The Spectator Online Edition, February 6, 2014

February 6, 2014

W W W. V S U S P E C TAT o R . C o M

Inside This Issue

VoLUME 86 iSSUE 3

“Valdosta State 2014 signing class” pg. 6

- oPinionS: “students want Fall Break back” - FEATURES: “ads take viewers back in time” - SPoRTS: “Blazers look to tame Paine lions”

On the Web w w w. v s u s p e c ta t o r. c o m

Check out Eric Jackson’s “VSU softball prepares for Eckerd tournament”

Hill Harper brings fame to VSU

Today at VSU harlem renaissance- dr. thomas aiello will be giving a presentation in Jennett hall 2211at 6:30 pm about the arts during the harlem renaissance. gang risk- drs. James martinez and Jeremy tost will deliver a seminar titled “Gang risk Factors, Gang membership and academic readiness” in Powell hall from 4-5 pm.

John Stephen coPY editor

jsstephen@valdosta.edu

This Day in History A Queen is Crowned February 6, 1952 after King George Vi passed away, following a long struggle with illness, Princess elizabeth was pronounced Queen at the age of 27.

Queen elizabeth has reigned popularly since and in 2003 celebrated 50 years on the throne. she is only the fifth monarch to do so. also on this day: in 1911, america’s 40 president, ronald reagan, was born. the first actor to be elected to office, he soon became known as the “Great communicator.” he is perhaps most famously known for his grit in foreign policy, climaxing in his negotiotiation of the release of american hostages in iran.

Source: History.com

Weather Today

Friday

Mostly Sunny 59 H 43 L Mostly Cloudy 64 H 50 L

Saturday Showers

59 H 45 L

Find Us online WEbSiTE: vsuspectator.com

TWiTTER: @vsuspectator

FACEbooK: The Spectator

Will Lewis / The SPecTaTor

Valdosta City and VSU emergency services respond to the scene of an accident, where Lizzy Lohmar was struck by a car turning ontoPatterson Rd. The accident occured at approx. 12:30 while Lohmar attempted to cross the road.

VSU student struck by car while crossing Patterson Allison Ericson s ta F F W r i t e r

abericson@valdosta.edu

a VsU student was struck by a truck while attempting to cross north Patterson street on Wednesday afternoon and suffered substantial but non-life-threatening injuries. “our thoughts and prayers go out to lizzie lohmar, her family and her Phi mu sisters!” @Kd_VsU (Kappa delta at VsU) tweeted at 5:07 p.m. on

Wednesday. the 21-year-old female was transported to sGmc, and according to a member of her sorority, she suffered from multiple broken bones, a collapsed lung, internal bleeding and head trauma.

Valdosta daily times reported that michael laslie, a 21-year-old VsU student, has been charged with failure to yield to a pedestrian at a crosswalk. laslie allegedly hit lohmar with his truck while turning left at the intersection of east college street and north

Patterson street. the intersection has been a cause for concern to many students in the past. “there have been many times where i have had to catch myself before i got hit by an oncoming car at that crosswalk,” sarah Johnson, junior biology major, said. sierra schultz, senior legal assistance major, said, “that intersection is so scary; my prayers go out to her and her family.”

McKinney considers SGA weighs new signing guidelines tobacco guidelines for student media Joe Adgie

social media editor

jmadgie@valdosta.edu

nov. 21 meeting. the media Guidelines will provide a definite line sepawalewis@valdosta.edu rating student media from adPresident William mcKinministrators’ power. ney is reviewing a document “students who work on ofthat will cement the indepenficial, college-sponsored student relationship between all dent media determine the student media and VsU. content of their respective mcKinney has been conmedia organizations and are ferencing with his cabinet responsible for that content,” and counsel, and they are exthe document read. pected to reach a decision the guidelines would prosoon. tect student media from any the student administrative Press law You will really have repercussions for center issued content, barring to search far and the model obscenity, libel, Guidelines for wide for a more material that viocollege stulates an individstaunch defender of dent media in ual’s privacy or 2009. mcKin- first amendment causes major disney was handrights than me. ruption on camed the docu- William mckinney pus. most of the ment at a activities mentioned in the communications Board exemptions are already conmeeting on nov. 21, where sidered illegal under state he said a decision could be law. expected by Jan. 13. the document calls for colmcKinney seemed excited leges to respect the freedom at the opportunity to formally of speech for student media, acknowledge the editorial even in regards to controvercontrol of student media. sial topics.

“You will really have to “college officials have a search far and wide for a responsibility to protect admore staunch defender of vocates of unpopular views,” first amendment rights than the guidelines read. me,” mcKinney said at the

Will Lewis

editor-in-chieF

“

”

See McKinney, Page 2

an early look at the results of the sGa’s tobacco survey has shown that a majority are against a proposed University system ban of all tobacco products. the vote, as of monday, reported that 42 percent of 486 students who responded were not in favor of the policy, while 27 percent were in favor of designated areas around campus rather than a ban.

