UNG Vanguard

GAINESVILLE DAHLONEGA OCONEE CUMMING

VOL. 2, ISSUE 8, FEBRUARY 25, 2015

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Night Vale

Chris Estrada

Photo by Ethan Austin-Keating

UNG’s new turf field benefits both the baseball and softball teams with the ability to have more practice time.

Stephanie Huffman

Fewer rainouts with new UNG fields Ethan Austin-Keating Sports Writer EPAUST0162@ung.edu

The student newspaper of the University of North Georgia

The UNG baseball and softball teams have been preparing for months as spring approached. A large help for their new season is the implementation of brand new artificial turf that was laid down at the beginning of the semester.

Traditionally, natural grass has been the norm for baseball and softball, but in recent years, players and coaches have begun to favor turf for many different reasons.

“I believe the FieldTurf project will save the University financially over the course

of its use,” Mike Davenport, the softball team’s head coach, said. “There was a lot of upkeep on a natural grass field and with UNG utilizing a soccer field, baseball field, and softball field, and with the day-to-day upkeep there was a lot of money used to keep those fields in playing condition.”

Weather will no longer be as much of an issue either. Before with the natural grass fields, more games and practices were cancelled due to immense amounts of rain that caused mud and unfit playing conditions. Now, not as much effort is needed to prepare the fields after such storms.

In addition, the turf can benefit opposing teams as well. Many teams spend good

money to come out and play at UNG, and there was always the chance that the game could get rained out. These teams are now assured that they won’t waste their gas when they come to Dahlonega to play the Nighthawks.

Besides a weather being less of an issue, Davenport and the baseball coach, Tom Cantrell, can now experiment more with their teams’ practices.

“The turf also allows us to do a lot of different things at practice whereas before we were not able to do some things because it would tear up the field,” Cantrell said.

Continued on page 2

From page 1

Davenport said the team had been able to have a lot more pre-season practices.

“If our field had not been turf currently, we would have probably practiced twice,” he said.

Davenport then pointed out how the turf fields could affect the image of the university and the athletic department positively. Other than the Lady Nighthawk softball games, the university hosts high school and recreation games from around the area.

“This helps us showcase the university, our community, and our softball program,” Davenport said. “Having a turf facility makes doing this so much

easier and the fields always look great and are always game-ready.”

As far as actual performance goes, the turf has more than a few advantages.

Cantrell expressed his joy when asked about the new turf.

“Some of the biggest advantages to playing on turf is that there are no bad hops on the infield or in the outfield,” Cantrell said. “That makes playing defense a little easier for our guys, but for the most part, the turf plays very similarly to a grass field. Personally we love the turf! All of the players really enjoy playing on it.”

Editor’s note: For an update on the Photo byEthan Austin-Keating baseball season, please turn to page 15 The new turf fields may even result in more Nighthawk wins. of this issue.

Just who makes up the UNG Vanguard staff?

Gainesville Staff Editor-in-Chief: Meagan Thoss

Vice Editor-in-Chief: Hunter Leger

Editors:

Sydney Motes Breanna Langston Emily Primm

Jessica Shreve Kyle Funderburk Audrey Williams

Staff Writers:

John Amofah, Ethan Austin-Keating, Nicole Bader, Ariana Cervantes, David Chandler, James Couey, Jordan Dockery, Maggie Dukes, Brooke Hancock, Colin Hubbard, Ramou Jalloh, Holly Jones, Katie Keiger, Kelly Kucera, Jared Kuhl, Nathan Mersberger, Alex Morris, Colin Ochs, Alex Pugia, Savannah Leigh Richardson, Peter Stojanovic, Chase Thomas, Hailey Van Parys, Mary Hamilton Wall, Breanna Warner

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Dahlonega Staff

Oconee Staff

Co-managing Editors:

Co-managing Editors:

Staff Writers:

Editors:

Julia Regeski Joey Argento

Maggie Aceto Courtney Blair Briana Bosworth Beth Capenter Georgianne Carpenter Jake Chandler Patrick Conarro Dalton Deavers Jeff Evans Charlie Garcia Sayward Gregg Molly Morelock Jordan Murdock Hailey Potter Lauren Porter Zack Hux

University of North Georgia Student Newspaper

Alex Popp Benjamin Tankersley Laura Walters Marah Brock

Social Media Manager: Jacob Scarborough

Staff Writers:

Graham Cain Chad Witcher Tim Okay Connor Pearce Trey Wills Ansley Gentry Nathan Toburen Laura Walters

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University of North Georgia Student Newspaper

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G

AINESVILLE

Logging on gets a little easier with more wi-fi Katie Keiger News Writer KEKEIG3736@ung.edu Slow internet connection has started to become a problem at the UNG Gainesville campus due to the growth of its student body.

In the Nesbitt building, students have plenty of sitting areas and tables to work on. But when their laptops are out, not all of them can connect to the internet.

“People can’t get on webpages. It’s really slow,” Rachel Andrews, a UNG student, said.

“It really depends on where you are and how many people are on campus,” Sean Capuy, a UNG IT support staff member, said. “Nesbitt and Dunlap/Mathis buildings have been upgraded with more access points, one in each classroom and four in the lobby and sitting areas of the building.”

In one floor of the Nesbit building there are 20 routers, which means there are 20 places giving out wifi for students to connect to.

Bandwidth, or how many students are connecting to the internet at the same time, is another factor.

Abedur Chowdhury, a UNG IT support staff mem-

ber, said that it is not just the number of students that the school’s internet has to keep up with, but the number of devices as well.

“Smart phones and tablets have different ip addresses,” Chowdhury said. “You think about it, each student has at least two devices connecting to the internet.”

In the Student Center, the game room, with its high-powered computers, the internet works well, but those computers don’t connect via Photo by Rebekah Kerlin IT desk in the student ACCT center. wi-fi.

Grant Haverstick, UNG student, said that the internet connection is fine during Chowdhury said that there could be several issues that his gameplay. He is using the university computers that could be blocking or slowing down the internet. are connected by ethernet cables, not wireless connec“IT met with the student government association and tions. we talked about budget increases to fix the remaining The computers connected by ethernet are not affected problems,” Chowdhury said. “Our next goal is to add by the number of students, but unfortunately they are routers to the student center.” limited to certain locations around campus.

