Volume 55, Issue 10 by The Bell Ringer

GEORGIA REGENTS UNIVERSITY

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VOLUME 55, ISSUE 10

NEWS | PAGE 2

TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013

ARTS & LIFE | PAGE 7

The Student Government Association discusses the issue of firearms on campus.

Local boutique makes a big statement with its art and style.

SPORTS | PAGE 10

Men’s basketball team struggles while women’s team rises to top of Peach Belt Conference.

Fitness program plans to reshape student health

Firearm found at University Village results in men’s basketball player’s arrest

By KARL FRAZIER correspondent

An Augusta State University basketball player was arrested at his University Village apartment after Public Safety officers found a loaded handgun in his room. William McBride, the director of the Department of Public Safety and chief of police at Georgia Regents University, said Harold Doby, a 21-year-old junior forward for the Augusta State University men’s basketball team, was arrested Wednesday evening, Jan. 16, at 6 p.m. on felony charges of possessing a firearm on university property after Public Safety officers found a 38-caliber Colt revolver in his bedroom. The report states that Officers Jeff Lord and Gregory Lemons and Sgt. Chris Adcox found the gun after Victor Goad, a maintenance worker at the complex, responded to a complaint in the apartment suite belonging to senior center Chad July, who was dismissed from the team Thursday, Jan. 17; senior forward Travis Keels; sophomore guard Roman Hill and Doby. When Goad came to conduct the repairs, Dorian Sabb, 23, and Tarquintaud Smith, 39, were inside the apartment suite. Both of the men were unconnected to the university. While inside, Goad saw a marijuana grinder on the table in the common area. McBride said the four basketball players were at basketball practice at the time. He said Goad alerted Public Safety officers who were on duty patrolling the Village. They then came in and investigated the scene. “They issued them the misdemeanor of possession of marijuana and threw them off campus because they had no reason to be there,” McBride said. “They weren’t students or anything.” But while escorting Sabb and

With the number of unhealthy students continuing to rise, one fitness program is taking action to solve the problem. Kaelan Woodall, a senior nursing student and chair of a student wellness and intramural committee at Georgia Regents University, said the idea of the Student Health Initiative developed after noticing a limited amount of opportunity for students. “There were no programs to incentivize fitness or wellness,” Woodall said. “I thought what better way to get people up and get them motivated than to have a little bit of healthy competition amongst students.” The initiative will give students the possibility of winning money, getting free stuff and losing weight at the same time, Woodall said. The program’s main goal is for students to get healthier. Because the program is health oriented, Woodall said the program is not just about losing weight. Woodall started the program in October 2012. After getting the approval from her advisors, Woodall said she received help from the marketing and IT program to start a website. Eventually, the program received a lot of support from the community, including both campuses. “We have been getting support from the administrators because it is the first (Georgia Regents) initiative, and it’s all student led,” Woodall said. “We have gotten funds from the (Student Government Association), Colsee FITNESS on PAGE 3

FEES UPDATE The following are Georgia Regents University’s suggestions for tuition and fees for

non-health sciences students:

- Summer 2013 tuition and fees will not be affected by merger - Currently enrolled students will continue at the current rate plus standard USG Fall 2013 increase - New freshmen & transfer students will see increase plus standard USG Fall 2013 increase Rate increases are made by the University System of Georgia Board of Regents. Approved Fall 2013 tuition and fees will be announced after April 1, 2013

By RON HICKERSON chief reporter

DAVID WICKER | CONTRIBUTOR

Harold Doby, junior forward for the Jaguars, was arrested on felony charges of possessing a firearm on university property.

Smith off campus, officers also found a small bag of marijuana lying on a bed inside Doby’s room, McBride said. According to the report, Sabb had stashed the bag between the sheets. With that discovery, officers asked the players for consent to search all of their rooms

when they returned from practice. The players gave their consent, and officers commenced the search. “In the process of searching the rooms to see if there’s any more dope in there, they find a .38 in Doby’s room loaded,” McBride said. “That’s a felony. That’s a violation.

You can’t have guns in a dorm, so he was arrested for that offense.” According to the police report, officers found the handgun in a sock placed between the mattress and box springs of Doby’s bed. After Public Safety officers arrested Doby, McBride said Public Safety officials then called Ricardo Azziz, the president of Georgia Regents; Clint Bryant, the director of the athletics department; and Dip Metress, the head coach of the men’s basketball team, to notify them of the arrest. The university responded by sending out a press release for its only comment. As of now, Doby has been charged and suspended indefinitely from classes and the basketball team, according to the statement. “He’s been suspended, pending on the outcome of some student judiciary issues,” McBride said. “They (the judiciary committee) will determine A, if he can stay on the team and B, if he can stay a student.” Joey Warren, the director of communications for the athletics department, said the department is not available to comment on Doby’s arrest because of its status as a pending criminal investigation. “The institution will investigate this matter for potential violations to the university’s student code of conduct and will partner with local law enforcement agencies to resolve this matter,” Georgia Regents’ statement read. “The safety and concern of our students is our top priority, and we will continue to take all reasonable precautions to ensure the safety of our campus community.” The statement concluded by saying no more comments pertaining to the arrest will be made at this time.

rhickers@gru.edu

New major program of study merges music and medicine By RON HICKERSON chief reporter In an attempt to combine art and medicine, the music department plans to establish a music therapy program in the new university by the fall 2014 semester. Angela Morgan, the chair of the music department at Georgia Regents University and a professor of music, said associate professor of music Christine Crookall and assistant professor of music education Suzanne Hall have been working together to create this program. If the program were established, Georgia Regents would be one of three schools in Georgia to offer a music therapy program, along with the University of Georgia and Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville, Ga., Mor-

To mark the beginning of dedicated a piano to the

a new music cancer center

gan said. The program would equip more students to become music therapists to help patients cope with physical and emotional pain because there are very few music therapists in the area. When asked for a simple definition of the therapy, Hall referenced a summation offered by the American Music Therapists’ Association. “They define it as health care profession, and it uses music to help individuals improve

JILLIAN HOBDAY | STAFF

therapy program, the music department lobby at the Health Sciences campus.

physical, emotional, cognitive and social functioning,” Hall said. “And these are individuals of all ages.” Crookall and Hall said music therapy began as a treatment option after World War II for veterans coping with their experiences in the war. “Music in many ways can access parts of the brain that other therapies or other treatments see THERAPY on PAGE 2

Course analyzes correlation between zombies and the political spectrum By STEPHANIE DILLARD contributor

JACQUELYN PABON | STAFF

Craig Albert, an assistant professor of political science and zombie enthusiast, adorns his desk with “Zombie Outbreak” caution tape and literature about zombies and politics.

Zombies haven’t only invaded pop culture, but they are taking over the classrooms as well. Taught by Craig Albert, a zombie aficionado and an assistant professor of political science, Zombies & Politics is being offered this semester at Georgia Regents University. The 4950-level course addresses the relationship between flesh-eating zombies and politics. “Zombies are one of the hottest things in popular culture right now,” Albert said. “As a scholar, that caused me to wonder, ‘Why? Why are we obsessed with zombies?’” With zombies taking over the mainstream, bringing them into the classroom only made sense, he said. Cory Williams, a junior political science major, said he believes students will have to look past the entertainment factor that zombies bring and really focus on the political themes. “You don’t really watch a zombie movie and pick up on that,” Williams said, “You are

distracted by everything going on.” Zombies are used as a tool in this class to teach students about three main concepts. The first concept is existential philosophy, which addresses the question of who individuals are as humans. “Hopefully, each student in the class will have an epiphanial moment trying to discover who they are,” Albert said. “They will be able to do that through looking at what they’re not through the zombies.” Albert said he asks the class questions like, “What makes a zombie a zombie?” and “How can we distinguish zombies from humans?” He also engages the class in discussions about consumerism using the zombie model. “Zombies are often insatiable, meaning that they can never be satisfied no matter how much they eat,” Albert said. “They always want more and that’s a good way to critique us as humans because usually that’s how we are with consumer products.” Williams compared Black Friday shoppers see ZOMBIES on PAGE 3

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013 www.asubellringer.com

NEWS SGA reacts to proposed campus carry bills By LEIGH BEESON copy editor

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 staff writers KEREYIA BUTLER JAMIE LOWE RYAN MCLAY REBECCA PERBETSKY JACOB SCHARFF NIKKI SKINNER MEGAN STEWART ASHLEY TRAWICK MINDY WADLEY JORDAN WILLIAMS FARRELL BROWN contributor STEPHANIE DILLARD DAVID WICKER circulation manager TREY UNDERWOOD zildjianman08@gmail.com advertising manager HANNAH FOERSTER hannahrosefoerster@gmail.com web master SI-LONG CHEN schen1@gru.edu

Pending legislature in the Georgia House of Representatives is inspiring action within Georgia Regents University’s undergraduate Student Government Association. Partially as a response to last month’s elementary school massacre in Newtown, Conn., Georgia representatives have introduced several bills related to guns. Two of the bills, House Bills 29 and 35, would directly affect Georgia schools, Senatorat-large Amanda Bryant said. “The two (bills) affecting schools would be allowing concealed carry for students, obviously if they’re able to carry legally, and the other would be for administrators to concealed carry,” said the junior political science major. “(Georgia) Gov. (Nathan) Deal is actually very much behind allowing administrators to (carry).” Bryant, who owns guns and has applied for a concealed carry permit, said she plans to ask the SGA to hold a forum to educate students on the issue. “We can have people that are very knowledgeable – police officers, maybe the sheriff, people

JILLIAN HOBDAY | STAFF

The undergraduate Student Government Association at Georgia Regents University plans to conduct several “flag polls” to gauge student opinion on various issues, such as on-campus childcare and campus carry.

from Georgia Carry – come in and actually speak about the pros and cons of campus carry,” she said. “We can educate the student body before we just present (a poll saying) ‘Hey, do you think we should carry guns on campus?’ That alludes to the fact that it’s just going to be a crazy mess, and I don’t want (students) to see it that way. I want it to be an educated response.” SGA President Andrew Phillips said he was unsure of his own

position on the campus carry bills. “One is about administrators having guns and the other one is about students having guns, which are two very different things to me,” he said. “I don’t even really know that any kind of dumb restrictions can help when it comes to class shootings. I mean, when someone comes into… class and starts shooting people, how do you prepare for that?” The SGA will likely conduct a “flag poll” in the weeks after the

forum to gauge students’ opinions on allowing concealed guns on campus, said Daniel Porter, a senator from the College of Education. The poll would ask students walking by the flag pole in the center of the Summerville campus to give a thumbs-up sign if they are in favor of campus carry or a thumbs-down if they are opposed. Students can also discuss the issue with one of the senators running the survey if they have see SGA on PAGE 3

Therapy CONTINUED from PAGE 1

are unable to do,” Crookall said. “And it’s really in the last 20 or 30 years that they’ve really kind of opened that up. It’s been around a lot longer, but today it’s being used as a more holistic approach.” Morgan agreed, saying music is a powerful tool that can be used to help patients cope with the physical or emotional pain of any disease, though this program would mainly deal with cancer as the music department begins partnering with the university’s cancer center. Morgan said the idea for the program was born last May when she met with other university officials to discuss a possible music therapy program. Samir Khleif, the director of the Cancer Center, said he called Morgan to see if the music department would be interested in such a program. He said the department was very excited and was extremely cooperative, taking the offer to the next level by beginning the process of forming a music therapy major. “We thought it would be a wonderful marriage of the medical side of the new university and the liberal arts,” Morgan said. Hall agreed. Forming this program just made sense in light of the merger. “Once we knew we were merging with a health care professional institution, it just seemed feasible,” she said. “Because the degree is a health care professional degree, it just seemed natural for us to do this because what we have for the degree and what they can bring forth for the degree just seems like a natural fit.” The department is now undergoing the process of attaining approval from the University System of Georgia Board of Regents. Morgan said she hopes to have the first music therapy students enrolled by the fall semester of 2014. As a part of this process, the department held an informational meeting last November, during which they were able to gauge the interest of students, community members and alumni.