27 percent favored the policy. included in the proposed ban are electronic cigarettes, something that does not sit well with many respondents of the survey. “electronic cigarettes are safe, have no secondhand effects, and have saved my life as well as thousands of others,” wrote one respondent. “to ban electronic cigarettes would be like banning a nicotine patch. to do so is offensive and frankly irresponsible. You would never ban life rafts from cruise ships.” another respondent cited the safety of the area around VsU. “there is nowhere off campus that is safe or close

enough to access if the University bans outdoor smoking,” that respondent wrote. “this is my university too. if you want people to stop smoking, outlawing it on campus isn’t the solution.” “seriously, when everyone’s worried about being stabbed at night on campus, i think you have more important issues to address than tobacco,” wrote another. the proposed ban, according to the proposal, is meant to “promote the health, wellbeing and safety of our students, faculty, staff, and visitors,” and cited studies that “have shown that tobacco use has adverse effects among tobacco users and non-users alike including respiratory disorders, heart disease and various forms of cancer with a higher mortality and morbidity rate.” some respondents wrote that, rather than a complete tobacco ban, VsU could support smoking cessation programs instead, where smokers would learn to completely quit smoking. the survey runs until February 11th, and if passed, the ban would go into effect in July.

award-winning actor and bestselling author hill harper will be visiting VsU on Feb. 25 to deliver the keynote address during the final event of the “50 Years of integration” celebration. harper is best known for his role as dr. sheldon hawkes on the tV drama “csi: new York.” harper, who holds degrees from prestigious schools such as Brown University, harvard University and harvard law school, will speak on the value of education and the importance of building a strong foundation for life, according to a press release by VsU’s office of social equity (ose). tickets for the semi-formal event that begins at 7 p.m. are $15 for VsU students, $25 for non-students, and available for purchase until Feb. 11 either at the ose or from the website www.valdosta.edu/integration. harper, a classmate of President obama’s at harvard law school, is an accomplished motivational speaker who frequently visits schools across the country, providing youth and young adults with guidance and support pertaining to education, career goals and life in general. he has been awarded numerous naacP image awards for his acting work and has published several popular self-help books. the event featuring harper, which is officially titled “celebrating 50 Years,” marks the end of the yearlong proceedings commemorating a half-century of racial integration at VsU. the event will also recognize notable sponsors of the newly-established thomas/Pierce scholarship Fund, which is named after the first pioneers of integration at VsU and is intended for first-generation college students. malynda dorsey, director of the ose and chair of the “50 Years of integration” committee, hopes that the events celebrating integration will have a positive effect on the students at VsU. “Just as the changes that occurred on the campus 50 years ago impacted the faculty, staff and students, it is the hope of the committee that the schedule of events will engage and impact the subgroups of today’s campus community,” dorsey said.

VsU archivist deborah davis said that while VsU was reluctant to integrate its campus 50 years ago, we are now a shining example of what true integration looks like.

See HARPER, Page 2

News

PAgE 2 | vsUsPEctAtoR.com

HARPER Continued from Page 1 “We are the only school outside of the metro atlanta area that has the same proportion of black and white

Police Briefs Feb. 4 a caller reported the smell of marijuana coming from a georgia Hall room. ryan J. Marianacci, 19, of Johns Creek, ga., was arrested and charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana. a caller reported that his Jeep Wrangler had been broken into on the second floor of Sustella Parking deck. a caller reported that his Mazda Miata had been broken into on the third floor of Sustella Parking deck. an unknown amount of change was missing. a subject reported a theft from a motor vehicle. another subject reported a theft from a motor vehicle. a subject reported the theft of an orange and black gMC denali bicycle with curved racing handles at West Hall. a subject reported a theft from a Kia Spectra. a subject reported that two black males, last seen running toward drexel Park, took his or her cell phone. tracking showed the cell phone’s location. a student reported her Jeep Wrangler had been broken into while on the fifth floor of Sustella Parking deck. a student reported that her MacBook Pro had been stolen from her dorm room over the weekend while she was out of town.

students as is reflected in the rest of the state,” davis said in a video clip on the “50 Years of integration” website.

“We have been, in a lot of ways, the most successful integrators in the state.” to find out more about the “Celebrating 50 Years” event, call the oSE at 229-3335463.

MCKINNEY Continued from Page 1 Beyond students, faculty advisers are also protected. the document says that an adviser can’t be “fired, transferred or removed from their position” because he/she refused to exercise control over content.

VSU administration would also benefit from the deal. “as recognized by several

courts, the college assumes no liability for the content of any student media over which it exercises no editorial control,” the guidelines read. the SPLC is an organization with the goal of providing legal assistance to student journalists across the country. according to their website, they have approximately 150 lawyers working to defend students’ first amendment rights.

Integration Committeee introduces honorary Thomas/Pierce Scholarship Olivia McLean Managing Editor ovmclean@valdosta.edu

With financial limitations halting many students’ dreams, a group at VSU may help those dreams come true. the VSU 50 Years of integration Planning Committee launched the thomas/Pierce Scholarship in honor of the legacy of drewnell thomas and robert Pierce, the first two black students to attend VSU (then Valdosta State College). the scholarship, according to dr. Maggie J. Viverette, director of the office of Social Equity, will be available to first-generation college students enrolled at VSU who are in good standing and have a minimum gPa of 3.0. “the number of award recipients will be determined by the amount of funds raised,” Viverette said. “ideally the planning committee would like to establish an endowed scholarship that would provide ongoing funds for the future awardees. “the university is in the process of identifying donors

now. the Boddie McKnight Law Firm of atlanta has committed to a corporate sponsorship.” in addition to the multiple events held in honor of the 50-year anniversary, “the concept for the scholarship was initially discussed by the 50 Years of integration Planning Committee in January of last year,” Viverette said in an email. “the goal of the committee was to have a lasting impact as an outcome of (the) university’s celebration of the 50-year milestone.” the significance of the scholarship is its ability to help students who would be the first in their families to go to college but don’t have the financial means to do so. according to the 50 Years of integration page on the VSU website, drewnell thomas, the first black woman to attend VSU, was the first in her family to attend college; however, at the time, thomas didn’t know how she would pay for it. after being offered a full scholarship from the negro Voter League, she decided to attend VSC.

