GEORGIA REGENTS UNIVERSITY
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VOLUME 56, ISSUE 4
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2013
ROTC program to close in 2015 By Ashley Trawick news editor
Georgia Regents University is saying goodbye to the nearly 50-year-old ROTC program. The U.S. Army, according to an email sent to faculty, staff and students, recently completed a review of the U.S. Army Cadet Command and its Reserve Officers’ Training Corps and found that out of 273 Army ROTC programs nationwide, the Georgia Regents program, along with 12 more, did not meet viability standards.
The program will officially end in the spring of 2015. It was the only program in Georgia to be cut. Cadets who are in their first two years of the program will have to make the decision to transfer to another institution to be part of another ROTC program or continue on as a regular student. Cadets in their final two years will be able to complete their education at Georgia Regents and be commissioned into the Army, the email said. Carol Giardina, the director of Military and Veterans Services, said the loss is significant to the school.
“We realized that we’re a smaller institution and that we don’t commission as many officers as some larger schools,” Giardina said. “The quality of our program is excellent, so it’s a tough time economically, and I guess agencies make cuts where they can, and most of the time, many times, they’re paying for it.” Jeynelle Mcgann, a senior psychology and criminal justice major and National Guard cadet, said one of the bright spots about the closure is cadets can take their scholarships with them to whatever school they choose to attend. A senior political science major and
Army cadet, Maribel Brown, said what should happen until the end of the program is continuous training to the same high standards the program has always kept. “(We) need to make sure those juniors are going to continue to perform at the same standard of excellence that Georgia Regents has come to be known for,” Brown said. “We’re going to continue to train, we’re going to continue to excel and we’re going to try to find a home for the freshmen and sophomores who this is truly affecting.” atrawick@gru.edu
Marketing expert speaks to students about her journey By Jordan Barry staff writer
REBECCA PERBETSKY | STAFF
Participants hold signs in honor of ALS patients before the Beat Feet for ALS 5K at the Augusta Riverwalk Sept. 28.
Beat Feet funds clinics By Maggie Smith staff writer
The ALS Center hosted its annual fundraiser to raise awareness and money for its Augusta, Ga., and Macon, Ga., clinics Sept. 28 at the Augusta Riverwalk. The center hosted a 5K walk called Beat Feet for ALS. The walk is a part of an annual fundraising event in order to raise money for the clinics, and the proceeds went to providing services at the clinics for patients. Both centers have services dedicated to helping people who suffer with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. The associate director of the center, J. Edward Hartmann, said this disease is very painful.
“ALS is a very strenuous disease and can be difficult to deal with,” Hartmann said. “Our staff’s goal is to make our patients’ lives easier and to make their bodies healthier.” A disease found in nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord causes ALS. These nerve cells are responsible for controlling voluntary muscular movement throughout the body. Most cases are caused by genetic defects; however, some cases have unknown causes. The symptoms of ALS are severe. ALS often makes it hard for people to be able to breathe, and some types of muscle loss can eventually lead to paralysis. It can lead to having a speech impediment as well, said Michael Rivner, the medical director of the clinic. The clinics’ services include
Facts about ALS
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ALS can strike anyone, but it’s not contagious.
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Symptoms of ALS include muscle weakness, twitching and cramping of muscles, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing and swallowing.
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ALS occurs throughout the world with no racial, ethnic or socioeconomic boundaries.
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More than half of all patients live more than three years after diagnosis.
The annual communications fest, also known as Comm Fest, featured the former senior vice president of integrated marketing for Martha Stewart Living this year. Lee Heffernan, a successful marketing professional, spoke at the lecture series Wednesday. Assistant Professor of Communications and Comm Fest Coordinator Terri Sasser said the event used to be seen as a recruitment tool for the communications major. However, in 2012, Sasser decided to change things up. “Last year, I said, ‘Let’s try something different,’” she said. “And so we turned it into the Comm Fest Lecture Series so that we have more than one person come in over the course
of the year.” Sasser said Comm Fest is all about finding people who work in the communication field to come talk to students several times throughout the year. The goal is to inspire students. “This is an opportunity to meet professionals and to hear what they really do and how they got to where they are,” she said. The speakers are usually found through recommendations in the department, but Sasser said this time she just happened to read a story about Heffernan in the Augusta Chronicle. “When I read the article about Lee Heffernan in the paper, she just sounded very interesting,” Sasser said. “She had a really great background, and she’s from Augusta origisee FESTIVAL on PAGE 3
INFORMATION PROVIDED BY ALS ASSOCIATION WEBSITE.
physical therapy, occupational therapy and even nursing assistance. The clinics are actually full-service clinics, Rivner said. see WALK on PAGE 3
JORDAN BARRY | STAFF
Lee Heffernan, a marketing professional, talks about her career experiences Wednesday in the Jaguar Student Activities Center Coffeehouse.
Deceased professor leaves legacy of education behind
Mental health: Living with illnesses
By Leigh Beeson editor-in-chief
By Mindy Wadley copy editor
Professor Emeritus Stevan Clements died of natural causes Wednesday morning. Clements wrote, directed and produced thousands of network television broadcasts and videos for media powerhouses like Disney and FOX during his more than 40 years in the television and cinema business, according to his personal biography on communication skills improvement website Executive Speak/Write, Inc., where he was vice president.
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“I feel really bad that other students didn’t get the opportunity to be taught by him like I did because I think he played such a pivotal role in my (life),” said Alima Williams, a former student and current associate producer at CNN. “I’m living my dream because he believed in me. He literally told me, ‘You can do this. Go do it.’” kbeeson1@gru.edu
Series part 1 of 4
Mental health is a major contributor to a person’s overall wellness, and students at Georgia Regents University have many resources at their disposal when it comes to maintaining their mental and emotional wellness. It is estimated that only about 17 percent of adults in the United States are considered to be in a state of optimal mental health, according to the Centers for Disease Control web-
site. Dale Peeples, an assistant professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at Georgia Regents, said the majority of mental health concerns begin to emerge during people’s young adulthood. The most common mental ailments for college students, Peeples said, are anxiety and depression. “Whenever you have a big life transition, like moving from high school to college, that’s going to be anxietyprovoking,” he said. “Anxiety would be the big thing. Mood issues like depression are also very common.” Knowing when to seek
help for problems with moods and stress can be difficult, but Peeples said there is a difference between everyday anxiety or a depressed mood and a condition requiring treatment. “Everyone has moods,” he said. “Everyone has some degree of anxiety. So how do you separate that out from something that requires treatment? The easiest answer would be when it’s really causing the individual significant impairment. When it’s having a big enough impact on their life that it’s stopping them from doing things they want to do, stopping see HEALTH on PAGE 2
NEWS | PAGE 3
ARTS & LIFE | PAGE 6
SPORTS | PAGE 10
Students enter college with or without a major chosen.
Local band releases new album in a show sponsored by 95 Rock.
Women’s golf completes the first two tournaments of the season.
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NEWS
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2013
THE BELL RINGER
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Brown Bag seminar focuses on research
FOLLOWING FRESHMEN
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Center opens for military
By Emily Hardaway contributor
By Jacob Scharff staff writer
The voice of
Georgia Regents University EDITORIAL STAFF adviser MATTHEW BOSISIO mbosisio@gru.edu editor-in-chief LEIGH BEESON kbeeson1@gru.edu copy editor MINDY WADLEY mindyawadley@gmail. com news editor ASHLEY TRAWICK atrawick@gru.edu arts & life editor MEGAN STEWART mstewar7@gru.edu sports editor JORDAN WILLIAMS jwill143@gru.edu chief reporter REBECCA PERBETSKY rperbets@gru.edu production manager JACQUELYN PABON jpabon@gru.edu production assistant NIKKI SKINNER nskinner@gru.edu photographer NEIL DAVENPORT dportneil@comcast.net staff writers RICHARD ADAMS JORDAN BARRY KEREYIA BUTLER MEREDITH DAY JACOB SCHARFF MAGGIE SMITH contributors AMANDA BRYANT EMILY HARDAWAY RICKEY JONES AMY THORNE circulation manager RIDGE UNDERWOOD runderw2@gru.edu advertising manager RAVEN NORRIS rnorris2@gru.edu webmaster JAMIE LOWE jlowe12@gru.edu Direct advertising inquiries to: Marie Pierce, National Sales Manager Media Mate mpierce@mymediamate. com Address
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Rooms in Washington Hall previously filled with costumes and props for theatrical productions now house books, computers and other amenities for those who have served in the military. On the second floor, the entire room has been outfitted with new carpet, pieces of furniture like tables, chairs, sofas, bookshelves and even a refrigerator, all for use only by military personnel and their families. The walls of the new room are decorated with various military flags as well, all in support of the military and its various branches under which veterans have served. Carol Giardina, the director of Military and Veterans Services, said the biggest original obstacle to even getting the office to begin with was space as discussions had begun back in spring 2012. Originally, the plan was to stick the office in the basement of Payne Hall, but she said the lack of access for disabled students rendered that option useless. In February 2013, the transformation of the classrooms and offices in Washington Hall slowly began. “There was some strategic planning money that had been designated to be used to help students,” Giardina said. “So we wanted to use that and applied to receive some of those funds to use so that we could construct a group study room, a small computer lab and a lounge.” Mike Wilkins works in the Office of Military and Veterans Services alongside Giardina and was in the Army for 20 years. He has worked at Georgia Regents University for 20 years as well, and like Giardina he was in the Registrar’s Office before moving to the new location in Washington
Health
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them from enjoying things they really enjoy.” If a student at Georgia Regents decides to seek treatment, there are some resources available right on campus. The Student Health Services clinic located on the Health Sciences campus provides psychiatric services, and the Counseling Center located on the Summerville campus offers one-on-one sessions with therapists. Shannon Nix, a counselor and interpersonal outreach coordinator at the Counseling Center, said students can come in for free counseling sessions in the areas of personal, academic and career counseling, but the majority of the students seeking services at the center are for personal counseling.
When
Hall. Wilkins is essentially an advisor for all incoming veterans because he’s been in their shoes before. He said if a resource center-type room had been available to him, it would have been a big help when he got out of the military. “The military are a different breed,” Wilkins said. “It’s not like normal students. We have certain quirks about us, people with PTSD or disabilities. We act a little different from other people because we’ve been through a lot of the things that they’ve never even conceived of. We’ve been shot at, we’ve had IEDs (and) we’ve had friends that have been shot and blown up. That’s why I say we’re a different breed.” Wilkins said they are working on making one more addition to the room: an overhead projector. This idea was supported by Chris Ham, the military service coordinator on the Georgia Regents campus who is in the same office alongside Wilkins and Giar-
“We offer up to 12 counseling sessions for 12 months, not including the intake,” Nix said. “A student will come in for an intake with a counselor, and they’ll decide what are the issues? What’s going on? Really looking at what are your goals for treatment.” The counselors at the center include licensed clinicians with graduate degrees in clinical psychology or social work, Nix said. They focus on a therapybased approach to treatment. For students requiring medical treatment for their symptoms, Student Health Services has psychiatric services available. “The most effective treatment for depression and anxiety, and this is research-based, is a combination of medication therapy and psychotherapy,” Nix said. “So we try to do that as much as possible.” The emergence of mental
What
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Health Fair and Flu Shot Clinic
JSAC Ballroom
Wednesday 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Pig Out on the Bayou
JSAC
Wednesday 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Student Flu Shot Clinic
Thursday 5:30 p.m.-7 p.m.
