GEORGIA REGENTS UNIVERSITY
www.grubellringer.com
VOLUME 57, ISSUE 14
TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2015
Student fees to rise with tuition
Group explains campus changes By Haley Harris news editor
By Shellie Smitley news editor The Board of Regents has approved a 5.5 percent tuition increase to take effect fall 2015 along with a combined increase of $45 in student activity fees. Gretchen Caughman, executive vice president for Academic Affairs and provost at Georgia Regents University, said the increase in students’ undergraduate rates per semester will range between $221 for Health Sciences students on the high end, down to continuing education students at the Summerville campus with a $134 increase. “We actually have a fairly complicated undergraduate tuition scale, because each of our entering cohorts have been at a slightly different level,” Caughman said. “We are holding students who are enrolled the longest, especially those that were already enrolled at the consolidation. They are being held to a lower tuition. They are subject to those yearly increases like the 5.5 percent this year, but they are not being scaled up as the entering classes … We also have a Health Sciences undergraduate rate that has been historically higher than Summerville.” Charles Sutlive, vice chancellor of communications of the Board of Regents, said that as part of Georgia Regents’ “journey” each year, the assessment and the plans for tuition will be designed on the needs of the institution. He said that periodic tuition increases can be expected. Caughman said even though enrollment at Georgia Regents has declined since the consolidation, the university is trying to expand seeTUITION PAGE 2
Maj. Gen. Perry Smith, local veteran and author, was the guest speaker April 2 at the strategic management class taught by Anthony Robinson, assistant professor. “I was just delighted to have him come speak to our group,” Robinson said. “He is such a fascinating person with a lot of under-
Shellie Smitley | Staff
Gen. Perry Smith speaks on leadership.
see CRUZ on PAGE 2
see CHANGES on PAGE 2
Anthony Garcia | Staff
Sen. Ted Cruz (R) and his wife attend the Aiken Republican Club April 4 and draw the largest audience in the club’s history.
US presidential candidate
Ted cruises to S.C.
By Jessica Sager & Anthony Garcia copy editor sports editor
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Sen.Ted Cruz (R) spoke to a sold-out Newberry Hall during an Aiken Republican Club luncheon April 4. After the luncheon, The Bell Ringer interviewed Cruz about his views on education, including his wish to shut down the Department of Education. “It is because education is so important that it shouldn’t be governed by unelected bureaucrats in Washington, that it should be instead at the state or local level,” Cruz said. “And what we’ve seen right now is the Department of Education has grown into a bloated bureaucracy where what’s happening is they’re putting red tape, they’re putting rules on local school districts throughout the country, making it harder for teachers to teach and harder for students to learn.” Cruz also said he is “passionately opposed” to the Common Core State Standards Initiative.
Leadership:
By Shellie Smitley news editor
made the rates more manageable,” he said. “But the real challenge for students coming out of school is right now there are millions of young people who are coming out and they can’t find a job, and they’ve gotten all these loans. And when they come out of school, they’re not able to get work.” Cruz said the best thing to do for college students would be to have an economy where small businesses are “growing and prospering” and offering jobs. “It wasn’t too long ago that young people came out of school and they had two, three, four job offers, and choices and options,” he said. Tony Coffaro Jr., president of the Aiken Republican Club, said he met LaDonna Ryggs, state lead of Cruz’s campaign in South Carolina, at the South Carolina National Security Action Summit. “She was very instrumental in getting him to come to Aiken, so it was my contact with her that brought him to Aiken,” Coffaro said. “What I didn’t know was that it was going to be so soon, because
Over the next 10 years, the Health Sciences, Forest Hills and Summerville campuses will be undergoing some major changes in order to improve upon the current efforts to unify the post-merger university. Campus Master Plan town hall meetings were held on the Georgia Regents University Summerville and Health Sciences campuses April 1 to 3. The meetings were open to the public and were conducted by the U.S. architecture, engineering and planning firm SmithGroupJJR. Jennifer Smith, assistant vice president for planning, design and construction of Georgia Regents, began the April 1 meeting and said she anticipated and encouraged feedback from the people this project will affect. She said the plans discussed at the time were not final. “I guess if I could do anything (it would be) to reiterate that this is very much in draft form,” Smith said. “In the next couple months we will refine these concepts and we will come (present again) … in a series of town halls with final plans.” Douglas Kozma, SmithGroupJJR campus planning practice co-leader and registered landscape architect, said the goal is to make the university the best it can be. “Today is about the future,” Kozma said. “And so what we’re talking about is intended to place us about a decade or more into the future. This is about making Georgia Regents University something special in the state of Georgia. We’ll focus a lot on place-making,
So I know firsthand what it’s like to spend 20 years paying off your school loans, and I understand that struggle. --Sen. Ted Cruz
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Cruz said he understands what it’s like for college students who have loans, because he took out $100,000 in school loans. “So I know firsthand what it’s like to spend 20 years paying off your school loans, and I understand that struggle,” he said. “It would be far better to have school loans administered at the state level where you can block grant the money, send the money there so the school loans are still available for students, but take the power out of the unelected bureaucrats in Washington and bring it back to the people instead.” Cruz was asked how, if elected, he plans to help students. “Congress just came together with student loan reform that passed with big bipartisan margins, and that addressed the rates and
Former CNN analyst instructs students on strategic management and business ethics
standing and knowledge, and he has written, obviously, a number of books. He speaks to a number of groups at larger universities, so to have (him) come and speak to my class was a huge joy and benefit for the students.” Smith said people are not necessarily born into leadership, but that good leadership skills are learned through a combination of education, experience and example. His experiences, he said, include retiring as a major general in the Air Force, graduating from West Point United States Military Academy, earning a Ph.D. in international relations from Columbia University, being an active combat pilot in Vietnam, commandant of the National War College, former military analyst for television and radio stations, as well as a former top Air Force planner at the Pentagon. He has visited more than 100 nations across the globe, written six books and is active in a number of community organizations. “It is almost like Socrates sitting under a tree, just listening to him talk about what he has done,” Robinson said. “But he also does
a great job of not just telling you about what he has done, but packaging it in such a way so that it is informative for you moving forward. It is not just descriptive of what he has done, but it is prescriptive.” Keith Bates, visitor services coordinator of the Augusta Museum of History, said Smith is an outstanding, honorable and brave man and that Augusta is lucky to have such a prestigious person with worldly connections and expertise as a member of the community. Kim Elle, executive director of Augusta Warrior Project, said Smith is a board member of the organization, which focuses on veterans. “From a leadership prospective, I think that he is a collaborator and a team builder,” Elle said. “I think that he leads by example, for sure, (and) he is loyal to the mission and loyal to the community. Smith said his book “Rules and Tools for Leaders” addresses the problems that arise in developing strong leadership skills in a technological age. “Because there are so many electronic ways to stay in touch, so many electronic things that di-
Shellie Smitley | Staff
Gen. Perry Smith signs a copy of his book for Heidi Shaw, senior accounting major.