JILLIAN HOBDAY | STAFF

A possible new music therapy degree program will combine the use of instruments like pianos, guitars and voice with modern-day, traditional medicinal practices and treatments.

“Everything has been very positive,” Hall said. “A lot of students come here who were really intending to do something music therapy-related and so this really opened the door to more options for our students, and that’s what I think is the goal of the new GRU is to have more options for our students and to grow more programs that they would be interested in.” Crookall said the department has also heard from a lot of alumni who said they would be interested in coming back to take the training to become certified music therapists. “(Music therapy) has a foundation in the core classes that we offer here and then the students will have to take music therapy-related courses or therapy-related courses,” said Hall, explaining the process students will have to go through. “Then, as part of their degree, they will also have clinical experiences so they will have to go out into the field and practice with a licensed therapist and doing this therapeutic care.” Also, on the administrative side, Crookall said the department will need to hire a professor capable of teaching the music therapy courses. Once the program is instituted, Morgan said she is interested in having students involved in research projects showing the effects of music on the brain. But the department has already begun taking steps to establish a place in the Cancer Center’s music therapy, which is growing now that it has hired a music therapist

for the first time, Khleif said. Since the program’s inception, the music department dedicated a piano to the Cancer Center lobby Thursday, Dec. 20. Morgan said playing this piano for patients waiting to be treated will be one of the ways students can begin their music therapy experience, giving students the opportunity to get performance experience. Since the piano’s dedication, Morgan said faculty members have been volunteering at the Cancer Center to play the piano and that students will begin volunteering soon, now that the spring semester has begun. By playing in the lobby, Morgan said these informal performances are one way to treat patients, by helping them get their minds off their upcoming treatment or any pain they may be experiencing. Khleif said patients at the Cancer Center have responded very positively to the piano music played in the lobby. Along with music therapy, he said the center has been working on developing other alternative therapies, such as art therapy, massage therapy, body and mind therapy, and aroma therapy, to treat its patients. He said the Cancer Center offers these therapies in to order to meet the philosophy of the center to address and treat every aspect of the patient. “We do not treat the disease,” Khleif said. “We treat the patient.”

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By MEGAN STEWART staff writer Students in need of help outside the classroom can find assistance hidden around campus. Student Support Services at Georgia Regents University offers many tutoring opportunities for students with academic needs. For assistance in one of the major subjects, tutoring labs such as the Mathematics Assistance Center (MAC), the Writing Center, the Foreign Language Lab, Accounting and Computer Science tutoring and the Science Learning Center are available to students free of charge. Taking advantage of the support provided is important, said Christopher Terry, the chair of the department of mathematics. “The idea is to provide to those students who are struggling with some support, with somewhere to go when they don’t know where to go,” he said. “We’ve gathered a good bit of data, and it does seem that students that go to our MAC lab, they do a little bit better and we have evidence of that.” One on one experience is an important aspect of these services, said Brooke McGuire, the MAC administrator. “It’s much easier to learn working one on one with somebody than

MEGAN STEWART | STAFF

At the Mathematics Assistance Center, located on the second floor in Allgood Hall, a tutor works on equations with a fellow student.

it is to learn when you’re one person in a room of 20 or 30,” she said. “That’s where the tutor centers come in, and you can get the individual attention that you need, that you can’t get in a classroom.” Roberto Franco, a senior education major, tutors at the Writing Center. Even as a tutor, he said he has taken advantage of some of the other tutoring available on campus. Alongside the help that tutoring provides to the students, being a tutor itself can be a rewarding experience, Terry said. “It is good for the tutors because they get experience teaching other

students,” he said. “Frankly, you learn by having to explain something to other people, and they get paid a little bit so that’s good too.” In some departments, professors require students to take tutoring if they make below a certain grade on an assignment or test. “I don’t think it should be mandatory, but the option should be presented and explained,” Franco said. “If the option is presented, then it is in the student’s power in choosing between improving their skills or failing.” The busiest times for the labs are generally around major test

times. However, there is an issue when the labs close the week between classes ending and finals starting, McGuire said. “I had an issue last semester where I had to receive tutoring before my final,” said Kristiana Fernandez, a sophomore psychology major. “In Spanish, if we made below an 80 on a test, it was mandatory to go before you could take the next test. I usually didn’t mind because the tutoring was helpful, but this time it was a week between each test, if you exclude the week that the school is out before finals. Between studying for my other finals, working and the lab availability times, it was almost impossible.” The benefits of tutoring are seen in the improvement of a student’s work but sometimes it takes more than one visit to the labs to see the change, McGuire said. “You can go (to tutoring) and get with somebody who is speaking a totally different (academic) language than you are,” she said. “You have to find a tutor that fits best with your learning style. I know a lot of people who say that, ‘Oh I tried it, and it wasn’t any help at all.’ You might have to try it two or three times before you find that right fit for you.”

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‘Hazing’ hazily Newly renovated, non-university apartment complex defined at aims at attracting students and younger crowd workshop “Cascade Pointe was 100

By RYAN McLAY staff writer

rmclay@gru.edu

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- Nick Greeno, Campus Side leasing consultant

By JORDAN WILLIAMS staff writer The student housing apartment complex formerly known as Cascade Pointe is under new management and cleansed of its bad reputation. The current owner of what is now Campus Side Apartments has attempted to create a “utopian” sort of experience for college students and other young adults. Owner Paul Walsh first started the process of renovation with the exterior and interior of the property. Each apartment is now equipped with brand new appliances, cabinetry, and new carpet and hardwood flooring, said Campus Side leasing consultant Nick Greeno. Not only were the apartments renovated cosmetically but the residency problem of Cascade Pointe was also addressed. “When (Walsh) came in, Cascade Pointe was 100 percent occupied, but it had a bad reputation,” he said. “So we got rid of everybody except four residents.” Cascade Pointe was considered an unsafe place to live by non-residents, but now under its current ownership there is a strict application process and tenants are held to very high standards, Greeno said. “We do extensive criminal background checks as well as credit background checks,” he said. “We offer a really nice product, and we are able to attract people that pay their rent on time and don’t have criminal issues on the property.” As opposed to the University Village, Campus Side tenants do not have to attend Georgia Regents University, Greeno said. But most residents are either college students or military. The only requirements needed to rent a room are clean background checks. Greeno said Campus Side Apartments offer a chance

Zombies CONTINUED from PAGE 1

to a hoard of zombies. Imagine groups of people running into a store, nearly killing each other over toys and other products, and once they are done there they will move on to the next thing, he said. The second set of concepts the class is learning is international and war theory. The students will learn how government would react in a crisis situation by using a zombie apocalypse scenario to interest the students in international relations. “If I teach how we would as an American government respond to an Iranian attack, well, you might not be that interested, but if I can bring zombies into it, that makes it a little more fun and it’s still appropriate,” Albert said. During the final weeks of the class, Albert said students will learn about the last concept: economic theory and how the government continually brings back economic policies “from the dead.” The discussion will focus on six or seven economic theories that seem to not work anymore but the government keeps on trying anyway. Albert said he believes if students are interested in zombies then they are interested in poli-

COURTESY OF CAMPUS SIDE APARTMENTS

Campus Side Apartments, formerly Cascade Pointe, offers residents a Mac lab, furnished living spaces, hardwood floors and a common area for events and parties at its Wrightsboro Road location.

for young adults to live in a real-world setting rather than in campus housing. It is their wide variety of occupants that attracted resident Lylliam Cain to move from UV to the newly renovated apartments across Wrightsboro Road. “Campus Side offers a more diverse community in my opinion,” she said. “You are allowed to socialize with a wider range of people from different ages, careers and backgrounds, and it gives you a reflection of the real world outside of dorm rooms.” Other characteristics that make Campus Side unique is a salt water pool, a Mac lab, free Wi Fi and numerous other benefits including the ability to own pets and an accompanying dog park, Greeno said. The starting price is $390 a month, and similar to UV, Campus Side has separate leases, no utility bills, online payment and furnishings. Tenants can also room with friends, use profile matching or live with a significant other, Greeno said. However, Campus Side has caught the attention of UV residents with its new look. “It looks a lot nicer,” UV resident Madi Navarro said. “I know Cascade wasn’t known for being a great location, but it seems like they really stepped up.” Ayarnia McKinney, another UV resident,

“

As a scholar, that caused me to wonder, ‘Why? Why are we obsessed with zombies?’

