Throwback with Zaxby’s Founder PG 23
More than a MillenNial
PG 9
Fall Fashion PG 18
Cuisine and Culture Home Brews Family Recipies We Are So Much More Than a Millenial
Health and Fitness Sober at Southern The Comfy Life
Features
Pantone Inspired Fashion Hatched in the Boro Snapshot of Success
Life and Style Southern Traditions Abroad to the Boro
Entertainment
6 8 9
12 15
18 23 26
29 31
34
We Could All Afford to Open Our Minds for Once
35 Photo Courtesy of Mick Miller
A Stranger in a Strange Land
2 | REFLECTOR Fall 2 017
REFLECTOR Fall 2 017 | 3
Staff list Editor-in-Chief Cheryl Nuzum Reflector Editor Brooke Thompson
Letter from the Editor “We leave something of ourselves behind when we leave a place, we stay there, even though we go away. And there are things in us that we can find again only by going back there.” -Pascal Mercier, Night Train to Lisbon Here at Reflector, we believe that college isn’t just a phase, it’s a lifestyle. We have all been told college is a time to find ourselves: who we are and who we want to be. It is a time to experiment and experience because soon enough we’re going to have to face the hard reality of “the real world.” We may be stressed, underdressed, and a little malnourished, but this is our time, right? We are often reminded that these are the best four (or five) years of our lives! While we look ahead to our bright futures, we can’t forget home. The thought of home draws different feelings, thoughts and emotions from each of us because we are a diverse student body with some hailing from dusty, dirt road towns, others from a brightly lit cityscape, and some calling home a place that is somewhere in between. Georgia Southern is a temporary home that has its own unique culture because of the little piece of home, wherever that may be, each of us brings to campus. This melting pot has been created from our collective “befores” and be it the people, places or experiences of our past...each has in some way affected us. We often pass on these ideals and traditions without much thought, but it is important to take a moment, step back, and realize that while our past experiences have shaped us; they haven’t completely made us because we are still evolving, growing, and experiencing college life, which will shape us too. In this issue, we have explored home through family recipes, throwback rap and those who chose to start their businesses in Statesboro. We hope you reminisce about the good ol’ days before worrying about your GPA and your plans are after college, but we also want you to remember to take a step back and enjoy all that college has to offer. If you stumble, and we all will at some point, on life’s many winding paths, remember you are learning and home will always be where you heart is... Enjoy your Reflector! XOXO,
Brooke Thompson
4 | REFLECTOR Fall 2 017
Creative Editor-In-Chief Lauren Grizzell Design Editor Erin Fortenberry Designers Shelby Cuaron Rebecca Hooper Robbea Pierre Contributors Araya Jackson Casey Rohlen Dana Lark
Business Manager Kenyatta Brown Marketing Manager Haley Clark Public Relations Coordinator Ashley Myers Director of Student Media David Simpson Business Coordinator Samantha Reid
Mission Statement The Reflector is copyrighted 2017 by Reflector Magazine and Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, Ga. It is printed by South Georgia Graphics, Claxton, Ga. The Reflector is operated by GS students who are members of Student Media, a Georgia Southern student-led organization operating through the Dean of Student Affairs Office and the Division of Student Affairs & Enrollment Management. The magazine is produced twice a year by GS students for the Georgia Southern University community. Opinions expressed herein are those of the student writers and editors and DO NOT reflect those of the faculty, staff, administration of GS, Student Media Advisory Board nor the University System of Georgia.
Partial funding for this publication is provided by the GS Activities Budget Committee. Advertisements fund the remaining costs. Advertising inquiries may be sent to Office of Student Media, PO Box 8001, or by calling the Business Office at 912-4785418. Inquiries concerning content should be sent to Magazine EIC Cheryl Nuzum by emailing magseditor@ georgiasouthern.edu. All students are allowed to have one free copy of this publication. Additional copies cost $1 each and are available at the Office of Student Media in the Williams Center. Unauthorized removal of additional copies from a distribution site will constitute theft under Georgia law, a misdemeanor offense punishable by a fine and/or jail time.
Photo Courtesy of Unsplash.com
Cuisine & Culture REFLECTOR Fall 2 017 | 5
ne New Year’s Eve some odd years ago, a group of friends sat around drinking, celebrating and attempting to solve all the world’s problems. Around 4 a.m. one among them brought up a particular problem aimed at our locals: “How did we not have a brewery in Statesboro?” Franklin Dismuke, graduate of Georgia Southern, resolved that issue in July of 2013 when he opened the doors to Statesboro’s own Eagle Creek Brewery. Without any beer experience at all, Dismuke describes it as “Trial by fire, for sure.” Eagle Creek answers the craft beer wants of the community with a selection of home brews and guest taps. They make sure to keep the different taps cycling through, experimenting as much as they can to keep up with the demand.
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“We don’t try to stick to a specific kind [of beer]. Especially for us, in south Georgia, where craft brewing is really kind of getting its start.” says Dismuke. “There’s a very limited group of craft beer drinkers, and we’re trying our best to convert everyone with a good array of beers, of types, that everyone would want to drink. In essence, we brew it more for what the non craft beer drinker may like.” Today the brewery is a place you stop by on your lunch break for a sandwich and beer. Friends can head over during the week for a round of drinks and game of Cards Against Humanity. Fans arrive on the weekends to watch the big game on the projector. The pub is definitely a Statesboro staple but it wasn’t always that way.
