. 4, only 29 where they can attract and sustain stronger of those counties hit what might be conhealth care delivery systems. f sidered stratospheric increases of 300 new Charlie Hayslett is mostly retired from careers in cases per 100,000 in that same period.

Fifteen of those 29 counties are part of a journalism and in public relations and is author connected chain covering much of east-cen- of the occasional blog, “Trouble in God’s Country,” troubleingodscountry.com. tral Georgia, an area that largely seemed

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Remembering Chatham

love of God, love of nature, all of God’s creatures and the environment. In fact, We are mourning our dear friend St. Francis is the patron saint of the enviChatham Murray, who died earlier this ronment. The charism of the Franciscans week. We loved her gentle voice and unwav- involves embracing poverty, simplicity, ering idealism, her warm and vivid painting obedience, and alignment with the poor style, her perfect front porch and perfectly and those who live on the margins of our imperfect garden, and, most of all, her society. The Franciscan order is mendicant, compassion and kindness and friendship. meaning that they often travel from place For many decades, she was a defining parto place to minister to people wherever ticipant in the hand-built, homegrown, they are needed, and shouldn’t get attached human-scale alterto any one place. native universe of However, I don’t She was a defining Athens, GA—as an think anyone can participant in the handart student, artist, deny that we got newspaperwoman, very attached to built, homegrown, human-scale sign painter, landthese wonderful alternative universe of Athens, GA men, as I’m sure lady, gardener and community activist. they have to us.

She was fiercely independent, instinctively The following is a letter from the feminist, effortlessly beautiful, politically Interfaith Sanctuary Coalition written to committed and proudly decoupled from the Father Frank Critch, the last—along with relentless machine of mainstream American Father Casey Cole—of the Franciscans to life. When she visited us in L.A. (and later, serve at the Catholic Center: Atlanta), I was reminded of the accounts of Frida Kahlo when she was forced to visit Dear Father Frank, the U.S.: You could feel her discomfort in I am writing as a member of the the megacity, her desire to get back to her Interfaith Sanctuary Coalition, a passionplants and her dirt and her paint, and her ate group of people with whom you have profound concern that humanity had conserved and who are committed to bringing structed something unsustainable, self-deprotection, dignity and justice to immigrant structive and insane. When I was at her families across our area. The coalition was place, I always felt like I was home. I wish much saddened by the news that you, along I could live up to the standard she set for with your Franciscan brothers, will soon be healing the world and making it more beau- leaving the Catholic Center. Your departure tiful. And I wish I could see her again, walkwill no doubt be a huge loss for your parish ing through the kudzu with her afternoon community, those to whom you have minglass of wine and her happy dogs. istered in myriad ways during your time in Richard Fausset Athens. Also, we, your brothers and sisters Atlanta in the broader interfaith community, know well that we are losing a voice for social justice and a follower of Christ who, time and again, responded to the call to welcome the Cardee Kilpatrick swooped down on stranger, free the prisoner, heal the sick and Athens years ago from another part of the bring justice to the oppressed.

U.S. and became a positive part of Athens.

Father Frank, you and your congregation She resided on Woodlawn with several were called upon on many occasions over other women who made their mark. There the last two years to care for our immigrant was Sally Jordon, who had coded in World neighbors who were threatened, pursued, War II; Laura Smith, who was Dean Tate’s separated and scapegoated by this nation’s secretary and witnessed Calvin Trillin people and policies. When you were asked writing about UGA integration; and Gloria to help an asylum seeker book transporHunnicut, who maintained a natural fronttation to a court hearing in Texas, you age on Milledge Avenue for years. I became answered the call. When you were asked acquainted with all of these women during to support an immigrant business owner my years of working at Homeplace in Five purchasing equipment for her salon, you Points. answered the call. When an immigrant famCardee will enhance Heaven beside all of ily couldn’t pay their electric bill, had little these women from Athens. food and no toys for their children, you Lois Player answered the call. You answered the call to Athens cover a single parent’s rent. You answered the call to renew hope for DREAMers by funding DACA renewals. You answered the call to pay for dental work on a child’s deteAfter 62 years of service, the Franciscans riorating teeth. You also answered the call OFM have left the Catholic Center at UGA. by helping to distribute 13,000 pounds of The dwindling number of friars made it nec- food twice a month in Pinewoods through essary to withdraw from some of their misOasis during the pandemic, and personally sions. Unfortunately, the Catholic Center cooked meals that fed hundreds of people. was included. For those of us who have And we know this recounting of your acts of grown to know and love the Franciscans compassion and courage is incomplete. over the years, the withdrawal came with a In summary, Father Frank, you willlot of heartbreak and tears. ingly opened the Catholic Center’s doors The Franciscans are an order of Catholic to the mission of the Interfaith Sanctuary priests and friars whose spiritual father is Coalition, and you graciously opened St. Francis of Assisi, known for his simple your heart and hands to serve Christ in

“

Tribute to Cardee Kilpatrick

Farewell, Franciscans

our immigrant neighbors. Your faithful response to God’s call has brought relief, hope and renewed strength to all of us. We will miss you.

In Peace: Joel Siebentritt, Coordinator, Terry Salguero, Catholic Center; Jerry Gale, Mindful Breath Sangha and Congregation Children of Israel; Nancy MacNair, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship; Karen Solheim, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship; Don Smith, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship; John Olive, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship; David Alper, Congregation Children of Israel; Shara Cherniak, Mindful Breath Sangha; JoBeth Allen, Oconee Street United Methodist Church; Lew Allen, Oconee Street UMC; Mark Harper, Covenant Presbyterian; Don Moseley, Jubilee Partners; Rachel Bjork, Jubilee Partners; Paul Dorsey, Independent; Albert Booms, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church

Open Letter and Press Release

research staff at USG institutions, oftentimes delegated to teaching core curriculum courses with many of their students in their first and second years of college.

University of Georgia PhD student Savannah Downing emphasized the irony of USG’s social media campaign about everyone being #InThisTogether: “USG has insisted that we are all #InThisTogether, but it’s so clear we aren’t. Top-down decision making disproportionately assigns higher burdens of risk to groups on campus who already have job insecurity, make lower wages, and cannot afford to get sick.”