vert you from being focused, the big problem with young people today is they are incredibly superficial,” Smith said. “They don’t read books; they don’t get deep into issues. They jump around and they pick up something from the Internet or they get a tweet or a Facebook kind of thing and they are dealing with levels of superficiality, where if you look back 30 to 40 years ago when you didn’t have all of that stuff, people had more of a tendency to go deep into issues and read
and study.” The book, he said, also covers the importance of a leader’s ability to be sensitive to cultural differences and to engage in the art of listening. Smith moved to Augusta in 1990 and said he considers it his hometown. He received an honorary key to the city and a road named after him is under construction. He is married to the daughter of Jimmie Dyess. sbarb@gru.edu
GRU Tennis
Paint Palooza
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Students gather at campus paint party
Campus activities raise awareness
Seniors win final home match
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TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2015
NEWS www.grubellringer.com
The voice of
Georgia Regents University EDITORIAL STAFF adviser MATTHEW BOSISIO mbosisio@gru.edu editor-in-chief RICHARD ADAMS radams99@gru.edu copy editor JESSICA SAGER jschucke@gru.edu ADRIENNE HAYES adhayes@gru.edu ERICA RUGGLES eruggles@gru.edu news editor HALEY HARRIS hharris9@gru.edu SHELLIE SMITLEY sbarb@gru.edu arts & life editor AMY THORNE athorne@gru.edu JOSHUA ADAMS jadams35@gru.edu sports editor ANTHONY GARCIA agarci11@gru.edu TIMOTHY HOWARD thowar20@gru.edu chief reporter HALEY HARRIS hharris9@gru.edu production manager JORDAN BARRY jbarry3@gru.edu ANNA DRESSER adresser@gru.edu production assistant JAMIE SAPP jsapp270@gru.edu staff writers SIDNEY FOWLER sfowler@gru.edu TAYLOR MITCHELL tmitch22@gru.edu LESLIE ANNE WIEDMEIER lwienmei@gru.edu contributors JORDAN WILLIAMS jwill143@gru.edu NEIL DAVENPORT cdavenp3@gru.edu cartoonist DAQUAN MIDDLETON dmiddle6@gru.edu
taken from gru website (left) and Haley Harris | staff (right)
The Master Plan will see the relocation of the math and sciences college from Summerville to Health Sciences (left); SmithGroupJJR displays building plans April 1 (right).
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student experience, residence life and academic and research endeavors.” Mary Jukuri, SmithGroupJJR senior principal for planning and design and registered landscape architect, focused on the Summerville campus and said her team took into consideration issues such as historical buildings, the Summerville neighborhood and parking availability while planning the changes. The first things to do, she said, would be renovations. “What jumps out at us is the Science Hall, the Reese library, Washington Hall and to some degree the Fine Arts Center,” Jukuri said. “(These are) the ones that really could use a little bit more renova-
tion and when you think of the fact that this is a 10-year master plan over time, what could be a building that is in decent shape today, without budgeting for its renovation or repairs and maintenance in the future, could start to go downhill.” Kozma said the prediction for the university in the next 10 years includes expansion along with rennovations. “In the next decade our model expects about 1,400 more students within Georgia Regents University,” Kozma said. “That’s positive. That’s exciting. We’re modeling for that need both in terms of space, in terms of quality of the space and of physical proximity. It is putting Georgia Regents University on a path migrating away from a community environment and migrating towards a resident life environment.” Jukuri said the expansion diffi-
Club brings fight to fore By Taylor Mitchell staff writer
April is filled with on-campus initiatives and activities to recognize National Sexual Assault Awareness Month. “This and October are always our most active months,” said Semone Sevion, president of the Women’s Studies Student Association at Georgia Regents University. “We love to help raise awareness and being that this is right up our alley, we really love to show our support during this month in particular.” Sevion said a successful event this month was the Clothesline Project. She said that attendees were given T-shirts to decorate to show support for survivors of sexual violence. While decorating the
shirts, attendees shared their stories with each other. “I really want us to expand the knowledge and, most of all, I want us to grow in numbers,” Sevion said. “The more people, the more support and a supportive student body and faculty when it comes to something as important as sexual assault and the awareness of sexual assault is optimal. Especially on a college campus, this is a place where most sexual assaults happen. Having a whole month dedicated to this nationally is amazing, but on-campus events that are easily accessible to students is what really makes people comfortable coming forth when bad things do happen, because they know the campus cares.” Sevion said that the work to
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$30 for the athletics fee, a $5 increase in student health fees and a $10 increase per semester in technology fees. “One of the important things to remember is that they support what are called auxiliary services,” she said. “And so these are, specifically, if you want to think of them as businesses, so to speak, that we cannot pay for with state dollars.”
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programs and develop opportunities for students that research institutions are expected to have in place, requiring more state funding and higher tuition. Caughman said that the Board of Regents approved an increase of
sbarb@gru.edu
Shellie Smitley | Staff
Cruz
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commons and the relocation of the College of Science and Mathematics could create a way for students and faculty with different disciplines to connect. “No matter what your major is, you’ll be taking classes at Health Sciences,” Jukuri said. “... if you’re an undergrad, you’re going to be taking classes here at the Summerville campus. So there’s this idea of thinking of GRU now as one university instead of one campus versus another campus. We’re hoping that this move will not only free up space but also create a cultural shift.” She said the need for renovation and expansion is crucial, but that the team is also looking into making smaller changes. Jukuri said they also considered rethinking food services and expanding dining options.
see FIGHT on PAGE 3
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culties on the Summerville campus, in particular, are the physical development constraints such as space. She said there would not be an option to take away parking areas, for example, without replacing them, and so a solution could be replacing a college instead. “In order for all four colleges to grow,” Jukuri said. “We are suggesting that one of the colleges move. And that would be the College of Science and Mathematics. We are suggesting that they be relocated to the Health Sciences campus. That frees up the Science Hall building plus some space in Allgood Hall and that opening, that empty chair, allows us to then fill the future growth for Pamplin, for Hull College of Business and for (the College of) Education into that space that’s been opened up.” Jukuri said this new space could also be used as an academic
Jessica Sager | staff
Men prepare to run in heels Saturday as part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
he announced his candidacy and ten days later he’s in Aiken, South Carolina. I was really floored by that, because it’s rare that we can pull that off.” Candidates usually visit cities like Greenville or Hilton Head before coming to Aiken, he said. Cruz’s visit was the most attended luncheon in the history of the Aiken Republican Club. Coffaro said this made “a statement and a half.”
Crime Log
Ryggs said that each day she gets five to 10 written requests for Cruz to attend an event. “He stays (at an event) till the bitter end,” she said. “If somebody wants to shake his hand, he’s going to be there and he’s going to shake their hand. They’ll take their pictures, you know - he does that. Not all candidates do that. A lot of them, they’ll say their words, they come off the stage, they leave and they’re out of there. And he doesn’t do that, and I think he understands it’s a grassroots campaign.” jschucke@gru.edu agarci11@gru.edu
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Undergrads create academic journal By Leslie Anne Wiedmeier staff writer
Georgia Regents University is planning to begin work on an undergraduate research journal that will include research produced by all departments on campus. Khadijah Alexander, senior psychology major, said she noticed the college didn’t have a undergraduate research journal. “A lot of research universities have their own undergraduate research journal, and I found that to be lacking here,” Alexander said. When the Center for Undergraduate Research and Scholarship office told her the university did not have an undergraduate research journal, Alexander said, she decided to start one. Abigail Drescher, program coordinator for CURS, said she had been thinking about the lack of an undergraduate research journal at Georgia Regents. “Khadijah reached out to me, and it was something that I had been thinking about trying to get started here since I started working here at GRU about a year ago,” Drescher said. “So, I was really excited to hear from a student that they wanted to be involved.” Alexander said that the journal will be based primarily on the research that the undergraduate students are doing.
Fight
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spread awareness continues yearround. She said there is always something to do and voices to be heard. She said that she believes that the programming and steps being taken to raise awareness are great, but they have to continue for people to really start to take notice. Allison Foley, associate profes-
“Typically with undergraduate research, the lack of experience means that a lot of people whose work gets done won’t get submitted to the big journals,” Alexander said. “And I think this is a good opportunity to just get that practice (and) show people what you’re doing. Even if it’s not world recognition, it’s still significant.” Alexander said she hopes that the journal will link all of the departments. She said she would like to know what kind of research is being done in all of the departments in the university, but that it is difficult because of the lack of connection between the departments. “This is going to be a student-run journal with assistance from faculty and myself,” Drescher said. Drescher said that the faculty she has spoken with so far seem excited about the journal. Alexander said she hopes that the journal will be accessible both online and in print, with a copy in each building, making it easy for students to access. The main focus is to link all of the departments together and make the research of each department easily available for people in different departments. “I think having a hard copy on hand to show people is more fulfilling than to say, ‘Go to this website,’” Alexander said. “We’d like to have an event each year when the
journal comes out, and that’s how we get it out there.” Stephen Safford, a senior kinesiology major, said he thinks that the journal is a great way to link all of the departments together. “I think it’s a great idea, allowing students and their mentors the ability and privilege to stay up to date with each other’s research topics, and to get feedback from their peers,” Safford said. Drescher said she hopes the journal will be primarily student-run. She said that in the starting phase they will be looking for participation from sophomores and juniors, but anyone who would like to participate is welcome. Safford said he thinks the journal would have been helpful in his earlier college years as an undergrad. Though it wouldn’t be of much use to him this late in his college career, he said he still hopes to use the journal as a way to follow the research of his peers. Alexander said she hopes that the journal will be a good marketing tool to show prospective students that Georgia Regents has its own journal and to really show students what the university has to offer in the way of undergraduate research. Alexander said the goal is to have the first edition of the undergraduate academic journal available by spring 2016.