When preparing to open the brewery, Dismuke thought the Statesboro community would be the struggle to persuade, but it turns out the state itself was the one putting up a fight. “Unfortunately Georgia was the worst state to open up a brewery, by far,” says Dismuke, “We were the last state in the whole union to allow retail sales and breweries, which is something a small brewery needs to survive.” Prior to becoming the brew pub style Eagle Creek is today, there were a lot more restrictions put on the brewery. While today you can order an array of beers, wines, shots and drinks, back in the beginning the choices were limited and the restrictions were tight. “We had to do a convoluted tour system that was set up by the state,
Designed by Erin Fortenberry
O
Photos by Kelly Lowery
Home Brews
in which you come in and pay for a tour, and you’re allowed six 6-oz samples,” said Dismuke. The only way a customer could enjoy their experience was to purchase a tour, opt to decline the actual walkthrough and enjoy their limited samples. Once the tour allotment was up, that was it. They couldn’t purchase anymore. “When we switched to brew pub it allowed us unlimited sales directly to the public where a consumer could come in and choose to buy as much beer as they want, a normal adult, with good sense can, and choose to buy whatever they wish rather than a standard product,” says Dismuke. Eagle Creek’s place amongst the Statesboro community has solidified further since the switch. Not quite a bar, the brewery allows customers to come have a drink for lunch or dinner without the party bar scene weighing down on them. They are more of a local hot spot rather than a college crowd - although there is a pretty large customer base for college students. “The typical customer here is the craft beer drinker 21-45. That’s usually our target market. We have a good mix between college-aged students and adults.” says Dismuke. “We have a very minimal underage crowd. We have a reputation of not serving underage so nobody comes down here and tries.” Occasionally the brew pubs gets to cater and host events, further cementing their spot in the Statesboro community. “We’re just starting to get into the catering, but we do cater and we also do events in-house. We’ve had several sorority and fraternity events, several class reunions, some weddings, some wedding receptions.” says Dismuke. Despite calling Statesboro home, Dismuke finds that a lot of travelers come through the brewery. “We stand out more of a destination than anyone else. People actually seek us out because we are a brewery.” Eagle Creek brewery is an establishment home and local to Statesboro. A tucked-away downtown treasure, it has become a staple among the community.
By.Cheryl Nuzum
REFLECTOR Fall 2 017 | 7
Family Recipes Whether it’s the smell of Nana’s fried chicken, blueberry pancakes every Saturday or hot chocolate with melting marshmallows, fond memories are associated with each of these culinary delights. Food is an important part of culture and history, and it always evokes memories. A few Georgia Southern students have shared their favorite family recipes that remind them of home.
By: Brooke Thompson
Arroz Con Pollo Courtesy of Micaiah Watson, senior interdisciplinary studies major
Ingredients: •
1 tablespoon of olive oil
•
4 chicken thighs
tomatoes, drained and
•
4 chicken drumsticks
chopped
•
2 teaspoons of salt
•
½ teaspoon of freshground black pepper
•
•
• •
•
2 cloves garlic, minced
•
1 bell pepper, chopped
2 cups of canned lowsodium chicken broth or
cut into ¼-inch dice 1 small onion, chopped
1 tablespoon of tomato paste
2 ounces of smoked ham,
•
1 ¾ cups of canned
homemade stock •
1 cup of rice, preferably long-grain
Directions: In a large, deep frying pan, heat the oil over moderately high heat. Season the chicken with ¼ teaspoon of salt and pepper
Goulash
the fat from the pan.
Courtesy of Sarah Knowles, sophomore English major
Reduce the heat to moderately low. Add the ham, onion, and
•
1 teaspoon of paprika
•
Pepper
garlic to the pan and cook while stirring occasionally until the
•
1 teaspoon of curry
•
3 bay leaves
onion starts to soften (about 2 minutes). Add the bell peppers
•
Diced bacon
•
1 teaspoon of allspice,
and cook, stirring occasionally, until they start to soften for 3
•
Onion
more minutes.
•
Cubed meat (brown first)
•
1 teaspoon of muggy
•
2 teaspoons of salt
Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, broth, and the remaining 1 ¾ teaspoons of salt and ¼ teaspoon of pepper and bring to a simmer. Stir in the rice and add the chicken in an even layer. Simmer, partially covered, over moderately low heat until the chicken and rice are just done (20 to 25 minutes). Sprinkle with parsley.
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Ingredients:
Directions: Cook until soft.
whole •
1 or more cups of sour cream
•
1 tablespoon of ketchup
Photo by Brooke Thompson
about 8 minutes total. Remove. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons of
Designed by Robbea Pierre
each. Cook the chicken, turning it, until it is browned well for
We Are So Much More than a
Millennial I
Designed by Shelby Bragg
f you were to type “millennial” into the Google search bar, you’d discover that “stereotypes” is one of the top autocomplete suggestions. Every generation has a term coined with it. There’s the Silent Generation, the Baby Boomers (our beloved parents), and then there’s us, those born from 1977 to 1995. So why then, has the world created such a terrible connotation with our term more than anyone else’s? The name has stuck with us and it pervades all our social media, news media and culture. It’s the only way we’re referred to these days. “Those damn millennials don’t work for
anything,” some outdated minds tend to say about us. Apparently, we’re the lazy, bored, entitled brats that are too irresponsible to make critical decisions. They say that we don’t want to take risks for jobs, we just want everything to be handed to us, and we don’t have real values or beliefs. “Those spoiled millennials are incapable of growing up, and they’ll be absorbed into that rotting social media lifestyle forever,” those close minded individuals continue on. That was hard to even type- because it’s a load of crap. Sorry Baby Boomers and those before, but it’s your way of thinking that’s lazy.