FEBRUARY 6, 2014 Upcoming Events Feb. 8 the Valdosta Symphony orchestra will perform Concert iii: Voyage of the imagination at 8 p.m. tickets are $27 for adults and $10 for students. Senior and military discounts are available.

Feb. 12 do you want to know more about the student organizations and departments at VSU? Meet them on the Pedestrian Mall between 11

a.m. and 2 .p.m. it's free.

Feb. 14 VSU's Campus Wellness will “go red” and encourages faculty, staff and students to wear and/or decorate their offices red. Submit personal stories, heart-healthy recipes and pictures to bjholloman@valdosta.edu with the subject line “go red” to commemorate the occasion, and you will receive a go red pin.

thomas graduated in 1967 with a degree in sociology and went on to earn a master’s degree in social work from atlanta University. She ran for georgia’s district 39 Senate post in 1988, 1990 and 1992 and was heavily endorsed by the atlanta Journal-Constitution and other organizations.

Without a scholarship, thomas, who graduated from high school with honors, may not have been able to further her education.

Read the rest of Olivia M c L e a n ’s s t o r y o n t h e web at w w w. v s u s p e c ta t o r. c o m !

Feb. 2 a student reported items stolen from her car last week while parked in the oak Street Parking Lot. Jan. 31 a subject reported her cell phone was stolen. an ra reported that she smelled marijuana on the second floor of georgia Hall. Eric t. nolfa , 18, of alpharetta, ga., was arrested and charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana.

Jan. 30 Jenna L. deblasio, 18, of Flowery Branch, ga., was arrested and charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana at the Honors House. a caller reported that he believed a black male with a beard wearing a gray georgia Bulldogs hoodie took his cell phone. the suspect was detained, and the property was returned.

Jan. 29 a student reported her 1Card was stolen.

THE SPECTATOR Recruiting For Spring 2014 Positions Available: ADVERTISING SALES PHOTOGRAPHERS WRITERS WEB DESIGNERS GRAPHIC DESIGNERS MOBILE APP DESIGNERS Scan Here For Details on Positions & How to Apply or Use: http://qr2.it/Go/2351938 Email:Aimee Napier, Advertising Sales Manager,

acnapier@valdosta.edu

The Classifieds The Spectator prints free classifieds for students of Valdosta State University only. these must be no more than 40 words, or a $8.00 charge will apply.

Classifieds for faculty, staff, student organizations,student-owned businesses and the general public cost $8.00 for up to 40 words. ads should be sent to The Spectator or delivered to our office in 1238 Hopper Hall. the deadline is Monday at 5 p.m. if payment applies, it should be submitted in a sealed envelope at the time the ad is placed. ads must be accompanied by the

name and phone number of the person submitting the ad. ads must be resubmitted each week, as necessary.

The Spectator address is: 1500 N. Patterson St.,Valdosta, GA 31698. Our email address is spec@vald o s t a . e d u .

The Spectator reserves the right to reject any classified ad. all ads are subject to standard editing procedures.

The Spectator is not responsible for mistakes due to a submitted error. the categories for classifieds include: For Sale, Wanted, roommates and Help Wanted.

ISO Roommate

For Rent

For Rent

Services

Roommate Needed: $375 Rent Includes all utilities. Available:1 bdrm in a 3 bdrm house. Lease Jan through July.

Email Ashley: ashlmiller@valdosta.edu

For Rent 1404 Iola Dr., 2BR/1BA - $500; 1203 Williams St. 2BR/1BA - $550; 1203/2 Williams St., 2BR/1BA - $550; 319 E Park Ave, 4BR/2BA $750. Contact Ming Lee at 229-292-4400.

WWW.VSUSPECTATOR.COM

OpiniOns

february 6, 2014

vsuspecTaTor.com | paGe 3

Our point of view...

Students want fall break back i

t seems as though fall Break will not be returning to the schedule, to many students dismay. the suggested revisions to the schedule made by the academic schedule Committee include a four-day finals week with dead day still present. it still has to be approved by President McKinney and the faculty senate. in November of last year, the student Government association held a survey and collected over 3,000 votes and found that the majority of students were in favor of bringing back the four-day weekend break. the break, which allowed time off in October and gave students time to kick back and relax, was removed and replaced with a full week off for thanksgiving. this

change sounds great but means there is no break from september until the end of November.

By going forward with the plans to still omit fall Break, a few questions arise. is the administration listening to the students? are students going to continue to voice their opinions if they feel it’s no use? are students getting all the information needed to have an educated opinion?