Atalanta Siegel, also a University of Georgia graduate student, added to the disproportionate distribution of risk: “Employees at my institution are expected to return to work with no hazard pay, yet are required to clean classrooms. Given that many graduate student salaries are barely over the federal poverty line, it seems that USG see us as disposable.”

Graduate students and allies demand that their voices are included in the reopening planning process, especially as it pertains to the work they offer their respective universities. Graduate students are demanding that USG center student, staff and faculty wellbeing. Complying with the demands of the open letter is a start.

Savannah Downing Athens

On Thursday, Aug. 6, Georgia graduate students and supporters delivered an open letter to members of the University System of Georgia Board of Regents. Though Board members have been fortunate enough to make the choice to work remotely, graduate students were hopeful they would receive and review the letter prior to their Aug. 11 meeting. Graduate students are demanding a response from the BoR by Aug. 12 addressing the content of the letter.

The open letter originated as a list of Many of us have been tied to our houses concerns written by graduate students at the University of Georgia who believed they because of the coronavirus pandemic. I have had a lot of time to garden, Zoom with famwere not being considered by UGA and the ily and friends, and figure out how to shop University System of Georgia. Nearly 1,000 for food online. I have also been reading graduate students and allies, including undergraduates, faculty and staff from insti- the papers, news magazines and books, and watching TV news. What I read and hear tutions such as the University of Georgia, from reliable sources is very disturbing.

Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia We have been struggling to get COVID-19 Gwinnett College, Georgia State University, under control for six months, and we have Georgia Southern University, University yet to produce a coordinated, science-driven of North Georgia, and Georgia College and pandemic attack plan State University have for the entire country? signed the letter, which Graduate students and This is the job of the makes the following federal government and demands: allies demand that the state government.

Instructors should their voices are included.

They have failed us be able to opt-out of badly! But why can’t in-person instruction in we do as well as many other European and any capacity without repercussions.

Asian countries? The answer is, once again, Instructors receiving ADA accommodapolitics over people. tions should not be required to maintain What we have is a president who spreads a face-to-face component of instruction in false and misleading information as if it institutions with HyFlex or hybrid teaching were the truth, and then he attacks his own models. coronavirus task force because Anthony Graduate students should be granted Fauci is more popular than he. That’s extensions and additional funding to preposterous. And why hasn’t Gov. Brian ensure they are able to maintain research Kemp followed and reinforced the CDC and teaching commitments, while still maintaining progress towards their degrees. guidelines? Mask-wearing is the No. 1 thing we can do to protect ourselves and everyone International students should receive else. Instead, Kemp is suing the mayor of support to ensure that they are able to Atlanta for her right efforts to stem the maintain their visa status and lawful presadvance of such a dangerous disease by ence in the U.S. requiring citizens to wear a mask—a ratioThe health, well-being, and safety of all nal, effective and right thing to do. campus communities should remain a top If a doctor treated me for any condition priority in the fall plan. that had the potential of killing me with So far, USG institutions as a whole have not solicited the input of graduate students. the incompetence, lack of concern for my health, and egomania that I see in our presIn an effort to be included in decision makident and governor, I would fire him as my ing, graduate students will also be deliverdoctor and sue him for malpractice. But I ing copies of the open letter and signatures can’t do that until November. So I will conto college presidents all over Georgia, as tinue to help where I can, to write letters, well as organizing an email campaign with call my representatives and tell them to fix the letter attached to ensure that the Board this problem now. of Regents members are fully aware of their Robert B. Covi demands. Graduate students comprise a Bogart significant amount of the teaching and

Government Is Failing Us

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AUGUST 12 , 2020 | FLAGPOLE.COM

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snuck into the primary just as it got to New Hampshire. Besides Franklin and his staff, everybody else in the book is real, ripped from the headlines, as they say.

The Last New Dealer REIMAGINING HISTORY TO POINT A WAY FORWARD

By Pete McCommons pete@flagpole.com Millard Grimes loves newspapers, politics and Franklin D. Roosevelt. He grew up in LaGrange and Columbus during the Depression, beginning his newspaper career as a summer proofreader for the Columbus paper when he was a junior in high school. He came to college at UGA just after World War II. He worked on the Red & Black, graduated from the Grady College, and went back to the paper in Columbus.

After some years as an editor, he convinced some wealthy associates to back him in the purchase of the Opelika-Auburn (AL) Daily News, and by the time they sold it, Millard had his grubstake to begin a career of buying and selling Georgia newspapers during the boom times. (He bought my interest in the Athens Observer.)

Millard was a hands-on owner, heavily involved in day-to-day management, tweaking headlines and regularly writing editorial columns that generally reflected his belief in the principles and accomplishments of Roosevelt’s New Deal. His newspapers covered local, state and national politics and profited from political advertising during election seasons.

Millard compiled a book about Georgia newspapers, The Last Linotype, but as a life-

long editorialist, he wanted to write a book that would express all he had been saying through his editorial columns through all those years at all those newspapers.

Finally, three years ago, at the age of 87 and being more or less forcibly retired by the precipitous decline of the newspaper industry, Millard sat down to write his book, using pen and yellow pads. (He can’t type!) Millard firmly believed that nobody would read a book of his musings, so he determined to write a novel that would be more interesting than essays but would still embody his ideas. And that is exactly what he did: day after day, month after month, writing it out in longhand and handing it to a typist. When he had finally finished, he couldn’t find an agent to sell it, thus he couldn’t find a publisher and finally had to self-publish, and very soon, The Last New Dealer will actually be out.

This is an amazing book. Millard reimagines the 1992 Democratic Primary race among Bill Clinton, Paul Tsongas, Jerry Brown, Tom Harkin, Bob Kerrey and Thomas Alexander Franklin. Wait a minute: Who? Yep. Franklin is actually, just between us, a mild-mannered Georgia newspaper magnate who has taken all his assets and

Franklin, like another ex-magnate I know, loves to dissect the minutiae of politics, framing the discussion in his encyclopedic knowledge of history and his fervent belief that the New Deal can still be the panacea for the ills of our benighted country.

Millard knows our history, and he conjures a story filled with lessons from the past and present that point the way out of

our national morass. He cleverly weaves his story into events that were transpiring during 1992, and the man can’t even google. (He doesn’t use a computer!)