sor at Georgia Regents, is a member of the Sexual Assault Awareness Month Committee. “One of the major events that we have been doing for almost 19 years is the Take Back the Night Rally,” Foley said. “We have different speakers who are related to the criminal justice system in some kind of way. Judges, attorneys and law enforcement come and speak as well as survivors (that) come and give testimony. This way, people can actually hear from real life
people what they went through and what it was like to recover from it.” Foley said that in addition to the rally, several other events will take place as awareness month continues. Some of these include the showing of two films; one shown at Paine College and the other at Health Sciences Campus. Murton said there is a lot of hard work and preparation that goes into making sure awareness is raised and people benefit.
lwiedmei@gru.edu
tmitch22@gru.edu
Jamie Sapp | staff
Critical response training sessions will take place at the Christenberry Fieldhouse.
Team trains for disasters By Jamie Sapp production assistant
Richmond County Emergency Management and Critical Events Preparedness and Response at Georgia Regents University have partnered to host their first Critical Emergency Response Team training program May 7. According to a CERT document, the training consists of seven sessions that are two hours and 30 minutes each. The sessions include disaster preparedness, disaster fire suppression, disaster medical operations, light search and rescue operations, disaster psychology and team organization, and course review and disaster simulation. “We felt there was a need for the CERT program here at GRU,” Jasper Cooke, director of CEPaR, said. “So, we partnered with Richmond County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) because they’re already providing CERT training in Richmond County and asked them what was the probability or the possibility of conducting a CERT training specifically for GRU faculty, staff and students.” Cooke said both organizations want to achieve the necessary number of volunteers. “So if we do have events that happen at GRU, that group of volunteers can help us mitigate those
events and also events which occur in our community,” Cooke said. Emergency management specialist for EMA, Sharon Bennett, is the CERT coordinator and she said there is a purpose to the CERT program. “The whole point of this program is to help take care of yourself, your immediate family and your immediate neighbors until first responders arrive,” she said. Bennett said participants would learn to put their preparedness kits together, put out fires, what to say and what not say to someone during the time of a disaster, and other skills. Mie Lucas, disaster preparedness coordinator at Richmond County Emergency Management, said the participants that will be trained will be able to use their training for various events. “It’s a universal training, I think that’s a good word for it,” she said. “So, it’s beneficial to everybody. “ The CERT training program will run through June 18 on Thursdays at the Christenberry Fieldhouse from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., according to the GReport. Bennett said the deadline for participants to sign up for the program is May 1. Lucas said people can register at the CEPaR office. jsapp270@gru.edu
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TUESDAY, APRIL 21 , 2015
OPINION www.grubellringer.com
editorial
Dear Future President
P
ersonal Ad: University seeks dedicated individual open to compromise and with no qualms about having a long-term relationship with an intelligent, hard-working partner. Male or female, the door to the presidency swings both ways – but be warned, if you are to be called “President,” then you must earn it. First off, good listening is a requirement. There is more to this school than just a great set of medical programs. A love of music, art and all things creative flourishes here. Proper attention must be paid to every aspect of this very beautiful entity called Georgia Regents University. What’s in a name anyway? Well, there’s a lot of history there, but we’ll get into that sooner or lat-
er. All you need to know, if you’re interested, is Georgia Regents is the result of two very different, but equally proud, families coming together, sometimes against the will of some of those parties involved. Sounds complicated, doesn’t it? Not your bag? Just keep in mind that there are many people invested in the success of this merger. You have the opportunity to come in as a relatively neutral party. The perspective you bring to this occasionally divided house could be just what is needed. Don’t think this will all be heavy lifting; there will be plenty of fun. The likelihood of attending championship basketball games in your own (new) backyard is high – and you’ll find there are plenty of other sports to root for.
The Summerville campus also happens to be one of the central hubs of the artistic community in Augusta. So, a Renaissance woman (or man) would definitely feel right at home here. How willing are you to embrace a new hometown? Embrace Augusta, and we are certain Augusta will embrace you. You should be unafraid of making commitments; this isn’t the kind of university that needs a celebrity appearance, a hot and heavy five-minute fling. It needs a loving touch, someone who will sit by the phone during the long and doubtful nights; someone who can admit mistakes; someone who can talk tough and yet act gently. This university needs a leader who thinks of the university first.
Maybe it’s a lot to ask of someone you’ve just met, but what is life without adventure? This is a long-term relationship we’re talking about – through thick and thin. Maybe you’ve never done this before, taken the plunge and dove in? Maybe you still believe that perfect fit exists and are still looking? Finally, don’t try to change
who this school is. Slow down to see all that is of value here and all it promises for the future. If you don’t, someone else will. Be brave. Take a chance. Here’s looking forward to meeting you, possibly maybe, the next president of Georgia Regents University.
XOXO, The Bell Ringer
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
Students share expectations T
I
he qualities that I look for in a leader are an enduring work ethic, selflessness, excellence in their craft and being “big-picture oriented.” The relationship between followers and leaders is built upon trust, and these qualities will ensure both parties have confidence in one another. In order to build trust, I believe that the next president should be a presence on campus. This would include dedicating time to focus groups, developing relationships with various departments and participating in student-organized events.The next president should take on projects to better both the students and the local community. I would also like to see more leadership activities and training for the student body. I feel this is imperative to the development of college students because the lessons learned through these activities will assist toward helping them achieve their goals. Another project I would like to see is the incorporation of philanthropic projects between campuses. For instance, I would love to have athletic events that promote healthy living, involve the community and also raise funds for philanthropic organizations.
feel like the next president should focus more on the liberal arts and business colleges. The focus does not have to be completely on them, but on research programs like CURS and programs like Model UN that those colleges offer students to help them have a better developed plan of action for their career. The next president needs to have a perspective on the community. I think many universities and colleges that are in the center of a small town tend to have connections, roots and unity with the people and businesses in that area. Community creates a sense of belonging that students here need. They need to build a relationship with the organizations on campus (like SGA, CREW and Greek life) and recognize achievements clubs make. Many of these clubs and organizations are student-run to give other students the opportunity to enhance their learning experience and to network for career outlook. Overall, the next president needs to establish a presence on both campuses and try to unify us rather than merge us.