Join UNG-Gainesville’s improv group, Wing It! Jordan Dockery Arts & Entertainment Writer RJDOCK5846@ung.edu The members of the improv club on UNG’s Gainesville campus are revved up with big things planned for this semester, and invite any students interested to come join the fun.

Named after our UNG mascot, Nigel the nighthawk, Wing It! is an improvisational theatre, or improv, group that works to master the art of acting on the spot. In a light-hearted atmosphere, the members play various games that strengthen imagination, wit, creativity, and team building.

“I came in looking for a new experience,” Jacquelin Leija, a first-time improver, said.

Founder and president, Shea Barfield, has ambitious

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prospects for the future of the club. Barfield says the club is still working towards its full potential due to it being new on campus and only in its second semester.

“My hope is that soon we will have enough consistent members to create a smaller performing troupe and eventually put on shows for the student community to enjoy,” Barfield said.

Wing It! is a place to connect with peers without inhibition. It encourages your inner performer to take center stage.

“The result is a hilarious, sometimes nonsensical performance that leaves us all giggling and howling with laughter,” Shea Barfield said.

Barfield admitted to growing up shy and keeping her ideas and sense of humor to herself. After joining improv groups, she gained confidence that helped her make new friends and express her ideas and sense of humor.

She started the group on campus so that others can

University of North Georgia Student Newspaper

have an opportunity to break out of their shells as well.

Wing It! hopes to expose talent that may have gone unrecognized.

“It’s fun. I can be myself. I don’t have to reroute who I am,” Vice President of Wing It!, Leah Sanders, said.

Whether you are into acting or are funny, creative, and can think quickly on your feet, the club is always happy to see new faces and have fresh material. The members also welcome anyone who is shy, but interested in performing, to come in and watch since they love having an audience.

“We are happy just to make you laugh,” Barfield said.

Barfield has also contacted members of Dahlonega’s improve club, Improvable Odds. She plans to visit one of their practices to see what they can learn from one another and hopefully collaborate in the future.

Start your week off with some laughs and get ready to join the acting circle. Wing It! meets on Mondays in Robinson Ballroom B from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

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GAINESVILLE

Submerse yourself in the sounds of Night Vale Kelly Kucera Arts & Entertainment Writer KGKUCE6888@ung.edu You are reading an article in the newspaper. However, it is not just any newspaper. This paper is the University of North Georgia Vanguard newspaper, and you are reading this article because it, for one reason or another, stood out to you. As your eyes hungrily devour each line of freshly-printed text, the sun begins to fall out of the sky. No one seems to notice. Welcome to Night Vale.

Have you ever listened to a podcast before? Have you ever briefly considered listening to a podcast before? Did you once consider listening to a podcast, but then decided to do some other thing after dismissing the whim with an “eeeh” noise and a faint, noncommittal wave of your hand? Well, here is your chance to make up for those missed opportunities.

Welcome to Night Vale is a unique, sci-fi themed podcast featuring the secluded, fictional town of Night Vale.

Created by Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor and published by Commonplace Books, Welcome to Night Vale follows the news broadcasts of Night Vale’s community radio announcer, Cecil Palmer, and the odd happenings that he encounters on a daily basis.

The podcast is updated bimonthly, coming out on both the first and 15th of each month, and has a chronological plot-line with both a main story and several smaller subplots. Each installment of the podcast contains features such as the news, the weather, local events, and life-endangering catastrophes that threaten to destroy us all.

Are you wanting something different? Are you tired of the same, worn-out Mary-Sues/Gary-Sues and everything in between? Unlike many characters that are seen in today’s media and entertainment, the cast of Welcome to Night Vale is abundant with numerous quirky and unique figures. There are hooded figures, invisible figures, and political figures, all there for your figure-related needs.

The main character, Cecil, is an enthusiastic and sultry-voiced radio host through whom the audience experiences the podcast. Cecil, like all of the Night Valian characters, has never been given physical traits aside from a few extremely vague comments made by a couple of his acquaintances creating the beauty of the show. Whatever you see in your imagination is the truth.

Another mentionable character is Carlos the Scientist. Carlos is just a normal guy living within a wholly abnormal society. As his title states, he is a scientist and an outsider to Night Vale, which is an extreme oddity in those parts. After all, places like Night Vale are not exactly

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Photo by Ethan Austin-Keating

Welcome to Night Vale oozes, screeches, and can even make you fall into a deep sleep. popular tourist attractions. Oh, and there is also the fact that he is perfect, or so Cecil claims to us.

Adding to the show yet another aspect that makes it different is that Cecil and Carlos are canonically in a relationship, making them a leading part of the cast that are openly homosexual. Likewise, other minority groups are represented in Welcome to Night Vale, such as the disabled and gender-queer.

As lively as it is, the town of Night Vale itself is as much its own character as any other in the show. The town practically oozes personality, among other mysterious substances. Being run by a vague, yet menacing, government agency is bound to cause some things to go wrong... and everything always seems to go wrong.

Curious yet? Want to know more about what Welcome to Night Vale is all about? Great. Then you are ready to start listening to the show. If you are a poor college student, like myself, you will be happy to know that Welcome to Night Vale is broadcast to the public, free of charge.

Each episode can be accessed on either podbay.com, iTunes, or by using a podcast app on your phone. Live show dates, merchandise, and other related information can be found under the “Welcome to Night Vale” section of commonplacebooks.com.

Photo by Ethan Austin-Keating

The infamous Night Vale, Cecil Palmer.

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GAINESVILLE

Is ‘American Sniper’ patriotic or Islamophobic?

Hailey Van Parys News Writer HMVANP6360@ung.edu According to the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, the film “American Sniper” created a significant increase in the number of anti-Islamic messages and violent death threats that the committee observes through social networking sites and other outlets.

“American Sniper”, the Oscar-nominated film starring Bradley Cooper, examines the life of the incredibly successful Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle. The film is based on Kyle’s autobiography, also titled “American Sniper”, and directed by Clint Eastwood.

The film received numerous award nominations, including six Oscars, and broke the record for highest-grossing

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movie in the month of January. However, it is also under an incredible amount of scrutiny for its Islamophobic undertones and racist depictions of Muslims.

The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee attempted to contact both Cooper and Eastwood, imploring them to

“One possible positive effect of the film is the fact that Americans are actually talking about Iraq and returning veterans...” reach out to their audiences. By doing so, the committee hopes to lessen the backlash against Muslims and non-Muslim Arabs that the film has caused and alleviate some

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issues that the Muslim community is facing because of the film.