Shouldn’t you, those that are raising us, be the ones building us up and encouraging us the most? Instead, you’re the first to name call when we have one screw up. Maybe it’s because the only time we actually make the news is when a riot breaks out or when we don’t know who the Secretary of Defense is in those random street polls. It’s when we do something wrong that people pay attention. Sure, we make a lot of mistakes, but we are so much more than that. We are more than the stereotypes people have unfortunately casted upon us.
Traditionalists or Silent Generation:
Baby Boomers:
Born 1945 and before
Born 1946 to 1964
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We are extremely techsavvy. We know how to work technology, keep up with it, and maximize it. Technology has provided us with generous flexibility to work from where we want. We’re not bound to the typical 9-5 lifestyle anymore. We use our resources to their maximum capabilities to get the most not only out of work, but out of life. We are open minded. Our generation was the first to realize that nothing good comes from discriminating against someone because their beliefs don’t match yours or because their skin color is different. We embrace those around us and try to spread the same way of thinking to everyone else. We are very hard workers, actually. Do you think we’d be
Generation X: Born 1965 to 1976
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out here digging ourselves in a college debt hole up to our necks if we weren’t motivated to make something of our lives? We don’t want to be just like our parents. We want to be us. We want to travel and experience new places and meet new people. We want to make our own living and change the world along the way. Joan Kuhl, the founder of “Why Millennials Matter”, calls millennials a generation unlike any other, in a good way. She describes us as unusually large and taking over almost half of the workforce, incredibly diverse and already the bench strength for leadership. In her public speaking sessions and advocacy for millennials, she pushes the idea that we millennials are the future, and
the future’s looking bright. In reality, it’s easier to categorize us and place us into one big box than to realize our unique differences. We are changing the world. We are the reason people are more acceptive, understanding, and forgiving. We are the ones that advocate for one love for everyone. We’re all on this planet, no one deserves to be better than another - just different. And that’s okay. So, I will continue to eat my avocado toast, bingewatch Netflix series, and communicate solely with memes as much as I please. I am a millennial - a pretty awesome one at that - and I don’t deserve to be in a box.
By: Araya Jackson
Gen Y/Millennials Gen Z/Centennials Born 1977 to 1995
Born 1996 to Now
Photo Courtesy of Pexels.com
Health & Fitness REFLECTOR Fall 2 017 | 11
Sober AT SOUTHERN 12 | REFLECTOR Fall 2 017
C
lead a normal life outside of your treatment facility of choice. For many young adults that will mean getting a secondary education that they may have put on hold on while in the throes of addiction. Luckily, for the thousands of people who have been through Willingway Hospital alone, Georgia Southern offers a program for students who need that extra help. Through the Center for Addiction Recovery on the school’s campus, an offshoot of the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, these sober students are given special consideration. According to their website, the community has around 40 members who are able to enjoy privileges like early registration and scholarships. It’s not all free money and cupcakes for the afflicted at GS, however, they attend weekly seminars in addition to whatever outside help they need to stay clean. There is a fairly extensive admittance process that prefaces the student’s acceptance that involves having at least six months of sobriety and obtaining three
letters of recommendation that can attest to their sobriety. On average, the students are about 24-years-old and have two and a half years of sobriety between them. Many also work a part-time job along with a traditional 12 credit hours per semester workload. It is these scheduling conflicts that facilitate a need for special advisement and registration protocols. For students like Anna Billet, the program has helped her see a new life for herself after graduation. The 27-year-old Tucker, Georgia native struggled for years with substance abuse dating back to high school. After a series of run-ins with the law and an intervention from her family, she landed in Statesboro for a court-mandated bout of rehabilitation. It wasn’t her first attempt at getting clean and it ultimately wasn’t even the first time the law tried to do it for her. After an unsuccessful stint in DUI court in her late teens, a few trips to the county jail, and towards the end of her run with methamphetamine abuse
Designed by Erin Fortenberry
Photos by Matthew Funk
ollege is socially renowned as a period of self-discovery through exploration. It is a time when mistakes are made, often forgotten and sometimes not even remembered. But all students are not uniform, they each face a set of unique challenges just to get through the day. For some students, the biggest problem they face is just staying sober. The city of Statesboro, small as it may be, hosts over 80 12-step meetings every week for any slew of addictions. From alcoholism to sex addiction, there’s a rehab and support group for the estimated 1,000 people who have sought help here. In fact, as we’ve previously discussed in the spring edition of Reflector Magazine, the town plays host to one of the most widely respected rehab facilities in the country, Willingway. The problem isn’t whether or not you can find help for your vices, it’s what to do after you’ve been treated. Half-way houses can’t let you shack there forever, and they aren’t meant to. Your next step will be realizing what it means to
REFLECTOR Fall 2 017 | 13
a few years later, she lamented that she was lost. “I was always on probation and I was always like failing drug tests. It was just like I could never stop no matter whatever consequences were over my head,” Billet said solemnly, “I guess I always felt like there’s something inside me that was missing. Something was missing and I had to make everything normal. I was never okay with being sober.” That all came to an end after her time at several inpatient treatment centers in the city. Now four years sober, the easygoing accounting major looks forward to a rejuvenated
future after she graduates in December of 2018. When she’s not maintaining her 4.0 GPA, Billet acts as a part-time manager at La’Berry Frozen Yogurt Café, sponsors other sober women, and says she has reason to be excited for her reclaimed life. Her newfound life due, in-part, to the services the school offers to work around her busy lifestyle. “It’s busy and crazy [my life], but it’s filled with tons of amazing stuff now that I am where I am,” Billet said cheerily, “The program at Southern offers a lot of cool trips and incentives and you can be super involved if you want, but your involvement
“I GUESS I ALWAYS FELT LIKE THERE’S SOMETHING INSIDE ME THAT WAS MISSING. SOMETHING WAS MISSING AND I HAD TO MAKE EVERYTHING NORMAL. I WAS NEVER OKAY WITH BEING SOBER.”