Rebeccah Feldhaus Junior, business management and sociology Current vice president, Undergraduate Student Government Association
Darian Abenes Junior, psychology
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would like for our next president to have experience with college, not only as it concerns obtaining a college degree, but also in knowing the struggles of college students. I would like for our next president to interact more with the students, instead of just coming out of his office once in a while for show. I want our next president to try to find more programs that can be added to the school to help us reach success, and find a possible way to limit some of the costs, such as food and tuition. I feel that if our next president communicates more with some of the students across all ethnicities, he or she will understand the change wanted by students without simply assuming what it is that students want. I want our next president to be a go-getter: someone who is not afraid to act on what they believe. Our next president should also know how to respect differences, especially since this school is filled with diversity. Aysia B. Armstrong Freshman, computer science
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question of great importance is, “Who will be the next university president?” No one can be president of a higher education institution without having honesty and integrity. The following traits also have to be taken into account: experience, organizational skills and previous working record. Any person should be evaluated according to
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ith Georgia Regents University conducting a nationwide search for its new president, it’s likely that Dr. Ricardo Azziz’s successor won’t have local roots - and that’s OK. The next president doesn’t necessarily have to be one of us, but that person needs to make us feel like he or she is one of us. From his infamous suggestion that Augusta lacked a “cool factor” to his insistence on keeping the city name out of the consolidated university’s title, Azziz created the
these principles. After the merger, GRU represents the union of a medical school with a learning university. The future president should focus on deepening ties and cooperation between those two branches of GRU. Furthermore, he or she should ensure the growth of the university by adding more master’s and Ph.D. programs, especially in the social sciences. It would be
impression among many locals that his heart wasn’t in the Garden City. While such a perception wasn’t entirely fair, Azziz’s words and actions made him a source of division among alumni, students, faculty and the local community at a time when the newly formed university should have been a beacon of civic pride. Yet in spite of the frequent criticisms lobbed in Azziz’s direction, it must be said that he is leaving the university in good hands. The search committee for the new president will be able to select
nice to have our own university press like other major universities. Also, the most recent textbooks must find a place on library bookshelves. Finally, it would be nice if the new president would make it a priority to improve and modernize transportation between campuses. Giorgi Khatiashvili Graduate assistant with the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program
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from a deep pool of supremely qualified candidates who are eager to lead GRU’s ascension into a premier research institution. The high level of interest in the position is a testament to the strong foundation laid by Azziz and his cabinet. Here’s hoping the new president can build on his predecessor’s achievements while better connecting with a community that has yet to fully embrace GRU’s enormous potential.
John-Michael Garner Graduate assistant with Master of Arts in Teaching program
n my opinion, GRU needs a uniting figurehead to lead the university. Georgia Regents University is an interesting campus that is a result of the merging of a liberal arts university and a research/medical university. The next president of our university needs to be able to appreciate the beauty embedded in the differences in both campuses and work
ne of the biggest challenges our next president will face is bringing cohesion and a stronger sense of identity to the diverse conglomerate that is now Georgia Regents University. This individual must strike the delicate balance of respecting the history and tradition of each component while leading the way toward increased cooperation, collaboration and community. This unenviable but essential task will require engaging with a wide range of faculty, staff and students and synthesizing coherent plans based on their input. Ideally, our president will craft a vision for our future: an institution where anyone can pursue their academic and research interests in a stimulating and nurturing environment. GRU is at an exciting juncture, and I believe strong leadership from our new president will give direction and focus to our bursting potential.
to build a positive bridge that would unite us under one goal: Give students the opportunity to receive an education that is well-rounded, rigorous and equips them with the skills needed to become exemplary leaders. It is very important that the majority of our 10,000-student population can relate to the person we decide to call president and that a person who holds such high office
Kevin Robertson M.D. Candidate President, GRU Equality
is well aware of the needs of both campuses. The future president should begin with striving to build a connection between the campuses on a student and faculty level. Dear Future President of GRU, I admonish you to help us help each other. Amma Sarfo Psychology, junior year 2015-2016 President, Undergraduate Student Government Association
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Students paint the night with joy
DJ Jameson (left) plays music spanning over several different genres and throws glow-in-the-dark paint on a crowd of students.
By Jamie Sapp production assistant The Jaguar Production Crew held its first Paint Palooza at the University Village April 1. At Paint Palooza, the majority of the audience wore white T-shirts or old, colorful shirts, paired with shorts or jeans. From 9 p.m. to midnight, students and guests came together on the main field of the on-campus apartment complex of Georgia Regents University, putting paint on each other, as well as dancing and singing to music played by a DJ. Jessie Edge, a sophomore double majoring in political science and sociology, is the special events director of The CREW. She said The CREW needed to do newer things like Paint Palooza. “I think it’s something that our events need,” Edge said. “I feel like it’s something new, and our student
body needs something new.” Edge said The CREW went to the National Association for Campus Activities to make the event happen. “We found this company called Degy Entertainment,” she said. “So they have multiple people. They have famous people. They have stuff like this … So we just decided that we should bring it to campus.” As for Paint Palooza at University Village Apartments, Edge said there were a lot of factors that went into finding a great location to host the event at. “We wanted to use our budget wisely,” she said. “So we thought about if we had it at the UV, we wouldn’t have to pay for multiple shuttles. We only had to pay for one to go to the Health Sciences campus and Residence IV.” Edge said The CREW decided to have the event outside because there was not a large facility that
Modest Mouse
finally releases CD By Joshua Adams arts & life editor After eight long years of touring, recording mishaps and the loss of founding bassist Eric Judy, indie rock icon Modest Mouse released its sixth studio album on March 17. The 15-track album is titled “Strangers to Ourselves,” and it’s definitely a fresh release for the band. While the record showcases new instrumentation and slight style changes, it still retains those Modest Mouse qualities that we love: creepy note bending guitar riffs for days, hard-hitting drum beats that drive each song and Isaac Brock’s passionate, sometimes guttural vocals. Judy’s grooving basslines are definitely missed, however. The album starts off with a very mellow track that shares its name with the title. The song makes very good use of a cello, which complements the clean guitars very nicely. The first single off the record, “Lampshades on Fire,” picks the pace up immediately with reggae-esque electric piano chord progression. The mood of the album continues to fluctuate in this manner throughout its tracks. A lot of the album features
musical tones that remind me of being at the beach, often invoking a carefree mood. One prime example of this is the mallet percussion on “Ansel.” Other songs can be menacing, such as “Shit in Your Cut” and “Pistol (A. Cunanan, Miami, FL. 1996).” Overall, the album takes a listener on a moody rollercoaster, musically speaking, and showcases Modest Mouse’s ability to write pop rock hits and weirder-than-ever indie tracks. While the musical composition of the album is great, the lyrical composition is very meaningful to me. The overall message of the album’s words seems to draw on something Brock finds very important: the human race and how we’ve all been doing it wrong. This is a message I feel like everyone is aware of, but we find ourselves ignoring. One of the strongest examples of this message is in “Lampshades on Fire”: “We’re the human race/ We’re goin’ to party out of this place and then move on … The air’s on fire so we’re movin’ on/ Better find another one ‘cause this one’s done.” The song seems to draw attention to how the human race has polluted the earth and how we’re reluctant to make any changes to stop it.
jadams35@gru.edu
would let anyone throw paint inside. Junior clinical psychology major Mekeia Carswell said she enjoyed the event and was excited to participate in it as a new associate member of The CREW. “It’s such a pleasure,” she said. “For one, it’s definitely an honor to be even associated with them.” Carswell said the music at the event seemed to appeal to the audience. “It’s so good,” Carswell said. “It’s very versatile. It’s no one, set genre.” Edge said the students and guests used glow paint, which had many other qualities. “So it’s like gluten-free, it’s like peanut-free,” Edge said. “It meets the majority of allergy requirements … It’s all washable, and it’s also biodegradable, so it doesn’t hurt the grass. It doesn’t hurt the trees, things like that.”
Jamie Sapp | staff
Students covered in paint dance and hang out during The CREW-sponsored event.
Esther Owusu, a freshman medicinal chemistry major, said Paint Palooza made her speechless. “It’s awesome,” she said. “Like, I had so much fun. I was starting to … I don’t know what to say.” Owusu said the event gave her the opportunity to meet other students and guests. “I met so much people,” she said. “Like, people that usually don’t talk started talking and dancing. And I was like, ‘Dang they can dance.’ It was fun.” Owusu said she would love for The CREW to make Paint Palooza occur next year. “They have to do this next year,” she said. “It’s a must. They should do this next year.” Latreye Waters, a junior early childhood education major, said he had never been to any event like Paint Palooza and liked the atmosphere of the event. “This was neat,” he said. “This
was great, like it’s fun.” Waters said Georgia Regents needed to have more events like Paint Palooza on campus. Junior psychology major Anna Davies said she would like to have more events at University Village. “The UV is too dead.” she said. “I thought the concept of a music paint party was unique and fun.” Davies said the event helped her to relieve stress from college and have fun before spring break began. Edge said the students and guests enjoyed the music paint event. “I think this is an event that college students can enjoy,” Edge said. “After having a stressful week, and right before spring break, it is something to kind of let go and kind of enjoy. I think that (The CREW) should, as a union board, should hold more events like this.” jsapp270@gru.edu
Event welcomes writers By Jessica Sager & Jamie Sapp copy editor production assistant
The third annual Writers Weekend at Summerville began Friday with a visit from 2014 National Book Award winner Phil Klay and concluded Saturday. On Friday, Klay read excerpts from his short story collection, “Redeployment.” Klay, a veteran of the U.S. Marines, said he wrote his book after serving in Iraq and returning to civilian life. “It’s very peculiar to be at war and come back to a country where there’s little public sense of a war,” he said. While in Iraq, Klay said, he took notes on things that interested him but didn’t write about the war. The notes helped a little in writing “Redeployment,” but research played a bigger role. “You’re exploring something, and you explore it through research,” he said. “You explore through talking to people. You explore through thinking through your own memories, and you explore through making things up, making things up to put those ideas under pressure so you get at something more vital or true that allows you to explore something from a new angle.” Three authors - Wiley Cash, Aja Monet and Klay - were fea-
JESSica Sager | staff
Phil Klay speaks to the audience about his award-winning book, “Redeployment.”