The committee stated in their letter to Cooper and Eastwood that the film has caused “hundreds of violent messages targeting Arabs and Muslim Americans from moviegoers of the film.” The committee takes these threats very seriously and hopes to reduce the dangers faced by their community.

The group is also working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to help address this problem, as well as their local law enforcement.

The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee hasn’t received a reply from Cooper, Eastwood, or their representatives.

Kristin Kelly, an associate professor of English at UNG, teaches a course on Literature and Film centered specifically on war films. In her review of the film, she

agreed that the Muslims portrayed were “one-dimensional, especially in the dueling snipers scenes”.

She also gave the film credit where it was due.

“One possible positive effect of the film is the fact that Americans are actually talking about Iraq and returning veterans, no matter what their politics may be,” Kelly said.

The film has also been praised for its outstanding performances and realistic sound effects.

Global news corporations have reported on the issue of Islamophobic tendencies in the film. These articles capture the importance of “American Sniper” and its message. The treatment of the Islamic people in the film and the book fuels further tension in the United States between the Muslim community and the rest of the world.

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GAINESVILLE

Why evaluate profs?

Ariana Cervantes Opinions Writer AMCERV4644@ung.edu Students are well into the spring semester, giving them an opportunity to decide on how effective professors are at meeting their educational needs. Unfortunately, the majority of the verdict is in a negative perspective. Although some UNG students respond to the evaluation questionnaire at the end of each semester, it doesn’t feel like it’s taken into much consideration the following semester.

These repetitive occurrences show the current questionnaire might be effective, yet lack in communication leaves us to feel as though our opinions don’t really matter.

“I think it’s more for the students than for the professors,” UNG student Cedric Lampkin, said.

What happens after filling out the brief questionnaire. Are these taken into consideration? Specifically, are the professors directly reading them?

In fact, professors have to report and discuss the results of the student evaluations on their annual reports, so the evaluations may affect an instructor’s promotions and pay raises or even whether their contracts are renewed each year.

Professors say they do read through them and they take them into consideration when planning for the next semester.

However, they also agree that there needs to be more constructive feedback from students as well.

“You get the real meat in the feedback,” French instructor Noelle Wynne, said, “Occasionally, you get really good feedback, whether positive or negative, where you get to do something with it.”

The issue with the current evaluations isn’t necessarily that professors don’t take our evaluations into account. It also has to do with the actual content that the student body gives to them. Our professors can’t take all of the blame for the difficulty in communication. Our current system doesn’t really cater constructive feedback

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because it gets so tedious that students just go through aimlessly filling out the check boxes to finish.

Despite this flawed system, we also have word-of-mouth and resources like Rate My Professor. Students share experiences and recommendations through these outlets to further address the issues of each professor.

“We are the results of their teachings.

If they’re a bad professor, why would we encourage other students to take that professor?” UNG student Andrea Howe, said.

However, word-of-mouth sometimes cannot reach the masses at this commuter campus, and Rate My Professor is often outdated and not useful at all. Professors are most likely not going to follow these resources to change their class structure.

Although some of the interviewed students agree with creating a more efficient system, other students are not really sure a benefit will occur.

“A change might degrade the quality of the class,” UNG student Aspen Duncan, said.

Professors reflect those same needs.

“I wish students were more explicit; if you like the course tell me why,” Paul Raptis, a communications professor, said.

“Don’t just say you liked the course. Not every class is going to be interesting for every person. Just explain why you feel the way you feel.”

Ultimately, a few changes need to be made by the university, the students, and the professor to improve the school and its communication. UNG needs a new system so that it focuses more on content-filled feedback, and the administration needs to go an extra step to improve communication of these results to professors and students. The students also need to be more aware of the content that they are giving their instructors.

These should be the goals for the student body and UNG staff. Improving the quality of education we receive from our professors will be the result of meeting these goals.

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D

ALONEGA

Street preacher sparks dialogue in Dahlonega Joanna Toso News Writer JCTOSO5090@ung.edu Quite a scene was caused on Jan. 21, when a street preacher showed up in front of the Hoag Student Center carrying a large yellow sign that read “God hates all workers of iniquity.”

He stood outside the student center for several hours, calling to random passers-by that if they did not turn and repent they were going to be eternally punished.

Obviously, this attracted a lot of attention and soon groups of people began to gather around the man. There were members of the UNG Skeptics Society as well as the Baptist Collegiate Ministries in the crowd. Only a few students stepped up to engage the preacher, who told us his name was John and he preaches out of concern for the youth of today.

“Everyone believes that religion brainwashes people, but in reality they are the ones being brainwashed by society,” John said. “They’ve been brainwashed since infancy by television and the media.”

The sign, he said, was meant “to get people’s attention and start a dialogue.”

“I want to get people talking and asking me questions,” John said. “But I have to admit I am always nervous because there are so many questions which are not meant to have answers.”

While he has support from groups of other street preachers, John works alone.

In fact, he travels to and from different college campuses to proselytize. He has been to University of Georgia in Athens, GA and Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville, GA, and hopes to make more visits to our university in the future.

However, not everyone who held his beliefs agreed with his methods.

“It breaks my heart because he’s spreading a message of hate,” Elle Cornett, a

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senior psychology major and president of Phi Mu, said. “God is about love, He sent His Son to die for us because He loves us.

And just the fact that this man thinks it is okay to yell at college students and tell them that they’re going to hell because they’re in college […] is unbelievable.”

According to Cornett, John had been saying that “the pursuit of knowledge is a sin so all of you are sinners because you’re in college.”

“This isn’t the way to go about it; everyone’s saying so,” Jillian Murphy, a junior English major, said. “If you’re going to preach, you don’t do it like this. It alienates people.”

John admits that he is more of a “confrontational preacher than most,” but his experience at UNG had been a good one.

“No one’s shut me down yet,” John said.

The preacher did admit he was a little worried when the campus police arrived.

But they had only come to observe the scene and make sure everyone stayed safe.

For his own safety, John wears a GoPro camera, just in case a bystander becomes overly aggressive.

During the course of the day, a counter-protest was formed by two students standing near the preacher having signs that read “Free Hugs.” “[It’s] to help spread cheer where cheer is needed,” Jonathan Packer, one of the counter-protesters, said.

“It’s national hug day,” Robert Miller, the second counter-protester, said.