– ANNA BILLET
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is all up to you. It’s done a lot for me.” To contact the Center for Addiction Recovery you can call 912-478-2288 or visit them at 501 Forest Dr. If you find yourself in need of immediate help you can call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration hotline for 24 hours a day toll-free at 1-800-662-4357. No matter who you are and no matter how bad you think you’ve got it, there will always people out there who are willing to help you to get back on track.
By. Casey Rohlen
HYGGE THE COZY LIFE
K
nitted socks, a hot cup of tea, a dear friend and the dancing flame of a lit candle; all of these things are hygge. Hygge, pronounced HOO-GA, is the word for the feeling you get as your favorite people, places and things come together in way that evokes the feeling of safety. Denmark consistently ranks as one of the happiest countries in the world despite their extremely high taxes and unbearable weather. The Danish seem to have a complete handle on hygge, which is a likely reason the Happiness Research Institute is headquartered in Copenhagen. The CEO of the Happiness Research Institute, Meik Wiking, published The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living, in a response to the never ending question: Why are the Danes so damn happy? In his book, Wiking presents a multitude of everyday habits the Danish incorporate in their lives.
Designed by Robbea Pierre
By: Dana Lark
REFLECTOR Fall 2 017 | 15
Manifesto
Wiking’s Hygge Manifesto includes 10 points that can easily be tied into your day.
1) Atmosphere
One non-negotiable in hygge is lighting. Say yes to candles and lamps, and avoid any overhead or fluorescent fixtures. If you’d like to take it a step further, opt for unscented candles. The Danish like to avoid artificial fragrance. If you want your house to smell like apple pie, then bake an apple pie.
2) Presence
University Wellness Director, Michele Martin, suggests cutting out the noise, racing thoughts, and distractions. You achieve this by being mindful and present in the moment, Martin said. Look at where your feet are. Try to be there mentally, not just physically.
3) Pleasure
A hot drink is the number one thing Danes associate with hygge. Hot tea, apple cider, hot cocoa and of course coffee are all safe bets to obtaining the warm and fuzzies. Sweets are also a top contender, so a square of dark chocolate and a slice of cake are encouraged. “Carrot sticks, not so much. Something sinful is an integral component of the hygge ritual,” according to Wiking.
4) Equality
In hygge, everyone has a seat at the table. Be eager to help your friend in the kitchen and allow others to enjoy the back and forth of a conversation.
5) Gratitude
To quote the Broadway “Hamilton” soundtrack like the obsessed all-lyric-knowing person I am, “Look around, look around, at how lucky we are to be alive right now.” Even on your worst day, a running list of gratitude is key to the movement. Your gratitude might be beautiful weather, a grade you know you didn’t deserve, your favorite spot in the library being wide open, or simply to be alive.
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6) Harmony
For this, Wiking suggests to check your bragging rights at the door. The people you choose to experience hygge with are in no competition with you or with each other. Honestly, conversation is optional. The people you are comfortable with in total silence are a good fit for this. One of the most beautiful aspects of hygge is experienced in taking in natural sounds, like coffee brewing mixed with a thunderstorm.
7) Comfort
Get out those pants: Your favorite pants. You know exactly which pants I’m talking about. There’s actually a word for them in Wiking’s hygge dictionary: Hyggebukser (hooga-bucksr). These are the pants you’d never wear in public, but live in at home. Ten points are added for fuzzy, knitted socks.
8) Truce
While you’re checking bragging rights at the door, also check the debate club, politics, finances, and anything else that has the potential to get you wound up. Think low blood pressure, easy conversation.
9) Togetherness
This is a good time to reminisce on shared memories. “I thrive on investing in people, and that returning,” Martin said. Experiencing hygge with the people you’ve invested in is a great way to see the fruits of that relationship.
10) Shelter
Your sanctuary, the place that’s safe and sound from the aforementioned thunderstorm. Here, you can fill your home with little things that make a big difference. “Basically, you want to think: How would a Viking squirrel furnish a living room?” Wiking explains. Bring nature inside, and incorporate wood in your decor. Lastly, a shelter would not be complete without blankets and cushions, you can never have too many.
