Volume 55, Issue 11 by The Bell Ringer

GEORGIA REGENTS UNIVERSITY

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VOLUME 55, ISSUE 11

NEWS | PAGE 2

The GRU Equality group seeks to create equal rights for LGBT community on campus.

ARTS & LIFE | PAGE 6

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2013

Local organization strives to provide a better learning experience for children throughout the CSRA.

SPORTS | PAGE 10

Women’s basketball team gives top-ranked foes all they want before falling short.

Mac Lab to benefit from student fees By JILLIAN HOBDAY news editor Allgood N204 is getting a Macover with student technology fees. Twenty-seven inch iMacs will replace the current 5-year-old machines heating up the Mac Lab, said Lisa Cray, the Information Technology Services manager of endpoint computer. In her opinion, the computers “absolutely” need to be replaced. “The machines that are in the lab right now were purchased in 2007,” she said. “They are now 5 years old. With any technology, even within six months of buying something new, it’s out of date. So if you think about machines that are 5 years old, they are (definitely) out of date...We aren’t able to get software out for students to use because the computers don’t meet the requirements. Also, once they are out of warranty and a computer fails, replacement parts are very expensive.” A 5-year-old Mac would still be considered young if there was only one person using it, but with more than 300 students in the communications department and numerous other students on campus using the lab, the computers are essentially failing. “The optical drives are failing; the fans are failing,” said Rick Pukis, an associate professor of communications and chair of the IT Committee. “They needed to be replaced because they aren’t going to last much longer. They are left on all the time, and we use those for many different classes.” The average student technology fee is $45. So far, the student technology fee purchases for 2013 include 86 Dells, not including individual computers in classrooms, and 40 Apple Macs - 22 for N204 and 18 for Media Services. To get an idea of the cost difference between Dells and Macs, consider the following. To upgrade Allgood N344, a regular classroom lab, with 40 Dells, the cost of one monitor, one keyboard, one mouse, the computer itself, the costs of the operating systems and software, not including labor costs, averages at $1,000 per station, amounting to a lab upgrade of around $40,000. To upgrade the Mac Lab and Media Services with 40 computers totals close to $100,000, not including labor or installations. “That’s a lot of student technology fees,” Cray said. “But it’s a specialized purpose. Other machines are for general use, but when you get in to communications, the needs are more specific... The lab has a lot of software you aren’t going to see anywhere else on campus.” Pukis said the cost may be more but that Macs are quality machines, the “gold-standard” of computers, which he said is important for students going in to the professional world. “You might pay a couple see iMAC on PAGE 2

JACQUELYN PABON | STAFF

Patrons adorned with AK-47s, other semi-automatic military-assault rifles and handguns wore “Guns Save Lives” buttons, waved rebel flags, and held signs saying “Come and Take it” and “Unite or Die” at the Second Amendment rally at the Augusta Commons Saturday. Pick up the next issue of The Bell Ringer on Tuesday, Feb. 26, to read more about the rally and proposed gun control regulations.

Marijuana found at UV An examination of drug-related arrests at Health Sciences, Summerville campuses and University Village since 2009 By RON HICKERSON chief reporter Continuing their practice of being in the right place at the right time, Public Safety officers discovered marijuana in University Village after a reported burglary. Initially responding to a call that someone had entered a student’s apartment without permission, police officers from Georgia Regents University’s Department of Public Safety found two students in possession of

marijuana in the common area of the dorm room Sunday night, Jan. 27, said William McBride, the director of Public Safety and chief of police. He said the students were issued citations for misdemeanor possession of marijuana, which he describes as like a traffic ticket. “For misdemeanor marijuana possession, we are now in the habit of issuing a court summons, almost like a traffic citation,” he said. “I don’t really like the idea of putting a kid in the jailhouse because that’s a really bad place to go, (but) we have the capabilities

With the impending implementation of a tobacco-free policy on campus, one Georgia Regents University compliance committee is attempting to make the transition as seamless as possible. The tobacco ban, which prohibits the use of all tobacco products and electronic cigarettes, will take effect Thursday, Aug. 1. The compliance group is tasked with the job of determining the best way to enforce the policy, said Walt Alexanderson, the director of Human Resources at Georgia Regents and a member of the committee. “Certainly we don’t want to be heavy handed with people who may

see MARIJUANA on PAGE 3

Adderall: the new academic steroid By NIKKI SKINNER correspondent

Popping pills is the new trend for college students needing an extra boost of energy during the school year. Students are straying away from late-night Red Bull runs and turning to prescription drugs. The drug Adderall is used for treating narcolepsy and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Technically, Adderall is a stimulant used to treat hyperactivity, said Clint Meeks, the owner of Liberty Square Pharmacy. It seems counterproductive, but

through its negative feedback mechanism the body uses the drug to help the brain realize it needs to slow down the body’s functions. “For those who don’t need Adderall and choose to take it, it has the opposite effect,” Meeks said. “Instead of slowing them down, it speeds them up and enhances their ability to focus on the task at hand.” College students have found that taking Adderall while studying can greatly improve their study habits, making it easier to study longer and absorb more see ADDERALL on PAGE 2

Committee plans implementation for university-wide tobacco ban By LEIGH BEESON copy editor

now because we’ve been sworn in as county officers. We were already state officers, but now we can use county ordinances.” McBride said Public Safety officials were able to come to an agreement with newly elected Sheriff Richard Roundtree to act as police officers on the county level as well as the state level. By acting as county officers, Public Safety is able to issue citations for misdemeanors. Once officers issue the citation for possession of marijuana, the

unintentionally light up a cigarette not knowing they’re supposed to not smoke,” he said. “A critical issue is we do not, as members of the Summerville community, we don’t want our folks to be walking out into the neighborhood and standing in people’s yards smoking and maybe even disposing of their used cigarettes.” Samir Khleif, the director of the Georgia Regents University Cancer Center, said the policy is a means of encouraging students, faculty, staff and citizens in the Augusta, Ga., community to pursue more healthy lifestyles by educating the public about the detrimental effects tobacco has on both the users themselves and those around them. see TOBACCO on PAGE 2

NIKKI SKINNER | CONTRIBUTOR

Students are no longer picking up energy drinks and coffee to help with studying but instead turning to prescription drugs like Adderall.

When race riots rattled the Garden City of the South By ASHLEY TRAWICK staff writer

CONTRIBUTED BY GRU SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

Buildings were set on fire and cars were overturned during the race riots of 1970.

Augusta, Ga., was never the same after May 11, 1970. Sixteen-year-old Charles Oatman, a mentally disabled black teenager, was beaten and killed by police in the Richmond County Jail. Police claimed he fell off his bunk. Grady Abrams, a city councilman at the time, was called to come examine the body at W. H. Mays Mortuary. Abrams found a body covered in cigarette burns, fork marks and slashes. Oatman’s skull was also cracked open. After the incident, Abrams

went on his Sunday radio show and said black Americans needed to protest the brutality they face from law enforcement. The result was the Augusta race riot. Sea Stachura, an instructor for the department of communications at Georgia Regents University, said times were unfortunate for black people because there was so much violence against them. “Augusta was still very segregated in 1970,” Stachura said. “There had been a lot of tension and a great deal of frustration. Black people weren’t able to hold jobs above custodians in city and county see RIOT on PAGE 3

PAGE 2

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2013

NEWS www.asubellringer.com

Group strives for LGBT equality By MINDY WADLEY staff writer

The voice of

Georgia Regents University EDITORIAL STAFF adviser MATTHEW BOSISIO mbosisio@gru.edu editor-in-chief TRAVIS HIGHFIELD thighfie@gru.edu copy editor LEIGH BEESON kbeeson1@gru.edu news editor JILLIAN HOBDAY jhobday2@gmail.com arts & life editor KRISTIN HAWKINS khutchi2@gru.edu sports editor JOHN-MICHAEL GARNER jgarner6@gru.edu chief reporter RON HICKERSON rhickers@gru.edu production manager KELSEY DONNELLY kelseydonne@gmail.com production assistant JACQUELYN PABON jpabon@gru.edu

Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students, faculty, staff and patients of Georgia Regents University, along with their straight allies, have rallied together to seek equal rights and awareness on campus. GRU Equality is a group founded about a year ago as GHSU Equality. According to Gareth Fenley, a certified peer specialist in the psychiatry department at Georgia Regents and the secretary of GRU Equality, the group filled a need on the Health Sciences campus, since at the time it lacked any sort of formal LGBT advocacy organization. “Our vision is to change the community from fear to safety – comfort in being ourselves – from ignorance to awareness and understanding, and from a selectively privileged system to equality of rights and benefits for all,” Fenley said. “That language we adopted one year ago at the retreat at the Partridge Inn. We spent a long time generating that vision statement.” In order to ensure the group filled the needs of its membership, they first had to assess what those needs were, Fenley said. Part of that process was analyzing the attitudes toward the LGBT community on campus. “We came up with the impression from the entire group, the consensus that the environment at what is now GRU was an environment of fear, ignorance and what we call the selectively privileged system where rights and benefits were not equally distributed,” Fenley said. “People who had same-sex partnerships or who were trans or LGBT were not receiving equal standing, and people also felt a sense of fear about coming out. They didn’t feel safety. They didn’t feel they could be themselves.” Justin Neisler, a second-year medical student and one of the co-presidents of GRU Equality, said one of the ways the organization has approached the aim of equality regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity was to establish domestic partner benefits for employees at the hospital, where they hadn’t been offered before despite being offered at the university. “We wanted to make it as equal as we could as if someone had a legally obtained opposite-sex marriage, so that someone in same-sex relation-

MINDY WADLEY I STAFF

Alison Tammany, a second-year medical student at Georgia Regents University, cuts the cake at GRU Equality’s first birthday celebration Monday, January 28, at Nacho Mama’s downtown.

ship that worked at MCG could get access to the same arrangement,” Neisler said. “So one of the things that we said was, how do you define a domestic partnership? Georgia does not have any way that is standard, so we wanted to make it as simple as possible.” The organization, which is mostly employees, does attract student members of all sexual orientations. Alison Tammany, a second-year medical student at Georgia Regents, said she believes in equal rights for all people. “I’m from Northern California, so it just makes sense to me that there should be more awareness and acceptance of the LGBT community,” Tammany said. “I grew up with that being normal, so it’s weird to come here and have it not be normal.” The group has focused efforts on bringing in speakers for panel talks at functions such as its Come Out for Health Week, which was part of a national LGBT health awareness week held annually in March. Neisler said the panels and speeches centered on topics such as LGBT patient access to the health care system and sensitivity to gender identity. “As far as the panel talks go, it’s been an

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NIKKI SKINNER I CONTRIBUTOR

Abusing the prescription drug Adderall is becoming a common trend among college students.