tured presenters, and all of them gave lectures or readings Saturday. “(Monet is) a spoken word artist, so it’s a little bit different than writing it down on paper,” said Keaton Thurmond, a junior majoring in creative writing. “She’s a great performer, and she’s not afraid to get up on stage and bare her soul to other people.” New York Times best-selling author Cash said he realized he was a “terrible poet” when he got to college. “But I liked to write, and I liked to read and liked to think about how words worked and how they could be used,” he said. “And so I tinkered with stories a little bit. My early stories were like rip-offs of movies I’d seen or other books I’d read. I think, you know, we learn
to write the same way we learn to speak or walk: We see somebody else doing it.” Cash said he became homesick for North Carolina after moving to Louisiana for graduate school, so he began setting his stories in North Carolina. Thurmond said the Writers Weekend brings hope to students that they can someday do what the visiting authors do. “It’s an emerging writers conference,” she said. “It’s not like we’re meeting people who have been doing this so long that they’re kind of bitter toward the process ... and not able to relate to that feeling of not getting your work published.” jschucke@gru.edu jsapp270@gru.edu
Students Caught In The Act and 499 Seats
Jessica Sager | staff
Students Caught in the Act, a showcase of plays written, directed and acted in by students, and “499 Seats,” whose cast included GRU and EGSC students, were shown at the Maxwell Theatre April 18 to 19.
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TUESDAY, APRIL 21 , 2015
Survivor speaks at memorial By Amy Thorne arts & life editor Jews and gentiles alike filled the seats of the Augusta Jewish Community Center Thursday evening in observance of the 70th Holocaust Memorial Day. The annual event, referred to as Yom Hashoah, was held by the Augusta Jewish Federation and cosponsored by the Georgia Regents University Department of Sociology, Social Work and Criminal Justice, Adas Yeshuran Synagogue, Congregation Children of Israel and the Chabad of Augusta, according to the venue’s website. Considered the “Belgian Anne Frank,” the guest speaker, Marsilla-Claire “Bebe” Hofman-Forehand, talked about her experience living in an attic for three and a half years with her family, hiding from Nazi oppression. Her nephew William Strickland is a student at Georgia Regents and invited her to speak at this year’s ceremony. Participants dressed in white shirts to represent purity and unity, said Leah Ronen, executive director of the Augusta Jewish Federation. The service began with people lighting dozens of memorial candles by the entrance of the community center, and included readings of the names of Jewish Holocaust victims from Holland, Ronen said. Those listening to the names sat in silence before the speakers took the stage. The program began with an
Amy Thorne | staff
Marsilla-Claire Hofman-Forehand talks about her time during the Holocaust.
opening prayer, proceeded by six students from Georgia Regents participating in a candle lighting ceremony, Ronen said. Each of the students from the department of sociology took turns lighting candles on a menorah, with each candle representing one of the 6 million Jews who lost their lives. This year’s opening lighting ceremony also remembered righteous gentiles to correspond with Forehand’s speech, Ronen said. The term “righteous gentile,” she said, describes a non-Jewish person who helped save Jews at a great risk to his or her own life. Sanford White, an associate professor of social work at Georgia Regents who is not Jewish, said he was invited to speak on behalf of the university. “It was an act of graciousness that they would reach out to us and ask us to come,” he said.
“I’m glad that we can be a part of (that).” After the candle lighting, Hofman-Forehand delivered her speech, chronicling her experience and the anti-Semitic prejudice Jewish people underwent during that time. She said her story is one of hundreds shared by those who also went into hiding to escape being sent to one of the concentration camps in Nazi Germany. “It’s a story that everybody should listen to, because it really happened,” Hofman-Forehand said. “All the rumors I talked about really happened.” She said the recent rise of anti-Semitism around the world and in the United States scares and upsets her. “I’m 86 years old; I can’t do anything about this anymore,” Hofman-Forehand said. “I don’t know who will and if they will. We keep yelling, ‘Not again, not
again,’ but what are you going to do about it?” She said she also had a message for those outside of the Jewish community who do not believe that the Holocaust occurred. “It could have happened to them,” Hofman-Forehand said. “(The Jews) are just the chosen people to suffer. They’ve been suffering through the ages.” She is also afraid that when her generation is gone, the memory of the Holocaust will be forgotten, she said. “It’s going to be a page or two in the history books,” Hofman-Forehand said. “I’m afraid that in a decade or two, they’re not going to talk about the Holocaust. They’re going to talk about the Holocaust like we talk about the native Indians.” The event has always been open to the public, Ronen said, because the Augusta Jewish Federation wants to help educate others about what happened to those 6 million people. “The Holocaust shouldn’t occur to any people,” she said. “It occurred to us, but we should keep it from happening to anyone.” Ronen said educating people on what happened to the Jewish people during the Holocaust gives the world the chance to prevent it from happening in the future. “The community is always welcome (to participate in the memorial),” Ronen said. “And it’s up to all of us to fight hatred wherever we find it.” athorne@gru.edu
Cinema Series features “Kumiko” Neil Davenport columnist The film, “Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter” (2015), by the Zellner Brothers, is a remarkable story that portrays the obsession of a young, jaded Japanese woman who thinks the Coen brothers’ film “Fargo” (1996) is a secret map which leads to a buried treasure. The film is an incredible portrayal of the confining effect of humanity’s societal expectations and its obsession with conformity; ultimately, it is able to excavate one individual’s cultivated claustrophobia of life. “Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter” is going to be screened at Georgia Regents University on Tuesday, April 28, at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. in the Maxwell Theatre. The theme of obsession is not only a reference to the main character’s (Kumiko) unfathomable desire to discover the snow-buried, black briefcase
full of money, first glimpsed while watching “Fargo,” but is also used as a mirror to reflect how society’s idea of conformity becomes a machinery of overproduced people who all do the same thing in order to be important. Kumiko, in a symbolic sense, is just like her caged rabbit, Bunzo, who does nothing but watch the world around him from behind black, square bars. While living in Tokyo, Kumiko herself is stuck in a cage of a societal conformity that tears her from the inside out and limits courtesy of Sean POrter Rinko Kicuchi (“Pacific Rim”) in a scene from “Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter.” her potential of fulfilling her destiny. Though the female lead is blocking the path to where she its cinematography that, as an an example of expressionism, so thinks the treasure is, the story audience member, the act of is the society she lives in. The is purposefully drowning itself turning your head away from the metaphorical mirror, so to speak, in obsession to present visually screen seems utterly impossible. of the film is to point out how the emotion Kumiko feels in Every scene is captivating. Kumiko feels about the world her long and fixated journey in Ultimately, Kumiko’s story around her. finding the buried treasure. This is one that focuses on one charFrom the people in Tokyo visual element is found in the acter, but still keeps the univerin their small, clutter-filled film’s entrancing cinematograsal theme of realizing what is apartments to the snow covphy. most important in life. ered branches in Fargo, N.D., The film is so balanced by cdavenp3@gru.edu
Banquet rewards students and faculty Shellie Smitley news editor The Student Life & Engagement office hosted the S.A.I.L. Smooth Sailing Awards annual banquet Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in the JSAC ballroom. Awards included The Captains Award, which was awarded to student leaders of the year Alexander Pan and Zenna Buchanan. The student members of the year were Jodi Brown and JoVawne Fletcher, who won The Comrade Award. Karen Mobley Belk, director of student development, said that the banquet honored undergraduate and graduate student organizations, student leaders and members, faculty members and staff members who have served as advisors and supporters of student organizations. She said that students, faculty and staff members were nominated by anyone in the university’s community, including alumni, current students, faculty and staff. “Each committee member does a ranking within each category, and based on the average rankings in each category, the winners are selected,” Mobley Belk said. Inesha Howard is a student assistant in the student life and engagement office. “It was really refreshing that students wrote about some of the nominees, some of the people that they nominated,” Howard
shellie smitley | staff
Zenna Buchanan holds The Captains Award, which is awarded to student leaders of the year.