This is not only a novel; it is a history book and a treatise on political philosophy. When you get over the shock of what Millard is doing, you enjoy the concoction of an added narrative wherein Thomas Alexander Franklin, Zelig-like, is inserted into the actual events. And not just Franklin, but his whole crew of campaign workers whom he (and we) come to care about and rely on.

Franklin just can’t quit standing in for his creator, reminding us at every turn where our country has been and where it is headed. We could have used him during the last primary season, and one can wish that Joe Biden could enjoy his sage counsel now. Maybe Millard ought to send him a copy.

The Last New Dealer is a good read, if you like fantasy politics. A good example of Millard’s method is his account of a political rally here in Athens, in the stadium, where Kenny Rogers provides the music, and speakers include Lewis Grizzard, Michael Stipe, Michael Thurmond, Gwen O’Looney, Herschel Walker and a surprise appearance by Jesse Jackson. I mean, hey, as long as you’re rewriting history, why not go all out?

I don’t know how Millard marshaled the stamina to produce this 630-page book, but it’s a crowning achievement for a 90-yearold man who has poured a lifetime of thought and experience into it. f

Residential • Office • Construction • Move In • Move Out

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EASTSIDE

LIQUOR 14

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1860 Barnett Shoals Rd. 706.353.1461 Next to Publix and Inoko Express

music

feature

musicians have changed over time. Bauer uses the Rodney Kings as anchoring characters here, following them as a band first, then following up with members Reeth Dasgupta, Max Wang and Cameron Evers later as they’ve moved on to other endeavors. Like the Rodney Kings, the majority of

plus chains that have infiltrated downtown like J. Crew Factory, Chick-fil-A and Urban Outfitters. Establishing this backdrop nods to the larger issues that occur when corporatization and cultural homogenization make it more difficult for artists to carve out and occupy space of their own.

“It was really depressing to see all the businesses that shut down, even before COVID-19… It is strange to see all the chain restaurants downtown and large, gaudy apartment complexes guarding the four corners of downtown,” says Bauer. “Not being able to go back to Go Bar for the foreseeable future really got me feeling strange, because that was always my go-to place of comfort, even after everything else had changed.”

other featured bands have since dissolved, and interviewees have relocated over the years: DJ Boring, DIP, Ginko, k i d s, Manny and the Deepthroats, Muuy Biien, Pretty Bird, Reptar, Salsa Chest, Velociraptor and Bauer’s own group, Sad Dads.

The film’s final chapter takes place on the most recent New Year’s Eve, and begins by flashing a series of dystopian images like construction at the shuttered Taste of India and mixed-use development 100 Prince,

Easily the most heartstring-pulling segment, the closing chapter archives the final big shows at Go Bar, which closed on NYE after 20 years of being a hub for experimental acts and late-night discos. A last hurrah brought back many of the venue’s regulars, like Catherine Rush and Coombsbot, back on stage and provided an opportunity for Bauer to touch base with previous interviewees.

Remember when the closing of Go Bar

Athens, GA: Over/Under THOMAS BAUER’S NEW DOCUMENTARY DELVES INTO THE DIY SCENE

By Jessica Smith music@flagpole.com Though the film’s title is a spin on 1987’s classic Athens, GA: Inside/Out, the newly released documentary Athens, GA: Over/ Under is decidedly not a sequel, and it deliberately avoids rehashing or romanticizing the music scene as it was over 30 years ago. Chances are, if a viewer is jumping down this new rabbit hole, they’re already familiar with that base level of knowledge of local music history anyways. Instead, filmmaker Thomas Bauer delves into the DIY scene as he experienced it himself, offering a candid look at its distinct charms and flaws.

Bauer began working on Over/Under in 2012 as a project for UGA’s student run radio station, WUOG, alongside Ella Grace Downs, who was co-director at the time. The film then evolved into an independent project with various people contributing, but came to a halt in 2014 after losing a hard drive with a significant amount of footage. Bauer later revived production in 2016 as part of his graduate work in Media Studies at The New School in New York City. The longevity of the project, intentional or not, made it possible to chronicle the ebb and flow of a DIY scene.

“The story I always wanted to tell was the progression of time through these bands, and not just a snapshot of the heyday,” says Bauer.

After taking viewers along for the ride to various shows and house parties, the film shifts its focus to show how the lives of

felt like the biggest possible loss to the local music scene? It’s really all been downhill from there.

Over/Under is perhaps best understood as a collection of experiences from the perspective of the filmmaker. As a music documentary, it’s largely unconcerned with expounding upon how the local music scene originally took root or showcasing the diversity of genres that exist outside of its loose social circle, or investigating the community resources and infrastructural limitations that either cultivate or infringe on a DIY scene’s ability to flourish. It provides a pretty realistic impression of a particular time and place, without attempting to glamorize or mythologize itself.

Still, it’s a story that is widely experienced by creatives who live here, especially those who come in for college and see a wave of friends quickly vanish after graduation. Time and time again, it feels as though many musicians move on in search of “bigger and better” opportunities or are pushed out by a pressure to stop Peter Pan-ing, leaving narratives in the community to fizzle out just as they seemed to have been gaining real momentum. Of course, as one generation splinters in different directions, there is usually a new crop of eccentrics slowly coalescing. Over/Under stresses the importance of making music and art for its own sake, and for your own sake.

“I would hope it inspires people to make music and art no matter what, and to not be discouraged if it goes nowhere,” says Bauer. “I wanted to capture the spirit of the time and how important it is to create, even if it is with bad equipment and a lacking skill set. I want them to see a more honest look at what it is really like to be a DIY musician in a small town during that era, and how it is important to look back on the past with a critical eye.” f

R ABBIT HOLE S TUDIOS

SALON, INC. Small business offices, art and music studios

($2 sq ft, month-to-month, non-residential usage, all utilities included)

2440 West Broad St., Suite 2 706-548-2188 www.alaferasalon.com

Hourly rehearsal trailer-studios ($8/hr) Hourly dance/yoga studio ($15/hr) Audio equipment rental • Event space and art gallery Musical Museum • Recording services

www.rabbitholestudios.org 762-499-4182 AUGUST 12 , 2020 | FLAGPOLE.COM

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cla cl assifi fie eds Buy It, Sell It, Rent It, Use It! Place an ad anytime, email class@flagpole.com

 Indicates images available at classifieds.flagpole.com

REAL ESTATE APARTMENTS FOR RENT 1BR/1BA, $525/mo. 1-year lease with $525 deposit. $40 non-refundable application fee. Water included, all-electric. Pets welcome with deposit. Close to downtown on bus line. bondhillapartments@gmail. com Find tenants for your rental property by advertising in the weekly Flagpole Classifieds. Call 706-5490301 today!