Photo Courtesy of Pexels.com
Features REFLECTOR Fall 2 017 | 17
Pantone-insp fashion P
antone, founded in 1963, is the leading name in color communication. The Pantone Color Institute releases the season’s “it” colors, also known as the PANTONE Fashion Color Report, after evaluating the clothing that designers showcase during New York Fashion Week. This palette can aid in those big lifechanging decisions, like choosing a nail polish color or that perfect outfit; both are equally daunting. I teamed up with a local Statesboro business, Entourage Clothing, to help incorporate these on-trend colors with clothing that you can actually afford. Everything in the store, and in this spread, is $42 or less.
By: Dana Lark
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spired n ® PANTONE COLOR PALETTE
17-1558
Grenadine
19-1725
Tawny Port
13-2808
Ballet Slipper
16-1341
Butterum
19-4029
Neutral Gray
19-4524
Shaded Spruce
16-0543
Golden Lime
17-4041
Marina
17-1145
Autumn Maple
Designed by Robbea Pierre
17-4402
Photos by Jaren Stephens
Navy Peony
REFLECTOR Fall 2 017 | 19
Color inspiration 13-2808
Ballet Slipper
16-0543
Golden Lime
20 | REFLECTOR Fall 2 017
Color inspiration 19-4029
Navy Peony
17-1558
Grenadine
REFLECTOR Fall 2 017 | 21
Color inspiration 17-1558
Grenadine
19-4029
Navy Peony
22 | REFLECTOR Fall 2 017
in the
Hatched BORO Designed by Erin Fortenberry
Photos Courtesy of Tony Townley
From the University Plaza to Southeast Takeover
REFLECTOR Fall 2 017 | 23
A
s outsiders coming into this small town that we reside in for four or more interesting years of our lives, we form the notion that this place would be nothing without us. Without the college, Statesboro would merely be an unrecognizable name on a map. Without the student body, it’d be just an exit that travelers pass on their way to visit the historic district of Savannah.
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But wait- take a step back to look deep into the history of this place, and you might just find something quite compelling. There once was a young, ambitious transfer student from UGA who walked the halls of COBA. Pursuing a degree in management information systems, he knew one thing: He wanted to be in business for himself, he just didn’t know with what exactly. After meeting the love
of his life, a slocal* named Elizabeth, and graduating from GS in 86’, his life was about to take a drastic change. Little did Mr. Tony Townley know, but he would soon be the co-founder of a billion-dollar chicken industry: a place we know and love, called Zaxby’s. Back in the late 80’s, the Georgia Southern’s body was only a fraction of what it is now. “Statesboro has grown like [Zaxby’s] grown. The school’s grown like we’ve grown. Back then there was about 5,000 students, and god what is it today? It’s amazing,” Townley described in a phone interview, as he reminisced about his old stomping ground. Townley lived in one of the original dorms on campus called Oxford Hall. He then lived in apartments for two years, whose name he could not recall. His senior year, however, he ventured off and stayed in a boarding house off of Highway 67. “That was a wonderful experience, living with a family, eating meals with them. I could come and go as I pleased,” Townley explained. He recalls the Dunce family, now deceased, as great people who took care of him. Any college town, no matter the year, has restaurants and bars where
students go to socialize and have a few drinks. Statesboro, however, has an icon. An icon that Townley was no stranger to. “Our favorite place was probably Dingus Magees, we frequented there quite often. It was the ‘it spot’ when I was in college,” Townley said. Oh, how interesting it is that as things change, they also stay the same. Townley spent majority of all his time with middle-school best friend, Zach McLeroy. The best friend duo played a little basketball together, went on double dates together and knew each other better than they knew themselves. Townley described him as more of a brother than just a friend. Townley, freshly graduated, married, with a child on the way, and McLeroy, single and ready for action, combined their entrepreneurial instincts and every dollar they had to bring something “fun and trendy” to Statesboro. With this dedication, the very first Zaxby’s, or Zax as it was originally named, opened in March 1990. Fast-forward many years, as of the week of October 1st, 2017, Zaxby’s had a total of 872 stores. Townley said they plan to open their 900th store either at the end of this year or the beginning of 2018.
From the start, McLeroy was all about the menu, operations, and advertising. Townley, being a numbers man and having previous financial experience, oversaw franchising, accounting and real estate. Now, almost 30 years later, the best friend duo is still at it, stronger than ever. His bond with McLeroy is not the only one important to him. For Townley, relationships are everything. “Whether it’s a franchisee, a vendor, customers or employees, it comes down to relationships… It takes forever to have a great relationship, and it only takes a second to destroy it. I cannot tell you how important relationships are throughout life.” For a chicken joint originating in the University Plaza in Statesboro, Georgia, the business has come a long, long way. And for the record, no one can officially say nothing came out of this small college town. * slocal- Statesboro local
By Araya Jackson
REFLECTOR Fall 2 017 | 25
SNAP
26 | REFLECTOR Fall 2 017
Designed by Rebecca Hooper
The roots of Reflector magazine trace all the way back to a yearbook publication. While we have grown and evolved from that classification over the years, this article pays homage to not only this magazine’s history, but the hard working students at Georgia Southern as well. If you can relate to feeling like there aren’t enough hours in a day, then this piece is for you. By Dana Lark
Photos by Jaren Stephens
SH T of Success
Kiamber Haynes
7:30 am
7:55 am
Kiamber Haynes is a first semester Masters of Accountancy student. Haynes received her undergraduate degree in accounting in May 2017 and she notably (impossibly/impressively) completed it with a 4.0 GPA. As the president of the Accounting Association, a member of the National Association of Black Accountants, and a graduate assistant to three faculty members, she is constantly on the move. If she’s not working, she’s reading. Haynes attributes her success to a healthy combination of dedicated study time and being pulled out of the house by her friends.