Miller claims this is his reasoning for the sign.

The street preacher remained on campus until 3 p.m., with many people staying until the end to watch him work.

While his presence struck a nerve with many students, no one can deny that he accomplished his goal of starting a dialogue among the student body.

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Photo by Alaina Bailey

Students gather around to hear what the preacher has to say.

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Dahlonega

Student spotlight: Estrada’s music tells a story Georgianne Carpenter Arts & Entertainment Writer GNCARP4554@ung.edu Chris Estrada, a sophomore biology major, has lived the life of an artist. From garage bands to a festival venue, his music career has been short, but meaningful.

“I started off playing punky, grunge-like stuff,” Estrada said. “I think I was about 15 or 16 and I only had an electric guitar.”

Nirvana and Joy Division were to bands that influenced his earlier music.

“I watched this documentary on Woodstock,” said Estrada. “My mom bought me an acoustic Fender, and I strictly started playing acoustic.”

“During my sophomore year of high school, my friend, Ben Riseman, and I formed a progressive-folk band named Bearded Morrison, paying homage to the singer of The Doors,” Estrada said.

“After moving down to Atlanta, Georgia, while attending Georgia State, I became really reclusive and started producing hip-hop and jungle beats with my computer, under the pseudonym MUSH.”

“Sometime after, I took a year off and went out West, living on the road with my girlfriend, who plays flute. We played our instruments for gas money, all the way out to Northern California and back.”

Estrada is about to put out a Progressive-punk EP called “Chile” and is also working on a solo EP that is mostly instrumental guitar.

“I played solo at The Third Eye Festival in Ellijay this past summer,” Estrada said, “I went up to Asheville, North Carolina, during winter break to play and record as a street performer with a Bongo player.”

If you want to catch Estrada, it may not be easy.

“Most of the time, if I’m not out in the streets playing acoustic, I’m at home producing new material, or out jamming with someone,” he said.

Estrada likes to play at open mic nights.

“Shenanigans, in town, is a really great spot,” Estrada said. “I also check out The Crimson Moon. They’ve often got a good range of performers.”

“I like making music that tells a story or moves the audience to create fantastic images in their heads,” Estrada said.

“I enjoy making really strange noises with acoustic guitars, with all instruments actually.”

Photo courtesy of Christopher Estrada

Chris Estrada performing at The Earl.

UNG donating Walker Drive duplexes to non-profit Molly Morelock News Writer MRMORE3289@ung.edu The big debate on campus is the lack of housing. The dorms, suites and apartments are so full that upcoming sophomores are now able to live off campus without the 60-hour minimum. Recently it was announced that the Walker Drive duplexes were being taken down for more housing, but what will happen to the moveable housing units afterward?

The North Georgia Interfaith Ministries is a non-profit organization that brings together several church denominations in the area to help the homeless. In 2014, it began working on a project that provides provisional housing for homeless.

The organization sent a letter to President Bonita

Jacobs and the Board of Regents requesting the donations of the Walker Drive duplexes, and it received approval sooner than expected.

At its monthly meeting on Jan. 26, an announcement was made that the duplexes were officially being donated to the Interfaith Ministries in early May to continue this project.

“We had to meet some requirements regarding our funding of the removal of the units and have a bonded, professional mover,” Judy Palmer, secretary of the ministry, said.

The duplexes will be moved to a plot of reserved land on Red Oaks Flat Road. Local churches and other beneficiaries in the community have donated all furniture and home necessities.

“We will use one of the units as a day center to offer resources such as counseling, computers for job searches,

and office for a director,” Palmer said. “The rest of the units will be transitional housing for the homeless.”

This past December, the ministry put change-up jars in local businesses to raise money for the cause. A spaghetti dinner will be hosted with Leadership Lumpkin on April 14, and are starting a “First Night” event on New Year’s Eve to further the sponsorship.

The Interfaith Ministries work to help homeless individuals get back on their feet, find jobs, learn to manage money, and provide temporary necessities for survival. Not many people are aware of their services to the community, but the ministry’s efforts are combatting the homeless problem in the North Georgia region.

All of their events and fundraisers require volunteers from all over the community, and encourage students of the University of North Georgia to help in any way possible.

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Dahlonega

Yoga is the perfect break for busy students

By Maggie Aceto Staff Writer MLACET6193@ung.edu The weekly activity of the average college student generally includes a lot of studying, not enough sleep and fleeting opportunities for relaxation. Working tirelessly throughout the week without an outlet to alleviate the stress that builds up can take its toll.

Lucky for us students, the University of North Georgia Dahlonega campus offers free yoga classes throughout the week at the Group Exercise room in the Rec Center. Some may be hesitant to go because they have never gone before or, like me, fall so far off the category of “flexible” that they can only dream of the day they’ll be able to touch their toes.

However, I have been going to the Wednesday night yoga class for two weeks now, and have discovered that the yoga teachers gear their classes towards participants of all levels of experience. Having an hour all to myself, where I don’t have to stare at a textbook or stress over the growing list of things to do on my schedule, has become far more valuable than I’d first

imagined it would be.

Yoga is a very personal activity, one in which you’re able to focus singularly on what your body is telling you. There are easy and hard variations for every yoga position (examples: crow, plank or pigeon) as well as the resting position “child’s pose” (my personal favorite) to fall back on.

It also helps with the outward body as much as the inner. Studies show that regularly Photo by Rachel Soracco practicing yoga improves strength, cardio, You can take free yoga classes at the Dahlonega campus at the Rec Center. breathing and flexibility.

“Yoga is a great way of I’m very impressed with the yoga classrhythms of the majority of songs on the giving your body and mind an active rest. es and, obviously, have officially jumped radio today. It allows for the motions to It’s calming, and everyone can benefit from become mental as well as physical, instead on the fan wagon. Here’s some wholeheartstretching,” said Rachel Soracco, a Senior ed encouragement for all UNG students to of drowning out your thoughts.

Art History major at UNG and one of the grab a friend and give it a try, regardless of For those whose interests I’ve piqued, Rec Center’s three yoga teachers. your ability to touch your toes. Make sure classes are Monday at noon, Tuesday at 7 Spending time with the quiet, bareto hurry. People are figuring out UNG’s p.m., Wednesday at 5 p.m., and Thursday ly-present tones in the background is a well-kept secret and classes fill up fast. at 7 p.m. welcome break from the loud, hammering

Dahlonega Literary Festival coming in March

By Charles Garcia Staff Writer CMGARC3780@ung.edu An annual book festival will take place in downtown Dahlonega between March 28 and 29. This celebration of literature offers readers the opportunity to meet authors in a casual environment. A total of 17 featured authors and 25 regional writers will make appearances at the occasion.