Having both the full week for thanksgiving and the four-day weekend that is fall Break means that classes would either start earlier or go on later into our winter break, an alteration that seems only fair, especially since our winter break is longer than some other universities. administration officials

should listen to the students. if fall Break is something that the students want, then the administration should take a serious look at the ways to make that holiday happen. when students organize and get a voice behind an issue that’s important to them, it should be met with a formal acknowledgement and active developments. However, students are not to be discouraged when the administration does not respond properly. students should still continue to vote and express their opinions on the issues and decisions that ultimately affect them. the faculty senate is expected to vote on the decision of fall Break during their next meeting, which is scheduled for feb. 20. the faculty senate is thought to

Jalane Farrington/ The SPECTATOR

be deeply divided, meaning this vote might be close. the students have as much rid-

ing on this vote as anyone and will be eagerly waiting to see if our voices have

made a wave.

This editorial was written by a member of the editorial staff and it expresses the general opinion of the editorial staff.

Zimmerman goes toe to toe Tyra Mills s ta f f w r i t e r

tnmills@valdosta.edu

the infamous tale of George Zimmerman, the vigilante who was acquitted of the killing of trayvon Martin, may be taking an even more bizarre twist, one that might involve boxing gloves. the trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman case caused a huge uproar across the nation and seemed to be relevant in the media for a great portion of 2013. shortly after being found not guilty, Zimmerman was right back in the social media spotlight for being arrested on accounts of pointing a gun at his girlfriend. He was released shortly after, and for a minute it seemed as though Zimmerman had finally decided to lay low and stay out of the public eye.

i guess we all should have known better because Zimmerman has yet again set social media ablaze. there have been many rumors going around alleging a celebrity boxing match between Zimmerman and various artists. the Game and DMX are possible opponents that were brought up to supposedly get in the ring with Zimmerman.

Zimmerman says he will donate all proceeds to charity, while the Game simply would like to “knock him out” and teach him that you can solve your disputes without a weapon. with the Game standing at about 6 foot 5 inches and weighing in at 240 pounds, Zimmerman may have his hands full. regardless of who wins, one may wonder what result will come of this event? what exactly is this fight solving?

If The Game thinks that boxing another man to teach him not to be violent will work, he should think again.

Zimmerman will still live in infamy for the rest of his life. the Game and DMX will still have ill feelings toward Zimmerman, and the Martin family will still miss their deceased loved one. the Game has publicized his strong feelings on the Martin case time and time again, even getting trayvon’s face tattooed on his body. we all know that the Game was outraged at Zimmerman’s verdict.

if the Game thinks that boxing another man to teach him not to be violent will work, he should think again. it is kind of ironic that both the Game and DMX have written many rap songs about violence, guns, and fighting but now all of a sudden think three rounds in a ring with Zimmerman will be a good thing. i find this fight quite disrespectful to the family of Martin. Not only do they have to spend the rest of their lives missing their loved one, but now they also have to hear about, read about, and even see on tV the man who had a hand in trayvon’s demise. if any celebrity really wants to help the Martin family, they should use his or her celebrity status to get the “stand Your Ground” law amended.

Finding support for life support Isaiah Smart s ta f f w r i t e r itsmart@valdosta.edu

americans have recently been enveloped in fierce debate over a matter of life and death−forced life, that is. when, if ever, is pulling the plug on life support the right thing to do? in November, Marlise Muñoz, a texan resident expecting a baby, was deemed brain dead after her husband erick found her unconscious due to a blood clot. she was put on a ventilator that kept her heart and lungs working.

By texas law, the texas advance Directives act, “a person may not withdraw or withhold life-sustaining treatment under this subchapter from a pregnant patient.”

However, Marlise Muñoz previously requested to not remain on any “life-sustaining treatment.” Both the Muñozes were paramedics

and knew the strain that life support could place on families. the family recently won a case against texas to have the plug pulled on Marlise’s life support, which subsequently led to her death. Her family has since been working to move on from this tragic ordeal.

the Children’s Hospital of Oakland issued a statement saying they do not “believe that performing surgical procedures on the body of a deceased person is an appropriate medical practice.”

On the other hand, McCath’s mother, Naliah winkfield, was not convinced that her daughter was dead.

Marlise’s baby was delivered by C-section while Marlise was brain dead and on life support. Her son is currently 15 months old. in another case, 13-yearold Jahi McMath of Oakland, Calif., underwent a surgery in December that removed her tonsils, adenoids and extra sinus tissue, which was said to cause sleep apnea. Complications occurred that would lead doctors to declare McMath brain dead.

“i would probably need for my child’s heart to stop to show me that she was dead,” winkfield said. the family took the case to court to prove McMath showed signs of life, a fight that the family eventually won. Jahi was recently moved to an undisclosed location for further treatment. the issue of life support is a high-energy, ethical discussion that has its highs and lows. i feel that life support

is something that should be temporary but needs to be looked at on a case-by-case basis. if the family can bear the emotional and financial strain, the decision should be up to them and not the medical facility or the law. However, i wouldn’t put any family through such an ordeal for an extended time unless the relatives desired to continue the life support. the cases of Marlise and Jahi exhibit the different paths families take when a relative is put on life support. Muñoz knew from her profession that life support was something she did not want to participate in.

McCath’s family felt that their daughter should remain on life support and receive treatment. each decision was different from the other yet both were equally sincere.

Spectator Staff Editor-in-Chief: will Lewis Managing Editor: Olivia McLean Business Manager: Kristen Varney Advertising Manager: aimee Napier Circulation Manager: sara turner Opinions Editor: elan waite Features Editor: Hillary straba

Sports Editor: eric Jackson Photo Editor: summer Yates Multimedia Editor: rebecka Mcaleer Web Designer: John Preer Graphic Designer: Galen Coles Copy Editor: John stephen Social Media Editor: Joe adgie

People Poll Do you think you voice is being heard on campus?