COBA - 6:00 PM Kiamber prepares to head the first Accounting Association meeting of the semester
Catching up on homework in-between classes
Trey Miller
PAULSON STADIUM Parking at the stadium; Kiamber has no time for parking tickets!
Preparing for a long day on campus
THE FORUM
7:40 am
Trey carves out time for the most important meal of the day
HENDERSON - 7:55 am LIBRARY Parking at Hendy before heading to work
Trey Miller is senior construction management major in the University Honors Program and a diehard Google Calendar enthusiast. Miller is a member of the Society of American Military Engineers, 2017 SOAR leader, a Southern Ambassador, Georgia Southern Athletics Master of Ceremonies, and is employed by the Office of Admissions as a student assistant. In addition, Miller serves as an assistant wrestling coach at Statesboro High School. Miller attributes his involvement to an inability to sit still. Living by a calendar is crucial when there is so much going on, which is why Miller swears by the colorcoded Google Calendar app.
LEWIS HALL
8:15 am
Waiting for Lewis Hall to unlock its lovely doors
Hard at work folding information Trey’s midday highlight: packets for incoming GS students line dancing class
RAC - 12:30 PM
REFLECTOR Fall 2 017 | 27
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Photo by Erin Fortenberry
Life & Style
traditions Traditions are what allow us to remember where we came from while striving to become who we want to be. Georgia Southern was founded in 1908, and with over 100 years of history comes the traditions that we have all come to know and love. While GS has many traditions, we have decided to focus on three of our favorites. By Brooke Thompson
MARRYING YOUR
Designed by Rebecca Hooper
Photos Courtesy of Tyson Neurath and Mick Miller
Sw theart
Legend has it that if you and your significant other walk around Sweetheart Circle three times, you will get married. With Sweetheart circle being the site for many marriage proposals and weddings, our campus’s gorgeous circle is bound to attract at least a few lovebirds. Tyson Neurath and Jackson Corbin, both of whom come from a long line of Eagles, have proven this legend as true. The two are high school sweethearts and are engaged, and they always knew they were meant to come to Georgia Southern. Corbin said, “I think we both always knew that… we were going to go to Georgia Southern eventually.” He had heard about the legend in a walking class, and on a hot day in the winter (the usual for
South Georgia), the two decided to sweat out their walk around Sweetheart. Neurath said, “We always heard you had to do it with a willing heart, so I was trying so hard to be like my heart is willing to do this.” The two completed the three laps around Sweetheart Circle and offered some advice for relationships in college. Neurath said, “Be patient with one another and support one another… support each other no matter what the other wants to do.” Corbin says communication is also key in a relationship especially when college is a time where schedules can be different and rumors can get started. The two are getting married in October, and so it is true that Eagles can turn into lovebirds.
Neurath and Corbin on their Wedding Day.
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Freedom’s Flight One of Georgia Southern’s symbols is our eagle mascot, specifically Freedom. Starting out a football game with Freedom is a crucial part of our gameday experience. While an eagle first appeared at a GS football game in 1998, Freedom has been flying high with us since 2007. Samantha Shultz, sophomore multimedia film production
major, has been watching Freedom’s Flight since she was a child. She said, “As a student, it fills me with pride… not every university has [this].” Students of GS look forward to seeing Freedom, and the roar of the crowd when he flies is like not other. Freedom is not just a symbol for our school but a symbol for the students as well.
When someone yells “Georgia” in a crowded place, it is a given that you yell “Southern” back. It is a testament of a true fan and of school spirit. This phrase is not just yelled in public, but it is also chanted at football games. Lane Dasher, freshman exercise science major and cheerleader, said, “There is no greater
thrill than the Georgia Southern fans showing school spirit by chanting our university’s traditional chant, “Georgia Southern!” Dasher knows first hand how the crowd reacts when the signs are brought out and it is time for the crowd to show they are True Blue fans.
Our traditions at Georgia Southern are what make us unique. You cannot get this kind of history and feeling anywhere else!
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Photos by Kelly Lowery, Jaren Stephens, Xxavier Robertson
GEORGIA! SOUTHERN!
How’d you get to
Statesboro? N
Our office of admissions boasts that scholars from around 90 countries have chosen to call Statesboro their home, and they each have a unique story to tell of how they ended up here. Fine young students like pre-nursing major Okonkwo Valentine Ekene, who came all the way from Lagos, Nigeria, journey here to take advantage of our stellar academics. Ekene says he came here after researching our prestigious nursing program and may plan on using his degree to one day become an anesthetist. What our global students may not have been able to research though is just how in love they would fall with the school when they arrived. “My favorite thing about Georgia Southern is what the motto says—it’s large scale, small feel,” said Ekene on the admissions website, “This is one of the unique qualities that makes Georgia Southern what it is.”