The Literary Festival provides a series of free events for those interested in learning more about the featured authors.

There will be panels and discussion boards at St. Luke’s Parish Hall from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on March 28 and at the Community House from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on March 29. Those attending may also purchase featured

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books at the Community House on either day.

“In the past, nearly two thirds of festival attendees “Literary festivals ought to offer programs of interest have come from outside Lumpkin County. We would for both readers and writers, and those programs ought love to have more students, faculty, and staff participate,” to be well-organized by people who care about books and said Arienne Wallace, the chair of the Festival’s Steering about the power of language. The Dahlonega Literary Fes- Committee. tival achieves those ‘oughts’ in considerable and memoraStudents might look forward to the character drawing ble fashion, and does so in a place (Dahlonega) that has workshop with Mark Braught, who worked on the movie great personality,” said Terry Kay, author of “Bogmeadow’s posters for the Harry Potter series. Janice Hardy, an auWish,” after making an thor and writing instructor, appearance at the Literary will host a novel writing For more info: literaryfestival.org Festival. workshop as well.

This year’s festival will Any UNG students also coincide with the interested in volunteering for Southern Literary Festival, which takes place at the Unithe Literary Festival should visit the Dahlonega Library versity of North Georgia. This will allow festival goers to Technology Center for information or email Lacee Shefvisit different attractions at the two similar events. field-McConnell at lacee.sheffield-mcconnell@ung.edu.

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O

CONEE

New liquor laws going into effect in Oconee County Marah Brock Contributing Writer MABROC3300@ung.edu

Photo courtesy of UNG

UNG’s portal to D2L.

D2L: Should you use it?

Jacob Scarborough Contributing Writer JASCAR1851@ung.edu At UNG, one of the main avenues used for students and professors to interact is Desire2Learn,or D2L. Many of the students believe that the system is a useful tool for keeping up with class and turning in work.

D2L, or “eLearning,” is a popular system that is being utilized by many other colleges and universities across the state.

Jake Halley, a second-year student at UNG, finds the system useful.

“It is pretty simple to get around the site to find whatever it is that you are looking for,” Halley said.

“If I miss something in class, usually I can go on and find out what it was,” thirdyear student Tehra Batal said.

“Whenever I have an assignment due, I can just submit it in the dropbox and I get an email saying that it was successfully sent,” Batal said.

But not everyone is a fan of the site.

Some of the newer students at the univer-

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sity have never been introduced to D2L. “I have tried to find my way around the site, but it can be difficult when no one has ever shown it to you,” first-year student Lacey Martin said. Martin went on to express that some of her professors do not even use the site.

Some professors claim that other sites are more useful for their courses, and they only use D2L minimally.

“I only post my syllabus on D2L. I use a package that interfaces with the textbook called Cengage [for everything else],” LaTreva Williams, an accounting professor, said.

Then there are professors who do not use D2L, like Steve Smith, an economics professor.

“I do not use the D2L system. I am not familiar with it,” Smith said.

Many other professors, like math professor David Slutzky, do utilize the site for their classes.

“I primarily use D2L as a password protected site for making course materials available to students and as a means to communicate grades to students as quickly as possible,” Slutzky said.

Effective Jan. 7, establishments in Oconee County may serve liquor by the drink, but the red tape and overall cost might cause some businesses to forgo serving liquor.

“Businesses must first apply for a modification of their alcohol license through the county, before applying for one from the State of Georgia,” Oconee County Clerk Jane Greathouse said.

While this is good news for the new development of Oconee County, it weakens established businesses that have resided in Oconee for years.

Chef and owner of Catch 22 Gastropub, Richard Miley, said he will not be serving liquor by the glass any time soon.

“We have to add a couple of things to the bar that would cost me money,” Miley said. “I didn’t have the opportunity to build a restaurant out in hopes, or in almost promises, that there will be liquor passed.”

Miley believes that eventually they will serve liquor, but that for now the overall cost of licensing and bar renovations is too high.

Andrew Wallace, owner of Chops N’ Hops, an establishment in downtown Watkinsville, faces an entirely different problem.

“Within the city of Watkinsville, I’m

not allowed to serve liquor,” Wallace said.

“The vote was for the county and did not include the city.”

“The city itself voted 60 to 30 to pass the alcohol law, not knowing that it would not affect their city,” Wallace said.

A special meeting is to be held on March 17 to address this issue in hopes of being able to serve within the city limits of Watkinsville.

“If the board votes in favor of serving within the city, we should be able to serve six to eight weeks behind the rest of Oconee,” Wallace said.

Kathy Erwin, catering coordinator for Catch 22 Gastropub, knows that this does not only harm restaurants, but event venues as well.

“Private parties won’t be allowed Sunday sales on premise anywhere in the county,” Erwin said.

Ashford Manor and other such venues will not be able to serve alcohol on Sundays, which limits events held in Oconee County and harms catering companies.

These restrictions push potential business out of Oconee County to surrounding counties.

The alcohol law may have passed in Oconee County, but more businesses are opting out of serving liquor for now due to sale restraints, overall cost of renovations and only marginal increases in profit.

An establishment that is so limited, or in Watkinsville’s case ineligible, to serve alcohol cannot justify serving alcohol in the near future.

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Oconee

Nighthawk Registration tries to make it easier Nathan Toburen Contributing Writer NSTOBU6422@ung.edu The Office of Enrollment Management has unveiled a new scheduling interface that is supposed to help students register for classes in a faster and more efficient manner: Nighthawk Registration.

The new program is more interactive and focuses on helping students create their perfect schedule.

“The whole point of Nighthawk Registration is to help students look at all of the possible scheduling options, choose the one that fits their needs best and then save it until their registration time opens,” Emily Sparrow, Registrar at the Oconee Campus, said.

Nighthawk Registration is a planning-based program that will assist students in the schedule-making process, but it will also help full-time students stay on track to graduate in four years.

“Utilizing this system will help our full-time students to complete 30 semester hours a year by assisting them in finding the best course options as quickly as possible,” Jennifer Chadwick, associate vice president for enrollment management, said.