Adderall CONTINUED from PAGE 1

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Tobacco

staff writers RYAN MCLAY REBECCA PERBETSKY JACOB SCHARFF MEGAN STEWART ASHLEY TRAWICK MINDY WADLEY FARRELL BROWN

web master SI-LONG CHEN schen1@gru.edu

eye-opening experience,” said Rachel Marks, a second-year medical student. “You know, you go through medical school and it’s really hard, and you kind of can appreciate how there’s an extra level of complexity with the issues that don’t surface every day. It’s important to be aware.” With the merger of the two universities, Neisler said he hopes the organization will reach out to include more involvement from faculty and staff at the Summerville campus. He also said GRU Equality will work closely with Lambda Alliance to ensure the best possible experience for undergraduate students of Georgia Regents. “Our next organizational meeting is Tuesday, [Feb.] 12, at noon in the hospital cafeteria, and it is open to anyone who is part of GRU,” Neisler said. “So anyone who wants more information can come check it out.” GRU Equality will also host its second annual Come Out for Health Week Saturday, March 23, through Friday, March 29. Neisler said this year’s events will include national speakers who are experts in the field to conduct a panel and a day dedicated to health care topics related to the transgender population.

information. There are many students on campus who have become recreational users of this drug. It’s not as though it is some big secret that students are using it, said Jessica, who declined to give her last name. “I was introduced to it my sophomore year of college,” she said. “I was getting together with one of my study groups, and I was having a hard time getting focused. That was when one of my friends suggested that I take an Adderall and told me it would help me when I studied.” The drug is not like coffee or an energy drink; instead it helps you focus and get things done, Jessica said; there is a big difference between someone studying and someone who is studying while on Adderall. “I look at it as if it is ‘academic steroids,’” said Donnie Watson, a junior English major. “There is something to be said about legitimately working for your grades.” Watson said he is annoyed by students who take Adderall for studying purposes because other students put forth all of their time and energy into their school work and earn their grades honestly. On the other hand, there are students who “pop” an Adderall and keep going, he said. “I have a hard time paying attention like many other students, but I don’t want to pop an Adderall,” Watson said. “I don’t want to cheat myself. It seems like a cop out. Sure it may be stressful and monotonous, but it is college and a part of life. In the end, I feel like it is indicative of one’s character - whether you’re really willing to

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put the work in for the results or just take the easy way out.” With so many students using Adderall, Jessica said it’s not hard to find someone selling the prescription drug. There are students on campus who have mild cases of ADHD and choose not to take their medication. So, they sell their pills to other students. In some cases, there are students who have found doctors who are willing to prescribe it to them just by telling them they are having a hard time focusing in some of their classes, Jessica said. Once they get the medication, they turn around and sell it. “It is not supposed to be that easy for a person to get prescribed Adderall,” Meeks said. “Each person is supposed to meet a certain criteria. I feel like it has slowly gotten easier for one to meet those criteria.” The availability of Adderall varies from season to season and the street price depends on how easy it is for dealers to gain access to the drug, Jessica said. In the beginning of the semester before everyone is stressing over their grades, someone can get them for as little as $2 or $3. The closer it gets to midterms and finals, the harder Adderall is to find, and prices can get as high as $10, she said. What many students don’t realize about using Adderall to study is that they are still illegally abusing a drug, Meeks said. If someone were to get caught with Adderall without a prescription, that person would be charged with possession of a Scheduled II narcotic, which places it in the same category as cocaine. “These students need to realize that although they like the effects of this drug, it is 100 percent addictive,” Meeks said. “It can also do damages to your body by putting an increased load on your heart. They need to keep in mind that there can be longterm conse-

nskinner@gru.edu

“This is a campus that should be healthy because when you smoke you’re not only affecting yourself you’re affecting also your colleagues with secondhand smoke,” he said. “And second-hand smoke can increase your incidence of having lung cancer four times.” Both Alexanderson and Khleif dismissed the idea of smoking shelters, locations away from other public spaces where people could go specifically to smoke. “I think the bottom line is it’s important to help people stop smoking,” Khleif said. “One way you can help people stop smoking is to make it difficult for them to smoke. If you don’t have places to go smoke, you don’t smoke.” Saying that tobacco use has been proven to be a “100 percent health risk,” Khleif explained that the university will offer classes, treatment options and counseling to smokers wishing to quit, something Georgia Health Sciences University did when it implemented a similar ban several years ago. Andrew Tarr, a student on the committee who said he didn’t smoke, said one of the key goals of the group is to make the policy on the Summerville campus as mirror-like as possible to the one on the Health Sciences campus. However, he said that there is some debate about how Christenberry Fieldhouse, University Village and other campus outposts will fit into the equation. Alexanderson agreed that there were still some questions about certain locations but said the committee has a general idea of what areas will definitely be tobacco free. “I am sure that tobacco use will not be allowed at Christenberry (Fieldhouse),” he said. “Our current thinking is that tobacco use would not be allowed at University Village, but we might want to revisit that. That decision has to be made at a higher level than the Compliance Committee.” In the meantime, Alexanderson said Communications and Publications will determine how to get the message out about the policy to faculty, staff and students and the Facilities Group will be responsible for signage that will remind everyone not to light up.

iMac

kbeeson1@gru.edu

CONTINUED from PAGE 1

hundred dollars more up front, but instead of getting three years out of the machine, you can get five,” he said. “And if you’re going work at the top places, you’re going work with the best stuff - the newest software, the newest operating systems, the newest computers.” So, what will become of the old Macs? They get surplussed. “They are transferred to our central supply office and from there they dispose of them by a number of different ways,” Cray said. “Oftentimes they repurpose them. We re-image them and put them in places where they are available to students.” Students can expect to see the iMacs no later than spring break, Cray said.

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Career center gives job seekers tips for upcoming Career Expo By RYAN MCLAY staff writer Georgia Regents University is preparing to open its doors to area employers for the 2013 Career Expo. On Friday, Georgia Regents will host a Career Expo featuring more than 85 companies and organizations from the Augusta, Ga., area at Christenberry Fieldhouse from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. In the meantime, the campus’ career center staff members are preparing students for the event with tips and one-on-one counseling. Career advisors Melissa Hudson, Elizabeth Gorman and Amanda Boland have been preparing students, especially those close to graduation, with workshops, resume critiques and career center resources to help them secure jobs and other opportunities that will be available at the expo. Hudson advised student Ashley Brown, a history major who is seeking a teaching position and will be attending the career expo, Monday, Feb. 4. “She’s planning on going into the master’s of arts in teaching program,” said Hudson. “She’s now graduated with a degree in history and is going next week to look for not only part-time employment but to get the lay of the land for teaching opportunities, and I’m helping her now with her resume.” Gorman said she is especially encouraging students to attend the expo because the economy is on the upswing and employers are recruiting, looking for volunteers, interns, part-time and full-time workers. Also, the expo is a great place to get your name out, she said. Kayla Wirtz, a student in the English program, said she is considering attending the event. “I want to go because I’m looking for grad schools right now,” she said. “I think the career expo is a good idea because it has variety. And for someone who likes testing out the waters in different fields, I think that’s the perfect opportunity for me to find a little niche.” Although the expo is geared toward job-

seeking students, those who are not actively looking for jobs are encouraged to attend the event, Boland said. “It’s a great opportunity to practice,” she said. “Preparing business attire, resumes, shaking hands and making eye contact (are) all very important. It’s a great opportunity to start presenting yourself in a professional manner.” To help Wirtz and others like her who are interested in securing education or job opportunities, the advisors have a handful of specific tips to help prepare students. For the expo, the career center staff encourages students to prepare an “elevator pitch,” which is essentially a 30-second commercial about them. Gorman advises students to prepare a short speech including their name, major and the reason they’re interested in the particular position for a potential employer. Gorman also said doing research beforehand is really important. One part of this research includes identifying five to seven employers a job seeker wants to meet. “One of the biggest complaints that I’ve heard personally from employers is that students had no idea who the employer was, why they were there, what they were searching for,” Gorman said. Boland reminds students that a lot of companies will not accept their resumes at the expo but encourage them to bring resumes anyway. She said some of the employers will give students their cards and request that students submit their resumes to company websites because they don’t want to keep those resumes on hand. While this year the career center is not able to offer a “clothes closet,” which provided business-style clothing for students going to job-related events last year, the advisors still send students to other community resources for proper attire. The career center advisors will remain available the entire week of the expo for oneon-one counseling with students preparing for the expo. If all else fails, Gorman encourages students to “prepare, practice and plan.”

mclay@gru.edu

KRISTIN HAWKINS I STAFF

Between 2009 and 2011, the Augusta State Department of Public Safety reported 11 drug-related arrests at University Village, and the GHSU Department of Public Safety reported 10 drug-related arrests.

Marijuana CONTINUED from PAGE 1

students are given a court date to go to the magistrate court, stand before a judge and are sentenced either by having to pay a fine or to conduct hours of community service. McBride said this event is one of two criminal incidents Public Safety officers have discovered in UV that have been “happenstance,” as officers find them in response to an unrelated call. The other instance was when officers found a loaded handgun in a student’s apartment while responding to a report that marijuana was found in the room. In light of the ongoing process of merging the two Public Safety departments, McBride said there are no special plans for changing how Public Safety officers investigate drug use on campus. “We haven’t initiated any new initiatives to go down there and try to find any more drugs,” he said. Before the merger, both departments of Public Safety at Georgia Health Sciences University and Augusta State University had their fair share of drug-related arrests on their school properties and surrounding areas.