Check out the Video People Poll online at: youtube.com/ValdostaSpectator

Minimum wage: Extra money comes with a price Jordan Hill s ta f f w r i t e r

jorhill@valdosta.edu

in the words of Kristen wiig in the movie Bridesmaids, “Help me. i’m poor!” according to the U.s. Department of Labor website, the last minimum wage increase occurred in 2009 after Congress passed the fair Minimum wage act of 2007. this act occurred in three steps. Minimum wage increased to $5.85 per hour on July 24, 2007; to $6.55 per hour on July 24, 2008; and to $7.25 per hour on July 24, 2009.

Now, five years later, President Obama proposes another minimum-wage increase. as a part-time employee and full-time student, i am ecstatic about this proposal. will this change be as positive as i dream it to be or will such a law further wreck our economy? after a downward spiral in the economy, Obama believes americans and the economy are on the mend. while his proposal for a minimumwage increase has stalled in Congress, Obama plans to issue an executive order that will increase minimum wage for workers under new federal contracts.

Obama wants to work with Congress to raise the federal minimum wage for all workers from $7.25 to $10.10 over three years. a few states have already raised their minimum wage

and President Obama urges others to follow their example. while other states have a choice to jump on the bandwagon early, President Obama will make it happen regardless of what states do right now.

Our economy is constantly changing, which means we must change as well, but let’s take a realistic look at this proposal. the main concern is that the proposal will discourage employers from hiring more workers. with small business owners having to pay their employees more per hour, they may downsize their staff. this increase in minimum wage may put thousands of young adults out of work. additionally, a wage increase would force businesses to raise their product prices to match the increased wages, eventually costing customers more money. and if people working low-end jobs get a raise, won’t people that have a degree in their field want a raise as well? as great as a $3 raise sounds, it’s faulty. thousands of citizens will lose jobs due to a lack of money−money President Obama thinks businesses can pull out of their back pocket. i would love an increase in my hourly wage. However, i have to explore all aspects of this plan, not just the parts that help me. is what’s good for the goose really good for the gander?

Contacting Us Faculty Advisers: Dr. Pat Miller, Dr. ted Geltner, Keith warburg Reporters/Photographers: stephen Cavallaro , Khiry Clements, Jessica Cooke, allison ericson, tyra Mills, isaiah smart ,taylor stone alejandro tostado, alexis waters, Christopher webb, Lamarcus wilkerson

Newsroom Advertising Business Fax E-mail

(229) 333-5688 (229) 333-5686 (229) 333-5686 (229) 249-2618 spec@valdosta.edu

VSU Spectator 1500 N. Patterson St., Valdosta, GA 31698 Letters must include name, year in school, major, job title or other appropriate identification and phone number for verification.

Letters should be no longer than 300 words in length. Letters are subject to editing for style, length, grammar, and libelous material. Not all letters are published. Letters should be typed and turned in with a disk, or e-mailed as an attachment by tuesdays before 5 p.m.

Online at www.vsuspectator.com Opinions expressed in the spectator other than editorials are the opinions of the writers of signed columns and not necessarily those of the spectator and its staff. all rights reserved. reprints by permission of the editors. Views in this newspaper are not necessarily those of the Valdosta state University administration, faculty and staff.

features

PAgE 4 | vSUSPEctAtoR.com

FEBRUARY 6, 2014

Ads take viewers back in time Abbie Baggerly S ta f f W r i t e r rabaggerly@valdosta.edu

the Super Bowl is known not only for its football but also for its commercials. every year millions of people tune in to the Super Bowl for its funny, touching and heartfelt commercials.

Unfortunately, the 2014 Super Bowl was a let-down.

Both the game and the commercials were a little lackluster. few commercials made it to the Best List. the best Super Bowl 2014 commercial was by far the Budweiser commercial, “Puppy Love.” it featured a

golden retriever puppy that has to leave his best friend, which happens to be a horse.

Some of the other good Super Bowl commercials were from radioShack, Doritos and M&M’s. radioShack’s commercial featured ‘80s celebs Hulk Hogan, Chucky, alf and the California raisins reclaiming their old items and preparing a store for the future. the Doritos commercials never disappoint, especially this year with “the time Machine.” another favorite was the very popular M&M’s commercial. Split into two parts, viewers were left wondering what would happen to the

Courtesy of RadioShack Several eighties pop-culture icons are featured in Radio Shack’s Super Bowl commercial.

lovable yellow M&M. One commercial evoked a sense of nostalgia when it reunited characters from the

popular ‘90s sitcom, “full House.” the Dannon Oikos commercial, “the Spill,” seemed very risqué at first,

showing John Stamos and a beautiful woman seductively eating (or rather, spilling) yogurt. However, when Stamos was interrupted by Bob Saget and Dave Coulier, the trio created a laugh from the good old days. a few commercials seemed to go straight to the heart. “america is Beautiful” by Coca-Cola was touching, and it created a sense of america.

Microsoft’s “empowering” commercial was very moving with its look at some innovations that continue to change people’s lives. “a Hero’s Welcome” is another tender commercial that hits home with many families around america that have loved ones

in the military. the Worst List seems to be heavy this year, with the Godaddy.com commercial leading the pack. the commercial featured NaSCar driver Danica Patrick and several buff men running around in the street; it didn’t make much sense. another commercial on the Worst List was the axe body spray commercial. it was very misleading. at first, it seemed to be about romance, and it was a surprise to find out it was actually about body spray.