The new system has the ability to give students a brief description of the class they are looking at while shopping for their schedule, as well as providing the CRNs and

any prerequisites a student might need to enroll in the course.

“It’s not going to catch it at this point, if you do or do not meet the prerequisites, so it’s up to the student to say ‘Do I actually have the prerequisites I need to Photo courtesy of UNG satisfy the requirements of this class?’ but it does show The homepage of the new Nighthawk registration on the UNG website. it, which is nice,” Sparrow In terms of potential future uses, Sparrow said she said. would like to see Nighthawk Registration allow students “It can generate up to 1,000 or more possible schedules,” Sparrow said. “But one way to help that is by adding to search by specific subject area as opposed to individual classes. breaks in your schedule.”

The new system also helps administration and faculty, Adding breaks in your schedule will help narrow the as it has the ability to provide the Registrar’s Office with amount of results Nighthawk Registration gives you, but real-time registration data. students still have to go into Banner Web when their regBut Sparrow emphasized how important it is for stuistration opens and physically register for those respective dents to use Nighthawk Registration before registration classes. even opens so that the school can project what students “Our big fear is that students will send a schedule they are searching for and adequately accommodate for those like to their cart, and then never do anything else,” Sparneeds. row said. “The bottom line is that this helps you plan, but Nighthawk Registration went live during registration you still have to go into Banner Web on your registration for this Spring, and is available for pre-registration startday and actually register for the classes.” ing March 30 to all currently-enrolled students.

What you should know before you get vaccinated Ansley Gentry Contributing Writer ARGENT0165@ung.edu Recently, modern medicine has found itself a few steps behind the virus’ ability to mutate, giving the flu the capability to maintain its status as a raging epidemic.

The CDC states that the flu vaccine reduces the odds of getting the flu from 70 to 90 percent. That number can range depending on your health, age, and the time at which you got the flu shot.

The flu vaccine becomes more effective as people age. WebMd states that the

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sooner that you get the vaccine the better since it can take up to two weeks in order for the vaccine to become effective.

The flu is made of different strains, which poses a problem.

“In order to make the vaccine, we have to guess the way that the virus will mutate before it hits the United States,” Norma Thompson, a Kroger pharmacist, said.

“Because it mutated differently than we thought this year, even if you have had the flu or flu shot before, you could still catch a different strain.”

For those who have skipped out on an annual flu shot, there is another solution.

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Tamiflu is a pharmaceutical drug that is prescribed in order to help prevent the flu.

During the two flu seasons, pharmacies across the nation struggle to keep Tamiflu on the shelves. With the drug leaving faster than it can arrive, Thompson even explained that Clarke County recently found itself empty-handed when it came to Tamiflu.

Although it will help get the virus to exit your body, it has quite a few side effects, especially in children.

Tamiflu can cause psychotic effects within children, such a hallucinations and bad dreams.

College students often have weaker immune systems due to their lack of nutrition and sleep which causes them to be more susceptible to the virus, which can easily infect anyone with which it comes into contact.

Even though Tamiflu can help you recover quicker, the flu shot is highly advised by doctors.

Thompson gave insight on the one tip that she believes can prevent college students from getting the flu.

“Because it’s spread by contact,” Thompson said, “I think the biggest thing is to wash your hands.”

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Oconee

UNG’s Book Club is discussing dystopia Laura Walters Contributing Writer LAWALT4751@ung.edu The dystopian novel “Never Let Me Go,” penned

by Kazuo Ishiguro, is the topic of discussion in UNG’s first Book Club meeting this semester.

The Club’s first discussion of the semester will be on Monday, Feb. 9 at noon in Room 522.

“A fundamental desire in beginning the Book Club about two years ago was to give students a chance to interact with one another and share ideas without the pressures of a classroom,” Asia Hall, creator of the Book Club.

The club meets only once during the semester for each book, offering little commitPhoto courtesy of Faber and Faber ment, but immeasurable benefit in connecting with other UNG’g Book Club’s first book selection. students while expanding their material ranging from “The Alchemist” to reading repertoire.

“The Ghost Map.” The club originally read only one book “One of my favorite things about the per semester, thus meeting only once, but club is watching the students who come Hall relayed the students’ desire to read to each meeting become closer to one anmore, so they decided to read two books other, blossom and become bolder about per semester and now meet twice. sharing their ideas,” Hall said.

Hall recognizes that there are many Hall believes that there is no judgment students on campus that enjoy reading, but present in this club, and they allow a free in the midst of the semester, with copious flow discussion led both by the students amounts of academic reading, she feels and herself. Hall is hesitant to pronounce that students have no excuse to read just her technical title as Club Advisor because for pure pleasure.

The Book Club allows them a non-com- it is an open membership and open discussion club. mittal setting to discuss their experiences It holds the intent of bringing students of the book with one another. together to read books they perhaps would Hall explained that in the past, books were selected through the use of a poll, but not have thought to read.

As the library desires to promote readmore simply, she desires that the students ing, all participants receive a free copy of share what they themselves want to read. the book upon signing up.

In the past they have read a wide array of

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Photo courtesy of Ripple Effct ilm Project

Ripple Effect Film Project seeks to bring awareness to water onservation.

Film project accepting student submissions Tim Okay Contributing Writer TSOKAY5753@ung.edu Athens Clarke County Water Conservation Office and Film Athens are currently holding their third annual Ripple Effect Film Festival. Filmmakers of all experience are encouraged to enter their commercials in the contest.

“The festival is open to everybody around Athens,” Marilyn Hall, the coordinator of Ripple Effect, said. “The more people the better.”

The winning commercial will be shown on ACC TV and in movie theaters around Athens.

At the end of the semester there will be a “Blue Carpet Premiere” where the top films will be viewed and the winners will be announced. A film can take home a prize in three different categories.

The categories are best in show, best conservation message, and audience choice award.

This black-tie event will be held on May 16 at Ciné in downtown Athens. Everyone that submitted an entry to the festival will receive a free ticket to the event.

There is no entry fee for a submission, but there are some rules. The Ripple Effect

rules and guidelines state that the commercial must be at least 30 seconds and up to a max of two minutes in length.

The content of the commercial must be rated “G” and must be comedic, light, fun, engaging, clever, or thought-provoking.

Above all else though, it must be about water conservation.

Official rules can be found on the Athens Clarke County website.