According to a crime report issued by GHSU’s Department of Public Safety, the department made 10 drug-related arrests on its main campus from 2009 to 2011, which McBride attributes to the number of people who come in and out of the campus through the campus’ hospital. The department also made 14 drug-related arrests on the public property surrounding the school. Augusta State’s crime report issued by its Department of Public Safety before the merger indicated that there were four drug-related arrests on university property in 2009, two arrests in 2010 and nine arrests in 2011. Yet according to the report, 11 drug-related arrests were made in UV during those three years. Though UV has undergone these 11 drug investigations in the past, McBride said he does not really consider the student housing at Georgia Regents to be a “problem area,” saying the apartment complex is no different than any other complex or subdivision, for that matter. “I could go into my subdivision where I live, in Columbia County, and search all of the houses, and I’m sure I’d find a few of those with drugs in them,” he said. “It’s just the way things are these days. We don’t consider it a big, huge problem area, but it does need some attention, and we will get to it shortly when we get our tran-

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Riot

CONTINUED from PAGE 1

government. You could have a college degree and be completely unable to do anything.” After Oatman’s death, the black community in Augusta held a rally that eventually erupted into a riot, she said. “Six people died and about 200 people were treated for injuries,” she said. “One thousand National Guard troops surrounded Augusta, in particular, Paine College. What was interesting is that no one really talked about it after that. A lot of the white community wrote the event off.” At the campus-wide event “Recovering History: Oral Histories of Augusta’s Forgotten 1970 Riot,” moderated by Stachura, students and members of the community can expect to hear from two witnesses, Grady Abrams and Bill Coleman. “Abrams is going to talk about what he remembers from that (experience), and Coleman (is) representing African-Americans who were arrested as a result of the riot,” Stachura said. “You’ll hear interviews about seeing people get shot and people making decisions to participate in this riot or to stand by and protect their home.” The purpose of the event, Stachura said, is to give people an idea of what happened. She wants to get the community talking and wanting to connect this with the present as much as possible. “You’re going to see some photos from that time and what the area looks like today and give it some context for the whole civil rights history because it really hasn’t been included in civil rights history to this point,” she said. “It’s a part

CONTRIBUTED BY GRU SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

The race riot of 1970 shook Augusta, Ga., after the death of a 16-year-old mentally disabled teenager. African-Americans turned over displays, looted, burned and destroyed private property after a quiet demonstration turned into a mob riot. Soul singer James Brown commented on the situation, expressing that if the fighting were to stop “we can all live well, in a friendly, warm, loved city - a beautiful city.”

of our history, not just black history. We haven’t looked at it and understood what exactly happened and how people felt about it. How can you learn from something if you don’t do that? On a personal level, I’ve just always been interested in understanding how people who are not white get treated and how that makes them feel.” Perzavia Praylow, an assistant professor of history at Georgia Regents, will also be speaking at the event. Praylow said she is looking forward to contributing a lot of historical context for the Augusta race riot. “It’s unique to both Augusta’s local history,” she said, “but it also draws upon this larger history of race riots taken place towards the late 1960s when the civil rights movement further

developed after the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.” Praylow agrees with Stachura’s sentiment that students should come to the event because it’s related to remembering such an important part of Augusta history. “I think audience participants will have an opportunity to engage in a panel and dialogue about the Augusta riot,” Praylow said. “I think that this will be a reflective event where individuals are able to engage and think critically about the relationship between important events in the civil rights movement locally in Augusta and how we understand race relations nationally across the United States in the 1960s and ’70s, specifically in the local area of Augusta.”

Carnela Wiley, a senior communications public relations major, is assisting Stachura in planning the event. Wiley said students attending the event will have a better understanding of the time and knowledge. “I think that people should find out more about it because it’s not even taught in Georgia history,” she said. “Let yourself absorb the information and have a really good time. Learn from it because, for the majority of us, it’s going to be the first time we’ve heard about it.” The first event is Friday at 7 p.m. in Maxwell Theatre and the second event is Saturday, Feb. 23, at 2 p.m. at the Augusta-Richmond County Public Library Headquarters.

atrawick@gru.edu

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2013

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editorial Improving this campus one issue at a time Excuse us, Ricardo Azziz, this message is going to run a little longer than three lines. Bare with us, though; you’re reading the best editorial series in the state. But don’t take our word for it. Two weekends ago, the staff of The Bell Ringer had the great privilege of traveling to Athens, Ga., to take part in the Georgia College Press Association’s 2012 Better Newspaper Contest. The event allows public and private colleges from across the state to submit their best work in hopes of winning some of the most prestigious awards for college journalists in the state. Last year’s staff did something that no other staff had done before: win 13 awards. That mark was also good enough to claim

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

the most awards delegated to one school at that year’s conference. However, The Bell Ringer brought home no first place awards in the general categories. It is with great pleasure that we can now say that this year’s staff has eclipsed that mark, winning 14 total awards at this year’s GCPA contest. But more importantly, we’ve improved. Despite failing to do so a year prior, this year’s staff brought home four first-place awards in the general categories. For the year 2012, The Bell Ringer was recognized as having the single best editorial, best editorial series, best features section and was also the most improved paper in the Four-Year College Division B. Additionally, after winning third place in general excellence for three

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Good dieting habits require work MEGAN STEWART staff writer mstewar7@gru.edu

After dealing with some medical situations in my family that involved my mother being hospitalized for complications from her diabetes as well as my uncle looing his foot as a result of gangrene from a broken toe he was unable to feel because of his diabetes, the New Year really meant it was time to create a new me. I vowed to myself that I wanted to be healthy, lose weight and then not give up on my diet after I achieve my goal but to maintain it and let this be the year I start a healthier lifestyle. Over the course of calorie counting, working out and preplanning meals each day, I have found that dieting is no easy job. Everything you eat matters, even those Raisinets you grab between classes. Needless to say how much I truly enjoy a nice bag of chocolate covered raisins when I’m not quite hungry enough for anything else, but 190 calories in just one little bag? I think not. My day isn’t just filled with not being able to eat the junk food I normally like to enjoy, however. One of my biggest hobbies is cooking. Experimenting with foods, looking up recipes (yes, I am a guilty Pinterest user who pins a million recipes a day) and actually putting that food out for myself, and others, to

taste and enjoy. My family consists of a long line of people who love to cook and create new things, and we even have family-made cookbooks that date back to my great-great grandmother with recipes including the best pastas, casseroles and more. I don’t even attempt to open those but, maybe, once in a blue moon now. I wake up in the morning, I open my app that I use to keep up with the foods I eat and I preplan what I am going to make for the day and stick to that decision. If I want anything fried, that’s pretty much out of the question – simply because I don’t want to waste my calories on that meal. I go through a lot of searching the Internet and doing interactive nutritional menus at every place that I eat to make sure that I stay within my set limits. When choosing something as little as what I drink affects my daily life as well. Water has definitely overridden the option of Coca Cola in my life. If I want to go out and drink, that ends up being the one cheat night I get a week, and I still have to monitor what I eat because of the amount of calories present in that beer. I used to have the mindset of, “I’m going to eventually get diabetes anyway, so why not eat what I like now?” I have come to realize that was probably the worst thing for myself. Although it is hereditary in my family, anything that I can do to prevent myself the pains of insulin and daily sugar checks is a step I’m willing to take today.

“Yes, I am a guilty Pinterest user who pins a million recipes a day.

”

consecutive years, The Bell Ringer earned the distinction of second place. And while you might not be impressed by the fact that we didn’t bring home 14 first place awards, understand that we are competing in a field of student newspapers that are just as capable as the writers we employ at The Bell Ringer, and oftentimes they operate with a much larger staff and budget. It’s nice to bring home shiny plaques to hang on our office wall, but our success, we believe, is a testament to our commitment to this campus and to the greater university. This level of recognition at the state level tells us that we do a great job at serving the students, faculty and staff. Most people don’t know or understand

the level of drive and dedication this staff has to produce the best paper possible for our readers. Most people don’t even know this paper exists. But there is one thing that we can be sure of: Despite what happens when this merger is complete, we will remain the same that we’ve always been for the last 55 years. We are the voice of the students, and we champion your cause. When things don’t add up, we’re right there to call foul. We aren’t ruthless, but we are persistent. We strive to be accurate, and we pride ourselves on speed. This is the ultimate public service, and we are glad to be the ones doing it. And by the way, we aren’t going away anytime soon.

Use social media wisely ASHLEY TRAWICK staff writer atrawick@gru.edu

There are millions of people, probably you included, who use Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites to divulge information about their personal lives. Here’s the thing - I wish you’d stop. The world couldn’t care less about who you argued with last night, how inebriated you were or if your significant other is “liking” pictures of a mutual friend. I must warn you: Be careful about what you post, who you post about and the photos you upload. I can understand if it’s on a site such as Tumblr or BlogSpot, which are designed for that purpose. However, if you are not a member of a blogging site, please pay a visit to the Counseling Center, buy a journal or, even better, drown your sorrows with sad movies and Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. What should be understood is that as these sites continue to grow in membership numbers, technology continues to advance also. Very many students here on campus have smartphones, and computers are, basically, around every corner. Now while these devices are very beneficial and could be considered a blessing, the people who are utilizing those keywords typing 85 wordsper-minute generally are not thinking about what is being said on the Internet. An example would be like if you are looking for a job. Your phone rings, and you set up an interview for the next week with a potential employer. The next week arrives and the interview goes exceptionally well. Three days later, you receive a phone

you

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call and the employer tells you, “We’ve run a background check. I’m sorry to inform you that we will not be hiring you due to very vulgar information we found on your Facebook profile. We wish you well on your future endeavors.” Your face goes white. You think, “What could’ve gone wrong?” You think back and you finally remember that about a month earlier, you posted a status saying very uncouth things about your friend who you found out was talking about you behind your back and made the mistake of NOT deleting it. Now do you understand how a potential opportunity was ruined due to your carelessness? In early January, it was reported that an 18-year-old man was arrested for drunk driving after he posted a status the night before saying, “Drivin drunk…classic ;) but to whoever’s vehicle I hit I am sorry.” A friend saw the status and called the police. Stop shaking your head and understand that your actions do, indeed, have consequences. I want this information to really sink in because every time I log onto Facebook, there is always someone who is posting immature and reckless thoughts about something or someone. This is common sense, people. You may think you’re invincible, but I just want you to wake up and realize that you’re not. Your statuses and tweets can really affect your future. Use social media sites wisely. You don’t want to end up where that young man is. He was in high school with no prior criminal record. Talk to someone if your issues are that awful. Tumblr, BlogSpot, WordPress and countless other sites are used every day for people who need to vent about their problems and post cat videos to make themselves feel better. Think before you tweet. Your future could depend on it.