Student Health Clinic Open House
Tuesday, Oct. 15 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Student Flu Shot Clinic
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Thursday, Oct. 17 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 15 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
JSAC Coffeehouse CL Building Hamilton Wing Pavilion II Lany Walker Room AF 1040
Money Matters: Respecting your wallet, respecting your relationship
DA Building Student Center JSAC Coffeehouse
Cashore Marionettes Life in Motion Maxwell Performing GRU Lyceum Series Art Theatre Student Flu Shot Clinic
dina. Like Wilkins, Ham was in the military, but he’s only been hired as full-time staff since July 15 after his graduation from Georgia Regents, so when he came in, the plan was already in motion, but Ham had a lot of input even as the room was racing toward completion. “My boss and my peers, we all collaborate, get together and we toss ideas around, so that’s how it forms,” Ham said. “The second phase was actually doing the furniture and what we wanted, and we all looked at the blueprints and the carpet. It was extremely time-consuming, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.” The room opened Sept. 14 and is now ready for use. All veterans and their families need to do is go to the office, jot down some information and get a card issued to them which will let them in to use the room as needed.
health issues often coincides during the college years, in part because the major risk factors are so similar to the lifestyle choices made by many college students. Peeples said the risk factors include stress, a heavy workload, lack of sleep, poor diet, alcohol use and caffeine consumption. “You do see a rise, with going off to college,” Peeples said. “You see an increase in mental health issues, and it’s probably not all just biological. Late teens, early 20s are a time when a lot of that stuff happens naturally, but also with the lifestyle changes that college brings about, and the new stresses and challenges, I think that does play a role.” In observance of National Depression Screening Day Thursday, representatives from the Counseling Center will be in the Jaguar Student Activities Center breezeway from 10:30
jscharff@gru.edu
Symptoms •
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Depression is often marked by a depresed mood, fatigue and loss of appetite. Extreme cases can result in thoughts of suicide. Anxiety causes physical symptoms such as headaches, stomachaches and muscle pains; a feeling of panic or nervousness; and a sense of overwhelming dread, with a racing heartbeat and difficulty breathing. Both disorders can cause irritability, a change in sleeping habits and poor concentration. INFORMATION PROVIDED BY DALE PEEPLES, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY
a.m. to 1 p.m. handing out information about depression, including how to identify and cope with depression and other resources to help with the mental illness. mindyawadley@gmail.com
Freshmen choose path By Megan Stewart arts & life editor Before achieving an undergraduate degree, students have various options in regard to the academic path they begin. An integral part of college is the selection of major, acceptance to that program and commitment to the development of a scholarly career path, according to the Academic Advisement website for Georgia Regents University. The two types of majors entering the university in highest numbers this year was a tie between medical and undeclared at roughly 20 percent each of the student body, James Mayes, an academic adviser, said. Two students, Nandi Watts and Dallis Jackson, both freshmen, started their semesters after moving into the campus apartments at University Village with the same goal of achieving their bachelor’s degrees but with two different ways to achieve this in mind. Watts, a pre-biology major, said she came to Augusta, Ga., from Sparta, Ga., after a tour of the university with the hopes of completing her undergraduate degree at the Summerville campus. For her, she said the idea to come to college and pursue a career as a pediatrician has been one in her mind for several years. “I did some research,” Watts said. “And I had some of my high school teachers help me do some research as to what was the best route to become a pediatrician. I felt like this was the best way to go.”
Walk
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Intimate Partner Abuse Panel Discussion
Thursday 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 15 7:30 p.m.
PRINTER Aiken Standard 326 Rutland Dr. NW P.O. Box 456 Aiken, SC. 29802
JACOB SCHARFF | STAFF
Military and Veteran Services at Georgia Regents University holds its grand opening for the military resource center for veterans and current cadets to use for studying in between classes or hanging out.
Happenings Around Campus
Letters to the editor must be accompanied by the author’s name, phone number and email address. All columns and letters to the editor are the opinion of the author. The views expressed in the Editorial section do not necessarily express those of The Bell Ringer, a designated public forum. We strive to bring you accurately reported news. If you wish to report an error, please provide your name, phone number and a detailed description of the error and the necessary correction.
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Undeclared and declared students in the University Orientation course make corrections to their tests Wednesday in one of the Educational and Classroom Services viewing rooms in University Hall at the Summerville campus.
EC Building HSB Lobby
Corrections: The Sept. 24 issue of The Bell Ringer incorrectly identified Matthew Buzzell as a professor of communications in “Five-day festival combines art and culture” on page 7. He is an assistant professor. In the same story, Deborah Draper was incorrectly identified as Donna Draper. The Bell Ringer regrets the errors. The Beat Feet for ALS walk was misspelled as Beet Feet in the Happenings Around Campus box on page 2. The Bell Ringer regrets the error.
“We try to provide our patients with all of the resources they need,” Rivner said. “We want all of our patients to have all of their needs met in a single visit.” Rivner also said most of his patients are senior citizens. Since most of them suffer from muscle loss, Rivner’s team tries to help them strengthen their muscles through physical therapy. Along with assisting patients, the Augusta clinic contains a research department. The staff performs different research studies in the hopes of one day finding more effective treatments for this disease. Currently, the staff is testing out a drug called Tirasemtiv. The researchers are hoping the drug will help with improving muscle strength and respiratory issues. They are hoping the drug, along with physical therapy, will make the lives of the pa-
Along with consulting people from her former high school, she said her academic adviser also helped her with the idea of the best route to take in order to make her goal obtainable. “(My adviser) helped me think about my schedule, and she also told me this was the best way to go for being a pediatrician and other options I have within my major,” Watts said. Though set on her major early on, she said people who come in undeclared sometimes have more leniency to figure out what they truly want to do without making decisions too quickly.
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There’s been some times where I wish I’d chosen a major because it makes it a little harder to choose my classes. --Dallis Jackson, an undeclared freshman
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While starting her year out as undeclared, Jackson said she has interests in the medical field as well, which is what brought her to the university from Woodstock, Ga. “I originally wanted to study radiation and therapy just because my life has been affected by cancer and a lot of people in my family have had cancer,” she said. “So I wanted to get involved in cancer research and undergraduate research in radiation therapy. But of course now I just wanted to come in with my mind open, so I decided to come in undeclared.” Although the idea of radiation therapy has been an idea Jackson has thought of for a tients much easier, Rivner said. The researchers are also working with a team from the University of Georgia. They are working on a test to see if muscle metabolism can be seen through an MRI. They are hoping to find a way to be able to do this in order to track a person’s progression with ALS. This will allow doctors to be able to treat a person’s case easier. Lead Research Associate Brandy Quarles said she feels positive about the team’s work. “We have worked hard to ensure every effort is made to provide a very active clinical research program,” Quarles said. “We hope to find a cure to help defeat ALS.” With the funds raised from Beat Feet, the clinics will be able to continue funding these different research departments and services for their patients, Rivner said. However, not all of the proceeds of the event will be given to the ALS clinics. Even though a majority of the proceeds will be given to the clinic, some of it will actually
while, she said she dabbled in the thought of other professions too. “I was interested in cancer and oncology, things like that, then I got interested in biology and ecology, and I’m also interested in social work,” Jackson said. “So I’m probably just going to have to career shadow and find out what I want to do.” While juggling different ideas of interest for career choice, she said she thinks she made the right choice to start off open in order to help balance her new course load and adjustments on living. “There’s been some times where I wish I’d chosen a major because it makes it a little harder to choose my classes, but I would prefer to be undeclared after talking to some upperclassmen who have changed theirs four or five times,” Jackson said. “It makes me feel better that I’m coming in with an open mind and exploring all my options before I, for sure, decide because I don’t want to take classes that I might not need later on.” The idea of remaining at Georgia Regents throughout her college career depends on the academic path Jackson officially decides on, she said, but as of right now, she is still adjusting to college life and intends to stay. While both have different academic paths, both Jackson and Watts said the goal to achieve an undergraduate degree and continue their education on to graduate school is something they both want to accomplish. mstewar7@gru.edu
REBECCA PERBETSKY | STAFF
Scott Johnson, an ALS patient, participates in what he said could be his last Beat Feet Walk Sept.28.
be given back to an organization that the clinic has close ties with. About 20 percent of the proceeds will be given to the ALS Association of Georgia and South Carolina and the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The staffs of the clinics want to help contribute to others around the area who also want to help patients with this disease. msmith91@gru.edu
What do rare, endangered plants and the effects of alcohol in rats have in common? Both are topics for this semester’s Student Research Brown Bag Seminars. For those not in the know, the Student Research Brown Bag Seminars are held four times each semester in the Jaguar Student Activivties Ballroom. At each seminar, students and faculty come together to eat lunch and listen to two undergraduate students present their research from their respective fields of study. Students from all fields are encouraged to participate. In the past, students from the Science, History, Psychology and Art departments have presented, among others. Joseph Hauger, the director for the Center of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship, is one of the founders of the Brown Bag Seminar series, which was started in 2008. Although the seminar officially started in 2008, its true beginnings were in 2007, when a small group of professors started questioning how they could build up and promote undergraduate research. Out of this, CURS was formed and the Brown Bag series was as well. The seminar series has risen in popularity recently, with more and more students applying for the chance to present their research. “The big deal is that these students are presenting work that is peer-reviewed, and they have to compete,” Hauger said. “We have more people wanting to do this than we have spots.” The series’s competitive nature is no surprise considering the opportunities the series grants for undergraduate stu-
Festival CONTINUED from PAGE 1
nally. So, I just thought she would be a wonderful person to kick us off and maybe get people interested.” Heffernan, who recently moved back to Augusta, Ga., has an extensive background in the marketing field. After graduating from Salem College in Winston-Salem, N.C., her career took off. She has worked for big names such as Turner Broadcasting, Lifetime Television, WE: Women’s Entertainment Television and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. Heffernan said these experiences taught her how to work with really strong personalities. “I think the big take away from that was don’t be afraid,” she said. “They’re just another person, and they may come off a certain way; they may come off as mean or intimidating, but they’re a person just like everybody else.” However, while working as the senior vice president of marketing for Screenvision, Heffernan suffered a stroke. She refused to go to a hospital in New York and flew down to Augusta instead. After being treated by a neurologist at Georgia Regents University, Heffernan was back to work in New York, but, due to the bad economic situation, she was laid off. “I was torn because I couldn’t find another job,” she said. “The economy was terrible. Nobody was hiring at my level, and so I had to have a soul-searching moment where I
dents. “I believe it’s absolutely going to be beneficial,” said Fady Tawadrous, a political science major and presenter at one of this semester’s seminars. “In terms of getting experience, presenting in front of people, answering tough questions and also how to present things that you’ve written and researched in a manner that everyone will understand, not just people in your field.” The presentations are not just for professors and presenters either; it is a chance for other students to come and listen to what students in other fields of study are researching, how they conduct research and what they are learning. “As a communications major, it is interesting for me to hear what other students have been researching at the Brown Bag lectures because all of the fields represented are so different,” said Laura Starnes, a senior at Georgia Regents University. “It is also good for me to just go and watch students present because it gives me ideas on how to present research and what to do and what not to do when I present something.” The idea of presenting in front of a large group of people as opposed to a small room with the presenter and one or two faculty members is what makes the Brown Bag series unique and inspires others. “The reason we have them do this, as opposed to being in a room with one other person, is that the students that come and even the other faculty that come, when they see this, or what I’m hoping is, they see, ‘Wow, look at this, this is an undergraduate who did this – I could do that myself,” Hauger said. “So hopefully, some of the students will walk away with the idea that this is something they could do.” ehardawa@gru.edu
said, ‘What do I do?’ And so I said, ‘Do I want to stay in New York or do I want to go home?’” Once she moved back to Augusta, Heffernan found Wier/ Stewart, an advertising agency on Broad Street, and sent in her resume. “She emailed her resumé to me, and I thought it was BS,” said the studio director at W/S, Daniel Stewart. “I thought it was phony baloney, and I scanned it like I do all resumés. It was not like any resumé that we typically get.” Upon meeting Heffernan, Stewart said he was pleasantly surprised to find her resumé was not phony. He said she fit right in with the team. Heffernan said she loves being back in Augusta, and she is glad she found W/S. “You know, sometimes in life you just get a good vibe when you walk in a place, and that’s how I felt here,” Heffernan said. “And I hadn’t felt that in 15 or 20 years in my career.” She said one of the most important lessons she has learned is happiness matters more than money. Heffernan said she hopes she had an impact on students with her speech. “Hopefully the students will get something out of it because that’s really my goal,” she said. “I love mentoring, and I love helping people and helping them learn from my lessons because I wouldn’t want people to have to go through a lot of what I had to go through.” As Ted Turner once told her, Heffernan said she encourages students to not let others intimidate them and to always be true to themselves through the best and worst of times. jbarry3@aug.edu
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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2013
opinion editorial
Making a paper with no newsroom be published. We also provide a unique opportunity for journalism and other communications majors to get a feel for what it is like to work for a newspaper within a safe learning environment. And although we’ve had our fair share of very public issues with the Office of Communications and Marketing, The Bell Ringer staff genuinely enjoys producing the only student newspaper on campus. While we relish the opportunity to deliver the latest and greatest news to Georgia Regents faculty, staff and students and the surrounding Augusta, Ga., area, it’s a bit more difficult to do that when someone decides to remove the carpet in the hallways leading to The Bell Ringer office, effectively blocking the staff from entering the office for our regular production weekend hours.