Quiet 1BR /1BA apartment for rent in Waterbury Apartments. Across from UGA Vet Hospital and bus lines. Recently refurbished, W/D included and pets OK. Flexible move-in date (Aug. 1–Sept. 1). Deposit: $635/Rent: $750. For details, please call 706399-5591. For a virtual tour, please click here.

CONDOS FOR RENT

ROOMS FOR RENT

SUB-LEASE

210 Appleby Dr., Unit #125.

2BR/2BA, 1120 sf. Firstfloor condo, half a mile from campus and downtown with off-street parking. Each bedroom has its own bathroom.

Please call for more information: 603-590-5689.

Office space available at 220 Prince Ave. Flagpole has more space then we need in the 1907 two-story house that we rent across from The Grit and Hendershot’s!

Three spaces available on the second floor: $800/ month for large office; Facing Prince Ave., lots of windows, built-in bookcase and decorative fireplace. $600/month for medium office; 17ft x 14ft, decorative fireplace and storage closet. $350/month for small office; Perfect for space for a single person to get some work done. All spaces include parking for the renter and a guest, all utilities (except phone) including inter net and use of shared conference room. Must have limited foot traffic. No reception available. Please email ads@flagpole.com for more information or to set up an appointment.

Looking for someone to take up my lease from Oct. 1, 2020–July 26, 2021. Bogart apartment in a quiet neighborhood near Atlanta Hwy. Easy access to post office, library, downtown Athens, etc. Includes living room, kitchen, laundry room, b e d ro o m , s m a l l b a t h room, easy parking and more. $675/mo. Must have a credit score at 600 or above. Call or text Jen at 410-212-2657.

Flagpole subscriptions delivered straight to the mailbox! Perfect present for your buddy who moved out of town! $45 for 6 months or $80 for 1 year.

Call 706-549-0301.

HOME AND GARDEN



HOUSES FOR RENT



3BR/2BA in the historical Reese/ Hancock Street district.

Three blocks from campus and downtown. W/D and dishwasher included.

Please call for more information: 678-698-7613.

4BR/3BA house in Five Points for rent. $2000/mo.

Master suite on main floor, fireplace in living room and mudroom off of the kitchen.

Wa t e r, g a r b a g e , l a w n maintenance and pest control included. Call 706621-5330 or 706-202-8688 for details.

flagpole classifieds Reach Over 30,000 Readers Every Week!

Business Services Real Estate Music For Sale

Employment Vehicles Messages Personals

BASIC RATES* Individual $10 per week Real Estate $14 per week Business $16 per week (RTS) Run-‘Til-Sold** $40 per 12 weeks Online Only*** $5 per week

MUSIC EQUIPMENT Nuçi’s Space needs your old instruments & music gear, especially drum equipment! All donations are tax-deductible. 706227-1515 or come by Nuçi’s Space, 396 Oconee St.

SERVICES Need old newspapers?

They’re free at the Flagpole office! Call 706-549-0301 to check our supply.

Plumber Pro Service & Drain. Upfront Pricing. Free Estimates. $30 Flagpole Discount. Call 706-7697761. Same Day Service Available. www.plumberproservice.com.

MISC. SERVICES Learning coach available for families choosing to do online learning in the fall.

Over 30 years experience working with children of all ages. References available. 706-870-5128. commercedance@yahoo.com

TUTORS Middle school teacher for online or in-person tutor.

Master’s in Ed from UGA; 6 years classroom experience. Certified in math, social studies and English.

Grades 4–8. Call/text: 706461-2212

JOBS FULL-TIME ABC Package is hiring par t-time and full-time team members to assist customers on the sales floor, front end cashiers and merchandiser/stock associates. Must be 21.

Please apply at 2303 W. Broad St.

ADOPT ME!

Visit athenspets.net to view all the cats and dogs available at the shelter

*Ad enhancement prices are viewable at flagpole.com **Run-‘Til-Sold rates are for MERCHANDISE ONLY ***Available for individual rate categories only

PLACE AN AD • Call our Classifieds Dept. (706) 549-0301 • Email us at class@flagpole.com

Coconut (53718)

Coconut is ready to bring plenty of flavor to your life! This guy loves cuddling, chasing balls, and even “talking” to you. A home where Coconut can play and be vocal would be perfect, so call today for an appointment with him!

• Deadline to place ads is 11:00 a.m. every Monday for the following Wednesday issue • All ads must be prepaid

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FLAGPOLE.COM | AUGUST 12 , 2020

Pancho (53461)

Pepper (53959)

Pepper is the epitome of a shy Pancho’s still at the shelter awaiting sweetheart. While she isn’t fond a furever home! He’s six years of loud noises or activities, this old, friendly, walks well on a leash girl has the potential to be a great and sits for treats. So, we’d say Pancho’s well-rounded and ready companion. Call today to learn more to go! Call and set up some time to about Pepper (and her two siblings, Milano and Alan, as well!) meet this guy, ASAP.

These pets and many others are available for adoption at:

Athens-Clarke County Animal Control 125 Buddy Christian Way · 706-613-3540 Call for appointment

Alternative Energy S o u t h e a s t i s c u rrently seeking a Solar Mounting and PV System Hardware Installer with good mechanical skills.

The solar industry is rapidly expanding and AES is committed to leading the industry through an emphasis on quality workmanship and exceptional customer service. If you’re interested in learning more about our team, have questions, or wish to apply, please send inquiries and resumes to tblackwell@ altenergyse.com.