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Campus dining options leave me craving more: Get it together food services RYAN MCLAY staff writer rmclay@gru.edu

Last December, it hit me. “I am going vegan,” I said. I was enjoying my time off from school and decorating for the holidays while the show “30 Days” by Morgan Spurlock, of the famed documentary “Super Size Me,” was streaming on the computer in the background. The episode told the story of a regular Joe who really enjoyed hunting and grilling-out and agreed to live with a vegan family for a month. By the end of the episode, both the regular Joe and I recognized the merits of a plant-based lifestyle: better environment, better animal welfare and a better body. I’d found my New Year’s resolution. Enter spring semester. Walking into the JSAC dining facility on the first day of class, I faced some new challenges ahead: nitpicking through ingredient lists, finding a good balance of nutrients and completely avoiding meat, eggs and dairy.

However, after scanning over the sub, grill and pizza station offerings from Sedexo, I concluded I simply could not purchase a wellrounded or enjoyable meal on campus. My best bets were a fruit cup, carrots and celery (hold the dressing), a serving of peanut butter on bread or bagel, and a soy latte. Yes, I can take the extra time to prepare healthier, vegan food at home for a lot less money. But I am frustrated that in 2013 on a college campus our dining facilities still primarily cater to the “standard American diet” of burgers, fries, pizza and subs. I cannot fault the Sedexo employees. Having worked in food service, I know the everyday experience of enduring long hours, low wages and bad customer attitudes. The men and women who work in our dining facility do the best they can with what they are given. Unfortunately, what they are given is not the best for minds, bodies and spirits. Not only do these foods contribute to the obesity and adult-onset diabetes epidemic in America, but I argue from personal experience that these food options do not cultivate a thriving learning environment. For years, I ate meats, cheeses, eggs, fried foods, cakes, chips

and cookies. And while I did have a good salary at a full-time job, I spent most of my freetime slouched on the couch watching reality television and gaining weight. My metabolism was sluggish, my mind was dormant and my imagination was lackluster. I’d thrown myself into a physical and mental depression primarily by what I was eating. However, I began attending school fulltime in 2010 and began incorporating small lifestyle changes. I cut back on fats, refined grains and red meat. Little by little, the sluggish, dormant lackluster reality I knew grew into something creative, energetic and vibrant. Now a senior, I’m proud of my academic achievements and I am confident enough to take on more leadership and volunteer opportunities. I have no doubt that my improved lifestyle has played a tremendous role in my mental transformation. And now my lifestyle includes veganism. Considering this, I returned to the JSAC dining hall Friday, Feb. 1, determined that I was fully capable of finding a good vegan meal on campus. In the end, I settled with peanut butter on whole wheat bread with a coffee with soy milk. Not too creative, but I

still felt proud, like I’d outsmarted somebody. I paid just over a dollar and felt nourished. Like that day, I won’t always have the time to make food from home, but I at least know of a few vegan meal options on campus. Unfortunately, though, other students who do want better dining options will also have to be creative and problem-solve if they are going to purchase food from Sedexo between classes. And, as students, while we are challenging our knowledge and our ideals in the classroom this is an ideal time in our lives to think critically about what goes into our minds and our bodies. Hopefully, the new administration will take this into consideration as it continues to develop our new university.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

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THE BELL RINGER

PAGE 5

COMICS: ENTERTAIN YOURSELF www.asubellringer.com

CROSSWORD

1. 2.

12.

Test your knowledge of current issues covering Georgia Regents University, pop culture, news, music, sports and random trivia

13.

6. 7.

14.

9. 10.

15.

11.

16. 17.

18.

DOWN 1. The second baseman for the Jaguar baseball team 2. A guy goes to the zoo. There is only one dog in the zoo. It’s a ________. 3. Recently announced his highlyanticipated third album which features music collaborations with Jay-Z 4. 2013 Grammy nomination for best song of the year. “Hey, I just met you and this is crazy so here’s my number and ________ ___ _______” 5. This restaurant is located in

downtown Augusta at 1282 Broad Street. 6. Victor _________, in his junior year, is an Augusta State tennis player from Sao Paolo, Brazil. 7. On Feb. 3, this pro-wrestling event took place at the James Brown Arena. 8. Georgia College Press Association 9. The number of awards the Bell Ringer staff recieved at the annual GCPA conference. 10. The number one reason for

elephant poaching 11. The number of drug-related arrests at University Village since 2009. ACROSS 12. One of the two announcers who cover the Jag Basketball games online. 13. Black History Month 14. This local club supports young people and has helped many celebrities, such as Usher. 15. Jennifer Lawrence caused a stir

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY! FROM THE BELL RINGER STAFF

in hollywood when she began her acceptance speech for winning a Golden Globe for best actress in a comedy or musical with this phrase. 16. The most popular flowers given on Valentine’s Day. 17. In 1537 _____ VIII declared St. Valentine’s Day as an official holiday. 18. One of the two announcers who cover the Jag Basketball games online.

In the last issue... DOWN 1. VINYLS 2. DELIGHTFUL 3. VIGNETTES 4. ALBERT 5. BANGS 6. DOBY 7. CAVIAR 8. EROS BISTRO 9. HAUGER 10. MCCRANIE 22. YPA

ACROSS 11. KEKUA 12. SHIPMAN 13. BRYANT 14. MORGAN 15. UNDEROATH 16. PROVOST 17. UNIFORMS 18. PEMBROKE 19. FUTURITY 20. PRIDE AND PASSION 21. MAGDEN

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2013

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Reaching out to children in need By RON HICKERSON chief reporter

he Boys and Girls Club of America has reached out to the Augusta, Ga., area, seeking to help its children improve in their studies, health and behavior. The Boys and Girls Clubs of the CSRA has been part of Augusta for the past 62 years, said Kam Kyzer, the executive director of the organization. Now with seven locations spanning across Richmond, McDuffie and Washington counties, the organization is dedicated to serving children from ages 6 to 18. It comes into contact with 600 children daily and 3,000 children per year. The organization works with them to promote its three primary outcomes: academic success, a healthy lifestyle, and good character and citizenship. Of the 3,000 children that come throughout the year, Kyzer said 1,700 attend the organization’s after-school program regularly, which she said is very important. “The more often a child comes to the program, the greater impact we can have on their lives,” she said. “If we can get kids to come more often over the course of the year and if we can get them to stay in the program for more years, then they’re going to have a lot more better outcomes.” In order to better serve children in need, Kyzer said the organization is strategically located near high-poverty areas, situating their clubs either in or next to public housing where 90 percent of children come from single-parent, transient households earning less than $25,000 per year. She said this environment makes a huge impact on its children. “Every 26 seconds, a child in our country drops out of school,” she said. “So, in my opinion, we can’t work hard enough or fast enough to make our programs the best that they could possibly be because you can’t capture that time.” Kyzer said the organization’s after-school program captures children at the most crucial time of the day: between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. During this time, children are usually left unsupervised and that’s when the majority of juvenile crime happens, also making them more likely to become a victim of a crime. “That time we get every single day, we treat as a precious resource,” she said.

“

RON HICKERSON | STAFF

Children in the Dogwood Terrace Boys and Girls Club participate in a geometry lesson as they make three-dimensional shapes from pipe cleaners as visual learning tools.

“You can’t get it back. They don’t get a day younger; they get a day older every day.” In order to serve these children, Kyzer said the organization has two major needs: community support and volunteers. As a United Way organization, Kyzer said, 5 percent of its operating cost, which amounts to $3.2 million, comes from public funding. While the organization is also funded by federal grants, the majority of its funding comes from private donors. With that money, the organization is able to hold its after-school program as well as provide the children with resources that may have been inaccessible to them. “We don’t want to duplicate services,” Kyzer said. “We just want to reduce all barriers and increase access, so that the kids served at the boys and girls clubs have all the opportunities that any child not in the same socioeconomic situation would have.” In order to bring about the most access to resources for these children, the organization often partners with other organizations in the Augusta area. One such organization Kyzer mentioned was the Junior Medical Leagues, a student organization from Georgia Regents University. “It’s really about trying to make sure that they get excited about science education and they can see the possibili-

ties of what can happen if they stick with it and make good grades,” said Alexis Rossi, the director of diversity training and evaluation and coadvisers to the organization. Linda James, the director of diversity outreach at Georgia Regents and co-adviser to the organization, said the group was established in 2004, and since then it has aimed to help students of all backgrounds to become more medically literate and exposing them to careers in medicine. She said medical students volunteer and visit the Dogwood Terrace Boys and Girls Club, located on 15th Avenue, once a month and conduct hands-on learning modules like making cell models out of candy to learn about cellular anatomy or learning how to suture a wound by suturing a cut made in orange peels. Along with these learning modules, the children at the club are paired with the medical students who mentor them. “The one-on-one relationship with a caring adult is what makes the difference,” Kyzer said. “You can have all the programs, all the tutoring, all the field trips you want, but that one-on-one caring relationship with an adult is what gives the program all its power.” Victor Wongk, a secondyear medical student at Georgia Regents and the president of the Junior Medical League,

The one-on-one relationship with a caring adult is what makes the difference.

”

--Kam Kyzer, the executive director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of CSRA said it has been incredible to be able to combine mentoring with his medical profession. “The most rewarding thing to me has been being able to be a part of the kids’ lives,” he said. James said most of the league’s members have been recipients of programs that have given them the resources they needed to get to where they are, so the opportunity to give back to the community is really important to them. “They’ve taken advantage of properties that we have provided to them to help them move forward in their career and achieving their goals of become physicians, and so they’re giving back,” James said. Kyzer said frequent volunteers provide stability in the face of these children’s transient lifestyles. She said she wants every child who comes

into one of the clubs to graduate high school with a plan for his future, and for the past three years the organization has had a 100 percent graduation rate. She said this is the most rewarding work she could have ever made her career. “The Boys and Girls Club is an organization that is very near and dear to my heart,” she said. “When we hire folks to work in the program, you have to qualified, but you really have to share the passion for our mission, which is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most to reach their full potential. It has to be a burning fire in your belly. You don’t get paid enough. You have to work way too hard. You have to wear too many hats in a nonprofit setting, so it really has to be a love for what you do.”

rhickers@gru.edu

Production highlights plight of a medium with rage to kill By RYAN MCLAY staff writer

he university’s latest opera is a dark and chilling show. The opening night of Georgia Regents University’s production of “The Medium,” Friday, Feb. 9, presented the audience with a tragedy about the downfall of a matriarch. The two-act opera, written by Gian Carlo Menotti, is the story of a spiritual medium who falls apart when confronted with the supernatural realm and brings down everyone around her. As the story unfolds, Madame Flora, or “Baba” as her daughter calls her, leads her clients, parents whose children tragically died, into a séance where they believe they are communicating with their loved ones on the other side. Baba’s young, and for the most part innocent, accomplices, including her daughter Monica and a mute orphan gypsy named Toby, perpetuate the illusion by creating otherworldly visual and sound effects. However, when Baba suddenly experiences a personal encounter with the other side, she breaks down with fear and uncertainty fueled by an alcoholic rage. The story meets ultimate tragedy when Baba, completely lost to her unstable mentality, accidently shoots and kills Toby.