Granted, several quick trips into the office to retrieve forgotten supplies were made Saturday morning, but this issue of The Bell Ringer was created in the Mac lab in Allgood Hall. There’s nothing wrong with working in the Mac lab, per se, with the exception of the oppressive heat expelled by the machines in the room. But it’s infinitely more difficult to work productively when all the materials and electronic libraries and devices we’re used to having at our fingertips during the weekend have to be moved or remade elsewhere. It’s made even more difficult when the email announcing the impending work isn’t sent until Wednesday, giving us not even two full days to adequately prepare before production begins. Adding insult to injury, the email said that there were “no events planned in
the JSAC on Saturday,” though Student Activities was made aware of The Bell Ringer production schedule for both the fall and spring semesters of this academic year in August. Despite the added difficulties and stress, we managed to pull the 12-page rabbit out of our hat. Though the process was infinitely more complicated, it was worth the extra effort. The Bell Ringer staff takes our job of delivering news and commentary very seriously because we never want to let our readers down. Your trusty student paper production will not be interrupted by something so trivial. It’ll take a lot more than carpet removal, or the wrath of the Office of Communications and Marketing for that matter, to keep The Bell Ringer from printing.
Voice your opinions in student government John Locke once said, “I have always thought the actions of men the best interpreters of their thoughts.” I believe wholeheartedly in this quote. If you want to see change, you have to become part of the solution. What better way to be part of the solution than to join the Student Government Association? We have open seats in Hull College of Business; Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences; College of Education; College of Nursing; College of Allied Health Sciences; College of Science and Mathematics; and plenty of seats for senators at-large. Come join us and make a difference. As president of SGA, I am also in the process of implementing a Freshman Student Advisory Council and a NonTraditional/Transfer Student Advisory Council. If you feel like you want to be part of something but don’t have time to commit to something such as SGA, this is the place for you. I will be listening to concerns, and together we will work to implement some ideas that are brought
MEGAN STEWART | STAFF
Television shows such as “Once Upon a Time” and “The Big Bang Theory,” along with many other shows, start their fall television series back after a long summer of treacherous waiting.
Amanda Bryant SGA president forth in these councils. Keep watch for information and applications in the next week or so. In our SGA meetings, we have speakers who may be of interest to some. On Friday, we will have Coach Bryant in speaking about the Athletic Fee. On Oct. 18, Jessica Haskins will be speaking about Student Life and Engagement. Everyone is always welcome to attend our meetings, but we encourage you to come to these to learn more about our growing university. abryant9@gru.edu
editorial policy Letters to the editor must be accompanied by the author’s email address. All columns and letters to the editor are the opinion of the author. The views expressed in the opinion section do not necessarily express those of The Bell Ringer, a designated public forum. Anything submitted to The Bell Ringer is open to be edited or rejected. However, The Bell Ringer staff gives all opinions a fair chance to be heard. All letters will be edited for grammar and style. If you would like to contribute a column or a letter to the editor, send an email to: bellringerproduction@gmail.com
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Fall TV shows you should and shouldn’t be watching It’s that time of year again. The fall television premieres are in full swing, and there’s still some yet to come. The big five networks are busting out some big guns, and it’s been one of the more promising seasons I’ve ever seen. And you should be watching it, well parts of it anyway. ABC’s strongest show is easily “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” The show from Marvel is explosive and action-packed, and so far the story’s not too convoluted to be followed, something ABC’s had a bit of a problem with in the past with the more supernatural shows like “Lost” and “Once Upon A Time.” “Once Upon A Time’s” third season is, for now, set in Neverland with an evil take on Peter Pan as the primary antagonist, but explaining that is going to be a tough job, and the result probably won’t satisfy everyone. The big news coming from FOX is what critics have said are the best and worst new comedies of the year in “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” and “Dads,” respectively. The humor of “Dads” is in the vein of “Family Guy” and “American Dad,” offensive but equally aimed at everyone. “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” keeps things cleaner and relies mainly on the goofball antics of Andy Samberg versus the straight-laced Andre Braugher. Having watched both, though, I’m more of a fan of “Dads” than I am of “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” which is a little surprising to me because Andre Braugher is one of my more favorite actors, and I loved him in last year’s “Last Resort,” which was canceled far too soon for my liking. However, “Dads” works because it embraces its humor and puts it over the top so it actually does work. “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” seems like it’s trying to straddle a line and hasn’t quite found itself to me yet, but there’s still time. NBC is relying on two of its big guns from last season, “The Voice” and “Revolution,” to buoy a season that has the second-most new shows of the big five networks, only behind ABC. Those new shows include “The Blacklist” and “The Michael J. Fox Show,” which both look like decent fare, but “Revolution” holds my interest above all of the NBC shows old or new. The two most shocking moments of the premiere kind of canceled each other out, but it will be interesting to see how they are explained
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Staying en vogue, on budget
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Producing a newspaper is tough work. You have to come up with budget items, interesting story topics that are relevant to the Georgia Regents University community. Then you have to find sources of information on those topics, interview them and piece together a coherent and thought-provoking article with stimulating images or graphics to go along with the story. Finally, the stories are placed, arranged and edited on the page – a long, arduous process that keeps The Bell Ringer staff in our office until 11:30 p.m. or later every other Sunday night. So why do we do it? We are one of few student publications on the Georgia Regents campus. We are a public forum; anyone can write letters to the editor, pen guest columns or contribute a story and
THE BELL RINGER
Jacob Scharff staff writer along with everything else that has come about from the quite literal fallout of last season. CBS has a lot of new shows at its beck and call too, like “The Crazy Ones” and “The Millers.” The main selling point of “The Crazy Ones” is the return of Robin Williams to TV, and the promos of him and his assistant pitching a McDonalds jingle idea to Kelly Clarkson that goes awry as she can’t keep a straight face make me laugh every time. My tried -and-true CBS show, though, is “The Big Bang Theory,” which is entering its seventh season this year and is still very strong in its first two episodes. It will be interesting to see how some of the storylines develop from this point. The CW is sticking to more fantasy and sci-fi programs as “Arrow” and “Beauty and the Beast” make their returns and new shows “The Tomorrow People” and “Reign” look to make strong debuts as well. One of the few more realistic shows is “Hart of Dixie,” which is entering its third season, but, out of everything CW is offering, “Arrow” is holding my attention after a strong first season, and with its second it’s looking to be DC’s answer to “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” by bringing in Flash, who will possibly end up with his own show when it’s all said and done. Amanda Waller, one of the masterminds behind Cadmus Labs and a female version of Nick Fury, could be the thread that links the TV universe to the movie one made by “Man of Steel.” The lineup of shows this year both old and new is intriguing for a lot of reasons because the old are back for a reason, and most of the new shows are coming in with strong reviews from critics. As you pick and choose what to watch, what to DVR and what to ignore, keep an open mind about everything and you may just find yourself watching something you never thought you would. jscharff@gru.edu
Many people feel they must break the bank to stay up to date with fashion and look GREAT! I beg to differ. These are my tips on how to stay “En Vogue” and on budget! I LOVE fashion! From the excessive pictures of my outfits on Instagram and Lookbook, you could definitely tell that fashion is a big part of my life. You should know that money is a HUGE part of my life as well. I have a blog about it, so you would think I’m pretty passionate about it, right? Well, combining my passions for money and fashion, you get this post! So, here we go... DISCLAIMER: I love fashion, but I am biased to preppy clothing because it’s clean and neat, and really, everyone looks good in it. I love Couture and Runway, but Ready-to-Wear is my specialty! Other designers I love are Louis Vuitton, Raf Simons, Marc Jacobs, Givenchy and Tom Ford. OK, back to your regularly scheduled column! 1. DON’T BUY OUTFITS: Most people end up breaking the bank when buying outfits because they feel they have to buy outfits when they shop! In today’s society, if you go buy a WHOLE outfit, this is the basic breakdown of what you will pay. Shoes: Clarks Desert Chukka Boots from Piperlime$120.00 Sweater: Reversed Striped Pullover Sweater from Gap$44.95 (Retail) Polo: Modern Pique Polo from Gap- $29.95 (Retail) Pants: 1969 Slim Pants
Rickey Jones contributor from Gap- $59.95 (Retail) The full retail value* of this outfit is… $254.85. So, for one night of going out, it’s going to cost you $254.85. Luckily, in beautiful companies like Gap, there is usually a sale going on, so you never have to buy things for full retail! Buying outfits for very special occasions is acceptable, but not for just one night. The next tip is what you should do.
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Fashion is one of the biggest parts of human life, whether you care about it or not.