“

As new inductees prepare for Greek life, a workshop on campus is addressing the dangers of hazing. On Wednesday, Jan. 16, Elizabeth Adams, the Georgia Regents University coordinator of Greek Life and Leadership, hosted a Hazing 101 workshop for approximately 40 students in the Jaguar Student Activity Center Coffeehouse. Students attending the event primarily included candidates for the National Pan-Hellenic Council’s sororities and fraternities on campus, such as Alpha Kappa Alpha and Alpha Delta Pi. At the workshop, Adams defined hazing as intentional or unintentional actions toward another student producing “mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment (or) ridicule.” Georgia Regents considers these actions in violation of college rules and regulations, including local or state laws. NPHC organizations are required to attend the hazing presentation in order to preserve the traditions endemic to fraternity and sorority induction, Adams said. Potential members of a Georgia Regents fraternity are required to attend the workshop before Rush Week; however, the workshop is not considered to be an official part of the NPHC process. “Two years ago they started the Hazing 101 requirement for people that want to go through induction of a NPHC,” Adams said. “So that way we educate them before (hazing) happens.” Using examples of behavior, she asked audience members to raise their hands if they considered the act of yelling at someone a form of hazing. Three students raised their hands. A handful of others answered no. This is an example how ambiguous one’s definition of hazing can be. “A lot of it is contextual,” Adams said. “Every university has written its own definition of hazing. Every state that has it has a criminal law has a different definition.” Adams then proceeded to ask students about at-home situations: “What if you were raised in an abusive home where you were yelled at every day no matter what you did right, no matter what you did wrong?” When asked if this was an example of hazing, students had mixed opinions. Georgia Regents sophomores Passionata Peyton and Brittany Hatcher, who attended the workshop, both agreed the definition of hazing isn’t specific. “There are a lot of grey areas,” Hatcher said. Confirming the level of confusion surrounding the subject of hazing, Adams closed the workshop saying there are no absolutes when defining hazing. “It is not always black and white,” she said. “But at the end of the day if you are the one that is feeling disrespected, if you are the one that is feeling that your dignity has been called into question, if you are the one that is feeling like you are not an equal in this relationship, that’s when you need to question, ‘Has this gone into hazing?’” After the workshop, Peyton and Hatcher recalled a hazing story that they said especially resonated for them. At Cornell University in New York, a yearlong member of a fraternity was a victim of hazing. This case was particularly interesting to Hatcher because she thought hazing only happened to new inductees. “The new people came and tied the old member up,” Peyton said. “It’s a hazing ritual. They made him keep drinking alcohol, and he consumed so much that he died.” The victim was kidnapped. His wrists and feet were tied up, and he was forced to drink alcohol. He ultimately died with a .4 percent blood alcohol content. As far as whether Georgia Regents has a risk of hazing behavior, Adams said that although the campus has not had one in the past, there is still a chance for a “hazing culture” to emerge. “That’s why we do it,” she said. “We try to be more preventative. Could there be stuff that is going on underground that we don’t know about? Absolutely, and we are doing our best to keep that from happening.”

percent occupied, but it had a bad reputation... So we got rid of everybody except four residents.”

tics and that zombies are a good way of showing students different aspects of politics. “You hear all the time, ‘Oh, I don’t like politics,’ and that’s just not true,” Albert said, “Let’s take a zombie film, what are the key aspects that you like here, and they start talking about it and I’m like, ‘That’s politics.’” Just because the topic is interesting doesn’t mean the course is all fun and games, Albert said. It comes with some serious academic rigor. The students are reading five full books as well as writing four full papers, one of which is a zombie short story. “I have a series of student learning outcomes (and) class objectives that I want everyone to meet, so it’s going to be a rigorous hard class,” Albert said. “But I don’t think students will recognize it as hard because of the subject matter.”

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thought of suggestions that would help UV compete against Campus Side. “They could make an exercise gym over here or add student study rooms,” she said. “It’s such a pain to have to go all the way to campus to study sometimes.” UV officials refused to comment or discuss how they viewed their new competitor. However, Greeno explained they are not interested in competing but instead working together with UV. Campus Side officials said they believe that there is bound to be student overflow and they would also rather work together to solve such problems. The main goal of this off-campus community is to attract student organizations and let students who do not live at Campus Side know they can still take advantage of their benefits, Greeno said. “We want student groups to come to our club house and throw parties, and we’ll pay for it,” he said. “If they want to have an event, we will provide the pizza, the drinks and whatever.” Campus Side recently sponsored a benefit concert with all the earnings donated to The Salvation Army and United Way. The concert had free food, drinks, prizes and performances by local musicians, Greeno said.

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SGA CONTINUED from PAGE 2

questions or comments. Porter said Bryant may also conduct a formal email survey. Although Georgia Regents officials will ultimately determine whether the university will permit students and administrators who are licensed gun owners to bring their weapons on campus should the bills pass, Phillips said he is confident that the administration would take the student body’s opinion into account. Further, Phillips said he believes the Georgia representatives will listen to the students before they vote on the bills. “It’s just a recommendation, but I think when it’s the student government speaking for such a large campus hat they may listen to it even if we’re just affecting our one representative,” Phillips said. “If every other school that has the same problem and has the same opinion (does) the same thing, maybe things can change.”

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Fitness CONTINUED from PAGE 1

lege of Nursing (and) College of Medicine. We have gotten a lot of support from them.” While being healthy involves losing weight, Woodall said there are other steps a person must take to be healthy, facets of health involving nutrition, mental health and cardiovascular wellness. Although some people are smaller in weight, Woodall said a person who is small can still be unhealthy because of bad exercise habits, poor quality of eating and may even have high blood pressure. Woodall also said that because a person has a higher body mass index, it doesn’t mean that they are not healthy, but they have a different body structure and metabolism. Meagan David, a senior nursing student at Georgia Regents, said she joined the program because it fit in with her way of life. “Wellness and fitness is something I am really passionate about,” David said. “I love working out and being outdoors. With a lot of people being in the nursing program, medical and ASU we can let (exercising) get away from us. I thought this would be a great way to get everybody to be a little healthier.” David said she believes a lot of people are unhealthy out of convenience, such as getting a quick meal from the school campus or stopping at a fast-food restaurant and

JILLIAN HOBDAY | STAFF

Georgia Regents students work out on elliptical machines at the Wellness Center at the Health Sciences campus, an example of exercise promoted by the fitness program.

giving excuses for not going to the gym. David said she believes a lot of people are stressed out because they are not exercising enough. The program is going to have manuals and logbooks so that people can write down their BMI, blood pressure, etc., Woodall said. Woodall said people should start being healthy before they enter college. She said if they could get started now, they won’t

have to worry about taking a lot of pills when they get older. Faculty members have been impressed with the program’s success. “I have been so amazed at what Kaelan and her group has done,” said Gayle Bentley, an associate professor in the College of Nursing at Georgia Regents. “What she is doing is using a lot of social networking and to advertise and create that team competition.”

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the opinion pages: a public forum Why I am transferring to UGA

editorial

“I am a student who believes in Augusta State and everything we stood for.”

Fix problems, don’t create them We have responded to your surveys; we have made our choice clear on numerous occasions. So, Georgia Regents University, what will it take to finally improve the dining service on campus? When we talk about dining service, we are speaking exclusively to the options that are currently present on the Summerville campus. Let’s face it, while it may seem like we can all hold hands and sing kumbaya now, there is still a clear divide between this campus and the Health Sciences campus. For those of you reading this who are not entirely familiar with the options presently available on the Summerville campus, don’t worry, you’re not really missing out. Really, we are stuck with just two locations from which you can grab a quick bite to eat. Option No. 1 is Allgood Café located on the first floor of Allgood Hall. This location is really a glorified convenience store – hot dogs and all – offering a reasonable drink selection and plenty of options for the sweet-toothed. However, as nice as all of this may sound at first, these options are only viable if you have the patience to wait in the long lines, which only help clutter Allgood Café’s already cramped layout. The location is seriously understaffed with a single cashier handling two long lines of patrons simultaneously most days. Students with 10 to 15 minutes between classes may opt out of making a pit stop at Allgood Café when they see that it is swarming with hungry, sleep-deprived bodies. OK, so let’s say you decide a quick snack just won’t do; you need something

that’ll really fill you up. Option No. 2, generally referred to as the JSAC Food Court, is found on the first floor of the Jaguar Student Activities Center where there are several different styles of cuisine, ranging from sub sandwiches to home-style foods to pizza. With options like these, you may think, “Why would you ever need to leave campus?” Well, the answer can be summed up in two words: cost and service. Students, who are already cash strapped mind you, just aren’t willing to pay extra for convenience when there are several fastfood restaurants in the immediate area. Heck, for just over $4, someone could walk into the McDonald’s just a little way down Walton Way and leave with two hamburgers, an order of fries and a drink. But there is something else here we should probably emphasize: fast service. The service at the Food Court is incredibly slow considering how well staffed the location is. Just this past week, we had a staff member head down to the Arsenal Grill portion of the Food Court only to wait six full minutes before the staff decided to recognize they had a customer waiting. Keep in mind this was a Friday afternoon when most of the students are already done for the week. Three staff members paced back and forth behind the counter joking with each other and making small talk while a line began to form. It’s nice that the university wants to explore other dining options, but at the end of the day, we need to fix old problems before we create new ones. The ball is in your court.

REBECCA PERBETSKY staff writer rperbets@gmail.com I am transferring to the University of Georgia because of the merger. People who know me or have ever been in a class with me this past semester or the current one know that I am completely against the merger and have been since they announced that it was going to happen. There are a lot of people who have tried to sway my opinion on the subject, but honestly I don’t see how this merger could, or will ever, be a positive thing for the city of Augusta, Ga. It has done nothing but cause problems for all of the students who go to either Augusta State University or Georgia Health Sciences University. I have not yet heard a strong argument as to why this merger is “the greatest thing since sliced bread,” so I decided to transfer to the University of Georgia after this spring semester. Now don’t get me wrong, the merger is not the only reason I am transferring to UGA; it is, however, one of the more important reasons. My other reasons, perhaps, make more sense to outsiders. However, I feel that transferring because of the merger is a very valid reason. I have friends who have to extend their time in college because they are in the nursing program and have been told that they either have to pick up classes they were originally told they didn’t need or they have been told they can’t precede in their studies at this time because of the merger. Not only did all of these reasons spark the idea to transfer in the middle of my junior year, but the thought of not being able to get a degree with “Augusta State University” on it made me sick to my stomach and had a huge factor in my decision. Yes, I know that some classes can pay extra for that, but why should I pay extra for something I was promised when I began my studies here? I

am a student who believes in Augusta State and everything we stood for, and because of this I decided to get involved on campus. I know that I have gotten to know many members of the faculty and staff here at Augusta State, and it saddens me that I will be leaving such wonderful and intelligent people. However, I still don’t think that it’s fair that someone who applied at a certain university should be denied a degree from said university. Now, frankly, I don’t think that to any of us students who came to this campus while it was still Augusta State wants to receive a degree from a school we didn’t apply to in the first place, so I came to the conclusion that I was not going to let any of these possible outcomes happen to me. The degree thing didn’t get to me as much as the name change did, and because Augusta was not in the name I started to think about transferring in the first place. Now I was not born here nor do I say I am from here; however, I have called Augusta my home since I was 7 years old. It saddens me that, as a community, the people of Augusta didn’t fight back stronger with the Save the A campaign, and it frankly pisses me off that we just let he who shall not be named run over us and shut us up so quickly. Adding Augusta to the end of Georgia Regents University showed absolutely no respect for the students at Augusta State, or for the city of Augusta, and that right there was THE final deciding factor in me transferring to Georgia. If this man we call the president of our school doesn’t have the decency or respect to either use proper grammar when adding Augusta to the name or to even choose a name that highlights the two universities, then why the hell do any of us students think that he is going to have the decency to care about anything we do? This is why I decided to jeopardize my entire college career to get away from this merger and everything that has to do with it and transfer.