“The development of my character goes from being shocked and scared to just crazed at the very end, and there’s a lot of contrast between myself and my daughter’s characters,” said Emma Mendoza-Campos, who played the Baba and has been performing opera for about six years. Throughout the opera, Baba’s maniacal character was played against the fanciful and caring Monica. “It’s very dark and the mother-daughter relationship is not friendly,” Mendoza-Campos said. “You see everything - the development, the contrast, the creepiness of all the characters and everything that goes on in the show. It’s unlike any opera I’ve ever done.” Patti Myers, the director of Georgia Regents’ opera ensemble since 2006, said she’s used Menotti’s work before and chose him for this production because his productions are short, in English and accessible in their language. “This is a scary show, but it’s intelligible and it’s packed with drama,” Myers said. “I think people will really enjoy it.” A member of Friday’s audience, Jean Stanford, who played Baba’s character at Georgia Southern University in 1970, said she was impressed with how well Mendoza-Campos embraced her character and executed her vocals. “For someone who had played that role, to see how she progressed in her insanity - she did

RYAN MCLAY | STAFF

Emma Mendoza-Campos, who plays Baba, gets into character at the dress rehearsal.

a good job,” said Stanford, a vocal instructor herself who was a good friend of Myers and performed with her in high school. Mary Allen, who also at-

tended Friday night’s performance, said Mendoza-Campos executed the character’s mad laughter extremely well. Audience members also de-

scribed how impressed they were with the performance of Michael Silvio Fortino, who played Toby. “He’s still very effective without speaking at all,” said Drew Pierson, a Georgia Regents student. Throughout the opera, Baba punches, kicks and verbally assaults Toby’s character, who repeatedly shields himself and hides to avoid further attacks. Another student, Celeste Blaxton said she liked Toby, even though he didn’t sing, referencing that the character Toby was a mute. “He was spectacular,” Stanford said of Fortino. “It had to all be conveyed through his mannerisms, his facial expressions, but more importantly, his response. Everything he did was reactionary. He was so convincing. I think of all the characters I saw on the stage tonight – wow, that young man is an actor.” Overall, Allen said the librettos and voices were beautiful, and the entire performance was excellently executed. “It was wonderful to see how it’s still fresh,” Stanford said. “It still has purpose. Even though it was written in the late ’40s even young people today can relate.” Myers said she believes the opera is for everyone. “We have tried in the last few years to drive that home,” she said. “Opera is not the scary thing people think it is.”

rmclay@gru.edu

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Tavern brings farm to table Around

By NIKKI SKINNER correspondent

here is something to be said about well-prepared, southern-style food. The Frog Hollow Tavern opened about two and a half years ago and is located in downtown Augusta, Ga., its location placing it on the very edge of what used to be known as Frog Hollow community, thus giving the restaurant its name. “Frog Hollow Tavern’s food seems to be a sort of gourmet meets southern type of food,” said Alyssa Peace, a sophomore majoring in printmaking and photography. “A lot of the food that they prepare is very simple yet delicious. I also prefer food that does not have a lot of processed materials in them, which is another thing I like about their food.” Much of the food that the restaurant prepares is fresh. It receives a lot of its produce from local farms like Titan Farms in Ridge Spring, Ga., and the tavern even gets its cheese from Flat Creek lodge in Waynesboro, Ga. Not everything is completely organic but the restaurant does strive to produce fresh food, said Sean Wight, Frog Hollow Tavern’s executive chef. “We like to buy our produce fresh; it really works well with our menu and (is) in keeping with what’s in season,” Wight said. “We also

PSA: Stop wasting film

By ASHLEY TRAWICK staff writer

NIKKI SKINNER | CONTRIBUTOR

Ben Barmore, an expeditor at Frog Hollow Tavern, garnishes every dish before it is delivered to a table.

like to be able to show support to the local farmers and people who are supporting us.” When eating the food, one can taste its freshness, said Nina Daniel, a senior printmaking and photography major. The fresh produce and local suppliers really help set this place apart and give it something unique. “The fresh produce also helps with their menu,” Peace said. “I know they have a certain set menu, but they are always changing things up and have new dishes, and I think the fresh produce really helps with that.” The unique food is not the

only thing setting this place apart. Its hours of operation are unlike many of the other restaurants in town. The tavern is only open Wednesday through Saturday, and the establishment only serves dinner. “With the type of food we serve, it takes longer to prep,” Wight said. “Just because we are not open three days out of the week does not mean we are not working in here. We are still in here getting things ready to go for the rest of the week.” The food is not the only thing that sets this place apart. Frog Hollow Tavern has a very creative menu as well as a very large wine

selection, Wight said. The staff members also pride themselves on their service. “Their service is great,” Daniel said. “Our servers knew the menu perfectly and could answer all of the questions that we had. They were not at all overbearing like many restaurants you go to. You could tell they were well trained.” Peace said Frog Hollow is a little more upper class than many of the other establishments in Augusta, but it is a great place to go and enjoy a well prepared meal.

nskinner@gru.edu

Frog Hollow leaps over the competition

By RON HICKERSON chief reporter

few weeks ago, in order to celebrate my wife’s birthday, she and I decided to try out the Frog Hollow Tavern on Broad Street for a night of culinary entertainment. After securing a reservation, we entered the dimly lit restaurant that was occupied at first by a young couple in the corner and a three-person party in a nearby booth. The hostess seated us at a table in the center of the restaurant, complete with a white table cloth that dared me, not the deftest consumer, not to spill a molecule of food on it. Looking up and down the length of the restaurant, I could see the kitchen through a window, which revealed all of its stainless steel glory, a stark contrast to the deep warm browns and greens of the dining area. Within minutes, my wife and I were greeted by Darby, our waiter. Friendly and knowledgeable of the restaurant’s menu and specials, Darby introduced us to the restaurant, seeing as how this was our first time. He explained that all of the food that we would be eating was locally farmed and all meats were free-range and cage-free. The restaurant staff made all of its syrups used in the

Town

NIKKI SKINNER | CONTRIBUTOR

Frog Hollow Tavern brings southern-style cuisine to downtown Augusta.

kitchen and at the bar in-house. Even the aged spirits it offered were aged in barrels at the bar. So, aligning with popular sentiment, my wife and I decided to get to know our food as we began our meal with a small plate of Kentuckian oysters. While we waited for our oysters, more people began entering the restaurant, filling it with the sounds of conversation, which mingled with the old-timey folk music that played softly in the background. The oysters arrived on a rectangular porcelain plate, sitting rustically on a bed of rock salt. Oven roasted with parmesan cheese and rosemary, the oysters were rich and salty, making us thirsty for the cocktails we were drinking. When it came time for me

to decide on a main course, I became deaf to every other choice when Darby listed a half rack of lamb ribs as one of the night’s specials. My wife, on the other hand, had her heart set on a braised pork shoulder to be served with a side of Gouda macaroni and cheese and locally harvested greens. Waiting for our entrees, even more people poured into the restaurant, filling it with the buzz of human communication. Then the moment of truth came as our food was delivered to us. The presentation was flawless. I looked down at my plate to see four ribs artistically stacked on top of each other beside a square of potatoes and goat cheese gratin and a mound of local rainbow shard. Beside the dish was a

drizzling of a port wine reduction as a sauce for the lamb. The lamb was rich and salty, which paired nicely with the potatoes and goat cheese. But when drawn through the port wine reduction, the richness of the lamb was brightened significantly by the sweetness and acidity of the sauce matching the brightness of the greens. I watched in amazement as my wife proceeded to take the first bite of the pork shoulder. The braised meat was so tender that it fell apart, not even needing a knife to cut it. Taking a bite of her macaroni and cheese confirmed Darby’s claims of this being the best macaroni and cheese he’s ever had. My wife, who normally hates greens, remarked at how delicious her greens were. To get the full restaurant experience, we decided to go for dessert, and when Darby offered me my dessert weakness, bread pudding, I had no choice but to order the pumpkin bread pudding topped with a dollop of brown sugar pecan ice cream and bourbon maple syrup. We were delighted with our dinner, which cost us $100 for the three courses. Though we initially came to the restaurant to celebrate a special occasion, the atmosphere and food the Frog Hollow Tavern provided invites us for future occasions.

n Sunday, after a long week of attending classes, working and running around like a mad woman with numerous meetings, I went to the movies with a friend to see the epic western “Django Unchained.” We loved it. However, when I walked out of the theater, I noticed “Movie 43” was playing. This is a comedic film, supposedly, with 14 different story lines. I sighed disappointedly. Now if you supported and enjoyed it, that’s great and all, but before you get wary, ask yourself, do we really need films such as “Movie 43” or “Finding Nemo” in 3D? As much as the quirky original is loved, does it make any sense for people to stand in line to pay $15 just to watch a movie that was released on DVD 10 years ago? I didn’t think so either. To filmmakers and television producers, I’m here to ask, what are you doing? Please stop wasting your time, money and expensive equipment on these abysmal movies you call masterpieces. I immediately get annoyed when I see a trailer on television for a sequel to another movie or when throughout a trailer, there’s no hint of a plot. I’m sure most of the students here majoring in TV & Cinema can make better films than that. Hell, I know they can if they’re winning Academy Awards. In earlier times, there were movies such as “Magnificent Obsession,” “Pillow Talk” and “Cleopatra.” During current times, movies such as “What to Expect When You’re Expecting,” “Battleship” and “Resident Evil: Retribution” are being produced. What happened to classic motion pictures? Where is the originality? What happened to ideas that were actually feasible? My generation no longer says, “This movie came out last year and I still love it.” I’m surprised if they take the time to watch it again or remember who the main character was. This has to stop. On a perkier note, I’m glad to see the television industry is shifting its gears for the most part. Shows such as “The Walking Dead,” “Scandal” and “Homeland” are receiving positive feedback from critics and supporters. It gives me some hope that future directors, producers and writers will keep coming together to develop remarkable shows such as the ones I named. Even UK television shows are getting to be popular over here in the states; that’s remarkable to me. To my lovely TV & Cinema majors, I haven’t forgotten about you. As a once aspiring filmmaker myself, I know how tough it is to develop and produce an idea that your central audiences will converse about with their classmates or their families for years to come. This piece was not meant to discourage you from following your dreams. What I want you to understand is your work will follow you for the rest of your days whether you’re in front of the camera or behind it. I want you to be successful but be smart and resourceful, too. As for the rest of you, if you don’t mind paying money for terrible films and investing your time into rotten television shows, go right ahead. Remember, it’s money out of your pocket and into the pockets of the cast and crew of that film you so desperately wanted to see.