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2. BUY PIECES: The thing about fashion is, it’s always going to be there! The stores won’t stop stocking, the designers won’t stop designing – fashion is one of the biggest parts of human life, whether you care about it or not. Buying pieces is so much more cost-effective than buying outfits! If you buy the sweater and shoes one day, and the pants and shirt the next week, then that helps you space out your spending and give a little bit more time to make more
money before you spend it! 3. EMAILS: Signing up for a store’s emails is a GREAT way to save money! Even though the emails start to take over your inbox, they usually have great deals, sales and tips on how to wear outfits! When signing up for emails, however, make sure you sign up for emails from companies that you’re actually going to shop from. For instance, I do not need to sign up for emails from Forever 21 because I don’t shop there. So, then my inbox won’t be flooded with emails from them. 4. SHOP FREQUENTLY: I know you’re probably thinking, “Rickey, how do you expect me to save money when I’m shopping frequently?” It’s actually really easy! Going to your favorite store once or twice a week will help you scope out how much you need to allot to get what you really want from the store. Also, it will help you keep up with sales trends and show you if the price of your item is going to fall in a period of time. For example, I go to Banana Republic, and I see a Classic White Polo, which costs $39.50. It’s not on sale, so I have to make the conscious decision to wait on buying it. Next week, I come back to Banana Republic, and the same shirt is 30% off, so the shirt is really going to cost me a little less than $30! I get excited because I saved about $10, which can go to something else or for my savings! 5. QUALITY/QUANTITY: I cannot stress this enough: “Quality over Quantity” is a
BIG thing to remember when shopping! Many people say that you should try to get as much as possible and stock up your closet. I beg to differ! In today’s society, people buy MANY pieces of clothing made of cheap fabric and poorly made. I believe it’s time to start getting back to wearing well-made clothing! When I’m shopping, if I find two shirts from Gap, at least I know those clothes are made well! Developing your closet with well-made clothing over
a period of time is MUCH better than trying to form a whole wardrobe in one week. If you can develop a well-made closet in a week, please be my guest! I, however, will continue and never stop developing my closet with well-made clothing! Fashion is so important to everyone, whether they care about it or not. If you DO care about fashion, make sure you’re getting the most for your money. I hope these tips help you stay En Vogue and On Budget!
Sink or swim, cruises aren’t for me
Free speech comes with consequence The Penny Arcade Expo is a festival that has celebrated gaming culture since 2004. From tabletop games to indie games, major gaming companies, game competitions and even game-related concerts, PAX covers it all. It was started by Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik in an attempt to move away from the corporate shows, such as E3, in order to focus more on the people who play games. Since it began, it has grown from a single event in Seattle to three events including PAX East, held in Boston, and PAX Aus, held in Melbourne, Australia. The founders of PAX are also the writers for the successful webcomic Penny Arcade, which pokes fun at gaming culture. The comic is actually so successful that Holkins and Krahulik became some of the first people to manage making a living off writing a webcomic. In their comics, they often make fun of common devices used to move along the plot in games. One such device is that a hero will have to go into a dungeon and rescue a certain number of prisoners in order to gain some sort of reward. Sometimes, after the hero has rescued the required number of prisoners, others remain in the dungeon, but, as the hero has already finished his objective, they are simply left behind. Holkins and Krahulik wrote a comic titled “The Sixth Slave” Aug. 8, 2010, which made fun of this cliché. The comic showed a prisoner who was clearly distraught seeking the help from a hero who was more than capable of rescuing him. The prisoner explained his plight by stating that he was beaten every morning and raped to sleep. The hero replies, “I only need to save five slaves. All right? Quest complete.” To me, this was just another one of Penny Arcade’s comics. It was a funny parody of a common situation in games. The prisoner is in grave danger, and the hero ignores it because his quest is complete. To many others, however, this comic was a reason for outcry. Many people believed this comic
CONTRIBUTED BY RICKEY JONES
Rickey Jones, a freshman marketing major, displays his style outside of Allgood Hall on the Summerville campus wearing a fashion forward cardigan.
Meredith Day staff writer crossed a boundary by making a joke out of rape, and some pledged to never return to PAX. (Penny Arcade didn’t help themselves either by making a sarcastic follow-up comic and selling merchandise based on it.) But this controversy got me wondering, are there subjects that are off limits to comedy? Where do we draw the line? In many other Penny Arcade comics, there have been jokes that dealt with homosexuality, drugs, murder, torture and controversial subjects. Why had none of these comics caused a controversy? Now trust me, I believe that rape is terrible. I do. But I don’t understand how all of these other atrocities seem to get a free pass even though they are terrible as well. This isn’t a problem for Penny Arcade alone, but actually a dilemma all comedians face. Some have found ways to handle this issue with class, such as Roberto Benigni who directed “Life is Beautiful,” an Italian comedy-drama about the Holocaust. This film used comedy to address a dark issue, but it did so in a way that was more sincere than offensive and ended up winning three Oscars. Then there are comedians who choose to go the opposite route, such as George Carlin, and base their entire routines on shock value. So, what do I think of all this? Well, my belief is there should be no boundaries in comedy or in any medium. I am opposed to censorship and think that people should be able to say anything they want to say. At the same time, if a person becomes offended, that’s acceptable too. Overall, my rule is that if it’s funny or thought-provoking, you can say it. I also believe that you can say whatever you want even if it’s not funny or thought-provoking. People just need to be wary when they do because they’ll probably wind up looking like a jerk. mday4@gru.edu
me.
“Titanic” probably ruined cruises for
I remember the first time I heard about the Titanic in elementary school and watched the movie when I got to be the appropriate age over and over again until I could recite all of Kate Winslet’s lines. I remember being so in love with the romantic love story aboard this huge ocean liner that I quickly became a bit obsessed with it. I wanted my mom to take me to all the Titanic exhibitions, and I was a collector of everything Titanic, from books to posters, anything, you name it. I even had this extremely fake and huge silver necklace with a blue diamond in the shape of a heart, like the one in the movie that I claimed to be the heart of the ocean. I was also obsessed with the numbers, for example, the size of the ship, the number of people that took the voyage on the ship and that this huge ocean liner was said to be unsinkable while it was the total opposite.
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I could only imagine what was going on in all of the people’s minds who were on the Titanic after they were gullible enough to believe the ship they were on wouldn’t sink.
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Then, I think my obsession turned into a phobia when my family and I took a vacation to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., one year, and the cruise lines were docking at the ports. Now, I know that cruise ships aren’t as big as the Titanic, but if you’ve ever been near one in your life, you know they are humongous. The size of them is so overwhelming to me, personally, that I tense up when I even think about how big they are in comparison to myself. It stresses me out. I could never spend one week, let alone one day, on a cruise ship even though there are a ton of things to do on them, not even if someone paid me. I just can’t see myself being on a ship for seven days or so and only being able to get off at certain destinations it may stop at.
Kereyia Butler staff writer Some of my closest friends and family members have invited me to go on many cruises, and I simply said no because I just can’t do it. And quite frankly, the news hasn’t helped my phobia at all either because I definitely wouldn’t want to get on a cruise ship and have the unthinkable happen, like on the Costa Concordia, because I don’t want to be wondering how long it will take for this ship to sink and pull me under or if the cruise ships have enough life boats for everyone. That has to be such a terrifying experience. I could only imagine what was going on in all of the people’s minds who were on the Titanic after they were gullible enough to believe the ship they were on wouldn’t sink, and then it did. Several people have told me I am missing out on the experience of a lifetime and that getting on a cruise ship is a mustdo, but I’m absolutely OK with not adding that one to my bucket list. I would rather get on a plane or go on a road trip to the beach or wherever, but on a cruise ship where there is nothing but the ocean surrounding you? Definitely not! My phobia of big ships doesn’t make me afraid of all water vessels because I actually don’t have a problem getting on small boats, like the ones you might take out to the lake because they don’t overwhelm me. It’s just something about hundreds of people on a huge, crowded ship with many levels floating on top of the ocean that freaks me out. Don’t get me wrong, I do love the ocean, but I honestly love it with limits, like on the shore or when I’m in the ocean and the water is up to my waist but not on top of hundreds of feet of water not knowing what might be swimming under you. kbutler7@gru.edu
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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2013
ARTS & LIFE
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THE BELL RINGER
Addiction: Dieting to extremes Series Part 2 of 5
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Local band kicks off tour
By Nikki Skinner production assistant
NIKKI SKINNER | STAFF
95 Rock’s Chuck Williams interviews local band Veara before its album release show, held Sept. 26 at Sector 7G, on Ellis Street in Augusta, Ga., before the Austrailian Warped Tour.
Veara holds its album release show for 2nd record with Epitaph Records By Nikki Skinner production assistant The local band Veara released its second album Sept. 24 with Epitaph Records, and the band soon hit the road. The band opened its tour in its hometown Sept. 26 at Sector 7G, a venue on Ellis Street in downtown Augusta, Ga., which the band said holds many memories for its members. “It had been a while since we played in Augusta,” said Patrick Bambrick, the guitarist and a vocalist for the band. “I wasn’t sure what to expect. It was definitely a great turn out.” This show was also Veara’s album release show for its new album entitled “Growing Up is Killing Me.” The new album is a lot more mature, lyrically and sonically, Bambrick said.
“We have definitely done some growing,” drummer Brittany Harrell said. “We are still Veara, but we have matured. We have gotten better at writing, and there are more dynamics.” Harrell said the band’s members still love their previous album, “What We Left Behind,” but at the same time, they are proud of this album and excited for people to hear it. “The album has only been out for a few weeks, but things seem to be going pretty well,” Bambrick said. The opening band for Veara’s show was All My Honor. Its guitarist, Lucas Sams, said having listened to Veara’s albums, he has definitely seen the band grow throughout the years, and he said it’s great to see a band like that to be able to perform live what it has produced because many bands can’t do that.
NIKKI SKINNER | STAFF
Veara, a pop-punk band, appears in its hometown to perform at Sector 7G, an all-ages venue.
After wrapping up the show in Augusta, the band hit the road. Harrell said Veara would begin by touring the East Coast for about a month with the band All My Honor, and then in November Veara will be leaving for Australia to be part of the Australian Warped Tour. “This will be our second time going back and touring there,” Bambrick said. “We were very well-received the last time. It’s exciting to go back and see how much things have changed.” Though the band members are excited to go on tour, they said it is a lot of work. “A lot goes into a tour besides a 30-minute performance,” Bambrick said.