said. “It was very empowering, and everything they wrote was very positive. So that was refreshing, and it was like getting to know some of the other students and some of the faculty members that you did not know, getting to know about them and some of the things that they do in the community. So, I thought that was really good.” Spanish professor Jana Sandarg said that this is the second time that she has won the
award, although it is the first time that she has won the award since the merger of the two campuses. “I believe these kinds of things enhance the learning of our students,” she said. “Learning is not just an hour in the classroom two days a week. That is not where the real learning goes on. I mean, it does go on, but all of these additional things kind of put into practice the things that you go over in the classroom and illustrate it.” Howard said that Sandarg was chosen because there were a lot of positive things said about her and what she has done for students, the organization and the community as an adviser and professor. “There are lots of clubs and lots of advisers and fabulous clubs and fabulous advisers, so I was really delighted that they chose me,” Sandarg said. Mobley Belk said that in addition to the awards, attendees were given an opportunity to mingle, eat and network. Individual winners were given a portfolio and group winners were given a catering certificate. All winners received a certificate of achievement, she said. “We recognize, at student life and engagement, that a great deal of our work is done through our student organizations, providing a quality lifestyle for all of GRU,” Mobley Belk said. sbarb@gru.edu
Garden City Grub Amy Thorne arts & life editor
Buona: Now serving lunch If you get your artisan coffee fix from Starbucks, you’ve been looking in the absolute wrong place. One local coffee shop that has dedicated itself to the art of making exactly what its Italian name suggests – “good coffee” – now serves lunch. Buona Caffe Artisan Roasted Coffee, located on Central Avenue, was founded and is owned and run by John and Patricia Curry. The Currys live for quality coffee and seek to share their passion with the community. As part of their mission for quality, they make as many of their menu items in-house as they possibly can, including house-made syrup, house-shredded vegetables and herbs grown on Buona’s property. Now they’re lending the same artisanship to their lunch menu. Though Buona was already selling lighter foods, such as baked goods, its customers’ requests for a more substantial food selection prompted the Currys to serve lunch options. Inspired by simple, delicious turnpike food they experienced in Italy, John and Patricia created the menu from easyto-make favorites that reflect the relaxed atmosphere. Because the Currys want to keep coffee Buona’s priority, the lunch menu is limited to five items (two paninis, two sandwiches and a wrap) all accompanied by either broccoli slaw or pasta salad. The mozzarella and Italian salami panini includes basil and balsamic vinegar on ciabatta bread. Upon first bite, the sweetness of the balsamic vinegar immediately pronounces itself, but eventually yields to the tangy, hearty salami as you chew. The pungent notes of basil periodically make welcomed appearances throughout, while the bread crunches with just the right amount of give - as not to distract from the other flavors’ textures. Half of the sandwich was enough to satisfy me. If you’re not in the mood for a hearty panini, the veggie hummus wrap is the perfect choice for those who want a lighter lunch option that pairs well with a cup of Nicaraguan coffee. Consisting of tomatoes, cucumbers, red peppers, red onions, lettuce, shredded carrots and roasted garlic hummus rolled into a spinach and herb wrap (mine was a plain white tortilla), this wrap’s simple presentation allows its vegetables’ flavor to shine. My favorite side was the broccoli slaw. This side gives the Southern culinary staple of coleslaw a refreshing makeover, made with house-shredded broccoli, carrots and red onions. While most slaw drowns its veggies in mayonnaise and vinegar, Buona’s broccoli slaw uses sparse amounts of dressing, bringing out the flavor of the main ingredients. Finely shredded to a texture similar to that of couscous, the vegetables retain a substantial crunch. The cozy atmosphere and friendly staff provide a good excuse to take a break from the Starbucks in the JSAC cafeteria. And with all lunch entrees costing under $7, considering the quality that goes into the food, you’re getting a deal that any student can enjoy. I’ll definitely be going back to try the pimento cheese and bacon panini. Let’s make it a coffee date.
athorne@gru.edu
Amy Thorne | staff
The mozzarella and Italian salami panini is among five of Buona’s new lunch offerings.
THE BELL RINGER
comics The Final Weeks
Across
Down
2.) 2014 National Book Award Winner for
1.) Conference where students, faculty, staff
Fiction for his book “Redeployment”
and guests meet and learn from emerging
4.) Author of two New York Times best-sell-
writers at the Summerville campus
ers, “A Land More Kind than Home” and
3.) Acclaimed singer-songwriter and poet,
“Dark Road to Mercy”
author of “The Black Unicorn Sings”
9.) These exams are important in terms of
5.) A showcase of student-written one-act
final class grades
plays
10.) Station where students can get some free 6.) NASA’s legendary captain of Apollo 13 tea on April 30
who will attend the Alumni Weekend
12.) Special event on April 23 for everyone to
7.) An event that Student Wellness Council
stand against sexual violence
and other organizations are sponsoring on
13.) Media organization that is hosting an
April 22 at JSAC Field and D. Douglas Bar-
interest meeting for students on April 22 in
nard Jr. Amphitheatre
JSAC Butler Meeting Room
8.) Annual celebration where people attend
14.) May 8
various events and meet alumni and guests
15.) NASA’s legendary flight control director
on both the Summervile and Health Sciences
of Apollo 13 and speaker at Alumni Weekend campuses 16.) April 28
11.) A chance for students to catch up on their
Answers for last issue: Across: 3.) BubbaWatson; 6.) grades in their classes MyrtleBeach; 7.) Traffic; 9.) TybeeIsland; 12.) Eisenhower; 13.) Texting; 15.) HortonSmith; 16.) Bogey; Down: 1.) Volunteer; 2.) MastersGolf; 4.) Money; 5.) Birdie; 8.) DrunkDriving; 10.) Eagle; 11.) Par; 14.) BobbyJones
Good luck to all students on their final exams and graduation!
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TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2015
sports www.grubellringer.com
The Hot corner Timothy Howard sports editor
Taking your first swing
A
amy thorne | STAFF
Last year’s Masters champion Bubba Watson hones his putting technique the Sunday before the tournament (left). Golfer Gary Player (front) practices teeing off on the 10th hole of Augusta National Golf Course (top right). Golfer Fuzzy Zoeller (left) shows 3-year-old spectator Charlie Elksen (right) how to putt (bottom right).
Jaguars face many injuries By Anthony Garcia sports editor
timothy howard | STAFF
Junior Gustav Anderson returns a serve against USC Aiken; the Jaguars won 6-3.