Alternative Energy Southeast is currently seeking a qualified electrician to assist in the installation of residential and commercial solar energy systems. The solar industry is rapidly expanding and AES is committed to leading the industry through an emphasis on quality workmanship and exceptional customer service. If you’re interested in learning more about our team, have questions, or wish to apply, please send all inquiries and resumes to info@altenergyse.com.

OPPORTUNITIES World of Futons is hiring! Seeking delivery and salespeople, as well as frame builders. Call 706-353-1218 for more details.

PART-TIME Seeking excellent typists (65+ WPM) to start immediately. Flexible schedules with 16 hours/per week minimum. Office policies include mandatory cleanings, socially distant workstations and no unauthorized visitors. Pay starts at $9.25 with $1/hour or higher raises after training.

No previous transcription experience required. Apply at www.ctscribes.com

NOTICES MESSAGES Flagpole ♥s our readers and advertisers. Thanks, y’all! Stay safe.

SUDOKU

Edited by Margie E. Burke

Difficulty: Medium

5 8 2 1 9

6 2 5

HOW TO SOLVE:

Each row must contain the numbers 1 to 9; each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9; and each set of 3 by 3 boxes must contain the numbers 1 to 9.

Week of 8/10/20 - 8/16/20 The Weekly Crossword 14 17 20

7 6 25 1 31 8 35 9 40 3 45 2 5 4 51

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by Margie E. Burke 9

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By Gordon Lamb threatsandpromises@flagpole.com

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last week that the old Kilkenny Cats catalog is getting some nice reissue treatment. Lead singer Tom Cheek let me know what’s been up. First up, and out now, is the band’s debut 7-inch from 1984, “Attractive Feature” b/w “Of Talk.” Because old reel-to-reel tapes begin to “shed” after a time and get sticky to boot, they generally have to undergo a baking (as in an oven at very low temperature) process to be usable. It can be delicate work. In this case, the baking was handled by David Barbe, and the remastering work was done by Jason NeSmith at Chase Park Transduction. The tracks were originally produced in 1983

by Michael Lachowski (Pylon) at Atlanta’s Songbird Studios. Cheek reports that the process is already well underway to re-release the band’s 1986 LP Hands Down, originally recorded at Minneapolis’ famed Nicollete Studios and released via Coyote/Twin Tone, and both Barbe and Nesmith are involved with that in the same way described above. Also on deck is the original version of the band’s song “Nightfall,” which it’s fair to say most of the world was exposed to (via a live version) in the film Athens, GA: Inside/Out. Find the debut single now on Spotify and other major streaming services. I’ll keep you posted as other items are released.

about them. But I can report that this set of newly released tunes by Brefmint is inoffensively middle of the road with moments of surprising sweetness. In particular, “Right or Wrong” and the pop-oriented “200 Yards” are highlights here. You’re never gonna sell me on the name Brefmint, though. At any rate, check this out at brefmint.bandcamp. com.

WE LIVE IN A SOCIETY: Longtime Athens rock photographer

Chris McKay enlisted an all-star set of players for his topical new single, “If You Don’t Wear A Mask (You’re Showing What An Ass You Are).” The subject matter is exactly what you’d imagine, and was inspired by an unthinking coworker

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Solution to21 Sudoku: 5 423 6 3 2 9 8 1 8 2 9 5 1 3 7 274 26 3 9 7 4 8 2 5 6 32 33 2 1 4 6 7 5 3 9 4 5 836 1 337 6 2 7 6 7 2 941 5 4 421 8 9 3 1 7 646 8 4 5 1 6 349 8 4 7 9 2 7 853 5 2 9 1 6 543 52

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PLUS, MORE MUSIC NEWS AND GOSSIP SHAKIN’ IN THE ‘80S: I was totally pleased to get the news

Copyright 2020 by The Puzzle Syndicate

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threats & promises

Cool Down with Razzi King

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music

SUMMER CHILLER: I’d been thinking it was about

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Copyright 2020 by The Puzzle Syndicate

ACROSS 1 "Wheel of 51 Pester Fortune" prize 54 Like a friar 5 Space ___ 57 Milky, in a way 10 Teens' big night 59 Orchestral 14 Top-drawer heavyweight 15 Speak pompously 60 Wedding wear 16 Be nomadic 61 Ear-related 17 Wash up 62 Van Gogh 18 Getty Center subject home 63 Small whirlpool 20 Bayou critter 64 Distrustful 22 Hems, e.g.

65 Mascara's target 23 Take for a while 24 Kind of pad DOWN 25 Pricing word 1 Bath powder 27 Eye affliction 2 Hearty laugh 31 Thor, for one 3 Nullify 32 Chemo target 4 Paul Reubens 34 Specialty character 35 Farm soil 5 Sports stadium 37 Grinding tooth 6 Became an issue 39 Eye drop?

7 Morse code bit 40 Duo quadrupled 8 Posting at LAX 42 Famous 9 Lease signer 44 ___ and vigor 10 Past tense 45 At any time 11 SAG member's 47 High jinks gig 49 Buffet implement 12 Anagram for 50 Type of sleeve 16-across

13 19 21 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 33 36 38 41 43 46 48 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 58

Predicament Collect slowly "Is that a ____?"

Gold measure Lit up Kennel critter Peach or plum Jim Carrey title role Committee head Contract provisions Bank contents In the mind Not long ago Concise Facts and figures Feudal tenant Flower part Submarine detector Hauled a ship Made like Sneak attack Paltry Egyptian bird "A Boy Named Sue" singer Actor's prompt