“There is the driving, checking and maintaining equipment, and then you still try to find the time to write. I would say that the toughest part is getting enough rest.” So far it’s been a good tour, Sams said. Since the band members have been touring for a few years, they know people and are constantly making new friends. He said it is interesting to see Veara work, especially since it’s a couple of years ahead of his band. “It is also great to play with a band you like every night,” he said. “We are kind of like a family in a lot of ways.” nskinner@gru.edu
Initiative gives drive-in theater digital makeover By Ashley Trawick news editor The Monetta Drive-In Theatre, affectionately known as “The Big Mo,” in Monetta, S.C., won an $80,000 digital projector through Honda’s national Project Drive-In program Sept. 23. Project Drive-In is an initiative to save hundreds of drivein theaters around the country that are in danger of closing or in need of digital projectors. Alicia Jones, the manager of Honda and Acura social marketing, said Honda has many facilities around the country, and one way the management likes to do business is to support local communities. Initially, five drive-ins received projectors, but the response and participation was so high that four more were also awarded, with the Big Mo being included the second time around, Jones said. “These are small independent businesses that largely were not going to be able to afford to make that conversion,” she said. “We realized that this was a much a larger issue and that we had an opportunity to do some good and help out more than just one area next to one of our facilities and then do something to help save something really important to American car culture.” A co-owner of the theater, Lisa Boaz, said the win came as a big shock because they didn’t win in the first contest Honda held. “We didn’t want to get our hopes up too much,” she said. “We received an email on Sat-
urday night, and it said that they would announce to the winners at 8 a.m. Monday morning. So Monday morning, we talked ourselves out of it. Then the phone rang at exactly 8 o’clock.” Crissie Kirby, a visitor since 2000, said she, as well as the communities of Monetta and Augusta, Ga., were overjoyed at the news. “That’s one of the nicest things about Big Mo is that you can take kids,” Kirby said. “You can take infants, and it’s usually not a big deal, you know. It’s really not a bad drive in Augusta.” Overall, Honda has saved nine theaters with its efforts to provide them with digital projectors. Boaz said just one is enough to cut the overall cost of what it could have been had the win not happened. Jones said through the process of speaking with the press about the project and spreading the word about drive-ins, Honda has really been able to shine a light on the issue and help even more theaters. “We’ve heard from many of them that didn’t win that projector that this whole effort has really helped them find (effort) on their own and helped bring more people into their drive-ins,” Jones said. “So that’s the overall goal. We’re not in the movie business, you know. We can’t save all of them, but through this whole process, we were able to shine a light on it and get some attention that could help springboard some of these folks to try to do more, get them more business, more attention (and) get more dollars donated.” atrawick@gru.edu
NIKKI SKINNER | STAFF
Eating disorders have one of the highest mortality rates of any mental disorder. Eating disorders are very dangerous, said Christian Lemmon, the associate director of the psychology program at Georgia Regents University, because there are many different competing forces that contribute to or exacerbate problems with food, including familial, selfesteem and hormonal issues and spiritual beliefs. Up to 24 million people of all ages and genders suffer from eating disorders in the United States, according to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders. When he first began working with these types of problems 25 years ago, Lemmon said it was more prominent between the ages of high school and college. Now he said he is seeing development as early as middle
Eating disorders result from negative feelings about weight and food issues.
CONTRIBUTED BY ANTONIA REED
Student finds his passion in paint By Ashley Trawick news editor An art student has made an impression on the department. Hailing from Augusta, Ga., senior art major Antonia “Aort” Reed is known for his paintings, which in between the strokes often reveal something about his personal life, he said. He said he wants people who view his work to be able to relate to it. “As far as my artwork is concerned, for the viewers, I want them to be able to see many different perspectives,” Reed said. “Everybody won’t see the same thing. Everybody should get a different perspective or some type of narrative, or maybe they can relate to something they see in the work because anytime I’m painting or creating, I’m always putting a little bit of experiences I’ve been through in the shading. I may not do it consciously, like at the time, but I know I’m always thinking as I’m painting.” A professor in the art department at Georgia Regents University, Janice Whiting, said when he first entered his class,
she thought and still thinks he’s the same guy with so much talent and he’s always willing to help others in his classes whenever they have trouble. “We’re very happy with Aort in the art department,” Whiting said. “I know a particular student in a class he was in, and she talked to me about how encouraging he was to her and that she was really glad she was painting next to him. Just how much he cared about what he did and how experimental he was willing to be had an effect on her.” Aside from painting, one of Reed’s other loves is tattooing, he said. He initially got into the tattoo industry when he got out of high school in 2001. Reed said he was bored and curious, and after visiting a shop to get a tattoo with his girlfriend at the time, he realized he didn’t like any of the work in their portfolios. “I was looking through the books and I couldn’t find anything and said I’m going to draw something,” he said. “There was a tattoo shop up the street from
where I live, and I showed them some of my artwork. They were geeked.” After he was doing work for three years straight, Reed said he grew tired of tattooing and minimized his clientele. While his services aren’t available to everyone, he said his clients know he’s great at what he does, which is why they get exclusive work. Alan MacTaggart, the chair of the art department, said Reed’s work is thoughtful and well crafted, while it can also resonate a story with other people. As far as his artwork, he said his main focus in his paintings is a mixture of three formulas: impressionism, expressionism and abstract. “They all come together because, in my work, it looks like dimensions, like different dimensions of design and color,” he said. “You may see something (that) looks kind of 3D or gives you the impression of depth. Then I will have something real flat, really 2D kind of juxtaposed with that.” atrawick@gru.edu
There were many things that factored into her disorder. She said she experienced a lot of trauma as a child, was sexually abused and had an alcoholic mother. The disorder gave her a sense of control over her life. “For a lot of girls, it’s not about being full or empty but about control,” Whetherington said. “I felt as though I was playing God. I had never had control before, especially after being sexually abused. I finally felt like I had control.” Because of all the abuse, Whetherington said, she began to hate her body. What started as a diet and a way to make her feel better soon turned into a complete, full-blown addiction. She said purging is such a violent act that it’s almost like a feeling of release. “It gets to a point where you no longer control it – it controls you,” Whetherington said. “It’s something that becomes normal and familiar.” The longer it takes to get help, the harder it is to get better, Lemmon said. In order to recov see DISORDERS on PAGE 8
Film series goes silent By Richard Adams staff writer Sacred Heart Cultural Center’s 11th Annual Silent Movie Night, hosted Sept. 27, left no seats untaken during the screening of the 1927 film “It,” starring Clara Bow. Together, the event coordinator Catherine Wahl and theater organist Ron Carter handpick each year’s selection and said, while it may seem there is a limited appeal of silent film screenings, that is not the case. “Going back over the films that we’ve shown for the past eleven years, we always take into consideration what we’ve shown before,” Wahl said. “There are so many people that come … that aren’t very excited about the prospect of sitting through a silent film, but …
once people open themselves up to coming to the event, they absolutely love it.” The executive director of Sacred Heart, Sandra Fenstermacher, said while some programs fade after a few annual repetitions, the silent movie night quickly gained a following. “The first year was like anything, you had to convince people, ‘This is good, you need to come,’” she said. “And they came back the next year and maybe brought somebody with them … People learned to get their tickets early, (and now) it’s kind of getting to be a tradition.” Part of this tradition is due to the uniqueness of the event annually, Fenstermacher said. Attendees are encouraged to dress in period clothing and have the choice of table seating
or upgrading their ticket to reclining in lounge chairs loaned out for the evening by the La-ZBoy company. So popular is this upgrade, she said, that the front row recliner seats are often sold out by early summer. The volunteers of the Sacred Heart Guild proposed all these ideas to set the event apart. Fenstermacher said Sacred Heart Cultural Center, which relies on individuals like Wahl in order to function, has also learned to rely on the intelligence and creativity of its volunteers. “Most of our really good ideas come from our volunteers who will say, ‘Try this’ or ‘Why don’t you try that,’” she said. “We’re very fortunate that we have a lot of creative people that help us.” see MOVIE on PAGE 8
Design star opens new furniture line at store Antonia “Aort” Reed, a senior art major, blends impressionism, expressionism and abstract styles in his paintings.
school. While currently recovering from purging anorexia, Sarah Whetherington said she probably realized her relationship with food wasn’t normal by the age of 14. “I grew up in a dance studio, and it was difficult for me to see what’s normal for a dancer,” Whetherington said. “Because what I was doing in that world was normal, but for the real world it was insane.” Being a dancer and being short was tough for her, she said. She was raised around mirrors, and frequently her body was compared to those of other, thinner dancers. Though she said she does not think dance is the reason she has an eating disorder, she said she did use it as an excuse to justify and continue her physically destructive behavior. “The dance studio is where it began,” Whetherington said. “I overheard the older girls were doing it, so I tried it. That is where the love affair began because I could finally eat and not gain any weight.”
By Kereyia Butler staff writer A television star visited Augusta, Ga., to showcase a new line of designer furniture Sept. 26. David Bromstad, the host of the television shows “Color Splash” and “The White Room Challenge,” made an appearance at Weinberger’s Furniture and Mattress Showcase in Augusta for the grand opening of the new HGTV home furniture collection. Mark Weinberger, the owner of Weinberger’s, said the reaction he received from people about the event was overwhelming. The idea came up because his store is the only store in Georgia to release the new HGTV home furniture collection. “He (came) to mingle, do a presentation on color, sign autographs, meet people and take pictures,” Weinberger said. Weinberger said he had estimated around 500 people to show up at the event and said any amount of people, from tens to hundreds, would definitely help his business out. “I think we’ll get a lot of new people in the store that have never been in here,” Weinberger said. “And hopefully we’re going to see some younger folks
that don’t always come in here because this furniture has kind of a young look to it, but it appeals to everyone though.” Mark Weinberger’s wife, Karly, her family and the staff at Weinberger’s put out several advertisements through Facebook, Twitter, emails, TV commercials and newspaper ads to get the word out that Bromstad was coming to town, she said. “Well, we’re kicking off,” Karly Weinberger said. “We put in a whole gallery. That’s why were doing it, the HGTV gallery … No one else in Georgia even has it so no one’s seen the furniture and the accessories that HGTV’s come out with, and then the exposure, obviously, to lots of people on Facebook seeing our name out there and hopefully coming by and seeing what our store has to offer.” The collection housed in the store is very affordable and can easily be paired well with anything, Karly Weinberger said. “The collection is nice because you can mix and match it, kind of like they do on all the shows on HGTV where you can take something from one collection and easily mix this into another collection,” she said. “So that’s pretty fun, and the prices are really reasonable, so it appeals to a lot of broad people.” Hundreds of people came
KEREYIA BUTLER | STAFF
David Bromstad, an HGTV designer, visits Weinberger’s Furniture and Mattress Showcase in Augusta, Ga.
out to see Bromstad and his presentation on color, including Rasheeda Byrdsell, who came with her daughter and two sons in tow. Byrdsell said she learned of Bromstad coming while she was at the car dealership waiting on her car to be fixed and just so happened to stumble upon a newspaper ad about the event. “He uses a lot of color, and I like color,” Byrdsell said. “It gives me a few ideas to paint my house, so a little bit (of) inspiration as far as doing remodeling or any changes that I want to do or upgrades at home.” Just like the Weinbergers, Byrdsell said having a huge celebrity like Bromstad come to Augusta helps the city gain more exposure and makes other celebrities want to come too. kbutler7@gru.edu
CONTRIBUTED BY PATRICK FRANKLIN
Patrick Franklin, the writer and director of “Pushin’ Up Daisies,” mixes drama and mockumentary styles in a feature film made in rural parts of Georgia.