Your major states who you want to be If it’s on the internet it must be true “In just my first two years in college, I changed my major at least six times.”

“People were reading the article as truth, as if its publication on the World Wide Web ensures that extensive fact checking had occurred.”

MEGAN STEWART staff writer mstewar7@aug.edu

MINDY WADLEY staff writer mindyawadley@gmail.com

The biggest decision, I think, that I have ever had to make was finally deciding my major. I was entirely too indecisive to actually focus on one particular area for the rest of my life. In just my first two years in college, I changed my major at least six times. However, while being well overdue, I finally found what suits me. Writing has always been something that I liked but not really an area that I wanted to form into an expertise – or so I thought. I fought with the idea of making myself a journalism major so much that I even ignored my fourth grade teacher when she made the suggestion. It was during one of my “I don’t know what to choose. I just need something” kind of slumps, and Sherri McWhorter, one of my favorite elementary school teachers who have stayed in contact with me through all of these years, messaged me on Facebook and sent me a link to Augusta State University’s journalism track. I just blew it off and assumed that the medical field was the only area in which I could partially enjoy what I was doing and make a good living. Time went on and I was taking classes, like English, during which I would write research papers, essays and more. I would turn in a paper, and regardless of the amount of work that I would have to put into it, I would anticipate receiving it back with a grade and critiques. Anticipation in a good way, that is. The grade itself would only be one of the plus sides, but the major perk would be receiving professional advice as to what can help me become a stronger writer.

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How was I still missing the mark in what I needed to do with my life? I still could not make up my mind about what to do, and I even spent some time being undeclared, but there is only so long before you run out of core classes and have to make a decision. When I went with being a communications major, I still did not want to decide on an area of focus until I started taking film classes. The biggest assignment for documentary filmmaking is, of course, to create a documentary. I had to go out and interview somebody and find out about the interesting things that made that person notable. After all of this time, changing back and forth and not knowing what to do with myself, it hit me: I wanted to get into the field of journalism. Don’t get me wrong, doing the visual aspect of communications is fun but I also found out quick that I don’t have much patience with film editing and matching sound effects. My indecisiveness completely altered as well. I finally realized that it’s not about finding something that will earn you the largest check but what will make you happy at the end of the day. Coming into college, many students do not know what they want to do, and I think that this is definitely the time to experiment in all of the different areas that grab your interest. Luckily, going out and meeting quirky people, getting the latest hot stories and even taking photographs to help explain my piece is what I found to be something I wanted to take and eventually become an expert in.

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If ignorance is bliss, then having an innate ability to discriminate facts from myth is pretty close to misery. Unfortunately, this is an ability I seem to have been dealt, and it causes me all too often to roll my eyes with a condescending scoff at the ridiculous rumors I see perpetuated as truth. Occasionally, this occurs in face-to-face interactions, but the vast majority of the time it happens online. A recent growing phenomenon I’ve witnessed that falls into this category happens to occur mostly on my social media site of choice, Tumblr. As much as I love the site, some users get a little too creative with their ideas about movies. I’ve recently seen a plethora of GIFs (moving images generally captioned with lines from a film or TV show) followed by some variation of “Did you know that this entire scene was totally improvised? Johnny Depp/Will Smith/ Tom Hanks just started rambling and the director liked it so he kept it in the final cut of the film and the other actors are really reacting to Johnny Depp/Will Smith/Tom Hanks, not acting.” Um no. Sorry, but as a television and cinema major, I can assure you that even if parts of a scene were improvised, there is no way the entire thing could have been, especially when a scene includes various shots (medium shots, close-ups, etc.). Granted, I realize that this does happen sometimes, especially in comedies such as “The Office” or “How I Met Your Mother,” but the extent to which people believe it occurs in film and television is grossly exaggerated. Another example is people taking satire news sites such as The Onion seriously. During the election, I saw people react with horror to a “news” story purporting that the Mitt Romney/ Paul Ryan campaign wanted to pass legislation banning tampons. Knowing this couldn’t pos-

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sibly be true, a quick Google search took me to the article’s original site, which, of course, was a satire site. But people were reading the article as truth, as if its publication on the World Wide Web ensures that extensive fact checking had occurred. As a former English major and literature buff, I pride myself on being able to recognize the writing styles of my favorite authors and poets. So imagine my annoyance upon reading dozens of quotes, albeit lovely, which are then misattributed to authors who didn’t write them. The ever-so-trendy text-superimposed-on-aphoto memes that people post to Instagram and subsequently pop up on my Facebook feed are a primary source for these quotes. “When I saw you, I fell in love, and you smiled because you knew,” was not penned by William Shakespeare, despite Google confirming this to be true. It was written by Arrigo Boito, a 19th-century Italian poet. Similarly, Kurt Vonnegut didn’t say, “Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let the pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness. Take pride that even though the rest of the world may disagree, you still believe it to be a beautiful place.” Anyone who’s ever read anything by Vonnegut would know this immediately, since he’s more well known for sentiments, such as, “We’re here on Earth to fart around, and don’t let anybody tell you different.” So it goes. It pains me that people don’t take the time to do a little research into these matters before they repost, reblog or retweet them as factual. I wish I could just not care, but unfortunately I have very little patience for carelessness and stupidity. So, remember: Just because something is published on the Internet, that doesn’t make it true.

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ARTS & LIFE

YPA provides connections Learn to Dance: By MINDY WADLEY staff writer

or those interested in professional development, community outreach and social interaction, the Young Professionals of Augusta is right up their alley. YPA is a non-profit community organization founded in October 2007 at Nacho Mama’s. According to its website, the group’s purpose

the function of taking in the money, processing the events and sponsors, and getting all that lined up each meeting.” Despite including the word “professionals” in its name, YPA’s only requirement for membership is that members be between 21 and 40. Students are encouraged to join, Frantom said, because forging professional networking ties can be crucial to finding employment upon graduation. Blair Floyd, the community outreach chair for YPA, said he

Jessica Haskins, the assistant director for programs in the Office for Student Life and Engagement at Georgia Regents University, also serves as the membership co-chair for YPA. She said her membership in YPA has helped her both in her career and personally. “Honestly, I can say everyone I’ve met in Augusta, in some way, I’ve met through YPA,” Haskins said. “I think personal connections are first, and then that helps your career.”

JACQUELYN PABON | STAFF

The Young Profesionals of Augusta invite new members to the Ice Forum for an evening of ice skating Saturday.

is to be a platform for effecting change in the growing Augusta, Ga., community. “The board members came up with the idea of wanting to have a group that was future leaders of the community,” said Sean Frantom, the YPA president and credential trainer at University Hospital. “Networking and professional development were the main pillars in the beginning.” Since its inception, YPA has grown to include a membership of 693 young men and women between the ages of 21 and 40, Frantom said. The monthly meetings are organized by a board of directors, which presides over the organization. “When you’re on the board of Young Professionals, it’s kind of like a part-time job,” Frantom said. “We have

found his current position as an Haskins said it is important account executive for the Augus- for students to take their futa RiverHawks as a direct result ture careers seriously and that of his membership in the group. YPA’s networking and volun“Having a sales job is teer opportunities are invaluhard, to get out there and able for upcoming graduates. make calls,” Floyd said. “The “What I’m most proud of relationships that I’ve built now is the diversity aspect of through Young Professionals the group, and I don’t just mean has made it a lot easier. And I black and white,” Frantom have a great network of peo- said. “I mean whether you’re ple there that I can depend on, a student, whether you work and they help me out a lot.” in a specific industry, we have As the community out- a very diverse group now that reach chair, Floyd said giving keeps new energy coming.” back to the community is one Upcoming events for of his favorite aspects of YPA. YPA include a Super Bowl “One of my favorite events party Sunday; Mayor Deke is at Christmastime (when) we Copenhaver speaking at the give out toys to the Boys and Tuesday, Feb. 12, meeting at Girls Club,” Floyd said. “It’s the TEE Center; and a board a really exciting event. This game night at Somewhere year I think we handed out al- in Augusta Friday, Feb. 22. most 400 toys to three different Boys and Girls locations.” mindyawadley@gmail.com

Hip Hop Editon By KEREYIA BUTLER staff writer

walked into my first hip-hop class at 5, 6, 7, 8 Studios and left with more skill than I came with. At first, I was a little weary about taking a lesson without having any prior training in my life, but when I walked into the doors, the manager of four years, Tanika Mason, and many of the people who came to the studio on a daily basis made me feel comfortable as I waited for class to start in the lobby. Mason, a lover of all dance types, said that the best part of the class is the people. “(My favorite part is) seeing us make a change in their lives, whether they’re passionate about dancing or trying to lose weight,” Mason said. While waiting, I heard the music blasting from the other rooms and wondered if my class were going to be like that, knowing only time would tell. A small group of us walked to the back, and I talked to some of the ladies who were taking the same class, asking them if they had taken any hip hop lessons before. They said no, and that took a small weight off my shoulders. The instructor, Marie Murray, a junior at Georgia Regents University who has been teaching dance since 2009, introduced herself and then put on some warm-up music. We rolled our shoulders, swayed our hips and stretched our arms to get ready to dance. Murray had us move our right foot to the side, then the left and after we had to do double on the next leg in a slow pace. I didn’t know what I was doing in slow motion, but when the song changed and the music was in tune with the steps we were learning, I knew

we were doing the Dougie. The instructor made us go at a fast pace and I easily got into it, especially when the arm movements were added. After warming up, Murray explained to us that we were going to do a routine to the song “Mrs. Right” by a young-boy group called Mindless Behavior. I was familiar with the song, and she broke the routine down so nicely that even people who had no choreographed dance experience, like me, were quickly able to figure it out. No one was left behind, no matter how much or how little dance experience they had. The instructor made us all feel comfortable while telling us to find our swag and let it be known that we were “Mrs. Right” when we were dancing. Murray was a natural, and it was obvious that dancing was her passion. “Everybody has that one thing they can do and time just disappears,” Murray said. “Well, for me that’s dance. I actually lift up to another level when I’m dancing. It’s easy for me to come to dance class and not think about (anything) else. I forget homework, work and anything else I got to do. I enjoy that escape.” By the time the lesson was over, I had learned a routine and gotten some great cardio work in at the same time. Chris Mason, an instructor and student at the studio as well, said after the hip-hop class was over she was tired and exhausted but enjoyed every bit of it. “You’re going to be energized and exhausted because you got a good workout, but it’s a good exhaustion,” Mason said. When the hour ended, I gained a new respect for any dancer and found a place where dance and one’s love for dance ruled.

kbutler7@gru.edu

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Dance students gather at 5,6,7,8 Studios to enjoy a night of hip-hop lessons.