time for another record by Razzi King to happen and, what do you know, late last month he released the 11-track Inna World Crisis. For the most part, this is a pretty casual album, but its dub tracks are distinctively faster-tempo than previous King works. A couple of the tracks are pretty blown-out, too, and go solidly into the red. Notably, “Out Of Bondage” will scorch your speakers. Not a whole lot going here that’s different from previous releases, but King Razzi King never has a problem exploring different styles or producing, nor releasing, multiple collecof McKay’s wife who wouldn’t follow office safety protocols. tions per year. So if he decides to cool his heels a little bit The tune itself has hints of McKay’s signature power pop, with a more casual release, he’s earned it. As always, head but mostly grooves along in a somewhat shabby-glam style to echobassrecords.bandcamp.com and see what you think. à la Stones-style honky tonk. Indeed, he cheekily incorWHAT’S IN A NAME?: Former Granfalloons member Matthew porates the signature line from the chorus of The Rolling Williams releases mellow Americana-ish music under Stones’ “Dead Flowers,” too. While I’m not convinced this the name Brefmint now, and just released a collection declaration will really, you know, change hearts ‘n’ minds, of six songs recorded between 2009–2011. The tracks are I can certainly appreciate its frustration. The three-verreportedly songs that were destined to be on the second sion release features both a “clean” version and an instruGranfalloons album, but that record never came to fruimental version. This is credited to Chris McKay & The tion; the band’s Songs To Sing was released in 2010. I never Masketeers, and you can grab it at chrismckay.bandcamp. really listened to them back then, so I can’t say anything com. f

record review Shehehe: Pet Songs (Say-10 Records) Spearheaded by Nicole Bechill (vocals), Jason Fusco (drums/vocals), and Noelle Shuck (rhythm guitar/vocals), this is the punk band’s seventh release since they first met each other poolside at the Bulldog Inn and made the brilliant decision to collectively form a glam rock unit in 2011. Inspired by the greats of power pop and hardcore, Shehehe’s Pet Songs is based in the gut, drawing from personal life experiences to write their lyrics, and performing them with a brazen force that has rarely been matched since punk’s heyday in the 1970s and ’80s. Many of their intros are reminiscent of Steve Jones licks, and their stop-and-start strategy in “Summer Camp Rant” midway through keeps you engaged as ever. The energy in their music is contagious, from their single “…But I’m Tryin Hard” all the way to the final track “New Year’s Eve Eve.” This is an album that reinvigorates the sex, drugs, and rock and roll air that so many others try to emulate, truly cranking it up to 11. The nostalgia is not contrived; there is sincerity strung through their screams, grounding the listener in the fertile soil of Athens then and now. Each song on this record is an open invitation—come one, come all—to an anthemic celebration of the good, the bad and the ugly. [Lily Guthrie]

Puzzle answers are available at www.flagpole.com/puzzles

AUGUST 12 , 2020 | FLAGPOLE.COM

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bulletin board Deadline for getting listed in Bulletin Board is every THURSDAY at 5 p.m. for the print issue that comes out the following Wednesday. Online listings are updated daily. Email calendar@flagpole.com.

Art ATHENS CREATIVE DIRECTORY (Athens, GA) The ACD is a new platform to connect creatives with patrons. Visual artists, musicians, actors, writers and other creatives are encouraged to create a free listing before the new website launches. athenscreatives@gmail.com, athens creatives.directory CALL FOR INTERNS (Athens Institute for Contemporary Art: ATHICA) ATHICA is seeking interns interested in development, social media, music, poetry, photography and gallery operation. Minimum five hours a week. College credit is available in coordination with department of study. Rolling deadline. athica. org/updates/internships CALL FOR PUBLIC ART: DUDLEY PARK (Athens, GA) The Athens Cultural Affairs Commission invites professional artists to submit proposals for consideration in the picnic shelter and restroom facility area at the park. Proposals due Aug. 30. www.athensclarkecounty.com/9519

Auditions FRUITCAKES (Elbert Theatre, Elberton) Encore Productions hosts auditions for the final show of its 2020 season. The director is looking to cast a mid-sized group of adult men, adult women and children ages

10–12. Be prepared to read excerpts from the script. Auditions on Aug. 31–Sept. 1, 6–8 p.m. Rehearsals will be held mid-September through mid-November. Performances held Nov. 6–8 & 13–15. 706-283-1049

Classes DEDICATED MINDFULNESS PRACTITIONERS (Online) Weekly Zoom meditations are offered every Saturday at 8 a.m. Email for details. jaseyjones@gmail.com MINDFULNESS PRACTICE EVENINGS (Online) Discuss and practice how to change your relationship with difficult thoughts and emotions. Email for the Zoom link.

Second Friday of the month, 6–7 p.m. FREE! mfhealy@bellsouth.net SPANISH CLASSES (Athens, GA) For adults, couples and children.

Learn from experts with years of professional experience. Contact for details. 706-372-4349, marinabilbao75@gmail.com YAMUNA AND MORE (Elevate Athens, Online) Nia Holistic Fitness and Yamuna Body Rolling are held on an ongoing basis. $20/class.

Specialty classes range from selfcare to Yamuna foot fitness and more.www.elevateathens.com ZOOM YOGA (Online) Rev. Elizabeth Alder offers “Off the Floor Yoga” (chair and standing) on Mondays at 1:30 p.m. and “Easy on the Mat” yoga classes on Thursdays at 5:30

art around town AMICI (233 E. Clayton St.) Jennifer Wallens Terry is a medium, pet psychic and spiritual coach. Her abstract paintings focus on texture and color, while others feature celestial and symbolic imagery. Through August.

CITY OF WATKINSVILLE (Downtown Watkinsville) “Public Art Watkinsville: A Pop-Up Sculpture Exhibit” consists of sculptures placed in prominent locations around downtown. Artists include Benjamin Lock, William Massey, Stan Mullins, Robert Clements, Harold Rittenberry and Joni YounkinsHerzog. • “Artscape Oconee: The Monuments of Artland” features a total of 20 paintings on panels installed around town. Artists include Claire Clements, Peter Loose, Andy Cherewick, Lisa Freeman, Manda McKay and others.

DORY’S HEARTH HOME AND PATIO (37 Greensboro Hwy., Watkinsville) Susan Pelham’s collages are influenced by Magic Realism, Surrealism, fables and folklore. Through August.

EARTH FARE (1689 S. Lumpkin St.) Tom Hancock creates abstract paintings that incorporate mixed media and found objects. Through August.

GEORGIA MUSEUM OF ART (90 Carlton St.) “Louis Comfort Tiffany: Treasures from the Driehaus Collection” features over 60 objects spanning over 30 years of the famous stained-glass artist’s career. • “Master of Fine Arts Degree Candidates Exhibition” is an annual exit show for the graduating master of fine arts students at the Lamar Dodd School of Art. • “Rediscovering the Art of Victoria Hutson Huntley” contains approximately 30 lithographs and two paintings. • “Drama and Devotion in Baroque Rome” celebrates Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio’s influence. Through Aug. 23.