Lastly, the Chevrolet commercial was nothing special. it was about a man, a truck and a job to complete.

clouds materialized. as we toured the campus, i took notice of all the smallscale wonders of VSU−the palm trees, the new Student Union and Georgia Hall.

What really spoke to me was the glamour of the Spanish mission architecture.

Having always been interested in design and architecture, i loved the overall look of a campus that was sprinkled with palm trees. this Saturday, prospective students and guests will arrive at this same campus, but they will experience a much more beautiful campus than i originally witnessed. ashley Hall is newly renovated, including an attractive front courtyard. We also have a fairly new psychology building, art installations scattered around campus, and of course, who can forget the bread-winner of them all−the front lawn. this weekend’s guests will be shown the wonders of the Student recreation Center and all parts of the main

“What really spoke

Nostalgia sparked

by Visitation Day Isaiah Smart S ta f f W r i t e r itsmart@valdosta.edu

Summer Yates/THE SPECTATOR

Poet speaks at VSU

Students and faculty gathered to listen to American poet, Andrew Hudgins, read excerpts from his memoir, “The Joker,” on Wednesday in the Student Union Theatre. It was part of the Department of English Contemporary Writer’s Series. Hudgins is a distinguished professor at Ohio State.

a light breeze brushed across my graphic t-shirt, the sunrays tugging at my basketball shorts and the Spanish architecture welcoming me to the university i’d call home for the next four years.

Welcome to Valdosta State University.

My first time visiting the VSU campus was during orientation. i did not visit the school prior to coming because, like many of us, i didn’t intend to be a VSU student. i was supposed to be a student at the art institute of atlanta or Johnson & Wales University (North Miami campus), but due to sacrifices made for my family, i chose VSU. Orientation could be the most deceptive day i’ve witnessed in Valdosta, at least heat-wise; it was a mild day with rain in the forecast, although only a few scattered

to me was the glamour of the Spanish mission architecture. ” - IsaIah smart

campus, including the residence halls that we hope they will be living in by fall 2014.

My first visit to campus was quite nice; i managed to avoid the forecasted rain and the blazing heat.

We all know how unpredictable the weather here can be (especially lately), but hopefully Valdosta will be on its best behavior. i hope those who arrive on campus Saturday morning will share a VSU experience that is similar to−or even better than−mine.

Go Blazers!

Students say ‘game over’ to cancer THE SPECTATOR Jessica Ingram S ta f f W r i t e r jdingram@valdosta.edu

Watch out, cancer! tuesday night in the University Center rose room, there was standing room only at the VSU relay for Life interest meeting.

Hosted by VSU relay for Life committee members, the meeting was designed to get students and potential participants pumped up for this year’s event.

You could feel the energy in the room as participants yelled this year’s relay slogan, “Game over, cancer!”

Committee members rewarded the crowd’s enthusiasm by throwing relay for Life bracelets. additionally, the team captains of the first 18 teams registered were rewarded with purple water bottles. attendees varied from experienced relay-for-Lifers to newcomers, and many teams had registered before the meeting took place. teams that achieve a certain participation level will have the opportunity to feature their logo on event tshirts. teams receive participation points for various activities.

During the meeting, committee members brainstormed fundraising events for teams to participate in throughout the semester, leading up to the relay on april 11. the committee also discussed holding an event called “Painting the town Purple” a week before the relay. “Painting the town purple” means making the campus relay-friendly by hanging purple ribbons or chalking the sidewalks. relay for Life is affiliated with the american Cancer Society. its purpose is to raise funds for cancer research, to promote cancer awareness

and to honor those who have battled cancer. Participants work in teams to raise funds for the american Cancer Society to donate or register a team, visit www.relayforlife.org/vsuga.

Happy ‘Tator Day!

Recruiting For Spring 2014 Positions Available: ADVERTISING SALES PHOTOGRAPHERS WRITERS WEB DESIGNERS GRAPHIC DESIGNERS MOBILE APP DESIGNERS Scan Here For Details on Positions & How to Apply or Use: http://qr2.it/Go/2351938 Email:Aimee Napier, Advertising Sales Manager,

MCT Campus

acnapier@valdosta.edu

SportS

FEBRUARY 6, 2014

PAgE 5 | vsUsPEctAtoR.com

Wheels up to Alabama VSU tennis pumped for tough competition

Shane Thomas s p o rt s w r i t e r

shanethomas@valdosta.edu

After dousing the Flames in their last outing, Valdosta state (12-5) is on the road looking to tame the west Alabama tigers (10-8) thursday night. the Blazers came back from 17-point deficit to cruise past Lee Feb.1. Jalen Crawford scored 16 of his 24 points in the second half and Blake Justice, who was dormant most of the night, erupted for 19 second-half points and made five of seven threepointers in the game-changing run.

VsU looks to continue its winning ways against the tigers, who have dropped their last three games. in the teams’ last meeting Jan. 4, the tigers hung around most of the contest before the Blazers were able to pull away for a 93-83 victory.

UwA leading scorer Desmond raymond played exceptionally well against the Blazers. raymond scored 28 points and a season-high six three-pointers in the last meeting.

Blazers head coach Mike Helfer praised raymond’s scoring ability.