Long-term project turns out writer’s first full-length film By Megan Stewart arts & life editor
A former film critic turned to the production side of the business. After graduating from University of Georgia in Athens , Ga., with a degree in telecommunications, Patrick Franklin started writing film critiques for Flagpole Magazine in Athens until he got the idea to go into production himself. “When I was a kid, I was very much into movies and passionate about seeing movies all the time,” Franklin said. “I don’t think so much that I wanted to make them, but I wanted to be in them and just be in that world because I appreciated the escapist value of movies.” Eventually, he said he was captured by the idea of storytelling which led to his first time writing and directing the film, “Pushin’ Up Daisies.” After taking a trip to Florida to work on a documentary about college-level trivia bowls, Franklin said he and his friend were passing through rural parts of Georgia they found to have a spooky, sleepy atmosphere. They soon started to imagine horror stories taking place there. “We weren’t actually trying to write a story; we were just passing the time,” he said. “So we were imagining ourselves as characters, as documentary filmmakers, that get into this situation. I thought it would be funny if these characters were so intent on making their documentary, which was far less interesting than the vampires uprising, that they had to conceal the fact that
vampires were taking over the world and pretend nothing out of the ordinary was happening.” Later the story evolved into zombies instead of vampires because Franklin said he found them to be more visually interesting and said it would be more disruptive to reality. Before production got underway, the script became a finalist for the Southeastern Media Award, sponsored by IMAGE Film & Video and the Atlanta Film Festival, where the film was shown. Although they didn’t win, they were offered a chance to speak with some of the top industry professionals, including Eric Besner, the vice president of programming at Netflix at the time, Franklin said. With production came building a cast. Franklin said many of the people involved in the film were volunteers from where they shot the scenes because it added to the caught-ontape, mockumentary style of the film. “With so many components to orchestrate, it’s a real challenge, and I think we pulled it off,” said Simon Sorrells, an actor in the film, in its press release. Although the process to complete the film took almost 10 years, it gave them the opportunity to do everything by the book and correctly, Franklin said. The film will be screened in the theater Ciné in Athens prior to it becoming available on DVD and Amazon Instant Oct. 25. mstewar7@gru.edu
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2013
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Around Town Mindy Wadley copy editor
Never too early to start celebrations Tis the season for stores around town to start bringing out their Christmas decorations and merchandise, and I for one couldn’t be more thrilled. Now, I know the popular opinion on the matter is displayed through a roll of the eyes, a scoff at how everyone blows past the autumn months with tunnel vision on the most wonderful time of the year. But I can’t help getting the holly jolly feeling when I start to see twinkling lights scalloped across the buildings downtown and notice ads on the radio and TV for upcoming holiday-season celebrations. Frankly, my excitement for the holiday season begins as soon as I start seeing back-to-school ads pop up over the summer months. In my mind, once the calendar has crossed its midpoint, it’s all a downhill ride to the finish line of the year. Back-to-school means Halloween is right around the corner, which means Thanksgiving is almost here, which means it’s practically Christmas. So the phrase Christmas in July strikes a resonant chord in the associations my brain makes when the months of summer vacation start to draw to a close. The tell-tale signs of the season are beginning to emerge everywhere you look. I spotted a string of Christmas lights a couple of weeks ago while walking down Broad Street in Augusta, Ga. Behind the ubiquitous aisles of Halloween candy, costumes and decorations, Christmas merchandise is already appearing on the racks of stores across our area. And soon, Christmas music will be played round the clock on WBBQ. My excitement for the Christmas season should not belie my love for Halloween and Thanksgiving. In fact I get really enthusiastic about holidays all throughout the year; it’s just that the winter holiday season is a months-long experience that goes beyond a single celebration. As the 12 days of Christmas draw nearer, I’m looking forward to the sensory overload of holiday sights, sounds and even smells and tastes to take over everywhere you look. Making crafts to give as gifts with my daughter, building our gingerbread house and visiting Lights of the South are some of my favorite experiences of the whole year, and the sooner we can get started celebrating, the better.
Local Museum The Morris Museum of Art, at 1 10th St. in downtown Augusta, Ga., is hosting an exhibit titled “The Starters,” which is composed of works housed by the Wells Fargo Corporate Collection, which will be on display until Nov. 24. With the gain of this new partnership between the museum and Wells Fargo, Michelle Schulte, the museum curator, said the Morris would be embarking on an eightyear partnership to bring bigger-named artists to the area. The exhibition is full of works from the 20th century, including artists such as Andy Warhol and Berenice Abbott. - Megan Stewart, arts & life editor To read the full article on the exhibition, check out www.asubellringer.com.
Class displays installations By Richard Adams staff writer
The old Summerville armory walls became works of art in September, compliments of professor of art Brian Rust’s art installation class. The project, which stayed on display for almost three weeks, was the first of four installations that Rust’s class will design for specific environments throughout this semester, Rust said. While this is the first showcase of these pieces for the semester, this course has been taught and honed every other fall semester since the early 1990s by the professor. “I’ve always used that quad wall as a first assignment,” Rust said. “I like the little gun niches because they’re small things, and you don’t have to take on a big thing if you don’t want to. There’s a lot of different ways to enter into it. (You can interpret it) historically, you know, the idea that it’s a gun niche, or you can say, ‘It’s a hole through the wall.’ I think there’s multiple places where people can start to come up with an idea.” Melissa Sommer, a student in the class, said she took several seemingly disparate components of the quad walls into consideration when designing her first installation. Entitled “The Broken Looking Glass,” it consisted of hundreds of interconnected fragments of glass which, once positioned from one of the gun niches, seemed to be spilling out from the armory walls and onto the ground at the observer’s feet. “It’s a window,” Sommer said. “So I was thinking about perception and, also, it used to be an arsenal so that involves war. So I was thinking that when people get back from war they have broken perceptions.” A major part of Rust’s instruction to his students, he said, was to consider all possible audience members who might encounter the artwork. Sommer said she felt she was able to choose a theme that didn’t limit the project merely to Georgia Regents University’s military student population. “Instead of just slapping something on the wall, it makes you think how you’re going to display it, and it makes you think more about your audience,” she said. “I knew students were going to be walking through there, and so I figured they could also relate to it – not
Everything Autumn Crossword Across:
NEIL DAVENPORT | PHOTOGRAPHER
Brian Rust, a professor of art, has been teaching the installations art class since the 1990s.
just the war theme but being stressed out with school sometimes you feel kind of off-kilter, like the mirror makes you look.” This idea in “site-specific art,” Rust said, is anyone can experience a work of art while simply going about his daily routine; it is a central premise Rust said he encouraged the artists in his class to consider when planning and executing their installations. “That’s one thing about having pieces out in the open,” Rust said. “People are just thinking about whatever; they’re thinking about their day, thinking about their lunch, thinking about their next class, and then all of a sudden come upon this stuff. You don’t have the buffer of ‘this is an art gallery.’ People just bring in all kinds of stuff, whatever’s walking around with them.” When creating their pieces, Rust said he asked his students to consider several different questions that would go a long way in helping to generate this one-of-a-kind, individual audience experience while interacting with the art. “How does the whole idea of environment affect it?” he asked. “How, where something is built can be played into how people read it, the context?” Jane Medranda, a psychology major with an art minor, said her installation project pointed to a need for an awareness of the past. From her gun
RICHARD ADAMS | STAFF
The Sacred Heart Cultural Center, located at 1301 Greene Street in downtown Augusta, Ga., composes its front two rows out of La-Z-Boy recliners for its annual silent film series.
Every event at Sacred Heart has its own central purpose, Wahl said, even the silent film screenings. “It is just mainly to get people into Sacred Heart so that they can enjoy their community’s cultural center and see something totally unique,” she said. “Any profit we make goes into the upkeep and care of Sacred Heart because it is a huge undertaking to keep Sacred Heart, the building, maintained.” Wahl said she began bringing her daughters to the silent film screenings a few years ago, but she no longer has to ask them to attend. They volunteer. Carter was originally a reluctant silent film audience member, but all that changed after his first encounter with the medium during a theater organist’s convention, he said. “I saw my first (silent) film in 1986 and had to be dragged there,” Carter said. “I was thinking, ‘Oh lord, a silent film, black and white.’ We went to the Byrd Theatre in Rich-
mond, Va., and I took my 14-year-old son … At the end of the movie – it’s a very emotional film – grown men were crying, and I said, ‘Boy, there’s got to be something to this.’” Since that first film in 1986, Carter said he has played for silent film presentations all over the Southeast, gone to theaters as far north as Buffalo, N.Y., and hosted his own silent film screenings at his home in Marietta , Ga., several times a year. “It’s very rewarding for people to watch something like this and then afterward tell you how much they enjoyed it,” Carter said. “And particularly new people who say, ‘This is my first time, this is just fantastic.’” Both Wahl and Fenstermacher said Carter’s contribution to this oncea-year evening was inestimable. “When you are in that beautiful atmosphere with the low light, the fantastic booming organ music, the film larger than life on the screen, the smell of popcorn … it is just transformational,” Wahl said. “It is so much fun. It gets you out of your ordinary and into something totally unique.” radams99@aug.edu
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
The autumn _____ signals this colorful spectacle. In this country, fall is a time to remember the dead. The Autumnal ____ is Sept. 22 ____ occurs on the nights of Sept. 18 and 19. The ____ celebrate the Moon Festival around this time. English poet who wrote “An Ode to Autumn.”
Down 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
A pumpkin is a member of this family. _____ stops during the fall so leaves do not stay green. The custom of bobbing for apples originates from the ____. Hot beverage made from fruit and cinnamon. The famous fall latte offered at Starbucks. The term “equinox” is Latin for ____. In Greek mythology, fall was the time of the year when ____ rejoined Hades in the underworld. 8. This term was used before the terms fall and autumn were created.
NEIL DAVENPORT | PHOTOGRAPHER
Art student Melissa Sommer’s piece, “The Broken Looking Glass,” leans against the arsenal wall at Georgia Regents University.
niche she created a shell of tree bark, from which protruded real branches clipped from a eucalyptus tree. Beneath this physical facsimile of a tree, Medranda drew roots in which a human skull was interwoven. radams99@gru.edu
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comics
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Disorders
Movie
THE BELL RINGER
er, one has to realize there is a problem. Although she realized she had a problem at 14, she wasn’t ready to get help, Whetherington said. “In the beginning I didn’t want to get help,” Whetherington said. “The attention I got from losing the weight and from staying so skinny, it was something I thought made me special.” Whetherington said she went in and out of treatment many times, but it wasn’t because she wanted to. She said the main reason treatment never helped her was because, at the time, she was not going for herself; she was constantly going for other people. She said the best thing she ever did was join a 12-step program. “For the longest time, I had myself fooled that I could stop when I wanted to stop,” she said. “I just wasn’t ready to change until the pain of staying the same was greater than the fear of changing. I had pretty much lost my will to live.” Currently, Whetherington is 18 months sober and has started an eating disorder awareness program. She said she is finding that working with other people who have the same problems she does continues to help her recover. She said her friend Morgan R. helped her emensly. For a year she would eat with her every day. “I know in ways I was enabling her to have her boundaries, but at the same time I was pushing her.” Morgan said. Changing doesn’t just happen over night. She said Whetherington went thorugh the motions for so long, but once she turned that corner she stayed on the
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www.asubellringer.com for part one of the series “Addiction: Coping with alcoholism”
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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2013
sports www.asubellringer.com
Life on the GRU greens Men’s golf coach waves farewell By Jordan Williams sports editor
JORDAN WILLIAMS | STAFF
Kevin McPherson, the GRU Augusta men’s golf coach, spends time with the team on the practice greens one week before his departure.