Designed by Robbea Pierre
estled firmly in the heart of the Bible belt and just as firmly stuck in the stigma of the South Georgia lifestyle, Georgia Southern has earned itself a reputation as a fun-loving place. The trucks may be a little bigger here, the nights might get a little rowdier, the women may be a little prettier, but we prefer to keep it that way. What isn’t mutually exclusive to the university, however, is the type of people that go here. Sure, we’ve got our Vineyard Vines-clad frat stars and long tee-shirted blond haired Southern belles, but what we don’t do here is exclude people who want to be a part of our culture. Who could blame somebody for wanting to run with the Eagles ‘til their heart turns True Blue? We welcome all newcomers with open arms and a tray of Cookout, just like our Eagle brethren before us. This is so true, in fact, that GS has become a major multicultural hub for students seeking the finest education the world over.
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He is not alone in that sentiment. The GS area also Jokes aside, for a town of only 30,000 people to have so caught the eye of 21-year-old senior marketing major many different walks of life being represented, it is a unique Eugenia Tan. Originally born and raised in Singapore, situation to be presented with. The outside world may view Tan received a scholarship to the university for track and the south as being a culturally insensitive place, and in some field. What struck her most about the town was ways it can be, but many of these immigrants how laid back and full of that trademark have found that they are met with kindness southern charm the residents were. instead. Through genuine Southern “Statesboro is a cute little town, very hospitality and specifically though southern,” Tan continued, “People integration programs at GS, our here are really nice and friendly. little city is a breeding ground Especially my teammates, for cultural understanding and without even knowing who I am.” acceptance through new No stranger to competition friendships. on the track field, Tan also let There are many out that she was happy to find organizations related to a break from the high stress the office of International lifestyle back home. Programs and Services that “It’s just nice not having to allow for diverse students rush all the time and having to get to know one another. a packed schedule every day Events like the international because in Singapore we are conversation hour and the living a very competitive lifestyle,” annual international festival Tan said, “It’s just nice having time to provide a platform for residents to chill with my friends and having plenty get a taste for other cultures and to Okonkwo Ekene explain their own. By opening a dialogue of alone time too.” If a slow-paced lifestyle is Tan’s ideal way to between our foreign friends and the local spend her time, then she must simply adore the new grown Georgians, the two can come to grasp what Burkhalter roundabout. She denied to comment. their university ultimately is, a place to experience the world. By: Casey Rohlen
“My favorite thing about Georgia Southern is what the motto says—it’s large scale, small feel” -
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Photo Courtesy of Mick Miller
Entertainment
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A Stranger in a Strange Land ONE 90’S KID QUEST FOR MORE MEANINGFUL HIP-HOP s a rural white youth, the current disarray of modern hip-hop chills me to my very core. My Tupac and Del The Funky Homosapien CDs have long worn thin and if they go out, I don’t know what will become of me. More than likely, my rhythm will shrink to such a miniscule size that I will find it hard to Duggy out of bed in the morning. The gradual degradation of lyricism and urban-spunk has left me feeling isolated from the increasingly beatheavy leanings of modern rap. The problem may not so much lie in that I am holding on to the music of my adopted youth, but instead, was the music never intended for my ears in the first place? Am I remiss to feel like a savior has yet to lead the 90s-esque rap resurgence? Or am I but a fool to think that I deserve the very music I still cherish in the first place, after all, Wu-Tang is for the children. Before Atlanta became the undisputed Mecca of trap music, before Riff Raff stole America’s soul with simile, before Lil Uzi Vert did whatever it is that he does, there was the great bi-coastal war. The east coast, west coast bad blood was the stuff of VH1 re-run lore and is one of the most decisive eras in the history of music. The ‘war’, which did ultimately see casualties on both sides, is largely credited as starting after the unsolved non-fatal shooting of rapper Tupac Shakur. Tupac blamed the assault on his then-friend The Notorious B.I.G, a.k.a Biggie Smalls, and the two rappers parted ways to cultivate the breeding ground for diss tracks against their newfound enemies. Although there is some speculation that the beef was trumped up to sell records, the public and news organizations ran amuck amidst the bloodshed. This conflict was not noted to show that modern rappers are soft, because they most certainly are not, but it shows that the golden era of heated, seething, limerick rap has seemingly passed us. Out of this deep-rooted
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era of gangster rap came scores of golden records that have stood the test of time. It was the peak of the craft and expectedly, some of us think it’s only gone downhill from there. To be fair, the same can be said about the peak of metal music, for example, during the same timeframe. Sounds change, what was cool back then needs a tune up every once and a while. Even so, you can’t help but feel that there was something in the cosmos that gave us all those once-inan-eon artists during the same decade. There are, however, glimmers of hope for us looking in the right places for an intrepid savior upon the hiphop Mount Olympus. Mainstream millennial wordsmiths like Chance The Rapper, Childish Gambino and Kendrick Lamar, to name a few, have shown us that there is a beacon of light yet to be seen from the fading stars of old. Hip-hop is inherently about movement and that is best shown through the poetry of verse. It is about uniting the masses against a common enemy, addressing cultural issues, or just flat out making some shorties drop it low for the cause. These merits can still be seen in the blessed few who carry the torch, but the offbranches of the modern craft have sullied the pot for many fans. While it is unfair to say that there is no legible modern rap music, it is reasonable to assume that certain genres aren’t for everyone and their creators probably prefer it that way. If lyricists like Nas or Big L were the subject of an academic analysis, then trap music would certainly be the antithesis. Trap was born in the heart of Atlanta in this same timeframe, but the style that we have come to associate with it didn’t come fruition until artists like Three 6 Mafia and Gucci Mane took the reins. The movement has since branched out to feature artists from around the globe, but to the founding
