The Sou'Wester: January 2022

THE VOL .91 NO.4

SOU’WESTER THE VOICE OF GSW

INTERVIEW WITH NEW SGA PRESIDENT BRANDON BLUE

JANUARY 2022 SINCE 1934

IN THIS ISSUE

LIBRARY IMAGE SERIES PAGE 2

From circulation staff to construction, take a look at all the resources for students in the James Earl Carter Library.

CAMPUS RESOURCES INTERVIEW PAGE 3

Shannon Griffin discusses her role as GSW’s Coordinator for Residential Living and Student Activities.

CSC GULF COAST GETAWAY PAGE 4 Brandon Blue discusses new responsibilities as president. Video by Sabrina Hagler

GSW students discuss their time in Panama City with the Christian Student Center.

FLORRIE CHAPEL SNEAK PEEK Moses Simmons Associate Editor It is no secret to those that have been around in the last few semesters that GSW has been under a lot of work. With the Canes Central opening last semester the university has begun providing a rollout of redone buildings, the latest being the new and improved Florrie Chappell Gymnasium. While for now the old gym is and will still function as a gym, the new one expands and improves everything to levels you would see at professional gyms.

All the machines that the old gym has are still going to be around, every single one has been upgraded to the greatest and latest models.

FEBRUARY EVENTS

Nothing was skipped, from treadmills, rowing machines, leg presses, and now multiple sets of free weights. Plus new machines for separate workouts like a heavy bag and jacob’s ladder for more aerobic exercise. There are heavier and more intensive machines as well, like inner and outer thigh machines, shoulder presses, abdominal crunch machines, and pectoral fly machines.

There is more to it than just the machines though, there are locker rooms and even a common area to cool down or hang out with friends. GSW is not only creating a great place to work out, but also a place that allows you to further enjoy your college experience. It is a place I would highly encourage every student to visit and use regularly.

PAGE 2 IMAGE SERIES

JAMES EARL CARTER LIBRARY Sabrina Hagler Editor-In-Chief

The James Earl Carter Library has many resources for students! Students can visit the writing center, lounge and do work, or utilize books from the library’s vast collection. The library is open 9a.m. to 10p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, from 10a.m. to 5p.m. on Fridays, from 1p.m. to 5p.m. on Saturdays, and from 5p.m. to 10p.m. on Sundays.

Eli Fenton at the circulation desk

James Earl Carter Library, Pictures by Sabrina Hagler

The Writing Center

Alex Morton getting some reading done

Colton Horne browsing the collection

PAGE 3 CAMPUS RESOURCES

INTERVIEW WITH COORDINATOR FOR RESIDENTIAL LIVING AND STUDENT ACTIVITIES SHANNON GRIFFIN

Interview with Shannon Griffin. Video by Talik Hill Talik Hill Staff Writer In what ways do you oversee the residential halls?

“Yes, so every residential hall on campus has a building coordinator, I oversee Magnolia 1 & 2, Mikela Barlow oversees Oaks 1 & 2, and Matthew Klein oversees Pines. As coordinators, we are responsible for helping RLs with what they need to reach their goals and ensuring they follow through on completing their tasks, which are: managing a hallway or a floor, making sure residents have the resources that they need, connecting residents to the appropriate personnel that are equipped in addressing their specific concerns, etc. We recognize that RLs are student workers, but that they’re students first, so we like to make sure that they have the resources to succeed academically.”

What are the qualifications for a residential leader to be selected for the “RL Spotlight” on the monthly ResLife newsletters?

“We like to recognize our RLs on the RL Spotlight for their accomplishments no matter how perceivably small or simple they are.

We generally like to give attention to staff members to show encouragement and support for their efforts that we appreciate. The RL Spotlight is pretty randomly selected, it’s who all of the coordinators choose to have on the spotlight.”

What does the department of Residential Living and Student Activities do for the student body?

“Our main goal is to ensure that the students have a great experience here on campus. Personally, I feel Students Activities is suppose to be a very student-oriented department, I learned that from a great mentor, Ms. Stackhouse. We make sure that we create programs that students would want to see. We make things happen on campus that students would want to go to. We listen to and ensure that the students’ voice is heard. We may not be able to grant every wish of the students but we are going to do what we can to make sure that students have a great experience here a GSW.”