Kevin McPherson has resigned from his position as GRU Augusta men’s golf coach. Director of Athletics Clint Bryant made the announcement Sept. 24. McPherson submitted a two-week’s notice, and has filled the vacant position of head golf coach at Costal Carolina, only a mile away from his hometown, according to a press release. “Kevin wants to get back to his hometown and to his family,” Bryant said in the press release. “We appreciate the job he did here
the last five-plus years. He leaves our program in good shape and we wish him the best in his future endeavors.” After the Jaguars recently finished their first tournament of the season tied for sixth place at the Olympia Fields/Fighting Illini Invitational Sept. 15, McPherson confessed the timing is not ideal, but he could not turn down the rich offer. “(Coastal Carolina) had a transition of their coaches there, and the opportunity became available, and I certainly didn’t want to miss the boat and it be another 15 to 20 years before that same op-
portunity comes open again,” he said. McPherson said his decision to leave had nothing to do with the state of the program. With a roster returning four starters from last season’s lineup and a tremendously supportive community like Augusta, he said it was difficult to resign. However, the coaching job at Coastal Carolina will provide him with a better quality of life. He said he grew up in Myrtle Beach, S.C., for 25 years, and it’s the only offer he would ever take. Before any press releases see COACH on PAGE 11
Women’s golf season is in full swing By Jordan Williams sports editor GRU Augusta women’s golf team opened its season with five rounds of competitive golf in seven days. The Jaguars teed off the season with their first appearance at the Minnesota Invitational in Minneapolis Sept. 16, and a young lineup consisting of three freshmen, Jessica Haigwood, Josefine Nyqvist and Eunice Yi; sophomore Stephanie Bennett; and senior Casey Kennedy. On the first day of the Twin Cities tournament, All-American candidate Kennedy was sidelined with a sore back during the morning session, but the team was still able to post an impressive total score of 305 with its remaining four players, according to the Jaguars’ athletic website. “When I woke up in the morning my back was a little bit stiff, and I thought I could still play, but when I tried to warm up it just wasn’t going to happen,” Kennedy said. However, during the afternoon period of the first day, Kennedy was able to return to the course and help the team tie for sixth place by turning in a 6-over 78, contributing to the Jags’ 36-hole total of 618 (+42), according to the Jaguars’ athletic website. “I went to go see the trainer at Minnesota’s school, and they tried to do some stretches and stuff just so I could play in the afternoon,” Kennedy said. “And I got some medicine, and I was
able to play, but obviously I was all on the medication stuff so it was kind of a struggle.” Behind the strong performance of its three freshman, the women’s golf team was able to climb two spots up the scoreboard on the second day and finish the Minnesota Invitational in fourth place with a 54-hole total of 922 (+58), according to the Jaguars’ athletic website. Yi (t6th) shot a 3-over 75, Haigwood (t8th) obtained a 2-over 74 and Nyqvist (t18th) achieved a 4-over 76. “The first tournament in Minnesota was really fun,” Haigwood said about her collegiate debut. “I didn’t know what to expect out of it, but I was in like the top ten of the first (tournament).” Three days after competing in the Twin Cities, the women’s team headed to Greenville, S.C., in order to partake in the Lady Paladin Invitational at Furman University Golf Course, according to the Jaguars’ athletic website. At full strength, the Jags were able to lead the pack for the first two days but finished the final round in third place, according to the Jaguars’ athletic website. During the first day, Kennedy and Li combined for nine birdies and helped the team gain a two-shot lead over Clemson with a total score of 3-under 285. On the second day, the Jags continued to tear up the course and extend their lead to five strokes in rainy conditions, according to the Jaguars’ athletic
JORDAN WILLIAMS | STAFF
Freshman Josefine Nyqvist and her teammates spend a Friday afternoon fine tuninng and perfecting techniques.
Women’s golf statistics •
The Jags placed two of its freshmen in the top 10 among individual scores at the Minnesota Invitational.
•
With a 54-hole total of 922 (+58) the Jags claimed fourth place at the Minnesota Invitational.
•
At the Lady Paladin Invitational, the Jags led by as many as 10 strokes before finishing in third place.
•
Freshman Eunice Yi placed second among individuals at the Lady Paladin Invitational with a score of 4-under 212.
website. However, despite holding the lead for the majority of the tourney, the Jags could not seal the deal on the third and final day, according to the Jaguar’s athletic website. The Jags led by as many as 10 shots during the final round, but Wisconsin was able to pull off an impressive comeback by shooting eight-under on the second nine holes and march past the Jags and Clemson to claim
the number one spot at the Lady Paladin, according to the Jaguars’ athletic website. “We just have to learn how to finish,” Head Coach Kory Thompson said. “Last week we had to lead with six holes to go, and we just kind of crumpled a little bit, so I think we all learned from it. You have to learn how to make those short putts under pressure and just finish the 18 holes.” In only her second colle-
giate tournament, Yi (4-under 212) was able to finish in second place among individuals behind Clemson’s Ashlan Ramsey (7-under 209). “(Putting) is what cost me at the second tournament,” Yi said. “Ashlan wouldn’t make any mistakes. She hit three new putts per round probably. It was terrible.” The Jags also broke a school record in their second tournament of the season during the second round. The team recorded the lowest 36-hole total in the program’s history with a 3-under 573. “It was definitely an awesome feeling,” Haigwood said about breaking the school record. “My teammate Eunice did a great job. She shot four under, and she did awesome.” jwill143@gru.edu
Swedish golfer aspires to play pro By Megan Stewart arts & life editor
MEGAN STEWART | STAFF
Junior golfer Robin Petersson keeps his game fresh while red-shirting for the season for acadmic reasons.
Robin Petersson, a junior business major, has been playing golf with GRU Augusta for two years after being recruited from Helsingborg, Sweden, by the former men’s head coach, Josh Gregory. While golf has been part of Petersson’s life for almost 10 years, he said he initially got involved in the sport while participating in an afterschool program. “My friend and I, we decided one day to try golf,” he said. “We went to the golf course where we lived and they would lend you clubs and (have you) pay for the balls to hit. We did that a couple of times and I just got into it. A couple of weeks after that I told my dad that I wanted my own clubs.”
At the age of 17, Petersson said the Swedish Golf Federation invited him to play in a tournament hosted in Germany. After playing, he became a prospect for the European Team Championships, where he would attend various camps, he said. “There’s a scholarship called the Collegiate Golf Experience, which is given to one guy and one girl each year to go and see Annika Sörenstam in Orlando,” he said. “She tells you about college and her career, and you actually get to visit two colleges. When I went on that trip I visited University of Florida and University of Central Florida, and when I got back home from that trip, I was convinced that I was going to go to college – that was a big dream.” After his trip to Florida, Petersson started his research into colleges around the States. During that time,
he said, he noticed that the former Augusta State University had a pretty good team, and he got into contact with Gregory. He was then offered a scholarship to attend the university. “One cool thing about Sweden is that education is free, so my parents didn’t save up money for me to go to college,” he said. “The scholarship was obviously a big deal for me, and Josh could offer me a good scholarship, the best of the schools that I was talking to.” Alongside the ability to play being taken into consideration, Head Coach Kevin McPherson said they check into other factors of the players to decide whether they want to offer them a scholarship. While Petersson met all of those requirements prior to coming to the States, McPherson said he has also see PETERSSON on PAGE 11
THE BELL RINGER
PAGE 11
Cooper stresses fitness The sideline report
By Ashley Trawick news editor
Craig Cooper’s passion as an assistant professor and physical therapist has assisted a great deal of students who are athletes, kinesiology majors or just want to improve their health. Before his time as an assistant professor in the health and kinesiology department at Georgia Regents University, Cooper earned his undergraduate degree from University of Virginia. He became interested in exercise science and received a master’s degree in kinesiology at the University of Texas in 1990. “I worked for a couple of years out in L.A. doing fitness testing and exercise prescription,” Cooper said. “At the place I worked, we did testing with the Lakers, the Dodgers, the Rams, for the PGA Golf tour and general citizens.” He went back to Texas and worked for two years as a personal trainer. In 1996, he enrolled in physical therapy school at the former Southwest Texas State University, received a second master’s in 1998 and started practicing physical therapy full time. Cooper upgraded his master’s to a doctorate in 2009 when he enrolled into a transitional doctrine in a physical therapy program. He moved to Augusta, Ga., with his wife in 2005 and started teaching adjunct classes, which were mostly activity classes at the former Augusta State. He was then hired as a fulltime assistant professor in 2009 and is now one of the two advisors for the pre-PT track and the exercise science and kinesiology track.
Petersson CONTINUED from PAGE 10
upheld a role model status. “He’s a very intelligent young man, and right now he has about a 3.8 GPA, (which) with English as a second language is pretty impressive,” McPherson said. “He is currently one of our highest academic student athletes, not just in golf but in the actual entire athletic department. He is a leader for us and he is still young … and he kind of sets an example for the younger guys.” Petersson spends every day practicing, and his score aver-
Coach
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publicized the impending departure, McPherson addressed his players personally and revealed his recent career developments Sept. 22. “(The golf team) had all had a fun day together just playing football and stuff like that, and it was night time when we sat down, and he just said he had some bad news, and he told us that he was going to leave,” freshman Jackson Stroup said. Stroup said the initial reaction of the team was total shock
Jordan Williams sports editor
NFL squads struggle to meet high expectations ASHLEY TRAWICK | STAFF
Craig Cooper, an assistant professor in the Health and Kinesiology department at Georgia Regents University, goes for a quick run at Phinizy Swamp.
“I see a lot of people that are trying to get ready for either fitness jobs or health care jobs so that they can get into PT school,” he said. “Lately, I’ve been (teaching) ultimate Frisbee and disc golf. I’m the club advisor for the disc golf club, but I haven’t played in any tournaments or anything.” A senior kinesiology major, Nisa Vera, said Cooper seems to really enjoy his job, and it’s immediately detected while in the classroom. He even asks students if they’re enjoying the course and how he would improve as a professor. “He’s great,” Vera said. “He really understands everything, and if you don’t understand it, he’s willing to go into depth about it. He’s very, very personable.” Vera runs track for GRU Augusta, and when she was injured last year, she asked Coo-
per for tips on how to get her strength back. “I went and talked to him about, like, maybe what I could do and like, what would be good and he is very, very knowledgeable about a lot of injuries, and he helped me out on a personal level,” she said. Jeremy Fielding, a secondyear exercise science student and advisee student of Cooper’s, said he personally liked the science segments of the courses he took. “He’s just very passionate about the topics though,” Fielding said. “Everything he taught me, I absorbed – the function of the human body in so many different aspects with regard to exercise. For me, the science part was the part where I really learned a lot.”
age from last year was around 74.5, McPherson said, meaning that he averaged 2.5 strokes over par. He was also selected to play in all of the tournaments the team had. This year, Petersson said he is taking a break from traveling with the team in order to graduate on time. “With the NCAA, you only get four years of eligibility,” he said. “So I am saving this year, and my last two years I can still play. But I have to sit out one year, and this is that year.” Petersson’s roommate and teammate Cody Shaffer said with him not playing this year, the team’s going to see an im-
pact because he’s an older player who has experienced the tournaments the team will play in this year. Although Petersson is focusing on his classes, his degree isn’t the only thing he plans on seeing in his future. He said his ultimate dream is to return home after college and become a professional golf player. “When I do turn pro, I don’t expect to succeed immediately,” Petersson said. “Obviously, it would be great if I did, but I think when you turn pro, you can’t have too high of expectations and then … you (also) need to be consistent.”
because McPherson was not actively searching for a new job. Although, as McPherson started to explain his situation, the players became empathetic. “Slowly as (McPherson) kept talking, we started to feel good for him, and feel happy that he was able to really get the situation that he’s wanted all of his coaching career,” Stroup said. Freshman Brock Everett said he is unsure if the coaching change will have a positive or negative effect on the season, but it will definitely be different. Kory Thompson, women’s head golf coach will serve as
the interim coach for the men’s team until a permanent coach is named, and former Augusta State All-American Henrik Norlander will assist Thompson as the assistant coach for both the men’s and women’s teams. During his time as a Jaguar, McPherson spent three seasons as the women’s head golf coach before being named head coach of the men’s team in 2011. His accolades include leading the women’s team to an NCAA Regional appearance in 2011, an NCAA regional berth in his first year with the men’s team and four tournament titles.