trap fathers, it will always remain uniquely Georgian. Intrinsically, trap rap serves its purpose and makes people happy, which is all you can ask for in an expression. But at its core, it largely comes off as braggard music that combines simple rhymes with a hard baseline. It’s easy to claim that this is what most hip-hop is at its most primal incarnation anyways, but that doesn’t mean it has to be that way. So, who are the voices of our generation? Where are the de facto leaders of their republics? It’s simple, they’re with their fans. They’re selling out arenas all over the world to crowds of people who they’ve spoken to, just like the greats we may put on a pedestal. It’s next to impossible to keep up with all the new music being released on the myriad of streaming services, so these people are already out there. We just may not have found our prophets yet. When searching for answers in the whirlwind of different sects of crunkcore, trip hop, horrorcore, and ghetto house, it’s hard to know where it all went wrong. Maybe the answer is that it ultimately didn’t. Music is palatable to people in every niche on earth because it is ever-changing in serving as a form of expression for the artists themselves. Then, one degree away, the fans become inspired by it. Perhaps this is no different than your mom changing the radio station when Ozzy Osbourne came on while you were young. While you may have wanted to ride the crazy train and explore what this new and exciting sound meant to you, someone from a different era was there to tell you that it’s the sacrilegious path. If only you’d heard the music back in my day.
By. Casey Rohlen
O
Designed by Erin Fortenberry
A
WE COULD ALL AFFORD TO OPEN OUR MINDS FOR ONCE
Designed by Robbea Pierre
Maybe it’s the thrill of not knowing what’s encounter has a lot to do with it. to come after you buy your first ticket. It People wear what they want, do THESE ARE could be the hardcore roadtrip-jams on what they please, and push the the way there, or the welcoming shouts level of what some would call PEOPLE THAT YOU’LL from thousands of cars as you await to get “weird” to the max - and no NEVER WANT TO PART through vehicle security checks - which one questions you for it. aren’t much of checks at all. These are people that WITH, BECAUSE THERE’S Starting to set up the campsite on the you’ll never want to part NO ONE QUITE LIKE THEM with, because there’s no wrong side of your friend’s beat up, red IN THE REALITIES OF YOUR one quite like them in the Toyota Corolla may contribute, because you can only laugh at yourselves and realities of your home life. HOME LIFE. THE EMITTING The how the weekend is already turning out. emitting sense of unity SENSE OF UNIT Y IS HARD is hard to describe; it can The blistering heat that awakens you from your tent at the earliest hours of the only be felt. TO DESCRIBE; IT CAN morning may not have done the trick, but But still, this doesn’t explain ONLY BE FELT. ultimately, there is something. the something of it all. There’s There is something that makes going to your one particular thing that’ll keep you first festival an experience unlike any other. coming back for more. The overwhelming feeling of inclusiveness and You’d think the music would be the most powerful love from every single open-minded person you will factor that makes this trip what it is. The electric energy
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Photos by Araya Jackson
Life through a Music Festival Lens
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pulsating through you as you groove to your favorite Festivals remove all distractions from your life, so you artists under the stars, what could top that? can just focus on you and what makes you happy. You’ll Not to mention staying up until sunrise as you explore learn how to adapt, accept and understand. the land, dance in a Christmas barn, or stroll through an The situation described above is from a girl’s first eerily lit up forest. time going to Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, However, the music nor the late night adventures are Tennessee. After that, the girl went on to attend 5 more quite the pivotal influences that complete the weekend. festivals, and has more lined up in the future. To try and summarize it, the entire atmosphere has That girl is me. an ambiance that sparks a light inside of you. There’s a It’s addicting, quite honestly. Not because of how perfect, harmonious aura that surrounds you the entire much fun it is, how great being front row for your favorite time. It’s a euphoric weekend where you feel like, for once artist feels, or how welcoming the campers are; but in your life, the Earth’s gravity isn’t weighing you down. because you come out and realize that you are overall You’re on top of the world. a happier person. But what’s the true reason you’ll go to a second, Sure, this can sound a little far-fetched. Yeah, you may and a third, and even more festivals at any be thinking, “It’s just a music festival,”and that type of chance you can get? thinking is the point exactly. We could all afford to open WE It’s the product of yourself after that first our minds a little. We get so caught up in this fasteventful weekend. paced, materialistic world that we live in. Stop GET SO It’s the new powerful sense of openand take a breath of fresh air for once. CAUGHT UP IN mindedness you’ll be radiating. You’ll look at You’ll thank yourself. the world, think about those arounVd you, THIS FAST-PACED, and even view yourself in a whole new way. MATERIALISTIC By: Araya Jackson
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WORLD THAT WE LIVE IN.
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