Former local musician makes his way to Big Apple By NIKKI SKINNER correspondent Will McCranie didn’t know that stepping out from behind the drums and into the spotlight of the microphone would open up so many opportunities. McCranie, of New York City, grew up around music. He was in the church choir, took piano lessons as a child and even played with his grandfather’s old marching snare. It wasn’t until middle school that he really started paying attention to his music, though. “I actually tried to get placed on the saxophone,” McCranie said. “Lord knows how differently my life might have been if I’d gone that route. Our band director knew better and put me on percussion. I am incredibly thankful for that, as I transferred a lot of what I learned as a drummer to my guitar playing.” He plays any instrument he can get his hands on, but guitar, drums, and percussion are usually what he plays live. It was during the end of his senior year and the beginning of his college career at Augusta State University that he decided to make a change. He realized

it would be easier to become a songwriter if he took a step away from the drums and focused more on the guitar. After meeting and working with Pat Blanchard and Brandon Bower, McCranie said it only deepened his interest in songwriting and playing the acoustic guitar.

Teaching music was just not as interesting, McCranie said. “I feel like I made the right choice,” McCranie said. “This degree has really helped me with the networking aspect of my career. It has helped me with understanding what I really need to be doing.”

CONTRIBUTED BY SHERVIN LAINEZ

Will McCranie is a former Augusta artist who took his music to New York City.

While attending Augusta State, McCranie did not major in music education. Instead, he received a degree in marketing and business management.

McCranie is all about setting goals for himself. It is his personal type of motivation. One of the first goals he set for himself, after graduating, was

that he would do something great within a year of graduating. While vacationing with his family in New York, he picked up the book “Into the Wild,” by John Krakauer. It was inspiring, McCranie said. “I liked the idea of going out and finding my own Alaska,” McCranie said. “By the end of the trip, I told my family I was moving to New York in three months.” Many of his friends and family were not sure he would go through with it. The best motivation is to be told that something can’t be done, McCranie said. “I thought it was a great idea for him,” said Michael Baideme, 34, of North Augusta, S.C. “A very gutsy move to go to the big apple, but I thought it was a good move.” McCranie now lives in New York as a successful musician. When he is not writing or recording, he plays guitar for several different artist. McCranie said he has played with Mike Gordon, of Phish; Joe Russo, from Further; and even Jake Cinniger, of Umphrey’s McGee. He is also a part of a cover band called the Cleaners. He has self-released several different projects such as

“52/52” in 2010 and “Will McCranie Trio” in 2011. He is currently working on a new single. “I think people will be glad to hear Will McCranie again,” said Matty Amendola, the owner of Indie Label 825 Records. “It’s not his trio, it’s not him playing with another band and it’s just straight up him. He is a great player, singer, writer, etc. People are going to love it.” McCranie knows when to push for something he really wants. He knows when to sit back and just be patient at times, Amendola said. “We recorded the single fairly quickly, and we’re trying to get everything in order for its release hopefully in February,” Amendola said. “We’ll have an EPK video footage of us recording the song in the studio and music video, updated sites and social networks. It’s going to be really exciting.” He has accomplished many things since moving to the Big Apple. The greatest accomplishment so far is that he is still there writing and helping produce his own music while being able to balance a relationship with his wife and work, McCranie said.

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Whipping the competition one bite at a time By RON HICKERSON chief reporter

ow in its second year, a local bakery hopes to provide the Augusta, Ga., area with sweets and lessons in sweet-making. Delightful Bites, located on 3801 Washington Road in Martinez, Ga., is a small bakery that offers cupcakes, fullsized cakes, cookies and more. Sharon Hutko, the shop’s owner, said when she opened the bakery in November 2011 she wanted to deal specifically with cupcakes. But as more and more customers came in asking if they also made full-sized cakes for events, she said they decided to fill the need that people kept asking for instead of sending them to another bakery. In the past, Hutko said she catered and baked on the side for 17 years along with her previous job at Stevens Creek Community Church, but after feeling led in a different direction, she said she decided to go ahead and open her first storefront bakery. She said the bakery rotates its cupcake flavors. When the bakery first opened, they offered only five flavors, and while the variety has exploded, those five flavors still tend to be customer favorites, so the bakery keeps them in stock every day. But they also provide a rotation of different cupcakes from day to day, going so far sometimes as to offer 20 flavors of cupcakes in one day. “I think the thing that I really like about cupcakes is that there’s just so much variety,” Hutko said. “It just changes constantly and that’s so much fun to me. You can satisfy lots of different pallets instead of just having one flavor with one flavor of frosting.” In fact, the bakery has so many flavors it rotates between that Hutko said she’s lost count, saying they offer around 50 flavors. “Nothing’s ever the same everyday and that’s what’s good,” said TJ Stewart, one of the bakery’s employees.

RON HICKERSON | STAFF

Delightful

Bites

displays

its

many

Hutko said one of her favorite things about the bakery is these frequent customers because she can start establishing friendships with them. “When we sit down and have staff meetings and talk, I always tell them that what’s more important to me than obviously having customers that will pay the bills is building relationships with our customers because that is what will keep them coming back,” she said. “Building relationships and loving on people is the No. 1 priority that we do here. After that we sell cake and cupcakes.” Along with having the bakery, Delightful Bites opened up a design studio last November. Hutko said customers can essentially buy what the bakery uses to make its cupcakes there. Also the studio provides people with a space to conduct interviews

variety

cupcakes

for

and to order cakes for special events. Hutko also holds lessons in the space for home-bakers to learn a variety of skills such as how to bake and frost sugar cookies and, for Valentine’s Day, how to bake “treats for your sweet.” These lessons are all-inclusive and do not require anyone to bring any special equipment, and although the admission fee changes with the events, admission covers the cost of the supplies and ingredients used in each class. This opportunity for learning with Hutko is what Stewart called one of the most rewarding parts of working with the bakery. “It just makes me appreciate what I’m doing and what I’m trying to do,” she said. This opportunity for learning is furthered by the wide variety of

Records spin back into spotlight By JORDAN WILLIAMS staff writer

fter being replaced by CDs and MP3 formats, vinyl records have experienced a resurrection in sales over the last few years. Noura Gordon, the manager

The

Beatles, Gordon said. In Columbia, S.C., William Browder of Manifest Records said he also noticed the increased interest in vinyl. “Everything was pretty much CD sales through the ’90s, and then I would say starting about four years ago vinyl started to make a resurgence,” the store manager said.

is an underground subculture that is getting back into vinyl, and they are becoming more and more popular.” Although he is not a serious collector, Jackson said he has friends who own an extensive assembly of records. “I’ve got plenty of friends that are in to it,” he said. “My buddy Colin has a collec-

customers

JORDAN WILLIAMS | STAFF

Stanford Dorsey, a collector for six years, explained that it is the nostalgia of vinyl records that makes them so special. “Nowadays it’s so easy to download a song, but it’s nothing like having a hard copy,” he said. “You hear that crackling and there are just certain things you pick up on that you wouldn’t hear on a CD. It’s a whole different sound almost.” Dorsey’s interest in vinyl originated from being friends with collectors, and it became a hobby that grew into an addiction. “They cover my house,” he said. “My bedroom looks like a record store.” According to tinymixtapes.com, vinyl has increased from 2.8 million sales in 2010 to 3.5 million in 2011. People who love the sound of vinyl, such as James Jackson, think this rise in records will have a positive impact on the music industry. “I think it will help a lot of local artists,” he said. “There

tion that’s right at 300 vinyls, and he could just open up a store and make mad money.” However, Jackson said he believes vinyl will only remain a trending subculture in the modern world. “Everything is pushing more towards digital now,” he said. “I think everything will be digital, and even if someone does have a physical copy it’s going to end up being cut down to something small like an SD card or some crap like that.” Gordon said he also thinks that vinyl will not reach mainstream audiences. “I think it will probably be just a nostalgic thing,” she said. Browder also explained that CDs will remain the top seller simply because they are more convenient. “Everybody has a CD player,” he said. “People play CDs in their car, but you can’t play vinyl in a car.”

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Tuesday

skills the staff posses. Dahn Jump, one of the lead decorators for the bakery, said she’s been decorating cakes on-and-off for 12 years. Coming from a family that was always in the kitchen, she said, she worked in restaurants for most of her adult life, but she said she has always loved baking and decorating cakes. Stewart said that when all of the skills that the staff possesses come together, they create some really great stuff. “It takes a team,” Jump agreed. Another employee, Christy Munoz, said her favorite thing about the bakery is actually being able to bake. From her experience at the bakery, she said whipping up cupcakes and frosting has become almost like second nature. This is good because the bak-

through

Saturday

every

week.

ery’s popularity, which Stewart said is really spread by word-ofmouth, has really begun to grow. One of the most important things to Hutko is to provide their customers with the freshest possible product. She does this by coming into the bakery early every morning and baking the cupcakes. She said they also make all of their frosting in-house and fresh in order to meet their goal for fresh flavors. But when asked what the bakery does with their leftovers, she said that more often than not, the bakery sells out, especially now that they’ve been able to gauge when they are and are not busy. “But if we ever had some left, we’d find a home for them for sure,” she said.

rhickers@gru.edu

Around Town VIRTUAL ARTISTRY By JACOB SCHARFF staff writer

Pyramid Music displays its vast collection of albums and artwork throughout the walls of the store.