The goal of Ripple Effect is to raise awareness about water usage and promote good water conservation practices around the Athens community.

“Athens Clarke County uses 13 million gallons of water a day, and in the summer, the number goes way up,” Hall said.

To put that in perspective, the Georgia Aquarium only holds 10 million gallons of water total.

“Ripple Effect is more than just a way to try and make money.” Jake Cooper, a local filmmaker, said. “It is about getting involved in our community and raising awareness for the need of water conservation, all the while doing something you love.”

For aspiring filmmakers, this event offers a chance to gain experience and network with fellow filmmakers and enthusiasts.

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Photo

S UNG student spotlight: Stephanie Huffman PORTS

Colin Hubbard Sports Writer-Gainesville CWHUBB1296@ung.edu

steals per game in her senior season, which was good enough to receive Georgia Sports Writers Association All-State When standout women’s bashonors. ketball player Stephanie Huffman Huffman also eclipsed the 1,000 decided to take her talents to the points barrier at Etowah, becoming University of North Georgia, basketthe seventh Lady Eagles’ player to do ball wasn’t in the plans. so.

“Initially I was only coming to She has averaged 14.3 points over North Georgia only to be a student,” the course of her four years at UNG, Huffman said. “But then a position including 20.4 thus far. Not only is she on the basketball team opened up, the leading scorer on the team, but and so I took it. North Georgia just she is the leading scorer in the Peach felt like my home away from home. I Belt Conference and recently surhave two older sisters, and they both passed the 1,000 point mark as a part attended UNG and played basketball Photo by UNG Athletics of the Nighthawks. for Coach Burson. I used to come to Stephanie Huffman Huffman has acquired numerous all of their games and cheer them on awards throughout her career with the Nighthawks, but when I was younger.” none bigger than being named to the Peach Belt ConferAs a former student of Etowah High School, Huffman ence preseason All-Conference team. averaged 14.3 points, 6.6 boards, 3.8 assists, and a pair of Not only is Huffman a star player on the court, but she

also takes a lot of pride in her work off the court. Some of her accolades include being named as the 2013-14 Peach Belt Conference Presidential Honor Roll Gold Scholar and the 2013-14 Peach Belt Conference All-Academic Team.

“In high school I admit to being more laid-back and not as ambitious,” Huffman said. “But I soon realized in order to reach my goals and to succeed on and off the court I had to work harder than I have ever worked before. Playing for this school means so much, and I am so grateful for my teammates and Coach Burson for all that they do. Coach Burson has taught me so many lessons that apply on and off the court, and I am forever grateful for this wonderful privilege and opportunity she has given me to play the sport that I love.”

Huffman and the Nighthawks sit at a record of 15-4 and are in second place with a record of 7-3 in the Peach Belt Western Conference.

“Basketball is a team sport; you win as a team, you lose as a team, and I am thankful for that every day because I would not want to go through this season with anyone else,” Huffman said.

Intramural sports have benefits beyond the field Chase Thomas Opinions Writer HCTHOM5086@ung.edu

is offering the following: badminton, basketball, bowling, volleyball, cornhole, golf, tennis, and pickleball.

UNG intramurals are organized Playing a sport at the collegiate lev- through Intramural (IM) Leagues, el is a difficult task. According to the with registration still open for every NCAA, there are more than 460,000 sport except co-rec NCAA student basketball, which athletes. But what is now closed. about all of the Intramurals other college stuare not just for “Intramural sports dents that would students who have provide a nice blend still like to be experience in involved in athletic of sporting events and organized sports. activities? meeting new people....” Those who may That’s where not have had the intramural sports opportunity to be come into play. involved in sports At the Univergrowing up can get sity of North Georgia (UNG), the ininvolved now. There isn’t any reason tramural sports options are seemingly a student can’t get involved in one of endless. This spring semester, UNG the copious spring intramural sports

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options.

For students who may not have had the opportunity to meet and hang out with fellow students prior, intramural sports grants them a chance.

With UNG Gainesville being mostly a commuter campus, meeting new people and making new friends can be quite the challenge, and intramural sports can help alleviate that problem.

Intramural sports always have a spot for just about every kind of student, with or without experience in organized sports, and even just other students looking to make new friends through this unique outlet.

Intramural sports provide a nice blend of sporting events and meeting new people in which you may not have had the opportunity to meet without it.

Photo by Rebekah Kerlin

Kevin Schilling runs for the first down.

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Sports

UNG names court after former coach Bill Ensley Nathan Mersberger Sports Writer-Gainesville namers1966@ung.edu The University of North Georgia honored former athletic director and men’s basketball coach Bill Ensley on Saturday, Jan. 24, with a formal court-naming ceremony.

In addition to this honor, the school also named January 24 Bill Ensley Day and renamed the court at Memorial Hall the “Bill Ensley Court.”

Photo by Matt Green The dedication to Coach Ensley was The UNG Nighthawks men’s basheld during halftime of the women’s game ketball team during a time out. against Clayton State. The Nighthawks prevailed over Clayton State 80-72 in the former basketball players on hand that day, first game on the newly renamed court.

I know Coach Ensley enjoyed seeing all “He is a wonderful man with a kind those guys.” heart, incredible knowledge of the game, Ensley is one of the most prestigious and the ability to get the most out of every names in the history of North Georgia athlete he coaches,” Athletic Director athletics, Faulkner said. He was director of Lindsay Reeves said. athletics for 24 years and re-established the “He has an incredible work ethic and men’s basketball program in 1971. held his players to a He served as the very high standard,” head coach for 18 Reeves said. years, and was never a A win on the inau“He is a wonderful man part of a losing season. gural Bill Ensley Day is Ensley led the Saints with a kind heart, a great way to celebrate to the district playoffs incredible knowledge 11 times, capturing Ensley’s legendary career at the Universiconsecutive district of the game, and the ty, men’s coach Chris ability to get the most championships titles in Faulkner said.

1983 and ‘84. He was out of every athlete.”

“Coach Ensley is named Atlanta Tip-Off the founding father of Club Coach of the intercollegiate athletics Year and GIAC Coach here at North Georgia,” of the Year in 1976, he said. “He not only had a great record as and recorded an overall record of 327-206 the coach of the men’s basketball team, he during his 18-year tenure at the helm of also helped establish many of the sports the men’s basketball program. programs we offer today.”