• “Altered Landscapes: Photography in the Anthropocene” includes images that demonstrate humanity’s impact on the natural world. Through Sept. 27.

• “Recognizing Artist Soldiers in the Permanent Collection” includes artists who served in conflicts from the Revolutionary War through World War II, as well as those who served in the 1950s. The museum opens Aug. 13 with safety precautions in place.

GLASSCUBE@INDIGO (500 College Ave.) “Supple Moments, Dark Corners” is a site-specific installation by Eli Saragoussi that is accompanied by a soundscape by Max Boyd called “Jungle Drone.” Saragoussi recently incorporated additional set pieces built for Ad•Verse festival.

KEMPT (175 N. Lumpkin St.) The Milan Art Institute presents a display of 20 or so recent works by the institute’s students. Through October.

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p.m. Ongoing classes are $5/class or $18/month. 706-612-8077, ommmever@yahoo.com

Events ATHENS FARMERS MARKET (Bishop Park) The market is open with safety precautions in place.

Wear a mask, pre-order when possible, keep your family home and use cashless payments. Saturdays, 8 a.m.–12 p.m. www.athensfarmers market.net AUGUST EVENTS (Southern Brewing Company) Monday Night Trivia every Monday at 6 p.m. Sunday Trivia with Solo Entertainment is held every Sunday at 5 p.m. DJ Osmose Aug. 14, 6–9 p.m. Mother Fore Aug. 15, 5–7 p.m. Southernfest Anniversary Party Aug. 22, 5–11 p.m. Gibbs Family Band Aug. 28, 5 p.m. www.sobrewco.com REDEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS (Online) Help sketch out ideas for the redevelopment of North Downtown Athens and Bethel Homes. Discussion topics include sustainability, street networks and transit. Online workshops will be held Aug. 13–15. Visit website to register. www.ndathensplanning.com FACEBOOK LIVE SUNDAY MUSIC (Online) The Athens Regional Library System presents a virtual concert series featuring Trevon on Aug. 16, Free Range Minstrel on Aug. 23 and Torchiana on Aug. 30.

Mixed media works by Tom Hancock are currently on view at Earth Fare through August.

Concerts are at 1 p.m. www.athens library.org LIVE WIRE SUMMER EVENTS (Live Wire Athens) Wedding Industry Happy Hour is held every Wednesday from 5–6 p.m. Games of darts are held every Wednesday from 5–10 p.m. Fresh Garden Jam with live jamming is held every Thursday from 5–10 p.m. Love Music Live Stream offers bands streamed from the main stage every Friday 5-10 p.m. www. livewireathens.com/calendar RAY BRADBURY READ-A-THON (Online) Over 40 readers from all over the country, including representatives from the Athens Regional Library System, will perform a virtual

LAMAR DODD SCHOOL OF ART (270 River Rd.) “Amiko Li: The Purpose of Disease” presents the explorations of the Dodd MFA Fellow in photography into acupuncture, palm reading, psychogenics, herbal supplements, antibiotics and the regeneration of limbs. • “KITCHEN” is a new animation by New York-based artist and former Athenian Michael Siporin Levine, inspired by his quarantine experience. • In “Mors Scena,” photographer Rachel Cox documents the viewing rooms and visitation spaces of funeral homes, drawing attention to how we mourn and memorialize the dead in America. • Atlanta-based artist Michi Meko’s 2017 installation, “One Last Smile Before the Undertow,” is a suite of works addressing black life in America postObama. • “Silver_Page_Radio_Light” is a collaboration between Austinbased photographer Barry Stone and New York-based photographer Lucy Helton, who faxed each other an image each day for a portion of quarantine.

• In “Optical Illusion,” Zipporah Camille Thompson juxtaposes organic and inorganic materials. • In “Makeover Kingdom,” Houston-based artist and Dodd alum Cobra McVey transforms thrift store objects and mass-produced consumer goods into playful assemblages. Exhibitions are available online at art.uga.edu.

LYNDON HOUSE ARTS CENTER (293 Hoyt St.) “Collections from our Community” presents the peels of bananas that were eaten by Hue Henry and photographed as a still life by Carole Henry. Through Sept. 1. • In the Lobby Case, view a collection of charming ceramic house sculptures by Frank Jackson. Through Sept. 1. • The Lyndon House is currently open to the public, with precautions in place.

MADISON ARTISTS GUILD (125 W. Jefferson St., Madison) Bev Jones’ works in “Whispers of Tranquility” are inspired by experiences that jar her as well as still moments, particularly when alone and immersed in the natural world. Through October.

MADISON-MORGAN CULTURAL CENTER (434 S. Main St., Madison) “Lambs to Lillies” is an online exhibition featuring impressionistic oil paintings by Cynthia Perryman. Through Sept. 11 at mmcc-arts.org.

TIF SIGFRIDS (119 N. Jackson St.) See seven humorous paintings by Heidi Jahnke, a Canadian artist who lived and worked in New York. Through Aug. 24.

UGA SPECIAL COLLECTIONS LIBRARIES (300 S. Hull St.) Online exhibitions include “Steele Vintage Broadcast Microphone Collection,” “Foxfire on Display at UGA: 50 Years of Cultural Journalism Documenting Folk Life in the North Georgia Mountains, September–December 2016,” “Covered With Glory: Football at UGA, 1892–1917” and “Fighting Spirit: Wally Butts and UGA Football, 1939–1950.” Visit digilab.libs.uga.edu/scl/exhibits.

FLAGPOLE.COM | AUGUST 12 , 2020

reading of Bradbury’s classic dystopian novel Fahrenheit 451. The reading will be streamed over YouTube, Facebook and Instagram on Aug. 22. www.raybradbury.com THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW SKETCHES (Elbert Theatre, Elberton) Encore Productions presents a night of 1970s comedy. $9–16. Social distancing will be observed through reserved seating.

Aug. 21–22, 28–29, 7 p.m. Aug. 23, 30, 2 p.m. 706-283-1049, tking@ cityofelberton.net

Kidstuff WE ROCK ATHENS CAMP ONLINE (Online) Girls Rock Athens presents online classes in instruction, musicianship, self-empowerment and community care. For ages 9–17.