of downtown’s Pyramid Music, noticed that the sale of records started to pick up around 2005. Pyramid Music has been selling vinyl for 41 years and has always had steady sales, but the buyers were mainly disc jockeys and vinyl enthusiasts, Gordon said. Now new customers always come inside searching for records. “Some weeks I move more vinyl than I do CDs,” she said. Gordon said the customers who shop at Pyramid for vinyl range in age from young kids to senior citizens. “I’ve had like an 80-yearold man looking for Judy Garland, and then I might have an 8-year-old kid come in here looking for Herbie Hancock,” Gordon said. “We’re just here for music lovers.” Anything from Elvis Presley to T.I. can be found on vinyl, but the most common sellers in Pyramid are records by Jimi Hendrix and

its

n Sunday Nov. 18, Nintendo launched the newest generation of home consoles with the Wii U. In the background, a big question still hung in the air: Should video games be classified as art? My answer is an indisputable and resounding yes. When the Wii U launched, it launched alongside a multitude of games, including New Super Mario Bros. U is a game in which Level 5-4 utilizes the famous Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh in the inspiration for its backdrop. Starry Night has never been argued not to be art. So why is it still a question for video games that go so far as to draw obvious inspirations from great works of art? According to MerriamWebster’s dictionary “art” is: “the conscious use of skill and creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetic objects.” Gaming draws its players into amazing worlds, worlds that can be filled with such detail and depth that it takes our breath away. Beautiful is a word that is sometimes barely enough to describe these worlds. More appropriate words are along the lines of breathtaking and epic. Every gamer has that game, that game where the moment they saw it, its graphics alone, took their breath away. Let’s leave the graphics alone for a moment though. Let’s look at an obviously artistic part of games: music. Graphics are pretty but you can’t plug your ears with your hands and play a game at the same time. The accompanying music to a game has to be good, and music is considered art, just like painting and pic-

tures. Music sets the mood, music has to be just right to accompany the situation and it has to feel unique and special. A prime example of this comes from the great RPG series Tales of…, a set of RPG games that usually have almost no connection to each other with protagonists wielding various weapons as they set out to save their world from some sort of malevolence. My first experience with this series was Tales of Symphonia for the Nintendo Gamecube. In Symphonia, you play as Lloyd, a human child adopted by a dwarf and out to stop the persecution of his half-elf friends, as well as protect his friend Collette who has been deemed The Chosen. Throughout the game, it is revealed that Lloyd’s father is Kratos, an angel disguised as a mercenary who originally helps out Lloyd’s party only to turn on them to do his duty and deliver Collette to the enemy. Father and son battle it out one-on-one in a forest and a special battle theme song called “End of a Thought” accompanies the clash of steel against steel and magic against flesh. It’s an amazing instrumental piece that really wraps the battle up in a fantastic package, and if it wasn’t there the moment would have been lacking something. Graphics and music work together to bring about experiences through gaming that can’t be had anywhere else. Even movies do not have the ability to immerse you as fully into a new world as gaming does. There shouldn’t be a debate. I’m not going to say all games qualify as art, but video games, in general, as a medium, certainly do.

jscharff@gru.edu

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Eros Bistro: If only Greek meets Broad street food served itself By RYAN MCLAY staff writer

By NIKKI SKINNER correspondent

ros Bistro, the Greek and Italian restaurant that recently opened downtown, is a disappointment. Upon first walking into the restaurant, the atmosphere was really inviting. The walls are painted a warm orange, accented by very dim lighting. This gave it a very intimate atmosphere, making it seem perfect for a romantic evening out. The decorating was kept to the bare minimum, which worked, seeing as the space is rather limited and you don’t want the customers to feel crowded. When I approached the hostess to ask for a table, I immediately began to rethink my decision. She was dressed as though she was headed out with friends, not to work. Her attire really didn’t seem to fit with what the rest of the staff was wearing. Then when we asked for a table for two, she said she wasn’t sure where exactly she should seat us, although there were only two tables being occupied at the time. I did not

RYAN MCLAY | STAFF

Server sets up a table to prepare for an evening of Greek food lighted by an artificial tree at the front of the store.

feel this was in the least appropriate but rather something she should take up with another staff member. The hostess finally decided to seat us toward the back of the res-

taurant next to the bar. It was there that I noticed the bar was completely empty. There was nothing there but empty shelves, giving one the opportunity to see all the outlets, thus completely changing the vibe of the restaurant. The only items located behind the bar were a computer and some staff members standing around. Once we received our menus and ordered our drinks, the server came back to see what we would like to start off with. After going over my options and asking a few questions, I finally settled on the calamari, only to find that it was no longer on the menu. This ended up being the response to several items I asked about as I continued trying to place my order. This left me feeling extremely unsure about the place. I felt as though they rushed to open and were not entirely prepared. The menu was full of different things I wanted to try, but I couldn’t because many of the dishes were not available. After being let down while ordering my meal, I figured things could only get better with the food. For an appetizer, I decided on Spicy Feta. It was a spread served with slices of pita bread. It wasn’t too heavy and had just the right amount of spice to complement the strong feta taste. For dinner, they brought out my manicotti, which was simple yet delicious. For dessert, I settled on their baklava. It had a very different taste as well as texture. The baklava was a perfect way to end the meal. The courses complemented each other nicely. The meal itself was very pleasant. The only problem was the hostess who was quite distracting. She was playing with her hair while looking at her reflection in the window. She squatted on the floor and fiddled with her phone. Then later, we watched as she walked out the front door and sat in her car. It was all extremely unprofessional for a hostess. This was not at all the way to run a business. They may bring people in with their good food, but the lack of professionalism displayed by the staff may turn many people away. It’s one thing to know you may not be completely prepared to open the doors of your restaurant; it’s another for it to be put on display for your customers. I think the food is great, though everything else needs a lot of work.

nskinner@gru.edu

new downtown restaurant promises an elegant and entertaining fine-dining experience. Eros Bistro, located at the corner of Broad and 10th streets, offers a traditional Greek and Italian menu boasting fresh homemade

with fresh lemon, is one of the most popular menu items, Carr said. Carr said has been in the food service industry since she was 15 years old and enjoys working with Brown and the rest of the staff at the restaurant. “They are wonderful people to work for, and they are very family oriented,” the head waitress said. “They treat all of us like family as well, so it works out really nice.” One customer, Jimmy

experience. Brown said that an after-hours abbreviated menu for the late-night downtown crowd will be available. “On Friday and Saturday nights, we’re going to end up selling gyros out of a side window,” Brown said. “Once we close at 10 (p.m.) , we’ll open the door and for the downtown crowd we’ll have gyros going out for $7. All the sandwiches will be $7.” The owners will also offer

RYAN MCLAY | STAFF

Eros Bisto opened its doors to its downtown costumers with a combined 45 years of experience in Greek cuisine.

ingredients. With a long legacy in the restaurant business, Michael Brown; his wife, Des KikiresBrown; and his mother, Debbie Caron, decided to open the bistro. “Combined, we have about 45 years of restaurant experience,” Brown said. Kikires-Brown planned the menu, which was inspired by growing up in Serres, Greece, where all of her family members own restaurants. She came to America in 1999. Dedicated to her job, she said she is in the kitchen all the time, despite being pregnant with her first child. The couple expects the baby to be born in July. Kikires-Brown is also the head chef. “All of her food is awesome, wonderful stuff,” said manager and head waitress Allison Carr. “I love the saganakis that we light on fire. They’re just exciting and fun, and everybody enjoys watching the show.” The saganaki, a sizzling plate of breaded Greek kasseri cheese flambéed tableside and drizzled

Sherlock, 23, tried the restaurant for the first time Saturday. “I love Greek food in general and saw that they were open, and I wanted to give it a try,” Sherlock said. “I came to be the guinea pig and try it out and see how everything is.” He said he decided to order the gyro platter, a pita sandwich filled with Greek-style lamb and beef, vegetables and a tzatziki yogurt sauce. “We knew we wanted to do something different for Augusta, (Ga.) for downtown, and it’s a work in progress,” Brown added. The dining room has been opened up as many walls have been taken down and counters removed, Brown said. “This place certainly didn’t look like this when it was New Moon,” he said. “We replaced all the lamps. We’ve got Daniel Foreman (a local metal sculptor) doing our bar.” The owner’s creative business approaches are a change from the service in downtown’s other restaurants, which typically offer a standard dining

a 15-minute lunch for a quick midday meal option, which will range between $4 and $8 after its grand opening, expected to begin in February. Brown said the bistro will also feature a full bar. “On Saturday afternoons, we’re going to do an all-youcan-drink Bloody Mary from 11 (a.m.) to 3 (p.m.),” Brown said. “I make an awesome Bloody Mary.” With diners excited about one of Augusta’s newest and unique restaurants, Brown said he is already booking his restaurant for local events. On Tuesday, Feb. 19, the restaurant will host a dinner for Augusta Pride, during which some of the proceeds will go towards the upcoming Augusta Pride Festival in June. On Monday, the restaurant will also welcome the Augusta Tango Club for a night of Greek dinner and Argentine dancing. The restaurant is also offering discounts for students and military members to help draw in a younger crowd, Brown said.

rmclay@gru.edu

Boutique collaborates with vintage style for fresh look By ASHLEY TRAWICK staff writer

ignette’s is a quaint, little boutique located on Monte Sano Avenue in Augusta, Ga. The store is filled with vintage-like clothing, shoes, handbags, jewelry and novelty items. The owner, Anna Avrett, said the store has been open since Oct. 1, 2011, and Augusta’s response has been extremely good. “It is still very much being discovered,” Avrett said. “I’ve done mostly word-of-mouth advertising, and the reception has been very good for those that do know about it. Before it was a year old, it was voted 2nd Best New Store in Augusta by ‘Augusta Magazine.’” Vignette’s sells a variety of consignment items from Augusta residents including jewelry, soap, bowties and books. Having a business on the side encourages them, Avrett said. She said even though the store caters mostly to females, she tries not to leave the men left out. “We do cater to mainly women,” she said. “The ages range from 12 year olds to 70 year olds. The majority of them fall in the teenager-college age. I do like to have some gift type things you can pick up for your dad and things like that though. We have men’s wallets, bowties, whiskey rocks and more.” Ileana Figueroa, a salesclerk for the store, said that she notices a lot of high school kids that come in the store as well. “High school kids come in here a lot,” Figueroa said. “My mom has a shirt from here. If you can fit in the clothes, you can buy them. We generally target the younger crowd, though.” Figueroa, an employee since last August, said she also sees a lot of pageant contestants shopping for outfits at the store. “A lot of pageant girls come in here looking for dresses for their pageants,” she said. “I don’t know when the pageant season is but there was one girl who won Miss Teen Augusta whose casual outfit from head-totoe was from here. Because of that, a lot of the other girls came here for almost a month.” The inspiration behind Vignette’s image and the reason she wanted to become a boutique owner was Avrett’s love of shopping, being creative and her two teenage daughters.