Seniors win home finale By Timothy Howard sports editor
On Senior Day, the Jaguar tennis teams wrapped up their 2015 home schedule with a clean sweep against a longtime rival. The men’s team, ranked No. 23 in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association poll, topped USC Aiken 6-3 on Thursday, according to jaguarsroar.com. Meanwhile, the Lady Jaguars, who came into Thursday’s contest at No. 48 in the ITA poll, beat USC Aiken 6-1. The men’s team improved to 12-6 overall, 3-6 in the Peach Belt Conference. The Lady Jaguars improved to 15-4 overall, 8-4 in PBC. Before the action started at Newman Tennis Center, the Jaguars’ three seniors – Aida Castany, Romain Brunie and Romain Ferreira – were honored for their contributions to GRU Augusta tennis. Head Coach Michael McGrath said that the goal was for the team to “not let it get too emotional.” “It can get very emotional, and that bleeds over into their tennis,” he said. “So we don’t do anything prior. We do it afterwards, because it is emotional. A lot of them have
been doing this since they were 5 years old. And now, this is the day where it all comes to an end. They’ll never compete again, so it is emotional.” Castany said that she never expected Senior Day to come so fast, and that it was a weird feeling. “I feel I’m not done yet, because it’s my last home match but it’s not my last match with the team,” she said. “Anyways, it’s sad because I’m not going to play on this court anymore.” Brunie said that he liked the team’s overall performance despite the quality of his own performance. “I didn’t play good, but the team is playing better, way better,” Brunie said. “They’re all fighting, because they know it’s like it’s our last day.” Despite being sad about playing her last home match, Castany said that she thought she “played the best tennis of my life this season,” and that she gave everything she had for the team. “I gave everything because I didn’t have anything else to lose,” she said. “So, you know, for me, it see TENNIS on PAGE 9
Despite losses against Flagler and USC Aiken, the GRU Augusta baseball team is pushing forward. After dropping the first two games of the three-game series with Flagler on April 3 and 4, the Jaguars picked up a win in the last game, topping the Saints 17-7 in Augusta. They were then swept by USC Aiken on the road on April 10-12, according to jaguarsroar.com. Jaguars Head Coach Jason Eller said that player injuries, which have made the season “a bit of a rollercoaster,” have been one of the main setbacks for the team. “We’ve been playing guys that are only 80 percent healthy, and everyday players having to play through some injuries and some aches and pains,” he said. “We lost Will Robertson, (who) was our best bullpen guy who was having an all-conference type season, to an elbow injury, and Clint Hardy has been banged up with hamstrings for the last three weeks.” Eller said injuries do provide an advantage for other players who are playing the rest of the games. “Injuries just give someone else an opportunity to shine and play and be successful, and it does test your depth,” he said. “Blue Sanderson has stepped up and played good for us.” Outfielder Drew Taylor said that team chemistry has also played into game performance. “We just didn’t play well as a team together,” he said. “The last game in the Flagler series, we actually just came together as a team and just got the job done.” Eller said the team was determined to defeat USC Aiken. “It’s a rivalry game for us, so there’s a lot of emotions during that series,” he said. “We really wanted
to beat them, and I think we put a little bit of extra pressure on ourselves to perform at a high level, and we got down early in game one, and really in all three games, we had to play from behind.” After the season ends in early May, the team will start recruiting for next season, Mortimer said. “We got some pretty good arms coming in, and I think that’s where we’re a little bit weak at right now,” he said. “Luckily, all the guys that are pitching for us right now are young, and they’ll all be back next year. I’m really excited for what next year holds for us.” As the end of the season approaches, Eller said the last games will be affected by how much the team gives, regardless of injuries. “If we just worry about the Jaguars, and we play our style and we go out and compete and relax, and just enjoy the game of baseball ... It’s not about Aiken, it’s about us and if we take care of our own backyard, then the game will take care of itself,” Eller said. agarci11@gru.edu
Jags hit hard •
Through 39 games, the Jaguars have scored 233 runs. They only scored 204 runs in 49 games last season.
•
In addition to improving its slugging percentage from .346 to .412, the Jaguars have hit 24 home runs this season, compared to 9 home runs last season.
•
Clint Hardy leads all Jaguars hitters with a .407 batting average, a .469 on-base percentage, and a .681 slugging percentage.
•
Drew Taylor leads all hitters with 10 home runs and 36 RBIs.
McPherson comes home By Jordan Williams contributor
jordan williams | Contributor
Coastal Carolina men’s golf head coach Kevin McPherson discusses the next shot with sophomore Ryan Carpenter.
Despite moving on to coach for his hometown university, former Jaguars men’s golf head coach Kevin McPherson still has a home in Augusta. McPherson returned to Augusta for the second straight year as head coach of the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers to compete in the 3M Augusta Invitational April 4 to 5. The Chanticleers finished in 13th place, according to goccusports.com. McPherson said returning to Augusta has been enjoyable.
“It’s just the same,” he said. “Same old Forest Hills, (and) same old good people. It’s kind of like a second family for me.” Senior Chanticleer Andrew Dorn said the men’s golf program has changed since McPherson arrived because of his coaching style. “It’s good to have a coach that’s hard on you at first,” Dorn said. “As a freshman and sophomore, that’s what I needed.” Junior Robin Petersson, who played under McPherson, said catching up with his former coach was like seeing an old friend. “It was just like, ‘How’s your
game? How’s school going? How you been playing?’” he said. “And stuff like that.” McPherson said he has focused on creating a championship mentality at Coastal Carolina. “Having the experience of being a part of a couple of national championships in Augusta gave me an opportunity to take some of those ideas to Coastal Carolina,” he said. “It was a little bit different than what they were used to, but now that I’ve been there a year and a half, it’s been a lot better and a lot smoother road.” jwill143@gru.edu
s I was sitting in The Bell Ringer office this past weekend working on this issue, I could not think of a good name for my new column. I brainstormed different sports terms in an effort to find one that would fit. However, after thinking of terms for a while, nothing interesting came to mind. And of the few legitimate possibilities that I came up with, none of them were able to grab my attention. Seventh Inning Stretch? Too long. Three-Point Play? Too specific, not to mention I might just have one point. Suddenly, a baseball term sprang to mind: The Hot Corner. Unlike the other terms, this one sounded interesting, and it was easy to explain. In baseball, the “hot corner” is a euphemism for the third baseman, and the term dates back to 1889, according to dictionary.reference.com. Many batters are right-handed and hit the ball toward the left side of the baseball diamond, where the third baseman is located. As a result, the third baseman must be quick to react to anything and must also keep anything from getting past him. In a similar manner, I must have quick reflexes so that every GRU sports event – no matter the importance with which others might perceive it (or lack thereof) – will be adequately covered. I also have to cover events both on and off campus, so that nothing slips through. I can’t call myself a sports editor if I fail to pay attention to a variety of events or give them proper attention. To accomplish these things, I will need to not overthink what I am doing. Instead, I will need to stay focused on my job and do what comes naturally to me, in order to make sure events are properly covered. Aside from all of the baseball-related idioms that a person could make, I am a big sports fan. And baseball has been my favorite sport as long as I can remember – it even tops basketball and football. If I do all of these things, I will hopefully be able to do as good a job as my predecessor – Anthony Garcia – has done. I have learned a great deal during this semester from him about sports journalism and journalism in general. Despite my varied knowledge about sports, both first-hand and second-hand, I would never consider myself an expert in the field. But, hopefully, this time next year, when I’m helping a new sports editor with their work, I will be a much more knowledgeable sports journalist than I am right now. thowar20@gru.edu
THE BELL RINGER
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Jags place sixth at 3M Augusta By Jessica Sager copy editor
The GRU Augusta men’s golf team finished in sixth place at 16-under par in the 37th 3M Augusta Invitational on April 4 and 5. The University of New Mexico Lobos won the invitational. “A lot of times we say that this kicks off Masters Week, because there’s great, great college golf here in town,” Head Coach Jack O’Keefe said. “And Jordan Spieth played here just a few years ago, who won the Masters, and then Phil Mickelson played here. … So for those players to have played at Forest Hills, it brings a lot of excitement from the past tournaments.” “(The) first 36 holes we were right there or a couple shots back,” sophomore Jake Marriott said. “We were ahead of some really good teams, so that was nice. But it was a little bit of a letdown the second day, the final round. (We) obviously moved back a couple spots, but it was good to be in that position and just shows that we can beat some really good teams and that we’re improving and getting better.” Sophomore Viktor Edin said more people came to watch this tournament than are usual at other tournaments. He said it was great having lots of people come and support the team. Edin also said that all
jessica sager | Staff
Maverick Antcliff prepares to line up his next putt at the 3M Augusta Invitational, ultimately tying for 13th place at 4-under par.
of the teams that participated in the tournament got to attend a Masters practice round Monday. O’Keefe said that attending the practice round let the team members see what they have in common with the professionals. “The amount of time (the professionals) spent out there getting ready and marking greens and that kind of stuff, is stuff that we do
now,” Marriott said. “But it’s nice to see them implement it and really take a lot of time and doing the same thing.” Senior Cody Shafer said that playing at Forest Hills, the Jags’ home course, can be relaxing because the team knows it so well. It is “fun to see if you can really play as well as expected,” Edin said, but that also adds pressure to
playing on the home course. In preparation for the rest of the season, O’Keefe said the team’s first priority is to improve its putting. The team is also focusing on wedge play along with chipping and short game. They will compete at the MEAC Championship in Savannah Saturday to Monday, according to jaguarsroar.com.