atrawick@gru.edu

rhickers@gru.edu

Cruising through historic downtown Augusta via the canal By RYAN MCLAY staff writer

he Augusta Canal National Heritage Area Interpretive Center offers locals and tourists alike the opportunity to discover firsthand the natural features of the city’s canal. On Saturday, Feb. 2, six people rode on the Interpretive Center’s 3 p.m. hour-long tour in which guides took passengers up and down the canal aboard the traditional Petersburg boat while sharing the history and natural features of the 7-mile long canal. The boat was built in Tybee Island, Ga., and is 13 feet wide, 65 feet long and batterypowered, according to Julianna Golden, an employee of the Interpretive Center. “Our National Heritage Area is actually made up of 2,300 acres area, but only 272 go along the banks of the canal,” said Captain Sarah Barton. Barton narrated the tour from the rear of the boat

while Captain Travis Cook, who has been a guide with the Interpretive Center for nearly four years, navigated. The passengers included Patrick and Stephanie Barnes, who live in Augusta, and their friends visiting from Fayetteville, Ga., for the weekend, Hannah and Philip Shell. “We had friends in town so we were figuring out what to do, where we could ride, because (Hannah) has got an injury,” Patrick said. “We were going to walk the canal, but we thought, well, let’s ride it then.” With the hum of the boat battery in the background, they soaked in the natural surroundings of the canal while Barton told them about the history, buildings, bridges and landscape of the canal. She said the canal is the only industrial canal in the U.S. that is still being used for its original purposes, including generating power, providing transportation and drinking water. “I like that it’s still functioning for its (original) pur-

RYAN MCLAY | STAFF

Travis Cook, an Interpretive Center guide, navigates patrons through the canal.

pose,” Patrick said. “It’s really nice to see that a long time after they built (the canal) it is still here for its original purpose. I just figured it was used for transportation purposes.” Barton told the passengers that no fossil fuels are allowed on the canal and that the city pumps 60 million gallons of water out of the canal each day to provide 70 percent of the city of Augusta’s drinking water supply. “It has never been legal to swim in the canal,

even back in the days of old,” he said. “We try to preserve it.” In addition to protecting the drinking source, the keepers of the canal promote the thriving ecosystem present along the canal. Throughout the tour, Barnes described the various forms of plant life growing around the canal, including loblolly pines, mistletoe, sycamore trees, mimosa trees and wild rice. Throughout the tour, passengers waved at other people also spending their Saturdays

at the canal. Bikers and hikers were using the toe-path that runs along the entire 7 miles of the canal, two kayaks were sharing the water with the Petersburg boat and fishermen were casting their lines along the marshy banks. Barton said the canal is home to about 65 different species of fish, such as bass, brim, catfish and perch. She also pointed out duck houses that the Boy Scouts of America set up for the local wood duck population. “We have wood ducks and mallard ducks,” Barnes said. “They stay here all year round.” At the end of the hour-long trip, the passengers recalled highlights of their ride. Hannah Shell said she especially enjoyed the wildlife and hearing about the different varieties of birds and fish. Both couples said they would come back for other tours offered through the Interpretive Center. Securing the boat for the evening, Cook smiled to the group and said, “Come back and ride with us some more.”

rmclay@gru.edu

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2013

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Golf team heads to Puerto Rico By MEGAN STEWART staff writer The Augusta State men’s golf team will begin the spring portion of its 201213 schedule with a tournament in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, for the annual Puerto Rican Classic tournament. The tournament takes place at the Coco Beach Country Club and will run from Sunday through Tuesday. The tournament was a late addition to the schedule for the golf team, but the invitation was something they couldn’t turn down, said head coach Kevin McPherson. Although the Jaguars did not have a great fall, McPherson said they fully intend on turning that around this spring. “We’ve been playing and practicing since the second week of school this semester,” McPherson said. “We’ve been working really hard on our games, been playing a lot of rounds and scores have been pretty good. The weather hasn’t been cooperative on certain days, but it’s been great on others. I think we’ll fare pretty well down in Puerto Rico.” The team is only allotted 20 hours of team-organized practice a week by the NCAA, but the members of the team squad take initiative to practice outside of that time several days a week, he said. This tournament is going to be one of the Jags’ biggest events this semester and a great opportunity for one of the team’s newcomers – freshman Maverick Antcliff – to make a splash, McPherson said. “Maverick is probably one of our top players, if not our best player,” he said. “This will be his first event down in Puerto Rico, and I expect big things out of him. He’s going to help the team a lot.” Antcliff had to sit out last year due to required core-curriculum classes that were necessary to meet the NCAA requirements when coming from Australia. However, now that those requirements have been met, McPherson said he has become a crucial piece to the Jags’ puzzle. Augusta State competed in five tournaments during the fall and failed to record a top-5 finish in any event. There were some flashes of promise, though, and sophomore Robin Petersson said the young Jags will continue to improve as the season goes on. “In my first year here, we didn’t win,” Petersson said. “It was a rebuilding of the team, so now I think everyone is more experienced, and I think that is what it’s all about. You need to have experience because if you have never played a college tournament before, you will see there is a lot of pressure.” The golf team has been rebuilding since losing its top five players and head coach Josh Gregory from the 2011 team

By FARRELL BROWN staff writer

MEGAN STEWART | STAFF

Augusta State sophomore Robin Petersson polishes his short game during practice at the Jaguars’ athletic complex Thursday, Jan. 31, in preparation for the team’s trip to Puerto Rico later this month.

“We’ve been playing and practicing since the second week of school. I think we’ll fare pretty well down in Puerto Rico.” - Augusta State golf coach Kevin McPherson that won the second of back-to-back national championships, ultimately resulting in a lot of learning experiences for all of the players, as well as McPherson, who is in his second year leading the men’s program after coaching the women’s team for three seasons. “He’s inexperienced like us,” Antcliff said of the coach. “We’re all in the same boat and pretty much on the same journey together, and with each event we’re all getting experience, and (McPherson) is learning as he goes along as well.” The lineup for the event, alongside Augusta State, will include teams such as Alabama, Clemson, East Tennessee State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Michigan and Purdue, McPherson said.

With this being similar to a postseason tournament field and involving many teams that are competing to win the national championship this year, all of the opposing teams playing in Puerto Rico can be seen as the Jags’ biggest competition, he said. McPherson said the caliber of teams that they will have a chance to compete against is just one of the many perks of being able to go to Puerto Rico. “The course that we are playing on is a fantastic golf course,” he said. “The individual winner for the Puerto Rico Classic event that we’re playing in will get a sponsor’s exemption invite into the PGA Tour event that they will have down there just two weeks after our event.”

mstewar7@gru.edu

Netters looking to build on postseason run By ASHLEY TRAWICK staff writer The men’s tennis team’s season is underway and the early returns have the team excited about what lies ahead. The first match of the season took place on Saturday, Feb. 2, against Johnson C. Smith in Charlotte, N.C., and netted a 9-0 for the ninth-ranked Jaguars. Victor Guimaraes, a Brazilian native and junior finance major, said the game went as well as the final score indicated. “It was good,” Guimaraes said. “Everybody was kind of excited and nervous at the same time. It was very cold and very windy so we had to have a good warmup. We did well. It was a good game.” Guimaraes said he hopes the team can continue to perform as well as it did last year despite losing two seniors, Bernardo Fernandes and Jenner Stevenson, from that roster. “We’ve recruited some good new guys,” he said. “I hope we can play at the same level.” Michael McGrath, the head coach of the women’s and men’s tennis teams, said he is proud of his team and that the best moment from last semester was making it to the Final Four. “Making it to the Final Four in Louisville (Ky.) was the best moment of the season,” McGrath said. “Those were our best results to date. That was, by far, the best moment.” Victor Cabellos, a junior business management major from Spain, said he feels good about this season. “The teams are real competitive this year,” Cabellos said. “Last year was a good year. We made it to nationals. We have different players but the same style. Everybody is ready to start and ready to be great.” Wins, of course, are celebrated among