ASHLEY TRAWICK | STAFF

Vignettes, a fashion boutique located on Monte Sano Avenue, uses a colorful selection of clothes and artwork to entice its customers.

“I’ve always liked looking for bargains,” Avrett said. “It just seemed like a good idea. That’s why I do the gifts and the home décor. I love the creative part of it.” As far as the name of the store, Avrett said it took a long time to figure out. Every time someone would ask her about the store’s previous layout, she told them it would not be in booths anymore. It would be in vignettes. “A vignette is when you do a small piece of something to depict something bigger,” she said. “I might indicate a small child’s bedroom by putting in a crib, baby clothes or a child’s lamp in the window display. You look in the window and know it was meant to be a bedroom. A vignette is when you indicate a bigger fea-

ture by showing a smaller portion of it.” The style of the store is very much womanly and classic, but Avrett said she would have never dreamed of wearing the items in her store when she was younger. “Dresses are very popular in my store, which is funny to me because when I was a teenager that was the last thing I wanted to wear,” she said. “I grew up in the ’70s, and it was just jeans with a t-shirt. Out of five kids, I was the only girl and my mother wanted me to wear them all the time. I was very much a tomboy. As I’ve gotten older, I like to dress up a little bit more.” Avrett admitted that owning a boutique was far from her mind after having been an architect for many years.

“I really had no idea I was ever going to do it,” she said. “The store that was here before mine was divided into booths that you could rent. I rented one so I could clean out my basement instead of having yard sales all the time. One day, I was at a market in Atlanta and saw some clothes that were really well-priced and cute. I brought them back to the store and they started to sell. The lady who owned the store didn’t want to do it anymore, and I was worried because I had leftover clothes. One thing led to another and I closed the store for a month to in order to re-open as Vignette’s.”

atrawick@gru.edu

TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013

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COMICS: ENTERTAIN YOURSELF

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

2. 11.

3. 12.

4. 5.

13. 8.

14. 15. 9. 16. 10.

17.

DOWN 1. Otherwise known as a phonograph records 2. ____________ Bites Cakery and Design studio, produces high quality cupcakes and is located on Washington Road in Augusta. 3. A clothes shop on Monte Sano Avenue 4. Georgia Regents University’s zombie aficionado 5. The first lady recently caused a stir by adopting this hairstyle 6. This former basketball player was suspended indefinitely for having a weapon in his campus apartment 7. Fish eggs, a delicacy 8. Knuckles Sandwich Company’s new late night food competitor located on Broad Street 9. A physics professor and director of student research, whose students “find his passion for physics to be contagious,”

18.

20.

19.

22.

23.

21.

according to Carol Rychly 10. Will _________ is a musician currently living in New York City whose hometown is Augusta. ACROSS 11. Manti Te’o’s fake girlfriend 12. Jags’ pitcher who made AllAmerican for the second year in a row 13. Assuming the two bills in Georgia legislature pass, this SGA senator wants to start a petition to allow people with concealed carry

permits to bring their weapons on campus 14. The chair of the music department 15. A Christian rock band that recently had their last Georgia show at the Masquerade in Atlanta 16. Gretchen Caughman is now the interim ________ 17. After this semester Augusta State University sports _________ will be replaced with new ones to include Georgia Regents University.

18. Jags basketball played UNC _______ Jan. 26 at Christenberry Fieldhouse 19. The 34th Annual Augusta Cutting Horse ________ was held at the James Brown Arena. 20. This traveling exhibit is currently featured at the Reese Library. 21. Augusta State basketball alltime leading scorer 22. Young Professionals of Augusta 23. Short for Macintosh

In the last issue... DOWN 1. ARMSTRONG 2. FERGUSON 4. SCHEPIS 5. SUMMERVILLE 6. UNANIMOUS 8. SIBLING STRING 9. JAGTRAX 13. MCBRIDE 17. BANKS **18. REED

ACROSS 3. CALAMARI 7. COTTONMOUTHS 10. OLIVIANAS 11. LOGO 12. BELTZ 14. DISCOVERY 15. INNOVATION 16. SYDNEY KINGS 19. NORLANDER **This box was incorrectly placed**

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SPORTS Exhibit celebrates African Americans’ many contributions to baseball By RON HICKERSON chief reporter Baseball fans turned out in droves to reminisce about the old days of America’s greatest pastime. “Pride and Passion,” a travelling exhibit to libraries across the country featuring the history of African Americans’ role in baseball, opened with a special presentation Friday, Jan. 18, in University Hall at the Summerville campus of Georgia Regents University. Audience members sat in wonder as they watched an excerpt from the Ken Burns documentary series “Baseball” and participated in a forum discussion led by two baseball players who played in the Negro leagues: Carl Long of the Birmingham Black Barons and Clifford Layton of the Indianapolis Clowns and New York Black Yankees. “Ken got most of it right,” said Long, after watching the documentary. Long and Layton discussed how players in the Negro leagues often travelled long hours in rickety tour buses, playing three games per day, but when the days were over, they often had no place to sleep. Most hotels in the towns they played in were closed to them due to segregation. But Layton said some hotels made arrangements with the players. “The only places where black ball players could stay in is metropolitan areas,” he said. “In rural areas, we would stay in people’s homes.” These host homes were where Lay-

RON HICKERSON | STAFF

Carl Long, a former professional baseball player who broke the Carolina League’s color barrier, interacts with a young fan during the opening of the Pride and Passion exhibit Friday Jan. 18 at Reese Library.

ton and Long got most of their education about the country. Long, originally from Rock Hill, S.C., said he had never seen so many people until he entered the Negro leagues. Long said he had experienced his fair share of racism, even after he was signed by Major League Baseball’s Pittsburgh Pirates in 1954. He said he would have to stay in separate hotels from the rest of the team. “That was the way it was,” Long said. “I didn’t let it bother me. It was just the

way it was.” The racism Long experienced occurred even during his major league games as rival players would taunt him. But he said whenever they called him a name he would hit a home run, making one of the rival team’s fans yell at the white ball players. “‘Why didn’t you stop calling those colored boys names?’” Long recalled the fan saying. “Every time you call them a name, they hit the ball out of the ball-

park.” Layton said most of the time players just ignored the catcalls from the crowds. “Our manager always told us, ‘You’re here to play baseball,’” he said. He said his self-control in ignoring the hecklers became his greatest asset. While in the league, both players said they played against some of the greatest players in the game. “I played some of the greatest ball players that ever lived,” Long said. Layton agreed. “The Negro league was a classic league,” he said. “It’s too bad the people of the country never got to see the greatest players of the game.” While playing in the Negro league, Long was paid $150 a month and was given $2.50 a day for food. Layton was paid $250 a month and had a $3 food allowance each day. Long, who just wanted to get out of his hometown of Rock Hill, expressed his wonder when he learned that he could get paid for paying the game he loved. “I said, ‘Man, you gonna pay me for bread and baseball?’” he said. “I would’ve played baseball for free.” Throughout the night, Long and Layton entertained questions from the audience before going to see the exhibit in Reese Library. One audience member said he was glad that people are now starting to recognize the importance of the Negro see PRIDE AND PASSION on PAGE 10

Softball team to have new look in ’13 Diamond Jaguars hoping for revival Loss of key contributors opens the door for newcomers this spring By JAMIE LOWE staff writer The Lady Jaguars’ softball players have made their new year’s resolutions: They are ready to win. Not only are they ready to take the team to a sixth consecutive 30-win season but the Lady Jag players said they are also ready to become better players and individuals. With the first game looming in the near future, the softball team has been meeting and practicing since the second day of classes this semester. Per NCAA rules, the team is only allowed to practice and work out for 20 hours per week. The team meets every day but Sunday and works up to those 20 hours together. Head coach Melissa Mullins said her squad practices early in the mornings and every afternoon. “The girls have been working hard,” Mullins said. “We’ve got a lot to improve on, part of that being because we have so many new people. There (are) lots of little things to learn on and off the field.” The Lady Jags will have a youthful look this season. There are eight freshmen, four sophomores, two juniors and two seniors on the roster. While such inexperience might lead to some difficulties, Mullins said every member of the team brings a healthy dose of energy.

Lauren Yeargen, a senior biology major, said practice didn’t stop when classes did at the end of last semester. There are non-mandatory individualized workouts, composed of running and weight training, that each of the players kept to over the break. Evan Smith, the assistant softball coach, said he does whatever is needed to help get the most out of his players. “For the girls, I just want to help them reach all their goals,” he said. “Personally, I just want to get better in the game each day and learn how to push the girls to be better players and better people.” Last season marked the end of the careers of several influential players for the team, including infielder Kacee Camp, outfielder Kristen Jones and pitcher Emily Headrick. Camp was named to the Peach Belt’s All-Conference and AllAcademic teams and also was honored on the Daktronics All-Southeast Region and National Fastpitch Coaches Association’s All-Southeast Region squads. Camp, Jones and Headrick formed the nucleus of a team that went 33-18 last season and advanced to the NCAA Southeast Regional. With so many fresh faces on this year’s team, Mullins and Smith are hesitant to make any predictions on the season. Both said the players are excited to see SOFTBALL on PAGE 10

DAVID WICKER | CONTRIBUTOR

Augusta State softball players gather before a recent practice at Jaguar Field in advance of the 2013 campaign, which begins Saturday with a double-header against Anderson of the South Atlantic League.

REBECCA PERBETSKY | STAFF

Jaguar baseball players participate in some light tossing before practice Jan. 18 at Jaguar Field as Augusta State continues its preparations to bounce back from last year’s injury-riddled 13-37 season.