“He’s a very efficient scorer,” Helfer said. “it looks like it comes easy to him. we need to contest his shots but not be so far out that he can go by us easily. He’s one of the top guards in the GsC.” though raymond is now UwA’s leading scorer, swingman sandy Underwood led the team in scoring leading up to the first matchup. with Underwood being held to just four points of two-of-10 shooting, forward Lleon tillman stepped up with a sea-

Lia Armistead s p o rt s w r i t e r

jparmistead@valdosta.edu

Sierra King/ The Spectator Jalen Crawford drives the lane during last Saturday’s game against Lee. Crawford finished with 24 points.

son-high 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds against the Blazers. when asked about his plan to contain those players, Helfer believes doing so is all the team can accomplish heading into thursday’s game. “[Underwood and tillman] are very good players and containing them is a good term,” Helfer said. “You can’t stop them both, but hopefully you can make them work hard for their points and wear them down a little.” the Blazers won their last two games to finish their three-game home stand and have done so by altering their offensive approach. with their early struggles from beyond the arc, Helfer has decided to employ a dribble-drive offensive attack, a style UwA also excels at.

“the dribble drive puts us in a mentality of attacking the basket,” Helfer explained. “it puts a lot of pressure on the defenders to play without fouling. For those exact reasons, west Alabama is very difficult to guard.”

Blazers guard Jalen Crawford expects a well-prepared UwA team thursday night. “we expect them to come out aggressive,” Crawford said. “they’re going to try to beat us early. we’ve got to withstand their first couple of runs, and if we do, we can win on the road.” tip-off is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. from pruitt Hall in Livingston, Ala. Follow shane on twitter: itsA_thomasthing

Even

the men’s tennis team started off their season with a loss to UsC Aiken (the team they also fell to in last season’s final match), with the women’s team on the side cheering their fellow Blazers on.

Although it was a loss, the team discovered how to work and bond together and realized who the leading players will be for the rest of the season.

After losing to Barry last season, the men travel to Miami shores, Fla., where they will take on arguably their toughest competitors for the season. the biggest challenge for the men’s team to overcome this season is the two players, Niklas Herbring and Joachim schemm, injured and working hard to get better in order to participate in matches. “in tennis you only have so many guys, so when you take two of the top six out, you get hurt,” head coach John Hanson said. the men’s team competes against the defending national champions Barry University, along with matches against GCsU and Young Harris College. the players are enthusiastic about these upcoming matches, working to climb their way to the top spots in the division.

After losing to Barry last season, the men’s team is challenged and encouraged to

Odd

make the results for this match an improvement for all the coaching staff and other teammates. the women’s team is excited for their opener this weekend, with hopes of a change from past seasons.

Hanson feels very encouraged about having four freshmen joining the women’s team and is expecting to see a major difference in performance during the 2014 season. “we have a good foundation to build on, and i think they’re going to be great,” Hanson said. with the amazing bond that the players and coaches have, the 2014 tennis season should turn out to be a success for both teams, with the players and coaches accomplishing all the goals that were set for the year. this

weekend’s matches do not discourage the players, nor make the guys nervous to play defending national champions; it motivates them and excites them, making the journey to nationals a fun experience. “it’s going to be a tough match, but if we get on point, we’ll have a chance to win,” junior Niklas Herbring said.

Want to be a sports photographer? email: epjackson @valdosta.edu

Follow @BlazerSports on Twitter

Sudoku

A N S W E R S

SportS

Page 6 | vsusPectator.com

February 6, 2014

Valdosta State football 2014 signing class Josh Adams (6-4 - 320 - OT - Kennesaw, Ga. - Harrison HS) Chris Bahr (6-4 - 250 - DE - Kingsland, Ga. - Camden HS) Marty Barrick (6-3 - 285 - C - San Diego, Calif. - San Diego Mesa JC) Jerome Daniels (5-10 - 200 - RB - Valdosta, Ga. - Lowndes HS) Stephen Denmark (6-4 - 205 - WR - Tallahassee, Fla. - Rickards HS) Daniel Durden (6-1 - 270 - DT - Stone Mountain, Ga. - Stephenson HS) Mike Eaddy (5-9 - 175 - CB - Blackshear, Ga. - Pierce County) Andrew Harrell (6-5 - 300 - OG - Tallahassee, Fla. - Florida HS) Shane Henderson (6-1 - 185 - WR - Columbus, Ind. - Hancock JC) D'Angelo Holt (5-11 - 185 - WR - Ellenwood, Ga. - Martin Luther King, Jr. HS) Markel Horne (6-0 - 180 - ATHLETE - Wrightsville, Ga. - Johnson County HS) Anthony Ingram (5-10 - 175 - WR - Jasper, Fla. - South Alabama) Jonathan Jackson (6-2 - 190 - CB - Warner Robins, Ga. - Lackawanna JC) Charkie Johnson (6-5 - 225 - DE - Metter, Ga. - Metter HS) Drevon Jones (6-4 - 190 - WR - Kennesaw, Ga. - Harrison HS) Mitchell Kamm (5-10 - 190 - ATHLETE - Bethlehem, Ga. - Bethlehem Christian Academy) Adam Kelsie (6-1 - 290 - DT - Dover, Del. - Orange Coast College)

Freshman Chelsea Canara earns Player of the Week Eric Jackson S P O RT S E D I TO R

epjackson@valdosta.edu

Age is nothing but a number.