Jaguars’ struggles continue The Augusta State Jaguars fell to the Peach Belt Conference rival Young Harris Mountain Lions Saturday 86-76 in the firstever meeting between the two teams. The loss continued a disappointing run for the Jags, who have gone 5-9 since opening the season with six consecutive wins. “The team that was 6-0, we don’t have that same team right now,” said senior forward Travis Keels. Junior guard Ryan Weems was the leading scorer against Young Harris with 21 points. Devonte Thomas led the team with 8 rebounds while D’Angelo Boyce dished out 9 assists. Sophomore forward Devon WrightNelson played the game with a sprained right ankle. He was in for seven minutes and contributed 2 points, a rebound and 3 assists. The Jags outscored the Mountain Lions 41-28 in the paint but went cold offensively in the second half to drop to 6-7 against Peach Belt Conference opponents. Weems, who registered a career-high 32 points in a 70-68 overtime win over Clayton State at Christenberry Fieldhouse Thursday, said the team has had to do its best to press on after losing three players – forwards Harold Doby and Chad July and guard Josh Samuels – to suspension or dismissal in the last month. “We’re all basketball players,” Weems said. “Everyone here is a basketball player, so whether you like it or not you have to do it. Stuff like this happens all the time with other (teams), not just us, so sometimes you just have to step up.” Both Keels and head coach Dip Metress said the remaining Augusta State players had to learn expanded roles and play out of position. Keels said the team is still playing hard and won’t dwell on the bad parts of its season. Sophomore swingman Roman Hill added that the team is scrappier than before. If there has been a silver lining to their recent run of losses, Weems said it is that the team has learned a lot about its character. “You don’t know yourself until you go through adversity,” he said. “So we’re just finding ourselves and finding out who’s made of what.” With the recent events of losing major pieces of the team, the Jags had to shake up the roster and give minutes to players who weren’t used to or expecting to be playing. The team has also concentrated more on individual development, Metress said. The struggles of the team have brought them closer together and helped team chemistry. Everyone has been stepping up and trying to fill in the gaps, Hill said. Weems said the team has been there for each other and stayed together mentally. Metress joked that even assistant coaches Dee Howard and Jamie Quarles have been dressing for team practices. “After the (USC) Aiken game (a 76-62 loss for the Jags Saturday, Feb. 2), we sat down and said we’re going to reevaluate our goals,” Metress said. “Our goal is to reach the conference tournament. We have to win whatever number of games to reach the conference tournament and that’ll put ourselves in the Peach Belt tournament and take out chances from there. That’s the situation we’re in right now.” The team has far from given up on postseason play. The team plans to keep working and see how far it can go, Keels said. Hill pointed to Metress’ motto for the team of “play hard and win.” “It’s pretty up and down right now,” Hill said. “We can do it though.” The Jags will try to get back on track Thursday against the Columbus State Cougars in Columbus, Ga.

fbrown19@gru.edu

LEIGH BEESON | STAFF

Junior Victor Cabellos, one of the Augusta State men’s tennis team’s key returners from last year’s squad that advanced to the NCAA Division II Final Four in Louisville, Ky., prepares to unleash a forehand shot during practice.

the team but losses teach more lessons, McGrath said. “You know what to work on when you get on the practice court,” McGrath said. “You know what you need to improve on.” Guimaraes added that lessons can be learned from both wins and losses. “We had a big game (last year) against Flagler that we won,” he said. “It gave us a lot of confidence. Right away, we played against Georgia College and that was a game that we kind of hoped to win since we were very prepared and we lost. They’re both important experiences to learn from.” McGrath said his men will have to

maintain a high level of dedication because other Peach Belt Conference teams will be gunning for them. “I think we’re in a situation where there’s a target on our backs now,” he said. “I want them to go to work every day as if every opponent is a threat, and we have to be careful not to play not to lose. We’re going to have to play to win, day in and day out.” Cabellos added that teamwork is vital. “I know it’s going to be tough and going to be hard,” he said. “I think we have a pretty solid team this year. I think we have see TENNIS on PAGE 9

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Second sacker back home By REBECCA PERBETSKY staff writer Baseball may not be what Augusta State athletics are known for, but if Jeff Rice had it his way it would be. Rice is the second baseman for the Jaguars, and, like most players, he got his start in the sport at a young age. “I started playing T-ball for my dad when I was 5,” Rice said. “I loved it. It’s thrilling to play and very rewarding when you are doing good.” With his dad as his coach while playing for the MartinezEvans Little League, Rice received help from his father not only on the field but off it as well, Rice said. “If I’m ever struggling, I’ll talk to him about things, and he’ll give me his perspective on it, what I could change to make it different,” Rice said. “We will go out to this day and practice together.” Even though his father was not able to coach him after T-ball, Rice was able to move forward to machine-pitch baseball and then on to other teams. He played baseball at Evans Middle School in Evans, Ga., and during this time he also played travel ball for the Colum-

bia County Stars. It was with this team that Rice’s hard work finally paid off, he said. “We won the USSSA (United States Specialty Sports Association) World Series,” Rice said. “We had tried for five years and we finally won it when I was 15, down in Kissimmee, Fla. We played in a bunch of big-league spring-training facilities.” After becoming a World Series champ at the age of 15, Rice moved on to high school ball and played for Evans. It was right after high school, Rice said, when he decided where his next move would be with baseball. “Out of high school, I talked to (current Augusta State head coach Chris Cooper) a couple times about coming here,” Rice said. “I also had an offer to go to Mercer right out of high school, and at the time Coop wasn’t the coach.” After accepting the offer at Mercer, Rice played only one year before deciding the Bears’ program wasn’t for him. After getting his release from the school, he said he decided to talk to Cooper, and after that Rice made the decision to come home and play again. “I thought he had a very high baseball IQ,” Cooper said. “I really liked him, and I really wanted

REBECCA PERBETSKY | STAFF

Jaguars’ junior second baseman Jeff Rice offers a high-five to a teammate during a 5-4 win for Augusta State over the Carson-Newman Eagles Friday, Feb. 1, at Lake Olmstead Stadium.

him to be here. I liked his skill level, but his baseball IQ was the first thing.” Not only does Rice have a great understanding of the game but Cooper said Rice also showed the rest of the team that there isn’t much of a difference between Division-I baseball and Division-II baseball. Cooper wasn’t the only one who saw Rice’s potential. Joey Warren, the athletic media relations director at Georgia Regents, said he also saw what Rice could bring to the table. “He didn’t have the best year (in 2012) as far as batting average,” Warren said. “But he’s been one of our best players for two years in a row. He is a hard worker and is one of the toughest guys that I’ve ever been around. I wouldn’t say he has a chip on his shoulder, but he definitely gets the most out of his ability.” As a freshman at Augusta State, Rice was able to go to the conference championship with the baseball team, and Warren said he shined on the team’s biggest stage of the season. “He hit some big home runs for us,” Warren said. “He played huge in the conference tournament, we got hot and made it to the championship game, and he had a grand slam that was obviously a big play for us. He is a little guy, but he’s got some power.” At 5-foot-8, Rice might be seen as the little guy on the team, but Cooper said he is an intense guy who brings the mentality of a football player onto the baseball field. Rice said he credits his dad for allowing him to go as far as he has in baseball. “He instilled a lot of work ethic in me,” Rice said. “He got on my case about a lot of things, which is good for me in the future because, you know, at this level you mess up and you’re going to know about it. He instilled that drive in me. Baseball is one of those sports that’s year-round and a lot of work goes into it.” This season, Rice said he hopes to not let injuries get in his way. He also said that with the team the Jaguars have this year, which opened the season by winning two out of three games against Carson-Newman, there is no reason the Jags can’t make a push for a spot in the NCAA Regionals.

Tennis CONTINUED from PAGE 8

the level meet our goal to go to nationals again. As an individual player, McGrath has taught me to be more aggressive.” Throughout the season, the men battle with academics and working as well as being athletic. McGrath, who is entering into his 16th year coaching for Augusta State, said trying to teach them about time management is very important. “Time management in our sport is huge,” he said. “We play 25 dates and sometimes we play twice a day. I think time management is the biggest thing. Balancing athletics and academics is not always easy. I think we focus on getting the most we can in the allotted time we can be out here. Communi-

cating with the professors and making up if they miss class time is important.” There are plenty of talented players on the team but McGrath said everyone works together. “There is no superstar,” McGrath said. “We’re going to be a blue-collar team and we’re going to have to work for everything we get. That’s kind of the way we were last season. I think the returners know that we got where we got through hard work and team unity. There were eight guys that were on a team; there was no superstar. Every single guy contributes something throughout the year.”

atrawick@gru.edu

rperbets@gmail.com

WWE Pre-Game Pandemonium Wrestling superstars invade Augusta

signature spots, including Orton with his rope-hung DDT and his double clothesline, powerslam combo, and Rhodes with his diIt’s hard to explain the prisaster kick. In the end, though, mal thrill that comes from watchOrton sent everyone to break ing two grown men beat each happy as he hit Rhodes with his other up for several minutes in a finisher, the RKO, to get the vicscripted match, but I’ll pay whattory. ever’s necessary to watch those At intermission, I got Ashtwo grown men, provided they’re ley’s poster and picked up my with World Wrestling Entertainown souvenir, a shirt showing ment. my support of I have been a WWE superstar WWE fan since the Ryback. “I have been a WWE fan since the summer of 2002. Back from My fandom has the break, a only gone up in team of Hissummer of 2002. My fandom has the 11 years since panic cousI really got into it, ins, Epico and and in the past four Primo, took on only gone up in the 11 years since.” years or so I have the team of The taken every opporPunjabi Giant, tunity possible to The Great Khali go to WWE house and the masked shows when they come to the The third match pitted soon- luchador, Sin Cara. Khali is 7 feet James Brown Arena. to-debut superstar Fandango tall and weighs 400 pounds. ToSunday, Feb. 3, WWE came against longtime low-man-on- gether Epico and Primo only outfor what it dubbed “Pre-Game the-totem-pole, Yoshi Tatsu. I’ve weigh Khali by 38 pounds. Khali Pandemonium,” and instead of always liked Tatsu because I’m a landed The Punjabi Plunge to win a night show, as is typical, the fan of most superstars from other the match handily. event started at 1 p.m. so every- countries, and he comes from JaThe penultimate matchup one could get home in time for pan, which is one of my favorite saw the Intercontinental Champithe Super Bowl. places period. on, Wade Barrett, go against one Usually, I go alone because Fandango came out and you of my favorite superstars, The either no one else is willing to could just feel his cocky bad-guy Great White, Sheamus. Honestly, spend the money or they don’t attitude oozing off of him, but he if I were to become a wrestler, I have the money to spend, but I had every right to be cocky as he could be a copy of Sheamus, save was fortunate this time because managed a quick victory with a the Irish brogue. my friend Ashley, who loves modified reverse STO. Just like the Rhodes and OrWWE as much as I do, bought my The fourth match, and the ton match this one was a good ticket for me and went with me. last before intermission, pitted length and each man hit their sigI paid her back with interest as I Cody Rhodes, who hails from nature spots, Sheamus with White got her an autographed poster of Marietta, Ga., against my friend Noise and Barrett with the Winds her favorite WWE superstar. Ashley’s favorite superstar: The of Change. In the end, Sheamus’s The afternoon kicked off with Viper, Randy Orton. earth-shattering Brogue Kick, The Funkasaurus, Brodus Clay, Orton and Rhodes have a my favorite move in WWE togoing up against rising NXT star long history together, which day, brought the match to a quick Corey Graves. I had never seen makes matches like this just that and brutal end, leaving Sheamus Graves before this show, and he much better because the two men standing tall over the fallen Bardidn’t get a chance to make much know each other so well. It was a rett. of an impression before Clay good match as each man hit his The final match was for the By JACOB SCHARFF staff writer

used a running splash to flatten him into the canvas and get the victory. The second match was between two of WWE’s gorgeous divas, Layla and Aksana. Aksana is the bad girl, but if I had to pick between her and Layla, well, she edges Layla out by a bit. In the match, though, Layla edged out Aksana and picked up the victory with a springboard crossbody.