In 1994, Ensley was named to the NAIA Faulkner was also impressed with the Hall of Fame and was the recipient of the turnout on the Inaugural Bill Ensley night. NAIA’s Athletic Administrator of the Year “We had a great atmosphere at the award in 1991.​ court dedication game. The best thing was In 2010 he was one of the first inductees all the former players coming back for the into the North Georgia Athletics Hall of game,” Faulkner said. “We had over 100 Fame.

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Photo by Ethan Austin-Keating

UNG’s new baseball field complete with a new dugout.

Baseball in rebuilding mode Colin Hubbard Sports Writer-Gainesville CWHUBB1296@ung.edu When the UNG Nighthawks baseball team toes it up on the mound in February, it is looking to build off of what was a disappointing 2014 campaign.

So far this season, they have a 4-4 record as of late February. They started the season with a 5-7 loss at Valdosta State, but finished a three-game homestand with the University of Indianapolis strong by winning both games of a double-header over Valentine’s weekend.

Last season, the Nighthawks finished 12th overall with a record of 22-27 (.449), and 10-20 (.333) in conference play, which was their worst finish in school history.

“The Peach Belt Conference is one of the toughest conferences in Division II baseball,” UNG head coach Tom Cantrell, said. “There are a lot of quality programs inside the conference.”

The Nighthawks will be without their best player in 2014, Eason Spivey, as he was drafted into the Los Angeles Angels organization.

But the Nighthawks will have juniors Tremayne Toorie and Joey Cecere, both of whom hit upwards of .320 and combined to hit for 66 RBI. The pitching staff was the root of their problems last year. As a team, they combined for 5.78 ERA.

The Nighthawks returned red-shirt junior Brandon Agar, who started 14 games in 2014, posting a 4.80 ERA and a 5-5 record but lost their closer, Christian Turnipseed, and former starting pitcher, Clint Spratlin.

But aside from Agar, no player on the pitching staff started more than five games last season.

“We are very excited about some new additions that we have added in the off-season that will help us on the mound and also from a position player standpoint,” Cantrell said. “We have some depth on the team this year which is great from a coach’s point of view because it allows us to be flexible and we can create some match-up problems for some other teams.”

New to the UNG roster is red-shirt junior outfielder, Bo Edwards, who won a junior college world series with Central Alabama Community College. Edwards hit .298 with 25 RBI last year in his 39 games played.

In addition to Edwards, the Nighthawks brought in a total of eight transfers who will likely be getting playing time throughout the season.

“We feel very comfortable with this team and the team camaraderie that has developed over the course of the fall and the spring so far,” Cantrell said.

“We are very excited about the 2015 season and are looking to accomplish some big things this year,” Cantrell said.

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The Backside Opinion

Freedom of speech cannot be scared away Alexander Morris Contributing Writer ACMORR4996@ung.edu

sole aim was to intimidate anyone who would be critical of their religion or cause.

New York Times op-ed columnist Ross Douthat stated it perfectly in a column that he published two days after the shootings: Freedom of speech is the cornerstone of a healthy de“But when offenses are policed by mocracy. The concept that you are entitled to say what you murder, that’s when we need more of them, want to say without fear of retribution is deeply ingrained not less, because the murderers cannot be into our Western society. The United Nations has even allowed for a single moment to think that publicly recognized freedom of speech as an inalienable their strategy can succeed.” right, but 12 people in France recently paid for this right When a group of people are willing with their lives. to kill you for something you’re saying, On Jan. 7, two armed Muslim extremists walked into then it’s probably something that needs a satirical newspaper office in the middle of Paris and to be said.

In its first issue after the attack, murdered 11 people. The gunmen then went outside Charlie Hebdo’s response was spot on. It and exchanged gunfire with two police officers before featured a caricature of Muhammed, holdexecuting one of them at point-blank while he was lying ing a sign written in French that translates wounded on the ground. to “I am Charlie” under “All Is Forgiven” in Why would two people commit such a brutal act of violence against a group of journalists and execute a Mus- a large black font.

Almost half of their staff and a large lim police officer in the middle of one of the largest cities portion of their in the world in broad daylight? editorial board had just been exCartoons. ecuted for similar cartoons weeks Charlie Hebdo is no stranger to before. So, what does one of the controversy. The Parisian newspamost irreverent and controversial per has been satirizing and trying newspapers in the Western world to offend just about everyone since do? The only thing they could do: their relaunch in 1992. Men, womprint the exact type of cartoon en, conservatives, liberals, Protesthat made them a target in the first tants, Catholics, Jews, and Muslims place, publicly forgiving those who have all been caricaturized and wished them dead. ridiculed in the past 22 years.

Are Charlie Hebdo’s cartoons Their type of humor is unapoloften offensive, inflammatory, and ogetic and irreverent, holding the tactless?

Yes, but they have every view that nothing is sacred enough right to print them. Do I find not to be ridiculed.

Rush Limbaugh to be a pandering, In 2006 Charlie Hebdo attractobnoxious, sexist, and racially ed the ire of the Muslim world biased bigot who I would be happy when they printed a cartoon of never to hear from again? Yes, but the Islamic prophet Muhammad he has every right to say what he crying under the title “Muhammad Photo courtesy of Charlie Hebdo website wants without the fear of an armed overwhelmed by fundamentalgunman walking into his studio.

Charlie Hebdo cartoon from 2006. ists.” Some groups thought that It doesn’t matter if you’re the image was racist, as the Grand a European cartoonist, a garMosque of Paris claimed when they bage-spewing conservative radio host, a rapper or even took the newspaper to court. Another cartoon of Muan angry 13-year-old kid with a foul mouth and an Xbox hammad in 2011 is seen as the motive behind their office LIVE account.

Humans have the inalienable right to free being firebombed that same year. speech, to speak our thoughts and opinions without the The massacre at Charlie Hebdo’s offices wasn’t just an fear of being charged with a felony or being gunned down. attack on a satirical newspaper, but an idea that we as huWhen you censor yourself out of fear of what someone mans have the right to express our thoughts and opinions. might do or say, you’re giving up a right you have just It was a strong-arm tactic by a group of extremists whose

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Photo courtesy of Charlie Hebdo website

Photo courtesy of Charlie Hebdo website

Reads: “All is forgiven” and “I am Charlie.”

by existing. Self-censorship is the goal of these kinds of attacks or court cases, and it is more dangerous than any machine gun wielded by an extremist.

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