This expression is also the mantra of newcomer Chelsea Canara.

The freshman phenom went hitless in her first collegiate doubleheader this past weekend in Pensacola, yet assisted her team by driving in four runs as the Blazers split against Midwestern State.

In the following doubleheader against Southern Arkansas, Canara's first hit was a RBI double in the second inning of game one.

Her next at-bat was a baseclearing grand slam that pushed the Blazers ahead to seal the win.

The Milton,Ga. native batted .750 and nine RBIs last weekend–earning her Gulf South Conference Player of the Week honors–in just her first four collegiate games.

“She's very calm out there,” head coach Thomas

VSU Athletics

Macera said. “That's the thing−she's very mature for her age. Second is a very tough position to play and she just does a very good job at it.”

Canara's poise is credited to growing up with her two older siblings, who are former softball players.

“I take after them,” Canara said. “I just try to relax and forget the nerves. I’ve just always been like that.”

The veterans on the team have been helpful since Canara took the position during the unofficial fall season, and as a result, she is quickly

mastering the learning curve.

Canara went 3-7 with two RBIs in her first home appearance, sweeping Flagler in a doubleheader Feb. 4.

The GSC preseason top newcomer recipient is excited to compete against some of the nation's best this weekend in Clearwater, Fla. So far, so good for VSU's new second basemen.

“She's done a remarkable job,” Macera said. “She's not only hitting the ball very well, she's playing really good at second base. Last year Kiley [Rusen] came in and did well. The year before, [Courtney] Albritton came in and did really well.

That's all you can hope for when you bring in some of these freshmen…and it's tough because it’s very competitive.”

Follow Eric on Twitter: @epjackson

David May (6-4 - 295 - C - Orange Park, Fla. - Fleming Island HS) Malcolm McClenton (6-1 - 195 - LB - Thomasville, Ga. - Thomas County Central) Darrell Myers (6-6 - 200 - WR - Savannah, Ga. - Johnson HS) Bryant Pickney (6-2 - 180 - CB - Duluth, Ga. - Duluth HS) Tye Richardson (6-0 - 185 - WR - Marietta, Ga. - Dean College) Roland Rivers (6-3 - 225 - QB - Ellenwood, Ga. - Martin Luther King, Jr. HS) Donte Robinson (6-1 - 200 - LB - Valdosta, Ga. - Lowndes HS): Jevan Sampler (6-2 - 200 - LB - Marietta, Ga. - Wheeler HS): Tim Sanders (5-11 - 190 - ATHLETE - Moultrie, Ga. - Colquitt County HS): Romello Shumake (5-11 - 175 - WR - Lithonia, Ga. - Martin Luther King, Jr. HS) Greg Williams (5-10 - 185 - ATHLETE - Fort Valley, Ga. - Peach County HS) Ricky Small (6-3 - 295 - OT - Valdosta, Ga. - Valdosta HS): Antefernee Smith (6-2 - 195 - ATHLETE - Jasper, Ga. - Hamilton County): Geomarey Smith (6-1 - 255 - DE - Midway, Fla. - East Gadsden HS): Conner West (5-10 - 200 - LB - Metter, Ga. - Metter HS):

Blazers look to tame Paine College Lions Chris Webb S P O RT S W R I T E R

ctwebb@valdosta.edu

Valdosta State (2-0) is looking to continue their blistering hot start to the season as Paine College (0-3) comes to visit the friendly confines of Billy Grant Field for a three-game series starting with a doubleheader Saturday at 1 p.m. and a final game Sunday at 1 p.m.

VSU enters the weekend with the bats blazing, putting up 28 runs on 27 hits through the team’s first two games.

And the gloves have been just as hot as the bats early in the year, with only one error in 74 total chances, good enough for a team fielding percentage of .986.

Three Blazers are currently batting .500 or better: junior Bryant Hayman, senior Jimmy Dowdell and RS freshman Matt Fitzsimmons.

The season is still young, but the first weekend couldn’t have started much different for these two programs.

For the Paine Lions, they look to really get their season going after a rough outing this past weekend after being swept at Flagler by a combined score of 42-1. This includes an 18-0 blowout loss that saw four of Flagler’s pitchers combine for a no-hitter.

Going only 7-78 in their opening series, Paine enters the weekend with a team average of only .089, and with a team earned-run average of 14, things can only go up from here for the Lions.

Regardless of what the stats say, VSU head coach Greg Guilliams knows his team can’t take Paine for granted.

“Anybody can beat anybody,” Guilliams said.

“Hopefully it still being early in the season, our guys still understand that we are trying to get better. And it shouldn’t matter who the opponent is.”

Coach Guilliams knows what it takes to win as last year he led the Blazers to its second Gulf South Conference championship in the

past four years.

So what he’s been preaching in practice early this season should come of no surprise.

“It’s always a lot of fun to hit and score runs, but the thing we have really been trying to focus on this season is doing a better job with our pitching; If you can pitch and play good defense, you’re always in the game.”

Manning the mound for the Blazers will be senior lefty Josh Mann, junior righty Dom DeMasi with the third starter being decided later in the week.

Quality starts is what coach Guilliams is looking for. If his starters can give him that, he feels confident with the series at hand.

“We respect every opponent,” Guilliams said. “But at the end of the day, if we just do the things we do well, then we’ll be fine.”

Follow Chris on Twitter: @CTRSWebb