atrawick@gru.edu
mstewar7@gru.edu
jwill143@gru.edu
After a quarter of the NFL season is in the books, the pretenders are separating from the contenders. Teams that looked good on paper and were thought of as playoff candidates have failed to deliver so far. I’m talking to you Pittsburgh, Washington and New York Giants. The most shocking of disappointing teams would be the Pittsburgh Steelers. Although they went 8-8 and missed the playoffs last year, the expectations are always high among the Steeler nation. To say the Steelers going 0-4 is a disappointment would be a serious understatement. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is 5th in the league in passing, but the Steelers have abandoned their true identity, which is pounding the rock. The team is ranked 29th in the league for rushing yards and averaging a measly 58 yards per game. The question that needs to be answered is to whom to hand the football. In a backfield full off complementary backs and a rookie, the Steelers need a main guy. I would bet my money on the 244-pound secondround draft pick out of Michigan State, Le’veon Bell. After recovering from a mid-foot sprain, Bell carried the football on 16 attempts for 57 yards and two touchdowns during his NFL debut against Minnesota Sept. 29. The Steelers defense has been stout in the passing game, ranking 6th in the league for passing yards allowed, but the team has been abused on the ground. The supposed “steel curtain” has given up 122.8 rushing yards a game and is 29th in the category. However, it should be mentioned that they have had to deal with the likes of Chris Johnson, Matt Forte and Adrian Peterson in three out of the first four games. As for the New York Giants, its bug-a-boo has been turnovers. In just four games, the Giants committed 14 turnovers and as a result have yet to experience a victory. Signal caller Eli Manning has thrown more interceptions than touchdowns, with 6 TDs and 10 INTs. It also doesn’t help that Manning has zero support on the ground. The team’s leading rusher, David Wilson, has already coughed up the football twice, has yet to reach the end zone and has only rushed for 130 yards during the entire month of September. On the defensive side, the numbers speak for themselves. The G-Men are 19th in passing yards allowed and 28th in rushing yards allowed. In every game this season, the opposing offense
has scored at least 30 points. Any quarterback who faces the Giants is guaranteed to have a nice game. The defensive unit allowed Tony Romo to pass for 263 yards, Peyton Manning for 307 yards, Cam Newton at 223 yards and even Alex Smith earned 288 yards. All of the aforementioned QBs found the end zone at least twice. The last team I would like to put on the spot is the Redskins – a team that won the NFC East at 9-7 last year and played in the playoffs are only 1-3 after a recent victory against Oakland. After Robert Griffin III’s explosive rookie year, D.C. expected its team to pick up where it left off last year. However, that has not been the case as the Redskins lost their first three games and are in the bottom of the division. The offense started the season a little off-rhythm at the beginning of games, but the reason is because their captain missed the entire preseason coming off major knee surgery. RG3 is slowly gaining confidence in his surgically-repaired knee, and will have his offensive unit on track. The area that deserves criticism and needs to step up is the defensive side of the ball. The Redskins have one of the worst defenses in the league, even with the return star linebacker Brian Orakpo. Only studying the game film can improve a team who is terrible against the pass and run. The Redskins have allowed opponents to pass for at least 298.3 yards a game and rush for 142.3 points a game. When compared to the other 32 defenses around the league, the Redskins are ranked 25th against the pass and 31st against the run. Out of the three mentioned franchises, there only seems to be one of them with a legit chance of making the playoffs this season. Although highly unlikely, the Steelers could still fight for a wild card spot. Granted that it will require a serious winning streak and dropping no more than three games to reach at least 9-7. The schedule for the Steelers works in its favor with the toughest matchups being against New England on the road and a trip to the frozen tundra in December to play Green Bay. Although the Steelers still have to play the Ravens twice, it is an opponent they know will and the Ravens are not the same juggernaut from last year. Every other team over .500 on the Steelers remaining schedule will be played at home, except for a road game against Cleveland. jwill143@gru.edu
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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2013
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Pushing it past the limit
JORDAN BARRY | STAFF
Tom Roberts, from Allentown, Pa., completed the ironman event in 5:51:13.
Ironman participants conquer 70.3-mile course By Jordan Barry staff writer Thousands of athletes gathered at the marina in Augusta, Ga., just before dawn. Upbeat music pumped up the crowd as they prepared to dive into the chilly Savannah River. Competitors young and old, pro and novice, from all over traveled to Augusta for a chance to participate in the Ironman Intermedix 70.3 Sept. 29. “The Ironman 70.3 in Augusta consists of a 1.2-mile swim in the Savannah River,” said AJ Sills, the race director of Ironman 70.3 Augusta. “They do a 56-mile bike ride through Georgia and South Carolina. And they finish with a 13.1-mile run through downtown Augusta finishing in the Augusta Common.”
Sills said participation in the triathlon was not restricted to pro athletes. “Obviously it’s nice if these athletes have had a triathlon or two under their belt before they try to tackle a 70.3 course,” he said. “But the age requirement is you have be 18 years old, and then that’s pretty much about it.” In fact, participants varied greatly in age, physical ability and experience. However, Sills said one particular group is especially inspiring. “There’s no stopping an athlete who’s determined to tackle an Ironman 70.3 triathlon,” he said. “If they’ve got any type of physical challenge, disability if you will, those are the athletes that are some of the stronger athletes that we’ll see, and they’re real inspiration for those other athletes that are out there.”
JORDAN BARRY | STAFF
Ironman competitors swim 1.2 miles in the Savannah River during the first phase of the extreme endurance race.
One athlete who completed the half Ironman Sept. 29 was determined to prove that age is truly nothing but a number. “It’s a great way to stay fit,” Kim Locher said. “It’s a great way to show that age doesn’t make a difference. I’m a grandmother of five, so yeah! It’s good.” Hailing from Smyrna, Ga., Locher said she has completed the Ironman 70.3 in Augusta three times, and she recently completed a full Ironman in Canada. At the Augusta event, she finished in four hours and 56 minutes and was No. 1 in her division, but she said nothing compares to completing her very first Ironman. “Oh, it was heaven,” Locher said. “It was just about going
through the pearly gates. It was perfect.” Jason Tassin, a competitor from New Orleans, said he had been preparing for four months and was hoping to make a good time in his age group, but things went wrong on the bicycle course. “The side of the tire was worn, so the tube was pushing through the steel belting, and it was coming out on the side of the tire,” he said. “It was about to blow, so I really had three flats in the first 10 miles.” While waiting to rejoin his training partner for the rest of the race, Tassin explained why he thinks people decide to compete in the Ironman. “You’ve got what I like to call ‘competers,’ and you got ‘completers,’” he said. “The top
New Jags add MLB expertise
jbarry3@aug.edu
Jaguars set for special scrimmage By Rebecca Perbetsky chief reporter
By Rebecca Perbetsky chief reporter The GRU Augusta baseball program continues to switch up the coaching staff this offseason with the addition of two new assistant coaches. Mark Mortimer, an assistant coach for the GRU Augusta baseball team, and Robbie Wachman, the pitching coach for the team, were officially added to the coaching staff Sept. 9. Even though both Mortimer and Wachman are new to the Jaguars, Jason Eller, the head coach of the baseball team, said they will bring experience to the team from playing at the highest level of baseball. “Morti and I played together in College at Georgia State University, and he was a fantastic player,” Eller said. “He has a high baseball IQ.” Mortimer started his journey to the majors during his time at a Division-I program, and from there Mortimer said he was drafted into the major leagues and played for the Atlanta Braves organization from 1997 until 2001. After his severe injury, Mortimer said he took a position on the Braves coaching staff. “I spent two years coaching,” Mortimer said. “Then I began coaching high school ball, at Parkview High School, for four years.” Mortimer has brought his experience and knowledge of the game from every level. From high school and college to professional baseball, Mortimer said he is bringing everything he has learned throughout his 22 years of experience on the baseball diamond. “My biggest asset is hitting,” Mortimer said. “I am going to work with the
5 percent that are going to be competing against themselves and other people, and then you got the majority of the people that do these races that are just here for the personal experience and the completion of it.” Though Tassin said Sunday was a disappointing race for him due to the difficulties with his bike, he said he would be OK because it was not a milestone. Tassin said nothing could compare to when he completed his first Ironman race. “I cried when I completed my first one because it was a milestone for me,” he said. “I lost 75 pounds a couple years ago doing Triathlons, you know training in the sport, and (a previous Augusta Ironman 70.3) was actually my first one.”
REBECCA PERBETSKY | STAFF
Robbie Wachman, the pitching coach, gives advice to some players during a team scrimmage.
hitters here. I was a pretty good catcher, so I will be working with the catchers and also the infielders too.” Ryan Kahn, a catcher on the team, said the main difference of Mortimer’s particular position is there is a person who can watch what they do and analyze them. “It is more critiquing during gamestyle situations rather than just running us through a lot of drill,” Kahn said. Mortimer is not the only assistant coach who will be bringing experience to the field in the 2014 season. Wachman, the new pitching coach, is also bringing some experience from the majors as well. “I played 3½ years with the (Cincinati) Reds, and then I played for Texas (Rangers) for two,” Wachman said. Eller said Wachman was already in place here in Augusta, running a travel team called The Best Nine. “People were sending their top-tier pitchers to work with him to get better,” Eller said. “Guys that were some of the top pitchers in the area that were potential draft guys were going to him, taking lessons and trying to get better. He really improved their draft stock and elevated their game on the mound.” Wachman also brings balance to the
coaching staff by bringing more intensity and fire to the field, Eller said. “He has a demeanor which is different than mine and Mark’s,” Eller said. “We are more laid back type of individuals and Robbie is very intense. He is aggressive with these guys and we needed that to kind of counteract some of the laid back environment that Mark and I can.” The pitchers have also seen a difference in the way Wachman coaches, said Senior Pitcher Scott Shipman. Wachman emphasis is on throwing low pitches. “He focuses on throwing strikes and eliminating walks,” Shipman said. “Mainly just keeping the ball down because when you leave the ball elevated it tends to get hit a little bit harder.” The biggest difference between professional baseball and college is in professional baseball it is your job, and the coaches aren’t going to micromanage you, Wachman said. “I think what I am doing differently is making them think for themselves and listen to their bodies and dictate what program they do from day to day,” Wachman said. “I am outing more in their court to make them think more for themselves and not to just be like robots where we push buttons.” rperbets@gru.edu
The GRU Augusta baseball team is bringing the offseason to a close with a chicken and waffles scrimmage. The scrimmage will be held Oct. 20 at 1 p.m. against the USC Salkahatchie Indians at Lake Olmstead Stadium. Jason Eller, the Jaguars head coach, said Nana G’s, a popular chicken and waffles food truck from Atlanta, will be at the game serving items from their famous menu. The first 25 students who come to the scrimmage and show a valid student ID will receive a free plate from Nana G’s, Eller said. The event is free to the public and gates will open at 12:30 p.m. rperbets@aug.edu
REBECCA PERBETSKY | STAFF
Freshman Catcher Joey Szwec and his team watch a scrimmage from the dugout.