WRITING SOUTHWEST GEORGIA: A PANEL AT GSW’S 4TH ANNUAL HUMANITIES SYMPOSIUM
Colby Hernandez Media Editor
Writing Southwest Georgia is a new program within the English and Modern Languages department from Dr. Jennifer Ryer and department head Dr. Michael Moir. The program is funded by a Humanities Innovation grant the two received from the Modern Language Association. The program works with students taking Composition I and in the humanities HAIL block “Global Village”, headed by Dr. Glen Robbins, where students research and write about topics in southwest Georgia history and culture while taking field trips to sites like the Jimmy Carter Boyhood Farm, the Andersonville National Historic Site, and Koinonia Farm. As a pilot for the program, Dr. Moir’s Comp I was tasked with writing personal narratives about their experience in Southwest Georgia. Three students read those essays to an audience at GSW’s 4th Annual Humanities Symposium.
IN THIS ISSUE
RECAP OF HOMECOMING 2024
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Get a small snapshot of what Homecoming 2024 looked like.
Kaitlyn Luckie (Freshman, Psychology Major) wrote about her life as a farmer’s daughter near Leesburg, titled “The Farmers’ Market”. Her essay detailed her family’s experience starting a farm from scratch and the economic struggles of running that farm during the pandemic and subsequent recession. She began her essay by describing mornings on the farm. Every creature, from horses to pigs and even the house cats, would eagerly await breakfast. She would go on to describe her life and childhood, moving from place to place until her family finally settled in a hundred-year-old farmhouse, where her father finally started his dream of farming. Her mother, who wasn’t too excited about the idea of living more than 20 miles away from Walmart, had the idea to start a farmers’ market to help make more money for the farm. Everything was going well until the COVID-19 pandemic, where people found themselves no longer able to afford farm-to-table goods anymore. She finished by letting the audience know that even though her family could not make ends meet, the animals still needed to eat. This somber reminder recontextualizes her introduction.
Jack McFarlin (Freshman, Engineering Major) wrote a piece titled “Babylon”, where he detailed his misadventures traveling the woods in Lee County. In his essay, McFarlin described his stomping grounds as his Babylon, an area where he could run and play and get lost in nature. He wrote that somedays he’d be like John Rambo, roaming the vast jungle and protecting his lands from hostile forces. Other days he’d be like John Wayne, patrolling the area and beating up goons, and the next he’d be like David or Saul and just take in his land, appreciating nature’s beauty. But things would change when he and his friends were playing together. They would patrol the woods searching for monsters. Some were vast purple beasts peering from the canopy, others had quills like porcupines. As time went on, McFarlin realized these weren’t just fictional monsters in their imaginations. These creatures were very real, even if they weren’t physical. As the posse slowly lost members, and Jack himself moved on to college, he noticed the monsters still followed him. These monsters were anxiety, depression, and burden. He ended his essay by saying “I can never forget my Babylon. I am one with it, and it is one with me.”
Lilly Wilson wrote about her experience during her Storm Day. “Calm After the Storm” details the trip to Americus from her hometown three hours away. She begins by admitting that she is an overpacker. If she needs three days’ worth of clothes, she packs for five. She and her mother would travel to Americus and booked a hotel room for three days so that Wilson could familiarize herself with Americus. The day they left, she packed two suitcases, a bookbag, and her computer bag. Though the drive started out nicely, a downpour began. She described the storm as a metaphor for her anxieties. But she knew every storm had a silver-lining; it would only take a crack in the clouds to reveal the sunshine. When they reached the hotel, they ran in for check-in. Once that was sorted, they ran back to the car to grab everything. That is when she noticed it. A bookbag, a computer bag, and one suitcase. Wilson explained that at that moment, she just cried. Her mother tried to help her, taking her to the store to buy the replacement clothes and getting ice cream at Scoops, but it wasn’t until she saw a rainbow form in a crack in the storm that her anxieties went away. She explained that that was the moment she felt right about going to GSW.
HOMECOMING WEEK 2024
Amari Rudison Editor
A Week of Tradition, Fun, and Hurricane Pride!
Georgia Southwestern State University was thriving and alive with Hurrican Pride during Homecoming Week 2024! It was an exciting lineup of events that brought together students, alumni, faculty, and the local community! Homecoming Week promised spirit and festivities for everyone!
Monday, October 21: Parade & Flag Football Fun
Beginning with a parade that showcases the creativity and spirit of our student organizations. The decorated cars circled the Wheatley Administration Building and showcased the Homecoming Court with splendor. Afterward, we headed to the Intramural Field for the 7-9pm flag football teams as they battled it out on the field to head to the Championships!
Tuesday, October 22: Championship & Community Spirit
Not to fear the excitement continued with the Flag Football Championship! It was the final showdown and the competition sure was fierce! Congratulations go to the women of Kappa Delta and the men of Sigma Chi for winning the battle and taking home the Gold!
Wednesday, October 23: Blue and Gold Picnic
The Blue and Gold Picnic was a nice way to enjoy the community and take a break from classrooms. The lunch was held in the Commons from 11am-1pm and it brought the falculty, staff, and students to celebrate GSW!
Thursday, October 24: Gold Force Thursday & Concert Night
We danced the night away at the Homecoming Concert in the Storm Dome! It was a high energy event that featured our musical guests Aux Cord Wars, and they handed out prizes and great music all night long. Don’t worry the party didn’t stop there afterwards, it kept going at the Block Party at the MSC Circle where students danced till dawn!
Friday, October 25: Golf Tournament & Family Fun
The 15th Annual President’s Classic Golf Tournament at Griffin Bell Golf Course happened and alumni and students experienced a fun time on the course! After the tournament, many joined nursing alumni and faculty for a reunion brunch at the Marshall Student Center. Later, families headed to the Windsor Hotel for the Family Weekend Drop-In, where they picked up their schedule for the weekend and a special weekend family gift.
Saturday, October 26: Canes Family Brunch & Tailgate Festivities
The weekend was filled with a full day of family events! And we started the Saturday with the Canes Family Brunch, and families enjoyed a delicious brunch. Many students tested their luck with Canes Bingo! And we shifted our support for the Lady Canes as they played an exhibition softball match against Chipola College! And from 3pm-5pm, it was time for the Homecoming Tailgate at the Soccer Field! Where families bring their lawn chairs for a pre-game celebration. And later support the Lady Canes in their Soccer Match!
Mr. & Miss GSW Coronation
The Homecoming festivities will culminate at halftime during the Women’s Soccer Match, as we crown the new Mr. and Miss GSW. This is a moment of pride for our campus, Congratulations to Mr. GSW 2024 Boone Prince and Ms. GSW Drea’ Singleton.
There was something for everyone, during Homecoming Week 2024! Thanks to all for GSW’s vibrant community and their rich traditions, and Hurricane spirit that made lasting memories this 2024 semester!
MEET OUR WRITERS
Amari Rudison
Editor
arudison@radar.gsw.edu
Colby Hernandez
Media Editor
chernan4@radar.gsw.edu
Dr. Elizabeth Shiller
Faculty Advisor
elizabeth.shiller@gsw.edu
Zac Monnier
Staff Writer
zmonnier@radar.gsw.edu
Dylan Tracy
Staff Writer
dtracy1@radar.gsw.edu
Tyeshia Walker
Staff Writer
twalke36@radar.gsw.edu
Bristol Cox
Staff Writer
bcox5@radar.gsw.edu
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