Photos of RL spaces and bulletin boards.

Photos by Talik Hill.

PAGE 4

STUDENT ACTIVITIES

Photos supplied by Jackson Carlstrom.

CSC TRAVELS TO PANAMA CITY FOR GULF COAST GETAWAY

Jackson Carlstrom Staff Writer

On the weekend of January 14th-16th, several GSW students traveled down to Florida with the Christian Student Center to attend the Gulf Coast Getaway. Gulf Coast Getaway is an annual conference held in Panama City, Florida, where over 1,000 college students from several college ministries across the nation gather to start off their spring semester by strengthening their faith and deepening friendships. “Over the weekend, I learned a lot about how wisdom can be used to explain the differences between right and wrong and how it allows me to stay away from the ones that are not the best to keep around and keep those who are the people that I can actually call friends,” Thad Whitaker said.

Gulf Coast Getaway’s theme for 2022 was “Yes or No: Wisdom in a Chaotic World.” Throughout the weekend, students got to attend several sessions where they learned more about the need for biblical wisdom in daily life. After each session, students attended group discussion times where they discussed what they personally got out of each session and breakout classes where they dug a little bit deeper into the theme of biblical wisdom. This year’s keynote speaker was Jonathan Storment, the preaching minister of Pleasant Valley Church of Christ in Little Rock, Arkansas. “[The sessions] covered a lot of topics like how you should always aim towards good goals. Also, another session was about relationships and friends, which used a lot of scripture as examples,” Qazi Ahsan said.

Students at Gulf Coast Retreat also got the opportunity to learn more about different ministries and mission efforts from across the nation through different vendor booths. Groups like Mission Alive, the Chaplaincy Endorsement Commission, Campus for Christ, and more were present at this year’s Gulf Coast Getaway. ships, and get to know each other more.

The worship and class sessions were balanced with free time for students to have fun, deepen their friendships, and get to know each other more. The GSW students at Gulf Coast Getaway spent their free time taking in the sights of Panama City and braving the winter temperature at Panama City Beach. “What I really pulled from this weekend was that everything you do leads you down a path in life. Every word you speak has power because the words you choose to say will impact the person you are speaking to,” Elizabeth Haire said.

PAGE 5

ASK THE CANES Are you a commuter or do you live on campus?

Junior Information Technology Major “I have lived on campus before and now I am a commuter, and to be honest, both have advantages and disadvantages. I liked both pretty equally, but maybe living on campus more. When you live in the dorms it is easier to see friends anytime you want and you don’t have to spend money on gas.

I needed a job that paid well though and honestly what I made at GSW couldn’t cover my expenses. Commuting saves

money on tuition, food, and amenities as my parents cover most of that.

The driving sucks though and I can’t participate in campus activities or see my friends much.”

Senior English Major “I live on campus because it’s more convenient for me. My home is an hour away from here and I don’t think it would be practical to drive back and forth every day. By staying on campus, I can avoid the potentially high costs of gas, car repairs, etc. Personally, I think it’s a better option for me.”

MEET OUR WRITERS

Cloie Davis Staff Writer rdavis27@radar.gsw.edu

Sabrina Hagler Editor-In-Chief shagler1@radar.gsw.edu

Talik Hill Staff Writer thill19@radar.gsw.edu

Moses Simmons Associate Editor asimmo10@radar.gsw.edu

Dr. Ashley P. Jones Faculty Advisor ashley.jones@gsw.edu

Jackson Carlstrom Staff Writer jcarlstr@radar.gsw.edu

Senior English Major “I have lived on campus since my freshman year and definitely think it was worth it. I’ve made lifelong friends in the dorms and had some of the best times of my life on campus. I found out during summer semesters what it was like to do work from home, and it is very difficult compared to doing work in the library or in my room. I was able to easily participate in campus activities and can wake up 30 minutes before a class starts and still get there on time.”

FIND US ONLINE!

gsw.edu/souwester @gsw_souwester