Classes include guitar, bass, drums, keys, vocals, DJing, body image and media literacy, DIY crafts, poetry, activism, volunteerism and more.

Ongoing. Sliding scale tuition. girls rockcampathens@gmail.com, www. girlsrockathensga.org

Support Groups MALE SURVIVOR VIRTUAL SUPPORT GROUP (Online) This group is a safe space for male survivors of sexual violence and childhood sexual abuse to connect and receive support from other survivors.

Services are free and confidential.

Meetings held Sept. 10–Oct. 29, 5:30 p.m. Call Mary Dulong at The Cottage, 1-877-363-1912. info@ northgeorgiacottage.org, www.north georgiacottage.org RECOVERY DHARMA (Recovery Dharma) This peer-led support group offers a Buddhist-inspired path to recovery from any addiction. Visit the website for info about Zoom meetings. Thursdays, 7–8 p.m. FREE! www.athensrecoverydharma.org

On the Street 2020 CENSUS (Athens, GA) The ACC Complete County Committee urges the 43.2% of county residents that have not yet responded to the 2020 Census to do so by the new deadline

of Sept. 30. Socially-distanced events will be held Aug. 14 from 4–8 p.m. at Springfield Baptist Church and Aug. 15 from 9 a.m.–12 p.m. at Gateway Shopping Plaza. my2020census.gov THE MARIGOLD MARKET (Online) The Marigold Market aims to make fresh food easily accessible to the Eastside Athens and Winterville communities. The market is open online every week from Friday through Wednesday, and orders can be picked up every Saturday. cityof winterville.com/marigold- market STORMWATER CALENDAR (Athens, GA) The ACC Stormwater staff is seeking photos of water and nature scenes from all around Athens to create a wall calendar for 2021. Submit photos by email with the name of the photographer and a description of where, when and why it was taken. Deadline Sept. 25. stormwater@accgov.com SUMMER READING PROGRAM (Athens Regional Library System) All ages can participate in this year’s summer program, which has the theme “Imagine Your Story.” Patrons can check out digital eBooks, audiobooks and magazines online, or place holds for curbside pickup weekdays 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Prizes will be given to readers. www.athens library.org TRASHERCISE (Athens, GA) Complete your own Trashercise workout by walking, jogging or running along, trails, roads and neighborhoods. Bring a bag, gloves or a grabber, and pick up any trash you see. Share photos through #trasherciseathens. Report your cleanup online, and Keep AthensClarke County Beautiful will send a prize. carlos.pinto@accgov.com, www.keepathensbeautiful.org, www. accgov.com/aahcleanupreport WATER WORKS PHOTO CONTEST (Athens, GA) The ACC Water Conservation Office invites photographers to fill in the blank on “Water works. Today. Tomorrow. For ___.” High-resolution photographs due Aug. 30. Twenty photos will be selected as finalists for a round of online voting, with the 10 photos receiving inclusion in a 30-second TV spot in honor of Imagine A Day Without Water. www.accgov.com/ waterworks f

advice

hey, bonita…

An Acquaintance Is Stalking Me ADVICE FOR ATHENS’ LOOSE AND LOVELORN

By Bonita Applebum advice@flagpole.com Sigh. Oh Bonita.

I was recently told by an acquaintance that a second mutual acquaintance described me to them as her “best friend.” My relationship with this second acquaintance (referred to hereafter as 2A) is nowhere near what would be described as that of a “best friend.” We only communicate via random text messages, which I keep short. We met in grad school and spent a good bit of time together as classmates working on projects or sharing rides here and there, and we’ve also engaged in some personal disclosure, but again, when I think of my relationships with my actual best friends, my interactions with 2A do not come anywhere close. A little more background: We used to talk a lot more and

Sexual Health & Wellness with me. I also found out that she is in therapy in the same town that I work in, which makes no sense because she lives over an hour away from here, but now she has a reason to accidentally bump into me. And we are definitely not best friends. What would you do? I don’t wanna get “single white femaled.”

Hey, I’m sorry for using a harsh tone when responding to your last letter. I get passionate when I see multiple red flags, and I assume that this person’s behavior was setting off crazy klaxons for me. She seems to have far more issues than misunderstanding racism if she’d kick you out of her life for not being a racist,

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once could have been thought of as casual friends, but 2A decided that I was “against white people” by the way that I wrote about white privilege on social media, and decided that she no longer wanted to associate with me. She disconnected from me on every platform but only told me why when I emailed her about it. (I actually wrote to you about that, and you kinda tore me a new one for even caring. Ouch!)

In the end, I realized that I didn’t need friends like her, but out of nowhere about a year later, she reached out again asking for resources on white privilege that I’d sent in the past as a reply to her dumping me as a friend, so I obliged with attachments and then directed her to Google. Since then, I’ve tried to end my relationship with her in the same way that I have done in the past with others—ghosting, basically, but it doesn’t work.

She doesn’t seem to get the clue. Now she will text me randomly with a sentence or two, or a question. I’ll respond, but only very briefly, and coronavirus has made it very easy for me to turn down offers to meet up. Knowing the background of my previous questions to you about this person, what should I do? Her social situation hasn’t changed; she still lives at home and seems to have no other real connections with others besides her perceived connection

and then turn around and call you her “best friend” after a year of very little interaction. I can’t really put words to the scary feeling it gives me to imagine this person trying to kick you out of her life, only to show back up and act like nothing ever happened. This scariness is also colored by her having therapy appointments that are an hour away from her home, but right down the street from your workplace. This lady seems to have some sort of preoccupation or infatuation with you, and I bet she thinks of your relationship in terms that do not match the reality of things at all.

You need to confront her about the best friend thing. I know that’s daunting, but it’s necessary to have this conversation now before she deludes herself further.

Send an email if you’d rather not talk on the phone. I have to admit that it’s pretty hard to tell someone that you don’t want a relationship with them, so you might prefer just blocking her across all platforms of communication. I know you’ve tried ghosting, but you gotta stick to your guns and stop responding to her texts. Send that email, talk through any civil conversation she wants to have about it, and then block her. I don’t want you getting “single white femaled” either. f

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