“Even though it’s close to finals, it’s awesome to have these tournaments late in the year, cause a lot of teams will have like a month from their last tournament until regionals,” Marriott said. “So you kind of get a little rusty … We’re like jam-packed in the end of the season, which is good because we’ll be ready for regionals, but also it’s crazy.” Next are the NCAA Regionals May 14 to 16. O’Keefe said the Jags will hopefully compete in the NCAA Championship, which is from May 29 to June 3. Marriott said it would be nice to focus solely on golf in the late May and early June tournaments. “A lot of the time that they have is during the summer and during the winter,” O’Keefe said. “During the summer they play tournaments, so it’s good for them that they’re playing and they don’t have to worry about school. And then the hard part is they’re still away from home a little bit. But if you want to play this game at the next level, at the professional level, travel just is involved with our sport, and any sport, but you have to go where weather’s good and where the tournaments are good.” The Jaguars finished tied for seventh at the Boilermaker Invitational at Purdue University. jschucke@gru.edu
Winning team Runners take back supports cause the day from abuse By Jamie Sapp production assistant
Winning their Peach Belt Conference doubleheader, the Lady Jaguars showed their support for cancer awareness by wearing pink on April 14. The Lady Jaguars swept their doubleheader against Lander University, topping the Bearcats 9-3 in game one and 4-3 in game two, according to jaguarsroar.com. Freshman psychology major Allie Altman, the social chairman of Zeta Tau Alpha, a Greek organization at Georgia Regents, said she loved being at the games to show support for cancer awareness on Pink Out & Strike Out Cancer Day. “It think it’s cool that we get to not only do stuff for our philanthropy, but that we get to come out and do things for the athletic teams,” she said. “And it helps bring a crowd here and shows people that we’re not just sororities. We do more than what they think when we’re out here hanging out, watching softball with our sisters, and also raising money for our philanthropy.” Altman said it was the first time ZTA sponsored the softball team. “This year, we started something new and it was with the baseball team,” she said. “It was a really great turnout, and all the girls had a lot of fun, and the baseball team won it.” Altman said Head Coach Melissa Brocato and the softball team wanted to join in the same event after the Jaguars’ baseball team had a great result from the games that ZTA sponsored. Brocato said the Lady Jaguars were very thankful to ZTA for coming to their games and showing support for the team. “They were very excited to be able to help us with our Pink Out day and be able to just raise some
“
You never want to just lay down and let people take it from you. You want to fight... and I think this is what this team really does. --Paige Deschaine
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awareness and just show that we care about those that are going through cancer …,” she said. “And of course we were excited about the outcome of winning those games.” Brocato said winning those games positioned the Lady Jaguars in a good place as they finish their conference games April 18 and 19. Pitcher Paige Deschaine said she thought the doubleheader had a great turnout. “I think that the Zeta girls deal really well in bringing in the banners and everything,” she said. “The wins helped with the donations, as well with the strike outs.” Infielder Casey Rowland said one of her aunts died of breast cancer two years ago. “She’s one of my best friends, so I’ve been heavily affected (by it),” she said. “So, I love it when we wear pink, because it shows that those people aren’t forgotten and we still think about them every day.” To concentrate during the games with cancer in mind, Rowland said she thought about fighting for the people who had cancer. Deschaine said people should never want to give up on what they want to do in their lives. “You never want to just lay down and let people take it from you,” she said. “You want to fight and go for it. And I think this is what this team really does and it helps me realize it’s okay to fight through. It’s not something you want to just hand over.” The Jaguars’ Senior Day doubleheader on Sunday was postponed due to inclement weather. jsapp270@gru.edu
By Jessica Sager copy editor
The 6th annual Take Back the Day 5K Run/Walk to Prevent Sexual Violence and Child Abuse took off Saturday morning. According to the Georgia Regents University calendar, the 5K began at 8:45 a.m. on the Summerville campus. It ended at University Hospital. Anne Ealick-Henry, director of Rape Crisis and Sexual Assault Services, said that about 270 people preregistered for the 5K and about 80 volunteers helped out. All the proceeds went to Augusta’s Rape Crisis and Sexual Assault Services, which offers services to victims of sexual violence and raises awareness about the issue. “I am very pleased with the turnout, considering the weather, and everyone is having a great attitude and just taking it in stride,” Ealick-Henry said. Brad Slavens, of Atlanta, who was the first person to cross the finish line, said the rain was better than the day being too hot. He said this isn’t the first race he has won, but it is his first time running the Take Back the Day 5K. “I was just thankful to run today and this is a great race,” he said. “Even though it rained, it was still a nice day.” The overall winners – the fastest man and the fastest woman – each got a gift bag that included a $100 gift card from Fleet Feet Augusta, Ealick-Henry said. Male and female winners in each age category got a glass commemorating the 40th anniversary of Rape Crisis. Deborah Young, of Augusta, was the first woman to cross the finish line. “I graduated from Augusta College and I’m also a survivor, so this means a lot,” she said. Before the 5K, there was a fun run at 8 a.m. called It’s On Us. Men
Tennis
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jamie sapp | staff
Paige Deschaine winds up a pitch against the Bearcats, striking out eight players.
was the best season ever.” With the victories, both teams improved their positions heading into the Peach Belt Conference tournament, scheduled to begin April 24 at Francis Marion University in Florence, S.C., according to peachbeltconference.org. “The girls have had an outstanding year,” McGrath said. “They’re No. 5 in the region, and they just broke into the national
jessica sager | Staff
Maggie Ashmore competes Saturday at the Take Back the Day 5K Run in Augusta.
ran in high heels on the Georgia Regents Summerville campus to show support for women. Gareth Smith, a junior majoring in middle grades education, said the event had a personal importance for him. “I am actually a victim of rape myself,” he said. “And I think that if more of the men who are out there who became victims of this actually stood up along with these causes, it would help to bring more attention, just based on the way society is and everything like that.” Matthew Allums, also a junior majoring in middle grades education, said he participated to show support for women and to represent
his fraternity, Alpha Sigma Phi. “I have blisters on my feet, but it was pretty interesting,” he said. “And I don’t know how women do it … Rock on women!” Shannon Nix, a counselor and interpersonal violence outreach coordinator at the Georgia Regents Counseling Center, said there is still stigma attached to sexual violence. “We don’t like to talk about it,” she said. “We have really low reporting rates. So, for me, just really raising awareness of the issue helps people understand it’s not something that should be stigmatized.”
rankings. And they’re shoed in for the conference tournament to go in as the 5 seed. So we expect to hopefully pick up a match there, and then, you know, give ourselves a shot for the regional tournament in a couple of weeks. “And it’s the same for the guys,” he said. “If we can get six points here today, that will get us into the conference tournament. And, you know, we’ll probably go in seeded seventh, and hopefully pick up a win there and get into the regionals as well.” Brunie said that he enjoyed watching the team’s growth over
the course of the season as players became more focused on the team. “As a team, it’s cool, you know, because you could have players who didn’t care, who just played for themselves,” Brunie said. “And you can see now, you can see the fight even more.” Castany said that, aside from playing tennis, she will miss her teammates the most. “I’m going to miss this team so much, and I’m going to miss tennis,” she said. “And I love them all, and the guys, as well. We are all together.”
jschucke@gru.edu
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