JACOB SCHARFF | STAFF

Aiken, S.C., native Paul Wight, better known as “Big Show” in the wrestling ring, prepares for his bout with Alberto del Rio at James Brown Arena Sunday, Feb. 3.

World Heavyweight Championship and was a no-disqualification match. The contender was the former champion, the 7-foot-tall, 500-pound Big Show. The reigning champion was The Mexican Aristocrat, Alberto del Rio. Show’s huge size advantage kept him in control early, but as del Rio started bringing weapons into play, like kendo sticks and tables, the tide began to turn. Things looked bleak for the champion, though, as Big Show connected with what is a usually deadly chokeslam. However, del Rio managed to kick out of the pinfall that followed the chokeslam. Del Rio slowly fought back into

the match and managed to set up a table in one of the corners of the ring. He ascended to the top rope and grabbed Big Show’s head and used a move called the bulldog to drive Big Show’s face through the table and get the pinfall to send del Rio’s fans home happy. I love house shows because if you’re up close you get to interact with the wrestlers in ways you really don’t on a TV taping. Plus, they’re a good way to see upcoming talent. There’s a good chance with it only being February that WWE could return to Augusta, Ga., before 2014. I know I’ll be going.

jscharff@gru.edu

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2013

SPORTS www.asubellringer.com

The voices behind the action

JAGS SPORTS SCHEDULE BASEBALL Feb. 12 vs. Erskine Feb. 13 at Anderson Feb. 16-17 vs. Armstrong Atlantic State (Lake Olmstead Stadium) Feb. 19 at Paine Feb. 23-24 at Columbus State

BASKETBALL Feb. 14 at Columbus St. Feb. 16 at Ga. Southwestern Feb. 20 vs. Lander Feb. 23 vs. Francis Marion

MEN’S GOLF Feb. 17-19 at Puerto Rico Classic, Coco Beach Country Club (Rio Grande, Puerto Rico)

Patrick and Thurman paint picture for Jaguar fans

WOMEN’S GOLF Feb. 18-19 at Central District Invitational, River Wilderness Country Club (Parrish, Fla.)

SOFTBALL Feb. 13 at Erskine (doubleheader) Feb. 15 vs. Alabama-Huntsville (Decatur, Ala.) Feb. 15 vs. Barry (Decatur, Ala.) Feb. 16 vs. North Alabama (Decatur, Ala.) Feb. 16 vs. Charleston (Decatur, Ala.) Feb. 17 vs. Florida Tech (Decatur, Ala.) Feb. 17 vs. Indianapolis (Decatur, Ala.) Feb. 22 vs. West Georgia (Greeneville, Tenn.)

Feb. 22 vs. Tusculum (Greeneville, Tenn.) Feb. 23 vs. Shepherd (Greeneville, Tenn.) Feb. 23 vs. King (Greeneville, Tenn.)

MEN’S TENNIS Feb. 12 at Georgia College Feb. 16 vs. Columbus State Feb. 17 vs. Georgia Southwestern Feb. 18 at UNC Asheville Feb. 21 at Lander Feb. 25 at Lynn

WOMEN’S TENNIS Feb. 13 at UNC Asheville Feb. 16 vs. Columbus State Feb. 17 vs. Georgia Southwestern Feb. 19 at Clayton State Feb. 21 at Lander

ASHLEY TRAWICK | STAFF

Robert Thurman, the color commentator for Augusta State’s basketball webcasts, surveys the action during a men’s game against Clayton State Thursday.

By ASHLEY TRAWICK staff writer Sitting in the stands and cheering during a sports event can be exciting but not as much so when a fan is home feeling ill and watching the game from a computer. The men’s voices fans hear during the webcast versions of Augusta State sporting events are those of play-by-play man John Patrick and color commentator Robert Thurman. Patrick is the host of a weekly golf show that currently airs in seven markets, and Thurman is the vice president of an Augusta, Ga., branch of Queensborough National Bank and Trust Company. The pair has served as web broadcasters for Augusta State athletic events for several years, Patrick said. “I got a call from (Augusta State athletic media relations director) Joey Warren about four years ago in the middle of the afternoon,” he said. “The guy who did it before me couldn’t do it anymore. He called and said, ‘Can you do this? Will you do it?’ I’ve been in radio for a long time but I’d never done play-by-play, so I said let’s give it a shot.” Patrick’s role during the game is to provide play-by-plays for the

“I got a call from Joey Warren about four years ago. He said, ‘Can you do this? Will you do this?’”

- Augusta State basketball play-by-play announcer John Patrick teams on the court. He said that, due to being in radio for 35 years, he often forgets the game is being shown on video. “Through the years of doing it, I’ve gotten more conscious of the fact that it’s also being shown on video,” he said. “I don’t have to do it like it’s radio because people are also watching it. I don’t have to describe every piece of action. It’s taken me a while to get comfortable with just realizing I don’t have to call every single nuance of the game.” Although the job is fun and entertaining, Patrick said the toughest part about doing it is remembering the opposing players’ names. “You want to do it the best you can,” he said. “That means, as quickly as I can, getting my arms around the opposing players. I don’t want him or her to be No. 26 or 13. It’s when you introduce them and realize No. 13 has a first and last name on the opposing team. During the course of the game, you’re referring to them normally by their last name. I try to refer to ASU

by their first name. I see them every day, but the visiting teams change.” Thurman has been a color commenter for Augusta State for six years. He said he and Dip Metress, the head coach of the men’s basketball team, and their families have been friends for 20 years, and that’s why he was chosen for the job. “I’m a big Jags fan,” Thurman said. “I’m a big basketball fan. The best part is watching these guys and getting to know them. The worst part is seeing what some of these guys do off the court that ruins the reason why they got here.” Thurman said everyone acquainted with him knows he’s a huge Jaguars fan, but he will tell it like it is on the court, regardless of whether they’re playing well. “I talk about the players,” he said. “I talk about the referees. I cheer for the Jags, but if they play bad, I’m going to tell you. But if they’re playing good, I’m going to say the same thing and I’ll talk about the guys on the other team. I’ve actually gone

up to the players and coaches on the other team and congratulated them. Some of them know who I am. That’s a lot of fun, too.” Thurman said that even if he and Patrick weren’t commenting on the games, they’d still support the Jags. Patrick also expressed how much he enjoys his job and his delight at being able to comment on and watch a sport he loves. “The best part is I’m sitting back watching basketball,” Patrick said. “I come in and watch a couple of basketball games every night. I can’t argue with that. It’s fun.” For others who want to achieve success with radio broadcasting or sports broadcasting, Patrick said it is important to be dedicated. “Show an interest and be willing to do anything,” he said. “No matter what they ask you to do, go ahead and do it. You’ve got to show compassion and be willing to do what it takes.”

atrawick@gru.edu

Lady Jags learn tough lessons against top-ranked foes By FARRELL BROWN staff writer After the greatest start in school history, the Lady Jaguars’ basketball team was served some humble pie during a recent homestand against two top-10 teams. A nailbiting 56-55 loss to No. 6 USC Aiken Saturday, Feb. 2, was followed by a 67-54 defeat to No. 3 and unbeaten Clayton State at Christenberry Fieldhouse. The Lady Jags bounced back from the setbacks with a 56-50 win at Young Harris Saturday to improve to 16-4 and 9-4 in Peach Belt Conference play. In the losses to the Pacers and Lakers, the Lady Jags held secondhalf leads before wilting late. Augusta State led USC Aiken by 5 in the final seconds before losing on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer and built a 13-point halftime advantage over Clayton State before getting routed in the final 20 minutes. “We got to learn how when we get up to maintain the lead and (make) less mistakes down the stretch,” guard Tanchelle Hollingsworth said after the Clayton State game. Hollingsworth said the Lady Jags realize they’re a good team but also that they have to raise their level of play. Augusta State head coach Nate Teymer said after the loss to the Lakers that the 23rd-ranked Lady Jags are on the cusp of joining the nation’s elite but will only get there if

DAVID WICKER | CONTRIBUTOR

Augusta State guard Brittany White fights through two Montevallo defenders during a victory over the Lady Jaguars’ conference rival Falcons Monday, Dec. 17.

they avoid the costly mistakes that doomed them in the second half. “Anyone we play we’re capable of beating,” Teymer said. “We (have) got to do things right. If we make mistakes kind of like we did tonight we won’t go very far, but if we can put it together we can go a little ways.” Junior guard Becky Newhouse said that while the recent losses were disappointing, the Lady Jags showed what they’re capable of when they’re executing well. “If we play up to our potential,

we can be up there in our conference,” Newhouse said. “I know we can play with them, it’s just we have to put a whole 40 minutes together. Once we get a full 40 minutes together, I feel like our team will be one of the top teams in the nation.” Teymer maintains his one-gameat-a-time philosophy, noting that when goals are set based on winning streaks and postseason plans, a team can start to overlook some important games and make critical errors. Teymer cited Newhouse and

senior forward Tiffany Jaecks as the most improved players on this year’s team. He said Newhouse has stepped up more with getting rebounds and taking better shots. He also noted that Jaecks is playing more consistently. Senior guard Brittany White said one of the most gratifying aspects of this season has been the national credibility that the team has earned so far this season while acknowledging that the team hasn’t been nationally ranked in a long time and expects to remain underdogs through the season and into the postseason. The growing support of the student body and the local community has also been a high point of this season, Teymer said. “It makes you look forward to it,” Teymer said. “To be a college basketball player you (have) got to be competitive. You got to want to play the best teams. When we get to the conference tournament, it’s the best eight in our conference. If we’re fortunate enough to make it to a regional, it’s the best eight in the region. Those are good teams so you got to look forward to it. You got to be proud that you’re one of them.” While Teymer has not given any postseason predictions, his players said they plan to go far into the postseason. Newhouse said the Lady Jags’ players want to send the team’s seniors off on a high note.

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