By REBECCA PERBETSKY staff writer After a rough season last academic year, the Augusta State baseball team is prepared to make a name for itself during the 2013 campaign. Chris Cooper, the head coach of the team, said he is setting high goals for his team and hoping for a much better season than the last. “I think we ended up being 13-37, (and) we dealt with some guys not being eligible and some injuries and different stuff like that,” he said. “I think the guys played hard, just record-wise it didn’t show up the way we wanted.” Cooper isn’t the only person who said he thought this about last season. Outfielder Bradley Dennis echoed the coach’s sentiments. “It was a struggle because a lot of people got hurt early in the season and we didn’t do as strongly as we hoped, but we tried to fight through,” Dennis said. “We had a lot of inexperienced players last season, so we were just getting our feet wet.” Jamie Suggs, a pitcher for the team, also said he didn’t perform as well as he could have last year, when he appeared in five games with one start. “I got my feet wet, but I didn’t do too well, so I would like to do better this year,” he said. Cooper said the new recruits brought into the program and a solid mix of upper-class players will help in the fast-approaching season. “I think our leadership is a little better,” he said. “The senior class works hard and leadership is always a very important aspect of it. Coaches can do whatever they want and try to make them work as hard as they can, but players really police themselves, and I think there is a better team morale and attitude.” Chase Loyd, a freshman pitcher for the baseball team, is one of this year’s

newcomers who may be able to help the team out as it looks to return to its 2011 form, when it advanced to the championship game of the Peach Belt Conference Tournament. “This season I think I bring a good attitude, a good work ethic and a love of the game,” Lloyd said. “Personally, I would like to, of course, play, but as a freshman that doesn’t usually happen. But I just want to help the team as much as possible.” Lloyd was injured during his last season of playing, but he said that during his junior year of high school he played very well. Lloyd isn’t the only freshman on the team to watch out for during the new season. Trey McAvoy, another rookie hurler, said he brings a lot to the team. “I think I bring a lot of enthusiasm, and I think I have a good live arm so far,” McAvoy said. “I don’t throw the hardest on the team, but I can put up pretty good numbers. I had a pretty good fall, and if I perform like I did in the fall I think I’ll be alright.” As a whole, Cooper said his players have set high goals not only for the team but for themselves as well. “I mean, your goal is always to go out and win a national championship, but hopefully we can be competitive in our conference,” Cooper said. “Then (we want to) have a chance to compete regionally and then nationally, so that’s the biggest step.” Suggs said that working hard is the key to meeting goals and said he simply hopes to go out and show that he and the team have improved since last year. “Last year didn’t go as well as we hoped it would have,” Suggs said. “But, I mean, the way we are practicing, I think we will be alright.” The Jaguars open their season with a three-game set against Carson-Newman at Lake Olmstead Stadium in Augusta, Ga., Friday and Saturday.

rperbets@gmail.com

PAGE 10

TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013 www.asubellringer.com

SPORTS New uniforms for Jaguar sports teams still up in the air

CONTRIBUTED BY JOEY WARREN

Members of the Augusta State baseball team display their uniforms, which will undergo changes next academic year as the athletic programs at the university make the transition to the “Georgia Regents” name.

By JORDAN WILLIAMS staff writer New uniforms are on the horizon for the soon-to-be-named Georgia Regents athletic teams. Clint Bryant, the director of athletics at Georgia Regents, discussed where the university is in the process of determining the new athletic gear for its sports teams, which still compete as Augusta State and will do so through the remainder of the academic year. “Basically, what we’re doing right now is just waiting on Request for Proposals to purchase new uniforms,” he said. A Request for Proposal, or RFP, is a request from vendors who are interested in creating the athletic apparel line for Georgia Regents, Bryant said. He explained that there is a six-week time frame for having everything done and ready for use in August, but the transition

“What we’re doing right now is just waiting on Requests for Proposals to purchase new uniforms.” - Georgia Regents’ director of athletics, Clint Bryant has not been easy with it occurring during the middle of an academic year. However, it has still been an exciting process despite the challenges of consolidation, and multiple athletes, such as softball catcher Katelyn Rush, said they are excited about getting new uniforms. “I will always miss the school I originally came to, but I think it’s going to be exciting to have a new beginning,” Rush said. Augusta State athletes will also have a huge say so in their new appearances. “All we will talk about as university are the colors, and then the coaches and players determine exactly how they design

their uniforms,” said Bryant. “It’s something teams normally determine for their teams because they are the ones who have to wear it.” Although most athletes have yet to give it serious thought, Rush said she wants a totally new look. “I think it would be nice to be completely different,” she said. “Maybe change it up and be something different than the rest of the teams in our conference.” The colors will remain silver and blue, and there will be no change in mascot, Bryant said. “I think one of the things that are rather exciting about the whole process is maintaining and being the Jaguars,” he said. “The Jaguar Nation is still intact and

Hoops teams going in opposite directions By JOHN-MICHAEL GARNER sports editor For the past several years, when you attended a basketball doubleheader at Christenberry Fieldhouse, you more or less knew what you were going to get. The Augusta State women were going to lose, and the men were going to restore order with a victory. But this year, somewhat shockingly, the script has flipped. The Lady Jaguars, behind a suffocating defense that is allowing a skinny 52.1 points per game, have sprinted to a 14-2 record, the best start in Augusta State history. Picked to finish ninth in the preseason Peach Belt Conference coaches poll following four straight losing seasons, the Lady Jags have been a major surprise, giving third-year head coach Nate Teymer a Secretariat-sized lead in the race for the league’s Coach of the Year honors. Buoyed by Teymer’s leadership and the sensational backcourt duo of Tanchelle Hollingsworth and Brittany White, Augusta State has gone 9-0 at home, establishing the kind of home-court advantage that the men’s program had become known for. After a dominant five-year run from 2007-08 through 2011-2012 that saw the Jaguars go 75-4 at Christenberry Fieldhouse, the Augusta State men have dropped three home games, including a 67-53 loss to Lincoln Memorial at the James Brown Arena Wednesday, Dec. 19, in little more than a month and watched their once-promising season unravel. Since starting 6-0 and rising to No. 12 in the nation, the Jags have gone just 4-6, and their woes were compounded by the arrest and suspension of starting forward Harold Doby and the dismissal of second-leading rebounder Chad July earlier this month. Following the sudden loss of two key interior pieces, Augusta State head coach Dip Metress has had to recalibrate his roster on the fly, and the Jags have looked very much like a team in desperate search of an identity in recent days. While there’s still time for the team to jell and make a lateseason run, the recent spate of losses – both on and off the floor – has dealt a body blow to the Jags’ conference-cham-

what has happened is we’ve just become stronger within the physical university.” The opportunity to discuss what will happen to the old uniforms has not yet occurred, Bryant said. This is mainly due to the athletic department being so early in the process. “Since we are still participating in the uniforms we have right now, we haven’t given much thought on what to do with those,” said Bryant. However, he did have some ideas on what to do with the current uniforms. “We’re not going to let them sit around and do nothing,” he said. “The options would be a fundraiser or use them for some

Softball CONTINUED from PAGE 9

compete and to win. “I want them to be a little bit guts(ier),” Mullins said. “I think that’s really a big difference between this year’s team and last year’s team.” This year’s team realizes the success of the Augusta State teams before it and strives to uphold the program’s prestige by continuing to produce wins on the field, sophomore infielder Hannah Vaughn said. “We’re making progression, and we can definitely show that we’re getting better each day,” Vaughn said. “We know we want to make it to regionals and make it past regionals, so every game is important.” The most important game to Yeargen in the upcoming

means to make charitable donations.” Baseball player Curtis Parker said he also thought that Georgia Regents should donate the old uniforms. “I’d like to see them used maybe over at the miracle league or donated to some leagues around here for good use,” he said. Whatever the new university decides to do with the old uniforms will have to be within the rules of the NCAA because it has certain guidelines for institutions to follow on how to dispose uniforms no longer in use, Bryant said. When the project for new uniforms is complete, the next step will be changing the designs of the basketball court. It will be something the athletic department will begin next summer, Bryant said.

jwill143@aug.edu

“We know we’re there to win.” -Hannah Vaughn season is the first one, she said. That game, to be held Saturday, will match the Lady Jags up against Anderson, S.C., as part of a double-header. Vaughn said she hopes the Lady Jags’ performance this year will attract the notice of Augusta State sports fans. “We know we’re there to win,” Vaughn said. “When there are people there to watch us win, it’s just good. It’s good to play for a crowd.”

jlowe12@gru.edu

Pride and Passion CONTINUED from PAGE 9

DAVID WICKER | CONTRIBUTOR

Augusta State guard D’Angelo Boyce slices through the Lincoln Memorial defense Wednesday Dec. 19 during a 67-53 defeat for the Jaguars.

pionship hopes and put Augusta State in danger of missing the NCAA Tournament for a second consecutive season. The role reversal for the Augusta State basketball teams might seem stunning considering the condition of each of the programs in the recent past, but the truth is that the two squads have been trending in their current directions for quite some time. After inheriting a team that finished a horrific 1-26 in 200910, Teymer has been steadily building the Lady Jags back to respectability. Last year, his team earned a spot in the Peach Belt Tournament, a modest accomplishment for most schools but a dramatic achievement for Augusta State in only the second year of the Teymer era. This year, the team has taken the next step and become a certified force in the conference. The men’s team, on the other hand, has struggled to recapture its old glory. While Metress did an admirable job stocking up this year’s roster with the additions of guard Ryan Weems, the team’s best player this season, and July, an impact player at Flagler who was expected to be a low-

post force for the Jags, Augusta State is going through a frustrating phase of having to re-learn how to win at a high level, a skill the Lady Jags may finally be mastering under Teymer. Time will tell whether the Lady Jags will continue to be the feel-good story of the season in the Peach Belt. With games in the next couple of weeks against national powers USC Aiken and Clayton State, Augusta State will soon know exactly how far it has come in its massive rebuilding effort. Regardless of what happens in those contests, it’s obvious that the program is in good hands with Teymer at the wheel. The men’s program also should be fine as long as Metress, one of Division II’s most-accomplished coaches, is around. With only one senior – forward Travis Keels – on this year’s roster, next year’s team figures to be loaded. But for the first time in ages, the men find themselves having to keep up with the women, and that is a turnabout that no one could have seen coming just a few short years ago.

jgarner6@gru.edu

RON HICKERSON | STAFF

Carl Long examines the memorabilia on display at the Reese Library for the Pride and Passion exhibit. which celebrates the history of African Americans in baseball.

leagues to baseball’s history. Most of the time, he said, people always think about Jackie Robinson when they think about African Americans in baseball. But the players in the Negro leagues paved the way for players like Robinson to break the color barrier in Major League Baseball when he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. Camilla Reid, the director of Reese Library, said at the event that the exhibit is touring 25 libraries across the country this year before it retires. The library at Georgia Regents just happened to be the exhibit’s 24th stop, which she said was truly rewarding for the library. Outreach Librarian Autumn Johnson said getting the exhibit

to come to Georgia Regents was a four-year collaborative process for the library’s staff, which included writing grants to get the money to pay for its visit. But now that the library has hosted this exhibit, she said she hopes it will reflect the prestige of the library and of the new university. “We’re one of 25 libraries in the country to get this,” she said. “So it’s pretty prestigious. And we’re hoping to bring many more of the same caliber exhibits here.” The exhibit can be found on the second floor of Reese Library and is free and open to the public. The exhibit will run until Thursday, Feb. 21.

rhickers@gru.edu